The Starcave - Page 113

**Neptune.** · #**1121** October 30th, 2023, 10:11 AM

*-Larkwing-*
She/her | 18 moons | Mind Reader - ACTIVE
A sleek, dilute tortie molly with green eyes

Almost at once, Larkwing leans into the comfort offered. Pebblesplash was so wise... like an older sister almost, but Lark already had older siblings, so she was happy just calling Pebble one of her closest friends (and also one of her only real friends, but that was a depressing topic for another time).

She laughs at the mom comment, though her heart is warmed and she feels considerably lighter than she had just moments before. Lark feels much to young to be a mother of an entire litter, let alone an entire clan. But it's her responsibility now, so she will shoulder it with pride. Interest peaked when strategy talk is offered for regaining Cattail Pond, Larkwing dips her head in acknowledgemnt, fighting a smile that's wormed its way onto her face regardless of her efforts.

New resolve found, and a determination behind her eyes that hadn't been there in days, Larkwing, RiverClan's newest leader, leads the way home.

__________

[ this interaction can now be considered done !! ]

***Alchemist Kitsune*** · #**1122** November 1st, 2023, 05:30 PM

| Lightningstorm |
Flock Together [Tier 3] - Inactive

Guided by the light of the half moon towards the place where her latest recurring nightmare had originated, Lightningstorm's dainty paws led the way, her spotted pelt gleaming in the spare moonlight. The vision of screaming, blood, terror, and the breaking of everything she knew was still seared into her mind. Honestly, she hadn't a clue if it would ever leave. If it would ever let her go back to her more peaceful dreams. The ones in which only she suffered, and for reasons she could understand. For sins she'd committed. Not on the whims of tyrants, idiots, and arsehole stars that couldn't be bothered to give messages with more substance to them. With a clearer message. Leaving the ones still doomed to fall to the whims of their prophecies to flounder and falter until they too inevitably joined their ranks in the night sky.

Scents of others filled the air as she got closer to her destination, her nose wrinkling slightly as she realized WindClan must be the last to show up tonight. It was fine, she supposed. They were the ones who had been relegated to waiting last time, and truth be told, she preferred it this way. A quicker meeting in which Cowtuft and her were not forced to sit out in the cold, just fox lengths away from where it'd happen. The louder the voices became, the more she forced herself to relax, her stiff maw slowly curling, becoming the cheery, cheeky smirk she was fond of sporting. She hadn't a clue what her mentor had planned, what he was thinking of sharing, and she would rather not give any unnecessary clues away with pointless emotional outbursts now. They would serve no purpose here.

"Evening, loves. Sorry bout the wait. Fraid it took me some time to convince my poor toe beans that stepping out onto the chilly night breeze was a must. Turning quite nippy the closer we get to leafbare, innit?" the healer purred, almond shaped eyes gleaming with mischief as she cast a look towards the others before sitting down, pointedly curling her tail around her paws.

As usual, her words were covered in truth to some degree. She really hadn't wanted to come back to the Starcave so soon after that nightmare. And it just so happened to be far colder than she liked. It didn't matter this wasn't her first leafbare, all it had taken was one for her to learn that she was not made for cold weather. And she had been born in cold weather, for star's sake! Perhaps the context to her words wasn't entirely stated. Maybe some things were left out. But it wouldn't matter in the long run. Especially if Cowtuft preferred to keep quiet for now.

***iliri*** · #**1123** November 8th, 2023, 05:45 PM

Springpaw
long-furred, oriental-shaped, gray-and-orange calico molly with blue eyes; torn right ear
purrks: herbal knowledge - tier 2 | the collector | mind reader | skip the steps[all perm. active; sts for battle training]

The moon was awfully bright tonight. Its bright atmosphere shone through the pale concealment of the bleak skies that decorated the tenebrosity along the deep pitch jet-black sky. The endless array of bright stars seemed to not be so visible as they naturally would in such dark nights as these. Her eyes had grown adjacent with the dim silver lighting that had made the medic’s duo trip to the Starcave relatively simple, bearing little troubles during their stroll, only being relatively guided by the bright light of the silver moon. The pale glow decorated a good portion of the cave, eliminating the ridges tops of it with a brighter portion of silver than its natural dank, gloomy gray. Springpaw was almost bound to call the cave monstrously ancient at this point with its shadow, triangular figures features and being omnipresent and resonant. It was a glorious sight to foresee, but it wasn’t enough to warrant away the fact that Springpaw didn’t have a clear indication of wanting to see this place as nothing more than a clear monument to her deep-set dark blue eyes.

