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||Pink-Orange-Earth | Shasta | Council of Spirits|| One uncomfortable pawstep at a time, the Pink-Orange-Earth Shasta picked her way around the outer edge of the clearing. Finally she settled upon a spot, and sat, tail curled over her paws. Small white toes dug into the well-trampled snow, and green eyes shifted nervously around. There were so many different cats present, toms and she-cats that Shasta had never even caught glimpses of before – not that she had assumed she knew all the tribe cats there were. Of course, meetings were a good time to socialize, but she wasn’t particularly fond of groups. Loud groups, active groups, anything could happen at any moment.

[ Pink-Orange-Light | Zarya | Council of Spirits ] It was a short trek from the Light-Tribe camp to the meeting place, and both excitement and nervousness coursed through her. Meetings themselves were exciting, with many cats to talk to and things to learn, but at the same time, there were so many cats! She’d only been to one before, of course, but she’d left it with mixed feelings. She’d first met Tracks there- Zarya could remember just barely being able to keep from attacking the shadow-tribe tom after he’d stepped on her tail. She’d grown up since then, but the tabby still wasn’t sure if she was confident enough in her change to keep herself from lashing out at anyone who touched her. And with a lot of cats, that might not be a good thing.
If she was being honest with herself, It surprised Zarya that she recognized so many others. There was that green-air Ross she’d met in Rabbit’s Forest not too long before they’d left the old territory, and there was Kitus and Aiero! Her Tribe-mates. And her mentor was over there, with a odd white cat, and the Pink-Orange earth who’d asked about Caelum! Excited, the mottled healer’s eyes landed on a brown and cream she-cat on the edge of the clearing. Feli! Bounding over to the pink-orange earth, Zarya settled down close to her, a smile on her face. “Hi Feli!” She mewed brightly. “Are you excited? Meetings are so much fun! Kind of. I mean, there are a lot of cats, but still!” She giggled a bit. “I’ve only been to one, but lots of things happened! I wonder if more things will happen at this meeting?! Ooh! I can’t wait to find out!”

||Pink-Orange-Earth | Shasta | Council of Spirits|| Making a mental note to always come down deathly ill before a meeting, Shasta lifted one paw and rasped her tongue over the rumpled fur. As long as she kept busy, maybe she could distract herself from the noise and the mixed emotions that filled the air. The Pink-Orange-Earth paused mid-way through grooming her paw, spotting a cat she was relieved to recognize. Just as the thought to go over passed through the brown and cream she-cat’s mind, the Pink-Orange-Light was already moving toward her. A faint smile found its way onto Shasta’s muzzle, and she lowered her paw to the snowy ground. “Bandit! I’m not really all that excited, half of these cats could be vicious and ferocious. You never know when one of them is going to snap!” Realizing she may have startled the other cat, she cleared her throat. “Or maybe I’m just anti-social. Do you enjoy the meetings?”

[ Pink-Orange-Light | Zarya | Council of Spirits ] Zarya shook her head at the other cat. “Don’t be silly, Feli! These are all tribe-members. I’m sure they can be mean and angry at some times, but they’re pretty nice cats, usually! Well, There’s like two cats that I’m not sure about, but I don’t see either of them here yet! And look! Little Cats! Eep!” Zarya’s eyes grew wide as she stared at the kittens playing around Ross. She’d never seen cats so small! Well, Kitus was kind of small, but not that small! “Have you ever seen little cats?! What are they doing! And where are their tattoos?”

||Pink-Orange-Earth | Shasta | Council of Spirits|| Knowing that her companion was so calm, did help to relax Shasta slightly. It was reassuring to have another cat beside her, especially Bandit. “Well, as long as you’re certain . . . I’ll take your word for it . . .” The mention of tiny cats caused the Pink-Orange-Earth to trail off, and she followed her companion’s gaze. A purr rose up in the she-cat’s throat at the sight of the kits. It must have been so exciting, to attend their first meeting. “They’re kits, Bandit. I don’t think they have their tattoos yet. Did you always have yours? Or did you get it later?” although she was fairly certain cats didn’t receive their marks until later, Shasta had to be certain.

[ Pink-Orange-Light | Zarya | Council of Spirits ] “Kits… Oh. That makes sense! But don’t they get their tattoos at the—OH they get them at the meeting, right?!” Her eyes caught the sea-green ones of a fellow healer, and Zarya’s tail twitched in disappointment and a stab of guilt. “You see the tortoiseshell orange-light,” She whispered to Shasta, looking away from Yvara for a moment. “She doesn’t like me very much. It makes me sad.” Her eyes shifted to her paws a bit, claws tearing at the ground for a moment before she resumed the conversation from before. “But I didn’t know kits were that small! I uhh. Nothing big happened when I got my tattoo. I was still an exile then.”

||Pink-Orange-Earth | Shasta | Council of Spirits||“I think that’s how it works, yeah. I’m not sure, though, I’ve never been to a meeting like this before.” Shasta twitched her right ear slightly, catching Conan’s voice. Her gaze drifted in the direction of her tribe mate and the she-cat he was chatting with. Just as her mind registered the cat as being from Light-Tribe, Bandit was speaking. It took the Pink-Orange-Earth several moments to realize that the tortoiseshell she-cat her friend was talking about was the one Conan was hanging around. “What did you do to make her dislike you? Did you two fight?” Just as quickly as the conversation had changed, it was back on the topic of kits. A momentary look of confusion registered upon Shasta’s face before she nodded. “I was still an exile when I got my tattoo as well. But I assume things must be different if you’re born into the Tribes.”

