WindClan: Life Before 2023's Fire

[goddess of ducks]

Two pelts streaked across the moors together. The two were smaller, definitely the size of an older apprentice. The cousins raced together, Forestpaw and Gorsepaw. They had no true plans, just happy to be in each other's company. They were distant family, and their fathers had been leader and deputy. Both hated them to an extent, both had a dislike for the Syndicate. They raced together, bounding over the sunny hills and through the long grasses. Forestpaw finally started to slow, her black pelt gleaming under the sun. Gorsepaw arrived beside her, his white dappled pelt seeming more reflective than hers. Forestpaw sniffed the air. "I smell something..." She whispered, her ears pricked. "Something not good." Her tail flicked behind her as her pale green eyes scanned the land around them. That was when she caught it, it was a dark grey mottled tabby. It was crouched in the pale Holden grass that swayed around them. It's pelt did nothing to hide it. Forestpaw swallowed hard, pointing out the tom to her cousin. Gorsepaw wasn't looking. He had spotted a stark white feline on their opposite side. He tapped Forestpaw on the shoulder, pointing them out. As Forestpaw turned, the dark feline pounced forwards, running at them. It launched itself at Forestpaw, taking her to the ground. Gorsepaw turned around to react, but was caught by the white cat. Forestpaw was already locked in battle, her training in the Syndicate taking hold. She aimed powerful blows at the cat, but she was no match for the older and larger tom that snarled over her. Gorsepaw however wasn't as skilled in battle as his cousin. The white cat was dealing blow Ayer blow, and Gorsepaw was lucky if he could squeeze a block in. The white cat was tiring him and was taking the victory. It wasn't long before the white cat slapped Gorsepaw across the face, then lunged in for the final bite.

Forestpaw managed longer. She screamed as she watched her cousin get killed right before her. His blood splattered the ground. Tears dripped from her eyes as the white cat turned on her too. She aimed furious blows at them, a silent thought fleeing through her mind. Fight like Singe. Though she didn't want to she had to. She had to save her life. But she couldn't handle two warrior aged cats. They quickly knocked her down again, her shoulder bleeding profusely. The dark tom gave a chuckle, then grabbed her leg in his paws. He snapped them, breaking her leg. He then moved and broke another, making sure she couldn't leave. Forestpaw wailed for help, but a blow from the white cat silenced her. She was bleeding and broken. The white tom then moved in, inserting his claws into her shoulder and pulling back, ripping open her flank. The two cats then gave a maniacal laugh and padded off. Forestpaw lay there chocking and gasping. She wished Singe would have been there. She needed to tell Brindlepaw to stay close to Flashpaw. She needed to tell Mumblenose that she loved him, no matter what. She needed to find her father and tell him she adored him over all else. She needed to find her mother and tell her she was sorry and she wished she could have stayed in her paws all along. But no, Forestpaw was dead, her spirit retreating to the starry heavens.

[Clover]

(open end roleplay; anyone who wants to reply can in anyway they so wish!)

Tipwillow had always been an energetic cat with a love of speed; even now, as he crossed the threshold into the territory, his long, thin tail flicked with anticipation, and a smile rolled across his face; in another second, the calico had shot off, paws barely seeming to skim the surface of the short turf. A cool leaf-fall wind whipped across his face, the tendrils of air working their way through his short fur and brushing tentatively against his skin, chilling him. But Tipwillow didn't notice; the rush of adrenaline from running near-blind on a cloudy moonless night seemed to fill his perception, every corner of his vision filled with red, his blood pulsing sharply underneath his pelt. A whoop of joy tore from his jaws, and he moved even faster, pushing his body to his limit.

It was exhilarating; to the speed demon, divine. No one and nothing could stop the tom, as he raced towards nowhere, chasing an unseen piece of prey faster than even the wind.

Lime eyes glittering with joy, he simply ran.

