pafp AGAIN & AGAIN | fond memories

[hollyhockpurr]

This moon's meeting had just ended, and Hollyhockpurr felt invigorated. So many new faces in the apprentice's den, and for once, their nursery wasn't overflowing with helpless little scraps. Not that she ever minded them - they were all cute, in their own way - but stars were they mouths to feed!

They watched with a smile as the gathered cats dissipate, newly named apprentices meeting their mentors and the brand new warriors preparing to move into their new den. Fondly, she remembers her own ceremonies, the very first day she entered the tunnels with her mentor. Terrified, of course, of the depths and what they held: but it soon became a passion, and so too would it become the lifeblood of their Clan once more, now that their ranks were replenished from the loss to DuskClan.

"Ah.. I remember when we were that little," Hollyhockpurr muses to the cat that sits next to her. It just so happens to be a childhood friend of her own, Cricketcry - they were within mere moons apart in their training, and she found herself drawn to him like any other that struggled to make a name for themselves. Of course.. they haven't talked in quite some time, but friendships never ended for Hollyhockpurr. No, they simply paused and continued - the feline could pick up right where they left off, as joyfully as she would when they last spoke.

"I was so scared of the tunnels once.." The black-furred warrior tilts her head towards Cricketcry, giving him a sideways smile and a charming chuckle. "Oh.. but all the other tunneler apprentices were older than me. I wanted to be like them - and soon enough, my mentor had to drag me out by the tail to get me home in time!" Back then, and now, she'd have given anything to be close to her friends, even forsaking her own family's reputation for them. Cricketcry was one of them - she'd follow him around until he bid her give him some space, and then continue later as if the time away had never been!

Oh, but enough of herself. That's not why she's talking to Cricketcry - she wants to get a reaction out of the reclusive tom, to make him feel included. "What about you? How did you feel when you were apprenticed?"


// please wait for @Cricketcry !
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CHARACTER INFORMATION — ♡ ˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗ ♡ — OUT OF CHARACTER

• hollyhockkit hollyhockpaw HOLLYHOCKPURR
  ━━ TUNNELER WARRIOR of WINDCLAN
  ━━ 25 MOONS,, ages every 1st
  ━━ NPC xx NPC
  ━━ MATE to none | PARENT to none
  ━━ MENTOR to NONE
  ━━ HEALTH ♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎ | generally healthy​
• base credits to velvtreill on th
  
  
  
  
• speech is #87B3E0​

 

[Cricketcry]

𓆧 Cricketcry remains seated lightly on his haunches, despite the gathering concluding, his eyelids half closed in silent contentment. It pleases him to see so many kits having left the nursery, their futures outstretching like branches before their very paws. The demure feline would keep a watchful eye out for the youngsters, from afar, of course– perhaps one day he would be able to mentor an apprentice of his own. He could remember the day he was made the apprentice of npc, and vividly recalls the prickles of eyes upon him as his name was cheered. Cricketcry’s mind began to wander to the newly made warriors, how they would likely face bloodshed soon enough, this time by their own claws, if Duskclan’s brutality was to return…
“Hmpth?” Preoccupied by his mind, Cricketcry hardly perceived that he had been spoken to. He turned his elfin head and settled his vast eyes upon Hollyhockpurr. “What was that? Oh…” Cricketcry listened keenly to the dark she-cat’s reminiscing, offering Hollyhockpurr a repressed smile. He was pleased to be spoken to, her remembrances brought many memories of his youth to the forefront of his mind. Hollyhockpurr was not much younger than himself and through lots of coaxing, Cricketcry hesitantly accepted the charming she-cat as a friend. Secretly, he was quite flattered by how Hollyhockpurr was his shadow at times. Infact, Cricketcry would play up his dismay towards this behavior; knowing that she would continue the behavior. But when he became a warrior, the relationship struggled to be maintained as he became immersed into his role as a Tunneler and the resident hermit, isolated by his own behaviors.
Cricketcry flicks his tail pensively, bringing it closer to himself as he thought about his answer to Hollyhockpurr’s inquiry. He straightens up and rasps, “You may be surprised to hear this, but I was quite excited.” He frowns briefly and then continues on, his hoarse voice dripping in nostalgia, “Sure, a little nervous. Y’know, I was actually training to be a moor-runner… for half a moon before I was reassigned! But once I stepped into those tunnels, I knew that was where I belonged.” Cricketcry finishes speaking and shuffles his paws into the sand, suddenly nervous he may have spoken for too long. With a deep inhaled and a roll of his shoulders, he glances back up to meet Hollyhockpurr’s gaze. “I’m quite fond of those moons.”​

 

[honeyspring]

〔✦〕In the aftermath of the meeting, Honeyspring finds that thay're unsure of if they should try to be a welcoming voice to some of the new apprentices or stay where they are. It knows more than enough how the anxiety feels, having only been made a full tunneler not that long ago, but the conversation from other tunnelers is enough to give them pause- just when they're about to get up to see if they can be of any use, support-wise, for the younger apprentices- and they reroute themself before they can think twice about it.

They hadn't been apprenticed with Hollyhockpurr or Cricketcry- it had been too young, then- but there's no outward hesitation as they approach with a tiny clearing of their throat. The way it holds itself may give away its anxieties, on some level, but they try to ignore it as they sit down near-ish the other two like they had been there the entire time. Which....they supposed they had; just not near them in particular.

"You know, I was also kind of scared of the tunnels. Not enough that it discouraged me, though, in the end." It seemed like there could be so much down there that they were missing- even now, with Honeyspring having the relative freedom to explore them, it didn't seem enough. They think they could explore them for days if given the chance.

"I was actually just about to give some advice to any apprentice interested in being a tunneler. If you two had any." Because, now, it feels rather awkward for just butting in, their cheeks burning as they attempt, rather pathetically, to drive the conversation back to their seniors after all.

out of character ( tags ) //

• ooc.
  
