baby it's a way of life [ july promotions meeting ]

[Hawkstar]

LEADER OF SKYCLAN

.

The Gathering had exhausted her. After almost a full day of no sleep and maximum stress, Hawkstar had been out of commission for most of the following days after, her good eye bloodshot and sunken in. Gray compared to her normal blue.

She had been a spectre within the camp, floating from the warrior's den to her own, sticking closer to her family rather than any other, even - and maybe especially - disregarding her council in favor of a morning curled up in the warrior's den with her children. She had barked at a warrior asking about dawn patrols before settling back down between Threetoe and Starlitpath and continuing to clean her children behind the ears as if they were back in the nursery and she were nursing again.

It seemed, though, that after a visit to Swallowbreeze's den and a terse conversation inside, that the leader felt much more alive than she had in the days before. That domineering glint had returned to her hawk's eye, something so powerful, so intrinsically her, that when she jumped up onto her commander's perch, one could almost forget the pitiful cat she had been not even a day before.

Almost.

"SkyClan, come. I've got some things to discuss."

She waits, giddy, excited, for her clan to slowly trickle in (and she does her best to ignore the faces that grimaced or could not meet her eye… if she did not acknowledge them, they were no more than a ghost on her mental horizon. they could not judge her if she did not allow it.)

Firstly, I hear we've got some kits that need some wrangling. Hm… hm.. hm…" the pointed torbie's scarred muzzle creeps into a silly grin, and she leans forward on her perch to glare down at her loyal subjects.

"Briar, Cinderkit, Almondkit: front and center. You all are old enough to start pulling some weight around here. From this day, until you earn your warrior names, you will be known as Briarpaw, Cinderpaw, and Almondpaw. Briarpaw, you will be mentored by Maplemouse. Cinderpaw, to Cherrydawn and Almondpaw to Fitzgerald."

Oh, that knowing glint in her eye. She feels like a school-girl, positively bursting at the seams with some secret only she knows and is just dying to tell.

But there is still work to be done.

"Sweetpaw and Swirlpaw, with White-eye retiring from warrior duties, you two will have to be reassigned. Sweetpaw, to Duskpool and Swirlpaw … you will be mentored by Mousefang. I trust you both will do great work under these experienced … and noble… warriors."

pointed torbie

◆

64 moons

◆

she / they

◆

bio

 

[TAWNYBEAM]

It feels good to stretch his legs again—really stretch them, without pain flooding through his limbs. Swallowbreeze had done a stellar job on Fitzgerald. One of his shoulders is still more sore, and he knows he can't quite return to his usual schedule yet, but he is almost ready to return to Clan life. How odd that he craves it so much now; just a few moons ago, he would not have been so keen on resuming his duties. Something has shifted, permanently... perhaps it's the moment that he had failed to protect Hawkstar from rogues. Perhaps it's when she returned with the blood of another on her coat. Perhaps it's a mixture of both.

He has to wonder if she regrets anything. If she does, then the king shows no signs of it as she addresses SkyClan.

Normalcy trickles back into their lives in the wake of such blasphemy. Fitzgerald has crinkles near his eyes when he picks out the kits teetering at the front of the crowd. Kits no more; ceremonies like these always taste a little bittersweet, because he had not been born in a nursery like them. The joy that is contagious on these occasions is not dampened by this however.

His body twitches when he hears his name. Mentor once again, despite the disaster that had domineered the beginnings of his first. Fitzgerald had thought that the reason Teaselfeather became such a good young warrior is mostly thanks to their own skills, but evidently, Hawkstar sees something in him—something that she deems worthy. Do it all over again.

"Hi, Almondpaw,"

he greets her. This should be interesting. She matches him in energy, and thanks to knowing there is success in him too, Fitzgerald does not feel like he is stumbling around in the dark with this one. The fact that he has experience in mentoring fills him with such boundless joy that he can't help ruffling the top of Almondpaw's head in a display of affection.

And then, the moment stops.

She called me a warrior.

Fitzgerald blinks up at Hawkstar like he is seeing her for the first time today. Maybe it had just been a minor slip-up... although it's difficult to believe that the almighty Hawkstar is capable of one. Surely it is not out of glee? Fitzgerald likes to think that they have built something now- something still delicate, but it is there nevertheless.

