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Post by 𝓓𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓱 𝓑𝓻𝓪𝓶𝓫𝓵𝓮 on Jul 9, 2019 22:37:41 GMT -5
With her head start, Mistyfur had no problem reaching the stream before Sootstripe. She stopped gracefully at the edge and took a moment to enjoy the fresh air and the quiet trickle of water. It's peaceful. She thought to herself, closing her eyes and breathing deeply. It was such a tranquil moment that she almost forgot about everthing except for her own existence. Then she opened her eyes and turned to grin at Sootstripe. "Looks like I won," she joked.
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Post by Jade on Jul 10, 2019 7:15:14 GMT -5
Featherspark remained silenct for a moment, her mind far too full of new considerations and old memories to form coherent speech. She closed her eyes and focused on the rhythm of her breath, doing her best to take Mooncloud's advice and to let the memories slowly drain away. One by one, they faded, winking out ike stars and returning to that precious spot in the back of her mind where memories of Dustleap lay quietly—or, at least, quietly enough to push aside for a time. With her head finally inching toward clarity, she opened her eyes again and spoke. "I think you're right," she replied tentatively. "It might be best to focus on something else for a while. But thank you—so much," she added almost earnestly. "More than you could ever know. Thank you."
Jadepaw nodded obediently, diligently filing away each of Onkódis' suggestions in her mind. Beneath her—now rather ruffled—golden fur, her ears burned with embarassment. Of course my first catch is a disaster. Way to go, mousebrain. "Those are really good points," she replied somewhat meekly, shooting a glare at her fluffy tail. "This thing is always getting in the way; who would have thought that you have to keep an eye on your own tail?"
Sootstripe tore after Mistyfur, closing his eyes to urge his paws more quickly forward. It was only at the sound of her voice that he opened them again to find the riverbank hardly more than two bounds away—and himself still barreling toward it at full speed. "Ahh!" His eyes growing wide, he slammed on the breaks, paws skidding across the dirt and throwing up a cloud of dust. He squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself for the icy water to come—but, to his relief, friction caught him inches from the river's edge. "You...cheater..." He half-laughed, half-panted as he shuffled around to face Mistyfur. "I should have aimed straight for you and knocked us both in!"
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Post by spαcє on Jul 10, 2019 10:33:05 GMT -5
Featherspark remained silenct for a moment, her mind far too full of new considerations and old memories to form coherent speech. She closed her eyes and focused on the rhythm of her breath, doing her best to take Mooncloud's advice and to let the memories slowly drain away. One by one, they faded, winking out ike stars and returning to that precious spot in the back of her mind where memories of Dustleap lay quietly—or, at least, quietly enough to push aside for a time. With her head finally inching toward clarity, she opened her eyes again and spoke. "I think you're right," she replied tentatively. "It might be best to focus on something else for a while. But thank you—so much," she added almost earnestly. "More than you could ever know. Thank you." Jadepaw nodded obediently, diligently filing away each of Onkódis' suggestions in her mind. Beneath her—now rather ruffled—golden fur, her ears burned with embarassment. Of course my first catch is a disaster. Way to go, mousebrain. "Those are really good points," she replied somewhat meekly, shooting a glare at her fluffy tail. "This thing is always getting in the way; who would have thought that you have to keep an eye on your own tail?" Sootstripe tore after Mistyfur, closing his eyes to urge his paws more quickly forward. It was only at the sound of her voice that he opened them again to find the riverbank hardly more than two bounds away—and himself still barreling toward it at full speed. "Ahh!" His eyes growing wide, he slammed on the breaks, paws skidding across the dirt and throwing up a cloud of dust. He squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself for the icy water to come—but, to his relief, friction caught him inches from the river's edge. "You...cheater..." He half-laughed, half-panted as he shuffled around to face Mistyfur. "I should have aimed straight for you and knocked us both in!" Mooncloud gently nuzzled the she-cat's neck once-more and lightly ran his tail down Featherspark's flank, before he continued to speak. "Any-time. If you need to talk I'm always eager to listen." He gave the she-cat some space once more, and a weak, yet understanding smile appeared on his maw, as he gazed at her. He paused for a bit, in an effort to allow her sometime to process and parse through the various things coursing through her mind, but eventually decided to speak and shift things in a ... better ... direction. He lightly unwrapped the tip of his black tail from around his paws, and gestured it back towards camp before meowing, "What do you remember about your time as apprentice?" His voice contained a curious and compassionate undertone rather discernible, from his otherwise soft and steady voice, as he attempted to make the walk back to camp less distressing.
