border cloud gazing / skyclan border patrol

[Orangestar]

Early light filters over the SkyClanners as they pick their way through the undergrowth, sparse ferns turning to full-blown bushels around them. The golden rays of early leaf-fall are muted by the overcast morning but prey still rustles around them, not yet forced into hiding by the upcoming change in weather. Maybe they'd be able to do some hunting on the way back. Orangestar catches the first whiff of the upcoming border, and an earlier conversation stirs to the forefront of her memory.

"Apparently ThunderClan sent a few of the same warriors to mark our border for a time." Orangestar comments idly to her Clanmates. She doesn't know how much validity there is to the claim, having been assigned elsewhere for the last half moon, but she can't help but share the interesting tidbit she'd heard from the patrol leaders.

ooc ✧ 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦

• // @Springpaw @Howlfire @Eggbounce. @KITE & set while flame is up at highstones<3 no need to wait!
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  [ art by pin ]
• ORANGESTAR ✧ she/her, leader of skyclan | seven lives
  
  
  — "a scarred white-and-ginger she-cat with brown eyes."
  — (undisclosed) mate to slate ; mentoring ashpaw
  — speech is in #D2977D
  — tags | penned by mercibun, contact on discord for plots.
  
  
  
  

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[badgerstripe]

Badgerstripe's belly weighs her down more and more lately, but she does not let herself rest while Flamewhisker is away. There are still Clanly duties to attend to, and one in particular she feels had been neglected under Skyclaw's watch. Inexperienced young warriors that either sat around and watched, or requested to go back home without marking their borders entirely. It was a wonder their neighbors hadn't taken advantage yet.

She is angry with her apprentice - but her feelings cannot get in the way of her job. Until she moves into the nursery, however soon that may be for now, this young cat is still her responsibility. As she brings the rear of the patrol towards the border, ignoring the fatigue in her legs, a small smile curls her lips at the sight of a SkyClan patrol. A fantastic opportunity for Scarletpaw, who had been forbidden from 'wasting time' with small talk by the previous patrol leaders.

" This is SkyClan. Do you remember anything about them? " she inquires, beckoning @Scarletpaw over to say hello. " Don't be shy now. Unlike our last few patrols, I will not disallow you from meeting your neighbors. " It is important for apprentices to learn of the other Clans, be that friends or enemies.

The soon-to-be queen lifts her head up, letting her tail rise and curl in friendly greeting. " Good day, " she mews, flicking her tail to her apprentice. " This is my apprentice, Scarletpaw. I don't think she's had the pleasure of meeting you yet. " Her muzzle dips down to her apprentice's ear, and she angles her own to the white-and-orange molly across the border. " That is Orangestar, SkyClan's leader. " Badgerstripe's smile wavers, if only slight and brief. Would she have the same introduction over again with her next mentor?

BADGERSTRIPE ( she/her )​

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( ooc ) apprentice tag: @Scarletpaw

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[Howlfire]

It had been some time since Howlfire had last walked this border properly. The last time, as with many occasion Howlifre visited this border, had been a tense encounter. The weather is good today and she hopes that could be a sign of things to come. If not, then hopefully Orangestar's presence would dissuade certain ThunderClan cats from mouthing off too much.

"Hmm, that seems a little odd," Howlfire mused, contemplating her leader's words. It was not unusual to find yourself on the same patrols from time to time - Howlfire had, after all, lost count of the numerous times she had patrolled along their border with the twolegplace. But all of the same warriors on the same patrol? Yes, that was certainly an oddity. As they continue walking, the scent of ThunderClan grows stronger, and soon they come face to face with a ThunderClan patrol. The cat that greets them is not familiar to Howlfire, a pretty longhaired tortoiseshell, who greets them with kind words. There is an apprentice by her side, a thin, chocolate tortoiseshell that she introduces as Scarletpaw. "Good day," Howlfire responded back cordially, dipping her head in acknowledgement. For a moment, her gaze hovers over Scarletpaw, wondering why the name seems familiar to her, despite not having met her before. "How fares the hunting in ThunderClan?" She asks politely, either to Badgerstripe or any of the other warriors present.​

 

[KITESTORM]

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The trees thicken beyond the scent markers and the undergrowth tangles beneath the trees. As the patrol pads along Kite is silent, watching the two forests blend together. Kite follows close on Eggbounce's heels with their head on a swivel and nose twitching. Kite listens to Orangestar's comment and offers a soft sound of acknowledgment but does not add to it further as Howlfire did.

