Morningecho:

Nightmares haunted the sleeping mind during the hours of the night, with the echoing screams begging for mercy, the cries of kittens who had been separated from their mothers, the sound of claws ripping through flesh and teeth breaking through bone. Restlessness had become a familiar friend, with the breaking of dawn meeting tired eyes, the chirping bird songs above in the rustling pine as a new morning crept into this new land. It had almost become a routine, waking up before the sun had risen, eyes widened, heart thundering and fear squeezing her chest in a vice. It felt acidic as the terror coursed through her veins, her paws clawing helplessly at her nest as vicious, ice-blue eyes glared down at her with a hatred and vengeance, accentuated by a ringlet of claw-pricked scars above. Memory had become an enemy, sleep had become a war, and nobody could know when this supposed peace would feel more like a reality.

With a shaky breath, Morningecho pulled herself from her ruined nest, suffocating a sense of shame for destroying yet another one, as she padded out of the new Warrior's den and into the clearing, answering the summons of her leader. The she-cat wasn't certain as to what ceremony they would all be witnessing today, but she could only hope that it wouldn't be what she expected it to be; bad news. Swallowing down her concerns that threatened to stick themselves in the length of her throat, Morningecho found a place to sit, near the cat who had become the clan deputy in what felt like the last sunrise. Despite the time that had passed since they had last seen ShadowClan territory, it had all felt so fresh and raw, as if everything had happened so swiftly towards the end, and it was taking time to adjust to. Flicking her right, tufted ear, Morningecho sat to her full height, hiding away all her vulnerabilities behind a mask of indifference, her elegant figure painting the picture of the very definition of a Warrior. 

Lavender-hued eyes watched as Owlstar made his way up to the fallen tree, pulling himself up to the precipice where he would announce his intentions to the entirety of PineClan. As his eyes scanned over each of them, the she-cat tilted her head down in a subtle nod, showing due respect to the named leader of the clan. Her tail flicked against the earth, teasing the dead pine needles and dust that threatened to tangle into her silky white fur. 'Cats of PineClan', Owlstar began his announcement, ensnaring Morningecho's focus entirely on her leader. 'We have overcome much since we left the old territory, and it's only thanks to you all that I'm here today'. Morningecho's left ear twitched this time, a subconscious reaction to her conscious suppression of memories that threatened to taunt her, images of her mother attempting to haze over her eyes, but she blinked it away.

'Arriving here in Leafbare, we were a group of sad, bedraggled cats, no better than loners that had banded together out of necessity. But, in just three moons, we've been able to form a clan our ancestors would be proud of. Today, one of the first few days of Newleaf, I've decided to celebrate that', Owlstar continued in a heartfelt purr, his voice echoing throughout the clearing. Morningecho's ears perked forward in keen interest, uncertain as to where the brown tom was heading with his idea. Celebration seemed like a foreign concept to the she-cat, she scarcely had a moment to truly celebrate anything in her life, not even her ceremony from an apprentice to an experienced warrior newly named could warrant much joy.

'The preypile is full, our borders are safe... As you all know, a beaver den was found on the territory. So, I propose a challenge! The first cat to bring a beaver back to camp, will be rewarded!' Morningecho's gaze narrowed in consideration of the leader's words, after all, a beaver wasn't an easy quarry, especially not for a singular cat to take down on it's own. Formidable creatures, often capable of taking down an entire hunting party on an unfortunate day, beavers weren't to be underestimated. Morningecho's claws dug into the earth beneath her paws, determination coursing hot through her veins. Nor was she. She took a moment to wonder what the reward could be, after all, their stomachs were filled, and their newfound territory was protected, just as Owlstar had announced, so what else could they possibly crave? Morningecho was determined to find out.

'We all need a bit of fun, so me and Thrushtail have organized plenty more competitions for every-cat to take part in'. Owlstar wrapped up his speech with those parting words, and Morningecho's tongue darted over her lips, raising to her full height as she padded towards the leader confidently, meeting him halfway on his path towards his clanmates. "An arduous challenge, Owlstar." Morningecho meowed, a touch of amusement lilting her tone as she blinked at the larger male. "I am sure the reward to be reaped will be a prized morsel indeed." Tilting her head, her tufted ears focused entirely on the tom, Morningecho flicked her gaze behind Owlstar, peeking out towards the Healer's den before returning her iris eyes to the brown tabby's leafy greens. "Will you be partaking alongside us?" The question wasn't made of accusation, rather curiosity, after all the cats of PineClan more often than not owed their life to this tom, and undoubtedly would be distracted if his life would be at risk as well during this competition.

