camp NO FRIEND OF MINE // delusioned orders

[SOOTSTAR]

SOOTSTAR​

Sootstar makes a rare appearance outside of her den. Seeing her out and about was a rare sight these days, perhaps seeing her would allow the clan to sigh with relief… That is until she settles upon the Tallrock and starts shouting orders. ”These rogues… it’s time they are taught a lesson. @SUNSTRIDE you are to take a patrol of warriors and track them down. Take care of them, teach them a lesson, kill a few if you must.” Sootstar says it like its nothing. Like this demand was not impossible when a majority of the clan was sick or injured. Despite that her demands don’t stop there. ”SkyClan and RiverClan have had ample time to respond, neither have shown up with Badgermoon… and I know one of them has to. We… we should act, we should invade one of their camps- tonight, I think.” It’s like she’s ridden with yellow-cough again, sick and deluisioned, yet no traces of illness can be scented on her coat.

☾ INFO BATTLE

• The clan is welcome to handle this as they see fit! Idc if they go along with her orders, talk her down, or anything else. It is clear she’s not in a right state of mind.
• 
  » 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

​

 

[FOGBOUND]

your entire existence gives me a headache, go stand over there .
︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

He hadn’t seen Sootstar for some time, barely a thought until she appeared, annoyance brushing his insides. Oh? His brow rose, perplexed. “And lose more than what we can spare?” He couldn’t help but mutter, his muzzle crinkling.

They were starving and, for Sootstar to even humor the idea of attacking, now rubbed him the wrong way, making his fur prickle. It mattered little what he thought, but WindClan couldn’t spare any more healthy cats. He couldn’t help but huff, turning an elegant nose away from the she-cat, brows pinched. And here I thought you were smart.

Of course, Fogbound wanted to teach those parasites that stealing had consequences, but they weren’t strong enough to handle something like this, no matter how much he wanted to sink his fangs into flesh. Fogbound wasn’t nearly as strong as he was and that left him bitter. His stomach groaned in reminder. He nearly drowned in his wooly fur, bulky as he might be, Fogbound was losing his strength. He’d been more prone to anger. Even the littlest of things became far more irritating, like bickering with Rabbitclaw, sent him over the edge.

He breathed, his helm rising to stare at the molly, who was nowhere in her right state of mind. He might be a cold-hearted bastard, but even he knew when to step back before making some reckless decision that'd surely get more of them killed, or leave Wolfsong drowning in more injuries and even fewer cats to hunt. The other had no right to be making such demands—of battle, no less. They weren't practical. His muzzle crinkled, ruby optics narrowing. “You’ll be sending us to an early grave.” He rumbled quietly, tone velvety smooth despite the heavy implication, staring at the other from afar. Fogbound sure hoped the others had a string of common sense, otherwise, they’d be done for and everything the Maine Coon worked so hard to protect would be for nothing. ​

​

thought speech​

 

[REDHEART]

Passing through camp after another failed hunt the Somali felt crestfallen. Suddenly, their ears flattened in shock and his head zipped to the left. Taking in the leader's heated words and venomous eyes while on the rock. A chill ran through his whole being at the situation unfolding. Fervently, the small red tabby dashed over to Tallrock.

Immediately his maw flew open upon arrival and he blurted out alongside Fogbound's own muttered phrases. "S-sootstar! I'm sorry but I don't think this is the right thing to do! We're spread way too thin as is!" His shout was shaky at best but he hoped the gray and white feline could be reasoned. Praying she felt the panic and worry deep down inside his words.

He knew his rank and birth did not permit him to question authority but his sense of morality couldn't ignore it. Cats were dropping dead left and right. Most of the healthy warriors left on the journey and what remained felt meager. All their power had been propelled into staying alive and keeping one another safe. Redpaw could not see how the molly would even conjure up such a demand at this point in time.

The reality of his outburst made him wobble in place but pointedly the apprentice stayed planted. Blood roared loudly in his ears and his chest heaved with every breath as nerves chewed away inside of Redpaw.

