private IF GOD'S THE GAME THAT YOU'RE PLAYING ✧ council meeting, interrogation

[BLAZESTAR]

He’d left the Gathering feeling the weight of his recent decisions like a felled pine over his shoulders and back. Out of what remained of his kindness, he’d ordered his medicine cat to treat the tunneler’s wounds, had taken manpower out of his Clan’s day to day needs to protect prisoners too dangerous to leave unattended, and for what? What endgame is there to this madness? Sootstar had threatened to storm every camp in the forest if Badgermoon was not brought to her border within five sunrises.

Blazestar looks wearily onto the faces of who remain on his council. The deputy’s spot and Slate’s are empty. Bruised-blue eyes meet shimmering green, fiery amber, and the mismatched moss-and-sky pools of those warriors left. Dawnglare and Fireflypaw, against his better judgment, he finds, have been invited as well. Their herbs had been the ones used on Badgermoon’s companion, and he finds three voices are too few with this grave of a situation.

“Sootstar threatened invasion at the Gathering. She suspects either RiverClan or SkyClan are holding Badgermoon.” One ear slants. “I had meant to use the prisoner as leverage, one way or another, but…” He looks past the warriors and medicine cats, through the exit of his den and into the sliver of camp in his periphery. “I have my Clan’s safety to consider.”

After a heartbeat, he directs his gaze to those present once more. “What say you? What are we to do with these beasts?”

✧ INFO.

• present: @SILVERSMOKE @Johnnyflame @TWITCHBOLT
  optional: @DAWNGLARE @Fireflypaw
• 
  — blaise . blazestar
  — he/him ; leader of skyclan
  — pansexual ; divorced ; single
  — longhaired flame point Ragdoll with blue eyes
  — “speech”, thoughts, attack
  — penned by Marquette
  — chibi by Mercibun

​

 

[TWITCHBOLT]

Twitchbolt was in no way fond of the prisoners, especially not with Quillstrike guarding them. He knew his friend was a vastly capable tom, strong always when he was needed. The chimera had claws bore against anything that threatened SkyCla, and he knew he wouldn't go down easy, but... Twitchbolt could not shake his ever-writhing worry. What would he do with himself if one of those Windclanners struck him in a ploy to destroy SkyClan from the outside?

It had been difficult for him to tear his gaze away, but when Blazestar needed him Twitchbolt would be there. It was his job now, after all... even if it didn't feel like it should be. Still, he felt as stand-out as an exposed bone. It was probably just the doubt, though- the eating thought that no one really thought he was capable of duty like this.

Twitchbolt swallowed, a wince twisting his features. Sootstar made a threat at a time like this? When StarClan had called them to band together, to stand to make sure none of the rest of them fell? His breath shook as if left him, audible as it slipped past iron-tight fangs. Gritting his teeth, a series os spasms seized one eye. I have my Clan's safety to consider, Blazestar said, and Twitchbolt nodded gravely, thoughtful. But... in the hands of the ashen WindClan leader, was SkyClan ever safe?

"She hates us more than anything," Twitchbolt spat, almost amused. Because it was almost funny how she so often raised her armies against them, challenging them in their own home. But- an invasion. Camp, again. How much leverage was worth the risk? "He has to know secrets. Disadvantages she has. They're losing Clanmates like- like blood out of a wound," Twitchbolt murmured, voice trembling. There was very little certainty in his tone. "I just... they might be useful. And- and she'll find any excuse to attack us. If not this, it'll be something else. That... that leverage might be nice..."

He did not like them, but... Badgermoon at least was clearly a valuable prisoner. Enough to threaten war over... he could almost take it as an honour. ​

penned by pin ✧​

 

[DAWNGLARE]

His presence here is surprising – only in how it was so soon, not that he did not anticipate Blazestar’s coming around one of these days. Apparent cold - souled thing that he is, Dawnglare knows he himself could not be so much the fool that he had judged him wrong for so much of his life. A part of Blazestar, small or large, needed him. ( This is what he tells himself, and it leaves an unsteady smile trickling its way upon his face. ) He sways slightly, where he sits. His eyes are trained uncomfortably on SkyClan’s leader throughout the length of his speech.

