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: Hunted [SITEWIDE] Fri 19 Jan 2024 - 20:40
Eaglefly barely heard Duckpaw as he was so focused on getting himself, his mate scorchlight and the apprentice on his back away from the danger.
He ran as fast as he could checking every so often that Scorchlight was still okay and right by his side, to his relief, she was.
They were gonna get out of this.
Duckpaw seemed to be more awake now though he could not check for certain. He was glad that they were staying still and not panicking, that would make things worse if they fell off. He was sure that the wolves were right behind them even if that was or was not the case.
Sprucebark is fleeing with Duckypaw on his back and Scorchlight by his side
Stormwatcher nodded to honeypaw his ears still ringing with adreneline, with Ospreykit on his back and the other kits nearby he lead the charge and hoped that things would work out okay... He knew that the queen would watch his back and the back of their group and honeypaw could run the sides jumping in where needed at any given moment.
"Hang on ospreykit! we are starting the ride!" he meowed doing his absolute best to try and somehow make it seem like the rides that honeypaw gave out earlier during their stay here... anything to try and make it less terrifying than the nightmare was.
He really did try not to look back at the wolves but out of the corner of his eye he went numb seeing his friends tail gone from him...
He snapped back to where he was and what he was doing.
"all kits behind me!! now! FOLLOW!" he yelped and barged out leading them the best he could
"Honeypaw! run the sides, keep the line together" he did his best to communicate with the apprentice making a good team to get them out asap asap asap.
Stormwatcher is fleeing with the kits and is working with paledove and honeypaw as a group
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Swiftheart of Shadowclan Rapidfire of Windclan Sprucebark of Riverclan Stormwatcher of Skyclan Eaglefly of Windclan Lavendercloud of Windclan Rainkit of Windclan
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Number of posts : 703 Age : 27
Subject: Re: Hunted [SITEWIDE] Sat 20 Jan 2024 - 9:18
Honeypaw
Honeypaw pushed on after Stormwatcher, alongisde Paledove, the other queens, and the other volunteers who helped evacuate the nursery. Her eyes flickered from side to side, adjusting to the darkness of the forest as it swallowed them. Despite the chaos back in the camp, relief rushed through Honeypaw to her paws. The kits will be safe. The others will catch up to us. The sounds of battle gradually faded until all she could hear was the pawsteps of their little patrol... and Yewkit's incessant screaming. He hadn't stopped since he witnessed the chaos in camp. How could anyone blame the poor kit?
"Hush now, Yewkit," she consoled. "I have you, your mother is with us, you and your littermates will be safe. The rest of SkyClan will catch up with us." Her voice was low and velvety as she did her best to sound reassuring despite the clenching in her stomach. Honeypaw wasn't used to going anywhere, or doing anything, without Brackenpaw or Shatteredsky. She had left all of her siblings behind in the chaos. Something tells me they will be okay, though, she thought as her eyes searched the bare branches of the trees for Silverpelt's warriors. They have to be.
"I know it's scary," she told the two kits. "But you have both done very well. I knew you'd be brave." She slowed her pace slightly so that it wasn't such a bumpy ride for Mallowkit, doing her best to smooth out her steps. She looked back toward Paledove and Mistflower. "Are we going back to the mountains?" she meowed over her shoulder, around her bundle of kit, to no cat in particular. Honeypaw had never seen the mountains, as she had been born here, by the lake. But she had heard many tales about the arduous journey that all five clans had embarked upon, only a season ago. "Do you think we should stop and wait for the others to catch up? Birdstar, or Wolfblossom?" Honeypaw felt the need to fill the silence with some kind of idle chatter, if not for her own sake, but the kits'. "Maybe we can climb the trees while we wait for them. The beasts surely can't follow us up trees, right?"
Honeypaw felt utterly lost without some kind of leadership to guide them. She had heard Birdstar and Wolfblossom's yowls above the chaos back in camp, and she knew that she had to get the kits to safety. Are we even going the right way? she wondered, looking back to Stormwatcher. Of course we are, Stormwatcher wouldn't lead us astray. Mistflower and Smokepetal know the way, too.
Her thoughts were flooded with memories from her time growing up by the lake... a time that suddenly felt impossible to ever return to. Her first days out of the nursery, playing in the snow with her brothers. Taking care of the sickly Harekit. Her first night as an apprentice with Brackenpaw and the owl. I would take on an owl any night than deal with whatever those were, she decided. She thought about her time bonding with Bubblepaw and Rosepaw, and her extra training sessions with Sunfire. Sunfire... I hope he's okay. Though the massive warrior intimidated her, she knew now that the tom would do anything for his clan, and she respected him. When Paledove returned to camp with her kits, Honeypaw had been overjoyed. She thought fondly about all the badger rides she had given them, and how many more trips outside of camp she had taken by herself to gather moss for the queens' nests... and the kits' play. She thought about meeting Falconmoon by the drinking puddle that day. Father... Honeypaw swallowed back a ball of emotion growing in her throat. How far was her family behind them now?
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"I hope that we can meet again one day, you and I," she mewed, "under peaceful skies."
Characters : Daffodilpaw, Minnowkit Clan/Rank : TC App | RC App Number of posts : 2223 Gender : Female-ish Age : 26
Subject: Re: Hunted [SITEWIDE] Sat 20 Jan 2024 - 9:26
She had no vocal response to Crocusfrost, simply following what she had said. No, not said, demanded her to do. Unused claws extracted to latch onto the pelt of the warrior, her body melting into the warmth of the warrior below her. A funny sight, if the situation warranted a laugh - the mighty Crocusfrost with a panicked kit in her mouth and a strange grey patch of fur on her upper back.
