camp I'VE BEEN SITTING AT THE BOTTOM OF A SWIMMING POOL // return

// takes place directly after this thread
Skyclaw, Yewflame, Sproutpaw, and Wrathpaw are not in camp.

Her fur no longer drips, but it is still uncomfortably wet, clinging to her plump form as she runs as fast as she can for camp. Her pants run ragged from her throat as she recalls everything she'd overheard. Tears prick at her eyes, tears of betrayal, of heartbreak. How could he? How could he? She cannot believe what she'd heard come from her killers' mouths. Fallowbite was right. Fallowbite had protected her. She won't forget it. Sproutpaw, Wrathpaw, and Yewflame could be anywhere in the forest by now; they'd gone off to find Skyclaw, warn him that she is still alive. That the mission her grandson had given them had failed. A victory would have meant her permanent death.

Her teeth grit painfully as she shoves her way into camp, heaving with exhaustion. Her paws stagger unceremoniously for a few strides before she sinks onto her haunches. Safe. She is finally safe. Howlingstar can feel the gazes of her clanmates on her and she lifts her eyes to meet their confused and worried faces. She swallows hard, working to catch her breath before she gasps out, "We've been betrayed...by more than one..." She gulps in more air as she hangs her head wearily. "Yewflame...Sproutpaw...Wrathpaw...they drowned me, took a life from me...under Skyclaw's orders."
 
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〕Flamewhisker's pelt bristles in alarm as Howlingstar bursts into the camp. Her pelt was clinging to her sides, and her gaze was visibly glazed over. Something has happened. The deputy hurries over to their leader, stopping a few tail lengths away from her. We've been betrayed...by more than one... She's found out who the killers were! "What happened? Are you okay?" she breathes out, looking around for Gentlestorm. Yewflame...Sproutpaw...Wrathpaw...they drowned me, took a life from me...under Skyclaw's orders.

She stiffened, her blood turning cold. Sproutpaw and Wrathpaw, they were just apprentices. And Skyclaw, he was her grandson! Her gaze whipped around the camp, searching for the four mentioned names, but she didn't see any of them. "We'll find them. You're safe now." But was anywhere truly safe anymore? They had already tried to kill kits inside the camp. If the three had drowned her, then they were likely still in the forest.
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  • ooc. mobile!
  • FLAMEWHISKER —— deputy of thunderclan , mentoring none . storm x lily . littermate to nala, smokey, and nemo ✦ penned by icey !
    afab / she/her / 35 moons & ages every 20ᵗʰ
    widowed / heterosexual / closed to romance
    peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / underline & tag account when attacking
    —— difficult in battle

    "speech", 'thoughts', all opinions are in character
    tags — msg on discord for plots — toyhouse
  • 74170852_bklpiIOmSWVpAVE.png

    a longhaired red tabby with low white and green eyes. flamewhisker's fur is a vibrant hue of red, riddled with thick classic tabby markings. her fur is medium in length, and she has a large, feathery tail. her chest, belly, tail tip, and her paws are dipped white. flamewhisker's eyes are a dark, deep shade of green. her shoulder has a large scar on it from a fight with a dog. she also has a shredded ear from a disagreement with a loner during her time alone before joining thunderclan. on particularly cold days, or sometimes before a major weather change, she will walk with a slight limp from her shoulder injury.
 
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𓇢𓇢 The black tabby leader rushes into camp, panting and panicked, and Laughblossom is at her side only a few heartbeats after Flamewhisker is. Howlingstar takes in a series of deep breaths before she is calm enough to answer the deputy's questioning. The clan has been betrayed. She has been betrayed. She has lost a life, stolen away from her under her own grandson's orders. And the cats who had done the horrible deed are Yewflame, Sproutpaw, and… Wrathpaw. It's enough to make Laughblossom freeze in place, his eyes growing wide and teary. His own brother, so young, so kind—why would he do such a thing? Why would Skyclaw order such a thing? Has the chocolate and black tom corrupted Wrathpaw's mind so much?

Flamewhisker declares that the clan will find their leader's murderers, and the silky-furred tom snaps back into action. His tail flutters anxiously behind him, paws tapping a nervous rhythm against the ground. "I can—I'll help search for them!" He exclaims, already looking around as though he'll spot them trailing into camp after their leader. If only he could find Wrathpaw, he could talk to him. Surely there's some kind of mistake, some kind of lie hidden between Howlingstar's words. Wrathpaw wouldn't, he just wouldn't…

  • ooc:
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    LAUGHBLOSSOM ❯❯ he/him, warrior of thunderclan
    𓇢 silky-furred chocolate tabby with white spotting and hazel eyes. joyous and loud, but deeply protective of his clan.
    𓇢 brother to lovelight, joywing, wrathpaw, pridepaw, merrypaw
    𓇢 peaceful and healing powerplay permitted
    𓇢 penned by foxlore
 
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Others are upon her former mentor before Antlerbreeze can be- weighed down with so much, her men- her leader had been drowned in her absence. It's nearly sickening to think that anyone can do such a thing, she realized, moving closer on swift paws as Flamewhisker and Laughblossom take stock of the situation. Pin needs, ice cold, fall on her pelt, down her sides. Wrathpaw's tired eyes come back to her, the conversation late at night.

