"Oh hiya Stormstar! I was gonna ask you something but I forgot how weird your den was compared to mine" Ospreydart stood up in embarrassment as he stepped away from Storms den. He noticed sand in his paws again, having them cleaned before. "Stupid sand."
very large, muscular, & scarred light brown tabby tom with stark blue eyes and a torn ear; killer aptitude 3 | just a scratch
[ riverclan warrior | tomcat | 53 moons | gruff & battle-hardened, yet thoughtful; loyal to a fault ]
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Stagheart was relieved to hear Stormstar sounding alright, though he simply nodded and ducked through the lichen and into the den. He took a glance around, noting the mostly-empty rock walls with a few scratches here or there and the sandy floor. A nice little serene and dark space, though it was a tad eerie when it wasn't used to any life yet. But he was sure Stormstar would make it her own space in no time.
The stark blue eyes of the battle-hardened tom then focused back on his leader, giving her a respectful dip of his head in greeting. Should he offer direct condolences for Fadingstar...? Ah, he was sure she'd heard enough already. Besides, she'd been aware of how loyal Stag was to any of his superiors, he presumed; it was clear the toll that the disappearance of her brother had taken on many of them. It went unsaid. He decided it'd be best to just let his actions speak for that part and continued firstly with what he'd come here for.
"Ah, I was just comin' to ask ya what y'might wanna do 'bout Daisypaw's trainin'. I was 'sposed to go over it with Fadin'star, but, well..." He cleared his throat; if the situation weren't heavy, it might've been a comical moment. "...Anyway, he mentioned somethin' 'bout her bein' this sort of new role. A Caretaker, I believe. Just wanted to see if y'still wanted to go with that, 'n if so... what trainin' might look like."
The senior warrior was more used to regular apprentice training and had already raised up two warriors (and Baneberry in the process). But Daisypaw, as much as he cared for the young cat, was a whole special case that was like dragging his paws into unfamiliar territory.
Oh, but he might as well congratulate Storm while he was here; he'd already had his moment with Berryshine, still feeling a proud glow in his chest after the meeting — and a rejuvenated faith in his Clan. It made his low, gruff voice soften ever so slightly when he spoke again. "Oh, and, ah... congratulations, Stormstar. On your name 'n the extra life from StarClan. You've more than earned all this. I'm... proud to call ya my leader now." And as awkward as he could be when saying more 'sentimental' things, he meant that; he had no doubt Stormstar would be just what RiverClan needed to reset after all this. He'd stood by the former deputy's side before, and he'd do it again now.
Stormstar - RiverClan Leader
Ears twitching in gratitude, Stormstar offered Stags a warm smile. "Thanks. It feels... good, to be seen by the stars 'n recognized as this Clan's leader." She didn't mention the part about Mr. Whateverhisnamewas simply because she didn't want to bring up any doubts.
Ah, Daisypaw. If she were being honest, the new leader hadn't tried to think about the kid in awhile, mainly because of her... slight disagreement with her brother in this new rank. She felt terrible for thinking it, but the dangers that could threaten the kid with such a fragile sense of life... one mishap and it could all be over... There was a risk to even keeping her in the Clan. "Ah, yeah... To be honest, Stags, 'm... I don't know if that role is the right choice for Daisy - or to implement into RiverClan in general." She would soon grow older, more capable, and having a cat not trained in the ways of fighting, or being unable to defend herself, could be a liability.
Brows furrowed, the leader glanced over at the wall. This was a difficult decision. "...'M just worried what her future looks like. If she's... out collectin' herbs, or huntin'... what if she gets cornered by an enemy? Or gets into a tough spot that she can't get herself out of? Life out here... it's tough... 'n I don't want... a cat who's unable to defend themselves out here. It's... it's a liability." Yeah, she hated saying that almost as much as she was sure Stags hated hearing it. Whatever her brother had been thinking about this... she wasn't sure.
Looking back up to the tom, the confliction about what to do was clear in her eyes. "...What do you think is best?" This was a new situation, and even though her mind was telling her the best option forward, Stormstar didn't want to say it, because that would mean ripping Daisypaw from the only life she had known...
The dark warrior nodded back to his leader. A new name for a new era, Wavebreaker thought to himself hopefully. "Right..sorry Stormstar for not bringing this to your attention sooner, I should not have assumed that you would be told. That fault lies with me, it won't happen again." The toms voice was stern and reproachful, and he hoped his leader understood the sincerity of his words. But now for the second thing he had come to speak with Stormstar about. "Stormstar you were speaking earlier on how Starrykit could use a distraction earlier, that it might be a good thing to make her a paw. Well I can't help but feel the same way. His dark blue eyes were filled with resolve as he moved into his next statements one paw moving forward from his neutral stance. His body language couldn't deny that he really wanted this opportunity, but his feelings even surprised him to a degree. "I want to take on Starrykit as an apprentice, if you'll allow it mam. I know what it's like to be alone, and I know what it means to find a family, I found mine here in RiverClan."
His mind was on Irisdream, Kitepaw, Blizzardoak, and Pebblestorm. He wasn't related to any of them, save his daughter Kitepaw by blood. That did not matter to him, they were his family. His real kin could spend an eternity in the dark forest for all he cared, they had abandoned him when he needed them most. "I'll carry on the light my Clan has given me and turn Starrykit into a fine warrior, one who knows where her home really is and that its worth fighting for." Wavebreaker couldn't hold back the fire in his voice as his pelt pricked with emotion.
