WALKING WITH THE WIND [♦︎♢♦︎] AUGUST GATHERING

[SOOTSTAR]

SOOTSTAR ♀​

Pale moonlight softly illuminates the pelts of the cats seated in the clearing. Chatter and tales of the past moon's squabbles spread throughout the clans. Many cats converse with smiles and laughter, though others greet felines of different clans with hardly more than a glare. Upon the Great Rock, the smallest of the leaders is the first to slither forward. Her lips raise into a pretty smile but her eyes are void of any genuine meaning. "Five clans, let the gathering commence!" Her voice cuts through the air like a claw. Loud and clear, it demands the attention of the audience below. "In the final moons of Green-leaf, WindClan remains strong. Our bellies are full and we manage to keep cool." Sootstar begins with the usual rundown. Of course, there is no report mentioned to indicate the clan is doing anything other than "great". "Wolfsong has received a sign from StarClan, a tuft of cotton found at his feet when leaving their den." She casts a glance at the rosette medicine cat in the crowd. "Heeding StarClan's guidance, he has named Cottonpaw medicine cat of WindClan." A prideful glint flashed in her eyes. "In the last moon, WindClan has gained a new moor runner, Snakehiss!" The blue molly announces. Cats of WindClan chant the new warrior's name, and only a scarce few from the other clans joined in on the celebration. "Badgermoon and Scorchstreak's litter have also been apprenticed. Rumblepaw, Luckypaw, Scorchpaw, and Frostpaw. Along with them is Parsnippaw." Again the clan cheers the named apprentices, prideful for their new additions. "All five have already begun to make their clan proud. In time, they'll make fine warriors." Sootstar holds her stance for a few silent moments, her gaze lingering on the crowd of cats below. What strength she felt surge through her when she imagined commanding this many felines... At last she meows, ”That is all.” With quivering whiskers, she turns and sits back among the leaders.

 

[BLAZESTAR]

Blazestar watches Sootstar make her way to the ledge of the Highrock, her chin lifted high and her voice ringing throughout the clearing with her usual authority. Her brand new medicine cat has an apprentice already, the one-eyed lead warrior she’d forced into the position now training a cat he recognizes as her daughter. His eyes fall to the crowd below, looking for the plush-furred little Sootstar look-a-like, and he smiles. “Congratulations. Let’s hope this medicine cat apprentice is treated better than your last one.” His eyes are dark as bruises as he rakes them over Sootstar’s pelt, thinking of his warrior Dandelionwish, tortured and beaten by the Clan he’d once served faithfully.

Once the tiny WindClan leader takes her place again, paws lingering on the scorched spot on the stone, Blazestar makes his way to the ledge. His voice is somber. “SkyClan welcomes a new warrior this moon. Sparrowsong is among us tonight, and has already proven to be an asset to their Clan.” He looks for the light brown tabby, and if he should meet their eyes, he will smile encouragingly. “We also welcome many new apprentices. Cherrypaw, Glimmerpaw, Eggpaw, Hiccuppaw, Doompaw, Abysspaw, Edenpaw, Crowpaw, Lupinepaw, and Drowsypaw all train to become fine SkyClan warriors.”

His gaze travels to where the deputies sit at the base of the stone. “Orangeblossom has returned to her duties full-time, now that her kits are apprentices, for which SkyClan is grateful.” His voice is genuine, though lacks warmth, for what he is to report next is grave. The mood shifts from one of celebration to one of fear and sadness.

“SkyClan lost a daylight warrior this moon. Tallulahwing hunts with StarClan now.” He swallows. “She died of a sickness Dawnglare has never seen before. He tried to treat her with everything, including… including the catmint that cured our cats of their greencough last leafbare.” Grimly, he looks at the other leaders, meeting each of their eyes one by one. Cicadastar’s icy blue, Howlingstar’s gentle green, Chilledstar’s sky-colored gaze, and, finally, even Sootstar’s sharp emerald eyes. “Tallulahwing could not be treated. The herbs helped some of her symptoms, but nothing could cure her. She died… and we have had cats fall ill since then. They are feverish. They are delirious and make no sense when they speak. There is a cough, and they will not eat, for they have no appetite.”

He bows his head. “I fear this sickness will kill every cat it touches.”

✧ INFO.

•  
• 
  — blaise . blazestar
  — he/him ; leader of skyclan
  — pansexual ; divorced ; single
  — longhaired flame point Ragdoll with blue eyes
  — “speech”, thoughts, attack
  — penned by Marquette
  — chibi by Mercibun

​

 

[BERRYHEART]

WindClan thrived, expectedly. They always did- every moon Needles asserted that they were strong, that they prospered, and Berryheart had no reason to disbelieve her. He was one of the few cats who could say he had known Needles in her youth, had lived alongside her in the marsh colony; and he could predict that she would put much stock in strength. Still- a new medicine cat apprentice, already? Dawn-eyes was more knowledgeable than he had let on at the moonstone. Uneven eyes scanned to search for the WindClan medicine cat- and if he found him, he would offer a well-wishing nod of acknowledgement. Despite his reservations about Needles' temperament, he had no quarrel with other healers, and he never would.