• HONEYSPRING —— tunneler of windclan , mentoring no one . moth x holland . littermate to beetle, spider, bee ✦ penned by cherry
  ✦ nonbinary / they/it / 19 moons & ages every 25ᵗʰ
  ✦ single / biromantic demisexual & poly / open
  ✦ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / underline & tag account when attacking
  —— hesitant in battle / will run / won't start fights / will show mercy
  
  ✦ “speech”, 'thoughts', all opinions are in character
  ✦ biography — msg on discord for plots — toyhouse
  
• reference image here
  

  a longhaired torbie with low spotted white and amber eyes.

​

 

[ROWANPAW]

〔✦〕Rowanpaw had not immediately convened with Swiftshade following the meeting. They would commence training shortly, which the chimera was truthfully looking forward to. Her new mentor would bring new energy and new perspectives to her training; maybe the warrior would know tips that Webthorn didn't.

Speaking of advice, they just so happened to stumble upon a conversation occurring between the tunnelers of the clan. Rowanpaw drifted near them, keen ears pricking to absorb any information like a wad of moss. They were respectful enough to not interrupt, though could not help interjecting after Cricketcry's anecdote, "Why were you reassigned?" Reassignments were rare, if Rowanpaw wasn't mistaken, so they were greatly intrigued as to why Sootstar may have made such a decision.

Looking to the others now, seeking general advice about mastering the ways of the tunnels, Rowanpaw meows, "What should I focus on in order to pass my assessment?" That was their ultimate goal, right? How embarrassing it would be if they did not graduate with the other cats their age. They had to be good at their job if they were to surpass any reputation that their shameful father made for himself and his kin.

let me walk to the top ( of the big night sky ) //

• ooc.
  
• ROWANPAW —— 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
  —— easy combat difficulty / may start fights, won't kill
  
  ✦ "speech", thoughts, all opinions are ic
  ✦ biography — msg on discord for plots — toyhouse
  
• 
  
  

  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.

​

 

[cottonsprig]

Cottonsprig stretches her back as the meeting disperses. She feels that no matter how many she witness, regardless of the leader or their council, there will always be something fun added in. Most of the time, it's kittens becoming apprentices, or apprentices becoming warriors - just as the reclined group begins to discuss mere mouse-lengths from her. Even Sootstar in all of her infamy was able to gift many of their cats with strong and worthy names. And some of them... Her ears pin to her head for a moment, remembering her weeks as Cottonfang, and then she tilts to follow the conversation rather than dwell in her own thoughts.

"It's not often that it happens, isn't it?" Cottonsprig says as she sits near Rowanpaw, offering the chimera a slight smile. Snakehiss' kittens are still an awkward spot for her, but she hopes they don't see her as treating them differently... Again, she rolls her shoulder back, trying to shake the prolonged discomfort from her pelt. "Firefang, I think it was, went the other way. She was a tunneler - and then something happened, and she became a moor runner instead." And then she, who's supernatural intervention dragged her away from Scorchstreak's skilled paws. Nearly a year later and they both still ache from the separation, as if the wound has never healed. She grimaces as the dastardly memories just keep coming back, despite the conversation being relatively light hearted.

"Did you not grow as much?" she turns her gaze back to Cricketcry, a small smile fitting neatly to her features.​

 

[Cricketcry]

𓆧 This may be the first time that Cricketcry has not immediately fleed after a gathering, and he has instant regret as his musings invite others to wander over. He casts a petty glare at Hollyhockpurr for being so kind as to speak to him and reminisce over their shared memories. Honeyspring was the first to wander over and Cricketcry was just about to answer hastily and dismiss himself when Rowanpaw interjects in curiosity, Cottonsprig settling next to them mere seconds later.

Cricketcry grits his teeth and squints his eyes within a heartbeat, overwhelmed by the newcomers. He takes a momentary pause in the form of a quick deep inhale before directing his attention upon the three, first addressing Honeyspring, “Ah, I would not be the best to ask for advice. B-but, I am sure Hollyhockpurr would like to share?” He flicks his large eyes to Hollyhockpurr and offers her a halfhearted smile, the best the mottled tabby can really do in such a situation outside his comfort zone. He clicks his tongue and he thinks of the best way of answering the second question: Why were you reassigned?

As Cricketcry internally considers the circumstances of his reassignment, he is surprised to hear a hearty chuckle escape from his maw at Cottonsprig’s hypothesis. “Well, I suppose I didn’t!” He shakes his round head and quirks his brow upwards in amusement, he knows now that he would’ve been an unfortunately small moor-runner, but at the time the clan never would have known he would’ve been of such a small stature– a funny coincidence. He begins in his signature hoarseness, “Something happened, like how Firefang became a moor-runner. I was injured.”

“I wanted to run the moors m-more than anything… to be so close to the sky… You’d be shocked to hear it, but I actually snuck into the horseplace. I was an adventurer, some may say.” Cricketcry’s round eyes gloss over as he recalls the day of the incident, his voice deepens, “I was putting my nose where it did not belong, messing with those cloud things, sheep. I was just watching them but I got too close.” Cricketcry shrugs, as if that would be enough explanation for why he was reassigned. He shrugs and shifts on his hindquarters as his leg begins to throb, suddenly hyper aware of his leg which will forever hold him back from his childish dream. He huffs and settles again, curling his feathery tail around his forepaws. ”That’s that.”

WHITE NOISE, ~ WHAT AN AWFUL SOUND ~

• ooc—
  
• CRICKETCRY —— Tunneler of Windclan 𓆧
  𓆧 AMAB / he/they / 28 ☾
  𓆧 petite, reclusive, timid, wistful

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