-Baby your a Firework- -Open-

[magpie]

A maine coon was curled up under a cluster of seats, which had been named the 'Birther den'. Her fluffy she-cat watched the sickly greenhorns mew, and she wanted to cry and end their mews. A older birther cough, and the maine coon turned around suddenly. The old she-cats kit barely moved, as it opened it's eyes. The maine coon rushed over, and swished her tail over the she-cats side. The old birther brought the kit, and let it suckle. The maine coon let out a sigh of relief. No deaths today. Soon the cat shuffled over to wehre she sat before, and plopped down curling her tail over her paws. The she-cat had earned the name. Goldenheart. Having a heart for everyone..well but toms. Suddenly the she-cats stomach grumbled, and she stood up. Goldenheart walked over to the tiny freshkill pile, and picked up a scrawny mouse. Glancing around quickly, she jogged back to the den. She hoped no tom was hungry, or she'd have the food whipped off her. Goldenheart made her way to get sad nest, and lay down in it. Picking the meat off the bones of the mouse.

[Neon Blue]

Rustheart

The subway in which the ghostly cat moved into would have been as dark as night if not for the gaping hole above him. The suns light pierced the shadows, burning his amber eye while the other stared on sightless. But he paid no mind to the discomfort, his attention focused solely on the running of his clan.

Moving around the debris that cluttered the stone ground he sniffed, raising his broad head with pride. It had been only six moons since he had come into his current position. A position he worked day and night to keep, after all he had done to get here he wasn't about to let it slip so easily through his paws. He moved into the train, the suns light not able to follow him, and let his odd eyed gaze travel over the interior. But he wasn't about to go into detail over his past, after all it was done and over with. With only the future to look forward to.

The sound of kits crying further back into the train caused his ears to perk, and he turned his head in the direction of the nursery. Ah, the future of Shadowclan. His heavy paws carried him toward the sound, his eyes appraising the small bundles as they came into sight.

Like every time he assessed the kittens his eyes moved over the females with disdain, pausing on each male with favor. They would someday help him create a better future. A movement at the corner of his eyes made him turn, catching sight of a Birther. She sat plucking at a mouse, and his brow pulled down into a frown. He moved toward her stopping only when his shadow cast over her smaller form.

"What do you think your doing, Birther?" the white tom asked, his voice dripping with disdain, his odd eyes narrowed.

[magpie]

Goldenheart's head raised slowly. "I-I was breaking up the food, so-so I could help the kits eat. And their mothers. Their-their really starving. And if-if their not healty, what-what use are they? I-I mean, if we are to take over the other Clans and the male kits haven't been fed, their no use." She is she-cat slowly. It was half true, as she had made a pile of small meat chuncks, but crunched down the awful meat herself.

Her golden,black and white fur was matted with dirt. But she was beautiful no matter what, her mother had told her. She was hsaking from head to tail. She was horrified, what if he struck her like her father had. She didn't want to. That had relly hurt, and her mother had been hurt even more by her complaining. Goldenheart looked at the tom's face, and only noticed who he was. She was in trouble now, caught by the superior! She wanted to die right there.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't ask. Just I was s-so worried. I won't do it again, I promise. I'll do anything for you, I just don't want to be harmed. I hold some future soon, as-as I still need a mate."Goldenheart wailed quitely to the white tom, her fluffy fur shaking like the wind. Her eyes travelled down and her head hung, as she looked at her sad nest. What would happen?Would she be punished? For to be a mate to a tom? Be chased out?

[Neon Blue]

Rustheart

Her fear of him was obvious and he smirked, pleased that his influence was working so well. Only six moons and the she-cats will was gone. They didn't deserve any anyways. He snorted at her excuse, pacing around her slowly. A deliberate action as he spoke, "really now? Isn't it so kind of you to think of the kits. Male kits especially, one would think you'd favor the females."

