tragically yours ࿐࿔ october '24 meeting

[lichenstar]

✦˚.✦˚✦˚✦˚ ✧ ˚✦˚✦˚✦.˚✧

CLAIM THE BURIAL I SEEK IN DREAMS FLOWING RIVER CEMETARY ✧

• Winds rip through the reeds with a hungry impatience, as if they know what glides in ballroom dance through her mind. How many thoughts simmer in the quiet, in the dark... that must be forced to light. She swallows past the poison held on her tongue, tries to ignore the crimson splatter of paint in the gallery of her mind and what it means. Who it stands for.
  
  Strides up the river rocks are quick, steadied by purpose and certainty. There is nothing left to question... no one left to ask... and nothing left to be done. It is decided, just as surely as the winter would find them. "RiverClan..." Summoning them has become second nature now, slid across her back like a warm cloak to fend off the grip of biting breeze. What cost had StarClan written out for them to repay their successes... how much longer would they endure revelry before humility shot a hail of fire down upon them? "Beefang, you've proven... to be a loyal... and dedicated warrior. Let... no one... question your devotion... to the warrior code..." She leaps into the water headfirst, watching the bubbles of her clan-mate's gasps flood the camp as sapphire sparks fixate on salt and pepper fur. "Join my council...." Be the example of restraint and discipline I need... One I can trust. She wouldn't have to wonder after where her tongue wags, nor who she pads after. Not when the honor of her fathers hangs in the balance especially, not when her eyes wander toward heaven-dressed priestess.
  
  Maybe the monochrome she-cat had understood what Lichenstar was suggesting when last they'd spoken, hadn't thought it a distant goal to reach for but a warning. A promissory note. Beefang's stare is certain and just as readily, her acceptance follows. The blue lynx point dips her head, a thank you, one of many she is sure to owe her, before her face brightens with a weight relieved from her shoulders. "Cloudpaw... you are in need... of a new mentor. I give... Swirldance.. this honor. Despite... everything, she remains persistent... I hope she will... teach you that struggle... is worth fighting through." The wobbly steps of a bright soul perhaps... one that could be a source of sun and warmth in coming cold. "Eaglepaw... Tigersplash will be... taking over your... training," she decides, sizing up Foxtail's kin as she speaks, "You're in good... paws." The family of the tom that had trained her son so well was worthy of her trust. "Owlpaw, I'm sorry... about your mentor... Hemlockshine is going to be... handling your training... Be patient," she instructs, giving the terse-lipped warrior a warning stare. The child needn't be tormented by relentless training after such a grisly ordeal. "My glimmer..." tone softens to something of fond affection at the painted face of her child, who stands in need of a new mentor- curls of sepia and black wrap like barbs in their stillness- "I'm handing you... to Bubbleburst... to finish your training." She finds the speckled she-cat amongst the crowd, young but old enough now to try her paws at being a mentor. "With such... vibrant personalities... you will both... bring RiverClan a joyous... love for life... that many forget to cling to." Winter... winter is dark and cruel and isolating... maybe by stacking the fire higher, warmer, brighter.... maybe they might stand a chance.
  
  "Merlinpaw... we'll be seeing you... off to the care of... Streamsong... She's an... exemplary fisher.. with patience abound. She'll... take you far," her gaze skips towards Bugbite's mate before finding the dry-paw in the crowd right next to her (ever faithful, at her beck and call), "Bugbite... you too... will take an apprentice. Tanglepaw... could do with... your understanding... and wisdom as a land hunter..."
  
  That wraps up the specifics of reassignments... now the reassuring taste of fresh blood would bolster their ranks and ignite compassion again- "We have two... kits who are... ready to join... the apprentice's den." A broken tail flicks, bent though eager in its lashing, "Black-kit, you have... recovered... and are over six moons now... It's time to become... an apprentice. From this day... until you are given... a warrior name. You will... be known as Blackpaw." There is memory of sickly, half-drowned scrap of fur... it is nothing like the gleaming smile of the young cat in front of them now. "Your mentor will be... Ravendusk..." A competent warrior who has gone too long sulking and afraid of the shadows of an apprentice, what it means to be responsible for one again after the misfortune of Peachpaw... "You're ready... for another apprentice," she says, a statement and an encouragement, "Let your experience... guide you... and show... Blackpaw how to... protect herself... and fend for herself." She watches with a baited breath to make sure they touch noses before moving on.
  
  "Warblerkit, you are... now six moons old.... and are ready... to start your... apprenticeship. Now... until you receive... your warrior name... you will be known... as Warblerpaw. You will be... trained by Bronzeshine," thank the stars she has returned and is healthy. She would be a valuable, fiery asset to have as prey grew scarce. "Teach your ferocity... and resilience... it will be needed."
  
  Her eyes flutter closed, an anxious thrumming building in her chest as they approach what she fears most. The admission of a child too far grown to hide under her legs anymore... one that stares at her eye level on the rocky shores and smiles so brightly she could forget he'd ever grown past his kit-like wonder. And beside him, a dotted girl that had been the lightning Snakeblink had needed to keep himself going. Sparks of life to keep them both young, somehow, despite the weight of their roles. "Pebblepaw... Turtlepaw... come forward."
  
