tunnels I'd probably last six days ⸙ private for now

[Brackenpaw]

There’s a breeze bouncing off the compact walls of the tunnels, it’s light but enough to tickle at Brackenpaw’s whiskers. Her muzzle twitches in retaliation, a sneeze at the tip of her tongue though they stubbornly try to hold it in. Instead of something loud her sneeze is pathetic, stopping in their path to bring a paw to their face. She’s rather pleased with herself, if she tried to stop and clean her face back when she first trekked into the tunnels they’re certain they would have poked their eye or something. It’s a small victory but it’s one that she’ll take, even if it’s short lived. The young calico is quick to rise on her paws once more, clicking behind her mentor's heels before giving the newly appointed leader a chance at lecturing them on listening again.

She’s explaining something, Brackenpaw is honest in the fact that they’re not listening. It’s a bad habit, one formed out of distrust and disrespect but it’s a habit nonetheless. Unsure of what they’re actually rattling on about but having enough decency to wait until a break between lectures or ‘training’ as she calls it for Bilberrypaw’s sake. Inexperienced is what the older calico had labelled her as, she assumes that means she’s perceived as stupid, lesser than.

It was just the three of them in this tunnel currently, no Cricketcry to try and boss her around and no Honeysucklepaw to bury them just so they can be in some kind of good graces. She can show Scorchstar that they’re not inexperienced, they’re not naive in thinking that she’s an expert of the tunnels but she would assume herself to be fairly knowledgeable. With a huff of air filling her with false confidence she decides to brush past the leader, an act of defiance for sure but a misguided attempt to show off that they’re not some bad apprentice. If they wanted her to fall in line so badly then they’d just have to be a better leader, exert some kind of influence that may convince her to fall back into place… yeah, if she's stuck having a leader for a mentor then there has to be some kind of worth proven. Of course it would create a cause and effect for their relationship to be more tumultuous but it was a dare, a challenge of sorts.

Too caught up in the rush from this little stunt of theirs they failed the most basic of tasks when in a tunnel. Assuming that there would be nothing but a stale scent in the depths as what else is in here these days? So they blindly march forward until the hiss of a breeze becomes something guttural, far beyond that usual light and sharp whistle. It’s hard to be able to ignore a scent when it’s closer to you, she can’t deny that it’s distinctly badger. “Scorchstr-” her cry to alert her is instinctual, relying on the cat she once was rather than the star blessed leader that they are now. Either way it dies momentarily as the sound of dirt crunching underpaw from in front of her becomes clearer. The hissing churning into snarls and growls, what she had hoped would be a warning call from the predator had become a concern that this is actually a call of aggression.

“Scorchstar… Badger” the tone of fear is foreign in the voice of a cat that is usually so certain in everything that they do. Frozen in place they don’t feel a desire to run away or to charge forward. Instead crouching in defense as there's an expectation for some kind of confrontation. In the back of their mind they hope that her mentor and friend hasn’t given up on them. A plea to StarClan that they hadn't stayed too far behind while she charged forward.

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

• 
  ooc. This thread is private for now but will be thrown into the thread shoutouts when opened <33 @SCORCHSTAR @BILBERRYPAW
  
•  
• 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
  

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[SCORCHSTAR]

༄༄ Their trek through the tunnels is mostly silent, with the faintest whooshing of a breeze blowing through to alert them to a connection with the aboveground world nearby. Since their coronation as WindClan’s leader, the scarred calico has only felt at ease down here, where the only sounds are the scraping of paws and the gentle brush of the wind, gentled from the winding paths of the tunnels. In spite of their depth, Scorchstar has found that they feel closest to StarClan here—with shadows cast all about them, there could be countless figures lurking nearby, watching warmly or fretting needlessly. Here, they can shut out all else in their mind and devote themself to one focus. Nothing will come before their duty to lead the clan, but this, at least, can compare.

A muffled sneeze breaks the blissful silence, and their striped tail flickers in surprise. It is only Brackenpaw, who seems to have slowed—or stopped entirely—for a moment before moving to catch up. With each passing day, their frustration with Brackenpaw grows. Scorchstar does their best not to compare their apprentices to one another, but Bilberrypaw is… such a pleasant trainee, in contrast to Brackenpaw. The bright-eyed boy seems eager to listen to what she says, while she is unsure whether the younger calico is listening to a word that she says even now. "When you traverse the tunnels, be aware of what you feel, as well as what you don’t feel," she explains, golden gaze trained on the darkness ahead of her. She could turn around to check up on the younger cats, but the inky black tunnel does not lend itself to clear vision. Vague outlines of shapes are the most one can make out down here; even eyes well-adjusted to darkness fail to see detail while in moorland’s depths.