It was Fluffy, then- kin, in an odd way. He had not spoken to the flame-point tom as much as he might have liked to- when his and Shady's children had been born, Berryheart had been feverishly preoccupied with learning the basics of healing. He watched the SkyClan leader as steely as he always was, still as a statue, crooked jaw slightly-ajar. Though there was hopeful news about a surplus of new apprentices, Berryheart detected an odd twist of sadness in Fluffy's voice- its reason betrayed when the large tom moved on. Death, in SkyClan. The she-cat who had collapsed of the unprecedented illness. Feverfew, catmint, both useless.

Berryheart instinctively looked toward his mother, acutely aware for a moment of his own breathing. Up there, on the Highrock, he sought to meet her familiar green eyes, an odd glint of urgency in his gaze. He had told ThunderClan of this illness upon his return from the moonstone- but then, it had not been reported as fatal. I didn't know, he thought- a bitter idea that brought up uncommon feelings of loathing within Berryheart. I didn't know.

He could not be ignorant, anymore. ​

PENNED BY PIN ☾​

 

[RACCOONSTRIPE]

Raccoonstripe sits in silence, waiting for Sootstar to begin her spiel. Her beauty is unmatched, silver-kissed fur waving thickly away from her throat and chest, but the ThunderClan lead warrior is not enamored as he once might have been. He knows the wicked thing trapped behind her lovely exterior, knows the blood that has stained those claws. He listens with his ears perked, and he gives his brother, sitting by the other medicine cats, a curious look when WindClan’s newest medicine cat apprentice is announced. He knows the little she-cat can only be Sootstar’s daughter, and he spots her easily enough beside the one-eyed warrior who mentors her. StarClan help that one.

When Blazestar takes Sootstar’s place, Raccoonstripe finds himself zoning out—until he mentions the sickness. Dark eyes stretch wide across his face. “Tallulahwing could not be treated.” He seeks his brother’s greenish-gray eyes again, now feeling panic stirring in his chest. At home, Roeflame sleeps, brow weighted by fever. Frostglare, too, and who knows how many others are becoming diseased? The tabby’s fur prickles, and he murmurs, “There must be a cure. There must be. Otherwise…” He cannot verbalize what he’s thinking, that their paws will be digging graves for all the cats in ThunderClan, in the forest.

✧ INFO.

•  
• 
  — 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

​

 

[SUNSTAR]

His heart plummets ever lower as Blazestar begins to speak. The steadiness he has felt eternally within the ranks of the gathered cats saps slowly, and then fades at once. He cannot help but stand as his words come to a close. Sickness within the clans, spread about by kittypet vermin. That it was a dalight warrior of all those within this forest...he knows then, in a heated flash, that this is a sign against them. A punishment for allowing such spoiled creature within this forest home. Their soft paws have risked all. They have risked Wolfsong, and all of WindClan. The kits that nestle within the healer's belly. Panic and rage rise in equal measure and above the din of shock and horror, Sunstride shouts: "Your clan of kittypets has brought sickness and death to the forest!" She does not deserve StarClan, he does not say, for even in his fear, he does not know if he belongs there either.

＞ˏˋ〘  OOC NOTES ╱ REFERENCE ╱ 07.10.2023 𝘏𝘈𝘕𝘋𝘚𝘖𝘔𝘌 𝘈𝘚 𝘓𝘐𝘍𝘌 𝘈𝘕𝘋 𝘗𝘖𝘐𝘚𝘖𝘕 〙ˊˎ＜

• ooc: —

• 

• SUNSTRIDE. named for his coloration and his bold chasing of fate.
  —— cis male, he - him. approx. 40 moons old. lead warrior of windclan + former rogue.
  —— gay, monogamous. mate to wolfsong from 07.05.2023.  npc x npc, no larger family.
  —— has recently regained some of his earlier lightness, but maintains his steady facade.
  
  sunstride is broad and bold– a creature standing above most of windclan, though not a beast beyond its borders, with fur that flames red and deepens to a burnt amber with every whorl and stripe. his eyes, in comparison, are a pale summer's blue, still as bold as the rest of him.

• "speech"

​

 

[HOWLINGSTAR]

The Gathering begins, and she listens patiently from her spot beside Blazestar. Sootstar announces the WindClan has a new medicine cat apprentice: her own daughter. Howlingstar pricks her ears in surprise - didn't Wolfsong only just become medicine cat? Or perhaps time is passing faster and faster every moon. Nevertheless, the tabby murmurs her congratulations and listens on as a new warrior and new apprentices are announced.

