SkyClan Journey CLEAN SLATED STATE ʚɞ last stretch

[SWALLOWPAW]

no need to wait for tigerfoot & they are arriving north-west map reminder

leafbare's lingering cold settles like a ghost, taunting and eerily cackling in the midst of the haze. morale is questionable. their stop at tigger's twoleg home was a welcome necessity, a warm break from almost two whole moons of traveling— but how much longer it would be was still unanswered.

swallowpaw counts her steps to ignore the ache in her paws. most of their already limited herb stock was used on the fox victims, and ponypaw's accident. the pitiful leaf pouch dangles from the girl's jaws, her posture wavering awkwardly to keep it from slouching. this wasn't the time to be outwardly immature about how bored she was, or how her legs hurt or how cold it was. her eyes flicker around the group, hoping to find fuzzypaw or her littermates to mutter to. finding no one, she gives up and keeps going.

she stays near the front, an usual spot when she stayed near the back for most of the trip, but she wanted to help keep an eye on the injured. all she could do was push back any slipping cobwebs, though it made her feel helpful. useful. it is difficult to feel like you've done something when your purpose has changed.

like curtains at the end of a performance, the horizon becomes clear. it's the most clear in days, a foggy gorge into a twoleg place, into the–

"forest!" oh, it's beautiful. long hills stretch outwards, with trees that stretch impossibly tall, kissing the skies. snow still covers the ground but swallowpaw knows it's all lush greenery underneath. no more dull, grey rocks. her voice carries over the clan, loud, hopeful, she almost sprints ahead but remembers last minute to wait. "@TIGERFOOT , look! we made it!" shining, crinkly eyes search for her mentor first, gesturing to the forest that was mere fox-lengths away.

ʚɞ

 

[Hawkstar]

HAWKSTAR, 59 moons / SKYCLAN LEADER
A long-legged short-furred seal point tortie with one electric-blue eye; heavily scarred
Mentoring ROSEPAW ; mother of STARLITPATH
Prone to corporate attitudes, harsh words, hazing practices ; generally morally dubious
Tagging SWALLOWPAW, TIGERFOOT, FLOWERCLOUD, COFFEESTAR ; SKYCLAN

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Hawkstar's ears twisted back in disbelief - surely, she had heard the apprentice incorrectly. They hadn't made it, they couldn't have made it, they couldn't be there yet. She turns her head to face her deputy head on, her one good eye fixed an something akin to... hope. That oh-so-fleeting emotion that looked so out of place on her face, the one that was often associated with any cat but her, but now: hope, twinkling against the rugged scars and exhaustion and paltry self-flagellation. "Is it ... ?"

She inches away from @flowercloud , taking a chance to separate from her crutch for a step... and then two... and then another until she is trotting running to catch up to her medicine cats, until she is standing at the great precipice they offered with one widened eye, her head tilting up up up towards the heavens. Trees, tall as storm-clouds, touching the forbidden edges of the sky (of their domain!) beckoned her forward. The wind pulled at her fur, bringing with it the sharp scent of pine and wayward leaves and dark underbrush covered in needles and soft moss. A thousand new plants no doubt laid beneath those brillant needles, hidden away just for their new occupants to find: a treasure trove offered up in hardy, sap-scented packaging. Home.

Her long, graceful neck twists, turning towards her tired clan to let out a yowl, a caterwhaul, of victory: "StarClan has looked upon us favorably this day! Welcome, my loves, my hearts, my family, to our new home." to Salvation. After all of her planning, calculatons, trials, and loss, they had done it...

and in her delirious, ungainly, unsightly joy, there is the smallest of prayers uttered in the back of her mind, quiet, but unavoidable in the midst of it all: Have I done you proud, Coffeestar? Have I lived up to you yet?

 

[Teaselpaw]

TEASELPAW

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

Teaselpaw's trot was slow and unsteady, each step sending a dull ache through their tender paw pads. They stared ahead, their gaze unfocused, thoughts swirling like a restless breeze. Step by step, little by little, their body begged for rest, a moment of stillness, a place to be. But was that even possible anymore? How long would it take to find somewhere they could finally call safe? The place that they were journeying toward, that StarClan guided them to... Would it--

Forest!

