ThunderClan: Life Before 2023's Sinkhole - Page 1783

**Bigoofers1001** · #**17821** June 28th, 2022, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpiritedWarrior

Flamekit grabbed onto the ball with her paws and stood up, balancing herself on her hind legs.

“So, when we do become apprentices… what are you two looking forward to the most?” She asked with a flick of her ear. She then tossed the moss-ball to Swankit. “Here!”

@Bigoofers1001

“Well, uh, I don’t really know yet. But I’m sure there’s quite a bit of things I should be looking forward to.”, Swankit answered, grabbing the moss-ball. She quickly tossed it back to Flamekit. “I’m sure I’ll realize what I was looking forward to sometime sooner or later.”, she added.

**taillow** · #**17822** June 28th, 2022, 01:54 AM

Cinderstar
Oh, the poor thing. "It's alright, Emberkit. I'm not mad. I am just glad you're safe." Curious minds, kits had. And from what she could tell, the youngster hadn't meant to wind up outside of the camp walls lost. "No, you're not in trouble. But do try to keep an eye on your surroundings when chasing butterflies. They are certainly pretty, and can be very distracting. I used to chase them around camp when I was your age." Another comforting smile as she stood back up and nodded towards camp. "Here, how about you follow me back to camp and tell me more about the butterfly?"

[ Done! I will move her out of the missing ]

Cinderstar
The frowned deepened on her face as Curlpaw continued to deny the reality of the situation. "I will give you one last change to explain why you decided to leave camp and the Clan, Curlpaw. Select your next words carefully, or you may lose your apprentice rank in the Clan and be confined to the nursery." All she had to do was give an explanation - that didn't involve lying especially when Cinderstar knew her mentor rather well.

Cinderstar
During one of her early outings into the territory, Cinderstar weaved in between the undergrowth and foliage. All around her danced the scents of the territory, the birdsong above, the rustle of the wind in the tree tops. And along with it a familiar scent. It came to her well before the voice, so the leader turned her head knowing who she would see.

"Daisyfur," she greeted the warrior with a nod, an inquiring look shimmering in her gaze. "Where have you been for the past quarter moon?"

Cinderstar
Being out in the territory offered a sort of solace that the camp could never compete with, and Cinderstar found herself enjoying taking in the scenery and sounds. All around her greenleaf was in full effect and the territory was flourishing. It made her proud not for the first time to be born with ThunderClan blood.

Ears angled to pick up even the faintest sounds around her, Cinderstar picked up the faint paw steps that were nearby - along with a familiar scent. Eyes going wide, the leader hurried her pace until she set her sights on the young kit who had gone missing almost a moon ago now. "Violetkit! Oh, stars, come here! Where have you been, little one?" Slender paws reached forward and aimed to pull the she-kit in for a small hug if allowed.

Cinderstar
It was a surprise to pick up the scent she did while traversing ThunderClan territory. She had not expected the tom to come back - after all, he had left his Clan and his warrior vow to see if rogue life was the path for him. The thought still burned bitter deep into her bones as Cinderstar changed trajectory to intercept the former ThunderClan warrior.

This time he appeared to have a few hinderances, one being a limp and the other being a still bleeding slash going from his maw to the bottom of his neck. Since it was still bleeding, she figured it was fresh and instantly her claws unsheathed incase the next thing to come barreling through the undergrowth would be whatever caused it. "Dustclaw, you're back. Why are you bleeding?"

**Thornwolf** · #**17823** June 28th, 2022, 02:16 AM

"Well,silly me got myself a bit lost" Daisyfur replied "but i've finally found myself back, sorry"

Daisyfur felt a bit embarrassed that the reason she was gone was because she got lost, but atleast she's back now "i promise i won't get lost again and that'll be the first and last time " she meowed

[ @marni ]

**Juniperbean** · #**17824** June 28th, 2022, 02:26 AM

Violetkit was thankful for the hug but she was still shaken after a death “I-Im sorry” she said then looked at CinderStar in tears “SnowCloud was killed” she cried “I shouldve never ran away, my emotions caused this.. A death…”

( @marni )

**Captain** · #**17825** June 28th, 2022, 07:36 AM

BRIGHTPATH
⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺
➣The reality of the situation was heightened, exaggerated, looked worse than it was due to sheer shock alone, but the young warrior did what they could to be there for their lover ─ their mate ─ during this difficult time. Brightpath held Cloudyflight as she buried her face in their shoulder. They could only look at Lotuspaw’s lifeless body, lost in thought now that the initial surprise had faded away. Cats kept on dying and friends, lovers, families were getting ripped apart because of it. Maybe it was dramatic to think that way, but it sure felt that way. Their ears swiveled towards Cinderstar as the clan leader began to speak, though Brightpath couldn’t bring themself to look away from Lotuspaw.

Cloudyflight rested her paw on top of theirs and the lean tortoiseshell felt relieved that she was here with them. Brightpath could only hold their beloved close and hope that they were doing the right thing. They didn’t want to think about it, but for a long moment, they imagined that it had been Cloudyflight lying there instead of Lotuspaw. It was a horrid thought that the ThunderClan feline did not like to think about, but the truth is that it could’ve been any of them. Bushpaw was alone now, without his own love. That pain alone Brightpath knew would be soul-shattering. Feeling the white-furred molly sob against them, the slender calico’s gaze hardened, listening to Cinderstar continue to talk.

