[Starry-Eyed] (Lunar!)

[[Acro.]]

ooc:// ℓυиαя! Time for the "heart-to-heart" with Vineheart ;D This will start out in camp. Just reply whenever you feel up for it--no pressure, here c:


{Hope is the thing with feathers}

A sleek, dappled pelt emerged into the midday sun from the cool shadows of its carrier's den. Eyes sharp and expression steady, Ratstar strode into the clearing after her Sunhigh meal, purposeful and alert as always. She paused briefly to scan the area, nodding to any cat she met eyes with, until she at last found who she was looking for.

Her ever-dutiful Deputy, Vineheart.

Ratstar spotted the petite tabby toward the edge of the clearing, settled down and working methodically through what remained of whatever prey she had taken from the pile. Leader and Deputy didn't often have a chance to speak one-on-one, but even now, from a distance, Ratstar noted how Vineheart looked... different. Still tired, still framed by stress, but... better. Rested, at least in part. The improvement, however minor, was a welcome sight for Ratstar, and the lithe she-cat strode over to the other. "Vineheart," she greeted with a courteous nod and flick of her tail. "I was wondering if you might join me on a patrol. Once you've finished your meal, of course." Straight to the point, as always, Ratstar's tone was firm but not harshly so, and she stood patiently, waiting for Vineheart to consider the invitation and respond accordingly.

{That perches in the soul}

[ℓυиαя]

The sun was warm, streaking through the few trees of Sunsetclan's territory and dressing the camp with a comfortable heat. It had not been taken for granted by the clan, the camp busy at midday and the deputy was taking the small reprieve to enjoy the heat and allow herself some food from the overflowing freshkill pile.

Yet as the days grew warmer and the freshkill pile bloomed, the amount of information she had gained on her missing friend was still nil.

Each moment she spent dwelling on the negatives currently piling up in her life, the more shadows she gained however it was safe to say the deputy didn't look as worn down or as heavy as she had the last couple of moons. There was that spark back in her eye and though the world was still heavy on her shoulders, she was coping and she would get there. The fish between her paws was almost gone, each bite filling her with more energy as it dwindled away in front of her until a stark white skeleton lay in it's place.

"Vineheart, I was wondering if you might join me on a patrol. Once you've finished your meal, of course."

Lifting her eyes at the approach of her leader, Vineheart returned her greeting with a flick of her tail and stood. This invitation from her leader was sudden and most likely overdue causing Vineheart to wonder what had prompted this sudden interaction. It was common knowledge that there was something between Ratstar and Sandstrike and less known that Vineheart somewhat fancied the tom herself, but the small tabby pushed that as far away as she could.  "Of course Ratstar." Licking one paw and using it to wipe her face after her meal, Vineheart waited for Ratstar to lead the way. She was hard to read and Vineheart didn't.. know exactly where she stood with the petite she cat, but she guessed she would soon find both that out and also the manner of this patrol.

[[Acro.]]

{And sings the tune without the words}

"Of course, Ratstar."

The leader nodded and flicked her tail, seeing that Vineheart was ready, and she turned and made a beeline for the camp entrance in her usual gait: head low, ears forward, tail at a high angle. Her petite frame did not move quickly, as her strides were not notably long, but she still made quick work of the clearing, crossing it in no time. When Ratstar moved, she moved with purpose. Her sleek  pelt rippled with the muscles tucked beneath her skin, hiding away like some secret, and her eyes were sharp beneath the sunlight, expression firmly impassable. Once out of camp, SunsetClan's leader rotated one ear back to ensure her Deputy was en route, her paws veering off to the neighboring forest instead of toward the expansive beach. "Anything to report?" she questioned over her shoulder, eyes trained forwards after briefly glancing back toward the tabby. "Are you finding enough cats available for your patrols?" Because if Vineheart needed more... Ratstar was sure she could allocate greater numbers to the Deputy's cause.

Yes,  SunsetClan still needed to run efficiently, but the dappled leader was certain she could always find more willing warriors to spare.

{And never stops at all}

[ℓυиαя]

As her leader moved off, Vineheart started after her and took a comfortable pace at her left shoulder. With the warming weather, her long pelt was beginning to become a burden and she started to envy those lucky enough to have shorter fur. Of course she was better off when winter stripped the land but really? Maybe she could break for a quick swim later. Vineheart just so happened to glance at Ratstar during the brief moment she looked over her shoulder and Vineheart was stunned with the amount of intensity in the gaze from the small leader. There was so much power and focus there in those few short seconds until Ratstar turned her attention to in front of her once more and her voice shifted to Vinehearts attention.

 "Anything to report? Are you finding enough cats available for your patrols?"

