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Post by little blu ♥ on Jul 9, 2020 17:33:01 GMT -5
( That plan sounds good to me, I believe ~ It'll keep the clan moving along. Sorry for my delay in posting by the way! )
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Post by willowflower on Jul 9, 2020 18:35:36 GMT -5
((sounds like a plan! though, could cats have a chance to say goodbye to Dappleface? maybe in lieu of waiting for sunmask and crew, we could timeskip now to everyone altogether around Dappleface's nest, saying their farewell in their own way))
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Post by highprince on Jul 9, 2020 18:51:38 GMT -5
((That sounds good to me))
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Post by willowflower on Jul 9, 2020 18:55:03 GMT -5
((sorry, that's what i meant, while dappleface was still alive, but yeah! it seemed like the kits wanted to see dappleface but couldn't, which is why i brought it up, but it makes sense that cats can remember talking to her while she was still alive in the medicine cat's den one last time during the virgil))
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2020 19:10:06 GMT -5
(Sounds good! I may not be able to get my responses up immediately just because I’m out of town for the next few days, but I’ll try and do them as soon as I can! And sorry again for being so late with my responses 😅)
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Bisexual
𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚢
back back back again
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Post by 𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚢 on Jul 9, 2020 19:21:57 GMT -5
((sorry, that's what i meant, while dappleface was still alive, but yeah! it seemed like the kits wanted to see dappleface but couldn't, which is why i brought it up, but it makes sense that cats can remember talking to her while she was still alive in the medicine cat's den one last time during the virgil)) (i totally understand where you're coming from and I'm just trying to save time so they don't have to end up saying goodbye twice, but i don't doubt that while Sunmask was working on Skypaw that she allowed cats to come in one by one or pairs to say a quick goodbye to Dappleface ^^ that's something i will definitely include in the timeskip/vigil post When the time comes I'll probably give people until the end of the day to get their posts out before moving on with the other timeskip)
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Post by dαιѕy on Jul 10, 2020 17:44:39 GMT -5
{ hey, thank you for the add!! with that being said, does anybody want to rp? i have graystorm or hazelpaw! c: }
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2020 22:32:38 GMT -5
(Sounds good to me!)
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Post by highprince on Jul 10, 2020 23:30:46 GMT -5
(Sounds like a plan, Rain!)
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Post by ~Sapphire~ on Jul 11, 2020 5:45:03 GMT -5
(Sounds good!)
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Bisexual
𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚢
back back back again
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Post by 𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚢 on Jul 11, 2020 19:47:23 GMT -5
Rainstar sat in the middle of the camp, just beside Dappleface's body, which had been ornamented with flowers and sweet smelling herbs, lavender also scattered around the body of their dear clanmate. It was sunset now and the leaders heart was broken, not only for the loss of a dear cat, but a cat that had somehow found the time to create a relationship with everyone in the clan. Her gaze leaves Dappleface's body to look over at Lightdrop, knowing exactly how she must be feeling at the loss of her mother. She now scanned the rest of her clan, trying to find her voice so that she can speak to all of them. Death was always a hard thing for Rainstar to talk about.
After clearing her throat, the blue molly held her head high. "Tonight we honor the spirit of Dappleface, a cat many of us have become fond of. She leaves behind her only daughter, Lightdrop. The end of her life came from a snake bite from protecting her clanmates, however, the end of a life does not signify that this cat did not live." She pauses for a moment, having to swallow the lump in her throat. "Many of you know Dappleface as if she were a second mother, always checking up on those you wouldn't expect, offering words of wisdom to anyone that was willing to listen, and loving her clan as fiercely like it were a newborn kit."
"Dappleface exploded into my life when I'd just lost my mother, Birdsong. She was there for my sister and I when we needed someone the most, she was a constant reminder that even though we were grieving, things would still turn out alright. If she were able to, I believe Dappleface would be telling everyone how much she loves them, and to go on living their lives. She has touched everyone's lives and her paw print is engrained in all of our hearts."
Rainstar had to blink away the tears threatening to spill, knowing she had to be strong for the rest of her clan. She would find a moment to express how she was really feeling, but now was not the time.
"I encourage everyone who feels the need to speak up, to step forward and share their words and share tongues with Dappleface for the last time. Afterwards, for those willing, a vigil will be held until sunrise, then the elders will go and bury her body."