[fresh]

Originally Posted by Charmer

Thistlepaw snorted, annoyed by the fact that his mentor seemed to know what he was thinking. "Did your brush with Starclan give you mind-reading powers?" he muttered under his breath. With a sigh, he sat up straight, sheathed his claws and looked his mentor in the eyes. "Alright then. Any ideas on how exactly I should go about doing that?" he asked, indulgently. And cue the badger attack anytime, he thought darkly, thinking of the last two hunting training sessions and how he seemed to attract disaster these days.

The mentor's eyes flashed. "No, mouse-brain. Listen!" After waiting for a moment, Ambercloud, continued. "Your smaller size can be used to slip underneath an opponent's stomach, or slip through dense hedges when running from a dog, a fox, or- StarClan forbid- a badger. Predators won't be able to fit in places like you can," she explained. "Also, being small means you'll have more agility and endurance than other cats. This can be used as an extreme advantage- after all, strength isn't everything."

[BlueMountian]

BlueMountian walked along the boarder of Windclan sighing as his sister MarigoldShine followed behind him, The big silverish blue tom stopped in his traces and felt his golden pelted sister bump into him, He sighed once more before turning around " I know your blind...So how about you go back to camp, You're gonna scare all the pray away " Blue said as he looked away in anger, Marigold frowned and turned around flicking her tail at him " Fine, be that way " She began to walk back to camp but walked into a tree " O-Ow " Blue rolled his eyes as his sister hurt herself, He then walked over to her and picked her up by the back of her neck and sat her back down " Here I'll help you, just follow my smell " Blue said as he started walking back to camp, She signed and sniffed lightly and followed her brother. As the made it back to camp Blue walked over to the prey pile and placed the prey he caught while he was out into the pile, His sister sat down and began to clean her paws and legs, Blue looked over his shoulder towards his sister and tought to himself ' maybe if mom didn't die when we were young, she wouldn't have to be so dependent...' He stretched as he walked over to his sister and sat down.

[Mango]

@Celestial Lionpaw glanced around for Applewhisker, his mentor. He felt blind or mousebrained unable to find his mentor Maybe Applewhisker was out hunting and missed my ceremony?

[wren]

Originally Posted by Chameleon

@Celestial Lionpaw glanced around for Applewhisker, his mentor. He felt blind or mousebrained unable to find his mentor Maybe Applewhisker was out hunting and missed my ceremony?

Lionpaw!!

Thought applewhisker proudly, she couldn't recall exactly who that was but the name was powerful, it meant she had got a good apprentice. Someone far better than the rest. With a prideful smile the older she cat stepped forward to a golden looking Tom, his pelt resembled her own in vibrancy, not hard to detect. She was a blazing orange almost a blazing red colour that lit up in the sun. At least that's what burningcall said when they were younger. The senior warrior approached with a warm smile. I'm surprised blazingstar gave me an apprentice, I'm getting older. But that doesn't mean he won't get the training he needs, I promised I would. applewhisker than sat down sweeping her tail over her paws directly behind him. She raised a paw and gently nudged the Tom on the back with it. Withdrawing it to the folds of her tail. "Lionpaw, right?" she said gently tilting her head questioningly at him. "That makes me applewhisker doesn't it?" she said in a teasing tone. The Tom looked worried, maybe because she hadn't exactly been right on his tail the moment the cermony was called. Or maybe other reasons. training was scary for some. Even though she was the biggest Molly in the clan she could admit she had been a Little worried at the start. Now she felt her fears melt away at anything.

[Mango]

Originally Posted by Celestial

Lionpaw!!

Thought applewhisker proudly, she couldn't recall exactly who that was but the name was powerful, it meant she had got a good apprentice. Someone far better than the rest. With a prideful smile the older she cat stepped forward to a golden looking Tom, his pelt resembled her own in vibrancy, not hard to detect. She was a blazing orange almost a blazing red colour that lit up in the sun. At least that's what burningcall said when they were younger. The senior warrior approached with a warm smile. I'm surprised blazingstar gave me an apprentice, I'm getting older. But that doesn't mean he won't get the training he needs, I promised I would. applewhisker than sat down sweeping her tail over her paws directly behind him. She raised a paw and gently nudged the Tom on the back with it. Withdrawing it to the folds of her tail. "Lionpaw, right?" she said gently tilting her head questioningly at him. "That makes me applewhisker doesn't it?" she said in a teasing tone. The Tom looked worried, maybe because she hadn't exactly been right on his tail the moment the cermony was called. Or maybe other reasons. training was scary for some. Even though she was the biggest Molly in the clan she could admit she had been a Little worried at the start. Now she felt her fears melt away at anything.

