Warrior Cats Online - View Single Post

**Captain** · #**1638** January 25th, 2023, 12:04 PM

“Quite right,” Pikestar said, nodding approvingly once more, “It’s an excellent attack to use when someone is behind you, and for when a cat has you on your back and in holding down your front paws. Aim for the sensitive soft belly of your opponent.” He lifted his right paw and gestured to his own underbelly to show Bouncepaw where it was located. As much as he often despised battle, the clan leader was quite knowledgeable about moves and tactics. In this forest, living this kind of life, you needed to know these things, even if you were a feline who hated unnecessary violence. This kind of stuff could save a clanmate’s life, or your own, in the heat of war. A reality that even Pikstar was not ignorant enough to ignore. “You are smart, young one, and I have no doubt you will be a great RiverClan warrior someday.” He meowed with a gentle, but tired smile coming to his expression, “If you ever need anymore help with your training, you know where to find me. Now run along, I’m sure I have taken up enough of your time. Remember what I said, Bouncepaw, and thank you for visiting me today.” With that said, the dark-furred oriental stood up and turned away from the young apprentice, retreating to his moss nest without another word spoken. He wished to be alone now, to get some rest.

“Hello, little one.” The tall RiverClan tomcat said with a warm smile. He listened attentively as the young she-cat told him about where she had gone, about how she had gotten lost, was able to find food, and even came across some friendly rogues who helped her back home. Pikestar couldn't help but glance at Lilycreek as the kit said that, knowing that it was most likely rogues who had killed Rosemarykit’s late brother, Sproutkit, all those moons ago. Turning his partial gaze back to her daughter, he smiled once again. “Well, it’s absolutely wonderful to have you back home. We have all missed you dearly,” Pikestar remarked, whiskers twitching, “How would you like to become an official apprentice at our next clan meeting? If it is alright with your mother, of course.” Rosemarykit obviously was more than old enough for her ceremony, but they knew well enough that there was a chance that Lilycreek wasn’t ready to let her daughter go just yet. The large RiverClan leader decided to leave the decision up to the both of them now.

Dipping his head to Reedwhisker, he watched in silence as the RiverClan warrior left his den to do as he asked. However, he soon noticed that young Nightpaw was still here, looking up at him. Pikestar nodded assuredly to her words almost immediately, with a small smile present upon his maw. “Of course,” He remarked, “It’s important for a clan to have cats like that. Grown-ups who can stand up for those who can’t, you know? I am sure you will keep our kittens and apprentices safe, once it is your time to become a RiverClan warrior.” They only wished that there were not so many cats within RiverClan that they all needed to protect their youths from. It was utterly ridiculous, but Pikestar was keen on making sure things like that did not continue. He had lost count of how many cats he had exiled from his clan since becoming leader, but if his own clanmates couldn’t be trusted, then so be it. It was his job to protect those within this camp. “Now then, is there anything else that you need, Nightpaw?” The large dark-furred oriental tomcat asked, somewhat attempting to draw this conversation to a comfortable close. There had been enough excitement today.

Quietly, within the warmth and solitude of his den, the dark-furred tomcat groomed his long, disheveled fur. His ears perked up to the sounds of a gentle rainstorm brewing outside, which wasn’t as heavy as the ones in the past. This one was soft and light, which made it overall rather peaceful to listen to. Pikestar hummed nonchalantly to himself as he drew his tongue over hos chest fur in slow, casual strokes. However, his nose would soon catch a scent of a clanmate as it drifted silently into his space. “Featherspirit?” He called out softly, once he recognized who the smell belonged to, “You can come if you’d like, I won’t bite.” Usually when a cat was this close to his den, they often had something to tell him. Though, Pikestar had been wrong before.

Listening to the gentle pitter-patter of rain from outside his den, Pikestar had been laying on the cold floor with his one eye closed when a familiar voice sounded ever so softly. “Silverpaw.” He answered, without moving an inch, “Come in.” The RiverClan leader had been aware of the fact that StarClan had sent the young molly back to the living, which didn’t help his ever fleeting faith within the stars. How did anyone decide who was worthy of coming back, and who was not? Did death even matter anymore, if someone could be brought back so easily? Pikestar shook his head, flicking away such aching thoughts from his head. Now was not the time for that. Slowly, the large oriental tomcat eased himself up into a comfortable sitting position, then finally opening his single eye. “...How have you been?” He asked his adopted daughter, his tone quiet and hesitant. Things between him and Silverpaw were not exactly comfortable, so it shouldn’t be surprising that the two were rather awkward. That could change though, if both of them worked on it. Was he glad that she was back in RiverClan? Yes, there was no doubt in that. Hopefully, this time around, she’d make it to warriorhood. He certainly hoped so.

Quote:

Originally Posted by x ghostie

⭒♥︎彡 ➜ @canineantics || VERY ROUGH SORRY MY COMPUTER IS ABOUT TO DIE SO I WANTED TO THROW IT OUT REAL QUICK
A flash of concern flickered through Wormbite's cloudy eyes at the confession. He understood, there were times his own duties had him buried in them that he simply couldn't remember nor care about his own basic needs. He still frowned with worry, his eyebrows creasing together. He would be remembering to start bringing by prey more often Pikestar.

With the acceptation, the Dark Lord moved to take a seat to take the weight off his heavy paws. Sleek tail wrapping around his lanky body. "You have accepted your fate, " Wormbite remarked with amusement, his whiskers twitching. He had refined his own thoughts after talking with the shields, a few things were rough around the edges but, he felt comfortable enough to present it to their leader.

