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Post by Shadowkit on Apr 27, 2020 23:26:37 GMT -5
(Okay, thanks for the feedback. Also, that website is awesome and I cannot believe I haven't encountered it in ten years of roleplaying. SMH. Also--yes. Taking inspiration from one of my cousins for his character. He was such an adorable kid.)
It took Shadowpaw just a couple moments to register that Briarkit was making an act of it, and with a confused blink he quickly refocused on Seedkit as she howled that 'this was for Briarstar' before charging for him. His eyes widened again and he was ready this time--but he thought the cat was coming straight for him, and instead she leapt for the tail that was hanging in the air at his right side.
Shadowpaw was prepared this time, leaning reflexively to avoid her leap--however, he didn't realize until she veered off to his side, his tail was caught and he was being nipped on again that she hadn't been coming straight for him. He let out another start of surprise as he felt her little teeth in his tail. Larchleap's encouragement rang in his ears as the thought crossed his mind that this might be...some sort of weird test or challenge, but he ignored the thought for now and turned, trying to free his tail from the kit but finding her grip on it a little stronger than he expected from the kit. He prepared another paw to swipe at the kit, though this time he kept it in his mind to make sure it was even lighter--though he hadn't swung very hard at Briarkit in the first place, so...
"For my deputy Seedheart!!" He cried out, swinging himself back up onto his paws before he wiggled his haunches and sent himself crashing into the tom's back without restraint once he saw the ShadowClan tom staring Seedkit down, obviously with the intent to attack her.
Shadowpaw heard the cry of the other kit behind him, and with the slightest bit of alarm prickling at his pelt, he realized Briarkit was already done pretending he was defeated. This was confirmed as he felt the full (small) weight of the kit crash into his back. It was enough to throw him off balance and send him forward from the force, and in a moment of desperate reflex he went to catch himself; then seeing that Seedkit was only a short distance in front of him, and not wanting to step on the little kit, he tried to reach all the way behind the kit, but instead caught Seedkit's flank, tripping and sending himself rolling briefly over and landing just behind Seedkit, barely avoiding crashing into Mistythroat's storage of herbs as he landed, the breath taken from him, on the floor.
"G-get him! Now!!" Briarkit called hastily, already feeling their imminent success as the tom-cat landed, clearly dazed, on the floor of the den. He didn't seem to think to check if Seedkit was dazed after having a much larger tom-cat roll over her, but victory was too tasty in his mind, and he hurled himself towards Shadowpaw again.
Jumping on the cat and standing on top of him, he placed one little (sheathed) paw on Shadowpaw's neck and cried out a second time in triumph. "Take that, Shadowclanner! Don't you dare forget Briarstar, the strongest leader of the strongest clan! ThuuuuuunderClan!!" He echoed his sister's early cheer of their clan and felt pride over what he assumed was a victory surging through his pelt.
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Post by Sand on Apr 28, 2020 0:09:13 GMT -5
( You're welcome! I'm glad it's helpful, it's probably one of the best sites out there for web colors honestly. )
Seedkit hadn't prepared herself for Shadowpaw's comebacks. She wasn't sure how to react, so she continued to nip at his tail and bounce around. Unfortunately, Shadowpaw's paw got her when he swiped at her which gently bowled her over. She let out a huff of frustration, hearing Briarkit's cries. She was a short distance in front of Shadowpaw and her eyes grew wide when she felt him grasp her flank. The she-kit yelped out of surprise, watching the ShadowClanner crash on the floor.
Larchleap continued watching the apprentice and the two kits. She found the play fight quite amusing, though she was concerned about the three of them getting small scrapes or even worse, an injury. Shadowpaw was not in great shape either, so she eyed Briarkit and Seedkit carefully before she let out a gasp when the tom kit landed on Shadowpaw's back. She held her tongue briefly, watching as the black tom crashed on the den's floor. "Shadowpaw! Are you okay?" she meowed, concerned for the young tom.
Seedkit did her best to sit up, her head slightly spinning from Shadowpaw's landing. She was fine, though a bit stunned by his abrupt crash. "I-I'm coming, Briarstar!" she meowed, rolling over to get to her dainty paws. The kit glanced at her littermate, seeing that he was on Shadowpaw and placing his paw on his neck. He did it! We beat the ShadowClanner! she thought, triumph blazing in her eyes. She padded over to Shadowpaw's flank, gingerly nudgi on it with her small paws. When her littermate cried, she began bouncing up and down, ever so proud. "That's right! Never forget Briarstar and his deputy, Seedheart!" she added. "ThuuuuunderClan!"
While the two kits cheered, Larchleap made her way over to them and Shadowpaw. She didn't want to rain on their parade, but if the ShadowClan apprentice was in pain or worse, it would be her fault for encouraging the kits. "Okay, okay. I think that's enough," she told them before flicking her tabby tail across Briarkit's nose lightly. She then did the same with Seedkit, who let out a grumble. "You may have won this time, but I promise you, next time you'll have to face me!"
Thrushsong had finally arrived at the entrance of the medicine cat's den when Larchleap was standing by Shadowpaw and his kits. Fox dung! They're bothering the ShadowClanner and they have probably ruined Mistythroat's herb storage! he thought, racing into the den. "Briarkit! Seedkit! What are you two doing?" he meowed, trying to sound as stern as possible. He sounded more feeble than anything which wasn't a good thing. If Emberpelt finds out about this, she'll have my pelt! His pale eyes were plagued with fear and worry as he stared at his two kits. I just need a few moments and then I can get them out of the den. That's all I need!
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Post by Shadowkit on Apr 28, 2020 0:39:10 GMT -5
Shadowpaw was dazed for a few moments as he recovered from the awkward landing. Briarkit hadn't totally knocked all sense from him, but the kit had enough force behind it that he needed a moment to catch his bearings.
His eyes widened again as Briarkit's little paw found his neck, but he realized quickly the kit's claws weren't out and, on the other paw, they weren't really hurting him. His fur seemed to fully relax, the tracesof alarm gone from him. As Seedkit rose, reinforcing her brother's message and asserting her authority with some paws on his flank, he fully realized that this was just play, and he happened to be the victim of it. He wasn't used to this sort of play, at least, where he wasn't being antagonized...perhaps it was in the triumph of their mews, or how utterly silly Briarkit seemed, but something was telling him these cats weren't doing this out of any sort of malice.
Briarkit gave a pout as Larchleap told him that was enough, waiting a moment as he looked down at the ShadowClan cat, before batting his nose just because, and hopping off of Shadowpaw and taking a quick step towards Seedkit, nuzzling her affectionately. "We were so good! Soon, Rainstar will fall before the mighty team of Briarstar and Seedheart!" He claimed triumphantly. Soon, they'd sneak into Rainstar's den and take her down! He had to set up that mission with Seedkit soon!!
The ShadowClan tom-cat managed to let out a couple quiet laughs as Larchleap asked how he was, and then shooed the kits off of him. He looked up at Briarkit as the kit seemed to be deciding something, and then he gave a "mrrow?" as the kit just...decided to bap him on the nose for...good measure?