Next is Blazestar, and she watches as the massive tom makes his way to the front of the boulder. He announces a new warrior and many new apprentices; she blinks in awe. That would be quite the clan meeting! She listens as he continues into graver news and her ears pin back as he states he has lost a warrior, to illness nonetheless. She herself as warriors that are ill, and after Berryheart's return from the Moonstone, she has been worried for them. With this news...that the illness could not be treated...her heart drops. "Certainly there is an herb that can help," She begins, worry evident in her voice as she looks away from Blazestar and meets her son's gaze in the crowd. She sees her own horror reflected in his olive-green eyes.​

 

[SOOTSTAR]

SOOTSTAR ♀​

Sootstar's lip curls in a silent snarl at Blazestar's remark about their once medicine cat, Dandelionwish. Cottonpaw is no traitor and neither is Wolfsong. WindClan is at last safe from treacherous medicine cats. Her tail lashes but she remains seated as the hulking SkyClan tom steps forward. A daylight warrior of his has died and he speaks of more clan-mates being infected by this plague. Her nose wrinkles as the tom continues to explain Dawnglare, his more than unusual medicine cat, has never witnessed anything like it; that he's not found a cure. Gasps and yowls of terror spread through the clearing. Sootstar's hackles bristle wildly and her eyes blaze with chaos. Sunstride, her rosette lead warrior cries that Blazestar and his band of kittypets has brought plague to the forest, and she cannot agree more. She jumps onto her feet, "And how do we not know you do not carry this illness now as you sit among us?!" Spit flies from her maw and her black nose wrinkles with disdain. "You are risking the life of every cat here by attending this gathering! I cannot sit here and mingle while my clan sits below soaking up disease!" The silver leaders muscles bunch underneath her fur, she seems to be preparing to descend from the Great Rock and lead her clan home to safety.

 

[LIGHTSTRIKE .]

❝ WE HAVE YET TO CRASH ✧°.☀ —————————————————————————————
Lightstrike was silent from where he sat next to Moonwhisper, gaze drifting up to where the leaders stood and surrounding chatter fading away. The announcements had begun. Of course Sootstar would begin, eager as always to gloat about one thing or another. Should she meet his gaze, he would give his neighbor an unamused look while the WindClan leader spoke.

Next was Blazestar, and he couldn't help the way his brows rose when a mouthful of apprentices tumbled from his lips. That many? "Surely they weren't all Orangeblossom's kits?" he whispered to Moonwhisper in near horror. That couldn't be possible, right?

The leader wasn't done, however. Someone had died, and he went on to mention that the cure was unknown, if there was one at all. His jaw clenched. Finally, the leader admitted he feared death was unavoidable. Part of him wanted to get up and shout, to tell the bumbling idiot he was a fucking liar, trying to scare them all, but another cat beat him to it. A lead warrior of WindClan.

Lightstrike's pelt was prickling with a mixture of emotions he didn't want to sort through, and at once he was on his paws. "He's right," the warrior snapped, even if his voice didn't raise itself above the newfound din. "He's allowed outsiders to fill his Clan with disease, and now we're the ones suffering for it!" finally he shouted, furious gaze fixed upon the SkyClan leader.

[penned by its_oliverr - ☀]

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

​

 

[cottonsprig]

Cottonpaw is eager, excited. Her third gathering, but her first as Wolfsong's apprentice. Her mother announces it justly, assuring the crowds that she's the right choice, gifted by the stars themselves. A wave of congratulatory meows float past her ears, many gazes peering at her mentor with one part confusion and two parts acceptance. Admittedly, Cottonpaw cares not for Blazestar's own hopes (though she can tell how they ruffle her mother's fur.) She cares not for his plethora of apprentices, either. Not when he announces a plague, unyielding, terrifying, deadly - so soon after.

Cottonpaw breathes out shakily as cats shout angrily. Sunstride's fur is so ruffled he looks as if he's doubled in size - even the ThunderClan cats are upset, passive as they usually are. The grey she-cat looks to her fellow, but far better trained, apprentices, before looking towards her own mentor. "Wolfsong," she swallows, brow furrowing. Sootstar is perched to abandon the gathering and Cottonpaw takes it as a chance to bury her sudden anxieties. "We are no cowards - but, we should get you out of here." She knows not a single remedy to help with the situation, and her voice would surely do nothing to assuage the crowds. She acts to protect what she can - and in that moment, she tries with Wolfsong and his unborn. "We'll catch up with the rest of the news later. Let's go," she tries again.​

 

[CHILLEDSTAR.]

DON'T YOU GIVE ME UP, PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP​

---

"shadowclan has been doing alright after the bears. we have a few new apprentices as well. applepaw, batpaw, garlicpaw, swanpaw, valerianpaw, and caterpillarpaw all have fitting mentors. we also... had a bit of a problem with a former thunderclan warrior. he is currently healing within our camp but he does not belong to us. I will let howlingstar speak for him."

they speak their news quickly before their ears perked up. this was getting out of hand, quickly.

"shifting blame does not make the disease any less deadly! the stars are watching and blazestar is a leader. it would do you warriors good to remember that."

they don't care for blazestar at all. skyclanners were just as annoying as the rest of them, but rhis was ridiculous. cats speaking out of turn because they believe he is to blame? tch.

