WindClan: Life Before 2023's Fire

[spinachsprite]

Originally Posted by lykolove!

{should we wait for @redxpepper before continuing any further?}
Asterpaw shadowed him closely- trying her best to freeze when he did, her eyes darting around nervously- how different this was from the feeling of freedom just before! She inhaled, and gagged a little at it. “That smells nothing like a Windclanner... “ she finally said. I’m really glad it’s not a badger... The relief from that calmed her a little, right up until she spotted the bright fur in the grass ahead. “Quailstep... is that...?”

((yelp @redxpepper we will wait for you here :3 ))

[lone]

Originally Posted by The Cannibal

Change was inevitable and something that Adderheart was all too used to. Sometimes it was easier to accept than other times, but in the end, it was something you could never really change. She found that even herself, the way she was thinking was changing. The sandy colored molly still wanted to be one of the best warriors of Windclan, that would never change, but she was starting to realize maybe.. She didn't need to prove herself to others. Working herself to death wasn't going to get her anywhere except maybe Beepaw's den due to exhaustion. It's not like anyone thought any different of her if she took on 3 extra patrols, in fact, some might have even thought she was trying to gain favor in Blazingstar's and Buttercupbreeze's eyes. That was not true, she just.. She wanted to give everything for her clan. She couldn't explain it, but there was a fire in her heart to prove that she was worthy of Windclan. A worthy warrior that stories would be told when she eventually passed on to Starclan.

But the reason for the slight change in gears, the realization that maybe she was working too hard was her very severe lack of friends. Many moons had gone by since she had become a warrior and her lack of friends was severely noticeable. There were two cats she could actively think of as friends and they were her sister, Fawnsong, and her best friend, Pineneedle. And even now she felt as if she didn't spend enough time with them; she couldn't recall the last time she had seen or talked with Pineneedle. And part of her was terrified that they were drifting apart because.. Because she liked him. There was something about his willingness to change, in the face of losing her, that drew her to him. He wasn't a cat that was stuck in his ways, but a changing and deep down good-natured cat.

Slowly her ears swiveled at the sound of approaching pawsteps and as she opened her eyes to turn and see who was approaching, the familiar voice reached her and a deep, genuine grin would spread across her muzzle. If there was ever a time she needed Pineneedle, it was now.

"If I was trying to hide from you, you wouldn't have been able to find me! Say, I haven't seen you around on any of my patrols, have you been slacking?" Standing up, the warrior would stretch, arching her back, curling her tail and making her legs tremble with the force.

"Oh, I'd find you sooner or later," The tom smirked, leaning in to tap his nose to the top of her head. She'd been almost as big as him when they were apprentices - thankfully, Pineneedle had had a growth spurt before they were warriors, and was now the taller one out of the two of them. "Call it a best-friend intuition, but if I could find you here, I'd find you anywhere," He added, after a second. Pineneedle liked to think that she wouldn't be able to hide from him for long - the truth was, she was a skilled warrior, and if she really didn't want to be found - she wouldn't be. He was glad she didn't hide from him, because he wasn't sure if he would've gotten through his apprenticeship without her. He hadn't gotten along with his mentor, or the other apprentices, and that wasn't even to mention what a nightmare it had been to try and avoid the overly friendly apprentices who had gotten clingy within a matter of seconds. Adderheart was the exception to everything that annoyed him - which was funny, really. If you were looking at the two of them, you'd never guess that they'd been through some rough times. Pineneedle was glad they were past all that; he'd thought, before, that he could survive without friends in the Clan, but he wouldn't have done well without at least one friend.

"Slacking, me? Never!" The tom answered, in response to her question. "I'll try and get assigned to more of your patrols, or you can get on mine, either way - that way we can see more of each other." Pineneedle had never liked to think of himself as the clingy type - distant, detatched, whatever it took to get past the fact that other cats didn't like him and he didn't like them. However, with Adderheart, it was a different story. Sometimes he wondered how she put up with it - other times, he thanked StarClan for a friend that genuinely liked him, flaws and all. "What have you been up to, anyways? It feels like forever since I've seen you," he mewed, preparing himself for talks about all the other cool cats she'd met on her patrols.

He'd always known that she would make other friends, and that they might grow apart, but it wouldn't make it any easier. He'd seen the flirty toms and she-cats around camp, soaking up attention and throwing compliments out as though they were nothing, and for some reason that he couldn't quite explain... Pineneedle felt himself bristle a little at the thought of Adderheart hanging around them. He wasn't sure what she was into - not that, probably - but he didn't want her to abandon him for someone that would treat her like she was disposable.

Was that a bad thing?

[redxpepper]

{it's okay, he's currently passed out right now anyways, ill let them have a moment to freak about about the supposed dead body for a second before he wakes up lol
@spinachsprite
@lykolove!}

[spinachsprite]

Originally Posted by lykolove!

