pafp you're so goddamn frail — argument

[FOXTAIL]

When Lichenstar asked him to continue Sunpaw's training, he knew it was going to be a challenge. He's tried working with her stubborn attitude, he's been patient with her—but his efforts almost feel futile. For the past moon, the lead warrior has been telling himself to be patient with her.... She must still be upset that Brookpelt retired to the elder's den. He hoped that she would come to understand by now, Brookepelt wasn't getting rid of her, and it stings! And it stung the most when she wouldn't dare to acknowledge him mere hours ago, it was like she doesn't even need him!

She's wrong, though, Foxtail thinks as camp begins to wind down; the clan spent a good amount of time repairing dens, nests, and assisting each other. His eyes long for a good piece of fish from the pile that was carried back, but his stomach twists and turns. He sits outside the warrior's den, and his ears twitch at clanmates murmuring in quiet conversation... either by sharing tongues or sharing a meal together. But he can't focus on either— and his gaze makes it's way to the apprentice's den. Sunpaw sits outside of the den, seemingly in conversation with Owlpaw... and the lead warrior rises to his paws.

He can feel his heart racing in his chest as he pads over to the den, and he can only hope his paws aren't shaking as he speaks over their conversation. "S-Sunpaw," The tom mews with a low swish of his bushy tail, "...We n-need to t-talk..."

She seems to give him her attention, probably begrudgingly, and his ears pin back to his skull as he opens his maw one more time. "...I've n-noticed how you seem to avoid m-me whenever you can," Foxtail mews, and frustratingly to him, his paws tremble. "And I-I don't like t-that." She shouldn't be avoiding him, nor should she be making decisions like she's a warrior. "I-I want y-you to give me more respect as your m-mentor."​

𝐨𝐨𝐜 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭

• please wait for @SUNPAW. to post!
  
  Set after this thread! The argument takes place in camp, not the beech copse!
• 
  
  

  ---

  credit to raphaelion (via da) for the artwork <3
• Foxtail

  ​
  

  lead warrior
  23 moons
  warmhearted
  timid
  experience: trained
  backstory: [HYPERLINK]
  biography: [HYPERLINK]
  credit to trops for the chibi <3
  

  cisgender male [he / him]
  eyes: green
  pelt: cinnamon/chocolate
  fur length: long
  parents: dawnflower and redfur (riverclan npcs)
  

  ---

  ​

​

 

[SUNSPARK]

When Sunpaw had been given Foxtail as a new mentor, she had, obviously, not been happy about the whole ordeal. And truly, even after that point, she still can't say that she has any outstanding review about the guy. He's... nice. That's about it. He's a decent mentor, his stuttering annoys her, and he's just... an all around okay cat. That's it.

There's nothing about him that's made her any more interested in their relationship as mentor and mentee than that.

So choosing Owlpaw, her friend, over her mentor when it came to small things is really no water off her back. And so she sits now with said friend, chatting casually about the day and well, recovering. Maybe that's the best way to put it. A lot's happened in the last little while in RiverClan, and it's only fair that they're taking time to decompress where they can.

So was the hope, until a familiar face interrupts. Mid-sentence, at that, and she shuts her maw as she shifts her gaze from Owlpaw to Foxtail.

Oh great. What did she do now?

Her ears flick seeing the way Foxtail's ears already pin back to his skull. And then he's speaking, and she fights back the urge to laugh. "Avoid you?" Her tone raises in pitch in disbelief, a scoff falling out of her lips as she takes that word and molds it around her tongue. What's he talking about? Isn't he supposed to be an adult? That's a sentence that belongs to some insecure 'paw, maybe even a 'kit, right? She sits up straighter, opposing the trembling paws that her mentor now takes. She only stands firmly.

Oh, he doesn't like that, huh?

It's an instant prickle of anger in her chest. What's it to him what she does if she's doing her duties and attending her trainings on time? She's only been a Clan cat for a couple of moons, and this is her second mentor at best, does he just magically think she's going to fall down at his paws just because he's her mentor now? No way.

Her lip curls up into a snarl before she can help it the moment respect falls out of his mouth. It kindles the little sparks into her chest into a small flame. "More respect?" she echoes. She exhales, sharply, and it's that little shift alone that has her straightening out her face again - if only to literally save face- but her paws dig deeper into the ground. "Like what, Foxtail? What have you possibly done for me to give you more respect? I already do everything you tell me to do! Why am I in trouble here?"
​

 

[splashdance]

Splashdance does not mean to be privy to the conversation, but the copse is only so large, and the areas to idle only so spread apart. She tries to continue her quiet discussion with @MIDNIGHTASH regardless of the chatter beyond her, but even the tortoiseshell molly seems to bend her ear to the sharp tongued apprentice and her mentor.

Ultimately... Splashdance believes Foxtail within his rights to make demands such as this. Not only is he her mentor, but a lead warrior. However maybe there's a misunderstanding between them, somewhere in the chaos of the flood. Splashdance cannot even consider a realm where she was not at least friendly with Lakemoon after displacing herself into the silver molly's paws. Sunpaw... would she do better in Clan life if she simply bent to her mentor's will? Or is this a test of her unyielding character? The warrior would admit that she'd find camp a little too quiet if their resident sunburst got doused.

"Imagine if she were your apprentice," she murmurs to her partner, leaning closer to the other to try and quiet her chatter. "Or he your mentor. Maybe... maybe they just don't mix well," she decides finally. It happens, she knows, but ultimately her musing makes no difference.
​

 

[MIDNIGHTASH]

જ➶ The beech copse is definitely not as...private as camp can be. Everyone knows the coming and going of every cat almost and perhaps that is a good thing. Especially with the deaths of cats that continued to sneak out in the dead of night. Two of those deaths still hurt but she continues to move forward. At least she has someone to lean on now, someone she can dig her claws into and keep at her side as long as she can. Her maw parts on a low yawn before her attention is gained from the pair that are having an argument in camp. Annoyingly so. Her maw twists into a scowl as she leans closer to Splashdance to hear her musing about it and for once she scoffs. "My apprentice wouldn't dare speak to me that way. An apprentice is nothing without their mentor." A fact of life. She always respected Willowroot and that will never change. She wonders if Foxtail even has the balls to actually punish Sunpaw or not. Especially for that attitude.

