camp DRINK A COFFEE AND FLOOR IT - sneaking out

minkpaw

WITH SALT IN MY EYES
Nov 28, 2023
16
2
3
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ Being an apprentice wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Training was the most boring thing ever, and she only got to do cool things like sparring once in a while. Minkpaw was allowed to leave camp now, but ONLY with a warrior, and when she was with a warrior they usually wanted her to do something boring. She was fed up with it all. So, she had made the decision to sneak out of camp.

The problem was that she did not really have a plan. Minkpaw had not discovered a secret gap in the thorn barrier despite her efforts and she had not been able to come up with a way to distract everyone so that no one would see her leave. It turned out that sneaking out of camp was a lot harder than sneaking out of the nursery. With every moment she had spent considering how to manage it, she had grown more and more restless. Now what little patience she possessed had run out.

Minkpaw was just going to walk out the front entrance and hope no one noticed.

It was not a good plan. It wasn't even a plan at all, not really. All she had going for her was that she was very, very small. Through she had grown over her moons as an apprentice, it hadn't been by much. Her size was usually a source of shame for her, but today she hoped it would finally help her.

Minkpaw lingered by the entrance to camp, attempting to keep an eye on her clanmates to make sure none of them were looking her way. Once she was sure she had not yet be noticed she slunk slowly toward it, keeping close to the bramble wall the whole way.

Her heart soared, maybe she would actually make it out...
  • MINKKIT she/her(?), apprentice of shadowclan, six moons. tiny, shorthaired silver tabby with high white and fiery orange eyes. FOXFANG X BADGERFUR peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking ↛ see battle info here penned by empyrean@empyrean_heaven on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
 

" I don't think so. "

Scorchfrost had, admittedly, never been confined to camp. He'd been fully grown when Shadowclan had formed, had never been injured enough to get grounded, and in all honesty, he'd likely ignore whatever sheltering order was given. His adolescence had been spent fighting for survival amid the wilderness and those that wished to harm him, not confined to a camp. He might criticize the 'soft' apprentices of the clans but he knew what hardships were and he was thankful that they had easier lives than he.

" If I remember right, lass, you are short a few too many moons to be leaving by yourself. " Scorchfrost wasn't exactly a stickler for the rules. He had, after all, been raised in a less than traditional setting. " I might be turning to dust but I'm still young enough to follow. " The older warrior didn't know Minkpaw, had knowledge of her in the way one might know of an associates child, but he'd heard tell of her antics. " Lead on. "
[ YOU CAN'T BREAK MY SPIRIT ]
 


Chilledstar's council meeting continued to burn brightly in his mind's eye. It had been the first assembly of its kind in many seasons, and contrary to the preconceptions that the deputy held, the meeting turned out to be remarkably productive. By the time the back-and-forthing had runs its course, everyone's perspectives were brought into sync—secret departures from camp were too grave a trend to be ignored, and bolder steps needed to be taken to ensure no more young cats met an early end. Naivety and exiled criminals have brought more ShadowClan members to StarClan than any battle or war.

With such inarguable facts established, the deputy stood with a stronger air of vigilance about him in camp these days, his amber eyes ever on the outlook for would-be renegades and runaways. Unfortunately, his watchfulness failed to capture Minkpaw's endeavours, but fortunately, Scorchfrost had.

"Minkpaw, you know better. Far better. You're lucky Scorchfrost saw you and not I." The grey tabby had accelerated in his gait to catch the two before they could so much as step beyond the entrance. She ought to count her blessings, the sable-striped apprentice, that someone more forgiving had intervened first. Sneaking out has been redefined as a misdeed of utmost severity; one where tick duty would come as a lenient sentence. "Enjoy your walk," he sighs, before turning the other cheek and going on his way.

Of course, he still had the option to pivot around and dictate that she not leave camp, but that would have been venturing beyond what was necessary.

