camp EYE FOR AN EYE | patrol report

[SOOTSPOT]

Sootspot still had not decided his mother's intentions in sending a patrol of Tunnelers (and Mocking-grin) to the borders of an aggressive clan, but the worst had almost come to pass, and he'd been forced to make a choice to preserve the dignity of his clanmates instead of fighting a hoard of angry fish. Prancing into camp with a staggered gait, presuming the rest of his patrol were behind him, the chimera looked as if he had been caught out in a rainstorm. Droplets clung to the edge of his pelt, the smell of petrichor filling the digger's nostrils as he glanced around the place he called home. Bristles formed upon his spine and tail, his anger unspoken but rippling like the very waves that had been corralled his way. Fighting back had never been the chimera's style, it was better to win the long game then drag oneself into a lose-lose fued, but he wanted to taste copper on his mouth again, he wanted RiverClan to simper and bow for their mistake or die trying. The image was a hard one to shake, the longer he dwelled, the longer it morphed from himself getting revenge, to instead someone getting revenge for him.

His eyes trailed towards the meeting rock, his tail curling and uncurling in thought. He did not trust that Sunstride would take it seriously, he did not trust that Sootstar would use it to her advantage. He did not trust his clan to blame the right cats either, but there would be those amongst them who would fight for the words he spoke, and he had to rely on that to get results. "RiverClan was... interesting," he rasped as he breathed, uncertain whether he wanted to hide the sodden parts of his fur or show them off like war wounds. He opted to stand tall, heavy whiskers twitching with indignation. "Some of them seemed afraid of us, but their Deputy threatened to harm Downypaw with a grin on her maw." He wouldn't mention her reference to Cottonpaw, it would save his family the shame of the medicine cat apprentice's recklessness all them moons ago. Sootspot glanced at his apprentice, hoping they'd understand why it was necessary to use them as emotional bait. It was far harder to convince others to fight for his honour as opposed to a kitten's. "When we politely reminded them to respect our borders, they threw water on our scent markers and attacked us from the safety of the river."

[ tagging patrol members ; @downypaw , @MOCKING-GRIN , @HARBINGERMOON ]

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[SOOTSTAR]

Sootstar is perched on the Tallrock, her deputy likely sitting in his own position as Sootspots reports for his patrol. She had known there’d been trouble at the first sight of them, drenched with wet pelts that had barely been dried by the leaf-bare winds. She is astonished they’ve not turned to icicles. If @WOLFSONG is in the area she glances and flicks her tail for him, they’d need to be provided warm nests.

A displeased expression plasters her face and she sounds out growls of irritation. She feels her claws flex into the stone and glances at Sunstride in wonder of what he supposes they do. Sootstar believes she already has an answer. ”They’ve insulted our scent markings. We will return the gesture.” In a remarkably petty way, but hopefully if they could be annoying as ticks RiverClan would think twice before intentionally diluting WindClan scent markers. ”We will have a patrol cross the twoleg bridge and lay down our scent as a warning. They can keep their sliver of land, this is about sending a message.”

Glancing down at the rosette tom she questions, ”Do you agree, Sunstride?”

☾ INFO BATTLE

• >> @SUNSTRIDE and a not required Wolfsong ping for flavor text
• 
  » Soot ․ Sootstar
  » WindClan Leader
  » She/her ․ Mate to Weaselclaw
  » Tiny blue smoke she-cat with green eyes.
  » "Speech" ․ thoughts ․ attack
  
• 
  » A high-stamina foe who can be difficult to hit.
  » Excels in quick, short moves.
  » Fights to kill and maim
  » Fatal attack of choice is an underbelly dive.
  » May powerplay minor harm. Can powerplay healing

​

 

[HARBINGERMOON]

☾ In haste, the tuxedo had rushed away from the scene ahead of Sootspot's direction, but he had paused in his anger to weigh the options.Stop! Either look like a petty brat or a cat fed up with the injustices of an opposing clan. Of course, he chose the latter, but the desire to storm his way home had nearly won out. Holding down the seething emotions within, they waited patiently for Sootspot. With flattened ears and a lashing tail, he joined back with the group and made the trek home. Upon arrival, his sights were set similarly upon the meeting rock, and fury lapped at his guts like the tides that had drenched half of him.

