A suspicious journey

[~.:Speckledfeather:.~]

A small grey figure melted from the background of the shrubbery behind her. WindClan's medicine cat had her delicate nose pressed to the ground, in a frantic search for medicinal herbs. Especially relating to kits, given her current predicament. Speckledfeather froze for an instant, mouth wide in terror and frantic need to place the smell that was being thrown at her. With no care for herself, but guarding her unborn kits, she hurled herself into the bushes behind her, crashing awkwardly on her left foreleg, with not as much as a tuft of grey fur to prove she had been there.

[Sapphirestar]

A slight shadow flickered faintly in the sunlight before disappearing. Sapphirestar crouched soundlessly on a high branch, invisible through the thick foliage. She could have sweared that a faint WindClan scent had drifted over to her as she had crept silently through the enterlaced branches. She scanned the clearing. Nothing. She took a deep breath, her overly excited senses straining to pick up anything unfamiliar. And then her gaze stopped on a nearby bush.
A grey tuft of fur seemed caught on a thorn. From her high perch, Sapphirestar narrowed her eyes and gazed intently at the bush. Her eyes seemed to pierce through the foliage and interlocked branches and brush over the hidden shape of a cat. Under cover of the leaves and the branches, the flame-colored she-cat crouched lower and stared unblinkingly at the bush, decided to wait until the Other signaled itself. She would wait the time it took; she had patience and time to spare.

[~.:Speckledfeather:.~]

^{Speckledfeather cursed inwardly. Would she be found? Silently, she crept backwards, and felt the wind blow on her silver face, directing her scent away from Sapphirestar and towards the WindClan border. Breathing a silent sigh of relief, she watched the ThunderClan leader with a booming heart, hoping she wouldn't be heard.}

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[Sapphirestar]

Sapphirestar crouched lower, her tail twining from side to side rythmically. She gazed ever more intently at the cat's hidden shape when her sensitive ears picked a faint rustle of movement. She thought she caught a whisp of WindClan scent, but the wind shifted so quickly she hardly had time to recognize it.
But before, a slight tinge of mingled herbs and fear-scent had hit the roof of her mouth.
Indeed, there was an intruder here, and the flame-colored she-cat could guess the lines of its body throught the thick brush...

[~.:Speckledfeather:.~]

^{Frightened beyond belief, Speckledfeather silently placed gray paw after paw behind her, slowly melting into the brambles until she was unseen. Breathing shallowly and silently, Speckledfeather's green eyes were wide, her pupils expanded. Her feathered tail was pressed under her, and she could hardly breath.}

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[Sapphirestar]

Suddenly, the she-cat's head snapped sideways. Her ears flicked forward, and she narrowed her eyes. The fur on her spine bristled as she sat there, seemingly listening intently to a faraway sound. Her eyes stared into the distance, as if she was staring at an unseen scene. Then, without so much as a look back, she shot away.

By ways known only by her, Sapphirestar ran through the leafy canopy towards an unknown destination. Her eyes seemed to stare sightlessly ahead, locked on a sight only she could see. What was the she-cat thinking?
As Sapphirestar shot towards her destination, the wind seemed to get more fierce, until it became a strong, compelling force, driving her and her unseen pursuivant on at greater speeds than could normally be achieved. And still, the she-cat ran restlessly.

[~.:Speckledfeather:.~]

^{The wind cut through Speckledfeather's silver fur as well, searing her to the skin. For the sake of her unborn kits, she wanted to turn tail and run, yet it pushed the medicine cat forward. She could almost hear a message on the wind - follow. The young medicine cat ran forward, for once glad that her long fur shielded her kits. Close to the ground and silent, she sped after the ThunderClan leader, thankful for her speed.}

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[Sapphirestar]

At last, the wind slowly subsided as Sapphirestar slowed the pace, giving way to an enchantment-filled breeze which seemed to gently swirl around the flame-colored she-cat, softly tugging at her fur and driving her on. The very faint whisper of an ancient song seemed to dance on the wind, mere echo of time.
Quite suddenly, the thick forest disappeared, and a wild meadow stretched in front of the she-cat and her unseen pursuer. Sapphirestar looked from side to side suspiciously, then advanced cautiously out of the cover of the trees and onto the wild turf. The grass grew thick and high, almost taller than a cat. She prowled on the edge of the grassline, unsure of what to do. But the song was intensifying on the air, and finally, it drove her on. She paced wearily into the tall grass and vanished.

