The future's in your paws. Shape it well.Roleplay in a cat Clan of warriors. Based off the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. Takes place in an AU before the cats in the books existed.
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Number of posts : 2302 Gender : gorl -Copperbeanz says hi <3
Subject: crumbling strongholds [OPEN] Fri 11 Nov 2022 - 20:09
((Might be a solo if no one joins, lol. all of russet’s family are NPCs. Wheatpaw and Whiteburn are not injured, but Wheatpaw is badly shaken. Ryepaw is dead from predator attack… let’s just say there wasn’t exactly anything left to bury))
Russetkit was now nearly five moons old, and very proud of that fact. Whiteburn, her mother, was relieved to be able to leave her rambunctious kit in the care of the nursery queens and return to the moor, her one true love. Russetkit, lately, had spent her nights curled up not far from the other kits, but very proud of the fact that she had her own nest now. Even if, sometimes, at night, when she could see the other queens curled protectively around their kits, sometimes, she wished her mother would curl around her like that and lick down her scraggly fur… well, if she did wish that, she wasn’t about to admit it.
And she wasn’t about to admit that it hurt seeing Whiteburn and Ryepaw and Wheatpaw go out on the moor, and always tell her she couldn’t come. They wanted her to come, but she was still too small, too young.
And maybe it hurt that her mother always seemed to think she was older than she actually was. Maybe sometimes she wanted just to be soothed and loved… but often she was pleased and tried to live up to her family’s expectations. Everyone had expectations for her, especially her older sister Wheatpaw… everyone except Ryepaw.
If Russetkit had a favorite, which she didn’t, it would be Ryepaw. She loved the way he spoke, with a twang and an odd way of shortening his words, and lately she’d tried to pick it up. Whiteburn had sighed, and said that she was too old to copy her brother, old enough to forge her own way in life, but Ryepaw- Ryepaw had said that he didn’t mind, and grinned at her.
And Russetkit had grinned back.
Now she was scampering around camp, practicing her hunting crouch to show her family. Whiteburn had taught her the basics and encouraged her to figure it out on her own, but Wheatpaw and Ryepaw had promised to help her out. Russetkit finally tired and flopped on her back, deciding to bask in the sun until her older siblings returned. Whiteburn was out on patrol, so there was no one to snap at her.
The sound of thrumming pawsteps caught her attention, and Russetkit snapped to attention, bounding up to the camp entrance. Now-
A blur of pelts and the twang of metallic blood hit her nostrils, and Wheatpaw and Whiteburn rushed past, heading straight for the medicine den. Russetkit flinched back, confused. What- what was going on? She turned to follow them, but strong jaws clamped onto her scruff and she landed roughly in the nursery. Tigerstripe- her father, a tom she’d rarely interacted with- glared at her, a clear stay-here present in his amber eyes. Then he turned, and was gone, and Russetkit was left alone. And scared.
It was growing dark when Russetkit finally worked up the courage to step outside the nursery. The scent of blood lingered in the air. What had happened? Where was Ryepaw?
The russet-colored kit stood alone, momentarily forgotten.
Subject: Re: crumbling strongholds [OPEN] Sun 13 Nov 2022 - 17:35
While relaxing in the nursery she was belly up in her nest, throwing around a feather and trying to keep it up in the air. Hearing a commotion she twisted her head to look at the entrance to the nursery. It was hard to figure out what was going on from her upside-down view but she recognized Russetkit being dropped into the nursery and by the look, the tom gave the kitten she assumed it was Russetkit's father. Sleepykit snorted she had seen that look coming from her father before. Imagining all the trouble Russetkit had gotten into to deserve that look, she let the feather fall next to her as she curled into herself to take a good nap.
When she awoke, the sky was darker and fatigue wrapped around Sleepykit like paper on a present, her eyes were growing heavy and a yawn was threatening to escape her maw. She shook her head, trying to rid herself of her tiredness. The calico hadn't even been doing anything worthy of being tired! She had spent her last few weeks as a kit being about as useful as a bump on a log -who wouldn't? There was only so much time she had where she would have no responsibilities, she might as well soak in it. Sleepy watched as Russetkit exited the nursery, debating whether to join her. With a huff, the older kitten got out of her nest and stretched her bones as if she was an elder. Making her way around resting queens and other playing kittens she plopped down next to Russetkit. Clearing her throat to ensure she didn't scare Russetkit with the sudden approach, she looked outside the nursery and twitched her nose. The scent was unmistakable. Blood.
"Yuck, what happened." Sleepy mewed, soft, and monotone no sense of the gravity of the situation.
Number of posts : 2302 Gender : gorl -Copperbeanz says hi <3
Subject: Re: crumbling strongholds [OPEN] Sun 13 Nov 2022 - 20:24
A voice startled Russetkit, despite its calm monotony, and she whirled around, fur almost comically fluffed. Recognition soothed her anxiety, despite the fact that the other she-cat was still a kit- she was an older kit, though! She’d know what was happening, surely.
“I don’t know!!! Wheatpaw and Ryepaw, my older siblings you know- they went out hunting on the moor, then Wheatpaw and Whiteburn came back smelling all terrible, and then Tigerstripe tossed me in the nursery!”
She fidgeted, nervously, able to see Whiteburn emerging at last from the medicine den. Instead of trotting over to Russetkit the white molly headed straight for her mate… only meeting Russetkit’s eyes for a moment with a sad, sad gaze.
