`` V I S I O N A R Y
&& it's a tangled forest full of thorns
open your eyes, your heart, your mind.
Two WindClan warriors are caught up in a deadly plot against the WindClan leader—can their deceased father uncover an answer through visions of his own past before it's too late?
All my characters are, obviously, mine.
Russet, Demon, etc. You know.
All Erin Hunter's characters are, obviously, hers.
That means Tallstar. And Warriors.
All PRESENT events—that is to say, Fickle and Black
And all those things that appear in the pool
Credit is SHARED with Streakz, who schemed along with me
In our creation of that insane plot.
HOWEVER- the insane plot of RUSSET'S life is all ME
So. Don't steal.
Or I'll FREEEEEEAK –spazzout-
Thank you to the people who reviewed 8D
It made my heart warm lolol I really appreciate it.
And as for you people who didn't review –clicks tongue-
Demon's gonna come eat you in your sleep.
Lol. Kidding. She wouldn't eat you.
Not while you were sleeping, anyway.
c h a p t e r f o u r – the purpose.
When next the pool's milky depths cleared, an unbroken stretch of snow covered the ground in a cloak of blinding white. A thin black form stood out, infinitely dark, against the icy expanse—she padded towards the barn with the skinny body of a rat clamped in her jaws, triangular head held high as she returned to her home.
That dark ginger form was waiting for Demon at the entrance, and far from the frightened, semi-disgusted look in the tom's jade eyes that Tallstar had observed last when he'd encountered the aggressive rogue… he seemed rather relieved to see her.
"You're back!" he meowed, relaxing, as she pushed past him into the warmer space within. Her inky fur was frosted with flakes of the blizzard outside, and she shook her pelt to clear it, sending snow flying in all directions.
"Sorry to scare you, kitty," she meowed, flicking him with the tip of her dark tail as she dropped the rodent on the ground. "I caught you a rat. Catch me any?" Her voice was slightly mocking, but she certainly seemed at least friendlier than last time.
Russetstripe flattened his ears in shame, and Demon snorted, not needing to hear an answer. Tallstar could tell by the set of his head that the ginger cat was expecting at the very least a lecture—he noted there were a few more scars on the former-WindClanner's pelt since last he'd seen him. But the shadowy fela surprised him.
"Mmph. Well, I guess that's okay," the rogue meowed critically. "I barely caught this one, after all, and had to chase it out in the city." Russetstripe flicked an ear in surprise, purring slightly at the not-praise. Demon scowled and clonked him with a paw to still his pleasure, but seemed to be in a good mood.
"Here. You can have it," Russetstripe told her, which surprised even Tallstar. Demon started in place, her eyes widening for a moment—apparently she wasn't used to the former-WindClanner being generous, especially with the level of hunger he'd surely demonstrated during the transition from warrior to rogue. She darted forward and started to take it in her mouth, but hesitated for a moment.
"Well, can't have you starving either," Demon muttered almost to herself and straightened up. "Say—why don't we share it?" She blinked as if she was shocked to hear the words coming out of her own mouth—'sharing' was not something that was practiced in the rogue culture. It seemed while Demon wore off on the young tomcat, he was wearing off on her, which could only be a good thing, Tallstar thought.
Blinking in astonishment, but quickly adjusting and nodding eagerly, Russetstripe placed the rat on the ground and started to eat, Demon working away on the carcass from the other side. They were so close their fur was touching as silently they ate. Leaf-bare was hard in the Clans—it could only be harder in the world of loners.
When they'd finished, the night-cloaked she-cat sat up, licking her lips in a satisfied way, and gave Russetstripe a sidelong glance, studying him carefully. Obviously even the aggressive rogue was not completely immune to the tom's inherent charm, and after a moment she spoke.
"You know," she drawled as if it was a routine matter, cleaning one paw in a nonchalant way. "It's not bad. Having you around." She glanced over at Russetstripe, and for a flickering moment, she looked almost shy before her haughty expression resumed.
"Hmph." She grumbled before turning away, but not fast enough to miss the gratified, pleased smile that flashed across her ginger companion's face. That smile that had broken hearts, claimed lives—a mere rogue's pride was no match for it.
"Thanks, Demon."
^ ^ : ^ ^
The tall black-and-white StarClanner sighed, a mournful, windy sound that cast a breeze down in the forest below. He turned towards the starry tomcat at his side, flicking his ears as slowly the ginger warrior met his eyes. "You were learning," he observed. "Demon made you into a better cat—and a better warrior."
Russetstripe after a moment shook his head. "No." He meowed bitterly. "Yes, she helped me—but I didn't learn." A cold fury with himself entered his voice as he turned away, shaking his head. "I never learn."
His gaze had returned to the contents of the water, which had, without the tom's direct attention, reverted to the events of the present, where even now a horrific battle was taking place between the small WindClan leader and the giant rogue. The tortoiseshell skidded, slipped in a mud puddle, and the massive flame-colored tom snatched him, lifting him up for a death bite. Tallstar flinched—he knew this was a nine-lived leader, but still…
For some reason, the crazy cat set Ficklestar back down, but it was not out of compassion or a sudden change of heart. That simply wasn't the way the ginger cat wanted to kill Ficklestar, and as they resumed battling, Tallstar sent a glance towards Russetstripe filled with compassion and horror.
"What's going on?" he asked, yet again. "Russetstripe, what's happening?"
Russetstripe sighed. "The Ficklestar's brother hired that rogue," he indicated with his tail the massive tomcat charging the tortoiseshell leader, "To kill him. As you can see, he's not doing much to help." With not scorn, but a soft sadness, he jabbed his dark orange tail at the piebald warrior who, indeed, was merely cowering back, ears flattened, making no move to help nor hinder his brother fighting for his life.
"Neither is your son," Tallstar pointed out, glowering with frustration. For the first time in many moons he became very aware, and very interested, in the affairs of the living. Usually it was only those recently past or those with unfinished business who gazed by the viewing pools, an act the black-and-white StarClanner had not done in a very, very long time.
Now? He found himself oddly fascinated by the scenes, both of the present and of Russetstripe's life. The ginger tomcat turned on him, teeth bared. "Assassin went to scout for danger," he spat, and despite himself Tallstar flinched back before delivering a cold stare back to the younger warrior.
"Well, I can't see anything that would be more dangerous than that rogue!" he growled. "He's thrashing Ficklestar. I doubt Assassin could do anything anyway."
Russetstripe spat, voice suddenly bitter again as he lowered his head. "There's plenty he can do, has done," he said, and he was no longer angry—just old. Old, and bitterly wise. "Much more than any warrior—or rogue—should ever have to say they had. And it was all my fault…"
Tallstar flicked his tail anxiously. "Go on," he said urgently, fur on end as he stared at the screaming battle going on below. "I'm waiting."
He didn't have to wait long.
w r i t e r c o m m e n t s –
-sigh- as I get into the characters I start getting depressed about what's gonna happen… urgh. Oh well.
Please review, lol, just to help me out and keep my inspiration flowing.
3 I get super excited when I get reviews lol.
You can just picture this crazy chick bouncing up and down in her chair.
Like ZOMG I HAVE A REVIEW AHH AHH AHH
Just like that. Lol. Russet licks youu 3