No no no, her heart pounded as she travelled the dark mire, the first enforcer she had seen in camp close by her side. The queen felt horrible; the kitten had expressed worry over her mother's absence before, but Nightshiver had not had the chance to answer - momentarily distracted - before Moonkit had suddenly disappeared, scent leading here. The white queen felt grateful for Rookfire's willingness to accompany her, the worry eating her very senses until the horrid sight sprawled out in front of her; enforcers and warriors, a wounded queen and her kit bent over her fading life as she wept. Nightshiver was quick to step in, rushing ahead of the ground to gently wrap a tail around Moonkit, an uncertain glance sent the others' ways. "M..Moonkit... Darling...,"
She began, a gentle whisper as she carefully nudged the kit in an attempted comfort. "Come... Come, we... we have to... return to... the nursery. They will... take c-care of... of your mom..., alright? They need... room t-to help... her. And... and Stonelight... would much... p-prefer you safe..safe inside... the nursery. Alright? I c-can... carry you."
She offered the kitten gently.
------
Sleepysunrise - Enforcer
A kit. Sleepysunrise's piercing gaze shifted from Flytail to Stonelight as a kitten suddenly hung over the body, an unwelcome sight. Kittens were not supposed to be out of camp, and her whiskers twitched with slight apprehension. What was she meant to do with this? That is when the pawsteps whom Darkfall had alerted her to rang in her ears as well, eyes trained on the darkness between the trees, guarded.
However, it was Nightshiver and Rookfire whom she spotted emerging from the brush, a flicker of understanding passing through her mind. With an escapen kit, of course Nightshiver would follow. And Rookfire must've been accompanying her. The young warrior said nothing as Nightshiver went to tend to the kitten, eyes returning on Flytail - she trusted Rookfire would know what to do. "You can't be out of camp alone."
A monotonous voice replied, head tilting only slightly as the question hung in the air whether Flytail had been in camp when he heard the screams - a mighty feat, considering the distance, something she was unsure of being possible.
Eyes flashing to Darkfall, Nightshiver and Rookfire, she blinked slowly before returning her dull gaze on Flytail. "Dawnstar."
Is all she said, before her eyes turned to Moonkit. "Nursery."
She commanded, pausing only to ensure that the others did not require further help.
rookfire had originally just thought he would accompany nightshiver to collect a kit, the queen had appeared distressed about their disappearance and he was supposed to be a good enforcer after all, but when the rounded the last bush blocking sight from the mire and a heavy wave of metallic scent wafted towards them, the enforcer sped up. the scent alone was enough to put him on high alert, the number of cats already surrounding that particular spot only adding to it.
after quick assessing the situation and hoping that he was actually the one with the most medical knowledge attending this lovely gathering, he switched into what he would like to call his work mode but what was probably just a more vivid reminder of how he was raised. "away from the body" rookfire commanded, expecting the cats to offer him easy access to stonelight, otherwise forcing himself through the considerable group of cats that happened to be at just the right place at the right time. thick crimson pooling around the queens head and shoulder, it was hard to miss the origin of all that blood, skin and pelt revealing what lay below in ragged tears, a physical representation of what had happened and the easiest way rookfire could tell what had happened without asking. the piece of moss he had half heartedly scraped off a tree was pressed to the wound he knew to be most urgent quickly, sharp grey eyes flicking from his paws and the moss slowly soaking up blood to the less severe wounds. he almost wanted to step away, unsure if they would even make it to camp, or beyond his first aid, but at heart, rookfire was ever the optimist, and this would be quite the heroic story to tell if he were to succeed. "i need more moss. horsetail or marigold. quick" in all honesty, he had no idea how much horsetail or marigold would even do in this situation, all the cats he had ever used either on had been more stable that this one, but one could only try.
“I was at the dirtplace when I heard the screams,” he explained, his voice strained but earnest. “I didn’t have time to gather anyone—I came straight here as fast as I could.”
He met Sleepysunrise’s stern gaze with a sense of resolve. “I understand that I should have alerted someone immediately, but my priority was getting to the source of the danger. I realize now that I broke protocol, and I’m ready to face any consequences for that.”
Flytail took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing thoughts. “Once we’re back in camp, I’ll report to Dawnstar and explain what happened. But for now, I want to help in any way I can. Please let me know what needs to be done.”
His eyes swept over the scene, taking in the tense atmosphere and the anxious faces of his clanmates. Despite his lapse in following the proper procedures, Flytail was determined to make things right. His dedication to ShadowClan was unwavering, and he was prepared to demonstrate that through action.
“I’m ready to take on any task necessary to assist,” Flytail continued, his tone resolute. “I’ll follow whatever orders you have and work to ensure the safety of the clan. My priority is to help and rectify this situation.”
With a firm nod and a steady gaze, Flytail awaited Sleepysunrise’s instructions. He was determined to prove his commitment to ShadowClan and to contribute positively to the clan’s needs, despite the lapse in his actions.