"The first thing was hosting advanced battle sessions for our older apprentices. Training them how to deliver fatal blows - I would rather they take a life than lose their own. Disabling a cat in the means of escape, I trust our older apprentices to be able to make the executive decision if the situation calls for it. I will not be tolerating a version of ruthless Shadowclan apprentices - obviously not. Simply wanting them to have the skill set if needed. Raccoonear has volunteered to host this event, " He begun to explain, nodding his head up and down. His shoulders rolled back, hm.

"The deaths have calmed down so this may no longer be needed but the idea of increasing patrolling with pairs - throughout the whole territory - was suggested. At the very least, I believe we should send down a patrol to Lionsbeach and the Rugged Ranges as they have the least activity and are most likely to have rogues roaming around. Reinforcing the walls. Blizzardwind suggested having guards stationed around camp. He also believes there should be more long term and harsher punishments for the youth when it comes to breaking rules. Rather it be pushing back ceremonies or cleaning out dens, " Deep breath. Lots, lots of thoughts. Mrrp. Honestly, he wasn't sure if this needed to be done anymore but, still good to have.

"I have been throwing around the idea of a mass final assessment.. or something to push the apprentices to either qualify to be a warrior or be close enough. We should not be having grown cats walking around with a 'paw still attached to their name. At least, a mass assessment for the older apprentices who have shown no improvement." Twitch. Twitch. Wormbite wasn't sure what he was expecting but, stars, offering the ideas made him feel... open. To rejection. He was not a fan of vulnerability.

"I am.. still throwing this idea around... haven't quite thought too much on it but.. a strike system of sorts. Not quite one Riverclan would know of, mm, yet if a clanmate has shown they are a leech. Constantly causes harm to those around them, does not offer any benefit to the clan - disrespectful at funerals, things that don't quite call for exile but .. still not alright.. lesser punishments. For example, at an eventual point one could spend a week outside of their clan and re-learn how to be a warrior. Not a permanent exile, a warning.. does.. does that make sense..?"

Without even looking up, the long-furred oriental tomcat could sense the distress that he had set upon Wormbite’s shoulders. Oops. He often tended to say comments like that as if that was a normal thing to say. Truth be told, it was harder and harder these days that Pikestar found it within himself to take care of himself, but he was trying to do better despite everything going on. It was difficult getting out of his nest on certain days, and others, it was even more difficult to go back to it at the end of his routines. This den was his own personal hell of loneliness and depression, but being able to talk with his shield, especially one he has known for a very long time, was a relief from the melancholy madness. As the other oriental sat down to get comfortable, Pikestar couldn’t help but utter an amused huff at his words. “So I have.” He answered, smirking. What in the name of the moon was in store for him?

Something told him that this was gonna be a lot of information at once, but the RiverClan leader was prepared to get through all of it. Firstly, the blind shield spoke of advanced training sessions for apprentices: ones where they’d be learning how to deliver fatal blows. Pikestar’s eye widened, seemingly caught very off-guard by that being what started off this conversation. And of course, Raccoonear had been the one to volunteer to host such a training session. Wormbite had good points all around to support the idea. A few seconds of silence passed before Pikestar gave a short sigh. “Alright, I shall allow it.” He remarked, his right ear twitching thoughtfully, “But as you said, Wormbite, I want them to only learn to do this if it’s a life or death situation. I don’t want our apprentices going around killing anyone and anything that they deem a threat.” He knew that his loyal shields would share that same outlook though, so he didn’t worry about it too much. If it was being done to protect all their apprentices and make sure they all knew how to protect themselves, then so be it. “Raccoonear has my permission to go ahead with this event.” He added, simple as that.

Moving on, the topic of increased patrols came up, pairs of cats set off throughout the whole territory, Lionsbeach and Rugged Range being the two that seemed to need it the most. Reinforcing walls, guards around camp, harsher punishments for breaking rules. Okay. That was a lot of different things to tackle at once. By patrolling, he surely meant shield patrolling, right? Because regular patrols were usually already done in pairs, or more. Shaking his head to stir his jumbled thoughts, Pikestar took another bite of his meal, swallowing the chunk of meat before answering. “I’m fine with sending out two patrols to both Lionsbeach and Rugged Range.” They then remarked with a small yawn escaping him, “I have been meaning to reassign you, and the rest of the shields places to oversee, as Kestrelstar once did…" Back then, when he was still just Snowleap, hadn't this area been Cattail Pond? He hardly could remember anymore. "Aye, I agree with reinforcing our walls. Perhaps I will find someone soon that can gather a group of warriors to get that done." Pikestar meowed, then his eye narrowed slightly at what was said next, "What does he mean by harsher punishments? Delayed ceremonies? Rank demotion?" Surely, Blizzardwind didn't expect him to temporarily exile children as they did with warriors.

“I like that idea, very much so.” Pikestar remarked, ears perking up at the mention of a mass assessment, “RiverClan needs more warriors, and mentors are training their apprentices far too slowly for my liking. Amberpaw, Birdpaw, and Cloudpaw are long overdue to become full warriors.” And there were probably many more to add to that ridiculous list, but overall he completely agreed to Wormbite’s suggestion. There are too many RiverClan apprentices who were fully grown adults within their camp, and it was becoming irritating to the clan leader. "Are you open to hosting such an event? Or are you wanting me to arrange such a thing?" Usually, mentors, leaders and deputies handled assessments, but in all honesty, Pikestar trusted Wormbite enough that he was willing to give the loyal shield full control over this. After all, it was his idea. Upon the next topic, the tall oriental tomcat hummed with intrigue. "It does sound interesting," He admitted, tapping his paw to his chin, "RiverClan does need a much more established way of dealing with... leeches, and I think you're onto something. Perhaps we should condone more temporary stays away from the clan when stuff like this happens..." And Pikestar was getting sick of exiling cats so much, so this was something he'd be fine with thinking more on. If he gave Wormbite more time to brainstorm that flickering idea, maybe it could form into something more... concrete for the better of the clan.