π”ππ—•π‹πŽπŽπƒπˆπ„πƒ, π…πŽπ‘π†πˆπ•πˆππ† β•± πŒπ„π„π“πˆππ† 07.2024

The soft scratch of his paw pads against stone and his claws digging in to a ledge are the only signs of struggle. Sunstar ascends the Tallrock quickly and with grace, each bunching of his legs taking him effortlessly higher. It troubled him greatly when first he lost it. Now the most he has to worry about are the weak gouges across his throat. Healing well, but difficult to swallow through. And after such exertion, he does. Deep, aching breaths, filling his chest and sighing it out into morning sunlight. Pale golden light cascades down onto WindClan camp. From this perch, he can see past their walls. Into the blackened wasteland that had once surrounded them, where the smallest sprouts of grass can now be seen β€” patches of vibrant greenery reclaiming the violence. It would take time still, but that is one thing that they had plenty of. Whatever happened, WindClan would persist.

"Let all cats old enough to race the moor gather beneath the Tallrock!" Even before, having seen his ascent, a few of the warriors began to draw closer. Now, they come in droves. Their clan had grown greatly in the aftermath of the fire. New kits to their world, and many at their borders beside. He looks towards Wolfsong's den, where the kittypet sat recovering, and then past it, where Juncoclaw is forced to remain. He does not know what to with either of them. But he must think of other things, now. At the forefront of the rock gather those who know their time is coming (and perhaps a few of them who do not, scattered towards the back). Slowly, his gaze cast upon them, Sunstar begins to smile.

His paws edge closer to falling so that he may lean over a moment, and then settle to sit. "Today, we begin not with talk of our troubles, but with a moment of joy! There are those among our apprentices who have trained hard, for many moons of their lives. They have proven themselves time and time again, against everything that our clan has faced! And on the other side of our troubles now, they shall face warriorhood with the same steadfastness they have given everything so far." Warm eyes fall upon all of them in turn, and he first beckons forth the pair of littermates so entrenched in this clan's history that their life seeped into the very moors. Then to the quieter pair, his head dipped in assurance to them both.

"Pinkpaw, Downypaw, Kitepaw, Quietpaw. Step forward." Despite the ease of his ascent up, coming down takes longer. Each step is slow, deliberate. (A choice made, perhaps, to draw suspense for all of them. Or to allow Pinkpaw her moment, should it inevitably come.) "I, Sunstar, leader of WindClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look upon these apprentices. They have trained to understand your code, and our way of life. Now, I commend them to you as warriors. @PINKPAW, @downypaw, @kitepaw., @Quiet paw , do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even with the cost of your own life?"
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Downypaw should be proud. Nine long months of apprenticeship: a set of scars and a pair of glowing seaglass eyes to show for it. When they tilt their head up to the sun though, they feel nothing but a hollow lightness. A pool of vapor, drifting aimlessly in down the corridors of their intestines, leaking vapidly from the corners of tight lips. She'd done about as much as a bank of fog. Always hovering at the edges of war, spectator to its bloodsport and sometimes victim, but never in its crimson thick.

Juncopawβ€”just Junco, she amends bitterlyβ€”sits in Cottonpaw's den as he speaks, as though it wasn't her claws dragged down her six moon-old face, as though the one who'd saved her from all of it doesn't perch in front of her like a guardian. And though the grass is greening every day, lacing vine atop his grave, Bearflight is still dead. And Nightengalecry, and Bluepool, and Gracklestep. So many things to mire in, and Sunstar still manages to please himself with a bountiful harvest of new warriors. Fresh bodies to storm away from Gatherings with, to throw at their snarling borders. At least Sootstar never pretended she was happy with her, or even noticed her at all.

Pinkpaw must be happy though. Sad as she has been in recent times, they're sure of their sister's ability to re-right herself after everything. Downypaw gives her shoulder a soft nudge as she goes up, a crinkle-eyed smile on their maw. She can't say she's never doubted her, but she is happy for her, even if she struggles to muster the pride for either of them. To Kitepaw and Quietpaw, the tiny apprentice sends another round of gentle smiles.

Sunstar makes his proclamation, rolling like thunder through the fated words. Even with the cost of my own life? Nothing was worth the cost of a life. "I do," they answer him, steady as a pealing bell.

windclan apprentice | "speech." | tags
 
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That's definitely her, old enough to race the moors... Even if she did that underground, rather than above. She's glad to see that Sunstar is better, and she thinks that's in more ways than one... He wasn't screaming anymore, wasn't bleeding anymore. He's patched up, and he's roaring again, standing atop Tallrock as if he owns the place ( which, he does ), and yelling like he'd fight anyone that tries to take it from him. Pinkpaw would fight for him too, and she'd roar alongside him too, even if her voice isn't as scary. A moment of joy, Pinkpaw perks. It's such a fancy way to say: a celebration! And Pinkpaw is pricking her ears, leaning forward even though she's not sure that it's her time juuuust yet. But she's talked to Scorchstreak, been to the moonstone... It was so close... So close that it was... today! Today?

She gapes. A, a white - striped tail fluffs itself in reply. It's today. And she's so ready! She's not ready, not ready at all. But she's so excited, either way! And she's gonna be ready, even if she isn't. Right now β€” these few moments, with Sunstar watching patiently, and Downypaw at her side β€” are the moments she has to be ready. She breathes in loud and deep, taking in air and turning it into energy. She tastes WindClan, the good and bad; the scent of soot still lingering in the air... It's her home. it always has been, it always will be. And now, for real, for serious, she and Downypaw...

