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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Jun 3, 2020 20:46:30 GMT -5
Smokestorm nodded quickly in agreement. That would definitely cheer his father up and he almost couldn't wait to tell them. "Eagletalon and Shadedpine were by the warrior's den." He looked over for his brother. "We could tell them."
"You certainly aren't the same cat I remember from the nursery." Houndthroat flicked his tail and went back to moving the brambles out of the camp wall. "I never cared for Ratmask, but he seemed to have done you a lot of good." He looked back at Lilypaw and nodded. "I'm glad."
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Jun 3, 2020 20:47:42 GMT -5
"Do you think the other clans will think us weak because of it?" Frogleap flicked his tail nervously, pausing in his work to look at Starrylight.
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Post by Willow on Jun 3, 2020 20:55:37 GMT -5
Starrylight let out a short growl, digging her nails into the burnt bedding. “They better not. The other clans owe us their lives. If they turn around and attack us after that? I believe Starclan would not be on their side.”
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Post by Frozen on Jun 3, 2020 21:18:52 GMT -5
"Good," Shortcloud purred, knowing he wouldn't say no anyway. "As for someone else..." She glanced around camp, looking for anyone that seemed to be open. "I'm not sure. Any suggestions?" "Hmm...Let's take Kestrelgaze and Ravenflight." Brittlefoot nodded, glancing around camp. "If...they're available of course." He chuckled sheepishly. "I know a lot of the clan is busy at the moment, it's hard to keep track of everyone, admittedly. Hence why I'd make a terrible deputy." He joked. Shortcloud nodded to Russetshade, accepting her offer for help. “We can see if they want to come too.” She mewed in response to Brittlefoot. “Don’t sell yourself so short. It makes sense that everyone is scattered around. If Cedarstar made you deputy, I’d support you even if no one else did.” She reassured.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Jun 3, 2020 21:21:18 GMT -5
Frogleap nodded. "Yeah, yeah, you're right. If anything maybe..." He frowned lightly, not really liking the idea. "Maybe they'll pity us..."
Russetshade nodded to Shortcloud, ready whenever.
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Post by Moonblazer on Jun 3, 2020 21:26:35 GMT -5
Smokestorm nodded quickly in agreement. That would definitely cheer his father up and he almost couldn't wait to tell them. "Eagletalon and Shadedpine were by the warrior's den." He looked over for his brother. "We could tell them." "You certainly aren't the same cat I remember from the nursery." Houndthroat flicked his tail and went back to moving the brambles out of the camp wall. "I never cared for Ratmask, but he seemed to have done you a lot of good." He looked back at Lilypaw and nodded. "I'm glad." "That sounds good." Snakesong nodded quietly. "I know Eagletalon and Shadedpine won't get too, er...overly energetic about it, if it makes sense?" She offered, her ears flicking lightly as she glanced over towards the warrior's den. "Well...we'll also have to get up to go do that." She laughed. "I'm not a frightened little kit anymore." Lilypaw nodded firmly. "I don't need a loud voice though to be brave." She added in, knowing how soft-spoken she still was. "Ratmask has done the best he could with me. It's only fair that I respect that in return. He's incredibly smart, you know." She gave a small smile, before she gave a soft scoff. "But Starclan, he's a frog-brain when it comes to his kits."
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Post by Moonblazer on Jun 3, 2020 21:28:57 GMT -5
"Hmm...Let's take Kestrelgaze and Ravenflight." Brittlefoot nodded, glancing around camp. "If...they're available of course." He chuckled sheepishly. "I know a lot of the clan is busy at the moment, it's hard to keep track of everyone, admittedly. Hence why I'd make a terrible deputy." He joked. Shortcloud nodded to Russetshade, accepting her offer for help. “We can see if they want to come too.” She mewed in response to Brittlefoot. “Don’t sell yourself so short. It makes sense that everyone is scattered around. If Cedarstar made you deputy, I’d support you even if no one else did.” She reassured. "Hey, Russetshade!" Brittlefoot waved his tail before he offered a toothy snicker. "Nah. If anyone would make a good deputy, it would be you, Shortcloud. Or you, Russetshade. Though, I love you for being the most supportive mate ever." He purred, giving a wink.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Jun 3, 2020 21:29:11 GMT -5
Smokestorm nodded in agreement. He knew Eaglesight would be happy for him, but he wouldn't make it a big deal. At the last thing Snakesong said, Smokestorm chuckled. "Yeah, I suppose we do."
