private MAKE ME YOUR MARTYR // patrol

[splashdance]

Asking for some time with Pebblepaw had been awkward, admittedly. The tom is one of her closest friends, and they seem to patrol together often enough - but she isn't so obtuse to not notice how often cats that don't like her are also on her patrols. It's a simple request, one that she bid to Lakemoon first, then to Foxtail. The only caveat would be that Graypaw must tag along, too, for a lesson could be learned. She doesn't mind it, especially considering the tom might like to be away from camp for a little bit.

"I almost caught one the other day," Splashpaw says to her friend. Their mentors hang back, only a few tail lengths away, and Graypaw with them. "My shadow must've scared it away, though. I'm still learning..." she shares with Pebblepaw easily how her flaws still impede on her skills. She flicks her tail to his side, glancing over to their mentors for a moment before glancing back to the river's edge. "Actually - let's give it a shot now! Whoever catches something first gets... bragging rights," she decides ultimately, hoping the game will be fun enough between them.

Only when he agrees does she depart into the water. At first she wades in, something effortless to any cat that is unafraid of water. And then she swims, keeping her head above water and kicking out her paws in turn. She dunks herself quickly, submerging her whole body beneath the river and peaks open her eyes to see around. It's blurry beneath the waves, but she can see shimmering scales in the distance, and something... brown.

Wait... Pebblepaw isn't brown, she thinks, and the alarms in her mind begin to sound louder. None of them are! Wait! She pushes herself to swim up again, breaking the water's tension. "Pebblepaw, don't -" she calls out, gasping for air. Before Splashpaw can say much more, the beast surges from the river floor only to surface beside her friend.

The otter zeroes in on Pebblepaw, fangs glinting with the water-shine. Splashpaw stills for a moment before surging forward. She does not afford the cats on the shoreline even a first glance, fear and rage powering her strokes towards the two.

[ splash is plotted to save @PEBBLEPAW in this interaction but ofc feel free to have y/c also jump in to scare off the otter :3 @LAKEMOON @FOXTAIL @Graypaw ]
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[pebbletail]

(☼) that splashpaw specially requested a patrol for them to be on together is a fact that has not left pebblepaw's brain since they'd set off. even with the sun shining high above, a perfectly clear sky illuminating the similarly clear and lazy river, the blue and white tomcat has not been able to keep his gaze from her for long. warmth sparks from his ember eyes, his chest blazing with some fire of adoration and contentedness in their companionship.

beside the river, they're supposed to be looking for fish while lakemoon explains some techniques to graypaw, but pebblepaw has let his training go a bit, at least for the day. how is he to concentrate when her fur is brushing his, when they're alone as they're allowed to be these days? she chatters on about her hunting, and he finds himself nodding, laughing in the right places and tsk-ing his tongue in sympathy when warranted. "it won't be long now," he reassures her, confident in her ability. "you've got the technique down, it's just a matter of practice!" flicking his ears, pebblepaw grins as her tail tip flicks against his flank. "i'm down!" he stretches to his paws, allowing splashpaw to enter the water first with practiced grace. slipping in behind her, the tomcat relishes the feeling of the cool liquid soaking into his fur.

out in the middle of the river, the rushing water is a bit louder, drowning out the vocals of foxtail and the others on shore. the blue-gray boy ducks beneath the waves, scanning for silvery scales. he makes eye contact with his friend under water, sending her a mischievous smile before swimming away. coming back towards the sun for air, he is suddenly aware of splashpaw's voice breaking the peaceful silence, something about don't-

and then fangs sink into his tail and he is yanked beneath the water. panic surges within the tabby boy as water enters his lungs with a surprised breath. an otter clings to his tail, hissing and spitting beneath the surface. pebblepaw lashes out with his back paws to kick at it but he is caught off guard and he can only do so much.

I DO NOT HAVE WINGS, LOVE ☼ I NEVER WILL

• // " #848DAE"
• 
• PEBBLEPAW ☼ HE / HIM, APPRENTICE OF RIVERCLAN. MENTORED BY FOXTAIL. 10 MOONS OLD, PENNED BY LAVS
  
  
  a large blue tabby with low white and vitiligo. pale blue fur covers the length of pebblepaw's stocky body, sliced through with darker tabby stripes and spots. baleful orange eyes peer out of heavy set sockets, and his muzzle, paws, and tail tip are dashed with white.