From the higher vantage point, much higher than her small legs could currently reach, Daffodilkit could see more of the makeshift home they had traveled to. She could see cats scurrying in every direction, panicked and disorderly. She could see leaders rushing to urge other cats away, to direct some to grab kits and the injured or elderly and help them along. She could hear the cries of anger and combat from other fighters throughout the lake's shores. Sadly, for the kit that loved to listen more than act, for the kit that would probably excel in the way of learning information, of secrets, she heard something else in the night, something buried under the howls and chaos. Latched onto the back of Crocusfrost, prepared to hold on as she was carried to safety, Daffodilkit heard the sound of a cat's war cry being cut off, and not continuing. On this night, Daffodilkit was introduced to the finality of death.
The extra patch of grey fur on Crocusfrost's back seemed to shrink even smaller as the kit it belonged to pushed herself even deeper into the warrior's pelt.
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Daffodilpaw/seed
Minnowpaw/dart
Thunderclan | 20HP / 60SP
Riverclan | 20HP / 60SP
#AC9032 | Daffodilseed Art:
#217DA5 | Minnowdart Art:
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
Subject: Re: Hunted [SITEWIDE] Sat 20 Jan 2024 - 9:39
Poppyshine
Poppyshine had intended to stick around longer with Perchstar, and to make sure that she got out before a wolf could claim one of her lives. She knew that Perchtstar would not hesitate to sacrifice a life to protect them. However, she watched Perchstar run up to a wolf to allow Larkspring, Cindersky, Littlepaw, and Rookflight to get away, and then she saw Rowansong.
Rowansong.
Her eyes widened and despair filled her when she saw the wolf bite down onto him. She choked on her own scream. Her body was momentarily frozen from the shock; the weight of Hawkshriek’s recent death and now Rowansong getting thrashed around in what felt like certain death in that moment, both weighed so heavily that her paws felt like stones that couldn’t move. Then she saw the blur of a dark calico pelt and Poppyshine was forced out of her stupor when she saw Murkyriver bravely grabbing Rowansong and Dovepaw both. Only then did she finally manage to move her paws.
Poppyshine sprinted after Murkyriver and kept pace with her. She meowed, “You’ll be slowed down with two. I’ll take Rowan, and you get to the front and assist in guiding the clan out.” She looked over her shoulder back at Perchstar and prayed that she was able to retreat and follow after them without falling victim to the wolves.
Subject: Re: Hunted [SITEWIDE] Sat 20 Jan 2024 - 12:13
"You will. We will." Beechfang muttered, grim determination shining in her dark gaze. "Stay close-" Before she could finish speaking, Shatteredsky was there. The warrior nodded at him, heart still pounding. "Alright - quickly, now." She could hear the angry howls behind her, and fought not to risk a glance back. The sooner they got away, the better. Some of their clanmates might be able to take to the trees to avoid them... Her own paws would stay on the ground.
---
Wolfblossom fought the urge to leap at the beast that had sank fangs into Sunfire's leg, every muscle and bone in her body screaming at her to do so even as Birdstar's voice rose above the din. Sunfire had broken away - not after fighting back - and Wolfblossom swore, paws momentarily paralyzed in terror as both her son and her sister fought to make it into the trees. At the same time, Brackenpaw -
Why, why why why. Why was he disobeying? Did he have no regard for his own life? No regard for orders given? Wolfblossom started forward, fully intending to get her grandson out of such a dangerous situation by any means necessary.
Ambersun. The warrior had followed more swiftly, her paws not weighted down by the same terror the deputy felt, instead spurred on by it. She ginger she-cat managed to haul him into the trees, while Sunfire was thrashed by the wolf that had been pursuing him, managing to make it into a tree. Wolfblossom's ears rang, rage flashing across her expression. Brackenpaw, Sunfire... How many would they put in danger, whilst getting hurt themselves? If they made it out of this alive, if the wolves did not end them...
Wolfblossom shook her head. Later. She would yell at them all, but later. They needed to actually get to safety first. Birdstar and Ambersun were helping Sunfire and Brackenpaw... She had to trust they would get their clanmates out of reach. The rest of the clan was hers to shepherd. She wanted nothing more than to run toward Sunfire, to sink her claws into the wolf and do the same damage it had done to him tenfold. Her paws wouldn't move, rooted to the ground in shock still.
She couldn't afford for her paws to be still. Not now. Her clanmates were in so much danger, Birdstar, Sunfire, Ambersun and Brackenpaw... Lionstripe's grisly demise played in her mind and she shook her head. She had to get the rest of them to safety. She needed to not let that happen to anyone else.
"Into the trees if you can!" She yowled, heading for her clanmates who swarmed near the nursery. Stormwatcher, Honeypaw, Mistflower... It was a relief to see them hauling the kits away, trying to get them to safety. Bubblepaw and Hemlockfox were together, as well. Thymelight and Smokepetal... Crookedlight and Lightningbreeze, Stoneheart... The deputy silently made a headcount. She would make sure they all got out if it was the last thing she did. "With me, Skyclan!" It seemed impossible, that her clan would flee from these violent beasts, but that was what they had to do. They had to survive.
---
"I haven't-" Stoneheart rasped. Right now she was just relieved to have found Mistflower, the press of her pelt a comfort despite the sheer chaos around them. Her sister's gaze shifted toward something and she followed it, finding the pelts of her clanmates racing toward the nursery to help. Good, that was good.
"Go," She breathed, "We'll make it out of here. Love you, Mistflower."
