NO SUFFERING IN THIS — meeting 02/24

[PITCHSTAR]

the gathering last night had heralded nothing but trouble on the wind. howling wind—no, howlingstar—had given shadowclan a final warning; cease with the patrols, or face a potential war with thunderclan. pitchstar hadn't given her an answer then, but it was clear to him that howlingstar would not be an easy target like he'd believed emberstar would. what do i do? shadowclan is desperate, and hunting across the border has yielded more results than within their own. however, war isn't something they could afford. pitchstar glances over his warriors and apprentices stirring beneath the dawn sky from his den, counting their ribs. would they even survive a war?

pitchstar chews his lip until it's bloodied, his claws digging into the morning frost. what does he do? what could he do in this situation?

it's sun-high by the time that the rosette tabby emerges from his own den and settles in front of the clanrock; it seems the trek to fourtrees last night had sapped what little strength he could muster. pitchstar doesn't think he could force himself up to the top of clanrock, nor does he even feel like trying. "all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather below the clanrock for a meeting!" his voice cracks under the strain of yowling. with his matted tail lashing, he waits with impatience for enough cats to gather before he continues. "as some of you heard last night, thunderclan has threatened us with a battle should we continue hunting on their land..." pitchstar's eyes narrow, dipping to his unsheathed paws like a child who'd just been scolded. he feels equally as chagrined as one. "...we can't fight a war, not half-starved and weak in numbers like we are." he hates admitting it out loud, the shameful words echoing in his flattened ears. weak, you've always been weak.

"i don't want any hunting patrols sent across the border from here on out. we'll have to survive on what little we can find in the marsh... chilledgaze, send out as many hunting patrols as possible. hell, send them to the carrionplace again if you need to! whatever it takes to feed us until newleaf..."

growling to himself at his defeat, pitchstar shakes his head. "now, onto the ceremonies... we have two new faces who're in need of a proper clan name. karth, melisandre, step forward."

[ this meeting officially brings the starvation plot to a close! cats are now permitted to hunt in the carrionplace again if they want to but anyone who is found to be crossing borders will be punished IC! warrior/apprentice ceremonies will be in my next post :) @KARTH. @MELISANDRE & activity shoutouts for this month goes to @CHILLEDGAZE. @STARLINGHEART . @DOGFUR @smogmaw @FERNDANCE @ROOSTERSTRUT @SHARPPAW. @Tornadopaw !! thank you guys for your awesome activity!! ]​

 

[Starlingheart]

She cannot say that she approves or disapproves in her brothers decision to cease stealing from ThunderClan. While the stealing aspect felt wrong she had to admit that she had quite enjoyed the extra prey that was being floated her way every once in a while, enjoyed the feeling of being full occasionally. She wishes that one of the clans would cut them a break, that they could all help each other but those days are past them. Not like Starlingheart ever lived them anyways, but she could fantasize.

She settles into her usual place upon her brother's call, feet shuffling anxiously as she awaits the meeting to continue so she can go about her day and get back to her duties. There was always something that had to be done, it seemed.

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[Magpiepaw]

He has been cleaned. A travesty. It took a long time to get his fur to clump up the way he liked, basking in the scent of fresh earth and the lingering stench of carrion that so deeply permeated the entire clan. Magpiekit does not know why he was groomed so aggressively that morning nor why he was being allowed to idle in the crowd of cats awaiting Pitchstar's words. Before he was left to listen from the nursery, but found the entire affair boring and disinteresting to him. What did he care about these outside clans? He was very content in his life wallowing around in ShadowClan's camp, occasionally getting into mischief and roaming about. He did not know what to do with himself during this meeting so he meandered, earning a frown from the queens watching him but he paid it no mind, he wobbling and awkward form bumped and bumbled through the crowd of cats as he examined each of them with big round eyes, unblinking as his gaze bore into them one by one without a word. Until he figured out why he was here he was going to figure out some fortunes.
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[CHILLEDSTAR.]

