| Mousepaw |
Shadow Fiend - Inactive | Just a Scratch - Inactive | Beefed Up [Tier 1] - Inactive
Verdant eyes blinked a couple of times as the scarred apprentice processed what the dark furred enforcer had just stated. He wanted... new guards? New night guards for ShadowClan? A grin split the tom's maw, lighting up his previously dull, befuddled expression. He could be a guard and help his precious Auntie Larky? That would be awesome! He would be the best guard to stay and work with his auntie. Mmmhmm.
"Oh yes yes. I prefer staying awake at night anyways, yep. I'll keep an eye on the camp, no worries, no worries! I'll even drag some warriors out with me to head out to the territory sometimes, heh heh," the muscular apprentice mewed, chest puffing out with pride.
He was going to take this new job very, very seriously. It would only help with his training, and put him one step closer to earning his warrior name! Turning with a grin towards Pip, he looked at all of the new guards in turn before bringing one paw to his white furred chin, eyes turning thoughtful once more. "So... so. Should we mostly focus on like, the territory and stuff, or do you want us to go to the less visited areas as well? Because! Because! There might be intruders there too, right? Although I guess we should be able to sniff them out by the territory anyways, actually. Yeah, nevermind. Woah woah, you're super smart, Nighthound! You thought of everything!" Mousepaw chortled, raising his forepaws to the air in celebration. "So so, when do we start?"
| Mousepaw |
Shadow Fiend - Active | Just a Scratch - Inactive | Beefed Up [Tier 1] - Inactive
Paws in the air, belly to the sky, Mousepaw lay on the camp's clearing, wriggling on the dirt beneath him, an irritating itch driving him downright mad right at the nape. The thought occurred to him that he might be getting ticks, and he'd almost blanched at the vision of those detestable creatures infesting his fur. How ironic that now that he'd started to properly take care of his pelt, he might be getting riddled with parasites. Well, if a good old mud bath would drive the critters to oblivion, he would more than happily oblige. Now if only he could find a warrior brave enough to take him to the swampier areas of the marsh and take a dive with him.
Upside down as he rested himself, the muscular apprentice's gaze landed on a familiar gray pelt, and his muzzle soon sported a wide, happy-go-lucky grin. His Auntie Larky seemed to be making rounds, what luck! Although... hmmm... maybe in her condition she shouldn't be diving into any swamps, nope. Might get sick, and then her kits... A shudder ran down the young tom's spine as he flailed for a moment, swiftly getting up, his gaze boring into his Auntie's pelt with confusion.
Itchiness long forgotten by now, the gray furred tom had to wonder... why had Auntie Larky not moved on to the nursery still? The signs were clear. Mousepaw had been close enough to his mum to realize when she'd been acting different. When she had made it clear she was pregnant he'd made note of the changes. Of the signs. He had to be a good son and take care of his mum, after all. It's not like Branchfire and Hazelkit were there to help, and never mind the idea of Elmshadow even noticing anything that didn't directly affect him. Hmph! But he was getting off track, and none of that answered his question. Maybe... maybe it was because she was an enforcer? She thought she couldn't be in the nursery and be an enforcer at the same time?
A chortle escaped him at the thought, fully remembering how Cougarivy had actually been a better enforcer throughout his entire kithood than a mum. Not that... Auntie Larky would have that problem. Oh stars no! He would help, mmmhmm. Be the best uncle. Or was that cousin? Well, whichever it was, maybe it was his job to remind her to take it easy. For her kit's sake, yeah? Oh, maybe even help her pick out the best nest! Gasp! Maybe even make her the best nest! Victory!
With a happy pep in his step, Mousepaw approached the petite enforcer, a beaming, open mouthed smile on his face. "Auntie Larky, Auntie Larky, hello hello! You look tired, you do! A bit queasy too. You know, you know? I bet I can help you make the best nest at the nursery, mmhmm. Help you out with the comfiest materials. Won't even miss your warriors' den nest, nope! What do you say, what do you say? Want me to get started on your new nest? Bet I can find the best spot, heh heh! I'll be done before you know it, yes?"
Chest puffed out with pride, the heavy set apprentice shuffled his paws giddily. Look at him, taking care of his Auntie Larky! Bet mum would be proud of how observant he was being, yes! Or at least, he hoped she would be. He would take super duper care of his Auntie Larky. Oh, even offer to kitsit whenever she had to be on enforcer duty. Bet she would love that! And he would be the best uncle/cousin, yep yep. He would ask her that, of course, but one step at a time. First the all important questions once she agreed to the nest. Was she a rabbit fur cat, or did she have a preference for mouse fur?
Shadow Fiend: Inactive | Beefed Up (T1)
___________
Darkfall stepped out of the warrior’s den and stretched with a large yawn. For the last few moons since coming back to the clan, he tried to find something to occupy his time instead of remaining stagnant. Whether it was taking his apprentice out for training, going on some kind of patrol, or doing some kind of solo training (though because of Dawnstar’s newest restrictions, that involved sneaking out of camp late at night). Perhaps he’d go for a walk? Or maybe a little sparring?
