RiverClan Territory

[Thistledawn]

Originally Posted by Boba Fett

Brackenpaw let a faint smile slip onto their face and they turned their soft green gaze back over to where the older molly was. Why were they arguing with her. She was obviously older and therefore knew more than them, right. Even if Brackenpaw didn't agree with her, there was no use in arguing,"I-I guess youre right Silvermask... Though, i wouldn't call myself courageous..." they laughed, half-heartedly trying to lighten the mood. "My heart for now and forever belongs to RiverClan," They mewed determinedly before a question came into their mind,"But, how do you not fit in Silvermask? You like water, love RiverClan, are beautiful, and... Don't fit in?" They tilted their head in confusion, studying the she-cat's gaze for any possible clues.

Silvermask felt her body relax as Brackenpaw began to smile and looked at her. The silver tabby was relieved and hoped she was able to make the apprentice feel better about themselves. "You're all of that and more, Brackenpaw." The she-cat mewed with a smile. She rested her tail across their shoulders for a couple heartbeats. "I'm proud of you. You're a strong young cat." Her thoughtful gaze had turned to something else as Brackenpaw asked their question. She blinked a few times. She'd talked about this quite a bit and she'd gotten past her problems, but her heart still felt like something was squeezing it everytime it was brought up. "Well I can't have kits of my own. I've been spending my life raising the kits of other she-cats. Believe it or not, some cats don't appreciate that sort of thing, even if it's something I can't control." Silvermask shook her head and raised her green gaze the the sky above them. She closed her eyes for a moment and took in a deep breath.

[Seraphon]

Originally Posted by Thistledawn

Silvermask felt her body relax as Brackenpaw began to smile and looked at her. The silver tabby was relieved and hoped she was able to make the apprentice feel better about themselves. "You're all of that and more, Brackenpaw." The she-cat mewed with a smile. She rested her tail across their shoulders for a couple heartbeats. "I'm proud of you. You're a strong young cat." Her thoughtful gaze had turned to something else as Brackenpaw asked their question. She blinked a few times. She'd talked about this quite a bit and she'd gotten past her problems, but her heart still felt like something was squeezing it everytime it was brought up. "Well I can't have kits of my own. I've been spending my life raising the kits of other she-cats. Believe it or not, some cats don't appreciate that sort of thing, even if it's something I can't control." Silvermask shook her head and raised her green gaze the the sky above them. She closed her eyes for a moment and took in a deep breath.

Brackenpaw blinked in surprise at her response to their question. Cant have kits!? She cant have kits!? But she loves kits! Why would StarClan make her unable to have kits of her own?, they though, blinking in empathy at her. they werent able to really relate to what that felt like, but he could imagine. they could imagine wanting something. Loving something with all of your heart only to realize that you couldn't have it. It was like Brackenpaw and respect. All they wanted was everyone's respect - not to be worshipped or anything, they just wanted respect, which Silvermask gave them - and to imagine knowing that theyd never get that... they couldn't even express what that must feel like. They didn't know what else to say, so they just responded with,"Oh..."

[Ag75 -- GONE]

[ oof sorry!! very busy weekend :/ ]

Tsuki followed the siblings, her own relatives trailing her only footsteps behind. "Do you think I'd make a good warrior?" Blitz mumbled to Kiwi. She only snickered and smiled at him, watching as the senior felines led the way.

@Tazzy @Echofall

[graves]

@Mauve

daydream slinked through the riverclan territory with ease. they had been here countless times before, it almost felt like a second home. juniperpaw was here, russetstar[swirl] was here. thats all they had left besides nightpaw and flashpaw at home. here was the place where they had befriended cricketpaw, the only cat who looked past their aggressive exterior and showed them everlasting kindness. but after she was slaughtered, they had befriended geckoleaf. after the flood when they were on their death bed with water in their lungs, she had saved them, becoming the only real daydream had in their life. and now she was gone. it sent shivers down her spine to think about it, and they wanted to keep up with juniperpaws training even if they had flashpaw to take care of now. juniperpaw was almost done anyway, they would be taking her to receive her full name soon, which made their chest bubble up in joy. they pushed forward, each pawstep growing closer and closer to the riverclan clearing.

