camp WILL I BE KNOWN AND LOVED ♡ leaving the nursery

[sparrowpaw.]

The ceremony had just ended, and cats began to part ways and go about their normal day. This was no.. normal day for Sparrowpaw. He had just earned his apprentice name, something that all cats should be excited for, but.. why did he feel such a pit in his heart?

After briefly greeting his mentor, Sparrowpaw's paws carried him towards his new den - the apprentice den. The den was mostly empty while the Clan's apprentices continued their duties, but it was littered with so many nests - so much more than the nursery had. Crowded, he thinks, reminiscent of the den he had spent the past three or four moons inside. Crowded with strangers.. he fears there will be no familial comfort here.

He needs to make his own nest, he thinks - he needs to find a place to put it. He needs to learn which cats are friendly and which are not, who would share a space with him and who wanted nothing to do with him. He needs to learn where the most important nests go for the most experiences apprentices, and where his will go, insignificant and alone. It's all so.. overwhelming.

Sparrowpaw feels a familiar lump form in his throat. He feels scared - for a moment, he wonders if he can run back to Flamewhisker and beg her to take him back in into her comforting embrace. There's no going back now, is there? The mere thought brings panic into the young tom, and he quickly finds himself spinning on his heels and trotting back to the nursery, fighting back tears the whole way.

He stands in the entrance of the den now, looking inside at the inhabitants he had grown up with. The kittens he had shared his space with, his nest with, his warmth and love - and even his ire. The thought is absurd, but stars, in his sorrow he can only wonder if he'll ever see them again. "I'm.. I'm l-leaving," Sparrowpaw announces solemnly. His voice cracks, and as soon as the words leave his mouth, his lip begins to quiver and he feels the warmth of tears fall down his cheeks. No - he has to be brave, he cannot be seen as a whimpering kit in front of his new denmates. And yet.. the bravery does not come. He feels utterly defeated and oh, so lost.
​

CHARACTER INFORMATION — ♡ ˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗ ♡ — OUT OF CHARACTER

• 

  sparrowkit SPARROWPAW ━━ penned by ixora
  ━━ APPRENTICE of THUNDERCLAN
  ━━ 6 MOONS,, ages every 26th
  ━━ ADOPTED by FLAMEWHISKER
  ━━ ADOPTED SIBLING to SCORCHEDKIT, MOTHKIT, SUNKIT, SQUIRRELKIT
  ━━ MATE to none | PARENT to none
  ━━ MENTOR to none | MENTORED by SLEEKSERPENT
  ━━ HEALTH ♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎ | sparrowpaw is healthy.​
• 
  
  
• speech is #668c8f​

 

[Dovepaw]

Dovekit didn't fully understand what it meant to become an apprentice yet, just that it meant that Sparrowpaw would be training to be a warrior and everyone wanted to be warriors. They didn't know the work that came with it, the hard times that would be coming with not being able to be among the first to eat, and though they had been excited to hear about more room within the nursery they hadn't realized that others would be leaving to make that room. Sparrowpaw - much like the others who had been apprenticed this meeting - had been a permanent fixture within the nursery in the child's mind, so hearing the wavering voice of the bi-colored apprentice speaking of leaving caused alarm bells to go off in Dovekit's mind.

"Leaving?" They'd speak quickly in response, loud and confused and a frown quickly placing itself upon tabbied features before realization dawned on them. "You can't leave Sparrowpaw, you gotta stay in here where there's more room." They hadn't yet realized that the more room was due to Sparrowpaw leaving the nursery. "You gotta stop crying cause you're staying here right?"

PEACE LIKE A RIVER 𓇢𓆸 ALWAYS GOING, NEVER GETTING

• --

• 

• DOVEKIT - GEN 4; ROEFLAME X BURNSTORM
  -- afab ;; they/them ;; thunderclan kitten
  -- sibling to littlekit && beetlekit
  -- lh chocolate silver lynx point
  -- stubborn && questions everything
  -- speaks in bolded #96b6a6

​

​

 

[Softsight]

It seemed like yesterday that the patrol had brought Sparrowkit back from being abandoned in the forest, and now that Sparrowpaw was an apprentice, it made the passage of time feel all the more real to Softpaw. From here on out until she became a warrior, she'd be sharing the apprentices' den with a kit that she'd watched grow into an apprentice. It was a surreal feeling.

