Warrior Code 101 [P]

***Alchemist Kitsune*** · #1 July 29th, 2024, 12:28 AM

Right. It had been a while. Since he had been asked to take care of a warrior code lesson. In reality, queens and elders were supposed to take care of these lessons after a change in the curriculum. Twilightstar had wanted the ranks that had less to do with the clan itself to perhaps become important figures for the kits from a young age. It had made perfect sense, in all truth. Some kits could be... Why, gosh, he didn't want to say mean or stubborn. No no no. But maybe... a little spirited. Passionate. Most certainly hard to steer in the right direction. Having them understand that the queens and elders were an important part of the clan from a young age would ensure both ranks would always be well cared for, plus it kept the elders from getting lonely. It was a complete win.

But if Snowybreeze were honest, the nursery was so full of kits of late - five of which were his, eep - it only made sense for him to pick up some lessons as well. Help along after he had all but forced his friend to take his precious litter of wondrous, miraculous treasures in. And these three kits? Cottonkit, Sedgekit, and Whistlekit, were they? He'd heard they were close already. Had been caught playing together in the kit corrals even outside of lessons. How wonderful! No doubt they wanted to learn the warrior code to perhaps know about the laws that bound them together not only as friends, but as clanmates.

The gentle giant's mood chipper at the thought, he softly called to the three kits as he spotted them in the nursery, leading them towards the kit corrals. Towards the comfortable nest he kept for the youngsters while he taught them. Hopefully... oh golly, hopefully he could keep these little ones invested. StarClan knew the code was... long. He would have to perhaps settle for teaching more the spirit of the code than the entire thing, no doubt, but he would cross that stream when he got to it.

@Daragca [Cottonkit] | @bigbxdwolfz [Sedgekit - Whistlekit]
| Have not forgotten about your healing request, no worries! Slowly trying to finish some healing roleplays before I take on too many more as there was a slight boom in them, but no worries, Lightningstorm will be able to treat your kits without a problem!

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**Badwolf** · #2 July 29th, 2024, 01:10 AM

[Whistlekit] & [Sedgekit]
Kits|1 moon|Windclan

· · ─────── ·· ─────── · ·

(Assuming this is after Whistlekit gets better after the food poisoning, btw.)

"Hello!" Whistlekit stops rearranging her pelt and instead chirps out in greeting. She jumps, a small bundle of fur, out of her nest, and her tiny paws thud on the ground with excitement as she bounces over. "Are you finally here to teach us? This is going to be really fun!"

Next to her is Sedgekit, who pads out of the nursery with a twitch of his ears and whiskers and a flick of his tail. He glances at the gentle giant of a cat and dips his small head without a word. His eyes are serious but also filled with curiosity.

**Daragca** · #3 July 29th, 2024, 05:06 AM

Cottonkit
he/him | Windclan Kit | 2 moons
Stowaway Child

Cottonkit looked up eagerly at the sound of a new voice. His confidence was growing slowly around all the other unfamiliar cats, but his little anxious twitch in his bobtail still occasionally prevailed. He found his small fluffy body bumbling over to the new cat. He looked a bit like him, all white but a vibrant patch of orange graced his face.

This cat certainly looked friendly enough, that was somewhat of a relief. Cottonkit couldn’t really handle cats being mean or bossy, it always made tears prick in the corners of his eyes and he ended up embarrassed. He’d already been teased once by some of the other kits for being a crybaby, that and not being clanborn. He had just buried himself in the corner of the nursery and sobbed for hours.

Just wanting to become the best warrior possible when he was older, he was small even for his age but he hoped that wouldn’t affect his chances. After all, here he was for his very first lesson, the warrior code, it sounded particularly exciting to him. Not that he knew exactly what a code was or what it meant, just that it was important enough to teach.

