Dusk [closed4now]

[[^^].Luna.[^^]]

There wasn't really any choice in it - thirst just came, sometimes at the least convenient times. Winterstar had been thinking in her den, watching the sunset out of the opening in her little cave, when she was suddenly thirsty. Nothing before it, no warning or reason to it. Thirst. What else was there to do? She'd wearily rose from her comfortable clump of moss bedding, padding on silent paws out of the evening scene in the camp. Mostly cats were in their dens, the dusk patrol having set out not to long before. Tongue-sharing was most common, and Winterstar had gazed long and hard at the warriors den, wondering if Flashclaw was washing anyone, sharing news from his day. She wanted to have a friend; sometimes she shared tongues with her brother, but that wasn't what she so badly desired... but no time for that now. She walked up the edge of the little stream and leaned down to get a drink of refreshing water.

[±∞STREAMY∞±]

OOC- is this for Flashclaw?

[ôSnowô]

OOC: I don't think so. Cindy told me that this is where Snowfeather and Winterstar are talking and stuff.

IC: Snowfeather lapped up the cool, refreshing water. She hadn't had a drink for a while and a cool drink of water was what she longed for. When she was done lapping up the water, she heard pawsteps approaching her. She stiffened. Who's that? she thought to herself, worriedly. She breathed a sigh of relief to find her leader padding toward the river. "Hello, Winterstar!" she greeted her leader, and close friend, "Beautiful evening, isn't it?"

[[^^].Luna.[^^]]

Nodding briefly, Winterstar mewed a "yes." She smiled lightly before reaching out her tongue to scoop refreshing creek water into her palate. After taking a few gulps, she looked upwards, where the quarter-moon was casting a beautiful glow and took silent pleasure in the sight. It was indeed a gorgeous night, and though she was tired it wasn't too terrible to be outside. The west horizon, behind her when she faced the stream and towards camp, had a quickly fading pinkish gleam from the just-set sun, another enjoyable view. Her optics taking in everything, the happy but controlled leader turned to her warrior, also out because of thirst.

[ôSnowô]

Snowfeather stared at her leader. She could tell her leader had her mind on something else, but she decided it was no big deal. "I fear for PastureClan, Winterstar. I truly do. I mean, we have so few cats, how are we going to survive?" Snowfeather had had this on her mind for quite a while, but didn't mention it to Winterstar because it seemed like Winterstar had her mind on other things all the time, but she decided she would tell her leader how she felt about the future of PastureClan. Does Winterstar feel the same? Will we survive with so few cats in the Clan? The questions raced through Snowfeather's mind, and no one could answer them. StarClan, please help us! she pleaded in a silent prayer.

[[^^].Luna.[^^]]

OOC: Can no one realize yet? Please? Winterstar is really good at keeping stuff to herself, and they haven't even admitted to loving each other to each other. Winterstar's brother notices a tiny bit, but only because he's her brother... I'm sorry, but I think I want to wait a little before the rumors start.

[ôSnowô]

Okay, no problem! I'll fix it!

[[^^].Luna.[^^]]

Winterstar looked for several moments deep into the eyes of her Clanmate. Dark amber orbs pierced into Snowfeather before the leader responded. This interaction, she hoped, would stay purely Clan-based; talking about her own personal feelings did not come naturally to the composed she-cat. "Perhaps this will cause our Clan troubles, you're point is a valid one. The Clans don't seem to be terribly tense, but it hasn't rained in a bit - I wonder if that will have an effect on the prey supply or current peacefulness in Whisper Creek." Winterstar realized how little she had been paying attention to PastureClan's problems... she'd been spending too much time thinking, alone in her den, about Flashclaw. It wasn't good for anyone. She wished... but what did she wish?

[ôSnowô]

"Yes. I fear that this will bring hostility to all the Clans and they will feel they can take over PastureClan. What will we do if this happens?" she asked her leader, scaring herself at the thought of being over-run by ForestClan, BrookClan, and HeatherClan. Something's not quite right. Has Winterstar been thinking about this AT ALL? What if she hasn't? We'll be doomed! she thought anxiously, trying to keep herself calm.

