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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Subject: Re: Heartaches [open] Fri 30 Jun 2023 - 14:10
Si have never been a calm blue sea, i have always been a storm
Their walk back home was nearly silent. Her clanmate's huffing breaths were as loud as thunder in her ears, and her paw steps felt as heavy as her heart. As the rest of the patrol held the bodies of Flutterpetal and Adderdawn, Sleepyhollow led them home. When she reached the heather barrier around their home, her paws were aching, screaming at her to stop. The pain was evident on her face when she pushed through the entrance, muttering to the gathered crowd to stand back and let them through.
She couldn't help but feel like part of this was her fault, maybe if she stayed she would have been able to help them - stop Shadowclan from taking them.
"Let's share tongues with them one last time." she suggested softly, her voice just as loud as the whistling wind. She didn't care if Shadowclan could come back, her clanmates had the right to say a proper goodbye before they were buried. They died as some of the strongest warriors she knew, and they deserved the utmost respect.
Subject: Re: Heartaches [open] Sun 2 Jul 2023 - 10:22
The patrol left camp, and Brackenwing retreated toward the elder den, tail lashing back and forth. They hadn't seen Owlshade's body... He was alive, he had to be. Flutterpetal and Adderdawn... She did not want to believe they were dead. She didn't want to believe Batsong and Shrikestar would have caused this. That Smallbean and their clanmates would have run instead of fought.
Sleepyhollow’s return amidst the stench of death confirmed her thoughts. Brackenwing hardly heard the she-cat's voice as she limped forward, eyes fixed on two of her friends. On two of Whisperear’s friends. On two good cats who hadn’t deserved death for the foolishness of their leaders. Flutterpetal with a gash in his throat, Adderdawn covered in gore. The sight made her heart twist.
"May the stars light your paths, my friends." Brackenwing murmured too quietly for anyone else to hear, blinking as her vision blurred. Tears stung her eyes as she pressed her nose against Flutterpetal’s pelt, the scent of blood almost overpowering.
Rage bubbled below the grief as she backed away, green eyes turning toward Sleepyhollow. "Owlshade, did you see him at all?" He hadn’t returned with them, they hadn’t seen him before... Surely going back a second time they would have. Right? But Owlshade never showed, his familiar pale pelt nowhere to be found among those who returned to camp. Dead, she thought, maybe captured. And for the actions of someone else, the consequence for something none of them had held any part in.
"You!" She hissed, eyes locking on Shrikestar, on Batsong, "Two good cats are dead because of you. What sort of leader, what sort of medicine cat puts their clanmates in such danger and then doesn’t defend them? Your own deputy ran from that fight like a coward, and this is what you’ve given us. War and dead clanmates to bury. And who knows what happened to Owlshade – another warrior who didn’t deserve this fate. This is on both of you. Your selfishness, your self-righteousness and complete lack of foresight, is what caused this." She spat, tail whipping back and forth as she stalked forward. "You couldn’t even handle starting to organize the patrol to find them, Sootstorm and Ferntwist did that. You aren’t fit to call yourself leader. Step down, Shrikestorm." She growled, her choice in using the name she remembered from when Shrikestar had been deputy deliberate, "Batsong can at least make herself useful by healing those her stupidity has injured. You? You are worthless and don’t deserve to be called a leader. Continue hiding in your den while your clanmates die. It’s not like you have lives to spare for them. Whatever lives Starclan gave you, they are wasted on your filth." Her head turned and she spat. Shrikestorm would probably rail against the disrespect, but he wasn’t deserving of such. Not from her, not from anyone.
Subject: Re: Heartaches [open] Sun 2 Jul 2023 - 16:33
Sootstorm stumbled into camp, Flutterpetal's body draped over him. He froze when he saw Brakenwing, one of his first few sources of comfort and who he needed the most now. But her words made his smile slide off his face. There it was again. Blaming each other wasn't going to fix anything, and yet here they were. Chocking back a sob, he let his late friend's body slide onto the ground, then padded up to the elder. She looked torn between grief and rage, and she just kept talking. Sootstorm dug his head into the elder's fur, his tears soaking her fur yet again. "Please stop talking," He chocked out the words between sobs, sounding almost like he was whimpering.
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Quillsplash | Bird / Tom / ShadowClan T5 Warrior / #802318 Leopardwind / Tom / WindClan T4 Warrior / #cc9900 Milkkit / Tom / RiverClan Kit / #dbc6ad
Smallbean had abandoned the Tallrock long before Shrikestar had returned to camp. Despite his wounds and exhaustion, he stood by the camp's entrance, guarding the camp. Since he was the one who had said to guard, it would only be right if he was alongside those who followed.
The scent of blood came before the deputy saw the silhouettes of the returning patrol. As they grew closer, he was able to make out two bodies. Flutterpetal and Adderdawn. Bile rose in his throat. Even while the patrol marched past him, he stood in his spot until they'd all entered camp, giving the moors one final look before following them.
