pafp METAL CRUSHER 🎀 REQUEST

[PINKSHINE]

Since Featherpaw refused to have Sunstride make her a moor - runner, Pinkpaw would just have to ask Sootstar herself! She was a very good kit, and very polite, so maybe if she asked super nicely, Sootstar would just say yes and everything would be great! This is the best plan ever.

And, because she's such a great sister, she brings Downykit and Heathkit with her, because surely they didn't want to be tunnelers either. She's on such a mission that she kinda forgets to tell them what they were doing and just asked for them to show up, but um, they probably knew already because her family was super duper smart, so it's fine! Pinkpaw would wait expectantly outside of Miss Sootstar's den, and fly into her pitch the moment the grey leader steps out. She practiced this loads and loads. it had to work. " Hi, miss Sootstar! Can we all be moor - runners please? " Pinkpaw bats her eyes at her. She basically nailed it.

staring at the mirror gotta smile, smile 🌸🌷🦄🦩 don't be late, we got plans!

• ooc: please wait for at least one of the following to reply first :3! @downypaw @HEATHPAW @SOOTSTAR

• 

• ( IT'S TIME TO START A FUCKING RIOT, RIOT! ) PINKPAW APPRENTICE OF WINDCLAN. DAUGHTER TO BRIGHTSHINE & HEAVY SNOW. SISTER TO HEATHPAW, DOWNYPAW, & FINCHPAW.
  —— SHE / HER; UNOPPOSED TO THE USE OF OTHERS
  —— CURRENTLY 4 MOONS OLD. AGES EVERY 16TH
  
  A tiny, longhaired calico she - kit with yellow eyes, ringed blue around her pupils (sectoral heterochromia). While you can clearly see her flame markings on her face, the rest of her body is currently covered by a grey fever - coating. Though the whites of her are still very much visible. Pinkpaw bounces around WindClan without a care in the world! Her emotions are big, and she makes little effort to regulate them, resulting in both her usually cheerful disposition, as well as making her prone to sudden bouts of extreme anger or sadness. Rarely seen without a smile!
  

  HEAVY IC OPINIONS! Pinkpaw is a very irrational and childish character!​

​

 

[SOOTSTAR]

The viper slithers from her den, her shadow engulphing the sunshine at her paws. Evergreen eyes are cold and hardened, her brow sharply narrowed. Pinkpaw unknowingly addresses her with a bravery most cats did not possess, once more she stands asking to be a moor runner. At an instant Sootstar's lip curls to show a single fang and annoyance ripples across her body, what would she have to do to get it through this she-cats head?! She was to be a tunneler and her leader's choice in that was not to be questioned.

The small she-cat leans sharply down until her nose is almost touching Pinkpaw's, her breath warm and ridgid against the girl's cheeks. "You will never be a moor runner. Accept the path I have given you or I will send you back to the nursery!" Spit flies from her maw as she hisses. Sootstar only removes herself from Pinkpaw's face to give a warning look to Heathpaw and Downypaw, did these two share the same thought? That they should be moor runners? They bring shame to their clan.

☾ INFO BATTLE

• 
  » Soot ․ Sootstar
  » WindClan Leader
  » She/her ․ Mate to Weaselclaw
  » Tiny blue smoke she-cat with green eyes.
  » "Speech" ․ thoughts ․ attack
• 
  » A high-stamina foe who can be difficult to hit.
  » Excels in quick, short moves.
  » Fights to kill and maim
  » Fatal attack of choice is an underbelly dive.
  » May powerplay minor harm. Can powerplay healing

 

[downyfur]

"Come to Sootstar's den," Pinkpaw had said, or something along those lines, with less of the dread that bogged it down in their head and more of the pep their sister was rapidly becoming infamous for. The shade of the Tallrock stretches just enough the cover the entrance of the den, so that if they dared scrutinize it they'd still find nothing in the impenetrable dark. Their sister is the very statue of copper and marble erected as a gift to their beloved leader. What gift, they hadn't the faintest idea. Pinkpaw wears her heart and head both upon her pelt, but they never know what she's thinking until it all comes out. Confusion darkens the look they give her, head tilting, mouth parting, when a single stony paw breaks the shadows.

"Hi, miss Sootstar! Can we all be moor-runners please?"