---
She felt like she was going to be sick, scaling her way into the trees as the wolf snapped viciously at her family. The sight of blood staining Sunfire's pelt made her claws itch, but Graywind already knew how powerless she would be to fight them. It was obvious... And it seemed like their words had all broken through Sunfire's thick skull. As he turned and dashed toward the trees, Graywind did the same, claws digging into bark as she hauled herself into the branches. She was distantly aware of the sound of voices rising above the snarls and howls, Birdstar and Wolfblossom's clearest. Into the trees, flee, we can't fight them... Graywind shivered, then leapt from branch to branch. Cats were already carrying all the kits, she would stay in the trees and make sure nobody was left straggling behind.
---
Swanpaw stared in horror as Egretswoop faced down the snarling beasts, and with a fierce shake of her own head, turned. The warrior was buying them time... Time to run from these beasts, time to to escape. If it was even possible.
Dovepaw hadn't moved. Sudden movement at her side made the apprentice whip around, wide, terrified eyes meeting those of Ravenpaw. It took a moment for her to register his words, and with a jerky nod Swanpaw followed, glancing back to see Owlcall helping Dovepaw. That was good, they would make it out of here... She just had to keep telling herself that.
Beechfang is fleeing with Shatteredpaw and Harepaw. Wolfblossom is guiding her clanmates away. Stoneheart is fleeing with Skyclan. Graywind is fleeing with Skyclan. Swanpaw is following her siblings.
Subject: Re: Hunted [SITEWIDE] Sat 20 Jan 2024 - 23:30
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.
A powerful, deep song swept across the lake. The night’s breeze carried the melody through the moors and into the grey ears of a young tom sleeping soundly. His subconscious mind wasn’t startled, simply comparing the howling to birdsong. But what did alarm him was the loud cries filling the apprentice den. It was Cloudypaw desperately yelling for her brother to wake up and move. Move? Move where? Why? He tipped his head to the side before flicking his ears to hear the sounds of dogs. Wait... Those weren’t dogs. “...Wolves!?” Marigoldpaw bolted upright and shot out of the den. There Tigerstar was bellowing orders. “Clear the area Windclan! Follow our path back home!” The leader’s tone was more serious than he had ever heard, making Marigoldpaw’s heart beat like a rabbit’s. His nose quivered like a rabbit’s. His legs stiffened, preparing to flee like a rabbit’s. Where was it safe to run? The lost young tom started a few leaps towards his leader.
Then in front of Tigerstar stood a lumbering wolf. He knew it could only be a wolf because it was three times bigger than any dog he could ever dream up. Its coat was thick but he could feel the tense muscles underneath. Saliva pooled off its chops bearing big monstrous teeth. Marigoldpaw watched as those jaws tore into Tigerstar and shook the warrior fiercely like a piece of prey. The apprentice sprung back, but another cat dashed forward. Sootstorm! he gasped in fear. What do I do? Be brave?
His ears caught another set of heavy steps around him. More wolves. Wolves that just flung his leader around like a mouse. Terror filled his lungs. “Get me out of here!” he exclaimed, spinning around to search for leadership. But instead, all he saw was a huge golden blur making a mad dash toward another wolf's throat. Before he could even blink in disbelief the gigantic beast had sliced into her face and leg, causing the she-cat to collapse into the snow. Tears welled in his eyes. Not even the strongest, bravest, brightest warriors he knew stood half a chance to these wolves. He had to leave now.
“Windclan!” The tom looked to Daisyfang. “To me! The stars will light our path, have no fear, and run with all the speed StarClan has blessed you with.” Energy surged through his feet as he kicked off the slippery snow. His eyes were only focused on the end of her tail and not a glance at the horrific wolves behind his heels. Go. Go. Go. Go. His burning legs carried him as swiftly as the wind itself. Ahead was life, backward was death. Keeping going!
Something crashed beside him. Marigoldpaw’s limbs froze and he turned, even if that might be his biggest mistake. He saw Oatpaw flailing in the snow. “Help! Help me!” Within a matter of seconds the dark-mottled tom might be a wolf’s fresh-kill- but Marigoldpaw could do something, he had to! He dashed to the apprentice, his paws scattering the russet snow. Daisyfang had come to Oatpaw's aid first, but Marigoldpaw was older and stronger than both of them. “Let me help! Please we have to hurry!” Marigoldpaw looked back into the dark, endless moors. Were those eyes he saw? The tom apprentice supported Oatpaw’s other side. Please let us make it out alive!
Last edited by Lapis on Sat 30 Mar 2024 - 23:00; edited 2 times in total
Tara Former Staff
Characters : Falconmoon, Sagefeather, Asmodeus, Snowhunter Number of posts : 3142 Gender : Female; She/Her Age : 33
Subject: Re: Hunted [SITEWIDE] Sat 20 Jan 2024 - 23:54
OOC: Holy poo that was a lot to read... if I missed something let me know!
IC:
Falconmoon tried to keep track of the swirling chaos that had erupted around him. He looked back only once at Sunfire... and wished he hadn't. The fool insisted on fighting that thing, and a growl tore from his throat. Writing Sunfire off for dead, and with a pile of hot coals in his stomach as a result, he turned his attention to the cats that were fleeing. Cats he could still save. Honeypaw was performing admirably. Just as he was about to tell them all to get in the trees as Skyclan cats were famous for, Wolfblossom had already given that order. Good.
Falconmoon darted to the lower branches, but never touched the ground again.
