How NOT to fish...

[{ tessa }]

Buckthorn takes a step towards her anxiously. But he is stopped dead by the look in Juliet's eyes. She is looking at him without a hint of recognition. Describing her expression, Buckthorn would say that she looks almost angry and afraid. He stares at her in confusion. He remembers that look from when he first met her, leading her away from the dogs. Back then Juliet gave him a look that clearly said she didn't know or trust him, and she is giving him the same look now. Buckthorn stares back blankly.

The first thing she asks is what happened to her. Even as he watches, Buckthorn thinks she'll probably figure that out for herself. They're both soaking wet after all. She probably notices this, because she looks over to the stream and seems to realize it. But Buckthorn doesn't think too much of it. He assumes that she is probably in shock. Or at least he thinks so until Juliet says something else.

Buckthorn gapes at her. His mind is blank. He doesn't know what to think. He is sure that she can see the confusion in his face, but she looks just as legitimately confused as he is. He processes what she has just said, and he does not try to move towards her again. Juliet clearly does not recognize him at all. But how is this possible?

Then he realizes something: the blood. She hit her head pretty badly on that rock. Comprehension dawns on Buckthorn suddenly. *Oh no...no!* Buckthorn is no medicine cat, but he knows that an injury like that could...*Give her amnesia? Is that what happened?? It seems like the only explanation. What do I do!?* Buckthorn has no idea how to answer that question. But he has to do something.

He decides to see how much she remembers. "You don't remember me? It's me, Juliet. Buckthorn. You just fell in the stream. I pulled you out.." He shakes his head. "Can you remember anything before that?"

[Roxie !]

The eye contact between them never broke, not even for a second. She watched his amber gaze steadily as it flickered with doubt. Buckthorn, she noticed, allowed each and every one of his emotions to shine through his eyes. How could he be so open? Didn't he know how dangerous that was? She almost scowled, but in the end managed to retain her wildly bewildered expression. Juliet watched the different emotions play out in the tom before her--shock, confusion, and then, at last, comprehension. Judging from the panicked look he was sporting now, the WindClan warrior had reached the exact conclusion she had wanted him to. That had gone smoother than expected.

When he spoke to her, she made sure that the shadow of suspicion in her own expression increased. Her eyes narrowed even further, and a low growl sounded from her throat. The deputy paused for a moment, staring at the tom as if she had no doubt that he was crazy. "How do you know my name?" Juliet demanded sharply, the fur along her spine beginning to stand on end. She decided to ignore his final question, for now, and her glare stubbornly remained in place. She couldn't imagine that she looked too threatening, being soaking wet and barely able to move. But the she-cat had gotten plenty of practice perfecting her 'death stare', and to top things off, she used it now. She had to push away any feelings of doubt or hesitation she had to sell this act.

Truthfully, though, she did wonder exactly how much strength she had at the moment. Certainly more than Buckthorn would think, seeing as crashing into the rock hadn't done as much damage as it had appeared to do. She could already feel the strength slowly returning to her limbs, but knew very well that she had to appear weak. Slowly, Juliet attempted to stand once again, forcing herself to sway dangerously, as if her legs were threatening to give way beneath her. Eventually, she had forced herself into a standing position, trembling slightly. It looked as if even a light breeze would be able to knock her back down at this point, but she managed it none-the-less.

She glared more coldly than ever at Buckthorn, and then, as if she had only just realized exactly what shape she was in, forced a hint of fear into her expression. There was an accusatory edge to the BloodClan deputy's voice when she spoke next. She knew exactly how to play this out--appear is if slowly, she realized that she couldn't, in fact, remember anything. Juliet could hardly imagine how terrifying it must be to look into your own mind and find only darkness, but she had to portray that kind of horror right now.

"What...what did you do to me?" She spoke in a low, dark tone that was softer, and yet more fierce than ever. Naturally, she knew very well that Buckthorn had done nothing, but accusing him in this fashion could drive him harder to get her to trust him...which was a nudge in the right direction.

