｡ﾟﾟ･｡･ﾟﾟ｡
ﾟ。 Mossfreckle (ShC)
ﾟ･｡･ﾟ they/he ~ medicine cat apprentice
❦ Diligent white tipped paws padded out of camp… thump, thump, thump… with each fall of his paw steps his heart beat intensified… thump, thump, thump… ocean static filled the canals of his angular ears but this time it wasn’t anxiety that sent the blood coursing beneath his pelt…thump, thump, thump… his time had come and the stars twinkled above his head in a comforting halo, his kin smiled above him, those whose paws he had to fill watched above him - insecurities claws raked against his tattered heart but he showed them down, ripped them from his flesh and locked the tenuous being deep within the darkest parts of his starry mind… later… but later would be different, later would be the same but in the end nothing would ever be the same. Angular head swung from side to side as he started up at the conifer canopy that loomed above them, the tall pines glinted with the twinkling of the stars above and Mossfreckle held his white twinged muzzle a little higher, lanky form moved with humble confidence, pride for once settled warmly over his freckled pelt - not pride for himself per se but for what he has accomplished for his clan… he was capable, he had proven to be a choice that made Lostspark proud, had proven further his dedication to his clan - to the clan who had given and taken and molded him - and his dedication to Lostspark who had given a starry eyed warrior a family when he had none. Silence hung in the air as excitement mingled with the weight of the situation in a tête-à-tête of emotions that wisped in all the things left unsaid between the two felines, all the things that didn’t need to be said between mentor and apprentice as it simply was as if the words flowed between the two in starry veins of knowledge.
❦ So few moons had past but as the medicine cat apprentice stood at the entrance to the Starcave he felt the tempestuous emotions rising to well in his tattered heart, mossy hues settled to rest with his mentors amber eyes sparking wildfires between them as the laters lips curled in a smile of rare affection… You ready, kiddo… Lostspark’s lilting voice settled weightily on the sensitive hairs within the canals of his pressed back ears, freckled oriental shaped form grew rigid as his angular head canted down in a nod, ”Yes, Lostspark. I am ready,” the words where akward but confident as the clam tones slipped from his maw, ”Thank you for everything, for the knowledge and the family, I love you,” words laid himself bare before his mentor but he had stopped caring long ago about appearing and unmoving and masked statue before her, ”whenever you are ready I will follow.”
Pausing midstep, breath catching as the Medicine Cat faltered, suddenly frozen in place. She couldn't do it. Couldn't look over her shoulder at the tom who'd just told her in simple terms the depth of their appreciation for her. It sounded so simple, so final, his words, and Lostspark could not believe it. She did not blink, did not breathe, just stared straight ahead, waiting for the inevitable moment where she would wake from this dream, or where Mossfreckle would laugh and take it back, would say he had been joking.
Neither came, and when a few moments passed, and it sunk in that he was really here, that he had really meant what he'd said, Lostspark seemed to reboot. Her head lifted, swiveling to face her apprentice, hope flickering in her gaze. Had she truly, for once, not messed something up? Was she capable of being loved?
Turning back, the scarred grey molly padded back to stand in front of Mossfreckle. She'd once had a brother. An older one, a cat she'd looked up to. And he'd betrayed her, had left her for dust. While she could not see herself accepting another older brother any time soon, could not place her trust so recklessly like that again, she could be an older sister. She could try her hardest to be someone to look up to.
She reached up to press her muzzle to theirs, fogged gaze warm. "Thank you for everything. I love you, too. Welcome to the family, little brother." They were unconventional, but they could make it work.
With that, she turned and padded into the darkness of the Starcave, her plumed tail flicking behind her in a universal gesture indicating that she be followed. And when the starstone came into view, glowing with ethereal light, for a moment, Lostspark was cast back to the previous two times she's been here.
The first time;
'She was drawn to the light, like a moth to a flame, and one paw reached out on it's own accord to press against the cold, smooth surface.
Paw to stone, a streak of burning claws raking down her spine, a foretelling, a warning. A curse to come.'