She wants to sob. Scream, even, to tear apart the three that even dared to. She glances towards Wrathpaw's brother, studying for a moment, before looking towards Howlingstar again. Without care to how damn she was, Antlerbreeze moved to support Howlingstar on her other side, closer then Flamewhisker had gotten. The dampness soaks into her fur. She speaks around a tongue that feels swollen, around chewed lips and bitten gums.

"Breath. Steady." Mentally, she was recounting the breathing lesson to herself, taught to her moons ago to steady herself in the face of hunting. In for eight. Hold for for five. Out for eight. Worried eyes studied Howlingstar closely- once she was sure there was no other injuries. Worried. Confused, hurt- all things on her expression. To go as far as to kill three clanmates, to attempt to kill kits, to kill their leader?

Her eyes widened, shooting towards Flamewhisker. "They're going for a mutiny. You.. You need to be kept safe too, Flamewhisker." She says. Just as much as Howlingstar, her, and the rest of the council? They all needed to be kept safe. Antlerbreeze's pelt pressed against cooling, damp fur, against the terrible things that keep occurring.

Starclan, help us.
  • "speech"
  • ANTLERBREEZE she/her, warrior of thunderclan, twelve moons.
    LH cinnamon lynx sepia with low white. smaller body, agile and slippery, fits really well in small gaps in the underbrush. soft spoken but strong and determined.
    previously mentored by howlingstar / / mentoring no one
    padding after no one / / sibling to fallowbite and doepath
    peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
    penned by dallas ↛ dallasofnines on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

 
𓍊𓋼 The cream tabby is drawn from his relaxation by the sound of shuffling coming from the brush, but when he turns his head it isn't a returning patrol or any cat he expects at all. Instead, it's ThunderClan's leader, panting and stumbling with exhaustion. Whatever she's been through, it's enough to have sapped the energy from her, and she sinks to her haunches. He rushes over to meet her, although he stops short to avoid crowding her. "Howlingstar! Are you okay?" He echoes his mother's sentiment, concern clouding his expression. She isn't actually his grandmother, not by blood, but she still feels just as much a grandmother to Falconheart as she is to Skyclaw. And it seems that being a grandmother hasn't saved her from… this.

We've been betrayed. Again? More traitors in their midst, more cats who would hurt their clanmates? Falconheart opens his mouth to ask, but closes it when the leader speaks again. Skyclaw had told cats to kill Howlingstar? Why would he…

He thinks of all the snide comments that the other warrior had made, the patrol into SkyClan's territory, the fact that Blazestar was revealed to be his father. It all falls into place, and tears spring to the cream tabby's eyes. He looks to Antlerbreeze as the newly-named warrior suggests that Flamewhisker might be next, and then his attention turns to his mother. "Mom," he says, his voice clipped. What if she's next? Flamewhisker doesn't have extra lives to protect her, not like Howlingstar does. But his mother won't just run and hide because some cats are threatening her—he's sure of that. She'll have a plan, an idea of what to do. "What should we do? Skyclaw's in camp somewhere, right?" The idea of facing the tom—his kithood friend, now estranged but still near and dear to his heart—makes his chest ache. It makes his stomach twist. But… if Skyclaw would order this, then Falconheart clearly doesn't know him as well as he'd thought. Maybe he never even knew him at all.

  • ooc:
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  • FALCONHEART ❯❯ he/him, thunderclan warrior
    shorter than average cream tabby with white spotting. seems gloomy and has few friends, but is a hard worker and never neglects his duties.
    son of flamewhisker and flycatcher ; brother to stormfeather, scorchedpaw, bugpaw, sunpaw, squirrelpaw, sparrowpaw
    mentoring bugpaw
    peaceful and healing powerplay permitted
    penned by foxlore
 
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Palefire had been enjoying a relatively relaxed day. She'd finished her patrols, and had found a spare moment to lounge and take care of her unruly fur. She was laying in a spot of bright sunshine in the center of camp, tongue dragging in soft rhythms over her paw as her eyes began to drift shut. Ever since the exiles, things had felt a bit more peaceful. Granted, she was still agitated at the former kittypets having to be sent away, and she worried every day for Ivorypaw. But since that meeting, nothing terrible had happened. Only a few days, but still. There had been peace.