"i do agree that maybe coming here tonight was not the best idea. but thank you for the warning."

they turned their head to the others within the crowd. shadowclan had no idea of the doom coming their way. after a moon of peace, they had their calm before the storm. and this was going to be one hell of a storm.
​

 

[SNAKEHISS]

It is with great pride that Sootstar commences the night of announcements with only positive news ― all promotions, including the earning of his own warrior name. It was his time to shine before the other clans and let the entire forest know of his accomplishment, so he lifted his head and grinned widely as cats sent congratulatory meows in his direction. StarClan is watching tonight; they all know him and accept him as a warrior under their eyes.

However, the string of good news was cut short as Blazestar delivered a horrific message to all of the clans ― a seemingly incurable sickness has been spreading throughout SkyClan, with one of their warriors even succumbing to death from it. The flame point leader appears hopeless as he admits to those before him that it may kill many more who contract it, to which Snakehiss's eyes stretch wide, appalled. "So why does SkyClan stand among us tonight?!" The newly-made warrior outrages, visibly tensing as he takes note of where the kittypets sit and how close in proximity he is to them. He had interacted with a SkyClanner tonight, for StarClan's sake! Albeit, only for a few moments, but would that be enough to dig his own grave? What was that dungbrain, Blazestar, thinking?

Sootstar is quick to voice her concerns as well, elaborating on the dangers that Blazestar posed by bringing his potentially infected clan to this gathering. He hopes that WindClan doesn't stick around for long. "There will be blood on that kittypet's paws, mark my words. He's doomed us all, him and all of the pets he calls warriors." The black tom hisses with a lash of his tail.​

 

[Fireflyglow]

Fireflypaw listens as panic erupts into the crowd, eyes wide and hauntingly still as cats begin to shout above the leaders' voices. Insults, thrown towards his father and his Clan; he cannot fathom how his father feels in these moments. To announce the sickness, to be so kind as to warn the others of it. How could cats be so cruel, as to blame the tree-climbing Clan for the illness when they didn't ask for it? He blinks sadly, hefty form shifting uncomfortably next to his uncle and mentor.

Snakehiss remarks that Blazestar has brought doom upon the forest, that he was the reason for the illness. Fireflypaw's fur fluffs up in irritation. "Quiet yourself! How dare you!" He shouts back at the WindClan warrior, baring his fangs in the direction of the voice. He finds himself pacing in place, tail-tip twitching as he holds back the urge to argue further. It wasn't his place, it wasn't his place.. His face lifts to the sky, as if praying to the stars above to make the panic ebb away into understanding. He wished peace would come; his head swiveling back to the direction of the throng of cats.

He soon falls into silence, teeth gritting against each other.

I want to go home.​

SKYCLAN MEDICINE CAT APPRENTICE ✦ 13 MOONS ✦ CHUNKY, BIG-FOOTED SEAL POINT ✦ TAGS​

 

[Orangestar]

ORANGEBLOSSOM — tags​

"Were we mistaken to warn you of what is to come? One of our Clanmates is dead!" Orangeblossom crows incredulously, and clambers to her paws. She bares her teeth at Sunstride, fighting to be heard among the yowls of the Clans. Howlingstar murmurs something that might be sympathetic, quiet, but Blazestar's deputy does not hear her over their agreement. Blood pounds in her ears, equal parts horrified and furious; WindClan had no right to entice other Clans into agreeing by preying on fear and assumptions. However with that acknowledged, Orangeblossom shoots Blazestar an irritated look. He's capable of tact. What a terrible time not to use it.

The sunkissed deputy finds herself echoing Chilledstar, though she is far more angry than they: "SkyClanners are just as much warriors as any other, else StarClan wouldn't have chosen us to stand among the Clans! Every one of us here tonight is well, do not let WindClan's heather-brained accusations fool you. We do not know where she fell ill." A beat, and then she spits at the ground trod recently by Sootstar's retreating form. It's no lightning bolt, something which she wishes she could one night see strike true, but maybe if she's lucky she might hit that fox-hearted deputy of hers on his way out. "But StarClan knows when we find a cure WindClan will trample our borders to steal it anyway, regardless of how many SkyClanners die!"

​

 

[WOLFSONG]

── .∘°°∘. ── Is this the meaning of Dawnglare's cryptid warning? He had suspected it might be, or that perhaps the medicine cat was aware of some other threat which would spread to the other clans— but this sickness, unknowable and understood only for its deadliness...it must be in WindClan already, lurking among the bodies of hale warriors and apprentices, frail elders, vulnerable kits. His mate's accusation rings over the heads of the cats gathered, and Wolfsong's gaze finds him, then his fellow WindClanners in attendance, their faces varying degrees of accusative, outraged, worried. They will look to him for an answer and he does not know that he will have it.

His ears flatten and the fur at his neck prickles with the cold slide of dread sluicing down his spine. His claws dig into the earth to keep him upright, his belly heavier than ever. Forgive me, little ones. There must have been a sign I did not see. He does not raise his voice alongside Sunstride, or Sootstar, or Snakehiss, and when his apprentice addresses him, he does not immediately answer, the muscles of his jaw jumping.

How strange it is to see failure's shadow looming ahead rather than behind.