​

 

[FOXTAIL]

It is true that not every RiverClanner is fond of Splashpaw, but he feels glad his apprentice isn't one of those cats. He can understand the distrust some of his clanmates feel towards the mysterious apprentice— she wasn't raised here in RiverClan, and showed up after one fateful gathering. Some suspect her clan of origin, and some even hinted at it publicly, but Foxtail can see how hard she works to fit into RiverClan. And it warms his heart; watching his apprentice become friends with the dark pelted she-cat. In a clan where most question if she belongs, he feels glad that she found a friend in Pebblepaw.... she shouldn't have to go through this journey alone.

It didn't take much convincing for Foxtail to agree to take Splashpaw, Pebblepaw, and Graypaw out together. Splashpaw and Pebblepaw work quite well together— from what he's seen in patrols, Splashpaw seems to be a natural in the water. She has been adapting well to RiverClan, and it certainly helps to have a friend training alongside you. Graypaw, being a new apprentice, can further expand his new skills at the river alongside the older apprentices!

Pebblepaw and Splashpaw seem to be talking among themselves as they approach the river, and his ears can't help but prick up. She talks about her training— how she was so close to catching her target, only for it to be scared off by her shadow. Pebblepaw reassures her as she calmly slips into the cool river, before following in himself. The young lead warrior looks over to his fellow warrior, an ear twitching. "S-So, how's Graypaw doing with his t-training so far?"

He waits for a response, but his ears swivel at Splashpaw's gasp— the tom looks over, and his heart drops as an otter surfaces besides his apprentice. He barely gets to blink before it sinks it's fangs into Pebblepaw's tail, and suddenly his apprentice is yanked underwater. Splashpaw surges forward with barely any hesitation, as Pebblepaw trashes and kicks at the otter.... but he can only do so much while submerged. "Pebblepaw!" Foxtail cries out at the river bank, his fur bristling in alarm. The one moment I wasn't looking— the one moment I wasn't looking. The mantra runs through his head with with a pang of guilt, "Hang on, we're coming!"

But before he can even leap into the water, the younger— less experienced— Splashpaw reaches the otter first with ferocity blazing in her eyes. The young tom gasps, and his olive green eyes widen— she's going for the otter! Otters might not be as big as dogs, but their pelts are made for the water— they swim faster than even the best RiverClanner can, and they can leave a nasty bite! "Release m-my apprentice! Now!" He yowls as he jumps into the river, purposely making a large splash.... and he hopes to scare the otter.​

𝐨𝐨𝐜 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭

• 
  
  

  ---

  credit to raphaelion (via da) for the artwork <3
• Foxtail

  ​
  

  lead warrior
  20 moons
  warmhearted
  timid
  experience: trained
  backstory: [HYPERLINK]
  biography: [HYPERLINK]
  credit to trops for the chibi <3
  

  cisgender male [he / him]
  eyes: green
  pelt: cinnamon/chocolate
  fur length: long
  parents: dawnflower and redfur (riverclan npcs)
  

  ---

  ​

​

 

[Graypaw]

Tw: PTSD symptoms mentioned briefly

This is stupid he cannot help but to think as he flashes a look at Splashpaw and Pebblepaw from the corner of his eyes. If apprentices could just go around demanding things of their mentors where did that leave him? Could he request to only patrol alongside his kin or Eveningpaw? His ear flicks at the possibility as a soft huff escapes from his jaws. He was not in good favor with the authorities the way Splashpaw was, it seemed. The thought is bitter and immediately curdles in his chest like rotten prey. It was not Splashpaw's paws that had been stained with blood that day, he should not feel the resentment he does. Desperate to cast the negative thoughts from his mind, he tries his best to look anywhere but at Splashpaw and Pebblepaw, who chat and plot games together, or at Foxtail and his mother who he can just faintly hear his name from.

