L.ook C.losely ::Anyone::

[--|Sootie|--]

It had been a while since Sootstar had been out looking for herbs. When she's first joined Snow Clan, it was one of the apprentice chores she helped out with. Soostar had always enjoyed poking her nose about in the long grasses trying to find herbs and cures, seeing what else there was to find. But now, she never had time for such simple past-times. She'd never asked to become leader of the clan, there were so many drawbacks and disapointments which only she could ever know about. But the amazement of watching her extended family grow from her position within the clan was something which once she'd experienced she could never give up. To sacrifce that feeling of extacy everytime she made a kit and apprenitce, or an apprenitce a warrior, every time she visited the nursery--that part alone was equal to the sacrifice she'd made of giving up any kits she might ever have had. The sole thought which occupied every free moment in er head was the possiblitiy of her with kits. Sometimes it came close to physical pain when she spent too long brooding on 'what if's. As she sat there, her silver and black tail brushing the bluebells she said to herself, "'What if?' is the saddest question in the world".

//Anyone feel free to join, I don't mind anyone posting anything.

[Mossmask]

[When you're standing on the edge]

"Oh, I dunno. I think it depends on the circumstances that one is asking the question."

Swoopingeagle gave his leader a crooked smile as he padded closer to her, his gray tabby pelt rippling softly in the cool breeze. He sat down about a fox-length away from Sootstar, his moss-green eyes staring up at the sky.

"Like, if we're speculating random things, such as, 'What if the sky was purple with green polka dots?', then I think the question can be entertaining," the young warrior said. "'What if?' can also be used to push oneself. 'What if I took a chance to climb that tree?' Maybe I would find birds for the fresh-kill pile.

[You don't look down]

"Dwelling on the past with 'What if?', though," Swoopingeagle said, sobering up slightly as he glanced at his leader, "is sad, I admit. All it will do is make you depressed, and that's no fun. 'What if?' is best suited for the future, I think."

With that oh-so-amazing speech, the tom laid down among the bluebells and grinned at Sootstar. "So, how's life?"

[Till you're ready and willing to fly]

"One Step Closer," (c) Bon Jovi[/i]

[[Ridge] of [Sapphire] light]

((hope this is ok...I wanna play her real bad...))

MoonCrystal
Forgiveness is for those who ask

What if the life that we pursue
Her blue eyes were half closed as she moved forward. She could barely move another paw but the scent of her clan, her family drove her mad. Like a monster she moved without feeling, without pain and wonder. She moved only for one purpose, rest. The scent was to strong now, and she could not wait to be back into the paws of her clan. She paryed they hadn't forgotten her, or perhaps they should have...maybe that would be better, she could start a new life. NO she shook her head and lifted it high into the air. Her stance was that of a proud snowclanner of the old days. She would not let this bring her down, she had too much to give to be forgotten. She would fight her way back in...if only to find Twinkletoes. She shook her head again and flicked her ears hearing the conversation ahead of her. She knew how she would enter now, and she wanted it to be perfect.

Came from a hunger for the truth
And so it was. She moved forward into the shadows, downwind of her leader and fellow warrior. She would wait for the time she was called forward. She flicked her ears forward. Her body was lean and muscular, tired but powerful just the same. She had traveled far, with Damppaw, Wildshadow, Gingerkit and Oasismirage. She flicked her tail again and lifted her right paw. The scar afross the bottom of it was barely visible now, thanks to wildshadows quick actions in the barn in the old country. She smiled and lifted her head as Swoopingeagle spoke of "what if's" As if he knew anything about the trials and pains of the past, or the worries and concerns of the future. She snorted softly and smiled again.