Dutifully, he followed the non-verbal cues and stood off to the side of both Downypaw and Sootspot. Irritation was clear as day on his maw, but Harbingermoon knew not to turn his venom on his own. With Sootstar's audience, his mood lightened, but the earlier grimace stayed firm as he nodded along to the fellow Tunneler's retelling. His face fixated on the she-cat as he absorbed the instructions and, gradually, his frown turned upward. Finally, actions instead of damned words! A thrill ran up the warrior's back as he cast the deputy a hopeful gaze. He knew Sunstride relied on honesty and truth, but with the lack of foundation, it would be hard to plead the case.

Yet, he isn't a leader so don't think him so mighty. Sootstar made her choices and is only playing niceties. Every cat is susceptible. Realization prickled along his skin at the ample opportunities Sootspot had crafted in his convincing speech. I just need to be equally impressive and amp up the urgency. There was a delicate balance in Windclan and the odds were beginning to lean out of their favor. He needed to show his support but also execute persuasiveness to win the trust of others. A difficult task, and one he knew wouldn't be easily gained. Now is the time to take control. Stomping away the desire to sneer, his face returned to its former solemn state.

Putting on an air of seriousness he'd never expressed previously. Stepping forward, he ignored the waves of wrath within, dipping his head politely as he spoke in a cool collectiveness. "I don't mean to interrupt Sootstar, but I must attest to the seriousness of our circumstances." He shook his head with clear disappointment as he weighed heavily on the subject. Going in for the act of desperate frustration and earnest worry. "We were cordial, and shown that Riverclan does not know the meaning of border markers or couth." Lifting his paw, he half-heartedly gestured toward Downypaw.

Their eyes were wide with importance and his stance was tall as he lingered on every syllable. "I understand tensions were present, but does this not prove words have gotten us nowhere? If they care so little of our ways, will they not push for more?" With a firm look directed at the deputy, he aimed to hold the other's gaze as each word slithered from his maw. "We did not engage them, and yet we were still disrespected and threatened. Is that not grounds to set a clearer boundary?" Dropping the hold, he glanced back at the leader on bated breath, a hope in his chest that they'd finally get the opportunity to sink fangs into the skin of his foes.

Don't get too excited. There are many more measures before, that but it's the first step that counts. Silently, they hoped their words only prompted further action instead of Sunstride's need to wait and see. He prayed for a bridge to close the gap on growing tensions. Yet, the small devil on his back whispered obvious doubts. ☽​

 

[RATTLEHEART]

Ever since Sootstar had organized her own patrols right in front of Susntride's nose, Rattleheart had been trying their best to simply ignore what would result from sending a bunch of harebrains out to clans that they were already on bad footing with. They had attempted to focus on their own patrol, padding along after Scorchstreak down into the tunnels without a word of protest on their tongue. They'd prefer to be able to take care of things themself, to make sure that the loyalists didn't make the entire situation worse, but Sunstride had given out his own patrols. And at this point, they trusted the deputy with their life far more than they would ever trust Sootstar with it.

The tunneler's paws were still marred with mud and leaf matter as they laid in camp, plucking the last few fallen leaves from their pelt before they'd attempt attending to the rest of their dirtied fur. Their ears perked up when Sootspot practically came racing through the heather tunnel with the rest of his patrol in tow, the lot of them reminding Rattleheart quite a lot of drowned rats. Particularly Harbingermoon, whose drenched and miserable form almost pulled a bark of laughter from the silently observing feline. They were only able to hold back because of the presence of Sootstar nearby, though inside they were cackling at the state that her patrol had returned in. It seemed they had not only been run off by Riverclan, but been humiliated in the process - unsurprising, considering who had been sent along. Though they did feel somewhat bad for Downypaw, sending a sympathetic look in the apprentice's direction when hearing about the threats made at them. Hopefully they were young enough that he could be pulled away from the venomous grip of the cats surrounding them that had no doubt made the situation that much worse.