DON'T YOU GIVE ME UP, PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP​

---

the deputy had to agree that maybe this was the best choice. they couldn't afford to be attacked right now... if it had been new leaf, and they had their full strength and bellies back... but right now? not a chance in all of this forest. with a lash of their tail, they nodded their head with a grunt about the patrols. they'd send hunting patrols out the next sunrise. they needed them. they just had to hang on for a little bit longer. there was so much death... so much loss. shadowclan needed to just hang on for a little bit longer.
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[Tornadopaw]

If you don't like me, that's your problem

While she was relieved that they would no longer be stealing food from thunderclan and thus freed from receiving injuries, her stomach ached with the idea of less food. Howlingstar made it abundantly clear that she would retaliate with greater measure if they did not stop, so perhaps this was truly for the best. Her gaze shifts to Chilledgaze as Pitchstar orders them to send out patrols to wherever possible and Tornadopaw shifts quietly in place. Should they go back to carrionplace hopefully they would not be attacked by the rats dwelling there again. The pace of the meeting takes a happy shift as she hears her mother's name called forth. A small smile touches her lips as her attention shifts to Melisandre. The predominately white molly had done an outstanding job proving her worth to the clan, and not her efforts were about to be paid in full.​

When I let it bother me, that's my problem​

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[LICHENTAIL]

A thin, lofty shadow settles itself beside Starlingheart. Lichentail's pale eyes are limpid with heartache as she looks at the state her littermate is in. His rosette pelt, so much like Amber's had been, is matted and dull, patchy from starvation and misery. She cannot bear to see him like this, knows their mother is crying from StarClan.

No one so far has questioned Pitchstar's decision to cease stealing from ThunderClan. The black she-cat is no different. Still, she looks at her brother with concern and calls out, voice calm but steady: "And is that really all we can do?" She doesn't want to doubt Pitchstar's judgment, but it's easy to do when he's lost what little sanity he'd clung to after Briarstar's death.

Subconsciously, she lays her feathery tail on Starlingheart's shoulder, sending a silent prayer to StarClan. Keep ShadowClan safe. Show us we are still worthy of your blessings... Mother.​

[ PENNED BY MARQUETTE ]​

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[PITCHSTAR]

only one outright questions him; his own littermate. lichentail's voice a steady pillar in the midst of the hurricane within his mind, she asks if that's really all that pitchstar could do. despite the familial ties between them, he bristles, claws scoring across the earth as he digs them deeper. "what else can i do?!" snaps the rosette tabby, shaking his head frantically. that's right; there's nothing you can do. you've been weak from the start, and they all know it. even your own family... why did briarstar choose him when he couldn't even lead his clan through leaf-bare without everything crumbling? why did she have to leave him alone to make these decisions?

what would mom do?

his gaze rakes over lichentail as if she holds the answer. he finds nothing but the ghost of his mother in her plumy black fur.

when karth and melisandre step forward, pitchstar snaps back to reality. his copper stare is ripped away from his sister, his matted tail collecting more dirt as it lashes a claw's length from the ground. that's right... there are two new faces in shadowclan. he'd called them forward a minute ago, hadn't he? though they aren't fully trusted, not yet, they're in need of proper clan names if they have a chance of integrating into shadowclan properly. "karth, melisandre, you wish to become shadowclan warriors, to be one of us..." why? why do you want to stay here? "...so you stand before us now to receive your new names. do you promise to protect and defend shadowclan, even with your lives?"

you can't trust what they say. but after they both take the vow, pitchstar nods. "then i give you your warrior names. karth, from this moment on, you will be known as buckthorn." he waits for only a heartbeat for the cheering to die down before continuing. "melisandre, from this moment on, you will be known as snowmask." with that said, he narrows his eyes in their direction, claws flexing. "but don't think you're fully trusted just because you have warrior names... shadowclan will continue to keep a close eye on you."

buckthorn and snowmask renamed, pitchstar's sharp gaze softens into something more dismal. "we also have two apprentices in need of new mentors... mitepaw, siltpaw, step forward." there's an acidic taste on his tongue when his gaze meets siltpaw's. flickerfire's apprentice. had the tortoiseshell taught siltpaw her traitorous ways? pitchstar's teeth click together as they grind. no good... that's no good. "we mourn darkfur's death," not flickerfire's. "but these young cats must continue in their training. mitepaw, from this moment on until you have completed your training, your mentor will be roosterstrut." the orange tabby is one that pitchstar isn't overly familiar with, but that could be said for most of his clanmates nowadays. the leader has socialized less and less since his mother's death, but the self-isolation seems to be growing worse. at the very least, roosterstrut has proven himself reliable enough to lead a high-stakes patrol.