The calm that had settled over the camp was soon shattered by the sudden whirlwind entrance of Howlingstar, who burst through the gorse tunnel looking shaken and…. Damp. Palefire's piercing blue eyes snapped fully open as the dark tabby stumbled into the clearing, rising to her paws as Howlingstar fell back onto her haunches. "Howlingstar! Quickly, fetch Gentlestorm," she called to whichever bystander was near, and concern blazed through her as she sprinted towards the group. Flamewhisker and Laughblossom were already surrounding their leader, interrogating her.

"What happened? Are you okay?"


Important questions issued from their steadfast deputy, and Howlingstar didn't take long to answer. "We've been betrayed…. By more than one…" She's done it, then! The elder molly had managed to figure out who was attacking Thunderclan. This was great news, surely? That meant they could bring the culprit to justice, and the ousted members of their clan could return safely. But why was she wet? Why did she look so upset? Why -

"Yewflame...Sproutpaw...Wrathpaw...they drowned me, took a life from me..." Her heart pounded in her chest, mouth falling slack at the words that were slowly tumbling from her leader's mouth. Jaw snapping shut, the lilac-mollie's teeth grit roughly as she began to understand. But she didn't want to understand. Each syllable felt like it took an eternity, between ragged breaths and disbelief, drawing out the moment painfully long. But she wasn't done yet, and Palefire's skin began to tingle with a terrible feeling of dread as she finished announcing -

"...under Skyclaw's orders."

No.
Her blood ran cold at the mere mention of his name. No. Skyclaw was callous, and opinionated and…. Sometimes harsh, but this? He couldn't. No. Her chest tightened, strangling, suffocating, she couldn't breathe, let alone speak. "N-No… He…" Her ears flattened back against her skull and the world began to dim, the edges of her vision blackening as she swayed on her paws. Was she moving, or was the ground shaking beneath her? Claws unsheathed into the hard dirt below, anchoring her to reality, steadying her as she fought back the encrouching darkness. "He couldn't…" Could he? Skyclaw had always hated the kittypets, but he… he loved his family… didn't he…? She'd trusted him, she'd loved him. He wouldn't do this, he loved her.

Didn't he love… her? No.

  • 79175764_ro4GJWUVwEZd0z0.png
    PALEFIRE she / her, warrior of thunderclan, 17 moons
    lh lilac lynx point w/ low white and blue eyes
    single, padding after skyclaw / npc x npc / sister to bluestride
    mentoring meadowpaw & ivorypaw / formerly mentored by nightbird
    peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / all opinions ic
    underline and tag when attacking
    penned by limerence@limericks. on discord, dm for plots.
 
It was hard to stay positive, hard to remain optimistic when so much was crumbling down around them. So many kits that had been apprenticed were learning that the world was not as happy as their time in the nursery had made it out to be - Dovepaw included - and though they knew about the code breaking, knew about the murders, they hadn't began to learn exactly what it meant until late in kithood, until they had been flung out into the world outside of camp to learn what it meant exactly to become a warrior, what bias and evil meant and looked like.

It seemed as though the world would continue to crumble under Dovepaw's claws as Howlingstar moved into camp, dark fur clinging to her pelt in an unnatural and mismatched pattern of wet and dry as she gasps for words. For a moment the child is glued in place, paws heavy as lead as their great-grandmother speaks out of betrayal from more than one cat and Dovepaw can't help but think of the cats that had been exiled less than a moon prior. Had they not been enough? Was it not enough for three cats to show that they were not in fact ThunderClanners as they threatened to murder and steal, had it not been enough that they had been chased from the territory for their crimes only to kill?

It felt as though sand filled the young point's mouth as she continued on, speaking of her life being taken - drowning, his kin had drowned - on the orders of Skyclaw. "What!?" They couldn't help the confused yowl that left them, paws light now as they moved quickly closer to Howlingstar to try and press against the leader, not caring if anyone else was in their way to do so. "Are you sure it was him? I can't-" They can't believe it would be their own kin who commanded the cowardly clanmates that had killed and tried to kill.

  • --
  • DOVEKIT - GEN 4; ROEFLAME X BURNSTORM
    -- afab ;; they/them ;; thunderclan apprentice
    -- sibling to littlepaw && beetlepaw
    -- lh chocolate silver lynx point
    -- stubborn && questions everything
    -- speaks in bolded #96b6a6
 

Never in all of his moons could Burnstorm have predicted this scene. His grandmother, stumbling into camp, fur smelling of the river and blood. At the same time that he lurches forward, others do as well, flocking to their leader with the same goal in mind as he. He does not want to crowd her, does not want to overwhelm and get in the way so he lets others with kinder paws take the lead in helping but he does not move from where he stands, ready to help if she needed it. His anger goes first to RiverClan. Surely, it had been them. But... his gaze flashes to the medicine cat's den, anger gives way to logic then and it is only when the explanation comes tumbling from her mouth does he receive answers.

