sensitive topics LONG MAY HE REIGN // WindClan Patrol

[SOOTSTAR]

//just mentions of Briarstar's gruesome death in minor to mild detail! also @WEASELCLAW ( @OWLPAW ) @ivoryflight. @Yewberry < if these guys have any apprentices they'd bring with, feel free to tag them. SHC may post right away, just avoid double posting until at least two windclanners get a response in!

She wasn't sure if she'd ever erase the image. Even without a... fully intact body, it had been a vile scene.
With one of her warriors carrying their StarClan blessed rabbit, the small patrol makes their way with extreme caution across the thunderpath. Usually they wouldn't cross this to meet at ShadowClan's border, but Sootstar desires a personal and direct audience with ShadowClan. That wouldn't be accomplished shouting at each other from across the road.

Once they are on the other side, they immediately halt in the grass. They would not move an inch further, respecting the scent markings right in front of their noses.
Night was falling upon them with each passing minute, she hopes that means the night-dwelling clan would be active and moving, she hopes it meant a patrol would be here quickly. She didn't want to be here all night... yet she would if she had to.

In the distance there is the sound of bog water splashing and foliage being rearranged, someone was coming.
Sootstar gives all of her cats a look, "Behave yourselves... We mustn't mess this up." With that, she faces the ShadowClan cat(s) who now stare them in the eyes.

"Sootstar, leader of WindClan. Weaselclaw, lead warrior of WindClan. Ivoryflight and Yewberry, warriors of WindClan. Our apprentices." She flicks her tail to the young cats with them. "We request an audience with Briarstar. We've come to offer condolences and wish to speak on more official matters too."​

---

 

[Firedawn]

YOU WILL ALWAYS BE ENOUGH​

---

Eyes of dazzling emerald would be the first that broke the darkness that was Shadowclan territory. Her pelt of crimson would be a stark contrast to the shadows around her, and yet she seemed to be one with the darkness despite it.

Her expression was one of humble grace, Firedawn would immediately recognize the Leader of Windclan, and her gaze would move over the cats beside her as they were all introduced. Pain would flare in her chest as Sootstar requested Briarstar, the gruesome death still too fresh in her mind, but the warrior would remain respectful, dipping her head in greeting to the leader as she meowed solemnly, "Greetings Sootstar. It is with the heaviest of hearts that I must inform you that Briarstar hunts with the stars now."

She pauses for a moment to allow the news to sink in before continuing, "Our leader is Pitchstar now, if you would still like a meeting one of us can call him for you."

//
Hope this is ok! Can delete if not <3 ​

 

[ivoryflight.]

Ivoryflight would fall into line beside Sootstar, pleased that she’d been trusted enough to attend a “meeting” such as this. Despite having conflicting personalities, it was nice to see that Sootstar thought highly of her (or at least somewhat highly anyway). Knowing what the nature of their visit was, Ivoryflight too would grow uneasy. It had been a horrible sight to see, and she couldn’t imagine what Shadowclan was going through. “Yes Sootstar.” She’d muse softly in the moments before Shadowclan arrived.

Firedawn would be the first Shadowclan warrior to arrive, and her words would leave her preventing herself from giving Sootstar a horrified glance. Had it been Briarstar that we’d seen on the thunderpath? Surely Starclan wouldn’t allow her to undergo such a horrid death? Dipping her head respectfully to the Shadowclan warriors, “My condolences. May Starclan light her path.”

// @SHREWPAW if you’d like!!
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[Irispath]

He was quiet as Sootstar spoke, not knowing what to say himself. What do you say in the face of such gruesome tragedy? Nothing he said would fix anything he dipped his head to the shadowclan patrol respectfully.

Until it was mentioned that it was Briarstar who perished. His head shot up in shock.

