pafp EMBRACING THE UNKNOWN [ owl attack ]


Overcast. The skies were begging for the rain to fall, dim and dark, blotting out the sun. A welcome change to the lasting heat, and something Rivewhisper knew would make the moor return to flourishing. It would take.. a long time yet, but even some foliage, grass alone would make the place feel alive once more. A soft breath inhaled, then exhaled, lounging on the edge of camp. Owl-sharp eyes were pinned to that of some of the kits toddling about camp.

Thunder cracked, and with it, lightning lit across the skies. Queens were sure to call the brood back to the nursery soon, but one or two were stubborn, knocking around a moss ball, chattering away with one another. It was probably a cool thing to be out under the skies when they started to open, but… something else befell them. It was nowhere near nighttime, but the dark skies had allowed for a dimness that called to the beast.

Rivewhisper’s eyes had caught it before it truly reached its talons to the kit in question- Vulturekit. The owl had been silent in its dive, only lit moments before by the lightning across the sky. Another strike across the gray dome lit against talon and narrowed eye, the massive wingspan wide as it reached for its next meal- but the warrior had been faster, the moor runner training letting her leap across camp. She hadn’t dug her claws into the taloned beast, rather turning her back to the beast as she knocked Vulturekit astray of the beast's path.

Blue eyes snapped towards Vulturekit as her back was torn open by wicked claws, a screech leaving the owl in protest of what had happened. Rivewhisper was silent, blue eyes narrowed not at Vulturekit, but towards the kit, ears laid backwards in recognition of the flame-like pain. This wicked pain had crossed her once before, across her stomach, across her face. This was nothing but a reminder of that day, the way her blood spilled in camp not too far from this spot. "Get Vulturekit!" She screeched to someone nearby as the owl was swooping low for another attack.

Even with blood dripping down her side, even with narrowed eyes and bared fangs, did Rivewhisper turn to focus on the owl as it charged at her. She leapt backwards in the air, her claws raking down and across it’s eyes as it met her paws without time to pull away Feathers, small and large scattered to the ground as she was knocked backwards, rolling in the dust of camp as the owl lifted to the sky. Her heart was rushing, the ba-dump of it’s pace thundering in her ears. Or was that the sky, breaking open in the battle? Rivewhisper didn’t know, adrenaline buzzing her every thought.

She pushed to her paws, readying for another run, another attack from the owl.
  • "speech"

    // please wait for @Vulturekit.
    // the owl will be doing ONE more dive across camp, but it will be scared off after that! please let me control the owl :^)
  • RIVEWHISPER she/her, moor runner of windclan, eleven moons.
    LH broken braided chocolate tabby with high white and piercing blue eyes. scars stretch over her left eye and across her stomach. graceful, sleek, average height. built for running and stamina
    mentored by snakehiss / sunstar / / mentoring no one
    small romantic interest in redheart / / sibling to featherspine ; sunlitwing ; bearflight ; singedpaw
    peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
    penned by dallas ↛ dallasofnines on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

 

˖⁺‧₊ ☽◯☾ ₊‧⁺˖  Vulturekit likes rain. That soothing, rhythmic sound, the way it envelops them. They like thunder, too. Even though the feeling of rain slithering in between the tufts of his fur will have him shivering before long, he still wants to stay out here for just a moment longer. Here, where he can feel the thunderclaps rattle through his bones and think about nothing else. No one will bother him here. Even the persistent young kit who tries to get him to play will be heading in before long, once they realize how fruitless their efforts are. He knows that his dad will be worried, but - he can't help but feel a sense of peace in this.

Vulturekit's eyes slip closed, muzzle turning up to the sky to feel the raindrops sliding down. He imagines being a little bud of green, reaching tiny leaves up to the rain - and smiles, letting himself indulge the silly thought for a moment. It's not like he can't have fun, it's just that standing in the rain pretending to be a plant isn't most kits' idea of a good game.

It's nice, for a moment. And then he opens his eyes.

He can only see the danger for a moment, the glint of approaching talons enveloping his vision. And then it's over - a weight crashes into him, his heart catapulting it's way into his throat. "Ah - !" All the air leaves him quickly, a frantic gasp, and he is tumbling across the grass.

When he looks up again, he sees the bloodied form of Rivewhisper, talons marking a trail long her back. Her eyes meet his, and he is frozen in place. Watching. Should he run? He should run. But - it feels wrong, leaving her here. "Nnn - no," tears its way from his throat hoarsely. He is rooted in place as he watches the battle, her cry for someone to get him registering only distantly. "No, no no, someone - someone stop it." It's a weak plea, shaky and desperate. His whole body quakes with fear. Yet another cat has risked their life to help him, and Vulturekit feels sick.


