The Fire Swamp

It is really like the opposite of its namesake. Rather marshy with quicksand and stunted trees. It is easy to lose a scent here, and also easy to get lost in the mist that rolls in rather quickly once the sun begins to set and dusk arrives.

He'd been searching for an old friend of his after finally escaping the ring, he'd heard some rumors that a big grey wolf with a scar on his chest had joined one of these 'clans' that hung around these parts and so naturally he was quite interested to see how it all went. His thick white fur made him blend in with the thick fog that covered the land, it was cloying and left a strange taste in his mouth, sneezing he perked up when he managed to pick up a scent. Following the familiar scent he came to a halt when he saw three wolves, staring at them and picking out that infact they weren't his friend the white dog lifted his head proudly and spoke in his thickly accented voice “Greetings wolves! I am Ze white demon, also alised as the Stonesnatcher” his french accented voice was calm and confident his brown gaze picking up that two out of three were females whom he didn't fight. After all his specialized move that had earnt him the title of Stonesnatcher only worked on males “I am searchin' for an old frien' of mine. Goez by the name of Steel, big grey wolf with scar about here” he lifted a paw to cross on his own chest where abouts the scar would be “Point me in his direction and I shall be on my way” the big red and black female was pretty enough in a dark way, he liked her. The brown and black one was a little young for his tastes, although they both seemed to not have a sense of humor, which made him want to flirt with them to mess with them a little. Perhaps not while he was asking them for help, perhaps later, yes later that would do fantastically.

He had been about to reply to the brown and black wolf that all he wanted to do was talk to him, if they would rather him be off their territory then tell his friend where they could meet. When the black and red wolf opened her mouth, she sounded rather rude and as if she was the leader of this pack instead of someone else. Narrowing his eyes the dog opened his mouth “I have no interest on who your leader is female, although are you his mate? You are acting like a leader yourself... I wish to meet an discuss words with my friend and although you look down on me for being a dog I can take care of myself in this infernal mist thank you” She ordered the others about like she was a leader as well, perhaps she manipulated the strings of the leader and that was the reason for her behaviour. He drew himself up and added “If you wish for me not to be here then I will wait at a border, and you may tell Steel I await him at one” he looked down his muzzle at the female. Heh, she was fond of herself was she not? Interesting, perhaps she was second in charge even? Oh well it wasn't his concern, he was more interested in finding Steel and speaking with him. whatever she was she had no right to order him around, and thus her demands meant nothing to him, he would not go with her wherever she wanted like she seemed to expect him to. He was a fighter not a house pet, he stood his ground bravely not caring it was three against one, the male was of no consequence he'd be easily defeated no the real challenge would be the females if it came to a fight.

Nightstar stood just concealed in the dense mist as Blackwidow spoke to the white dog who appeared to be asking for Dragonsteel. His fangs were bared at her ordering of the other wolves like she was a leader still even after she chose to step down and the idea she was his mate actually had him laughing. It rolled through the mist coldly as he slowly emerged allowing his form to show. "Blackwidow my mate?" he replied to the male shaking his head, "Why would I want someone who pines after another who probably ran away to get away from her?" He came to a halt near the small group and looked the white dog in the eyes with consideration. "What is your name and why do you seek Steel? Are you from his past?" he asked him. His tone was not rude or cold but rather neutral as he mentally assessed the male before him. He could see the cunning in his eyes and his form hinted strongly at a fighters form, whoever he was he was not to be underestimated.

A cold laugh rolled out of the mist and out stepped a scarred brown wolf, he had to keep himself from laughing along. The male was like a cheap shoddy china made badly painted copy of Killian, he thought himself menacing and powerful that was clear to see however he had none of Killians, persona that made him so much fun. He was starting to get a little ticked off with all of these nosy wolves wanting to know the details of what he wished to talk to his old friend about. Drawign himself up he spoke again "ah you are ze leader oui? Honhonhon, I am ze white demon and i wish to talk with Steel, ze rest i am afraid is none of your buiziness monsieur" it was the truth, he was not going to go around parading his past and intentions for all to see, his brown gaze was sharp and clear. He could tell that zis leader wolf was not like the others around him he recognized him as a fighter while the other three idiots only saw a house pet. It was so funny when wolves thought that, it made it all the more satisfying when he ripped their prized possessions from their body. All he wanted was to catch up with his old friend and see how he was, all these wolves were so rude and nosey, sheesh "Now, I don't want to talk wiv you any more! Either take me to Steel, or bring him here, either way I will be speaking with my friend!" he was already cooking up how he'd annoy the two females, they thought themselves so above him, well why not play to that? A grin sprung onto his muzzle at that thought, he'd flirt with them just to tick them off.

