Wind weaved through Cinderpaw's fur coolly as the storm she had felt the beginnings of at Firefly Cove picked up, riding on the tails of Roosterflame's announcement. The newly-christened healer was hardly paying attention to the tom's words, in fact, being much more focused on Firkit's pleadings. He didn't need to seal what she already knew was happening. She had lived through it more times than she could count on one paw, after all.
Peering down to her companion's panicked face, the apprentice could feel her heart split in two. She started her words in a murmur-- before realizing she had to shout over the roaring pitter-patter of rain. "We don't ha-have to stay here. She was up there, I know it was scary, but the next time she even thinks of showing her face in camp...!"
She beckoned Firkit over with a paw, eyes pleading. They could leave, and she sure as hell didn't want Thunderclan's single spark of hope thrown into a meeting that marked the hell they would soon be churned through again, but Cinderpaw didn't want her leaving alone. Alone was what she had been when she died. And the apprentice would tear the stars from the sky to keep her from ever being abandoned like that again. Redhawk's inquiries grazed her ears, and part of her couldn't help but be grateful. She was the only one here who was bothering to recognize...
Her hair began to raise as her eyes flickered the crowd. There was little Fireflykit, a fearful look on her face, and Cinderpaw's heart was rended. Crowpaw's eyes were wide with shock as he stared towards his mother and father, and she knew how this news was about to tear him apart. Countless other kids gathered, unsure of what to do; for some of them this could be the first time of many. For others, they had been through this song and dance too many times. She wanted to so badly to go over to them, to comfort them like she needed to, but Firkit's wailing tugged her attention from them. How could she help everybody?
(She couldn't.)
Crowpaw began to call for her, oh stars, he was calling for her, she would call him over to follow her as she left camp. Fireflykit too, and all of the kids who didn't need to see any of this. She leaned down to Firkit, practically shouting over the howling wind. Her fur stood like live wire, nearly sparking with anticipation. "We can go--!"
Light as bright and white-hot as the sun cracked across the sky, and for a moment Cinderpaw thought it hit her. It would be just her luck, the stars sending down a bolt of starlight to hit her specifically, after teasing her with a happy ending. But the light was snuffed out in just as much time it took to touch down, and other than the floaters in her vision left from catching the sight of it, she was safe.
The Thunderwillow, not so much. The branch that Sparrowstar had stood tall upon, that she had been thrown to fly from, was now left smoking on the ground. The shadows that danced in her line of sight kept her still for a moment, wondering just what and how had happened, before the sound of a wailing crowd all clicked. What else was this, other than a message from the sky?
They needed to be inside, anywhere but here. Anywhere but under these damn stars.
"KITS AND APPRENTICES IN THE APPRENTICE'S DEN, LET'S GO!" She roared, raising her head to project her voice as best as possible over the rain. Cinderpaw couldn't leave a single one of them out here, but she couldn't be everywhere at once. Crowpaw was screaming for her, but she couldn't leave the sides of the ones gathering near her. Her eyes flickered around desperately, before landing on...
"Help me. Go get Crowpaw, any others who can't move, bring them to me. Please!" The apprentice called over the wind to Sundust, hoping her call would be heard. Would he do this for her? She didn't know.
But she had to have faith that he could.
[you've been pinged here bc you were directly mentioned in my post or have posted a kit/apprentice at this meeting. please dont mass mention everyone in this group! next post will be in the apprentices den. @rowan @Emo Rat @mooncake @SpiritedWarrior @daenerys @Angelique @naiad (for sun helping and wolf) @lio @jupiter @dizzy @Rose @CreeperLover649 (this technically doesnt include sharp but if you want toss him in there cinder will more than welcome him) @Acantha @Pluto! @~*Hope*~ @Caspian @Rei (zyon isnt a clan kit yet but hes free to follow) ]
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Last edited by littlelove; February 25th, 2023 at 06:25 PM.
Growing louder, after answering the peppered questioned that ThunderClan had, was Roosterflame's voice. Redhawk turned to listen, ears perked and green eyes inquisitive. Worry fluttered behind them like trapped butterfly wings but she wouldn't allow herself to go into any sort of panic. Panic would only lead to chaos, and that was the last thing her Clan needed right now. Rain had started to fall as the tom spoke, and something made the fur along the back of her spine rise steadily.
Sparrowstar was gone.