With that, the leader took one last sweep of her clanmates before she turns to Dappleface's body. The fluffy she-cat lowers her head and nestles her nose right into the older warriors scruff, breathing in her scent one last time before. It doesn't smell the same as the hint of death lingers in her nose. Rainstar squeezes her eyes shut and tenses slightly. "Thank you." Her last words were simple, and something she could never say enough to the deceased cat.
Afterwards, Rainstar takes a pawstep back and joins to sit beside her sister, whose head is hung. The air feels tense and heavy, the sun setting faster by the second. When it would turn dark is when the vigil would start, everyone sitting silently and reflecting on life, Starclan, and most of all, Dappleface.
{ little blu ♥, highprince, willowflower, WyrmTime, underthesilverpelt, meteorshower, zoo, @fallownose, ~Sapphire~, dαιѕy} (no one is required to respond with their cats saying a few words, I will probably only keep to Rainstar's post, but here is the post! on Monday we will timeskip to a couple days after)
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Post by highprince on Jul 12, 2020 13:11:07 GMT -5
Lightdrop had been swimming in the lake before. She remembered the weightlessness beneath her paws, how the voices of her clanmates muffled when she dunked her head under the water - that was how she felt now. As if there was no ground beneath her, like the cats right next to her were distant. Rainstar was speaking, but Lightdrop could barely hear her. She felt like she was in some sort of nightmare, seeing herself from the outside, observing this disaster as a stranger.
Dappleface was lying on the ground, surrounded by flowers that Lightdrop thought smelled too sweet. She looked like she was sleeping, like she would rouse and stretch at any moment and turn those loving green eyes to her daughter. Then they would laugh and Lightdrop would press her face into her mother's neck fur like she'd done when she was a kit and a clap of thunder scared her. Lightdrop had been in the medicine cat's den with her when Dappleface had taken her last breath, but she still believed that her mother's chest would begin to rise and fall again. This couldn't be the end. She needed to live and retire to the elder's den, and Lightdrop needed to take her grandkits to visit her while they climbed over her and she nurtured them, as she nurtured everyone.
Something deep inside her, however, knew that her mother was gone. Lightdrop turned her eyes to the sky, knowing the stars would appear soon. Would Dappleface be up there, shining the brightest, keeping watch over the clan as she always did? Would she share tongues with Pinestar and Cherrynose? Would she speak with Dustcloud? When they'd had a moment alone together, Dappleface had said something about seeing him again in StarClan, and Lightdrop had pushed away her suspicions. Thinking about it now, she couldn't deny that there were similarities in how they looked, or the odd amount of pride he'd looked at her with during her warrior ceremony.
Lightdrop dropped her head to look at Dappleface again. She's gone, she thought, forcing herself to believe it. She's never coming back. We'll never share tongues or prey again. Lightdrop blinked back tears that welled up in her eyes, not wanting any more pity from any of her clanmates. She knew that she should say something, speak about her mother as Rainstar had done. With paws that didn't feel like they were touching the ground, she stepped forward, sitting next to her mother.
"Dappleface was the best mother anyone could ask for," Lightdrop said, pausing so that her voice would stop shaking. "Not just to me. To the whole clan. Even if you didn't let her, she'd be all over you, smoothing down your fur and making sure a medicine cat was there if you so much as got a thorn in your pad." Lightdrop smiled, remembering her apprentice ceremony - it seemed so, so long ago now. She'd been a tiny kit with scruffy, wild fur. Dappleface had spent so long grooming her in spite of her daughter's protests, making sure that she looked at least somewhat presentable when she stood in front of the clan.
"Many of you know the grief of losing a mother," Lightdrop continued, thinking about her other clanmates. Rainstar and Willowshine, Beepaw and Skypaw, Brackenkit and Fallowkit, Foxtongue, Sunmask. "And I know that Dappleface tried to be there for anyone that did. Everyone in this clan was her kit, even those that were older than she was. She believed in the best of every single cat, giving so much and never expecting anything in return. I know she's looking down at us from StarClan, as no snake could stop her from looking after us."
Lightdrop couldn't hold back any tears, so she buried her face in her mothers fur, licking between her ears as she had done when Lightdrop headed out on patrols for the first time as an apprentice, having to assure her mother that she'd be safe. Despite all the herbs and flowers and the faint smell of death, Lightdrop could still smell her mother, and she tried to capture that feeling of burying her face in her neck, as she knew it would be the last time. "I'm sorry, mom," she whispered, knowing that she hadn't been a daughter to be beaming with pride about - but Dappleface always did.
