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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She had taken his word that this was for the best. She didn't understand his motivations, or really much about the tom. What made him pick her? She hadn't inquired much at the time; the quick shock of her world being turned upsidedown had left her with little time for self-reflection or introspection. The events of the last moons had worn on her. She had her nine lives now, though, so it was only time to understand why. That wasn't the only reason she had requested his company that evening, though. Although she did genuinely have questions for him, it was not her only motive. Just as he had trusted in her ability, she now wanted to trust his.
"Thank you again for coming with me, Phantomfox," she meowed to the tom as the duo walked through the territory. She had told him that he was needed to help her patrol the SunClan border. It was an easy guise that no warrior could refuse, and that was partially why she had invited him. It also gave her a reason to mark the borders of the group she trusted least. "How have you been fairing with... everything?"
If she intended to discern his thoughts through his eyes, she'd find that anything that may have flashed in the silver optics was stifled by a brooding pallor. He kept them raised, however, eying the tops of the branches overhead rather than to focus attention on Aspenstar where she ambled beside him. They came out on simple enough pretenses-- a leader requesting a patrol with a warrior, who also happened to be the previous, very brief leader-- but he'd observed enough of her to guess that not everything on this walk was as it appeared.
"My pleasure," he grunted, the chills in his tone reminiscent of the breeze snaking through the air around them and inciting goosebumps along his flesh, despite his long fur. The aroma of SunClan caused him to wrinkle his nose, and the thought flared in his mind that he should have chosen another clan that didn't border the cult to lead. "I've been fine. Recovering from all the fun, you know? How is leadership serving you?" His gaze flashed to her now, curious. It hadn't taken him long to decide the politics of leading were not for him, and he was intrigued to uncover how Aspenstar was handling her newfound responsibilities he'd thrust upon her.
She let out a soft chuckle as he spoke. Wasn't that the truth, everyone was just recovering from the fun of the last moons. At least NightClan had made it out relatively unscathed. Sure, the whole Flamingstar thing wasn't ideal, but at least they weren't reduced to ash. As they reached the SunClan border, Aspenstar found herself thankful. The ruins of destruction were still new. But, that was neither here nor there. She was trying not to concern herself with the other Forest Clans, at least not yet.
She then offered a shrug. "Oh, you know," she replied to his question. "It's not all that it's cracked up to be, my bones still ache from my naming ceremony. They don't tell you how much it hurts to get lives cosmically added to you in the textbooks, that's for sure." She laughed again, before blinking. "In all seriousness, though, I think I'm adjusting. It'll take time to rebuild what NightClan once had, but I am confident that we will be able to in time."
His maw quirked in a sardonic simper, recalling his own lives ceremony. "If they told us that, no one would want to be leader, would they?" The addition of extra lives was perhaps the only perk he'd retained from his stint in power-- and the only one he enjoyed as well. Even now, he itched to spy a SunClanner intruding upon their terf so he could launch into battle without reservations (not that he had any before). Unfortunately, the desecrated land on the other side was devoid of the life that teemed in NightClan's territory, neither a clan cat nor field mouse scurrying about.
"I'm sure you'll be able to steer NightClan back to its glory. I was confident when I handed the title over to you, and that hasn't changed yet. I don't think you'll give me a reason to regret that decision." He saw potential in Aspenstar, something that separated her from the rest despite her relative youth. He'd been quick to silence any dissenters so far, those who'd disputed his own lead and who weren't as quick to entrust a second new leader to sweep in on the tailwind of Flamingstar's plight.
"I suppose you're right," she agreed with a smirk. "It does feel good to have a little extra life coursing through my veins, though, once the shock settled." She was in no way Phantomfox. She didn't relish the idea of fighting, although she would quickly throw hands with anyone who dared bother NightClan. After all, she was no pacifist. No leader of the Forest Clans could be, at least none in her position. It was a dark, dangerous world out there, and nothing would touch the clan she so desperately loved.