The sharp, urgent cry from the medicine cat apprentice snapped Teaselpaw out of their thoughts. Their head shot up, eyes widening as a soft, involuntary noise escaped them. Was it true? Could it really be true? Hope surged in their chest, fragile but growing, as their gaze followed Hawkstar. Their leader padded forward, purposeful yet cautious, and Teaselpaw's heart clenched in anticipation.

The silence that followed felt endless, each second stretching sharply like a string about to snap. Teaselpaw's breath hitched, their small frame trembling as they waited for an answer. Then, finally, Hawkstar turned to them, relief shining unmistakably in her eye.

Teaselpaw let out a soft, high-pitched mrrp, their body sagging as relief washed over them like a warm wave. Without hesitation, they leaned heavily against their mother, Flowercloud, seeking comfort in her steady presence. Their tiny body quivered with emotion... Exhaustion, joy, disbelief! All tangling together in one overwhelming release.

They were home.

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ooc: @flowercloud

 

[[SNOWVEIL]]

SNOWVEIL, 89 moons / SkyClan + Perm Queen
A lean silver black lynx point with milky blue eyes and many scars
Delights in listening to all that goes around, can be a bit gruff, will put you on your place
Tagging person here

---

Snowveil swiveled her ears, her unseeing eyes fixed ahead as Swallowpaw's voice rang out, calling for Tigerfoot and declaring that they had made it. Disbelief clutched at her heart, her mind hesitant to accept the words of the young apprentice. Could it be true? She needed more than hopeful cries... She needed confirmation. She needed to hear it from Hawkstar. Only then would she allow herself to believe.

Rooted in place, Snowveil didn't dare move from where she stood, surrounded by the kits she had sworn to protect. Her posture was tense, every muscle coiled and ready to strike. If any threat emerged from the shadows, she would tear it apart without hesitation. Memories of Downykit's injury haunted her, stoking the fire of her resolve. Never again...

Her ears strained, catching every sound around her. The soft murmurs of the clan, the rustle of paws against the earth. A small kit pressed closer to her side, and she instinctively curled her tail around them, pulling them closer to her warmth. Whatever lay ahead, they didn't know yet. But she would be their shield, their unyielding defender.

Then, cutting through the uncertainty, Hawkstar's voice rose above the noise.

Welcome to our new home...

Relief flooded through her like a rushing tide. Her breath, which she hadn't realized she'd been holding, escaped in a shaky exhale. Snowveil dipped her head, a faint, bittersweet smile touching her lips. Lifting her head high, she tilted her face toward the unseen sky, a darkness she had long learned to live with. Yet, in her mind's eye, she could still see the stars she had once gazed upon. We are home, beloved. We are safe. We are alive.

Drawing in a deep, steadying breath, Snowveil turned her head slightly, her voice warm yet firm. " You've done us proud, Hawkstar. You've done me proud. " Her gaze swept over the gathered cats, her tone carrying strength and reassurance. " All of you have given your all to bring the clan to this moment. You've done your utmost to help us reach our new beginning. Well done. "

Her words were a quiet promise: they had endured, and now they would rebuild, stronger, together.

DON'T LET MY CALM FOOL YOU

there's fire underneath this snow

 

[Cherrydawn]

CHERRY OF SKYCLAN

Cherry's paws itched to dart ahead, her heart pounding with anticipation. Was there truly a safe haven waiting for them? The weariness of the group was palpable, their steps heavy and their spirits stretched thin. Cherry understood. She felt it too. Despite her youth and boundless energy, the endless journey was taking its toll. Her legs ached, and the constant vigilance against predators weighed heavily on her mind. She yearned for a place to rest... A den, a camp, somewhere they could finally call home.

She had grown used to the harshness of sleeping outside, pressed against Wolfstorm or whichever cat would share their warmth. But oh, how she longed for a place that was truly theirs, where she could curl up without fear.

And now… now it seemed their journey had come to an end. Swallowpaw's shout had sparked hope, and Hawkstar's confirmation had set that hope ablaze. Excitement surged through her, her body tingling as she took tentative steps forward. She craned her neck, peering past Hawkstar to catch a glimpse of what lay ahead.

The sight stole her breath. She pulled back quickly, almost shyly, almost ashamed of her eagerness. Yet she couldn't stop the soft gasp that escaped her, her wide eyes reflecting the beauty of the scene before her. It was unlike anything she had imagined. Her chest swelled with an emotion she couldn't quite name, a mixture of awe, relief, and overwhelming gratitude.