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    "SPEECH"
  • VULTUREKIT he / they, kit of windclan, five moons.
    a spiky-furred dark tabby with amber eyes.
    skittish and dour, with little time for typical kit games.
    micheal x npc, adopted by periwinklebreeze. sibling to dustkit and bilberrykit.
    peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
    penned by SATURNIDsaturnids on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
 
──ᨒ↟↟ᨒ↟ᨒ↟↟ᨒ── He returns to camp with a mouthful of herbs, ready to clean and sort them in his den, out of the rain that soaks his fur a darker shade of gold. And then he hears a young cry, alarmingly quiet, and the dread in his gut gives Wolfsong a burst of energy, dashing into camp to watch his bleeding daughter clash with an owl. Vulturekit shakes behind her, but otherwise appears paralyzed, and Wolfsong drops his bounty to lunge forward, tugging Vulturekit back until the nursery's cover looms ahead. He is not small enough for Wolfsong to scruff like a much younger kitten, but the combination of adrenaline and the kit's stiffness made it a swifter retreat.

"Do not give it a reason to return!" He shouts after Rivewhisper, and tells himself it is only the rain that makes her seem to bleed rivers. "It will not fly much longer in this weather! Take shelter here and it will leave!" It may seem a cowardly approach, but he would not watch his daughter take more talons when she does not need to— and she doesn't, he is convinced of that. She has nothing to prove, and the skies are much too heavy with rain for this owl to fly comfortably for very long. Surely, it will recognize the futility of attacking a warrior again, but he realizes he does not know if other kits are out and about in camp, unsupervised. He didn't have the chance to look before he was rushing here, frightened that he might watch an owl render irreparable damage.
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WOLFSONG of WINDCLAN FORMER ROGUE TURNED MEDICINE CAT. 46 MOONS, HE/HIM, NPC X NPC. MATES WITH SUNSTAR (07/05/2023). BIOGRAPHY, PINTEREST, & PLAYLIST.
  • ★★★☆☆ 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.
 
Though he didn't enjoy the downpours that happened sometimes, Mouseflight did enjoy some of the rain that was commonplace on the moors. The rain was the main time in which he'd be able to properly clean his pelt free of dirt and twigs, washing it off without having to worry about his tongue getting too much of the taste in his mouth. He didn't like being wet, but he liked the way the summer rain cooled him off and made the sun retreat behind clouds. He didn't much care for the lightning and the way it cracked across the sky only to be followed by the loud booms of thunder, but today he would have a newfound like for the lightning. When it began to crackle and light up the sky it is when he saw a figure above before the pained screech came from Rivewhisper - a cat he wouldn't quite call friend yet but he enjoyed her company more than some others - and quickly he was on the move.

Ever the wanna-be hero, the small tunneler watched as Wolfsong moved Vulturekit, as Rivewhisper stood her ground and soon he was by her side, ready to support her had she wanted to move but though the other was injured she was still bigger than him, built for the moors instead of the tunnels. "I'll help, but you should do what he said." Came the words from the warrior, ears flicked and angled in the direction of the younger feline to await a response as eyes were trained and focused on the owl.
  •  
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    mousekit - mousepaw - mouseflight
    ⋆ amab - he/him - 20 moons
    ⋆ bisexual - open to relationship
    ⋆ tunneler of windclan
    attack - speech - thought
    ⋆ penned by tikki
 
It was incredible, how quickly the sky could turn from a peaceful dark grey to pouring buckets of water down on them all. Rattleheart had hardly had time to stick her muzzle out of the nursery before it was being pelted with rain, causing her to let out a displeased huff as she yanked her head back. "Well... I suppose that answers the question of whether I'll be taking a walk today." The tunneler didn't have it in her to be truly annoyed though, considering the rain would contribute to returning greenery to the moors once more. Much needed life, thriving off of the lifeblood that poured down from the clouds. The thought made her smile as she reached a paw forward, snagging one of the tumbling bodies of her litter to usher them all back into the nursery.

Her back was turned when the owl swooped down, descending upon their camp in a whirlwind of swift claws and feathers that would have left her fur standing on end had she seen the whole of its attack. Instead though, she was notified by the screech that rang in her ears as an alarm, followed by Rivewhisper's frantic cry. The monochrome queen twisted around just in time to see Rivewhisper's blood staining the ground, ears pinned back as she resisted the urge to go sprinting forward to help. "Little ones... stay in here. Do not leave the nursery until I say, alright?" Strained words were directed towards her own brood of kits, usually gentle pale shades of green gone sharp as she looked towards them - allowing no room for argument.

Only once they were settled did she allow herself to step forward, body hunched and shoulders tense as she stared towards the menacing presence that lingered in the skies. "Wolfsong is right! Rivewhisper, please..." Her voice lowered into a tone too soft to be heard as she looked back towards the moor runner. Clear slivers dug down into the earth as Rattleheart prepared herself for another attack, ready to dart out and fight alongside her clanmates if necessary. Though she prayed to Starclan that she wouldn't have to, and Rivewhisper would seek safety in the sanctuary of the medicine den before more of her blood was spilled.

  • 75034712_8183RsjuzqJmQXv.png
    a lead warrior of windclan, rattleheart is one of the older members of the clan at fifty-three moons. he is mated to venomstrike, and has many children whom he adores. named for the trembling sound of his commonly hoarse voice, he is somewhat difficult to befriend due to his wary nature. 
 

