WindClan: Life Before 2023's Fire

[Wings]

[ @Moonraven @Rani ]
-Creekdash-

Creekdash, he quite liked the name. As Twilightstar took her head off of his, he dipped his head softly to her, mostly as a wordless thank you and turned around to watch the clan chant his name. It felted his heart with pride for himself, for his accomplishments.
The clan chanting his name only made him stand taller, he would do anything for the clan. Anything

Crowpaw pushed his happiness into making his reserved face smile. With that smile came a huff of laughter. He loved that tom so much and wanted to figure out what was wrong. Because there sure seemed like there was something wrong. And he would for sure get the new medicine cat to give Crowpaw something for his throught. Or just Coyotesnarl.

[lucidense]

|:| Peachpetal |:|
"Hmm.. Well, kits stay in the nursery till about 1 moon, in which they can go around camp. They can't go outside camp unless strictly told by a high rank. At 6 moons, they become an apprentice. The 'paw' portion of their name represents the path they have chosen. Around 12 moons, and once they have done the final assessment, they earn their warrior name, chosen by the leader. The leader chooses the deputy- and whenever there is a new leader, they travel to the starcave and receive their nine lives and name." She would tell the kit. @Lynxpaw

[Puddle~]

“Creekdash! Creekdash!” Puddlepaw happily chanted the new warrior’s name with the rest of his clanmates, simultaneously imagining that he, Basilpaw, and Dawnpaw would be up there next.

[Moonraven]

A place outside of camp Coyotesnarl of WindClan has designated for the clans deceased. A thick circle of juniper bushes encloses a quiet little place designed to house the bodies of dead, a large stone marks the entrance. Vigils and visitations can be held here.

[dino.]

[ @Fuzzy ]

----Asterpaw----

As they wandered into the territory, Asterpaw's anticipating expression shifted quickly into puzzlement. His new mentor was just... making random paw signals at him? What was that about? Couldn't she speak? He blinked at her, brows furrowed, trying to decode the flailing paws. She was tapping her nose... she wanted him to scent something? Ugh, this mute thing was going to be SUCH a challenge.
Twisting his body away from Silentwhisper, Asterpaw tipped his muzzle up slightly and deeply inhaled. A multitude of scents flooded his nose, and he paused to sort them out for a moment. "Heather, carried by the wind," he commented. "Rabbit, not too far off. Just general grass scents. A bird, somewhere, although I can't tell what kind."

[Confuzzled.Lynx]

Originally Posted by ~Lucid Dreams~

|:| Peachpetal |:|
"Hmm.. Well, kits stay in the nursery till about 1 moon, in which they can go around camp. They can't go outside camp unless strictly told by a high rank. At 6 moons, they become an apprentice. The 'paw' portion of their name represents the path they have chosen. Around 12 moons, and once they have done the final assessment, they earn their warrior name, chosen by the leader. The leader chooses the deputy- and whenever there is a new leader, they travel to the starcave and receive their nine lives and name." She would tell the kit. @Lynxpaw

Blackkit listened, confused on what the ranks do. "What do the apprentice's and warriors do?" she asked.

[Arie]

Originally Posted by RedHead

"You don't know that." Lynxpaw meowed, slightly offended. "Has he ever described me to you?" She questioned, wondering for a moment if her dad had spoken bad words about her. He wouldn't... Lynxpaw was sure of it. He wasn't a bad cat... not that she could see. Just... misguided and overwhelmed. Though at her next statement, Lynxpaw couldn't quite refute that. She wasn't the biggest fan of her dad... but she also didn't hate him either. "Niceness is perceptive. Sometimes something nice for someone isn't nice for someone else." The tabby meowed, though she didn't understand why she was trying to defend her dad. He'd never done something like that for her. Maybe it was more helping Pumapaw understand he wasn't all that bad. Because Lynxpaw sure could feel her claws curling at the way that Pumapaw was speaking of Quicksilver. He may be a brat and a dumby sometimes, but he was still her dad. "I don't dislike him. I just.... get annoyed with the way he decides to do things. He just needs... guidance." Lynxpaw meowed, before narrowing her eyes as she glanced up at Pumapaw, a challenge in the green depths for Pumapaw to challenge her belief of her own father.

