No where to call home.

[Tyler-182]

The night was young as the moon rose slowly across the sky sending a beautiful ray of light that swam miraculously across four trees. From the Shadowclan side emerged a large sleek black tom from the bushes. This cat being SilentStripe.

The recently exiled elder padded his way down into the clearing of four trees quietly. Once he reached the dead center of the place he allowed a sigh to escape. Taking in the scent of the four clans SilentStripe looked to the heavens. His tongue had swollen heavily from speaking so much since his encounter with ThunderClan to the painful reality of being banished from the clan he spent his entire life with that he could no longer speak without blood gushing from his maw like the venom of an adder.

The toms eyes twinkled lightly against the bright stars as they seemed to make his pelt glow as if he were a member of StarClan himself.

Why have you forsaken me Star Clan? I followed the Warrior Code my entire life. I fought for Shadow Clan well and with valor. Never did I betray the warrior code. Even though I killed an adder in enemy territory; I did it so that prey from neither side would be wasted. What will become of my clan... My... once clan.

A wave of sorrow flooded the great warriors facial structure as tears welped into his eyes. The tom had never shed a tear since he was over six moon and he refused too now.

I did as I was told. I fought for what ShadowClan believed in. I watched a many leaders and deputys pass. I loved once yet found the end to be a dark pit of despair so I even pushed my own emotions out of my mind so that I would follow ShadowClan without question. Why would you damn us with a leader of lack of ability? A leader with lack of skill?

SilentStripe took a moment to lay on his stomach; Crouching low yet keeping his eyes fixated on the stars. Tucking his paws neatly beneath him he continued in his thoughts.

I say us, Yet that is wrong. Thanks to CrowStar I now have nothing. I have no-one. I am as low as a kitty pet yet even they have a place to call home.

It was now that SilentStripes eyes broke from their stare as he slowly observed the area around him. First he looked towards ShadowClan territory, Then Windclan, Now RiverClan, and finally ThunderClan. Then slowly; His head raised back to the stars.

StarClan why? Why have you allowed my home to be taken? Was my life of determination a waste? Was it a lie? No... It could not be. But now I have no where to go. Perhaps it is time I joined StarClan in the sky? Yet who am I to decide when such an honor should be bestowed upon myself? Nay; I will not end my own life to join your ranks from greed. I will stay valiant and loyal to my own cause until I am allowed the grace of you to come forth and bask in the glory of my once and fallen comrades. I will not fail you again StarClan. Never again. Besides; Perhaps not all hope is lost. Since my moons of age may have brought me some luck. Their are a few loners and rouges I allowed to live out of self-pity and weakness. Perhaps now they will show me a favor in return. I thank you for your ears StarClan. I thank you.

SilentStripe ended his silent prayer and lay his head down; His mind releasing the thoughts of ShadowClan, Of HawkShadow, And ClawEar, and all the other brave cats that his heart would ache for all through the night. A familiar sight of a dark orange Tom flooded his mind. The once cat he could possibly try and find for help; For food until he could find something else to do with his pathetic life. The cat that filled his mind was none other than his age old friend Sparta.[/i]

As SilentStripe curled into a ball in hopes to fall into a easy sleep against the night sky he heard a rusting somewhere around him. It could be a cat from any four of the clans. But for now SilentStripe did not care he closed his eyes and simply wished for someone to disturb him; So he could rip their heart from their chest while it was still beating.

[Charbarboo]

((OOC: Poor Silentstripe!))

[Lord Pheonixfire]

This is the second night I've been looking, thought Hawkshadow as he trudged through the last wastes of the Tunderpath onto Fourtrees. If only he could find Silentstripe. As he thought about the elder he remembered how much he missed him. He felt sorry for the sorrow and loss the elder was facing. He still had Clawear and Stormcloud and some other loyal warriors yet Silentstripe had nothing. He emerged into the clearing surprised to find a cat sleeping. He advanced.

