~☁ CLOUDCLAN ☁~The Cats Who Touch The Sky~

(I'm just going to have it so that Billystorm and Abigail came in together, to reduce confusion for the other cats)

Stonestar was holding her composure well. "Yes, Skyclan. Tell me more about Skyclan, Billystorm. Where is it located? Are you far from home?" She presses, keeping her tone guarded but not hostile.

Owlshadow shoots a glare at the second cat "Nobody is eating anything until we clear up what's going on here" he growls, noting with irritation that the she-cat didn't seem underfed at all.
Or.. no, wait. Was she fat, or...

"Owlshadow!" Stonestar yowls, turning to face her deputy "Show some respect. This she-cat is carrying kits. I will not let her starve within my camp." Her gaze raked over the she-cat. She didn't look underfed, but Stonestar was aware of how taxing it could be to carry kits, especially if you had been traveling. "Everyone will be fed once we get some things straightened out."

Minnowheart could agree with that. She always valued Stonestar's level-headedness in these kinds of situations. Business first, but no need to be callous. Owlshadow on the other hand.. he looked ready to rip the loners to shreds, kits or no kits, and he didn't seem pleased at all by Stonestar's decision. Come to think of it.. most of the other cats in the clan didn't look happy with it either! Minnowheart swallowed hard. Was there going to be a fight?

"Five clans?" Stonestar meows, her eyes widening slightly, she turns to Blackbrook, her eyes searching. "I have not heard of so many clans before. There were always the stories of the tribe to the west of here, but.. so many other cats."

Owlshadow furrows his brow. He wasn't sure whether he really believed the loner or not. Five clans.. it seemed like a lot. Was he trying to intimidate them or something? "If Skyclan lives so far from here, how did you end up in our territory?" He asked, his head tilted to the side. He wondered what Blackbrook would tell Stonestar.. he had never heard of so many other clans, either.

"Twolegs captured you?!" Stonestar meows, swiveling her head around. Her eyes betray her emotion, and she takes a few steps towards Billystorm. "Our Deputy, Yellowclaw.. he was found dead near the border of Twolegplace several moons ago. We.. believe that Twolegs killed him, but we don't know why."
Her face clouds with emotion, but she takes a breath and calms her expression. "You were very lucky to escape unharmed, Billystorm. Can you tell me anything else about this experience? Was Abigail captured with you?"

Owlshadow forces his expression to remain consistent, but inwardly his heart rate excellerates. He and Blackbrook knew that Yellowclaw's death hadn't been at the hand of twolegs, but they had easily convinced the clan otherwise... would the testament of this loner destroy their whole plan?

Or... would this be the perfect bait to get Stonestar out of camp to investigate?
Yes.. perhaps this little intrusion wasn't so bad after all. It was a golden piece of prey, placed right at Owlshadow's paws. What better incentive to investigate the place of Yellowclaw's death than the testament of fresh faces, contributing to the growing tension with the twolegs? Perhaps the Ancestors are on Blackbrook's side after all...

This all sounded very far fetched in Blackbrook's opinion. Five clans? Wouldn't news have traveled to Cloud clan somehow? Would their clan be a part of it, somehow? No. Blackbrook knew of the tribe and dark waters and monsters that swam in the deep darkness. He didn't know a thing of these other clans. What Blackbrook knew was that these two cats would complicate the whole situation. Stonestar would want to show sympathy to them, when Owlshadow finally took the leadership position, as he should, things would be difficult. To go against the previous leader so quickly after changing leadership would seem suspicious to the clan.

Another female with kits was even more mouths to feed. Stonestar would no doubt allow them to stay, especially if the she-cat was expecting. At least his herbs for such things were stocked up, perhaps this cat would somehow kick Larkeye out of the queens den as well. He could see the annoying apprentices lurking nearby, no doubt ease dropping since they came in with the loners... where was their mother when they ACTUALLY needed her.

"Perhaps the twolegs have come looking?" Blackbrook offers, "For their lost 'kitty pets'" That itself was troublesome. Twolegs stomping around in the woods? It would definitely back up the story Owlshadow and himself had fed to Stonestar; with so much fresh two-leg scent...what cat was to say they hadn't been around before?

Stonestar looked puzzled, her mind processing the new information. Was the clan in more danger than she thought? Ever since Yellowclaw's death, she had been filled with a sense of foreboding, never able to really find the source of it all.. were the twolegs the danger she'd been sensing?
"I think that the trouble will continue to be staying away from the Twolegs.." she meowed, thoughtful.

Owlshadow took his opportunity and stepped forward. "Stonestar, we need to go out and look for ourselves. This information is all very.. valuable, but I think it would be best if we looked into these stories ourselves" he meowed, his tone pressing. "After all, you do want to find out what happened o Yellowclaw, don't you?"
The deputy looked over at Blackbrook, locking eyes with the medicine cat for a moment. Was this the chance they'd been waiting for?

"Yes.. I think you're right, Owlshadow." Stonestar meowed, nodding. "Billystorm and Abagail have given us valuable information. They are victims of the same enemy that has threatened us in the past. I see no reason to treat them as prisoners. Until I return with more information, I want them to be treated as guests in our camp. Room will be made for Abagail in the nursery, if she desires."
Owlshadow held in a groan. But he supposed he could deal with two weak loners if that's all it took to secure the right conditions for his ascension to leadership. He stepped forward before Stonestar could speak again "I will gather a patrol now, Stonestar."

Stonestar nodded, then turned to scan the faces of her clan. Who would be best suited to keeping a watch on the two loners? Her eyes rested in Minnowheart. The she-cat had seemed much less harsh than Dawnripple... she could likely be trusted to keep a watch on the two cats, while also keeping them safe from the claws of the clan.