A patrol of warriors would go on and take out the coyotes that did this. Lotuspaw’s death would be avenged. Good. At first, Brightpath wanted to jump up and volunteer to be a part of said patrol, but then they reminded themselves of Cloudyflight. They had only recently become lovers and this expedition would be a dangerous one with possible more casualties. Could they bear to risk that for her? Were they willing to risk their life and possibly leave Cloudyflight all alone? No. As selfish as it sounded, this was not Brightpath’s fight. Cats like Bushpaw, Cinderstar, Spiderthroat, Bumblebreak… Cats who knew Lotuspaw and could actually grieve for them deserved to be the ones to go on this patrol. “Forgive me, Cinderstar.” They thought, “But I need to stay with her.” With that decided, they continued to hold onto Cloudyflight, lovingly as she cried.

@poppy.

**bubble[error].** · #**17826** June 28th, 2022, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marni

Cinderstar
Oh, the poor thing. "It's alright, Emberkit. I'm not mad. I am just glad you're safe." Curious minds, kits had. And from what she could tell, the youngster hadn't meant to wind up outside of the camp walls lost. "No, you're not in trouble. But do try to keep an eye on your surroundings when chasing butterflies. They are certainly pretty, and can be very distracting. I used to chase them around camp when I was your age." Another comforting smile as she stood back up and nodded towards camp. "Here, how about you follow me back to camp and tell me more about the butterfly?"

[ Done! I will move her out of the missing ]

// Emberkit | She|Her | ThunderClan Kit \\

Emberkit looked up. Cinderstar gave the young kit a kind smile and said she could tell her about the butterfly while they walked back to camp. Emberkit jumped up, smiling back. "It was huge! With big blue and orange and black wings! It looked like it had eyes on its wings! You should have seen it! It was moving like this!" The young ThunderClan kit zoomed and zig-zaged across the forest as she and Cinderstar walked back to camp.

**plum** · #**17827** June 28th, 2022, 08:20 AM

[ open reaction to Lotuspaw's death ]

Nectarflame stepped out of the dirtplace tunnel a little later than she had hoped, having heard commotion and despair mid-push. There was not really any way around that, though, was there.

Her eyes locate Cinderstar first, inspecting her for any sign of injury. No... She only appeared tired, sad, angry. That was about right. Letting out a sigh, the golden warrior skirts around the group. She would not try to get close to the body being displayed, she would not try to touch their pelt as she said her farewell. They were not close, and she would not offend. Her respects would be paid properly.

The mention of a patrol surfaces and a small alarm bell tinkles in her mind. Flicking her ears, Nectarflame shoots the silver she-cat a look. The idea itself was not a terrible one, but the expression which her mate wore while promoting it was what stood out to her. It was wrong. She was angry. Cats died on the flighty paws of fury. "No," she murmurs to no one other than herself.

Another heartbeat later, Nectarflame shakes her head a little more clearly. "I will remain and assist the Clan from camp, then," she meows tersely. "If Sundust or Rosepaw need an extra set of paws."

**Shade.** · #**17828** June 28th, 2022, 08:33 AM

Rosepaw heard the sounds of conflict die down and her mind relaxed a little. The young she cat looked at Lotuspaw's body again and her heart scrunched up. She tried to get up but could not. So she just stood there, in a tight, sad loaf, tears and mucus leaking out of her face. She was glad the clan was getting a patrol together to defend the territory from the coyotes. Her heart, however, dreaded losing any more of them.

She couldn't move. She just had to look at her dead sibling. Her mind was slowly weaving into realization, like a snake in a tunnel. Lotuspaw was dead. Her closest cat. Dead. Her only friend. Dead. Sagepaw was gone. The others were kind but...she'd never really befriended any of them, besides maybe Sundust. She would never see Lotuspaw again. She remembered how they'd kept her safe after momma died. She couldn't do the same. ThunderClan finally didn't have to go to war, to face infighting. She'd seen Lotuspaw had friends. A life. Why did it have to be cut short? Why....

Why was she alone? She had never been alone before.

She became dimly aware of Moosecrash's presence.
"I...I can't move." she said to no one in particular.

@RiztheHuntress

**Weekend-Wondering** · #**17829** June 28th, 2022, 08:52 AM

Dustclaw sighed. “Badger attack,” he muttered. “I got attacked by one on the way here.” He limped forward, trying to make his walk look as normal and non weak as possible, though in the process, it gave out and he crouched just in time not to slam his already half sliced muzzle against the ground.

The Brown Tom cursed under his breath as he rose back up, then meowed out loud, “I’ve come to try and rejoin.”
@marni

**Eaglet** · #**17830** June 28th, 2022, 08:52 AM

Thrushfur nodded solemnly before turning his back towards Sparrowflight. He didn’t feel bad about not doing his duties well enough. It’s funny that he couldn’t even feel guilt for doing his duties wrong. He then trotted forward to the mire to make it up. A few muskrats wouldn’t hurt him, right?