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Post by Moonblazer on Nov 5, 2024 20:43:10 GMT -5
Cobblepaw took a breath before he squared his shoulders, similar in posture to his father for a brief moment. "When we were practicing our sprinting out on the Moors, I thought I spotted something moving way out at the base of Highstones. Way, way out. At first I thought it was a large bird, but... it wasn't flying. It was just moving, but. It wasn't a cat. For me to have seen it that far out, it had to be much bigger. I didn't see it again after a few moments, so I told myself that I was imagining things... but Slushfur believed me, and she was right. I needed to at least say something, even if I could have imagined it. I..." He trailed off, not liking him and his mother's assumption of what it was.
"I've never seen one, so I don't know, but a part of me feels like it could have been one of those prey-maulers that Cedarstar described at the Gathering."
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Post by Willow on Nov 5, 2024 20:58:29 GMT -5
Sagefoot's fur fluffed at the news, she let out a deep sigh before she dipped her head to Cobblepaw. "Thank you for letting us know. We were just discussing further measures we could put in place to keep the clan safe."
Fallowmeadow laughed, touching her nose to Rabbitkit's head. "I'm glad we get to live in this camp too. I missed it when we had to sleep in the caves at highstones. It wasn't the same as the moor."
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Post by thistle on Nov 5, 2024 21:28:55 GMT -5
"You can't see the stars in a cave," Wheatkit said matter-of-factly. "If I climb a tree, can I touch the stars?"
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Post by Willow on Nov 5, 2024 22:12:13 GMT -5
Fallowmeadow shook her head, running her tail over Wheatkit’s back. “Not quite little one. The sky is up so far I don’t even think you’d be close in the tallest tree in the forest. But, I can tell you.m that the view of a sunset from the top of a tree is beautiful. The stars starting to appear across the moor, I could look at it forever.”
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Post by Firebelly on Nov 5, 2024 23:06:06 GMT -5
Cobblepaw took a breath before he squared his shoulders, similar in posture to his father for a brief moment. "When we were practicing our sprinting out on the Moors, I thought I spotted something moving way out at the base of Highstones. Way, way out. At first I thought it was a large bird, but... it wasn't flying. It was just moving, but. It wasn't a cat. For me to have seen it that far out, it had to be much bigger. I didn't see it again after a few moments, so I told myself that I was imagining things... but Slushfur believed me, and she was right. I needed to at least say something, even if I could have imagined it. I..." He trailed off, not liking him and his mother's assumption of what it was. "I've never seen one, so I don't know, but a part of me feels like it could have been one of those prey-maulers that Cedarstar described at the Gathering." Swiftstar shot a glance to Sagefoot. “That does sound like the prey-maulers. Thank you for bringing this to me Cobblepaw. With this information we may be able to get the advantage on them - you may have saved lives today.” He dipped his head briefly in gratitude before continuing. “Was there only one that you saw? Do you think they were making camp there or just passing through?” He wasn’t sure the level of detail the apprentice could make out, but better to ask. |
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Post by Moonblazer on Nov 6, 2024 8:21:35 GMT -5
Cobblepaw felt a wave of relief that the leader and deputy believed him. Feeling more confident, the tom lifted his chin and admitted. “I only saw the one shadow moving, so I’m not sure if there were more, but Cedarstar did say they moved in groups, so… er, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were more. I just don’t like that they were so close to Highstones, ya know?” He fretted.
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Post by Firebelly on Nov 6, 2024 17:48:22 GMT -5
Swiftstar nodded to the apprentice. "Thank you Cobblepaw. Sagefoot and I will discuss how we want to handle this, but I appreciate you bringing this to our attention." He flicked his tail to indicate the apprentice was dismissed, then turned to his deputy. "Well....this changes our timeline a bit, doesn't it." He said with a grim chuckle.
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Post by Moonblazer on Nov 6, 2024 18:05:39 GMT -5
Cobblepaw dipped his head eagerly once more, eyes flashing with gratitude as he mewed. “Thank you! I’ll keep an eye out for it again next time I’m out with Crowfrost.” He promised, turning to depart from the leader’s den.
