To Weather the Storm [Open]

Subject: To Weather the Storm [Open] Wed Oct 11, 2023 10:00 pm

Acornstem paced back and forth, her tail dragging behind her as she spared nervous glances towards the fresh-kill pile. What was once well stocked had quickly started to drain away and the deputy was left to struggle with what to do. Never before had she imagined such a scenario of being so pressed for food but... When the reports of the patrols she was sending out were finding less and less had started to come in, she had attempted to increase the number of patrols in an effort to keep the prey pile stocked but it had done nothing to help and... She couldn't deny the fear that was clawing her at her stomach - almost hurting as much as the hunger pangs.

What were they to do...? If they were struggling so hard at the start of Leaf-Fall, she feared what Leaf-Bare itself would bring. The number of patrols were slowly dwindling as with a lack of prey to fill their belly, she couldn't in her right mind ask too much of her Clanmates. It was a terrible cycle as the lack of prey would make it harder to have the energy and strength to catch what little prey they could find. How desperate would they become...? Would they or another Clan threaten the peace when the rumbling of their stomachs became too much to bare when neither would have the strength to truly fight?

Where things just going to get worse...?

She hung her head as she came to a stop, staring down at her paws. She felt...She felt so useless! She couldn't just wish the prey back but she wasn't sure what to do - rationing the prey would only go so far if they couldn't find more to keep up with the demand and their Clan was so big, not even considering the mixed blood apprentices. There had been hope that at least they would be warriors by leaf-bare to help keep up with the amount of prey they would need but how much of ThunderClan would even be left by then...? Would they starve? Be forced to look elsewhere for food? It was so early and yet there was so much uncertainty and fear.

She wanted to be the best deputy she could but she didn't know what to do! Mottlestar didn't know what to do... Did anybody know what to do?

She knew the best she could do was try to be there for her Clanmates, to assure them that their fears and uncertainty were heard and they would weather this storm but... It was hard to make such a lofty promise when there was no solution to be given...

Acornstem sank onto her haunches, a heavy sigh escaping her. She just hated letting her Clanmates down....

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To Weather the Storm [Open] ABC-Gang-Acornstar-2

Acornstar ♀ ~ Badgermask ♀ ~ Creamsky ♂ ~ Duckfeather ⚧ ~ Eveningmoon ♀ ~ Flurryshade ♂ (Not pictured)
TC T5 Leader (70/200) ~ SC T5 Warrior (70/200) ~ SkC T5 Warrior (70/200) ~ RC T2 Warrior (40/110) ~ WC T2 Warrior (40/110) ~ TC T1 Warrior (30/80)
Rosybrown (Forest)/Sandybrown (Feral) ~ Indigo ~ Tan ~ Olive ~ Icyblue ~ Slategray

Subject: Re: To Weather the Storm [Open] Thu Oct 12, 2023 9:24 am

Blazefang padded over to her fretting deputy and sat down beside her. “Hey,” she mewed, staring off into space. “It’s been rough lately, hasn’t it? You know what, though? ThunderClan’s a family. I’ve seen cats in, ahem, other clans turn on each other for far less than we’re dealing with now. I don’t know if we’ll be okay any more than you do, but we can at least count ourselves fortunate to live among friends.” She sighed, turning to look at Acornstem. “Sorry if I’m intruding, you just looked like you needed some company.”

Subject: Re: To Weather the Storm [Open] Sun Oct 15, 2023 5:35 am

Thrush
nose

"You're on your own, kid. You've always had been."

"You come away with a great little story of a mess of a dreamer with the nerve to adore you."

This season was harsh for all of them, not just one. Thrushnose hated that. He'd known and gotten used to the familiar chill of approaching Leaf-fall and was prepared for Leaf-bare—but something about this moon's season just felt... Off to him. Cats were starting to starve from the dramatic lack of food; prey seemingly avoiding them and hiding in crevices sneakier than before.

He had tried his best to volunteer and help, but even other cats would soon notice the fatigue plaguing the brown, mottled tom's usually cheery appearance and his lack of enthusiasm in days more often than not. The last thing he wanted to do was worry his clanmates, family, and friends—but when the time called, he readily would sacrifice his own health to ensure others' bellies were full before his own.

So, with his head hung, he padded across the camp where the company of two other cats were; fortunately catching a glimpse of their conversation. His ears perked—then flattened against his head as his frown deepened with concern. Everyone is so concerned... And hungry. Worry knotted in his stomach for the deputy and his mother, as well as his siblings and the medicine cats. How were they faring?

"I hope you two don't mind if I join in," Thrushnose offered them both a small smile, the smallest of hope shining through in tried optimism. "Leaf-fall is so harsh this moon... But I hope you both won't be too hard on yourself because of that. We're all here for each other as family, like we always have through thick and thin. You can talk to me about whatever if you need to." Ironic, considering himself telling them to not be so hard on themselves despite doing the same to himself. But that wasn't the focus right now.

ft. Taylor Swift In
— Cold As You
To weather the storm

Cactus

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To Weather the Storm [Open] Copper_drew_siggy3_20240107084231

Thrushnose │ ThunderClan │ Tier V Warrior │ 70HP / 160SP │ #7b675d
Fennelbreeze │ WindClan │ Tier IV Warrior│ 60HP / 140SP │ #88ab84
Fawnshine │ ThunderClan │ T4 Classic MC │ 25HP / 60SP │ #d1bea8
Harrierpaw (not pictured)│ SkyClan │ Apprentice │ 20HP / 60SP │ #944c3e

Art Requests │ Character Profiles │ Heart Chart

Subject: Re: To Weather the Storm [Open] Sat Oct 21, 2023 9:05 pm

The growing famine that had fallen upon the forest was all Silverkit had ever known. The hunger pangs that plagued her and her clanmates was just a pain that silverkit assumed was natural. Silverkit was naturally lean, but the continuing hunger had quickly chased away her kitten fat, and with her prickly fur and long limbs they were left looking stranger than most.

At 3 moons old, the curiosity that all kits possessed had urged her out of the nursery and into the biting cold of leaffall. Her blue eyes scoured the camp, eagerly taking it all in. Eventually they landed on a huddle of cats. Gingerly, she padded forward, ears pricked in interest to the conversation they were having.

Upon arriving at their huddle, a sense of awkwardness took hold of her. Were they welcome here? Her eyes flitted between the cats, unsure of her next move.

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Bluepaw went over to join the group and looked at all of them with wide eyes. He was already bad at hunting and the harsh season famine had not helped with his confidence or hunting ability at all.

He felt like he had let Goldenfern his mentor down. He said he was gonna catch her a meal but never had gotten a chance too.

Maybe he could still? If one of them would be willing to go out hungitn with him... He probably would fail again like he always did.

He shuffled on his paws unsure of who to even ask for that. He looked to Acorn since she was deptuy after all

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