camp TOOK THE BREATH FROM MY OPEN MOUTH // 10/1 MEETING

[HOWLINGSTAR]

The weight of mourning sits heavy upon broad shoulders, glossy eyes roaming the camp. Another life lost to this disease. She wonders how far her clanmates have made it on their journey for the cure. Have they found it already? Are they returning home as she stands here, preparing to name three new apprentices and assign apprentices to their new mentors who have all passed? Stars, she hopes so. With the rogues causing more and more issues on the borders, they need the cure as quickly as they can get it. They need their clan to be healthy and strong.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!" She yowls, summoning all who are not sleeping in the nursery or laying sick in the medicine den. Immediately, her gaze finds two queens. Sunfreckle and Tansyshine both have kits who will be receiving new names and mentors today, and she can only imagine their pride and excitement. "Rainbowkit, Emberkit, and Shardkit, please come forward." She beckons them with her tail, eyes warm despite the sadness that hangs over their camp in the wake of more Yellowcough deaths. They must continue moving on.

// calling up @RAINBOWKIT @EMBERKIT. @shardkit

Activity shoutouts for September go to @Flycatcher @BERRYHEART @Flamewhisker @nightbird @RACCOONSTRIPE @WOLFWIND @LITTLE WOLF @Roeflame . @batwing @BURNSTORM ! @HAILSTORM. @LIGHTSTRIKE .
Thank you all so much for being the most active characters in the clan last month! Whether they're on the journey or at home, their presence on the board(s) is always a pleasure!​

 

[Honeydapple]

Honeydapple's body ached, but she still heeded the call of her leader, Howlingstar. She had been recovering well from the injuries inflicted by a rogue, and the desire to get out of the Medicine den had been growing with each passing day. Staring at the same walls and only being able to get occasional moments with her Grizzlyjaw wasn't enough.

With slow determination, she pushed herself up from the ground, muscles protesting against the effort. Taking careful, measured steps, she made her way beneath the Highrock. The pain in her side throbbed like a relentless drumbeat, an incessant reminder of the recent ordeal, but she pushed through it.

Settling down in a cool spot, her gaze fixed on Howlingstar, listening attentively to their words. Despite the discomfort and the scars that would likely form, Honeydapple felt a renewed sense of purpose as she focused on her leader's voice. In times of adversity, the strength of ThunderClan was more important than ever, and she was ready to contribute in any way she could.

Even with a boost of hope the nagging fears that weighed on most cats minds also hindered her own thoughts. From each passing day that the journeying cats didn't return - the anxieties only grew with intensity. Shaking her head the spotted molly did her best to tune into the names called.​

 

[& RAINBOWPAW]

Rainbowkit wasn't really sure if he wanted to be an apprentice. He guesses that he didn't mind it. The boring chores they hear older apprentices complaining about don't sound too bad. Neither did bringing prey to their friends, and making sure Berryheart had all the herbs he needed... That was most of it, wasn't it? Fights only happened every once in awhile... They're sure there would be other, better fighters with them if that ever happened. Maybe Rainbowkit could just cheer for them.

What if he did have to fight, though? ...They don't hate it, but they don't really like it, either. Rainbowkit is straight - faced, eyes soft. They don't really feel much of anything at all, except pretty. Sunfreckle had made sure of that. With some nudging from his father, Rainbowkit begins to pad forward beside their brother. " Are you excited? " he whispers to Emberkit. They hope so, since it was an exciting thing, for everyone else. " You'll be a really good apprentice, " they assure him, whether he seems to need it or not.

They stop before Howlingstar, and it's there that they figure it's not proper to talk anymore. At least, when he's an apprentice, he can be a little bit more helpful. Lots of cats are sad and sick, lately. I wish Sunshinekit were here. They would have to get Rainbowkit's first catch to make up for it.

『 OOC 🌈 09.27.2023 』

•  

• 

• rainbowkit & [ raine ] [ bow ] : sunfreckle xx rabbitnose 2nd litter. littermate to sunshinekit & emberkit. younger brother to mousepaw, sparkpaw & frecklepaw.
  —— amab. they / he ; fine with gendered terms ( tom / boy / brother / etc . . . )
  —— currently 4 moons old.
  
  a typical size for their age. warm - faced and bright - eyed, rainbowkit sports boyish features and an easygoing smile. early signs of a thick ruff to come can be seen in plush cheeks and a thickening tail. sports long curling whickers and a dip of sun - red down the length of their neck.

