camp VIGILANCE | standing guard

[TIGERFROST]

TIGERFROST ♂

0/9

WINDCLAN / LEAD WARRIOR
BIOGRAPHY AND TAGS
PLAYED BY SHEOGORATH

HEALTH: ████████████████████​

---

While some worked to reinforce the camp wall, others comforted each other, shared tongues and meals. And then there were those that remained vigilant, guardians of the hollow that seemed so tense under threat. Tigerfrost peers toward the stars, the full moon, and wonders how the gathering is going, with so many left behind. He agrees with Sootstar's want to insure the camp remained guarded, but he can't help but wonder what chaos was erupting at the gathering right now.

For the moment, Tigerfrost merely stands guard the entrance, his fiery gaze extended outward for any sign of another clan trying to sneak too close. The chatter of his clanmates at his back serves as a reassurance that if they were attack in the night, they would all be ready.

[takes place during the gathering]​

​

 

[Juniperpaw]

"Is somethin' bad gonna happen?"

Juniperkit watches Tigerfrost closely from where he sits several fox-lengths away. Any further and he might've had to shout. Tension buzzes throughout the camp like the warning hum of swarming wasps. It's distant and intangible but oh so threatening. Juniperkit can spot signs of it everywhere: warriors doing something to the gorse walls and strict lockdown orders. Mama frowns a lot--she's always looking at the camp's opening with a weird look in her eyes. Mama never really smiles like Scorpionkit does, but Juniperkit can tell something is off. It has been bothering Juni all day and he had finally slipped from the watchful eye of his babysitters to interrogate Tigerfrost.

The child's expression is a little uncertain. Nervous, not fearful. Juniperkit is smart enough to notice all these little details, but he doesn't quite understand what to do with it.​

 

[Firefang]

Her duties as a mentor had kept her busy in recent days and whenever she wasn't pushing Harrierpaw along she spent most her time fretting, she hung in camp much more often then she'd normally had. The threat of being raided hung heavy over all those who called the moors home, not all of them were ready to face such intensity as two clans baring down on their throats. Windclan as a whole was strong but the wounds left behind by Riverclan and before that the exodus of traitors still hadn't cleared, ragged scars were still left behind they'd take time to heal. She's not eager to see them get ripped open before they could scab, despite her hunger for battle she knows the last thing he rclan needs is more warriors to bury and more kits left without a parent. Her gaze pulls over Juniperkit as she comes to settle besides Tigerfrost, the young tom looked remarkably like his father she hopes when the time comes he'd be just as formidable but for now he's like any other kit; painfully innocent if not mousebrained he doesn't understand the gravity of the fear that thorns into every Windclanners heart.

Firefang herself wouldn't call herself afraid, nah not for her own pelt she could survive any attack could bare the brunt of it be a infallible guard. She was competent and that's why she believes she was left behind in camp, Sootstar left many of their strongest behind after all - if they were attacked they'd easily chase off those muck-smellers and fish-lickers off before Juniperkit could get a full sense of just how bad a Riverclanner smelled. A chuckle rumbles in her throat, ❝I doubt it honestly, Riverclan already get a tail-whoopin' and Shadowclan are a bunch of mangy little skinny runts. Even if they show up they'll be sent home to lick their beaten asses as quick as they came❞ her chest puffs up in a show of bravado, her claws peak out from her paws. She flashes a toothy grin down at Juniperfrost's scrap of fur.

❝You don't have anythin' to worry about kit. Me, Tigerfrost and the rest of us trapped in camp aren't gonna let anythin' happen❞ it's the duty Sootstar entrusted them to do and they wouldn't let her down.

​

( ✦ )

 

[SNAKEHISS]

❪ TAGS ❫ — It's quiet. It seems that the entire clan is waiting with bated breath for something to happen; for a swarm three-clans strong to come barging onto the moors or for Sootstar to return and say that everything was going to be alright.

The uncertainty was hindering him, with nothing else to focus on except pacing back and forth in the middle of camp impatiently. He cannot help but feel a twinge of jealousy toward the cats who were hand-picked by the leader herself to attend the gathering. His freak of a younger cousin had been allowed to go, but he hadn't? It simply wasn't fair. Was Snakepaw not good enough in the eyes of the Moor Queen?

Ah well, nothing else to do but stand around and wait. Snakepaw pricks his ears, overhearing Firefang reassuring one of Spiderbloom's spawns that WindClan could stand their own against any raiding parties. For once he pays little mind to the warrior's presence and is instead more interested in addressing the topic at hand. "If they come to us, we'll have the upper paw. They don't know the moors and the tunnels like we do." Snakepaw huffs.

