ShadowClan Life Before Destruction

[Brooklyn Trees]

Originally Posted by Spirited Darkness

@Brooklyn Trees

Tawnyki padded out of the nursery, her head lowered and eyes, which were a bright amber color very much like her mother's, were gleaming with a fast growing hatred for ShadowClan, and for Halestar, and for SkyClan. Looking at the sky, the small dark brown tabby, with a pale spot above her right eye, was shaking from both the cold, and the grief for the cat that ShadowClan had celebrated the death of. Glancing around, the small kit, who was nearing apprentice age, and would be having her apprentice ceremony soon, spotted an apprentice tom, but wasn't quite sure whether or not to go over.

Tawnykit didn't want to see him give her the vsame look that most gave her, but she also wanted to talk with someone. The she-kit once again returned her amber eyes towards the sky, wishing that Blazingnight and Burdockpool were both still here, but she knew that that would never happen as she cast a glance around the camp. Tawnykit finally chose to at least try, as she was too stubborn not to, and she padded quietly over to the apprentice, tapping him lightly on the flank with one paw, then putting some distance between them.

She had to admit that it might be worth a try, but the molly knew that ShadowClan wasn't worth staying in, not after what had happened to Tawnykit's family. She sat down, scuffling her brown tabby paws in the white, cold snow that stung her pads and numbed her toes, but she didn't care. It helped to take her mind off of everything, including her grief and mounting hatred for ShadowClan. She wished that she were anywhere but here. Then she returned her focus to the apprentice, waiting patiently.

Bugpaw had been lost in his own thoughts, glaring silently at the ground. He had never really had any other way of looking at something. The dark tom had been just sitting there, unsure about the world and hating the very snow he sat in simply because the lack of feeling hatred was something he had very rarely come across.

The ragdoll tom had not been expecting anything to happen to him. Most of the time nobody was really around him. In all of his years he had only ever had one sort of friend, but that had ended quickly enough. He sort of wished it hadn't though, he had grown used to having at least one feline not hate him, but that had ended as well. He didn't understand that nobody approached those that they disliked or possibly even feared. Being angry and being a bully can have that effect he supposed.

But, as I said earlier, he had not expected anything to happen, because he had not expected anyone to approach him, let alone tap him with a cold paw. The tom jumped in surprise, though quickly tried to hide this, unsure of what would happen if he showed any real emotions. To hide his surprised jump, he put his paws beneath him and stood up, turning sharply to look down at a she-cat. He couldn't tell if she was a kit or an apprentice, but he wasn't sure if that would really change his reaction at all.

[doghouse]

Originally Posted by Brooklyn Trees

Bugpaw had been lost in his own thoughts, glaring silently at the ground. He had never really had any other way of looking at something. The dark tom had been just sitting there, unsure about the world and hating the very snow he sat in simply because the lack of feeling hatred was something he had very rarely come across.

The ragdoll tom had not been expecting anything to happen to him. Most of the time nobody was really around him. In all of his years he had only ever had one sort of friend, but that had ended quickly enough. He sort of wished it hadn't though, he had grown used to having at least one feline not hate him, but that had ended as well. He didn't understand that nobody approached those that they disliked or possibly even feared. Being angry and being a bully can have that effect he supposed.

But, as I said earlier, he had not expected anything to happen, because he had not expected anyone to approach him, let alone tap him with a cold paw. The tom jumped in surprise, though quickly tried to hide this, unsure of what would happen if he showed any real emotions. To hide his surprised jump, he put his paws beneath him and stood up, turning sharply to look down at a she-cat. He couldn't tell if she was a kit or an apprentice, but he wasn't sure if that would really change his reaction at all.

Tawnykit was a little bit surprised by his reaction, as his jump of surprise hadn't gone unnoticed. She knew when cats were surprised or uncomfortable, or even scared. As those were all normal reactions as one realized who she so closely resembled. She wasn't sure if she should say something, and her eyes showed nothing but a mild, burning anger. The brown tabby stood up, as she didn't feel comfortable sitting down now that he was standing up. As she studied him, she couldn't help but wonder if he'd fought in the battle, and who he'd fought for.

