WindClan Elders' Den

[Blaaze]

Originally Posted by Ravenswings

// The two cats listened, mesmerized. Tell us more! Rosemarykit meowed, her excitement beaming from her eyes. //

"Wait until another time, kits! That's enough stories for one day," Quailheart purred, leaving the elder's den.

[GoldenRavenWings]

Originally Posted by Blaze_Songs239

"Wait until another time, kits! That's enough stories for one day," Quailheart purred, leaving the elder's den.

// Fine… The 2 kits sighed, walking out of the elders den sadly.//

[poppy]

Garfield

The plump old tom snored LOUDLY in his nest, his snores reverberating throughout the den and most likely echoing through camp. The partially deaf and blind cat was too tired to care that he was so loud, and flopped over his massive nest.

[open hehe]

[Alchemist Kitsune]

| Snowybreeze |
Heightened Perception [Smell] - Active | Rapid Recovery - Inactive

---

Massive paws softly padded into the elders' den, broad head dipping beneath the usually mossy stomp - the frost had killed off the greenery last night, and today was doing little better - as Snowybreeze entered. He didn't belong in here. He knew as much. Frankly, he didn't belong anywhere. Not since his Berryfrost had died. Once more he was relegated to the mercy of his clanmates, remaining only because they allowed it. Until the day they realized just how meaningless his presence was and they told him to leave. He wouldn't fight it. Would not argue with it. He deserved such treatment after his failure.

Mismatched ears perked up as a loud, snort like snore caught his attention, and the gentle giant soon spotted an elder fast asleep in his nest. That was... Garfield, was it not? Oh no... and he had just come here to do some den maintenance. Make sure the precious few elders of WindClan did not succumb to illness and frost. With the plague running - the one that had mercilessly taken his mate - he feared the effect the illness would have on the older cats of the clan when exposed to the season's horrendous weather.

Maybe he should leave. Go do some hunting instead. But... outside the den, the mist rolled through the moor in waves. It clogged up his nose with the overpowering presence of dampness. Of moisture clinging to the very wind. It would be nearly impossible to scent prey in this weather, and seeing it was out of the question, leaving him with precious little else to do. He could always rest. Take his spot by the entrance and allow himself a respite... but that was... unacceptable behavior. Who did he think he was, taking time for himself? His life belonged to the clan. And he would work it ragged until it was finally his time to expire.

Resolutely, Snowybreeze's brow furrowed with focus, if only for a moment. It was gone quickly, another loud, echoing snore reminding him that he was not alone here. Right... so he would have to work quietly. Gracefully. Potentially with as little tripping and clumsiness as possible. Things that he had proven time and time again he was woefully incapable of. Well... he had mastered the art of being invisible to most if not all of his clanmates. Maybe Garfield would simply not see him even if he made one of his classic blunders? ... Somehow he doubted that was how things worked, but it was the only bit of silver lighting he had in this ever pressing gloom. StarClan help him...

---

@clarice. [Garfield]

[Alchemist Kitsune]

| Dapplebreeze |
Agatha Kitty - Active | Silver Tongue - Inactive | Beefed Up [Tier 1] - Inactive

---

Goodness gracious was it cold. Too cold, really, for the wreckage that this den currently seemed to be. Dapplebreeze understood, truly, just how down in the dumps the clan was. She hadn't been there, present during Cowtuft's trial. Who would have thought the soft medicine cat - former medicine cat - had been the one responsible for the plague? It was unthinkable, truly. Not to mention how very fortuitous the patched warrior had been to escape death herself during these most trying of times.

Would she have been among the dead today, had it been Cowtuft instead of Lightningstorm who tended to her illness? Firestorm's little misunderstanding with the young calico - goodness, had this all really started when she was but an apprentice - had inadvertently turned her into the then Lightningpaw's patient. The fast talking, passionate she-cat had been... a blessing it seemed. She could still remember the wrinkled nose on her one day when she threw away some of the borage that the senior warrior had been meant to consume. Wasn't right, she had said. Smelled funny, and that was the end of that. Would Cowtuft had fed her the herbs regardless, unable to identify poison he was well acquainted with, even though his apprentice had been able to tell something was off even with her limited knowledge? It was... disappointing, truly, but then... what did she expect from a cat who had been abandoned at the very beginning of his apprenticeship by a loathsome disappointment of a traitor?