Head lowered, he couldn't bear to look at the faces of his clanmates, the grief and pain that would be twisting their expressions. He felt guilty. Guilty that he wasn't able to do more, guilty that this situation had happened in the first place. As if she were reading his thoughts, Brackenwing broke the camp's uncomfortable silence. Smallbean feebly raised his head to meet her criticism, and he almost felt as if she were right. Maybe he was a coward. Although, some part of him knew that if he didn't run, he'd be lying in this clearing alongside Flutterpetal and Adderdawn.
Eyes narrowed at the elder, he began to organize his thoughts to defend himself, but stopped himself. The clan was already grieving. The last thing they needed right now was an argument. The pain in Sootstorm's voice was enough to make his stomach turn, he didn't' even have to be looking at him.
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∞ Former Windclan Leader ∞ || ☄Former Site Adminsitrator ☄
Spoiler:
(Left to right) Smallstar, Astershine, Beetlechaser, Jayfrost, Fallowflare
King Falcon I
Characters : Shrikestar (T5 Leader), Ravenclaw (T5) || Falconstar, Eaglethorn, Condorclaw Clan/Rank : WindClan Leader/SkyClan Warrior Number of posts : 2914 Gender : Male Age : 32
Shrikestar felt numb as he and the others returned to camp. Two dead, one missing... ShadowClan's 'patrol' had done a number on them. What could he say? What could he do? Nothing would bring them back. That didn't stop Brackenwing from yelling at him, taking him to task in front of the entire clan. Anger flickered like a flame in his heart as he whirled around to face the elder. "I will never step down," he hissed. "WindClan is my clan, and I will lead her until the day I die. You will not change how I feel." He was angry: angry at her, angry at ShadowClan, angry at the entire forest. It felt like they all were conspiring against him. What had he done wrong besides think of WindClan first? Yet he had to tamp down his anger. First was the need to mourn. "I am going to mourn my fallen warriors, and in the morning we will search for Owlshade. Nothing you say will change how I feel." He pointedly turned away from Brackenwing, dropping down to press his nose against each fallen warrior's fur in turn. They didn't deserve to die. ShadowClan would pay for what they had done.
Sootstorm's face was buried in her fur, and Brackenwing paused, glancing down at the younger warrior. "I'm s-" She began to offer a quiet apology for her own outburst, and then Shrikestar talked. And talked. About his feelings.
"Two of your strongest warriors are dead. Another - my brother - is missing. And you think your feelings have any part in this?" Brackenwing snarled as she whipped right back around to face him, teeth bared. "Look around you, Shrikestorm! Innocents are injured. Innocents have lost their lives and all you care about is your pride?" Before the thought entered her mind, her paw was moving on its' own, unsheathed claws glinting in the dawn's light as they flashed up toward Shrikestorm's face. If Shrikestorm wanted to lead them until the day he died, perhaps that would be the day.
((I gladly accept whatever consequence given for this <3 Whatever happens is up to Fal, or anyone who would like to step in.))
The moment Brakenwing moved, Sootstorm knew trouble was coming. He whipped around, teeth digging into the elder's scruff as she lunged towards Shrikestar, spitting insults and threats all the while. Stop. Why wasn't she stopping? Why did she have to do this? He pulled Brakenwing away from his leader, watching as her form flopped onto the ground. What had he done? He- he attacked her. "I'm sorry," He wanted to say, but at the same time he wanted to tell her "please stop". Why could he do to fix his clan that was crumbling to pieces?
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Quillsplash | Bird / Tom / ShadowClan T5 Warrior / #802318 Leopardwind / Tom / WindClan T4 Warrior / #cc9900 Milkkit / Tom / RiverClan Kit / #dbc6ad
Yowls and the scent of blood woke Rosepaw from a fitful sleep. It had happened tonight. The anticipation of many restless nights moved Rosepaw's body by itself. Deaf to what was said, she simply followed Ferntwist to the medicine-cats' den.
She brushed her shoulder against the collection of cobwebs so the bandage material clung to her fur, leaving her jaws free to help the medicine-cat apprentice carry her bundles of well-organised herbs.
She simply passed the supplies to Batsong and Sparrowthorn as needed, lending a paw to pressure a wound here or there, numbly following their guidance. Her ears felt strange, sounds muffled and washed-out. She moved through the emergency without thinking, without hearing. Maybe she couldn't and maybe she didn't want to.
But Sleepyhollow's words, so close to her ~ dead. No. No, she didn't trust what her ringing ears told her. She couldn't stop to question it. She was too afraid to. From the top of the tall rock, Smallbean may as well have been mouthing his words silently, but she followed his signal to the camp entrance, taking up a place to guard beside him as a patrol left camp.
The truth of what was lost tonight sunk in like a stone into deep water. The surface of Rosepaw's mind was clear, but deep down she was so heavy. Her legs moved up to the look-out despite the immense effort she felt pull every movement.
She stumbled once, not noticing her vision had blurred. Sharp rocks met she paws, but also a soft, comforting scent. "Lavender?" It was one of the purple flowers that often adorned Flutterpetal's soft fluffy black fur. She felt like she wanted to cough up a rock that suddenly blocked her breath. She gathered the flower to her.
Calming. It helped with breathing easier. It reminded her of a dream she had once and another friend, but maybe he was dead and in the stars, too... She buried her face in the flowers, taking a shuddering breath, nipping the stems to collect the purple flowers.
