Juncostar
shadowclan leader
(he/him)
Nerves on fire and stomach churning, Juncostar made his way back to camp after his meeting with Hawkstar. His eyes were dark as he entered the clearing, his tail hanging low behind him as he made immediately for the highledge to leap atop it. He didn't react to the greetings he received on his way there, which was entirely out of character. He had no jokes, no goofy smile, and he looked utterly miserable. Once he was perched upon the highledge, he raised his voice to call over the camp. It was getting late, and with the sun slowly beginning to set, cats were sharing tongues throughout the camp.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the highledge for a Clan meeting!" he called, taking a few steadying breaths as he waited for his Clanmates to do as he'd asked. His heart was hammering in his throat as he watched closely for Mercuryrose and Waspsight. Something about just knowing they'd be there was comforting; he didn't think he'd have it in him to fight this hard if they weren't with him. Breathing a small sigh when he saw them, Juncostar's head hung for a moment, and he briefly closed his eyes to prepare himself for his announcement.
"Look, every-cat, I'm just gonna be straight with ya," he began, grimacing as he saw the looks on his Clanmate's faces at his demeanor. "Hawkstar has declared war with ShadowClan," he announced, pausing just a minute to let the news sink in. "We are to meet them in three days in their territory, at their pointed stones. I'll need our best warriors with me; I will be taking volunteers, or I can paw-pick you myself. Those whose participation would be a conflict of interest are excluded from the duty," he reassured them, gaze soft yet pained as he cast a glance at Mercuryrose. Of course, he'd allow her to come along if she insisted; he couldn't very well stop her, after all. He just hoped she'd see reason and make the right choice for herself.
W A S P S I G H T
The calico tom waited anxiously for his leader to return. Juncostar had left earlier in the day to meet with Hawkstar of ThunderClan to discuss the situation of half-clan kits sired between the two Clans. His attention was turned to the camp entrance at excited murmurs of cats, mentioning the Clan leader's name as he returned. Waspsight’s expression fell quickly as he noted the downtrodden features of the Somali tom. He didn’t need to wait for a summons to join Juncostar underneath the highledge.
At the news of a declaration of war, the medicine cat’s heart fell. He caught the sight of the other tom’s eyes searching for him, but despite his best efforts, Waspsight couldn’t find it within himself to fully support a battle over these kits. Being half-Clan, his parents decided between themselves where he would be raised. He couldn’t imagine a scenario in which the future was unsure, adults bickering back-and-forth about where their lives would begin. His heart ached for them.
Knowing the difficult path ahead, the calico tom took a deep breath. He would have to protect his Clan in the best way he could by offering his support on the sidelines. Whether he backed the decision or not was not the priority he needed to focus on. Keeping his Clanmates’ wounds clean was what he had to prepare himself for.
The leader’s last comment made him frown. His bi-colored eyes cast over to Mercuryrose, who waited at his side. In a gentle gesture, his tail brushed her flank, hoping to give her some form of support and reassurance.