RiverClan Skyridge

[otter]

#ShellpawRC
4 moons | He/Him | RC Apprentice

Shellpaw smiled and cheered with his mom as all the new leader and healer cats were announced. "Stormstar! Owltalon! Berryshine! Cobwebfern!" he called proudly. He pressed his face into Mama's warm fur like he used to as a kit. He listened as Mrs. Stormy talked about the otters. Uncle Jayfrost was on the patrol! He totally destroyed those otters, he knew it. But then Stormy said something weird. That they lost Jayfrost? He didn't know what that meant. But he thought that since they 'lost' him, they could find him again! But then he saw Mama's face, and he suddenly realized what 'lost' meant.

Uncle Jayfrost was dead.

He felt tears welling in his eyes, and his mama got up and walked away. "MAMA!" he cried, tears streaming down his face. "Mama, come back! Please!" he sobbed, running towards Goldfish. The small apprentice looked up as Stormy said something about an otter patrol. One who would try and fight the otters to avenge their Clanmates. He knew Mama wouldn't go.

But then she nodded yes.

"Mama NO! You can't go! Those otters killed Uncle Jayfrost! They'll kill you too!" he begged. He buried his face in Mama's chest fur, hoping that if he held on as long as possible, she wouldn't go. He ran up to the Skyridge, desperately scrambling up it until he was next to Stormy. "Please, please don't let my Mama go! I lost my Papa, Uncle Jayfrost, my siblings, I can't lose Mama too!" To be fair, he'd never known Papa, he'd died before he was born, but still. He couldn't lose the only parent he had left.

[ @taillow - only mentioning for direct interaction | @Blaaze ]

[Quietheart]

Originally Posted by Luna16

Kitepaw blinked, her mentor was a Lionheart now?! She took a deep breath to try and steady herself, but it just felt like rattling. She scrambled to chant the names of her clanmates successes, eyes glancing around distractedly. She had originally intended on locating her mentor and congratulating him before the meeting was dismissed and he was swamped by other cats wanting to do the same, but then her eyes glazed over a different site…and it made her freeze. Along the edge of the camp, carefully tucked into the shadows, was a cat who looked…eerily like her mother. Kitepaw slowly brought her gaze back to that cat now, staring at her intensely. Something’s…off.

Then suddenly, it struck her like lightning. Kitepaw hadn’t realized because things had been so hectic, but she hadn’t really seen Irisdream since the dog fight. Well, she’s scented her around and seen traces of her fleeting image, but she hadn’t really laid eyes on her. And perhaps now she knew why. Even if Kitepaw had seen her mother, it was unlikely she would have recognized her immediately. The pale she-cat was missing an ear now, with scars healing on her face. Injuries she no doubt received at the paw of a dog.

Not wanting to alarm her clanmates or make a fool of herself like Rainpaw and Riftpaw, Kitepaw shot her eyes back to Stormstar. Sitting stiffly, forcing her fur flat, scarcely daring to breathe, she watched the announcements in silence. She needed to get to her father now. They needed to check on Irisdream as soon as the meeting was over. But…but Papa has an apprentice now of his own! Surely she couldn’t interrupt them in their special moment! But this was too important, her father will understand. Crouching so as to make as little disruption as possible, Kitepaw slinked over to her father’s side. She touched her nose to his shoulder in a warm gesture, hoping that acting like she was only moving during the meeting to congratulate him would keep her from getting into trouble.

“Congratulations, Papa.” She murmured, looking down at Starrypaw and smiling. “We’re denmates now, Starrypaw. My name is Kitepaw.” She introduced herself, careful to keep her voice low so as not to disturb others as she flicked her tail in greeting to the younger cat. Though her words and warm smile and gestures were genuine, she could barely keep her breathing straight and the panic from her eyes. She looked up at her father now, silently praying that he would recognize the very real distress in her eyes so she could draw his attention to the issue. And then we can rush to her side when the meeting is dismissed. Like a family should. No matter what her mother thought of her, Kitepaw was fiercely determined not to let this family collapse and fall apart around her.

[ @Quietheart - Wavebreaker]
[ @Wingnettle - Starrypaw]

Wavebreaker

|44 Moons|

It seemed to take Starreypaw a moment to commit to the ceremonial act of touching noses with him. Her body hitched uncertainly as she looked up towards him, and her faded blue eyes were full of thoughts hiding behind a curtain of emotions. The black tom worried that she might turn and run again, just as she had in the nursery when he and Goldenwing had come to visit. Wavebreaker felt relief pass over him though as he extended himself to her. Starrypaw reciprocated, and he felt the gentle tap of her smaller muzzle against his. Within this brief exchange it was impossible to miss the tension in her small body, nor unsee the tear sliding down from one of her now closed eyes. Instinctively not wanting Starrypaw to feel pain, Wavebreaker moved his tail across her face wiping away the tear swiftly ."You deserve this moment..." The dark pelted warriors voice was soft and strong, buoyed by conviction. Make the most of it...and make her proud to watch you from StarClan." He pulled his massive form back to both give her space to process what he had said, and so that he could juggle his own emotions.