 
*+:。.。 Singepaw's boiling blue eyes watched from the safety of the apprentice's den as Minkpaw's small form inched it's way towards freedom. Sharp ivory claws dug free of his white gloves, burying themselves into the dirt, frustration gnawing at him. He might've cheered Minkpaw on if he wasn't too busy being too envious. At least she GOT to go outside! Even if she was stuck with a warrior-sized shadow, she still got to breathe in marshland air and dig her paws into the steps of patrolling warriors! She got to see the official training grounds instead of being stuck sparring in the middle of a cramped camp if she wasn't stuck just doing endless clean-up and tick-pulling. So forgive him if he didn't feel particularly bad when Scorchfrost arrived to halt her in her dreams. Though Singepaw couldn't help but roll his eyes when Scorchfrost offered to accompany her, however, implying she was free from any consequence.

At least, until Smogmaw appeared. Singepaw lowered his ears slightly, but listened intently as the deputy scolded the girl, only to let out a sigh when, yet again, they relented. So much for punishing crimes...though it did make Singepaw smirk to himself. Shrugging away his envy, the boy would pad over, mewing, "Have fun out there!" in a rare show of amiability.




  • GENERAL:
    Singepaw
    Cismale — He/him — Questioning sexuality
    4 moons — Ages 1 moon every month on the 2nd
    NPC x Duckshimmer (brother to Swallowkit, Sneezekit)
    Shadowclan — Kit
    Apprenticed to Pipitclaw


    COMBAT:
    Physically easy | mentally easy
    Attack in bold #b8312f
    Can be power played just ask
    injuries: faint scars on flanks from an owl attack


 
I WISH YOU COULD SEE THE WICKED TRUTH — Onyxpaw was one of the few that had gotten lucky, if you could call it that. Though she also wasn't allowed to leave camp without a warrior by her side, she had been made an apprentice before the newest code addition had even been a thought on Blazestar's mind. Meaning that, unlike Singepaw, she had never been forced into the state of camp confinement that had him so wound up. Honestly, she wouldn't have really minded if she had been, though. Sparring was by far her favorite apprentice duty, and she still would've been able to do that in camp - not to mention she wouldn't have had to agonize so much over hunting. It might've been a blessing in disguise, even if Singepaw would likely scoff at the very idea.

As it was, she didn't even really mind needing to have a warrior accompany her. Her mentor was constantly eager to take her out for training, and the thought of being out all on her lonesome was, in fact, mildly terrifying. What if she ran across an intruder while she was on her own? Or what if some kind of predator had decided to make a hunting ground out of her walking trail? Onyxpaw hoped - prayed - she'd be able to deal with such things once she was a warrior, but right now? Right now she was content always having Avocetfall by her side, no matter how much they had begun to slow down in recent moons.

Evidently Minkpaw didn't feel the same way, Onyxpaw's blue gaze slowly following after her peer as she inched closer and closer to the entrance of camp. Her near-escape was prompting a battle within the chimera, stuck between letting Minkpaw go and shouting for a warrior. It was a relief when Scorchfrost stepped in, catching Minkpaw before she could bolt off on a daring adventure. "Oh, thank Starclan..." Although she did feel a little bad for her fellow apprentice, subjected to brief lecturing from both Scorchfrost and Smogmaw. That alone was enough to drive her a little closer, fluffy fail twitching with each pawstep. "Do you want any more company? I can come too..." Onyxpaw really wasn't much of a conversationalist, but at least then Scorchfrost's attention would be split between the two of them?


  • 75034637_eiCvVhxv9vQNT6l.png
    shorthaired tortoiseshell point and chocolate point chimera with blue eyes
    6 moons old; ages the 1st every month
    bisexual; crushing on yellowpaw
    daughter of monarchroot and sleetjaw
    shadowclan born; silently loyal to her home
    difficult to befriend; shy to most except yellowpaw
    "speech", thoughts, attacking
    peaceful powerplay allowed
 
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ The sound of Scorchfrost's voice made her freeze like a deer in the headlights. Crap. She had been so close! All she had needed was a few more moments and she would have been free! Minkpaw tensed, ready to bolt off and make a mad dash for the exit. There was almost no chance she would make it, but she was willing to try. It wasn't like she could be in any more trouble after all.

