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Post by Icefire15 on Sept 5, 2023 16:02:46 GMT -5
Whisperstone ran after Dreamlily, worry for his sister making his heart race. Finally catching up to her, he cried out to her to try and get her attention, "Dreamlily! Please, wait! It's dangerous to be alone right now. Please, at least let me walk with you." He panted, trying to catch his breath. He slowed to a stop, his tail and head drooping as the full realization of their father's banishment finally hit him. He never wanted any of this! He never wanted to see both his parents stripped of their positions and exiled from their clans, or to see his sisters almost at each others throats. "I... I don't think I can handle losing anyone else." He said in a quiet whisper, looking at Dreamlily.
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Post by Moonblazer on Sept 5, 2023 16:42:12 GMT -5
Whisperstone ran after Dreamlily, worry for his sister making his heart race. Finally catching up to her, he cried out to her to try and get her attention, "Dreamlily! Please, wait! It's dangerous to be alone right now. Please, at least let me walk with you." He panted, trying to catch his breath. He slowed to a stop, his tail and head drooping as the full realization of their father's banishment finally hit him. He never wanted any of this! He never wanted to see both his parents stripped of their positions and exiled from their clans, or to see his sisters almost at each others throats. "I... I don't think I can handle losing anyone else." He said in a quiet whisper, looking at Dreamlily. "Why would she do this?" Dreamlily finally sobbed once Whisperstone caught up to her. She knew that her brother would not harm her, but she remained tucked away in the cliff crevice. "Everything was fine! Father and I were going to go on patrol tomorrow! I was going to show him my hunting skills! And now-..." Her breath hitched, voice high with agony and shame. "Everything is ruined! Nobody will ever look at us the same! I'll never get to spend time with our father ever again!" She sobbed. |
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Post by thistle on Sept 5, 2023 17:07:41 GMT -5
Warblerpaw padded up alongside Spiderbite, sympathetic to his attempts to make conversation. "Hey," he said. "How're you holding up? I mean, two medicine cats..." he shook his head somberly. "Sorry. I know you probably don't want to chat about it."
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Post by Icefire15 on Sept 5, 2023 17:18:13 GMT -5
Whisperstone looked down at his paws, feeling his chest ache at seeing his sister's pain. He couldn't bear to keep her in the dark anymore, wishing he had gone to her in the first place after Echowing had pulled him aside earlier that day. "I... I'm sorry. Echowing... she came to me, just before the Gathering and told me what she had planned to do." He said, his voice breaking. "I tried to talk her out of it, but she wouldn't listen to me. Nothing I said got through to her. I'm so sorry, Dreamlily. This is all my fault." His ears flattened against his head as he admitted to knowing about Echowing's plan, feeling guilt and grief course through him. He couldn't bring himself to look at her, not wanting to see her disappointment in him.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Sept 5, 2023 17:31:43 GMT -5
Warblerpaw padded up alongside Spiderbite, sympathetic to his attempts to make conversation. "Hey," he said. "How're you holding up? I mean, two medicine cats..." he shook his head somberly. "Sorry. I know you probably don't want to chat about it." Spiderbite flattened his ears. "It's a disgrace," he stated bluntly. "An insult to the medicine cat's way of life. We're supposed to be helping our clanmates keep faith in StarClan and healing wounds that run deep, but..." he shook his head. How he burned with anger and shame for Eclispesky's and Opalmist's actions tonight. I hope I never see Opalmist again. Eclispesky didn't give a reason for stepping, but after what happened with Opalmist, he didn't trust that the tom didn't break the code. I don't have proof. Spiderbite sat down and looked back toward the SkyClan medicine den. He'd have to tell Lavendersky what happened. At least he could treat Eclispesky like any other warrior from another Clan. "I thought I would be able to learn so much from them," he mewed quietly. "I looked up to them." |
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Post by Moonblazer on Sept 5, 2023 17:43:28 GMT -5