They tip their head to one side, considering their own words. They have never been the greatest teacher, despite their lifelong tunneling experience. For all that they are knowledgeable, Scorchstar also knows that they are inflexible. Perhaps, also, they are a bit boring to listen to. They could prattle on about the tunnels and their nuances for hours… but who would listen to them? Certainly not Brackenpaw, who thinks themself better than any mentor they could receive. Bluefrost may have trained the young tunneler well to begin their apprenticeship, but their manners are certainly something to be refined. "I suppose it’s more about change than about the presence or absence of signs. If you suddenly notice that a scent has disappeared, or that the wind’s flow through the tunnel has changed… remain alert. If necessary, you should stop and report to another warrior to confirm. Burrowing into a badger’s den or a dead end could spell danger." As she speaks, she gets the sense that her words are meeting nothing but empty air.

Her suspicions are proven correct when the young calico lets out a huff and strides right on past her, into the darkness beyond. "Bracken-" she begins to scold, not angered but stiff in an attempt to get the apprentice back in line—back in the safety of her immediate sight. Brackenpaw fades out of view as they march on without pause. It is only the sound of her name being called, and then cut off by a sharp snarl, that betrays the danger that the young tunneler has just walked directly into. Dappled paws move without conscious thought, sparing only a moment to gesture for Bilberrypaw to follow, and soon Brackenpaw comes into view.

Above them, a badger’s bulky form looms. And Brackenpaw… the apprentice stands frozen, crouched to the ground as though they could melt into it. A defensive stance, and one that will only end with their body crushed beneath claws much longer than their own. "MOVE!" Scorchstar barks, her voice a growl as she rushes toward the apprentice. The distance between them closes in flutter-fast heartbeats, the drumming against her ribcage. For once, their mind is devoid of logical thought (“You must fight to protect yourself, and your clan, with each and every one of your nine lives”) and filled only with the terrible reality that Brackenpaw may not see their way out of these tunnels. Stupid, foolish, harebrained apprentice, running headlong into danger because they were too stubborn to listen to anything they’ve been taught! Teeth snap together, and Scorchstar aims to shove her ragged form between fool and foe, attempting to swipe sharp claws across the beast’s soft nose.

YOU KNOW I DESERVE IT ☽♰☾ WELL, TAKE IT OUT ON ME

• ooc: —
• 
• SCORCHSTAR ⋆⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺⋆ she/they, leader of windclan, tunneler
  ༄ small, slim flame-streaked calico with fiery golden eyes. cold and closed-off, ferociously protective of her clanmates.
  ༄ mate to bluepool ; sibling to rattleheart & rabbitclaw
  ༄ mentor to bilberrypaw & brackenpaw ; previously mentored pinkshine
  ༄ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted, but may react aggressively
  ༄ penned by foxlore

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[Brackenpaw]

TW // Detailed mention of injury at the second paragraph

Has the walls of the tunnel always felt that tight or is it just because right now they feel pinned to the ground by eyes that she can’t quite see beyond the refraction of minimal light. In hindsight being crouched like this is a hindrance, maybe when against a smaller opponent or one that she could see properly this could help. Instead it leaves them open to being attacked, a mistake they hope they can live to reflect on later as there’s a whip of air rushing above them. Breath hitches in their throat for a moment and subtly dies into a strangled yelp as sharp claws find purchase against the back of her skull. Distantly it feels like the creature is grasping at her head in an attempt to grip it.

Out of instinct she jerks her head back as it pulls forward, tension building behind her ears as it scratches along from nape to crown, splitting flesh down to sinew as easily as it would be to shred moss. Those razor sharp tools stop short at the top of her head as it brings its paw upwards for another strike. Her skin burns, it feels like it cut to the scalp even if it hadn't, she had never been hurt so severely before, scrapes during spars seem laughable now. In the pause between swings there’s an assumption that this thing would continue to bludgeon and claw until they were a pulp, able to fertilise the ecosystem of the tunnel in some ironic twist given how much disdain they held for it in their early moons here. Maybe it would be a swift death, that would be kind. Or maybe it will be long and drawn out, without intervention from her mentor it could be a possibility.

Scrochstar, their stomach churns at the thought of the older calico. If they died here would she shoulder it or is she just thinking too highly of herself to even entertain the thought. They haven’t been an easy apprentice, carrying so much anger and spite that they tried to make it harder at every turn, this too was part of that goal. No matter how much they wanted to show that they weren’t inexperienced- ha. Who are they Kidding?

She’d die just being known as an inexperienced and foolish apprentice. The walls feel tighter and her breath quickens at the thought, guilt claws at them. If they just didn’t let her pride get in their way then this wouldn’t have happened to begin with. She feels like an idiot, StarClans biggest joke, the badger being the punchline or maybe some sort of punishment for the lack of care or trust they have in those around them. It’s hard to solely rely on herself, now where are they? Bitter and alone with blood dripping down their face and shoulders.