OOC; He accepts any IC consequences for speaking out!​

 

[Morningsong~]

Morningsong listens to Sootstar attentively. He agrees with her completely, these rogues are getting too bold. He doesn't WANT to kill anyone, but... He understands that they'll kill him and his clan without a second thought. He'll have to swallow his queasiness and do what needs to be done, if it comes to it. Part of him hopes Sunstride picks someone other than him for this patrol, but the other part understands that there's not many to choose from and that he may very well have to bloody his paws. The feeling sickens him, blood is thick and sticky and it just.....Feels wrong.

But its what Sootstar says next that shocks him. She wants them to attack Riverclan or Skyclan....Tonight!? They can't do that, there's so few of them healthy enough to fight and with Yellowcough spreading like wildfire, they could end up bringing more of it back! On top of there being less prey, they aren't as strong as they could be.

This is a terrible idea. What's wrong with her? Has grief clouded her judgement so much? He understands what its like to lose someone you love, but surely, she still has some clarity of mind?

Fogbound and Redpaw speak out, and he feels his stomach twist. Anyone who speaks out against Sootstar gets exiled. Was he about to watch it happen again? What worried him more perhaps, was the fact that some of his clanmates might agree with her. That they should march over the river or through the forest to their enemies camps and throw their lives away to kill someone who doesn't matter anymore. Badgermoon, Curlewnose, Dandelionwish, Mallowlark.... They don't matter anymore. Yewberry doesn't matter anymore. Galeforce- Well....Perhaps he does. He killed Vulturemask.

All the exiles, he's sure there's more, they don't..... Matter. They're gone. Hunting them down is just petty vengeance.

He will not speak out. He will stay quiet, shifting uneasily and kneading the ground with his paws. He will not be cast out. But he begins to wonder just how quiet he can be if things are going to be like this from now on, with orders that are clearly harebrained. If Windclan wants to destroy itself this way, they're free to do so... But he hopes he will not have to take part in it.​

 

[✧ Honeybadger.]

♢​♢ THIS IS HOW LEGENDS ARE MADE ♢♢​

---

honeybadger & 10 moons & trans. male & he/him & windclan moor runner ​

---

They're being hunted down in their own territory - precious prey that could be going to their sick, to their needy, stolen right out from under their paws. It's unsettling, leaving honeybadger feeling restless - helpless, useless. So when sootstar jumps up and begins barking out orders, there is only relief. So what if they're a bit spread thin? It's better than lying down and taking it - than watching his sister wither away all over again. Stocky frame turns on redpaw in a whirls, fur bristling.

"And? What do you want us to do, watch as our friends and clanmates get attacked everyday, as we starve just because a few rogues got a little uppity? You're just a kit - what would you know?" The harsh words that leave his lips are uncharacteristic of the boy - eyes glimmering with anger and fear alike. Sunshine smiles are gone, replaced with desperation. If sootstar wants them to go and fight, shouldn't they do just that? She's the leader - she knows how to fix this, better than he does. And so what if they lose a few cats?

Better to die a hero, than live his life as a coward.

— like iron from the fire gettin' stronger ☀︎

• Actions && "Speech," && ' Thoughts/Quotes '
  
  ooc: —
  tw/cw: —
  
• [bimg]url here[/bimg]
  — a strange looking feline with nearly every shade of red upon his coat, and a badger-like mask of white upon his face. honeybadger is usually quite friendly and outgoing, an upbeat sort of personality; but when faced with those outside of windclan his demeanor is brutal and scathing.
  
  — physically medium && mentally medium
  — non-violent powerplay allowed && healing powerplay allowed && minor injury powerplay not allowed
  — please attack using [b][color=#fed053]action here[/color][/b] and tag account

 

[RUMBLERAIN]

𝐵𝐸𝑇𝑊𝐸𝐸𝑁 𝑊𝐻𝐴𝑇 𝐼𝑆 𝐿𝑂𝑆𝑇 𝐹𝑂𝑅𝐸𝑉𝐸𝑅 ✧ 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐁𝐄 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐍

• 
  
  — rumblepaw | tags
  — they/them ; moor-runner apprentice of windclan. mentored by brindlecloud.
  — lanky black-and-white point with blue eyes. butterfly accessory.
  — "speech" ; thoughts
  — art by mercibun
  — penned by mercibun. @ me in any official tabbytales discord for plots.
  