[ Pink-Orange-Light | Zarya | Council of Spirits ] Zarya shifted uncomfortably. She liked Feli! Would telling her what had happened with Yvara make her less her friend? Well, it was best for Feli to know sometime, right? “I, uhh.” She started. “I don’t always react the best way to being touched.” She she-cat explained. “I’ve always been that way, I guess, but it makes me scared. She cuffed my ears when I first got here and I panicked. I gave her those scars on her leg.” Zarya’s head hung in shame after she’d explained. “I’m getting better, though! I just don’t want to go into the crowd because of that.” She spotted Ross and the kits and smiled as she noticed them move around. Kittens were so cute! “Yeah, I bet it is! I wonder what I would be like if I’d been born in the tribes instead of in exile? Hmm. I don’t think I can imagine that!”

||Pink-Orange-Earth | Shasta | Council of Spirits|| The mixed scents of so many cats gathered in one place made Shasta’s head spin. She could hardly distinguish one smell from another, and that fact bothered her. How would she know danger was coming if she couldn’t smell it? Using her ears was basically out of the question, as all the raised voices and enthused tones were just as bad as the mingling aromas. Forcing herself to relax, the brown and cream she-cat listened mutely to Bandit’s explanation. Scarcely could she believe what she was hearing! The kind, friendly cat beside her had given those scars to the tortoiseshell she-cat? “It’s good that you’re getting better . . . a shame that her pretty pelt is damaged like that, though.” Shasta turned her green gaze to Bandit and smiled softly. “I don’t have any secret like that . . . but my name is Shasta . . . I trust you, I don’t think you’ll hurt me.” Once again the kittens snagged the Pink-Orange-Earth’s attention, and she watched fondly as they tumbled about. Soon enough they were be apprenticed, and then sent to their respective tribes. That was how things worked, wasn’t it? “I’m not sure what it would have been like to be born in the tribes . . . but I don’t think I would change my life. I would still choose to be born in exile. And maybe I would still come to join Earth-Tribe . . . What about you? Would you rather have been born in the tribes, Bandit?”

[ Pink-Orange-Light | Zarya | Council of Spirits ] Zarya’s grey eyes were silently thanking the cat. She’d remembered that Feli—Shasta Was afraid of the furryokiss creatures that she thought liked in the forest. Zarya had been worrying that Shasta might think of her as one of them! “It’s not exactly a secret.. It’s just, well, I’m not happy about doing that, and I haven’t been able to apologize yet.” Zarya sighed. “I’m glad you trust me though! I wouldn’t , or at least, I hope I wouldn’t hurt you!” She quieted her voice a little, the percent of cats she recognized slowly diminishing as more came into the clearing. “I’m Zarya” She whispered to Shasta, grey eyes blinking kindly. She nodded at Shasta’s question. “Yes. Being born in the tribes seems like it would have been fun! Cats seem … well, Yeah. I wouldn’t choose to go back to the life I had at all, and if I got to pick where I was born, I would choose to be born in the tribes.” Maybe things would have been better for her then? Maybe, if she’d been born in the tribes, Zarya would actually have a family! And lots of friends, and the nick in her ear would be gone!

||Pink-Orange-Earth | Shasta | Council of Spirits|| Secret or otherwise, Shasta did appreciate that the Pink-Orange-Light had told her what she did to the other cat. It was a good way to strengthen their friendship – assuming the brown and cream she-cat wasn’t the only one who considered them to be friends. It was difficult to imagine what it would be like to know you had hurt another like that. Pawing at the snowy ground for a moment, she twitched her ears with embarrassment. “I’m certain you would hurt me Ba-” Shasta paused, allowing her companion to finish speaking before she started. “I liked being an exile . . . I was more comfortable back then. Or, at least, I knew I fit in. There were no others for me to try and impress.” But if Shasta had been born into the Tribes, that would mean her brother would have been too, right? And then the hawk wouldn’t have caught him because of her. Shuddering at the mental image, the Pink-Orange-Earth glanced at Zarya. “If you had been born into the tribes, you might not be the same she-cat you are now. You might act different because you had a different up-bringing.”

