Winds of Illusion [open]

[løиetëaя]

The white she-cat darted across the open moor lands, her pelt bright against the background of dry yellow hills. Her long limbs covered the uneven terrain smoothly and without effort, her breathing coming with ease as the fit cat made her way across Windclan territory. Her eyes, one icey blue the other bright lime green, scoured the landscape for any sign of intruders. There were rumors and ripples of unease passing through the clans, tales of unrest and mysterious happenings. Though she was only a warrior, it was still her duty to protect her clan from any threat.

Illusionwind paused, her nose raising to the air as she searched the winds for unfamiliar scents. Her pause was minute, and she continued on, not finding anything strange or unusual about her home. Only the familiar scents of rabbit and wind met her senses. Again, her white pelt could be seen moving swiftly across the open land.

Her ears were pricked, listening for any sound, whether it be prey or predator, friend or foe. However there was nothing, not the loud steps of a badger or the clumsy steps of an apprentice. Only stillness echoed in her ears. With a satisfied flick of her tail she turned to the east, heading farther into their territory.

Her mind began to wander as her search for any danger came up empty handed. Her clan was safe for now and her thoughts turned wistful. She longed to have another cat by her side at the moment, but she knew only loneliness in the open hills that the cats of Windclan called home. Every other cat was too busy to come with her, either with the duties of being an apprentice or warrior. Many were training, preparing for the unknown. All cats could feel that something wasn't right, though she felt it the most. She was more attuned to her environment then others, they called her strange for it and the way she acted. But there was a feeling of unease in the wind, a stillness that came before the storm. It was only a matter of time before something happened, and it wouldn't be for the better.

[kitteh]

The cold winter months of leaf-bare were clearly on it's way as Zephyrstep slowly padded out of the clan clearing. The sky was a milky white that matched the underside of his soft pelt. It was true, that the moorlands were once phantasmagoric- but now the depressed plants that the cats trodded upon each day, more than once a day- became cold and listless. It was going to be a very long leaf-bare, and Windclan was ready. Ready for the season, and ready for the rivalry between the other clans if they were to spring upon them at any time.

The cold wind whipped across the plains tossing his pelt to and fro, beseeching the cat to run faster into the plains. Faster into the hills that he called home to find that She-cat who's scent was gently drifting allong the ground. It kissed the sad grass, and smiled at Zephyrstep beckoning him to find her. Tempting him to close his eyes and sniff his way to her.

Oakstar had sent Illusionwind to border the territory, and then had quickly sent him after her. The pretty she-cat had made her way out of the camp before he could say a word to her, before the mew had past his lips. Truthfully- he didn't believe that she knew that he was going to come with her, she didn't know that there was a shadow following her at this very moment, for the tom was downwind. He would help her, he would make sure that she wasn't alone, and that no other cat would get to her.

Bounding into the clearing, with his blood rushing in his ears, he looked at Illusionwind, her tail was swaying from side to side, her back open to him. If he was quiet. If he snuck up on her, he could seriously hurt the sweet cat. But something about the cats frame showed her emotions. Showed..... how upsed she was.

"Illusionwind?" He tilted his head to the side blinking slowly. "Are you ok?" He walked closer, "Oakstar sent me to come with you- but you ran off too quickly" His eyes were ice blue gazing at her white pelt, "I'm sorrry" his tail was gently inbetween his legs as he watched the she-cat.

[løиetëaя]

Her ears flattened against her head as she heard the approach of another cat. She spun around, unsheathed claws digging into the ground as she prepared to attack. Her pristine fur stood on end and her tail was fluffed out and raised high in the air, the tip twitching from side to side. Then she realized it was only Zephyrstep and not an enemy. Taking a deep breath the odd eyed cat forced her fur to lie flat as she sheathed her claws.

She half listened to his words, her strange mind still preoccupied and distracted. She gave half a nod as he spoke of Oakstar sending him after her. She hadn't even noticed this. She had been preoccupied, too restless and paranoid from the strange feeling in the air. Her eyes left the tom cat before her, and she turned away from him, back to the open moor lands. It looked peaceful, tired almost. The emerald grass had turned a dry, dull amber, not golden as it had seemed in seasons passed. It was stiff in the breeze that blew across their land, holding none of its usual grace and dance like movements.

Even the wind seemed different. It didn't tickle with a gentle touch anymore. It was sharp, like claws scraping across a soft belly. The rabbits hid in the warrens, rarely venturing out. Prey was getting harder to find already and she knew this leaf-bare would be a difficult one. She only wished she knew exactly what to expect. But it seemed different from seasons past, there was a harsh edge to it that she couldn't quite place. The peaceful balance they had maintained with the other clans seemed brittle, though there were no outward signs of hostility. In fact, everything seemed to be just as peaceful as usual. But it was almost too peaceful.

"I know not what it is, but there is a feeling in the air. Chills run down my spine at the very thought of it. Its so close that its suffocating but I can't reach out and touch it, taste it." Illusionwind shook her head in frustration. "I feel blind, like a thick fog has been pulled in front of me. It clings, choking and smothering. But there is nothing. No signs of unrest. But I fear something dark lurks ahead of us all, not only Windclan but for all the cats of the lake. I just wish I knew what it was."

[kitteh]

The she-cat didn't seem to listen to him. Alright- very well. If she didn't want to listen to his words then she could ignore him. The feeling cut deeply into his heart as he gently pawed at the hard ground. He tried to apologize, but it obviously wasn't enough. Is ears flipped forward to catch the cats words as he nodded along, "Yeah." He murmured- understanding only half of what the cat said. Illusionwind seemed to almost speak in a tongue, but he did his bes to translate it, quickly and quietly in his mind. "I haven't felt that." he wispered quickly, licking at his dusty pelt. Giving it one more long lick he looked sideways at her, "About all of the clans- but i feel strange. Strange that-that maybe we are being watched." He shifed uncomfortably, "Always. And not by star clan."

He took a deep breath, "Did you find anything on your patrol?" Zephyrstep let one paw fall infront of the other and then sat next to the cat. "I- don't see anything." He looked at the cat then at the wide expance that held nothing. It was empty- the prey long gone, and hiding from the paws of the skilled warriors. The smartones hid- but even now the dumb ones were gone. "but i feel that there is something... here, now. Do you feel it?"

The fear washed over the cat and made the hair on his back raise, and shake in the wind. No- he was a tom. He needs to be strong- to protect the she-cats of his clan. The kits, and the apprentices. He just wanted to make sure she was ok, and fear made him think- no know that there was something with them.

[løиetëaя]

The white she-cat tried harder to focus on Zephyrstep, she could sense that her inattention was bothering him. It was just difficult to concentrate on anything when she was feeling this way. Most of the time she was a spunky she-cat that was always moving, but when things didn't feel right she was out of it, seemingly lost in another world.

"It does feel that way doesn't it, yet it doesn't feel like Starclan. It feels more sinister. I just don't know what it is. Those stories they used to tell us as kit, I almost have a feeling that somehow they are connected." She shook her head once, scattering her thoughts, pushing them away. "Never mind. They were just trying to scare us so we didn't misbehave."

Still, the chill along her spine bothered her. She could tell something was going to happen. It would only be a matter of time. They just had to wait. With a flick of her tail she signaled that they should move on. She took a few steps, then her stride lengthened, moving from a graceful walk to a quick run the ground fell away beneath her as she continued her patrol.