WE SAILED THE SEAS (leaving) SEEKING MOUNTAINS OF GOLD

[FORESTSHADE]

Forestshade stands at the ShadowClan border, the dense pines towering above her and those who chose to accompany her, silent sentinels at her departure. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth, rain-soaked moss, and the familiar mingling of her clanmates' scents. The tense silence is only broken by the breeze through the trees and the occasional rustle of undergrowth. The marsh feels alive in a way it rarely does, buzzing with the she-cat's excitement and apprehension as she turns to face those who've come to say their final goodbyes. The clan has already been told of her plan to leave. Those who chose to walk with her here make up a smaller group, though. It's a moment she's been preparing herself for - emotionally, mentally - but now that it's here, it feels harder than she'd imagined. Leaving behind ShadowClan is one thing. Leaving behind her loved ones? That's something else entirely.

Her blind green eyes stare ahead in the direction of the marsh's center with an uncommon bittersweetness within them, knowing this is the last time she'll stand on this side of the border for a while. It's the same forest she's known her whole life, yet today it feels different. Like it's saying farewell. Seasons of memories have been created here. Battles fought, friendships forged, lives lived. She raised her children here. She found her purpose here. She proved her strength and independence here. She has bled for this land, hunted for its inhabitants, but now it's time to let go. Time to step away and find something beyond these borders.

Forestshade flicks her ear as she turns to face her children, finally. The torbie's muscles tense as she breathes in their scents for the last time in a long while, familiar and comforting. Screechstorm, who's always taken more after herself in his recklessness and need to prove himself. And Briarthorn, the one who had to step up in her place to take care of her brothers, a daughter she will always be so proud of. "I love you both. I need you to know you've always been my blessings. And I'll be back to visit, I promise. Take care of each other." She smiles in their direction, a rare flicker emotion present on her expression.

And then her attention shifts to Sharpshadow, her closest friend, the one who has stood by her side through every challenge she's faced. Her chest tightens at the thought of saying goodbye to him. She'll understand, she's positive of it, but that doesn't make leaving her any less painful. You can still come with me. It goes unsaid. Words catching in her throat for just a moment, she eventually pushes through with a huff, "You've been my closest friend for as long as I can remember. I owe you more than I can ever say…and I'll miss you more than anything." She doesn't smirk, not this time. There's no humor in her tone, just genuine honesty. Drawing in a deep breath, she shifts her paws and waits to hear their words.

// THIS IS IT!!! After her tenure as a lead warrior it's that time in Forestshade's story that's always been coming - she is leaving to travel the land as a loner. Don't worry, she'll be back to say hi, but her time as a clan cat is over!

She is talking to @SCREECHSTORM @Briarthorn @SHARPSHADOW but this is open to all!! She did say her broad goodbyes in camp so I'd rather the only cats here be those that genuinely want to say bye to her, so it can be a happy bittersweet time :-)
Also tagging @MIRESTAR cuz I feel they'd be here!
​

 

[Gigglepaw]

Perhaps she was dense, or perhaps Forestshade had just been keen on keeping her secrets to herself, but Gigglepaw hadn't seen this coming from a fox-length away.

Forestshade had been Gigglepaw's mentor since the beginning of her apprenticeship, and Gigglepaw was pretty sure that most cats only ever had one mentor in their duration as apprentices; and now she would have nothing! How was she going to finish her training without Forestshade, who had taught her so much and been so much fun to be around in tandem? But perhaps even worse was that there were tears pricking the corners of her eyes, at the thought of Forestshade going away.

"Puh-lease don't go-o-o!" Gigglepaw had been begging Forestshade to stay from the moment that the she-cat had announced that she was leaving in the first place, and that was how she had been since following her mentor out to the border. Tears were welling up in her eyes, overflowing and cascading down her cheeks as she tried to convince Forestshade to stay. First Smogstar, now Forestshade – who knew who would be the next to leave? Gigglepaw couldn't stand it.

She knew she was making a mess out of herself, in front of Forestshade's closest, but Gigglepaw couldn't find it in herself to be embarrassed. Sniffling relentlessly, Gigglepaw pawed at her teary eyes, quieting down as much as she could so that Forestshade's friends and family might be able to get a word in over her. She listened to Forestshade's farewells to Sharpshadow, Briarthorn, and Screechstorm.

"Nobody's gonna be able to teach me as good as you…" Gigglepaw mumbled pitifully, shuffling tear-wet paws in the dirt beneath her. "Are you really, really sure?" Deep down she knew that it was selfish to ask Forestshade to stay if she didn't want to, if she craved something beyond the Clans – but Gigglepaw felt like being selfish. In a way, it felt like losing a mother; if only she knew how Briarthron and Screechstorm felt.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎OOC ᓚ₍ ^. .^₎ .ᐟ.ᐟ INFO ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

• !

• 

• GIGGLEPAW ✩ apprentice of shadowclan, eight moons
  → blinks incessantly & uncontrollably.
  → peaceful and healing powerplay permitted.
  → penned by Archivist → .archivist on discord.

​

 

[SHARPSHADOW]

Maybe one of the stupidest things she has ever done is hope that Forestshade would change her mind.

