sensitive topics DIDN'T HAVE TO CUT ME OFF &. fighting

[CHILLEDSTAR.]

it doesn't come to much of a surprise that chilledgaze had an attitude. it was just simply their way. they were purposefully standoffish so that they couldn't be reached, but more often than not, chilledgaze was calculated. they thought before they did, most of the time. but everything they did, they did not regret a single thing. whether there was negative consequences or not, chilledgaze was stubborn enough to stand by whatever the hell they did. this was absolutely one of those days, seeing as though chilledgaze did not start a damn thing.

moons and moons of pushed down emotions made them volatile. ready to explode like a lit piece of c4. it was only a matter of time, right? and after all the hell they were going through in shadowclan, it was only unfortunate that it had been a fellow clanmate. as chilledgaze laid down, cleaning out their dusted pelt from all the icks and grim that stuck to them, they looked uo as the bit of sunlight they found was being blocked from them. growling, they looked up at the npc who dropped a measly piece of prey at their paws.

"what do you want?"

the npc bared his teeth at them, and chilledgaze only rolled their eyes. they knew everyone was on edge, so they were trying to be the bigger cat here. it wasn't easy.

"what in the stars is this, chilledgaze? who do you expect to feed with this piece of crow food!?"

ah, so thats what this was about. it wasn't chilledgaze's fault that the prey was suffering already. sitting up slightly, they only shrugged.

"it's a piece of prey, obviously. do you not have eyes to see, or a nose to smell? or do you think you can do better? by all means, rockfoot, do better. why bother me when you clearly have much more skill than me?"

okay okay. they had to admit. maybe they were being a little... rude. a bit much, even. but who the hell cared? if this cat insisted that whatever they brought was crow food, then surely they had the skill to back up that they could do better, right? anything was better than being bothered in the small bit of time they werent working their tail off for the clan. they deserved the rest. but they weren't going to get it. like a pot that simply boiled over, suddenly chilledgaze felt claws digging into their face.

with a sudden movement, they stood up, feeling the crimson stickiness roll down their face. slowly they moved their paw to wipe the blood from their face, but there seemed to be enough of it for it to smear and make a bit of a mess all over their paw. their gaze darkened, and immediately they looked up at rockfoot, who began to snap at them.

"don't be such a smart-ass! someone really should teach you some-"

he is cut off by the suddenness of chilledgaze's bitterly cold words.

"you might want to run."

they warned.

"H-Huh? What are you-?"

"run."

their words are a threat now. stars have mercy, because when chilledgaze finally did snap, it was never a pretty sight. they'd gladly get yelled at by pitchstar for this. they didn't care. no one, and they meant no one, got to hit them without consequences. as if suddenly realizing the danger he was in, rockfoot took off, running away and chilledgaze watched for a moment, a cold smile on their face, like a wolf on its prey. darting in the same direction, chilledgaze leaped at the other, tangling him in a quick fight before pinning his body to the floor, paw on top of his head, as if conquering him.

"let this be a lesson for my apprentices. if someone hits you first, always hit back. always."
​

[ NOBODY ELSE MATTERS, GIRL ]​

 

[TENDRILTAIL]

Fighting was fun, for sure! Claws sheathed against a clan-mate though, especially during such a vulnerable time with Bonejaw? The scene she just watched unfold before her eyes was terribly irresponsible and immature on both parties, she uses her own morals to conclude.

Yet she doesn't say anything. Not a word, it was not her place to reprimand these cats. She was not their grandmother nor mother, so she bites her tongue and keeps quiet. In fact, she's looking idly for Pitchstar. This would be the perfect occasion for him to display authority and dominance in his clan, or perhaps he'd encourage this behavior? It intrigued her, what type of leader he'd decide to be, and she suspects this situation will allow them to get a glimpse of that.

So she waits. For their new leader to make a move, or someone else. ​

---

 

[PITCHSTAR]

Caught between craving the touch of another's fur against his own and the need to lock himself away in his den where judgmental eyes cannot follow, Pitchstar settles for staring blankly out of the entrance. Eyes follow the forms of his clanmates, his matted tail sweeping from side-to-side, collecting more dirt within it's greasy strands all the while.

Rockfoot's voice draws him out of his trance-like state. Accusing someone... Chilledgaze... of bringing back crowfood. Pitchstar's spine stiffens. Onto legs aching from crouching so long, the leader rises, shuffling out of his den and craning his equally sore neck to examine the offending prey... Only to hiss through clenched teeth. That is what Rockfoot is complaining about? It isn't the fattest prey to grace the earth, but it's far from inedible. Bastard, accusing my warriors of inadequate prey when it's probably the best we'll see for the moons to come.

