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Post by Shadowkit on Feb 9, 2022 22:45:53 GMT -5
OOC: Here's the thread!
I'm embedding images in the names to give you a bit of a better idea of what they look like!
ShadowClan:
Shadowpaw: Ebony-black tom-cat with dark green eyes. Shadowpaw's pelt has a couple healed deep scars from claw wounds despite never being in a battle. He is ten moons old and an apprentice of ShadowClan. He is timid and nervous, but empathetic and caring. He is not an impressive fighter, but he practices his hunting a lot. Shadowpaw is considered the least capable apprentice by many in ShadowClan, a sentiment that is kept to murmurs and gossip only because his mother is the leader. He has few friends in the clan and has always been spurned by his father for his failure to rise over the other apprentices. Scrawny, clearly malnourished. Son of Dawnstar and Nightscar. 10 moons old.
Dawnstar: Silver-blue she cat with ice blue eyes and a muscular build. Former leader of ShadowClan, known for her excellent fighting skills. She matches this with a compassionate personality that has detached her from much of the past of ShadowClan. Mother of Shadowpaw. Murdered by her mate, Nightclaw.
Nightclaw: Ebony-black, muscular and battle-scarred tom-cat with dark green eyes. Ill humored and impatient, Nightclaw seems a strange match for Dawnstar. Plotting and tactical, Nightclaw always pushes to take more territory and does not hesitate to hunt over the border if he thinks his clan will benefit from it. Out of love for Dawnstar and always disappointed with Shadowpaw, Nightclaw has never forgotten when Dawnstar lost one of their kits.
Ivytongue: Light grey she-cat with dark blue eyes, medicine cat of ShadowClan. Friend of Dawnstar.
Ivorybite: Light and dark brown tawny she-cat with light blue eyes and a well-balanced physical build.
ThunderClan:
Ravenfang: The deputy of ThunderClan, pseudo-father to Leafpaw, and Wrenstar's devoted helper. He is a rowan-brown tom-cat with dark brown eyes. Ravenfang is fiercely loyal to his leader and clan and believes in doing the right thing until the end...even if the right thing might not be exactly what the Warrior Code dictates. The worst kept secret of ThunderClan is how attached Ravenfang grew in secret meetings with Dawnstar, only for them to stop seeing each other abruptly. Older cats know he has been a little more emotionally detached since then, the exception being Leafpaw who he pours his love into, almost to the point of spoiling her.
Leafpaw: Found on the territory as a very young kit by Ravenfang, ThunderClan's deputy, Leafpaw was raised by him and is mentored by him. Though she still wonders why her parents abandoned her, having no memory of when she was that young, Leafpaw has found family in Ravenfang, Thornleaf, and ThunderClan. Loving and eager to help, Leafpaw is a favorite of the elders and attempts to exude a contagious positivity.
Dappledmist - sleek ginger she-cat with brown-spotted paws and amber eyes Minnowflame - tawny she-cat with green eyes. At the point of retirement. Mentor of Oakpaw.
Berryblaze - dark golden tom with pale amber eyes. A senior warrior. Well-respected for his fighting skills, balancing power and speed Pinepaw - young black she-cat with deep dark blue eyes, a white chest and a healing left back leg injury. Sister of Oakpaw and [second sibling] Oakpaw - young black she-cat with white stripes, medium blue eyes and a bit short of stature. Apprentice of Minnowflame. Nettlepaw - young tom-cat, brown with orange v-shaped stripes along his flank, with light amber eyes. Bramblepelt - young tom-cat, dark brown with black splotches through his fur, with dark brown eyes and a muscular build.
Relations:
ShadowClan:
Dawnstar + Nightclaw = Shadowpaw, Duskpaw, Twilightpaw
ThunderClan:
Ravenfang ~=~ Leafpaw
Minnowflame + Berryblaze = Dappledmist Berryblaze -- open for siblings Nettlepaw and Bramblepelt - Siblings of Thornleaf Pinepaw, Oakpaw - Siblings, open for a third. Pinepaw - Open for mentor
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Lesbian
#ACEBF6
Name Colour
Feathertalon
Bird Overlord
unofficial chicken whisperer
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Post by Feathertalon on Feb 10, 2022 5:42:10 GMT -5
[ I’ll finish getting characters up after work ^^ ] ThunderClan Tawnystar - heavily scarred bengal tomcat with one pale green eye ; leader Webheart - gray tabby molly with murky amber eyes ; medicine cat Owlfoot - brown tabby tom with wide amber eyes Mothleg - brown ticked tabby molly with amber eyes Icetail - solid white tomcat with a plumy tail and amber eyes Honeystream - mostly white molly with ginger ears and tail; she has copper eyes Thornleaf - small tabico molly with amber eyes ; main character Aspenpaw - cinnamon tabby tom with mossy green eyes ; apprentice Silverdeer - black silver ticked tabby with copper eyes ; queen ShadowClan Applefang - scarred ginger and white molly with green eyes ; deputy Foxbite - blue ticked molly with green-amber eyes ; warrior Bluefoot - blue molly with seafoam green eyes ; warrior Ratmask - stocky seal point tomcat with pale blue eyes ; warrior Spookpaw - thin black tomcat with sharp copper eyes ; apprentice Leopardpaw - silver spotted tabby tom with pale green eyes ; apprentice RelationsTawnystar + Vixenflame = Owlfoot Owlfoot + Briarfrost = Brackenkit, Amberpaw, Aspenpaw Silverdeer + open = Thornleaf, open for siblings Bluefoot is Dawnstar's littermate |
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Lesbian
#ACEBF6
Name Colour
Feathertalon
Bird Overlord
unofficial chicken whisperer
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Post by Feathertalon on Feb 10, 2022 15:53:54 GMT -5
[ alright, I think I got a decent list up~ ]
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Post by Shadowkit on Feb 11, 2022 17:47:52 GMT -5
Sweet-- still gotta get some more up, but let me get a post up to start it off. Its v long, i normally write 4 to 6 long paragraphs but i went a little crazy to start lol
IC: It didn't seem like anything around him was real anymore.
From the moment he walked into camp with his mother, he felt the strange aura within the camp. From the way that some of the Shadowclan warriors were gathered about the center of camp, to the sneers and glee that were clear to see in the gazes of some of the cats gathered about. He could see the uneasy gazes of Ebonypelt and Tigersprint in the further corners of the camp. He was uncomfortable with the feeling that was coating the camp, but it was only confirmed as his father, Nightclaw, who was stood close to the floor in front of the leader's den, began to approach the two of them. His gaze quickly turned to his mother, about to say something when her mother's dark, morose look made him stand silent, while his father approached.
She didn't look to him, but she quietly spoke out of the corner of her mouth. "Shadowpaw...S-stay behind me..." Her voice had a shake to it that he was not acclimated to, a sign of worry just not common to his mother. It set his fur on edge far more than the weirdness of the camp could.
He could see the nervousness prickling his mother's pelt as Nightclaw approached the two of them, while the gazes of the cats gathered around were unmistakably focused on the three of them. Clutching his breath in his chest, Shadowpaw pulled back a nervous half-step, quickly glancing to his father and then back to his mother. What was happening? Why was he grinning so wide?
Nightclaw’s grin never faltered as he approached Dawnstar and Shadowpaw. "You have failed, again and again, to demonstrate that you have the strength to lead this clan." Nightclaw’s deep and scratchy voice bellowed over the camp, loud and commanding. Amidst his words, one could almost discern a jovial tone; and paired with his wide grin, one could almost say he was taking pleasure in whatever was taking place here. “Your warriors no longer trust in you to get done what needs to be done. And most importantly...you have been soiling the true calling of a warrior. To demonstrate one's strength...you spit upon it. You cower before the other clans. Shadowclan is sick of it, and Shadowclan is sick of you."
Shadowpaw's blood froze stiff as he heard what his father was saying. He could easily discern the threat posed within his father's words, and though he felt like the both of them were in danger, he felt his legs frozen to the ground and his mouth refusing to form words.
Dawnstar had a pretty similar reaction as her mate spoke to her of the transgressions she had committed against her clan. She knew what he was talking about--she had been, for the short moons since she was appointed leader, trying to better Shadowclan's relationship with the other clans, and to dissolve their reputation of being a deceitful and untrustworthy clan.
But there were many who didn't agree, and she was realizing it had been a sentiment growing more strongly than she had thought. She stepped to the side and pressed up close to her son. Shadowpaw was breathing fast, and she could feel the fear surging through him...just as it was through her. "Shadowpaw..." She was muttering under her breath, trying not to be heard by anyone else. "You...you may need to run, far...I...Don't question me. If this..." She cast a quick side glance to look at her son, who was the reason she opened her eyes in the morning. Her ice blue eyes gazed down at him. "I love you, Shadowpaw..." She quietly pressed her pelt against his. "I love you so much." She gulped, turning back to Nightclaw to look at him, who's smile had taken on an element of sick, utter enjoyment. He began taking slow pawsteps closer to Dawnstar.
Shadowpaw's gaze fixed upon the eyes of his mother, utterly frozen in fear and confusion, equally filled with fear in this situation and a confused, strange sort of relief as his mother assured him of her love for him. This was going to be fine, right? They were going to be fine. This is going to be okay...
"Your time is over." Nightclaw drew closer and left no uncertainty as to what was happening here. Only a couple pawsteps away, he suddenly pushed himself forwards, charging Dawnstar and pulling his claws out as he prepared to strike at the neck of his mate. Dawnstar was more than ready, and she pressed her legs strong into the ground, leaping up into the air and swiftly, yet barely, avoiding the claws which were mere inches from her neck as she evaded Nightclaw. She knew immediately that this was a coup, that he was trying to take over and, from the ambivalence of the surrounding cats, enough of them agreed with Nightclaw, or were too scared to fight back against the relative consensus, to help her. She knew this wasn't looking favorable to her.
Shadowpaw couldn't have described the terror that was spilling through him as his own father suddenly attacked his mother, swiping directly for his mother. though his everything felt frozen in place, his legs forced him backwards a few pawsteps, while his mother took to reciprocating the attack, trying to tackle the tom-cat as she awkwardly landed on top of him after he dived towards her. The two of them ended up in a ball, rolling a short distance together before Shadowpaw, hearing the words of his mother echoing in his head, turned tail and dashed for the entrance they had just entered through.
There was nothing he could do to stop himself looking back and skidding to a halt as he reached the exit of the camp. A couple warriors were rising and beginning to approach him, scowls on their face as they seemed intent to keep him from leaving. But that didn't even enter his mind as his eyes took in his parents.
She was fighting hard, but despite her quick reflex, this whole situation had taken Dawnstar by surprise. She had felt traced of dissent being bred in the clan, but she had not been ready for the severity of it. The ambivalence in her clanmates. Despite struggling and scrabbling against her mate, she found herself beneath his paws before she could take a breath, and as she finally sucked in a breath and prepared to plead with him, to beg him not to go through with this, to ask him why he was doing this...his fangs were closed around her neck.
"NOOOOOO!" Shadowpaw screamed from the entrance to the camp as his father's maw closed around the neck of his mother. It was impossible to process what he saw when he turned back from running, just to see his mother lying upon the floor with teeth in her neck. Moments ago, just seconds ago he was padding alongside her, as she promised him that they would step up his hunting training, despite the fact that she had other things that had been taking her time. Now, Nightclaw was lifting his maw, dripping with blood and a wide smile on his face.
And while he was lifting his maw, Dawnstar was realizing that she was going to die. He was swifter than she had expected given Nightclaw’s massive size. She underestimated him. She wasn't ready. Oh Starclan. I'm going to bleed out in moments, and... Horror filled her as she thought of her kit left beside her. Her head lolled back as she felt blood pouring from her neck, and with the slightest bit of relief, she saw him at the entrance to the camp. He obeyed her, as always. The slightest spark of hope lighted within her heart. Run. Get away. There's nothing here for your bright heart.
Her blue eyes lay on him as Shadowpaw stared in terror, in an all-consuming and paralyzing horror at his mother upon the floor of the camp, bleeding out the refuge of life that lay within her. He wanted to cry out, to beg his father to stop, and to beg his mother not to die, not to leave him, but it was all futile. And as Shadowclan cats began growing closer to him, he realized, very quickly, that whatever was going to be left after this, he was going to be subject to it.
"No!" He cried out once more, though her eyes were already greying and her body was growing limp. It meant nothing. Tears beginning to pour out of his eyes, he spun about, charging out of the camp with total haste.
---
They were after him for at least a minute or more, as he charged across the territory, tears pouring from him, leaving an invisible trail in the ground as he pelted at full speed across the territory. He knew he didn't have a single moment to waste as he felt the warriors behind him; yet after almost two minutes, he felt an absence of their presence, thinking he couldn't hear their pawsteps anymore.
Still, he didn't want to be deceived. He continued pelting through what he assumed was the Shadowclan territory. It wasn't long until he came upon a twolegpath, impossible to mistake, and he finally risked a glance behind his back, begininning to slow slightly.
They had broken off of him at some point, leaving him to run. Beginning to suck in heavy breaths, exhausted from both the sprint and everything that had just happened within a short number of seconds, the apprentice felt his legs growing extraordinarily heavy. He made it across the path, a paranoid measure to make more distance between himself and whoever was following, before he slumped down in between a few trees, and the tears pouring from his eyes began turning into uncontrollable, painful, breath-breaking sobs. His mom was dying. She...she had to be dead.
None of this could be reality.
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Lesbian
#ACEBF6
Name Colour
Feathertalon
Bird Overlord
unofficial chicken whisperer
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Post by Feathertalon on Feb 12, 2022 16:26:00 GMT -5
Thornleaf »
”From this day forward, you will be known as Thornleaf. ThunderClan welcomes your nurturing heart and compassionate nature as a full warrior.”
The elderly leader’s words still echoed in Thornleaf’s mind even now. The excitement of being named a warrior still thrummed through her body, keeping her going even after staying up all night on her vigil. She still couldn’t believe that ThunderClan thought she was ready to be a warrior. During her training she had had doubt after doubt about her abilities. She was small, one of the smallest full grown cats in ThunderClan, and while that had its perks, it also had a lot of downfalls that Thornleaf had struggled with during sessions with her mentor. Trouble with battling had also met her while training. Her blows weren’t powerful, her small size frail as well. She was soft, not exactly powerful warrior material, but somehow, by some miracle of StarClan, the tabby calico had managed to make it a full ThunderClan warrior, and only at the age of thirteen moons. It was a huge accomplishment for her, and even now, hours after her ceremony, she still couldn’t believe it.