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Post by thistle on Nov 6, 2024 20:03:11 GMT -5
Fallowmeadow shook her head, running her tail over Wheatkit’s back. “Not quite little one. The sky is up so far I don’t even think you’d be close in the tallest tree in the forest. But, I can tell you.m that the view of a sunset from the top of a tree is beautiful. The stars starting to appear across the moor, I could look at it forever.” Nodding along, Wheatkit turned his attention back to Milkkit and Rabbitkit where they played. "Let's all go in a tree together, okay?" |
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Post by Dew on Nov 6, 2024 20:25:20 GMT -5
Larkbounce noted the way Tigersong was looking around, the way her posture changed slightly. "And you're feeling brave right now?" It wasn't a jab, and he had already started on to Outlook Rock. "Like I said before, I wouldn't mind going into the tunnels." Tigersong narrowed her eyes and tried to decide if he was mocking her or not, but when she glanced over, he looked like he was genuinely making sure she was okay. She would rather prefer to be in a tunnel, and if he was offering, maybe she should just agree and take him on a promptu scouting mission. She hesitated, her tail dropping slightly. "I was feeling brave but your insistence is filing away at my courage," she said, keeping her tone light. "but perhaps we can make a quick pass by the outlook, and if you're still feeling up to it, we can go into the tunnels." she said, trying her best to make a good compromise. "But, again, I won't force you in there." she added quickly. Her conversation with Swiftstar had made her hyper aware of the things she said, not eager to offend another clanmate today - and especially not Larkbounce when he was being so kind. "Sorry." He mewed, wincing. He hadn't tried to file away at her courage, but that's what ended up happening. Probably shouldn't have been so insistent. "Sounds good." They were almost at the Outlook Rock, a place where you could see almost the entire territory from. It was magical. They arrived, Larkbounce padding onto the smooth stone of the rock and looking out. It was how it always was, peaceful. The grasses of the moor spread out in front of him, endless until they hit the border lines, and started to change. "Let me know when your ready to go." Larkbounce said, turning his head to look at Tigersong. |
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Post by Dew on Nov 6, 2024 20:28:51 GMT -5
Falconpaw smiled. "I agree! The bucking you did really caught me off guard, that was a great idea!" She still felt the effects of crashing into the ground, even if they had done another round since then. "What duo technique were you thinking, Jasmineheart?" Falconpaw asked, turning to address Violetpaw's mentor. "There's a technique for two apprentices called dizzy dance. It's very effective against larger cats that are slower than you. The idea is that you both continue to attack the opponent from different angles before running out of the way. It causes them to continue moving in circles and eventually get disoriented." Jasmineheart mewed calmly. "It can be sort of like a game if you do it right." "A battle game!" She mewed, exchanging a glace with Violetpaw. "So... how does it look? Or should we just try and... figure it out as we go?" |
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Post by 💗Hollyleaf💗 on Nov 6, 2024 21:43:50 GMT -5
Tigersong narrowed her eyes and tried to decide if he was mocking her or not, but when she glanced over, he looked like he was genuinely making sure she was okay. She would rather prefer to be in a tunnel, and if he was offering, maybe she should just agree and take him on a promptu scouting mission. She hesitated, her tail dropping slightly. "I was feeling brave but your insistence is filing away at my courage," she said, keeping her tone light. "but perhaps we can make a quick pass by the outlook, and if you're still feeling up to it, we can go into the tunnels." she said, trying her best to make a good compromise. "But, again, I won't force you in there." she added quickly. Her conversation with Swiftstar had made her hyper aware of the things she said, not eager to offend another clanmate today - and especially not Larkbounce when he was being so kind. "Sorry." He mewed, wincing. He hadn't tried to file away at her courage, but that's what ended up happening. Probably shouldn't have been so insistent. "Sounds good." They were almost at the Outlook Rock, a place where you could see almost the entire territory from. It was magical. They arrived, Larkbounce padding onto the smooth stone of the rock and looking out. It was how it always was, peaceful. The grasses of the moor spread out in front of him, endless until they hit the border lines, and started to change. "Let me know when your ready to go." Larkbounce said, turning his head to look at Tigersong. "Oh, don't be sorry. I was only teasing," she said, feeling a flash of frustration. Even when she tried to be mindful she was upsetting others. She followed him the rest of the way, a flash of joy going through her once they were at the edge, looking out over everything. As much as being out in the open scared her, this view couldn't be beat. Looking out at the grassy hills of the moor as it led into the trees and the huge oaks for FourTrees was amazing. It was why this was one of her favorite spots aboveground. She turned to Larkbounce, her eyes lit up. "It's so beautiful, isn't it? You can see almost everything." she purred. |
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Post by Dew on Nov 7, 2024 7:34:49 GMT -5
Larkbounce nodded, smiling to himself. “It really is!” His excitement bubbled over into his voice, as it usually did. “Ready to go?” He asked, turning after a little time had passed. “I will admit, I’ve never been underground before.”