[WARNING: This post contains accidental misgendering]
(I know Adderpaw and Mistlewhisker haven't replied yet, but seeing as Yewkit is being taken away now, I thought I should make a post to make the transition to the leader's den more natural! I can edit this if needed.)
~ UNNAMED [YEWKIT], ROGUE ~
AFAB | SHE/HER | KIT | 1 MOON | JUST A SCRATCH | RAPID RECOVERY
Massive, long-furred, striking scarlet she-kit with deep, rich colorpoints that fade at the edges and round, fiery amber eyes.
Well, it seemed no one wanted to give her food, and her path to the berry bush was blocked, too. The unnamed she-kit stuck her lip out to pout. Normally, she tried not to show her parents how upset she was when things got tough. Mama and Papa seemed so tired sometimes. She was glad they were resting. Speaking of which, if they were resting, she could show how upset she was. But what about these new cats? She blinked up at them as her stomach let out another desperate growl. They were taking her to food, right? And her parents. But why no berries? She didn't understand! Also, why did they keep talking to each other? She was right here! Promise food! Want food! Like Mama Cheeto and Papa Lion, it seemed, they made false promises.
Right now, the dark gray she-cat was talking to the colorful one. Those orange spots were cool! Not as cool as her bright scarlet pelt, though. Yewberries? Huh. That was a silly name! She giggled. Death... berries? So they had more than one name? That was confusing. Death... It sounded similar to another word she'd heard before. Dead. Mama and Papa had called her siblings "dead." And her siblings had disappeared. So did "dead" mean "gone"? Make no sense! Her parents were right here, resting. And the berries were certainly there, even though she couldn't eat them.
She looked from one cat to another, confused. It felt like jaws were gnawing on her insides. She'd tolerated this for a long time, but right now, it felt unbearable. The corners of her eyes burned with tears. No fair! She wanted to eat the berries and fall asleep, too. But now these strange cats had come.
This was yet another thing in her life that she couldn't control. The rogue she-kit took a deep breath and forced back the salty water. She'd gotten really good at it. Usually, her parents didn't even notice she was close to crying. Can't change. Okay. So many unpredictable things happened, and it wasn't her role to try and alter them. Just go along. As she had done. She'd wait this out and see what these strange, smelly wild cats would do.
The dark gray she-cat with the funny eye that looked a bit like clouds in the sky leaned down and started nudging her. She stayed still and let her do it without flinching away or protesting. Why would she? Then, suddenly, she grabbed the kit by her scruff and hauled her off the ground. She let out a tiny squeak of surprise. Mama Cheeto and Papa Lion had done this a long time ago when she was very young. Then they'd stopped because they were tired. The she-kit had always sucked it up and kept going, but she liked being lifted in the air! She giggled. "Up, up!" she mewed. If she'd had the strength, she would've waved her paws around, but right now, she was too exhausted to lift a single toe.
The cat carrying her began to walk away, the others following suit. She stared at her sleeping parents. "Wait! Why no take?" She gathered enough strength to nod at the bundles of ginger and gold fur. "Mama! Papa!" These wild cats had said they would take her parents with them, hadn't they? Or had she misunderstood? She didn't understand a lot of things, after all.
She'd never been away from her parents before. However, the fear and panic that had initially welled within her began to fade. Things changed. Her whole life, others had just... guided where she was going to go. Before, it had been her parents. Now it was these mysterious she-cats who smelled like dirt. By the time Mama Cheeto and Papa Lion had faded entirely into the shadows, the she-kit had turned her eyes to the horizon, completely at ease.
She had no control. She had to be strong, like Mama said. So she'd go along with these strange felines and do whatever they told her, as she'd done all her life.
__________________
Some of my characters think or act in ways I disagree with. Please understand that I do not support or condone these thoughts or actions.
sometimes rookfire wondered if he would ever get bored of the repetitive nature of patrolling alone (or in this case with a quiet partner that might as well just be there to carry more), but he didnt think that the equal reward of time well spent and help for the clan would ever mean any less. todays destination wasnt the prettiest in shadowclan territory but definitely not boring either. darkwater mire had a certain charm, with its foggy marsh and tall sturdy grass and dark vibe. even if rookfire wasnt really a fan of the snakes or frogs that could be found between pines and thick moss. obviously on another herb run, the enforcer had not expected to return with any prey but coming across a rabbit stuck in the thick soil was not a opportunity he would pass on. a silent glance to roachflare and the two warriors circled the struggling animal, having already picked up their scents and attempting to escape now. it would be smartest to stay on soil that wouldnt become their watery grave at any moment, but rookfire had little intention of waiting until the rabbit had tired itself entirely "hide". in the end, driving the rabbit out of its slippery destiny had taken far longer than expected, but roachflare proved himself worthy by catching the animal as soon as it set paw on land. the brief scuffle that followed was another thing rook would have to rank high on his 'never do this' list that he was sure would drive embarassment out of him..returning to camp mud soaked was bad enough.
