Passing Through the Rainforest ... • {Joust and Backwards} •

[Vivid]

Eaglespirit remained silent, staring at everyone with pained, hurt green eyes.

Echotalon wanted to say something, but couldn't manage anything to come out.

The Egyptain Mau curled up and closed her eyes.

Larkflight sighed. "She defend us, wouldn't you?"

Eaglespirit nodded hollowly.

Silverstreak purred, but it was slightly rusty.

[dizzy hurricane.]

Snakestar looked at Eclipsesun, and something passed between them that some of the other warriors noticed, but didn't understand. Snakestar dipped his head, and Eclipsesun flicked her tail in response. You'll have to see what it means. Then Snakestar raised his head and said, "Some of the warriors will, of course, stay back. As usual."

Eclipsesun's whole body tingled at what Snakestar had 'said' to her. She was frightened beyond belief. And the others cats could smell it. [fear-scent]

Rainshadow crinkled his nose and glared at Eclipsesun. "Relax, kitten. I'll make sure none of the SeaClan warriors get to you," he teased harshly.

Amberlily raised her head. Eclipsesun, scared? Then she noticed Eaglespirit and felt hollow inside. Poor Eaglespirit ...

Cedarflame shook out his fur.

Dewpaw sighed.

Icepaw joined the two elders and mewed, quite scared, "Are the SeaClan cats coming to attack us?"

Coalbreeze shook her head sadly and looked at Silverstreak for help.

[Vivid]

Eaglespirit didn't respond. Her dead, hollow self stared at nothing, her green eyes dull/

Venomslash sighed. "Mouse-dung happens! Let's get over it!"

Larkflight looked between Eaglespirit and Venomslash, hissing at the tom.

Mudpelt sighed and watched the Mau.

Leopardclaw didn't care.

Silverstreak shrugged, his mouth opening. And then closing. "It may or may not happen," he told the Apprentice slowly.

[dizzy hurricane.]

Snakestar hissed at Venomslash. "Be nice," he warned, unsheathing his claws. Then he sighed and said to the Clan, "We also may have a new member to the Clan. Venomslash and I found this brave she-cat in the forest, and she told us she would like to find a Clan. We invited her gratefully." His eyes flashed a warning to the Clan; doubt her fighting skills, and she would rip your tail off.

Eclipsesun trembled and ran back to her den. With quivering paws she counted herbs to calm herself. If she could, she'd be crying. Why was Snakestar doing this to her?

Rainshadow heaved a sigh and looked at the she-cat.

Amberlily buried her nose back in her friend's cooling fur.

Cedarflame's cheek wound reopened, and he went to Eclipsesun.

Dewpaw sighed again.

Icepaw lowered her eyes.

Coalbreeze put her nose to the apprentice's.

[Vivid]

Eaglespirit was hollow. She didn't hear a word.

Egyptian Mau raised her head proudly after standing up. She glared at everyone of them, and looked around. "I am Cheetahspots," she growled, low in her throat. She kept her eyes on Venomslash, and watched Cedarflame leave. Those were immediately her enemies.

Hawkpaw was frightened by the sly she-cat.

Echotalon welcomed her as grasciously as he could.

Venomslash hissed at her, and then nodded reluctantly to Snakestar.

Mudpelt laughed and strutted up to Cheetahspots and rubbed her cheek against hers. "Welcome~" She then padded off, leaving Cheetahspots looking horrified.

Silverstreak sighed. "It happens. Not much we can do to prevent it."

[dizzy hurricane.]

Snakestar looked down at Cheetahspots. "Do you wish to stay?"

Eclipsesun looked up at Cedarflame. "I told you not to reopen that," she muttered to herself and re-dressed it.

"Welcome to the Clan," Rainshadow mumbled.

Amberlily stretched.

Cedarflame mewed quietly, "Eclipsesun, what's wrong? Snakestar told you something, didn't he? What'd he tell you? I can keep a secret."

Dewpaw smiled at the Egyptian Mau, Cheetahspots.

Icepaw nodded.

Coalbreeze sighed.

[Vivid]

Echotalon smiled at Cheetahspots.

Cheetahspots nodded. "You all are the nicest Clan out there. And I don't mean that in a good way." She sighed and stood up. She looked at Dewpaw, and her gaze seemed to lighten at the Apprentice. She then whipped on Rainshadow. She batted at him, purposely missing, but close enough to give him a stare.

Venomslash smirked at Rainshadow and took off into brush.

Larkflight sighed and looked at her Apprentice. She approached Cheetahspots kindly. She gave her a smile.

[dizzy hurricane.]

Snakestar mumbled, "Clan meeting dismissed." He raced to the medicine cat's den. "Eclipsesun!" He shouted.

Eclipsesun gave him the coldest stare in the history of cold stares."What, Snakestar?" She smirked. "Here to give me another impossible task, in hopes that I die doing one or the other?" She accidentally unsheathed her claws, and since she was still healing Cedarflame, he got quite a nasty scrape.

Rainshadow hissed back at her and gave her a swipe with unsheathed claws.

Amberlily looked around, confused.

Cedarflame hissed at Eclipsesun, and then said, "Wait. What?" He stared at Snakestar, believing every word of Eclipsesun's.

Dewpaw smiled at Cheetahspots.

Icepaw dipped her head and padded away.

Coalbreeze resumed grooming Silverstreak.

[Vivid]

Eaglespirit hadn't moved once. She sat there. Then she slouched, her paws over her face again. On the inside was a weeping tiger, but on the outside was a pitiful cat of flames.

Cheetahspots smiled at Dewpaw. She padded over and sat by Dewpaw. "Can you, Little Cat, help me learn everyone's names?" She didn't laugh, or smile any longer, but her gaze had lightened by a couple pounds.

Larkflight tried not to be defensive.

Mudpelt approached Amberlily slowly. "This is not a good time for our Apprentices ..."

Silverstreak purred, deep and throaty.

[dizzy hurricane.]

Snakestar kept a collected expression. "Eclipsesun, you know it's not impossible." He gave her forehead a quick lick. "I have faith in you."

Eclipsesun sighed. "Snakestar, I don't know. It's been many moons. I probably won't remember it when the time comes ..."

Snakestar shook his head. "Eclipsesun, it's in your blood."

Rainshadow blinked slowly and approached Eaglespirit. "Are you ... okay?"

Amberlily nodded vaguely, not really hearing. Her ears were ringing. "No, not at all," she croaked.

Cedarflame yawned. "I don't know what you two are talking about."

Dewpaw dipped her head. "Sure," she smiled. "You already know Snakestar's name, no?"

Icepaw sidled up to Dewpaw and gazed at Cheetahspots fearlessly, smiling briefly at her.

Coalbreeze smiled.