She had been relieved from her vigil duties not that long ago by Tawnystar himself. He had thanked her for her vigilance and had given her the day to rest before starting her warrior duties in the morning, but she was too full of energy to sleep - and a part of her was a little nervous to figure out her sleeping arrangements in the warriors’ den. She was anxious about the thought of not having her friend Leafpaw in the same den with her, but hopefully she would soon follow Thornleaf in becoming a warrior.
For a moment there she wondered if she should go and find her friend, but just as she got up to her paws to look for Leafpaw, she was hit with the thought that her former denmate was more than likely busy with her training. Leafpaw’s mentor was bound to be taking her out for some training this morning, and Thornleaf would hate for ruining any of that. Instead she settled on the idea of hunting. Ravenfang had already set out the morning patrols, but Thornleaf had time to spare, and with her mother Silverdeer expecting another litter of kits, ThunderClan could use all the food they could find.
Knowing that Ravenfang had sent the morning hunting patrol out near the border with WindClan, the young torbie decided she would head near the pines where ShadowClan made a home. She made quick progress there, her paws familiar with the path after so many moons of walking it alongside her mentor. Everything was just as it was - a slight breeze pushed through the mixture of pine and oak trees, the springy grass under paw dappled with golden sunlight. Thornleaf took in a breath of air, relaxed by the serene familiarity of it all. In the distance she could pick up the scent of squirrels, nature deciding for her what she would be hunting this morning.
Thornleaf followed the trail, and as it grew heavier, another scent drifted alongside it, something that made the molly freeze in her steps.
ShadowClan!
Panic flooded through the new warrior. Frantically she wondered if she had crossed the border by mistake, but as she glanced around and confirmed her surroundings, she realized she was still well within her borders. ShadowClan territory didn’t lay too far ahead, but it wasn’t usual to be picking up such a strong scent of them from here. Anxiety momentarily had her wondering if an invasion was happening, but that couldn’t be possible. ShadowClan and ThunderClan were on healthy terms with one another. Dawnstar was diplomatic and peaceful. Should she have any reason to need more land she would have contacted Tawnystar to negotiate. It didn’t make sense for an invasion. But that left Thornleaf with questions yet answered, and with curiosity piqued, she slowly began following the scent, leaving the squirrels alone.
Eventually the calico tabby came to a small clearing where a patch of trees stood tall. The scent was strong here, almost engulfing Thornleaf. The ShadowClan cat had to be here, she just couldn’t find where he was.
… There!
Nestled in a pile of fur between the trees lay the body of a young feline. Thornleaf felt her pelt prickle, unease causing her to instinctively fluff out. Something was wrong, she just didn’t know what, but she was also too curious to just turn away and leave.
Not getting any closer, Thornleaf tentatively called out to the body, ”H-hello…?”
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Post by Shadowkit on Feb 14, 2022 18:44:04 GMT -5
OOC: I forgot to mention that I color code to track characters, if any of the colors hurt your eyes tell me and ill try to use paler versions. IC: Leafpaw was just a little late to get up. Her name being called just a bit irritably through the den entrance warned her of this fact, and she let out a quiet, tired groan of protest as she recognized the voice of the cat padding into the apprentices' den.
She laid unmoving in her nest, exhausted from last night's excitement and her inability to get a good night's sleep afterwards. Thornleaf! Who could claim to have a name as cool as that?! She had been thinking all night. Her best friend was finally a warrior. Leafpaw had spent the better part of the last day worried, knowing her friend was scared of not passing the exam. Training was hard when worried about one's friend, but on the other paw, when she had heard Thornleaf passed, Leafpaw couldn't contain her energy, Unfortunately, Thornleaf couldn't even celebrate before being assigned to her vigil--but now they could, right?"You've slept in. Again. If you make a habit of this, Tawnystar's going to move you into the elder's den." He might have been trying to sound serious, but Ravenfang's voice gradually gave way to quiet amusement, a soft chiding rather than a true chastizeing. "Come on, now. Get up. The sun is coming up, and its time for you to help feed the kits."
There were a few long moments of silence from Leafpaw, and he starting thinking she was actually ignoring him--but then she spoke up. "But, I wanted to hunt with Thornp--mm, Thornleaf this morning," She protested, slowly turning over in her nest to look up at her father with half-opened, tired eyes. There might have been a touch of sympathy in his gaze, but it gave way to something a little less so as he gave a slight shrug.Well, I'm afraid you slept in too late. She already went out, likely to hunt-" He blinked, glancing behind him, out the den exit. When he spoke again, his voice was quieter, more to himself than to Leafpaw. "-though you'd think she would learn something from you and take a nap after that long vigil..."
He cleared his throat and looked back down at Leafpaw. "I want you outside in a few minutes. You have a couple moons before your exam, but that doesn't mean we can slack on your hunting skills." He gave her a light flick with his tail, almost certain he didn't need to worry too much. She was an okay hunter, and with her larger-than-average build, Ravenfang was certain she could shape up to be a strong, excellent fighter. He was going to pour everything he could into making sure she had the skills and training to be an example for the other apprentices.
It was difficult to know if he was really safe. As Shadowpaw laid on the floor of the forest crying, he half-expected claws to sink into the back of his neck and start dragging him back. He thought he'd hear his father's voice mocking him for running away, or getting caught, or anything he did wrong...yet his belly was heaving from the effort of the long run, not having much more energy for another adrenaline-boosted sprint. All he wanted was his mother to show up behind him, unwounded and safe. She would keep him safe.
But he knew what a neck wound like the one she had meant, and even if he couldn't say the words to himself, for fear it would make it that much more real, dread was spreading through him like a spider weaving its web, and his tears seemed to flow faster than the river.
His fears were realized as he heard a voice, and he jumped up in response, his sobs coming to a sudden stop--but as he jumped up, he realized the voice was coming from the wrong way, and it certainly didn't sound like the voice of a confident stalker, his gaze focused on the what he assumed eventually became ThunderClan territory--and with wide, scared eyes, he saw a cat he didn't recognize a bit of a ways away from him.
He took a couple steps back, looking behind him in a quick attempt to see if any cats were watching him, as well as to get a sense of exactly where he was. "S-sorry," He stammered as he called out to her, his voice cracking as he was unable to banish the grief from his voice. "D-Did I cross the border? I-I'm really s-sorry..." He gulped, trying to shove back tears, as well as maintain some semblance of composure in front of this new, potential threat. This cat must have been from Thunderclan, but they looked like an apprentice, like him. So why would this cat be out alone?
He tried in vain to pull some excuse out to justify if he had accidently crossed the territory. "I-I got lost," was all he could stammer out, as his wet cheeks glistened slightly in the rising, early morning sun and his frail, underfed frame heaved from what must have been a lot of physical exertion. |
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Lesbian
#ACEBF6
Name Colour
Feathertalon
Bird Overlord
unofficial chicken whisperer
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Post by Feathertalon on Feb 15, 2022 8:30:59 GMT -5
[ raven's color is hard for me, but the other ones are fine! ^^ also i added the faceclaims for my side characters as well ~ ] Thornleaf »
This was reckless of her. Thornleaf knew that the right decision to make was to interrogate the intruder, and if worse came to worst, she would have to fight this cat off, but she was just one cat, one small cat at that. Fighting had never been her strong suit, and if this cat was a full-fledged ShadowClan warrior, then there was no way Thornleaf would be able to come out of a scuffle unscathed. A part of her wanted to run back to camp, call for backup, but she knew that was a stupid choice to make; she couldnm’t leave a tresspasser unaccounted for.
Thornleaf swallowed, throat dry. StarClan must have put this cat here to test her. This was her true warrior assessment.
As soon as the cat jumped up to his paws, Thornleaf took a step back, tail lashing in apprehension behind her. Her claws unsheathed out of instinct, digging deep into the leaf litter underneath her paws. As much as she didn’t want to fight, her body at least knew what it was doing and could prepare her for the worst case scenario. Though, it seemed as if luck was on her side, as she finally got a clear look at this cat, she realized a lot of things that seemed…off…about him.
First was the fact that there was no aggression on his face. If anything there looked to be some sort of confusion, and even clearer than that was the fact that he looked exhausted. Sorrow wracked his words as he spoke, and as Thornleaf tried to listen to what he had to say, she couldn’t help but notice how his black fur - dull and lifeless - was clinging to a skeletal frame. Something was wrong. Something was seriously wrong.
All instinct to fight vanished from her body. No longer frozen by uncertainty, the new warrior slowly crept forward, lowering herself to the ground to appear as less of a threat. ”You crossed the border, yes,” she murmured softly, not wanting to startle the young cat as she answered his question. ”Are you hurt?” She then gave her own question to him, keeping her voice soft and level, familiar to her mother’s voice when she was talking to frightened or tired kits.
While she was more in her element now that she was no longer worried about a fight, Thornleaf was still unsure of what exactly to do. She wanted to help the tomcat, comfort him in any way that she could, but should she chase him back across the border? He seemed sickly, frightened, and Thornleaf didn’t want to force him to go back to his Clan if he wasn’t being looked after properly; in turn that raised a lot of other questions, like why he was so frail. Wasn’t ShadowClan doing well under Dawnstar’s leadership? She was no harsh leader from what Thornleaf had noticed at gatherings. If something was wrong in ShadowClan then shouldn’t they be helped? Should Thornleaf bring this apprentice back to ThunderClan? Tawnystar would surely know what to do about all this, and Webheart could look him over and give him the proper medical attention he probably needed.
But she supposed she needed to know who this cat was before making any decisions that could lead her to bringing him to her camp. ”Who are you?” He seemed vaguely familiar, like she had noticed him a few times at a gathering or two, but she couldn’t quite place a name to his gaunt face. ”I’m Thornpa-leaf. Thornleaf,” she quickly corrected herself, her new name still a foreign taste upon her tongue.
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Post by Shadowkit on Feb 21, 2022 14:57:53 GMT -5
It was hard for Shadowpaw to keep his calm as the cat jumped back a step and her tail lashed about, which he took as some form of hostility. Of course, if he thought about how he, himself had reacted, it would make complete sense--sudden movements were hardly ever taken well in other clans' territories. His expression of grief turned into that of fear as she began creeping forward, but she had made herself smaller and he could see she didn't seem to be in a hostile that could be called particularly hostile--more cautious.
So he gulped and tried to hold his ground, afraid as he was. Even if she was smaller than him, this cat was a warrior for a reason--she must have been well-trained in the art of fighting. He couldn't handle a fight right now, not in his state. He prayed to StarClan that he got out of this situation safely, hoping their starry ancestors would listen to him for once.
He blinked at her as she answered his question, a relatively even and unconfrontational response which he hadn't expected given that he was trespassing. Her intention of not startling him seemed to work, as it took him a bit of guard and made him reconsider for a moment how much danger that he might have been in.
Then she asked him if he was hurt, and Shadowpaw's expression of fear was fully replaced with confusion. Am I hurt? He had no idea where the question was coming from, why this stranger would care about whether he was injured or not. Maybe she wanted to assess if he was in a good fighting state? His father had always said never to give away any information at all. Anything can be used against you by a cunning enough cat. Never reveal anything. But Shadowpaw wasn't even particularly worried about that threat--it was just so bizarre to him that she would ask him something like that.
Was he hurt? Inside, he felt like he had been crushed and ground into the dirty marsh of ShadowClan, but how in the name of StarClan could he communicate that to a total stranger? Creeping closer to him, it was getting easier to see what seemed to be marks of training or battle across his chest, and more were hidden along his sides, out of view. At the least, they seemed to be treated, though his run had unlodged the cobwebbing. Thankfully, he didn't seem to be bleeding anywhere at the moment.
He had noticably stiffened since he was asked the question, and he had hunched down and folded his ears back, like he was afraid to answer what she had asked him. "N-no, I'm...f-fine..." Shadowpaw wasn't exactly actively hurt in the strictest sense, but he wasn't at all 'fine.' A simple glance was enough to tell that, and made his statement a rather clear lie.
He really wanted to move along, to get away from the ShadowClan cats who could still be prowling along behind him--for all he knew, they could be watching this conversation. He couldn't march away from this cat either, but he was almost certain she wasn't going to let him go any further. When he noticed the way she almost seemed to be examining him, he shuffled about on his paws a bit uncomfortably, listening as she spoke up again.
"My name is Shadowpaw," He murmured quietly, mirroring her offering her name with the same courtesy. He had affirmed that he was an apprentice out on his own, and that he was the son of ShadowClan's leader, which made his state seem even a bit more unusual. He did notice she slipped saying her name, and he wondered for a brief moment if the small cat might have only just received her warrior name. "L-listen, I'm really sorry about invading your territory. I-it was an accident," He stammered, taking a step back. "I should probably get..."
He gulped as he didn't know how to finish his own sentence, his confusion increasing as he glanced down at his paws for a few moments. Get home? Get back to camp? I can't go back there! He thought to himself, distress flowing through him in waves and applying a fresh coat of grief to his voice as he spoke up again, looking back towards the warrior. "...get back over the border."
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Lesbian
#ACEBF6
Name Colour
Feathertalon
Bird Overlord
unofficial chicken whisperer
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Post by Feathertalon on Feb 21, 2022 17:03:03 GMT -5
Thornleaf »
The longer she looked at the other cat, the more she noticed about him. Right away she had noticed how malnourished he looked, as if he hadn't had a good meal in a moon or two. He was nervous, that much was clear as well, his body language telling Thornleaf everything she needed to know without him verbally confirming his feelings. But what was harder to see upon first glance was the wounds littering his pelt, covering him like leaves did the ground. They were faint, none bleeding, but all seeming fresh. Thornleaf recalled the stories she had heard about ShadowClan apprentice training. They were harsh and ruthless with their 'paws, forcing them into battle training until they collapsed from exhaustion. Thornleaf had never wanted to believe such stories; she couldn't wrap her head around the thought of any Clan pushing their young trainees so hard to the point that they could go on no longer. Yet as she looked down at the frail form of the ShadowClan apprentice, these stories came back to haunt her, and she wondered if those stories had been based on truths.
