MyrtleClan — Clan of the Gods

Ivypaw grinned at his sister happy to get included into the plan into bringing Stoatchase into the games. "We got you covered in a distraction," he said, his ears perking ads Flickerpaw was already relying a plan that she had. That was one of the many things Ivypaw liked about Flickerpaw, she was always quick at coming up with plans for fun things to do, or chaos, though to him that fell into the fun category.

He recognized the rock Flickerpaw brought back immediately. While he had come up empty pawed, he was happy she found something. "As long as it doesn't get to out of control I'm so game for causing the fire over there," he said with a nod, his eyes shining in excitement. The idea would be perfect, everyone would be distracted by the flames giving Fawnpaw more then enough time to quickly place the token and rush in to help put out the fire.

"Theatrics? You got it, I will be so amazing at it trust me, I picked up a thing or two watching Mintpaw practice, you can count on me," he said grinning to the two other apprentices. I'm sure burning my paw on the fire won't hurt to bad, and if it does, I'll just paly it up even more to really sell it and get everyone's eye son me! He thought to himself, determined to not let them down, completely missing the fact he was told to pretend to be burned.

Rainpaw
With Goosefreckle | 𝕊’𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖

---

When Goosefreckle was finished decorating his pelt, Rainpaw took a second to admire his work. Vibrate shades of blues and greens popped vividly against his gray tabby coat. And he’d imagine that the designs on his face looked just as good. He certainly was putting himself at huge risk of ire from his clanmates since he was one of the few cats in MyrtleClan who still saw Okeaneos in a positive light after the floods. Yet that didn’t matter to him. He was old enough to have a backbone that can withstand any judgement.

When one is so close to becoming a warrior, it was best not to cause a scene.

Rainpaw turned his attention back to his father. “Thanks for your help, Goosefreckle,” he purred. He always felt bad that he never walked the same paw steps as his parents and he wondered if Goosefreckle felt the same. But if he thought back to his kithood, the signs were clear that Rainpaw was born to be a hunter. Always pouncing on tails and stalking leaves (he figured now that young Mintpaw would have some choice words for him if he ever learned how many leaves he had shredded as a kit), but if Goosefreckle had managed to convince his younger brother Sagekit to join him in dancing for the competitors, maybe he’d have a son who would take after him after all.

“You think Sagekit would make a good entertainer like you?” Rainpaw asked, trying not to let his insecurities show too much.

Skydancer, Solarflare - Camp - Open

Skydancer kept shooting glances towards the nest while next to him Solarflare was watching some of his clanmates instead. Both had decorated their pelts earlier, Skydancer having gone for darker and cooler colors, both for how he had painted his fur and what flowers he picked for both his pelt and his flower crown. Here and there he had used some brighter ones but not too bright to better go with the night theme he went for. He had gone all out for his decorations and he gladly would have done the same with Solarflare but his brother had insisted on a much simpler design, not wanting to grab so much attention, something he surely would have gotten if he let Skydancer have too much of a say. He had still been allowed to help though for he had an eye for such things and while Solarflare didn't stand out as much as Skydancer his decorations were still masterfully done, matching his pelt with their warm colors and making for a sunset theme.

Skydancer cast another glance at Laurelstar's nest, wondering how many cats would still enter. There wasn't much time left so whoever still wanted to participate would have to put in their tokens soon. But was there really any point? Now that Thundersnap had put in his token most probably thought they'd stand no chance anyway so why should they bother? It must be quite discouraging to know that one of the participants was favored by the gods. With that thought he turned to Solarflare who still seemed more interested in watching his clanmates. "You think anyone else will enter?" he asked.

Solarflare didn't turn to look at him immediately but he flicked his ears to show that he had heard. After a while he nodded. "I guess so," he said. "It's a big opportunity and there are plenty of cats who wouldn't let that slip away. Even if their chances are low, if they got their sights set on leadership they won't let anything sway them."

"I just don't see how anyone could still hope to win," Skydancer meowed. "This is a cat chosen by the gods we're talking about. The games are as good as decided."

Solarflare thought about that for a moment but then shook his head. "If that's the case then why even hold the games? If the gods really have already chosen a leader why didn't they just tell Puddleheart?"

"That's... a good point," Skydancer conceded, looking more thoughtful now. "But it's still a pretty clear sign. It's no coincidence that it was Thundersnap who found that rock. At the very least the gods must be favoring him in some way."

"They probably are. But that doesn't mean he will be picked as leader." Solarflare shot a quick glance towards the nest with the tokens. "He might have their favor for now but he might lose it again if he doesn't do well in the games and someone else proves themself instead." He narrowed his eyes at that. Was it okay to speak about the gods in such a way? Solarflare knew they could be quite fickle but that didn't mean one was supposed to say that out loud.

Noticing Solarflare's sudden discomfort Skydancer quickly lead the conversation in a safer direction. "You're right, he'll still has to show he's worthy of it," he meowed. Then he grinned at him. "But you know what? I think Thundersnap won't have to worry about that. Out of all the cats entering he has the best chances."