  The leader's head tilts back, searching for Silverpelt with a shaky exhale, hoping for a glitter of something that might say she is seen. That they approve. That they know what this moment means. "I, Lichenstar of RiverClan.... call upon my warrior ancestors... to look down upon... these apprentices... who have trained hard to learn... your noble code, and honor it.... I commend them now... as warriors in turn..." The rush of the river through her ears warms them with pride while her spine chills with fear, descending her perch to approach the mossy eyes of her lead warrior's apprentice... the last of those named before their sixth moon. "Turtlepaw... do you promise... to uphold the warrior code... to protect and defend.. your clan... even at the cost... of your life?" How many of Snakeblink's apprentices had not been given the chance to accept.. had died protecting and defending anyways? Were they happy for her now.. watching and cheering for both their former mentor's success? For the girl that had won the race? She says yes... of course... because there is no other answer to give... and Lichenstar can feel herself grow dizzied by it, "Then... by the powers of StarClan... I give you... your warrior name. Turtlepaw..." this would be the last time her name is said... "from this moment on... you will be known... as Turtledove." Her bias for birds is certain to be poked fun at by the tom that watches his apprentice's ceremony with a smile that threatens to split his face but the softness is what matters most to Lichenstar. The reassuring trill of that bird in the morning, how it calls with love and gentleness. "StarClan honors... your loyalty... and humility... we welcome you.. as a full warrior.. of RiverClan." She leans forward, pressing her nose tenderly to the crest of the she-cat's head, waiting a heartbeat to catch her breath before turning towards her son.
  
  Her paws feel numb, it feels too soon... and without Riverpaw or Snowflakekit here it feels like a cruelty. Shellpaw... Eveningpaw... Horizonpaw... Twinklepaw... they'd soon fall in line behind him. They were too big to need her anymore. Tears well at the corners of her eyes, catching her off guard as she blinks them back, rounding to right herself before a bespeckled tom as she takes in another weak breath. "Pebblepaw..." her voice cracks, embarrassingly and the molly coughs to clear her throat before continuing stubbornly ahead, "Do you... promise... to uphold... the warrior code... to protect your clan... to defend it... even at the... cost of your life?" Her lips feel numb, watching his as they part in a familiar confirmation, an assurance, a promise... a binding contract. One that might ferry him safely to StarClan in death. She is silent for far too many beats after he says yes... and she only remembers herself at the soft sound of Hazecloud clearing her throat or maybe sniffling? Lichenstar can't tell and is too afraid to see tears in her eyes too to risk a glance. "Then... under the gaze... of StarClan... I give you your.. warrior name." She exhales, labored, as if struggling to speak, "Pebblepaw.. Pebblepaw... from now on... you will be known as...." Maybe it's an act of hubris, or an honoring of his mentor, or maybe a desperate wish to affix a piece of herself to him so that she might not be forgotten as someone that loved and cared for him, but it surprises even her when she says, "Pebbletail."
  
  "StarClan honors your... keen eye... your observation... and your warmth." It stares at her now in the burning-coal stare of his gaze, something she presses her nose between and squeezes her eyes shut to relish the feel of his brow at her nose and drinking in the smell of him. It is so different from the tiny, milky-sick baby he'd been when they'd met. "I'm so proud..." She pulls away as a fitful hiccup catches in her chest, stepping back to admire him with a pained smile.
• about
  
  speech hex code ✧ #6368A5
  
  ooc notes ✦ holy shit i was the YAPPER this month sorry...
  
  CONGRATS!
  @BEEFANG becomes lead warrior!
  @Warblerkit becomes warblerpaw, apprenticed to @BRONZESHINE
  @BLACKKIT becomes blackpaw, apprentices to @RAVENDUSK
  @TWINKLEPAW is reassigned to @bubbleburst
  @MERLINPAW is reassigned to @STREAMSONG
  @tanglepaw is reassigned to @BUGBITE
  @owlpaw. is reassigned to @HEMLOCKSHINE
  @eaglepaw. is reassigned to @Tigersplash
  @CLOUDPAW is reassigned to @swirldance
  @PEBBLEPAW becomes pebbletail, for his observation and warmth!
  @turtlepaw becomes turtledove, for her humility and loyalty!
  
  tagging ✶ activity shoutouts for those who made 10+ posts! go you babes, you killed it once again and just in time to run headfirst into october... shit's about to get dicey ;)
  dont forget to check out the plot adopts in the mass adopts... we need some more drypaws :3c
  @Moonbeam @iciclefang @FERNGILL @FOXTAIL @Snakeblink @BEEFANG @MIDNIGHTASH @splashdance @STREAMSONG @robinheart @claythorn @PEBBLEPAW @EVENINGPAW @SUNPAW @SHARPPAW @owlpaw. @BLACKKIT
  
  
  penned by tieirlys
• ˚ ★⋆. ࿐࿔ ✦ . . ˚ . . ✦ ˚ .
  
  . ˚ * ✦ . . ✦ ˚ ˚ .˚ ✦ . . ˚ . ✦ . . ˚ ੈ✧˳·˖✶ ✦ ˚ ✦ . . ˚ ★⋆. ࿐࿔
  
  . ˚ * ✦ . . ✦ ˚ ˚ .˚ ✦ . . ˚ . ✦ ​

 

[◇ Frecklepaw.]

WATCHING YOUR
PRETTY SMILE SO WARM​

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frecklepaw & 12 moons & trans. fem & she/they/it & riverclan apprentice ​

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'That should be them'

It is not joy that fills Frecklepaw as she watches the meeting - no it is bitterness. It should be their names called up alongside Turtlepaw and Pebblepaw. But Magpiepaw is a name that will never agin leave the leaders lips. There will be no naming ceremony for their littermate after all their hard work.

There is no call for Frecklepaw either - failure that she is. Even gladefrosts soothing words that she'd had nothing to be sorry for dont help - instead mismatched gaze finds @Mothpaw in the crowd, a moment of understanding between the two.

Neither will be graced with new names - neither will become warriors despite their age.

At the sound of cheers, its suddenly all too much - the blue tabby darting away from the group as swiftly as her paws can carry her, tears filling unfocused eyes. She doesnt want to hear it - the joy that feels like claws tearing across her chest.

It shouldve been them.