He hoped he was guessing correctly about the origin of Starrykits tears. During his own ceremony many moons ago he could remember unpleasant thoughts clawing at his ego. Wavebreaker had found himself wishing that the owl had killed him, so he wouldn't have to go back to training under Leapingfang, and feeling that he was too cowardly to be an apprentice. His cold abusive stepfather had been keen on reminding him that he was no warrior. I was lucky to have other cats looking out for me, other things to fight for. I'll help her find that. As he stewed in his pensiveness, the familiar urge to protect and nurture this paw continued to bubble within him. It reminded him of being a father all over again. Tap...As if his thoughts had summoned her Wavbreaker turned to see his daughters Silvery brown speckled form next to him. He was a little surprised she would interrupt their ceremony for a simple congratulation. "T-thank you..." The words came out soft and suspicious. Somethings not right....

He could feel his blue eyes narrowing like hardened sapphires, the moment seeming stranger by the minute. Despite Kitepaw's words to Starrypaw and to him, how they were spoken was quick and curt. It was as if she was in a hurry to be somewhere, but if she was why would his daughter have bothered to offer some half-hearted support. Unless she doesn't want to make a bigger scene than she is already making? Wavebreakers gut turned over once or twice, but warrior kept his face stoic for Kitepaws sake. He really didn't like what his thoughts might be suggesting. Rather than feed into unknowns however the speckled tom simply looked for a way out, he didn't know why but his daughter needed him right now. Starrypaw would have to wait until tomorrow, there would be plenty of time to help her along. After all, they would be training together lots from now on. As he struggled to find a graceful exit to the situation, he scarcely noticed Wisteriawren approach and offer her congratulations to the newly minted Starrypaw.

The solution became illuminated in the frontier of his mind, like a welcome sunrise over the forest after a cold dark night. "Starreypaw, I think I'll let you take this time to catch up with Wisteriawren, and enjoy the moment. My daughter and I have something we need to discuss." The black furred tomcat took a step away from the pair. Instant guilt ate at him as Wavbreaker spoke, and couldn't completely avoid the nerves that hung onto his words. Lying to his clanmates was not an action he was accustomed to, and he certainly didn't enjoy it. But right now his daughter was in some kind of trouble, and he didn't want to share that information until he knew exactly what he was dealing with. His next words to Starrypaw were more collected, and less frazzled. "You should try to get some rest tonight Starrypaw. We are gonna start first thing in the morning, so make sure you're prepared." With those last words her turned completely motioning for Kitepaw to take the lead.

@Wingnettle
@Rose

[Blaaze]

[ header placeholder ]
╰┈➤ ❝ [Goldfish] ❞
| RiverClan Lionheart | She/her | Mentions; @otter @/taillow |

Nothing could’ve prepared Goldfish for the massively negative reaction of her son. Shellpaw had immediately, wailing in horror, skittered up to her, desperately begging her not to go. But the lionheart had her mind made up. There was an intense, deathly look haunting back into her eyes, one that had been forgotten. The heavily scarred tortoiseshell parted her jaws to respond, but couldn’t even finish her sentence before he ran away. ”She-” and he was off, still desperate, clamboring up the Skyridge to plead up close with Stormstar. Begging her not to let Goldfish go. Goldfish’s jaw locked and her expression turned to one of cold determination. A growl rose in her throat, but she pressed it back. It was as though the only strength left in her heart resided in focus and determination. ”Shellpaw!” She ordered sharply, sharper than she had ever spoken to her son. Goldfish hadn’t once spoken angrily to the little ginger tabby before now. She wasn’t thinking straight. ”Get. Down here. Now.” The Ace of Spades said firmly, eyes narrowed and muscles tensely flexed. Stars… if Jayfrost were he- But he wasn’t.

Starsdamnit, get a hold of yourself! Stop it, stop it, Stop it! He’s dead! Gone! Deal with it! But she couldn’t deal with it. Goldfish wished she’d told him, wished she had pulled him close to her, breathing his scent in one last time, and tell him she loved him. Not.. not like any other cat. No romance, no friendship. Something better. Something that mattered. Inhaling sharply to disguise the spiking miserable agony in her gut, the tortoiseshell gave Stormstar a heavily apologetic look. ”You know better than that, kiddo. Get down from there, and sit your tail down! It’s up to Lioness.” There was a hint of mournful emptiness in the lionheart’s tone, paws pressed harshly against the earth. She wasn’t enjoying life right now. Not one bit. And ruthlessly slaughtering otters would make her feel better. Or trying to kill them, anyways.

