THERE'S A PLACE OFF OCEAN AVENUE ✧ broken bridge

[clearheart]

━━ι═══════﹥ It is most fortuitous that StarClan guided the clans into joining together for this endeavor. Had they attempted such a trek separately, this first obstacle would severely hinder the efficiency of their journey. Time is quite precious with the ill in such precarious states, and as the RiverClan cats convene to formulate a plan, he thanks StarClan for their foresight. He does note a degree of...discord among some of the cats gathered, and he glances at Honeyjaw to discern whether he has noticed as well. No doubt it was apparent to him sooner.

"We must have faith," he says, in part to Luckypaw, and in part to the others who have expressed uncertainty. "I trust RiverClan's skill in the water, and I trust StarClan's vision for uniting us in this journey. This is only the first of many obstacles, and it is faith, not doubt, which will guide us through together." His gaze travels across the river, and he once more glances at Honeyjaw, amusement in the corners of his mouth. "I cannot swim, but I am not afraid. Do you think me foolish?" ​

══════⊹⊱≼ ɪɴꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ / ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɪʀ ʜᴀɴɢꜱ ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴᴄᴇɴꜱᴇ / ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ≽⊰⊹══════

• — CLEARHEART / / 40 moons old / / amab and uses masculine pronouns but will also accept the use of neutral terms.
  — a warrior of shadowclan / / currently mentoring dragonflypaw / / excels greatly in combat above most all other skills.
  — former loner who wandered great distances & rarely remained in one place for long / / arrived after the great battle.
  — devoted to starclan above all else (aside from his idea of the common good) / / not prone to enter battle mindlessly.
  
  — of a height slightly above average / / trim and athletic with a sense of immovability about his posture/stance & size.
  — chocolate sepia w/ low white / / fur is quite short for the most part / / tail is naturally bobbed // full-body reference.
  — fairly warm demeanor much of the time; there is a "softness" about his features so that neutrality doesn't seem surly.
  
  — lawful good, in the sense that he likes to maintain order and work toward bettering lives around him without cruelty.
  — often misunderstands figures of speech and may interpret them literally. as such, can seem to lack a sense of humor.
  — deeply genuine; dislikes lying immensely, and so (most of the time) he is wholly earnest, especially with compliments.
  
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[iciclefang]

As more cats gather, Iciclefang attempts to tune their emotions out. Many of them express outrage, some ask if there’s another way around, and over it all lays an anxious fear-scent that’s distracting and smelly as all of their Clan scents put together. She takes a steady breath to center herself, watching as Fernpaw dips into the water and begins to paddle about. “We’ll make a path,” he says, and she smirks. So the RiverClanners are all on the same page. She nods to Hazecloud, Mosspaw, and Lakemoon, though to the latter she offers a contemptuous sniff. “Escort them across? They’ve can walk at least, right? Surely they’re not all that useless?”

The tortoiseshell slips into the water behind Fernpaw and Hazecloud. “It’ll take all of us to hold the bridge secure enough, I think,” she reports. “We’ll need Dovethroat too…” She turns her head to scan the shoreline for the dusky-colored warrior, but does not immediately see him. She is sure he’ll be in the water behind them soon, so she turns back, facing the bridge drifting in the current ahead of them.

Her hindlegs kick out beneath her, finding a shelf of stone beneath the water, and she surges forward gracefully. Her limbs are practiced and strong in the crushing waves. As she and her Clanmates already in the water near the bridge, she will reach forward and grip one of the tendrils of the bridge in her jaws. It’s far too heavy for her to pull by herself, to her dismay, and she flails a bit, needing one of her Clanmates to help.

✧ INFO.

•  
• 
  — iciclekit . iciclepaw . iciclefang
  — she/her ; warrior of riverclan
  — lesbian ; single
  — short-haired tortoiseshell with white and ice-blue eyes
  — “speech”, thoughts, attack
  — penned by Marquette
  — chibi by Pin

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[milkthorn.]

