camp ❅ LET’S HAVE A CHEER FROM EVERYONE // decorating tallrock

[Silk-kit]

// here is a prompt thread for Week 3!

The camp is alive with the steady rhythm of leaf-bare, warriors bustling to and fro and apprentices doing their chores. But Silk-kit is focused on something far more important. Tallrock stands in the center of the camp, proud and unyielding, a symbol of leadership and unity. To most, it is just a rock - plain and weathered. But to Silk-kit? It is a blank canvas, begging for a touch of her creativity. She had approached Scorchstar that morning with wide eyes and an eager tone. 'It'll make the next clan meeting even better!' The little she-kit had insisted. And to her delight, the leader had granted her permission, her whiskers twitching with what she could only assume was approval.

Now, with a bundle of treasures she had gathered earlier in the day from her collection - feathers of all colors, sprigs of evergreen, and even a few shiny pebbles - she begins her work. Carefully, she arranges the feathers along the base of Tallrock, sticking them into cracks and crevices to make them fan out like a crown. Next, she lines the edges with the evergreen sprigs, their deep green hue adding a touch of life to the cold, gray stone. Thank goodness her mother and father had collected these for her - she doesn't really like to use them in fur, but here, they're marvelous!

Every so often, the ivory kit pauses to step back, tilting her head critically. "No, no, that feather should be higher," She mutters to herself, scampering forward to make adjustments. Her small paws work tirelessly, and her fluffy blue tail swishes with excitement as she envisions how grand it will look when the clan gathers. "Just a little more sparkle," She whispers, setting the shiny pebbles in a neat arc around the front of the boulder. As she finishes, she looks up at her creation, her chest puffing out with pride. The Tallrock has never looked so magnificent - at least, in her opinion. Now, she sits back on her haunches, eager to see who will notice her work first.
​

 

[SEDGEPOUNCE]

Trudging into camp lends to a tired mind and exhausted body. Sedgepounce is snow-slushed—his fur is plastered to his bone-weary legs, his frame hunched around the small, dwindling warmth at his core. The only recompense: a heavy hare that hangs from his teeth, big enough to nearly drag along the ground before him.

The freshkill pile is like the final, waving flag of the world's worst marathon. His vision tunnels to that single point until he's there, dropping the thing onto the frost-lined pile and relishing the absent strain in his neck. Sedgepounce sighs hugely. And from there this awareness begins to thaw, creeping outward until it reaches the fringes of camp—finding a curious glimmer of something along the way.

Sedgepounce turns, trudges closer to Tallrock with the middling enthusiasm of a half-dead popsicle, until he rounds a curve and notices Silk-kit preening in front of her creation. The meetingplace is wreathed in bits and bobs. They break up the cold monotonous gray of the stone and the tangled, dead grass circling it. It looks...nice.

"Looks epic, Silk-kit," Sedgepounce says. A tired smile has stretched across his maw and lidded eyes. He drags a tongue over his paw, glancing over all the decorated intricacies as he sets about cleaning up.
​

 

[laurelpaw]

Time stood still for no cat, and certainly not for her. With the sun she rises, and with the moon she settles, and across the day in between does she run through the remaining path of her training, like daylight sweeping across the hills. She takes an especial pride in knowing not only knowing her own efforts, but knowing that they surely show in the way she spends long hours out of camp. Sure enough, after her daily run of the tunnels that had not been stopped up with snow, she had dove straight into the hunt, in order to not do herself the shame of returning with empty paws. For her efforts dangles a decently plump mouse, its sorry fate in Laurelpaw's jaws met where it'd attempted to flee into the mouth one of their tunnel paths, and instead had rushed right into hers. It's nothing like Sedgepounce's admittedly grand catch, but at least she hadn't returned unsuccessful.

Laurelpaw wouldn't say she'd ever had an eye for aesthetics. She certainly didn't have the look for them these days, frequently burrowed into the dark, dusty tunnels as she was; loose dirt speckles her mottled coat even now as she approaches Tallrock slowly, like the delicate arrangement of feathers and fronds might take flight if she moved too quickly. Like a big bird, or… something. Where had Silkkit scrounged all these up from? Maybe the kit kept them in secret store for occasions such as— well, she couldn't imagine what the occasion might be. Was there something she was missing? An event she hadn't been told of? The thought twinges where it settles in her chest; the mouse, suddenly feeling strange clamped in her teeth, gets quickly deposited onto the pile of its like.

