tunnels with poison on its lips [spiderwebs]

[SCORCHSTREAK]

Since their return from the mountains, something about WindClan has felt… wrong. More of their clanmates are dead. They returned with the cure, and yet they could do nothing about those who died while they were off traveling in the wilderness. They saved many lives by returning with the cure, and yet they still feel as though they have failed, somehow. The oncoming winter’s encroaching chill feels somehow even colder than it had in the mountains, and Scorchstreak isn’t certain how much of that is real and how much is guilt. Caught up in her thoughts as they are, the calico isn’t paying as much attention to their surroundings as they should be. They suppose that they deserve it as they stride directly into a huge spiderweb that spans the entire width of the tunnel.

"Agh," she grunts, swatting uselessly at the webbing that clings to her muzzle and ears. A grimace works its way onto her scarred face, and she glances back at the rest of the patrol. Hopefully not everyone had witnessed their lead warrior’s terribly apparent lapse in attention. They cannot blame only themself, however; while they were gone, the tunnels must have seen a fair amount of disuse. Perhaps the cleaning patrols haven’t been as well-timed without her presence, or perhaps the clan’s absence from the lands has caused some disrepair in the tunnels. With a lash of her tail, she growls, "Stupid spiders… are there any in my fur?" Don’t they know these are our tunnels, not theirs? Of course, it is a ridiculous notion. Spiders have little concept of ownership, surely. Still, they are infesting WindClan’s tunnels, and they need to be removed as quickly as possible.

// apprentice tag @PINKPAW​

[ BE A FIRE, BURN THIS DOWN ]​

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[SOOTSTAR]

Sootstar lingers behind just far enough to only see the aftermath of Scorchstreak’s daydreaming. The tri-colored she-cat was covered head to toe in cobwebs, and when Sootstar narrows her eyes she can see strands continuing along the wall continuing into the tunnels. ”There’s more where that came from too… they’ll all along this tunnel’s wall.” She observes out loud, ”If only Wolfsong could fit down here, he’d probably be able to make some use of this mess...”

She looks the lead warrior up and down for any sign of spiders, looking for movement in her pelt.

☾ INFO BATTLE

• >> @BLUEPAW
• 
  » Soot ․ Sootstar
  » WindClan Leader
  » She/her ․ Mate to Weaselclaw
  » Tiny blue smoke she-cat with green eyes.
  » "Speech" ․ thoughts ․ attack
  
• 
  » A high-stamina foe who can be difficult to hit.
  » Excels in quick, short moves.
  » Fights to kill and maim
  » Fatal attack of choice is an underbelly dive.
  » May powerplay minor harm. Can powerplay healing

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[SOOTSPOT]

In the subterranean realm Sootspot called a home, where shadows and secrets intertwined, even the most enigmatic of creatures could be brought down by the relentless annoyance of endless spider webs. Swiping at the dangling cobwebs left behind by Scorchstreak's intrusion, the Tunneler felt his annoyance grow with every new piece of sinuous silk that tried to attach to his dusky coat. "I have often found that spiders are like ambitions," he started his mew, voice raspier than usual, be it from underuse or overuse, not even the tom himself knew. "They know no bounds and respect no boundaries." A tufted ear twitched in understanding, through the suffocating strands of gossamer, he attempted to peer at the council member. Neutrality was etched upon his features, except for a conman's smile, contorting in the shadows of the labyrinth as he attempted to convey some affection towards the Lead Warrior, no matter how false. "You should look for them at the end of your patrol. With any luck, the ones already crawling up your tail will kill each other by the time we are done." He hadn't checked to see if any actually infested Scorchstreak's tail, it was only when (if) the calico turned around did he reveal it as a joke.


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[downyfur]

Downypaw dutifully follows in Sootspot's steps, letting their nose wrinkle in the darkness. They've never been the cleanest kitten in the nursery, but they enjoy having cobwebs glued to their fur as much as any other cat—which is to say that they loathe it. Sootspot seems to be a remarkably clean tom though, despite his dirt-filled occupation, and it makes Downypaw begin to suspect they should pay more attention to their own pelt.