"B-briarstar is ..?" His voice was quiet, he intended to stay quiet, but the words fell out.
​

 

[WEASELCLAW]

The ShadowClan warrior who comes to meet them at the border is young, a pretty russet feline who tells them with a soft voice and downcast eyes that Briarstar has died. Weaselclaw almost involuntarily casts a glance Sootstar's way, wondering how she will take this news. Sootstar had grown up in the marshes, had known Briarstar her entire life. Even if the two mollies were no longer friends, he knows the blue smoke had been counting on her allyship.

Pitchsun, though, is Briarstar's son. Perhaps...? Weaselclaw glances at Ivoryflight and Yewberry, who appear shocked and murmur their condolences. He clears his throat and says, "Didn't she have nine lives? How..." He doesn't understand, but isn't sure if he should keep questioning. Sootstar may not appreciate if he interrogates this ShadowClan warrior while she's still grieving. But his curiosity is burning in his blue eyes, and he can't help but remember that blood splashed across the Thunderpath. But surely? ...
​

PENNED BY MARQUETTE​

 

[Minnowsplash]

"I'm afraid Firedawn speaks the truth." The cheerful gray she-cat's expression is a rare frown, her tone morose but calm; she was not as close to Briarstar as most but it was a hurt that spread through the clan as a whole all the same. It is the tones of incredulous surprise that has her ears flattening as she ambled over to stand alongside her warmer-colored clanmate and frown in a thoughtful manner. It was hard to explain all that had happened and why, of what it meant and StarClan's intentions and she could not even begin to formulate a response proper that would make sense so it was problably for the best that she said nothing on the subject. This felt more like a topic Bonejaw would need to speak on.
"Offer condolences though? That sounded as if you were already aware..." Or was that for something else entirely. Her fur prickled with unease, they had only lost one cat recently and that was dear Briarstar unless something had just now happened that drove the WindClanners here. To say she was frazzled now was an understatement, her fur was bristling uncomfortable and her thick plume of a tail seemed spread out like a feather as she lashed it in concern.

​

 

[CHILLEDSTAR.]

they are but a few paces behind firedawn before they came to a halt, two or three tail lengths away, eyes squinting at the warrior. tch. it was none of windclan's business that briarstar had died, but the cat was certainly out of the bag now. with a frustrated grunt and a deep breath in, chilledgaze only spoke out.

"how doesn't matter. in fact, its quite... unkind of you to ask such things. she walks with our fellow fallen warriors. that's all that can be said."

straightening themself, they cleared their throat. they realized how defensive they sounded but honestly how else should they have sounded? weaselclaw, no matter how he was trying to be, was being rather rude asking such a question. did he want a play by play on how their previous leader died? did he want them to spell out the way that they watched briarstar come back to life several times, only for it not to even matter in the end? an involuntary shiver shakes them, and they can still hear so many screams. even pitchstar at the time was broken, screaming at them to let him go but... they hated reminiscing.

"pitchstar will be here soon."

​

[ NOBODY ELSE MATTERS, GIRL ]​

 

[turtlenose]

Casting a displeased glance at Chilledgaze’s comments she would dip her head respectfully to Sootstar as she greeted them. At least she has enough common sense to wait at our borders instead of being rude to us. “Condolences? What could you possibly need to offer Pitchstar condolences for?” With the cat already out of the bag, there wasn’t any use in attempting to hide the fact that Briarstar was dead. Tail lashing behind her, she’d look the Windclan cats up and down before sitting back on her haunches.

“Don’t provoke them Chilledgaze. Now’s not the time to be starting shit. Just wait for Pitchstar to get here so we can get this over with.” Taking mental note of the rabbit in their clutches, she wondered why they possibly would bother bringing that with them to the border. They couldn’t have bothered to bury their kill and return to it once they left the border? They had to be disrespectful enough to flaunt it in their faces?

// @PITCHSTAR when you’re able!! <3
​

 

[SOOTSTAR]

Sootstar is rarely shocked, but with Firedawn's words she is.
Briarstar was dead, and thats when it all came crashing down on her that it had been her body... parts? ...Remains...? Left-overs? Uck- that they had seen on the thunderpath. It was such an odd thing... she had been Briarstar's soldier once. If there had been any leader in this forest she respected, it had been her. Pitchstar led now, at least she had gotten to pass her clan down onto her son.

