pafp you're in the right place || first catch

[SUNFLOWERMASK]

.°☀ AND IF IT EVER STARTS TO FEEL BAD, LITTLE FANG

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Sunflowerpaw returns from their hunting patrol with their head held high -- and not merely to keep the freshkill in their mouth from dragging across the ground. Their sunshine eyes are bright with pride as they bring not one, but two catches back to camp: a pair of weasel kits, fished out from an empty nest. Not the racing rabbit-hunt that apprentices look forward to with stars in their eyes, but no scrawny mouse or lizard either. It's their first proper catch, their first kill, and the confidence of their stride says that they want everyone to know, as they strut through the camp like a cat on a mission

Pride swells in their chest, the uncertainties they've been feeling dulled, even if only for a short time. They stick by @WOLFSONG's side as they make their way back into camp; he'd been the first they'd shown, of course. Their path towards the freshkill pile is unhurried; there's no shortage of food, and their mentor is not the only cat they feel the need to show off to. It's born of no self-centeredness, but rather the same excitement that colors their steps, wanting to share it with anyone they can.

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IT'S EASY TO EXPLAIN 'CAUSE THIS WORLD'S NOT TAME .°☀

⟪ OOC ⟫ ⟪ INFO ⟫ ⟪ REF ⟫

• //please wait for @Periwinklebreeze. !
  
  follows from here. feel free to have your character be on the returning patrol :]
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• SUNFLOWERPAW named by their half-brother vulturemask after his friend and mentor.
  — they/them, 5 moons.
  — windclan apprentice, mentored by wolfsong.
  — reserved yet loyal, distrusts most.
  — mild limp.
  
  primary character, high activity. penned by saturnid.​
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[Periwinklebreeze.]

STEADY THE RIGHTS AND THE WRONGS
periwinklepaw | 09 months | demi-boy | he/they | physically easy (pacifist) | mentally easy | attack in bold #ccccff

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An apprentices first catch is always a momentous occasion. Peri still remembers his like it was just yesterday - the feeling of elation and pride despite the mud slicked across his pelt. He'd looked to vulturemask for approval back then - the one closest to him. Things have certainly changed since then - though they remain close, it seems they both have secrets they're unwilling to share, and he can't help but feel like there's a growing distance.

Idle musing fueled by sunshine and hazy humidity from all the recent rain are quickly interrupted by a familiar frame - sunflowerpaw, prey clutched tight in their jaws. The boy does a double take in the form of a slow blink, before a wide smile lights up his dark face as a realization hits them- they've had a successful hunt. Tired eyes glitter with pride as he pads over on feather-light paws, though there's still a certain sense of dread and unease that follows him like a hawk. "D-d-did you cat-ch that yourself! Th-that's amazing-g!" He says eagerly, his bumbling and enthusiastic words simply spilling out without his control.

He's tired - sleep deprived, and he hasn't touched prey in days, and so his mind is to lethargic to prevent his next move - ink-dipped tail twists around to boop the younger apprentice on the nose rather affectionately and thoughtlessly, a dumb little smile on his face - "G-g-g-good j-job!" They blink - a wave of worry crashing down when they realize what they've just done. They're usually more observant - they know that sunflowerpaw, not unlike gravelsnap, doesn't seem to appreciate touch the same way he does. What if they've made them mad? Or worse, uncomfortable? "...er"
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[WOLFSONG]

──⇌•〘 INFO 〙 Wolfsong is thrilled to say the least. Proud, pleased, and perhaps most deeply, relieved. Their injury by the ground-jaws has led to a few setbacks in their training, and while there is still some time before they can sprint after a rabbit, there is other prey accessible to them. Their catch has proven he need not worry so much about skill as full rehabilitation, and it is a stone off his chest. He smiles at his apprentice, and in truth has not stopped since he first learned of their success.