By the light gently filtering through the tunnel entrance, they can glimpse the extent of Scorchstreak's suffering. Immediately, they press a paw over their mouth to keep themself from giggling (and maybe they should do the same for Pinkpaw, because there wasn't a rabbit's chance in a foxhole their sister wouldn't have something to say about it).

Sootstar comments on it too, and for whatever reason it surprises them that she would just...talk. They've only ever seen her, emerald-eyed and unflinching, upon the Tallrock. They didn't really think she's be down in the earth with the rest of them, talking about spiders of all things. It seems so beneath their illustrious leader, whose son she'd generously given them to, and they find themself feeling grateful for her humility. "Should we collect some to take back for Wolfsong?" they ask, more towards their mentor than leader.

Sootspot himself remains unfazed. Rounded ears subtly prick at his remark on ambition, a thing they'd hardly think of in relation to spiderwebs, but Sootspot makes it work. That's so smart of him, they think. What a blessing it was to be given such an intelligent mentor! Not to mention the actual content of his words, that they acknowledge fully as well. Ambitions known no bounds and respect no boundaries. It sounded wise. It also made ambitions sound bad. Good thing they don't have any of those pesky "ambitions," or so they think.

Then he says that the spiders, on Scorchstreak's tail no less, are going to kill each other. No, that he hopes they'll kill each other. Downypaw, unable to see the state of her tail from where they are, grows a touch queasy at the thought. "Maybe they're just cold and fur is warm?" they venture, unsure of how it'll be received yet choosing to voice it anyway. They send a glance at Sootspot for approval. Absentmindedly, they swish their tail over their own legs and flank to check for spiders, hoping they wouldn't be killing each other on them if they happened to be there.​

 

[RABBITCLAW]

Rabbitclaw couldn't hide her chuff as she watched her sister, Scorchstreak get a muzzle full of cobwebs. Even though her sister has... Pinkpaw, ugh. She must play nice and not insult her sister's apprentice. And she supposes she must play nice to her own apprentices sister. Even if her own apprentice can't hear what exactly she's saying, it still felt wrong to bully Pinkpaw in Heathpaw's presence. Anyhow, before she is able to respond to Scorchstreak's predicament, it is Sootstar who chimes in and brings up Wolfsong. She supposes that while it is annoyance to the rest of them, having so many spiders around is a good thing for medicine cats.

Downypaw, a new member of the tunneler family chimes in and asks Sootspot if they should collect some to take back to Wolfsong. Despite not being the one addressed, she sees no reason in not answering. It wasn't like Sootspot alone was in charge of what the group should do. "Might as well nab some. It's better to have than regret it later." They had already suffered enough with the lack of lungwort. Who knows? Maybe if they refused to bring back some cobwebs with them, then someone might be suffering longer. Things have started to die down, but it was always better to be safe than sorry. Last thing she wants is Wolfsong announcing that they've run out of cobwebs and if patrols could scavenge for whatever remained.

Quite honestly she has no idea what Sootspot even said spiders are like ambitions and how they know no bounds or respect. She makes it point to bring it up. "I have often found that spiders are like spiders," she mews. There is no further elaboration. Sootstar is here and she refuses to get a cuffing for telling Sootspot indirectly that they're thinking too hard about spiders for some reason. Starclan forbid they have a debate about it, she would purposely argue the opposite just to rile Sootspot. Not to mention there was already a flaw in the tom's statement. Spiders were bound to the webs they created and respected those boundaries. She can't recall a time she's ever seen a spider scuttle on the ground or anywhere that is not a web.

It is no surprise that Downypaw is quick to pick up things. Downypaw had been a kit she wanted to join the tunnelers, yes she's still weeping at the fact that Finchpaw was going to become a moor runner sue her. The young she-cat is not entirely correct in their guess, but not wrong. "Just means Leaf-bare is almost here. The tunnels are warm during leaf-bare so makes sense for more spiders to move into the tunnels. No one likes being cold." One of the perks of being a tunneler was that you wouldn't be cold. Well... Not as cold as the moor runners who would find themselves retreating to abandoned badger setts if the cold was too much to bare.