[Mauve]

Originally Posted by king kaleb!

@Mauve

daydream slinked through the riverclan territory with ease. they had been here countless times before, it almost felt like a second home. juniperpaw was here, russetstar[swirl] was here. thats all they had left besides nightpaw and flashpaw at home. here was the place where they had befriended cricketpaw, the only cat who looked past their aggressive exterior and showed them everlasting kindness. but after she was slaughtered, they had befriended geckoleaf. after the flood when they were on their death bed with water in their lungs, she had saved them, becoming the only real daydream had in their life. and now she was gone. it sent shivers down her spine to think about it, and they wanted to keep up with juniperpaws training even if they had flashpaw to take care of now. juniperpaw was almost done anyway, they would be taking her to receive her full name soon, which made their chest bubble up in joy. they pushed forward, each pawstep growing closer and closer to the riverclan clearing.

After what seemed like an influx of patients, it had become apparent to Heatherfur that the storage for herbs was on short supply. Once a break had appeared to her, she'd decided to take advantage of it and slip out of camp to restock. A part of her had no idea what she was looking for though. She knew the most basic of herbs - cobweb, tansy, comfrey root, poppy seeds - but anything to heal larger, possibly life threatening injuries was out her her knowledge capacity. Not for the first time she wondered if Fallenstar would permit her to travel back to WindClan and learn form Surgestorm. The eldest medicine cat of the Clans has a vast amount of knowledge to share, and he was kind enough to see past borders, especially since she'd been a WindClan warrior for most of her life. Though, with how things ended between herself and Blazingstar, she was uncertain how he would perceive her visit - especially since he was unaware that she had joined RiverClan as their medicine cat.

Nonetheless, she carefully navigated the swampy territory that lay outside RiverClan's main camp, her eyes darting this way and that as she kept on high alert for anything that looked like herbs. The fishy smell of RiverClan danced around her nose and she scrunched it up. It was almost overpowering, and if she hadn't been concentrated she would've missed the distinct piny scent of ShadowClan mixed with it. Heatherfur slowed her pawsteps, parting her jaws to taste the air. This is way too close to camp for ShadowClan to be here, she thought as her lip curled. She'd always had a distrust of the cats that lived in the darkness. She lowered her head and slunk around the reeds, ears and eyes alert and on the lookout for the scent's source. As she rounded another clump of bushes, her eyes landed on the figure of Daydream, ShadowClan's medicine cat. Oh. I wonder if they're here about Juniperpaw's disappearance, Heathertail thought as she stood up, relaxing to show she meant no harm. "Daydream," she greeted, dipping her head to show respect. Though her dislike for ShadowClan as a whole was strong, she knew medicine cats saw past borders. However, she was sure Daydream wouldn't know who she was, and realized they might be suspicious of her lingering WindClan scent, but decided to not comment on it for now until it was brought up. "I'm Heatherfur. What brings you to RiverClan?"

[graves]

Originally Posted by Mauve

After what seemed like an influx of patients, it had become apparent to Heatherfur that the storage for herbs was on short supply. Once a break had appeared to her, she'd decided to take advantage of it and slip out of camp to restock. A part of her had no idea what she was looking for though. She knew the most basic of herbs - cobweb, tansy, comfrey root, poppy seeds - but anything to heal larger, possibly life threatening injuries was out her her knowledge capacity. Not for the first time she wondered if Fallenstar would permit her to travel back to WindClan and learn form Surgestorm. The eldest medicine cat of the Clans has a vast amount of knowledge to share, and he was kind enough to see past borders, especially since she'd been a WindClan warrior for most of her life. Though, with how things ended between herself and Blazingstar, she was uncertain how he would perceive her visit - especially since he was unaware that she had joined RiverClan as their medicine cat.