Morningecho:

Calculating eyes studied the tom, noticing each ripple of muscle or twitch of his whiskers as he spoke, a trait that had been drilled into a youthful, developing mind. Survival was a game of predictability, and awareness was crucial to winning, especially when trust was a luxury in these times. 'I have something special planned', Owlstar's words were illuminated with a smile, almost enough to distract the she-cat from his seemingly half-focused mind, his tone drawing away. 'I was planning to intervene if there was trouble, but having nine lives might make the whole idea of a dangerous, challenging hunt a little cheap, if that makes sense'. These words brought a frown to the features of Morningecho, disapproval glimmering in her eyes as she studied him. 

After all, the nine lives of a leader were a hefty gift, and shouldn't be considered expendable. Each life should be treated as if it was their last, and not as a crutch to rely on for any small, menial thing. 

If StarClan can give, they can take away, after all.

Pushing away her concern for her leader, the worry that the tom might be serious in his words nipping at her, she allowed the reassurance that the cat before her wasn't some reckless kit to settle her fears. Morningecho scarcely could be considered a cat that was designed for comprehending a simple joke, or anything that borderlined on silly playfulness, as that side of her mentality was reserved for the rare moments she had in the ShadowClan nursery, purring playfully at the kits that ran around, their innocence and naivety akin to a drug for the she-cat who hadn't truly had the chance to enjoy such freedoms. 

'I wasn't sure how long the beaver hunt would take, so I was planning to use some of that time to get the prizes in place'. Morningecho listened to her leader carefully, mulling each spoken syllable, though the burning sensation of eyes staring at the back of her pelt nagged at her attention. Someone was staring a little longer than comfortable. Raising her head, straightening her back, shifting herself into that poised air of confidence, Morningecho subconsciously bore her teeth as she hid her vulnerabilities deep inside of herself, away from prying eyes. Let them stare, she had nothing to hide, and she wouldn't be intimidated by any cat here. 

"It's alluring, the mystery of this challenge. The reveal will make the win that much sweeter." Morningecho purred the words, swishing her fluffy tail low behind her rump as those periwinkle eyes blinked slowly, staring into his own. It wasn't out of deluded confidence that the she-cat believed she had a shot at claiming at least one of these hinted prizes, but assurance in herself and her abilities. Her entire life had been a fight; spitting and clawing for the very right to live another sunrise. Nothing would stand between her and a goal, not even a beaver would make her second guess herself. As the burning gaze behind her removed it's attention from her coat, the she-cat visibly relaxed, but not entirely. Image was everything, once upon a time, as to look weak could be the very reason of an early death, after all.

But, as the prying eyes from behind lost interest, she soon was under the close studying of the tom before her, and her gaze squinted. Morningecho was guarding herself as those roving green eyes sought out their mark, seeking something within the she-cat to come to some, unknown conclusion, and it unnerved her. 'If you've been having some trouble sleeping, you should see the Healer. I don't want any cat working with any less than a full night of sleep. Especially when hunting down beaver'. From the maw of any other cat, the insinuation would have been offensive to the she-cat, but it was as clear as the rising sun that the intentions of the cat before her were of a leader wishing to ensure the healthiness of his warrior. 

Tilting her head down, her ears pinning against her skull, Morningecho swallowed the spitting words that threatened to leap off her very tongue. Thankfully, before Morningecho felt the obligation to open up, and reveal the rawness inside to the cat, he changed the subject and took his leave. 'I should get the prizes ready'. A breath escaped the she-cat, but the stubbornness within her heart didn't relent. Sleep wasn't a friend to her, and she wasn't going to lay down like some broken elder, incapable of providing for and proving herself to PineClan. Tilting her head back, the she-cat glanced up to the sky before she began padding towards the exit of camp, the very muscle and sinew of her body burning with power and determination.

The civil war might've ended, but to Morningecho, they were still very much on the battlefield. 
And it was her move.