The sudden clap of thunder and subsequent strike of lightning, exterminating a branch of the Thunderwillow, had Redhawk leaping to her paws as her fur fluffed out. Fear etched in her gaze as she stared agape at Roosterflame. What was happening?? Sparrowstar was gone, and now this storm, and... Stars. Her heart thumped heavily in her chest as the calls from her Clanmates began; questions of how it had happened, theories of it being StarClan that ripped her from them. She couldn't find fault in that theory, and a little bit more did her faith in their ancestors chip away.
Several of the cats around her offered to help with a body, but the young warrior had no time to dwell on such confusion sentiments. If Sparrowstar was taken by twolegs, there would be no body. And if there was no body... there was hope that perhaps she would escape and return. There had to be at least a little hope - if not in StarClan, in Sparrowstar herself. She was strong, dedicated, fierce. Redhawk found it hard to believe this is how her story would end.
Others leapt to their paws, pledging themselves to do whatever would need to be done. As a warrior, Redhawk knew that her commitment did not have to be spoken; it would be done without question. A fierce determination burned in her green eyes as she forced her fur flat, ignoring the rain that fell from the sky. Now was not the time to retreat to the sidelines like she had often done. Now was the time to stand up along with ThunderClan and the rest of its beating heart; every cat that lived inside its walls.
Thankfully a few of the cats around her seemed to have heard the news and helped console those who likely allowed the initial shock to deafen them. Burnetnose was quick to spring into action, making sure that the grief didn't cause these cats to spiral too much. Redhawk was glad they had cats like that; she wasn't sure what she would've done in that same situation.
A grief-struck voice rose above the cacophony of the storm and Redhawk glanced up as Crowpaw called out for Cinderpaw. The wail from the young tom reminded her distinctly of the chaotic meeting that had scarred most of ThunderClan's youth, and her heart sank at the mere thought of it being repeated. But as she had been since the day she returned to them, the large gray she-cat sprung into action, yowling for the apprentices and kits to find her. Admiration sparked in her gaze as she watched her idol stand tall and proud, a beacon for the Clans' youth. Her and Sundust would surely work together and corral all of the youth. Their trauma would hopefully be curbed - as it should have all those moons ago with them.
Stealing her attention away from the moment was Flameheart, who had stepped up and was among the Clanmates offering assistance in any way needed, appearing to stand beside Roosterflame to help address the clear chaos erupting in the Clan. Truly an admirable warrior in Redhawk's eyes, and it was at this call that she herself also stepped forward. Her gaze remained steady and she was prepared to do whatever was call of her - shaking paws be damned.
But she had another idea. Getting to her paws and weaving in between the group of cats, eventually arriving to where Thrushfur was and murmuring apologetics to the cats already around him. Finally, Redhawk looked at him. Her green eyes were wide, and she already knew that the adrenaline from her would soon crash - she had to get this out before she started shaking too badly. "Sparrowstar may be gone, but y-you're still here. You're here, and ThunderClan cannot fall apart again. Okay? Whatever you need, you have an e-entire Clan to back you up. You have me, and Roosterflame, and Flameheart, and the rest of the k-keepers, and the warriors. Alright? Just... breathe." She was... trying, at least, to offer the clearly distraught deputy some form of solace. All of this yelling likely wasn't good for him just as much as it wasn't good for the entire Clan. The last thing Redhawk wanted to see was all of the hard work put in to build up her home again... crumble.
Looking to Spikystalker, she figured that would be a good start. "I'll h-help you with that. We'll get it taken care of. D-Don't worry Thrushfur." Her eyes darted to a kit who had already managed to race past it, heading into Sparrowstar's den. Her heart leapt, but she didn't follow after. Instead it only fueled her desire to get this branch of out of the way. With another nod she looked at her Clanmate and veered over to where the branch was. Smoke came from one end where the lightning had struck and Redhawk positioned herself near it. "Lift that end, and we'll move it together, alright?" Waiting until her Clanmate had a firm grip on the branch, Redhawk started to try and lift to carry it towards the edge of camp, out of the way so kits and cats alike wouldn't accidentally trip over it.
