BLUE BEHIND MY EYELIDS ✦ WASHED ASHORE

EVENINGPAW

EVENINGPAW

among the brave
Twoleg Invasion [Spring '24] Spring Prompts [RC '24]
Dec 28, 2023
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In a way, Eveningpaw is glad for the ferocity of the waves. The way the water spills over from every which way and carries her means she has to extend less energy to keep going; her head must remain afloat, of course, but she can afford to cease excessive padding motions with her limbs. Her only focus aside from keeping her mouth, nose and ears free from water is holding onto the piece of driftwood that is now Valesight's temporary home — she refuses to get it out of her sight, let alone her immediate vicinity, lest he loses balance and falls in.

Even an experienced swimmer will start to grow tired however... Eveningpaw feels her own lungs ache; her heart had been adamant about the erratic rhythm that it's been imprinting to the insides of her ribs ever since the flood first started. Is everyone back home okay? Would her and Valesight ever get to dry land? She could try to swim out to shore, but she cannot push the branch and her Clanmate at the same time.

Finally, finally, they are given some relief. The river starts slowing down, and her luggage drifts towards the grassy fields. It takes an enormous shove from her, but it works — Valesight and Eveningpaw get the chance to climb out from the river.

"Dear StarClan..." Eveningpaw greedily catches her own breath, as if she had been underwater this whole time. Her limbs shake with the effort it takes to get herself onto blessed dry grounds.

A wayward glance is all it takes to confirm Valesight's stability. He is drenched even with his little floater that had soaked up the worst of the flood — literally —, and he is definitely shaken up from the whole ordeal, but he is breathing and standing without additional help. Still, she has to ask... "Are you okay?" The distaste she usually harbors towards him is entirely forgotten. Right now, he is nothing more and nothing less but a Clanmate she must protect.

After his confirmation, Eveningpaw takes note of their surroundings, even as she crouches to regain some energy. The trees look much different here... and aside the still-gurgling river behind them, there is no wetness that she is used to. Instead of babbling brooks, there is the whistling and color-changing foliage of oaks and other tall trees. ThunderClan?

And from amongst the rows of them, Eveningpaw spots an incoming patrol...

"Oh no... someone's coming...!"


Takes place a few hours after this thread.
No need to wait for @valesight ➶
​
 
the air was brisk and frigid; the towering oaks no longer have a lick of green on them like they used to, overtaken instead by the flames of autumn, which emblazed their leaves in colorful shades of gold, amber, and crimson. as spiderpaw walks alongside the patrol, the crunch of leaflitter beneath his paws felt both satisfying and ponderous. he is meant to be vigilant during these excursions but his mind was elsewhere, lost in a tangle of thoughts.

lately there has been a weight of doubt that found a home pressing down upon the apprentice's shoulders, he could not shake the feeling that he was starting to lag behind in terms of training. some would say he's overthinking, that he still has plenty of time to polish essential skills but every failure spiderpaw meets chips away at the already little self-confidence he had. what if that streak continues? what if wildheart thinks he's a lost cause and asks flamestar for another apprentice, one who isn't a walking, anxious disaster? oh stars, what if they stay an apprentice until they're 20 moons?!

as they continued to amble, tail lashing more quickly than usual due to these worries, something strange would end up being wafted towards their direction pulling the shadowy feline from their self-inflicted trance. among the scents of damp earth and leaf-rot, there lingers one he isn't entirely familiar with. . .wet fur? unsure of what compels him to investigate slightly ahead of the rest, spiderpaw follows the redolence with perked ears until he's led to riverbank where golden hues are met with the sight of two drenched riverclanners looking worse for wear.

