RiverClan Skyridge

[QueenOtter]

Originally Posted by poppy.

| @QueenOtter @/anyone else ig haha ( @Luminous @masquerade for mentions of Mistypaw and Snowleap )|

The screams and wails from the clearing made the senior warrior burrow deeper into his nest. Yet another tragedy. He didn't even want to go out and look. So he didn't. The commanding voice on the Streamstone didn't even register, but the faceless sounds of grief made Blizzardwind finally rise to his paws. His whiskers trembled and his paws tingled with nerves. this couldn't possibly be good. Someone was dead, and with his luck, it would be someone important, close to him. His ears twitched and as he neared the den exit, the pit of his stomach dropped into a chasm, face darkening with dread. As the muscled old tom shouldered his way out of the den, he couldn't help bellowing, "Mistypaw! Snowleap!" Blizzardwind roared their name, the only thing powering the sound emitting from him was raw fear. They couldn't be dead. Not another apprentice of his.

But he recoiled at the scent of death and the voice atop the Streamstone that just registered. Sparrowskip. Everyone was huddled around a body. A limp, gray body. A body that was ruffled by touch and still musty and sodden. A body with dark gray markings. One would expect the tom to shout, to howl, but he just slumped backwards. Kestrelstar. Stormtalon's brother. Snakeheart's brother. RiverClan's leader. StarClan newest member. His jaw clenched, and he closed his slate eyes. Numbly, he looked back up. He could mourn whatever the young tom was to him later, but things needed to be done. Straightening his head as Sparrowskip announced the vigil, Blizzardwind exhaled softly. Okay. Emotions could be sorted out later, but right now, younger cats needed strong words.

He saw Otterstorm looking sickened and horrified. Padding over to the molly, he lowered his large head to hers, his mouth near her ear to be heard but not be creepy, and murmured, "He's happier now. With Stormtalon. With his mother. With all his lost ones. Try and find peace in that. He was hurting, but now he's in a paradise, and will never hurt for the rest of eternity." Even though it hurt to know that this cat he had known through Stormtalon, this dead cat that was his leader but also something more to him, he knew that the tabby leader wouldn't want his grieving Clanmates to mourn lone, but rather stand united. He nodded to the molly, as if welcoming her to cry into him, to hug, to do something, and tried not to be awkward.

Otterstorm blinked. 'We- We'll miss him-' she managed to say, choking on her words. She wailed again. 'He wasn't meant to die! He could- could of lived longer, with his clan, his deputy, his leftover kin and friends! B- but no, StarClan l-let him die!' Otterstorm couldn't move. It was like waves, strong currents with icy water pulling her down, and the grief! The grief felt heavier than the whole place altogether, helping the cold waves, dragging her down. She turned her tear-stained face to Blizzardwind.

[poppy]

| @QueenOtter @flopsy |

As Otterstorm raised her teary face to Blizzardwind, his face softened a bit. Everyone was hurting. Why? Because this cat, this sodden corpse of a body depleted of its soul, brought them back. Yeah, he had a rough start but he fixed it, he was doing so much better. And he died. He was dead and now RiverClan had to fling it's trust blindly at their newly announced deputy. He blinked kindly to her, the fresh shock and horror and grief curbing his usual gruff exterior. Otterstorm was struggling with the Clan's ancestors, wrestling with the same theory that Blizzardwind had been battling for moons, for seasons. More so this last couple moons. Fake it, Blizzardwind. Fake it. Fake your unshakable faith in those starry creatures so that this young molly will feel reassured.

But then he saw another pained cat, an apprentice this time, and reached out his tail and tapped the younger cat. "Wrenpaw, would you like to sit with us?" Wrenpaw needed to hear what he was going to say, too.

Taking a deep, shaky breath, he murmured, "StarClan knew how much he hurt. They watched him suffer. I think it would've been more cruel to let him walk on down here. He adored this Clan. He gave up so much for it, but in the end, we're all powerless to battle our fates." Kestrelstar died so young though. He was so young. The massive tom sighed again. "StarClan doesn't take lives. They give lives, and they welcome souls. Death takes lives, it's not StarClan who kills. Death takes lives, the ground takes the bodies, and StarClan bring the soul to paradise." He looked over at first Wrenpaw and the Otterstorm, hoping they understood the words this old tom uttered.

