ThunderClan: Life Before 2023's Sinkhole

[Jayvines]

~ Mistpaw ~

Cindersky's comfort was quickly overrun by the chaos erupting from Nectarflame's jaws as she listed off name after name of the so-called 'traitors'. Shrinking back to the ground after each cat was named, Mistpaw's ears pinned themselves back at the sound of... both her parents were being sent away?! Cloudykit's anguish was immediate, and she saw her brother run out in shock (hiding tears once more). Mistpaw just... sat there. She watched Cloudykit launch herself at Larkfrost to try and make her stay. She watched her mother's goodbye to her and her sister. And she watched as Larkfrost padded out of camp quickly, while her father was forcibly removed.

Why was her face wet?.. Grey eyes wide in shock and disbelief, the 9 moon old apprentice let her silent tears stream down her face before giving a soulless nod to Cindersky as she offered her reassurance. Sure... sure, they'd be back. But right now...

Cloudykit burying her face into her fur pulled her back to her priorities. Momma had said she would be back, so... she HAD to come back. For now, she needed to look out for her siblings. "Come... Come to the apprentice den with me," she finally managed to croak out before giving her sister a quick lick on the head. "Momma... mama will come back soon. I promise... But I'm not going anywhere."

Emptiness filled her gaze, as limbs made of stone pushed her upp to her feet with a gentle nudge of Cloudykit. They needed... they needed to leave this meeting. Cloudykit needed to come with them. It wasn't SAFE out here. Robotically, she gave her sister another gentle nudge towards the den. They could share a nest, and Bushpaw could join them... Hopefully.

[ @poppy. @error @tulle ]

~ Sparrowflight ~

Chuckling at her mentor's response to her teasing, Sparrowflight quickly sobered her expression as he continued. Only nodding quietly in acknowledgement to her past mentors cautions. It seemed Ridgeclaw was as intuitive as he was sharp tongued; Nectarflame's words were harsh. Cutting deep into the core of the gathered members of Thunderclan were the barbs of truth this warrior brought up and laid out for all her peers to see. It was... Well however true it may be, Sparrowflight didn't like the forceful approach that this warrior was taking.

The departure of Ridgeclaw's kin brought her attention directly to the fallout of this decision, as kits, apprentices, and warriors alike were separated, grieving, and angry. She almost missed Ridgeclaws imploring words to retrieve his grand-kit and the apprentice who jingled in through the camp entrance (seemingly quite embarrassed about his current predicament). Pushing up to her feet, she had only made it halfway to the aforementioned apprentices when Nectarflame's next words directed at Bumblepaw hit her like a lightning strike. Hackles raising ever so slightly in offense, the younger warrior shot the bengal an annoyed glance before quickening her pace to the apprentices. Who was she to declare that this apprentice was a kittypet?! Sparrowflight knew two-legs were a tricky sort of beast; it was hard enough for a warrior to escape them, nevermind an apprentice!

"Come now, Ridgeclaw and I will help you with that awful two-leg device," Sparrowflight murmured to Bumblepaw as she passed him on his way to the Ridgeclaw's side, attempting to keep her voice level and the offense she felt curbed behind the bars of her mind. She was sure that her and Ridgeclaw would be discussing this at a later point. "Cinderpaw, Ridgeclaw will take care of you until your kin's return, and I am here if you need further assistance. Please... Come sit with us in the elder's den a while."

Gently she placed her tail atop the apprentices back to guide her towards Ridgeclaw and his den. If she resisted, she wouldn't force her, but she truly hopped the young cat would join them. She was hit hard by this decision and rash actions would only make their current situation worse.

(Sparrowflight will be leaving the meeting with or without Cinderpaw depending on her decision)

[ @littlelove @Papaya @Rani ]

[Brightlight]

Originally Posted by colorpaw

Colorkit's eyes fluttered as she awoke from her nap. Her amber eyes shined from the dark corner where she was hiding. She looks around the den nervously, unsure of being around so many new cats. You have to get used to this, you are going to be living with these cats, she told herself.

(Open)

—Daykit—

The not-quite-so-little-anymore golden tom had been listening outside, half in and half out of the Nursery. He could hear some commotion happening somewhere in camp, although he didn’t quite know what it was. Daykit blinked, wondering if his sister and his mother was ok. They had both left earlier to do…something. Daykit had felt an urge to join them, but he wasn’t quite sure now.

Daykit sighed, turning back around. His eyes caught upon a new kit that he hadn’t talked to before, so he bounded over, waving his tail excitedly. “Hey, hey!” he screeched more than meowed, “I’m Daykit, I’m Daykit, who’re you?”

[elswhere]

/ @/open \

Well, this went terribly wrong. Flurrywind watched the clan with crestfallen expression, these cats had families, others who depended upon them to provide love and protection for them. His cool amber gaze rested on Mistpaw and Cloudykit, who just had their parents basically exiled. His fluffy gray pelt was speckled with snow as he rose to his paws and made his way to a emptier space near the back off the clearing.

