*Lurking*

[Duskstar]

A dark figure made its way silently through the shadows of the forest, passing twisted roots, new plants, small prey and shafts of sunlight. Its dark amber eyes narrowed and fixed on the earth below the cats paws, without looking up at even the heavest of movements.

Mothpelt growled slightly, though the sound was lost in the noises of prey and the rustling of the plants. The tip of his tail twitched slightly as he paused in a dimly lit clearing, taking in every scentt, every nosie and every taste of the forest. Since the move, he had been different. Since that Bloodclanner invading his dreams, he had changed even more without noticing it. The other day, he lashed a paw out at an apprentice who made to much noise to catch a mouse. Though he hadnt noticed this change, many have been talking to him different and everytime they did, he cought the flash of fear in thier eyes. He grinned slightly at that and padded forward again, refusing to notice the rest of the forest as he went.

[[Bell,Book,and C[a]ndle]]

A sleek bengal she-cat padded through the woods,her lavander eyes narrowed,though her expression still had a soft edge to it.Anyone could tell that she was deep in thought.She was a ShadowClan She-cat,and her name was Cheetahfoot; the daughter of the old leader.Goldenstar.Cheetahfoot had her mother's golden-yellow pelt,with another feature of black speckles patterning across her body.Suddenly,Cheetahfoot stopped.The scent of another cat had caught her attention.Instantly,she relaxed,and padded forward into the clearing.When she reconized her former friend,Mothpelt,she gasped softly.Cheetahfoot wasn't so relaxed any more.

Mothpelt had been...different.To everyone.Something was happening to him.And he wouldn't tell Cheetahfoot what.This disturbed her.Frightened her.If anything,perhaps even more than it did the rest of her clan.She padded forward,taking small,wary,steps until she was a few rabbit-leaps away from Mothpelt.She didn't dare approachhim further.During these days,Mothpelt was best given space."...M-Mothpelt?"Cheetahfoot called tentively.

[Duskstar]

The dark brown, almost black figure stopped dead in his tracks only his gaze followed the sound of the she-cat. Silently and slowly, his claws unseathed themselves as he turned to face Cheetahfoot. The once warm look in his gaze was far gone, leaving a cold dead look to fill its place. His dark amber gaze narrowed and a low growl excaped his muzzle. Last a crooked grin slowly made its way across his muzzle as he watched the fear in her eyes.

Pausing slightly, Mothpelt shook his head realizing the look in her eye wasnt a good thing when he was in her clan not only that, the two had grown up together. Cheetahfoot knew him almost as much as his sister did. He sighed slightly and nodded to the she-cat "Hey Cheetahfoot" He meowed slighty, fighting back as much of the hostility in his voice as possible.

[[Bell,Book,and C[a]ndle]]

She paused."Hi,"Cheetahfoot relaxed slightly at the sound of Mothpelt's voice.He sounded calmer than usual.Almost normal.And yet...there was still something there that hadn't used to be.The same expression that lurked in his gaze.A coldness.It bothered her,and sent a shiver down her spine every time she looked her old friend in the eye.What was wrong?She had to find out...before it was too late.If Mothpelt pulled a Tigerstar---no.He would never do that.At least,that's what Cheetahfoot used to think.But now,as much as she hated to admit it,she wasn't so sure.

The young bengal sighed,her ears twitching uncomfortabley in the silence that followed hes greeting.She decided to say something else.But what?If any time,she had to now.Had to ask him.She had talked to Sandstorm,who was just as confused and concerned.She had to say something.So she did."Mothpelt...whats going on?You...ou haven't been...yourself...lately."she meowed quietly,avoiding the tom's gaze this time.

[Duskstar]

A cold laugh followed the question and more silence followed. Mothpelt turned to Cheetahfoot, padding towards her bit by bit, disappearing and reappearing from the blackness of the shadows. He stopped a mouse-length in front of her, his head tilted towards the ground, yet his gaze seemed to burn into the she-cat "Whats going on you ask?" He growled slightly after the paused "Nothings going on love, Im just adapting to the land thats all" He growled twisted humor dripped from every word "The old me is dead, he has left this land" He added "Too bad you didnt follow"

[[Bell,Book,and C[a]ndle]]

Cheetahfoot's lavander eyes widened,and then narrowed.The dappled fur on her shoulders slowly raised as her worst fears had been confirmed."Mothpelt...no."she meowed,her voice firm but growing fainter in fear.Not for herself,but for what was happening to her friend."No...this isn't right.Isn't you.What's wrong...whats made you...she meowed, searching for words."What made you change.Why...I don't like this.And I know,somewhere inside,you don't either..."she meowed hopelessly,giving up on her words befre she even finished speaking."Whats wrong?What did I do?"

[Duskstar]

Another sick laugh followed "Oh yes love" He snickered "The thing is, I dont get you.....Im more powerful and I see things for what they really are" Mothpelt hissed and eyed Cheetahfoot. A new gleam filled Mothpelt's eyes as the fear grew more appearent in the she-cat's gaze "YOU dont like this?" He growled "Since when do I care about what you like and what you dislike Mmmmm?" He added with a soft snarl, his voice growing colder with each word "Tell me Cheetahfoot....do you actually KNOW what I feel inside? Or are you just hoping that at any moment, you'll wake up in you nest in the Warrior's den and glance over your shoulder to see me sleeping and wake up to be 'normal' again?" His gaze never leaving the she-cat as he spoke "What did you do love? I dont think thats a question I want to answer. But I could tell you what you NEED to do" He added, his gaze suddenly hostile "Go to the nearest Thunderpath you can find and lay there until a monster tears the fur from your body" He growled, with that he turned back to the shadows not waiting for the she-cats reply....he bounded off towards camp.

[[Bell,Book,and C[a]ndle]]

Cheetahfoot stood,motionless,her eyes wide, as if she couldn't believe what she had just heard.Mothpelt...gone.Or as good as gone,anyway.Her ears drooped at the tips,giving the warrior a rather pitiful appearance.How could he?Mothpelt had been one of her closest friends growing up.And now...now he hated her for no apparent reason.Cheetahfoot shook her head in disbelief and turned away."It doesn't matter now..."she meowed softly.She sighed,and padded slowly down the hill and away from the scene,her eyes narrowed in anger,confusion,and fear.