[Kunaisoul]

{Nightleap of RiverClan}

She looked into the leaders den, and leapt up to the leader's den, and then emerged soon with a sunflower. The one she had given to kestrelstar.. She.. set it next to him. "I- I can't.. I.." She teared up. "Please.. Just.. dont.." She set the sunflower in between his paws. And then she looked at Sparrowskip. "I gave this to him a little while ago.. and.. Could you bury this with him?" She asked.

@RiztheHuntress @marshall

[QueenOtter]

Originally Posted by poppy.

| @QueenOtter @flopsy |

As Otterstorm raised her teary face to Blizzardwind, his face softened a bit. Everyone was hurting. Why? Because this cat, this sodden corpse of a body depleted of its soul, brought them back. Yeah, he had a rough start but he fixed it, he was doing so much better. And he died. He was dead and now RiverClan had to fling it's trust blindly at their newly announced deputy. He blinked kindly to her, the fresh shock and horror and grief curbing his usual gruff exterior. Otterstorm was struggling with the Clan's ancestors, wrestling with the same theory that Blizzardwind had been battling for moons, for seasons. More so this last couple moons. Fake it, Blizzardwind. Fake it. Fake your unshakable faith in those starry creatures so that this young molly will feel reassured.

But then he saw another pained cat, an apprentice this time, and reached out his tail and tapped the younger cat. "Wrenpaw, would you like to sit with us?" Wrenpaw needed to hear what he was going to say, too.

Taking a deep, shaky breath, he murmured, "StarClan knew how much he hurt. They watched him suffer. I think it would've been more cruel to let him walk on down here. He adored this Clan. He gave up so much for it, but in the end, we're all powerless to battle our fates." Kestrelstar died so young though. He was so young. The massive tom sighed again. "StarClan doesn't take lives. They give lives, and they welcome souls. Death takes lives, it's not StarClan who kills. Death takes lives, the ground takes the bodies, and StarClan bring the soul to paradise." He looked over at first Wrenpaw and the Otterstorm, hoping they understood the words this old tom uttered.

Otterstorm nodded quietly. 'Y-yes, but Kestrelstar...' She trailed off, staring at the limp grey body of the RiverClan leader. StarClan. What good are they if they can't protect our clan, our leader? They gave him nine lives, only to take away the few left all in one go. She sat up, alarmed. Isn't what she just thought something Dark Forest cats would think? Otterstorm gazed up at Sparrowskip. So, you, you are our new leader? Then lead us well, Sparrowskip, Sparrowstar.

[pxxylo]

Raccoonear

| she/her | @masquerade | @Memento Mori

Who did I just randomly embrace like I would my dead brother? For any other, it would’ve taken her mind a beat too long to associate their scent with a name, rank, and relationship, but for her best friend, it doesn’t and never will take her too long to remember who this cat is; Snowleap. Despite the fact that any form of an awkward wall between the two had been broken on that day they took out any and all anger on that poor, beaten up tree trunk, she still felt the horrible, sinking embarrassment weighing down into her like she’d swallowed a rock. However, as tears welled over her bi-colored eyes, she still felt the tugging urge to run, go back to the tree trunk, and stay there. At that trunk, there was nothing happening. It’s just you and the stump. No drama, no death, no bloodshed. It’s a nice place.

As Snowleap gently licked the gray molly between the ears, she calmed down a bit. That’s one good thing. There are people who don’t hate her, it’s not like anybody does, but times like this can make one feel like the whole of the universe is going against you. She couldn’t help but crack even the slightest smile as the dark-furred Shield lowered his head atop hers, something that lightened her dark mood. Physical affection is something that can truthfully, make anyone at least a little bit happier, right? She looked up at the irritable deputy as he screamed at Cloverpaw as the young apprentice whined and yowled on about being a popular and famous she-cat that everyone loves, demanding to speak with a dead man. She stared, her gaze washing over the cats. Not a dry eye in the crowd.