Her tail twitched once after hearing the young tom say he was fine. That was a clear lie, but Thornleaf couldn't blame him from speaking untrue words. What cat would ever want to admit to not being okay? Countless warriors ignored the dire states they were in all for the sake of pride, and Thornleaf herself couldn't say she wouldn't do the same. She shifted on her paws. It was clear he wasn't in a good body condition. It was also clear that he was uncomfortable with her presence. Thornleaf was sure he felt like caught prey. Not only was he unwell, but he was in unknown territory to him, inside the enemy's borders. Everything about this was unsavory for the poor tom.
"My name is Shadowpaw" he answered.
Thornleaf found herself unconsciously standing taller as realization hit her.
Shadowpaw. That name was familiar. That was the name of Dawnstar's kit.
While she should probably offer more respect toward the son of a Clan leader, Thornleaf was only met with more questions. Curiosity buzzed inside her like a hive of bees. What was the son of a leader doing over the border? And why did he look more like a skeleton than a warrior in training?
Before she could rationalize anything or clear out her thoughts, Thornleaf found herself blurting out, "Let me take you back to Webheart." As the words tumbled out, she caught herself, eyes going wide with shock at the fact she had been so bold with her statement. The tabico took a step back, ears burning with embarrassment. "I...I mean, well..." Her words stumbled over one another. Dear StarClan, if only Leafpaw were here with me! Her friend would know what to do. Leafpaw always had better ideas than Thornleaf. "You look hurt, and I can't...I just can't let you go off on your own in territory you don't know. So...please, let me help. Once Webheart has cleared you, I'll take you back home, okay?" She hoped that sounded like a good deal to Shadowpaw. Perhaps the right thing to do was to just let him go back across the border, but Thornleaf couldn't shake the feeling that something in ShadowClan was terribly wrong, and her conscious wouldn't rest easy if she just sent the young tom back into trouble.
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Post by Shadowkit on Feb 21, 2022 18:45:40 GMT -5
Just as Thornleaf's own eyes went wide from her own words, Shadowpaw was left flabbergasted by her....was it an offer? A command? He stared at her, the confusion on his face replaced with astonishment. He hadn't been certain how to take her suddenly shifting closer to her normal posture again, not as certain if it was a sign of aggression--but he hadn't expected...this.
This was either extending an extremely generous paw of help, or some sort of trap. He could hear echoes of his father's speeches on the particularly wily skill of ThunderClan cats, recounting stories of generations of ShadowClan cats turned against their own, corrupted by, as his father said, self-important and manipulative cats who used doing good as a shield for being the most dominant clan.
As a result he could tell exactly what he would be hearing at this moment--and a part of him thought it was a very foolish idea to even consider this offer. But Shadowpaw wasn't quite in a state of mind to listen to what his father would tell him.
His jaw was a little slack from the initial shock of what she said, and he tried to straighten up a bit, blinking a couple times and shutting his mouth. He watched as she began struggling over her own words, and as he stared at her, listening, he began wondering how much malice this cat could really have within her--although her offer wasn't normal, she wasn't acting with the sort of arrogance and better-than-the-rest attitude that he had been taught to expect.
I just can't let you go off on your own. Thornleaf's words echoed in his head. Her tone of voice wasn't demanding, and didn't make him feel like this was a ploy to make him a prisoner. He tried to gulp down the anxiety he had about ThunderClan trickiness, listening as she continued speaking, elaborating just a bit about what she wanted him to do.
Of course, he recognized the name of Webheart. She was asking him to pass through one whole side of ThunderClan territory, enter the ThunderClan camp, and see the medicine cat. Why was he even considering this? He cast a quick glance at his flank, briefly revealing older, more healed wounds as he looked for the newer ones, and how the treatment Ivytongue had given him had worked. He thought it looked okay--none of his wounds were bleeding.
He didn't realize that Thornleaf was worried about more than just his wounds, though he was aware he wasn't doing a very good job of hiding his distress--who could in his situation? He looked back to her with uncertainty written all over his face. His brain was clearly running through the options he had, weighing the risks of whatever he did.
"I-I don't know if that's a good idea," He stammered slowly, choosing every word carefully. He cast a slow glance behind him. His eyes glanced to specific bushes, towards particular trees beyond the Thunderpath, trying to find any trace of his clanmates stalking him, waiting for the ThunderClan cat to chase him back. But his eyes, well-adjusted to the somewhat darker lands of ShadowClan couldn't pick up any sign of them.
His eyes focused on a farther point, something he couldn't really see. Mom, what would you do? He asked to the mother that couldn't hear him, trying to break through the words of his father which were constantly training his perceptions. There had to be a reason his mother had been so focused on building more productive relationships with the other clans. They couldn't just be evil, manipulative liars if she could place some degree of trust in them.
A wind starting picking up, carrying the scent of the Thunderpath behind towards the two of them. He blinked, flinching a bit as the wind battered as his eyes and the Thunderpath scent at his nose. He turned back to look at Thornleaf. "I...Will..." He gulped, then took a couple small steps towards her, still unsure if this was the right thing to do. "Are you sure Webheart won't mind? W-will it be quick?"
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Lesbian
#ACEBF6
Name Colour
Feathertalon
Bird Overlord
unofficial chicken whisperer
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Post by Feathertalon on Feb 21, 2022 21:14:50 GMT -5
Thornleaf »
Shadowpaw clearly had more sense than Thornleaf did, and she was the one who was supposed to be a warrior.
She knew this was a mouse-brained idea. She knew that this wasn't what a warrior should be doing - a warrior needed to chase any trespassers off their land, but Shadowpaw looked so frail, so frightened, she couldn't just leave him here alone and have him go back to ShadowClan, especially if something was terribly wrong in the pine forest. A part of her wanted to ask what was happening, but she knew that there was no way she'd get any information out of Shadowpaw; should she ask he would only think of her as an enemy rather than a friend. Not that she wasn't technically an enemy, but she wanted to show him friendliness, compassion. She wanted him to trust her as much as he could.
There was a lot in this situation that had Thornleaf questioning both herself and Shadowpaw. Was this the right move to make? Was helping him against the warrior code she had so diligently studied for the last seven moons? How would Tawnystar take this? The elderly ThunderClan leader was mellow minded and even-tempered. Never once had Thornleaf witnessed the spotted tabby angry, but what if this was what broke his peace? What if this was the one thing that made the leader bare his fangs? Thornleaf's throat constricted. She swallowed, met only by dryness. She was risking a lot here. She looked over at the ShadowClan apprentice once more. She would be risking his life if she had him go back home, she was sure of that. Thornleaf didn't want to live with the guilt of his death on her shoulders for the rest of her life.
Thornleaf drew in a deep breath of air. She made her decision. Shadowpaw was coming back to ThunderClan's camp with her. She would face any anger she was faced with, but StarClan willing, no anger would be thrown her way.
A wind picked up, carrying with it the bitter taste of the nearby thunderpath. Along with it was the scent of rain; a storm must be brewing in the distance. Glancing upward, the sky was still otherwise sunny, but given enough time Thornleaf was sure it would be dark and gray, clouded over with the temper of a storm. It was yet another incentive to get herself and Shadowpaw back to camp, no cat wanted to be stuck out in the rain unless they were RiverClan, and it was clear that neither of them were RiverClanners.
Just as she was turning to head back, Shadowpaw piped up with a question. The young molly paused in her steps, ears swiveling back in Shadowpaw's direction. "I don't think she'll mind. We're talking about the cat that once crossed the WindClan border to help one of their warriors stuck in a rabbit burrow that fell in. She has a tongue on her, but she helps any cat in need." Webheart had always looked beyond borders. For as long as Thornleaf had known the medicine cat, Webheart had been stubborn and proud, yet she never refused a cat in need, regardless of their allegiance. This was also the same cat that openly defied some aspects of the code, warrior and medicine cat code alike. She had strong opinions that made her stand out, and even made some cats, especially the elders, question her and her role as medicine cat, but no matter what sort of backlash she received, Webheart remained strong and held her head high. ThunderClan's medicine cat would be the least of Thornleaf's worries. "She's an experienced medicine cat, so I doubt it would take her long to get you back on your paws," Thornleaf explained as she motioned with her tail for Shadowpaw to follow her into the undergrowth. "She's probably one of ThunderClan's quickest, and that's saying something with Owlfoot around." A chuff of amusement left her as she continued to talk. Walking back was taking an edge off of her anxiety, but it was only a matter of time before that would come rushing back, she was sure of it. The fear of how Tawnystar would react to her bringing an enemy back into camp would surely return to pierce its deadly fangs back into her, but for now she was relishing the short respite. It had been some time since she had been able to take something of a breather what with her warrior assessment the day before and then her vigil just last night, yet despite everything, just being surrounded by the familiar sights of her own territory was enough to put the warrior at ease, if only for just a few short moments.
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Post by Shadowkit on Feb 22, 2022 14:43:47 GMT -5
There was a chill that accompanied the wind that set Shadowpaw's nerves on edge. Given he wasn't certain if he would even be able to escape from ThunderClan, anything could spike his anxiety at the moment. He bit his lip and kept reevaluating the decision that he had pretty much already made, but couldn't find any other option that wasn't about as risky as this. Thornleaf seemed...nice, and that was more than he could say for the cats who might be watching him or whatever random place he might go.
Shadowpaw listened intently as she gave him an anecdote that he wasn't expecting to hear from a ThunderClan cat. It was strange to hear that any cat would go as far as to break the territory markers to help another--but then again, weren't medicine cats kind of exempt from that particular rule, as long as there was good reason? Still, it was another example of something that didn't match with the image of ThunderClan he had in his head, just like Thornleaf.
Her tail signaled him to follow along after she had turned around, and a spike of anxiety clawed through him. Either he was the most mouse-brained cat in the four territories...or she was the nicest. Maybe, possibly, even both were true. He sighed quietly, a shaky sound that was part grief and part shivering from the cold wind that was picking up and didn't seem to pause for very long.
Shadowpaw gave an uncertain "Okay," starting to follow along behind her, though he trailed a few tail-lengths behind, a bit uncertain if he was meant to catch up and pad alongside her--he certaintly felt like that wasn't appropriate as a cat from another clan. Or should he walk in front of her like a prisoner? Or a bit behind and to her side like he was her charge? Or was he just overthinking how he should walk??
Being lead through foreign and unknown territory was a pretty new experience for him, only known to him due to the two Gatherings he had been allowed to attend, though the last one had been a few moons ago. He found himself glancing around in wide-eyed astonishment as the open grass by the Thunderpath quickly gave way to trees and brush that wasn't exactly unfamiliar to him, but looked different, with thicker branches and taller tops, some of which he couldn't even see.
He swallowed, though his mouth was almost dry. The back of his neck was starting to sweat, and he cast another glance back behind him. Was it too late to turn around? "Are...you sure your leader won't be angry about this?" Even if Webheart was allowed to help him, was he really supposed to see the intricacies of the ThunderClan camp? He knew his father would rage at any cat that dared bring another Clan's cat to the very heart of their territory. "A-aren't you supposed to attack me, and chase me out?" He spoke with nervousness, but there was some amount of certainty in what he said, like it was a part of his training--like he would be expected to do the same if he encountered any cat on his side of the border.
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Lesbian
#ACEBF6
Name Colour
Feathertalon
Bird Overlord
unofficial chicken whisperer
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Post by Feathertalon on Feb 22, 2022 15:28:13 GMT -5
Thornleaf »
The trees overhead shook with the wind that was coming in. it brought with it a chill that had Thornleaf puffing out her fur, but luckily, the deeper they walked into ThunderClan territory, the easier it was to avoid any cold drafts. This made the new warrior briefly wonder how it was like in ShadowClan territory. They dwelled among the pines where the branches were thin, the leaves more needle-like in structure. Thornleaf couldn’t imagine them being good for protecting its inhabitants from the wind. She shuddered at the thought of feeling so exposed even among trees. Thinking about the wide open moors of WindClan was one thing that got her skin shuddering, but feeling exposed even among the trees…that was something else entirely.
Thornleaf was glad for the conversation Shadowpaw was trying to start. No longer did she want to dwell on the thoughts of being stuck in the pine forest. She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the last of the thoughts before looking behind her shoulder to glance over at her unlikely companion. His questions were appropriate, and the young molly didn’t have an answer right away.
Anxiety settled inside her stomach once more. It curled inside like a snake, wrapping its sick body against itself, feeling heavy inside her. She glanced away from Shadowpaw. ”Tawnystar is a mellow minded leader,” she started slowly, voice wavering in the wind. ”I’ve never once seen him angry.” Not even when a group of unruly apprentices had trespassed onto WindClan territory, or not even when a loner had been caught stealing prey on ThunderClan territory some seasons ago. Both of those incidents had shown Tawnystar as a kind warrior, understanding the perpetrators’ plight, but that didn’t mean he was weak. Thornleaf knew that the one-eyed warrior had been leading her Clan for more seasons than she had ever seen in her short life, and that couldn’t be possible if he rolled over and let others take control. He was, however, getting up there in age, and most every cat could see that - his muzzle was graying around the edges, his movements growing stiff and some of his memory fading. He still held his head high and kept pushing on for the sake of his Clan, but Thornleaf knew she wasn’t the only cat who heard the gossip around the camp about how Tawnystar was seeing the end. It had some of the Clan on edge, afraid of what would happen when a leader died as they had never experienced that personally. It wouldn’t be long before Ravenfang succeeded the frail leader. ThunderClan was on the cusp of two leaders, and that in and of itself was enough to put most cats on edge. Thornleaf could only imagine what bringing an outsider into camp would do.
These were more thoughts that she didn’t want to linger on. Thornleaf took in a breath as she maneuvered across a fallen long, stopping to watch and make sure Shadowpaw made it over smoothly. They were nearing camp, Thornleaf could even smell the thickening of feline scent as she breathed. ”I…I probably should have,” she admitted slowly to his question. ”But I can’t just stand by and attack a cat that’s already down. I’m not a rogue, I’m a warrior, and enemy or not, I won’t play dirty.” Her voice shook with uncertainty, but if one thing was clear, it was the conviction that lay underneath. Thornleaf stood strong on her stance of helping him; he was weak and injured, and she couldn’t just throw him out to the wolves.
