tunnels shapes and colors [tunneling path]

[SCORCHSTAR]

Scorchstreak has grown used to leading tunneling patrols over the past few months. Leadership has come to fit her naturally, weighing upon her shoulders no more than the pelt that she wears. But some days, she is reminded of just how much work it is, holding a position such as hers. How Sootstar manages as leader, she will never understand. Scorchstreak has hope that Badgermoon will be a suitable replacement for their smoky-furred queen, but how will he keep from crumbling beneath such pressure? She shakes her head to clear such thoughts; Sootstar will surely lead the clan for years to come. There is no need to worry about possibilities now.

The tunneler returns her full attention to the task at hand, loping across the moorland in the direction of the stone bridge. She leads a patrol of decent size, paws following a path aboveground that the tunnel will hopefully follow. If all goes well, they will have easy access to their border with RiverClan before the leaves begin to fall. If all goes well. With a huff, Scorchstreak comes to a stop before the patrol, tail flicking to motion to the land ahead. "The tunnel should continue along this path, or some variation of it. We can create some entrances along the way as well." The more emergency exits, the better, she thinks with a tense clenching of her jaw. More exits will also give tunnelers more points of attack, if enemy warriors ever make their way deep into the territory. An ambush from underground—who would expect such a strategy?

"Shall we make an entrance here, when the time comes?" She asks her patrol merely out of politeness; the calico knows that her word as a lead tunneler supersedes all but Sootstar’s and Badgermoon’s. But she will hear out any arguments for or against this spot. Perhaps the entrance in this area should go someplace more conspicuous, rather than tucked away in the gently sloped curve of the land.

// apprentice tag @cottonpaw​

[ LIKE A RATTLESNAKE ]​

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[cygnetstare]

♱—— they do not like it aboveground, especially not when the sun hangs watchful in the sky—it pinks her shoulders and face, stings their eyes until they tear up, but she is determined to be on this patrol. for one thing, though she would not flaunt it, this tunnel was partially their idea; they would like to be involved in its construction as much as they can be. for another, this is an opportunity for @LUCKYPAW, too, to see just what it's like; new tunnels are rarely dug, if at all, and she would be loath not to offer her apprentice the chance to see how it happens. so she trails after scorchstreak alongside the rest of the patrol, head ducked to at the very least keep the sun from scorching pink eyes, though she can feel pain beginning to rake its way between her shoulders. she leans to luckypaw, mews, "this is the first steps of constructin' the new tunnel, now that starclan's given us a sign."

the calico lead warrior comes to a stop, orange-streaked tail indicating the land that lies before them. she appraises it with pink eyes, deems it satisfactory; scorchstreak is a proficient tunneler and an equally skilled lead warrior, and they trust her judgement implicitly. cygnetstare offers a nod to her mew that they can create more entrances; an easy way for tunnelers to dip in and out of the earth, slithering into riverclan's territory like the adders whose skeleton whitepaw had found. to her question they reply, "ayuh, i'd say so," she mews; in her opinion, tunnel entrances should be at least slightly hidden—any tunneler worth their dirt knows most of them by heart anyways, and it feels safer to her somehow. cygnetstare adds, "i like the idea of it bein' tucked away a little. makes it more hidden-feelin'."

she leans down to her apprentice again, questions in low tones, "what do you think, luckypaw?" it's quickly become a frequent sight—the crescent-moon chimera leaning down to quietly offer her apprentice some question or tip. here, she doesn't ask his opinion to literally make the decision; rather, she wants to see how he reasons it, whether he's already begun to think like a true tunneler.

