what stays and what fades away

Subject: what stays and what fades away Thu 5 Oct 2023 - 14:55

Sorrelpaw

skyclan

apprentice

Camp was quiet.

It was not devoid of life as birds sang as they always did, a light breeze rustling tree leaves, though their song was empty. Cats padded through the camp clearing with passing murmurs. It seemed that everything had become quieter since the invasion. Since the hunger had started.

The antics of her and her siblings in their kithood had been all but quiet; but the noise of the invasion had been something else entirely. The cries of her clanmates, her siblings and the beasts that descended upon them like prey, a cacophony of terror and anger. Loud, so loud that it continued to ring in her ears even when the Clan was asleep. When everything was still but the heart that beat roughly in her chest.

Sorrelpaw padded through camp, silently recounting the events of the recent moons. The scenes plagued her mind, unsheathed claws grazing the soft ground beneath her as one by one, the warriors had disappeared from the battle. Her mother included. She always seemed to disappear. Laying in one of the medicine den nests was the closest she had felt to her mother in her short life. It felt cruel, to admit even silently and without witness, that Juniperheart was a stranger.

Even as she padded without a word, her mind was unrelenting. The tight jaws of the fox around her, her skin pierced and grey fur stained with her blood. It’s foul, warm breath. She had closed her eyes tight, desperately wanting to avoid the eyes of her siblings and not be forced into the question of mortality, a question that had kept her awake since. Bearpaw’s slaying of the beast nothing short of awe instilling to his sister. Sorrelpaw understood, then, that he had truly earned his role of protector. That he was, though never doubted, capable.

She never wanted to feel so vulnerable again in her life, no matter how long or short it was intended to be. Perhaps, if she trained enough she would, she could, become as fierce as her brother — the very cat she had been looking around camp for.

“Morning, Bear.” She greeted, standing in the entrance of the den, “hope I didn’t wake you— I was wondering if you wanted to spar.”

stardust

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MOTHPAW • RIVERCLAN • APPRENTICE || SORRELPAW • SKYCLAN • APPRENTICE || NETTLEPAW • THUNDERCLAN • APPRENTICE

Subject: Re: what stays and what fades away Mon 30 Oct 2023 - 9:46

Bearpaw

Gender: Male
Rank: Apprentice

Bearpaw, tail curled neatly around his brown paws, surveyed the camp with a scrutinizing eye. His tail-tip twitched every now and then, the only sign of his underlying annoyance. His blue gaze flitted from one cat to another, taking in their scrawny appearances and empty words. The famine had begun only recently, but he could see the effect it had on his clan already. Skyclan was beginning to go hungry. He glanced at the fresh-kill pile, nose crinkling at the meager sight of it, only a bird and a cold, thin squirrel from yesterday. It was almost pathetic, to say the least, that he was worried for what the rest of leaf-fall would hold.

Movement caught his eye, then, and Bearpaw swiveled to search for the offending clanmate. His tail stilled, though, at the sight of Sorrelpaw padding aimlessly across the camp, her eyes far away and empty. He blinked, once, and watched as she made her rounds, on the search for something...or someone, it would seem. It wasn't until she came to the apprentice's den that he realized he was the cat she had been on the prowl for. He'd intended to go a little longer unnoticed, but oh well.

Something in Sorrelpaw's eye snagged Bearpaw's attention and he straightened, eyes hardening. She was upset...worried maybe, about something. But what? Had she run into some trouble with one of their clanmates? He looked around furtively, almost daring any cat to approach them, before dismissing the thought. No, Skyclan was filled mostly with brave, true cats. Someone else then, had caused the distress he saw now in his sister. Was it a cat from another clan?

He would have to find out. "Mornin'." He muttered, head tipped to the side curiously. Was that all, or did she have something important to say? Something related to that haunted look on her face? As he looked her over for any injuries or signs of outstanding hunger, Sorrelpaw continued. Sparring, eh? Bearpaw met his sister's eyes, tail twitching again, and frowned. "Why? Is someone giving you trouble?"

Subject: Re: what stays and what fades away Fri 8 Dec 2023 - 2:37

Sorrelpaw

skyclan

apprentice

Bearpaw’s expression shifted from idle observation to one of concern; then curiosity, inclining his head. Sorrelpaw watched her brother’s expression change, earning a frown. Why’s he frowning at me? Her eyes rested on him for a moment, biting back her tongue. It was tempting to make a comment, though she resisted, knowing snark would be unlikely to persuade her brother to join her. Particularly when moments later a faint warmth filled her chest at his question, comforted by the knowledge that her brother seemed to be ready to defend her. There was no one that was causing her grief - except for StarClan, but there was very little they could do about them.

“Oh, no. I don’t think anyone would dare.” She sniffed, tipping her head back slightly with a grin. The thoughts that had swirled around her mind seemed to fade for a moment, her expression loosening. In fact, she did want someone to dare, “no one you can fight, at least. I just thought it might be fun to get some practice in. Anything’s better than laying around camp, starving and staring at the same miserable faces.” The grey apprentice stepped out of the den, her thick tail swishing behind her,

“So, are you ready— or do you need some more beauty sleep?” Sorrelpaw laughed quietly to herself, watching the few figures moving around camp.

stardust

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MOTHPAW • RIVERCLAN • APPRENTICE || SORRELPAW • SKYCLAN • APPRENTICE || NETTLEPAW • THUNDERCLAN • APPRENTICE