" Downypawwwww! " she whisper - screams, and it's not as loud as she's been at certain other meetings, but Sunstar could probably hear, but like, who would be mad about that? Being excited is good! And there's so much she wants to tell them, like, we did it! And - And they'll have even more time to hang out now. And they can move their nests together, and they can go tunneling together, and in a few moments, Pinkpaw's gonna look at her and be like, " Hey, Downypaw! " And Downypaw's gonna be like, " I'm not Downypaw, I'm Downy...heart! " And then Pinkpaw, or Pink... nose will be like, " Oh yeah! "

But she can't say all that, because this is happening now. Right now. Downypaw says about a thousand things with the nudge of her nose, she thinks, and Pinkpaw tries to cast the same sorta spell, saying all those things and more with a bright - eyed smile.

She beams up at Sunstar, everything bad ever suddenly forgotten... 'cause she's... she's gunna be a warrior, for something other than pretend. Her tail doesn't sit still, it twitches back and forth, too excited to do something silly like that. She sees Quietpaw and Kitepaw and smiles at them too. She tries to find alllllll of her best firends in the crowd. Scorchstreak and Bluefrost and Celandinepaw and Featherspine and Brightshine and Heavy Snow and Sparkspirit and the whole entire clan and... everything is good.

" Yeah! " she answers Sunstar. And... she thinks that's not the usual thing you say, and the usual thing you say is riiiight on the tip of her tongue, but it means the same thing, doesn't it? She means it, too.
 
☾ ⋆*ο½₯゚ Perhaps in another hour, another day, or another life, he would have felt ready. It wasn't as though he accomplished anything grand; his body just grew bigger and his muscles stronger, but in his mind, nothing had changed, and yet he's still allowed to join the rank full of cats he's admired for moons. A warrior of Wind clan. It was hard to get excited, though there were many who were. Unease wormed into his mind, eating away the joy and pride. Perhaps if he was born here, had learned their ways faster, and had been more involved sooner instead of cowering away for so long, things would be different.

Sunstar declared this moment a time for joy. For who? Quietpaw didn't know, and he desperately wished he was. And yet their leader still beckoned the apprentices to step up, first Pinkpaw and Downypaw, then himself and Kitepaw. Smiles were exchanged around the group, and while his was shaky, it persisted. At least his peers appeared happy; well, definitely Pinkpaw was it was harder to tell with Downypaw; either way, both answered a question only asked once in their lives with a steadfast and concise response.

A small part of him wondered where his ancestors roamed and if they too could see him swear to protect a clan they'd never known. His "yes" didn't lack the hesitation that his heart felt. At least his mind had decided to call this place home; anything before should just be forgotten history.

  • ooc: β€”
  • 83936433_hz3ceer6rn25lIk.png
    Quietpaw β€” ο½₯ he/him ο½₯ 11 moons ο½₯ moor runner apprentice ο½₯Windclan ο½₯ PENNED BY @Ghostunes!
    A timid mostly black tom with white markings on his chest and back. Note: ',,,' are short pauses in his speech Tags ​
 
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For all that he may say of Pinkpaw, and of recent happenings β€” her joy is infectious. It sinks into the very air until he is doing more than smiling faintly. It is a grin, as bright as her heart, as persistent as Quietpaw's step forward. As pervasive as the fog that Downypaw claimed to embody. "Then beneath StarClan's watchful eye, I give you your warrior names."

He steps towards Downypaw, determination overfull within his eyes. Whatever remains in the apprentice opposite him, he does not question it. Were voice given to her pains he knows that he would have drowned himself with it. Bearflight is dead. Their clanmates are dead. The world, in all its misery, turns on. For all that has been torn from him, from this clan. . . they cannot linger in the periphery of life for all of time. WindClan would drag itself forward. Downypaw would come too. But not as Downypaw any longer. "@downypaw. You have tirelessly tread the trials of your apprenticeship. And through each, you have proven your intelligence and kindness. From this moment forward, your name shall be Downyfur, a full warrior of WindClan." He rests his head briefly between their ears, and thinks briefly of Pollenfur, and the life that she had chosen for herself. He hopes that in time, this choice will come to her kin.

Down the line, to Pinkpaw, the seriousness of his features cannot help but fade in the face of her excitement. Too long had this been a dour thing. A difficult life, full of terrible things. But so too was there good with the optimism and intent to see it. "@PINKPAW. Few among this clan share in your compassion, or your determination." Her bright-eyed love of the world and this clan, and the tempering edge it held upon Featherspine's more barbed nature. "StarClan honors your compassion, and your determination. Before them, WindClan welcomes you as a full warrior. From this moment, your will be known as Pinkshine." One last glimpse of his grin, and then he smothers it into near-seriousness atop her head, licking briefly between her ears. One day this clan will tell tales of her, daughter of the moors, as bright and brimming as starlight. For now, they are her stories to weave. He steps away, leaving the littermates to their celebration.

"@Quiet paw." A tom aptly named, his affirmation soft if steady. He knows the weight of his question. To deny one's history does not absolve them of its place in their lives– he knows all too well the fear that those who came and left before he would look poorly upon him. Would StarClan want a creature so torn, so uncertain? The word that Quietpaw uses is decided, and that is apt enough. Each decision left its mark. Each choice had a consequence. Whatever may lie in wait for the both of them. . . they would find out in time. "StarClan honors your loyalty, and your dedication to this clan. You will be known as Quietcrow, a full warrior of WindClan." His voice low as he rests his head upon the new warrior's, he murmurs, "Well done," and moves on.

Before the last of their apprentices prepared for this next step in life, Sunstar meets Kitepaw's eyes with a smile less boisterous than the one he had offered Pinkpaw, yet no less genuine. "@kitepaw. From this moment you shall be named Kitecall. StarClan honors your diligence, and your faith." Perhaps it is selfishness that honors this, and not StarClan's will. For WindClan could not survive without the blunt truth off of all tongues. Kitecall had never minced his words. Even in times that he should have, perhaps. Should his path take him towards darkness, he wants only this from his warriors. "We welcome you as a full warrior of WindClan." For a final time, his head brushes the young tom's head, and when he steps back it is with glowing pride for them all.