Solarflare chuckled at that. "Guess I don't have to ask who you want to win," he said. "But really, Thundersnap? I thought you'd rather cheer for one of the hunters."

Skydancer put on a conflicted expression and put a paw to his chest. "Oh believe me, it hurts me to betray my fellow hunters like this. The guilt is killing me. But alas, I can't avert my eyes from the truth, none of them would stand a chance against Thundersnap."
Rolling his eyes Solarflare gave him a little shove and Skydancer quickly set down his paw again to not lose his balance. Then he laughed and said "Okay, but seriously, I really think he'd make it far in the games. Who could even keep up with him?"

"Not many, I guess," Solarflare said. "But compared to some of the other warriors Thundersnap is still pretty young. Cats like Cedarfrost have more experience and it will be tough to beat that."

"Of course you'd say that," Skydancer meowed with a hint of amusement. "So I guess you'll be cheering for him then?" Solarflare just nodded. "Thought so. But you should really consider rooting for Thundersnap instead. I bet many of the others will have plenty supporters and you just said he lacks experience. So not many cats might see him as a good option," he added jokingly.

"Ah, but doesn't he already have the gods on his side?" Solarflare shot back. "Well, then he won't need the support of mere mortals like us. No, I think I'm sticking with Cedarfrost."

Skydancer shook his head and, trying to sound bitter, he meowed "There's nothing I can say to convince you, isn't there?"

With a mock apologetic look Solarflare nodded. "There isn't, I made up my mind. As long as he's competing we won't be supporting the same cat."

"But you'll cheer for Thundersnap with me if Cedarfrost gets out, right?"

"Hm..." Solarflare looked down, eyes half-closed as if he had to seriously think about that. Then he looked back at Skydancer again, smiling. "No."

"Oh come on!" Skydancer laughed, raising a paw and whacking his brother over the ear before he could lean out of the way. "You're just saying stuff to disagree with me now."

"No I'm not," Solarflare meowed and turned away with a grin but he glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and quickly ducked out of the way when Skydancer, with a mock outraged "Why, you-!", lunged for him. Laughing he took a few steps away before Skydancer could try again and swiped at him, careful not to hit the wreath on his head.

"Okay, maybe we shouldn't fight with all that stuff on us," he said. "Do you really want the others to ask us what we did and we'll have to say we crushed our flowers because we played like kits?"

Skydancer had crouched down to leap at Solarflare again but at his words he nodded and sat back. "Hm, I'd like to keep my decorations as they are," he meowed. "Alright, no playing then. Not that I'm afraid of getting scolded though," he added purring. "I'll just say it was all your idea and as the older one what you say goes."

Solarflare let out a good natured snort at that. "Oh really now. Just earlier you insisted on me letting you help me with decorating my fur because you're the older one."

"I'm only the older one when it's convenient for me and you know that," Skydancer said, a comical smugness in his voice. "And unless I need you to take responsibility for my not so great choices I'll keep being the older one." Solarflare shook his head at him with a chuckle before both turned to watch the nest again, trying to guess who else would still try to enter the games.

    The air was a swirl of sweet flowers and the odd smell of the paints. Distracting, really, drowning out distance smells of rabbits and squirrels and little birds that lingered just outside of camp.
    Stoatchase had always had a sensitive nose, and he tilted his head down, rubbing it with a paw. It was often overwhelming to him, so many scents, coupled with all the different smells of his clanmates and whatever carried on the breeze, sometimes even the salty air of the ocean.
    And now, a new scent. Very close.
    Taking his paw off his nose, he looked up to see a scout molly, one he didn’t really talk to at all. Aspectpetal, looking quite bright with the red-oranges of her flowers and paint.
    And she was talking to him.
    Mind starting to rile with panic, he did his best to keep his fur lying flat, trying to figure out words in an order that actually made sense for conversation. Even if he’d wished she had chosen literally anyone else to talk to, he was still a bit.. Happy that someone was talking to him.
    “Uh… ehn– Excited? Uh… I mean, y-yes, this- this is good time, um..” He glanced around. Everyone else seemed to be having conversation so easily. Why didn’t they ever struggle with a basic sentence? “Uh..haven’t seen games… myself so. Ehm..”
    Favor? That was something he was unsure of. He knew of the games but not much about what was included, aside from the fact that one challenge was hunting related.
    “Um… I guess to.. Um.. probably one of the hunters… or- or uh.. Thundersnap.. He’s um.. yeah.”
    His paw flexed and unsheathed its claws then relaxed and sheathed them once more, in a slow pattern against the ground, open-shut-open-shut. Trying to keep himself at least marginally together. Gods, he must look pathetic.
    “Um… You’re not .. joining? You seem um.. Like you could do well, I-I think.”

