digging up the grave another time [graveyard visit]

[SCORCHSTAR]

༄༄ She’s never before come out to this specific grave in good spirits. When her kits were born, the wound had still been too fresh to bear, and she hadn’t managed to keep herself from shattering as she told him what she’d named her kits. When she’d been preparing to set off for the mountains, she’d apologized to him in advance for possibly joining him amongst the stars. But now… perhaps this is the first time she’s truly felt at peace as she approaches the grave. Gazing down upon the stone that has miraculously remained in its rightful place, she wonders what he thinks of her now. Is he disappointed with her turning her back on Sootstar? Or is he proud that Sunstride had defeated the venomous queen at last? Either way, he’s still dead, and isn’t likely to let her know anytime soon.

"Tigerfrost," she breathes, chin tipped up to the stars above. "Give me a sign—something, anything. Are you happy with what we’ve done?" She cannot imagine her friend hating her from beyond the grave, although she understands that she likely won’t receive any response. Fiery eyes lower back to the grave—it’s been so long, the dirt looks perfectly packed in, as though he was never here to begin with. She will not give him the same long-winded explanation that she would give any cat of another clan. No, Tigerfrost doesn’t need an explanation, because he’s watched it all from the best possible view. She presses a paw to the stone that marks his grave, a small smile creeping across her face. "Well... we did it, so I suppose it doesn’t matter what you think. I just wish you were here to see it." It feels wrong not to update her friend, even if he would hate her for what she’s done. She can live with that—but for now, she will continue to pretend that he smiles down on her.​

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[RATTLEHEART]

Truthfully, Rattleheart couldn't remember the last time they had visited the graveyard, save for occasionally tending to the scattered stones as part of his duties. They knew plenty of important cats rested there, and could even recall some of them well by name, but they found themself uneasy whenever they drifted close. Maybe it was just because the idea of death had once frightened them, terrified that Sootstar's actions would lead to Starclan abandoning them entirely. Though they loved the tunnels, they had never wanted to end up buried beneath the dirt with no starry sky to ascend to. No family to be reunited with, or familiar faces to welcome in to what would be their new home.

Now though, the clan's victory over Sootstar reassured them that Starclan hadn't abandoned them all. That they had still been watching over things even as she cursed them and pretended they had nothing to do with her power. That alone was enough to take a massive weight off of Rattleheart's shoulders, knowing that so many warriors that had served during her reign weren't imprisoned in their graves for all eternity.

With all of that in mind, it wasn't until they saw Scorchstreak slipping off towards the graveyard that they found themself able to follow, long strides carrying them after their sister - though with a bit of distance between them. They had no intention of eavesdropping on what she had to say, instead just wanting to make sure that she was alright and that they could offer their support when or if it was needed. As they slipped carefully between the well-kept graves and carved stones, they muttered soft prayers for the ones that they were able to recognize and identify. Rattleheart was glad not to have joined any of them in the recent battle, but they still yearned to see certain familiar faces again. "I think he would've been proud of you, you know. Of how you fought." Their words were offered in a hoarse, caring mutter as they came up beside their sister, head nudging softly against her shoulder.
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[ PENNED BY EO ]​

 

[sunlitpaw]

₊ ⋆ * ⊹ ₊ ☾ —— 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯, 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣

• keep scrollin
  #9b7143
  
  

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• Sunlitpaw

  
  Is feeling pensive​
  
  
  

  kit
  skittish
  inquisitive
  experience: untrained
  backstory: royalty
  biography: [HYPERLINK]
  credit to punk for the clangen code :3
  

  nonbinary [they / she]
  eyes: green
  pelt: chocolate torbie
  fur length: long
  parents: wolfsong and sunstride
  6 moons
  
  
  

  ---

  ​

The graveyard was not a site Sunlitpaw frequented. They simply had no reason to, no friends nor kin packed beneath soil being picked at by worms. Their apprentice duties rarely put them at the graveyard, and if it did, it was just to warn them what failure might look like. Sunlitpaw was with a small hunting patrol on their way back, their own paws emptyhanded but the warriors they accompanied had caught a grouse together. The apprentice murmurs a gentle request to the patrol, the cats coming to a stumbling stop as Sunlitpaw interrupts conversation. Taller heads than her own look over at the duo that has caught Sunlitpaw's attention, a quiet instilled across the group. Sunlitpaw thanks the warriors thrice over before departing from cluster of cats, padding quietly toward Scorchstreak and Rattleheart sitting together in the ringed stones of the graveyard. It was not Sunlitpaw's place to disturb mourning, nor to butt in on business that was not theirs, but... they liked Rattleheart, they respected Scorchstreak. Sunlitpaw knew not of the cat they were addressing - Tigerfrost - and a tinge of guilt followed. How many names were forgotten here?