• this is for cute purposes begone.

​

 

[EMBERFACE.]

☼ | emberkit is excited for his apprenticeship—like, so excited. glee swells in his chest until he thinks he might burst underfoot like a caught bug, and it bleeds out in glowing baby-blue eyes and the incessant twitching of his massive golden tail. paws large with youthful growth knead excitedly at the ground, nearly tripping him up, as he pads forward alongside rainbowkit—no nudging needed here, no way. he tosses his head to fluff up his golden drifts of fur, half-ruining the painstaking neatening his pa had done, though he barely notices in the throes of his excitement.

"yeah!" he whisper-shouts, pausing to add, "i hope i get a cool mentor. you will be too!" he falls similarly silent and does his best to still his excited twitches as howlingstar looks down on the soon-to-be apprentices, though it's obvious to anyone looking that the young tom is so thrilled to be nearly an apprentice that he can barely sit still. he fixes cloud-blue eyes on the tabby leader where she presides over the clan.

his mind is running several trains of thought at once, one of faint sorrow for his siblings still stuck in the nursery, one basically just yelling in excitement, the other parsing through the warriors he knew of and wondering who he would get. mostly he hopes he gets a cool young mentor—not that he has anything against the older mentors but like, the young warriors are just so cool.

OOC ☼ SOFT AND EASY SEPTEMBER DAYS

• OOC:

• 

• 

  ( EMBERKIT ) ☼ KIT OF THUNDERCLAN.
  x he / him ; 4 moons.
  x son to sunfreckle and rabbitnose ; adopted brother to rainbowkit, sunshinekit, & pigeonkit ; younger brother to mousenose, freckleflame, sparkpaw, mossypaw, & dovekit.
  x a fluffy golden tom with baby-blue eyes ; upbeat and outgoing, if easily distracted.

​

 

[Rabbitnose]

Rabbitnose joins the crowd following his kits. Today was their big day! It's strange, how much time has passed. How he's stood here once before, many moons ago with his first litter. Now he sits here with his second, ready to go on adventures with their new mentors. He feels old. Other matters were completely overshadowed for the moment by his pride and love for his kits. He's nearly forgotten about the world they will be heading into. Rogues grow bolder by the day, and this puts them all in very real danger.

But this is their big day. Sunshinekit and Pigeonkit will be apprenticed soon as well, though he wishes they could share the day together. Sunfreckle has done a fine job of grooming them, their pelts are pristine and perfect. They won't stay that way for long, he's sure.

"Go on~!" He encourages them forward with a big smile. He's heard they practiced for this day and wonders if they'll repeat what they did. He hopes they know what to do now, without distractions. He does think though, that it would be funny if Raccoonstripe did get one of his kits.​

 

[RACCOONSTRIPE]

Raccoonstripe comes when Howlingstar calls, strides punctuated with heavy steps. He feels no excitement today, not when there are rogues pilfering their prey, sick crowding his brother's den, and cats he cares for away on some mousebrained quest, but he manages to look presentable all the same. His eyes travel to the two kits getting their mentors today—Rainbowkit and Emberkit, both mild-mannered, sweet kits nursed by Sunfreckle. He can see the way their pelts shine, the way they encourage one another, smiles innocent and playful. It's unnatural. There's no enthusiasm to battle other Clans, no boasting or one-upping. Had he and his brothers been in their places, he can imagine it would have been wildly different.

He looks expectantly to his mother, waiting. He has a notion he'd get one of the kits already—now that Moonwhisper is a warrior, after all, he's free to take another apprentice. He looks doubtfully at Sunfreckle's sons and cannot decide which would make the worse warrior.

ooc ✧ 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘺

•  
•  
• 

  — raccoon . raccoonstripe
  — he/him ; lead warrior of thunderclan
  — heteroflexible ; single
  — long-haired black tabby with white and dark brown eyes
  — "speech", thoughts, attack
  — penned by Marquette
  — chibi by Rai

​

 

[shardkit]

Shardkit bounced up and down on his hind paws as he runs to attention. He's finally old enough to join the group. He was going to be apprenticed that day, if everything went according to plan. Shardkit was going to become Shardpaw. His heartbeat beat faster even just thinking about it. The golden tomcat meowed an assertive warning to his mother, Tansyshine, as if to say, "Come on! You can't miss this!" It's so important that his mother is there to celebrate him, that he stopped in his tracks. "Mama!"

