camp BUILT FROM THE GROUND [patrol assignments]

༄༄ The sun beats down upon WindClan’s camp, afternoon heat practically making the calico’s fur sizzle. Pale-furred cats struggle beneath the sun’s searing rays on a regular day, but now even cats with dark pelts are feeling the heat. Scorchstreak is no exception, with dappled black fur and a short yet thick coat. Still, as much as the deputy would like to relax in the shade of the tunnels, she has duties to perform. WindClan has duties, as well. She moves to take her place beneath the Tallrock, a shaded mimicry of Sunstar’s usual perch. "WindClan… gather for today’s patrol assignments." Her announcement is spoken loudly—not at the level of Sunstar’s announcements during clan meetings, but still loud enough to be heard by the warriors and apprentices currently milling about camp.

Cats gather before her, awaiting her assignments, and Scorchstreak clears her throat. "First things first. Dimmingsun, take Gravelsnap, Scorchstorm, and Quietcrow to the horseplace border. Keep an eye out for DuskClan; there has been rumor of their presence around the barn. Sunstar, you will take the RiverClan border. Featherspine, Rivewhisper, Paleface, and Slateheart will go along with you." Sending out the first two patrols is simple, aside from the odd feeling of ordering her leader around. The next, however, sparks like a lighting strike in her chest. Surely the medicine cats can organize their own herb patrols, but the deputy does not yet trust that the gray-furred healer will perform her duties in full. "Cottonsprig, take a patrol out to search for herbs. We can spare Foxglare and Hollyhockpurr for today." Only two warriors will go with her, plus a young apprentice. Hopefully, they will not meet danger out in the moorland.

"Finally… I will take a patrol to search the tunnels near Highstones. Some warriors have spotted a badger roaming the territory, and it is imperative that we seek out its den. Mossthorn, gather a second patrol to search near the ThunderClan border." She casts a glance in the direction of the nursery—having Rattleheart leading the other badger-seeking patrol would make her feel more secure. Her sibling is trapped in the nursery and caring for his kits, so there is no chance of the lead warrior leaving camp on any patrol. Surely she is growing restless, Scorchstreak thinks. Her own stay in the nursery had lasted only half the time that Rattleheart’s is expected to be, and she had been close to going stir-crazy. Without Cygnetstare and Rattleheart around to support her, she may have truly lost her mind.

Never mind how her fur bristles at the idea of not having her sibling to watch her back. She settles onto her haunches, fiery gaze scorching across the cats who have gathered before her. "That is all. If anyone around camp would like something to do, request one before we set out." The deputy does not usually entertain the concept of “kit patrols” or other such time-wasting tasks. However, given the number of council members remaining in camp, it could be good to offer tasks for them to participate in.

  • ooc: HERB PATROL: Grass is beginning to grow back in sprouts across the territory, but this also means that other plants are beginning to reappear. While out searching for herbs, one of the warriors finds a plant that looks similar to the water hemlock that Wolfsong warned the clan about. @cottonsprig (leader) @hollyhockpurr @FOXGLARE @Frightpaw

    TUNNEL PATROLS: There have been some sightings of a badger near the border with Highstones. Two tunneler patrols are setting out to find its den.
    This patrol doesn’t find the badger’s den, but does discover something else—a lone @SCORCHSTREAK (leader) @Brackenpaw @Mouseflight @PINKSHINE @Cricketcry

    This patrol manages to find the badger’s den, but it seems the badger isn’t at home right now. Is there anything the patrol can do to prevent it from returning, or does the patrol leave before it happens to come back? @Mossthorn (leader) @Grasspaw @FROSTWIND @ROWANPAW @SOOTSPOT @Witherpaw

    HORSEPLACE PATROL: The patrol is warned to keep an eye out for duskclan around the barn, but instead of finding any enemies, they come across… a lamb? The little lost thing seems to have escaped its fence, and it’s up to the patrol to decide what to do with it. @dimmingsun @CELANDINEPAW @GRAVELSNAP @SHEEPPAW @SCORCHSTORM @Quietcrow

    RIVERCLAN: The patrol is dutifully marking the border when a rabbit is frightened out of RiverClan’s territor and darts right over the edge of the gorge! @SUNSTAR (leader) @FEATHERSPINE @rivewhisper @Paleface. @slateheart @Beepaw
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    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 none ; previously mentored pinkshine
    peaceful and healing powerplay permitted
    penned by foxlore
 
Patrols are being assigned. When was the last time Junco had been on a patrol? What was it like now, compared to the constant bickering between patrolmates that were at odds? How did the border patrols compare to back then, with every Clan at their necks for their wrong-doings?