━ actions & " speech, " & 'thoughts/quotes' ━

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I ━ L O S E ━ M Y ━ C O O L , ━ W H E N ━ I ━ G E T ━ E M O T I O N A L

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[TURTLEDOVE]

—————————————————【 riverclan | apprentice | she/her 】————————————————

【◈】Turtlepaw's pelt was immaculate. She had asked some of the elders to help her get the places she never bothered to ever try and groom. This was probably the cleanest her pelt ever was. It shone in the light. A now sleek dark pelt dotted by her rosettes. Her kit-like scruff was gone, and her fur looked like a proper RiverClanner's.

At Lichenstar's call Turtlepaw strutted to join her clanmates with her chin held high. She was the last of the 3 moon old kits to be admitted into apprenticeship. She had an extra 3 moons of training and she intended to show the world just how prepared she was. She was going to be a warrior.

Turtlepaw joined her clanmates in cheering for the new council member and new apprentices. Her paws started churning the ground in excitement. She knew what was coming. At the sound of her name, the young molly bounded forward and plopped herself down in front of her leader. She looked into Lichenstar's blue eyes and hoped she could see how excited Turtlepaw was to be her warrior. A loyal follower and provider for the clan.

"I do." Easy. Next question. There was no doubt in Turtlepaw's heart that this was what she was supposed to do. She had no living kin. They all gave her life for their clan, and the clan gave back by raising Turtlepaw. The clan made sure their legacy lived on.

No, not Turtlepaw. Turtledove. She touched her nose to Lichenstar's shoulder in thanks and could feel her own chest vibrate with a loud purr. This was where she was meant to be.

Turtledove's head whipped to the crowd and her eyes scanned to find Snakeblink's. A grin - wide and confident - shone down on him. Her mentor. She had no one in this world until he became her mentor. A scared, excitable orphan being handed a new mentor. He had every right to snap at her and make her quiet and obedient, but Snakeblink didn't. He encouraged her and made her feel so seen. She was who she is now because of him. Thank you, she mouthed and felt happy tears prick at the corners of her eyes.

[penned by muddly].

​

 

[BEEFANG]

࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ — At the call of a meeting, Beefang walks forward without much of a word as her tail carefully touches the flank of her mate, Moonbeam. She settles in the crowd finding a spot comfortable enough for the two of them and rests on her haunches as her lone eye turns to Lichenstar to hear the possible graduations of kittens to apprentices but it does not come... Instead, her own name falls from the lips of the blue pointed molly as her crystalline eyes focus onto the black smoke and the young warrior can't help but hold onto her breath as she sits there for what feels like an eternity. When the older molly had spoken of rewarding her, she hadn't expected it to be so soon yet the inky furred molly knows what's to come and the hurdles that will be set before her. "Of course." Beefang utters at last without another moment of hesitance and a respectful dip of her helm, she'd be part of Lichenstar's council and serve as nobly as she could. She'd bring honor to both Riverclan and her starblessed fathers that rest amongst the twinkling stars within Silverpelt... She would be the example of restraint and descipline that the blue molly desired.

Her lone eye would search for the dark pelt of her littermates or perhaps even the tabbied one that belonged to Snakeblink only to lend her attention to Lichenstar once again, now, apprentices would be given mentors and kittens graduated. Although, she perks up at the sound of both Turtlepaw and Pebblepaw being called forward to receive their warriors names and cannot help the way her chest tightens. That leaf-bare when Smokestar and her along with another warrior had brought back a smaller Pebblekit back to the clan... Now, she bears witness to him graduating today and once he's named. She can feel her heart begin to swell only to cheer the loudest for him amongst her clanmates "Pebbletail! Turtledove! Pebbletail!"

DROWN IN YOUR SORROW AND FEARS ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ CHOKE ON YOUR BLOOD AND YOUR TEARS

• ooc —

• 

  WARRIOR SKILLSET;
  — ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧ HUNTING
  — ✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧ TRACKING
  — ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧ COMBAT
  — ✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧ STEALTH
  — ✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧ STRATEGY
  — ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ SWIMMING
  — ✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ CLIMBING
• 
  ✦ a shorthaired black smoke molly w/low white and a singular amber eye
  ✦ oftentimes comes off as untrusting of those around her, closed off, and not the easiest to engage in conversation with, she's not easy to befriend. distrusting of outsiders and will snap at you if y/c walks up to her on her blind side. all her opinions are IC only.
  ✦ 14 moons old; ages the 10th every month
  ✦ asexual homoromantic; mated to moonbeam
  ✦ currently mentoring... roepaw ; formerly mentored by smokestar
  ✦ firstborn daughter of cicadastar and smokestar
  ✦ sister of cicadaflight and loveburn
  ✦ "speech", thoughts, attacking
  ✦ peaceful powerplay allowed

​

 

[BRONZESHINE]

"sign another deal" addict
bronzeshine | 29 moons | female| she/her | physically moderate | mentally hard | attack in underline

---

Meetings weren't something Bronzeshine had been longing to see again. It was always a slog to get through. Though at least this one started more interesting than most. Beefang was a fine warrior, from what she'd bothered to pay attention to. She sat amongst the other warriors today, still thin but having been cleared by Moonbeam to return to duties.

Then she heard her own name spoken. Me? An apprentice? she thought. The disbelief was surely written across her face. She stood to meet the guy anyway, touching her nose to his as was customary. She didn't greet him. Both because the meeting pushed forward and because she hadn't a clue what to say to him. She had only barely returned, and to be given an apprentice? It felt strange, in nicer terms. Warblerpaw. Her apprentice. Strange.

She turned her attention back to the meeting just in time to cheer for the new warriors, "Pebbletail, Turtledove!'