She stood there for a while before forcing herself to move, knowing that other cats would want their time with her. She stepped back, standing between two cats that she didn't even truly recognize at the moment. She had no mate's shoulder to cry into, no littermate to press against. It was just Lightdrop.
((I definitely didn't tear up while writing this, not at all...))
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Post by little blu ♥ on Jul 12, 2020 15:05:23 GMT -5
( You think making me cry is funny? )
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Post by highprince on Jul 12, 2020 15:17:54 GMT -5
(dw, i made myself cry too)
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Post by little blu ♥ on Jul 12, 2020 15:20:23 GMT -5
( We'll all cry together. ; - ; I am working on some replies right now, wish me luck that I don't drown in my tears. xD )
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Post by little blu ♥ on Jul 12, 2020 15:50:37 GMT -5
There were few words that could be used to describe the pain the medicine cat felt in this moment. Every breath, every sob, every choked whisper from her clan mates sent ice stabbing through her heart. She couldn't meet any of their gazes, her gaze locked on her paws. Sunmask couldn't believe Dappleface was truly gone. The tortoiseshell had been such a force of nature within the clan it was hard to imagine a day without her in it.
Her face finally tilted upwards when Dappleface's biological daughter spoke, her throat tightening uncomfortably. The flame point molly stood, her legs feeling as though they'd give out beneath her. She didn't know if Lightdrop blamed her for not having the herbs to save her mother, she certainly blamed herself, but she couldn't just let her stand there alone either.
Padding over, Sunmask sat beside Lightdrop, letting her fur lightly brush against the other grieving feline. Everyone needed someone in a time like this.
Birchwind rested his tail gently over Stonepaw who had been herded to sit beside him. His gaze slid to Riverpaw who was sat on the other side of his brother and pressed against Stormpool. The silver tabby grimaced, grief clouding his deep blue eyes. Dappleface was a loss the whole clan certainly felt and the tom hated funerals, he thought they only brought more suffering instead of peace. Still, he sat in silence and let his clan mates grieve in the way that they assumed would make themselves feel better.
Pressed tightly against Daycreek, Briarleap had her face burried in his chest. Her tears soaked his fur, the loss of another mother hurting her deep. Her tail rested lightly over her brother's - Tornheart had to be suffering more, she had been his mentor! The golden striped queen also understood that he needed to comfort Willowshine right now, so she merely kept contact through her tail, letting him know that she was there for him - always. Though she wanted to say so many things, she couldn't find the proper words, sobbing quietly.
( Didn't know of any cats who would really speak up out of my group, but I posted some grieving stuff. I'm sorry if it's not as well written, I have a cat kneading on me, making it very difficult to type. )
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Post by austintexas on Jul 12, 2020 16:20:52 GMT -5
Hareskip -- //Male// -- //19 moons// -- //Warrior//
Description Hareskip is a faded cream-colored tom with white paws, tail-tip, belly, chest, and chin. He's tall, with a lean build. His eyes are bright green. | Personality Very cheerful, often cheers up others just by being around them and spreading his Vibe. Optimistic, is rarely ever seen focusing on the darker parts of things. He's the type to take time out of his day to cheer up someone else, even if it means putting aside his own needs. | Family/History His mother and father both died when he was an apprentice, killed by a fox at the edge of the territory. Though he was born in a litter of 3, he was the only one to survive. He often hangs out with his cousin, Littlestone. | {AustinTexas}
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2020 16:46:33 GMT -5
At the edge of the gathered Clan, Fallowkit leaned against her brother, feeling as though her own paws could barely support her. When she learned of Dappleface's death, her heart shattered into a million pieces, just as it had when her mother died. Deep down, she knew that Dappleface was happier in StarClan now, but the knowledge that Fallowkit would never see her friendly smile or hear her soothing voice again felt like she'd been pierced with a shard of ice. Even the warmth of Brackenkit's thick tabby fur couldn't chase away the cold feeling that seemed to stretch through her bones. How many more cats will I lose? she wondered, anger and grief and fear coursing through her tiny body all at once. Fallowkit closed her eyes and buried her face into Brackenkit's shoulder, grateful that he was the one cat she could count on to never leave her behind.
Brackenkit felt angry with himself that he couldn't keep his tail from trembling - it was the only outward sign that he felt as though the world was collapsing around him and his sister. Everything felt wrong, upside-down. He knew he had to stay strong for Fallowkit, but finally, he couldn't take it anymore. Brackenkit bowed his head as a quiet sob overtook him. Dappleface was gone. Forever. She was the one cat who had reminded him of Wrenflight, with her quiet determination and unfailing love for every Clanmate. But even she had died now, leaving Brackenkit feeling as alone as he'd ever been. Another sob racked through his body, and Brackenkit recalled all the times he'd been with Dappleface, and the comfort she'd provided after his mother's death. Where would he be without her? How will I go on without her? he asked himself.
