[ti]Open[/ti]ELITE WARRIORS!

[Miss Tactical]

Eveningstar perched upon his stone letting out a mighty yowl, his fierce gaze piercing the eyes of onlookers. ”Tonight is a wonderful night we have new warriors to name!” Eveningstar looked at the few rogues before him. The tom planned to bring in more and more until MothClan was filled with only the fiercest of warriors. He even planned on bringing them to the next gathering. He was more than certain the clan cats would recognize a few of them. ”MothClan welcomes you Orion, Alaric, Hecate and Aster!” He mewed. He looked at all four of them with fierce eyes. ”You have agreed that upon joining you will take a clan name in exchange for shelter, food, and of course the chance to fight I promise you all of that and more!” He yowled, some MothClan cats cheered, others seemed to be hiding in the shadows not even willing to bother.

”Aster, Alaric and Hecate I now present you with warrior names! Aster, I name you Asterfrost. I have seen what you are capable of doing with plants, PLEASE pass on the way of poisons to Palesun it is VALUABLE knowledge” He knew aster had killed a few MothClan cats and even poisoned the water belonging to IvyClan it is something that Palesun could find valuable perhaps they could poison RootClan’s water supply, granted that would be a discussion for another day.

[b”Alaric, you are quite large…and I think you and I have encountered on the battlefield before. You must have a strong name, Thus I name you Tigerstalker!”[/b] He mewed firmly. He could see the tom hesitating but seemed to except it. That’s all eveningstar needed, he would warrior about the rest later.

”Hecate your manipulative and sour ways have crossed my ears having tricked a few MothClan warriors and apprentices in your wake, unfortunately it didn’t end well for them…” He made a fake sniffle before continuing. ”Your new name will be Ivyshadow!” He roared. Finally some strong MothClan warriors who would do his clan some justice!

”Orion you asked me to let you keep your name, thus I have no name to give you. I welcome all four of you as MOTHCLAN’S NEW ELITE WARRIORS!” Eveningstar let out an excited yowl, and to no surprise his other warriors didn’t seem overly impressed. ”I have also decided that Tansysong, Grizzeldwolf, Silvertongue, Stormwatcher, Irismoon, Birchfrost, Mantisclaw, Brindleburr, Pikesting, Bristleblaze, Badgerstrike, Weevilbite, Mothhaze, Tickstorm, Scorpionflame, aannnnd…….hmmm Brackenfall…will also be Elite Warriors. Only they will be welcome to gatherings and will be on patrols, all you others can just….i don’t know hunt or something……to feed them.” He mewed.

With that, Eveningstar walked away proud of his most recent accomplishments.

[Ringtail]

"Is this a joke?!", piped up Mountainstrike from the back of the crowd that had gathered around Eveningstar to hear his announcement. Elite Warriors? No trips to the Gathering? This seriously had to be a joke. "If this is a joke, Eveningstar, this one's really played out. Now I got a bunch of questions. What happens when those Elites become sick or die and can't patrol? Why use nasty rogues? How do we become an Elite? Who even wants to sit around and hunt while those flea-bags get to patrol the borders AND go to the Gatherings?! Are Gatherings not for everyone to attend?"

The brown and white she-cat stepped forward, her ears held back and tail puffed out. All of this was unfair, not to mention a bit cruel. Everyone here had either friends or family among the other clans.

"I challenge your new motives, Eveningstar. They are questionable and some others probably do agree with me. You must have been drinking some funny water to come up with all this."

[GnawingOnIce]

Tanglespring couldn’t believe it. Eveningstar brought rogues into the camp who had yet to prove they were loyal, called them elite warriors, and then listed some of his other Clanmates at these ‘elite warriors’, included Tansysong and made her deputy, then left him out. He flattened his ears against his head. Who was Eveningstar to say that he couldn’t be an elite warrior? What made him think that? He had killed before! And he would do it again if it meant… no. What am I thinking? I’ve never laid my claws on anyone! These thoughts troubled him, but Tansysong getting to go places without him troubled him more. Tansysong couldn’t go off and leave him alone, not after… not after...

Tanglespring jumped forward, claws unsheathed and muzzle wrinkling into a snarl, and shoved his way through his Clanmates to Tansysong. “Tansysong,” he panted as he dug his claws into the dirt, “tell Eveningstar that I can go to gatherings, that I can fight!” desperation laced his voice as he pleaded to her. He couldn’t lose her and his practical family at the same time. The young tom was unaware that he was beginning to get caught up in this whole destroying RootClan thing. Tanglespring simply didn’t want to be underestimated, or told he couldn’t go to gatherings, or told he was under these elite warriors.