Downypaw freezes. Whether it's because they're immediately aware Pinkpaw has gone too far, or the venomous glare Sootstar pins them all with not a heartbeat later, they don't know. Tunneler or not, Sootstar looms over their sister like a crumbling, shadowed monument, eyes gleaming bejeweled warnings to the foolish trespasser. For a moment, Downypaw believes with their whole heart that Sootstar is going to hurt her. Rip out her eye with illustrious claws like the dogs had done to Periwinklebreeze; strike her down with twice the enmity of the rogues. No relief greets them when she seethes her threats instead.

The tiny beast next swings her head towards Downypaw and Heathpaw, as though contemplating flaying them alive with her tongue as well. They only have a quarter of mind to inch closer to their unhearing sister, and the rest of it to receive a startling reminder of Sootspot in the delicate, twisted features of his mother.

Their tongue unties itself when, after an eternity, she returns to her regal stature. "I—I'm sorry!" they whimper, half backing away, half cringing into the floor. "I, we—" Rage and fear cloud their gaze, stuff cotton in their mouth. Stupid Pinkpaw! Stupid! This hadn't even been their idea—this hadn't even been a thought in their head! And yet, they can't bring themself to throw her to the foxes. "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry, I—we'll never ask again. We're really sorry for bothering you," they blubber, tail lashing a storm upon their heels.

Could they leave now? Was it okay to turn their back on a leader, or should they just walk backwards? Was it okay at all to leave? What if she had more to say? Oh StarClan, what if she called their mentors over? Sootspot had been so nice to them so far; what would he feel about them all disrespecting his mother like this? Downypaw sends a bug-eyed glance towards Pinkpaw, at once willing her to shut up and say something else so they didn't have to.​

 

[FEATHERSPINE]

It was horrible. It was awful. It was the absolute end of the world. If Pinpaw had somehow managed to rope any of Featherpaw's siblings into these schemes, she swore- she swore, she could have dragged her and thrown her over the border with the force of how angry she was. The beginning of that anger were broiling inside of her, a bright, sun-blaze fury in her sharp stare- please, Pinkpaw had said. Please! Like it was that easy!

Anger bristled along Featherpaw's spine, of course, but so did utter disbelief. She'd tried- StarClan could say he tried- to drill it into the patchy molly's head that it wasn't a fate she could change just by asking. The hissing tone of their leader, the frightful quaver to Downypaw's voice- it was enough to make Featherpaw want to rip Pinkpaw's thoughtless tongue right out. She didn't know, she didn't know anything! She didn't try- it would- it would get her hurt some day.

Featherpaw let out a piglike snort of absolute fury. Her jaw tightened, so-so-so clamping that she worried she might shatter her fangs into brittle little pieces. In no hurry to get himself barked at like that, sent back to the nursery, Featherpaw turned his face away, trying to pretend as if he wasn't watching. ​

✦ penned by pin​

 

[SCORCHSTAR]

Tunnelers don't get enough respect in this clan, she thinks. All that they've done, and continue to do, for WindClan seems to go overlooked by moor runners in particular. The warriors who spend their time aboveground seem to underestimate how much work it takes to traverse the tunnels and keep them safe even while not in active use, and Scorchstreak swears the next cat who implies that tunnelers are useless will receive a new scar across their face. In light of this, she cannot ignore the flame that burns in her chest and continues to grow each time she is reminded of her new apprentice's dislike for her assigned position. Today, the flame bursts into what is practically a wildfire as she sees the young tunnelers approach Sootstar—she hears Pinkpaw's request, and is quick to stride over to them.

She stands a few tail-lengths away, rigid and near quaking with fury, as Soottstar lays out her terms. No room for negotiation. Selfishly, Scorchstreak is glad. She will not have another apprentice taken from her, through the will of the stars or otherwise. "Pinkpaw," she snaps a warning at the foolish young tunneler, tail lashing behind her in a blatant show of her annoyance with her apprentice. For the first time since her return from the mountains, the calico finds herself agreeing with her leader entirely. Sootstar lowers herself, crowding Pinkpaw, and hisses that she will never be a moor runner—Scorchstreak will staunchly deny that some satisfaction builds in her chest at the leader's threats. Still, she finds that she has nothing to add to the leader's statement. She may think Pinkpaw a fool, a difficult cat to speak with and an even more difficult cat to mentor, but her position is set in stone. There is no need to drive a wedge between them any greater than the one that is already there.​

[ BE A FIRE, BURN THIS DOWN ]​

​

 

[Mouseflight]

The scene that unfold before him was not something that Mouseflight thought he would ever see - tunneler wanting to become moor-runners. Those who lived in WindClan knew - or at least were meant to know - that being a tunneler was the most prestigious job, reserved for the best of the best or for those that had the potential to be the best. StarClan made them smaller than others for a reason and the tunneler did not enjoy the begging of these apprentices - these future tunnelers - to become moor-runners. Despite his softening in the mountains Mouseflight still held high regard for some things and since he had been home he had felt his cold demeanor come back slowly, and eyes flicked to the three who had come to speak to the leader for a moment, squinting in slight judgement and thought.