Everyone seemed to comment, as if there was other options than to cross the river, than the bridge precariously floating on the waters edge. He agreed, it would be far too long to find another way along. Water was a friend, it quenched thirst, it cleaned- even if the white rosetted tom did not care about staying clean- and it was quite useful. But he wouldnt admit out loud he could not swim, even if it was obvious that he was a windclanner.

It had been a day, and he barely talked to others. He barely opened his mouth. There was too much to really hold a conversation. Now that he no longer felt the nervousness of the new terrain, rather accepting of it now, Milkpaw was starting to get comfortable. But in many notions, he agreed there was no use in befriending others, yet he wanted to.

Even if it was to pretend to be friends with others to get him through, he has to accept that that might be something he couldn't help from happening. Perhaps it would allow him to let the time fly by, as it already seemed to be moving quite slowly. It felt like it should be multiple days, but it had not.

He felt like he felt every, single, second.

His eyes focused on the river, and listened to their ideas. "I think it would be safe to allow them to hold the bridge." He agreed softly. The fish breaths better not drop the bridge. But they had to make the journey together. ...Right? He could not sit here and take the trust and promise of the others. He could not rely on them... right?

He was definitely conflicted. He best be hopeful rather than hopeless about this whole situation.

 

[Orangestar]

ORANGEBLOSSOM — tags​

The fur along Orangeblossom's neck rises at the sight of the river. It's far fuller than the one that forms SkyClan's border with RiverClan, far more dangerous and unpredictable. As conversations break out again, tense and uncomfortable, Orangeblossom parts from the group briefly. The ginger-splashed deputy paces a few steps down the river, looking downstream for another option, and then circles back around to the patrol. She wants to help, to keep them moving forward, but she just ... can't. She has no experience in still water, let alone a moving current like this. She can't swim, either: SkyClan's forte is the trees, not the water.

RiverClan, however, seems to have a plan. Their sleek-furred neighbours waste no time wading into the current, ears and noses above the ripples, and Orangeblossom studies them curiously for a moment. Interesting. Then she looks to the SkyClanners, ears twitching to get their attention, and makes a decision. "Be ready to go when they say it's safe. Stay away from the edge."

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[hazecloud]

Most of them join her and Fernpaw, much to her relief. They understood the plan and despite what the other Clans may say or think about having to rely on them for their safety, she was not going to give up. They would show these cats just how tactful RiverClan could be. That whatever rumors of ruthlessness or saboteur clouded their judgement were simply that, unfounded opinions of she and her Clanmates.

Hazecloud hoisted herself alongside Iciclefang, her head turning back to try and spot Dovethroat in the mix of cats. She's surprised he wouldn't have crossed with everyone together, but she wasn't going to point it out. Dovethroat wouldn't be so stubborn to completely opt himself out of this. Even if he hadn't volunteered, the only one of the group having his choice made by Cicadastar. Part of her wondered what he felt, what he was thinking, would it be worth pulling him aside later to talk about it? Hmm... Maybe not now. Not when everything had just begun.

Iciclefang struggled to keep steady by herself and the silky she-cat is quick to join her efforts. "I got you." She reassured Iciclefang through a mouthful of wiry threads, gesturing for the other three to quickly latch on with them with a lash of her tail.​

 

[dovethroat.]

He is among the quietest of the group—at least, especially so when it comes to the RiverClanners. And he also knows that he is not very much like the other RiverClan members of the group. Certainly, he is not like Iciclefang. The second his name is spoken, he perks up. He has been overlooking the bridge and the water it sits in. He is a strong swimmer, but he is nothing if not cautious. He hears Iciclefang and offers a short, clipped meow; one to singal that he is in fact there and nothing else.

Really, he does not exactly look like a RiverClanner. His fur is not necessarily sleek, and he spends plenty of time busying himself with a tuft of fur near his tail before he finally jumps into the water and begins to push forward. He is bulky, but he is clearly powerful in the legs. A frown painting his features, he manages to voice the beginnings of a protest: "I d-don't think now is th-the time, Iciclef—" however, his counter to his clanmates needlessly combative remarks are cut short by a hitch in his breath as he notices her began to flail out.

