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Post by Firebelly on Mar 13, 2021 22:14:29 GMT -5
Hollyvine purred excitedly as her new name was called and she looked around at her siblings and parents.
Oakfall held his tail high, proud of his name.
((Sorry I'm so slow and short posts, on phone and packing for a move))
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Mar 13, 2021 23:37:44 GMT -5
Cedarstar purred. "As is tradition, the three of you will sit vigil over the Clan while we rest. I know we will be in good paws."
Houndthroat flicked his ear watching Lilywhisper and her siblings become warriors. He gave a single huff of amusement. I guess the shrimp could do it after all.
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Post by Moonblazer on Mar 14, 2021 8:06:06 GMT -5
Lilywhisper nodded at Cedarstar’s words, though it was Houndthroat’s twitch of the ear that made her want to puff her chest and lift her chin. Maybe now he would realize that she was just as tough as he was. It would be much easier to show him up on patrol now that they could go on them together more often. She blinked the thought away, a bit vexed that she was so caught up on him in-particular. She had a vigil to look forward to now.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Mar 14, 2021 15:38:08 GMT -5
Cedarstar looked to the clan and flicked his ear a little awkwardly. He didn't feel the most confident with how he dismissed everyone and not knowing what to say, he just resorted to nodding his head. Littlemoon and Kinkfire understood what he meant and started heading back to their duties, but Frogleap and Tumblefoot were still lingering thinking that Cedarstar wasn't done.
Houndthroat got up when Cedarstar nodded curtly. He padded over to Lilywhisper. "I guess congratulations are in order. Try not to talk so much on your vigil."
Ashrock got up and slipped through the crowd over to Stonesong. "Hey."
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Post by Moonblazer on Mar 14, 2021 15:53:48 GMT -5
Cedarstar looked to the clan and flicked his ear a little awkwardly. He didn't feel the most confident with how he dismissed everyone and not knowing what to say, he just resorted to nodding his head. Littlemoon and Kinkfire understood what he meant and started heading back to their duties, but Frogleap and Tumblefoot were still lingering thinking that Cedarstar wasn't done. Houndthroat got up when Cedarstar nodded curtly. He padded over to Lilywhisper. "I guess congratulations are in order. Try not to talk so much on your vigil." Ashrock got up and slipped through the crowd over to Stonesong. "Hey." “Oh, right.” Lilywhisper snorted, though her eyes flickered with humor, in too good of a mood to get cross. “That shouldn’t be hard. My name is Lilywhisper, after all.” She teased, the small Warrior looking up at him. “Were you silent during yours?” Snakesong brushed close to Smokestorm, mewing quietly. “I’m really happy for them. New ceremonies are a good thing...though, I think Cedarstar didn’t end the meeting properly.” She fretted.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Mar 14, 2021 16:19:55 GMT -5
Houndthroat flicked his ear and looked away. "Of course, every warrior is." Granted, he wished he hadn't been that night considering his sisters disappeared soon afterwards.
Smokestorm nodded in agreement with everything she said. "It's been a while since he did a meeting. Maybe he's just out of touch?" He eyed the scars on Cedarstar's skin. "I mean, I would hate to stand in front of everyone looking like that."
Cedarstar turned to Rustlepaw, flicking his ear as he actually found himself a little nervous. Leading the Clan and training a blind apprentice? Was he really up for this? "You ready to explore the territory, Rustlepaw?"
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Post by Moonblazer on Mar 14, 2021 16:26:44 GMT -5
Houndthroat flicked his ear and looked away. "Of course, every warrior is." Granted, he wished he hadn't been that night considering his sisters disappeared soon afterwards. Smokestorm nodded in agreement with everything she said. "It's been a while since he did a meeting. Maybe he's just out of touch?" He eyed the scars on Cedarstar's skin. "I mean, I would hate to stand in front of everyone looking like that." Cedarstar turned to Rustlepaw, flicking his ear as he actually found himself a little nervous. Leading the Clan and training a blind apprentice? Was he really up for this? "You ready to explore the territory, Rustlepaw?" Lilywhisper’s humor faded into a quiet sort of realization, and she softened ever so slightly, shrugging. “You’ve always been a dedicated Warrior. I wouldn’t be surprised if you had a perfect vigil. And hunted right afterwards.” She assumed. “Ohhh no no.” Snakesong shuddered at the thought. “I could never be deputy or leader. All those eyes on me...I-...I’d be terrified.” She admitted, before she looked at Cedarstar with sympathy. “The poor tom...all those burns...” Rustlepaw swallowed down her nerves, wanting to prove to her leader and mentor that she could be an asset to Shadowclan, even if she couldn’t see it. She nodded excitedly. “Yes, Cedarstar. Mother and father told me about what it’ll scent like, but it’s always better to be in that area than to describe it.” She ducked her head politely, before she scampered close to him, stopping as soon as she felt the faintest brush of fur.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Mar 14, 2021 17:03:25 GMT -5
Houndthroat couldn't help the strange look he gave her. Why was she complimenting him? "The vigil was quiet just like yours will be and I didn't hunt. I went to bed." He shook his head and started to get up. "I shouldn't be taking up your time."
