pafp on clouds of fire ✧ tree-top nap

[lichenstar]

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---

It had been Snakeblink that had put words to the level of what was , to her, an unexplainable new height of exhaustion. It had been a quiet confession, shared between co-workers... friends... one fearing for the ability to rise one more time when they'd been forced to stand and fight and fight and fight and...- They were tired. Probably most of RiverClan felt that way but... it felt different, to feel the gargantuan weight of the wellbeing of her clan-mates upon her shoulders. To know her mistakes might make or break them, to know her words might've sent Smokethroat running head first into a death wish if she didn't choose them carefully.

And she hadn't. And he almost had.

SkyClan had been the only real source of kindness in such a trying time, Blazestar's generosity unmatched by the leaders that surrounded him under every full moon. It was reassuring.. to think they had a strong ally just a mad-dash away... The sound of the trees that dotted the edge of their territory as the leaves rustled had become nothing short of a lullaby for a RiverClan weirdo that loved birds more than fish. Which Ripple colonist had suggested that maybe she belonged there...? Dawnstorm... Though she was sure he meant her no great offense, it had been less than complimentary to imply her skills unwelcome in the place she'd chosen to use them...

It wasn't worth complaining about now though.

Laying peacefully amongst the branches of what barely counted as their side of the riverbank, Lichentail was sprawled out comfortably to catch up on some much deserved rest. With hunting patrols coming up more successful with their increased numbers... her belly actually felt somewhat full. In that satisfaction and relief she had dozed off there amongst the leaves, ear flicking at the occasional birdsong or splash of fish in the rapids below. A serene moment left to spare before the harsher winter weather would ultimately make little escapes like this unenjoyable or downright dangerous.


--- @iciclefang​

 

[iciclefang]

“I thought I’d caught a SkyClanner on our territory for a moment,” a lackadaisical call rises from the ground. Iciclefang sits at the base of the tree Lichentail slumbers in, her neutral expression twitching about the mouth to indicate a smile. “I was ready to chase you out. Is that really comfortable?” Pale eyes skip from Lichentail to the branches swaying delicately in the brisk leaf-fall breeze.

In truth, she remembers how comfortable it can be. She remembers a night sky blazing with stars, the mountains receding in the distance. She remembers a tabby pelt pressed against hers, remembers the dull thud of Stormywing’s heart through her ribcage.

The memory causes her smile to fade. There will be no more tree climbing for Iciclefang—not if she can help it.

, ”​

​

 

[Mosspool]

The sound of Iciclefang's voice drew Mosspaw over from where she had been hunting. Seeing her looking up at something, she followed her gaze upward. She blinked as she spotted Lichentail. The lead warrior really did look like a Skyclanner up there. She would have never thought that one of her own clanmates would be so comfortable in the trees.

"I cannot imagine it is." Mosspaw stated simply, staring up at Lichentail with incredulity. The only time she had climbed that had was when they had encountered the cliff on the journey, and only then with the constant help and encouragement of a Skyclanner. Even then it had been a harrowing experience. She hoped to never repeat it. "Are you not too afraid of falling to get comfortable?" If it were her up there, that's how she would feel. The idea of resting up there was completely foreign to her.​

 

[lichenstar]

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---

Getting used to the sound of their voices was taking time- often in moments of half-conscious states, it was easy to forget the journey cats had returned at all. Iciclefang's teasing is unfamiliar, having never had the closeness to facilitate such banter- maybe time spent apart had warmed up that chilly exterior, embraced by her clan-mates in eager arms that had missed them all dearly. Flicking an ear as Mosspaw's chimed disagreement, the lead warrior let out a yawn, reaching forelimbs out to stretch comfortably in spite of the commentary.

"Not all of us had the luxury of being born at the riverside," she answers with a small sigh. They'd traveled through such great hardship and still struggled to connect with the stranger world outside of RiverClan borders. Disappointing. But it wasn't like they'd have any great need to adapt anytime soon to canopy-covered nesting. Her tail twitches in idle amusement, pale gaze flicking towards Iciclefang with a thin-lipped smile, "You could certainly chase me but... I'd have to leave the tree first,... unless? You come up here after me and be a SkyClanner yourself."

