RiverClan Skyridge

[Fish]

Sharkhail nodded then turned to see if there was anything else that Owlstar was going to say after that. She did kinda already leap off the rocks but who knew.

[Neptune.]

Larkwing
~<>~
31 moons || she/her || RC Queen || Kitty Softpaws, Mind Reader, Killer Aptitude T2
heavily scarred, scrawny dilute tortoiseshell; green eyes

The announcement from Owltalon, given everything that had only recently happened in the clearing, was not unexpected. Larkwing wasn't aware of the increase in rogues at their borders, though. Perhaps that was the folly of being confined to camp... you don't experience as much anymore, you learn everything second hand. It's frustrating, but she has to get used to it now. But... cats start twisting Owlstar's words, using the fact that she said she would kill any traitorous moron and conflating it with the order she gave to chase every outsider away no matter what. Clearly, there is a lack of common sense in this Clan, and Larkwing is in a unique position to sympathize with her leader. No one ever took her words for what she meant them either. That, or they simply refused to listen.

Still, it looked like, once corrected, a certain cat (not naming names) admitted his fault. Progress? Maybe? Larkwing isn't sure, but it's perhaps a step in the right direction. Still, she can't help but wonder just how many cats here align themselves less with RiverClan and more with the rotten fish who had been exiled as of late. Her claws flex as she glances around at everyone, wondering who was safe and who wasn't... would it be overstepping to request specific cats she knows are trustworthy to mentor her daughters? Were the cats she had in mind trustworthy for real or was she remembering wrong? ...would she be laughed at and called paranoid if she requested to mentor all three herself..?

[gs29513]

Splashleap had never been a particularly loud cat, but there were times when even her pretty healthy dose of social anxiety and desire to stay on the down-low (though she was pretty sure if they hadn't recognized her now they never would) had to be put to the side. Because stars ABOVE things had been getting out of paw. She hadn't borne direct witness to much of what Owlstar discussed in the brief, impromptu, meeting/chewing out of the clan. Because like. It needed to be said. She'd have said it if that wasn't way above her pay grade, but it was, and even if she'd been deputy once upon a time she doubted any of the cats gathered now remembered Kestrelstar's leadership.

Stars she was old, she could remember Lionstar. She'd been made a WARRIOR by Lionstar. That made her as old as the stones itself, for all anyone here knew about the clan when she was young. Well wasn't that depressing. It didn't matter, really. Except maybe it did. Because while Sootstar and Kestrelstar and Skystar had been as forgettable as they came, Lionstar's name should surely still mean something. This was the kind of thing he would have done, the kind of proclamation he would have laid down. Her mother might have quarreled with it (though she had realized a long time ago that Antfrost quarreled with everything), but just about every other cat in Riverclan would toe the line. Not anymore. Too many leaders disappearing with their lives would do that to you, I suppose. It was some small mercy, not having been one of them.

I, for one the small molly began, strutting just a bit towards the front of the crowd. She wanted to be at least a LITTLE bit visible, and her height did her no favors am glad that someone is actually laying down the law and getting things under control around here. Was she a bit hypocritical? Yes. Yes she was. She hadn't caused any problems, she was a normal cat unlike a lot of her clanmates apparently, but she hadn't exactly been queueing up to fix issues either. Back when I was younger stars didn't that make her sound old, like a crotchety, crusty elder this sort of thing was normal. The firm rules, that is. Though she supposed the lack of discord had probably been a result of the strict rules rather than a fortunate coincidence.

That's why we never had trouble with Lionstar, why we actually had allies, not just about neutral borders if we were lucky. Because if he caught even a WHIFF of trouble, he got rid of it. Not in a pretty way, either. She didn't remember the specifics, but there had been enough exiles and executions to make sure nothing of the problematic sort spread. One bad fish spoils it for the rest of us, so take care you aren't that bad fish. If you aren't, you shouldn't have anything to worry about. Just do your job, chase away the Outsiders if they come trying to steal our prey, and you'll be just fine. You'll be just fine BECAUSE we actually have a leader who'll get rid of the bad fish so the rest of us don't suffer at the paws of the other clans for it.

Ok she was definitely saying too many words. Yapping and yapping and yapping. But she was right. Splashleap was telling no lies, so there was no reason to stop. Right? She just had to hope Owlstar wouldn't get all annoyed at her for yowling on for longer than the leader herself had talked. What did she do now? She'd probably attracted a ton of attention by now, and had no idea how to back away gracefully. Right. I'm done being all old and 'back in my day' then. Splashleap muttered, before beating a hasty retreat towards the rear of the crowd. She hoped cats didn't follow after her to yell, but on the other paw......she was in the mood for a bit of a spat, the general stupidity of some of her clanmates vexing her to the point where yelling at any rotten fish still around sounded appealing. (OPEN!) (Historical context I guess: Splash was Kestrelstar's deputy before stepping down, and was born as a kit in 2020 while Lionstar was leader)

[Idiotic.Bean101]

art by @/Marigoldwhisper
Caveclaw-She/They
32 Moons
PURRKS
Kitty Softpaws T2-Inactive
Killer Aptitude T1-Inactive
LionHeart


--------------------


An abrupt and short meeting.
But a useful one.
After having to exile that cat, Caveclaw had been keeping an eye out.
The way he had threatened his brother mad it seemed like there was more to it, and if the lykoi had to guess, this announcement had to do with it.