Drizzlecloud’s words tore the calico’s eyes away from the foreign sight, focusing clearly up towards the silver-lit molly as the ticked tabby expelled her own words, practically regarding towards Springpaw’s both current physical and mental physic. Her advision was almost something that the young molly wanted to shield herself away from. Her words meant no harm, truly, but they left a bridged gap between her heavy heart and soul that it felt painfully heavy. The intensity of the pounding of her migraine was more keener and louder than the deep and numbing sensation of her split heart tumbling to the bottom of her stomach.

Her mentor’s next set of words brew only a pile of distraught and utter exhaustion deep within the calico’s stomach, her lips merely pursing against the heavy feeling as she felt Drizzlecloud’s silky, long fur brush past her own. The feeling of her mentor’s gentle nudge was more than enough to drift the feline off course from her thoughts, but not enough to distract her from the already arrived medicine cats. Her pupils narrowed to grow attentive towards the moonlit bodies to take in the shapes of who had arrived, and once she had figured out who each cat was, she felt her heavy heart ache more against her body.

Like a pond slowly freezing solid, her blood runs cold. Her breath halts in her throat, and her lungs, half-empty, shudder as though she had been kicked on the lower-half of her belly. The sight of RiverClan’s medics and Elmshadow casted a heavy shock upon her body, merely gripping at her chest with a grip that felt like she was being submerged into the cold depths of the salty waters of the sea. Her naturally rounded paws felt soggy and uncomfortable against the dampened grass that had brushed past her legs far earlier while both Drizzlecloud and her were journeying their way to the Starcave. They were dry to the point where the dampened fur wasn’t visible, but it still stuck to her skin and left an irking feeling that drowsed its way through Springpaw’s stomach, practically swarming it with the nausea that swelled within her.

After Drizzlecloud’s brief greeting towards both of the RiverClan medic duo, Springpaw could feel herself landing on a shaky breath, the young healer parting her lips to say something but nothing comes out. It was absolutely embarrassing, really, that Springpaw herself couldn’t even complicate the words to greet both of the newbie medics. It was rather unfortunate, if she said so herself.

The arrival of Lightningstorm at least gave the oriental calico some composure, as the WindClan medicine cat hadn’t really given the molly much of a problem—other than her sassy outcome of a personality, that is. Either way, the WindClan healer wasn’t much of an issue for Springpaw as she hasn’t seen much of anything negative about her within the first place. However, it wasn’t hard for the naturally keen-eyed molly to take note of the way that the other molly seemed to be hiding something… like what? Having an keen eye for detail wasn’t something that Springpaw necessarily liked, but rather, it was deemed poseable when it was absolutely necessary to be presented. Her greeting briefly caught the calico off-guard from her concerns about Lightingstorm’s hidden thoughts, only focusing on that instead as she casted the molly a small, plantitive smile that coursed its way through her lips.

“It… is… indeed… growing colder… it’s… been growing… harder… to find… herbs… due… to the… frost…” the words gurgled and were quiet against the louder gush of the autumn chills that surpassed through her thick, tri-colored coat. It made the young feline resist the urge to give out teeth-clattering shudder against the slight chill that bit through her body, making it more difficult than she wanted to suppress the words restlessly wanting to escape her throat. In which, the calico had suddenly remembered that both of the new RiverClan medics still needed to bear some acquainted knowledge for the ways of healing the sick and weakened, alongside the wounded. In return, they could give out the knowledge of those herbs that the fourteen moon old recalled the both of them mentioning. Tansy, thyme, blessed thistle, and watermint. The quadruple set being herbs that the calico had no idea existed and were used.