"Don't be afraid of the trees!" Falconmoon called out, his voice encouraging rather than urgent and afraid like he was feeling. It wouldn't help the kits if they saw the adults panicking. "You have many generations of tree-climbing warriors in your blood! Climb! It will come to you as naturally as breathing! We'll get out of here together!"
Though Falconmoon loathed to acknowledge it, the history he had made it very easy to lie and be convincing even in the most pressing times. Many many cats died from falling out of trees, but that was the last thing these kits and apprentices needed to hear right now. He gave everyone a confident look, as if they were being silly for believing in gravity.
"Come on now!" He called out calmly but firmly as he leaped and weaved like a squirrel across from branch to branch above the cats remaining on the forest floor. He'd always been fairly talented in the trees, thank the stars. "Up we all go!" One last shout of encouragement... despite the scent of blood thick in the air.
Falconmoon is trying to encourage all of the Skyclan cats on the ground, especially those with less confidence or experience, to climb into the trees and run along the branches to remain safe.
*** CLICK THE X'S BY THE NAMES OF THE CATS FOR CREATION TOPICS ***
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Subject: Re: Hunted [SITEWIDE] Sun 21 Jan 2024 - 6:00
Cloudypaw felt her heart shatter as she realized what this truly meant. Galepaw's cries of despair echoing through the clearing chilled her bones. What would I even do if that was Eaglefly? The gruesome injuries inflicted on Goldengale were enough to make her stomach churn, and she made a few hesitant paw steps forward. The blood-scent was almost too much - and she hadn't even noticed Goldengale was missing most of one of her legs. As Galepaw's eyes met hers briefly, she nodded and quickly closed the distance. She had a mission now. We don't have to honor Goldengale's sacrifice. In fact, I reject it. She's not dead yet, she's still breathing. I think!
"Galepaw," She had begun to interrupt his spiel about 'getting Goldengale to safety'. We didn't need a plan, we needed action. She nuzzled Goldengale, her nose wrinkling in disgust at all of the blood. "Help me lift her-"
She lost her words as Galepaw released a hiss. She snapped her head upwards, and her eyes met a black, unfamiliar cat who was being towered over by Galepaw. Her blood ran cold, and she froze, her jaw dropped. Was this a member of the rogue group that Gouge spoke of? It looked like no cat she had ever seen before.
"I-I..." Tux stammered, his ears feeling warm. He narrowed his ears and flattened himself to the icy, frozen ground to make himself look smaller when faced with the aggressive cat that met him. Blood and fear scent lingered in the air, burning his nose. Though, he was satisfied he found the group of cats. He was out of breath after his run, and he took a few shaky breaths before he continued. "My friends, they're... You... You have to help us!" He pleaded, though he didn't realize one of those 'friends' had broken loose and was following close behind him. He had been so focused on the run here that he didn't think to stop to look back or listen.
Cloudypaw's gaze softened. "Galepaw, please - Goldengale needs you right now." She defended the poor cat. He looked almost like a kit, and he could ask someone else that wasn't the overbearing Galepaw or herself. She tried to redirect Galepaw's emotions and attention to his hurt mentor. Why was he defending the territory in a time like this?
She wanted to offer help but stayed quiet out of fear of being revealed by Galepaw as a traitor. It wasn't until Gouge himself approached behind the small tom that she realized she might not have a choice.
Oh no.He's going to find out I'm not actually a rogue. Galepaw is going to recognize who he was. She wasn't fearing the wolves anymore at that moment, she was most afraid of her double lives clashing.
Subject: Re: Hunted [SITEWIDE] Sun 21 Jan 2024 - 20:56
Tallshadow gingerly leaned down to press his forehead against his sister’s, eyes squeezed shut against the ruin of her body. His ears were ringing. The noise enveloped him, as smothering and complete as dirt piling in a shallow grave. There was only the otherworldly howling of the wolves, the snap of their greedy teeth, the slow drip of their death-scented spit. There was only Goldengale, the stubborn rasping breaths that wheezed through her ruined muzzle, her bloodied chest. The tall warrior didn’t notice Galepaw until the apprentice laid himself down beside his mentor.
Everything slammed into him at once. The blood, the sharp reek of it in his nose. Galepaw’s bristled stance. The small black tom with wild eyes. The hulking stranger that advanced from the dimness. And Goldengale, still bleeding, still breathing. Tallshaodw drew himself up to his full menacing height, every sharp bone cutting a jagged silhouette against the sky. His paws were covered in his sister’s blood, it was splashed bright and horrible across his face. His eyes were burning, an all consuming fire of grief and rage and fear white hot and insatiable.
He towered over both the apprentice and the strangers, his bristled pelt matching the rasping growl that reverberated through his chest. “Leave him Galepaw, support her other side.” Tallshadow snarled above the rising chaos. The strangers didn’t matter, only WindClan’s survival, only Goldengale’s survival. Carefully, he nudged his way under his sister’s injured side, forcing the wave of repulsion at her dangling, incomplete limb away. He was reminded bitterly, of leaning against her in a similar fashion, dead-weight and delusional in the grasp of his sickness.
Daisyfang’s heartbeat kicked brutally at her ribs as Galepaw’s wailing pierced the night. She blinked gratefully at Marigoldpaw as the young tom appeared from the fray. “Go to Sootstorm and the others, they know the way.” She guided Oatpaw towards where WindClan was regrouping with Marigoldpaw’s help, shoving the sickly apprentice into the fragile safety that lay beyond the rise. “Take care of each other, and stick together.” The medicine cat turned and bolted back towards where the blood-scent hung the thickest.