Dovethroat is large and sturdy, and in an instant he darts forward to take a tendril in his jaws as well; tugging it as tight and taut as he can manage in an effort to help Iciclefang—though he bumps into Hazecloud's behind for a moment in his tugging and finds himself forced to readjust for a few awkward moments.

[⋆]​

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[FERNGILL]

He caught the gaze of the other Riverclanners- they were in agreement, then. It'd be a task, definitely- and Dovethroat had to be among this lot, ready to descend into the water too. Only they were well-versed enough in the water to do this, and a swimming lesson would be just as time-consuming as traipsing around the whole river. Good karma had come their way, though- the twoleg bridge, though severed, was their saving grace. He didn't really believe in signs from the stars, but this was really RiverClan's chance, wasn't it?

"Got it," he murmured, heeding Iciclefang's words with a nod. All of them. A streak of fire, Fernpaw surged through the water, even more graceful in the river than he was on land. Though he was talentless in terms of strength, he'd at last learned to harness swiftness. Casting one last look to the cats on the shoreline, a reassuring light in his verdant eye, Fernpaw split from Iciclefang, Hazecloud and Dovethroat, the three of them hauling one of the bridge's limp arms. There were six Riverclanners to do this job- he moved for the unattended tendril, seizing it soon in his maw.

But, Fernpaw was not strong. Certainly not as strong as Iciclefang. Though he tugged with visible might, he needed Lakemoon and Mosspaw's help to heave his half. ​

✦ penned by pin ✦​

 

[LIGHTSTRIKE .]

❝ WE HAVE YET TO CRASH ✧°.☀ —————————————————————————————
Ever since the river had come into view, very soundly blocking their path, Lightstrike had eyed it with a distinct disdain, pacing idly back and forth by its shore. He couldn't be bribed with the nursery's share of prey to swim across that, much less dip his paws in. He'd been caught out in the rain before. Getting wet was not high on his list. Swimming? Less so.

The RiverClanners were up to something, though, and the golden tom eyed them doubtfully from his position near his Clanmates. Across they went, swimming like the damn fish they were as if it were no big deal. Were they going to leave everyone behind? Probably. He wouldn't be surprised.

His ears perked up when they began to do something weird, though. What remained of that Twoleg structure was being wrangled and pulled across the water inch by inch, more and more RiverClanners flocking to the water to help. Were they trying to fix it? He remained quiet, mouth pulled into a frown and brows furrowed. He didn't trust this.

[penned by its_oliverr - ☀]

——————————— ☀.°✧ BUT WE STILL MAY AS WELL ENJOY IT ❞ ​

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[LAKEMOON]

LAKEMOON — me and the devil, walking side by side.
While her suggestion is met with a huff from Iciclefang, Lakemoon simply shrugs.
Lets hope if they fall, there will be time to get to them. She thinks before she’d slip into the water alongside Hazecloud, powerful legs wading her through the water. It’d be difficult to imagine herself only a pawful of moons ago, too terrified to even be splashed with water- now, she was almost fully submerged, kicking her way to the rotting wood that floated just above the woods surface.
Where Hazecloud went to Iciclefang, Lakemoon swam to Fernpaws side, having seen him struggling only moments before. "You’ve got it" she firmly encourages before her own teeth would sink into a spot alongside his tendril, giving it an light tug. When it’d begin to move closer to the duo, she’d glance back at Fernpaw, silently cueing him to follow her movements.
Even with the two of them combined, the bridge is heavy, and while smoother than it’d be with the young tom alone, the haul is gradual, Lakemoon utilizing the strength in her hind legs to push them back.
"speech"

tags​

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[SCORCHSTAR]

They truly do not have time for this. Every moment of this journey has felt to her like she’s been sprinting, attempting to outrun fate for once in her life. And now—the running has come to a stop. If she didn’t have her clanmates with her, this wouldn’t be such a problem, but she needs to ensure as many of them make it across as possible. And the other cats have devised a strategy: RiverClanners will hold the bridge in place, and the rest of them will place their very lives into the muddy paws of the river cats.

