ThunderClan Stormcrest

[paris]

Larkswoop
ThunderClan Warrior
Flock Together Tier 2, Beefed Up Tier 3, Lyrebird's Lullaby
____________________________

Larkswoop's heart hammered in her chest as Bumblestar's anger reverberated through the clearing. She exchanged a worried glance with her fellow ThunderClan warriors, a silent understanding passing between them in the tense atmosphere.

The harsh words stung, cutting through Larkswoop's resolve like thorns in the undergrowth. Bumblestar's outburst was like a sudden clap of thunder, leaving her momentarily stunned. But as the echoes of her rage faded into the murmurs of the gathered cats, Larkswoop felt a flicker of determination igniting within her.

Her Clanmates' words hung in the air, a plea for reason amidst the chaos threatening to engulf them all. Larkswoop could feel the weight of every gaze upon her, the silent hope that her words would offer a glimmer of guidance in the darkness. And though the path ahead seemed fraught with challenges, she refused to falter, her determination burning bright like the steady glow of a guiding star in the night sky.

Gazing out across the familiar landscape of their camp, Larkswoop felt a renewed determination coursing through her veins. She knew that challenges would continue to test their resolve, but she also knew that as long as they stood united, ThunderClan would endure.

[iliri]

SPRINGLIGHT
long-furred, scarred, oriental-shaped, gray-and-orange calico molly with blue eyes; torn right ear
active purrks: herbal knowledge - tier 2 | the collector | mind reader | skip the steps
she/her | thunderclan medicine cat | 20 moons

---

To quickly start with ceremonies, a couple of kits seemed prepared to earn their apprentice names, as they should. Springlight watched the young felines with a smile apparent on her face as they approached the Stormcrest and seemed more than prepared to earn the names that they would work their way up to be granted their warrior names in due time. From what Orangeblossom had informed her, at least one of the kits, Vixenpaw, was his younger sister and his overly positive commitment towards her apprenticeship made her feel warm inside. It reminded her a lot of when her siblings became apprentices; rambunctious bundle they were, indeed. It was nice to know that she wasn’t the only cat to feel proud of familial members gaining their rightful name, as they should. It was almost like it was just a moment ago when Poppypaw became an apprentice, and her heart rightfully swelled with pride from hearing her get called up to claim the title of a ThunderClan apprentice, speaking of her dearest little sister, where was she? Springlight wasn’t certain if she noticed her making an appearance towards the Stormcrest when Bumblestar called out for a meeting. She’ll look for her after the meeting, she supposed.

Her interest was piqued when she saw Bumblestar step down to ground level, moving on with the meeting to announce an incoming new warrior for their ranks: Crowpaw. Springlight didn’t know the apprentice fairly well, other than the fact that he was Thrushstar’s son and she remembered very vividly that she had witnessed the former leader disown the young apprentice while he was still around after the horrific incident of the sinkholes. It was anything but bittersweet, as the calico knew how much it hurt to be disowned - both figuratively and literally. Smallsky left her for ShadowClan, and she was left with the burden of raising her siblings herself without any adult figure to aid in her paw steps. She was alone, inexperienced, and held lackluster emotions after the tragic incident. Smallsky hadn’t just left her alone without leaving a permanent scar behind; her torn ear was the exact representation of her departure. Nothing but ruthless as she willingly tore it out before leaving the clan, practically leaving her eldest kit in a world of hurt and agony. Springlight was never bothered by the absence of her ear; she could still hear, after all, and no one questioned how she lost it in the first place. If anyone asked, she could easily tell them she lost it to a random duel she had when she was younger, or if they were so desperate, the real truth itself. She wasn’t afraid to hide it, after all.

Springlight flicked her ears away from the thought as she peered her attention towards Bumblestar gesturing the apprentice over, not before Springlight caught Bluepaw’s reaction to her older brother finally earning his name. The notable smile couldn’t falter off her face as she saw how highly she spoke of her elder brother, making her feel warm inside. The fact that she didn’t blame him for what happened to her at the sinkholes was something that Springlight would’ve never thought would occur with her siblings. It had been emotionally draining to think about her siblings for what had felt like the thousandth time, and to grieve for the same siblings who had left her wasn’t anything new. Her priorities had shifted drastically after she was named medicine cat apprentice not soon after the incident of her siblings leaving, and she was still grieving, but thankfully, she wasn’t stuck in the same secluded mindset that she had been almost a year ago. She matured and changed, developing into a more outgoing cat instead of being stuck inside her shell. She had hardened, and she sure as hell wasn’t afraid to give in even if it meant something hysterical could happen. ThunderClan was her home, and there was no changing to that.

