Based on name alone, Mudslide could've sworn this place was a graveyard.
Yet, the area blossomed with life and a good amount of squirrels scurried uncomfortably close to her multicoloured paws. The only thing particularly baren about the area was the odd structure in it, like a frame made of charred bark and wood. The she-cat flicked an ear at the oddly anonymous thing before turning her head to look at her apprentice. While anxious, he seemed to be quite observant but easily overwhelmed by new surroundings something Mudslide couldn't understand but wouldn't undermine. Mosquitopaw deserved to have his own feelings respected but maybe she could show him the joys of breaking away and just wandering.
Her whiskers twitched in amusement, almost akin to a smile, but she wouldn't allow herself one. Heck, her face wouldn't allow it unless Mosquitopaw wanted to see an odd maw full of teeth in her attempt to cheese a grin.
"Mourning Ruins." She rasped before shaking her head as if to say, No, it's not a gravesite, you won't find skeletons here.
HE/HIM • ENFORCER • 31M • SHADOWCLAN "A large marbled tabby tom with large, tusk-like teeth." PURRKS: N/A
---
The large tom made it to the ruins, the resting place for so many of their clanmates. Gently sliding Yellowtwist off his back, he bagan to dig a hole. Once dug, he slid the former Enforcer into it and curled him up to look as if he was sleeping. Once done, he prayed to the stars to keep him safe and speed his journey to them.
Covering the tom with earth, he would turn his back and head back to camp.
His list grows, and he is satisfied by that. As daunting as it is to set out and see all these places, Mosquitopaw cannot help but be downright tickled by all the new things he'll know about. Morning like sunrise or mourning like grief...? Neither really seem to fit. Is. Is there perhaps a third thing that sound could mean? Hmm...a question for another day, perhaps. Mosquitopaw finds himself still reluctant to give in to the urge to voice his thousands of questions; there's the stereotype of a wide-eyed, yappy apprentice that he'a reluctant to play into—not that he begrudges any cat for being that way, just that he wants to be easy. But they're in a new place, now, and some tome has passed, so Mosquitopaw allows himself another question:
"D—sorry, d'you know what that is?" He nods his head toward the big, blackened whatever-it-is. "It...it's uh. S'kinda weird lookin'." Part of him wants to take a closer look. Part of him is worried what unknown danger that thing might house.
Sleepysunrise
[ 13 moons | She / Her | Shc Enforcer ]
After Hollowpaw arrived and giving the apprentice a brief nod of confirmation, Sleepysunrise set out to guide her patrol to Mourning Ruins without a second word. Though she did not tread here often, the enforcer had a peculiar appreciation for this landmark if anything because of the history it was proof off; she did not fancy the bodies she had to burry among here, far from it, but every place had its ups and downs. Arriving at the ruins posed little issue; the true challenge was seeing how many of her patrol mates would disappear upon this journey. Bar the apprentice; traitor or not, Mirepaw's kidnapping ought to not be repeated and she stood by it. The adults should know better than to fall for such traps, but she supposed they were still her responsibility. The thing is, she couldn't quite bring herself to care. The former apprentice lacked in vibrant emotion; her expression was often dull, lacking; and these days, since her mother's loss, all the more distant as if she were an unseen ghost walking within a realm not her own. Call it what you will, Sleepysunrise would not hear it. Her unblinking turned on the three felines walking these lands as well, tilting her head at a light angle.
"Stay close."
She ordered, fancying none of their demises and eyes falling on the apprentice for an additional second; a silent order to stay within sight of a warrior at all times or she would have to invent a leash and keep the next apprentice on it for the duration of their patrol. With such little orders given, her flicked to signal that they ought to begin looking for the requested herbs, as did she. It did not cross her mind that one might have forgotten what exactly they required, but in that event all they need do is ask.