"Thank you for your kind words," she then meowed, fighting the shine of pride that loomed in the depths of her mismatched eyes. "That was part of the reason I asked you to accompany me." She moved her gaze to the SunClan land they approached, her nostrils flaring slightly at the unfortunate smell of destruction and SunClan. It was a bad combination. The cult's horrid stench was one thing, but adding to it was a little much for her. I wonder how long it is until they return to their home, she found herself thinking, before quickly refocusing to the discussion at hand.
"I have been meaning to ask you about that, but I wanted the dust to settle a little before I did." The dust had settled now, at least as much as she thought it would. "Out of all cats in the group to pass over the buck to, why me?" Why me? That was the question of the hour, the one she had asked herself every moment since he had first approached her. He had to have a reason, right? A divine intervention, maybe? It was the only thing that seemed to make sense. She might have understood had he asked her to be deputy- she was a rising warrior who was making quick work of anything she was asked to get done. But, he hadn't asked her that, he had asked her for so much more.
He'd asked the same of the stars but had received no reply, only a twinkle in the sky revealing their bemusement. Phantomfox had wondered if they often laughed at all their descendents as they seemed to do him, and he noted with some vague feeling of relief to hear that Aspenstar had the same wonder, though he would not be as cruel as the silent, glittering night to leave her grasping for closure. That was amusing in itself; a Phantomfox who was reserving his antagonistic streak and actively doing something beneficial. Rosethorn must have been rubbing off on him.
"I was wondering when you would broach that question," mused the scarred warrior. "There are things you should know about Flamingstar and why the ancestors intervened in her reign. I'm sure you recall the seige NightClan led on SunClan that caused this." He gestured across the border at the ruins lain out ahead of them. "Flamingstar was a devoted leader to NightClan, but she was misguided. She was willing to sacrifice her children to meet the ends she sought and attempted to let them burn in the fire. StarClan could not overlook this act. For some reason that I still can't figure out, they chose me to enact their plans. As for why I chose you, and why I stepped down at all, it's because NightClan doesn't deserve another leader haunted by demons. There are things from my own past that I haven't reconciled in myself, and among all the members of the clan I've acquainted with, you've shown the most level-headedness and integrity. I hope that gives you some insight to all of this. I wish I could have had it for myself at the get-go."
Phantomfox wasn't one for speeches and it showed, the chocolate tom retracting back into an immediate and chilling silence as he finished his spiel.
She listened with only a brief nod here and there as she pondered what he had to say. She both understood and didn't the events that led up to that moment. Flamingstar's demise was... surprisingly dark. Although Aspenstar didn't think that she wanted kittens herself, at least not now, she couldn't imagine staring at the face of her own spawn and deciding to try to kill them. No matter the reason, that was evil. Was she really ready to follow an evil like that? Of course, Aspenstar was generally no fan of morality; she did what she needed to to get by and to provide for the felines that she held dear. But that? Her mismatched eyes darkened for just a moment.
NightClan doesn't deserve another leader haunted by demons. The words resonated in her mind, creaking through every crevice of thought. What did it mean to be a leader without demons? She'd always been told that demons made you confront the realities of life and the parts of oneself that one did not like. They led to experience, an understanding of the world that only came with facing conflict. Was she ill-prepared because she hadn't gone through a massive life event? For all intents and purposes, Aspenstar's upbringing had been quite normal. She'd had a family that cared about her, she'd graduated training at the top of her class, and she had spent much of her life doing exactly what she ought to be doing. She tried to blink the doubts away. Maybe Phantomfox was right; maybe all NightClan needed was a leader untarnished by tragedy. She'd like to think that, at least.
"I appreciate your honesty," she meowed after a moment. It was surprisingly formal, despite the look in her eyes. She frowned slightly at her own tone, resolving to quickly adjust when she spoke next. "For what it's worth, I think StarClan knew you were the only cat with the strength to do it. They must have needed a certain kind of special, and watching from afar, you're the only cat that I can think of that could have done what you did so easily." She offered him a kind smile. "NightClan needs cats like you, and I hope that I prove you right."
Her gratitude evoked a rise of heat to his face that he hid by accelerating his pace, though the incessant twitch of his tail-tip signified the discomfort arising in his mood. He allowed the silence to settle between them for a while and diffused the tension he was sure he was the only one to feel it, then finally, begrudgingly, slowed to match stride with her again as they left the SunClan border behind them where it should be. They could go back to ignoring the cult's existence, the only memento of their talk the answers Aspenstar now held onto.