"It's tough, isn't it?" Softpaw murmurs as she sits down beside Sparrowpaw, and she looks at Dovekit and shakes her head. "No, now that Sparrowpaw's an apprentice, he'll be staying in the apprentices' den." She explained to the kitten.

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

• !
  

• 

• SOFTPAW ✩ apprentice of thunderclan, six moons
  → peaceful and healing powerplay permitted.
  → penned by Archivist → .archivist on discord.
  

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[BRIARSONG]

☆⋅⋆ ── briarpaw despised the nursery. from the time she could form a thought she counted the minutes until she were to be freed. spending every moment next to the cold flank of the traitorous monstrosity of a woman that was her mother had settled rot deeply into her brain. blacksong was a poorly written mockery of what a warrior should be, the moment her child was dubbed a 'paw' she had never looked back.

being taken in by flamewhisker, briarpaw could understand why sparrowpaw was reluctant to leave. the ginger queen was esteemed, a deputy, a good mother. her children did not have to dedicate their lives to undoing her mistakes. but the residual venom from her own stay in the nursery corrupted any ounce of sympathy, she looked down upon a sniveling sparrowpaw with a subtle sneer.

"you'll be living together again eventually, there's no sense in crying." she states plainly. briarpaw cannot see herself as either of these children, their warm upbringing and fond memories of the cramped den drives an icy spike deep into her chest. it was unbecoming to be jealous of kittens, she quickly reminds herself, fixing the way her face screwed in distaste, wrapping a white tail over her paws as it is replaced by something more distant.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎┌── PRAISE ME FOR MARTYR ⋅☆⋅ PRAISE ME FOR SIN ──┐‎

• OOC ⋆ ─
  
  

• 

• BRIARPAW ✩ she/her, apprentice of thunderclan, ten moons.
  ⭃ a well built solid black longhair with white markings narrowed yellow eyes.
  ⭃ NPC x NPC / / apprentice to saffronpounce
  ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking ↛ battle info
  ⭃ penned by vayle ↛ @vayl3 on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
  

​

 

[FALCONHEART]

𓍊𓋼 The meeting has concluded, but rather than slip out of camp to throw his full attention into some sort of duty, like hunting or patrolling, Falconheart lingers. He watches Sparrowpaw as he approaches the apprentices' den, his head tipping curiously to the side when the black and white tom turns back around and makes his way back toward the nursery. Sparrowpaw seems sad, uncertain. He says something that Falconheart can't hear, but he does hear Dovekit attempt to comfort the new apprentice, and a small smile crosses his expression. The pointed kit is friendly and clearly cares for their clanmates; Falconheart still remembers how they had tried to comfort him a month ago. But unfortunately, the kit is wrong; Sparrowpaw won't be staying in the nursery, and likely won't stop crying so easily. His heart pangs at the sadness in Sparrowpaw's face, and he's grateful that Softpaw speaks up to correct Dovekit so he doesn't have to.

However, he's alright with correcting Briarpaw. The sneering face of the dark-furred apprentice who approaches next is enough to disrupt Falconheart's concern for his younger brother. His eyes narrow, expression falling to one of disapproval. A frown curls across his muzzle, and his tail flickers with irritation. "There's plenty of sense in crying, Briarpaw," he says, unable to help himself. "The nursery is the only place Sparrowpaw has ever known." There's a sharpness to his own voice that he doesn't expect, but for once the tom doesn't apologize. Instead, he turns away from Briarpaw to address his younger brother. Now, a warm smile shines on his face, and he flicks an ear as he speaks to the apprentice. "Sparrowpaw, just because you're leaving doesn't mean you can't come back. I'm sure mom and the other kits would love to have you hang out around here when you aren't busy with your training." The other queens don't seem to mind when Falconheart hovers around the nursery to spend time with his younger siblings, at least.

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊 take the world by storm

• ooc: —
• 
  FALCONHEART ❯❯ he/him, thunderclan warrior
  ⭃ shorter than average cream tabby with white spotting. seems gloomy and has few friends, but is a hard worker and never neglects his duties.
  ⭃ son of flamewhisker and flycatcher ; brother to stormfeather, scorchedkit, mothkit, sunkit, squirrelkit, sparrowpaw
  ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted
  ⭃ penned by foxlore

​

​

 

[COALPAW]

BUT I'M JUST SO OUT OF MY DEPTH — Still spending the majority of his time not spent scolding others instead tucked away in the nursery, Coalkit hadn't been aware of what had transpired during the last meeting. He was well aware of the fact that eventually some of the other kits that populated the same den would have to move on, if only to allow the rest of them to have a bit of breathing room. However, he'd never really considered which of his denmates would actually end up leaving first. He hadn't really given much consideration to any individuals beyond his family yet, honestly. Sparrowpaw seemed keen on changing that, however, at least if his announcement to the whole of the nursery was anything to go off of.