The bundle of fluff let a cheeky smile emerge as he was with friends of course, they would look after him. ”H..hello! My name’s Cottonkit, I can’t w..w.wait to learn.” The mew came out a little squeaky, but he hoped it would be enough to make a good first impression. It was thrilling to learn something new, something he could tell mama all about. Hopefully she’d be impressed, he’d certainly try his best to make that happen.

[ @bigbxdwolfz @Alchemist Kitsune ]
[ Not to fret, take as much time as you need <3 ]

***Alchemist Kitsune*** · #4 August 2nd, 2024, 02:32 AM

A small, timid purr escaped the gentle giant at the kits' enthusiasm, evident even in the seemingly shyest of the trio. The quiet one, quite stern, seemed like he would be a serious apprentice once his time came to learn the ways of the warriors, and the tom hoped he would get a strong willed mentor who would help foment that strict discipline instead of trying to change it. Morph it into something else. Perhaps Batglare of Leechscar? Both were furies, and quite... scary looking at times. But the Maine Coon mix knew better. Beneath that angry glare was loyalty to the leader and a willingness to help.

"W-why yes, little one. My name. Is. Snowybreeze. It is. An honor. To make. All your. Acquaintances," he stammered, struggling to get the words out, his small audience making him as self aware as ever. "B-but. Before. We can get. To. The code. Tell me. What. Do you know. About. The other clans? Does not. By golly. Have to be. A lot. Or anything. At all. But. A little. Information. Might. Help better. Understand. What we. Are here. To learn. Today."

Shifting massive paws beneath him, the tom tilted his head after he finished speaking. The breather felt soothing. Like a balm for his frayed nerves. The warrior code lesson had always been his least favorite. It was important. Gosh, so much so. But it was... so much... talking. So very much. And he always feared talking too much. Not letting the kits get enough questions in themselves. Being outrageously rude or scary and being a generally bad example to the little ones. And yet all he could do was his best. And hope that this lesson would fare better than his last...

@Daragca [Cottonkit] | @bigbxdwolfz [Sedgekit - Whistlekit]
| That is correct! This lesson takes place after the healing, once Whistlekit is all better. |

**Badwolf** · #5 August 2nd, 2024, 02:53 AM

[Whistlekit] & [Sedgekit]
Kits|1 moon|Windclan

· · ─────── ·· ─────── · ·

"I know that we are Windclan!" Whistlekit meows, her voice sweet and excited, "And Windclan is good! We have a leader, and a medicine cat, and warriors protect Windclan! What do you mean by other clans?" Whistlekit tilts her head to the side, confused. Being barely a moon old, she knew almost nothing about clan affairs.

Sedgekit, her littermate, knows a little more, abeit not by much. He is a slow talker, and he takes his time to think things through before meowing.

"Ashkit said there are four clans, each with borders, and they don't like each other. He said he visited them before, and they smell weird." Sedgekit states quietly. "So there are other clans. I don't know what they're called." He glances at Snowybreeze as he meows this.

That was interesting."Cottonkit, do you know anything?" Whistlekit asks the little white kit curiously.

**Daragca** · #6 August 12th, 2024, 07:39 AM

Cottonkit
he/him | Windclan Kit | 2 moons
The Stowaway Child

Cottonkit shifted his paws as his friends spoke up. He didn’t know all that much yet, only what he’d heard in the nursery.

”I..I know about Shadowclan, they sound very scary.” The small bundle of fluff almost wincing as the words fell from his mouth. He wanted to be a strong warrior when he grew up but wasn’t quite sure if he’d turn and run at the very sight of the shadowy cats. He tried his absolute best to keep his focus on Snowybreeze.

Definitely try to impress.

[ @Alchemist Kitsune @bigbxdwolfz]
[ Apologies for the delayed reply all, have been enjoying the sun on holiday <3 ]

***Alchemist Kitsune*** · #7 August 15th, 2024, 04:54 PM

The gentle giant listened to each kit speak in turn, the little ones incredibly polite as they let each other finish before offering information of their own. That fact alone made Snowybreeze want to purr with affection and offer them all a big hug. It was so nice to see WindClan's newest generation - and hopefully future friends of his own tiny treasures - just be so... kind even with the little knowledge they possessed. But knowledge they did have! They just needed a small, extra push. To fully understand the code, of course. Otherwise, by golly, he would be confusing them more than helping, and that was just too mean a thing to do.