Her maw opens then and she yawns before ducking her head against the scruff of the other. "Honest opinion. Foxtail is too gentle. Need to actually show he means business every once in a while. I'd step all over him too." She shrugs her shoulder with little care of the entertainment happening near them.​

 

[owlcrest]

feel the rain on your skin

To be honest, foxtail didn't seem like a bad mentor to owlpaw, he seemed better than his own. But it wasn't as if he was there to see it, or even paid enough attention. He just knew that since his own mentors death- one of which he risked his life to try to save, and seemed to only get punished by being handed over to Hemlockshine. Who was as poisonous as an actual hemlock flower- but owlpaw didn't even know what 'hemlock' was, so reasonably, he couldn't make that comparison himself.

He'd listen with a small purr in his chest as Sunpaw told him about her day before Lichenstar had made the call to return to camp, and very rudely, Foxtail interrupted her, causing owlpaw to look over and finally notice him. His eyebrows lowered, narrowing his gaze to the lead warrior as he came to rather presumptuous accusations. He even seen the shaking in him as he brought up the conversation- if one could call it that.

"Why do you say she avoids you? Because she doesn't follow you around like a lost puppy? She's her own cat, foxtail." He says, his paws shifting to straighten himself up, though he tilted his head at the lead warrior slightly, while raising an eyebrow. It was nothing but the truth, right? "I'm just confused why he came to accusing you-" he says to his friend in a lowered tone. As if foxtail wasn't right in front of them.

"You and hemlockshine- me and Sunpaw have been working our butts off since the camp flooded, repairing dens, hunting for food, but it's just not enough for you guys, is it?"

​

ฅ^._.^ฅ :owl:

• 
  

  

  
  

  
  Owlpaw
  Riverclan Apprentice | Mentored by: Hemlockshine
  Gender: amab, he/him
  Personality: Little Brother Vibes, Hides pain with humor, Competitive, Loyal, Confused easy, Not the smartest tool in the shed.
  Physical: Easy | Mentally: Medium
  May start a fight | will not flee | will show mercy
  Peaceful power play allowed!
  Penned by Deidre
  ​

 

[FOXTAIL]

His tail twitches nervously, and his apprentice's gaze snaps onto him with a harsh glare. She is quick to snap back, disbelief in her voice, and the lead warrior feels his own disbelief that she's apparently clueless to what he's referring to. She has to know what I'm referring to, He silently thinks as she stands up onto her paws, She isn't fooling me. He knew, and still knows, Sunpaw would be a challenging apprentice; Lichenstar wouldn't have asked him to take over her mentorship if she didn't think he was capable.

Remain calm, He tells himself in the back of his mind, because she isn't going to.

What was she thinking? She's only been a clan cat for a couple moons, and just because no one has ever told her no before, she thinks she can act like a warrior. She bosses Owlpaw around like Hemlockshine doesn't exist; as if she already received her warrior name! He begins to open his maw, with the intention to refute back— but Sunpaw's lip turns into a brief snarl (yes, he noticed it). Sunpaw practically spits fire with her words, overpowering any words that would attempt to leave his maw. Anger radiates off of her rosetted fur, and shock waves down Foxtail's back. "More respect? ... Like what, Foxtail? .... Why am I in trouble here?"

The lead warrior stands stunned for a moment... and confusion flashes in his olive green eyes. ...What in StarClan just happened? His ears prick at the sound of murmuring voices nearby, and with a slight twitch of his nose, he picks up the scent of Splashdance and Midnightash. How embarrassing, He bitterly thinks, not daring to glance their way... He feels embarrassed, and he hopes Sunpaw will feel it later if she doesn't right now.

"I... I-I never said y-" Foxtail begins to respond, but a different, loud voice rudely butts in. Owlpaw is quick to stand onto his paws, and the lead warrior's gaze whips over to the other apprentice... and he can't believe his ears right now. He can feel his patience starting to run thin. "Excuse me?" Foxtail retorts with a lash of his tail, "Since when did this c-conversation include y-you?" He wonders if Owlpaw is even listening as he murmurs something to Sunpaw— as if he can't hear him— for StarClan's sake he's standing right in front of them!

Foxtail's claws dig into the ground, as Owlpaw continues to spew words laced with venom. His paws shake and shake— but no longer from nervousness, no. His paws shake with anger, and if he could dig his claws further into the earth he would. Both of them spat at him as if he committed a crime; as if he doesn't hold the rank of lead warrior. They're teaming up against him, and by the look in their eyes... they must feel confident he'll shrink back and stutter a weak apology.

It hurts his heart even more— it hurts as Sunpaw's mentor, as a lead warrior. He only wants the absolute best for her, why can't she see that?

The two seem to settle down, and Foxtail can feel the anger radiating off of his fur. He has never be so disrespected before, let alone by his apprentice. StarClan above, his legs won't stop shaking from the outrage he feels in his bones.

"I a-apologize if I gave you the impression that you were initially in t-trouble... All I-I intended to do w-was to civilly speak w-with you," His voice trembles slowly, as if the tom barely holding himself back from spewing the same fire back. "...But with that being s-said, you and Owlpaw d-do not have the right to speak to me in that way. Nor will I tolerate s-such disrespect." His eyes burn with fury as he looks between the two young cats, his fur beginning to bristle at his neck. Oh, they have crossed the line. And there's no going back now.

Sunpaw can forget about his original reason for speaking up; she just proved she has no respect in her body. She has no respect for her authority figures, for her mentor, StarClan he'd even say for her friends. She bosses her friend around like it's nothing; as if it isn't a privilege for her to be living here! His olive green eyes narrow as he makes his decision. He will not shrink away, he will not be too gentle on them.

"For t-the remainder of the moon and for the next m-moon, you two will no l-longer train together. ...You two will n-not do chores together. You m-may spend time t-together during downtime, a-and only then." He hisses out, and he wonders if either of them were expecting that.

