She hadn't moved from her spot, staring at the dog, watching the blood steep into the ground, seep into her fur, seep into everything. It was like the crimson liquid had a mind of its own. It was like it was saying, have it your way, but I'm not leaving without leaving my mark.
Any leave its mark it did. Everywhere she looked, blood was splattered. And.... she did that. Her and Gingerfrost. Her stomach churned. With the bloodied ankles, minor scratches on the stomach, and the completely torn throat, there was only one thing on her mind.
Birdpaw. Birdpaw had gone through something like this, eight? She looked away, queasy. Her mind had already began to knit Birdpaw's image over the dead thing, and Kestrelpaw didn't want to see it. Gingerfrost came to ask if she was okay, to which she looked up, but didn't say a word. Her eyes had a haunted air to them, and she looked away, shaking her head. She wasn't okay.
The siamese cat had seen his new apprentice slipping out at some point during the meeting, and decided to follow. He wasn't trying to be sneaky, necessarily, but Beansprout wasn't dying to catch up with the kid. So long as he kept an eye on the little cat, he didn't mind. it was important for young apprentices to explore, wasn't it?
He was surprised when Rainpaw veered for Sleepy Thicket. A bit of alarm flooded through him, but Beansprout was certain the dogs were long gone by now. It certainly couldn't hurt to let Rainpaw keep exploring on her own for now. And as she stepped into Sleepy Thicket, Beansprout followed suit. While many of his Clanmates had disliked this place even before the dog attack, Beansprout had always found it oddly... peaceful. Perhaps his lack of belief in spirits flitting about helped this. But now, the heavy scent of blood tainted the foggy air. That made the scarred warrior more uneasy.
It all came to a head when Rainpaw stopped to investigate a bloodstain on the grass. Yeah, no. He needed to make himself known. At that point, he cleared his throat and stepped into clear view of his apprentice. "What brings you out here, specifically?" With a tilt of his head, Beansprout awaited an answer from the kid.
"What brings you out here, specifically?"
Rainpaw nearly jumped right out of her pelt the moment she heard her mentor's name. After her little hop of surprise and a high-pitched squeal, she turned to meet her mentor's one-eyed gaze. In an instant, her ears pinned sheepishly to the back of her head. Busted. "Oh, Beansprout! Uhhh-" She glanced at the bloodstain by her paws then back at him. Great...her mentor must think she's some creep that likes the smell of blood now. "I was just curious to see if I could detect what the scent was...y'know, like, testing my tracking skills..." Gazing down at her paws, Rainpaw tried to hide her puffy cheeks. "Um...I also wanted to get my mind off the meeting...everyone was getting really loud." She mewed truthfully. Rainpaw wasn't one for big crowds, nor did she like yelling. She had no opinion on clan politics --maybe she was way too young to care -- and she had no power in saying anything anyways, being an apprentice and all, so why bother staying for the meeting?
"I would rather be out doing something worth my time." She quietly added, looking off into the foggy horizon in a forlorn manner.
The air was crisp for newleaf, the feline thought as she padded through the densely wooded territory. Not that it bothered her, it was just a bit unusual. It seemed appropriate, though, for the air to be chill as Coldshimmer walked to clear her mind. Her paws moving meant the cyclic thoughts running through her head also kept moving, changing out weary, repetitive ones for more logical, constructive ones, which was needed now more than ever. After the mess of last meeting she, frankly, wanted nothing to do with her fellow clanmates for the next few days - were people ever gifted with brains anymore? If not the perhaps she should get to praying, because she saw no other way for her clan to pull themselves out of their slump. True, a few seemed level-headed - if a bit loud - but so, so many were too lost and star-struck to think on their own.
[ open! ]
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“when you're with the right person, every place is a right place.”
— ocean waves, studio ghibli
profile image credits:
background image credits found in albums | pfp - fields of misteria
Jaws snapped into Sedgestorm's chest as Flamebriar leapt to the dogs back. As the calico raked her claws across the beasts back, bits of flesh tore from his body from where its teeth had imbedded in his skin. He howled and swung a final attack at the mutts face as it turned tail and fled.
Anger still in him, the large tom chased after the dog, his own teeth nipping at its flank to urge it forward and out of here. His pace halted once he was sure it would leave on its own, his paws scraping against the ground at the sudden stop.
With his mind at ease, he padded back to his clanmates, approaching Flamebriar. His head came up to press underneath her neck for a few moments before turning to look at his clanmates.
Kestrelpaw and Gingerfrost had managed to bring down their dog and Silentripple was without her battle partner.
There wasn't a sign of Featherflame that he could find, but he hardly had it in him to go looking for her.
He found it hard to breathe, but wouldn't voice it. He'd suffered worse, it'd simply add to his collection of scars. "Been better," He sighed.
His heart hurt as he saw how affected Kestrelpaw was, knowing how much that first death could change a person. He didn't approach her, despite how much he wanted to comfort her.
Surely, she'd rather a bleeding stanger to not come worry over her.