Laughing. It felt very weird to laugh right now, but it felt like the events of the day had been pawed away, if only for a minute, as he realized these kits were just having fun, and, well...he realized he found it a little fun too. It was strange. He looked up at Larchleap, just a little bit more life in his eyes as he lifted himself from his back onto his paws and took stock of his now-ruffled fur. "Yeah. Just took my breath away, I'm fine." He glanced at the two kits. He was still young himself, about ten moons, but he couldn't miss how impressive the kits' courage was. "I didn't realize ThunderClan had such impressive warriors," He mewed gingerly. "I better be careful from now on." It was a quiet mew, but there was some humor to it, as a phantom of a smile twitched just barely onto his face.
Briarkit's ears went flat against the back of his head as he heard the alarmed call of their father. He gave a quiet groan as he had hoped their father wouldn't notice, especially not this quickly--and he seemed oblivious to just how loud their battle cries had been. If he had just peeked outside the den, he would have seen every cat staring after Thrushsong, half of them confused and the other half realizing Thrushsong had misplaced him and his sister again. But he was oblivious to that.
He quickly spun around, praying to StarClan that Larchleap didn't spoil what they were doing there. "W-we just wanted to meet the ShadowClan cat!" He quickly half-lied. Knowing he would be soft on them, especially if he wasn't outright lying, Briarkit took the chance to conceal their true mission--Showing the strength of ThunderClan!
Of course, no cat with half a brain hearing the way they were yowling 'THUUUUUNDERCLAN!!' would think they were just...saying hello, and as he realized his mistake he bit his lip. "Uhh...I meannnn..." His eyes darted to Seedkit, begging for help, then he turned his head to Larchleap, begging her for help.
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Post by Sand on Apr 28, 2020 22:11:13 GMT -5
Seedkit rubbed her cheek against Shadowpaw's flank, unsure what to make of his scent. It wasn't one bit familiar to her, but he definitely didn't smell like ThunderClan. Her peach colored nose wrinkled at it as she batted at his flank gingerly again. Of course Larchleap had to ruin their victory and she let out a loud, dramatic groan. She was about to pad over to Briarkit, but he had beat her to it. She nuzzled her brother affectionately, purring deeply. "Rainstar doesn't stand a chance now!" she mewed victoriously.
Larchleap let out a mrrow of amusement when both kits pouted and groaned at her. She was probably being too harsh on them, but she wanted to be careful. She had been watching over Shadowpaw, though it may not be as necessary as she thought it was. Thankfully, hearing the laughs from the black furred apprentice made it all worth it. The kits had enjoyed their playfight and so did Shadowpaw, despite all that had happened throughout the day. "I'm glad you're okay," she responded, glancing at him. She decided to humor the tom. "Oh, I've heard that they're the most toughest and strongest warriors in ThunderClan! But don't tell them that, I think it will go to their heads."
Seedkit felt her head hang low and her shoulders grow heavy. For the first time ever, Thrushsong had actually realized that his kits were gone. It wasn't fair! They had been sneaky and quiet yet their father had sought them out. Just like Briarkit, she hadn't noticed that their battle cries were loud enough for the entire clan to hear. "Y-Yeah! We wanted to meet the ShadowClan cat!" she pitched in, following her littermate's lead. She was hoping that Larchleap would give in and lie too, so she shot the orange tabby a pleading look. "We promise!"
Thrushsong's pale eyes were fixated on Briarkit and Seedkit, barely moving away from the two kits. So maybe they are telling the truth. They are kits after all, he thought, gaze shifting between his young, Larchleap, and Shadowpaw. Any kit would want to meet the ShadowClanner! His gaze finally rested on Larchleap, waiting for an answer.
Larchleap had caught both kits' pleads, begging her for assistance. Surely Thrushsong would trust her, plus the tom was so oblivious and naive that he would believe anyone. "They are telling the truth," she meowed to Thrushsong, meeting his gaze. "They just wanted to meet Shadowpaw. I think he's enjoyed their company."
The lies were so persuasive that the tom believed his kits and Larchleap instantly. Thrushsong was officially beyond naive. He didn't give it a second thought, let alone asked any other questions. "Oh. Well, I guess it's okay!" he mewed, realizing he needed to sound a bit more stern. "As long as they didn't cause any trouble! They didn't cause any trouble, right? I can't imagine that they would, but Emberpelt would have my coat if I didn't make sure."
For StarClan's sake, I don't understand why Emberpelt chose Thrushsong, the orange tabby thought, trying her best to not roll her green eyes. She smiled weakly at the warrior, giving a quick nod. "Riiiight. No, Thrushsong, they didn't cause any trouble," she lied straight through her teeth. "I doubt Emberpelt will hear of any of this. I promise to keep my maw shut about it. I think Seedkit, Briarkit, and Shadowpaw would do the same. Isn't that right, everyone?"
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Post by Shadowkit on Apr 28, 2020 22:55:55 GMT -5
Shadowpaw blinked down at Seedkit as she rubbed against his flank, trying to figure out what she was doing, until the kit wrinkled her nose at him. His smile faded, and he quickly averted his gaze, trying to conceal the little bit of hurt that panged at him as the kit seemed to display her disgust at his scent.
He focused back on Larchleap as she addressed him, giving a brief smile again as she played along with the apprentice and him of the tiny furballs' giant egos. It sounds like they had to let me know it, too. He thought to himself with a chuckle. With a passing thought, he lamented that ShadowClan's kits couldn't be a little more fun-loving the way these kits were. He sighed quietly, a touch of sadness to it.
He grew anxious as the attention focused more on the new arrival, unsure how this new cat was going to take the sight of the ShadowClan apprentice. He watched Thrushsong with wide eyes and, not realizing this, he held his breath whilst the Larchleap and the cat spoke.
Briarkit fought the urge to sigh in relief as Larchleap started taking their side, and their dad lapped it up like poppy seeds. He'd believe anything we told him! He thought, almost incredulously, while Thrushsong took a moment to check that there wasn't any real trouble in the den.
Briarkit shook his head enthusiastically as Larchleap prompted them to promise that their trip here didn't need to be...communicated to their mother. He couldn't suppress his excitement anymore, and began bouncing in place as he celebrated getting away with yet another successful mission without alerting their mother.
It seemed to take Shadowpaw a couple moments after Briarkit responded non-verbally that, yes, 'everyone' included him. Blinking at the warrior he stammered for a moment to find an answer, trying to figure out if 'trouble' was the right word for what happened here. That doesn't really seem fair. They were just...having fun... He wasn't going to mention it, but he was a little envious the kits could just...walk into the medicine cat's den and play-attack a cat like they did, without fear of serious repercussions. It was a far leap from what he had been used to as a kit--Silence, and obeying orders.
Shadowpaw finally managed to form a complete sentence when he finished envying the kits. "They weren't any trouble," He mewed quietly, feeling sheepish while speaking to the much older warrior. "Actually," He glanced over at the two of them, thinking about and recognizing that somehow the kits had managed to pull a laugh from him, even after what he had just seen happen to his mother. "It was nice to meet them." He finished sincerely, then looked back to Thrushsong. Hopefully, the most strongest warriors of ThunderClan wouldn't mind him saying so, even if they had come to warn him of which clan was clearly the best.