- Only 3 days late smh -

Still soaked Pumapaw shifted around in her nest before curling up properly and listening in to what Lynxpaw had been saying. Well, the first part had been in more regards to herself. She and Quicksilver - Quickass - apparently could use nice words to describe each other, annoying and, pain in the ass, being the most commonly used terms when it came to the description. Or so she thought at least. But it did seem Lynxpaw wasn't all too fond of talking about Quickass, yet at the philosophical stuff around niceness, Puma's brain just proceeded to disconnect from any rational thought and just... melted. It was all too confusing for her. She wasn't a smartass, she wasn't partly intellectual either.. She was just... her. Not the smartest. But most certainly the strongest and the best hunter, that was something she was sure she was. Would be. No Was. "Guidance? I think I am the one who needs it after having to deal with him as a mentor for the past.... how long as it been now? I don't exactly remember." Yet she didn't want to dwell on this... or did she? Not really. She was tired, she wanted to sleep and dry and didn't want to use her brain to think about her mentor any longer. Not worth it. "So.. you gotten any closer to your warrior ceremony?" She didn't know why she hadn't had hers yet... oh wait. It was because she didn't exactly know how to fight properly yet. She was going back to the Quicksilver topic again wasn't she? Damn it.

[wren]

Coyotesnarl let his fur lie flat on his back. He didn’t have energy to fight with her right now, the past moon had be hard and he wasn’t even entirely sure why it was that way. Sometimes you just hit a wall and you crash.. and burn. The tabby kept pace with the lilac leader though began to feel a strain in his chest. He wasn’t a warrior anymore, not fit for deputy quite yet. He’d have to get on that as soon as he could.. people would start to notice he was chubby and slow. Ignoring that thought as Twilightstar spoke up he gave his head a gentle shake and glanced over his shoulder at her. ”obligatory. Being well received can be false, considering how many of those cats family members I’ve assisted to their death, or yelled or scolded them.” his tail gave a gentle wave recalling the memory of so many cats shouting his name at once. It was an uncomfortable and tense situation. As much as he liked taking charge and being in the spotlight as somebody who could.. well take care of his clanmates there was an element of oddity with that ceremony. Perhaps it was the transferring of medicine cat to deputy. That must be it. Any normal warrior being appointed would have jitters, if he had been a normal warrior at the time it would have come to a shock but he would’ve got over it pretty soon. He was next to untouchable this way. ”Im sure rushingmoor was absolutely head over heels at the idea” he jeered making a jab at the lovey dovey prickle that seemed to follow her every move. He coughed to cover the snide remark ”but they gave you a chance didn’t they. Brightstar must’ve seen a redeeming quality somewhere in there. I’m starting to wonder how she did, did she catch you between your sleep schedule?” the tone she’d taken with him spurred him to be more bitter than he’d come out into this patrol originally. But she was just as bull headed as he was, she could manage any array of insults or crude comments he threw at her. Likewise he wouldn’t take her comments to heart. He’d probably get angry but he wouldn’t hold onto them.

The tom snorted at her statement ”I couldn’t agree more. You do your job? They hate you. You don’t do your job? They reaaally hate you. You try a new tactic? They still hate you. I’m starting to think this is all very personal” which it probably was, he was a good medicine cat minus the rude habits. He could admit that from a pretty self promoting position without shame, but could the same be said about deputy? A rank he’d just stepped into. The weight on top of a deputy’s shoulders could leave a cat seriously messed up in the head. Oh Brindlejaw. Poor bloke tried his best. ”if they didn’t have such rotten attitudes about it maybe you would’ve looked in their favour eh? Maybe not Hawkstride. They made a comment on your life” he teased reflecting on the you better watch your back Twilightstar comment. Which in a sense was terrifying to hear from a clanmate, nevertheless it made him realize perhaps the pair was in the same boat of being hated. Oh great, if this leadership thing wasn’t difficult enough. Throw some hated public figures into the mix and hope for the best.

Coyotesnarl let out a hearty chuckle ”Right, as if Brindlejaw hadn’t asked you the same question when you appointed him and you went all ”oh Brindlejaw you are just the finest most amazing warrior I’ve ever met! I just have to make you deputy!” right? Did I get your voice right too? I think my impression was half decent” he shot her a snooty grin before once agin running his tongue over his pink muzzle. What was up with that? It was getting real annoying real fast.