Bogeater poked Beansprout in return. Had to keep the poke count even. "I'm in, I'm in." When had he ever not been in? "Hurry up, slowpoke ," he commented as he began to walk, gesturing with a flick of his tail for Beansprout to pretty please come along.
With a surprised huff as Bogeater poked him, Beansprout watched as the other cat whipped ahead of him. With a competitive grin, the siamese poked Bogeater once more before trotting toward Sleepy Thicket. It had been awhile since he had felt this kind of giddy, kit-like energy, and Beansprout was gonna make the most of it.
Upon arriving at the creepy place, Beansprout purred and turned around. "Who's the slowpoke now?" He teased, flicking his tail at Bogeater (wherever he was.)
Rainpaw nearly jumped right out of her pelt the moment she heard her mentor's name. After her little hop of surprise and a high-pitched squeal, she turned to meet her mentor's one-eyed gaze. In an instant, her ears pinned sheepishly to the back of her head. Busted. "Oh, Beansprout! Uhhh-" She glanced at the bloodstain by her paws then back at him. Great...her mentor must think she's some creep that likes the smell of blood now. "I was just curious to see if I could detect what the scent was...y'know, like, testing my tracking skills..." Gazing down at her paws, Rainpaw tried to hide her puffy cheeks. "Um...I also wanted to get my mind off the meeting...everyone was getting really loud." She mewed truthfully. Rainpaw wasn't one for big crowds, nor did she like yelling. She had no opinion on clan politics --maybe she was way too young to care -- and she had no power in saying anything anyways, being an apprentice and all, so why bother staying for the meeting?
"I would rather be out doing something worth my time." She quietly added, looking off into the foggy horizon in a forlorn manner.
As the little cat spoke, Beansprout felt a small smile creep onto his maw. He didn't want the poor kid to feel nervous; the siamese was just curious as to where one of his apprentices was going. With a hopefully-reassuring purr, Beansprout attempted to drape his tail across the younger cat's shoulders. "No worries, kiddo. I was just curious as to why you came here, y'know? Tracking is a good skill to know, but maybe ask before coming to a potentially dangerous area next time, alright?" And then, as the apprentice spoke again, he felt a bit of shame flood through him. "Yes... I'm sorry it was so loud. Meetings aren't usually like that, I promise." He attempted to give Rainpaw a quick, affectionate lick to the forehead before craning his neck to look around. "Well, now that we're out here, what would you like to do?" The siamese asked with a tilt of his fuzzy head. It would be counterproductive to force the young cat to do something she didn't want to, after all.
The air was crisp for newleaf, the feline thought as she padded through the densely wooded territory. Not that it bothered her, it was just a bit unusual. It seemed appropriate, though, for the air to be chill as Coldshimmer walked to clear her mind. Her paws moving meant the cyclic thoughts running through her head also kept moving, changing out weary, repetitive ones for more logical, constructive ones, which was needed now more than ever. After the mess of last meeting she, frankly, wanted nothing to do with her fellow clanmates for the next few days - were people ever gifted with brains anymore? If not the perhaps she should get to praying, because she saw no other way for her clan to pull themselves out of their slump. True, a few seemed level-headed - if a bit loud - but so, so many were too lost and star-struck to think on their own.
[ open! ]
Weaselfang
Due to everything going on, the semi-old tom couldn't help but feel... afraid. Afraid for RiverClan's future, that is. They were... leaderless. Of course, Gingerfrost was still around, and Pikestar- or... or Snowleap, now. Weaselfang didn't know for sure what the former leader was now beings that he hasn't gone to the Starcave to forfeit his lives yet. Ugh... we're just a downright mess. We need some proper order here, otherwise RiverClan's just doomed. Glancing at the hunting grounds, Weaselfang exhaled a sigh and continued forward, to where? He did not know. At this point, he was letting his paws go where they wished so long as they didn't make him look like a fish out of water on some random puddle or something ridiculous like that.
After quite a few strides away from camp, the brown tom found himself staring at the back of Coldshimmer's head. Is... she here to hunt or just... walking? I can't let her be alone either way, what if the dogs that survived that fight come back?"Hey... uh, do you mind if I hunt here? Keep you company... since, y'know, the dogs who survived might return. I don't want another Clanmate to die or get injured, especially since RiverClan needs all their warriors right now." He fell silent for a few seconds, piping up to add: "But if you think they won't, then I will hunt somewhere else to give you privacy."
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Characters
Crow (Purrks: Heightened Perception, Agatha Kitty, Hulk SMASH, Dreamwalker)
Ravenhawk
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Mintpool (she/her)
Riverclan ❍ 12 moons White and gray siamese with blue eyes
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The young warrior stared blankly at the tombstone that Slatestripe had built a few moons before. She’d sneaked away as an apprentice from Riverclan camp and followed her former mentor along with his brother Rainglow, to be welcomed to their mother’s grave. Amberbright.
Now she stood there alone, ignoring the cold water drops that fell from the sky and streaked her face like real tear drops. Or were they real ones?
Mintpool didn’t know, nor didn’t care. Her chest was tightened by pain, and suddenly her warrior name seemed like an empty promise. What future did she have now that Slatestripe wasn’t here anymore?