[+1 rabbit]
rookfire left the rabbit to roachflare to stash or hide or whatever you were supposed to do with prey, whilst stepping onto safe land again, shaking mud from deep grey fur to feel a bit less gross and sandy and let silver gaze wander over their surroundings. this had been a herb patrol if he didnt misremember (though, even if he couldnt quite recall his original intentions, it was unlikely he had chosen to do a bit of hunting and forgotten that he had selected his least favourite type of patrol) so it was time to search for some herbs huh.
sadly (at least from what he expected), the first medicial item that caught his eye was a bees nest, swarming with a small amount of fizzy black and yellow insects and giving off the strong sweet smell he knew to identify as honey. this was..a first. for sure. and rookfire had no idea how to properly approach it, so sitting by and observing was the first thing he decided to invest time into. they appeared to be swarming from a couple of specific openings, spreading out over similar tracks in all directions and thats where he lost them. the ones that went into the hive he couldnt track, only spotting them shortly before entering and unable to tell one bee from the next. the nest hung relatively low, and rookfire was itching to just split it open to see whats inside, but knew of the uncomfortable bites? uhm, scratches? bees could leave behind. eyes still focussed on the bees, he mindlessly shifted to curl in on himself a bit, allowing his right hind leg to come up and scratch at his neck. mud between his claws, lovely, this couldnt get any better. mud. huh. he tore his gaze from the bees and gave the mud another look, silence, before deciding mud was a stupid idea and he would just rip some off the hive off and make a run for it. so, approaching slowly, bees buzzing around rookfires head, he flattened his ears, took another deep breath, ripped a chunk of the hive off and didnt stop running until he didnt hear a buzzing in his ear anymore. roachflare mustve noticed him running like stung by a bee (ha! because he almost was) and came to a halt near the enforcer a bit after he had stopped running. rook offered no more than a breathy laugh and a upwards nod silently questioning roachflares state.
[ +2 honey #rooksummer24 - gather honey ]
__________________
"i wish things were different, but it werent us who changed."
rookfire left the rabbit to roachflare to stash or hide or whatever you were supposed to do with prey, whilst stepping onto safe land again, shaking mud from deep grey fur to feel a bit less gross and sandy and let silver gaze wander over their surroundings. this had been a herb patrol if he didnt misremember (though, even if he couldnt quite recall his original intentions, it was unlikely he had chosen to do a bit of hunting and forgotten that he had selected his least favourite type of patrol) so it was time to search for some herbs huh.
sadly (at least from what he expected), the first medicial item that caught his eye was a bees nest, swarming with a small amount of fizzy black and yellow insects and giving off the strong sweet smell he knew to identify as honey. this was..a first. for sure. and rookfire had no idea how to properly approach it, so sitting by and observing was the first thing he decided to invest time into. they appeared to be swarming from a couple of specific openings, spreading out over similar tracks in all directions and thats where he lost them. the ones that went into the hive he couldnt track, only spotting them shortly before entering and unable to tell one bee from the next. the nest hung relatively low, and rookfire was itching to just split it open to see whats inside, but knew of the uncomfortable bites? uhm, scratches? bees could leave behind. eyes still focussed on the bees, he mindlessly shifted to curl in on himself a bit, allowing his right hind leg to come up and scratch at his neck. mud between his claws, lovely, this couldnt get any better. mud. huh. he tore his gaze from the bees and gave the mud another look, silence, before deciding mud was a stupid idea and he would just rip some off the hive off and make a run for it. so, approaching slowly, bees buzzing around rookfires head, he flattened his ears, took another deep breath, ripped a chunk of the hive off and didnt stop running until he didnt hear a buzzing in his ear anymore. roachflare mustve noticed him running like stung by a bee (ha! because he almost was) and came to a halt near the enforcer a bit after he had stopped running. rook offered no more than a breathy laugh and a upwards nod silently questioning roachflares state.
[ +2 honey #rooksummer24 - gather honey ]
eventually they had tracked their steps back to fetch the rabbit, careful to avoid any bees that might still be lingering around the area, stars rookfire couldnt believe he had gotten away with this without getting stung a single time. on the way to some more suitable territory to gather more herbs and perhaps hunt, they came across large flat stones, entirely flat and a nice light grey colour, only disturbed by little specks of dirt. when roachflare pointed them out, rookfire had already mindlessly stepped on one whilst passing, turning around to find a mud track of his paw at the edge of the rock.
with a certain spark in two coloured eyes rookfire could only really connect to kits or young apprentices, pure and kind, roachflare looked back at him as if trying to telepathically communicate. and, in a way, he did. rook was very much aware of that even before his tortoiseshell friend dipped a paw into a big more watery mud, placing it on the stone by his own print, and lifting it back up. roachs print was a smaller and less defined, bits of roachs longer fur having smudged the edges but the enforcer liked it either way. it was odd in a way, that he was willingly coating his paw in mud and dragging it across the smooth rock with a cat he had never expected to befriend him. it was odd he was doing this at all, but roachflares genuine appearing enjoyment of this was enough to let rook relax a bit and not worry too much about how he appeared to the outside, or what other duties he still had to complete, instead trying to create something pretty to look at, or maybe even just enjoying the cool mud and the soft scratch of rock on his paw pads.
Re: Darkwater Mire