"a—are you two o–okay?" concern laces the stuttered words of the nervous apprentice who doesn't approach quite yet and instead nervously look over their shoulder towards their clanmates who begin to make an appearance. "w–we should hel–help them, right?" while this is an open question directed towards any of the warriors, their gaze flicks towards their mentor in particular.
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─ ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘚𝘌𝘊𝘙𝘌𝘛 𝘐𝘕𝘚𝘐𝘋𝘌 𝘖𝘍 𝘔𝘌 ₊ ☽◯☾ ₊ 𝘐𝘚 𝘚𝘐𝘊𝘒 𝘖𝘍 𝘚𝘐𝘓𝘌𝘕𝘊𝘌 * :☆ﾟ. ──
  • ooc. @WILDHEART mentor tag!
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  • ⋆˖⁺‧₊ SPIDERPAW —— thunderclan apprentice , mentored by wildheart. littermate to myrtlepaw
    ⊰∙∘ demiboy / he / they / 07 moons, ages every 9th.
    ⊰∙∘ unknown orientation, still working it out. / not actively looking / open to puppy-crushes
    ⊰∙∘ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / underline & tag account when attacking
    ⊰∙∘ "speech", 'thoughts', all opinions are in character

    ⊰∙∘ penned by cobatic
    ⊰∙∘ biography — msg on discord for plots — toyhouse
​
 
⸙͎｡˚⋆ ⍋ ѧѦ ѧ⍋ ⸙͎｡˚⋆

Surprise and shock ripple in split patterns through him, alike the dappling colors of his pelt where they streak down his face in masked horror. Wet paws struggle to find purchase on his lifeline, clinging and scrambling every so often with desperate claws sinking into waterlogged wood. It was floating, he kept telling himself, so he'd float too... What if it stopped though? There were sticks and tree branches that sunk to the bottom of the river at times that warned him not to feel safe. That encouraged the rapid-fire throttling of his heart in his chest. How Eveningpaw seems to manage her calm is beyond him, pupils narrowed to slits as they slash between her and the possible horizon that might be their freedom.

She shoves the both of them towards the shore and with a hurried, prancing sort of run he rushes onto the grassy field with exasperated breath. Exhausted by his own terror, the chimera collapses as if the grass below is a mossy nest to rest in, fixating on the feeling of his chest rising and falling and struggling to slow it. Don't freak out, he chirps to himself, We made it.

His ears twitch as the younger she-cat asks for his health and with a groaned huff, he gets back to his feet and tries to shake off the way they feel numb with panic. "Yeah I'm... I'm fine," he answers, scrunching his nose as a foul odor drifts ever closer. It seems she sees whatever it is, as sunlight eyes stare off behind him- a warning cried as he turns to face the source. Of course ThunderClan would be here right now... Because what sort of luck would he have but to need to now face an entire patrol?

He moves hurriedly to assert himself between the younger cat and those that wander closer, watching with a wary stare. "We're leaving," he tells them in flat articulation, "We didn't steal anything."
all about the boy ⋆ whos married to the fire
  • ⋆ a long-haired, chocolate tabby and fawn tabby chimera with green-yellow eyes
    ⋆ thirteen months old
    ⋆ drypaw riverclan warrior
​
 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ- "oh... my stars, what happened?"

orangepaw looks from the apprentice to the warrior. his ears pin back for a moment, as he looks at him. he's... orangepaw has to physically shake his head to pull his thoughts away, rubbing his flushing cheeks as he gently stands next to spiderpaw, offering the younger apprentice a small smile before turning back to the two.

"it's okay! uhm, we don't think you've stolen anything! do you need any help? we can help you, if you need it? though I have to admit if we have to swim I don't think we will be of much help but my mom always says to help cats in need so if you need help... we can try."

he's not going to not try to help anyone. he knows some cats in his clan won't help due to what happened but orangepaw isn't like that. he's never been like, and never will be. even if it gets him killed one day.

