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Post by Reden on Feb 11, 2022 12:58:13 GMT -5
(It’s the day after the fisher attack. Redstar told everyone who was there to be quiet about it. Finchpaw and Spottedtail are about to find some evidence of more predators in the area. The Clan News has a basic summary of events)
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Post by Reden on Feb 11, 2022 18:43:13 GMT -5
Most of the characters are in camp, Redstar and Echoheart are both there and open if you wanted to interact with them. )
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Jasminedusk
I lose so many people in my life that it's not surprising anymore. None of remember who I am now.
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Post by Jasminedusk on Feb 11, 2022 19:02:47 GMT -5
Sparrowsong with Redstar - Camp RedenSparrowsong looked around the camp, trying to find Redstar. She thought it was silly that the leader wouldn't let the cats who were there talk about it, it was a fine battle, something to remember! Sparrowsong especially couldn't see the sense behind having the clan whirred up about anything. Sari - Camp OPEN Sari stared longingly at the cats around her, wishing to be one of them. However, Sari's soul told her to hold on, hold on, to her past, can't let anything go. She wished that she had official training and a warrior name, but she knew that to do that she would have to forget everything Sari's mother had given her, and Sari valued those things more than anything else.
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Post by Dawnmist on Feb 11, 2022 19:23:06 GMT -5
Shadowheart shot the apprentice a stern look, “we’re medicine cats, not hunters. There’s a time and place to hunt,” he snapped, realizing soon after how harsh his words had sounded at the apprentices face. He kept his gaze with Finchpaws and spoke again, this time in a lighter tone. “I’m sorry, but you need to understand I won’t be here forever. Go get some air, but this won’t be an everyday thing.” Shadowheart then turned away, walking deeper into the pine grove. Finchpaw wasn’t even eager to learn, how will this progress?
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Post by kittyking2 on Feb 11, 2022 19:57:44 GMT -5
Finchpaw looked at his mentor. He doesn't believe in me! If he doesn't nobody will he thought. He shot his mentor an uneasy smile before heading off farther into the forest. He padded further and further away from his mentor, his guilt increased. He opened his mouth to get a quick smell. He smelled Spottedtail, maybe she could help? He followed the scent until coming upon his mother.
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bumbleking
"you seem in an awful hurry to die," he meowed
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Post by bumbleking on Feb 11, 2022 20:11:12 GMT -5
Spottedtail hadn't had any more luck as she hunted, and she was growing quietly frustrated. The closest she'd come was an early finch that startled up out of the grass fast enough to evade her claws. She gave a long sigh, tail lashing, and then picked her head up as another scent came to her on the wind. She parted her jaws, confused and then pleased as she saw her kit padding towards her. "Finchpaw!" she said, trotting toward him, her mission temporarily forgotten. She licked her kit's forehead in greeting, purring. "What are you doing out here? And alone?" Her eyes scanned the tundra, but she couldn't see who he might have been accompanied by.
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Post by kittyking2 on Feb 11, 2022 20:45:12 GMT -5
Finchpaw licked Spottedtail's chest. "I came to hunt. Shadowheart said I could" Finchpaw said, tail twitching nervously. "Do you need help?" Finchpaw asked, seeing that Spottedtail had no prey.
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Post by Reden on Feb 11, 2022 21:27:12 GMT -5
(Just in case you didn't see this- the clan thinks that the group killed the fisher, but it was actually a talking lynx named hollow who gave them a warning he claimed was from starclan. Redstar doesn't want the clan to panic because winter was so hard on them this year so he told them to just say they killed the Lynx. Blacktooth took credit for the killing blow.)
It didn't take long for Redstar to feel eyes on him, he glanced around camp, eventually noticing Sparrowsong wandering around. He took a deep breath, remembering how harsh he had been to the group the other day, but it was for the best, he was thinking only of the clan. The red tom made his way across the clearing, "Sparrowsong, you look well. Good job yesterday." He purred with a friendly voice, "I suppose many of your clanmates have asked you about what happened. I trust that you have been telling them about how you all defeated that creature." He added, a bit more quietly this time, wanting to make sure that the lynx was something that no one will speak off. Sparrowsong was a fine warrior, but young, it would be tempting to tell a tale about a talking lynx.