 

[Swirlpaw]

Swirlpaw, -- 8 Moons / Skyclan Apprentice -- Ages on the 5th
Brown and orange tabby chimera she-cat with mismatched eyes.
Daughter of Milkheart, sister of Creampaw and Chestnutpaw.
Apprentice of Mousefang

Tagging @Mousefang

---

Swirlpaw went about her duties obediently in the days following the gathering. Everyone was off, some cats she caught staring off into the distance as if in another world entirely, some of them threw themselves harder into their hunting and patrolling, while some like Hawkstar... floated around camp with no purpose, a ghost amongst them. It was... weird. It was weird, and uncomfortable, and she desperately wanted things to go back to normal.

That normalcy would come soon, as every cat gathered around for the meeting Hawkstar had called. Swirlpaw looked upon her, starry eyed and blind to the faults of her star-chosen leader. She moved her paws around across the dirt below them, excitement buzzing in the air that made her want to move, though she kept still the best she could. It was no good fidgeting like a kit when she was a full grown apprentice! She smiled at the newly apprenticed cats, cheering their new names along with everyone else. How fun, three whole new apprentices in the den! She would be excited to train with them.

When her name was said alongside Sweetpaw's, she leaned forward, tail twitching with energy as she listened. Reassigned to Mousefang! Her head whipped around to look through the crowd so that she could spot her new mentor, ears perked, ideas of what they would do first already flying through her mind. She got up, padding between cats as she approached, face expectant and excited. Stopping in front of him, she said a greeting, and then, "What's first, Mousefang?"

 

[DUSKPOOL]

DUSKPOOL​

His eyes flashed with somethin' cold as Hawkstar called out for Almondkit and Cinderkit. His shoulders squared, glancin' down at the two tucked against him with a low rumble. At 5 moons? When they ain't even 6 moons. Not till a few weeks from now. "Don't let 'em take ya out of camp, under any circumstance." He rumbled slowly to the two, wooly plumage sweepin' to curl around their shoulders in a tight embrace. He can't say he fully trusted Hawkstar anymore, but this made his jaw clench.

Let 'em be kids for a while longer. "Be good." He whispered gruffly. "Behave." His lips quirked, unwillin' to show the two his disdain. His molten iris sharp, watchin' with a blazin' iris as the two, Fitzgerald and Cherrydawn. His shoulders relaxed gradually at the thought, trustin' the two enough not to send his kids to their deaths, at least, for now. Even if they'd become apprentices too soon, and his disdain for Hawkstar growin' in depths, Duskpool won't stop watchin' out for 'em. The last thing he had of Honeycombsplash. He refused to let anythin' happen to his kids, not now, not when they were too young to understand how cruel the world was—an unforgivin' wasteland with odd folk around every corner.

His helm lifted at the call of his name, head dippin' with a rumbled grunt. His bulky figure standin' upright to pad in Sweetpaw's direction. "Kiddo." He greeted gruffly, wooly plumage sweepin' the well-used terrain with an amused glint, "Reckon we've got some things to discuss, eh?" He mused lowly for only Sweetpaw to hear, mangled ear flickerin'.

we're only haunted by the things we refuse to accept

ooc

information

main ref

• talking to @ALMONDKIT @cinderkit and then @sweetpaw ^^
• 

  DUSKPOOL he/him a storm carved in flesh and smoke, duskpool towers with the bulk of a maine coon and norwegin forest cat. his wooly black pelt bristles with ghost-stripes and scars—old wounds etched like lightning through dusk. one copper eye burns like molten steel and the other a mangled ruin of war. every step is heavy, thunderous—war-born, death-burdened, and unflinchingly alive.
  