Swallowing thickly, she focused her deep blue eyes towards the direction of the other medic duo, nervously kneading against the cold floor. “E-erm… T… Tansypaw… Falconfeather… do you… both care… to share… the knowledge… of those… four… herbs… that were… mentioned at… the gathering?… I… will give… you both… some knowledge… that would… be reliable… for the… future… if you… wish…” She half-heartedly offered to the duo of medics as she casted them a sheepish smile, hoping that they’ll take her offer for granted and presumably accept what she was willing to teach the newbie pair of medicine cats. What she was bound to offer could at least help them out with their beginnings of their new roles, and maybe even give them a boost for learning the ways of healing just like Coldamber had for her.

@Omari @silverwynds @staurn @Alchemist Kitsune @wolfie @Pitou [ apologies for the lateness of this post! haven’t been feeling the greatest ]

**wolfie** · #**1124** November 9th, 2023, 01:53 AM

✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚ [ COWTUFT ‼ ] ˚｡⋆ ༘˚✧
┆彡 THE GENTLE GIANT
| WINDCLAN'S MEDICINE CAT | 27 MOONS ✮✮✮
✩｡°°｡✩ he . . him ➔ massive white tom with black splotches and floppy ears. scars cover his neck. x-marks on his shoulders and his left hindleg is covered in burn scars
╭₊˚purrks﹕monkey's paw, the collector, herb knowledge, kitty softpaws ₊˚੭
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘∘₊✧─� �────✧₊∘∘₊✧──────

⌦ .｡.:* ✮ @Alchemist Kitsune @silverwynds @Omari @Pitou @eris @staurn
There was any other place Cowtuft would want to be then here. It was not out a dislike for his fellow medicine cats. He always been one to seek a connection, an alliance with them to his best efforts, but he did not want to speak to the stars. He was ridiculously frustrated with them. If there was another plague, another disaster awaiting on the horizon for WindClan — he often found himself at this place of refusal — he was going to .. something. Something, he would bloody do something. If ever got the chance to.

The idea of leaving WindClan alone — even briefly — was dreadful but alas, here he was with Lightningstorm. Connections were important and with the growing concerns of the herb shortage and leaf-bare beginning to show, they might end up needing them. Cowtuft was not sure how far the others valued the alliance so, he didn't put high hopes but he still had hopes at least. He kept his relationships with mutual respect. Time made him more confident in his own value, he had moons of experience. No one could quite doubt his capabilities. Despite it all, he preferred his connections to stay as acquaintances. At a tail's length. They all had their expiration dates. He just didn't want it to hurt much when theirs was met.

So wrapped up in his own thoughts the gentle giant didn't realize they were nearing close until they the entrance was right in front of their faces. "Ah,"

Cowtuft took a deep breath, smiling softly at Lightningstorm who seemed to be uncurling from her shell. "I reckon.. this will go fairly quick.. too cold to dwell, " He offered quietly before entering into the den. He understood he looked worse for wear (he kept himself well-groomed but there wasn't much you could do for lack of sleep) but still kept his tail at a relaxed, confident position.

He let Lightningstorm do the proper entrance, only smiling and nodding his head before taking a seat. Ears perking up at Springpaw's mention of RiverClan's medics .. already knowing a few herbs? Cowtuft blinked in surprise. Huh. He wondered if StarClan had taught them a few or they figured it out on his own. This he could do. It was a comfortable subjection —knowledge. "Ooh! Yes.. That sounds quite delightful..! I have a quite few new discoveries also.. Suppose we can go around and .. exchange knowledge like usual..? Or if there is any news to be said or.. news can be after..?" He gestured swiftly with a bit of excitement. He shook his head at the last bit. Wording was hard, he was sure his point got across. He also could've never believed a herb could cause someone to vomit. It was very interesting the differing effects and while unpleasant, useful!! He was sure the others would agree. Maybe.

**Rose** · #**1125** December 14th, 2023, 10:09 AM

TW: Emotional Distress & Mentions of Blood
This Starcave visit takes place directly after this VA.

Larkfire
She/Her | The Wraith
Shadow Fiend, Beefed Up (T1), & Dreamwalker Purrk

Once-white paws were now crusted with blood as Larkfire placed paw after paw down. Her reckless run through the forest after realizing her sight was... was... no, she wouldn't think it. She couldn't. Shame burned into Larkfire's mind, and for a moment the Medicine Cat could fool herself that the blood running down her face were salty tears. Her heart burned, whether with internal pain or whether from her run, Larkfire knew not.

