- Oct 22, 2022
- 714
- 261
- 63
Clan life holds two ultimate truths. They exist as eternal constants, and defy all attempts to break them, no matter what. Death, and patrols. So long as a ShadowClan cat draws breath and demonstrates enough will to drop fresh-kill off at the pile, death and patrols will happen absolutely.
The dark-striped deputy loiters in Clanrock's shade with his haunches snug against its flank. This side of the towering boulder may just be the only nook in camp which fully eludes the sun's swelter, barring Starlingheart and Chilledstar's separate dens. For that reason, Smogmaw claims the shadowed recess as his own. Were he to place a single paw outside this boundary, it'd invite the sunlight's wrath unto the sable sections of his pelt. He'll have to venture beyond his refuge eventually, what with the patrols he's about to dole out. In the meantime, though, the sun does not rule this brief interval. It stays outside, where it belongs.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather 'round for some patrols!" Begrudging limbs rise into a standing stature. Coinciding this movement is a somewhat graceful stretch of his spine, so languid in its pace that two legs rise longer than the rest. He scrutinises clanmates' faces as they emerge into view and pools them into their respective groups; those who'll perform enough well enough at their tasks, and those who won't without monitoring.
"Alrighty, alrighty," he begins coolly, "first things first. An apprentice from our clan, Snowypaw, has not been seen since the night of last gathering. So, the cats leading the border patrols'll be asked to inquire about her whereabouts, assuming you run into any neighbours." Gatherings, from a logistical standpoint, serve as the perfect occasion to lose someone unnoticed. Swathes of cats from all five clans moving around and intermingling in a boisterous commotion lends a lot more cover to disappearances. He'd like to hope that the apprentice hadn't been nabbed, having lived through the moons of Halfpaw and Laurelpaw's captivity.
"On that note, @FORESTSHADE, you'll lead a border patrol out ThunderClan ways. With you will be @POPPYPAW, @Swansong, @nectarsong, @shrike, and @THORNPAW. Then, towards our border with WindClan, @SHARPSHADOW will be taking @Duckshimmer, @Haretooth, @BATCHASER, @Halfpaw, and @sneezepaw on a similar patrol." Steady exhale, flick of the tail, the tom gently leans down to rasp out further instruction. "I'll reiterate again: Forestshade, Sharpshadow, you must make sure to ask if Snowypaw has been seen, should the chance arise. Thank you."
Done and dusted, the border patrols leave his stream of thought. Smogmaw clears his phlegm-ridden throat loud and unceremoniously, before he points his focus to the largest cluster of apprentices in his audience. "Seein' as how our troubles of Newleaf are behind us, I'm going to host a li'l group training session for apprentices; apprentices who might've missed out on combat training because of the frogs. @BLOODPAW, @SINGEPAW, @Snowpaw., @Swallowpaw., you'll be coming along. @Lotus☽, you too, and I'd like @CHILLEDSTAR. to join us as well." A little treat, he thinks. Much of the clan's youth holds their deputy and leader in the highest esteem one could consider possible, and Smogmaw's willing to entertain the fact.
Smiling (or appearing to at least) faintly, a singular nod drifts over in @FERNDANCE's trajectory. "You're taking out a hunting patrol. Take @Laurelpaw., @Valleysong, @springflame, @Willowburn, and @Mourningbloom along with you. Puttin' out a personal plea that you bring back something other than frogs, but of course, all fresh-kill is needed and important."
Lastly, he lends his attention to the newest member of Chilledstar's council. "@MIREPURR, I need you to take a group up to Carrionplace. Scavenge around, bring back rats 'n other things we can eat. Accompanying you is @FLINTWISH, @ASHENFALL, @orchidbloom, @APPLEJAW, and @Bonepaw."
Ears pivot, sensing for any indication of protest or disagreement. "Okie-dokie. Get to work."