This matter is a particular one. Prisoners – any sort of stranger, Dawnglare was not fond of. Of course, there was a boundary marking how much Blazestar cared about this. The decision is one Dawnglare had been more partial too, the seizing of WindClan being one of opportunity, than one of sickness and struggle. Still, he has had to waste herbs… He sniffs, when his opinion is supposedly free to be given.

His gaze only shifts as Twitchbolt’s curse seizes him freely. Dawnglare watches in morbid curiosity. He wonders if his ailment would take him, then and there. It would amuse him, if it did. A more lighthearted death to offset the stench of sickness. The warrior’s words are not all mishmash, though. Dawnglare appraises him with a single eye.

" She wants him dead, does she? " Rhetorically, Dawnglare asks. " I wouldn’t mind such a thing, myself, " he admits freely, claws tapping against the stone floors. " Say we pawn him off now; we have peace until Leafbare. We keep him for now… And she will likely come running. I don’t see us fit for a fight. And is WindClan? Fit or not, that has not quite stopped her before… " He shuts his eyes in idle thought. Bloodlust became aggravating when left unchecked. " The stench of Yellowcough is only slowly leaving my den… I am not exactly keen to replace it with that of blood. "

Dawnglare had not been there, when WindClan showed their ugly faces at their border, but even he, cooped within his den had heard murmurings. " Had he not already revealed much to you, in his begging for mercy? Why not take a little more from him, and then send him to Sootstar? " breezily, he suggests. Whatever idea of information, could be taken, and SkyClan would not have to breathe the same air as those two in the process. " We would be unbothered for a little while, by Sootstar and by him. " He was not entirely unconvinced that Sootstar's deputy has come here with such an honest story.

OOC 𓆩♡𓆪 9.16.2023 𝘚𝘠𝘕𝘖𝘋𝘐𝘊 𝘚𝘌𝘈𝘚𝘖𝘕 𝘛𝘖 𝘊𝘖𝘔𝘌 𝘖𝘜𝘛 𝘖𝘍 𝘏𝘐𝘋𝘐𝘕𝘎

•  

• 

• ( 𝙒𝙃𝙔'𝘿 𝙄𝙏 𝙏𝘼𝙆𝙀 𝙎𝙊 𝙇𝙊𝙉𝙂? ) DAWNGLARE Medicine Cat of SkyClan. Mentoring Fireflypaw
  —— He / him , deeply confused by the use of other pronouns
  —— Currently 56 moons old. Mated to Mallowlark
  
  Unsettling and strange, Dawnglare bears a unique perception to the world and stars above on top of a generally unpleasant disposition. Holds others to uniquely impossible standards and himself undeniably above the rest.
  

  You may find him kinder to others than is typical, exhausted from the yellowcough blight and heart heavy in a way he has never felt.​

  Mood is decided by dice - rolls per thread, with the exception of some important threads

​

 

[SILVERSMOKE]

Whispers had carried across SkyClan's camp about the prisoners, as if fearing his own black claws would strike their necks, he had done his best to avoid the blighted WindClanners. It was a mercy unearned, any who served the moors were indebted to it regardless of where they chose to lay their heads next, and Sootstar's reaction at the gathering proved it all too readily. Ears twitched furiously at the revelation and Silversmoke, who sat like a stone amidst the empty den, allowed his nose to twitch in a callous amusement. "I do not fear WindClan, I fear the weakness of cats who would betray their leaders." Weakness of the body was seldom avoidable, and weakness of the mind too. But weakness of the soul? Inexcusable. Loyalty was a brand on the heart that should never have been torn away; time and time again WindClanners proved themselves disloyal to one leader and scarcely loyal to another. Jaws clenched taut at his own deductions, eyes narrowed and stomach twisting so firmly with disgust that the Lead Warrior wondered if it would burst. Had Orangeblossom and Slate not left, he would've found his position far more comfortable.