Nonetheless, she carefully navigated the swampy territory that lay outside RiverClan's main camp, her eyes darting this way and that as she kept on high alert for anything that looked like herbs. The fishy smell of RiverClan danced around her nose and she scrunched it up. It was almost overpowering, and if she hadn't been concentrated she would've missed the distinct piny scent of ShadowClan mixed with it. Heatherfur slowed her pawsteps, parting her jaws to taste the air. This is way too close to camp for ShadowClan to be here, she thought as her lip curled. She'd always had a distrust of the cats that lived in the darkness. She lowered her head and slunk around the reeds, ears and eyes alert and on the lookout for the scent's source. As she rounded another clump of bushes, her eyes landed on the figure of Daydream, ShadowClan's medicine cat. Oh. I wonder if they're here about Juniperpaw's disappearance, Heathertail thought as she stood up, relaxing to show she meant no harm. "Daydream," she greeted, dipping her head to show respect. Though her dislike for ShadowClan as a whole was strong, she knew medicine cats saw past borders. However, she was sure Daydream wouldn't know who she was, and realized they might be suspicious of her lingering WindClan scent, but decided to not comment on it for now until it was brought up. "I'm Heatherfur. What brings you to RiverClan?"

They just wanted to get to riverclan and go home. the place as a whole only reminded them of loss. they lost cricketpaw there, this was geckoleafs home. hell, they had even befriended russetstar, and now fallenstar was in power. he had never sat well with daydream, something was under the surface that wasnt settling well with them. but they always looked beyond that when training juniperpaw. she deserved a proper education like any other apprentice, and they would give her just that. they were still trying to think of her full name theyd give her at her ceremony. they were happy she was growing up. she was the only living remembrance of geckoleaf they had left. they couldnt lose her, too. so when the strong scent of windclan, riverclan, and herbs came flooding to their nose all at once, and a molly named heatherfur apparently approach them they could only glare for a moment, looking the cat up and down instead of returning the dip of the head. they were immediately on guard. how did this molly know their name? well, not to brag but most cats knew their name from gatherings, but still. "Im here to finish off Juniperpaws training, im planning to take her to the starcave tonight." they mewed curtly, already starting to walk past the molly and towards riverclans camp. they had been here countless times, most warriors and even fallenstar by this point was used to them padding in and out easily aslong as they didnt cause a disruptance.

[Mauve]

Originally Posted by king kaleb!

They just wanted to get to riverclan and go home. the place as a whole only reminded them of loss. they lost cricketpaw there, this was geckoleafs home. hell, they had even befriended russetstar, and now fallenstar was in power. he had never sat well with daydream, something was under the surface that wasnt settling well with them. but they always looked beyond that when training juniperpaw. she deserved a proper education like any other apprentice, and they would give her just that. they were still trying to think of her full name theyd give her at her ceremony. they were happy she was growing up. she was the only living remembrance of geckoleaf they had left. they couldnt lose her, too. so when the strong scent of windclan, riverclan, and herbs came flooding to their nose all at once, and a molly named heatherfur apparently approach them they could only glare for a moment, looking the cat up and down instead of returning the dip of the head. they were immediately on guard. how did this molly know their name? well, not to brag but most cats knew their name from gatherings, but still. "Im here to finish off Juniperpaws training, im planning to take her to the starcave tonight." they mewed curtly, already starting to walk past the molly and towards riverclans camp. they had been here countless times, most warriors and even fallenstar by this point was used to them padding in and out easily aslong as they didnt cause a disruptance.

As the feline started to pad past her, a pang of guilt struck her heart. It became apparent to Heatherfur that Daydream really didn't know of Juniperpaw's recent disappearance. She hated to be the one to tell them. Just from their tone alone, it seemed like Daydream had shared a rather special connection with Juniperpaw. She recognized it, as it was one she had shared with her own former apprentice, back when she was a warrior in WindClan. It might not have been the same as a relationship between a medicine cat and their apprentice, but Heatherfur understood it regardless. "Oh, you haven't heard..." she spoke softly, though made sure it was loud enough to catch Daydream's ears. The tabby turned sideways, craning her head around to look at Daydream's back that now faced her. She didn't want them to make their way all the way to RiverClan's camp only to discover the young former medicine cat apprentice had vanished. "Juniperpaw... She's disappeared..." Heatherfur mewed solemnly, mustering up as much of a crestfallen expression as she could. The former WindClan warrior hadn't known Juniperpaw that much, only seeing her at Gatherings and such, but a part of her ached that she was nowhere to be found. "I'm RiverClan's new medicine cat." Heatherfur tensed a bit, as always preparing herself for the slamming questions that usually followed her statement. Most were shocked indeed that a WindClan warrior would just up and take a different position altogether, and some hadn't taken too kindly to the idea. Though violence was pretty much out of the cards for medicine cats, she wasn't about to put it past Daydream to strike out - after all, they had been raised in ShadowClan.