​

​

 

[MERLINPAW ✦]

The meeting starts with a new Lead Warrior named; Beefang. They don't know a whole lot about her, but Lichenstar chose her for her council, so the choice must be one with a lot of thought put behind it, and Merlinpaw has no complaints about that. Following Beefang's acceptance, are the mentor reassignments, Merlinpaw's own name among them. Their new mentor is set to be @STREAMSONG . He doesn't... know much about the warrior, but it's what Lichenstar thought was the right fit, so he won't complain, and he goes to seek her out in the crowd.

Two new apprentices are named, Blackpaw and Warblerpaw. Their den was going to get a decent amount more crowded. But... that turns out not to hold much truth as Pebblepaw and Turtlepaw are called forward to receive their warrior names.

Pebbletail and Turtledove. The clan cheers for the new warriors, and Merlinpaw joins them as is customary, his own cried of "Pebbletail! Turtledove!" drowned out by the voices of the clan surrounding him.

i used to think // that memories were like pollen

• 
  

  ooc -

• 
  #6360c4
• 
  (img) Merlinpaw * they/him* 9 moons
  mentored by Streamsong
  short furred blue classic tabby w/ low white; brown eyes
  Peaceful & healing powerplay allowed || underline for attack
  penned by Neptune. || Neptune on disc, dm me for plots

​

 

[RAVENDUSK]

The first matter to be discussed on today's meeting was Beefang and thier promotion into the council, a well deserved decision surely. Ravendusk did not have much opinion on that matter not exactly feeling bothered by who exactly sat at the council this days. Clan matters such like these should be put into paws who had amibition to care, that felt concerned for the future. Lichenstar surely had a mind that could think rationally and wisely. Next matters were apprentices who received new mentors after misfortunate circumstances.

If it was one thing, and if not the only thing that Ravendusk had been waiting for it was when Lichenstar introduced the new apprentices who soon would join thier new rank and leave the nursery behind. He could tell how excited they were to finally get to leave the bird nest behind and take flight into the real world. Of course, one of them would be Blackkit, the lil ray of sunshine, the sparkling joy of light that a major part wished to protect but had respectfully not stept over any bounderies because that golden joy was already cared for deeply. It didn't mean though that they where not allowed to feel a mixed emotion of excitement for this youth next chapter in life...just as much they felt worried for the future. But they tried to keep thier uncertanity underneath the surface with the hope, belief that Lichenstar would give Blackkit a responsible and experienced mentor who would take Blackkit under thier wing and protect them from the dangers out there while helping her to adapt into that cruel heartless world.

Out of all names that Lichenstar could have callen out to take on this role, it had never not even in thier wildest dreams prepared them for hearing thier own name get called out. No... Ravendusk could have sworn that thier own breath had stopt if only for a second when hearing thier dreadful name get spat out like a curse, like a dream that just had got turned into a nightmare. Horrified. That was the only way to describe this awful suffocating feeling that drowned them from the inside. It was the absolute worst thing that could have happened to them. He should not be the one picked out for this job. Just anyone would have been better fitted.

Against thier own will, thier own wishes, the warrior made thier way forward with the most stoic expression. He should reject this no matter how shameful he might look in front of them all by refusing to submit to this tradition. But the moment his heavy paws lead them in front of the spotted golden kit....thier words of reject went dry upon his tongue. How joyful and excited she looked...gleaming with light and full of happiness to finally get to become an apprentice. Aha, that look, brought so much pain inside of thier already broken heart. Suddenly, their facial expression turned sorrowful. No longer was it Blackpaw he was staring down at but Peachpaw who had looked so bright and full of life once. It was disheartening to even look at her, to get reminded by it. Ravendusk wished to speak up against it but his lips remained tightly closed.

He would lean his head down to touch nose with...his new apprentice, but no matter how much spark came from them, Ravendusk could offer nothing more but a patheticly faint smile to them after they had made it offical. Already he could see Blackpaw's dead body lying down at the river...and all he could think about now was how to prevent such a tragedy to happen again. " Our training will start in the morning..." They would mumble before parting ways from her by turning around to step back into line with the rest.

The rest of the meeting was nothing but a blur...mind gone and disappeared somewhere else...



​

 

[pebbletail]

(☼) there is no hesitation in his step as there had been just this morning. white-capped, sturdy paws find their place planted in the earth beside the rust and snow ones of pebblepaw's mentor. blue fur brushes pale, a dark nose touching the shoulder of the one who has taught him all these moons - a last show of apprenticehood subservience to foxtail. sunflare eyes cast over the rest of camp, finding the comforting greens of hazecloud, the soft strawberry hues of shellpaw, the green-yellow-blue of his younger siblings. river blues of splashdance sparkle before him, and he grins at her, heart racing as his gaze moves on. beefang watches with an approving yellow gaze, and pebblepaw is certain he can find cicadaflight and loveburn near her, with similar expressions of pride. finally, slowly, ember eyes seek sapphire pools above, his head turning skyward to his queen mother, atop the river rocks.

she looks of the gods, sun striking her just so that her water-woven pelt glimmers as if with starlight. lichenstar calls the meeting to order and pebblepaw stands firm, stoic even as his pelt itches with excitement. he can feel the fur on his head, that hazecloud had so lovingly smoothed down for this very occasion, beginning to tuft up again. bright eyes fix on lichenstar, and pebblepaw waits his turn.

beefang is granted a higher rank, something unexpected but somehow fitting for the salt-and-pepper feline. pebblepaw casts her a look, one that shines with the conversation they'd had only a day ago. he is proud of her, he realizes, then scolds himself for ever thinking he wouldn't be. she is not little beepaw, carrying his scrappy kit body back to camp, just as he is not tiny pebblekit, swinging from those young jaws. they are both fully realized now. he grins at her.

