[spade]

Originally Posted by Dipper

➳ Sunpoppy 🥀

Sunpoppy's brows crinkled at the announcement as he pondered why going to the creek would be a big deal, then it hit him that Buckstar had informally made it 'off limits' after a couple clanmates were reportedly ripped up by coyotes. "Oh. Right. I forgot being brave was a crime in this Clan." Leaving the coyotes to their business was inviting them to keep taking more, and honestly, he didn't mind. If that was the stupid approach ThunderClan was opting for, then they were reaping the consequences and sealing their own graves. Unbothered by the potential for predators when he imagined only the dumb and slow were victims, he pitched casually, "I could go down there with you." Or not, didn't make a difference where he spent his day as long as it wasn't here.

Either he didn't pick up on the edged tone in response to his snarky remark, or he didn't bother to comment on it. Sunpoppy instead yawned. "If you guys were she-cats, you'd probably be my type." Maybe if they were less obviously masculine too, but they weren't. And he wasn't some weirdo going around dating dudes. If there was a dystopian future where all that was left were guys, he guessed he'd just die then. He wasn't going to sink to being gay.

"Sounds like the last session to me," Sunpoppy replied to his suggestion about heading to the creek, momentarily envisioning various methods of causing an apprentice to inadvertently walk into the throes of their own death. That was one way to take care of the problem. Might as well make this useless Clan see what poor choices they were implementing. "I don't know what you do with one of those things. Kick it aside and wait for Buckstar to reassign if he notices." Not like there was anything worth teaching to the little brats of ThunderClan, they'd pick up on how the social hierarchy worked regardless. A callback to a previous suspicion from Sunchaser, Sunpoppy asked, "You do something that he's watching you for?" He briefly considered what he knew of the recent passersby in Chaser's life. "I bet that overbearing Sagewhatever told him you harassed her or something."

➳ Sunchaser

His friend's commentary on how being brave was essentially deemed insignificant in the list of attributes that ThunderClan considered warrior-worth made him chuckle as well. For being considered the Clan of determination and bravery, Buckstar sure made some interesting choices for how they defended their livelihood. It wasn't like he cared that much. Sure, the she-cats were pretty, but every other warrior? Well, they could just go sacrifice themselves at the creek for all he cared - payback for all the torturous mockery he received as an apprentice.

Maybe it would also solve the coyote problem; feed enough ThunderClanners to the ravenous beasts and they just might get their fill and leave. A pipedream, he figured, but it was nice to dream...

Shock registered across Sunchaser's expression for a brief moment at Sunpoppy's earlier statement before he quickly hid it, coughing a bit to cover it up. Did Sunpoppy really want to explore the creek? He didn't want his friend venturing off alone. "I bet we could teach them some lessons on what happens when they try to prey on real cats," he added, keeping up with the appearance of actually wanting to go down to the creek. He had to be brave - he would give his anxiety no choice in talking him out of it.

As far as the apprentice went, he snorted as he switched gears, though the creek invitation still hung in the air. "Perhaps I'll just leave before he wakes up each day. Can't train with a mentor you can't find," Sunchaser shrugged, amusement twisting his maw into a grin. He was certain Buckstar would probably not even notice. "Maybe I'll see if I can stick him with Moonprance for a bit - he's better equipped than I'll ever be to deal with the whining furballs." Part of him knew that his brother might actually go along with it - though not without resistance.

Sageflurry. Even hearing her name infuriated. Frustration glowed deep within his gaze as he huffed, ears flattening back against his head a bit. "She's a useless piece of crow-food. Too fancy for my taste anymore." His tone was serious for the first time in awhile as he fought with the pain that was threatening to encapsulate his heart. "Whatever," he muttered to cap off the answer, straightening himself up and forcing his ears up.

Glancing towards Sunpoppy with an inquisitive gaze and kinked eyebrow, he kinked a brow. "How about that creek trip? I could use a breather from these peering eyes." He felt the eyes that would occasionally drift their direction. While they may not even be discussing the two toms, he wouldn't put it past his Clanmates. Besides, he didn't want to be anywhere near camp when Sageflurry returned, whenever that was.