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[HOUNDTHISTLE]

"BECAUSE COWBOY DAN'S A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE COWBOY SCENE"​

The hulking brute had taken a bit of a backseat after his apprentice graduated, deciding to remain as a back-seat observer to his clan as he watched everything around him unfold. Even now, he sat, hunched over with lowered head as his amber eyes watched everyone carefully, stumpy tail curled against his haunches, just a gargoyle of the camp. His mind was a mess, the fast approach of nearly an entire year without his son in his life and the entire gravity of such a thing came to head as he watched Gravelsnap graduate. Sure, he wasn't the best mentor, but he hoped that what he did teach the kid stuck with him, that they'd make him think. But, stars, it made that empty pit ache just a little, just enough that he needed a break.

He inhaled. No reason in being stuck in it any longer. He had a job to do, business to attend to, and by the stars, he was going to do it. Houndthistle hoisted himself to his paws, a long sigh escaping him as he stood straight up and looked around, looking for anything to do to keep his paws busy.​

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[SUNNVAR]

Sunstride could not imagine how it would feel to see Adderpaw take on his warrior name. There will be pride, of that there is not doubt, yet the rest of it...to know that he had played such a part in raising a warrior, of teaching them all that mattered in this world. It must be such a bittersweet thing, and he cannot blame Houndthistle for his retreat in light of this. Seeing him again is nearly a strange thing, as if a ghost has entered his line of sight. Old feelings well up in an uncomfortable tide, the sensation of jealousy and confusion prickling old wounds. His pace is frozen, looking upon the looming warrior with uncertainty in each tensed muscle. Would it be so terrible of him to avoid this memory? Yes. He knows that to be the truth.

For what feels like the dozenth time this day alone, Sunstride swallows his pride. As he approaches Houndthistle, his head is low but his eyes are friendly, and he forces each part of his body to relax upon a step. "You seem as if you've lost something, Houndthistle," he greets, his teeth bared in a smile. "Is there something that troubles you? Or are you merely bored? I would offer my help with either."

﹥ˏˋ〘  OOC NOTES INFORMATION 〙ˊˎ﹤

• ooc: —
• SUNSTRIDE. named for his coloration and his bold chasing of fate.
  —— cis male, he - him. thirty-eight moons old. lead warrior of windclan + former rogue.
  —— gay, but somewhat closeted. will not be open about his interests.  single, will be so.
  —— seems comparatively stranger than who he was some moons ago, serious and cool.
  
  sunstride is broad and bold– a creature standing above most of windclan, though not a beast beyond its borders, with fur that flames red at its base and deepens to a burnt amber with every whorl and stripe. his eyes, in comparison, are a pale summer's blue, still as bold as the rest of him.
• "speech"

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[WOLFSONG]

──⇌•〘 INFO 〙 Wolfsong, too, thinks of his apprentice. Sunflowerpaw has reckoned with a serious injury that, no matter the steps undertaken to smooth the healing process, will follow them for the rest of their days. He does not believe it will hinder their opportunity to become a warrior, however, simply that the path there will be more difficult than for other apprentices in the clan. He wonders how Houndthistle must have felt seeing Gravelsnap graduate, but he hasn't had the opportunity to ask him. Until today, the larger feline has seemed estranged from WindClan.

He is glad to see him now, though his own demeanor is slightly subdued by Sunstride's presence. He remembers the pair's interactions in the past, and while he appears friendly to any other gaze, Wolfsong has known him nearly as long as he's known himself.