"Yes," he rasps finally. "We should not be here. There is much to be done, Cottonpaw— we cannot tarry." And he prepares to depart, meeting his mate's eyes, holding them to speak an apology his tongue cannot yet carry.
​

WOLFSONG of WINDCLAN FORMER ROGUE TURNED MEDICINE CAT. 36 MOONS, HE/HIM, NPC X NPC. MATES WITH SUNSTRIDE (07/05/2023). BIOGRAPHY, PINTEREST, & PLAYLIST.

medicinal expertise med. part ii med. part iii med. part iv

• — ★★★☆☆ WOUNDS: You're (mostly) in safe paws. You'll know if he's less experienced if he asks for your permission to try a treatment. No wound can scare him away from knowledge. — ★★★☆☆ INFECTION: He can prevent most infections. If you feel feverish, let him know— he'll hum thoughtfully over herbs and sniff your wound before saying, "With your blessing..."
• — ★☆☆☆☆ ACHES & PAINS: If you complain to him of pain, he'll ask where. If it's a headache, you'll likely feel a bit better. For anything else, "Try this, if you'd like, and tell me how you feel." — ★☆☆☆☆ BROKEN BONES: At best. he can ask you to remain lying down in the den. He may try to distract you with conversation while he considers what herb to feed you.
• — ★★★★★ TRAVELING HERBS: Going somewhere? No worries; Wolfsong knows just what you need to stay hale and healthy during your journey. The rest is up to you. — ☆☆☆☆☆ KITTING: He doesn't remember what it was like to be born. Coincidentally, that is the extent of his familiarity with kitting. At least he won't leave you without moral support.
• — ★☆☆☆☆ POISONS: It's best if you avoid eating anything unfamiliar to you— it's probably just as unfamiliar to Wolfsong. The best he can do is offer you yarrow and sit with you. — ★★☆☆☆ ILLNESS: If it's white or greencough, you'll likely recover. Otherwise, prepare for odd concoctions and the usual request that you consent to a little trial-and-error.

​

 

[willowroot]

( ☾ ) she remembers why she hesitates to go to gatherings now. starclan, all they do is argue! certainly she herself is not innocent of that fact but as she watches with narrowed eyes, she can't help but curl her lip at the immaturity displayed. blazestar shares news of the new illness and the queen tucks her tail closer to her belly, glancing about. she has seated herself away from most of the crowd, but as the murmuring grows, and blame begins to be thrown about, she shifts uneasily. "there's no proof that a kittypet brought this sickness," she'll mutter to anyone listening. "just that skyclan discovered it. stop placing blame and start figuring out what we're going to do about it!"

she growls softly and turns to find the rest of her clan. they should leave before more get ill- before she gets ill and her kittens die before they have a chance to breathe air. the clans should start to quarantine, keep the sickness away from the healthier members. the medicine cats should meet and try to find a cure. she doesn't understand why everyone is still sitting here arguing. ​

 

[HOWLINGSTAR]

Howlingstar's ears begin to ring. Cats from all clans begins to shout their opinions, Lightstrike among them. She shoots the brand new warrior a silencing look; not even a moon into warriorhood and he means to accuse the clan ThunderClan is friendliest with of bringing the disease. She makes a mental note to not bring him back to a Gathering for several moons if he can't hold his tongue. "This is ridiculous," She finally declares, standing to join Chilledstar's side in agreement. "We do not know the disease came from SkyClan. I have warriors in my camp sick as well, and Berryheart has not been able to cure them. This sickness has hit all of the forest; SkyClan's warrior was just the first to fall from it." She doesn't know if what she says is true, but she'd rather be open-minded and wrong than accuse one of the five clans of such a thing. In the back of her mind, however, there is a quiet voice, one that whispers that this is the danger SkyClan invites by opening their borders to so many kittypets. She quickly shakes it away.

"Let us finish with the news so we can go home," The tabby murmurs, tail flicking. She gives a single nod to the ShadowClan leader as they mention their...situation...and Howlingstar steps forward to take her turn. "Chilledstar is right. A few days ago, one of our warriors, Basilwhisker, attacked another warrior, Sunnyday, and left him for dead." She may as well tell the whole story; it will get out, anyway. "What he did was an act of revenge. Sunnyday...he hadn't been the most honorable of warriors. He refused to fight for his clan when we needed him to. He punished his apprentices for disagreeing with him, horribly injuring one of them. He lacked the basic respect and discipline all warriors should have, and Basilwhisker saw it fit to exact justice himself. He committed a terrible crime and was sentenced to exile. Sunnyday has chosen to leave the clan as well and live the life of a loner. If you see either of them, know that neither are ThunderClanners any longer and do not act or speak on our behalf." Howlingstar offers Chilledstar a quick look, one that is filled with understanding. She is grateful they had enough trust in her to listen to what she told them.