She stared miserably at the heap of stones. Dry flowers were rotting in front of it, a bitter reminder of death and the unstoppable force of time.
Her blue eyes turned to the gray sky, welcoming the water drops as if she was now underwater. And it felt like that: she’d fallen into a black, deep hole and the surface was every second more distant than before.
An empty sky.
She raised her voice in a pitiful cry, forcing her lungs to work even though the heart between them was shattered and broken. “Starclan! Don’t do this to me! Don’t let it happen…”
Now she was sure her eyes were watering for real, blurring out the world she’d been living in for so many moons with Slatestripe. “Amberbright! Are you there?” She called out, her voice nearly breaking as she forced herself to keep it steady and not collapse on her paws.
Don’t let me here...
I’m alone…
…Where are you…?
The white and gray cat was laying down near the heap of rocks, her fur now thoroughly soaked. Cold reaching through her bones and making her slightly quiver, but her eyes kept close and she didn’t move for a day and a half.
Was this how grief was supposed to be?
She’d never felt like that for her lost mother. The one who’d fed her milk, and loved Lilyleaf until she too disappeared one day. Faded memories whirled in Mintpool’s mind, but they carried with it only the image of the black and gray-striped tomcat that had taught her how to swim at four moons old.
Yes, he was her father. He was supposed to stay by her side and protect her, love her… Why, why Starclan. Why did you let it happen..?
A snooze made her move in a sudden spasm, then a cough. The gray sky had stopped crying. Was it already tired to grieve with her? Why did it have to leave as well, so early? Tell me, Amberbright. Is he dead? Is he alive? Is he ill? Or maybe fine?
Silence enveloped her.
Today, no rainbow would appear in the sky.
She cried, picturing the deformed hand of a twoleg grabbing his mentor. Amber eyes widened in terror, his striped body wiggling to reclaim his freedom, begging Starclan to help him reach his home again. …Starclan failed him.
They failed us.
Dark blue eyes opened again in a painful frown, teeth gritting as if she was facing an invisible enemy.
When her fury decreased, she let her shoulders sagging miserably and her head hang low. She got to her paws, but the strength to shake her fur off didn’t come. Pelt plastered to her thin body, the skeleton-looking cat walked away in the direction opposite to her camp toward the borders that led to Twolegplace.
There, she sat and stood sorrowfully to stare at the other side, occasionally wandering over the border with little hope, never returning with a second cat.
Riverclan was never the same after that, and so the white warrior.
The fluffy calico winced at the blood that was on Sedgestorm's pelt even though the wound didn't seem that serious. It still hurt to see that he got injured on her orders, and she leaned forward to lick his cheek in comfort if he would allow it.
Gingerfrost and Kestrelpaw took care of the remaining dog, though the apprentice didn't seem to be doing well. Flamebriar would let Gingerfrost deal with that as he had been the one to fight beside her.
"Good job, everyone. I don't think the dogs will be back anytime soon. Let's head back to camp so those with injuries can have them checked out by Stonepaw."
@Estelle @Silvershadow13 @Abyssopelagic @sol. [Just a quick post to wrap this up since it's been going on for a while. There's no need to respond to this if you don't want to!]
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if i look back, i am lost
passive & healing powerplay permitted The Archives
The air was crisp for newleaf, the feline thought as she padded through the densely wooded territory. Not that it bothered her, it was just a bit unusual. It seemed appropriate, though, for the air to be chill as Coldshimmer walked to clear her mind. Her paws moving meant the cyclic thoughts running through her head also kept moving, changing out weary, repetitive ones for more logical, constructive ones, which was needed now more than ever. After the mess of last meeting she, frankly, wanted nothing to do with her fellow clanmates for the next few days - were people ever gifted with brains anymore? If not the perhaps she should get to praying, because she saw no other way for her clan to pull themselves out of their slump. True, a few seemed level-headed - if a bit loud - but so, so many were too lost and star-struck to think on their own.
[ open! ]
Robinpaw (He/Him)
Robinpaw just felt like going for a walk. Nothing else. At least that's what he would tell anyone if they asked. Truth was, that last meeting had stressed him out even more than he already was. Things were changing too fast for him to keep up. He already didn't have a mentor and was falling way behind on training, and now the leader steps down? It almost made him regret returning. He shook his head to clear his thoughts, this was meant to help him de-stress, not work him all up again. He took a deep breath and looked around, noticing a fellow clanmate, Coldshimmer he believed was her name. Maybe talking with another cat would help? It was worth a shot at least. "Er.. Hello, Coldshimmer right? I'm not always the best with names.."
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Spider: Lands on Screen*
Me: Oh hi ;-; Do you need something?
Spider: *Crawls off screen*
Me: Oh... Okay then ;-;
Bumb after like 5 hours I'm on pretty often so If I don't get to our rp the means I forgot- ;-; (Yes if you were wonder ing the ;-; is my favorite face)
Re: Sleepy Thicket
]
," he commented as he began to walk, gesturing with a flick of his tail for Beansprout to pretty please come along.
Re: Sleepy Thicket