And hadn't he known in some way? He had seen his brother's rage flickering just behind the eyes like an ember ready to burn, had even helped to stoke the fire with his own paws in certain circumstances. Still, the news is a blow to his very core. It makes him rock on his feet, suck in a deep breath as if an enemy has landed a swift kick to his chest. "No. That-that can't be." he tries to reason in his mind, paws desperately grabbing at any possible explanation other than the truth.

He hears faintly the voices of others, the reasonable voice of Flamewhisker assuring they would find them, Laughingblossom offering to help, the concerned voice of his former apprentice asking for direction. At least Palefire shares his disbelief. They knew him best right? Surely, surely they should know if his brother was a- He tries to cut that line of thinking off quick, not wanting to know what word his thoughts were forming next but he is powerless to stop it traitor, [/i]murderer[/i] his brain says and he trembles slightly.

It his his kit speaking that brings him back to the present. Golden eyes find Dovepaw and all he can think about is how scared he had been when he had learned what had almost happened to Ivorykit and Coltkit. It could have easily been his kits if the murderers had decided that just sharing blood with a kittypet was enough. And it had been his own brother, his own flesh and blood, who had instilled that fear in him.

His claws curl into the sand and he looks to Flamewhisker. "I can lead a patrol. Just say the word." he says, his voice suddenly steel.
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  • 73593410_oSE7LuZcU8tOnrY.png
    BURNSTORM THUNDERCLAN LEAD WARRIOR ; HE / HIM ; BROTHER TO MORNINGPAW, MOONWHISPER, HOWLFIRE, FIREFLYGLOW, SKYCLAW & DUSKBIRD ; MATE TO ROEFLAME ; FATHER TO DOVEKIT, BEETLEKIT, AND LITTLEKIT
    A large, sharp tongued, tom with long black fur and golden, oval shaped, eyes.
    Difficult in battle. A skilled fighter + fights honorably
 
cw; implied panic attack at the end there

ThunderClan's scent is distinct, she'd been taught that quickly and it had been made more intense with the development of finer senses- her nose was something to prize where her vision lacked... The stink of damp fur is unique... one that stands out against the soft smell of sap that normally fills the air. It rushes on the air like it is about to rain... heavy, mossy. She can almost imagine she's sitting by the river now... Long, stuttering strides carry their leader into camp, relief and misery in balance in her voice. She'd... Drowned.

Suddenly the thought of the river makes her stomach flip. The heavy paw-steps of her sister are recognizable amongst the crowd, barely restraining herself from practically sprinting back to Howlingstar's side. She never should've left... It's a feeling that had haunted her after Wolfwind's death. That she might've prevented it if she'd been there, Freckleflame be damned. Even if she understood deep down she would've just been a burden. Might've been the casualty instead.

There is a single name that Doepath could think to associate with such cruelty... it doesn't feel good when 'I told you so' sits on her back like a fallen tree crushing the breath from her lungs. She'd never liked him... had always found him abrasive and sinister. The fawn she-cat is glad to trust her gut but being proven right tastes like ash on her tongue.

Had this been retaliation for Howlingstar sending the kittypets away... did he not think that a far enough separation? What even defined pure ThunderClan blood? How could they predict who might be next? "Is... is anyone else outside of camp," she asks, throat tightening with anxiety. Would they just start rampantly slaughtering those left to their lonesome out in the forest, now that they suspected they were caught? "What if there are others," she presses, feeling the wild fluttering of her heart in her chest, the shallowness of breath. "Who-" Her voice fails as panic steals it away, Who can we even trust?
 
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Howlingstar returns, sopping wet but alive. Cobwebtails ears perk from where he sits to the side. She looks tired. Exhausted…

"Mama," he breathes, terrified, eyes wide- but cats swarm her. There is no room for him. And there shouldn't be, because a good son… Would have been there for her… He should have done more… She explains. "Mama…" he whines again, almost as if he were begging her to say that his own kin taking her life was a joke. He takes a step forwards, then back.

Burnstorm is quick to defend his half brother and Cobwebs mouth is dry. He feels horrible. Palefire starts too. Cobweb finds he'd probably do the same thing. Hell- He did almost do the same thing when Raccoonstripe returned from Skyclan territory. His former apprentice bites back at him and he cannot blame her, nor can he blame Burnstorm. Skyclaw. Skyclaw, Skyclaw… Skyclaw, the kitten at Little Wolfs side. The apprentice whom had lost his mentor, succumbed to venom. Skyclaw, his sisters son. His nephew. He feels sick to his stomach.