  ᯓ★ senior warrior of skyclan (sun guard during coffeestar's reign)
  ᯓ★ brother to outlawbite & thistlestrike, half-brother to flowercloud
  ᯓ★ eighty-three moons; ages on the 1st of every month
  ᯓ★ speech thought action
  ᯓ★ peaceful/healing powerplay permitted
• ​

 

[Cherrydawn Cherrydawn]

CHERRY OF SKYCLAN

Cherrydawn sat with her head held high, mismatched eyes wide with that ever-present wonder she never quite outgrew. The Gathering had been... a fiasco, in her opinion. Chaos stirred by grief, distrust, and wounds too fresh to speak gently of. She had been angry, furiously so, at ThunderClan for taking Rosebelly from them. Arrogant or not, he hadn't deserved such a fate. And Flowercloud? She certainly hadn't deserved another child buried beneath the stars. Neither had her kits, still small and already shadowed by loss.

But even amidst the storm of it all, Cherrydawn remembered feeling something else. Relief. When Hawkstar had spoken, had apologized, she'd felt it bloom in her chest. The one-eyed leader had acknowledged the wrong, and that alone gave her hope. It was enough for her to keep her faith. Enough to believe they might heal. So now, she sat quietly, listening as Hawkstar spoke of new things, things worth looking forward to. Her thoughts drifted as kits were named, paws were honored. She blinked at a familiar pair. Almondkit and Cinderkit, wait... were they really six moons already? She could've sworn they'd only just been five. But time, like seasons, always moved faster when one wasn't watching.

Shaking the thought off, she stepped forward when her name was called, pride bubbling in her chest. She moved with a soft smile and a bounce in her step, eyes bright. " Hello, Cinderpaw. " she mewed gently, mismatched eyes glowing as she leaned in to touch noses. " I will be your mentor henceforth, until your graduation at twelve moons! " she said, puffing out her chest, voice filled with warmth and pride. Her first apprentice. Her heart swelled at the thought. She would do her utmost. She would raise a warrior who knew the code, not just by memory, but by heart. A warrior who understood their land, their people, their purpose. One who stood tall with kindness and honor, as any warrior should.

THROUGH DIRT AND SHADOW I GROW ——･ﾟ✦​

･ﾟ✦ —— I'm reaching light through the struggle

 

[Hawkstar]

LEADER OF SKYCLAN

.

Yes, yes .... that was right ... right? Six moons old .. or five ? .. or ... Hawkstar's head swam with the numbers. "Almondpaw and Cinderpaw, expect your first weeks as apprentices to be within the walls of this camp, learning the code as SkyClan's ancestors have intended, and tending to the elders and caregivers before you would yourselves. These will be your first lessons to becoming strong, respectable warriors like -"

Her good eye turns to Fitzgerald, imperious, undeniable. "You... have made yourself a thorn in my side for many moons, Fitzgerald. But... even I can be too quick to judge. Where I saw a useless kittypet, you have proven me wrong, and proven yourself a warrior capable of great strength. For your resilience and your courage, with the light of StarClan's approval, I strip you of your kittypet name. You are now Tawnybeam, a full and glorious warrior of SkyClan."

pointed torbie

◆

67 moons

◆

she / they

◆

bio

 

[Teaselfeather Teaselfeather]

TEASELFEATHER

Over hill, over dale, through the valley and vale do not weep, do not wail, I am coming home to you

Teaselfeather sat quietly among their Clanmates, the weight of Rosebelly's absence pressing like a stone on their chest. The Gathering still echoed in their bones, words shouted, justice muddled, blood staining peace. They hadn't spoken much since. Not about Hawkstar. Not about faith. Not about how fractured everything felt. They were trying, though. Their mismatched gaze flicked toward the highledge when the call went out, ears flicking once, then pinning briefly. So many announcements lately. Changes that came like waves, relentless and unasked for.

But then.... Fitzgerald was appointed a new apprentice. A blink. Their ears perked up. That was… good, wasn't it? Their old mentor had taken well to Clan life despite his origin. A little awkward at times, but honest, and kind, and trying. Just like they had been. A soft smile began to bloom, lifting something faint in their heart. It meant something, didn't it? Hope, maybe? Then more words. More than expected. Not just an apprentice. A name. A warrior name.

Tawnybeam.

Teaselfeather's eyes widened. Their breath caught in their throat. They turned sharply, mismatched hues locking onto the familiar tom, no, warrior and saw the truth settle over him like sunlight. Tawnybeam. A name born not of origin, but of earned belonging. A bright, joyful mrrrp! broke from them before they could stop it. Their paws moved before their thoughts could catch up, and they bounded forward, all quietness abandoned for once as they gently bonked their head against Tawnybeam's shoulder.