Junco wants to volunteer herself to patrol. As part of her plan to disown the need for Cottonsprig and prove herself capable of standing on her own paws without the medicine cat, she's been long overdo for a chance to show that she can be trustworthy. But - if requested, where would they put her? She would stand no chance at the Clan borders right now. It's unlikely she would be recognized as one of Sootstar's followers, but it's not a risk she'd like to take. Similarly, if she were to run into a badger, she would be of no use - her limbs have been unmoving for weeks, and she had yet to learn how to maneuver with a single eye. The Horseplace patrol, well - she was not ready to face the cats who may be fussed about her disappearance the same way she fussed about Harvest's.

There is a single patrol that Junco could reasonably be a part of, and it is headed by the very cat she had sworn not to interact with again. Junco pokes her head out of the burrow she is kept in, where she can see the gathering cats now. Her green eye, sharp and cold, reaches Cottonsprig in an instant. With the knowledge she is burdened with, she can already see the increased softness of the medicine cat's features. It makes her feel sick.

But, then - a spiteful opportunity rears its snake-like head. She would not be Cottonsprig's peace. "Excuse me," she calls out, ignoring the harsh look her guard gives her, and shouldering away the nudge they give for her to return to her isolation. "If I may.. I would like to join Cottonsprig's patrol, please. I would . . like to make up for the herbs used on my injuries." The words taste bitter and foreign, and she could readily spit them out and start anew with something vindictive and angry. But, for now, she speaks as sincere as she can muster: not so overly sweet that she'd sound fake, but just enough to (hopefully) convince them that she is ready to provide.
  • juncokit juncopaw JUNCOCLAW "JUNCO" ━━ penned by ixora
    ━━ BARNCAT
    ━━ 14 MOONS,, ages every 21st
    ━━ CASSO xx BUDGE
    ━━ MATE to none | PARENT to none
    ━━ MENTOR to none | FORMERLY MENTORED by mockinggrin
    ━━ HEALTH ♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎ | junco is healthy.​
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  • speech is #6a7d8a

 
Scorchstorm approaches at her mother's beckoning. It has always served the warrior well to take orders, and today would be no exception. She waits eagerly for her assignment. Something to get her out of camp — to take her away from the nursery, to take her away from a reminder of something she has lost over and over again. She does not wilt in the heat. She refuses to wilt at all, hoping that if she spends enough time pulling her spine taut then it will magically stitch her back together again. But she looks dull, desaturated despite the vigorous sun. It's hot. She's tired. Her eyes ache in the bright light. Still, she will not miss her work. She would sooner be damned than allow herself to give in so fully to heartbreak.

The flame-burnished molly settles astride Juncoclaw, though if she sees the other girl she does not indicate it. Juncoclaw. It was stupid of Sunstar to let her in; stupider of Scorchstorm to volunteer to escort her through the territory. She doesn't know what came over her before, but she refuses to acknowledge the silver tabby now — aside from a single sidelong glance when Scorchstreak assigns her daughter to the Horseplace patrol. Juncoclaw had come from the Horseplace, or so she'd claimed. Scorchstorm herself is not unfamiliar with it. She and the rest of Sunstar's supporters had holed up there not long ago, and she still visits on occasion to see Luckypaw. They wouldn't need a former DuskClanner's expertise (but it's not like Juncoclaw had been invited along anyway).