Claire stayed close to her father figure, her ears flicking around as she heard voices, a little nervous she stuck like glue to his side rather upset she was too big to trot underneath him anymore. Soon enough figures melted out of the thick mist, feeling more sickly the more she breathed in the mist, Claire flattened her ears back and nudged closer to killian as he spoke with a white dog that had a proud air to him. He mentioned the ring that perked up the pups attention, the male infront of her had come from the same place as dad and Melissa? Big round green eyes stared at him with awe before she realized there were three clan wolves staring at them, narrowing her eyes she carefully put together the battle stance Killian had taught her. She'd practiced and practiced and now had it dead right, leaning against him when he sat down to itch his scars, Claire sat also although she kept glaring at the wolves.

He'd been heading home back to camp after escorting the stranger away and had decided he'd pause in the marsh to do some hunting for the clan. However when returning to the swamp he found the mist thicker than it'd been when he left and that Blackwidow and Minkfur the two who'd shown up to hurry them home were still laying about. Somewhat irritated he paused, his grey fur hiding him perfectly in the mist, he heard two familiar voices that perked his ears forward, a slight smirk drawing up his lips. So Killian the Shadow, and The White Demon were on his packs territory, the smell of Nightstar made the smirk vanish, the paranoid leader would be feeling threatened with two seasoned fighters against four clan wolves. He was paranoid yes, but he had enough brains to figure out that the fighting ring was far tougher than anything the clans had to offer, he'd do his usual task of stepping in and diffusing the situation. Either way it had sounded that the white warrior wanted to speak with him anyway, he stepped through the mist appearing to materalize out of nowhere with that shocking silence that all the fighting ring animals had. “FF and Killian, how pleasant to see you both after a long time apart” He rumbled flicking a calm confident look at Nightstar letting him know there was nothing he needed to be worried about.

He didn't pay much attention to the other three very much focused on his old friends, “What are you doing around here? I cant see you joining a pack with a little one” or without a little one, killian had never been one for team players unless it concerned his sister Melissa. “Hows Melissa? Still as literal as ever?” He moved around to stand next to the white dog perfectly aware that a lot of wolves in shadowclan would make the mistake of underestimating the dog and treat him like a second class citizen. Like Killian, Dragonsteel was very relieved he'd never had to fight the fearsome pooch, “Nightstar, Blackwdiow Minkfur and Thrushheart, these are ex fighting canines. The black wolf is the shadow, Killian and the white one is The White Demon or FF to his friends” if anything itwas a pleasant surprise to him to see them again as he hadn't really expected to lay his yellowgreen gaze on them ever again. He didn't know who the black pup at Killians side belonged to but she looked very very similar to him, perhaps she was his daughter, not that he really remembered his friend being that interested in the ladies. Now, the white demon on the other hand, was a serial flirt that found it great fun to flirt with those that looked down on him or hated him, Dragonsteel remained standing usually reserving sitting and lying down for camp only.

Nightstar kept his green eyes on the White Demon as he answered his question on who he was.
"Yes I am Nightstar shadowclans leader." He told the white brute coldly. He didnt push him to answer as an ear flickered as he mentally worked out roughly where Dragonsteel would be. However before he could speak again another spoke approaching from behind his warriors. The fur rippled along his body as the brown leader tensed while shifting to keep both rogues in his sight. His suspicion on the White Demon being from the fighting ring was confirmed by the new dark male and it seemed he was also which put the male even more on guard. With claws digging slightly into the soft ground and flickering ears he turned his gaze to the three warriors.

