pafp WHIMS OF FATE | prey delivery

[SOOTSPOT]

Just before the call for patrols, a Tunneler and Tunneler apprentice had been missing from camp. It wasn't unusual for the former to disappear, but the latter, someone who was in limbo between mentors, likely did not have the same reputation for long journeys away from civilisation. Both were back on WindClan territory midday, but a creature who had left the moors so angry had returned so vindicated that he made no attempts to sneak back to society. Sootspot stepped into camp with triumph in his eyes and two frogs dangling from his maw. For feeding their young, for giving WindClan a second chance, for doing things even the council had failed at, for trying to give them hope that someone in the clan could make the right choices - all he asked for in return was their adoration. Would it be too much?

With a swish of his tail, he urged Downypaw to his side, knowing his former apprentice would also likely have her paws full of prey. It was Sootspot who deserved the fanfare, he had orchestrated the patrol and gotten them away without the marshes even knowing they'd been disturbed, but, he knew he owed it to the clan to show them how well he had trained the seal point to hunt.. and the disservice they had done by giving her to Rattleheart. Sootspot walked forward slowly, deliberately, his neck craned so high he looked more tree than felidae. As if it were a great effort, Sootspot dropped his catches onto WindClan's withering freshkill pile, and, once more, stood proud. "Well done, Downypaw," he mewed as he presumed the other would do the same, his tail batting at the breeze. "I am glad all those... injuries, did not affect your skill. You shall be a grand Tunneler yet." If the scent of the frogs didn't give away their origins, then the fact that were not WindClan prey would.

Two cats wandering alone in enemy territory was bound to raise ire, doubly so when other patrols had been caught (some even killed), but Sootspot was quick to speak before disappointment could even begin to cross WindClan's faces. "More frogs remain in the tunnels, waiting to be collected," he told the first cat to move closer, loud enough so that anyone else could hear him. "We were not seen, I doubt ShadowClan will even know they are gone, as bountiful as they claim their lands to be." There were certain eyes he hopes to find within the camp, the eyes of those who had been so quick to hunt on unscorched earth that they did not consider who might have been watching them. At the very least, he knew Bluepool would be watching from whatever twisted afterlife she found herself in, wishing it had been him leading a patrol instead of her - perhaps then, she would still be alive. "Downypaw, I speak the truth, do I not?" That they were not seen, that their paws were bloodless. If they could not believe him, then he knew they would believe the apprentice.

@downypaw

Spoiler

@SOOTSPOT You are so much better than all of them, aren't you? You watch impulsive decisions being made; you watch mistakes with their consequences, mistakes that wouldn't have happened if you got to make all the calls. It's frustratingly unfair... but it gives you an edge, a point of inspiration, and you gathering a makeshift patrol goes unnoticed in all the chaos. You make the calls then. Perhaps you could boast about bringing back a bunch of prey without the need to shed another Clan's blood, hm?

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[downyfur]

It's not quite the adoration Sootspot longs for, but Downypaw is semi-sure of the fact that they're the only one left in WindClan that still likes him in some measure. The two of them, just two of the weakest members of the clan, had succeeded where two patrols and a lead warrior's life had not. Pride and gratitude swell in equal measure beneath the bundle of frogs dangling from her mouth, each grasped by a frail limb so not to crowd her cramped maw. For once, her head holds high as well, partly to prevent any of the haul from trailing on the dirt, but partly because she is proud and feels she deserves to be too.

Their ex-mentor's comment widens blue eyes ever so slightly. Rattleheart doled out encouragement like the sky churned out clouds, but Sootspot's praise was historically rare. "Thank you," they purr after settling their frogs onto the fresh-kill pile. Dipping their head, they add, "Thank you for guiding me." He might like to hear that, they think. And it was true, wasn't it? They wouldn't be here if not for Sootspot, and, hesitant as they are to admit it, Sunstar as well.

Marine gaze blinks at the cats beginning to gather, no doubt drawn by the sudden, strange abundance of prey-scent. Downypaw must hold themself back from shrinking beneath the attention, but Sootspot turns and faces the spotlight with all the confidence of a lion. Expectant green eyes then land upon her, a proffered hand with none of its past venom glowing in its veins, and Downypaw accepts it. "Yes." She nods. "Yes; we're uninjured. I don't think ShadowClan would have let us leave alive if we were spotted..." In a weird way, it gives them confidence.

