Back for Now(OPEN)

[Deleted]

A tom stood atop a boulder, overlooking the vast sweep of land, the gorge behind him. He held himself straight and tall, letting the wind brush his dusty-grey pelt. It had grown out a bit since he had last set paw here. He himself looked aged. But that was only on the outside. He was the same cat he had been back then, through and through.

He closed his eyes against the breeze. Being back only reminded him of his age. How many moons had it been? Too many to count. He opened his eyes again, their gold sheen glinting. Once upon a time, this territory might have partly been his. Once upon a time, he had lived among other cats.

A chuckle escaped his throat. The way he thought about the past made it seem like a fantasy that had never been true. He began to muse over the memories. What were those cats' names? Let's see.. Oh yes. One was Leo. He could never forget that bloodthirsty she-cat. And our leader- Fallenstar. He curled his tail. Looks as if LurkClan has died off. I wonder if any of them are left.

And so there stood Conto, the once LurkClan warrior. Grey fur flecked his muzzle, but his claws were still as sharp as ever, a aching to sink into some cat's pelt. He looked ahead of him, those pale gold eyes searching for signs of life. Surely he wasn't alone here. Surely some cat had lived if he had managed to. Conto could wait. He could wait a long time.

[Deleted]

SnowFeather was on her way to the Gorge again, as a familar tom was there. She couldn't recall his name for a moment, but then it came to her.

"Conto?"

She never really liked that tom, but she might as well be friendly.

[Tanglekit]

Wolfpaw was tired of being in Thunderclan. She walked through the bushes and smelt something familiar. "Snowfeather and Conto?", she guessed looking at the tom that was so familiar. She missed being with her father ready to sink teeth and claw into someone else pelt. But no mommy had taken her away from her life and she was ready to be back.

[Deleted]

Conto's head whipped towards the sound of his name. He saw there a white she-cat, her scent slowly bringing him a name. Snow, Snow... "Snowfeather," he mewed, almost to himself. He blinked. "Ah, yes. Snowfeather." Another scent came to him then, this one just faintly familiar. It reminded him of the LurkClan nursery. He looked down at the small she-cat. "Fallenstar's kit?" he purred, surprised and amused. "Well, well, you're the spitting image, aren't you?"

The tom leapt down from his place on the boulder and padded towards the she-cats. "Greetings to both of you. I see something of the old LurkClan survived, after all." He looked down at Wolfpaw, interested. She really could have been her father. Her future should be interesting. He smiled darkly.

[Deleted]

SnowFeather's tail lashed back and forth, and nodded.

"Sure."

She looked at WolfPaw.

"Why aren't you at ThunderClan?"

[Tanglekit]

Wolfpaw rolled her eyes. "I hate that clan, you can't kill anything.", she purred already tasting blood. "I miss my father and I want him to be here to teach me how to lead his clan.", she growled towards the she-cat. "You are the one who helped my mommy take us away.", she mewed full of hate.

[Deleted]

Conto chuckled, amused. "You have spirit, I'll say that. A true LurkClan warrior." He looked back to Snowfeather, then, confussed. "You mean you helped lead her away? Snowfeather, this is Fallenstar's daughter. Think of the possiblities!" He studied the little she-cat. "ThunderClan is too soft for someone like you. What's your name?"

[Tanglekit]

"Wolfpaw.", she said full of pride. She really was proud of her father and her heritage. Think of the blood that ran through her veins. He needle sharp claws unsheathed to emphasize her point. She dug into the earth imagining the feel of flesh tearing and the sticky warmth of blood.

[Deleted]

Conto purred, examining the claws on her. "Well, Wolfpaw. If you ask me, those daggers need to be put to proper use." He unsheathed his own claws, long and curved, and sharpened with practice. He knew hers might one day be even better. "Listen here. I've been wandering around a good number of moons now, staying only where there's excitement. I might stay here for a while, if things get interesting. Tell me, have you ever thought about re-building LurkClan?" His eyes gleamed.

[Deleted]

SnowFeather hissed.

"I did that for your mother. She didn't want to be near FallenStar."

She stared at Conto, her eyes squinting, as a rustle came bundling about.

"LurkClan I hear? I've studied that clan."

[Deleted]

Conto's ears pricked at the sound of a new voice. He fully extended his claws, but showed no other sign of aggresion. "Really? Have you now? And just who might you be?"

[Deleted]

The cat merely chuckled, not showing anything about him, just his voice.

"You don't know me. I'm just a tom that liked the plan of LurkClan. I studied it, and helped Leo live on. You are Conto, correct?"

SnowFeather knew this voice, it sounded familar. Her ears flicked, and shuddered.

[Deleted]

Conto grinned through narrow eyes. "Yes, that's correct. I am Conto." He flicked his tail with interest. "Well, then. If you so much about LurkClan and it's warriors, it would simply gratify us to see you're face and know your name." The dusty-grey tom had no idea as to who this new tom was, but they could serve for one of two purposes; One being a quick, satisfying kill. The other, information and ally.

[Deleted]

The tom chortled, and appeared walking towards the edge of a tree branch. The end of the branch started to fall down slowly, as he gracefully walked on it. He walked off of the branch, and smiled.

"Name's Cicatrice. Nice to meet you."

--

Snowfeather glanced at the tom, her ears folding on her head.

Great.

[Deleted]

Conto looked the tom over. "The feeling's mutual," he answered smoothly in return. A quick glance at Snowfeather seemed to tell the rouge enough about the newcomer. "So, Cicatrice. What interested you in us- or LurkClan, for that matter?"