Getting back into more serious conversation it was hard to hear her talk so nicely of him, when he was hardened to comments that came from Boulderclaw or Redraven perhaps. Though he was struggling to confirm if this was a good feeling or not. Getting the odd thank you or a gentle pat on the shoulder from a clanmate was weird. So this? Even stranger. The tom took a seat across from her thankful she’d chosen a small divot between the hills which blocked the wind, he wasn’t fond of being too cold. ”yeah I’m starting to believe there isn’t a good side. You are just so welcome to try though” he gently reclines against his shoulder letting the ache of his chest burn away with each gentle fulfilled breath. ”pedestal huh?” he mirrored the word before his eyes settled briefly on hers. It seemed like personal stuff she was sharing, he was supposed to be attentive to that. Right? Yeah probably. He had never thought of her.. up on a platform above everybody else per se, which would further confirm her point. Though he couldn’t understand exactly why that was a great thing, sure a leader was supposed to take advice from the elders and suggestions from the young bright and hopeful but in a sense it also seemed like it could backfire. Taking advice from the wrong cat who played their cards right could end an entire clan up in crap. That was a scary thought, or perhaps scary for her. He didn’t second guess his decisions much. He wasn’t afraid of it. He couldn’t help but catch her smile and feel his own interest peak. He fought an urge to bring it up and let it die as she spoke up again. For the most part he would gently nod and agree to her statements. Bossy? Yes. Demanding? Yes. Got cats to listen? Yes. Would knock you down hard when you stepped out of line? Check. But the old part nearly flew over his head. ”old?!” his nose wrinkled up ”how old do you think I am? I’m barely 31 moons nowhere near an old coot. What are you? Like 15?!” he couldn’t exactly explain why that was frustrating but he could trace the assumption. He jerked his head away to defuse a possible bomb that was near exploding on Twilightstars head. Old. Pft. Mistyfern was old. Who does she think I am? How old does she think I am? 103? Ridiculous.

He shook his head in a disappointed way. He couldn’t even bring himself to speak up again... old. Right. He took another deep breath, if she wanted to bring it up again he’d gladly go off but now wasn’t the time.

”An apprentice?!” he burst in a guffaw of laughter tossing his head back and finishing it off with a snicker. ”oh twilight you wouldn’t make me go through such a tragedy would you? I had an apprentice once. Wolfpaw if I remember correctly, little snot got pissed at me all the time. Of course I didn’t have a voice or enough guts to slap him around but boy if I had? I would’ve buried him.” he almost forgot about the tiny thing, he barely remembered training him but was glad that was far in the past. He struggled pushing his knowledge onto others... especially when it came down to things he sucked at doing. Being a warrior for example. ”oh hey now! You try laying around in a dusty ol cave and try to keep that lean shape. It’s a lot more difficult than you’d think.” his tail gave a slightly irritated flick across the ground. ”Im working on it. I’ve been scouting out a few warriors to take me out for some... stamina and.. uh.. weight loss training I suppose” he wasn’t all too embarrassed about it, it wouldn’t have been something he shared with others so lightly but Twilightstar was entirely different. ”i plan on returning to.. a more regular and more sturdy body shape” he gave his stomach roll a jab.

He dismissed the previous conversation and adjusted so he was once again comfortable ”I’ll talk to Brindlejaw I suppose. I think I could manage patrols for now, seems pretty simple. I wouldn’t devote my life to training the newbies. As long as we appoint two and I tell them the uses of the basics they’ll be able to figure it out for themselves. It’s what I did” yeah Mistyfern. What a deserter.

In a sense she was right, he had support as a deputy. He had places to turn and ask for help but something she would never understand was being known in such a different light prior to deputy. Especially something like medicine cat. Being a rank hog? That would make cats even less likely to be kind. Not that he couldn’t handle a few negative Nancy’s but nonetheless. It was a whole different ball game and he was sure he had been the only one to ever play. ”you know I wouldn’t resign” the tom snorted slightly amused she’d even bring it up. Though, he now wasn’t so sure of himself. ”Im not as much of a quitter as you think I am Twilightstar. I might complain... a lot... but that doesn’t mean I won’t leave you high and dry. Besides you gotta remember. you neeeed me” he teased gently a smug look crossing his face.

@Moonraven

[skreelyshark]

Harefoot padded onto the moor, relaxing when her felt the breeze ruffle up his fur.

It's fine. Being a mentor isn't too bad. You just go mess around with an apprentice. You know what, Crowpaw might be good at stuff I like!

He loosened up before facing Crowpaw.

"I'll show you the borders. We'll cover ground faster if we run."

He began sprinting across the moor, relishing the fresh air. @Rani

[Rani]

Crowpaw marched onto the new territory, tensing as the breeze brought new and strange scents to his nose.

This is bad. He never wanted to be an apprentice like this. Here he was a full moon late with the wrong cat as his mentor. Crowpaw would bet that things with Harefoot will only get worse.

His ears nearly dipped back before he forced them forward when Harefoot turned to face him.

"Wait what? Hey no hold on!"

But his mentor was gone already taking off across the moor. Crowpaw panicked and jolted into action charging forward to try and catch up, managing a very fast sprint for a minute before rapidly slowing again. Crowpaw couldn't breath! The air hurt his throat and it was too much effort to even suck in air. He crashed to a stop wheezing as he tried not to choke on nothing.

(If you notice me mirroring its intentional because i couldn't resist Ill only do it for this post tho.) @esa