pafp MAKE UP YOUR MIND [overworking]

[SCORCHSTREAK]

WindClan is in shambles. The rebellious cats who’ve followed Sunstride out to the horseplace are in rough shape, attempting to adjust to being once again displaced from their camp, and Scorchstreak cannot help but feel responsible for them all. She may be a lead warrior no longer, but she owes it to these cats to do as much as she can to help support them all. She had followed Sootstar from the start—she had seen her first kit bloodied, dishonored in the smoky-furred queen’s name. She had placed one of her second litter directly in Sootstar’s paws. She had believed in the leader’s lies, her manipulation. She may have turned against Sootstar in the end, but it cannot make up for the mistakes she’s made.

In between training sessions with Pinkpaw, she spars with anyone who will agree to it during the day and hunts long into the night. Her muscles ache and her eyes sting from the cold, but still Scorchstreak pushes on. Even as the sun sinks beyond the horizon, the calico continues her work. Her shoulders sag, paws dragging across the ground as she returns from her dusk hunt at last, having caught only a thin mouse. It’s something, but it isn’t enough. It may never be enough. She shakes her head as she deposits her catch just inside the barn’s door, and turns immediately back around to trudge out into the nighttime once more.

// @SUNSTRIDE ​

[ BE A FIRE, BURN THIS DOWN ]​

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[SUNSTAR]

It is a thought that had consumed him since Pollenfur spoke to him. Your clan, she had said. No longer was he deputy, for no longer was there WindClan. Yet these cats had chosen to follow him, and to help one another despite all the trouble his path had carried them through. Like a path of brambles and thorns, he is sure that their paws have been worn bloody. There is no sparing them from this now. All they may do is struggle ever forward until they reclaim their clan and their home. (And what will he become then? What is WindClan without Sootstar?) Like Scorchstreak, he cannot help but feel responsible. Unlike her, he truly is. Yet there is only so much that can come of their efforts. Only so much good that they can accomplish before their pains wear their bones down entirely. He is just as tired. Just as exhausted, both in heart, body, and mind.

And even still, Susntride's voice is strong and firm as he calls after her: "Scorchstreak." From the shielded warmth of the barn, he beckons her back from the night. His tail twitches the same command as she looks at him. "You have done enough. Sleep; another will take your place should we need it. For now, our bellies will be full enough."

𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐘 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓  ╱╱ 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐕𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 〚 11.22.2023 〛 —————«

• OOC. he'll get to the actual fun bit in my next post >:3c
• 

  SUNSTRIDE. WINDCLAN DEPUTY & MOOR RUNNER.
  ——– HE – HIM – HIS ╱╱ 48+ MOONS OLD, ADULT.

  NPC x NPC, LONERS. MATE TO WOLFSONG; FATHER TO BEARPAW, SINGEDPAW, RIVEPAW, SUNLITPAW AND FEATHERPAW. MENTORING SCORCHPAW.
  
  TH ╱╱ LARGE CHOCOLATE ROSETTE TABBY, ICY EYES.

• "speech"

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[WOLFSONG]

──ᨒ↟↟ᨒ↟ᨒ↟↟ᨒ── Wolfsong occasionally considers what Scorchstreak's presence here means, both for herself and Sootstar. In joining Sunstride, does that reflect a significant change in Scorchstreak or one in Sootstar? If Sootstar never fell quite as far as she has, if they had rebelled at the first sign of madness rather than the last— would Scorchstreak have remained at her side? It is no small thing to sacrifice blood as she has. The thought of turning upon his own precious children is a foul, acidic taste in the back of his mouth, and he wonders how it is possible Sootstar once commanded such loyalty, such devotion.

Nor how she commands it still.

Sunstride's voice beckons him near, and his one-eyed gaze rests on Scorchstreak's back. It is clear, even without view of her face, that she is exhausted, and he joins his mate in attempting to coax her back. "You risk yourself," he adds. "If Sootstar's dogs find us, we will need you rested and prepared."
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WOLFSONG of WINDCLAN FORMER ROGUE TURNED MEDICINE CAT. 41 MOONS, HE/HIM, NPC X NPC. MATES WITH SUNSTRIDE (07/05/2023). BIOGRAPHY, PINTEREST, & PLAYLIST.