What if the family turned to Jesus

She had been sent ahead to scout before wildshadow and Oasismirage brought Gingerkit along. Not that she was that young anymore. She had even learned to hunt and fight by being deaf. She was quite the little apprentice. She smiled thoughtfully and flicked her ear once more. She stood and slipped into the clearing where Sootstar and Swoopingeagle stood. Her voice was strong and confident as she spoke, and her eyes were light and full of power when she looked at the pair. "What if a warrior from old returned to her clan, other's in tow? would she be welcomed back with open paws? or chased out on her tail?" She spoke softly but with confidence and power. Her eyes never left Sootstar and she dipped her head to the leader her eyes dancing with emotion, which was much for her.

Stopped asking Oprah what to do

[--|Sootie|--]

Let freedom ring let the white dove sing let the whole world know

Sootstar was sat in the bluebells, thinking thoughts which she kept sealed from everyone else, even her closest friends. It was part of her duty to bear the curses alongside the blessings of her position. She promised herself everytime she thought about what could have been, that she shouldn't waste time with what might have been a different path for her life. She got so much more than she'd ever dreamed of, and masking the few negatives. Taking a step outside, she really could see the appeal of being a leader. She sighed and smiled, closing her eyes blocking anything out of her mind which stopped her life being perfect. Apart from the large blemish of faceless grey kits, it was very easy to wish the bad parts gone, because in truth they were few and could be ignored if necessary. The serentity here beside the Bluebell River made it necessary. She was away somewhere so blissful she didn't notice the appretching warrior until he was almost upon her.

That today, is a day of reckoning

Swoopingeagle had caught her off guard, and she smiled apologetically as he contradicted the statement which she had always believed to be true. She listened, always willing to listen to a clan-mate ever since she'd joined Snow Clan. 'I never even considered that side of the question. I just always asked it in the context of 'what if I'd done that'. I guess it could mean something differnt if you were to ask it about something which is definite for no reason. What if the sky was purple? I wonder if it would make any difference. Purple is beautiful, but so is blue. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. It is strange that we never question things like that. I like your outlook on things Swoopingeagle.' Sootstar was smiling broadly now, contemplating a world with purple skies and upside-down trees and flive-legged cats which nobody questionned. She looked down at the fast-flowing river below, imagining all her life flowing past, painful memories simply being washed away. Why couldn't it be so easy?

Let the weak be strong let the right be wrong

Her black nose twitched towards the line of trees somehwere to her left as a familiar scent pierced her nostrils. A familiar scent; but one Sootstar hadn't scented for so long. Mooncrystal was already interpreting Sootstar's eariler question as she approached, looking like she hadn't slept for a moon but still holding her head high. 'Of course you will be welcomed back, not to mention given the best nest in camp and pride of place beside me on the High Rock at moon-rise to tell your story. But you knew the answer to that one anyway. It's so good to see you Mooncrystal. I'm sure Twinkletoes will be over the moon too. There's someone he wants you to meet too. There's so much to tell and to hear from both of us. Is there anyone else with you?' While she was speaking, Sootstar had wandered over to the long travelling warrior and was embracing her like a sister. It was so good to welcome an old friend back.

Roll the stone away let the guilty pay, it's Independence Day

_{Music by Martina McBride, Independence Day}

[[Ridge] of [Sapphire] light]

[Curse this morning sun, drags me in to one more day]

Her crystal blue eyes danced with appreciation, at the leader who was her friend. She dipped her head in honor and flicked her tail slowly. She accepted the embrace and returned it even, but this trip had changed her, she had become more withdrawn, except to those few with which she had traveled. She needed someone to draw her out of her shell, to remind her about what she loved in life. She flicked her ears at the words of the leader and nodded slowly. "Aye, there are a few survivors. Oasismirage, Damppaw, Gingerkit, Wildshadow, and a Glacierclanner and I have come, from the old lands." She flicked her tail and lowered her head slightly at the thought of the long journey. "The Glacierclanner needs to be returned to his home, and I plan to take him all the way. I cannot and will not let him finish the journey alone." She said and flicked her ears slowly.