Whiskers twitching he paused in front of her, glancing down at her with amusement, listening again as she spoke. Females, always pulling the act of innocence when they were anything but. He was glad now, more then ever, that he had done what he had to get to power. If he hadn't his clan would have gone to hell and back. He lashed his tail as she finished, pulling his head back to sneer, "be lucky," he hissed swiping at the air above her head, "that you have such a purpose or you wouldn't be standing now."

Whirling away from her he paced once again, gaze flickering around the camp. It was true, despite his dislike for it, the females did have a very important purpose. Without them they could not produce more toms for the clan. Toms that were needed. "You need a mate you say? Well then, I'll find you one."

[magpie]

Mousebrain!Her mind screamed it at herself, as Goldenheart took a shaking breath. She hadn't meant it that way. The words had slurred out, as she panicked quickly. She shook her head softly. "Where did you hear, I like the females more? N-no! If it weren't for toms, t-then we'd not be here. The awful other clan's would have killed us all. We need toms!" Her words were true. No toms, meant no kits. No kits, means a weak clan. No clan wants to be weak.

Goldenheart shrunk back, even if she was lieing down. She still shrunk down even lower. "I am indeed lucky."She said quickly, and her greenish gaze caught the white tom's eyes. They quickly left. That was disrespect! "Sorry." She wailed suddenly, like it was an awful, terrible sin. Her shaky had toned down, but, her stammer had not. Gulping she looked up a tiny bit.

"Your so kind, Rustheart. I have no voice to speak to a tom. But don't make a fuss. P-please, don't rush yourself. Me and m-my to be mate will be together soon." She said, and was surprised hear her voice had a ring of a purr. The thought of mating with a tom, it was foul..But having kits, and having love. It was nice. A thought suddenly struck.

"Rustheart. H-how will you know which tom? If you get a lanky, speddy tom, our kits would be skinny. I s-suggest you let me help you pick. I am skinny and fast, so we need a strong and hadnsome tom." She said quitely, her voice quitely stop stammering.

[Neon Blue]

Rustheart

"Yes, you females should be grateful, after all it is us males that fight for your safety, that hunt for your food." His voice was a rusty grumble, his gaze still flickering around camp. Most of the males were gone, hunting or doing boarder patrols. The ones still here he didn't wish to pair with Goldenheart. Of course he had time, there was no need for him to rush, a fact the female pointed out herself.

He whirled to face her once again, his teeth bared, "don't lecture me what's best for you! I will decide on my own."

[magpie]

[glow=orange,2,300]Goldenheart[/glow]

Goldenheart withdrew quickly, afried of getting bitten. She had a quick meow of surprise, but quickly shut up. With ehr mouth clmaped together, she nodded quickly. Her greenish eyes shone with worry. "I am sorry. I didn't mean to-I only meant to help. Sorry."She said, but her white mouth had spoken with no stammer. A gulp flew down her throat, and she let out a little cough.

She had perfect right to be worried. And she was. Which tom? Would he love her? Would he hate her? Would he be crule? Would he be kind? Her mind was picking all the crule answers. Goldenheart crunched up tighter, and she knew the fear smell was exploding off her. She just hoped Rustheart didn;t smell it. Hope was always a dream.

[latepath]

Dawnkit stirred in her sleep, and sat up, letting out a big yawn. She blinked the sleep from her eyes as she gazed around the Birthing den; her mother, brother and sister were still gone. She hung her head and gazed at her little nest.
Her family had left her long ago, but she still held hope that they would return one day. She dreamed that she would wake up and they'd be there, as if they were never gone. But every time she woke up, they were never there, and she was truly alone.
Dawnkit's ears flicked, hearing a male voice. She looked up, as her fluffy fur bristled, and she glared at the tom. What was he doing here?! This place was meant for Birthers and Greenhorns, not them! She though furiously.
The three moon old kit leaped to her paws and bolted at the tom. She wanted so much to lunge at him and dig her claws in his flesh, but she knew better then that; instead she stopped just in front of him, and glared up into his face. Her fur puffed out to twice it's size, with her little tail lashing, and claws scrapping against the cold floor.
"What are you doing here?!" She snarled, her voice deep with hatred and rage. Despite, being a very young she-kit, she was still filled with spirit and willpower. She hated the toms for everything that they were; how the hurt the weak, the Birthers, all the females. How could they be so cruel?!

