Fateful Encounters -- Open!

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x - - RIPPLESTAR

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The lean tom had resigned to his little bedding of moss, content at the deft crunches and rustles as he gently sat down, pawing the ground for some comfort. Eyes betrayed a slight worry, anxiety. Quite frankly, Ripplestar was slightly torn. He liked welcoming new people, however, it felt that it would be a price to pay if his clan didn't agree with it like he wanted to. Of course, there were many questions as to how Ashcloud came upon the she-cat but he would have to ask later; this matter was much more important.

A foreign voice echoed through his ears and he bolted up slightly, startled that he had been spacing off. It was the she-cat.

"Oh...I'm so sorry, I must have...must have been thinking," he murmured absentmindedly. The EastClan leader cleared his throat. "I don't believe I've gotten your name yet." He smiled slightly.

"I hope the meal was satisfying in the least for you. And of course, you're very welcome to stay the night." The seal-point tabby shifted slightly. "From what I'm guessing, you seemed to have come a long way." He paused for a heartbeat and exhaled deeply, deep blue eyes watching the newcomer intently yet with kindness.

"I must admit that this is putting me in a difficult position. I'm not sure how much you know about the clans, but it's not exactly common to have outsiders join. Some clans tolerate it better and others...well, I can't speak on their behalf. What I decide represents the decisions of EastClan. I don't wish for you to be mistreated here." He slowly rose to his feet and paced a couple steps around.

"To be honest, my father was a loner as well, but I was raised in this clan ever since I was a kit. My morals and judgments are based on what I grew up with." Ripplestar grinned slightly. "And seeing as a I have some blood of an outsider, I was never objected to the idea of others joining our clan," he whispered the last bit like it was a secret before straightening up.

"But as I have said, this is a matter that I have to decide based on the benefit of my clan." He dipped his head slightly. "Please, stay for the night and I will give my reply tomorrow at dawn." Ripplestar turned back to his bed when he realized something and he quickly turned round.

"Oh! I completely rambled on without knowing your name." He rolled his eyes. "Oh StarClan, what kind of a leader am I without knowing the most important part of a cat?" he mumbled to himself.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

[ℳoon 浤]

Juniperpaw watched from the sidelines as Ripplestar spoke to to the foreign cat. She was puzzled, wondering if the leader was actually going to let this cat stay with them. It didn't seem right to her. EastClan might not accepted that kind of thing. She came around the corner, looking at Lilysong with wide eyes.

"Where are you from?" she asked, brushing her clam shell towards her. "Why are you here? You're not going to hurt us, are you?" She looked at Eater, and her ears drooped. "I don't think Eater likes you. I'm not sure if I like you. You smell funny." She didn't mean to be rude, but she was choosing brashness over shyness.

[Kiki]

~Lilysong~ Lilysong nodded respectfully, listening to Ripplestar's dilemma. "I understand this must put you in a hard position." she mewed, her tail flicking back and forth. "Thank you for your kindness in this matter, and for letting me stay the night. It will be nice to be able to rest." She let out a small sigh. She was truely exhausted. "Oh," she said when the leader asked for her name, "My name is Lilysong." She smiled, then rose to her paws to leave the leader in peace. As she was leaving, the tiny she-cat she saw earlier came over and began talking to her. She listened to the she-cat's questions and smiled. "I came from a far away forest, where there are no clans. As for why I'm here, I heard about the clans and came to see about them. Im sorta in search of a new home." The tiny apprentice mewed something about Eater, which she assumed must be the tiny shell, and her smelling funny. She smiled slightly, looking at the tiny shell. "Yes i do suppose i would smell funny to you." She found the apprentice amusing. "I wouldn't mind living in a place with her. She seems fun." she thought. [atrb=border,0, true][atrb=width,330,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][bg=black]

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x - - RIPPLESTAR

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The lithe seal tom smiled softly, nodding in assurance and watched the loner- no, Lilysong go. Ripplestar grinned in amusement at Juniperpaw's little questions, aware that she was apprehensive about Lilysong's presence. He stifled a sigh and sat down, his long tail neatly curled in on his side and sweeping over his paws. Ripplestar sat there for a good amount of time, listening to the soft sounds and rustles of his home. His mind was buzzing with thoughts, lost in contradictions. It would be hard to deny that this was a difficult dilemma he faced; of course all the leaders before him faced much greater situations as this one. Ripplestar sighed; there would be much more struggles in his way...even then, this wasn't even much.

Evening slowly greeted them, the sun slipping down on its way to slumber. Ripplestar hadn't noticed time fleeting so quickly; it seemed like he had been thinking too much. But honestly, what was there to worry over? Lilysong would be a great addition to EastClan, there was no doubt in that. But would his clan accept so easily as he did? The sleek tom shook his head. No, he couldn't dawdle; he was the leader for StarClan's sake! If he hesitated so much in this situation, how would he face greater dangers and threats to his clan?

"I was not chosen as a leader for my dawdling judgment," he murmured to himself, giving a small pep talk. Ripplestar nodded his head, pacing around in his seclusion. Deep ocean eyes glanced over at the clearing, watching his clan mates pacing around, doing their own business. It was a serene, picturesque feeling that warmed him and the tom smiled. The frantic, overwhelming feelings waned, whisked away like a summer wind. Ripplestar traced back to his bed of moss and gingerly lied down, eyes watching the clearing, watching all the EastClan cats before sleep beckoned him.

The familiar sun stirred beneath the mountains, slowly painting the sky a golden hue. Ripplestar was already awake, lapping at his matted, disarrayed fur. Lanky limbs rippled sinewy muscles as the tom silently padded to the clearing. A slight stir of anxiety surfaced in the pit of his stomach but Ripplestar confidently lifted his chin and parted his maws.

"Let all cats old enough to gather their own prey gather here!"[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

[ℳoon 浤]

Juniperpaw was surprised to hear that Lilysong had come from such a far away place. She was still suspicious, however. Still, Ripplestar seemed to like the newcomer, which made things a little easier on the small apprentice. "You're looking for a home?" she meowed quietly. "Are you going to live here?"

She looked up as she heard a yowling. Ripplestar was calling together a Clan meeting. She knew that could only mean one thing... Lilysong was going to join the clan. She looked suspiciously at the new she-cat and frowned. She picked up her clam shell in her mouth and padded over towards the center of the copse.

[VineStar12]

Tigerflight
Eastclan Deputy

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The deputy walks into camp, a rabbit hanging from his strong jaws, muscles rippling under his tabby pelt. Oh, Tigerflight had quite the looks. He was handsome all right, his bright, green eyes completing the picture. He drops his rabbit into the fresh-kill pile and perks his ears, hearing that Ripplestar had called a clan meeting. He sits down, alone, and awaits for what the important news was. His green gaze flickered to Ashcloud and Juniperpaw, who were with a cat he'd never met before. Maybe she was a prisoner? Although, the stranger didn't have a Clan scent. Maybe she was joining Eastclan? It's always better to have new members, just so long as they stay loyal and abide by the warrior code, the tom thinks, turning his head to look up at Ripplestar, his tail curling around his white paws.