They must've thought he'd slap them on the wrist and assign them to do tick duty, huh? He knows the two enjoy spending time together, and he wholeheartedly believes if he were to send them on some mundane chore... they wouldn't learn a thing. No, they'll continue to spew disrespect and overstep like they are warriors. It's about time the two of them remember they're the apprentices.

"If you t-two wish to act like kits, I-I will treat you like kits." He retorts with a frown across his maw, paws still trembling from anger. ...I'll c-consider lifting this early, if you prove to m-me that you're both r-ready to act like w-warriors."​

𝐨𝐨𝐜 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭

• 
  
  

  ---

  credit to raphaelion (via da) for the artwork <3
• Foxtail

  ​
  

  lead warrior
  24 moons
  warmhearted
  timid
  experience: trained
  backstory: [HYPERLINK]
  biography: [HYPERLINK]
  credit to trops for the chibi <3
  

  cisgender male [he / him]
  eyes: green
  pelt: cinnamon/chocolate
  fur length: long
  parents: dawnflower and redfur (riverclan npcs)
  

  ---

  ​

​

 

[BEEFANG]

࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ — The conflict between mentor and apprentice is enough to cause the black smoke to approach as her tattered ear flicks to the side wondering what it's all about, she immediately regrets stumbling onto the scene unfolding before her eye. Her bottlebrush tail flicking behind her wondering if she should help out Foxtail considering that he tended to be softhearted a lot of the time and she honestly questioned why he's on Lichenstar's council to begin with but dares not to be vocal about it. There had to be a reason why she had trusted the mismatched tomcat so she chooses to watch what the older tom would do especially since Owlpaw decided to butt in his loud mouth as well about how the two of them were already working their tails off and questioned what else Foxtail wanted of them. A part of her wanting to cuff apprentices over the ears for speaking such a way to someone of a higher rank remembering the words that her father had told her about respecting warriors since they had earned it.

And yet, she watches with bated breath waiting to see how her fellow lead warrior would take to this balant disrespect only briefly sparing a quick glance in the direction of Midnightash and Splashdance. She knows that some mentor and apprentice pairs always worked out or had their differences but to cause a scene within camp instead of doing it privately causes her to roll her shoulders in a nonchalant manner. Foxtail then speaks with his voice trembling and quite a bit of stuttering which she thought was a little pathetic but didn't dwell on it, a frown pulling on her lips only for her pupil to widen when the lead warrior snaps at the pair of apprentices. His punishment towards the both of them seems reasonable enough to Beefang as she straightens out her posture only to focus her lone gaze to the apprentices.

"You heard him," The black smoke finally speaks with a lash of her bottlebrush tail behind her then focuses her stern gaze onto Owlpaw as she gives a curt nod towards the apprentice, "Instead of showing disrespect, go make yourself of use. I want you to go see that the elders are relieved from ticks, I don't want to see a single tick on them when I go check on your progress." The peppered molly knows that Foxtail could handle his own apprentice so she wouldn't give any order towards Sunpaw but gives him a respectful nod of her helm, the other lead warrior had earned her respect today or rather got her to actually see his usefulness. Perhaps, he wasn't a complete pushover as she had once thought.

DROWN IN YOUR SORROW AND FEARS ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ CHOKE ON YOUR BLOOD AND YOUR TEARS

• ooc —

• 

  WARRIOR SKILLSET;
  — ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧ HUNTING
  — ✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧ TRACKING
  — ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧ COMBAT
  — ✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧ STEALTH
  — ✦✦✦✦✦✦✧✧✧✧ STRATEGY
  — ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ SWIMMING
  — ✦✦✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧ CLIMBING
• 
  ✦ a shorthaired black smoke molly w/low white and a singular amber eye
  ✦ oftentimes comes off as untrusting of those around her, closed off, and not the easiest to engage in conversation with, she's not easy to befriend. distrusting of outsiders and will snap at you if y/c walks up to her on her blind side. all her opinions are IC only.
  ✦ 15 moons old; ages the 10th every month
  ✦ asexual homoromantic; mated to moonbeam
  ✦ currently mentoring... roepaw ; formerly mentored by smokestar
  ✦ firstborn daughter of cicadastar and smokestar
  ✦ sister of cicadaflight and loveburn
  ✦ "speech", thoughts, attacking
  ✦ peaceful powerplay allowed

​

 

[SUNSPARK]

//ic opinions <3 baby girl is going through it (tiny?? tw for An Amount of trauma response)


It's bad enough that Foxtail's coming over here, talking about respect and how she's not doing the right thing - and really? But it's another when Owlpaw jumps in in her defense. He says it much more strongly than even she would in the moment, but there's something gratifying she feels in that her friend understands that Foxtail chose a really stupid time to have this conversation if it was meant to be just between them.

"You're the one who came over here and interrupted our conversation to talk about this! she shoots back. He chose to do this! In public! In front of everybody, and she can hear the whispers around her, can feel the eyes on her and she feels the pulse of her breathing pick up a bit. Embarrassing. How embarrassing.

There's a shift in Foxtail too. Oh? Is he actually getting angry? Now that's a sight to see, and in a way it's also a little rewarding. So long she's dealt with this scaredy-cat of a mentor who'd jump at his own shadow, demanding more respect than she rightly feels he's actually displayed for her to give- and in the other paw, maybe he'll finally understand that he's just her mentor. Nothing more, nothing less. And even as he tries to justify it, to say he wanted to speak civily, then maybe he should have picked a different way to do it. Her eyes narrow in disbelief; she opens her maw to say just that.

But then his eyes burn with something she definitely hasn't seem before, and she can't find an immediate response for him. That being said- Oh, cool. They get to go deal with the elder's ticks again. Well, at least the elders won't demand her respect. They've already gotten it - they've lived as long as they have, lived a good life at that, and even if they're a little grumpy, they're kinda nice-

But that's not the truth, and the thoughts in her head run to nothing. She's being separated from Owlpaw. Everything else after that, the fine details that it's only during the daylight hours go in one ear and out the other. They're taking Owlpaw. Her paws go cold. "You can't do that," she says, more firmly than her own courage feels in her body right now. He... can do that. That's the point, isn't it? She can't do anything. Again. She can't do anything. It's an instant twist in her mind, and the little flame building in her chest presses harder against her ribs, making itself known.

