YOU WILL LET ME DOWN, DOWN, DOWN — rogue invasion

[PIKESPLASH]

Chaos. That's one word to describe what is happening now. Pikesplash himself was caught unaware when the rogues invaded their home, the poor tom has no time to think. Instincitvely he looks for Cicadastar or even Smokethroat but in the midst of battle it's hard to make anything out. Petalnose would surely kill him for his thoughts. He didn't think to fight the invaders, no he ran around looking only for kits and elders. Relief is what he's filled with when he sees some clanmates lead the young ones out of danger as best as they can. Ravensong! Weaving through a flurry of claws and bodies scuffling, green eyes land on Lichentail who barrels into the medicine cat den. Paws roar against the earth as he rams into the entrance of the medicine cat den. From a quick glance he can see the sick, Ravensong, Coyotecreek, and Lichentail. He is there to hear the medicine cat's snappish voice asking them if they were seriously giving up.

"We have to go now! Smokethroat and Willowroot are leading the kits away. We don't have much ti-," And with that he would be barreled into by a rogue. All those within the medicine cat would see his face scrunched, and a yowl that followed as he tumbled with a rogue batting at him and snapping their teeth. Fuck! Fighting was something he was never good at and he was mocked for it, heck for all he knew maybe his name was thrown around as a sign of weakness. He would unsheathe his claws, as he thrashed about to make it difficult for his attacker to bite his throat. Unfortunately, he could not dodge all attacks, yowling when claws tore through flesh. The impact was enough to make him turn his head, cheek burning.

In his moment of peril he could only think of one thing to do. He would turn and spit at the rogues eyes, perhaps it would catch the rogue off guard considering so few would actually spit into the eyes of another opposed to claws. It was done so to obscure his opponents vision. A curse reaches his ears, and that's enough for him to latch his teeth into his opponents neck and kick his hindlegs wildly against the rogue's stomach and legs. The taste of blood, one of a cat mind you is one he wished never to experience. Even now, he wishes this had never happened. If some were expecting some grand awakening or moment of realization, all one would find was that he couldn't love fighting as much as his sister or others in camp. Sorry, I want to live.

A yowl reaches his ears and he is unsure if it is the rogue that had attacked him, but the moment the rogue falters he releases them and quickly escapes from beneath them. For good measure he kicks his back legs to hit the rogue in the face to escape. The air stings his cheek as he runs far from the rogue who attacked him, but green eyes land on Hazepaw whom he knows is his own apprentices friend. She is in trouble. Rage fills his veins, face scrunched into a snarl, and heavy breaths followed by thumping paws would barrel into the rogue who had their blasted jaws around Hazepaw's scruff. He wouldn't give room for the rogue to breathe, immediately swatting their face. Without breaking his glare at the rogue before him, he yells "Get out off here!" A hiss escapes him when he feels burning from his ear.

Get out of my home! Flailing limbs he is with this rogue, hoping that Hazepaw followed his heed and ran to safety. Perhaps Petalnose have rubbed off on him, considering he has the gall to yowl "You wanna swim? Let's go together!" Before he ultimately drags the rogue by the scruff into the River. A fool they would be if they had decided to challenge him within the depths. Pikesplash had known that and despite the fact that they would struggle, causing him to receive some nasty blows to (he still very much lacked strength). Nevertheless, he would continuously attempt to push down the rogue beneath the water and keep them there. Each failed attempt would result in him being clawed at or bitten. Honestly, there should be a moment where it was time to call it a quits, but he refused to let this rogue harm Hazepaw. It hurts... Are you safe now? Did you get Catfishpaw? Tell her I'm sorry I wasn't a good mentor.

// briefly speaking to @RAVENSONG, and currently helping @Hazepaw​

 

[robinheart]

Amid the chaos and flashes of fur, Robinpaw finds her exit from the apprentice den quickly - a feat that reminds her of her dash from the two leg home she had been held captive in only a couple moons prior. Multicolored paws should keep up with the others, should carry her to safety, but instead they lead her through the fray and to the nursery. “Are any kits injured or in need of being carried?” She asks Willowroot, citrine eyes wide with fear and words breathless in nature. There are too many kits for Smokethroat and Willowroot to carry at once - too many futures of RiverClan to protect. Robinpaw may only be able to manage one or at the very least help keep them herded together. But that would be enough, wouldn’t it?

While she keeps close to the kits, awaiting direct orders from the deputy as well as her mentor, she does spare a quick glance towards the elder’s den. StarClan, please help them get to safety too. Robinpaw doesn’t know if her heart could handle the hurt of losing the camp and her befriended elders all at the same time.

[mobile]
//currently helping @willowroot herd the kits to safety

 

[salmonshade]

It starts off as a normal morning, Salmon slowly waking up to collect Ratpaw from the apprentices den to bring her out. It happens so fast, too, because there are dripping wet rogues and all of the sudden their camp is thrown in to a fighting chaos. Salmon stands dumbfounded for just one minute before she moves, instinctively, to hunt down her apprentice and lead her to safety.

It’s too late to look because shes struggling against a rogue, the breath knocked out of her as shes slammed over backwards. Claws dig in to plush-furred sides and she resists a hiss of slight surprise, of pain-

Where is Ratpaw?

