camp SIREN SOUNDS ╱ LOYALIST CHATTER

[THORNRUNNER]

They sit near the center of camp, unafraid of whatever judging eyes might pass them by. Thornrunner grooms his limbs in quick, confident motions, from the bend of his upper leg down to flexed claws that shine like polished ivory and cut like shattered glass. Almost as deadly as his tongue, or his faith in Sootstar — at least, from an outsider's perspective. His true thoughts on the moor queen were a bit more complicated, but what did that matter? It didn't. That's the only answer. Another precise, methodical lick, and he jumps back into the conversation with a subtle grimace. "It's embarrassing, how many of them saw fit to speak against her as they did," he spits out lowly, his tail flicking with his displeasure. Icy eyes glance around camp, finding a few notably outspoken clanmates with dagger-sharp spite.

"It's a testament to her patience that she thinks they are worth offering reform to. I would have chased them off, if only she'd asked." The next paw, chasing dust off a pristine pelt with a rasping tongue. "Maybe we will get the opportunity soon, the way that they're acting. Even her patience must come to an end eventually."

——ˏ͛ °•*⁀➷ 𝑨𝑳𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫𝒀 𝑫𝑬𝑨𝑫  ╱╱ 10.30.2023 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑺𝑶𝑶𝑵 𝑭𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑶𝑻𝑻𝑬𝑵

• OOC. chatting with other loyalists, notably @hollowcreek >:) will likely look murderously at any ambiguous or outright disloyal cat that even looks at them
• THORNRUNNER. HE - HIM - HIS. YOUNG MOOR RUNNER OF WINDCLAN. SOOTSTAR LOYALIST. PENNED BY REVELATIONS.  ——————————————
  ——  a densely-furred yet sleek chocolate tabby with high white and several scars hidden within his fur. he carries himself with cocky confidence and a sharp cunning in icy blue eyes.
• "speech"

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[Bearflight]

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He can not help but overhear. News of the incident at the border had burned through the camp like a wildfire, he couldn't decide how to feel on it. He liked Halfkit, it was fun having her in the camp even if he had been apprenticed before they got to play properly. He didn't know what ShadowClan was like much outside their brief stay but the kits there played the same games - it was a strange realization for him to come upon, the sameness of it. It made him question a few things though Bearpaw was not a very pushy child and he rather wait and see his answers unveiled than go poking and prodding for it.
What he did know is that it had been in very poor form to speak out so boldly against Sootstar and even as a newly made apprentice he understood this. His father dutifully followed her and acted on her behalf but he had seen the haunted look on his face later, heads bowed with ðir in discussion. He'd left them to their talk, wandered around and wondered how his new mentor felt on the entire affair. Her kin had been indignant, did she agree with them? Did she disagree? Would she voice either? She seemed the sort to keep her head low, what exactly happened to a traitor? Chased off didn't seem so bad, there were other clans, other places to live, but killing them was quite final. Would Sootstar kill? Before he might have thought no, but as of late she had seemed in a peculiar way. Bearpaw found he was afraid of her somewhat.
"Thornrunner, Hollowcreek..." He both greets and queries, padding forward to the tabby with his stub of a tail held up high, "...why do we get so many cats who are traitors?" The list was monumental in length, from those who still lingered in the background after punishment such as Kestreltalon, to those no longer within the clan at all by either Sootstar's means or otherwise. There was a reason. Surely.

◈ ——— it's easy to explain ◈ ——— 'cause this world's not tame (little fang, little fang)

•  
• 
  
  
  Bearpaw
  —⊰⋅ Apprentice of WindClan
  —⊰⋅ He/Him
  "SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  —⊰⋅ SH Chocolate Rosette Tabby w/blue eyes.
  

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[FEATHERSPINE]

Featherpaw felt consistently as if it was not simply herself she was minding, but every other cat in her rank. At least, those who she had grown up with. Bearpaw, at the very least, was not as outspoken as some of her siblings, some of Brightshine and Heavysnow's brood; still, sharp eyes of sun-ray found her brother, settled upon him, and unsettled him in the process. He strode over to Bearpaw, not wanting to leave him alone among warriors. His question was innocent, really- soft and devoid of any judgement.