Taciturn, he turned his gaze to Dawnglare and Twitchbolt, green eye burning. They spoke of different plans, one sought to use the two for their intricate knowledge of WindClan, the others wished to give them back to the Moorland Queen in exchange for a peace Silversmoke thought her too dishonourable to uphold. He remembered the tension when he sat amidst the Deputies at the gathering, how a claw's edge could've cut its thickness. No amount of favours could seek to weaken the barrier. Silversmoke raised his head, tail swishing confidently behind his seated form as he made up his mind. "Kill them and do all the clans a favour. Let the stars judge their cowardice and crimes, we have forgiven too many of them already by giving them shelter." Murder was a last resort, but when he thought about the damage that had been done to their Deputy in battles past and the damage they could do by remaining alive and telling tales of SkyClan to any willing ear, it seemed to be the only sensible one to the tabby. With a speed matching a turtle's, the Lead Warrior turned his head to Blazestar expectantly, hoping to see the ruthlessness often lost in favour of peace.


​

 

[Fireflyglow]

Fireflypaw stands beside his mentor, keeping his head low. He agreed with his mentor- they should just send them back to WindClan where they belong, traitors or not. Let Sootstar deal with them, so they may reap the consequences of their actions. While Slate believed they should die, Fireflypaw believed they should be forced to face their disloyalty directly. Whatever happens to them after that, well, that's up to the fates, isn't it? His paw taps against the stone floor in unison with the click of his mentor's claws, tail tapping in nervous fours.

It's not like my opinion means much, anyways. He bitterly thinks to himself as blind blue eyes direct themselves upwards to Dawnglare, listening to the mix of words all around him. Everyone seemed in favor of getting rid of their prisoners, in one way or another. Once again, he would go without putting his opinion out there, in fear of irritating his mentor further than he already has been lately. His day would come, but Morningpaw's words still ring clear in his head.

Instilled with the silence of a monk in prayer, Fireflypaw goes quiet and listens instead of putting his opinion out for the others. ​

SKYCLAN MEDICINE CAT APPRENTICE ✦ 14 MOONS ✦ CHUNKY, BIG-FOOTED SEAL POINT ✦ TAGS​

 

[Johnnyflame]

HE SAID, "WELL MY NAME'S JOHNNY, AND IT MIGHT BE A SIN
BUT I'LL TAKE YOUR BET, AND YOU'RE GONNA REGRET, CUZ IM THE BEST THERE'S EVER BEEN."​

---

Nights away from his twolegs were rare, usually taken only out of necessity; when breaking out the cats from the shelter, guarding the camp after Windclans attack, attending the gatherings he was assigned to, and so on. Today was no different, and instead of wandering back to his housefolk after the meeting had drawn to an end, Johnnyflame had instead made his way back to camp to help deal with the aftermath of what had just gone down.

"With all due respect, this is a shecat that already thinks she has the right to go around shoutin' commands and threats at us. If we give in now that's only going to reinforce her delusions of having some kind of authority over us." Johnny spoke up, clearly against the idea of just handing them over.

"I'm not a fan of keeping those two around either, but if the alternative is giving Sootstar exactly what she wants then we might as well head over to the moors with the rest of her followers and start calling ourselves Windclanners." the tomcat huffed, clearly annoyed by the idea of doing anything Sootstar demanded of them.

"And killin' them to avoid a fight only works if Sootstar never finds out about it- do you really think every cat and kit in the clan is going to be able to shoulder that secret forever?" Had the shecat not been a factor he would have been very much okay with putting two enemies out of their misery, but Silversmokes idea only worked if every cat int he clan was on board, and that wasn't an easy feat to accomplish.

"She threatened Cicadastar and his cats too, didn't she? Why not go to him then, and suggest joining forces to put Sootstar in her place for good? I'm sure he's just as tired of being threatened as we are, and we don't even have to admit to actually having her cats, just that we're tired of her acting like she has any power over us."

It could work. Two clans joining together to take the fight to Sootstar, showing her once and for all that her threats would no longer be taken laying down. They could go right to Windclans territory and put the fear of the stars in them, let them be the ones to fear being attacked in their sleep. "Because Twitchbolts right, I think. She hates us, and if it's not these two exiles it'll be something else in the future that she uses to come after us. I think it's time we show her we're willing to bring the fight to the moors."