Spikystalker nodded to Redhawk as He Paddled over to Get a Grip on the oppisit end of the branch. he braced himself as he started to lift it up. mewing around the bark in his mouth he meowed "already lets start going, you lead and i'll follow your way and make sure this doesn't take anyone out o the way. Young Tom would you Mind letting go of my leg now?" he mewwed at Zyon, who was klinging to him. Beastwatcher quitely step forward and picked the tom up by the scruff "i'll take him to the apprentices den with the others" he mewed through a mouthful of fur. @littlelove @daenerys
The Yellow Tom Growled at this News. Sparrowstar Dead? What In Good Heavens was Wrong with Starclan? why did they insist on taking thunderclans leaders too soon? this peeved him greatly. He Sighed deeply, He Didn't Know What he Could Do, But he Wasn't Going To Stand by and Do Nothing. Short of Killing all Twolegs, even he knew he couldn't do that, He could at least Help out in The Clan.
Darn this Lightning, Just what they needed. he thought sarcastically "Thrushfur @Eaglet , I Can Go, Try And Move The Branch if your alright with that. Best to Get It Out of here in case a Fire starts from the stupid lightning. and knowing how... stupid kits can be at times, it would be unwise to leave it were they could climb it and get splinters" He Meowed Confidently.
Beastwatcher- Male.
Beastwatcher Shook His Head Sadly at The News and Nearly Jumped out of his Skin at the lightning crackling overhead. Turning to see even more kits running out of the nursery that tom gestured for the two kits to come join him, So he could keep an eye on them. he'd be on edge till this storm was over and wanted to keep an on the Younger ones. "Roosterflame has had some sad news to share little ones. Sparrowstar has, lets say gone on a long trip" he didn't know what else to say or how much should be told to the young ones, he didn't want to upset them @CreeperLover649
Turning to rainfall He Meowed "I'd like to Help Keep an Eye On the Kits Right now if its alright with you?" he meowed softly tilting his head.
@Le Batteur
Zyon- male
The Young Tom Blinked, More Dead cats? He Started to Tremble hard. he didn't like death, it was to frightening, to close a reminder of what had happened to him, when he faced that alfoul tom Jack.
the Young Tom Turned and Burried His Face into Spikystalkers spiky yellow fur as sobs and whimpering took control of him in his panicked state... this new cat... Thrushfur... would he make him leave?
Quote:
Originally Posted by littlelove
Wind weaved through Cinderpaw's fur coolly as the storm she had felt the beginnings of at Firefly Cove picked up, riding on the tails of Roosterflame's announcement. The newly-christened healer was hardly paying attention to the tom's words, in fact, being much more focused on Firkit's pleadings. He didn't need to seal what she already knew was happening. She had lived through it more times than she could count on one paw, after all.
Peering down to her companion's panicked face, the apprentice could feel her heart split in two. She started her words in a murmur-- before realizing she had to shout over the roaring pitter-patter of rain. "We don't ha-have to stay here. She was up there, I know it was scary, but the next time she even thinks of showing her face in camp...!"
She beckoned Firkit over with a paw, eyes pleading. They could leave, and she sure as hell didn't want Thunderclan's single spark of hope thrown into a meeting that marked the hell they would soon be churned through again, but Cinderpaw didn't want her leaving alone. Alone was what she had been when she died. And the apprentice would tear the stars from the sky to keep her from ever being abandoned like that again. Redhawk's inquiries grazed her ears, and part of her couldn't help but be grateful. She was the only one here who was bothering to recognize...
Her hair began to raise as her eyes flickered the crowd. There was little Fireflykit, a fearful look on her face, and Cinderpaw's heart was rended. Crowpaw's eyes were wide with shock as he stared towards his mother and father, and she knew how this news was about to tear him apart. Countless other kids gathered, unsure of what to do; for some of them this could be the first time of many. For others, they had been through this song and dance too many times. She wanted to so badly to go over to them, to comfort them like she needed to, but Firkit's wailing tugged her attention from them. How could she help everybody?
(She couldn't.)
Crowpaw began to call for her, oh stars, he was calling for her, she would call him over to follow her as she left camp. Fireflykit too, and all of the kids who didn't need to see any of this. She leaned down to Firkit, practically shouting over the howling wind. Her fur stood like live wire, nearly sparking with anticipation. "We can go--!"
Light as bright and white-hot as the sun cracked across the sky, and for a moment Cinderpaw thought it hit her. It would be just her luck, the stars sending down a bolt of starlight to hit her specifically, after teasing her with a happy ending. But the light was snuffed out in just as much time it took to touch down, and other than the floaters in her vision left from catching the sight of it, she was safe.