She completely agreed, too.
Certain cats would threaten harm upon clanmates, kits even.
If it came to killing, she could easily do it.

Hopefully, after this announcement, there wouldn't be more frustration.
Sounds like some cats were making assumptions, but they were soon corrected, and in turn they corrected themselves. She was sure more had thoughts that were untrue.
Splashleap also made a valid point, the problem needed to be fizzled out as quickly as possible.

Caveclaw kept their ears perked. You never know when someone may confess something.


[OPEN]

[moxie_the_slime]

Speckledpaw trotted up to Caveclaw, eyes burning with hatred and rage.

"I want to learn how to kill anyone who threatens riverclan."
@Idiotic.Bean101

[Luna16]

Irisdream felt…some type of bizarre itch. Like there were ants or some other form of bug were crawling through her pelt. She noticed Duskleaf, and tried to catch his gaze with the subtle flick of her ear. She nodded towards him, hoping to convey that she agreed - he did the right thing. What was necessary for the clan and its safety and prosperity. She wanted…she wanted to move closer to him. Not because of the cold, but to simply be near him. Though, she resisted the urge. The meeting was over as quickly as it began. And besides, not only was she certain as to the root of this feeling, she wasn’t sure if he shared it. So the feline gracefully allowed a shudder to pass through her spine where she sat, curving her neck down and up again as it went. Like a breeze moving through her fur. It was rather cold after all!

@Seamrog - Duskleaf!

[Idiotic.Bean101]

art by @/Marigoldwhisper
Caveclaw-She/They
32 Moons
PURRKS
Kitty Softpaws T2-Inactive
Killer Aptitude T1-Inactive
LionHeart


-------------------


Next thing Caveclaw knows, a kid is asking her to teach him how to murder.
Speckledpaw, specifically.

Uh, she's not too sure how to answer that?
"Calm down a little, I understand you're angry." They then said "It's not healthy to want to kill, but yeah, sometimes we have to."

Her ear twitched thoughtfully.
Wait, why did he keep asking her for training?
Yeah, she's fine with it, but who's the kid's mentor?

"Who's your mentor, by the way? Maybe they can help you find a healthy way to get out that anger through battle training." She isn't gonna lie, she isn't very good at 'coping with anger in a healthy way' herself.
She'll help is asked, she's just curious.


@moxie_the_slime

[zozelen]

stonepaw, she/her, 9 moons
riverclan apprentice
a pale gray she-cat with dull blue eyes.
57/100

[Previous meeting]

It seemed like the meeting started out with the saddest part. So Cobwebstorm really was demoted. Owlstar said she would be, at the Gathering, but that whole night still felt almost like a dream to her. It was different hearing the news at a meeting, fully present.

Entering dreams? Was that a medicine cat thing? She assumed it had something to do with Starclan as well, but the Starcave was blocked off... how did she go into the dreams of another cat, then?

And Cobwebstorm had self-exiled. Did that mean she... left? Why? Was Riverclan really in that much danger, where she had to leave? There were whispers- well, sometimes just loud talking- of tension between the clans. Even that they were on the brink of another war. Stonepaw had fuzzy memories of when their camp was invaded, of hiding in the back of the nursery and covering her ears with her paws. Trying to block out the screaming.

Her memories of the mountains were clearer. She could remember her fear during the journey, believing that she'd never make it. She couldn't even run like the other kits, how could she leave her home and survive? But she did. Riverclan's exile wasn't something Stonepaw liked to dwell on, and just thinking about it made her shiver in unease. She didn't want something like that to ever happen again.

Now that she was nearly ten moons, Stonepaw could better grasp why it happened- but she still couldn't, really. Some Riverclan cats had done bad things, but did that mean everyone deserved to be punished? Thinking about it made her remember a saying she heard, though she didn't know from where. An eye for an eye... makes everyone go blind... it went something like that.

So maybe it was for the best Cobwebstorm left. The rest of the clan would be safe. But she still felt bad for their old medicine cat- Cobwebstorm couldn't have meant to hurt anyone, right? Sure, Stonepaw was kind of scared of her, but she seemed kind. It wasn't anything personal. Perhaps Stonepaw should've talked to her more, when she had the chance.

She cheered for the kits being apprenticed, still in a quieter voice than the rest of her clanmates, but she tried her best to speak up. Duskleaf, Rowanmane and Irisdream were all dubbed as Lionhearts- Duskleaf and Rowanmane both used to be, so Owlstar must've decided they fixed their mistakes. She was happy for them.

The next announcement was about... Brokenstream? Who was changing his name? To Sunheart?! Stonepaw wondered just why he decided to change do so... Sunheart sounded very nice, and in her opinion fit his warm personality- and, ironically, how at times interacting with him felt a little like she was looking into the sun. But she thought Brokenstream was a good name, too. It was cool and unique.

