A cold nose touched his cheek, and Beansprout felt a fluttering in his stomach. His face grew warm despite the cold, but before he could even process what he was feeling, Wormbite was helping him to walk back to camp. That was good, anyway -- Beansprout didn't have much time for emotions right now. He was so close. Only a few agonizingly slow minutes away. Step by step, breath by breath, Beansprout was closer to where he belonged.
Then he saw the edge of camp.
And suddenly, he was home.
Stars, how he had missed the gentle thrum of camp. The liveliness that just... existed, everywhere. Despite Wormbite's obvious want to go to the medicine den, he couldn't help but stop for a second. This was where he belonged, forever. This was what he had fought for over a moon to get back to, and this was what he was determined to never let go again. The place. The cats. His family and friends -- his kid.
"Fawnpaw!!" Beansprout called out at the top of his lungs. "Kid! Are you here?? I'm home! I made it back!" He knew he was in no shape to run around looking for his daughter. But standing there, leaning against Wormbite for support, he hoped she would come to him.
Rising and falling, nose tucked under her tail, Fawnlight was trying desperately to sleep. Troubled by nightmares each time her eyes fluttered closed, flashes of hot embers scarring her paws, yowling up to the blanket of stars that heard her pain but refused to help. The heavy thump-thump-thump of her heart in her chest, like wings of a caged bird. Hot pain stabbing all the way through her body as she had recoiled, tripping over herself as she stared, mouth agape, at her shaking paws. Time had slowed in that moment, clutching the young she-cat in an iron-tight claw that refused to let go.
Until it had.
Dropping her into a pit of darkness and despair, one that she had yet to crawl out of. Days were on autopilot now - her training with Stonepaw, her outings with Cloud[REDACTED] - despite her best efforts to pull through. Everything just felt... mundane now. Pointless and drifting by without any regard to how left behind Fawnlight now felt in her own Clan. Whenever she wasn't doing one of the two activities she was curled up in the warriors den, a nest towards the back next to her best friends, trying to sleep away the restlessness that she felt.
But today a certain voice rang through the air. A familiar scent wafted towards her, and in an instant Fawnlight's blue eyes flew open. Her heart leapt into her throat as she scrambled out of her nest, her cobwebbed paws fumbling to get a good grip. Fur was fluffed out and scraps of moss littered her pelt as she did her best to hobble out into the clearing. Pain shot up through her, a constant reminder of That Day - but right now it did little to slow her down. It couldn't be. No. The stars would not be that cruel to trick her, not after everything. That voice...
"...Dad?"
A single croak of her voice, breaking in two as she stared at the ragged sight of her father. He was there. Flesh and bones, not a starry spectacle that StarClan used to taunt her in nightmares. Leaning against Wormbite, calling for her. Telling her he had returned. Whiskers quivering, a tremor passing through her whole body, Fawnlight stumbled forward as fast as her damaged paws could take her. She gave no care to anyone in her way, moving in fast and closing the distance between herself and Beansprout rapidly. Worry soon melted away to pure relief and utter bliss as she got close enough to be wrapped in his comforting scent. There was no hesitation as she threw her paws around his neck in an attempt of a tight hug. "DAD!" Tears had come quickly, soaking her fur and rolling off onto her dad's fur and the ground.
There were so many questions she had, but none of them were important enough for Fawnlight to release her dad from this hug. This was a moment she had longed for in her heart every single passing second, and now that it was here she would be damned if she was going to let it go.
The brown tuxedo apprentice had noticed their mentor but more importantly their mother had gone missing. She was worried oh yes she was, but she knew her mother was strong enough to handle themselves. But she needed some training, they hadn't been able to do much before she had gone missing.
They looked around, looking for either Gingerfrost or Pikestar and their eyes landed on Gingerfrost first. They quietly padded over to the large deputy, gently poking him, giving him a moment before they raised their paws to start signing, "Hello Gingerfrost, I was wondering if you could help me out...my mentor went missing and I haven't been able to get any training."Once they said that they settled all of their paws back on the ground.
bump after a week
posting days are tuesday, thursday, and saturday if i happen to post outside of this, it's for my own enjoyment staff sign here
dracarys - dani <3
oh look a fossil
RAHHHH (velli)
It didn't take Fogcloud very long to come out of the warrior's den and question the challenge that was thrown toward the tabby. The brown warrior never thought of an actual reason, but she knew that deep down, she had one. I'm definitely not in it for the power. Sitting down, Reedwhisker gazed into the warrior's eyes and answered with a calm voice.
"I have an actual reason. Pikestar and I had a conversation approximately two moons ago, and he asked if I can help keep the peace between our Clanmates. I do not feel like being a warrior is helping me do as requested, I think being a Shield will."
That was a good enough reason, right? It had to be, it was the only one she had! Pikestar was being beaten up by his duties and himself, so it was only fair to do as requested and help the tom like he had asked. If Reedwhisker never fulfilled her promise, what would she be? Not a trustworthy cat, for sure. I have to fulfill my promise to Pikestar, just as I had for Nightpaw."What do you say, Fogcloud?"