Golden eyes settle on one of her clanmates, and Scorchstreak’s tail flicks once. "Periwinklebreeze," she says the young warrior’s name like Sootstar says the names of young warriors-to-be during clan meetings, serious and authoritative. She does not trust the RiverClanners. She does not trust that she will not lose a clanmate to this first obstacle on their journey. And if any of them are to fall in and be swept away… it will not be either of her kits. "You’ve proven yourself to be a brave warrior. I’d like for you to be brave once more—you should cross first. Find a member of another clan to cross with, if you can." The chances of the river cats dropping two cats into the water at once are lower, Scorchstreak thinks.

She turns to the other WindClanners, whoever is in earshot. "None of you will cross alone. I don’t trust them not to drop us in out of spite." The image of Hyacinthbreath’s face flickers through her mind, and the calico looks out across each of the RiverClanners. The traitor is not among them—has not been among them for a while, if rumors are to be believed. Do the RiverClan cats know, now, the depth of that she-cat’s treachery? Scorchstreak can only hope so, as she watches the RiverClanners each slip into the water and begin adjusting the bridge.

// talking to @Periwinklebreeze. and the rest of the windclanners​

[ BE A FIRE, BURN THIS DOWN ]​

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[Mouseflight]

Ear flicked in recognition as Scorchstreak called his name and told him to stay back, and Mouseflight found himself taking an extra step back to make sure to stay among the WindClanners, finding his eyes flicking back towards the River as he watched those that lived among the water talk amongst themselves on what they could do in order to help those across. Although he didn't believe they'd drop the bridge with cats on it - it was counterintuitive and made it so no one would trust them - he still had nagging voice in the back of his head that kept saying the RiverClanners would do such a thing. They were cowardly liars, so they would purposefully let go of the bridge and say it was an accident, and somehow they would get away with it.

None of you will cross alone. Head nod as Mouseflight heard this, and he looked over towards the WindClanners that had come along with them. Under normal circumstances he would have volunteered to go with Periwinklebreeze, but the other tom had already been chosen to go by Scorchstreak, and was told to pick someone from a different clan to go with if possible. He gave the black and white warrior a nod of reassurance before looking back towards his other clanmates once more, "I'll go with whoever," He decides, "I want to get it over with, we should go quickly too." Not only would it give the RiverClanners less of a chance to drop the bridge, but would mean that they couldn't use the excuse of getting tired from how long they were taking to drown the moor-dwellers.

⋆｡°✩ threw my voice into the dark

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• 
  ⋆ mousekit - mousepaw - mouseflight
  ⋆ ftm - he/him - 11 moons
  ⋆ bisexual - open to relationship
  ⋆ tunneler of windclan
  ⋆ attack - speech - thought
  ⋆ penned by tikki

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[SCORCHSTORM]

Positioning herself near Luckypaw, Scorchpaw watches the river rats work with round jasper eyes. They each seize a leg of the bridge in their maws, pulling it taut back to shore so that it may allow cats across it, and it looks like it may hold– but like her mother, the little echo does not trust so easily. She can see so clearly the raging rapids that she doubts she'd feel at ease crossing the bridge even if it were intact. But there's no other way forward, and she's already committed herself to this quest. There's no turning back now. And, even if she did turn back, to whom would she return? Her mentor (her father, StarClan damn him!) had already left her and her family behind. She would keep pushing forward if for no other reason than to not face that.

When Scorchstreak urges them to find a partner, Scorchpaw's gaze lands on @Cherrypaw out of instinct. Luckypaw is at her side, perhaps the more obvious choice, but if RiverClan were to drop them in to drown– she shakes her head. Her mother doesn't need more grief than she already bears. Quietly she approaches the opal-pelted molly. "Let's cross together," she requests without asking.

𝐀𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒 𝐌𝐎𝐈 𝐋𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐔𝐆𝐄 ✧ 𝘼𝙁𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙈𝙀 𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙀𝙎 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙁𝙇𝙊𝙊𝘿

• 

• 
  
  — scorchkit . scorchpaw
  — she/they ; apprentice of windclanclan
  — short-haired tortoiseshell she-cat with low white and orange/yellow eyes
  — "speech" ; thoughts
  — penned by meghan
  — chibi by giinya, ref & profile art by me

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[Mosspool]

Hazecloud confirmed the plan and announced it to the rest of the journeying cats. Mosspaw nodded determinedly, steeling herself for the task. It was time to show the other clans what Riverclan could do.

