ThunderClan: Life Before 2023's Sinkhole

[Rizo]

Originally Posted by Papaya

// @RiztheHuntress

>Lynxfuzz<

He raised his eyebrows as Dogbark sauntered out of whatever hole he decided he lived in and clambered up the branch, very visually choosing a spot that was as far out of Nectarflame's reach as possible. And did he say he was LETTING Nectarflame on the Thunderwillow?? He scoffed. "This guy. Who does he think he is? He's either got his head up in the clouds or stuck somewhere too far underground for any of us to get to. Stars."

The tan tom leaned back as Nectarflame began to address everyone, prepared to listen passively and not get involved, if only for the sake of poor Emberpaw. But then her voice began to rise, louder and louder, until it was practically shaking the forest around them. He couldn't stop his jaw from dropping and his eyes flying wide as he gaped at her. This was more than just a graceful display of power, this was bright and scorching and HOT and if ThunderClan didn't sit up and pay attention then they were all surely going to be burned.

Swallowing, still not fully recovered, he curled his tail protectively around Emberpaw and shifted closer to her. If any fighting broke out he would be ushering her straight into the apprentices' den where he could protect her easily.

Emberpaw listened as Nectarflame called out many names, but her heart stopped when she heard the name Larkfrost. Shouldering her mentor out of the way, she took a step after the patrol. "Larkfrost! Wait! Just a moment!" She bolted to her side and looked up at the face of the she-cat, tears glistening. Without a word, she pressed her forehead into the senior warrior's chest for a breath or two, then stepped back and locked eyes with her. "Please be safe," she whispered, grief causing her voice to die. She knew there was nothing she could do except watch her dear friend leave. After a few heartbeats, she looked away and padded, head and tail drooping, back to Lynxfuzz's side.

[ @Papaya @duskfire1 ]

[Madelaine]

-->Wildspark<--

Late to the party he had been in the den when all of a sudden there was yelling. He had not expected this, but he wasn't too surprised. Thunderclan was growing weak. Wildspark had finally rested after hunting that morning. Never had he thought this would happen. Nectarflame was on top of the Thunderwillow yelling at cats who went missing who had the audacity to come back to get out. One cat mentioned to others about getting them out with them. One cat said they woukd stay in case any of them decided to ckme back anyway. He would help as well.

[JackHunt_17]

Originally Posted by NinjaBloss

Shiningskies perked in interest as Nectarflame spoke once again, the Bengal's voice getting louder and louder as she called out cat after cat. Honestly, it was time someone had done this, as much as she loved Aspenstar she had failed as a leader which she had been blind to. But no more, now it was time for ThunderClan to be ThunderClan again. The molly stood and took a moment to stretch languidly before padding a couple of steps forward and steeling herself for the drama that was to come.

"Acornpatch, Swiftpaw, Thunderpaw, Snowpaw, Larkwing, Swiftheart, Larkfrost, Hawkice. You all will follow me to the border or I will drag you out by your ears, and anyone truly loyal to ThunderClan will help. Anyone who Nectarflame mentioned who I have not may leave of their own accord. If they are here when I and whoever helps me returns then they will be dragged out as well." The molly's cold gaze rested one each of the cats as she spoke there names before finally coming to land on Cindersky when she spoke the part about being loyal to ThunderClan. If that cat wanted her apology accepted then she would help her build ThunderClan back up from what it had once been. Shiningskies would be idle no longer, ThunderClan was her home and she would not lose it because the leadership had failed.

@juniiper @Binx @Ravenfrost' @Wintermist @Singing Jay @Swiftheart <3 @duskfire1 @Hawkice @tulle @Jackpot @Papaya [Anyone else who wants to help Shining escort the cats to the border are more than welcome]

Originally Posted by Jackpot

Locustmoon | he/him | @NinjaBloss @tulle @juniiper @Binx @Ravenfrost' @Wintermist @Singing Jay @Swiftheart <3 @duskfire1 @Hawkice @Papaya @Naiad

Dogbark finally arrived, and it was just as he had predicted. The deputy didnt take charge, he didnt confront the cat who very well could be trying to overthrow him, he didnt do anything. There he sat, as far out of reach of Nectarflame as he could be while still staying in the tree, only further proving just how doomed his leadership would be. Where was the fire that he had when he was first appointed deputy? Where was his drive? Now he just seemed resigned to the fact that other cats could (and are) doing a better job of steering the clan back onto the right bath than he ever could. It was sickening, honestly. He didnt deserve to be the leader of Thunderclan, that much was clear to anyone with half a brain.

