private THE MOMENT I SAID IT [✨] Council Meeting

[FIGFEATHER]

Figfeather had settled next to @Howlfire underneath the elderberry bush. The leader's den is where Orangestar hosted all of her council meetings as Blazestar had done before her. They were routine, occurring at least once a moon to discuss borders, their herb storage, prey, and politics.

Figfeather feels her stomach tie itself into knots. Nervousness was unusual for her; especially when surrounded by her fellow council members. She knows why this nervousness as knotted into her stomach, though. For the first time in all of the council meetings she's attended she felt displeased... and not with just any cat.

Her eyes linger on @Orangestar . The leader sits in her nest, posture poised, and tail tucked at her paws. For the past quarter moon, she hadn't seemed herself. Her orders lacked firmness, and she seemed more hesitant to act. Now, judging by recent decisions, a glance in @Sorrelsong's direction, Orangestar's judgement had grown clouded, too.

Before the meeting is commenced by Orangestar, Figfeather flicks her tail to catch the leader's attention. "I have a concern I'd like to voice before we proceed, if I may." She bows her head respectfully, even if she had criticisms for her leader Orangestar still had her respect. A moon of poor choices or lack of action did not make Figfeather loathe a cat she's respected her entire life.

"StarClan, help me to not say anything bird-brained!"

"We're hungry. We're cold. That's leafbare, I know, but we've sitting on our paws..." They've done little to better their situation and those who have taken action have been scolded for it. Trespassing was not something she took pride in, but it was better than sitting around and allowing bellies to continue to growl. "With several warriors being killed by something in the shadows and two by dogs," She winces at her own indirect mention of ex-mate and son, "It's not safe hunting in loner lands and the Twolegplace. At least when our warriors trespassed on ThunderClan land they knew what they'd run into." She glances around the den to hesitantly meet the gazes of her council-mates. She knows many of them were displeased with Slatesnarl's recent prey theft, would they understand where she was coming from?

"I'm not saying we should continue trespassing for prey, but we have to do more. We are not serving the Clan, not protecting them, caring for them, to our fullest capabilities..." Her whiskers droop as she looks to Orangestar directly, "We are serving SkyClan inadequately. We need to do more. Our Clan is in danger."

// @TWITCHBOLT @Florabreeze @DOEBLAZE @Fireflyglow @Fawnkit~

 

[Howlfire]

Howlfire sits huddled next Figfeather, her fur fluffed up to shield her from the light chill lingering in the air. Amber eyes glanced around at the others present, acknowledging them with a small smile or little nod, even Sorrelsong. Howlfire might not have understood why she had been appointed, but assumed there had to be some reasoning for it, thus was trying to accommodate the new lead warrior as best she could.

Before they begin, Figfeather asks if she could bring something up. Howlfire glanced around at the others present, curious if they would say anything or object to her interruption, but when they did not, her attention shifted back to Figfeather. For a moment, she half expects Figfeather to bring up Sorrelsong's appointment to the council, recalling her verbal shock in the meeting but instead her friend brings up the mention of their struggles of prey. When she points out the dangers of hunting in the loner lands and twolegplace, Howlfire nodded in understanding, noting that it must have been a sore subject for her after Fantastream and Coffesong's tragic deaths. Although the mention of ThunderClan and the vague implication of possibly hunting there make Howlfire shift her weight, she can again understand where the other was coming.

Howlfire let's the other warrior finish voicing her concerns before taking the opportunity to speak. "Leafbare is hard for all the clans, that doesn't mean our first instinct should be to resort to stealing another clans prey when we start to struggle," Howlfire mewed, speaking in a neutral tone. She could not imagine herself trying to justify stealing another clan's prey at that moment in time, thinking it would be hypocritical of her after scolding the warriors for it recently. "If we had perhaps given more of a show of force when ThunderClan stole from us in the past, they might not have been inclined to steal from us again," She pointed out, eyes briefly glancing in Orangestar's direction but otherwise not speaking to any cat in particular. "As it stands, I don't think we should even be considering ThunderClan as an option to deal with our prey issues." Of this, Howlfire was adamant about. "We know RiverClan and ShadowClan have helped themselves to their territory in recent moons, but no doubt some of you saw how they looked at the last gathering? They didn't exactly seem to be struggling in spite of that did they?" If anything , ShadowClan seemed to be in quite the state. "ThunderClan is angry," Howlfire continued. "If our warriors keep trespassing, what's to say they might be encouraged to attack us or our camp, deeming us weak and an easy target?" Another question lingered in the air: how many of our clanmates are fit and able to fight?