A shudder coursed through Dapplebreeze, and the patched molly couldn't tell if it was due to the cold, the realization of how close she had come to death, the hatred she now held for a feline she had once called a dear friend, or a fine mixture of all. Dropping sticks and what little fresh moss and fur the WindClan feline could find to the ground, she decided it would be best to tune out such worries. It would do her little good now... or ever, really. It was all in the past. Peachfrost was gone. Cowtuft was gone. It was now their job to ensure that poor Lightningstorm did not have more sick in her den than needed due to improper den care. After all, a nice, warm, well insulated elder's den was the difference between grumpy, snotty elders and grumpy, healthy ones. It was hard to tell them apart sometimes, but one couldn't help but worry when they stopped hacking up as much as they normally did. A small purr of amusement escaping her at this thought, the older she-cat got to work, a soft, soothing, rhythmic mew escaping her as her dainty paws grabbed sticks and leaves to reinforce patches upon the walls.

---

| Open |

[Mica]

Hawkfur
WindClan
he/him | 46 moons
[Deep russet tabby with a white muzzle, chest and paws and sky blue eyes]
· · ────────────── · ·
[Dapplebreeze - @Alchemist Kitsune ]
· · ────────────── · ·
Hawkfur stretched languidly as he stepped out of the warriors den, shaking the sleep from his fur and beginning to groom his face and ears. The hunting session with Bravebird went well, if you ignored Hawkfur's embarrassing slip-up (which he was adamantly doing). The snow that had fallen over the moors was still clinging desperately to the dens, and Hawkfur was grateful that the warriors den seemed to be well-fortified against the cold. He let his blue gaze scan the clearing, taking in the walls and the other dens. The walls were recently enforced, but it seemed as though some of the dens were a little worse for wear. Even with the ridge keeping most of the wind out of camp, some gusts could rip the sticks and moss from the den walls.

The worst of all was the elder's den. Hawkfur felt the fur along his spine bristle with indignation. What were the apprentices doing?? Wasn't their duty to patch up dens and take care of the elders? By the looks of it, an elder had taken up the responsibility herself. Hawkfur frowned, pushing himself to his paws and padding over to her. Ah, Dapplebreeze. He recognized her vaguely from seeing her around camp, and the fact that she looked so much like Bravebird. "Let me help." He offered quickly, reaching up with a paw to tuck some loose moss back into the den framing.

The red tom set himself to work, doing most of the bending so Dapplebreeze wouldn't have to. He didn't underestimate her ability to do it, but that didn't mean she should have to. Dapplebreeze would remember Hawkfur as a young cat, fresh out of the nursery and filled with excitement for his training. He and his sister, Rootpaw, were attached at the hip and did everything together. Hawkfur had been the quieter of the two, most reserved in his energy and more likely to cower behind Rootpaw as she took the world head on. It seemed as though he hadn't changed much since then, still keeping his head low and his paws busy. After Rootpaw and Sunpaw--the two cats Hawkfur had been closest to--went missing, the tom had retreated into his head, basically disappearing along with them. Only recently had he begun branching out more, and it seemed as though the biggest reason for that was Dapplebreeze's own daughter, Bravebird.


Hawkfur was quiet as they worked, but his shoulders were loose and his face calm. The monotony of the task, and the act of building calmed him, and he found himself putting more effort into patching up the den than he would normally. Maybe he should do this more often.

[Tiabirb]

Swiftfire-Warrior-She/Her
Purrk(s): Ultimate Predator


And just where were the apprentices? What were they doing? How hard was it to maintain a few paws to keep their dens from collapsing in? And seeing the state of the elder's den...it simply broke her heart.

A vole clamped in her jaws, Swiftfire approached the Elder's den, pausing as she heard movement inside. Setting the vole down, she sniffed, taking in the scents of Hawkfur and Dapplebreeze. "Greetings," She mewed, announcing her presence with a polite dip of her head that enabled her to pick the vole back up as she approached Dapplebreeze. She glanced at the meager pile of repairing materials, and then looked between Hawkfur and Dapplebreeze.

"Here's some fresh-kill," She stated as she dropped the vole again, this time at Dapplebreeze's paws. "And I wanted to check for ticks. I know it may be too cold, but with the state of the dens...it's better to be safe than sorry..." Swiftfire said, though she waited patiently for the permission to groom the elder's fur.
"If not, then I can at least go out and gather some more moss and sticks. The state of these dens is atrocious...I have half a mind to bring it to Twilightstar. We have a whole clanful of apprentices...but where's the respect for those who have served?" Her voice had started strong, but it quickly fell into an irritable mutter. At least one decent warrior had stepped in to assist the elder, and for that, Hawkfur had gained respect from Swiftfire.

