a shattered silence [P/T]

[Rowan]

• he/him • 12 moons • shadowclan/warrior •
shadow fiend, killer aptitude t2, just a scratch

TigerNight spotted Shatteredpaw lurking near the apprentice den. He didn’t expect her to be the easiest to work with — that much was obvious from the way she carried herself. Still, training was training. He padded over, tail flicking with quiet purpose. “‘ey, ShatteredPaw. It’s time to start moving n’ training like you mean it.”

He gave her a look that dared her to argue. “I’m taking you out for stealth practice. If you want to survive in ShadowClan, you gotta learn how to move without being seen or heard. And right now, you’re about as quiet as a thunderstorm.” If she whined and didn’t like it? Tough. He waited, watching for any sign she’d actually follow him.

└> . . . @Dreamingstars

[Dreamingstars]

SHATTEREDPAW
Shadowclan Apprentice ~ 10 moons ~ She/They
"I want to rip something apart..."
TW: May be mentions of gore, blood, insanity, etc. She can't feel pain, and is Bipolar
Posts: 11/100

Shatteredpaw had been sitting there like an angel, eyes glimmering innocently, pure white fur curly and striking. If you ignored the fresh and old scratches scored across it, anyways.

When approached, by one of the newer warriors, hazel eyes flicked in his direction, taking him in. Vaguely remembers asking for training. Hm. What was his name again? Shattered was pretty sure this was... Tigersky? No. Tigernight? Eh, forget it. Didn't really care anyways.

Mentor was useless, so she needed him to train her. 'Don't scare this one off, Shatteredpaw.' Yup yup, sure.

The patchy-furred apprentice narrowed their hazel eyes at the tom. She always trained like she meant it (probably) so what on earth was he going on about? Oh stealth? Sounds good. They needed it. Stupid white fur. The she-cat stood up, curly fur shining, and cooly met his gaze with the angel face they always had on. But the moment he mentioned how she was like a thunderstorm, Shatteredpaw's gaze soured immediately. "Speak for yourself." She said coldly, brushing past Tigernight. Bah. Stupid thought he was better than her? 'He probably is...' Shut up brain.

Shattered would rip him one day, yes yes. She would rip everyone. Limb by limb, piece by piece. Yes yes. Rip, tear, kill, she would watch them BLEED. Oh yes, they loved blood. Lifting a white, sharp-clawed paw to unconsciously scratch at an attempting-to-heal scratch groove, fresh droplets of blood rained down her side, and their paw came away with bloody toes. Not noticing, nor caring, in the slightest, the apprentice put their paw back down and waited for Tigernight to hurry his slow ass up, tail swishing, eyes cold, blue, and uncaring.

@Rowan [Tigernight]
(Thank you for getting up the starter! I do apologize for the menace.)

[Rowan]

• he/him • 12 moons • shadowclan/warrior •
shadow fiend, killer aptitude t2, just a scratch

TigerNight didn’t flinch when she brushed past him — nor did he respond to her cold retort. His expression didn’t change, but his eyes flicked to the blood streaking her side. Self-inflicted. His jaw tensed.

“Good,” he said finally, padding after her with a flick of his tail before bounding a few tail-lengths to put himself in front of her. “Let’s put that attitude to use.” He led them a short distance into the more dense marshland, where twisted roots and low-hanging branches cast deep shadows across the ground. The perfect place for learning how to disappear.

Once they arrived, he stopped and turned to face her. “First rule of stealth,” he began, voice even and clipped, “don’t rely on your pelt to do the work. You rely on your movement. Since you stick out like a sore paw, you have to figure out how to be silent as an ant.” that wasn’t his struggle. He found out he seamlessly blended into the shadows.

He dropped low, tail flat, steps slow and deliberate. Each paw pressed to the ground with careful weight, as if he was melting into the earth. His body stayed close to the shadows, eyes flicking upward. “You keep your paws light. Watch where you step — dry leaves, brittle twigs, exposed roots. You press your weight down the middle of your pad and move slow. No stomping, no dragging.” He stood upright again, giving her a once-over. “Your turn. Start from there—” he flicked his tail toward a mossy patch “—and make it to that stump. Quiet, or you’re doing it again.”

He paused, then added dryly, “And if you bleed on the way, you start over.” If he could hear the blood drop on the ground or a leaf, so could a mouse or rabbit.

His tone was flat, but there was something amused in the glint of his eyes — not scared of her, not bothered by the angel mask or the fury behind it.