Howlfire let her words linger in the air, giving time for the others to absorb what she said for a moment. "Surely we haven't used up all our options have we?" She asked in a softer tone, this time speaking directly at Orangestar. "RiverClan is on good terms with us aren't they? Would Lichenstar be amenable to letting us hunt along the river...or dare I say, even temporarily granting us dual hunting rights at Sunningrocks?" A bold idea for sure but Howlfire wasn't saying they should claim it for themselves, only to hunt there with RiverClan's permission, or even supervision if the clan would prefer that.​

 

[Florabreeze]

It's not unusual for Figfeather to speak her mind, Florabreeze admires that about her. Though sometimes it's peculiar, she reclines next to Doeblaze. Her sister is no doubt close by, Sorrelsong's addition was a strange one but not unwelcomed and she would never want her to think otherwise. As Figfeather asks to speak up she finds herself thinking this is one of those rare times where it's peculiar. She doesn't hear any objections and the daylighter personally holds none so green eyes twinkle in curiosity as they fall upon the marmalade tabby. Immediately she feels like she holds no say on the topic, there is always a certain guilt that follows her when the topic of food is brought up. As she has no fears for hunger, her heart hurts in sympathy for her clanmates. She has started to see the lingering effects of being hungry, while she is healthy as can be it seems like a lot of cats have been feeling frailer or even ill these days.

The mention of the dog attacks brings a thoughtful frown, consideration overtaking the guilt. It wasn't safe in the loner lands but it wasn't even safe within their own territory either, her gaze shifts to Doeblaze. A split second passing glance at her neck, remembering the hefty paw that had been crushing her windpipe within their own territory. As was this mysterious killer that took Oakrumbles life, that happened within their territory. If the argument was that they weren't safe there then how could anyone feel safe to be anywhere? It's a confusing mess, one that feels never ending if one truly dwells on it. Her eyes widen at the notion of hunting within ThunderClan, it seemed blasphemous in a way.

The code is something she clings to, something she hopes everyone else clings to as well. She may not know hunger but she knows her clan history, to willingly order some kind of breaking of the Warrior Code, it seems rougish. She thinks to interject, though that seems careless. There is clearly more to what Figfeather wants to say and she will not cut that short. That doesn't stop her from trying to share glances with those around her, to try and figure out what the rest of the council thinks in this moment. When she finishes Florabreeze finds herself nodding in agreement, at least she wasn't arguing to keep trespassing. It's a little embarassing to think so poorly of Figfeather temporarily, thankful that she doesn't need to anymore she nods her head to Howlfire. The she-cat had a point, ThunderClan while a prevalent threat shouldn't be seen as a sole option.

Who knows what could happen next? They can't keep going on like this, to accidentally make ThunderClan a further enemy when they're already so emboldened is foolish. She recalls the patrol she lead there last time, they can't even behave professionally at their borders anymore. It's a delicate scale and surely everyone can see it's being tipped to chaos, or at least be ready for that if it happened. "I agree with Howlfire, stealing prey shouldn't be the solution here" her tongue feels heavy, still a little nervous to even think of the food aspect of things.

"I think we should either take a firm stance against ThunderClan or try to ease tensions, this back and forth with an already volatile clan might make our Leafbare worse." While her meow is hardened she does her best to keep a respectful tone. She trusts Orangestar, respects her immensely, hopefully that is shown. However, the inaction either way needs to be squashed. "We already know what they think of SkyClan, I too fear for our clans safety. Protecting our Clan should be our priority, for what it's worth I'd rather not make a further enemy of ourselves with them." If it came down to it she would do her best but it seemed smarter to ease tensions rather than a call to arms. She was curious about what the others thought though.