When Scorchstreak finishes, her shadow finds Dimmingsun, copper-and-gold gaze half-lidded. "Ready when you are," she rumbles, broad shoulders rolling. Hopefully Dimmingsun has a sense of purpose nipping his heels today. She doesn't think she could handle any dilly-dallying or awkward chatter.
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  • ooc.
  • SCORCHSTORM —— warrior of windclan, mentored by sunstar & badgermoon . scorchstreak x badgermoon . littermate to rumblerain, frostwind, and luckypaw ✦ penned by meghan

    a broad-shouldered tortoiseshell with low white and dual-toned amber eyes. extremely loyal to sunstar and her family, and enjoys a deep connection to the moorlands
    demigirl / she they pronouns / lesbian / 15 moons & ages every 1st
    peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / underline & tag account when attacking
    —— will start fights / will not flee / may show mercy. fights honorably and with great ferocity. can tank a few hits, but is not the sturdiest cat in windclan. starts fights with the intention of finishing them permanently, but will not aim to maim or kill obviously young cats

    "speech", thoughts, all opinions are in character
    full biography — msg on discord for plots — toyhouse
 
She knows that Scorchstreak is a powerful she-cat... it shows in the ripple of muscles, in the scars that mark her success in the face of death. She admires her... hopes that someday that means she'll follow in her paw-steps gloriously- not necessarily as deputy but as someone worth respecting. Worth fearing sometimes even. So when she speaks, Honeysucklekit listens with rapt attention, ears pointed forward as acid-green eyes stare in their full roundness. She'd made her wishes clear many times... many times... To anyone that would listen, really.

Sunstar refused her. As always... but that did not mean she had to be useless. It is an expected disappointment then, that the deputy does not summon her by name for any sort of patrol but she is more or less invited to ask for a role in her follow-up. Was it a mistake to leave that door open to a bored kit nearly reaching her sixth moon? Probably.

Confidently, despite her small stature, Honeysucklekit moves past Scorchstorm and Dimmingsun to stand before the tortoiseshell molly with her shoulders squared and ready. "I think you've forgotten me," she says plainly, whiskers twitching as she recalls the cooing tone with which Sunstar had spoken her name. "I'd like to do something to help, please."


  • 'give me a distraction... from this monotony and purposelessness'
  • HONEYSUCKLEKIT
    - child of wind-swept moors
    - she/her
    - daughter to mintshade and gracklestep

    a solid pitch she-cat with fern-green eyes
 

˖⁺‧₊ ☽◯☾ ₊‧⁺˖  Unlike Sunstar's assignment's - a necessary and new part of the clan's recovery - the patrols are a rote part of warrior life. Apprentices too; any who had paws delegated towards work.

They are decidedly not a part of kit life, which Honeysucklekit seems to misunderstand. She approaches Scorchstreak - intimidating, terrifying Scorchstreak - with all the confidence of a seasoned warrior. His stomach twists with nervousness. Sure, their apprenticehood is just around the corner, but until Sunstar names them, they are still kits. They're meant to act like it. "She d-d-didn't - you're not an apprentice yet, Honeysucklekit..." Vulturekit chides softly, eyes sweeping nervously between his denmate and the deputy. To correct her like that... He is not one of the braver kits in the nursery, but he thinks even they would blink at it.

And yet... He licks his lips nervously, casts his gaze downward. Restless paws brush along dust and grass. She did say anyone around camp, he supposes... "Oh - but, um, I'd like t-to help tuh-too... If you'll let me..." he adds meekly.


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    "SPEECH"
  • VULTUREKIT he / they, kit of windclan, five moons.
    a spiky-furred dark tabby with amber eyes.
    skittish and dour, with little time for typical kit games.
    micheal x npc, adopted by periwinklebreeze. sibling to dustkit and bilberrykit.
    peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
    penned by SATURNIDsaturnids on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
 
Bluefrost gathers before Scorchstreak, spearmint eyes hanging expectantly off the tortoiseshell deputy's marbled pelt. She waits and waits, but her name is not called, and shame simmers beneath her thick smoky fur. I will not be called for patrols again, will I? I have missed out on my last chance. She grits her teeth, but she does not betray her disappointment on her face. She has not announced her pregnancy to either Sunstar or Scorchstreak, but her burgeoning midsection and her frequent morning sicknesses have no doubt preceded her already poor reputation.