She tensed, preparing to leap into the river.

Just before she did, one of the Shadowclanners caught words caught her attention. He seemed certain that the plan would work, speaking confidently of Riverclan's skill in the water and Starclan's visions of their success. He spoke of the power of faith, and his words rang true with her. Her chest puffed up in pride.

"Wise words." Mosspaw dipped her head in respect to the older warrior, before looking to the other Shadowclanner that he addressed. "Have faith, we will get you across safely. You have my word." It was perhaps presumptuous of her to give her word for their safety so readily, but she meant only to put to words her confidence in her and her clanmates abilities. Turning back toward the river, she leapt in to keep her promise.

Swimming over to join Fernpaw and Lakemoon, she sunk her teeth into the rope without hesitation. Adding her strength to there's, the once gradual motion of their side of the bridge increased significantly and the load lightened on them all. Her eyes shone with pride, what they were able to achieve together impressing even herself.

//talking to @clearheart and @HONEYJAW and helping the other riverclanners​

 

[Magpiepaw]

The black and white apprentice can not swim, keeps a careful distance from the edge of the water during the discussion itself but he is listening intently all the same. A decision is made quickly by the waterborn clan and he watches them dive in with wide-eyed awe.

He listens to the hesitance, the fear, the distrust and he understands what is needed. StarClan had given him faith, not a warning. He has not been warned to guard himself, he had been told to be brave and learn from these new cats. RiverClan cats could swim like otters, sleek and powerful and he watched them traverse the crashing current to pull the bridge ropes taut enough it might hold a cat at a time though they would probably still get fairly wet.
Clearheart speaks of his own admission, understanding what Magpiepaw himself already understood - there was no other way.
Magpiepaw turns and glances at the other cats pairing up to cross and decides that the extra weight might be more burdensome for the RiverClanner’s than it would be helpful; the only aid it brought on was peace of mind. Peace of mind for the paranoid and wary, while he can not condemn them for these feelings he realizes these feelings will instead condemn them themselves. If they were to trust one another, someone needed to take that first risk and he turned without hesitation to plod forward on his heavy steps to the now stretched out bridge and place a paw on the uneven and damp wooden surface.
His head raises, he forces himself to focus knowing how he has a tendency to wander off the set path if he is not paying attention to his own erratic paws and Magpiepaw begins to cross. He hesitates only for a moment before Mosspaw's words carry over and with a held breath he begins.
It shakes under him, trembles much like he does and he finds a strange comfort in the bouncing motion as he grits his teeth and steels himself forward.

His paw slips once, but he catches it, raises it back before him and leans forward with wild-eyed panic before settling down enough to continue his awkward, shuffling gait forward to the other side where he nearly leaps forward with his urgency to get off the swinging and rushing river that seemed so close to swallowing him every time. Panting the medicine cat apprentice positions himself away so he is not a barrier or hindrance, “...thank you.”
It’s quiet, the rushing waters drown it out to the cats on the other side but the RiverClan cats could hear it well enough and that was fine.
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[LIGHTSTRIKE .]

❝ WE HAVE YET TO CRASH ✧°.☀ —————————————————————————————
One by one RiverClanners worked their way across the river like the fish they were, and he'd be loathe to admit the way they fought the current was impressive. Together they tugged the twoleg bridge inch by inch to the other side, straining and kicking until it was pulled up, up out of the water as high as they could. It was clearly a struggle, and he didn't trust them to not drop it, on purpose or not. Lightstrike's eyes narrowed.

A twitching ear caught the voice of Stormywing then, offering to cross with a WindClanner whose name he didn't know. The moment she stepped forward, however, he hastily barred her path with a raised paw. With little more than a glance to her, gaze largely fixated upon the RiverClanners and the ShadowClanner who'd just tottered his way across, he muttered, "wait. Let me go first."