" Congratulations, Tawnybeam..! " Their voice, a soft breeze as always, held something lighter now. Something steadier. In the face of loss… of splintered trust and grief… Here was something whole.

═════════════⊹⊱ ⟡ ⊰⊹═════════════

 

[Mulberryburst]

Meetings are commonplace, sharing the news that the leader is wanting to make known, promoting kits and apprentices, it was something that Mulberryburst was used to, something that was a way of life, something that he enjoyed so that he could learn and know and understand the goings on of the clan he called home - just in case he missed something. He sat near Maplemouse, tail wrapping carefully around his paws as he leaned against his sibling, eyes trained carefully on Hawkstar as they spoke to the clan, voice ringing out over the clearing of the camp as each name was mentioned, each promotion made.

It was no secret the way the torbie leader looked towards Fitzgerald, the thoughts and feelings she had against outsiders whether or not they proved themself to the clan, but the remark on mentioning warriors plural when putting newly made apprentices with the others was not unnoticed, and though he did not comment on it he did lock it away in his mind, chanting the names of the new apprentices with the rest of the clan as soon as things were done with their pairings. As quickly as they were paired however it seemed as though Hawkstar was moving on, mentioning the way the apprentices would be trained for the first few weeks locked inside the camp. It wasn't the way Mulberryburst would have taught them - in fact he had taken Jaypaw out into the territory their first days together, speaking of code and landmarks mixed together for the warrior believed the code should be remembered as well as the territory and camp itself - but it was Hawkstar's wishes, likely due to the way the gathering had went.

After hearing about how it had gone he didn't really blame her to be honest.

Quickly things were moving on however and the attention was on Fitz, not in silence and mention of simply being a warrior as it had been before but in his name being said outright. The leader outright admitted that he was a thorn in her side, but despite that he had proven himself to be a strong and capable warrior within the clan - and Mulberry couldn't help but agree. If there was someone that he knew he could count on it was Fitzgerald, always there to be as helpful as possible to those within the clan, and even helpful to those outside it when the code permit. "Tawnybeam! Tawnybeam!" He'd shout amongst the crowd when his clanmates began to chant as well, smile upon his maw as eyes sought after the warrior quickly.

It was a good turning point for SkyClan after the recent days, it meant good things Mulberry was sure of it.

mentioning @Maplemouse

​

MULBERRYBURST he/him, skyclan 24 moons old.
chocolate x cinnamon mink chimera with low white
mentored by none // mentoring Jaypaw
littermate to Maple
NPC x NPC / father to none / mated to none
"speech" // "thoughts"
penned by tikki ↛ rabbitcake on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

 

[Maplemouse Maplemouse]

———— Little fly, thy summer's play, my thoughtless hand has brushed away. ✦

Their ears flicked as Hawstar's voice broke into the open, a rumbling purr from the back of their throat in pride, hearing so many young folks rising the ranks. Bumping their head against their brother with a warm chuckle as their name was spoken aloud, triumphant and proud to hear they finally had an apprentice after 12 long moons of their warriorhood. Even if they couldn't see the other, they knew they buzzed with pride too; he always sat in their blind spot, an unspoken ritual. If Maplemouse couldn't see to the right of them, they always trusted Mulberryburst to cover their flank.

Pushing to their paws, shooting their brother a quick grin before they ambled forwards towards their brand new apprentice, pressing their nose to the top of Briarpaw's head. "It is all my pleasure to be your mentor, little Briar." It would have to arrange a good first lesson for the little beast, a border patrol or perhaps straight to a hunt. His balance had to be tested, too. While Maple itself had not been so drawn to climbing since the accident with its eye, their own injuries would not stop them from teaching the sapling to grow to a proud tree of the forests of Skyclan.

They lost their attention to Hawkstar for a moment, deciding what might be an apt token or award to the youngster for the start of his training. They had plenty in their trading hoard to gift to him, a skull of a creature they had meticulously picked clean, a feather bundle, and they did have that shell of a turtle they found on the Riverclan border....