Briarkit stopped bouncing and looked over at Shadowpaw as he finished speaking, blinking at the Shadowclanner with a bit of confusion. Nice to meet them? Clearly, the Shadowclanner didn't understand that he should be trembling at the paws of Briarstar! Maybe the mission wasn't over after all...Maybe...maybe they would have to return! To show him again!
A devilish grin crossed Briarkit's face, which passed and was gone within a couple moments, and he started to dance on his front paws, left and right as he looked back to his father. "I'm hungry! Do we have vole? Or, ooh, maybe a...a...sparrow?!"
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Post by Sand on Apr 29, 2020 0:12:03 GMT -5
Seedkit, being the unaware, slightly absentminded kit she was, didn't realize that the wrinkling of her nose had hurt Shadowpaw. She quickly turned her attention towards Larchleap and Thrushsong's conversation, her tail flicked with excitement as Thrushsong fell for their antics. I can't believe he believed us-- again! We could get away with anything! she thought, trying to conceal her delight.
Larchleap stared at Thrushsong for a moment, stunned by his sudden trust in his kits. They were so noisy that he actually believes they weren't here to cause some trouble? she wondered, blinking at the tom, baffled by his response. He can't be serious. Is he actually serious? She glanced at Shadowpaw when he finally spoke up, seeing that he was back to his quiet demeanor. It seemed common for him, considering that he didn't know Thrushsong like all of ThunderClan did and that he was a bit on the odd side. No offense to the older warrior though; he couldn't help the fact he was so oblivious.
Thrushsong grinned at Shadowpaw compassionately. He was glad to hear that the ShadowClan cat liked his kits and that they hadn't caused any trouble for once. The apprentice didn't seem like the other ShadowClanners he had met in the past, though with Dawnstar as their leader, they had been relatively cordial. "I'm glad! Their mother tends to say they are troublemakers, but I disagree. They are some of the sweetest and most playful kits in the nursery," he rambled. He could go on for hours about his young, but this wasn't the time to do it. "It's nice to meet you too, Shadowpaw. I hope you have a safe stay in ThunderClan. We're a kind, welcoming clan, believe it or not!"
Seedkit bounced over to their father, leaping up and down by his large paws. "I'm hungry too, dad!" she announced as soon as Briarkit mentioned prey. "I want a sparrow! Sparrows taste sooo much better than voles!"
The tom let out a soft purr when he heard both kits' demands. He too, secretly, was hungry. If the three of them could square away a meal then they could get some much needed slumber. "I'm sure there's a vole or sparrow out in the fresh kill pile," he mewed, turning around and pointing his head at the prey pile. "Come on now. Say goodbye to Larchleap and Shadowpaw so we can go eat. Maybe we can bring them something back later if they haven't eaten anything yet."
Seedkit's stomach grumbled loudly as she made way for the den's exit. "Bye Shadowpaw, Larchleap!"
Larchleap glimpsed up at Thrushsong, shaking her head in protest. "I'm fine for now, Thrushsong. Thank you for offering," she insisted, offering the older warrior a nod of thanks. "Spend some time with Briarkit and Seedkit. I'm sure they will be tired after eating."
Thrushsong nodded softly, glancing over at Shadowpaw for a response. "Only if you're sure, Larchleap," he meowed. "We'll be on our way then. Let's go you two!"
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Post by Shadowkit on Apr 29, 2020 0:36:30 GMT -5
Briarkit couldn't hold back a giggle as Thrushsong blindly defended his kits from the concerns other cats had and that he was oblivious to. If that didn't cement how immune they were to any wrongdoing in his eyes, nothing else could. Bouncing around his sister and their father's large paws, Briarkit tuned out of the conversation until he started speaking directly to them again.
"What do you mean?! Vole is still great! I bet you just had an old vole, because it might be the best prey on the pile!" He protested to his sister while Thrushsong was speaking to the older cats, batting at her ear as he said so.
"Bye Larchleap! And...Shadowpaw." He realized the ShadowClan cat was named after the clan, which seemed really strange to him and left him wondering why. He padded after his father eagerly and soon forgot the thought, his mind instead on voles maybe being better than sparrows and the next mission--Shadowpaw again, or Rainstar? Who would him and his sister conquer next?
While the kits were chattering, Shadowpaw found himself surprised at the warm welcome from Thrushsong. As he promised they were all welcoming, he couldn't help but wonder for a moment if it might really be true--I mean...Larchleap was so kind to me out there, and Rainstar was nice to me... Maybe ThunderClan was just...a little nicer?
Of course, the base that he was used to was much lower. Though he wasn't exactly aware of it being a coordinated effort, Shadowpaw had known for awhile that Nightscar had a cohort, and they never failed to give him grief for being such a poor follow-up to his bulky, impressively powerful father. It was weird to hear so many cats addressing him...pleasantly.
"Uhh...Th-thanks..!" He stammered, surely sounding awkward as he tried to get his head on in this new space. He blinked and looked down at the kits as they called farewell to the two of them. "Bye." He softly called after them, then took in a deep breath, quietly breathing it out through his mouth with relief. That had gone...fine.
"I was worried I actually hurt him," Was the first thing Shadowpaw murmured as he slowly padded his way back to the nest that was set up for him. He said it with an uncomfortable chuckle, sitting down on his haunches just outside of the nest. Hurting Briarkit would probably have been one of the worst ways he could have begun his stay in the ThunderClan camp. He sighed a little more loudly as he looked down at his fur and saw how ruffled and messy it was.
"That was...something." He couldn't avoid a small smile coming back on his face as he spoke softly and thought about the rush of alarm he had felt, and the subsequent realization that it hadn't been anything to worry himself over. It hadn't been serious--it was a game to the kits. He started the task of grooming his fur down, though he seemed absent-minded to the fact that he would likely be resting soon anyways.
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Post by Sand on Apr 29, 2020 1:00:21 GMT -5
"It wasn't an old vole! It was fresh, I bet it just came from the forest and it was disgusting!" Seedkit quarreled back, jumping up and down as her fur bristled furiously. She batted at Briarkit's ear after he batted at hers. "Bye Larchleap! Bye Shadowpaw!" The she-kit had barely given the ShadowClanner's name any thought. Maybe he was special that he was able to be named after the clan. She wasn't all that sure, but did it matter? No, not to Seedkit at least.
Thrushsong padded away from the medicine cat's den, flicking his tail in farewell. Seedkit was right on Briarkit's heels, trying to keep up with her father and brother.
"Bye! Enjoy your prey!" Larchleap called after the three felines, watching them depart. She couldn't help but purr as she took her seat in the den again. Even though they're troublemakers, they are entertaining, she thought, lying on her side. She began to groom her forelimbs and chest when she heard Shadowpaw's murmurs. The orange tabby quickly sat up while her fur stuck upwards. "I was worried that you would hurt each other," she admitted before licking her chest out of embarrassment.
