ThunderClan: Life Before 2023's Sinkhole

[Akira]

Thistlethorn sighed, shaking his head. His whole body ached, especially covered in bruises and cuts. He'd been taken away by the tide of cats during the RiverClan raid to some unknown area, away from ThunderClan. But that didn't matter now: he was home.
@poppy. @Willowfern

[dino.]

// @poppy.

>Bumblepaw<

The stupid bell on this stupid collar jingled around his stupid throat as he took careful strides back in the direction of ThunderClan territory. Honestly, it was a miracle he'd even found his way back at all, with the stench of Twoleg's blocking his nose. It made him sick.

Thankfully enough, the ThunderClan border wasn't too far away. He could see familiar trees just over the ridge, and the scent of fresh grass and mossy forests welcomed him with open arms. He paused to glance over his shoulder in the direction he'd come from, stuck his tongue out as if mocking his captors, and then broke into an all-out sprint and skidded past the border in a matter of seconds.

Finally, HOME. Which meant fresh prey and fresh company and no more kittypet food or annoying white kitten to bother him. Thank the skies above. He reached up to tug at the collar for the hundredth time as he slowed his pace, and just like the other ninety nine attempts, his yanking and pulling only served to rattle the stupid bell as loud as possible. It sounded like a thundering echo now that he was surrounded by peaceful serenity and he gave up with a groan. "Stupid Twolegs, can't keep their freaking paws to themselves, how dare they..."

[Brightheart__]

Originally Posted by Brightlight

--Clearlight--

Clearlight shifted her weight from one paw to another. She wondered what she planned on doing today. She'd been hearing news about a Gathering, but she wasn't sure if she would attend. The distance was a bit too far for her right now.

On a whim, Clearlight asked the warrior, Brightshadow, if she remembered correctly. "Are you thinking of attending the Gathering? Or have you already done so? I think it's a little too late now for me."

"May ask which gathering you're speaking of? Because I your talking about the gathering of all the clans no I did not attend" she mewed watching the sky.

[Shade.]

Originally Posted by x ghostie

@Shade.
It was hard to not allow your emotions overwhelm you. Even as chaotic as Lotuspaw was - they still rarely expressed genuine strong emotions, maybe they were strong willed about somethings but typically kept their emotions calm. They had to, you know? There was no break to have a meltdown when you weren't entirely sure whether or not you'll get a next meal.

Shamefully, Lotuspaw slumped into the hug in defeat. Nuzzling their face into Rosepaw's fur for comfort, they could feel the vibrations as their sister talked and it was nice. Expect they needed to comfort Rosepaw now, idiot. Hesitantly, they pulled away from the hug. Blinking away the tears because it made it all too hard to read lips like this.

"No!" They whined, dragging it out. "That's not - that's not true! You're right, it's going to happen whatever we do. We can't.. we can't really stop the bad stuff, we can try and work around it but it's gonna keep happening. That's.. that's just fate, I guess? Which is all the more reason why you shouldn't stay away!! We - we can work around it - okay? It's not that bad, you're not.. hurting anyone!" Lotuspaw tried to explain, their face scrunching up. They raised their paw to place it on their muzzle, shaking their head to rid their self of the bad thoughts!!

"You guys aren't.. burdens! You've never have been and you never will be it's just, I am responsible for you guys. I don't mind it, I want to take care you of two. To at least make it up to Mama and we can fight over who's fault it is and I'll tell you time and time again that hey! It isn't yours, probably is mine, but you shouldn't isolate yourself. That's a stupid move, Rose. You're not stupid, " They explained, their stub tail lashing back and forth. Their voice cracking and tears threatened to spill once more but Lotuspaw held their ground.

"I'm sorry,, I didn't.. want this conversation to go like this.. I just.. wanted to make sure you were safe and.. I'm not angry ,, or anything,, I swear!" Quickly they added on, chewing nervously on the inner cheek. Emotions sucked. This sucked. Slowly Lotuspaw moved closer, leaning into Rosepaw's personal space as close as they could get. "I just love you and wish you wouldn't blame yourself so much, "

Rosepaw wasn't socially experienced. She did however know her siblings fairly well. They got loud and nervous when they lied. So they weren't lying. This meant they were just wrong. About her. About whose fault it was. They blamed themself. Was this her fault too?

Rosepaw took a deep breath. She wasn't about to ruin Lotuspaw's life for nothing. She was nothing.
"I love you too. You and Sage are the best siblings I could ask for. I don't want to worry you anymore. And please don't blame yourself either! It's...in the past anyway. We can move on now. I'm sorry if I made you worried. I'm going to try and make things better. Maybe they will get better." she said and a small smile appeared on her face. Unlike Lotuspaw, Rosepaw was fairly good at lying.

