hi. it's me, fnc. or u cud call me zu, or amy. idrc lel

it's been- what- maybe 3 years since i was really active on here? this is an roleplay concept a friend of mine and i had. i decided to turn it into a story. here it is.

enjoy ^^

It was stormy that night; there are no other words to vividly describe it. Thunder rolled and shook the earth while lightning illuminated the sky, bewitching onlookers with its terrible beauty.

Almost all onlookers. For there were two who ignored these wretched conditions, their minds vigilant and never straying from their mission. They dared to leave the comforts of shelter and ventured out to the Border, a place that thrived with hatred and violence and prospered in the blood of others. Patrol duty was often taxing on both Clans, as full-scale battles were often fought as a result of a petty argument that escalated into a massacre on either sides.

Both stopped on the edge of both territories. Both eyed the other warily. For this was the first time they had met without the intention to kill or harm. Neither knew what to expect, but only knew what had to be done.

The figure who was pure white, a stark contrast to the dark and ominous weather, spoke first. "To be frank, I don't trust you very much."

The other shadow visibly bristled; they had a dark, muddy coat and burning blue eyes. "An admirable way to start off a meeting," they sneered; their voice was deep and baritone. It sounded male. His eyes glowed, gray and catlike. "But we both know what we must do."

"Doing and liking what you're doing are two very different things, Barkstar." In perfect opposition, the white figure's voice was soft and silky. They too sounded male. "I suppose this is why we refuse to meet in a more formal setting, and instead choose this." He sounded faintly disgusted.

Barkstar grunted. "Only thing we could do. ForestClan is thirsty for MeadowClan blood. Even my most determined warriors and deputy want in."

"It is unfortunate I can understand. I have the same problem." The white one sighed. "But hopefully, no longer."

With these simple words, the atmosphere between the two changed; the sense of hostility was finally melting away.

"My son will not be pleased with this idea to tell you the truth, Snowstar." Barkstar rubbed his face, suddenly looking very weary. "I don't think he'lll understand what's at stake. His thoughts are only selfish and unkind. He could be a great heir and an asset to the Clan if he only learned to think for more than himself."

"My thoughts exactly," Snowstar replied, "Mine is the exact same in that sense. Regardless, they'll come around. They must. With our aid, they were be the beginning, the dawn of a new age- one not consumed with death and blood."

Thunder boomed again. It started raining, lightening streaked through the, illuminating long and eerie shadows.

The new era had begun.

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

"Son, do not take that tone with me," warned Barkstar, a hint of a growl in his throat.

"I will take whatever fucking tone I please!" Crash. The crumbled pieces of a nest flew at Barkstar. He calmly dodged each branch chunk, but his patience was waning.

From the dark depths of the den slunk a dark cat, muscles rippling like surface water, eyes blazing an incredulous rage.

"Ravensky-" Barkstar began.

"Don't Ravensky me," the cat, presumably said Ravensky, snapped. "A treaty? Really? And you didn't think to discuss with it with the Clan? With me?"

"A leader does not have to ask those he leads for permission to do what is necessary," Barkstar gritted out.

"Oh, indeed?" Ravensky's eyes flared. "And what about his son? His son, who will continue to lead the Clan in his sted? Should you have at least informed him? Oh, no, why in the name of the Four Stars would you do such a thing? It would be much better to leave him in the dark, forcing him into a decision he didn't even make!"

"Don't," Barkstar lashed out, tail twitching in an effort to keep his calm. "I am sorry for springing this onto you, Ravensky. Truly. But if I had told you, what would have happened?"

Ravensky was silent.

"You know what you would have done. I would have preferred to avoid it." Barkstar shook his head wearily. "Do you think I'm happy about such an arrangement? It hurts my pride to stoop to their level. But this has gone on long enough. We can't afford any more deaths, Ravensky."

"You mean you can't." Ravensky's voice had turned scathingly deadly. "You're tired of carrying the guilt of their deaths. You're sick of the smell of their blood at your paws. So you're making this bullshit treaty, then passing up the responsibility off to me!"

"That is exactly what I'm doing." there was no remorse in Barkstar's voice. "It's for the Clan's own good. And yours, if I'm being honest."

"What does that mean?" he spat.

"The way you are now, you're not fit to be a leader," Barkstar said bluntly. "You're lazy. You lack empathy. You don't have what it takes to run a Clan of our size and caliber."

Ravensky hissed, fur bristling. "You don't know a damn thing about me, father."

"Perhaps you ought to prove me wrong, then." Barkstar lifted a shoulder, fixing his son with an inpenetrably cold stare. "Starting with attending the first Border Meeting with me. Snowstar and I are going to be working out the kinks of the treaty, and you're invited, as is his son."

"Why do I even need to be there?" Ravensky lashed out his tail, visibly frustrated. "Does it matter what I say?"

