I'LL WRECK THIS IF I HAVE TO [HUNTING PATROL]

[Rowanthorn]

Everything is different now. Seeing Flamestar atop the Highrock addressing the Clan as its rightful Leader was a much needed change from the tyranical Skyclaw but it was still odd. The phantom presence of Howlingstar was still felt, and oftentimes he was left astonished at seeing a fiery pelt atop the stone rather than the brown he'd grown used to. It was always like this, he supposed. . . takes time to get used to so much happening in such a short time.

Leafhusk is the one to assign the patrols today. Rowanthorn doesn't do anything but nod as he's assigned to lead one of the hunting patrols. As the she-cat is still recovering in Gentlestorm's den, he figures he might as well take her apprentices along. After gathering the two and his on apprentice, Stormywing and Roeflame join in with their own trainees as well. "Great Sycamore," He mews simply, matter-of-factly. It's quite a lot of cats, but they need to stock up the prey-pile before Leaf-bare comes, like Leafhusk had said.

"Let me know if you smell anything." He says to Wolfpaw, then to Orangepaw and Fadingpaw. Part of him hopes Stormywing and Roeflame will said him in caring for Leafhusk's apprentices, too.

RED SUN ABOVE PARADISE ☾ 🐅 ☽ TO THE SHADOWS, OUT OF SIGHT

• // #FF7661 app tag: @WOLFPAW ; members of the patrol @Fadingpaw @ORANGEPAW.
  @STORMYWING ( @COLTKIT @mottledpaw ) @ROEFLAME . ( @Dwindlingpaw )
  

• A muscular and chubby scarred chocolate tabby tom with striking copper eyes.

• ROWANTHORN — 37 moons, warrior of ThunderClan. Ages every 31st.
  

​

 

[ROEFLAME .]

-ˋˏ ༻ ☀ ༺ ˎˊ-

If there was one thing the Lead Warrior knew how to do, it was keep busy. With two apprentices on her paws, deputy responsibilities on rotation between the other Lead Warriors, and being reunited with her mate and friends, Roeflame left hardly any time in the day to be left to her own presence.

Rowanthorns hunting patrol was the perfect opportunity to give Dwindlingpaw and Dovepaw some experience in group hunting settings and catch up with Stormywing, who’s shoulder the warrior was glued to now.

“I’m ready for leaf-fall to be here already. It’s still too hot.” Her grumble is light-hearted and accompanied with a frivolous whisk of a silvery tail. Leaf-fall was one of her favorite seasons, both for the comfortable mild temperatures and because the golden-toned season never failed to bring her back to when Burnstorm first called her his mate, and him hers.

The group begins to spread a bit around the Great Sycamore, and Roeflame only takes a heartbeat to admire the massive tree in all its greatness. They had an army of apprentices on their paws today, and Roeflame gives a scheming glance to Stormywing and Rowanthorn.

“We’ve got a lot of paws today, how about we do partner hunting? Practicing teamwork never hurts.” Roeflame tips her chin towards the gathered apprentices, before her eyes move back towards the warriors to gauge their reactions.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎┌── I GOT A POCKET ⋅✴⋅ A POCKET FULL OF SUNSHINE ──┐‎

• 
  second apprentice tag — @Dovepaw
  
  

• 

• 
  ROEFLAME ✩ she/her, Lead Warrior of Thunderclan, twenty-two moons.
  ⭃ petite cinnamon silver ticked tabby with murky green eyes & a small scar over her left eye.
  ⭃ mate to Burnstorm ☀ mentor to Foxpaw
  ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted ☀ underline and tag when attacking
  ⭃ penned by Noor ↛ @toyangel on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
  

​

 

[mottledpaw]

· · ───────────── ·𖥸· ───────────── · ·

Her strides are rigid, despite what excitement should be felt on an outing like this, Mottledpaw can't seem to sift through more than the haunting feeling of eyes on her back at all times. She is certain her clan-mates mock her, even now... Stormywing's a passionate presence of fury in the wake of Skyclaw's ended reign. She hadn't missed the way the silvery she-cat had called for Wrath-howl's neck and it had felt something like supreme punishment for Flamestar to pair them as mentor and apprentice. Coltpaw too... whom she'd ridiculed and fought with Beetlepaw over. It's a nightmare... and the tortoiseshell is quite certain it is cruelly intentional.