Even if Shadowpaw had hurt Briarkit or vice versa, she still would have felt and been responsible. She had egged the kits on and convinced them to playfight with the apprentice. The feline felt lucky that nothing bad or dangerous had come out of the rowdiness and all the cats were uninjured and content. She could only wonder, though, if ShadowClan had a similar dynamic to ThunderClan's. Were the kits there allowed to play around and have their fun? Or was it so grim that it wasn't allowed? She felt the nerve to ask, but Larchleap knew it was best not to. Shadowpaw finally seemed comfortable and she didn't want to ruin that for him.
"Oh, it definitely was," she purred, noticing his smile. "Briarkit and Seedkit are something, that's for sure."
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Post by Shadowkit on Apr 29, 2020 1:14:10 GMT -5
Shadowpaw spent a quiet minute or so grooming his fur down, listening and acknowledging what Larchleap had said with a swish of his tail. Once he had got as much of the fur as he could reach down, he stepped back into the nest, laying down and curling into a tight ball. He laid his head down on his paws once again, his smile fading as he settled back down, and the sense of joviality seemed to leave him finally. He was back to where he had been before.
"Is it okay if I...try to sleep? I know it isn't even late," His mew dripped with a bit of guilt as he asked. He already had been told by Larchleap that it was okay for him to do so, but he remembered the Warrior Code, at least, as he had been raised under it and he knew he would be frowned upon as a poor warrior if he didn't contribute anything during the day and just lounged about.
Who was he kidding? He couldn't fight at all and his hunting left something to be desired. What was he going to do? Fetch moss? He sighed sadly, coming to a conclusion on his own. If not for it being okay to rest, he was certain he wasn't going to be any real help.
He slid his chin a bit to the side to look at Larchleap. "Are you supposed to...to watch me all day?" He asked. It wasn't a hostile question; he just wondered if she had to stay put even if he slept the afternoon away. Of course, that wasn't even likely to happen; how could he expect peaceful, pleasant sleep?
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Post by Sand on Apr 29, 2020 1:41:00 GMT -5
It pained Larchleap to see Shadowpaw's smile fade so quickly. Though the antics of Briarkit and Seedkit had kept them both busy, it was clear that it didn't change the situation. The tragedy still lingered in the air, no matter what happened. It probably wouldn't go away for quite some time even if she knew that and refused to believe it. She had finally finished grooming, although her pelt was still a mess with moss clinging to it.
At the sound of the apprentice's mew, her ears twitched. "Of course you can sleep," she answered, almost forgetting that the Warrior Code that Shadowpaw knew was not the one had grown up with. She recoiled at her foolishness before turning towards him. She wanted to say something, but there wasn't anything that was coming to mind. What could she say anyways? Sorry? She did that before and it was worthless, not to mention pitiful.
Another question. The orange tabby was unsure how to answer Shadowpaw's question and she fell silent for several moments. Do I have to watch him all day? I don't really remember if Rainstar asked me to, but it would be wrong of me to leave him, she pondered. Leaving the ShadowClan tom alone meant others could make their way into the den (minus Mistythroat) and get a good look at him. She knew her clanmates weren't harmful yet she couldn't shake the thought of one causing more malice. "I think so. Unless you would rather I give you some alone time?" Larchleap mewed, glancing at the den's exit. If Shadowpaw wanted to be alone for some time, she would gladly give him that.
"If you want to be alone, you can tell me. I can go outside of the den and give you some space. It's your decision, Shadowpaw; I don't mind."
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Post by Shadowkit on Apr 29, 2020 1:58:50 GMT -5
He flattened his ears back as she responded a bit...well, like it was obvious, but he quickly thought that perhaps this was another thing he just didn't understand yet. His eyes widened a little as she visibly recoiled, and he wondered if he had said something wrong. His anxiety spiking, he was about to make some vague apology for whatever had prickled her pelt, but he stayed his voice as she met his gaze, trying to figure out if he really had done something.
She had moved on to his other question, before he had decided to apology, and he let it be with the assumption that it was okay. He noticed she had taken some time to ponder the question in her head, and he was attentive to her, lifting his head a little as she spoke.
He frowned as she promised she could give him some space to be alone if he wanted it. Frankly, the idea wasn't appealing to him. Being alone right now...he already felt alone, and sending her away wasn't going to make him feel any better in that respect. Plus, he wasn't exactly certain if she would be comfortable waiting outside for him to stir or something like that. At least, as comfortable as having a nest to herself.
He shook his head slightly. "I don't want to be alone," He mewed quietly, sadly in response to her offer. His gaze fell down to his paws. He wasn't just speaking about this moment, though he might have missed that she couldn't exactly read his mind; but he had never felt as alone as today. Save the ShadowClan medicine cat, he didn't really know any cat, and Larchleap was the first one to show him kindness in this territory. Even if he wasn't her friend or anything, just another cat nearby was...something to him. "I-if that's okay, I mean. I don't want to trap you here either."
(I think we might be approaching a timeskip, what/when do you think?)
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Post by Sand on Apr 29, 2020 22:18:01 GMT -5
( I think we're at a time skip too. Do you want to do it now or in a post or two? )
Larchleap spotted Shadowpaw's frown and realized that the idea of offering the apprentice some alone time was... stupid, frankly. Why she had even thought to offer that, she didn't really know. Then again, she didn't know Shadowpaw well and his mannerisms. She did her best to not mumble an apology aloud since it wasn't worth upsetting him anymore.
She didn't mind staying in the medicine cat's den, though the thought of being cooped up in the den for a long period of time was not inviting. Yet most of the orange tabby's heart and mind felt it was her duty to stay with Shadowpaw. Maybe he would need her whether it was something trivial or important. She didn't want anything to happen to him either, so she kept her maw shut for the time being.
His quiet and sad mew made her green eyes droop. He had lost the cat who mattered most to him, at least that's what Larchleap assumed. Losing a parent at such a young age would not be easy to recover from, though she had no experience with grief or death. She wished she could do more for Shadowpaw like she had mentioned before, but somehow, just wishing or hoping for it wasn't enough. It never would be. "No, it's okay. I'm sorry, I... I will stay with you as long as you like," the young warrior mewed, stumbling over her words. She gave the tom a reassuring look, gaining confidence in her mew. "Don't worry about me being 'trapped' here. I don't remember the last time I spent so much time in the medicine cat's den. It's nice actually."
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Post by Shadowkit on Apr 29, 2020 22:43:47 GMT -5
(Sure. How late do you want to timeskip? I've been thinking they could talk at nighttime after some rest, or we could skip right to the next morning, when Mistythroat leaves)
Shadowpaw blinked at her as she dismissed his worry about keeping her cooped up in her, and he gave a quiet sigh, relieved to hear that it wasn't going to bother her to be around the medicine cat's den. "Okay. T-thanks..." He mewed quietly, a bit of gratitude making its way into his voice as he gazed at her for a few moments longer, before his eyes cast themselves back towards the ground in front of him. Settled down, ready to rest again, he realized he hadn't thanked her for anything yet.
"Thank you," He repeated his gratitude, but he wasn't finished speaking this time. "-for not clawing my pelt off when you found me." He thought about saying more, how he just saw the scariest horror of his life, how he had been afraid he was dead or worse after encountering Larchleap, but his timid disposition encouraged him to let his words lie where they already were. He gave a tiny sigh listening for her to respond and keeping his eyes open a little longer, though they were pawing at him to shut.