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┏━⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊ OOC ☽ ◯ ☾ INFORMATION₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆━━━━━┓ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎‎‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ☄. *. ⋆♱･ﾟ:

• ooc: ——
  

• 

• ♱ cygnetstare — for their downy kitten-fur and perceptiveness (or uncanny gaze) she/they ; afab gender apathetic — windclan — tunneler — 34 ☾s —— cygnetstare is a corpselike chimera, split between long albino fur and a short black smoke pelt; their eyes are an unsettling pink. her creepy demeanour distracts from a strange fascination with death and an obsessive loyalty to windclan. —— smells like grave-dirt and blood ; sounds like vc tbd ; speech in #BF959C, thoughts in #000000 —— peaceful / healing powerplay permitted ; attacks/contact in underline ; will start fights ; won't flee unless ordered ; won't show mercy ; will kill or maim —— pansexual panromantic monogamist, single, not looking ; open to friendships, enemies, casual interactions, long-term romance, plotting ; not open to unplanned battles, flings penned by dejavu— desklamp9 on discord for plots

• battle stuff goes here for fights

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[sanguinerush.]

Sanguinerush can near agree with Cygnetstare- after all, the sun is hot on her long fur. Despite how she despises the dirt underground, it was still preferable to the hot and steady of the sun. She rolled her shoulders as she pads after them to the spot that Scorchstreak has decided upon, green eyes shifting over the spot. Her green eyes shifted down the moorland, watching the body of it roll up and down. A beautiful sight, as always, but she wasn't here to moon over the land. Plenty of time for that later.

Sanguine glanced down at the spot indicated. It wasn't too far out of the way, and it was slightly tucked in against the ground. To the untrained eye, it may even look like a burrow entrance. "I trust your judgement, Scorchstreak." Sanguinerush offered, a small nod given to Cygnetstare's explanation. "We'll have more entrances, like you said, too." Sanguine looked back up to the lead tunneler, wearing a neutral expression. This was just business, after all. ​

​

"speech"​

 

[Mouseflight]

Mousepaw had no say in where the entrance to the tunnel went, nor did he care. Ever since they had been told that the plan would be happening the apprentice's paws had been itching to begin, and when Wolfsong had seen the fish skeleton it had gotten worse. When Scorchstreak had started a patrol, Mousepaw had jumped on the opportunity to go to see where the tunnel would be created, and eyes widened as he realized that they were actually planning things now, actually going to start digging soon.

Face peaked over towards where the lead tunneler was motioning, and Mousepaw simply nod his head. He agreed with Cygnetstare, it made it more hidden and it made it easier to know where it was at, just in case they were running towards it at a different time of day than they were used to. "Could we put something here so we know where it's going to start?" StarClan, he wanted to start on it now, he was too excited.

OOC INTERACTIONS ✧.·:·.*

• [ooc]
• windclan (sootstar) loyalist
  dirty fighter/will aim to kill
  will bully anyone (some more than others)
  

  
  

  likely to attack first
  powerplay peaceful actions okay
  ping if needed in a thread
  
• 
  8 months old
  ftm calico -- he/him
  tunneler apprentice
  
  large ears
  always looks grumpy

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[✧ Marmotbite.]

♢​♢ THE BEST MISTAKE YOU EVER MADE ♢♢​

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marmotpaw & 09 moons & female & she/her & windclan tunneler apprentice​

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The prospect of creating a new tunnel is daunting - a big task on any given day, but the why is what really has marmotpaw on edge. One of the smallest of the group, with only the fresh from the nursery faces being tinier, she's more twitchy than usual - visibly nervous, anxious. Riverclan had snatched up sootstars child with hardly a thought, so easily overpowered. she does not wish to face the same.

But still, she pushes through her uncertainty, focuses mismatched eyes on the older members, head tipping to the side as she falls into step somewhere near mousepaw. "Some sorta' marker?" she echoes, nodding - it's not a bad idea. A way for tunnelers to know where to begin, and perhaps for the moor runners to avoid lest they collapse it with their heavy paws before they've even begun.