"siltpaw, from this moment on until you have completed your training, your mentor will be lichentail." the fleeting anger of his sister speaking out has dissipated. lichentail is reliable... she is one of the only cats he trusts to even have a chance of undoing the damage that traitorous bastard had done to siltpaw.

the meeting is winding to a close, now... for which pitchstar is grateful. "finally, five kits have reached four moons and are ready to begin their training. cinderkit, mothkit, maggotkit, magpiekit-" garbagekit, an echo of amusement glitters in his hollow eyes for a heartbeat. "-and wolfkit, step forwards." he waits with an impatient tap of his paw for them to do so. "cinderkit, from this moment on until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as cinderpaw. your mentor will be ravenwatcher." his lip curls as he calls on the child with kittypet sludge coursing through her veins. how unfortunate she is to be born to such lineage... pitchstar hopes that the strict ravenwatcher will turn cinderpaw into something decent. "ravenwatcher, i expect for you to pass on all that you know to cinderpaw."

"mothkit, from this moment on until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as mothpaw. your mentor will be adderjaw." another of his littermates entrusted with an apprentice; at least this one has not been brainwashed by a traitor. "adderjaw, i expect for you to pass on all that you know to mothpaw."

"maggotkit, from this moment on until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as maggotpaw. your mentor will be battail (NPC). battail, i expect for you to pass on all that you know to maggotpaw."

"magpiekit, from this moment on until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as magpiepaw." pitchstar still thinks it was a missed opportunity to name the little shit garbagekit. "your mentor will be swiftclaws. swiftclaws, i expect for you to pass on all that you know to magpiepaw."

"and wolfkit, from this moment on until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as wolfpaw. your mentor will be ratnose (NPC). ratnose, i expect for you to pass on all that you know to wolfpaw."

as the new mentor-apprentice duos touch noses, pitchstar rises and turns toward his den. "meeting dismissed," he finishes with a wave of his tail and disappears into the shadows of his den once more.

[ @KARTH. @MELISANDRE @mitepaw @ROOSTERSTRUT @Siltcloud. @LICHENTAIL @CINDERKIT @Mothkit. @Maggotfur. @Wolfkit @Ravenwatcher. @ADDERJAW @Swiftclaws ]​

 

[CINDERPAW]

Rooktail and Sleekwhisker were grooming her furiously, today was the big day! For once Cinder hardly minded their tongues constantly untangling her fur, nothing could upset her on this very fine day. Before she is called forth there is clan politics discussed, something about hunting patrols… Cinderkit, who is very sheltered, does not quite understand. She’ll learn as an apprentice though, she knows it!

Warriors are made and names are given before she is called forth with a bunch of nursery-mates. The ebony she-kit wiggles out of the grasp of her parents and speed off to the front of the clanrock. Shiny-eyed she hardly notes Pitchstar’s lip curl and disdain he may or may not carry due to her lineage. She is named Cinderpaw, and Ravenwatcher is called to be her mentor.

Oh! How fun this would be!
She looks to her mentor with excited eyes, ”Will we be trainin’ today? I wana see outside of camp! What s’the thunder path look like?” Before they even touch noses she bombards Ravenwatcher with questions.​

---

Spoiler: TAGS ★ 01/07

( secondary character / "speech" / ic opinions )​

╰ ★ ჻ 001 GENERAL INFORMATION ,
· SOOTSTAR, female — she / her
╰ ‣ 3 moons . ages on the first
╰ ‣ shadowclan kit . marsh-born . believes in starclan
╰ ‣ carries 100% kittypet & Persian blood

╰ ★ ჻ 002 VISUALS & AESTHETICS ,
· PERSIAN, smells like murky water and mildew , status — 100%
╰ ‣ black-furred . flat-faced, knotted fur . orange eyes


╰ ★ ჻ 003 MENTALITY & MANNERISMS ,
[size=2╰ ‣ Cunning, brash, fierce, confident, self-reliant, envious & selfish
╰ ‣ finds great difficulty in relating to others . can be cruel, usually shows mercy to those she can find sympathy with
╰ ‣ sole key to her heart is loyalty, if you have her trust, she often shows a completely different side of herself. Aggression tends to manifest from her extreme paranoia
╰ ‣ Appreciates titles such as "miss, m'am" etc

[B]╰ ★ ჻ 004 INTERACTIONS & RELATIONSHIPS ,[/B]
· SLEETWHISKER x ROOKTAIL
╰ ‣ lesbian.
╰ ‣ poor fighter . poor hunter .
╰ ‣ will start fights . reluctant to flee .
╰ ‣ attack in underline . penned by user @ava.​

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[Ravenwatcher.]