☄. *. ⋆ Fogcloud
They hummed, thinking over what Reedwhisker was saying, once they deemed it good enough in their mind for themselves to accept the challenge they nodded, "Very Well, I'll accept your challenge." They felt the same boiling feeling in their stomach and they pushed it down. Their past had to be ignored for this or this challenge could get out of hand really quick.
They turned their head and called out towards Pikestar's den, "Pikestar! Reedwhisker has challenged me if you would like to come and observe it so you can determine a winner." Once they said that they quickly stretched out their body so they could prepare their muscles for this challenge.
bump after a week
posting days are tuesday, thursday, and saturday if i happen to post outside of this, it's for my own enjoyment staff sign here
dracarys - dani <3
oh look a fossil
RAHHHH (velli)
PIKESTAR ( he/them )
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Upon hearing his name being called out specifically by Fogcloud, the Lord of the Waters slipped out of the darkened depths of their den and silently walked over to where Reedwhisker and one of their shields were standing. “Reedwhisker has challenged you for your rank, eh?” He pried, sending a curious look over in the dark brown-furred molly, “That was certainly quick. So be it then.” Pikestar nodded his head with approval towards their consented duel, this challenge being the first one officiated since he made the announcement to all of RiverClan.
"Where do you wish to duel Fogcloud for their rank, hm?" Pikestar then asked, turning his full attention to the challenger now. Would it be Lionsbeach? RiverClan's Training Island? Cattail Pond perhaps? There were many fine choices, but as he had stated before, the decision was up to Reedwhisker alone. Fogcloud was a strong cat, and a hearty one at that, so it would be far from an easy fight, without a doubt. He couldn't help but let his own personal interest fuel his inner excitement towards today's activities. Oh how lucky was he, to be chosen as the referee for this fateful spar. Pikestar's whole day just got a lot more interesting. The dark-furred leader wondered how this would all turn out.
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[ @SpiritedWarrior @perseus. ]
His head followed a twist of his ear. Had Tinystorm just called him? Startled he stayed seated almost in a daze. But too soon Tinystorm was half way across the clearing and Pumkinfire felt he had no choice but to follow. He heaved himself onto his paws, clearing his throat and flushing with embarrassment. Had he really just been sitting here when there was work to be done? He turned two startled orange eyes on the other unfortunate abductee. Who were they again? His mind failed him so instead of greeting them he followed Tinystorm out onto the territory.
They hummed, thinking over what Reedwhisker was saying, once they deemed it good enough in their mind for themselves to accept the challenge they nodded, "Very Well, I'll accept your challenge." They felt the same boiling feeling in their stomach and they pushed it down. Their past had to be ignored for this or this challenge could get out of hand really quick.
They turned their head and called out towards Pikestar's den, "Pikestar! Reedwhisker has challenged me if you would like to come and observe it so you can determine a winner." Once they said that they quickly stretched out their body so they could prepare their muscles for this challenge.
PIKESTAR ( he/them )
⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻
Upon hearing his name being called out specifically by Fogcloud, the Lord of the Waters slipped out of the darkened depths of their den and silently walked over to where Reedwhisker and one of their shields were standing. “Reedwhisker has challenged you for your rank, eh?” He pried, sending a curious look over in the dark brown-furred molly, “That was certainly quick. So be it then.” Pikestar nodded his head with approval towards their consented duel, this challenge being the first one officiated since he made the announcement to all of RiverClan.
"Where do you wish to duel Fogcloud for their rank, hm?" Pikestar then asked, turning his full attention to the challenger now. Would it be Lionsbeach? RiverClan's Training Island? Cattail Pond perhaps? There were many fine choices, but as he had stated before, the decision was up to Reedwhisker alone. Fogcloud was a strong cat, and a hearty one at that, so it would be far from an easy fight, without a doubt. He couldn't help but let his own personal interest fuel his inner excitement towards today's activities. Oh how lucky was he, to be chosen as the referee for this fateful spar. Pikestar's whole day just got a lot more interesting. The dark-furred leader wondered how this would all turn out.
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[ @SpiritedWarrior @perseus. ]
Reedwhisker
Hearing Fogcloud's acceptance of the challenge for their place amongst the shields, Reedwhisker gave a dip of her head as a sign of respect and waited for Pikestar to emerge from his den after the shield called for their leader. She dipped her head once more, acknowledging the dark-furred tom's presence as soon as he spoke. This challenge would be the first and hopefully, live up to the expectations of both leader and the challenged. And hopefully Fogcloud doesn't have any hard feelings.
"I want the challenge to take place at Lionsbeach. If it is alright with you, Pikestar, I want the challenge to be held strictly in the water so that our skills as RiverClanners are put to good use. Just to our bellies though so you can see what goes on." she looked at Fogcloud then toward Pikestar to see if this would be an acceptable factor in the fight for the Shield rank. It seemed like fighting in the water would be a good reminder to the Clan that without it, they were just like ThunderClan, WindClan, and ShadowClan. "I feel like it'd be a good reminder to the whole of RiverClan what we stand for."
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Characters
Crow (Purrks: Heightened Perception, Agatha Kitty, Hulk SMASH, Dreamwalker)
Ravenhawk
Re: RiverClan Clearing
Re: RiverClan Clearing