It is then she supposes she should address her own apprentice, only to remember that Heathpaw wouldn't be able to see her maw in the darkness or hear her. Therefore, she grazes her tail against Heathpaw's flank to reassure the apprentice that she was near.

// apprentice tag @HEATHPAW

 

[PINKSHINE]

Pinkpaw hates the tunnels! First of all, she can't see like, anything. She has no idea what's happening when her quote, unquote: " mentor " suddenly makes a disgruntled sound, and then, what? Apparently SOOTSTAR is here? Pinkpaw had no idea! Second of all, it was crowded, she realizes, when a bunch of other mystery voices pipe up. Third of all, apparently there are SPIDERS down here? " Nooo, I hate spiders! " Pinkpaw didn't really have an opinion on spiders actually, but right now, judging from Scorchstreak's reaction, she's deciding that she hates them.

I have often found that spiders are like ambitions, some mystery voice says. They know no bounds and respect no boundaries. Pardon her language, this sounded like a bunch of mouse - dung. " What the heck are you talking about? " she sniffs. Honestly, the smartest thing Rabbitclaw has ever said is mentioning that she has often found that spiders are like spiders. With any luck, the ones already crawling up your tail will kill each other by the time we are done. " Noooo! " Pinkpaw wails again.

Maybe they're just cold and fur is warm? she hears Downypaw say. Pinkpaw huffs. " They should get their own fur, then! "

staring at the mirror gotta smile, smile 🌸🌷🦄🦩 don't be late, we got plans!

• 

• 

• ( IT'S TIME TO START A FUCKING RIOT, RIOT! ) PINKPAW APPRENTICE OF WINDCLAN. DAUGHTER TO BRIGHTSHINE & HEAVY SNOW. SISTER TO HEATHPAW, DOWNYPAW, & FINCHPAW.
  —— SHE / HER; UNOPPOSED TO THE USE OF OTHERS
  —— CURRENTLY 3 MOONS OLD. AGES EVERY 16TH
  
  A tiny, longhaired calico she - kit with yellow eyes, ringed blue around her pupils (sectoral heterochromia). While you can clearly see her flame markings on her face, the rest of her body is currently covered by a grey fever - coating. Though the whites of her are still very much visible. Pink-kit bounces around WindClan without a care in the world! Her emotions are big, and she makes little effort to regulate them, resulting in both her usually cheerful disposition, as well as making her prone to sudden bouts of extreme anger or sadness. Rarely seen without a smile!
  

  HEAVY IC OPINIONS! Pink-kit is a very irrational and childish character!​

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[BLUEFROST]

Bluepaw and the other tunnelers are surely no stranger to spiderwebs or other creepy things that crawl beneath the earth, but watching Scorchstreak claw webs from her muzzle is enough to cause Bluepaw to grimace. They’re sticky, hard to get out of one’s fur, and it isn’t as though they don’t have enough extensive grooming to do after a bout in the tunnels. She studies the tortoiseshell lead warrior’s colorful pelt, shaking her head. “I do not see anything crawling,” she reports, brushing past Sootstar’s flank so that she can get a better look.

Sootspot’s comment causes Bluepaw to turn and stare at him. Spiders are like ambitions, he tells the patrol loftily. The little feline padding after him looks enamored by this concept, and Bluepaw has to resist the urge to roll her eyes. Her half-brother is full of air, as always. Rabbitclaw’s comment is enough to cause her lips to tremble, though she does not dignify the remark with a smile. “I am sure Wolfsong and Cottonpaw would appreciate that,” she tells Downypaw. “If you gather them, stash them somewhere you will not forget them. We have much work to do today.”

Pinkpaw’s yowling sets Bluepaw’s ears flat against her skull. She eyes the little tortoiseshell with a warning glance. “You had better get used to spiders. They are everywhere underground.” This is not necessarily true, but in their wider tunnels, like this one, all sorts of critters set up shop. She cannot imagine being frightened of something so small and inconsequential. “Spiders cannot hurt you. You can smash them under your paws.” She demonstrates on empty air.

, ”​

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