But the tortoiseshell and white she-cat waited for Dapplebreeze to decide where Swiftfire's energy should be directed at. After all, a smart warrior heeded to the wisdom of their elders, and Swiftfire only wanted to help.

@Alchemist Kitsune -Dapplebreeze @Micanomancy -Hawkfur

[Alchemist Kitsune]

| Dapplebreeze |
Agatha Kitty - Active | Silver Tongue - Active | Beefed Up [Tier 1] - Inactive

---

Her mewing interrupted, a voice calling out in the elders' den, the senior warrior turned around, mismatched ears perked up in surprise. Most warriors and apprentices of WindClan seemed to forget about the elderly. It had not escaped Dapplebreeze just how very young most of the cats of WindClan were of late. Why, to be considered a senior warrior at her paltry sixty four moons of age - well, perhaps not paltry, but most certainly not so aged as to be senior - in this day and age was... rather sad, truly. Had WindClan's constant struggles wiped out so effectively those that had grown with her. Why, aside of Fallownose there was hardly any other WindClan born cats left of her generation. It was a disheartening thought, and she couldn't help but pray that her daughter would never have to face such a situation herself.

Soft, round, blue orbs were quick to land on Hawkfur, and the she-cat couldn't help the small twitch of her whiskers at the sight of the tom. She was not familiar with him. Her daughter, however? Oh, her sweetest bird seemed to be quite familiar with him. Perhaps now would be a good time to get to know him. Get a feel for this feline who had her darling's attention so aptly captured of late. His offering to help secure the elders' den for the leafbare was of course a good first impression, and the patched warrior could feel a small purr rumbling within. Leave it to her daughter to associate with the proper, hard working warriors of the clan. Her judgement seemed to be as impeccable as always... but then, she was her mother's daughter, she supposed.

"Oh most certainly, my dear. I would be delighted to have your assistance," Dapplebreeze responded, her maw curved in a polite, demure smile. "After all, any friend of Bravebird's is a friend of mine."

The words had barely left her mouth when another joined, coaxing the round faced former queen to look towards the entrance. Yet another warrior coming into the den, with prey for elders and ready to work were apprentices should be concerning themselves. As estranged as she was from her grandson - to the point of barely any cats even remembering their relation - she had admired his willingness to help around the clan when he had been a paw. No wall ever needed to be fixed, and no queen or elder was ever left hungry with him around. She should know, having been raising her precious and now long gone Ryepaw in the nursery at the the time. Well... if apprentices were refusing to do their assigned tasks, it was at least heartwarming to see warriors who did not see themselves as too above such menial labor to step up. Perhaps such hard working individuals would inspire the newer generation to be mindful of such things. Monotonous the work might be, but of incredible importance for the safety and health of the clan.

"Ah, greetings, Swiftfire. Marvelous to have your company, darling," she mewed, a polite purr alight in her voice.

Fully intent on getting back to her work, confusion fluttered in Dapplebreeze's gaze for a moment as Swiftfire deposited the vole before her, pausing her movements. It wasn't until the warrior spoke that she... blinked. Oh. Oh dear. Well then. Perhaps this warrior assumed she was moving into the elders' den? Come now. She was hardly the oldest warrior around. That honor went to Batglare, and he seemed to be quite strong and well suited for the warrior life, having even a young apprentice at tow. Perhaps it had been her bout of illness earlier? She had been left weak and malnourished in her nest for some time before she went to the medicine cat's den with young Firestorm and was forced to treatment by the equally fiery Lightningstorm. An apprentice at the time, as well... Her illness had taken an awfully long time to heal. Perhaps cats had just assumed that she would be retiring if she survived? Well, time to put an end to such thoughts now!

"I do appreciate the gift and offer, dearest, but I do believe some of the elders might be even more grateful for such attentions once they come back into the den. Perhaps old Garfield? Or Badgersnap?" she mewed, her voice polite and cheery in the full knowledge that she was sending the well meaning warrior pettily towards the potentially grumpiest of the elders, yet finding it hard to feel too guilty about it. Her tone soon turned serious, however, as she nodded in agreement with Swiftbird's tangent. "All jest aside, I do find myself agreeing with you, my darling. It's simply barbaric to be in the knowledge that this clan has as many apprentices as it has and not a single one has been doing check ups on the state of these dens! Surely not all of them can be out on the field at all times? It's like if these youngsters have forgotten that training is not all hunting and fighting. Clan life is about more than just the glory that can be found from such feats, after all," she sniffed, her tail giving a small tap of disapproval as she spoke.

