ThunderClan: Life Before 2023's Sinkhole

[perseus.]

Sungaze was resting in the clearing, tail twitching slightly in amusement as he watched Asterdance and Bumblebeak play fighting. He chuckled lightly before letting his head lay on his paws so he could take a quick nap.


[open]

[Shade.]

@Caspian
@Naiad

Rosepaw looked over her shoulder.
"Yep, I've got it." she said amd padded over. She examined the paw.
"Hold still." she said and quickly bent down, plucking the thirn out. It was probably painful, but only for a second. She looked it over. It hadn't pierced the paw too terribly deep.
"I think you can just dip your paw in the medicine den stream for a bit and then keep it off the ground for a few minutes and it'll clot by itself." she told the patient.

[Akira]

Bumbleflight's jaws parted in a low yawn, his amber eyes still blurry from sleep. It had been some days since Brightpath passed, and the dark brown tabby was beginning to feel better, both physically and mentally. He still mourned for his friend, and occasionally visited them at Willow's Rise, but he'd made a promise to them about being better, and he intended to keep it. He would train one of his apprentices, but his paws were still a bit sore, and he still wasn't in a good mental place: he didn't want to burden Rainpaw and Flamepaw with his baggage, after all. But what could he do now? He had just woken from sleep, but he was already bored. Hmm...

Bumbleflight sat up, and it was then that he noticed some stray leaves and twigs in his fur, and he clicked his tongue irritably. Ah, his pelt was a mess: he might as well be an actual part of the forest now! When was the last time he groomed? Probably before his friend's death... Well, at least he now had something to do. The dark brown tabby immediately began to work on cleaning his fur, picking out bits of pieces of who knows what from his pelt. There were bits of bracken, twigs, leaves, burrs, and other things buried in his pelt. Ugh. He would've liked to yank everything out, but he didn't want to tear off some fur while doing so. As such, it was slow progress but, eventually, everything was out of his pelt. He even started a little mountain from all the junk. One burr in particular had been feisty, stuck on his cream belly, but Bumbleflight managed to take it out. But while he had a wide range of mobility, the young warrior couldn't reach his back. He couldn't tell if there was more stuff there, nor could he groom.

He groaned. Well, that was irritating, but he couldn't really do much about it, could he? A small frown on his face, Bumbleflight began to groom his fur, working to return it to it's former sleek form, starting with his bushy tail... Well, he would, but there was definitely something on his back, and it was interrupting him from doing so. Ugh... Should he get help? He didn't know or talk to too many cats, but whatever was on his back was going to drive him insane. But would anyone even be willing to help in something so minor? Probably not. So, in an admittedly embarrassing show, Bumbleflight began to struggle to get whatever was on his back, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. He was just a paw away from getting it, he could tell! But he just couldn't! He just... Needed-!

And now, there's a weird, dark brown tabby wriggling like a worm in the clearing, trying to get something buried in the fur ok his back.

(Open!)

[Caspian]

Originally Posted by Shade.

@Caspian
@Naiad

Rosepaw looked over her shoulder.
"Yep, I've got it." she said amd padded over. She examined the paw.
"Hold still." she said and quickly bent down, plucking the thirn out. It was probably painful, but only for a second. She looked it over. It hadn't pierced the paw too terribly deep.
"I think you can just dip your paw in the medicine den stream for a bit and then keep it off the ground for a few minutes and it'll clot by itself." she told the patient.

Smallvine smiled, “Thank you dear” she said before limping nimbly over to the small pool of water before dipping her paw in

[Eaglet]

Originally Posted by Ritsuka

Bumbleflight's jaws parted in a low yawn, his amber eyes still blurry from sleep. It had been some days since Brightpath passed, and the dark brown tabby was beginning to feel better, both physically and mentally. He still mourned for his friend, and occasionally visited them at Willow's Rise, but he'd made a promise to them about being better, and he intended to keep it. He would train one of his apprentices, but his paws were still a bit sore, and he still wasn't in a good mental place: he didn't want to burden Rainpaw and Flamepaw with his baggage, after all. But what could he do now? He had just woken from sleep, but he was already bored. Hmm...

