[So as far as I can recall Mosspaw's mom was an outsider and not a part of WindClan. Twi's paws are tied there as she's not going to spend to much time worrying about an outsiders death.]
Twilightstar flattened her ears at the news received from Lionscar. A new problem, wonderful. She glanced at Mosspaw with sympathy.
"I'm sorry that you lost your mother like this Mosspaw. However, as far as I can recall your mother is an outsider. Unfortunately, I can't waste warriors on matters that don't pertain to WindClan. The best I can do for you is have the warriors keep an eye on the borders." She told him softly. There were also way too many questions involved that Twilightstar didn't look forward to getting wrapped up in.
Her scowl deepened when only Flowerpaw arrived. Where the hell was Batshriek? If the tom was ignoring her summons, she finally understood Crowtooth's and Lightingstorm's concerns. She was going to have to get to the bottom of that later but first Flowerpaw.
"Flowerpaw, I've already warned you about causing trouble around the clan. Yet I've received reports regarding lying, harassment, disobedience, and suspicious activity. You're lying to our medicine cat and harassing her for a rank that you've neither earned nor deserved, you're ineptitude to follow your patrol leader's orders along with the strange amount of prey you brought in has brought concern from clanmates. I've concluded that clan life is not for you. You cannot work well with others. Perhaps you'll do better as a loner or rogue, but you are exiled from WindClan." The she-cat has proven she's too much trouble and unfit for the clans.
"I need you to leave WindClan, if you're found in our territory after you will be treated as a threat and chased off or killed."
Small, skinny, black she-cat with a light gray belly and tail-tip, a mangled tail, a crooked jaw, and one blind eye.
Twistedpaw sniffled and swallowed the phlegm that congealed in her throat. Her jaw ached from all the talking despite the warm, dry weather. But she was so glad she'd done it. Twilightstar really is the best leader ever. She was so kind, welcoming, and strong-willed. I wish she could be leader forever. StarClan forbid anything happen to her. What will she say? The apprentice's stomach was tight with anticipation, and her heart pounded with hope.
Silence stretched on for a long while. Discomfort began to crawl through Twistedpaw's matted black pelt like ants. Her working eye darted around the dimly lit den. Twilightstar did have an answer, she knew. Her leader was wise. She just has to think. Still, her stomach flopped like a nervous rabbit.
Finally, after what felt like moons, Twilightstar's expression changed. A warm smile touched her lilac-gray face, shimmering from the shadows of the den. Twistedpaw felt her muscles relax. Hope flourished anew. Her single tiny ear pricked. She was going to get an answer!
A pang of pity rocked her as Twilightstar talked about her brother. Her ear flattened against her round head. That's awful! She didn't know what the accident was, or why Twilightstar thought she had caused it, but she wasn't going to invade her privacy by asking. It was strange to think of Twilightstar being young, with siblings and a mother. But everyone has their own story. Every cat, no matter where they came from, had something that was a part of them, some tale that ran deeper than what the eye could see - or, if the eye could see it, it didn't tell the whole story. Twilightstar's plethora of scars showed that she had experienced many battles, much pain and suffering, but they didn't speak of the scenario she had been in that caused her to earn the scar or how it had affected her as a cat. Perhaps that was why some judged Twistedpaw based on her deformities alone. They failed to see the cat behind the scars.
Take all that pain and hurt and make meaning of it. Twistedpaw dwelled on these words as Twilightstar kept speaking. Seeking her own path... finding the light inside... guiding others... The words touched something deep within her. I want to help others. I want to make them happy. She'd long since learned that she couldn't please everyone. She couldn't spend her time stressing over those who acted out because of the way she looked. However, I can make others feel happy, better, by being myself. By pushing through the pain, being kind, giving them that light. With a flicker of grief, she remembered something Cowtuft had said to her many moons ago, when she'd still been a confused kit unsure of the world.
You are sweeter than the sweetest nectar...
Fireflame and Brightpaw had always supported her, too, through the rough and dark times, the pain and the suffering. Twistedpaw could pay that forward. Instead of crumpling under the pressure, she could keep going on for her Clan. And... and for myself.