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Post by Jekyll on Jul 10, 2019 22:56:54 GMT -5
hi, sorry about my absence. Needed a bit of a break))
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Post by Jade on Jul 11, 2019 9:42:25 GMT -5
( Jekyll No worries; it happens! I hope you're feeling okay!) Featherspark smiled weakly, recognizing Mooncloud's intentions. It had truly been a stroke of luck, striding his way this morning. Painful as it was to stir up the memories, she felt a certain comfort in the knowledge that someone else had been subjected to a similar pain—and had survived it. "My time as an apprentice," she mused, gathering her best attempt at a playful air back into her tone. Her pretence fell somewhat flat—devoid of the easy lightness that usually accompanied it—but she drew strength from the effort all the same. "Firstrike and I...we got along well enough as kits because we were far too different to ever really get in each others' ways." She shook her head, the thought of her tempermental—yet beloved—brother drawing a chuckle from her. "But when we became apprentices and were given the same tasks...let's just say that both of us share a competitive streak. Everything became a friendly—or, sometimes, not-so-friendly—competition. I'm honestly surprised that our mentors didn't have our tails—but, at least, it kept us working hard."
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Post by spαcє on Jul 11, 2019 10:51:49 GMT -5
( Jekyll No worries; it happens! I hope you're feeling okay!) Featherspark smiled weakly, recognizing Mooncloud's intentions. It had truly been a stroke of luck, striding his way this morning. Painful as it was to stir up the memories, she felt a certain "comfort in the knowledge that someone else had been subjected to a similar pain—and had survived it. "My time as an apprentice," she mused, gathering her best attempt at a playful air back into her tone. Her pretence fell somewhat flat—devoid of the easy lightness that usually accompanied it—but she drew strength from the effort all the same. "Firstrike and I...we got along well enough as kits because we were far too different to ever really get in each others' ways." She shook her head, the thought of her tempermental—yet beloved—brother drawing a chuckle from her. "But when we became apprentices and were given the same tasks...let's just say that both of us share a competitive streak. Everything became a friendly—or, sometimes, not-so-friendly—competition. I'm honestly surprised that our mentors didn't have our tails—but, at least, it kept us working hard." "Ah, I see. Since I joined as a "loner," I never really got to partake in apprentice tasks and or duties, so I was curious how someone else's time as an apprentice went." He meowed, the curious tone still evident in his meow, though it was slowly fading into the background and being overpowered by the tom's gentle voice. "But, from what I do remember from my younger days, I don't think I was ever really too competitive. I explored things and was incredibly curious, but, when it came to competition, I never really caught on." He smiled lightly as he saw Featherspark acting a bit more joyous and added, "I'm also curious to hear about your other-half, as I never really had a sibling. My mother had close-friends who we often encountered and interacted with, but, I always wondered what it felt like to have a brother or a sister." He paused for a bit, and lifted his gaze upwards and let his mind get lost in the past. This time, he managed to stay wide and clear from the memory that caused him pain, just moments ago. "But, as long as you and your brother are still close and getting along, I think it all worked out for the best. Speaking of which, how are you two holding up now?"
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Post by 𝓓𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓱 𝓑𝓻𝓪𝓶𝓫𝓵𝓮 on Jul 11, 2019 14:37:43 GMT -5
(Sorry for the short reply. I've been pretty busy lately.)
"Me? Cheat? I would never," Mistyfur purred playfully as she bumped her shoulder against Sootstripe's. "As for both of us going in..." She said with a smirk as she crouched down.
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Lesbian
Fawnhearts
Shade never made anybody less gay
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Post by Fawnhearts on Jul 12, 2019 0:36:53 GMT -5
((Hello, I just stumbled upon this clan and I’m very interested, do you guys have room for one more member??))
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Post by Jade on Jul 12, 2019 7:19:59 GMT -5
"I'd say we've resolved the worst of our differences," Featherspark replied, flicking her tail playfully at Mooncloud's side—and surprising herself in the process with the light-hearted gesture. Still, mentions of her family did have a way of bringing out a better side of the silver she-cat. For all of her faults, she loved deeply, and her kin was no exception. "If you ask Firestrike, he'll likely tell you that I never give him a moment's peace—but I like to think that I keep his life interesting. We're very different cats—he loves valiantly defending the borders, and I'd much rather stumble my way through a hunt—but, in the end, our values are the same." She paused for a moment, her attention harkening back to one of Mooncloud's comments. "What was your training like as a loner?" She ventured, glancing curiously—though tentatively— at the tom beside her. The last thing that she wanted to do was to inavertantly stir up unpleasant memories. "Did you still have an 'apprenticeship,' or did you just learn as you went? I've always wondered."
(Bramble: No worries! ^-^) "Oh, no you don't!" Sootstripe declared, his eyes bright with laughter. He skittered back a few steps from the river's edge and angled himself—more carefully this time—directly behind Mistyfur. "if I end up in the water, it's on my terms!" He teased as he threw his weight forward, doing his best to knock both of them into the waiting water.