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Post by Firebelly on Nov 7, 2024 8:52:09 GMT -5
Fallowmeadow shook her head, running her tail over Wheatkit’s back. “Not quite little one. The sky is up so far I don’t even think you’d be close in the tallest tree in the forest. But, I can tell you.m that the view of a sunset from the top of a tree is beautiful. The stars starting to appear across the moor, I could look at it forever.” Nodding along, Wheatkit turned his attention back to Milkkit and Rabbitkit where they played. "Let's all go in a tree together, okay?" Rabbitkit looked at his brother skeptically. "I thought going into trees was for SkyClan cats....What if you fall?" |
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Post by 💗Hollyleaf💗 on Nov 7, 2024 11:33:11 GMT -5
Larkbounce nodded, smiling to himself. “It really is!” His excitement bubbled over into his voice, as it usually did. “Ready to go?” He asked, turning after a little time had passed. “I will admit, I’ve never been underground before.” Tigersong tilted her head in surprise at his eagerness. “Here I was trying to make you comfortable by staying on the moors,” she began, her whiskers twitching in amusement. “The whole time it seems you’re secretly a tunneler.” it was a joke, of course. She turned to take in the sight of their territory one more time before she nodded. “Alright, let’s go. We can go into the tunnels we take apprentices into, since it’s just for leisure and you’ve never been. I don’t want anybody getting hurt on my watch.” She explained, beginning to head back towards camp. |
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Post by thistle on Nov 7, 2024 14:02:34 GMT -5
Nodding along, Wheatkit turned his attention back to Milkkit and Rabbitkit where they played. "Let's all go in a tree together, okay?" Rabbitkit looked at his brother skeptically. "I thought going into trees was for SkyClan cats....What if you fall?" Wheatkit blinked calmly at his brother. "If we're with mother, we'll be safe," he said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. |
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Post by Dew on Nov 8, 2024 7:23:42 GMT -5
Larkbounce nodded, smiling to himself. “It really is!” His excitement bubbled over into his voice, as it usually did. “Ready to go?” He asked, turning after a little time had passed. “I will admit, I’ve never been underground before.” Tigersong tilted her head in surprise at his eagerness. “Here I was trying to make you comfortable by staying on the moors,” she began, her whiskers twitching in amusement. “The whole time it seems you’re secretly a tunneler.” it was a joke, of course. She turned to take in the sight of their territory one more time before she nodded. “Alright, let’s go. We can go into the tunnels we take apprentices into, since it’s just for leisure and you’ve never been. I don’t want anybody getting hurt on my watch.” She explained, beginning to head back towards camp. Larkbounce’s whiskers twitched alongside Tigersong’s jokes, his worries almost disappearing as they joked. “That good to know. Didn’t really want to get hurt, heh.” His smile widened, following after Tigersong. |
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Post by 💗Hollyleaf💗 on Nov 8, 2024 9:35:59 GMT -5
Tigersong tilted her head in surprise at his eagerness. “Here I was trying to make you comfortable by staying on the moors,” she began, her whiskers twitching in amusement. “The whole time it seems you’re secretly a tunneler.” it was a joke, of course. She turned to take in the sight of their territory one more time before she nodded. “Alright, let’s go. We can go into the tunnels we take apprentices into, since it’s just for leisure and you’ve never been. I don’t want anybody getting hurt on my watch.” She explained, beginning to head back towards camp. Larkbounce’s whiskers twitched alongside Tigersong’s jokes, his worries almost disappearing as they joked. “That good to know. Didn’t really want to get hurt, heh.” His smile widened, following after Tigersong. Tigersong led the way towards the training tunnels, her demeanor was relaxed. She was more at ease than she had been in days. She didn’t want to think and talk about the prey maulers all day with every clan mate she spoke with - though she realized she had been the starter of some of those conversations. It was hard not to think of it. Even now when the last thing she wanted was to be tense and bummed out, she had the maulers in the back of her head. She tried to push the thoughts away, or at least block them behind a mental wall, as they approached the tunnels. She crouched down in front of the entrance to one of them and glanced over at Larkbounce. “You sure?” She asked, tail flicking. |