Straight to the business as always, leaving Vineheart wondering why she had questioned this patrol having another purpose. Flicking her ears, Vineheart shook her head and spoke up with a twitch of white whiskers. "Nothing to report, still... haven't had any luck with finding Wildpaw, no signs, no clues, no nothing." At the end her voice trailed off and she looked around them almost sad in her exhaustion, golden eyes still slightly hopeful that her best friend would step out of the shadows or run towards them over the sand.

Wildpaw where are you?

"I'm managing with the numbers, I mean, some cats are starting to think pessimistically and there are some that think that there is no hope left so of course they are less likely to patrol. but its ok, things are ok." She paused them and looked back at the small leader before her, the two she cats more or less the same size. "How is everything with you, Ratstar?"

Sometimes it was the ones that seemed obvious to ask that never got asked at all.

[[Acro.]]

ooc:// ...ℓυиαя? =D


{And sweetest in the gale is heard}

The leader nodded curtly, having sensed the dwindling hope among the Clan over ever finding Wildpaw. It was hard, to keep going, searching for something that may be trying its hardest not to be found.

"How is everything with you, Ratstar?"

Sharp green eyes flickered over to the Deputy; few cats ever thought to question the well-being of their leader. Most either assumed she had everything under control (which is the image she strove for every single day), or they were too afraid to ask. Flicking her tail, the dappled she-cat continued on, her gaze fixed forward once again. "Soon, there will be decisions that I need to make," she began, tone firm, sounding almost as though she had no answer to give--or no intention to give it--for Vineheart's question. Almost as though she were speaking to herself. She paused, flicked an ear, and then went on. "Vineheart, do you know why our Clans have borders? Do you know why we are separated?"

{And sore must be the storm}

[ℓυиαя]

OOC: ...[Acro.]? =D

The intensity of her leaders gaze had Vineheart wondering for a moment if she had asked the right thing, but then again, who would take offense to such a question? Meeting Ratstars eyes with her own soft gold ones, Vineheart kept her position at the she-cats shoulder and her eyes still on her when Ratstar looked away. Truth be told, during the short pause, Vineheart didn't know if she was even going to get an answer bu-

"Soon, there will be decisions that I need to make." A carefully worded statement that gave Vineheart not even an inkling of what Ratstar was really thinking. It was impossible to tell how Ratstar was doing to be honest and Vineheart wasn't close enough to her to read her, if anyone could.

Sandstrike. The cunning tom would be able to, she could guarantee it. 

Focusing on her leader, Vineheart pushed down the mist of jealousy that started to sink its talons into her and twitched her whiskers instead. Vineheart didn't press and she didn't have time to as a question was shoved in her direction, round ears moving forwards as it sailed towards her. Did she know why the clans were separated? An odd question but then again, from what she knew of Ratstar, she wasn't one just to start up small chit chat. There was something else going on for this to be posed. Frowning slightly, Vineheart kept her eyes on the leader and almost cocked her head to the side. "To keep the peace between the clans and to ensure there is plenty for all." She thought that summed up everything nicely but maybe Ratstar was looking for something else. 

It always was hard to tell with her.

[[Acro.]]

ooc:// It's meeeeee =D


{That could abash the little bird}

"To keep the peace between the clans and to ensure there is plenty for all."

Ratstar flicked her tail, acknowledging the response. To keep the peace... of course. "It's true, our borders give us a strong sense of security, as though they are chasms meant to protect what is ours." Chasms, and not causeways. "but this falls in with the assumption that all others are after what is ours--that LeafClan is made of savages who covet our home and would take everything if given the chance. The same of MidnightClan, StormClan, and the others, who, by logical default, are assuming the same of us." Guarded by authority, the leader's eyes went back to Vineheart, remaining there impassably as she asked, "When you look into our Clan, is that what you see? Cats who would take advantage, who would be ruthless in the taking of land and food?" A pause, and then she looked away and ended the line of questioning with, "Do you believe we are force from which others need protection?"

{That kept so many warm}

[ℓυиαя]

While her leader spoke, Vineheart watched her, keeping in time at her side and her ears flicking gently.

"When you look into our clan, is that what you see? Cats who would take advantage, who would be ruthless in the taking of land and food? Do you believe we are force from which others need protection?"

Vineheart's eyes widened at the question and her ears flattened in the wind as she turned her sight to the ground and watched the territory pass underfoot. "I see our clan as a group of cats taking precautions against others that may act differently than we do. I do not think us a group of which others need to protect themselves from unless we are wronged and in that case, I have no doubt we would do what we need to. but I do see what you mean. If we all think the others will take advantage of us, when in reality they are only taking the same precautions we are, that is the reason for the borders. All based on a maybe and lack of trust." Looking back to Ratstar, Vineheart danced her whiskers before.