"Hunting at Sunningrocks might be a good idea, if Lichenstar allows it of course." Hunting from the river sounds smart too but they're not equipped for it like they are, would RiverClan ever ask to hunt from their trees? "Even if not, maybe making amends with ThunderClan could earn generosity. Allying with them for being able to hunt on their territory without the bloodshed. That comes with risks but we should consider it." Not everyone would be happy with that call, she personally isn't the clans biggest fan but she stands by her idea. It would most likely jepordize their good standing with RiverClan as well, but it's a suggesion that she believes shouldn't go unsaid. Gaze falling back on Figfeather she nods once again "We can't have our clanmates keep risking their lives trespassing for prey, I also worry that we're not doing all we can" Her words echo her fellow lead warriors sentiment. She hopes her stance is clear, this clan has become a second home to her, it is any full time warriors permanent home. It hurts to see them suffering at all.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Somethings coming ﻬ𖧧ﻬ So out of breath ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

• 

• 
  FLORABREEZE 𖧧 She/her || Daylight Lead Warrior of SkyClan || 39 moons
  ❥ A large black tabby maine coon with low white and bright green eyes, always wearing her mushroom print collar if she can
  ❥ Mentored by Sorrelsong ／Mentoring Daffodilpaw
  ❥ "Speech", thoughts, attacking
  ❥ Penned by Juice ⏐ouijeejuice on discord {open to being dmed for plots}

​

 

[TWITCHBOLT]

SkyClan was struggling, to a sickeningly obvious extent- Twitchbolt was sure, sure all the other Clans knew it, too. They were watching with pity and anger as jagged-boned kittypets, or whatever they'd be called next, stumbled over their borders and scrabbled at squirrels. Teeth jittered through every silence, a frown deep-set upon his face, even in moments of peace. Discomfort didn't flee from him even now, as they filed into Orangestar's den- as Figfeather lead the discussion. A long-tattered ear flicked thoughtfully to the sound of her voice- a desperate opinion that they were not doing enough, that despite the thin thread of annoyance piercing through many at the recent trespassing, there was no doubt it had stemmed from struggle. In silence, Twitchbolt agreed.

It was like, like- being wedged between boulders, pointed edges digging in, drawing blood. Fangs slotted together, worried; tightening all the more as Howlfire suggested asking for help, as Florabreeze suggested making amends. Allies- it sickened him, the idea of it, and he bristled a little in thought, face scrunching up. A ragged breath scraped from him, then-

"No." It was firm, accompanied with the lash of his tail. His wasn't the final say, of course, but he wouldn't... wouldn't mince words. "We can't... under any circumstances afford to owe any of those Clans a thing. Everything in this forest ss-sswitches on a dime. I- I refuse to be beholden to anyone but our Clan." No help, no help from everywhere. They had to fight, they had to... do anything except owe. SkyClan had to prove itself capable of surviving without aid, at risk of becoming the laughing stock of the forest.

"We can try and bring in more daylighters, cats who don't have to eat here, to help with our hunting, to- to bolster our numbers and help scout for what k-keeps killing our warriors. We can push our borders outwards, instead of blindly... hh-hurtling over them. We can't owe them anything, we can't afford to be friendly, to try and appease anymore." Tangled fur bristled as he said it. His truth was laid bare- he despised the thought of being the pushover Clan, anymore. The nice ones, the neutral ones.

"Orangestar," and he levelled her with a lingering look, wide, wild-eyed. "We can't be neutral anymore, just- just lying down and hoping we don't p-piss off the other Clans. They don't care about staying out of our business. We have t-to be vigilant. We have to be prepared to fight." Was the deputy supposed to be telling his leader what to do? All too late, Twitchbolt felt a crashing storm of shame start to hail down upon him.​

penned by pin ✧​

 

[DOEBLAZE]

Almost reluctantly, Doeblaze slots herself into the cats nestled into the elderberry den. Her paws yearn to wander, for some reason; more accurately, maybe, to pace. Just to move. She feels unsettled down to her bones, like the lame elk in a herd, feeling the wolves snapping patiently at its heels. Not for the first time in life, she'd liken herself to a prey animal in more than name.