"Oh," she says, finally; it's a tempered response coming from her, but the squinting of her olive eyes at the decor doesn't do her demeanor any favors. The tortoiseshell considers the hues of the plumes, and the shimmers of the stones in the frigid sun, but they provide her no insight. "…what is all this for?" Maybe Scorchstar wanted a change of scenery, after the snow that leeched the colors from the moors started to seem as if it may never end.

we are made ✦ from the sharpest things

• ooc: —
• 

  LAURELPAW ✦ she/they, 12 moons
  — windclan tunneler apprentice
  — speaking, thinking, attacking
  — snakehiss x berrysnap

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[JAYKIT]

Jaykit's been watching Silk-kit from the warmth of the nursery, a puzzled frown tugging at his mouth. He couldn't fathom what goes on in her head, sometimes. A thousand questions run through his mind. Is she decorating the Tallrock? What's the point in that? Just to make it look pretty? Does it even need to be pretty?

He just couldn't see the appeal behind making a rock look pretty. Sure, it might be an important rock, but it's still a rock. And wouldn't all of this stuff eventually need to be replaced, anyway? It seems like a whole lot of work to upkeep.

But, nevertheless, Silk-kit is looking awfully proud of her creation as he pads over—his curiosity finally won over the desire to stay warm. Sedgepounce says that it looks epic. Jaykit tilts his head. "What's that mean?" He's never heard that word before.

Laurelpaw is the one to voice his own confusion. But there's one question that suddenly nags at him more than the others. One that makes his fur stand on end. "Does Scorchstar know?" If she didn't… Jaykit fears the other kit might get into trouble. Maybe I should get away now before Scorchstar finds out… The last thing he wants is to risk getting into trouble as well. Scorchstar might think he'd been apart of all this decorating.

ooc ⪼﹕ INFO

• n/a
• ■■■■■■■ ✶ jaykit. kit of windclan ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ་༘࿐⋆｡𖦹°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
  𖤓 amab male, he/him | aroace, single
  𖤓ㅤ 3 moons old | ages every 1st
  𖤓ㅤ descendant of barn cats | mentored by none
  𖤓ㅤ sh blue point
  𖤓ㅤ npc xx npc | close with ???
  𖤓ㅤ written by nico, ic opinions | tags‎

​

 

[SHEEPWISH]

Daylight sweeps across the hills, rays of dull sunlight ripples over the moorlands as cats go about their day. He is settled near the medicine den, snow clinging to his pale ruffled fur in frosted speckles. In the sunrise glow, half - lidded eyes move with the bodies of clanmates working on... whatever they were busying themselves in. Warriors bring back prey, queens supervising kits, and elders telling stories. Sheeppaw's frame is haunched, keeping his body heat all to himself.

He is bored.

With a sigh leaving his maw, the older apprentice lets himself unweave himself from his place near the medicine den. Blinking slowly she lets herself stretch languidly, charcoal - dusted tail curling up. What should she do? Hmmm. She had gone hunting already and had come back with just two mice in tow between her teeth. Though something had caught her eye in the shape of a kit, a curious glimmer flashed in her cerulean gaze. Tallrock stands tall. A throne for leaders to hold meetings on.

The black smoke trudges close to Tallrock, glancing at other felines already making themselves over. Approaching the grand rock slowly, with a bored ear flick she blinks at the sight of Silkkit preening a mess of feathers, fronds, bits and bobs wreathed together. A sight for sore eyes and a... quite ugly creation. He isn't gonna say anything except for "What a cool creation Silkkit. Pretty epic." A easy - going smile on his mouth. He flicks his sight to the dead grass circling the object plus the pebbles in a neat arc of the kit's sparkling work. Maybe he could build something like this...? Seems fun.​

 

[SCORCHSTAR]

༄༄ The sweeping of a flame-streaked tail announces their presence as Scorchstar approaches the Tallrock. Some of her clanmates pay their compliments in comments of how epic it looks, which are swiftly brushed off. Sedgepounce appears half-dead on his paws, and Sheeppaw's agreement comes just easily enough to be suspicious. Laurelpaw questions why the rock has been decorated, but the youngest kit instead asks whether Scorchstar herself had been informed of this. "Not to worry, Jaykit. I was aware." Her expression remains dimmed, but there is a pleased curve to her maw, for once. She had agreed to the blue-splashed kit's idea out of curiosity, mostly, but now that she looks upon the results she can say with certainty that her decision to allow the Tallrock to be decorated had been a wise one. Soft feathers, shining pebbles, and prickly green needles add a particular sort of cheer to the Tallrock. After the tragedy of these past months, perhaps the brightly-decorated meeting rock could help to lift everyone's spirits. It may cause the calico to look a bit ridiculous when she scales it to address her clan, but that is a small price to pay in return for better morale, she thinks.

