[Gray/Open] Lost In Paradise

[|{/Bloodrose\}|]

Hailstorm It was like she was a broken record. Every morning was exactly the same. Silent screams, wild eyes and exhausted muscles. Stomach clenched in fear, claws unsheathed in panic and tears threatening from horrified eyes. Hailstorm's nightmares woke her up constantly, consistently, leaving her unable to breathe for agonizing heartbeats. She wasn't sure how much longer she could take this. She saw it time and time again, every time she closed her eyes. Her sleepless nights were beginning to show, leaving her eyes rimmed ever so slightly in red. No one noticed yet. And if they had, they hadn't dared bring it up. But it wouldn't be much longer now. She'd be undone by her Clan, if she didn't destroy herself first. Suddenly she was moving. On slightly clumsy paws, she half leapt, half staggered from her den. Forcing herself to take some forward momentum, the RiverClan leader exited the camp as quickly as she could, her ears pinning to her head slightly. She pressed herself as much as she could, ignoring the hollow hunger in her belly, ignoring her aching muscles. She began running at what she guessed was full-pelt for her at the moment, though it was slower than her top speed had she been healthy. Her vision began to blur as she ran, and it took an instant for her to figure out that the tears that had been pricking at her eyes had broken through the dam and were slipping down her cheeks. Her breath shivered as she ran, an awkward, hitching and strangled sob. She tossed her head, desperate to shake the tears away, to clear her vision. Her paws caught on something and she stumbled, veering heavily to the left. But she kept running, somehow managing to stay on her paws. She'd vowed that she would never let anyone see her cry. She had to be strong for them. That didn't mean that she never cried. With no one nearby, she cried silently, running as fast as she could, her lungs burning in her chest. Tossing a glance over her shoulder, she wondered if anyone had seen her leave. She half expected, half hoped to see a familiar tabby pelt streaking after her through the reeds, but all there was was emptiness. Pushing herself harder, the RiverClan leader launched herself into the river's waters, paddling across as quickly as she could. Dragging herself out on the other side, the dark gray she-cat staggered, exhaustion nearly ending her journey near Sunningrocks. And then, from nowhere, a new burst of energy. Her paws tangled, threatening to down her before she began her new course, but she got a hold of herself, running away from Sunningrocks. She hadn't a clue where she was headed, but she also lacked any concern for it. Splashing through a smaller stream after a moment, the reeds suddenly turned to trees. She kept running until her lungs seemed to close off, leaving her breathless, lacking any sort of energy. She collapsed in the middle of some trees, her pale green eyes shutting as her body trembled, trying to draw in some air. She tried to clear her mind, tried to calm herself, anything at all. After what seemed like an eternity, air rushed into her lungs, and Hailstorm began panting heavily. Her body relaxed for the first time since she'd woken up, and for a split second, she was at peace. The noises around her alerted her that something was different. Pale green eyes flashing open, Hailstorm rolled onto her belly, glancing every which way, recognizing the place after a moment. She was near Fourtrees. Rising to her paws with an intense effort, Hailstorm felt her usual, cool demeanour slip into place. Padding slowly, she entered Fourtrees, moving slowly, gazing at the four Great Oaks. This place was used normally for Gatherings. She supposed that there was no fault here, however, as this territory belonged to none of the Clans. Letting herself sit down slowly, Hailstorm allowed her eyes to drift closed. Silence stretched around her. Peace. There was nothing but blackness, and herself, sitting in the middle of Fourtrees. A sound had her ear twitching, and her hackles raising. Rising to her paws, Hailstorm tried to pinpoint where the snapping twig had come from. Narrowing her gaze, she spoke in an eerily calm voice. "Who's there." I've been believing in something so distant, As if I was human. And I've been denying this feeling Of hopelessness in me, in me. All the promises I made, just to let you down. You believed in me but I'm Broken. I have nothing left. And all I feel is this cruel wanting. We've been falling for all this time. And now, I'm Lost in Paradise.

[Grayshadow]

[Well I wanted you
I wanted no one else]

The wind blew violently sounding like a wolf’s cry as a gray tom padded through what seemed the endless dark forest. Ears twisted sideways as an owl hooted overhead and looked up at the crimson colored sky. Cool green grass felt smoothing to his paws as he traveled on. The tabby jumped as a black she-cat emerged from the underbrush. Jaws parted briefly and a smile crossed the male’s face. He knew this cat anywhere but to his surprise the she-cat didn’t return the smile. Her face was distorted in a somewhat wicked snarl.