The arrival of the Thunderclan patrol is no surprise, the scent along the border seemed to overpower Kite's keen nose as the patrol emerges from the tangles of foliage. When their patrol counterparts pause so does Kite, turning their attention upon the strangers on the opposite side of the border. A most friendly warrior introduces their apprentice to Orangestar and Kite offers a well-meaning frown to Scarletpaw. As before, Kite does not say anything but lingers behind Orangestar. However, their ears perk upwards, interested in the exchange between opposing clans. Kite had been told how Thunderclan was absent from the Gathering, an apparently unusual occurrence; they're eager to hear if this disappearance will be discussed.

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•  
• — black tabby with a small stature and compact muscles ; TAGS
  — 39, ages every 21st
  — they/them
  — speech
  — peaceful powerplay allowed

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[Scarletpaw]

Scarletpaw feels her heart quicken as she is called forward, her skinny frame stiffening with a mix of nerves and excitement. She had heard stories about SkyClan from the older apprentices, but hasn’t had the chance to meet a SkyClanner properly. The idea of getting to know cats from another clan had always intrigued her, though she'd never admit it aloud.

She pads up beside Badgerstripe, her gaze flickering from the kind yet unfamiliar faces of the SkyClan cats to the ground beneath her paws. The tortoiseshell hesitates before raising her head, her blue and orange eyes finally settling on Orangestar, the SkyClan leader. She swallows, trying to keep her voice steady. "Good day," She mews a mimic of her mentor, her tone more formal than she intended. She glances at Badgerstripe for reassurance before continuing. "SkyClan is known for their skill in navigating the trees, right?" Her voice holds a note of curiosity, though she tries to keep it neutral, not wanting to seem too eager or ignorant.

The unfamiliarity of the situation makes her feel small, but her mentor’s expectations keep her rooted in place. If she’s going to be the top apprentice, she must be confident on the borders. Scarletpaw dips her head politely to Howlfire and Kite as well, feeling the strangers’ eyes on her, though she can’t quite decipher their expressions. Even so, she’s determined to make a good impression. The thought of failing in front of her mentor, or worse, the SkyClan leader, is enough to push her past her reluctance. "We've had good hunting recently," She replies quickly to the patched she-cat’s question, split eyes shifting to her. It feels like the right thing to say, though she isn’t entirely sure. The young apprentice’s tail flicks nervously behind her, but she lifts her head high, determined not to let her nerves get the better of her.
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[WOLFPAW]

This was their first tenure to the southern borders, but the excitement of viewing the other clans had become marred with experience. They heard the name Sky and felt anger broil their bones, as if they could not discern the clan from the similarly named monster that had hurt their friends. At the spot where oak trees began to turn to pine, the small apprentice revealed themself, eyes wide and carrying a smile that bore a tense hesitance. Wolfpaw turned their head back, offering a glance towards their mentor as Scarletpaw offered information to her own. Their name aside, Wolfpaw had heard things about SkyClan, whispers from cats who had tried to turn them against the idea of former housecats being ThunderClanners.

It hadn't worked. When no one had been able to explain why it was so bad, they had decided that being mean about kittypets was dumb.

But, being mean and being curious were two opposites that could occasionally, and unintentionally, intertwine. A bluntness accentuated their words, naive in nature. To be young was to learn how to navigate social situations with grace, so far, the sepia was inexperienced. "They're also kittypets, right?" They asked Rowanthorn, more confident speaking to the tom than facing the alleged kittypets. For a time.

The chocolate torbie asked about hunting and the discomfort they felt was put aside in the blink of an eye. It was curiosity that caused their head to finally raise once more and their gaze to twist towards SkyClan with renewed vigor. "Hi, I'm Wolfpaw. Do you hunt?" They looked at Howlfire. "It seems a little pointless if you get all that kibble anyway."

[ mentor tag: @Rowanthorn ]


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[Rowanthorn]

Being on patrol is a good way to keep his mind from wandering too much, keeps the anxiety from overtaking him as ThunderClan awaits for their new leader and medicine cat to return. He hadn't gotten the time to take Wolfpaw to the SkyClan patrol before Skyclaw and his followers took over camp — now he was free to say what he must without fearing for his and the apprentice's safety. "Orangestar," Rowanthorn greets with a respectful dip of his head, before addressing the others present amidst their group with another nod.