The second time;
'A glowing crystal, a fallen star, dimmed on the ground. Secrets of the Stars and the Starless within it's beckoning depths.
Muzzle to stone, a phantom caress of something not of this world, a whisper of an embrace.'
And now, the third;
A reuniting of lost souls, of secrets untold.
Of greetings to murmur, and goodbyes to lament.
Gaze not on stone, but on the cat she'd led here. The cat she was fully focused on now. The last two times she's come here, it had been for herself. This time, it was for him. Settling at the starstone's side, Lostspark watched them take it all in. "The Starcave." She offered, voice quiet, but still carrying. "There's not much I have to say - and even if I knew what to say," she laughed softly. "Which I don't, by the way - I'm as new in this as you are. All I can tell you is this; thank for sticking by me these past few moons, thank you for not disappearing on me." A bitter taste filled her mouth. Both Eveningpaw and Hollowpaw had disappeared on her, and to this day she wondered where they had gone. "Thank you for cooperating with me, even if I may have not been the best mentor at every turn."
She exhaled softly. This moment was for her, and for him. Mostly the latter, so if she could not mess this up, that would be great.
"Mossfreckle, you have trained hard to understand and implement the ways of a Medicine Cat, and I have no doubt that you will continue to serve ShadowClan for many moons to come. I, Lostspark, stand here today to name you a full Medicine Cat of ShadowClan." Resting her muzzle on Mossfreckle's head, Lostspark smiled faintly. She pulled away after a moment. "Congratulations."
｡ﾟﾟ･｡･ﾟﾟ｡
ﾟ。 Mossfreckle (ShC)
ﾟ･｡･ﾟ they/he ~ medicine cat
❦ He had said something wrong… stupid, stupid, stupid… the herbalist had laid himself out bare and raw and he was going to he rejected, starry mind reeled with realisation of all the things he had seemingly taken wrong all these moons - was the bond simply that of necessity, of duty… did he take a wrong pawstep somewhere on his reasoning, was the feline he loved as family going to reject him, look at him disgusted and wave him in to get this over with… Lostspark moved, each step was cautious and meticulous as she moved towards him, lithe grey form was taunt as if she worried a singular whiskers length of a misstep would shatter the moment into a million pieces, tatter her tattered heart as his own heart thumped ruthlessly in his ears with excitement, anticipation, and fear… thump, thump, thump… mossy hues met glazed amber eyes that seemed to spark with the fires he imagined had once blazed as wildfires within their depths… thump, thump, thump… white twinged muzzle reached up to meet her apprentices own white twinged maw… [I]thump, thump,thump…[I] words slipped from her tongue and Mossfreckle’s body flooded with relive, with love, with the feeling of acceptance and family he had lost so long ago and found in once again in the starry depths of a cave far from home - Thank you for everything. I love you, too. Welcome to the family, little brother… she thanked him as if he had done something for her but little did she know that she had given him the world, she had given him her love and respect, his thank you would never be enough in the end.
❦ The words said hung in the air thickly for a moment, a singular moment that felt like a million moons lingered before Lostspark turned and padded deeper into the belly of the Starcave as her plumed tail beckoned him within, something within the cave pulled him in as his white tipped paws moved forward pulling his lanky freckled form along - the oriental tom remained taunt, each pawstep lead him closer to his fate, to the moment he had waited and trained for for moons - nothing would be the same even though a single word was relinquished from his title, Lostspark stepping down and he himself taking another feline under his starry skies to fill the role he now left empty. The freckled herbalist let her speak, let Lostspark say everything she wanted to say offering her a soft, sad smile when she thanked him for not leaving - he bit his tongue when she said said she hadn’t always been the best mentor… Mossfreckle wanted to protest, to tell her she had been nothing but perfect… well as perfect as a mortal feline could be.
Mossfreckle, you have trained hard to understand and implement the ways of a Medicine Cat, and I have no doubt that you will continue to serve ShadowClan for many moons to come. I, Lostspark, stand here today to name you a full Medicine Cat of ShadowClan.