— it sounds so fuckin' beautiful when you say my name ♡

• Actions && "Speech," && ' Thoughts/Quotes '
  
  ooc: —
  tw/cw: —
  
• — a shockingly tiny she-cat with pale blue and cream ticked tabby fur, save for a single patch covering her right eye that is brown instead, and mismatched green-orange eyes. she has heavy scarring along the entirety of her left side, from her face all the way down her chest, belly, and flank; which has been there since kithood. she is a twitchy little thing, known for her bad attitude and an unfortunate habit of biting when startled.
  
  — physically medium && mentally medium
  — non-violent powerplay allowed && healing powerplay allowed && minor injury powerplay not-allowed
  — please attack using [b][color=#9ab973]action here[/color][/b] and tag account

 

[WeepingWillow]

Slender paws, outfitted with unsheathed claws, moved with haste in the midst of the patrol. Brows furrowed under wispy shaggy grey hair, blocking most of the sun that escaped through. But the sun was a relentless bastard, she much preferred the tunnels that littered their lands.

She was unsure why Scorchstreak directed the question of where the entrance is to be, to the patrol. It was not their decision but to follow the higher ups plans. Though, it was still out in the open, her skull turned side to side, observing their surroundings. Most of windclan in itself was open, and she'd prefer not to have to emerge out from under a bush. "A marker is a good idea," her voice devoid of emotions, but agreeing simply. her gaze was empty of the excitement that itched her bones. But it was the truth that she was a bit excited. "I highly doubt they expect the attack to be held from underground. If they do... well, well figure that out when the time comes. Starclan appears to be on our side."

The fact simply was that WeepingWillow did not believe in such an entity until she could see it for herself. Though, a corpse of a fish is what they believed to be a sign that it was times, it could have been brought across by a predator. A bear perhaps, or an owl or hawk. Who's to say the star-fallen deceased would support decisions of an attack as such.

But she had respect for the lead warriors and leader. This is what they asked, and she will gladly participate. ​

 

[RATTLEHEART]

It was far from uncommon to see Rattleheart trailing behind their sister, a figurative and literal shadow thanks to the dark, sharp shapes of their pelt. Their pawsteps were quick and light as they followed her along the plan she had in mind, carefully and wordlessly committing it to memory as much as they could. It would probably take some time for them to fully remember the intended route - especially when working beneath the ground, rather than above - but this was a good start. There was a certain surprising buzz to them as they made note of things. Not the usual anxious shaking that occasionally gripped their body, but instead a rumble of something excited - akin to an enthusiastic purr. It wasn't often that they got to help their clan through nonviolent means, even if the tunnels they were planning would eventually be used for battle.

They were still reviewing the plan in their mind when Scorchstreak spoke up, their sizeable ears twitching at the question. They knew their sister to be a talented tunneler, and ultimately knew that what she decided would be what went. Still, they glanced at the spot she'd gestured to, turning it over in their head before nodding. "It seems like a good place to me." Obscure, but not so hidden that it would represent a substantial trap to any moor runners that came this way. Although thinking about the tucked away location did place another small worry in their mind. "We'll just need to be sure new tunnelers are taught about it quick once it's finished. Last thing we need is for an apprentice to get all the way over here and end up stumbling right down into the entrance." The tunnels could be disorienting enough when you were a new apprentice getting used to all of them, let alone one potentially encountering a tunnel that hadn't even been in existence for long.

Just tracing the path itself made Rattleheart's claws curl into the dirt beneath them, moor grass rubbing between their toes as they pictured getting to work. Still, they couldn't get ahead of themselves - or ahead of Scorchstreak. They knew that throwing themself into things wholeheartedly without pause would only result in a burnout eventually, and the last thing they wanted was to disappoint her. Or anyone else within Windclan, frankly.
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[ PENNED BY EO ]​

 

[SOOTSPOT]