"And if- it's true… We have to find him. Before he leaves Thunderclan territory. Before… Any of them do," he doesn't know who he's speaking to, his voice wobbly, but Skyclaw had always been a little crafty… hadn't he? Cunning. Smart. For a second he can almost see Skyclaw being the ring leader, with his brains, his smarts. And to rope apprentices in it…. His stomach does twists and turns. He's going to throw up. His paws are rooted to the ground. He is nothing but useless. Burnstorm offers a patrol and he turns his eyes to his nephew, almost pleading to be taken along if he sent one.

Someone has to pay for this.

// mobile + too lazy to use posting template
 
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The leader continues to gulp in breaths of air as her former apprentice presses into her side. She welcomes the support, weakly pressing her temple against Antlerbreeze's skull as she looks to Flamewhisker. Safe now. Is she? Is anyone here safe? How many more trusted clanmates have been keeping their heads low, just like Yewflame, just like Wrathpaw? Sproutpaw? Her breathing finally begins to level as she catches her breath, and she glances to Laughblossom with sympathy in her gaze. Wrathpaw is his brother. He and others offer to go look for them, send out patrols, but she can only shake her head. "I won't endanger more lives. Outside of camp is where they've managed to take four lives now. You'll all be in danger out there."

Falconheart asks if Skyclaw is in camp and she pricks her ears. "Where is he? When did anyone last see him?" Her gaze flicks from face to face as Dovepaw bounds over to press against her. They, along with Burnstorm, and Palefire...they beg for it to not be true and she shuts her eyes tearfully. "It's true," She whispers, shaking her head. "I heard it for myself. It's true." Doepath asks if anyone else is outside of camp and she suddenly looks to Flamewhisker. "Ensure everyone's here," She pleads her, brows tenting. Right now, ThunderClan must stick together. Her gaze then flicks to her son and she gives him a saddened look. "I don't want anyone to leave. It's...it's too dangerous. He and his- his followers...they're too dangerous."
 
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[ ༻ ☼ ༺ ] The commotion and the chaos, Howlingstar's words made the apprentices ears flatten on her skull. Many of the cats were quick to come to Howlingstar but her words kept repeating in her head over and over again. Skyclaw had done this. Her mentor had done this, and she stood there frozen in horror. Would they think she was a part of his followers? Blue eyes flickered between the group of cats as she took a shaky breath and moved forward, trying to meet her leader's gaze.

"I haven't seen my mentor, I'm... I'm so sorry I haven't seen Skyclaw" she expressed a best as she could, the others. Some who were kin to Howlingstar or close friends were quick to offer their help, and yet all she could do is stand there in shock. Fadingpaw knew her mentor hadn't been a big fan of kitty-pets
even went as far as tell her about them but she never understood it, any of the warriors who had kitty-pet blood in them were still warriors.

Their leader's words, calling Skyclaw dangerous, calling his followers dangerous, making sure everyone was here and telling no one to leave. "I didn't know..." she stated softly, how would she have known, her gaze flash to the others around them before shuffling closer to Howlingstar with an apologetic look in her blue gaze. Fadingpaw hadn't known, if she had, the girl would've been horrified. Fadingpaw looked up to Howlingstar and her own mentor, Howlingstar's kin had executed an order to kill their leader.
  • "speak""Thoughts"
  • Fadingpaw She/Her, Apprentice of Thunderclan, 7 moons.
    Stocky short flame point tabby she-kit with blue eyes and stubby tail, one floppy ear
    Crimsonsun x Shadedmoon
    peaceful and healing powerplay permitted (ask first) / / underline and tag when attacking
    see battle info here
    penned by Ryn@/Rynnaro on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

 
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.𓍊↟ DOWN THE BANK WHERE THE DOGS ROAM, POR LA CALLE QUE TE LLEVA A CURICÓ ↟𓍊.
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‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚. — Gentlestorm slips out from his den with both of his ears angling forward as he listens to all the voices in camp clearing and that they're surrounding someone, he moves forward with a frown only to see that Howlingstar's drenched form with water droplets falling onto the ground. They're all wondering the whereabouts of Skyclaw and for a moment, he believes its due to making sure that he's safe but no... The young warrior had done this and sent out clanmates that were following him to finish off Howlingstar, he can feel his blood chilling in that moment. He never would've expected for the tomcat to do such a thing or let alone to his own grandmother, his flesh and blood, and the one who had mentored him when his late mentor had succumbed to the venom of an adder. He isn't sure of how he should feel since he and Skyclaw had never been on good terms to begin with, after Hailstorm had returned from the journey without Little Wolf at his side.

The tom had never liked Gentlestorm and the older tom hadn't cared for it, he did his duty regardless of their differences. His nose turns skywards wondering if Starclan would do anything, if the sky would begin to rain from the tears that Little Wolf must be crying now from having to see this herself from Silverpelt itself. "Oh my dear... I'm sorry." A whisper under his breath before shifting his attention to see Doepath's breathing quickening and he pushes forward so that his pelt brushes against her own "Breathe steady, sweetpea." A gentle murmur though his dark gaze turns to lock onto Howlingstar and he nods at her decision to keep everyone in camp, his ears prick forward "Help me take her to my den." The silvery tom says at last as he gives Doepath a final glance and puts a snow paw forward to look Howlingstar over for injury. His eyes show sympathy and silently apologize even if it is not his own fault... Oh Starclan... Why hadn't they warned him?