But their ears flicked again, drawing attention back to the scarred molly, another announcement. A warm, gravelly chuckle rose from their throat. Fitzgerald finally gifted his warrior name! It was about time, yeah, he could be a character for sure, but with a graduated apprentice in his pawsteps and granded one of the kittens to teach, it would have been stunned to see him without a true Skyclan name. What a fitting one, too. Maplemouse couldn't have selected better if they tried. "Well earned, Tawnybeam." It gave the warrior a warm smile and a nod.

For the disaster that had been the last week or so, the grief following Rosebelly's murder and the disarray of the gathering, for a moment, it felt like everything was less of a mess. New apprentices, new names, even new faces with that stray kitten Swallowbreeze found. While they wouldn't hold their breath that everything was utterly back to normalcy, it seemed even in the wake of disaster, it only drove the clan closer together.

————— Am I not a fly like thee?

Or art thou not a man like me? —————

• Interacting with @Mulberryburst and @Briarpaw
• 
  Maplemouse
  ✦—Skyclan warrior | 24 moons
  ✦—They/It
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A scrappy, chocolate mink with an overbite and green eyes.
  #e97f49

 

[TAWNYBEAM]

How any leader keeps track of all the kits and apprentices' ages are beyond Fitzgerald, so if it had not been for Duskpool's hushed comment, he never would have been the wiser.

"That's fine,"

he nods, half to himself and half to Almondpaw.

"Miss Swallowbreeze wants me to sit still and recover for a bit longer, so we can learn theory while we both wait."

It should give him the time to collect his thoughts anyway. While he's most pleased with these developments, he still remains as absent-minded as ever—if he had to begin mentoring right this second, he's sure he would suddenly forget everything he had ever learned and taught.

Hawkstar is not yet finished. Fitzgerald lifts his head when she speaks once more, her voice ringing through the clearing, just like it had done on the night of the Gathering.

When her one eye finds him, he instinctively freezes up like a deer caught in headlights. Suddenly he is internally reciting everything he has ever done, from the moment of his birth to the current second, listing off mistake after mistake-

But the king does not scoff at him for any of those.

Fitzgerald is but a flower, soaking himself fully in the sunshine that Hawkstar gives him. For once... for once her voice is not strained with thinly veiled frustration at his antics. She praises him, and if pure, delighted shock was not running havoc in his veins right now, he surely would dart around with boundless energy.

His mouth is agape as Hawkstar strips him of his past, his name, everything that connects him to his kittypet life, and she names him Tawnybeam.

"I-"

Unceremoniously, he stammers. The edges of his still-open mouth curve into a smile, and he blink, dumbfounded, when Teaselfeather brushes against him on one side and Maplemouse congratulates him on the other. Mulberryburst begins the chant—the chant that he only ever joined in himself, not one that had ever began for him—and when the rest of SkyClan follows suit, a shiver passes through Fitzgerald- no, Tawnybeam.

Tawnybeam, he tries the new name, tongue flitting over rows of teeth. It suits him. Hawkstar calls him resilient and courageous. Suddenly the failure that had cost her one of her lives feels like a lifetime ago. That had been Fitzgerald's failure. Tawnybeam gets the opportunity to do better.

"Th- thank you, Hawkstar!"

His voice cracks as he finally speaks up. What more can he say, really? If he forces himself to continue, he will surely start crying.

 

[Hawkstar]

LEADER OF SKYCLAN

.

Hawkstar allows him the moment to bask in his promotion. Tawnybeam is allowed the spotlight to grin and breathe in his own success, and in those sweet few seconds, even Hawkstar lends a little whisper to behind the din: good job, Tawnybeam. It was a good day to be king when her soldiers proved their worth and standing, when they stood up and shouted that yes! They deserved to be here too!