"I noticed that." Houndthroat shook his head, pulling another bramble out. "he doesn't even seem like he likes his kits that much."
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Post by Frozen on Jun 3, 2020 22:01:00 GMT -5
"Oh, no," Shortcloud shook her head, deflecting the praise. "I don't know if I'd ever have a shot at deputy. There's way more qualified cats in ShadowClan." she mewed. "But I will continue supporting you as your mate." she added.
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Post by Willow on Jun 3, 2020 22:24:42 GMT -5
Starrylight sighed, scraping together the bedding she had accidentally dispersed in her moment of anger. "While the thought of the other clans pitying us does not sit well with me either, I would prefer that over them trying to attack us in our time of weakness."
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Post by Icefire15 on Jun 3, 2020 22:26:55 GMT -5
"Really?" Tumblefoot blinked at Snowdance in surprise, his mood lightening at her words. "That would be so cool." Snowdance purred, “I’m sure it will be.” She said, giving him a smile before letting out a yawn that she had been trying to hold back, “I suppose I should get some rest. You should as well, you don’t want to over exert yourself.” Snowdance said, standing up and stretching.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Jun 3, 2020 22:27:21 GMT -5
Russetshade tapped her tail and sighed in light impatience at the conversation of the two.
"Maybe we could take advantage of them pitying us?" Frogleap tilted his head curiously. "Ratmask did it to me once. He got me to give up some of my bedding for him. I shivered the whole night and he just snickered." He looked back at Starrylight. "Maybe there's a way we could take advantage of the other Clans pitying us like Ratmask did me?"
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Jun 3, 2020 22:28:20 GMT -5
"Oh, ok." Tumblefoot nodded, but flicked his ear. He wanted to ask Snowdance more questions. "Thanks for everything, Snowdance. I don't want to keep you."
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Post by Willow on Jun 3, 2020 22:30:38 GMT -5
Starrylight tilted her head with interest "And how do you say we do that Frogleap?" she asked intently.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Jun 3, 2020 22:36:01 GMT -5
Frogleap shrugged with a bit of guilt on his face. "I dunno. When Ratmask took my bedding, he was shivering, but he had just been faking it and wanted more bedding because Leaffrost wasn't there for him. Maybe...maybe there's a way we could get prey and other materials from the other Clans by letting them think we're worse off than we actually are?"
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Post by Willow on Jun 3, 2020 22:43:15 GMT -5
Starrylight nodded slowly as she thought through the young warrior's plan. "The idea has a lot of potential Frogleap." she mewed genuinely. "Perhaps with some input from Cedarstar, Cloudscar and the senior warriors we could devise a thorough plan to use in action if we need to." she placed her tail tip on his shoulder, a smile on her face. "Good job Frogleap."
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Jun 3, 2020 23:02:09 GMT -5
Frogleap blinked in surprise, but then grew warm with embarrassment. "Oh...well...I mean I just....I was just fooled by Ratmask..."
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Post by Willow on Jun 3, 2020 23:19:05 GMT -5
Starrylight shook her head, taking a step back from the tom to look at him. "It may have started with that, but you came up with an idea to help your clan! You used your past experiences to hopefully better our future."
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Jun 3, 2020 23:21:09 GMT -5
Now Frogleap's ears really grew hot. "Thanks Starrylight. I really hope it helps." He looked back at the debris they were clearing out. "When do you think the material patrols will be back?"