attention turned back to the queen on the rock, pebblepaw sits through the apprentice ceremonies, nodding and smiling. blackkit and warblerkit are made apprentices, cloudpaw, eaglepaw, owlpaw, all given new mentors. he eyes owlpaw's new mentor, sizing up the grouchy tom, and silently tells himself that he'll check in with his friend after the meeting, make sure hemlockshine won't cause him any issues. twinklepaw is assigned to bubbleburst, a fitting mentor for the rambunctious girl that is pebblepaw's little sister. lichenstar's bright eyes find himself and turtlepaw, and pebblepaw will tense, preparing, but somehow still not ready.

her helm tilts towards the sky, towards the stars who will recognize two new warriors tonight. pebblepaw can't help but think of magpiepaw, of the black and white fur that should blend between gray tabby and blue. magpiecall, or magpieclaw, it could've been. honored for its sharp tongue, its prowess in battle. starclan, riverpaw should be here, shoulder-to-shoulder with his brother in every step. riverstep, rivergaze, something strong and sturdy for the oldest brother, gone too soon. there is a stark absence as turtlepaw and pebblepaw approach, and he mourns it even as he celebrates other things.

lichenstar calls turtlepaw first, and pebblepaw watches with a spark of pride as his denmate approaches, addressed by the queen of rivers. his gray denmate is honored tonight for the values and teachings snakeblink has instilled in her. ember eyes find those poison greens of the lead warrior and the apprentice sees a man practically bursting with pride. turtlepaw speaks, i do, and she is named. turtledove, for her loyalty and humility. pebblepaw raises his tail in acknowledgement of the young woman, of all she's done, all she's been through to get where she is today. it has been enough.

and then, the river-clear gaze is upon him, and he can see tears twinkling there. pebblepaw is surprised to find wetness in his own eyes, but does not blink it away. there are times for tears, and this must be one of them. lichenstar steps forward, a sob building in her rough-voiced throat as she cracks his name, asks him the question he has only one answer to. "i do," he says, and his voice comes out certain, with all the strength of the rushing water, of great stone cliffs that line river's shores, of kings and queens. child of the river, born from flame, returned to wave and shore. lichenstar allows silence to fill the clearing, pebblepaw gazing steadily back at her. take your time, his eyes seem to say. i love you, i'll always need you.

from now on... you will be known as... pebbletail.

his mother names him, just as long ago, another family member had. pebblekit, for the dapples of his pelt, like rocks in a river, smokestar had said. pebblepaw, announced from the same dark maw, the gravely tone of his flaming uncle making it know unto the world. and now, pebbletail, for foxtail, for lichenstar, for his own keen eye, observation, and warmth. it slips so easily into place, this new monicker, sliding over paw until tail seems the only right answer to the question. the boy... no, the young man's chin quivers, unshed tears sparking in his ember eyes as he pushes forward, accepts her nose upon the bridge of his forehead. "thank you, mom," he whispers. she presses close, and he breathes her scent, the misty smells of the river, the familiar warmth of childhood. "i love you." he murmurs as she pulls back, and then he raises his voice in cheer.

"turtledove!" he celebrates his fellow, turning with one last brush against lichenstar to congratulate the other. sunspark eyes find his family again, seeking the warmth from their gazes. verdant green, hazy amber, honey yellow, river blue, shining and sparkling for him and his achievements. pebbletail finds foxtail, grin splitting his maw, and mouthes his gratitude. he will seek the man in later hours, pre-vigil, to make known how much he owes him. for now, he allows himself to bask in the cheers of his clanmates, closing his eyes. i did it, smokestar, snowflakekit, he seeks the stars. i did it riverpaw. wherever you are, i hope you're watching.

I DO NOT HAVE WINGS, LOVE ☼ I NEVER WILL

• // " #848DAE"
• 
• PEBBLETAIL ☼ HE / HIM, WARRIOR OF RIVERCLAN. 11 MOONS OLD, PENNED BY LAVS
  
  
  a large blue tabby with low white and vitiligo. pale blue fur covers the length of pebbletail's stocky body, sliced through with darker tabby stripes and spots. baleful ember eyes peer out of heavy set sockets, and his muzzle, paws, and tail tip are dashed with white.

​

 

[EVENINGPAW]

There is a lot to go through this meeting, and Eveningpaw feels impatience unsettling her. Lichenstar drones on — she has to, of course, and Eveningpaw understands... but she would much rather get to the part that she has been waiting for. Not even the recent misfortunes can dampen her mood. Pebblepaw deserves her full focus today.

Lichenstar leaves the best for last. Eveningpaw dutifully calls out her other Clanmates' names as well, celebrating their success after so much hardship; especially Blackpaw, who she has grown to like quite a bit. Beefang seems like a good enough addition to the council, too... though it's not like Eveningpaw often wonders about the nuances of such a thing. Surely it is a good decision. Beefang is equally as royalty as Eveningpaw, with fathers who has both walked amongst the stars even in their lives... and continue to do still, although she has only ever heard of Cicadastar through stories and remembrance.

At last, finally, finally...

"Pebbletail!" She is surprised by her own vigor as it leaves her in an explosion. In all her excitement, she nearly topples Pebbletail over as she drapes herself to his side, purring up a storm. "You did it!" And of course... mischief is quick to follow. "I'm going to annoy you through all of your vigil. Keep watch..."
​

 

[Warblerpaw.]

UH-OH, THERE IT GOES ━
I SAID TO MUCH, IT OVERFLOWED ​

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

warblerpaw & 06 moons & demi-boy & he/they & riverclan apprentice ​

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

' Oh starclan '

Warblerkit isn't ready for this - he's not redy for this at all! Tongue rasps across his fur, and yet despite the tenderness in his mothers eyes, the boy only feels distressed. he doesn't want to become an apprentice - doesn't want to be like Skylarkpaw, doesn't want to-

' Warblerkit ' comes their leaders voice, and round eyes widen, blinking owlishly at Lichenstar. It's- It's too soo, isn't it? Can't he stay in the nursery a little longer? I'm not! I'm not ready' he wants to argue, needle-like caws digging into the sandy soil underpaw. But once again, voice fails him, and so he is dubbed Warblerpaw and given a mentor.