Another deep breath. ”We’re almost there,” she murmured, gesturing toward a thick wall of ferns and brambles not too far from where they stood. It was ThunderClan’s camp’s entrance, and behind that wall would be the nerve-wracking moment of truth for them both.
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Post by Shadowkit on Feb 22, 2022 18:23:10 GMT -5
"A cat that's already down?" He murmured quietly in response to Thornleaf, uncertainty returning to his voice. From Shadowpaw's perspective, it was a strange way to phrase his state, as there wasn't any particular thing he had said to give the impression that he had been beaten down; but Thornleaf was already signaling him forward, and he didn't really get the chance to question her more about what she meant.
Even so, Shadowpaw could hear the truthfulness of her words, even if her voice shook with something similar to his own voice as he had been speaking. "I'm not a rogue, I'm a warrior." Again, her words echoed in his head. He knew some of his clanmates would never buy it...but something made him want to believe her, after the strange display of concern she had shown for him.
He wondered, for a brief moment, if Thornleaf would believe him at all if he recounted what had happened in the ShadowClan camp. He foudn it extremely unlikely; who would believe that his own father had attacked his mother, the leader of ShadowClan, without any clear reason other than cats being 'tired of her ways'?
He was scared. Any cat could see that. He wasn't exactly sure why he had let himself be dragged into the ThunderClan territory, but he was worried there would be questions about what he was doing crossing the territory, and that the ThunderClan cats would end up very suspicious of him, and that he wouldn't see the outside of the camp again. His fur had fluffed up in fear without him realizing, and every step he took closer after Thornleaf indicated the entrance to the camp was stiff and fearful. He looked more like a kit than an apprentice.
Shadowpaw's throat went drier and he felt a thick coat of sweat as Thornleaf indicated the entrance to the ThunderClan camp. He sucked in a deep breath, shrinking smaller than he had already been in his nervous, grief-stricken state as he considered the possibilities that laid beyond this wall of bramble and thicket. "N-none of the warriors will h-hurt me, r-right?" He stammered with a quiet squeak as she directed him closer to the entrance.
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Lesbian
#ACEBF6
Name Colour
Feathertalon
Bird Overlord
unofficial chicken whisperer
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Post by Feathertalon on Feb 22, 2022 18:45:50 GMT -5
Thornleaf »
Just a few more steps and they would be at the camp entrance. Thornleaf stood there for a moment, staring at the familiar wall of ferns and bramble that hid the camp from outsiders. Her tail twitched, hesitant to enter just yet. What was going to happen once she stepped inside with a ShadowClan apprentice trailing behind her? She didn't think any of her Clanmates would outright attack her, but there would be talk behind her back. Cats would question her loyalty to the Clan, and she didn't want that right after earning her warrior name. Would she be demoted back to an apprentice? Would Tawnystar do something as drastic as that? She swallowed. There was no way she could back out of this now, not after she had brought Shadowpaw all the way here.
His voice snapped her out of her reverie. She glanced over at him, sure that the worry in her eyes was as clear as day. "No, they won't." Despite the troubling look on her visage, she was confident that no warrior would attack the black furred tom. "You'll be fine inside the camp." Thornleaf looked over at the entrance once more, staring at it, willing herself to move forward, yet she was stuck in place, frozen by the anxiety that was gnawing on her. Come on, Thornleaf, you can do this. Just bring him inside. Everything will be okay. It'll be fine.
She closed her eyes, steeled her nerves, and finally, after what felt like moons, stepped forward, forcing herself to keep going until she was inside her home, hoping Shadowpaw followed her lead.
[ short post, sorry! ]
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Post by Shadowkit on Feb 23, 2022 5:53:02 GMT -5
(no worries, we'll have plenty to write about once inside x3)
It was tough for Shadowpaw to believe completely what she said to reassure him. He couldn't erase moons and moons of lectures about the other clans in a heartbeat. Yet, he hadn't only heard ill of them, and in his state, as fragile as he was, the offer for help was the only thing he had.
Shadowpaw was picking up on the fact that even Thornleaf looked a little nervous. Was it possible she was a little uncertain herself about how they were going to respond? He could see in her eyes a bit of anxiety shining, and it put him just a little more on edge. But even if he decided to turn back, would he even be able to find his way out of the territories? What choice did he have now?
He drew closer to the she-cat as they approached the entrance, not eager to be too far behind when they popped through the entrance. If ThunderClan was anything like ShadowClan they would probably have a guard watching the entrance, and they likely wouldn't be pleased to see him. Hopefully if he stuck close to her it would be clear she was bringing him in personally.
Unable to wait any longer as she pushed through the entrance, he stepped in behind her and peeked through, stepping into the Thunderclan camp for the first time.
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Lesbian
#ACEBF6
Name Colour
Feathertalon
Bird Overlord
unofficial chicken whisperer
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Post by Feathertalon on Feb 23, 2022 18:17:14 GMT -5
Thornleaf »
It would only be seconds before a cat noticed her arrival with Shadowpaw near her side. Thornleaf wasn’t sure who had been posted for guard duty this morning, but she was soon to find out, and she prayed desperately to StarClan that it was some cat with a softer disposition. She could think of a few warriors that she would hate to meet at the entrance. Even those with high tempers would be hesitant to throw themselves into battle right away, but that still didn’t mean Thornleaf wanted them to be Shadowpaw’s first introduction to her Clanmates.
As she entered camp, she was met with the ever watchful gaze of Icetail. Thornleaf froze. Out of all the cats who could have been on guard duty today, it just had to be Icetail. On his own the white warrior wasn’t bad - he was loyal to his Clan, but his allegiance ran deep, making way for aggression toward outsiders. He was stubborn and strong headed, and while passionate to his Clan, his demeanor remained just as cold as his name. Thornleaf wasn’t sure if she had ever seen the tomcat smile, and even now his stare was sharp. She wanted to inch away and put distance between herself and the warrior, but she had nowhere to go but forward, and if she try to run away then she was sure to catch the suspicion of more than just Icetail.
As expected, the white tomcat caught on to the presence of another cat before Thornleaf could even say a word, and before she knew it, Icetail was standing tall and rigid, the fur rippling along his spine. His amber gaze was steely as he stared at Shadowpaw. ”Thornleaf,” he began faintly, the hints of a growl deep in his words, ”who is this?”
Thornleaf froze. Her eyes went wide with fright as her heart pounded a thousand times too fast in her chest. Why, why did it have to be Icetail? She lamented internally. If only it had been some cat like Owlfoot, or even Icetail’s littermate Honeystream. Her eyes gazed down at her paws as they shuffled nervously against the ground. ”I…I, uh, I found him…near the border. He’s hurt. I-I thought-thought that maybe Webheart could…” She couldn’t say anymore, fear holding tight upon her tongue. She could feel Icetail’s gaze burning into her, and she could only imagine how frightened Shadowpaw was at this moment.
There was a pause, a cold tension in the air, until finally Icetail spoke once more. His voice was icy, void of any emotion. Thornleaf couldn’t tell what was going through the other warrior’s mind as he spoke. ”We’ll see what Tawnystar thinks.” Leaving no room for any other comments, Icetail turned and headed toward the leader’s den.
As soon as the white tom had made his departure, the first thing that came to Thornleaf’s mind was a hushed, ”I’m sorry,” to Shadowpaw. Her ears fell flat against her head, her entire body deflating. Of course this wasn’t going to go over well regardless of who had spotted her and Shadowpaw first, but if it had been a different cat then maybe it wouldn’t have left Thornleaf as shaken up as it had.
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Post by Shadowkit on Feb 23, 2022 22:05:46 GMT -5
As Shadowpaw stepped into the ThunderClan camp, his attention wasn't drawn to its size, or the dens that encircled it, or the mild activity going on around the camp. His attention was immediately drawn to the fluffed-up cat who seemed to start radiating hostility as soon as he saw the ShadowClan tom-cat. Shadowpaw took a hasty step back, partially retreating onto his haunches as he couldn't help but the hair on his spine puffing up a bit as well.
He wilted under Icetail's gaze, looking down at the ground between his own paws to avoid the cat's searing stare, to avoid challenging him. Fear of the cat taking a violent action sent alarm shooting through him, but he knew if he ran now it wouldn't end well. If he could have melted into the grass to escape the whole situation, he would have. All he could do was hope that Thornleaf was quick to explain the situation and get him out of any danger.
It seemed Thornleaf was feeling just as tense as him as she spoke, tryng to quickly explain why Shadowpaw was here. He bit his lip, having to wonder if he was really so injured that it warrented taking him through the territory into the heart of her Clan's territory--but now wasn't a moment where he could retread the thought when a ThunderClan cat seemed ready to stare him all the way to StarClan.
Even when the cat turned away, Shadowpaw still didn't move, refusing to look up from the ground yet, only when the sound of his pawsteps softened and faded out did he dare to release a breath he didn't know he had been holding, and he looked up with wide, fearful eyes in the direction Icetail had padded off.
He sucked in oxygen and tried to force his fur to lay down flat, but it was a challenge when cats were beginning to notice the encounter at the entrance and were beginning to stare. "Oh, StarClan," He shakily whispered, staring after Icetail and then finally turning to look at Thornleaf. It wasn't the reception he had hoped to find in the camp, but he shouldn't have been that surprised, either. "Are all the warriors here that..." he trailed off, unsure of an appropriate, yet not particularly offensive word. She was his clanmate, after all. Who knew if she might find that objectionable.
---
There was a storm brewing in the air. A cold chill was already passing through the camp, though it didn't stifle the laughter of many of the cats gathered around and plotting. They were sat in a semi-circle with Nightclaw as its center, and Ivytongue grimaced and turned away, looking up to the sky as a few cats dotted around the edges of camp were doing.
Ivytongue knew not every cat had wanted this--but Nightclaw was an excellent manipulator. There had been whispers for moons from one cat or another expressing their discontent with how ShadowClan laid itself before the other clans to walk all over, and they hadn't been able to figure out which cats were plotting in whispers and shadows before....well, today.
She could only assume the deputy was dead as well--Nightclaw had already claimed leadership despite not being the deputy, and he had already named a new deputy. And no cat dared to challenge him after the morning's demonstration. She had to assume the rightful deputy wasn't coming back from his patrol, and Nightclaw would become Nightstar.
That was, unless StarClan didn't give him their blessing. She had spend the whole morning praying for two things, the first being that Starclan didn't allow this coup to be rewarded with the eight extra lives of a leader. Nightclaw was venomous, and he would slowly poison each clan and take whatever he could if it meant more for ShadowClan. His indirect threat to her, personally, echoed in her head. "Things will be changing now. ShadowClan will go back to a better time, and I pray you don't spurn what I will do to make ShadowClan stronger than it has ever been. That would be...an unfortunate development." Even if StarClan didn't provide him his nine lives...she was going to have to put on the face that this was all sanctioned by StarClan if she didn't want to place herself in serious danger.
The second thing she was praying for was that Shadowpaw wasn't caught. If he was brought back here, he was going to live some of his worst moons; the tension between Dawnstar and Nightclaw, one trying to comfort and encourage him into excellence and the other trying to motivate him through unforgiving training, had been the only reason Shadowpaw was able to get back up after injuries, and to continue doing his best for the clan. With Dawnstar gone...she didn't want to think what he would be put through now.
After an agonizing wait, feeling half-sick and half-horrified since Dawnstar's death this morning, her second prayer was answered. Crowfoot and Ivorybite appeared in the entrance to camp, stepping lightly and slowly, with expressions of nervousness that almost rivaled that of Shadowpaw's. Before they were even fully through, she knew what had happened--they hadn't got him.
The she-cat and tom walked alongside each other, slowly approaching the group at the center of camp. The conversations in between them died off with one swift flick upwards of Nightclaw's tail, and when the ebony-black tom's dark green eyes rested on the two warriors, seeing no apprentice at their heels, Nightclaw's eyebrows narrowed sharply. The warriors came to a stop beside their clanmates, who parted the semi-circle so they could speak directly with Nightclaw.
"We almost had him, Nightclaw," Ivorybite began shakily, her voice wavering as she witnessed his expression shift. His eyes fell on her and she probably would have withered like a kit under his gaze if it wasn't for the fact her legs felt numb and she couldn't move. "He had a big head-start, and we barely couldn't catch up to him."
"He darted right out in front of a twoleg monster--just darted straight under it, and we had to stop--" It was a straight-up lie, but he didn't hear any protest from Ivorybite beside him. Both of them knew how harsh Nightclaw could be with anything that involved Shadowpaw--and this wasn't just a failed hunting exam. "--but he got past it safely and gave us the slip. W-we tried to follow him, but we were across the border, and-"
Silence filled the clearing as Nightclaw raised an unsheathed paw close to his chest, and lashed his tail from side to side. "What I'm hearing is..." To the two cats under his gaze, it was defeaning how quietly he was speaking. It almost would have been better for him to yowl. "...you let...my only surviving kit...get away?"
The glance Ivorybite and Crowfoot exchanged wasn't of nervousness, or worry, or fear. It was terror. They they were walking through fire right now. "Y...Y-yes, N-Nightclaw..." Ivorytongue gulped quietly. "P-Please forgive us..." She bowed her head low to the ground, not daring to move until Nightclaw said or did whatever both warriors knew was coming. Crowfoot quickly followed suit, letting out a plea as well.[/font]
"Applefang." Nightclaw was still quiet, so quiet. "Your first task as my new deputy...will be making absolutely clear what the price is for such a grave failure." He stood up. "From now on, borders are not to stop any cat from bringing me what I command." His voice rose to speak to all the cats in the camp, and he was unable to hold back the pure anger from his words as he did so. He turned away from the warriors and towards Applefang. "Kill one of them." He turned completely away from the warriors, not bothering to see which she chose. He began padding away, ascending the den which would now be his--the den he hadn't slept in for many moons. He needed to think. He needed to think about what to do now that Shadowpaw could be deep in ThunderClan territory. How to get him back.