He was about to tell Minkfur to return to camp and see if Dragonsteel had returned when the brute himself appeared from the mist. An ear flickered towards the grey brute as his body relaxed again at his friends calm look. He gave the fighters half nods each and his eyes narrowed in on the pup searching for signs of illness. Not seeing any visable signs yet he returned his gaze back to the three ex fighting ring brutes. "Minkfur, Thrushheart." He said flicking his gaze to them briefly, "Go hunt the mist is only going to get worse. Stay within hearing range of each other and dont wonder far." His order was coldly issued and he dismissed the pair immediately after as he turned away from them once more.

~ShadowClan and ThunderClan border~

The large grey wolf snickered softly when the shadowy wolf mentioned quality time with a family,  “Out of the three of us it appears you’re the one enjoying quality time with a family” he didn’t bother warning Killian to move the pup out of the mist soon. The ex fighting wolf actually had enough intelligence to figure it out on his own, he looked over at the white dog a moment wondering why exactly he was here on clan land. Was he looking for him? Why? He narrowed his eyes a moment before adding to his earlier words “no I joined this clan to teach them how to actually fight, it’s a long project but you know full well I like to keep myself busy” he knew he’d have to play it careful with the paranoid unstable brown leader within earshot. He knew full well that Killian would never join a clan, and so didn’t bother suggesting he help out, besides the black wolf with his mismatched eyes likely won’t have the patience needed for some of the half-wits in the clan. Amused that Nightstar hadn’t sent Blackwidow off he assumed he wished to keep a sharp eye on the red and black wolf, which he could understand, after their confrontation earlier due to cheshiregrin and her behavior. Nightstar at least appeared to have the common sense to not challenge FF and Killian, it without a shadow of a doubt in his mind that the pair together would have unmanned him and taken every single one of his nine lives. Studying the small female pup that was keeping as close as she could to the mismatched eyed wolf, Dragonsteel or Steel as he’d once been known as, half wondered what her story was. He’d never really seen Killian as the family sort, apart from his strange sister, sighing quietly he waited to listen to see what the others would say.

Very little was thought of the brown wolf when he announced himself coldly, did he honestly think that this coldness he showed would scare him? Poppycock! However he was simply delighted when Steel showed up of his own accord, listening to the banter between the two murderers, the white dog simply grinned and listened. Feeling the glare shot towards him by the brown and black wolf with striking yellow eyes, the dog just winked cheekily at her, he really didn’t care that the black and red wolf who’d tried to dominate him by telling him what to do was still there. The only ones worthy of talking to right now were Killian and Steel, laughing as Steel revealed he’d joined the clan to teach them how to fight it took several moments of delighted laughter before he managed to calm himself down enough to speak. “If zat is your purpose Steel, then I’ll join the clan to help you out old friend, zes wolves seem like great fun” mainly because they didn’t like him which he naturally thrived on. He shot his gaze to Nightstar and grinned demonically “You are the leader yes? Nightstar… If you have any spine you’ll demand I fight to prove my worth to join your pack which I graciously accept! Who do you wish for me to fight eh? I am not called the stone snatcher for nothing hon hon hon” he resumed cackling his brown eyes intent and dangerous. He half hoped the leader would want to fight him himself, it would be great fun to make his entrance into the clan by stealing the stones off the brute. If put up against his friend he would not use his final attack on him, after all Steel was a good friend of his and had long earnt the right to pass on his genes.

Nightstar watched the ex fighters interact quietly as Minkfur and Thrushheart took off to hunt and check the borders. When the white dog announced he would join the clan his green eyes narrowed but the sound of an echoing howl made his ear flicker. "Blackwidow go back to camp." he ordered the female with a quick snap. "Dragonsteel escort your friend there also. I will deicide what to do with him later once we have spoken." He didn't particularly want to waste time on a fight at that moment especially when someone had announced their presence on his clans land. It had his hackles rising slightly as he turned towards the howl. "I will be back at camp shortly." he said before padding off as the mist quickly engulfed his form. He knew that Dragonsteel would deal with the one called Killian before he returned to camp with the White Demon.

~Smoldering Ruins~