CLOSED The Great Host

[Longstorm]

OOC: I figure it'll take a couple of days for the Host to reach the Bloodstones. It takes a while for even a small group to reach the Bloodstones, coming from the hidden DarkClan camp high up in mountains.

IC: Sunmist, warrior of DarkClan, was traveling with the rest of DarkClan down their mountainside. They had left the camp shortly before and were making their way through the pine forests that made up their home. Though there were many pines there was little undergrowth (such was the conditions of height elevation), only dry grass, the occasional patch of snow and other such and such that showed up in DarkClan's sparse home.
If the rain wasn't so adamant about drowning all scents, on a clear day Sunmist would have been able to smell many fox-lengths around her since the air was so clean and there were so few things to cloy scents.

But forget about the scenery! Sunmist wasn't focusing too hard on it anyways. As much as she loved and had missed her home, she was thinking about who was in control of her home. Namely, Redstar.
Redstar...

OOC: This is soooo wordy...Is it obvious I've yet to figure how to properly develop this character? Yeeeesh...
I have no ideas. SOMEONE POST, SOMEONE POST, SOMEONE POST.

[Runfast]

OOC: I'M HERE I'M HERE.

IC: Redstar, leader of DarkClan, made his way to the front of the 'host.' He was rather embarrassed at what had happened back in camp. How could he have forgotten about Lightningpelt? Redstar, for some reason, had gone back to thinking of her as she had been; one of the best fighters in DarkClan. Having mentored the new deputy had elevated her status even further - but now she was... Elder fodder, said the 3-moon-old in his head. The leader felt a flash of shame, mostly because he knew it was true and he'd been avoiding it. Also, why the in StarClan's name hadn't he planned this whole affair better? Sending off a patrol, what a joke! They could have been dead and the MudBloods waiting, and DarkClan would never know. They would never know, and without a medicine cat or even a competent leader, they would walk into a deathtrap.
Was that a very smart thing, Redpaw?Brilliant. He was hearing his dead leader's sardonic voice in his head.
Redstar missed Thornstar. He wished the gray leader was there to smack him upside the head and tell him what to do like he had when Redstar didn't know who to name deputy.
I wish Thornstar was here. He'd know what to do. But all I have are his children... The last thought pricked his heart harshly. There was too much of Thornstar in each of them, but at the same time too little.
I can't even look Jaycall in the eye... The leader kept walking, focusing on keeping his head high. (OOC: I hate writing depressed Redstar. He's LAAAAME.)

Blizzardgaze was keeping close to Sunmist. She kept the spotted she-cat in her blind spot since she knew that Sunmist would look out for her. Blizzardgaze knew that Sunmist was deep in thought (she'd been friends with the she-cat for some time), and she knew what her friend was thinking about.
Redstar. Who else? The half-blind she-cat sighed. Oh, Redstar. Admittedly, the she-cat had always found Redstar attractive. Why not? He was tall, red, handsome, and his split lip took nothing away from his good looks; in fact, they enhanced them. (OOC: Not complimenting myself... ) Then he went a little...weird. Ever since he'd suddenly come back to DarkClan and swooped up the role of leader almost before Thornstar's gory death, he'd been acting like a kittypet! Yeah, she thought. Kittypet. There was no other word to describe his actions, even if she'd never seen or met a kittypet in its natural habitat doing its natural acts. Can't believe I thought a kittypet was attractive. Blizzardgaze suppressed a shudder of revulsion. But now I have Gorseclaw...handsome Gorseclaw... Strong, good-humored, a loyal and kind warrior (not to mention the eldest son of Thornstar, but that was a perk), Blizzardgaze knew, just knew, just KNEW she had finally found "the ONE." Graypaw hadn't been it, nor Cloudfeet, Longflight - -fur, ech he was old - Redstar, Gingerleaf, Foxclaw or Smokepelt. It was definitely, DEFINITELY Gorseclaw.
Gorseclaw... The things she'd do when they were reunited. (OOC: *eyebrows* ) Never mind that this was her best friend's brother.
That's why I didn't see it before, of course. I was afraid that it would ruin our friendship, but now I'm not. I'm sure Sunmist won't mind. Maybe Redstar will even announce our mate-ship when Sunmist puts him to right - or becomes leader, whichever.