She watched as Crowpaw stepped forward, squinting momentarily as she found herself feeling… odd about his posture. He was hiding something. He wasn’t being entirely truthful. He had something in his mind. Her brows quaked, and she found herself habitually flexing her claws against the coarse soil, idly scraping lines into the darkened soil. The cool evening air dug into her thickened coat, making the herbalist force her fur to lie flat as she stared at the apprentice. She didn’t notice if Orangeblossom was noting her suddenly intensified stance, but Springlight couldn’t care to notice. Something was wrong, and it left her gears running. Crowpaw looked as if he had something to hide, and he wasn’t being honest about it. She listened to Bumblestar give the usual vow, awaiting Crowpaw to admit that he was promising to withstand his life to defend alongside his clanmates as a warrior and promise an oath that he would withstand for the rest of his life. Her heart skipped a beat, the calico repressing the urge to see what exactly this tom was hiding. He didn’t bother to expose anything of his interior thoughts as he awaited for Bumblestar to finish the oath that he was bound to promise and fulfill.

“He’s lying,” Springlight snarled, her tone low enough for Orangeblossom to hear as she listened to Crowpaw reluctantly state his vows, only finding her stare at the soon-to-be warrior intensifying as her ears angled forward to listen to what he had to spew. Hearing an apprentice choosing their own name was something that didn’t happen often, but entirely welcomed, this reason made her stomach clench. She hadn’t recalled this apprentice ever interacting with anyone with the suffix of -song, other than Riversong, who is relatively an anxious ball of fur at best. There was also Redhawk, but Springlight wasn’t certain of how strong their relationship was at best. It had to be at least sufficient for them to be close judging from the molly being so quick to throw him out of the way so he didn’t get crushed by a giant boulder throwing at them. Her curiosity waged through her like wildfire, eating away at her core as her tail lashed side by side. What special friend was he even spewing about?

Redhawk’s words undid all of it; revealing the truth that Springlight had been deceptive to hear. Crowpaw had been sneaking out of camp to meet with a RiverClan cat, practically deciding to leave his clan after he gained his name. That he was going to make an oath that he was lying about just so he could leave to join a clan where it was filled with nothing but rogues who didn’t have their act together. Redhawk’s explanation made the medicine cat fill with nothing but more rage for the blatant disrespect from the tom right in front of herself. He didn’t think that ThunderClan had changed when in reality, it had. It turned for the better, and it had a better head on its shoulders unlike RiverClan, which had consistent changes in ranks without any order in their hierarchy. Here? Power was prominent. Bumblestar made ThunderClan into what it is now, and Crowpaw was doing nothing but thinking it hadn’t changed in the slightest just to leave for a molly whom he supposedly fell for and declared all his love for. It was undoubtedly disgusting, to know that an apprentice of all things had fallen for an otter-dweller who wasn’t even in the same clan as him. How had no one noticed this? Was there anyone at the borders to notice this taking place?

Her rage flickered, her previous light-hearted interactions with Orangeblossom now burnt away and turned to a crisp, lips baring back into a snarl as her canids exposed themselves in the dying evening light. Hearing Redhawk’s anguish from Crowpaw’s decision ached, and Bluepaw’s desperate cries at her brother for why he decided to make such an irrational decision to join RiverClan instead of staying when she finally came home. Just exactly how long had he planned to leave? How long had he held the irrational mentalities to just stay in ThunderClan and then decide that he didn’t want to stay there in the first place? If he thought it was so bad, then why did he even bother staying? It was downright mind-numbing, and she could feel herself growing more and more puzzled by his choice of even bothering to make a pathetic excuse of a warrior if he was just going to make a fake vow and leave so soon after. Bluepaw’s cries drowned in her ears, and she could feel her heart breaking for the apprentice. She knew the feeling of reuniting with someone, only for them to suddenly abandon you the moment after. It wouldn’t be easy for her to overcome this trauma, and it surely wouldn’t be easy for her to go through her days without any family members to assist her.

Before Springlight could say anything to the tom, Bumblestar beat her to it, and her rage was incomparable. Hearing an apprentice, who was about to become a warrior, sneak behind their backs just to meet up with a RiverClan warrior was something understandable to be outraged about. Springlight watched as Bumblestar went off on Crowpaw, her eyes watching distinctively for the reaction that the tom was about to make. Betraying his clan for a clan that has been causing them torture was something that Crowpaw made the biggest mistake of committing; the utter gall he was. The name he was gifted suited him, a name that would be a scar of his mistake for the rest of his life. Thrushkit. A name to remind him that he was no different from his excuse of a father, that he wouldn’t go anywhere without having the name constantly remind him of his failures as a cat. He was nothing, and he was just like Thrushstar, whether he denied it or not. He failed to commit anything to his clan and chose to try to sneak behind their backs and be smart about it, only to get executed in the end. Springlight was curious if this was something that Thrushkit meant by ‘not forgetting the promise’ to Redhawk in the medicine den. She wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case, nonetheless.

