pafp as the birdsong quiets |➹| loner near the border

[sparrowsong!]

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// please wait for @FIGPAW !!

The forest near Twolegplace had fallen silent. Many would find it unnerving, unnatural. It warned of danger, telling any nearby to flee.

Earlier that morning came the crackle of thunder. Only... it wasn't thunder- it couldn't be. The sky was clear, devoid of clouds. Yet the sound had traveled far, splitting the air nearly a dozen times. Birds scattered. Animals hid.

From the chaos came Sparrow, eyes blurred with tears and breaths ragged. The twoleg hadn't even touched them, yet a wound along their side burned with each frantic beat of their heart. Their ears still rang from the explosive sound. Their- their family. They wanted to go back, to go help, to see if they were okay, but their paws refused to change course. They could only get away, away.

The twolegs, previously so kind, unminding of their presence as they went about their lives. Some of them, unfamiliar, had approached, none paying it much mind, others even approaching with a purr. Grabbed, stuffed into cages despite their cries. Injured instantaneously, left to bleed, unable to flee. The deafening sound.

Sparrow had escaped the winding streets of Twolegplace, but now they were alone.

At last they had allowed themself to stumble to a halt, coughing and choking on their own gasping breaths. They were alone. They had left them all behind. They felt powerless. Adrenaline still pulsed in their veins, body quivering and legs shaking with exhaustion, but at last they had looked back at the towering twoleg nests behind them. At some point they had finally sat down, mind a buzz of static and why and the blood that roared in their ears.

From there, they found they didn't move for quite a while. They hadn't wanted to, and they weren't sure if they could. The sun had crawled higher in the sky by the time they wearily climbed back to their paws. Sparrow still didn't want to move, really. Their eyes stung from dried tears, the blood along their side dried and the wound throbbing dully.

It was only after they began to walk again, a faint limp to their step, that they realized they didn't quite know where they were. They had never ventured this far from twolegplace, much less beyond it. This was the forest. They had met cats from the forest before, they recalled dully as a scent, somewhat familiar, began to reach their nose. It smelled like Figpaw. It was... SkyClan, as she told them. This was where she lived, with her own colony- her Clan.

The scent grew stronger as Sparrow approached, and they paused. The border marked the land SkyClan had claimed as their own, and wasn't meant to be crossed. Slowly they shuffled back a few paces, thoughts at an uncomfortable halt as they stared blankly into the depths of the trees. It was quiet, only the occasional chirp of a bird cutting through it.

The chocolate feline's chest tightened again, tears welling as they began to plod onward once more, taking care to not cross into the pine forest.​

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[FIGFEATHER]

A plump vole dangles from her maw as she pads through the pine forest. Her mouth waters as the scent of her kill trails into her nose, on long outings like this one it got really tempting to take a bite… Would anyone notice if she merely took a nibble? Her ears fold in disappointment with herself, every day her moral code got more and more skewed and conflicted, what was wrong with her?! Was time with Fanta truly turning her soft?

The scent of twolegplace fills her nose, she intends to ignore it, but she cannot shake the familiar scent. It was not Fanta’s… it was someone else’s. It gnaws at her until she follows it and catches sight of a tabby feline. It’s… Sparrow?! They were injured, tottering along the borderline, without thinking she rushes to their side.

”You’re hurt!” She exclaims, dropping her vole in the process. It tumbles to the forest floor, temporarily forgotten about as her focus fixates on a familiar face. ”What happened?!”

//didnt feel natural for her to bring the idea up yet so she will VERY SOON :D​

---

Spoiler: TAGS ★ 03/27

( primary character / "speech" / ic opinions )​

╰ ★ ჻ 001 GENERAL INFORMATION ,
· FIGPAW, AMAB — she / her
╰ ‣ 11 moons .
╰ ‣ skyclan apprentice . believes in starclan

╰ ★ ჻ 002 VISUALS & AESTHETICS ,
· DOMESTIC FELINE, smells like pine nettles & sap, status — 100%
╰ ‣ A red tabby she-cat with orange eyes. Mangled right hind leg.