Then Scorchfrost told her to lead on. She paused, turning to blink at him in surprise. Slowly, a wide grin spread across her face. Scorchfrost was now, in her eyes, the only cool adult. The thought of having a warrior follow her through the territory rather than the other way around was too good to pass up. She took another eager step toward the exit. "AWESOME! Let's-"

Once again, she was stopped before she could make it out. Her ears laid back flat against her head. Minkpaw watched with dread as Smogmaw, the stickler himself, padded toward her. As he lectured her she shot a desperate glance toward Scorchfrost, silently begging him to save her. Then, to her surprise, the deputy told her to enjoy her walk and turned away. She stuck her tongue out at Smogmaw's back as he walked away. Big dumb old idiot.

Minkpaw grinned as Singepaw told her to have fun on her walk. "I will!" She declared, basking in her victory.

Her grin only widened Onyxpaw asked if sure could join. "Sure, but you have to follow ME!" Minkpaw proclaimed proudly. With two cats following her, she was practically going to lead her own patrol! This was going to be awesome.
  • MINKKIT she/her(?), apprentice of shadowclan, six moons. tiny, shorthaired silver tabby with high white and fiery orange eyes. FOXFANG X BADGERFUR peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking ↛ see battle info here penned by empyrean@empyrean_heaven on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
 
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they're glad that the young cat was caught before the successful trip out. it's way too dangerous of there for an apprentice on their own, and when they're older and wiser and they have their own apprentices to worry about, maybe they'd see that. they should have saw it now. all of them. especially with how many apprentices have died, because they just couldn't keep their wits about them and stay in camp where it was safe or at the minimum, ask a warrior to go with. their tail lashed back and forth and gently they rubbed the top of singepaw's head.

"don't worry. few more days, and you'll be old enough to have your first trip out. promise it will be worth it."

they understood the need to explore, but safety should have come first. but young cats didn't think about those things, did they? they thought about being better. stronger. faster. trying to prove something and it wasn't worth it. especially if the only thing they proved was that starclan was a very real place.

"stay safe. hunt something big, won't you?"

———————---***ALL OF MY FEELINGS ARE GONE***———————---

  •  
  • black feline with a white marking across their face, a white chin, a white right front paw, and blue eyes. chilledstar is covered in scars, the most prominent ones being the one across their face, and the one across their neck.
    44 moons old; ages the 3rd every month
    they / them pronouns
    aromantic / homosexual ; currently not looking / looking
    child of JAGGED and RAVEN
    shadowclan ; loyal to shadowclan ; other info if applicable
    mildly difficult to befriend ; trusts barely anyone; trusts no one outside of shadowclan
    "speech", thoughts, attacking
    peaceful powerplay allowed
 

Is it the lack of freedom that make this newest group of apprentices more annoying? The fact that they’re not allowed out of camp for a few moons longer? Screechpaw doesn’t know, but their attempts as of late to sneak out have been making it harder for him to wander off at night, have been leaving him camp-bound more often than not. Maybe they should just suck it up and be glad they were even named apprentices — they’ll get to leave camp soon enough, won’t they?

Still, it is kind of funny when they get caught. Screechpaw has gotten caught in his time too, sure, but it’s much funnier when its someone else getting told off.

Which is what he thinks is going to happen to Minkpaw as he watches from the mouth of the apprentice den — never mind the fact that he was about to leave too, before split-green eyes caught a silvered form just walking out of camp. He waits for the satisfaction of hearing a warrior yell at her, for her to be told to clean out the elders den in place of Screechpaw.