She secretly hoped that he had fought in the battle, and had fought for her family. It wasn't like she was going to attack him or anything if he hadn't, and Tawnykit wasn't even going to ask, as it would seem kind of rude, and that was one thing that Tawny wasn't. Half lifting one forepaw, she flattened her large brownish ears, but not in a scared way, a more defensive way. For a few moments, the molly considered saying that she was busy and running off, but decided heavily against that.

“Hi.” she meowed at last, dipping her head slightly, but the anger never left her eyes. Her anger towards ShadowClan and SkyClan and StarClan, and all that. She wasn't quite sure how this older tom cat would react, and to be honest, as long as it wasn't in a fearful way, she would be fine. “I'm Tawnykit.” she added rather haltingly, a hint of mild uncertainty had entered her voice.

[Brooklyn Trees]

Originally Posted by Spirited Darkness

Tawnykit was a little bit surprised by his reaction, as his jump of surprise hadn't gone unnoticed. She knew when cats were surprised or uncomfortable, or even scared. As those were all normal reactions as one realized who she so closely resembled. She wasn't sure if she should say something, and her eyes showed nothing but a mild, burning anger. The brown tabby stood up, as she didn't feel comfortable sitting down now that he was standing up. As she studied him, she couldn't help but wonder if he'd fought in the battle, and who he'd fought for.

She secretly hoped that he had fought in the battle, and had fought for her family. It wasn't like she was going to attack him or anything if he hadn't, and Tawnykit wasn't even going to ask, as it would seem kind of rude, and that was one thing that Tawny wasn't. Half lifting one forepaw, she flattened her large brownish ears, but not in a scared way, a more defensive way. For a few moments, the molly considered saying that she was busy and running off, but decided heavily against that.

“Hi.” she meowed at last, dipping her head slightly, but the anger never left her eyes. Her anger towards ShadowClan and SkyClan and StarClan, and all that. She wasn't quite sure how this older tom cat would react, and to be honest, as long as it wasn't in a fearful way, she would be fine. “I'm Tawnykit.” she added rather haltingly, a hint of mild uncertainty had entered her voice.

Bugpaw paused. It had been a long while since somebody had introduced themselves to the tom and he wasn't entirely sure how to react. He wanted to get to know people in a sort of squashed down and not one hundred percent there way, but he had never trusted easily.

The tom's yellow eyes narrowed cautiously when the she-cat dipped her head to him and introduced herself, showing by her name that she was a kit and not an apprentice. He didn't miss the anger that was in her eyes though. Come to pick a fight? He couldn't tell if the anger was directed at him or not. He had never wronged this particular she-cat to his knowledge, but his blind-rages were, well, blind.

"Bugpaw." He said, using a sort of half-introductory single worded sentence. He had never really been one to talk, but his tone could convey the lack of compassion that stretched like a void within the tom and his eyes remained narrowed towards the young feline.
"What do you want?" He asked her, though it could have been taken as commanding by his tone. She must want something in order to come over to him, right? Just somebody wanting to be friendly was something that he didn't often think about because it was fairly unrealistic for him and he wasn't sure how he would react to it. Not revealing to few emotions besides anger that he did feel had become a sort of habit. Emotions had become for the weak in his mind. He half-hoped that this would change later, his few encounters with emotion were distinct, but he had kept them secret.
Not that he would really have anyone who would want to know things about him. One of the advantages of no connections, or one of the downsides?