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Post by Sand on Apr 29, 2020 22:51:52 GMT -5
(I think skipping to nighttime would work, then we could move to when Mistythroat leaves once their conversation's done?)
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Post by Shadowkit on Apr 29, 2020 22:53:13 GMT -5
(That sounds good to me)
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Post by Sand on Apr 29, 2020 22:57:22 GMT -5
(I'll reply to your last post if that's okay and then we can start at nighttime?)
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Post by Shadowkit on Apr 29, 2020 23:00:47 GMT -5
(Alright c: )
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Post by Sand on Apr 29, 2020 23:35:08 GMT -5
Larchleap was glad that Shadowpaw felt relief that she was going to stay around. She heard his thanks and let out a soft purr, gazing back at the apprentice while he settled down. She curled herself into a ball in the moss nest that became hers. Maybe she could get some rest too since she wasn't sure what would happen the upcoming days. Hopefully Mistythroat's trip to the Moonpool would give ThunderClan some answers.
Her ears twitched when the ShadowClan tom spoke again, a bit surprised by his appreciation. She didn't expect him to thank her a second time, so she rose her head to glance at him. "You're welcome, Shadowpaw," she responded, watching him struggling to stay awake. "Anything for you."
The orange tabby turned on to her side, one of her ears pressed against the moss nest. She opened her maw and yawned, noticing that she too was tired. "Get some rest. Wake me up if you need me."
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Post by Shadowkit on Apr 29, 2020 23:49:53 GMT -5
Shadowpaw thought about what she had said, trying to figure out if Larchleap really meant that when she said it. It was a weird thing to say to a stranger, but then again, Shadowpaw had been devastated by the day, and maybe she just wanted to put it out there that she would do what she could, if it would help him. Whatever she meant, he appreciated it, and it left him just a little less glum as he finally closed his eyes.
"Okay." He responded quietly to her final comment, then took a deep breath and quietly, slowly released it. He hadn't thought he would be able to get any sleep, but the weight of the day crashed down on him as he lay with his eyes shut, and he realized shortly before he fell asleep that its quiet hold would soon have him.
---
It wasn't the great, refreshing rest that he wanted--terrible nightmares were plaguing him, mostly reliving the moment he had fled from that morning. He wasn't certain how often and for how long he was having these nightmares, but everytime he had it he would snap awake, panting for breath, before remembering where he was and remembering that it had already happened. She was already dead.
So he would lay his head back down, shut his eyes again, and slip back into uneasy rest once more. It wasn't until he woke up in a cold sweat from another nightmare, one he couldn't remember as soon as his eyes blinked open, panting, cold and hot at the same time, that he decided he couldn't sleep any longer.
He took about two minutes to calm himself down, licking his fur down a little and letting his mind awaken just a bit. Looking outside the den, he realized that the sun had fallen and the only light illuminating the camp was the moon that made it through its shroud. He glanced around the den, wondering if the medicine cat had entered at some point and went to sleep without him noticing.
Then, once the couple minutes had passed, he slowly lifted himself up onto his paws, giving a nimble stretch that lasted a few moments before he turned to Larchleap. He drew a few pawsteps closer, then bit his lip, beginning to wonder if he shouldn't bother her at all. She looked peaceful--maybe it would be rude to awaken her.
Wake me up if you need me. Her words echoed in his head, and he tilted his head to the side, pondering it and realizing that he didn't really need her, he just needed to get some air. He didn't feel great, cold and hot from his nightmare and the resulting cold sweat. He could just step out, settle out there alone for a bit....
...but having another cat to get air with sounded better right now. Maybe he didn't need her out there, but couldn't he just...ask? He approached the last couple pawsteps, placing a paw on her shoulder and gently shaking her, calling to her softly. "Larchleap?" He waited for a couple seconds, then he gulped as she didn't stir. Maybe she was really tired? Maybe he really shouldn't bother her? Working up his courage, he gave her a gentle shake one more time. "Larchleap? May I grab some air? I-I'm sorry to wake you...I didn't know if I should or not, but..." He was speaking softly, trying to awaken her without awakening the medicine cat, but it was a difficult balance to find.
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Post by Sand on Apr 30, 2020 0:18:59 GMT -5
Surprisingly, Larchleap had fell into a deep slumber that was rather peaceful. She out like a light, letting out a small snore every now and then. She hadn't heard Shadowpaw's mew when he originally tried to wake her up, but she did feel his gentle shake. Her green eyes flickered open groggily and the orange tabby glanced at him in a daze. "Shadowpaw...?" she murmured in a hushed tone. It sounded like he wanted to leave the medicine cat's den, so she gave a half nod. "It's fine, I told you that you could wake me if you needed anything. Follow me, we can leave the den without waking up Mistythroat." She rose to her paws a bit too quickly, her legs wobbling beneath her lithe frame. She had forgotten that getting up too quick out of her nest made her dizzy. She stifled a yawn, shaking out her untidy tabby pelt before flicking her tail towards the den's exit. The young warrior padded away, making her way into the shroud moonlight. The air felt sticky to Larchleap, but she assumed it was because of how warm the medicine cat's den could get. It wasn't anything like warrior's den where she slept near a wall which provided some cool air.
As she slipped out of the den, the orange tabby waited for Shadowpaw. She appeared more awake now, her green eyes lingering on the clan's clearing before slowly scouring over the dens the in the distance. She didn't see any of her clanmates outside of their nests. With that in mind, she decided to ask the apprentice a question. "Have you been sleeping okay?" she asked, yawning yet again.
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Post by Shadowkit on Apr 30, 2020 0:47:05 GMT -5
His ebony pelt barely visible in the dark of the den, his dark green eyes acknowledged her as she awoke from her sleep. He took half a step back as she rose, but he took it back towards her as she seemed to waver, and he almost reached forward out of concern--but she seemed to gain her footing alright, and he blinked at her, feeling a little bad for having made the decision to awaken her.
He padded after her on silent paws, appreciative that she had been willing to get up so he could have some company outside. He slipped through the exit and was greeted by the light of the moon and the chill of the air. He took in a deep breath, sighing with what was clearly relief. Now that there was a bit of life, they were clearly visible and it was easy to see he had been sweating in his sleep, and a little bit of the haunting feeling the nightmares had given him was left in his eyes. This made it nice to just feel some cold, even if it made him cold, because it took him out of the weird spot where he felt too hot and a little cold at the same time.
He looked around just like she did, wondering if anyone would still be awake and if he would have to meet another cat at this late hour. He didn't know if he could deal with that anxiety at the moment. When he saw no cats around, he padded beside Larchleap, still standing as he wasn't certain if they would just plop down near the entrance, or step away from it to keep some distance while they spoke.
When she asked him the question, didn't immediately react. He thought about the nightmares he had had, mostly the same one, which he remembered only because it was exactly what he had seen that morning. "I...slept..." He answered, though it was clearly loaded with something more than what he was saying. "...kinda." He shuffled his paws awkwardly as he told himself he shouldn't feel like he had to hide from her. She hadn't given him any reason to, right?