Cool green eyes blinked in his direction, a dark head cocking over to one side as the younger tom tried to figure out why Sparrowpaw looked so devastated by this development. Wasn't he supposed to be excited? Elated, even? "Why are you crying?" The question came out as bluntly as Coalkit's words often did, an echo of Briarpaw's plainness without the same cold edge. Falconheart seemed to be the one to answer first though, the black smoke's face scrunching up as he processed. "It's all he's ever known... but isn't becoming an apprentice supposed to be... exhilarating?" Such a large word took a moment for the kit to get out, clearly an echo of phrasing that he had heard from one of the warriors discussing the upcoming wave of apprentices. He didn't know exactly what it meant, but he trusted that Falconheart would.

Turning his attention back towards Sparrowpaw himself, Coalkit found that he wasn't able to offer up any sort of comforting purr that might put the older tom at ease. Instead he just put forth a shrug of his shoulders, echoing the suggestion of the warrior that had come before him. "Falconheart is right, you can always help with some early training. Or bringing food, or giving the queens someone to talk to that isn't one of us... just don't be an annoyance." They didn't need anybody crowding the nursery for fun in his opinion, as harsh as that may have seemed from a kitten of his age. But he was just eager to have a bit more room to stretch out without kicking directly at another cat.

I CAN PLAY IT KINDA COOL ✧˖*°࿐ JUST LIKE ANYONE ELSE

• 

• 
  ☄ shorthaired black smoke with forest green eyes
  ☄ amab; goes by he/him pronouns
  ☄ 3 moons old; ages the 5th every month
  ☄ homosexual; not yet interested in romance
  ☄ son of leopardtongue and batwing
  ☄ brother to bravepaw, cougarpaw, hazepaw, foxpaw, and hopekit
  ☄ extremely difficult to befriend; cold and blunt
  ☄ "speech", thoughts, attacking
  ☄ peaceful powerplay allowed
  ☄ all opinions are ic

​

 

[TORNADOPAW!]

Tornadopaw loved the nursery, loved his denmates (his friends!), loved the queens and of course his nest and the many memories he had there but he was eager to make more in the apprentices den to take that first lunge into being a proper warrior of Thunderclan. Besides just cause he didn't live there didn't mean he couldn't visit, it wasn't like he'd been forbidden and he was gonna visit like all the time he stuck to his word and he was gonna make sure all the kits saw his awesome hunting and battle moves before they became apprentices themselves. they'd all share a den again in a few moons, though he would miss the warmth of the queens and how even if he wasn't any of theirs they'd always looked after him like he was their own. He never felt like a outcast, he felt loved and wanted and he'd grow into a great warrior and make them proud so when they were mentors they'd point at him with awe and joy in their eyes as they chattered about how he'd been a little kitten once cuddled up besides their litters.

He's so vastly different then Sparrowpaw yet he visits the nursery as well to give his farewells, ones that didn't hold the same finality to him as they'd hold for Sparrowpaw. He had a little time to kill before Mothfur was going to show him the territory, as he approaches his ear prick as he hears the warbling of Sparrowpaw's voice. He stops in his tracks, he's crying, it was a great day for both of them but he was crying. Dovekit and Coalkit noticed and question him, the former not understanding and being corrected by Softpaw a apprentice he was excited to know better; she was always pretty nice and she's nice now. Briarpaw is less so and the normally easy going young tom casts a harsh look her way as he slowly pads closer. Falconheart comes up to comfort his brother too reminding him what Tornadopaw knows that he's always welcome back. He nods his head at his words along with Coalkits and flashes a smile.

"You won't be alone, I'll be with you" he meows in assurance, they weren't thick as thieves maybe not even quiet friends but they'd grown up together that counted for something and he'd always wanted to be better friends "I'm sad too... It's gonna be rough falling asleep without all the snoring lulling us to sleep" there's truth in his jest, he's trying to lighten the mood but he doesn't doubt it'd be hard to sleep in his new nest when he'd gotten so used to sleeping in the nursery.