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Post by Dew on Nov 8, 2024 11:34:49 GMT -5
Larkbounce’s whiskers twitched alongside Tigersong’s jokes, his worries almost disappearing as they joked. “That good to know. Didn’t really want to get hurt, heh.” His smile widened, following after Tigersong. Tigersong led the way towards the training tunnels, her demeanor was relaxed. She was more at ease than she had been in days. She didn’t want to think and talk about the prey maulers all day with every clan mate she spoke with - though she realized she had been the starter of some of those conversations. It was hard not to think of it. Even now when the last thing she wanted was to be tense and bummed out, she had the maulers in the back of her head. She tried to push the thoughts away, or at least block them behind a mental wall, as they approached the tunnels. She crouched down in front of the entrance to one of them and glanced over at Larkbounce. “You sure?” She asked, tail flicking. Larkbounce nodded his head, taking a deep breath. "It's important to see how both moor-runners and tunnelings are important. It'll be good to learn to understand better." After all, how he was feeling now much be the same way tunnelers felt about traveling over the open moors, and he could bear it. It will be interesting, after all. |
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Post by 💗Hollyleaf💗 on Nov 8, 2024 12:53:59 GMT -5
Tigersong led the way towards the training tunnels, her demeanor was relaxed. She was more at ease than she had been in days. She didn’t want to think and talk about the prey maulers all day with every clan mate she spoke with - though she realized she had been the starter of some of those conversations. It was hard not to think of it. Even now when the last thing she wanted was to be tense and bummed out, she had the maulers in the back of her head. She tried to push the thoughts away, or at least block them behind a mental wall, as they approached the tunnels. She crouched down in front of the entrance to one of them and glanced over at Larkbounce. “You sure?” She asked, tail flicking. Larkbounce nodded his head, taking a deep breath. "It's important to see how both moor-runners and tunnelings are important. It'll be good to learn to understand better." After all, how he was feeling now much be the same way tunnelers felt about traveling over the open moors, and he could bear it. It will be interesting, after all. “Okay,” Tigersong nodded. “Here, I’ll keep my tail on your shoulder at first, until you think you can navigate on your own.” She told him. She stuck her tail out and laid it gently on his shoulder and then nodded for them to move forward. She slipped into the opening - having to make a conscious effort to take it slow. In an instant, they were in darkness. The tunnel entrance had a faint light that filtered in but to untrained eyes, that would only make the darkness around them more suffocating. She walked slowly further in, making sure her tail stayed just on his shoulder, until he told her he didn’t need it. Her instincts kicked in at once and the fact that she had walked these tunnels plenty of times before. She remembered this tunnel was the first one she had known like the back of her paw when she was an apprentice. She took a few more steps forward until they hit a fork. Both sections went into another training tunnel that circled back out to the moor. She stopped and glanced back at him. “How do you feel?” She asked. |
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Post by Willow on Nov 9, 2024 13:39:56 GMT -5
Sagefoot nodded, "I'll keep the younger cats away from there for patrols, but we should warn mentors as well. Perhaps the tunnelers should make some kind of mark near the tunnel entrances near that border. Some of them are well hidden." She sighed, "Will moor runners even enter the tunnels though? Or would they rather face the prey-maulers?"