[monfang]

Originally Posted by honey.freckled

The medium length slipped into the enclosed area her fur in a slight dismay. Panting lightly her jaw gaped ever so slightly she shook her head. She was off doing her own thing when she had the sudden realization that she made a promise to her apprentice to do a training session with them. Having to rush from her position in the territory she hoped that her apprentice wasn't upset or bad waited for so long

Sapphirepaw saw Finchbreeze and smiled. "Hey! Where have ya been?" he asked, his voice cracking slightly when he said 'ya'. His orange eyes danced with happiness as he was excited like always to train. He padded towards her and sat infront, purring. He hoped he'd do good today, and maybe his mentor would take him hunting. He'd probably try and catch a mouse for him and Frostpaw when he saw her. He wondered if his mother knew about him and the other apprentice, if she would approve of her or not, but nonetheless, he was just happy he could at least train.

[The Cannibal]

Originally Posted by Nightpool

Nightpool saw Ibisprowl ponder his options. The elder tilted her head, her neck fur waggling beneath her mentum. Her yellow eyes never left the coronet of black-and-white hues that was Ibisprowl's face, and she listened facilely to the tom's words. None seemed to come out for a long while, which staunchly worried the sable molly. A glimpse of presentiment flashed in her eyes, her tail twitching from its place on the plushy ground.

He was obviously thinking about his apprentice, but Nightpool could read when his mind left to think about other things. Finally, words meekly slipped from his maw, which surprised Nightpool. Am I keeping you from him? The words were oddly counselled by her intellect. "No, of course not," she meowed kindly. Her audit canted upon its base, her sleek black skull. "I wouldn't say you are—I think this is rather nice. Not many cats talk to an old molly like me." Nightpool looked down, frowning for a bit. She then glanced up at Ibisprowl again. "The kits do," she laughed, "but they all become apprentices at one point or another." Nightpool licked a front hold, eyes effulgent.

Ibisprowl's uncertain stammer made Nightpool worry for him. Was he scared of interaction? That was the vibe that intensely proliferated off of the bobtailed tom. He was kind. What did he have to worry about? No one was perfect, so he shouldn't be intending to be. He was excelling enough for Nightpool... so he shouldn't worry. A look of clement emotion crossed Nightpool's scanty face, and a smile accompanied it. I won't tell him, she thought. Perhaps I'm wrong. Nightpool blinked at the younger tomcat, trying to prevent the sympathy swiftly clouding her green eyes.

After asking the question, he made the hesitant decision to keep his yellow eyes focused on the black she-cat as he waited for a response, though the more he stared in waiting the more his confidence was shaking, he didn't want to stare for this long, did it seem weird to her? Since when did you start caring about what other cats think is weird? His mind threatened to get into a whirlwind argument again but before it could really burst off into an argument, Nightpool answered and he blinked, allowing himself to look back at the ground.

So I'm... Not a bother to her? She actually.. Enjoys my company? The tom's right ear flicked as if flicking away a thought or a bug that landed on the tip, his hornet yellow gaze flickering over to her again for a moment before looking at the frog, forcing himself to take another bite before speaking. He was trying to get his words together, what he would say to her. Part of him wanted to say that she was lying to simply spare his feelings, he's found that other cats do that quite often, and the other part wanted to believe her and thank her. So should he thank her? What should he respond with? Why does this have to be so hard.
Exhaling slowly through his nose, he offered a quivery sort of smile at the she-cat, dipping his head in a polite gesture.
"T-The same could be said a-about me, er, well.. T-That others don't talk to me... N-Not even, heh, my uh.. My dad." He said, attempting to sound light-hearted but it was clear there was some pain there and even his emotionless mask couldn't hide the look of pain there so he simply turned his head away to clear his throat, taking a moment to clear his face before looking back at her. "B-But.. You're.. You're nice, I um.. I like talking to you."

While Nightpool wouldn't know it, this was a very powerful statement coming from Ibisprowl, he didn't enjoy talking to anyone, not anymore anyways, he did as a kit but it changed. Everything changed for him at some point in his kithood, turning the kit that dreamed of being clan leader, of making all the friends he could, who had an easy time talking to others, into something that was the complete opposite. No one really knew that about the black and white warrior, that he used to be the exact opposite of what he was now, that he was actually a nice little kit that had big dreams just like any other. They just came crashing down at some point in his life and then he was left by everyone he thought that cared. That could change a cat, and that's exactly what happened to him.