Goldpaw lagged behind the others. Usually he'd have strode to the front with his uncle, but not this time. He was waiting for Lightningpelt.
He couldn't properly explain it (without sounding like a sappy elder, that is). Goldpaw just...knew he needed to stay with Lightingpelt. He'd never met her before the Frost Forests. (Of course, he may have been seen by her when he was briefly in the DarkClan nursery when he was a newborn, but that didn't count.) When he'd fought in the battle against then suddenly for DarkClan and had fought with her, he knew that she was amazing.
He just did. Goldpaw had been heartbroken (Sappy, sappy, sappy!) distressed when he'd found out about Lightningpelt's loss and injury. Even when he'd been searching for Redstar the morning after the battle with the mangy MudBloods, he'd been thinking about her.
Now here he was. Waiting for her. I barely know her, he thought. But I'm going to know her. And she'll get to know me. And...maybe, maybe she'll feel the same way I do. Goldpaw sighed like only a young tom in love could.
And he waited.

OOC: There's so much love it's MELTING MY EYES AGAGAGAIKJFJKSHDKJAHSJKFBJASB:FHIEFNKSJFNJFKAJWFNKJFHNK
EDIT: I forgot LONGFUR!!! And Gingerleaf in Blizzardgaze'slist (as LS has pointed out to me...)

IC: Longfur was also waiting, like Goldpaw. But he was waiting for Frostshine. Ever since Longfur's former mate, Skyecho had died, Longfur had found a desire to grow closer to his dead mate's brother. Skyecho had been young and lovely, and Longfur had been amazed that she had fallen in love with an old codger like himself.
But she had. And for as long as it had lasted, they had been happy. Then it ended and it had been bittersweet. He had known she would never stay with him for very long, being so young and beautiful, and when she had run off with the rebellion and (more importantly) with Redstar, Longfur had known that their relationship was over. He didn't blame her. He understood. (OOC: LOngfur is very UNDERSTANDING! UNDERSTANDING! UNDERSTANDING!!!!Seriously look at other posts with him. He's very understanding.) He accepted it.
She had died far, far too young. Skyecho would have woven a beautiful future for herself, as beautiful as she was. (OOC: she was calico, right?)
Now, even though Longfur had yet to meet his children, he hoped to find family with Skyecho's brother, Frostshine. Longfur had no family of his own aside from his children.
Now that Longfur had children he wanted to be able to devote himself entirely to his children whenever they came back to him. As a warrior he'd be somewhat of a danger to them, what with his joints stiffening and his paws always feeling cold and his vision blurring. No, let someone else younger and stronger teach them. He would tell them all of the tales of history and myths and legends that he could, and they would grow up wise and understanding and beautiful. Just like Skyecho.
Longfur sighed long and sad, his graying face filled with grief. Skyecho...
The elder focused on the somewhat blurred path before his graying paws. Right now he had something else to focus on. DarkClan. The Mudbloods. The other Clans. They were going to meet a foe and possibly die, and possibly with a not-right leader.
LOngfur prayed to StarClan that his weakening strength wouldn't leave him when he needed it, that Redstar would again find the strength that had stolen Skyecho's heart away from him to lead the Clan to victory, and that he would live to see his children.

OOC: This is soooooooooooooooooo MESSED UP. SOOOOOOOOOOOO OUT OF ORDER AND SH!T LIKE THAATATAGAGATATKLEFHLKEHFLKEJHFLKEJWHFn. *cough* Hairball.

[Guest]

OOC: Meanwhile, as LS and Runny go insane...

IC: Thinking of Jaycall, said tom was walking with the host with his blue gaze fixed on the back of their red leader.
There was no denying that Redstar was majorly out of sorts. Even if Jaycall had only lived through one previous leader (being his father), he knew that Redstar was experiencing some serious technical difficulties in the leadership department.
Jaycall couldn't figure it. Redstar had seemed fine when they'd returned to DarkClan. He felt bad about Redstar didn't know if his sister was alive - that was Jaycall's mother, he was concerned too. Jaycall didn't know where his own sister was, but that didn't mean he was sulking about it. Sure he missed her, but she was tough and obviously she was happier somewhere else.
Jaycall did sympathize with Redstar, but he'd had enough of Redstar's sulking. It was time it stopped.
As he walked. the warrior began to plot exactly how he would make this happen.