↳-Header by Mango-༉‧₊˚✧

[wasp]

Waspmeadow
꒰ she-cat | warrior | 23 moons ꒱

Waspmeadow heartily chuckled at Salamanderpaw as she tried to suppress a squeal

"You're behind?" Waspmeadow questioned, her brows furrowed as she thought "hmm.. I was too. But look at me now! Don't worry, I'll get you were you need to be, and then some" she gave an assuring nod, her gaze flaming with determination.

She herself knew how it felt to be behind, and she really didn't like it– but Waspmeadow was going to make sure that Salamanderpaw felt differently; the ginger-patched molly knew that the apprentice had the potential to be the best of the best. 'I won't let you down', she thought to herself, before ruffling the fur on Salamaderpaw's head endearingly with her paw.

"We are definetely going to kill it" she laughed, shifting her attention back to stormstar

[@nyme](sorry for the wait! These last few days have been suuuper busy :"])]

[Wingnettle]

Starrypaw was feeling so many emotions mixed up that, for a very brief moment, she thought she could throw up. Except that she hadn't had anything for hours before her ceremony, due to a strong anxiety that would fade only when she'd become busy building a new nest in her new den, away from queens and little kits with happy siblings and kind fathers. And the scent of milk. That was so, so overwhelming.

Wavebreaker's nose touch felt humid to hers, then she bent back to her natural pose and listened in silence. She had a mentor now. And his kind words reached her gently, making her turning her head for a second to recollect her tears and steady her already little, soft voice. She nodded. Yes, Elderkit would surely be proud of her from Starclan right now. Right?

"Thank you Wisteriawren..." she thanked the queen, giving her a thankful look and blinking gratefully to her. The queen was always there for her, unlike Mistyshard and Dusklion... but Dusklion hadn't made any promise to the siblings, unlike the medicine cat. No, better not to think about it. Oh Starclan, Elderkit would have lover Wisteriawren.

Suddenly someone's strong smell appeared near them. She turned to see an older apprentice approaching them. She felt herself become smaller, but she didn't turn away. Kitepaw... oh, Wavebreaker's daughter...
"Hello... Kitepaw.." She said softly, wondering whether she could make her nest near hers so that maybe, only maybe, they would become friends. One day.

Kitepaw's gaze was strong. Too strong to be a normal look between father and daughter. Wavebreaker was quick to reply and leave the place with her daughter, but Starrypaw sensed something very weird in the tom's words. Her fur tingled like it had never done. Was there something wrong with them?
@Rose @Quietheart @Luna16

[taillow]

High Rank Announcement [#hrannouncement]

Stormstar - RiverClan Leader

...The lack of reaction to the deaths made something within the leader's stomach churn. Normally there was uproar, yowling, fights... and while Stormstar didn't necessarily wish for those, this lack of care she was getting from her Clan made it hard to hold her tongue. She had to resist the urge to unsheathe her claws and let them scrape the rock she stood on and focus on keeping her tail from lashing.

There was one cat's reaction that didn't surprise her - and that was Goldfish. She would've had to be the most daft leader to ever exist to not notice the chemistry between Jays and her Lionheart. So when she gave a nod, Stormstar already knew: Goldfish was coming on that patrol whether the leader called for her or not. Which, good. She needed cats with that fire, that drive, if they were ever going to stand a chance against the otters.

Before she could conclude the meeting though, scampering paws up the pathway that led to the leader's perch caught her attention, and she turned her frown towards Shellpaw, blue eyes narrowed. A flick of her ear was the only acknowledgement she gave Goldfish, though she hoped the Lionheart would do a better job of teaching her kid that this was not appropriate behavior. In fact, she knew she would have to talk about reassigning the apprentice, because whatever bees her brother had in his brain of assigning the kids mom to be his mentor...

"Meetin's over. I'll round up a patrol in the comin' moon. For now, be mindful of Smallpines 'n remember the four tail-lengths rule," she called before turning to Shellpaw. "You've got about three seconds until I make you Shellkit again to get back down from the Skyridge," came the stern rebuke, blue eyes narrowed. Stormstar took a single step back, jerking her head in the direction which Shellpaw came. If he didn't want to leave himself, she'd carry him down with her.

