private I am nobody's moral center ⸙ Bluefrost

[Brackenpaw]

Bluefrost had given birth to her kits, well to hers and Thriftfeathers kits. Camp had felt suffocating with this new development, the tension and clashing opinions. Truthfully, Brackenpaw was part of the minority in the clan who wasn't upset over this fact, they knew better than to just flaunt that difference in opinion around out in the open of course. Yes, it broke the warrior code but there had been a baseline set with her in regards to Bluefrost that if the needs of the clan outweighed the code in an instance then it was necessary.

Still not a good thing and it probably did depend on the code but this had been a standard set in their mind. The calico thought that the queen was crafty, that there had to be some hidden meaning behind her actions. Maybe it was a similar situation to how Brackenpaw felt about Privetfrost? Being part of DuskClan was bad but maybe there was a desire for change, second chances or something like that. Plus isn't it weakening DuskClan to have him here? Her brain worked in tireless loops to try and find a reason to justify this code break for the greater good of WindClan. While she hadn't found it yet she was sure she would, call it youthful arrogance but she didn't see a fault in keeping him here especially if he was being watched by others.

Brackenpaw wondered how the queen was coping with all of this, how others looked at her, and spoke about her. Maybe it has been no different to the norm and the young calico had just noticed this for the first time? Since when did they care so much anyways? They begrudgingly accepted the fact that they cared for the queen in some capacity, unsure if it was mutual and unsure if she would care if it wasn't. Still, she finds herself by the nursery, remembering their last conversation as apprentice and mentor. Bluefrost had said it was fine to visit her but was it really?

“Bluefrost? Is now a good time to visit?” They peer their head into the nursery anyways. Marches inside despite the answer given, she had always been stubborn like that. Being confronted with actually seeing the kits was strange, she squinted at the bundles then at the queen “There's a lot of them…” the murmur is one of hushed amazement, they forgot kits were this small. “Do you think any of them will be tunnelers?” It's much too early to tell, they know this for a fact but she was curious to know what she would say regardless.

---

‎‎ ‎┌── Im just a dog ⸙ with no bite ──┐‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

• 
  ooc. @BLUEFROST
  
•  
• Brackenpaw
  ✩ they/she, tunneler apprentice of Windclan, 10 moons (ages on the 22nd)
  ⭃ a lithe and fragile looking calico that looks like they still need to grow into her ears
  ⭃ Speech, thoughts, attacking
  ⭃ NPC x NPC, mentored by Scorchstreak | Formally mentored by Bluefrost
  ⭃ easy to befriend other kits, gradually harder to befriend every rank after that
  ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ⭃ penned by Juice ↛ @/ouijeejuice on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
  ⭃ All opinions are IC!! Bracken is a little hater
  

​

 

[BLUEFROST]

Perhaps it had been the underlying truth of Sunstar's words that had seared Bluefrost so harshly. "You chose your own desires over the needs of your Clan," he had snarled, and the queen had flinched at the heat let loose from between her leader's fangs. Yes, she wanted to say, then and now, it started that way, but now I am doing this for Cottonsprig! I am doing this for Cottonsprig's kits! For WindClan! Had Bluefrost refused her sister's children, her sister would have run with them, back toward the scrubland, and she would either die with them or raise them to be rogues...

But she cannot say this. She cannot tell anyone what burdens her heart. She only lays, still and defeated, in the nursery as four kits nurse at her flank. Rimekit is still sick; she had left her kits with Thriftfeather to feed her, and though the fever has mostly gone from her adopted daughter's pelt, there is still a miasma of illness radiating from her tiny body.

"Bluefrost? Is now a good time to visit?" Brackenpaw, unlike Pinkshine, does not wait for Bluefrost to beckon them forth. The apprentice enters with all the confidence of youth, amber eyes gleaming with interest as they settle on Bluefrost's kits. "There's a lot of them..." Bluefrost's mouth twitches, though she does not have the capacity to smile. "Yes. There are five, but Rimekit is still sick and with Cottonsprig."

She relaxes somewhat in the company of her former protege; Brackenpaw does not treat her differently, even though she had abandoned her training essentially for... for this. To have kits with the DuskClan deputy. I would not blame her for being resentful, but... Brackenpaw does not rebuke her. Brackenpaw only asks if she thinks any of the kits will be tunnelers.

"I hope so. Like me, and like my mother..." Her gaze drifts to the kits feeding from her. "But their father was a moor runner. I suppose it could go either way. I hope at least she is a tunneler."

This is where she bestows Sootkit with a gentle caress of her muzzle.

After a few heartbeats, Bluefrost turns her attention to Brackenpaw. "I am still sorry I cannot finish your training. How is it coming along? I am sure Scorchstreak is a tough mentor."

