|☾ ☼ ϟ ≈ ☁| Dark Forest V.2 |☾ ☼ ϟ ≈ ☁|

MistShadow)

Ambershade's tail flicked as she gave an amused hum. "You know, Starclan isn't the only place that a cat can go, when their time amongst the living has run out. They had no desire to allow me to join them... and so I made this place my home instead. A Place of No Stars." She explained, before she purred, rusty and thick. "It's like a dream. You can train here with me any night you like."

---

Willow)


Fallenlight nodded once to Halfshadow, her ears flicking. "I want you to visit Juniperpaw as soon as you can. She's started wavering in her faith, Dustfire's death likely has scared her away from blind faith in Starclan. There's also room to get your paws working on Splashstone once more. He already knows us, and he's in a very dark place right now. Perhaps some stability will sway him, no matter where it comes from."

"If you give him that, then he goes running right into Stormsplash's wretched paws." Tinyspark growled, suddenly looking more than angry as she glared at Halfshadow. "That traitor deserves death, not to have a reunion with his kit." She was held back by Fallenlight's smooth tail, the tall Windclan she-cat giving a throughtful hum.

"Tinyspark. Perhaps that makes it more plausible. Imagine how much more painful it will be for Stormsplash to have his son, only to see his loyalty lie with us. He may have betrayed Adderclan, but perhaps Splashstone will not. I say, we give the poor tom what he needs. A little bit of a taste of what it's like to be able to put paws in both Clans. After all, the Dark Forest has no borders. How tempting would it be, to have no shame in learning to fight like both a Riverclan and Windclan cat." She offered. "Halfshadow can remind him that his place is amongst neither Clan, and rather, amongst the united Clans. We just need some Riverclan tutelage as well." 

"He'll never fit anywhere." Tinyspark shrugged coldly, though she seemed to have quelled her temper thanks to the Windclan cats' calamity. Instead, she mused. "Half-clan cats hardly ever do. That's why the only option they'll have is to be a part of all Clans, or a part of none at all. I miss the days when I served at Adderstar's side to make this very vision a reality. Power is what really defines who we are."

"The longer a living cat spends here willingly, the more corrupt they become." Fallenlight reminded. "Meadowbrook trained him here for moons, well into his Warriorhood. It shouldn't be hard to persuade him to yearn for that stability he gained here again." She nodded to Halfshadow. "If you visit him, bring Meadowbrook with you, and a Riverclan warrior. Perhaps Tinyspark will be willing."

"I'm always willing." Tinyspark snorted. 

"Meadowbrook's presence should get Splashstone to become more vulnerable. A... friendship, like that, it does not end so quickly, even after seeing the kind of power that Meadowbrook has come to possess." Fallenlight reminded with a flick of her tail. She mused. "Sometimes, results take patience. Especially with lost souls, like that poor tom. Perhaps he might tickle your fancy?" She taunted knowingly, aware of Halfshadow's keenness for charm and flirtation.

“Please, a lost soul with a desperation to find any sort of happiness or comfort? He’ll like any pretty words you sing to him. Toms are easy like that, sometimes.” Fallenlight smirked, though she felt a cold hatred as she thought of the tom she used to get her kits, only for them to die anyway.

Halfshadow stretched, claws flexing into the ground eagerly. "Well, I best be off to watch them then. I'll report to you with my progress Fallenlight, and you Tinyspark, I'll let you know when you're needed." he mewed with a toothy smile before disappearing into the shadows.

Fallenlight gave the younger tom a flick of her tail at his departure, before Tinyspark's snarky laugh filled the air. The Riverclan deputy crooned. "I really am impressed on how tight of a hold you have all your Windclan Warriors, Fallenlight."

"I reward results, and punish failure. Simple as that." Fallenlight mused, turning to slink back towards the shadows, where the mute Silentfeather was waiting. Goldfeather and Fireblaze would need very strong persuasion to tempt, for they were no longer apprentices, after all. And luckily, Silentfeather was best for showing, not for telling. 

(Not yet! She can ask though!)

"Oh dear. Of course, it's natural to think that." Ambershade crooned. "She is your sister. She's just as much to not be blamed as you are, for the cats Starclan pick and choose. Everybody is special, if they are willing to reach their potential. You just need to show that you are just as deserving of praise as she is." She reminded, circling Silverpaw with a hum.

Bump)

"That's a nice name!" Silverpaw mewed, "Can we... practice battle moves now?" She sat up eagerly, tail lashing. "Flareclaw taught me the front paw blow and strike, but I want to perfect it." Silverpaw blinked hopefully.

Silverpaw raced up to Ambershade, full of concentration. Claws sheathed, she raised her front paw and aimed a blow at Ambershade's muzzle.

Silverpaw stumbled, she nodded and unsheathed her claws, she raced and lashed at Ambershade's muzzle and felt her claws connect with fur.

Ambershade allowed the hit to connect, not even wincing as the apprentice’s claw slashed her muzzle. Black blood welled from the wound, and she merely grinned, teeth flashing. “Much better, Silverpaw. You’ll only get better and better if you practice. Never hold back.”

“This little thing?” Ambergaze crooned as she swept her tongue slowly across her muzzle. “I hardly feel it. Worry not about me, I’ve had far more blood than this spilled from my body.”