[ @fade @idia @sleepyyjax - Short post to keep the patrol moving, will have Sleepy find the needed herbs in her next post! ]
Sleepysunrise
[ 13 moons | She / Her | Shc Enforcer ]
After Hollowpaw arrived and giving the apprentice a brief nod of confirmation, Sleepysunrise set out to guide her patrol to Mourning Ruins without a second word. Though she did not tread here often, the enforcer had a peculiar appreciation for this landmark if anything because of the history it was proof off; she did not fancy the bodies she had to burry among here, far from it, but every place had its ups and downs. Arriving at the ruins posed little issue; the true challenge was seeing how many of her patrol mates would disappear upon this journey. Bar the apprentice; traitor or not, Mirepaw's kidnapping ought to not be repeated and she stood by it. The adults should know better than to fall for such traps, but she supposed they were still her responsibility. The thing is, she couldn't quite bring herself to care. The former apprentice lacked in vibrant emotion; her expression was often dull, lacking; and these days, since her mother's loss, all the more distant as if she were an unseen ghost walking within a realm not her own. Call it what you will, Sleepysunrise would not hear it. Her unblinking turned on the three felines walking these lands as well, tilting her head at a light angle.
"Stay close."
She ordered, fancying none of their demises and eyes falling on the apprentice for an additional second; a silent order to stay within sight of a warrior at all times or she would have to invent a leash and keep the next apprentice on it for the duration of their patrol. With such little orders given, her flicked to signal that they ought to begin looking for the requested herbs, as did she. It did not cross her mind that one might have forgotten what exactly they required, but in that event all they need do is ask.
[ @fade @idia @sleepyyjax - Short post to keep the patrol moving, will have Sleepy find the needed herbs in her next post! ]
Newtbelly
he/him | Agatha Kitty, Shadow Fiend | 18 moons
header: @/daragca
The group was quiet - perfectly fine by him. He gave a small nod to his patrol mates, before heading off with the group.
The Mourning Ruins... Last time he was here, the situation was far more dire. He better keep his wits about him, lest another of those things creep up on him. It was unlikely, since the rats had moved nest, but, not impossible. Stay close?
That he would.
He understood why Sleepysunrise had the rank she had. She seemed responsible. Dawnstar picked well.
Now 3 herbs he didn't know. Couldn't be too hard, right? He'd done one herb patrol before, and it'd been fine.
The first thing to catch his eye was a small patch (of what he could only assume to be stinging) nettles. Mossfreckle explained what to do after plucking them, but... Not how to harvest them. He assumed the name meant these things would be painful. He made his way over, assessing the situation. Against the hairs... That seemed to be the key. [D20 - Rolled: 14 Result: No stings, not many harvested] He reached in, grasping the stem in his jaws, wincing in preparation before snapping through it - thank the stars, no stings. He placed the stem behind him, but didn't pick any others. Best not run down the supplies - he'd rather avoid getting stung, too.
Next, Blazing Star. He couldn't say he'd heard that name in his life. Yellow flowers... There were many of those, but these were supposed to be star like, right? Hmm. [D20 - Rolled:19 Result: Good harvest!] The tom strolled about the place, making sure to not go too far - they had to be somewhere, seen as Mossfreckle sent them here, but where? Then he saw it - just near a burnt wall, tons of the stuff was spurting out, through cracks in the stone below. Be extra careful, the medicine cat's voice rang his ear, before he reached over, gently plucking 3 at the stem. There were more, but he'd save some room for lavender - his maw could only hold so much. Then, he trotted over to his nettle, placing them down with extra care.
Purple, with a unique scent. He wasn't sure where to find some, but hopefully it'd stick out. Tentatively, he clambered over shrubberies, and what were likely more herbs (though he didn't know their names), as he made his way past the wall. Hopefully, the purple clusters would show themselves soon, and he wouldn't have to worry about wandering too far from the group, and - Ah! There they were. [D20 - Rolled 7 Result: Harvested 1] It was a very small clump, but lavender nonetheless, just as Mossfreckle had described it. He'd only take one - he feared destroying the supply, plus, he was running out of space. He snipped a stem with his teeth, then carried it over to his pile. This was decent - he was happy with this. Had it taken a while? Sure, but herbs weren't his thing.