In the silence that followed Lightdrop's words, Brackenkit forced himself to stop crying and attempted to compose himself. Fallowkit looked up at him, and seeing his look of grief muddled with determination, gave a small nod. Together, they quietly stepped forward through the crowd of cats to walk up to Dappleface's body. Brackenkit gulped, then spoke in a trembling voice. "Dappleface was always kind to us. Especially when our mother died." He looked down at Dappleface's content expression, free of the pain that had been evident in it not too long ago, and then returned his gaze to the watching Clan. "We'll always be grateful to her for that. I hope she's happy now, in StarClan."
Fallowkit turned to press her nose to Dappleface's fur, breathing in the last traces of her sweet scent. "Thank you," she murmured softly, then watched as her brother did the same. Blinking away the tears in her eyes, Fallowkit followed Brackenkit back to the outskirts of the clearing, where they stood with tails twined and hearts broken, watching the stars appear in the darkening sky and wondering if Dappleface was watching them, too.
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Post by ~Sapphire~ on Jul 12, 2020 16:58:57 GMT -5
(Yup, I'm also crying at Lightdrop's speech.)
Thorntail didn't cry during the vigil. He sat at the back of the crowd, quiet, watching the others reminisce. He'd miss Dappleface's presence in CedarClan; everyone would. At Wrenflight's vigil, she'd been the only reason he'd got through his speech. She'd looked after the kits, too, better than he had. They really cared about her. Speaking of the kits... He had to look away as Brackenkit and Fallowkit said their parts.
He didn't - couldn't - put these thoughts into words. Just walked up to the old she-cat and said, "Thank you."
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Bisexual
𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚢
back back back again
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Post by 𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚢 on Jul 12, 2020 17:15:07 GMT -5
Hareskip -- //Male// -- //19 moons// -- //Warrior// Description Hareskip is a faded cream-colored tom with white paws, tail-tip, belly, chest, and chin. He's tall, with a lean build. His eyes are bright green. | Personality Very cheerful, often cheers up others just by being around them and spreading his Vibe. Optimistic, is rarely ever seen focusing on the darker parts of things. He's the type to take time out of his day to cheer up someone else, even if it means putting aside his own needs. | Family/History His mother and father both died when he was an apprentice, killed by a fox at the edge of the territory. Though he was born in a litter of 3, he was the only one to survive. He often hangs out with his cousin, Littlestone. | {AustinTexas} (Hello austintexas, if you could please redo your form in the joining form provided in the front that would be great! Also if you could edit his personality to add a couple more flaws I would greatly apprentice it, also is Littlestone a claimable cat?)
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Post by austintexas on Jul 12, 2020 18:03:39 GMT -5
i didn't intend for littlestone to be claimable, but he can be!
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Post by willowflower on Jul 13, 2020 20:11:00 GMT -5
((writes this through my tears))
Skypaw slowly made their way out of the medicine cat’s den, cobwebs wrapped tightly about their ribs. Pain was a dull echo with every breath and every step but they weren’t about to miss Dappleface’s virgil. Sunmask probably wished they would stay put in their nest, their rib still freshly bound, but Skypaw refused to stay put at the mouth of the medicine cat’s den, listening to Rainstar’s words from a distance.
Skypaw sat apart from the other cats, cold to any attempt at comfort. They stared at the still body of Dappleface, their expression stony as they forced themself to swallow the tears the threatened to choke them. My fault, they told themself. My fault. My fault. They’ve played the scene in the Four Trees a hundred times over, their foolish decision to jump onto the snake’s tail, Dappleface’s desperate attempt to protect them. What came out of that choice made from hubris? A broken rib, and another cat lost. Foolish.
Another wave of pain rocked her, though it wasn’t from the cracked bone in her chest. It was something deeper within, something made of blood and salt and emotion, the feelings Skypaw hid whenever Dappleface so much as give her a warm smile, an ear to listen to, an offer to smooth her fur frazzled from training; the times Skypaw turned away from the well-meaning she-cat, the motherly presence leaving only memories of her own lost mother and an ashen taste in her mouth.
And now that warm presence was gone. Skypaw never so much as got a chance to thank her. They never thought they had to.
