border SO I NEVER WENT BACK // visiting leader

[HOWLINGSTAR]

Fortunately for her, the trip to the bridge is a remarkably short one. As politely as she could, she had bidden farewell to the WindClan patrol and now stands confidently at the edge of the stone arch. After some time, she sits, her tail wrapped neatly over her paws. She wonders how Smokethroat is doing without his mate, his leader. Her heart goes out to him; she and Cicadastar never got along, but she wouldn't wish the death of anyone's love on them. But that is not why she is here.

She blinks back to attention as a RiverClan patrol slips like serpents from the reeds, their pelts much shinier and builds much fuller than anyone in her own clan. Sometimes, she still cannot get over the brilliance of their physiques. "Good morning," She offers them politely, her head dipping in respect. "I'm here to speak to a cat called Dovethroat. I wish to thank him for helping get our apprentice home." She doesn't know who this warrior is, but she wants to meet them, see the face-to-face and give them the heartfelt gratitude that has been sitting in her stomach. She knows that it will make her feel a twinge better in her mourning. Well, she hopes.​

 

[SMOKESTAR]

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ThunderClan at the border. He wants to think its a passing patrol but very pointedly he is told by the apprentice sent back that it is Howlingstar and she is directly asking for Dovethroat. Smokestar feels his fur prickle with unease, wonders what the purpose of this visit was for. He doesn't want to assume the worst, but the ticked tom had returned to them delayed due to ThunderClan's inability to keep their own apprentice's safe. He's split between finding it admirable or foolish but the lungwort got back without further delay so he let it go. Still, he was playing it safe nonetheless. It was probably just a visit asking to ensure he got back safely, he assumed - Howlingstar was the sort of bleeding heart type to do such a thing.
The dark tom makes his way there after sending the young apprentice off to find Dovethroat, wherever he was, probably in Ravensong's den being a nuisance - but he had things to say to the tabby leader so it was worth the visit on its own merit.
"Howlingstar..." He greets, tone calm and he wonders if the exhaustion is too evident on his face, his form, his voice. He still wears the cobwebs from Ravensong's efforts to keep the rest of his blood in him and not on the ground, but he got too antsy at camp so he had been out hunting with Beepaw before taking notice of the visitor.
"...you're after one of my warriors for a thank you?" This entire walk for that when the gathering was brushing their whiskers? Well, suppose that was better than what he expected it to be. This was fine. "I've sent Streampaw to fetch him...though, while you're here I would warn you of something I intended to bring up at the gathering." He was no friend to ThunderClan, nor did he want to be, but he was hardly going to let Sootstar spin whatever narrative she wanted and he would not forgive himself if someone's medicine cat was torn apart when he had the foresight to stop it. "WindClan has claimed highstones..."

——✘ when does ripple become a tidal wave ———✘ when does a candle become a flame

• Apprentice Tag - @BEEPAW.
• 
  
  
  Smokestar
  —⊰⋅ Leader of RiverClan
  —⊰⋅ He/Him
  "SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  —⊰⋅ Black tom w/vitiligo & one orange eye.
  

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[bubbleburst]

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

Bubblepaw is amongst the RiverClan patrol standing on opposition to the ThunderClan leader. She stands excitedly with her mentor Drysplash at the opportunity to say hello to the forest-dwelling cats. Their pride is no bother to her. They have plenty of wives tales and fun stories to tell. Though she knows that RiverClan resents their neighbors to the east- their occupation of the coveted sunningrocks is a hot-button item- this patrol has nothing to do with that.

Bubblepaw forgets herself for a moment. Forgets all the doom and gloom, and the severity of the news Smokestar brings from his journey to highstones. "Hello, Howlingstar!" she greets the ThunderClan leader with much enthusiasm even as Smokestar appears among them. She glances to him as he speaks so as to bring forth the terrible news, and the enthusiastic apprentice snaps her jaws shut. Even she, in all her air-headedness and excitement, knows when the right time is to exchange pleasantries. Maybe she will have a better opportunity during the gathering. She glances between Smokestar and Howlingstar, wondering silently how the ThunderClan leader will handle the news.