+ 1 Stinging Nettle + 3 Blazing Star + 1 Lavender
[wasn't super sure if it was my turn in the post order or not, super sorry if I've gone at the wrong time !!]
SQUIRRELRISE she/her. 16 moons. small, scarred russet molly with brown markings and yellow eyes.
[ chill of death, hulk SMASH ]
mentally reciting the herbs and their descriptions in her mind, squirrelrises focus breaks away from the topic when sleepysunrise speaks up. she gives a firm nod. staying close was fine by her considering a certain feather she found - the memory earning a glance at the structure of the waterbarn. then, she moves along to search about for the herbs, keeping her ears perked and eyes peeled.
the first she finds is the vaguely familiar plant: stinging nettle. wary of the stinging hairs, she carefully plucks two stems. once harvested she looks around, spotting a small little puddle (from the rain earlier this moon, she figures) and washes the herb in the puddle. with that done, she moves on, looking for lavender next. after a moment or two, she spots a purple flower, rushing over. mentally cheering, she snags some of the lavender before beginning her search for the third herb.
if she remembers correctly, mossfreckle said blazing star was found near the edge of the forest. peering at the surrounding greenery of mourning ruins, she pads over to a yellow flower. oh, oops, nope - that's a dandelion, she's pretty sure. frowning, she continues her search. she abruptly stops when she spots a flash of yellow out of the corner of her eye, carefully harvesting the flower.
[ +2 stinging nettle, +2 lavender, + 1 blazingstar
@Estelle @fade @sleepyyjax bit of a low quality post since I'm sick ;w; ]
Sleepysunrise
[ 13 moons | She / Her | Shc Enforcer | Shadow Fiend ]
Claws ripped through tiny bodies and broken lengthy spines by slamming the snakes against the trees, tiny bite marks covering the base of her legs and slithering creatures increasingly trying to make its way around her every limb. Sleepysunrise fought these bites with surprising tolerance, a likely feat of adrenaline, and bit just behind snake heads when the long monsters tried to strangle her in turn, her own bite quicker than their strangling actions.
Tooth and claw ripped at the dwindling bodies, the bites and tears growing less as she gained on them, trying to keep Birdpaw within her eye – within a line where she could take the brunt of the force – momentarily falling away only when Dawnstar had an snake wrapped around her throat. The enforcer’s chest seized, and rushed forth to help with no regards of what bit her only to stop in her tracks when Pondpaw was there first, resigning the black and white-tufted enforcer to continue her fight.
Until Hawkbite called. His voice was strong, loud, urgent; piercing the overwhelming senses of the rats’ squeaks and demanding her presence. For a moment, she hesitated. Her eyes fell on Birdpaw, her mind went to Miss Grandmama – if she left now, she couldn’t protect them. If she left now, she may going against what her grandmother wanted, had asked, of this fight.
But a part of her remained rational; a part of her was well aware the enforcer’s commander wouldn’t demand them on an unnecessary errand unless he had gone mad. And right now he did not look mad. So, Sleepysunrise bit her tongue, cast a last look on her family, and shook off a rat and snake around her paws and back before darting after the commander with significant hurry.
Her ears twitch, looking ahead to finally spot the creature they were chasing at his command; a creature she had never before seen, but could recognise from tales and words, and knew to be as dangerous as its claws were sharp. Slinking low, Sleepysunrise’s pelt blurred into the shadows despite its lighter spot, for the first time truly akin to the way her mama’s pelt would carry them like a cloak; her paw steps light, she followed Hawkbite closely as needed.
Ugh. These things were persistent, weren't they?! He grasped the second rat in his jaws, bones cracking as they had all those days before. Though this time, the pests were trying to hunt them. He wouldn't thank it for its life this time, or ever again for that matter. The squirrels, the mice and the frogs understood what they were. These rats thought they could break the order. Pathetic. He threw the body to the ground. At least ShadowClan would eat well.