The scene that greeted her was chaotic, a tangle of her clanmates, two strangers, and Goldengale, her face torn in two. Daisyfang didn’t flinch at the sight of the warrior’s mangled body, but dread was slowly sinking its claws into her stomach. “Move.” She hissed, clearing a path through the crowd with an unapologetic knock of her broad shoulders. She couldn’t go back to her stores for anything, but they needed to stop the bleeding at least, everything else could come later.
“Cloudypaw, come with me, we’re going to find some cobwebs, anything to pack her wounds, don’t go anywhere near camp.” They didn’t have time for whatever crisis was happening with the rouges, or the shimmering discontent between Cloudypaw and her brother. “Move Goldengale away, follow the rest of the clan, we’ll join you soon.” She said firmly, steering Cloudypaw towards a small thicket of trees that intercepted the path of WindClan’s retreat. Her gaze softened slightly, in the wake of Tallshadow’s grief and Galepaw’s panicked anger. “Try not to snag her on anything, and keep her wounds off the ground as best you can.” The most important thing now was getting out of here, away from the death StarClan foretold.
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Daisyfang-------Cricketpaw-------Tallshadow
WindClan Medicine Cat------SkyClan Apprentice-------WindClan Warrior
Subject: Re: Hunted [SITEWIDE] Sun 21 Jan 2024 - 21:51
Galepaw
Galepaw glared at the stranger for a moment longer before his attention was returned to the crisis at hand. Goldengale couldn't afford any more delay. Cloudypaw was right. He relaxed a little as Daisyfang approached, taking charge of the situation. Tallshadow rose up, ready to carry Goldengale to safety. Galepaw dipped his head.
"Yes, Tallshadow," he said, the growl in his throat breaking off. He turned once more to the strange cat - suddenly realizing there were two of them, the second cat absolutely massive - and raised his lips in a snarl. "We can't help you," he hissed. "Our clan is under attack. We must be moving!" With that, he turned and pushed himself underneath his mentor's weight, thrusting his broad shoulders upward, and nodded as Daisyfang told Cloudypaw to fetch cobwebs. "Please Cloudypaw," he mewed, terror and desperation for Goldengale's current state flooding back into his amber eyes.
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Gouge
Gouge watched from a distance as the group of cats - clan cats, they were called - gathered to help their injured. His heart swelled with the compassion, loyalty, and unity these cats showed one another. Not unlike the Brotherhood, he thought, and with that his stomach lurched. I have to find my cats. But his paws were seemingly frozen in place as his eyes locked with those familiar hazel ones. He would have recognized her anywhere. Despite the chaos, time itself seemed to slow, and noises faded into the background as he slowly approached the she-cat. His amber eyes held a knowing glimmer as they flickered back and forth between his friend and her clanmates.
Gouge stopped just beside his dainty companion, wrapping his tail over his back in a protective and comforting gesture, his head held high and his chest puffed out, shoulders squared despite his injuries.
"I'm right here, scrap," he mewed to the young cat. "These cats won't be able to help us now. Scorch will be okay - he's my brother, after all." His brilliant gaze moved back to the stunned Cloudy, and softened. "So this is your family," he rasped just loud enough for her to hear. Though she had never come out to tell him, Gouge had known from the moment they met that Cloudy was from one of these clans. It was unfortunate that this was the way he was to be told, but there was no anger or resentment in his eyes as he regarded his friend.
The sounds of distant battle began to make its way back to the forefront of his mind. He felt a tug in his paws to follow Cloudy, to protect her as he had protected each of the cats of the Brotherhood for so long. To keep her safe from the wolves. His heart yearned.
"You could come with us," the offer poured out of his mouth before he had the chance to think. It's foolish, he told himself. She doesn't need you. She has an entire clan capable of protecting her. More capable than you could ever be. And yet still, a part of him hoped she might accept. She had leaned much during their meetings about their way of life. She would do good in The Brotherhood.
Gouge's smoldering gaze was fixed on her as he sank his long claws deep into the ground in an effort to steady himself. He felt lightheaded and dizzy from the blood that he had lost. He felt it continuing to drip down his legs, staining the snow below him.
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"I hope that we can meet again one day, you and I," she mewed, "under peaceful skies."
Characters : [H]Harebounce, [R]Redsun, [S]Snaildance, [K]Snakepaw Clan/Rank : RC Tier 4 Warrior; TC Tier 3 Warrior, SC Tier 2 Warrior, WC Apprentice Number of posts : 2557 Gender : anything, baby - kitty was here ♥ Age : 24
Subject: Re: Hunted [SITEWIDE] Mon 22 Jan 2024 - 1:22
Whether bravery or stupidity drove him to act, the distinction mattered little. The small, stocky tom held up a strong front in the face of this monster. His head swam and really, he couldn’t be sure that anything that was happening was real. If it wasn’t, well, it would be embarrassing but nothing truly harmful. If it was… well, the danger was too much to risk. A healthy Redsun would’ve charged forward with no hesitation, and his heart still sung for the thrill of battle even now, but the sickness had robbed him of his strength. All he had left was to bluff. He had to act not like the immovable badger he often saw himself as, but like the impossibly confident stoat, able and willing to take down prey many times its own size and confuse any predator it came across. To distract one demon away from harming any more cats. That. That he could do.
Gut-twisting crunches sounded around him. Yet in his soul he knew that if he dared look away from this creature, if he dared show fear, his life was forfeit. And this would all amount to nothing. His loud voice cut through the din while his electric blue eyes remained locked with the wolf’s own, unblinking. “RUN. AND KEEP TOGETHER! SEPARATION MEANS DEATH!” A raucous cough shook him at the effort, splattering blood across the snow and edging the paws of both he and the thing reflected across from him. His heart hammered harder and harder in his chest, threatening to stumble in its ceaseless galloping. This was no time to wonder if he too had a weakened heart like Rosethorn. There was something far larger to worry about.
