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Post by Firebelly on Oct 1, 2020 9:11:59 GMT -5
Whorlpaw jumped when Stormfury spoke to her. As they walked through the territory, the burns, the ash, the lingering of smoke was getting to her. She flattened her ears and seemed to shrink at the sight of the black trees towering like grave markers and the ash in the wind that looked like ghosts. She hadn't noticed the frog scent and when Stormfury said her name, she startled and blinked back at her mentor. "Wh-what?" Palepaw frowned lightly at Whorlpaw's reaction and almost volunteered to go after the frog instead. However, he managed to keep his mouth shut. Stormfury blinked in surprise at Whorlpaw's reaction, but his face softened as he understood. Perhaps he had moved too quickly with the young she-cat, this was the only territory she had ever known and now...well now there wasn't much left. He placed his tail reassuringly on her shoulder. "I know it's hard Whorlpaw." he said softly. "This is your home, but it doesn't look or feel like it." He paused and looked around at the smoldering forest around him. "Take a deep breath and, when you're ready, see if you can scent the frog."
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Post by Zz on Oct 1, 2020 9:25:25 GMT -5
"I use to be really good at hunting, like really good. My shaking and tremors got worse as I grew though and I began to mess up more often but by then I was already a warrior." He let out a long, sorrowful sigh. "I know, weak right? No wonder I've been turned down by everyone I've ever liked. I can't do anything to help the clan and so I couldn't do anything for them either."
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Oct 1, 2020 10:03:05 GMT -5
Littlemoon nodded in quiet agreement, her thoughts drifting back to the deaths of Scorchfire, Icefire, and Viperpool. "I'm worried about prey too," she mewed softly. "Leaf-bare is right around the corner. If we don't find prey soon, the Clan will enter our hardest season starving."
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Oct 1, 2020 10:08:06 GMT -5
Whorlpaw smiled gratefully at her mentor for understanding. Her pelt still itched with all the soot and ash drifting about, but she wanted to make Stormfury proud. Hesitance lingered in her eyes at the thought of taking a deep breath of the smoldered territory, but she parted her lips and attempted it. The scent of char that layered her tongue coursed a shiver down her spine and memories of watching the territory blaze came back to her mind, but she focused on trying to push past it. Stormfury said there was a frog scent so it had to be here. "I think..." Whorlpaw's brow furrowed with focus and she took another deep breath. "I think I got it."
"Well, now things change." Frogleap flicked his ear as he looked at Treadtail. "We'll make you feel like a warrior again, Treadtail, and the Clan will see your worth. We just have to keep at it. Why don't you lead the hunt? I can give you pointers if I notice anything wrong."
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Post by Firebelly on Oct 1, 2020 11:16:37 GMT -5
Stormfury nodded. His apprentice seemed to be pointed in the general direction of the frog. "Would you like to try and catch it?" He asked encouragingly. Knowing how nervous the apprentice was, there was a chance she would say no, but Stormfury wanted to give her the chance to try if she wanted.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Oct 1, 2020 11:31:35 GMT -5
Whorlpaw flicked her ear in uncertainty. She wanted to prove herself an able hunter, but she didn't want to risk not catching the frog especially since the Clan so desperately needed prey. "I..." Whorlpaw seemed to deflate in both embarrassment and shame. "I think it would be better if someone else caught it...I'm...the Clan really needs it."
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Post by Zz on Oct 1, 2020 13:21:40 GMT -5
Treadtail gave a soft smile and nodded, his ears and tail perking up at the idea of leading a patrol for the first time in forever. "Okay. With the fire there won't be much around, most prey would still be hiding away. I think we would ave the most luck at the Carrionplace or finding some rocks and seeing if there's any lizards hiding in those. Which one sounds better to you?"
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Oct 1, 2020 13:34:19 GMT -5
"I think the rocks and lizards would be the better idea." Frogleap commented calmly. "Remember, the fire started in carrionplace, so its still pretty damaged over there. I doubt the prey has returned."
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Post by Zz on Oct 1, 2020 13:35:42 GMT -5
"Oh, I forgot about that. Sorry, my head still hurts from that branch." The tom looked around the charred forest before setting off in the direction of a pie of rocks that he use to go to when he was an apprentice, before the accident.