Frostshine had come out with Lightningpelt. He had a clump of an herb called Ragweed in his mouth and another tucked under his chin. The tom had a gleam in his eye. There was something about herbs and being in the healer's den that made him feel content. Frostshine didn't understand it, but if it made him happy he would try to keep doing it. Besides, he liked being helpful and herbs were helpful. So there he was.

Sleetcoat and Rainfoot were walking with each other as usual. They were both silent, each holding thoughts of battle in their minds. Rainfoot felt comfort in the thought that his mentor would be at his side; though he was sad that Smokepelt wouldn't be with them.
His skill in battle will be sorely missed - though probably not by our enemies. Rainfoot's ears flattened at the thought of the evil Mudbloods. They just strolled onto their lands and tried to destroy their territory? No. He would make them pay. Rainfoot kept walking, as solemn as any soldier could be.
Sleetcoat's thoughts were much the same, but with a twist. I haven't had news from AbyssClan in nearly a moon. I know that the Powerful watch over everything, but DarkClan knows that these Mudbloods aren't conventional enemies. I hope nothing bad has happened. He, like his former apprentice, walked on solemnly.

OOC: I'm coming to terms with the fact that all of these cats are dark or not-quite-white coated toms.

[Meany]

Lightningpelt had come out with Frostshine. She was also carrying herbs. There was a new energy in her step (even though she had to be really really careful about where she put her steps so she was staying next to Frostshine). She knew that even if she could no longer see it, the days would keep coming and going and so would she.
The blind she-cat walked through the pine-scented forest with the rest of the Clan. I'm glad that our territory is so open...

Cloudfeet looked longingly after Blizzardgaze. The two had had a thing for a while, but she had dumped him for Gingerleaf. Wherever he was. Whenever that ginger tom came back, the young warrior would have words with him.
(OOC:everyone needs somebody to loooooove!)
This walk was long. Cloudfeet glanced at the front of the group. He saw Redstar and Sleetcoat up there. The warrior bounded up to Redstar and meowed,
"Redstar. Should I and another scout ahead just in case?" Cloudfeet was a little bored with just walking even if they'd only begun. Something about being excited for the battle or something. "Maybe catch something? As a snack? For the Clan, of course." Cloudfeet held his breath waiting for an answer.

[Longstorm]

Cloudfeet's movements did not go unnoticed by Sunmist. Hunting? Sunmist watched her leader's back as she walked.

[Runfast]

Redstar looked at Cloudfeet. "Hunting?" He glanced at Sleetcoat - Redstar had randomly decided to defer to senior warrior.

Goldpaw felt his heart lift at the sight of Lightningpelt - carry herbs - with FROSTSHINE!?!

[Guest]

Sleetcoat looked at Redstar, a little surprised. "He's just gonna be over excited the whole way anyway." The warrior shrugged.

Frostshine continued to walk with Lightningpelt. He saw Goldpaw's shocked expression. What's his problem?

[Runfast]

Redstar looked back at Rainfoot and nodded curtly. "Fine. But only for a little while. Take whoever you want with you."
The leader put his focus back on walking.

[Meany]

Cloudfeet's ears pricked up. "Really! Oh. Great!" He quickly grew more excited about it. "Uhh.." He looked back at the other cats. "Sunmist! Do you want to go hunting?" He padded up to her (and avoided looking at Blizzardgaze since he always felt flustered around her.) "We could also scout ahead a little...But hunting! For the Clan! Well..." He thought. "Maybe for a snack, too. Hunting!" He cat-grinned.

Meanwhile...

Somewhere nearby, two sets of cat eyes were watching DarkClan...

[Longstorm]

Sunmist looked at the warrior bemusedly. "Hunting? So soon?" She glanced up at the dark skies - were they beginning to clear? The patched warrior sighed. "Fine. But only for a little while. I don't want to go far." She looked back at Rainfoot. "Rainfoot," she called. "Will you come with?" Sunmist didn't want to take Blizzardgaze. It was not because she didn't think her friend was a good hunter, it was that she didn't want to leave the Clan without some cat who could see through Redstar's shoddy facade. She trusted Blizzardgaze to do what was right. Besides, Rainfoot was decent company.