╰ ★ ჻ 003 MENTALITY & MANNERISMS ,
· ENFP-A ❝ CAMPAIGNER❞ , Gryfindor, Lawful Good
╰ ‣ Excitable, generous, caring, quick-to-act, distrusting, resentful
╰ ‣ finds relative ease relating to others . kind-hearted, will show mercy
╰ ‣ cats of windclan blood or those she deems morally inferior will be met with her ire

╰ ★ ჻ 004 INTERACTIONS & RELATIONSHIPS ,
· NPC X DAISYFLIGHT, sister to Greenpaw, Violetpaw, Snowpaw & Butterflypaw
╰ ‣ Pansexual . mistakes admiration for romantic feelings
╰ ‣ Crushing on Fanta
╰ ‣ Apprentice to Tallulahwing
╰ ‣ good fighter . excellent hunter .
╰ ‣ unlikely to start fights . will flee .
╰ ‣ attack in underline . penned by user @ava.

 

[sheepcurl]

It's meant to be a simple border check with Greenpaw, who each day had been growing older, nearly ready to leave the nest and... A quick glance at the apprentice at her side leaves a bittersweet feeling in her heart. He's taller now than when he had been assigned under her, a small little apprentice, and now he'd be a good warrior, too. Sheep can't help but give him a smile, even if he doesn't know why.

And after Figpaw's exclaim that feels like it rattles the forest, Sheeps rushing alongside Green to get to the scene, already fearing the worst when they spot the girl with a younger looking cat. Blood, dried and smeared against the others side, was the first thing her eyes landed on. Already sceptical, Sheep slightly hesitates before she begins to speak. "Is everything okay here? Where do you come from, cariño?" curled ears slightly flatten against her head, a frown pursing lips downwards. Worry sparks and she cant help but feel as if this was a trap, even if she knew that it wasn't.

// @GREENPAW ​

"speech"​

 

[GREENEYES]

It seems like just another regular bout of training, another typical day alongside Sheepcurl. A sense of normalcy that Greenpaw knows is rapidly dwindling, with each day that passes. He knows this normalcy will soon become a memory of his days as an apprentice, but he tries to relish in it while he can.

But, oh, of course! When has anything been normal, as of late? Even this border check becomes nothing of the sort, as his sister's shout rattles through his ears. It's alarming, makes his heart drop. What now, what now? Another murderous rogue? More missing clanmates? Greenpaw can't help the fear that rises within him - that newleaf has brought another wave of green to SkyClan.

And as he hurries behind Sheepcurl to the scene, as the scent of drying blood hits his nose, he can only beg the stars that something hasn't happened to Figpaw. With everything that's happened as of late, it... it wasn't impossible.

But, it's another cat that carries the scent of blood in their brown tabby fur, one that... one that Figpaw seems oddly close to with the lack of distance between them. Greenpaw blinks, head tilting - a new daylight warrior, maybe? One that got hurt on the way here? He doesn't recognize them.

"Are you okay?" he finally asks the new face. He steps forward to stand closer to his littermate as Sheepcurl speaks. Where do you come from? she asks. Which means... his mentor doesn't know who this is either. And, if Sheepcurl doesn't know the cat... why does it feel like Figpaw does?
​

 

[sparrowsong!]

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The storm of thoughts-but-not was an increasing pressure in their head, throat aching with tightness as they worried their cheek in their teeth. Sparrow hiccuped with their next intake of breath, wincing slightly when their teeth sink in a little too deep. Before they can swipe their tongue over it however, an abrupt cry makes them jump, fur rising and wide eyes turning.

The tabby does their best to blink away stinging tears, sucking in a breath as they recognize the bright-furred molly watching them worriedly. "Fig-Figpaw," they utter, voice weak but laced with surprise.

Two more cats, ones they did not recognize, raced over. Other SkyClanners, a small voice in their mind suggested. They all ask what happened, if they were okay. Were they okay? Moments passed, their mouth parted but sluggish mind turning the idea over in their mind. No, they... they didn't think they were. Their shoulder hurt, and...

Sparrow's gaze turned over to Figpaw again, shoulders shaking with a sob and giving a small shake of their head. Their tongue felt heavy. How were they supposed to put it into words? They didn't want to think about it, but it wouldn't leave their mind. "I'm sorry," they choked out when they couldn't immediately respond.

The small feline tried again. "They- the- Twolegplace," they finally began. "My- my family, my colony, they took them, they hurt them I- I don't know what to do, I don't--" As they went on their voice grew thin and shrill, eventually cutting off with a low cry. They didn't want to consider the possibility that they were all gone. They couldn't. They couldn't.