[ Pink-Orange-Light | Zarya | Council of Spirits ] The chocolate torbie nodded slightly at Shasta’s words. “When I first joined the tribes, I was afraid of what everyone would think of me.” She mewed, remembering her first month or two in the tribes. “It didn’t really help that the war had ended not too long before, and I came in with the first group of Exiles. Everyone was really intimidating. It took me a while, but I got used to tribe life, and when Light-Tribe separated from everybody and became our own tribe, I was nervous but it made me feel more at home! The more cats you meet, the better it is.” Well, in her experience anyways. “Impressing them is still a little weird though, I just hope to do the best I can!” Zarya purred, smiling at her friend. “And I would still choose a different life. I don’t want to go back to where I came from- and if I was born in the tribes, I don’t think touch would be as much of an issue. Ooh! ” Zarya looked up at the sky for a moment. “I think the meeting’s about to start!”

||Pink-Orange-Earth | Shasta | Council of Spirits|| Though she knew it wasn’t her place to ask, Shasta couldn’t help being curious about Zarya’s younger days. What had happened to her while she was in exile? Did she have a family or friends? Was she alone? Had something caused her fear of contact? Somewhat unsure of herself, Shasta lightly brushed her tail against the other she-cat’s side. “I’m glad you are who you are. You’re worth meeting and getting to know . . . My mother used to say that you can’t change the past, or the circumstances of your birth, but you can always change your future, and the future of your kits. That’s why she wanted me to join the tribes. She told me that I could make a better life for myself,” Pausing in the midst of her rambling, Shasta glanced at Zarya, “Just like you and the other past exiles have done.”

[ Pink-Orange-Light | Zarya | Council of Spirits ] Jumping about a foot in the air form the unexpected contact, Zarya sprung away from Shasta, shaking as she landed a couple of paces away. Claws digging into the ground, Zarya fought the white fog of fear that overtook her brain, the Earth-triber’s voice aiding in that. She missed most of the cat’s words though, trying to restrain herself from doing the very thing that her instincts were telling her to do and letting her claws loose. She’d been prepared for this, kind of. Zarya had been telling her self for days now that with the meeting looming over her head and the possibility of contact. Telling herself that it was Shasta, her friend, Shasta, the pink-orange earth who she’d promised not to injure, and not her father, Zarya pulled herself out of the fear-fog and back to reality, her shakes growing a little less violent. “S-sorry. That pr-probably w-wasn’t the best idea-ea.”
Turning her attention to the stone from which the silver-fire’s voice called, Zarya’s shakes subsided almost completely. The meeting was starting! It’ll be a bit annoying to have to keep turning…

||Pink-Orange-Earth | Shasta | Council of Spirits|| Immediate guilt flooded through Shasta as her friend jolted away as if she had been slashed by sharp claws. She hadn’t necessarily meant for that to happen, more so, she had acted out of instinct. That was the type of thing she would do to any cat she considered her friend. In future, she would have to try not to give Zarya any physical contact unless absolutely essential. She did wish she could be of some help to the tortoiseshell tabby and her problem. It must have spurred from something in her younger days, for cats weren’t often born with a contact issue. “I’m sorry about that,” she meowed softly, turning her gaze toward the leaders as they took their places. Flinching at the sudden breeze, Shasta forced herself to relax, and listened patiently as the Leaders started. She recognized the Silver-Earth instantly, though the Pink-Orange-Earth had not had very much contact with her. It was a shame the deputy had been unable to make it to the meeting. The brown and cream she-cat shook her head before positioning herself more comfortably beside Zarya, and waiting.

*

[ Pink-Orange-Light | Zarya | Council of Spirits ] The silver-light’s words shook Zarya. A prophecy from the spirits? Like Jazlyn had had at the last meeting? Her eyes were wide in awe of what the spirits could do, of the tattoo-receiving of the kits, of everything. Yet, they were also drooping with exhaustion. The light-triber didn’t envy the other cats their trek back to camp. A yawn stretched her jaws as she turned to look at Shasta. “Boy, wasn’t that interesting? There weren’t any kits named at the last ceremony, it’s really cool to see how it’s done! Scary though, I don’t know how I would feel having the spirit’s take over my body.” She shuddered slightly. “It’s my body after all! And the silver-lights prophecy, I wonder what it means? I bet the whole watching part has to do with Nightwatch forest, but I dunno what exactly. What do you think?”

||Pink-Orange-Earth | Shasta | Council of Spirits|| Having not moved nor spoken throughout the entire proceedings, Shasta forced herself to stand up. The stiffness in her muscles was enough to cause her to wince, and the Pink-Orange-Earth forced down a growl of protest. It would be so much easier to just stay there for the rest of the night. Not that her tribemates would necessarily agree. “I think I would have been terrified, if I had been one of those kits. You’re right, though! I wouldn’t want anyone – even one of the spirits – taking over my body! I pray I never become a leader!” A chuckle escaped Shasta, and her whiskers twitched with amusement. The elation seemed to die, however, at Zarya’s next words. An expression of curiosity settled in the depths of the brown and cream she-cat’s eyes. “A prophecy? What’s that?”