❦ A simple string of words, a few sentences of formality uttered in lilting heartfelt tones, starry mind glowed with pride as he beamed at Lostspark, oriental shaped head dipped in respect as his mentored fluffy head rested on top of his angular head, her chin resting on the star which adorned his forehead - he licked his mentors shoulder… well, former mentor… his sister, his family, his world… he had wanted to make her proud and as they stood in the dark star hewn cave he knew he had, for once he believed he had done something worthy of pride, for once he felt as if he had not been a choice made in vain. Mossfreckle was Shadowclan’s medicine cat, he would take an apprentice soon - he served his clan even at the extent of his own life, he was Shadowclan in a sense, he was the beating heart that kept it alive and he would serve his clan until Starclan called him home.
Rosepool fell asleep in the Starcave, seeking the great advice of her ancestors.
Larkthroat
Starclan Queen | She/Her | 25 Moons at death
World Weaver T2 | Previously Windclan
Hmmmmm now who is this? Watching from the stars the long dead queen mused over this apparent outsider in the clans most holy site wondering why she might be here. Did she have clan blood and so knowledge of starclan and the starcave? Did she have ancestors in the stars she was looking for? If so they certainly werent responding right now given Larkthroat was the only one here.
Well, perhaps Larkthroat could help a bit, both with a lesson and some advice, it was dangerous to sleep just anywhere after all. Especially where protective clancats might find Rosepool.
Drawing Rosepool into a dream of the stars Larkthroat channeled the storm itself to turn the vision dark and ominous, gale winds blowing around and the large windclan queen standing at the center of it all. "You are not a known sight to this place Rosepool, and I do not know yet if you are welcome. State your being and purpose to be judged by the dead girl, lest the storm take you away."
Larkthroat stood unaffected by the cruel buffeting winds and the dark flashes of lightning behind her staring down at Rosepool to judge her reaction to such a threatening sight. Would she react in fear or bravery, wariness or assessment. It remained to be seen.
__________________
Crowtooth is Deputy of Windclan, If he's needed mention me at any time~
Have a kittypet/outsider who needs healing? Vm me!
Rosepool sat up, and looked at larkthroat. She ruffled her fur against the wind and looked uncertain.
"I- I'm also not sure eif I'm welcome, I found this place while I went hunting and a shrew lead me here. I figured I might as well sleep here, so far away from camp"
Last edited by Primrosepool; August 23rd, 2024 at 11:54 PM.
Larkthroat
Starclan Queen | She/Her | 25 Moons at death
World Weaver T2 | Previously Windclan
Ah yes, a cave full of crystals that shimmered in the moonlight, so close to the clans and yet unclaimed by any of them. A cave that felt almost holy to any cat who walked in, a place one 'might as well rest the night'. Larkthroat had to wonder if the younger generations were just getting dumber or if her time in starclan was just turning her sour.
Still, the gale storm Larkthroat summoned in dreams lessened enough for the cats to talk, fireflies bursting from the grass to flit about like they were living stars, akin to the ones dappling Larkthroats pelt.
The starclan queen watched the bugs fly and glint, idly murmuring advice to the wayward molly wondering if Primrosepool would rectify her mistake with this information or if Action would need to be taken to prevent the desecration of such a sacred place.
"You are in the starcave child, holy place of the clans where they go to meet and confer with their ancestors like me. Should a clan cat find you here they might very well harm you for being here without permission, but I cast no such judgement. So you find yourself safe tonight and Ill give you this, you may ask of me a question as long as once you wake, you leave this place."
More then a fair gift given some other starclan cats or their darkened counterparts wouldve just driven her off.
It was time. The sun was just starting to sink below the horizon by the time they had led everyone back to camp, and Dusklion decided to call the meeting tomorrow. Exhaustion still clung to her like a second pelt, but there was one more thing she needed to do first. And, a certain cat she needed to bring along.
There was a bit of protesting from Stags - which, it was to be expected considering the bond he seemed to share with the young medicine cat. But Dusklion was resilient and had assured him they would be fine (read: she would rip apart anything that tried to harm Berries). So with that they had set out, trotting out from their new camp while the Lionhearts had been left in charge.