Featherpaw wouldn't offer the traitors, the fragments of WindClan and the threats to its safety, that same courtesy. "They don't think," he interjected, greeting his littermate with the flick of a white arrow-tipped tail. "About what will keep them safe. Or about what'll keep WindClan safe." They were renowned for being a combative Clan, Featherpaw had learned that by now; but he was convinced they would only have to bear their claws against those who threatened the Clan's safety. ​

✦ penned by pin​

 

[SOOTSPOT]

"I have often found that self-interest runs ripe within our ranks. They do not think about the good of WIndClan, only what feels good to themselves." Sootspot seemingly appeared out of nowhere, a ghost within the camp walls, ears pricked forwards and head tipped confidently as if he'd been listening the whole time. Soil lapped at his charcoal paws and pupils narrowed as they adjusted to the new light the chimera found himself in. His clanmates spoke bullheadedly, the promise of conflict ripe within their eager voices. Like a gracious prince, he swished his tail and sat down beside them, whiskers coiled like tiny snakes. Reform had only been successful once before, with his unruly peer who thought themselves free-spirited enough to have left WindClan without any consequences - it had only worked because they were young, to offer such 'reform' to those better at hiding their intentions would not be a gamble worth taking. The only clan that should take them in for their folly was StarClan, and Sootspot was happy to send them there.

A grim smile twitched upon his maw, as if bereft to mew his next words. "There are even some cats who would mother kittens during the Yellowcough outbreak. Not a problem for most, as I am sure you would agree, but when that cat is responsible for the entire clan's health? Well, I have to wonder if self-interest played a role there too." He shook his head in shame, limbs tensed with a sincere loathing for the individual he was talking about. The council were vultures feasting on Sootstar as if she already had one paw in the grave, he saw through their sycophantic agreement with her; Dandelionwish and Badgermoon had been the same until they had the awful experience of being inconvenienced by the leader's decision. Testing the boundaries, he did not share names, but kept his eyes and ears peeled for any signs of disagreement within those gathered. The most dangerous enemy was not the one that reared its head at the first sign of conflict, but the one that lurked within the burrows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Just as he wanted to be that enemy, Sootspot feared there were many WindClanners that had beaten him to it. "I do wonder if the lives gained can make up for the lives lost. Weaselclaw left big pawsteps to walk in." There was a glance at Bearpaw and Featherpaw.



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[Bearflight]

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He leans, bumping into Featherpaw in happy greeting to his sibling and her words as always were sharp and to the point. Bearpaw shakes his pelt, rosette spotting rippling as he settles himself to sit and listen in, enjoying the idea of hearing any stories that might be shared and another cat soon joins them. His head tilts as he turns and nods in greeting.

Sootspot, Sootstar's child named for her and unceremoniously neglected and tossed aside in favor of her litter with Weaselclaw, speaks.

His words have the sort tone one might ask when they already knew the answer to a question, the same way he had heard elders nag on about when they question who will be picking their ticks as they starred directly at an apprentice passing by. The russet colored young tom blinks, inhales and smiles brightly with his teeth visible.

His lopsided ears prick upwards and he confirms, "I agree, thank goodness my parents planned me and my sibling beforehand. It would have been foolish to consider having kits in the middle of this. Even so they probably would have been fine! Wolfsong is so capable with how he juggles both us and the entire clan. Maybe I will be a medicine cat one day? But it does sound tedious with how many cats act like they are invincible. I think I would rather be a leader when I'm older then." Imagine not being loved unconditionally, it could not be him.

His steely blue gaze locks on the older cat, his senior by many, many moons and he nods solemnly, "Weaselclaw will be missed. Maybe you can fill his pawprints, Sootspot? WindClan needs more lead warriors. I often wonder why you were not already one! Is there a reason Sootstar hasn't chosen you?" His voice pitches upward, chipper and optimistic - if his words held double meaning he did not express as much. He was just an apprentice admiring an older warrior as they were won't to do.

◈ ——— it's easy to explain ◈ ——— 'cause this world's not tame (little fang, little fang)

•  
• 
  
  
  Bearpaw
  —⊰⋅ Apprentice of WindClan
  —⊰⋅ He/Him
  "SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  —⊰⋅ SH Chocolate Rosette Tabby w/blue eyes.
  

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[hollowcreek]

The broad shouldered chimera kept his chin tipped up toward the sky. Confidence shined like an effervescent aura around the moor-runner as he huddled around his like-minded Clanmates. His ear twitched as Thornrunner hissed his displeasure with the display some had shown toward Sootstar, and he sagely nodded in agreement.

"You're not the only one, Thornrunner." Hollowcreek reassured the younger tom, a flicker igniting behind burnt honey eyes. Seeing the fire of loyalty alight in the cats raised by Sootstar's rein brought a promising shine to WindClan's future. Bearpaw approached in polite greeting, and his question was not incredibly unexpected. Tensions were high, especially after the arrival of the ShadowClan kits. He wondered how Brightshine's influence would affect the Deputy's son, knowing the inevitable turn when sides must be taken.