[Guest]

Rainfoot's cat-brows raised. Sunmist asking him to join a patrol with her? Sure, he was game!
"Of course, Sunmist," he replied. He joined Cloudfeet and Sunmist.

Sleetcoat rolled his eyes and looked at Redstar with a look that said, 'how did I know that was going to happen.'
Padding after every pretty she-cat...Eh, who knows. Maybe it'll go somewhere.

Jaycall looked at the forming group. He noted that his half-sister had joined in. Sunmist and Jaycall had never been very close; Sunmist was close with her own littermate, Gorseclaw, while Jaycall had been close to Robinsong. Should I be making an effort to be friends with her? He shrugged. He kinda didn't care either way. Right now he was thinking about Redstar and the Rebellion, and what he might say to Redstar.
But were the clouds beginning to clear? Ah - no. There was some lightning, never mind.

[Runfast]

Blizzardgaze was shocked when Sunmist didn't invite her. What, she doesn't want me to come with? Why? I'm her best friend! The half-blind she-cat scowled and looked away.

Redstar half-smiled at Sleetcoat's expression and nodded, rolling his eyes, glancing back at Sunmist and Rainfoot.
She'll eat him alive, he thought with amusement. She's a lot like Thornstar - Then all of his sad feelings came back and he kept walking.

Goldpaw slowly got closer and closer to Lightningpelt and Frostshine, his eyes practically sparking with jealousy.
What does he have that I don't? He flexed his muscles. I'm WAY more handsome than he is.

[Longstorm]

OOC: I love Goldpaw.

IC: Sunmist nodded to Rainfoot and mewed to Cloudfeet, "Lead on. It was your idea, after all." She looked at Blizzardgaze and was saddened to see how dismayed her friend was. Couldn't she see how much Sunmist was trusting to her? The great responsibility? Sunmist grimaced.

[Meany]

Cloudfeet was oblivious to the friends' exchange. "Alright! Let's go!" He padded away from the host.

[Longstorm]

Sunmist looked back at Cloudfeet, then glanced once more at Blizzardgaze, then followed Cloudfeet.
Why can't she see sense, Sunmist wondered. Why can't she be more like Gorseclaw? Gorseclaw was sensible - funny and sensible. It faintly occurred to Sunmist that the main reason she was becoming so close with Blizzardgaze was probably because the color of her pelt reminded Sunmist of him.
But she didn't often think about that.
She continued to follow the younger warrior.

[Runfast]

Redstar kept focusing on the road ahead of him. His thoughts kept painfully drifting to Blueblossom and to Mistlight. How were they doing? What were they doing now?
The weight of his concerns and fears was crushing his soul.
And also - should I be letting my warriors go off and hunt? They have to stay together - everyone needs to stay together. I have to protect everyone...but I can't embarrass them. I can't just call them back. They're already heading off. I can't just... And so on.

Blizzardgaze looked away from Sunmist. Some friend she is.

Goldpaw strode up to Frostshine and Lightningpelt, his chest puffed out. "Hello Frostshine," he meowed loudly. "Are we having a good day?"

[Meany]

Lightningpelt's ears swiveled towards the sound of Goldpaw's voice. She made a sound of greeting past the herbs she was carrying, and she flicked her tail in a friendly manner even though she wasn't sure where he was. She noted the tone of forced happiness in his voice when he greeted Frostshine, though.
Oh, good, she thought sarcastically. This is all I need.

[Guest]

Jaycall made his choice and padded past the cats around him and joined Redstar and Sleetcoat. "Hello, Redstar, Sleetcoat." The warrior kept pace with the red leader and said directly to him, "I need to speak with you."
Sleetcoat looked at the gray warrior curiously.

Frostshine nodded to Goldpaw, confused about the tone the apprentice was taking. Then it occurred to him - Lightningpelt and Goldpaw were practically mates already, so what the apprentice must have been thinking was all-too-obvious for the warrior. Ah, brilliant.

[Runfast]

OOC: I'm making a new topic for a time skip.

IC: Goldpaw meowed his greeting to Lightningpelt, glad that she had acknowledged him. Am I being a little overbearing maybe? He wondered shortly. He'd figure it out later. Right now he was addressing Frostshine.