Stormpaw watched on, and noticed the look Owlshadow shared with Blackbrook. What did that mean? He looked around, trying to see if anyone else had noticed the glance they shared. It didn't look like it. He was reminded once again of his worry about the Medicine Cat and the Deputy. He wished he could talk to someone about his suspicions but he only really knew 2 Cats in the clan, and that was Lynxsoul and Stonestar. He couldn't tell Stonestar, she wouldn't believe him. He would tell Lynxsoul, but whenever he went to say it, he stopped himself. His instincts told him to keep quiet about this to his mentor, and as awful as it sounds, he was starting to seriously doubt his trust in Lynxsoul. But why? Lynxsoul was a good cat, and he had been nothing but kind to Stormpaw.

So why, whenever Stormpaw looked at him, did he feel the same shiver down his back as when he looked at Owlshadow and Blackbrook? Surely Lynxsoul, a good and kind cat, was nothing like them! Stormpaw had no idea, but he always trusted his instincts, and until the feeling went away, he would continue to be wary of his mentor. But for once, he wished and hoped to all the ancestors above that his instincts were wrong, and that his mentor was as good a Cat as Stormpaw thought he was.

(Hey Cinnamon, I was wondering if maybe Stormpaw could have blood ties to one of the 4 original clans? Like maybe his father was a clan Cat and his mother was a rouge? Cause I haven't really figured out his backstory, and I feel like it would make him feel more comfortable in the clan if he thought he had some sort of clan blood.)

( gigithebear Two loners are in the camp and the clanmembers are currently reacting to their news that there is more than just Cloudclan. Lizardpaw or Stormberry could be reacting to this? I know Lizardpaw is against Loners, so yeah!)
( Stormblaze Yes, I'm fine with that! But how would he know he had clan blood? Which clan did he come from?)

"Minnowheart" Stonestar called out, gesturing to the she-cat with her tail. "I want you and Lynxsoul to make sure Billystorm and Abigail are comfortable here." She leaned in a bit as Minnowheart approached, lowering her voice "Keep an eye on them, but also keep an eye on our clanmtes. I don't want any fights"
Minnowheart swallowed hard, feeling nervousness flit into her chest immediately. She was to be in charge of diffusing conflict?! "Ah... y-yes, Stonestar.."

Minnowheart padded over to Lynxsoul and the two loners, avoiding eye contact. "H-hello."

Owlshadow paddedover to Blackbrook, "I think it might be a good idea if you came along, that way if any cats are injured, you can help them." He meowed, his voice somewhat forced. Blackbrook seemed to approve, guessing his game, and so Owlshadow moved on, stepping up to Dawnripple next. "And Dawnripple, your expertise here should be needed, since you first encountered the loners. Why don't you go defer to Blackbrook for instructions?"
Dawnripple and Littlespring were known followers of the medicine catt. She would likely do whatever Blackbrook told her, and Owlshadow was thankful for it.

Finally, he pricked his ears and scanned the camp for his apprentice. Ivypaw was likely lurking on the outskirts of the clearing somewhere, watching. Hopefully he would see Owlshadow looking for him and come out of hiding, so he could receive further instructions.

"Yes, of course." Blackbrook nods his head, "We don't know what could happen. As long as there are plenty of warriors left in camp nothing should happen while we are gone either. It means that those who are here should probably stay within the camp until we return, however." It'd mean fewer wandering cats in the clan. Less nosey faces to see what would happen.

Ah. Dawnripple. Their little prophecy cat. Now, Blackbrook knew she was eager to prove herself and the she-cat was very loyal to himself and Owlshadow... how would she respond to this? It was a good chance to prove where her loyalties lay. He was sure she'd rise to the occasion.

"Dawnripple." He greets the she-cat, "We have a very daunting task ahead of us." He carefully moves to lead her a few steps away. The she-cat was loyal to him. He had no reason to doubt her allegiance if he was to tell her the plan in a hushed whisper, but it was safer to be a bit away from the other cats in case there was eavesdropping.

Minnowheart felt momentarily disconcerted. But why? She shook the feeling off, nodding at Lynxsoul awkwardly.
"Oh, umm, yes" she stumbled, looking to Abigail "Would you like me to show you to the nursery?" She offered, not wanting to have to watch Billystorm. He seemed okay enough, but the idea of having to exercise authority over a strange tomcat made her incredibly anxious. She was sure he'd be safe in Lynxsoul's capable paws. The warrior always seemed to be comfortable in leadership positions anyway.

-----
( Novi )
Owlshadow began to feel impatient with the feeling of being watched. "Ivypaw" he called out, his tail twitching. "You're coming along with us, aren't you?" Where was the sneaky apprentice hiding...?

Minnowheart nodded, feeling soothed by being able to just follow Lynsxoul as he came up with orders. She assumed perhaps they would each take one of the warriors, but now that Lynxsoul had stepped forward, that seemed silly to her. Of course we'll keep them together.. groups are better, right?
He seemed to know what he was doing, so there was no reason to try to speak up herself. She looked back towards Billystorm, who still seemed nervous. But he didn't look like he wanted to run any more...so that was good. Abagail had barely spoken though, and she wondered if she was doing alright.

Carefully, she padded alongside Lynxsoul, just behind him in stride, as they walked up to the nursery.

Abigail wondered if her mate Duke was okay. "That silly tom can't sit still for a minute. If only he could've joined me," thought Abigail sadly.

Yeah, I'm not to sure about that. Maybe Billystorm could recognise the fact he looks like one of the cats that traveled to SkyClan. Idk, if you have any ideas I'm open. Probably ThunderClan, though I like ShadowClan as well.)