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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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
Subject: Mistwalker's Elder Ceremony Wed 20 Dec 2023 - 13:22
Poppyshine
Spirits were low today. Sickness still spread through the clans, and while Mistwalker had been spared from the illness that had infected many cats, something else had plagued her instead. Poppyshine had noticed how throughout the journey to the lake, Mistwalker limped and struggled to walk. Hunting seemed difficult for her as well. She did not have to think too much about asking Mistwalker about it because the warrior came to her instead and talked about her problem: aches and pains in her joints. They spoke with Sandyshell in the hopes that herbs could help heal the pain that plagued Mistwalker’s joints, but herbs would only soften the symptoms rather than cure it, and the herbs that would be needed for that temporary solution did not seem to grow around the lake. After more discussion, Poppyshine and Mistwalker both came to a regretful solution that would be best for Mistwalker’s health.
With Perchstar sick, it was her responsibility to perform the ceremony. Poppyshine stepped up onto the raised rock by the lake shore and called out, “All RiverClan cats old enough to catch their own fish, gather for a Clan meeting.” She looked towards Mistwalker and gestured for her to join.
She recalled the words from a conversation she had with her mother, a conversation that felt both like it was yesterday, but also moons away. Lifetimes away. A time when the forest had still provided them with all that they needed, when she could go to her mother for comfort instead of feeling like she had to be ready to comfort her mother at a moment's notice. Not that Perchstar ever truly needed comfort, but there was something to be said about the last duty she had truly performed. Being the one to deliver the regretful news of Beechfang's appearance within the Clans.
Now? Now she felt like a shadow of that warrior. Her paws had still mostly worked back then, enough that it would only result in a singular lost fish. Every time she now hunted, it was multiple fish that swam away, seizing pain not allowing her paws to move in the way that they should. She knew her tufted fur hid the scars that riddled her paws beneath, all from the slippery creatures that had gnawed at her paws, had caused scar tissue to leech into her joints and caused them to fail her more often. It hadn't helped that she had incessantly licked at one of them during the journey to the point of causing an open wound she then had to go to Sandyshell and have covered in cobwebs for several days.
It had been an extremely painful decision to go to Poppyshine and admit defeat. She'd tried, tried the entire journey, tried for so many days to get past it. To tell herself that if she just let her paws heal-but the signs had been there. The way they had begun failing her even back when they were at the forest, simple issues she'd shoved away because she could move past them. Stubbornness had cost her. So now she gathered to her deputy's call, silent tears weeping in her mind. At least it was not her mother having to conduct this ceremony. It would have hurt her so much more.
Holding a silent vigil once more, this one in mourning of her warrior title, Mistwalker sat in the crowd. It had taken awkward limping to get to the place she now was, and her tail curled over her legs protectively as she did so.
Poppyshine hated seeing Mistwalker limp to her place amidst the crowd. She did not wish for her clanmate, her best friend’s daughter, to be in such pain. She was so young—retiring at this age felt laughable. But she was still a part of this clan and thus would be looked after and cared for, even if she could not continue her warrior duties.
“Today we celebrate a great warrior in our clan. It is regretful that conditions of her health should prevent her from continuing the life of a warrior, but we are still grateful for all that she has done to aid RiverClan.” Poppyshine looked to Mistwalker and offered her a sympathetic smile. “Mistwalker, is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and instead retire to the life of an elder?” This, too, felt cruel. Though they already talked about it, Mistwalker still had to accept this new title before the clan. The name of elder was an honor for cats who hd lived long lives, but it felt almost mean to give it to a cat so young.
Characters : Murkyriver ♀ | Snowvixen ♀ | Hollowgrove ♀ | Mountainpaw ♀ | Loonkit ♀ ~~ Copper was here Clan/Rank : Riverclan | Windclan | Shadowclan | Thunderclan Number of posts : 4989 Gender : She/Her - ash was here :3 and Ro! Age : 21
Subject: Re: Mistwalker's Elder Ceremony Sat 23 Dec 2023 - 6:41
Mistwalker
“Are you listening?”
Truth be told, she did not acknowledge the other clanmates that gathered at her sides. There was an anxiety that had begun creeping into her belly as she sat there, a worry that she had failed her Clan. She was more than painfully aware of the fact that it was less than typical for a feline so young to need to retire, but there was a pride that pulsed deep in her chest that made her current ability to complete her duties less than acceptable. If anything, it demonstrated just how far she had pushed herself that she had gone past her breaking point to where she would rather accept the mantle and humiliation of becoming an elder so young.
Poppyshine's voice rang in her ears. She did not want to hear those words spoken, and for a moment, she glanced to see if her mother had joined the crowd. Regret sank in, its claws striking deep. Mistwalker couldn't help the overwhelming emotion of failing her mother. Her sisters. Her brother. Something about stepping away from her duties to where they would have to take care of her was almost laughable. There were clanmates she would have bet would laugh at her, if they had the opportunity. So her breathing grew just a bit more uneven with that anxiety, even as her face remained the blank slate that she called upon as her defense mechanism. Her mother's mask.
It was supposed to be an honor to join the rank of the elders. The fact that Poppyshine had permitted it should have been sign enough that she had given enough to Riverclan to deserve it. Still, it did not stop the sorrow that clung to the event. "It is." No need for other words. If her clanmates wanted to know why she retired... well, she would have stories as to why weasels were her least-favorite creature that walked the forest.
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
Subject: Re: Mistwalker's Elder Ceremony Sun 24 Dec 2023 - 10:08
Poppyshine
Poppyshine smiled again at Mistwalker when she confirmed.“Then I accept your wish,” she said to her. She lifted her head to look out towards the whole clan. “RiverClan honors you and all you have done for us as a warrior. I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of well-deserved rest.”
The official words were finished and Poppyshine stepped down to move to Mistwalker’s side. Mistwalker was her own apprentice, and so she showed that affection through a quick brush of their cheeks. In a lowered voice she murmured, “There is no shame in this. Thank you for telling me about this.”
Willowwisp was still dreadfully ill, but she would not miss any ceremony of her sister’s, no matter how sick she was. She sat on the edge of the crowd to not risk spreading her illness and shivers wracked her body while she tried to focus on the words being said. Mistwalker becoming an elder…Willowwisp was half-convinced she was dreaming because there was no possibility in her sickly mind that her sister would be eldering. Not at her age…But be this a dream or not, Willowwisp listened to the ceremonial words until Mistwalker was named an elder.
She rose to shaking paws and shuffled over to Mistwalker. She didn’t get too close and tried to keep her breathing shallow to not spread disease to her sister. Willowwisp’s eyes were not entirely focused, but they still looked to her sister with sympathy. “You deserved…many more moons of warriorhood…I’m sorry I cannot help you much more in this state.”