"I'm a cat who likes to fight," was the first statement to erupt from his maw, quiet and contemplative, but there was always the simmer of flame in his voice stirred up by his restless heart. NightClan was beginning to see glimpses of the truest parts of Phantomfox, the parts he couldn't bury alongside the former versions of himself. "Diplomacy is not my strong suit. I'm better use to the clan as a warrior-- you'll see that soon." He was still an enigma among the clan as he was when he resided in MoonClan, and he was likewise skirted around by those who saw the horrendous scars surrounding sharp eyes. Phantomfox was something out of nightmares; there was only one cat who saw wisps of the remnants of Coyotewild.
She waited a moment to respond. She could ignore the tension that resonated with each silence that carried between the two. She was used to tension, and there was a part of her that preferred it to most things. Tension meant that things were happening, even if their pace wasn't quite as quick as would be preferable.
"That was one of the reasons that I brought you here. I do not believe that you would best serve NightClan as a warrior, at least, not a standard warrior. You may be inclined to fight, but you are also wise enough to be self-reflexive." Was that a note of affection in her voice? It couldn't be... right? She wasn't trying to come onto him... right? She supposed that even she herself was unsure. There was something mysteriously charming about the tom, and there was a part of her that wanted to see the world through his eyes. But, was the affection in her voice a little more than that? She couldn't tell, all she could tell was that his enigmatic nature was... captivating. She was mostly an open book. Bluntly honest, perhaps to the point of occassional cruelty. She said what was on her mind, and as such, it was hard not to know her. This was not the same with Phantomfox, and perhaps that was intriguing to her.
"I have a position open on my staff. I hightly doubt you want the deputy," she laughed at her own joke, "but I believe you would be suited to be the final member of the Loyal Guard. I need a cat like you on my team."
There was some unmistakable shadow of flirtation highlighting her proposition, though he still found himself wondering if he was mistaking it to be something it wasn't. He was no stranger to it-- at least, he wasn't at one point, a long long time ago. Even a few moons prior to their current exchange, he wouldn't have second thought it; it would have been a welcome invitation to croon his way into the leader's den, but the idea no longer interested him. It was loyalty to Rosethorn that kept his voice carefully neutral, hers the only heart he intended to cradle next to his own. "I appreciate the offer, but you might want to reconsider. I have a mate who isn't here in NightClan. I had no intention of hiding it from the clan, but if you're certain about my being a guard, I feel you should have all the information."
His gaze grew infinitely softer, velvet memories of soft fur and amber eyes shimmering behind them. Every fleeting moment they'd shared was branded on his memory, and their distance was a tear in his composure, pain visible on his features when she moved through his mind. Her absence left him wanting, but there was no one else who could fill the Rosethorn-sized hollow in his chest. "I'm in love with Rosethorn, the new deputy of SummerClan. She's expecting our first litter. I understand if you want to withdraw your offer."
Well, if she was uncertain if she was flirting with him, at least she had plausible deniability, right? Still, her pelt flushed with heat as he spoke, her eyes narrowing slightly. This... complicated things, and rightfully, she didn't know quite how to respond. She was naturally wary of outsiders, and the idea that one of her own warriors was galavanting with the deputy of another clan... She didn't like it. It was unprofessional on both parties, and her initial inclination was to tell him that it ended that night, that he would go to Rosethorn and tell her it was over, and if he couldn't do that, he no longer had a place in NightClan. The other part of her, though, knew that that was cruel. She had never felt romantic love herself, but she could see it in her parents' eyes each time the elders interacted. What would Lostriver do? The thought of her father made her ear twitch. He would do what he felt was best for NightClan, whatever that meant. What did it mean?
She let out a slight cough of discomfort, before sighing deeply. "I appreciate your honesty," she meowed after a moment, her words slow as she raked the possibilities through her mind. "It must have taken a lot to admit that." Her tail tip flicked, her gaze completely devoid of any emotion that would allow him to guess what she was thinking. "Is Ratstar aware?"