---

​

​

 

[BLAZESTAR]

Twitchbolt is first to speak; Blazestar nods to encourage him, pleased the youngest warrior on his council is beginning to find his voice. “He has to know secrets. Disadvantages she has. They’re losing Clanmates like—like blood out of a wound.” The Ragdoll gives a low, wordless murmur of assent. The leverage he speaks of is what Blazestar had hoped to find somehow, somewhere in this mired-up mess of a situation.

Dark blue eyes shift to Dawnglare, weariness pooled in their depths. Dawnglare says he wouldn’t mind killing Badgermoon and the tunneler himself, and Blazestar’s ear flicks warily. That I will not do. He is not Sootstar. Kuiper’s execution had been badly-handled, a massacre, a bloody mess, and he wants no chance of a repeat. He holds his tongue, still, nodding understanding after the medicine cat gives his advice. Take a little more from him, the fox-pelted tom says slyly, and then send him to Sootstar.

Cruel, but Blazestar begins to feel numb, like he’s losing sight of what’s cruelty and what’s practicality. Silversmoke’s cold voice whips through like a leafbare gale. “I fear the weakness of cats who would betray their leaders.” Blazestar’s mouth twitches, but still he keeps silent—even when the silvery warrior suggests killing the WindClanners. His eyes flicker with feeling, but he remains quiet otherwise.

His son is quiet beside Dawnglare, but Johnnyflame speaks after Silversmoke says his piece. The daylight warrior suggests going to Cicadastar and proposing they join forces. The flame point gazes at him, pondering all that has been said before finally, he speaks.

“I will not kill them, though StarClan knows if Sootstar were in my place, they’d be dead or wishing they were already.” He fixes Silversmoke and then Dawnglare with his intense cerulean gaze. “I would sooner send them back to the Clan they stole and shed blood for, though the rest of you maybe right. Perhaps there is something to be gained for having them in our camp.” He sighs. “Twitchbolt, fetch Badgermoon.” His tone turns steely, the sheen of his stare going metallic.

Once the lead warrior has left and returned with WindClan’s former deputy, Blazestar beckons for his warriors to surround him. He does not trust the white-streaked cat as far as he can throw him. “You are here because of my mercy, not because SkyClan wishes to continue feeding you and your companion.” His tone is cool. “Some of my warriors want to feed you right back to the dogs you once served. What do you think of that?” The tip of his tail flicks, to and fro, as he awaits an answer.

ooc ✧ 𝒷𝑒𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒹𝒶𝓌𝓃, 𝒾𝓉'𝓈 𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒷𝓇𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉

• @Badgermoon

• 

• 

  — blaise . blazestar
  — he/him ; leader of skyclan
  — pansexual ; divorced ; single
  — longhaired flame point Ragdoll with blue eyes
  — “speech”, thoughts, attack
  — penned by Marquette
  — chibi by Mercibun

​

 

[TWITCHBOLT]

Twitchbolt winced at the idea of killing them, the memory of cracking bones beneath Thistleclaw's judgement lurching forward in his mind. Battle was brutal, and death then did not scare him- but the idea of killing outside of having to for your own survival settled oddly in Twitchbolt's stomach. Maybe it made him a coward- so he was relieved when Johnnyflame and Blazestar both seemed to agree that it wasn't the way. Still shaking violently, an affliction he'd never be rid of, Twitchbolt nodded a little with Johnnyflame's assertion; doing what she wanted, even slightly, felt wrong and weak. Especially when she'd doubtlessly find something else to justify an attack over soon enough.

Blinking the blear of thoughtfulness out of his eyes as soon as he was engaged, Twitchbolt nodded at Blazestar's order. Perhaps there was something to be gained. If it were his own judgement, Twitchbolt might have faltered for too long on the possibilities of perhaps- but he trusted Blazestar more than he wanted to listen to his rampant, ridiculous caution. Dutifully, he nodded and made his way toward Badgermoon, Curlewnose and their guards- to Dandelionwish and Quillstrike (especially Quillstrike) he offered a twitching look that said trust me, before fixing wide eyes upon the prisoner. "Buh-Blazestar requests your presence." With a flick of his crooked tail, he beckoned Sootstar's ex-deputy to come with him. Not once did Twitchbolt let his eyes waver from the tom's face.

