private AND STARS MAY COLLIDE ;; COUNCIL MEETING

[HOWLINGSTAR]

// @Flamewhisker @GENTLESTORM @nightbird @RACCOONSTRIPE @ROEFLAME . @BURNSTORM @leafhusk

“I don’t care if they’re in the nursery. Get them now,” She had told Raccoonstripe before ducking into her den. Matters were too large right now to not have every member present. Tansyshine can watch the kits while her two remaining lead warriors come into her dimly lit den, and as soon as the last cat takes their seat, she sits straighter, eyes sharp. She scans the faces of her council, of her medicine cat. They all must know why they’re here. The murders of their three clanmates had cast a dark cloud over ThunderClan, the air outside thick with distrust. All three were former kittypets that had been accepted into the clan under Emberstar. All three symbolized that any cat could be a true ThunderClanner no matter their blood. For someone to kill them…it sends a clear message.

“It’s clear now that we have a traitor among us.” Her voice is clipped, urgent. There is no other explanation. There can’t be. She sits in silence as the gravity of the situation sinks in. "We’ve…we’ve investigated every corner of our territory. Has anyone been acting strangely? We can’t afford to lose any more of our own." The old she-cat’s eyes narrow as she tries to think herself of anyone. Even the exiled’s friends seemed to be shocked. “We can’t rest until we have bring whoever’s responsible to justice. Gentlestorm, has StarClan spoken with you at all?” Her eyes find the tom, though she thinks if they had, he would’ve told her by now.

​

 

[leafhusk]

⚘ leafhusk sat in the dimly lit den, tail curled neatly around her paws. her first council meeting, and death hangs overhead like a veil. the bell has tolled thrice now, and there’s still a long list of ex-kittypets lingering about. will the end justify the means? to kill warriors during a time of tension, ever-looming prey shortages, is stupid. it’s like the traitor wants to play the long game, drag thunderclan on until it’s last gasping breath.

the word ‘traitor’ spits from howlingstar’s mouth like venom, and the fur on her spine nearly sticks up. to witness their powerful leader struggle under the weight.. it makes leafhusk nervous in a way she struggles to describe. the sepia straightens her posture, "i.. i haven’t noticed anything since the exile." while it’s true, she still feels guilty admitting so. "pebblestep was murdered right under our noses. if we can't slip from camp for a second, then it's not safe here." i don’t feel safe, she wants to say.​

 

[ROEFLAME .]

-ˋˏ ༻ ☀ ༺ ˎˊ-

When Raccoonstripe had ducked into the nursery to call on she and Nightbird, Roeflame had risen without a second thought, equal measures of relief and dread marking each step the tabby took out of the nursery. As of late, Roeflame’s silence had become a near-eerie adaption for even herself. Solemnly she ducks into the den, drawn to her mates side with a gentle press of her pelt to his. Sage hues fall to her leader, pupils thinning with each hasted word. We have a traitor among us.
When Howlingstar looks to them, Roeflame already has a small list of cats in mind. Behavior that she had been unsuccessful in correcting multiple times now, it seemed. It should have been obvious, it should have been. The lead warrior breathes, feathered tail flicking to and fro in thought, the bodies of each blood-spattered clanmate being dragged back to camp flashing on repeat behind celadon hues. “They’re going after former kittypets, aren’t they? Ploverhop, Morningcloud, Pebblestep, they all have that in common.” All had been with them since before Roeflame could remember. Yet, Coltkit’s tear-stained cheeks are a vivid memory, Smokefur’s blatantly slandering Stormywing… it wasn’t just tension, no. This had been growing for awhile, festering… but who had it infected deeply enough to drive them to murder their own? How many more would need to die before ThunderClan would be able to figure it out?
Suspecting anyone who had ever shown disdain for former kittypets was not the answer, it was too broad of a pool. Roeflame’s gaze darkens, moving to Leafhusk. “But in the time it would take to narrow down every warrior with a kittypet prejudice…” Roeflame trails off, shaking her head.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎┌── SHE BLOWS OUTTA NOWHERE ⋅✴⋅ ROMAN CANDLE OF THE WILD ──┐‎

• 
  
  
  

• 

• 
  ROEFLAME ✩ she/her, Lead Warrior of Thunderclan, twenty-two moons.
  ⭃ petite cinnamon silver ticked tabby with murky green eyes & a small scar over her left eye.
  ⭃ mate to Burnstorm ☀ mentor to Foxpaw
  ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted ☀ underline and tag when attacking
  ⭃ penned by Noor ↛ @toyangel on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
  