Mulling over the concept of 'comfort', Lichentail wasn't sure if her judgements were balanced anymore after the agony-riddled weeks of various unforeseen tortures. Anything was more comfortable than laying in the rat-infested swamps of ShadowClan, really. "I can't say I haven't rolled myself off the branches before-- but, at least up here Bitekit will not find my tail as a toy during my rest."​

 

[FERNGILL]

Fernpaw was fairly sure he could climb a tree by now. It wasn't much different than a cliff, was it? In fact- being able to scale the latter would make the former a piece of cake, probably. So forward he strode, a joking flame of green in his healthy eye, crinkled with a smile. "You don't have to be a Skyclanner to be able to climb," Fernpaw said, intending to jostle Lichentail from her place by scaling up the tree himself.

What he didn't realise was that rock and bark were quite different. The tree had hardened flesh where that bluff had armour, and Fernpaw spent a few embarrassingly quiet moments attempting to get a grip on the trunk without finding much success. Right after having called attention to himself.

It wasn't as if he was drowning, though- he wasn't in a place anymore where he'd get an odd look for not being able to climb, the Skyclanners forgetting that none of the clans regularly scaled trees like they did. Rather practiced by now at shrugging off failure, Fernpaw simply laughed, "Or- maybe you do..."

Or maybe you just needed a Skyclanner's help.​

✦ penned by pin ✦​

 

[bubbleburst]

"GOT A LITTLE CASH NOW SO THAT SKIRT IS DIOR"​

Bubblepaw stands amongst the others, her head tipped back almost perfectly perpendicular to the ground as she gazes up at Lichentail. "Rolled off?!" She blinks up in horror at the lead warrior, eyes as wide as saucers "Surely you aren't serious? How did you survive?" The trees don't intimidate Bubblepaw, but their heights certainly do. The branches don't seem terribly uncomfortable as the others seem to think they do, but the broader and more accommodating offshoots are so high up on the trunk that she doubts it's even worth it to try to get up there.

The mere thought is dizzying enough. Bubblepaw tears her gaze away before she begins to wobble from her self-induced vertigo, just as Fernpaw darts past in an attempt to scale the tree himself. She presses a white-tipped paw to her muzzle as Fernpaw slides from the trunk after a few feeble moments of an attempt as climbing. "I don't know," Bubblepaw giggles as Fernpaw shrugs off his mistake "Maybe we could all benefit from a lesson in tree climbing from Lichentail."
​

✦ ★ ✦​

 

[Moonbeam]

Moonpaw would be lying if she said she never thought about climbing the trees at the edge of the territory before. She hadn't ever tried, of course, knowing that it wasn't something a RiverClanner did - she'd never heard stories of RiverClanners climbing trees to hunt for squirrels after all - but the surprise that crossed her features as she saw Lichentail up in a tree was clear. She knew the other was not born within RiverClan territory - many of the older cats had not due to the clans not even being properly formed yet - but the thought of her being able to climb trees had never crossed the white apprentice's mind.

She watched as Fernpaw tried to climb the tree and Moonpaw's own suspicious were confirmed, she herself wouldn't be able to climb a tree, not without help, not if Fernpaw, who had climbed a mountain, couldn't do it. Sitting near the base of the tree with the others she peered up towards the warrior who enjoyed tree-top naps and tilted her head slightly. "Can you see the whole territory from up there?" Could it be useful for RiverClanners to know how to climb? Keep some of them up in the trees to watch over the territory? Probably not, but Moonpaw couldn't help but think of it.

☾₊ ⊹ give me a ghost of a smile

• 
  ⋆ ratkit - ratpaw - moonpaw - moon???
  ⋆ female - she/her - 6 moons
  ⋆ homosexual - not looking
  ⋆ apprentice of riverclan
  ⋆ peaceful powerplay allowed
  ⋆ attack - "speech" - thought
  ⋆ penned by tikki

​

 

[Mosspool]

Mosspaw shuddered in horror as Lichentail mentioned that she had rolled off branches before. She was certain she would never be able to relax if she constantly had to bear the threat of that in mind. Before Bubblepaw had chimed in, she had half a mind to ask the same questions herself. To her, falling from a tree seemed far too serious a danger to be speaking of so dismissively.

