pafp AND I SAID “SPITE” [tunnel training]

SCORCHSTAR

SCORCHSTAR

the world does not tend to forgive
WindClan Leader ABC Prompts [WC '24] Controlled Burn [WC '24] Spring Prompts [WC '24] Fall Prompts [WC '23] Journey [Sitewide Event '23] WindClan 10K Unity [WC '23]
Jan 15, 2023
598
161
43
༄༄ The tunnels that track beneath the moorland are as familiar to Scorchstreak as the night sky, as close a friend as Pinkshine. But still, the deputy does not easily forget how quickly—how many cats have been lost to these tunnels, now? How many apprentices have had their lives cut short by the cold, unforgiving crush of the earth itself collapsing in on them? Was Dazzlepaw not enough, so the tunnels stole away Gravepaw as well (and took with them another connection to Cygnetstare, another reminder of her existence)? Tunnelers know the dangers, the risks, but none of them deserve a slow, suffocating fate, do they? The deputy’s ears swivel, listening for that telltale rumble, even as she explains the signals of an imminent tunnel collapse to Brackenpaw.

It isn’t until she looks up that Scorchstreak realizes the apprentice is most certainly not focused solely on the words that she has been saying, and she stops abruptly. Dappled paws come to a sharp halt, tail flickering back and forth with a touch of irritation. "Are you listening?" She asks, voice roughened with the accusation. Bilberrypaw seems to soak in all that she says, or at least has the decency to pretend that he cares. But the calico apprentice notably does not, and Scorchstreak is left to wonder if there is something she is doing wrong. "This is important, Brackenpaw. Tunnel collapses are infrequent, but they are deadly. You need to be prepared in the event that it happens." She is chiding, and she is relentless; if the apprentice wants to survive to become a warrior, then she will heed the deputy's words.

YOU KNOW I DESERVE IT ☽♰☾ WELL, TAKE IT OUT ON ME
  • ooc: pls wait for @Brackenpaw ! also apprentice tag @BILBERRYPAW
  • 84614867_oGXlwEhkllyouH3.jpg
  • SCORCHSTREAK ❯❯ she/they, deputy of windclan, tunneler
    ༄ small, slim flame-streaked calico with fiery golden eyes. cold and closed-off, ferociously protective of her clanmates. rarely seen aboveground.
    ༄ 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
​
​
 
  • Angry
Reactions: Brackenpaw

The tunnels can be temperamental, she has been witness to the after effects of what happens when a tunnel collapses. She had been there to help pry Mouseflight from the hungry maw of the collapsed debris in her early experience as an apprentice. He was lucky enough to survive it but she's aware of the fact that not everyone can be so fortunate. What happened to Gravepaw heavy on their mind as they are submerged in that familiar dusty air of the tunnels. Scorchstreak deems this to be a proper time to explain the signals of an imminent tunnel collapse, while they're sure this is valuable information to Bilberrypaw who was still under his initial moons of apprenticeship it wasn't so valuable to them. She had heard it before, delivered differently but this is a spiel that she remembers Bluefrost having once. There's a lack of care to pretend to be paying attention, she's old enough to be able to register when a tunnel might collapse.

The nihilistic attitude that often remains dormant within her is active today, wondering what's truly the point of knowing the signs of a tunnel collapse when the chances are that it won't be enough? Maybe you can get lucky with it but no matter the moons of experience someone might have it just takes one bad day. Perhaps that's why there's a distant look in their eye as the information goes through one ear and out the other. They barely register that Scorchstreak's stopped until they nearly walk into her, a whiskers length away from the older calico when they eventually do realise that the deputy stopped. Her voice is grating in this moment, drenched in accusation that immediately sets them on the defensive side. "Of course I'm listening" they scoff, large ears pinning against their skull as she realises that she's been caught not listening, not only that but that she's now been caught lying.

