- Dec 21, 2023
- 119
- 26
- 28
⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ Running away had been a morbid daydream in Badgerstripe's mind, a manifestation of all her guilt and sorrow that has been building up for days. It started out as a mere idea, a fantasy - then built into a 'what if', then to a hope. It brought her comfort to imagine a life where she could be someone else, a cat who didn't cause the death of many others. It was never meant to be a reality.
Next thing she knows, Badgerstripe is plotting her escape. Everything was fine and normal today, well.. normal in her new standards. She completed her duties wordlessly, without complaint, and spoke to no one, not even her friends. As dusk fell upon ThunderClan's camp, she retired to her nest that she had secluded inch by inch, until she was far enough to not mind the whispers of the fellow warriors. But, unlike them, Badgerstripe wouldn't sleep that night.
Every toss and turn was orchestrated to mimic any normal night, down to the twitches of her paws as she pretended to dream. When the soft breaths and snores of her Clanmates settled in, Badgerstripe finally stood, keeping light on her paws as she weaved around stray paws and tails. The moon was high now, just below its peak, and the camp was sound asleep. So far, everything was.. perfect.
Badgerstripe was in a daze as she made her way through the territory, going from a steady and quiet walk to a sprint as she neared its heart. Every instinct to go home was willed away, and she fought back her regrets and worries as the trees began to thin. She had to do this - for the better of ThunderClan, and for herself. For her friends. She would burden them no longer as an undeserving mouth to feed. She wouldn't be an example of a 'bad warrior' anymore.
The thunderpath's stench reaches her nose before her eyes, but the fumes are stale and dormant. Monsters were few and far between at this time of night. Still, Badgerstripe slowed as she approached, taking a moment to catch her breath as she looked both ways. This is it. This thunderpath was a checkpoint - past it, she would not return. That was the promise she made herself. She would sneak through the pines, emerge free at the opposite end of ShadowClan's territory, and emerge into a land unknown. A flawless plan, she thought.
And so, the tortoiseshell took in a deep breath and trotted across the empty thunderpath. Her heart quickened as she continued her trek through the unknown territory, as grass turned to a mush of pines and moss. The marsh stench filled her head and tickled her nose - and, despite her best efforts, the she-cat let out a startled sneeze. Once, twice, three times - an unfortunate sneezing fit to mark an end to her stealth mission. In response to her noise, Badgerstripe froze in her tracks - in this very brief moment of utter silence, she realized her paws were not the only steps to be heard. Was she being.. followed?
Startled green eyes scanned her surroundings, searching for the pawsteps she heard after her own had stopped. With all her might, she prayed to StarClan that it wouldn't be a moonhigh patrol - if she was lucky, it would be a mere apprentice that she could easily trample on her way through. Even with this hope, she wouldn't let her guard down. "I-I know you're there. Stay away," Badgerstripe warned, taking a step back as she turned with squinted eyes glaring into the darkness. "I'm just.. just passing through." Now, her voice wavered and heart began to quicken. How could she defend herself in this unknown territory? With each step, she felt like she was sinking into the earth - the forest foundation of ThunderClan was nowhere to be found. No trees, no undergrowth - she was exposed, vulnerable. In anticipation for an attack, Badgerstripe unsheathed her claws, waiting for the ShadowClanner to reveal himself. She would see herself through this territory and away from the forest, no matter what.
Next thing she knows, Badgerstripe is plotting her escape. Everything was fine and normal today, well.. normal in her new standards. She completed her duties wordlessly, without complaint, and spoke to no one, not even her friends. As dusk fell upon ThunderClan's camp, she retired to her nest that she had secluded inch by inch, until she was far enough to not mind the whispers of the fellow warriors. But, unlike them, Badgerstripe wouldn't sleep that night.
Every toss and turn was orchestrated to mimic any normal night, down to the twitches of her paws as she pretended to dream. When the soft breaths and snores of her Clanmates settled in, Badgerstripe finally stood, keeping light on her paws as she weaved around stray paws and tails. The moon was high now, just below its peak, and the camp was sound asleep. So far, everything was.. perfect.
Badgerstripe was in a daze as she made her way through the territory, going from a steady and quiet walk to a sprint as she neared its heart. Every instinct to go home was willed away, and she fought back her regrets and worries as the trees began to thin. She had to do this - for the better of ThunderClan, and for herself. For her friends. She would burden them no longer as an undeserving mouth to feed. She wouldn't be an example of a 'bad warrior' anymore.
The thunderpath's stench reaches her nose before her eyes, but the fumes are stale and dormant. Monsters were few and far between at this time of night. Still, Badgerstripe slowed as she approached, taking a moment to catch her breath as she looked both ways. This is it. This thunderpath was a checkpoint - past it, she would not return. That was the promise she made herself. She would sneak through the pines, emerge free at the opposite end of ShadowClan's territory, and emerge into a land unknown. A flawless plan, she thought.
And so, the tortoiseshell took in a deep breath and trotted across the empty thunderpath. Her heart quickened as she continued her trek through the unknown territory, as grass turned to a mush of pines and moss. The marsh stench filled her head and tickled her nose - and, despite her best efforts, the she-cat let out a startled sneeze. Once, twice, three times - an unfortunate sneezing fit to mark an end to her stealth mission. In response to her noise, Badgerstripe froze in her tracks - in this very brief moment of utter silence, she realized her paws were not the only steps to be heard. Was she being.. followed?
Startled green eyes scanned her surroundings, searching for the pawsteps she heard after her own had stopped. With all her might, she prayed to StarClan that it wouldn't be a moonhigh patrol - if she was lucky, it would be a mere apprentice that she could easily trample on her way through. Even with this hope, she wouldn't let her guard down. "I-I know you're there. Stay away," Badgerstripe warned, taking a step back as she turned with squinted eyes glaring into the darkness. "I'm just.. just passing through." Now, her voice wavered and heart began to quicken. How could she defend herself in this unknown territory? With each step, she felt like she was sinking into the earth - the forest foundation of ThunderClan was nowhere to be found. No trees, no undergrowth - she was exposed, vulnerable. In anticipation for an attack, Badgerstripe unsheathed her claws, waiting for the ShadowClanner to reveal himself. She would see herself through this territory and away from the forest, no matter what.
┌── EVERYONES WAITING FOR DEATH
⋅❁⋅
JUSTICE DELIVERS ITS GIFT ──┐
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Badgerstripe ✩ she/her, warrior of thunderclan, 13 moons.
⭃ a long-furred blue tortoiseshell with a notable black dorsal stripe and green eyes.
⭃ formerly mentored by burnstorm
⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
⭃ penned by ixora ↛ @.ixora on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
