DODGING THE FLAK // adjusting

[SHADOWRUNNER]

\╱╲I SEE A RED DOOR & I WANT IT PAINTED BLACK╱╲/​

Shadowrunner shuffled awkwardly across the expanse of the camp as he busied himself with... well, a fat lot of nothing. The tom felt the weight of change now that Sootstar's reign had finally come to an end. He had stood with the Loyalists, yet his family had gone with the Rebels, and it had been difficult facing off against Goldenstrike during the conflict near the barn. Although he had returned home after the retreat his sense of loyalty to the moorland queen had pretty much broken down to dust. So when the final battle had occurred he had simply bowed his head and stowed his claws in submission. Perhaps it was why he had been spared and not chased away. Though he still felt it, the judging eyes weighing down upon him.

Would life ever feel normal again?

After another aimless circuit of the camp he finally came to a pause and he cast his gaze towards that of those passing by. Swallowing back his nerves he finally spoke up with a request. "Would... um... anyone like to help me check the t-tunnels?" He was concerned that some had been left to fall into ruin, and he was worried that potential predators might have stolen the opportunity to move in during their absence.

NO COLOURS ANYMORE I WANT THEM TO TURN BLACK
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[WOLFSONG]

──ᨒ↟↟ᨒ↟ᨒ↟↟ᨒ── Wolfsong is frustrated with those who feebly bowed to Sootstar, yes, though for altogether different reasons than his ire for her staunch supporters. He has never tolerated cowardice well, even the sort born of the instinct to survive. To die in the light of loyalty proven to Sunstride would be a worthy death, but a life led serving the crazed Sootstar without protest— unthinkable. Perhaps he sounds a hypocrite, given his place as a trusted warrior then medicine cat in Sootstar's shadow, but it was not fear that motivated him. And in truth, he respected her more before she turned her gaze from StarClan and lost herself in the resulting madness.

Their raid on SkyClan is not a decision Wolfsong will ever regret, not when it saved so many lives, and RiverClan's murder of Juniperfrost –and blatant avoidance of responsibility– deserved recompense.

Still, Wolfsong supposes that there is more to do with his energy than cling tightly to an old, old resentment of fear. Shadowrunner remains a WindClan tunneler, although he hopes he would defend Sunstride's reign more readily than Sootstar's.

"Be careful," Wolfsong cautions him, and whomever else seems interested in joining his endeavor. "I do not have as many herbs for wounds as I would like."
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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.

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[heathermoon !!]

He was without his mentor. Moons spent training beside the same tom at every sunrise, secrets shared with a bond of trust that was supposed to be as strong as a lion. All for nothing. A final betrayal that had severed him from trying to remain in WindClan any longer with Sootstar at its helm. Maybe once he was older Heatherpaw could see it for what it was, that Robinfang's betrayal had served him the benefit of true loyalty. Recognizing what a true Clanmate should do but now, in this moment, it only hurt.

"The... tunnels?" Heatherpaw echoed as if he hadn't heard Shadowrunner correctly. The tunnels had been a second home for the tabby. Far more comfortable than any nest and the glint in his eyes showed his excitement. "I can promise we'll be careful, Wolfsong. Just a quick check, make sure the main paths are still sturdy. Right Shadowrunner?"​

WINDCLAN APPRENTICE ✦ RED MACKEREL TABBY ✦ 16 MOONS ✦ TAGS​

 

[SHADOWRUNNER]

\╱╲I SEE A RED DOOR & I WANT IT PAINTED BLACK╱╲/​

"N-noted." Shadowrunner gave a nod of his head as he took heed of Wolfsong's warning. With luck nothing foul would come to befall the patrol that he wished to take. Though it seemed that volunteers were somewhat lacking as he shifted his focus to Heatherpaw. Naturally his mind drifted to the idea of asking Heatherpaw's mentor for permission in order to take him along, but he quickly reminded himself that there wasn't anyone to ask now. "A quick check, yeah. Shall we head off now or should we wait for others to come over?" Personally he was eager to just get started, but a two cat patrol was just begging for trouble.

NO COLOURS ANYMORE I WANT THEM TO TURN BLACK
╲╱╲╱╲╱​

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[SCORCHSTAR]

༄༄ Scorchstreak looks upon those who stood at Sootstar’s side with scorn—and she does not hide her disdain for them, either. Shadowrunner does not escape her suspicious golden gaze, but the calico is willing to set aside the other tunneler’s cowardice in order to keep him around underground. The clan needs all the tunnelers that it can get now. She nearly doesn’t respond to Shadowrunner’s request, content to let him go off on his own, but then Heatherpaw volunteers to go with him; Scorchstreak will not allow an apprentice to go anywhere outside of camp alone with a clanmate who hadn’t openly stood against Sootstar.

"I’ll come with you," she offers with a flicker of her dappled tail, looking over the two younger cats. Wolfsong gives a warning not to get injured, and the she-cat huffs out an amused breath. "I hate to think of the condition they’re in, after so long." She doubts that Sootstar had the extra warriors to send out into the tunnels regularly—and the smoky-furred queen was likely too busy finding new ways to stain her claws red to care about something as simple as tunnel maintenance. She cannot imagine what sorts of obstacles will be down there, and can only hope that no badgers have moved in since she has been gone.​

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