BOTH FEET FIRMLY ON THE GROUND — missing mca

[Frostmoth]

The day begins like any other. The cooling crisp air of the beginning of leaf-fall is a welcoming feeling when Frostmoth rises before the sun for dawn patrols. As is typical of the deputy, he emerges from the reed-woven dens before any of his other clanmates. He runs throught the various necessary tasks and chores that will need to be done today in preparation for leaf-fall growing closer to leaf-bare. The fish are still swimming well and RiverClan's borders are especially strong thanks to the bolstering efforts following the first gathering. He grimaces to think that the other clans may not be so lucky, both because he doesn't wish against the prosperity of others and because they might be more inclined to go the dishonest way of ShadowClan and resort to stealing.

And speaking of ShadowClan, Frostmoth casts his gaze toward the medicine cat den. Jinglemoon and Rainpaw are likely to need help gathering herbs. Frostmoth doesn't have the first idea of what they will need in the thinning of resources in the coming months. They'd done a good enough job restocking their stores after the heist thanks to the charity of SkyClan and to the sheer efforts of foraging patrols, but now they had another thing to worry about. He sighs. Doesn't it seem like there is always something to be worries about? Frostmoth figures that he should see if Jinglemoon is stirring with the dawn sun, hoping he might be able to see what he needs before organizing the dawn patrols.

When he pokes his head quietly inside the den, Jinglemoon is still resting lightly, but he realizes with a pang that the other nest- the one that belongs to Rainpaw- is empty. He blinks in the dawn-faded light, hoping that his eyes are deceiving him, but there is indeed nothing there except for reeds, moss, and bracken. Frostmoth pulls himself back into camp, reeling slightly. In an attempt not to jump to conclusions, he tracks across camp to the apprentices' den. Perhaps Rainpaw has just taken up a nest with her siblings...? But when he looks inside the den of sleeping trainees, she isn't there among them either. Now, he thinks, it's time to panic.

Frostmoth thrusts himself backward out of the den and raises a caterwaul: "Has anyone seen Rainpaw?! She's gone missing!" Frostmoth's first thought is that she has been taken by ShadowClan. Or worse, snuck out and gotten herself killed.

OH, MY GOD ★ MAKE ME IN YOUR IMAGE

• "SPEECH"
• ★ FROST — he/him, riverclan deputy, 21 moons
  — penned by carat, feel free to ping or dm for plots!
  — longhair black and white bicolor with blue eyes
  — peaceful powerplay ok! all interactions ok!
  
• penned by carat!

 

[Wavesong]

And that's why we share all we have with you
Though there's little to be found
When all you've got is nothing
There's a lot to go around

.

Wavesong was still learning the art of sneaking out of her nest, which often proved more difficult than one might think with six little guppies curled all around her. She adored them with every fiber of her heart, but her duties too called for her attention. When one stirred at her shifting, she chuckled softly, leaning down to give a gentle rasp of her tongue over the kit's head and murmured for them to rest a while longer. A breath of crisp morning air would do her good, it always left her feeling refreshed, vitalized, like the river's own current running through her veins.

But the moment she slipped from the nursery, her eyes caught Frostmoth's tense stance, his voice rising with urgency. The words struck her like claws across her chest. Missing? Rainpaw was missing? Oh, stars above. " Missin'? " she echoed, ears pinning back, her blue eyes wide. " 'Ow's that possible... She was jus'… I swear I saw her yesterday before I settled down fer the night! " Her paws carried her swiftly to Frostmoth's side, fear tugging sharp at her heart. Still, she fought to keep her tone steady, her head level. Panic would not help them now.

" Breathe, dear. " she urged gently, brushing her tail against him in quiet support. Was she saying it for him, for her... Or for both of them? " Think. Who d'ye reckon saw 'er last?Jinglebingle, perhaps? " Worry lined every word, though she forced her thoughts toward solutions, toward action. Rainpaw was clever, but she was still young.

Her gaze swept briefly toward the camp entrance, thoughts racing. " She wouldn't go off on an herb patrol alone, surely not… " Wavesong murmured, more to herself than anyone. But where then? With a sharper breath, she lifted her head, resolve sparking beneath the worry. " Perhaps she's at th' river... Fer a swim, or a wash. It could be possible, wouldn't it? But let's ask Jingle first. "

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

37 MOONS

𖧧

RIVERCLANNER

𖧧

SONG

𖧧

bio

 

[pebbledream.'s icon pebbledream. pebbledream.]

