[occultation]

 

Originally Posted by Forgetfulshape

"He's just easily frightened, didn't want to seem embarrassed." Grimpaw quietly smiled. Crowglow hesitantly stepped in, ears twitching.
"I want to do whatever it takes to help keep the clan from falling into pieces." He meowed gently.

Fadingsun met Crowglow's eyes with a steady gaze. On one paw, if his Clanmates feared him it might mean they'd be more inclined to listen to him. The fact that appealed to him made him feel rather uncomfortable, but he could sort that out later. On the other paw, he didn't want to jump off the deep end along with the rest of this stars-forsaken Clan.

"If you want to be helpful, the very best thing you can do right now is simply just your duty as a warrior," he said honestly. "Stay out of trouble. Don't go trying to solve our Clan's problems; if something happens that concerns you, come to me, another high rank, or one of the Lionhearts instead of trying to solve it yourself. Listen to what you're told to do, and always put your Clan first. If you do those things, you'll be a great help to me and to your Clan."

 

Originally Posted by Lucythecat

Redwater
She-cat {RiverClan} Warrior
Reddish-brown with green eyes

[ Fadingsun - @occultation ]

Redwater gulped. “Well, Fadingsun… I was wondering when I’d ever get my first apprentice? It’s been a while since my warrior assessments, and I was… I guess hoping I could get one soon?” Wow. That felt good to get off her chest. It would be great if Fadingsun agreed, and gave her her first apprentice! One step closer to her destiny.

Tell me if I did anything wrong!

This was the second warrior in recent memory that had come to him asking for an apprentice. It made him feel warm inside, knowing that some of RiverClan's warriors were determined to help them get back on course, even in the simpler ways. Training new warriors was one of the Clan's most important tasks, so having cats who were more than willing to help with it was always great.

"I'll see about getting you an apprentice as soon as I can. RiverClan hasn't had too many kits coming out of the nursery recently, but we've had a fair share of assignments. I appreciate the interest."

 

Originally Posted by dino.

"Does looking at me funny count?" Redmire bit out before she could stop herself. She let out a huff and ran her tongue over her lips, fighting to keep her words in check before they came back around to bite her. Birdsnow decision final, fine, whatever. It would be Fadingsun's funeral once Birdsnow sunk RiverClan's ship and drowned literally everybody on it and then he had no one to snap at when he got grumpy.

But fine. If Birdsnow kept making a fool out of RiverClan, Redmire had no qualms handling the issue herself should it come to that.

Her ears twitched as Fadingsun carried on. 'Insulting a Lionheart' was definitely a stretch, especially when they'd been asking intentionally stupid questions and saying stupid things. There had been a whole bunch of stupid out of one mouth and the amount was, frankly, astounding. Record-breaking, even. Redmire felt her upper lip twitch and she wrestled it back down - the heat in her eyes said enough without her expression changing. She didn't like this guy's tone. Or his words. Or how he looked at her. Everything screamed self-important and smug and passive-aggressive, and the one good thing he had going for him was that he was actually listening to what she had to say.

Conversation permitted - great. She couldn't promise she would be prissy princess polite, but Redmire was fairly certain she could dial the insults down from twelve to two if she had to. Information sharing - fantastic. The last thing she wanted was to miss out on something, accidentally start a war, and then get smacked because she was kicked out of the Important Information Meeting and didn't get the chance to listen in before someone got to her. Each thing got a curt nod from her in acknowledgement.

But if he wanted her to tame her fire or whatever? "Then let me do that," she blurted. "RiverClan is my home and I want to protect it. All I've ever known of us is shambles and ruin. I want to make us better, I know we can be better. So make me a Lionheart so I can do that and know I'm doing it, or at least tell me how I can without having that role."

For as brash, abrasive, and crude as Redmire had proven herself to be, she did seem genuinely interested in helping RiverClan get back on the right side of history. Fadingsun only hoped that interest was in the right place; call him cynical, but over the past few moons he'd grown to see the negative side of most of his Clanmates more often than the positive. Especially when those cats were like Redmire.

