BAD MOON RISING || Joiners

[Marigold.]

-ˋˏ ༻༺ ˎˊ-

It was well known that Marigold had inherited his mothers very superstitious nature, it would be deemed as nonsensical to others but it was a well thought out system to him. She would always assume a storm was coming soon if she noticed that bees weren’t swarming and if the cream tabby’s ears were warm there was an assumption that someone had brought up his name. So when the moon had all but disappeared for a few tense moments one night he had assumed only the worse.

While Marigold didn’t carry a particular superstition towards this she could only think of it as some form of ill omen. Her mind drifted to Celandine, was this some kind of warning about her health? She hadn’t heard from her sister in quite some time, not since she ran off to join WindClan. He didn’t chase her at the time, feeling a stronger desire to look after their parents, not that they needed the care but it felt like an unspoken expectation as the eldest of the litter.

Maybe she should have, if this moon was truly some kind of sign that she may be in trouble. It had taken days of inaction, time spent mulling over and musing what he should do. It ended up in a conversation with Sundew, who seemed interested in following her. He had made up his mind to go after Celandine and maybe even stay with this WindClan if allowed, just to make sure that she was fine. The conversation with their parents was hard for her, they seemed accepting and yet his mother spent the morning weaving whatever gorse petals she could find into his pelt by her chest, for protection she had claimed. She chose to believe that, what else was there to do?

The sun was high, around midday by the time she and Sundew had set off, she chittered away on the journey across the moors, trying to figure out what they should actually be saying to these clan cats when they come across them. Falling quiet when the clan cat scent had become all too strong, that meant that some were nearby, right? “Hi there! I’m Marigold” she paused then gestured to the blue tom standing next to him “This is Sundew, we’re littermates with Celandine. Do you know if she’s alright?” there was a slight drawl to her easy going tone. A pleasant smile is present despite the fact that his nerves were aflame right now “we’re actually looking at… Joining? If that’s a thing? That’s what our sister did, yeah?”

|| OOC: @SUNDEWPAW & @CELANDINEPAW {bonus tag for @SCORCHSTREAK since Sunstar is in jail} No need to wait though!
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[SUNDEWPAW]

Unlike his far more chatty counterpart in the form of Marigold, Sundew wasn't a particularly superstitious tom. Though he had always entertained his mother's talk about spirits and nature and everything that came with them, his view of the world was far more practical. Focused on what he could see, rather than what he felt. Which was exactly why the moon's seeming disappearance had set him off, blue ears flicking back in distrust and fear when it had been swallowed up from the sky. He hadn't wanted to believe anything was wrong, yet his attention had drifted towards Windclan anyways.

It hadn't taken much convincing for him to follow along after Marigold, the walls of the barn starting to feel far more confining than they had when he was a kit. Though he had been able to resist when Celandine had first left them for a life of adventure, it had been a decision hard-made. Sundew didn't feel the same concern for their parents that Marigold did, though not simply due to his own selfish desires. He had just known them his entire life as a mouser - he knew they were strong cats. Ones that wouldn't need him to stick around just for their sakes, even as they strolled slowly forward into older age.

Instead, he had remained for the rest of his family as a whole. His mother and father, and the two other littermates that had been left behind when Celandine had gone rushing off. Although the barn cat was hesitant to think of her going out to live her life as an abandonment, there were times ot certainly seemed that way. Only made all the worse by the fact that she hadn't come to visit them since, no matter how many times he hoped for it.

If Sundew were a more superstitious cat, he might have assumed the moon was covered as a punishment for her selfishness.

Purging such harsh thoughts from his mind for the moment, Sundew tried once more to focus on the task at hand. The vast stretch of moors that unwound beautifully in front of both himself and Marigold, air heavy with the scent of Windclan. It would've been enough to make him stumble, had he not become used to it during their refugee period in his home. Former home, if all went well. Though it wouldn't if things got off to a bad start, prompting Sundew to settle his butt right where he was instead of treading any further into Windclan territory.