/ grandma howl plz take her home​

✦ ★ ✦​

 

[PIKESPLASH]

It is uncommon for a leader to come up to them and ask for someone within their clan. Especially when a gathering was so close. Perhaps it was urgent that for her to speak to Dovethroat in order to thank him. Even Smokestar was baffled by this odd request. Then again it's not like he's ever seen Smokestar or Cicadastar go over to the border and demand to speak personally to a warrior of another clan. It's no surprise that Howlingstar is given permission considering all she desires is to thank Dovesthroat who caused Ravensong to panic. Beside him he has Nettlepaw and hopes that the apprentices either remains silent or tries to greet the Thunderclan leader with respect. Speaking of which he dips his head in greeting and respect towards the Thunderclan leader. Even if he is not under her command, she holds a heavy responsibility just like their new leader Smokestar.

When Bubblepaw cheerfully greets Howlingstar, his fur stands on end. It was not wrong of the apprentice to say hello to her, but it just didn't seem like the right time to do so. Smokestar was discussing something serious and they couldn't say anything. All they could do is listen and hope that Howlingstar would not call them liars and aid them along with the other clans this gathering. After all, Windclan has claimed the highstones for themselves cutting off Starclan to the rest of the forest. He remembers Smokestar returning to them exhausted. They had almost lost him before he could earn his lives and new name. He shudders at the thought of Smokestar dying by the hands of Windclan and leaving Riverclan leaderless. He's not sure what they would have done and who would've taken the helm if that had ever happened.

Knowing that it is out of place to speak of how their leader returned to them, he nods in confirmation of Smokestar's words. "W-warn your medicine cat, the highstones aren't safe anymore." With that, he returns to silence. After all, this is a conversation meant between Smokestar and Howlingstar. He hopes the black tom will not cuff him for speaking up. If he was met with a lone orange eye, he would promptly stare at his paws in shame.

 

[HOWLINGSTAR]

Smokethroat slips to the bridge, and her eyes follow him respectfully. She dips her head in response to his question and mews, "He helped get our apprentice. She is no longer able to walk, but she is alive and home with his help. I am very grateful to both RiverClan and him for that." Just as she had been grateful to the WindClanners, and to SkyClan.

Her attention diverts to a bouncing young apprentice who seems to be unable to keep still. Her lips curve up in amusement as she greets her and Howlingstar returns with a nod of her own. "Hello there. What's your name? I don't think we have met yet." There is nothing like the enthusiasm and energy of youth to soften her features, but unfortunately it does not last long.

WindClan has claimed Highstones...

Her eyes snap back to the black tom, wide and incredulous. "What?" She hisses in shock, ears pressing forward and her tail lashing with apprehension. She has pushed herself to her paws now and can feel her fur rising along her spine. Green eyes search the features of the RiverClanners, looking for any sign this is a joke or lie, but their dark expressions convey their seriousness. The silver warrior that stands there tells her to warn her medicine cat, and his ominous words send a shiver down her spine. "How could they...?" She mews in disbelief, horror-stricken.​

 

[Nettlepaw-]

NETTLEPAW ♂
RIVERCLAN
APPRENTICE
THREE MOONS
BLIND IN BOTH EYES
BIOGRAPHY AND TAGS
APPRENTICED TO PIKESPLASH
PLAYED BY SHEOGORATH​

---

The border has a strong, unmistakable scent, and Nettlepaw is grateful for that at least. He stands beside his mentor as the patrol greets Howlingstar, and though he is blind, the young apprentice tries to focus on exactly where the ThunderClanner is standing. Her distance away from him. It's practice, in a way. Something he hopes will aid in both hunting and battle one day. As the conversation goes on, the apprentice is mostly silent. The moment WindClan is mentioned though, his ears flatten. Howlingstar expresses disbelief, and the boy snorts.

"It's WindClan. We shouldn't be surprised." The distaste in his voice for the moor runners was clear enough for all to hear. "They'll probably claim fourtrees next."
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