The Thunderwillow, not so much. The branch that Sparrowstar had stood tall upon, that she had been thrown to fly from, was now left smoking on the ground. The shadows that danced in her line of sight kept her still for a moment, wondering just what and how had happened, before the sound of a wailing crowd all clicked. What else was this, other than a message from the sky?
They needed to be inside, anywhere but here. Anywhere but under these damn stars.
"KITS AND APPRENTICES IN THE APPRENTICE'S DEN, LET'S GO!" She roared, raising her head to project her voice as best as possible over the rain. Cinderpaw couldn't leave a single one of them out here, but she couldn't be everywhere at once. Crowpaw was screaming for her, but she couldn't leave the sides of the ones gathering near her. Her eyes flickered around desperately, before landing on...
"Help me. Go get Crowpaw, any others who can't move, bring them to me. Please!" The apprentice called over the wind to Sundust, hoping her call would be heard. Would he do this for her? She didn't know.
But she had to have faith that he could.
[you've been pinged here bc you were directly mentioned in my post or have posted a kit/apprentice at this meeting. please dont mass mention everyone in this group! next post will be in the apprentices den. @rowan @Emo Rat @mooncake @SpiritedWarrior @daenerys @Angelique @naiad (for sun helping and wolf) @lio @jupiter @dizzy @Rose @CreeperLover649 (this technically doesnt include sharp but if you want toss him in there cinder will more than welcome him) @Acantha @Pluto! @~*Hope*~ @Caspian @Rei (zyon isnt a clan kit yet but hes free to follow) ]
~~Glowkit~~
Glowkit raced to Beastwatcher's side, starting to cry. "Will Sparrowstar come back?" She sobbed. She heard another cat call out, and she quickly followed.
~~Cherrykit~~
This was the first time Cherrykit had felt fear. And it felt so wrong. She quickly followed Cinderpaw into the apprentice's den, starting to cry herself.
Glowkit raced to Beastwatcher's side, starting to cry. "Will Sparrowstar come back?" She sobbed. She heard another cat call out, and she quickly followed.
~~Cherrykit~~
This was the first time Cherrykit had felt fear. And it felt so wrong. She quickly followed Cinderpaw into the apprentice's den, starting to cry herself.
"Perhaps one day you shall get to see her again" just not for quite a long time yet i hope, for a i wish no more to die this season He followed behind the kits with a zyon having a melt down
His call had roused a large chunk of the clan. The fact that the majority of them were children didn’t pass by Roosterflame unnoticed, but he didn’t have it in him to tell them to go. They were going to hear it somehow, and they’d already seen how the adults were reacting. They weren’t going to want to leave, that was something Roosterflame was sure of.
Roosterflame gave Stormkit [ @Emo Rat ] a hollow look, but he said nothing about what happened. He only wanted to have to say it once. Actually, he didn’t want to have to say it at all. It was a horrible thing to have to say. Instead, he locked eyes with Puddlekit [ @/emo rat ]! “You two should go over to Rainfall [ @Le Batteur ], she’s calling to you,” He meowed gently, or as gently as he could without his voice breaking again. It was hard to speak and sound stable right now.
Roosterflame watched Alderstep [ @valery ] and Peachpaw [ @mooncake ] file over. Neither spoke to him, that was fine. He didn’t want to have to say anything until everyone was gathered. He didn’t want to have to repeat himself. It would be painful enough the first go.
The next cat address him directly was a molly that he didn’t know if he’d actually spoken to since her Warrior ceremony, but he was well aware of how much she’d been stepping up lately. Young as she was, Flameheart [ @SpiritedWarrior ] was a pillar of ThunderClan right now. “Everything is…” He paused, voice cracking as he whispered to Flameheart, “…awful.”
He couldn’t say anymore, he didn’t want to not yet. Those words were probably going to really startle Flameheart, but he didn’t care, truly. What he had to say in relation to them would be worse, after all.
Crowpaw [ @/spiritedwarrior ] followed not too far behind Flameheart and sat in front of the Thunderwillow. The way his eyes burned into Roosterflame’s pelt made him feel a tad bit uncomfortable by the intensity of the apprentice’s stare, but he didn’t shift his footing. He was used to being looked at.
Sandkit [ @daenerys ] and Wildkit [ @Angelique ] were next out of the nursery. That made it four kits out to witness this “meeting”, Roosterflame observed.
