camp HOME FOR FALL [ ✦ ] return to camp




Four battles he had fought in. RiverClan, WindClan, SkyClan and finally their own. They had retaken all of their homes, one by one. Banded together with cats they had once called enemies and helped them reclaim the territory that was theirs. He had been surprised by that notion, the idea that any of them were capable of working together without tearing one another to shreds was one he would not have thought of a couple of moons prior. In fact, if you had told him he would be fighting alongside SkyClan and WindClan one day he might have scoffed. He might've rolled his eyes and went "yeah right" but could you really blame him for thinking such a thing? Never in a million seasons would he have ever thought ThunderClan would be driven from their own home and yet here they were, coming back after that very thing had happened.

He was prepared for the wreckage that he was certain the rogues had wrought upon their home, but being prepared for it and actually seeing it with his own eyes were two totally separate things. The fresh kill pile had been picked over and anything that was left was crow-food. The dens had been gutted, the walls were in a state of disrepair and as golden eyes
skim over the camp he realizes just how much work would need to be done in order to get things back to how they used to be. His ebony fur brushes the pelt of @Roeflame . and he realizes that he has not yet left her side since they had gone to ShadowClan to fetch their sick, their young, their old and the ones who cared for them. He is not entirely sure where they stood now, but things were certainly going to be different between them now that they both knew how the other felt. The idea both excites and terrifies him.

"We have a lot of work to do" he says to no one in particular, a heavy sigh leaving his lips. He was ready for it though, ready for things to go back to some semblance of normal. The place stinks of rogue and with a flick of his fluffy tail he motions to the nearest available cat. "Go check out the nursery, make sure there's no nasty surprises waiting there for us before the kits and queens move back in then do the same with the elders den. Shout if you find anything. And you" he motions to a second cat "Go with them" two paws were better than one, after all. He hopes Flycatcher and Howlingstar don't mind him giving an order like that but in his tired mind it made sense to make sure the camp was clear before they all moved back in. He himself moves reluctantly from Roeflames side to check out the warriors den.

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Under normal circumstances Leopardtongue would have been excited to go back home and lay in her nest, she would have run back into camp and begin helping with everything immediately, but the stay in ShadowClan had been too much for her with her new bout of illness and the walk back from ShadowClan to ThunderClan had exhausted her. The queen had been surprised she had made it across the thunderpath, her sluggish movements as she slowly crossed the pitch black asphalt causing herself concern but she could do nothing about it. Still she had made it, and still that little spark in her heart that she should be helping stuck out as she made it into camp and leaned against bracken as she sat down, practically ready to fall asleep where she sat, no nest needed.

A sniffle could be heard from her as she looked over to Burnstorm, hazy eyes landing on him for a moment before she looked over the camp, blurry mess causing her nose to scrunch up a moment before she looked back to the lead warrior. "I can help." The only words she got out before a small series of coughs racked her body before she shook her head, "What can I do?" She'd try her best at least, sick or not she didn't want to be a burden on her clan.

  • "speaking" // thinking // action
    Leopardtongue - 35 moons - she/her - Queen of ThunderClan
    heterosexual - taken by Batwing
    penned by tikki
 

Maplepatch would’ve loved to be of help getting the camp back together, but now that Foxkit was here she was her first priority. Most of her time would be spent curled up in the nursery, feeding and grooming the tabby she-kit. When she was free she had every intent on stretching her legs, not common clan chores… being a queen was hardwork and she’d be deserving of breaks!

Padding into the camp with Foxkit hanging from her jaws, she hangs back as Burnstorm instructs warriors to check out the dens for any surprises. Maplepatch blinks in alarm, she had not thought of the possibility of a rogue still lurking… Her fur bristles in anger, if it gets anywhere close to her kit she’ll claw it’s ears off- worse!

A sniffling Leopardtongue catches her attention, the rosette she-cat was extending her paws to help. Maplepatch gives her a disapproving look, ”Don’t be mouse-brained, Leopardtongue.” Lightly she scolds, setting Foxkit gently down on the ground. ”You’re in no shape to work, you’ll be kitting anytime now and you’re coughing like a dog.” Mapepatch is stern in her reminder, but understanding. When she had been a first time queen she had felt so useless being unable to help, but now the calico understands that while carrying kits she could help best by keeping herself and her kits safe. ”You make yourself comfortable somewhere while the warriors make sure the nursery is clear. Then we’ll make you a soft nest.” If Berryheart doesn’t want you in his den… She thinks.
  • » Maplepatch
    » ThunderClan Queen
    » She/her ․ Mate to Seedspring
    » Long-haried chocolate tortie with amber eyes.
    » "Speech"thoughtsattack
 