medicinal expertise med. part ii med. part iii med. part iv

• — ★★★☆☆ WOUNDS: You're (mostly) in safe paws. You'll know if he's less experienced if he asks for your permission to try a treatment. No wound can scare him away from knowledge.
  — ★★★☆☆ INFECTION: He can prevent most infections. If you feel feverish, let him know; he'll hum thoughtfully over herbs and sniff your wound before saying, "With your blessing..."
• — ★☆☆☆☆ ACHES & PAINS: If you complain to him of pain, he'll ask where. If it's a headache, you'll likely feel a bit better. For anything else, "Try this, if you'd like, and tell me how you feel."
  — ★☆☆☆☆ BROKEN BONES: At best. he can ask you to remain lying down in the den. He may try to distract you with conversation while he considers what herb to feed you.
• — ★★★★★ TRAVELING HERBS: Going somewhere? No worries; Wolfsong knows just what you need to stay hale and healthy during your journey. The rest is up to you.
  — ★★★☆☆ KITTING: Thanks to Starlingheart and his own pregnancy, he's better prepared for the arrival of kits, but any complications will need a little faith and a lot of luck.
• — ★☆☆☆☆ POISONS: It's best if you avoid eating anything unfamiliar to you— it's probably just as unfamiliar to Wolfsong. The best he can do is offer you yarrow and sit with you.
  — ★★☆☆☆ ILLNESS: If it's white or greencough, you'll likely recover. Otherwise, prepare for odd concoctions and the usual request that you consent to a little trial-and-error.

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[RATTLEHEART]

Soft voices roused Rattleheart from their slumber, chin lifting from the floor of the barn as they blinked wearily into the night. They could see the dark shape of their sister's form in the barn doorway, flanked by both Sunstride and Wolfsong talking in hushed, worried tones. That alone was enough to wake them fully, snow white paws pushing them up as they headed over to where the leader and his mate stood. "Scorchstreak...? What are you doing up? You've been rushing around practically all day." They couldn't keep the exhaustion from their own words, weighed down by both their own work and the process of healing that they had been going through. At least their side was almost fully healed now, leaving behind only a messy scar that would be an eternal sign of their loyalty to a true Windclan.

They stepped forward from the sides of both Sunstride and Wolfsong, head lowered to press gently against their sister's shoulder in an affectionate and tired gesture. "They're both right... come on, there's a nice warm nest with your name on it. Only a little bit of hay in it." Some small amount of humor was laced into their words, hoping that the calmness and familiarity would be enough to actually get her to step fully back inside the barn. She had to listen to at least one of them, right?
​

[ PENNED BY EO ]​

 

[Periwinklebreeze.]

I'M NO BURDEN - NOT SO WORTHLESS
BENT SO MUCH THAT I JUST MIGHT BREAK ​

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periwinklebreeze ❀ 16 moons ❀ demi-boy ❀ he/they ❀ windclan moor runner​

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It's strange - seeing scorchstreak so out of sorts. Mismatched blue gaze watches in the darkness, ignoring the way the shadows creep across his gaze. Even upon the journey, she'd seemed strong - untouchable. Unbreakable. Perhaps that hadn't been the case. Soft paws carry him in near silence across the barn, slinking forwards until he's within view - " I'll g-g-go instead - c-can't sleep anyways, " he murmurs, hoping the offer will sooth the tension.

━ actions & " speech, " & 'thoughts/quotes' ━

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T H E ━ Q U E S T I O N S ━ T H A T ━ K E E P ━ M E ━ A W A K E

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[SCORCHSTREAK]

The voice that carries into the night gives her pause, and the calico’s fiery gaze flicks back to the source. Sunstride stands with Wolfsong at his side, both of them still within the safety of the barn, and for a moment the tunneler considers ignoring them both. But they attempt to coerce her into returning to the barn, and Sunstride asserts that another will take her place, if needed. She stiffens at the words, hackles rising. She will not be replaced; perhaps she has been as a lead warrior, but she is still a warrior. She will not sit in her nest, as Rattleheart suggests, while another takes her place. "No," she snaps—but then pauses, mouth snapping shut. Her jaw clenches. Multiple sleepless nights must be catching up with her, because she hadn’t meant for that to sound so harsh. She attempts to backtrack, hoping to pull herself back into the image of a respectable warrior. "I won’t."

She brushes off her sibling’s question, though she does offer a brush of her tail against theirs in return. She nearly accepts the other tunneler’s suggestion, but then Periwinklebreeze speaks up. "I can handle it," she says, mainly to the young tom—but it is addressed to all of the other warriors. "The clan needs to be taken care of." She casts another glance back at Sunstride, seeking something… something. She isn’t certain what. Approval? A go-ahead to continue on with her hunting? He has to understand her reasoning, her need to do this.​

[ BE A FIRE, BURN THIS DOWN ]​

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