Letting Marigold take the lead was easy enough when the clan cats finally approached, a routine he was familiar with even back at the barn. Most - all - of the friends that he had had were because of Marigold, rather than his own rusty social skills. Though he did at least pipe up once Celandine's joining was mentioned, tail twitching freely behind him. "Should be fine, yeah? Promise we're just as good at mousin' as Celandine ever was. Better at fightin', too." Sundew flashed the briefed of toothy smiles, figuring the scars running bountifully along both his sides told enough of a story for themselves.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐄 ✹ . + 　 ˚ 　　　 · 𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝐀 𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐘 𝐃𝐀𝐘

• 

• 

  an apprentice of windclan, sundewpaw is one of the newest apprentices in windclan after joining alongside his sister marigold. he has yet to be assigned a mentor, and has recently turned ten moons. standoffish towards those that are not his family, a trait that is the source of the wounds along his sides.　✦

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[WOLFSONG]

──ᨒ↟↟ᨒ↟ᨒ↟↟ᨒ── Of all the things Wolfsong expected to find hunting for herbs, barn cats were quite low on the list— though not as low as weaponized ShadowClan rats, at least. Still, the pair are a surprise, and as his sole gaze studies them —both of them earnest and appearing sincere— the pieces slot together as soon as Marigold claims Celandinepaw as a sister. Ah. It is only natural that they are here, then, asking to be with her; didn't Wolfsong follow Sunstar for many moons on a long journey from their homeland, simply because he could not bear to be parted from him? Mates they may be now, they were friends then, and the bond between some siblings is certainly strong enough that parting is unthinkable.

So he smiles, despite his weariness of the past days (weeks, rather). Their eagerness is certainly endearing. "Unfortunately, that is not my decision to make, but there was a tunneling patrol nearby. I believe our deputy is with them, and may soon find us here. She can decide." Wolfsong does not wish to feed their hopes if Scorchstreak does not see potential in them, but he sees it. Or perhaps he has gone soft with age. "I do not doubt you can fend for yourselves. My name is Wolfsong, and your sister is now Celandinepaw, in case you have forgotten the tradition."
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WOLFSONG of WINDCLAN FORMER ROGUE TURNED MEDICINE CAT. 42 MOONS, HE/HIM, NPC X NPC. MATES WITH SUNSTAR (07/05/2023). BIOGRAPHY, PINTEREST, & PLAYLIST.

medicinal expertise med. part ii med. part iii med. part iv

• — ★★★☆☆ WOUNDS: You're (mostly) in safe paws. You'll know if he's less experienced if he asks for your permission to try a treatment. No wound can scare him away from knowledge.
  — ★★★☆☆ INFECTION: He can prevent most infections. If you feel feverish, let him know; he'll hum thoughtfully over herbs and sniff your wound before saying, "With your blessing..."
• — ★☆☆☆☆ ACHES & PAINS: If you complain to him of pain, he'll ask where. If it's a headache, you'll likely feel a bit better. For anything else, "Try this, if you'd like, and tell me how you feel."
  — ★☆☆☆☆ BROKEN BONES: At best. he can ask you to remain lying down in the den. He may try to distract you with conversation while he considers what herb to feed you.
• — ★★★★★ TRAVELING HERBS: Going somewhere? No worries; Wolfsong knows just what you need to stay hale and healthy during your journey. The rest is up to you.
  — ★★★☆☆ KITTING: Thanks to Starlingheart and his own pregnancy, he's better prepared for the arrival of kits, but any complications will need a little faith and a lot of luck.
• — ★☆☆☆☆ POISONS: It's best if you avoid eating anything unfamiliar to you— it's probably just as unfamiliar to Wolfsong. The best he can do is offer you yarrow and sit with you.
  — ★★☆☆☆ ILLNESS: If it's white or greencough, you'll likely recover. Otherwise, prepare for odd concoctions and the usual request that you consent to a little trial-and-error.

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[dimmingsun]

Dimmingsun is not certain he will ever shake the initial feeling of distrust when he looks at outsiders. It's not entirely fair; the colonies of the past are not much different than loners who simply travel together and look after one another, bound by self-made rules. Plus, if you consider villainous cats like Granitepelt... vile snakes can easily blend well into the ranks of the Clans.

Skepticism hits him anyway. First when the scent of strangers hit his nose and compel him to stalk away from Celandinepaw in the hunting crouch he put her in; and again when he looks at those unfamiliar faces. They greet Wolfsong — the first to arrive to the scene — with much glee, and Dimmingsun catches up with them just in time to hear the important bit: littermates of Celandinepaw, right here at WindClan's doorstep.