{should we wait for @redxpepper before continuing any further?}
Asterpaw shadowed him closely- trying her best to freeze when he did, her eyes darting around nervously- how different this was from the feeling of freedom just before! She inhaled, and gagged a little at it. “That smells nothing like a Windclanner... “ she finally said. I’m really glad it’s not a badger... The relief from that calmed her a little, right up until she spotted the bright fur in the grass ahead. “Quailstep... is that...?”

The ginger Tom cat felt incredibly nervous and flighty, unable to offer his apprentice much support as he shifted closer. Eventually, settling with the fact that the cat was not crouching, and seemed to be lying fairly motionless, Quailstep crept close enough to identify the feline.
"A loner.. or a rogue." The Tom agreed, reaching the cats body. He stunk of sweat and exhaustion. Too afraid to take his eyes off the cat, he prodded it gently with one pink paw, tail held high in extreme caution.
"Don't come too close, Asterpaw," he added, sparing a second to glance at her. He was practically on his tiptoes, ready to split across the field at the slightest movement.

[lykolove!]

Originally Posted by spinachsprite

The ginger Tom cat felt incredibly nervous and flighty, unable to offer his apprentice much support as he shifted closer. Eventually, settling with the fact that the cat was not crouching, and seemed to be lying fairly motionless, Quailstep crept close enough to identify the feline.
"A loner.. or a rogue." The Tom agreed, reaching the cats body. He stunk of sweat and exhaustion. Too afraid to take his eyes off the cat, he prodded it gently with one pink paw, tail held high in extreme caution.
"Don't come too close, Asterpaw," he added, sparing a second to glance at her. He was practically on his tiptoes, ready to split across the field at the slightest movement.

She continued following him, stopping just behind him. Why did this happen...? This was supposed to be my first time out here, and instead... The cat was breathing- she thought so anyway- was his chest really rising or was it just a trick of the light? “Quailstep... what should we do? Is... is he dead...?”

[redxpepper]

He was, in fact, not dead. Barely alive, but still not dead. At the prodding the young tom awoke, disorientated and surrounded by strangers. He quickly assessed the situation: a older tom was closest to him, looking tense and ready to fight or flee (one of the two) with one wrong move from Eagle. There was also another, a very young molly right behind the other. The way she cowered behind the first pointed to a very good chance that she wouldn't -- or couldn't -- fight (if he didn't push it). He was still too weak to barely move, so whatever he did he had to prevent a fight if he wanted to live. He didn't know what the older tom would want from him to accomplish this, but he hoped there was at least something that could see him out today.

"Listen....." He started to say lifting his head, completely winded. Drat, he barely could speak he was so weak. "I....I'm no threat. Don.....don't hurt me....please." He asked in between heavy breaths, not above begging for his life if need be.

@lykolove!
@spinachsprite

[furrensic]

Originally Posted by TawnyNeedsACoffee

WhiteBrook nodded somewhat before her ears twitching at the question she spoke with a soft sigh as she looked towards the Nursery entrance."Your Father is on night patrol, just hope that idiot gets some rest afterwards...".she mumbled the last bit to herself before turning her gaze back to BullKit with a gentle expression."Tomorrow you can see him unless he does a mystery surprise visit in the middle of the night".She said this half jokingly as she tightened herself around her two kits.

"I hope so!" Bullkit mumbled, letting out a soft yawn. He curled up, closing his eyes. "Night mama." he said.

[spinachsprite]

Quailstep jolted, and narrowed his amber eyes at the whimpering stranger. His claws slipped from their sheaths, and though his neck bristled against his own wishes, his voice remained soft and steady.
"Are you injured?" He asked. If it wasn't for the stench of exhaustion and sweat, the Tom would've assumed this all to be a falsetto, prepared so that an awaiting gang of rouges could attack them from the tall grass behind them. But Windclan territory held no secrets; the air was still, the grass whispering, and just the three of them together. The cat seemed genuinely feeble, but Quail was taking no chances with his newly made apprentice at his side.
"What's brought you here- can you stand?" He knew he had to bring the cat back to windclan, whether he fought them or not.
@lykolove!
@redxpepper

[The Cannibal]

Originally Posted by AbsurdJinx

@Mystical @Duskflight @RedHead

Smokethorn slipped out from the camp, inhaling the fresh air slowly through his nose before exhaling loudly as if refreshed. He was smiling softly, his eyes narrowed against the wind and his ears and whiskers danced, disturbed by the breeze. His long, thin tail lashed behind him. He cast a glance over his shoulder to reassure himself that his patrol was behind him. He had Weaselshade, Adderheart, and Goosegrumble to join him. He was looking forward for this patrol, with his daughter and brother at his side - and Weaselshade. However, he wasn't looking forward to leaving Sunsong and their kits, even if just for a small while.