[graves]

Originally Posted by Mauve

As the feline started to pad past her, a pang of guilt struck her heart. It became apparent to Heatherfur that Daydream really didn't know of Juniperpaw's recent disappearance. She hated to be the one to tell them. Just from their tone alone, it seemed like Daydream had shared a rather special connection with Juniperpaw. She recognized it, as it was one she had shared with her own former apprentice, back when she was a warrior in WindClan. It might not have been the same as a relationship between a medicine cat and their apprentice, but Heatherfur understood it regardless. "Oh, you haven't heard..." she spoke softly, though made sure it was loud enough to catch Daydream's ears. The tabby turned sideways, craning her head around to look at Daydream's back that now faced her. She didn't want them to make their way all the way to RiverClan's camp only to discover the young former medicine cat apprentice had vanished. "Juniperpaw... She's disappeared..." Heatherfur mewed solemnly, mustering up as much of a crestfallen expression as she could. The former WindClan warrior hadn't known Juniperpaw that much, only seeing her at Gatherings and such, but a part of her ached that she was nowhere to be found. "I'm RiverClan's new medicine cat." Heatherfur tensed a bit, as always preparing herself for the slamming questions that usually followed her statement. Most were shocked indeed that a WindClan warrior would just up and take a different position altogether, and some hadn't taken too kindly to the idea. Though violence was pretty much out of the cards for medicine cats, she wasn't about to put it past Daydream to strike out - after all, they had been raised in ShadowClan.

daydream stopped in their tracks at her words. their gaze stayed on the forest floor, watching the damp grass tickle between their toes. everything seemed to slow down all at once. how cold the breeze felt through their short fur, how they started to shiver under the meer force it had. they wanted to be blown away in that moment. they closed their eyes, taking in a deep breath and holding it. they started to shake. their body was already frail all malnutrition and sleep, so the shaking only made it look that much smaller. they didnt know if it was out of anger, that some windclan pansy had taken a riverclan bloods place, that it had been juniperpaws. maybe they were shaking out of sadness, just wanting to break down and collapse in that very moment. she was all they had. sure, they had flashpaw and nightpaw. but juniperpaw had known geckoleaf. juniperpaw knew what it was like to lose geckoleaf. she had been there along side them when they had almost died at the gathering, or had been there when they had almost lost their life during the flood. she knew, she understood. she was the last cat that was alive that knew of their past history and trama that truly understood, and now she was gone.why was no search party done? was a medicine cat just looked at as another rank and can and will be replaced just as quickly as they were appointed? all of that training, for what? for riverclan to not even search for the cat that healed them, that had bright life into the clan, that protected life, and played god if called it that. she deserved more respect than this.

They opened their eyes, whipping about to face heatherfur again. they looked angry, their fur almost twice their size now while their tail lashed. they wouldnt swing, no. they had more sense than that, but they were angry, and since heatherfur was here it was going to be directed towards her right now. they looked angry, but they also looked broken. they were so done with losing cats they had loved from this damn clan. hell, geckoleaf died in their arms right across the border! why couldnt anyone stay in their life for good? were they being punished? they curled their lip,"Why is that everytime a cat goes missing no search parties are warranted, not one pawstep is set to look for the cat that has saved your clans ass countless times given the respect they deserve," they snarled, taking a step closer,"how come-" they choked on a sob now. they were crying. broken amber hues stared into heather furs intensely, the most emotion they had shown in weeks"that you of all cats, one that reeks of windclan, had taken my junipers place?" of course they looked beyond borders, they knew that they would never judge a cat by their background had they been in the right state of mind, but right now they werent. they didnt feel well at all. "Geckoleaf was separated from her clan in the battle of the dusk syndicate at the gathering, was found in shadowclan territory days later died in my arms because she had been injured. cricketpaw had been slaughtered at riverclans border-their own home- and nothing was done." was history going to repeat itself? was juniper out there all alone, injured and dying too? "Juniperpaw will end up the same. she will return wanting her spot back, if she returns alive. not that anyone cares--seeing as no patrols are scorwing the territory right now." juniperpaw was more than a simple body that knew how to heal others. she was a cat who was a kind, hyperactive, and got on their nerves sometimes. but they were daydreams friends, their little sister, and so much more. they couldnt have lost her, too. "tell me its not true," they hiccuped, their aggression starting to die down. they were so young, yet felt so old at the same time,"please."