A body collides against them and she flinches as if awoken from a bad dream. They stumble backwards, legs acting as if this is the first time they’ve ever been used in such a fashion. There’s a command to move and despite the fact her legs desperately want them to do just that, they don’t. She refuses to run away, too stubborn and not quite foolish enough to leave her mentor alone with it. Picking themself back up from their pity party and lingering behind the WindClan leader. Even as the badger swings wildly at Scorchstar in retaliation for the claws across its soft nose. The scent of Brackenpaw's blood metalic and heavy in the air.

---

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

• 
  ooc.
  
•  
• Brackenpaw
  ✩ they/she, tunneler apprentice of Windclan, 12 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
  

​

 

[SCORCHSTAR]

CW — blood & injury throughout

༄༄ In the darkness, the badger’s movements are merely silhouetted—black against darker black, the hint of movement and little else. Golden eyes cannot focus enough to make out details, such as when the beast raises its claws to strike. She can only hear the collision when claws meet flesh, when flesh gives way and blood spills. She can hear the horrible noise that Brackenpaw lets out, and her heart rate picks up, kicking a wild rhythm against her ribcage. The scent of blood is nearly enough to choke her, stuffed into the narrow passageways below the moorland. At least the apprentice is still well enough to move backward as the leader shoves in front of them. Scorchstar expects them to run… but they don’t. Instead of saving themself and leaving while they have the chance, Brackenpaw lingers behind her, as though they intend to help in some way, even injured as they must be.

The badger swipes again, and Scorchstar moves before thinking. It is so rare, she thinks, to do anything without first weighing the outcomes, but it seems all her caution has abandoned her in her concern for Brackenpaw. The sting of claws meets their flesh—stars, is their side ripping open?—and immediately the scent of blood grows thicker. The wound is… somewhere along their flank, winding over their ribs, but from the warmth of blood spilling down their side they cannot tell where exactly they’ve been wounded.

For a moment, their mind wanders. Is this how they lose their life for the first time? Will this be the confirmation that the lives received from their clanmates, their friends, their kin, are indeed theirs to wield? Surely that is the only possible outcome, so far down into the tunnels. A shame, truly. They haven’t even had these lives for a full month…

"Shit-" they hiss out between clenched teeth. They cannot think of such things right now; they have apprentices to protect. Brackenpaw is the reason they are in this situation in the first place, but Scorchstar cannot bring themself to be angry or spiteful toward the younger calico. Can she blame them, truly, for their arrogance? They had been taught by Bluefrost before her, a cat who had learned from Sootstar herself how to place herself above others. Brackenpaw had been thrust into Scorchstar’s care without a choice, without being given time to adjust. Of course they don’t trust her enough to listen to her warnings—they could not even trust her to give them a period of adjustment when switching between mentors.

No, this is not Brackenpaw’s fault. Maybe it isn’t Scorchstar’s, either, but it is her responsibility now. She has to get both of her apprentices out of here, force the badger to slink off in defeat or stall long enough to allow the WindClanners to retreat. "Brackenpaw, are… you alright?" Her own voice rattles, pain lancing along her ribcage each time she sucks in a breath. Clearly the apprentice is injured, but she cannot tell where, or how badly. "You need… to get out of here," she demands, though the order falls flat when she is pulled just as quickly back into danger. She sinks low to the ground just in time to avoid another meeting with those claws; the air shifts above her, and she has barely enough time to move back before the heavy paw slams into the ground where she had stood. Two beady black eyes gleam in the dark, and there she sees their chance. As the badger regains its balance, she swings a paw out to catch the wall of the tunnel, glancing off of it and spraying dirt into the beast’s face. The movement tugs at her wounds, but it’s worth the distraction. The badger staggers, and there is an opening between its deadly paws. Scorchstar leaps at it, swiping for its eyes and ears. Later, she will lecture Bilberrypaw and Brackenpaw on proper badger-fighting techniques, the eyes and the ears and every other soft place to inflict an injury. For now, she fights to sink her claws in, to make it hurt.

YOU KNOW I DESERVE IT ☽♰☾ WELL, TAKE IT OUT ON ME

• ooc: —
• 
• SCORCHSTAR ⋆⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺⋆ she/they, leader of windclan, tunneler
  ༄ small, slim flame-streaked calico with fiery golden eyes. cold and closed-off, ferociously protective of her clanmates.
  ༄ mate to bluepool ; sibling to rattleheart & rabbitclaw
  ༄ mentor to bilberrypaw & brackenpaw ; previously mentored pinkshine
  ༄ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted, but may react aggressively
  ༄ penned by foxlore

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