Redstar looked beyond the immediate lands and to the more thickly grown forests further down the mountain, but then looked back at Jaycall, who had spoken to him.
"What is it?"

[Guest]

Jaycall glanced at Sleetcoat who in turn nodded in greeting, but the look in the older warrior's eyes stated that he probably wasn't going anywhere.
Jaycall could accept that. "It's about the Clan. And you, Redstar." Jaycall noted how Sleetcoat appeared to come to a conclusion in his head, and he slowed to allow the two a measure of privacy.

Frostshine mumbled past the herbs, "Rain." His voice was muffled and quiet.

[Runfast]

Redstar stiffened at Jaycall's words. "What about me," he said with some difficulty.

Goldpaw nodded. "Rain, rain, yeah. Doesn't bother me so much," he shrugged nonchalantly, making a sound to go with it. "I like the rain."

Blizzardgaze found herself padding alongside Longfur. Huh, she thought.

[Guest]

Frostshine slowly nodded but made no sound. He's acting ridiculous. StarClan, sheesh, I'm going to talk to him about focusing on the situation at hand...AND how to differentiate on what is, and what obviously ISN'T. Enough of this.
Frostshine straightened up as he walked and gestured sharply with his tail for Goldpaw to join the rest of the Host, pulling on his rank as a warrior.

[Runfast]

Goldpaw froze, feeling cold realization set in. Frostshine was a warrior. He was Goldpaw's superior. Goldpaw was acting kinda stupid. In front of two warriors. One of which was his kinda-sorta-girlfriend. Yeeeeeeeeaaaaaaah...
Embarrassed, the yellow tom dipped his head respectfully and scuttled away. He exhaled, feeling awkwardness and embarrassment down to the tips of his toes and tail. So, Goldpaw, he thought to himself, that was a very smart thing to do! Very smart! Yep! He shook his head quickly, walking a little faster so he could catch up with Redstar. And Jaycall, apparently. Speaking of his relatives, where was Sunmist? He took a moment to glance around. Huh.
Goldpaw cringed when he accidentally looked at Frostshine and Lightningpelt. Be cool, be cool! Frostshine's practically a medicine cat - he wouldn't be interested in Lightningpelt! Especially since her brother just died - ah, mousebrains.
The yellow tom stewed in his jealously and embarrassment for a while as he walked. Then it occurred to him to wonder about his littermates, Bronzepaw and Silverpaw.
I've barely thought about them since they left, he thought guiltily. They're probably risking their lives for us - and they're my siblings! - and all I've been doing is worrying about someone liking a she-cat I like...she-cats...
Goldpaw's amber eyes widened at the thought, an image of a she-cat with dark brown fur in battle flickering before his mind's eye. Whoa, hold on! I like Lightingpelt. I've been hanging out with her. I think she likes me too! Of course, it would sort of explain why he always felt awkward whenever he was around Hollowstri- I'm not even going to think about it. Not at all. Discussion over.
He nodded firmly to himself and did his best to ignore the confused feelings in his chest.

Longfur slowly looked at Blizzardgaze. Uh-oh.
"Hey, Longfur," she greeted him awkwardly.
"Hello, Blizzardgaze. How are you," he asked slowly, as though he wasn't sure what was okay to say.

[Meany]

The eyes continued to watch DarkClan from a distance.

[Runfast]

OOC: Meanwhile, Flowerfur.

IC: Flowerfur was feeling ignored. It seemed as though everyone was speaking to everyone except for her. Everything was so BORING without her friends being near - practically all of the apprentices were gone (they who had been her friends), Hollowstripe was gone, Mustardstorm was gone, and all Goldpaw seemed to be doing was mooning over Lightningpelt!
The young she-cat huffed and kept on walking.

Blizzardgaze looked over Longfur, remembering their brief relationship with a tinge of embarrassment. "I'm alright," she meowed. "Getting ready to fight," she said in an awkward joking manner which fell away, leading to her looking away awkwardly.

Thankfully, Redstar's sudden call broke the awkward silence - "DARKCLAN! HALT!" The two looked forward to the red tom. He was standing with Jaycall, turned around and facing the Clan.
"What is it, Redstar," called Longfur.

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