Whisperstone looked down at his paws, feeling his chest ache at seeing his sister's pain. He couldn't bear to keep her in the dark anymore, wishing he had gone to her in the first place after Echowing had pulled him aside earlier that day. "I... I'm sorry. Echowing... she came to me, just before the Gathering and told me what she had planned to do." He said, his voice breaking. "I tried to talk her out of it, but she wouldn't listen to me. Nothing I said got through to her. I'm so sorry, Dreamlily. This is all my fault." His ears flattened against his head as he admitted to knowing about Echowing's plan, feeling guilt and grief course through him. He couldn't bring himself to look at her, not wanting to see her disappointment in him. Dreamlily stopped, her head poking out from her hiding spot as she looked at her brother with deep sadness. "You... you knew? She told you about this? I..." She wanted to be angry, but she could tell that Whisperstone seemed genuinely pained and unable to get Echowing to stop. She sniffled. "I doubt you could have stopped her no matter how hard you tried. She's so... she's so full of anger and hatred, and she has been since the day we found out the truth." She swallowed. "I'm upset that you knew and didn't say... but I'm not angry at you, Whisperstone. After alll." She sniffled again, more bitter and upset. "You're not the one who ruined our lives today. She did..." |
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Post by thistle on Sept 5, 2023 17:44:25 GMT -5
Warblerpaw frowned, sitting across from the prickly medicine cat. "It was definitely unexpected," he mewed. "You did learn from them, but now..." he shook his head. "I can't imagine it. I guess it's time for a new generation of medicine cats to step up."
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Sept 5, 2023 18:20:09 GMT -5
Spiderbite huffed and glanced at Warblerpaw. "New generation, huh? And who, pray tell, will that younger generation be in ShadowClan? Snowdance is incredible, but she's like--" he clamped his jaws shut, not wanting to admit that he feared Snowdance would start showing her age like Lavendersky was. Lavendersky couldn't even get out of the den most days. "And Specklecreek and Peachdapple didn't even show up tonight." He slumped. "Eclispesky stepped down. Opalmist banished. Specklecreek and Peachdapple missing. What's happening to the medicine cats of the Clans?"
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Post by thistle on Sept 5, 2023 19:07:31 GMT -5
Warblerpaw winced, regretting opening his big mouth. Then his gaze hardened. "What matters is that you, our medicine cat, are true. You're a great medicine cat, and if StarClan is as great as you believe, then surely they'll sort things out!" he said. His pelt itched with an unspoken uncertainty, though. Would StarClan help them? They'd watched coldly, not a cloud in the sky, while two cats were thrown out of their homes and a family torn apart. And they'd apparently told Eclipsesky, who'd been medicine cat of WindClan for seasons upon seasons, that his time was over. Just what were they planning?
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Sept 5, 2023 19:15:09 GMT -5
Spiderbite blinked in light surprise at Warblerpaw's snap. "You're right," he mewed with sudden softness. "You're absolutely right. StarClan will sort things out. They are sorting things out. They didn't cover the moon tonight because they wanted the unfaithful to be exposed." He huffed as if he should've realized it sooner, thinking aloud rather than talking to Warblerpaw. "Darkness is brewing. That's what they said. Perhaps they meant we must be quick to faith. Perhaps, they're helping us prepare for what's coming by having us turn to cats who can actually help guide the clans' faith instead of those who broke the code." He looked back at Warblerpaw. "That's it. StarClan is trying to help us."
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Post by thistle on Sept 5, 2023 19:19:32 GMT -5
Warblerpaw flicked an ear, suddenly shy in the face of Spiderbite's uncharacteristic softness and sudden intensity. "Uh, yeah, that's what I meant," he said quickly. He knew StarClan existed and looked out for the Clans, but he wasn't as...faithful as others, per se. His stomach twisted uncomfortably with the knowledge that he'd been walking in the Dark Forest as of late.He nodded, soothed that Spiderbite seemed so sure. "Who knows? Maybe there are cats in WindClan and ShadowClan that were born to be healers. Maybe their medicine cats had to leave their positions so they could fulfill their destinies...or something."
