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 : 3152 Gender : Any Pronouns Age : 26
Subject: Re: July Gathering 2024 Sun 14 Jul 2024 - 11:21
POPPYSTAR
Just stop your crying...
Poppystar let the other leaders go. It was a quiet Gathering, so it seemed, with no one having much to report. She was glad to hear that there did not seem to be much trouble, at least nothing worth reporting. She stepped up after Wolfstar. “RiverClan also remains prosperous this Greenleaf. We welcome Redpaw as our newest apprentice. I hope the season remains prosperous for everyone else as well.”
She stepped back, joining the others in not having much to report this moon.
Leopardstar realized she was last to speak, and spoke lowly to the WindClan leader a short distance away. “I apologize, but I must request a word with you after the Gathering concludes. It shouldn't take long.”
Then she stepped forward, lifting her head high. “Prey is running well in ShadowClan,” she began. “We welcome Fishpaw to the apprentices’ den, and we are proud to welcome Hollowgrove and Smokeytimber to the warriors’ den.”
She knew that could not simply ignore the more mixed and negative news, however much she wanted to, and so she pressed on. “Additionally, we welcome Nightpaw to the path of a medicine cat, though that joy is tempered by the disappearance of his mentor. Should any Clan cross paths with Heatherberry, I ask only that she be allowed safe passage home.”
Her tail curled around her side. ”Though I respect that the rules and rites of medicine cats allow them to go where they please, know that the marsh is dangerous even without our defenses; and trespassers without due cause to be on our land will be appropriately dealt with.”
Leopardstar has given ShadowClan's announcements!
the gods can judge me when i'm dead||code (c) kieer
Midnee
Characters : [S]ilverdusk, [L]ouse, [N]ettleweaver, [V]iperpaw, [P]etalkit, [C]lovermottle, Brackendawn* Burningpaw*, Oakberry*, Ospreypaw*, Weaselpaw*, Gladepaw*, Darkflower*, Pumapaw*, Hazeflight*, Driftcloud*, Spructhorn*, Hollyshard*, Ospreypaw*, Blurrypaw*, Dapplekit*, Jaguar* Clan/Rank : [S] ThunderClan T5 warrior [L] T3 rogue [N] Shadowclan T3 warrior [V] WindClan Apprentice [P] ThunderClan kit [C] RiverClan perma-queen Number of posts : 2383 Gender : any pronouns Age : 20
Her first gathering since becoming a mother. Silverdusk felt ill, she’d been extremely reluctant to leave their kits, even if in a moon or two they’d be apprentices. Still, that wasn’t any consolation. Something was stealing cats, especially cats of feral descent. Even if their kits were safe in camp her worry did not ease. If something could take Wiggleworm, Vinecrawler and Bearkit, then her sweet, defenceless kits would be no match. How easy it would be for whatever it was to snatch up the only physical reminder Silverdusk still had of Wiggleworm. They shook their head, angry and disappointed at themselves for actually allowing themselves to attend this gathering. If it weren’t for the promise she’d made Adderpaw to help her search for Vinecrawler, the silver warrior would have turned around then and there and marched back to ThunderClan. Escort or not, she doubted there were any creatures in the forest that would stand in their way as she stormed back to what remained of their family.
“Shall we question ShadowClan?” they mewed to their niece. She lifted her angular head, surveying the crowd before pushing forward towards the marsh-dwellers. As the sea of acts parted around the pair they paused to briefly, press reassuringly against her former mentor. Their heart clenched for Quailprowler, truly feeling her pain, because it was the exact same pain she felt. Both their mates taken, not a trail to latch onto. Was there anything worse? Still, it wouldn’t surprise Silverdusk if the older she-cat wanted to be alone, with empathetic glance over their shoulder she continued forward. Their gaze fell to Adderpaw again, then to a ShadowClan cat that didn’t look too on edge. “I think we should talk to that one.” There really was an edge to ShadowClan tonight, they seemed tense. In another lifetime, Silverdusk would have cared to have known, but these days they were only concerned with the affairs of their family.
Nettleweaver was annoyed that tonight was going to be ruined. He was making enemies not friends tonight, and while he could possibly stomach that, Lilypawmousebrainfoxheartface was suppose to be helping him. He clenched his jaw, gritting his teeth as he padded towards the WindClan cats. It was particularly offensive, considering he’d just been trying to make friends with several cats across the border, and now he was here to destroy the peace he’d created for himself. He couldn’t even hang his head, he needed to be paying attention to the cats around them, not sulking. Hopefully, Laurelpaw, if she was in attendance, was far too preoccupied to notice or even care about him.