His clan prepares their voices and restless paws to cheer, but his own cuts them off with a jolt of volume: "But there is one more among us who is in need of a name! @UKALEK, step forward." From the crowd, the mountain cat seems far different from his own frame. A WindClanner through and through. As if he had always been meant for these moors, where Sunnvar had been far from it. His broad-shouldered frame towers above the younger warrior. (He recalls standing before his own father, his head craned to look up at him. Looking down upon the younger cats– they will follow you, one day.) "While there is still much for you to learn of our clan and our customs, you have shown your willingness to learn, and have proven yourself a capable warrior already. Before StarClan, and upon your promise to uphold the code, and defend this clan even at the cost of your life, I name you Harefoot. You will shadow Scorchstreak and myself, until we have deemed you ready."

Now Sunstar steps back, though he does not yet crest the rock once more. His voice is a great roar as he leads the chant: "Downyfur, Pinkshine, Quietcrow, Kitecall, Harefoot!"
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  • ooc: WARRIORS WARRIORS WARRIORS!!!!
  • β†Ÿ 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑.  ╱  AMAB  HE - HIM - HIS.  LEADER OF WINDCLAN.  β‹†β€†β‹†β€†β‹†β€†β‹†β€†β‹†β€†β‹†β€„β€„β‹†Μ΄ΜŒΝ›Ν–Μ»β€†β‹†Μ΅ΜΜΏΝƒΜΝΜΌΝˆ ⋆̢̬́̀
    ————  a rogue brought to windclan in a search for greatness, one of sootstar's most loyal warriors turned into her downfall. with a mate and kits to worry about, and now nine lives from starclan with a missing limb, windclan's leader has a lot to prove.

    82190121_9CSsSGfEk2LJ5dF.png
    a large chocolate and white rosette tom with seaglass eyes. the first thing many see when looking at sunstar now is not his proud posture or un-windclan build, but the scarred stump that remains of his front left leg. a wound that would have killed most other cats took one of his lives; not even starclan could repair it.
 
AS HE RAISED HIS FIST BEFORE HE SPOKE β€” The sun was gleaming at the edge of the sky, burning radiantly at the edges just like the flames that seemed to lick freely at their leader's fur. Even with all that had been thrown at Windclan lately, it was a relief to see Sunstar standing tall above them all - down a leg or not, he refused to crumble. That was enough for Rattleheart to follow him into the dark, into the charred yet slowly healing wasteland that represented their territory these days. Her chin was raised high as she emerged from the nursery, lengthy tail sweeping the squealing forms of her litter into her side when she finally settled. "C'mere, little ones. Here, give Sunstar your attention. Your first meeting, isn't that exciting?" It would be only a few more moons before they were standing in front of Windclan's golden-furred leader, receiving their apprentice names and mentor assignments. The thought made her heart ache, and she was quick to turn her attention back towards the meeting itself.

A meeting that featured the ascension of her own apprentice, pale green tones drifting over to try and meet Downypaw's own blue. It was her first time seeing an apprentice of hers graduate, even if her training with Downypaw had been strained. Smashed in between the yanking of them from Sootspot's influence and Rattleheart's own eventual trip to the nursery, it wasn't as if they had gotten the most traditional of Windclan educations. However, the older tunneler was sure they would thrive under their new name, regardless of the chaos of the past. Downypaw had a determined heart, and that was what mattered. A fact that Sunstar thankfully seemed to be in agreement with, considering she had been called forward alongside the others.

Pinkpaw receiving her name was only mildly less exciting for the lead warrior, delighted that his sister's apprentice had also made it through all of the mayhem. Not just made it through, but made it out the other side grinning. A trait that had surely come from her parents rather than her mentor, the mental image of Scorchstreak smiling as broadly as her apprentice enough to make Rattleheart chuckle out loud. Her head once more lowered to her kits, nose nudging lightly against the closest of her litter's ears. "Downypaw and Pinkpaw are mine and your aunt's apprentices, you know. We're very proud of them both. One day, you'll all be in that same place. Not too fast though, please." She chuckled again, though her plea was genuine. Though she did wonder what their eventual warriors names would be - particularly Crunchykit's.

With a quarter of agreement ringing out from the apprentices, Sunstar stepped forward to bestow them with their new names. Each echoed in her mind as a smile rivalling Pinkpaw - Pinkshine's - spread across her dark muzzle. The meaning to Downyfur's name wasn't lost on her, regardless of the fact that her own relationship with Pollenfur had been distant at best. It was a beautiful choice, and Rattleheart made sure to take a deep breath in before her hoarse shouting broke forth. "Downyfur! Pinkshine! Quietcrow! Kitecall! Harefoot!" A whole suite of new Windclan warriors, even if one of them was a totally new stranger to them all with the exception of Sunstar and Wolfsong. There was something so hopeful about it all, a feeling she hadn't allowed herself to experience in some time.

It wasn't until the cheering died down that Rattleheart finally moved away from the nursery, padding over to where Downyfur and Pinkshine were sat together. She let hers and Downyfur's pelts brush lightly together, an affectionate gesture to catch the new warrior's attention as she lowered her voice. "I'm proud of you, Downyfur. I'll be back down in the tunnels with you again soon enough." A few more moons, sure, but with how fast time seemed to fly by in Windclan, she was sure it would feel like a mere blink in the grand scheme of things.


