Juncostar
shadowclan leader
Juncostar had known that if he'd brought Mercuryrose into the territories with the knowledge of what he was about to say, she never would've followed him. It would have been a fight in the center of the camp, and nothing would've been accomplished. As much as he was concerned about his own image within the Clan, he cared much more for his deputy's own. Juncostar could talk his way out of almost any doubts with quick wits and a well-timed joke, but unfortunately, the black and gold she-cat wouldn't be so lucky.
And so he'd dragged her into the forest under the pretense of a hunting trip. Some bonding, perhaps, without kits hanging around their paws. He'd made it very clear that Aspenpaw and Ravenclaw were to stay in camp, as this was the last thing he wanted either of them to witness. A spring in his step, the tom led the way down a path deeper into the forest. He was filling the time on their venture thus far with small talk, which was, admittedly, so far out of character that Mercuryrose must have known something was up. He was too wound up internally with mixing emotions that he didn't have the energy to try much harder to conceal it.
As they reached a small secluded section of the forest, the tom's expression suddenly fell, and he turned his amber eyes on his deputy. "Look," he pressed, breathing a heavy sigh as he braced himself for her wrath. "This whole mess with ThunderClan," he began, shuffling his paws in discomfort. "Mercuryrose, we gotta talk about this. And I want you to just hear me out, 'kay? It's kinda important." Settling on his haunches, he awaited any sign that the she-cat would let him speak before he'd begin.
Mercuryrose
Shadowclan Deputy
Her dark green gaze suddenly darkened when looking at the Shadowclan leader, Mercuryrose couldn’t help but clench her jaw at his words, his demands. “There is a difference between us, I know how to separate my emotions and duties.” The black and rose-gold molly said with an edge on her tone, attempting to keep her temper at bay. Juncostar was irritating her, she knew that he was simply trying to protect her.. But the leader wasn’t giving her a choice in what she wanted to do, instead making the choice for her. Mercuryrose had plenty of cats make choices for her, but often it led to unspeakable consequences.
“Snarlingbadger knows his rights as Ravenclaw’s father, just as I know my rights for my daughters in Thunderclan. No leader, deputy or even Peachblossom had say in.” Mercuryrose said, remembering the conversation between the biological parents. The other surrogate didn’t intend on bonding with the biological kits that she birthed with Snarlingbadger, but due to her bonding with both Peachblossom and Snarlingbadger, she wanted a relationship with them. Mercuryrose didn’t want to fight for any kind of custody of her two daughters in Thunderclan, she wasn’t going to take them away from a home they knew their whole lives. Ravenclaw didn’t want to leave Shadowclan either, being raised and grew up within the camp.
“My kits’ blood won’t be on my paws, as I don’t intend on attacking a patrol nor barging into camp like the Mutts did. They play dirty, I don’t.” Mercuryrose said, rather wanting to play by the rules instead of Hawkstar and his kin feeling entitlement. It wasn’t until her eyes widened slightly at Juncostar’s outburst, and his declaration of keeping Mercuryrose on the side. The Maine Coon was silent for a moment, feeling her heart was quietly breaking. It felt as if Juncostar didn’t believe or have trust in her nor her actions, as she had trusted him with her life. Without saying anything, Mercuryrose got up from her spot
“I had accepted the position of deputy because you said we would be equals and work together as a team…” Mercuryrose began, her dark green eyes narrowed slightly as she had a blank expression on her face. This conversation would certainly leave an impact on their relationship and friendship, how both of their interests and had both were found family of each other. “The fact that you are making a choice without me having a say in it, is unacceptable towards me.. So I hope you know what you’re doing, and it doesn’t have severe consequences”
With that, Mercuryrose didn’t have any other words but padded off in the direction of the camp. She didn’t have any intentions of speaking with him anytime soon.
Juncostar
shadowclan leader
The grey tom breathed an exasperated sigh at Mercuryrose's response. Of course he hadn't expected this conversation to be an easy one, but it wasn't any less irritating having to argue with some-cat he loved, especially when he was just trying to help. "Now you know that your kits are different than your siblings, Mercuryrose," he argued, tone disbelieving. "You grew those kits; you know that's different. What if Hawkstar sends Snarlingbadger after you? Could you really go up against the father of your kits? Ravenclaw's father? What if he decides to send your own kits after you?" he reasoned, hoping to get her to see where he was coming from.
"I know you'd always pick us; I wouldn't'a made you my deputy if I didn't think so. But you shouldn't have to pick between us and your kits," he pleaded. "No-cat should have to make that choice. I could never go up against Aspenpaw, no matter what happened. I'm not try'na get under your pelt here. I'm really try'na help," he murmured, shoulders slumping. Why was it that when he tried to be serious, every-cat always had an issue with it? He couldn't always just be the fun leader...
"Peachblossom is a medicine cat, so Hawkstar doesn't have a say over what she does. You know that as well as I do. But do you really think he's above pitting you against the kits, if he's willing to march into our camp and demand to take my nieces and nephews home with him?"