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Post by Jade on Jul 12, 2019 7:22:12 GMT -5
((Hello, I just stumbled upon this clan and I’m very interested, do you guys have room for one more member??)) (Of course; we'd love to have you! The forms for adding characters are on the joining page (you can find the link on Sparrowclan's front page). Make sure to read the rules and to add the codeword to your form, and I'll add you as soon as you're ready! ^-^)
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Post by spαcє on Jul 12, 2019 9:02:53 GMT -5
"I'd say we've resolved the worst of our differences," Featherspark replied, flicking her tail playfully at Mooncloud's side—and surprising herself in the process with the light-hearted gesture. Still, mentions of her family did have a way of bringing out a better side of the silver she-cat. For all of her faults, she loved deeply, and her kin was no exception. "If you ask Firestrike, he'll likely tell you that I never give him a moment's peace—but I like to think that I keep his life interesting. We're very different cats—he loves valiantly defending the borders, and I'd much rather stumble my way through a hunt—but, in the end, our values are the same." She paused for a moment, her attention harkening back to one of Mooncloud's comments. "What was your training like as a loner?" She ventured, glancing curiously—though tentatively— at the tom beside her. The last thing that she wanted to do was to inavertantly stir up unpleasant memories. "Did you still have an 'apprenticeship,' or did you just learn as you went? I've always wondered." (Bramble: No worries! ^-^) "Oh, no you don't!" Sootstripe declared, his eyes bright with laughter. He skittered back a few steps from the river's edge and angled himself—more carefully this time—directly behind Mistyfur. "if I end up in the water, it's on my terms!" He teased as he threw his weight forward, doing his best to knock both of them into the waiting water. Mooncloud nodded in response to the she-cat's reply and gently said, "I'm glad to hear that." He paused for a bit, his eyes gazing around at the environment as if he was attempting to re-create the atmosphere he was raised in. Once his mind returned to the present, he shook himself and turned his gaze back to Featherspark, in reply. "I did have training, but my mother started when I was only a kit and we mostly trained on grassy-hills and in tree-covered valleys. She also insisted on only showing me and guiding me through the basics of moves, and watched me figure out the rest. If I needed help she would give me little tips along the way, but I don't recall her once showing me a tactic, on purpose, as she didn't think that was the right way to teach a kit how to do something. She also insisted that I constantly practice what I learned, or thought I learned, with her, until I was well past the age of most of our apprentices." His mew trailed off, and he became lost in thought, as he remembered his mother telling him stories and tales of what she observed from clan-cats and how they, foolishly in her view, guided their apprentices upon the right path, and took heed from some cats called ' Mentors.' She thought it was best to be taught and learn through family, as opposed to learning it from a different cat, designated by the clan leader. Curiosity lightly returned to the tom's meow as he asked the she-cat, "How did you get along with your mentor? My mother told me stories of what she gleamed from interactions between apprentices and their mentors, but, now being in a clan, I'm curious to learn how true they are."
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Lesbian
Fawnhearts
Shade never made anybody less gay
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Post by Fawnhearts on Jul 12, 2019 11:47:27 GMT -5
((Okay I made a character let me know what you think))
| Willowthorn | 36 moons | A very slender she-cat with a feathered tail and three V nicks in her right ear. She is a pale grey colour with darker flecks along her flank, hind quarters and shoulders. Her muzzle is white along with a neat white dash on her chest. She has some distinctive tabby markings down her cheek and a stripped tail, other than that she has no other stripping. Willowthorn has a bit of a short temper, she can be moody at times and is known to talk back when she feels like her opinion has been challenged. At times she seems a bit hard to approach because Willowthorn has a sharp tongue. She won’t tolerate being pushed around by other cats, particularly the toms, as she won’t be afraid to push back. Apart from her standoffish and sassy personality, Willowthorn is a big softie, particularly when it comes to kits.
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Post by Jade on Jul 13, 2019 9:48:13 GMT -5
((Okay I made a character let me know what you think)) | Willowthorn | 36 moons | A very slender she-cat with a feathered tail and three V nicks in her right ear. She is a pale grey colour with darker flecks along her flank, hind quarters and shoulders. Her muzzle is white along with a neat white dash on her chest. She has some distinctive tabby markings down her cheek and a stripped tail, other than that she has no other stripping. Willowthorn has a bit of a short temper, she can be moody at times and is known to talk back when she feels like her opinion has been challenged. At times she seems a bit hard to approach because Willowthorn has a sharp tongue. She won’t tolerate being pushed around by other cats, particularly the toms, as she won’t be afraid to push back. Apart from her standoffish and sassy personality, Willowthorn is a big softie, particularly when it comes to kits. Looks great! I'll add it asap. For future reference, we have a joining page here with a form that people typically fill out for characters. No worries, just letting you know in case you decide to add any more characters at some point :3
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Post by Jade on Jul 13, 2019 10:20:00 GMT -5