Continuing to listen to Sparrowskip yowl, he heard amidst the sorrowful sobs and angered screams, Snowleap be called forward to rid the mourning crowd of the screeching Cloverpaw. She watched him walk over, bring the annoyed apprentice to their set den with a stern look upon his face. It’s for their best, I suppose. They should learn to give people their time to mourn, it was our clan leader after all.

However, Raccoonear was now left to speak with Lynxfall. Truthfully, she’d been wanting to get a word in with them for a while, seeing that they were her best friend’s mate. No, she hadn’t been officially informed that the two were together, but two cats that are just friends look one way. Mates, they look a completely different way when they are tighter, it’s a definable difference in her eyes. It brought her everlasting joy to see them together, they looked like an amazing little family with Lynxfall, Shadepaw, and Snowleap. While she sort of considered Snowleap as a sort of brother nowadays, she still deeply respected, and wanted to meet Lynxfall.

“Hello,” She mewed in a soft tone, turning to look at the orange cat beside her. “I’m Raccoonear, we’ve never met or anything, but I’m a friend to Snowleap, and a friend of his is a friend of mine,” She chuckled at the slightest, casting Lynxfall a warm smile. Her tears had dried already, and like many others, she’d continue her mourning elsewhere, but for now, she just wanted to meet the orange tabby before her, someone she hoped to become just as close friends with as she already was with Snowleap.

[bailu]

Hazelstorm

She drew back as Ploverkit seemed shocked at the fact that you could just stop existing entirely. Hazelstorm was more than relieved when Daystripe came and took thekit away. The tabby didn't know how to treat kits, let alone care for one. That was why she never wanted to have kits anyway. Lifting her green gaze to Sparrowskip, Hazelstorm felt a glowing curiousity in her. How did Kestrelstar die in the first place? Didn't he have multiple lives left or something?

She mused over this, coming up with plenty of theories in her head until the deputy's voice grabbed her attention. Hazelstorm sealed her lips shut, hoping she could control herself for the worst.

It was like that day she'd lost her parents all over again. She scratchedat the ground with sheathed claws. She really attracted misfortune didn't she? A dreamcatcher for all those unlucky cats. For them, she was the solution.

Kestrelstar apparently had drowned. Over, and over again, after falling off a cliff at Lionsbeach. Vaguely Hazelstorm remembered some outing with Twilightshimmer there, and recalling the she-cat's statement of her being deputy, the mackarel tabby wondered if she had attended the meeting or not.

RiverClan was different from the other Clans because they were trained to swim. The water gave them life and activities to do. How could it be such a traitor to the Clan that treated it with the most respect? She bit her lip, fighting back the anger and misery that swelled up inside her. Life was awful, and Kestrelstar's fate was too.

At least Cloverpaw had been dealt with and Hazelstorm glanced up, respect kindling in her expression. At least, Sparrowskip didn't seem like a failure yet. The tabby tipped her head downwards, eyelids dropping to hide green orbs, and did what she always did when things went wrong. Pray to StarClan and hope for the best.

"May StarClan light your path, Kestrelstar," she murmurred softly, sighing heavily as her whiskers drooped, no positive energy in the she-cat anymore for today.

[corgigirl]

Originally Posted by RiztheHuntress

~Wolfsong~

Wrapping her tail around her apprentice, the silver she-cat paused the grooming of her sister's ears and turned her blue gaze on Pebblepaw. She didn't have any words, so instead she gave the young cat a lick on the forehead. It was all surreal, to think that Kestrelstar, a leader who she had come to respect deeply, was gone. She turned her muzzle back to look at the pelt of the fallen leader, watching his still form for a moment before she managed to find her voice. "I'd like to sit vigil with you after the meeting, Nightleap," she said softly. "Would you join us, Pebblepaw?" she asked, leaning slightly against the smaller she-cat.