But he can do it.

He can do it. In front of everybody. He can do it, take away any ounce of control that she has. Like the time she was taken from her mother. Like the time the Twolegs kept her locked up. Like the time the camp flooded, and for a moment they had lost everything.

If you two wish to act like kits, I will treat you like kits.

White noise rings in her ears. Something in front of her vision blurs. It's hot. So hot in her chest. It burns all the way through her veins, and for the second that her breath catches in the back of her throat, it's ice cold. Is it fear? Whatever it is, she hates it. She hates how it radiates through her body. She hates the way it makes her voice feel stuck in her throat.

Why doesn't she have control anymore?

Her body's moving, her brain's not there. Her claws slide out, sharp and purposeful as she raises her paw high in the air, half-lunged forward and ready to strike Foxtail. She's not thinking; but it burns in her anyway. Get away from me. Go away. Get rid of you. Don't touch me. I'm going to get rid of you.

It worked on the Twolegs.

Her paw swings down with every intent to swipe her mentor across the face, but it doesn't connect. It freezes, mere inches away from Foxtail's face. She heaves a breath out, heavy, and shaking, almost hissed through her teeth with the physical effort of holding her body back. She can't hit him. But oh, she wants to so badly it hurts. But she can't. Because if she does, it'll be worse than getting demoted to 'kit. They'll take Owlpaw away from her. She knows they will.

They'd do anything to shut her up, right?

Her lips curl back, teeth bared in a sharp hiss that she directs his way instead. Then again, until she can find the physical movement necessary to put her paw back down into the earth. Then it's Beefang talking, and the other warrior's voice is an annoying hiss in the background against her already frayed nerves. Her gaze snaps her direction, "Shut up," she whispers it, past the lump in her throat.Why would Foxtail do this to her? Doesn't he get it Owlpaw's the only cat she'd really call family here? Doesn't he get it that just because they're together, doesn't mean they're causing trouble? That Owl's the one that understands her the best? "He was just protecting me. He didn't do anything! He works harder than me!" her voice raises in volume again until she yelling. It feels good, at least for the second, but somewhere around the word harder, her voice cracks. It makes her blink, reeling back against her own emotions as her voice chokes with tears. Embarrassing. How embarrassing. She scrubs at her face with her paw, growling.

Her gaze snaps back into Foxtail, and for a second she locks eyes with him, her lips curling up again."I hate you!" she yells this too, and satisfyingly, it burns her tears away into that sharp thread of anger. Even if she might realize later that it's not actually Foxtail she hates. Right now, she does. More than anything."I hate you, Foxtail!" It's acting like a kit. Do they think that she doesn't know that?

It doesn't matter. It's not going to change this.

But then there's Owlpaw. Sitting next to her, always at her side. Always making her laugh by saying something kinda stupid, and always being reliable when she needs help with something, and - she doesn't want to feel angry when she looks at him. This feeling in her chest now is displaced when she looks at him but she can't find the words to say it. Sorry, Owlpaw. Her breath heaves in her chest, almost hyperventilating, and even as she halfway opens her maw to try and say it, she can't. Sunpaw just tears her gaze away with an angry growl. "Go away!" she yells instead. Because the last thing she's going to do is prove them right that she's a kit because she's deciding to run off. She's not a kit. And to her stubborn last breath she'll sit here and take it if she has to. Let them think whatever they want. They're wrong. They're wrong about her. They're wrong about Owlpaw, too.

"Just go away! Don't look at me!"
​

 

[owlcrest]

feel the rain on your skin

Since when did the conversation involve him? Since he was sitting right next to his best friend, friend for life, his mind echoes their words together. And his gaze narrows, his pupils slit to crescents as Foxtail shakes before then, but he realizes, it's not with fear. It's with anger. The light brown apprentice continues to furrow his eyebrows, kneading his feet into the ground, claws digging up the dirt underneath him.

He doesn't know what to expect as Foxtail finally speaks. He goes on about how they were disrespectful, when he sat there and interrupted Sunpaw mid sentence- at that. He sat here and went on and on, and then as he spoke punishments, it wasn't the normal punishment. No, it was by far the worst thing he had ever heard, his ears flattening against his skull. In unison with the golden apprentice, the same words echo. "You c-can't do that..." A stutter in his own words, mismatched gaze turning to his friend, hurt in his eyes.

And it matched hers. But, even he knew that he could. There were no thoughts in his head, a numbing buzz of silence as his head shook. "No, thats- that's," but he was interrupted, well, by himself. As he looked over at his friend, she was rearing back in anger. Her fur held at its end, her paw lifted in the air. And he found himself shooting forward, knowing, deep inside it would only be worse.

"Sunpaw- Sunpaw, love-" he doesn't know why he says the word he does, but his gaze is gentle despite his own boiling rage inside of him. "Hey, hey-" he says, deciding to ignore everything around him. He ignores Beefang, trying to direct him away. Foxtail, and whatever he decides to say after. But before him, his friend is breaking.

For the first time in his life, besides when he risked his life to save his mentor, besides the time spent with his friends, he doesn't think about himself, and his anger, he works to settle his friend down, pressing his flank against her. But she yells. And yells, and shouts venom dripped words of hate towards her mentor. And honestly? He hates him right now too- for doing this to her. For doing this to them.

"Sunpaw," he finally says, after her last outburst, leveling his gaze to look at her, eyes sympathetic. "It's okay. Its- everything's going to be okay. They- he isn't going to separate us forever. And- he said he'd lift it whenever we prove it... But- you, you have to calm down, you have to breathe." He says softly, curling his tail around her, trying to calm her down. Because, the first thing that matters to him, is that his friend, the person he cares most about, can breathe. Can take a breath to realize that he can't take Owlpaw away from her.

Then, and only then, will he turn to Foxtail, anger deep in his gaze, eyebrows furrowed as he pulls away from Sunpaw. "You could've gone about this way better. Youre- you're something else. I actually thought you were pretty cool. Till now." His tail lashed behind him. "You don't even realize, that Sunpaw and I work better together though, do you? You don't realize how much more I've learned training with Sunpaw. She's smart. Brave, and kept me in check when I just wanted to goof off. You don't notice that do you?" He doesn't even know what he's saying.