  

​

Rumblepaw nearly flinches out of their skin as Sootstar brushes past, a blur of smoke-coloured fur alerting them suddenly to the fact that she's upright, she's on her way to Tallrock, and she means business. Rumblepaw's already nearby, so they have little space to travel, but rather than making any formal announcements she launches her words straight to Sunstride (his address as the Clan's deputy still feels foreign to Rumblepaw) and asks - tells - him to take a band of warriors to deal with the rogues. Some part of them wants to laugh. What warriors? But that bitter amusement is quickly overtaken by horror as a young voice speaks up from next to them, shaky and pleading.

"Redpaw!" Rumblepaw hisses, blue eyes wide with horror over their denmate's outburst. They scramble to their paws as Honeybadger snaps a reply to the smaller apprentice, but instead of the fire-furred tomcat they turn their muzzle to the leader.

"With any luck Badgermoon lies dying in one of their camps while they waste herbs on him." The thought makes them feel ill, uneasy. Privately, they believe their father has already met his end; with any luck, it was fast. Painless. Rumblepaw knows their words belie their skill but they press on, a spark of their kithood earnestness returning to their words as they make a plea to the queen of the moors. WindClan is strong because we all come home. "I suggest we should focus on the rogues- maybe try to drive them towards RiverClan, giving us space to hunt and become strong again. I- I'll go too, if Sunstride will have me."
​

 

[VENOMSTRIKE]

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ Venomstrike was not a fan of rogues to say the least given that his last interaction with them had left him with injuries and he tried not to strain himself too much and ruin Wolfsong's work or potentially reopen his worse wounds. Before Venomstrike would've likely refused on killing anyone but now he considered it silently, the rogues had done their damage and were only continuing to steal what little prey they had. They were going to starve... Rattleheart and the rest of the sick cats they'd... He shook his head not wanting to think about the possibility of losing the bicolored tunneler, he needs to visit them again at some point but another part of him fears of getting sick and leaving behind his apprentice. He had to be strong for the both of them, his ears perked forward and paws stepping forth. Killing the rogues was fine he supposes in his mind but would not speak against it though raising Skyclan when they were all struggling was idiocy slipping from Sootstar herself.

The kittypet clan had brought the illness upon them all yet he doesn't know if there's strong enough warriors to actually do as delusional Sootstar wishes but his attention focuses on the little russet apprentice that speaks out and then Honeybadger flinging harsh words to his apprentice. His kit. Venomstrike steps forward to put himself between the younger moor runner and his apprentice as his lips peel back slightly to show fang, a low growl escaping his throat. "We can deal with the rogues..." He says finally only to briefly glance to his apprentice not liking that he had potentially put himself in danger of Sootstar so he resumes his position near Redpaw refusing to leave despite being battered up by rogues.

Rumblepaw speaks reasonably and nods in agreement, he would be stupid to offer himself to the patrol but maybe if he did then it would be taken care of and the negative attention would be taken away from Redpaw. "I could h-help in driving away the rogues." He says lashing his tail behind him.

➷ HELL AND HIGH WATER, TO LAY HERE TOGETHER

• 
  ⁀➷ 44 moons old
  ⁀➷ windclan moor runner
  ⁀➷ bisexual homoromantic; single; padding after rattleheart
  ⁀➷ "speech", thoughts, attacking
  ⁀➷ med difficultly in combat; relies on brute strength and his ability to quickly strike
  ⁀➷ peaceful powerplay allowed
  ⁀➷ penned by bosstaurus

​

 

[SUNSTAR]

✦　　. 　 ˚　.   "Enough!" the burnished tom snaps, his voice a light echo across the gathered crowd. His teeth are bared but for a moment, shoulders taut and high. "WindClan does not need a threat to come from inside; rogues, the other clans, this sickness– I expect each of you to hold your tongues." The irritation has bled and made way for the truth of his worries. They are desperate. Hungry. WindClan would not survive a war with itself. His gaze sweeps the warriors, and then down to the apprentices that train below them. It is not anger in his gaze. something else, something...quieter, sicker, a shared hopelessness. I understand. "We will right these wrongs. The rogues and the traitors both. But not when we speak against one another first." Against Sootstar's unsteady form, he must seem absurdly put together. In truth, he crumbles at her side. Seeing her so wounded wounds him.