Sparrow's legs felt weak, chin lowering to their chest and vision blurred with fresh tears. Despite it, they remained standing. "I don't know what to do," they repeated helplessly, quietly, hoarsely. "I'm scared."​

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[FIGFEATHER]

The lead warrior and her brother are close behind, her heart lurches when she realizes she’ll have to explain how she knows who Sparrow is. The last thing she wanted was to get into deeper trouble with her clan-mates for her suspicious activity, but for now she must focus on the wounded feline. She stays quiet, remaining close to their side to provide friendly assurance and they explain their circumstance.

”Hurt who?” Figpaw blurts the ask before she even realizes that Sparrow was struggling to get the words out the way it was. She turns and places her orange gaze on Sheepcurl, “We must help them… Dawnglare must see them.” Usually she was not one to leap to healing outsiders and offering them shelter, but the girl was bias. Sparrow was a good cat, and she was ready to plead her case if needed. Wearily she meets her brother’s gaze before looking back to his mentor.​

---

Spoiler: TAGS ★ 03/27

( primary character / "speech" / ic opinions )​

╰ ★ ჻ 001 GENERAL INFORMATION ,
· FIGPAW, AMAB — she / her
╰ ‣ 11 moons .
╰ ‣ skyclan apprentice . believes in starclan

╰ ★ ჻ 002 VISUALS & AESTHETICS ,
· DOMESTIC FELINE, smells like pine nettles & sap, status — 100%
╰ ‣ A red tabby she-cat with orange eyes. Mangled right hind leg.

╰ ★ ჻ 003 MENTALITY & MANNERISMS ,
· ENFP-A ❝ CAMPAIGNER❞ , Gryfindor, Lawful Good
╰ ‣ Excitable, generous, caring, quick-to-act, distrusting, resentful
╰ ‣ finds relative ease relating to others . kind-hearted, will show mercy
╰ ‣ cats of windclan blood or those she deems morally inferior will be met with her ire

╰ ★ ჻ 004 INTERACTIONS & RELATIONSHIPS ,
· NPC X DAISYFLIGHT, sister to Greenpaw, Violetpaw, Snowpaw & Butterflypaw
╰ ‣ Pansexual . mistakes admiration for romantic feelings
╰ ‣ Crushing on Fanta
╰ ‣ Apprentice to Tallulahwing
╰ ‣ good fighter . excellent hunter .
╰ ‣ unlikely to start fights . will flee .
╰ ‣ attack in underline . penned by user @ava.

 

[HEATHERPAW]

જ➶ The whole time they are talking the molly finds herself trying not to speak, not to burst from how intrigued she really was. This is a loner and one that Figpaw seems to know from how this is all going. She wants to help them and well then they couldn't be a bad cat right? Her wide amber eyes are bright with her spinning emotions ans she finally relents. "Yeah can we help them! Their colony is missing! They need a home too!" Ah wait, that isn't for her to say and she makes a small gasp befoee closing her maw up suddenly. She tries not to look mortified and she glances toward Sheepcurl before shifting her paws a little and stepping closer to Figpaw, and then back again. "Um, yeah, getting them help sounds like a good plan....ya know."​

 

[ThistleBack]

Dirt dusted tail swishes through the ferns as he slithers between the foliage. Drawn to the voices, bark is clinging to black and white spikes as he peels into the clearing where a young brown and white pelted cat stands with tear stained muzzle. Pelt like ticked dry leaves, eyes blown wide with shock.

A forgotten vole lies on the ground, and Figpaw speaks to them as a friend. Thistleback’s hackles and jowls are relaxed as he stops beside Greenpaw and Sheepcurl with a wordless glance before studying the dried blood stuck and seeped through the fur staining it dark. They’re sobbing, heartbreak in every breath. Scared, afraid, alone and their entire world uprooted by upwalkers. Thistleback sighs softly, knowing just how cruel they are capable of being. He had been lucky in his youth to be quick and ferocious enough to escape them.

Heatherpaw and Figpaw insist on assisting them. Thistleback’s gunmetal stare narrows and he nods wordlessly to Sheepcurl. " you’re safe now. " and among a friend- it would seem. He kicks off and trots along the trail, hackles bristling as he goes to check the perimeter. Sheepcurl could handle this, and comforting a scared creature wasn’t his specialty by any means, no matter how tender his intentions. The woman with fawn and white speckled curls, no one compared to her compassion. That's what that kid needs.