"Your work looks good," she says to the decorator, the artist, who has managed to make the dull rock appear almost friendly towering above them all. Her eyes flicker back to the kit and she asks in a tone gentled by amusement, "Shall I take my place up there, so you can see how it will look during a real meeting?" There is an ache in her limbs that suggests it could be a poor idea, but the leader considers it anyway. She has pushed through mountains and war and now a blizzard; she can manage a stiff-limbed clamber up a glorified boulder.

YOU KNOW I DESERVE IT ☽♰☾ WELL, TAKE IT OUT ON ME

• ooc: —
• 
• SCORCHSTAR ⋆⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺⋆ she/they, leader of windclan, tunneler
  ༄ small, slim flame-streaked calico with fiery golden eyes. cold and closed-off, ferociously protective of her clanmates.
  ༄ mate to bluepool ; sibling to rattleheart & rabbitclaw
  ༄ mentor to bilberrypaw & brackenpaw ; previously mentored pinkshine
  ༄ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted, but may react aggressively
  ༄ penned by foxlore

​

​

 

[Silk-kit]

Silk-kit's chest swells as the clan gathers around her creation, a delighted smile splitting her face from ear to ear. Her fluffy tail swishes in excitement, sending a stray feather skittering across the frosted earth. Sedgepounce's praise earns a proud puff of her chest and she tilts her head in mock modesty. "Thank you! I thought Tallrock could use a little…sparkle."

Laurelpaw's confusion causes the she-kit to sit a bit straighter, as though preparing to give a grand explanation. "It's for the next clan meeting!" She chirps, waving a paw toward the decorated stone. "Don't you think it looks nicer like this? Everyone's gonna be looking at it, so it might as well look amazing!" She beams, already imagining the approving nods from the warriors when they see her masterpiece during Scorchstar's next address.

Jaykit's cautious question makes her giggle. "Of course Scorchstar knows!" She says with a flick of her ears. "I wouldn't do something this big without asking first." There's a hint of pride in her voice; it's not every day a leader lets a kit decorate something as important as the Tallrock. She glances at Sheep-paw, smiling brightly at his compliment. "Thanks! Maybe I can help you decorate something next time!" She offers, clearly unaware of his true feelings about her work.

And then, as if summoned, Scorchstar appears, her fire-dappled pelt recognizable from anywhere. Silk-kit's ears twitch at the leader's measured approval, and she nearly vibrates with joy at the words 'Your work looks good.' "Really?" She gasps, her wide blue eyes fixed on the calico she-cat. "Thank you, Scorchstar!" At the suggestion of Scorchstar climbing the Tallrock, the ivory kit bounds forward and promptly halts right in front of her, her small paws crunching in the snow as she tilts her head to look up at her leader. "Oh, yes! Please, please, please! It'll look so cool with you up there!" Her whiskers quiver with anticipation as her excitement bubbles over. "Then everyone can see how amazing it'll look during the meeting!"
​

 

[Periwinklebreeze.]

ATOMS AND LOW SELF-ESTEEM,
IS THAT ALL THAT I'M GONNA BE ? ​

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periwinklebreeze ❀ 29 moons ❀ demi-boy ❀ windclan lead warrior ​

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Silkkit has always seemed to have an eye for aesthetics - but now, it seems, she has moved onto bigger and better things then tucking a simple feather into his tail fur. Periwinklebreeze watches, amused, as the young molly fusses about, decorating the camp - and more specifically, Tallrock. It certainly looks good, at the end of her efforts, and he's quick to join in those around him in saying as much. " It l-looks very n-nice, " he agrees.