"I'm not going to make you a Lionheart out of the blue, especially when you just got yourself thrown out of a meeting," he said coolly. "But if you adjust the way you bring yourself to others in this Clan, there's certainly a good possibility. You're a good warrior, and you are definitely dedicated to RiverClan. I can see that. In the meantime, aside from refraining from causing any further problems for the high ranks, we can always use extra paws helping train our apprentices. We've got a good few of them who have been in training for some time; it would be nice to see them achieve warrior status.

"Patrolling the outskirts border, offering extra help to Mistyshard, hosting events, strengthening our camp's defenses; all of those things can help out, too. Really, Redmire, I trust that you're smart enough to figure out how to be helpful. Just do it in a way that isn't so prickly, perhaps." His tone had grown more lighthearted.

 

Originally Posted by starry

MISTYSHARD
she/her | riverclan medicine cat | 38 moons
dreamwalker ⦁ beefed up t2

Perfect, Fadingsun approved of her choice. The silver-furred medicine cat nodded thoughtfully as the leader mentioned not wanting another child's innocence lost. Maybe it would turn out to have been a bad decision. If Berrypaw ended up like Fawny, Stonepaw and Tansypaw.. she would be filled with guilt forever. However, she promised herself she would not let that happen. Berrypaw was dear to her and she wouldn't let that get ruined by a role in the clan. Perhaps a slow approach to everything and not overwhelming the 'paw would be helpful. She was definitely planning to talk with the apprentice once the news were announced to the clan - perhaps the talk would seem useless to Berrypaw but to Mistyshard, making sure her apprentice felt comfortable and guided meant the world.

"I won't let her innocence get lost too quickly, I promise. I'll make sure to guide her on every step of the way. She... I just feel like everything about her fits. But I will not overwhelm her." The lanky feline nodded, amber gaze meeting Fadingsun's. Sending Berrypaw over to come speak with the leader? Sure, she could do that. "Of course, I'll tell her to come over in a moment," she mewed casually.

"You know, with all these new beginnings, I am really starting to doubt the competence of some of our clanmates. But you're doing great so far, Fadingsun. I... I don't know if you need this but I suppose i'll say it anyways. I believe in you and your plans and hopes for RiverClan. Maybe it seems like an empty-hearted promise, but I don't say this to every leader. Just know that even with some cats not believing in you, you're doing great so far and I'm grateful to work with you. I think this will actually be a new beginning for this clan." A comforting smile appeared on her maw.

[ @occultation - Fadingsun ]

Smiling wasn't something that Fadingsun found himself doing all too frequently these days. With everything going on in RiverClan, there wasn't much reason to. When Mistyshard's words hit his ears, however, he did smile- a warm, genuine smile. Appreciation filled his heart; out of all the cats in the Clan, Mistyshard was one of the few he respected, whose approval he craved.

"I appreciate that, genuinely," he said, a soft purr rumbling in his throat. "For what it's worth, I think you're doing a great job so far, too. I hope this high rank team remains stable for a long time. We desperately need it, after the dung fest we've had over the past season-cycle and a half. If there's ever anything I can do to be of more help, please let me know."

 

Originally Posted by Dolomedes

Seabreeze
He/him | Riverclan Lionheart | Moons: 18 | Purrks: Go with the Flow | The Collector | Ultimate Predator |
“Ocean waters rising above your neck
You feel the glass start to crack.”

Seabreeze immediately felt guilty as he realized that he woke up his leader. But it would be worse to turn back now after he was already awake than it was to continue with the conversation. Though he wanted to turn back, he really did, Seabreeze still wasn’t sure about him and Rabbitpaw. But Rabbitpaw hasn’t been trained at all in a moon so it was something that needs to be addressed now, not later. Okay, this was fine, everything was fine. This wasn’t Seabreeze's fault, was it? The lionheart took a few moments to enter the den and then settle down to sit and talk, the absence of his tail rang out suddenly. The first time he’s noticed its absence in awhile…but he was stalling in his own mind. He needed to focus. After some time he finally got the words to… you know, communicate.

