trying times | official

[MIDNIGHTASH]

જ➶ The beech copse is different from camp in many ways. It sits higher up and with how long she has lived within the river guarded camp she can tell it easily enough. The elevation makes her narrow her gaze but at least some of the clan is safe. Now they just have to find the missing, though a part of her does not want the drypaws to be found. Let them wash up on someone else's shores. Their deaths she does not want but their exodus from the clan perhaps. Afterall, cats that live around water and do not swim are a liability in her eyes. Most of the seasons they do hardly nothing important or anything that no other cat in Riverclan can not do. Her muzzle twitches then, a wind pushing against her thick sun kissed frame. Thoughts are swept away and soon another face comes within her mind's eyes. Splashdance. The half-clanner. The one that attempts to rise her up. A part of her loathes it but another part craves it. Needs it after such a time of lonliness. The joy of living sucked out of herself and so she guesses she needs to latch on to someone else. It's a begrudging notion to accept and yet she does because she needs someone, doesn't she? She wants some semblance of acceptance.

A rough breath leaves her throat as she slips her way from the makeshift camp. Eyes flicking along the rim of raised water. What can she give then to show her claim? A simple gift? No, she despises anything simple. She wants it to be elaborate. Perhaps something that the other can wear? "Ugh, why is this so hard..?" Of course she wants it to be impressive and her paws shift back and forth as she paces. Crafting has never been her strong suit but maybe she can weave something? Give her something....creative? Slowly her eyes watch the water and something interesting catches her gaze, something she has never seen before clinging to the side of thick grass. It's bright color pulls her in and she pulls the shinny stripe of white silver fabric from the waters. It's smooth in texture and she then decides to combine it with a stone she saw earlier. It's not as beautiful as a river stone would have been but at least it is smooth. Carefully she tried to twine it around the stone with small tiny blue flowers and blades of grass. Her tongue sticks out as she works, finding small irritation when some flowers fall but she presses on to make sure they stay tucked in. After a moment she huffs and looks at her work before nodding to herself. It'll work.

"Splashdance!" The woman calls, hoping the other is back from her patrol. Her paws shuffle with the gift between them and once she has arrived her amber orbs turn slightly brighter. Yet also remain elusive as she pulls her ears back. "I have something for you. Uh...for us actually. Together?" Her brow furrows then and she shakes her head sharply. "Damn, my words aren't coming out right. Ugh, it's a gift. Just...if you want it. For you know, being together."

@splashdance
please wait for splashie to respond​

 

[splashdance]

Splashdance enters the camp from yet another expedition out, and takes a moment to breathe. Just as she promised Lichenstar and herself, the she-cat has been hard at work being a dutiful RiverClan warrior. Free time had been spent catching amphibians in the shallows (as she hardly wants to risk the rising rapids once again,) and she tries to volunteer for any free patrol she can get her paws on. She's overworking herself, she knows - but with the displacement, it seems almost everyone is. Queens are constantly at work preparing their children for the worst, elders yapping on and on about how they can't handle another flood... Frankly, if she hadn't experienced the short will of ShadowClan, she'd expect RiverClan to break here.

There's a soft pleasure in knowing her true home is stronger than the one she left behind - and then dissatisfaction that the thought cropped up at all.

In any case, all of her work has distracted her from her friends. Ultimately unintentionally, but action and inaction are hardly more than two sides of the same coin. She moves quickly to try and assuage the damage she's done (Watching Loonpaw and Duckpaw be swept away in her indecision haunted her. Did it haunt Midnightash, too?) She hopes that there will be a moment where her constant action will provide her with the reward of karmic equality. That nothing fate-bound or destiny-driven will drag her beneath the nasty waves soon. She obscures critical details with a flick of her tail, hiding the true evil behind sharp auburn eyes.

(Midnightash isn't evil. She's hurting. She needs a friend, and Splashdance - she's that friend. She knows what it's like to be outcasted. They're more alike than others think. Perhaps she can be the one to douse the wildfire that rages in the tortoiseshell.)