She moves on quickly, unwilling to allow her clan's news to be dampened by the loss of two warriors. "While we have lost two warriors to dishonor, we celebrate five new warriors in their place. Moonwhisper, Mousenose, Freckleflame, Sparkwing, and Lightstrike have all earned their warrior names and are here tonight. They have trained hard and we could not be prouder of them." Her eyes gleam as she seeks out her granddaughter in particular. Finally, one last bit of news, this one more somber..."One warrior joined the stars this past moon. Honeywish was a strong, brave warrior who will be terribly missed, but we take comfort in knowing he watches over us from StarClan." She dips her head and steps back, as she has nothing left to say.​

 

[DAWNGLARE]

Dawnglare has pondered the lengths Blazestar would go to in describing their plight. He does not let the other Medicine Cats out of his sight, lest he need to utter a quick word within their ears – receptive or not – to what there may be to overcome. …Why it concerns him at all, is somewhat of a mystery to himself, as well.

It is not necessary, though. Not one to care for looks or strength, all of the clans know what has befallen Tallulahwing, the first of her kind. The details are all too much – too many, and he burns at the supposed word that he knew nothing. Never seen before. Well – perhaps he had, but was too young to properly encode it. Pperhaps night had not been so young, and the darkness muddled what’s what. His gaze is askance now, drifting off toward nothing at all. He believes he can see the pang of worry drift into the eyes of some, certainly not WindClan, whom his eyes would blaze towards, fury not beating out the exhaustion.

ThunderClan is much calmer, in this respect. And perhaps he should be thankful, to consider their clans on fine terms. " No. Not – not that I have found. " he pipes, and eyes gaze acidly still, at the voices that begin to rise from the crowd.

" WindClan is ever a home to fools, " he spits, in this moment uncaring of any proximity to Wolfsong and his apparent underling – such is an announcement that he forgets to listen to, but decidedly, it is so. " I insist, her fate would have been nowhere near as gruesome had she not stuck her head into this forest. It is not so spotless that it would not harbor sickness, WindClan, or would we rather forget? " An icy look would be cast to the Medicine Cat nearby, though hesitant – unsure of his standing within this ring of fools.

Not keen to the whisperings between WindClan, the Medicine Cat would shuffle closer to his apprentice in a rare show of solidarity. A feathered tail drapes, perhaps - kindly beside their flank, and his jaws snap shut so that he may listen to the leaders’ words to follow. She is content with Orangeblossom's words for once, in agreement alongside a dry snort.

OOC 𓆩♡𓆪 8.22.2023 𝘚𝘠𝘕𝘖𝘋𝘐𝘊 𝘚𝘌𝘈𝘚𝘖𝘕 𝘛𝘖 𝘊𝘖𝘔𝘌 𝘖𝘜𝘛 𝘖𝘍 𝘏𝘐𝘋𝘐𝘕𝘎

•  

• 

• ( 𝙒𝙃𝙔'𝘿 𝙄𝙏 𝙏𝘼𝙆𝙀 𝙎𝙊 𝙇𝙊𝙉𝙂? ) DAWNGLARE Medicine Cat of SkyClan. Mentoring Fireflypaw
  —— He / him , deeply confused by the use of other pronouns
  —— Currently 55 moons old. Mated to Mallowlark
  
  Unsettling and strange, Dawnglare bears a unique perception to the world and stars above on top of a generally unpleasant disposition. Holds others to uniquely impossible standards and himself undeniably above the rest.
  

  Currently in an era of questioning; upset and uncomfortable by things he should not be.​

  Mood is decided by dice - rolls per thread, with the exception of some important threads

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[CICADASTAR]

only sunrises ago, ravensong had shadowed the mouth of his den — stood over where his growing family nests and delivered them their fate. sunrises since something incurable graced his thoughts, something quick and fatal, reserved for the bitter desolation of leafbare. a skyclanner has passed. this was no simple cold, something to shake off with a dose of whatever herb ravensong pulls from the ground. voices lift and cicadastar is vaguely aware of it as he sits, stock still and hollow, empty - eyed expression cast far into the swaying crowds. he feels beneath water ; familiar, he thinks bitterly. his ears feel stuffed with cotton, head woozy. breathless. he is not used to this : shouting from anywhere but his own tongue, and shell - shocked eyes flit towards where a windclanner shouts up at the heavens, as if his voice meant a thing from so far beneath him.

starclan forbid it be anyone but a common moorland rat to cause such disruption. he runs his mouth and others erupt after him, their voices cast desperately upwards ; thunderclanners join and the phantom gives howling star are droll, unimpressed glance.

kittypet disease, the windclanner says, and clear blue eyes settle pale upon his russet dappled form — head never turning, staring absently from the corner of piercing stare. skyclanner bristle and as does he, though for admittedly separate reason ; thunderclan suffered after skyclan and he can’t help but twitch an ear at the way howlingstar’s voice lifts instantly to his defense. her daughter likely mingles somewhere in the crowd and he does not look for her, does not have to to know the aversion of eyes. moonwhisper. she says, and for a brief moment, he nearly loses himself in thought — he’d harbored her mother on his land before the tortoiseshell point was so much as a thought, he was no stranger to the time passed. the man does not look to her either. he does not need to, to know how she resembles her kittypet father.