 

[Flycatcher]

As usual, at the call of Howlingstar, Flycatcher takes his familiar place below the Highrock. It's been a tough moon for all of them but today's meeting feels especially hard in the wake of Owlear's recent passing. The tom was one of the older members of the clan so it was perhaps not too surprising he had succumbed, but he had held longer than anyone would have expected, fought as hard he could. Flycatcher felt sorrow for his daughter Stormpaw, Owlear's apprentice, who had volunteered to go on the journey to help him. She would be saddened to learn of his passing.

His mind wanders for a moment before snapping back to attention, looking out towards the kits Howlingstar had summoned forward, feeling a gentle smile forming. Amongst all the sadness as of late, it was good for the clan to celebrate new apprentices in their ranks. Flycatcher waited quietly, interested in which warriors they would be assigned to.​

 

[ROEFLAME .]

ROEFLAME — break the air to feel the fall.
Their clan meetings are routine for Roeflame, and when Howlingstar makes her call, the silver-shadowed warrior is there, weaving around the gathering clanmates until she'd find her own place somewhere nearby Burnstorm and the other young warriors- though there were some noticeably empty spots this moon.
There is mourning in her leaders gaze, and it sparks in Roeflames own. Survivors guilt had always seemed mythical until now, shouldn't she be filled with overwhelming pride that she lived, that she had the strength to fight?
The image of Frostglares corpse causes a visible shiver down her spine, there was no pride in surviving just yet, only remorse.
Still, there is light when Howlingstar asks Sunfreckles children and Shardkit to step forward, a new generation of warriors. The passing of time never ceased to amaze the young warrior.
Attention fully captured, Roeflame eagerly waits to see who would be the new apprentices mentors.
"speech"

tags​

 

[Sunfreckle]

Like his first litter its a little sad but also very rewarding watching them wander forward as their names were called, he hopes Emberkit is a little more gentle with their nose touching during the actual ceremony, he hopes Rainbowkit does not wander off in the middle of it and he hopes that Sunshinekit and Pigeonkit still sleeping don't feel too poorly about being left behind; Sunshinekit especially. Sunfreckle sits next to Rabbitnose, leaving the nursery to Tansyshine for the moment so he can watch his two sons wander forward. His first litter was mostly she-cats, his second mostly little toms, it was funny how that worked out. The red tabby beams a smile upward as he lifts his head to face Howlingstar, in another moon he would resume his duties upon her council proper and for the first time in a long time he does not dread it as he had before, there was no fully shaking his small feelings of inferiority when alongside his clanmates of equal rank but it didn't bother him as it had before.
He felt a new sense of determination well in his chest as the cream and tortie patterned young kits wandered ahead and he intended to lead them by example. Right now, they had no real interest in becoming warriors - content in the joyful peace of kithood, but he trusted they would be given mentors to guide them appropriately.
​

 

[HOWLINGSTAR]

Howlingstar's sad smile brightens at the sight of the three kits, all staring up at her with round eyes. Today, they will set their paws on the path to warriorhood. It's a proud day for the entire clan to witness. She clears her throat and first beckons forward the most colorful of the three, eyes shining. "Rainbowkit, you have reached the age of four moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Rainbowpaw. Your mentor will be Raccoonstripe. I hope he will pass down all he knows on to you." She seeks out her dark-pelted son in the crowd, her eyes seeming to twinkle with knowing mischief. She can't imagine he'll be pleased, but it is an honor to be chosen to mentor a kit, especially a lead warrior's son. "Raccoonstripe, you gave excellent training to both Wildheart and Moonwhisper, and I expect you to pass on the same knowledge to Rainbowpaw." She pauses to let the lead warrior and young patched tom touch noses at the front of the crowd before she moves on to Sunfreckle and Rabbitnose's next son.