└> . . . @Dreamingstars

[Dreamingstars]

SHATTEREDPAW
Shadowclan Apprentice ~ 10 moons ~ She/They
"I want to rip something apart..."
TW: May be mentions of gore, blood, insanity, etc. She can't feel pain, and is Bipolar
Posts: 13/100

Shatteredpaw followed Tiger-whats-is-name to a more shadowy part of the forest, hazel eyes glimmering red in the faint sunlight streaking through the leaves. She sticks out like a sore thumb..? What was a thumb? Eh. She hated her pelt right now- Stupid whiteness. Watching him carefully, coldly, with a calculated look on their patchy-furred face, the apprentice crouched down and mimicked him. When he told them to go over to the stump, Shattered gave him a cold once-over before standing up and slinking over.

As they reached the mossy patch, Shatteredpaw's ears flicked angrily at Tigernight's dry comment. With a hiss, she lashed her tail and glared heavily at the warrior when she turned around and crouched. "Old hag." They muttered, stilling their twitching tail with great difficulty as she crouched.

Shatteredpaw started moving forward, pressing her weight evenly into the ground. Her balance was almost perfect, and her stance was strong, but they didn't spot the twig in time, and it snapped. Quite loudly. The apprentice snarled in silent anger, eyes gleaming, bloodthirsty. Evil. Shaking their head to rid it of the very intrusive brutal murder thoughts that popped into her head -Oh how she would love to sink her claws into Tigernight's throat- And stalked back to the mossy patch.

'Try again.'

Stalking forward. Bloody flank, red liquid running to the ground. Stained white fur.

'Try again.'

Silent. Deadly. Furious. Seething. Like a volcano about to explode. Silent hissing.
She made it. Stand up Shatteredpaw. Don't snap. Not now. Not now. Don't snap. Don't kill him. Not yet...

Shatteredpaw looked up at Tigernight when she finally -finally- made it to the stump. She knew it was pathetic. But the first try, and last two, were very good. Her last try, perfect. Silent, deadly. Unseen. Unheard. Success. "Was that alright." She snapped, tail twitching. It took her four tries. But that last one? Perfect.

@Rowan [Tigernight]
(Don't think either of them are pleased with this outcome haha)

[Rowan]

• he/him • 12 moons • shadowclan/warrior •
shadow fiend, killer aptitude t2, just a scratch

TigerNight sat like a statue by the edge of the training area, shadows clinging to his dark pelt like moss. His tail lay neatly curled over his paws, and he was tracking her every movement. When ShatteredPaw hissed and spat that sharp little insult, he didn’t move. Didn’t react. His ears didn’t even flick. But one eye opened, slowly, revealing a gleam of flint behind his otherwise impassive face.

“Old hag?” he echoed, his voice low, flat. “I’m hardly two moons older than youself, but sure.” Call me an old hag again and I’ll give you something to really bleed over.

TigerNight watched with cold, still eyes as ShatteredPaw snapped the twig and snarled like a beast restrained by its own mind. A muscle flicked in his cheek, but he said nothing. Not yet. He didn’t need to.

They watched her try again.

And again.

And again.

Until finally — finally — she moved quietly. No sound. No unnecessary twitch. No dramatic flaring of rage to give her away. Just raw instinct and dark intent. The silence after her approach was louder than her words. Still, he stood. Walked over to the patch of ground where she’d made her final approach. Moss crunched slightly under his weight, but not much. Not enough to be heard from more than a few tail-lengths away. He circled the spot where she crouched, silent for a moment. Then nodded once.

“Last one was good.” His head turned sharply, eyes locking on hers. “Good enough to survive. The first three? I wouldn’t even bother burying your bones. But that last one? ShadowClan right there.” A beat passed. Then his tail lashed behind him once.

“You’ve got a good stance. Your eyes track too much—your mind’s too loud. You’re thinking too hard about…who knows what. Enlighten me if you must.” A low scoff left him. “All that noise makes you sloppy.”

“You wanna kill something? Hunt. You wanna tear a throat out? Learn patience first. Control. You’re dangerous. I see that. But danger without control is just a rabbit foaming at the mouth.” He pulled away, tail flicking.

“Go again. From a different angle. Come in from the left, just outside the brambles.” A nod toward the new direction. “You do it clean, you do it perfect, I’ll teach you how to really make something disappear without a sound.” There was no threat in his voice. No judgment. Just challenge

└> . . . @Dreamingstars