"What is your reasoning behind this Ratstar? What are you thinking?" 

[[Acro.]]

{I've heard it in the chillest land}

"What is your reasoning behind this Ratstar? What are you thinking?"

What, indeed.

A silence enveloped the pair of she-cat's as the surf was finally far enough behind them to be muffled by the surrounding trees, and noise of camp a simple memory of their morning. The leader's eyes drifted up through the canopy where sunlight streamed through in charming rays, shifting in a dance with the breeze. Birds sang quietly overhead--soft enough to be wary of the felines but still proud enough to be beautiful.

And their home was nothing if not beautiful; it was no wonder the Clans felt the need to guard it.

Yes... yes, what was Ratstar thinking?

At long last, the leader began to speak, her voice touched by something more real, more genuine, than her usual front of authority allowed. "In my lifetime," she began, her pace a slow, casual gait while her eyes continued to swallow their surroundings. "I have learned only a minutia of absolutes--of certainties. One: the tides of our sea will never cease to ebb and flow. Two: the sun rises to chase away night, and also sets when the day is spent. Three: death touches every life indiscriminately, but life always finds its own way. Four: hardship breeds a strength in us that is insurmountable." Here, she hesitated and stopped walking all-together, gaze not yet returning to Vineheart. Her eyes were sharp, but distant. "One: the workings of this Clan and others are a constant ebb and flow--there are hardships, and triumphs, and times of war and fewer times of peace." At last, her eyes locked back onto the Deputy's. "Two: time keeps going forwards, both when we most need it to and also when we wish it would hold still to let things last just a little longer. Three: there is no true end to these Clans--we do not die, we only change. Four... I have never seen us stronger than when we have been united."

Silverstar, the Birds--Ratstar had reached out to all of the Clans on each dire occasion, and, both times, without fail, in spite of past or even current differences, the Clans never failed her. They came together as a single body to overcome a common foe, and never had Ratstar seen something so beautiful: a glimpse of what life could be without borders. For a time, there had been some semblance of peace among the Clans, and Ratstar had been hopeful... but then Wildpaw's disappearance, and Pebblestar's apparent catnapping... now there was mistrust and accusation; now the peace was fading.

And it was killing Ratstar to just stand back and watch it die.

"You are my Deputy, Vineheart." Formality returned to her tone. "I need to know--I'm asking you--if I set into motion an attempt to change the way of life we have grown so attached to... are you going to stand beside me, or against me?" There was no threat in this voice--Ratstar wanted, needed, Vineheart to tell her honestly if she would oppose the leader's stance or support it. "There will be no repercussions for your answer here--I ask that you trust me enough to speak freely, now." 

{And on the strangest sea}

[ℓυиαя]

Vineheart was slightly surprised when Ratstar answered her question, honesty transcribed by the way her voice changed and her eyes distanced themselves as if she was seeing something else than her deputy before her. Her leader was seeing something that Vineheart couldn't follow with her and watch so she merely slowed her pace to keep in time and waited for her leaders eyes to pin on her firmly once more. When they did, and Ratstar stopped altogether, Vineheart mirrored her moves, watching as Ratstar continued again and once more she was bathed in that sharp, familiar gaze. 

"Two: time keeps going forwards, both when we most need it to and also when we wish it would hold still to let things last just a little longer. Three: there is no true end to these Clans--we do not die, we only change. Four... I have never seen us stronger than when we have been united." 

A frown gathered over those soft golden orbs as she studied Ratstar, hearing the words and seeing them for what they were, the conclusions and quiet observations of a seasoned leader.

And one that hoped for what she had once seen.

'...I have never seen us stronger than when we have been united...'

There were not many times in history that this had occurred and only one that Vineheart could think of during Ratstar's leadership. The frown remained in place, one that could have looked like she disagreed with what Ratstar was saying with the way her scars buckled and deformed her once pretty face. Many moons ago, when she had been no more than a few moons old, there had been a uniting of the clans and she had grown up with the stories. It had always seemed so golden, so well spoken of and so craved. Did Ratstar wan-

"You are my Deputy, Vineheart. I need to know--I'm asking you--if I set into motion an attempt to change the way of life we have grown so attached to... are you going to stand beside me, or against me? There will be no repercussions for your answer here--I ask that you trust me enough to speak freely, now."  

This was... not what she had expected and the deputy stood there for a moment not dropping the gaze of Ratstar beside her. It was complicated to answer but if she broke it down, what she was really asking was would she stand and fight for the unity they had once had? It would change everything she had ever known, Vineheart not having seen much of the unity. but wouldn't it be more peaceful - something they already craved?

So would she stand with her?

