RiverClan Clearing

[ghostwriter]

Originally Posted by BILL.

Lionstorm had been restless once more, unable to sleep in his makeshift nest at the edge of the clearing. Shadows taunted him in his mind, playing on the edges of his vision as he paced along the camp's perimeter. He was tired but alert, flickering gaze repeatedly scanning his surroundings until they fell upon Larkstripe's familiar form.

"Larkstripe," he chirped a greeting as he slowed his pace to a near stop, rubbing his paws along the ground to keep some form of movement going. He knew he was fantastic, that was nothing new - but he quirked his brow as the other warrior led into the subject of his curiosity. ".. Duskrunner?"

That was a name Lionstorm hadn't cared to hear again. Nothing good accompanied it. "Were you not here during that meeting, or the Gathering following his behavior?" In hindsight, Lionstorm couldn't recall who all attended - blurred faces of the past, but.. Before Lionstorm went into it, he was wondering himself. "Why do you want to know about that flea-bag? He's not someone I'd expect questions about."

Larkstripe assessed the former leader’s response with interest. He seemed stressed, overwhelmed perhaps? The ginger warrior couldn’t quite identify what seemed to be bothering the other tom, but decided not to indicate that he had noticed anything, and shook his head slowly, “No, I...I’m afraid not. I ask because...because I met him. I was patrolling the outer border and encountered a cat who claimed to be someone called Duskrunner...” he frowned, recalling the situation, still deeply confused by the circumstances of the clandestine meeting, “He claimed to be a former warrior of RiverClan. He claimed that...you had sentenced him to death.” His tone lacked any accusatory undertones, and instead he looked to his clanmate as if for clarification, “I told him...I doubted you would ever needlessly cast out a warrior. But he refused to tell me why he was now a loner, ostracized from the clan. The whole situation seemed very peculiar to me.” He explained.

[BEAR.]

"Oh," Lionstorm had to huff lightly at the explanation. "Well, to be quite upfront with you I did sentence him to death. You're a bright one, Larkstripe - but I didn't cast him out of the Clan originally.

"He did that to himself. He interrupted some ceremonies to rudely inform me he was leaving to become a kittypet, which alone was forgivable.. until he petitioned his mate and young kits to join him on leaving the Clan. He threw this on them, hadn't talked to Cloudwillow at all about his decision prior, and baited her to meet him out of camp during the night with their kits with the promise of an explanation.

"Fortunately, they were both foolish enough to plan this during the meeting.. so I overheard. I warned them not to meet - especially not with the poor kits, but they did it anyway! Fawnsqueak and I followed Cloudwillow's scent out of camp and found her by the beach with their kits, talking to him." Lionstorm pulled his muzzle into a frown, looking quizzically at the other tom. "They were oblivious to the owls watching overhead, they didn't care when one of their kits wandered off into the nearby woods. They just.. were both negligent of their children's safety, absolutely irresponsible. When I confronted them, Cloudwillow had the decency to recognize her wrongdoings - but Duskrunner? He couldn't see why he was being reckless, how he risked the lives of his family to predators. He was insistent he did nothing wrong, he continued to try to pressure Cloudwillow into joining him, so I banished him from our territory. I placed a kill warrant on him because of his harassment and carelessness. His decision to pursue the family he tried to abandon almost killed his kits and that's something I cannot condone."

And why he'd want to come around again, Lionstorm didn't understand. To finish the job? Thank the Stars most of his family was gone.. though he was a little concerned about Mosspaw. "If you see him again, I recommend sending him on his way - he lacks the integrity of a Clan cat and I wouldn't trust his judgement."

[ @larkstripe ]

[Estelle]

Originally Posted by Arie

This cat's thinking process... confused them. Eelpaw usually always had logic to go off of but this interaction? it made them use all their brainpower and they did not exactly like that. They needed to preserve anything for like the rest of the day right but when Primrosepaw suddenly named the pike, or at least they were quite certain it was the pike, named it Eel they couldn't help but frown. They were not a pike! they were an Eel! Something that was a lot more beautiful and faster swimming than a pike and it was a lot prettier too - all according to Eelpaw of course, who was determined to protect their name sake. "No. Its a pike. P. I. K. E. Not an Eel. I am, an Eel. E. E. L." Hopefully that should help with how they spelled things out. If it didn't? Eelpaw didn't know what would work when it came to trying to work out how Primrosepaw's brain functioned. When she did hastily withdraw though, Eel looked down at the cat and then at the pike and then proceeded to laugh. "No! It won't eat YOU, because YOU eat IT. It's quite tasty actually." WIth that Eelpaw broke the soft skin of the fish and took a bite out of it. And chewed. And swallowed. They didn't exactly like pike but you couldn't be picky.

Primrosepaw faced Eelpaw directly, expression a mixe between one of innocence and confusion. Did they not like the name eel for the ike? But- like- their name was Eel so- she basically named the Pike after them. No? She tilted head again "..I...E...E..." the fluff ball softly mumbled some of the letters she had just been told. Strange things. With her head lowered, Primrose lifted a paw in thought. Pike, Ike, or eel? Eel was the prettiest out of all of them, in her opinion (or simply because it was easier to pronounce for her), but so she didn't quite know what to do. Yes- or no, no no no. "..w..eel!" she finally squeaked, a bright smile on her face.
When Eel number One started speaking of the fish, her smile dropped and was replaced by a face of curiosity. Her eyes narrowed for a moment as she deciphered the others words and it's meanings. What she eventually concluded was... Fish won't eat her. Drinking liquid still will. But fish no. She eats fish? Despite living in RiverClan, she'd rarely to not at all eaten fish. Or just not realised it. Primrosepaw came forward again carefully, sniffing the air and the fish, rather suspicious. If it wouldn't eat her then maybe... Carefully, she tried to take a small bike out of either one of them- she wasn't sure which lay where- though the first attempt was noting but air. Second attempt was... Fish. A tiny, tiny bite. But fish. It tasted surprisingly well, which surprised her.