[Of reaping what I've sown, of living with my shame]

she looked over her shoulder and lifted her voice to the heavens, calling to the others to come to her, before she turned back to Sootstar and Swoopingeagle. She sighed and lifted her paw from the ground. "Gingerkit should be made a warrior Sootstar." She said placing her paw down with a light thud. "She helped more on this journey than any apprentice I have seen. She aided wildshadow with herbs, and me with hunting and oasismirage with battleing. She's had her training, and then some." She said and flicked her ears. She kenw she must speak for Damppaw as well, and she would, but the more pressing matter would be Gingerkit. She had been denied her apprentice name, but had learned and traveled, fought, hunted, and cared for others as any apprentice or warrior would. Her eyes shifted to swoopingeagle and she nodded to him slightly not wanting to be rude but knowing that this wasn't business he needed to be in on.

[Welcome to my world, and the life that I have made]

She waited for her leader to speak dipped her head and then forged on, knowing that she needed to say hat needed to be said before the others got here. "Damppaw also needs to be made a warrior. And I feel that his name should reflect his character from the journey..." She paused thinking for a moment of how she wanted this to sound and come across. when she spoke again, she let the name come forth of it's own will. She didn't force it but rather it was like the ancestors were speaking through her. "Damppaw should be called, Dampglory, for both the glory and power he posessed on the journey as well as the wounded Glory of this clan." there she had done it. had spoken of Tigerstar without speaking his name and losing her composure.

[Where one day you're a prince, the next day your a slave]

(c) Casting Crowns Prodigal Lyrics

[--|Sootie|--]

//Spotty, Damppaw has already been given his warrior name, he's Dampcloud. Altough I haven't seen Dampy for a while.

[[Ridge] of [Sapphire] light]

((Oh...well then just forget I said that...um...skip that last bit about Damppaw...))

[Mossmask]

[Didn't know who I'd find]

"Heh, I try to sound optimistic,"

[/b] Swoopingeagle said in response to Sootstar's words, his own grin widening at the pleasure of knowing he helped his leader smile on her own. "I think it's healthier. That, and it drives my brother crazy. You know how crabby Stormyeyes can be!"

A third voice entered the conversation, turning the talk to better news of returning warriors that had been lost on the journey. Swoopingeagle caught himself from gaping at Mooncrystal and dipped his head to her, a nod almost as low as he'd give Sootstar, the deputy, or the medicine cat themselves.

Instead of joking about giving up his nest (the "best nest in camp," in his opinion), Swoopingeagle took his cue from Mooncrystal's nod of greeting and cleared his throat.

"Seeing as I'm apparently not needed for this conversation," the tom said to the two she-cats, "I'll take my leave. I've been meaning to drag my brother out for some hunting lately, anyway."

With one last deep dip of his head to the females, Swoopingeagle gave the returning warrior a sincere smile. "I'll be sure to save the fattest mouse for you. Welcome back, Mooncrystal."

On that note, the male turned around and walked away to give the ladies time to catch up with one another.

[Standing on the corner of hello and good-bye][/blockquote]

((Erm... Seeing as Swoopingeagle really isn't needed and I've been slow to reply lately, he's taking off.))[/i]

[[Ridge] of [Sapphire] light]

Her eyes crystals of blue ice danced with respect for her leader. She nodded as the tom spoke and dipped her head to him. "Thank you my friend." She said in regard to the mouse comment. She watched the tom bound away and smiled lightly. He was someone she might have to get to know a little better. After she saw Twinkletoes of course. The thought of her only living child gave her a chill and a sadness settled over her. Her leaders words of her son, gave her hope. She smiled and flicked her tail. "I have much to tell him as well. And much to share with the clan about our home. She sighed and shook her head. "But enough of sad things, tell me, what are the goings on of the clan." She said. She turned and called over her shoulder to those who were hiding a little ways beyond the clearing. "Come, it is safe friends!" She called and turned back to her leader.