[Neon Blue]

Rustheart

He drew back, lashing his plush tail, it was good to be feared. His clan was shaping quiet nicely, well there were still a few loose ends he needed to take care of but all in due time. Turning away from the female, Rustheart smiled, "I believe I know who I'll pair you with. Nightfall will work perfectly."

He chuckled, a soft, menacing sound, as he paced away. He was ready to leave this horrible part of camp, filled with females and their degrading presence. His paws started moving him away with that thought when a small voice reached him, obviously female, but even if it had not been he would have been angry. Who dared speak to their Superior in such a way? Whirling around, teeth bared he moved to tower over the kit. He didn't bother with words, they were meaningless when it came to females. Instead he aimed a heavy blow at her head, maybe knocking some sense into her would make her hold her tongue.

[latepath]

Dawnkit let out a squeak of pain, as a blow landed on her head, knocking her right of her little paws. She tumbled a bit, before she landed in a heap of dirt and fur. She bit her tongue and fought the tears that she felt burning her eyes; she was not going to cry for this cat! This tom!
With a huff she staggered back to her paws, and turned to Rustheart, her eyes blazing even hotter with her hateful feelings to wards this tom. She wasn't going to back down! She couldn't! She wouldn't be able to stand seeing his smug grin, and seeing that satisfaction in his eyes. She couldn't stand it!
Suddenly remembering something her mother said, she curled her lips and repeated them as her very own words now. "Feel better?! Feel any stronger, now that you hit a Greenhorn?!" She felt her fur prickle in outrage. She wanted to say more, but she held back any further things she had on her mind; she was already in deep trouble, and she knew it. But she didn't show any ounce of fear in her. Not for this tom.

[snow !?]

onyxheart
aide of shadowclan

The sleek black tom heard the loud squeal above the usual nature sounds, and it tweaked his usually apathetic interest. Pacing towards the birther's den, he assumed there was some sort of squabble between some females that he might have to break up before Rustheart got in there and used more than necessary force. But judging from the low growl coming out of there - which the black cat instantly recognised as his friend and fellow plotter - he was already too late for that. But what was Rustheart, a sure misogynist, doing in a den filled with the scent of females and untrained kits? He ducked his head to enter the den and sighed, just catching sight of Rustheart landing a harsh blow on a young kit's face.

"Rustheart, my friend. Do you really think it a great use of your tremendous strength to waste your prowess on the pelt of this worthless kit?" he purred silkily, but carefully. Rustheart was unpredictable and angry, but his compliments should calm him down at least a little. Glaring down at the little kit, he recognised her as the orphan femme whose continual irritating whining was an sound which ruined the soundscape of his life, almost every single day for the three moons she had been walking this earth. He cursed the frail mother who birthed her, and he cursed further the male who created her and forgot to indoctrinate her with the Star-given laws that Rustheart was implementing. He winked at Goldenheart, whimpering in a corner, and walked forward, brushing aside assorted birthers.

Pushing the kit - what was her name? Dumbkit? Frownkit? Oh, whatever, it never really mattered - down with one paw on her little, feisty head, he sighed, his green eyes looking up at the sky through the bars of the clustered, splintered wooden structures that served as the cover of their den. Starclan, give me - and give Rustheart - patience. "You would do well to learn respect for your superiors. And that means silence," he said softly, voice slick with malice, punctuating the last word by a firmer push which pushed the bottom of her proud jaw into the dirt. Releasing the kit, he turned to Rustheart, tail flicking in an irritation which otherwise could not be seen. He knew his odd-eyed friend would recognise the tell of his anger, but he kept it from his features with a perfect stone-face. "Let us leave, Rust," he purred. "Are they even worth the words we speak?"

