[iliri]

Bitterhive
colossal, long-furred black-and-brown tabby molly with dark brown eyes and a white streak through her muzzle
purrks: n/a
she/her | rc warrior | 56 moons

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Good. Owlstar was allowing her to enter. Tattered ear flicking, the large feline strolled into the den, ignorant to the tiny beads of ice-cold sand picking at her paw-pads. It was a familiar feeling that she was far familiar with, and it didn’t change her perspective on anything that she had already known. Having lived in RiverClan for as long as she had made her comfortable with the coarse, gritty feeling of sand beneath her soles. Even before she was in RiverClan, she had lived by a beach, even if her memories of it had drastically withered away as time progressed. She didn't remember her birth name; not that it truly mattered in the slightest. It was a name that she didn't care for as she once had. A name that granted no meaning of her existence other than to grant yourself an identity. A singular tufted ear twitched in contemplation, her colossal form lumbering towards the leader as she gingerly placed the piece of prey in front of Owlstar in silent gratitude. Internally, she was grateful to not have broken any of the tender skin of the trout that she had caught just for the leader; not merely to just prove that Bitterhive thought that Owlstar was doing a decent-enough job as a leader—that was more than what she could claim about anyone else—but to give her something to ease her bearings. Being a leader isn’t an easy task.

Exhaling sharply through her numbed nose, the large warrior carefully plopped herself down onto her haunches as she focused on the brown-haired molly with her usual steady, unwavering expression. It was normal for her to consist of such expressions, not wanting to prohibit herself as abhorrently out of line. In fairness, she respected the leader, and she hadn't wanted to show that in any other way. “I came in here to discuss with you about the state of our territory,” Bitterhive continued, her voice even and measured while carrying its usual bluntness. She let the words settle for a moment, as if testing their weight before continuing. "More specifically, the lack of it. But I am certain you already know that." She didn’t shift where she sat, her posture composed despite the undeniable tension that had been pressing down on the clan for more than a while with its broken hierarchy of leadership. RiverClan was scraping by with Lionsbeach and the more recently discovered Seagrass Fields, but for how long would those be suitable until they start declining on prey and herbs? She wasn’t one for dramatics or needless speculation; she dealt in reality and in what was happening right now. And right now, RiverClan’s claim was weaker than it had ever been. Especially after the recent events with Stormstar and the coyotes.

"I suggest that we need to start looking outward before circumstances force us to. I’m not suggesting we march into another clan’s land and stake a claim without cause; that would be reckless, especially with ThunderClan already having soured history with us, and our already fragile state. But we can’t keep waiting for a solution to present itself, either. What I’m suggesting is the idea of scouts." She flicked her tail, her voice steady but firm, laying out her thoughts as plainly as she saw them. "Perhaps you can send out small patrols, sent beyond our usual borders to survey any unclaimed land with little to no predators, areas with strong prey sources and herb stockages. Maybe any pieces of land that can hold the potential to act as temporary shelter if something were to happen to camp and we can’t be here for extended periods of time. We assess, we plan, and then we act accordingly. If nothing comes of it, we return with knowledge instead of desperation. Either way, we gain something." Bitterhive let a short silence follow, gauging Owlstar’s reaction to see what she thought. This wasn’t an emotional plea; it was a logical step forward, any sense of precaution before the clan suddenly found itself trapped in a corner. She didn’t doubt that others had noticed the problem, but noticing and doing were two very different things. "I’m not asking for immediate action; only that we prepare before we no longer have the choice. If we move first, we can control the outcome." She finished dryly, slowly dragging her tongue over a cold, scarred paw-pad while her dark gaze remained expectant. She had given her proposal. Now, it was Owlstar’s turn to speak.

@Marigoldwhisper (owo)