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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It was another early day as Wolfstar padded from the medicine den with a bundle of herbs in her jaws. Hickorysmoke had just been made a warrior... Now it was time for his sister to undertake the journey to highstones. She'd been watching Honeypaw's training from a distance, and the young tortoiseshell and white apprentice was ready.
"Honeypaw? Time to get up. We've got a long trip ahead of us... And these herbs will be terrible but you have to eat them, they'll keep you from getting tired or hungry on the way." Seeing the apprentice lift her head, Wolfstar backed away from the den's entrance to wait. Honeypaw did not keep her long, a stray scrap of moss still clinging stubbornly to her pelt. Whiskers twitching in amusement, Wolfstar learned over, flicking the scrap away. Honeypaw grumbled, but bent her head to the bundle of herbs waiting for her.
"Eugh... That's awful. I'm awake now." Honeypaw grumbled, though followed her grandmother from camp without complaint.
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It was dusk by the time the pair of she-cats reached highstones. "Stick close, the tunnels are dark and impossible to see in until we get to the moonstone. Just touch your nose to it and lay down, I'll be there when you wake." Honeypaw said nothing, but obediently followed the leader into the tunnels. The complete darkness in the tunnels wasn't something she could say she liked, it was unnerving and she hated the feeling of stone pressing in on her. But she'd spend a while as an apprentice, and she was so close to becoming a warrior...
Honeypaw blinked as the moonstone finally came into view, soft light filling the cavern that she found herself standing in. Remembering Wolfstar's instruction, the fluffy apprentice gingerly touched her nose to the moonstone and laid down. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to fall asleep easily here, but somehow sleep claimed her quickly.
A cool fall breeze blew through long green grass as Myrtlebloom sat on a rock. Many moons had come and gone since she made her appearance in Starclan but it didn’t feel like that long. Her bi-colored eyes slowly blinked as she looked over the beautiful meadow in front of her. A soft figure appeared in the grass, and she slowly made her way over.
It was a young molly, sent for her moonstone no doubt and it seemed Myrtlebloom would be the one to advise her. Her eyes widened as her gaze met the apprentice’s. She knew this cat, it was a Skyclan cat no doubt and a sibling of her former best friend. A lump formed in Myrtlebloom’s chest. Words were not her strong suit especially when her feeling wanted to consume her. ”H-hello Hon…Honeypaw. I’m Myrtlebloom.” She choked as she spoke softly.
Anxiety prickled at the calico’s paws as she studied the apprentice. She shared a parent with the former Honeydew yet looked so different. Myrtlebloom didn’t know what to say. Part of her wanted to embrace the younger cat but she knew it wasn’t her friend. She didn’t know if the apprentice was confused or not, but she figured she would try to explain it to her regardless. ”You’re in Starclan and I am here to give you advise… I think…” Her eyes scanned the area, maybe she just got in the way of anther cat. Maybe another cat would show up… Discord: ChaoticCrow | Timezone: Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) | Code (c) Kieer
Honeypaw wasn't quite sure what to expect when she opened her eyes, finding herself laying in a starlit meadow with a cool breeze ruffling her fur. This... Was not the cavern she had fallen asleep in, and the fluffy apprentice jumped to her paws, blue eyes sweeping over her surroundings. An unfamiliar she-cat was making her way toward the apprentice, fur just as starry as the meadow they stood in.
So this was Starclan then, and the she-cat confirmed it. Her greeting was soft, a hesitation to her words that Honeypaw couldn't understand. "Uh, hi." Maybe she should have asked Wolfstar what to expect on the trip here... Too late now. "You knew my name already? And what advice are you supposed to offer? Were you a Skyclanner?" Her confusion had given way to questions, naturally, bright blue eyes fixed on Myrtlebloom.
Myrtlebloom’s bright eyes widened as Honeypaw burst into questions. Her mind spinning as she tried to weave answers before she spoke. “It comes with being in Starclan, knowing your name that is…” She quietly huffed. Myrtlebloom’s tail flicked as a sign for the apprentice to follow her. She wasn’t sure what she needed to tell the younger molly, but she figured it would come to her when the time was right.