​

 

[RACCOONSTRIPE]

Raccoonstripe doesn't hesitate when Howlingstar gives him the order. "I don't care if they're in the nursery," she'd told him, her voice sharp. "Get them now." His tail flicks, beckoning both Roeflame and his mate from the depths of the thickly-woven den. He follows Flamewhisker and the other councilmembers toward the cleft in the Highrock, his amber-brown eyes adjusting to the dimly lit gloom. Howlingstar's pelt is prickling; her mouth works overtime, chewing at empty enemies. "It's clear now that we have a traitor among us," his mother declares.

There's is uneasy quiet among the cats gathered. Outspoken warriors and apprentices is one thing, the tabby thinks, swallowing thickly, but murder? He had his own doubts about those cats with kittypet origins, kittypet blood, but he could never imagine unsheathing his claws against a cat he shared a den, meals, tongues with. It's treachery, alright. His dark eyes narrow. "The kittypets aren't safe here anymore," he mutters, his whiskers twitching.

He gives Leafhusk a long, apologetic look, his dark eyes simmering with feeling. I'm sorry. "We should send them away," he mews, squaring his shoulders. "Until we can figure out who the dangerous ones in this Clan are, we should send them somewhere they'll be safe." He meets eat councilmember's eyes resolutely.

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

• ooc: —
• 
• Raccoon . Raccoonstripe, he/him w/ masculine terms.
  — "speech”, thoughts, attack
  — 43 moons old, ages realistically on the 5th.
  — mentored by n/a ; mentoring Thistlepaw ; 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.
  
  

​

 

[Flamestar]

〔✦〕The weight that hung in the air was nearly suffocating. There was no secret behind why they were gathered here today. Three of their beloved clanmates now lay in the ground, their lives cut short by someone within their ranks. Ploverhop, Morningcloud, and Pebblestep. Three brave warriors that didn't deserve to die...to be hunted down by someone in their clan. This was worse than the wolves. The wolves were expected to kill and slaughter without meaning...they were predators. But this...this was a clanmate, a cat who shared a den with everyone. Just that thought made her sick.

Has anyone been acting strangely? A question that she had often been asking herself since the first murder. The instances with some of the young warriors and apprentices stuck out, but they had been quiet since the three were exiled. "Do you think it's Ravenstrike, Darkthistle, and Redflower?" Her voice gave away the doubt she was already feeling about the statement, but there was a good chance they were behind something. We should have killed them instead. "They aren't just regular rogues, they know when our patrols go out, they know where the camp is.." The three that had been killed all had one thing in common, they held kittypet blood. She cast a glance at Leafhusk, wondering how her fellow councilmate was feeling. She and Burnstorm both had kittypet heritage...It's not safe here anymore.

Roeflame spoke next, and Flamewhisker slowly shook her head as her former denmate trailed off. By the time they narrowed things down, who knows how many more of their clanmates would be slaughtered? We could post guards...Not let anyone out of camp without a council member to escort them? No...that wouldn't bring us any closer to finding out who it is...besides, Pebblestep was killed in the dirt place...the murder is growing braver... Her thoughts were interrupted by Raccoonstripe's voice. She turned her green gaze to meet his, listening curiously.

We should send them away,...

Eyebrows rise, and her jaw opens a little as his words soak in. Send them away? But they are our clanmates! He continues, and she slowly starts to realize that his idea isn't as outlandish as she had immediately thought. "That's..." Her sentence trails off, but she lifts her chin in agreement. "As wrong as it feels to send our clanmates away...it may be their safest option. The camp won't be safe until we find out who is behind this...if we send them away, we must not tell anyone where they are going." Nobody was trustworthy until the culprit (or culprits) were caught and punished.

even on my weakest days ( I get a little bit stronger ) //

• ooc.
  