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Post by Foxstar26 on Jun 3, 2020 23:29:06 GMT -5
Palepaw winced at the thought of having to collect their leader to help with this. He didn't want Cedarstar to see him like this! Palepaw pulled a bit more frantically at his claws and nearly lost his balance all together. "StarClan knows why." Ashrock muttered back. He dropped his jaw to scent the air, but there was nothing to smell but charred wood and ash. They'd have to go further. “Hey calm down. Take it slow.” Flintclaw instructed. He moved to try and help the apprentice loosen his claws. He didn’t need him stuck here. Stonesong followed after him. She scented the air but couldn’t smell prey. She sighed slightly and kept moving forward. Hopefully they could find something.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Jun 3, 2020 23:36:06 GMT -5
Once Palepaw found his balance, he visible deflated, stilling to keep himself from falling. "We're not going to tell the CLan about this...are we?" He asked his mentor miserably.
The further they went, Ashrock was a having a hard time hiding his yawns of exhaustion. Not being able to scent anything only worsened his mood, and when he tripped over a root because his tired paws didn't lift as high as he thought they wound, he full out cursed.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Jun 4, 2020 0:46:57 GMT -5
Cedarstar followed his apprentice quietly through the shadows. What was she doing out here? She was supposed to be doing her chores by taking care of the elders! He had been warned that she was slacking off and when he spotted her slip out of camp, he had to find out why. What was so important that she was risking getting her apprenticeship prolonged because she wasn't doing her chores?
Her black pelt blended with the shadows and Cedarstar probably would've lost her if it weren't for the fact that her tail was too low and leaving tracks on the ground--he'd have to address that during their next training session. At first, Cedarstar thought she was heading for the Burnt Sycamore and he lashed his tail. It would be just like her to try and get in some extra training. Did she think that increasing her skills would make up for her skimping out on chores? How was that proving she could be responsible enough to become a warrior? Instead, Cedarstar's apprentice veered away from the Burnt Sycamore, which only peeked Cedarstar's curiousness even more. Where was she going?
They ended up at the Carrionplace. She was definitely trying to lose a tail by the round-a-bout way she went from camp to the Burnt Sycamore and now back to the Carrionplace, but Cedarstar kept up with her. What exactly was she trying to hide? Cedarstar remained crouched in the shadows, his eyes narrowed on his apprentice as she stepped into a clearing of the Carrionplace. She looked around as if making sure she was alone, then sat down to clean her paws. Not a few moments later, another cat came into the clearing. It was her brother. Cedarstar flattened his ears, the two of them shouldn't be out here by themselves.
"Alright, I'll show you what I did in training today." Cedarstar's apprentice immediately stood up when she spotted her brother. "We'll prove to the Clan that you can be a warrior!" However, her brother didn't look as convinced.
Cedarstar let out a quiet sigh of understanding. How could he be so foolish? Of course this was what his apprentice was doing. He looked over at her brother. The tom had a pelt as black as pitch and when he turned his head, Cedarstar got a full view of his eyes, which were also as black as pitch. As much as it should've startled him, Cedarstar felt nothing when looking at the tom's gaze as if those eyes were as normal as the pines were green. Yet, as strange as it was that the tom's eyes were pure black, there was a reason for it. He was blind.
Cedarstar got up and padded into the clearing, shaking his head as both his apprentice and her brother flinched when they realized he was there. "What are you two doing?"
His apprentice flattened her ears, she glanced at her brother then looked fully at Cedarstar, the white moon of fur that wrapped around her blue eyes burned into Cedarstar's mind. "We're training!" She stated bluntly, confidently. "My brother is going to be a warrior! The best warrior in ShadowClan! No matter what anyone else says!"
"Calm down." Cedarstar sighed and flicked his tail. He lowered himself to a sitting position to make sure he didn't get caught up in his apprentice's passion. He knew better than most that her determination was like a fire spreading through the Clans. "Are you making any progress with these secret sessions of yours?"
"No." The brother deflated and flattened his ears, his voice was a miserable mutter. "None at all."
Cedarstar's apprentice grit her teeth. "We just haven't figured out the best way for him to learn yet, that's all!"
"The best way for a blind cat to become a warrior?" Cedarstar flicked his ear twice in betrayal of his doubt, he looked over at the brother, having a hard time keeping a frown from his face. "There has never been a blind warrior in the Clans before, it may not be possible."
"Anything is possible!" Cedarstar's apprentice snapped back at him like a fox trap. "There's no reason why he can't become a warrior! He's meant to be a warrior!"
