wc rebels dinner for... two? / pafp

[Galeforce]

↞ RACE THE WINDS

//Please wait for @GRAVELSNAP

When had he last hunted alongside other cats? Even after he had established himself in twolegplace he hadn't exactly prowled the gardens or nearby forest with the other cats who had lived with him at the time. Alone he had become, and it was hard to draw away from that mindset even after discovering so many former WindClanners in horseplace. Perhaps it only added to the trouble that Gale had found himself in now. The tom had been hot on the heels of a rabbit that morning, so much so that all he had needed was one good leap to claim the prize. Unfortunately for him he had not been the only one sprinting after the coney, and as he went to leap so too did the other hunter.

The cats collided and the bunny escaped across the field. Gale reeled from the shock of it all and it took him a moment to register which way was up as he gathered his paws beneath him. Though as he began to realise what had occurred he found a rage swelling within him as he locked his furious sights on Gravelsnap. "What were you even thinking?! That was my quarry, why did you get in my way?!"
​

 

[GRAVELSNAP]

➴➴ Guilt chases Gravelsnap, no matter how fast they run. They turned their back on their clan, their friends. They are no better than a rogue, than one of the exiles who stood with Dandelionwish. There is something wrong with them, no matter what others may say. The warrior is lost in thought as they chase after a rabbit, paws pounding quickly across the moorland. They are so close to catching their prey, they just need to take the leap. They gather their hind legs beneath them, and-

The impact of another cat crashing into them sends Gravelsnap sprawling into the dirt. They land hard, jarring their shoulder, but they are quick to scramble back to their paws as soon as they regain their bearings. They are being shouted at before they can fully process what’s happened—the tom before them is unfamiliar, but he is the one Periwinklebreeze had lunged at. And he seems enraged, though he has no right to be angry with Gravelsnap.

The black-patched warrior’s hackles raise and they take a stiff step closer to Gale. "No, what were you thinking? It was mine!" Their voice trembles around their shout, at a volume louder than is usually heard from the young warrior. Their claws slide from their sheaths, an open threat. "Why are you still here, anyway, after you murdered our medicine cat? Do you hope to see us all die?" They have kept so much contained for so long—they will not stand to be yelled at by this rogue.​

​

 

[WOLFSONG]

──ᨒ↟↟ᨒ↟ᨒ↟↟ᨒ── Wolfsong is on a hunt of his own, albeit one with prey that cannot outrun him, even if they can evade him in other ways. He is ever so careful about venturing beyond the barn, well aware of the potential danger of Sootstar's lurking dogs, but he refuses to remain hidden away while his clanmates risk themselves providing for their bellies. These are days that try their spirits in many ways, and in truth, Wolfsong is surprised that such a heated exchange has taken so long to burst free.

His jaw clenches when he realizes that Gale is one of the cats involved, though that the other raised voice belongs to Gravelsnap— that Wolfsong hadn't expected. He can't recall if he's ever heard them shout like this, and it is clear they are on the defensive, tensed with claws openly bared. There is no love lost between Wolfsong and Gale after Vulturemask's death; Sunstride's paranoia had kept him from leaving unaccompanied, worried one of the rogues would attempt to kill Wolfsong in the same manner.

Part of him does not want to counsel peace. He would see the former WindClanner fall under Gravelsnap's teeth to avenge Sunflowermask's family, but the terrible, reason-bound part of his mind knows they cannot afford Gravelsnap receiving any injuries, either.

"Now the rabbit is no one's," Wolfsong rasps coolly, "and any prey nearby will certainly scatter to join it with such a ruckus stirred."
​

WOLFSONG of WINDCLAN FORMER ROGUE TURNED MEDICINE CAT. 41 MOONS, HE/HIM, NPC X NPC. MATES WITH SUNSTRIDE (07/05/2023). BIOGRAPHY, PINTEREST, & PLAYLIST.

