border 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐊𝐘 𝐀𝗕𝐎𝐕𝐄 ╱ 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒

[SUNNVAR]

Already this journey has harrowed him. ShadowClan was not an enemy, and neither was the border that he slowly makes his way towards now, yet to stand before each now reminds him only of what once was. They had lost so much. Their friends and clanmates, yes, but their time. How much of the other clans had they missed? What all could have transposed in so short a time? While they fought for their own lives, did the others fight for theirs as well? Anxiety wells up within him at the barren treeline. Seaglass eyes scrape along the still-dense undergrowth, covered with snow. What he seeks out, he knows he will not find. Even in so terrible a season as leafbare, ThunderClan has made ghosts of cats. They could come upon him from anywhere, without any use in preparing for it.

He only hopes that they are quick. Beneath his worry is bone-deep exhaustion, a darkness to his eyes and the low slump of his shoulders belaying the nearly two moons he had spent in terrible silence. Had they thought him dead? What had Sootstar told them, the night of the Gathering? Did ThunderClan hear something that ShadowClan had not? The warrior crouches low momentarily, wariness pulling him down, yet he is quick to readjust his posture. It would do no good to seem as if he was hiding.

𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐘 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓  ╱╱ 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐕𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 〚 11.22.2023 〛 —————«

• OOC. —
• 

  SUNSTRIDE. WINDCLAN DEPUTY & MOOR RUNNER.
  ——– HE – HIM – HIS ╱╱ 48+ MOONS OLD, ADULT.

  NPC x NPC, LONERS. MATE TO WOLFSONG; FATHER TO BEARPAW, SINGEDPAW, RIVEPAW, SUNLITPAW AND FEATHERPAW. MENTORING SCORCHPAW.
  
  TH ╱╱ LARGE CHOCOLATE ROSETTE TABBY, ICY EYES.

• "speech"

​

 

[Flamestar]

The first to find the Windclan tom would be the sole huntress and her apprentice. Their border patrol for the morning had already been out, and she had decided that she would spend some time out with Acornpaw, a temporary relief from her new duties as deputy...or so she had thought. As the pair neared the moorland border, there was a fresh presence of someone there. The fiery tabby flicked Acornpaw on the shoulder to alert her, before parting her jaws to take in the scent. It smelled familiar, yet, something strange clung to it as well. If Sootstar is here with a patrol, Acornpaw and I won't be enough...but I'll hold them off so she can get help. The grim thought was enough to make her hesitate, but she decided to approach.

Flamewhisker slipped through the undergrowth, coming to stand directly in front of Sunstride. She felt slightly relieved to see him instead of his crazed leader, but she wouldn't let her guard down. The deputy faced him with an even stare, mindful to not show emotions. This was the first time they had seen much of Windclan, and the first time she had seen him in moons. "Sunstride. What brings you here?" she would not send Acornpaw away just yet. Not until she was sure this wasn't an ambush. ​

★ don't need to save me

• @Acornpaw.​
• 
  FLAMEWHISKER of THUNDERCLAN
  LH red tabby with low white (masks black tabby, carries dilute, solid)
  — Deputy of Thunderclan ; currently mentoring Acornpaw
  — she/her ; mated with Flycatcher
  — mother to Stormfeather & Falconheart
  — 29 moons ; ages on the 20th
  — Smells like dirt, old leaves, tree sap, faint hint of flowers
  — will start a fight, will finish fights, will kill (case depending)
  — "speech" ; thoughts ; attacks
  — penned by Icey ! ; link to tags
  — link to toyhouse​

 

[SUNNVAR]

"Flamewhisker." Polite and cool yet internally blistering with appreciation that he cannot voice, Sunstride meets the orange-furred tabby without hesitation. To stand before him now — something unchanged. Something without wound. He could not claim the ThunderClanner as a friend of his own, yet time away from this forest had taught him to appreciate all that was held within it. Whatever skirmishes came upon them, it was not worth the loss of something so dear. (How long would he hold to this conviction? How many moons before the world around him grew dark once more?) For now, at least, there is brightness. There is life.