Guilt blossoms in her chest akin to a budding flower because she should have been there. She should have been there as a mentor to protect Ratpaw, not let her down when she needed help. And it's not Ratpaw she makes eye contact with, no, the little one is safe with Snakeblink, a once-over is enough to tell her that Ratpaw is at least alive. She finds Carppaw, draped in scarlet, a rogue with needle-sharp claws digging them into just beyond the mid of Carppaws back. She's vaguely aware of being shredded by the rogue keeping her down, but she doesn't care. Her mouth parts in an enraged yowl.

"Fox-heart! Get off of her!" Salmon struggles, she struggles (a slippery fish is a hard one to hold after all) until Carppaw just seems to submit to the beating; eyes flutter shut, her breath hammers against her side and Salmonshade finds anger building within her. She turns, quick as a darting minnow to lash out. Claws meet facial flesh and tear, fur bristles and the grip loosens around her flank. She takes it as an opportunity to rush forth, tearing her own sides in the process as she twists and turns to fully free herself. She can feel lines of blood beginning to bead down her sides, ruin her fur, but none of that matters to her now.

All she needs to do is get to Carppaw.

She springs, and with all the strength she could muster, she takes the rogue over backwards. Claws may rip or tear deeper in to Carppaws back with the force it takes to rip the rogue off but Salmonshade is determined not to let this rogue get their claws on her again. She leans down to grapple with the rogue beneath her and she sinks her teeth in to a leg, despite pinprick needles battering against the side of her face.

She just hopes she can beat the cat hard enough to at least grab Carppaw and flee. Panic courses through her at the thought of failing but she would not allow herself to. Failure is never an option to Salmonshade.

₊˚.༄ info

• // protecting @CARPPAW until she or another can get her out o7
• 
  -> salmon ,, salmonshade
  -> cis female ,, she/her ,, 31 months
  -> warrior of riverclan ,, former marsh grouper
  -> fluffy & dainty chocolate tortie smoke with white, blue eyes
  -> "speech, ff91a4" ,, thoughts
  -> lesbian ,, single
  -> smells like warm flowers & freshly cut grass
  -> chibi by pin
  

​

 

[BUMBLENOSE]

Bumblekit had unsurprisingly slept through the first portion of the madness, curled cozily next to her siblings and drifting through dreamland. Until her sister unceremoniously shoved into her side with a panicked voice. Winded and wide awake she gasped and lurched forward.

Her yellow eyes shot open in fright, heart already thundering with shock as the chaos around unfolded. Unlike the more brave set of the kits, she cowered, small and pathetic, her only instinct to flatten herself and shake. Gnarled rogues grinned and snarled but clanmates soon barreled in to their defense.

The small charcoal kitten didn't dare move until the yowl of her mom kicked everything into gear. Scrambling to all fours, she bunched in with the rounded-up kittens, hiding amongst their pelts as Willowroot viciously defended them.

In the brief moment she vanished from sight, her heart thrummed with terror, but it was quickly extinguished. Far too petrified to argue or run, she was scooted across the floor and pushed forward to follow after the deputy. Eyes flickering between her mom, the apprentice and deputy rapidly.

// currently being rounded up by @willowroot and @robinpaw. feel free to power play!​

 

[DAWNSTORM]

die with memories , not dreams .
︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

He blinked, watching the chaos unfold around him like a ticking time bomb combusting. Oh. Right. He shuffled, dual-toned optics latching onto pelts he still wasn’t familiar with, wondering where the other Ripple Colony members were. His heart clenched. Please be safe. He wouldn’t be able to get to them in time if they did. That didn’t mean he didn’t want to see anyone else hurt, but he still wasn’t sure if he—Kaede didn’t really have time to prepare himself as the bulkier build of his father sent him tumbling into outstretched claws carving into flesh drawing a startled gasp from the tom.

Kaede blinked, expression blown out of proportion to stare at his father who—He winced, remembering the rogue’s claws digging further into his skin until beads of ichor bubbled to the surface, staining his fawn-colored fur. His nose crinkled, but he offered no satisfaction of the pain he was feeling.

He kept his face neutral, staring blanking at the rogue. “I do feel pain.” He spoke, wanting to clarify because really his nerves weren’t all that damaged. He didn’t want to look crazy, but that seemed to scare the rogue even more, teeth aiming for his exposed neck. “Oh. Alright.” He muttered.

His muscles rippled, hunger gnawing at his insides, but certainly not as bad as the skeleton-like RiverClanners. He had told them they looked like his mother. Some weren’t so thrilled at the comment, but hadn’t he complimented them? His mother was beautiful.

He twisted, hind legs groaning in protest, teeth snapping forward to sink into the rogue’s shoulder, unsheathed claws jutting out to latch onto white fur with a rumbling snarl. His father didn’t train him tirelessly for moons to buckle. Kaede hadn’t noticed another until claws sunk into his shoulder blades, but he was stubborn, teeth clamping down even harder despite the blooming pain, ichor bubbling up to tangle his dual-colored fur.