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Lesbian
#ACEBF6
Name Colour
Feathertalon
Bird Overlord
unofficial chicken whisperer
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Post by Feathertalon on Feb 24, 2022 7:18:09 GMT -5
Thornleaf »
A dozen eyes were now on them. Thornleaf was sure every cat in the camp had their full attention on the two, the commotion at the camp entrance leaving every cat inside curious. Already could she hear the questions that would soon be asked by her Clanmates. ”Who is this cat? Why did you bring him? He’s a ShadowClanner, why did you let him stay in our territory?” These thought up questions plagued the molly’s mind, weighing her down with worry. Her body stiffened under the pressure. She wasn’t sure she would still be standing by the time Tawnystar made his arrival. Her only anchor keeping her steady and from drowning in it all was Shadowpaw’s voice. Meek and unsure as it was, it was just enough to keep Thornleaf from succumbing to it all. ”No,” she whispered, not even sure if he had heard. ”Not all our warriors are that…bad…” It just had to be their luck to run into Icetail, one of the worst cats when it came to aggression, even if his aggression was more icy than it was fiery.
It felt like ages before there was even a hint of Tawnystar. Frozen where she stood, Thornleaf waited and waited for her leader to show up, much more ready to face him than she had been Icetail. Even if she was going to be in trouble, at least Tawnystar had a compassionate side. He was warm and kind hearted whereas Icetail was cold and detached. If she stood a chance against any cat it would be Tawnystar, and she only hoped that the leader would go easy on her.
Finally, finally, the figure of Tawnystar could be seen as he slowly emerged from his den. Icetail was there right behind him, instantly casting a glare toward Thornleaf and Shadowpaw. The young molly shrunk in her skin, lowering herself against the tomcat’s stare. Tawnystar, on the other paw, met the two with a kind gaze, yet there was a hint of curiosity in his one-eyed stare.
”What do we have here?” The leader asked as he padded forward. He paused a few steps away from Thornleaf and Shadowpaw, assuming an open stance, no hints of anger coming from him. Thornleaf looked up at the leader, still flattened against the ground, tension rippling through her body. She could feel the ends of her fur standing up, pricking her like tiny pine needles. Her leader didn’t look angered, but that didn’t make the fear go away. Perhaps if Icetail wasn’t right there beside the leader this would be easier.
Tawnystar must have picked up on the young warrior’s unease. He flicked his tail in Icetail’s direction. ”I have this under control. You may go back to your post.” As Icetail dipped his head in acknowledgement and began to walk off, Tawnystar added a quick, ”Thank you for bringing this news to me.” Once the white tom had padded off to the side, Tawnystar brought his attention back to the other two, a soft smile spreading across his lips. ”Now, how about we get you two out of the center of attention?” Again Thornleaf was aware of just how many cats were watching her and Shadowpaw. Even if half of the camp was gone on patrol, a dozen eyes had glued onto her, causing her to squirm and itch under their questioning gazes.
Silence was all she gave the leader for a long moment. Eventually she was able to nod, her only response to the spotted tom’s question.
Luckily it was enough for Tawnystar. He stepped closer to the two, nudging them both toward his den with a gentle tap. ”Come along.” His voice was soft, as gentle as feather down. It eased some of Thornleaf’s worries, but anxiety still twisted in her gut. She chanced a look over her shoulder to Shadowpaw, wondering just how frightened he had to be. She wanted to reach out and apologize to him, but her tongue was frozen in her mouth. Maybe she should have just left him out there, or chased him back across the border, but she knew, at the end of the day, that him being frightened in the ThunderClan leader’s den was better than him being killed in the ShadowClan pines.
The air was holding its breath. Tension crackled in the atmosphere like electricity, a storm brewing on the horizon. The pines were chilled over with deceit, the ground frozen with rebellion.
From the shadows came the glinting stares of cats that watched in awe and terror at what was transpiring. A wide range of emotions mixed into the air, cats frightened for their lives, others up in roars with excitement about the drastic change ShadowClan was about to go through. Rumors of a coup had been spreading for some time, and now it was finally here, with Nightclaw at its head. All of this had just begun, but already the tom had stepped forward and made his take over a solid threat. Dawnstar was no more, but the reign of Nightclaw was just getting started.
When Applefang had stirred from her nest in the early hours of dawn, she had not expected to be met with the gruesome sight of Nightclaw tearing into the flesh of his very own leader and mate, yet for as horrifying a sight as it was, Applefang had stood back and watched. She had observed in silence, not once feeling a hint of sorrow for the leader’s gorey demise. She was one of the warriors who believed in making ShadowClan strong once more, making it a Clan that was feared and respected. Winning their place in the territories was done through brute force and battle, not peace treaties and negotiation. So easily could one of the other Clans decide that their talk of promises could be broken and attack, but if they gained peace by way of force and claws, then the other Clans would surely be too scared to fight back or even think of attacking.
Under Dawnstar’s leadership, ShadowClan would have been left weak. Her ideals would have led to the Clan’s downfall. Now that she was no more, her lives taken from her, the Clan could finally prosper the right way. The way it was meant to.
In the hours after Dawnstar’s demise, Nightclaw had come forward with orders and plans. He had named Applefang his deputy, and now the ginger and white molly stood tall amidst the semicircle that had formed in the camp. A dutiful cat, Applefang had always been loyal to her Clan, more than okay with giving her life for ShadowClan. But she was brutish and aggressive, a cat quick to throw herself into battle and tear into those who opposed her. It was a trait that would have never gotten her far under Dawnstar’s leadership, but Nightclaw had noticed the potential in Applefang. He knew that her aggression was a strength, not a weakness, and he had noticed her dedication and loyalty to the core values of ShadowClan. Applefang knew she deserved her spot as his deputy, but for all her confidence, she wasn’t going to let it get to her head. She was going to prove herself as worthy, more worthy than she already was, so as soon as Ivorybite and Crowfoot had returned with no third cat at their side, Applefang instantly knew she would have a chance at proving herself.
Her eyes narrowed as the two warriors cowered underneath their new leader’s gaze. She listened in silence as the two sputtered out some sob story of why they returned without Shadowpaw in tow. Applefang stood there, intently taking in every second of what was happening from start to finish, and as soon as her name was spoken, she stepped forward, ready to take on whatever Nightclaw asked of her.
As Nightclaw turned away, he was replaced with Applefang. A compassionate warrior would have balked under the orders of killing a Clanmate, but Applefang knew what must be done, and if ShadowClan were to grow strong again, sacrifices had to be made.
She stared down at the two warriors. They cowered, the scent of terror coming off them almost enough to choke Applefang. ”I don’t smell monster on either of you,” she began with a growl. It made her wonder just how true the story they had given was true. Perhaps their terror was drowning out the scent of monster, but Applefang had a resounding doubt inside her that told her otherwise.
Her eyes looked down at Crowfoot. He had been the one to first speak of the monster. Green eyes locked onto Ivorybite. She had gone with what her companion had said. Both were at fault here, both had returned a failure. While they were both disappointments in the eyes of the Clan, one would keep their life, while the other would surely learn to be grateful that they had been given a second chance.
Without giving any warning as to who she had picked, Applefang pounced. Her choice had been made, and as she landed atop Crowfoot, she wasted no time in digging her claws into his flesh, fangs sinking into the delicate skin of his neck. He had been the one to first speak of the twoleg monster, and any cat willing to lie under the gaze of Nightclaw was a dead one. If not for him then perhaps Ivorybite would have done the right thing and would have reported the truth, but it was the cowardice of Crowfoot that had snuffed that out. Applefang was willing to give Ivorybite a second chance, but for Crowfoot it was all over.
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Post by Shadowkit on Feb 24, 2022 13:20:39 GMT -5
Shadowpaw did a double take of Thornleaf as she called her own clanmate 'bad,' something he would never even concieve of saying of a clanmate of his due to how harshly he would be punished for it. She must really not like Icetail if she would say something like that, and though he didn't say anything else given the tense situation that was developing around them, he stuck it in the back of his mind that even she felt he wasn't that great of a cat.
Shadowpaw was turning into a stiff, sweaty mess the longer the leader took to arrive. Cats were clearly starting to whisper about their arrival, no doubt to question what in StarClan's name he was doing in their camp and why he was accompanying Thornleaf. He dared not look at any cat for more than a moment, but the apprentice realized as he looked around just how Thornleaf was in comparison to most of them, and he wondered if perhaps she was really a fresh warrior, still on the pretty young side like him.
Shadowpaw gulped as Tawnystar finally emerged from his den. The cat looked plain powerful emerging as he did, gazing over the rest of the camp from his perch, and Shadowpaw's nervousness couldn't let him rest for a moment. He found himself unable to decide whether it was wiser to look at the leader or stare down at his paws to avoid seeming threatening, and he eventually ended up nervously switching back and forth between both.
He wasn't sure how to respond when Tawnystar stopped in front of them, asking such a simple question that didnt feel like it had the gravity a leader should respond to another clan's cat in their camp. It left Shadowpaw a little uncertain about how to really feel about the leader, when his exit had been slow, his posture seemed relaxed and he didn't sound that concerned--he seemed so unconcerned about Shadowpaw's presence, and that was weird to the young apprentice.
He felt a sense of relief as the leader recommended they stepped out of the center of ThunderClan's attention, in order to be able to explain what he was doing here calmly without pressure from the rest of the clan. Shadowpaw, frankly, didn't know what he was supposed to say to explain his presence, but hopefully Thornleaf could make it clear she felt he needed a patch-up with his wounds as they were. Then he would be on his way to...somewhere. Though it did occur to them that Thornleaf was going to have to escort him back to ShadowClan, and he would need to find a way to quickly exit again, as he didn't feel like it was safe to go back to.
It was hard for him not to flinch as Tawnystar stepped closer and urged him forward, but he started following along with Thornleaf as they begin moving towards his den. He wouldn't even dare a single glance towards any other cat, marching straight forward.
---
Crowfoot didn't stand a chance--he had tried to follow suit with Ivorybite, attempting to grovel for forgiveness as Applefang's paws settled for a time where Nightclaw's had been. He was shaking, fear-scent coming from him as if he was a kit. It provoked laughter and mocking from nearby warriors after Nightclaw had stepped away, until Applefang spoke up once more.
If the tension before had been thick, the tap of a claw could have broken it after the new deputy pointed out that there was no notable scent of monster. He gulped, his brain rapidly trying to find a way to explain why that was the case. He opened his mouth and started speaking, though he didn't get to get too many words out. "Well, it passed quickly and didn't-" he let out a cry of surprise as Applefang leaped towards him, and he let out a yowl, a mixture of surprise and fear as he tried t orear back and defend himself, swiping towards her but only finding the air where she had jumped over him. Soon, she had bowled him over, and her teeth were around his neck.
Ivytongue was unable to hide the intense distaste from her face as she watched Applefang deliver a merciless blow that was just too close to the wound her friend had just died to this morning. Crowfoot was choking on blood, trying to say something though nothing more than a gurgle could escape his throat. Ivytongue shook her head, turning around and stepping into her den. Once she was out of the view of her clanmates, the medicine-cat started to softly sob, not for the first time that day.
Ivorybite flinched as she saw Applefang quickly leave her spot, but she didn't find that the deputy was attacking her. Somehow, it wasn't that much of a relief as she heard Crowfoot's yowl of alarm, and soon he was on the floor of the camp, choking on blood not too dissimilarly to how Dawnstar had been only hours ago; she wasn't grinning now.
She shakily thanked Applefang for her mercy after a long silence around the slowly dying cat. She dared not look at either of them for fear of exposing her neck, and her head remained low to the ground as she wasn't certain what to say or whether she should get up. It was likely better to wait for a command, and so she waited.
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Lesbian
#ACEBF6
Name Colour
Feathertalon
Bird Overlord
unofficial chicken whisperer
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Post by Feathertalon on Feb 24, 2022 14:48:54 GMT -5
Thornleaf »
There was nothing in Tawnystar's body language that suggested he was provoked by Shadowpaw's presence. His head was high as he walked through the camp toward his den, while Thornleaf was lower to the ground, wishing to every member in StarClan that her Clanmates would ignore her presence rather than stand in camp, whispering to one another, starting rumors, making up reasons for why she had brought an outside apprentice into their camp. Her heart was a hummingbird, fluttering inside her chest, making it hard to breath. Why did Tawnystar's den feel so far away all of a sudden?
After what felt like moons, Thornleaf finally slipped inside the leader's den, a new wave of emotions rolling over her like a tidal wave. She was relieved to be out of the public eye, but suddenly her fur prickled with uncomfortableness. She had never been inside the leader's den before. Aspenpaw had once told her about the few times he had stayed inside the den, but it was different for him considering that the leader was his father's father. Unlike her, Aspenpaw didn't have to worry about getting in trouble with the leader, and it wasn't like he ever would to begin with - the cinnamon tabby was meek and scared more often than not. Sure, Thornleaf herself was quiet and soft-spoken, but unlike her, Aspenpaw had never invited an enemy Clan's apprentice into the heart of camp.
Her heart continued to shudder even as Tawnystar calmly sat down, curling is tail over his paws. Thornleaf stared down at his tail-covered paws, body constricting in on itself. Was he going to tell her she couldn't be a warrior anymore? Would she have to be an apprentice again? That meant more time with Leafpaw, but what about when Leafpaw became a warrior? Would she still be stuck in the apprentices' den by the time her mother's next litter were all named 'paws? Was she just going to be an apprentice forever? Thornleaf gulped. What would happen to her and Leafpaw's dreams of being warriors together?
"Can I ask as to why we have a ShadowClan apprentice in our camp?" Tawnystar's question caught Thornleaf in the middle of her worried reverie. Her head jerked upward, catching the leader's eye with her own wide gaze, mouth opening before closing shut. How was she supposed to answer? Tawnystar still didn't look angry, and that confused the young warrior. Her leader had always been known as kind and gentle, but surely this would have made him mad. Was he just hiding his disapproval? Would this be easier if he was clearly irked by her actions?
Even as time ticked by, Tawnystar remained calm, silent even as he waited for an answer. Thornleaf screamed at herself to say something, to just give him the answer he was looking for, but nothing was coming out. Again her jaw loosened and parted open. Only breath escaped for a long time until, finally, her voice showed itself, weak and soft, shaky. "I...I, uh... He was by the border, I went hunting," she squeaked, her tail bushing out. "I thought...maybe-maybe Webheart could help him." Nothing about his injuries was said. She found it in herself to look over at him, subconsciously shifting closer to Shadowpaw.
Tawnystar gave a thoughtful nod. Eventually, he spoke, voice still as even as ever. "Would you like to tell me what happened, young one?" He was now facing Shadowpaw, waiting patiently for the black tom to answer if he possibly could.
