Warrior Cat Clans 2 (WCC2 aka Classic) is a roleplay site inspired by the Warrior series by Erin Hunter. Whether you are a fan of the books or new to the Warrior cats world, WCC2 offers a diverse environment with over a decade’s worth of lore for you - and your characters - to explore. Join us today and become a part of our ongoing story!
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11.06.2022 The site has been transformed into an archive. Thank you for all the memories here!
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Last time he'd stepped foot in SunClan territory-- in true SunClan territory-- it had been lush, alive. Teeming with life from the smallest ant to the largest fox. He'd held anger in his heart and fire in his soul, and while that fire had not been extinguished, Crow had learned how to wield it for more than just rage. For warmth and for light, as a beacon to guide him through the darkness into new dawns and as a signal to those that needed a sign to keep going. He pushed forward with hope at his heels, his steps purposeful even as he stepped into the charred remains of SunClan.
For the first time in his whole life, being here, right smack in the center of what Crow once considered the worst place on earth, he did not feel weighed down. He didn't feel the need to glance over his shoulder, to walk with his head down, eyes low. His firebright eyes were cast straight ahead of him, dark chin held aloft, and his limping stride seemed to hinder him less than before. He was only scarcely older than he was then, but he'd traveled and met many others, learned how to survive alone and among friends, even pioneered his own group. His own family.
But he wouldn't forget her. Crow could never forget Nightmarepaw, his truest friend, or their promise.
He ventured to that empty-eyed skull, the skeletal beast that had listened to them and held their secrets, and leaped to the top of it. Stars reflected off its pale surface but he did not marvel at their reflective presence, nor stray his attention across the wasteland that was his former home, merely stared ahead and waited. Expecting, hoping. Hoping she remembered, too.
Nightmarepaw made her way through Sunclan territory, memories flooding back as she took in the charred land. The half moon hung high in the air, casting a silvery glow onto the ash covered ground. It has been some time since the fire but the destruction had been so severe, the land had been dubbed inhabitable until further notice. She had been living in Dayclan for now but had been considering joining Moonclan after her clan moves back to Sunclan territory. Unfortunately, it seemed as if Sunclan would never move back. She was warned by Autumngossamer to never go back for Bloodystar was sure to kill her even though he had raised her. She had two cats in two different clans wanting her dead but that didn't stop her from meeting Crowpaw. He had been her truest and only real friend. She knew if she could trust anyone, it would be him.
The last time she had seen him, they had been fresh apprentices. Young and wild, only caring about the fun they would have together. Now, Nightmarepaw had grown since then. Her kitten fur had almost completely disappeared and smooth, glossy fur was taking its place. She would look absolutely stunning if it weren't for the hate and anger in her eyes. As she walked, her claws glinted in the moonlight and the way the light caught her eye, gave them the impression of glowing. She looked menacingly in an elegant type way. It wasn't long before the skull came into view, and soon, she saw Crowpaw. Her heart skipped as she neared him. The last memory she had of him was watching him walk away and wonder if he would keep his promise. It turned out he had but would their relationship be the same?
"Crowpaw." She greeted as she came to a halt in front of him. Nightmarepaw looked powerful, her muscles showing nicely underneath her smooth coat. She held an attractive confidence, her chin lifted and her tail whisking behind her in gentle movements. Her stride was also quite powerful and stunning, nothing like the kitten Crowpaw had last seen. "You came."
She was like the night itself, detaching as if coalesced out of shadow and starlight, and he felt the angst in his belly dissipate. "Of course. We promised," he responded warmly, but his tone wavered at the severe look in her eyes. Sharper than ice. He opted not to address that yet, though he knew the root was likely still the same anger she'd expressed over her mother the last time they spoke. "It's just Crow now. I dropped my clan suffix after I...yknow, after I left. I feel likes it's been moons since we've been here." His laugh was a hollow sound, vacant of mirth.
He hazarded a step forward, hesitated, then decided he didn't care how long it'd been and moved forward to touch his nose-- gently, fleetingly-- to her cheek. "I missed you, Nightmarepaw."
"Crow..." she repeated back as if giving the name some thought. He sure had grown, too. Despite the time that had come between them, Crow was still just as friendly with her as they had always been. However, Nightmarepaw did not have the same friendly enthusiasm to see him as he did her. She missed him of course but she just cloudn't feel anything anymore and was still quite bitter at him for leaving her. She was taken by surprise when he moved in and touched his nose to her cheek. She stiffened and didn't return the gesture. When he pulled away, a dark look was in her eyes but she replied anyway. "I missed you too, Crow." Though her words sounded hollow and empty, as if there were no emotional attachment to him anymore. "Is life everything you thought it was outside of the clans?" She asked, trying to start a conversation to avoid anymore feelings.
How could eyes burning so hot be so frigid at the same time?
Ice pricked in his veins, chilling him to the bone, and Crow stepped back, stepped away. His own gaze reflected the piercing hurt he felt deep in his soul. "Yeah," he mumbled with less enthusiasm than he'd exuded previously, "it's been...really good, actually. I've met a lot of different cats, and I have a small group now. I called it the Syndicate." There were certain aspects of his new life he omitted, his loitering around SummerClan for instance, and instead said, "You'll always be welcome there, if you ever wanted to leave. But what about you? How are things here?" He spoke with a different loftiness than before, more reserved now.