She gives him that much before she continues: "Anyways, continuing with this theme of second chances and new judgements, there are two cats that I am adding to my council today. Duskpool is now a Sun Guard and Flowercloud …

Will you allow me to apologize, and then rejoin my council as my deputy?"

pointed torbie

◆

67 moons

◆

she / they

◆

bio

 

[SWALLOWBREEZE]

skyclan moved forward, despite the weight on their shoulders, the grief that hung around the air. mornings were spending whispering gossip over breakfast, targeting the rogue clans across their borders. swallowbreeze agreed with her clan, however, she couldn't speak with a sharp tongue so her opinions sat unspoken behind her teeth.

the fawn point looked up from what she was doing, ears perked curiously at hawkstar's reappearance. it'd been sunrises since she'd shown her face to the clan, and as expected, she pushed herself right back into business.

mentor reassignments, kits becoming apprentices, the usual for a clan meeting. she begins to lose focus until hawkstar picks out fitzgerald from the crowd— surely, she's not feeling well? her eyes peer towards the tom, one of the many daylighters that abandoned his twolegs in favor of the pine trees. she couldn't relate to the feeling, or even begin to think about how it felt, but she knew it wasn't easy.

swallowbreeze remembers the day then apprentice rosebelly told the entire clan fitzgerald had wandered to twolegplace... his place within the clan was uncertain for days, and now, hawkstar names him. she blinks in surprise, but quickly joins the chant until it can die down. tawnybeam will be back in her den later tonight, she'll congratulate him then.

the light behind hawkstar's ceremonial branch seems to give her a beacon of light. she casts her light upon duskpool, flowercloud, giving both warriors a chance to re-enter the leader's council. swallowbreeze's whiskers twitch curiously, trying to find flowercloud in the crowd. the pointed king almost burned the entire forest so her son wouldn't die in vain.

 

[flowercloud]

there were too many things on the amber mollys mind. her mind couldn't sleep, even as she lay there, her green eyes closed- Teaselfeather near, her mind stayed awake, and her body followed too.

Early early in morning she seeked the forest, before patrols were called, before the sun even woke. her body was tired, aching, fighting, and yet she pushed forward. a mouse, a bird, a snap of a branch that fell underneath her weight, left to lay to rot as she'd leave without looking back.

there were always things to be done. And as she dragged the prey back, bringing it to the pile, the meeting was called. And Flowercloud found herself quietly along the outskirts. The words were there, but a blur, unfocused, head watching Hawkstar, but she wasn't really there now was she?

Chanting arose, and it brought the molly awake a bit, realizing, her niece and nephew were to be apprenticed. As well as briar, who had not been given a name yet. "Briarpaw, Almondpaw, Cinderpaw!" Her call sounded, and for a moment, green eyes would meet molten copper, and her gaze would narrow before turning her head to attention. Hed move to give attention to his children, before to his own apprentice.

They would work out their issues, but Flowercloud was casting aside blame, angry, revolting against her brother for taking her children to get hurt. For shaming her- it wasn't his attention, but anger welled in the warrior.

Her niblings were to stay in camp, and Flowercloud tilting her head, before realizing what Hawkstar had- they were too early. Ah, that was what would happen when the king had too many things to do, by herself. Too many things to remember, handle- it... Made sense.

Though, a caramel eyebrow raised, ears flicking as Hawkstar did the impossible, examined Fitzgerald as a warrior .. for he would no longer be a daylighter- he would grace the clan as Tawnybeam. A soft look to the other, a smile edging into her lips, and a dip of her head for respect to him. "You deserve it," she would murmur.

Hawkstar was not done. Anyways, continuing with this theme of second chances and new judgements, Flowercloud would tilt her head, confused, before a nod of respect to the leader. She was changing- and that was fine. Flowercloud didn't have long to wonder- there are two cats that I am adding to my council today. Duskpool is now a Sun Guard and Flowercloud … her green eyes met the one blue, widening.

Will you allow me to apologize, and then rejoin my council as my deputy?

She looked confused, taken back. Hawkstar coming to her senses to decide Fitzgerald was a warrior, that made sense, but-

This wasn't expected.

It was only so Hawkstar had someone to play deputy. And it wasn't as if she was being a good example during the gathering. How could she be picked, when she expected Stormcrow to become deputy? How could she be picked, when stormcrow had been doing fine-

And her voice spoke, finally, after a moment of stunned silence.