He made eye contact with her, green meeting green as he answered her question more directly. "I think I slept plenty. I don't feel really tired. But..." He gulped. "I had...nightmares. I saw..." He couldn't hold back a shudder and a shiver down his spine. "I was back there. And I saw it happen...over and over again..."
He couldn't say any more. He couldn't describe it; it was too horrifying to him. He looked away from Larchleap and up towards the sky, towards Silverpelt. "Oh, StarClan..." He murmured quietly. He took in a deep breath, enjoying the feel of the cold air entering his lungs and the nippy freshness in it. "I hope you're up there," He meowed to Silverpelt, though it offered him no response.
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Post by Sand on Apr 30, 2020 1:33:23 GMT -5
Larchleap could see the slick marks on Shadowpaw's pelt. It was clear that he had broken out into a sweat during his slumber, but she wasn't going to raise a question over it. He had enough questions throughout the day about everything and anything. She gave another shake of her short fur, before padded a bit further from the den's entrance. She didn't want to risk waking up Mistythroat as he had to leave for the Moonpool. Even if they did wake him up accidentally, she wasn't sure how he would react and she preferred not to risk it.
She finally plopped herself down, eyeing the starry sky before them as the moon shone on Shadowpaw's sweat covered pelt. Once he had answered her question, the orange tabby glanced at him briefly and noticed him shuffling his paws. Had her question made him uncomfortable? She imagined that it did, considering the apprentice didn't know anything about her but she knew very few details about him besides the tragedy. Maybe she knew nothing of Shadowpaw at all, other than that he was a ShadowClan apprentice and his history. That wasn't really knowing someone, was it though? She could only ponder on it.
The moment they made eye contact, Larchleap's thoughts faded away. Her face fell with sorrow as the black tom explained that he had nightmares of what happened to Dawnstar, his mother. It seemed that every other conversation that the two had, demise and woe were inevitable which meant they became the unfortunate topic. She let out a short sigh before speaking. "I'm sorry, Shadowpaw. I can't imagine..." she mewed softly. She was at a loss for words again and it bothered the young warrior to no end. "If you can't get decent sleep, I'm sure that Mistythroat may have something to help. But... only if you want it. I don't think he would mind."
She understood that his silent meant he didn't want to explain the nightmares any further. The tabby knew if she were in his situation that she too wouldn't want to speak of them. Re-experiencing the horror of seeing his mother's death again and again had to be agonizing. Instead of commenting further, she observed him for a moment before staring up at the twinkling sky. Dawnstar, if you're there... Please give Shadowpaw all the strength he needs to get through this, she thought, her coat lying still due to the chilly air. It felt refreshing to Larchleap and she didn't mind it despite the fact it stung. It was better to be out and about instead of lying in the medicine cat's den and trying to sleep when it wasn't exactly something she cared for right now.
"I hope they are too," the warrior finally murmured, her green gaze focused on Silverpelt. I'm sure StarClan will take good care of Dawnstar too. Maybe they can give us the answers we need, to keep Shadowpaw safe and find out what's going on with ShadowClan.
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Post by Shadowkit on Apr 30, 2020 1:52:50 GMT -5
Shadowpaw followed after Larchleap, understanding that they should get a bitter further from the den before having a long conversation and potentially awakening the medicine cat. He settled down on his haunches just a couple pawsteps away from her, and he traced his eyes down a number of the lines of Silverpelt, wondering how many cats lived in each.
"Poppy seeds?" He quietly asked as Larchleap mentioned that Mistythroat probably wouldn't mind helping him to sleep. "Larksong gave me those when I was hurt. Or...scared. And couldn't sleep." He quietly recalled a few of the moments she had been there, one of the few cats who would smile at him and tell him that he'd be fine. "Maybe, but Larksong always said I can't have them a lot. It isn't healthy," He recited what the ShadowClan medicine cat had told him. She had only told him because he needed them a little more than a normal cat with how often he had a wound to patch or a racing mind.
"Larchleap..." He left behind the quality of his sleep for the moment, another thought intruding in his mind. "You said that...You and Rainstar both said that no cat should starve because they can't catch prey, right?" He murmured, finally pulling his gaze down from Silverpelt and looking into the eyes of the cat beside him. "I thought that was part of the Warrior Code, and, well...it's kind of been bothering me..." He gulped, looking down at his paws, pawing at the floor of the camp a little, before he looked back up at her. "What did you learn? What Warrior Code were you taught?"
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Post by Sand on Apr 30, 2020 23:44:28 GMT -5
Larchleap tried to tear her gaze away from Silverpelt slowly though she couldn't seem to lose sight of it just yet. It was too mesmerizing to her, but she was grateful that Shadowpaw's recollection caught her attention. I don't know much about herbs, but I'm sure he's right, she thought to herself. She did remember the name Larksong quite well, surprisingly. She knew that the she-cat had been present at Gatherings and was also mentioned at them too. "She must be right then," she meowed, nodding her head in agreement.
The apprentice's long yet crucial question lingered in the orange tabby's mind for a bit. She too wondered about what "Warrior Code" that Shadowpaw was taught. Since he had asked first, she would do the honors and explain what she had learned. Plus, Larchleap wasn't that old for a warrior. At the most, she was around thirteen or fourteen moons. Too young to be a mentor, but old enough to be pushed around by the older warriors. At least the code was fresh in her mind.
Her gaze met his as she tried to find a way to explain the real Warrior Code. Hopefully it would make sense to the black tom. "Well, one of the rules of the Warrior Code is that elders and kits must be fed before apprentices and warriors. But there's an exception to the rule, like you today. The Warrior Code allows apprentices to eat before others as long as they have permission," she explained before continuing on. "We also only kill prey for consumption. Oh, and we always thank StarClan for its life."
The young warrior took a moment to pause and breathe. Since Shadowpaw didn't know their Warrior Code, the actual code, maybe she could try and teach it to him? Would it be too much information to swallow at once? "Do you want to learn more about the Warrior Code that I was taught?" she offered. "If there's anything else you learned that seems... off, I can try and tell you about our version. But only if you want to!"
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Post by Shadowkit on May 1, 2020 0:23:38 GMT -5
He didn't know exactly why, but even as she addressed his questioning, Shadowpaw found his gaze floating in between Larchleap and the glittering Silverpelt above them. This question of how much of the code he didn't truly know had been bothering him, and he wondered if, even now, his mother was looking down on him, frowning upon the way he was questioning this. No cat was supposed to question the leader, let alone the Warrior Code! But...what was the Warrior Code? Was his mother even leading under the proper code?
He forced himself to look back to Larchleap as she described the rule and its exception, parting his mouth slightly as if he were ready to respond, though he was more deep in thought as he thought about it. "So I...It doesn't need to be a cat who is in need? Just...An older cat has to...say it's okay...?" Shadowpaw's mind was working fast, and it seemed he was taking her at her word and trusting what she was saying. "My father told me that...that every cat follows the Warrior Code, and that it says..." He thought back to several moons ago, just when his apprenticeship had began. He was thinking through the scolding he got from his father as he spoke to Larchleap. "He said 'Every cat catches at least three pieces of prey and offers it to the warriors in reverence of the training and wisdom they offer.' I told my mom about it, and she got really angry. She said it was elders and kits who were to be fed first. I thought maybe..." He looked up at Silverpelt again, doubting his understanding of what had happened in the past.
