[poppy]

 

Originally Posted by alec

jayfrost limped to the leaders den, birdsnow huh, the silver tabby wasnt too sure what to think of her yet, he had barely seen her around the past few sunrises but perhaps that was just because he himself had been in camp more than usual and he had the time to notice absence. whatever, he was here for something specific and not just to stand around
"birdsnow? may i enter? 'need'ta discuss somethin'" the warrior spoke, low and lilting.


@poppy

Birdsnow looked up from her nest as Jayfrost entered, his injured leg slowing his pace enough to give her warning before he even entered the den. ”Of course, Jayfrost. What’s up?”

 

Originally Posted by ThePrettyPurpleDemon

@poppy


Blueriver sat outside the leaders den and politely called out her name
"birdsnow?"

The exhausted ragdoll faced towards the entrance, squinting through the entrance to identify one of her warriors, Blueriver, called out her name. ”Blueriver, yes. What is it?” She asked mildly, combatting the urge to yawn. Perhaps she would try to sleep after this.

 

Originally Posted by Artemis

Seagullwing slipped into the leader's den. "Birdsnow?" she asked softly. "Can I make a request?" she thought with delight about her soon-to-come kits. @poppy

Birdsnow pricked her ears as Seagullwing entered her den, ear flicking slightly as she didn’t ask to enter but she could tell this was something important. Probably. ”Of course you can.” She said with a small smile, inviting the other cat closer.

 

Originally Posted by Cherry~

( @poppy )

Birdsnow was in agreement about all of his ideas, which pleased him. At her thought that perhaps the Lionhearts could serve as supervisors for the tunnel punishments, he ventured, "I was thinking of getting a few volunteers for that, actually. I think it's a good way for some of the warriors to make more of an impact on the Clan. Obviously they'd need to be level-headed and responsible, and have thick skin."

At her question about the water combat, he answered, "It would be a lesson! I'm not exactly sure how many RiverClan cats even are capable of water combat, so I think it would be best to just make it a mass lesson for all. I'm planning on taking a couple cats out to experiment with some moves eventually."

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( Setting this after the meeting )

The calamity of the meeting hadn't stopped Fadingsun from doing what he'd intended on doing since the invasion ended: making his pitch to Birdsnow regarding what he thought RiverClan should do to retaliate against ThunderClan. As he whisked towards her den, memories of the battle - particularly of the fallen and how badly Dusklion had been wounded - filled his mind.

By the time he reached her den, any feelings of being overwhelmed or self-doubting were gone, replaced by anger at ThunderClan and a coursing desire for revenge. Slipping inside, he got straight to the point. "Hey. I know the battle just happened and all, but I want to talk about retaliation. I get why ThunderClan has issues with us, given the way some of our less-than-admirable warriors have acted over the past season. Invading our camp, however, is going way too far. Bumblestar seems to think that she's free to stride in and out of our territory whenever she pleases, and I think we need to put a stop to that."

He plopped his butt down, knowing that if he stayed standing he'd start pacing around the den like a mad cat.

"I think we need to hit back hard, once we're fully recovered and we've had a chance to prepare. We need to show ThunderClan that we aren't going to tolerate our camp being invaded by their cats - no matter whether it's one or thirty. My proposal is that we attempt to take Firefly Cove and Cattail Pond- together. One force will start the fight at Firefly Cove; while ThunderClan is occupied there, another force will occupy Cattail Pond and move the border so that it's within RiverClan territory again.

"I know this is an ambitious plan, but if we manage to do this we'll quash whatever feelings the other Clans have about us being weak and pathetic, and we'll show them what happens when they take things too far with us. It will give the Clan something to rally around, and it will restore confidence in RiverClan. We'd need as many cats participating in this fight as possible- hell, make it a requirement that all able-bodied warriors and battle-trained apprentices participate."

He had a couple of other ideas on how they could prepare, but he'd keep them to himself until Birdsnow gave her thoughts on the idea. "If you agree, I'm thinking we could strike in about a moon."

Birdsnow grinned excitedly as Fadingsun finished, nodding strongly in agreement. ”That sounds very good, I like the way you’re thinking. I can make an announcement at the next meeting for volunteers as supervisors to go to you, or would you rather seek them out yourself?” She didn’t really mind either way, but she might as well offer.

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Another battle. Just the thought made her nearly-healed wounds ache but… on the other paw it would be lovely to reassert themselves. Put ThunderClan in their place while also gaining new territory. ”If we do, I’d like to have a medicine cat beforehand, or a few cats assigned as battle healers. I don’t want a repeat of last time, 4 capable fighters playing medicine cat while we had ThunderClan in our camp.” She was still pissed about that, but she couldn’t mull over it because then Fadingsun’s other plans entered her mind and she was… excited about it. Excited to finally stop being the weak Clan. because they had a plan now.