[Nightpool]

Originally Posted by Duskflight

After asking the question, he made the hesitant decision to keep his yellow eyes focused on the black she-cat as he waited for a response, though the more he stared in waiting the more his confidence was shaking, he didn't want to stare for this long, did it seem weird to her? Since when did you start caring about what other cats think is weird? His mind threatened to get into a whirlwind argument again but before it could really burst off into an argument, Nightpool answered and he blinked, allowing himself to look back at the ground.

So I'm... Not a bother to her? She actually.. Enjoys my company? The tom's right ear flicked as if flicking away a thought or a bug that landed on the tip, his hornet yellow gaze flickering over to her again for a moment before looking at the frog, forcing himself to take another bite before speaking. He was trying to get his words together, what he would say to her. Part of him wanted to say that she was lying to simply spare his feelings, he's found that other cats do that quite often, and the other part wanted to believe her and thank her. So should he thank her? What should he respond with? Why does this have to be so hard.
Exhaling slowly through his nose, he offered a quivery sort of smile at the she-cat, dipping his head in a polite gesture.
"T-The same could be said a-about me, er, well.. T-That others don't talk to me... N-Not even, heh, my uh.. My dad." He said, attempting to sound light-hearted but it was clear there was some pain there and even his emotionless mask couldn't hide the look of pain there so he simply turned his head away to clear his throat, taking a moment to clear his face before looking back at her. "B-But.. You're.. You're nice, I um.. I like talking to you."

While Nightpool wouldn't know it, this was a very powerful statement coming from Ibisprowl, he didn't enjoy talking to anyone, not anymore anyways, he did as a kit but it changed. Everything changed for him at some point in his kithood, turning the kit that dreamed of being clan leader, of making all the friends he could, who had an easy time talking to others, into something that was the complete opposite. No one really knew that about the black and white warrior, that he used to be the exact opposite of what he was now, that he was actually a nice little kit that had big dreams just like any other. They just came crashing down at some point in his life and then he was left by everyone he thought that cared. That could change a cat, and that's exactly what happened to him.

Nightpool noticed his oculus viewing her as he waited for a reply, and she felt rueful for keeping him dallying. Blushing with embarrassment, she had spoken, but was afraid of what Ibisprowl would think. She suspired for every cat to be upbeat, but this bobtailed to simply refused to be. It was peculiar how he was worrisome, believing the judgement of any feline to be a condemning statement.

As he spoke, Nightpool tilted her head. "Your father? H-How?" croaked the old cat, bewildered. When she was a little, scuffling she-kit, Nightkit, her parents always cooed. Darkkit, Splashkit, and Falconkit were her best friends. The memories were all too distant. Her kinfolk were meager. Her brother, Cactuspaw, succumbed in a woeful dispatch near a marsh. Wildkit died at birth, and Rabbitpaw expired when she grew terribly ill. A paddock around camp was where she held her vigil for each and every passing of her siblings. Nightpool regretted her words the moment she said them. "I'm sorry, Ibisprowl... I really am..." she sighed.

With a discerning mindset, she remembered how herself, Nightpaw, pushed on. How Falconpaw's possible future mate, Rainypaw, died. Lamentations came from the sorrowful tom every night. He grew cold. Darkpaw helped him. He disavowed the apprentice's assistance harshly and bluntly. When they received their names: Nightpool, Darkstorm, and Falcongaze respectively, the earthy tomcat bewailed his coldness, and asked for forgiveness. Duly granted by Darkstorm, he continued with his life. Later, Darkstorm died in a fox attack, and Falcongaze died of blood loss from being besieged by an opposing feline. Nightpool hotly refused any aid from her clanmates in the days following. Darkstorm was her mate.