“I, umm, I’ve been trying my best with Rabbitpaw but I just… we’ve gotten nothing done for a moon. I’ve tried to talk with her several times, but she doesn’t really respond, very much, and I don’t want to push her because I went through something similar when I was an apprentice but… then she was at Owltalon’s event, which is great, but it made me realize that maybe training wasn’t the problem it was just training with me. I’ve been thinking about it and I mean, she’s my first apprentice so maybe that’s why, but I need help with trying to get things to work between us, or for Rabbitpaw to get a mentor who she wants to work with. You know?” The lionheart didn’t mean to ramble that much and the question could have been a lot more straightforward but this was something more personal and emotional for some stupid reason. It shouldn’t be. It was an observation and Seabreeze needed to make something work for his clan, he does that all the time, but again… knowing that Rabbitpaw wasn’t training or the likes because of him kind of hurt. He’s a warrior, a lionheart even, something like that shouldn’t be such a big deal… Maybe he wasn’t fit to be a lionheart.

How many warriors have this issue with their apprentices, does Owltalon have an apprentice? Is she dealing with something like this? Probably not. He thinks back to the apprentices that he has given lessons here and therefore it's always been something. Minkpaw seemed angry about him giving her lessons, Eaglepaw had been short with him in the beginning, Toadpaw left, the kit lessons fell through… Seabreeze shouldn’t have that many failures, but he hasn’t looked at them like that yet. Eaglepaw opened up after a small bit, Strawberrypaw was engaged and eager learner, Sagekit, Aspenkit, and Gullkit all came around, Ravenpaw and Beanpaw were active as well. It was… the failures were louder than the successes. He shouldn’t have any failures as a lionheart. As a proper warrior. Things were so busy, Seabreeze hadn’t even realized just how much he hasn’t hit the mark lately. He had felt okay in his obliviousness. But now he realized and now he had to be kind of upfront with his failures. He needed to get Rabbitpaw someone who can help her and if that wasn’t him then it wasn’t him. That was that.

“I just don’t know how to help her…”

[ @occultation - Fadingsun ]

Fadingsun felt his heart twist a little as he listened to Seabreeze's words. The Lionheart was truly one of the most hard-working, dedicated cats in the whole Clan. He didn't have a single regret making him a Lionheart. He was certainly the type to wear his heart on his pelt, and that was on full display right now.

With Fadingsun's growing cynicism and Dusklion's brashness, RiverClan really needed cats in its higher ranks who had a lot of compassion and depth to their heart. "I'm sure it has nothing to do with you," he said. "Some apprentices just have a hard time listening to their mentors, for whatever reason. Sometimes they rebel by going off and causing trouble; other times, they feel empowered by taking control of their own training. That being said, mentors exist for a reason, and if Rabbitpaw isn't cooperating with you, that's a problem."

Reaching up with a paw to scratch an itch behind his ear, he continued, "Go and fetch Rabbitpaw, and bring her here. We're going to get this settled. If you can't find her, come back and let me know."

 

Originally Posted by Dakotaa

——————

Pebblesplash

RiverClan Warrior
~A beautiful scarred white mollie, pale gray and ginger torbie markings with blue eyes~

——————
| Tags ——> @occultation |
| N/A |
——————

☘︎ “Fades?” She wondered if she was even allowed to call him that. She walks into the leaders den, a bit shaken from what happened at the clan meeting. She didn’t know why he made the choices that he made. Taking a seat, she sighs. “You made quite the introduction for the new cats at today’s meeting…” She tried to be light hearted and funny, but it just made her feel sad. “Why did you do that… say that? Especially with kits around to hear…? Springkit looks pretty shaken from your words, other kits too… I’m just…” She takes a deep breath. “Fogs said some messed up stuff, yes, but I feel like your words went too far.”