Nightmarepaw looked back toward Dayclan territory, staring off into the distance before responding. "It's...as good as it can be, I suppose. I'm being trained by a professional to take down my mother...Angelicpaw healed but...her fur hasn't grown back on her face and the medicine cat doesn't think it ever will. She's blind in the eye that was burned. Other than that she's fine, I'm fine." She turned back to him. "So your living your dream, then. You've got that gang you wanted. Looks like things are looking good for you."
He couldn't say he was sympathetic over Angelicpaw's situation in the least, and as if in memory of Nightmarepaw's sister, a phantom throb surged through his weakened leg. "Same for you. You're doing what you wanted to do-- get strong enough to take down Flamingstar," Crow noted without a mention of her sister or the dissatisfaction in her tone when she spoke of his life. There were multiple things he wanted to say, to ask, but there was distance between them now that he wasn't sure they could ever close. "I'm sorry for how this all turned out," was what he finally said, the silence too heavy to bear any longer. "I didn't want to hurt you like I did, but... Being in SunClan, being surrounded by all of those cats who hated my existence... It would have killed me eventually. My father and all my siblings are all gone. No one wanted me there. I'm happy for what feels like the first time."
Crow knew that would sting. He may as well have taken a knife and plunged it into her chest, but her coldness hurt just as much.
She shot him a glare that could kill. "Yes, your happy. I wanted you there. Was that not enough for you? Did I not make you happy? I thought it was us against the world but then you ran...you ran like a coward instead of facing your fears and your heartache and come out stronger in the end with me." She flexed her claws as her fur bristled along her spine. She was too hurt to reason with him, to understand why he left. All she wanted was her friend back but all of the childish innocence was nothing but a memory now. Now, in its place, were scars, hurt, and betrayal. It was as if the world suddenly went from rainbows and sunshine to storm clouds and rain.
"Coward?" His laugh now wasn't exactly hollow. No, it was a shaky, bitter sound. "I'm not a coward for choosing myself first, for the first and only time ever." Maybe he used to think so, but Crow didn't feel the same self loathing and uselessness he once did. He didn't live in anyone's shadow anymore; he didn't step in between pain and its victims, hoisting himself up into its clutches on a silver platter. "You were my best friend, Nightmarepaw. Of course you made me happy. You were the only thing that made me happy. I may have left SunClan, but I never walked away from you. I never shut you out. It's you that's doing that."
"Do you even want to be here?" Crow's question was pointed, searching. It lacked his sudden intensity and bore directly to the core of his concerns, watching Nightmarepaw's expression for any signs of hesitation.
"I did, until now." She replied back, her eyes narrowing. "Clearly we've both changed and have grown apart. I thought our friendship would be strong enough to withstand the distance but it obviously has not "
A splinter cracked the barrier around his heart, Crow's pain beginning to bleed out. "I just want to understand," he begged. "You-- You're so upset with me. For leaving. But I asked you to come with me and you said no. I left, sure, but you chose this path over me, too." He'd meant his promise that their friendship would outlast the distance, but her words cut deeper than any blade ever could. He couldn't imagine this being the end of them.
Nightmarepaw's hard stare softened for the first time since she arrived. She let out a long sigh. "I'm...I'm sorry. Your right...I did choose a different path over you, I can't - shouldn't be mad at you...I guess I'm just more mad that I'm not any closer to getting my revenge. I feel like it is taking far too long and on top of that, I had to say goodbye to my friend. I just don't know what to do anymore. I'm lost and it's turning into anger."
Noticing that her rigid guard fell, allowing for stray glimpses of the friend he knew, Crow relaxed and seated himself across from her. "I'm sorry things aren't turning out how you want them to. If you're ever interested, the offer for you to come join me still stands. The gang would love to have you. I...I would love to have you." Selfishly, he longed for her to give up her quest for revenge, to come away and live a freed life, not bound by the regulations of a clan and with no worry besides what to eat that day. At the same time he knew her desires as well as if they were his own... because they had been his, once. He could still remember the violent storm that churned in his belly, feel himself give into the welcoming embrace of wrath.
"I-I..." She hesitated, looking out toward the other clan territories. Angelicpaw didn't need her at the moment, they had not heard from their mother, and for all she knew, her mother still thought they were dead. Perhaps if Angelicpaw kept a low profile, Angelicpaw would be safe long enough for Nightmarepaw to gain strength and experience to take out their mother. Joining Crow would give her that experience she is lacking. Perhaps she could pick up on a few things while on their journeys. She turned back to Crow, her gaze softened. "You'd still have me?"
He saw her features soften before he heard her question, and suddenly a trill of excitement gusted through him. "Of course. You're always welcome," he insisted, and continued, "There's nine of us in total-- ten, counting you. I think you'll like them. They're all so unique, but they're great friends."
"You have yourself an army, then." She commented before nodding and deciding on her answer. "I will join you for a short time. Perhaps I can learn something that will help me from your group." It would feel good for them to be together again.
"Less an army, more a family." Crow's correction was gentle but quick; he didn't think of his companions as a fighting force, and he didn't want to give off that impression to Nightmarepaw. But his smile never faltered nor did its pure joy. "Think you'll stick with Nightmarepaw or drop the clan suffix?"
"I'd for sure drop the suffix. It sounds much more intimidating to be called Nightmare with no other name at the end. What do you think?" She asked with a whisk of her tail.