Terrified blue eyes met Sleepykit’s. “Rye- Ryepaw didn’t come back…”
Subject: Re: crumbling strongholds [OPEN] Sun 13 Nov 2022 - 23:36
The tri-colored female jumped back slightly as her royal russet-y-ness whirled around. Sleepy would've laughed at seeing Russetkit with her fur sticking up like a porcupine, but something in the way Russetkit was fidgeting gave her a sinking feeling in her stomach. The same feeling she got when Batsong would look at her brother when he was super sick. She herself was starting to fidget listening to the other kit recall what had happened earlier. Ah, so that was all the noise. That was why Russetkit was thrown into the nursery. And that was why Russetkit was sitting and brooding in front of the nursery.
Didn't...come back?
Sleepykit hadn't been alive for a death of a warrior yet, she had heard of the stories of cats getting stuck in the tunnels, and big animals killing cats outside the camp. But she hadn't experienced it.
They always come back..right?
Sleepykit's wide eyes followed Russetkit's and she watched as the white she-cat walked over to the warrior who had dropped Russetkit into the nursery earlier - Tigerpelt? No, Tigerstripe was what Russetkit had said. The older kit had made an assumption, and she knew what the terrible smell meant when it was paired with body language like Whiteburn's. Sleepy looked back at Russetkit, about a million words she could've said running through her brain but, "I don't think he's coming back." was what she landed on. As usual, her words were slow-moving and they created unmistakable tension in the air. "I'm sorry," Sleepykit added quickly, with more effort these words came out softer. Her paws shifted uncomfortably, she couldn't put herself in Russetkit's paws she had no idea how it felt to lose a sibling but just the thought of it made her sick to her stomach. On top of that couldn't understand why Whiteburn wouldn't come to comfort Russetkit, it made her fur bristle.
Across the camp, Whiteburn sank with a sigh of relief into her mate’s fur; today of all days, she wouldn’t mind her little scamp coming over, but it seemed she was still happily talking with her friend. She could break the bad news tomorrow.
Unbeknownst to Whiteburn, Russetkit was very much aware of what was happening. She listened to Sleepykit with wide eyes… could- would- surely- but across the clearing Whiteburn’s eyes were shining with tears and she was buried in her mate’s pelt; two things she never did.
A few tears began to glimmer in Russetkit’s eyes, too. “But- Sleepykit… he said he’d come back. And teach me how to be an apprentice so I could be the best apprentice ever!” her eyes were starting to tear up seriously now; the camp perceived through a haze. An (NPC lol) queen came slowly back to the nursery; her pitying gaze told Russetkit all she needed to know. Russetkit dodged her well-meaning embrace and the queen, shaking her head, retreated back to the nursery.
“Ryepaw, he was- was my favorite brother…” she mumbled, kneading the ground. “Even- even if he doesn’t come back, he’ll watch me from StarClan… right? Surely- surely he- he wouldn’t just forget about me…”
Her brow furrowed carving deep wrinkles into her face as she narrowed her eyes and ears flattened to her head. In the face of sadness, she started to get angry. Not at anyone in particular, but more at the world.
Sleepykit let out a sigh that sounded as heavy as a bag of boulders,"Russetkit. You'll be a good apprentice no matter what. We have the best warriors in the whole five territories," she stated matter-of-factly pausing momentarily before continuing,"Whoever ends up being your mentor, will...will make sure you do good. I'm sure." she finished, it was the best she could do comfort-wise.
Slipping into her own thoughts she tilted her head. If- StarClan forbid- Vulturekit died, would he watch her from Starclan? Of course, he would, there's no way any of her siblings would leave her. She was sure of this, "They'll never leave us. Ryepaw will always be with you. Running with you, hunting with you. He'll be with you from your apprentice ceremony to your elder ceremony. I'm sure." her head bobbed up and down, and she smiled to herself, pleased with what she had said, if she could she'd give herself a pat on the back for that one. That was good comforting, surely it would keep Russetkit from crying. The last thing she wanted was a crying kitten. Ah! She could offer one last thing to help comfort the other kitten.
"I'll hold a vigil with you if you want." she offered looking at Russetkit, another thought popped into her head. Gah! She was so smart. "When you're an apprentice and you go outside the camp, maybe you can find a good place on the moor and call it 'Ryepaw's place' and you can go there every time you miss him and want to talk to him."
Russetkit watched Whiteburn with wide eyes- part of her knew she could run over to be comforted… but Sleepykit was talking, and if she left now that’d be rude, and Whiteburn didn’t like it when she was rude, and then she’d have to stay in the nursery for a whole day. Besides, what Sleepykit was talking was… comforting, in a way. Russetkit nodded, looking somewhat bedraggled, the fur under her eyes wet with tears. Yeah. She could be the best apprentice. Yeah, that- and Ryepaw would watch her? Sleepykit was older, so she had to know for sure- and that reassured Russetkit more than ‘most anything.
Her last suggestion, however, was the best. Russetkit managed a faltering smile. “Yeah, that- ‘e’d like that, ‘m sure. ‘M- ‘m gonna ‘ead over ta Whiteburn, now… th- thank you, Sleepykit. I- I really ‘ppreciate ‘t.” she wiped away some of the tears with her paw- today of all days, she had a feeling Whiteburn wouldn’t mind her crying, but… it was a habit, that, and not a bad ‘un.
As soon as she became an apprentice, she’d find the perfect place and then leave little things for him! He’d love that, she was sure.
![crumbling strongholds [OPEN] KIvLlVl](https://i.imgur.com/KIvLlVl.png)