Lionpaw finally spotted his mentor he stepped forward and touched his nose to her,” I guess. And I will try my best. I can’t promise I’ll be the best apprentice ever, or sucessed each time.” He glanced up at his mentor This will be the closest thing I have to a family, a mentor. Friends aren’t like mentors. Mentors risk lives for you and train you. he paused,” So should I go get mouse bile and start on the elder’s ticks and fleas or do you want to me to change the elder’s moss?” He didn’t really think much of hunting or patroling, or seeing the territory, rather he imagined apprentie duties. Don’t be Questionpaw he knew he chased cats away from him with his excessive questions.

[oats]

Originally Posted by woly

he looked at him. maybe it was sickening to say that everytime lark looked at him, he fell in love all over again. he looked no different from when they had first met,both of them. but in the back of his head he knew...he knew cuckoo wasnt the same as when they first met. there was a part of him that was stable, that knew that this was wrong, that knew he was feeding him lies. but..why would he do that? why would his cuckoosnarl hurt him like that? in that same part of his head, he knew cuckoo was anything but his. he was anything but dedicated. he reeked of other toms when he came home. he didnt love him. he was using him. but why ? what sin-what crime- had he done to deserve something like that? so he convinced himself that this is how mates were. that every punishment and claw he received was out of love, such a sick and twisted word at this point. that every night he came home after being with another tom was because of him, that it was his fault, that he was doing something wrong. feeling him press closer he melted into the touch, pretending that for a moment, he was his one and only.

hearing those words he wanted to jump with joy, a small but eager smile forming on his face when his request was granted. leaning forward he let his head rest under his mates. though he hesitated. now that he was close to cuckoo, the scent of the other tom was even stronger, sickening. it made lark want to vomit, not out of sickness but out of pure anxiety and drastic mood change. he gave out a small whimper, almost inaudiable,¨I..I love you too, with all of my being.¨ saying those words werent as enjoyable now. bitter sweet. he felt almost robotic, planning what he has to say inorder not to anger his love. saying those words felt automatic, forced even. he meant them, but to what extent anymore? he didnt know.

What a good boy. Look at how he trembles in his own pelt, look how he cowers under his lover’s watch. Though he had only really begun to test Larkfall’s boundaries about seven moons ago, Cuckoosnarl felt some warped sense of pride at the state he was in. There really was no reason to be afraid; he wasn’t going to kill him, or anything. Really, if Larkfall was that doubtful of his loyalty, he would do more to stop him from seeing other toms, but no matter. He would do nothing, as always, and Cuckoosnarl would be to blame.

Perhaps his first few… punishments were too harsh? After the fourth, the tabby had learned to hold back occasionally. There was nothing better than leaving him in suspense, fearful and compliant until the tension had subsided.

Of course, there were times when he seemed more feisty than usual, and there were the repercussions that came with them, but to be frank, he preferred it that way. It was much better to have Larkfall simpering underneath him, reverent and quiet. Speaking only when spoken to, in spite of the fact that he used to be outspoken, opinionated and outgoing. He was the one that did that. He was the one who was going to make Larkfall who he was now, and Cuckoosnarl would be damned if the calico tom didn’t hold him higher than Starclan; higher than everything.

Placing an imposing paw by the thinner tom’s own (his claws were still unsheathed,) Cuckoosnarl growled, “You better.” His little companion must’ve just been getting used to the sudden swings in mood, but there was still no guarantee that he was always prepared.

Straightening Larkfall out until there wasn’t a single hint of fight left in him might have sounded oppressive to him at the time when they had first gotten together, but then again, Cuckoosnarl wasn’t the same cat. It was his self-given responsibility to ensure that his mate would never forget him. Never.