  • 75034712_8183RsjuzqJmQXv.png
    β₯ longhaired black and white tom with pale green eyes
    β₯ 53 moons old; ages the 1st every month
    β₯ afab; uses he/she/they pronouns
    β₯ homosexual homoromantic; mated to venomstrike
    β₯ sibling to scorchstreak, lizardbounce, and rabbitclaw
    β₯ mother to thistlekit, breezekit, splinterkit, crunchykit, and vinekit
    β₯ somewhat difficult to befriend; wary but kind
    β₯ "speech", thoughts, attacking
    β₯ peaceful powerplay allowed
    β₯ all opinions are ic
 
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❝ THE TENACITY I HOLD✧°.β˜€ β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”
Thistlekit falls into a rather ungraceful gait as he follows Rattleheart out of the nursery, his pale blue eyes squinting at the bright rays of sunlight. Since DuskClan's attack at the night of the gathering, the tom-kit had stayed glued to his parents' side in search of protection and comfort. He had been weak back then; powerless to fight back as he squirmed in Thornrunner's grasp. If he hadn't been saved by Rattleheart, would he be among DuskClan's rankings now?

The three-legged figure of Sunstar is terrifying and awesome at the same time, an imposing presence upon the Tallrock as he addresses the warriors to-be. It is inspiring to watch, and Thistlekit feels a surge of excitement course through his tiny body. "Can we be apprentices now?" He asks from beneath Rattleheart, staring up at his parent with a pleading glint in his gaze. The sooner he got to train, the quicker he would be strong enough to fight for himself.

The group is named, and the seal-point kitten wonders what his would be when he grew up and became one of WindClan's newest warriors. Thistleheart or Thistlestrike, after my parents? Or something entirely different? Shaking his fur out, he joins in on the celebration, although his voice is drowned by the many others - Rattleheart's included: "Downyfur! Pinkshine! Kitecall! Quietcrow! Harefoot!"

When his mother begins moving, Thistlekit is quick to follow, nearly stumbling over her and his own paws. Downyfur had been her apprentice, until she had to move into the nursery. . .Was she like a sister, like Redheart was their older brother? He stays hidden and quiet between his mother's forelegs, ears flicking as he overheard their conversation. "Do you miss the tunnels that much ma? If you do we can go together. Now! Can we?" The prickly-furred kitten chirps, a smile on his face in an attempt to convince his parent.

[penned by nocthymia - β˜€
β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€” β˜€.°✧ I HOPE IT'S HARD TO BREAK DOWN ❞


 
SURE IT'S A CALMING NOTION

young splinterkit is as unsteady on his paws as thistlekit is, but he eagerly follows after him with eyes wide and curious. his eyes narrowed as the sun hit the air around him. he doesn't know what a lot of what sunstar says means but he's listening anyways, because that's what his papa told him to do. he only wishes it wasn't so loud in here. he presses against thistlekit for a moment before he moves to sit as close as he possible could to rattleheart. was he supposed to want to be a warrior already? he thinks he likes being a kitten. he quietly prods his papa with a paw, blue eyes looking up at her with wide eyes.

"do we get to choose? is it quiet in the tumblers?"

he likes the quiet. his tail swishes behind him before he thinks more.

"are you a moor runder? rum..ber? or a uhm, tumbler? what about dad?"
 
The day is bright. The day is good. because the sun is smiling! Pinkpaw stands on the tips of her toes, watching Sunstar, every step and every pause. Downypaw... Downy-soon-to-not-be-paw is first, met with kind words and a kinder name. Downyfur, it's true! Plushness that had comforted her in the nursery, and that still could at the worst of times. " Downyfur! " she cheers. And maybe lined up like this, it was improper to, but it was hard to care.

And then it's her that Sunstar stands before. The flickering of her tail picks up beneath a cerulean gaze. Her grin hurts her cheeks. StarClan themselves honored her. Had they decided to then, when she stood by the moonstone? Was it the first time, or the last? She makes up for the lack of a night sky with gleaming in her eyes; with a neck that stretches to place her head beneath her Leader's chin. Pinkshine. That's her!

Was Brightshine watching? Was she happy? Happy for Pinkshine to carry her name with her, and for Downypaw to take her sister's with her too? She'd like to tell Pollenfur someday. Someday soon, or someday not. She'd like to tell all the barn cats. She'd like to tell Mallowlark. She'd like to tell Lilacstem and Larkfeather too, one day, even if they would surely already know by then... It's too important not to.

" Q-Quietcrow! " she cheers. Giggles twinge her mew, even though nothing funny was even happening, really. " Kitecall! Haref-foot! " Excited paws make her dance in place. And it reminds her of Featherpaw β€” Featherspine. Would he look at her and still think Pinkpaw sometimes, too? She looks out amongst the crowd. She tries to spot her and... and everyone. More than anything, she just wants them all to smile as much as she was, someday. She would do her best for Sunstar. For WindClan.
 

This was a day spoken idly of in many a conversation- a sentiment grumbled toward. An incessant want to be a warrior, to be incredible... moons ago she would have told Pinkpaw she was not trying hard enough, but Featherspine knew her ignorance now. A brush tail flicked thoughtfully- yellow eyes found her father, then Downypaw, then Quietpaw, Kitepaw... but settled then primarily on Pinkpaw. A shining light, an incessant smile. A prodding, inattentive-yet-attentive thing... a thorn in his side, a warmth in the night. They would be nearby each other again... there would be more freedom to take to the moors alone, together. Their jobs differed, but soon their liberties would be the same again...

And what would it be like? Warriorhood had not been what Featherspine had been expecting at all- it had arrived not with relief, but with a tighter grip, shredding claws still, still fearful of failing. Would it be easier with Pinkpaw- Pinknose, Pinkleap, Pinklight... free to take his side?