Only when Badgermoon was safely in the sights of the rest of Blazestar's remaining council did Twitchbolt at last rip his full attention from the Windclanner's face- though, a copper-strike glare of suspicion flashed in narrowed eyes. Though much smaller than his leader, the mahogany-and-white tom stood at his side like the guard he was supposed to be- like the guard he was- should Badgermoon try anything funny during this conversation. ​

penned by pin ✧​

 

[Badgermoon]

There was certainly nothing funny going through Badgermoon's mind. He had been waiting for this, had bet his and his friend's life on it - he wasn't about to screw it up now. He did his very best to avoid taking even a single step too quickly as he followed Twitchbolt, keeping his head tipped down and his broad shoulders slumped, as if trying to minimize his size and strength. Though there wasn't a great deal of either, at the moment, considering the dwindling amounts of prey he was consuming, his lack of movement, and the injury Sootstar had left him with. Despite the quivers which seemed to permanently afflict the bicolor tomcat, Badgermoon did not underestimate him - I need to stop thinking of others in terms of relative threat to me. he chastised as the lead warrior stopped alongside his leader.

Badgermoon beheld the remnants of Blazestar's council through cautious golden eyes, finding some comfort in the fact that Orangeblossom was not here. The gash she had left under his eye had stopped bleeding, though it still wept foul-smelling fluid which trickled down, and crusted onto, his face. The white parts of his coat were stained an ugly brownish from the dirt in their pit, and he felt sure that he looked exactly how he felt: a threat, vanquished. A lame dog. A shadow of his former self. Bent, perhaps. Bowed. But not broken. Though he could not deny that he had attacked SkyClan's warriors once before, he felt sure the only thing he was attacking them with now was his appearance. He brought his gaze to rest onto Blazestar as the Ragdoll addressed him, attempting to show respect but not submission. He did not wish to be pitied, or written off as a tom with no power left in him.

He may have lost almost everything, but a fire still burned inside. It can be SkyClan's fire, if they'll permit it.

"I recognize that mercy, Blazestar, and thank you for it." he began with a dip of his head. "I know well that that mercy, which brings you to spare my life and Curlewnose's, is the very same for which my former Clan and I targeted you." he flicked his eyes around the other assembled cats, trying to make eye contact with each one of them. His face was guileless, solemn, and creased into a deep frown. "I thank you all, too, and SkyClan as a whole, for its hospitality. I know you had many reasons to not permit myself and my companion entry into your pines...but I'm glad you did. And I hope that in time, you'll be glad you did, too." was he talking too much? Was he saying the right things? "What do I think..." he repeated slowly, pondering the question. It was a natural response, he felt, though obviously an outcome he hoped to avoid. He bit his lip and continued to think for several long minutes, before finally speaking again.

"I think...returning me to WindClan would accomplish nothing but the spilling of blood. And I think it would mean that I am killed in front of my children and those I once called friends...and that Sootstar continues to control the moor and hurt other Clans on flimsy, or outright false, pretenses, with no one to speak against her but those she can call outsiders." his white-tipped ears twitched: he was trying not to show his fear, but he was not able to hide the anxious movement. What if it all went wrong? What if he had used up whatever second chance he might've been entitled to a long time ago? "I think...that I can be useful to SkyClan - Curlewnose, too - and that sending us back would do nothing to help you all." he offered the smallest of smiles, though it was more of a grimace. "I think that SkyClan deserves to make use of me...my body, my skills, my knowledge...as penance for the attack I led against you. I think SkyClan could benefit from having someone who knows so much about Sootstar, and about WindClan, among them...and who hates that disgraceful excuse for a leader with the same ferocity that once fueled my admiration of her." ​

 

[BLAZESTAR]

Twitchbolt hauls the prisoner into his den, and Blazestar’s nostrils flare at the stench. Blood, dirt, and the faint scent of infection all leak from his black and white pelt. He turns his face away. “Wash yourself. We will talk as you do.” He had commanded Dawnglare and Fireflypaw to treat the wretched WindClan cats, and the least they could do was clean themselves up for an audience with the SkyClan leader they begged mercy from. And that’s what he does—his tone is simplistic, respectful, which he had at least half-expected.