[{ tessa }]

*This is bad.* Buckthorn gulps as Juliet tries to stand up, but he doesn't dare go forward and help her. She is in too hostile a mood for that. But he remains worried and holds his breath, only relaxing when it is clear that she won't collapse. He needs to get her somewhere safe. Somewhere where she can get help. But before that, he needs to calm her down. Buckthorn drops his head, trying to appear as though he is not a threat. Juliet is scared and confused. It isn't her fault that she is acting like this. If anything, it is his fault. If only Buckthorn could think of a way to fix it...

"I didn't do anything to you. If I wanted to hurt you, why would I save you from the water?" He asks patiently. He wants to comfort her, but he doesn't know how to do that without upsetting her even more. Buckthorn sighs and sits down. He hopes Juliet will stay put at least long enough for him to explain things to her. She can't go wandering off in this state, but he knows that he can't openly try to stop her.

"You hit your head on a rock in the stream. It knocked you out. You hit it pretty hard...that's probably why you can't remember anything." Buckthorn pleads for her to believe him. He wonders how long this will last. The hard bash to the head added to the trauma of almost drowning could keep her this way for awhile. But Buckthorn doesn't want to leave her until she's better.

But how can he help her? He sits there, trying to think of what to do.

[Roxie !]

The tabby she-cat had to hesitate for a moment. Her eyes narrowed just a fraction more. Did Buckthorn really believe all of this? He wasn't even going to question her? Of course he believes you, a sharp hiss nagged the back of her mind, He just saved you. He was worried about you. At this, Juliet had to admit it--she felt an even sharper nudge of guilt. He knew she was of BloodClan. Why did he trust her so easily? Couldn't he see what he was getting himself into? The deputy knew very well that once she got involved in this, there was no going back. She couldn't pass up a chance to get rid of BloodClan once and for all, and she couldn't put her sister's life at stake. So she needed to stop hoping that Buckthorn would catch on to what she was doing--it was just a weak way to try to get out of this.

She used her silence as a mask, apparantly considering what Buckthorn had initially told her, though her thoughts were actually some place far away. She managed to snap back into awareness when the warrior voiced his final statement, however. He was explaining how her accident had happened, it seemed. Right. None of this was new to her, naturally, but Juliet had to play this out. She displayed the appropriate emotions flawlessly, shifting from one right into the other as if it were gradual. First disbelieving scorn, then slow realization that she couldn't ignore her injury, then fear that Buckthorn could be right. The fear of a cat who didn't know who she was.

The she-cat's breathing quickened. She trembled dangerously once again, as if she were about to collapse. This explanation had to have a tidal wave effect on her, and she knew it. She had to convince this tom that her world was falling apart. She slowly looked up at him, allowing panic to blaze freely through her icy blue eyes. Juliet made an odd choking noise, looked at the stream, and then back at Buckthorn. She repeated the action. And then, slowly, she took a wavering step towards the WindClan cat. And then another. Soon, they were nearly nose to nose. Juliet searched his gaze helplessly, as if she hoped to find her answers there.

When she spoke, it was in a frightened, strangled whisper. A tone she had never taken before in her entire life. "You know me?" She murmured, more to herself than to Buckthorn. The deputy acted as if she realized that this tom was the one cat who now knew more about her than she knew about herself, and her reaction was according. She needed him to help her. "You do." Juliet confirmed, focusing on Buckthorn more sharply now. She took a deep, shaky breath.

"Please," She murmured quietly, desperately. "Please. Who am I? And what was I doing here in the first place?" Buckthorn had to realize that he was the only one who could help her now. And so she let all of her fear, desperation, and confusion consume her in that moment. She played her part perfectly. And that was the worst thing about this.

[{ tessa }]

Buckthorn looks at her sadly. Even though he barely knows Juliet, he can't stand to see her like this. He couldn't stand to see anyone like this. no cat deserved to lose their memory, and everything that they thought they knew. He feels guilty again, and he looks away from her. What should he tell her? Buckthorn thinks that she deserves to know the truth, but he barely knows anything about her. So whatever he tells her might just confuse her even more. Then he thinks of something else. What will BloodClan do if Juliet goes back to them like this? Buckthorn highly doubts they'll do anything good. As far as he knows, they really don't have any laws there. They could take this opportunity to manipulate her, or even challenge her for power. What if they hurt her?