"Do not protect Redpaw, Venomstrike. He is no kit, but a WindClan apprentice." A firm flash of his eyes meets Honeybadger, strong enough to pin his namesake to the earth. "He will own his own words, and face what comes of them." They are to make mistakes. That is the purview of youth, the duty and function apprenticeship. There is truth to what he had said, however. Despite the foolishness of saying it before their leader, an apprentice and an outsider as much as he who has not had the time to prove himself. It takes a great deal of restraint not to swipe a paw over his tired face and hide behind it, if only for a moment.

Instead, he turns to Sootstar. "Rumblepaw speaks the truth, Sootstar. If they wish to waste their resources upon a traitor, who will turn on them just as surely as he did to you, I believe that we should let them. When they are truly weak...." Sunstride trails off deliberately. It seems a vile insinuation. Worse than it had been to attack SkyClan within their own camp. He did not mind it then, had thought it the best way to ensure they remained alive awhile longer. Help had been refused. Why could they not take it? Yet this was far different. Not a plea for survival, but a hunt. Their leader, weighed down by the loss of her heart, seeks blood. They cannot give it the way that she wants, yet he will placate her in another way if he can.

"I will take a strong patrol, and we will ensure that we prove the strength of our borders." His neck craned to look upon Tallrock where he stands at its base, he can only hope that this is enough.

𝘏𝘈𝘕𝘋𝘚𝘖𝘔𝘌 𝘈𝘚 𝘓𝘐𝘍𝘌 𝘈𝘕𝘋 𝘗𝘖𝘐𝘚𝘖𝘕; 𝘚𝘜𝘕-𝘉𝘓𝘖𝘖𝘋 𝘏𝘈𝘕𝘋𝘚𝘖𝘔𝘌  ╱╱ 9.16.2023 ˊˎ＜

• OOC. —
• ✦　　. 　 ˚　.   FORMERLY SUNNVAR. HE - HIM - HIS OR THEY - THEM. DEPUTY OF WINDCLAN. 4 YEARS OLD. PENNED BY REVELATIONS.  —————————
  
  
  ——  a tall auburn tabby with thick fur and bright glacial eyes. sunstride is broad and bold– a creature standing above most of windclan, though not a beast beyond it, with fur that flames red and deepens to a burnt amber with every stripe. his eyes, in comparison, are a pale summer's blue, still as bold as the rest of them. he radiates confidence and self-assured authority.
  
  

  ✦ NPC x NPC. DECEASED MOTHER, ESTRANGED FATHER. NO LITTERMATES. MATE TO WOLFSONG. FATHER TO BEARKIT, SINGEDKIT, RIVEKIT, SUNLITKIT, AND FEATHERKIT ——

• "speech"

​

 

[SOOTSTAR]

SOOTSTAR​

Sootstar sees the conflicting emotions spread across the clan at an instant. Some jumping up with fangs bared, ready to sink their teeth into their enemies. Others grimaces at the idea and mumured amongst themselves, cats such as Fogbound lucky she could not hear their words from atop her throne. She bites down on her tongue as they begin to bicker amongst themselves. Redpaw’s loud disagreement irritates her, as Honeybadger notes, what would a paw know about the right and wrong time for battle? When was there ever a wrong time to stand up and defend yourself? Your clan? Sunstride, to her surprise, handles the situation with a booming voice. She need not even have to open her maw, something she was not use to witnessing her previous deputies do. Even in the dull state she is in, her eyes sparkle with gratitude. She did not have the strength today to coddle WindClan as they bickered about her own orders. Yet… she confesses he brings up a good point in his vague agreement with Rumblepaw and Redpaw. He promises instead to lead a strong patrol and prove the strength of WindClan’s borders. Though reluctantly, she gives in with a nod. ”Okay.” She agrees simply, the fur that bristled on her hackles now laying flat, the leader appears diffused. ”We focus on the rogues for now.” She finalizes- and then it felt as if the air was knocked from her lungs. She falls onto her hindlegs, dizzy with a harsh wave of fatigue crashing over her. Black blotches impair her vision, even as she clearly struggled with her own body she fights to appear composed. She cannot find the air to speak, but flicks her tail to dismiss the meeting. Turning around she hides her face from the onlooking cats and steadies herself.