/ feel free to save him ^^​

​

thought speech​

 

[CICADASTAR]

there is a darkness, suddenly. shadows cast at the mouth of his den and he emerges with slitted eyes and veins pulsing hard, fast with fear — anger. it’s chaos before his mind wakes enough to comprehend the madness that captures them in sharp, angry claws. the man bolts from his den on paws nearly sending him toppling forward, a clumsy stumble into the light that has his pupils flexing, pained against the sudden rush of sun, ” no — you will not take from me again! “ whether at the rogues, at the sky, at the very rivers that surround them. at the world, the stars that shine above and damn him to a world he cannot see through. fur is flying now, screaming, he hears his son shout for him and he watches his mate haul the apprentice upward. petalnose fights, his warriors fight, losing blood and more before his eyes.

kits and queens are evacuating, but his warriors — he throws his head back, feels his vocals strain, ” do not — let them win! do not let them drive us from our home! “ a scream, frantic, biting. there is commotion close, and he sees one of their newest members struggling beneath a dual attack : he aims towards the one attacking @KAEDE, aiming to bowl him over off of the tom from the side, putting claws to his chest if able to knock him down. if successful, he would aim a savage, tearing bite at the throat, blood welling beneath long teeth.

COLD & CRUEL LIKE WINDS ON THE SEA  ╱ INFORMATION ✟

• i. attacking one of the rogues fighting @KAEDE , please do not come to his rescue hehe
  
• ★ ⋆ CICADASTAR −−−− FOUNDING LEADER OF RIVERCLAN. HOMOSEXUAL, MATED TO SMOKETHROAT. FIFTY MOONS, FATHER TO STARLIGHTPAW, CICADAPAW && BEEPAW. PENNED BY ANTLERS −−−−− ⁺₊✧
  
  
  he / him. tall, elegantly curled smoke tortoiseshell chimera with intense salt blue eyes. his structure sings a feral sort of hymnal, presenting an almost dangerous sort of beauty veiling what monstrosities lie beneath the ivory of his skull. jutting jawline and a squared chin, sunken cheeks drawing a shadow beneath high, sharp cheekbones with tall, angular ears settling high atop the flatter slope of his cranium. he is beautiful ; lucifer in the eyes of an envious god. for all his looks, his expression is lax, void — corpse - eyed and hollow until spoken to, sparking the undead to life. he is tall, lean, cut - glass pretty ; he smiles with too - many teeth, blackened frostbite pulling back his maw to bear canines setn beneath curling whiskers, pantomime skeletal. a predatory gracefulness from the lines that press the image of exhaustion beneath ice water hues to the slow, sure gait in which he walks, nameless strength poorly concealed within the hard lines of his physique. descending from a heritage of overtyped oriental shorthairs, cicadastar stands unnaturally tall amongst his peers, always holding himself with a tragic sort of grace ; poised, prim, and uncannily aware of how he appears.
  
  ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── smells like wet moss and meadowland thunderstorms.
  ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── notoriously paranoid and closed off, cicadastar will tend to lie, assume, and jump to conclusions whenever it suits him. any 'suspicious' ic actions he witnesses or hears about will have a strong effect, and will have ic consequences! if you're unsure of an interactions outcome, please feel free to send a dm!
  
  no character opinions represent my own.​
  
  
• " speech "​
  
  
  

​

 

[ROGUES]

Writhing bodies, pelts smoking with the scents of the river, rise up to meet the crowfood-laced claws of the rogues. Blood is spilled, for though RiverClan is brave, they are few and weakened by their hunger and by yellowcough. Amusement begins to gleam in the invaders' eyes, their teeth silvered by the moon and bared. They do not lack ferocity—nor do they lack spite. A lumbering black and white shape collides into one of the reavers fighting a fawn tabby, and quickly, the RiverClan leader’s trembling rage earns the attention of the strongest rogues. He cuts one down, saving his young Clanmate, but to the water-dwelling cats' chagrin, many more take that one's place.

Thieves in the riverlands, Cicadastar’s corsair nightmare, they unsheathe their claws and scrape them against bone. A brawny tabby strikes the RiverClan leader in the face—another goes for his legs, nipping and swerving. Before he can blink those pale salt-blue eyes, he is pinned under merciless bodies, inhaling their rot-perfumed breath as they hiss in his face. “You were warned, you waterlogged fool,” a reddish she-cat rages, her tail whipping behind her. She finds a single burning eye in the crowd—she had watched him, they all had, he has power, like the one who squirms and bleeds under their claws does.

“Let this be a lesson, then,” she rasps, and one of the brutes’ claws slide forth to hack away at he tender flesh at Cicadastar’s throat. Gazes of green and gold glitter as he convulses, lost to the throes of death—but uneasiness begins to ripple through them with life springs unbidden back into his twitching body.

“Again,” another cat, dark of pelt, curses, and they fall upon Cicadastar again, this time their fangs searing at his tender belly flesh. Scarlet begins to seep into the sand, blood tainting the air. Frustration and awe replace victory. Each time he wakens, they fall upon him again, but confusion finally thickens the air and they leave his gasping body be. Alive, wounded, pinned. The red-colored rogue finds Smokethroat’s eye once more. “Enough! We gave you every chance to leave. We have won these lands—if you all go in peace now, you won’t have to watch the rest.” None of them, not even those soaked up to their chest in Cicadastar’s blood, have any desire to continue plucking life from his thinning body. “We only want what is ours.”