[Tyler-182]

SilentStripes sides slowly rose and then fell in rhythm as HawkShadow approached. A familiar grunt sounded.

"I may be old, But im not deaf. Quiet your steps HawkShadow."

SilentStripe remained laying in the clearing, his eyes still shut tight. The only thing that moved on the dark warrior was his tail that twitched lightly. He then stretched and rose to his paws opening his eyes slowly to stare at the ShadowClan warrior.

"Come to kill me for your great leader CrowStar HawkShadow?"

SilentStripe smiled and purred to the warrior, One of the only ones the elder respected. He opened his mouth to let some blood trickle down his muzzle from his tongue.

He then stood and waited to see how HawkShadow would react now that he had found the elder.

[Lord Pheonixfire]

"If you begin to think that I even possess the idiocy factor to obey Crowstar's more idiotic orders then you are very mistaken," Hawkshadow said. He felt satisfied to have finally found the leder, "It's good to see you Silentstripe and I apologize for my cruse secrecy but I was trekking though the forest for quite some time attempting to find you." BOwing his head in respect to the elder he completed the greeting. "How are you?" he inquired.

[Tyler-182]

SilentStripe couldn't help but chuckle beneath his breath as the warrior spoke of CrowStar and then bowed. The elder moved forward and lapped his wretched tongue across the ear of HawkShadow leaving a trail of blood on his fur.

"You share the look of a true Warrior HawkShadow, You are one of the only warriors who still have a mind of their own in the once great ShadowClan. I am proud of you."

This was something that very few cats knew SilentStripe to say; Perhaps he was simply feeding HawkShadow some lies to gain his trust but then again he seemed very sincere.

The elders bone popped loudly as he stretched out and yawned. His tail pointing slowly to the direction of WindClan territory. He smiled to the warrior as two cats appeared from that side of the four trees.

SilentStripe spoke lowly; "Two. Loners. Friendly. Trespassing."

Above them the two cats proved to be Sparta and his young kit apprentice Mauler. The two stood quietly and the older one stared at SilentStripe as though he had known him for moons.

SilentStripe has not even looked to the cats yet he knew full well they were of his old times as a warrior. It seemed that Sparta had come to SilentStripe instead of the other way around. Though the dark elder took this oppertunity to test the true intent of HawkShadow. He spoke lowly so that HawkShadow only could hear him.

"HawkShadow let yourself relax, These loners mean no harm. Yet they are very close to your territory and obviously not of a clan. So I ask you, What will you do? Chase them into the wood? Kill them? Or stand by as they parade around the forest like they own it?"

SilentStripe showed no hint that he knew Sparta or that he befriended the loner long ago. He wanted to see HawkShadows reaction and the felines faith to both the warrior code and his own heart. The dark tom licked his muzzle leaving more of the blood and some grim slipped slowly to the dirt below staining it black.

"After all, you now have three trespassers before you, Yet as I said you have stayed loyal to the true warrior code and not what that failure of a leader CrowStar says. So HawkShadow, What will you do?"

SilentStripe was not using treachery, lies or deceit. He trusted HawkShadow, The brave warrior was a faithful member to ShadowClan, and he was brave enough to see the shame CrowStar had brought before the clan when the leader banished SilentStripe. The two cats wished only the best for their clan; Yet was it true that the warrior code could be ignored for a moment of peace when it needed be?

So SilentStripe waited to see if HawkShadow would fight off SilentStripes bail out plan, or allow them to approach and speak there reasoning.

[Lord Pheonixfire]

"What is it you want?" Hawkshadow asked moving in front of the elder, "If it is harm you mean than leave this forest lest I kill you here and now. But if you have peaceful intentions, then speak what you want then leave for I would not attempt to return or stay were I you." Finishing his calm sentence he slowly unconsciously unsheathed his claws. His dark brown eyes digging inquiringly into the loner's eyes. wondering what the next move was he tightened his muscles ready to spring at the smallest of actions.