• FLAMEWHISKER —— deputy of thunderclan , mentoring none . storm x lily . littermate to nala, smokey, and nemo ✦ penned by icey !
  ✦ afab / she/her / 35 moons & ages every 20ᵗʰ
  ✦ widowed / heterosexual / closed to romance
  ✦ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / underline & tag account when attacking
  —— difficult in battle
  
  ✦ “speech”, 'thoughts', all opinions are in character
  ✦ tags — msg on discord for plots — toyhouse
  
• 
  
  

  a longhaired red tabby with low white and green eyes. flamewhisker's fur is a vibrant hue of red, riddled with thick classic tabby markings. her fur is medium in length, and she has a large, feathery tail. her chest, belly, tail tip, and her paws are dipped white. flamewhisker's eyes are a dark, deep shade of green. her shoulder has a large scar on it from a fight with a dog. she also has a shredded ear from a disagreement with a loner during her time alone before joining thunderclan. on particularly cold days, or sometimes before a major weather change, she will walk with a slight limp from her shoulder injury.

​

 

[nightbird]

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ she is surprised when raccoonstripe pokes into the nursery, beckoning her and roeflame for a council meeting of all things. queens had been excluded in the past, left to tend to their kittens while decisions were made in their wake. the fact that howlingstar had pulled them despite president has an uncomfortable feeling rolling down her spine.

traitor. the word hangs in the thick air. a cat they shared tongues with, hunted and slept in the same camp as her young kits, slaughtered their own clanmates like prey. she glances through the mouth of howlingstar's den for a moment, gaze filled with the same bitter coldness that settled into her ribs. the leader's question had her swallowing something nearly guilt ridden.

she hadn't noticed, too busy making sure her eyes were constantly drifting in five directions. she hadn't noticed. and if not for her kits, nightbird was sure she would have.

her brow lifts at raccoonstripe's suggestion, it was certainly the safest choice for those with kittypet blood. they were sitting ducks here in camp, not knowing when their last breath would be. it wouldn't be easy somewhere else, but at least they weren't living every moment in fear of clanmates that have vowed to protect them. she nods to flamewhisker's sentiments, sending a glance towards leafhusk. she was the only one with a flank in this decision, lead warrior or not, she'd have to go too.

"it's not ideal, but it may be our only option." her ears twitch, tail shifting to lay atop her paws. "we cannot guarantee their safety outside of the territory, but we cannot do that here either. we don't have time to waste, they're getting too bold."

‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ┌── THE CROWS IN THE GARDEN ⋅⋆⋅ ARE LAUGHING AT MY EXPENSE ──┐‎

• ooc ↛
  

• 

• 
  NIGHTBIRD ✩ she/her, lead warrior of thunderclan, 35 ☾'s
  ⭃ a small black smoke molly with a white paw and pale silver eyes. currently a queen residing in the nursery.
  ⭃ mate to raccoonstripe / / currently mentoring none.
  ⭃ 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.
  

​

 

[leafhusk]

⚘ it feels strange, to witness everyone act so professional. when she joined the council, most of them wore the ‘queen’ title secondary to lead. until now, she’s worked alongside the childless members, but her inexperience is not what makes her feel out of place. right now, she is the only one with one hundred kittypet blood in her veins. burnstorm may have the build of one, but he's survived on fresh-kill since kithood. whatever they decide on affects her, and when she thinks, when she speaks, it is for everyone else affected. briefly, she meets roeflame's eyes, but raccoonstripe’s eyes scorch her like flames, but there is a dim behind the ashes– it’s uncomfortable. it doesn’t make sense until he speaks.

oh, she hates how smart it is.

the cats around her haven’t realized they’re thinking like twolegs. she's heard of cats being sent away if they're too difficult, stars, it nearly happened to her. leafhusk’s lips twitch, forcing back a morbid smile; for her feelings to come full circle in the wake of violence, blood, it's almost funny. there is a blanket of security in this plan, however. it may feel like barbed wire but this hurt is necessary. leafhusk thinks of roaringpaw, tornadopaw, coltkit, and ivorykit.

while she contemplates on it, flamewhisker and nightbird give her a passing glance–pity? no–mentally signaling her to weigh in. how would this meeting have gone, if she wasn’t in this den right now? "it sounds ridiculous when it's said outloud, but we don’t have the luxury to debate on the morals of this suggestion," she sighs, "the safety of our clanmates come first. all i ask is for you guys to figure out who’s our killer, quickly." don't leave us in the dark for moons, she pleads wordlessly, looking at her fellow council mates until landing on their faithful leader.​

 

[GENTLESTORM]

.𓍊↟ DOWN THE BANK WHERE THE DOGS ROAM, POR LA CALLE QUE TE LLEVA A CURICÓ ↟𓍊.​

‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚. — Gentlestorm had joined the rest of the lead warriors, deputy, and his leader as he settles down feeling unease crawling underneath his skin at the sudden deaths in camp. It makes him not want to leave Thunderclan but he had to uphold his half of the bargain and continue to train Moonbeam still it causes his stomach to twist with discomfort. He swallows feeling his mouth become slightly dry before he shakes his helm towards Howlingstar as a frown tugs at his lips "I haven't." His feathery ears angle backwards as he pauses for a few heartbeats wishing that he could run off to Highstones and dream with his former clanmates but... the risk of leaving the living unattended with no healer mutes his suggestion. What if he were to dream with either Berryheart and Little Wolf only for them to tell him it's too late and return to another dead clanmate?