He sticks close, and inclines his head to Periwinklepaw and his sleepy face. "Sunflowerpaw's keen eyes and a clever claw will feed the clan today," he says, rasping voice warm. "Soon, you will be putting Weaselclaw in the freshkill pile." A joke, of course, given the weasel kits. He blinks slowly as Periwinklepaw touches them. Clearly an affectionate gesture, but it's his awkward reaction that is strange. He'd hardly expect Sunflowerpaw to be angry with him, but with the surly apprentices out and about, perhaps the caution is warranted. Even if Sunflowerpaw did not appreciate the touch, he does not think a response would be cruel.
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[Badgermoon]

Sunflowerpaw's first catch! Badgermoon was delighted to be around to see the child's success, truth be told - happy enough to not mind that he himself had only managed to catch a skinny ouzel. Birds weren't his favorite prey to hunt nor to eat, but prey was prey. Besides, prey was abundant enough that he wasn't worried about catching something furrier and tastier later on. The black-and-white tom beamed around his mouthful of feathers as the young cat strutted into camp: clearly, their injury hadn't held them back too terribly. He dropped his bird on the pile and then took a few steps back, offering a low purr as the mentor-and-apprentice duo proceeded gradually forward. Two weasel kits would perhaps fill only a single belly, but it was more about the principle of the thing: they'd made their first catch. Their apprenticeship was proceeding successfully. Thank StarClan.​

 

[SOOTSTAR]

SOOTSTAR ♀​

Nothing pleased her more than seeing the apprentices of the clan progress in their training. First catches sometimes came on the first outing, other times it took a little longer, like in Sunflowerpaw’s sake. They should feel immense pride in this moment, for they’ve overcome their wounds and are proving to be turning into a strong cat of WindClan regardless. ”Congratulations.” The blue she-cat praises, halting at the sides of the larger moor runners. ”Why don’t you go ahead and eat one?”

 

[SEDGEPOUNCE]

The hubbub around the freshkill pile draws Sedgepaw close, naturally curious. He was not on the patrol that proved so fruitful; instead, he wanders in from the Gorge and a short period of lounging thereafter. Chocolate eyes flicker between Wolfsong, Badgermoon, and Sootstar, paying less attention to his fellow apprentices as he leans forward to see what all the fuss about. He's met with Sunflowerpaw—but Periwinklepaw is perhaps more striking, all locked up like a statue and pale with panic. Sedgepaw takes pity on the poor sap. Tries to provide a bit of distraction.

Abruptly, he barks out a fit of laughter.

"Ooooh. Every the over-achiever, huh, Sunflowerpaw?" he ribs brightly, brows waggling. "Decided to let the poor bastard live without her kits, hm? Good idea. Three weasels would just be showing off." He's not trying to be mean. Two good sized meals for the Clan is an accomplishment. But that all depends on Sunflowerpaw's ability to take some lighthearted joking, he guesses.​

 

[SUNFLOWERMASK]

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AND IF IT EVER STARTS TO FEEL BAD, LITTLE FANG

Periwinklepaw is the first to come congratulate them, eyes sparkling and stumbling words coming in an excited rush. They preen at the attention, at Wolfsong's warm words. His pride in them has only fueled their own, smile infectious. What they're not expecting, though, is the gentle boop of Periwinklepaw's tail against their nose. They blink for a moment in surprise.

But it's not — it's not bad. Usually they don't like it when another cat touches them without warning, firmly content in keeping their personal space. But they know it's not like that for other cats; Sunflowerpaw is an observant creature, after all. They've noticed how touchy Periwinklepaw can be with other cats, and even if they don't see the appeal, they know enough to tell that this action is one born of affection, excitement. Know enough to retroactively realize that he's never done something like that before, to register the hesitance for what it is. He noticed, then, their own dislike of touch, and they feel a soft spark of gratitude in their chest for it.