Sandkit actually padded up to him and told him not to wake the flowers. Normally, Roosterflame would have smiled and humored the little guy, but all he could think of was Sparrowstar. Sparrowstar likes flowers… He thought. “…Is everything okay?”
Sandkit’s words paused Roosterflame’s reflection, and he was kind of grateful. He might’ve cried if he’d continued to walk down memory lane. ”Not really, Sandkit, no,” Roosterflame meowed, looking down at the innocent ball of fur with a feeling of mourning. Oh, he wished he could also be so blissfully ignorant, “…but it will be, later, maybe. You should probably go join the other kits in the nursery, or over by Rainfall if she isn’t against you being out. It’s her call.”
Roosterflame saw Wolfpaw [ @naiad ] by the apprentice’s den entrance. The poor guy looked confused and apprehensive. Roosterflame felt a pang of pity for his new clanmate. Wolfpaw was a good kid, and he had literally just joined… This must be very weird and kind of scary for him, Roosterflame thought, I know that I’d have acted like that if my clanmate called a meeting in the middle of the night with half his cheek and his shoulder stained with his own blood.
Then, a voice nearby. Scared.
Roosterflame turned and he saw Asterdance [ @x ghostie ], and his heart cracked a little more. This was the second time something like this was happening to them, Roosterflame had no doubts that they were reliving the day that Dogbark announced Aspenstar’s death. What a horrible parallel. “Rainfall is out here,” Roosterflame meowed, answering Asterdance’s first question, “I’m going to go with her call on this one.”
He didn’t want to answer their second question yet, so all he said on that subject was, “That’s the subject of this meeting.”
As Roosterflame was closing his mouth, Thrushfur [ @Eaglet ] burst onto the scene. Roosterflame had to watch on in shock and slight fear as the deputy started acting in a way that Roosterflame might have thought akin to something rabid.
As Thrushfur darted around camp and made a ruckus (Roosterflame might have acted the same if he didn’t have the horrible duty of informing everyone what happened, to be totally honest.), Roosterflame realized that he couldn’t count on Thrushfur to be a voice of reason, he was just as distraught as everyone else, and maybe worse. Roosterflame could not break down now, the clan needed him to be a rock.
How ironic, Roosterflame, the cat who had literally just had his whole life destroyed by this event, was stuck in the position of consoling and helping others. He was a plaything for the gods, and the gods must be having a ball.
Now, Thrushfur addressed him directly. There was anger building inside of the usually mild tomcat. He was so sick of all of this. He wanted to curl up and forget it all. He didn’t want to be here. “The answer to your question, Thrushfur,” Roosterflame meowed hoarsely, barely finding his voice again, “Depends on what you classify as safe... no. Sorry. That was rude. Uncalled for. I promise I’ll answer you but I only want to say it once and I’m waiting for, oh, I don’t know. Everyone to stop yelling?”
He could smell what he knew was rain on the horizon. Even the sky wants to cry because Sparrowstar is gone, Roosterflame thought.
Russetkit [ @lio ] was out of the nursery now. She told Thrushfur he smelled. Roosterflame guessed that that wasn’t going to go over well. Duskhope [ @Cinderspirit ], Rowanblaze [ @Speckear ], Foggywillow [ @effervescent ], Spiderleap [ @/effervescent ], Frostbite [ @Caspian ], Softsky [ @WinterMara ], and Gingerflight [ @GingerFlight ] had all entered the clearing without saying anything to him, which was a small relief. He didn’t know if he could keep dealing with that one stupid question anymore.
Roosterflame saw Cinderpaw’s [ @littlelove ], Sundust’s [ @/naiad ], and the… kit’s [ @rowan ](Why was there a kit. She looked kind of familiar. Oh no, she was yelling.) entrance, but he couldn’t really bring himself to be all to curious. The kit they brought with them must have snuck out or something. It really wasn’t under his jurisdiction. Nothing was, but that was besides the point.
Suddenly, Roosterflame’s eyes locked on Quailfur [ @Lilacquartz ], who was consoling Thrushfur. Okay, that was nice of her. She was a good mate to him. Roosterflame wished he had someone to console him, but she was probably very far away by now. Roosterflame was about to turn away to see if anyone else was coming into the clearing and if he could finally announce what had happened, when Quailfur growled at a kit. Oh no. Oh no no. Quailfur and Thrushfur might have both been upset, but that was never an excuse to growl at a young one. Roosterflame shot her a very disappointed, and frankly, quite angry, look, but he said nothing. Hopefully Rainfall or another queen would gather Russetkit and Sandkit up along with the other kits running around, sooner or later.