"You need to be there to meet Snowstar's son. Like you, he is in line to be the next leader of his Clan. You both have to work together to ensure the peace between both Clans is not shattered."

"Tch." Ravensky relieved his feelings by kicking a bit of broken nest. "This is so stupid. Let's just go already. I got better things to do."

In MeadowClan, things were not looking much better.

"No."

"Cottonnose," Snowstar said patiently. "I haven't even said what I wanted yet."

"You don't have to. I figured it out." Snowstar was sitting in a secluded part of the meadow, watching the rising sun. Cottonnose, his son, was calmly washing himself, but anyone who knew him could see the building anger in his eyes.

Snowstar eyed his son warily. "Figured out what?"

"The treaty, obviously." Cottonnose paused, then turned to glare at his father. "It's a ridiculous idea. There can never be peace between the two Clans. You're a fool if you think otherwise."

"Then I suppose I'm a fool," his father replied blandly. "But unfortunately for you, I am also your father. And you will do as I have told you."

"I don't have to do it happily," Cottonnose shot back. "And I am telling you, peace is a kit's dream. How long long can you stand to look at the face of one who ordered our brothers and sisters to death? "

Snowstar pursed his lips. "I understand your hatred, Cottonnose. It is mine." he rested his tail tip on his shoulder. "But we must rise above that hate, for the sake of the brothers and sisters that are still alive. We must protect them. This is the only way."

Cottonnose considered, then bowed his head. "I suppose I cannot argue that if the treaty were to work, MeadowClan would prosper greatly." he looked up, staring directly at his father, a challenging gaze for once. "And what do you plan to do if ForestClan decides to do done with this ruse?"

Snowstar smiled, but it wasn't a kind one. It was one lined with anger, sealed with dark promises. "That, my son, is something you won't needn't worry about."

"Oh, for fuck's sake."

Those were the first words that came out of Ravensky's mouth when he first laid eyes upon Cottonnose. He had the eyes that mirrored the color of the sky; his fur glistened a healthy copper brown. He had the build of a cat who had lived in luxury. Nothing like Ravensky's, whose lanky frame was visible through his black fur due to slight malnutrition. This cat was next in line to be the leader of MeadowClan, their sworn and most greatest enemy.

And he. Was wearing. Flowers?

He was hardly aware of the glare his father had shot him. Was someone playing a joke on him? Why was the future leader of MeadowClan dressed like an entitled kit playing dress-up?

Ravensky's eyes narrowed. Perhaps the flower crown was a ploy, part of some bigger plot to overthrow ForestClan, make it seem like MeadowClan was weak and stupid, so they would be lulled into a false sense of security.

As if Ravensky were about to let that happen.

"Barkstar. Ravensky," Snowstar greeted the pair of them formally, white pelt glowing in the sunlight. They had chosen to meet in a more private area of the Border, one not overrun with blood; both leaders had taken it to be a sign that this area was the correct place to hold the first Meeting.

Barkstar nodded back in acknowledgement; Ravensky contented himself to continue to stare frostily at his son.

"I see you've brought Cottonnose," Barkstar said.

Cottonnose blinked at Barkstar's recognition. "Hello, Barkstar," he replied quietly. Four Stars help him, Ravensky hated him more by the second. "I trust you and your Clan are in good health?'

"Of course." there was a challenging note in Barkstar's response.

Cottonnose registered this, and bowed his head quickly. "I meant no disrespect, I-"

"I grow weary of this idle chitchat," Snowstar interjected impatiently. "Let us get on with things. In order to foster peace between the Clans, we cannot just tell our warriors a treaty is in place and hope they shall follow. I have observed that Clan pride is easily wounded."

"I don't deny it," Barkstar acquiesced. "A few snide remarks from either side can lead to unwanted bloodshed. That needs to be addressed."

"I would suggest a few level headed cats to watch over the patrols," Snowstar murmured. "But I'm afraid of overworking them. There are many patrols, and there are little cats who will agree a treaty was our best option."

"Then instead of babysitting them, we could address the cats who keep starting the fights in question."

All eyes turned to Ravensky. He plunged on.

"A lot of the fighting on the Border is a result of one thing. Personal revenge. This cat killed another cat's sister, or something, so they'll kill them in revenge. It's a cycle, you see? And of course, that's multipled by the Clanmates anger at having on of their own killed. But it all starts with payback. The insults won't stop flying on either side, because neither are addressing the members who are in deep grief."

"Quite the observation," Snowstar agreed. Barkstar's look of disapproval for Ravensky's interruption had melted into something like fatherly pride. Ravensky felt his pelt warm up with it. ''So. We know what the problem is. Knowing what the problem is, we can narrow it down to who has this problem. The only remaining question would be-"

"-why," finished Cottonnose, stepping in, clearly eager to voice his opinion. Ravensky scoffed quietly. "If I may, father, I would like to propose a solution."