medicinal expertise med. part ii med. part iii med. part iv

• — ★★★☆☆ WOUNDS: You're (mostly) in safe paws. You'll know if he's less experienced if he asks for your permission to try a treatment. No wound can scare him away from knowledge.
  — ★★★☆☆ INFECTION: He can prevent most infections. If you feel feverish, let him know; he'll hum thoughtfully over herbs and sniff your wound before saying, "With your blessing..."
• — ★☆☆☆☆ ACHES & PAINS: If you complain to him of pain, he'll ask where. If it's a headache, you'll likely feel a bit better. For anything else, "Try this, if you'd like, and tell me how you feel."
  — ★☆☆☆☆ BROKEN BONES: At best. he can ask you to remain lying down in the den. He may try to distract you with conversation while he considers what herb to feed you.
• — ★★★★★ TRAVELING HERBS: Going somewhere? No worries; Wolfsong knows just what you need to stay hale and healthy during your journey. The rest is up to you.
  — ★★★☆☆ KITTING: Thanks to Starlingheart and his own pregnancy, he's better prepared for the arrival of kits, but any complications will need a little faith and a lot of luck.
• — ★☆☆☆☆ POISONS: It's best if you avoid eating anything unfamiliar to you— it's probably just as unfamiliar to Wolfsong. The best he can do is offer you yarrow and sit with you.
  — ★★☆☆☆ ILLNESS: If it's white or greencough, you'll likely recover. Otherwise, prepare for odd concoctions and the usual request that you consent to a little trial-and-error.

​

 

[RATTLEHEART]

Much like Wolfsong before them, a large part of Rattleheart didn't want to step in between Gale and Gravelsnap. After all, what was there to lose in the long run? If Gale had finally made the wrong move, and finally forfeited his life to his own foolish, selfish ways... it only seemed right to the tunneler, honestly. A life for a life only seemed fair after what had been done to Vulturemask, the murder souring any potential future for the exile in their eyes. He was merely a body to be utilized in battle, a brutal former Windclanner who had more in common with Sootstar's lot than he'd ever admit. She hadn't exactly ever winced in the face of bloodshed, particularly not when it was the blood of a medicine cat.

There was no lack of distaste in their pale green gaze as they approached, shaking their head at Gale and to a lesser extent Gravelsnap. "Wolfsong is right. You're just driving off more prey by shouting like that." Despite their best efforts to be neutral, their next words in Gale's direction weren't said with any usual warmth or comfort. "Besides, are you so braindead that you can't identify the scent of another cat nearby? Leaping without taking in your surroundings is an apprentice's mistake, one would think a murderer would be smarter than that." Their voice was soft and low the whole time - meant to keep from driving off any more prey after the shouting that had taken place just a moment ago. Their tail was twitching irritably as they looked back over at Gravelsnap, head jerking in the direction of the rest of their temporary territory. "Come on Gravelsnap, we can find more prey out there without bickering." It's an earnest suggestion just as much as it is a plea to get their clanmates away from Gale.

// all ic opinions ofc they are just so nasty w gale
​

[ PENNED BY EO ]​

 

[Irispath]

Yewberry watches everyone gang up on Gale and curls his lip. He wastes no time in trotting over to stand beside his friend to glare tiredly at the windclanners present. Gale is the reason he is still here. Yewberry believes that if he hadn't stuck with Gale, he'd have likely just given up a long time ago. He won't let these cats try and make him out to be a monster when they themselves took this long to realize Sootstar was one.

"A lot of talk coming from cats who are also about to kill their former clanmates. Are you telling me you aren't about to sink your teeth into their throats and cause the same kind of grief that Gale did?" He says, voice quiet as to not disturb anymore prey. "You hate him because he took matters into his own paws and struck out against the Windclan you're about to war against, that you were once loyal and complacent to. We are all about to have Windclan blood on our paws if we don't already. Besides, Sootstar and her loyalists are the root of all of our problems and grief and we need to put aside our issues with each other and stay on the same page."

He looks at Gravelsnap. He remembers him from when he was exiled, vaguely. He hisses. "Gale is still here because he was here before any of you came, just like the rest of us barn cats. He isn't going to leave because you don't like him."​

 

[Galeforce]

↞ RACE THE WINDS

Gale narrowed his eyes as his fur bristled all the more as Gravelsnap spoke back at him, aided further by Wolfsong and Rattleheart wading in to back them up. At least Yew was on his side. He had always been on his side ever since they had been chased out by those who had once been their clanmates. They might have grown distant in recent moons but it was clear that the bond was still there, lingering like a resilient flame. It was about all he had left.