『 out of character. 』 ✧･ﾟ:* 『 about. 』

• ooc: —
• 
• Bluekit . Bluepaw . Bluefrost, she/her w/ feminine terms.
  — “speech”, thoughts, attack
  — 18 moons old, ages realistically on the 14th.
  — mentored by Sootstar ; mentoring Brackenpaw ; previously mentored n/a.
  — windclan queen. sootstar x weaselclaw, gen 2.
  — penned by Marquette.
  
  
  lh blue smoke she-cat with white and emerald eyes. aloof, dignified, poised, haughty, composed, distant.
  
  

​

 

[Brackenpaw]

The amazement dulls into a blanketed look of concern at the mention of one of the kits being sick, or rather still sick. The news weighs heavily on their shoulders, how many of their clanmates knew about Rimekit being sick? Did they care or did their parents sins taint everyone's perception on the kits, out of sight and out of mind maybe? The thought is bitter and they wondered if this was some kind of star blessed punishment or perhaps a repeat of the cycle, thoughts such as that are beyond her comprehension and to be quite honest it hurt to try and think that objectively. "I hope that she feels better soon, do you know when she will get better?" Not if, when, it had to be when. She wasn't too sure if she should be invested in the kits or not but they didn't want their previous mentor to go through the grief of losing a child.

They hover near the queen, not wanting to intrude on their personal space yet her movements are never unsure. She sits by the edge of the small family, there's a fascination in her eyes as she glances at the kits. She hadn't been around any this young since she had left the nursery but even in those later moons when apprenticeship drew near they couldn't say that even then they hung around kittens so small and fragile looking. There's that reminder of who's father these kits are, the mention of Thriftfeather draws no reaction other than a nod. Temporarily she had forgotten about most of his characteristics, too wrapped up in her own kit activities to pay attention to warriors that she didn't actively dislike. "Oh right, maybe there will be an evenish split?" Clearly there couldn't be a true even split between them, since there was an odd number of kits but only time would tell.

The names of the kits evade Brackenpaw, her expression puzzled as she stares at the singled out kit. "Did you name her tunnelkit or something?" her maw upturns to a smile as they chuckle at their own joke. Maybe in hindsight the joke kinda sucked but she thought maybe Bluefrost might get some kind of amusement from it. The mention of training sours the good mood they fostered for themself, eyes roll immediately as if on instinct. The tip of their tail thumps against the floor of the nursery as she considers what is said. "It's fine" It wasn't always fine, when they were first told the news they were upset at the fact their time together was ending. There was a routine that she was used to with Bluefrost, an expectation was held that they liked to think she met but she would never ask.

"It's not... Your fault or anything that you can't finish my training. It isn't like you can control having kits" she shrugs as they glance behind them beyond the exit of the nursery. Maybe she's wrong in that assessment but they really found it difficult to try and harbor resentment over something so important. Still holding onto the hope that Bluefrost was doing what was best for the clan, isn't bringing new life clearly for the clans benefit? "They're more important than mentoring" it's spoken in a matter of fact way, brushing past those moments where she was hurt by it in an attempt to appear more mature.

They have to think about Scorchstreak for a moment, trying to weigh up the differences between their two mentors. "It's going fine? I guess? She's stern or whatever and I don't really like her but she's not the worst" the older calico was pretty no-nonsense from what she gathered, not shy of letting her expectations be known. It kind of annoyed the apprentice yet there was a layer of appreciation of it. "I still miss you being my mentor though" they mumble stubbornly, there's no seething hatred in her words just a resigned acceptance of the fact that wouldn't be happening. Her attention instead is drawn back to the kits "do you think you might mentor one of them?" If Sunstar gave her the opportunity of course.

---

‎‎ ‎┌── Im just a dog ⸙ with no bite ──┐‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

• 
  ooc.
  
•  
• Brackenpaw
  ✩ they/she, tunneler apprentice of Windclan, 11 moons (ages on the 22nd)
  ⭃ a lithe and fragile looking calico that looks like they still need to grow into her ears
  ⭃ Speech, thoughts, attacking
  ⭃ NPC x NPC, mentored by Scorchstreak | Formally mentored by Bluefrost
  ⭃ easy to befriend other kits, gradually harder to befriend every rank after that
  ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ⭃ penned by Juice ↛ @/ouijeejuice on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
  ⭃ All opinions are IC!! Bracken is a little hater
  

​

 

[BLUEFROST]

Brackenpaw's eyes soften at the mention of Rimekit. Bluefrost tries for a tired smile at her former apprentice's concern. "Do you know when she will get better?" "I do not. It is in Cottonsprig's paws now... and StarClan's." And if StarClan knows what is good for them, they will help my sister heal the kit she had to give up.

The tortoiseshell creeps closer. Their gaze settles on the kits who suckle contentedly at their mother's side. "Did you name her Tunnelkit or something?" The childish innocence almost causes Bluefrost to laugh. "Her name is Sootkit." Something tender enters her eyes as she says the name — but she is wary, nonetheless. Will Brackenpaw, too, jerk away as though burned once she hears the name of her eldest trueborn daughter?