[~.:Speckledfeather:.~]

<sup>Speckledfeather crept out of her hiding place, as silent as night. The grass reached to her head, as the medicine cat opened her mouth to gather the scent. Smiling a little, the medicine cat sped after the ThunderClan leader, curiosity in her green eyes. Where was she going? Deeper into ThunderClan territory, for sure. But how could Speckledfeather leave the chase now, when she had come so far? She had so far to go, sure, but she couldn't give up! Her long, silver pelt brushed against the grass and poked her, but her small paws beat the ground in a steady rhythm onwards.

((Lion - I'm in Ottawa on Wed-Fri!))</sup>

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[Sapphirestar]

(( no way!!! And I didn't know... darn!))
((Oh, and the Sens beat Montreal 6-1 last night, while Montreal had beat them 5-2 last game. I do admit Alfredsson and Heatly weren't there when they lost, and on his first night playing sinc two weeks, Alfy scored 5 out of 6 goals! He's now tied with Vincent Lecavalier for Top Scorer title!))
((I watch too much hockey.))


Sapphirestar held her head up, scenting her way along. A sweet, overpowering smell of emerald grass came upon her, then the faint impression of warm, sunlit fur. He was close!
He wants me to search for him, she thought. Typical. So she shut her jaws and relied on her vision and incredible hearing to play this little game of hide and seek.

[>))*~.:Crystalstar:.~*((<]

^{The silver medicine cat had to run after the flame-colored leader just to keep up. Panting, she fell behind, marveling at her lost speed and stamina. With a sinking heart, she knew it was the kits inside of her. She stealthily followed Sapphirestar, however, and was shocked as the cat disappeared into the Moonpool. Hesitating only for a second, she followed the leader, diving silently into a nearby bush.}

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((Let's just start the Aslan thing now so we can get the plot moving in Tc, kk?))

[Sapphirestar]

As the she advanced, her ears started to pick the soft, sweet murmuring of running water up ahead. Sapphirestar silently padded out of the tall grass and found herself in a tiny glade through which a small, clear stream ran. He wasn't there. Oh well.
The she-cat crept to the stream and crouched down warily at the water's edge. She lapped a few drops. The water was sweeter than any she had ever tasted, and, she was sure, than any other on earth.
"My evenstar" said a low, soft voice behind her. Sapphirestar slowly, very slowly, twisted around.
There he was. The great golden lion stood in front of her, a kind smile etched onto his unchangeable face. The two felines, the small one and the great one, brushed pelts and twined tails, in such way that it seemed like a beautiful dance and the most touching scene at once.
"I have waited so long for you" breathed the flame-colored she-cat, leaning against his golden pelt, her head under his chin. His purr was like the rumble of a waterfall, but as warm as fire, and as quiet as the breeze all at once. "My evenstar" the great feline licked her on the head. A gentle silence lied over the glade.
"I fear for the forest" Sapphirestar sighed after some time, breaking the silence.
"Do you? said Aslan. "And why so, my evenstar?
She looked up into his green eyes. "A menace hangs over our heads... approaching... slowly but steadily..." Sapphirestar averted his gaze. "I can feel it" she whispered, sinking her claws into the soft soil.
Aslan looked over to the bush and peered at it, scanning it with his vivid gaze, before turning back to his heart-gaoler (*Sapphy).

Come out he seemed to call the hidden cat with his mind. "Come out, it is time"

[>))*~.:Crystalstar:.~*((<]

^{Fascinated, the grey medicine cat padded forward, eyes wide, as the flame-colored cat met with the strange being. Sapphirestar with a LION? What's going on? she asked herself. Then, the royal lion beckoned the pregnant she-cat. A cold, icy fear crept over her, and terrified, Speckledfeather crept back. Or at least, she tried to. Somehow, she found herself moving forward, into the jaws of the lion.}

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[Sapphirestar]

Aslan smiled kindly. "You bear a heavy burden, young medicine cat" he murmured.
Sapphirestar whipped around and narrowed her eyes the intruder. But secretly she was relieved; this meant that she wasn't the only one to share this secret now.
But what burden? Sure, there was the prophecy ringing in the air, but... all cats had that on their shoulders.
What could this be?

[~.:Speckledfeather:.~]

^{Speckledfeather melted under the leader's savage gaze. Shakily, she rose her head. "I suppose you should hear it from my own jaws. Yes, I carry kits." Speckledfeather meowed, scared, but bravely. "And they are Flamestar's."}

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