Shredded Curtains [Open]

[Barketh]

[maroon]No light splattered the ground. Darkness engulfed the forest. Shadows dominated the ground and an eerie wind swept through the woods, sweeping several oak leaves with it. The debri swirled around a dark figure before floating to a stop at his paws. Cloudy blue eyes looked up, a mixture of anguish and hate. Darkness wrapped its cold tendrils around his thoughts, and a small smile appeared on the gray cat's muzzle.
"Good... I'm alone..."
Blue eyes flashing, he stepped past the leaves, the cold forest below missing out on the warm new-leaf sky.
It's better this way, right?
He could feel the familiar waves of unfocused rage overtaking him. His fangs felt the urge to tear at throats, claws unsheathing as they prepared to slice through flesh. Creststar staggered, knowing his dark mood was taking over once again. A shudder ripped through the tom, and his right ear shot up, left one flattening against his head. A snarl was let loose from his mouth, and in one swift motion, he had buried talons and teeth into the bark of an alderwood, blue eyes burning with uncontrolled anger.
It'll be over soon..... Loosing control... I hate it... Hate being unable to calm myself. How can I lead my clan this way? My thoughts are not my words.. I can not.. I can not choose what I say... That is my burden. My curse.
Blood welled from his paws where he had scraped them against the wood, and sap leaked over his fur, fangs sinking into the tree. Bitterness filled his mouth, and just like that, he felt his energy sap away, causing the tom to slump to the ground in exhaustion.
Jaws weak, paws sore, he lay there at the foot of the tree, blue eyes foggy, sides heaving up and down until they slowed to a steady rise and fall.
That's why it's better this way. If I lay here a little longer, I won't be able to hurt anyone... It is... Truly unfortunate.
A different smile appeared this time, one not as spiteful as the previous. Slowly, the tom rose to his feet, swaying slightly but regaining his balance nonetheless. Casting a look upwards at the thick leaf covering over the sky, his smile faded and he lowered his head slightly, drinking in the forest scents.
If he went hunting, the blood on his paws would be easily mistaken for that of prey. Besides, the fresh-kill pile was low, so it wouldn't do any harm to stock up.[/maroon]

[Amorastar]

Ebonystep

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My sapphire eyes quickly scanned the forest, every movement seeming like a blur. I took one small pawstep forward, and heard the soft crunch of an oak leaf beneath me. My ears picked up the sound of shuffling paws. I turned my gaze to see a squirrel making a mad dash up the nearest tree. I felt my claws unsheathe, but I restrained myself, knowing that it was probably not the smartest thing to do at the moment.

I had to stay quiet...no one could know that I was out here. They might accuse me of breaking the warrior code again. Why can't they just let it go already. It was one time...one mistake. One little innocent night that got taken to far...

I gave the kits away. I couldn't betray my clan by raising half-clan kits. And EverestClan would never find out. He promised not to tell...so did the queen that was raising my kits. But of course, OnyxClan knew. Well, they didn't know about the kits. But they knew about him...

And now, I can never be trusted alone. It really isn't living when everyday you are constantly reminded. Every day the pain eats at your heart. They think it's hard for them? Imagine walking in my paws. I got everything I ever wanted. A mate that loves you more than anything, kits, a life...

Imagine it being swept away from under your tired paws in a split second. Everything you lived for...gone. And it's become a habit of mine to trail the woods at night. It gives me time to think. I've debated a lot of things out here. I've considered going to EverestClan, I've considered leaving the mountains all together and finding a nice twoleg to take me in...

I've even considered self suicide. It's sad really. I don't live. Oh no. I survive. The deeper I drifted into the forest, the more and more my legs began to ache. I found a small pile of brush, and felt my black pelt rest against it's bristles, as my heavy eye lids closed. I prayed for sleep to overtake me.

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[Barketh]

[maroon]The succulent smell of warm flesh filled his nose and he had to force himself not to bite into the rabbit. Setting his prey down, he kicked a light scatter of dirt over it, blue eyes gazing up at the treetops.
The wind whispered harsh words in his ears, and he turned his head as pawsteps sounded behind him. Of course, the she-cat was being excellent at concealing herself, but he always knew that when the forest was at its quietest, someone was sneaking around.
Hmmm... Seems like everyone is gloomy today.
The tall smokey cat stepped over the roots of the tree and began foraging his way through the bushes. If one were to see him, they might think he was an extremely lousy hunter. Yet he was not hunting for prey. Rather, he was in search of the sneaky little cat who was trying to hide his or herself.
He had traveled farther down-wind to pick up any scents when his nose twitched.
Ebonystep... What's she doing here alone?
His blue eyes narrowed slightly and he followed the strong scent of Onyxclan until he came across a bush. Luckily, his height allowed him to peer over without any unnecessary movements, and, sure enough, there she was, lying on a softer patch of undergrowth.
"My, my, what do we have here? Napping? You know, it's dangerous out here at night. Foxes, badgers, lost twolegs..."
He stared off at a tree, talking loud in order to wake her.
"You shouldn't be out here alone, Ebonystep."
His meow lowered to the brink of becoming a growl, though he remained composed. There was no point in frightening her off into the forest. He hated when cats ran off; mostly because that meant he would have to go chasing after them.
Oh well. I guess even foolish law-breakers need freedom every now and than.
He thought, allowing his mind to briefly sympathize with the dark she-cat.[/maroon]

[Amorastar]

My eyes flared open in panic as I heard the sudden call of my name. I quickly jumped to my paws, only to find myself standing face to face with Creststar. I blinked, shedding all tiredness from my eyes as I stared at the blue eyed tom.

He was always a good leader. He never singled out a cat for mistakes they had made. Including me. I think he was the only cat who didn't constantly shun me for my foolish break of the Warrior Code. I only wished for cats to understand. They didn't know how bad it hurt. Maybe if they fell in love they would finally see...

"Creststar." I bowed my head to him. "What a pleasant surprise...?"

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[Barketh]

[maroon]She stood up rather quickly, and he was slightly startled by how fast a cat could change its mood.
Than again, I'm not really one to talk.
He thought coyly, though his expression reflected none of his thoughts.
"Indeed..."
He trailed off before blinking again and sitting down so that he was facing the warrior. A soft breeze swept through the trees, and an oak leaf swirled around his paws before continuing on into the darkness.
"What brings you out here alone at this hour?"
He meowed steadily, neither curious nor bored.
Ebonystep was an interesting cat. He knew better than any of his clanmates (beside Ebonystep) about the she-cat's relationship with another clan cat. And though he didn't approve of the past relationship, he knew it must be difficult to live a life in the shadows.
But you must know, Ebony, that the minute you decided to follow your heart and be with that tom, you left behind your quiet life. That is the price for breaking the Warrior Code.
He thought quietly, tail laying still on the ground, a hidden snake in the grass.[/maroon]