Finally, his mismatched eyes landed on the russet pelt of the cat he was after. Wanting to get out of the situation as fast as possible, his eyes darted to Leopardstar as she stepped up, then to the cat in front of him. Nettleweaver, hoped and prayed she understood the message he was trying to convey. It was a bit difficult to be clear and indiscreet when you were lacking a tail.
Viperpaw stepped into the gathering, pausing to relish in the atmosphere. Her father looked so powerful up on Great Rock, one day she’d be up there. Everyone would be able to see her greatness, bask in it. The cooling breeze ruffled her fur and she smiled. The moment was short lived though as a certain car charged past her, almost sending her sprawling. Viperpaw snarled, then charged after her. She was so done with her. ”Turn around you foxing mousebrain so I can look at you when I tear up your stupid face!” hissed the golden apprentice
Silverdusk has offered sympathies to Quailprowler on her way to speak to Juniper with Adderpaw Nettleweaver is trying to discreetly hint that he’s found Auburnrain to Leopardstar Viperpaw is attempting to kill Creampaw and evoke StarClan’s wrath
Hemlockfox flinched as his sister pulled away, the air cold where her warm body had once been pressed against his. She was acting strange, distant. He'd done something wrong; he'd been gone for too long and she'd changed her mind. It was all over. He was going to stay trapped in WindClan and his own kin wasn't even willing to join him anymore. Then, she spoke again, and his heart stopped. Graywind was...dead? It was all his fault. He should have gone home sooner - he should have told WindClan and StarClan to eat crowfood and gone back moons ago.
Maybe, if he had, he could have at least been there for his sisters when everything started to go wrong. Maybe, he could have saved them. Oh, how he wished he had never accepted Smokepetal's offer to become her apprentice. He'd only done it to try to counteract Thymelight's influence on the clan, but even then, it had been futile. It always had been. From the moment he said yes and became a medicine cat apprentice, Starclan made it their mission to force him away from home. But, even then, it wasn't StarClan's fault. It wasn't Smokepetal's, or Sunfire's, or Bubblebeam's, or anyone's fault but his own. He was a wretched brother and clanmate.
As Bubblebeam continued to speak, Hemlockfox's heart grew colder and colder, dread settling in his bones and stomach as though he was rotting from the inside out. He wanted to say something, to beg her to change her mind and scream that he wasn't the same as everyone else and that he'd never leave her, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, the medicine cat stood there stupidly, his jaws opening and closing noiselessly. The leaders had begun their announcements, but Hemlock could hardly hear them over the storm inside his head.
Bubblebeam kept talking, though, her voice low. The words coming from her mouth were strange and heartbreaking, but still, the familiarity of it was all that tethered him to the ground. She was...changing her mind, then. A part of Hemlockfox wanted to turn and run away. It seemed pointless to argue with her about it, especially with all the clans pressed in around them, but he had to say something, anything. "I..." No. He couldn't. It wouldn't be fair because, really, was it really that different from what he'd done when he wound up in WindClan?
He supposed not, if it was because she simply wanted to stay home, in their forest, but something told him that wasn't the case. He dug his claws into the dirt and tried to keep his voice even. "Is it because of him?" He growled with a scathing glance towards Silverhawk. "Please tell me that you can't come with me because you need to stay with SkyClan, with our kin. Please tell me it's not what I think it is, Bubble." Hemlockfox's voice shook, but he continued. "I could accept it and understand if you wanted to stay to protect what's left of our family, but if that's not the reason..." He closed his eyes tightly and sighed. "Just be honest, please."
Hemlockfox is talking to Bubblebeam and Silverhawk.
From the moment Bubblebeam spoke her quiet, hurting question, Silverhawk went quiet. Though he wished to interject--to tell her brother to leave, or declare him a fool for thinking he could come back so easily after leaving Bubblebeam to her own devices for moons, or to usher her away--he remained quiet. Silverhawk understood that this was a conversation they needed to have, and the fact that he had no place in it. Though he probably should have shifted away when the subject of family came up, he remained exactly where he sat, right at Bubblebeam’s side. She was his, and he wasn’t going to abandon her here.
When a rough edge entered Hemlockfox’s voice, Silverhawk’s muscles tensed, pushing his fur into a brief bristle. Nevermind that the cat in question was her brother--he didn’t like anyone talking to Bubblebeam like that. But the tone smoothed when their heads pressed together, so Silverhawk relaxed. He let his gaze slide to the side so he could look out around the crowd, uncomfortable with staring down the pair as they spoke. It was easier to school the revulsion from his expression when he wasn’t facing Hemlockfox, anyway.