[wren]

@Brilliance
(( this is pretty short but it'll get longer once I'm done with my homework ))
(( like... I'm really embarrassed to put that out... But.. It'll get better I promise ))

There was so many thoughts running through the creamy white and orange tabby's mind, thoughts as abundant as the fish in the streams or a pool of water. And no matter how hard she tried to pin one thought down it always lead to a second thought that would pull her away into yet another downward spiral. No matter how hard she tried to pull herself away from such negative thought she couldn't unearth her paws from the sticky mess whatsoever. Maybe that's why I'm running away. Running away from invisible problems? slipping in and out of the shadows was said riverclan cat, her shoulders flexing with each large bound, claws hooking the damp earth and pushing her toward.. Towards what? clear tears brimmed on her eyelids, blinked away each time she hit the ground and sprang back up into the air.

confront them before you regret it.
Your running away from things you can't escape from.

With a violent jerk she forced herself to stop by digging her heels into the damp earth and stood in the middle of the path, dapples of sunlight sprinkled over her back and sides while she stood beneath the cover of the trees. Tears now streaked down her cheeks blown back with the wind. Her legs ached from the burst of strength she had used to run all the way out here without stopping while her lungs gasped for air causing her to drop down onto her haunches in order to gain some breath. Leave me alone! Leave me... her head sagged between her shoulders and she felt no more need to fight the reality of what she was doing. She pulled herself out of view dragging her paws in the dust before sitting herself down near the high walls of thicket.

[Mauve]

Originally Posted by king kaleb!

daydream stopped in their tracks at her words. their gaze stayed on the forest floor, watching the damp grass tickle between their toes. everything seemed to slow down all at once. how cold the breeze felt through their short fur, how they started to shiver under the meer force it had. they wanted to be blown away in that moment. they closed their eyes, taking in a deep breath and holding it. they started to shake. their body was already frail all malnutrition and sleep, so the shaking only made it look that much smaller. they didnt know if it was out of anger, that some windclan pansy had taken a riverclan bloods place, that it had been juniperpaws. maybe they were shaking out of sadness, just wanting to break down and collapse in that very moment. she was all they had. sure, they had flashpaw and nightpaw. but juniperpaw had known geckoleaf. juniperpaw knew what it was like to lose geckoleaf. she had been there along side them when they had almost died at the gathering, or had been there when they had almost lost their life during the flood. she knew, she understood. she was the last cat that was alive that knew of their past history and trama that truly understood, and now she was gone.why was no search party done? was a medicine cat just looked at as another rank and can and will be replaced just as quickly as they were appointed? all of that training, for what? for riverclan to not even search for the cat that healed them, that had bright life into the clan, that protected life, and played god if called it that. she deserved more respect than this.

They opened their eyes, whipping about to face heatherfur again. they looked angry, their fur almost twice their size now while their tail lashed. they wouldnt swing, no. they had more sense than that, but they were angry, and since heatherfur was here it was going to be directed towards her right now. they looked angry, but they also looked broken. they were so done with losing cats they had loved from this damn clan. hell, geckoleaf died in their arms right across the border! why couldnt anyone stay in their life for good? were they being punished? they curled their lip,"Why is that everytime a cat goes missing no search parties are warranted, not one pawstep is set to look for the cat that has saved your clans ass countless times given the respect they deserve," they snarled, taking a step closer,"how come-" they choked on a sob now. they were crying. broken amber hues stared into heather furs intensely, the most emotion they had shown in weeks"that you of all cats, one that reeks of windclan, had taken my junipers place?" of course they looked beyond borders, they knew that they would never judge a cat by their background had they been in the right state of mind, but right now they werent. they didnt feel well at all. "Geckoleaf was separated from her clan in the battle of the dusk syndicate at the gathering, was found in shadowclan territory days later died in my arms because she had been injured. cricketpaw had been slaughtered at riverclans border-their own home- and nothing was done." was history going to repeat itself? was juniper out there all alone, injured and dying too? "Juniperpaw will end up the same. she will return wanting her spot back, if she returns alive. not that anyone cares--seeing as no patrols are scorwing the territory right now." juniperpaw was more than a simple body that knew how to heal others. she was a cat who was a kind, hyperactive, and got on their nerves sometimes. but they were daydreams friends, their little sister, and so much more. they couldnt have lost her, too. "tell me its not true," they hiccuped, their aggression starting to die down. they were so young, yet felt so old at the same time,"please."