(Right?)

Blue eyes flick up from her pause when she hears her name on the wind. Speak of the devil - the russet and coal she-cat waves her over, and in a swift movement, Splashdance obeys. She trots like fatigue doesn't wear her out, her tail flagging behind her. Slipping in beside the other warrior has become second nature, despite their short time as nestmates. Her gaze lingers on the stone. It's littered with petals, bound by some ivory twoleg thing - it's not the prettiest, but there's something about the unification of their two worlds that makes Splashdance giddy.

Midnightash speaks, and the black furred molly blinks as she gathers the concept at paw. It's not just a gift, not like the trail of vines and flowers she gave Pebbletail. It's... a promise. A vow, maybe. Together, Midnightash says. Blue eyes flutter with blinks, lift to fit onto the amber hues of the molly... Her jaw tenses. They're different from the golden ones she wishes she would be looking into for this moment, she realizes. They're angled, with brows furrowed and paired with harsh, jutting fur that stabs in every direction. Pretty, no doubt. But...

Why am I disappointed?

The smile that fits on her expression next is quick, natural - no ounce of forcing necessary as she presses beyond her worries. Midnightash likes her, and maybe she likes the other warrior, too. The face she wishes she was looking at... well, he was her friend. She told her own mother as much. She told him as much. She doesn't allow her thoughts to become embittered with thoughts of another as she presses in closer to Midnightash, effortlessly curling her feathered tail around the other's.

"Awww, Mid! If I knew we were supposed to get each other gifts, I would've grabbed y'somethin' before the river flooded!" Trash, no doubt. Something the warrior would've hated if she hadn't grown the least bit tolerant. She draws her tongue over the other's cheek, "I think it's beautiful," she says, a little softer. "I'm glad we're together..."
​

 

[owlcrest]

Even if Hemlockshine wasn't breathing down his neck, constantly making him work even harder now, Owlpaw was certain he'd still be doing a lot. Twigs, reeds, a mouthful of den repair stuff filled his jaws as he passed through their makeshift camp. Everyone was sure they'd return back soon enough, but would they actually?

He's barely leave Sunpaws side if he could help it. Though, his stressful disposition was covered with joking again. Acting as if he didn't break down in the middle of camp over a shell and his clanmates and mentor. And he'd ignore most who asked if he was okay, blinking ahead as if he couldn't hear them. (He was kind of in his own mind a lot lately, fighting these new demons he began struggling even harder as of late.)

But something pulled him from his thoughts as he carried his den repair items, head snapping in an almost painful way as he overhears Splashdances and Midnightashs words and his eyes narrow.

"Together?" He almost spits, dropping the things from his maw. "Thats- that's not fair, Splashdance. Pebbletail-" he snaps his jaws tight together with a click of his teeth. His friend had seemed a bit distressed lately, but he was working hard for Splashdance. For what? For this? Pebbletail cares about Splashdance- that was his friend, and though he joked about it, he was genuinely sure that Pebbletail had genuine feelings for the molly. "If you hurt my friend, Splashdance-" what? What would he do? What could he do? Green and Blue eyes slitted, and his tail lashed behind him.

It was not his place to say that he swore pebbletail was padding after the molly, but it was so painfully obvious- even for the dimwitted apprentice. But really, he was just disappointed in the molly for being blinder than him.

​

 

[pebbletail]

(☀︎) she has been on his mind for the past several days. stars, she's been on his mind for moons, if he's being honest with himself. her friendship is his one constant in the forever changing climate of riverclan. his siblings are there, as are his mothers, but no one has bolstered his spirit like splashdance. but since his warrior ceremony... well truly since hers, they've been drawing apart. it had hurt, seeing her laughing and chattering with other cats near the warriors' den, when he was still an apprentice. now, a moon later, he's a warrior and yet nothing has changed.