Sootstar's response was actually... surprisingly reasonable, and the monochrome feline couldn't deny the rush of relief that spread through them when they heard it. Sure it was still a threat, but at least it was merely a message, rather than choosing to immediately leap to bloodshed. Their pale gaze flicked over to Sunstride - only to wince when Harbingermoon chose to open his mouth. Of course he was advocating for more violence. It only made sense, considering how many times he had already been humiliated by Riverclan so far. Yet he seemed so eager to compound his mistakes, prompting an eyeroll from Rattleheart as they pushed themself up to their paws. "You're seriously trying to shed Windclan blood over water being tossed on you? I don't know if you've noticed, but we need all the supplies that we can keep going into leafbare, and I doubt that Wolfsong wants to end up cleaning up after your mess based off of some petty vendetta." Their words were surprisingly calm, gaze not breaking from Harbingermoon as they moved in closer. They looked between Sootstar and Harbingermoon, tail twitching in thought behind them.

"Unless you simply think Sootstar doesn't know how to deal with those fishfaces over in Riverclan? I would've thought you'd trust your leader's judgement more than that, Harbingermoon. After all, what she says goes." They try to keep his burning gaze locked with their own, a challenging, mocking lilt to their words. What better way to dig their proverbial claws into him, than to question the very loyalty he continually tried to prove to Sootstar? Their thoughts were clear, hidden beneath the sharp yet quiet words they had spoken - go and get yourself killed by Riverclan, but don't drag the rest of us into it.
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[ PENNED BY EO ]​

 

[MOCKING-GRIN]

Riverclan was an interesting bunch for sure. Poor cute little Downypaw had to take one for the team and be threatened. How amusing it was to see Sootspot's own apprentice so frustrated towards vermin. He must applaud them for speaking up for what's right. Even if they were splashed with water of all things, he couldn't help but be annoyed by the notion of drying himself. He didn't enjoy water very much. He much enjoyed the moors. As they return to their home he can't help himself from chuckling randomly. Maybe the others on the patrol had thought he lost it. That was far from the case he was simply laughing at the wet backsides of his patrolmates.

All that matters to him is Sootstar's words and she says that they will return the gesture. This is why my life belongs to you. Let's remind vermin that they are nothing. Harbingermoon's words cause him to scowl. How dare you question our leader! While he understands the tunnelers opinion of the matter, he is not leader. As much as he wanted to rip out the throats of those vermin, they hadn't been given an order to. Know your place Harbingermoon. Thankfully, Rattleheart interjects and chastises Harbingermoon. The other tunneler brings up the most important point. To trust Sootstar's judgement.

While he loathes the idea of disrespected, he would rather be disrespected in order to follow Sootstar's orders than disobey her. "I agree with Rattleheart and most importantly Sootstar." He would tilt his head in Harbingermoon's direction and roll his eyes towards the older male. "We are not letting those vermin walk all over us. As our leader has said, we will return the gesture and warn them not to mess with us. Let's gather all the supplies we can to ensure that we are the strongest in all the forest. We will strike them Harbingermoon. Trust in our leader."

OOC NOTES . ◭ . CHARACTER INFO

• ooc : —
  
• — mocking-grin / windclan moor runner / masculine pronouns / 24 moons
  — heterosexual / single / looking / open to flirting and crushes
  — high white long haired chocolate smoke with heterochromia
  — may powerplay minor harm / can powerplay healing
  — biography / @ on discord for plots
  — penned by velou

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[HARBINGERMOON]

☾ It seemed they would squash his desires at the helm and something would test further his patience. Rattleheart's familiar snobbiness was nothing new to the older Tunneler but never less of a headache. Turning to the side, he barely held on to what little patience he had as he locked eyes with said cat. If looks could kill, Harbingermoon could have strangled the fellow warrior twice over. What surprised the ebony cat from his staring contest was Mocking-grin's insinuation. Traitor. Swallowing hard, he ground out a heated remark towards them, pointedly ignoring the reason for the protests. "Have you fur in your ears or is this clan out to jump the log on every little thing? I am not asking anything more out of what's already been decided!" Resisting the urge to unsheathe his claws, they instead held their head high.

Refusing to accept their take on his reasonings and hoping to play it safe. "I am in complete agreement with Sootstar's choices, nor have I ever doubted her leadership." The nerve of it all! He rolled his eyes back as he dismissed the other's taunts. "Unlike some here among us." The jab is quick and direct as a silent snarl curls on his lip. How dare you question my loyalty, mousebrains! Cooling his rising internal temperature, the next drawl of words comes neutrally. "I was only trying to express the urgency of the matter and earn Sunstride's support for the decision made." His response is alarmingly truthful, minus the obvious hunger for revenge. At the end of the day, he knew only the she-cat in question could pass judgment. ☽​

 

[hollowcreek]

( ✧ ) "Twist Harbringermoon's words all you want, it's not what he said." Hollowcreek's tone was dismissive to the petty squabbling while he swiped his paw over his ears. How many days could pass before his Clanmates nipped and yapped at one another like unlicked kits. Petulant children they behaved like in their leaders gaze.