"Sootstar, Scorchstreak." The tom spoke to the others, looking at each of them in turn soon after the scene before them unfolded, "Would you two be opposed to me taking them for a day? Show them why they should be happy to be tunnelers?" It was an odd request, one that he normally wouldn't make. "Of course mentors could come along if so-wished." He said this as he looked towards Scorchstreak. He wasn't going to overstep, especially not to his higher ups, but maybe someone who was an apprentice so recently talking to them could do them good. He hadn't felt like not wanting to be a tunneler when he had been an apprentice, but after the journey through the mountains, after the cave-in, maybe he could connect with them a little bit more now, help them to be their best.

⋆｡°✩ threw my voice into the dark

•  
• 
  ⋆ mousekit - mousepaw - mouseflight
  ⋆ ftm - he/him - 12 moons
  ⋆ bisexual - open to relationship
  ⋆ tunneler of windclan
  ⋆ attack - speech - thought
  ⋆ penned by tikki

​

​

 

[Bearflight]

—————————————————————⊰◈⊱————————————————————
Pinkpaw was irritating, annoying, but did she really deserve to be screamed at in such a way? He'd always wondered how it was decided the path an apprentice would take, his was obvious given he was destined to be much larger than what the tunnels would allow given he was already developing into his large paws and larger frame; the awkward middle stage before adolescence.

Did one's own desires not matter? He wonders if Pinkpaw was just late to growing or would always be perpetually small in stature and it didn't seem very fair that her destiny was decided for her. Maybe she'd be a fine moor runner, maybe she'd be awful at it and need to go back to the tunnels anyways but not being given the chance to make the choice seemed...bothersome. Bearpaw's parents had both had such open views on their development, supporting and caring and he wondered if he asked to be a medicine cat alongside Cottonpaw would he be so crudely refused; not that had harbored any interest in it. He just liked the idea he could decide. Sootstar didn't need to fling spittle and hate, but it seemed all she was capable of as of late. Weaselclaw's death had either peeled back whatever care she had or been the catalyst to tip her over into being especially prickly. Would he be so full of rage if he lost a loved one? He didn't like to think he would be, but who was to say how grief was felt. The chocolate tabby was fortunate that such pain had no befallen him yet.

Bearpaw brushes up alongside Featherpaw, bristling fur spiking into his own and he frowns. Pinkpaw should have known better, anyone with sense would have the understanding that Sootstar was not a cat to be questioned but obeyed. The realization bothers him but he is silent until Mouseflight speaks, attempting to stifle the warning tone in Scorchstreak's own voice as she witnessed her apprentice act a fool.
"...if you do, may I come? Brightshine is on another patrol right now. I'm not sure when she'll be back."

◈ ——— it's easy to explain ◈ ——— 'cause this world's not tame (little fang, little fang)

•  
• 
  
  
  Bearpaw
  —⊰⋅ Apprentice of WindClan
  —⊰⋅ He/Him
  "SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  —⊰⋅ SH Chocolate Rosette Tabby w/blue eyes.
  

 

[SOOTSPOT]

Pinkpaw's voice carried like a shrieking bat echoing throughout the night sky. It wasn't her the feline had any interest in though when he turned his head, it was Downypaw. A tilt of the head was offered, feeling claws press against his own heart, ready to tear it at a moment's provocation. Anxiety. Downypaw's presence in Pinkpaw's schemes caused his breath to hitch in a pessimistic anticipation, then, the penny dropped. We. With the simple word, any plausible deniability had left his apprentice. Downypaw had made their confession and his blood, usually running like veins of ice, suddenly burned. Snake-eyed pupils latched onto the seal point in a vice grip, his fur slowly bristling, The disrespect Tunnelers received had not been a reason for the tom's chipped shoulder, but it was a regular enough occurrence for him to picture exile for all those who chastised the most important WindClanners. It was a special kind of twist for his own apprentice to be the next creature on an imaginary blacklist - the shame that brought was greater than any of his own actions. Sootspot let himself be known, walking with purpose towards the apprentices and his mother, unsheathed claws promising violence that would never come from his own paws.