Regardless of any protest, the golden warrior worked his way to the front of the group, ears tilted back and setting a white paw upon the water-soaked wood. No doubt his paws would get wet, the middle of the bridge sagging just above the water's surface despite the river dwellers' efforts. There was the slight quirk of a grimace to his lip then, but Lightstrike began his cross.

Between his occasional fight for balance and the constant shift of weight from those pulling the ropes, the bridge trembled beneath him, and he picked up the pace. At one point his paws dipped beneath the surface of the river when the bridge sagged and his heart lurched, certain they were about to plunge him in as he'd thought, but it was once more pulled taut and he continued his passage.

His puff of breath that signified his relief was less than quiet when he finally bounded to the far shore, eyes hard when they landed upon the RiverClanners. Roughly, he nudged one with his paw. "Scoot," he grumbled, and moved in to help pick up the slack.

[penned by its_oliverr - ☀]

——————————— ☀.°✧ BUT WE STILL MAY AS WELL ENJOY IT ❞ ​

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[smogstar]

A day's worth of travel now lay under their pelts. They've given their bittersweet goodbyes to the only lands they've intimately known, and trudged onward into the wider world beyond clan lines. The adventure thus far offered the ashen tom profound catharsis; long has he clenched this far-fetched temptation of parting from ShadowClan, and, albeit temporarily, he is finally seeing it realised. Although he walks alongside clanmates, familiar faces, and enemies from that world, the tom is far removed from the machinations he obsesses over, and the strings he so ached to pull. It felt emancipating. Utterly emancipating.

Having left Highstones to shrivel in the skies behind them, the hodgepodge of clan cats now look to the stars for guidance. The anticipated - though unwanted - segment of this journey. Smogmaw would sooner claw his nose off to spite the stars than follow their lead without question. This grand, prophetic design of theirs holds no appeal to him, much less the notion of playing a starring role in it. There's a catch. There always is. And his skepticisms were vindicated as the group made it to the margin of a rapid-running body of water, with no alternative route in the immediate landscape.

"Forget this," condemns the deputy amid the back-and-forthing around him, "there'll be a rock path or sum'n if we look harder. No need to kill ourselves today." Smogmaw's shoulders are drawn so taut, another ounce of tension might snap his spine into splinters. How he viscerally loathes water, especially the kind ready to kill you at the subtlest misstep. Even as the RiverClan cats in his midst divulge a means of moving forward, then thrust themselves headlong into the drink, his paws remain staunchly sown into the riverbank.

Seeing the twoleg structure gradually stiffen and rise is enough to put a lump in his throat; the blockage hampers both his breath and an assortment of curse words he longs to unleash. So the river rats had a rudimentary understanding of physics. It wouldn't be nearly enough to persuade him from his spot. But Magpiepaw's eagerness to court fate itself makes him lurch. Then follows another young warrior crosses onto the shaky construct, leaving him to grip with the fact that no rock paths will be sought out on this day.

Grit, discoloured teeth pierce his deadpan expression, yet his objections are defied and he resigns himself to the circumstances—save for his last meal threatening to escape his stomach, Smogmaw's march across the wooden planks comes to pass in short order. Up until this point in time, he hasn't ever noticed how much he's taken dry land for granted.

A head-swivel reveals the hunched figures of those who kept the bridge afloat, straw-woven tresses clasped tight in their mouths. No sooner does Smogmaw commit to helping them. He meanders over, entrenching his claws in the mix of silt, sludge, and soil as he takes a portion of the rope for himself. ​

 

[SLATESNARL]

"We can't slow down." They react to Slate's suggestion of scouting for another pathway across the river. "Going around will take too long," They say.

"And what do you suppose happens when we fall in and drown? That would be even more of a delay." The lead warrior of SkyClan retorts with a curled lip, though he's more so frustrated that nobody has any confidence in his idea. The RiverClan cats had it easy, but what about the rest of them? If they got pulled under by the coursing waves, they were finished. This mission might as well be for naught.

Nevertheless, the RiverClan cats get to work by wading into the water in order to execute their "plan". They would hold the broken bridge together by themselves, therefore expecting the rest of the clan cats to fully entrust their lives in their efforts. Plenty of other cats showcase their hesitation, murmuring in an uncertain tone amongst themselves. "You're kidding." Slate snorts, arching a brow and staring down the makeshift walkway for them all to cross. "Is this actually supposed to work?" There was no way it would!