"Well, I dont' want all eyes on you." Smokestorm nudged her gently. "Just mine." He followed her gaze back to Cedarstar and idly shrugged. "Cedarstar's tough. I'm sure he can handle those burns."
Cedarstar nodded curtly. "Then follow me." He gently laid his tail against her shoulder and started for the camp entrance. He glanced back to make sure she was following alright. In his dream, he made that pitch black apprentice follow his scent instead of leading him with his tail, but he didn't want to do that with Rustlepaw just yet.
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Post by thistle on Mar 14, 2021 18:21:22 GMT -5
Scampering out of the camp after Duskpaw once the ceremonies had ended, Fuzzypaw didn't wait for Thistlestalk to catch up. Trotting along at the other apprentice's shoulder, she scented the air for just a moment before turning her head towards her.
"It's so exciting every time I get to leave camp! Do you think Oakfall and Lilywhisper and Hollyvine still get excited?" she mused. "Do you still get excited? Oh, what if it wears off, and by the time I'm a warrior I'm bored of our territory!?" Fuzzypaw gasped, but then took in the way the shadows were soft and murky beneath the pines, and how faint starlight twinkled between the boughs. "Nah," she meowed, opening her mouth to scent the air again, picking up the faintest scent of a mouse scurrying in the needles somewhere ahead. "I couldn't ever be bored of this place"
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Post by Moonblazer on Mar 15, 2021 7:13:03 GMT -5
Houndthroat couldn't help the strange look he gave her. Why was she complimenting him? "The vigil was quiet just like yours will be and I didn't hunt. I went to bed." He shook his head and started to get up. "I shouldn't be taking up your time." "Well, I dont' want all eyes on you." Smokestorm nudged her gently. "Just mine." He followed her gaze back to Cedarstar and idly shrugged. "Cedarstar's tough. I'm sure he can handle those burns." Cedarstar nodded curtly. "Then follow me." He gently laid his tail against her shoulder and started for the camp entrance. He glanced back to make sure she was following alright. In his dream, he made that pitch black apprentice follow his scent instead of leading him with his tail, but he didn't want to do that with Rustlepaw just yet. “You’re not taking up all that much.” Lilywhisper mewed on instinct, a part of her feeling a flutter of disdain at the thought of him walking off. She glanced at her brother and sister before she offered. “We don’t start for a little while longer. Unless...you do want to go off somewhere else, I won’t force you to talk to me...” Snakesong felt her pelt burn with warmth, her paws shuffling shyly as she purred at Smokestorm’s words and affections. With him, she could believe his words, and believe that she was worth his love. She pressed close to him, always such a steady presence. “That’s true...Cedarstar is more than just his scars. He seemed to really enjoy the ceremonies. I’m...happy that he seems to be settling in better. It must be hard, I know I couldn’t do his job.” Rustlepaw turned her head at the touch of his tail, before she nodded and began to trail after him with the aid of her mentor’s tail. She began to take in as many scents as possible the moment she stepped out of camp, able to tell when the fresh scent of thistle changed to a more muddy scent. The ground was soft, and she could feel small patches of dry grass brush against her paws. Everything was already so new! She felt a rush of excitement at the thought of discovering more. “Does it look lovely out here? I’m sure it must, if it’s our home. I like the way everything feels.” She admitted.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Mar 15, 2021 11:13:42 GMT -5
"You won't force? Please. You always do." Houndthroat huffed, but his tone was light. He didn't move off. "You know what what standing vigil stands for right? Someone has to make sure you do it correctly."
Smokestorm chuckled. "The day that Cedarstar stops enjoying apprentice and warrior ceremonies is the day the Dark Forest takes over." He gently nudged his mate. "Everyone knows he had a passion for apprentices like his father even before he became deputy. I'm just surprised it took him this long to give himself another apprentice."