The heavy tone of Bubblebeam’s voice made Silverhawk wish to press close to her, but he resisted the urge. It would not look good, not now. But his paws tingled with it, especially when she said she couldn’t follow him to WindClan. The heaviness of her voice made Silverhawk’s heart constrict, but it soared, too. Bubblebeam’s flight to ShadowClan felt foregone, but still. It brought him a sense of delight and triumph to know for certain she would be going nowhere else.
A smirk tugged at the corners of Silverhawk’s muzzle, but it withered away nearly as soon as it appeared. His head turned around slowly and his pupils narrowed to slits as he fixed his attention on Hemlockfox. Silverhawk looked him over once then turned an unimpressed look on the medicine cat. Despite his unbothered expression, rage rose up in Silverhawk’s chest. A sharp lash of his tail was the only display of it.
”What does it matter to you?” Silverhawk yawned. He rose to his paws to step forward and stand a step ahead of being shoulder-to-shoulder with Bubblebeam. ”It isn’t your decision to accept. Bubblebeam is capable of making her own choices, with or without your approval. You aren’t her steward. And...” Silverhawk angled his head to the side with a curious, innocent blink. ”You left SkyClan, didn’t you? You don’t have a in what goes on between their walls anymore.” His expression grew suddenly sour, and he turned his nose up at Hemlockfox. ”If you wanted her acceptance, you should have been there when it mattered. Clearly, you weren’t.” Silverhawk took another step closer to Hemlockfox. The audacity of this tom. Silverhawk wanted to spit, but he refrained. Instead, still with no ounce of kindness, he said levelly, ”She told you she can’t go with you, and you’re going to accept that answer whatever her reasons are.”
Silverhawk is talking to Hemlockfox and Bubblebeam.
"Huzzat--" Ryepaw's head snapped forward, away from his surroundings and the gaping blackness of silverpelt above, and found Hedgepaw. He blinked dumbly for a moment. Oh, she stank. Like not a bad stink. Just a stinky stink. Like a real stink. Not that he knew what it was. Damp and mud or something.
"Heya, brownie," He rumbled, a grin spreading on his face with that ever-present snaggletooth. "Mhm. This me first. I didn't expect it to be so... big. 'N loud. 'N big. Am Ryepaw, of WindClan. It's good to meet'cha. You like these things? Gatherin's, I mean."
Wolfpaw gave her a quizzical look. The kind of look when one had never seen this kind of display before. He huffed, inclining his head toward the scars. His expression did not change upon looking at them. It was an almost mechanical motion, more rigid than a natural gesture of inspection. He flicked an ear. "They are a good trophy," He said lowly, leaning back at that meagre statement. "You would have been able to kill it yourself. You are not weak." The words felt like dripping, sticky honey coming out of his mouth. Forced, somewhat. He had no idea if she was strong or weak.
"I returned to camp fine," He answered perhaps a heartbeat too late. He hummed, turning his head over his shoulder. He stiffened when Hedgepaw was not where he had last seen her. His head swivelled until he found her, and then let out a heavy breath. "I joined the patrol again as usual. Nobody paid much mind to me."
Bubblebeam's heart beat so loudly in her chest that she could hardly hear the sound of her brother's voice, let alone the murmuring of the other crowds in the clearing. She couldn't believe she'd actually told him that she wouldn't be going to WindClan. After moons of missing him, she'd finally gotten to see him again, and now the air between them felt so uncomfortably tense that she honestly wanted to just leave. This entire conversation had not gone the way she planned it. Why did he look at her so coldly? Why was he so upset with her, when she'd tried so hard to be understanding about him going to WindClan? And if he felt this way, then... what was Gramma Wolf going to say when she told her? Anxiety raced through her veins like static. Hemlockfox was looking at her so coldly, as if she'd done something wrong. And she had, she was horribly selfish and she knew it, but hadn't he been selfish too? How could he expect her to forgive him but be so unwilling to reciprocate?