Scanning the clearing in search of a victim for his shenanigans, his eyes landed upon Larkfire. There she was, in all of her magnificent, enforcer-esque glory. It had been a short while since he began properly appreciating and admiring his former best friend. From the way that she always seemed to have some apprentice or another with her, or how her amber gaze sharpened when she was focusing on something, the way wind blew threw her feathery tail or even the way tried to act tough when she was clearly not having the best of times. He liked it all. Especially the last one, as he himself was unable to properly deal with the things weighing him down and ended up completely avoiding her for moons while he tried to get himself sorted.
Making a step in her direction, he noticed that a muscular cat was already approaching the she-cat. Frowning slightly, he stopped and watched the interaction through partly narrowed eyes. He had gotten beat! Oh wait, that was Mousepaw. Well… he guessed that that was fine. It was what Mousepaw said that wasn’t fine.
’Nursery? What is he talking about?’ the tom wondered. His eyes drifted across Larkfire’s form and he frowned once more. It was true that she had been seemingly sick more often, and she was getting rounder, but Darkfall just chalked it up to the clan being prosperous so she was able to enjoy eating a bit more, and the sickness could be… well, literally anything else.
Putting the pieces together, he ended up coming to the same conclusion. Larkfire was pregnant. Like, very obviously so and he hadn’t even put the pieces together! How could he be so dumb!? Now that he actually gave it some thought, it all made sense now. The constant sickness, her dazed and spaced-out looks, the rounding of her belly, her seeming more lethargic than usual - that wasn’t the usual Larkfire. It was then that he made a realization. Wait, hold on. If Larkfire was pregnant, didn’t that mean she already had a mate?
As soon as this thought went through the tom’s mind, his surroundings seemed to turn dark. ’Larky… has a mate…?’ he thought, dumbfounded. Yes, he messed up really badly and all, but he didn’t think that she’d move on completely! He thought he had more time! He had been trying to pick up more duties around camp and get some extra training in, in an attempt to impress her. What was the point of it all if the driving force for him returning to the clan was no longer within reach? Who was it? Who had managed to melt the ice around Larkfire’s heart enough for her to even find them tolerable to be around? And when? Was it while he was gone? Or was it even before that, when he stopped talking to her? Did he know them? What did they have that he didn’t?
Suddenly, his mind flashed back to when they were apprentices and how the amber-eyed she-cat accidentally unsheathed her claws into his shoulder wound while they were sparring. Larkfire had been so worried about him in a bit of a cute way and his mouse-brain decided to say ”You know what Larkpaw, I’m almost jealous of whatever cat is lucky enough to have you by their side when you find yourself a mate when we’re warriors. With all the fussing you’re doing.” Now look at him, so infuriatingly jealous because he felt he missed the opportunity of a lifetime. All of those moments spent together as apprentices or even the brief ones they had as warriors… seemingly all for nothing now.
He then remembered what Larkfire had said previously. "... I'm afraid even friendship is deemed out of the question." These words have been haunting him for the last moon. Was it already too late then? If he had explained what he had been dealing with at that moment, would things have changed? Could they have gone back to how things were before?
All of these thoughts were going through his mind as he stared blankly at the pair. Larkfire… was gone. Like irrevocably gone now, and he didn’t have a chance at getting her back. This was all his fault. If only he just talked to her about what was going on instead of avoiding it and running away. If only he took the time to check up on her more and see how she was doing, instead of selfishly distancing himself. If only he made more of an effort and noticed her feelings sooner. What would happen then? Would he and his former friend be together right now instead of whoever she was with now? Would it be the two of them that were getting ready to start a family instead?
Wow… this actually kind of hurt.
Deep within his chest, it felt like someone was squeezing his heart and twisting it around. He remembered having a similar feeling when his mother, sister, and mentor died. Is this what heartbreak felt like? Feeling like everything around you was closing in, crushing you and nothing mattered anymore? Darkfall could feel his breath starting to quicken and his pelt prickling uncomfortably. He had to get out of here. He didn't know where he was going to go, but it just had to not be here.
’Wait, Darkfall get yourself together’ He thought to himself, shaking his head and forcing himself to take deep breaths. It was fine, everything was fine. He just… missed out is all. Surely, there was someone else out there for him.
The issue was, he didn’t want anyone else. He wanted Larkfire.
If the tom was satisfied with just anyone else, he could’ve stayed out in the outskirts and spent the rest of his days happily living with Heron, but he didn’t want to. He knew he’d never be satisfied. Every time he looked at the young loner, he’d be reminded of Larkfire and that yearning in his heart had been enough to tell him when it was time to leave. But none of that mattered now. He no longer had a claim on her heart. (or so he thought)
Giving himself a slight shake, he quietly approached the two cats. ”Hello Mousepaw,” he said with a slight nod of his head before turning to Larkfire with a disheartened smile. ”Hello to you too Larkfire, I guess congratulations are in order. Congratulations! I uhh… I wasn't aware that you had a mate, but I’m sure your kits will be lovely!” he said a bit awkwardly, trying his best to seem enthusiastic. Would she notice that he was upset? No, right? The smile should be believable enough, right? And his tone? Should be fine. Hopefully...