But before they can respond, can reassure, there's more cats gathering. Ah, maybe they should've known this was coming. Too many cats, now. It's a bit much to deal with. But still, they give a small purr of greeting to Badgermoon, a respectful nod to Sootstar — quickly turning into a shake of their head when she suggests eating it. "Not hungry," they murmur as they place the weasel kits on the pile.

And then comes Sedgepaw — his teasing is lighthearted, but it rubs at Sunflowerpaw the wrong way. Decided to let the poor bastard live without her kits. That's not — that's not what they're doing, they're helping WindClan, it's — it's different, right? It's different. They shoot him a furrowed-brow glance as the turn from the freshkill pile, before resorting to their specialty: the cold shoulder treatment. They turn from him as though completely ignoring his words —

And come back to face Periwinklepaw. he's still got that nervous look on his face, and they feel a little bad. It's okay, they want to let him know, but they're always more one for actions then words. So, Sunflowerpaw reaches their paw up to gently tap Peri's own nose, smile returning as they do so.

IT'S EASY TO EXPLAIN 'CAUSE THIS WORLD'S NOT TAME
————— ☀ —————

.°☀ info ; visual

• //
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• SUNFLOWERPAW named by their half-brother vulturemask after his friend and mentor.
  — they/them, 6 moons.
  — windclan apprentice, mentored by wolfsong.
  — reserved yet loyal, distrusts most. rarely speaks.
  
  primary character, high activity. penned by saturnid.​
• "SPEECH"
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• 

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[VULTUREMASK]

Vulturemask could not have felt anymore pride in that moment over their siblings achivement today. Sunflowerpaw had really done it by bringing them more then one piece of food back to camp. Weasels none the less. The irony in that was amusing to think about. Sunflowerpaw killing the prey of the tom who he despised and was named after. The medicine cat would smirk smugly to himself as he approached overhearing Wolfsong joke which was hilarious funny. They would stop beside Wolfsong and he would stare down at their sibling. In a moment like this they wished Snowfeather still could be here. She would have known how to praise them properly. Vulturemask was not good in that field. But they wanted to be feeling even more they needed to replace that empty spot Snowfeather had left behind in her passing. Their siblings deserved the world and they wanted them to keep on experiencing good things in life.

After one hesitant moment the medicine cat raised up their paw and attempted to place it on top of Sunflowerpaws head. " Good job." [he praised them with an approving nod of his head. With Wolfsong as their mentor he had no doubt that Sunflowerpaw would thrive and become an excellent warrior in this clan one day.Vulturemask wouldn't let their paw last long up there as they retreated it back, and secretly they wonderd if this had been enough. Had they been able to reach them?.

" These cubs mother wouldn't have hesitant to kill one of our own kits if they had got a chance so why should it bother us for?. Food is food. We all hunt to survive." Vulturemask said this word to Sedgepaw, their attention now directed at them. This was Sunflowerpaws moment and they wouldn't let Sedgepaw or anyone take that away from them. Joke or not.



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[Periwinklebreeze.]

❀​❀ I NEED YOU HERE 'CAUSE I'M A MESS ❀❀​
periwinklepaw | 10 months | demi-boy | he/they | physically easy (pacifist) | mentally easy | attack in bold #ccccff

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Though he gets some strange looks from the others, sunflowerpaw doesn't seem upset - instead they seem equally shocked, but not put off. The touch of a paw to their own muzzle in a return of his gesture has the boys eyes practically sparkling, a bright sunshine smile spreading slowly across his face as he beams. It feels like he's gotten close to them today - that he's made progress in getting to know sunflowerpaw, in earning their trust. It makes him happy. When vulturemask finally arrives, he sees his own hesitance to touch them echoed back, leaving him feeling warm inside - like he'd made the right choice, even it had seemed strange to everyone else. There isn't much left to say though, so he's quick to wander off as soon as his friend has congratulated his sibling - though his smile never falters. This will certainly be a memory he cherishes for the rest of his days.

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