no, sir, i think i'd rather choke - causing trouble

[ravenpaw x]

There was a fine line, Ravenpaw found, between causing trouble for her brother and ruining her reputation. It was nice, being the model apprentice. While some of her peer slacked off or complained, she did everything that was asked of her without a word. She did it all quite well too, if you asked her. That wasn't to say that everyone like her. Some people were wrong. Even they, however, had to acknowledge the fact that she was responsible, and that pleased her. She didn't want to lose that.

Though, if that was the price for tormenting Pitchstar, then perhaps it was worth paying.

Today she had decided to go a bit further than usual. The vile things that her brother had dared to say about their aunt at the gathering still hung in her ears. Ravenpaw had decided it was only fitting that he be subjected to something just as disgusting as his own words. From carrionplace, she had retrieved the vilest smelling piece of filth and snuck it into camp. Then she had proceeded to bury it as close to the leader's den as she could get it, close enough to the surface that its smell would soon infest the den and everyone around it.

Since, she had just sat outside the apprentice den, watching and waiting. It wasn't subtle. That didn't matter to her though, she didn't care if anyone suspected her, especially Pitchstar. Him in particular, she wanted him to know how she felt. What mattered was that they couldn't prove anything.​

[ PENNED BY EMPYREAN ]​

 

[Poppypaw ★]

There was no peace to be found, no subtly, no discretion, when Poppypaw was present. She was as nosy as they came, obnoxious (as her mother told her) and more than happy to talk when no one else really wanted to. Her voice filled the void of the usually somber clan most days and up until recently she never once faltered from her peppy and screaming facade of annoyance.
"HEY RAVENPAW WHY ARE YOU JUST SITTING HERE AND STARING AT PITCHSTAR'S DEN HUH? IS HE FINALLY DEAD?" It certainly smelled like it! Was that a good thing or a bad thing? Who knew! She did like Chilledgaze more so that might be a bonus but also Chilledstar sounded kind of stupid? Chillstar was okay, but Chilled? Blegh, maybe StarClan would give them a nicer name. Coldstar sounded good, but you know what sounded the best of all the name possibilities? Poppystar. One day. She'd rename the place PoppyClan too cause why not. Poppy was so much nicer a name than Shadow. Ugh, how ridiculous. All the clan names were super droll and uninspired.
Maybe they needed to be StinkClan cause that smell sure was getting stronger and it wasn't her fault this time; she once decided to keep a 'pet' mouse but turns out those aren't really that interesting when they were dead and nowhere near as fun to chase and also her mother yelled at her so much she had a ringing in her ears for several days after; it had not been worth it.
​

 

[SHARPSHADOW]

† Sharppaw sticks close. Would rather stick close to Ravenpaw than stray away. Would rather be a friend, than a foe. A model form and a model mind, Ravenpaw still makes room for certain things. Between the training and anything else, she lingers here, her gaze waiting. And Sharppaw waits too, from the shade of the apprentice den. He doesn't know what he's waiting for, but it must be important. Crucial, to hold such high attention. Sharppaw shuffles his paws, worries his lip as silver eyes dart back and forth. He wasn't in danger. No, surely not. But just not knowing was enough to make him nervous. Knowing was everything.

Poppypaw's arrival is never kept a secret for long, if ever at all. Sharppaw screws her eyes, lets out a warbling "Shhhh." Not unkindly, no, she doesn't mean to be. But with Ravenpaw tight-lipped in waiting, he assumes they should be, too. Though maybe, she pricks an ear. She'd like to know too, though she doesn't know if she deserves to.​

 

[GRANITEPELT]

Granitepaw is prepared to completely pass Ravenpaw, Sharppaw and Poppypaw by -- not a single one of them is worth his time, not even a passing glance -- but the strange way they're all gathered and staring at Pitchstar's den gives him momentary pause. There's a single skinny rat hanging from his jaws, one he's intending to share with Starlingheart, but he drops it as the foulest stench he's ever come across hits his nostrils.

"StarClan! What is that!" His grimace is extreme, features contorting helplessly in the face of this smell. Like Poppypaw, he has to wonder if Pitchstar has somehow succumbed to some disease that had taken all of his lives at once. "How long has it been since someone's checked on that fool?"

Then, a glimmer of amusement tight in his green eyes, he slides his gaze over to Ravenpaw. Miss Priss, the scoundrel herself. He says, voice scathingly innocent, "Or... that can't be you, is it, Ravenpaw? Oh, StarClan, it is, isn't it? You're starting to become just like him..." He shakes his head in mock despair.​

 

[PITCHSTAR]

the stench that invades his den is strong enough to suffocate. gagging, the rosette tabby stumbles out into the clearing, eyes watering and face screwed up. "what the fuck is that smell-?!" he's almost convinced himself that one of his clanmate's have keeled over and died somewhere in camp, but as soon as the weak leaf-bare sunlight assaults his vision, he hears them. poppypaw, in particular, who screeches about ravenpaw staring at his den. questioning if he's finally dead. sharppaw shushes her, but it's too late. one copper eye twitches at the shrill voice of the annoying apprentice, and again as granitepaw asks how long it's been since they've checked on that fool. "i'm not dead," pitchstar snaps, choking on his own words as the foul smell of rot crawls down his throat.

he glowers at the four apprentices congregated outside of their den, with eyes fixated on his own. despite being the future generation of shadowclan, they're not sneaky in the slightest... one, especially. "ravenpaw, what the hell have you done?!" pitchstar growls, a paw coming to cover his wrinkled nose and curled lip. he has no idea what's come over his baby sister... she's typically so responsible, a model student, that pitchstar doubts his judgment for a heartbeat. could it really be her?

but as he stares into the defiant gaze of the black she-cat, he knows something has shifted in her. does she hate him, too? is she going to run off? join her disgraceful aunt upon the riverside? fill herself up on fish and the lies of cicadastar while the rest of her family starves?​

 

[ravenpaw x]

Ravenpaw's ear flicked in annoyance as Poppypaw's grating voice filled it. What little annoyances some of her denmates managed to be. Fortunately, Sharppaw dealt with it for her. His reward was a single appreciative glance from her. More than most cats deserved in a lifetime, in her opinion.