Applefang had been in battles before. Most just typical border skirmishes that started all because one cat had lost their temper, but a battle was a battle, and Applefang had seen plenty enough - the scars all over her body only confirmed that. But this was different. She had never killed another cat before, and while the action should be repulsive to her, it wasn't. Instead, as she felt her fangs enter flesh and blood rush upon her tongue, she found she enjoyed it. She was enjoying taking the life of a cat she shared a den with, had gone on patrols with, had once shared meals with. His blood ran thick into her mouth, iron coating her throat.
He had been too easy a kill. Applefang found no struggle coming from Crowfoot, and it wasn't long before his yowl of alarm turned into a strangled cry for help. Slowly Applefang released her grip upon his neck, raising her head. Narrowed eyes flashing with thrill looked around the cats still encircled nearby. Scarlet blood dripped down her jaws and onto the ground, leaving dark stains of a life that once was.
The newly named deputy turned a gory grin on Ivorybite. "Do you see what happens to those who fail Nightclaw? I expect this has taught you a lesson. You've been given a chance to redeem yourself, and I suggest you don't mess it up." Applefang made a mental note to keep an eye on Ivorybite. Who knew when the molly would falter; the deputy silently hoped she wouldn't. With ShadowClan rebuilding they would need all the warriors they could get, but she wasn't so frog-brained to think that they had to keep around even the weakest warriors. If ShadowClan was going to be feared once more, they needed only the best warriors they had.
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Post by Shadowkit on Feb 26, 2022 9:44:21 GMT -5
Shadowpaw tried not to focus on anything other than following. If his gaze drifted slightly off target he risked eye contact with any of these ThunderClan cats, and he was already nervous enough without catching the hostile gaze of some other cat like Icetail. It didn't make a lot of sense from an outside perspective, but Shadowpaw was staying close to Thornleaf, the only cat who hadn't been excessivelly hostile to him so far. If there was any chance of some cat taking a hostile swipe towards him, hopefully being close to Thornleaf would stave that off, even though he should put more faith in being escorted by the leader.
Shadowpaw had a hard time looking up at the leader, meeting such a powerful cat's gaze something that filled him with anxiety, like he wasn't supposed to do so. After shifting between the leader and the ground a few times, his gaze turned to settle on Thornleaf, listening with intense uncertainy as he wondered how she was going to respond. If she was going to break the promise she had made, he imagined this would be her chance to do so.
But Shadowpaw's fear and doubt seemed to be misplaced, at least for now. She almost seemed as nervous as him, as he took in the scared bushing of her tail and the shake of her voice before her leader--it felt familiar to him, and holding his breath as he listened, he felt a pang of guilt ebb and flow through him.
It vanished, totally replaced with anxiety as the leader's attention centered solely on him. He was asked to explain what happened--but what was he supposed to say?! "I was running away because my father attacked my mother and sent cats to restrain me, so I ran all the way to ThunderClan's border without realizing and ran into Thornleaf who convinced me that an enemy clan would welcome me in for a moment to patch up my wounds and then she'd take me back?" No, that was simply absurd to say, he figured.
Perhaps he needed to simply repeat what little Thornleaf had mentioned. But Tawnystar would want to know more. Shadowpaw obviously needed an excuse for ending up across the border. But he couldn't just say what had happened...what if his father heard about it? He couldn't imagine the number of frogs he would be sent to bring back before he could eat. But was he even going back? Could he even bear to stand in ShadowClan again knowing that his mother was...that there, she had been...?
The emotion was returning to Shadowpaw's dark green eyes as his thoughts strayed from the initial question back to the endless worries that had been created now that he had ran away. He realized the leader was still staring at him as he was gazing into the wall of his den. He pushed back the emotion coming onto him as best as he could, knowing he couldn't cry in front of any cat, especially not the leader of another clan. Yet, the tom-cat was not skilled at keeping his emotions from displaying themselves, and such was the case now. There were clear signs that he was distraught about something.
"I-I got lost," He blurted out, something of half-truth leaning a little too close to being a lie. He felt his chest tighten as he made this excuse to the leader, though he couldn't even look up and meet Tawnystar's gaze. He had had no intention of going as far as the ThunderClan border--he hadn't even picked a direction to flee with the destination in mind. He had just wanted to escape, to run away and not see what was about to happen. But after blurting the excuse out, he realized how mouse-brained it was--what cat wouldn't recognize the Thunderpath, and know they were close to breaking across territory lines? "S-she saw me there, and r-reminded me that I had crossed the border, but-" His throat felt dry and his voice was a squeak; he sounded more like a kit in trouble than an apprentice who had made a mistake.
"-well...She said I looked hurt, and that Webheart would want to patch up my wounds. T-they're fine, really..." He gulped, nervously assuring the leader that if Tawnystar disapproved of it, he didn't need to waste the herbs on a cat from another clan. But a lookover of the apprentice spelled out a story of repeated injury, wounds ranging from a little less than a moon old, no longer necessitating any treatment as long as they weren't reopened, to younger wounds still treated with a poultice of marigold and yarrow, held closed with a protective layer of cobwebs that was coming undone after his full-speed sprint across ShadowClan's territory.
It was a canvas of wounds painted on an apprentice when so many wounds were normally only found on a battle-scarred senior warrior. None of the wounds seemed infected, but that could only be due to the close eye of an expert healer, who was presumably Ivytongue. "T-they're just normal training wounds," He stammered, finally glancing up to nervously meet the leader's gaze. Shadowpaw didn't seem to understand that 'normal training' usually didn't involve wounds; in fact, he said it like it was completely standard. "I-If you think I don't deserve ThunderClan's herbs, I understand," He finished, hoping that the leader would not be angered with his trespass if he was submissive and undemanding.
---
Ivorybite's nod was quick and vigorous, and she quietly murmured her thanks as she slowly rose from her position on the camp floor. She dared a look over to Crowfoot, sucking in a breath as he saw the last light leaving his eyes as he stared in terror and shock back at her. She felt claws gripping her heart--she couldn't breath as she briefly contended with the fact that she was alive because he wasn't.
She had to push that thought aside, because if she didn't...she would be forced to ponder what her being alive now meant when it was due to his. Instead, she gulped and looked away from the blood around his neck, pooling around him, drip, drip, dripping between Applefang's paws. The cats close to them were hooting with satisfaction as Crowfoot bled out, gufawwing and letting out murmurs of agreement as their deputy reminded Ivorybite what failure meant to Nightclaw.
Drip. Every drip, to the cats surrounding them, was a step closer. Closer to something that had been missing. Drip. A way that ShadowClan had strayed way too far from. Drip. Every drip of Crowfoot's blood meant a step closer to returning to a life that once was. For some reason, Ivorybite couldn't guffaw with them. She needed to get away for a moment, to breathe now that she knew she would still be allowed to. She ushered herself towards the exit of camp, trying to go hunt, or patrol, or take a walk--anything to get out for a moment.
---
Her training was going well--Even if it was tough for Leafpaw to give herself credit when she did something right, Ravenfang had to remember that it was his job to tell her when she was doing a good job, just as much as he needed to guide her to correcting her errors when she made them.
Today, thankfully, Leafpaw seemed content with the fact she was carrying back a rather weighty sparrow. Birds were tough to catch, because unlike a vole or a squirrel which you had a few moments to catch up to if it detected you, as soon as a bird took off, it was gone. Leafpaw had known this, and even with her nerves getting to her a little, she had caught it. He couldn't keep the smile off his face, weirdly-shaped as it was with a mouse in his own jaws.
They were far into the territory, but he guessed they were almost exactly halfway between the two neighboring territories. They had a long walk ahead, so he had urged them to pick up to trot, though he knew Leafpaw had a heavier piece of prey than him, and he didn't want to exhaust her. "You're a strong she-cat. Can you carry that the whole way? I think you can." Leafpaw was developing a strong build already, and he felt a bit of apprentice-like excitement about his next chance to test her fighting-skills.
His tail shot up in alertness and he came to an immediate stop as they were closing in on camp, looking around them, between the trees. "ShadowClan!" He hissed, dropping the mouse as his hackles raised up on the back of his neck. Sure, they were friendlier than ever before, and Dawnstar wasn't likely to send an attack on the camp....but there was no being too cautious as far as some of the other cats in the clan were concerned.
"Wait, it's...It's familiar..." He mumbled quietly, lowering his tail and draping it across Leafpaw's back, whose fur had bushed out in alarm due to his exclamation. It was hard to tell who it was--any cat could have patrolled with Dawnstar, but he could recognize her scent anywhere. "Come on, Leafpaw. Let's pick up the pace--but I think it's only one cat." The cat had just passed through, and he was certain he recognized Thornleaf's scent as well--he had spent much time co-training with Thornleaf and her mentor. Surely Leafpaw would recognize it as well. But what in StarClan's name was she doing with a ShadowClan cat?
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Lesbian
#ACEBF6
Name Colour
Feathertalon
Bird Overlord
unofficial chicken whisperer
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Post by Feathertalon on Feb 28, 2022 18:18:42 GMT -5
Tawnystar »
In his long life as leader, Tawnystar had seen a myriad of things. There had only been a few times when a cat outside his own Clan had been inside his den. Once the last leader of WindClan and her medicine cat had personally come to ask Tawnystar for help when a deadly outbreak of greencough had devastated their Clan, running rampant within their ranks. Fortunately Tawnystar had been able to give his aid, his own medicine cat able to share part of the catmint stores that had been saved. WindClan had been saved, though they had lost a good many warriors, and at the end of it, just when things had been looking up for the moor dwelling cats, their leader Sorrelstar had succumbed to the sickness. She had been the last to die from greencough, the celebration of the sickness coming to an end dampened by the death of their leader.
As it was though, WindClan pushed through. Sorrelstar’s deputy took her place, and since then Tawnystar had heard little news from the bordering Clan, only knowing what was brought up at gatherings. His relationship with WindClan was distant, but should they ever need a helping paw once more, he would be more than glad to give it for he had always believed in peace.
Even now as he looked down at this young ShadowClan apprentice, he felt no such thing as hostility. His heart ached with sorrow, if anything. His eye looked over the black tomcat, noting every scrape and scar he had littered across his pelt. It was like looking at Tawnystar’s own coat, yet his scar-ridden appearance had come mostly from a fox attack back when he had been younger - the patrol he had been on had happened across a skulk of foxes, most already aggressive and territorial as it had been time for the young adults to search for mates and pair off. Tawnystar himself had barely managed to come out of that alive, but keeping his life had come with a price, and that price was clear from his appearance.
A cat as young as this apprentice should not be covered in scars as he was. Something seemed awry, but the leader was going to hold his tongue. Patience always won out.
However, taking the patient route did not stop the questions Tawnystar had in his mind. What was going on in ShadowClan right now? The Clan amidst the pines had appeared at peace the last time Tawnystar had seen them at the gathering. Dawnstar’s leadership had looked to be going smoothly. But the sight of this apprentice had Tawnystar second guessing himself. He had only assumed ShadowClan had been doing fine since Dawnstar’s ascent to leadership. His assumptions had come only from what he had noticed at gatherings and what he had picked up from idle chat if he had come across a ShadowClan patrol while checking his own borders. It still confused him despite it all - had any of their warriors looked this beat up? What about any of the apprentices he had spotted at gatherings? Tawnystar momentarily tightened with thought. Something deeper was going on. An enemy was lurking in the shadows nearby, and Tawnystar had been oblivious to it until now. He just hoped he could get more answers before it was too late.
Both the apprentice and Thornleaf were clearly nervous, frightened even, especially with the apprentice’s case. Facing him like this was sure to be intimidating, though he had never set himself up to be an intimidating figure. Even still, he remained calm, silent as both cats gave their statements. His ears were swiveled forward, taking in every word that was being spoken.
When it was clear to him that the apprentice was done speaking, Tawnystar let out a slow breath of air he hadn’t realized he had been holding. His chest deflated, his muscles relaxed, and upon his muzzle came a small smile, warm yet twisted with concern. ”I know not of how training goes in ShadowClan, but here in ThunderClan, our warriors do not give their apprentices wounds during training. We learn with our claws sheathed.” Perhaps it was different in his Clan, but Tawnystar couldn’t understand why. Of course he knew about the stories of a ShadowClan that dedicated all their time to being the strongest and the most feared, but even when those stories had been the most prominent, he couldn’t recall ever seeing ShadowClan apprentices in such a state as this one was right now. Wounds of all ages littered his pelt. Some were as healed as they would ever be, while others remained fresh upon the tomcat’s pelt. Tawnystar could still see remnants of cobweb and marigold holding his flesh together. That was troubling to the leader. What sort of training was Dawnstar allowing?
Another thought then crossed his mind. The apprentice mentioned getting lost, but why had he been out on his own? Again, as he had stated before, things were sure to be run different in ShadowClan, but in his Clan apprentices were always to be alongside a warrior. That didn’t always happen as there were always those apprentices who snuck out into the territory on their own, but Tawnystar had a gut feeling that this wasn’t what happened with this young warrior in training. His demeanor about it all, the way his voice shook and the way he shuddered under Tawnystar’s gaze, had the leader contemplating that something else entirely had happened; however, he did not question it. He didn’t want to push the ShadowClanner, and it was clear to him that today had been traumatic for the apprentice regardless of what happened. He would allow the tomcat some rest, and should he want to open up about what truly happened, then Tawnystar would be more than happy to hear it.
”I have no problem with you staying so that Webheart can treat you. I don’t believe Webheart would have any problems with it, either, but she has the final say on this,” Tawnystar explained before looking over at Thornleaf, the young molly instantly sitting up straighter, a nervous shine glowing in her eyes. ”Could you take him to Webheart for me? And should any cat give you problems, let them know that this young apprentice has my protection.” Tawnystar would have offered to escort them himself, but he knew he had more important errands to run. He needed to meet up with Ravenfang. Out of all the cats in ThunderClan, his deputy was sure to have the most information on ShadowClan and their inner workings. Perhaps his deputy would return to camp soon. Tawnystar had a lot to go over with the other tom.
Thornleaf’s soft, nervous voice piped up between his thoughts. ”Y-yes, Tawnystar. Thank you.” She dipped her head politely before getting to her paws, nudging the scarred apprentice gingerly. ”Come on, Shadowpaw, I’ll get you there safely.” Her voice was quiet, meant only for Shadowpaw to hear, but Tawnystar caught her words, and as soon as the identity of the ShadowClanner was revealed to him, the leader took in a deep breath and held it.