Fireflykit [ @jupiter ] was near the Warrior’s den, and she had been since before he had called everyone out, he noted. Why was she outside and not in the nursery? Roosterflame made a mental not to check that out later, maybe, if a queen didn’t address it.
Loudmouth [ @/dizzy ], Blackfir, and Petalflight [ @Ravensong ] were all out here now, joining the fray. Roosterflame noticed the looks that Loudmouth and Blackfir were giving, it mirrored the majority of the clan’s faces, after all.
Fuzzkit [ @dizzy ] came out of… the warriors den? What was he doing in there? Roosterflame watched him come over, and he decided that this little guy would not be turned over to Rainfall. He needed a little buddy, and Fuzzkit appeared to be needing a big buddy, too. “Yeah,” Roosterflame meowed glumly to the kit’s remark, though he tried not to let it leak into his words, “It is rather stinky, isn’t it? I’ll clean it off in a few minutes, don’t worry. I just need to say something first. You can sit with me or Rainfall if you want, and the nursery is, of course, an option.”
Creamcloud [ @Oceanflower ] had joined the watch party, and her face mirrored everyone else’s. Roosterflame could see the fear behind her eyes, and the fear scent was almost strong enough in the camp for him to taste.
Now Batblood [ @Spotty ] was here to put his two cents in. That’s fine, Roosterflame thought, semi-bitterly, How about we all have circle time, and start yelling things. Maybe I’ll just never get to the actual point of this whole thing. Sure. “I said earlier that I’m going to let Rainfall handle the kit department. Though, if you really want to wrangle all the toddlers and board them up in the- not soundproof, so they’ll probably still hear everything- nursery, feel free.”
Roosterflame knew he was being a little harsh, and he became instantly aware of it after he finished, speaking, but he couldn’t take those words back now. He just hoped the keeper wasn’t offended by what he said.
Redhawk [ @/daenerys ] had just left the warriors den, and now she was saying something to Cinderpaw and the kit. This made Roosterflame’s curiosity bubble up again, despite the situation. How did Redhawk know the kit, he wondered.
He also saw Honeykit [ @Rose ] wander in, though she didn’t say anything, so his attention didn’t rest on her for all too long.
Now, there was a significant lull in cats entering the clearing, and Roosterflame waited for a moment, just to see if anyone else would come, but no. It appeared that everyone that was awake and had heard him was here. It was time for the moment he dreaded more than anything else, telling the clan what had happened to Sparrowstar.
It was beginning to drizzle, and Roosterflame took it as a sign to get a move on. He didn’t want to be standing in the rain. Thunder rumbled in the distance.
Roosterflame cleared his throat, ready to raise his voice again. “I’m sorry for making y’all wait a second,” He began slowly, “But I… needed to answer some questions, and, truthfully, I needed to gather myself. I don’t know if it’s showing or not, but I am actually freaking out a lot right now and it’s so difficult to-“Get to the point, don’t make this last longer than it has to,”Sorry.”
He looked around, taking in everyone’s faces. “The reason that I have called this meeting, as many of you have guessed, is because Sparrowstar is…” He choked on his own words as a flash of lightning lit up the sky some miles away, “She’s-“ He couldn’t say it. Oh my god this was going to be so difficult for him to say. “She was going on a run though the forest, I think, and there was… a trap…” The sight of Sparrowstar in that cage resurfaced in his mind and a tear dripped down the side of his blood-crusted cheek, “And twolegs took the trap… and Sparrowstar… she…” The fur along Roosterflame’s spine began to prick up. He assumed it was the humidity. “Sparrowstar is gone-!“
Just as he spoke a giant fork of lightning leapt from the sky and struck a branch of the Thunderwillow, causing it to break off of the ancient tree and tumble to the ground with a shower of bark and sparks. Roosterflame startled and ducked his head under his paws, terrified, but the branch, thankfully, landed behind the Thunderwillow, away from the gathered cats. Roosterflame sat for a moment, still worried that something was going to fall on him, but when the thunder rumbled on, the rain began to pour buckets, and no more lightning struck, he raised his head to assess the damage.