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Sept 5, 2023 19:24:17 GMT -5
Spiderbite nodded to Warblerpaw. "That must be it. StarClan has a path for every cat. It's up to us to follow it. Eclispesky and Opalmist strayed, so they must have made a new path for others to follow and right their mistakes." He shrugged. "It's the same for warrior's too, but I would say medicine cats are more important just because I'm bias toward my own path. StarClan has a path for you too, Warblerpaw, but you'll only know what it is if you follow it."
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Post by thistle on Sept 5, 2023 19:31:16 GMT -5
Warblerpaw swallowed, suddenly feeling uneasy, but forcing it down. I make my own path. He didn't like the idea that he wasn't in charge of his own life, but knew it wasn't the time for that kind of discussion. "Of course," he said, dipping his head. "Now if you'll pardon me, I'm going to get some shut-eye. I don't know about you, but that was exhausting."
He swished his tail in good-bye, making his way up the ledge towards the apprentices' den. He picked his way to the center of the den where his nest was, stepping carefully around Pondpaw before settling in.
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Post by Willow on Sept 5, 2023 19:50:46 GMT -5
Twigpaw blinked echoing Flyingpaw, "Our dreams? Is he gone then? Like in Starclan?"
Springpaw looked between her siblings in confusion, "I don't understand Splashecho."
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Post by Icefire15 on Sept 5, 2023 19:59:46 GMT -5
Whisperstone looked down at his paws, feeling his chest ache at seeing his sister's pain. He couldn't bear to keep her in the dark anymore, wishing he had gone to her in the first place after Echowing had pulled him aside earlier that day. "I... I'm sorry. Echowing... she came to me, just before the Gathering and told me what she had planned to do." He said, his voice breaking. "I tried to talk her out of it, but she wouldn't listen to me. Nothing I said got through to her. I'm so sorry, Dreamlily. This is all my fault." His ears flattened against his head as he admitted to knowing about Echowing's plan, feeling guilt and grief course through him. He couldn't bring himself to look at her, not wanting to see her disappointment in him. Dreamlily stopped, her head poking out from her hiding spot as she looked at her brother with deep sadness. "You... you knew? She told you about this? I..." She wanted to be angry, but she could tell that Whisperstone seemed genuinely pained and unable to get Echowing to stop. She sniffled. "I doubt you could have stopped her no matter how hard you tried. She's so... she's so full of anger and hatred, and she has been since the day we found out the truth." She swallowed. "I'm upset that you knew and didn't say... but I'm not angry at you, Whisperstone. After alll." She sniffled again, more bitter and upset. "You're not the one who ruined our lives today. She did..." Whisperstone nodded his head, feeling even more shame in himself. He looked up in surprise at her lack of anger in him, blinking his mismatched eyes at her. "But.. but I should have done more! I should've been more persuasive or... or pinned her down and kept her quiet, or something! Anything! Instead, I just stood there like a coward!" He shook his head, his breath coming out in sharp gasps. "What... what are we going to do now?" He whimpered, crouching low to the ground. Whisperstone was scared to face his clanmates now, not wanting to see the looks they would give them now that they knew the full truth of their parentage. |
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Post by Moonblazer on Sept 5, 2023 20:03:53 GMT -5