If he were a braver cat, he would say that he'd like to see the other clans try to raid them, but in reality... Snakepaw doesn't hope for that at all. He doesn't want to fight again, not so soon after the RiverClan situation. Despite the smug face the apprentice wears, anxiety gnaws at the pit of his stomach like a parasite.​

 

[SUNFLOWERMASK]

.°☀ AND IF IT EVER STARTS TO FEEL BAD, LITTLE FANG

---

This is the second gathering that Sunflowerpaw has missed, but they are trying not to feel too badly about it. It's more important, staying behind in camp to keep an eye on things. If they did go, they risked being away while the camp was attacked. Leaving behind the defenseless -- they cast their eyes to Juniperkit, one moon old and barely out of the nursery, asking in small and timid tones if something bad is coming. Even one as young as him can tell that something is wrong. It's Firefang who comes to reassure him, all sharp-toothed grin and easy bravado. They must admit, it does some to put them at ease, as well.

Firefang sits with Tigerfrost at the camp's entrance, and slowly, Sunflowerpaw moves to join them. They offer no comfort to the kit, unable to assuage his fears when the ones that tug at them are the same. Yet they know, unlike Juniperkit, what is coming. They don't know if that makes it more or less frightening.

Silently, the pale-colored tortie comes to sit by the two warriors, giving them each a subtle nod of greeting. Their time in the medicine den was fresh in their mind; Tigerfrost's stoic companionship with his own injury, Firefang's encouragement, her strange show of compassion helping them to leave their makeshift prison. They feel a bit more comfortable, standing guard by their sides. They can be useful now, too. Sunflowerpaw is observant, has keen eyes. They can do well on watch, they think. Silently, the apprentice gazes out into the dark of the night, stone-still, a statuesque sentinel set on careful alert, their only movement being that of their eyes as they flicker to anything that moves.

---

IT'S EASY TO EXPLAIN 'CAUSE THIS WORLD'S NOT TAME .°☀

⟪ OOC ⟫ ⟪ INFO ⟫ ⟪ REF ⟫

• //​
• SUNFLOWERPAW named by their half-brother vulturemask after his friend and mentor.
  — they/them, 5 moons.
  — windclan apprentice, mentored by wolfsong.
  — reserved yet loyal, distrusts most.
  — mild limp.
  
  primary character, high activity. penned by saturnid.​
• 

​

 

[Juniperpaw]

Firefang's assurance makes Juniperkit feel a little better. The young kit nods his head as if he was listening to the wise advice of a sagely elder. Mama did mention that Riverclan smelled bad, so they'd probably give themselves away before they ever got close. He is a little more unsure of Shadowclan, however. His imagination conjures images of sinister cats cloaked in shadow, indistinguishable in the darkness. "Mangy" is not something he is familiar with, but if they are all rats, then maybe shadow rats are less threatening than shadow cats. He wonders if the shadow rats are watching them now. Snakepaw's addition distracts him from a vivid mental image of intangible rodents slinking through the tunnels. "Right," he agrees, nodding as if he has any real understanding of the home-territory advantage. "I hope they get lost." Trapped in a tunnel or lost in the dark somewhere. He's trying to feel brave, but he can't help but wonder if the same cat who killed his dad might come back to kill everyone else. For now, at least, he is comforted by the bravery of all the older cats around him. "I wanna fight too!" Juniperkit doesn't want to fight at all. He doesn't know how to explain that he is afraid for them and that he doesn't like the idea of being protected. What if the cat who killed his dad come back to get everyone else?​

 

[Badgermoon]

"There will be plenty of time for that later, little one." Badgermoon's voice held a touch of softness despite the tension which was clear in the tight line of his broad shoulders. The black-and-white tom had been stalking the edges of camp in relentless laps, unable to remain still. He understood why Sootstar had instructed him to remain home, and somewhere deep inside he felt gratified that she trusted him to briefly stand in her stead - but at the moment he was on edge, like most of his Clanmates. Round yellow eyes, presently aglow with an intense emotion halfway between anxiety and anger, drifted down to study Juniperkit. The boy looks so like his father. thought the scarred tomcat. And seems to have inherited his ferocity, too. though Badgermoon knew well that Spiderbloom alone was a strong enough warrior to produce battle-hungry kittens; he wondered if anyone had told them about how she had managed to take a life from the Kittypet King. That they had Juniperfrost's blood as well was just the icing on the cake.

Badgermoon unsheathed his claws and kneaded the flattened grass underpaw, unable to stay still. "When you're an apprentice, you will be able to fight. For now, though, you must remain safe." he twitched one white-tipped ear and managed a little smile. "Snakepaw, why don't you regale Juniperkit with your story of the RiverClan battle? Sate his appetite for battle tonight."​

 

[TIGERFROST]

TIGERFROST ♂

0/9

WINDCLAN / LEAD WARRIOR
BIOGRAPHY AND TAGS
PLAYED BY SHEOGORATH

HEALTH: ████████████████████​

---

The vocals of Juniperkit cut through the dark, followed by Firefang's, who settles at his side. Tigerfrost flicks an ear in acknowledgement, allows the voices of others to soothe the youth where he could only offer thunder and ice. Snakepaw's statement is one that the Lead Warrior can agree with, and nods along, eyes still searching the distant horizon for signs of feline shadows. Sunflowerpaw joins them in silence, but it seemed the brief conversation had already settled Juniperkit's nerves. He wanted to fight, an amusing prospect. Badgermoon speaks wisdom in that regard. In time, Juniperkit would become a 'paw, but until then, he would have to settle for the role of bystander.