And besides, he wasn’t made for love.

[Charmer]

Originally Posted by blue jellie

The mentor's eyes flashed. "No, mouse-brain. Listen!" After waiting for a moment, Ambercloud, continued. "Your smaller size can be used to slip underneath an opponent's stomach, or slip through dense hedges when running from a dog, a fox, or- StarClan forbid- a badger. Predators won't be able to fit in places like you can," she explained. "Also, being small means you'll have more agility and endurance than other cats. This can be used as an extreme advantage- after all, strength isn't everything."

Thistlepaw blinked as he listened to his mentor's explanation, intrigued. He remembered too that Ambercloud had said that her mother had been a smaller cat but was still a great warrior. Perhaps Ambercloud really could help him excel in spite of his size. "You have my attention," he said flatly, his tail twitching as he waited to hear what she had to say.

[graves]

Originally Posted by goose

What a good boy. Look at how he trembles in his own pelt, look how he cowers under his lover’s watch. Though he had only really begun to test Larkfall’s boundaries about seven moons ago, Cuckoosnarl felt some warped sense of pride at the state he was in. There really was no reason to be afraid; he wasn’t going to kill him, or anything. Really, if Larkfall was that doubtful of his loyalty, he would do more to stop him from seeing other toms, but no matter. He would do nothing, as always, and Cuckoosnarl would be to blame.

Perhaps his first few… punishments were too harsh? After the fourth, the tabby had learned to hold back occasionally. There was nothing better than leaving him in suspense, fearful and compliant until the tension had subsided.

Of course, there were times when he seemed more feisty than usual, and there were the repercussions that came with them, but to be frank, he preferred it that way. It was much better to have Larkfall simpering underneath him, reverent and quiet. Speaking only when spoken to, in spite of the fact that he used to be outspoken, opinionated and outgoing. He was the one that did that. He was the one who was going to make Larkfall who he was now, and Cuckoosnarl would be damned if the calico tom didn’t hold him higher than Starclan; higher than everything.

Placing an imposing paw by the thinner tom’s own (his claws were still unsheathed,) Cuckoosnarl growled, “You better.” His little companion must’ve just been getting used to the sudden swings in mood, but there was still no guarantee that he was always prepared.

Straightening Larkfall out until there wasn’t a single hint of fight left in him might have sounded oppressive to him at the time when they had first gotten together, but then again, Cuckoosnarl wasn’t the same cat. It was his self-given responsibility to ensure that his mate would never forget him. Never.

And besides, he wasn’t made for love.

larkfall cowered underneath him at the small threat. you better. it wasnt playful or teasing, but a threat, and larkfall knew that too well. he didnt respond, instead shrinking in on himself at the sudden change of mood. he should be used to it by now. no fantasy can last long. in the end, cuckoosnarl was cuckoosnarl. he was the tom that made him afraid, he was the tom that he was granted permission from. he was this toms property. in heign sight, all of this sounded bad. larkfall wasnt suppose to be afraid of the tom he adored. he wasnt supose to live in fear of what he might do to him. a relationship was 50/50, not 100/0.

but he loved his mate, his everything. he held him above anything else, even his own leader. he felt guilty for thinking that, but it was the truth. he was a marionette and he would gladly let cuckoo pull at any strings he wanted. he didnt feel like himself anymore. she was shy, reserved. scared to even look at another tom in pure fear that he would pay the deadly price of it. but a thing h would never get over was his mates scent. the smell of another tom and the thick smell of windclan territory. his heart. it hurt to know another cat had been able to see his mate like that, hold and touch him like that. that he had done something wrong to not earn his full and dedicated love.

it killed him inside.

he couldnt help it any more. the more he leaned against his mate the more of the wiffs he got into his nose, leaving his face scrunched up in disgusted. he hide it well away from cuckoos vision, of course. he opened his mouth before closing it. scared to speak without given permission. he took a leap of courage,

¨y-y-your..smell..¨