Wincing at the black and golden she-cat's confession on her own guilt surrounding Ravenclaw, the tom shook his head. "But that's not what this is about," he reminded her. "The problem isn't a cross-clan relationship; the problem is I don't trust Hawkstar not to pull somethin' dirty try'na get us to back down." Becoming overwhelmed with Mercuryrose's arguments, Juncostar smacked his paw down onto the ground, releasing a heavy groan. "Yeah, and my number one priority here is makin' sure you don't end up with your kits' blood on your paws. You're so stubborn!" he shot back. The guilt from his outburst hit almost immediately, but he was going to stick by what he said. "I want you stayin' outta this, and that's final."
Mercuryrose
Shadowclan Deputy
The large Maine Coon remained silent for a moment, her dark green eyes suddenly narrowed while her feathery tail tightened slightly around her as the Deputy had clenched her jaw. Mercuryrose couldn’t help but become offended at Juncostar’s statement, it was almost insulting that he wanted her to remain at the sidelines just because she had kin there. “So would you like for me to avoid conflict within all the clans because my siblings, nieces and nephews reside there too?” Mercuryrose couldn’t help but challenge him, arching an eyebrow. Juncostar’s logic was a bunch of nonsense for her. Attempting to not act so defensive, Mercuryrose instead took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment as she was gathering her thoughts as she was thinking of her next words carefully towards her leader
“My relationship with my family members do not affect my responsibilities as Deputy for my own clan.” Mercuryrose had pointed out, she couldn’t help but sigh in frustration, feeling as if Juncostar was doubting her abilities as deputy. All of her life, Mercuryrose had felt as if she’s been proving others that she was capable of so much, but had been doubted or overlooked. “Do you think Hawkstar suddenly decided to stop Peachblossom from performing her duties because Ravenclaw and I reside here” Mercuryrose said, her dark green eyes squinted at the gray tom. Getting up from her spot, she shook her head. This was a huge waste of her time, the deputy should be back at camp with her own clan, not bickering with Juncostar.
“A cross-clan relationship is the reason of my entire existence, I have to live with my parents’ consequences on a daily basis but I’ve been making peace with it. To this day, I still feel guilt about Ravenclaw being the only kit in his litter while Papaya and Pepper had grown with the other siblings” Mercuryrose said, her tail lashing back and forth as she was clearly upset. Usually, the black and rose-gold molly kept her emotions well, but she couldn’t help but feel as if Juncostar was doubting her. “I will not have my emotions nor loyalty questioned just because I have kin from different clan. My number one priority is making sure that my clanmates remain safe, no matter what we are going through” Mercuryrose said sharply, her fur was slighly raised up and claws digging into the soft ground.
Juncostar
shadowclan leader
The tom breathed an exasperated sigh as Mercuryrose stated openly that she wasn't going to like the conversation. He'd figured as much, but it was like a slap to the face to hear it out loud. He decided to just get it over with, and so he blurted without hesitation, "I want you to stay out of this." He winced at the directness of the statement. He didn't make a habit of pushing his title around, holding his rank above any-cat's head-- much less his deputy. Something told him, however, that he'd need to do exactly that in this case.
"You're gonna stay out of this. This is me speaking as your leader," he ordered, ears flat and eyes wide. He felt so conflicted about the whole thing; he knew that the she-cat was going to want to fight for the kits just as much as he did, but he couldn't let her tear her family apart. "Mercuryrose," he murmured, voice calmer and aiming to soothe the anger he knew was coming. "You have family over there. Ravenclaw has brothers and sisters over there. I can't let you ruin what you got with Peachblossom and Snarlingbadger. Please, if there's anything you ever do for me, just do this. I can't let you do this."
Mercuryrose
Shadowclan Deputy
Mercuryrose knew something was up the moment that Juncostar had asked her to go on a hunting trip with only themselves, also forbidding Ravenclaw and Aspenpaw from going anywhere near them. Juncostar and Mercuryrose always kept both of their children out of any political messes they would go through.
The black and rose-gold molly’s dark green eyes were narrowed slighly when following after the leader. Juncostar’s small talk and little jokes were the main suspension, he never did any of that unless something was on his mind. Rolling her shoulders slighly when both of them stopped, she could clearly tell that Juncostar was ready to speak. Arching an eyebrow, she was correct.. Something was on his mind. Letting out a sigh through her nostrils, Mercuryrose sat down with a neutral expression on her face. The large Maine Coon could clearly tell that she wasn’t going to like this conversation but she was extremely stubborn and would be standing her ground. Mercuryrose had a lot of pride, which most likely she had inherited from her father.. Stubbornness and Pride, that along with Greed and Wrath was Twilightfoot’s falling grace from the clans.
Mercuryrose had kept her heritage mostly to herself, as the clans didn’t need to know that the Grim Reaper of Thunderclan was her father. Only Juncostar, Mintstrike and Widowsting mainly knew about Twilightfoot.. Stars, there was going to be a day in which Ravenclaw would eventually find out.. When Shadowclan found out. Clearing her throat slighly, the large Maine Coon had nodded towards him “Assuming that you led me far away from Camp, I’m not going to like this conversation.. So speak.” Mercuryrose said, her dark green eyes were narrowed as her feathery tail wrapped around her paws to shield them from the fall breeze.