"We haven't discussed it, so I don't know." Other than the rustle of prey moving through the fronds, it was silent around them. Phantomfox didn't know Aspenstar well enough to gauge the directions her thoughts were turning, but he was well aware that many leaders were still against their clans mingling, and he was prepared for her to cast him out of the clan. "What I can tell you is that I would never ask Rosethorn to choose me over her clan if it came to a head, and I'm confident she feels the same." Rosethorn may not have understood his reasons for being unable to return to SummerClan, as she had her sister and her title, but they had a mutual respect for one another that she'd become less persistent on it.
Her nose twitched slightly, trying to decide exactly what the best course of action was. Of course, it had seemed unlikely that the forbidden romance would be shared with the SummerClan leader, but it didn't sit right with her, still. When he spoke next, though, her shoulders relaxed slightly. At least the two cats were loyal to their respective clans, even if they had broken the code. She sighed awkwardly. "This is a terrible position to be put in," she meowed with a thrash of her tail, "just in case you're curious." She took a long blink, her face squinting slightly as she did. "But, as long as you are loyal to the group, I have no qualms, under one condition." She took a moment to collect herself, before continuing. "I want you on my loyal guard still, perhaps it's captain. I trust your word. However, I cannot allow you to stay in my clan if Ratstar does not know. This is nothing personal; I cannot put NightClan at risk of war over high ranking feline's feelings towards each other." She let out a long breath. "There are three solutions. You tell him yourself, which could be ... of questionable result. You may allow me to tell him, and use it as a way to unite SummerClan and NightClan. Or, you choose to not allow him to know, and you leave by morning."
He listened as she presented the options to him, and there was a flicker of...surprise? flashing over his features. "Very well. There are certain things that prevent me from going back to SummerClan, so if you feel this is the best course of action for NightClan, I have no complaints about you speaking to Ratstar in regards to the situation. I'm sorry to thrust this onto you." Even if he could not be apologetic for his relationship in itself, Phantomfox still felt the responsibility should have rested on him alone, yet here he was, handing off the knowledge to a leader fresh in her position for her to deal with. "At any rate I would be honored to serve as the captain of your guard. I will always be here when you need me, Aspenstar."
"I will leave the morning after tomorrow," she meowed after a moment. That would give her enough time to prepare for the hellish day it was going to be. It was unkind to visit SummerClan in the night, and she wasn't quite fond of the idea that she'd spend time under the heat of the sun. But, there was potential in this. It would give her an upper hand by allowing negotiations, which was about as good as she could want right now. She had heard that Ratstar was a ... reasonable enough cat, and that he was not particularly interested in dealing with the dramatics that came from the other Forest clans. Her tail twitched slightly, before smiling at him. "I am happy you accepted my proposition. I believe you are an asset to both NightClan and I." A faint smile flashed for just a moment, before it faded. "I'd like to know about how you were running the Loyal Guard. How much did you know the cats?"
"Not well," he admitted. "With Frozenfire's death and all the chaos in NightClan over the last moon, it was difficult for me to get to know any of them. I was considering promoting a whole new selection of cats that I felt had proved their loyalty to NightClan and myself. Ironically," and his scarred muzzle twisted into a hideous smile of his own, "I had you pegged for captain as well, if not deputy. How do you plan to run the guard?"
She felt the corners of her lips twitch slightly. Of course, Phantomfox had inevitably chosen her to be leader, so it probably shouldn't have been a surprise that he would have considered her for a high rank. Still, it felt nice to think that he really did appreciate her. "Thank you for your candor. I have similar feelings. Violetglass will be joining you, but she is the only decision I have made definitively." Of course, Phantomfox would have no plausible reason to know who Violetglass was; afterall, the last time that she was around, her name was Springfawn, and she hadn't been around since Aspenpaw became Aspendust. Her tail twitched slightly. "I'd like to reward the most skilled in the group, and use the guard to encourage felines to be better, but I am not exactly sure how I envision you all interacting or participating in decision-making. I'd love to work with you to brainstorm that, being that we will be in... close communications."