He sits at the rivers shore as Pebblepaw and Splashpaw wade into the water, staring down at his paws and watching the water lap at them. He should be watching them, he knows, it's what his mother had expected him to do, but he cannot bring his eyes to leave the soothing rythmic in and out of the waves. Not until a startled yelp comes from Splashpaw's mouth that is. blood stains the water red and the smell of it, the sight, makes his nostrils flair, makes his brain freeze at the same time his body does, his pupils going wide and glassing over, the fur along his spine raising. All he can do is watch even as Splashpaw throws herself head first into danger, as Foxtail also launches himself into the water to help. The adults will handle this, the adults will handle this. It'll be fine, the adults will handle this he thinks as he squeezes his eyes shut, tears leaking from the corners that he stubbornly wipes away before anyone can see.

( ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ ) I can feel you leaving

• 
  
  
• 
  GRAYPAW RIVERCLAN APPRENTICE ; HE / HIM
  LILYBLOOM X LAKEMOON BROTHER TO TBD ; MENTORED BY LAKEMOON
  

  A plush coated apprentice with a pelt marbled in varying shades of gray and white. He has dull green eyes and a tall stature. Most of his personality can be described as carefree though some also say that unmotivated is a more than apt term. His trust and love is easily won through praise but he will do little work to receive it.

  ✶ easy in battle + no formal training
  

 

[splashdance]

Those on the shoreline are sorely forgotten in the midst of a possible tragedy. The beast breaks the surface tension in the water and in the same, fluid motion, drags Pebblepaw down with him by biting into the tom cat's tail. Her fur slicks to her body as she swims quickly towards her friend and his attacker, fear shedding from her pelt with each strong swipe of her limbs. She grits her teeth together as she dives beneath the waves, too, searching for them.

Splashpaw finds them - though it is difficult to see Pebblepaw, as he blends in with the water and gravel of the river, the otter is brazen against the scenery. Her claws unsheathe as if they provide her more purchase through the waves and she darts towards them. She calls on her training beneath Lakemoon, hopefully not blinded by her own fury. She will not make a mistake now, she can't. A life is on the line.

She swims towards the beast's tail, and in a similar fashion does she grip her fangs into the fur and flesh of the otter. Blood tastes on her teeth - not unlike prey, though she'd be remiss to not acknowledge that it doesn't spill like prey's blood would, either. It's only a surface wound, but the pinprick is enough to summon the predator's attention and release Pebblepaw. Splashpaw releases her grip and pushes off of the otter's body, towards Pebblepaw instead. She aims a sluggish swipe towards the otter's countenance as she stubbornly swims past him, gripping her red-stained teeth into Pebblepaw's scruff and swimming up again.

Thankfully, they're closer to the shore, and hopefully in the mess of everything, Pebblepaw's legs are still well-working. She pulls them both above the river's surface, shouting, "Go, go, go!" as soon as air reaches her lungs. She coughs, sucking in air as she tries to support her friend in their hurried venture back to safety - but the otter doesn't give up so easily. Splashpaw cannot hear the streamlined body of the beast as it crests the river once more, however by the time it reaches them, she feels the ground beneath her paws once more.

Spinning around, the beast opposes her, massive, intimidating - she thinks of the dog that hurt Robinheart. She thinks of the fox that hunted her mother, herself. Predators... are no different than Clan cats, in that they must eat to survive. She cannot begrudge the creature for thinking them an easy meal - she can only hope it has the tact to know when the battle is lost. Blue eyes flicker to her mentor and the others, knowing full well too that she cannot face this beast alone -

But perhaps bravely, perhaps stupidly, she can be the first to land her mark.

On instinct, her claws slash into the water, splashing it along with the shore-sand up into the otter's face. It seems unaffected, but stunned maybe, as Splashpaw manages a few steps away before it launches for her. She dodges (though its claws score her side as she falls away,) and as soon as the apprentice realizes she's close enough, she swipes her claws again. This time, the claws clip directly into the beast's eye, ripping the skin around it. The otter screeches, and by now the others have approached to help.

In due time, the otter leaves, bleeding and beaten but still with its life. Splashpaw stands, wading in the water still as she watches, fearlessly, to be sure the beast doesn't double back on them. Her jaw hurts from tensing it, and she looks around the group, her eyes falling to Pebblepaw first, then Graypaw and their mentors.

"Is... is everyone okay?" she asks, only now realizing how out of breath she is.

[ sorry for the long post! i realized that i left this thread hanging and needed to wrap it up before the sep meeting LMAO ]​