There was a sizzling stump where the broad, sturdy branch once was, but there was no smoke or fire.
But above all of the fear from the lightning strike, Roosterflame was heartbroken, because the limb that had broken off… was the exact same one that Sparrowstar used to sit on when she called meetings.
Moonspot heard Roosterflame speak as she was takeing her time to get her message to everyone. as soon as everything died down and she was able to say what she needed, Moonspot's heart dropped as she then heard Sparrowstar was gone. her clan leader is...gone...already.. it felt like already just a week that she has been there and she hasn't gotten a chance to speak to them. her ears laied down abit as she took in the news, but she soon felt abit of remorse for her clan, she wanted to help in any way she could. she then stood her tail swaying abit behind her saying to Roosterflame "If there is anything i can do to help around the clan, just ask, i don't mind helping out." she said smiling warmly abit
Sparrowstar was gone? What was that supposed to mean? The kitten looked up at Roosterflame. "Then bring her back. Simple.", he meowed. Wildkit liked that idea! His tail flickered and he just looked dumbfounded. He had no clue how big this really was. Starclan these cats knew nothing. Hearing Cinderpaw call for kits and apprentices to go to the apprentices den. He didn't want to go in there. he wanted to stay out here. "Do we have to?", he asked. Wildkit let out a pouty face. he wanted to stay out here! No fair! hew didn't even react the branch that fell down. He was just upset he had to leave.
Coming back only to get Barleypaw into warriorhood, but then I most likely will be leaving entirely. I've spend too much time on her to not have her be a warrior and I'd like to get her there.
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Last edited by Madelaine; February 25th, 2023 at 07:14 PM.
@/willowfern.. for the sass @jupiter
The bobtail searched Roosterflame's for a flicker of meaning. "..Hard for anyone to dictate that decision if they don't know what the hell is going on, " Asterdance pointed out bluntly, a touch of fire to their words. Not directed towards the tom himself but they couldn't help but narrow their gaze at the ominous answer. All they were taking it was yeah, the kits shouldn't be here. They found themselves taking a few steps back as cats begun to crowd Roosterflame for answers. Man. With the tom standing near the base of the Thunderwillow, there was no way for them to be able to even try and get a chance at reading his lips. Even slightly.
Confusion bubbled through them as their wounds ached. Asterdance felt as if they may be simply swallowed up by the crowd. .. (God, did anyone even notice they were here?)
Instead, their gaze swept across the crowd. Eyes landing on Cinderpaw and Sundust, .. and the small familiar kit that stood with them. With all the chaos swarming about them, they felt themself feel slight relief. At least the stars finally did something good and bring someone worthy back. Asterdance had their own curiosities, but they were tired. Too tired to question and they were grateful. As rain begun to drone onto their fluffy pelt, Asterdance looked to the sky.
Their wounds ached, and they weren't okay. They weren't okay at all. They could pretend to. The silence and the rainy sky were comforting.
The warrior's fur had started to stand up on its own, and their heart skipped a beat.
They blinked.
It felt as if that world had collapsed for even a second.
Asterdance hadn't been looking at the Thunderwillow, but it was the vibrations that shook them through the very core. The ground shook with fury and they ducked to the floor with a yelp of fear, confusion swirling in their very soul. Primal fear radiating from them, shaking wildly as they were wrecked with a choking sob. Prepared for the pain that never came.
they felt so small.
Then, eventually, they raised their head shakily and everything was not bursting with flames. There was no one laying across the floor dead. Their immediate thought was the kits, the poor kits. It was what shook them from their trance. Asterdance's eyes widened, watching one of the small ones attempt to dive into the leader's den. The fragments of the bark surely would cause harm. So, they picked themselves up and made a rush to it.
"Fireflykit!" Asterdance called out and chased after the scrawny tortieshell. Large paws slammed against the fragments, but it didn't do much as they attempted to scoop her into their warm arms. "Oh, come here, kitto. I got you - promise, promise. You don't need to be alone, okay? You're safe, it's going to be okay, " They cooed softly.
Last edited by wolfie; February 25th, 2023 at 08:07 PM.
So many words. That was what Honeykit was met with as she waddled in, as so many cats had gathered below this funny-looking red cat. Some were talking to him, some to each other, and some just sat in tense, bewildered silence, for where was their rightful caller? Where was Sparrowcat - who Honeykit had recently learned was named Sparrowstar - and why wasn't she up there on her tree thing to assert dominance? That was what you did on that tree, right?