"W-why yes. There are, indeed. Other clans. Four. Like. Sedgekit. Has said. Very. Very good," he mewed, offering a small smile at the young kit before proceeding. "The four clans. Are. RiverClan. ThunderClan. And of course. ShadowClan. Which Cottonkit. Has. Already mentioned."

Allowing himself a pause, Snowybreeze turned sky blue eyes on Cottonkit next, a nod and timid smile directed at him in turn. Hmmm... This could get tricky. These kits wanted to know about the warrior code. Not about clan etiquette nor history. The last thing he wanted to do was turn this lesson into something they had no interest in. Gosh... that would be rude to the poor kits. But he did need to give them at least some basics, a fact he was aware of as his forepaw scratched absently at his chin.

"R-right. So. There are. A few. Few things. I should. Let you all. Know. About the clans. Before. Talking. About the code. You see. We all. Are warriors. And follow. The same code... Erm... More or less. WindClan. Is generally known. For being. The most. Honor bound to it. And the most. Peaceful. Of the clans. Twilightstar. Prefers peace. And fairness. For her clan. To prosper. And for kits. Like yourselves. To grow well. In peace. Without worry. Of war. Or other. Unpleasantries.

RiverClan. Is a clan. That lives by. The river. It is. A running. Body. Of water. Very dangerous. But the. RiverClan cats. They have. Mastered. Swimming. In it. Have also. Unfortunately. Mastered. The art. Of getting. Into trouble. And causing... Much grief. And death. Among the other clans. Not following. The code. At all. So they. Are gone. Chased away. By the others. Should be back. Of course. Twilightstar. Led the charge. And she. Did not. Believe that they. Should be permanently. Driven. Away. From their home. Only. Until they start. Acting. Like a clan. Should."

Opening his maw once more, Snowybreeze took a breath before stopping. Gosh, that was... a lot of words. Lots of talking. Without offering any moment for the little ones to ask questions if they had it. True. It was not what their lesson was about. But it was a good way to get them interested in what the clans were like. In what happened if one did not follow the code. In how important it was in keeping the delicate, tense peace that was always at its breaking point between the clans. Tilting his head, he looked around at the three, silently asking if there were any questions before he continued with this improvised prelude of sorts.

@Daragca [Cottonkit] | @bigbxdwolfz [Sedgekit - Whistlekit]

**Badwolf** · #8 August 15th, 2024, 07:34 PM

[Whistlekit] & [Sedgekit]
Kits|1 moon|Windclan

· · ─────── ·· ─────── · ·

Sedgekit has no questions. But nature, he is a listener, and doesn't mind even if the gentle giant of a cat speaks slowly. He doesn't move, only his ears twitch occasionally as he pays deep attention.

Whistlekit is the opposite. Though it's not like she can't listen, she prefers talking, and loves asking questions. She reacts to every word of Snowybreeze's, nodding with pride when he says Windclan is the most honor bound to the code, shaking her tail when he says Twilightstar prefers peace, and she makes a sharp gasp when he mentions Riverclan being driven away. "So Sedgekit was right!" She meows with excitement, "The clans really don't like each other!"

As Snowybreeze mentions that Twilightstar doesn't want Riverclan permanently driven away, Whistlekit meows, "But why? If they're making a lot of trouble, why does Twilightstar want them back?" It's a genuine question, not a jab at the leader's decisions- the kits don't understand enough to do such a thing.

"And can you talk normally?" Whistlekit adds, "Snowybreeze, you talk weird. Like. This." She imitates.