“Reason.” Blazestar’s voice is still cool. “Yes, my warriors have reasons to distrust you, most of all those who you called Clanmates once. Dandelionwish’s dreams have been troubled since you’ve turned up. Even Mallowlark was apprehensive, and stars know that cat has berries for brains.” His lip curls faintly. “You speak a pretty turn of phrase, Badgermoon, but I will not forget the part you played in raiding our camp and RiverClan’s. You speak of Sootstar with disdain… as do we all, but perhaps you want us to pretend as you are doing that you shed blood in her name against your will.”

His tail lashes, fur prickling with distaste. “Silversmoke asks if a warrior—a deputy—who betrays his leader can be trusted at all. To those accusations, what do you say?”

Badgermoon’s answer to his initial question leaves his brow furrowing. “I think…returning me to WindClan would accomplish nothing but the spilling of blood. And I think it would mean I am killed in front of my children.” Blazestar’s whiskers quiver, and for a second, his heart lurches. Yes, he has no doubt in his mind that giving him up to Sootstar would result in execution or worse. He hadn’t known the deputy had kits of his own, and damnably, his gaze softens. “Do you think your kits would be treated kindly if you were to become a SkyClan warrior? Do you think they would treat you kindly, were they to see you again?” He scrapes at the earth with his claws. “Do you think you and your companion’s presence here is worth the possibility that Sootstar ransacks this camp again and destroys my Clan?”

ooc ✧ 𝒷𝑒𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒹𝒶𝓌𝓃, 𝒾𝓉'𝓈 𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒷𝓇𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉

•  

• 

• 

  — blaise . blazestar
  — he/him ; leader of skyclan
  — pansexual ; divorced ; single
  — longhaired flame point Ragdoll with blue eyes
  — “speech”, thoughts, attack
  — penned by Marquette
  — chibi by Mercibun

​

 

[SILVERSMOKE]

They disagreed. It was not surprising, amidst the council, it had always been the silver tabby who suggested the unpopular things - it wasn't a position that bothered him. Unpopular, popular, neither mattered, he was only saying what was right. The Daylight Warrior among them caused Silversmoke to shoot his resolved gaze toward him, nostrils flared. "I never said we should keep it a secret." He imagined that was the kittypet attitude within Johnny, spinning a story of deceit about the wildcats whether he realised it or not. "We won't need WindClan to destroy us when we allow every traitor into our home. What happens if Blazestar does something he doesn't like, will he turn his claws on him too?" His fur bristled in irritation, sometimes, it felt as if he was the only one who could see the forest through the trees. Still, as the conversation shifted away from his opinions, the Lead Warrior found his jaws growing tight. There were secrets that Badgermoon could share about WindClan, about Sootstar, that would benefit in ways he could never imagine. To admit such things, after being adamant that death was the greatest mercy for a lawless rogue, was too difficult for the tabby.

His narrowed eyes lurched away from Badgermoon in disgust at his presence. It could've been any old WindClanner that was dumped on their borders, the tabby thought, so long as their presence hurt Sootstar. Silversmoke didn't know if that made his peer's opinions better or worse. "As you should be," he snorted when Badgermoon mentioned being killed by WindClan. Blazestar had made mistakes in the eyes of the Lead Warrior, but the thought of turning on him as Sharpeye had done left him curling his lip in disgust. Would he spill Johnny's blood for his support of Daylight Warriors? Or kill Blazestar for his unearned mercy for outsiders? A pact with a clan was a pact for life, more important than one's well-being and feelings. There was a gap in conversation where the tabby thought he could answer, damned of what was said before. His blood was an angry lion roaring in his ear, deafening, maddening, all he could feel himself wanting to do was rid themselves of this situation without fear of consequence.

"You hurt a good SkyClanner, you supported your Leader's every atrocity when she offered you the luxury of power and when she dared take that away, you deserted your home, your kits." he sneered. "All because your morals were more important than the lives of every single cat in your home. Did you not think of how much worse all of their lives will be now that you've proven yourself to be a sycophantic coward?"

​