Fernpaw approached the tree with a confidence that surprised her, as she had not thought he knew how to climb. Which, she quickly assessed, she had been correct in thinking. He made shockingly little progress in his attempt, though she was certain she would have done no better if she had deigned to try.

Bubblepaw's suggestion that they could all benefit from climbing lessons earned her a glance. "I think that would be a lesson I would prefer to sit out." Mosspaw stated candidly. Usually she was all to eager to learn new skills, but not this time. She was just fine keeping her paws on solid ground for the rest of her life, she would leave the climbing to Skyclan.​

 

[BUMBLENOSE]

Having followed her sister out into the territory. She'd taken immediate notice of their sudden absence. Curious, the ebony she-cat rounded the small litter of trees only to spot a nearby crowd. Her interest was now peaked, so the youth bounded over and took notice of Licehntail's position. Whoa. Her wide, yellow eyes flickered with excitement. Bumblepaw couldn't lie to herself. Climbing trees did sound incredibly fun. However, the falling part made her skin crawl with fright. She preferred to avoid injuring herself when possible, and this seemed a little too risky for her taste.

Eyeing Lichentail's relaxed form, the eased movements, impressed. Idly, she watched as Fernpaw gave it a shot and failed at it. A smile bloomed warmly on her muzzle as she amusedly chimed in after her sibling. "Be careful." Aiming to brush up beside Mosspaw, her feathery tail waived high and happy. Indicating her mirth over the entire scene and true fascination as Lichentail continued to rest above. Alas, a chuckle audibly bubbled from her chest at the thought of Bitekit snapping at the base of said tree.

​

 

[lichenstar]

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---

Fernpaw... she'd missed him. Sitting up with an ear perked forward as if it too could watch the curious attempt, Lichentail was sincerely hoping for his success. It was Steepsnout she fondly remembered scrambling up the bark not but a few moons ago too... Maybe her skills would stretch to her living kin in kind. Bubblepaw's voice sounds tight with alarm at the suggestion of falling and it is briefly that she wonders if this is truly so surprising-- you needed to fail to gain any sort of skill, one was not 'born' a tree-climber... but rather, it seemed the question pertained to the distance.

There were a few times she could recall, landing on the solid earth and the way it had physically shaken her bones upon landing, as if they hummed in a vibration of consideration, asking themselves a question of whether or not to shatter instantly. The sting it left on her paws would not be forgotten for many years, she imagined... It was never an enjoyable experience. "I try to avoid going too high... Falling out of the tree is not nearly as comfortable as napping in it..." She had some reasonable amount of respect for the fickle nature to know it would fail her at any given moment... she didn't dare test her luck with truly dizzying heights.

Fernpaw's reckless kicking sprays tender bark underfoot and proves his legacy as a charmingly confident boy with little in the ways of real success. He is definitely willing to attempt most anything once... admirable, if not stupid. The conversation of a lesson sparks up as the orange ball of optimism laughs off his earlier bet and Mosspaw is one of the few to list her disinterest. A small hum of amusement is shared with them before Moonpaw's curiosities travel elsewhere.

Taking a small glance around, Lichentail didn't often wonder as to the distance of her sight... It was a unique perspective, definitely, but she didn't really come up here to stare about like an owl. Hmm... did SkyClan hide spies in the trees? She'd never through to look when passing the borders... "I can see a lot more than normal... But there's far too much distance to see Four Trees or anything... The horizon has a funny way of making things hazy." Was there a better purpose maybe... other than trying to catch birds in their nests? Would diving into the river from such a height be dangerous or perhaps a new method of chicanery? Best not to give the apprentices any ideas...