“Separation… means death.” He forced his terror deep down; he smothered it somewhere it could not come out of. Somewhere it must not come out of. Not if he wanted to live. Some mad grin took hold of his face, perhaps a product of the adrenaline rushing through his veins, perhaps some attempt to instill confidence in himself. He raised his voice again, this time directed at the beast, “YOU! Yeah you, the one with the teeth!” He shifted his paws, eyes and ears and everything else honed in. Absorbing everything. He would not be beaten. “Let’s play a game. Catch me. If you win, you get to eat me.” The ThunderClan tom moved tantalizingly close, his muscles tensed to dodge at a moment’s notice. “But if I win, you go hungry tonight. Ready..?” One, two, three steps back. “GO!”
This time, Snailpaw was up and ready when chaos broke. She wasn’t getting left behind, not again. ‘I have to be useful this time.’ The young she-cat dashed to where the herbs were kept, taking as many parcels as she could in her mouth, partially wishing she had a pelt of her own to help carry it all, before emerging. Whatever it was that announced its presence so loudly, they were here. To her they had no name, other than the things that would now haunt her waking nightmares. With one creature she could see Echomist, then Leopardstar, then Heatherberry, then Badgermask all leaping to fight with tooth and claw. Leopardstar fell, mauled and motionless. On another, Tawnyshadow, Sunflare and Rookfire. Only indecipherable yowling reached her ears.
They were going to die. Every single one of them.
Something like snowmelt flushed through her veins, the color of her nose and ears turning a ghostly white. But she couldn’t drop what she’d just spent precious time to save. With guilt and shame in her heart that she could do nothing in the face of this annihilation, she tucked her curved tail between her legs and ran.
Harebounce had seen many, many things throughout her life. But nothing like this. Her heart beat quickly, urging her to move, yet her paws stayed frozen to the soil, clanmates fleeing past her like she was nothing more than a rock in a mountain stream. With the chaos that ruled inside her own head, this was only more of the same. Jaykit and Minnowkit, her young grandchildren, she saw them with Grebedance; they remained accounted for. Sprucebark, she could hear him urging Scorchlight along. She still searched for another, eyes wide and devoid of her typical joy for life itself, the whites gleaming in the moonlight as though it were a signal to the one she had yet to see.
The clamor did not immediately disappear with that flash of white she saw. Time moved as if underwater. Her eyes following her daughter’s form, her shedding her fox pelt, gifting it – no, entrusting it – to Dovepaw, to Iron. She knew no haste, and the look on the gentle tom’s face reflected his confusion.
“ ...So you are not bringing me out here to die, Mother?” … “I am sorry - I did not mean it like that! I was just... I am scared of losing you, mother. Am I really ready for a pelt?”
"I would - will - never leave you anywhere. You are sweet Milk and you are my kit. Leaving you behind would crush my heart, so let me pick off that tick of a thought so it quits biting you."
What… what was she doing? That was her pelt that she earned when she was but an apprentice herself. Brick’s mouth opened in unspoken, lost questions. The bundle of uncertainty in her chest only grew. Heedless of the blizzard of panic and noise she stood, transfixed by her child’s actions.
Leaving him behind, Egretswoop’s paws forded the snow just as pale as she, her own sights set on Mistwalker, unable to move. Dragging her in the right direction, yes that was good. A few threads of her unease had begun to unravel until she suddenly broke into a run towards the monstrous thing chasing them in the first place. She couldn’t do that, no! Brick leaped forward with a jolt shared with her heart, yet like a terrible dream, her paws felt agonizingly slow while she watched Milk stand up to the thing – her determination, otherwise admirable, hurt this mother’s heart. Just a few more steps and she could call her back. She didn’t have to do this..! One more step. And then snapped the trap of gleaming, yellowed teeth-
An unbidden cry escaped her maw. “Milk!” She fell in the snow with a crunch just as Egretswoop’s head did the same. That wasn’t her baby. That wasn’t her little kit, no, no, no it couldn’t. Not what now dripped viscera hot enough to melt the frost. Everything fell away, her chest shaking as her eyes remained locked. The body dropped. All she could see was a broken bird unmoving there, bloodied and still and small. Some primal wail rippled through the air. Had it come from her own throat? A second, loud caterwaul pierced the air as she turned a vehement, boiling, hate-filled face to the beast, a face she’d never shown before, nor should she ever again.
Some part of her wanted to run toward the lake, drag the monsters onto the thin ice and watch them drown. A cold and defiant bloodlust any Nightstriker would be proud to see in her. Deep water to pull them under, see their gnashing teeth and jaws shiver and cry and finally still as they sank down. She’d have to fall in too, the ice would not be so lenient. This all not to go down in some blaze of glory, but to give her child the opportunity to be buried instead of the reality that faced her now. Her daughter was going to be eaten. Like she was nothing more than freshkill, not a cat with those that love her. One that breathed and spoke and laughed and-
A choking sob dragged her back to where she stood. Her own. Heavy pawsteps approached her and animal instinct had her duck and dash away, almost too late as she briefly felt the scrape of fangs along her spine, her hare pelt whisked into the air by her likely bewildered attacker. She… she couldn’t stay here. For all Milk had sacrificed, Brick had to honor it, or else it was all in vain.