In kithood, she would never have imagined she would want so badly for the calico's company. He'd have rolled his eyes, spat at the notion. But now, her paws itched to paint with berries, and her tail twitched to ferry her closer, and her purr grew thunderous when she was near. Downypaw became Downyfur, kind and intelligent... often a nosy sort who asked him a lot of questions, but still deserving of their name. And Pinkpaw...

Featherspine was not to judge, of course- it mattered not what he thought of another's warrior name. But Pinkshine- if an opinion were to be coaxed out of him, likely by the one who bore that name, he would say it was perfect. Shining, like the sun on a clear day. And Featherspine would never have guessed she would want to orbit around a different sun that was not her father.

Quietpaw became Quietcrow... Kitepaw newly blessed as Kitecall... Ukalek, someone she yearned to know more of, became Harefoot. Featherspine kept her voice levelly glad as he cheered for the lot of them, no bias wobbling in his tone- but she couldn't take her eyes off of Pinkshine, who danced happily on the spot, the whites of her glowing in the greenleaf sun. "Downyfur! Pinkshine! Quietcrow! Kitecall! Harefoot!"

And when Pinkshine caught her eye, there were teeth in the smile she gave her.
✦ penned by pin
 

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➾ KITECALL. ENTANGLED AT THE EDGE OF A CLIFF IN THE BERRIES AND BRAMBLES, SO SOUR YET SO SWEET. † ☼
𖀓 ✟ β€”β€” sunstar's call rings loud and proud throughout the camp, a sound well familiar to his ears. time and time again has kitepaw gathered underneath the leader's mighty frame to hear the news, to cheer loudly the names of windclan's newest warriors and its apprentices. though kitepaw traces his steps differently today. moons have passed one after the other, and at last he finds himself at the receiving end. it was his turn. his paws twitch and float across the ground with excitement, anticipation, worry, doubt... his mind fumbles these emotions within the blinks of his eyes. was he ready? he felt ready just a day ago, but now he worries. surely somebody would have told him if his training had been delayed, warriorship held back another moon... or two. what if he'd messed up the dates? and his turn was next moon and he'd gotten all neat and tidy and groomed for what? embarassment and disappointment? what if his ceremony was today but he got his name and it was awful? what if sunstar secretly hated him and thought it would be funny to give him something stupid like... kite.. ah.... well, just because a name couldn't come to his mind didn't mean that it hadn't come to sunstar's.

though not all of his thoughts were bad. if he was lucky, he'd be eating dinner tonight as a warrior of windclan, and then he'd sit his vigil, he'd keep his clanmates safe (though the idea of keeping guard with the overarching worry of dawnclan or riverclan or shadowclan coming filled him with anxiety beyond what he currently housed), and then he'd spend the next step his life as a warrior. as kitepaw gathers now underneath the tallrock, he cannot help but wonder if they too could hear the pounding of his heart thumping in his chest, kicking him like a rabbit. and just like that, sunstar begins, and kitepaw hears it: 'pinkpaw, downypaw, kitepaw, quietpaw. step forward.' and so he obliges, his last task as an apprentice.

'do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even with the cost of your own life?' "i do." the words spill forth from his mouth with such speed that kitepaw hardly has a chance to appreciate it, as if the opportunity would be snatched away should he hesitate. moon after moon has he heard the words so familiar, but this time he allows the heaviness of his oath to sink in. ' even with the cost of your own life?' as glorifying it may sound going out in a blaze of glory, honorable and strong... he knows that life was crueler than that. he'd serve until his last breath, as had bearflight to the flames, as had gracklestep and bluepool to riverclan. cygnetstar. nightengalecry. though as starclan makes him a warrior unto windclan, they would take him as one unto starclan when the time should come. and so as he looks back on his words, he confirms with himself. I Do.

downyfur. pinkshine. quietcrow. kitecall.

the apprenticeβ€”no, the warriorβ€”raises himself up to rest his head against sunstar, closing his eyes. this was really happening. for a moment, he drifts his mind away to the thought of the river bubbling a churning, a place associated to him with death. he thinks instead of dizzypaw, his friend. how excited she would be, how excited was he to bear the news. the thought only lasts a moment before he opens his eyes yet again, pulling back away from sunstar as his name was the last. that was, so he'd thought until ukalek stepped forwards and takes the name of harefoot.

"downyfur! pinkshine! quietcrow! harefoot!" he allows his voice to join the chorus, rising high and loud into the sky and to the stars. amongst the cheers he could hear his own, and kitecall stands tall with pride. he'd made it.








  • KITEPAW ✩ he/him, moor-runner apprentice of windclan, 8 moons old
    β­ƒ
    average sized tomcat with light cream tabby markings. he has a white chest and half face. his fur is a medium length and he has large whiskers. his eyes are a light blue.
    β­ƒ highly religious, stubborn and hard-working, kindhearted and charismatic, honest, diligent, foolish and impulsive when frustrated, will speak out when something feels unjust.
    β­ƒ open to minor and minor nonviolent powerplay / / underline and tag when attacking β‡Œ see his bio here
    β­ƒ penned by @DOFFERZ! β‡Œ doffloppa on discord, feel free to dm for plots. template credit to vayle.

    Gehd0qH.png


 

Trailing behind her brothers, Vinekit waddles after her brothers as they come out, eager to see her first gathering but also curious to see so many cats around. Vinekit somehow managed to worm her way carefully between Rattleheart's legs, finding a comfortable crook there that was perfect for her small size. The little black kitten looks up at Sunstar with interest and awe, not quite understanding what he is saying, and yet finding herself unable to look away. Thistlekit asks if they can be apprentices now and Vinekit thinks she rather likes living in the nursery and is in no hurry to leave. Splinterkit asks if they get to choose their future roles and Vinekit is curious too.