Bumblestar’s choice of exile was something that Springlight agreed with fondly, especially after his idiotic decision. Poison was to be eradicated, after all, and that was exactly what Thrushkit was. A poison that tainted their lands once before from RiverClan and now again from Thushkit’s presence himself. Bumblestar’s offer to chase away the preparator hadn’t gone unnoticed, and she could already see the bristling of her many clan-mates that Springlight noticed would be pleased to commit themselves to the offer of chasing the traitor out of their clan. The words busted and burned in her throat, desperate to come out as she awaited her turn to lash at the traitor within their midst. Spiderthroat had some particular things to say, and Springlight agreed with him. Cats forgetting to commit themselves completely with an oath should just leave and never bother to turn their heads back toward ThunderClan if they are going to lie and sneak their way out of it just like how Thrushkit did, then they didn’t deserve a place in ThunderClan. The threat that escaped the deputy was something that Springlight was known to disagree with, but now? She was far too drowned in her fury to even acknowledge the malice in his eyes. He was serious, and these cats better get it through their thickened skulls.

“Spiderthroat… is right,” Springlight spoke again, rage fueling her tone as she stalked her way out of the crowd to stand beneath the Stormcrest close to Spiderthroat, briefly eying Wolfhive comforting Bluepaw after her outburst. The apprentice needed it after this whole occurrence. “Cats… gaining… their names… is a privilege… that is… rightfully earned… and your… loyalty… to ThunderClan… is a priority… above all else… having friends…. In other clans… isn’t going… to do… anything… but test… your loyalties… to ThunderClan… and you’ll… end up… like Thrushkit… and be tarnished… out for… the crows to… feast upon… once you… die and… decay.” Flashing a quick, acknowledging look towards the deputy, she turned her gaze towards Thrushkit and her eyes hardened instinctively. Usually, the medicine cat was never angry, but this was a step too far. This was something to easily struck her cords and made her a cat whom she didn’t want to be. She hated the direction of any sort of malice, but this made her have no choice but to commit to doing that. “And you… I am… not even… gonna get… started… with how… disappointed I am… in you… right now.”

Stalking closer to the newly exiled feline, the youngest of the high ranks stared hard into Thrushkit's eyes as her tail lashed angrily behind herself. "Firstly... making the choice... to abandon... your own... clan... is nothing... but an... act of... stupidity... especially... when your... own sister... came back... just to be... with you... hell... to even choose... to go to... RiverClan... of all clans... is even more... ill-minded... have you... forgotten... what that clan... has done... to us?... That they... poisoned us?... slaughtered us?... hurt your... damn sister... for star's sake?... And yet... here you are... choosing a clan... that has... unstable leadership... over a clan... that clearly... put in... effort to... care about us... after... Thrushstar... left ThunderClan... Bumbles... clearly... cares more... about this... clan... than whatever... leader... in RiverClan... ever will... for them... you are... just asking... to be... nothing more... than a... otter-dweller... and be one... of the... cats... who betrayed us."

"Before... you say... anything... about that... you are... nothing... like your... father... I don't... even want... to hear it... from your... choice alone... to abandon... your clan... and your family... just to join... a clan... to be... with some molly... who might not... even care... about you at... all... is an... definite path... under your... father's footsteps... that act alone... made you nothing... for ThunderClan to... want to... consider... taking back... if RiverClan doesn't... even accept you... in which... they have... every right... to not accept... a lying... backstabbing... rat like you.... then I hope... you finally... think about... the actions... that you... committed." She paused, her hackles raised as her claws instinctively dug into the coarse soil beneath her paws. "If... I was... in Bluepaw's... position... I surely... wouldn't... forgive... your ass... for abandoning her... because... that's all... that you... are doing... right now... and you... don't deserve... forgiveness... from anyone... your name... is to be... nothing but... a reminder... of a pathetic... excuse... of a cat... that you... are... and it'll... be staying with... you... for the... rest of... your sorry life... until... you die... and rot away with... the crows... feasting upon... your body... now get... the hell... out of... ThunderClan... and never... think of... coming back... to our borders... you good-for-nothing... rogue." The word hissed past her lips as she called Thrushkit a rogue, no remorse contorting her tone as she stared hard at the tom to await his departure. He didn't deserve to come back, and if he did, she wouldn't care to dig her claws into his pelt and kill him like the rogue he was.