Skypaw closed their eyes tightly as, one by one, cats came up to whisper one last message to their mother, their friend, their clanmate. It’s just a body, they thought, irrationally bitter. Dappleface isn’t there. She can’t hear you anymore. They turned their eyes towards the sky, as if they could find Dappleface there in the stars if they searched hard enough. If they listened closely enough, they could almost catch the sound of their heart hardening for the second time.
Not so far away, Tornheart sat with his head lifted, trying not to break, trying to stand strong for his sister, for Willowshine. If he could be a shoulder to rest upon, he wanted to be there. He just needed to keep breathing.
Briarleap’s light touch was an anchor that he was forever grateful for. But as Brackenkit and Fallowkit drew back, he slowly took a step forward, letting Briarleap’s tail fall from his shoulders. His one golden eye fell upon Dappleface, resting so peacefully that if he tried hard enough, he could convince himself that she left just as peacefully, not one of pain and fear of the inevitable.
It’s not fair, he thought, mentally shaking away the brutal ends of his own parents. It’s not fair.
With slow, unsteady steps, he lowered his head to press his nose into Dappleface’s fur, closing his eyes as he let himself breathe in his mentor’s comforting scent one last time.
It steadied him. He lifted his head, expression one of sorrow. “My mentor,” he said, his voice refusing to wobble, “was one of the kindest, most loving cats I have ever met.” Tornheart breathed, in, out. “I don’t think I would be - no. I know I would not be the cat that I am today without her compassion, without her guidance.” He watched her fur ruffle in the breeze, the flower petals fluttering, giving the cruel illusion of life within the stillness of her body. Her remembered lying in the medicine cat, curled up and buried in cobwebs, ashamed. He remembered continuing his apprenticeship with a stumble in his step and ruined eye, despairing of ever becoming a warrior. And each time, Dappleface was there.
He was going to say something about how she stood by his side when he was at his lowest, or how she cared for him with the warmth and love he longed for from his own fallen mother. But as he gazed longer at her still, flowered form, the words crumbled in his mouth into something quieter. “You made me feel like I was still worth something,” he whispered into the quiet. “And I can never thank you enough.”
As he turned back to return to the crowd, he sat close to Briarleap, shaking a little. If only I was fast enough, he thought, thinking of his race back to camp to retrieve Sunmask. If only I was fast enough.
Meanwhile, Mudrush sat in silence, head lowered in solemn respect. The pain was familiar, burning in his chest like a foul old friend, and a part of him wished to fade into the shadows, the outskirts of the clearing, to let his mind trail off as he stared up at the stars beginning to glimmer into view.
He sat by his daughters now, giving enough space but close enough for them to reach him if they needed to. Something about the previous cats’ speeches stirred something in him, a desire - no, a need - to speak.
And so he let the desire pull him forward, sitting by Dappleface. Mudrush dipped his head, and for a moment, quietly offered his last message to Dappleface in his head. Then, when it seemed he’d simply pull away without a word, he looked up. “Dappleface,” he said, voice rough and low, “possessed a kind and powerful soul. A heart so strong it could easily bear the weight of love for all the clan, for everyone here.” His voice grew softer, his head bowing a little more. “It can be hard, sometimes painful, to care so deeply like that. To love someone or something with all your heart, to go out of your way to care for that someone, that something, to notice and to reach out and to connect.” He blinked, slow and hard. “And yet Dappleface did it every day. And for that, I will always cherish her. Her memory will burn strong in our spirits. Let her paws safely find their way into the warm embrace of Starclan.”
Mistydew listened quietly in the background, tail tucked tightly around her paws. She’d paid her respects, but she didn’t know how to cope with the grief that lay heavily about her, the tears and the pain and the words of warmth and love. She was the best mother anyone could ask for, Lightdrop’s words rang in her head. Mistydew’s tail curled about her belly. Would I be remembered like that?
Her eyes followed Brackenkit and Fallowkit, who sat on the outskirts. You should do something, a voice that reminded her painfully of Cracklewood whispered in her head. Dappleface would say something. After a moment, Mistydew collected herself with a sigh and carefully got up and walked over to the two kits she’d found herself stuck raising, sitting by them.
She stared into the crowd of cats. “… This will not be the last time,” she said in a hushed voice. “Cats will leave us, time and time again.” She closed her eyes. “But we can’t let that break us. Don’t cry. We have to be strong. We have to carry on.” Mistydew looked down at the two kits. “Understand?”
With that, she turned her eyes towards the darkened sky, watching the stars blink in.
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