And now, her brother was glaring at Silverbird. Bubblebeam stiffened at the words he snarled, even as he used the familiar shortening of her name. It--it was because of him, technically, but it wasn't just that. It wasn't just because of the evenings they spent finding comfort in each others' embrace. It was because of the foxes and dogs, because of the empty loneliness in the sparse nests of the warrior's den, because of her sisters' distance, because of the hours spent staring across the border resenting her brother for his escape and hating herself for that resentment. Even if Silverbird suddenly said that he hated her, she still would not be remaining in SkyClan--not for the sake of their "kin," however few were left, nor for anyone else's sake. It didn't matter whether she was leaving for ShadowClan or for somewhere else. Cats would be upset no matter what choice she made. And if she was going to be hated anyway, then why shouldn't she choose whose shoulder she got to cry on? Judging by the angry sighs of Hemlockfox, it wouldn't be him. But the way he talked about "protecting their family" when he'd been one of the reasons it tore apart felt like a splash of cold water to the face. Her frame shook. How was she supposed to respond to this?
But before she could find her voice, Silverbird finally spoke up. He stepped forward, and though he didn't curl around her physically, his words supported her as though he had been the rock beneath her paws. The fact that he--that anyone--would speak up so sternly on her behalf made something warm blanket the rough edges of her nerves. And... and he was right. She could make her own decisions. That was what she was doing. Even though Silverbird had suggested she go to ShadowClan, even though Hawkmist had given her advice, it was her decision to act on it. She was choosing to finally do what she wanted to do, for a change. She was choosing to care for herself like she'd always cared for her siblings... like Silverbird would care for her.
Bubblebeam let out a shaking breath and straightened her limbs so that she wouldn't collapse in on herself. As much as she appreciated Silverbird's eloquent assistance, she couldn't let him fight her battles for her. "I'm not going to stay in SkyClan," she said, hoping that her voice wasn't trembling. "I can't. Not for you and not for anyone else. And I can't go to WindClan. I wanted to... I wanted to go with you, but if you're too busy to see me, then why--why should I uproot my entire life for you? If I'm leaving anyway, then I want to choose somewhere with cats that have time for me." Though it still tugged on the strings of her heart to speak so roughly to Hemlockfox, she'd been polite and reasonable this whole time. At least, she thought she had--with the way her mind whirled, it was hard to make heads or tails of the scenery before her. She had to trust that her emotions weren't leading her astray. "And--and I'm going to miss you, and I still miss you, and I hope that Plover and Sorrel are still able to go with you. But our family was broken, and even if we all moved to the same Clan, we couldn't repair the problems we have. I still want to see you at the border sometimes, if I can. I love you. But after being forced to live so long without you, I realized that I can, if I have to. I can live without you, even if it hurts. And... if it's going to hurt anyway, then..." Her voice faltered, so she tried again. "Then I want to make a family of my own. One that won't shatter into pieces this time." Bubblebeam raised one soft gray paw and placed it on top of Silverbird's. She couldn't turn to look at him--she couldn't move at all, for fear of collapsing. Her lungs constricted so tightly that she could hardly breathe after everything she said. How could she say those things? They had all been true. She would have had to say them eventually; she couldn't keep pretending things were fine anymore. But still, she couldn't go back from this. There would be consequences, and she tried to brace herself for the pain that was about to come. She had to face them without flinching. She could cry when it was over.
Bubblebeam is talking to Hemlockfox and Silverhawk.
--
Hedgepaw almost jumped in surprise to the other tom's reaction of surprise. She'd already started to second-guess her decision to walk over here. However, he didn't seem too rattled, and eventually he smiled. Her fur flattened, and she relaxed, letting out a relieved sigh. She didn't know why he called her "brownie"--maybe because her fur was brown?--even though she'd told him her name, but she supposed that she didn't mind it. Still, he was an apprentice, like her. He was talking to her. That meant maybe they could be friends. She smiled again. "I know what you mean 'bout it being loud and big," she agreed. "I'm kinda small, so my first time, I just hid b'hind my brothers. But this time I wanted to go make some friends, and you looked like you could be a friend. So I came to talk to you!" Bright green eyes blinked slowly at him. Did she like Gatherings? She... wasn't sure. "I dunno. I've only been to a coupla Gatherings, so don't really know if I like them or not. They are a bit loud, hones'ly, and they're scary sometimes. But I get scared at everything so that's not really a problem." Her short tail swished behind her, and she tilted her head thoughtfully. "D'you ever get scared, Ryepaw?"
Creampaw bursted into the Gathering, purposefully shoving into Viperpaw on her way past. A shriek of laughter left her as a furious scream sounded from behind her. She could hear Viperpaw chasing after her, but with the crowds of cats around them, there wasn't much space to run off to. No problem then, she'd just have to face her attacked head-on. It wasn't as if Viperpaw could ever hope to best her in a fight. The cream-and-white tabby whirled around to hurl herself forward, straight into the other apprentice's path. Using her head, she roughly headbutted the she-cat, so that Viperpaw would be knocked back and onto the ground. Take that! With a devilish smirk and a malicious glint in her eyes, Creampaw taunted, "Can't get enough of my face? I wouldn't blame you; I'd want my face too if I looked as ugly as you."