[ @Dolomedes @SpiritedWarrior @taillow @BEAR. @Rani @Starfall (please know that her thoughts do not interfere with my own <3) ]

[SpiritedWarrior]

Crowpaw/Thrushkit
Purrks: Heightened Perception, Agatha Kitty, and Hulk SMASH
@dino. @taillow @Rani @/everyone else (I won't mention, there's too many lol)

Just when he thought that this living nightmare of his was over, Crowpaw found himself fighting back tears as the Clan erupted in anger around him. Redhawk, the only cat he could trust (which he was foolish to do in the beginning), betrayed him and spilled the secret. Well, it wasn't entirely a secret... he planned on telling Bluepaw everything when he got the chance.

But clearly the stars were not aligned in his favor. Of course they aren't... why would they? Redhawk was a Hornet, one of ThunderClan's elite... why would he trust one of Bumblestar's most trusted warriors? His emotions soon boiled over into more than just upset and overwhelming disappointment. Into anger.

"I lied for one reason- and one reason alone. Words mean nothing to anyone anymore. I was abused and neglected... shunned from EVERYONE in the only home I've ever known. I was lied to... told I could trust everyone... and you all betrayed me many times over. And I saw one cat I thought I could trust. Clearly I was foolish. This Clan and everyone in it, aside from those who are truly innocent and know no better, belongs to the Dark Forest. This includes you, Redhawk. I trusted you... and I haven't trusted anyone here since I was a KIT YOUNGER THAN THREE MOONS, and you abandoned my trust."

"And you." He turned his attention over to his sister, fighting back every emotion he was feeling, and let out a low growl. "I had no idea RiverClan did such a horrendous thing. I only know the RiverClan that our grandfather portrayed. Yeah, Thrushstar's father was a full-blooded RiverClanner! Everyone here who has witnessed Thrushstar disown us KNOWS IT because HE SAID IT HIMSELF TOO! I planned on telling you everything that ThunderClan has done to deserve my lack of loyalty. To deserve my resentment. To deserve every bit of treatment they've gotten from me. It's a shame that a small lie- which was completely unintentional by the way because I'm a bloody idiot- has gotten me nothing but our father's name, a demotion, and exile."

"Let me tell you-" Crowpaw, well... Thrushkit now, he supposed, looked at the rest of ThunderClan before staring directly at Bumblestar. "Our father loved no one but himself and Quailfur. I was never told I was loved by either of our parents. Only my grandfather did... and Quietpaw couldn't speak, but she died saving my DAMN LIFE! That alone tells me how much she loved me, her big brother. And I love Bluepaw- I'd die for anyone I care about. When my father disowned me and my sister, not a single bit of fluff cared enough to even check on me. I'm the one that had to deal with the neglect... the constant need to strive for my father's AND mother's affection. I'm the one that had to watch my mother give birth a second time and DIE. I'm the one that had to care for my only living sister after my father disowned her and me a MOON after our mother died. I'm the one that had to deal with the CONSTANT betrayal this Clan showed me. So ask yourself... is it really a shock that I turned to RiverClan... the only true family I've ever known?"

Crowpaw- er, Thrushkit... felt like he needed to say more. But why would he spend more energy explaining his life story for the thousandth time to a Clan that refused to listen? "Think what you all want about me. I really don't care anymore. You've all done more than enough damage to me for a lifetime. Refer to me as Thrushkit- but I will not be taking that name. And by the way... I'm not leaving for a she-cat. I'm leaving because being here was driving me insane... and I have said enough reasons to tell you how it was driving me crazy. If I end up in the Dark Forest like I think my father did... I'll see you all there."

With that, Crowpaw lashed his tail and raked his claws with each step he took. He wanted to mouth an apology to his sister, but felt it best not to. He wasn't sorry for anything he said or did to cause such vile treatment from Bumblestar, and he firmly believed that he could still have a connection with his sister. She was innocent in the chaos, and he liked it as such. But now that Bluepaw was Bumblestar's apprentice, he didn't know how long she'd stay innocent. He just hoped they treated her better than they ever treated him. Once he was about half-way through the crowd, the young tom quickened his pace into a full sprint, finally letting his emotions loose once he was beyond camp walls. I love you, Bluepaw. I really do.

CROWPAW HAS LEFT THUNDERCLAN!

[paris]

Larkswoop
ThunderClan Warrior
Flock Together Tier 2 [ ACTIVE ], Beefed Up Tier 3 [ ACTIVE ], Lyrebird's Lullaby [ ACTIVE ]
_______________________________________

Larkswoop couldn't help but feel pride for Thrushkit well up in her heart, but she had to hide that. Larkswoop could not let another ThunderClanner see what she was feeling.

Her green eyes glistened with unreadable emotions, her facial expression neutral as she watched Thrushkit leave the ThunderClan Camp.

Poor Crowpaw.