"I know it's important!" She hates it when Scorchstreak carries that tone, one that Brackenpaw knows is winding up on a tirade of an explanation. Scorchstreak is dutiful, that much is not up for debate. She carries that duty as if it's crushing her and then she tries to drag everyone else to be just as hardened by it. "I already know this stuff, besides, it doesn't help to know anyway if you're not fast enough" there's a sneer evident in her tone, fur bristling as the sparks of her rebellious nature is stoked. "You're not my first mentor Scorchstreak, this isn't anything new to know" they know they're being harsh on the deputy but she loathed the concept of her moons of training before being placed under her care was rendered as mere dust in the tunnels, something seen as insignificant.

‎‎ ‎┌── Im just a dog ⸙ with no bite ──┐‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

  • ooc. IC opinions only! Sorry Scorchstreak </33
  •  
  • Brackenpaw
    ✩     they/she, tunneler apprentice of Windclan, 11 moons (ages on the 22nd)
    ⭃ a lithe and fragile looking calico that looks like they still need to grow into her ears
    ⭃ Speech, thoughts, attacking
    ⭃ NPC x NPC, mentored by Scorchstreak | Formally mentored by Bluefrost
    ⭃ easy to befriend other kits, gradually harder to befriend every rank after that
    ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
    ⭃ penned by Juice ↛ @/ouijeejuice on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
    ⭃ All opinions are IC!! Bracken is a little hater
​
 
  • Angry
Reactions: SCORCHSTAR

Cricketcry can not fathom why the apprentice ahead of him in the tunnel could not take Scorchstreak more serious. He considers Scorchstreak to be some sort of a mentor to himself, strangely; he oftentimes laments to @honeysucklepaw how learning is a continuous process. Following the death of one of Brackenpaw's own peers, he expects a little bit more... tact from the calico. So be it if they do not care about the importance of knowing the signs of a tunnel's instability, the very least Brackenpaw could do is act like they care.

'...it doesn't help to know anyway if you're not fast enough.' A shallow and disjointed growl rasps from his chest at the apprentice's ignorant words. Accidents in the sprawling crawlspaces are entirely unpredictable, no matter how well one may think they know the tunnels or the confidence they have in detecting one may occur. As the patrol continues to pad through the narrow passageway, Brackenpaw incessant voice grinds at his nerves.

Cricketcry does not doubt Scorchstreak's abilities to discipline her apprentice, but he cannot help but be irked by the fact of the matter: Brackenpaw is disrespectful. He considers their harshness comes from a place of neglect, but even then he can not excuse the blatant disrespect. "You'll b-buh-be grateful to have been taught this over and over again by both Bluefrost and Scorchstreak," he rasps, an undertone of sternness in his words. Though his own apprentice has had some outbursts, he can appreciate that fact Honeysucklepaw is not so insolent as her older counterpart.



WHITE NOISE ╰⪼𓆧｡𖦹°‧ WHAT AN AWFUL SOUND
​
​
 
  • Like
Reactions: SCORCHSTAR
The tunnels have yet to become mundane to Bilberrypaw. It is a different world down here than upon the surface: Bilberrypaw is guided by whisker-touches and memory. Even with his pupils stretched into lakes rather than slits the darkness is absolute at greater depths—here, he is able to make out Brackenpaw's familiar face in profile and Scorchstreak's severe expression.

The reminder of danger isn't new to Bilberrypaw. His mismatched eyes flick upwards regardless, aware that he occupies a hollow space, aware of how soil tends to wish to fill hollows. How long ago was it that Bilberrypaw was a kit, how long ago was it that he was digging against the endless collapse of camp's sandy ground? Black ears twist Brackenpaw's way—towards their dismissive tone. Bilberrypaw imagines the moments that follow behind a sudden burial at the same time as he wonders how Brackenpaw can be so glib.

"Not fast enough?" Bilberrypaw echoes quietly, uncertainty coloring his tone.

Perhaps naïvely he considers the danger a hypothetical rather than a reality and had thought knowledge of how to avoid it would be enough. He tips his head towards Cricketcry, follows the reproach in his voice with a frown. A part of him takes pride in being the dutiful apprentice—more eager than Brackenpaw, better behaved. He doesn't raise his voice towards his mentor and only occasionally fusses about his chores. It would be simpler if Brackenpaw could act as he does, but Bilberrypaw supposes he understands the frustration that comes with information being reiterated.

