SᴋʏCʟᴀɴ | ☼ | OPEN

    <sub>Branchstar was in his usual cantankerous mood. Aggressively muttering to himself, the leader was convinced he was being spied on, everywhere. "Not today, boy, not today" he grumbled, pacing back and forth. He wasn't quite sure what he should be doing, he couldn't remember. Not really. Only feelings were rising, but nothing concrete. It was like the river after a storm, his mind was a torrent of information and none of it ever stuck. Not anymore. Branchstar was once considered a quite clever cat, wit was sharp and his claws were sharper. He was collected, cool tempered and justice was the light in his eyes. Age has betrayed him.

"I WANT PATROLS SENT OUT. NOW." He all but roared, stomping out of his den on shaky legs.</sub>

    _{The gray tom looked over at his leader his ears twitched and he felt bad for his leader. He looked at Cinderpaw and Sootpaw and seeing them happy made his heart melt with happiness. He knew what he had to do and despite the fear he got up on all fours looking at his apprentice and her brother. "I think I should stop being scaredy cat and face what I need to do," he said. He excused himself and told them he'll be back soon. His icy blue eyes on his leader and he went over to him. "Heya Branchstar," he said in a friendly tone and he noticed his leaders unhappy expression. His ears flattened against his head and worry obvious in his eyes. "Branchstar? Is there anything I can do to help?" he asked with actual concern. He wanted to ask about the warrior ceremony but he didn't want to add more pressure on him.}

    _{The gray tom twitched his whiskers with nervousness his ears flattened as the tom basically ordered for his old friend that passed away. "Branchstar, Falconfoot is dead," he said his voice trembling in fear of what his leader would say or do to him. "I came here because Cinderpaw and Sootpaw need a warrior ceremony and I'm sure Quailfeather would agree," he explained his voice still trembling his eyes wide with horror and he didn't know what to do he was so afraid of his own leader with his abnormal mood swings and his forgetfulness. He prayed to Starclan that this would no longer be an issue but it didn't see so, it just kept getting worse and worse. He actually felt sorry for his leader for this wasn't fair to him.}

    _{The words did not at first register with Branchstar but then it computed in his weary mind. "You lie." He snarled, teeth bared and ears flattened. Branchstar was a munchkin, so to every cat except young kittens he must look up. In this moment, his diminutive size did not matter, the old male glaring at Rabbitwhisker with the force of a thousand suns. "How dare you lie to your leader. Who are you, anyway? A spy? You're a ThunderClan spy aren't you? I'll leave your body rotting on the border as a message to them to stay off our land. That'll teach 'em, oh-ho yes. They'll rue the day." Turning away from Rabbitwhisker, the leader seemed to mutter to himself, eyes flicking back and forth manically. But then when Rabbitwhisker spoke again, mentioning apprentices, Branchstar's rasping laugh petered out into a cough. "We have no apprentices by that name, spy. Our apprentices are Rabbitpaw and Sweetpaw and there's one other one– say, Spy. You look a strange amount like Rabbitpaw. Is the boy a half-clan? Couldn't be, I knew his father and mother well. Good cats. Sure to be a decent warrior some day."}

    _{The gray tom looked at his leader with worry he honestly doesn't even remember that he turned into a warrior. His ears flattened against his head and he felt upset. "Branchstar I'm not a ThunderClan spy I was born here in SkyClan. It's me Rabbitwhisker, remember my mentor held me back from my ceremony until i learned that hunting wasn't a sport, but a responsibility?" he asked he looked around for help hoping someone would help him, prove to him that he was apart of SkyClan before he got kicked out of his own Clan. His heart was beating hard and fast in his chest and he couldn't tell what was going on. He just wanted a ceremony for his apprentice not a hostile leader that was yelling at him. Emotions burned through his heart sadness, fear, and anger. Although he refused to act in anger with his leader.}

    The next thing before she knew it, Cinderpaw was storming off to confront the Skyclan leader. She held out a paw and opened her mouth as if to speak; no words would come out obviously. Luckily, her brother whom had more sense in head intercepted her path. Petunianose blinked, then cast a grateful glance at Sootpaw. She padded over besides the she-cat and rested her tail on her shoulder calmly. She gave a slow gentle shake of her head, clearly giving the message. Her dark green gaze forlornly went over to Branchstar. Someone else needs to handle this. Hopefully Rabbitwhisker or some other warrior will...

    Well things were starting to turn rather dismal.

     Petunianose gave a silent sigh. You apprentices are certainly persistent. She commented to herself wryly. Persistence could be a good thing sometimes, but it just usually lead to stubbornness. The pale she-cat shook her head again, a little more firm this time with her message. She couldn't risk Cinderpaw facing the unpredictable wrath of Branchstar. Who knew how the leader could react. His conditions were something an apprentice shouldn't have to deal with, no matter how irritating it was at times.

     She listened in for a moment to the tom speaking to Rabbitwhisker. Hearing the warrior's sorrow tone, so full of regret and hurt, she couldn't help but feel a stab of empathy. It wasn't his fault. Poor thing, there at the wrong time under the leader's 'mood swings'. She then felt a bit of annoyance and distrust, which she quickly pushed aside. Now wasn't the time to have conflicting feelings about the Shadowclan leader.

     The she-cat watched the warrior approach them, flopping down in front of the two apprentices in disappointment. Oh Rabbitwhisker, you're not a failure... Petunianose padded over to the tom and set her paw on gently on his shoulder. She gave him a soft, reassuring smile, the message clear in it.