[ Pink-Orange-Light | Zarya | Council of Spirits ] Nodding along with the she-cat, A feeling of contentedness fell over Zarya. She liked this she-cat, she was interesting and, well, yeah. Zarya didn’t feel scared of her or intimidated like she did with so many others. Was that what Vendetta had meant by friendship? And Trust? Zarya had given Shasta her spirit-name after all. Deciding that this she-cat was her friend just like Vendetta, A small purr rumbled out of Zarya’s throat. “I kinda wish I was like the kits though. Could you imagine? Finding out what tribe you belonged to and your true-name at once? Must be pretty… pretty.. uhh.” She frowned, searching for the exact words she wanted. “Awesome? Yeah, I think that’s the word. I don’t think I’d really want to be leader either- but We’ve already got the Silver-Light and the yellow light, so I don’t see why I’d haveta be! I’m still a Pink-Orange-Light, too.” Zarya rose to her paws as well, stretching a bit to loosen up the muscles that were stiff from sitting in one position so long and the cold. “A prophecy is like the thing the silver-light said at the end. Where the ends rhyme and the spirits talk and they tell us to be careful or that something needs to change. Last time, when it was the yellow-light, it was something about earth moving and changing and us needing to leave. That’s why we all came up here! And there were things like earthquakes and cliffs falling and mines collapsing and water flooding the water-tribe camp. It wasn’t very fun, so I’m glad we’re here now! Even if this prophecy sounded kinda scary."

||Pink-Orange-Earth | Shasta | Council of Spirits|| After living in Earth-Tribe for such a short time, it was comforting to think that she had officially made a friend. And that was what Zarya was to her, for Shasta had decided as such the moment she gave out her spirit-given name. Perhaps the other she-cat didn’t agree, perhaps she never would, regardless, that was the brown and cream female’s opinion. The Pink-Orange-Earth did have the faintest feeling that it was mutual, however. “I agree, that would be awesome! But can you imagine being that small and having the spirits looming over you and staring at you like that? Oooooh,” a shudder wracked Shasta’s body, and she gave herself a quick shake. “I gave myself chills just imagining it! It must be so . . . intimidating. But those kits are really lucky . . . they discovered which tribe they belong to long before the age I was when I came to join.” The she-cat fixed her friend with a puzzled expression and lifted her paw. She gave it several brisk licks before drawing it carefully over her face. As Shasta had only recently joined the tribes from exile, the idea of a prophecy seemed somewhat ridiculous to her. Nonetheless, the fur on the nape of her neck prickled at Zarya’s words. “So, is this prophecy a bad thing, then? Are we going to have to leave? What do you think it could mean?” Green eyes wide, the Pink-Orange-Earth leaned closer to her Light-Tribe companion. “Never go into Nightwatch Forest. That place is horrible. If that’s what the prophecy is about, I’m definitely going to steer clear.” Maybe she was over-reacting a tad . . .

[ Pink-Orange-Light | Zarya | Council of Spirits ] Zarya shuddered with her companion. “I wouldn’t want that at all! Imagine all that power. I wonder if the Golden Butterfly had all of that? I wouldn’t want to be him! Ever ever ever. Or like him, at all.” Having such power could probably be really cool, but Zarya couldn’t help but imagining it falling to the paws of one grey-tattooed ex shadow triber. “I joined… Well, I don’t know how old I was when I joined. I Age wasn’t something I really kept track of. I’d gotten my tattoo a while before then, though. And even after that, I didn’t go to the light-tribe camp until we came here!” Frowning at Shasta’s words, Zarya began to think aloud. “They could be bad, I guess. Or maybe they just bring bad news? They help prepare us for things? I dunno. Last time, I cat said they were warnings, and If we weren’t warned, we wouldn’t know what to expect. I think I’d rather have a prophecy than not be able to know even a little bit what I need to watch out for.” Another large yawn parted the she-cat’s jaws. I really should go back to camp and sleep for a bit soon. She shifted a bit uncomfortable at the pink-orange earth’s next words. “Uhh, well.” She mewed. “I’m pretty sure I grew up in there. Not certain, but the feeling of being watched is kinda familiar.”

||Pink-Orange-Earth | Shasta | Council of Spirits|| Another tremor of unease plagued Shasta’s body as she once again imagined the power the spirits contained. All that power, the strength to really hurt her, contained in one body. Shaking the thought away, the she-cat managed a weak purr of agreement. She was extremely happy that she hadn’t been a kit when receiving her own tattoo. “I had mine for a long time before I came to join the tribes . . . I didn’t even know about any of them until my mother told me to travel here.” Blinking at the memory, Shasta’s ears twitched slightly. She almost wished she had stayed in the familiar place she once called home. Perhaps prophecies weren’t so bad . . . they still sounded somewhat scary, though. “I just hope that it doesn’t mean anything really bad is coming . . .” The Pink-Orange-Light’s next words caused the brown and cream she-cat to gape at her companion in bewilderment. The Nightwatch Forest? She had grown up there? That was terrifying! Shasta forced herself to calm down, however, reminding herself that Zarya was her friend. It would be rude to say anything unpleasant about her former home. The other cat’s dislike of contact had nearly slipped the she-cat’s mind as she stretched out her tail in a would-be farewell. Shasta paused the gesture a mere fraction from the other cat as the memory of her friend’s earlier freak out hit her. With an awkward clearing of her throat, the brown and cream female dipped her head. “It was lovely seeing you, Zarya .. . But you seem tired, and most of my tribe has already started off. I’ll see you soon! Maybe I’ll get a nettle sting and have to come visit you.” A parting purr of amusement and the Pink-Orange-Earth turned away in pursuit of her departing tribe mates.