Her eyes widened/ ”and it’ll be difficult for ThunderClan to defend both. They won’t expect it, either. Don’t think highly enough of us.” Her deputy might just be a certified battle genius. ”If we do go through with this, I would suggest me leading the first force to Firefly Cove. They don’t know about you yet, whereas if I wasn’t there they would notice and wonder. It would put them on edge for certain. or…” Now her mind was working. ”Or if we strike after the Gathering you’re announced, and you lead the attack on the Cove and claim that I’m no longer leader… it wouldn’t exactly be hard for them to believe, would it? They wouldn’t expect a thing. What do you think?”

 

Originally Posted by Yoshdo

"The ragdoll looked up from her nest, eyes seeking out…. Sunkit. Hm. ”Yes, Sunkit?”

(having bird refer to sun as sunkit since she’s technically a kit still )" (First posted by poppy)

Sunkit
9 moons and 28 Sun journeys

"I-I'm sorry", Sunkit mewed. "I thought that was how you were made an apprentice". Sunkit gave her chest a few swift embarrassed licks. "How do I be an apprentice." She asked. "I'm already 'bout 10 moons."


@poppy

Birdsnow frowned slightly at the excuse, trying to recall if Sunkit was a new-ish cat or not. Because that was the only way this would make sense. ”The only cat who can make you an apprentice is the leader. I’ll take care of it at the next meeting, alright? Just don’t go having your own ceremonies again and you’ll be a-okay.” She offered the young cat a firm but gentle smile and a small nod of reassurance.

 

Originally Posted by Bean

Rainpaw
He/They - 13 Moons
TW: self-hate

The blue tabby crept into Birdsnow's den before making himself comfortable next to his mentor. Despite his mentor living here, he didn't like the den. It served as a reminder of the leaders that were in the position for too short of a time. They didn't want bird to fall victim to that too. Rainpaw looked at his mentor before looking down at his paws as they started to fiddle. The one-eyed apprentice stammered for a moment, struggling to get his words out. "Um, well I uh... I d-didn't just wanna be a twom, a-and I-I s-so I w-want He a-and t-t-they pwease," he stuttered, moving is half-tail to cover only part of his hind foot. He winced in pain, stars why did it have to hurt so much? Right, next topic. Rainpaw was still hesitant, but they wanted birdsnow to know, they knew she cared about them. "I-I a-a-also don't l-like sh-she-cats. T-T-there w-wa-was this t-tom I l-liked b-b-but he l-left," just more differences he had to deal with. "I-I d-don't know h-how they w-would r-react, n I didn't tell them a-and now t-they weft m-me," the small apprentice sobbed, attempting to bury their face in birdsnow's fur. "I d-don't get it! W-why do-does everyone l-leave m-me? A-Am I r-r-really that bad? A-A-am I-I u-ugly? N-N-Nobody l-l-likes m-me enough to stay, what d-d-did I d-do w-w-wrong?" he sobbed. He had only ever seen his face once, and he knew how ugly he looked. Even scary. He just didn't want furbs to leave him like everyone else. She wouldn't... Right?

[ @poppy ]

Birdsnow attempted to give her apprentice a gentle lick on the head before listening. Once he started speaking, her heart started twisting and just kept wrenching. ”Well of course you can, sweetie.” her eyes flickered down as he winced in pain, attempting to softly nuzzle them.

”Y’know, I’m mates with a she-cat. And I’m happiest when I’m with her; love is love, it doesn’t have any rules or boundaries when it comes to that sort of thing.”

Her heart twisted and shattered as Rain sobbed, burying his face in her fur. Cooing and purring lovingly like a mother bird, she wrapped her crooked tail around her apprentice. ”You’re not bad or ugly, you could never be ugly, little rain.” she whispered, feeling her chest ache with sadness for the small cat.

”Have you ever seen a sunset? They’re pretty, right?” Reaching forward she grabbed a nearby flower that had been left with her. ”This flower is pretty too, right? And that little pebble over there, the colorful one, it’s rather lovely too, right? Just because they’re all different from each other, different shapes and sizes and colors, that doesn’t mean that they’re ugly, they’re just different kinds of pretty. They’re all lovely looking, and they don’t look the same.”