With the new chill on her fur and in her heart urging her onwards, she found Wug. Pushing her daughter – her only now, she couldn’t bear to accept that, stars, not yet – to her paws, she spoke thickly, pressing Jaykit towards her, “Grab him and run, please.” Harebounce chased after the fleeing Minnowkit, scooping her into her jaws. It flashed again in her mind as she looked back, the only evidence of Egretswoop’s existence amongst the snow being a red slush upon the ground.
Characters : thistlemask | grebedance | turtlepaw Clan/Rank : thunderclan t3 warrior | riverclan t3 warrior | thunderclan apprentice Number of posts : 326
Subject: Re: Hunted [SITEWIDE] Mon 22 Jan 2024 - 2:18
The molly wasn’t known for her love of the company from other cats, and her extended time away had not done any favours; the former deputy was increasingly uncomfortable around the clan she had spent majority of her life, her current - former? best friend included. And being surrounded by those she had been trained to view as enemies? Even in their current predicament Thistlemask was intensely wary and suspicious, and spent majority of her time hunting for the weaker members or scouting without permission, struggling to readjust to clan life without the intrusion of every cat who had resided in the forest.
It was her uniquely distant position that allowed her to be one of the first to bear witness to the howls, terror immediately settling in her stomach as to what was capable of producing such a sound. The molly had merely blinked when everything seemed to be happening - cats throwing themselves at the large hulking beasts. The chaos that unfolded before her was truly sickening; and in spite of all she was before, and all the love she still held for her clan, Thistlemask did not dare follow them or even sacrifice herself to allow them time to escape; she just remained rooted in place briefly, before disappearing into the nearest thick growth.
—
What she had previously believed to be howls of a new and unfamiliar wind soon proved themselves to belong to an unknown enemy, cold eyes glittering in the dim light. Shrieks abound from the young molly, and before she knew it Turtlepaw was careening along with her clan; still hardly awake.
—
The molly had been unfortunately awake, a persistent itch spurred by Jaykit’s foot digging into her side - truly feeling like the tom had become a small rabbit nestled in at her side. Grebedance had been unable for a moment to recognise what was taking place around her, only seeking to draw her children in as Minnowkit fled, every hair on her pelt raising in fear at the unknown around. As her child seemed to get further and further from reach; her mother’s scream caught her attention hard, watching as Egretswoop fell and paved the ground scarlet. The queen’s eyes widened and jaw dropped, being snapped back to life by Harebounce shoving Jaykit in her mouth and telling her to run. She obeyed without question, eyes burning against the cold as the family joined the throng of escaping cats.
Echosong's paws made soft crunching sounds as he took the path from the forest back to their camp, he had left Fawnshine with the last of their sick companions while he went to gather more herbs when he paused. He saw them before he smelled them. The older tom crouched out of instinct, his belling skirting the snowy floor and he watched as large dark shapes stalked past him. Dogs? No. They were double the size of any dog he had ever laid eyes on, and their pelts were much longer - fit for the snowy winter.
Wolves. Things of legend.
His ears were ringing as blood pounded in his ears from the sudden increase in heartbeat due to his fear. He thanked the stars his white fur blended into the snow before he bolted in the opposite direction. The tom heard the yowling of his clan over his panting and he joined the others in running. In his panic he saw a flash of a black pelt next to a dilute calico and his heart soared. Fawnshine! Comfreyheart!
"Mama!" he cried, his voice strangled with emotion as he pumped his limbs faster until he was shoulder to shoulder with his family. He gasped, trying to ask where they were going but the adrenaline making him completely incoherent. This was supposed to be their sanctuary. It seemed like just when something went their way, it had to be ruined again. The tom's despair had turned quickly into anger and he let his head fall back while they ran and he stared up at the stars that blinked back at him in silence.
What have we done to deserve this?
Echosong is fleeing alongside Fawnshine and Comfreyheart.
Stagkit didn't catch on quite as fast as everyone else did. It took the wolves being foxlengths away from them for him to catch on. He fluffed up to the size of a small basketball and scrambled back, his claws begging for purchase. He saw his Mama grab three of his siblings and he felt his big brother grab him in his jaws. The tom cried out as he watched Echomist approaching the wolves. No! Stop! Help him! he wanted to cry. His eyes were as big as saucers as he watched the scene unfold as long as he could until all he was left with was the sounds of screams. The pounding of his tiny heart wasn't loud enough to drown the sounds of yowling coming from all directions, feline and canine danced together creating a macabre song. He tried to say something, anything. But he felt cold and numb, as frozen as the horrible lake they had settled upon.
______________________________________
ECHOSONG
FAWNEYE
SLEEPYHOLLOW
STAGPAW
WEAVER
Thunderclan T3 Medicine Cat
Riverclan T3 Warrior
Windclan T5 Warrior
Shadowclan Apprentice
Loner Kitten
Reaper King Former Staff
Characters : Tiger [Ti], Owl [O], Raven [R], Hare [H] Clan/Rank : [Ti] Windclan Leader, [O] Riverclan Warrior [R] Riverclan Warrior, [H] Skyclan Warrior Number of posts : 10049 Gender : Any Pronouns Age : 26
Subject: Re: Hunted [SITEWIDE] Mon 22 Jan 2024 - 18:20
Tigerstar glanced back to make sure others were leaving before turning his attention back to the wolf. Sootstorm left him with a single demand that the striped leader wasn't super sure he could even follow. This beast was strong. Even if he tried to escape surely it would follow so he would have to do what he could to keep it's attention, to keep it from his escaping clan. He knew one more hit would do him in, so he would have to keep his distance as best as he could.