[Tyler-182]

SilentStripe smiled; Pleased with HawkShadow's action choice. He played the neutral party showing both mercy and control at once. The two loners on the hill of WindClan territory leaped down and slowly came toward the cats. The smaller one looking afraid and cowered at the heels of the larger one.

The larger orangeish cat spoke first; "Greetings Sir SilentStripe." The dark tom nodded in greeting to the loner and looked at the small kit offering a smile of encouragement. Sparta looked to HawkShadow and spoke calmly. "Worry not Warrior, We are here for no harm. I was simply showing my apprentice the clan woods. Though it seems that perhaps StarClan have brought me here for a different reason that is if they indeed exist." The loner cast a glance to SilentStripe.

The ex-shadowclan elder chuckled; "Of course they do you baffon. And im sure they have; I planned on setting out to find you this morn, if it wasn't for HawkShadow coming for a friendly visit. You see Sparta I've been banished from ShadowClan-"

"Banished!? How could they banish you SilentStripe!? What about the battle on top of ThunderPath, I was their you risked your life to save three other cats from a monster!"

SilentStripe stared distantly for a few moments recalling the battle. "Have young HawkShadow here tell you about the actions of his oh-so-great leader CrowStar." As a bit more blood trickled SilentStripe turned to investigate the kit that was with Sparta, obviously never have meeting the kit before. Sparta on the other hand turned his full attention to HawkShadow.

"Do tell young warrior, Why have your leader banished Sir SilentStripe?"

[Lord Pheonixfire]

"Well, our o-so-powerful leader found it within his powere to banish Silentstripe for killing an adder on Thunderclan territory." disgusted Hawkshadow spat out his answer.

[Tyler-182]

Sparta arched a brow at HawkShadow and licked his muzzle before speaking. "An adder? Arn't they considered enemy not prey?" Sparta shook his head then looked to SilentStripe. "Better yet why were you trying to eat one Sir SilentStripe?"

The dark tom simply smirked and turned back to the young kit before speaking in a low tone. "Worry not; Either way Sparta it seems I have nowhere to go... I was hoping for some aid from you and possibly coming to live on your farm territory."

The loner arched a brow and thought a moment before nodding; "Of course you can come with Mauler and I sir SilentStripe we will welcome you with open minds." Sparta turned back to HawkShadow. "And what do you plan on doing about all of this? Your leader banished a well respected elder and I suppose your going to stick to your phony code and let it happen right?"

As Sparta spoke he didn't demean HawkShadow yet showed full respect towards the cat.

[Lord Pheonixfire]

"I'm entirely sure that what Crowstar did was against the warrior code. And I had no intention of staying in Shadowclan but Silentstripe made me stay there along with the other two cats that stood up for him. It is for the love we bear Shadowclan that we stay. IT has nothing to do with Crowstar, only that one day we might be able to steer our forsaken clan straight." Hawkshadow explained, showing no remorse or offense at the question. It was a question nothing more.

[Tyler-182]

SilentStripe smiled as the ShadowClan cat basically re-stated his words before he left the camp. He then turned ready to leave with Sparta though he spoke to HawkShadow once more.

"Be brave young HawkShadow, Watch over MoonPaw for me. I pray that you will steer him in the right direction. But we must flee before any other clan cats find us here; Would seem none of them have the sense you do."

Sparta nodded and began climbing back to WindClan territory; Mauler right behind him and taking up the back of them was SilentStripe. The dark tom glacing a loving look once more to HawkShadow before disappearing into his once enemys clan's territory.

[Lord Pheonixfire]

"Good hunting to you, Silentstripe. I will remember your words." Hawkshadow said before leaving quietly. He awaited Clawear's presense beside him with warm moss under him. He headed back to the Shadowclan camp. He would guide Moonpaw to greatness. Hew ould ascend to leader soon.