I am to remain in camp today. StarClan, what am I to busy myself with?

Honeysucklekit, Mintshade's little spitfire, wanders close to the deputy and demands a task. Vulturekit is close on her dark paws. Bluefrost suddenly wishes she could disappear before Scorchstreak can force her to supervise the pair of them — surely the deputy has more kindness in her shallow heart than that, though...

  • ooc:
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  • Bluekit . Bluepaw . Bluefrost, she/her w/ feminine terms.
    — “speech”, thoughts, attack
    — 16 moons old, ages realistically on the 14th.
    — mentored by Sootstar ; mentoring Brackenpaw ; previously mentored n/a.
    — windclan warrior. sootstar x weaselclaw, gen 2.
    — penned by Marquette.

    lh blue smoke she-cat with white and emerald eyes. aloof, dignified, poised, haughty, composed, distant.


 
༄༄ Before any cats can begin to get their patrols sorted, and before she can say anything else, a voice rises above the rest of the clan. It comes from behind two guards, from a traitor who seems to believe that her presence means something to the clan. If I may… She may not. "No," she says, plainly and with surprisingly little patience. A prisoner has no place on a patrol, no matter what sacrifices she has made for the very clan that she turned her claws against so long ago. Still, Scorchstreak doubts that she needs to explain this to Juncoclaw. The audacity to speak up as a prisoner and ask to be released… it is nearly enough to cause Scorchstreak’s blood to boil.

She turns away from the traitor to regard her daughter instead, casting a gentle smile to Scorchstorm. She is interrupted, of course, by another voice speaking up, an attempt to remind her of someone forgotten. The deputy’s golden eyes shift to the dark-furred kit, remembering the way that she had begged to leave camp once. That had been long ago, and she is closer to being an apprentice now than she had before. "Honeysucklekit, what perfect timing," she says in response to the girl’s request, sparing a glance to Vulturekit as well. She can understand the desire of a kit to be apprenticed already, the impatience of wanting to contribute to the clan. And Bluefrost appears before her, the gray she-cat sealing her own fate with one simple movement. "I would appreciate it, and I’m certain your future mentors would too, if you could practice on your hunting skills today."

At last, her attention returns to the blue-furred tunneler. If the she-cat expects any sympathy for her position, or to be allowed to languish in her inactivity for the day, then she is dead wrong. "Bluefrost can oversee your training."

  • ooc:
  • 83282667_7UVjIV9bzrILi7P.png
    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 none ; previously mentored pinkshine
    peaceful and healing powerplay permitted
    penned by foxlore
 

It seemed like fate had a sense of humor, too, as Celandinepaw had been assigned to patrol the Horseplace once more. It felt almost cruel to bring her so close to her family, only to circle away as their lives would not touch beyond the pretense of her presence. Every time she had visited, she did not see the glowing headlight-eyes of her mother or father, though she hadn't a plan for when those molten suns would burn too brightly into her skin, when they would silently ask her all the questions that had sweltered like rotten summer heat within her. At least my siblings are here. That was a small victory worth celebrating, she thought. Consternation could not help but cross upon her furrowing eyebrows as she heard of the presence of Duskclan at the barn, as if mistfortune had not escaped her home, and even the tendrils of evil would creep along the rickety wood and weave amongst the graves of ivy. Her family had always been unassuming, quiet, and dutiful. Yet, would they be collateral in this war of theirs? She shook such a grim thought from her. Still did the molly trot alongside her mentor, like her feet frolicked along with the capriccio winds, as though the troubles of the present did not trouble her way. Wheat-tinged eyes glowed in an unreadable expression, too muddled by all that transpired within her to be distilled into one. "I'm ready, too." Celandinepaw's inflection came quieter as usual, like her waggish behavior had sidelined upon the sides of her maw, and perhaps would be choked out some other way. She managed to afford a smile, an easy thing that she donned like her own coat.


  • ( NOTE: Reference is a placeholder until a drawn reference can be supplied. Credit HERE )​
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  • —— CELANDINEPAW / She/They/He / 11 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.