[Neon Blue]

Rustheart

"No, but it does make me feel better," he purred in reply to his friend, odd eyes still glinting with irritation, but the complaints form his Aide did well to cool the worst of his temper and he stepped back, watching in cold amusement as Onyxheart took his turn at the kit. A kit who's mouth got her in more trouble then not, bad mouthing every tom every chance she got. Shouldn't she be grateful? After all, he could have easily ordered her chased away when her family left her. But at the time they had been in need of more females for breeding, she was to young now but it wouldn't be long until she was old enough to bare some toms kits.

He shrugged a broad shoulder, odd eyes noticing the temper that seethed under his friends perfect mask. A temper that rivaled his own. "If it wasn't for the fact they can bring life to new toms I would have had them killed when I became Superior," he paused to sniff, casting the females one last disdainful look. "Let us leave here, there are patrols to see to after all."

[snow !?]

onyxheart
aide of shadowclan

Onyxheart smiled dryly with little true emotion as Rustheart calmed down visibly. He always knew how to push his friend's buttons, and it often amazed him that Rustheart was so transparent sometimes. The pure white tomcat was an enigma, that was for sure, but sometimes he was so easily controlled. It was enough to make Onyxheart laugh. "It might have been better had you done that, superior," he said smoothly and bared his teeth in a yawn, more for show of his delicately sharpened jaws than of actual tiredness.

"I would agree to that. This place greatly offends my nose," he sniffed dismissively. Looking down at Goldenheart with a slight sneer, he stalked off elegantly, rump swaying with every step and letting his thin, whiplike black tail run silkily along under her chin. It would have delighted him to see her expression, whether fear or anger, both would have amused him, but he was too proud to look back to examine the results of his actions. Besides, that overly loud, irritating she-cat with no acceptance of the current social conventions was there and even seeing her face angered him slightly. He would hate to lose his cool; it was all he could do now to keep his peace.

He had been worried lately that news of other clans would ruin everything he and his odd-eyed frost-furred friend had been working on. He himself had been doing a little off-the-cuff reconnaissance that Rustheart did not know about, and it greatly frightened him that some freedom-fighter from Riverclan or somewhere else with all those ideals of equality would put ideas into the heads of the females here. Oppressive physicality could only work for so long once they realised they had a choice. The only answer to that was to keep all mention of other clans under hush - or to enslave the other clans too, which was the path Rustheart was favoured towards choosing. That fear followed him out of the den like a sneaking fox, complete with foul smell and that heavy burden of worry. He hoped Rustheart would be right behind him.

[magpie]

[glow=orange,2,300]Goldenheart
You just gotta ignite the light And let it shine
[/glow]

Rustheart hurting the kit had set her off. Her normal quite self was slowly boiling up. She ground her teeth together, as the toms talked with one another. Witha paw she reached out and caught Dawnkit by the side, and brought her closer. She hussed her up slowly, at kept her wide eyes on the toms. Her anger was still boiling, but it had cooled slightly. But suddenly as she caught onto what the toms were saying, her temper boiled high.

Goldenheart took a deep breath, as her eyes burned with fire. She dug her claws into her damp nest, and her eyes suddenly narrowed. As they made to leave, the one thing Onyxheart did made her do it. His greasy ugly tail slipped under her chin, and brushed along it. Onyxheart had two paws out of the den, when the yowl escaped her jaws.

"NEVER TOUCH ME AGAIN, YOU UGLY THING!" She yowled at the top of her voice, as she staggered up. In a quick bound, she was flying towards the tom. Her claws unsheltered, she reached to grab his neck. She wasn't sure waht would happen next.