The rogues swarm over Cicadastar’s body, crouching over him as though they are protecting their kill. The others sweep forward in a threatening wave, snapping their jaws at cats who linger like hungry wolves.

permission given to powerplay!
​

 

[SMOKESTAR]

”Cicad-!”
They are joined by that pelt of storm colors and eyes like slivers of ice, he hears the demand to continue fighting and finds himself protesting despite himself - that fool! His hubris! A rogue’s life ends and he sees them begin to converge furiously upon the mottled tom. They couldn’t take these numbers. He moves as if to go and force sense into the long-limbed phantom, to help defend him but he stops.
There are kittens under his paws mewling distress, his single orange gaze darts back to Willowroot at his side and he knows..he knows he can do nothing without putting them at risk. If he moves the kits are open to attack, the smoke queen is open to attack, he could not abandon them even though his chest seizes with horror and his legs tense as though preparing to spring within the gathered attackers to fight for his leader, his mate…
The rogue she-cat catches his eye, he stares hard and motionless as obsidian carved from the earth itself; he can't tear his gaze away from the display.
They were killing him, they were tearing him apart and he could do nothing-nothing at all to stop it.

Every breath for RiverClan. Words bubbling to the surface of his thoughts, the day he proudly took his place at the foot of the river king's throne with his head high. It was an oath, it was a promise. His teeth flash in a snarl, defiant and enraged but he does not move forward as he desperately wants to. He does not rush to rescue though he wants to so much more than anything he's ever wanted in his life.

He realizes then he has to make a decision. Smokethroat feels his heart leap upward to suffocate him, his throat tightens and for once he is his namesake; choking and unable to breath, but after a moment he forces himself to snap out of it with a violent shake of his head and with a strained and booming tone calls out, “RiverClan! Retreat! To the SkyClan border! NOW!”
They were overwhelmed, he couldn’t risk it-he couldn't risk going back or allowing anyone else to go back or they would lose several more cats to the vicious swarm of rogues that had begun to descend upon their leader in droves. They circled like carrion birds over prey, menacing and reeking of blood and death. He could barely see Cicadastar now so tangled in the mass of different colored pelts and snarling voices, his mind reels as he tries to remember how many lives he has and he wants to scream but his teeth clench to smother it. How many times...had they cut him..it had been a blur of noise and panic. Three? Two? They'd let him go once they left, surely...surely.
Dipping his head he picks up a kitten at random to help in moving them, teeth on tiny black smoke scruff and he realizes it is Carawaykit as he raises his head back up to keep walking as briskly as he can without leaving Willowroot and the other kits behind.
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
[Ooc]
Grabbing @carawaykit and retreating!
SkyClan Thread: https://tabbytales.net/threads/a-tide-comes-rolling-in-✘-riverclanners.9481/
​

 

[CICADAFLIGHT]

✦ | chaos erupts around him. riverclan's warriors surge forth, but they're wracked with hunger and illness, the prey meant to be rightfully theirs devoured by the hungry mouths of rogues. his father lunges across camp, slamming into the rogue on top of cicadapaw, and the boy sits up gasping and whining, heterochromatic eyes blown wide and fearful. in an instant smokethroat seizes him roughly by the scruff and hauls him to his paws, snapping instructions into his ears. the bicolor nods frantically, pointed muzzle swinging to find the vanishing pelts of the two warriors. his father's shoved nose prompts him to stumble away, lost and numb with shock.

thank the uncaring stars above, his sister nearly crashes into him and he clings to her, feeling her stout muzzle so like their father's pressing steadily against him, grounding him. "they - they hit me, they hurt me—they hurt me." his voice is a hitching, unbecoming sob and he's helpless, lost in the crush of battling bodies and blood. they're stumbling along, beepaw leading him blindly, and starlightpaw's a welcome presence now. their powerless words are a stinging confirmation and he nods, fat tears rolling down his face.

father wouldn't want this—papa wouldn't want this—stop crying! he locks his teeth together, head pounding and thrumming against his temples, willing back the tears. starlightpaw's words are faded protests and they freee in place as the crash and hellish clang of claw and tooth continues. the rogues circle around his father like vultures, falling upon him over and over, blood spreading around his mottled form. cicadapaw feels powerless, helpless, bloody and unable to do anything. he hates it more than he's ever hated anything in his life, more than he hates loud camp and early mornings and headaches, a raw visceral sickness clogging his throat. hating the hiccups in his voice, the boy screams, "cicadastar! cicadastar! father!"

"help him, pa, help him—" he gasps, looking towards smokethroat where he stands by willowroot. but he doesn't, he doesn't, he won't— cicadapaw's thoughts are screaming as his father booms out a retreat call and he stares shocked until he's swept up by the tide of cats. looking to his siblings and he follows his father, stumbling, crying, helpless.

ooc ✦ 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕 ₊ ⊹

• ooc: retreating!
  

• 

• 

  ( CICADAPAW ) ✦ APPRENTICE OF RIVERCLAN.
  x he / him ; 3 moons.
  x son to cicadastar and smokethroat ; brother to beepaw & starlightpaw. under his father's instruction, pending iciclefang's return.
  x a skinny, unsightly black-and-white tom with curly fur and heterochromia ; can be described as difficult, at best.
  x currently in an era of internal conflict, rebellion, and rage spurred by the rogue invasion. unsure of who he is, cicadapaw is finding solace in anger.