~Moonfrost~

As she saw the tom begin to turn away, Moonfrost reached out with a paw, placing it on his shoulder.
Please don't leave. She needs you too.
She couldn't use words to convince him to stay, so she hoped that he would understand. Cloudpaw only had the two of them now. The black tabby she-cat would gladly fill the role of mother, but she couldn't take up the hole that Kestrelstar had left. She wasn't able to.
Help me help her. Please.
She looked down at the little apprentice and smiled softly before looking back at Blizzardsky. She was not at all practiced with forming her muzzle into words, having no ability to use them anyway, but she gave her very best attempt to mouth the word "stay."

[ @masquerade for the Cloudpaw mention and presence ]

“Yes, I’ll stay.” She nodded. She briefly pressed her head to the fallen leader’s.

[TheWhiteWolf]

Originally Posted by door~

Raccoonear

| she/her | @masquerade | @Memento Mori

Who did I just randomly embrace like I would my dead brother? For any other, it would’ve taken her mind a beat too long to associate their scent with a name, rank, and relationship, but for her best friend, it doesn’t and never will take her too long to remember who this cat is; Snowleap. Despite the fact that any form of an awkward wall between the two had been broken on that day they took out any and all anger on that poor, beaten up tree trunk, she still felt the horrible, sinking embarrassment weighing down into her like she’d swallowed a rock. However, as tears welled over her bi-colored eyes, she still felt the tugging urge to run, go back to the tree trunk, and stay there. At that trunk, there was nothing happening. It’s just you and the stump. No drama, no death, no bloodshed. It’s a nice place.

As Snowleap gently licked the gray molly between the ears, she calmed down a bit. That’s one good thing. There are people who don’t hate her, it’s not like anybody does, but times like this can make one feel like the whole of the universe is going against you. She couldn’t help but crack even the slightest smile as the dark-furred Shield lowered his head atop hers, something that lightened her dark mood. Physical affection is something that can truthfully, make anyone at least a little bit happier, right? She looked up at the irritable deputy as he screamed at Cloverpaw as the young apprentice whined and yowled on about being a popular and famous she-cat that everyone loves, demanding to speak with a dead man. She stared, her gaze washing over the cats. Not a dry eye in the crowd.

Continuing to listen to Sparrowskip yowl, he heard amidst the sorrowful sobs and angered screams, Snowleap be called forward to rid the mourning crowd of the screeching Cloverpaw. She watched him walk over, bring the annoyed apprentice to their set den with a stern look upon his face. It’s for their best, I suppose. They should learn to give people their time to mourn, it was our clan leader after all.

However, Raccoonear was now left to speak with Lynxfall. Truthfully, she’d been wanting to get a word in with them for a while, seeing that they were her best friend’s mate. No, she hadn’t been officially informed that the two were together, but two cats that are just friends look one way. Mates, they look a completely different way when they are tighter, it’s a definable difference in her eyes. It brought her everlasting joy to see them together, they looked like an amazing little family with Lynxfall, Shadepaw, and Snowleap. While she sort of considered Snowleap as a sort of brother nowadays, she still deeply respected, and wanted to meet Lynxfall.

“Hello,” She mewed in a soft tone, turning to look at the orange cat beside her. “I’m Raccoonear, we’ve never met or anything, but I’m a friend to Snowleap, and a friend of his is a friend of mine,” She chuckled at the slightest, casting Lynxfall a warm smile. Her tears had dried already, and like many others, she’d continue her mourning elsewhere, but for now, she just wanted to meet the orange tabby before her, someone she hoped to become just as close friends with as she already was with Snowleap.

❦ Lynxfall (he/they) ❦

❥ Glancing over at the sight of another cat being comforted by Snowleap, it made a small smile form on his face. Snowleap was a loving cat deep down, and that’s why he fell for him. Thinking to himself for a moment, he realized that this must be a friend of his. Ears flicking when he heard her speak, he also greeted her with a warm, tender smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Racoonear. I’ve heard a little bit about you, you’re very important to Snowleap, and a friend of his is a friend of mine as well.” He purred gently. The mist from his eyes didn’t once disappear, but he felt glad that there was a slight change of atmosphere. There was time to mourn alone later, right now though he wanted to get to know some clan mates. He was excited to make a new friend.