[latepath]

Dawnkit felt her fur nearly stand right on end, as she bristled even more, as yet another tom entered the Birthing den. What were they doing here?! This place didn't belong to them!
She heard the new tom speak before he turned to glare down at her. There was that look again; a look of disdain, almost like someone was looking at a filthy piece of crowfood! How dare they?! She glared back at him with the same look, but suddenly she felt her head being shoved down, with a big strong paw and her face pressed hard against the ground.
Dawnkit let out a muffled mew, of pain and rage. A flick of her ears was the only indication that she heard what Onyxheart had said. Respect? Silence? These toms were far too foul to deserve any of that!
When he finally removed his paw, she sat up and was ready to swipe at him, when she was dragged away with the gentle touch of Goldenheart. She leaned into her, as she glared after the two toms. Then the Birther suddenly let out a yowl and she lunged at the tom who had touched her.
Dawnkit leaped to her paws and watched with wide excited eyes. Yes! This grown-up cat, could definitely teach these toms a lesson!

[Enter Nightfall]
Nightfall padded into the Crushed camp, and he headed straight for the freshkill pile to immediately deposited the four rats he had killed earlier. Then he turned around and scanned the camp for either the Superior or the Aide; He had to tell one of them what was going on.
Then his ears perked high and his eyes widened as heard a yowl and saw a Birther lunge for one of the toms that stood in front of the Birthing den. No! If she hurt him, then she'd surely get punished!
With all the speed his legs had he dashed forward in a blur and put himself between the Birther and the Aide, effectively blocking the attack. He cringed slightly when he felt her claws dig into his side, but, thankfully, no harm was done to the Aide.
Nightfall then straightened up more and looked at the Superior and Aide. He then bowed his head, and averted his gaze, as a sigh of respect and submission, towards their higher ranks.
"Rustheart. Onyxheart. I have very important news to I'd like to tell you; I think there's something you should know." He immediately told them what he wanted to say, hoping to distract them from what the Birther was about to do, and focus their attention at a very dire situation at paw.
"This is fairly urgent." He added, wanting to imply that any punishment they may be thinking for the she-cat, was not worth the time.

[snow !?]

onyxheart
aide of shadowclan

Onyxheart sighed as he stopped in his tracks, hearing the yowl of the angered she-cat. It was beneath him to react in fear; in fact, he had a tiny sparkle of admiration glinting in his eyes as he turned to examine what streak of black had run past him and leapt, essentially, into the line of Goldenheart's outstretched claws. Now there was a female he could have even the slightest bit of respect for. One who had the guts to stand up for herself and had a little backbone, while still knowing when to back down unlike that irritating kit she was cradling in her paws. Nodding at Nightfall but giving no word of praise - it was only to be expected that the defender defended his superiors - and let Rustheart deal with whatever Nightfall had to say.

Murmuring to his friend, "You speak to the defender. It seems he believes he has something important to tell you. I will deal with Goldenheart, and organise a patrol around the borders for today," and paced forward, examining the panting maine coon. Her fluffy, apple-coloured fur covered her seething rage that was so obvious even to the untrained eye. Onyxheart sat across from her and gazed into her eyes, boring into her with his beautiful emerald orbs. Licking a paw, he kept his gaze level and his rage concealed, completely calm and collected. He waited to let her speak first, examining his claws as if a warning to the fluffy she-cat.

Trust a female to strike when my back was turned, he thought, staring at her and trying to guage any reaction, any movement. But I would never have picked her as the violent type. He realised the violence towards the kit had pushed the birther over the edge, and it brought a slight smirk to his features. As he waited for her to say something, apologise or defend herself, he caught himself thinking about tonight's patrol. He would take a few cats, Nightfall was one he would pick and Waterpaw another, so they would be a trio of shadows performing a reconnaissance on the other clans. While it was not entirely sanctioned by Rustheart, he knew it was vital to the clan's safety. His midnight crusade might even come across some loner they could recruit, or a clan cat they could wound.