Being underground should've been as natural as breathing for Sootspot by now but as he entertained the patrol, he wondered if he had made a mistake in wanting more duties that involved interacting with the clan. He was an ant at the end of a long line of ants, unable to properly see what was ahead, unable to turn back lest he abandon the colony. Questions were passed between other Tunnelers and, like a game of Whispers, he wasn't even sure if he had heard Scorchstreak right when she asked if an entrance should be made in a specific spot. 'Weak leadership... uncertainty...' He could not reflect on tone or purpose so far away, but at least his fur could bristle without drawing the ire of others. The answers, at the very least, were sensible. He heard mentions of markers to make sure that wayward apprentices did not reveal the tunnel so easily (or perish in the dark, though Sootspot found himself more concerned with the other clans finding out than the fate of someone who tempted natural selection), he heard tidbits of support for the idea that caused his tufted ears to shift forwards, brushing against the top of the tunnel.

"Just be careful not to dig below the river!" He called out in a half-whisper - he thought Scorchstreak would already know such a thing, but with prior questioning, he thought it best to ensure that the Lead Warrior actually knew what she was doing. It was not Sootstar's judgment he mistrusted, rather, the intentions of those who'd acted sycophantic enough to earn such a role to begin with. Now that he had gotten some attention, Sootspot replaced his exasperated look with a smile, so swift in its delivery that it would've appeared by the time anyone turned around. "We may use scent markers or visual markers. Fish bones or a stolen shell may suffice, whatever we find on the surface of our tunnel."


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[LUCKYPAW]

It's as though the very air is abuzz today, and it's not difficult to understand why - finally, the new tunnel leading underneath RiverClan is going to start construction! Though Luckypaw hadn't necessarily been picked himself, merely following along after Cygnetstare, he still feels a bit of pride that he's going to be there when, well, whatever needs to happen to start digging a tunnel takes place. As the patrol darts across the moors, the sun beating down across his back feels strange - was it always this hot, back when he was confined to camp as a kit? Surely it's worse for the darker-pelted tunnelers, he figures, glancing at the assembled crew for this first mission. Cygnetstare in particular seems to be having a rough time in the heat, though that's no surprise, especially to her apprentice. As they stretch towards him, speaking of the new tunnel, his excitement only builds, a new skip in his step as Luckypaw does his best to keep up with the other tunnelers. Near the beginning, he'd done his best to try and figure out where they would have been if they'd been down below in the tunnels, but his mental map had failed him quite quickly, leaving him with nothing but the knowledge that soon, if not already, they'd be on ground with nothing but piled dirt beneath.

Finally, Scorchstreak comes to a halt, and though he doesn't say anything, inwardly he's grateful for the reprieve; Luckypaw's not sure he's ever run so far so fast before, and he hopes his heavy breathing doesn't show it as much as he's feeling it. Taking a moment, he surveys the land around the area they'd stopped at - nothing especially noteworthy, just WindClan territory. It's not quite disappointing, though he's not really sure why he would have expected anything more grand, since they obviously still had to dig out the tunnel. Green eyes flick over to Scorchstreak as she lays down the basis of the planned tunnel, and for a moment he can't help but feel excited, not just for the tunnel, but also for being able to spend more time with his mother, even if they're on patrol. Scorchpaw has Badgermoon, and Luckypaw had been hoping that he would at least be around Scorchstreak a good bit of the time, though so far their paths hadn't intersected too terribly much. Even this short time together, her as lead warrior and him as apprentice, smooths over a little jealous ache that rests in the back of his mind.

Having never been witness to any of the process, he remains silent as he watches, trying to take in every last detail as though he might be tested on it later - and perhaps he would, sometime down the line the next time a new tunnel is dug out. The question posed by Scorchstreak remains unanswered due to his considerable inexperience, though when Cygnetstare softly asks the same of him, Luckypaw's curious gaze is turned their way, brow slightly furrowed. Did he think it was a good idea to make the tunnel entrance here? Truthfully, he has no idea why one spot might be better than another, at least not with respect to the earth itself; if certain ground is easier to dig, that's not an observation he's yet made. Still, a question needs an answer, and he responds with a soft, hedged, "Well, Scorchstreak probably knows what's best..." It's not much, admittedly, and another glance at their surroundings provides a little more inspiration. "I mean, I think it's a good distance - not too close, so RiverClan won't be able to spot us, and not too far so we can get back to WindClan quick." Around him, others chime in with their agreement and their suggestions, and he considers each of them, especially the ideas for marking where the entrance starts - he'd paid attention as they went, of course, but it's always nice to have a back-up plan just in case, like how tunnels had more than one exit.​