PEBBLEDREAM ──

riverclan | warrior​

​

It's not often that Pebbledream is woken up from their slumber within the warriors' den; they're often one of the first to rise as each day begins, second only to a select few other cats. One of which is the RiverClan deputy, whose voice is what causes them to blink the sleep from their eyes as their ears swivel in the direction of his panicked call. It takes a few moments for them to register what's happening. Riverpaw... missing.

Trotting out into camp, they approach Frostmoth with a glint of concern in their usually-stoic expression. "Missing? Are you certain?" They rule out the possibility of the medicine apprentice being sent to gather herbs; she couldn't have been, not this early. Watching as Wavesong attempts to comfort Frostmoth, they ponder where the young cat could have gone.
"Wavesong may be right. Surely she hasn't gone far; should we have a patrol sent out to look for her?" they suggest. "I volunteer to aid the search, if so." They nod in agreement at Wavesong's suggestion to ask Jinglemoon if he knows anything - he was likely the last cat to have seen her, so surely he'd know if she'd planned on going somewhere...

a steadfast spirit, never to stall

the vow resounds: honor above all

• ooc:
• "speaking" | thinking | action

 

[Jinglemoon]

x

x

x

JINGLEMOON

RIVERCLAN

MEDICINE CAT

HE/THEY

28 MOONS

DINGO

A caterwauling from outside the den stirs the medicine cat from his slumber, the voice is familiar and hearing that it was Frostmoth got Jinglemoon to his paws quickly as the Deputy seemed to be calling out to the clan as a whole in a panic. Pushing memories of when they had been attacked and stolen from by ShadowClan despite the panicked calling from the Deputy reminding him of that night, the blue tabby tom would poke his head out of the medicine den to see what was going on, his ears twitching as he caught onto what was causing the panic.

Has anyone seen Rainpaw!? She's gone missing!

What? No... That couldn't be right... "Calm down Frostmoth! Rainpaw is still asleep in her nest in the medicine den, she's right... Here?" He trailed off as after turning back to check her nest he found it empty. Cold. "No... No no no no. Sh-she was right there just last night before we all went to sleep!" Panic was starting to bubble up in his own voice now too, he checked behind every nook in the medicine den, upturned every nest even his own as though she was just playing hide and seek with them all. With every area of the medicine den checked he would burst out into camp as well and frantically scanned the clearing. Ever since he had taken the young cat on as his own apprentice and protected her from harm during ShadowClan's raid when the medicine den was attacked directly he had felt a sort of parental protection for Rainpaw, she was not his kit and he knew that but she had felt close to being like one.

"She was in her nest last night when the clan went to sleep" He'd say hurriedly as he joined Frostmoth and the other cats who had gathered in camp by this point. "P-patrols to look for her would be a good idea, she can't have gone far-- But we should organize them quickly" He had no idea where she could've gone off to, he'd never send her out on a herb patrol on her own and never so early in the morning. He wondered if maybe her siblings had an idea of where Rainpaw might be or if they were too were just as lost. He knew that if she wasn't found soon, Thunderpaw would likely dislike him even more than she already did and how could he blame her? It was his job to look after her and now she was nowhere to be found...

Shaking his head to try and pushback the thoughts for now Jinglemoon would look to Frostmoth, Wavesong and Pebbledream. "I'm going to go search for her, I'll start at our border leading to the four trees and work my way around" He would search the entirety of RiverClan territory if that's what it took.

When danger greets you with a smile

A long furred blue tabby tom with low white, long pointed ears with curved tips and dazzling blue eyes. Usually walks with a jingle in his step. Good listener and always thoughtful.

Sibling to ASTRO, Uncle to TWINKLEPAW, ECLIPSEPAW and COMETPAW
Mentoring RAINPAW
"speech" // 'thoughts' // #3b90ff

 

[Russetfall]

FALLING FOR THE PROMISE OF THE

EMPTINESS MACHINE

.