//@leafhusk mentor tag !!
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎┌── IN A RAGING BLACK OCEAN ⋅❁⋅ LOW IN THE WATER, AND NOWHERE TO GO ──┐‎

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𓍊𓋼 The river's rising levels are no secret; Falconheart would be surprised if anyone didn't take notice of the new danger encroaching upon their territory's border. It makes him nervous, makes his daily headache seem so much worse now. It also, apparently, brings with it the delivery of a pair of young RiverClan cats. "Hang back," he warns his apprentices before they exit the underbrush, voice rough with trepidation. Spiderpaw and Orangepaw have already spoken up, one asking if they should help and the other offering help easily.

After assessing the two and determining that there is no immediate danger, he flickers his tail to beckon both his apprentices closer, if they wish to follow. "Are you injured?" He asks them both, in a voice caught between gentle and unyielding. Obviously these two have been washed up by the floodwaters—they should hardly pose a threat, even if they weren't facing down an entire ThunderClan patrol. But still, the hair along his back refuses to lie flat. His head pounds, jaw clenched and temples aching. We're leaving, one of the RiverClanners declares, and his nose wrinkles, tugging at the pale freckles over the bridge of it. He glances around to the other warriors on the patrol, seeking guidance—seeking answers. What should we do? "We can't take them back to camp, and we can't get them back across the river. Going in now would be dangerous." And for most dry-land loving ThunderClanners, trying to cross it would be nothing short of stupid. Besides, there's no reason for any ThunderClan warriors to risk their lives for these two RiverClanners. At least the flooding of the river means that the neighboring clan won't be able to try and launch any ill-fated attacks on Sunningrocks.

heaven knows 𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊 how hard i’ve tried
  • ooc: @Bugpaw ! @LITTLEPAW
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  • FALCONHEART ❯❯ he/him, thunderclan warrior
    ⭃ shorter than average cream tabby with white spotting. seems gloomy and has few friends, but is a hard worker and never neglects his duties.
    ⭃ son of flamestar and flycatcher ; brother to stormfeather, ravenpaw, bugpaw, sunpaw, squirrelpaw, sparrowpaw
    ⭃ mentoring bugpaw & littlepaw
    ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted
    ⭃ penned by foxlore
​
​
 
Squirrelpaw quickly pushes through the throng of cats when she hears the commotion, her curiosity getting the better of her as usual. She had been growing desperately bored on this patrol (as much as Lightflower was trying to teach her) and she was glad for the distraction. Something to break up the monotony of marking the border along the swelling river. But she didn't expect to see a familiar face washed upon the shore when she finally shouldered her way to the front of the crowd.

"Eveningpaw?" she gasped incredulously, recognizing the sleek-pelted apprentice from the last two gatherings she'd attended. She didn't know the soggy warrior next to her, but it would be hard to forget the first Riverclanner she'd ever met. From what Squirrelpaw could recall, she was kinder and easier to talk to than most other outsiders she'd encountered. "I remember you! Small world." A bright smile lit up her face and she bounded forward to help the silver-furred girl if she needed it. "You guys don't look so good," she chirped, clearly not meaning the comment as an insult rather than a note of concern.

Falconheart's statement had her ears swiveling in disbelief, as if she might've heard her brother wrong. She must've, because why else would he suggest they turn their guests away? The bi-colored torbie whirled to face the older tabby, a frown now pulling at the corners of her mouth where only moments ago a smile had been. "What do you mean?" she challenged openly, head tilting as if it would make his words make more sense. "Why can't we bring them back with us? They obviously need help, we should give them food and rest before we take them home!"