Well, Since Sunheart was the name he had picked, Stonepaw decided that one must be the better choice. Sunheart would know best on what name fit him, after all. She'd have to remember to use his new one next time she talked to him.

"Sunheart! Sunheart!" Stonepaw cheered, even louder than before. It actually kind of hurt her throat, her vocal chords not used to being strained... but she wanted to show her full support for Sunheart. It would feel wrong if she didn't put her heart into it.

She then also joined in on the chant for Softshade, this time sounding weaker and slightly out of breath. She was glad there was so much good news, but it was a struggle to be loud to any extent. Maybe this was a sign she needed to speak more.

...Stonepaw's pelt suddenly felt uncomfortable when Owlstar spoke about Daisypaw. An apprentice who couldn't become a warrior because of her... condition. She tried to not show too much of a reaction, worried that it could come across as disapproval, or worse- what it really was. Fear.

At her apprentice ceremony, Stonepaw promised to herself that she would become a warrior. A normal, capable warrior, one that would do everything she could for her clan and more. Even at her worst moments since then, she hadn't ever thought about straying from that path. She never wanted to become anything else- anything less than warriorhood would be failure. She'd probably be cast out of her clan. That's why she couldn't let anyone know about what was wrong with her. She needed to seem strong, and useful, so Riverclan would still want her around.

But now there was this new role. Being a "caretaker." Which, to Stonepaw, sounded like being an apprentice by another name. Forever.

...The sudden bitter voice in her mind shocked Stonepaw. Daisypaw was still useful, in her own way. So why was she thinking something so... mean?

Stonepaw slowly lowered her eyes to the ground, a small grimace on her face. She didn't want to think about this. What if now, instead of having to leave, she'd have to become a caretaker? Then the fact she was different than everyone else would be clear as day. She didn't want that.

The gray apprentice was pulled away from her dark thoughts (though they were still there, waiting for another moment to appear,) by the startling announcement of the new deputy. She waited for their name with bated breath.

It was...

SUNHEART?!

Owlstar's hint about a cat who was always dedicated and helped the apprentices suddenly made sense. Of course! It was Sunheart! He'd do great at being deputy, she just knew it! He was cool and kind and a natural leader! "SUNHEART! SUNHEART- eep," she started loudly cheering before suddenly cutting herself off, making an embarrassed squeaking noise. Owlstar hadn't even started a chant! Stonepaw had just done that by herself! She was too excited!

But... her other clanmates were cheering his name, too. Because they were proud of him.

Stonepaw shouldn't keep quiet- Sunheart deserved this. With a small smile on her face, Stonepaw resumed where she left off.

Eventually, the voices of her clanmates settled down, so Stonepaw did as well. The meeting was dismissed right after, leaving the crowd dissolving and Stonepaw looking for Sunheart. She quickly spotted him, sitting right next to Blueberry. He was obviously happy.

Feeling at peace now that she knew he was celebrating the news with a friend, she turned around and headed back into the apprentice's den, hoping to warm herself up.

(it's been 5 days since i posted last i gotta stretch my writing joints out lol)

[Goopysharkboi]

[Second Post]Cloudgaze looked terrified and just ducked under a covered area for safety. He didn't want to be someone's punching bag!

[First post]Cloudgaze padded to the warriors den.

[squidz]

| BERRYSHINE |

small & nimble dark brown she-cat with darker flecks and light, leafy-green eyes | the collector | dreamwalker |

[ riverclan medicine cat | she-cat | 16 moons | timid, kind, hardworking ]

—

[ previous meeting, totally not late at allll ]

Berryshine had kept her head down, eyes downcast as Owlstar had announced to the Clan about Cob's demotion and... self-exile. Her small frame visibly tensed, sadness clouding her gaze, and she didn't look up. Not for most of the meeting. She could sense that Crowpaw had looked over at her in surprise, as if trying to see if the medicine cat had known; though she didn't speak, it was clear in Berry's slightly-trembling frame that she had at least known something... and was, clearly, wrecked about it.

She only started to lift her head when the Lionhearts were announced, managing a nod of approval. And then Sunheart... a faint half-smile worked its way onto her maw, even if it was weary. Berryshine joined in quietly for the chanting for the new deputy, feeling a little bit of warmth and pride against her sadness; Sunheart was an excellent choice, and she was sure he'd do wonderfully. It was great to have another trusted, loving cat on the team who she felt safe with.

Despite the brief joy over the good announcements, Berryshine had soon gone quiet again. And when the meeting had ended, she'd simply rose to her paws and slunk away, wanting to get out of the cold. But one couldn't escape from such a hollow feeling inside their chest.

[ @Rowan - uber late hehe ]

- - -

[ next meeting ]

Rogues? Oh, stars... the last thing they needed to mess with was more rogues. Berryshine frowned, making a point to go make tabs on what she currently had within her stores. If they were going to make attacks, she'd be ready. She'd have to be.