Cedarstar shook his head, his pelt prickling at her blunt disagreement. However, deep down, he did consider the challenge. He knew the blind tom wasn't getting the special treatment he needed to become a warrior. The tom's mentor hardly spenttime with him anyway. Cedarstar often tore his claws into the ground when he saw the disregard of the blind tom's mentor. How could anyone treat their apprentice like that? The challenge of training a blind cat was definitely greater than training a normal apprentice. The she-cat in the clearing may have been Cedarstar's first apprentice, but he would've welcomed the challenge of turning a blind cat into a warrior. He could almost imagine it. What would the Clans think of him if he trained the blind tom into one of the greatest warriors in all the Clans? Cedarstar took a deep breath and looked back at his apprentice. He wanted the challenge and they looked like they needed the help. When she saw the contemplation in his eyes, Cedarstar's apprentice perked up. She took a step toward him and though she would never say the words out loud, Cedarstar saw the plea in her eyes. Those sparkling eyes of deep blue. "Show me what you've been doing." Cedarstar gave in, there was no way he couldn't. "Maybe I can help."
"Alright!" Cedarstar's apprentice dropped into a battle stance with her excitement. She turned toward her brother with a wide smile on her face. "Show him what you can do!"
Cedarstar looked to the brother only to find the young tom was staring right back at him. It made Cedarstar's gut curl. That didn't make sense, the blind tom never looked anyone in the eye. Yet, the young tom's pitch black eyes were fading to a deep green, one that was so familiar, but Cedarstar couldn't place it.
"Go on without me, Cedarstar. Save yourself!"
The voice that came from the young apprentice's lips didn't belong to the apprentice. Cedarstar took a step back and fear crept within his heart. This didn't make any sense. Suddenly, a loud pop occurred from behind and when Cedarstar whirled around the entire territory was up in flames. Fire towered as tall as the pines and the coolness of the Carrionplace was chased away with stinging heat. A gasp of agony broke from Cedarstar's throat and when he looked down at his paws, his legs were twisted and mauled with black burns. Cedarstar whipped back around to the apprentices, he had to get them out of here! However, the she-cat was gone and in the blind tom's place was a ragged black warrior with green eyes. Weak coughs were coming from his throat.
"Crowfur!" Cedarstar darted forward, panic picking up his heart rate. He tried nudging the warrior to his paws, but Crowfur was too weak to stand. Cedarstar then grabbed him by the scruff of the neck to drag him out of the flames.
"No...go, Cedarstar." Harsh coughs broke from Crowfur's lips and he blinked weakly up at the ShadowClan leader. "Save yourself!"
"I can't leave you!" Cedarstar spoke through the tom's black fur. Every step he took was in vain. He could see the safety of Fourtrees where the air was clear and the grass was green, but with his every step it stretched further and further away. "I can't!"
"You have too..." Crowfur body slowly fell limp and anguish racked through Cedarstar's heart. "It's too late..."
"No!" Cedarstar dropped the warrior and shoved him with his paws in attempt to keep the consciousness from fading from Crowfur's eyes. "You can't....I'm sorry! Crowfur, no! I'M SORRY!"
Cedarstar woke with a jolt of fright spiking through his veins. He sat up quickly, sweating with his heart beating like a wild drum. He frantically looked around, fearing the fire was bearing down on his neck; yet, realizing he was in the leader's den brought him some relief. It was just a dream. Cedarstar licked his lips, his throat having gone dry. Pain from his sudden movement flared through his burns and he grit his teeth in order to hold back a groan. The ShadowClan leader slowly laid back down, unable to stop the rapid flicking of his ear caused by the fear that came over him. It was just a dream and yet it didn't make any sense to him. He wasn't surprised he was having nightmares about the fire, he was still wrecked with guilt about not being able to save the eighteen clanmates that died in the flames, but the two apprentices that the dream started out with...