[Was it wrong? Was it wrong?
I guess it wasn’t really right]

A puzzled look fixed itself on the ShadowClan tom’s face as he waited for the cat to speak first. The midnight colored female blinked as she stared menacingly at him. “You traitor.” She spat with more venom than a rattlesnake. The tabby flinched as if the female had lashed out at him. "What makes you think you’re fit to be in ShadowClan?” green orbs glared unwavering at him, her last words a snarl.

[Well you know my friends
Well they know your enemies]

Grayshadow stared at the female with confusion deep in his eyes. “What are you talking about? I'm more than loyal to my Clan." The she-cat’s expression relaxed as she padded over until she was in front of him. "I know. You would never would betray ShadowClan or me, would you?" The tabby lowered his gaze as he scuffed the dirt with his paws. Her tail flicked under his chin and he looked into her jade green stare.

[I’d pretend not to hear what they said to me
‘Cause I got off every time you got on to me]

Suddenly out of nowhere, a flash of black smashed into his vision and Grayshadow stumbled and the black female shoved him to the ground, unfaltering as her unusual massive paws pinned his form to the ground. The tom hissed with a mix of emotions as he helplessly looked up at her, he could never attack her no matter what she did. Her claws unsheathed as she placed her claws on his throat. “See, you stupid furball, I never loved you. I used you for what I needed or wanted. And now that I have no farther use for you I shall dispose of you.” The tom’s ice blue hues held no form of fear only grief as the onyx-colored femme quickly leaned down and fixed her fangs in his throat.

[Was it wrong
To go along with insanity?]

Grayshadow snarled as he jumped to his paws, fur bristling, as his blue eyes were wild with panic only to find he was in the forest. Heart thudded heavily in his chest as padded over to a puddle and drank until he was no longer thirsty. That was the third time he had had that dream and it always ended in his death. A shudder passed through his body as he thought of the she-cat in his dream. Of all cats…the ShadowClan tabby tom shook his head as he padded past his Clan’s borders. Neck fur rose uneasily as visions from the dream continued to slice into his mind. The she-cat’s emerald orbs burning into him…the gray tom’s ears flattened. The she-cat…was no other than…Warheart, the love of his life.

[Was it wrong?
Was it wrong?]

Bushes rustled and Grayshadow spun around, fangs bared only to see a crow take flight. Tail lashed as he cursed himself mentally for being such a paranoid furball. He shook the thoughts and feelings away, blinking slightly astonished that his paws had carried him all the way to Fourtrees. The broad shouldered tom raised an eyebrow as a calm voice reached his ears. “Who’s there?” Oh great Sta…sky. It was Hailstorm…RiverClan’s leader. Grayshadow sighed as he emerged far enough from the shadows to let the leader see his location. “Greetings Hailstorm. I don’t think we’ve had the pleasure of meeting each other.” His deep voice dipped in slight sarcasm. He wasn’t about to give his name unless the RiverClan she-cat already knew it or asked. The male didn’t trust many cats in the forest, especially she-cats. Too much had happened in the past but that was another story for some other time.

“So what brings the fearless leader of mighty RiverClan all the way out to Fourtrees?"

[It’s just a little hard to leave
When you’re going down on me
I guess I stuck around so I could watch us fight
For all the wrong reasons]

[|{/Bloodrose\}|]

Hailstorm Gray ears stayed forwards as her pale green eyes focused upon the movement that emerged from the shadows. Hailstorm watched as a gray tom emerged from the darkness, the scent of ShadowClan drifting to her nose not long after. Her tail tip twitched slightly as she took in his appearance, wondering whether she should classify him as a threat or not. She was about to dismiss him completely when he decided to open his mouth and speak. Her ears tilted back as her eyes narrowed, anger bubbling up from within her. She forced her fur to lay flat, and remained where she was, the perfect picture of calm as she watched him, other than her narrowed eyes. She could sense the sarcasm dripping from the words he spoke. What should have been a pleasant greeting was changed instantly, into something that was easily described as disrespectful. Straightening slightly, Hailstorm shifted so that she faced him completely. She lowered her rump to the ground, curling her gray tail around her paws, watching him silently as he finished speaking. For a moment, she didn't move, didn't comment, she just watched. Her gaze was level, unimpressed, quite nearly disappointed. Yet, all in the same moment, it was deadly, a hawk prepared to strike at a moment's notice. "Are you mocking me, ShadowClanner? That doesn't seem like a wise thing to do, mocking a Clan leader. Even kits know better. Did you hit your head, knocking all common sense and proper etiquette from your head, hm? Or perhaps you are simply not the sharpest talon on the hawk's foot." Her voice was calm, not a trace of anger hidden beneath it. Her gaze seemed to have frozen over, empty and harsh as she blinked her eyes at him. "I was so certain that Gravesky taught his Clan better manners. If I were to judge your Clan only through you, I'd say he's failed to do so." With a dismissive lash of her tail, the RiverClan leader went on. "My business here in none of yours. I will not press you for information as to why you find yourself here, and I would expect the same courtesy from you, ShadowClanner." And then she looked away from him, looking at the trees once more, as though the four Great Oaks were far more interesting than he was. I've been believing in something so distant, As if I was human. And I've been denying this feeling Of hopelessness in me, in me. All the promises I made, just to let you down. You believed in me but I'm Broken. I have nothing left. And all I feel is this cruel wanting. We've been falling for all this time. And now, I'm Lost in Paradise.