With his patrol in tow, Smokethorn began to make his way further into the territory. ``I think that we'll make our way towards the ThunderClan border, seeing how high the tensions between our two clans are.`` He didn't even glance at the other members of the patrol for approval. He did care for their opinions, but as of this moment, he didn't doubt that they would agree with him. After all, ThunderClan and WindClan weren't exactly on positive terms. They should expect the worst from ThunderClan compared to the other clans. And he wanted to make sure his family would be safe from those sorry excuses for clan cats.

He walked at a decent speed, his long and lanky build supporting him. Smokethorn, of course, was also considerate of his companions, which is why he repeatedly adjusted his speed whenever he found himself moving so quickly. He was eager to reach the border, to determine if his family had to worry about ThunderClan trespassers today or not. But he also didn't want to get there too quickly. Ignorance is bliss, they say, and Smokethorn wanted to remain ignorant, but above all, he wanted to avoid a battle. He wasn't interested in putting his family in danger, or letting them worry about him as he fought to protect them. He was always protecting his family, always, via patrols or even just checking on them, and he wanted it to stay that way. He was willing to protect them in battle, of course - he'd give his life for his family - but he didn't want to introduce them to the ugliness of battle.

"I wouldn't be so sure of yourself Pineneedle, you under estimate my sneaking abilities!" There was the softest purr hidden in her voice, eyes closing momentarily as he touched his nose to the top of her head. She would draw in a slow breath, catching his scent and finding that it made her a bit more happy. In a way, she liked that he was taller, it showed that he had grown, changed. A different cat than the manipulative one she had known in their early kit/apprentice moons. "I guess that sounds pretty reasonable, maybe that's what brought you here now. I don't think I've mentioned to anyone about my thinking hole." The realization that she had never told anyone about this sacred place for her hit, and she couldn't help but feel slight guilt. In a way, this was a place for her to escape the eyes of her clanmates, to escape her own harsh judgement of herself. In a way, this singular dip in the territory was her escape, even if just for an hour. She was a social, outgoing cat and yet sometimes, even she couldn't handle being around everyone constantly. Was it selfish of her to have a spot that no one really knew about, just so she could escape?
"You're welcome to come here, anytime you need time away from everything. Normally no one really comes over this way, so it's pretty quiet." Offering to share the spot with him, it made her feel better. Surely Pineneedle could relate to wanting to be away from everyone, he tended to be even less social than she was; if she could help him by offering him a quiet spot, away from the camp, then she wouldn't mind sharing her little secret hideout. If there was anyone in the camp she would share a secret with, it would be him anyways.

Adderheart could only laugh lightheartedly at his denial of slacking off; she knew he was a good warrior, he did his duties, did what he had to do. In every sense, he was a good warrior. "I would love that; don't get me wrong, I love our clanmates, but it'd be nice to actually be put on a patrol with a friend for once." There was a brief pause in the conversation, long enough to where her quiet sigh was actually audible, causing her to shake her head and try to cover up the sound. He didn't need to know that she was actually really upset that they had been put on so few patrols together now that they were warriors; he didn't need to know that she was anything but strong and sure-footed. She was a strong cat who didn't really on others.. But Starclan how she missed him. "Hm? Oh, just the usual I guess. Working myself to death, trying to... Trying to.." The sandy she-cat looked down at her paws, silence falling over her for a moment as she tried to find the right words.

"I don't know what I'm trying to do Pine. I.. There's just this... This deep drive in me, to prove myself to everyone, to make myself this ideal warrior of Windclan. And I pick up all of the patrols that I can get my paws on. But sometimes I don't know if I'm doing it for other cats, or.. Or to make myself feel better. To prove to myself that I'm useful.." Adderheart's eyes remained on her paws as she spoke, her voice quiet so that the wind of the moor wouldn't sweep her voice to ears she didn't want hearing.

"I've worked myself so hard there were a few times that I thought I would have to go to Beepaw. Sometimes I've gone nights without sleeping because I just.. Want to be out doing something for the clan, even when I don't have to. I.. I don't know what I'm trying to accomplish anymore."

The warrior's shoulders slagged slightly, and she would look up, to him, for a moment before looking away. It felt weird to be saying it, but if there was anyone she could talk to, it was him. He wouldn't judge her.

[lykolove!]

@redxpepper; @spinachsprite

Asterpaw hasn’t realized she was holding her breath until the tom attempted to stand. Good... He’s not dead... She still was tense- why was this stranger here, in Windclan territory?- and Quailstep’s apparent nerves didn’t help her either. She stuck firmly behind her mentor, quivering slightly as she spoke. “Do you know where you are?” Oh, maybe i shouldn’t have said that? Maybe I sound too harsh... He looks kind of sick, lying there. I don’t think either of us expected to find a stranger out here...