Were it only that he was here for less somber news than this. Though, then again...this may well be a joyous moment for any but himself. "I have news that I must share, and more clans that I must visit — I ask for an escort to SkyClan's border, once Howlingstar has heard me speak." Better to put most of it before them now, while honesty still pulls at his tongue.

𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐘 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓  ╱╱ 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐕𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 〚 11.22.2023 〛 —————«

• OOC. —
• 

  SUNSTRIDE. WINDCLAN DEPUTY & MOOR RUNNER.
  ——– HE – HIM – HIS ╱╱ 48+ MOONS OLD, ADULT.

  NPC x NPC, LONERS. MATE TO WOLFSONG; FATHER TO BEARPAW, SINGEDPAW, RIVEPAW, SUNLITPAW AND FEATHERPAW. MENTORING SCORCHPAW.
  
  TH ╱╱ LARGE CHOCOLATE ROSETTE TABBY, ICY EYES.

• "speech"

​

 

[Flamestar]

The tom greets her in a brisk tone, much like her own. She dips her head ever so slightly in greeting, before meeting his gaze once more. A gash on his jaw catches her eye, and the longer she stares at him, the more ruffled areas she begins to notice. His fur was a lot like her own, so if he had a fresh gash on his face, she could only assume there were more hiding underneath. She narrowed her eyes curiously, but didn't ask what had happened to him. He requested to speak to Howlingstar, and for a later safe passage to Skyclan. Her gaze leaves his for a moment, carefully scanning behind him for any signs of movement. There were Windclanners that she had grown to tolerate, but this tom hadn't traveled on the journey with her...she did not know him, or trust him, deputy or not.

After a moment of silence, she nodded her head. "Acornpaw, fetch Howlingstar. She should still be in the camp." Unless their leader had decided to go on an unplanned hunt, she wasn't assigned to any current patrols. Her gaze drifted to his chin once more, and she couldn't hold the question in any longer. "That looks pretty nasty...Did you pick a fight with a fox?" ​

★ don't need to save me

• sending Acornpaw to fetch @HOWLINGSTAR​
• 
  FLAMEWHISKER of THUNDERCLAN
  LH red tabby with low white (masks black tabby, carries dilute, solid)
  — Deputy of Thunderclan ; currently mentoring Acornpaw
  — she/her ; mated with Flycatcher
  — mother to Stormfeather & Falconheart
  — 29 moons ; ages on the 20th
  — Smells like dirt, old leaves, tree sap, faint hint of flowers
  — will start a fight, will finish fights, will kill (case depending)
  — "speech" ; thoughts ; attacks
  — penned by Icey ! ; link to tags
  — link to toyhouse​

 

[nightbird]

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ nightbird heard the lull of discussion not too far along the shared border with windclan, her gaze quickly flicks over to @Palepaw to catch the molly's attention.

it wasn't strange for a clan to be patrolling, not usually enough to garner her instant attention and intrigue. but this was windclan, and the last time their names were spoken in camp was when they had attacked berryheart and hailstorm. it was only fair that the fur along her neck prickled.

sauntering over with palepaw in tow, she settles upon flamewhisker and the lone windclanner. sunstride, his distinctly spotted pelt was hard to confuse with any of the other deputies. nightbird turns to see acornpaw vanishing into the undergrowth to fetch howlingstar. she takes a seat alongside flamewhisker, gauging the rosetted tomcat for an answer to the question left hanging.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎┌── OH, I'LL CUT YOU DOWN ⋅⋆⋅ FOR I KNOW YOU ARE WEAK ──┐‎

• ooc ↛
  

• 

• 
  NIGHTBIRD ✩ she/her, lead warrior of thunderclan, 29 ☾'s
  ⭃ a small black smoke molly with a single white paw and pale silver eyes.
  ⭃ mate to raccoonstripe / / mentor to palepaw
  ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking ↛ see battle info here
  ⭃ penned by vayle ↛ @vayl3 on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
  

​

 

[Icepaw!]