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bumbleking
"you seem in an awful hurry to die," he meowed
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Post by bumbleking on Feb 11, 2022 21:31:01 GMT -5
She cocked her head, looking down at Finchpaw searchingly. He seemed nervous, and it was admittedly strange that Shadowheart had permitted a medicine cat apprentice to try to hunt, but Spottedtail decided not to press the matter. They were all a little on edge recently. "I could use it!" she said. "I haven't had much luck on my own." She brushed up alongside her kit, ducking her head to speak to him lowly. "Tell me, then. What do you smell?" She flicked an ear, breathing in deep herself, and paused as a different smell drifted faintly towards her. Not the scent of prey, but something sharper and far less welcome. Spottedtail paused, wondering if Finchpaw would smell it too.
If there's another fisher-- She shook that thought away quickly, not wanting to panic her kit.
[ they could find the remains of some prey killed and eaten by a fox, maybe! ]
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Post by kittyking2 on Feb 11, 2022 21:52:06 GMT -5
Upon smelling the sharp yer musty smell of a fox, Finchpaw curled his lips back in disgust. "That smells, disgusting" he said, then his eyes widened in fear. "A fox!" he said, shrinking back further into his mother's side "Why would a fox be here, what if it attacks!" he said, starting to panic. I can not show fear! he thought. "I'm sure it'll be fine, we just have to see if it's attacked anything" he said, raising his head higher.
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bumbleking
"you seem in an awful hurry to die," he meowed
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Post by bumbleking on Feb 11, 2022 22:12:44 GMT -5
Spottedtail's hackles rose as Finchpaw confirmed what she'd feared. "I don't know why it's here," she said, "but we should make sure it's not still in the area." She thought of Bramblepaw off hunting on her own nearby and bristled further, worry sticking in her throat. "Follow me," she said quietly to Finchpaw. "Stay low and keep close, and if we come across the fox itself you run as fast as you can and find Darkcloud, you understand? He and Bramblepaw are close by, they'll be able to help." She paused to touch her nose to Finchpaw's ear. She had no doubt of her kit's bravery but he wasn't trained in battle the way a warrior apprentice was, and the thought of him anywhere near the danger a fox presented made her stomach clench with dread. She almost wanted to tell him to turn around and go back where he came from, but without knowing where the fox was or if it was still nearby that presented near as much danger as taking him along.
She flicked her tail to silently beckon him to follow and stalked low into the grass, following the scent of the fox.
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Post by kittyking2 on Feb 11, 2022 22:21:21 GMT -5
Finchpaw crouched behind his mother, tail lashing back and forth. I can't let this fox hurt anyone! He took another sniff, trying to block out the stench of the fox, he could smell something else, blood, but not of a cat. "I think it must have been hunting" Finchpaw whispered to Spottedtail.
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bumbleking
"you seem in an awful hurry to die," he meowed
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Post by bumbleking on Feb 11, 2022 23:38:30 GMT -5
Spottedtail inhaled and confirmed it, the scent of blood prickling the fur on her back. A minute later they crept upon the source: the remains of a hare, fur and gnawed-upon bones strewn across the dirt. Spottedtail stopped and scanned the grass ahead of them. Filtering out the smell of blood, she focused on the stench of the fox. It was older, a day or so, the kill not fresh. "It's moved on," she murmured to Finchpaw. She'd unsheathed her claws without realizing, and sheathed them again. Even if the fox was no longer in the area, coming across signs of another predator so soon after the fisher attack made her uneasy. She put on a confidence she didn't quite feel when turning back to Finchpaw. "That's good, but Darkcloud should know all the same. Cats ought to be warned." She purred, gazing down at Finchpaw. "You were very brave," she said.