It was noteworthy that he was saying much more than he had since he arrived, in the silence of the camp with one cat. "But no. He made up a rule, didn't he?" There was a note of bitterness to his mew. "He didn't want me to eat," He added on, saying it with total confidence. "So he made that rule and told just me, and then my mother tried to correct me. But I didn't understand that she..." Shadowpaw had put the pieces together remarkably fast. This hunting rule--Nightscar had told it to him because he wanted Shadowpaw to hunt only to enrich the stronger cats, and for him to take the 'punishment' of not catching enough by not eating. It was a lie to make him suffer.
"I don't understand." He whispered. "I...Please, tell me more, Larchleap. I...I have to know more." He lifted himself up, facing Larchleap again and taking a step closer, seating himself attentively in front of her. There was anxiety in his eyes like always, but also concern--for what he had been taught and what was actually right and true--how to be right and true. "I...I can't remember everything. Did you have to keep a vigil when you got your warrior name? My mom told me about that, she said I'd have to when I got mine." He racked his brain for more rules, feeling a desperate tugging to clarify this strange distance between the rule he knew about prey and their rule. It made him feel like there were more. "Kits can only become apprentices at six moons, right?" He kept thinking, trying to find more parts of the code he could question her to verify. His curiosity, at least in this one conversation, was overcoming his timidness and bringing out his inquisitive, perhaps slightly sharper side.
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Post by Sand on May 2, 2020 0:29:41 GMT -5
Larchleap was curious if Dawnstar had taught Shadowpaw on her own of the real Warrior Code. She had no clue when Nightscar's coup began which would have effected the apprentice's formal training. Not to mention it would affect his emotional and mental state too. It would be best to leave that question alone for now, so she chose to push past it.
"As long as an older cat says it's okay, then you can eat," she confirmed while nodding. The orange tabby tipped her head to one side, hearing Nightscar's version of the Warrior Code. Was he starving the rest of the clan too? Dawnstar must have known, but how did she handle it? she wondered.
The young warrior was surprised that Shadowpaw was talking so much. She hadn't heard him utter this many words since they had met. His timid demeanor was no longer and it had instead become more sociable. How was she going to break the harsh reality of Nightscar's lies to him? She gulped nervously, hearing the bitterness in his tone. "I'm sorry, but Nightscar lied to you, Shadowpaw," she mewed, hanging her head low for a moment. She then lifted it and gazed at the tom, realizing something. "Is it possible that your father did this to other ShadowClan cats? Did he come up with any other rules that didn't seem right?"
With the ShadowClan apprentice sitting himself in front of her, Larchleap realized that this was the first time he had came close to her. Before that, it had been her initiating close contact. It was a shock to her and so was his new demeanor. It was like a completely different cat despite the anxiety that was seen in his dark green eyes. She was glad that Shadowpaw was willing to learn more about the Warrior Code. Maybe with more information, she could learn more about Nightscar's ShadowClan and it could be helpful later on. Even if very little information came of it, she was still content with Shadowpaw being himself, or at least a new version she hadn't known yet.
"I kept vigil with my brother, Finchtuft, and two other warriors. It was exhausting but it was worth it," the tabby meowed before nodding in response to his second question. "Right! They can't become an apprentice any time earlier than that, it's not allowed. Is there anything else you can remember?"
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Post by Shadowkit on May 2, 2020 4:04:55 GMT -5
Shadowpaw was an intent listener the whole while as Larchleap padded through his multitude of clarifications. His gaze filled up with dismay as she made it clear to him that he had been clearly lied to, that his father had an ulterior motive and deprived him of food because of it. He tried to think back in time, if any of his clanmates had endured the same treatment from his father, but now that he set his mind hard to the task, he couldn't place any recollection of his clanmates being subjected to the treatment. Biting his lip, he kept running his head through that as Larchleap continued on.
It was little relief when she confirmed that at least these rules had been taught to him correctly. He didn't linger on it very long, but did note with a passing thought that it must have been nice to vigil with three other cats. Especially a sibling. "I hope I earn the right to hold the vigil someday," He murmured quietly, though his voice rang with doubt and he showed no hope of it happening.
His stomach was starting to churn as he thought through his apprenticeship, the last several moons to try and find what he had been taught. His gaze held Larchleap's, though his eyes flickered and worry was still prickling his pelt. The wind began picking up, thankfully not blowing through in full force due to the cover of the ThunderClan camp, but it managed to leave the tom shivering, his lack of padding from eating poorly leaving him more vulnerable to it.
"I...I think..." He pressed down into the floor of the camp in front of her, trying to avoid the wind without success. "My father told me the Warrior Code says a cat can't question their parents." He mewed. A young apprentice certainly was expected to follow the wisdom of their parents, but that was not immortalized in the Warrior Code as a tenant, and it would of rubbed off more as a method of keeping Shadowpaw silent.
"And that warriors have to question the leader when their judgement falters." He took in a slow breath, feeling queasy as he remembered what his father had said. "So that...no clan would fall to one cat's foolishness," His voice twisted in an uncomfortable way as he repeated the words, like being armed with the knowledge that he had been lied to already, this in particular was sitting poorly with him. "That can't be true, can it? The leaders are guided by StarClan. My mom was guided by StarClan. There is no way she was a fool," The bitterness returned to his voice as he said it, but his voice remained a little steadier mentioning his mother than before despite his expression falling. His faith in his mother was unwavering, even amidst the web of lies that Nightscar seemed to have spun in his head.
Pieces of all of this were starting to make sense amidst how totally lost he had felt during the day. Some sleep had been good for him, even plagued by nightmares. A chill was running down his spine and a dark cloud was hovering over him even as he was beginning to understand things better. "He planned to kill her," His voice cracked this time, and his gaze fell from her as he thought aloud. "And he wants to take over the clan, doesn't he? If he can do that, then what will he do when he gets his paws on me? Don't I...Doesn't the Code say I will have to obey him?" His voice quieted and fear gradually filled his tone as he turned to his own fate when Nightscar got to him. "He hates me." He whispered, though there was a confidence behind the fearful whisper that hinted at him believing it entirely.
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Post by Sand on May 2, 2020 22:39:24 GMT -5
Larchleap was relieved that, at the least, three of the rules from the Warrior Code were taught correctly to Shadowpaw. Though they were basic, it was more than what she had expected. His quiet murmur pained her, realizing that the apprentice may not get to experience a warrior's vigil. Though there was a lot uncertainty right now, maybe one day, he'd get to have the vigil he wanted. "I think you will. It just takes time," she mewed, trying to reassure him with a soft gaze.
The wind buffeted against her orange pelt causing the young warrior's coat to shift in the breeze. She wasn't exactly content with it, but it did feel nicer compared to the hot, sticky air in the medicine cat's den. She held Shadowpaw's gaze as he did with hers, watching his eyes flicker. He seemed worried like before, but the moment the wind hit, she could see him shiver visibly. Must be because Nightscar doesn't let him eat properly. I bet he's colder than I am, she thought.