Bumbleflight sat up, and it was then that he noticed some stray leaves and twigs in his fur, and he clicked his tongue irritably. Ah, his pelt was a mess: he might as well be an actual part of the forest now! When was the last time he groomed? Probably before his friend's death... Well, at least he now had something to do. The dark brown tabby immediately began to work on cleaning his fur, picking out bits of pieces of who knows what from his pelt. There were bits of bracken, twigs, leaves, burrs, and other things buried in his pelt. Ugh. He would've liked to yank everything out, but he didn't want to tear off some fur while doing so. As such, it was slow progress but, eventually, everything was out of his pelt. He even started a little mountain from all the junk. One burr in particular had been feisty, stuck on his cream belly, but Bumbleflight managed to take it out. But while he had a wide range of mobility, the young warrior couldn't reach his back. He couldn't tell if there was more stuff there, nor could he groom.

He groaned. Well, that was irritating, but he couldn't really do much about it, could he? A small frown on his face, Bumbleflight began to groom his fur, working to return it to it's former sleek form, starting with his bushy tail... Well, he would, but there was definitely something on his back, and it was interrupting him from doing so. Ugh... Should he get help? He didn't know or talk to too many cats, but whatever was on his back was going to drive him insane. But would anyone even be willing to help in something so minor? Probably not. So, in an admittedly embarrassing show, Bumbleflight began to struggle to get whatever was on his back, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. He was just a paw away from getting it, he could tell! But he just couldn't! He just... Needed-!

And now, there's a weird, dark brown tabby wriggling like a worm in the clearing, trying to get something buried in the fur ok his back.

(Open!)

Thrushfur scampered into the clearing, arriving back from Willows Rise where he buried Brightpath. He hd also sent his best wishes towards her in Starclan - even with having no special relationship with the cat. Sympathy was just enough for him. His eyes met the dim light of the clearing, squeezing his eyes shut trying to see clearly through the patches of particles in the light. His mouth wiggled, forcing himself not to yawn. How long has it been since he’s ever touched his bed? His face deflating into a humorous expression. Gapping his mouth into a large yawn. Realizing eyes could be specifically right on him. He snapped his mouth shut, scurrying away somewhere far from the center of the clearing.

He met Bumbleflight… wriggling? He blinked, in astonishment. He grinned in amusement, was his back itchy? Helping a friend in need is a friend indeed.. He waltzed up to the tom squirming. Seeing a nearby pile full of rubble, leaves, and other things not worth mentioning. He crept closer, his voice lowering into a whisper. "Bumbleflight? What in the stars are you doing? You look like your rolling in dung." He huffed, holding back a laugh. Reasons why he held back his laughter was probably because the tom had to suffer in the past few days due to Brightpaths death. If he made the situation worse by his laughter all of a sudden then that would possibly ruin their friendship in a split second.

He would act like a kit in the eyes of those if his friendship were to ever crack.. He raised a brow, questioning Bumbleflights antics.

[Akira]

Originally Posted by Eaglet

Thrushfur scampered into the clearing, arriving back from Willows Rise where he buried Brightpath. He hd also sent his best wishes towards her in Starclan - even with having no special relationship with the cat. Sympathy was just enough for him. His eyes met the dim light of the clearing, squeezing his eyes shut trying to see clearly through the patches of particles in the light. His mouth wiggled, forcing himself not to yawn. How long has it been since he’s ever touched his bed? His face deflating into a humorous expression. Gapping his mouth into a large yawn. Realizing eyes could be specifically right on him. He snapped his mouth shut, scurrying away somewhere far from the center of the clearing.

He met Bumbleflight… wriggling? He blinked, in astonishment. He grinned in amusement, was his back itchy? Helping a friend in need is a friend indeed.. He waltzed up to the tom squirming. Seeing a nearby pile full of rubble, leaves, and other things not worth mentioning. He crept closer, his voice lowering into a whisper. "Bumbleflight? What in the stars are you doing? You look like your rolling in dung." He huffed, holding back a laugh. Reasons why he held back his laughter was probably because the tom had to suffer in the past few days due to Brightpaths death. If he made the situation worse by his laughter all of a sudden then that would possibly ruin their friendship in a split second.

He would act like a kit in the eyes of those if his friendship were to ever crack.. He raised a brow, questioning Bumbleflights antics.

The dark brown tabby hadn't expected anyone to actually approach him so soon on whatever dance he was doing, nevermind someone he actually knew. Eyes wide and looking like a deer in headlights, Bumbleflight looked up, his tongue halfway out his mouth, and spotted Thrushfur. How long had he been standing there and watching?! The other warrior had a grin on his face, and he seemed amused... Wait... Was he laughing at him?

His pelt burning with embarrassment, Bumbleflight immediately rolled into a sitting position, looking like a kit who was caught trying to sneak out of camp. The thing on his back was uncomfortable when he sat, but his embarrassment felt worse. He couldn't even meet Thrushfur's gaze, instead moving to groom his chest.