Relaxing in a loaf sit position, he waited for the meeting to end.

[~Gale~]

~ @Jaxson @Phantomtamer ~

~ Robinbloom ~
Oh Starclan, this would be... Interesting. She heard Shiningskies and Locustmoon both send out patrols. It was a little strange to hear them both, neither one a deputy or leader, send out patrols. Oh well, Thunderclan was a mess and some cat had to get patrols done! Shiningskies and Locustmoon were getting the job done and done well. She heard her name as Shiningskies called out her name, along with her two apprentices, to go hunt near the Weeping Tree. Both Lionpaw and Charpaw? Well, she would see how this would go. As far as she knew, the apprentices barely knew each other, even though they both had Robinbloom as their mentor.

She padded over to the two, who seemed to be talking to each other. Well, that was a good sign! Hopefully. "All right, come on you two. You can chat for a bit on the way there. We have to get going!" She knew the cats would want patrols done as soon as possible, since it had been a while since the last patrols.

[Spartan-117]

Originally Posted by ~Gale~

~ @Jaxson @Phantomtamer ~

~ Robinbloom ~
Oh Starclan, this would be... Interesting. She heard Shiningskies and Locustmoon both send out patrols. It was a little strange to hear them both, neither one a deputy or leader, send out patrols. Oh well, Thunderclan was a mess and some cat had to get patrols done! Shiningskies and Locustmoon were getting the job done and done well. She heard her name as Shiningskies called out her name, along with her two apprentices, to go hunt near the Weeping Tree. Both Lionpaw and Charpaw? Well, she would see how this would go. As far as she knew, the apprentices barely knew each other, even though they both had Robinbloom as their mentor.

She padded over to the two, who seemed to be talking to each other. Well, that was a good sign! Hopefully. "All right, come on you two. You can chat for a bit on the way there. We have to get going!" She knew the cats would want patrols done as soon as possible, since it had been a while since the last patrols.

Originally Posted by Phantomtamer

@~Gale~
Charpaw looks at Lionpaw, walking to his side. She looks around and sighs. "Hello. I am Charpaw." They say softly, it's coal-colored fur blazing.

Originally Posted by Jaxson

Lionpaw looked for his mentor and her other appprentice. ( @~Gale~, @Phantomtamer )

Charpaw looks at Robinbloom and lowers her gaze. "Sorry. Let's go." They say, speeding off toward the Weeping Tree.

[WhitesilverQueen]

Ivywish was shocked. What? Why- what did I do? She could not understand why Nectarflame was trying to suggest to her to leave thunderclan! "I will stay with thunderclan"

[taillow]

Cindersky
In the midst of the calm storm, a single voice rose about the cacophony and reached her ears. Cindersky turned to look at Redrock. A young warrior, one she had not much interacted with but had seen around camp and on patrols. His heart reminded her of Sundust, and somewhat of Ridgeclaw too underneath the countless moons and multitude of scars. ThunderClan needed warriors like that, ones that did not fall blindly as she had. Warriors that rose up to the challenge, taking hold of the mantle and steering their home towards a brighter future. Blue eyes attempted to catch the warriors gaze as they filled with pride; she would make note to seek him out later to speak on it.

None of their concern? Kits and apprentices with no training being escorted out and told to rejoin ruffled her fur the wrong way, but not full grown warriors. Acornpatch had not been spotted in camp since the last meeting held by Aspenstar. A warriors vow was to protect and serve their Clan, even at the cost of their life, and to think he thought himself so above everyone else that his Clan, the one that offered him safety and companionship, did not deserve to know where he had been the past moon or so? It made Cindersky feel sick. The anger that boiled within her rose bile into her throat as she watched Buckbranch escort the fox-hearted tom out of camp. Good. ThunderClan had no use for such warriors, anyways.

Then, like tiny sharp brambles, Cloudkit spoke. Anger filled her small voice, tears pooling in her eyes. Cindersky turned to look at her, but instead of the anger she felt towards the warriors her face was twisted with empathy. "Oh, my love," the senior warrior murmured gently, attempting to comfort the young kit. But she was gone, fluffy fur making a b-line towards the camp entrance. In an instant Cindersky was on her paws, staring after them as Mistpaw went to join her sibling.

"Mistpaw..." For once, Cindersky felt no words coming towards her. Blue eyes stared at the apprentice she had spent some time getting to know, and how she comforted her younger sister now. Memories of her own parents death circled her mind - they were not coming back, but at least Larkfrost will. Her throat felt tight as her heart was squeezed between doing her duty as a ThunderClan warrior, and the need to protect the younger generation from today.

Swallowing, the senior warrior found her voice once more. "Mistpaw, I know it is not much, but I am here. Larkfrost will return. I promise it." She would find her. Reason with her. Tell her to come back for her kits, to place her paws in ThunderClan and not have one in each world. She would bring their mother back, because life without a mother... it was a dark world that Cindersky did not want any cat, banished from ThunderClan or not, to feel.