---

@Micanomancy [Hawkfur] | @Tiabird [Swiftbird]

[Mica]

Hawkfur
WindClan
he/him | 46 moons
[Deep russet tabby with a white muzzle, chest and paws and sky blue eyes]
· · ────────────── · ·
[Dapplebreeze - @Alchemist Kitsune ]
· · ────────────── · ·
Hawkfur wasn't sure why he felt picked apart by Dapplebreeze's gaze, but it made him a little nervous. He also wasn't sure why he felt a strange desire to impress her. She was Bravebird's mother, yes, but just because he was friends with her daughter didn't mean he wanted to show Dapplebreeze he was worthy of being her friend. At least, it shouldn't mean that. He offered the older warrior a brief nod, trying to convey his appreciation for her in his eyes, but kept silent.

Swiftfire's approach caught him a little off guard, but he offered the warrior a nod as well, appreciative that another warrior was going to help with the dens. Surely the elder's den would be warm and cozy once the three of them were done. He winced when Dapplebreeze suggested Swiftfire give the prey to the rather cantankerous elders, resisting the urge to chuckle. Dapplebreeze and Bravebird were so alike, but Bravebird hadn't inherited Dapplebreeze's ability to tear a cat down with politeness and sweetness. Bravebird was very cutting and blunt, but the tom actually appreciated that about her. It was easy to tell what she was thinking.

He could tell Dapplebreezeappreciated the offer from the cat, however, and cast the younger warrior a kind look. "I agree." He meowed, his voice a little raspy with the cold. He cleared his throat, then spoke again. "I think some expectations should be set down by Fallownose. In my experience as an apprentice, I think apprentices do best when they're able to abide by a schedule while still having time to explore their hobbies. This way, they'll learn how to weave and build as well as fight and hunt." He realized he was rambling a little, and quickly shut his mouth with a sheepish look. "Of-of course all apprentices are different." He found himself very passionate about the well-being of apprentices, since his own had gone missing not too long ago. He continued weaving, though it was basic at best. He hadn't learned the extensive techniques, but it got the job done.

[Tiabirb]

Badgerkit
1 Moon
He/Him
Dark grey tabby tomkit with one white paw and one white patch over the left eye, blue eyes.
--------------------------------------------------

The nursery was so boring and the nest was too crowded! His brothers and sisters clambored over him for the last time, and that was his last nerve struck. With a huff, Badgerkit heaved himself out of the nest, tumbling out clumsily from the pile of sleeping cats. Ugh. Stuffy and crowded. His blue eyes glared, though he knew none would see.

None would see, huh? An idea crept into his head, and with a sly smirk, Badgerkit followed his impulse with full abandon. He crawled toward the entrance, recoiling when a gust of cold wind blasted him in the face. Ick! The nursery suddenly didn't seem that bad...and then he caught scents. So many scents! Cat scents! Old, young, fresh and....old! He peeked his head out, eyes wide and watching. How exciting! Wait til he told Leopardkit that he was out here! A tiny paw thrust forward, back in, and then the dark grey ball of fluff barreled out into the open. His little heart raced!

Would he get in trouble? Would Laurelwinds be upset? He went to go back into the nursery, only to stumble over his own paws. Darn it! Wait, where was the entrance!? His eyes searched the nursery frantically, but he couldn't find his way back in when he paused as a fresh but old scent caught his attention. His panic forgotten, impulse taking over once more, her scrabbled in the direction it was coming from.

He found himself peering into another den. A wider entrance he could see, and easily accessible. Why was that? If he couldn't even get into the nursery, why would this den be so...open? And why did it smell like old cats? Curiosity got the better of him, and he strutted inside, finding an empty nest. Now that was more like it! A nest all to himself! Goooood-bye cramped and crushed! With a happy lift of his tail, Badgerkit made himself comfortable in the mossy, shallow scoop in the ground, curling up and purring deeply. He was liking the scent that the nest had. Of course he knew it wasn't his, but he could just say he was keeping it warm, right? Right!

@Alchemist Kitsune