However, cats began to scamper across one by one, testing the bridge that the RiverClanners secured. Stars. If I fall in... The tom winced before stepping forth and placing his paws on the rickety bridge. It wobbles slightly under his weight and he ducks down into a crouch instinctively, figuring he could center himself better if he was lower to the ground. It seems to work for several moments as the burly former rogue tiptoes across, though as he approaches the middle, his paw slips on the slippery wood. "Shit!" A startled yelp leaves his maw, the cool water engulfing his paw if only for a moment.

Flustered, charcoal-colored fur standing on end, he yanked his paw from the water and scrambled to regain his balance. He quickly darted across, outstretching his legs and propelling himself onto the riverbank in a desperate attempt to get the hell off the bridge. Slate tumbled onto the ground, graceless, but alive.

✰ INFO

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• 

  ✰ SLATE
  —— he/him; lead warrior of skyclan; former rogue
  —— bisexual; single; not looking
  —— hulking, scarred charcoal-black colored maine coon with amber eyes
  —— "speech", thoughts, attack
  —— link to full tags; @ on discord for plots.
  —— penned by beatles

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[STORMYWING]

☁︎

With her ears pressing forward harshly, she cannot hide the displeasure that her suggestion had been ignored. The RiverClanners cannot possibly be serious...I mean. I'm not worried about me, of course. But these cats won't be balanced enough! She does not voice these opinions, to her surprise, as she instead watches the river cats plunge into the water and swim powerfully towards the other end of the bridge. She has to admit, it is impressive to see how they cut through the current as if they had fins themselves. She would never confess such a thing to them, though, especially the irritating tortoiseshell.

They reach the other side and pull, and as they lean back into their haunches Stormywing watches the bridge lift higher and higher out of the water. Her brows raise in subtle surprise. Well, they did that part. But now everyone has to actually get across the dripping runway. Magpiepaw is first to cross, and his lurching movements cause her to flinch a few times as she watches him nearly topple off the raised bridge. But remarkably, he makes it. The bossy WindClanner instructs one of the younger ones to go across with a partner and she herself is itching to get going.

"I'll go with you," She volunteers, striding up confidently to the tom's side. She sizes him up for a moment, her twitching ear the only sign that she is nervous. But before they can set out, Lightstrike and his annoying habit of self-sacrificing halts them in their steps. "Knock yourself out," She replies with disinterest. As long as everyone gets across, she cares not for the order in which they do so. She does watch him a little closer than she watched the ShadowClan medicine cat apprentice, though. He's a clanmate, after all. Lightstrike is followed by Smogmaw and Slate, and finally, the walkway is clear again. "Let's go," She urges Periwinklebreeze, giving him a determined nod before she pads to the edge of the bridge. Her brow knits together with focus. It's just like climbing a tree, She thinks to herself, and the thought gives her confidence. She has incredible balance up in the trees. This will be a breeze.

Unlike the other cats' more thoughtful, patient steps, the tabby lunges forward on swift, bounding steps. The bridge wobbles and shakes under her weight, throwing her off balance. "Woah!" She shouts, attempting to steady herself in the middle of the bridge by unsheathing her claws. But they don't sink as easily into the wooden slats as they do into firm bark. Fox-dung! She has no grip! Her legs are a tangled mess as she tries to maintain her position, a panicked expression now written across her face. She throws a terrified look towards the tom next to her before the bridge swings out to the side, kicked by her struggling form. With a yowl, she falls the fox-length or so into the waves and plunges into the cold water.

// She has a pre-plotted rescuer so please no saving her!

I WANNA TASTE LOVE AND PAIN ☁︎​

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[Periwinklebreeze.]

❀​❀ OH HOME, LET ME COME HOME ❀❀​

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periwinklebreeze & 14 moons & demi-boy & he/they & windclan moor runner ​

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Scorchstreak speaks first, taking away any choice in the matter - a stiff nod of his head the boys only response. Blue eyes are wide and nervous as he glances about, but thankfully a thunderclanner steps up to offer. Another shoves past before he can move, but he can only glare at their backs. One after another, the first four cats make it safely - and now it's their turn.