Only, it doesn’t come, instead, an offer placed forward by Scorchfrost. Lead on, the warrior says, and a frown casts itself upon Screechpaw’s usually smug face. Lead on? Lead on? Screechpaw would’ve been ushered back to the apprentice den if he’d done what Minkpaw just had! He would have to clean out the elder’s den for moons! Would have to check them for ticks! Where’s her punishment?

Smogmaw arrives, and the deputy doesn’t do anything to punish her. How was this fair? Chilledstar — his own mentor — encourages the walk too and his gaze darts to them. So Minkpaw can just do whatever she wants? But the moment he’s caught, someone is on his case? He lets out a sharp exhale through his nose, hoping his frustration will go with the breath.

Can I go too? “ he asks slowly, as if begging for the anger in him to not sharpen his tone into cutting words. He looks to the leader and to the small patrol forming from Minkpaw’s escape. A reward for her actions — how unfair! He best be allowed to go too, then! If not, then, well — what’s really stopping him from sneaking out later?​
EpC61GT.png
  • 74597074_cdZpRJwV0JQAuyC.png
    SCREECHKITSCREECHPAW
    ── Apprentice of ShadowClan

    ── Forestshade x Vulturemask
    ── AMAB; He/Him
    ── A black/red tabby chimera with mismatched green eyes.
    ── Mentored by Chilledstar
    ── "Speech"; Attack
 

[ ༻❄༺ ] Snowpaw was about to speak up, but Scorchfrost had gotten to it first, and then others joined in. Telling Minkpaw to have fun while Scorchfrost chaporoned and she hummed a bit. Onyxpaw was going and well...Screechpaw was as well. Chilledstar even suggested they have fun and hunt something big. The thought of joining was playing in her mind for a bit before her own paws followed to the scene, yellow gaze looking up to Scorchfrost and to Minkpaw.

"May I join as well. I wanna witness you catch your first prey, Minkpaw" she said warmly. But also she wanted to have this time to learn more, to strengthen her skills as a hunter, for the clan's sake of course. She didn't simply see this as some sort of stroll to get out of duty but another chance to train some more while Scorchedmoon was busy with Swallowpaw.

  • "speak""Thoughts"
  • Snowpaw She/Her, apprentice of Shadowclan, 7 moons.
    Lithe long hair blue lynx sepia with high white, and yellow eyes. Stubby tail, permanent resting bitch face
    Hailfreckle x Mudsplash
    peaceful and healing powerplay permitted (ask first) / / underline and tag when attacking
    see battle info here
    penned by Ryn@/Rynnaro on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

 

Scorchfrost wasn't one to punish curiousity. He'd had his fair share of apprentices, dealt with more than enough rebellious, risky behaviour, and he knew there was nothing that wouldn't end in issues down the line.. other than participating. He could help guide the apprentices in an appropriate way, provide security if anything bad happened, and provide an outlet for the energy that had no doubt built up over the past few moons. He knew they were going to make stupid decisions regardless, probably sneak out of camp as soon as they could, and then where would they be? if he knew his clanmates as well as he thought he did, he had no doubt their pieces would be strewn throughout windclan's warrens by day's end.

He hadn't expected to be dealing with four apprentices but he'd make do. Passing his gaze over Minkpaw, Onyxpaw, Screechpaw, and Snowpaw in turn, he'd wait a second before dipping his head in a nod. " Minkpaw is allowed to choose our destination but you all must, and I repeat must, listen to me if I ask for your attention. " This outing may have been about having fun but he would not tolerate dangerous behaviour. " If we are all in agreement, which I need you to show me in some way, then we can head out. " He would direct a nod of acknowledgement and a slight smile towards Singepaw. It couldn't have been easy to stay stuck in camp. Scorchfrost would have to take the young tom out on a patrol when he was old enough.

[ YOU CAN'T BREAK MY SPIRIT ]