The Windclan leader quickly slashed at the wolf's eyes, turning quickly on his feet to run, making sure the Wolf stayed on him and didn't turn to anyone else.
Tigerstar used Fight and Flee dealing 10 damage, -All SP. Tough Pelt is active.
Tigerstar: 11 / 70 HP 0 / 150 SP
Wolf #1: 569 / 600 HP (-5) 725 / 800 SP
Tigerstar is fleeing, making sure the Wolf stays with him.
Owlcall didn't really appreciate the look Murkyriver had given him but he didn't have time to dwell on it. All that mattered at the moment was that another of his siblings was getting to safety. The large brown tom scanned the messy area, blue eyes trying to look among the cats for any sign of his final sibling. When he didn't see Pigeonpaw he turned to follow after the others, ready to leave behind the mess that had occurred.
Owllcall has fled.
Harepaw didn't really process what Beechfang said, all he knew was that she was trying to reassure him but the fear still clung to him, sinking it's claws in. No matter how much he wanted to shake the feeling he couldn't. Though a part of him could feel his heart sink slightly as soon as Shatteredsky stepped up to help carry him out of the territory. He didn't like being helped. He was tired of being weak but he had no choice in the matter. This was his life. Constantly having other assist him because he just wasn't good enough. He didn't protest with any of the choices the two made, no matter how much part of him hated it. They just needed to leave.
Harepaw fled with Beechfang and Shatteredsky.
The wolf wanted to follow after the other two that had fled from it, but it's attention was drawn away from the duo back to the rogue that remained. This one would have to do.
Wolf used Iron Bite dealing 33 damage, -45 SP
Scorch: 7/40 HP (-33) 76/100 SP
Wolf: 583/600 HP 710/800 SP (-45)
Echomist stood a stalk still as his body allowed him to as he stared down the wolf that had kill his mate. Green met brown, both burning with contempt and hatred for each other. An unspoken challenge being spoken between their gazes, waiting for the other to make a move, even if this fight was entirely one sided. He knew he wouldn't last long against this beast but as long as his clan was safe it didn't matter to him how long this fight would last. That was until he heard the familiar call of one of his living children.
Green eyes snapped to the black she-cat and it seemed she wasn't the only one that had come for him, Badgermask was there too, both of them, risking the precious life they had left for a cat that didn't have any. No.. no. No! This isn't how it was supposed to go, first his mate now his children? Why couldn't they just leave him behind? His life was forfeit anyway, at least let him use what he had left to protect them, to buy them time. He wanted.. no he needed his last moments to mean something. To die for those he cared for, to serve the clan with his last breath, to let everyone live. That is all he wanted. Why couldn't he have that?
Green eyes turned back to the beast, noting the change in it's attention from him to the others. No. He could feel his frail body moving before his brain even had time to follow process what was happening. The world slowed around him, the jaws of the wolf opening. The slow movement towards Heatherberry, the gleaming white teeth has it begun to dig it's way into his daughter's face. The impact of his body hitting hers, shoving her clean out of the way, knowing he wasn't in time to save her from all of the damage, but he saved her from death. At least he could be satisfied with that.
The world came back to him fully as he felt teeth, dig into his skin. A sickening crunch filling the air around him as the wolf bit down with all of it's might. His whole body felt on fire, there was screaming that he quickly came to realize was his own, and then nothing. The pain had vanished just as quickly as it came, and then he was on the ground again. He could see red coating the ground all around him, but he couldn't feel the ground. He.. He couldn't move. Green eyes looked back over to his daughters. Grief an desperation filled the tom. They needed to leave. They couldn't end up like him.
"Leave!" The tom cried out, his voice desperate and broken, just like his body was now. "Leave while you can! Please!" He pleaded his two daughters, wanting nothing more than to chase them out, but he couldn't move. He could only watch as the wolf turned it's attention back to them. Only watch as it stared down the duo. No matter how much he begged his body to move, it wouldn't respond. It wouldn't give in to his wishes. He was stuck and forced to watch whatever might happen in front of him.
He could feel the tears filling his eyes, at least he thought they were tears, he couldn't tell with all of the blood around him. "Please.." He begged once again. "Please continue to live for me."
He could tell his breath wasn't coming out like it should be, but he couldn't feel it. He couldn't feel how weak his body had become. The only thing he could see was his world slowly fading from view as the blood loss started to set in. He only had a moment maybe, seconds left. His green eyes remained on his daughters wanting the last thing he saw of the world to be them, even if his life was taken in a cruel manner, at least he could see the beauty of it one last time.
"I.. I love you." He croaked out, echoing Leopardstar's words to him, before he finally gave in, and let the world go.
Wolf #5 used Fatal Bite on Heatherberry, dealing damage, -45 SP
Characters : Beetlekit (Current) / Former: Fuzzybelly, Mintheart Number of posts : 522 Age : 30
Subject: Re: Hunted [SITEWIDE] Mon 22 Jan 2024 - 18:35
Scorch breathed a sigh of relief, seeing his brother get away.
His attention was immediately jarred by the fangs of the wolf, crushing his left side.
The massive tortoiseshell yowled as the grip seized him. His bones felt brittle in the vice the beast had, the tremble in the bite shaking him.
If he keeps me here, I'm dead.
Scorch then slashed towards the beast's eyes, and slipped out of the grab. He stumbled behind the fleeing cats, he knew he needed medical attention. He could bleed out like this, he didn't have time to waste...
"Quick, run to the foothills!"
He hobbled as best he could, though he couldn't go forever...
Scorch used Fight and Flee for 5 damage [Tough Pelt active!]