Her gaze wanders up the sweeping branches of the trees, scouting out what might be the shadows of squirrels or birds... the itch to run slides over her claws, a yearning for freedom from watchful stares but... the last thing she needs now is to get in trouble for wandering off too far. A small, disappointed sigh escapes her, listening to Roeflame's idle chit-chat before the mention of 'partners.' The last time she'd done anything like that she'd at least had the reassuring presence of one of her litter-mates (and they'd won, mind you) but now....?

This was like pulling teeth. "How's that supposed to work," she asks, hardly above an uninterested mumble.​

 

[WOLFPAW]

The apprentice stuck closer than ever to their mentor, the joy of being out and about in the world overshadowed by the shadow looming over them. Their orange gaze explored the trees and flora with intrigue, then, they were reminded of that shade again and an acrid taste settled upon their tongue. Leaves crunched beneath them but they were too focused to run amidst them as they desired, their mentor speaking quickly. Their mouth opened as they inhaled nasally, blinking at the distant remnants of musk upon one of the dying ferns. Some animal had maneuvered recently around the Great Sycamore, but as they tried to recall where they'd smelled such stench before, they grew distracted and snapped away from the earth as if it'd scorned them.

Roeflame mentioned partner hunting and Wolfpaw recoiled further, pulling a face. Their eyes glossed over Mottledpaw, grimacing at the discomfort in their throat that settled like a prey bone. "I'm sorry..." They mewed to their mentor, nostrils flaring at a last-ditch effort to detect something. All that their nose could detect was the distant memory of blood and near-misses... and a denmate that had been a breath away from scarring their face for life. Wolfpaw moved closer to Rowanthorn to mutter something to him. "Do we have to patrol with her?" It didn't seem fair, neither Leafhusk's choice nor the grown-up's compliance with Mottledpaw's involvement. "I can't think with her around. She was going to hurt me..." And still would, for all the sepia knew. At least now, they would be able to defend themselves.



​

 

[STORMYWING]

Stormywing pads alongside Roeflame, her apprentices at her heels. Her gait is purposeful but tense - it seems every day following the battle has been tense. She glances back at the young cats that follow behind her, much younger than she's used to. No, there isn't a nearly grown Fallowpaw wandering off, or an ever-dutiful Thundergleam she's meant to teach. Now she has two cats barely over the age of kits, one who had been with her in exile, who brings a soft look to her eyes as she looks at him. Resilient, trustworthy...

...and then there's Mottledpaw. Her tail twitches in agitation. It's not lost on her that her second apprentice might feel the weight of judgment from her clanmates. But the thought of mentoring one of Skyclaw's loyal kin had been nothing short of unbearable when Flamestar assigned them, a twist of fate she couldn't avoid. She can feel the molten anger in her still. It's like she waits for Mottledpaw to step out of line so she can scold her, always barely fighting the urge to snap at her, to let her rage spill over. But that wouldn't make things better for anyone, so she tries to keep her fire contained.

As the patrol begins to spread out, Roeflame's suggestion of partner hunting catches her off guard. Her ear twitches in annoyance at Mottledpaw's mumbled response. She knows the young tortoiseshell isn't thrilled about being out here with her, and truthfully, the feeling is mutual. But there's something about her friend's casual energy that keeps the tabby from outright rejecting the idea. Maybe it could work. She'd partner with Mottledpaw, of course, to keep an eye on her. And maybe, in a controlled setting, she could push her just enough to see if she's truly ready to let go of Skyclaw's influence.

With a sigh, Stormywing shoots a glance at Coltpaw before fixing her eyes on Mottledpaw. I'll never get anywhere with her if I don't try. "It'll work like this," She mews, her tone clipped but controlled. "You and I will hunt as partners. Coltpaw can pair with Wolfpaw or whoever else." Her gaze softens slightly when it lands on the tom - she trusts him to manage on his own even if he's younger. He's got to learn at some point. Turning back to the young she-cat, she meets her gaze and lowers her voice, "Focus, Mottledpaw. The only way you'll stop the others from watching you like that is if you prove yourself." Let's see if you're ready to learn from me. And in a quieter, darker part of her mind...and if I'm ready to teach you. ​