- Aug 18, 2022
- 702
- 185
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DON'T YOU GIVE ME UP, PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP
it seemed there was never a meeting where it was just good news. they long for those days in shadowclan. surely the other clans had those days, right? they just keep get met with death. and pain. and they wondered why chilledstar opted for being apathetic to everything. it was a lot harder to get hurt when they could pretend like they didn't care. they sat on top of the rock for a bit, just watching the cats as the came in and out of den. shared tongues with family members or snapped at others. ate stringy pieces of prey. shadowclan was a wasteland, and they were all wasting away, weren't they? left to be nothing more than a whisper in the wind.
"shadowclan, meeting time!"
this was not nearly as long as the others were. they were in part grateful for it. especially since so many of the tops of the day were just heavy, in the sense of the word. with a lash of their tail and a huff of air, they stand up fully, rolling their shoulders forward and gently gripping the rock for stability.
"before we get to the worst of the news, let's start with the best of it, hm? yellowkit, minkkit. please come forward."
they let their gaze fall on the two, with a twitch of their nose.
"minkkit. you are one sure spitfire, kid. and yellowkit, you've shown that you've got a knack for thinking hard. both of you are ready to become apprentices today. so, what say you? do you promise to learn from your mentors as they have learned from theirs? to watch the back of your den mates and grow into promising young warriors of the marshes?"
a nod. an exclamation. they're waiting for it, and if and when it finally comes, they nod in approval.
good. then from this day forth, until you are truly worthy of becoming warriors, then you will be known as minkpaw and yellowpaw. minkpaw, your mentor shall be rowanwing. and yellowpaw, you will be mentored by cedartail. you will do great things for the clan, this i know."
they gave a nod of approval with a smile before turning the other two.
"eeriepaw. jitterpaw. please, come. step forward."
they don't like the amount of anxiety they feel about letting eeriepaw become a warrior. same amount they felt when they had to give serpentspine his. damn it.
"jitterpaw. you've... been through a lot in this last moon especially. i am here if you ever need to talk about some of that you're feeling inside. but for now, now it's time for you to take your place as a warrior. do you promise to protect us as if we are your own family? loyal to shadowclan first and foremost? then, I give you the name of jitterbug. bug, in this sense, attests to your ability to become small enough to get through and adapt, and your vigilance. you do not bug us, but you latch on where you need and that is a great warrior quality."
and now to eeriepaw.
"this has... been a long time coming. you've long since proved yourself and i think i speak for everyone when I say I'm proud of you. eeriepaw, are you ready to accept the responsibilities of being a warrior? to be loyal to shadowclan, and to protect your clanmates even if it may one day take you to the stars? then from this day forth, you shall be known as eerienight. your ability to blend into the shadow of darkness casted over shadowclan is nothing short of amazing. the night is your friend, and thus it becomes your name."
they nod to both of the new warriors with a breath out.
"pipit. hawk. snipe. you will be assigned warriors today that will assess your skills for the next moon. if you prive your skills and loyalty, then you will receive a true warriors name and rightful place within shadowclan. roosterstrut, you will watch over snipe. lilacfur, you will watch over pipit. smogmaw, you will watch over hawk. this is non-negotiable. either take it, or leave my clan now."
they didn't care to argue with anyone about anything right now. they took in a deep breath in and out, before sighing.
"starlingheart is still recovering from her attack so... do stop by and give her the best of the prey we have. next best can be saved for ferndance, who is raising her kits in the nursery. she and mapleberry are still in trouble but we still must make sure she is fed properly. sprucepaw wouldnt have wanted us to hate or blame her for this."
their ears angled downward.
"siltcloud has been having a bit of a field day. playing with us like cat and mouse. remember that we are not mice. if any of you see her, kill her. I don't care about relations or anything. she killed comfreypaw in cold blood and for that, she deserves nothing less than death. she also hurt ashenpaw. i am glad she didn't take his life... we don't need anymore death in this clan. that's for sure."
they know they cannot stop death from taking them, but they can try until they're blue in the face.
"this meeting is over with. remember, we are stronger together. weaker apart."
"shadowclan, meeting time!"
this was not nearly as long as the others were. they were in part grateful for it. especially since so many of the tops of the day were just heavy, in the sense of the word. with a lash of their tail and a huff of air, they stand up fully, rolling their shoulders forward and gently gripping the rock for stability.
"before we get to the worst of the news, let's start with the best of it, hm? yellowkit, minkkit. please come forward."
they let their gaze fall on the two, with a twitch of their nose.
"minkkit. you are one sure spitfire, kid. and yellowkit, you've shown that you've got a knack for thinking hard. both of you are ready to become apprentices today. so, what say you? do you promise to learn from your mentors as they have learned from theirs? to watch the back of your den mates and grow into promising young warriors of the marshes?"
a nod. an exclamation. they're waiting for it, and if and when it finally comes, they nod in approval.
good. then from this day forth, until you are truly worthy of becoming warriors, then you will be known as minkpaw and yellowpaw. minkpaw, your mentor shall be rowanwing. and yellowpaw, you will be mentored by cedartail. you will do great things for the clan, this i know."
they gave a nod of approval with a smile before turning the other two.
"eeriepaw. jitterpaw. please, come. step forward."
they don't like the amount of anxiety they feel about letting eeriepaw become a warrior. same amount they felt when they had to give serpentspine his. damn it.
"jitterpaw. you've... been through a lot in this last moon especially. i am here if you ever need to talk about some of that you're feeling inside. but for now, now it's time for you to take your place as a warrior. do you promise to protect us as if we are your own family? loyal to shadowclan first and foremost? then, I give you the name of jitterbug. bug, in this sense, attests to your ability to become small enough to get through and adapt, and your vigilance. you do not bug us, but you latch on where you need and that is a great warrior quality."
and now to eeriepaw.
"this has... been a long time coming. you've long since proved yourself and i think i speak for everyone when I say I'm proud of you. eeriepaw, are you ready to accept the responsibilities of being a warrior? to be loyal to shadowclan, and to protect your clanmates even if it may one day take you to the stars? then from this day forth, you shall be known as eerienight. your ability to blend into the shadow of darkness casted over shadowclan is nothing short of amazing. the night is your friend, and thus it becomes your name."
they nod to both of the new warriors with a breath out.
"pipit. hawk. snipe. you will be assigned warriors today that will assess your skills for the next moon. if you prive your skills and loyalty, then you will receive a true warriors name and rightful place within shadowclan. roosterstrut, you will watch over snipe. lilacfur, you will watch over pipit. smogmaw, you will watch over hawk. this is non-negotiable. either take it, or leave my clan now."
they didn't care to argue with anyone about anything right now. they took in a deep breath in and out, before sighing.
"starlingheart is still recovering from her attack so... do stop by and give her the best of the prey we have. next best can be saved for ferndance, who is raising her kits in the nursery. she and mapleberry are still in trouble but we still must make sure she is fed properly. sprucepaw wouldnt have wanted us to hate or blame her for this."
their ears angled downward.
"siltcloud has been having a bit of a field day. playing with us like cat and mouse. remember that we are not mice. if any of you see her, kill her. I don't care about relations or anything. she killed comfreypaw in cold blood and for that, she deserves nothing less than death. she also hurt ashenpaw. i am glad she didn't take his life... we don't need anymore death in this clan. that's for sure."
they know they cannot stop death from taking them, but they can try until they're blue in the face.
"this meeting is over with. remember, we are stronger together. weaker apart."
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