One last glance over her shoulder confirmed no other cat was going to take over and this was her responsibility now. “I am from Skyclan, although I wasn’t born in the territory like you. I was born right before the clan moved back into our rightful territory.” Myrtlebloom’s voice trailed off as she spoke. Things had been difficult for the molly when she was alive, but she regretted not living it to the fullest.
A sad smile formed on Myrtlebloom’s face as she walked through the meadow. “You work hard for your clan. Your time and effort that you put in is something to be proud of; you know that right?” She mewed softly to Honeypaw. Those were words she would’ve loved to hear when she was alive. “It’s ok to take a break and have time to yourself. You need to especially if you’re a hard worker.” She mewed as she gave Honeypaw a wink.
Myrtlebloom couldn’t lie to herself. She didn’t watch over Skyclan much; she had no real reason to in her mind, but she liked to watch the apprentices and kits from time to time. She kept an eye on Honeypaw specifically. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the name, her behavior or those soft blue eyes, but something about the apprentice reminded her so much of her childhood friend.
“Also keep in mind, your family…” Myrtlebloom nearly choked on the words and tears stung her eyes. “Don’t forget about them. Make time for them. Life is… um… life is short… and it is gone before you know it…” She mewed softly. “The clan is important but so are your relationships, ok?” Her voice cracked as a single tear streamed down her face. How did the conversation turn to this? She gave herself a few moments before shaking her head and clearing her throat. Myrtlebloom’s eyes met Honeypaw’s again and she gave her a smile. “Do you… uh.. do you have any more questions? I’m happy to answer them?”
Myrtlebloom turned, tail flicking in invitation to follow. Honeypaw was quick to join her, wide blue eyes sweeping over their surroundings.
The Starclanner had been born before the clans moved back to their own territory... "So like, the lake? I've heard a few stories..." Unpleasant stories, though curiosity still burned bright in Honeypaw's gaze.
Ah, working hard. Some cats seemed to think that was all there was to being an apprentice. Honeypaw's training had fallen by the wayside after her mentor had become a parent, and Stoatclaw had largely been absent outside of their first few training sessions. She'd been content with the freedom and lax schedule... Until she hadn't been. Her peers were progressing quickly in their training, and she'd felt like she needed to catch up, often taking on extra patrols and asking other warriors to spar. Her moonstone at long last had made the young she-cat feel as if that effort had not been wasted, that she was moving in the right direction. "I'm trying," She mewed, "My brother became a warrior recently, and so have a few of the other apprentices around my age. I want to join them again." Myrtlebloom seemed to pause for a moment, whatever thoughts plagued the Starclanner weren't pleasant ones, judging by the expression on her face.
"Of course I will. They're my family." She didn't need to be told to stay close to them, even if Snowpaw was an introverted furball who was quiet most of the time. Her parents, though... So busy, always so busy. Honeypaw couldn't recall the last time she'd really spoken to them, she realized with a start. And the loss of two of her littermates early had stung, too. She was close with Hickorysmoke, of course, but... "...I'll do better at that, I promise." She vowed.
"You knew some of my older family, didn't you?" grandma had come to mind first, but the mention of being born right before Skyclan had come back to their territory... She must've known her parents and maybe Harespring, too.
Myrtlebloom gave Honeypaw a nod, confirming she was born in the lake territory. The memories weren’t pleasant, and she didn’t care to share that part of her past with the apprentice. It didn’t seem like the young molly was too focused on that part anyways.
At the mention of Hickorysmoke, Myrtlebloom scrunched her nose and flicked an ear. The tom reminded her too much of his older brother, and her former mentor, Shatteredsky. She pushed her feelings to the side and just smiled at Honeypaw. ”You’re doing good. I didn’t mean it in a bad way.” She softly chirped. Her smile was replaced with a frown at the mention of Honeypaw’s family. A mixture of sadness and irritation resting on her face.