Would they allow them in? The barn cats that expressed their interest in the past had been invited as an expression of gratitude. They had proven themselves able to take the pressure, even when stakes were high with Sootstar's iron grip on the moors.

Marigold and Sundew- would they be given the same courtesy, the benefit of the doubt? At least Dimmingsun doesn't have to be the one making the final call here.

"Celandinepaw's here," Dimmingsun says as he peers back over his shoulder, "but I hope you haven't made such a decision on a whim. Clan life is much different than what you might be used to." He wants to say more difficult, too, but he bites that addition back. Any cat who lived longer than this pair would know that disaster can strike you anywhere, anytime.
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[SCORCHSTREAK]

༄༄ Just as Wolfsong claims, there is a tunneling patrol nearby. Dappled ears catch wind of the conversation happening above, and a flame-seared face pops out from a tunnel. Golden vision is blurred, made bleary by the sudden burst of sunlight—the deputy has to steady herself against the onslaught of lightheadedness, the force of her body’s swaying against the powerful light source. When she rights herself and shakes off the strangeness, Scorchstreak hauls the rest of her tired form aboveground. Stilted, stalking, her steps are forceful as she treads toward the gathered cats. Her tail whips in time with her breathing, a frenzy to her face as she looks down upon the two outsiders—bad news. Anyone who is not WindClan is not to be trusted. There have been too many outsiders striding through their camp as of late.

Harsh golden eyes squinted against the sun’s rays, the deputy forces herself to calm at last, but the tension remains visible in the rigid set of her spine. Wolfsong and Dimmingsun are spared only a glance, and her attention turns solely to the cats before her. "You think to join WindClan?" Her words snap at their ends, teeth showing with each syllable she speaks. These cats… strangers. WindClan does not know them, not truly. They are Celandinepaw’s siblings, she recalls their faces from time spent in the barn. They fought alongside WindClan against Sootstar. But they did not join alongside their littermate. Why? Is it because Granitepelt had already sunk poisoned claws into them, dragged them underwater to drown with the rest of the stars-forsaken rogues? Have they been sent for reconnaissance? To act as WindClanners, if only to gain the opportunity to bite at their throats when they are most vulnerable?

No, she reasons. Any cat who had wicked intentions would not be so stupid as to waltz right in and ask to join the clan—and if they were harebrained enough to attempt it, DuskClan would not send two valuable apprentices to do it. "It will not be an easy feat, becoming WindClanners. Our clan isn’t… fond of outsiders." For good reason, she acknowledges, thinking of powerful claws pinning her to the ground, of pearled fangs snapping at her throat. She thinks of a shadowed moon, and of the scars that trace down her back in jagged lines. These cats, however, are cats that WindClan could use. With so many injured… new recruits may as well be a necessity. It will be difficult, as Dimmingsun says, but not impossible. "But Sunstar would have you join us, were he here. If you think yourselves capable of becoming warriors of WindClan, then you have my blessing. Consider yourselves WindClanners—and follow. We will see what Sunstar has to say." The tom will no doubt be pleased, if not a bit suspicious just as she is.

☽♰☾ IT WAS WAR, IT WASN’T FAIR

• ooc: —
• 
  SCORCHSTREAK ❯❯ she/they, deputy (tunneler) of windclan
  ༄ 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 pinkpaw
  ༄ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted
  ༄ penned by foxlore

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[CELANDINEPAW]

There existed a large part of Celandinepaw that regretted what she had done, if only for the fact that she had not truly wished her family goodbye as she and Scorpionback had left for Windclan. Remembering the night-lit scene with such precision, she had turned her back on the Horseplace as soon as she straddled through the invisible lines of Windclan. Fear had remarked her more than anything, as hummindbird heart practically gnawed through her ribcage, pounding and pounding against the gates of her inner chambers. The spotted tabby found herself wondering of her family, if they had worked to repair the chip she had left in their love for her, with her absence a crater being hobbled together in piecemeal manner. Do they miss me? Do I miss them? Was this all just a mistake? The musings cropped up in between the empty spaces of bustling Clan-life, like ivy tendrils creeping in between dark crevices, and becoming the backdrop of gloom that had infested her for so long. She had been happy here, she liked to think. Becoming a Windclan apprentice had been much more fulfilling than remaining a mouser, and she felt as though she were making a difference in the world. What good does a cat who catches rodents all day do compared to the monarchs of the moor? Regret of never venturing to the fence once more had eaten at her, soul forfeit to the mincing teeth of her own decrement, though the glutton had never eaten quite its fill. She had been happy here, but not without a price. Celandinepaw could have easily stopped by the Horseplace at night, let her mother and father look upon her world-worn face now... Fear had stopped her.