I haven't seen her in a long time...Cedarstar thought back to the she-cat, the white moon on her face burned into his mind. He used to have reoccurring dreams with her in them, but those dreams were vastly different from this one and he didn't even know who she was and yet now, she had a brother? Cedarstar shook his head. It wasn't important. He had once wanted to be a great mentor like his father. That dream had been dashed away when he became leader, so his subconscious mind was probably just trying to cope with losing it. He laid his head back down on the ground, wishing that Starrylight was with him, but he knew she was helping clean up the camp since he couldn't. Just forget it. He told himself. The dream wasn't important. What was important was that he rested and got better so that he could be there for the Clan. Yet, he didn't think he could sleep anymore, not with the threat of nightmares looming over him. Instead, he tentatively sat back up, being careful of his burns. Snowdance or Opalmist hadn't been back to reapply herbs to him, so he took this time to clean the puss from his wounds the best he could and do everything in his power to not think about the dream.
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Post by Willow on Jun 4, 2020 8:43:06 GMT -5
well hello there Mr. Batpaw. )
Starrylight sighed, looking up at the sky to see how much time had passed since they left. "Hopefully soon, although I'm sure it's going to be hard to find materials to use. Our whole territory seems to be touched by the fire."
Duskpaw inched closer on Palepaw's other side, copying Flintclaw's movements in hopes that she could help free him as well. "I won't tell anyone." she assured.
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Post by Firebelly on Jun 4, 2020 12:26:25 GMT -5
Cherryvine purred, leaning against him for a moment. "I felt rather alone in the clan before you showed up. Shadowclan has always been my home but you solidified my place here more than any other cat." she mewed truthfully. "I love you Stormfury." Stormfury purred, pressing against his mate "I love you too" he said, licking the top of her head. Pulling away from her he scanned the singed trees around him and scented the air. They seemed to be alone. Maybe now was the best time to talk to her. "Cherryvine, there's something I need to tell you." he said, keeping his voice quiet, but sincere.
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Post by Willow on Jun 4, 2020 12:29:13 GMT -5
Cherryvine's eyes flickered with worry, "Oh? What is it?" she asked, shifting from paw to paw anxiously at what he could want to tell her alone.
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Post by Firebelly on Jun 4, 2020 12:46:06 GMT -5
Stormfury sat down, and wrapped his tail around his paws nervously. "So....you know I'm from WindClan." he began, looking up a this mate. "But we never really talked about my parentage. I'm sure you remember...but Northstar let me into ShadowClan partially because I have ShadowClan blood running through my veins just as much as I have WindClan blood." Nope. Abort. He had to break eye contact. This was way too hard. He hurriedly dropped his eyes to his paws. "I was....I was thinking...that you're my mate, and you should know all there is to know about me...especially before we have kits."
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Post by Willow on Jun 4, 2020 12:50:05 GMT -5
Cherryvine relaxed as he explained himself. She looked at him intently, nodding for him to continue. "Alright, so your father? He's in the clan? Or was in the clan? Is he still here?" she asked with a tilt of her head. Her mind began to process the possibilities, who could it have been?
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Post by Foxstar26 on Jun 4, 2020 12:59:17 GMT -5
Flintclaw shook his head. “Nope, it’ll be our secret.” He promised his apprentice. He didn’t want to embarrass him in front of the whole clan.
“Are you ok?” Stonesong was immediately at his side when he tripped. She was unable to hide the concern that laced her voice.
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Post by Firebelly on Jun 4, 2020 13:10:44 GMT -5
Stormfury nodded. "I grew up hating ShadowClan. I resented that my father abandoned us, or never loved us enough to leave to be with us. I resented that I had a ShadowClan frame and was way too big to fit in with WindClan." He didn't know where he was going with this. He should just tell her. Be done with it. "Anyways...when I left WindClan...er...when I was kicked out...I didn't know where else to go...and..." he paused, then took a deep breath. "and then when I came here, Northstar saw fit to assign you to watch over me....as well as my father." He glanced up at Cherryvine, unable to say Cloudscar's name.
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Post by Willow on Jun 4, 2020 13:13:22 GMT -5
Cherryvine gaped as she realized her mentor was also her mate's father. Their previous conversation now making much more sense. "Oh no. I told your father his mate was dead." she whispered. "I feel so bad now! No wonder he looked so upset."
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