The sun-dappled apprentice stands off to the side of the siblings, a soft trill of greeting being her only announcement. Sunlitpaw scoots in closer, lowering her head and gently placing the long mottled tail feather of the grouse their patrol had caught down for Scorchstreak. Sunlitpaw did not frequent the graveyard, but she knew trinkets and offerings were common enough. It was the smallest sign of kindness they could offer Scorchstreak with their own limited resources. She hadn't overheard much of what the siblings exchanged between themselves about this Tigerfrost individual, and for that Sunlitpaw was glad. They didn't wish to step in on any further business than was their own. Taking what felt like a risk in conversation, Sunlitpaw turns their gaze toward the stone Scorchstreak is addressing, asking quietly, "What were they like?" A much kinder, palatable way of asking why are you here?

​

 

[SCORCHSTAR]

༄༄ Rattleheart’s presence is as familiar to her as her own shadow, and the calico turns to cast a shaky smile in her sibling’s direction as they speak up. The other tunneler says that Tigerfrost would have been proud, and something venomous inside of her screams that they are wrong. Tigerfrost may have been her best friend, but he was one of Sootstar’s council just as she had been. They had both dipped their paws in pools of blood for their leader—the only difference is that Scorchstreak has looked her crimes in the face and decided to stand against Sootstar. Has Tigerfrost changed, as well? Did he even find his way to the stars? She wants to believe the best, but cannot bring herself to hope for much. "He’d definitely have something to say about my fighting," she says, with a breath of laughter.

The next visitor to the graveyard offers up a brilliant feather, and the calico touches her paw against it with a murmured thank you. She feels horrible vulnerable with her weakness being observed by someone as young as Sunlitpaw, but she does not shoo them away, especially as they ask about the long-dead warrior. "Oh, Tigerfrost?" She sits up a bit straighter. She’d never considered that the clan’s youngest would have no idea who the tom was. He had died a long time ago, now, coming up on a year soon. Her own kits never got the chance to meet him; of course Sunstride and Wolfsong’s litter does not know much of him. "He was a good friend, and a dependable warrior. I could always count on him to have my back." They had saved one another’s lives fighting against RiverClan. To Scorchstreak, their bond was forged in blood spilled across a battlefield, but it grew into something more than violence. It grew into comfortable chats, sharing tongues, naming one of her kits after him. Perhaps she appreciates him more now that he’s far out of her reach. And isn’t that among the greatest shames of all, that she failed to tell her closest friend how much she cared?

Her mood sours suddenly, and Dappledsun’s face flickers in her mind’s eye. "Good friends are hard to come by, and you should hold them close while you have them." As she speaks, her eyes are trained on the apprentice’s face, her expression serious as ever.​

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[sunlitpaw]

Scorchstreak accepts the feather from them to Sunlitpaw's muted surprise, thick fur fluffing in poorly hidden pride. It feels good, to make someone else feel good. Or... as "good" as Scorchstreak could possibly be standing over the grave of an old friend, so she says. Their joy deflates just as quickly as it had come, replaced swiftly by the melancholy that sits heavy over the graveyard. Guilt follows swiftly on its heels to scold Sunlitpaw for trying to squeeze something positive out of a moment meant for grief, for remembrance. Sunlitpaw shuffles her front paws close to her body, quietly clearing her throat but keeping her quiet as Scorchstreak offers a brief insight into Tigerfrost. Sunlitpaw wonders what other stories there are to be shared about him - the Lead Warrior did not seem to acquire swift friends, nor did the apprentice ever hear her speak in a matter of respect for most others. Sunlitpaw's ears flick back - their father and ðir would surely know this name as well.

"He sounds really cool," Sunlitpaw murmurs, the word 'admirable' just beyond her vocabulary as she fishes for something to supplement Scorchstreak with. Sunlitpaw wonders what it would be like to miss someone this deeply - she wonders what it would be like to sit at her family's tombstone, to visit them and share their stories. What would she want told about herself? What even was there to speak highly of? She could envision Scorchstreak easily, talked about in rasping tales by Wolfsong or brave recollections by Scorchpaw. To even have her daughter named after her - it was a symbol of meaning something, much the same as Sunstride had his own little sun. Was there a Tigerpaw or Frostpaw, Sunlitpaw wondered? Wait -- oh. "Is he... who you named Frostpaw after?" Sunlitpaw realizes she might be severely overstepping a boundary, her ears falling to her head. "Sorry, I -... I didn't mean to bring up anything you don't want to talk about. I just... I think that's really cool." She quietly wonders if Luckypaw was named after anyone too.