"Dogbark, why dont you hop down from your little branch, hm? You dont belong up there, even you should know that by now. If you cannot handle even an inner-clan conflict such as this, whats to say you will be able to handle issues with the other clans? ThunderClan has been the laughingstock of the clans for too long, and you rolling over and showing your belly at even the slightest sign of trouble will only further solidify that." he sneered, cold eyes sharply gazing at the grey tom.

A small, serene smile rested on the toms face as Nectarflame started off the unofficial meeting. These cats who had gone missing, they deserved this. Even if they had only disappeared for a day, that was proof enough of their dwindling loyalty to the very clan they swore to protect until their dying breath. He believed that what the bengal was doing was the proper move, and he supported it wholeheartedly. For too long have they stood around, twiddling their paws and watching, helpless, as leader after leader after leader failed them. If no one else had stepped up to take charge, they likely would just have a repeat of Aspenstars awful leadership, if you could even call it that. Yes, he might have contributed to the problem by not acting soon enough, but neither did anyone else. Hell, even Nectarflame had refrained from taking charge in such away until these past moons.

Now, he would have loved to be in Nectarflames position right about now, but he knew that he wasnt suited to being in the limelight. No, he could act from behind the scenes. That was something he was rather used to, after all. It was such a satisfying feeling that he wouldnt ever want to give up. Nectarflame, however, was in his eyes the perfect cat to lead this uprising. Her very presence commanded respect, and her words were no different. Everything she said, everything she did, it always seemed to be thought out and planned. He only hoped it would stay this way. If Nectarflame crumbled under the pressure like their past leaders had, then it would be obvious that ThunderClan was no more. They were currently tottering on the line between being a clan and being a mere pack of rogues, so whatever happened next might very well spell out the future of the clan as a whole.

Stepping forwards, he joined Cindersky, Sundust, and Shiningskies to escort the sorry excuses for clan cats out of the territory. Barely a nod was given to the other cats, but he was still relieved that some warriors were aware of the necessary steps to take in order for the clan to recover. They needed no weak links, no cats whos loyalty wavered with each passing moon, and most of all they needed no cats to further tarnish their clan. They were almost at the point of no return before there was no recovery, and Locustmoon didnt plan on letting them cross that line. Not on his watch.

Hawkice dipped his head. He would not argue. He had been gone, but he was hoping he would be excused as he was gone for such a short period of time, just 4 days, and it was to take care of his newborn kits as their mother had died. He hoped since the warrior code had stated you cannot leave a kit in danger he would've been excused but he guessed not. He hoped Dogbark would have some sense and allow him to return to the clan.

[-Ambermoon-]

Originally Posted by Spirit form

"Alright, alright. I can make it harder!" Rose'Kit caught the moss ball a threw it as hard as the little kit she was could.

"Okay!" Blossomkit mewed, leaping up at the moss ball as high as she could and clawed at it. I caught it! The kit thought, grabbing the moss. "Good one!" She exclaimed.

Pls bump me after 48 hours!

[Hawkk]

Hawkpaw was a bit in shock. The other Hawk of the clan was missing now? Aw. He had wanted to get to know that tom. But he knew one thing. He didn't want Nectarflame to become leader when Dogbark was the rightful heir.

[Eaggle]

Eaglepaw just stared at Nectarflame. He didn't want this at as their leader thats for sure

[Singing Jay]

~ Lark(wing) | @/people |

Green eyes... ... Tried green eyes blinked slowly and watch with an unseeing gaze at the clearing, watching cats go about their lives with troubles that she wasn't a part of. She wasn't a part of this whole clan, an outsider looking in... Outsider.... That was what they called her and were they wrong? These cats were strangers to her, and she knew maybe what, three names? ...


Aspen... star... Aspenstar... was one of the only cats she felt she... knew? And trusted for some incredibly dumb reason. Then there was that one young cat, Foxpaw, who had actually noticed when she was.... what they would call... hurting... when on one else had seemed to, when she had hoped no one else would have... Of course, Shiningskies had been nice enough, but nice in a way she didn't trust, in a way that made her wonder what the warrior was playing at. What was behind that dumb mask of being all nice, was she playing some mind game on Lark (Larkwing... Should she call herself that? did she WANT to call herself that? maybe not as much as she said to herself), some game Lark hadn't yet learned or figured out herself. She had had much training in messing with others' minds but she knew there were things even she didn't know.