[Grayshadow]

"Are you mocking me, ShadowClanner? That doesn't seem like a wise thing to do, mocking a Clan leader. Even kits know better. Did you hit your head, knocking all common sense and proper etiquette from your head, hm? Or perhaps you are simply not the sharpest talon on the hawk's foot." Grayshadow watched the RiverClan leader sit down and stare at him with her harsh gaze locked on him. "If you're insinuating that I'm a mousebrain, Hailstorm, you're sadly mistaken. And actually I don't mock. Mocking is for mockingbirds." He ignored the etiquette comment and slithered closer where the female leader could see him in the moonlight. He never considered himself a handsome tom just average looking. "You know, you don't have the 'proper etiquette' either Ms. Hailstorm. You never greeted me or asked for my name. Of course, you don't care about that. Which I don't blame you. After all, I'm a unmannered male from ShadowClan." he shrugged. He considered apologizing but that was never his style and he seriously doubted she'd accept or care about his apology no matter if it was sincere or not.

He locked his sarcastic, glacial, unforgiving orbs on her harsh gaze, unblinking as she continued speaking. "I was so certain that Gravesky taught his Clan better manners. If I were to judge your Clan only through you, I'd say he's failed to do so." He almost purr laughed at her comment but bit it back. "Well if I were to judge RiverClan through you, I'd say they're frigid, harsh, water rats but who am I to judge?" He lashed his tail as he recalled seeing her at the gathering, thinking she was not too bad looking. He snorted at the memory. They were too much alike to ever fall in love besides the whole different Clans bit. "My business here in none of yours. I will not press you for information as to why you find yourself here, and I would expect the same courtesy from you, ShadowClanner."

The broad shouldered tom had to agree with her on that statement. Why should he care why she was out at Fourtrees? "You're right. I don't need or want to know why you're out here. Sleep escapes you, that much is obvious." he didn't elaborate on that last sentence as he moved away from the leader, towards the area the leaders spoke every gathering. He gazed up at it with longing in his eyes but he knew most of his Clan didn't see him as their next deputy let alone as their next leader. Grayshadow pushed his emotions far into the back of his mind as he looked towards his Clan territory. Friends was something unknown to the mysterious tom. Warheart was the last cat he ever let in. Now it was just Clanmates or rivals. Never friends.


I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border line of the edge
And where I walk alone

[|{/Bloodrose\}|]

Hailstorm The RiverClan leader rolled her eyes at the tom's words, tail tip twitching in a rather irritated manner as he spoke. Licking a paw, she drew it over her ears, before straightening her posture and continuing her surveillance of the surrounding area. "Perhaps it is better for you to think that of all RiverClan cats." She said simply, not caring that he'd basically insulted her in calling her a water rat. There was something strangely hollow about her gaze on this particular night, as though the RiverClan leader no longer had the energy to cover up and pretend she was fine as she usually did. With a near-silent snort, the dark grey she-cat muttered under her breath, not loud enough for the tom to hear no matter what he might try. "Sleep.. About as good as StarClan these days." A slight bitterness overtook her gaze, which she had turned back towards the gray tom. With an impatient flick of her ear, the over-exhausted RiverClan leader's voice broke the silence once more. "Now, ShadowClanner, have you come here simply to do as mockingbirds do? Do you plan to simply put me in a fouler mood? Or will you allow me to finish with my business here, just as I plan to allow you to finish yours?" And then we can both go back to our Clans and pretend as though nothing happened. She thought to herself, her harsh gaze glued upon the tom as she awaited an answer. I've been believing in something so distant, As if I was human. And I've been denying this feeling Of hopelessness in me, in me. All the promises I made, just to let you down. You believed in me but I'm Broken. I have nothing left. And all I feel is this cruel wanting. We've been falling for all this time. And now, I'm Lost in Paradise.