"I could teach but... unfortunately you do have to fall a few times to learn anything. New leaf might be a better time... just in case."​

 

[Asphodelrain]

*+:｡.｡ In any other event, Asphodelpaw would've scoffed at the idea of learning how to climb. Why bother when he was, in his opinion, proficient enough at hunting on the ground and in the water? Furthermore, he bristled at the idea of being accused of aligning with Skyclan. Sure, Fernpaw had a point that you didn't have to be a member of an inferior clan to climb trees, but the association was still there and that was enough to deter Asphodelpaw from seeing the value in the skill.
Or, it would've, if his pride weren't already in tatters.
Asphodelpaw watches the crowd of cats with glowering icy eyes, keeping his distance for most of the conversation. A question he doesn't want to ask dancing mockingly on his tongue with dirty paws. Although he shares in Mosspaw's sentiment about keeping his feet exactly where they're most comfortable, he can't deny the interest he holds as he watches Fernpaw scale the tree. Watching him struggle to make it up, though, makes Asphodelpaw's ears flatten against his head. Was the skill really so difficult to learn? Would his river water-soaked paws find the rough bark too foreign for a proper grip? And all this mention of falling made his spin tingle with discomfort. But still...he had to ask...

"So...would you be willing to hold lessons?" he asks, shifting discontentedly where he sits. He doesn't want to learn. He holds firmly to the belief that it's disgraceful to even be teasingly accused of being a Skyclanner, and frankly, he shouldn't even NEED to learn since he can hunt on land and by water just fine! Except he can't. For now, anyway - because this can't possibly last forever but...for now...it would be beneficial to increase his skillset...considering he's (temporarily!) down one out of his two...

*+:｡.｡ Updated 11/13/23

• 
  
• 
  
  
  
  
  GENERAL:
  ☆ Asphodelpaw
  ☆ DMAB— He/Him — Unsure
  ☆ 8 moons — Ages 1 moon every month real-time
  ☆ Coldthroat (NPC) x Cinderstream (NPC)
  ☆ Riverclan — Apprentice
  
  
  
  
  
  COMBAT:
  ☆ Physically easy | mentally medium
  ☆ Attack in bold #9fc3fc
  injuries: None currently

​

 

[hazecloud]

It was easy to forget just how few of her Clanmates could still recall the days before the Clans had developed. Soon, in just a few more waves of apprentices there would be far more warriors born in the riverlands than not, and the realization made Hazecloud feel old. Certainly she wasn't so close to stepping a single toe into the elders den, but retelling the days and experiences from the marshes to so many cats younger than her, repeating them over and over made her feel like one already.

It brought her to the first thunderpath they had to cross just a few moons before. Only Hazecloud (and maybe Lakemoon, she couldn't remember well enough) had ever interacted with the spongey surface of pavement before. Helping an entire patrol's worth cross was more intimidating than she expected, though it had been the first of many trials that taught the molly leadership.

"When we were younger, if I ever had to find Lichentail I just had to look up." The silky-furred molly purred in jest, ear twitching as stray flakes of bark sprayed in her direction. "Maybe the next journey we'll go on will be up to the tallest oaks we've ever seen. Hopefully, I will be able to skip anymore journeys StarClan has for us."​

 

[iciclefang]

“Not all of us had the luxury of being born at the riverside,” Lichentail sighs airily in Iciclefang and Mosspaw’s general direction. The tortoiseshell’s ebony ear flicks out, wayward. “I’m aware.” Luxury is a strange word to use, she thinks to herself—as though she and Mosspaw had been kitted in some Twoleg nest with kittypet slop shoved at their paws. “We climbed plenty in the mountains. You’ll forgive us if it didn’t leave the best impression.”

Lichentail extends the offer for the two of them to climb the tree, to join her in her moment of leisure. She pauses, considering, but after a heartbeat she shakes her head gently and turns her face away. She’d done all the tree climbing she would ever do, in the mountains.

The other cats come to marvel and beg for lessons. She watches Fernpaw give it his best try—earnest, but the bark isn’t like scaling stone, and he slips back toward the earth. Hazecloud’s approach earns a slight dip of the head, but otherwise, Iciclefang finds herself growing uncomfortable. Every prickle under her skin at the thought of Stormywing feels like a glaring, obvious wound to everyone present. “Perhaps in newleaf, I’ll come sharpen my skills with you all. Until then… I’ll leave you to it.”

She dips her head toward the lead warrior before turning and slipping away, back the way she came through the reeds.

[ out! ]

, ”​

​