She flitted back to reality, and felt a sensation of authenticity collide with her. She had to barricade her eyes from flying open. "I apologize," she said. "I tend to drift off sometimes." Nightpool look down, abashed. What would Ibisprowl think now? She's an old, senile crone, imagined Nightpool sadly. She looked back up at the black-and-white, maculate-hued warrior.


Could he understand?

[doghouse]

Originally Posted by Brooklyn Trees

Bugpaw paused. It had been a long while since somebody had introduced themselves to the tom and he wasn't entirely sure how to react. He wanted to get to know people in a sort of squashed down and not one hundred percent there way, but he had never trusted easily.

The tom's yellow eyes narrowed cautiously when the she-cat dipped her head to him and introduced herself, showing by her name that she was a kit and not an apprentice. He didn't miss the anger that was in her eyes though. Come to pick a fight? He couldn't tell if the anger was directed at him or not. He had never wronged this particular she-cat to his knowledge, but his blind-rages were, well, blind.

"Bugpaw." He said, using a sort of half-introductory single worded sentence. He had never really been one to talk, but his tone could convey the lack of compassion that stretched like a void within the tom and his eyes remained narrowed towards the young feline.
"What do you want?" He asked her, though it could have been taken as commanding by his tone. She must want something in order to come over to him, right? Just somebody wanting to be friendly was something that he didn't often think about because it was fairly unrealistic for him and he wasn't sure how he would react to it. Not revealing to few emotions besides anger that he did feel had become a sort of habit. Emotions had become for the weak in his mind. He half-hoped that this would change later, his few encounters with emotion were distinct, but he had kept them secret.
Not that he would really have anyone who would want to know things about him. One of the advantages of no connections, or one of the downsides?

Tawnykit nodded quietly as he told her his name, and for a moment, the blazing anger and hatred that never truly left her amber gaze dimmed, but in an instant, it was bright as ever, and she gazed around, wishing that SkyClan had never come, and that, even though she hadn't known her mother very long, and all her memories of her were sort of fuzzy, she wished that nothing had changed in ShadowClan, and taht Halestar was gone.

As Bugpaw asked what she wanted, the dark brown tabby tilted her head quizzically, wondering what made him think that she wanted something, but, it didn't really matter, as it made no difference, as she wasn't going to ssk him, at least, not directly. That wasn't her way. Flicking the beige colored tip of her tail, she sighed, and began to speak. “I don't want anything, just.... You seemed kinda like you needed to talk tyo someone.” she replied politely, then added silently. And I needed to talk to somebody, too.... She didn't want to admit that last part. She was too proud to admit something like that.

As she good near the apprentice, who looked to be maybe twice her age, her amber colored gaze wandered to her surroundings, like the snow, which fell softly from dark gray clouds high above her, covering the earth, trees, and pretty much every surface not protected, creating a thick white layer that froze everything it touched, turning water to ice and a warm breeze to an icy cold one that bit into her fur and froze her ears, nose, tail and paws, making her shiver, though not as much as most due to her thick, unkempt fur.

[Brooklyn Trees]

Originally Posted by Spirited Darkness

Tawnykit nodded quietly as he told her his name, and for a moment, the blazing anger and hatred that never truly left her amber gaze dimmed, but in an instant, it was bright as ever, and she gazed around, wishing that SkyClan had never come, and that, even though she hadn't known her mother very long, and all her memories of her were sort of fuzzy, she wished that nothing had changed in ShadowClan, and taht Halestar was gone.

As Bugpaw asked what she wanted, the dark brown tabby tilted her head quizzically, wondering what made him think that she wanted something, but, it didn't really matter, as it made no difference, as she wasn't going to ssk him, at least, not directly. That wasn't her way. Flicking the beige colored tip of her tail, she sighed, and began to speak. “I don't want anything, just.... You seemed kinda like you needed to talk tyo someone.” she replied politely, then added silently. And I needed to talk to somebody, too.... She didn't want to admit that last part. She was too proud to admit something like that.