Mooncloud nodded in response to the she-cat's reply and gently said, "I'm glad to hear that." He paused for a bit, his eyes gazing around at the environment as if he was attempting to re-create the atmosphere he was raised in. Once his mind returned to the present, he shook himself and turned his gaze back to Featherspark, in reply. "I did have training, but my mother started when I was only a kit and we mostly trained on grassy-hills and in tree-covered valleys. She also insisted on only showing me and guiding me through the basics of moves, and watched me figure out the rest. If I needed help she would give me little tips along the way, but I don't recall her once showing me a tactic, on purpose, as she didn't think that was the right way to teach a kit how to do something. She also insisted that I constantly practice what I learned, or thought I learned, with her, until I was well past the age of most of our apprentices." His mew trailed off, and he became lost in thought, as he remembered his mother telling him stories and tales of what she observed from clan-cats and how they, foolishly in her view, guided their apprentices upon the right path, and took heed from some cats called ' Mentors.' She thought it was best to be taught and learn through family, as opposed to learning it from a different cat, designated by the clan leader. Curiosity lightly returned to the tom's meow as he asked the she-cat, "How did you get along with your mentor? My mother told me stories of what she gleamed from interactions between apprentices and their mentors, but, now being in a clan, I'm curious to learn how true they are." "That's very interesting," Featherspark replied, a spark of genuine curioisty lighting her gaze. She fixed her attention wholly on Mooncloud—shutting out the chirp of birds, the rustle of grass, and the sea of scents vying for her focus—as she considered his alternate training tactics. "Learning by doing...it makes sense. And battle moves do get rusy after a few moons without use." It was definitely something to keep in mind, those suggestions—especially if she were ever lucky enough to earn another apprentice of her own. The silver she-cat let silence hang in the air for a few moments as she gathered her thoughts—but, soon enough, the beginnings of a smile began to tug at the corners of her mouth. "And as for my mentor...she was wonderful," she admitted, dipping her head slightly against a wave of bittersweet nostalgia. "Her name was Nightrose. She wasn't much of a fighter—which was just fine by my standards—but she could hunt like no one I've ever seen. Even in the middle of leafbare, she always had a way of tracking down prey. She'd always let me carry half of the catches back to camp—even when most of them were hers," she added with a low laugh. "That's not to say that we didn't have our difference, though. All apprentices have to make trouble for their mentors at least once every moon or so; it's practically a rule! I was the last cat that she trained before retiring to the elders' den, so she was certainly strict. I got very good at freshening bedding and picking fleas out of the elder's fur."
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Post by spαcє on Jul 13, 2019 15:58:25 GMT -5
Mooncloud dipped his head in response, to acknowledge he had heard and processed the she-cat's words. "I wonder how your kits will fair, then," he meowed playfully, before redirecting his small, dark-green eyes, to the she-cat and continuing. "I'm glad to hear that. Your mentor may not be all too different from my mother. She always very loving and patient, gently and diligently guiding me on, as I grew up or if I messed something up. She was very understanding of my errors and always encouraged me to never give up, and she frequently reminded me about the importance of making mistakes and how they are natural in our lives. But, at the same-time, she also got me to frequently take breaks. I, often-times, didn't want to take a break and wanted to keep at it and make things right. But, she eventually reached-me and always convinced me to pause... Even-then, she did so very lovingly and patiently." He briefly closed his eyes and a slight smile appeared on his maw, once-more, as he was reminiscing about his time as a kit. He felt his will and heart being tugged back towards the past, and for that brief moment, they were no longer his own. Try as he might, he could not bring himself back to that time, and his poise eventually forced him to return towards the present. He kept his eyes closed and paused, simply letting the wind ripple and tear at his coat, before he lightly shook his head and opened his eyes once-more. He turned back towards the she-cat, curiosity once again sparkling in his eyes, before venturing, "How was it when you got your warrior name? Was it jubilant, bittersweet, doleful..." his mewed trailed off, his body-posture very attentive and engaged.
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Post by 𝓓𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓱 𝓑𝓻𝓪𝓶𝓫𝓵𝓮 on Jul 13, 2019 16:38:55 GMT -5
Mistyfur let out an exclamation of surprise as she was suddenly pushed into the stream. The cold of the water hit her almost instantly, but faded quickly. Once she had gotten over the initial shock, she laughed and flicked water at Sootstripe. "Not exactly how I would have planned it, but same results. I would have done it more gracefully though," she teased.
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Post by Jekyll on Jul 14, 2019 1:04:17 GMT -5
Jadepaw nodded obediently, diligently filing away each of Onkódis' suggestions in her mind. Beneath her—now rather ruffled—golden fur, her ears burned with embarrassment. Of course my first catch is a disaster. Way to go, mousebrain. "Those are really good points," she replied somewhat meekly, shooting a glare at her fluffy tail. "This thing is always getting in the way; who would have thought that you have to keep an eye on your own tail?" Onkódis nodded understandingly to the she-cat, knowing that she felt embarrassed. Advice was not always easy to take, even for seasoned warriors. The large bodied tom scented the air, quickly catching the scent of mouse and gesturing for the she-cat to be silent. "Mouse, right that way. I'll get his one." His voice was barely a whisper as the massive tom crouched down and began to move forward. For being so big, he was silent, seeming to slide across the ground gracefully, not even disrupting a blade of grass as he moved around some nearby brush, his eyes focusing on a plump brown mouse by a tree root. He pounced, ending the small creatures life with a quick nip to the neck. "There!"
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Lesbian
Fawnhearts
Shade never made anybody less gay
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Post by Fawnhearts on Jul 14, 2019 12:49:20 GMT -5
Alone in the woods Willowthorn hunted, the patrols were already set out and the apprentices with their mentors and a couple groups had gone out alone. The grey she-cat flexed her claws as she drank in the scents of potential prey around her.