[ totally forgot to conclude the meeting so not doing a mass mention LOL @Blaaze @otter ]

[iliri]

Weepingwind
short-furred, black ghost tabby with dark green eyes
purrks: n/a
she/her | riverclan warrior | 31 moons

---

No reply. Well, Weepingwind wasn’t really bothered by it—albeit it stung a little. Smolderpaw was struggling with the news of Fadingsun being gone as it is, so she understood his reluctance to reply to her offer. Still, there was a small part of her that had hoped he would at least acknowledge her. She'd offered a way out of the suffocating tension, a chance for him to fight off the stress through sparring or even just talking. But it seemed that wasn't what he needed right now. She couldn't blame him. Weepingwind shook off the slight sting and redirected her focus back to the meeting. Her dark green eyes flickered with interest as Stormstar spoke, her usual rebellious nature subdued as she took in the gravity of the leader’s words. Outsiders joining RiverClan was always a bit of a delicate subject, especially given the clan’s proud, self-reliant culture. The mention of Bravekit and Fireglow caught her attention, and she glanced at the two newcomers. Her mind churned as she weighed what this might mean for the clan. Bravekit was young, and kits often found their place easily. But Fireglow… being a new warrior from outside meant they'd have to prove themselves. Vixenflame would see to that, but Weepingwind made a mental note to keep an eye on the situation. Outsiders brought change, and change was something RiverClan didn’t always take well.

Then came the name that made her ears twitch—Strongstorm, now Weakkit. The tension in the air thickened as Stormstar recounted his exile. Weepingwind had never trusted the tom. Strongstorm had always been a storm waiting to break, but to hear that he’d outright disrespected the clan and its kits… It was no surprise that Stormstar had exiled him. But Weepingwind’s dark fur prickled at the mention of threats against apprentices. A low growl threatened to rumble in her throat, but she kept herself composed. Threatening RiverClan’s future—the kits and apprentices—was a line that no cat should ever cross. Weakkit would get what was coming to him if he dared show his face again. She’d gladly rip him a new one if he wanted it so bad. As Stormstar moved on to the deaths of Crowglow, Mudsmoke, and the disappearance of Jayfrost, Weepingwind’s heart sank. The loss of warriors—especially seasoned ones like Jayfrost and Mudsmoke—was a heavy blow to the clan. She shifted her paws, feeling the familiar weight of grief settle over her shoulders. She hadn’t been particularly close to either warrior, but they were still her clan-mates. Jayfrost’s fate was even more unsettling. Swept downstream and no trace left behind? It sent a shiver through her. She could handle most enemies with her claws, but nature itself? The unpredictability of it all made her uneasy.

But it wasn’t just the news that made her uncomfortable—it was the clan’s reaction. Or rather, the lack of it. Weepingwind’s eyes narrowed as she glanced around at her clan-mates. There was no uproar, no cries of sorrow or anger. It was like the grief had frozen them, numbing them to the point of indifference. Normally, losses like this would stir something fierce within RiverClan—yowls of mourning, oaths of revenge, something. But now? Stilled silence. The tension in Stormstar’s voice was clear as she continued. The leader was clearly trying to keep it together, but Weepingwind could tell she was frustrated by the clan’s lack of reaction. It wasn’t like RiverClan to be so subdued, and she knew it. Weepingwind could almost feel the leader’s urge to lash out, to break the silence herself if no one else would. Weepingwind’s tail flicked as she mulled over the news about the otters. Otters in the rivers posed a real threat, not just to their fish but to their lives. She hadn’t expected to lose clan-mates to creatures like that, but now the reality of it was settling in. Stormstar’s warning was serious, and Weepingwind understood the gravity of it. She wasn’t one to shy away from danger, but she’d be lying if she said the idea of facing off against otters didn’t make her wary. They were unpredictable, vicious in their own way.

The announcement of the vigil made Weepingwind’s heart heavy. Crowglow, Mudsmoke, and Jayfrost—warriors whose names would now be carried by the wind, their spirits watching over the clan. She’d try to attend, of course. It was the least she could do to honor them. But as she glanced at her clan-mates again, she couldn’t help but feel unsettled by how quiet they all were. The otters might have taken more than just the lives of warriors—they might have shaken the very foundation of RiverClan’s already lost spirit. As Stormstar rebuked Shellpaw and brought the meeting to a close, Weepingwind let out a slow breath. There was a lot to process. Outsiders, exiles, otters, and death. The weight of it all was pressing down on the clan, and it was only a matter of time before something broke. She hoped it wouldn’t be Stormstar. RiverClan needed her strength, now more than ever. Weepingwind rose to her paws, casting one last glance toward Smolderpaw. He was still dealing with his own grief, just as they all were. If he still wanted to go with her offer, he could, but she wasn’t going to force it on him. She wasn’t that kind of cat, in anyway.

@Omari ( no reason to reply if you don't wanna! )