He listens carefully and blinks back surprise when Racoonstripe of all cats suggests that their kittyblood clanmates leave the clan for their own safety just until they figure out whose taking them out one by one. Only a fool would protest and Gentlestorm nods slowly "Yes, our only option." His scruffy eyebrows knit together in frustration as he tries to think of who could possibly be doing this then listens closely when Flamewhisker says three names. Ravenstrike, Darkthistle, and Redflower. He feels sick once more to his stomach and shuffles his large paws as he drinks in a quick breath of air to calm his mind, he clears his throat. The fact its all happening is ridiculous. Starclan give me answers. He pleads quietly as he closes his eyes then opens them once more "Once they're sent away... Perhaps, I could go to Highstones and see if I can recieve any answers." Unless you don't wish me to. These words are left unsaid but he communicates it through his gaze as he stares at his old friend, Howlingstar.

⡠﹞AND DOWN BY THE BEACH ‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚. WHERE NO OTHERS CAN FIND﹝⠢

• 

  MEDICINE CAT IN TRAINING;
  — ✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿ FLESH WOUNDS
  — ✿✿✿✿✿✿✿❀❀❀ INFECTIONS
  — ✿✿✿✿✿✿✿❀❀❀ ACHES & PAINS
  — ✿✿✿✿✿✿❀❀❀❀ ILLNESS
  — ✿✿✿✿✿✿❀❀❀❀ BREATHING ISSUES
  — ✿❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀ TRAVELING HERBS
  — ✿✿✿✿✿✿✿❀❀❀ BROKEN BONES
  — ✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿ KITTING
  — ❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀ POISONS
• 
  ✿ a longhaired blue sepia tom w/low white and brown eyes
  ✿ gentlestorm is a very warm individual and friendly to those who he meets, he's very social and willing to lend anyone a paw if they need it. he's very patient, caring, and it's usually rare to earn his ire.
  ✿ 58 moons old; ages the 27th every month
  ✿ demiromantic bisexual ; widowed mate of little wolf
  ✿ easy to befriend/interact with ; hard to anger/upset ; peaceful powerplay allowed
  ✿ "speech", thoughts, attacking

​

 

[HOWLINGSTAR]

Howlingstar listens to the murmur of voices carefully, her gaze flicking from one serious face to another. Her heart goes out to Leafhusk in particular - Roeflame is right, she shares a background with the cats who have found themselves in early graves. The fear in which she and the others now must live in…it’s not fair. Her ears twitch as her son speaks up then with the suggestion to send the kittypets away. It stirs a mix of emotions within her, from initial shock to reluctant consideration. Turmoil rolls like a storm within her belly. The thought of sending away their own pains her deeply, but would it really be safer for them? She has a duty to protect those who are at risk, and right now, that includes her once-kittypet warriors. Her gaze sweeps across the gathered cats, meeting each pair of eyes with a questioning look. They all agree with this? Her gaze lands on Leafhusk last then, the one who holds the most stake here. The camp has become a place of danger for them, she had stated. “Will it be any safer outside of ThunderClan, where there are rogues and…and DuskClan?” It feels deeply wrong.

Her eyes shut briefly as she thinks. They’re all telling her they think she should do this, but how can she? How can she send her own clanmates out into unclaimed lands, without their nests or dens, their friends? She takes a steadying breath, finally speaking again as her eyes flutter open. “We can’t send them away. We can’t let fear divide us further. They are just as much a part of ThunderClan as anyone else - there has to be another way.” The tabby meets the eyes of each council member, her voice calm but steadily gaining resolve as she stands firmer in her decision. "We have faced threats before, and we have always stood united. If we begin to send away our clanmates, what if we only further erode the solidarity within our clan?" Howlingstar's gaze settles on Raccoonstripe, her eyes round. Stars, she hopes she’s making the right decision. "Instead, we need to focus on identifying the traitor among us. This is a time for unity, not division. We must increase our patrols, keep a closer watch on all warriors, and make sure we do not fall into paranoia.”