About to grab another, he was distracted by his own name - called by Hawkbite? Why'd he been chosen? With Sleepysunrise? Had Owlthroat given him a referral or something? Had he watched him train Silentpaw? Or was he just the nearest cat? There was no time to waste mulling that over. This was urgent, he could tell.
Keep quiet and stay hidden. He could do that easily. And they were following an Owl? Now this was exciting. He nodded at the two of them, following along in the shadows.
It was a simple instruction. As long as they stuck close, they wouldn't lose him in the shadows.
Hawkbite remained hidden in the shadows as his paws led them quietly through the territory. He was scentless, quiet, hidden. He was the embodiment of stealth. He lived it. He breathed it. There was not a skill he took more seriously -- although tracking came in a close second. The Commander would keep his ears swirling, checking to make sure the other two kept up while also making sure they weren't making too much noise to attract the owl or any of its potential friends.
This owl was moving fast. Almost too fast for them, but he never let his eyes waiver from those wings. However, a familiar building came into view at last and Hawkbite would raise his tail ever so slightly to slowly halt the patrol. Quietly, he'd heave, catching his breath since they'd run from one end of the territory to the other. He'd lead them slowly along, staying low to the ground while searching the broken walls of the building before them. He'd note where the owl approached it and follow.
Coming around one of the sides, he'd stop them with a wave of his tail. "Look," he instructed in a whisper, casting a pointed tail towards a tree sitting fairly close to the wall. Within it, the owl was sitting over some older looking owlets. A soft hiss of annoyance would escape him, and his tail lashed. "We'll need to report this back to Dawnstar and take care of the problem... we don't need all these owls here so close to leaf-bare," he continued in the hushed tone.
[you guys can reply to this, he'll respond to any concerns/questions/ideas before returning them back to the camp!]
Sleepysunrise
[ 13 moons | She / Her | Shc Enforcer | Shadow Fiend ]
As darkness hugged her pelt, it was a near miracle she was able to keep track of the enforcer that led the two, scentless and soundless as he was. But remaining a mere step behind allowed the petite molly to watch for his movents as much as the darkness allowed, following the sounds of flapping wings and screeching owls that filled the sky.
Her nose wiggled, vibrant eyes occasionally glancing up to observe the beast. She doubted many warriors could take one on alone… Judging by the size, however much she trained, the animal was big enough to pick her up and fly away as it was.
Never had she crossed the territory in such speed; if Sleepysunrise did not spent a diligent amount of time in training with such a short stature would she even have been able to keep up? The mere thought of falling behind was unacceptable.
Soon enough, however, the grounds grew familiar and with a silent glance around she realised where they had ended up. Mourning Ruins. And, much to the clan’s trouble, it seemed the owl had decided to make this its home.
Subtly going to react to Hawkbite’s words, Sleepysunrise paused mid-nod. She pondered; Hawkbite was one of the more skilled fighters of the clan, and with Newtbelly that made three felines of warrior rank, even if the latter was nothing more than a stranger and basic warrior.
“Now?”
A quiet whisper akin to those of her once kitsitter left her maw, eyes briefly flitting over to the commander; meaning, were they taking care of this issue now? There was little hesitance when it came to that prospect, though she wouldn’t act until he confirmed. Call her overzealous, but with three grown cats (or as grown as one could get), she saw little reason why they couldn’t take on one owl by themselves… Could it be much different than fighting that badger with Darkfall? She was unsure of how big a threat the owlkits posed. Then again, this was her first encounter with such a predator.
Sleepysunrise
[ 13 moons | She / Her | Shc Enforcer | Shadow Fiend ]
As darkness hugged her pelt, it was a near miracle she was able to keep track of the enforcer that led the two, scentless and soundless as he was. But remaining a mere step behind allowed the petite molly to watch for his movents as much as the darkness allowed, following the sounds of flapping wings and screeching owls that filled the sky.