If Thrushkit had been able to give a speech like that, then he clearly deserved his name. Crowsong would have been a great ThunderClan Warrior. Larkswoop wrapped her tail around her paws.

Hopefully RiverClan will accept him.

[ OOC Note: The sentences in italics are Larkswoop's thoughts, and have not been said out loud by her. Remember that Larkswoop's thoughts do not reflect my own! ]

@SpiritedWarrior - Just so you know Lark supports Crow / Thrush but wont state it :3

[Omari]

Drizzlecloud
Thunderclan
She/her

Chaos, of course. It unfurled before Drizzlecloud's eyes, her ears flattening against her head as she watched the tensions rise around her. What is happening? In all honesty, she hardly had a clue. It was difficult to piece together what was happening on a regular day, but now? Pshh, forget it.

Still, as her eyes drifted from cat to cat, finally landing on Redhawk, she felt a pang in her chest. The movement of Wolfhive caught her eye, to which she noted Bluepaw's form, and there came another strike to her heart. Oh, dear.

There was a lot going on, far too much for her to process, far too much for her to read into. She quietly lifted herself from where she had been sat, slipping past stunned clanmates and enraged alike until she stood before Bluepaw and Redhawk. She noted that Wolfhive had already stood to give Bluepaw some reassurance, but now he stood between the pair and the–well, the new outcast. Her eyes shifted to the apprentice-turned-exile, head cocked to the side with uncertainty. Drizzlecloud had not a clue what was happening, but all she knew was that these two were hurting severely.

“Would you two like to go some place quieter? I can offer Springlight and I's den for some solace..” Drizzlecloud spoke softly to the pair, sitting before them with her head dipped low. If they did not reply, that was okay–she just wished to offer as much help as she could muster.

[ @Rani @taillow won't be mentioning everyone else bc I don't think this post will effect anyone else very much ]

[Rani]

Bluepaw

Thunderclan Apprentice| She/her | 14 Moons

Primal Instincts | Mind Reader

She was gonna throw up. Through the distant ringing in her ears Bluepaw heard Bumblestar yell at and demote Crowpaw, and flinched at the mention of their father. Thrushkit.... later, once she thought through the events even through her anger it would feel cruel. To be named after that cat, it was a fate she wished on no one. And later she'd find herself wishing a great deal of fates on her brother.


In the moment however eveything was falling apart and Bluepaw just couldnt cope. Cats were furious at Crowpa-Thrushkit, so very mad. Were they going to kill him? Bluepaw was so so angry and so so sad but she didnt think she could handle her brother dying today. Maybe after hurt had time to simmer and fester but for now vacant and hollow eyes flicked between the yowling cats, bitterly thinking that he deserved the cruel words but afraid of their claws against him.



Somehow Bluepaw was handling those who came to comfort her right now worse then she was taking the vitriol against Thrushkit however. She didnt want to be calm, she didnt want to feel safe, she'd felt safe with Crowpaw and that was a lie! She wanted to rage and scream and cry against the world that'd given her hope only to rip it away! So even if it was childish for her age Bluepaw spat at Fallingpaw, tears continuing to roll down her cheeks, words juttering as she sobbed.
"No! Nothing is going to be ok! My brother is a traitor! He's LEAVING and its HIS FAULT! NOTHING IS GOING TO BE OK!"


Some aching part of her soul made the molly want to lash out and make others feel the pain she was feeling, Fallingpaw at closest because how dare he say things would be ok when Bluepaws life was obviously falling appart but more so Thrushkit. She just didnt understand, how could he!



Had it been anyone other then Wolfhive who'd grabbed her, the tom who been so kind to her already and she felt a genuine connection to, the tabby mightve attacked but instead she just sobbed, curling like a kitten against his side as he put her down away from Thrushkit. It hurt terribly that the act made her feel safer, that she now doubted her stance and relationship with her brother.


Because the truth was that Bluepaw didnt know him anymore, that a year apart had changed them both into strangers, and both were now forced to face that.
Bluepaw was now a cat full of rage and hurt and sharp edges (not a soft kit) and Thrushkit was someone who preferred his sweet dreams to a colder but realer reality.


The apprentice didnt really cuddle up to Redhawk once put down beside her (not anything against this cat but Bluepaw just didnt know her) and instead shut her eyes, taking deep shuddering breaths through the occasional hiccup and sob, taking what comfort she could in Wolfhives presence while he was there. She'd need it when Crowpaw found his words, because they only hurt more.


It felt nonsensical, thunderclan had betrayed her brother? How, when he appeared just fine, healthy and unharmed. How, when he was obviously trusted to be named a warrior before this all came to light. How, when Bluepaw had been here for just a few days and had been treated so well. None of his justifications to turn on their clan made sense and Bluepaw just didnt understand!