A smart cat might have backed away and gone elsewhere but that had never been Gale's style. He had been a loud youth, then a defiant young warrior. He was older now, plagued by a darker heart, but he wouldn't abandon his goals. The brown tabby held a firm glare upon the trio as he stood his ground. "There will be more prey, though there would have been more if you lot weren't here. This became my home, so why would I leave just because you miserable lot were invited in?" They were the guests in his realm this time, if they had a problem with it then they could have gone elsewhere.

His focus shifted to Rattleheart and he scoffed loudly in response to her words. "Oh? I guess Gravelsnap is just as mousebrained too then, considering they also failed to watch where they leapt." A brief smirk danced on his features before he continued. "You can call me a murderer all you like, but you're no better given your past crimes and the ones you're all about to commit. I might have been wandering the wilds but I heard all about the devious, nasty little things that WindClan was doing. All those killings... all the suffering. You all have blood on your paws, you're all killers. It's all because you failed to grow a backbone sooner and you continued to let Sootstar run riot as her loyal legion. No doubt if Vulturemask was alive right now he'd still have his snivelling nose bowed low to her like the loyal rat that he'd always been since he was a little kit mewling for her affection."

Gale aimed to stroke his tail down Yew's flank as a way of thanking him for his ongoing support. "Sootstar is my only goal now. I will see her final life snuffed out for the sake of WindClan... for all the clans. The day she cast Yew and I out, after she sent her warriors after us with the order to kill us, I vowed to bring about her end. Stay out of my way and we won't have any further issues."
​

 

[WOLFSONG]

──ᨒ↟↟ᨒ↟ᨒ↟↟ᨒ── Rattleheart does not hesitate to defend Gravelsnap colorfully, and though he does not disagree with their strong vocalization, he is well aware of the discord it will sow long before Yewberry latches onto the opportunity to volley spite back at the tunneler. Wolfsong regards the former WindClanner flatly, his sole eye scarcely blinking and the whole of him as subdued as a cliff face— which is to say not at all. His stare shifts to Gale, following in Yewberry's pawsteps, and then the medicine cat paws close a nearby stone, their combined voices rising above their heads like a cloud of gnats. He pins the stone still with one paw to work a jagged line down its side with his claws, reminiscent of his scarred eye. He brushes clumps of wet, snow-soaked dirt from its uneven surface.

Wolfsong situates it to his liking. "I've no interest in self-serving monologues," he says dispassionately. "You will find this stone far more receptive to your whimpering. Perhaps when you have finished, you may kick it around the moors as you please— but do be sure to return it to your skull afterward." He smiles pleasantly, flicking a bit of soil from his paw. "Gravelsnap will hear you better once it is back to rattling around, driven by the wind through your ears."

Wolfsong shows his back to them, off to resume his responsibilities among the precious silence of herbs.
​

WOLFSONG of WINDCLAN FORMER ROGUE TURNED MEDICINE CAT. 41 MOONS, HE/HIM, NPC X NPC. MATES WITH SUNSTRIDE (07/05/2023). BIOGRAPHY, PINTEREST, & PLAYLIST.

medicinal expertise med. part ii med. part iii med. part iv

• — ★★★☆☆ WOUNDS: You're (mostly) in safe paws. You'll know if he's less experienced if he asks for your permission to try a treatment. No wound can scare him away from knowledge.
  — ★★★☆☆ INFECTION: He can prevent most infections. If you feel feverish, let him know; he'll hum thoughtfully over herbs and sniff your wound before saying, "With your blessing..."
• — ★☆☆☆☆ ACHES & PAINS: If you complain to him of pain, he'll ask where. If it's a headache, you'll likely feel a bit better. For anything else, "Try this, if you'd like, and tell me how you feel."
  — ★☆☆☆☆ BROKEN BONES: At best. he can ask you to remain lying down in the den. He may try to distract you with conversation while he considers what herb to feed you.
• — ★★★★★ TRAVELING HERBS: Going somewhere? No worries; Wolfsong knows just what you need to stay hale and healthy during your journey. The rest is up to you.
  — ★★★☆☆ KITTING: Thanks to Starlingheart and his own pregnancy, he's better prepared for the arrival of kits, but any complications will need a little faith and a lot of luck.
• — ★☆☆☆☆ POISONS: It's best if you avoid eating anything unfamiliar to you— it's probably just as unfamiliar to Wolfsong. The best he can do is offer you yarrow and sit with you.
  — ★★☆☆☆ ILLNESS: If it's white or greencough, you'll likely recover. Otherwise, prepare for odd concoctions and the usual request that you consent to a little trial-and-error.