the night of the flood, her tail had flicked into his nest and he had wound his own with it, a comfortable position they'd gotten used to in the apprentices' den. it had almost distracted him from the fact that a strange body was in her nest with her. a strange body with dark dappled fur and a sneer on her face, with a barking rough voice that pokes fun at those different from her. midnightash as claimed a place next to pebbletail's best friend, and he doesn't understand how, or why. he has thought perhaps it was a pity thing, that splashdance had been comforting the flame sparked molly, but after a half moon of this behavior, he had known better.

and then... then during the flood, she hadn't even turned back to find him in the chaos. his best friend had slipped from the den with her, without so much as a water-hued gaze back at his dripping frame. it'd been then, and when he'd seen her leave two drypaws for the river, that he'd known - something has shifted.

he pads into the temporary camp with something clutched in his jaws, a small, slightly sodden blue feather, bundled together with a larger but just as damp orange feather. splashdance, you're my best friend, a-and i really care about you. i found this feather, i thought it'd look pretty on you.. it matches your eyes. the young man goes over his little speech, breathing rough. he hums to himself, anxiously flexing his claws as bright eyes follow the bustle of the warriors, the shrieks of kits being groomed by patient queens, to the center of camp, where splashdance (splashdance!) is speaking to midnightash (midnightash...) with a fond smile on her face. large white paws tap gently over the couple (couple...eugh), hesitating just long enough for their words to sink in.

"i'm glad we're together."

together... together... it rings through his head like a gunshot. owlpaw stumbles up to the two, growls something about pebbletail and hurting him and... pebbletail can't take it. he moves closer, sunspark eyes flitting from midnightash to splashdance, finds her river blue eyes, and feels his heart crumble a little. "congrats," he mumbles, pearly fangs gnawing at his lips. "you're lovely together."

eyes flick to owlpaw, a silent thank you, a silent warning to be quiet. "owlpaw, here's some feathers. give it to sunpaw, or something, i dunno." white tufted ears flick, he spins and begins making his way back out of camp.

LET ME BE YOUR OWN ☼ ICARION CARRION

• // ic opinions i promise! in + out unless stopped xoxo. " #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 pebblepaw's stocky body, sliced through with darker tabby stripes and spots. baleful orange eyes peer out of heavy set sockets, and his muzzle, paws, and tail tip are dashed with white.

​

 

[BLACKFISH]

Blackfish did not know what had happened between Midnightash and Splashdance. Truthfully, he didn't really care, but when the two fishbrains made it his businesses by being so public about it, he could not help himself from watching.

Confusion fell upon his expression at first before it blinked into disgust. Even if it wasn't Splashdance, public affection had never been a favourite of the tom's. He didn't understand how one could feel anything by licking another's cheek. He didn't understand how two cats could randomly decide to be together. He especially didn't understand Midnightash, someone whom he had placed on a pedestal above the other RiverClanners for her behaviour. Blackfish thought she was smart, knew how to get things done and how to shake things up. Staring at her now, he almost felt betrayed by his own intuition, at how wrong it could've been. When the pair made no attempts to stop acting so sick before the whole clan, the tom's black paws carried him forwards.

"I never thought you'd fall for some... weasel heart, I thought you had standards," he mewed accusingly toward Midnightash, disappointed she hadn't gone for someone a little more... RiverClan. Pebbletail's fleeing form is nothing more than an afterthought as he stared down the new couple, making a face as if he'd stepped in fishdung. Tutting, he mewed, "Well... don't go crying to anyone when this.... thing you think you have falls apart. Outsider." He tilted his head towards Splashdance, mouth pressed together in a thin line as he tried to think of anything to say to her. He opened his mouth as if an insult would fall naturally from it, but when all that emerged was a silent breath, his brows furrowed closer together and he shook his head. "You are profoundly unimpressive."

Uninterested in what they would have to say back to him, the young warrior turned on his heels, tail pointed towards the Stars. "Enjoy being miserable~" he called out over his shoulder, disappearing into the thicket to find something to do - anything would be better than having to watch a new couple laugh as their clan burned around them.