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Post by Firebelly on Oct 1, 2020 13:59:37 GMT -5
Whorlpaw flicked her ear in uncertainty. She wanted to prove herself an able hunter, but she didn't want to risk not catching the frog especially since the Clan so desperately needed prey. "I..." Whorlpaw seemed to deflate in both embarrassment and shame. "I think it would be better if someone else caught it...I'm...the Clan really needs it." Stormfury looked at his apprentice for a long moment. "Yes, the clan needs the frog, but the clan also needs warriors who know how to hunt. Are you sure you don't want to try? There will be other frogs, and I doubt the forest is going to go back to the way it was anytime soon. We have to adjust to a new normal here, whether we want to or not." He hoped the apprentice wasn't taking his words in the wrong way, he just didn't want her to be too scared to try.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Oct 1, 2020 14:03:59 GMT -5
"No worries." Frogleap shrugged easily. "I still can't believe it happened sometimes. I couldn't imagine being in Goldberry's or Tumblefoot's paws when that explosion went off."
(Swiftfury XD)
Whorlpaw flattened her ears and glanced at Coalpaw and Palepaw with a bit of embarrassment. She really wanted to try. She had been a good hunter before the fire started, but with the change of the territory, she wasn't as sure of herself anymore. Palepaw smiled softly at her to try and be encouraging. "I...I could try," she mewed quietly.
(I gotta poof)
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Post by Zz on Oct 1, 2020 14:06:49 GMT -5
The tom nodded, not able to imagine that either as he saw the rock pile appear through the trees ahead. "I use to come here when I was young, before the accident. We had a thing we would do where one of us would move a rock and the other would keep watch and catch whatever ran out from underneath when we moved it."
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Post by Firebelly on Oct 1, 2020 14:07:22 GMT -5
STORMfury gave her a warm grin. "Great! Now, remember what I've taught you. Keep yourself low to the ground, and move extra slowly because of the lack of shadows." He pointed with his tail towards where the frogscent had been, and then dropped once again into an example crouch.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Oct 1, 2020 16:11:11 GMT -5
(Hey guys, I'm sorry to say I probably won't be on much in the next day or two. I went and screwed up my phone and now the screen isn't working. I can still rp on my laptop, but I don't know when I'll be back on it. I won't be able to check Line either. Sorry )
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Oct 1, 2020 16:37:46 GMT -5
Frogleap nodded, it was a pretty common tactic. "Want to try it? I can move the rocks around for you to catch the prey hiding underneath."
Whorlpaw nodded slowly and carefully slipped into a hunter's crouch to mimic her mentor. She didn't want to start going after the frog until her technique was good. Palepaw backed out of the way so he wouldn't mess up her hunt.
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Post by VIXENCLAW on Oct 1, 2020 18:09:20 GMT -5
Sootwhisker huffed, shaking his head. “Leaf-bare is the last thing we need right now. I don’t know what we’re going to do.”
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Post by Moonblazer on Oct 1, 2020 20:09:11 GMT -5
Coalpaw watched Whorlpaw with an expression of support, wanting the younger she-cat to succeed, even if it meant that she would surpass him. He held no bitterness for his clanmates when they beat him in hunting or sparring. If anything, he was glad that at least they could succeed in their training. He mewed quietly, supportively. "You got this, Whorlpaw! Go catch it!"
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Oct 1, 2020 20:21:32 GMT -5
"We'll find a way to survive, surely." Littlemoon flicked her ear as if she were trying to convince herself. "I would StarClan wouldn't be too cruel to us this season. Northstar is up there after all, wouldn't she speak on our behalf?"
Whorlpaw smiled softly at Coalpaw, grateful for the other apprentice's support.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Oct 3, 2020 11:15:56 GMT -5
(Being without a phone sucks)
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Post by Frozen on Oct 3, 2020 14:12:21 GMT -5
I hope it gets fixed, Moon)
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Post by Jewelspirit on Oct 4, 2020 8:43:35 GMT -5
Hiddendream let out a shaky breath feeling her fathers gaze on her belly, "I just...hope I'll be a good mother....," she let out a shaky breath. She didnt know how to do this alone and she was scared and obviously worried.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Oct 5, 2020 10:26:46 GMT -5
"You will." Cliffheart's throat rumbled with a rough purr. "You had an excellent role model after all. I know you'll be the best mother for your kits."