[Fairytale]

Ravenpaw didn't know what to do. She had to bring Appleseed back, though, so she'd dragged him all the way from the training island to the camp. And now that she'd made it, she was exhausted from shock, grief, and bringing his body there. She was still crying, she had been since the moment she started. She couldn't stop. Your fault. Your fault. Your fault. The words kept echoing in her head. She was unable to stop thinking about them. @Kipo Oak @:Grimmlin: (sorry, I don't know what to dooo)

[Estelle]

Originally Posted by Shadeleaf

Lotusheart could recognize the small displays of genuine emotion in her friend by now. Whatever he had just said, it mattered to him. And she knew how many loved ones he had lost. Lotusheart herself never knew her parents and didn't have to go through the loss of them. Nor had she had siblings. Though she couldn't relate, she understood.
"We haven't really gotten to much training. And with the training me and others have given her, she's pretty much ready for an assessment with a few holes to fill." she explained.

Gingerfrost didn't want to think about those he lost it.. Hurt. though would never admit to it. He nodded at Lotusheart's answer, not surprised that the apprentice was almost ready for her assessment - she had Lotusheart as a mentor after all, and it seemed she managed to train one warrior after the other. "I suppose... Emberpaw hasn't been doing to bad herself" Gingerfrost told about his own apprentice, somewhat speaking to himself. He thought for a moment "maybe she and Badgerpaw could spar sometime?" He was well aware Badgerpaw would be more skilled, but that was exactly why he suggested it. He wanted to see what Emberpaw could think of against a more skilled and different opponents. Although... Maybe he would give her some battle training first, unlike how he had started. But either way, nothing was sure about the suggestion yet - and Lotusheart still had to give her opinion.

[chaton]

To no surprise, Fluffymoth found themself stargazing once again. The night sky was filled with many wonders! ...Many of which she often shared alone. Tonight was no different as it seems, they were observing the stellar structuring and taking note with their head on their paws. Perhaps there was more to be had in company, however.
"Would any cat be so inclined as to hear some observations of the stars that rest above?" The puffy cat called out to no one in particular, eagerly hoping someone would show up.

(Open!)

[Shade.]

Originally Posted by Estelle

Gingerfrost didn't want to think about those he lost it.. Hurt. though would never admit to it. He nodded at Lotusheart's answer, not surprised that the apprentice was almost ready for her assessment - she had Lotusheart as a mentor after all, and it seemed she managed to train one warrior after the other. "I suppose... Emberpaw hasn't been doing to bad herself" Gingerfrost told about his own apprentice, somewhat speaking to himself. He thought for a moment "maybe she and Badgerpaw could spar sometime?" He was well aware Badgerpaw would be more skilled, but that was exactly why he suggested it. He wanted to see what Emberpaw could think of against a more skilled and different opponents. Although... Maybe he would give her some battle training first, unlike how he had started. But either way, nothing was sure about the suggestion yet - and Lotusheart still had to give her opinion.

Lotusheart was so happy that Gingerfrost was paying attention to his apprentice. She knew he was a good and loyal cat but she also knew his guarded nature. And since he'd lost apprentices too, she wasn't sure how he treated them now. As for the spar, she was very happy. She wanted to train Badgerpaw and sparring was very fun.
"That's great! I'd love to have them spar whenever Emberpaw is ready."

[duckie]

Sootstar
__________

"You were a kit when you left, I hope you understand that things won't be the same. You'll have to pull your weight around here. I'll have you assigned a mentor - you'll have to complete the same requirements as every other apprentice. Hunting, battle, swim training." He glanced over at the patrol that had come in and subsequently all gone quiet.

"You!" he barked, addressing the one feline he didn't recognize, "You came in with Eelsting, what's your name?"

[ @Willowfern @VALLIANCE ]

[crumbl]

Originally Posted by wnder

Sootstar
__________

"You were a kit when you left, I hope you understand that things won't be the same. You'll have to pull your weight around here. I'll have you assigned a mentor - you'll have to complete the same requirements as every other apprentice. Hunting, battle, swim training." He glanced over at the patrol that had come in and subsequently all gone quiet.

"You!" he barked, addressing the one feline he didn't recognize, "You came in with Eelsting, what's your name?"

[ @Willowfern @VALLIANCE ]

Vimi stood up straighter, fur bristling with anxiety. This must be their leader. For a moment she was overwhelmed by all the cats-- the smells-- the dens-- but she quickly shook her head, snapping herself out of it."I'm Vimi," she mewed, hoping her voice wasn't shaking. "I want to join RiverClan." She pulled her chin up. I have to impress him. He won't let in just any cat. Still, she couldn't help her eyes from wandering over the bustling camp. The peaceful babble of the river permeated the murmur of the busy clearing, but she was too disoriented to notice. Instead, the clamor seemed to burn into her skull, distracting her and making her want to flee. So many sounds. So many cats. All this noise-- she couldn't--

She forced herself not to flinch, training her eyes deliberately on a small shell in the sandy ground. Come on, Vimi. You can do this. You need to do this.

[Willowfern]

- @wnder -

Dune
___________________

The she-cat nodded, a hopeful look on her face.