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  • MEDICINE CAT IN TRAINING;
    ✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿ FLESH WOUNDS
    ✿✿✿✿✿✿✿❀❀❀ INFECTIONS
    ✿✿✿✿✿✿✿❀❀❀ ACHES & PAINS
    ✿✿✿✿✿✿❀❀❀❀ ILLNESS
    ✿✿✿✿✿✿❀❀❀❀ BREATHING ISSUES
    ✿❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀ TRAVELING HERBS
    ✿✿✿✿✿✿✿❀❀❀ BROKEN BONES
    ✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿ KITTING
    ❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀ POISONS
  • 53DAF6v.png
    a longhaired blue sepia tom w/low white and brown eyes
    gentlestorm is a very warm individual and friendly to those who he meets, he's very social and willing to lend anyone a paw if they need it. he's very patient, caring, and it's usually rare to earn his ire.
    58 moons old; ages the 27th every month
    demiromantic bisexual ; widowed mate of little wolf
    easy to befriend/interact with ; hard to anger/upset ; peaceful powerplay allowed
    "speech", thoughts, attacking
 
Howlingstar's return is met with round eyes, as Badgerstripe brings a paw to cover her mouth. She had her suspicions for the cats that all shared their kittypet hatred - but she still held hope that the worst of them were exiled. That some remained within their camp, with each ThunderClanner blissfully aware of their scheming, filled her with dread. If any of them were wiser, could Pebblestep's death had been prevented? Could Howlingstar's?

They murdered our leader. It is a crime of unspeakable atrocity. That one would be Howlingstar's kin himself; she can hardly believe her ears. But.. Howlingstar would not lie about this. She recognizes the pain in her voice, the betrayal in her eyes. It has something she had seen time and time again in this stars-forsaken Clan.

At her leader's request, and the mention of danger, fearful green eyes flick rapidly to the surrounding cats. She sees Palefire already, thankfully - though the molly is distraught in her own ways, and regretfully, Badgerstripe cannot provide her comfort at this moment. Then, she scans the heads of everyone else nearby. " Lightflower? " she calls out, looking for soft lilac fur. And then.. oh, how her heart seems to skip a beat at the thought.

" Sleekserpent? " Badgerstripe calls again, this time weaving her way through the growing crowd. At the mention of the murderers' followers - why does she feel so scared for him? Scared.. of him? No, no.. she's being ridiculous. He was friends with some of them, like he was friends with her.. and shared their sentiment, but.. surely he wasn't a follower, was he?

Badgerstripe shakes her head, muttering a swift and stern 'no' to herself. She cannot think of such right now. Sleekserpent had never given her a reason to doubt them, even when they disagreed, even when they argued. A good cat, and a strong warrior.. she must worry more that they are safe and in camp, rather than indulge the paranoia that they are like those abominations.

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BADGERSTRIPE ( she/her )​





( ooc ) searching for @Lightflower and @Sleekserpent.
 

It's just another day for Softpaw at first - training, chores, the like. Nothing out of the ordinary until Howlingstar pushed into camp, sides heaving and damp, a look of terror in her eyes. Softpaw rushed forward but held back, letting Howlingstar's kin and closest go to her side in her place - though with Flamewhisker having gone off to get Gentlestorm, Softpaw suddenly felt at a loss for something to do in what was clearly a suddenly trying time.

Her heart practically stops when Howlingstar delivers the news that Skyclaw's been the mastermind behind all the slayings and would-be killings. Not Skyclaw, a warrior that Softpaw's admired from a distance for moons - not Skyclaw, Howlingstar's own grandson - but her leader speaks only the truth, and Softpaw swallows dryly as she coaxes herself into accepting that fact. The fact that those she had considered close by the grace of being Clanmates would turn so against Howlingstar and their Clan.

They're out there, in the woods, still - for now, at least. But Softpaw has no doubt that they'll return to finish what they started, and she glances warily towards the entrance that Howlingstar had just come through. Would it be sooner, would it be later? She wondered if the band of kittypet-blooded warriors were alright out in the land beyond ThunderClan - was there a chance that Skyclaw's goons would seek them out?

 
Could they not have one day of peace?