​

 

[FERNGILL]

Well, this wasn't ... nice. Ferngill couldn't help but overhear, really. He'd not been trying to eavesdrop, promise - but oh, gossip found its way to him easily, as his paws often lead him to situations he wasn't so thrilled about. Midnightash and Splashdance? Well, it was a surprise to be sure. He'd thought Pebbletail and Splashdance seemed to be very close, but ... maybe he'd just been reading the signs wrong, because Midnightash looked gladder, and Splashdance purred a bright approval.

Maybe it was something old in him (and he didn't think he'd ever thought that before!) that made him cringe at the idea of exchanging mating stones in front of everyone. Or, anything else of the like- and if he'd gotten a tongue-lashing from an apprentice when he'd snuggled up to Sablemist's side, he would've felt awful. "I'm sure she wouldn't dream of it, Owlpaw," Ferngill murmured, though his sincerity died a little in his throat when he caught Pebbletail's pretty swift departure.

Ferngill's stomach turned, but he ignored it best he could, flashing a gladdened smile to the couple. "I'm so happy for you both," he purred, meaning that at least. It was wonderful to find a companion, wasn't it?​

✦ penned by pin ✦​

 

[brindlepaw]

brindlekit watched as she always did, with golden eyes wide and round and probably a little unsettling. she didn't do it on purpose. she simply observed. this... puzzled her. "...together?" she mewed out loud without even thinking. sure, they were sitting together and talking. why is everyone treating it weird? what makes this together different from other... togethers? what a strange thing to say.

BUT ITS LIKE YOURE ✹ . + 　 ˚ 　 · MADE OF ANGEL DUST

•  in and out unless spoken to "speech"

• 

• 

  abandond kit, brindlekit found mysteriously on the border of riverclan, with no memory of how she ended up there. she is 4 moons. she is very small for her age, but is healthy. she is a dilute tortoiseshell with a white throat and chest. her stomach, paws and tail tip are also white. her eyes are golden and round. penned by Twitchtail, ✦

​

 

[BEEFANG]

࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ — Midnightash had been pretty bold in doing such a thing like this in public even Beefang herself wouldn't dare to do a thing, she enjoyed the privacy of her and Moonbeam's mateship. It wasn't anyone's business but her own and even if the two of them aren't publically affectionate with one another in front of the entire clan, the pieces could easily be put together that the pair were together considering how the lead warrior stayed in the medicine den instead resting with the of her clanmates in the warriors den. A frown finds itself on her maw as she watches the scene begin to unfold in front of her and can't help the annoyed flick of her tattered ear, her lone pupil narrowing into a dangerous slit at the mention of them being together and an angry little fire burns within her chest. She could care less about the pair being mates now but more at the fact that Midnightash gets to be happy after the pain she has been in Beefang's ass for the entirety of her apprenticeship, it causes her nostrils to flare when Splashdance so willingly accepts the ugly gift the tortoiseshell molly presents to her.

Her feathery tail lashes behind her not taking note of the words that seems to leave Owlpaw's moving jaws until she hears the mention of her cousin slip from him does she suddenly tense. "If you hurt my friend, Splashdance..." The large molly doesn't thinks nothing of it at first until she sees the approach of Pebbletail from the corner of his eye and subtly turns her head in his direction trying to read his expression, her frown only worsens if that's possible as the fur along her spine prickles ever so slightly. His swift exit doesn't make her feel any better about the entire situation and listens to Ferngill congratulate the new couple, and Blackfish does too but seems to be more harsh about it. Beefang wishes to say something similar but her sharp words would be more directed to Midnightash than her new mate, her ruined ear flicks for a heartbeat deciding that her wordless approach and departure would be enough.

She, at least, acknowledged them even if she wishes that she hadn't in the first place and turns to go follow Pebbletail to make sure that he's alright knowing that he probably isn't the happiest. If he doesn't want to talk about it then she would try her best in helping around in Beech Copse to the best of her abilities, her white streaked tail flicking with irritation as she departs the scene without another glance over her shoulder.

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

• ooc — out :]

• 

  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.
  ✦ 15 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

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