Her green eyes settle on the bouncy form of Emberkit, who bears the namesake of the leader before her. She smiles, knowing Emberstar must be proud to look down on this young tom as he embarks on this new journey. She can't help but imagine the places he and his peers will go. "Emberkit, you have reached the age of four moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Emberpaw. Your mentor will be Wolfwind. I hope she will pass down all she knows on to you." She quickly spots the gray-furred she-cat and flashes her a smile. Another lead warrior, another member of her family, entrusted with one of Sunfreckle's kits. "Wolfwind, you yourself trained one of Sunfreckle and Rabbitnose's kits before, and turned Sparkwing and Freckleflame into excellent warriors. You will be mentor to Emberpaw and I expect you to pass on all you know to him." She waits for them to touch noses, proud to give her granddaughter yet another apprentice she knows she will succeed with.

And finally, Tansyshine's adopted kit. She turns her eyes onto the young tom, remembering when he had been found as such a young age and given to the sweet-natured queen. He has grown up a lot since then, and will continue to do so under the tutelage of his new mentor. "Shardkit, you have reached the age of four moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Shardpaw. Your mentor will be Honeydapple. I hope she will pass down all she knows on to you." She is quick to locate the tortoiseshell pointed she-cat sitting at the front of the crowd, still recovering from her injuries but ready for this nonetheless. Howlingstar has faith in that. "Honeydapple, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have shown yourself to be a kind, reliable warrior and I expect you to pass on all you know to Shardpaw." She knows the she-cat must be excited, so she quickly dips her head to allow them to touch noses. She joins her clanmates in their cheering, calling out, "Rainbowpaw! Emberpaw! Shardpaw!"

As soon as the cheering dies down, there is something else the tabby must quickly attend to. She finds the two apprentices in the crowd and beckons them forward with a nod. "Mothpaw and Falconpaw, come forward." Both of their mentors are tragically passed during this moon of grief and loss. A somber energy settles upon the clearing as she waits for the two apprentices to make their way to the front of the crowd before they stop. Staring down at them, she is gentle with her words when she continues, "ThunderClan suffered a great loss with both of your mentors in StarClan. But we cannot delay your training any more than it already has been, so today you will receive your new mentors. Mothpaw, your new mentor will be Roeflame. Falconpaw, your new mentor will be Burnstorm." She turns her brightening eyes onto the two young warriors, the pride in her chest growing. "You both are ready to take on your first apprentices. You are courageous and loyal warriors, and I expect you to pass on all that you know to finish off Mothpaw and Falconpaw's training." She waits so that they may all meet at the front of the crowd to touch their noses. The silence would be deafening if not for the murmured congratulations and words of approval from the crowd.

As soon as every cat has taken their seat once again, Howlingstar steels herself, gaze hardening as she moves onto more difficult news. "The reports of rogues at our borders have been increasing. I believe they have seen our weakness - we have less numbers with so many cats on the mission or in the medicine den. We need to be doing all we can to make sure our borders are marked as strongly as they would be any other time. Challenge very trespasser, drive them out. We will not allow ThunderClan to be taken advantage of like this!" She pauses as caterwauls of agreement rise up from the crowd. "With that being said, I want no warriors going off alone anymore. It pains me to say it, but our territory just isn't safe enough right now. Stay in numbers and be vigilant."

She draws in a breath, straightening herself and pressing her ears forward with confidence. "With our numbers stretched so thin..." Flamewhisker and Nightbird are in the mountains and Sunfreckle is in the nursery - the council is struggling enough as it is, "I have decided to invite another warrior onto my council. A cat who has always been loyal to his clan and put in more work than five apprentices combined to keep it safe. A cat who I believe shows much promise. My grandson, Burnstorm." She fixes the black tom with a look, pinning him in his place as she waits for his response. The edges of her mouth quirk up in a small smile. He'll be the youngest on the council by a long-shot, a newer warrior compared to most, but she truly believes he has proven himself enough to reach this point.

// Congrats to new lead warrior Burnstorm!!!

Apprentice and mentor tags: @RACCOONSTRIPE @WOLFWIND @honeydapple @Roeflame . @BURNSTORM ! @FALCONPAW. @Mothpaw! @RAINBOWKIT @EMBERKIT. @shardkit​

 

[BURNSTORM]

Burnstorm is familiar with the way meetings work. How could he not be? He has been attending before he was even old enough to catch his own prey, back in the day where his mother would watch from the nursery and he would peek out from behind her legs along with the rest of his siblings. That was back when Emberstar stood on that great rock. He remembers looking up at her and thinking about how she was the coolest cat he had ever seen. One day, he wanted that to be him. He wanted to stand atop that rock and know that his words were followed like law. But he does not want the price he would have to pay for such a thing. He does not wish death upon his grandmother, upon his mentor, and a small part of him hopes that it never happens, because that would mean both of them were gone or worse.