"If Brackenpaw already knows all of this, why are they still an apprentice?" The question is asked sincerely. ​
windclan apprentice | black and white harlequin | eight moons | tags​
 
  • Like
Reactions: SCORCHSTAR
She pads after her mentor, brought along out of a heightened sense of duty promised to her by the stars. Her gaze flicks towards the dark paths that are their nature to understand and expand; she grows jealous now of her brother, who is free to roam the open skies with reckless abandon. Oh well... at least she could say she did something cool like rescue that fluffy SkyClan she-cat!

Brackenpaw's sharp tone only serves to get on her nerves- she has no idea how lucky she is to have Scorchstreak as a mentor and though she's come to be more respectful of Cricketcry, he is not nearly as cool as the clan's deputy. Had all her pawing at the tortie she-cat made her less interested in Honeysucklepaw when she was kit? "Can you... shut up," she asks pointedly, glowering at the pessimistic calico as their nihilistic complaining starts to grate on her nerves.

Bilberrypaw pipes up with what the black feline considers a dumb question so she looks at him with an appropriate 'are you stupid?' written on her face. "You can know stuff and still be bad at your job," she declares, ignoring the backhanded insult hidden in her answer.

mother tell me 𓇢𓆸 will you stay?

  • 'confidence is blinding... it may be the death of you'
  • HONEYSUCKLEPAW
    - ward of cricketcry of wind-swept moors
    - she/her
    - orphan daughter to mintshade and gracklestep

    a solid pitch she-cat with fern-green eyes
​
 
Last edited:
༄༄ Brackenpaw’s response is somewhat expected—there is rage simmering below their patched pelt at most times, Scorchstreak knows, and this is not the first time that she has been made to see it. Now though, in the darkness of the tunnels, so soon after Gravepaw’s death, the deputy finds her patience lacking, her nerves worn thin and sparking with each word. She sucks in a deep breath through her teeth, determined not to snap even as her apprentice claims that the information isn’t anything new. "It isn’t new information, you are correct. Repetition is how warriors learn, and you would be wise to…" she trails off as the rest of the irritated words hit her in full. Not fast enough, Brackenpaw says, and not fast enough, comes the echo from the younger of her two apprentices. Of course Bilberrypaw would become caught on that part and not the rest of it.

"There is no need to be fast," she opposes, in a voice somehow liquid enough to cover her jagged edges of frustration, "if you are intelligent enough to look out for the signs of collapse beforehand. Awareness of the space around you can prevent you from being caught in such a situation in the first place." Another voice joins in, and dappled ears pin themselves against the deputy’s scarred head. "Leave off, Cricketcry," they mutter to the tom, his words appreciated but unneeded. Still, golden eyes grow slightly more rounded as they shift over his form—a silent thanks.

To Bilberrypaw, they say smoothly, "Brackenpaw may know this, but they are still inexperienced." And until they learn to behave unlike a kit with a thorn in their paw, then they will remain an inexperienced apprentice, she does not add. It bleeds through into her tone of voice anyway. Honeysucklepaw has a point. "Plenty of cats have had great knowledge of these tunnels, and have still met their end within them. Now, Brackenpaw… if you would like to listen, then we can continue our training." It is a challenge and a peace offering—if the younger calico will accept it, then this conversation can be over. They can all slide it under the dirt, hide it away where it need not be touched again.

YOU KNOW I DESERVE IT ☽♰☾ WELL, TAKE IT OUT ON ME
  • ooc: —
  • 84614867_oGXlwEhkllyouH3.jpg
  • SCORCHSTREAK ❯❯ she/they, deputy of windclan, tunneler
    ༄ small, slim flame-streaked calico with fiery golden eyes. cold and closed-off, ferociously protective of her clanmates. rarely seen aboveground.
    ༄ 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
​
​
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back