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Post by Willow on Nov 9, 2024 13:41:19 GMT -5
Fallowmeadow purred, reaching down to touch her nose to Wheatkit's head. "Wheatkit is right, if you're with me I will always do my best to keep you safe. Tree climbing does take some skills to learn, but I can teach you all you need to know. The trees that are in our territory are all rather old and tall. It's easy to sink your claws into the bark."
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Post by Moonblazer on Nov 9, 2024 14:07:10 GMT -5
(Bloop! If I missed any replies, please tag/repost for me!)
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Post by Firebelly on Nov 9, 2024 14:54:24 GMT -5
Sagefoot nodded, "I'll keep the younger cats away from there for patrols, but we should warn mentors as well. Perhaps the tunnelers should make some kind of mark near the tunnel entrances near that border. Some of them are well hidden." She sighed, "Will moor runners even enter the tunnels though? Or would they rather face the prey-maulers?" Swiftstar nodded. "I think I need to make an announcement to the clan, both to tell them about the prey-maulers potential location and to announce that we will be mixing the patrols. I'm not sure if all moor runners will be willing to enter the tunnels, but we need to give them the chance to try. I want to go with a patrol out to mark the tunnel entrances - I think a tunneler should lead it, but I need to be willing to set an example." Rabbitkit looked at his mother. "What does it look like when you're up in a tree?" he asked, a puzzled look on his face. Fireblaze sneered as Cobblepaw exited Swiftstar's den. "Of course you would think you're special enough to get private meetings with Swiftstar." she said, loud enough for the apprentice to hear. "What? You tired of being a moor runner already?" |
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Post by Moonblazer on Nov 9, 2024 15:08:08 GMT -5
Sagefoot nodded, "I'll keep the younger cats away from there for patrols, but we should warn mentors as well. Perhaps the tunnelers should make some kind of mark near the tunnel entrances near that border. Some of them are well hidden." She sighed, "Will moor runners even enter the tunnels though? Or would they rather face the prey-maulers?" Swiftstar nodded. "I think I need to make an announcement to the clan, both to tell them about the prey-maulers potential location and to announce that we will be mixing the patrols. I'm not sure if all moor runners will be willing to enter the tunnels, but we need to give them the chance to try. I want to go with a patrol out to mark the tunnel entrances - I think a tunneler should lead it, but I need to be willing to set an example." Rabbitkit looked at his mother. "What does it look like when you're up in a tree?" he asked, a puzzled look on his face. Fireblaze sneered as Cobblepaw exited Swiftstar's den. "Of course you would think you're special enough to get private meetings with Swiftstar." she said, loud enough for the apprentice to hear. "What? You tired of being a moor runner already?" Cobblepaw stopped as he heard Fireblaze's question, the sneer in her voice surprising at first. He blinked, feeling a flicker of indignation, though he reminded himself that this was only going to be more common. He looked at the older she-cat, ears flicking as he mewed. "I'd say I'm getting pretty good! I just reported something I saw on the moors, after my training session with Doebush and Cricketpaw. That's all! I ran pretty quick today too, I'd bet I'd impress you!" He chuckled. "I wouldn't be surprised if he was. It's not easy being a real Moor-Runner. I can't see it being easy at all for a Tunneler." Petalflare commented as she padded past, having overheard Fireblaze and seen Cobblepaw leave Swiftstar's den as well. She gave a look that was more so of pity than it was of judgement. "Are you sure you want to go from being a Tunneler to a Moor-Runner?" "I'm not going from anything to anything. I'm going to be both! At the same time." Cobblepaw shook his head, reminding them once again what it meant. He hadn't expected to have to explain it so many times to both his Moor-Running and Tunneling Clanmates. He flicked his tail. "It hasn't been all that hard so far. Crowfrost is a great mentor." He mewed proudly. Petalflare gave a tiny scoff at the implication that Moor-Running training was easy in any way. Even so, she glanced once at Fireblaze, looking unsure about the tom's desire to have both ranks at once. |
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Post by Firebelly on Nov 9, 2024 15:14:26 GMT -5
Fireblaze listened to the exchange between Cobblepaw and Petalflare, rolling her eyes when Cobblepaw mentioned moor running being easy. "What makes you so special that you think you can just be 'both'?" she asked, a mocking tone in her voice. "That's like saying you can be both WindClan and ShadowClan, or both a medicine cat and the deputy." she lashed her tail as she continued. "Were you really that bad at tunneling that you needed to have a do-over?"