"I would be opposed," he mewed to Mouseflight, his smile so strained it looked more like a badger's attempt at being friendly. It had always been easy for Sootspot to pretend to be what others wanted him to be, there was a malleability to him that he had always admired in himself; hero or villain, StarClan loyalist or seething apostate. For the first time, the mask had cracked, the ego underneath bruised and battered by the unspoken accusation that he was not good enough to have convinced Downypaw of his path. The tom's tail lashed, he didn't need anyone else to talk to his apprentice, StarClan knew what lies would be spilled under the visage of truth, what nasty thoughts would be put in their heads about WindClan's dynasty. "Though it is kind of you to offer your support to less... fortunate mentors, this is my apprentice, I will talk to them myself." He shot a glance towards Downypaw, inky tail twitching. He wasn't sure if he cared about the disrespect to his mother at that moment, the disrespect to himself was greater than any imprinted familial instincts - threat of time in the nursery felt too kind for such a transgression.

"Alone."



​

 

[RABBITCLAW]

To think, that Pinkpaw would have the audacity to ask Sootstar to turn not only her but the rest of her littermates into moor runners. It was no secret that her sister's apprentice despised her new rank, but for her to dare ask to change it? While she loathes the apprentice who was scolded, she is her sister's apprentice. Tunnelers were more than the three apprentices thought. It was honorable and even more dangerous than whatever the moor runners faced. How could they not see that? That they were given a ranking that was respectable. A ranking that very few could even dream of getting, while everyone else was stuck above the ground? It brings her no satisfaction to hear none of them will ever be moor runners. Not because she doesn't want them among their ranks, but because the only reason why they were among their ranks was out of obligation. They had no love for the tunnels. Why would she be happy for that? It does surprise her that Heathpaw is among those who wishes to change her rank, but the she-cat has always been kind. Maybe she didn't want to be alone, opting to ask as well if she could change her rank.

It stings. All mentors present are unpleased by this and they had every right to be. Even some apprentices, moor runner apprentices mind you show up and were bothered by what had transpired. Mouseflight makes an offering to their leader and while she would retort, she refuses to look at her own apprentice. It's a strange suggestion and it is dangerous to ask given how young Mouseflight is. Sootstar could give him a cuffing right here if she so desired. Show them? I wasn't always a tunneler... Fine. Bearpaw asks to join Mouseflight because his mentor, the mother of the three who enraged Sootstar was on a patrol. Wonder what she would have done if she was here. In any case she shakes her head, not wanting to think of her apprentice's mother at the moment.

Before she can speak Sootspot interjects. Opposition. She is not surprised that he is reprimanding Downypaw. However, the other mentors might find her crazy for what she's about to say. Still refusing to even look at her apprentice, she answers "I approve." Blue eyes look into Mouseflight's green hues. "You have my permission to take Heathpaw if it is allowed. I will not be coming, do what you'd like with her." Maybe her sister would look at her with rage in giving up so easily. However, she will not teach someone who doesn't want to be taught. I won't be teaching you for awhile. Learn from your peers, until you prove yourself to me then we'll start again. With that she turns to her leader and dips her head in respect before leaving to join another patrol.

// in and out!

 

[cottonsprig]

She's heard her mother angry before. Yelling, hissing - absolutely. Sootstar had once been a well groomed vision of perfection in the apprentice's eyes yet as days go by, she decays and rots. Her pristine fur looks dirty even when it's not. Her rough and sharp tones, while familiar, hurt and shock her. Cottonpaw cannot tell when the rose lenses of her own have shattered, but moments such as this remind her just how unsure she is about the life she's leading - the life they're all leading.

A leader such as Howlingstar or Blazestar (she imagines, at least,) would've chided the apprentices. Sternly or softly, it didn't really matter. But a swift threat of demotion wouldn't be on the table for the soft-hearted leaders, and certainly talking to kittens like this wouldn't be an option either. (When did she start idealizing the leaders of other Clans?) Cottonpaw's mouth is dry as Downypaw attempts to distance themself from trouble, only for her brother to appear, his grin twinging. She sees the similarities between them - Sootspot and Sootstar - and wonders how much of her, too, looks scarily like her mother.