Description
||Pink-Orange-Earth | Shasta | Council of Spirits|| One uncomfortable pawstep at a time, the Pink-Orange-Earth Shasta picked her way around the outer edge of the clearing. Finally she settled upon a spot, and sat, tail curled over her paws. Small white toes dug into the well-trampled snow, and green eyes shifted nervously around. There were so many different cats present, toms and she-cats that Shasta had never even caught glimpses of before – not that she had assumed she knew all the tribe cats there were. Of course, meetings were a good time to socialize, but she wasn’t particularly fond of groups. Loud groups, active groups, anything could happen at any moment.

[ Pink-Orange-Light | Zarya | Council of Spirits ] It was a short trek from the Light-Tribe camp to the meeting place, and both excitement and nervousness coursed through her. Meetings themselves were exciting, with many cats to talk to and things to learn, but at the same time, there were so many cats! She’d only been to one before, of course, but she’d left it with mixed feelings. She’d first met Tracks there- Zarya could remember just barely being able to keep from attacking the shadow-tribe tom after he’d stepped on her tail. She’d grown up since then, but the tabby still wasn’t sure if she was confident enough in her change to keep herself from lashing out at anyone who touched her. And with a lot of cats, that might not be a good thing.
If she was being honest with herself, It surprised Zarya that she recognized so many others. There was that green-air Ross she’d met in Rabbit’s Forest not too long before they’d left the old territory, and there was Kitus and Aiero! Her Tribe-mates. And her mentor was over there, with a odd white cat, and the Pink-Orange earth who’d asked about Caelum! Excited, the mottled healer’s eyes landed on a brown and cream she-cat on the edge of the clearing. Feli! Bounding over to the pink-orange earth, Zarya settled down close to her, a smile on her face. “Hi Feli!” She mewed brightly. “Are you excited? Meetings are so much fun! Kind of. I mean, there are a lot of cats, but still!” She giggled a bit. “I’ve only been to one, but lots of things happened! I wonder if more things will happen at this meeting?! Ooh! I can’t wait to find out!”

||Pink-Orange-Earth | Shasta | Council of Spirits|| Making a mental note to always come down deathly ill before a meeting, Shasta lifted one paw and rasped her tongue over the rumpled fur. As long as she kept busy, maybe she could distract herself from the noise and the mixed emotions that filled the air. The Pink-Orange-Earth paused mid-way through grooming her paw, spotting a cat she was relieved to recognize. Just as the thought to go over passed through the brown and cream she-cat’s mind, the Pink-Orange-Light was already moving toward her. A faint smile found its way onto Shasta’s muzzle, and she lowered her paw to the snowy ground. “Bandit! I’m not really all that excited, half of these cats could be vicious and ferocious. You never know when one of them is going to snap!” Realizing she may have startled the other cat, she cleared her throat. “Or maybe I’m just anti-social. Do you enjoy the meetings?”

[ Pink-Orange-Light | Zarya | Council of Spirits ] Zarya shook her head at the other cat. “Don’t be silly, Feli! These are all tribe-members. I’m sure they can be mean and angry at some times, but they’re pretty nice cats, usually! Well, There’s like two cats that I’m not sure about, but I don’t see either of them here yet! And look! Little Cats! Eep!” Zarya’s eyes grew wide as she stared at the kittens playing around Ross. She’d never seen cats so small! Well, Kitus was kind of small, but not that small! “Have you ever seen little cats?! What are they doing! And where are their tattoos?”

||Pink-Orange-Earth | Shasta | Council of Spirits|| Knowing that her companion was so calm, did help to relax Shasta slightly. It was reassuring to have another cat beside her, especially Bandit. “Well, as long as you’re certain . . . I’ll take your word for it . . .” The mention of tiny cats caused the Pink-Orange-Earth to trail off, and she followed her companion’s gaze. A purr rose up in the she-cat’s throat at the sight of the kits. It must have been so exciting, to attend their first meeting. “They’re kits, Bandit. I don’t think they have their tattoos yet. Did you always have yours? Or did you get it later?” although she was fairly certain cats didn’t receive their marks until later, Shasta had to be certain.

[ Pink-Orange-Light | Zarya | Council of Spirits ] “Kits… Oh. That makes sense! But don’t they get their tattoos at the—OH they get them at the meeting, right?!” Her eyes caught the sea-green ones of a fellow healer, and Zarya’s tail twitched in disappointment and a stab of guilt. “You see the tortoiseshell orange-light,” She whispered to Shasta, looking away from Yvara for a moment. “She doesn’t like me very much. It makes me sad.” Her eyes shifted to her paws a bit, claws tearing at the ground for a moment before she resumed the conversation from before. “But I didn’t know kits were that small! I uhh. Nothing big happened when I got my tattoo. I was still an exile then.”

||Pink-Orange-Earth | Shasta | Council of Spirits||“I think that’s how it works, yeah. I’m not sure, though, I’ve never been to a meeting like this before.” Shasta twitched her right ear slightly, catching Conan’s voice. Her gaze drifted in the direction of her tribe mate and the she-cat he was chatting with. Just as her mind registered the cat as being from Light-Tribe, Bandit was speaking. It took the Pink-Orange-Earth several moments to realize that the tortoiseshell she-cat her friend was talking about was the one Conan was hanging around. “What did you do to make her dislike you? Did you two fight?” Just as quickly as the conversation had changed, it was back on the topic of kits. A momentary look of confusion registered upon Shasta’s face before she nodded. “I was still an exile when I got my tattoo as well. But I assume things must be different if you’re born into the Tribes.”