[ ༻ 🗲 ༺ ] Icepaw only heard bad things about Windclan, and seeing the wariness of his clanmates also made the apprentice a bit more on edge as well. Even his own father seemed to tense up at Sunstride's presence. Orange gaze stayed on the form of the other, ears swerved forward slightly in curiosity as to what the other had to say. Apparently, he had some news to tell...and he wondered if it was even good news after all this was... Windclan is a clan filled to the brim with brutality and chaos, so only bad things could be expected from the other. "Good news?" Icepaw questioned out of his own curiosity which warranted a swift cuff from Cloudflame to the ear and Icepaw flashing an angry look at the other. He was only curious as to why the Windclanner was even here, and alone as well as asking for their own leader.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎┌── The moon will sing a song for me I shine only with the light you gave me ──┐‎

• 
  "speak""Thoughts"
• 
  Icepaw 🗲 He/Him , apprentice of Thunderclan, 8 moons.
  ⭃ Tall blue silver tabby with high white and orange eyes
  ⭃ Cloudflame x NPC
  ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted (ask first) / / underline and tag when attacking
  ↛ see battle info here
  ⭃ penned by Ryn ↛ @/Rynnaro on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
  

​

 

[PALEFIRE]

There sure had been a lot of news brought to their borders lately, a lot of outsiders arriving out of nowhere and asking to speak with Howlingstar. It felt like something was shifting within the forest clans recently, and she didn't much care for it. Change, in her experience, was almost never a good thing. The lilac-furred molly had been trailing quietly behind her mentor, her unfocused gaze locked onto Nightbird's shadow as they trudged through the trees. She hadn't even picked up on the distant voices until the lead warrior paused and glanced back at her, prompting Palepaw to actually start paying attention to their surroundings.

She hastily followed as Nightbird flanked Flamewhisker, their newly-appointed deputy standing opposite a figure she didn't recognize by appearance; but that scent, she would know anywhere. Her lips curled with barely-restrained disgust as she stepped ever-closer to her mentor, practically brushing against the older she-cat's shoulder as her ocean eyes assessed the battled Windclanner at their border.

She wasn't as involved with interclan politics as her elder clanmates were, but she knew enough to recognize that Windclan had become their enemy in recent moons. In past encounters with neighboring clans she hadn't hesitated to speak her mind, but in this situation she definitely knew better. Something strange and important was happening here, and it wasn't her place to voice her disdain. The pretty apprentice ground her teeth to keep her sharp tongue from getting her in trouble once again, and waited quietly at Nightbird's side to see what happened next.

 

[batwing]

.i'll be your calm, —————————

————————— before the storm!.

▵ ———————— ◮ ———————— ▵

Batwing's ears twitched at the scent of Windclan upon their border. His own apprentice, @tigerpaw., was on his trail as he took up a stance on the other side of his deputy, emerald green eyes settled on Sunstride. Batwing had some inclination that there had been more then just a political mess within the enemy's borders. From when Berryheart and Hailstorm had been attacked, Batwing present for that mess, to them not showing up at gatherings....

Batwing's ear twitched towards Tigerpaw. Stay close. They had been working on their silent signals, so hopefully she understood what he was trying to say. They'd have to wait for Howlingstar before Sunstride said anything, he knew.

"speech"​

​

 

[HOWLINGSTAR]

Howlingstar had just finished her meal of a scrawny shrew when Acornpaw came bounding into camp, saying the WindClan deputy was on the border. Apparently, he'd been alone. Confusion washes over the older she-cat as she pushes herself to her paws and allows the apprentice to lead her back to where Flamewhisker, Batwing, Nightbird, and several of their apprentices stand facing off with the familiar tom. "Sunstride," She greets neutrally, and there's something that could be called uncertainty in her voice. On one paw, the last time she'd seen or heard from this tom, he had been standing atop the Great Rock securing his clan's claim on their holy ground. On the other, he apparently had been the one to return ShadowClan's stolen kits to them...likely against Sootstar's wishes. Her opinion of him remains fragile, unsure which side to fall on. Does she trust him? Does she respect him? She just isn't sure yet.