A screech broke the sheets of rain- Featherspine's gaze lifted skyward from where she ran, yellow eyes squinting up at the dark barrage. In the distance, she saw it- heard the cry, and bolted forth as his sister did. An owl swooping low- sights set on a kitten who could not seem to stop getting into trouble. His littermate, too, always thrust into the most dangerous of grips- a lump rose in Featherspine's throat, that familiar fear that had knotted his stomach so intensely when Bearflight had stumbled, engulfed in flames, toward him. A puff of smoke had been her brother's last breath - she could not, would not, let her sister's final cry be chorused with an owl's shriek.

But Wolfsong spoke to her- to Rivewhisper, and Featherspine's horned ear flicked at the sound. He gazed for a few crucial moments, worry flitting in yellow depths- but ultimately, he had the sense to bow under shelter. He, too, would yell after his littermate - "Don't get yourself hurt again," she called, trying desperately to purge the worry from his voice. Panic was well smothered beneath steely harshness, and maybe she would seem uncharitable, but ... whatever it took to save her siblings. To knock some damned sense into them!

She bled, bled- it wept in the rain. "Run, rock-head!" A true warrior knew to pick their battles.
✦ penned by pin
 
Bunnykit is obedient. When the sky opened up, the kitten is quick to rush out of the rain - better to be bored and dry, than soaking wet otherwise. She'd not want to bother her siblings with a pelt that retained every drop of water it consumed, after all. Pale yellow eyes turned out towards the camp, once she was safe beside Rattleheart, and she saw Vulturekit still sitting out there, soaking up all that the sky had to give him. Bunnykit let out a mournful mrrp, wondering if Periwinklebreeze will be very happy to have a sopping wet Vulturekit curled up to him later.

Before she can properly think of the disaster that would be - screaming happens. Her fur stands on end as a big thing swings down, slashing at Rivewhisper as the warrior protects the aforementioned kitten. Her family yells at her to abandon her fruitless mission, and Bunnykit watches with too-wide, too-scared eyes as her back opens up like the sky did, red ribbons of life pouring from her.

She shrinks further into the nursery, tucking herself against Rattleheart's hind leg. "Mama..." she whimpers, tears beading in her eyes.​
 
Cottonsprig remembers long ago, when she was a fresh 'paw working beneath the newleaf sun, how a hawk had swooped her. Vulturemask had saved her then, like stories told that he had done prior. Her pelt still itched with scars of being grabbed by nasty talons, though her fur seems to have grown over them partially. Her nightmares have dimmed to vague feelings, too - and yet, when she hears the shouts and the flapping of startled wings... she feels like a half-grown apprentice again.

Wolfsong tugs Vulturekit into the nursery for shelter, Featherspine shouts at his sister from the shelter of a nearby den - but Mouseflight stands readily at the she-cat's side. The sky still pours openly on them, so heavily that in the haze of panic, Cottonsprig cannot discern if the owl is coming back. Her ears fold to her head and she calls out, "Over here!" From the medicine den. They can tuck far enough back, and if the owl has any sense to swoop again, it'll find nothing to grasp in its greedy talons once more. Cottonsprig shivers, but she stays sheltered, unwilling to be another prey-piece to a creature like that.​
 

The sky had yawned open, spitting droves of water down at them. Ear twitched as her blood-parent grasped the kit, scrambling away from the owl's path. Eyes shifted to look towards Wolfsong, blue eyes sharp as she narrowed them against the rain. And he was right- the was nothing to prove. Sense was battered into her brain by many- only one foolish enough to stand beside her in the downpour. Her fur began to flatten as she stared at Mouseflight, who wasn't even looking at her.

Her sister's words are the nail in the coffin- "Come on. Come on!" She said to Mouseflight, then with increasing urgency, turning and fleeing towards Cottonsprig's voice, where she knew in her bones and blood the medicine den lay. Her back stung now, water running the blood from the wound with increased urgency. The screech of a pissed owl came close- Rivewhisper only tossed a look over her shoulder as it dipped, missed, and took back off.

Paws splattered with mud tread where Cottonsprig had called for safety, turning to ensure the fool who stood in defense with her was in the covering too before peeking back out, ducked under cover. Her shoulders were heaving, and the longer they waited... the longer the absence of the owl was present. Blood-splattered feathers lay in the middle of camp, where Vulturekit had almost been taken, and the longer Rivewhisper stared, her senses slowly returned. No longer driven by adrenaline, her head lifted, looking towards Cottonsprig and Mouseflight alike.

"That... was a little insane." She managed, standing a hint straighter- then wincing as she lowered herself back down. "Ouch." She uttered. 'Ouch' came from the lengthy, sure-to-scar, three talon mark across her shoulderblades and just down her left side.
  • "speech"
  • RIVEWHISPER she/her, moor runner of windclan, eleven moons.
    LH broken braided chocolate tabby with high white and piercing blue eyes. scars stretch over her left eye and across her stomach. graceful, sleek, average height. built for running and stamina
    mentored by snakehiss / sunstar / / mentoring no one
    small romantic interest in redheart / / sibling to featherspine ; sunlitwing ; bearflight ; singedpaw
    peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
    penned by dallas ↛ dallasofnines on discord, feel free to dm for plots.