But a part of him knows he's right. "None of you guys realize this. None of you guys realize- if it wasn't for Sunpaw, I'd still be goofing off somewhere. I wish you guys noticed the smaller things. You don't know what you're doing." He says bitterly, lips pulling back in disgust as he turns away from the cinnamon and chocolate cat.

"This isn't even a matter of disrespect, or respect at all. You chose not to listen or acknowledge our side, and jump on your own accusations and thought processes!" He growls, turning back to look his mismatched gaze into green eyes. "I did respect you, Foxtail. And now? I don't know what to think of you."

He pulled back to press his forehead to Sunpaws shoulder. He didn't want to move from her side. His paws were sore. His stomach growled in hunger, because what they didn't see is that he didn't eat yet today, working so hard to move their clan back to camp.

They didn't see that Hemlockshine worked and trained him hard. They didn't see shit, and he was starting to realize that. He was starting to feel an indifference as this went on he wasn't ready to acknowledge.

​

ฅ^._.^ฅ :owl:

• 
  

  

  
  

  
  Owlpaw
  Riverclan Apprentice | Mentored by: Hemlockshine
  Gender: amab, he/him
  Personality: Little Brother Vibes, Hides pain with humor, Competitive, Loyal, Confused easy, Not the smartest tool in the shed.
  Physical: Easy | Mentally: Medium
  May start a fight | will not flee | will show mercy
  Peaceful power play allowed!
  Penned by Deidre
  ​

 

[hazecloud]

—————————————————————⊰✿⊱————————————————————
Unruly apprentices were not new to RiverClan, and their mentors ability to reel them in being poorer than flower in a desert especially so as of late. If any of her kittens had been caught acting similar to the ways Otterbite, Midnightash or Sunpaw had they would have far more to worry about than what their mentors would punish them with. A thousand lashings of sharing prey with kits might be their sentencing.

But her kittens and the relationships between warriors paired with apprentices was different, something untouched by her authority. Whisking stray chores and supplemental tasks at the behest of a mentor was one thing, but stepping a paw right in between them was different.

About time, Foxtail. She can't help but think as she overheard. Sunpaw and Owlpaw had some choice words that were far too big for their place in the Clan, and her gaze sought for another's in wordless exchange. Is this serious? Because what apprentice would team up against someone on the council?

A slow nod of approval marked the deputy's agreement to Foxtail's punishment for this unruliness. Beefang reiterated a far more intimidating lecture, a battering of good-warrior-bad-warrior between the two- unfortunate that they continued to feel entitled to the sense of choice in the matter. Unfortunate that Sunpaw felt entitled to hit her mentor over a meager punishment. A blip within her training, if she acted right.

"Sunpaw." The misty cat rose like a fog from the meadows, looking between her lead warriors and back to the apprentices. Her vocal correction was more instinctual, but she still paused for something to say. Owlpaw, however, led on an endless prattle that sounded far too selfish for what she could empathize with.

It was childish ranting, the kind she recognized for kittish meltdowns at naptime. How exhausting.

Hazecloud swept her tail in a single dismissive wave, allowing the quiet to settle for just a moment. An ear twitched backward as she heard rustling from the willow den- oh, there was no saving them now. A single step retreated as the blue point moved beside her, the scent of after-rain sticking to her pelt, telling her she's been interrupted from her rest with Salmonshade.

"It sounds like you two won't be ready for warriorhood very soon, then." Hazecloud concluded as she looked at the pair with a disappointed stare. "A warrior would know that Foxtail did not earn his place just for respect, nor any cat above your rank. I suspect the coming days cleaning bile from your fur may teach you that." How incredibly dramatic, thank the stars her and Lichenstar's children were less touchy.

✿ ———— I'll be your regular mama ✿ ————— And I'll put that gun away

•  
• 
  
  
  Hazecloud
  —⊰⋅ Deputy of RiverClan
  —⊰⋅ She/Her
  "SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  —⊰⋅ LH blue smoke with green eyes.
  

 

[lichenstar]

✦˚.✦˚✦˚✦˚ ✧ ˚✧˚✦˚✦.˚✧

CLAIM THE BURIAL I SEEK IN DREAMS FLOWING RIVER CEMETARY ✧

• As if there were not enough to worry about without this meaningless bickering... This childish rebuttal against a well established authority.
  
  It had been well within her scope of understanding to predict something like this might happen but its severity surpasses her expectations. Its loudness, the way it seeps into others and inspires their own raised voices to join. The camp has become suffocated of quiet air in the wake of this storm... and it stirs what few moments of peace she might've been able to cling to. The final, quick glance of a tongue across sun-crested cheek announces her defeat, unfurling her paws to push past the sighing willow leaves.
  
  It is hard not to hear the entire debacle... and even in summary, she would've grown tired of this fiasco pretty immediately. Hazecloud's awareness is reflected in the twitch of curl decorated ears, the finality of her own speech coming to a close as she gracefully skirts aside to make room for her mate to join her.
  
  She makes the assumption that they will choose to bark and keep barking, no matter who steps in to correct them now... they've snipped at two lead warriors... she can only hope they have the sense not to test their deputy. In an effort to stem the flow before it begins to pour anew, the lynx point clears her throat, "Do not... open your mouths.... again."
  
  Her stare as frigid, hardened by moons of juggling her own unruly apprentices. She would not tolerate their barbed tongues waved in her direction again. It is in their best interest she steal their voices from them now, before they can do more damage than they've already done. Foxtail looks like he is moments away from bursting into a thousand pieces and Beefang's single eye burns with a fire so hot it may very well set the whole camp ablaze.
  