Pitchstar opens his mouth to say as much, an affirming praise ready to slip from his tongue for Chilledgaze's successful hunt, when Rockfoot dares to unsheathe their claws. Before he has the opportunity to comprehend what's happening, droplets of blood splatter onto the ground.

Rockfoot had struck Chilledgaze.

Rockfoot had struck Chilledgaze.

Pitchstar should tear them limb from limb, leave them for the crows. But Chilledgaze takes charge before his shock-still limbs could be forced to move, pinning the insubordinate warrior after a short-lived scuffle. The heavy thud of Rockfoot hitting the dirt brings Pitchstar from his stupor, and in an instant, the leader is prowling towards the two with lips curled. "You," Pitchstar snarls, pushing his face into Rockfoot's own as best he could from where Chilledgaze seized them. "You should be grateful that I am in a merciful mood today. You do not draw blood from your own clanmates outside of spars. You do not insult another warrior's fine quarry. Chilledgaze should be praised for their catch, especially with leaf-bare on the horizon."

Pitchstar reels back, his eyes narrowed into slits. "Since you clearly think yourself above eating, as you say, crowfood... You will be the last of your clanmates to eat. You want to moan and whine like an apprentice? So be it; you'll be treated as such. My mother gifted you with your warrior name, and I can strip you of it. Until you've proven yourself worthy of the warrior title, you will be known as Rockpaw. You will take over every single chore expected of the apprentices. You will not leave camp without an escort. Am. I. Understood." Maybe it's cruel, but Pitchstar will not tolerate infighting.

Without thinking, Pitchstar goes to brush his tail over Chilledgaze's back. "Chilledgaze, you've done well today. You can rest, now."​

 

[betonyfrost]

POST CODE

• The little interaction is nearly missed by Betonyfrost.
  
  She watches— she cannot help herself but to watch, too far to hear the conversation between Chilledgaze and Rockfoot. Crowfood she hears, even at her distance, and then a flurry of movement. Betonyfrost leans, heart beating double as Chilledgaze, bloody faced, tackles Rockfoot to the ground.
  
  This, Betonyfrost thinks, is love.
  
  They’ve never looked more handsome than they do now. Betonyfrost has never loved them more. She feels like she could shake out of her own skin. She feels as she did when the first inkling of love crossed her mind: invincible and floating. And Chilledgaze has given her this.
  
  How badly Betonyfrost wants.
  
  She wants to be the one to smooth that blood from their face. She wants to be the one to soften that anger. She wants the teeth of her own anger softened in turn. She wants to be able to explode like that. She wants but then all at once her buoyant feeling leaves her with a resounding crash.
  
  How could Betonyfrost—!
  
  Chilledgaze is hurt!
  
  Betonyfrost realizes only after she scrambles to her feet that she is useless in this. She couldn’t help, couldn’t do anything for Chilledgaze. With a marked hesitance, Betonyfrost sits down.​

• "[color=#ddafeb][b]speech[/b][/color]"

shadowclan warrior | blue mackerel tabby | tags​

 

[turtlenose]

As the scene unfolded, Turtlenose found herself somewhat amused by the idea. On one paw she agreed that a cat shouldn’t be attacked for bringing back food to the clan. With the way things were currently, it was better than failing back anything at all. On the other paw, however, Turtlenose didn’t think it was the best idea to solve things with fighting. Eyes would narrow as she watched Chilledgaze seemingly win their fight, soon enough attracting the attention of their leader. Her nerves would burn with the thought of Chilledgaze catching a verbal attack for their actions, leaning forward to see what the leader had to say. Much to her disappointment, Turtlenose would be learning yet another lesson. Physically attacking a clanmate will put you in Pitchstar’s good graces. If she were the only one who could do no right, perhaps attacking as her idiotic clanmates would make her worthy enough.
​

 

[Brawlinglion]

"Damn, did I miss the fun? I missed the fun." Brawlinglion honestly looked disappointed as she made her approach, a scowl darkening her features for a moment or so. The calico looked over at Chilledgaze and she offered a nod of approval of their skills. It was more than a little clear to her that Rockfoot had bitten off far more than he could chew. "Nice moves, Scowly. Hopefully that scratch becomes a scar to be proud of." Every good warrior needed their fair share of battle badges. With no further signs of fighting the she-cat turned so she could take her leave, now left with an itch for a scrap. Maybe if she was lucky she could find a wandering rogue.
​