Her blue eyes flutter to Scorchstreak, who stands steadfast against Pinkpaw, with Sootstar. Her gaze is unreadable, as it always is, and Cottonpaw cannot decipher how the other feels because of it. Surely hurt, because her apprentice attempted going above her head for a career change. But does she truly believe in such punishments? Maybe she, Cottonpaw, has somehow gotten to soft hearted. Tunneling was a fantastic experience, when she had it, and deep down she does feel some resentment for the children wishing to escape it. But - but... something just feels wrong. Her head begins to ache and she tries to set aside the messy parts of the situation in hopes to dull it.

"A group trip wouldn't hurt them, Sootspot," she tries to dissuade her brother's frustrations, ears twitching back for a moment, "Tunneling patrols are made up of duos, after all - maybe the kits just need to understand that... they won't be alone." Surely it's not because they'll get dirty, like Pinkpaw has implied in the past. Surely there's other reasons around it. She hopes so, at least.​

 

[SOOTSTAR]

Downypaw bursts into apologies, Sootstar hears little of it. Pinkpaw had questioned her choice once before at her own ceremony, now she stood before her again today with the support of other tunneler apprentices to switch paths. Never in her moons of leading had an apprentice had the gull. Scorchstreak is present now and gives Pinkpaw a snapping warning, Sootstar thinks a cuff on the ear is what the calico needs the most.

Mouseflight proposes they take the tunneler apprentices out and show them why they should be happy to be tunnelers. Sootspots insists he will train his apprentice on his own while Cottonpaw tries to convince him an outing wouldn't work. Her tail twitches irritably, at the brink of leaf-bare they had better things to be doing... but she'd give Pinkpaw and the rest of her band one last chance.

"Fine." Sootstar growls her agreement, her eyes yet to waver off Pinkpaw. "With their mentors agreement, Mouseflight may try to show them how to be grateful for the role they've been assigned." Sootstar does not expect much out of it, Scorchstreak and Sootspots were capable mentors. Heathpaw, Downypaw, and Pinkpaw should have learned this lesson by now.

As for Bearpaw's inquiry she leaves that to be rejected by one of the tunnelers. A moor runner apprentice had no place underneath the earth's surface.

☾ INFO BATTLE

• 
  » Soot ․ Sootstar
  » WindClan Leader
  » She/her ․ Mate to Weaselclaw
  » Tiny blue smoke she-cat with green eyes.
  » "Speech" ․ thoughts ․ attack
• 
  » A high-stamina foe who can be difficult to hit.
  » Excels in quick, short moves.
  » Fights to kill and maim
  » Fatal attack of choice is an underbelly dive.
  » May powerplay minor harm. Can powerplay healing

 

[PINKSHINE]

Sootstar looks like she totally got up on the wrong side of the nest. But that doesn't deter her! Who could say no to someone as pretty as her who's asking so politely? Pinkpaw maintains a beaming smile, standing on the tippiest of her toes. She blinks in surprise, when Sootstar suddenly gets, like, right in her face. She wasn't like Heathpaw, she could hear just fine, did Sootstar wanna make sure she understood?

And then Pinkpaw's ears are pinning to her head, because Sootstar's voice is all scary - like as she says she'll never be a moor - runner. She doesn't understand. " Huh? " falls out of her mouth, and suddenly her sister is stumbling over their words, saying sorry and looking at Pinkpaw like she just shredded their nest. " Sorry for what? I was just asking, " she tells her, face twisted in confusion. And everyone is looking at her like she's the worst cat in the world. What did she do to Downypaw? And Sootspot? And Scorchstreak— well, she kinda understood that one. And she thinks for a second that maybe Featherpaw was making a face at her too, but he wasn't even watching.

Her mentor's voice has a small frown forming on her face. Pinkpaw could be a tunneler, or she could be a kit. Well, she didn't mind being a kit. And if she was one, Scorchstreak could go train... go train Downypaw, if she loved being a tunneler so much.

But Mouseflight talks before she can tell Sootstar and Scorchstreak that. Pinkpaw's tail droops. She doesn't wanna do no more tunneling. But was she in trouble, because of that? She doesn't wanna tunnel, or hang out with the dumb apprentice that took her mom.

The adults are talking now about a bunch of stuff Pinkpaw doesn't want. Scorchstreak is dumb. Sootspot is dumb. Mouseflight and Rabbitclaw are dumb... Maybe even Cottonpaw is a little dumb, too... Pinkpaw stands with shoulders hunched as they all rumble above her, and Sootstar agrees that they should all go out. Pinkpaw's eyes are wet, and she doesn't even know what she did... Has WindClan always been so mean?

staring at the mirror gotta smile, smile 🌸🌷🦄🦩 don't be late, we got plans!