Coalpaw was worn down, tired already from the beginnings of his training alongside Beetlepaw. Burnstorm was far from a slouch of a mentor, which the burly smoke both loved and hated in equal measure. Adored because it meant he wouldn't fall behind his equals in age, but despised because of the way weariness was already tearing at his pelt. Getting the chance to just sit and eat was practically an oasis in the middle of a desert, fangs sinking down into the first piece of plump prey that he had managed to snatch from the pile. His savoring of the taste was interrupted by staggered pawsteps, the unfamiliar scent of dampness reaching him even before Howlingstar shoved her way into camp.

Seeing her look so small was an oddity that he wouldn't soon be able to shake, bright green eyes focused on the way her fur clung to her as her words played on repeat in his mind. They drowned me, took a life from me. How many did she even have left? Were they on the verge of losing her? Would he never be able to receive his warrior name from her? How could more Thunderclanners have chosen to turn their backs on her? Where was their loyalty? Their respect?

The prey in his mouth suddenly tasted like rot, forcibly swallowed down before he got to his paws.

Yewflame. Sproutpaw. Wrathpaw. They would not get the chance to see his mercy anytime soon, even if his untrained claws had to tear at their pelts without finesse. Drag their life kicking and screaming out of their flesh through haphazard chomps and lashings. It seemed fitting for a group of traitors that had condemned Howlingstar to the watery depths of the river, Skyclaw in particular deserving nothing but the worst. "Skyclaw. Did you ever... Could we have known?" His questioning was directed towards Burnstorm nearby, a new flash of hurt on his face. He was certain that the lead warrior couldn't have known for sure what Skyclaw was doing, or planning, but surely there had to be signs.

His mentor couldn't have been nearly in the dark as Coalpaw himself felt, right?

The apprentice's fur stood on end as he moved forward, pressing himself against Burnstorm's side in a feeble attempt for comfort. Even if the other wasn't truly his father, there was no one else around who could take that place. He needed a guiding paw in this moment, and suspected that the older tom would appreciate the support as well. Coalpaw searched the gathering crowd for any sign of Hopepaw at the same time, wishing to hold his brother as close as he possibly could. Make sure that he was here, and not anywhere near the sullied claws of the traitors - or even worse, working with them. It seemed unlikely, given how young the both of them were, and how Hopepaw had never expressed similar sentiments. Then again, Burnstorm must have thought the same of his own brother before everything had spiraled out of control.

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    a new apprentice of thunderclan, coalpaw is currently one of the youngest of his rank at six moons. he is being mentored by burnstorm, and is on track to graduate alongside his brother. an abrasive and intensive rule follower, he is fiercely loyal to thunderclan and working to honor his fallen parents.
 
Howlingstar pushes herself through the gorse tunnel and into the clearing on exhausted, heavy paws. His mother's eyes are ringed with darkness, and accompanying the pain in their green depths is a bitter fear. Raccoonstripe joins his Clanmates as they gather around her, but he does not crowd her. Others go to comfort her, to press their pelts against her sodden fur, but Raccoonstripe only listens, his heart thrumming in his chest.

"Yewflame... Sproutpaw... Wrathpaw... they drowned me, took a life from me... under Skyclaw's orders." He stiffens, as the others do; his tail begins to bush out behind him. "Skyclaw did this to you?" And no, maybe not overtly — the mottled dark tom had used accomplices to shove his mother into the river and watch her drown — but he had been behind it, hadn't he? Behind all those acts of cruelty, behind poisoning kits and slaughtering warriors in the woods they belonged to?

Something uncomfortable lodges itself behind his ribcage, something solid he can't displace. Kittypet, that word comes back, bitter and burning on his tongue. It's because she has taken in kittypet kits. It's because she gave a kittypet a spot on her council. It's because she won't banish the kittypets Emberstar allowed into the Clan. He tries to swallow. His throat is tight.

There's fear rippling through his Clanmates now. Gentlestorm arrives, quick to usher Howlingstar into the medicine cat's den after losing her life. Raccoonstripe sinks his claws into the earth, his stupefied shock blurring into outrage. You are a kin-killer. A leader slayer. "We need to... we need to secure the camp," he mutters, but his paws don't move fast enough. They can't move fast enough to stop the storm approaching ThunderClan.

  • ooc:
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  • Raccoon . Raccoonstripe, he/him w/ masculine terms.
    — "speech", thoughts, attack
    — 44 moons old, ages realistically on the 5th.
    — mentored by n/a ; mentoring Thistlepaw ; previously mentored Wildheart, Moonwhisper
    — thunderclan lead warrior. gray wolf x howlingstar, gen 2.
    — currently mated to Nightbird.
    — penned by Marquette.

    lh black tabby with white and dark brown eyes. charismatic, charming, calculating, ambitious, shallow, manipulative.

