`Twas Brillig, and the Slithy Toves... [open]

[forte]

"Hoi, hoi. Where is this, and who am I?"

The cat came stalking along the dirt path, glimmering white and making no effort to hide as he, seemingly bold, rubbed up against a tree. Burrs unhooked from the long, tangled fur, splashed by mud and more off-white than glimmering, to tell the truth. His pupils contracted as he came full out into the sun, looking out at the here-and-there dance of the light and shade that dappled the woods beyond. A confused sort of light was in his brilliant blue eyes, which in the sunlight glittered and looked around without concern. Of course, he knew who he was. At least he knew his name - it was Whitewind, and as far as he knew that was all it had been since he became a warrior. ...A warrior? That part sounded wrong. So he knew who he was, but at the same time he didn't. An essential part of his past was eluding him, he knew that much.

Where was he? That was another question altogether, of course. He scented the air quietly. Over everything was the kindly scent of the forest, of open plains, of squirrels (he shuddered) and birds up in the wood ahead. But there was also a pervasive smell that he recognized as that of cats - a musky odor of toms and queens who patrolled borders and hunted everything that moved. For a moment Whitewind swooned out of sheer nostalgia, for there was only one sort of place where the smell of cats was so close all the time, all around. It was comforting, almost, in a strange way, although at the same time he knew that he shouldn't be here.

"Cats? Why... this must be a clan. But which one is it? Is it Bloodclan? We don't like Bloodclan. Or at least that's what the stories say... stories say. I wouldn't know, myself. Could it, perhaps, be Windclan? I should think not. They don't like woods. Maybe its Starclan. That would be nice. Hello?! Are you there, Starclan? Am I dead? It would make sense if I were. Maybe that's why I don't remember anything yet, because I'm dead. Oh, it's wonderful to be dead."

So saying, he sat down at the edge of the path and licked at his chest. Better get clean, if he was dead. Wouldn't want to spend eternity covered in mud. It made perfect sense. He vaguely remembered a fire... Maybe he'd burned to death. And after wards, some other cats - young cats, apprentices. Poor cats, didn't know that they were dead, too. But they might have already found the rest of Starclan, after all. That was a happy thought.

[racingbelle]

Herbs. That single word was causing me so much trouble. I followed the path, looking all the while for herbs that I needed. I saw a herb that I needed right next to...a white cat? I shook my head thinking there couldn't be a white cat in our territory. This was all in my head. A figure of my imagination. I hadn't got enough sleep in the last few days, worry had overcome sleep these past few days as we neared the start of the Gathering and the prophecy. "Hello there stranger." I said to the muddy white cat. "Who are you? You do know that your on NightClan's territory right? I suggest you leave or I'll chase you out myself." I said a little uneasily. Who was this cat? Was he a friend or...a foe?

[forte]

Whitewind didn't take any notice of the black cat stalking around in the forest beyond, so preoccupied was he with his own death and the situation here in Starclan. Somehow, he had thought that it would be, you know, different, being dead. This seemed to be much the same as life, with forests and prey and being hungry. Was it possible that he could starve here? But certainly one couldn't die twice? He jumped about six feet into the air when the black cat spoke, shaking from his nose to the tip of his tail as he did so, and landing oddly so that he stumbled and almost fell. So much for always landing on their feet. "Oh, hello there. You must be dead, too," he said, quite cheerfully. At her next words he turned his head to the side with curiosity, looking quite confused. "Nightclan? ...Surely you mean Starclan, I am dead, after all. I used to be in a clan... A big one, with lots of fish. I quite like fish, you know. They're extremely fascinating... The way they flash through the water so fast you can hardly see them. Are there fish here? I can't imagine there being squirrels but no fish when you're dead."

"Why would you want to chase me away?" he asked, quite oblivious to any reasoning here. His eyes were as big as an owl's by this point, and he had become still at last, not even twitching the tip of his tail, like a big fluffy white rock. He looked almost stricken. "You're the first cat I've seen in so long since I died, you know. I died in a fire, you see, it destroyed my clan and all of the others, the whole forest.... My name's Whitewind, but some cats call me Mudfur. I don't much like that, you know."