​

 

[GRAVELSNAP]

➴➴ Approaching soon after, surely drawn in by the volume of their argument, Wolfsong and Rattleheart join in. Both seem to agree that the continued shouting is only driving prey away further—the black-patched warrior shrinks back a step, feeling admonished. The things that Rattleheart is criticizing Gale for are the same things that Gravelsnap should have thought of, as well. They don't bring up this fact, though, eager to brush it all off and walk away now that they've made a scene. But of course, Yewberry has to show his face, as though this situation couldn't get any worse. The tom says that Gale isn't going to leave just because they don't like him, and it nearly spurs them into violence. Why not? There are more WindClanners than barn cats; there is nothing stopping them from driving these two even farther from this territory.

They wince as they are accused of planning to kill their former clanmates. "You both talk too much," they snarl. That’s wrong, you’re wrong, they want to scream, want to shove their face into Yewberry’s and make him understand. The only blood staining their claws has been from rogues, and for a moment they wonder if they should add to it. They think of the way they’d run from WindClan’s camp with hesitation, the way that Peri had begged them to leave with him. They had almost stayed; would that make them better or worse, in these cats’ eyes? Would anything appease these exiles? Their jaw clenches at the thought.

Yewberry is wrong. And more importantly, Gale is wrong. He thinks that he can paint them all in the same color, but all that he achieves is making himself look more guilty. More foolish. Gravelsnap bares their teeth at the brown tabby, but they do not make a move to attack. The medicine cat at their side speaks, and this time his words are scathing. But Wolfsong is right. They have better things to do than listen to—to this. "Pebble-brain," they spit, and with a final lash of their tail, they turn to stalk off with a final nod to Rattleheart. Wherever the tunneler plans to go, it must surely be better than here, hanging around these rogues.​

​

 

[RATTLEHEART]

Disgust. A rare feeling that didn't visit Rattleheart's mind particularly often, but took up residence almost immediately the moment Yewberry and Gale started talking. Trying to justify Gale's murder, and act as if it was equivalent to the war that they were going into. It was actually enough to make them laugh, a dry and ugly thing that bubbled up from their throat. "Committing coldblooded murder against a medicine cat for some misguided sense of revenge is not the same as fighting in an all-out war for your home. If you can't see that, then you are a mousebrain and a fool, Yewberry." A disappointing fact for the tunneler, who had thought Yewberry actually had a clear head on his shoulders. Vulturemask had not been killed on an even battlefield. He had not been in the middle of a war, throwing himself into a battle that he had chosen to get involved in. As far as Rattleheart was concerned, Gale's murder of him was nothing but a bloody crime and disgrace, one that Starclan had hopefully taken special note of. Gale could go on and on about how he likely would've supported Sootstar to the end, but Vulturemask hadn't even been given the chance to make a choice.

Because his life had been snuffed out by a rogue who thought he knew better about life and death. He was no better than the leader that he claimed to despise.

Like both Wolfsong and Gravelsnap before them, Rattleheart saw little reason to continue entertaining their ramblings and justification. They could go on and on until they were blue in the face beneath their fur, the rest of them had better things to do than try and explain away their bloodied claws. They instead returned Gravelsnap's nod, a last disgusted scowl directed in Gale's direction before they turned and led the moor runner off towards better hunting grounds. Nowhere was exactly flourishing at the moment, but anywhere was better than being stuck here.
​

[ PENNED BY EO ]​