[ Pink-Orange-Light | Zarya | Council of Spirits ] Zarya shifted uncomfortably. She liked Feli! Would telling her what had happened with Yvara make her less her friend? Well, it was best for Feli to know sometime, right? “I, uhh.” She started. “I don’t always react the best way to being touched.” She she-cat explained. “I’ve always been that way, I guess, but it makes me scared. She cuffed my ears when I first got here and I panicked. I gave her those scars on her leg.” Zarya’s head hung in shame after she’d explained. “I’m getting better, though! I just don’t want to go into the crowd because of that.” She spotted Ross and the kits and smiled as she noticed them move around. Kittens were so cute! “Yeah, I bet it is! I wonder what I would be like if I’d been born in the tribes instead of in exile? Hmm. I don’t think I can imagine that!”

||Pink-Orange-Earth | Shasta | Council of Spirits|| The mixed scents of so many cats gathered in one place made Shasta’s head spin. She could hardly distinguish one smell from another, and that fact bothered her. How would she know danger was coming if she couldn’t smell it? Using her ears was basically out of the question, as all the raised voices and enthused tones were just as bad as the mingling aromas. Forcing herself to relax, the brown and cream she-cat listened mutely to Bandit’s explanation. Scarcely could she believe what she was hearing! The kind, friendly cat beside her had given those scars to the tortoiseshell she-cat? “It’s good that you’re getting better . . . a shame that her pretty pelt is damaged like that, though.” Shasta turned her green gaze to Bandit and smiled softly. “I don’t have any secret like that . . . but my name is Shasta . . . I trust you, I don’t think you’ll hurt me.” Once again the kittens snagged the Pink-Orange-Earth’s attention, and she watched fondly as they tumbled about. Soon enough they were be apprenticed, and then sent to their respective tribes. That was how things worked, wasn’t it? “I’m not sure what it would have been like to be born in the tribes . . . but I don’t think I would change my life. I would still choose to be born in exile. And maybe I would still come to join Earth-Tribe . . . What about you? Would you rather have been born in the tribes, Bandit?”

[ Pink-Orange-Light | Zarya | Council of Spirits ] Zarya’s grey eyes were silently thanking the cat. She’d remembered that Feli—Shasta Was afraid of the furryokiss creatures that she thought liked in the forest. Zarya had been worrying that Shasta might think of her as one of them! “It’s not exactly a secret.. It’s just, well, I’m not happy about doing that, and I haven’t been able to apologize yet.” Zarya sighed. “I’m glad you trust me though! I wouldn’t , or at least, I hope I wouldn’t hurt you!” She quieted her voice a little, the percent of cats she recognized slowly diminishing as more came into the clearing. “I’m Zarya” She whispered to Shasta, grey eyes blinking kindly. She nodded at Shasta’s question. “Yes. Being born in the tribes seems like it would have been fun! Cats seem … well, Yeah. I wouldn’t choose to go back to the life I had at all, and if I got to pick where I was born, I would choose to be born in the tribes.” Maybe things would have been better for her then? Maybe, if she’d been born in the tribes, Zarya would actually have a family! And lots of friends, and the nick in her ear would be gone!

||Pink-Orange-Earth | Shasta | Council of Spirits|| Secret or otherwise, Shasta did appreciate that the Pink-Orange-Light had told her what she did to the other cat. It was a good way to strengthen their friendship – assuming the brown and cream she-cat wasn’t the only one who considered them to be friends. It was difficult to imagine what it would be like to know you had hurt another like that. Pawing at the snowy ground for a moment, she twitched her ears with embarrassment. “I’m certain you would hurt me Ba-” Shasta paused, allowing her companion to finish speaking before she started. “I liked being an exile . . . I was more comfortable back then. Or, at least, I knew I fit in. There were no others for me to try and impress.” But if Shasta had been born into the Tribes, that would mean her brother would have been too, right? And then the hawk wouldn’t have caught him because of her. Shuddering at the mental image, the Pink-Orange-Earth glanced at Zarya. “If you had been born into the tribes, you might not be the same she-cat you are now. You might act different because you had a different up-bringing.”