[STREAKZ]

lord tailscratch
you can really have no notion how delightful it will be

Ah these Clan cats were an awfully wild bunch -- Lord Tailscratch found himself thinking such a thing as he moved under the cover of velvet night. The unkempt tabby certainly looked as though he'd seen better days, being the sort that rather always looked like he'd seen better days it didn't bother him all that much. Nay, his mind was on more important things, things like what to do with the wild cats roaming about this forest.

Oh not do like do away with, Great Whiskerdom no! Tailscratch wasn't the sort that did such silly things, in fact he preferred to keep his claws tucked into his paws unless they were out for the sake of slaying a flea or two. The loner was weird, aye, but he wasn't the sort that was violent by any means.

No he was trying to figure out how to peacefully connect with them. According to what the birdies were telling him -- well not actual birds, he himself didn't speak very fluent bird though he could perhaps figure out if they were terribly distressed -- these cats were about as friendly as a dog backed into a corner. Which was to say, not at all, unless you met the right dog of course. He supposed one of those growlers could be just as productive as a cat if they had half a mind to, he just assumed they usually didn't have half a mind to do anything of the sort.

He had heard (from the same "little birdies" that had told him about the Clan cats in the first place) that they had some special communal area in which they didn't fight. He figured as far as first steps went he could at least go through there no? No harm no foul, he even made sure to fill his stomach with a hearty meal before setting out -- last thing he needed was for some cat to get angry at him for getting a bit peckish and picking up on some squeakers in their land.

It was with this in mind that the bedraggled looking tomcat had set out, and it was with this in mind that he found the hollow with four oak trees nicely sheltered from the rest of the world. It'd been a tad worrisome getting here, he'd made sure to stick close to any borderlines for the simple fear that some cat would get irritated. He could always just say "passing through" cheerfully, and if that didn't work ah well, he supposed he could run away. He certainly didn't want to bloody his claws, besides he was poor at fighting at the best of times. Hardly any a reason to shoot his claws when he happened to live in the city, what with the Catdom and such.

There were two cats already in the hollow, and they seemed far from friendly with one another. Of course he couldn't hear much by way of actual conversation, but the loner found himself seated up on the top of the bowl -- he fanned his whiskers out, and for a brief second looked over his flanks as though seriously checking over his appearance. He gnawed at his hindquarter for a brief instant, until a tuft of fur was pulled free -- this seemed to satisfy Lord Tailscratch, and he skipped to his paws and padded toward where the other two cats were.

He figured surprise was a thing cats like this would not appreciate -- to be fair most cats did not care for many surprises at all, particularly when it came to the presence of others -- and Tailscratch was an honest enough cat to abhor the thought of hiding himself. So he lifted his tufted tail high above his head, and did what any un-sensible tomcat such as himself would do. He yowled a greeting.

"Ah, merry meet, greetings to you both!" The loner stopped where he stood, a good few leaps away from both cats. He pulled his whiskers up, smiling at the two -- an odd gesture shown to him by the Queen herself! "I surely hope I'm not intruding too much, I couldn't catch much on the wind but you seemed to be arguing so I thought to myself, great Whiskerness, I might as well great the two of you! In a place such as this, it has the feel of peace doesn't it? Very nice, it's a great googly communal area, that's what I think that I do. Did I tell you my name, I don't really want to get too close, I hear whispers that you like to pluck the whiskers off of unintelligent cats. Ploink, plop and twitch just like that -- I rather like my whiskers, and I've had a lot of cats tell me I'm a... ah, fool that is to say."

Lord Tailscratch's whiskers twitched at this, his pale eyes seemed distant, but then he started as though prodded by an unexpected paw. "Ah yes greetings, I am Lord Tailscratch, traveling from far lands to this here quaint Bowly-round Tree Place. It is a pleasure and a half to meet you."

when they
take us up and throw us, with the lobsters, out to sea

[Grayshadow]

Grayshadow looked at the RiverClan leader with undisguised disgust. Where was the fiery Hailstorm that was close to chewing his whiskers off when he first appeared? He gazed into her empty stare and could see the carelessness deep inside them. Hailstorm didn't care that he was there...she didn't seem to care about anything much less than sleep. The ShadowClan tom snorted with contempt and focused on the dark sky above them. "You don't really have business here, Hailstorm. You're just trying to escape the nightmares that haunt you when you close your eyes. But you know deep down, that they'll just be there when you close them to try to sleep again." The massive gray tabby male opened his maw to continue to speak to the female leader but a new scent reached his muzzle.