The Starclanner stopped walking, and her head lifted towards the sky. ”Yeah, I knew your family.” Myrtlebloom huffed, ”Your older sister, Honeydew…. Well… my mother left me and my siblings in her care when she passed. She was my best friend…” Tear threatened to flow down her cheeks again, but she forced the feeling down. Her head lowered and her gaze met the ground. ”Your brother, Shatteredsky, was my mentor and was a lot like Hickorysmoke. We… We didn’t get along well but I…. I still cared about him. As for your other siblings, Harespring and Brackendawn, I didn’t know them well. I didn’t really know your father either. But your mom and grandmother were rather kind and I wish I would’ve gotten to know them better.”
Myrtlebloom sighed softly with a smile at the thought of her old life. ”Your family is something for sure…’Probably cursed.’ She thought to herself. ”The death of my brother, followed by you sister was too much for me… otherwise, who knows, maybe we could’ve been best friends.” She mewed choking back the tears. Discord: ChaoticCrow | Timezone: Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) | Code (c) Kieer
She noted the way Myrtlebloom's face scrunched a bit at the mention of her brother, and couldn't understand why. But the Starclanner was talking, mentioning how her mother had entrusted the care of her and her siblings to Honeydew... Honeypaw's older half-sister. The one she'd been named after. "Everyone says she was really nice. And responsible." She wouldn't have been made deputy otherwise, Honeypaw was sure. Nobody had ever compared her to her older half-sibling, and hearing about it didn't feel like a shadow looming over her. Though from the sadness in some of her clanmates' eyes when they spoke of her, the apprentice could tell just how missed she still was even now.
"Hickorysmoke is great! He... Could be a little less abrasive, really. But he's a good brother and a great warrior." She didn't know this Shatteredsky that Myrtlebloom seemed to be much less fond of, but felt the need to defend her brother even so. "I know he didn't get along with his mentor... I guess if things had been different, I probably wouldn't get along with Stoatclaw either. He's... Not exactly present. He's a good cat, kind... Just..." Honeypaw shrugged. She'd accepted the freedoms that the paws-off mentor had given her, of course, but now she was determined to make up for it. And her mother and grandma... "I wish mama was around more. Grandma is, but she's always so busy. Dad too, really." Wolfstar had always been kind and caring though. And Thymelight... She missed her mother.
Her family was... Something. "What do you mean, 'something?'" She questioned, blue eyes narrowing slightly. Myrtlebloom sure seemed to have mixed opinions of some of them, that was for sure... But what cat didn't have varied opinions of their clanmates?
"Yeah... Maybe. I know Skyclan's lost a lot of cats lately. And... Always, it seems like whenever some of the warriors get to talking..." Honeypaw muttered.
Myrtlebloom’s eyes widened at Honeypaw’s question ‘Way to go Myrtle!’ She grumbled to herself. “I didn’t mean it in a bad way. Your family is just closer than most and it seems the mollies are a bit more friendly than the toms. That’s all.” She hoped her short answer would satisfy the apprentice and that she wouldn’t press deeper.
The older molly let out a soft sigh. “Loss is inevitable, and it cuts deep unfortunately…” Myrtlebloom’s gaze met Honeypaw’s. Was she really the one to talk about loss? The death of her mother consumed her, and she lived most of her life wishing she could bring Paledove back. Then the death of her sibling and best friend… “Most of Skyclan handles death well. Although they’re sad, it doesn’t seem to consume them… The words she spoke felt weird to say. She hadn’t talked with many of her clanmates, the ones she did was this apprentice’s family… And they really didn’t seem bothered by death at all.
"I dunno, dad and my brothers seem friendly enough to me." Honeypaw shrugged in reply. Okay, Snowpaw was quiet and Hickorysmoke was a little abrasive... But they were still perfectly good cats.
To Myrtlebloom's next words, Honeypaw wasn't sure what to say, really. Maybe some of her clanmates didn't let things affect them... "Outwardly, at least." She murmured thoughtfully. "I don't know how they do it, honestly." Maybe it was the lack of truly knowing - so many of their clanmates had simply seemed to just vanish without a trace, rather than leaving a body to find. She wondered if that maybe made it easier for some of her clanmates, though that didn't seem to be the case for all of them.