"Ever been to the Starcave before?" she asked the young she-cat with a soft smile. Dusklion had only been once with her... brother... but she had dreamed of the day she would eventually get to walk down into the tunnel. She didn't imagine it... like this, but... at least the Clan was moving forward. That's what mattered most. "...I'll be there every step of the way, regardless. I know things've been hectic, but... you've always got me in your corner, as with the rest of the Clan. Okay?" That was perhaps the one thing she wanted Berries to know without a doubt as she lightly brushed the younger medicine cat's flank with her tail.
Most of the journey was spent with idle chit chat back and forth, until eventually the mouth of the cave came into view. By now the sun had long since disappeared, and the stars were starting to twinkle on one by one. Dusklion sucked in a breath, glancing over to Berries. "Stick by me. 'M not sure if when we get in there, we'll be in the same dream - but you tell me if the spirits are mean to you." The deputy offered a cheeky grin, before adding, "'M not afraid to tell 'em to shove their tails in their mouths."
She gentle nudged the young medicine cat's shoulder, her gaze turning more serious. "Really, though. You deserve this. Your full name... you've worked hard, even in the face of all these struggles 'n challenges... you didn't run, or cower. You faced it head on, 'n I'm proud that you'll be my medicine cat goin' forward. After tonight, you'll have a whole new place in this Clan. Want you to know that no one has earned it more." ...Stars it was like watching a younger sibling grow up. Berries reminded her a lot like Cobs did in a way, and she was grateful to still have the sweet she-cat helping her steer RiverClan.
"Alright," she said, stomping her paw into the ground, a determined grin on her face. Shoving all of the other bad thoughts away, Dusklion looked towards the cave. "We got this." With that, she led the way into the tunnel, following its winding path until they reached the end where it opened up into the cave. The rock in the middle glowed, glistening brightly from the moonlight that shone down through the roof of the cave. The deputy stared, aw-struck for a moment. It was beautiful... she was sure Berries would be wonderstruck, too.
Exchanging a small smile, the deputy settled into a lying position, motioning with her tail for Berries to come join her. Then, sucking in a breath, she closed her eyes and pressed her nose to the stone.
[ set after the post tomorrow of dusk leading the clan to the camp! tal is just excited for new name dusk hehe ]
[ @squidz @dino. @/secret surprise guest teehee ]
Goosefury wasn't sure where to begin. First it had been surprise, and then anger, and then... well, a sense of finality. What had he really been expecting? The last four had faltered. Failures, all, when RiverClan was in need of a leader most. Fadingstar had become a very disappointing fifth tally on his ever-growing list, and what a shameful end it had been. To sit and do nothing but hurl threats from a throne, and then to run when faced with what had been asked for... how pitiful. Goosefury had watched with resignation as Dusklion found the blood and trudged back to camp to deliver the news.
Brother and sister, once joined at the hip before being torn apart at the seams. They could have been powerful, the team RiverClan had needed, but one grew so jaded and callous that he almost destroyed the other, and the Clan along with her.
At least Dusklion moved fast. He could add that to the growing list of things he liked about her.
She approached the Starcave with Berrypaw, and he readied himself. The medicine cat was not his concern; as soon as Dusklion's nose touched the stone, he forgot her guest and inserted himself into her dream.
It would start with a flash of light, a simple white void. Sand bloomed into existence where Goosefury's paws touched down until they were standing on Lionsbeach and the waves lapped almost gleefully at the shore. Constellations decorated a grand sky painted with hues of pink and purple, but as the sun moved with the horizon, it became clear that it was not setting but rising - rising on Dusklion, on her achievements, and on her future.
"Dusklion." His voice was soft, and his single green eye shone with a certain light as he strode through the waves to be directly in front of her. "Forgive me for being preemptive, but I'm proud to finally be able to say I was right about you." He'd had his doubts to begin with, sure, but she had proved he and everyone else wrong. He wouldn't deny that.