[Neon Blue]

Rustheart

Just as quickly as his anger had been vanquished it rose again, but this time he help in firmly in his paws, turning to watch the scene as it spread out before him. The last thing he had expected was for the stuttering birther to attack so suddenly, but did it matter any, she had attack her superiors. Her betters. Face cool he stepped back toward the nursery, pausing when Onyxheart spoke. As much as he wanted to deal with the insolent cat he turned away with a flick of his plush tail, "do your worst, Onyxheart."

Now he faced Nightfall, the very defender he had searched for earlier, in hopes of mating him with Goldenheart. If not for him, the birthers attack surely would have struck his Aide, of course it was expected of those bellow them to protect them when they could not protect themselves. With a twitch of his whiskers he pushed aside the thoughts, remembering urgent news the tom had. "well, speak. What is this news you have for me?"

[latepath]

Nightfall watched with hidden dismay as Onyxheart approached Goldenheart; he hoped she wasn't going to be severely punished, but his hopes were shattered when he heard Rustheart's words.
When the Superior turned and spoke to him, the Defender bowed his head. "Yes, sir. It's about the rats. I know they have always been a problem, but as of lately, they seem to be getting far worse. They travel in much larger groups now... They ambushed me. I'm worried they may even be enough to threaten a tom's life."
He knew that any news should always be reported to the Aide or the Superior, and he always had done this. Now, however, the news seemed far more serious; the rats that they hunted, were starting to fight back harder then ever.

[magpie]

"Get out. Now. This is ours, the she-cats den. Get out, or this time my claws will reach your face."Goldenheart hissed, and ignored her future mate. The anger that boiled in her blood barley happened, it was so weird! Her thick tail lashed out, as her unsheltered claws attempted to dig into the hard train's floor. Her tail had been turned in the right way, as Goldenheart's head had quickly moved. It had so, so Dawnkit could not charge at the toms. Her head was buzzing with thoughts, as her breathing rasped like an elders.

[snow !?]

onyxheart
aide of shadowclan

Onyxheart hoped the disappointment he could feel radiating from Rustheart was not aimed directly at him. It seemed his fluffy white friend was somewhat apathetic towards the entire matter with Nightfall, but he could still see some embers of anger blazing in his mismatched eyes; he guessed that was the reason for Rustheart's seeming disappointment. Pulling himself together after reasoning himself into a better mood, he applied himself to his newest assignment - putting an unruly she-cat back in her place. She was certainly riled up, that was plain to see. She hissed at him, almost spitting with rage; Onyxheart had his work cut out for him trying to keep the laughter from his tone.

He replied to her faux menace with a voice dripping with condescension. "Unfortunately, my gorgeous Goldenheart, no cat may tell me what to do excepting, of course, Rustheart. And especially no lying, traitorous she-cat." He kept his voice calm at all times and his eyes locked onto hers. Pacing forward until his perfectly black button nose was inches away from hers, he lowered his voice to a quick, vicious whisper. "I warn you now, Goldenheart; you are not the only one you place in danger with this outburst. Think of yourself not as a hero but as a murderer if this happens again; the kit in your paws is an orphan, yes?" He moved even closer, looking down at the little kit for effect, for the merest of moments just to get his point across.

"What do you think would happen if, for instance, you were to disappear - a slight fall, an accidental drowning, a freak attack - who do you think would look after the kit? Because if she insults Rustheart again perhaps I shall not be there to intervene. And that will end badly; I am not saying how, but something will end and it will be the life of that kit." His voice was getting softer and softer, more menacing in its quietness, and faster and faster as his eyes drilled holes into the back of her head. Twinkling with rage, they were beautiful emerald orbs set in the backdrop of his velvety, night-black fur. Sighing, he turned away, speaking now with a tiredness, as if he had expended all of his care in this matter and was now just doing a duty. "And the next time you mention those claws of yours, dear, I will rip them from those gorgeous pink pawpads. One. By. One."