I already got permission from @Wingnettle OOC to mentor her as well.
Stormstar - RiverClan Leader
It came as a bit of a surprise to hear that the older warrior wanted to mentor Starrykit, but not as much as she should've figured. As much as she held irritation at not being told, it wasn't shared by just Wavebreaker alone. There were other warriors that could've just as easily reported as well. "...I don't see why not. Starrykit could use somethin' to look forward to that's not just sittin' in the nursery all day. But I don't want any rough trainin' - she's still just four moons old. Basics are good until she get's a bit older. 'N no fights either."
Getting to her paws and stifling a yawn, Stormstar glanced at the den entrance then back to Wavebreaker. "One thing I do wanna ask you once Starrykit's apprenticed... if you can take her to where her sister was buried." It would hopefully help start helping with her grief. "Wisteriawren - the light gray tabby with the blue eyes? She... she found Elderkit 'n buried her somewhere in the territory. I think it would be good for Starrykit to... get a chance to say goodbye."
"Oh hiya Stormstar! I was gonna ask you something but I forgot how weird your den was compared to mine" Ospreydart stood up in embarrassment as he stepped away from Storms den. He noticed sand in his paws again, having them cleaned before. "Stupid sand."
A brow quirked up as the warrior admitted to not liking sand, and Stormstar couldn't help but snort. "You sure you're a RiverClan warrior?" she teased with a flick of her tail as she watched the warrior step away from the den. Shaking her head the leader shifted her weight to her other paw. "So, you had a question for me?"
Osprey seemed to not be in the she's sight as he was in the medicine needing medical attention.
{@taillow}
Stormstar - RiverClan Leader
...What an odd one. Stormstar watched as Ospreydart didn't say anything in response and just padded past her, heading down the slope into camp. "...Ooookay," she murmured, still baffled by the odd behavior, before shaking her head and heading up the rest of the pathway and settling down just outside her den.
Poppyburst - RiverClan Warrior
The Collector
Chill of Death
Kitty Softpaws Tier 2
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Forest green hues hardened. “Starrykit was fully submerged in the mud, her head the only limb sticking out. Goldfish expected her to be able to haul herself up onto a branch. Keywords, fully submerged in the mire. Stormstar, I was the lightest of the warriors. I wasn’t going to stand there and let Starrykit drown.”
Giving a lash of her tail, the leader rose to her paws. "Yeah, 'n what would've happened if you'd fallen in too, Poppyburst?? Then we'd have a sinkin' kit and a sinkin' warrior!" Her tone dripped with anger as she narrowed her eyes at the warrior. "Branches break all the damn time - they're not sturdy! I don't care if you're light as a damn feather, you don't rush into situations like that, 'specially when it's a kits life on the line! Stars, the idiocy comin' from you right now makes me wanna box your ears in." If Poppyburst couldn't hear how mouse-brained she sounded, Stormstar had half a mind to send her to Berryshine and get her ears checked.
"Next time I hear about you bein' reckless 'n goin' against orders - 'n endangerin' the life of a kit while you're at it - you'll be a 'paw faster than you can blink. Bein' that mouse-brained is what gets cats killed." Oh, she was fuming over this. How hard was it to listen these days? "'N how come you - or any of the other warriors on this so-called rescue patrol - thought to tell me, hmm? Did you ever think for a second that it's somethin' I should know about? No. Neither you, nor Wavebreaker, nor anyone on that damn patrol saw fit to let me know what had happened!"
Poppyburst - RiverClan Warrior
The Collector
Chill of Death
Kitty Softpaws Tier 2
__________________
“For starters, Goldfish would have let you know. She’s a Lionheart, after all. None of us were thinking about it at that time, as we were all focused on rescuing the kit. Second,” Blazing green hues met icy blue ones. “Wavebreaker didn’t tell you because he and Goldenwing are the cats who caused the problem in the first place. Starrykit would never have had to be rescued if it hadn’t been for them.”Mouse-brained toms.
Poppyburst understood where Stormstar was coming from. “I knew it was a risky move, Stormstar. That’s why I did it. Would you rather I have risked Goldfish’s life on that branch - or let Starrykit drown?” Her whiskers twitched irritably. “I will admit that I wasn’t thinking straight when I crossed that branch, and I’m sorry-“Not like you’ll forgive me for it.“-but I’m not gonna apologize for rescuing Starrykit.”
´´Stormstar?´´ Thrushsong called into the den, his emerald hues narrowing against the gloominess to make out the gray-furred leader´s pelt. ´´I was stopping by to give a small report on Bumblepaw´s training.´´
The gray-and-white mackerel tabby tom emerged into the den and sat back on his haunches, wrapping his tail around his paws. ´´I´ve taken her for her territory tour. Bumblepaw was interested of course,´´ Thrushsong let a purr rumbled in his throat at the memory of her visible disgust at the ShadowClan scent markers at Saltmeadow Marsh. ´´She made it clear she isn´t a fan of ShadowClan scent, or of....furry....prey, saying she´d rather stick to carp and salmon. To be honest, I don´t blame her. I don´t know how ThunderClan can put up with it, eating fur and bones.´´
Some RiverClanners ate fur and feather prey, and Thrushsong did sometimes, but as far as he knew, Bumblepaw was pure fish and fish only.