[ Pink-Orange-Light | Zarya | Council of Spirits ] The chocolate torbie nodded slightly at Shasta’s words. “When I first joined the tribes, I was afraid of what everyone would think of me.” She mewed, remembering her first month or two in the tribes. “It didn’t really help that the war had ended not too long before, and I came in with the first group of Exiles. Everyone was really intimidating. It took me a while, but I got used to tribe life, and when Light-Tribe separated from everybody and became our own tribe, I was nervous but it made me feel more at home! The more cats you meet, the better it is.” Well, in her experience anyways. “Impressing them is still a little weird though, I just hope to do the best I can!” Zarya purred, smiling at her friend. “And I would still choose a different life. I don’t want to go back to where I came from- and if I was born in the tribes, I don’t think touch would be as much of an issue. Ooh! ” Zarya looked up at the sky for a moment. “I think the meeting’s about to start!”

||Pink-Orange-Earth | Shasta | Council of Spirits|| Though she knew it wasn’t her place to ask, Shasta couldn’t help being curious about Zarya’s younger days. What had happened to her while she was in exile? Did she have a family or friends? Was she alone? Had something caused her fear of contact? Somewhat unsure of herself, Shasta lightly brushed her tail against the other she-cat’s side. “I’m glad you are who you are. You’re worth meeting and getting to know . . . My mother used to say that you can’t change the past, or the circumstances of your birth, but you can always change your future, and the future of your kits. That’s why she wanted me to join the tribes. She told me that I could make a better life for myself,” Pausing in the midst of her rambling, Shasta glanced at Zarya, “Just like you and the other past exiles have done.”

[ Pink-Orange-Light | Zarya | Council of Spirits ] Jumping about a foot in the air form the unexpected contact, Zarya sprung away from Shasta, shaking as she landed a couple of paces away. Claws digging into the ground, Zarya fought the white fog of fear that overtook her brain, the Earth-triber’s voice aiding in that. She missed most of the cat’s words though, trying to restrain herself from doing the very thing that her instincts were telling her to do and letting her claws loose. She’d been prepared for this, kind of. Zarya had been telling her self for days now that with the meeting looming over her head and the possibility of contact. Telling herself that it was Shasta, her friend, Shasta, the pink-orange earth who she’d promised not to injure, and not her father, Zarya pulled herself out of the fear-fog and back to reality, her shakes growing a little less violent. “S-sorry. That pr-probably w-wasn’t the best idea-ea.”
Turning her attention to the stone from which the silver-fire’s voice called, Zarya’s shakes subsided almost completely. The meeting was starting! It’ll be a bit annoying to have to keep turning…

||Pink-Orange-Earth | Shasta | Council of Spirits|| Immediate guilt flooded through Shasta as her friend jolted away as if she had been slashed by sharp claws. She hadn’t necessarily meant for that to happen, more so, she had acted out of instinct. That was the type of thing she would do to any cat she considered her friend. In future, she would have to try not to give Zarya any physical contact unless absolutely essential. She did wish she could be of some help to the tortoiseshell tabby and her problem. It must have spurred from something in her younger days, for cats weren’t often born with a contact issue. “I’m sorry about that,” she meowed softly, turning her gaze toward the leaders as they took their places. Flinching at the sudden breeze, Shasta forced herself to relax, and listened patiently as the Leaders started. She recognized the Silver-Earth instantly, though the Pink-Orange-Earth had not had very much contact with her. It was a shame the deputy had been unable to make it to the meeting. The brown and cream she-cat shook her head before positioning herself more comfortably beside Zarya, and waiting.

*

[ Pink-Orange-Light | Zarya | Council of Spirits ] The silver-light’s words shook Zarya. A prophecy from the spirits? Like Jazlyn had had at the last meeting? Her eyes were wide in awe of what the spirits could do, of the tattoo-receiving of the kits, of everything. Yet, they were also drooping with exhaustion. The light-triber didn’t envy the other cats their trek back to camp. A yawn stretched her jaws as she turned to look at Shasta. “Boy, wasn’t that interesting? There weren’t any kits named at the last ceremony, it’s really cool to see how it’s done! Scary though, I don’t know how I would feel having the spirit’s take over my body.” She shuddered slightly. “It’s my body after all! And the silver-lights prophecy, I wonder what it means? I bet the whole watching part has to do with Nightwatch forest, but I dunno what exactly. What do you think?”

||Pink-Orange-Earth | Shasta | Council of Spirits|| Having not moved nor spoken throughout the entire proceedings, Shasta forced herself to stand up. The stiffness in her muscles was enough to cause her to wince, and the Pink-Orange-Earth forced down a growl of protest. It would be so much easier to just stay there for the rest of the night. Not that her tribemates would necessarily agree. “I think I would have been terrified, if I had been one of those kits. You’re right, though! I wouldn’t want anyone – even one of the spirits – taking over my body! I pray I never become a leader!” A chuckle escaped Shasta, and her whiskers twitched with amusement. The elation seemed to die, however, at Zarya’s next words. An expression of curiosity settled in the depths of the brown and cream she-cat’s eyes. “A prophecy? What’s that?”