Even as they realize Scorchstreak might take it as rubbing Bluepool's death in her face once again, they just hope she doesn't take it personally. And if she does, then she doesn't blame them for saying it, and if she does blame them, then... she would just have to accept it, because her clanmates were alive when they could be dead too.

windclan apprentice | "speech." | tags​

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[UKALEK]

Big eyes shimmer with interest as Ukalek listens to the dirt-covered tom's reassurances to his clan-mates. Downypaw backs him with a confident nod. ShadowClan, another different clan. They used tunnels to steal their prey undetected? He's never heard of; nor imagined such a thing! It was marvelous, really. He sees little harm if no evidence had been left behind as they say. The more for the group, the better, even if they had to step on ShadowClan for it.

"The way you cats use your tunnels fascinates me." He meows in a complimenting manner, eyes blankly staring at apprentice and tunneler. "Very smart." Unfortunately, frog was not his first choice in prey. He much rather stick to the rabbits the moor-runners have been bringing home, that pleases his stomach far more. "Would you consider taking me with you sometime? Down in the tunnels within our own land, that is." He is not sure if such an ask is above his station... He does not understand clan mannerisms quite yet.

🐇 INFO BATTLE

• » Ukalek
  » Loner
  » He/him . AFAB
  » An oriental-featured chocolate point with unusual blue eyes
  » ”Speech”․ thoughts ․ attack
  
• » A poor fighter who uses his wits to trick his opponents.
  » Excels in smarts and using it to get his opponents where he wants them.
  » Fights defensively and at the order of his leader..
  » May powerplay minor harm. Can powerplay healing

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[PINKSHINE]

NOTE: mobile post!

More prey for the clan is always good. Especially when so much of the moor still had a gross, ash - grey singe to it. She was old enough to look at a frog and decide that its gross prey... even if she kinda thought that it was. It's prey. That's what matters, but...

" Um, " she shuffled her paws. A pinched smile wearily meets her sisters gaze. " ...That's not your mentor, " she points out, as if Downypaw just didn't know. She kinda hopes Downypaw just forgot. And then... they could go hang out without him, or something?

Maybe that didn't matter so much, but... there's a reason Sunstar gave them Rattleheart in the first place, right? He probably wouldn't like this either, right? The weird new guy is like, impressed... Pinkpaw probably should be too. Or she should help with the frogs, but she's just kinda... um, distracted.

Tunneling is cool. Just not with Sootspot. " Maybe we can take you, " she offers him. " Me and Scorchstreak, " to be clear. " And Downypaw! " she casts a glance toward her sister. And Downypaw's not... upset. Or frowning. Sootspot didn't... force them to go anywhere, and like Pinkpaw, they're practically a warrior so... Pinkpaw was being totally mean right now wasn't she? She didn't wanna be totally mean. Not like... someone else.

She relents, shoulders drooping, but her smile stays. " You guys did re-eallly good! " It's the truth.​

 

[SOOTSPOT]

He is motionless as Downypaw shows gratitude for his training, save for the twitch of an already proud smile seemingly finding a way to stretch even further across his face. Sootspot could almost loathe the ego such praise brought, the colorpoint couldn't have appreciated his guidance that much if she'd run off with Cottonpaw and abandoned him to a doomed WindClan. At that moment, she had been the Addervenom to his Sootstar, but, unlike his rejected sister, he knew Downypaw could find it in their heart to remember her loyalty to him as bloodless kin. She confirms his tale and he cast his bright gaze to the campgrounds, anticipation evident in his bated breath. Any minute now, he would get what he deserved for ensuring the Nursery did not starve... but the first cat was a near stranger to him, someone whose approval mattered as much as an ant's. He twisted his head towards Ukalek, amicable in his smile and body language, disappointed in spirit.

Very smart. Fascinating. The gentle lashing of his tail slowed to a halt... ok, he supposed Ukalek's approval was more mammalian than insect-like. Even if the rogue's presence was a vexation on WindClan, there was something so sincere about his compliments that Sootspot couldn't help but forgive the oriental's forgiveness for a breadth of time. Then, Pinkpaw spoke, and the goodwill was gone. He blinked a few times, each flutter significantly more agitated than the last, before his attention shifted to Scorchstreak's apprentice with a thinly veiled displeasure. A yappy little rat-dog with too much bark and no bite, what business did she have to be disappointed? "Rattleheart is too preoccupied to spend time training Downypaw. I want to make sure they pass their assessment the same moon you do. I presume there are no problems with that." Ukalek speaks up again, asking to go down into the Tunnels, and Pinkpaw agrees for him, conveniently leaving his name out of her patrol suggestions.