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Oct 5, 2020 11:13:23 GMT -5
"I don't see how this is going to help, we've tried EVERYTHING." Cedarstar flicked his ear in light annoyance as he led the blind, black apprentice through the forest. He had his tail stretched out so the apprentice could use it as an anchor to guide him through the territory. Their destination was the Burnt Sycamore. Cedarstar's apprentice was covering for the two of them while Cedarstar took her brother out for a training session. He was getting annoyed with how much the young tom was complaining. Cedarstar knew how much this tom wanted to be a warrior, but complaining wasn't going to do him any good. Though, perhaps all the discouragement he's received from the Clan has given him that nasty habit. "Well, you haven't tried things my way yet. I suggest you don't give up before we even begin. Is that what a warrior does?" "No..." the apprentice muttered. Cedarstar nodded curtly. "Good. We're almost there." He glanced back over his shoulder at the young tom. The apprentice's black eyes were directed at the ground, but unable to see it. His ears remained forward and didn't even twitch when prey broke a twig a couple paces to their left. What's more is that the tom's paws hardly left the ground. He tripped on things just because he wasn't lifting them high enough. Cedarstar sighed. He didn't know any other blind cats, but he swore this young tom was the laziest of all of them. When it came to his own apprentice, Cedarstar made sure that laziness didn't last. It was time to do the same to this young tom. Cedarstar suddenly bounded ahead, whisking his tail away from the apprentice as he did. The blind tom immediately stopped and he straightened his posture, ears finally alert. Cedarstar was only five paces ahead, but the apprentice looked like he thought Cedarstar had disappeared completely. The blind tom said his name, but Cedarstar couldn't make out the words. "Where did you go?" The apprentice asked. He took a step forward, trying to reach out with his nose to locate Cedarstar's tail. He called out the warrior's name once again. "Scent for me," Cedarstar instructed. "And meet me at the Burnt Sycamore." "But I don't know the way!" "Scents are your markers." Cedarstar flicked his ear at the apprentice's resistance. "While cats who can see use visual markers to remember their way, you will have to remember scents. Each part of the territory has its own scents. Like that clementine right next to you." Cedarstar motioned to the herb, but he didn't know how he knew that was clementine. "Remember it as something you pass on your way to the Burnt Sycamore. The Burnt Sycamore even has its own scents that identify it. You have to rely on every sense you have to get around." Cedarstar watched the apprentice calmly. The blind tom was listening to him, that he could tell, he just hoped he made enough sense. "Feel the territory through your paws, hear its very heartbeat. You can do this." "I can do this." There was hesitation brought on by fear in the young tom's voice, but his ears fell back in determination. He parted his lips and perked his ears and Cedarstar felt a sense of pride. Yet, the whole territory warped in front of his eyes. Cedarstar blinked and took a step back when the pitch black of the blind tom's eyes and pelt suddenly bleed into the territory around him. The world darkened, the trees turned black and their leaves fell away only to phase to shadows that haunted the air like a heavy mist. The brightness of the sunlight that had dappled the territory was snuffed out and when Cedarstar looked up, he thought night had fallen; however, not a single star of silverpelt shone in the sky. The edges of his pelt itched with fear when he realized what the world had become. Yet, the fear was unable to penetrate his heart. He felt nothing as he looked around the Dark Forest. The cold wind didn't chill his spine, the starless sky didn't haunt him. He felt nothing. He felt...empty. Cedarstar looked for the blind apprentice. Blackness was still slipping from the apprentice, revealing a white pelt with ginger and black patches underneath. Cedarstar blinked in surprise when he recognized his mentor. It was Cliffheart--no...Cliffpaw? Cliffheart was young. As young as that blind apprentice had been which meant he was still Cliffpaw. Either way, Cliffpaw looked absolutely terrifying. He faced Cedarstar with a delighted snarl upon his lips. His ears were pinned back, his pelt was ungroomed, and more importantly, blood stained his unsheathed claws. That's when Cedarstar noticed the pain in his shoulder. He was bleeding. It was his blood on Cliffpaw's claws. As much as that should have scared him, Cedarstar still felt nothing. Nothing but annoyance. He flattened his ears and glared at his former mentor. Yet, his glare only caused Cliffpaw to hiss in delight. His tail waved in anticipation. He wanted this fight. Fine. Cedarstar narrowed his eyes and slid his own claws out. It was time to teach this kit what a real warrior of the shadows could do. With a hiss of his own, Cedarstar charged and Cliffpaw immediately pounced. Their claws met in a fury and blood spattered the ground.