His paws lead him to the great rock, to Roeflame's side and as he comes to stand next to her he flicks her back with his tail in what is meant as a friendly greeting, sending a smile in her direction before his attention shifts to his grandmother. She is calling the kits of the clan up, Sunfreckle and Rabbitnose's kits along with another. Part of him hopes that he will be assigned to mentor one of them but a part of him would be glad not to. He has met Sunfreckle's other children after all.

"Rainbowpaw! Emberpaw! Shardpaw!" he calls out with the rest of his clan. When he has the chance his gaze slides over to study his uncles face, curious about what his expression would look like. Was he disappointed? Burnstorm is almost certain of it.

The meeting is not over though, Falconpaw and Mothpaw are both in need of new mentors his grandmother says. What he is not expecting is what she says next. Mothpaw was to be mentored by Roeflame. His face breaks out into a huge smile, excited for the she-cat who stands by his side. He is about to murmur a congratulations butt then Howlingstar is calling Falconpaw up, she's calling his name along with it. He flicks his ears in surprise. Falconpaw was not much younger than he was, they had spent time together in the aprpentices den. It would be strange to now be his mentor, but he is excited nontheless. He dips his head and touches noses with his new charge, wondering if Falconpaw felt as strangely about it as Burnstorm did.

Finally, when he takes his place in the crowd again, he gently bumps Roeflame on the shoulder and gives her that "Congratulations, mentor" in softly whispered words.

The next words out of Howlingstars mouth are words of motivation, a call to arms. She says to drive the rogues out whenever they can and he joins the rest of the clan in voicing his agreement. Any intruders on ThunderClan's territory would be met with claws first. She goes on to say that she is adding another cat to her council and his eyes glance around the clearing, wondering who it will. He does not have to wait long for the answer. His heart stutters when his name comes out of Howlingstar's mouth, his ears flick in surprise and for a moment he just stands there, gaping like a fool.

Quickly, he composes himself. "I... yes of course! It would be my honor." he says, dipping his head respectfully as he stands. In all of his moons he had not expected to rise to such a standing so soon after being named a warrior. It truly meant so much to him that his grandmother would trust him so much. He just hopes he can live up to the expectations that have now been set upon his shoulders.

​

OOC NOTES . ✦ . CHARACTER INFO

• ooc : —​

• 

  
  

  ➵ he / him
  ➵ thunderclan lead warrior
  ➵ single ; crushing on roeflame
  
  - - Burnstorm is a hot headed tom who, above all, loves his clan and his family. He cares deeply and passionately for those closest to him and is one of the most loyal friends a cat could have. Because of his half-kitttypet heritage, Burnstorm is always hard at work, believing that he has to put in twice the amount of effort a normal cat does in order to prove himself as a worthy clan member
  ↪ ISTJ-T 'the logistican'
  
  - - a large, black furred tom with golden eyes
  ↪ toyhouse [ ✦ ]
  
  ➵ skilled fighter and decent hunter
  ​

 

[Mothfur]

♪ Like a moth to a flame ♪ ---- The orange eyed tom took his time to join the meeting, only walking at a slower pace than those around him, letting others pass. Moth wasn't a fan of being caught in traffic, the thought of being tail-to-tail with someone annoyed him. Mothpaw sat in the back, not expecting much besides kits being given their apprentice names or the local news. Even though he wasn't much to admit it, he enjoyed watching his younger clanmates getting excited over something they longed for... The tom wished he could be in their place once more- It gave him a sense of nostalgia, when times were innocent.

Mothpaw was in middle of a whispering conversation with his clanmate before freezing when his name was called, he didn't expect to get another mentor so soon. The tom sat up and moved through the crowd as slick as possible without trying to annoy anyone. If he knew, he would've been a little closer to avoid disruption among his clanmates. Finally, the tom reached his leader, nodding with respect, and listening to her every word. He trusted that his leader made a good choice and grew excited once more as he made his way toward RoeFlame. The tom took a moment to pause and congratulate his fellow clanmates before leaving his place.
​

シ ooc info

• Lyrics - Moth by HELLYEAH
• - Mothpaw
  - 11 ☾
  - Tom, He/Him
  - Single, Bisexual
  
  

Played by @Dutch

 

[ROEFLAME .]