"Is it scary in the tunnel?" She asks, peering up at Rattleheart. In her mind, she hasn't quite grasped the concept of multiple tunnels, so just assumes there is one large one running underneath WindClan. Her attention is stolen away shortly after when the cats before Sunstar mutter a few words and they are given new names. Suddenly the whole clan started cheering for them and Vinekit looked around, blinking in confusion. Did she need to yell their names too?

When the cheering dies down, Rattleheart moves away, heading in the direction of the two apprentices - now newly minted warriors - and like Thistlekit she pads after her mother. She lingers behind, listening to the conversation but not quite absorbing what was being said until Rattlehear said she would be joining them soon. "What?!" Vinekit gasped in surprise. "You're leaving us?"
 
ΰΌ„ΰΌ„ The call of their leader brings the deputy padding to stand below the Tallrock. Narrowed golden eyes, dulled yet still acutely observant, settle upon the rosetted tomβ€”he claims that there is good news for this meeting. Scorchstreak knows of at least one such piece of news, and dreads it in spite of their decision. Their mind is made up, but they are prepared to let their apprentice go. And alongside Pinkpaw, to receive their names are Kitepaw, Downypaw, and Quietpaw. She watches Sunstar call them each up to the front of the clan, and then he adorns them each with their warrior names. "Pinkshine! Downyfur! Kitecall! Quietcrow!" The deputy’s congratulatory shouts are reserved, but still their voice rises with the rest of the crowd.

One more cat is granted a warrior nameβ€”a name not earned, but given nonetheless. Scorchstreak’s glare turns upon him, devoid of ember and flame. Instead, golden eyes merely simmer with distaste. She is meant to aid in his induction to the clan, and it takes an effort not to scowl at the concept. To ask her to show an outsider around their clan, their tunnels. "Harefoot," she calls, less enthusiastic this time. Sunstar and Wolfsong may know the tom, but she does not. He is from outside of their territory, outside of all the clansβ€”he has not experienced the triumph of their sun-spotted leader over the mad queen who ruled before him. Can the pointed stranger be trusted to have WindClan’s best interests in mind with all that he does? It matters little, the calico decides. Harefoot will know well her displeasure, but he will also know what the presence of a new warrior means to a clan with a territory freshly charred and invaded. WindClan could use his paws, no matter hus trustworthinessβ€”or lack thereof.

Her apprentice celebrates the name that she’s been given, and Scorchstreak hates to interrupt, but she stalks forward to stand beside the younger calico for a moment. "I’m proud of you, Pinkshine," she rumbles to the brand-new warrior, flicking her tail against the other calico’s flank for a brief heartbeat. And then she’s off, fading back into the crowd of gathered cats. She is not the most important cat for Pinkshine to speak with right now; the parent whose name she has inherited surely stands nearby, and her sibling has earned their warrior name as well. This celebration is not Scorchstreak’s.

  • ooc: β€”
  • 83282667_7UVjIV9bzrILi7P.png
    SCORCHSTREAK ❯❯ she/they, deputy (tunneler) of windclan
    ΰΌ„ small, slim flame-streaked calico with fiery golden eyes. cold and closed-off, ferociously protective of her clanmates. rarely seen aboveground.
    ΰΌ„ mate to bluepool ; sibling to rattleheart & rabbitclaw
    ΰΌ„ mentor to none ; previously mentored pinkshine
    ΰΌ„ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted
    ΰΌ„ penned by foxlore
 
The celebration passes without any encouragement from him. He allows each of them to bask in their new names, and their new responsibilities. His own eyes still sparkle with joy, though it settles to a slow, patient simmer the longer that this goes on. After a moment more, his voice breaks once more through the din. "There is more still for us to celebrate. Among this crowd, there are those of you who have languished in the nursery." His whiskers twitch. He scans the softly blowing pelts for the smallest of the group, catching Rattleheart's litter first and observing them for a moment that feels far too weighted within his heart. Then he finds the ones that he is looking for.

"Whitekit. Midnightkit. Grasskit. Frightkit. Witherkit. Step forward. Each of you have reached the age of six moons. It is time for you to be apprenticed, and learn the ways of our clan. From this day on, until you have reached your warrior names, you shall be known as apprentices of WindClan." There are many of them, and another still he must reassign after this, but for now his gaze finds the first of them, and he nods Whitekit forward.

"@whitepaw. From this day forward, you shall be known as Whitepaw. Your mentor will be Whitedawn. She has proven herself kind and resourceful, and I know that she will pass this on to you." To the young tunneler herself, "I know that the loss still weighs upon you. But you have done well by this clan, and your teachings will benefit all. I trust that you will pass on all that you know."

"@MIDNIGHTKIT. You will be known as Midnightpaw. Until you have earned your warrior name, Redheart will be your mentor. He has proven himself to be a skilled, steadfast warrior of our clan. Through all that we have been through, he has offered his strength, and his good heart. I expect him to pass down all that he knows. to you." Seaglass eyes find the young warrior, offering a firm nod and a slow blink both. He remembers the days amongst the barn. The weight, and the worry– the hours spent in watch of Rivepaw, as she had been at the time. It will serve the clan well to have another follow in his steps.

"@Grasskit. As of now, until you have earned your warrior name, you are to be known as Grasspaw. Your mentor will be @Mossthorn. She is a skilled tunneler, and a patient teacher. I trust that she will pass down all that she knows to you, with the confidence and fidelity that I know her to be capable of." Perhaps a gentle mentor is all that this one would need to thrive. A cat that would understand his worries, and work through them with compassion. It is not something that he has told the kit. But Scorchstreak knows to keep an eye on the young tunneler β€” he knows he will be doing the same. His encouragement, this time, is deeply thoughtful.