For Heatherfur, time seemed to slow itself as she watched Daydream spin on their heels, waves of anger hitting her at once. It reminded her of the anger that had echoed from Blazingstar days earlier, before she had come and taken this positon. The anger he had not towards her directly, but at himself for a death that hadn't been his fault. The death of her father... Watching Daydream was like looking in a mirror. The tears, the anger, the fur fluffed up twice their size to make themselves more intimidating to any cat that dared to ask if they were okay... all of it reminded Heatherfur of another cat she knew all too well: herself. For a brief moment, a nostalgic year frightful gaze overtook her normally soft and determined pale eyes. She remembered the pain and anguish she had felt coming back from training to see the slain body of her father laying in the middle of camp. She recalled her mother in a shivering heap, her tears coating the damp and cold fur of Cobraspirit's body. She remembered the way her legs shook as she stumbled over to the center of camp. She remembered how the Clan had gathered around, mourning the loss of such a skillful warrior to an unnecessary death. How Blazingstar - then Blazingpaw - had dared shed a single tear as if he hadn't caused this mess. Heatherfur remembered her mother disappearing, and then Mintberry abandoning her as well. It felt like StarClan was punishing her for an unknown reason, just to watch her suffer and squirm. For moons, she remembered hating her warrior ancestors, and even almost giving up warrior training in general. She'd spent nights wondering why everyone seemed to be taken from her, or leave, or why her sister relentlessly hated her, or why her mother wouldn't return. Though eventually she forgave Blazingstar, and even talked with him off and on, a part of her always felt alone in WindClan with Cobraspirit dead and the rest of her family scattered.

All at once, it snapped back like a rubber band, and Heatherfur blinked, realizing that Daydream was closer now. She could almost feel their hot breath against her long fur, their words slicing through the air like razor-sharp claws of an attacking enemy. The pain that radiated from such a small malnourished looking cat affected Heatherfur in a way she hadn't been expecting. She was almost scared, and for a brief moment her mind went blank. "I-I'm so sorry," she mumbled, for the first time a bit at a loss of what to say. She knew at this moment there was nothing in StarClan's world that she could say to make Daydream feel any better. When Mintberry left WindClan, it had caused Heatherfur to fall into a state of depression, one that made her lash out at any cat that tried to talk to her. After a moment of hesitation, Heatherfur moved forward slightly, cautiously closing the remainder of the gap between herself and the ShadowClan medicine cat. "Daydream, I know there isn't anything I can say, and I know you don't know me, but..." she started to say, but stopped. Just from her own memories, and seeing how distraught Daydream was, Heatherfur felt the sting of tears on her eyes. She wanted so bad to take this pain away. She was older now, and could handle these situations better, and it made her stomach churn to see the ShadowClan medicine cat so distraught. Don't cry. You can't cry, she commanded herself as she tried her best to regain her composure. "...I'm sorry. If you'd like, I can help you search for her." She didn't mention the fact that if they did find Juniperpaw, that would mean she was no longer needed. That Fallenstar would most likely cast her out, and Heatherfur would have no home to run to. But with StarClan giving their sign for Heatherfur, did that mean Juniperpaw was already lost? Was she, like Daydream said, lying injured and dying alone somewhere? It reminded her of when Sneakersong had disappeared, and she knew what Daydream must be feeling. The unknown of what happened to them, the worry that settled in to stay when they didn't return. Heatherfur shut her eyes and took a deep breath, steadying herself. "We can look for her together."