He growled at her, growled at her, next and Bluepaw flinched and squeaked, eyes wide and hurt and afraid now that she'd be attacked by her own blood. It was odd, even as she learned of how Thrushkit apparently was now and wailed at him she'd not thought he'd hurt her. Now she wasnt that sure. Now while she wanted to face him and demand he tell her why some apparent riverclan blood (suppose that explained Bluepaws climbing skills) meant the cats who mauled her and did worse atrocities to thunderclan Thrushkit knew full well justified joining them. Well... Now Bluepaw remained silent, happy Wolfhive stood between them.


His words were stupid and nonsensical, justifications moronic hollow and weak, and he claimed to be willing to die for her but showed in actions and words that he wouldve never stayed for her. Riverclan was 'family' now to strange unstable tom that resembled their father. She didnt have anything she could, or would say to him at the moment, not when she was so afraid and lost, so she stayed silent.


Thrushkit didnt even have a goodbye for her as he went storming out, blue gold eyes tracking the older tom as he went without a single look back. That hurt too, and Bluepaws voice was too full of too many emotions to pick one out of the bunch as she whispered to his back a quiet "Goodbye big brother...... Goodluck Thrushkit" the only words the molly had for him and his speech.



After that Spinglight, Drizzlecloud, Redhawk, Bumblestar, everyone was ignored by the apprentice, Bluepaw moving to huddle by Wolfhives side, confident he'd protect her as she curled in on herself. It was the closest she could get to disappearing, to shutting out the world right now and really that was all she wanted to do.


@BEAR. @dino. @taillow @Omari @SpiritedWarrior @Spider-in-the-corner

[taillow]

REDHAWK
she/they | thunderclan hornet | 33 moons

The second she opened her mouth, a sharp stab of guilt struck her. Redhawk, sitting back on her haunches, could only watch as Bluepaw was made aware of everything. Her yowls at her brother shattered what little remained of the hornet's heart. She was tearing apart a family. Suddenly the reason didn't matter and the hornet felt dirtier than swamp water. This was her fault. Her fault. Guilt. Guilt. Guilt.

Bumblestar descended like vengeance, swift and fierce. Crowpaw was not only denied his warrior name, but demoted and renamed to... Redhawk's eyes widened. No. As much as she felt hurt, and betrayed, and... and used by her former apprentice, hearing his name now be that of his fathers stung. Her fault. Her fault. Guilt. Guilt. Guilt. This was why she knew she could never be leader, or even head Hornet for that matter. She would never have the heart to make these decisions. Despite how much Crow had hurt her, and despite how much he had broken her completely - she still didn't wish anything bad to befall the young tom.

Feeling eyes on her Redhawk's yellow-green gaze shifted nervously over to catch Larkswoops's stern gaze. It told her all she needed to know; that this was her fault. Crow was being cast out, was renamed after his failure of a father, because of her. Emotions gripped her mind tight as tears continued to spill over, gaze still on Larkswoop. Her fault. Her fault. Guilt. Guilt. Guilt.

Several other cats came forward, building off of what both Bluepaw and Bumblestar had said. Redhawk barely heard them as she turned her tear-stricken gaze back to Crowpaw. Part of her still hoped this was just a joke. A prank. Crowpaw would laugh and tell them he was just kidding, that he hadn't used her. That he hadn't lied to her all this time. That he hadn't just intended to stick around long enough to leech a warrior name from her, from ThunderClan, before running to the cats who had only delt cruelty to her and ThunderClan ever since she had been alive. Her first memories of a ruthless leader and never ending bloodshed from the camp raid in which RiverClan had coated their claws in poison resurfaced and Redhawk, in the midst of all the yelling, let out a terrified squeak.

Where was Gentledoe?? Stars, she needed her sister. She would know what to do. Does always knew what to do...

Wolfhive's voice cut through the terror as he brought Bluepaw over to her. Without even thinking the hornet lifted a paw to draw her in close if allowed, though her gaze never left Crowpaw. Even as her fellow hornet moved to stand between them. Redhawk wasn't even sure if she could move if she wanted to. The Dark Forest. He was saying she belonged in the Dark Forest and Redhawk, feeling much more like Redkit, found herself agreeing. This was her fault. This guilt was hers. Hers. Hers. Hers alone.

His growl towards Bluepaw had her instinctively pulling the apprentice closer, heart breaking but muscles tense and ready to defend this younger cat. Without Does here, someone would need to step up and protect these kids. Muddy had always been better at it than she had, just like Does. But in this moment, Redhawk would do whatever was needed to make sure that... that monster never touched Blue. Even if it meant losing her life. In the midst of her tears she bared her fangs, wrapping her tail protectively around Bluepaw and readying herself to leap. "SSS-Stop it! SSS-Stop y-yelling at h-her!" she spat, eyes narrowing to slits as tears continued to pour out. "J-J-Just... j-just GO!" Deep breaths... deep breaths...