Tags;; M'Lady
Notes;; n/a

[LupTacco]

Orion sat beneath the leader as he announced the official welcome of the rogues- the new names his family took on felt foreign, but fitting in their own right. Asterfrost... she's certainly not a warm one. Hah, Tigerstalker. Sounds like something he'd tell us he was to get us to behave as kittens. Ivyshadow..? I guess that fits, too. His eyes narrowed, his bright glare smoothing into a more neutral but far more haughty expression- But I'm just Orion. That's what I always am. Nobody's gonna tell me I'm not. Staring defiantly out across the crowd, his ears flicked dismissively as a few spoke out. Puh. Take it up with their leader if they were so worried- the now-former rogue would enjoy seeing them suffer at the claws of their own protector. Elite warrior... a hint of a smile tugged at the edges of his muzzle. Elite. More important than the Council, even.

Brindleburr watched quietly, but seemed unsurprised when she was named as one of the few credible warriors- and why not, after all? She was certainly more dependable than Ocelotjaw. Just his name... her spine prickled. She would remain loyal to MothClan, no matter what its leader did. Leaders came and went, after all, and frankly, MothClan could use some harsh truths. At her side, the slender tabby she-cat Pikesting beamed as both of her parents were named, then cheered as her own name was called- of course! Hahaha, of course! She deserved it. It was her birthright, a perk of her bloodline and, at long last, a leader-signed acknowledgement of her superiority. Who cared if she wasn't some "elite warrior"? She had been here longer. If they tried anything, she'd tear their ears off. Or their throat.

From the back of the crowd, however, a few cats shifted around as the large, flower-decorated tortoiseshell tom rose to his paws, staring Eveningstar down but ultimately deciding to keep his words to himself. "I'm going on patrol," Patchfrost muttered to the cats nearby, turned about and prowling out of camp. He was proud of MothClan, yes- had left his own birthplace for it so many moons ago. Mothstar had been harsh, even cruel at times- but there was a genuine heart in what the old tom had ever done. Patchfrost had tried to give Eveningstar the benefit of the doubt when he'd forced several warriors- perhaps not their best, but perfectly serviceable and direly needed in the coming moons- to retire. But this? This forming of castes? No, this wasn't the MothClan he left his home for. This wasn't any clan at all, as far as he was concerned.

((-- this section takes place out of camp, for clarity. Unless somebody else also follows them, nobody else would hear about it))
He turned his head as two other cats had apparently followed him, stopping nervously under his cold, mint-green gaze- Ambershine and Cactusblaze.

"Um, sorry to bother, Patchfrost, but... I don't feel safe going alone. I want to-" Ambershine sucked a breath in, trying to stand up taller and boost her confidence, "I want to speak to Screechstar. Or, or Black- Blackmoon? The point is, I have to speak to RootClan. They need to know what Eveningstar plans to do. I know we've fought, and I know we will probably fight again in the moons to come for other reasons- but this isn't just a border dispute. Patchfrost, you heard him- he wants them all dead." Her warm-hued eyes were feverish with worry and hurt- still upset about being retired, moons of built-up confidence in her abilities shattered in a single night. "Cactusblaze... is here to help me," she added in a muted whisper. Patchfrost glanced from one to the other before sighing.

"Fine. I'll lead you to RootClan's lands. But I'm not staying after that. I'm headed... elsewhere," he rumbled, shifting direction and making his way towards the RootClan border at a brisk pace. The younger warriors hustled to catch up.

[Broadwaykat]

It was true that change might have been scary to other cats - but not to Badgerstrike. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that no love was lost between her and those whom she saw as dragging down the others in their camp - the freaks and weirdos that caused her to almost lose herself or put her precious person at risk. Badgerstrike was as sharp as they come, and change was good - and under a changed Eveningstar, who finally seemed to get things, she was proud to find herself counted among the upper echelon or warriors, among the elite.

Finally she was getting the recognition that she deserved. 

Puffing out her chest with pride, she whipped around and fixed Mountainstrike with a glare. "What's that? Upset that your lack of skill is finally being called out?!" She snapped. Frankly, she had no problem being considered better than everyone else; to have earned the position of going to gatherings amongst her skilled, stronger siblings. "Maybe if you should yourself to be event remotely strong enough, clever enough, you wouldn't have to worry about it. As it is...I think it's fair that there's less of a chance you can embarrass Mothclan."

She flexed her claws against the ground, clearly showing she was ready to defend their leader and his decisions - even among her fellow clanmates. 

[mewmehh]

A shrewd snort sounded aloud and green eye twinkled light firelight as Shadowpaw sprang up. "Well, I want to be an Elite warrior!! I want to attend gatherings and eat first too!!” Misplace excitement bubbled up in the lanky black apprentice, only to be snuffed out with a shrieking hiss from Milkberry as the pale queen crouched in her place.

Eyes like ice and back bristled to spines, the queen growled harshly, ”Impossible!! These cats cannot be here! They took our own!! They’ve claimed the lives of our own! Mothclan is no place for these vermin!” A few voices wailed along in protest and Onionclaw’s body pressed to hers in tandem bristles, fueling the pointed warrior’s fury. Mothstar did not die to let Eveningstar fill their ranks with poison. Hell, even Brackenfall had made some mistakes in the past, but none even remotely matched this.