Of her little projects, this little protege idea was one of her favorites. Already it was paying such dividends. Ravenpaw could have sent her to do this little task but, no, it was too personal for that. Though she could deny the idea of giving her lackey more of her dirty work to take care of was a satisfying one.

Granitepaw was the first to recoil at the stench, and though his torment was not her intent, it was a welcome surprise. As was hearing him call her brother a fool. Even he, she supposed, could stumble into the truth once in a blue moon. Twice, even, if the amusement that glittered in his gaze as it landed upon her was anything to go by. She rolled her eyes at his taunts, he had a child's wit, at least until he compared her to her brother. Her cool facade fell away. Ravenpaw's eyes narrowed, and she glared up at him. "Watch your tongue before you compare me to him." She hissed under her breath, deadly serious. Her tail lashed behind her.

As she did, Pitchstar stumbled out of his den.

It took her only a moment to collect herself. She wasn't going to let Granitepaw, of all people, ruin her moment.

Her brother seemed to barely have his wits about him, but that was normal for him. His foolishness gave her no satisfaction, unlike watching him gag and choke on the stench. He was, and had always been, a shame on their family. Pitchstar deserved this. Worse than this, really. For not letting her help punish Bonejaw's attacker, for saying all those awful things about Bonejaw at the gathering, for not being better so that Bonejaw didn't leave, for all those reasons and more he deserved it.

If their mother was here, was still leading Shadowclan, everything would be better.

That was all she could think as she watched him storm toward her. That was why this wasn't the end for what she had in store for him. The real torment, her real genius, was in how she planned to handle him confronting her.

"Why, I haven't done anything brother!" The black molly claimed with all the innocence of a viper. Genuine enough to lure in her prey, but with enough venom to keep him uncertain. She wanted him to suspect her, but without proof or certainty. " I have just been sitting here! Right Sharppaw?" She gave other apprentice a meaningful glance. This would be her first real test for her protege. If she fumbled, than Ravenpaw was certain she could pick up the pieces, but if she lied on cue - oh - that would be a delightful treat to top off this plan. "I was just wondering what that smell was myself, and couldn't help my curiosity. Now, it's your own business what you do in your den, but you should really take better care of it."​

[ PENNED BY EMPYREAN ]​

 

[SHARPSHADOW]

† She earns a prize– a glance from Ravenpaw, and she sits just the tiniest bit straighter. The silence was good. It was appreciated– though, swiftly interrupted at the call of Granitepaw, his face wrinkling strangely as he's hit with the smell. It's not so bad from in here, thankfully. He wouldn't want to be seen making a face like that. Sharppaw ducks his head with the gaze that's thrown, away from prying green eyes. Though, her own muzzle would scrunch with the accusation. Ravenpaw was nothing like Pitchstar.

And finally, Pitchstar bursts forth, and he realizes, this is what Ravenpaw was waiting for. Maybe, just maybe, it is funny to see the tom's eyes water. He makes the same face Granitepaw had, the same one Sharppaw would hate to make. He looks like anything but a leader in that moment.

But, he is she reminds herself. Her eyes blow wide as with ferocity, he turns on Ravenpaw, growling for an explanation. She isn't bothered, doesn't flinch like Sharppaw had. She sticks to her wits, proclaims her innocence. She's talking to him– oh– Sharppaw blinks. It wouldn't be a lie, not really. He hadn't been here to see what had happened, to see who had done what. Ravenpaw had been sitting here the whole time, to him, anyways. "Y-yeah! We've been here..." quickly, she agrees, and she hopes her stutter wasn't any different than it usually was.

Quick-witted– she always was, wasn't she? It's why Ravenpaw was helping her. She knew what she was doing, even as she chastized Shadowclan's very leader. Even as she implied it was his doing that the place stank of carrion. She knew, even if Sharppaw didn't. Still, he can't help but look away.​

 

[Poppypaw ★]

"Don't SHUSH me, Sharppaw! I'm ASKING A QUESTION!" The red and white apprentice's voice rose shrilly and if Pitchstar wasn't already alerted to them being there then surely he would be now with her splintering tone. Granitepaw arrives and in his usual manner begins to insult Ravenpaw but she has no fondness for the dark she-cat so she pays this no mind, her attention riveted onto the leader's den as the cat in question came skulking out like a rat from a hole and looking just as messy and unwell. And they said she didn't groom! At least she sometimes stopped to check how she smelled before rolling into camp like a discarded carcass.

Ravenpaw states her innocence and Poppypaw listened as Sharppaw reaffirms it but that couldn't be right. She was pretty sure they were standing here cause someone did something funny and didn't let her in on the joke. Well, Poppypaw didn't like being left out generally and she was going to make that known real quick, "What did you DO?! I wanna do it to Frostbite! He made me wake up for dawn patrol twice in a row-did you know that? It was horrible! I can maybe do one day every so often but twice? Back to back? Some of us want our beauty sleep you know! Pitchstar looks like he could use a couple days worth himself so it's mighty mean of you to wake him up like this!"
​