An ear twitched, a pride humbled, Sootspot turned to see if any of the council would come with more heartfelt appreciation. 'I am feeding this clan, yet you are still unhappy with me. I don't understand. What do these cats want from me?' She compliments the frogs as if it were the last thing on her mind and, silently, Sootspot found himself grateful that apprentices ate last - there was no way in StarClan this one deserved any sustenance. He remained silent as he pictured what he was going to say, using the downtime to force goodwill back onto his expression. Almost instinctively, his smile mirrored Firefang's. "Thank you, Pinkpaw. But... Let Scorchstreak rest and grieve. I shall escort our nameless friend myself... though, you are welcome to come along."

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[UKALEK]

Pinkpaw is a highly spirited cat, he has observed. High-pitched, loud, opposites of Ukalek in many ways, but he’s grown fond of her already in his short stay behind the gorse walls. She offers to take him with Scorchstreak and Downypaw, sans Sootspot. He isn’t positive what the deal is about that but wraps it up to the youth suspecting the older tunneler would not be pleased to show him their underground realm.

However, that does not end up being the case. Sootspot insists to leave Scorchstreak to rest and approves showing Ukalek the tunnels, with Pinkpaw, if she pleased. A light smile grows on his muzzle and he pads forward to grow closer to Sootspot, ”Not quite nameless. Ukalek. Young hare.” He informs politely, though admittedly, he does not care to much what they took to calling him, even if nothing at all.

”You have my gratitude. Are we to head out now?”

🐇 INFO BATTLE

• » Ukalek
  » Loner
  » He/him . AFAB
  » An oriental-featured chocolate point with unusual blue eyes
  » ”Speech”․ thoughts ․ attack
  
• » A poor fighter who uses his wits to trick his opponents.
  » Excels in smarts and using it to get his opponents where he wants them.
  » Fights defensively and at the order of his leader..
  » May powerplay minor harm. Can powerplay healing

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[dimmingsun]

Dimmingsun's first instinct upon hearing Sootspot's glee is to narrow his eye — isn't some form of disdain the regular reaction to the son of Sootstar, the prince who hadn't managed to hold her attention for long enough to matter? Perhaps it'd be easier if Sootspot swung more often to one side rather than the flip back and forth; a never-ending dance. He'd certainly be easier to swallow. With how he is today, and has been for moons, years... one simply cannot look at him and call him bad.

Certainly no good news either.

That's what Dimmingsun's gut tells him anyway, right up until he sees the amount of prey he brings home with Downypaw plastered to his side. He approaches the suddenly plump pile slower than Ukalek and Pinkpaw, as if he's apprehensive of its contents. The frogs might as well be slithering snakes with how he regards them — poised too tensely to look entirely natural.

There's an unseen battle within himself while the group yaps away. Anger, first, but it is hypocritical, and so he ushers it away with urgency. It would not be fair to scold Sootspot for trespassing when Dimmingsun himself had done it... with not nearly this much success. There's a degree of jealousy lurking underneath too, for that very same reason. How immature. Even when he recognizes his own shortcomings, Dimmingsun is not interested in wholly ignoring them; he'd much rather pack them away, feel their intensity, but make sure not to treat Sootspot unfairly as a result- and poor Downypaw, stuck between two worlds.

"Yes," he rasps. "Well done, both of you." The compliment is not so outrageous that it causes the sky and land to switch sides and turn upside down. He means it, too, despite everything; at least nobody will go too hungry today... though there is a thinness in his smile that confirms this praise does not come too easily. Not when, in turn, he disappoints himself with the knowledge that he's been outdone.

A foolish, one-sided contest between toms with much to prove.

Dimmingsun does not miss the opportunity of flaunting at least some of his authority in the next breath. Some dignity is required to keep. "If you're heading out now, just make sure to avoid that tunnel by the ShadowClan's border. Two cats' hunt will go unnoticed more easily if you don't spread your scent all over the walls again."
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