Her steps, however, had turned into a hesitant trot after too many instances where she'd run face-first into something, or tripped over a rock, or... one instance, she'd even stepped on her own tail and fallen to the ground. She'd only succeeded in injuring herself further. Her pelt was on fire, her face was on fire - fitting, it was a mockery of her name. Thoroughly mortified afterward, Larkfire had frozen in place for too long, wondering if anyone had seen her act like an utter fool. What did it matter, though, when she had ended up a fool anyway?

She didn't know what she looked like, at this point. Did she care, though? Did she? Her eyes... Her... Another pang of hurt swept over her. What would Dawnstar say? What would Darkfall say? Her mate... he'd been the only cat who'd told her her eyes were beautiful. He'd ... told her on more than one occasion that he loved her eyes. And now... now the doubts would not stop invading her common sense. Was that all he'd loved her for? Would he leave her? Skies... she was expecting his kits. She hadn't told him. She...

Larkfire was not a vain cat, not at all, but at this moment she felt her pride shatter, she felt her heart break, she felt the self-assurance with which she carried herself through life crumple before her, then and there.

Her head bowed, body curling into itself, as Larkfire kneeled, face pressed against the dirt, ears pinned flat against her head to drown out the quiet sounds of the forest around her. She didn't know what to do, and she felt too cowardly to go back to ShadowClan just yet. She'd have to go, eventually, because Larkfire would never willingly abandon her Clan. Never. Especially with the litter growing in her. They needed to be protected, and Larkfire didn't know if she alone could offer that protection anymore.

It was in this state, pressed against the ground, vision a black void, ears pressed back to ignore any noise, that the Medicine Cat picked up on a faint scent trail where her muzzle was pressed against the dirt. A scent trail, of all things, all the way out here. And it wasn't just any scent trail -- it was Clan cats. More than four of them, but the thing that called to Larkfire the most was that she could pick out Elmshadow's smell among others, faint and lingering. He'd been here. He'd been down this path. What for, she did not know. But a sadness welled in her heart, unexpected and sudden, for the parted Medicine Cat. Shoving the sorrow aside, the pregnant molly pushed to her paws, each step as careful as the last as she followed her former mentor’s ghost. If he’d been here once, there had to be a reason for it.

One paw. The next. One paw. The next. One paw– Skies! She’d just stepped into a pothole and stumbled quite theatrically, nearly flat on her face (Larkfire didn’t even want to count how many times she’d fallen already). Her tail was riddled with fir needles, prickly and uncomfortable with every step. It was slow going, her progress, but she was determined, and eventually Larkfire noticed that the world had grown even darker, the wind chillier, as if she’d stepped out of the sun.

Two seconds later, her fur brushed against rock. Rock. She was inside a cave. That explained the darkness, and the cold draft in the air. Unable to stop a shudder from wracking her body, the pale feline continued following Elmshadow’s scent trail. It mingled - with RiverClan, ThunderClan, WindClan, and made her wonder what he’d been doing here. A couple of twists and turns later, Larkfire came upon... she didn't know. All she knew that it was a bigger space than the narrow tunnels she'd been walking through - and right in front of her, something pulsed, as if it had life of it's own. She didn't know what it was, but even the darkness of her vision gave way to a weak, insistent light, like how the sun looked behind closed eyelids.

She was drawn to the light, like a moth to a flame, and one paw reached out on it's own accord to press against the cold, smooth surface.

Larkfire couldn't tell anyone later what happened exactly in that moment, but it was as if a streak of burning claws raked down her spine, a foretelling, a warning, and the Medicine Cat stumbled backwards in surprise, falling back on her haunches.

And the world was alive with color once more.

But it wasn't Larkfire's world.

It was a landscape not her own - it was vastly different from ShadowClan's forest. And then, Larkfire looked down, and she went stiller than a statue. An obsidian pool of water sprawled at her paws, black as tar and yet still as reflective as a mirror. The sky was a depressing shade, dark and gloomy above her head.

Regardless, it was Larkfire's own reflection that froze her. She could see, yes, but at what cost? Blood clung to her fur, to her lashes, like a second skin, dry and crusted in most places. Four clawmarks ran diagonal across her face, her once unmarred features a mess of crimson. And her eyes... her eyes were glassy, distant, as if a milky film had descended over her once fiery-amber eyes.