• 

• 

• ( IT'S TIME TO START A FUCKING RIOT, RIOT! ) PINKPAW APPRENTICE OF WINDCLAN. DAUGHTER TO BRIGHTSHINE & HEAVY SNOW. SISTER TO HEATHPAW, DOWNYPAW, & FINCHPAW.
  —— SHE / HER; UNOPPOSED TO THE USE OF OTHERS
  —— CURRENTLY 4 MOONS OLD. AGES EVERY 16TH
  
  A tiny, longhaired calico she - kit with yellow eyes, ringed blue around her pupils (sectoral heterochromia). While you can clearly see her flame markings on her face, the rest of her body is currently covered by a grey fever - coating. Though the whites of her are still very much visible. Pinkpaw bounces around WindClan without a care in the world! Her emotions are big, and she makes little effort to regulate them, resulting in both her usually cheerful disposition, as well as making her prone to sudden bouts of extreme anger or sadness. Rarely seen without a smile!
  

  HEAVY IC OPINIONS! Pinkpaw is a very irrational and childish character!​

​

 

[downyfur]

There are far too many cats now. Downypaw can feel them crowding around the wayward little band of apprentices, pupils darting in their painted shells, whiskers twitching with unknown emotion. Blue eyes flicker like two candle flames subject to the mercy of the wind, twisting where they stand to dodge its scrutiny. Featherpaw's glare, Scorchstreak's hornet buzz.

Hope pricks her ears when one of the journeymen ventures forth, puts himself in the line of fire, and Sootstar seems to acknowledge it. What gratitude manages to register below their rabbit-foot anxiety is not for the opportunity to learn. Sootspot had ensured they became intimately aware of the prestige associated with throwing themselves into danger every sunrise. They are just grateful to be offered a way out of this situation, even as the faintest whisper of derision curls into their chest.

His implicit doubts upon their knowledge stings; worse are those upon their mentor. How could no one tell that Downypaw had never truly been a part of this, that whatever axe fell should fall solely on Pinkpaw's head? Her guilt redoubles with the thought, knife-point insistent. She spares her sister a glance that softens at the state of her now, even as a tiny fraction of her relishes the recognition of what she's done on her face. They've never seen her look so...deflated. Like a pelt without its cat.

"I would be opposed." His voice is snake-skin smooth—for a moment they're relieved—but his tail lashes and his claws pin his enmity to the earth. Venom swims in look he gives her, but in the few minutes that have passed Downypaw finds she's used to standing beneath the hot, luird gaze of WindClan royalty. Familiarity doesn't make it any more palatable though.

They remain where they are, suspended in the crossfire of emerald glares, as more voices pile into their ears like cotton. Bearpaw tries to do something, and Cottonpaw tries to do something. They don't meet her gaze, not even with silent thanks for the attempt to pull them out of the viper's lair. They deserve it, they think. They had been given every chance to refute the accusations (but Sootstar was so suddenly scary and they were so shocked that Pinkpaw would actually do this and they couldn't think of anything to say other than what they said and).​

 

[PEONYBREEZE]

❀༉˖° Pinkpaw was brave, if brave meant possessing enough courage to walk into a badger's den while it was home, but not having even half the intelligence to know better and turn around while you have all your strands of fur on you still.

Peonypaw couldn't exactly fault her for trying. He had been lucky enough to not have issue with the fate that had been bestowed upon him the moment he started growing out of his kit-fur, revealing a slender and agile figure only meant for the world down below their paws. Those who had better ideas than Sootstar's will... well, all the sympathy to them. As far as Peonypaw understood it, you just had to accept it. She knew better.

Sootspot's words are venom, as all the warriors' who frowned at the notion of speaking so out of turn, but his were especially cutting to the bone. Peonypaw could see Downypaw curling more and more upon themself, like they wished the earth would swallow them up and hide them from the scene. How ironic. That was what their future upheld for as long as they'd live.

He considered joining in with an offer of tagging along, but thought better of it. Enough sharp words were being thrown around as is. Peonypaw merely continued watching, subconsciously straightening his spine as he sat to look more proper. Perhaps he could voice something of comfort when the crowd dispersed - but definitely not now.

°
​

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