Cedarstar flicked his ear. Did it look lovely out here? He idly glanced at the scars on the trees from the fire that raged through their territory. "Why don't you tell me?" Cedarstar didn't move too far from the camp entrance. He didn't want to pull Rustlepaw away from camp too quickly. She needed to become familiar with every part of the territory and he wanted her to take her time in that. "Tell me how it feels. How every smells and sounds."
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Post by Willow on Mar 18, 2021 11:39:56 GMT -5
Spottedpaw watched as Cedarstar and Rustlepaw headed out of camp, he turned eagerly to Lynxdapple. "Are we going out too?" he eyes, eyes shining with hope.
Mouseclaw watched as his kits were led out of camp by their mentors, shifting nervously from paw to paw. "Was I think nervous when Onxytip, Leaffrost, and Lionscorch left camp for the first time?" he whispered, pressing lightly against Spiderfang.
Duskpaw purred in amusement, feeling lightened by Fuzzypaw's endless excitement. "I don't know, but I know Falcontalon complains to Starrylight all the time how much he misses going on patrols and getting into the forest every day so maybe it never goes away! Although I can't wait until everything is grown back again. I'm tired of looking at all this burnt wood!"
Thistlestalk snorted, trotting behind the apprentices, "You and me both Duskpaw. You barely saw the territory before it was burnt Fuzzypaw, just wait. It's much better when there's prey and plants everywhere." he mewed with a slight purr.
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Post by thistle on Mar 18, 2021 15:12:20 GMT -5
"I sure hope so," Fuzzypaw whisper-mewed. "I think I remember how it smelled before the fire, and I'm pretty sure it smelled a lot more...alive."
The fluffy apprentice dropped low to the forest floor, old soot and dead pine needles brushing her curly belly fur as she slunk forward toward where she scented the mouse. She fought to keep her tail from twitching with excitement and anticipation, the tip of her pink tongue sticking out just slightly. Peering hard at the roots of a pine tree just a fox-length ahead of her, she spied a flash of brown fur. She slunk forward a bit more before pouncing, catching the mouse with little more than a pitiful squeak.
She stood quickly, looking down to admire the catch, only for her ears to droop in disappointment. She scooped up the prey, turning to her mentor and Duskpaw with it dangling from her mouth.
"I caught it, but it's really scrawny, so it's not like it had much of a chance..." she mewed around clenched teeth. "Sorry."
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Post by Willow on Mar 18, 2021 15:34:47 GMT -5
Thistlestalk shook his head, looking at his apprentice kindly, "Prey is prey these days Fuzzypaw, everything is scrawny. Good job."
Duskpaw nodded, growing more serious as she stared at the mouse. "Some warriors haven't eaten in a while, even a mouthful is better than nothing." she shivered thinking about a story that Falcontalon had told her. "Bumbleskip's mother Softmist, she died a long time ago because she refused to eat! Even though she was an elder she gave all her prey to the kits and queens so they could eat instead."
Thistlestalk flattened his ears, vaguely remembering the permanent queen from when he was young. "I hope no one is doing that now. We already lost too many to the fire."
(ily Softmist)
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Post by thistle on Mar 18, 2021 16:11:31 GMT -5
Fuzzypaw's tail drooped, her eyes growing huge. Then she shook her head and hardened her gaze fiercely, tail kinking over her back with resolve. "You're right," she mewed seriously, scraping a dip into the earth to drop the mouse into, covering it with needles. "We're gonna be warriors, Duskpaw, so we gotta feed the Clan!" she declared, though it sounded less triumphant and more adorable in her kit-like mew. Puffing out her chest, she nodded seriously to Thistlestalk.
"Lead the way!"
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Post by Willow on Mar 18, 2021 18:12:00 GMT -5
Duskpaw puffed out her chest, nodding back to Fuzzypaw "Of course! Cedarstar is going to be busy training with Rustlepaw now, I want to make sure he gets lots to eat." she replied, fear for her father evident on her face.
Thistlestalk scented the air a tail-length away from the apprentices. "I think I can smell a frog or a lizard not to far away from here, hopefully it's still there," he whispered, leading the way towards the scent.
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Post by thistle on Mar 18, 2021 18:32:29 GMT -5
Fuzzypaw's eyes shined with excitement as she fell into step behind the older apprentice, following Thistlestalk as he tracked the prey. She was careful to tread lightly, not making a sound and trying to be as silent as a shadow.