Even as he continues on, that contemplation does not fade. He grows closer to the last among his list. A troublesome realization, and one that nearly has him overthinking. Rethinking. His gaze lingers for a moment on Witherkit before he speaks to another instead: "@Frightkit. As Frightpaw, you will follow in the steps of your mentor, and earn your warrior name. Your mentor through this will be Foxglare. His strength and dedication to this clan," to what is right about this clan, "have proven him a worthy warrior of this clan. He will train you well." As he had trained Sunlitwing– he breathes deeply at the memory.

There is no changing his mind now.

"@Witherkit. From this day forward, you shall be known as Witherpaw. Your mentor–" Another brief pause, Sunstar's serious gaze scanning the crowd until they lock upon a pale-pelted face with venomous eyes. "Will be Sootspot. He has proven a constant part of this clan, and well-versed in the tunnels that run beneath." To the tom himself, he says, "You have earned excellent training throughout your time in this clan. I expect that you will pass on the best of what you have learned." And none of the rest. Looking upon him from here feels bizarre once more. The son of Sootstar, who took all of her appearance and the worst of her memories; the cat that he had seen looming above his sickened form like a ghost. His council knows to watch him closely.

It takes too much to tear his gaze away.

"@ROWANPAW . Though you have earned your name already, and have progressed well within your training, today you are given a mentor anew. After moons serving with distinction, it is time for your last to retire. Your education will continue beneath Swiftshade. Despite his youth, he has proven capable, and dedicated. He will pass on all that he knows to you, to the day of your warrior name." Looking upon them is not quite as terrible as looking upon their father. A young mimicry in shape, but not in heart. The basis of him remains in the determination he sees. Nothing else. He reminds himself of that with intent.

"Whitepaw! Minightpaw! Grasspaw! Frightpaw! Witherpaw!"
EpC61GT.png

  • ooc: sorry for the delay, guys! one more post after this with some detail sharing and discussions, but let's celebrate some apprentices first :3c
  • β†Ÿ 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑.  ╱  AMAB  HE - HIM - HIS.  LEADER OF WINDCLAN.  β‹†β€†β‹†β€†β‹†β€†β‹†β€†β‹†β€†β‹†β€„β€„β‹†Μ΄ΜŒΝ›Ν–Μ»β€†β‹†Μ΅ΜΜΏΝƒΜΝΜΌΝˆ ⋆̢̬́̀
    ————  a rogue brought to windclan in a search for greatness, one of sootstar's most loyal warriors turned into her downfall. with a mate and kits to worry about, and now nine lives from starclan with a missing limb, windclan's leader has a lot to prove.

    82190121_9CSsSGfEk2LJ5dF.png
    a large chocolate and white rosette tom with seaglass eyes. the first thing many see when looking at sunstar now is not his proud posture or un-windclan build, but the scarred stump that remains of his front left leg. a wound that would have killed most other cats took one of his lives; not even starclan could repair it.
 
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Amongst all of the newly named apprentices, there is one who earns a smile and a glimmer in young Ferretpaw's eye. Grasskit, even after their argument, was one of her best friends.. and she was undeniably lonely in the tunnels, even with Gravepaw occasionally by her side. Now, Grasspaw could join her again, and she was more than thrilled to be able to teach him all she knows about the tunnels so far.

She cheers for the other cats, of course, but her voice raises higher for "Grasspaw! Grasspaw!" A swift bound over to her friend shows her glee - she is buzzing with energy. "You're gonna be a tunneler! Isn't that cool? We can, like, hang out all the time now!"

A small glance is sent Frightpaw's way, too. They weren't friends, and were really quite the opposite; but in the face of grief, Ferretpaw had really loosened up on her lately. So long as she isn't outdone by the other apprentice, and given that Frightpaw doesn't step on her toes, maybe the peace can continue. A small smile is given to Frightpaw, before her attention is once more set on Grasspaw as she continues to blabber away about the joys of tunneling.
  • dhafz7m-a2116783-c1e6-44ba-b63a-0d11aae47207.png
    ferretkit FERRETPAW ━━ penned by ixora
    ━━ TUNNELER APPRENTICE of WINDCLAN
    ━━ 6 MOONS,, ages every 31st
    ━━ NPC xx NPC
    ━━ SIBLING to GORSEKIT
    ━━ MATE to none | PARENT to none
    ━━ MENTOR to none | MENTORED by MARMOTBITE
    ━━ HEALTH β™₯︎β™₯︎β™₯︎β™₯︎β™₯︎ | ferretpaw is healthy.​
  • 80478082_2zXyCfbKQMdMTjo.png

  • speech is #d98b54

 
Whitepaw. It's... strange. Hearing a name different from the one he was given at birth, even if it is such a small change. Such comes with age, though, and in a short time it will be changing again, so he may as well get used to it sooner than later. His mentor is named, and the name causes a quiet but amused huff to escape him. Sunstar must have a sense of humor, pairing him with a warrior that once carried the name he carries now. It does make him wonder what will be the word to eventually differentiate them, when he becomes a warrior. If Sunstar were to stick with the same idea, then he wouldn't be surprised to find himself being named Whitedusk in six moons time. He steps up to Whitedawn with the thought still in his mind, reaching up to touch his nose to the warrior's as he has seen other newly-made apprentices do in the past.​
 
𓆝 . Β° ✦ I do get to be an apprentice... he thought in awe as Sunstar addressed him. A weight lifted, another pressed down as he thinks of all the things he must now learn. Grasskit - no, Grasspaw - nearly forgot he was supposed to touch noses with Mossthorn. "I'll do my best," he mewed to them. What if he disappointed them? What if he got stuck in a tunnel? What if-

His spiraling train of thought was promptly interrupted by the cheering of his clanmates and Ferretpaw in particular. He brightened upon seeing her come straight to him. She does still wanna be my friend!