Buckthorn can't let her go back there. Not like this. If he mentions BloodClan to Juliet, she'll probably try to go back despite his warnings just so she can find out more about who she is. He would probably do the same thing. Buckthorn sighs. "I don't really know a lot about where you came from." He tells Juliet. At least that isn't EXACTLY a lie.

If she can't go back to BloodClan, he certainly can't leave her on her own. In this state, she could get lost or hurt. Besides, since this is partially Buckthorn's fault, he feels that it is his responsibility to help her right now. But he can't leave his Clan, either. Then it hits him. If he can't leave his Clan, and he doesn't want to leave Juliet, he can bring her back to camp! Buckthorn doesn't think she would be a threat to them, especially without her memory. If he can somehow convince Hawkstar to allow her to stay with them, Juliet would be safe. But what will the rest of WindClan think of that?

This is a hard decision to make. Buckthorn thinks it over. It seems like the only option he really has right now. "You're in WindClan territory. WindClan is one of the four Clans that share territory around here. I'm Buckthorn, and I'm from WindClan. When we met I told you about my Clan, and you...you wanted to join."" Buckthorn feels ashamed of lying to her, but it is the only way to get her to come with him. Maybe she really can leave her whole life in BloodClan behind. "That's where I was taking you when you fell into the stream."

[Roxie !]

OOC//Omg, NO muse today. At all.

A hint of suprise rippled through the very furthest depths of her gaze, but only momentarily as she quickly managed to mask it. She hadn't had any specific expectations for Buckthorn's strategy here, but she hadn't quite expected him to lie to her. Not that it phased her--Juliet had been lied to so many times throughout her life that she was very much used to it by now. It was just that somehow, she hadn't really imagined Buckthorn taking this route. But it didn't matter, she could work with this. No doubt the WindClan tom had some noble greater reasoning behind his untruthfulness, unlike herself. Suppressing a sigh, she widened her eyes curiously as the warrior went on, as if she were hanging on to his every word. She had to remain slightly doubtful, of course, but at the same time she'd show that she was willing to believe nearly anything about her 'mysterious' past.

The BloodClan deputy shifted her weight from paw to paw absent-mindedly, though it could be passed off as eagerness or nervousness. Her ears were pricked, and her eyes were beginning to shine. Juliet remained tense, however, as she allowed Buckthorn to finish. Despite this not being the truth, it was exactly what she wanted to hear(and yet, had prayed not to hear it at the same time). Clockwerk had been right. This tom was going to try and convince her to join his Clan. And of course, she would accept, however much the very thought of doing such a thing made her squirm.

"WindClan?" Juliet repeated slowly, as if she were musing over the name. In truth, she was well-aware of the existence of the four forest Clans, but upon seeing her expression anyone would think she had never heard of them before. She paused, her eyes suddenly narrowing in thought. She could no longer retain the attitude of a BloodClan deputy, one who looked upon the Clans with disdain and mistrust. No, right now, she had to appear as though she regarded the forest Clans as a sort of idolized, far-off dream from her childhood. As if it were something she had only heard stories of. She met Buckthorn's gaze again, and her head tilted slightly to one side.

He looked nearly desperate for her to believe him. Did he honesty feel that great of a need to protect her? Perhaps this was what all Clan-cats were like. They always felt the need to play the hero. From what she had heard and seen so far, Juliet certainly agreed with this theory. "Well...what's it like there? In your Clan?" The she-cat inquired innocently. No doubt she was about to recieve something starry-eyed ramble about what loyalty meant and how great it felt, but she had to at least appear interested. But at the same time, Juliet prepared to distance herself from whatever she was about to hear. There was no way she could get too attached to or invested in anything that had to do with Clan life. She didn't belong there. She would only be staying as long as her task required it.