The apprentice's heart stopped for a moment as the familiar scent of barn-wall wafted into keen nostrils, the unmistakable aroma of splintered floorboards and petrichor wastage - but even more so of something acutely and poignantly dear to her. Standing behind her mentor, her hay-tinged eyes glowed as soon as she caught upon a pair of her siblings. Quickly did she rush up to them, almost knocking them over in her unabashed fervor. "Marigold! Sundew! Are... Are you joining, too?" Celandinepaw's inflection curled with the slightest twinge of perplexion, and usually sunshot tone had been discerped into that of confusion and concern, even between the overflowing honeys of unbridled joy. In complete honesty, she had enjoyed carving her own little niche in the world, in a place so fantastical and so far away from all that she had known prior. Now, she would have to share it with her siblings... But the itch of envy quickly frittered into nothing but stardust, as excitable energy came pulsing back in youngblood veins. "Wow! That's so cool! I really missed you two. Willow's not here, is he? Is he going to follow?" Flurry of questions erupted from the golden molly's maw, ungraceful yet unfettered as debris scattered and fragmented along the earth, though it had simply been the wreckage of many moons spent in undue rue. Why hadn't their other brother come along? Well, he had always been the reserved and hesitant kind... So unlike his sister, Celandine mused.

𝘗𝘙𝘌𝘔𝘖𝘕𝘐𝘛𝘐𝘖𝘕𝘚 𝘚𝘔𝘐𝘓𝘐𝘕𝘎 𝘐𝘕 𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘋𝘈𝘙𝘒 .° ✿ °. 𝘐 𝘊𝘈𝘕 𝘚𝘌𝘌 𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘚𝘛𝘖𝘙𝘠 𝘐𝘚 𝘚𝘛𝘈𝘙𝘛𝘐𝘕𝘎 𝘛𝘖 𝘈𝘙𝘊

• OOC:
  
• ( NOTE: Reference is a placeholder until a drawn reference can be supplied. Credit HERE )​
  
• 

  —— CELANDINEPAW / She/They/He / 10 Moons
  —— Moor Runner Apprentice of Windclan / Mentored by Dimmingsun
  —— A shorthaired golden spotted tabby with yellowish-green eyes. Somewhat pudgy, though lean and able to hold her ground in the wild.
  —— Extroverted and unafraid to speak their mind, she is a friendly and affable face in Windclan. Though ditzy and somewhat cowardly, she tries her best to help her clan.
  —— Penned by Tempest. Contact on Discord (naruk4mi) for plots and threads.

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[slateheart]

Slateheart and his apprentice trail behind Dimmingsun and his, while the group practices their hunting crouches together. He found it easy to train alongside his friend, who seemed to boost his confidence with only his presence; and while the difference in age and experience would prove difficult in fighting or knowledge, it works surprisingly well for hunting and crouching, for at least Beepaw has a prime example to try and mimic.

Slateheart stays with Beepaw and Celandinepaw when the golden warrior stalks away, intrigued by a scent that hits his nose as well, but soon stalks after him with both apprentices in tow. A tight frown reaches his maw - they want to join, of course, but at what cost to them? Loner born himself, and still feeling as if his heart belong beyond the Clans, Slateheart finds no quarrel in barn cats or peaceful passerby's. But.. it will take some time to train these apprentices, and until they are adept, they are more mouths to feed and more injuries awaiting.

He will not bring himself to squash Celandinepaw's dreams, though; nor argue with Scorchstreak (not in a million years would he defy her order). It seems that what's said has been said, so instead the warrior leans down towards Beepaw with a musing mutter. "Looks like you've got more apprentice-mates. I suppose we will follow them back to camp, get them situated.. and pick up on your hunting crouch again, later."