She concentrated, there was the scent of a squirrel but it was stale, it must have moved on. Suddenly a juicy scent filled her mouth, making it water and her paws tingle with excitement for the hunt. Mouse!
Instantly Willowthorn dropped into a hunters crouch, her eyes scanning the terrain for any slight movement of the small creature. Her eyes settled on a small clump of ferns, there in the middle and barely moving was the mouse. It nibbled on a small seed unbeknownst to being stalked.
Carefully she put all her wait into her haunches and crept forward. Willowthorn rolled her shoulders ready to spring when suddenly a massive ball of fur broke out of the undergrowth and snatched up the mouse. Startled Willowthorn jumped up with a loud hiss, her neck fur bristling and claws unsheathed. As the Goliath size of a tom appeared in front of her. Onkôdis. Frustration began to ripple through her making all of her fur stand on end.
Willowthorn stomped towards the tom. “That was my catch!” She spat her tail lashing back and forth.
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Post by Jade on Jul 14, 2019 16:12:20 GMT -5
Featherspark watched attentively, her brow furrowing with concern, as Mooncloud's open expression faded, replaced by some unknown shadow that darkened his face and dimmed his eyes. She opened her mouth to inquire but thought better of it—and, before she could let her inner conflict unfold any further, he seemed to return. She kept her gaze trained on his face for a moment more, curious—but, then, there were plenty of things that she, too, wasn't ready or inclined to share. Maybe it was better simply to keep nudging the both of them back into the present, just as he had done for her. "My warrior ceremony," she echoed, blinking hurriedly to gather her wandering mind back to the conversation at hand. "It was wonderful. I could hardly believe that I'd really made it. Firestrike was there, too—and Sparrowstar, of course. It's a funny thing getting your warrior name from your mother; it's surely not something that most of the clan will ever experience." She let a half-sigh escape through her nose as she thought back on that moment—on a young and fervent version of herself, poised on the edge of warrior-hood. "The ceremony itself is the easy part," she admitted, tilting her chin to catch the breeze through her whiskers as it passed by. "It's when the cheers finally die down and you can't quite bring yourself to settle in the warriors' den for the night...that's when I really started to wonder whether Sparrowstar and my mentor had made a mistake." She smiled and shook her head. "I don't think I ever could have felt prepared—not really."
"More gracefully?" Sootstripe echoed, breaking though the surface of the water and doing his best to paddle over to Mistyfur. Close to the bank as they still were, the river wasn't deep—but the sudden chill soaking through his thick fur didn't quite epitomize his idea of a peaceful afternoon. He feigned offense, shaking his head wildly and scattering droplets in all directions. "I did wonderfully. It's not easy, you know, knocking two full-grown warriors into the water! I'd like to see you try," he teased.
Jadepaw watched Onkódis' movements, her eyes growing wide with admiration as he crept silently through the undergrowth. She followed behind him, hanging back a few steps to give him room to work, but quickly trotted to his side when the catch was done. "That was amazing—" She froze mid-purr at the sound of a voice, unsheathing her claws on instinct, before she registered the familiar shape of a clanmate up ahead. "Hello, Willowthorn," she ventured quietly, deciding to let her older companion take the lead on this one, at least for the time being.
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Post by spαcє on Jul 14, 2019 16:58:18 GMT -5
Featherspark watched attentively, her brow furrowing with concern, as Mooncloud's open expression faded, replaced by some unknown shadow that darkened his face and dimmed his eyes. She opened her mouth to inquire but thought better of it—and, before she could let her inner conflict unfold any further, he seemed to return. She kept her gaze trained on his face for a moment more, curious—but, then, there were plenty of things that she, too, wasn't ready or inclined to share. Maybe it was better simply to keep nudging the both of them back into the present, just as he had done for her. "My warrior ceremony," she echoed, blinking hurriedly to gather her wandering mind back to the conversation at hand. "It was wonderful. I could hardly believe that I'd really made it. Firestrike was there, too—and Sparrowstar, of course. It's a funny thing getting your warrior name from your mother; it's surely not something that most of the clan will ever experience." She let a half-sigh escape through her nose as she thought back on that moment—on a young and fervent version of herself, poised on the edge of warrior-hood. "The ceremony itself is the easy part," she admitted, tilting her chin to catch the breeze through her whiskers as it passed by. "It's when the cheers finally die down and you can't quite bring yourself to settle in the warriors' den for the night...that's when I really started to wonder whether Sparrowstar and my mentor had made a mistake." She smiled and shook her head. "I don't think I ever could have felt prepared—not really." The tom dipped his head in understanding and let the silence take hold of their surroundings, as he thought on Featherspark's words. When he had fully processed and incorporated the queen's words, he turned his eyes back towards the she-cat, his gentle and calm-self had once-again taken hold - serving as a stark contrast from the more-vulnerable state that had bubbled to the surface just moments ago - and he opened his maw to speak, once more. "It certainly was, and I felt something similar. One day, I was still learning from her and she had me diligently practice various techniques she had taught me, but the next, she said I was ready to be a warrior and I had a warrior name. But, looking-back, I sort of appreciate that she was the one to give it to me. While I would have been very interested to have a mentor, I, now, greatly appreciate that I was able to spend all that time and learn a variety of things, with her, as opposed to someone else." A light fit of laughter escaped the tom and his chest heaved rather abnormally, for a moment, as he recalled the day he was given the name he now holds dear. "It also wasn't too much of a ceremony, as it was just my her and I, which I also greatly prefer, now, when compared to the clan gathering to help celebrate that precious moment. But, I certainly also felt very conflicted. On the one hand, I was overjoyed that I learned all that I needed to, and was given the knowledge needed to be a skilled and trained cat... But, on the other, it pained me that such a time was over. Though, now, I can't say I would have wanted to re-live that part of my life, after-all, more exciting adventures and fates await us all." Once those words had left his mouth, he paused for a bit to catch his breath and lifted his head, to allow the peace and beauty of his surroundings fully encompass him. Once his breath and heart had caught back up with him, he turned his gaze back towards Featherspark and gently inquired, "Is there anything you're hoping for your kits, when they become apprentices?"