[ Pink-Orange-Light | Zarya | Council of Spirits ] Nodding along with the she-cat, A feeling of contentedness fell over Zarya. She liked this she-cat, she was interesting and, well, yeah. Zarya didn’t feel scared of her or intimidated like she did with so many others. Was that what Vendetta had meant by friendship? And Trust? Zarya had given Shasta her spirit-name after all. Deciding that this she-cat was her friend just like Vendetta, A small purr rumbled out of Zarya’s throat. “I kinda wish I was like the kits though. Could you imagine? Finding out what tribe you belonged to and your true-name at once? Must be pretty… pretty.. uhh.” She frowned, searching for the exact words she wanted. “Awesome? Yeah, I think that’s the word. I don’t think I’d really want to be leader either- but We’ve already got the Silver-Light and the yellow light, so I don’t see why I’d haveta be! I’m still a Pink-Orange-Light, too.” Zarya rose to her paws as well, stretching a bit to loosen up the muscles that were stiff from sitting in one position so long and the cold. “A prophecy is like the thing the silver-light said at the end. Where the ends rhyme and the spirits talk and they tell us to be careful or that something needs to change. Last time, when it was the yellow-light, it was something about earth moving and changing and us needing to leave. That’s why we all came up here! And there were things like earthquakes and cliffs falling and mines collapsing and water flooding the water-tribe camp. It wasn’t very fun, so I’m glad we’re here now! Even if this prophecy sounded kinda scary."

||Pink-Orange-Earth | Shasta | Council of Spirits|| After living in Earth-Tribe for such a short time, it was comforting to think that she had officially made a friend. And that was what Zarya was to her, for Shasta had decided as such the moment she gave out her spirit-given name. Perhaps the other she-cat didn’t agree, perhaps she never would, regardless, that was the brown and cream female’s opinion. The Pink-Orange-Earth did have the faintest feeling that it was mutual, however. “I agree, that would be awesome! But can you imagine being that small and having the spirits looming over you and staring at you like that? Oooooh,” a shudder wracked Shasta’s body, and she gave herself a quick shake. “I gave myself chills just imagining it! It must be so . . . intimidating. But those kits are really lucky . . . they discovered which tribe they belong to long before the age I was when I came to join.” The she-cat fixed her friend with a puzzled expression and lifted her paw. She gave it several brisk licks before drawing it carefully over her face. As Shasta had only recently joined the tribes from exile, the idea of a prophecy seemed somewhat ridiculous to her. Nonetheless, the fur on the nape of her neck prickled at Zarya’s words. “So, is this prophecy a bad thing, then? Are we going to have to leave? What do you think it could mean?” Green eyes wide, the Pink-Orange-Earth leaned closer to her Light-Tribe companion. “Never go into Nightwatch Forest. That place is horrible. If that’s what the prophecy is about, I’m definitely going to steer clear.” Maybe she was over-reacting a tad . . .

[ Pink-Orange-Light | Zarya | Council of Spirits ] Zarya shuddered with her companion. “I wouldn’t want that at all! Imagine all that power. I wonder if the Golden Butterfly had all of that? I wouldn’t want to be him! Ever ever ever. Or like him, at all.” Having such power could probably be really cool, but Zarya couldn’t help but imagining it falling to the paws of one grey-tattooed ex shadow triber. “I joined… Well, I don’t know how old I was when I joined. I Age wasn’t something I really kept track of. I’d gotten my tattoo a while before then, though. And even after that, I didn’t go to the light-tribe camp until we came here!” Frowning at Shasta’s words, Zarya began to think aloud. “They could be bad, I guess. Or maybe they just bring bad news? They help prepare us for things? I dunno. Last time, I cat said they were warnings, and If we weren’t warned, we wouldn’t know what to expect. I think I’d rather have a prophecy than not be able to know even a little bit what I need to watch out for.” Another large yawn parted the she-cat’s jaws. I really should go back to camp and sleep for a bit soon. She shifted a bit uncomfortable at the pink-orange earth’s next words. “Uhh, well.” She mewed. “I’m pretty sure I grew up in there. Not certain, but the feeling of being watched is kinda familiar.”

||Pink-Orange-Earth | Shasta | Council of Spirits|| Another tremor of unease plagued Shasta’s body as she once again imagined the power the spirits contained. All that power, the strength to really hurt her, contained in one body. Shaking the thought away, the she-cat managed a weak purr of agreement. She was extremely happy that she hadn’t been a kit when receiving her own tattoo. “I had mine for a long time before I came to join the tribes . . . I didn’t even know about any of them until my mother told me to travel here.” Blinking at the memory, Shasta’s ears twitched slightly. She almost wished she had stayed in the familiar place she once called home. Perhaps prophecies weren’t so bad . . . they still sounded somewhat scary, though. “I just hope that it doesn’t mean anything really bad is coming . . .” The Pink-Orange-Light’s next words caused the brown and cream she-cat to gape at her companion in bewilderment. The Nightwatch Forest? She had grown up there? That was terrifying! Shasta forced herself to calm down, however, reminding herself that Zarya was her friend. It would be rude to say anything unpleasant about her former home. The other cat’s dislike of contact had nearly slipped the she-cat’s mind as she stretched out her tail in a would-be farewell. Shasta paused the gesture a mere fraction from the other cat as the memory of her friend’s earlier freak out hit her. With an awkward clearing of her throat, the brown and cream female dipped her head. “It was lovely seeing you, Zarya .. . But you seem tired, and most of my tribe has already started off. I’ll see you soon! Maybe I’ll get a nettle sting and have to come visit you.” A parting purr of amusement and the Pink-Orange-Earth turned away in pursuit of her departing tribe mates.