With an airy swish of his tail, he leaned forward and pressed his muzzle against her forehead. Whatever emotions the contact would flood her with, Goosefury truthfully did not know, only that they would surge through her with the force of a thousand currents. "In the absence of reliable authority, you stepped up when needed most. When faced with animosity, you steeled yourself and put your Clan first. Even in the light of your costly mistakes... you put in the work to rise above them rather than let them define you. Where five others have failed before you, you have succeeded, and for that I give you the life of command.
"Unlike your brother living up to his name, you will not set the sun on our Clan. I had begun to lose hope some time ago... I feel it once more with you standing in front of me. Rise, Stormstar, and be the crashing of the tide, the winds of change, the raging tempest that pushes us once more to glory."
When she awoke in the ethereal world of StarClan, for a moment she took it all in. A flash of light that nearly blinded her morphed into a familiar setting, and her eyes widened in realization of where they were; Lionsbeach. The first place she had come to so many moons ago as an apprentice underneath O/tterfluff's watch. Still a treasured memory, racing up to the waves and staring out at the sea beyond. Her heart fluttered within her chest as she peered around, not bothering to hide the wonder in her eyes. She would never get tired of it.
It was night, as evident by the swath of stars in the sky. Glittering into shapes and structures that nearly left her breathless. Soon enough it was like she could feel warmth, and the dusky blues transformed into beautiful hues of pink and purple while the sun rose behind her.
That voice.
Snapping her head around, she nearly let out a squeak in surprise as she saw him yet again. Goosefury. This was... what, the third time now? Her eyes were wide with admiration as she stared at the former RiverClan warrior, unable to speak as he went first. Right. He was... right about her? He'd been watching?
It seemed silly since this wasn't the first time she had been him in a dream or been visited by him. Still though, hearing it sent shocks of pride down her legs, making her stand up even taller. Words wouldn't come even if she wanted them to, so for now she stayed still as she felt his muzzle come to rest against her head, eyes closing as if on command. His words felt like comfort, like recognition for how... how hard she had been struggling. How much she had shoved down in the name of being the deputy RiverClan needed. Even in light of her... mistakes.
StarClan had never turned their back on her, even then. Had this... been apart of some sort of plan all along? The call towards RiverClan, the pull of the ocean... the way, as soon as her paws stepped into RiverClan's camp, she had known she was home.
Five. Five leaders before her. She tried to count in her head if that tracked back all the way to Lions, but before she could a source of intense energy flowed through her. It nearly choked her as she unsheathed her claws and dug them into the ground for fear of it knocking her over. Images flashed in her mind of standing tall above her Clanmates, leading them to their new camp. Commanding them to follow her into a new era for RiverClan; commanding respect, finally, from the other Clans.
A gasp left her as the life ebbed away, eyes popping open. Within them a fire blazed, and she lifted her head. Stormstar. Her old name was no longer, and something about it just felt... right. After a moment, a smirk curled along her face, and the same flash of pride that had shot through her when leading RiverClan home resurfaced.
"...I told you I'd do it." It wasn't cocky, but it was full of confidence as she stood, lifting her chin. There was nothing but pure pride on her face, the accomplishment of reaching her goal and being granted a life by none other than a cat she idolized. Within the pride though, there was gratitude, shimmering within. The strong surge of emotions made her want to cry, but Stormstar refused. "'M not done," she added, "not by a long shot. I've still got work to do, but I swear to you, Fury. I swear to all of the stars, 'm gonna be the cat that saves RiverClan."
Maybe it was foolish, speaking of such high declarations, but Stormstar could feel it as much as she felt the water in her fur whenever she swan. "RiverClan'll know glory once more. 'M doin' it for you, for Bites, for... for Lions..." ...had Lions had any part in her renaming??? Blinking a couple times, she added, "'M doin' it for the Clan, 'cause we've been too low for too long. I swear to you, I'll make sure we rise."
The entire time Berrypaw had been following Dusklion, she'd been quiet with both excitement and apprehension. Pure and utter nerves made the jumpy apprentice more jittery than usual, her tail and whiskers twitching as she fought to contain her composed facade.