(we could perhaps end this convo after your post)

[plum]

[ @tulle, @NinjaBloss ]

The day was chilly- No, it was cold. Cold, cloudy, and nothing worth appreciating from the standpoint of a hard working individual with things to do and places to be. Nectarflame sits tall in the center of camp, observing the goings-on of the Clan. She had awoken that morning to note Dogbark gone, and the scent of him in his nest stale. He had not slept there that night. Frustration gnawed at the warrior for a better part of the morning, but finally receded by sunhigh. Now, the Bengal wanted nothing more than to take action. Thinking she had swayed his mind in the predicament his Clan was in after only one talk might have been too positive, and Nectarflame was not typically the one with the cheery outlooks.

"Shiningskies," the cat calls out to the other warrior the moment she spots her. "And Cindersky, the both of you come for a talk." She would not sit and wait, no. Their deputy was a grown cat, fully capable of his own decisions.

Flicking her tail while waiting for the two warriors to approach, the golden cat plots out the idea that had been getting tossed around in her mind. "I want to start storing prey where it can last preserved for a long time," she informs the two. "In case leaf-bare takes a toll on the prey running in the forest. No one likes a stale meal, no, but it is a necessity. Would you two like to head into the forest with me to scout for a place like this? I have been curious about the cliffs lately. A lot of crevices that could fit a small cat, or a stash of prey, are bound to be there somewhere. And when stone freezes, it stays very cold." Or at least that was her thought process in full. They could bury a good amount of prey between the rocks at the cliffs, and that would preserve them. Hopefully. They could run a test if necessary.

[Ian]

Shiningskies had been on the sunset patrol and had just awoken from her sleep. It appeared to be nearly sunhigh so she got up, taking a long stretch before making her way out of the warriors den and emerging into the cold air that blanketed the camp. The warrior was about to see if there was anything productive she could do when her name was called by Nectarflame. She padded over, wanting to see what the molly had to say. Had she missed being called for a patrol? But it would be odd for Dogbark to assign her one again so soon, plus he didn't appear to be around currently.

Nectarflame's intentions soon became clear as she explained her idea to her and Cindersky, who had also been called over, and Shiningskies nodded along in agreement. "Yes, that sounds like a very good idea. It will also be safe from the usual predators like foxes or coyotes that might try to dig it up. We'd just have to make sure the prey is placed far enough back that vultures won't be able to reach in and take it."

@implimm @tulle

[taillow]

Cindersky
Worry gnawed at her heart as the gray feline sat near the entrance of camp. Dogbark had been gone, hadn't returned, and the sun was encroaching onto the middle of the sky. Blue hues were narrowed in concentration as she racked her brain - had her words been too harsh? What about that of Nectarflame's? She knew she wasn't responsible for the other she-cats actions, but a part of her felt responsible for adding her own opinions into the mix. Had it done more harm than good to point out the flaws in ThunderClan's crown? Cindersky wasn't certain, and with each moment that passed without Dogbark's return, a piece of regret settled deep within her heart.

Hearing her name across the way dragged her out of such thoughts, blue eyes flickering over to where it had come from. The she-cat who had just been occupying her mind briefly, calling her and Shiningskies over. She gathered herself quickly and made her way over, curiosity shining in the depths of a formerly concerned gaze. "Yes, Nectarflame?" she asked, wondering if this was regarding the fact that Dogbark was missing. Maybe she wanted to gather a search party for the senior tom!

...But as the bengal spoke, Cindersky soon realized it wasn't that at all, but a course of action to begin storing prey for the upcoming leaf-bare. A smart idea, and one that would provide a much needed distraction from the gray she-cats spiraling thoughts. "Of course. That's a brilliant idea, Nectarflame." A soft smile spread across her face as Cindersky nodded, readying herself to leave with her two Clanmates. She was glad that there were those who were stepping up to aide ThunderClan - and proud of herself for being one of them.

@implimm @NinjaBloss

[Starstruck]

Night woke up in the bright sun shining in her eyes, when she got up she looked around and then realized that the smell of a cat were nearby, she shook her head awake and got ready to strike if the cat she would encounter seemed hostile. “I know you’re there! Come out so i can see ya!” The black pelted she cat said in a slightly nervous, slightly intimidating way. @poppy.

[plum]

[ sorry for the delay! will post this and then another in the territory (: @tulle, @NinjaBloss ]

Shiningskies made good observations, and the golden Bengal gives her an approving nod. "Precisely why those little nooks would be a clever place to stash prey," she meows. "We shall go and see where the best places to hide will be. Perhaps to mask the scent and keep it fresher longer, we can pack them with dirt once they have been stocked full of prey..." The details could be worked out later on. Right now, Nectarflame was just glad to have both warriors eager to accompany her out.

Standing, the she-cat waves her tail. "Let us hope that once our deputy rejoins us, we may give him good news," she says briskly, on her way out. Heavens knew they needed a bit of good news.

[JackHunt_17]

Hawkice padded back to Thunderclan territory. He had gone to visit his mate but had been gone for longer than expected and has surely been deemed missing by his clan by now
(This will take place before Butterfly had died and the kits were born)
- @poppy.