It was only the decent thing to do, and she considered Eveningpaw to be a friend! Friends took care of each other. And she may not have the faintest clue who this other guy was, but he was obviously a friend of Eveningpaw's so of course they would help him too! The Thunderclan apprentice turned to her mentor with pleading eyes. "C'mon, Lightflower, don't you think we should help them? My mom would at least want to know they're here!"
‎‎ooc ♥ info
  • [ mentor tag @Lightflower ]
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    Click to expand...
  • SQUIRRELPAW ♥ she / her, apprentice of thunderclan, 9 moons
    ⭃     lh blue torbie with high white and green eyes // slender but fluffy // excellent climber
    ⭃ single, crushing on no one // flamestar x flycatcher // mentored by lightflower
    ⭃ sister to bugpaw, ravenpaw, sunpaw, falconheart and stormfeather
    ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted // underline and tag when attacking
    ⭃ penned by limerence ↛ @limericks. on discord, feel free to dm for plots
 

The painfully insistent hammering of her heart makes Eveningpaw squirm; surely not a very prideful first impression on the ThunderClanners, but she can't help the way her eyes flick from one cat to the next. At least they don't appear hostile... it would do RiverClan no good to pick a random fight here, when neither Eveningpaw nor Valesight planned to be here in the first place. Her tail lashes — not necessarily out of frustration, because both of the apprentices seem eager to help, but she would rather not put herself into their paws.

One of the warriors even mentions bringing them to camp- or rather the decision not to do so, but the mere mention of it sets Eveningpaw's nerves aflame.

"We... we can manage I think, thank you..." Eveningpaw's bewildered gaze moves on to Valesight. He's got the same idea. Get out ASAP! "Sorry for, um. Spilling... all over your territory. We didn't get hurt so I'm sure we can go back home now." Would that sound suspicious? She can't possibly to afford going into detail; how the camp has been washed away just like the pair of them, and how she needs to let her family know about her still-intact health.

And just like that, Squirrelpaw's appearance easses some of the built up tension within Eveningpaw.

"Squirrelpaw!" No way she has to see Eveningpaw in this state! How embarrassing. "Excuuuse me, we look perfect-" Humor takes over fast, settling into the teasing rythm that they had used at the Gathering... but of course, this is not the time nor place for this, so Eveningpaw quickly attempts to shut herself up. Please, she begs the ThunderClanners silently, just let us go.
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Squirrelpaw wasn't always the brightest star in the sky (in fact she could often be quite dense) but even to her ignorant gaze, Eveningpaw was obviously uncomfortable. Forest-shaded eyes flickered around the large group of Thunderclanners, and it dawned on her how imposing this situation must be for the pair of half-drowned Riverclanners. Whatever had happened to sweep them along to their shores, it must've been difficult, and now they were stuck in "enemy" territory without an idea of how to get home. It must be scary.... Her spine tingled at the memory of the pure fear she had recently felt during the mutiny. It wasn't a feeling she ever wanted to experience again, and she certainly didn't want to push it upon her new friend.

It did lift her spirits a bit to know that Eveningpaw remembered her too, however. She decided then that whatever she could do to help, she would! Squirrelpaw forced a grin back to her face and nodded understandingly. "Ah, right, well... It's okay, I bet your family is missing you, anyways." Mine would be. She glanced sidelong at her brother, knowing she really had no authority in this situation but also knowing she didn't care and was probably going to overstep her reach anyways. "Maybe I can show you around another time! When you're not all, y'know, soggy. But um, for now..."

Her tail twitched frustratedly as she assessed Valesight and Eveningpaw, both disheveled and looking rather tired - even if they insisted that they were fine. It didn't sit well with the dual-toned apprentice to just send them on their way. Anything could happen to them when they were in this state! "At least let me walk you home," she conceded pleadingly, her eyes begging to tag along. She smiled warmly to the silver molly, hoping her mentor wouldn't scold her for asking. "That way I - erm, we - can make sure you get back safe!"
‎‎ooc ♥ info
  • jre5mPI.jpeg
    Click to expand...
  • SQUIRRELPAW ♥ she / her, apprentice of thunderclan, 9 moons
    ⭃     lh blue torbie with high white and green eyes // slender but fluffy // excellent climber
    ⭃ single, crushing on no one // flamestar x flycatcher // mentored by lightflower
    ⭃ sister to bugpaw, ravenpaw, sunpaw, falconheart and stormfeather
    ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted // underline and tag when attacking
    ⭃ penned by limerence ↛ @limericks. on discord, feel free to dm for plots
 
her concern for any riverclanners began and ended at the two mysteriously standing on their border. they're sopping wet, shaking, and awkwardly concealing that they're fine, nothing is stolen. leafhusk believes the split-colored warrior, the truce that holds the two clans together is thin and would ultimately make riverclan suffer more than thunderclan. gentlestorm is a necessity to their home… whatever stolen asset isn't worth the risk. still, the lead warrior holds a gaze of doubt to remind the duo this doesn't mean anything.