Doubt worms its way into her stomach. By making this call, is she only further endangering her clanmates? More so than she would by sending them away? She looks to her medicine cat then, blinking. “And Gentlestorm, if you believe it would aid us, you may go to Highstones and seek guidance from StarClan." They’d surely have insight.​

 

[BURNSTORM]

When Roeflame comes into the den, he immediately moves so that he is sitting next to her, their fur brushing but not touching as he turns all of his attention to the matter at hand. This was serious, cats were dying to the claws of other cats and until they could figure out who was responsible it would keep happening. Again and again cats would be sent to StarClan for the circumstances of their birth, something entirely out of their control and something that they had more than likely thought was behind them. Until recently.

He has known cats in his clan held certain prejudices against kittypets or those with kittypet blood, but never until now were they so loud, so obvious. Those who did not favor the cats who hailed from twoleg homes had become more vocal as of late, and it was growing more and more dire every day. "I havent seen anything either" he echoes his fellow lead warriors, shaking his head somberly.

It is his uncle who surprises him the most in this moment. We should send them away he says. For a moment, Burnstorm narrows his eyes at the dark-striped warrior, wondering what he is playing at. Was this a ploy to get rid of the kittypets, to cast them out from their clan? He remembers the way he had treated hm and his littermates when he had been young, remembers how desperate he had been to prove himself to his own kin. His mother had reassured him it was alright, that his uncle loved him the same as any other and that he was pushing him because he cared, but Burnstorm had never felt that way. Now though.. his features soften as he realizes Raccoonstripe is genuine and it's a good plan he thinks even as others say it, murmuring their agreement.

But his grandmother does not see it that way. He opens his mouth to argue How long before they start coming after cats who are not kittypets but share their blood? he thinks, his kits immediately springing to his mind but she makes a good point too. How did they know they were not just sending them from the badgers den and straight into the mouth of the badger? He doesn't like it but he lowers his head, a displeased frown on his features. "Just say the word and I will help wherever I am needed" he says finally, his voice gravelly.

( ☼ ) come and take it

• 
  
• 
  BURNSTORM THUNDERCLAN LEAD WARRIOR ; HE / HIM ; BROTHER TO MORNINGPAW, MOONWHISPER, HOWLFIRE, FIREFLYGLOW, SKYCLAW & DUSKBIRD ; MATE TO ROEFLAME ; FATHER TO DOVEKIT, BEETLEKIT, AND LITTLEKIT
  

  A large, sharp tongued, tom with long black fur and golden, oval shaped, eyes.

  ✦ Difficult in battle. A skilled fighter + fights honorably
  

​

 

[RACCOONSTRIPE]

He can feel Flamewhisker's initial reluctance sparking from her ginger pelt, but after a heartbeat, the deputy nods. "As wrong as it feels to send our Clanmates away, it may be their safest option," she mews, and Raccoonstripe nods slowly. Nightbird speaks up, and he flashes a grateful glance in his mate's direction. She is cool and level-headed as always. Even Leafhusk and Gentlestorm, who Raccoonstripe had been prepared to debate, acquiesce to his idea.

It's not ideal, they all seem to say at once, but it's safe.

But Howlingstar shakes her head, distress in her green eyes. "We must stand united, not divided," she tells her council, and Raccoonstripe stares at her for a moment. But what if dividing them is the only way to save their lives? He shifts his paws, then dips his head to his leader. "As you say, Howlingstar." His mother is staunch in her opinion, and he must respect her decision as ThunderClan's leader, even if it's not one he would have made himself.

Burnstorm rumbles to tell him to help where he's needed; the tabby warrior murmurs his agreement. "I'm happy to go on more patrols. We need to do what we can to keep those rogues out of our territory." He flexes his claws, a spear of anger lancing through him as he imagines amber eyes gleaming from the shadows, claws targeting his Clanmates' pelts...

Even if they're kittypets, they have lived among us for moons, he thinks, his mouth tightening. And they didn't deserve to die like this.

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

• ooc: —
• 
• Raccoon . Raccoonstripe, he/him w/ masculine terms.
  — "speech”, thoughts, attack
  — 44 moons old, ages realistically on the 5th.
  — mentored by n/a ; mentoring Thistlepaw ; 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.
  
  

​