"I will happily accept your apology, and join your side again, Hawkstar," she responded, dipping her head to the leader, before offering a small faint smile, and a glance of-

Hope.

flowercloud - 35 moons - skyclan warrior - mentoring none

 

[DUSKPOOL]

DUSKPOOL​

Havin' stepped back within the crowd, Duskpool lifted his helm with a narrowed iris, wooly plumage lazily disturbin' the ground. His attention driftin' in Almondpaw and Cinderpaw's direction with a surge of bittersweetness. At least Hawkstar admitted it; otherwise, Duskpool would have pulled Cherrydawn and Fitzgerald aside to discuss matters more privately. His jaw clenched in subtle annoyance, flank risin' with a deep rumbled sigh, withdrawin' his emotions of anger and distrust.

No doubt, his kids would be excited, honored even, to be apprenticed, and he could not take that away from them, no matter how irked he was, untrustin' of the leader standin' before 'em.

His head quirked, mangled ear flickerin' at the call of Fitzgerald, only for his features to soften, dippin' his head silently in respect for the newly named warrior. "Tawnybeam." He rumbled somethin' guttural, scarred lips quirked in a subtle smile. "Reckon ya earned it well enough." He mused gruffly, voice barely audible against the cheerin' clanmates. About time, eh?

Shakin' a bulky head, Duskpool shifted his bulky frame, breathin' wearily, assumin' the meetin' was well otherwise when Hawkstar called out not one, but two familiar names. Hard brow raised in surprise, muscled frame coiled tight. What the hell? His head lifted, starin' at Hawkstar with a flicker of distrust, not obvious against the deadpan frown he wore, neither happy nor angry by the outcome. He served Coffeestar long ago, havin' come to terms with the heart-grabbin' fear of failure and death that'll sure haunt him for the rest of his existence.

The lives that weigh heavy on his shoulders, trustin' him to do what is right. To remain clear-headed. To never falter, steady like an unmoveable boulder. He couldn't afford to collapse now. He can't afford to fail. Not when eyes turned to him for solace and guidance. His chest heaved, deep and weary, wonderin' if Hawkstar was turnin' afoot, but apologies meant nothin' in the wake of action. If she did it again? Her heart too big and her emotions far too wild, Duskpool refused to put his family in the likes of her paws.

And Flowercloud? His molten iris narrowed, watchin' the amber molly accept her duties as deputy once more. And how obvious is it that she ain't needin' him no more? Duskpool could only sigh wearily. She'd never leave their leader's side.

With a flick of his tail, Duskpool raised his head, molten iris steady despite the conflictin' emotions swirlin' in his gut. "Thank ya for havin' me." He dipped his head with a low, guttural rumble. "It'll be an honor to join the guard." He finished with a gruff rumble, bulky frame standin' tall before their clanmates, steady.

we're only haunted by the things we refuse to accept

ooc

information

main ref

• xxx
• 

  DUSKPOOL he/him a storm carved in flesh and smoke, duskpool towers with the bulk of a maine coon and norwegin forest cat. his wooly black pelt bristles with ghost-stripes and scars—old wounds etched like lightning through dusk. one copper eye burns like molten steel and the other a mangled ruin of war. every step is heavy, thunderous—war-born, death-burdened, and unflinchingly alive.
  
  ᯓ★ senior warrior of skyclan (sun guard during coffeestar's reign)
  ᯓ★ brother to outlawbite & thistlestrike, half-brother to flowercloud
  ᯓ★ eighty-three moons; ages on the 1st of every month
  ᯓ★ speech thought action
  ᯓ★ peaceful/healing powerplay permitted
• ​

 

[Mousefang]

A rake of claws against a mirror - grazing pelts we all once wore.

An apprentice. He almost does not register his name being called until the child is before him, mismatched eyes wide and eager and gazing upward to him with all the youthful enthusiasm he knew he once shared when he was made an apprentice himself all those many moons before. He had wanted his own apprentice desperately, had always had it put off for one reason or another; part of him knew his mother's hesitance had been his surly demeanor and penchant for handling things with claws over diplomacy but Hawkstar he knew had withheld one to him out of spite.
"The borders." He answers finally, head tilted down and coal black nose finding Swirlpaw's forehead, "We will go over where they are, marking them, ensuring no cat dares trespass on SkyClan territory."