she flicks her gaze towards her apprentice, irritation prickling under her skin for a moment. the boy is a bleeding heart, but he is still young– she won't fault orangepaw for wanting to help, even if he understands they can't do much. falconheart struggles to come to a conclusion on what to do, and she has to silently agree, this is a tight spot they're in. she opens her maw to speak up, but squirrelpaw's shrill quickly stops her. a headache starts to bloom, and she sighs.

"squirrelpaw, enough." she lead warrior demands. her golden eyes dart to lightflower. control your apprentice.

"there is nothing we can do. if they want to go home like this, they can." any body of water is a death wish for someone outside of riverclan. the politics are too tense, and awkward to explain to an apprentice quick enough. the daughter of flamestar should know better, anyways.

leafhusk nods in the direction of the riverclanners, "leave, then, if you're healthy enough. we will watch to make sure you stay true to your word." she leaves out if flamestar would hear about this, because she assumes it's obvious what the answer is.

⚘


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⸙͎｡˚⋆ ⍋ ѧѦ ѧ⍋ ⸙͎｡˚⋆

What is with this kid's persistence? He stares at Squirrelpaw with an incredulous look of confusion before finding Orangepaw too. ThunderClan had bred a bunch of weirdos... As far as he was concerned, they definitely looked like they were trespassing, even if he knew in his heart of hearts that they weren't. Falconheart is far more realistic, followed soon by Leafhusk, who's skepticism is reasonable enough for him to respect. He nods, a confirmation that they certainly aren't hurt enough not to walk it off back to their own side of the river... His blood runs cold suddenly, hoping they do not expect him to turn tail and dive back in immediately.

"We'll need... to use the bridge," he explains to the ThunderClan patrol. If not...

Eveningpaw would definitely be dragging home a corpse then.

He beckons to the younger she-cat with his tail, keeping his body low to the ground in a slinking sort of retreat towards the bridge further north... Stars knows the stepping stones must be drowning too right now.

"Follow us if you want... I've got nooooo interest in sticking around here," he calls back to them, gaze lingering on the orange-tabby tom that had originally found them and offered help. "Thanks..." Because if they hadn't chosen patience and forgiveness, he might've been skinned alive trying to fight them all back.
all about the boy ⋆ whos married to the fire
  • ⋆ a long-haired, chocolate tabby and fawn tabby chimera with green-yellow eyes
    ⋆ thirteen months old
    ⋆ drypaw riverclan warrior
​
 
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It was hard not to notice how his apprentice's tail was moving about in tune with deep thoughts. A part of him wanted to ask Spiderpaw what was on their mind, but dealing with such emotions was not within Wildheart's range of skills. At least not at that moment. He was still competing with his own inner turmoil and thoughts, though a scent in the air offered distraction. A quickening of his pace saw him arrive on the scene and he found himself staring at the RiverClanners. A mix of feelings filled him; the desire to drive intruders out, but also the urge to help cats who were in trouble. Spiderpaw's words reached his ears he knew at that moment which option he would take.

"We'll escort you to the bridge. There'll be no trouble here. It looks clear to me that this was just an accident." He only needed to glance at the river to figure that it was a dangerous beast. No cat should be in such waters, and frankly the two RiverClanners were lucky to be alive at all. "Come Spiderpaw, we'll make sure that these two reach the bridge safely."
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