// apprentice tag: @Beepaw
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CHARACTER INFORMATION — ♡ ˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗ ♡ — OUT OF CHARACTER

• 

  slate slatepaw slatetooth SLATEHEART
  ━━ MOOR-RUNNER WARRIOR of WINDCLAN
  ━━ 23 MOONS,, ages every 6th
  ━━ LYNXTOOTH xx ADELAIDE xx SILVERFOOT
  ━━ SIBLING to GRAVELSNAP and ASHPAW
  ━━ MATE to none | PARENT to none
  ━━ MENTOR to BEEPAW | MENTORED by LYNXTOOTH​
  ━━ HEALTH ♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♡ | generally healthy, but experiencing shortness of breath.
  
• 
  
  
• speech is #bbbb88​

 

[SUNDEWPAW]

There were... more of them than he had initially expected. Sundew found it difficult not to take a step backward as faces popped over the curve of the horizon, his toothy smile faltering with each unfamiliar face. Social butterfly was not a term that could be pinned easily to the blue-furred tom, and he found himself wanting to urge Marigold to open her maw first. The first word that finally left him was an echo of Wolfsong's own, head cocked slightly over to one side. "Celandinepaw..." It made sense that their sister would take on a clan name of her own, though Sundew couldn't help but focus on how foreign it seemed. Why had Celandine alone not been enough? Was there truly some part of their stitched together two part names that marked clan cats as special?

No time to dwell on that was given, as the arrival of Dimmingsun caused Sundew's attention to be snatched away once more. His words brought a sneer to the younger cat's face, though he remained momentarily silence - more for Marigold's sake than his own. Did they really seem so childish that they couldn't see how different clan life was? How it had snatched Celandine - Celandinepaw - away from them? A deep breath banished away the first scathing words that burned on the tip of his tongue, replaced instead with a sharp chuckle. "Trust me, we wouldn't just come runnin' all the way up here for fun. We saw how all of y'ended up on our doorstep." Clearly things were far from happy-go-lucky for the clans, especially judging the state of their moors. Though, he doubted they were exactly running off tyrants every other day, either.

Though his initial displeasure had been forcibly tempered, it came flaring back into focus with the arrival of Scorchstreak, her snapping jaws making his ears temporarily lay flat. Were they about to be rejected away from their sister's home? Would they be denied the chance to see her again? Sundew found himself stepping forward, ready to hopefully join Marigold in pleading their case. It ended up being unnecessary though, as something within the deputy seemed to get through to her. Whatever it was, Sundew found that he was grateful for it, his own fur laying flat as he took note of what she had to say. Sunstar. He supposed that was their leader, based off of what little he had picked up during their tenure in the barn. Hadn't there been a sun- something among them at the time? Though it hadn't been star.

His muzzle finally cracked open again, long tail flicking behind him as he looked between Marigold and Scorchstreak. "Thanks. I'm sure we can handle it, right Marigold?" He glanced over towards his companion, only to end up letting out a grunt as Celandinepaw finally came rushing onto the scene. Her frantic steps towards them made Sundew almost stumble over his own paws, rump connecting with the ground as he tried not to get toppled over. His sister's enthusiasm never failed to thrive no matter the circumstances, a warm purr rumbling from the back of his throat in response. "About time y'showed up. Thought we were gonna get a greetin' from the whole clan before you actually got here. But yeah, we came to join." The approach of yet another Windclanner at the same time caused him to pause, expecting Slateheart to have a few words for them as well. It was almost a relief when he didn't, his attention instead focused on the smaller cat at his side.

Celandinepaw's question about Willow was what brought Sundew's attention back to her, his expression pinched in unease as he tried to think of the right response. "He's not... with us right now. He didn't seem all too eager to leave the barn with us. Maybe he'll end up surprisin' all of us, though." Honestly, he had his doubts about something like that happening, but it wasn't as if he was going to say as much to Celandinepaw. Not when she was practically glowing over their arrival.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐄 ✹ . + 　 ˚ 　　　 · 𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝐀 𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐘 𝐃𝐀𝐘

• 

• 

  an apprentice of windclan, sundewpaw is one of the newest apprentices in windclan after joining alongside his sister marigold. he has yet to be assigned a mentor, and has recently turned ten moons. standoffish towards those that are not his family, a trait that is the source of the wounds along his sides.　✦

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