As Honeydapple entered the camp, it was a joy like no other, and yet she still felt waves of guilt and relief. Relief because they were all finally back in Thunderclan, but guilt for the violence they had unleashed and endured. Her discomfort faded into the background as the familiar scent of tall trees and the aroma of leaf litter surrounded her. The Thunderclan camp, her home, had a soothing effect, despite the hardships they had endured in the four battles. Something she prayed would be behind them all forever and peace could return. Thankfully, she had come out pretty well minus a few injuries that would take lots of rest and wraps to get through,

Maplepatch's concerns for Leopardtongue's well-being touched her, and she gave them a warm smile in response. "She's right. Stay here and rest. I've got this." The molly assured them, wanting to ensure her clanmates that she was up for the task. Honeydapple extended her tail to briefly brush along Maplepatch's side, offering a gesture of camaraderie before she turned her attention to Burnstorm, ready to follow the orders. She limped forward, ignoring the pain in her paw and the damage to her ear, focusing solely on the task. Her patched pelt, a blend of creams, whites, and browns, passed by in a swirl as the pointed feline stopped at the mouth of the nursery. Patiently, she sat to see if another cat would join her for the task.
 
—————————————————————⊰☀︎⊱————————————————————

Sunshinekit and Pigeonkit linger near him but he focuses more on keeping moving. The red tabby leans into Rabbitnose's side heavily, struggling along on his three limbs that normally gave him no trouble until he'd gotten torn up by those rogues. Now every joint and nerve pinched uncomfortably, borderline agonizingly as he ambled forward on hobbling steps and heavy breaths. The kits were thankfully able to keep up and the other queens were nearby so he didn't have much concern of them wandering and his entire attention could remain on his own sense of balance.
The trek home had been horrible, but the moment he laid both green eyes upon the camp again he felt such a collosal amount of relief he could've dropped then and there and been content but back to the nursery he went instead; his mate assisting in keeping him upright. Thankfully the wounds were not so severe he would need to be stuck in another den for too prolonged a time, because if he did he'd be quite cross.
Being trapped with Berryheart was considerably more peaceful than the kits, at least, but the same level of conversation - that being mostly nothing. Not that he had much issue with it, he could talk plenty for them both.

  •  

  • 57579394_y5Qft2znjLniwSo.png
    Sunfreckle
    —⊰⋅ Lead Warrior of ThunderClan
    —⊰⋅ He/Him
    "SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
    —⊰⋅ Large red tabby tom w/green eyes and no left foreleg.
    —⊰⋅ penned by Rai

 
We need cats to restock the fresh-kill pile. I’m sure Flycatcher will be organizing patrols soon, so be prepared.” Raccoonstripe follows his nephew, his nose wrinkling with distaste. “The rogues have left crowfood everywhere. Do not eat it—hopefully I don’t have to tell any of you. Start scooping it out of our camp and burying it away from our kits.” It’s a task he wishes he still had an apprentice for, he thinks ruefully—and then he remembers he does have an apprentice, brand new and ready to work. The tabby turns, searching the throng of returning cats for a gold-and-gray pelt. “@RAINBOWPAW , start on that, will you? I’ll be along to help in a few.” Whether he would or not is unknown; he may find something more worthy of his time to do.

He prowls about camp, inspecting the integrity of the dens that remain. There’s a filthy stench radiating from the nests inside each den, and there’s a little structural damage from what he can only imagine is rough-housing and in-fighting. Otherwise, though, he’s pleasantly surprised by how intact camp is. He turns to the nearest cat and comments, “I expected worse.



, ”
 
Howlingstar is just behind the kits and queens, helping to heard them into camp and hopefully give some of the parents some leeway. She limps a bit from the battles, but it is nothing a few poppy seeds can't fix. As Burnstorm and Raccoonstripe start to give out orders, she gazes around with round eyes to assess the damages. "The wall is a mess..." She mutters with a small shake of her head. Her eyes land on the first cats she sees, a couple of reliable young warriors. "Freckleflame and Shiningsun, can you both handle recruiting cats to build it back up? I'm leaving it up to you." She gives them a nod before her ears flick towards the fresh-kill pile. She grimaces. Such a waste. "Raccoonstripe is right; we should get some hunting patrols out immediately." She finds Flycatcher and gives him a nod, knowing he will handle things there. "Skypaw, go help Rainbowpaw, and get any of your friends to help, too." It is a murmur sent down to her apprentice at her side. It is no glorious task, but things hardly are.