It wouldn't be easy. Twilightstar made that clear. And Twistedpaw understood that. There was pain, agony even, and grief on the horizon. More losses that would tear into her with teeth and claws and suck so much of her blood that she wasn't sure how much of herself would remain. That thought was terrifying. And yet... there were so many good things, too. Making new friends. Serving WindClan as a warrior. Making others happy. Squirrelrise's smile still stuck out in her mind. It didn't matter that she was from ShadowClan. Twistedpaw had still helped someone, another anxious cat who wasn't sure of her place. She wanted to keep doing that.
Twistedpaw could turn her pain into something meaningful. Instead of letting it destroy her, she could keep moving forward, not just for herself, but for others, too.
She smiled and leaned forward to touch her nose to Twilightstar's fur, rough scars contrasting with her soft pelt. "Thank you. That's... that's exactly what I needed to hear. I want to help others as much as I can. I want to be happy for me, too. Instead of letting the pain destroy me... I need to keep living. Both for myself and for others." Fireflame and Brightpaw had been devastated to see her so upset. They'd want her to keep living, moving forward. That didn't mean Twistedpaw couldn't mourn them, but she couldn't be stuck mourning them forever.
Something else crossed her mind. Something she wanted - no, she needed - to ask. Twistedpaw settled herself more comfortably on the cool wood, trying not to look too longingly at Twilightstar's mossy nest. "So... I've been hearing a lot about this Ashfeather cat." A tingle ran down her spine. All this wondering, and she would finally get an answer. "I know she looked exactly like me. Which is strange, because I know I look so different from everyone else. Who was she? And... and who was Rosebriar?" The memory of the screeching starry cat assaulted her mind, and her fur bristled.
"I - I don't know how much you know... but, when I went out with Wolffang, this StarClan cat appeared. She was called Rosebriar. She and Wolffang were littermates. She said some things about... about them hating cats like me in the past. Wolffang didn't anymore. He's always been friendly toward me. But Rosebriar was so angry that she somehow manifested the giant pile of carrion to lure the coyote. She wanted to kill both of us." She shuddered. "Rosebriar also rejected StarClan, somehow. She chose to live in the Dark Forest. She must've been evil. Ashfeather... Rosebriar... Wolffang... all these past names. They have some kind of story to tell. Something that happened that I still don't know. What was it?"
She was glad that her words inspired the younger cat. It always filled her heart with warmth knowing that she brightened someone's day up even if it's in the smallest of ways.
The topic shifted to a more touchy subject, Rosebriar, Wolffang, and Ashfeather. It wasn't a story that Twilightstar wanted to get into, but despite being an apprentice, Twistedpaw was old enough to know about this. So the leader moved to get more comfortable in her nest and beckoned Ashpaw to join her with a twitch of her tail tip.
"I'll tell you what I can." That meant what she heard, she hadn't been all that involved in those three lives, but clan gossiped. "Wolffang and Rosebriar were siblings, they grew up with certain views on cats' bloodlines and were rather a discriminator towards cats with disabilities thanks to their mother, Featherwhisker's, teachings. They were quite cruel to young Ashfeather, whose mother left her to fend for herself not long after birth. As WindClan was under quite a lot of stress, and I, new to leadership and trying to keep the clan stable, Ashfeather's abuse was overlooked by the clan."
Looking back, she did feel quite a bit of guilt for not doing anything about that. Twilightstar felt like she was making excuses. However, there had been quite a lot of pressure on her shoulders, and the clan was in chaos. One kit's misery went unseen or unheard.
"Ashfeather's life was not easy, she didn't have the same support or mentor you do, but she always managed to somehow push through all the sorrow and horror in her life and find something to keep her going. Few showed the same devotion and bravery she did throughout her life. She served WindClan as both a mother and a warrior, although she did end up losing the family she created as her mate and kits left her life one by one. However, she didn't let it keep her down for long and helped raise my kits, who she loved like her own and died for after a mishap at the border brought Dawnstar's fury down on them. She died protecting the ones she loved, like a true warrior and mother." It had been a sad but honorable death.