[racingbelle]

"You mean the old Clan RiverClan? Dead? No I am certainly not dead and this isn't StarClan. You are on NightClan's territory. Well, Whitewind my name is Willownight. I'm the medicine cat of NightClan." I said as confused as this old cat was. Or at least I think he was an old timer. I shook my head. Then I raised a paw and licked it, running it over the white leaf marking I had in the middle of my forehead. That marking had got me my name, which I was very proud of. My black coat that was sprinkled with white, flattened. I was calmer now. This cat could not be a threat to me. After all it was more confused than....something.

[forte]

"Riverclan... You know, I... I don't really remember," he sighed, looking suddenly depressed and very old, looking forlornly up at the leaves. "I suppose I'm not dead, then... I'm sorry I was on your territory... I'll just leave, I guess." He bit his bottom lip, trying to hide how suddenly empty he felt. When he has been dead, life had been so much easier. But he was alive, this cat had said so, and he had to go away, he supposed. He was a loner now, without a clan, without a name, without a life. That was such a horrible concept, at first he had trouble grasping it and almost cried out like a kitten. He looked over at Willownight with a bit of a sad smile, glad to have at least met one other cat. "Well... it was nice to meet you anyway, Willownight. A very pretty name, by the way. Willow leaves cure fever, you know." He shook his head quickly, because he didn't know how he knew that. He turned sadly and started to trot off through the trees.

[racingbelle]

I cocked my head puzzled and then ran after the white cat. "Wait! Don't go! Maybe you could join NightClan? I'm sure they wouldn't mind..." I said breathlessly. "if you joined. After all we need more cats." I added. I hoped this cat would join. I smiled and looked into the other cat's eyes. "Please? You wouldn't have to be alone anymore. Leaf bare is coming and you would need a place to stay. An..." I was going to say an old timer but that didn't seem right. " older cat like you shouldn't be out in the cold." I said cautiously. I couldn't let Whitestorm go away like this. He could be a valuable to our Clan in someway. Every cat is. Even the tiniest kit.

[forte]

Whitewind paused when she spoke, and then turned his head towards her, still looking forlorn, but a glimmer of hope now in his eyes. "Join Nightclan?" he asked, as if tasting the idea in his mouth. Then he looked down at his paws, padding at the dirt with his long, sharp claws. A frown crossed his face. "I-I don't know... Would the others even like me?" he remembered that cats that he had traveled with, the ones that called him "Mudfur" and "Eatbugs" and all kinds of other names. They had thought he was strange... And perhaps he was, but... "It's very nice of you to offer, Willownight... but..." he broke off, his long tail lashing about in the dirt behind. at her next words, however, his head snapped around indignantly. "I'm not that old, you know..." he shot, not realizing how old and dirty and gritty and exhaused he looked. It had been so long since he'd seen any water, or even any other cats...

[racingbelle]

"Yes the would. Our clan is very adcepting. They would like you don't worry. Come on. Come and meet them." I said slowly. I was sure that the Clan would like him. He was a little strange but then again weren't we all? "Sorry then but come on. Let's go meet Rubystar. She's my leader."

[forte]

Whitewind's ears flicked uncertainly, and the tip of his tail twitched nervously. "Well... Alright, then, I suppose we might as well... I mean, what's the worst that can happen? I mean, other than I could get attacked or chased away or something like that, you know... Ah, well, it's just a risk we have to take, I suppose. I'll come with you." He rambled on a bit before deciding, then turned and grabbed a mouthful of the herb that Willownight had been after in the first place. "This is what you came for, isn't it?" he asked around the mouthful of bitter plant, wincing a bit at the taste, "Might as well take it back with you then, right? I'll carry it." So saying, he stood and shook himself a bit to rid his pelt of the worst of the dirt, careful not to swallow while he had the healing herb in his mouth. He waited for her to lead the way into the camp.

[racingbelle]

"Yes that's exactly why I came for." I said and then started to lead the way. I trotted ahead of him and sniffed the air. I knew we were going in the right direction but I was looking for more herbs. I didn't scent any but I did scent a mouse. I dropped into a hunting crouch and quickly sunk my teeth into the critter. There. That wasn't bad for a medicine cat. Soon we came to the entrance of the camp. I looked behind me to see if the white loner had kept up.