He waits for the she-cat to move first, before he follows. He expects a cautious gait - his own pawsteps light and careful, thin figures frame almost gliding in his movements - but instead the young warrior simply barrels forwards. In all honesty, he half expects this to be the end - feels the sickening rocking motion under paw, hears the sound of the water below, and panics. Nails grip tight as eyes squeeze close, lungs stuttering to a halt as he forgets to breathe.

it's over as fast as it starts - stormywing has tumbled herself off in her eagerness to get going. For a moment, he almost thinks to help - pelt fluffed up in terror and eyes wide, he even reaches out a paw. But she moves to fast, and he cannot swim. He's not even willing to dip his toes in, as slate had - memories of a bloody battle rattling his mind. Instead he only blinks sorrowfully, apologetically, and throws himself across the rest of the planks.

Side hits solid ground with a thump, legs no longer able to hold his body upright as he pants wildly. He doesn't think he'd have died, maybe - at least not from the fall. But - he can't swim, and clearly neither can she. "D-d-do something," he wheezes faintly, not trusting the riverclanners to do anything of their own accord.

— home is wherever I'm with you ❀

• Actions && "Speech," && ' Thoughts/Quotes '
  
  ooc: —
  tw/cw: —
  
• 
  — a lithe figured black and white tom with a false-pointed pattern and clear blue eyes that gleam periwinkle in the right lighting. he seems perpetually worn and exhausted, with heavy bags beneath his eyes and a slouched posture. he has a speech impediment which leaves him with a stutter and sometimes even completely non-verbal, and his fluffy tail is adorned with carefully woven daisies.
  
  — physically medium && mentally easy && pacifist
  — non-violent powerplay allowed && healing powerplay allowed && minor injury powerplay allowed
  — please attack using [b][color=#ccccff]action here[/color][/b] and tag account

 

[nightbird]

nightbird's paws stand tentatively at the edge, unwilling to move from where they indented the grass. there was no way they could all swim across, they'd undoubtedly lose too many in the process. she wasn't swimming across.

the only time she had swam was unintentional, the riverclanners would probably laugh in her face if she even called it that. thrashing like a trapped squirrel, the lead warrior had to be plucked from the water like a kit. it was most definitely not one of her finer moments, absolutely not one she would like to recreate today. being in riverclan's debt, the thought put a vile taste in her mouth.

luckily, they quickly got to work on an idea that didn't involve water enveloping her. the bridge that used to connect to the other side of land, they would hold it just long enough to let everyone cross. nightbird didn't trust that completely, but cats began crossing alone and in pairs, joining to help hold onto the bridge. it went off well at first, but them stormywing was bounding across alongside a windclanner. "stormywing!" white paws tangled into disrepair, and nightbird's claws pushed into the ground beneath her to hold her body from making a recklessly idiotic decision.

there was an icy splash, and the young warrior was submerged. nightbird swung her head back to the bridge where the windclanner was now racing across, once he was on the other side she followed quickly on his heels, claws pushing as hard as they could into the planks to hold her steady. the bridge had yet to still from the way it writhed moments ago, but luckily her small frame didn't make the movement too much worse. on solid ground once again, she looked back to try and find the grey molly in the river before looking to the riverclanners holding the bridge. "someone help her," she hissed urgently, ready to take a place holding the rope if any of the riverclanners let go to save her clanmate.

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‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎┌── ooc ⋆⋅☾⋅⋆ info ──┐‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

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• NIGHTBIRD ✩ she/her, lead warrior of thunderclan, twenty-five moons
  ⭃ nightbird is a small black smoke molly with pale silver eyes. a loner turned thunderclanner, her loyalty and drive to provide for her clan is unwavering. however, she is not known for harboring a bleeding heart, instead equipped with sarcastically fueled wit, brutal honesty, and a sharply edged tongue.
  ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking ↛ see battle info here
  ⭃ penned by vayle ↛ @vayl3 on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
  

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