Scarletpaw answers Howlfire's question before he can, but he's quick to add after her: "How does SkyClan fare?" And then Wolfpaw speaks, and he feels a wave of embarassment rush through him. "Some of SkyClan's members are daylight warriors. They are like any other warrior during the day, but in the evening they return to their twolegs." The chocolate-hued tabby explains to the youngster, his gaze sharp as if telling them to watch their words. "SkyClan does hunt." Rowanthorn mutters to them, for Wolfpaw's ears only.

RED SUN ABOVE PARADISE ☾ 🐅 ☽ TO THE SHADOWS, OUT OF SIGHT

• // #FF7661
  

• A muscular and chubby scarred chocolate tabby tom with striking copper eyes.

• ROWANTHORN — 37 moons, warrior of ThunderClan. Ages every 31st.
  

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[Howlfire]

It is Scarletpaw who answers her question, and Howlfire smiles back warmly. She seemed kind of nervous and Howlfire wondered if it was one of her first times on patrol perhaps, though she ruled that idea out looking at how big Scarletpaw seemed compared to apprentices fresh out of the nursery. "SkyClan also fares well," Howlfire responds back cordially. She leaves it open for Orangestar or the others to elaborate further if they wish.

The comment from Wolfpaw draws her attention. The comment about the notion of her hunting seeming pointless did rile Howlfire up slightly, though as Wolfpaw was quite young, she kept her cool. Still, it only reminded her of when ThunderClan had used that excuse to justify their need to steal prey. "As your mentor says, only some of us are daylight warriors," Howlifre confirmed with a nod. She flashed the older tom an appreciative glance for keeping the conversation civil. "Most of us hunt, train, and live in our camp as you would yours."​

 

[WOLFPAW]

Their mentor's voice was like a dagger to their ears, never before had they felt intimidated by it, but there was an urgency to Rowanthorn's message that meant the cameo cat to listen. Daylight warriors were the names of SkyClanners who had a Twoleg and a clan, named for their service in the daytime and respite in the Twolegplace at night. They listened intently, nodding along and retreating a fair inch to the safety of ThunderClan's territory, where there was no risk of them hopping over the border. A whisper in the ear caused the pale appendages to flatten. "Oh." It wasn't disappointment that fuelled such a reaction, rather, surprise. The explanation almost seemed inane, until they recalled that Rowanthorn had said that not all SkyClanners lived in Twoleg nests, a fact confirmed by Howlfire.

Their attention shifted to the other side of the border, an awe-filled smile appearing on their muzzle. "Woah.... that's so cool. Your camp must be really—" Tiny, they were about to say before they were reminded of the glaring baring into the back of their head like lasers. They didn't see a problem with calling it small (less warriors at night meant less space needed... right?), but if saying they were kittypets was hurtful, then Wolfpaw could imagine a world where calling their home tiny was too. They swallowed a hefty gulp of air as they decided a way to finish their sentence. "Cool. If we're allowed to visit one day, can you show me around?" Their eyes were widened with hope and intrigue. Hopefully, Rowanthorn would not scold them for this intrigue.


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[Scarletpaw]

Scarletpaw's fur bristles against her will at Wolfpaw's mention of kittypets, the old disdain bubbling up inside her. She stiffens, her claws flexing into the ground as she tries to keep her expression neutral, tries to keep the surprise from her gaze. Skyclaw may be dead, and she knows that killing and driving out cats with kittypet blood had been wrong, but she had still grown up hearing stories about kittypets being weak, soft, lazy cats who had no place in the clans. It’s hard to unlearn all of those teachings overnight. And now, she learns SkyClan has cats that just…go home to their twolegs at night? It doesn’t sit right with her.

"They're kittypets," She mutters under her breath, just loud enough for Badgerstripe and maybe Wolfpaw to hear. There is a flicker of annoyance in her split-colored eyes as she glances toward Howlfire and the rest of the SkyClan patrol. She doesn’t care that they might have heard her. It’s not like she was wrong. "I don't get how they can even call themselves warriors when they're going back to twoleg nests every night."

Her tail lashes as she forces herself to look away from the SkyClan warriors, frustration gnawing at her. How could any real warrior take them seriously? Living with twolegs, eating their disgusting food - Scarletpaw had spent so long hearing that these things made a cat weak. At least the former kittypets in ThunderClan weren’t even actually kittypets anymore. But she keeps those thoughts to herself, for now.
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