Resurgence: IceClan RPG (Closed - Invite Only)

Scarlett watched from the bushes without a sound as she noticed a few members of ThunderClan padded past. She couldn't fight back the look of disgust about how soft the Clan had become. Since Monkeystar stepped down as leader, the Clan had changed. They were all about 'Clan equality' and 'doing the right thing' now. It didn't matter that all of the other Clans walked all over them. The tabby she-cat looked over at the warriors as they stopped. Scarlett noticed a grey she-cat that she already knew to be named Silverstream with another she-cat that she had only more recently seen while observing the Gatherings. This must be Hazelshade. Scarlett looked over at Nocte and signaled her to let her know that they would be moving closer before stalking over to another bush a few tail lengths away.
After waiting for a few heartbeats, Nocte moved after her Clanmate. Once she'd settled into the undergrowth, she tuned back into the conversation.
"Are you done marking the borders, Hazelshade?"
"Yeah. I don't know why we bother though so much with it though. It's not like the other Clans are going to invade us."
"Oh well. Might as well be careful."
Nocte held in a snort of disgust. The warriors were loud and lethargic-- no sense of efficiency. Even their voices were sleepy, droning on in almost a monotone as they moved along the border line. The next sentence caught her attention, however.
"At least we don't have to worry about that rogue group anymore."
"Wait, what? You mean the Masqueraders, Silverstream?"
"Yes. Didn't you hear? They disbanded recently--"
"What!"
"-- and left their territory and everything, just disappeared. Nobody know what happened to them."
"That can't be true."
"Well it is."
"Where did you hear? I can't believe I just found out now."
"The deputies last Gathering..."
Nocte pricked her ears, straining to hear more, but the ThunderClan patrol had already moved out of range, probably heading back to camp. It wasn't worth the effort to follow them anymore anyways. She turned back excitedly to look at Scarlett. "They left everything," she whispered. "The Graekida plant. And the Tersus Crystal. IceClan can get them before the others even think of retrieving the Masqueraders' things!" Maybe IceClan could even figure out what had caused the Masqueraders to disband. The items would be an extra bonus. Nocte wasn't too worried about the other Clans racing them to the Masquerader encampment. From what she'd seen from ThunderClan, they'd be too busy squabbling over petty things like borders to notice.
Scarlett looked at Nocte thoughtfully for a moment. Well it doesn't make much of a reason to go to why another clan has fallen. The point would be that they are long gone now and are unlikely to come back. So why does it matter why they left?... But...The items on the other hand would make for a great asset for IceClan, even if we only had them so the other clans would not. Scarlett studied the direction of the ThunderClan warriors wandering carefully to be sure that she wasn't heard. "We will go. But first we need to make a few preparations at the fortress." she said in a clear but quiet whisper. In one swift movement she was on her paws without a sound and she signaled to Nocte that it was time for them to be getting back before racing back towards where she knew the fortress to be.

~O.O.C.: This will mark the beginning of IceClan's return to the territory. None of the other clans are even aware that IceClan is back or that they are being carefully monitored. This is an IceClan only RP and will begin at the fortress as Nocte and Scarlett are returning. A Character form will not be necessary. All IceClan members are free to jump in.~

Titan swiftly glided over the ice cold snow, not even needing to bow his head to sniff for any intruders. It was far too cold to get too close to the fortress - and far too dangerous. He smelled the familiar scent of Nocte and Scarlett, whom he knew had been gone eavesdropping on the gathering. His eyes followed their sleek bodies as they raced inside the fortress. "Didn't even notice me," he mused, have sarcastically and half vainly. The stealthy cat slipped in behind them, catching them right inside the fortress. He purred as he jumped in line next to them. "What's the news?" he asked, his eyes flashing with mischief.

Scarlett didn't slow down until they had entered the fortress. She looked over her shoulder at the tom and eventually came to a stop in the fortress's main corridor. She looked between the two warriors a minute and unsheathed her claws. "We are going to be making a trip to the old group of rogue's home." The dark brown tabby looked around trying to detect where the others would be. "I want to leave as soon as possible. The other clans are too intimidated right now to travel there in case the rumors aren't true and the group is still there, but we will be the first to collect the crystal and plant from them."

There was a flash of gray as Phasma appeared out of one of the hallways of the fortress. "Those rogues have left?" she meowed, her strange purple eyes glinting. She'd been able to catch most of what Scarlett had said, and had quicky joined the other three cats. "I'm ready when you are," she meowed, glad for the chance to do something interesting after spending all day in the fortress.