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Post by Moonblazer on Nov 9, 2024 15:29:23 GMT -5
Fireblaze listened to the exchange between Cobblepaw and Petalflare, rolling her eyes when Cobblepaw mentioned moor running being easy. "What makes you so special that you think you can just be 'both'?" she asked, a mocking tone in her voice. "That's like saying you can be both WindClan and ShadowClan, or both a medicine cat and the deputy." she lashed her tail as she continued. "Were you really that bad at tunneling that you needed to have a do-over?" “My father did it. And he loved both.” Cobblepaw shrugged, determined to make the dream his father once had an actual reality. “Spiritstar was a medicine cat and then a leader! And if there was a cat who was Windclan and Shadowclan, then hey! Nothing wrong with that in my eyes.” He admitted, before he glanced at Fireblaze and humored lightly. “Between the two of us, I’d say I’m pretty good at Tunneling. I can show you how sometime if you want to learn! It’ll be fun, I promise!” He offered. |
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Post by Firebelly on Nov 9, 2024 15:41:48 GMT -5
Fireblaze looked pointedly at the apprentice. "Yeah. Spiritstar was a medicine cat, and then a leader. She had to pick one. And no, I'm not interested in scrabbling around in the ground like a piece of prey, thank you very much." Even if Fireblaze had been interested in tunneling, she was still nursing a wound from last night's Dark Forest training session. She couldn't wait to fill her nightly mentors in on the conversation. "Besides, real moor runners stay above ground."
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Post by Moonblazer on Nov 9, 2024 16:02:19 GMT -5
Fireblaze looked pointedly at the apprentice. "Yeah. Spiritstar was a medicine cat, and then a leader. She had to pick one. And no, I'm not interested in scrabbling around in the ground like a piece of prey, thank you very much." Even if Fireblaze had been interested in tunneling, she was still nursing a wound from last night's Dark Forest training session. She couldn't wait to fill her nightly mentors in on the conversation. "Besides, real moor runners stay above ground." “That’s true, I suppose. Moor-Runners do stay above ground. So it’s a good thing I’m training above ground to be a Moor-Runner these next 6 moons.” Cobblepaw purred, tail flicking as he offered. “I can tell you take it pretty seriously. You could always show me how it’s really done, if it’s that important to you that it’s done right. I want to be a great Moor-Runner, so the more I learn from the better, right?” He asked. “You just don’t know when to quit, do you?” Petalflare asked, looking rather wide-eyed at the apprentice, who clearly wasn’t backing down. She shook her head. “I’m going out. Uh. Good luck, Fireblaze.” She mumbled awkwardly. |
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Post by Firebelly on Nov 9, 2024 16:16:22 GMT -5
Fireblaze flicked her ear in acknowledgment of Petalflare as she left. "And your plan after the next six moons?" she challenged. "You just going to build your nest smack dab in the middle of the moor runners and the tunnelers? There's a reason moor runners and tunnerls train seperately, what's it like to not belong to either?" Fireblaze could feel her own temper rising, and tried to force it back down.
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