  "You have both... severely... misunderstood your position." Her jaw tightens, trying to find careful choices in her words. "Owlpaw..." she rounds towards him first, even as he fusses over his friend he still thinks to fire quills from his back. "Speak to Foxtail... or Beefang.... like that again... and I will.... see to it personally... that you see two... entire cycles of seasons... before you leave camp next." It is a punishment so far ahead of his lifespan that it seems unfathomable.. and the exaggeration is necessary to truly hammer in that this behavior is unacceptable. That such blatant outburst had seen warriors exiled. There would not be another chance. "My council... will not be... lectured by your... petulant excuses. You choose... to be better behaved... for Sunpaw. Not because of her... Hopefully you'll learn that... while you two.... are separated." She would stand by the punishment handed down before she'd arrived and enforce it willingly.
  
  Her vision slides towards Foxtail, sympathetic for all his trembling and the miniscule space that Sunpaw had withheld from wielding her paws against him. But it doesn't rest on the mix-toned tom for long.. finding the firecracker-hearted apprentice instead. "He asked you... to speak with him... alone." A tattered ear flicks, irritated she must preen and crow like a mother nursing the ego of a whiny kit that didn't want to share a toy. "You have made... a fool... of both yourself... and him... for everyone to see." Midnightash and Splashdance linger like giggling ghouls, passing their judgement. She makes sure they know she sees them, casting a glower to the two she-cats that find amusement in this.
  
  "Are you... embarrassed yet?" Because she had made her own nest... and now had to lie in it with glimmering tears that could not be hidden. "Hold onto that..." It sounds far more cruel than she intends... but the point is to make sure she remembers this. Remembers how overwhelming this is... how too many voices have now become involved. It didn't have to be like this... she'd chosen that much. No one else was to blame.
  
  "Your outburst... has only sealed... your punishment... rather than prove... the point you were... trying to make. If you had... chosen a moment... of patience... you may have avoided... your now forfeit free-time... with Owlpaw." Measured... voice crackling with worn use but measured... She'd tried to be this balanced with Eveningpaw after her hare-brained escapades. Hopefully her bluntness proved just as welcome and effective here...
  
  "The next time... I have to remind... either of you... to respect me... or my council..... we will have... a far different... conversation. Am I... understood?" She remembers, as she thinks to leave this as her final statement, that there is a glaringly bigger issue she had not yet addressed.
  
  "And Sunpaw..."
  
  Her chin tilts upward, watching the apprentice down the bridge of her nose with an ominously calm, stilled gaze. "Do not... ever.... raise your paw.... at your clan-mates."
  
  "Unless you intend... to finish... what you start."
  
  Deacon and Sasha certainly had... and they could count their lucky stars Lichenstar hadn't the chance to slaughter them where they'd stood for it.
• about
  
  speech hex code ✧ #6368A5
  
  ooc notes ✦
  tagging ✶
  penned by tieirlys
• ˚ ★⋆. ࿐࿔ ✦ . . ˚ . . ✦ ˚ .
  
  . ˚ * ✦ . . ✦ ˚ ˚ .˚ ✦ . . ˚ . ✦ . . ˚ ੈ✧˳·˖✶ ✦ ˚ ✦ . . ˚ ★⋆. ࿐࿔
  
  . ˚ * ✦ . . ✦ ˚ ˚ .˚ ✦ . . ˚ . ✦ ​

 

[Moonbeam]

It is difficult to adjust to clan life, this Moonbeam knew not from experience but from simply being alive and seeing how those that had joined the clan from outside of it had fared. It was difficult being from outside one clan and then having to learn how things worked in another as well, though some took to it easier than others it seemed depending on how similar the two clans were in territory and numbers. But if Moonbeam had learned anything over the course of her life it was that those new to the clan needed patience, needed teaching of how things worked and not to be expected of them to simply know and understand for it was not the only way of life that they had lived so it wouldn't come as naturally as it would to those clanborn. Deacon and Sasha taught her this, their outbursts and eventual attack to the clan led from a place of misunderstanding and hatred for their ways, but it did not mean that the clan should be lax in their punishments for things that went awry, especially for those that were young enough to mold and learn without the moons and moons of life outside of a clan fighting for themselves to hold them back. Claythorn had been a good example of this, once a loner within a colony of other loners and now one of the last left due to her willingness to understand and relearn how life worked with so many others.

A former kittypet learning to be a clan cat however didn't have the excuses of learning life differently outside of a clan, didn't have the excuse of knowing how hierarchy worked differently in a different group of cats or how to hunt or fight differently than they taught within the clans. Sunpaw was meant to be more of a blank slate, meant to be someone who was willing to learn and accept clan life, for after all they did not force her to join their ranks.

Much like the others she was minding her own business, counting and trying to figure out in her head which herbs were needed the most when voices began to raise and broke her of her concentration. Head turns as words ring out, of punishment and hatred, as a swipe is taken but not yet finished - and this is when paws begin to move forward and the medicine cat pushes herself closer to the argument, closer to Beefang - and listens as Hazecloud and Lichenstar speak and extend punishments. Eyes land on Foxtail for just a moment, and if he were to look in her direction she would see approval there. Though she knew others questioned his promotion he was a good cat, and hopefully after today more would see it even if his apprentice didn't. "Sunpaw." She would speak as eyes land back on the apprentice, voice stern but still softer than others that had been around her just as a natural way of her speaking. "I need help with cleaning out my den, how about you and I do it, hmm?" With Foxtail's permission of course, the added words unsaid though assumed. Anything to get this out of the middle of camp and separate those involved before the apprentice's swipe that hadn't followed through actually did.

CAUSE LIKE CONTELLATIONS ꕥ A MILLION YEARS AWAY

• --
• ꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥ flesh wounds
  ꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥ infections
  ꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥ aches & pains
  ꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥ illness
  ꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥ breathing
  ꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥ traveling
  ꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥ broken bones
  ꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥ kitting
  ꕥꕥꕥꕥꕥ poisons
• 
  ꕥ SH white masking cinnamon torbie w/orange eyes & small ears
  ꕥ 15 moons old; ages the 17th every month
  ꕥ homosexual polyromantic ; mated to beefang, crushing on redacted
  ꕥ currently mentoring none
  ꕥ "speech", thoughts, attacking
  ꕥ easy in combat unless in water, focuses on defensive tactics

​

 

[SUNSPARK]

Owlpaw's making things worse. Actually, she made things even worse too, but everything around her doesn't make sense. Owlpaw's saying so many things at her, trying to calm her down, trying to touch her, and it's a buzz in the back of her head. Actually, she'd rather push him away right now, but she can't get her body to move. And she doesn't want Owlpaw to go away. Is it okay? No, none of this is okay. They can seperate them, and even if she had initially misunderstood Fox, it didn't stop the cold dread of fear that had made her overreact.