ROEFLAME — break the air to feel the fall.
The kits are assigned to their mentors in the clan erupts in a familiar chant, Roeflames voice included.
Falconpaw and Mothpaw are called next to be reassigned, and she cannot help but feel sympathy for the two, the transition from kitten to apprentice could be rocky enough without the loss of a mentor.
Yet, when it is her name that is called alongside Mothpaws, her eyes widen, pleasant shock sparkling from celadon depths as her attention shifts from Howlingstar to Mothpaw. The tabby leader wasn't finished yet however, and soon Burnstorms name follows Falconpaws.
Despite her electric excitement for her obsidian-furred friend, it would have to wait as the two apprentice began to make their way back into the crowd, and Roeflame herself had to step forward, trying to recall the expression Flycatcher held at her apprentice ceremony.
Holding a light smile, she'd ceremoniously touch her nose against Mothpaws before she'd return to her place at Burnstorms side.
Congratulations, mentor he whispers, fire sparking at Roeflames cheekbones.
She returns his nudge with a wide grin, thinking of something to reply with when Howlingstar is calling Burnstorm's name again- this time for a promotion.
There is an envious pang in her chest, born naturally. It is fleeting, a wisp drowned by the flood of pride that reaches all the way to her eyes, squinted in a smile. Where she shines with pride, Burnstorms shock is palpable. His recovery is quick, his acceptance eager.
Heads turned to look at the newest member of Thunderclan's council, but Roeflame would take the quickest moment she could to attempt to rest one of her forepaws on top of his, unable to contain her excitement for her closest friend. "Burnstorm!" Her paw would withdraw as she's cheer alongside clanmates.
Shit. Is he the boss of me, now?
"speech"

tags​

 

[Honeydapple]

Carefully, she sat up and leaned against her mate's side, eagerly taking in the start of the ceremonies. They would've become warriors this time around. Seeking comfort, she pushed harder into the smoke's fur.

Unlike her melancholic thoughts, the unfolding moment brought a bittersweet smile.

Pleasant surprise soon erupted across her previously morose expression. Shardpaw was assigned to... Me! Instantaneously, sitting straighter as Howlingstar called her by name. Pushing away from Grizzlyjaw's plush coat, the realization caused a giddy flurry of new emotions to sprout.

They had spent many days checking in on the clan's kits and queens. She brings her hunts to share with her peers and plays games with the little ones. Getting the opportunity to guide one through the trials of clan life felt like the best compliment in the world.

Steadying on all four paws, Honeydapple made gradual progress to the newly appointed apprentice, her blue gaze bright with elation and a dash of nerves. Despite the boundless glee, she still felt the weight of responsibility. Anything could happen with how turbulent times were and she'd have to come up with new lessons to help the kit adapt.

However, the fact that this would be a treasured experience for them both, along with the warm encouraging stare of her partner, eased her nerves.

Glancing up at the brown she-cat, the warrior nodded with evident appreciation.

Finally, she aimed her kind aura towards Shardpaw, bending low to touch her nose to the smaller feline. In a hushed voice, accented by a purr, Honeydapple muttered. "Congratulations! I'm very happy to be your mentor, Shardpaw." Her nose crinkled cheekily, and the she-cat's fur rounded as a silent laugh rattled her.

Bit by bit, the crowd grew hushed, and Honeydapple stepped back, a new vigor within and a softer smile on her maw. Just like that, the moment was over, and the leader continued with the next set of ceremonies. Playfully, she gave her apprentice a wink, insinuating a plan to chat more later. Then, she tuned back into the more grave events.

Against all odds and everything Thunderclan faced, time marched on. Yet, they would remember and honor the fallen through their teachings. Especially since these mentors had an opportunity to pass on more knowledge.

I pray they'll be excellent warriors someday, and that their former mentors watch over them. Knowing their experience was assured gave her high hopes.

Ideas started wandering about as the tabby mewed on regarding rogues. Honeydapple's mind space frolicked with the multitude of later events - training, walks, and talks. Now she was a friend, guardian, and mentor, all in one.

Cries erupted near the moggy's ears, causing her to jolt back to the present.