The thoughts of that were pushed away as something bigger came in... something bigger and much more painful... Her kits... Frostkit, Duskkit, Hawkkit.... where were they? Were they alive? Ok? Why did no one react to others being gone, this couldn't be something that happened regularly! I just couldn't! She wouldn't allow the thought that she was the only one caring and noticing her litter was gone. Aspenstar would care, wouldn't she? Of course, she would... if she had taken notice of that..... "You all lay praise upon this cat, but what has she done? You all adore her, but for what! Open your eyes and look among yourselves! name, Larkwing, name, name, name, name, name, name, name, name, name, and name! All of you abandoned Thunderclan and slipped back in without her notice. Aspenstar is a sham of a leader, who fails to see when her own Clanmates disappear for weeks ON end and show back up when they wish! .... TWELVE OF YOU DO NOT BELONG...." ... ... ...


At first, she thought her memories and head were playing some game on her, until she realized Nectarflame was actually speaking. One of those dumb meetings was going on. Nothing Lark would have usually cared for, and something she didn't care for now, until the shouting and raised voices broke through her thoughts, and she felt like her skull was about to explode. God, she needed a break from these dump cats, no sensible cats should be screaming like that. Sometimes she found it amusing how they all hated rouges, and saw them as lesser, yet they themselves were behaving no better. In fact, she'd argue that rouges, cats who knew to either mind their own business, be good enough fighters to deal with the consequences. These clan cats were no smarter than dogs, no mater how proud they were, or how highly they thought of themselves.


She was about to move away from her shadowy and gloomy corner, and head out to clear her mind, when Nectarflame shouted something again. It seemed to have become routine by now, but after a few heartbeats Lark recognized the word 'Larkwing', that was what they called her. Blinking she took a deep breath she did her best not to get a headache from the Bengal's voice. What was it now, more complaining about her not being there every second? She didn't understand why one should have to sleep in the camp every night. It was true that she had many times gone on her own trips, hunting no long walks, things she needed as not to snap at these idiots.


Ah no, apparently they wanted her to leave. About time, she got some real time for herself. "Don't worry." She mewed with a dry, monotone voice. "I wasn't planning on staying. It was clear from the moment I came you don't want others among you the wonderful little mess you have here. You pride yourself in not being 'a band of rouges'. Ironic, if you asked me. But I have to congratulate you, you are nothing like rouges. You're loud, obnoxious, and seem to think your specific group in the best." She snorted for herself. Fools. "Rouges would know not to just stand around screaming like this. So good luck on that." She turned to leave. Tiger would want to hear about this. She hadn't planned on returning to her brother, but what would it matter to her.


Shiningskies [ @NinjaBloss ]. That thorn in her paw was going to 'escort' her to the border. "I can go by myself" She grunted. "Apsenstar was what kept me here. But you let her die, so I have nothing left here" She was very well aware that wasn't the story, but she was leaving anyway, so might as well twist the claws in the wounds as a good-bye gift. And with that, her time with these idiots was over, and she was glad. She padded out of the camp, and made her way up in the trees.

[WhitesilverQueen]

Ivywish nodded and led him outside of camp.
@Spooky_SpottedPaw

[ThePiffle]

Blackjaw sat, his mouth open wide, his eyes filled with shock. He curled his tail around his kits slowly. Who does Nectarflame think they are? The leader? Who appointed her!? A scowl on his face could be seen easily. Sure, Dogbark hadn't been the best, but Nectarflame has no right to do that, by the will of Starclan!


His claws scraped into the dirt, as he tried hold his tongue, he didn't need trouble. His ears pinned back he shouted, "Who gave you this authority?" Blackjaw growled, mabye he missed something he thought, but he wasn't going to just let whatever this was just happen.

@Firebender @Clock Dragonshifter

[taillow]

Cindersky
Before Ivypaw could answer, a familiar voice drafted towards her ears and Cindersky lifted her gaze to see... "Shiningskies..." She had not spoken to the grieving she-cat since the last disastrous meeting (really, were they not all disastrous meetings at this point?). Guilt had kept her paws rooted to the ground, unmoving. Part of her wished that different words could have been chosen in the moment. Something akin to regret swirled within the blue hues of her eyes as she nodded to the warrior. "We will be glad to have you."

Shifting her gaze from one Clanmate to the next, Cindersky flicked her ear towards both of them. "Alright, follow me. The prey was all buried just near the cliffside. It should not take us too long to take it all up, and maybe we could even take some of it back to camp as well." With that the senior warrior turned and started to make her way out of camp.

@NinjaBloss @eclipse. (i will go ahead and create a thread for them to take the prey up into the stores and then they can also bring a few pieces home!)