• disclaimer: it's important to note that cicadapaw is not always in a stable state of mind. his view of the world may not always be accurate to objective reality, which may include seeing things that are not genuinely there, reading motivations or thoughts from actions that are not actually implied, and making assumptions or jumping to conclusions. this is not an attempt at metagaming, powerplaying, or mischaracterization, and is not legitimately true or correct to reality or what your characters actually think or believe.
  
  it will always be noted in the post if he is seeing something that isn't actually there. all opinions & thoughts are ic only and do not reflect my thoughts and opinions as a writer.

​

 

[Petalnose]

Sharp large ears sweep forward as they caught Aspenhaze's voice. It was a bit of a surprise, she suspected her mate would fight as hard as she would. In a way, they were close in characteristic. She lifted one eye, lashes heavy of blood flow to settle upon the blue tortiseshells face. The challenging grin upon her jaws faded, pulling into a frown. She heard Smokethroats call of retreat over screaming voices and paws skittering away. She would have refused her mate's call, pushed past them to continue her defense for her clan. She wouldn't be fighting for them if they were all retreating. No, she'd be fighting them for sport. She'd leave Aspenhaze alone in this world, Pikesplash.. Starlightpaw. Riverclan. All for selfish stubbornness.

"I -.. okay." She dismissed her argument, gently pressing her body against theirs as to motion to guide her. The world around her was distorted and red, a terrifying mix amongst screeches of fear and war.

A call to war from their leader interupted her moment of acceptance, fur raising once again against Aspenhaze's pelt. Her ears twitched, searching for her next victim... Searching to defend blindly. "We've got to..!-" she announced to her mate sharply, although she was cut off by the familiar scent of blood spill and the yell from Smokethroat. "Aspenhaze..." Petalnose froze, wiping away the blood from her eyes to settle upon the scene. Rouges surrounded their leader, took each life from him with ease.. with no guilt behind their eyes.. no remorse. For the first time in awhile terror filled her gaze until she was blinded again, closing her eyes once more. Her limbs shook but she was unable to step forward. She was unable to turn her head as if she was still witnessing the nightmare.

Smokethroat called again, snapping out of it. She spun her head in Aspenhaze's direction, "We're leaving him!?" She knew the answer but her voice nearly cracked under the weight of emotion. "I'm so sorry.." she muttered shakily as if she were speaking to her leader face to face. Riverclan needed her, it needed it's strong voices.. it's commanders. She served Riverclan.. not her leader. As much as it tore her she let would Aspenhaze help her retreat. Tears started to well up but she pushed them back away, a determined expression settling upon her face. She needed to be the strength and courage she was called for. She needed to be strong for her clan, "Lets go then." Her voice was firm this time but a shaky breath left her lungs from rage and grief she didn't have time to express.

Tags​

 

[BRISTLEPAW]

The shape of help came like a lightning bolt in the shape of Willowroot who charged the rogue and sent them away. His shock is at a high but he manages to make his way back into the nursery and back to his brother. He says nothing. Only follows orders and keeps himself close to Willowroot. They are moving away and away. But this is home. They are leaving now? His eyes are held down low but the screaming, the sudden words make him look up. He sees something. Painful. Cicadastar pinned and they are killing him. His own mouth goes dry as he watches claws meet neck, teeth meet belly. They were killing him more. Bile rising into the back of his throat and yet he keeps moving. Smokethroat yells to leave and he can not even think not to. This is no longer home and he doesn't want to stay. Instead he leaves with Willowroot and the other kits. Numb. He finds his place and he doesn't look back at all.

Can not. It hurts too much. And so he becomes blank to the world all save for his small paws making their way after everyone else. What a terrible day for a curse.
​

OOC NOTES . ◭ . CHARACTER INFO

• ooc : — retreating​
• 
  

  bristlekit - tom / 2 moons old / riverclan kit / aspiring warrior

 

[willowroot]

( ☾ ) a horrible choking noise draws the crowd's attention and willowroot feels horror swimming through her veins as she exits the nursery. though her jaws are clamped around nettlekit's scruff, a wail sings low in her throat, eyes prickling as the scene unfolds. crimson, coating snow white and slate gray, splashing across the pebbly earth. the rogues descend upon the river king like rats, swarming, biting, ripping life after life from the once majestic god. smokethroat goes still, terror in his eyes, and willowroot wants to push him towards them, force him to go to his mate. she wants to drop the kit and charge into the fray, rip every offender off of cicadastar and drag him to safety. instead she can only mumble through the fur blocking her mouth. "ee hafe to go, e hafe to go, oh tharcan."

her own children have never seen her this terrified. she pulls them close, pulls any kit she can close to her, and sweeps them towards the exit. her skin is hot, her chest heaving with unshed emotion and exhaustion, but fight or flight has kicked in. she will follow smokethroat to the ends of the earth. the tomcat scoops up carawaykit, marches off, face stone, eye burning. the tomcat's children dash to his side and willowroot beckons them into her crowd of safety, sweeping her tail to fold cicadapaw, starlightpaw and beepaw into her brood of young cats. robinpaw trembles next to her and there is so much fear and gratitude in the queen's heart that it hurts. "et oeer you can!" she tells the young apprentice. "keep clothe. thtay thafe."

with this, she hustles her charges towards the exit, refusing to look back, eyes forever forward, counting each body as they slip out of camp. each kitten is accounted for as they move quickly into the territory. the queen has to trust that poppysplash is safe. has to rely on the intelligence of hazepaw, of antlerpaw and buckpaw to follow their deputy's orders. willowroot feels a sob choking her throat but she swallows it down. she cannot- will not - break.