"I'm with you Ratstar." Dipping her head gently, Vineheart wondered what would happen next but she trusted the decisions of her leader before her. Ratstar wasn't one for rash decisions or to act in the heat of anger. Whatever happened would be thought through and done in the best way possible.

How would this change everything she had ever known?

"So where do we go from here?"

[[Acro.]]

{but never, in extremity}

Ratstar's eyes were on Vineheart's in the moments leading up to her answer, sharp and scrutinizing but also entirely patient. It was good Vineheart didn't jump on an answer--it meant she was perhaps fully grasping the weight of what her leader was asking of her.

"I'm with you Ratstar. So where do we go from her?"

Again, the dappled leader was quiet, and still.

After a moment's pause, she returned Vineheart's nod with one of her own, flicked her tail, and then continued walking, turning a bit to make an eventual loop back toward camp. "I'm going to be inviting Sparrowleaf with me to the other Clans, to speak to the other leaders privately. This will be within the next one or two moons, and, once we leave, the journey may take... some time." And, honestly, who knew how the other -stars would react to her intruding upon their territories. It was a good thing she had eight lives to spare. She threw a glance back toward her Deputy. "This means that you will be the sitting leader of SunsetClan, in my absence, and cats are going to look to you more than ever for answers." Ratstar hadn't yet decided if she was going to tell SunsetClan the specific reasons for her soon-to-be absence before she left, or if she wanted to wait until she had more support from the other leaders to announce it widely. These were details she would settle on as her journey grew nearer.

Vineheart needed to be able to keep the Clan settled and safe without Ratstar there to oversee her... and Ratstar was putting an immense amount of trust in the warrior to do so.

"If you encounter problems when the time comes, know that you are safe to always rely on Sandstrike, and my brother, once he is well enough." Fallowmist still wasn't entirely recovered from his brawl with Wildpaw, and Ratstar felt herself beginning to wonder if he ever would be. She also hadn't yet told Sandstrike she'd be leaving--she knew he wouldn't want her to go without his protection, but his presence would only do more harm than good in this diplomatic endeavor. Sparrowleaf, a trusted Medicine Cat, was the clearest, and frankly the only, choice for company.

{It asked a crumb of me}

[ℓυиαя]

A heavy silence stretched between the she cats that was finally cut short with the sharp flick of Ratstar's tail before she continued walking through the sun-drenched territory. There was nothing said to acknowledge her agreement but Vineheart hadn't expected as such, her leaders actions once again saying everything she needed to say. How different the two of them were. Spurring her white paws into motion, keeping a comfortable pace, Vineheart once more regarded Ratstar with a sideways glance as she managed the easy stroll. Little legged, both of them meaning running was not necessary to maintain pace.

"I'm going to be inviting Sparrowleaf with me to the other Clans, to speak to the other leaders privately. This will be within the next one or two moons, and, once we leave, the journey may take... some time. This means that you will be the sitting leader of SunsetClan, in my absence, and cats are going to look to you more than ever for answers."

The deputy was silent and her eyes wandered away as she felt Ratstar's green regard pin on her intently, enforcing the weight of the responsibility she was being clothed with. This. Was not entirely what she had expected.

How had everything changed so fast? There had been time where she was nothing more than a sociable warrior that took pleasure in helping her clan and making formidable relationships. Then one day she had woken up and been deputy - something she had never intended on striving towards but it had found her. To start with she had been unsure of her position, she had focused on those that disagreed with Ratstar's decision but has moons had slipped past she was feeling more and more comfortable in her skin.

The scars almost felt normal and no longer a heavy, prickling presence. The looks she received of her clan she saw as respect and her confidence was strengthened. Accepting this position on that fateful night she had always known that time was inescapable - Ratstar's absence. but this was quicker than expected and Ratstar was leaving for something other than misfortune.

Sitting leader of SunsetClan.

Taking in the scenery around her, there was a strength to her golden eyes that spoke that she knew just how much of a responsibility this would be and she could not, would not, take it lightly. As she had strengthened to take the role of deputy, she would do so again whilst Ratstar was away.

"If you encounter problems when the time comes, know that you are safe to always rely on Sandstrike, and my brother, once he is well enough."

Ah of course.

She wouldn't be alone and having Sandstrike there... well she wouldn't have anyone else at her side. In fact, he had been there through practically everything devastating or difficult in her life so either he found her at the right time or trouble followed him - most likely both. Finally she gave her leader her eyes once again, having sorted her thoughts and collected them neatly for the time being, Vineheart nodded and gave a soft flick of her tail. "What are you going to tell the clan?" Her voice was softer now, a polite inquiry. "And in the absence of Sparrowleaf, Mintpaw will carry on with the Medicine Cat role?" One or two moons would but them closer and closer to Leafbare and they needed to have some sort of fall back if anything went wrong.