His fear keeps him rooted to the spot - and when Bronzeshine say anything, neither doze he, frozen as though time has stood still even as a nose touches his own. But the meeting continues on anyways, and he hopes that maybe, he will be forgotten about.

━ actions & " speech, " & 'thoughts/quotes' ━

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

G O D ━ I ━ W I SH ━ I ' D ━ N E V E R ━ S P O K E

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

 

[Snakeblink]

MAYBE I'D BE A SAINT IF I WEREN'T ————————————​

Meetings such as this one are joyous occasions — a proof of RiverClan's growth, the strength they are gathering. But none before has been as joyous as this. Snakeblink looks up at Lichenstar standing over them from the very front of the crowd and lets rare excitement fill his breast: for today, he can let himself believe that the sun shines over the clan, that Silverpelt watches over them with kindness, that the future holds more joy than it does despair. It's even easy. He has good reasons to trust.

Beefang's promotion is not a surprise: Smokestar's daughter is as fierce and fearsome as her father was, and her teeth and claws are set against the clans' enemies with no doubt as to her loyalty. That she is Moonbeam's mate does not hurt; the medicine cat softens her, he thinks (and is somewhat of an assurance that she will not fall for the charms of another clan's warriors, as others have.) He twists around as her name is called, seeking her single eye in the crowd and offering her a welcoming nod when he manages to find it. She will be a great addition to the clan's leadership. Though he hopes she proves more patient than Iciclefang and Hazecloud: too many of the mollies in Lichenstar's council want to skin him as it is.

But that particular news soon falls to the back of his mind as the meeting goes on. The names of kits and apprentices being assigned first or new mentors flow together: he is getting anxious for what's to come.

Pebblepaw... Turtlepaw... come forward.

There it comes.

Snakeblink straightens in one jump, as if it had been his own name called. He feels as if there are ants in his paws. He hasn't been this antsy at a meeting since the day Cicadastar named him lead warrior.

Turtlepaw… The last of the three-moons apprentices, and the first of his own to rise to warriorhood. Is Frogpaw watching this from his star-strewn home beyond? Is that the weight Snakeblink feels on the back of his neck? He glances up, craning his neck towards the sky, but the call of the living is too strong for him to be distracted by worn grief for long. She's so strong, this one, standing head and shoulders over cats older than her by many moons: broadly-set and confident, which she had to learn on her own. She stands so tall as Lichenstar asks her to protect the clan with her life, so sure as she says yes.

He will have to apologize to Pebbletail later: when the clan's voices rise as one for the new apprentices, Snakeblink calls Turtledove's new name far louder than her denmate's.

Their eyes meet as she looks back to the clan that welcomes her as a warrior, his mouth still wide open with a joyful clamor as hers mimes a thank you in his direction. His face aches with a wide smile: in his celebration he has forgotten to be conscious of the expression, and it looks more genuine and more natural than his usual grimace as a result.

Snakeblink slinks through the crowd, quick as an asp in the grass, to reach his apprentice's — former apprentice — side. Tears shine in his eyes; in his own as well, he's sure. He presses his nose against her shoulder with a loud, rumbling purr that sounds as if it were knocked out of him.

"A bird name, I swear," he chuckles, wry and fond in equal measure. "It suits you." The enormity of his pride chokes him, silences him for an instant. He starts again, quieter, a little hoarse: "RiverClan is fortunate to have you as its own. You will be a formidable warrior." It's not half of what he wants to say to her, what he wants her to know, but it's a start.​

——————————————————————————————————— so god damn lonely​

ooc. information.

• 
  
  
  — Snakeblink • he / him. 57 ☾, riverclan warrior
  — a sleek, skinny tabby with long ears and a scar over his right eye.
  — gay, not actually evil, penned by @Kangoo
  

​

 

[bubbleburst]

〔✦〕Bubbleburst loves a lot of things, but the enjoyment she gets from large groupings- gatherings and meetings, rather- is unmatched by much else. It's exciting to see so many faces eager to receive news, gathered around and chattering. As the silver-coated molly joins her clanmates, she takes her place and watches quietly as everyone else settles in. The rustling of the reeds that shield RiverClan from the outside world create a chorus of background noise as Lichenstar commences the meeting. Bubbleburst listens intently, leaning forward into her words.

She gasps gleefully as Beefang, a trusted and loyal friend, is asked to step up as a lead warrior. "Beefang, congratulations!" she hopes the joyful cry reaches the black smoke. Regardless, she is sure to help christen the change in rank later. A celebration is in order, of course. She and the rest of her clanmates settle in for the rest of the meeting. Her eyes widen when Lichenstar gives her an apprentice. Better yet, she has assigned one of Lichenstar and Hazecloud's very own children. Bubbleburst can hardly contain her excitement. Her mother's words about humility and gratitude ring in her mind as she steps forward to greet her apprentice. It feels like just yesterday that she herself had been in Twinklepaw's shoes, and she practically buzzes with glee. "Hi!" her face splits wide into a smile after they greet each other with touched noses "We'll start training tomorrow. I hope you're excited!"

Then, it's the turn of the apprentices to be turned into warriors. Today there's just two, but any apprentice who graduates from the rigorous training of RiverClan is a blessing from StarClan. Pebblepaw and Turtlepaw respectively step forward. She is more familiar with Turtlepaw and her humble spirit, but both of them are sure to make fine warriors. "Turtledove! Pebbletail!" She raises her voice among the others, a chorus of congratuations.

sucker love, a box i choose ( no other box i choose to use ) !!