Suddenly Cindersky felt unsure of herself. Unsure of where to go, of what to do. Moments ago she had rallied with Shiningskies, and now she stood alone in the center of the clearing. Mistpaw was taking Cloudykit inside the den, the last of the cats were being taken out. Finally, her gaze lifts to Nectarflame. Nectarflame, the reckoning of ThunderClan. Whose voice had shook the ground and cracked the walls of camp. The heart of ThunderClan beating slower and slower until the flame that had kept them alive was barely a wisp. It had needed to happen. It was long overdue. But then... why did Cindersky feel so defeated?

Her eyes glanced around the clearing until they spotted a pair of familiar eyes. Another Clanmate, one who was hanging around to make sure no other catastrophes happened. Gingerly she made her way over, only when reaching Shiningskies did she dip her head. The warrior was younger than her, but already held so many traits that Cindersky wished he could learn from. "...Are we doing the right thing?" It was unlike the senior warrior to be unsure - or maybe it was just that no one in the Clan had yet experienced that side of her. The only sign that she was beginning to doubt her actions resulted from the glittering blue gaze she gave her Clanmate.

@Jae (for mention of Redrock) @Jayvines @poppy. (for Mistpaw and Cloudykit) @NinjaBloss (for Shiningskies)

[taillow]

Cindersky
Time had begun to slip away since the blowout of a meeting, where Nectarflame had risen to the Thunderwillow and demanded that ThunderClan work together to build themselves back up. As much as Cindersky wished to help and serve her Clan, part of her felt hollow. Nights were filled with shadow-clad dreams in which she was chasing after those who had been sent away. Claws were outstretched as she reached for them - kits, apprentices, warriors alike - but she was always too late. Just barely out of reach, blue eyes watched in horror every night as they tumbled out of view, swallowed up by the darkness of her nightmare.

Sleep had transformed from expected to distant, though she tried to keep that hidden. Her fur remained groomed and sleek, eyes as bright as she could make them. Only those who decided to look hard and long enough would be able to see even a hint of the anguish Cindersky felt.

But still, she had a duty to her Clan. Paws carried her over to where Locustmoon and Shiningskies were calling out patrols - where in the world was Dogbark?? - and she nodded as her name was called along with Patchpaw and Tigerpaw. Already, Tigerpaw had made his way over, so Cindersky scanned the clearing for Patchpaw. "Hello Tigerpaw," she greeted the young tom with a smile, noticing how distant he still was. "We will head out once Patchpaw arrives. Is everything... alright?"

@Tracker @I draw war cats

[colorpaw]

Originally Posted by Brightlight

—Daykit—

The not-quite-so-little-anymore golden tom had been listening outside, half in and half out of the Nursery. He could hear some commotion happening somewhere in camp, although he didn’t quite know what it was. Daykit blinked, wondering if his sister and his mother was ok. They had both left earlier to do…something. Daykit had felt an urge to join them, but he wasn’t quite sure now.

Daykit sighed, turning back around. His eyes caught upon a new kit that he hadn’t talked to before, so he bounded over, waving his tail excitedly. “Hey, hey!” he screeched more than meowed, “I’m Daykit, I’m Daykit, who’re you?”

Colorkit jumped when she heard Daykit's meow. She looked at him and her tail swished nervously. Her amber eyes were flooded with anxiety as she studied him. She hesitated before responding. "I'm Colorkit." She replied quietly.

(Sorry for such a short post, I've been really busy lately.)

[Tracker]

Originally Posted by tulle

Cindersky
Time had begun to slip away since the blowout of a meeting, where Nectarflame had risen to the Thunderwillow and demanded that ThunderClan work together to build themselves back up. As much as Cindersky wished to help and serve her Clan, part of her felt hollow. Nights were filled with shadow-clad dreams in which she was chasing after those who had been sent away. Claws were outstretched as she reached for them - kits, apprentices, warriors alike - but she was always too late. Just barely out of reach, blue eyes watched in horror every night as they tumbled out of view, swallowed up by the darkness of her nightmare.

Sleep had transformed from expected to distant, though she tried to keep that hidden. Her fur remained groomed and sleek, eyes as bright as she could make them. Only those who decided to look hard and long enough would be able to see even a hint of the anguish Cindersky felt.

But still, she had a duty to her Clan. Paws carried her over to where Locustmoon and Shiningskies were calling out patrols - where in the world was Dogbark?? - and she nodded as her name was called along with Patchpaw and Tigerpaw. Already, Tigerpaw had made his way over, so Cindersky scanned the clearing for Patchpaw. "Hello Tigerpaw," she greeted the young tom with a smile, noticing how distant he still was. "We will head out once Patchpaw arrives. Is everything... alright?"

@Tracker @I draw war cats

"i'm just not comforterable too close cats quite yet... im still new to being in a clan." Track, no, Tigerpaw mewed. The memory of being swept by the river, his dad beating him, his brothers crying all flooded back to him. He shuddered, but blocked them out.