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Post by Willow on Mar 18, 2021 18:54:05 GMT -5
Thistlestalk nodded to the apprentices to go on ahead, hiding his larger form away in a patch of burnt ferns.
Duskpaw stalked forward, stilling her excitement as she spotted a lizard not to far away from her. She gave Fuzzypaw a brief grin before stalking over to it. Taking in a silent breath she leapt on the lizard, crushing it's spine with her paws.
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Post by thistle on Mar 18, 2021 18:56:47 GMT -5
As soon as Duskpaw had her catch secured, Fuzzypaw bounced up from her crouched position.
"Wow, Duskpaw!" she exclaimed a little too loudly. "Awesome catch! That leap was incredible," she mewed, trotting over to her friend. "And it's big!"
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Mar 18, 2021 19:18:20 GMT -5
(Hey guys )
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Post by Willow on Mar 18, 2021 19:25:27 GMT -5
Hiiiii Moon ) Duskpaw purred with pride, dropping the lizard in front of her for them to see. "It's not the biggest lizard I've seen but it's not skin and bones!" Thistlestalk inspected the lizard, nodding curtly. "That's a good sign that perhaps soon our prey shortage will end with leaf-bare."
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Mar 18, 2021 19:28:03 GMT -5
(Hey Willow!! I got lots of characters open if you want to rp?)
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Post by thistle on Mar 18, 2021 19:40:25 GMT -5
(howdy Moon!)
Fuzzypaw swiped her tongue around her jaws, nodding enthusiastically and trying to ignore the hunger pangs in her belly. "Good," she meowed. "Cherryvine looks like she's going to pop any day!" The little apprentice let out a small purr at the thought of little kits trotting around camp.
She turned her head and scented the air, even leaning back and balancing on her haunches as she stretched to look for any signs of prey. The only scents washing over her muzzle carried the thick smells of destruction from the fire and the lizard lying at Duskpaw's paws. She dropped back down to all four paws and looked dejectedly over her shoulder at Thistlestalk.
"Um," she meowed, a little embarrassed. "I can't scent any other prey..."
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Mar 18, 2021 19:40:58 GMT -5
(Hey Thistle!)
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Post by Willow on Mar 18, 2021 19:58:09 GMT -5
(*Throws characters* )
Duskpaw snickered, "I'd say! Cherryvine has hardly left the nursery recently. Her belly is too big!"
Thistlestalk shook his head, looking at the apprentices fondly before he stepped beside Fuzzypaw to scent their air with his apprentice. "Hmm, Maybe not around here, but we shouldn't give up yet. We'll head further towards the border. Perhaps we'll have more luck there."
Starrylight was grooming her pelt outside Cedarstar's den, unsure what to do with herself now that her mate was out training Rustlepaw.
Falcontalon was snoozing in the sun as Pearlkit frolicked around and over him. The tiny she-kit content with climbing all over her father.
Cherryvine was laying in her nest in the nursery, the queen quietly whispering to Starclan that the kits would come soon so she could move again.
Hazelblaze was dragging old nest materials out of the warrior's den, humming quietly to herself.
Bumbleskip lurked in the shadows of the camp, looking disheveled and unkempt.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Mar 18, 2021 20:01:54 GMT -5
Whorlpaw padded over to her mother. "I thought father said he was going to give Rustlepaw to you to train."
Closesky was nudging out old moss from the elder's den when he spotted Bumbleskip. He blinked in mild surprise to see the tom so alone and sulking. "Bumbleskip?" Closesky padded over to him. "Are you alright?"
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Post by thistle on Mar 18, 2021 20:04:56 GMT -5
Fuzzypaw let out an undignified snort of amusement as she scuffed more needles over the lizard before turning to follow her mentor. "Well, I'm betting she'll be happy when those kittens are out, huh?" She fell into step at Duskpaw's shoulder, looking up at her as they loped along behind Thistlestalk towards the border. "What about you, Thistlestalk?" she called ahead to the tom, slightly teasing. "Do you ever wanna have kits?"
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Post by Willow on Mar 18, 2021 20:15:14 GMT -5
Starrylight flicked her tail in greeting to her daughter, "He may have, but he is the leader and has the final say. I suppose he wanted to prove he could do things around the camp again, and what way to do that then to train a blind apprentice." she mewed with a hint of amusement.
Bumbleskip barely acknowledged Closesky, giving him the slightest tilt of his head up to look at him. His eyes were vacant as he stared into Closesky's. "No." he replied simply, not really wanting to talk.