Russetfall wakes with a start at Jinglemoon's panicked cries, stumbling out of her nest, bits of moss still sticking to her bristling fur and half-asleep. "What's happened!? Rainpaw..?"

What did he mean Rainpaw was missing? She'd just seen her last night. Where would she even go?

The life guard shakes herself awake, claws flexing uneasily in the dirt. What if she ran into trouble or stumbled over a border? What if one of the other clans found and attacked her? What if- "She can't have gotten very far, Jingle. I'll go with you. The more eyes the better." She growls out, eyes narrowed on the horizon.

'Please don't be gone like your mother. Please don't make me pull your body from the river like her. What do I tell your brother and sister..?'

She's antsy, now, front paws dancing in place. "...We should split the search, Frostmoth could you take a few cats and start your search from sunset meadow? We can meet somewhere in the middle." If they cast a wide enough net, surely at least one group would find her.

22 moons

◆

Life Guard of Riverclan

◆

she/her

◆

tags

it's been decided how we lose

RUSSETFALL

— Life Guard of Riverclan
— She/Her
"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
— A Green-eyed Chocolate Mackerel Tabby With Low White
#8a2c55

ooc:

 

[Thunderpaw Thunderpaw]

———————————————— Everything she's ever known is gone, gone, gone. ✦

TRIGGER WARNING

Descriptions of a panic attack and surviour's guilt.​

Asleep there, safe and content in her nest. For a short lull of the day, Thunderpaw was okay. A day no different than any other, one she would give her brother a snarky remark, meet Russetfall with a genuine smile, ready to approach her training, pop her head into the medicine den and see her sister. While she was far from healed, she was surviving, she was learning and adapting to a life lived long without her mother than with her warmth surrounding her.

But the call that caught her curled ears in her periphery of wakefulness was enough to drive a stake through what little she had left.

"Has anyone seen Rainpaw?! She's gone missing!"

For a moment, Thunderpaw had that all too lucid sensation, like it was a nightmare, the kind that plagued her too often. The sorts she dragged herself to her paws in a not-quite-there state, dazed and frightened, scared to peek into the medicine den in case she wouldn't see that grey lump curled safely in her nest as she should be.

The apprentice could already feel eyes, prickles in her fur she ignored, drawing herself to her paws in that same dazed state. The voice sounded too real, but it was a dream- a nightmare. A cruel one, but it just had to be. She padded outside the apprentice den, blinking away the light as her gaze fell on warriors scattered about the camp. They didn't even try to keep their voices quiet, words washing over her pelt in a suffocating, freezing sensation that gripped her very being.

"Perhaps she's at th' river..."
"Wavesong may be right. Surely she hasn't gone far."
"Sh-she was right there just last night before we all went to sleep!"

Every uttered word made that lucid feeling unfurl in her stomach, something sickening between a walking nightmare and the crawling sensation beneath her pelt with every growing thunder in her chest. "She can't be- not..." Thunderpaw's whole body grew heavy, her words not even a whisper, with the tightening of her throat forced every breath a desperate wheeze. For a moment, a heartbeat, the apprentice looked to her mentor, a desperation, the cat she trusted above all else. She knew where Rainpaw was, right?...

"...We should split the search, Frostmoth, could you take a few cats and start your search from Sunset Meadow? We can meet somewhere in the middle."

She was gone- "NO-" The molly just barely choked out, intercepting her own thoughts, she couldn't dare think it. She wouldn't leave her too. She couldn't. "No she's can't be gone too I-" Desperately, the apprentice tried to keep herself together, but any semblance of composition, of strength, it crumbled on shaking shoulders.

Thunderpaw couldn't steel the tears that welled in her eyes, but she couldn't tell her sister's scent anywhere, not in the medicine den nor anywhere in camp. Rainpaw was smart, smarter than her or Gale put together; she always had been. She never would have left, not been as foolish to go to the river alone. Not like Thunder. The one who cheated death, the one out of all of them didn't deserve to still be standing in this camp. It should be Mama and Rain and Gale, maybe Rain would still be safe home if Sunny were alive- If only-

The apprentice couldn't bear the thought, couldn't stand to be there, useless. If her sister had been taken, she couldn't be the one floundering again. She had to be strong, she had to protect her, she promised Mama. Her grief, impossible to mask or contain, only drew more and more eyes. Eyes who stood doing nothing to save the last of her family, who even wanted her to be here. Without Rain, she was- she couldn't-

Without another word, Thunderpaw darted past the huddle of cats, not even glancing up at the blurred faces in the periphery of her vision. The mentor who showed her a gentleness in the face of her fears, the queen who didn't force herself to take Sunny's place, but treated Thunder with the same love as if she were one of her own, the medicine cat who only drew her family to fracture further.