"Oh, uh, hey, Thrushfur. I was, uh... Struggling?" The dark brown tabby answered, cringing at his stutter. Ugh, why did Thrushfur have to witness that? Wait... Maybe... Realizing the tom could help, Bumbleflight turned so his back would face the other warrior, turning his head back to look at Thrushfur meekly. "Uh... Well, I noticed I haven't exactly been the cleanest and decided to fix that, but there's something on my back that I can't reach. Please help me," he said, finishing his sentence with a serious tone and expression, trying his best to snuff out his embarrassment.

[Moxie Foxy]

Rainflower purred, her tail wrapped around her belly ful of kit's....

[SpiritedWarrior]

Originally Posted by Wingnettle

Ashpaw (he/him)
Light grey tabby with blue/grey eyes

»»————-　☀︎︎　————-««

As Charcoalpaw addressed them with a surprised expression, Ashpaw let himself smile proudly and puffed out his chest to confirm that. He winced slightly as the apprentice joked about them being Riverclan; he and Frostshade hadn't been born on Thunderclan, and every time someone mentioned their origin he felt at unease. He clamped his jaws shut, trying to get rid of the pathetic doubt. Of course he wasn't born in Riverclan! But the rumors abut his kittypet origins still haunted him, even though he had managed to get the thought off his mind for a while.

Ashpaw lashed his tail and pointed at the fish that Flamepaw was still carrying, his own already on the ground. "Yes, we caught them. Flamepaw had learnt it first, and today she taught me as well. Each of us got one." He turned briefly to Bumbleflight, who was evidently trying to sneak away while the three apprentices talked, and invited him to join with a quick nod. "Do you want to try one?" he asked hopefully to Charcoalpaw.


@Ritsuka @SpiritedWarrior

Flamepaw puffed out her chest just like Ashpaw had done, looking quite pleased with herself and her friend's job well done at providing a bit of prey to the Clan even if it wasn't something she and her Clanmates typically ate. Eh. Oh well, it's not like we're depriving RiverClan of prey.

"I'm not RiverClan in any way, hehe," she laughed it off. "My former temporary mentor taught me how to fish. She might have RiverClan blood in her, but I don't really care."

The she-cat ushered a fish to Charcoalpaw after Ashpaw had asked the younger tom if he wanted to try one, hoping that it would steer the conversation away from the actual hunt so that Ashpaw didn't stink of discomfort. 'You okay?' she mouthed, looking toward her gray tabby friend, looking slightly concerned. She didn't know of all the rumors that surrounded the tom, but she wouldn't care even if she did. ThunderClan was full of mixed blood these days. And Flamepaw had pure kittypet blood as far as she was aware.

Originally Posted by Jayvines

~ Sparrowstar ~

...And nobody came.

A low growl rumbled through the lithe molly's chest as she glanced around the clearing; empty excluding herself, the cats who initially responded to the disturbance and a smattering of stragglers who watched from the sidelines. Her warriors deserved better than that.

She barely registered the small voice of Rainpaw next to her... Blinking herself back to the present and quieting the tired frustration that seemed to seep from her very bones, Sparrowstar turned towards the young apprentice with a softening look.

"I will be fine Rainpaw, however... The gesture is appreciated. " she started, tongue rasping over her jaws once again to clear off a bit more of the rusty stain. This wasn't a place for young hearts to be, and her own heart cracked just a bit more as she spotted Brightkit racing towards Cloudyflight to comfort her. She needed a task. A distraction to pull young paws away from the grisly scene. "Although, perhaps you could do me a small favor; the queens have discovered a small hole in the nursery walls. Do you think you could repair it, and keep any other kits from wandering out before these warriors are taken to Willow's Rise?"

That should be a decent job to keep the clearing as calm as she could. Stars know she didn't need another pawful of traumatized kits to crack before they even began their training. Turning to Rainpaw's sire, the Thunderclan leader lowered her voice.

"And Thrushfur. Could you collect another warrior and assist with moving the bodies to our grave site? Let Cloudyflight mourn for... As long as she needs, but they need to be buried before moonhigh."

He seemed a trustworthy enough cat to lead the task, and had a decent head on his shoulders. Hopefully their wouldn't be a third body added anytime soon.