This was her reality. It had always been.

A disgraced daughter.

Maybe Larkfire's biggest mistake had been to take her life in ShadowClan for granted. She was a former outsider, after all. The Medicine Cat was unsure how long she sat there, staring at her ruined reflection, but it was after some time that she sensed a presence, an uneasy chill crawling down her spine, and went as still as death, every nerve on high alert.

There was a predator in these dreary woods, and it wasn't her.

[ @BEAR. ]

**BEAR.** · #**1126** December 14th, 2023, 10:29 AM

Well well well, what did they have here?

It was rare for a cat to crawl into Wolverine's neck of the woods, let alone one so familiar yet new. He had always kept a distance from the living, his only true intervention being his daughter. Ah, that was some moons ago..

But when a juicy kill came right to his doorstep, he could hardly resist. His steps on the mire were soft, near-undetectable as he approached his latest victim. Though his interactions might be limited, his observation was not - a closer examination told him this was Larkfire. Even better, he was aware of the little border spat that brought her to her knees. Hah! Did his granddaughter favor kit-warriors these days?

He bared his fangs, breath reeking of blood and rot. Wolverine just didn't smell pleasant in general, comparable to swamp dung. "So the prodigy has finally decided to visit. Don't tell me that border fiasco kept ya, I don't think my heart can take more disappointment." A crane of his neck, to get a better view of her face - her eyes. "Oooh, ya really screwed those up. Who taught ya how to fight, a squirrel on crabapples? A kitten has better defense than ya do." A dismissive swish of his tail. "No wonder ya got promoted to apprentice. Enforcement isn't for the weak-willed."

[ @Rose ]

**Rose** · #**1127** December 14th, 2023, 10:44 AM

Larkfire
She/Her | The Wraith
Shadow Fiend, Beefed Up (T1), & Dreamwalker Purrk

A wilting flower. If there was any way to describe Larkfire in that moment, this was the most accurate. But her spine was rigid, her throat dry, the panic in her heart crushed down and suppressed to take care of at a later date. She turned only halfway to face the approaching predator, unwilling to put her back to such a dark pool of water that looked like it'd reach out and swallow her whole. Her lips peeled back in a silent sneer, hackles rising at the insult after insult.

She was ashamed to admit that every one of this cat's words hit home.

Jaw clenched, the Medicice Cat was unable to ignore the pit of helplessness that opened inside of her. She was cornered, easy prey to be picked up. Every one of her flight or fight instincts was screaming at her to flee, but in a forest such as this, where monsters ruled, there was nowhere for her to go. "What are you. Who are you?" Was all she managed finally, taking a step away from the - for lack of better words, disgusting - cat in front of her. How did he know what had happened? Where was she? Why was she here? Maybe she'd asked those questions out loud, maybe she hadn't. Who knew?

[ @BEAR. ]

**BEAR.** · #**1128** December 14th, 2023, 08:15 PM

Wolverine withdrew a bit from Larkfire, satisfied with the look he had gotten. He wasn't impressed with Larkfire so far, decisively. Maybe if she stood up to him, showed why Dawnstar had taken a liking to her - but she crumbled and failed just as she had when she fought for her sight, and lost. He dropped the informality of his words, disenchanted. "As kin, you can at least start with 'hello'. Why don't you give that a try?" Regardless of her efforts, he would continue. "I would say we aren't so different, but I never fell so lowly as to let a ThunderClan flea-bag blind me. I hope, chosen of my grandkit, that is not an omen of what is to come next, for your sake."

If she didn't put the pieces together, that was on her. It was not his job to spell things out further. "I am many things, but what I become to you depends on how this discussion goes. I could be your greatest ally, or your most feared enemy. The challenges you face in the living are naught compared to the pain I could cause you." A twist of his muzzle, the beginning of a smile. "You may call me Wolverine."

A lifetime ago, he had another name. But it was weak, and meant nothing to him. He always felt Wolverine was more fitting - fierce, and matched his oversized claws to boot. Thank the rogues who made that connection, for the knowledge of the animal would not be within his grasp otherwise. "Now, Larkfire. Why are you here? As much as I love visits, it is never without a cost."