another windclanner howls, and sootstar bunches as if ready to depart into the pool of her whining dogs, " do try to control your warriors, lest they find themselves standing in ashes as well. " the man snaps, lifting himself from his stock - still sit to draw attention back to the announcements. as right as he feared they were, one life had already been lost. more threatened to fade with each day, cast his voice over the crowing. news does not meet his tongue, ” ive two apprentices this moon, ratpaw and carppaw — only one present tonight for what should have been their first gathering. “ perhaps they would be congratulated next moon, or the moon after ; whenever this sickness dwindled enough for them to attend, three moons old and still learning to paddle. they’d be congratulated if they’re still here, if any of them were ; perhaps, just perhaps, he would not come at all. his safety beyond the waves has been squandered for arguing and commoners yowls, ” instead of focusing on such trivialities, throwing accusations like kits, what is there to do? “

his jaw locks, ” ravensong has named this sickness yellowcough, for its resemblance to greencough and.. symptoms. “ thick, puss - hued mucus from the mouth, the nose.. ” and i worry for our weakest in these times. we have queens, kits. we have mouths to feed, this sickness — this yellowcough, threatens my clan. “ my family. the word burns him like fire and yet his teeth remain caged. kits. his kits. his children lie within his willow den, his deputy curled around them ; all at risk, all too dear for him to dangle at the teeth of fate. the rivers were lowering, the number of warriors able to fish to dwindle each day. no. no, no, no. memories of a chocolate - toned elder and his ears perk. memories of cats hungry but dutiful, dropping fish at the paws of their most defenseless. well, ” i suggest that all kits, queens and elders will be fed first.. i encourage you all to do the same. their lives are most at risk — they will need their strength for the days to come. “ they would need it ; and if his mate were technically a queen at the moment, and his kits still weaning.. it was only funny how things worked out. if everyone agreed.. perhaps something could be forged out of this. a new code, ” do you all agree? “

COLD & CRUEL LIKE WINDS ON THE SEA  ╱ INFORMATION ✟

• i.
  
• ★ ⋆ CICADASTAR −−−− FOUNDING LEADER OF RIVERCLAN. HOMOSEXUAL, MATED TO SMOKETHROAT. FIFTY MOONS, FATHER TO STARLIGHTKIT, CICADAKIT && BEEKIT. PENNED BY ANTLERS −−−−− ⁺₊✧
  
  
  he / him. tall, elegantly curled smoke tortoiseshell chimera with intense salt blue eyes. his structure sings a feral sort of hymnal, presenting an almost dangerous sort of beauty veiling what monstrosities lie beneath the ivory of his skull. jutting jawline and a squared chin, sunken cheeks drawing a shadow beneath high, sharp cheekbones with tall, angular ears settling high atop the flatter slope of his cranium. he is beautiful ; lucifer in the eyes of an envious god. for all his looks, his expression is lax, void — corpse - eyed and hollow until spoken to, sparking the undead to life. he is tall, lean, cut - glass pretty ; he smiles with too - many teeth, blackened frostbite pulling back his maw to bear canines setn beneath curling whiskers, pantomime skeletal. a predatory gracefulness from the lines that press the image of exhaustion beneath ice water hues to the slow, sure gait in which he walks, nameless strength poorly concealed within the hard lines of his physique. descending from a heritage of overtyped oriental shorthairs, cicadastar stands unnaturally tall amongst his peers, always holding himself with a tragic sort of grace ; poised, prim, and uncannily aware of how he appears.
  
  ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── smells like wet moss and meadowland thunderstorms.
  ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── notoriously paranoid and closed off, cicadastar will tend to lie, assume, and jump to conclusions whenever it suits him. any 'suspicious' ic actions he witnesses or hears about will have a strong effect, and will have ic consequences! if you're unsure of an interactions outcome, please feel free to send a dm!
  
  no character opinions represent my own.​
  
  
• " speech "​
  
  
  

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[BLAZESTAR]

A warrior, his chest scarred deep from Sootstar’s claws, stands to glare at Blazestar. His reddish-gold pelt is fluffed up around him, eyes blazing. “Your Clan of kittypets has brought sickness and death to the forest!” He remembers the other cat’s name as he stares back—Sunstride, a lead warrior. A ThunderClan warrior, one he’s seen on the border with Moonwhisper before, adds his voice to Sunstride’s. The Ragdoll’s posture becomes stiff. He whips about to face Sootstar, bristling and hissing in his face, accusing him of spreading plague to the other Clans. “We belong at this Gathering just as much as the rest of you,” he snaps, his teeth bared. “You heard Howlingstar—she has cats in camp sick, and I’d wager every mouse in this miserable forest that you do, too, whether you know it or not.”

Blazestar’s fur begins to rise along his neck and shoulders, his expression shadowed with his outrage—but there’s something else there, too, a layer of guilt he cannot snuff out. He had not brought cats with symptoms to this Gathering, but what if Sootstar and the rest of the kittypet-loathing cats in the crowd are right? What if this is again his fault—what if he has cursed innocent cats to die?