[{ tessa }]

Buckthorn feels a little hopeful when Juliet asks him that. It can only mean that he has caught her interest. Maybe convincing her to come back with him won't be as hard as he originally thought it would be. Buckthorn smiles reassuringly at her, and wonders where he should begin. Clan life can sound complicated to someone who has never experienced it before, and there is so much to tell. He stops to think it over, because he doesn't want to overwhelm her. Juliet is already struggling to accept the fact that she has lost her memory. Buckthorn thinks that the last thing she needs right now is an information overload.

"Well...we all live together. Each cat has its own job. We have a medicine cat that heals our injuries, a leader to guide us, warriors to protect the Clan...we all take care of each other. We're all bound by loyalty to our Clan, and by the warrior code, which is the laws that we live by. It isn't easy all the time. Sometimes the warriors are expected to risk their lives to protect the Clan. But it doesn't matter, because you're never really alone. You always have the support of your Clan-mates." Buckthorn says. As soon as he opened his mouth, he couldn't stop talking. There was so much to tell about WindClan's lifestyle!

He could really talk about it for hours. It's hard to put into words the thrill of Clan life. But Buckthorn realizes that he probably has already said too much, and he doesn't want to confuse Juliet. He shrugs and smiles at her sheepishly. "It's great. I wouldn't trade it for the world, and neither would any of my Clanmates." He tilted his head. "But...maybe you'd like to come see it for yourself?" Buckthorn would understand if she feels too nervous to do so right away. But he has suddenly become so eager to show her his life. He knows Juliet would like it there, if he can convince her...and his leader, for that matter, to give it a chance.

[Roxie !]

She realized before she'd even arrived here that she needed to remain grounded. She needed a guarded and cynical attitude prepared in order to distance herself from this tom and his Clan-mates. And when Buckthorn began to speak, Juliet fully intended to maintain this attitude. Clan cats thought their lives were wonderful and perfect, after all, and she was expecting to get a full blow of typical gushing nobility in response to her answer. However, when Buckthorn began his short speech, her ears pricked slightly. There was just something...something about the way he explained his life to her. Something in his voice, and in his eyes...it wasn't like anything she'd ever experienced before. The deputy could almost see the things that the WindClan cat was describing to her...and just for a moment, she could feel it.

A slight shudder ran down Juliet's spine. She remembered feeling something like this before, just after Buckthorn had saved her from the dogs and was describing the sensation of freedom that the moorlands provided. Why did a sappy speech like this effect her so much? It almost made her long to feel the things Buckthorn felt, the things that every one of these Clan warriors seemed to feel. Admittedly, she was going a bit misty-eyed. And then, just like that, Juliet snapped to her senses. The BloodClan she-cat had to refrain from curling her lip in disgust. She had practically melted! What had gotten into her head?

Her claws dug firmly into the ground. No, Clan life was not what she wanted. The things Buckthorn was describing...they weren't real. These Clan cats deluded themselves into believing in a greater purpose in life; they acted as if as long as they followed their precious warrior code, nothing could ever harm them. They were wrong. Their happy, blindsided way of thinking was going to get them killed. Juliet refused to be as gullible as they were. Clan life wasn't for her...she was only doing this because she had to. It was temporary.

Somehow, Buckthorn's musings had carried him exactly along the path she'd been nudging him toward. He was offering to take her to WindClan's camp. At once, Juliet felt a surge of two things: nervousness, and grim resolve. This was her mission. This was what she had been told to do, and there was no going back. But...being in one place with so many Clan-cats? Who knew what they'd do? If WindClan was anything like BloodClan, there was a possibility that they'd attack her on sight. She unsheathed her claws at the very thought of this. But then...no. She had Buckthorn completely convinced of her innocence. Hard as it was, she knew she had to put a little bit of faith in him here. She forced her expression to brighten.

"...Really? We could do that?" She meowed, as if marvelling the possibility. Juliet hesitated. "I mean, it's not like I can go anywhere else. I don't know how to get anywhere else. But I don't know, Buckthorn." She gazed at him with wide, questioning eyes. "Would your Clan mind that?"