Belatedly, she joined in the chanting as they announced the newest lead warrior. "Burnstorm!" Humility and pain pricked her coat for zoning out with earlier bliss. Her side throbbed a familiar beat, and once more she relied on her mate's sturdy shoulder to keep her steady.

No matter the hardships, moments like these made a major difference. A second to celebrate the good and honor the lost. To be with family and cherish loved ones. Honeydapple couldn't help but let the good outweigh the bad - just this once.​

 

[RACCOONSTRIPE]

Raccoonstripe's expression does not change with Howlingstar's assignment; he'd been expecting it, after all, and he knows better than to show open disappointment. Whatever his thoughts on his new apprentice, Rainbowpaw is a Clanmate, and the kit of a fine lead warrior. The tabby rises to his paws and stalks forward, dark eyes trained on the little sunkissed scrap of fur. He lowers his nose to brush gently against his new apprentice's. "There aren't any pinecones here, luckily," he mutters to his charge after their muzzles brush. "We'll get started after the meeting."

The kit's cream-colored littermate is apprenticed to Wolfwind; he seeks his niece's amber gaze, wondering if she's excited to be mentoring a third of Sunfreckle and Rabbitnose's progeny. Sparkwing and Freckleflame are fine enough warriors, he supposes… undisciplined, but so is the she-cat who'd mentored them, though Raccoonstripe suspects Wolfwind had learned quite a bit from her experience with her first apprentice.

Shardpaw is given to Honeydapple, whose eyes gleam with surprise and pleasure as she goes to complete the ceremony. He almost wishes he shared her enthusiasm for mentoring. It certainly would make things easier if he did.

The final announcement is to add another cat to her council. Raccoonstripe's shoulders tense, and instantly his dark gaze flees Rainbowpaw's and begins to roam about his Clanmates. Who here is worthy of such an honor? He feels himself faintly startled when it is Burnstorm who is named to the council—Burnstorm, and not Moonwhisper, who he'd trained himself.

The tabby cracks a smile. "Well, congratulations, nephew." He looks in the crowd for his former apprentice, wondering what expression he'll find on her face once he locates her.

ooc ✧ 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘺

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  — raccoon . raccoonstripe
  — he/him ; lead warrior of thunderclan
  — heteroflexible ; single
  — long-haired black tabby with white and dark brown eyes
  — "speech", thoughts, attack
  — penned by Marquette
  — chibi by Rai

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[FALCONHEART]

Days pass in a blur of action—more hunts, more patrols, more chores than is necessary. He's been told that it's okay to rest, to grieve like some do by huddling in his nest for a few days. But his clan needs him. They need every healthy cat they can get, and the loss of his mentor means… it doesn't mean anything, does it? The clan will move on, life will move on, and Falconpaw will be left behind with only her memory. He drifts through camp when the leader calls for a meeting, settling himself down near the back of the group of gathered cats. New apprentices are being named, and the young tom's shoulders slump even as he cheers their names, watching them each touch noses with their new mentors. He recalls the day when he had been assigned to his mentor—what a great day, but it's all gone now. He'll never get to train with her again.

His own name is called, and the boy perks up just a bit, gaze darting up to Howlingstar's face. He nods stiffly as she speaks of his mentor—former mentor—though his face falls when she tells him that she is assigning him to a new mentor. He sighs, a frown curling onto his muzzle. A new mentor, just like that? What's he to do, other than to pretend that his mentor never existed in the first place? Pretend that he… that he isn't lost without her? But there's nothing that he can do, so Falconpaw sits and waits as the leader announces that he'll be training under… Burnstorm? He strides over to greet the fluffy black tom anyway, attempting to force the frown off of his face.