​

OOC INFO REF

• — out,, poor wee lil beb
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  Thirty-three moons EVENT TRACKER | IMPORTANT INFO
  — Lead warrior of Skyclan since 12.22.22
  — Devoted to Deersong 9.29.22 | polyamorous
  — Father of Coyotepaw, Pricklepaw, and Eveningpaw.
  — mentoring Snowpaw graduate(s) Quillstrike
  — very muscular piebald black and white tom with spiky fur and cold silver-grey eyes.
  — voice & accent
  — biography･ﾟ✧​
  OPEN for Dice battles | stine#3004
  
• 
  
  

​

 

[sheepcurl]

Sheep hadn't expected this to turn in to something as big as it was, but she finds herself prepared and armed with words of comfort whenever the other starts to shake. "Hey, hey, cariño- it's okay, things will be okay, I promise." she turns her gaze to look at Thistleback, who had just approached. She blinks gratefully to him, a warmth in her gaze, before she turns back to Sparrow and Figpaw and Heatherpaw. Sheep's quite honestly not sure if she can make the call to bring them in herself, so this makes it a little harder, and teeth grit just slightly as she exhales.

She has to make a move, though. She has to- "Greenpaw," she turns to blink at her apprentice, thoughts rushing a little too fast within her brain. "I want you to get..." Blazestar? She hesitates. Blazestar hadn't been in the best condition lately... Would he be fine to trek all the way out here? She hadn't missed the deep sadness in his eyes. "Orangeblossom, okay? And be safe, watch where you're going." she aims to press her nose against his forehead as a sendoff, turning back to the others. With as young as Heather is, she wouldn't send her off, and Figpaw seems to know the other.

"You're safe now," she repeats Thistles words after noting he had disappeared. And now it was just her, the only adult, and she doesn't feel like it. "We won't let anything hurt you. We'll get you help, our medicine cats, you'll love them! They're silly," and Fireflypaw is good at cheering up others. She strides forwards to give the kid a lick on their head, a broken purr rumbling in her throat. "Don't you worry. We'll get ya all better faster than you can say 'mouse'. And then you and I can maybe look for your colony members, okay?" worst case scenario if they weren't accepted, but Orangeblossom had a level head on her shoulders, she could hope for the best.

// @orangeblossom ​

"speech"​

 

[Orangestar]

Greenpaw wouldn't have to travel far before he caught up with the deputy, turned sideways from her path with Eveningpaw in tow to come and talk to Sheepcurl about ... an injured stranger? The first half of that descriptor was hardly her sphere of knowledge, but the second fell squarely into her duties. She emerges from the trees at a trot, close to Greenpaw's shoulder, and makes a small noise of thought at the scene in front of her: Figpaw pressed close to the side of an injured stranger, shaking like a leaf; Heatherpaw, whose paws shuffle awkwardly as if itching to move; the lingering scent of Thistleback (weird, where had he gone?) and Sheepcurl, who she locks eyes with immediately.

"Explanation, now." Her voice is firm, blunt as ever, but not hostile.

— info

• // app tag @eveningpaw
• 
  orangeblossom. tags.
  — she/her, skyclan deputy.
  — mentor to eveningpaw.
  — attack in #e08550. uses trees as an integral part of her fighting style.
  — mean enough to note that her thoughts don't reflect my opinions as a writer haha.
  — penned by mercibun; @ me in any official tabbytales discord for plots. :]
  — art by merc!<3
  

​

 

[sparrowsong!]

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The SkyClanners chatter to each other, more tears dampening their cheeks as they scrunched their eyes shut, a thin whine drawing itself from their throat. Part of them wanted to collapse to the floor, to sob and wail and scream like a kit, while the other part of them wanted to do precisely nothing, to not think at all and to stare into the distance and will it all to be some terrible, awful dream.

It was then a tongue rasped over their head, tugging lightly and enough to make them raise their head, if only slightly. A broken purr reached their ears, instinctively matched with one of their own, even if there was no joy or comfort behind it. It quickly puttered out. Even so, Sparrow nodded weakly as they were assured that they would be helped.

Then they paused, shook their head, then paused again. "I don't- I don't know," they choked out. They wanted to help their family, to see them, to make sure they were alright- but just the thought of going back, staring down the scowling twolegs and the thunderous boomsticks and grabbing paws and metallic cages was enough to earn another soft cry, unexpectedly moving forward to press their head into the speckled feline's chest. "I can't," they wept pathetically. "I can't."​

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