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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2019 20:46:50 GMT -5
ghdghf d this is short (but it's dialogue heavy so i'm not too mad) and late so i'm sorry! i just got the time/muse to write again after holiday travels and craziness. hope you're having a lovely new year! also your new avi is a whole ass mood
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Post by Sand on Jan 3, 2019 21:11:27 GMT -5
hey, it's okay! I understand & I hope your new year is going well too! isn't it? oomg
will try to reply today if i feel okay within an hour or two
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Post by Sand on Jan 5, 2019 2:55:03 GMT -5
S l o e b r a n c h in SkyClan territory, counter-offering
Admittedly, Sloebranch had not given the full story and the entire truth about Elmpaw's death to Shrikethorn, but it was precaution. For all he knew, she could lie about her past with Smokestar and the reason why she killed him. He wasn't willing to take any chances, especially with her of all cats. He had a clan to run as his own now, and with a medicine cat's secret looming over him made it grueling. Had he not followed Smokestar, none of this would be his problem... but then, he would regret it too.
Planned. Was that all she could say for herself, for Smokestar's cold, blood soaked fur lying before them? She planned on murdering the leader and that was all she could offer when he, the deputy, offered more about his unfortunte apprentice's death? Uncertainty was clearly written across his face, but he did his best to shake it off in hopes that the medicine cat hadn't caught onto it yet. "He knew? If he knew, then why was he so complacent to follow you out here, to his death?" he meowed, whiskers twitching impatiently. "It doesn't make sense, but I suppose... I will take your word for now. At some point, though, Shrikethorn, I must learn more. Something concrete." Part of him believed that taking the feline's word as truth was a huge mistake, one that could ruin him and SkyClan. Another part believed the opposite-- the further he kept this from the clan, the better. It would only be two cats keeping a horrible, exile worthy secret. There would be no reason to announce to the clan that Smokestar was murdered by his own medicine cat and clanmate. They didn't need to know... not yet anyways.
With Shrikestorn's steely gaze holding onto him, he could feel his insides squirm with dismay. Now was the time to get used to it all-- lying, hiding secrets, keeping everything quiet until there was a time-- if ever one came-- to squawk. Taking a deep breath, he kept his green gaze steady on hers before it flickered to her paws as she rose. What she was saying didn't make much sense to Sloebranch, but these were just details... unnecessary ones at that. But then again, StarClan was an issue for them as Shrikethorn, as lucky as she was, had direct contact with them. If StarClan were to catch wind (and they probably would) of Smokestar's murderer, then SkyClan would see serious trouble, not to mention consequences. A shiver ran down his spine at the thought. He was getting too far ahead of himself, he needed to be present in the moment so that he wouldn't forget a thing.
"A pact of silence is quite necessary here. Seeing as all that you... have done and what we have discussed," the dark furred deputy replied coolly. His gaze wavered over Shrikethorn's maw, itching to hear what was to come next. "I will agree to our deal, on one condition. You must tell me the truth as to why you killed Smokestar. You weren't upfront with me, but that can wait." He came to a pause, his faint green eyes quivering as they flashed past the former leader's lifeless body. "Somehow we have to find a way to make Smokestar's murder look accidental. We'll have to stage something, but it has to be believable in case anyone is on our trails. There hasn't been a fox in the territory for a few moons, so that be suspicious. What do you have in mind... seeing that you're the mastermind? What was your next step, had I not followed you?"
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2019 23:35:33 GMT -5
(hello sorry for disappearing! crazy personal circumstances lately--don't wanna really disclose them publicly. but your reply is next in my queue!)
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Post by Sand on Jan 16, 2019 1:10:33 GMT -5
all good, hope things improve for you!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2019 17:09:37 GMT -5
Shrikethorn in SkyClan territory, grasping at straws.
The medicine cat listened to her deputy with a still, gravely serious expression. Even if he had every reason in the world to want to know the true story behind what happened, and he did, being the right hand man to their late leader, it was something beyond anyone's comprehension: nobody knew Smokestar had such a capacity for that. She didn't plan on telling Sloebranch. Shrikethorn could understand why nobody would believe her. He is--was--so kind, so seemingly benevolent and outgoing with a raunchy sense of humor, at times, but it was there, nonetheless. In her mind, spreading the word would do next to nothing except alienate her more, so after she confessed it all to her late mentor in vain, she withdrew herself.