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Post by Reden on Feb 12, 2022 0:21:03 GMT -5
Redstar shifted on his paws and glanced around, "follow me." He ordered, walking towards his den. When they were far enough away that no cat would be able to hear them, he spoke, "this was a difficult leaf-bare. The worst we have ever had in my life time." He released a sign, recalling that even the elders were worried about how cold it had been, "we need to keep the clan in high spirits, to do that, they can't be worrying about some odd lynx. I promise that I am just looking out for the clan. I expect, as your leader, that you will do as you have been told. Starclan would never send us a message in such an unrefined way. They look after us, and would tell us if something was wrong, not some mad lynx from the mountain." He told her, softly but he held a stern tone, signifying that he would not tolerate disobedience.
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Post by kittyking2 on Feb 12, 2022 8:38:22 GMT -5
Spottedtail inhaled and confirmed it, the scent of blood prickling the fur on her back. A minute later they crept upon the source: the remains of a hare, fur and gnawed-upon bones strewn across the dirt. Spottedtail stopped and scanned the grass ahead of them. Filtering out the smell of blood, she focused on the stench of the fox. It was older, a day or so, the kill not fresh. "It's moved on," she murmured to Finchpaw. She'd unsheathed her claws without realizing, and sheathed them again. Even if the fox was no longer in the area, coming across signs of another predator so soon after the fisher attack made her uneasy. She put on a confidence she didn't quite feel when turning back to Finchpaw. "That's good, but Darkcloud should know all the same. Cats ought to be warned." She purred, gazing down at Finchpaw. "You were very brave," she said. "Thanks" Finchpaw said "we should tell Redstar, and Shadowheart, maybe this is a sign from Starclan that the danger isn't over" Finchpaw said, pawing at the remains. "You know mom, I've never gotten a physical sign from Starclan, only dreams" |
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bumbleking
"you seem in an awful hurry to die," he meowed
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Post by bumbleking on Feb 12, 2022 12:52:34 GMT -5
Spottedtail brushed her tail comfortingly over Finchpaw's shoulders. "Shadowheart will know if this is a sign, don't worry. And if it is, well... Redstar will know what to do." She began to pad away from the remains of the hare, guiding Finchpaw; they'd find Darkcloud and let him know what they'd come across, and then doing as Finchpaw suggested would probably be best. The thought that this could be a sign from Starclan of more trouble to come made Spottedtail uneasy, and suddenly the reassurances Darkcloud had given earlier didn't seem so needless. More trouble... hasn't this clan gone through enough?
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Post by kittyking2 on Feb 12, 2022 15:49:18 GMT -5
Finchpaw nodded, pressing his head into Spottedtail's shoulder. "Well, we better get back to camp" Finchpaw mewed. When will the trouble ever end? Finchpaw thought. "I'm sure Redstar will have some brilliant plan, like how they defeated that fisher"
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Post by Reden on Feb 12, 2022 16:09:53 GMT -5
Darkcloud lifted his head when he scented Finchpaw nearby, his eyes narrowed for a moment, trying to see if maybe the apprentice was with his mentor. However, he could eventually see not to far away, the apprentice with Spottedtail. The black cat placed down the scrawny hare he had caught and raced other, able to scent the fear of the cat from where he stood, "what happened?" He asked, looking over Finchpaw, glad that the young cat did not seem injured.
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Post by kittyking2 on Feb 12, 2022 16:35:12 GMT -5
"There were remains of a fox!" Finchpaw exclaimed "I was going to go out hunting with Spottedtail, but then we smelled it!" he said, tail twitching. "No sign of where it could be sheltering though"
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bumbleking
"you seem in an awful hurry to die," he meowed
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Post by bumbleking on Feb 12, 2022 17:34:10 GMT -5
Spottedtail nodded to confirm Finchpaw's telling. "A fox was hunting," she explained. "The scent was a day or so old, so it could be it killed and ate and moved on, but we thought it was a good idea to warn you." She flicked her ears, concerned but trying to hide it. "And so close to the fisher attack... well. Maybe prey is scarce everywhere and it drives them to our territories?" The thought wasn't a comforting one, but it was better than the dead hare being a warning from Starclan.