// addressing @FRECKLEFLAME @SHININGSUN @Flycatcher @skypaw
 
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Although Flycatcher had been determined to reclaim his home, for a little while he had been uncertain whether he would see this familiar forest again. He feared that the journey cats would not see this forest again. Luckily, the rogues have been driven away and their home has been reclaimed. As the clan pad back into camp, Flycatcher looks around camp, finding himself at ease in the familiar surroundings of the forest. There is a horrid tang of crowfood and the general smell of the rogues, but otherwise, as his eyes scan around camp he notes that it doesn't seem as bad as he had feared.

As he's looking, he is aware of Howlingstar addressing him, stating that Raccoonstripe is right and that they should send patrols out soon. "I'll let cats get a bit more settled and I'll begin to organise them," Flycather responded, giving a curt nod. Border patrols, hunting patrols...they would all need to be organised quickly lest any of the other clans get any ideas.
 
It's home, and yet it's not.

When he returns to ThunderClan, it's not following some patrol, border or otherwise. His jaws are not laden with prey. His head isn't left spinning with the amount of mentorly - wisdom recently passed down to here. They return from an extended vacation to ShadowClan, of all places. And from a battlefield. Many battlefields— even. As they push their way back into camp, it's easy to tell that this had been one too, not so long ago. A slow blink passes across the wreckage. It's home, and it's not.

Burnstorm has fallen into his role very easily. Rainbowpaw wonders how he can just... do that, be told he is something, and just go along with it like that. Rainbowpaw's gaze lingers on him for a moment, before it trails to his father. Rainbowpaw hadn't gotten to see him, at the burnt sycamore. He trails behind him like he's a kit again. He doesn't know what would be a very apprentice thing for him to do, right now. He's sitll too small to be someone Sunfreckle can lean on.

Their head snaps up when they're called. A blink, and then it goes through. Cleaning... crowfood. His muzzle wrinkles in distate.

But that... was an apprentice thing of him to do, wasn't it. He supposes he might as well make himself useful... Rainbowpaw resigns himself to his task with a puff of air. " Right... "

He trudges off to be... productive, hopefully. Without enthusiasm, he paws at what looks to be a half - eaten mouse.
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  • ( I DO, I DO, I DO ) RAINBOWPAW: Sunfreckle xx Rabbitnose. Mentored by Raccoonstripe
    ✦ he / they ; fine with gendered terms ( tom / boy / brother / etc . . . )
    ✦ currently 5 moons old as of 10/11/2023 ; ages every 25

    warm - faced and bright - eyed, rainbowkit sports boyish features and an easygoing smile. sports long curling whiskers and a dip of sun - red down the length of their neck. growing into themselves; rainbowpaw is showing signs of growing into an above - average height with a somewhat leggy frame. rainbowpaw is most plainly to be described as kind, his most tangible goals and motives being to make the people around him happy. somewhat aloof when it comes to more complex / outer clan issues. lives in the present first and foremost.
  • this is for cute purposes begone.
 

Part of Berryheart wished he could have helped drive the rogues out. Of course, he had his purpose- he held onto it steadfast, and adored it in its star-written glory- but he knew he could fight. The sharpness of his abilities had only dulled slightly with disuse, and he regularly sparred to keep his capabilities honed. He was more logical than to be jealous, though- he knew far better. All he acknowledged was that he would have helped had it come down to it- but with no successor anymore, it would be exceedingly stupid to risk his life.

A pulse of sadness surged within him, again. A sigh slipped through shambolic fangs, and he swept uneven eyes of olive over ThunderClan, lingering upon Spots being told by many voices that she was in no fit state to help. Approvingly, the tortoiseshell nodded.

"All sick or injured, with me." As always, he left no room for argument. No bite sharpened his tone, but his unwavering evenness was there, and stern. A dappled tail beckoned them to his den, hope thrumming in his heart that his herb store had gone unbothered. Foolish invaders who knew not their use would hopefully have ignored his plants.
PENNED BY PIN ☾
 

"Understood, Howlingstar." Shiningsun nodded his head as he received the instruction from the leader. It was time to begin the important repairs, especially if they wanted to regain any semblance of safety within the camp. Keenly his gaze swept across the felines who had not yet been given a job. "Alright, who wants to help with the wall? We need supplies firstly in order to patch up the bigger holes, so I need some runners to collect what we need." The tom gave a hopeful flick of his bushy tail before he headed towards one of the sections in order to begin the patch job, utilising the scattered materials left behind. There was no point in wasting whatever happened to still be useful.