So I walk alone down the darkest roads​

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As the meeting continued and apprentices were made, Ravenwatcher blinked a bit in surprise and sort of distaste as she was tossed the duties of training an apprentice, her gaze drifting down towards Cinderpaw who eagerly made her way towards the warrior and she shifted in awkwardness as she was not really a big fan of being near kits, but nonetheless would bump noses with the apprentice...if she must she supposed. "Perhaps we should veer away from the thunderpath, though... it could be a good first lesson for you" she murmured a bit awkwardly. The thunderpath was dangerous though so perhaps it was a slightly good idea to stay away from it, for now at least, she'll let her near it soon enough though, she didn't want Pitchstar to be upset if they lost an apprentice so early on in its training. "Just stay close to me, but I won't stop you if you venture" she placed in calmly before her gaze drifted up to Pitchstar wondering if he made the best choice.​

"speak""Thoughts"​

 

[LICHENTAIL]

Lichentail flinches at Pitchstar's blatant fury. She should have known he wouldn't appreciate her questioning his decisions publicly, but still, she is still unprepared for the poison he spits in her direction. "I've always been there for you. And I always will... so don't try to push me out." Hurt darkens her pale eyes, though she does not say anything further. Pitchstar clearly wants to get his Clan meeting over with so he can return to his sanctuary.

So she dips her head to him and stays quiet until he calls two young cats forward. Siltpaw. Lichentail catches the pale sand of her pelt and pads close, to touch her nose to the she-cat's. "We'll start tomorrow," she murmurs. She wonders what the young she-cat is feeling about her situation, about ShadowClan. What a shame, to be apprenticed to a traitor.​

[ PENNED BY MARQUETTE ]​

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[SNOWMASK]

The woman slips her way around various other clanmates, eyes flickering along the many cats but she doesn't find a place among them. It's easier to sit on the fringes than in the crowd and she listens with pulled forth ears at what the leader says. Thunderclan and not risking a fight. All of these cats are starved and she nods in agreement. There is no reason to stir up trouble and she wonders if she can help with the Carrionplace hunting. Whatever that means. She flicks her ears toward her daughter and she turns slightly to smile at her as she dips her head. Shifting her paws she looks back to the leader and visibly flinches at his sudden sharp fury at being questioned. It is just a question but he seems very touchy. She hopes he is alright. But being called is not something she expects and so she moves forth to stand near the crowd and he speaks about her wanting to be a Shadowclan warrior. Of course, that is her plan despite the insufferable ones here.

"Of course." And then she is given a new name. Just like that everything changes she is Snowmask now. And she chuckles softly but the moment is dulled for her by Pitchstar's words and her ears pull back. What has she done to have such suspicion placed on her? Shaking her head she steps back and just waits for it to be finished.​

 

[✧ Siltcloud.]

HUMBLE MY BONES WITH A CARDIAC
siltpaw | 09 months | female | she/her | physically medium | mentally easy | attack in bold color

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Flickerfire is dead. She will be getting a new mentor. These should be simple facts, and yet she feels... agitated almost. Impatient even. Yet another mentor change - she wonders what this one will be like. The meeting seems to go by as slow as a snail, a sludge filled trudge that numbs her mind. Finally her name is called - the frail looking girl slipping forwards with a confidence she does not feel, head kept low and gaze averted until it is time to touch noses with her new mentor. Then and only then does she risk an upwards glance- green gaze taking in lichentail for but a moment. She's been apprenticed to pitchstars sibling... either a sign of great trust or distrust. She highly doubts it's the former. She touches noses with the other she-cat, giving a short but respectful nod before simply fleeing the scene. Tomorrow indeed.
// apologies in advance for the triple post rip
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[✧ Mothpaw.]

I'VE TASTED BLOOD AND IT IS SWEET
mothkit | 03 months | male | he/him | physically easy | mentally easy | attack in bold #6f4e37

---

All tidied up by snailcurl, Mothkit waits impatiently for his time to shine. Copper tone gaze shines brightly as finall. finally[.i] he joins his fellow kits in becoming apprentices. Mothkit - no, paw is grinning from ear to ear as he wobbles and hobbles his way forwards, his enthusiasm in no way curbed by his unsteady gait. As he grins up at adderjaws he can not be happier - she's a familiar face after all. Though it takes a bit of time and a lot of heavy concentration, he finally manages to get it just right and touch noses with her despite his wobbling and bobbing head, his little tail tum[ping in pleasure and pride the moment he does. "I'm gonna' be the best apprentice ever!" he promises, his childish voice as serious as he can manage.
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[Ternfrost.]

EYES COVERED IN INK AND BLEACH​

maggotpaw | 04 months | female | she/her | physically easy | mentally hard | attack in bold mediumpurple

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Maggotkit hates this. It is a disgrace - a farce. They're going to continue to starve because pitchstar is weak and will not seize what could be his. She scoffs quietly from her spot hidden in the back, instead watching with jaded teal eyes as he moves onto ceremonies, all the while judging him for a choice she herself wouldn't have made.