• ooc.
• BUBBLEBURST —— warrior of riverclan , mentoring twinklepaw . mudjaw x breezeflower . littermate to swanpaw ✦ penned by carat
  ✦ she/her / 16 moons & ages every 13th
  ✦ single / bisexual / open to romance
  ✦ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / underline & tag account when attacking
  —— not a strong fighter, often prefers diplomacy and strategy over strength and battle skills
  
  ✦ "speech", 'thoughts', all opinions are in character
  ✦ biography — msg on discord for plots — toyhouse
  
• 
  
  

  a mediumhaired silver marbled tabby with moderate white and blue eyes

​

​

 

[FOXTAIL]

Foxtail can feel his paws tremble as he sits in the crowd, ears pricked as Lichenstar's voice begins to reach his ears. Instinctively, the tom wraps his bushy tail around his paws, and he can only hope it isn't as noticeable now.

The meeting starts off strong... as Lichenstar focuses on a certain black smoke with one amber eye; Beefang. Daughter of Smokestar and Cicadastar, she exemplifies their ferocity... their dedication and loyalty to RiverClan. In the few short moons she's been a warrior, she has proven herself to be a strong, keen warrior; while facing multiple difficulties... like losing her father, her very own mentor, and later her right eye. Clanmates cheer her name loudly; leaving little room for any doubt for her as a lead warrior... and he tries not to pay too much mind to it. It's been moons now, He mentally scolds himself for thinking about the clanmates that doubted him, This isn't about you!

"B-Beefang! Beefang!" Foxtail adds his shaky cheer into the crowd of voices, pushing his self-conscious thoughts to the back of his mind.

Kits receive their apprentice names, and some apprentices get re-assigned to new mentors, and his ears prick at one familiar name. He looks for Tigersplash in the crowd; who's been entrusted to take over Eaglepaw's training. He lightly smiles at her and gives her a light nod, and he feels guilt in his chest as his mind quickly thinks to their other littermate. He feels some relief that Lichenstar didn't re-assign Eaglepaw to Hawkcloud, and he doesn't mean to sound cruel. It would've been too soon.... to give Hawkcloud an apprentice after tragically losing Magpiepaw. He wonders if Hawkcloud is in the crowd, but he cannot blame her if she isn't— Magpiepaw should've been receiving their warrior name today alongside Pebblepaw and Turtlepaw.

Lichenstar changes her focus onto the two apprentices, and Foxtail can feel his heart racing with anticipation. He still can't believe that this day is finally here— it seems just like yesterday, Smokestar assigned Pebblepaw to him.... a mere moon after failing Eelpaw. Back then, Foxtail hadn't been expecting to get another apprentice so soon; he had expected himself to be without an apprentice for moons. He briefly looks up to search for silverpelt, wondering which twinkling star was Smokestar watching above. I hope I made you proud, Smokestar. He thinks, hoping that somehow these words reach their late leader, Thank you for trusting me with Pebblepaw.

Turtlepaw is renamed to Turtledove, and he holds his breath as Lichenstar turns to her son... with tears in her eyes and with a voice that struggles not to sob in pride.

"Pebbletail."

Foxtail blinks with surprise— much like Pebblepaw's proud leader & mother— his olive eyes glistening with tears. Pebbletail. Pebbletail Pebbletail— for his keen eye, his observation... his warmth.

For as long as he can remember.... he always knew he was going to be named Foxtail. His tail is as bright in color... as bushy as one that belongs to a fox. He never thought it was anything special— compared to clanmates being named for their ferocity, or for their connection to the river. To him, it had been mediocre, but tears run down his cheeks hearing it as Pebbletail. To be named after those who care so deeply about you... to those that shaped you into the individual you've become... it's such an honor Foxtail can't even begin to fully process.

(And in a way, he feels more confident about his own name, too.)

His teary eyes meet Pebbletail's grinning gaze, and the newly named warrior approaches him. He mouths a silent thank you, and Foxtail would aim to brush his head against Pebbletail's fur. "I'm s-so p-proud of you," He says in a quivering voice, "P-Pebbletail." The new warrior pulls away, basking in the cheers of his clanmates, and Foxtail's voice joins the crowd with pride. "Pebbletail! Turtledove! Pebbletail!"​

𝐨𝐨𝐜 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭

• 
  
  

  ---

  credit to raphaelion (via da) for the artwork <3
• Foxtail

  ​
  

  lead warrior
  23 moons
  warmhearted
  timid
  experience: trained
  backstory: [HYPERLINK]
  biography: [HYPERLINK]
  credit to trops for the chibi <3
  

  cisgender male [he / him]
  eyes: green
  pelt: cinnamon/chocolate
  fur length: long
  parents: dawnflower and redfur (riverclan npcs)
  

  ---

  ​

​

 

[BLACKPAW]

Blackkit still vividly remembers her first day at RiverClan when she was stranded at their camp, her existence held firm against its wetland by the remnants of raging deep blue with the memories in lightnings and white roars. It is a miracle to most she could survive what should have killed her, although to Blackkit, she believes it was love that brought her to stand still— it has always been love that she wants to make her whole life be made out of. Surprising it is nevertheless a few moons passed since the incident, with her soon vowing to place her life in a Clan that she had heard many tales about before. The fact that she will finally become an apprentice after a moon of recovery and lifestyle adjustment... Blackkit still can't believe it will happen.