    He was… surprised by her patience with him. That she was actually continuing the chat after hearing him struggle to speak.
    Stoatchase found himself staring for a bit as she talked. Despite the fact that eyes on him felt unsettling and made his pelt itch, he’d never really acknowledged that he stared more than most.
    Her voice was nice. He liked other cats voices a lot, especially when they were rambling and… well, not expecting him to talk back. Well, she expected him to (this was meant to be a conversation and all), he was sure, but… Still. A nice voice.
    ‘Joined recently’? Had he missed that or something? He wasn’t exactly sure how he could have, but looking back he didn’t exactly recall how long she had been in the clan. Usually he was out hunting so he had probably just missed her joining the clan and thought she had always been there.
    His fur raised on the back of his shoulders, bristling, and he looked away as soon as the words ‘fantastic hunter’ came out of her mouth. He didn’t deserve that. It was only his duty, his main purpose. To do any less would be wasteful of his very breath, wasn’t it?
    Still, he couldn’t deny the fact that the praise felt… nice.

 

Thornfang, Paleflame (briefly) - Camp - Sealtooth (Sand )

Both cats meowed a greeting when Sealtooth approached them. At his dismissal of her Paleflame swiftly rose to her paws and nodded, eyes twinkling with amusement. "Oh, I'm sure there are," she meowed. While with most of her clanmates she only teased them for fun there were a few, who had earned her scorn one way or another, like Thornfang with his low opinion of anyone who wasn't a Fighter. But either way, she'd definitely find someone to annoy or to just have a normal conversation with. With a smile she turned to Thornfang and for a moment she smirked at his relief. "Well aren't you a lucky one," she said sweetly. "Someone actually came to your rescue. Now, be good and say thank you to him, alright? Surely you still remember you manners." She turned to leave but after a few steps she looked back at him over her shoulder. "Oh, and best of luck in the Games, Thorny," she purred. "You'll need it." And with that she padded off, quite pleased with herself for once again having gotten on Thornfang's last nerve.

Thornfang gritted his teeth when Paleflame wished him good luck and glared at her. From any other cat it wouldn't have been too bad. But he knew that this wasn't a "Your opponents are pretty tough, so don't let your guard down"-thing. No, from Paleflame it quite literally meant "The only way you can advance to the next rounds is by pure luck because you sure have no other means to win." For a moment he watched her go, a quiet snarl escaping him at her disguised insult.
Once she was gone Thornfang turned to Sealtooth and relaxed a little. He nodded at his words, about him entering the games. "Thanks," he meowed, glad that Sealtooth had some faith in him. "It won't be easy with cats like Thundersnap and Cedarfrost entering but I wouldn't have it any other way." As much as he was wary of them Thornfang was glad that they were participating as well. The Games would be underwhelming if only incapable cats entered. No challenge at all. It would be good to be up against those two, most of the others weren't worth wasting a thought on.
"When I was out sparring with Riverlily I found a broken tooth of a predator," he then said. "I can't be entirely sure but I believe it's the fang of a golden jackal. It must have broken off in a fight. There were also some small bits of fur in that area. Oh, and there's no need to worry," he added quickly. "There was hardly any scent of jackals and what we found was very stale. We also made sure to check the surrounding parts so there is no danger of getting surprised by jackals or other predators right now."

Puddleheart

---

Puddleheart couldn’t help but smile a little when he approached Drifttumble, the young fighter always seemed to have a rather sunny outlook, and that was something Puddleheart appreciated greatly.

Even if he was a little concerned with how often Drifttumble seemed to find himself in the medicine cat den.

When Drifttumble asked about the paint, Puddleheart hummed thoughtfully and tipped his head to the side, taking in every splash of blue that decorated the silver tom’s pelt.

It reminded him a little bit of the story he had heard from Pomegranatefur, of the titan who ruled over the rivers and was the embodiment of the world river himself.

”Your decorations look very nice,” Puddleheart decided with a small nod of his head, smiling at Drifttumble. ”You look like a titan, let’s hope the gods don’t mistake you for one and throw you into Tartarus with the rest of them—“ Puddleheart froze, his eyes widening a little. Why did he say that? That was a terrible compliment.

”I mean, that won’t happen, you’re obviously just a cat—not, not just a cat like it’s a bad thing, I just mean—“ Okay Puddleheart, maybe it would be best to stop talking.

Puddleheart took a breath and bowed his head. ”You look nice,” he explained, hoping to salvage some part of the conversation. ”Blue suits you.”

Fawnpaw

---

Fawnpaw paused for a second when Flickerpaw brought out the rock. She frowned slightly, suddenly unsure. Fire was dangerous, that’s why it was only the elders and the medicine cat who were taught how to handle it.

But…but they really did need a distraction, and so long as it was manageable, then hopefully it would be fine.

Right?

Right?

Fawnpaw sent a quick prayer to Skafoteos, praying that the god of fire himself would help them.

”Alright,” Fawnpaw agreed after a moment. ”Just make sure that no one gets hurt, alright?” she questioned, looking between the two of them. ”I don’t think the gods will be pleased with us if we burn the camp down.”

Hoping both Flickerpaw and Ivypaw understood that they needed to be careful, Fawnpaw delicately picked up the skull in her jaws and poked her head out of camp, waiting for a moment before she flicked her tail, gesturing for Flickerpaw and Ivypaw to go.