Her name is called - unfortunately. It is not as though it is unexpected, but she will not say she is eager to become an apprentice. More work, even less food. And she will have to share a den with them. She'd almsot rather die. Alas, starclan does not strike her down then and there, and so the she-cat moves forwards with confident strides, motion smooth and slick like a panther on the prowl. She touches her nose to her mentors without a word, remaining ever frosty and cold, though she does give Magpiepaw a stiff nod of 'congratulations' - he is tolerable after all, and becoming an apprentice is something worth noting she supposes.

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[ADDERJAW.]

( ➳ ) The announcement that ShadowClan will no longer be hunting across the border has Adderjaw in a sour mood. Her brother's a fool, she knew he was, but it seems he is also a coward. He'd rather let them starve with their tails between their legs than fight for what they rightfully deserve -- Adderjaw lets out a low growl as she gazes up at Pitchstar. It's no way to run a Clan, is what it is. Punishing cats for simply trying to feed their Clanmates, it's ridiculous. Adderjaw will manage, of course; less food means little to her, she has never known plenty. It's the principle of the thing that pisses her off.

Melisandre's naming ceremony certainly doesn't help. The cowardly molly reeks of kittypet even now; Adderjaw can't look at her without a sneer curling her lip. She doesn't deserve that name, should have been chased off long ago. The grumbling warrior barely listens to the following announcements, only straightening from her disillusioned hunch when she hears her own name. Mentorship? After all this time, is she finally getting an apprentice? She's wanted one since the system was put in place, never understood why her mother didn't entrust her with one, yet time and time again she watched apprentices go to other mentors. Well, it seems her brother can do some things right after all.

Adderjaw's eyes roam the gathered cats. Mothkit -- no, Mothpaw. She knows him; not the worst choice of apprentice. Annoying, absolutely, and not the most coordinated, but he's got the spirit at least. Still, she can't help but sigh as her eyes land on her far-too-cheery new apprentice. She stands to face him, letting the kit make his own way over. It takes some difficulty for her to touch noses with him; she tries to remain patient as he tries again and again until he finally gets it right.

And there it is: the potential.

He's got a determination she can't help but respect. He seems determined, however, to lose that respect, following up with the most childish declaration that Adderjaw has ever heard. The best apprentice ever? She scoffs. He'd better live up to that, then. "I'll hold you to it." Her eyes are cold and calculating, yet her words are not untrue. If he is so set on being the best, then she will do all she can to ensure he can be. She'll prove herself worthy of his mentorship.​

 

[Wolfpaw.]

❝ and they saw trouble in my eyes ✧°. ———————————— Wolfkit was nearly shaking with excitement, a new colour of the mostly apathetic tom. But today was a big day! And as he took his place with the other kits he left them with a new name and new responsibilities. It was a good day as far as he was concerned.

[penned by user - [tags]]

———————————— .°✧ they were quick to recognize the devil in me ❞ ​

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[Magpiepaw]

He heard his name, twin black ears flicked upward at it curiously. His name had never been said at meetings before, he knew because he always listened to them at a distance wondering their purpose and why. Discussions in the clan were important, he supposed, but often times they were meetings to put Pitchstar's anger on display; frame it neatly before the clan so they could see the rosette tom's fury unfold. Righteous, indignant, he fought fate and it frightened Magpiekit often but he also found himself strangely allured by it. The ability to shake off the spots that stained you, whisk away the stars and forge your own path. It was powerful, terrifying and he wondered if perhaps the stars were offended at their leaders might. He would be, if he was slighted in such a way. Wide blue-violet eyes locked onto the leader's at his new name. Paw. Magpiepaw. Oh, that's right. He was apprentice age now wasn't he?
It had passed him over entirely and his days of idealic lazing around in the nursery were over.
A pain of longing shot through him then, he wanted to crawl back to Bramblesong and hide under her, but the desire to finally see the world in full overpowered his apprehension. Like a scroll it unraveled, he delighted in the newness of possibilities. Magpiepaw glanced around eagerly for Swiftclaws, his guide into a new life of exploration and study, and his wobbling form carried him over to the other with expedience to slam into his foreleg in greeting.
Black paws braced on his mentors leg as he glanced around, seeing Wolfkit become Wolfpaw and Maggotkit become Maggotpaw and Cinderkit become Cinderpaw and he smiled. The apprentice den would have some familiarity then. Good. He was content.
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