"Uh, yeah! It's totally cool!"

βœ§γ€€Β°γ€€.γ€€βœΆγ€€.γ€€Β°γ€€βœ§
  • ooc: β€”
  • 53fac3ddf1437ce63593b72ee6ae2086.jpg
    NAME β€” GRASSPAW HE/HIM ο½₯ 6 MOONS ο½₯ APPRENTICE & WINDCLAN ο½₯ PENNED BY TWITCHTAIL
    Small fawn tabby with pale green eyes.
    "speak" thoughts action
    β€” peaceful, healing, and minor injury powerplay allowed
 
ΰΌ„ΰΌ„ The next announcements are of new apprentices; Sunstar calls forward Nightingalecry’s bunch, adorning each of their small forms with a new name and a new position. New mentors are paired with each new apprenticeβ€”and they are all fitting, all potentially great matches. Except for one. Witherpaw is a good kit, considering his rough childhood, and he deserves to be trained as a capable, loyal tunneler of WindClan. It is only unfortunate that he will be mentored by a hissing, spitting viper. She shoots the loathsome tom in question a venomous look, gaze cold and sharp as it settles upon him. Sootspot may have earned this right in Sunstar’s eyes, but in her own he has certainly not. I am watching you. You will not poison this kit’s mind as your mother poisoned mine. Nightingalecry’s child is so young, an even more impressionable target than Rumblepaw had been. Scorchstreak grits her teeth, jaw tightening, and cheers the names of the clan’s newest apprentices. "Whitepaw! Minightpaw! Grasspaw! Frightpaw! Witherpaw!"

  • ooc: β€”
  • 83282667_7UVjIV9bzrILi7P.png
    SCORCHSTREAK ❯❯ she/they, deputy (tunneler) of windclan
    ΰΌ„ small, slim flame-streaked calico with fiery golden eyes. cold and closed-off, ferociously protective of her clanmates. rarely seen aboveground.
    ΰΌ„ mate to bluepool ; sibling to rattleheart & rabbitclaw
    ΰΌ„ mentor to none ; previously mentored pinkshine
    ΰΌ„ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted
    ΰΌ„ penned by foxlore
 
LIKE A PICTURE IN A FRAME
WISH WE COULD'VE STAYED THE SAME
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
periwinklebreeze ❀ 23 moons ❀ demi-boy ❀ windclan queen
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
82895788_uPPlp3McehSP0eh.png
Today is a big day for many - and admittedly, part of Peri is relived that there wont be quite so many bodies huddle up within the nursery. At six moons, even those set to be tunnelers are far to big to all be crowded into the small den - and hopefully, training will be able to draw the grieving children from dark thoughts, give them something to focus on. But first, there's warrior ceremonies to be held.

" D-downyfur! Pinkshine! Q-q-quietcrow! Kitecall! Harefoot! " comes the queens call, a faint smile upon his lips as he focuses on the joy that spreads through the camp. Today is a happy occasion, for all that his battered heart still aches. And then the moment they'[re all waiting for - his nieces and nephews called up one by one, and he can only offer an encouraging smile should any of them turn to look at him - blue eyes full of warmth and pride.

Nightingalecry should be here for this - to see her children all grown up. But she isn't, and so he does his best to call their new names louder then any other as sunstar announces them. " WHITEPAW! G-G-GRASSPAW! MIDNIGHTP-PAW! F-F-FRIGHTPAW! WITHERPAW! " he calls loudly - ignoring the pain in his jaw and the harsh burn of his throat. They deserve to know they are loved.

━ actions & " speech, " & 'thoughts/quotes' ━
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
I ' V E - A L W A Y S - B E E N - R E A L - B A D - W I T H - C H A N G E
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
 
γ€”βœ¦γ€•Downyfur, Pinkshine, Quietcrow, Kitecall. Rowanpaw internally recites the new names of the warriors. It was strange, watching a cat take on a new title, especially after being in training for so long. The group definitely deserved their promotions. One of the newcomers, Ukalek, also receives the name of Harefoot. The chimera regards him with a simple blink; they are unsure if they completely trust the outsider yet, but he seems to be taking to clan life quite readily. Perhaps there was nothing to be suspicious of after all.

Sunstar calls upon the kits of the clan next, finally bestowing their apprentice names upon them as they take on the task of training. Time sure seemed to pass by quickly; they could not believe that their former ( younger ) nurserymates were now their peers. Hopefully the apprentices' den wouldn't grow too rowdy with energy.

They regard the ceremonies quietly until their own name is mentioned by the spotted leader. Rowanpaw knew this would come; Webthorn had been complaining about their limbs lately, something about how old they were getting. She would have never imagined them retiring so quickly into her apprenticeship, however. Rowanpaw only hoped that Swiftshade would be a younger, more capable fit for a mentor.

The chimera approached Swiftshade shortly after Sunstar's closing remarks, aiming to touch noses silently with their new mentor.
u9a4dSL.png

  • ooc.
  • ROWANPAW β€”β€” tunneler apprentice of windclan , mentored by webthorn ✦ penned by beatles
    ✦ afab demigirl / they/she pronouns / 7 moons & ages every 17th
    ✦ single / graysexual & monogamous
    ✦ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / underline & tag account when attacking
    β€”β€” easy combat difficulty / may start fights, won't kill

    ✦ "speech", thoughts, all opinions are ic
    ✦ biography β€” msg on discord for plots β€” toyhouse
  • 84424481_kX2Ce15lb0ln1I1.png

    a shorthaired black/tortoiseshell chimera with heterochromia. a lithe, slightly muscular cat with a smaller-than-average build. a direct line splits their face, as if mirroring an inner battle of identity and belonging. a serious expression usually graces their face, and their amber and blue gaze is always sharpened.