As she good near the apprentice, who looked to be maybe twice her age, her amber colored gaze wandered to her surroundings, like the snow, which fell softly from dark gray clouds high above her, covering the earth, trees, and pretty much every surface not protected, creating a thick white layer that froze everything it touched, turning water to ice and a warm breeze to an icy cold one that bit into her fur and froze her ears, nose, tail and paws, making her shiver, though not as much as most due to her thick, unkempt fur.

Bugpaw flicked his ears one after the other, both stopping their movement in a place turned away and further back than when their movement had begun.
Anger flared through the tom at her words and this singular emotion etched itself into his eyes and face. Hiding his anger was more difficult than hiding any other emotion that dared to creep up on him. She thought he was lonely? That he needed someone to talk to? His eyes narrowed a bit more into the glare that had become such a familiar expression to the tom by its near constant use.

It subsided quickly, though calm was never something that the black ragdoll ever fully achieved, so he was more of simply at 'less angry'. Once the anger was gone it near immediately replaced inside him by sadness. He was unused to this feeling of turning so cold inside and actually feeling the emptiness within him. Actually missing having someone to talk to.
He was quickly lost in this feeling, scared of what it meant. He didn't like this... this loneliness. It was unbearable to someone who never felt it. He turned his face quickly away from the smaller she-cat, afraid that he had lost control of how much this had shown on his face or in his eyes.

His eyes closed as well, trying not to let himself start to cry, though he was unsure if the tears that threatened him were of loneliness and sadness or of the fear of it. He swallowed thickly and exhaled, turning his face back towards the kit, though his eyes evaded her face.
"...Why... Why do you say that?" He said, forcing his voice to remain it's usual dark near-sneer, though it fell a notch low. His ears turned backwards and flattened against his skull in disgust at himself. How could he act like this? How could he be so weak?

[warriorkitty3]

Silvercloud trotted into the clearing with his head held high. He had heard of somr cats seeing foxpaw. He knee foxpaw very well and had been waiting for his return. But he hadnt shown up for hours. He looked around and saw a evening's patrol go by.
"Anyone seen foxpaw?"
All of the cats shook thir heads, as silvercloud sat back down.

[lone]

Originally Posted by Spirit

Moondancer nodded slightly. The battle had been harsh. Moondancer had lost a few dear friends, including her only daughter. Moondancer lowered her head at the memory. Wolfpaw had died a brave death, and Moondancer was proud of her for having fought as hard as she had. She hoped the little she-cat would find happiness in StarClan.

"I never want to fight in such a big battle again.. I lost many dear friends" She said, keeping out the information of her daughter. She did not want to make the conversation sad. She was making a new friend after all.
Shaking her head free of the memories, she gave a cat's smile to Ocelotpath. "I enjoy hunting alone, but it is nice with company as well. Shall we get going?" She asked, pushing herself up from her laying position.

@Lonestar23

Ocelotpath glanced at her as though trying to figure out if there was some secret meaning behind her words. Sometimes he thought she cats were impossible, but Moondancer...just seemed sad. That, he could understand. Losing friends was definitely hard, especially for some cats. Some didn't think much of it. Some were devastated. "I understand. Well, I mean, I don't understand, cause I'm not you, but...I understand what it's like to lose a lot of friends. And to have to fight," Ocelotpath mewed, attempting to give her at least a little smile. She seemed like she needed it. And yet, the tom could not summon his regular, cheerful grin that usually made other cats feel better. That was his goal, at least. "Yeah, let's get going." He mewed, smiling broadly as he did so. He got to his own paws, having learned to get up fairly quickly for a while after the battle, around the time Timberstar had returned. For a while it had been hard for him to relax around anyone. How could he? There were still cats who would probably be all too willing to betray Halestar and take over themselves. They couldn't get Blazingnight- or Blazingash, as her name had been before she had taken over- back, so they would probably just want the power themselves. Ocelotpath padded towards the entrance to the territory and glanced back at this new friend, shooting her another beaming grin as he did so, waiting for her to come.