☘︎ Moons ago, Pebblesplash would have acted in a similar way, so she felt like a hypocrite, sitting in his den, lecturing him. What else was she supposed to do? “Especially what Talonpaw did, it worries me. Sure he was sticking up for his den mate, but doesn’t a tongue getting ripped out sound… extreme…?” She flicked her tail. “If all RiverClanners ripped the tongue out of our enemies, we would be no better than ThunderClan. I get you want us to be fierce, but to our own clanmates? At least, former clanmates. And Fogs father watched the whole thing. It worries me,” Pebblesplash paused, and then sighed again.

☘︎ “Two wrongs don’t make a right, and although it’s said and done, I feel like things like that should be prevented in the future. Like maybe next time you ask that the lionhearts take cats out of camp, or execute them privately… I feel as if you shouldn’t be putting murder and death onto the minds of RiverClan cats. The code states that…” she hopes he wouldn’t find her words rude. She just needed a reason to his madness.

——————
(Notes: let’s make this quick!)
——————

Fadingsun had been expecting cats to come see him after the whole situation at the Floodstone, which was why he'd spent a few hours out in the territory after the meeting had concluded. His anger had long since died down, but something within him still felt... different. It wasn't anything significant, but it was like a little piece of his heart had shifted in a different direction.

He wasn't particularly thrilled to see Pebblesplash of all cats coming to see him. The way the molly had handled the rat problem still didn't sit particularly well with him, and on top of that she'd deliberately disobeyed his orders to remain and watch the execution. He hoped she wasn't a sympathizer of Fogmuzzle's, but listening to her words, he wasn't entirely sure.

"I had a right to say what I said," he replied levelly. "Fogmuzzle threatened her Clanmates. She made a mockery of Dusklion and I by suggesting we'd kill cats for expressing an opinion. That's not something I'm willing to tolerate. The safety of this Clan comes above everything else for me; if anyone threatens that, they need to be handled. In this case, Fogmuzzle proved herself an enemy of this Clan with her words.

"If I had chosen to exile her instead of have her killed, what then? What if she'd come back and attacked, possibly killed, one of our own? I'd rather have her in the dirt than someone who's loyal, well-intentioned, and dedicated to their Clan. As for making it a public execution, this Clan needs to understand that I mean business when I say that there'll be consequences for their decisions. Because of the foolishness, recklessness, and mis-guided actions of our own, we're about to go to war with another Clan. I don't intend on making future executions public, but I needed all of the warriors in this Clan to see that I'm not going to allow cats to threaten our own like that."

He sank down into a loaf position, curling his tail around himself. "Talonpaw was wrong to rip Fogmuzzle's tongue out in front of everyone, and I made sure he was told that. What's done is done, and he won't be punished for it this time, but I agree with you that it was wrong of him to do that when he did. As for the warrior code, it's obsolete. It's been that way for a long time. I make decisions based on what's going to ensure my Clan's survival; if that conflicts with the moral opinions of long-dead cats, then so be it."

Frankly, he didn't want to have to be like this. He didn't want to have to execute his own, much less publicly. His heart was still twisted all up in knots from the thinking he'd done out in the territory. But, he was RiverClan's leader, and that meant that he had to be willing to do harsh things for their own good, even if it made him out to be the bad guy.