Dreamlily stopped, her head poking out from her hiding spot as she looked at her brother with deep sadness. "You... you knew? She told you about this? I..." She wanted to be angry, but she could tell that Whisperstone seemed genuinely pained and unable to get Echowing to stop. She sniffled. "I doubt you could have stopped her no matter how hard you tried. She's so... she's so full of anger and hatred, and she has been since the day we found out the truth." She swallowed. "I'm upset that you knew and didn't say... but I'm not angry at you, Whisperstone. After alll." She sniffled again, more bitter and upset. "You're not the one who ruined our lives today. She did..." Whisperstone nodded his head, feeling even more shame in himself. He looked up in surprise at her lack of anger in him, blinking his mismatched eyes at her. "But.. but I should have done more! I should've been more persuasive or... or pinned her down and kept her quiet, or something! Anything! Instead, I just stood there like a coward!" He shook his head, his breath coming out in sharp gasps. "What... what are we going to do now?" He whimpered, crouching low to the ground. Whisperstone was scared to face his clanmates now, not wanting to see the looks they would give them now that they knew the full truth of their parentage. Dreamlily averted her gaze at Whisperstone’s desperate admission, though she slowly crept out of the crevice and padded her way towards her brother. She tucked her muzzle gently in the crook of his shoulder, shaking her head softly. “I-… I don’t know. Should we leave Skyclan before they banish us too? But… Oh, I don’t know! I love Skyclan, I love our home! How can we leave it?” She sniffed. |
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Post by Icefire15 on Sept 5, 2023 20:17:38 GMT -5
Whisperstone took a shuddering breath as he tried to calm his breathing down, taking in his sister's comforting scent, "I don't know if I can bring myself to leave..." He said, shaking his head sharply. "But at the same time, I don't want see the looks on our clanmates faces. It was bad enough having them think we were just the kits of some wandering rogue, but now... now they'll look at us as the result of two broken codes."
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Sept 5, 2023 20:33:19 GMT -5
Twigpaw blinked echoing Flyingpaw, "Our dreams? Is he gone then? Like in Starclan?" Springpaw looked between her siblings in confusion, "I don't understand Splashecho." "Not StarClan, my dears," Splashecho shook her head. "I'm afraid Waspstrike is in the Place of No Stars, but be assured, he is not against us." Flyingpaw's fur prickled. "You mean the place Lavendersky warned us about?" |
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Post by Moonblazer on Sept 5, 2023 20:34:55 GMT -5
Whisperstone took a shuddering breath as he tried to calm his breathing down, taking in his sister's comforting scent, "I don't know if I can bring myself to leave..." He said, shaking his head sharply. "But at the same time, I don't want see the looks on our clanmates faces. It was bad enough having them think we were just the kits of some wandering rogue, but now... now they'll look at us as the result of two broken codes." “…We’ll find a way.” Dreamlily finally decided, knowing she had to be brave. If not for her, then for her brother. “B-besides. If Cometblaze and Spotteddawn are still here, then… then maybe it will be okay. We’ll just… do what we’ve been doing.” She felt her fur bristle. “But I refuse to talk to Echowing. She can sit in her mess all by herself.” She growled, pained by her own words but forcing herself to accept it. |
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Post by Willow on Sept 5, 2023 20:49:52 GMT -5
Springpaw flicked her tail, glancing nervously at the cats returning from the gathering. "Isn't that the dark forest? We're not supposed to go there."
Twigpaw nudged his sisters, "If she says it's okay, it's gotta be okay right?"
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Post by Frozen on Sept 5, 2023 21:36:51 GMT -5
Willownose didn't leave Redspring and Ashfeather's side as she bitterly walked into camp. The Gathering was a disaster, and she felt a swirl of emotions within her. Sadness for Redspring, confusion for Spiritstar, irritation for Echowing. It was all too much. "It'll be a blessing when this night ends. I can't believe clouds didn't cover the moon." she remarked warily.
Firefang was unusually quiet. There was nothing happy or exciting about what happened during the night. He worried for Frostyfoot and Opalmist despite their betrayal, as they at least deserved to be somewhere safe.
Pheasantcry looked curious at the downcast mood of the returning cats. Had something happened?