"Some bit of missing context and a suggestion and it's treated like conspiracy. Flatten your fur and just listen." He rolled his eyes before glancing over to Sootspot and Downypaw. A poor pairing for such a moldable little mind, Downypaw's intelligence might as well be stunted under Sootspot's mentorship. A shame.

"Did you notice anything else about the patrol?" He asked the younger cat with a twitch of his stubbed tail. A small gesture to prod at where Downypaw's head was at.
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( I SEE YOUR COLLARBONE ; AND WANNA LOSE CONTROL )

 

[downyfur]

Downypaw, having backed off from the aggressions when they'd first noticed them rising, hadn't gotten drenched to the point of their mentor. Still, the walk back home had been downright miserable; their woolly pelt, once a blessing, now plastered the chill straight against their fragile kitten-hide. They attempt to still the chatter of their teeth as Sootstar strides towards the sorry patrol, her expression caught in a familiar storm. She doesn't seem to blame them—any of them—as much as she does RiverClan though.

So much attention on her: Sootspot's glance, Harbinger's gesture, Rattleheart's gaze. Downypaw's sapphire gaze flits to and fro as the WindClanners argue about what to do. I'm cold, they want to mewl, plaintive and attention-seeking and childish. What attention has been paid to them feels startlingly like neglect as they begin to shiver where they stand. The apprentice gets the oddest sensation now, as though they are just another part of the territory, cruelly vandalized by RiverClan.

Nonetheless, she tries to follow the conversation as best as she can. It is important, she can tell, or else her mentor would not have presented their failures for their clanmates to fall upon like a pack of dogs to a rabbit. Downypaw honestly hadn't thought it was all that big of a deal until now. The excursion had only served to strengthen the hold of Sootspot's words in their mind, and they had not truly been blind to their neighbor's hatred, only wishing it wasn't really true. The hatred had felt...normal. Practiced. As though they were only the latest participant in the seasons-long political ritual. It doesn't stop their stomach from feeling as cold as their skin, though.

Some of their clanmates seem to believe war is upon their doorstep, a clawed first raised to grasp the knocker, even if they loathe the thought. Others lust for confrontation, but they don't stoke the flame as Rattleheart does. The RiverClan deputy's actions had been unjust, yet somehow expected by the WindClanners. Downypaw thinks it's not their fault, but they feel otherwise.

They already knew war, whether upon their horizons or only a trace on the wind, was a possibility. What seemed more important to them was pleasing Sootstar. Everyone had said her name now, a chorus round of Sootstar, Sootstar, Sootstar! Nothing would happen unless she willed it so, but still there stands something odd about it to them. Why bother clamoring on about how much you agreed with Sootstar when her word had already been codified into law? Why try disparage everyone else when the matter had already been settled? It almost seemed as though everyone was intent on forcing Sootstar into a conduit of their own will, bending and coiling the smoking wire with their obsequiousness. They almost find it disheartening, how similar the adults are to them.

Hollowcreek's gaze has been turned towards them, expectant, offering them a seat at the table. "Th-they l-let their app-apprentices walk where-wherever they want," she muses between the inconsolable clicking of teeth, trying her best not to let weakness diminish her meaning. I'm different, they mean. Better than them. "Th-there w-were o-only two cats wh-who spl-splashed us...a b-b-big black one and a-a sm-smaller black-and-wh-white one. Th-they out-outn-numbered us." They could've attacked us, but they didn't. Sootspot would've noticed that; Sootspot would want them to be able to know why.​

 

[PEONYBREEZE]

❀༉˖° Had the sun dipped more below the horizon by this point, maybe Sootstar's shadow would have engulfed Sootspot down there before the Tallrock- and wasn't that just ironic? Peonypaw was close enough to overheart but not so much that he'd crowd the reporting patrol; he didn't want to get in the way, just wanted to know the reason for how wet they all looked. RiverClan border or not, he highly doubted any of his Clanmates were asking for a swim regardless of weather.