"Kind of weird, don't you think?" Nyx glanced back at Phasma as she padded into the entryway of the fortress. "I wonder why. The Masqueraders weren't exactly weak. Better than the other Clans for sure." The dark-furred she-cat glanced impatiently into the corridors as she spoke. Where was Noxe? The earlier they left, the better. Interesting news didn't come by every day.

Specter had been laying casually in the corner of the main corridor and had overheard the news that the others were talking about. "Who knows, maybe they had some sort of infighting that tore them apart? Either way I'm ready to go loot whatever they've left whenever you all are, assuming the Masqueraders really are gone that is." Specter said in his usual lethargic tone as he padded over to join the others. Despite his words he didn't really care about any of this, all it meant to Specter was that his daily naps were less likely to be interrupted by another group, because in all honesty he doubted the other clans will remain oblivious to IceClan's return to power forever. Even the stealthiest of cats can't hide and sleep forever, Specter knew that from experience.

~oops didn't see this lol~

Noxe [autocorrect thinks I mean box] trotted up behind the cats and gave her sister an affectionate nudge. "Sorry," she mewed, panting lightly. "I had to check my shark's teeth." The serrated edges of the steel colored reinforcements glinted momentarily in the dim light. Joining in the earlier conversation, she mused, "Weren't the Masqueraders one of the strongest groups? Where are they now? In any case, I'm confident IceClan has more than adequate strength to take the crystal and plant... Speaking of which, what do they do exactly?"

Titan snorted in laughter and stretched, muscles rippling throughout his white coat. "You all are over-thinking. Some weak petty rogues like the Masqueraders can't outmaneuver us," he chuckled. He flexed his claws in front of his face, drawing attention to them. "We have these anyways." The silver serrated edges of his shark's teeth glittered as he set his paw down. The white rogue stood up and purred eagerly. "Even though I think we should go, who can be sure that they didn't take the crystal and plant with them if they left anyways? Or picked up by those things.. what are they called? Twopaws? Twolegs?"

~ Wait won't we need some other Clan members to roleplay like if we run into any old masqueraders or something ~

Nyx rolled her eyes. "Now you're overthinking, Titan," she scoffed. "The Graekida has to be planted. How else would it stay alive long enough? They can't have just dug it up and ran away with it. The crystal isn't exactly discreet to passing rogues or loners either. But besides all that, the rumor is that the Masqueraders disbanded. Not left. If they went their separate ways, who dictates who gets the two items? They must've left them. Or at least hid them before they left." She paused to think for moment. "And Twolegs-- I think that's what they're called-- abandoned that place ages ago, because of that radioactive fallout, right? They won't come back because they don't know about the crystal."

Titan shrugged. "For one," he started, "just because nobody appointed the items to somebody before they disbanded doesn't make any of them unable to steal it. And for two, you're right, now I am overthinking." The cat flinched. He didn't like telling anyone they were right. "Let's just go then. I'm ready whenever."

The small brown tabby gave Titan an obviously disapproving look. "The Masqueraders may not have been as strong but we would be greatly outnumbered and they certainly aren't as weak as the clans below us now." She stopped, her icey blue gaze burning into his now. "Taking on the Masqueraders alone would have been a very costly mistake. You chouldn't be so quick to judge another clans power without properly assessing their strength first hand." She finally released him from her gaze and peered around the cats. It looks like everyone is here now except for Dusk... Where did you get to now?

Dusk came in with a smirk and was silent. His beautiful black coat covered in white. He sat down at the entrance and observed the rest of the cats.

Scarlett stood there silently for a moment when she noticed Dusk's arrival. Well what took you so long? the dark tabby wondered but she wasn't going to let that distract her now. It was time for them to leave the fortress and seek out the Masqueraders home. Though she had been down into the territories many times she had only overheard a few rumors of the rogue groups whereabouts. Where was it they were supposed to live? The Big City? Or some kind of ghost town? It mattered little what the place was called. Scarlett knew already that if they headed for the Phantom Canyon, they could only be headed the right direction. She shook her head and turned to head back to the entrance of the fortress. The sun was out and the snow the blanketed the mountain seemed blindingly bright today. Luckily her redish/brown coat kept a majority of it out of her eyes but she couldn't help but hold back an amused purr at how Specter and Titan would deal with this. Her eyes narrowed as she came to a quick stop at the ledge that loomed over the territories below. It was where IceClan could see everything that was happening in the territories. This included battles between the clans and also where the territories began and ended. She quickly tried mapping out the route they would take and the best way to move with so many cats and some territories barren of hiding places like WindClan.