She couldn't stand idle. Not this time. Her sister was out there, somewhere, she had to be. Rainpaw couldn't be gone too.

—————— Everyone she's ever loved

is gone, gone, gone. ——————

• Thunderpaw out ! She will be missing for several days in the wake of this realisation, but I will be making a thread of her return soon!
• 
  Thunderpaw
  ✦—Riverclan apprentice | 11 moons
  ✦—She/Her
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A stocky cinnamon sealpoint molly with long curled ears and cold blue eyes.
  #C08969

 

[PIKESTAR PIKESTAR]

The day had started long before the sun rose. While his clanmates had slept soundly, he had gone off for a little walk in Riverclan territory. He knows he would be given a talking to by certain clanmates about leaving without someone, at least one cat witnessing him leave camp. He may have eight lives remaining, but it was more than possible that he could lose another or all of them without anyone knowing. They'd grow rattled from his lack of presence around the camp and send a search party eventually. However, he did remain somewhat nearby camp and was more than ready to bolt if something swung at him. The last thing he wanted was to make everyone worry.

However, the moment he steps into camp... It quickly becomes clear something has already gone wrong. We haven't even started patrols yet. He sets his exasperation aside and quickly pads up to the group. From Jinglemoon, the reason for this commotion is answered. Their medicine cat apprentice Rainpaw has gone missing. I stood around camp, but still didn't catch any whiff of her. I didn't even see her. The frightening idea that she waited for everyone to go to sleep before leaving wants to escape his maw. No. Some things are better left unsaid. Besides, I have to trust in Rainpaw. There's no way she'd leave. Her brother and sister are here. She wouldn't just leave. Not without good reason. The silver tom shakes his head. He must concentrate on the matter at hand.

Quickly they all decide to search for their missing apprentice. Russetfall orders Frostmoth to create a patrol to search Sunset Meadows, while she and Jinglemoon decide to check their border leading to Fourtrees. He turns to Pebbledream,

"I want you to come with me to search around the falls."

It's highly unlikely that the apprentice would be around such a dangerous place, but it would be unwise to assume that Rainpaw couldn't have gone there. Maybe she simply wanted to clear her mind with the sound of the rushing water? He's heard a few cats linger at the falls to collect themselves. If she is there, then everyone would be relieved. After scolding her that is.

Then he turns to Wavesong.

"Could you quickly gather a patrol to search near the Sunningrocks?"

Before he can say anything else, another joins them. it's with great horror that he sees Thunderpaw trembling and with tears in her eyes. She heard everything. The apprentice had already lost her mother to River, and now to hear that her sister had gone missing? He can't even imagine the pain Thunderpaw must be going through. After all, from what he's seen and heard... Rainpaw and Thunderpaw were quite close. No one can calm her, or even be given the chance to offer reassuring words. Thunderpaw has already darted away from them.

Oh, this is going to be a nightmare! Now they have to focus on finding two apprentices. It better not turn into three. I don't know what I'd do if Galepaw decided to go missing too. Pikestar can only sigh,

"I'll go find Thunderpaw. Pebbledream, I want you to lead a search patrol around the falls. Take a few cats with you."

As Pikestar pads away in hopes of catching Thunderpaw before she runs off too far, he can't help but grimace at the fact that he's thrusted more work on his poor deputy.

𝐨𝐨𝐜 𓆩♱𓆪 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭

• PIKESTAR

  — leader of riverclan, former shipyard cat
  ♱ 42 moons — he/him — ages realistically on the 1st — mentoring iciclepaw
  ♱ speech is

  "#36D9AB"

  — thoughts are italics — attacks are underlined
  ♱ short haired silver mackerel tabby with green eyes
  ♱ peaceful & healing powerplay permitted — underline & tag when attacking
  ♱ penned by velou — kasaven on discord — open to plots & dms