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Post by Reden on Feb 12, 2022 19:22:15 GMT -5
Darkcloud nodded and glanced around for Bramblepaw, she wasn't in sight, "Go get Shadowheart and return Finchpaw to camp, I'll finishing hunting with Bramblepaw. Make sure that you talk to Redstar about what happened." He ordered, looking over the two cats. He gave Finchpaw a small smile, "don't worry Finchpaw, Starclan is looking over us. Redstar and Shadowheart will know what to do." He said in an attempt to reassure the younger cat.
Redstar nodded, glad that Sparrowsong seemed to agree with him. At least one cat here could understand his logic. The red tom, stood up, "I'm glad that you seem to agree Sparrowsong. Regardless of what really happened, all of you were very brave yesterday- don't forget that. The clan is looking up to all of you so be sure to set yourself as a good example for the apprentices and kits."
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Post by kittyking2 on Feb 12, 2022 19:32:14 GMT -5
"But I don't want to go back to camp! I need to see if this is a sign or not!" Finchpaw said, standing tall "I need to prove to him that I can do it! That i'm ready" he pleaded.
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Post by Reden on Feb 12, 2022 19:44:30 GMT -5
Darkcloud sighed, "Finchpaw, let Shadowheart guide you, that is his job as a mentor." He told the apprentice sternly, not changing his stance on that matter, "I know you want to prove yourself, and you will; but with how the clan is right now, we cannot afford to allow this to slip past Shadowheart and Redstar." He felt bad for the young tom, but he felt uncomfortable with leaving deciphering possible signs from Starclan to such a young apprentice. He could sympathize with the cat's eagerness to prove himself, but he worried that it would hinder the safety of the clan, "make sure you tell him every single detail you can remember. Now is not the time to doubt yourself. You are a great apprentice, I know that he will be proud that you are placing the clan before your own pride." He glanced to Spottletail, urging her to agree with him.
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bumbleking
"you seem in an awful hurry to die," he meowed
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Post by bumbleking on Feb 12, 2022 20:21:07 GMT -5
Spottedtail laid her tail across Finchpaw's shoulders again, pressing her side to his. "Darkcloud is right," she said, with a brief glance to the deputy. "You said yourself, you've never had a physical sign from Starclan before; it's best to let Shadowheart show you what to look for. He knows these things, and he will help protect Taigaclan. It's your job as his apprentice to learn." She gave him a quick lick between the ears. "Come on. Let's go find Shadowheart."
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Post by kittyking2 on Feb 12, 2022 20:32:37 GMT -5
"Well at least can I watch him figure it out? It may help me, learn" Finchpaw said, following Shadowhert's scent. He brushed his tail against the gorund.
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Post by Reden on Feb 12, 2022 20:37:36 GMT -5
Darkcloud felt relief when Spottedtail supported him, he was sure that it must have been difficult, considering that Finchpaw was her kit, "thank you, both of you. I will meet you in camp when I get Bramblepaw." He watched the two leave, feeling guilty that Finchpaw seemed so upset about not being allowed to figure it out by himself, but now was not the time. He had spirit, and would make a fine medicine cat one day, but for now, Darkcloud wanted the young tom to enjoy his time as an apprentice. He had already seen too much death this leaf-bare. The black tom picked up the small hare he had caught, and began to search around for Bramblepaw, following her scent.
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Post by Dawnmist on Feb 12, 2022 21:19:00 GMT -5
Shadowheart was walking back towards the blackberry bush where he and Finchpaw parted from. Once he noticed the apprentice he quickly approached him, “there you are! Are you alright?” He asked him, noticing the change in his attitude from before. He then noticed Spottedtail come from behind the apprentice and he dipped his head at her.
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