Cedarstar jolted awake and immediately regretted it when pain from his burns seared up his shoulder. He blinked rapidly to get the crust away from his eyes and he found solace when he realized he was back in the leader's den. He hadn't even realized he drifted off. Cedarstar looked toward the den's entrance and the little light to him that evening would soon drop to night. He idly wondered how the Clan was doing. Had Cloudscar come to visit him? Starrylight? Anyone? He parted his jaws to scent the air for lingering scents and determined that whoever had come to visit him had left when they realized he was asleep. Cedarstar flicked his ear a couple times and laid his head on his paws, the dream drifting back into his mind. He had been with that blind apprentice again and this time, the moon-printed cat wasn't around. The first part of the dream hardly bothered him. In a way, it satisfied his desire to be a mentor. However, when the dream phased to the shadows of the Dark Forest...Cedarstar shuttered at the image of a young Cliffheart. He knew his former mentor's past as well as anyone; however, he couldn't imagine that Cliffheart had been that terrible. It was probably brought on by recent events, Cedarstar reasoned. Cliffheart had just found out about Owlshadow and knowing he was destinied for the Dark Forest, he would never see her again. Cedarstar shook his head and looked toward the den entrance once again. He hated having dreams like these. Ones that start off so innocent with the moon-printed cat and the blind tom, only to shift to something he didn't want to see. I need to get out of this den before these dreams drive me mad, he huffed.
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Post by Zz on Oct 5, 2020 17:14:08 GMT -5
Treadtail gave a sharp nod and moved around the pile, looking for a decent sized rock that was also loose. Upon finding one he gestured to it with his tail before getting in place, ready to catch any prey that darted out. With the fire having happened the lizards would've headed into the rocks for shelter after all.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Oct 5, 2020 17:24:37 GMT -5
Frogleap nodded back to Treadtail and quietly moved over to the rock. He waited until Treadtail was in place before used all his might to roll the rock back. A lizard had been hiding beneath and it darted away from Frogleap as soon as the rock was moved.
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Post by Frozen on Oct 5, 2020 18:13:59 GMT -5
Hey)
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Post by Firebelly on Oct 5, 2020 18:18:18 GMT -5
Stormfury watched his apprentice carefully. As she slipped down into a hunting crouch he gently touched his tail to her shoulder in a silent reminder to drop just a bit lower than she was already. Then he gave her a silent, but encouraging nod and took a step back, signalling for her to go after the frog.
---
Cloudscar was back in camp threading some bracken into the nursery. His mind drifted towards Swallowfeather, and he felt guilt, then relief, then more guilt rise in his throat. Ever since he and Swallowfeather became mates he had felt like a disappointment to his clan, and to his family. Now that disappointment was gone, but Swallowfeather was gone with it. He let out a quiet sigh and stepped back to admire his handy work.
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Post by Frozen on Oct 5, 2020 18:20:40 GMT -5
Shortcloud had left Cedarstar to rest a while ago, looking for Cloudscar to do as she promised. At last she spotted the white tom near the nursery and approached. “Cloudscar? Are you busy with something?” she asked.
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Post by Firebelly on Oct 5, 2020 18:31:12 GMT -5
Cloudscar was jolted from his thoughts as he heard his name. Seeing Shortcloud padding towards him, he pricked his ears and turned to the younger warrior. "No, I'm just finishing up here." He said as he turned. "Is there something you need?"
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Post by Foxstar26 on Oct 5, 2020 18:50:44 GMT -5
hey)
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