Maybe it'd be more accurate to say she feels like a lone elk, directionless, just staggering away from something rather than towards anything of use. Her eye catches on the resolute shape of Orangestar; all her life as SkyClan's known it, the other cat has been a resolute presence. Poised and unwavering, unflinching when Doeblaze had been doing nothing but, and yet—

Lately she's seemed a little like that lame elk. Her clipped orders had lost some of their characteristic stability. And, for the sake of the stars… it's all Doeblaze can do not to glance pointedly at Sorrelsong, whose sudden arrival feels like a stranger in their midst. Rightly, she has no pedestal from which to cast stones, and yet she thinks she'd never—never—promote someone who questioned her like that, had it been her in Orangestar's paws.

She sits in a pensive silence as her councilmates speak, watching with a prairie-level eye as Figfeather gently unchains the pen to a den of wolves, ones she hadn't known capered among them. It is a while before she speaks, letting the others' words fall like icy rain, solutions trickling down the side of the problem and failing to penetrate its dense hide. Grovel at the paws of Lichenstar or Flamestar for the privilege of using territory they could just take. Present their starved bellies for the gutting.

" Twitchbolt is right, " she agrees hoarsely, scraping a divot into the ground with an agitated paw. It rubs her fur all kinds of wrong ways, the idea of crawling to one of the other Clans—the ones she knows whisper under their breath about how soft, how weak SkyClan is. " If I can be frank, ThunderClan already treats us like we're weak kittypets. They might as well take the opportunity to laugh us right into starvation. "

Her words are slow and drawled and frustrated. It would seem she's opened her own pen of wild things, the way her words snowball behind her teeth faster than she can let them out. " With the way they're snappin' at our borders, I don't think we can afford to trust they won't keep takin', and tolerate it for the sake of neutrality. Our Clan is hungry and our cats are dyin' for their trouble tryin' to feed it. " The flick of her ear is fast and bothered. " I just—I agree with Twitchbolt, here. Figfeather, too. I don't know what we need to do, but whatever it is we're doin' right now isn't enough. "

​

 

[Sorrelsong?]

-ˋˏ ༻༺ ˎˊ-

"It hasn't ever been enough. " Where Doeblaze was hesitant but informed, Sorrelsong was brash and brutish. The time of her anger simmering was over. To often had she lost control of her voice in the favor of others. And though her mind had been preoccupied the need to prove herself to her clan mates, she simply could not hold her tongue any longer. Not when others - cats she had not spoken to yet about her grievances - found an issue with their star studded 'leader'. She stares the molly dead in the eye.
"At least under Blazestar we were known for kindness - under you we are known for nothing." Tail flicking, she breaks eye contact with the orange and white cat to address her fellow council members. She knew her time here was short. In Sky Clan, maybe, but in this council almost for sure. They treasure nothing else but blind loyalty. "Except, maybe cowardice."
Her dagger eyes find Figfeather. She who dared to ask the same question as Sorrelsong - except she was glorified for it. Make her the next leader then. See if I care. She did. Deep down, this anger had to of come from somewhere. Anger was a fire, all consuming and destructive and so so warm - but it's birth reminded in paper and cloth and soft things. In happiness. In trust.
When she had joined, Orangeblossom was forever the deputy. A stable cat, capable of so much. Sorrelsong had been a different cat then - in skill, name and creed - but Orangeblossom never thought ill of her and her kin. Orangeblossom had welcomed Circe, had named Sorrelsong. Had stared her in the eye and all but told her, her brothers lives did not deserve justice. That is was okay to kill in the name of nothing but would not allow the warriors to feed their own clan.
"I stand to lose a lot more then gain by questioning you," Each word was bitter. Each word a paw step forward, into the face of a cat she had forgotten the nature of moons ago. Orangestar was cruel. Not through action, not through intent or want or anything else that would give Sorrelsong the chance to justify it. Orangestar was cruel because she simply didn't care.
"The second you step down, I lose any credibility to my name. No one here will trust me again because of what I've said and how I've questioned you. I will be worse then dead." Each word, an ice pick to her heart. Each word, true. Her eyes find Florabreeze. I'm sorry, I must be such a disappointment to you.
Paws get as close as they dare, dripping fangs sharing air with the scared queen. And yet I do because I love my clan. I question you because I love them. To much to let be destroyed by you.
You have let Thunder Clan trespass on our borders and what's worse - you punish Slatesnarl and Figfeather and all the other cats that actually want to do right by the clan. Star Clan may have given you eight lives so forgive us if we worry about kits - your kits by the way - starving in the middle of the night whist you sit back and make friends with Flamestar who promises that it definitely won't happen again."
Her voice is not shrill. It is not raised. It is soft. A rough whisper-like sound almost like waves on sand. She is tired. Far to tired to play nice - not while she has an audience. Not while she can help. Because she does want to, doesn't she? Or at the very least she wants to do what is right.
Maybe something will happen this time. Maybe someone will actually care.
"Do the right thing Orangeblossom." She steps back, wavering. She searches the mollys face for anything familiar. Anything at all.
Shaking her head, she walks past Orangestar and circles behind the group to her original spot.
"Step down."