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Post by Moonblazer on Sept 5, 2023 21:44:45 GMT -5
Redspring padded forwards with a hollow look in her eyes, rasping out. “If Starclan did not cover the clouds, then I guess it was meant to be this way… How can I possibly deny it? I just… He could have told me. He should have! He was my only…” She trailed off, eyes closing before she opened them and looked over at Echowing. “I want to be angry with her, but… how can I blame her? She must have been bottling it up, having to hide that for so long.”
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Sept 5, 2023 21:48:39 GMT -5
Springpaw flicked her tail, glancing nervously at the cats returning from the gathering. "Isn't that the dark forest? We're not supposed to go there." Twigpaw nudged his sisters, "If she says it's okay, it's gotta be okay right?" "Normally, yes." Splashecho ushered her kits to a part of camp no one would overhear them. "But dangers are coming to SkyClan. Cliffheart won't rest until he's destroyed the Clans. Waspstrike is going to teach you how to protect yourselves from him. SkyClan training won't be enough." Flyingpaw flicked her tail uneasily. "It's just...training, right? Nothing else?" Splashecho nodded. "Nothing, but you three getting stronger and becoming greater warriors to protect SkyClan." Flyingpaw glanced at Springpaw. "We can do that, right?" |
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Post by Icefire15 on Sept 5, 2023 21:54:37 GMT -5
Whisperstone gave Dreamlily an understanding nod but couldn't help the small stab of pain in his chest. He loved both his sisters, and he hated seeing the two at odds. As upset as he was with Echowing, he couldn't bring himself to turn his back on her completely. "We... we should get back to camp soon. I'm sure the others have already returned by now..." He trailed off, feeling dread at the thought of facing his clanmates now.
Firepaw padded towards the apprentices' den, his ear flicking as he thought over the events of the Gathering. He glanced back at where Spotteddawn and Cometblaze had gone, having seen the worried looks on his parents' faces as they had left the Gathering. They had both broken the warrior code as well, and Cometblaze had been exiled from ThunderClan as a result. What if Spiritstar changed her mind about them and decided they should leave too?
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Post by Willow on Sept 5, 2023 22:07:04 GMT -5
Springpaw flicked her ear, still looking unconvinced, "I guess. I'll do it if you two do."
Twigpaw puffed his chest out, nodding to Splashecho. "I will go. I'll practice everything we learn until it's perfect!"
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Post by Willow on Sept 5, 2023 22:08:47 GMT -5
Ashfeather looked at between Redspring and Willownose, shaking his head with defeat. "But to get your own father banished? I can't imagine." He sighed, ushering the two she-cats into a secluded part of camp. "After the events of tonight's gathering, I would like to tell you both something." he mewed anxiously.
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Post by Foxstar26 on Sept 5, 2023 22:10:06 GMT -5
Quickwing trudged into camp. Starclan that was quite the eventful gathering. She shook her head. While Echowing had a point she certainly wasn’t interested in her yelling it at the gathering.
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Post by Frozen on Sept 5, 2023 22:12:15 GMT -5
Willownose looked concerned at Ashfeather's words, hoping it wasn't a scandal on the level of what was revealed at the Gathering. "I- I'll listen. What is it?"
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Sept 5, 2023 22:14:22 GMT -5
Splashecho pressed her nose to each of her kits' cheeks. "Thank you so much. When you go to sleep tonight, think of your uncle and the Place of No Stars. I'll meet you there."
Flyingpaw flicked her ear. She liked to think of climbing really high. It always helped her sleep, but she supposed she could try this.
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Post by Icefire15 on Sept 5, 2023 22:20:11 GMT -5
Blackfire padded alongside Quickwing and looked over at her sister, her ear flicking in irritation. “I can’t believe Echowing would do something so foolish. She should’ve taken this up with Spiritstar and let her handle things instead of taking matters into her own paws.” She huffed, feeling her shoulder fur bristle. “Just imagine what the other clans are saying about us now.” She growled.
Spotteddawn padded into camp, looking back at Cometblaze as she did. “Let’s go over here.” She murmured to him quietly, leading the way to a secluded part of the camp.
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