It's evident she is shocked, she isn't sure what to say and Weaselclaw asked a question she had been wondering too. What happened to all of her nine lives? Had she not gotten any?

Weaselclaw is scolded for asking, and instantly the blue she-cat speaks to defend him, "He meant no harm in it. We are just... shocked to hear that Briarstar has left us so soon." Wasn't a bold face lie either, again Sootstar was clearly shaken but in this moment she seemed to be.

"I was Briarstar's soldier once, I knew how great of a leader she was." Even if she had been terribly slow to react with Rain's group... she had liked the spike-y furred she-cat. "I'm sorry for ShadowClan's loss. The initial cats of WindClan hailed from the marshes, many of us knew Briarstar well. WindClan grieves with you." She nods to whoever was carrying the rabbit to drop it.

"We offer ShadowClan this rabbit. It won't give you back Briarstar, but less stress on hunting for today." Extra time to grieve, she imagines.

In a late response, she looks to Minnowsplash, "We saw the thunderpath." It's all she says in explanation. "WindClan would still love to speak to Pitchstar. I want to personally offer him our condolences for his mother, as well as again, speak about more official matters. We will wait patiently for his arrival." To prove it, she sits down. ​

---

 

[BONERIPPLE]

The hollowed eyed woman is hardly the one who needs to be here now. She's looks as if she's lost all the life in her, same as her sister. Her eyes that used to burn so heatedly now look like choking embers about to be snuffed out. Still she is trying to keep herself preoccupied. Keep herself doing something. Anything but what has to do with herbs and medicine. Her jaws clench tightly as she scents the rough rodent smells of Windclan and she jerks her head up. Blinking slowly the woman makes her way there but she never truly emerges from the foliage, her dark body merely sits there to listen to the conversation. And she frowns they knew someone had been demolished on the thunderpath, just not that it had been her sister.

They offer condolence with a rabbit of all things. Bitterness sweeps through her and she feels numb, nothing with help fix this and they should leave. Windclan shouldn't be welcomed here, especially after what things were heard at the gathering. To her it's an unnecessary visit and she curls her muzzle in disdain for a short moment. Hopefully Pitch doesn't allow them to be here too long. And she flicks her ears before sitting down just to listen from the background of bushes.​

 

[PITCHSTAR]

WindClan has come to offer their condolences.

WindClan has come to offer their condolences, and they think that a rabbit would be enough to fill the void left by Briarstar's death.

Pitchstar had been huddled in the gloom of his den, staring at the wall as his claws ripped at his nest- no, his mother's nest. He hadn't bothered to replace the stale moss. (It had been the only thing that remained of her, but now the scent of her is fading from the nest. She's leaving him completely alone.)

Claws flash behind his bloodshot eyes. Fleecefur's grin haunts him every waking moment. Pitchstar could still feel the blood soaking his ripped throat as his life drains from him.

(His own warrior betrayed him. His own warrior wanted him dead. How many more of them wish to strip him of his lives? Do all of them?)

(He should've been a better leader. He should've been a fucking good deputy. Maybe then, his clan wouldn't want him to die rather than continue to lead.)

A NPC warrior calls his name. Pitchstar's on his paws in a heartbeat, whirling around with teeth bared. (They've come to kill him, too.) They tell him that Sootstar is at the border. (Has she come to kill him?) She's come to offer her condolences and speak with Pitchstar. (What could she possibly want with him? It's a trap, it's a trap, it's a trap-)

Like a fly drawn to a Venus Flytrap, Pitchstar follows the NPC. He does not allow the warrior to leave his sight, the leader stalking behind them with muscles coiled tight and claws unsheathed. (They wouldn't catch him off-guard again. The territory is not safe. He is not safe.)