Her nose wiggled, vibrant eyes occasionally glancing up to observe the beast. She doubted many warriors could take one on alone… Judging by the size, however much she trained, the animal was big enough to pick her up and fly away as it was.
Never had she crossed the territory in such speed; if Sleepysunrise did not spent a diligent amount of time in training with such a short stature would she even have been able to keep up? The mere thought of falling behind was unacceptable.
Soon enough, however, the grounds grew familiar and with a silent glance around she realised where they had ended up. Mourning Ruins. And, much to the clan’s trouble, it seemed the owl had decided to make this its home.
Subtly going to react to Hawkbite’s words, Sleepysunrise paused mid-nod. She pondered; Hawkbite was one of the more skilled fighters of the clan, and with Newtbelly that made three felines of warrior rank, even if the latter was nothing more than a stranger and basic warrior.
“Now?”
A quiet whisper akin to those of her once kitsitter left her maw, eyes briefly flitting over to the commander; meaning, were they taking care of this issue now? There was little hesitance when it came to that prospect, though she wouldn’t act until he confirmed. Call her overzealous, but with three grown cats (or as grown as one could get), she saw little reason why they couldn’t take on one owl by themselves… Could it be much different than fighting that badger with Darkfall? She was unsure of how big a threat the owlkits posed. Then again, this was her first encounter with such a predator.
Hawkbite practically disappeared - he was envious. With enough practice, could he be like that? Silently traversing the forest? One could only hope. Thank the stars Sleepysunrise was there, someone he could follow. The patrol didn’t move slowly at all - in fact they ran. He found himself thankful to be on the smaller side, not dragged down by bulks of muscle. Sure, he couldn’t swat a rat to death with one blow, but this chase was a breeze - almost. He felt himself begin to tire, but Hawkbite soon raised his tail.
Report to Dawnstar… And take care of it. Would they be fighting? It seemed reasonable, three cats against a bird but, despite being shallow, his wounds were still bleeding - he wasn’t sure about the other two cats. Could he withstand another battle? If the moment called for it, he’d have to. It seemed Sleepysunrise had the same thought, or similar at least. But… What if there were more? “We don’t know how many there are, right?” He whispered. Well, They’d only seen one in The Dawning Woods, and surely if there were more, they would’ve appeared, no? Still, they couldn't be too careful.
Sleepysunrise
[ 13 moons | She / Her | Shc Enforcer | Shadow Fiend ]
Her fur bristled in the slight breeze, eyes focusing on the bodies of her clan mates diminishing in size and they looked for the required herbs, soon setting out for her own search. Her mind recalled the fragrant scent of lavender, the familiar appearance of the nettle and the oddly star-shaped flower of the blazing star; she figured it could not be too difficult to find.
She had little issue finding the Blazing Star; with its notable shape she soon found it growing among the foliage where she stuck her head into and pulled out two snippets of the plant with leaves and grass stuck within the fur of her cheek. She took little notice of it, lightly shaking her head and moving on to the next element of her search;
Surprisingly, she had a harder time pin pointing the location of the lavender. You'd think that a plant so fragrant would be easy to find, but hardly! Sleepysunrise had spent well enough time walking around, in circles, up and down before finally she stumbled upon a measly few stalks of the purple plant with an almost overwhelming scent. Briefly scrunching her nose, the petit cat quickly nipped another two stalks of this plants before moving on to the last element of her list; this was getting difficult to carry, but she would manage...
She had spotted some stinging nettle on the way here, and after nipping off a stalk used a stray leaf to carry it over to a small puddle and diligently washed off the hairs, being careful to wash against the grain. Picking up this last bit, she looked out over the rest of the group and concluded most of them were done; once Hollowpaw finished gathering whichever plants they found, it would be high time to head back and report.
[ +2 Blazing Star, +2 Lavender, +1 Stinging Nettle | @idia @sleepyyjax @fade | report post in about an hour ! ]
Re: Mourning Ruins