"What brings you to our border? Where is Sootstar - has she sent you in her place once again?" The stout tabby inquires, eyes narrowing as she strides to the border. She stops a mouse-length away, standing right before him with her head high and shoulders straightened. She won't appear weak.​

 

[SUNNVAR]

A fox. Sunstride's smile is cracked and uncertain– "Of a sort," he answers dryly. The others that gather are for the most part silent, or cuffed for their remarks. Though his smile grows in both earnestness and honesty at the question, he does not answer. Better not to leave them on edge, and certainly an unwise idea to get the apprentice in more trouble with his presence. He simply waits in uncertain silence until the distant rustling betrays Howlingstar's arrival. She is a far cry from the warrior that stood before ThunderClan in face of the rogues. She seems wary, and perhaps tired. He wishes times were different; that he could ask her what became of ThunderClan in these moons he was gone. Or maybe it is nothing at all, and his presence alone is enough to worry her so. It is a bitter reminder upon his tongue. For the nearly two moons he has been away, living in the barn had felt....peaceful. Removed from the opinions of the forest.

Cats that did not trust them, and never would.

But this is not about trust. What he holds on his tongue is not a bargaining chip, but information freely given. "Sootstar leads WindClan no longer." That information hangs in the air for a long moment. "After I returned ShadowClan's kits, she saw me driven out from our lands. Those who followed me took shelter in the barn until our recovery. Those that supported her have died in battle, or been chased off. Granitepelt, formerly of ShadowClan, was named her deputy in her final moments." Clearly, this held little weight to him. Sunstride's lip curls with derision at the very thought. "I do not know what will become of them now. I ask only that you remain wary. They are not of WindClan any longer."

He must ask of Sunnyday, and what has become of the clans, and for passage to SkyClan. But first, and far more importantly: "Highstones does not belong to WindClan, nor to any other. Should you need to speak with StarClan, it is open to you, Howlingstar."

𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐘 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓  ╱╱ 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐕𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 〚 11.22.2023 〛 —————«

• OOC. —
• 

  SUNSTRIDE. WINDCLAN DEPUTY & MOOR RUNNER.
  ——– HE – HIM – HIS ╱╱ 48+ MOONS OLD, ADULT.

  NPC x NPC, LONERS. MATE TO WOLFSONG; FATHER TO BEARPAW, SINGEDPAW, RIVEPAW, SUNLITPAW AND FEATHERPAW. MENTORING SCORCHPAW.
  
  TH ╱╱ LARGE CHOCOLATE ROSETTE TABBY, ICY EYES.

• "speech"

​

 

[BURNSTORM]

Burnstorm does not hold exactly the highest opinion of WindClan in his mind. What cat in their right mind did? They were a group of savages, cats that every time he interacted with them were spitting and taunting and at every gathering their leader stood atop that great rock and pretended to be so much better than everyone else, so above even those of her own clan. They were cruel for stealing kits from ShadowClan but Sunstride... He says he had given them back, that his actions had sparked a civil war in which he had come out on top. A newfound respect for the former deputy of WindClan finds its way into his heart as he looks upon the golden colored tom. He had done the right thing, even though it had been scary, and even though he must have known there was a strong possibility of it resulting in his death.

He is here to pass along a message, a warning, and it is not entirely directed at him so he keeps his mouth shut, but if Sunstride were to meet his gaze he would dip his head respectfully to the new leader of WindClan. "Here's to hoping he keeps his good heart and doesn't end up like his predecessor" he whispers silently to whomever was closest to him.

​

 

[RACCOONSTRIPE]

Raccoonstripe sits impassively beside the other lead warriors, behind Howlingstar and Flamewhisker. News of Sootstar’s defeat brings something weary to his expression. His ear flicks idly at Burnstorm’s comment—and though he can’t afford to be optimistic in this moment, his tail twitches behind him in agreement. He’s known the golden warrior to be fierce, passionate—and, clearly, more stubborn than the tabby had given him credit for. He’d been driven away from his Clan for disloyalty, but Raccoonstripe can hardly fault him for that. Loyalty to Sootstar is, in his opinion, like having loyalty to a hungry fox. Kit-stealer, murderer; Sunstride tells ThunderClan, tells Howlingstar, that she leads WindClan no more.