But she'd have to be a fool not to see the doubt and uncertainty in the tom's eyes, and she pitied him. If only she had the terrible luck to be standing in his paws and pelt, stumbling onto something that was nobody's business, especially not hers. What would she do, what would she be thinking? Shrikethorn folded her ears back, lowering her gaze to some spot past him in the vague darkness. He's my only ally, she realized. Everything that had happened made her purposefully reserved and irritable, made her make fewer appearances out of her den. Her small group of friends sort of moved on. She let everyone leave her behind and her position became one of occasional importance, with the odd bump or bruise, omen from StarClan, or Gathering.
Nevermind all that. With Smokestar gone, an immense emotional weight had already fallen from her shoulders. She was free--to an extent, but free nonetheless. She swore that she'd change everything once he was out of the picture.
Back to the present. She collected herself calmly, lifting her eyes towards Sloebranch's once more. "I..." Her mew was soft, uncertain, timid. "I can't do that right now. I will tell you, I owe you that much, but not now. I just need more time." Her gaze towards him softened, something unfathomably sad in her deep blue eyes. "You'll understand one day."
"Yes--I agree." Though she loathed the connotations that 'murder' and 'mastermind' carried, especially leaving a cat with such strong moral connections, she had to admit she'd meditated on this for quite a long time: it just bothered her deeply to think she'd been reduced to this, when her career and relationships used to be so bright. Shrikethorn swiveled her head around, peering through the dark for something, anything to possibly help them.
"I'd stage him with a, ah, deathberry or hemlock branch, but." She paused. "That wouldn't explain the neck wound. But--there are some rocks, just up there." The medicine cat gestured with a flick of her tail to some rocks well above the two of them, situated stably on the edge of the cliff above them. "... I know it's pretty gruesome but, uh. We could move one of those, maybe."
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Post by Sand on Jan 24, 2019 18:03:58 GMT -5
ahh, I'm so sorry for getting back to you so late; will reply right now.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2019 21:51:24 GMT -5
oh no worries! take your time.
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Post by Sand on Feb 5, 2019 2:22:48 GMT -5
S l o e b r a n c h in SkyClan territory, hatching a plan...
Sloebranch hadn't seen so deeply into Smokestar as it seemed Shrikethorn had. He had been very content to be his deputy as it was an honor to server Smokestar, SkyClan, his clanmates, and not to mention StarClan. The two didn't have a special bond and they weren't close either, so to put their relationship (at best), they were acquainted with each other and that was it. Nothing more, nothing less between leader and deputy than dividing the work of leadership amid each other. He spent more time focusing on his duties rather than checking up on Smokestar constantly because, in Sloebranch's mind, he was of age and well to handle his own. If problems ever surfaced, they worked together if necessary though that hardly happened in quite some time from what he could remember. Nonetheless, he didn't mind working with Smokestar and he hoped.. well, had hoped that the leader thought the same of him.
Just thinking of Smokestar in past tense was stomach turning and appalling. But there was nothing he nor Shrikethorn could do about it now because, realistically, the leader was long gone. If Shrikethorn wanted to reverse her actions which the dark tom doubted, it was too late to take anything back. He was tired of dazing off into the distance to think over anything that had taken place in the past between him and Smokestar or Shrikethorn. Nothing surfaced for the deputy as expected, so he saw no point in dwelling over it anymore.
When the medicine cat's gaze reached his, a sliver of hope flickered in them. Maybe Shrikethorn would divulge a bit, a tiny bit of information to him. Then again, he wasn't too forthcoming with information about Elmpaw's death, so he shouldn't expect as much as he was though he couldn't help it. The moment she told him she needed more time... something resonated with the black feline. He too needed time when it came to Elmpaw and it still seemed to be that way. Would it ever change? He certainly hoped and believed so because now he owed her too.
Tension slid down his throat before he meowed, "Of course, Shrikethorn. I understand, just let me know when that day is."
Sloebranch hadn't been the kindest with his word choice, but those were the words that sounded fitting to him. The medicine cat had murdered their leader and planned it, so wasn't it natural to use the words he had used? Maybe it wasn't. His faint green gaze sprung after hers before disappearing in their own direction while squinting in the dark. Finding something to make a murder look accidental was something he had never imagined nor thought he would be doing in the dead of the night. Hearing the cream and chocolate pointed she-cat speak again, he abruptly turned towards her.
"I hate to say it like this, but that's a great idea," the deputy mewed, eyeing the rocks on the cliff. It wouldn't taken much to get up there and... push them down. "No doubt there. Think it would be better to push some rocks... onto him? Or, maybe, slowly move them down, but that might be more difficult. We need it to look convincing, something that the clan wouldn't question immediately."
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