He's a bit startled that he's never thought to do anything similar - sure, when Windclan had briefly been over run with flowers he thinks he recalls a few of the blooms being used to reinforce the dens. but Peri has never truly tried to adorn anything more then his own pelt, and the nest he lay in - and even that had always been out of sentimentality. Gifts - given and received - kept where he could see them. Eyes flick to shared nest with a pang of loss, knowing most of what he holds dear has been lost to time, but he pushes the thought down. " L-lets see it then, " he says instead, his voice clearly joking as he blinks at scorchstar, offering a faint smile. Its nice, to relax and not have to worry about anything, even if its just for a moment.

━ actions & " speech, " & 'thoughts/quotes' ━

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W H A T -D O E S - M Y -L I F E -E V E N -M E A N ?

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[FEATHERSPINE]

In narrowed periphery, Featherspine watched the construction of Silk-kits work; given the reception of her suggestion last time, and a clawing knowledge that she was no good with kittens, she had initially chosen not to involve herself. But conversation wove its way easily into her ears, despite how blind he attempted to be about goings-on. To some extent, his mind was always firing at something ... whirring, whirling toward even trivial things, a remnant from kithood when he would grasp whatever possible information fell at his feet.

Rumbled approval chorused around Silk-kit- there was a beauty to it, she could admit, though it was not painted in the way he would have done it. Silk-kit had made her opinions on berries very clear ... not that she minded, of course. If the kitten wished to stay ignorant to the fun they cold provide, it would be no fault of Featherspine's.

Still, from his middle distance, a comment could not help but roll from his maw. "P-puh-perhaps Scorchstar will invent a new role for you, as WindClan's p-puh-puh-personal decorator." It was a comment dripping with sarcasm, though he couldn't deny that Silk-kit did have an eye. "Could you make us more intimidating at b-b-buh-borders? Or is it only buh... b-beauty that you can represent?" A flash of challenge, in yellow eyes. Something within her wished to see Silk-kit consider other avenues.​

✦ penned by pin​

 

[BLUEFROST]

Bluefrost remains on the outskirts of the cats crowded close to the base of the Tallrock. Her green gaze flits from shining stone to shimmering pebble, appraising Silk-kit's work with a neutral expression. It does look nice, she admits to herself; and although she considers herself something of an aesthete, she has to say even she wouldn't have considered doing something like this without a real purpose.

The other cats — from lead warriors to apprentices — praise Silk-kit's eye for beauty; even Scorchstar mews her approval, offering to crest the Tallrock so Silk-kit can see her vision fully realized. The smoke-colored queen wraps her tail around her paws, giving Featherspine a curious look.

That one is all about practicality, she thinks. And where had that come from? Surely not from Sunstar... and she doubts it had come from Bluepool, either. Bluefrost studies the auburn tabby for a moment before she mews, "A thing can be beautiful as well as dangerous." Her muzzle ripples with a faint smile. I should know. "Perhaps Silk-kit should dress our border patrols before they go out."

… ❞​

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[PINKSHINE]

It was impossible to miss it! Impossible when Silk-kit's choices were so bold, her colors so... uh, vivid! Tallrock practically sparkled. Everyone already saw it when it was just a drab, old stone ( no offense ), so of course everyone's bound to gawk when it's looking so lively! The reaction's lacking, in her opinion... Looks epic. What a cool creation. Looks good, very nice. Everyone's so, like... tired! Pinkshine doesn't get how you could possibly feel tired with Silk-kit around. Pinkshine would make up for the rest of the dull ( no offense!!! ) crowd, being the loudest she's been in moons. " Ooooooh! " She sways on her paws. " Aaaaaaah! "

She ventures closer than Featherspine or Bluefroest dare, beaming at the sight. " I bet, cats all around the forest right now are suddenly looking up, like, "Oh man, I've been outdone!" " she giggles. Bright eyes look to Scorchstar, and another serious of whoops and hollers ensue as her old mentor begins to scale Tallrock.

Featherspine proposes something she's never even thought about, Silk-kit making someone scarier. Better yet, prettier and scarier. " Ooh, do me! Do me! " she volunteers. She misses the scent of flowers from her, really. Um, she's pretty sure she's due for another makeover anyways. " I've never looked intimidating in my whole life, I don't think. " A pout is passed between Featherspine and Scorchstar, two cats who would know this for certain, and who both fit the descriptor of intimidating in a way she couldn't ever dream of, unless... " But maybe with your help... " her trailing off is evocative, hopefully (?)​