//ooc IC opinions only!! Love you and your writing Wren! <3
​

​

​

 

[Orangestar]

It had begun as a standard meeting. The council of SkyClan had convened in Orangestar's den, crowding it a little, but still comfortable in their closeness. They would share their patrol reports, discuss assessments, and then ... Orangestar exchanges a glance with Fireflyglow, even though he would not see her look. The news of a prophecy sets her on edge, reminding her of two passed, the threat of DuskClan under her nose gone untouched, and now something else atop that makes her demeanour vague and unsettled.

Figfeather interrupts before she can begin, however, and ears prick forward with interest. She withdraws nearly immediately into herself as the ginger she-cat ventures that, while they shouldn't trespass, that sending their warriors in search of prey in Twolegplace and the unclaimed lands beyond their border would simply invite more trouble.

She exhales a breath through her nose, sharp but otherwise quiet, as Howlfire and Florabreeze suggest asking for hunting rights at Sunningrocks. This is true; out of any of the leaders, Orangestar considers herself - ironically - closest with the she-cat across the river. A friendly neutrality had fallen between them in recent moons. Her tailtip twitches, moving across the ground restlessly, ready to agree but rendered silent once more as Twitchbolt disagrees. We can't owe them a thing. To make matters worse, Doeblaze agrees with her deputy, an even score of opinion that leaves nobody happy.

It boils over with Sorrelsong. Questioning her more brutally than Silversmoke ever had, bringing her mate and her kits into the scene as if hostages, examples to be made of her indifference when she has tried to keep the peace between the Clans as Blazestar had before her. The impatient twitch of Orangestar's tail turns to a lash as she stands, ears folded against her skull.

"You. Get out of my den."She snaps to the chocolate tabby, the uncharacteristic flash of teeth in her hiss. "I promoted you in hopes that you would provide a good perspective, Sorrelsong, but apparently all I did was inflate your ego. I will not hear a word from you until you learn respect, and you will never say that name again."

She jerks her head, dismissing the molly sharply, and follows her with irate eyes as she (assumedly) takes her leave. Orangestar's heart pounds in her throat, leaving her breaths laboured, the beating wings of her anger bruising her ribcage from the inside out. Her meow is still strained with anger as she turns to the rest of her council and snaps, "Anyone else? Before we continue?"

✧ SHOULDER THE SKY

•  
• 
  
  
  ORANGESTAR ✧ penned by wren
  —— she/her, leader of skyclan
  —— a scarred white-and-ginger she-cat with brown eyes. her neutral expression is a faint frown.
  —— mate to slatesnarl ; mentor to budpaw
  
  

​