Oh, this is home…

A small, shaky noise slipped from her throat, sounding almost like a quiet sob as the flood of emotions overflowed. Relief coursed through her veins, and her heart felt lighter than it had in moons.

" We're home. " she whispered, her voice soft and filled with wonder. Finally, we're home.

THROUGH DIRT AND SHADOW I GROW ——･ﾟ✦​

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

 

[Fujimoto]

┍

Fujimoto had done his best not to dwell into the feeling of helpless despair after they moved on from the blizzards rage. He is almost sure he will never forget the feeling of snow lodged between his toes and tear-drop icicles any time soon. All for them to be saved by a curious kittypet, the tom had to wonder if that alone had run their luck dry. Hawkstar was still recovering what StarClan couldn't reach within, and they had picked up plenty more kits for him to feel insecure about opportunistic predators. How much was left of Tigerfoot and Swallowpaw's stores without a proper den?

Swallowpaw alerted to something excitedly and Fuji looked between her and Tigerfoot with a small tilt. There is a pause before they registered what the apprentice had said and an infectious smile crept to his maw. "Thank StarClan! We made it!" They bound forward to see it with his own eyes, wide with wonder as he took in the sights alongside his clanmates.

"It's so beautiful... have you seen anything like it, Hawkstar?" He had only known the sandy, craggy lands from the empty gorge outside of his twolegs home. Now they would live amongst the scent of pine tar and tree bark!

‎┙

 

[fitzgerald]

Each step takes him further from his home. Each and every one of them, no matter if the soft pinks of his beans hit soil or rock.

Fitzgerald had tried to soothe himself with the knowledge that all of his peers feel the same way- tried, and failed miserably, thanks to his gloomy mood not allowing him the courtesy of trying for more than a few seconds at a time. Sometimes, it's his tail that flicks; sometimes, it's his gaze flitting to and fro... regardless of what he does, it always end in a thorn piercing his heart and letting pain flood through him.

None of his usual cheer is on display now. Fitzgerald turns his head for the millionth time, and looks back over the way that SkyClan had come; wonders if his Twolegs miss him the way he misses them. The mice and the birds must be very happy to be free of the hunters. Always stay positive, right?

It is Swallowpaw who calls out first, and like bees to a flower field, the Clan crowds around her. Fitzgerald, too, because he is nothing if not curious. He allows himself the quiet moments of discovery. The land before their very eyes is still untouched by them, but come nightfall, that will be a fact of the past. His Clanmates cheer around him, endlessly grateful for this new promised land... but he is not quite comfortable just yet. A fang pokes at his mouth as he looks at Hawkstar.

"How do you know?"

he asks, blunt and ever the enemy of polite conversation.

"I mean, it's just trees... we passed a bunch of them before."

What's the proof that this new home won't get abandoned again?

@Hawkstar

 

[Teaselpaw]

TEASELPAW

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

Teaselpaw turned to watch the cat appointed to them before the journey began, letting out a soft mrrp in acknowledgment before quickly padding over, momentarily leaving Flowercloud's side. They wanted to check on their mentor, to see if he was okay. Fitz was a kind cat. A daylighter, sure, but a good one. He helped where he could, and Teaselpaw appreciated him for it. But he seemed... hesitant about this new place, the home they were all trying to build. Could they blame him? The journey had been long and harsh. They had suffered wounds, they all had. Even Teaselpaw wasn't unscathed, the shallow cut above their eye still throbbing faintly as a reminder.

But this was where they were meant to be. They believed that. Hawkstar had led them here, and Teaselpaw trusted their leader. If they couldn't trust her… then what else did they have?

Wide, dual-coloured eyes studied Fitzgerald, and after a moment, their tail gently brushed against his flank, a silent reassurance. They offered a small, tired smile. We're alive. We're here. There was no need to linger in sorrow when they had each other. Still… Did Fitzgerald miss home? A flicker of sadness crossed Teaselpaw's face as they glanced down, kneading at the earth beneath their paws. He had left things behind. He had given up a life he once knew. The thought settled uncomfortably in their chest.

But he wasn't alone.

With quiet determination, they lifted their head and gave him a gentle, affectionate nudge against the shoulder. You have us, the gesture seemed to say. You have me.

No cat would stand alone, not while Teaselpaw was here.

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