His elation at finally being given the honor of mentoring one of SkyClan's youth is doused in cold water as he hears Duskpool's name. Sun Guard. His former glory, his former companion in their duties under Coffeestar's reign. Flowercloud is made deputy again but he feels nothing about that, it is a whisper trailing the end of the sentence, a bold declaration of her hate and dislike of him so blatant that surely every cat of SkyClan hears it. Mousefang inhales deeply, holds it, the blood is rushing to his ears and pounding in his skull - cats once whispered he was promoted under his mother through pure bias and nepotism when he had clawed his way there with sheer grit and determination. He'd held a bitterness when it was taken, but swallowed it down. It was hard to keep his expression neutral, his eyes burned and he found himself instinctively flexing his claws into the ground before catching it.
'Hold it together...not now. Not in front of Swirlpaw.' Jaw clenches, his mouth tightens into a thin line as he exhales at last. Refocus. Redirect.
"It seems the meeting is done, we will head out immediately." Don't let her see that her claws tore flesh, don't let her know you're affected by her bite. The chocolate tabby rises stiffly, head held up and he flicked his tail in a gesture for the young cat to follow. No congratulations spilled from his maw, but he offered the faintest of nods in the direction of Flowercloud and Duskpool both, not trusting his voice to remain steady if he dared speak to either. Everything as it was once more, yet he was no longer where he should be.

Ooc- @Swirlpaw

x

Mousefang

— SkyClan Warrior (Scout)
— He/Him
"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
— A black rosette tabby with high white & mint green eyes.
#84ba64

 

[cinderpaw. cinderpaw.]

He wouldn't have expected much from a meeting. To him, it was kind of boring- but he would listen. Even as his gaze wandered to the clouds, or his paw moved to poke roughly into his sister's shoulder, spreading his toes to ruffle her fur. But suddenly eyes fell on him- front and center he was told, soft pink eyes landing on @ALMONDKIT . "Are we in trouble?" He mouthed, before pushing forward to sit in front of the crowd, uneasy gaze searching for his father's, ears folded back.

But it was quickly answered. They were to be made apprentices. A grin sprawled across his ivory features, pink expanding from his maw and his teeth glinted in the light from his grin. His paws lifted in glory in his excitement, butting his head against his sister's ruffled shoulder before looking up with more attention then he ever seemed to show before.

Though, his father made him wary, his fluffy head tilting slightly. Don't leave camp? But- they were apprentices! His grin fell slightly, before shaking his head. "Okay dad," he said with a breath of a sad sigh, leaning into the embrace. Though his spirits still couldn't be halted, his grin rising as a warrior took his place, and stood before him.

And Cherrydawn, his mentor. The apprentice sat up with pride as he touched his nose to hers. At twelve moons, he'd be a warrior. And until then, Cherrydawn would show him the way! Excitement flooded him, tiny body trembling, and paws digging into the dirt.

Expect your first weeks spent in camp, learning- and cinderpaw sighed before nodding, grin faultering, though chin held high in pride. I'll make you all proud. You won't regret it! He thought quietly as the meeting continued, and he found himself still pressed to Almondpaws side, paws itching to still mess with her- poke her, anything to rub her the wrong way, but instead he found himself stilled. Fitzgerald would become Tawnybeam, and be a real warrior. His head turned with the chants and pride, before following suit.

"Tawnybeam! That's such a cool name! Not that Fitzgerald wasn't!"

And then, the meeting continued. His dad would become a guard, and his aunt would be deputy. He couldn't be more proud of his family. He was too young though, to notice the resentment and hatred his aunt portrayed to his dad. He was too young to notice any tension really.

"Can you believe they're guards and deputy, almondpaw? Wow, today's amazing isn't it?" He murmured. And as the meeting drew to an end, he put a paw on his sister, shoving her a bit too roughly, before shouting-

"LAST ONE TO THE ELDERS DEN IS FOX DUNG!" Before racing off. Sure it was unfair, but regardless, he wasn't going to let her win so easily.

cinderpaw - 5 moons - skyclan apprentice - mentored by cherry