Nyx followed a pace behind Scarlett, her face turned towards where she could see the rainforest, far off in the distance. It was really quite far away, even by IceClan standards. But that was the direction the Big City was located. She'd been there only once, flitting through the outskirts and alleys. Twolegs and their monsters packed the streets, and the whole experience had left an acid taste in her mouth. Everything in the Big City was contaminated and dirty-- even the cats there were raggedy with filth. The Masqueraders had probably lived somewhere similar, but most likely in a lot better condition. The dark-furred she-cat gave herself a slight shake and turned narrowed eyes back to where Scarlett had stopped. "What's the plan?"

Phasma gazed at the clan territories below them, wondering what route they would take to find the Masqueraders' home. She thought about their plan to take their Graekida plant and Tersus Crysal, and she began to wonder what they'd do with the plant. She remembered that the clans had discovered it in the warm, humid jungle, and it seemed unlikely to survive in the harsh climate of their territory. "Scarlett," she asked, "What are we planning to do with the Graekida plant if we find it?"

Specter followed Scarlett out at his own leisurely pace, not entirely keen on travelling all the way to where the Masqueraders had been. And just to make the prospect of a long journey worse the sun was gleaming off the snow right into his eyes. If it weren't so sunny out Specter could say that the view was great, as per one of the benefits of living on a mountain, and looking out at the vast horizon was Specter's favorite pass time, other than napping and resting. "How about we get going and figure it out as we go. It's not like we're expecting much resistance, and the sooner we finish the sooner I can get back to my quality leisure time." Specter suggested with a yawn, not speaking to any cat in particular.

"Yeah, I guess we'll have plenty of time to talk while we're finding the place," she meowed. Even if they couldn't take back the plant with them, there was still the crystal, and it wasn't often something interesting like this happened. She turned to Scarlett, waiting to hear her plan for finding the rogues' territory.

"Maybe send out a couple of scouts to check the city area?" Noxe suggested. "Nyx and I can go." She eyed the smudge of city with both curiosity and distaste, having seen the dilapidated buildings and filthy streets once before. She wrinkled her nose at the memory of the smell. No wonder they had left, she thought. She fidgeted, digging a forepaw into the thick fresh powder, impatient to explore what sprawled in thick green below.

Dusk started licking his left paw and then gently brushing it down his forehead. Still silent, he looks over at Noxe and then over at Scarlett. He walked up to the beautiful redish colored feline and brushed up against her side before sitting down next to her and gently speaking with a sly smile, "We await your orders Scarlett."

Scarlett stared down at the territories for a moment seeking out the location of the crystal and plant hoping that some kind of beacon would appear out of n where to guide them to where they were supposed to be. After several heartbeats, nothing had happened and she felt something brush her side. She looked over at the striking black tom and then nodded. Turning to Noxe now she started, "You and Nyx will take the Big City. Learn anything you can about the Masqueraders and where they lived. We will need a starting place for our search." Scarlett Looked over at the remaining warriors to be assigned. Phasma, Dusk and Titan I'm going to send you to Phantom Canyon where the crystal was first found. They might have his it somewhere down there but anything you hear on the way could only help." She looked back at Specter now, "That leaves you and I to search the clans for information. We will all meet back in the Big City tomorrow at night fall with whatever information we have. And don't be late."

Specter perked up when Scarlett said he'd be helping by listening in on the other clans. Out of all the options this one seemed the most straight forward, and so long as they don't get forced into a fight then it shouldn't be too hard either. That and the other clans were always amusing, he couldn't wait to see what'll happen while he and Scarlett are down in the territories. "So we get to go spy on the kitties while everyone else goes off to dig up clues in dangerous out-of-the-way places, I think this might be the best plan ever. Aside from just napping and letting some other cats do all the hard work that is." Specter said, not sounding quite as bored and tired as he had earlier.

~Haha Specter they aren't talking to the clans. They are going to see if they can overhear anything because the clans don't know IceClan has returned. That won't become common knowledge to the clans until the ORPG~

~Oops, forgot about that. well it's fixed now~

Nyx's tail twitched in a tiny gesture of irritation. An "okay" was her only comment before she turned to Noxe. "Let's go then, we've got a long way," she meowed. The IceClan warrior gave the rest of her Clanmates a nod before moving away. Nyx was not really looking forward to another visit at the Big City. Twolegs were filthy, nasty things, leaving destruction and waste in their wake where-ever they went. The other Clans were lucky as it was-- nothing was stopping the Twolegs from moving into the territories permanently.

Noxe dipped her head in farewell to the other warriors as well and followed her sister. "Twolegs really make a mess of things, don't they," she commented as she recalled her last trip, unconsciously echoing Nyx's thoughts. Lost in her ponderings, the she-cat picked her way down the snow-blanketed slope, noting when tundra morphed into alpine meadow and then forest. A yellow-bellied marmot darted from one rock to another and Noxe's stomach growled.