these clouds won't go away [meeting]

Answering the loud call that rang out over the circle, a massive tom trotted to a spot below the overhang branch and scanned the surroundings for gingerstripe. Though he acknowledged the suffering of this clan, his discovery of the lovely flaming cat had made every waking moment lovely. Even if his belly was never full her grinning face made it all better. The lovesick tom had rejoined his clan after a long absence and was happy to contribute to it when she was there to improve everything.

This meeting was a great sign. If Copperfall had finally decided to do something about the Circle, that was rapidly going South, then there was hope. He had thought that their leader did not have the patience to solve the problems facing this group, but he was most certainly wrong. Grinning up at the sky, he was pleased with the change of events that had graced him as of late. Love and Life. What could be better?

Tied up in ancient history,
I didnt believe in destiny,
I look up you're standing next to me,
What a feeling.
R A P I D S T R I K E

The dark brown fur of the Rock rippled in the cold breeze the looming storm carried along with it. It was darker, shabbier, than the usual bright sheen, and the pitifully thin pelt was poor disguise for the scrawny frame his once-strong body had deteriorated to. Even in the midst of leaf-bare the tom had felt healthy, had spent days beside the river with his earth-toned paws in the water, feeling for fish. But as the river had frozen over and later the snow continued to fall, the Circle too had felt the ice. Eveningfall's death had brought chaos to the cats he loved, had brought death and starvation. Where he'd watched mournfully with spring-green eyes as the land below greened and flowered, still snow blanketed the ground, froze the light behind cold white walls that did not yield. It was a dark time for Rapidfalls' Circle, and as the words rang out from the throat of Copperfall, Rapidstrike immediately realized that disaster hung within the air and that whatever it was that the blonde Chosen One had to say would either ignite it or banish it forever-- but no doubt, at a cost.

As he emerged tiredly from the Rock's den, emerald eyes dull and with his tattered fur unwashed, Rapidstrike scanned the clearing for the brilliant white-and-red pelt of his love Stardust. A snatch of her soft voice reached his brown ears and he turned his head quickly, whiskers ceasing to droop for a moment as an exhausted sparkle returned to his eyes. Her pelt as well was unkempt and faded-- but outer appearances did not matter. He was pretty scrawny himself at the moment, and where his fellow Rock did not judge him, he would not judge in return. A worried feeling prickled through his fur. For a moon or so Stardust almost vanished herself... He had not inquired where it had been she had gone-- perhaps, curious about her origin, she had gone to seek out herself. Whatever had happened, she had returned, and he loved her just as much as the day they'd both streaked along at the side of the moonlit river with the stars in their paws, fresh out of Stonehood.

A warm purr rumbled in his throat as he moved towards her. It was shaky, but all the love in the world was contained within it. "Stardust," he greeted her with a quick lick on the forehead, settling his earth-colored haunches at her side with his dark fur melding and warming her own. "This meeting is important." There was no question, nothing but certainty in his calm tones. Curling his once-sleek tail around his small paws, Rapidstrike's tired eyes drifted to the azure ones of his mate before flickering back to the light form that stood high above them, as ragged as the rest of the Circle but somehow more noble. The sky was dark with clouds and looming tension, with fear and starvation. I feel like the closest I can ever get to blue sky again is looking into Stardust's eyes. The despair had not overwhelmed him, yet, but every moment he spent with his belly shrunken, with his pawpads numb with cold, was a moment that tugged him closer to the bounds of insanity. If Copperfall did not have an answer, and he was wrong-- it would not take a much longer streak of the same gloomy weather and conditions to drive him down to a hope-deprived skeleton.

Gray-white ears perked at the sound of Copperfall's voice. "All cats of Rapidfall's Circle meet underneath the Overhang Branch for a meeting!" Immediately she arose from her place on the stone floor in the Rock's den and clambered down towards the Overhang Branch. Whatever her leader had to say was important. The Circle had been working their tails off trying to supply for everyone, but there was never enough sustenance for all the stomach's to be filled. Oftentimes she found herself giving up her food for pebbles and queens. They were the future of this clan anyway. She would love them like Spritsong had loved her. The wise queen, who was very much a mother to her had said, “Love those who have no one to love, care for those who have no one to care for them, and one day, when you yourself are tired and weak—they will care for you…” The words still brought tears to her eyes; however small they were, they were still filled with love and admiration. You took me in though I was nothing to you. You loved me like your own kit. You were the only mother I ever know. I will not forget you… Those words, though drenched in pain and sadness were the words that gave her hope. If other cats in the forest were even half of the cat she was, she was certain good could come out of any hardship.

Do you care about all the little things,
or anything at all?