His fur bristled at what he heard. Threatening Downypaw? Disrespecting borders and foes was one thing, but to wish harm upon another? Peonypaw glanced eagerly at Sootstar, wondering if she would decide to take this further than a simple re-scenting. Those were just words, but once they were uttered, there was reason to believe it'd evolve into action.

Rattleheart was making sense with the reminder of leafbare taking their supplies away, but to suggest Harbingermoon didn't believe in Sootstar's methods? He sat still with his maw tightly shut. It felt like the air got colder then.

Splashed us, Downypaw explained, and Peonypaw couldn't believe how childish RiverClan was. Perhaps some of it was born from the quarrel on the way to Highstones, but even then... were they really foolish enough to provoke WindClan at this time?

Peonypaw's gaze shifted to Sunstride. Would the deputy go against his leader's word?

°
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[WOLFSONG]

──ᨒ↟↟ᨒ↟ᨒ↟↟ᨒ── Wolfsong takes one look at the wet-furred patrol members and ducks back into his den for dried moss, carrying a large mouthful out. He's tasked @cottonpaw with warming their nests. His gaze meets Sootstar's briefly before discord ripples through the gathered cats. They are agitated by RiverClan's immaturity, but they disagree with each other, as well, and his jaw clenches around the bundle of moss as they challenge each other's loyalty to Sootstar. This is not the sudden fissure caused by lightning splitting a tree, but the much slower widening of cracks in a stone.

He goes to Downypaw first, whose shivering is a good sign, but still something to alleviate. Wolfsong begins the process of using the dry moss to absorb the moisture from their pelt, so that they do not bring it to their nest. After a moment's consideration, he tosses Hollowcreek another bundle. "Use it on Harbingermoon's pelt," he directs before returning to Downypaw.

There is a phrase which sits uncomfortably with him, even so many moments after it was spoken. "Earn Sunstride's support." Wolfsong feels an undercurrent there that he does not like.
​

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.

​

 

[PINKSHINE]

Pinkpaw does't care about any of this warrior stuff, but she cares about Downypaw.

That's the only reason she creeps over, even though the voices were growing fierce. Even though some of them were speaking in those angry, spitting voices that Pinkpaw finds the didn't really like that much. If it made her feel funny. It probably made Downypaw feel even funnier. She looked completely different with her fur slicked down by water. Pinkpaw runs up to her, the loud What happened? held back only because Sootstar was talking, and the scary warriors— but most importantly, Sootstar. Some of the scary cats look at or not to Downypaw. Pinkpaw thinks it's weird.

Downypaw is chittering. Is it cause they're cold, or cause they're scared? " You got splashed? " Pinkpaw asks, and then she shushes, because she couldn't make Sootstar any more mad, or Downypaw would be mad at her forever... As Wolfsong walks over, Pinkpaw would nearly trip over his tail, trying both to hide from Sootstar and put some distance between her and Downypaw while still being able to look...

" Um, be careful... " quietly, she reminds the medicine cat. he probably didn't need it, but Downypaw deserved good things, and stuff...

staring at the mirror gotta smile, smile 🌸🌷🦄🦩 don't be late, we got plans!

• 

• 

• ( IT'S TIME TO START A FUCKING RIOT, RIOT! ) PINKPAW APPRENTICE OF WINDCLAN. DAUGHTER TO BRIGHTSHINE & HEAVY SNOW. SISTER TO HEATHPAW, DOWNYPAW, & FINCHPAW.
  —— SHE / HER; UNOPPOSED TO THE USE OF OTHERS
  —— CURRENTLY 4 MOONS OLD. AGES EVERY 16TH
  
  A tiny, longhaired calico she - kit with yellow eyes, ringed blue around her pupils (sectoral heterochromia). While you can clearly see her flame markings on her face, the rest of her body is currently covered by a grey fever - coating. Though the whites of her are still very much visible. Pinkpaw bounces around WindClan without a care in the world! Her emotions are big, and she makes little effort to regulate them, resulting in both her usually cheerful disposition, as well as making her prone to sudden bouts of extreme anger or sadness. Rarely seen without a smile!
  

  HEAVY IC OPINIONS! Pinkpaw is a very irrational and childish character!​

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