Finally he turned and fled and Redhawk... deflated. Her paw relaxed around Bluepaw as the apprentice scurried over to Wolfhive. Redhawk's breathing was coming in quick and she yearned for Mudhound, wanting nothing more than to sink her nose into their fur and breathe in the scent that calmed her right down. As she turned, however, she realized that the bigger tripod had come to her side, and immediately the hornet sunk into their side. She buried her nose into their fur and took a deep breath, trying her best to calm down. Crowpa- Thrushkit might've left, but her anxiety had already taken off, running rampant through her mind. From where she leaned against Mudhound, getting as close as she could to her best friend, her eyes found Drizzlecloud and she was grateful for the medicine cat. "I...I-I..." Words failed her, so the hornet swallowed thickly and cast a look towards Bluepaw. "I w-want to m-m-make sss-sure sss-she's alright b-before going a-anywhere," she explained - making sure she faced Drizzlecloud when speaking. Somehow, in the midst of this she remembered the attack on the medicine cat - from, no surprise, a RiverClan cat - and though she didn't know Drizzle was fully deaf, she didn't want to make it hard for her to hear what she was saying.

[ Larkswoop - @paris ] [ Wolfhive - @BEAR. ] [ Crowpaw/Thrushkit - @SpiritedWarrior ] [ Bluepaw, Mudhound - @Rani ] [ Drizzlecloud - @Omari ]

[dino.]

High Rank Announcement [#hrannouncement]

This cat was spewing a whole lot of nothing and all Bumblestar got out of it was “the world hates me, and everything is awful, and nobody loves me”. Well, tough. The world wasn't fair and that's just how it was, no sob story would ever fix that. No one ever heard Bumblestar pitching a fit about how her mother went and got herself killed when she was barely old enough to remember it because in the long run it didn't matter. What mattered was how you took those obstacles and overcame them by putting your best paw forward, not running with your tail between your legs the second the going got tough. Not lying to get yourself out of a situation you put yourself in. So what if his deadbeat daddy didn't want him? Kick him in the shins and freaking move on, clearly he's not worth this much time or energy. The rest of Thrushkit’s words went right over her - they were worth nothing, just as he was worth nothing, and they wouldn’t get any further attention from her. And once he was gone, he was gone. (Though the way he growled at Bluepaw was not missed, and had he not already hunkered down and bolted, she would have torn his head from his shoulders for that transgression, put it on a pike, and carried it to RiverClan herself for his Sweetsong to see.)

Bumblestar turned to face her Clan, eyes burning. “If the lot of you wanna take a leaf from his branch, sulk ‘n whine ‘n isolate yourselves, ‘n then complain about how no one wants you, that’ll only over be your own doing. The consequences of your actions don’t decide to evade you just because you’ve shut yourself up in some corner ‘n have some sob story to tell. They catch up to you to bite you in the ass. They will always catch up to you.”

How horribly self-centered of Thrushkit, to think the world and its sorrows revolved around him and him alone. Her claws flexed, and with a harsh snarl she lashed her tail. “If anyone wants to go after him, be my guest! Make sure he leaves ‘n doesn't come back. If you catch him, feel free to kill him, but don’t you dare let me catch you sittin’ around on your ass chatting away like you’re suddenly best buds. He’s to be treated like a rogue ‘n dealt with like one. The next time I catch one of you playin’ the deceiver about something as serious as this, you won’t have the opportunity to run like he did. Lying about serving your Clan, abandoning your family, is beyond despicable ‘n I’ll deal with it as I see fit! I’ll send you to the Dark Forest myself if I evercatch any of you tryin’ to pull something like this ever again. This meeting is over. It’s late. Go to bed.”

There was no room for argument here. She meant what she said - the next cat who thought themselves good enough to get away with something like this would end up with their blood staining the grass. She hadn't fought for seasons to rebuild this Clan from the ground up only to have her own Clanmates attempt to use her and everyone else for vile motives such as these. Still fuming, she swept her gaze over to where her son stood near Bluepaw and Redhawk. The latter two seemed devastated, not that she could blame either of them, and without caring who she bumped into, she shouldered her way through the crowd and over to where Drizzlecloud had now approached.