 
He was lounging in one of the shaded areas in camp, peacefully enjoying the quiet. It's as quiet as it gets anyway. He'd just finished his chores, cleaning the elder's pelts for ticks. He shuddered when he thought of the disgusting mouse bile he had held in his jaws. His eyelids grew heavy meanwhile, his messy form was curled into a mismatched ball of limbs. But, his peaceful snooze was interrupted by commotion and chaos. Howlingstar has returned? Hazel eyes snapped open wide, as he turned his head at the clearing blinking as the dark tabby leader stumbled through the entrance.

Deerpaw raises onto dark paws, eyes narrow at the sight of his leader's coat. The pattern of wet and dry is unnatural. His fur stands up on end, as a feathered ear flicked towards Howlingstar's words of betrayal from more than one cat. At the mention of the murder's followers– he feels his heart stop. She lists them off. Sproutpaw. Yewflame... Wrathpaw. Disgusting, vile creatures. He wanted to tear them apart. Dig his barely untrained claws into flesh, no matter the cost. He wasn't close with any of them anyway.

Dark lips curl downward in a frown, his exposed fang digging into his bottom lip. Skyclaw... was Fadingpaw's mentor right? His tail twitches where it hangs limp and unbothered. Lifting his head up, narrowed eyes gazing across the camp for the named culprits. He didn't see them. Dangerous.

He finds himself drifting forward towards the gathering group, even if he isn't comfortable. While Howlingstar speaks again, words tumble out of his leader's mouth. His teeth grit roughly, as he slithers his way up next to Fadingpaw. His weird, toleratable friend. The clan was safe. For now. His mind hisses at him, and he winces at the thought. "T-this is just t-terrible..." He grumbles out, with a curled lip of outward disgust. He flicks an ear to his flame point friend. The gangly apprentice lets out a disgusting noise slipping free from his maw, his body twitching at the noises from everyone else.

They were out there, in the woods for now - at least. Deerpaaw has no doubt they will return to finish what they had started. He glances at the entrance cautiously, his tail twitching and curling near his paws. Would the attack come sooner... or later? He didn't know.
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  • ( I-I CAN'T HANDLE IT! ) ˚₊‧꒰ა ♰ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ DEERPAW. ╱ thunderclan apprentice
    ⸝⸝ amab ; HE / HIM ; 7 MOONS & AGES EVERY 26TH.
    undecided / not looking / open to puppy-crushes
    a scrawny longhaired black/dark ginger tortie and white tom with hazel eyes.
    thoughts ; "Speech, ff7844" ; attacks only
    may powerplay minor harm ╱ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted
    smells like caramelized apples & damp earth musk
    all opinions are ic! he's morbid and he sucks </3

    biography / @ on discord for plots
    — penned by calzone
 
❝ it's gonna hurt for a bit of time ❞

Howlingstar's graceless stumble into camp had her on her paws in an instant. She did not rush to her side like the others did, feeling rooted to the spot in fear. Then her leader spoke, and her stomach dropped. Sproutpaw, Yewflame, Wrathpaw, Skyclaw... the names repeated in her mind like a broken record. The news has Lightflower nauseous. Mouth dry, she looked up at the mention of her own name, Badgerstripe's voice cutting through her spiral. How were they supposed to feel, not being able to trust anyone around them? Her friends were close to some of them. Palefire and Skyclaw were close... she'd thought they'd be becoming mates soon. And Sleekserpent had his own opinions. "I'm here, Badg," she managed. She wasn't sure if the other molly had heard, but anything was better than nothing.

StarClan help us...
✿✿✿
 
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The transition from the nursery back to her warrior and mentor duties has been with more ease than Roeflame could have hoped for. The council was on track to sniffing out the murderous traitor in the ranks, her friends were gone but safe, it was an uneasy path they navigated down but it was a path.

Until her leader bursts through the entrance, fur clumped in damp and dry clusters, each words spilling unsteadily from her maw felt like an icy dagger. Yewflame, Sproutpaw, Wrathpaw… The tabby leader announces, and as the ring leader of it all is revealed, Roeflame is already bounding over towards Dovepaw. Skyclaw.

Flamewhisker, Falconheart, Laughblossom, Anterbreeze… they've all come to process the revelation, assure their shaken leader. Roeflame cannot bring herself to say anything as she comes to stand near her child, eyes rabidly searching for her mate, her other children. Burnstorm and Coalpaw are there, Howlingstar orders to ensure everyone is present. What is happening? Rage burns like stoked embers, low in her chest.

"I'm going to find the rest of our kits. Dovepaw, Coalpaw, stay close. Do you understand?" Littlepaw was nearby already, hovering on the outskirts of the gathered group with wide, trembling golden eyes. Beetlepaw and Hopepaw were the only pelts she couldn't yet see. Toadhop, Freckleflame, where were they? This feels all too reminiscent of the frenzied search for her loved ones when the wolves had infiltrated the camp. Yet, these were no wolves… they were cats they loved, clanmates. Roeflame suppresses a shudder as she slips away from the crowd.
  • 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.