"A solution?" echoed Snowstar. "You have concocted one already?"

"A vague idea," admitted Cottonnose. "But an idea. A way to give them closure that doesn't result in murder. A way to clear all prejudices against the Clans." he paused, obviously for dramatic effect. It worked, Ravensky had to admit; everyone was practically leaning in.

"One of us will go to live with the other Clan for an extended period of time."

There was a ringing silence following this. Then-

"You think us gullible fools?" spat Ravensky, jumping to his paws, fur bristling, teeth bared. "Oh, yes, I'll come with you. Let you wrap me up in fucking flowers, make me all nice and pretty so you can prance me over to your Clanmates and let them devour me for dinner. I'll pass."

"I said one of us!" Cottonnose protested, getting up. "One. That doesn't necessarily mean you. It could be m-"

"I won't allow it," Snowstar interjected coldly.

"Weren't you just preaching about how important it was to foster peace?" Ravensky said mockingly.

Snowstar narrowed his eyes at Ravensky but said nothing.

"Please listen," Cottonnose pleaded with them, eyes bright. "Ravensky and I are going to be the leaders of our respective Clans someday, it's true, but we are also going to be future allies. We have to get to know each other. This is the perfect time, when we're still considered equals instead of leaders among our fellow warriors. Plus, this way, we could also possibly tackle the closure problem in our Clans. It makes sense!"

"Look, Daisy, I don't know if you noticed? But our Clans don't exactly have a history of mutual trust," growled Ravensky. "You haven't addressed my point. You could easily hold me ransom."

Cottonnose frowned at the nickname but brushed it away. "And you could do the same with me. We won't get anywhere unless we begin to trust each other. Don't you see?"

Barkstar had been sitting quietly, but now he spoke. "Son, I'm afraid he has a point."

"What?" Ravensky spun to him. "Are you out of your mind? You're backing him up? His own fucking father doesn't agree with his stupid plan! And you do?"

"Language," snapped Barkstar.

"I'll watch my language around you when you watch what you say!" retorted Ravensky, angry. And the teeniest bit hurt. "Can you even hear yourself?"

"This is how we protect our Clan, Ravensky," hissed Barkstar. "We must. For the sake of the Clan, we must."

"What about me, huh?" Oh, fuck. His voice had cracked. "What about protecting me?"

Barkstar closed his eyes, an unknown expression twitching over his face. But when he opened them, they were all steel. "You can look after yourself."

Father and son glared at each other, tension as sharp as a cat's claw, until Snowstar broke in.

"I understand this is a delicate situation," Snowstar said, sympathy crawling into his voice. "But… a few things are still unclear. Is Ravensky-?'

"Yes." Barkstar turned away from Ravensky dismissively. "He will be coming to live in MeadowClan."

Ravensky felt like he was underwater, sinking deeper to the bottom. The rest of the Meeting sounded muffled, like they were speaking at great distance and he was straining to hear.

Sold. That horrifying word kept echoing in his brain. I've been sold off to MeadowClan by my very own father. For peace that might not even be possible.

His father cared more about his position than he did his own flesh and blood.

Ravensky closed his eyes, feeling the beginnings of a pounding headache coming on. His relationship with his father had always been more on the fraught side, and he wasn't about to pretend that some of it wasn't his fault. He was completely aware he wasn't the straight-back responsible poster child of goody goody, moral-abiding suck-ups that his father wanted. But he thought- well.

He never thought his father would do this to him. It was basically a death sentence.

"... And I suppose that would be all," Snowstar concluded. "When should we be expecting to house your son?"

"Now," confirmed Barkstar.

That snapped Ravensky out of his daze. "Now?"

"Now?" echoed Cottonnose echoed confusedly. Stars above, Ravensky could claw his nose off. His stupid suggestion started all this. "But-"

"Now," repeated Barkstar firmly. "I shall deal with the Clan on my own. But this needs to be implemented straight-away, or else doubt shall start to fester."

"Of course," Snowstar said, slightly taken aback. "Well. I would say this Meeting was productive. I suppose we'll meet here again next moon?"

"You can count on it." Barkstar made to turn away, then paused. "Ah. Snowstar. If I hear so much a word of treachery… if you were to back on your promise, and lay a paw on Ravensky…"

His tone was all casual politeness, but the tightening of his muscles and the hardness of his gaze implicated something else.

To his credit, Snowstar didn't flinch. "We'll keep our word," he replied. "See you soon."

What was the point of threatening them? Ravensky turned away from his father bitterly and followed Snowstar out. If it came to it, you would give me away again to protect the Clan.

Cottonnose slowed down, coming to trot beside him. "Are you alright?" he asked in a low voice.

"Fuck off, Daisy." but there was no snarl in his voice. No anger.

Only despair.

They were headed off to MeadowClan.