[ @Rose ]

**Rose** · #**1129** December 15th, 2023, 01:36 PM

Larkfire
She/Her | Purrks Overlook

Monkey's Paw Purrk - Active

Kin. Kin. The word rang in her mind, leaving a bitter taste on her tongue. Kin had never been a pleasant experience for Larkfire. From Risk's abandonment to Fablespinner's hateful upbringing. From Howler's betrayal to Prince's disappearance. From Dappledleaf's death to Sagechaser's flight. It had hardened her, for a time, and then she'd gone soft, pampered by Darkfall's attentions and Sleepykit's snuggles. With Dawnstar's silent praise, with the pride she'd started to feel in herself.

She paused, took a moment. She stopped, rethought. And then; "Hello."

It was a herculean effort, to ignore the insults being thrown her way. To not snap at them until tears blurred her vision and her claws were covered in blood. But Fablespinner had taught her a long time ago to rule with her head and not her heart, to think before she did. After joining ShadowClan, Larkfire had let her heart lead her, and this was where it'd ended; broken and useless.

She'd left her cunning behind for something soft, and her heart had failed her.

'Chosen of his grandkid.' Within moments, she knew. This was not her real kin, no. This forest-dweller was Dawnstar's grandfather, and in that moment, a small part of Larkfire's mind noted that their attitudes did match up.

"You are dead." She breathed finally, the revelation dawning on her. This was not the world of the living. "And I am dying." Her second statement was just as true as the first -- she was running out of time. If she didn't make it back to the world of the living and patch her wounds, she would surely die, and she would take her litter with her. She would be failing Dawnstar, Darkfall, and then entirety of ShadowClan all in one.

Wolverine's smile was just as unwelcome as his presence, but Larkfire kept her expression a blank slate -- she was self-sufficient and sound of mind (enough) to know that she did not want this cat as her enemy. No, she did not.

Wolverine's question haunted her. Why was she here, why was she here, whywasshehere?

Why. Was. She. Here?

Her brother's words came back to her, after all these moons, a balm to the soul. Regardless of his betrayal, Larkfire would never forget the comfort Howler had once offered her with his words on the countless nights she'd lain awake, unsure how to face another day.

'Fear is just a game, little sister. You win by playing.'

And stars above knew that Larkfire intended to play. Ironic, that at this moment, there were no stars above her head, just a yawning darkness. Maybe that was a testimony. She was damning herself, preparing to make a deal with the devil.

Her eyes lifted, light orange hues fixing on a cruel, unwavering gaze. If she had a price to pay for being here, she might as well take something of hers back with her. "You are dead, and yet you are able to speak to me." Her attention drifted around the eerily still clearing, the forest around them devoid of life, before turning back to her great-grandfather. "I do not know how, but since you are doing it, and since I still retain my vision in this world, I wish for my sight back in the waking world. If there is a cost as you say, then so be it."

It was a reckless jump into the wide expanse of the unknown, but there was nothing anyone could take from Larkfire anymore. Or so she thought.

Oh, it was truly a pity how wrong she would eventually be.

[ @BEAR. - Wolverine ]

**BEAR.** · #**1130** December 17th, 2023, 10:13 AM

Wolverine hadn't expected Larkfire to humor him with a greeting, and a laugh choked in his throat. After all this time, genuine laughter felt unreal - unnatural. But here they were.

A ponderance, as he gazed at the cat his granddaughter claimed as her own. If she survived, if she overcame this obstacle-- she could make a powerful ally. Wolverine's influence over the living had waned since Icestar's passing, and finding cats to communicate through proved difficult when few wandered into his part of this hellscape. Perhaps...

"Death may not come for you yet, but you need to be ready to fight for every breath. Yours is not the only life at stake." His tongue rasped over his mouth, thoughtful. "I like you, little bird. I wish you had some of this fire when that ThunderClan rat attacked, it might've saved you from what's to come.

"I'll grant that wish of yours. The path ahead will be dark for now. In time, you will see the light again." It was funny - how she took it as she was paying the price. Originally, he had intended it for himself, for Larkfire was not here for pleasantries but to satisfy her own self interest. "Your body just needs time to recover." Aa for the actual price she'd be paying.. eh, they'd find out later. Wolverine didn't know how the wish thing worked, he just wanted to take credit for it. "There is one thing we should discuss before you wake up: your name."

[ @Rose ]