[ PENNED BY HIJINKS ]​

 

[SCORCHSTAR]

Scorchstreak does not seek the approval of their clanmates for things so simple as the placement of tunnel entrances and exits; she is the only lead warrior with experience belowground, and without Sootstar around, her word holds the highest authority. But she wants to hear her fellow tunnelers’ opinions, because perhaps they have considered some consequence that she has merely skipped over. Cygnetstare chimes in to say that entrances to the tunnel should be tucked away, and Scorchstreak is inclined to agree with them. The pink-eyed warrior has shown that they are worth their salt, and she has come to trust their opinion.

Cygnetstare turns to check in with Luckypaw, and the lead warrior fixes her son—her favorite child, though she is loath to admit she has one—with a scrutinous gaze. She is curious as to how Luckypaw will respond to such a question, and his first response is bland. Of course she knows what’s best; she’s his mother, and a lead warrior. But she doesn’t want to hear him restate facts. She wants to hear what he truly thinks of the matter at hand. A scarred brow lifts in judgment for a moment, and settles into a pleased expression when Luckypaw glances around before stating a more detailed opinion. She nods her approval, and turns to face the rest of the patrol.

Sanguinerush is the picture of deference, agreeing with her words easily. Both Mousepaw and Marmotpaw inquire about some kind of marker for this specific entrance, and the calico shakes their head even as Weepingwillow seems to agree with the younger cats. They don’t need a marker here; Scorchstreak is certain she’ll remember this general area. Besides, any significant marker is likely to be moved or destroyed by the time the tunnel reaches this part of the territory—and any WindClanner worth their mettle should be keenly aware of their surroundings on the moor, anyway. Rattleheart comments, as well, that they’ll need to be sure to inform the clan of new tunnel entrances so no one takes a nasty tumble, and she grimaces at the thought of such a silly injury. "We don’t need any aboveground marker," she states, making the decision for them all. She had asked for the others’ viewpoints, sure, but it seems counterintuitive to place a marker at any point in what is meant to be a secret tunnel.

To Sootspot, the calico offers a nod, considering the tom’s suggestion. Markers inside of the tunnel would aid in their navigation for the first few months, as tunnelers get used to the twists and turns of the new underground path. Perhaps a bit vainly, as well, she thinks of the possibility of shimmering shells and bits of fish bone scattered through the tunnels. It would be a nice decorative touch, wouldn’t it? "Thank you all for your input. Once we get farther out in the tunnel, we can reconsider some of your thoughts." ​

[ LIKE A RATTLESNAKE ]​

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[WeepingWillow]

calm and collected, she keeps her composure
︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

The others spoke in agreement, or offered their own ideas. But it was expected to the slender female that scorchstreak not seem to acknowledge a bunch. She continued on whatever own desires she wished, but Weepingwillow would not argue, nor deny the fact that she too would do as she needed to if she felt it was better than other ideas.

Her gaze lingered on the female a little too long, as a pleased look came across her face towards her son. Was she envious of the parental aspects, well, quite honestly no. Children were future warriors to be protected, but she was not one envious of such. But to see the care, that she did endear. Her gaze finally moved on, glancing before the others that were with them.

If not the idea of the above ground markers, the idea of underground markers at least for now would hopefully stay. Though, she supposed they shall take the suspense of what Scorchstreak would consider later. This was going to take a while, she felt. "So, are we to begin digging then?" She asked.

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thought speech​