 

Originally Posted by Forgetfulshape

Skyfall had just gotten back to camp, and decided to immediately inform Fadingsun of what had happened. He padded over to the leader's den and sat himself down before speaking.
"Fadingsun, i-if you'll permit me to explain, Dusklion has just had to exile Appleberry for trying to hurt her. Grimpaw got in the way of a hit, but Crowglow is handling that right now. What matters, is that I was right when I thought he was up to something and I needed to let you know of Appleberry's exile... he lied not only to the clan but mainly to me, by saying he was there for me and cared about me... if only I'd known sooner what he was truly up to, I would've made sure he regretted it... B-but, at least I don't have to constantly worry about him anymore!.. right..?" Skyfall meowed politely and in a tone that showed pain and regret and hurt.
@occultation

Originally Posted by taillow

DUSKLION
she/her | riverclan deputy | 28 moons

Stalking into the den after Skyfall with an irritated expression on her face, Dusklion lashed her tail as she spotted her brother. "Tryin' to hurt me? He tried to kill me, Fades." A glare was shot towards Skyfall, then back at her brother. "We need to keep watch over him, 'n Raininpaw needs a new mentor. I exiled Appleberry from RiverClan, 'n he fled after Skyfall attacked him." Now that the adrenaline was wearing off, the deputy was realizing how shaken up she was after the whole ordeal.

"Skyfall, if you suspected your brother was up to somethin', why didn't you let either one of us know? Why only wait until after your sorry excuse of a brother tried to murder me, hmm?" Pissed off was a great way to explain how Dusklion felt right now as her piercing gaze turned towards the cat in her brothers den. Underneath it, carefully concealed and tucked away, was fear. Fear that Appleberry wasn't the only cat in this Clan that wanted to end her life.

[ Skyfall - @Forgetfulshape ] [ Fadingsun - @occultation ]

Originally Posted by Yoshdo

Nervously Rainingpaw walked over to the leaders den. She was planning to talk to Fadeingstar about the way in-which he had handled Fogmuzzle. Most of the kits were terrified and she believed that maybe she could talk it out. Suddenly her clanmates Skyfall and Dusklion rushed past her she worriedly padded over to the entrance. Smelling blood, she stifled a gasp. Is Skyfall alright? Has he done something wrong? she worriedly wondered. She desperately hoped that he wasn't next.

@Forgetfulshape @taillow @occultation

It genuinely seemed like his Clan wanted to self-implode. Either that, or the universe had a real funny way of testing him.

Fury lit his eyes as he listened to these reports. Appleberry had seemed like a genuine, well-intentioned warrior; why in the hell had he gone off and done something like that? Was it all a farce, a ruse to gain his trust so he'd have an easier time of getting to his sister? His claws tore into his nest; when this was finished, he was going to find him. He'd make sure he paid, one way or another. He was lucky his sister hadn't sustained any significant damage, otherwise he'd tear him limb from limb.

His eyes caught sight of Rainingpaw behind Dusklion and Skyfall; she certainly didn't need to be witness to this. "Rainingpaw," he called, trying not to let his anger come through. "Wait outside until I call you in. There are some things we need to discuss."

With that handled, he returned his attention to Dusklion and Skyfall. His sister's choice to let Appleberry live was something he could touch on later, when the prying ears of his Clanmates didn't surround them. She'd always had a hesitance to kill to protect herself.

"Dusklion is right," he growled. "If you were suspicious of Appleberry, you should've come to us. Frankly, Skyfall, I'm beginning to suspect that loyalty to RiverClan isn't in your heart as it should be. Why else would you keep such suspicions to yourself? Either that, or you foolishly thought you could be the one to save the day. Either way, your choice put Dusklion's life at risk for no reason, and that isn't acceptable. So, you'd better have an incredibly good reason as to why you kept this information to yourself."

 

Originally Posted by Fish

"You."

Adderpaw started with no warmth in her voice. She offered no respect, no honor, no fealty, no she was going up to this cat as if he was an equal. Not a leader that she had to bow down to but she wouldn't go as far to throw fowl words. No she needed to keep her pelt and needed to get a point across.

"Can I talk to you?"

After his conversation with Pebblesplash was finished, another cat came to visit. Probably coming to argue against his decision, as well. Hearing Adderpaw's terse voice ask to speak to him, he nodded. "Come in. What's on your mind?"