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Post by Jekyll on Jul 14, 2019 17:05:36 GMT -5
Alone in the woods Willowthorn hunted, the patrols were already set out and the apprentices with their mentors and a couple groups had gone out alone. The grey she-cat flexed her claws as she drank in the scents of potential prey around her. She concentrated, there was the scent of a squirrel but it was stale, it must have moved on. Suddenly a juicy scent filled her mouth, making it water and her paws tingle with excitement for the hunt. Mouse!Instantly Willowthorn dropped into a hunters crouch, her eyes scanning the terrain for any slight movement of the small creature. Her eyes settled on a small clump of ferns, there in the middle and barely moving was the mouse. It nibbled on a small seed unbeknownst to being stalked. Carefully she put all her wait into her haunches and crept forward. Willowthorn rolled her shoulders ready to spring when suddenly a massive ball of fur broke out of the undergrowth and snatched up the mouse. Startled Willowthorn jumped up with a loud hiss, her neck fur bristling and claws unsheathed. As the Goliath size of a tom appeared in front of her. Onkôdis. Frustration began to ripple through her making all of her fur stand on end. Willowthorn stomped towards the tom. “That was my catch!” She spat her tail lashing back and forth. Featherspark watched attentively, her brow furrowing with concern, as Mooncloud's open expression faded, replaced by some unknown shadow that darkened his face and dimmed his eyes. She opened her mouth to inquire but thought better of it—and, before she could let her inner conflict unfold any further, he seemed to return. She kept her gaze trained on his face for a moment more, curious—but, then, there were plenty of things that she, too, wasn't ready or inclined to share. Maybe it was better simply to keep nudging the both of them back into the present, just as he had done for her. "My warrior ceremony," she echoed, blinking hurriedly to gather her wandering mind back to the conversation at hand. "It was wonderful. I could hardly believe that I'd really made it. Firestrike was there, too—and Sparrowstar, of course. It's a funny thing getting your warrior name from your mother; it's surely not something that most of the clan will ever experience." She let a half-sigh escape through her nose as she thought back on that moment—on a young and fervent version of herself, poised on the edge of warrior-hood. "The ceremony itself is the easy part," she admitted, tilting her chin to catch the breeze through her whiskers as it passed by. "It's when the cheers finally die down and you can't quite bring yourself to settle in the warriors' den for the night...that's when I really started to wonder whether Sparrowstar and my mentor had made a mistake." She smiled and shook her head. "I don't think I ever could have felt prepared—not really." "More gracefully?" Sootstripe echoed, breaking though the surface of the water and doing his best to paddle over to Mistyfur. Close to the bank as they still were, the river wasn't deep—but the sudden chill soaking through his thick fur didn't quite epitomize his idea of a peaceful afternoon. He feigned offense, shaking his head wildly and scattering droplets in all directions. "I did wonderfully. It's not easy, you know, knocking two full-grown warriors into the water! I'd like to see you try," he teased. Jadepaw watched Onkódis' movements, her eyes growing wide with admiration as he crept silently through the undergrowth. She followed behind him, hanging back a few steps to give him room to work, but quickly trotted to his side when the catch was done. "That was amazing—" She froze mid-purr at the sound of a voice, unsheathing her claws on instinct, before she registered the familiar shape of a clanmate up ahead. "Hello, Willowthorn," she ventured quietly, deciding to let her older companion take the lead on this one, at least for the time being. Onkódis let out a purr at the other's admiration. "I've had a lot of practice." A voice then cut through his alone time with the apprentice and he let out a sigh, turning to Willowthorn and smiling. "Hello Willowthorn. I'm sorry but I'm sure I scented this mouse before you. Anyways, I'm helping Jadepaw with her hunting so don't be so mad at me catching prey, while showing her what practice can lead to."