When Brackenpaw speaks of Scorchstreak, Bluefrost nods, knowing she speaks the truth. Scorchstreak is taciturn, stern, and unbending, much like Sootstar had been in her better days as Bluefrost's mentor. In truth, Bluefrost is glad Brackenpaw hadn't been given to someone softer... or, horrifically, to Sootspot.

"Do you think you might mentor one of them?" Bluefrost looks away. "I do not think Sunstar would allow me to become a mentor again," she murmurs. "It may be that you were my last apprentice." Shame colors the flesh under her gray fur, though her expression changes little, if at all.

『 out of character. 』 ✧･ﾟ:* 『 about. 』

• ooc: —
• 
• Bluekit . Bluepaw . Bluefrost, she/her w/ feminine terms.
  — “speech”, thoughts, attack
  — 18 moons old, ages realistically on the 14th.
  — mentored by Sootstar ; mentoring Brackenpaw ; previously mentored n/a.
  — windclan queen. sootstar x weaselclaw, gen 2.
  — penned by Marquette.
  
  
  lh blue smoke she-cat with white and emerald eyes. aloof, dignified, poised, haughty, composed, distant.
  
  

​

 

[Brackenpaw]

At least she's safe with Cottonsprig, if for some reason StarClan alone isn't enough to help the kit then surely the combined efforts of a well trained medicine cat will help. That's a fine enough answer to satisfy this part of her ever hungry curiosity. That curiosity is turned to the young kit, Sootkit she later finds out. The surprise is evident in her expression but it is nothing more than that. That surprise turned to curiosity, feeling it spark to life. "Is that because she looks like her? Does she look like her?" Sootstar had died before she reached her fourth moon of life, the memory of the mad queen is foggy at best.

It's not forbidden to discuss her but it is frowned upon, there's resentment for the old council as will as the new one. She finds it difficult to hold resentment against a kit though, Brackenpaw always liked spending time with kits. When they can speak they speak their mind and they can't hold any power over them, what's not to like?

So there's no hardness in her expression, softened into indifference. "Does Thriftfeather think any of them in particular will be moor-runners?" She figured the question worked just as well on the opposite side of the spectrum. Truthfully, despite her frown at the news that Bluefrost believes that she may not get to mentor another there was a kittish feeling of relief. In the way of a petulant child who didn't want to share, they realise that's a foolish sense of jealousy. More so they believe that this is upsetting to her previous mentor, that made her upset by proxy.

"Sunstar would be a mouse-brain to not let you mentor again" she commented with a huff, glancing at her paws then to Bluefrost as they spoke. "Tunnelers are doubling up, besides you were fine with mentoring me, that's the only time you'll hear me say it" they grumble, ears pinning behind her slightly as she finds herself in a fit of a rant. "But uh- If the time comes for you to mentor again and I don't know... He needs convincing or something I could say something?" Truthfully they don't know if that will help much, maybe that would make things worse.

---

‎‎ ‎┌── Im just a dog ⸙ with no bite ──┐‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

• 
  ooc.
  
•  
• Brackenpaw
  ✩ they/she, tunneler apprentice of Windclan, 11 moons (ages on the 22nd)
  ⭃ a lithe and fragile looking calico that looks like they still need to grow into her ears
  ⭃ Speech, thoughts, attacking
  ⭃ NPC x NPC, mentored by Scorchstreak | Formally mentored by Bluefrost
  ⭃ easy to befriend other kits, gradually harder to befriend every rank after that
  ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ⭃ penned by Juice ↛ @/ouijeejuice on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
  ⭃ All opinions are IC!! Bracken is a little hater
  

​

 

[BLUEFROST]

Brackenpaw does not bare her teeth or shy away from Bluefrost's daughter; the tortoiseshell only blinks, curious. "Is that because she looks like her? Does she look like her?" The queen nods. "You must have been too young to remember, and they did their best to keep the kits away from her at that point..." Bluefrost trails off, her eyes growing pale, distant. "She was held prisoner in her own den. She was like a wounded beast. She spat and hissed and clawed at anyone who came close, no matter who it was..."

"I tried," she'd attempted to say, but her mother had cut her off, her green eyes slim, furious slits. "Did you? If you had tried you'd be with Granitepelt. If you had tried, you'd be dead." Her lips had peeled away from her teeth; her claws had shredded the moss beneath her.

She remembers the interaction well. It haunts her in her sleep. The last words her mother had ever said to her ring like birdsong in her ears: "I'd kill you now if I could, Bluefrost." And Bluefrost had continued to try to speak to Sootstar, but she had withdrawn into herself, had refused to engage further, and Bluefrost had been led away by Rattleheart.