She thought of watching the sunsets with her dad, and she got the overwhelming urge to throw up. She hadn’t seen a single sunset or sunrise since he left; she had run away instead. Hiding in her den until the colors faded so she wouldn’t be struck by the haunting memories. So she didn’t have to watch them alone.

”I like you enough to stay, I love you like you’re my very own kid. The whole Dark Forest would have to drag me away from you, alright?” The way she was feeling now, the whole universe could try to tear her away and she wouldn’t leave her kid’s side.

 

Originally Posted by ThePrettyPurpleDemon

@poppy

Wolfkit walked in "I-I saw you were hurting last meeting and i-i was seeing if your were okay.... I-I also reached 6 moons and, and i want to be a medicine cat..." he lifted his chest as he said the word 'Medicne cat'.

The fact that a 6 moon old she had never spoken to before was the first one to ask her if she was okay for seasons was a sharp, unexpected blow to the gut, but she wouldn’t let that show. That was far too heavy.

”Aw, thanks kiddo. I’m alright, just a little tired.” And broken. And hurting. And aching emotionally. But that wasn’t important. ”Thank you for offering, and I’ll definitely take you into consideration, but I think I already have someone else picked. Maybe you could offer to be their helper?”

 

Originally Posted by talle

Dusklion - RiverClan Warrior

Paw steps sounding near the den had Dusklion sitting up straighter, unable to hide the grin that spread across her face. A part of her wondered if Birds recognized the effort as the specific gifts that she had lost in the flood - as the dark tabby had tried to recall to the best of her memory what the warrior's nest had looked like before the flood and get those things - but if it was, no notion was given by Birds if it was. "I tried to remember what you had before the flood 'n all," she gestured with her paw, gaze flickering from the trinkets to Birds. "'M sorry if I got some of it wrong." Maybe she hadn't gotten everything that was there, or her memory was going downhill...

At least Birds seemed to like it regardless, which made the dark tabby happy. "'M glad you like it, Birds! Just wanted to show my appreciation. I know you've got cats left 'n right comin' at you with ideas 'n such, but... wanted to make sure someone made the den ready for you after Larkstar's disappearance." Another bright grin was shot her way. As happy as she was, something felt... off about the interaction, like there was something more Birds wanted to do or say. Or perhaps it was just Dusk's mind playing tricks on her - she was awfully tired from all the collecting. Maybe asking to be considered for deputy right now wasn't the best idea.

Yeah definitely save it for another time. "I did also want to talk about the 'Floodstone' - eugh, you'll have to excuse me, even sayin' the name out loud makes my fur prickle." It was just... offensive to her to name the meeting place after such a tragic event. She honestly wasn't sure what the cats who had offered that name had been thinking. "Was thinkin' we could change it to somethin' that's a little less... a reminder about all of that. Maybe somethin' like... The Perch, since you're Birds," a chuckle escape her at her own lighthearted joke. "Or maybe the Wavestone, or Streamrock? That's a bit too similar to Streamstone..." Dusklion trailed off in thought.

[ @poppy ]

At the mention of her former trinkets, Birdsnow turned her head again to examine the trinkets, her eyes widening a bit more and her paws shaking as she reached for a few. A clear stone, like the one Flickerpaw had given her. An acorn, for that scavenger hunt event. ”Aw, Dusk.” she croaked out, a trembling paw lingering over a specific flower, and a small sniffling whimper leaving her before she remembered she had company and couldn’t lose her mind.

”I… I don’t even know what to say… Thank you. Thank you so much.” it came as a whisper, breathless and shaky before she composed herself. ”No, it’s… you’re spot on.” Oh god. Instinctively, like the kid she used to be, she shuffled a few things protectively under ”i-I lost everything in the flood and I… I didn’t have the strength to try and put everything back together. I didn’t think it was possible.” A renewed flame of hope, of strength lit in the leader's bones and she didn’t know a few trinkets could bring so much life back to her but they did. Effortlessly.

Listening silently as Dusklion began talking again, Bird just took the moment to steady herself again, regaining her composure. ”I don’t care for the name, either, honestly. I’ve always thought there was a difference between memorializing and honoring the lost and memorializing a tragedy.” The Perch brought a light chuckle out of her- the first time she had laughed in moons, it felt like, and she felt something in her heart loosen as she settled back down. ”The Wavestone.” She repeated softly, mulling over the name with a thoughtful nod. A wave was strong. A wave was powerful. A wave was dangerous but beautiful and could be gentle.

It was perfect. ”I love that.” She murmured softly. A new center for a new clan. Instead of it’s heart poisoned by tragedy, the core of the RiverClan beast would be strong but good