Scorchstreak's mood shifts further, and Sunlitpaw finds her skin itching uncomfortably under the sunburn gaze of the tortoiseshell. She wonders, briefly, if she's overstayed her welcome and Scorchstreak has tired of humoring the apprentice's endless questions. Instead, advice is imparted. Wh - advice? Not what Sunlitpaw was expecting. Green eyes blow wide as Scorchstreak addresses her directly. Good friends... "How do you know they're good?" Sunlitpaw whispers, holding eye contact even as her gaze shifts and travels around Scorchstreak's pupil. Good friends are who banded together to finally uproot Sootstar, right? But... how can you possibly know who to hold close? What is the cost of learning?
​

𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦, ———— 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚.

• 

• 

  ₊ ⋆ * ⊹ ₊ ☾

  sunlitpaw

  
  

  — they / she, moor-runner apprentice of windclan. mentored by no-one
  — a large yet timid chocolate tabby-tortoiseshell with spring green eyes
  — sunstride x wolfsong, sibling to rivepaw, bearpaw, singedpaw, & featherpaw
  — full length tags
  — penned by izanami, contact on discord @nullmoons for plots or threads :)

  ​

 

[Bluepool]

There is not much for her here, in the graveyard. She had been sad when Tigerfrost had passed, of course. Same with Juniperfrost or any other of their clanmates who had passed. But death was not the end, she knows. StarClan was a beginning, a reunion of souls in the after life. Despite her reservations on the dead, however, she still finds herself here. Why? She isn't entirely certain. Her paws had led her here of her own volition, the image of her father flashing behind her eyes. He was not buried here but still. It was nice to come here and think about him. Would he have approved of his daughters actions? Probably, she thinks.

When she arrives at the graveyard she is surprised to see a small group already there. She listens quietly to her friends words. The melancholy in the flame touched mollies voice makes her want to go to her, to press her blue pelt against her red and black one and tell her that everything would be okay. Some unknown force keeps her from moving forward though.

"You know a friend is good when they are there for you in the good times and the bad" she answers, a soft smile taking shape on her jaws as she answers the young apprentice. As she speaks, her eyes do not leave the face of Scorchstreak.

( ✦ ) test my worth in blood

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• 
  BLUEPOOL WINDCLAN LEAD WARRIOR ; SHE / HER ; SISTER TO SOOTSTAR & MINTSHADE
  

  A small framed moor runner with a blue toned pelt and black stripes. Her tail is cropped and her eyes are golden in color. On her chest, she sports a large 'X' shaped scar.

  ✦ Difficult in battle. A skilled fighter + isn’t above using dirty tricks in order to win
  

​

 

[SCORCHSTAR]

༄༄ The apprentice, thankfully, does not have any questions about Tigerfrost’s actions in life. If asked, Scorchstreak would have admitted her doubts about his morality, of course, but she would prefer to keep her own uncertainties pushed far into the back of her mind, where they cannot push her to redraw the image that she still holds of her friend. She does not break eye contact with Sunlitpaw as she nods. "He was very cool," she says with a weak huff of laughter. She’d admired the tom in life not only for his power, but for his loyalty. He’d had his reservations about some facets of Sootstar’s leadership, just as she had, but he’d become a lead warrior long before Scorchstreak.

Sunlitpaw’s next question catches her off guard, and the calico’s gaze flies off to the side, catching sight of the gravestone once more. Of course she’d named one of her kits after the tom that they’d never gotten the chance to meet. If he had, maybe he would have mentored one of them—though none would have been named after him, then. Sunlitpaw backtracks quickly after asking, apologizing, but the calico waves them off with a flicker of her tail. They’d never met Tigerfrost, so it makes sense that they’re curious. And besides, any method of carrying on his memory is a good method. "It’s alright, I don’t mind. Frostpaw is named after him. He would have met my kits if he’d lived one month longer." If he’d lived even two weeks longer, he would have been there to see the squirming bundles of fur tucked up against her in the nursery. He’d missed it all by such a small margin…

She catches Bluepool’s eye over Sunlitpaw’s head when the apprentice asks how exactly one determines who is a good friend. The silvered tabby already has an answer, and Scorchstreak’s attention turns back to Sunlitpaw as the other warrior speaks. Good friends are there through the good and the bad, through the darkest of nights and into the breaking of dawn. "Rattleheart and Bluepool are my good friends. More than that, even. They’ve both been there to support me even through the worst times." Through the rebellion, when she’d felt adrift and burned out, her friends and clanmates had been bright stars guiding her into better days, encouraging her to keep pushing even when she wanted to lie down in that barn and give up. They’d stuck by her closely—this, she knows Tigerfrost would approve of. "I know that I can trust them with anything. Do you have anyone like that?"​

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