Because she is aware, that it's an overreaction. But she can never stop it.

Owlpaw's still talking, and Sunpaw can't feel anything but angry. Of course, later, she'll be more than mortified. She'll wish for this world to scoop her up and send her right into StarClan for everything that happened today, because the only thing she really could do to get rid of this stain on her reputation and her already-strained name is to disappear into the void where she can't be percieved ever again - but she can't.

And it's Hazecloud saying her name and for a second her breath catches. Oh.... Oh, this is getting serious. And to top it all off, now her warriorhood is being threatened. Her claws side, digging into the ground beneath her for something to hold onto. How... how much of an idiot is she? And what does Hazecloud mean, Foxtail deserves respect just beecause of his position? What makes Foxtail any better than her, or Owlpaw, or Twinklepaw, or Moonbeam, or-? Is it just their age? Their job, specifically? How does that work?

The elders she gets, but...

It's another thing being taken away from her, right under her paws, and she can't see anything more but the blurred faces in front of her. Her ears are still ringing, so even when Lichenstar first approaches, she doesn't notice until the she-cat is speaking more directly to her about Foxtail. Everything she's saying is going in one ear and out the over, even though she's glaring, even though her entire body is heaving with the breaths and the effort it's taking not to scream in indignation.

Are you embarrased yet?

Of course I am! Do you think I like this?! She can't say it out loud, she's not that stupid even though her mouth opens with an intake of breath like she's about to. She doesn't like this. The anger normally feels good in her body but now it's holding her stiff, and still, because she can't actually do anything with it. She's not running, she's not training, she's not free-

Patience?! Her exhale shakes as she shoves it out of her lungs in disbelief. How? How does she have patience when the first thing she feels is angry? When it bubbles up inside of her before her mouth even opens. She's never understood when people have told her, 'Think before you speak. Don't get so worked up.' She never understood how others could do it so seamlessly. She shifts on her paws, stacking her front ones one on top of the other so she's pressing down on her left paw with her right. Hard.

She's just... Angry. It buzzes in everything, overwhelms her.

Lichenstar's.... threatening her. She knows it's a threat, but the word land no more than a passing remark of telling her to go take ticks off of elders. She's losing Owlpaw. She's made an absolute fool of herself in front of the entire Clan. She's questioning why she even came here in the first place. Who cares about a threat like that? What's worse is she knows that she can't pretend that she hadn't meant it. She had meant it. She wanted to hurt Foxtail, even if just for a second. Even if it was because she wasn't thinking about anything but the way she felt. She had wanted him to hurt just as much - more - than he had made her feel. Because if she wasn't the only one feeling this, then maybe it'd be better.

She curls her claws against her paw. Her body's starting to shake with the effort of standing still, and it's not defiance she stares at Lichenstar with.

Sunpaw knows what she's done. She can't stop it. And for once what happened is her fault. It's sobering as much as it is heartbreaking.

A whole world of conversations have run through her head but none have voiced a response to Lichenstar in front of her. She just stares, until Moonbeam speaks up and Sunpaw's gaze slowly shifts - at, through- the medicine cat.

What's the point? She's somehow supposed to go through tomorrow, the next day, the next week, the next however many moons with this hanging around her? What's the point.

Moonbeam's not asking, she's telling, and Sunpaw's body shakes with effort of standing up straight, with her head held tall and just as proud as she pushes herself away from the crowd stacked in front of her, against her. Her breath still hisses through her teeth, making words impossible unless she's prepared to yell them and she's not. So she just pushes forward, in the direction of the medicine cat den.

​

 

[HEMLOCKSHINE]

How utterly foolish Hemlockshine had been, working his apprentice to the bone to try and teach him the meaning of responsibility. How moronic must he be to have thought that Owlpaw would be too exhausted to cause trouble. Fiery mortification blooms across Hemlockshine's pelt, his brief search for his apprentice completed as he stumbles across the scene he and his little friend are making in the middle of camp. Beefang has to manage his apprentice for him - Beefang - but apparently mouthing off to one lead warrior isn't enough, he has to ignore and disobey a second.

Hemlockshine is prepared to cross the camp and drag Owlpaw to the elders' den himself when Hazecloud approaches. The midnight-dark warrior can only stand, trembling with impotent fury and embarrassment, as she and Lichenstar herself have to step in to properly punish Owlpaw. Bitter with resentment, he wonders why, if they were capable of putting him in his place all along, had they saddled him with such a monumental task? He realizes his breathing is coming fast and ragged, and makes an effort to slow it and regain his rapidly melting composure.

Once Lichenstar has finished cleaning up the mess she had caused when she named him as Owlpaw's new mentor, his demeanor still isn't perfect, but he can't waste any more time regaining his poise. He has to prove that he's still worthy of being a mentor. He sweeps forward with his delicately curled ears pinned back and aims to weave between his apprentice and Sunpaw's retreating form, preventing him from trying to follow. "Beefang," he addresses the lead warrior, her name stabbing out into the air more sharply than he'd intended, "Before my apprentice begins his punishment, I would like to have a t-tuh-talk with him." The stutter Reedfang had so despised slips out, then, baring his weakness for all to see. He clenches his jaw until he's sure his teeth are going to crack.

He doesn't dare say the things he wants to say to Beefang. I can handle my own apprentice. I don't need your interference. Stay out of my way. He isn't stupid, and Owlpaw has made the consequences for such disrespect more than clear with his whining. The brat has already dragged Hemlockshine down with him just by speaking; Hemlockshine isn't going to let himself fall further.