This was very true in her own time. She was scared and worried. Many a night silvery drops had slid from her tender sage eyes, but she was certain that the truth she had known growing up would not abandon her. When you yourself are tired and weak—they will care for you… Without these words, she wouldn’t know what to do at this point. Everything and everybody she knew and loved was either back in the forest, dead, or shriveling away in front of her very eyes. Hope was all she had, and all she asked for. If anything ever managed to take her hope from her, she would be desperate. Broken. A shell of the cat she could have been and once was. So, it was all the more reason for her to cling to that hope. As the words of her mentor and surrogate mother played in her mind she watched Copperfall. Her paws twitched with expectancy. I don’t know what you’re going to say. I just hope that it keeps us from falling apart…

I want to feel, all the chemicals inside,
I want to feel…

An icy chill reverberated through her spine. The bite of Leafbare had not left them yet. Deep down, it seemed to have a hold over them. Perhaps some thought that it would continue forever, or at least until every last one of them had perished from illness or starvation. The gray tabby wouldn’t allow herself to believe that. It would end just as all pain ends, and from it would come a Greenleaf of great joy and rebirth. The cynics among the Circle would point out that any sort of rebirth was a long way off, but she deeply felt that hope could carry them through if they let it. The will to live is essential to life itself; for if one does not have the will to live, life itself won’t will one to live. Her belief and hope were strong, but even now, glancing over the clan, sadness loomed in the back of her mind. Some of her clanmates looked so…so pained. There was not a single twinkle of joy in their eyes. All she saw was broken-ness. It was enough to make her cry out to her warrior ancestors, especially Spiritsong though she doubted her “mother” walked these skies. We are tired and weak. Who is going to care for us now? We walk alone in this world—alone we walk. Yet even as she though, hope would not leave her heart. I haven’t given up, but what about those who have?

[shadow=lightblue,left,300]R I P P L I N G S O N G[/shadow]
>>With Talons Of Ice Upon The World<<

Eyes that were as cold as the ice freezing the world around them opened at the words of the Chosen One. A slender she-cat shrugged her shoulders, which jutted almost painfully from her body. The black and white she-cat made her way acrossed the clearing, small paw-prints were left in the snow.

Her icy gaze swept the clearing. She saw the young Rock Rapidstrike next to a she-cat his age named Stardust. Her blue gaze found Crimsontide, the massive tom was with Gingerstripe, and Bella, the she-cat's daughter, was not too far behind. Whitestone was being his usual...interesting self, and Blithespirit was here too. Even as she observed the full clearing, more cats would be coming soon.

Quickly Ripplingsong picked up the pace. Her black and white form slipping through the throng of cat's until she was next to Blithespirit. The she-cat was as good as any for company, besides that Ripplingsong tried to get to know as many cat's in her Circle as she could. After all, these were cats she lived with. She did not know Blithespirit well but it was a possibility that that could easily change. As with the wheather.

"Insane isn't it?" Ripplingsong's voice was beautiful, it was probably why the Falls had given her the end name "song". High, but ringing, almost like bird-song but not nearly annoying. Ripplingsong's voice was something that many cat's would pause to listen to. Heads tipping to one side, and ears slightly pricked to catch her words, "This weather I mean. I'm sure Copperfall has come up with a solution for this though. That would be what the meeting is for yes?"

She twitched her black ears, waiting for Blithespirit's answer. The Rock was very kind-hearted. Ripplingsong had spotted the she-cat, far more than once, slipping her own prey to those weaker in the Circle. Ripplingsong felt a burst of respect for the pretty gray tabby. She would make a wonderful mother...

>>Will The Warmth Of Your Heart Melt This Pain Away<<

The golden tomcat stood tall as a statue, watching the cats squirm and change below him with a sullen, worried face. Were these all the cats that remained? The golden tomcat questioned, his ears flicking back to a state of pinned back alarm. Copperfall saw, just by looking up at the small mass, that if disease struck his circle, or the struggle to find food led to starvation, his circle would die quickly.

Copperfall cleared his throat. Had all the cats gathered? He figured so -- Copperfall, those surprised in the lack of cats, had never figured that the Rapidfall's Circle had many populants. "During the past few moons, as many of you have noticed, the winter months had been especially harsh. Most of the prey has left this land," Copperfall paused, to clear his throat and to eye each of the cats below him. The ginger tomcat did not like speaking to a crowd, even though the circle members were a small audience. He was shivering a little. "I worry that this clan will fall, because of starvation and because of the lack of prey. I, as your Chosen One, plan to do everything in my power to make sure this doesn't occur," Copperfall meowed, in a stronger, bolder tone that grew in intensity the more he spoke. "To do this, I will need some volunteers to meet me in my den in a few moments," Copperfall said, his olive eyes flicking down to the crowd. Who would volunteer themselves? And would he need to warn them that they may not come back to Rapidfall's Circle alive? Copperfall didn't want death. "I want you to volunteer yourselves only if you are strong, deathly loyal to the circle, ... and have nothing else to live for," Copperfall meowed, then leaped off of the Overhang Branch.

The golden tomcat's paws led him to his den. He didn't turn around to see who followed.