I'M NOT FINE AT ALL // thunderclan dawn patrol

[HOWLINGSTAR]

// tagging patrol members @skypaw @MOUSENOSE @SHININGSUN

The WindClan border had been quiet. For that, the tabby leader is grateful. She doesn't have the energy for the polite chatter she so often offers on border patrols. Instead, her heart is heavy with grief, her paws trudging ungracefully through the undergrowth as her face remains downcast. A silent patrol seems fine to her, but then she looks over to her apprentice at her side and her heart hurts even more. She had lost a daughter; Skypaw had lost his mother. She must be strong for him, she realizes with a pained sigh, her tail swishing behind her.

"We should remember to be gracious to our neighbors for their help," She offers her patrol softly, lifting her gaze to meet each of their eyes. Though sadness glimmers within her features, one can tell she is trying to be more upbeat with the slightest of smiles. If they see any of the marsh-dwellers on this patrol, she will be sure to be her kindest self.​

 

[MOUSENOSE]

Mousenose practically skips behind Howlingstar, though she is careful to keep an eye on @sunshinekit . , who no doubt lags behind at intervals. The messy-furred warrior listens to Howlingstar’s somber instruction with a vigorous nod. “Hear that, Sunshinepaw? We’ve got to be nice, so no making faces about how stinky they are or whatever it is you apprentices do. Got it?” She lifts her tail, cheekily grinning at her new apprentice. Her tongue clicks against the roof of her mouth as she prepares to impress the ThunderClan leader with how great of a mentor she can be.

“I’m sure you remember this border, right? Or the scent, at the very least. You played in ShadowClan’s camp not long ago, but this is what the border looks like from our side.” She gestures toward the thick strip of asphalt running diagonally through their territories. “Get a good whiff. That’s the Thunderpath. Do not ever touch the Thunderpath, and don’t go near it unless I’m with you, got it?” She tries to sound stern. “Monsters are very dangerous. Ragwortpaw was killed by one!” The memory of their lost apprentice causes her jaw to set somberly. She cannot imagine losing her sibling to something so horrific.

, ”​

​

 

[SHININGSUN]

☼ Shiningsun could certainly sense the dark cloud that lingered over Howlingstar. Grief. It was hard to miss, and it was hard to not feel sympathetic towards her recent hardships. Still, that didn't stop him from putting on a brave face all the same. Being strong for the benefit of everyone else was sort of his thing, so when he noticed Howlingstar looking his way for a brief time he offered up an understanding smile as he puffed out his chest. "Take heed, Gingerpaw, it's important to remember our manners. Don't be a 'Wildheart', heh!" He jested as he kept his head held high as he continued forth, all the while maintaining watchful eye on their surroundings. Would they catch a glimpse of ShadowClan that day? He hoped so.

// @GINGERPAW
​

 

[scalejaw]

—————————————————【 she/her | menacing 】————————————————

【◈】 Her paws ached with every step. She had been as restless as Smogmaw and Frostbite, perhaps. When she wasn't sleeping, she was in their territory, searching for any trace of lost kits. Parts of her wonder how easily they were stolen away. And maybe, parts of her were filled to full with hope when the scent of Thunderclan crossed that of the Thunderpath.

Hearing the leader of the opposing clan caused her brief pause, and her eyes lifted towards them, paws nearing the Thunderpath. But no tiny figures walked with them, so the twinkle that had found her eye faded and her face turned grim. Silently, her head dipped in response to those marking the border across the way.

"yuh"

[penned by dallas].

​

 

[smogstar]

A tick-ridden elder gasping their last would look less miserable than Smogmaw right about now. The body can only process so much heartache in one go; after a certain threshold, it begins to collapse on itself. Sleep comes in shallow, irregular intervals. As such, the thoughts in his head are rimed in frost, making clarity elusive to his grasp. The tom wears it fully in a countenance which reeks of despondence, mounted upon a low-slung posture that moves on languid footfalls.

The spectre of his luck's betrayal haunts his steps as he shadows Scalejaw through the miry terrain. A litter birthed and kit-napped, and a mate lost, all while he helmed the efforts to rid the clan of the plague that'd brought this turn of events into being. To the superstitious, the deputy was cursed. To the realists, he was the curse—and Smogmaw aligned himself with the realists. Self-blame proved taxing to escape, but he deemed it preferable to the alternative, wherein a higher power held sway over his misfortunes.

Stars, he existed in a dire state. Shouldering all this, plus his administrative responsibilities, plus plus the ongoing endeavour to locate his kits... he'd gotten picked up and plucked in a rut near impossible to climb from on his own.

Stiffening soil and a denser underbrush reveals how close they verge on the thunderpath border. When a pawful of outlines slink into view, and Howlstar's presence becomes apparent amongst them, so too is it apparent he'll have to say something. To his good fortune, though, diplomacy was an act in itself, and therefore simple enough for him to at least attempt.

Amber pools seize on ThunderClan leader as he draws upon his comprehensive strategic acumen to devise a sophisticated salutation that promises to not only be effective, but also groundbreaking in its approach. "Hi," Smogmaw says, and it's really the best he can do.​

 

[HOWLINGSTAR]

Mousenose begins to blabber on to her brand new apprentice, and Howlingstar can only stifle a slightly amused sigh. Well, she's got the spirit at least. An enthusiastic mentor is always preferred over the opposite. Her gaze shifts to Shiningsun, who offers her his typical giant grin, and she can't help but return a smile only half as big. His joy always has been infectious.

As the two warriors address their apprentices, the tabby leader turns her head to spot a ShadowClan warrior - and behind her, none other than the deputy. "Smogmaw, hello," She greets, just loud enough to be heard from across the thunderpath. The news of his lost kits traveled fast to their border and she frowns sympathetically. "Have the lost kits returned home?" She dares to ask, hopeful. Not a single hair of them has been seen or smelled on ThunderClan's territory, which in this case isn't a good nor bad thing.​

 

[CHILLEDSTAR.]

DON'T YOU GIVE ME UP, PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP​

---

chilledstar only twitches their ears at howlingstar's words. she's always been a nicer leader... kind in her words and her ways. a leader to look up to. better than chilledstar could ever hope to be. they shake their head, ears twitching back and forth and back again.

"they haven't. thank you for keeping an eye out."

chilledstar dipped their head in respect before turning off and heading back along to mark their border. they were losing it every single moment that these kits were gone. some parts of them wished pitchstar was still leader. at least he would have found the kits by now, even if his methods were three steps from insanity.
​

 

[sunshinespot]

Perhaps they should've played more in the nursery, maybe then their legs wouldn't hurt as much having only gone so far. The kitten lets out a puff of ragged air, only picking up his pace when Mousenose looks towards them - however even then it's apparent that he struggles. Their tail tugs up just about every bit of leaf litter it can, dragging against the ground, expressing his childish exhaustion with no words whatsoever.

Mousenose finds a spot to make a lesson, and Sunshinepaw does well to draw in close, drop into a fatigued seated position, and listen. The scent is far too strong to discern the formerly familiar ShadowClan scent, however as cats arrive at the other side of the thunderpath, he understands it well. He would've attempted to join the conversation (with failure nipping their heels, surely,) if not for the flash of news that a different apprentice was mauled on the path before them. Yikes.​