Fine, perhaps it was easy to say that Honeykit was a little... daft, or oblivious to her surroundings, ..or self-centered, or obnoxiously obsessed with impressing her father, or... Okay, this wasn't making her feel any better, so like yeah.
Almond shaped, olive green hues of shimmering intelligence (this part is questionable, for Honeykit probably has very low IQ) travel upward to fixate on the red-orange cat as he begins to speak. And the words... the words... they make no sense. They... make no sense to the dilute calico. All she can do is follow the trail of a tear slide down this red-orange cat's cheek. All she can do is watch, gaze distant and far away as the Clan erupts around her.
“Sparrowstar is gone-!”
Everything fades in and out, voices distorted and together around Honeykit, for she does not know what is right from wrong, what is up from down. She does not know who is saying what and why they are saying it.
So when a bolt of lightning, flashing as bright as the sun and ten times more brilliant zigzags down the hollow, crashing with a loud snarl into a branch of the Thunderwillow as if seeking to punish ThunderClan for its crimes, Honeykit has no time to recover from the temporary blindness in her eyes as a loud RIIIIIPP sound grates against the dilute calico's delicate ears, causing her small mittens to dart up to cover her ears, and her pink mouth to open in a screech of pain.
And this way, with newfound ringing in her ears and temporary distortment in her vision, she entirely misses what Cinderpaw [ @littlelove ] is yelling over the wind. She entirely misses what her sister is saying, calling all kits to the nursery.
The words spoken right before this pain is all that rings through her mind, resounding and bouncing off the walls only to return and haunt her again, until the process repeats itself over and over and over again. Sparrowstar, as in Sparrowcat, who'd been so nice to Honeykit and not even stopped to lift a claw in anger when Honeykit had disobeyed the rules to sneak out of the nursery and to the Gathering? Because what had Sparrowstar done instead? She'd told big sister Cindy to watch her and Galekit, and then let them witness something that no kit probably ever has. Sure, Honeykit had been a small, sniveling little whiny thing, but that memory rang true in her mind to this day. That moment when she'd been able to waddle her way into the Gathering, happily chasing Galekit's tail with the bliss that came with a young mind.
It had been that day that Honeykit's life had turned upside down. That night when the young dilute calico had realized. Realized that despite the fact that it was in ThunderClan nature to blame all the other Clans of harsh actions and mean words, they themselves were the biggest hypocrites. For Stormclaw had torn his claws into her heart that day, viciously chewing her heart and spitting it out like it was worth nothing. He'd told her that her dream was cursed. That her want for Thunderblaze, her father, to be ever proud of her was a fool's goal. He'd told her, and Honeykit would remember those words to this day, that her father would never, ever, be proud of who she is or what she will grow to be.
She would rid the forest of these mean cats. Cats like Stormclaw, who thought they had the right to crush and stomp on the dreams of others. She would rid the Clans, one by one, of cats who thought themselves above others. Yes, Honeykit was still a kid, merely five moons old, but it is hard to stop the ambition of one so young, one so fresh out of the nursery and thrust into the harsh reality that was life.
Because in the end, even the Angel of Death had to start from humble, innocent beginnings. Nothing was born evil, and not even the cruelest of creatures could be labeled so, for everyone saw the world differently. Honeykit? Honeykit had one goal, and it was as simple as anything. To impress her father. So for as long as Thunderblaze refused to acknowledge her, Honeykit would remain obsessed with climbing the ranks to satisfy him, to satisfy herself.
It was then, when her ears stopped ringing and her gaze stopped swimming, that the little girl noticed kits being herded off to the nursery. Oh. So she had to go too, huh? Perhaps she wouldn't be made an apprentice this meeting, but Honeykit was still allowed to watch from the nursery, right? And watch she did, lurking at the entrance of the shadowed den, news of Sparrowstar's disappearance long past her mind, any care for it that she'd previously had draining away with the kit inside her. Her heart had been chipped from the start, but now as one by one, drastic events laid themselves out in front of Honeykit and stole away pieces of her broken heart as she grew older, the small dilute calico feared that she'd have no heart to end with. No way to die a peaceful, noble death. Oh, how right can one be sometimes.
Re: The Thunderwillow
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