---

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎┌── ooc ⋆⋅☾⋅⋆ info ──┐‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

• 
  
  text
  

• "speech"

• 

  Tornadopaw ✩ He/Him, Thunderclan Apprentice, 6 moons
  ⭃ Brown and white masked tom with blue eyes
  ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ⭃ penned by Kedamono ↛ @legmeatt on discord, feel free to dm for plots. ​

​

 

[Flamestar]

⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊ After the meeting had concluded, Flamewhisker had planned on going to go find Sparrowpaw. She looked for his pelt, but when she didn't spot him right away, she assumed he must've been so excited he forgot to come visit her. It hurt of course, but she had known it was coming..she was just grateful to have the two extra moons with him that the new addition to the Code added. "Here in a couple moons that will be you guys." she said softly, touching her nose to one of her kit's foreheads.

A few moments pass, and her son's white and brown figure appears near her. "I'm.. I'm l-leaving. His voice cracked, and she could swear she saw tears forming in his eyes. Dovekit tries to reassure him that he is staying, while Coalkit claims that becoming an apprentice is supposed to be exhilarating. She takes a step forward while Softpaw tries to comfort him, and Briarpaw declares there is no point in crying. Her older son approaches and swiftly corrects Briarpaw. She shoots Falconheart a glance of approval, because if he hadn't spoken up, she would have said the same thing. This was a big step for a brand new apprentice, his whole life would change after this moment.

She leans forward, and presses her nose against his forehead. He wasn't the small little kitten she had found in the forest anymore...he was nearly the size of her. Tornadopaw, who had also received his apprentice name today, came to comfort him too, claiming that he wouldn't be alone and that he would be with him. The queen smiled gratefully at the young tom, and let out a small chuckle at his comment about the snoring. "We'll just be a couple dens away." she began, drawing her tongue over the spot between his two brown ears like she had when he was younger. "This is just the beginning of your new adventure. Falconheart and Coalkit are right, I would love for you to visit us in your free time. I want to see everything you learn."

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎┌── I WOKE UP IN TEARS ⋅✩⋅ WITHOUT YOU BY MY SIDE ──┐‎

• 
  
  
  

• 

• FLAMEWHISKER ✩ she/her, deputy of thunderclan, 32 moons, ages on the 20th
  ⭃ LH red tabby with low white (masks black tabby, carries dilute, solid)
  ⭃ widowed mate to flycatcher / / mother to: falconheart, stormfeather, sparrowkit, sunkit, mothkit, scorchedkit, and squirrelkit
  ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ⭃ will start a fight, will finish fights, will kill (case depending)
  ⭃ link to toyhouse
  ⭃ penned by Icey ! ↛ @icefang65 on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
  

​

 

[✧ Sleekserpent.]

ALL GROWN UP NOW BUT IM CONFUSED
WE DIDN'T TURN OUT THE WAY WE WANTED TO​

---

sleekserpent & 16 moons & genderfluid & he/she/they & thunderclan warrior ​

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Sleekserpent keeps a watchful eye upon his apprentice as the meeting ends, even if he makes no move to intervene or interrupt. Still, she cannot help the frown that crosses her face - Sparrowpaw is crying, she notes, and it takes a surprising amount of effort to keep from nagging at him about such. It's unbefitting - boys weren't supposed to cry, and certainly not over such an honor as becoming an apprentice and leaving the nursery. Still, they suppose they can allow it this once - and the other kits are mocking sparrowpaw anyways, and surely that'd be enough to get through to the apprentice? Others step up to comfort him, and he shifts about anxiously - for a moment wondering if he'd been like that, acted pitiful, if killdeercry would've said nice things like Flamewhisker and Falconheart. And already, she knows her answer - sighing as she finally pads over, still looking awkward and uncomfortable but making an attempt to mimic what she thinks she might've said in her place. " You'll be fine - you'll have your friends in the apprentice done, and I promise it's nice to have a nest to yourself when you're aching after training, " they coax - eyes flashing. They probably failed at coming off as comforting to be honest, but it matters that they tried, right?

━ actions & " speech, " & 'thoughts/quotes' ━

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B O Y S ━ D O N ' T ━ C R Y ━ A N D ━ I ━ W O N ' T ━ T O O

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