[[^^].Luna.[^^]]

"It will not come to a battle." Winterstar's tones were sure as she responded, and her eyes met those of Snowfeather. Being leader came with some tricks to learn, and sincerity was one. Winterstar was able to comfort her Clanmates with words they knew were untrue - the trick was acting completely positive. No "I think"s, no "probably"s. Those just made you sound unsure and worried, which was the last thing a leader could show. Leaders always had to be strong, a stressful and high-maintenance job. So she was able to keep a confidant half-smile on her narrow muzzle and put such certainty into her orbs that it would be enough to trick anyone. It was hard, and she hated doing it; she wanted so often just to cry and lean her head on another cat's flank. Specifically Flashclaw's. But no cat wanted to know about her fears or inabilities, so she had to stay painfully strong. No matter what.

[ôSnowô]

"I'm glad you have so much faith in PastureClan, Winterstar. You are truly a good leader, and that's just what we need." replied Snowfeather with a light-hearted tone. Snowfeather felt relieved that her leader's tone was casual and smooth. Everything's going to be okay. She's been thinking about this a lot, I know she has! I trust Winterstar with my life. She wouldn't lie to me, I know she wouldn't. Everyone in PastureClan WILL be okay after all! she thought, relieved that she could breathe normally now.

OOC: Sorry for my pathetic post!

[[^^].Luna.[^^]]

Winterstar hid her sadness, just like she had for so many years, and merely smiled a brief smile. Am I a good leader? The question caught her off guard, even as she thought it. She didn't know, but she tried so hard. She made sure her warriors only saw the confidant, well-composed side of her and that she listened to what they needed. She hoped that her tremendous efforts payed off. But what about this possibility of a coming war? She hadn't given one bit of her already over-worried brain to the matter. All the otherwise unused space in her mind was occupied with thinking about Flashclaw, something that shouldn't happen even in the slightest. She was the leader, and she had to act like one. So she changed around the subject of the conversation from Clans - and tried to put the right amount of leader-like concern into the words she spoke: "How has your life been? How are all my beloved warriors - I sometimes miss being one of you." The smile with which she spoke defused the possible sadness in her words. She was at ease talking about this topic because of how true it was. She loved being a leader but sometimes she wished, not in an unhappy way, that she could re-live her warrior days.

[ôSnowô]

Snowfeather was caught off-guard by the sudden change of topic, but she decided not to argue and go along with it. "Well, Winterstar, sometimes I feel like you do. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love being deputy of PastureClan, but it seems that all the other warriors in the den treat me differently now. I don't know what it is, but they seem to think they always have to please me and do whatever I want them to. I miss being treated like one of the others, but I'm sure I'll get over it eventually. It'll just take time, as it always does." meowed Snowfeather with a bit of sadness showing in her voice. She couldn't lie to herself, or her leader. She truly DID love being deputy and one day, leader of PastureClan, but she just couldn't get the thought of how her denmates treat her so differently than they used to. Oh, DreamClan. I do miss my days as a warrior, and when Winterstar eventually goes to hunt with you, I will have to lead PastureClan by myself! Please give me the strength I need to be the best deputy, and eventually, leader I can be. she silently prayed to DreamClan. She had confidence, just like Winterstar, and she knew that Winterstar would help her know everything she needed to know before she would have to run PastureClan.

[[^^].Luna.[^^]]

Winterstar smiled. "You will be a wonderful leader some day," she meowed, admiring of Snowfeather's thoughtful responses. She, like Winterstar, had not sounded sad - just a little bit sorry. There was no hint of regret in her voice, and it was good never to show regret. I chose well when I appointed her, Winterstar knew. When her time in the physical world was over, when her paws treaded with a DreamClanner's lightness, Snowfeather would lead PastureClan perhaps even better than Winterstar. Will my successor have the same problem I do? Will she fall in love? It would be better if that didn't happen... but it maybe for Snowfeather it would be a nice thing, somethings she wasn't too closed off to share. A little bit of insane jealousy gnawed into her, but barely enough to notice.

[ôSnowô]

Snowfeather felt her cheeks get red with embarrassment. "Thank you, Winterstar." she replied, trying to hide her embarrassment, but not succeeding. She felt her legs grow stiff from standing so long, so she decided to lay down beside the refreshing water. She felt her belly touch the soft earth as she bent down to lay. When she was in the laying position, she stretched her head out and took another drink from the pool. She felt this was the most perfect place out of the whole territory. Snowfeather loved coming here to be by herself, but also longed to come with someone who she might have feelings for, but she did not want to focus on being in a relationship at this point in her life. She had to focus on what it takes to be a leader, even though she hoped her dear friend, Winterstar, wouldn't pass on to DreamClan any time soon.