"This is kind of weird," he admits softly, though he offers a shaky smile to the warrior. Despite once being apprentices together, he will now finish his training under Burnstorm's teaching. It's odd, but maybe it will be easier than pretending that his mentor hadn't existed at all. "I'll do my best, though." He steps closer to touch his nose to Burnstorm's, and then shuffles back to sit down once again as Howlingstar continues with the announcements. Astonishingly, Burnstorm is invited to be a lead warrior—perhaps that's why he was assigned an apprentice like Falconpaw. Still, the cream tabby cheers the older tom's name alongside the rest of the clan. Hopefully the rest of his training won't be so bad, if his mentor is someone like Burnstorm.​

[ find me way out there ]​

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[Flycatcher]

Flycatcher listens as Howlingstar presses on, quickly assigning mentors to the new apprentices. Raccoonstripe and Wolfwind were assigned to train Rainbowpaw and Emberpaw. Wolfwind had already trained one of Sunfreckle and Rabbitnose's kits before, but Raccoonstripe never had, and Flycatcher couldn't help but wonder what the brown tabby was thinking about his new charge. Shardpaw was the last of the new apprentices to be assigned, given to Honeydapple to train. A good choice in Flycatcher's eyes, he thought her kindness would suit Shardpaw well.

After the new apprentices there are two more to be reassigned - Mothpaw, and Flycatcher's own son, Falconpaw. Both had lost their mentors this moon and the clan mourned the loss of those fine warriors. Mothpaw was given to Roeflame and Falconpaw to Burnstorm. He had to admit the latter pairing was a little odd given there was some overlap in their time as apprentices, but both new mentors were warriors he had trained himself, and Flycatcher did not doubt they would make fine teachers to the two younger cats. After the apprentices had been dealt with, Howlingstar shifts to a darker topic, referring to the issues ThunderClan had been having with rogues as of late, and Flycatcher nods his head along with her words for the clan to remain strong and drive out any trespassers.

Finally, one further announcement is made as Howlingstar announces a new lead warrior will be added to her council. Instinctively, he casts his eyes around the cats gathered, wondering who might be a good fit for those ranks. He is surprised when Burnstorm is announced but proud too, glad to see how far the tom had come. "Congratulations, Burnstorm!" Flycatcher would say, looking for his former apprentice in the crown and giving him a proud smile.​

 

[leopardtongue]

She quickly found herself walking towards the meeting as it was called, ears pricked and ever-present smile resting on her face. Despite her recent... issue with her feelings of doubt overflowing and spilling out to those around her, she had quickly been calmed and reassured. Their clanmates would come home, Batwing would come home, everything would be fine.

The fact they had healthy kits turning now apprentices and apprentices turning healthy warriors proved that notion, and as Leopardtongue cheered on the names of those that had become apprentices and warriors, her smile grew the more she heard her clan cheer, and when everything quiet down the warrior found herself looking up towards Howlingstar once more, words of cats not being allowed to leave on their own and of running out rogues being shoved into her mind. ThunderClan was strong and they could take on any rogue that dared trespass in their territory, and Leopard was sure of that. Even with their reduced numbers they were great fighters.

When Burnstorm was announced as a new lead warrior, Leopard looked for the other, announcing her own congratulations towards the coal-colored feline. He would be a great addition to the team, she knew that much.

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[ooc]

info appearance

• "speaking" // thinking // action
  Leopardtongue - 35 moons - she/her - ThunderClan - warrior
  MEDIUM physically // MEDIUM mentally
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[GRIZZLYJAW]

✦ Grizzlyjaw had been comfortably seated with his mate during the meeting and couldn't help but feel the way she pushed further into his coat as he watched the kittens stride forward to become apprentices and receive mentors. He knew what she was thinking and curled his tail around her but it was only brief when Howlingstar called upon Honeydapple's name as one of the kittens are assigned to her and both of his feathered ears perk up, he feels himself swell with pride that his mate was picked to mentor one of the young welps but the other part of him dreaded it silently knowing that she would become busier with Shardpaw. It's only a heartbeat that he feels sorry for himself and nods to her in encouragement if she catches his gaze before focusing on the rest of the announcements Howlingstar had.

The rogue problem and a low growl left him remembering that Honeydapple had been injured by one of those foxhearts, they'd leave in numbers instead of going alone and that was understandable something that he would have to get used to than just himself and his mate going on little hunts by themselves. Finally, a new lead warrior is named and Grizzlyjaw nods his own congratulations to the tomcat, he would make a good part of the team.

✦ HE'S A POOL-SHOOTIN' SON OF A GUN

• 
  ✦ 50 moons old
  ✦ thunderclan warrior
  ✦ bisexual demiromantic, mates w/honeydapple
  ✦ "speech", thoughts, attacking
  ✦ difficult in combat; relies on brute strength, street smarts, and his large size
  ✦ peaceful powerplay allowed
  ✦ penned by bosstaurus

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