To his surprise, Chilledstar does not cast their vote with Sootstar and the disgruntled cats below them. They remain calm and advise the others shifting blame will not cure the disease. Blazestar forces his hackles to lie flat, though even with Chilledstar mediating and Howlingstar coming to his defense, his insecurities are not soothed. His deputy more eloquently speaks for SkyClan, and he only follows her retort with, “We did not bring cats exhibiting symptoms, but our Clan must attend the Gathering.” He can’t dispute any of the other accusations—he can’t. He doesn’t know, after all, whether they’ve hit their mark or not.

Blazestar’s ears flick, and he turns as Howlingstar gives her news—news of a traitor within their camp. He tenses, but he knows a little of Sunnyday, who’d been on countless border patrols before another cat had made an attempt on his life. He dips his head to acknowledge the ThunderClan leader’s directive. Rogues now, likely with Sharpeye and the rest of them. He flexes his claws; they scrape lightly against the stone. “May your warrior find peace in StarClan,” he murmurs.

His dark blue gaze flicks to the crowd again, to where the medicine cats sit with their apprentices. Dawnglare confirms he has not found a way to treat the illness, and just like Orangeblossom, the fox-pelted tom’s fur is ruffled by WindClan’s callous behavior.

At long last, Cicadastar makes his way to the ledge of the Great Rock. “Yellowcough,” he dubs the illness, crediting his medicine cat Ravensong. Blazestar feels strange, but knowing it has a name almost makes it feel more controllable. If there’d been a cure for greencough, perhaps… perhaps yellowcough has one where the disease had not. The Ragdoll’s gaze settles on the River King, nodding along to what he says. A proposal to their expanding warrior code—and a reasonable one at that. “I agree to this. From now on, kits, queens, and elders should eat before the rest of us.”

✧ INFO.

•  
• 
  — blaise . blazestar
  — he/him ; leader of skyclan
  — pansexual ; divorced ; single
  — longhaired flame point Ragdoll with blue eyes
  — “speech”, thoughts, attack
  — penned by Marquette
  — chibi by Mercibun

​

 

[DOEBLAZE]

✿—— the gathering—it's her first, the idle chatter of before giving way as the leaders step forward on the great rock, and it will quickly turn into a less-than-ideal first experience. a small she-cat with dark fur steps forward first, and though she knows little of the other clans, bobbie knows this must be sootstar. her voice is sharp and clear, her news relatively standard and the gathering peaceful and uninterrupted; for now, at least. she reports full bellies and cool pelts, a new medicine apprentice, a new warrior, new apprentices; bobbie doesn't find herself willing to lend her voice to the cheers, somehow. finally sootstar steps back and skyclan's own leader is next, his golden fur bright in the moonlight; this report bobbie regards more kindly but also with more worry.

she's glad to hear her kits' names ringing out as new apprentices—as the news grows somber and the clearing less silent, she will come to appreciate that moment more. instantly an outcry begins in the crowd, merely rippling but tolerable murmurs until a shout rings out, sharp and cleaving through the air like a knife. sage eyes find a rosetted windclanner, narrowing sharply in disapproval—and it's as though this foolish cat has torn a hole in the honorable silence, bringing ever more shouts. the windclan leader herself, a golden thunderclanner, more cats she couldn't hope to name. orangeblossom's crow rings above the din, the ginger-and-white deputy's words shapr and concise—and bobbie is grateful for them. her spit at the windclan leader, perhaps less so, but what does she know of clan politics and the stress of deputyship? nothing.

a muted respect glitters in her eyes as howlingstar and chilledstar carry on with the announcement, and out of that respect she remains silent. distaste rises hot in her chest, though—for all their frowning and tutting about kittypets and joiners and their high-and-mighty attitudes about the forestborn, these cats were failing to live up to their worshipped traditions. she, collar around her neck, has managed to keep her composure; meanwhile the prideful purebloods scream and shout over the leaders' words, something that draws the tabby's silent ire. a lash of her half-tail, but she keeps quiet, watching as riverclan's leader delivers the standard news and then information about the plague, now named yellowcough.

then, a proposal—queens, kits, and elders eat first. this is the first thing tonight that truly draws the lilac feline's approval, ears twitching as she watches blazestar agree to it. in silence she nods, an expression mostly to herself; these cats were those most in need, who had served their clan for seasons or were raising the next generation (if they weren't part of it themselves). some cats, she's found, especially those who lack the perspective of a queen, dismissed the duties of their nursery residents as lesser than those of their warriors. not so, if you asked bobbie—the queens did valuable work as much as those who patrolled every day, and deserved the first pick of the prey-pile and more.

NO LOVE, HOWEVER BRIEF (✿) 𝑰𝑺 𝑾𝑨𝑺𝑻𝑬𝑫

• ooc: ——
  
• nothing here, have a nice day :-)
• 
  — bobbie
  — she/her ; warrior of skyclan ; 40 ☾s
  — "speech" ; thoughts ; attacks
  — chibi by its_oliverr
  — penned by dejavu
  

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