The lavender was covered in sweet dew before the dawn, and the seemingly endless wait stretching in front of the cats left in camp under the still dark sky, flowed by in the movements of her paws as she weaved wreaths of lavender stems. When the patrol finally returned bearing the bodies, it was with an eery peace in her heart that Rosepaw laid the sweet wreaths over Adderdawn and Flutterpetal.
Her large fluffy paws tucked under her chest, wispy tail curled around herself for comfort, she breathed into the quiet moment of vigil ~ but suddenly Brackenwing whirled on Shrikestar and Batsong, spitting fury and grief and sense. Shrikestar's angry defence from beside the fallen warriors made Rosepaw jump from where she sat near him. Within a moment, Brackenwing's claws were swiping for the leader's face, and then Sootstorm was dragging her back, and the young elder flopped to the ground.
Sootstorm's eyes were wide and panicked. Rosepaw could only blink at him in shock.
❀ ❀ ❀
Last edited by isla on Mon 17 Jul 2023 - 19:26; edited 1 time in total
xaandiir Former Staff
Characters : [P]oppyshine; [Pi]neblossom; [L]arkspring; [Wi]llowwisp; [R]ashoumon; [B]lazekit Clan/Rank : RC T5 Deputy; SC T5; RC T5; RC T5; Rogue T1; WC App Number of posts : 3162 Gender : Any Pronouns Age : 26
Whisperear felt disconnected from everything that happened. Ever since Smallbean first burst into the camp. How could a patrol have gone so wrong? How could ShadowClan be such cruel monsters as to…as to…
Time blinked and suddenly the second patrol returned, and with them, the dead. Whisperear stared with wide eyes at the bodies of Flutterpetal and Adderdawn as they were carefully laid on the ground. Their apprentice, and their dear friend; both gone in a flash. They saw the slash across Flutterpetal’s throat, and the worse injuries on Adderdawn’s body. Neither could have been easy deaths. It made Whisperear sick to their stomach to see.
Bracenwing spoke up, making her thoughts loud and clear. Whisperear could not find even their smallest voice to call out in agreement to what she was saying. They agreed, wholeheartedly. This whole mess was due to Shrikestar, and the poor decisions he had made. They would not find themselves in this attack if not for the poorly handled alliance with ShadowClan, and then Batsong’s nonsense at the last Gathering. Because of their poor decisions, two capable warriors, two cats that Whisperear cared about most in the world, were dead, not even to mention Bracenwing’s missing brother, who they had not seen but a hair of. Brackenwing only spoke the truth, even as weaker cats like Sootstorm could not handle hearing it.
Worst of all, though, was Shrikestar’s reaction. Whisperear’s fur prickled along their spine as he raved about refusing to step down, how this was his clan. Whisperear felt rage unparalleled boiling in their stomach. His clan? He would not take responsibility for the lives lost here, and yet he wanted to insist that this was his clan to lead? How flippantly he treated the lives of the clanmates he proclaimed to care for. How little he thought about the consequences of his plans, instead only remaining in pursuit of ego and power. He refused to listen to any sort of reason. He hid behind the excuse of mourning when Whisperear bet he did not know a single thing about either Flutterpetal or Adderdawn.
Brackenwing leapt at Shrikestar, bearing claws and teeth.
Whisperear watched, not even a fraction of a thought wanting to stop her.
Unfortunately, other cats were not do kind to leave Brackenwing to do as she wished. Despite Sootstorm not wanting to interfere in much, and never being one to use any sort of physical action from what Whisperear had seen before, he lunged after Brackenwing and grabbed her scruff. That made Whisperear’s heart lurch, and what made them finally move from their frozen spot in the camp.
Whisperear leapt to Brackenwing’s side and glared down at Brackenwing. Whisperear had never been an intimidating cat, but they had always been tall, and they loomed over Sootstorm with flames swirling in their eyes. “Release her,” they hissed. “You tell her to stop speaking her own thoughts and then use your teeth against her?! What do you think you’re sparing Shrikestar from? Is he really so weak that he needs your protection from an angry elder? Let her go!”
It was likely unfair to Sootstorm, but Whisperear only saw red right now. They were tired of no one seeing reason when it came to Shrikestar’s misdeeds. Brackenwing saw them. Adderdawn had too, but he was dead and with no voice. If Shrikestar would not listen to words, then let an elder shred him to ribbons. Whisperear did not care. They would not, however, allow a warrior to dig their teeth into Brackenwing’s pelt and pretend it was sparing more violence.
Sootstorm flinched when Whisperear started speaking. He shrank back, looking up at the elder with nothing but apologies in his eyes. I'm sorry! I never meant to hurt her! How could he? Brakenwing was like a mother to him. All he wanted was for them to stop fighting. He wuld never hurt his clanmates on purpose. His tail drooped as the elder continued, their words like thorns digging into his heart.
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Quillsplash | Bird / Tom / ShadowClan T5 Warrior / #802318 Leopardwind / Tom / WindClan T4 Warrior / #cc9900 Milkkit / Tom / RiverClan Kit / #dbc6ad
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