The apprentice's littermate and Sootspot join the conversation to answer Bearpaw's question, and the Queen's spawn jumped to work. Self-interest has made its mark among their ranks, ambition turned ugly within cats that couldn't keep it contained.

"Greed will twist one's soul into something completely unrecognizable." Hollowcreek's voice was solid, remaining leveled with a steady breath. "Sootstar has made WindClan the strongest, fearless force under the stars. No one in the forest could deny that. It comes at a price, though. Many believe they can reach her level of power, but don't stop to think if they are deserving."

A sigh passed through his lips, almost wistful. Recalling a time the stars had not complicated such things. "So they undermine her, believing it will weaken her. But time and time again we have ousted the blasphemers against our Queen, overcoming their baseless dissent." His tongue swiped over his maw as he avoided joining in the vague distaste toward their current ranks. Bearpaw was quick to catch on, and Hollowcreek granted Sootspot a curious glance while the rosette dug into him.

"A great question, Bearpaw! However, Sootstar does have a trend of filling her council with cats that have experience equal to her. Perhaps for Sootspot it's simply a test of time." A rather neutral response, though he was thoroughly amused.​

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"speech"​

 

[FEATHERSPINE]

Featherpaw's gaze grew icy-sharp, light glinting off of frost, at Sootspot's words. The stupid look on his face- Featherpaw rather wanted to slap it off of him. Unlike WindClan's many traitors, though- he thought about his actions before he performed them. Striking a son of Sootstar would do him no good, even the lowliest idiot could have worked that out. He and his siblings were born during the yellowcough outbreak, yes, but known of long before. She didn't miss those vile green eyes flicking her and Bearpaw's way, though.

Hurt plucked and split a harp string of her heart, but she rebuilt it with steel soon enough. Her glare was as statuesque as ever as her littermate spoke- if there was any venom in his veins, Bearpaw hid it a lot more neatly than his brother. Bearpaw was sweetened with innocence, while Featherpaw remained frozen at his side, scowl deep-set. Is there a reason Sootstar hasn't chosen you? Hollowcreek dropped his two cents, but Featherpaw felt far less like being encouraging.

"I think it's b-because he apparently thinks keeping WindClan's ranks alive is somehow a b-b... is somehow harmful." It was an indirect but blatant way of calling him stupid, but at least she didn't hit him. This felt better than hitting him would have, anyway- and she did not want those acid-green eyes on her any longer. Nose held high, an indignant gesture, she turned away.

\ out unless stopped B)​

✦ penned by pin​

 

[Bluepool]

Bluepool does not know when things have changed so drastically, but they have. She can see it in the way her clan divides themselves and you are either with Sootstar, praising and worshiping her every word and nearly kissing the ground she walks on, or whispering dissent when you think no one is listening. She herself does not know where she stands. On one paw, the smoke-furred molly was her kin, was her sister and her leader. She remembers when they had been small and the three of them had tumbled about under their milk-givers watchful eyes. They had all proclaimed that their futures held so much greatness, just like any kit liked to. Had Sootstar ever imagined this? She wonders.

She listens idly to the chatter brought about by the cats around her. Like a bunch of gossiping queens they were. It is Thornrunner's words that finally pique her interest. The venom laced in his voice is not lost on her and though she says nothing she cannot help but think how sad it was that her clan was broken in this way. Bearpaw, one of Wolfsong's and Sunstride's chimes in and he is accompanied by her new apprentice, Featherpaw. She looks at them from the corner of her golden hued eyes, and she lets out a huff of amusement at Bearpaw's question, at Featherpaw's answer. And then Sootspot chimes in because of course he does. Her nephew was prattling on, words that were not true and words that made it look as if he did not wish for the bloodlines in WindClan to continue. Before she can say anything though, Bearpaw is stepping in and then Featherpaw.

The look of amusement on the blue-toned warriors face is palpable. Her features twist into a smile and a barking laugh escapes from her jaws. "It would seem, dear nephew, that my apprentice though barely out of the nursery, has more sense than you seem to" she makes no move to stop Featherpaw as she stalks away. She hadn't said anything outlandishly rude after all. "WindClan will remain strong, no matter what challenges are thrown at us" she says finally, gaze resting finally on Hollowcreek as he sung praises for her sister. She should have guessed he would be among those to do so but still, she cannot help the dissapointment that tugs at her chest. She had always thought him better than that.

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