Tail lashing and snorting at the repugnant scent that these so-called ‘Elite Warriors’ carried, the pale warrior sneered at the nearest ones. She stayed hunched in her threatening pose as the bodies of Rosewish and Wolfshade stalked up to back the smaller warrior queen. Green eyes of differing hues glowered with hostility, as if daring the outsiders to try anything while the adoptive daughter of the late Mothstar spoke her mind.

At the sight of the friction, Shadowpaw shrank back and stiffened, her long tail tucking itself beneath her belly before hopping off on nervous paws back to where she caught Bunnyblossom’s scent. She wanted no part of being wrapped up in any fighting with cats twice her size, and it smelled like a brawl was afoot.

[sabs]

Thunderbird & Brackenfall - - > 

    The brown-and-orange she-cat sat at the back of the gathering with her father, tails touching as they listened to the ridiculous announcement that Eveningstar had made. This wouldn't be happening if her father hadn't stepped down, no one forced him to. She held a little resentment inside her but kept it to herself, she knew that Brackenfall was still mourning....well a lot of things. "Father, you need to do something. This is insane! He's letting in ROGUES." She mewed, turning to face him now. His eyes yellow eyes glimmered with anger, and she could see his muscles bunched beneath his pelt. This all fell away quickly with a sigh as he hunched his shoulders, shaking his head. "There's nothing I can do, Thunderbird. I gave up any authority I had to make decisions. We will just have to see if this is really StarClan's will." The she-cat shook her head indigently. "If you're not going to do anything, maybe I will-" She cut herself off as she noticed her stubby legged sister speaking with Patchfrost, catching a few words about her planned leaving.
    Turning to Brackenfall again, she hissed. "You see what's happening? He retired Ambershine! You and I both know she is a more than capable warrior, and now she's leaving!" The tabby tom lifted his head towards his daughter, eyes now emotionless. "I can't just leave my Clan, nor can I question StarClan's will-" Now fully enraged, the tortie cat bristled as she interrupted. "StarClan's will...StarClan's will!? You keep using that stupid excuse. You're one to talk, with your HalfClan kits!" She growled. "You were right to step down, you're not half the cat I thought you to be. I'm leaving." And with that, the she-cat dashed into the brush and out of sight, while the demoted leader of MothClan sat to think, the words of his daughter slowly sinking in as he gave yet another pained sigh, turning to go back to the warriors den.

[Ringtail]

Being called out like that from Badgerstrike sent a growl through Mountainstrike. She had shown her skills enough to become a warrior, yet clearly their leader was playing favorites. “I have earned my right to be of Mothclan’s strength by being earned the warrior name I have been given, Badgerstrike, unlike these pansy rogues Eveningstar recruited to mingle with traitors like you who can clearly consider themselves one of them.” She hissed back at the other cat, her tail lashing. Her own claws dug into the dirt beneath her. If she had to fight her own clanmate, so be it. But this new Eveningstar was being unjust towards the rest of the clan.

“You think you’re better than the rest of us because you have some mouse brained title! The rest of deserve a chance to be able to go to Gatherings or eat first. This is not the Mothclan way. This is not the way Mothstar saw us as a clan. Fight me if you want Badger-Butt, but I will fight back for the rest of the clan who need a voice. And I will be their voice!”

The brown and white cat moved forward towards the other she cat, baring her pearly whites and folding back her ears. “The only embarrassment here is you, those rogues, and Eveningstar himself for thinking up this stupid idea!”


Broadwaykat

[continlula]

Figpaw had been watching from the group of apprentices during the ceremony. What he thought was going to be a simple naming ceremony ended up far, far too good. It was a welcome surprise. Elite Warriors... That's right up my path! The other apprentices and Waspthroat are sure to follow me when I get Eveningstar's favor. "Eveningstar! Eveningstar! When the apprentices become warriors will we be able to become Elite Warriors too?" Figpaw's tail slashed, impatient for the reply. He was sure to get the promotion when he's older. I'm already ahead of the other 'paws, and with my parents being loners I'm sure to get Eveningstar's eye! Figpaw worked himself up for his expected answer, oblivious to the collective hatred of the title.

[pants]

It seemed that his speech from Eveningstar's first announcement didn't stick with the clan. Grizzledwolf twitched his whiskers. Perhaps this new style would need some getting used to, but surely it was for the betterment of the clan. The tom was named an elite warrior, which Grizzledwolf was proud of. He puffed out his chest. The tom planned to use his skills in battle and his size and sheer strength to achieve the new goals of MothClan. He watched as fights verbal fights broke out,

Grizzledwolf padded to the front of the group of cats, standing in front of where Eveningstar positioned himself, looking over his shoulder at the disgruntled clan, "Don't worry, Eveningstar..." He started before looking back up to the leader, golden eyes burning with a loyal fury. "The weak are just weeding themselves out. I am honored to serve you as an elite warrior. We don't let the other clans forget what their real place in the world is." The tom growled, tail flicking. If only Leafswirl could see him now. He was now a top member of MothClan. He was climbing the ladder, and he would show her that not only he was strong, but his newfound clan was, too. The tom swore it on his life.