// interacting with @Smokethroat @robinpaw. @ all kits, @STARLIGHTPAW @BEEPAW. @CICADAPAW ​

 

[carawaysong]

in the time it took her to rouse anyone left sleeping, camp had only grown louder, more hectic. black ears pinned firmly to her skull in a feeble attempt to drown out all the noise. her whole body seemed alive, carawaykit could feel every prickling hair that ran down her spine.

in moments, she was free from the wobbly legs she stood on. a scared yelp passed her jaws as she was lifted by her scruff, but she was calmed by a familiar riverclan scent. much to her luck, she had not been scooped up by an intruder but rather smokethroat.

the tabby could see everything much more clearly from her airborne position, could see the blood she had smelt from the den. it was real blood, not like when someone slipped and got a scratch but rather the result of a fight for life. green gaze wide, she peered around to where a good chunk of the rogues had concentrated, they surrounded black and white fur, blood flowing freely from her leader's body. a quiet gasp of shock, and carawaykit closed her eyes tight. as much as she didn't want to leave her home, she didn't want to know how much of it would be left if they stayed and fought either. carawaykit gave no fight to her departure, eyes shut so tightly she saw stars under her eyelids.

---

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎┌── ooc 《✧》 info ──┐‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

• out!
  
  
  

• 

• CARAWAYKIT ✧ she/her, kit of riverclan, three moons
  ➺ carawaykit is a pretty longhaired silver tabby kitten with green eyes and a lithe frame. born into riverclan, she loves her home and has a deep fascination with becoming a warrior to provide for it. a highly spirited and adventurous kitten, she enjoys playing games and pushing boundaries.
  ➺ willowroot x poppysplash ↛ sister to bumblekit, tidekit, mosspaw, hazepaw, antlerpaw, and buckpaw
  ➺ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking ↛ see battle info here
  ➺ penned by vayle ↛ @vayl3 on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
  

​

 

[lichenstar]

⋆ ✧　 　 · 　 ✧ ⋆ ✧　 　 · 　 ✧ ⋆ ✧　 　 · 　 ✧ ⋆

---

A scrunched nose details the frustration with the audacious question. Giving up? Is that what he thought this was? A snarl sits comfortably at the back of her throat, an unfamiliar growl unbecoming of the lady she wanted to be. To be so delirious and fever-blind and to still question her... in an event where wasted seconds meant more blood-soaked floors. Barely able to restrain the way her voice grates with indignation to even be answering such a thoughtless question, the pointed molly seethes, "I'm no hare-brain and you'd do well to remember that." Harsh and lacking the patience or empathy to hold his paw through his delusions, they turn with a sharp gaze to look at Coyotecreek as he enters the den.

Outside, Cicadastar's voice rings like a war drum, summoning his warriors to fight- to defend (how?). The dark curled king had tipped the fishbone crown across his eyes, blinded to a fury that could reach even the stars-- they had slighted their star-blessed crane for the last time.

"Thank you," released on a breath as the tension rose with each distant caterwaul. "Ravensong-" They round on the sickly medicine cat, prepared to drag him out of that den by force if they had to but the argument inside shelters them from witnessing the mountain of rogues descend upon their leader like hungry dogs....

In the ravenous silence as others stood still in petrified fear, the cracking voice of their deputy rang a solemn tune; ​

"RiverClan!"​

"Retreat!"​

How many losses would they take?

She hadn't even realized the way her legs were shaking, the unconscious realization long since reaching her-- "Q-quickly..." Flicking their tail at Coyotecreek (he's dying) to gesture towards one of the more haggard ill, (they're dying) they would need to support them in order to (we're dying) make a hasty escape.

(are we already dead?)



--- interacting with @coyotecreek and @RAVENSONG to help leave with the sick, kind of herding them​

 

[Moonbeam]

There was too much happening all at once. Wriggling and trying to get free, Ratpaw felt the frustrated tears that welled in her eyes threatening to fall until suddenly she was free. Snakeblink had come over to rescue her, and at first she turned ready to try and help him with the rogues that were swarming him now. Ratpaw, run! Follow the others! Head nod and she quickly turn on her heels and ran, fast as she could, trying her best to ignore the pain that shot through her leg.

It didn't take long before she stopped to rest for just a second, the discomfort of a now messed up leg unusual to her. It was then she saw the rogues swarm upon Cicadastar, eyes widening as he died over and over again, ears pinning back as she backed up slightly, unsure of what to do. It was then that Smokethroat spoke the words that no one wanted to hear, that no warrior of RiverClan ever thought they would have to hear.

Retreat.

The word hung heavily in the air as confused looks were exchanged and Cicadapaw begged for Smokethroat to help Cicadastar.

To the SkyClan border! NOW!

Ratpaw felt her paws move once more as she surged forward and out of camp, running to her friends as she tried to keep in line with them. Who was she to disobey an order?

ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ I thought that love would stay a mystery

• 
  ⋆ ratkit - ratpaw - rat???
  ⋆ female - she/her - 5 moons
  ⋆ homosexual - too young for relationship
  ⋆ apprentice of riverclan
  ⋆ attack - speech - thought
  ⋆ penned by tikki

​

​

 

[BEEFANG]

₊· ͟͟͞͞➳˚❥ She keeps close to Cicadapaw and only feels relief when the youngest of their litter joins them, Beepaw pressing her side against Starlightpaw as she speaks with a shaky voice "They won't hurt you again... I'll make sure of it," She says under her breath closing her eyes, she would fight tooth and claw before she let anyone touch her family once more and her head lifts up at the sight of her father. Everything would be okay now! Cicadastar is star blessed and would save them all from the rogues, she's hopeful... Maybe too hopeful even as she watches her father bring down a rouge from another cat. She's about to turn to her siblings convinced that everything would be fine.

Until the rouges rushed to attack the king of the river, surrounding him, and striking with sharp jaws as if they were all wolves. Hungry, merciless wolves. Her eyes sting and they well up with tears "No! No! Father-" Both of her ears laying flat against her skull watching as they torn into him and her own insides began to twist, her throat tightening silencing the shriek she wanted to release. They were tearing him apart! The wolves were killing him. "Dad! Dad please! D-dad!" She begins to hiccup from her sobs and her blurred vision turns to Smokethroat who orders them all to retreat to the Skyclan border. The smoke molly blinking fat tears from her eyes and shaking her head "N-no! We can save him! We c-can save him..." Her voice grows quiet and defeated.

The sweep of Willowroot's tail makes her flinch and she shakes her head wanting to save her father, she didn't care if she died trying. It wasn't fair. "P-please... Please... My da..." She chokes out in a whisper and feels her blood boiling once more, the anger shoving away the grief and distraught she felt until she erupted with unbridled rage "YOU F-FOXHEARTS! C-COWARDS!" Beepaw shrieks at last feeling her vision blurred with tears and red, the seething rage making her wish that she knew how to fight so that she could strike them down and... K... Kill... The thought itself startles the molly and she falls silent once more as she follows the rest of her clanmates keeping close to her littermates and casting one last glance to the rogues that had stolen her home from her and Riverclan.

𓆟. ° .• . WHEN DOES A RIPPLE BECOME A TIDAL WAVE?

• 
  ❥ 4 moons old
  ❥ riverclan apprentice
  ❥ sexuality unknown; single
  ❥ daughter of cicadastar and smokethroat
  ❥ sister of cicadapaw & starlightpaw
  ❥ "speech", thoughts, attacking
  ❥ easy; still learning how to fight
  ❥ peaceful powerplay allowed
  ❥ penned by bosstaurus

​

 

[BUMBLENOSE]

CW: Graphic descriptions of blood

Iron heavy and abrasive invaded the small kit's senses. Her thin face whipped to the gurgling noises as she cowered in front of Willowroot's paws. Rogues in droves gnashed, pulled, and tore at the leader. Red sticky liquid boiled and ruptured everywhere. Something she had never seen so much of before and Bumblekit could not get the sounds out of her head.

The she-kit's yellow eyes shook as the lead rogue made their demands and Smokethroat hollered a retreat. Realization was beyond the child but she had a general idea - Riverclan was no longer home.

A broken cry ripped from the charcoal youth's chest at the site of it all but she was swiftly pushed by the rump and on to all four paws. She witnessed her sister get scooped up and barely made sense out of the blur that was Beepaw and Cicadapaw. Abruptly, cutting off her squeals of fright as instinct kicked in.

She ran forward at the command of her mother. Small legs burning with effort as her heart thrummed violently. Bumblekit wobbled and fell several times but managed to keep in pace with the other scrambling kits.

// out!​

 

[otterbite]

With enough spitting and reckless thrashing Otterpaw is sure it would be enough to scare off the bigger cat, he tried to convince himself at least. As claws dug deeper against his skin he could feel warmth pool against his chest- the scent of his own blood alerts his senses. There isn't a hint of fear at the pain, though, Otterpaw's mind is elsewhere, sinking deeper into a frenzy...

Coyotecreek tore the beast off of him and helped him rise back to his paws. The chimera would be resistant to the help, stubborn to say he could get up himself, but his words are lost to the chaos of fighting surrounding them. His mentor speaks and its nearly deafened by the yowling and shrieks. My friends? That's right, as much as he hated it Coyotecreek was right. His friends couldn't possibly survive facing off these rogues without him! He gave a firm not to the older toms words and turned to scout and herd the other apprentices out. He couldn't let Chicorypaw get hurt, not when they still had so many spars left in their training. Brookpaw, Dipperpaw, if he let them succumb to the wrath of these fiends he would be endlessly bored on patrols- more than he already was!

"CHIC-" He swallowed the rest of his shout as he saw Pikesplash drag a flea-ridden form toward the river. He noticed patches of fur darkened by evidence of scratches and bites, and in a viscious display he held down the rogue as best he could under the water. He looked to Coyotecreek, distracted with Lichentail in the medicine den, weighing the consequences of turning his back on an order.