Her breath has been held back mostly throughout the meeting, nodding each part of the announcement Lichenstar makes from Beefang becoming a lead warrior to several apprentices being reassigned to new mentors, then finally— finally, with Warblerkit's name changed upon entering apprenticeship, she hears another and it feels time stops— "Blackkit, you have... recovered... and are over six moons now... It's time to become... an apprentice. From this day... until you are given... a warrior name. You will... be known as Blackpaw." Blackpaw. It is a name that sounds familiar, yet, not at the same time, but it is still rightfully hers. She's an apprentice now, like Eveningpaw and Sharppaw... The world blurs in stings and trails of joy fall over her cheeks. "I'm an apprentice now!" she, Blackpaw, chokes on her emotions and smiles widely.

Somewhere in her, the frightened part had thought RiverClan would cast her out, not seeing any worth in her skills or experiences— herself, especially when she is an outsider with a strange passion for the water preys and stranger dream to find the legendary sea. But she's still here, with Lichenstar allowing her to evolve more through RiverClan's great history and capabilities. Her teary eyes widen when the leader assigns Ravendusk to be her mentor— Her friend?! Her smile widens and she breaks into loud giddy giggles, finding this day is one of her best ever. Yet, her delight wavers at Ravendusk's demeanour, unmatching to hers with silent sorrow. Her blue fire heart aches.

She knows Ravendusk has always been a lonesome being, as known to be distant with everyone with remains of brighter joys given to kits like herself recently before. She wonders while being his apprentice, he will only find days when he will find ease in mentoring her and nights when he can rest well feeling satisfied of their efforts altogether. As her nose reaches to Ravendusk's, still softly smiling at him despite the lingering anxiety in herself, she most hopes she will not make him ever regret allowing her to be his apprentice. Blackpaw wants Ravendusk to believe as she will be a good apprentice, he will be a good mentor. "I'll make you the proudest, Ravendusk," she promises to him with a nod at his first request, resolved.

Blackpaw nods to Lichenstar as well. She with Moonbeam suggested her to rest for a moon after her stranding, her apprenticeship held back for health sake. Dssapointment was her reaction, but she realized after her heavy discussion with Sharppaw that she truly needed it after all that happened. She's thankful for the chance of recovery. "Thank you for allowing me to recover for a moon! I promise I will do my best, Lichenstar!" Her ears burn in bashfulness before she scuttles and finds Sharppaw, grinning broadly when she spots him. "And I'll be sure to become a better apprentice than you," she whispers to him, laughing. She soon cheers with her clanmates, shining bright and brighter as she's determined to become a grand warrior as well.​

​

 

[STREAMSONG]

The news that she was getting an apprentice was the last thing she'd expected out of this meeting. It was a blessing, good news that she was being trusted (over a year after graduating as a warrior) enough to be given an apprentice. Bugbite too earned an apprentice this meeting! Making her way to her apprentice, she leans down as she'd seen done so many times before. "I'll do my best to teach you well Merlinpaw. We'll head out to see what you know after the meeting is over." She whispers in his ear as she touches noses with her apprentice, before quickly returning to her seat. Lifting her voice high, she joins her clanmates in welcoming in the new apprentices and warriors of the clan.

WE TANGLE ENDLESSLY ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ LIKE LOVERS ENTWINED

• ooc. —​

• 

• STREAMSONG
  ↪ streamsong / cisgender female (she/her)
  ↪ 27 moons / ages realistically on the 4th
  ↪ warrior of riverclan / mentoring merlinpaw
  ↪ lh silver ticked tabby w/ low white (carrying non-ticked)
  ↪ "speech" / thoughts
  ↪ peaceful/healing actions may be powerplayed / attack in underline & @/account
  ↪ note: all thoughts/actions are based off ic opinions only !!
  ↪ penned by halimede
  ​

​

 

[HEMLOCKSHINE]

Beefang's promotion comes as no surprise. Lichenstar is right; she is a dedicated and loyal warrior. He dips his head in a slight bow, but remains silent, a tom of little words.

Several apprentices are without mentors, an unfortunate fact quickly corrected by their leader. He's only half-listening, uninterested in the Clan's too-soft youth, until his own name is called. His gaze snaps to the leader's perch - Owlpaw, I'm sorry... about your mentor... Hemlockshine is going to be... handling your training...

Oh, StarClan. His frigid exterior cracks, the subtle twitch of an eyelid and a minute curl of his claws, lifting his chin to meet Lichenstar's stern gaze with a frosty stare of his own. Be patient, she says, as if it's that easy to put up with Owlpaw's... well, everything. But he doesn't dare talk back to her, not in front of the entire Clan. As the new apprentices' names are called, Hemlockshine swivels his head to fix his own with a resentful glare. You had better make this worth it, his expression seems to say. Spoiled brat.

Turtledove and Pebbletail's warrior names are met with dutiful cheering of their names, as solemn as if he's attending a funeral. Beyond what's expected of him, he cares little for his Clanmates, besides his siblings and Pikemaw. Their lives move past his little island as rapidly and inexorably as the river. Reedfang had drilled loyalty to his Clan into his head, but his Clanmates feel so... distant. They hadn't had Reedfang as a father. They don't have the burden of their parents' mistakes hidden away upon their shoulders. He had given up trying to bridge the gap moons ago.

---

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎┌── i wonʼt soothe your pain ⋆⋅☾⋅⋆ i wonʼt ease your strain ──┐‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

• /ic opinions OOF

• 

• HEMLOCKSHINE ✩ he/him, warrior of riverclan, 21 moons
  ⭃ a tall, lithe black smoke tom with blue eyes and low white. he is cold, composed, and willing to resort to manipulation to get what he wants. he is incredibly vain, to the point that anyone who mars his pretty face is in for a world of pain. please note that hemlockshine will be prone to saying and doing awful things that i, as his roleplayer, do not condone. all of his opinions are ic only.
  ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking ↛ see battle info here
  ⭃ penned by solaire ↛ @funeralscythe on discord, feel free to ping for plots.

​