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Lesbian
Fawnhearts
Shade never made anybody less gay
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Post by Fawnhearts on Jul 14, 2019 17:26:55 GMT -5
Willowthorn let out a snort at the grey and white spotted tom, with a flick of her tail she licked her chest to make her fur lie flat. Perhaps he was right, she thought silently to herself, but none the less she was still disappointed in missing the catch and having another warrior catch it. Shifting her paws Willowthorn sat up straight and wrapped her tail nearly around her paws.
“Hello Jadepaw” she nodded at the young apprentice, a warm feeling flooding through her chest at the progress the young apprentice was making. “Does Mistyfur know you’re out here?” Willowthorn prodded before she turned to Onkôdis with a mixture of envy and respect. Willowthorn kept her gaze with the tom for a few heart beats before looking away with a huff.
“I suppose it was your catch.” She looked between the two cats, slightly puzzled as the massive tom wasn’t the mentor to this apprentice. “Are you teaching Jadepaw hunting techniques?”
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Post by 𝓓𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓱 𝓑𝓻𝓪𝓶𝓫𝓵𝓮 on Jul 15, 2019 19:15:47 GMT -5
"To be fair, you only had to knock one full grown warrior into the water. You threw yourself in. There's a difference," Mistyfur said, clambering back onto the shore It didn't hurt to get wet once in a while, but she still didn't want to spend more time in the water than nessisary.
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Post by Jade on Jul 16, 2019 7:09:09 GMT -5
Featherspark let her gaze trail from her silver paws scuffling in the dirt, to the swathes of green and yellow grass dotted with the pinpricks of far-off wildflowers, and, finally, to the sky high above her head. It was bright blue—startlingly so, its sweeping color interrupted only by a smattering of innocent-looking clouds. She was suddenly struck by the realization of how long it had been since she had simply wandered through the territory for no purpose beyond getting lost in thought and conversation. Having taken these precious moments to collect her thoughts, she smiled at Mooncloud again and shook her head. "I truly don't care what they do, so long as they enjoy it and learn to serve their clan well," she admitted. "Their father was an excellent tracker—so, for their own sakes, I'm hoping that they'll take after him. I hope that their mentors are kind and give them time to fall in love with the warrior lifestyle—early morning patrols in freshly-fallen snow, learning to fish in the heat of greenleaf..." She twitched an ear playfully. "Maybe Sparowstar will assign you as mentor to one of them." Letting out a contented sigh, she tilted her head and added thoughtfully, "Would you ever want an aprentice? Not necessarily one of mine, but anyone at all."
"Mistyfur is...somewhere," Jadepaw replied, her confidence beginning to return as she realized that Willowthorn did not intend to flay her for insubordination. "She's been hard to find all week, so Onkódis offered to help me with my hunting." She twitched an ear as a thread of sheepishness skittered down her spine. "I've been practicing on my own to keep my skills sharp, but it's certainly easier when I have someone to help me out. I'm sure Mistyfur will be impressed if I improve," she finished, a slight purr escaping her mouth.
"Semantics," Sootstripe replied in a light tone, flicking his tail as if to brush away the critique. Seeing Mistyfur begin to make her way back to the shore, he floundered after her, secretly grateful for the chance to escape the icy dampness already beginning to seep into his thick pelt. He clambered back onto the bank—shaking water from his fur and scattering droplets in all directions—then let out a purr as a warm sunbeam fell across his back. "I don't think I've ever been so grateful for the heat," he laughed.
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Post by spαcє on Jul 16, 2019 9:38:39 GMT -5
Featherspark let her gaze trail from her silver paws scuffling in the dirt, to the swathes of green and yellow grass dotted with the pinpricks of far-off wildflowers, and, finally, to the sky high above her head. It was bright blue—startlingly so, its sweeping color interrupted only by a smattering of innocent-looking clouds. She was suddenly struck by the realization of how long it had been since she had simply wandered through the territory for no purpose beyond getting lost in thought and conversation. Having taken these precious moments to collect her thoughts, she smiled at Mooncloud again and shook her head. "I truly don't care what they do, so long as they enjoy it and learn to serve their clan well," she admitted. "Their father was an excellent tracker—so, for their own sakes, I'm hoping that they'll take after him. I hope that their mentors are kind and give them time to fall in love with the warrior lifestyle—early morning patrols in freshly-fallen snow, learning to fish in the heat of greenleaf..." She twitched an ear playfully. "Maybe Sparowstar will assign you as mentor to one of them." Letting out a contented sigh, she tilted her head and added thoughtfully, "Would you ever want an aprentice? Not necessarily one of mine, but anyone at all." Mooncloud dipped his head appreciatively, before he gently shook his head. "I'm not sure that would be best for the apprentices or for me. While I admire their young spirits, they often times can be rather committed, making it hard to get through to them. Or, they may use their energy and curiosity for things they aren't supposed to do. I don't think I would necessarily yell or invoke serious punishment on them, but I'd prefer to avoid the possibility of that happening, as I think both the apprentice and I would avoid unnecessary anguish or distress." His mew trailed off and he paused, to think on his words. "I honestly don't know entirely how one would deal with such cases," he admitted earnestly, a mix of pleasure and of pain tinting his eyes, as he opened his mouth to speak. "If certain reactions come out in certain ways, or just don't work, then... I think the apprentice and I would both be kind of stuck and we may not how to get out of it, or we might just keep spiraling into something far worse. But, if Sparrowstar wants me to become a mentor, then well... I guess I have no choice and Starclan had deemed it so, and it will work out in the end." The tom gently shook his black head, the pain all but gone from his now calm gaze, before he added, "Nonetheless, regardless of all that, I'm sure any new kits and apprentice will help strengthen the clan by quite a bit."