The reek of the Thunderpath sets every nerve ablaze. (He couldn't go back there. He couldn't, he couldn't, he couldn't-) Bile builds up in the back of his throat. ShadowClan warriors come into view, and so does the WindClan patrol. Pitchstar eyes them warily. (Sootstar killed that SkyClan warrior. She would kill him, too.) "What do you want?" It's blunt. Pitchstar's voice holds little warmth, almost uncaring; one look at him would be enough to know how far he's slipped from grace. His fur unkempt and matted, his cheeks hollowed, his eyes heavy and bloodshot from sleepless nights.

He wants this over with so that he could go back to his den.

His blank stare drops to the rabbit momentarily. (It's probably poisoned.) Maybe on another day he would've scoffed at the gesture. As if ShadowClan's grief could be cured with a fuckin' rodent. But today, he is too tired to care.

"We'll take your offering, but only after one of your warriors takes a bite from it." (It's poisoned, it's poisoned, it's poisoned.)​

 

[SOOTSTAR]

It takes longer than she desires, but eventually the deputy... or new leader of ShadowClan arrives. The blue smoke wonders if he's truly received his lives yet, or if his clan just instantly took to calling him Pitchstar... Suppose they wouldn't want any of the clans to think their leader is venerable, carrying only a single life. After all if Pitchstar died without picking a deputy, ShadowClan would be in shambles... she wonders vaguely if the clan would survive from such a punch.

But no, she was not interested in slaying the new Shadow King. She desired friendship.
Good stars though, Pitchstar looked horrible... his fur was matted and twisted, his eyes red with blood and heavy with no sleep.
Leadership didn't look good on him.

Right then and there, Sootstar decides Pitchstar won't last. In a moon or two, he'd be overthrown, and that was being generous. Usually, she would not wish to befriend such a weak and unstable clan.

Yet she wonders... could she take advantage of this? Would this tom's vulnerable state be the key to securing a friendship? Or at least a clan she could count on to not unsheathe claws against WindClan.

"Pitchstar, it is an honor to greet you by your new title. WindClan is sorry about your mother, I'm sorry about her." She begins, We wanted to offer you this-" We'll take your offering, but only after one of your warriors takes a bite from it. Sootstar is confused at first, but the realization can be seen in her eyes. "Ahh, you really think we'd do such a thing? Many of you were my fellow soldiers merely a couple of moons ago... WindClan would never desire harm on ShadowClan." The woman defends, perhaps her words were not fully true... but it was clear she was genuinely offended.

But... maybe this was another oppertunity to show good faith.
Sootstar does not demand her warriors to eat, instead, she does.
Craning her neck down, her powerful jaws grab ahold of a large chunk of flesh. Ripping it away from its body, she chews, allowing the taste of hare blood and meat fill her mouth. Once it's down to a pulp, she swallows.

"Delicious." She smiles, and pushes the hare back to Pitchstar. "Perhaps we could feast together one day... I know many ShadowClan cats like hares, they were a delicacy in the swamp... and I like my frogs, a delicacy in the moors. It's a beautiful thing to imagine, friendship between our clans. Don't you think?"​

---

 

[PITCHSTAR]

It is an honor to greet him by his new title, she says.

Pitchstar almost laughs.

There is nothing honorable in how he'd come to claim the throne. His own mother had been pulverized like a mere roach underfoot of a monster.

"Sorry won't bring her back," he mutters while Sootstar offers meaningless words of sympathy. (Is it sympathy, or is it pity?) There is no bite in his voice. Maybe Pitchstar has finally cried himself dry to the point of numbness. Maybe the lack of sleep is catching up with him. But he stares at Sootstar as if she is not there.

He would've drowned out her spiel, had it not been for her... offense? That condescending statement rings in his ears; you really think we'd do such a thing? Pitchstar reels back as if he'd been burned, the deep scar along his throat crawling. Yes. Fleecefur did, after all. "I can't afford to be stupid with my trust," Pitchstar replies, his voice cracking. I won't make the same mistake twice.

