ThunderClan: Life Before 2023's Sinkhole

[Captain]

Brightpaw → Brightpath [ they/she/he ]

➢ As the torbie apprentice sat next to their mentor, they blinked up at the shecat as she addressed them in a hushed voice. What she said held truth to it and they knew that. Why were they here? They knew that they had trained enough. They knew that they had done everything that they needed to know. They were more than capable of becoming a warrior right now. So why did they allow themselves to do this? Fear of disappointment? Fear of being hated? Fear in general that went off the constant overthinking that Brightpaw tended to do? Yes to all of that. The young torbie could tell that her mentor was disappointed by her choice to come sit here with the warrior instead of sitting back with everyone else. It was sad for Brightpaw, because he had done this to avoid that outcome. Yet they had failed again with reading the room and determining what the best thing to do was. How typical of them. It was fitting in a sick, self-hating way, but they remained silent.

Then Cindersky spoke up, making Brightpaw’s green-hued gaze flicker over to where she was. The senior warrior spoke of how Nectarflame that fought valiantly in the battle for the cove, protecting Cloudyflight and Cindersky in the process. With that, the multicolored feline did a curt, reassuring nod. “I would be honored.” He meowed, looking back up at Nectarflame, who was now rising to her paws. Brightpaw soon did the same, their heart pounding in their chest. As her mentor simply ordered her to return to the tree, the Thunderclan apprentice did so without hesitation. They would not allow this opportunity to pass again now. Brightpaw kept her eyes on the bengal molly as she began to speak, talking of both themself and Cornpaw. Upon the word to step forward, they did, holding their head once more.

After a moment passed, Nectarflame and Brightpaw met gazes as the Thunderclan warrior gave her their warrior name. Pride swelled in their chest as she spoke of the strength, the determination and the courage that they had through these apprenticeship moons. It was an important moment for them. They felt like they were being seen. They were being noticed. Their hard work and everything they had done was being recognized. And now. They were not Brightpaw, but Brightpath.

Nectarflame then stepped closer and pressed their foreheads together, making Brightpath close their eyes. “Thank you, Nectarflame.” They almost referred to the molly as simply ‘my mentor’ but no, now they were equals. With this name, they were not an apprentice, but an official grown warrior of Thunderclan. Their path was their own and would always be, as her mentor said, and nobody else could change that. Those words spoke true to Brightpath and would continue to do so for a long time. Once Nectarflame pulled away, the newly-named warrior dipped their head and stepped back, turning to look at Cornpaw now. This was his time now and as much as this moment meant to Brightpath, she knew that she needed to share it with the many other cats that were becoming warriors today.

[ @implimm @marni @sid ]

[dino.]

// @marni for cindersky mention

>Bumblepaw<

Amidst her rising excitement, the drama unfolding behind her went completely unnoticed. They were all getting their names. Everyone who had worked so hard, waited so long. There was finally pay-off, finally something to see for their efforts.

Her sister hadn't been left out, either, and she gave Cindersky a grateful grin as her eyes welled with tears, before puffing out her chest to chant her Clanmates' new names. "Houndspirit! Brightpath! Rainhound! Cloudlyflight! Stagbound! Mistheart!"

[Moxie Foxy]

Finchpaw cheered for her clanmates....

[Rainee]

Sage'blood would yawn and stand up wanting to insult someone. She looked around and walked over to Breeze'wind trying to find a good insult and inspecting her @Aqua Catrina

[Moxie Foxy]

Originally Posted by Belle

Sage'blood would yawn and stand up wanting to insult someone. She looked around and walked over to Breeze'wind trying to find a good insult and inspecting her @Aqua Catrina

"hello! how are you this morning?" Breezewind asked Sage'blood...

[Rainee]

Originally Posted by Aqua Catrina

"hello! how are you this morning?" Breezewind asked Sage'blood...

Sage'blood noticed how the cat was so kind to her even though Sage looked... mean.
"Oh, uhh good." shed say to Breeze'wind. @Aqua Catrina

[Moxie Foxy]

Originally Posted by Belle

Sage'blood noticed how the cat was so kind to her even though Sage looked... mean.
"Oh, uhh good." shed say to Breeze'wind. @Aqua Catrina

"thats great! don't you just love this sunny weather?" Breezewind smiled happily...

[Rainee]

Originally Posted by Aqua Catrina

"thats great! don't you just love this sunny weather?" Breezewind smiled happily...

"Yeah. It is pretty nice..." Sage trailed off not used to common small talk. Her face showed her uncomfort @Aqua Catrina

[Moxie Foxy]

Originally Posted by Belle

"Yeah. It is pretty nice..." Sage trailed off not used to common small talk. Her face showed her uncomfort @Aqua Catrina

Breezewind purred happily "todays been a great day!though i think Deadflames mad again... They are growling in the corner again..." Breezewind pointed to a corner, where Deadflame was indeed growling angrily...

[versailles]

@implimm @zenosaurus @marni //

➵ [ cornpaw | he/him ]

the blonde tom looked at the apprentices beside him, trying to study their faces in the dark when cindersky moved forward. mistpaw, cloudypaw, stagpaw. that’s who the silver bengal was standing in front of. alright, made sense - he was standing near the opposite end of them, so cindersky wouldn’t be able to also stand in front of him. something about a vow of protection, starclan, blah, blah, blah. his ears perked in anticipation, neck craned to stare at the three as they received their names: stagbound, cloudyflight, and mistheart. and..houndspirit. wait, was he not getting his name from cindersky?? or? she even gave rainpaw her warrior name –

oh.

cornpaw hadn’t noticed nectarflame making the walk to the tree until he heard his name. briefly, his attention shifted to brightpaw before it finally rests upon the older molly. no!! he didn’t want to get his name from her! his head jerked to the side, finding cindersky and mouthing (or whispering, rather) ”can’t you give me my name instead??!” though, he still found himself stepping forward. even jaystride would work! or sparrowflight! why nectarflame? his lips drawn in a straight line, he huffed quietly. ’there are two cats among the apprentices called on today that I want to recognize - two cats I particularly effected in my efforts to do what I imagined was right for this clan: cornpaw, and my own brightpaw’ ..what a load o’ dung!!, the bengal thought, simply offering brightpath a look once they received their name. he seemed pretty glad, unlike corn. personally, he would rather be recognized by someone else.

his focus was back on nectarflame not too long after, brows furrowed. his heart ached and he did not like it one bit, so he allowed his gaze to wander.