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Post by Jekyll on Jul 16, 2019 13:00:58 GMT -5
Onkódis nodded softly, happy that the apprentice had spoken about the whereabouts of her mentor, something the tom really didn't know. He soon turned away from Willowthron though, gesturing with her tail for Jadepaw to follow. "We have some more hunting to do Willowthorn, so if you don't mind, we'll be going now." He smiled at the other before turning once more and beginning to move away.
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Lesbian
Fawnhearts
Shade never made anybody less gay
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Post by Fawnhearts on Jul 16, 2019 18:15:50 GMT -5
Willowthorn narrowed her eyes slightly. All week? Mistyfur should be the one mentoring Jadepaw not random warriors. She looked between Jadepaw and Onkôdis, something wasn’t adding up quite right.
“Now hang on a minute!” The she-cat hissed. Willowthorn shouldered her way between the two until she stared at Jadepaw, towering over the apprentice with slits for eyes. “Somewhere? If I remember correctly your mentor is supposed to be training you at all times not just vanishing like a mouse in leafebare!” She hissed.
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Post by 𝓓𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓱 𝓑𝓻𝓪𝓶𝓫𝓵𝓮 on Jul 16, 2019 20:45:28 GMT -5
(Meanwhile, with the hard to reach mentor xD. I really should run a training session with Jadepaw soon, otherwise Mistyfur wouldn't be a very good mentor.) Mistyfur strategically waited until Sootstripe was done shaking water from his pelt before doing so herself. She glanced over his way with a small smile then flicked her tail over towards the rock. "Well, If you want to warm up that rock seems to be calling your name. On the other hand, I think that I'm going to get some fishing in while I'm still damp," she said as she gently bumped into him. She then turned and padded over to the stream to catch some fish. At least the clan couldn't say that they had an altogether unproductive trip. As she was doing so, she mentally started running her mind through what she needed to do to start getting herself back into a routine. Lately she had been... Distracted, and needed to fix it.
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Lesbian
Fawnhearts
Shade never made anybody less gay
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Post by Fawnhearts on Jul 16, 2019 21:05:24 GMT -5
(( Willowthorn is moody because she wants an apprentice))
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Post by Jade on Jul 17, 2019 8:26:18 GMT -5
Featherspark smiled appreciatively, then dipped her head in understanding. "For what it's worth, I think you'd be a wonderful mentor," she purred. It was true; she could hardly imagine a better guide for a young spirit than the calm tom. Nonetheless, shaping troublesome kits into noble warriors wasn't a task fit for everyone, and there were certainly plenty of moments in which the rewards hardly seemed to be worth the mental strain. "With my first apprentice—though I've only ever had one—I'm fairly certain that I spent just as much time learning as she ever did. It really shone a light on all of the things that I'd never quite mastered myself. And I was never good at inflicting punishment, so I probably let her get away with much more than I should have." She let out a purr half to herself as memories of younger self bumbling her way through countless lessons floated through her mind. "I ended up enjoying it—maybe even more than my warrior duties—but I never was the best at hunting or fighting, so that might well have something to do with it," she commented, her whiskers twitching slightly with self-deprecating amusement. "The clan needs all of us to keep it thriving—teachers and warriors alike." ( Fawnhearts Ooh okay, nice!) Jadepaw's green eyes widened, and she fought the urge to cower under the weight of Willowthorn's glare. Instead, she gathered her strength and drew herself up as tall as her small form would allow. "Maybe you should take that up with Mistyfur," she commented wryly, allowing a bit of snark to seep into her mew. Though she had enough sense to generally avoid picking fights with full-grown warriors, Willowthorn's aggression was setting her on edge. Fierce loyalty coiled in her belly; any challenge to her beloved mentor was a challenge to Jadepaw herself. "But, if I remember correctly, the job of an apprentice is to learn how to serve my clan. It's not my fault that I was smart enough to take advantage of all of my resources." (Bramble--Haha maybe xD But then again...Mistyfur's absence makes for such good drama!) Sootstripe let a deep purr rumble through his chest as Mistyfur passed by. "Such a dutiful warrior," he teased, though the proud gleam in his eyes reveal genuine affection. In truth, he admired Mistyfur's dedication and selflessness, so much more abounding than his could ever be; it was yet another thing that drew him to her. Flicking his tail across her spine in farewell as she passed, he padded over to the rock and sprawled out across it, letting out a contented sigh as the warmth flooded his pelt. Without a word, he rolled over onto his side to gaze at the river—and at Mistyfur, situated on the bank..
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