The mottled King stumbled forward and demanded they defend their land, to chase them out. Would it really count as breaking an order if he was abiding by his leaders word, then?

A smirk returned to his maw as he leaped for Pikesplash's side to help him hold down the rogue. "Hold his head down! I'll keep'em in place." Otterpaw growled as slammed his paws down on the cats shoulders, the pain in his chest not even a second or third thought to him now. Though he noticed how his chest heaved for every breath now that he had to focus on his strength. The adrenaline burned hot in his veins and made his ears ring. Was this what battle felt like every time? It felt like power. It felt like Victory.

A symphony of painful shrieking pulled his attention away to the scene of rogues descending onto the River King's skeletal frame. A river of his own flooded from his body, flesh tearing while they circled like vultures. Otterpaw clenched his teeth together while Smokethroat demanded for a retreat and turned to meet his fathers gaze. Fine, they could continue this bonding moment later then.

"C'mon then, I'll help you." With the stars blessing he showed mercy in releasing the rogues body, ready to support Pikesplash to the SkyClan border.

-- originally looking for chicorypaw, dipperpaw and brookpaw
-- got distracted and is now helping @PIKESPLASH with his rogue/offering to help him to the skyclan border ​

RIVERCLAN APPRENTICE ✦ BLUE-BLACK CHIMERA ✦ 6 MOONS ✦ TAGS​

 

[DAWNSTORM]

die with memories , not dreams .
︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

Kaede blinked, startled at the sudden lack of weight on his shoulders, tearing into marked skin as they ripped the other off of him with a grunt. He shifted his hold, tasting bitter copper on his tongue, dual-toned optics flickering sideways to see their leader (or was it his leader, too?) land a devastating bite to the rogue’s neck. Oh. He blinked. He hadn’t expected that.

He shifted, feeling the steady stream of ichor trickle down his shoulders to pool on the ground. The sturdy feline dug his claws into the ground, pulling back, teeth shredding skin like paper, pulling clumps of white fur with him. He nearly gagged at the foul taste, expression twisting into that of queasy bitterness, falling lax at the sight of their leader’s crumpled body.

He breathed heavily through his nose, smelling the familiar tinge of blood that made his hackle rise. What? Kaede nearly lept forward despite being off-balanced, feeling woozy. He didn’t understand. He wondered if his stupidity was finally catching up to him. His father had been adamant that Kaede wasn’t normal. He didn’t get most things, but that didn’t mean he was clueless. The dual-furred tom whipped around, hearing the calls for retreat after the rogue made its demands like rabid beasts. His lips curled in a low, hanging growl at the nearest rogue threatening to tear into his hide if it wasn’t for his fast thinking, tumbling out of the way with a strained grunt, teeth sinking into his tongue on accident.

His breath caught in his throat, catching the swirl of angry pelts. They couldn’t leave him. Why are they leaving him? Don’t they—Kaede stumbled. How could someone come back from the dead? His heart hurt. His body hurt. His mind was clouded. He wasn’t sure what wasn’t hurting, but he followed the flow of escaping cats, keeping his sights on his family, wishing they came out of his unharmed. ​

​

thought speech​

 

[PIKESPLASH]

Forgive him for mistaking Otterpaw for an enemy, he couldn't help but bare his fangs at his own son. Realization flashes in his eyes, he nods and follows Otterpaw's lead. It helps tremendously to keep the rogue's head down with his son at his side. The wounds he endured didn't matter to him anymore. If Otterpaw was by his side then they would be unstoppable. I'm proud of you. Sweet moments (if you call attempting to drown a rogue to death with your son) are cut short when a horrid shrieking sound reaches his ears. Instinctively he focuses on the source and despite the struggling body beneath his paws, he can only stare aghast. No... No way. Cicadastar? Despite his feelings towards the leader, no cat should suffer such a fate. He would stand no chance nor would his fellow warriors in trying to pry each and every rogue off their leader's body. Such a rash decision would lead to their remaining friends to see them being torn to shreds like their leader. Unlike Cicadastar, they wouldn't be able to come back. Or maybe... In this case only was a single life merciful. He wouldn't be able to experience being ripped to shreds to death numerous times.

His eyes begin to water at the call of retreat. We lost. A gaze he feels and he turns to look into Otterpaw's eyes. Sadness is what his son would see instead of fury towards the result of this battle. Otterpaw's maw moves yet for some reason it's difficult to comprehend what his son is saying to him. All he can do is respond with a simple "Y-yeah." The rogue beneath his paws is given mercy and he leans against his son for support as they make their escape. Everything aches, especially the claw mark to his face and the injury to his ear. Breathe Pike. We can't die here. Not in front of Otter. We are going to make it through this.

With a small smile he glances at Otterpaw. "O...O-tter you. You're going to be... A wonderful warrior." You'll be better than me. I'm glad. He had always worried about Otterpaw. Even if Otterpaw was more vocal and frankly his opposite in every way, it didn't mean Otterpaw was fine all by himself. Everyone needed someone. He can't help but wonder if Gwen and Onyx could see him now, would they be happy? Did Riverclan at the very least make sure he was well? I shouldn't. Be thinking of them at a time like this. "Sorry for this." What is he apologizing for? Something stupid Otterpaw might say. After all, it wasn't like his father wanted to get badly hurt and needed help from him.