Shadowpaw.
Dawnstar’s son.
This knowledge only made matters all the more confusing, but if this was a case directly related to the ShadowClan leader, then hopefully Ravenfang could help shine some light on all of this.
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Post by Shadowkit on Mar 1, 2022 2:06:26 GMT -5
Shadowpaw didn't know how to respond when Tawnystar suggested that training was much different in ThunderClan. The apprentice couldn't be certain if the leader was criticizing ShadowClans' methods, but Shadowpaw was too young to know of the other clans' preferences for training, and he wasn't the type to get offended over a jab at his clan anyways, if that's what the intent was. Shadowpaw doubted that was the idea anyways, given how relaxed and unalarmed the leader seemed. So far, Tawnystar wasn't translating any hostility towards him, something that was thankfully out of step with what he thought he would find in ThunderClan.
He wasn't sure if he should feel releived as Tawnystar told the young apprentice that he found no issue sending him to Webheart. Shadowpaw already knew of the ire he would get if it was ever made clear to his father, but he still wasn't certain if he was going back to his home anyways. It was frankly still unclear to him whether he would have been in a simialr amount of danger as his mother, and his gut had clearly told him that he was, having fled as he did.
And more than being uncertain about his return, this gave him an opportunity to breathe. To think. Where was he going? How was he going to survive now? He could hunt, but he wasn't a good fighter, hence the numerous training wounds. As Thornleaf nudged him towards the exit, he looked up at Tawnystar and murmured a quiet "Thank you," before turning towards the direction the young warrior was leading him, trying to convince himself he had imagined the sudden shift in Tawnystar's expression.There was no alarm, no sounds of violence as Ravenfang drew close to the camp with Leafpaw in tow, and he let himself take in a deep breath through his nostrils, believing this meant whoever this cat was, they hadn't come with hostility in mind. "I think everything is fine, Leafpaw," he murmured quietly in her direction. It seemed to allay her anxiety a bit, her fur settling down a bit more as she probably noted the same things that he had.
Unfortunately, his statement wasn't quite accurate, but not for the reasons he had been worried about. Entering camp, nothing seemed wrong, but his eyes soon came to rest on the cats emerging from Tawnystar's den. He could recognize Leafpaw's best friend immediately, but the cat beside her wasn't immediately familiar to him until they began descending towards the center of camp. As Shadowpaw's face drew into his vision, Ravenfang's eyes drifted to the scars which were becoming noticeable on the apprentice's pelt, and then he realized, with another glance at his face, that he was familiar with this cat--he took after his mother, with a growing, strong build similar to his mother, though it was dampened under somewhat dirty fur and a clearly undernourished diet that left his figure wanting. It's Shadowpaw. Oh, StarClan, what is this? Dawnstar, what in StarClan's name is going on over there?
Ravenfang didn't realize it, but the prey had fallen from his now gaping jaw, and Leafpaw was nudging him anxiously, asking what was wrong. He had to collect himself, shutting his jaw for a moment and clearing his throat awkwardly, having to compose himself for a moment. He hadn't seen Shadowpaw for several moons, as the apprentice hadn't come to any Gatherings for quite some time. It was strange to see him grown now, but his state had Ravenfang incredibly worried. "Leafpaw, please take the prey to the fresh-kill pile," He murmured quietly, then padded away from her without another word.
He drew closer to Thornleaf and Shadowpaw with an urgency uncommon of him, and there was no hostility in his expression; on the contrary, he was unable to prevent it from expressing deep concern. Shadowpaw, who had been avoiding every cat's gaze possible, suddenly whipped his head in the direction of the rapidly approaching cat, retreating and cowering behind Thornleaf as he expected the worst of this cat; though even Shadowpaw seemed to pause as he saw the concern of the tom-cat approaching.
Ravenfang came to a sudden stop as he witnessed Shadowpaw's reaction. He parted his mouth to say something, but nothing came out immediately as he saw the apprentice's state from a closer perspective. He wanted to ask what in StarClan's name had happened to the apprentice, but he already knew that they must have spoken with Tawnystar. Thornleaf seemed to be escorting him somewhere--with those wounds, he assumed the medicine cat's den.
"I-It's okay, don't worry..." He murmured softly, gazing into Shadowpaw's eyes. He would have thought how similar they were to Nightclaw's if not for the fear and anxiety they carried. "My name is Ravenfang. I'm the deputy here, and as long as I'm here, you'll be under no threat," He assured the young apprentice. That was the least he could do for Dawnstar's kit. He was unaware that Tawnystar had already promised this, but the deputy didn't hesitate to assure it as well. "I....I knew Dawnstar well," It was quite an understatement, and his voice came off a little odd and flat as a result, but it was the best way for him to put it right now.
But he didn't expect the flinch and the expression of pain on Shadowpaw's face as the apprentice looked away, refusing to meet the ThunderClan deputy's gaze any longer. He quietly sucked in a deep breath. Something was very wrong--Shadowpaw's reaction, plus the state he was in--they needed to speak with Dawnstar right away.
His gaze turned to Thornleaf. He tried to mask the worry on his face with sternness, but it was an impossible task for him at the moment given the shock of Shadowpaw being here. He cleared his throat. "Right. I assume you were under orders from Tawnystar, correct? My apologies for interrupting, Thornleaf." He wished he could congratulate her on becoming a warrior once more, but now hardly felt appropriate anymore. "Please mention to Webheart that I will be by as soon as I can," He dipped his head to her without explaining any further, casting a last glance to Shadowpaw. He considered saying something more to the tom-cat, but given that he seemed almost distraught, Ravenfang decided against it, and made directly for the den of his leader, arriving quickly at the entrance. "Tawnystar?" Now, he couldn't keep the worry out of his voice.
Leafpaw was left anxiously staring after her father with no explanation for his sudden, clear shock as he saw the stranger padding alongside her friend. She didn't give the prey another thought, taking a few steps after Ravenfang as he padded away from her, but she came to a stop, longing for an answer to what had him acting so weird yet not wanting to directly disobey him. She stood in place for a time, until he padded away from Thornleaf and Shadowpaw without a glance backwards. She bit her lip, casting a worried look towards Thornleaf, trying to catch her attention with her tail swaying side to side.
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Lesbian
#ACEBF6
Name Colour
Feathertalon
Bird Overlord
unofficial chicken whisperer
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Post by Feathertalon on Mar 1, 2022 8:50:46 GMT -5
Thornleaf »
Thornleaf couldn’t believe it. Not once did Tawnystar reprimand her for bringing in an enemy apprentice. Not once did he even so much as suggest taking away her warrior status. The leader had been calm and friendly, even if Thornleaf had been anxiety-ridden the entire time. It had felt like fleas crawling all over her, and she had been unable to itch at all, allowing them to feast upon her like a full course meal. Now she was free to itch as she pleased, no longer under the ever watchful gaze of the one-eyed leader. Thornleaf drew in a deep breath and glanced over to check on Shadowpaw. As she expected, he was still unsure in his steps and visibly worried about this all. She couldn’t blame him, but now that she had spoken to the leader and had his protection, she felt a little less cowardly. Thornleaf straightened her posture ever so slightly, glancing around the camp with a newfound energy buzzing through her paws. She had survived the worst of it, and she was still a warrior. How bad could things get now?
Unsurprisingly it seemed as if the whole Clan had emerged from their dens at this point, word of a ShadowClan apprentice in camp having gotten around. Thornleaf passed over the gazes of some of her Clanmates, searching out only specific cats that she knew the best; she wondered where her littermates might have been, or even her father. The most logical answer was that they were all on a patrol of some sorts, doing their rightful duty as ThunderClan warriors, and apprentice in Nettlepaw’s case. She did, however, find the concerned, questioning gaze of her mother as Silverdeer peered out of the nursery. Thornleaf could just make out the queen’s shape, her frosted silvery pelt darkened in the shadows of the milk-scented den. Her mother would have questions and concerns for sure, but Silverdeer was smart enough to know when her presence was warranted, and right now, she realized it was best to stay put until further notice.
There was another cat outside of her family that Thornleaf wanted to find. She gazed around camp, copper eyes searching for any signs of Leafpaw. It wasn’t long until she spotted the familiar silver tabby pelt of her friend; instantly she wanted to run up to her and explain everything that had happened, but she was halted in her impulsive steps by the sight of Ravenfang, the Clan deputy and Leafpaw’s father, rushing toward them faster than Thornleaf ever remembered seeing the tom go.
Fear rushed through her. Was she in trouble with the deputy rather than the leader? What would Ravenfang do that Tawnystar hadn’t? The confidence from earlier drained through her paws, causing Thornleaf to slouch closer to the ground in a submissive posture, but she was stopped half way through her actions when the deputy came to a halt, and Thornleaf could finally see clearly the look of immense concern spread across the deputy’s face.
Ravenfang’s words left Thornleaf with even more questions. What did Ravenfang mean by his statement on Dawnstar? Knew her well? Was it for political peace, perhaps? It made sense for leaders and deputies to be familiar with one another, but the way Ravenfang’s voice fell flat, the way it was initiated with an oddness that wasn’t quite like the deputy, had Thornleaf left with questions. They remained upon her tongue, stuck like flies on spiderwebs. There was no time for prying into the deputy’s life when she had brought a ShadowClan apprentice into the heart of her own home.
As questions came to her, she shook her head, freeing herself of any lingering thoughts at the moment. ”Y-yes,” she murmured in response. It was all she said, leaving everything else Ravenfang had mentioned with a nod.
Now with Ravenfang headed his way, Thornleaf resumed the path to Webheart’s den. On her way she turned to catch Leafpaw’s gaze, hoping that she could soon find comfort at her friend’s side. She could see the worry in Leafpaw’s gaze, and all she wanted to do was rush over and spill everything that was on her mind, but right now she had to get Shadowpaw to the safety of Webheart’s den. As soon as she did that she knew where her paws would take her.
Soon enough they had arrived, and before Thornleaf could even announce their presence, Webheart’s head peeked out from the den. She didn’t seem alarmed, only determined and eager to get to work. ”Bring him on in. There’s already a nest in here he can use.” The gray tabby was quick to slink back into the den, and without a word, Thornleaf entered, bringing her tail to rest gently against Shadowpaw to guide him inside.
After the two had left his den, Tawnystar remained. He sat there, tail curled tightly over his paws, as he pondered deeply. What had Shadowpaw been doing so close to the ThunderClan border without a warrior to guide him? Why was he covered in so many scars and wounds, and even worse, why did he believe that was just normal training? Tawnystar had never expected Dawnstar to be the type to approve of such harsh methods of training, yet he had been wrong before. Was she just as ruthless as the stories of ShadowClan told of? The leader found that hard to believe, especially after all the talks of peace Dawnstar had brought up at gatherings. Some cats had been suspicious of that, speaking of how ShadowClan cats could never be peaceful, that their hearts were too chilled over by the winds that swept across their territory. Tawnystar had believed her, and he still wanted to believe her, but if she was the type of leader to allow even her own kit to be beaten so cruelly during training, then maybe it was time for him to re-evaluate his thoughts on the leader.
Tawnystar was pulled from his thoughts when just the voice he wanted to hear made its way through his den. He snapped back to attention, shifting his position ever so slightly upon the moss he sat on. ”Ravenfang,” he called out in greeting. ”You may enter.” If any cat had the answers to Tawnystar’s questions, it would be Ravenfang. Hopefully the two of them could figure something out before it was too late for either Shadowpaw or ShadowClan.
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Post by Shadowkit on Mar 1, 2022 10:58:25 GMT -5
Shadowpaw was left uneven as Ravenfang was gone almost as soon as he had approached. The deputy bringing up his mother brought back the sense of dread and grief he hadn't been able to shake, knowing what the likely reality was back in the ShadowClan camp. He couldn't look up from the floor even after he had left them and they returned to their original destination.
He did look up when the medicine cat spoke to them, peeking outside her den and addressing them. He tried to get a sense of her reaction, but she had withdrawn back inside before he could get a sense of whether she was irritated, angry, hostile, or anything of the like. Taking in a deep breath, he stepped inside at Thornleaf's guidance ushering him inside, gulping as he stepped inside the den and took a quick look around.
The deputy wasted no time stepping inside his leader's den. Sure, Thornleaf was too young to know about his relationship with Dawnstar, mainly because whispers of his disloyalty had gradually quieted as he was made deputy and he proved his dedication both in the administrative duties and his willingness to place himself in danger in skirmishes and against other threats. But Tawnystar knew. He knew how important she had been to Ravenfang, and if he was asked now, he couldn't lie and say that had changed.
And in turn, he was worried seeing Shadowpaw as he was. He didn't wait for Tawnystar to say more."I saw Dawnstar's kit," He murmured quietly. "What brought him here? It looks like he's been in a fight with a badger," He had almost said 'with a fox,' but he caught himself and chose not to bring up an example that was quite applicable to the cat in front of him. He was very worried--about Shadowpaw, about who sent him into danger serious enough for him to end up as wounded as he was. It looked terrible--it looked terrible for Dawnstar, and it looked terrible for ShadowClan. "Should I go to ShadowClan? Should I go speak to Dawnstar? Surely she'll listen to me. She can't be allowed her kit to get hurt like this intentionally. There must be an explanation." He felt an urgency to find an explanation for this, and it was hard to miss his eagerness to find an explanation to exonerate the she-cat he loved from guilt in whatever had happened to Shadowpaw. Yet, he knew in his heart that Dawnstar could not and would not let this happen to one of her kits. That passion sounded clearly in his voice.
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Lesbian
#ACEBF6
Name Colour
Feathertalon
Bird Overlord
unofficial chicken whisperer
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Post by Feathertalon on Mar 1, 2022 16:04:39 GMT -5
Thornleaf »
Entering the medicine cat den had once filled Thornleaf with dread. Every time she had drawn near she had recoiled back like a snake about to slither away, the bitter scents of herbs always twisting her stomach into knots. Now the den did no such thing. Instead it was a sanctuary for her, and as soon as she was inside the cavern, away from prying eyes hungry with question, the young tabico crumbled. Her legs shook with exhaustion from the constant assault of anxiety that had been eating away at her. A small gasp slipped from her tongue. Rather than recompose herself she sat there in an ungraceful mess, not even half of the elegant warrior she was supposed to be now. The lack of sleep was catching up to her as well, her eyelids weighed down with missing sleep. A shudder ran through her small body. She was worn out. The only thing her body wanted to do was crash and give way to the urge to sleep, but her mind was still racing. Her thoughts were a stampede of deer, battering her relentlessly over and over again. Nothing was going to let her rest easy until all of this was over. Sleep would continue to evade her so long as a threat still loomed over her and Shadowpaw.