She followed the tom's position, pressing herself against the camp floor and hoping that the wind wouldn't hit her as much. Just like the apprentice, it continued to blow against her pelt and lithe frame. "There's nothing in the Warrior Code about our parents. I think he may have made that up to scare you," she responded. "It sounds like Nightscar wanted to keep you quiet."
The more Larchleap thought about each rule that Nightscar told Shadowpaw, the more she questioned Shadowpaw and ShadowClan's safety. It seemed that he had used his son's innocence against him and used it as an advantage. But why? What was so... bad about Shadowpaw that made him choose to treat him terribly? In her mind, the apprentice was harmless and powerless. The way the ShadowClan apprentice's voice twisted and changed with each claim bothered her. It was inexcusable how Nightscar deceived his son. "Both of those rules... they are lies. The real Warrior Code says, 'the word of the Clan leader is the warrior code.' We never question our leader," she meowed. "Dawnstar was never a fool, Shadowpaw. She had StarClan guiding her and no fool is guided by our ancestors."
The tabby was grateful that Shadowpaw had faith and trust in his mother. If not for Dawnstar's existence and trying to teach the tom right from wrong, she was sure that Nightscar would have filled the young tom's head with deceit. As he placed piece by piece together, she sat still while her mind ran wild. It was clear that Nightscar used Dawnstar and Shadowpaw, but who else had he used? Maybe there were others cats to this or maybe it was just the two of them. He created a family and tore it apart the moment it came together. It was vile.
A planned murder... it was something that Larchleap had tried to ignore and it hadn't fully crossed her mind either. She gulped visibly as if the realization had just smacked her in the face. Even though his gaze had fell, she tried to keep her green eyes on him. While Shadowpaw's voice cracked, then grew quiet and fearful. She glanced at him once more, trying to form a sentence. "I think he wants to take over ShadowClan. I'm not sure why else he planned on killing Dawnstar if it wasn't for power," she speculated. The only motive she could think of was authority. "Shadowpaw, he won't ever get to you. As long as you're here in ThunderClan, Nightscar can't get to you. He would have to go through many warriors. That code of his? It's not real, none of it is true."
She let out a long, overdue sigh. She may have been acting rashly but the orange tabby couldn't hold back. It was all the pent up anger and pain that came out. She almost wanted to call Nightscar fox-hearted, but Shadowpaw was here... and he was his son. That didn't make him fox-hearted, but she didn't want to hurt his feelings any further. "I'm not sure if he hates you. Even if he does, I'm here for you. Rainstar's here for you, Ravenfang and Mistythroat are too. Even Briarkit and Seedkit will be here for you," she said, trying to console him. She was uncertain that it would mean anything, but at least she was trying. "Most of all, ThunderClan will help you through this. No matter what."
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Post by Shadowkit on May 2, 2020 23:54:33 GMT -5
It might have been ironic, but Shadowpaw was left in stunned silence as he was told that Nightscar had told him rules that would just keep him silent and scared. It didn't make sense to him, that a rule that had seemed so dominant of his behavior could be something entirely made up, but Larchleap said it with such a seriousness and gravity that Shadowpaw was shaken heavily by her words.
We never question our leader. The words echoed in his head, and his gaze rose back from the ground to stare at Larchleap. His father had lied to him, made him think the ways his father subtly went against his mother's word was okay, because the Warrior Code commanded it. He never believed his mother could be a fool, but his father had made him believe that going against her was somehow okay.
But Larchleap was telling him otherwise. The leader's word was law. His mother's word already had been law to him, but hearing this truth, that he never should have doubted her for a single moment, his face distorted in pain.
He couldn't help but feel a conflicted range of emotions as Larchleap promised him something he had never felt before. He was usually at his mother's side, and at his mother's side he could feel a certain safety from the anger of his father and the bullying of his clanmates. But despite that, he never felt...safety. He never felt he was too far from the scornful judgement of his father, and his mother couldn't be by his side every moment of every day.
But Larchleap promised him something that was separate from what he was used to. That his father wouldn’t get to him. It was an entirely different promise, and one that sounded impossible when she said it. She listed the cats that wouldn’t let this happen, names that felt so distant, total strangers to him which, from his viewpoint, had no reason to care about him.
“He does hate me,” He mewed, all of the bitterness returning to his mew. There wasn’t any doubt in his voice, contrasting her assertion that maybe Nightscar held something better for him in his heart than hate. “I survived, and he wishes my sibling had survived instead. He got stuck with the weakest, most worthless cat in ShadowClan as a son,” his gaze averted itself from Larchleap as he denigrated himself so strongly.
He listened, even as he wouldn’t look straight at her, as she promised the support of ThunderClan. It didn’t make sense to him. The clans were supposed to do anything that was beneficial to them. Why was she promising this to him? “Why?” His inquisitive mew rang out with uncertainty as he questioned, in a weird way, why he deserved the basic support that he should be afforded as he fled from the shadow of a clan that no longer respected thetrue code. “It isn’t like there’s anything for me to be helped to get through, anyways. My mom is gone.” His mewling voice cracked as he failed to see anything else to grasp his claws into for the future.
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Post by Sand on May 7, 2020 0:18:25 GMT -5
Larchleap could see the pain on Shadowpaw's face. It was evident and significant to him and to her. Revealing all the truths to him was going to cause shock, which she knew, but to this state was something she hadn't imagined or expected. She couldn't think of a time when she didn't trust Rainstar and her choices. She was a great leader, after all, and she hadn't known any other leader but Rainstar. For Shadowpaw, it was different. He had been under his mother's guidance and then his father pulling off an unexpected coup. She didn't want to think of how traumatizing it was and the realization of everything was to him. In ThunderClan, the orange tabby had always felt comfortable and, most of all, safe. It was her home, one where she felt that she could trust every cat. She trusted her mentor as an apprentice and she had even trusted the other warriors she hadn't spent much time with so far as their fellow warriors too. Imagining ShadowClan's little world made her shudder in fear; being constantly terrorized by clanmates and even relatives... It sounded hardly welcoming.
He had a sibling? I wonder what happened, she thought, surprised by Shadowpaw's statement. Though Nightscar may hate his living kit, Larchleap couldn't fathom it. The black tom seemed like such a kind, sweet cat especially now that they had talked more. "You're not weak or worthless," she meowed firmly. "Nightscar may think that, but he's wrong and I bet plenty of cats would agree. Especially the ones you have met so far."
Her green gaze struggled to reach his, but she wasn't going to force the apprentice to look at her. Instead, Larchleap listened closely to his words. There were no words to describe how she felt for the ShadowClanner. Was he really a ShadowClan cat anymore, after everything that had happened? Did it matter what clan he came from, the one he was born in and possibly named after? She wasn't sure, and she hadn't been sure of much since this ordeal began. "Because ThunderClan is different from ShadowClan and the rest of the clans too. We are compassionate and brave. We welcome any cat that needs us because we know we can help them," she told him before pausing briefly. "Even though Dawnstar is gone, Shadowpaw, that doesn’t mean you have to give up. You can honor her by living your life, for her and for you.”
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