~~~
Duskpaw scampered along beside the two, "I think it will be good for the clan to have young kits again too. It always lifts spirits in the camp."
Thistlestalk narrowed his eyes suspiciously towards Fuzzypaw, "I would eventually." he stated evenly. "I'm sure Oakstalk would love some young kin, especially now that Ribbondance is in Starclan now." The tom felt a pang of grief in his heart as he thought of his mother, and how much she would have doted on his kits.
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Post by Moonblazer on Mar 18, 2021 20:16:03 GMT -5
"You won't force? Please. You always do." Houndthroat huffed, but his tone was light. He didn't move off. "You know what what standing vigil stands for right? Someone has to make sure you do it correctly." Smokestorm chuckled. "The day that Cedarstar stops enjoying apprentice and warrior ceremonies is the day the Dark Forest takes over." He gently nudged his mate. "Everyone knows he had a passion for apprentices like his father even before he became deputy. I'm just surprised it took him this long to give himself another apprentice." Cedarstar flicked his ear. Did it look lovely out here? He idly glanced at the scars on the trees from the fire that raged through their territory. "Why don't you tell me?" Cedarstar didn't move too far from the camp entrance. He didn't want to pull Rustlepaw away from camp too quickly. She needed to become familiar with every part of the territory and he wanted her to take her time in that. "Tell me how it feels. How every smells and sounds." "I do not!" Lilywhisper argued softly, though her voice held no heat as she looked curiously at Houndthroat. "Of course I know what it is. It's a vow of silence for the entire night...Hm." She offered a small smirk before she laughed lightly. "Are you going to be the one to make sure I do it correctly?" "I can tell that it makes him happier." Snakesong admitted, a small purr in her voice as she felt a tremor of empathy for their leader. "Rustlepaw will hopefully bring him some piece of mind. She's a kind cat, and I think he would be good for her. Hm..." She hesitated before she admitted. "If I get an apprentice, I'm not sure if I'd be great at it...what if I stumble on my words and get nervous?" She asked. "It feels lumpy." Rustlepaw chuckled, before she focused herself more seriously and began to draw her paws and tail along the ground, lifting her muzzle to scent as much as she could. "I can feel grass. It's dry, though, crackly. There's alot of mud too, but...dry. It's not soft like it is when it's wet, but it's just as smooth. I can scent some things too. Pine! I think new pine needles are starting to grow. There's still uhm...still the smell of ash. Not as bad as it was before though." She listed thoughtfully.
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Post by Moonblazer on Mar 18, 2021 20:21:39 GMT -5
Spottedpaw watched as Cedarstar and Rustlepaw headed out of camp, he turned eagerly to Lynxdapple. "Are we going out too?" he eyes, eyes shining with hope. Mouseclaw watched as his kits were led out of camp by their mentors, shifting nervously from paw to paw. "Was I think nervous when Onxytip, Leaffrost, and Lionscorch left camp for the first time?" he whispered, pressing lightly against Spiderfang. Duskpaw purred in amusement, feeling lightened by Fuzzypaw's endless excitement. "I don't know, but I know Falcontalon complains to Starrylight all the time how much he misses going on patrols and getting into the forest every day so maybe it never goes away! Although I can't wait until everything is grown back again. I'm tired of looking at all this burnt wood!" Thistlestalk snorted, trotting behind the apprentices, "You and me both Duskpaw. You barely saw the territory before it was burnt Fuzzypaw, just wait. It's much better when there's prey and plants everywhere." he mewed with a slight purr. "You kidding?" Lynxdapple grinned at the young tom, lifting his paw to cuff Spottedpaw's ear playfully. "Of course we're going out! By the time we're done, you'll be a Shadowclan territory expert! You know, I was super excited to go out my first day. My brother was so nervous that he had to be coaxed out of camp by Scorchfire. Meanwhile Mistyflower had to stop me from jumping into everything I saw." The small senior Warrior chuckled a bit, before a soft smile graced his muzzle as he missed his old mentor and clanmate. "Come on then, let's see what you can do." He nodded. "You were, I just told you otherwise to make you feel better." Spiderfang snorted a bit, though she brushed her muzzle firmly against her mate's side. She had a twinge of worry for Rustlepaw, but it was suppressed by her pride of seeing her kits become apprentices again. "Don't worry. Their mentors are good. And now, we can get right back to duties, and we can share our nest again." She snickered.
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