[Captain]

❄ Snowleap (he/them) ❄ [ @Memento Mori | @door~ ]

➢ The tall oriental longhair gave a curt sigh as he finally walked out of the apprentice’s den, hoping that Cloverpaw would stay put now. His icy blue-hued gaze flickered over towards Raccoonear and Lynxfall, who were engaging in a lighthearted conversation. This made a small smile come to his expression. Despite the situation, Snowleap was happy to see his best friend and mate becoming friends. Both the gray-furred shecat and the orange-furred tomcat were special to him, there was no doubt about it. Without further ado, the Riverclan shield padded over to the two of them to continue mourning and being with his family. “It’s nice to see you two talking,” Snowleap said with a warm purr, giving Lynxfall’s muzzle an affectionate lick before sitting down comfortably between them again (though not enough where they couldn’t still see one another and continue their conversation, of course). “I wish it could’ve been at a better time, but that’s okay, we’re all here together and that’s what is important. That’s what Kestrelstar would’ve wanted.” Or at least, that’s what Snowleap would like to think. He knew the clan leader had a distaste for Shadowclan cats, but still, he saw something different in both Lynxfall and Shadepaw. The long-furred shield curled his tail around his mate and looked towards the clan leader’s body once again. He wanted to say something, but knew that he should wait until the vigil in the Sleepy Thicket. The icy blue-eyed tomcat hoped that everything would work out.

[TheWhiteWolf]

Originally Posted by masquerade

❄ Snowleap (he/them) ❄ [ @Memento Mori | @door~ ]

➢ The tall oriental longhair gave a curt sigh as he finally walked out of the apprentice’s den, hoping that Cloverpaw would stay put now. His icy blue-hued gaze flickered over towards Raccoonear and Lynxfall, who were engaging in a lighthearted conversation. This made a small smile come to his expression. Despite the situation, Snowleap was happy to see his best friend and mate becoming friends. Both the gray-furred shecat and the orange-furred tomcat were special to him, there was no doubt about it. Without further ado, the Riverclan shield padded over to the two of them to continue mourning and being with his family. “It’s nice to see you two talking,” Snowleap said with a warm purr, giving Lynxfall’s muzzle an affectionate lick before sitting down comfortably between them again (though not enough where they couldn’t still see one another and continue their conversation, of course). “I wish it could’ve been at a better time, but that’s okay, we’re all here together and that’s what is important. That’s what Kestrelstar would’ve wanted.” Or at least, that’s what Snowleap would like to think. He knew the clan leader had a distaste for Shadowclan cats, but still, he saw something different in both Lynxfall and Shadepaw. The long-furred shield curled his tail around his mate and looked towards the clan leader’s body once again. He wanted to say something, but knew that he should wait until the vigil in the Sleepy Thicket. The icy blue-eyed tomcat hoped that everything would work out.

❦ Lynxfall (he/they) ❦

❥ Lynxfall nodded and glanced over at Shadepaw with a smile. “We both have Kestrel to thank for everything. Though we haven’t been here long, I appreciate everything he’s done for us. I hope he’s able to rest well up in StarClan. Thank you, Kestrelstar. For everything.” He finished the last part looking up at the sky, hoping that his words would be carried by the wind. Glancing over at Snowleap and Racconear, a tired smile made a way to their face. “I really am happy that we could all be here together.”

❣︎ Shadepaw (she/her) ❣︎

❥ Shadepaw listened in quietly and looked up at the stars as Lynxfall did. Smiling at the other cats before her, she felt a little in lighter spirits as everything went on, but another part of her felt a deep worry for Cloudpaw. Kestrelstar was her mentor, right? Maybe she could find a way to comfort her during these trying times.

(Sorry for adding a Shadepaw reaction, I just want to make sure she’s used so she doesn’t come up as missing.)