(Story) Show them Our Strength

Riversun

D'ialia ceased examining the healer as other cats seemed to flock to her dark-light form. She turned her gaze away, finally spotting the Yellow-Shadow. She was tempted to cross over to him, but she stopped her itching paws from taking a step. It was difficult to keep herself from speaking to him--when had that changed? Once, she had not wanted to speak to anyone. She had to keep herself in check, lest she make a fool of herself--especially in front of so many other cats. It was none of their business that she had warmed to the Yellow-Shadow. He had important duties to attend to anyway, or... something of the like. He wouldn't welcome her intrusion into whatever matters of agreement and parlay she was so uninterested in. Besides, he was already talking to the Green-Shadow. One of the many that had stood over her when she'd been half out of her mind and half dead from snakebite. She hunched her shoulders, dipping her head lowly as she watched the two, suddenly not as interested in anything else that was going on. She didn't even flick her eyes to the Silver-fire as she announced that the meeting was to begin.  She glanced around once as she realized that the Silver-Shadow was not here, and that the Meeting of the Dark Moon was about to start. She gave in to her impulse to cross the clearing--after all, she only had a few moments before the meeting was to begin. She got to her paws and quickly crossed the clearing, weaving between the cats and skidding to a sudden stop in front of the Yellow-Shadow. She paused, a surprised look on her face as if she couldn't believe that she'd actually run up to him. "Yellow-Shadow," she said quickly, hesitating and then... awkwardly jerking a nod to him. She wasn't exactly sure where they stood at that point, whether she was subordinate who could not get away with less than formality or something that was almost a friend. Her composure had slipped slightly in the presence of so many other cats that made her uneasy, and the black fur on her haunches was sticking up just a little. "...Will you be speaking?"

Toadfoal

Cenek's eyes flickered over to the nearing shape, and he stared down in surprise at D'ialia. He had seen her sparingly during this meeting, and couldn't help wondering how she'd been doing. Had the Pink-Orange-Shadow made friends with any of the other cats? But that was not the most current concern, so he did not ask. She had seemed angry with him before, but he still knew that he could not give in to what she had asked. But now she too was asking about the whereabouts of their leader. He glanced around briefly before answering. "I will." He nodded. But since the meeting was beginning he motioned with his nose that she should go. But before she did, he added, "Listen carefully to what the others have to say. None of us can predict this meeting; whatever you hear may be useful later."

Riversun

Why had she gone to him? It was pointless, and now she found herself second-guessing her decision. She regained her composure once more and nodded once, indicating that she would do so and that in fact she had already begun to do so. Not much had been missed by her violet gaze or her dusky ears, and she glanced around once to take in the leaders and deputies who were present. Good luck, she almost told him. It was a phrase that she had heard other cats use, and it seemed to make whoever they were saying it to feel a bit better. But she did not say it--luck had no bearing and was not something that could be counted on. Instead she said lowly, "Show them our strength," as she padded away. The words meant more than she had said to him, and she hoped that he would pick up on that. Show them that we are strong despite the war, she was saying. Show them that we are secure in our leadership, even if you did not become the Silver Shadow but you are speaking since the Silver Shadow, who was an exile, did not show up. And most importantly, Don't stand for it if they treat you like an inferior. She supposed she didn't need to say it--she couldn't imagine that the Yellow-Shadow would allow the other tribes to walk all over him. She searched for a place that she could sit alone, and found one in the shade of a large stone. She was separate from the others even though she was in their midst, and settled down into a more or less comfortable position where she could see all the leaders and listen to the whispers that might go on during the meeting of the dark moon. She swept her eerie gaze over the leaders before settling them once more on her own.

Toadfoal

Show them our strength. Cenek could have smiled. Even though the Silver-Shadow could not be here, she was right. Their tribe deserved to have its strength shown, for they were strong and among their ranks were no unworthy cats. Even Sullivan had admirable traits that made him valuable to Shadow Tribe, it didn't matter in the end that he had mated a Fire Triber, he had come back to the tribe where he belonged, as all of them did. That had been exactly what he needed to hear, and the white cat sat a little taller. He turned his attention to the Silver-Fire,