This was it. She was finally being named as the Clan's full medicine cat. Not only that, but Dusklion was with her, on her way to being named leader... stars. Everything was happening so fast, her little mind almost didn't know what to do with it.
But if there was one thing to be said about Berry's hectic mind, it was that in the moments where she needed it, she could pull it together more often than not. And this was one of those times; knowing how much her Clan needed her to return, to be a stable force in the midst of all this tribulation, like a steady stream against raging ocean waves. That need, that knowledge of what she had to do... it steadied her heart enough to keep going. Against her own doubts, her own self-consciousness, she'd keep moving.
When Dusklion spoke, the apprentice was knocked out of her stupor, giving a small shake of her head. "N-No, I... I haven't ever been there," she mewed softly, the slight waver of her voice betraying her nerves. It was intimidating as anything to be headed up to a place where only high-ranking cats got to go, to commune with StarClan itself... it was like she was trying to step into pawsteps far bigger than her little paws could properly fill. But when Dusk claimed that she'd be there the whole time, as well as the Clan itself... Berrypaw took in a deep, shaky breath and smiled, nodding in affirmation. As long as those words were true... she felt a little more like she could do this.
When they reached the mouth of the cave, Berrypaw paused by the entrance with Dusklion. She gulped at the intimidating darkness that stretched on and into the ground, feeling a prickle of unease. She didn't exactly enjoy the dark, much less when it was something completely unknown. But Dusk's words again helped pull her from the fog of her anxious thoughts that started to rise, and she did her best to quell them, giving her a slight nervous chuckle and nod. Then the praises and affirmations rolled in, and the young she-cat's heart swelled in her chest, eyes almost watering for a moment. Dusklion thought that about her...? She knew the deputy had her back and was rooting her on, but to hear that she was...
Proud.
Berrypaw shyly dipped her head both in respect and as she took in the words, almost speechless for a moment in emotion. Pure, heart-wrenching emotion of all that's happened, of all that it's led up to... and what it would usher in the days to come.
She raised her leafy-green gaze to Dusk's, smiling gratefully. "T-Thank you, Dusklion... that m-means more than you know," she murmured, doing her best to keep her voice growing steadier as she spoke sincerely. "A-And, I'm... sorry for all that's happened to you a-and the Clan, but... I'll be proud to call you my leader," she added with a genuine, soft smile. "I'd say the same to you... no one's earned this more."
The she-cats shared a moment of appreciative and preperatory silence before Dusklion stomped her paw on the ground, bringing Berry's mind back to the present. Right, here goes nothing... she looked into the cave, a rare look of determination crossing the young cat's features. The Clan needed them, needed her... and especially with Dusklion at her side, she knew she could do it. She had to.
"O-Okay... right behind you," she assured, shuffling her paws in her nervous habit before forcing them to move.
The winding tunnel was long and dark, using her whiskers and Dusk's scent to guide her along. But eventually the cave opened up, and at once, Berrypaw gasped, her eyes dazzled by the brilliant light of the shiny rock in the center. She stood agape for several moments, awestruck and floored by its sheer beauty that she had to squint her eyes against. She almost wanted to say something, anything to try and describe the utter wonder she felt, but nothing left her lips. It was like her soul knew it had to be quiet and settled in a moment like this... and words felt like they'd only disturb the quiet reverence of the mystical experience.
Seeing Dusklion's mutual smile of wonder, Berrypaw gave her as firm of a nod as she could muster. Her trembling body was carried by her paws without fully thinking as she settled down beside her deputy at Dusk's motion. She hesitated as her belly brushed the cold floor, mind racing one last time.
When she next opened her eyes, they wouldn't just be Berrypaw and Dusklion anymore, the medicine cat apprentice and deputy of a ragged, torn up RiverClan. They'd be something new, something earned and honored... helping usher in RiverClan's new era. That one thought gave her a supernatural sense of peace and, without letting her fears or uncertainties stop her for another moment, Berrypaw closed her eyes and touched her nose to the frigid stone just like Dusklion.
Re: The Starcave
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AHH ]
Berryshine is RiverClan's medicine cat! 