Bluefrost peers almost brokenly at Sootkit now, nestled at her side. "She has the same shade of gray in her fur that my mother had. The same texture. I... I feel she will grow to look just like her, in time." Perhaps they all will, to some degree — arguably, little Comfreykit will be a contender for his grandmother's namesake as well — but she does not say this.

She only tilts her face back up toward Brackenpaw's. "Thriftfeather and I have not discussed their futures, in truth." Her ears fold back, tired. "We do not know what kind of future we have here, still."

And Brackenpaw tells her Sunstar would be a mousebrain not to let her train one of her kits, that she had done fine mentoring her. Bluefrost's lips twitch. "I did my best with you. You were not easy, though." She settles her green gaze on Brackenpaw, wondering how the petulant child she'd tried to corral into obedience had become one of her closest friends in the Clan.

"Do not get yourself into trouble over me. That is an order." But the smile has not faded, as jaded and worn as it feels. "Keep your head down and do as the warrior code tells you. I was able to teach you that much, was I not?"

『 out of character. 』 ✧･ﾟ:* 『 about. 』

• ooc: —
• 
• Bluekit . Bluepaw . Bluefrost, she/her w/ feminine terms.
  — “speech”, thoughts, attack
  — 18 moons old, ages realistically on the 14th.
  — mentored by Sootstar ; mentoring Brackenpaw ; previously mentored n/a.
  — windclan queen. sootstar x weaselclaw, gen 2.
  — penned by Marquette.
  
  
  lh blue smoke she-cat with white and emerald eyes. aloof, dignified, poised, haughty, composed, distant.
  
  

​

 

[Brackenpaw]

There isn't much that Brackenpaw can say to the information Bluefrost discloses on Sootstar, nothing beyond quiet hums of acknowledgement. There was a reason that she was kept prisoner to her own den, the tyranny and general madness if she had to assume. At least that's from what she understands from the foggy memories she has of her own mother in the nursery recounting this information, it had been commonplace to listen in on conversations not meant for such young ears as the only viable way of attention. After some time Brackenpaw decides to speak up again "do you miss her?" It's a heavy question, a loaded one too she is sure of it but they were never one to shy away from just asking what was on their mind before so why would they now? Arguably shouldn't it be easier since Bluefrost is no longer their mentor?

Her gaze falls to Sootkit, following the queens lead. She supposes that they should be lucky they don't remember her namesake, this being a fresh slate for what should be a familiar face. "Hm, hopefully she takes to the tunnels then" there's no real commitment to their tone. Truthfully Brackenpaw cares little about which path this kit is destined to follow, not when there's so many clan mates who will be keeping a careful eye on her future. If it makes Bluefrost happy to think of this kit as a tunneler then she wouldn't crush those hopes, even if she thinks deep down it would be funny for Sootkit to end up being a moor runner.

"You better not leave" their words are sullen as they glower at the blue smoke, like she actually has any say on the matter. Their ability to humour the concept is minimal, they don't think she could actually forgive any party involved if that came to ahead and it's too easy for the calico to hold a grudge. Thriftfeather not so much, she enjoys his company now that they're old enough to hold a conversation but they're not attached to him like they are to the queen. That future isn't today, so it's better to not dwell on it, instead choosing to focus on a future where they get to stay but just can't mentor anyone.

She's met with another uncouth huff, turning her nose to the wall of the nursery at the mention of how she wasn't easy to train. Her lip curls slightly, a miniscule smile to show that she has no offense to it. "I'm a delight to mentor" with a twitch of her whiskers they decided they had spent enough time nose up in mock offense. Did Bluefrost miss it? It's not something that she's willing to ask in fear of an answer they don't like. Even if she's not their mentor she still manages to somehow boss her around, it's difficult to be upset when there seems to be no real heat or authority behind said order.

"If someone's being rude about you I'm going to tell them that they're an idiot for it." They already have a reputation for being generally disagreeable or even disliked so would this really somehow tarnish their image in the clan more? "I won't go out of my way though" it's a reluctant conceding but a fine compromise, at least to her it is. They can at least follow the Warrior Code fine, that much at least garners no argument.

---

‎‎ ‎┌── Im just a dog ⸙ with no bite ──┐‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

• 
  ooc.
  
•  
• Brackenpaw
  ✩ they/she, tunneler apprentice of Windclan, 11 moons (ages on the 22nd)
  ⭃ a lithe and fragile looking calico that looks like they still need to grow into her ears
  ⭃ Speech, thoughts, attacking
  ⭃ NPC x NPC, mentored by Scorchstar | Formally mentored by Bluefrost
  ⭃ easy to befriend other kits, gradually harder to befriend every rank after that
  ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ⭃ penned by Juice ↛ @/ouijeejuice on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
  ⭃ All opinions are IC!! Bracken is a little hater
  

​