"Ah, merry meet, greetings to you both!" Reached his ears before the stranger did and Grayshadow curled his upper lip back, showing one of his sharp canines. What in Dark StarClan was this oddball doing on Clan territory. He was obviously not a kittypet and certainly not a warrior of any Clan. Caution seemed to be unknown to this unusual furball. Then the newcomer started yammering on and on about nothing really important, at least to Grayshadow. He checked out, looking at Hailstorm to see what her expression was before catching the last part of Lord Tailscratch's speech. "I'm a... ah, fool that is to say."

The ShadowClanner almost snarled with amusement, "A fool? No, I think your a mousebrain furball for coming up to a ShadowClan warrior and the RiverClan leader acting so friendly like. Even a newborn kit knows a ShadowClanner won't hesitate to scratch the eyes out of anybody or anyone." he flexed his claws and lashed his tail. Weird mousebrain fool indeed. "Ah yes greetings, I am Lord Tailscratch, traveling from far lands to this here quaint Bowly-round Tree Place. It is a pleasure and a half to meet you."

Lord Tailscratch? What kind of name was that? "You must be jokin'. Thinking you're some kind of Lord or something. You won't hear me call you that at least. I think I'll stick with mousebrain furball." Grayshadow glanced at Hailstorm, wondering when and what the female would say to this Tailscratch character.

[In the end
As my soul's laid to rest
What is left of my body
Or am I just a shell?
And I have fought
And with flesh and blood I commanded an army
Through it all I have given my home for a moment of glory]

[/strong]

[|{/Bloodrose\}|]

Hailstorm Sharp, pale green eyes hardened suddenly, focusing on the gray ShadowClan cat as he spoke about nightmares. Her gray ears were pushed forward, her full attention upon this tom she'd met just now. She watched him in total disbelief, unsure of what it was she should say or do. Snap out of it, Hailstorm. He doesn't know anything. No one does. It's all just speculation on his part. Her snarling voice was enough to sober her, like a slap to the muzzle. Her ears and posture relaxed, her eyes rolling slightly. She settled on her rump slowly, preparing an almost lazy, totally neutral response. It was right around then that an unfamiliar scent and voice cut through the night air. In one swift motion, Hailstorm's dark gray and white muzzle swung to face the strange newcomer. To say his overall appearance, demeanour and way of speaking surprised her would be an understatement. Though her outer self was calm, collected, and gaze at this strange tom with nothing more than polite interest, her inner self stared at him with her mouth hanging open, ears pricked forward and pelt fluffed out in shock. The state of his pelt had hers pricking in discomfort. She couldn't figure out how anyone could tolerate having their coat in such... Disarray. When Grayshadow interrupted the tom, Hailstorm's eyes narrowed in obvious annoyance. She didn't take her eye off of this peculiar cat, her ear swivelling from Grayshadow back to this newcomer as he began to speak again. She had no idea where the dialect he was speaking with could possibly come from. She understood him, but some of the words he chose baffled the RiverClan leader. As he finished and attention seemed to be brought to her, Hailstorm's posture straightened, the air of a leader surrounding her on command. She offered him a slight dip of her head, collecting her words carefully before she began. "Greetings... Tailscratch, if you don't mind me calling you that. My name is Hailstorm, and as it was previously mentioned, I am RiverClan's current leader." She paused momentarily, her tail moving to sit atop her four paws before her icy voice continued. "I must ask... What in the name of the forest are you doing here? It is not often that cats venture this far, into Fourtrees." Her eyes never left the unkempt tom, and the tip of her tail twitched every now and again, the only indication of her impatience. The leader of RiverClan awaited this tom's response, ignoring the words the ShadowClanner had spoken to her about the nightmares and her business here. Her proud demeanour showed that of a Clan leader. Her earlier troubles and weakness seemed to have been utterly washed away. It seemed as though the thing she had needed most was something interesting, a little bit of a distraction for her tired mind. I've been believing in something so distant, As if I was human. And I've been denying this feeling Of hopelessness in me, in me. All the promises I made, just to let you down. You believed in me but I'm Broken. I have nothing left. And all I feel is this cruel wanting. We've been falling for all this time. And now, I'm Lost in Paradise.