I wish I could go back in time; not to change anything, but to feel a few things twice.
Juniperpaw's eyes widened in horror as two seemingly furious ThunderClanners approached her. One was as large as she was sturdy, and her paws themselves looked strong enough to crush the black apprentice entirely. The other had long legs and an angular face, and sharp eyes that was fixed on Juniperpaw. The black she-cat swallowed nervously, and she could feel her legs begin to shake violently. Had- had she done something wrong? She hadn't even spoken to anyone! She looked around to see if there was anywhere for her to go, but the crowds pressed in closed, and she was stuck right where she was. Oh StarClan...
Creampaw is fighting with Viperpaw Juniperpaw is interacting with Adderpaw and Silverdusk Leopardwind is open for interaction Quillsplash is open for interaction
Tigerstar glanced over to the Shadowclan leader as she spoke quietly to him. Anxiety sparked in his chest momentarily at her words, but he quickly shoved it aside. The fact that she wanted to talk was better than whatever other solution that could have happened. He returned his gaze back to his clan as he waited for her to finish up her announcements before speaking back in the same low tone she shared with him. "Very well. I do hope whatever this is about can be solved smoothly." He didn't want to make assumptions, he wasn't going to make assumptions no matter how much his brain tried to drift. He would go into this with an open mind.
Leopardstar had not missed Nettleweaver's signal, the message that he had found the cat they were talking about, and she had committed the pelt to memory as quickly as she could. Now that the Gathering proper was dismissed, she turned her attention to Tigerstar. "As do I."
She moved away from the other leaders, speaking softly enough that they wouldn't overhear. Her Clan had wanted her not to make a scene, and she could see the logic behind it. And even if she didn't... She had to remember that she wasn't Leopardsun, but Leopardstar. What she wanted hadn't mattered since that day, had it? Not really.
She was grateful for the practice in keeping herself calm and collected, the several seasons she'd been forced to learn and act in a way that felt so unnatural. It made it easier now, when she'd had the rest of the night so far to consider her words.
"Two of my warriors have independently reported an incident where one of your warriors was well over the clearly-marked border, well within our territory and looking to pick a fight. When spotted, she seemingly attempted to murder the cat that found her, leaving the cat she'd attacked with serious injuries. Such an incident was only prevented due to the arrival of another warrior who managed to drive her off our land, who was kind enough tonight to identify the cat in question."
Her own tail gestured to the cat Nettleweaver had pointed out, one she wasn't aware of the name of.
"We do not know her name, as I am told the only sound she made was some sort of screech. I will not tell you how to punish your warriors, Tigerstar--that would be foolish. But I will warn you that the marsh is dangerous for a number of reasons, that its depths have claimed the lives of even experienced warriors, and ShadowClan will not bear any responsibility for what happens to cats who blatantly disregard our warnings and our borders."
There were other things she could have said, could have emphasized, but she was serious in wanting to listen to her Clanmates; and so she kept her statement to the facts of the matter.
"I felt that, as a leader, you ought to be informed of such an incident."
I'd certainly want to know if one of my warriors was doing such a thing.
Then she raised her voice, back to a normal volume intended for the leaders on the rock. "Thank you for your time, Tigerstar," she dipped her head.
the gods can judge me when i'm dead||code (c) kieer
Creampaw’s shriek of laughter only fuelled her anger, and it wasn’t long until she was upon the she-cat. There wasn’t anywhere else to go given the conditions of a gathering, and so when she bursted into the space before Creampaw, she was already waiting. The lithe molly didn’t have time to react as the other cat ran straight into her, bowling her over into the dirt. Her tail lashed and she clamped down on the squawk of surprise and indignation that she wanted to release. Viperpaw would not let Creampaw think for once chance she was better than her. ”Actually, I was looking to improve your face!” she hissed back, using her hind legs to sweep Creampaw’s feet from beneath her. From training she knew the bicolour apprentice would be quick to try and get back on her paws so she surged forward, leering over Creampaw. ”Which feature of yours do you want me to fix first? You get to choose! An ear, your nose, an eye… Oh! Maybe both eyes! I’m feeling generous, Creampaw, let me help you. I’m doing you a favour” crooned Viperpaw, leaning closer and closer to the other cat, claws inching out of their sheathes.