In silence, he listens, still vigilant, but nonetheless interested in what his clan-mates had to offer. Snakepaw would no doubt spin his story as one of glory and skill, but Tigerfrost doubts anyone is interested in correcting the apprentice, including himself.​

​

 

[Firefang]

Unlike his younger peer Snakepaw isn't entirely welcome; it's no secret that she finds the smarmy slithery tom completely and utterly annoying. It takes a great amount of willpower to not insult him the moment his maw moves, luckily what he says doesn't earn her ire and she only regards him with a usual narrowed look of annoyance. She agrees with him for the most part; however she knows the moors don't offer much when it comes to defense they were out in the open only protected by rolling hills and the tangled mess of overgrowth that lined the borders of their camp. They didn't have anywhere but the very earth to hide, and not all Windclanners could fit beneath the surface and into the starclan-forsaken darkness of the winding labyrinth of the tunnels. She'd long since outgrown them, every moon that passed her body filled out more leaving sturdy muscle where there once was little more then skin and bones when she'd just been a runty apprentice yet to hit her growth spurt. Well thankfully she had no reason to hide and she couldn't stomach the subterranean hellholes anyways.

She stays silent and somber it's odd for her, but there's no appeal of picking a fight with Snakepaw so she just listens and watches. An ear would swivel at the sound of the pawsteps of Sunflowerpaw; since their injury the sound of their steps were unique to them she doesn't need to turn her head to be certain it was them before they come to sit besides her and Tigerfrost. She regards them far more warmly then the brat who hung like a inky shadow close by, a brief smile and a dip of her head returned to them. Her amber gaze would fall back on Juniperkit soon enough at the chipper kits words, there certainly is a fire in him already something she should inherently expect.

She doesn't know the anxieties that permeate his brain, doesn't realize the reflection of bravado and false bravery when she sees it in even the youngest of the clan. She'd have said the same thing at his age, and she'd have meant it no matter how scared she would've been or was; she would always be ready to fight. She chuckles in response shaking her head, in time he'd get the opportunity to shred the flanks of Windclans foes but for now he was just a child playing at being a warrior; one not ready to face it's horrors. Badgermoon as always plays the ever-loving paternal role swooping in and meowing in that ever so softened voice. Her eyes roll however when he pulls Snakepaw back into the conversation prodding for a pitiful story that makes her ears prick and a far more haughty snicker dance past a barely hidden smirk.

❝Yeah why don't cha'❞ she's not innocuous, doesn't hide her dislike nor mocking. Badgermoon knew her well she doubts he expects anything different - she wishes her mother sometimes was more like the tom in that regard. ​

( ✦ )

 

[SNAKEHISS]

❪ TAGS ❫ — A reptilian-like eye shifts toward Juniperkit's direction, the youth eager to participate in defending his clan and taking part in proving WindClan's resilience. Snakepaw had been just the same as a kit and had been so excited upon becoming an apprentice with a mentor to teach him. His former teacher had been about as useless as a rock, but Badgermoon was a much more suitable replacement. He would be the best warrior WindClan has ever seen and—if he worked hard enough—the best leader.

When Badgermoon suggests that Snakepaw tell the story of his experience in the RiverClan battle, however, he feels his heart sink into his stomach. Firefang and Tigerfrost were watching him expectantly, too. There wasn't any way he could tell the truth about what actually occurred.

His composure does not melt too much at all, save for a slight clench of his jaw, though he releases the tension in his muscles and kneads the ground as well. "Yes," Snakepaw cleared his throat, lifting his head and taking a breath. Where does he begin? "Well, Sparkpaw and I were fighting off this huge RiverClan warrior. With no choice but to run and help Weaselcaw from certain death, Sparkpaw left me alone to face him." That was where the truth ended. "I used my speed 'n ran circles around him, attacking him from behind and giving him nasty bites all over. He ran off not too long after that. Probably couldn't handle being beaten by an apprentice." That had not been the case whatsoever, but no one had called him out on it following the fight. Perhaps nobody had seen him on the battlefield?

There had to be more to the story in order for it to seem realistic. Snakepaw thinks for a moment before lying through his teeth, "And after that... I... ran into another one. An apprentice this time. They were larger and probably older, but I gave them a giant scar across their belly. I kept slashing at their chest, but before we could finish our battle, WindClan had called for retreat. They were lucky that I didn't do more damage." It was, admittedly, a little thrilling to fabricate a tale about himself and a fictional fight. Who would possibly question him? No one could prove him wrong, could they?

Snakepaw focuses his attention on Juniperkit once more. Kits are bothersome, squeaky-voiced, snot-nosed little runts but at this moment he doesn't particularly feel annoyed. In fact, his ego feels rewarded by giving a younger clanmate advice. "The other clans are jealous of WindClan's strength. There will be plenty of battles to fight ahead, I'm sure of it."​