#tcmeeting

 

@BEAR. @Fawn @Dust @SuspiciousMindz @Starfall @Dark @Silverfur & Co @dino. @vellichor @appariitiion @beau @Madelaine @MelonMile @furrensic @Dirtfur @Estelle @Silverware @TheNyanCatMinecart @The Kitty. @Quasar @Willowfern @Rani @gs29513 @stag @Peril @iliri @Frozen Reign @interloper2 @WinterMara @Poprock @poppy @Aroogi @Wintersun @starry @Tiabirb @elswhere @carmen @Weekend-Wondering @Swiftheart <3 @nyx @Jayvines @error @Galaxy_ @taillow @Bean @Tecumori @Zei @SpiritWolf_yt @sol. @Warriorsfan9054.1 @SpiritedWarrior @Alchemist Kitsune @glitch @Kaybug. @Caspian @Streamtail @leader @Fernwillow @Starii @Dakotaa @lem~ @hermeswind @Spookez. @SeonghwasBunnyEars @Ymir @FruitBatz @Frosted pelt @Eden @Morrigan @Omari @RoxyTBDW @Katiethewolfchild @roo! @Spider-in-the-corner @Barnaby @tulin @Carrot @DarkGold @SunsetWhisker @Ladiebugg @ChaosBringer. @R0ttenC4ndy @silver. @Neptune. @K1TTEN @Saki @RavensCall @stardawn @Sleek @Theodore_510 @braveleopard. @paris @Jungle @Fish @Hestia! @Mica @hawkboi @Starphobia @_*LAutnhaesntaar*_ @spoon_ @Blueberry^^^Galaxy @19796 @endlesshax @Samantha @Luck @Desert Rain Frog @sillycreatur @Firestar512 @.Sunshine. @Moon Shark @Kieran. @lys.luvbot @lesbianism @Naila @chickadee @MangofDoom @Luminous @Mizu @Eraserhead @Myling @f0rg0tt3n_v0id @zBlaze @Shrew @Beanz @Epiales @alec @IntrovertIRL @Bluue @Sealcloud @ellie @WCFan @kittycatburmise @MaplestrikeWCUE @ashstar1 @RoboPrism @Dolomedes @Cygnus @Tallstar @Highsnow of Matterhorn @Littlesun0112 @Fits @Donnie @Janis @zozelen @Moondapple @bramblemask @Blazing @PolarIce @JuniperSeed @20874 @ramen @DaffodilFlight @ollie @Seamrog @IDIOTICBEAN101 @Lightningpaw666 @PoisonOrchid @Zero_2001 @burntToast @Forgetfulshape @Lucythecat

Wolfhive was cast a grateful look, the medicine cat too, but her attention was directed to the other two. Bluepaw seemed to be out of it right now. Things needed to be said, but that could be done once the dust had settled and the apprentice seemed more stable, so Bumblestar instead turned her gaze to Redhawk.

There was the faintest hint of disappointment in her eyes, mixed in with the burning ire she felt for the exiled tom now, but understanding as well, and she hoped that softened whatever blow Redhawk would take. Clearly this had been a difficult choice and Bumblestar didn’t want to make anything worse than it had already been made. “Really wish you’d made me aware of this as soon as you’d known about it, but it’s done ‘n over with ‘n I appreciate you comin’ forward when you did. You ‘n Bluepaw stick with Drizzlecloud for a bit. Don’t want either of you strainin’ yourselves more than it’s already been done. Try to get some sleep ‘n… just start fresh in the morning.”

[ @/bear. @/taillow @/rani @/omari ]

[Goopysharkboi]

Thistletoe and Ashenheart all yawned.*

[Katiethewolfchild]

Slugkit, who had been listening from her safe hiding spot in the nursery was very happy to go to bed. Especially since it was in the corner of the nursery, where very few cats went. Except for her for the sole reason the very few cats went there and other cats scared her. Well most other cats. Her mom and siblings didn't care her and neither did Mantispaw and Porcupinepaw, though Porcupinepaw was... energetic. She was an apprentice in name but still acted very much like the kits she would watch play from her safe space in the nursery. Sure she was a kit and not the oldest one either but she was much too shy to talk to the other kits, yet alone play with them.

Mantispaw slipped into the apprentice's den. She would likely be kept up late musing about what had taken place in the meeting today, not that her mind keeping her up late was an abnormal occurrence. In fact the opposite. She was perfectly aware that being young and growing she needed plenty of sleep, but her musings often made it difficult for her to fall asleep and not for lack of trying.

Porcupinepaw bounced onto the apprentice's den even though she wasn't at all tired, not that she usually felt tired. Somehow she had realized that it probably wasn't a good idea to complain, a surprise considering the fact that Porcupinepaw wasn't at all shy and was veey happy to complain to literally anybody, unlike either of her friends. Mantispaw rarely complained because she was too busy thinking, which Porcupinepaw considered weird and Slugkit was too busy hiding from everyone. Why would you want to hide from other cats? Wouldn't you rather talk to them? Slugkit was also weird. She felt like she could bounce around forever and ever and ever and ever and ever and then even longer.