"Wolffang grew and changed not long after he became a deputy. He started becoming remorseful and guilty of his views and past actions towards those with disabilities, I do believe he and Ashfeather eventually found some sort of peace with each other. He did his best to patch up things with those he hurt in the past after being demoted from deputy. He grew more open and accepting of others, and like Ashfeather died a hero." Wolffang's story came full circle, even though it still troubled how he died, she was glad that he fell fighting for someone he once loathed. It only further proved his growth.
"Rosebriar, although a good warrior, I don't think she ever grew out of her vain views or ableism. She loathed those with disabilities, not even after getting mauled by a dog that left her with horrendous scars during an attack on WindClan's camp changed her mind. She eventually vanished from WindClan, it's a pity to hear what's become of her in the afterlife. She still couldn't let go of her hatred." It was rather disappointing and sad to hear how far she'd go. The molly would rot in the darkest depths of the Dark Forest. She yawned softly as she concluded her tale.
The clan leader rested on her unscarred side with her thoughts darting to and fro. She was thinking about everything and everything, yet nothing at all as well. It was hard for her to zone out like she could during her younger years. Leadership had made her far too responsible, Leechscar would say overly towards the clan.
She sat up hearing paw steps below her den and stared at the opening. She was waiting for Crowtooth to show up with a bang like he usually did, but instead, a petite, cheeky tortie greeted her green eye. Twilightstar pulled her paws under her body and rocked forward, standing upright after Lightingstorm's greeting.
"So radiant and lovely, I couldn't ask for a better sight to start the day." Twilightstar trilled back every so amused with the spirited medicine cat. The contrast between who she was now and who she was before she lost memories never ceased to delight her. The thought had her wondering how Firestorm was doing. She hasn't seen much of the she-cat since their talk some time ago. It was something she'd have to check up on later if the queen didn't find her first.
"So, my sunny medicine cat, what troubles do you bring me today?" Twilightstar spoke with the smallest of grins mixed with apprehension. The one day one of her high rank didn't come to her without a concern to report would probably be the day she joined StarClan.
"Hello Summerpelt," Twilightstar purred softly at the sunny cat's warm greeting. She'd never not find it strange when cats suddenly toss her random appreciation, but she wouldn't lie and say that didn't make her feel nice about herself. "Thank you, Summerpelt, and feel free to speak to Crowtooth about patrols. I'm sure he'll appreciate the help."
Summerpelt nodded cheerfully. "If you need anything involving me let me know, alright?" She smiled, and padded off. Such a lovely she-cat.
Last edited by Dark; Yesterday at 05:21 AM.
Reason: fixed the broken quote and added a spoiler <33
Sigpic done by @ramen
————————————— Sun, Stars, Moon, Comet, Eclipse, Earth
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Team Foster-Keefe for life!
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"Don't doubt yourself; if anyone tells you your art is bad, then smack them with a frying pan."
- FluffyToasterBunny.
"Common Mosspaw i know a place we can go sit for a while if you want to." He mewed he felt so bad for his apprentice. Lionscar couldn't belive that the leader could just brush it off but he also understood where Twighlight was coming from. We just have to be grateful that Mosspaws mom wasn't part of the clan. Lionscar knew a spot he could bring Mosspaw to talk. @Rustleaf
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Please know that my character's sayings and actions are not how I really feel.:spinning
Its hard for me to be happy but I'm good at faking a smile
"Common Mosspaw i know a place we can go sit for a while if you want to." He mewed he felt so bad for his apprentice. Lionscar couldn't belive that the leader could just brush it off but he also understood where Twighlight was coming from. We just have to be grateful that Mosspaws mom wasn't part of the clan. Lionscar knew a spot he could bring Mosspaw to talk. @Rustleaf
Mosspaw nodded, and meowed huskily “Yeah, I think I’d like that.”
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Sigpic done by @ramen
————————————— Sun, Stars, Moon, Comet, Eclipse, Earth
—————————————
Team Foster-Keefe for life!
—————————————
"Don't doubt yourself; if anyone tells you your art is bad, then smack them with a frying pan."
- FluffyToasterBunny.