“Is she dead, then?” His question is blunt. He wonders if Sunstride had overthrown her in battle, if he’d stolen her final lives with earnest tooth and claw. It would be a fitting end to her reign, wouldn’t it? He thinks of Berryheart, pelt bearing wounds from Sootstar’s roguelike followers; he would have relished this news, Raccoonstripe thinks. Perhaps he’d have traveled to the Moonstone at once, Hailstorm trailing him, this time unafraid of what lurked on the path to Highstones.

『 out of character. 』 ✧･ﾟ:* 『 about. 』

• ooc: —
• 
• Raccoon . Raccoonstripe, he/him w/ masculine terms.
  — “speech”, thoughts, attack
  — 37 moons old, ages realistically on the 5th.
  — mentored by n/a ; mentoring Smudgepaw ; previously mentored Wildheart, Moonwhisper
  — thunderclan lead warrior. gray wolf x howlingstar, gen 2.
  — currently mated to Nightbird.
  — penned by Marquette.
  
  
  lh black tabby with white and dark brown eyes. charismatic, charming, calculating, ambitious, shallow, manipulative.
  
  

​

 

[HOWLINGSTAR]

Howlingstar's expression betrays her shock at the news. Sootstar, the founder of the moorland clan and self-proclaimed queen of the moors...no longer leads WindClan? She blinks, her son's question echoing her thoughts. "Or is she still out there, run out with her followers?" She presses. Her claws sink into the ground at the thought of the battle-hungry she-cat out in the unclaimed lands. Would she try her paw at the territory of one of the other clans?

Her thoughts are racing as she listens to the rest of his story. She shakes her head with a heavy look in her eyes. "I had no idea all of this had been going on. We would have helped. But...I'm glad. May you bring peace to the forest where your predecessor could not." Like Burnstorm, she is optimistic. If Sunstride had been able to see reason enough to drive out the mad leader, then maybe he would be a leader worth StarClan's blessing. But that is for them to decide, when he inevitably visits the Moonstone.

Speaking of which...her ears prick and she straightens herself, glad to find out WindClan's claim has been lifted. "It never should have been claimed in the first place, but...thank you." She does not easily forget how he himself supported WindClan's ownership of Highstones, but at the very least he is doing right by all of them now.​

 

[Flamestar]

The widening of her eyes gives away her own shock to the Windclan tom's words. 'Sootstar leads Windclan no longer.' Instinctively she turns to glance at Howlingstar, who was now beside her. She had never experienced a time when the crazed molly had not ruled over the moorlands. Many questions hang on the edge of her tongue, but he begins to speak once more before she can ask. So after he had returned Shadowclan's kits, she had chased him and others out of their home. Is that why I haven't seen anyone from the journey? she wondered, barely holding the question back.

Raccoonstripe asks if Sootstar is dead, and Howlingstar adds onto the question by seeing if she had fled. The thought of her running loose outside the clan's territory is enough to make her pelt twitch uncomfortably. She would much prefer if the former leader was cold...cast away from Windclan permanently. They would be fools if they allowed her to escape to her freedom. "We'll keep an eye out. They would be fools to show their faces here." she said, dipping her head slightly. The patrols need to watch out for them now, as well as Baying Hound. she made a mental note for tomorrow's patrols. She still didn't trust that Fallowpaw's deranged mother wouldn't show up again.

​

★ don't need to save me

• ​
• 
  FLAMEWHISKER of THUNDERCLAN
  LH red tabby with low white (masks black tabby, carries dilute, solid)
  — Deputy of Thunderclan ; currently mentoring Acornpaw
  — she/her ; mated with Flycatcher
  — mother to Stormfeather & Falconheart
  — 29 moons ; ages on the 20th
  — Smells like dirt, old leaves, tree sap, faint hint of flowers
  — will start a fight, will finish fights, will kill (case depending)
  — "speech" ; thoughts ; attacks
  — penned by Icey ! ; link to tags
  — link to toyhouse​