The rosette tabby leans forward as Sootstar goes to oblige his demand, daring not to blink as if fearful that she would spit out her mouthful in the heartbeat where his world goes dark. She doesn't. She swallows, rather audibly, and pushes the rabbit back towards his clan. Pitchstar stares at it for a moment longer, his conflicted gaze lingering on the chunk of flesh now missing in it's side. "Alright."

The one thing that Pitchstar has inferred from this interaction, is that Sootstar talks a lot. He couldn't recall whether the blue smoke had been so... chatty, before she was WindClan's leader. They rarely interacted during her time in the swamp. Still, she continues to prattle on about... feasts, and friendship. It is the latter that draws him back into the mostly one-sided conversation. "Friendship?" Pitchstar echoes, his nose wrinkling. There has to be an ulterior motive here. He might not know Sootstar personally, but she never seemed the type to seek out friendship. (And, even if she did, everyone has ulterior motives.)

His expression switches between thoughtful and suspicious, his tail tip twitching over the sparse grass. He trusted WindClan as much as he trusted a hound. But, maybe he could use this to his advantage. The smoky she-cat has already proved herself to be dangerous and willing to bloody her paws. Having her on his side, under the guise of a... friendship... It isn't a bad idea. It could even save the lives of his clanmates.

Pitchstar wets his lips. "I'm... willing to indulge in this idea." It is not an extension of trust. He would not dare offer his trust to them. It is definitely not an acceptance of friendship. But perhaps they could strike a deal, protection for protection. "A feast... I wouldn't be opposed." Oh, but he would. A feast means a crowd, and a crowd has the potential to be dangerous. ShadowClan is nowhere near as big as WindClan; the moor-dwelling clan easily outnumbers them with their warriors. He's trying to worm his way into Sootstar's good graces, now, though. He would lie his way to hell and back if he needed to.​

 

[SOOTSTAR]

Sorry won't bring her back.

"No. Of course not." Simply she responds. She was sure it got sickening after a while, the looks and words of sympathy. Yet this was a game, a dance, she doubts if she had jumped straight into buisness and ignored the death of Briarstar ShadowClan would've not been too pleased. Still, it shocks her that the ebony empress had fallen, what had happened to her lives? Perhaps ShadowClan didn't even know.

Another one of those things where only StarClan had the answers.

He can't be stupid with his trust, no off course not, she lets out a nodded huff in understanding. Sootstar was the last cat who could fault another for not trusting, her borders were airtight and she even had suspicions on some of her own warriors. It is why she is shocked he states he is willing to indulge, and while nothing visually shows it... there is a party going on in Sootstar's head. She's gotten what she wanted, just dinner with ShadowClan some night to seal the deal.

"Then it's settled. WindClan and ShadowClan can host an event sometime within the next moon... Maybe when shadow begins to cover the left side of the moon?" She suggests, referencing one of the moon phases. A decent chunk of time out, not too long before the gathering... It'd give Pitchstar time to adjust to his new leadership. "WindClan will bring hares and a couple of other treats."

/prob one more reply after this then she's out! just trying to get the plan icly out there ^^ ​

---

 

[Starlingheart]

She had not been summoned by her older brother - now her mentor (what a strange feeling that was) but she had followed along anyways. A shadow slipPING out of the camp behind him as she trotted along, keeping pace. She was not even certain that he had seen her. Pitch had not been the same since their mother's death, but she supposes none of her siblings had been, including herself. She finds herself to be more withdrawn, more reclusive. If that was even possible.

She spots her aunt and as much as she wants to make a beeline for her and press herself into her like a kit, she knows better. She is an apprentice now! Apprentices were expected to behave a certain way, after all. Round green eyes take a turn landing on each stranger cats face individually. Their condolences are heard but most of their words are lost to young ears. She does not yet understand the politics of this situation, this dance, that is unfolding before her.

Her ears perk up hopefully at feast, and though she says nothing she looks up at her bro- mentor with wide, hopeful eyes. She had never tried a hare before! Perhaps it would even be enough to cheer up Marrowpaw and Ravenpaw. She could not wait to tell them, to bring this news back to them.​