☾ 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

​

 

[Bluepool]

Sootstar's weakness is like a disease in itself. Bluepool loves her sister, but she fears if the smoke colored molly spends any more time grieving then WindClan will be dragged down along with her. It is a surprise, then, to see their leader out of her den. Bluepool's eyes flicker up to the rock from which she makes her announcements with golden eyes full of hope.

The words that she speaks are not what she was hoping to hear.

WindClan could barely feed themselves right now, let alone fight over some worthless traitor. They needed to focus on the bigger issue if this was the route they were going to take. The rogues. They were the ones stealing left and right. Clanmates speak up but Bluepool keeps quiet, a thoughtful sort of silence, but what remains of her tail lashes furiously back and forth as she listens to the arguments that sprout up around her.

The Sootstar she knew would not be so hare-brained.

She looks to Sunstride as he voices his own opinion, putting an end to the discontented murmurings. It was a good compromise and she feels respect for him well in her chest. Badgermoon never would have been able to smooth over a disagreement so well. Sunstride had been a good choice for his replacement. "Just say the word" she says to him, her voice uncharacteristically serious as she digs her claws into the sand.

When Sootstar turns to leave, Bluepool watches.

​

OOC NOTES . ✦ . CHARACTER INFO

• ooc : — ​
• 
  

  

  
  

  ➵ she / her
  ➵ windclan lead warrior
  ➵ single
  ➵ bisexual
  ➵ a silver tabby she cat with short fur, a cropped tail, and golden colored eyes
  ➵ toyhouse [ ✦ ]
  ​

 

[REDHEART]

Nervousness burned hot and wild in the small tom's frame as eyes latched to him like starving hawks. His balance felt impaired by the sharp hiss beside him. Jumping in place, the red tabby shakily peeped at his denmate from the corner of his eye.

Embarrassment joined the trio of emotions as his outburst had made him feel foolish. Swallowing hard, he continued to hold his half-hearted stance against his denmates warning. Unfortunately, his will faltered at the wall of fur before him, heated eyes glaring daggers into the tom's skull. Suddenly, he was struck with a loss of words as tears threatened to make an appearance.

That's not what I meant! Flurried thoughts gave him the smallest push to reply. "Of course not! I'm just trying—" Wincing, he paused as his mind whirred with a maelstrom of sensations, and his jaw clenched over each word. "—to say we should think this through, rather than rush in with little to no paws to spare."

Redpaw shook his small head as his voice grew firmer. "I've watched our clanmates die right in front of me, just as you have. Kit or not, I do know how bad it is." A newfound conviction lent him the strength to hold his head up.

--

Aggravating and endless were the frustrated feelings in a nutshell. Pinning back his ears as more voices joined the conversation, he felt smaller by the second. Yet, at the arrival of his mentor, it all felt lighter.

Awe glittered like stars in Redpaw's eyes as the larger tom fended for him against Honeybadger. Until a disappointed stare was laid upon his burgundy coat. He had never received such a look from Venomstrike and it shook the paw' to his very core.

Shame, chilling and painful, choked Redpaw by the neck. Internally, he screamed a protest at his mentor's offer, but his maw was sealed.

Sunstride's powerful voice and stern words could hardly rouse him from the humiliated bow of his head, nor Sootstar's nonchalant dismissal of his insubordination. Rumblepaw had done right to intervene for him, but Redpaw felt the insults of Fogbound sink in at that very moment.

Not even Sunstride's middle ground could settle the knots in his chest.​