Truth be told, the large tabby warrior wanted to just bolt out of the camp and scream about how unfair life was and how badly he wished his position was different. Despite this, however, he figured the least he could do before doing so would be to congratulate the enforcer on becoming a new mother, ex-friends or not.
Larkfire
She/Her | Shadow Fiend & Beefed Up (T1) Purrk
Larkfire had almost completely been lost in thought, but she wasn't one to let her guard down so fully. When a figure began moving towards her, their stride brimming with exuberance, Larkfire's attention jerked towards said cat -- and then immedietly relaxed when she noted it was just Mousepaw. A warm smile pulled the corners of her mouth upward, eyes glinting with quiet affection as the apprentice greeted her.
His words, however, made little to no sense, and Lark's brow pulled down with bewilderment at his talk on... building nests? "Mousepaw, I don't-" She tried to cut in, but the tom just continued on, pointing out how she looked oh-so-tired (well, anyone who ran around doing what she did would be tired, right? lark wasn't so sure anymore) and ... best nests in the nursery? "What-"
It graced her then. Pure, undiluted shock, cascading over her like a bucket of icy water. Larkfire was so stunned that she let her entire wall of steel guard fall, expression betraying the flashes of emotion rocketing through her skull. Shock at the news, bewilderment at how she'd not noticed sooner, surprise that she hadn't expected it nor had thought to mention the chances to Prince, concern for her missing lover, agony in wondering if something ill-fated had befall him somewhere and she could no longer relay the information that he was to be a father, and lastly... Lastly, nervousness.
Anxiety rocked through her core, mouth snapping shut as she'd been openly gaping at Mousepaw. She was nervous, because she didn't know how to break the news to ShadowClan's Queen of Mean, her own mother. She was nervous, because now she wondered where she stood with a certain, alluring, blue-eyed tom.
Speak of the devil. As if her thoughts had conjured him, there Darkfall stood, his expression bordering on.. vaguely disappointed? Disappointed? In her? Did he know what she'd done with an outsider? How she'd broken ShadowClan's supposed warrior code? The thought made her nervous, made her feel small. Ah... Well, this was embarrassing. "Congratulations." She repeated dumbly, at a complete loss for words. After a moment, Larkfire grimaced, fur bristling self-consciously as she shot Mousepaw a bewildered side-glance. How he had guessed before she even had was beyond her.
"I... Thank you..?" The lithe female swallowed. She couldn't exactly say she didn't have a mate, not exactly, because that would regardless raise questions about the father. She couldn't even say he wasn't in ShadowClan. That. too, would start rounds of questionnaire that she really wanted to avoid. It wouldn't be long, though, before Larkfire had her kits (she was having kits?!?! that news still hadn't sunk in) and no tom came around to dote on them. Then what? Was she to ignore the probing stares and just pretend all was normal?
Gah, she needed to think. And to get away from Darkfall's eyes. They were too blue. Unnaturally blue. Those eyes stared at her funny, made her feel like a wayward kitten. Realizing that she was very much staring, Larkfire jerked her head towards Mousepaw so fast she almost gave herself whiplash. "I think nest-building sounds great." She said quickly, a bit breathless in her haste to escape the moment. Wait... she already had a nest, in the warrior's den. She could just drag that one over...
Bump Policy: 1-2 days. I have been SUPER busy with school, so sorry if I don't respond quickly!
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Re: ShadowClan Clearing
Whisperingpaw
Grey and white cat with tabby markings just on the grey and amber eyes| Non-Binary| 9 moons old
Whisperingpaw slipped out of the apprentice's den, and into the clearing in search of his mentor, Leapmoon.
Whisperingpaw was always excited for training, and today they hoped that their mentor would take them to hunt. They have been working on perfecting their stalk and pounce, and they think they finally got it, and want to show Leapmoon.
Leapmoon looked around, spotting her eager apprentice. 'Ah, WhisperingPaw! You ready for training?' Well, that was a silly question, the younger cat was always ready for training.
'Do you have a preference of what we do today?'
@Theodore_510
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Re: ShadowClan Clearing
"Yes! Could we pleeeassse go hunting?" they begged their mentor. Whisperingpaw was flicking their tail happily at the thought of showing off their skills.
@Ladiebugg
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Re: ShadowClan Clearing
Whisperingpaw wanted to bounce after her out of the camp, but they knew that the had to be quiet or else the prey would be scared off. "Where are we hunting at?" They asked. "I want to show you some things I have been practicing!"
@Ladiebugg
LeapMoon laughed 'Okay then. Let's head out to Shadow's Break. There's always a lot of prey there. We need to be careful not to trample the plants though.'
Re: ShadowClan Clearing