[ @SpiritedWarrior @Eaglet @jupiter ]

Rainpaw was glad to hear that his leader was okay despite looking frustrated. The last cat he wanted to worry about was Sparrowstar, considering she's the leader of ThunderClan now. Well... that wasn't entirely true, the last cat Rainpaw would worry about is himself. His attention was then brought solely to Sparrowstar instead of all the other cats around. She wanted him to do a task!

"Yep!" he said quite cheerfully despite the sad atmosphere. "Right away, Sparrowstar!"

After finishing his sentence, Rainpaw dashed over to the camp walls and gathered some leaves, mud (in a bundle of leaves), and a couple of sticks before disappearing into the nursery. The rest of the conversation was now inaudible, so he turned all his attention to doing the task he was charged with: fixing the small hole the queens discovered.

[SpiritedWarrior]

With his leaves, sticks, and a small pawful of mud in tow, Rainpaw began to survey the nursery. Many of his memories were made inside this den when he was Crowkit, and he sighed at the thought of probably never seeing Quietkit again. But at this moment in time, the tom took the opportunity to do as Sparrowstar requested and began searching for the whole in the nursery walls. It took him a bit, but he did end up finding it without having to ask for help from the queens and his mother.

Shortly after finding the hole, he set his repairing supplies down and laid down, beginning to use his sticks as a way to keep the other leaves out of his eyes. He then took his mud and plastered it against the wall only to have to make a trip back into the clearing to get more mud and come back in to resume working. After quite a few trips, the tom decided it was a good idea to move on to place the leaves in the mud to fortify the nursery. As support, he placed the sticks he used previously to hold the mud and leaves in place.

"There. Now I just have to guard this patch until it's all dry... I don't want kits to disappear. Did I use enough mud and sticks? What about leaves? Oh great, now I'm rambling..." the tom groaned with disappointment in himself for rambling, hoping the queens didn't think he was crazy. "I'll just sit and wait to see what happens..."

The tom sat for what seemed to be moons, and his paws were thoroughly caked with mud by the time the hole was officially patched. Now to go tell Sparrowstar the hole is fixed, but I have to remember to advise her that it shouldn't be messed with just in case it falls apart... who knows with the freezing cold settling in.

With that, the tom backed away and turned around to go speak with Sparrowstar in her den.

[Eaglet]

Originally Posted by Ritsuka

The dark brown tabby hadn't expected anyone to actually approach him so soon on whatever dance he was doing, nevermind someone he actually knew. Eyes wide and looking like a deer in headlights, Bumbleflight looked up, his tongue halfway out his mouth, and spotted Thrushfur. How long had he been standing there and watching?! The other warrior had a grin on his face, and he seemed amused... Wait... Was he laughing at him?

His pelt burning with embarrassment, Bumbleflight immediately rolled into a sitting position, looking like a kit who was caught trying to sneak out of camp. The thing on his back was uncomfortable when he sat, but his embarrassment felt worse. He couldn't even meet Thrushfur's gaze, instead moving to groom his chest.

"Oh, uh, hey, Thrushfur. I was, uh... Struggling?" The dark brown tabby answered, cringing at his stutter. Ugh, why did Thrushfur have to witness that? Wait... Maybe... Realizing the tom could help, Bumbleflight turned so his back would face the other warrior, turning his head back to look at Thrushfur meekly. "Uh... Well, I noticed I haven't exactly been the cleanest and decided to fix that, but there's something on my back that I can't reach. Please help me," he said, finishing his sentence with a serious tone and expression, trying his best to snuff out his embarrassment.

Thrushfur listened on with a few nods. His expression relaxed, Oh dear Bumbleflight.. everyone has those days.. He chuckled. Then something in this situation caught his interest. His expression slumped into something anxious and wary. Has Bumbleflight been slouching about and not worrying about his health these past few days? Has possibly.. depression gotten to him after Brightpaths death!? His ears quirked, slanting like a birds wings. "Have you been eating well? Are you doing alright? H-Has her uh.. p-passing been a little rough for you?!" His teeth chattered against each other. Worry was visible in his blue eyes looking towards the dark brown tabby. If the young warrior truly was having mental problems then he would have to be there in a jiffy to save his friend!

At the mention of a burr caught on his back, he caught sight of it. Jeez he’s been worrying too much now.. He felt foolish for absolutely going off towards Bumbleflight about if he was truly having those sort of problems. He drooped his head in shame. His eyes focused on the burr that was quite attached to the tom. He plucked it out with ease, throwing it towards Bumbleflights little pile. He relaxed a bit from that moment, asking in a friendly manner. "Anymore that I could help with?"