”Alright, here are some herbs.” Webheart’s steady meow jolted Thornleaf out of her reverie. She bolted back upwards, no longer hanging like a limp leaf in the wind. Owl-eyed, she turned to look at the medicine cat who wore only an amused expression at Thornleaf. ”Calm now, herbs have no claws to hurt you with.”
For as true as Webheart’s words were, Thornleaf still had a hard time easing her heart’s thunderous fluttering. She swallowed, hoping it would take some of the bitter taste that was forming in her mouth down.
Again came the medicine cat’s voice, but this time it was directed at Shadowpaw. ”I’ve brought some cobwebs and marigold for your wounds. It may sting a bit, but from the looks of it, you already know that.” She was referring to the wounds that were already covered, Thornleaf knew that much. Though, as she focused on the tomcat she noticed just how ragged the cobwebs were from his earlier flight. ”Can you tell me what exactly happened?”
”He…he got lost,” Thornleaf stammered, surprised herself that she had found her voice. ”I found him just inside the border, and I…I couldn’t let him go back.” Again she looked at Shadowpaw. She hoped he didn’t mind her speaking up for him; surely he didn’t want to go over this again. Thornleaf wouldn’t if the roles were reversed. ”His wounds are from training,” she then added hoarsely. Webheart’s face tightened with thought momentarily. Eventually she gave a nod, tail twitching as if she found the story flawed, but chose to stay silent on the matter.
”I’ve never seen training wounds as severe as these, but never mind that. I’ll get you healed, and fed as well. You look as if you could do with a nest of squirrels.” With that she began her work, meticulously creating a poultice with skilled paws. Thornleaf watched in silent awe all the while hoping that Shadowpaw would be safe here as he healed.
Immediately Tawnystar knew that his deputy was worried. The look on his face was enough for the leader to realize that. Just like most of the senior warriors of the Clan, Tawnystar knew of Ravenfang’s love for the ShadowClan leader. The relationship didn’t last, but for Tawnystar it was clear that his deputy still harbored deep feelings for the molly, and with those feelings came concern over the son she had had with another tomcat.
While many had questioned Tawnystar for picking Ravenfang as his deputy after the last one’s passing, the elderly leader knew that he wanted no other cat succeeding him. He had picked Ravenfang not only for his dedication and worthiness as a future leader, but for the fact that he could see beyond borders. Ravenfang knew that cats from other Clans could be friends rather than enemies, and that those outside ThunderClan had hearts and souls as well. Even once he was gone Tawnystar wanted peace between his Clan and the others. With Ravenfang replacing him one day, Tawnystar felt certain that peace would remain.
Tawnystar remained silent until his deputy finished speaking. ”He says he got lost and found his way here.” The leader still had his suspicions about the explanation. He didn’t say this to Ravenfang, only assumed that his deputy would pick up on that fact instead.
As the idea of Ravenfang going to ShadowClan was brought up, Tawnystar paused to think, face scrunching up with thought. He then shook his head. ”Let’s not go to them directly. You can send a patrol out to their border and should you meet any of their patrols you can assess the situation, but something tells me letting them know Shadowpaw is here is a bad idea…” He trailed off slowly. The way the young tomcat had acted was off, and the way he looked was unnerving. An uneasy knot twisted in his stomach. Ravenfang was right. Dawnstar would never let something happen to her kit, and if something had happened to him, then something must have happened to Dawnstar as well.
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Post by Shadowkit on Mar 1, 2022 17:29:19 GMT -5
He might have been initially focused on the medicine cat's den--but the ShadowClan apprentice, the cat who might have been expected to be filled with more anxiety, wasn't the one to collapse. Shadowpaw's gaze suddenly turned to Thornleaf as she fell in a crumpled heap on the floor of the den, and his mouth parted as if to sound alarm, but he wasn't sure what exactly to sound an alarm about.
He had stepped closer to her to check on her without thinking about it, and there was no way to doubt that there wasn't empathy in the concerned tom-cat's expression. He was worried she might be hurt, but he could see no injuries on her body. Then, Webheart offered herbs, which he initially thought were for him--but as he cast a glance at the medicine cat, he realized the herbs were to soothe Thornleaf, and gazed down at the herbs, trying to identify them.
It was just moments before he, too, was offered herbs. The offer was different, though. Webheart noted that he seemed to be well aware about the effect of these herbs--she was referring to marigold in particular. He couldn't avoid giving an acknowledging nod to the medicine cat's statement. It wasn't a bad thing for a warrior to understand herbs, was it?
He nervously settled down, not eager to make a scene of resisting. Shadowpaw cast a forlorn glance at a couple of his wounds, seeing the cobwebs peeling off and the poultice, before having dried over the wounds, peeling off slowly from his physical effort. He realized, as Thornleaf regurgitated what he had said, that simply getting lost in his territory didn't make sense given the state of his wounds; the peeling cobwebs wouldn't be caused by a lost trot through the pine forest. His eyes widened a bit with nervousness, and he looked down at his paws as the medicine cat commented on his apparent need for a good meal. "I-I ate this morning," He quietly murmured. "I can't eat until I catch three pieces of prey." Even out of camp, the teachings he had received followed him. He was afraid of what could happen if anyone learned he ate outside of the dictation of the Warrior Code, disobeying what his father had taught him.
Ravenfang didn't need a single hint as Tawnystar mentioned what excuse Shadowpaw had formed. Shadowpaw had 'found his way' onto ThunderClan territory? It was an excuse that either reeked of malice...or of a desperate need to excuse something else. He slowly looked towards different points in the den, trying to methodically think about what could possibly lead Shadowpaw to them anyways. Ravenfang could not find a solid answer.
It was impossible not to see a sense of aggravation grow in the deputy as Tawnystar denied him the idea of going directly to ShadowClan. He wanted to march straight there, walk into their camp and half-demand half-plead to speak to Dawnstar--but Tawnystar had other ideas in mind. His expression almost looked frustrated, like he wanted to protest the word of his leader, but Tawnystar kept speaking.
His eyebrows narrowed as Ravenfang took in the ThunderClan leader's perspective on the situation. "So you think that something is really wrong," He emphasized the word, trying to keep the frustration out of his voice. He wanted to express his disagreement, to let Tawnystar know that he absolutely should speak with Dawnstar...but as he was considering how to word it, a sensation like a cool breeze brushing through his fur caught his attention, and he seemed distracted for just a couple moments, before he shivered in reaction.
He blinked a couple times, noticing Tawnystar didn't even seem to feel the cold air that had flown through the deputy's fur. He couldn't think much of it though--he was well aware that he wasn't reacting to this situation exactly as any other warrior would. He knew that Tawnystar knew what Dawnstar had meant to him. He gave a frustrated sigh.
"Tawnystar, I think I could speak to Shadowpaw," He murmured quietly. "If you think something isn't right here...." He took in a deep breath, holding it for six or seven seconds, before letting it out heavily. "I don't know how he's feeling right now. But he wouldn't look at me as soon as I mentioned Dawnstar. You know that no cat here knows Dawnstar better than I do--maybe I can reach out to him?" There was a slight glimmer of hope in his voice. "But...maybe you should come with? You have always had a way to keep apprentices at ease." He wasn't certain of the right course, and that reflected in his eyes as he gazed towards the leader in front of him. Shadowpaw was genuinely scared of me. Can I get through to him myself?
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Lesbian
#ACEBF6
Name Colour
Feathertalon
Bird Overlord
unofficial chicken whisperer
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Post by Feathertalon on Mar 1, 2022 18:27:20 GMT -5
Webheart »
Training wounds. Webheart had never seen training wounds such as these, and she found it hard to believe that even ShadowClan would attack their apprentices in such a manner. What would a Clan gain from treating their apprentices like real enemy warriors? They would gain apprentices with infections that would lead them to miss out on training, and for some, sickness and, potentially, even death. It was mouse-brained to train with claws unsheathed, and Webheart had thought ShadowClan to be smarter than that. Perhaps she would have a talk with Ivytongue during the next medicine cat gathering. It would be the best way for Webheart to get direct information from the source.
In silence did she listen to the tomcat as he went on to speak up. She was concentrating on the task at hand, carefully pulling away any lingering cobwebs to replace them with fresh ones, but her paws faltered when the apprentice brought up something that left her with even more questions. Her eyes narrowed, tail twitching. "Now what sort of rule is that?" She questioned, voice sterner than it had been moments earlier. She cast a hard, questioning gaze onto the tomcat. "We have no such rules here. You eat so long as you try to contribute to the Clan." ThunderClan would never let their cats go hungry so long as they attempted to hunt. Success or failure, a cat got to eat. Even unruly apprentices who went against their mentors rules were allowed a piece from the prey pile. This was yet something else to bring up to Ivytongue next time they met. "Regardless, you'll be allowed to eat here. You certainly look like you need it," she pointed out firmly. The poor cat needed meat on his bones. He was a skeleton as it was, and a starving cat wouldn't be able to keep up the energy to hunt one prey animal, let alone three.
Now that she had stated her thoughts, she went back to work, not stopping until she had finally covered all the wounds. Stepping back, she took a look at the apprentice, nodding in approval at her work. "There, all patched up. I'll need you to take it easy for a bit, okay? And," her tone hardened, "you'll need to eat something. I'll give you a poppy seed after so you can rest easy. Thornleaf." She turned to the warrior. No longer was she shaking, the chamomile having eased her it seemed. "Can you grab some prey? Perhaps a squirrel will do, it has more meat on it than a mouse."
Thornleaf straightened. "Of course, Webheart," she mewed, voice steadier now as well.
Webheart dipped her head in thanks. She watched as the young warrior got to her paws and padded out of the den before she turned to clean up the herbs she hadn't used on the apprentice, placing them back into their proper storage areas.
It was hard to miss the annoyance that formed within Ravenfang. Tawnystar was sure his deputy wanted to go directly into ShadowClan's camp and demand a meeting with Dawnstar. It seemed that this was the only option in Ravenfang's mind, but Tawnystar felt it harmful to go about this in such a direct manner. Something about this whole thing felt off to him, and he wanted to scope it out first, wanted to get a good look at it all before marching straight in. He needed answers before sending his deputy, or any cat, into the heart of another Clan's territory. Ravenfang could argue all he wanted about being denied, and from the looks of it, the brown tabby wanted to speak against the leader's suggestion. He held his tongue, though. Tawnystar was glad for that, not wanting to start something with Ravenfang, but had it come down to it the spotted leader would have held his ground just as any strong-hearted leader would.
"I do," he agreed, voice a hushed rumble. Something was incredibly wrong inside ShadowClan's borders. The mere state of Shadowpaw was enough to confirm that. There was no way Dawnstar would let her kit look as frail, skeletal, and battered as he did unless there was something happening. No parent to any kit would allow that. Tawnystar himself would never let anything happen to his son Owlfoot, and nothing would happen to his son's son Aspenpaw, either. The leader knew all too well the grief of losing a kit. His granddaughter, Amberpaw, had died in a freak accident not too far from camp after a tumultuous rainstorm. The ground had eroded and grown soft, caving in not too long after. Amberpaw had been too near the weak ground when it had happened, the very soil itself swallowing her up and crushing her. There had been his other grandson, Brackenkit, weak since birth, succumbing to an illness only a moon after being born. He had never been able to get over it, and soon StarClan had taken him into their ranks.
Tawnystar looked down, heart heavy with sorrow. But now wasn't the time to fall into the grasp of grief. He was thankful for Ravenfang speaking up, offering another option that could help them figure out this mystery. "I can agree to that," he replied. Tawnystar had always been a calm minded individual, thoughtful in his approach while warm and open. He was like a father to all, a gentle soul in the body of a hardened warrior. His scars may be many, and his appearance grizzly, but he was far from the stone-hearted warrior many thought him to be upon first glance. "Together we can speak with him if that will ease some of your worries."
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Post by Shadowkit on Mar 13, 2022 8:18:13 GMT -5
Shadowpaw glanced up at Webheart with confusion as she bluntly questioned the rule that he was reciting, and Shadowpaw's eyes went wide as she openly admitted that ThunderClan didn't follow that rule of the Warrior Code. She explained that any cat who contributed would eat, but it seemed more relaxed here than in ShadowClan, and he wondered if StarClan disapproved of the fact that they seemed much more relaxed here.
He thought briefly back to his mother, and the last moon or so. Almost every day, she had taken him out and caught prey in secret, and even though it broke the code, she, too, had told him he needed to eat anyways. He had thought StarClan would be angry even with her, especially being the leader, but there was never any sign of StarClan's anger, and it was only because of her that he seemed somewhat malnourished, as opposed to outright starved.
But he didn't say anything about breaking the rule. He had been told the other clans were weaker followers of the Warrior Code, and if they were patching his wounds up, he didn't want to anger these cats. And, even with the food in his stomach from earlier, the growl of his stomach helped persuade him to keep his mouth shut.
Shadowpaw glanced over to Thornleaf as she was asked to get him something to eat; if he was a good apprentice, he would have protested at this last opportunity, but instead, he said nothing and watched as she stood, turned about and stepped out of the den to pick up the prey. He felt his anxiety pick up as he was left alone with the medicine cat, and he stared down at the ground in silence, trying not to draw any attention to himself (like that would change that the whole clan was whispering about him now).
Ravenfang let out a resigned sigh. If he couldn't go speak to his past love, the next best thing was to try to understand what was wrong from the cat they had in camp. But saying that this conversation would ease his worries was uncertain. How could it with how poorly taken care of Shadowpaw looked? Ravenfang turned about slowly, padding to the exit of the den, casting his glance over the camp and letting it settle on Webheart's den. He didn't seem to notice that Thornleaf had stepped out at this point. "I can't say with any certainty speaking with him will allay any of my worries. What explanation of an apprentice being in that state would make it seem okay?" He called back pensatively to Tawnystar, waiting for his leader before exiting the den.
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