push on through ] searching for materials

LIGHTNINGHAZE

it's unsettling, to mother nothing
Jan 22, 2024
17
3
3
Statichaze pads through SkyClan's territory, the chilly air nipping at her fur as she surveys her surroundings for anything that might help insulate the nests back in camp. Leaf-fall has settled in, and the threat of harsher weather lingers with each passing day. It has become part of her routine the last few days, seeking out materials that can keep her Clanmates warm, especially the kits and elders who are most vulnerable to the dropping temperatures. Her breath comes out in small puffs as she moves, ears twitching to catch any sounds that might signal something interesting. The forest floor is littered with crunchy leaves, but she's not looking for those—they crumble too easily to be much help against the cold. Instead, she's searching for softer materials, anything that will retain warmth in the dens as the winds pick up and grow sharper. Statichaze's mind wanders to the nests in the nursery. She envisions adding layers to the bedding, securing comfort and warmth around the kits nestled inside. As a queen herself, she's always felt a fierce responsibility to ensure every cat in her care is safe and comfortable.

After a while, she catches sight of a cluster of bushes near the base of an old tree, branches low and covered in what looks like a flurry of feathers. Intrigued, she makes her way over, carefully sniffing at the ground. She realizes she's stumbled upon an old bird nest, likely abandoned as the cold season approaches. Feathers are scattered all around, some caught in the twigs, others littered on the forest floor. Statichaze's whiskers twitch with excitement as she realizes the feathers could be exactly what she's been searching for. Soft, lightweight, and perfect for trapping warmth. Statichaze begins to gather the feathers in her mouth, gently tugging them free from the tangles of twigs. Some are delicate and fluffy, while others are sturdier, perhaps from the bird's wings. She works meticulously, inspecting each feather before adding it to her growing bundle. In between pulling feathers free, she glances around, always on guard for signs of trouble—whether it's a predator or simply a curious Clanmate wondering what she's up to.

When she feels she has collected enough, Statichaze carefully arranges the feathers to keep them from blowing away. As she lifts her head, she imagines the relief the Clan will feel with warmer nests to shelter them. The nursery and elder's den come to mind first, but she thinks she might have enough to share a few with the apprentices as well, a small gesture to help keep them cozy as they rest.

[ rolled a 12 ]​
 

Chrysaliswing's feathery tail bobbed behind him as he followed Statichaze, though it was out of curiosity rather than malice. Fog rested upon the space between his whiskers and his nostrils, irritating as it danced along his muzzle and eyes. Early frost crept along the knolls and the boughs, like a mere smudge of winter turned into a roiling storm, nipping at the whiskers and the purls of his pelt. The warrior, who had already gone through several leaf-bare seasons before, had not anticipated it haunting Skyclan this early. The pious part of him prayed that it was not a divine portend, a herald to the end of times. Mismatched gaze fell upon Statichaze for a brief moment, with feathers like plumes of rime through the mire, running through the scarcity that seemed to rear its head now of all times. She gathered them meticulously, collecting little scraps of some misbegotten bird like it actually meant something to a clan that would die off without food and water and health. Shortsighted as always, the tomcat saw little purpose in a menial task. "You should be hunting for prey to sustain the clan. Not looking for pretty feathers." The chimaera grumbled to himself (though obviously loud enough for the white-streaked molly to hear), as though progress came only in the terms of flowing blood and not tender sleep, and a heaving suspiration rattled through his throat in exasperation. If this was what the kittypet-warriors of Skyclan spent their precious time doing, how were they ever to survive the harsh times? Of course, he figured that the daylight warriors would simply slither back into their Twoleg nests, but true wild cats had no such option. To him, that was what separated a fattened housecat and an honorable warrior - the act of sacrifice.

  • OOC: IC opinions if needed :3 Didn't roll since this reply is after Phase I!
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  • —— CHRYSALISWING / He/They / 31 Moons
    —— Warrior of Skyclan / Mentoring Weaselpaw
    —— A long-haired tomcat with chimaeric patterning. His left side is fully black and his right side is black splotched with sunset-orange. He has complete heterochromia, with his right eye being a bright green and his left eye being a glowering yellow.
    —— Abrasive, temperamental, and critical. Approach at your own risk and engage at your own cost. Despite this, he is a hard worker and quick to call out what he finds wrong.
    —— Penned by Tempest. Contact on Discord (naruk4mi) for plots and threads.


 

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"Bird-brain." Figfeather meows, rolling her eyes at Chrysaliswing. Though insulting him, somehow her voice carried less disdain than it normally did for the orange and black tom. It was almost lighthearted. "Shes not collecting feathers for their aesthetics." Figfeather presumes in defense of the molly, "She's gathering them so SkyClan cats don't freeze to their bones at night. Weren't you cold, last night?" Figfeather sure was! She would've lined her nest better had she known the cold was going to creep in so suddenly.

She glances then to Statichaze, giving her a grateful look and a nod of thanks. The feathers would help keep someone warm at night.
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𓆩✦𓆪"Nice find," Blazingheart compliments Statichaze for the feathers that she collects and her ear twitches as she chooses to ignore Chrysaliswing along with his sour mood. A frown threatens to pull at her lips when Figfeather doesn't ignore the chimera too but it isn't any of her business since she chose not to involve herself to begin with. Her own tail sweeps some of the frost away as her large paws continue to move forward and her newleaf toned eyes search for either prey or nesting material that would keep her clanmates warm from the frost. She thinks about the kittens that are currently in the nursery tucked away safely in the den to avoid the frost that began to form on the ground and plants around them.

Her snout lowers to the ground slowly only to perk up at the sight of some feathers delicately blown into one of the bushes and she leans forward to collect them carefully within her jaws, she stands upright once she tucks the feathers into her fur so that they remain them momentarily while trying to see if the frost covered bush had any other goodies that it could offer. Perhaps, it would blow over and the rest of Skyclan needn't worry about the the cold even if he knows that leaf-bare is right around the corner. "I found somethin'." Blazingheart mumbles only to take her findings within her jaws and turn to the rest of the group.


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  • ooc — rolled a 18
  • WARRIOR SKILLS;
    ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧ HUNTING
    ✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧ TRACKING
    ✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧ COMBAT
    ✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧ STEALTH
    ✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧ STRATEGY
    ✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ SWIMMING
    ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧ CLIMBING
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    a large, longhaired red tabby feline with green eyes
    blazingheart's a sharp tongued warrior that can oftentimes come off as insensitive or uncaring even if it isn't necessarily his intent upon first meeting. she tends to come off awkward during small conversations so she will dismiss herself if she finds the situation tense. she's rather prickly due to several events in her life and seen tense for the most part but she's trying to improve, all of her opinions are IC only.
    16 moons old; ages the 28th every month
    asexual biromantic; currently interested in no one
    child of coyotecrest and howlfire
    sibling to wolfpaw and hawkspine
    currently mentoring ... n/a
    hard to befriend due to how standoffish she comes off as ; oftentimes quick to anger ; very reckless
    "speech", thoughts, attacking
    peaceful powerplay allowed