She's always been stubborn. She's always done just what she wanted— a miracle in itself if she even bothered to listen to Chilledstar. And could Sharpshadow even think her frog-brained if he'd even entertained the thought of her changing now? Dull disappointment rocks her the same way as it has the past few moons— her entire life, maybe. Keen to loss as they are, she should have seen this coming... Maybe she had foreseen her felled by some WindClan warrior, slaughtered by some animal, but walking away?

Maybe Smogstar had simply left. The pressure got to him. The fear. Maybe Salamandersnap was right.

Could he be angry at Forestshade for daring to believe there was something more? As much as he wanted to be, no, he really couldn't. Past the border, she glimpses, and despite her eyes, she must see so much more past there that Sharpshadow ever would. She's jealous. She really is. As Forestshade looks to the horizon, Sharpshadow only looks to her own paws. Her eyes burn on him, and he doesn't know what to say.

It's more than he deserves, to be a goodbye beside the likes of her children. His own bile is thick in his throat. My closest friend, she says. What bad luck for her- I'll miss you more than anything. He looks up at her, his mouth is dry. Is it fair to think he hates her, when she says such kind things to him? Is it honest to think he hates her, when he feels as sick as he does now?

" I'm... " Gigglepaw's cries grate at her. Even when her words fail her, Sharpshadow hears it: the sniffling... Can't she see what she's doing? Sharpshadow nearly thinks. But then... things like this happened all the time. Miraculously, ShadowClan was not six feet under yet.

She'd still miss her, though. The same way she would keep missing Smogstar, Chilledstar, everyone... " Me too, " he finally says. " I'll miss you. "

Sharpshadow feels a pang as she glimpses Gigglepaw. Maybe, just maybe...​

 

[Briarthorn]

.·:*¨༺🕷༻¨*:·. The idea of her mother leaving them doesn't feel quite real, but then neither does Briarthorn herself. Her mere existence has been a sore subject to ponder since Forestshade had spilled the news, and even as blind green eyes turn to her and Screechstorm for perhaps the last time, it's all the young warrior can think about now.

I'll be back to visit the torbie promises, and Briarthorns own hazel hues drift away from Forestshades eyes and to her temple instead. "Be safe out there, Forestshade." Briarthorn finally murmurs after a heartbeat, though there is no contempt in her tone, the ebony ShadowClanner had distanced herself from any emotions, it was for the best- for Forestshade and Screechstorm. Still, Briarthorn couldn't let her goodbye fall completely flat. "I'll miss you."

Forestshades words to Sharpshadow prompt Briarthorn to turn away, though through the piercing sound of Gigglepaws wails it's hard not to give into the dull ache of envy deep in the molly's chest. "She'll be back to visit." Briarthorn reminds the apprentice, her tone remaining as cool as she could manage. Though, the warrior does finally give into the small, contemplative frown that tugs at her lips. When Briarthorn finally pushes her chin back in Forestshades direction, it is with a slow, steady exhale. How was she supposed to feel?

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎┌── KEEP YOUR DEMONS ⋅ ࿏ ⋅ ON A LEASH ──┐‎

• 

• 
  BRIARTHORN ꔫ she/her, warrior of shadowclan, 12 moons.
  ⭃ slender, lean-muscled black she-cat with sharp hazel eyes & large ears.
  ⭃ daughter of Forestshade && Vulturemask ࿏ sister to Screechpaw && Sweetpaw
  ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ⭃ penned by Noor ↛ @toyangel on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

​

 

[FORESTSHADE]

Her attention is immediately skewed towards the wailing of her apprentice and her ears angle backwards. She'd have to be made of stone for her cries to not affect her. As rain drips from the dense canopy above, splattering against her pelt in rhythmic pats, she steps towards Gigglepaw and forces a bittersweet smirk. "Ah…don't cry, kid. You're one of the strongest ones here, y'know. You're gonna be just fine with a new mentor - you've got the basics from me, after all." She lifts a paw and nudges her playfully, trying (and probably failing) to hide the sadness in her expression. "And don't you dare let anyone push you around while I'm gone."

Her ears swivel back towards Briarthorn, and she turns her muzzle back to her with a softened smile. It's perhaps the kindest thing her daughter's ever said to her…not that she's ever deserved kinder. "I'll miss you, too." There's a rare, genuine hint of pride and love in her voice…but nothing she'll put into flowery, sentimental language. That's never been her way.

She shifts her attention to Sharpshadow again, the cat who's known her better than anyone, who's been with her through everything. "You getting soft on me?" She teases, a grin breaking through. There's a pang in her heart as she says it though. Selfishly, she's glad she gets even a hint of soft Sharpshadow. "I'll be back before you know it, and I expect ShadowClan to still be the fiercest in the forest when I do."

With that, she turns back to the border, inhaling the crisp, rain-laden air. "Time to find out what's out there," She mutters to herself, paws already itching for new paths. A smirk tugs at the corner of her mouth - it's not sadness that churns in her chest now but exhilaration. She's always craved freedom, and today, she's claiming it. Without a glance back, Forestshade steps forward, leaving behind the home she'd found all those seasons ago.
​