Tags: @Alchemist Kitsune /Snowybreeze

**Daragca** · #9 August 16th, 2024, 04:54 AM

Cottonkit
he/him | Windclan Kit | 2 moons
The Stowaway Child

Cottonkit eagerly craned his ears to listen in to Snowybreeze. Flushing as Whistlekit commented on the manner of speaking, that wasn’t a nice thing to say Snowybreeze didn’t speak THAT weird. He certainly didn’t want to make a bad impression after all.

Shooting a slightly unimpressed look at his friend. Although he was still curious and the question had been taken right out of his mouth. ”M..me too, why would Twilightstar let them back if they cause trouble?” His voice coming out a little squeaky and shakier this time.

It was bad enough having one scary clan in the forest, let alone another. Cottonkit counted his lucky stars that he’d been found by Windclan and not some other clan. A shudder rippled up his spine, Starclan knows what they would’ve done to him. Even worse he wouldn’t have mama to look after him at night, he bet that the kits in the other clans were real nasty. Not the type you’d want to make friends with so quickly.

”I….I hope I never have to meet the other c..clans, I don’t wanna be e…e..e..eaten!” A gulp stuck hard in his throat, that definitely seemed like a realistic possibility to his young mind. It didn’t help he’d overheard a few apprentices telling ghost stories the other night. It was hard to be brave or to even fall asleep with thoughts like that. But now Snowybreeze had practically confirmed it. They were bad news.

[ @bigbxdwolfz @Alchemist Kitsune ]

***Alchemist Kitsune*** · #10 Today, 03:52 PM

Whistlekit's question grabbing the tom's attention, he turns his focus on her, small, timid smile encouraging on his lips as she excitedly begins speaking. Of his three students today, it appears she is the most outspoken, clearly confident in herself. Most WindClanners were. Fierce as the wind itself. With their words carried by it quite swiftly, too. It appeared that even the youngest of kits knew by now of RiverClan's fate, and as such had begun gossiping about it amongst themselves. This was probably a good thing. Having the next generation be interested in interclan relations from such a young age could only lead to more savvy, better learned warriors in the future.

Opening his maw to speak, Snowybreeze was interrupted before he could get a word out, the light colored she-kit blazing through with more questions. This time of a more personal nature. They grasped the words right out of the tom's tongue, ripping them out violently and choking him with doubt, the screeching voice of self loathing reminding him of his place within the clan. That he was to not be seen or heard. That anything he spoke was a waste of anyone's time. Because of course... it seemed he needed to be reminded of this sometimes. When he forgot himself. When he begun to believe he had the right to stand besides his clanmates perhaps not as an equal, but with the delusion that he belonged.

He didn't blame the kit. Stars above, no. She was innocent in this. Her question was well deserved. Why couldn't he simply not be himself? Why did he have the be the disappointing mess he'd been since birth? And what was worse, he didn't miss it. Cottonkit's look. It appeared her honesty had been ill received, and goodness gracious, he didn't want that! No no, she had done nothing wrong! It was all him! His fault! He shouldn't have even been here to begin with, that much he could understand now.

Snowybreeze's mouth opened and closed a few times, a desperate attempt to ask for their forgiveness failing as words refused to leave him. The notion of responding her and Cottonkit's similar questions gone now. How could he even dare to try and speak for the leader, when he could barely speak for himself? To try and understand what went on in her head? It wasn't his place. He should have known that from the start! Toes wiggling, he finally closed his mouth, eyes shut tightly too as he grimaced in shame before shaking his head, ears flat against his head. Defeated, he offered one apologetic look at the little ones before removing himself from the corral. Because one thing was clear. Class had been dismissed. He was unfit to educate anyone as he was.

@Daragca [Cottonkit] | @Badwolf [Sedgekit - Whistlekit]
| So, this isn't the first time this has happened, don't feel bad, but Snowybreeze has very deep seeded trauma which is why he has to force himself to speak, and any mention of it tends to make him revert into himself and not dare to speak anymore. Unfortunately, class has been dismissed. Apologies for the lad.

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