"A shoulder for leaning or a tail for chasing— Sunstride's specialties," he teases, brushing his shoulder against the tom's leg. "Though I'm not certain his tail could keep you entertained, Houndthistle."
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[Badgermoon]

If he was being honest, it was a relief to see Houndthistle socializing again: not only because Badgermoon cared about the well-being of his Clanmates, but because the orange-eyed tomcat was ferocious, a feature he greatly valued in light of threats from RiverClan and ShadowClan alike. The deputy couldn't name any moment of particular closeness he and the gray cat had shared, but as soon as he spotted Wolfsong and Sunstride striking up a conversation with him, Badgermoon hastened over, his golden eyes simultaneously appraising and welcoming. He counted Gravelsnap as a friend, and in his opinion Houndthistle had done a very fine job with the occasionally hard-headed youth; perhaps it would be good to spend some more time with this towering warrior, one of a relatively small number of cats larger than Badgermoon himself. "If no one is interested in harassing Sunstride, I've been meaning to have a look at the badger sett and make sure nothing's settled in there since newleaf began." he grinned a little before adding, "Though it is tempting. So fluffy..." and reaching out a single speckled paw, batting absently at the plume of Sunstride's tail.​

 

[SEDGEPOUNCE]

"The badger sett?" comes Sedgepaw's youthful voice, alight with intrigue. He has no qualms on intruding on an otherwise intimidating gathering of warriors, head popping out of a tall moor-grass patch the moment something's struck his fancy. The warriors of WindClan are, of course, mostly foreign to Sedgepaw—at least in the way that all adults seem ancient and confusing to the younger generations. He knows Houndthistle like he knows anyone else in the clan. They've almost all been there since his birth, so they are as familiar as the stray, thin trees dotted across the moor, or the stones that part the grass, or the tunnels carved into the earth. A staple; something that has always been, and will always be.

Trotting forward, Sedgepaw's wide eyes scan between Houndthistle, Wolfsong, Sunstride, before settling on Badgermoon. "Can I come with? I've been working in the tunnels more, lately. I could help." As a moor runner apprentice, Sedgepaw doesn't need to be as much of an expert as the tunnelers, but everyone always says it's good to be versatile. Case in point, chasing out a badger. Wouldn't that be awesome?​

 

[HOUNDTHISTLE]

"BECAUSE COWBOY DAN'S A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE COWBOY SCENE"​

Houndthistle's solitary situation changed as he was joined by a good amount of cats. First was Wolfsong and Sunstride, two cats Houndthistle thought of in the same... grouping as "friends."Mostly Wolfsong, Sunstride to Houndthistle was merely an extension of the golden tom but the brute never really minded his presence. He greeted the pair with a soft chuff, perking his ears and relaxing his stance back to the usual as Sunstride asked if something was bothering him or if he was merely bored. Houndthistle's ears flicked back, realizing maybe his mask was slipping in his softness. "Ah, jus' ghosts that won' stop nippin' my heels. Ain' nothin' some good ol' fashioned work can' fix, yknow?" He answered, shrugging like his emotions were merely water gliding down his back. Wolfsong's quip made the tom's brows slightly furrow, almost confused. "I ain' chased tails since I was Mirepaw's age," Houndthistle said honestly, clearly not catching any innuendo if there was one as he blinked in confusion at why his friend was offering him to play with Sunstride's tail.

Badgermoon's presence isn't unwelcome though Houndthistle merely greets the deputy with a respectful nod of his head. His ears perk at the idea of the badger set, almost feeling the way his claws itched for action. "I ain' heard anyone mention anythin', but I'm sure if we don' mark it soon 'nough, somethin's bound to move in," He agreed, eyes watching as the bicolor bats mindlessly at Sunstride's tail. Was he the only one who thought something like that was weird? Probably, after all Houndthistle didn't exactly have much of a tail and he couldn't remember chasing his mother's much as a kit due to her sickness.

An apprentice joins them, asking to join looking at the badger set. Houndthistle glanced at the other toms, unsure if he could even have say in such thing before clearing his throat. "I'on know, kid. That's up to Badgermoon and yer mentor, but if there is somethin', I'on if it'd be smart fer ya to be there," He states simply, gruff voice perhaps coming off as short. He wouldn't want Mirepaw going face-to-face with a badger at his current level, the apprentice was basically like a pile of leaves held up by four sticks and Sedgepaw-to Houndthistle-was no different. He could see it already, the large burrowing beast swiping and throwing the apprentice and bam, there he goes over the entire moor.​

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