---

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎┌── i wonʼt soothe your pain ⋆⋅☾⋅⋆ i wonʼt ease your strain ──┐‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

• /interacting with @owlpaw. and @BEEFANG + IC opinions

• 

• HEMLOCKSHINE ✩ he/him, warrior of riverclan, 21 moons
  ⭃ a tall, lithe black smoke tom with blue eyes and low white. he is cold, composed, and willing to resort to manipulation to get what he wants. he is incredibly vain, to the point that anyone who mars his pretty face is in for a world of pain. please note that hemlockshine will be prone to saying and doing awful things that i, as his roleplayer, do not condone. all of his opinions are ic only.
  ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking ↛ see battle info here
  ⭃ penned by solaire ↛ @funeralscythe on discord, feel free to ping for plots.

​

 

[MERLINPAW ✦]

Eavesdropping is bad, he shouldn't do it. But... it's very difficult not to listen in on an argument as explosive as this one, one that calls over not only another Lead Warrior, but the deputy, leader, and medicine cat as well. Merlinpaw can't- they just don't really get why this is happening at all. All Foxtail had asked was a little more respect, did he not deserve that as not only Sunpaw's mentor, but also as a Lead Warrior? And, the assertion from Sunpaw that she already gives him enough respect because she follows his orders... Merlinpaw doesn't really think that's what respect is. That's just listening to your mentor, not really respecting them.

They don't want to get involved, don't want to be chosen as the unwilling participant in a one sided rant from either punished apprentice, so they slip a little further back into the apprentice's den, where they'd been resting, still sore from battle training earlier.

Would it have killed either of them just to give Foxtail the answer he wanted to hear? Perhaps this outburst could've been easily avoided otherwise...

i used to think // that memories were like pollen

• 
  ooc -
  
• 
  #6360c4
• 
  (img) Merlinpaw * they/him* 9 moons
  mentored by Streamsong
  short furred blue classic tabby w/ low white; brown eyes
  Peaceful & healing powerplay allowed || underline for attack
  penned by Neptune. || Neptune on disc, dm me for plots

​

 

[FOXTAIL]

Both unruly apprentices cry out, nearly in unison. "You can't do that!" His olive green eyes narrow, and his bushy tail lashes. "Oh, b-but I can." The lead warrior retorts back with a hiss, ears still pinned to his skull. Foxtail can feel his head starting to throb... he was fretting over talking to Sunpaw all day. But there was no time to do so earlier, as everyone was working their tails off— not just Owlpaw and Sunpaw. Foxtail is exhausted— physically and mentally; and his paws shake. He didn't want this to happen, and he feels hot with embarrassment as Sunpaw and Owlpaw grab the attention of more cats.

He turns his gaze back onto his apprentice, and for a brief moment... The tom freezes at the furious gaze in Sunpaw's eyes. It's an anger in her he hasn't seen before; and her lip curls into a snarl. His ears pick up the faintness sound of a hiss, and he's unable to stop himself from gasping as she lounges forward with a claw outstretched. There is barely any time to react; and he wholeheartedly expects Sunpaw's claws to dig and tear into his face. But to his shock, Sunpaw stops herself— mere inches from him— and a hiss escapes through her teeth... As if she desperately wants to push forward.

The lead warrior takes a step back, his heart pounding in his chest. She... She just tried to swipe at his face! And if she didn't stop herself from doing it, she would've made her mark... He stares at her with wide, horrified, eyes— she wanted to hurt him. StarClan above, what's wrong with her? "Y-You..." A horrified whisper eacapes his maw, but the rest of the words trail off his tongue.

Owlpaw attempts to soothe his seething friend. But the apprentice is quick to turn onto the shocked lead warrior, and dares to lecture him. The young lead warrior stands there, momentarily dumbfounded, is that supposed to be an insult? He no longer thinks Foxtail is cool...? He never knew Owlpaw looked up to him, but the tom raises an eyebrow as the immature apprentice continues to run his mouth. The disappoint he feels is astounding when Owlpaw feels the need to say more and more.

"...You don't k-know when to stop talking, d-do you?" He hisses out with a lash of his tail. Stop talking, you're making it worse! But he can't think of another thought, not with Sunpaw's voice roaring over his ears.

Her voice sounds raw with outrage, as she yowls directly at him. He can handle her yowling in defense of Owlpaw, but the words that come after stab like a knife.

"I hate you! I hate you, Foxtail!"

She.... hates him.

His body trembles as he takes a step back, shakily looking over at Hazecloud as the deputy stalks over... and addresses his own apprentice. His stomach sloshes and his head throbs, nausea running over him as Lichenstar makes her appearance. He hears Lichenstar's coarse, stern voice; and he gives a silent nod to her additional punishment. They... They don't know it right now— but Foxtail was merciful with his punishment. They'll realize this... When they long for each other during the slowest parts of the day.

His heart races in his ears, and the lead warrior catches a quick glance at Moonbeam, as the medicine cat brushes up against her mate... before turning to Sunpaw. He catches the approval that flashes in her orange eyes, but unfortunately it isn't enough to quell the uncomfortable feeling in his stomach. "Y-You... have m-my... permission," He barely gets the words out, as he struggles to fight off the raging nausea, "Thank y-you... Moonbeam."

Owlpaw's mentor arrives seething, shaking with impending fury, but whatever words leave the warrior's maw does not reach his ears. He does not notice Merlinpaw slipping further into the apprentice's den, and the lead warrior takes a shaky step back. If one looked his way, they'd see him growing increasingly pale by the second.

"...E-Excuse m-me," Foxtail struggles to gasp, not daring to look anyone in the eye. They shouldn't see him like this— he's... he's going to be sick!

Before anyone could protest, the lead warrior makes a move to get out. He races away from the burning hatred he feels from the apprentices, and his stomach twists violently when his mind narrows them down to Sunpaw only.​

𝐨𝐨𝐜 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭

• annnd he's out of here! Fox runs off to this thread, cw: emetophobia!
• 
  
  

  ---

  credit to raphaelion (via da) for the artwork <3
• Foxtail

  ​
  

  lead warrior
  24 moons
  warmhearted
  timid
  experience: trained
  backstory: [HYPERLINK]
  biography: [HYPERLINK]
  credit to meghan for the chibi <3
  

  cisgender male [he / him]
  eyes: green
  pelt: cinnamon/chocolate
  fur length: long
  parents: dawnflower and redfur (riverclan npcs)
  

  ---

  ​

​