//
thunder patrol : forestshade, poppyglow, swansong, nectarsong, shrike, thornpaw!
wind patrol : sharpshadow, duckshimmer, haretooth, batchaser, halfpaw, sneezepaw
apprentice (and lotus) combat training : smogmaw, chilledstar, lotus, bloodpaw, singepaw, snowpaw, swallowpaw
hunting patrol : ferndance, valleysong, springflame, willowburn, mourningbloom, laurelpaw
carrionplace patrol : mirepurr, flintwish, ashenfall, orchidbloom, applejaw, bonepaw
The dark-striped deputy loiters in Clanrock's shade with his haunches snug against its flank. This side of the towering boulder may just be the only nook in camp which fully eludes the sun's swelter, barring Starlingheart and Chilledstar's separate dens. For that reason, Smogmaw claims the shadowed recess as his own. Were he to place a single paw outside this boundary, it'd invite the sunlight's wrath unto the sable sections of his pelt. He'll have to venture beyond his refuge eventually, what with the patrols he's about to dole out. In the meantime, though, the sun does not rule this brief interval. It stays outside, where it belongs.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather 'round for some patrols!" Begrudging limbs rise into a standing stature. Coinciding this movement is a somewhat graceful stretch of his spine, so languid in its pace that two legs rise longer than the rest. He scrutinises clanmates' faces as they emerge into view and pools them into their respective groups; those who'll perform enough well enough at their tasks, and those who won't without monitoring.
"Alrighty, alrighty," he begins coolly, "first things first. An apprentice from our clan, Snowypaw, has not been seen since the night of last gathering. So, the cats leading the border patrols'll be asked to inquire about her whereabouts, assuming you run into any neighbours." Gatherings, from a logistical standpoint, serve as the perfect occasion to lose someone unnoticed. Swathes of cats from all five clans moving around and intermingling in a boisterous commotion lends a lot more cover to disappearances. He'd like to hope that the apprentice hadn't been nabbed, having lived through the moons of Halfpaw and Laurelpaw's captivity.
"On that note, @FORESTSHADE, you'll lead a border patrol out ThunderClan ways. With you will be @POPPYPAW, @Swansong, @nectarsong, @shrike, and @THORNPAW. Then, towards our border with WindClan, @SHARPSHADOW will be taking @Duckshimmer, @Haretooth, @BATCHASER, @Halfpaw, and @sneezepaw on a similar patrol." Steady exhale, flick of the tail, the tom gently leans down to rasp out further instruction. "I'll reiterate again: Forestshade, Sharpshadow, you must make sure to ask if Snowypaw has been seen, should the chance arise. Thank you."
Done and dusted, the border patrols leave his stream of thought. Smogmaw clears his phlegm-ridden throat loud and unceremoniously, before he points his focus to the largest cluster of apprentices in his audience. "Seein' as how our troubles of Newleaf are behind us, I'm going to host a li'l group training session for apprentices; apprentices who might've missed out on combat training because of the frogs. @BLOODPAW, @SINGEPAW, @Snowpaw., @Swallowpaw., you'll be coming along. @Lotus☽, you too, and I'd like @CHILLEDSTAR. to join us as well." A little treat, he thinks. Much of the clan's youth holds their deputy and leader in the highest esteem one could consider possible, and Smogmaw's willing to entertain the fact.
Smiling (or appearing to at least) faintly, a singular nod drifts over in @FERNDANCE's trajectory. "You're taking out a hunting patrol. Take @Laurelpaw., @Valleysong, @springflame, @Willowburn, and @Mourningbloom along with you. Puttin' out a personal plea that you bring back something other than frogs, but of course, all fresh-kill is needed and important."
Lastly, he lends his attention to the newest member of Chilledstar's council. "@MIREPURR, I need you to take a group up to Carrionplace. Scavenge around, bring back rats 'n other things we can eat. Accompanying you is @FLINTWISH, @ASHENFALL, @orchidbloom, @APPLEJAW, and @Bonepaw."
Ears pivot, sensing for any indication of protest or disagreement. "Okie-dokie. Get to work."
//
thunder patrol : forestshade, poppyglow, swansong, nectarsong, shrike, thornpaw!
wind patrol : sharpshadow, duckshimmer, haretooth, batchaser, halfpaw, sneezepaw
apprentice (and lotus) combat training : smogmaw, chilledstar, lotus, bloodpaw, singepaw, snowpaw, swallowpaw
hunting patrol : ferndance, valleysong, springflame, willowburn, mourningbloom, laurelpaw
carrionplace patrol : mirepurr, flintwish, ashenfall, orchidbloom, applejaw, bonepaw