Open Camp WindClan Does the river ever wonder what will come around the bend? 🏵️ Intro

[Molewhisker Molewhisker]

{$title} Local recluse comes to say hello!

——————— Does the wind feel a gladness at the work that it's done?

Everything had been ever too loud. Too busy and bustling. Everything was nice back in the barn. Quiet and easy. Simple and predictable. Yes, there were days something loud might occur, the dog running rampant, the occasional spat. But they always knew everything would go back to normal in the end. That's how it always went. The sun rose, cats bustled about, and they dug in the earth. The sun set, the cats settled for rest, and they wandered the horseplace in peace. It was a good thing. A pleasant thing. Some might think it lonely. But it was all Echo ever needed- Echo. No. Molewhisker. Some cats seemed surprised on the day of the meeting. A face many hadn't ever seen. Some only for a blink of an eye. A few they considered a friend, though they knew it likely wasn't a reciprocal thing.

Though now, everything had changed. The barn was gone. Reduced to cinders in the wake of a fire they were thankful to have been spared from, from within their burrows. But now they all resided out in the moors, somewhere Molewhisker found themself on edge about. Everything was too exposed. Even with their new burrow being formed, without the comforting looming barn, they still felt as if they were stranded.

Especially now with this... Clan nonsense. They didn't quite understand it. Leaders and deputies, and gale guards. Warriors and apprentices. They just knew their routine life beneath the surface. But maybe all this about the stars, it was something similar to Mole and the earth. A sacred thing. Where everything returns to in the wake of their demise, where the food for their prey sprouts and gives them the flesh they need to live. To respect what they walk upon and rely on for life itself is the greatest respect of all. It seemed Dustystar had a less tangible kind of idea, while one's body returns to the earth, one's very being becomes one with the stars and joins everyone else to lead them. And well. Molewhisker found comfort in that, too. It wasn't as if they could touch the stars, but maybe one day they would.

But, in the meantime, Molewhisker decided today they would be brave. The sun was still above the horizon, but only some tree-lengths or so. Despite this, hunger still gnawed at their stomach. Their energy had wavered from digging. The ground had thawed plenty and was rich from rain, not too crumbly and not too sodden, perfect to hollow a safe haven for themself. Even living amidst Windclan, accepting the warrior name, and such. There was still a nervousness in their stomach. Being seen. Being known. It wasn't something they were fond of. But starving was a worse fate. Even if they felt some kind of guilt, they felt as if they had little to return to the clan for the time being.

So perhaps that was why Molewhisker steeled themself and padded towards the fresh kill, still somewhat shrinking in on themself as they delicately picked up a small rabbit, one that had already been picked at lightly and tore into flesh. They knew from observation that during meal times often other cats would often convene to talk and eat together. Usually, friends or family units, so Molewhisker was just as prepared to be ignored. Though it didn't stop them from feeling rather on edge in the moment, their ears flicking as their eyes cast down at the flesh. A silent thanks to the rabbit who was nobly sacrificed so that they may live another day.

——— I won't go making mountains

out of molehills anymore. ———

• 
  Molewhisker
  ✦—Windclan tunneller
  ✦—They/It
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A soft-spoken, small, red and blue chimera with overly long whiskers.
  #9D9D9D

 

[MAREMANE]

The barn had been her prison. The barn had been a lot simpler, too. Those two ideas could exist alongside eachother.

Maremane had yet to find a true meaning why the barn burnt down. If it was solely to enact StarClan's revival of WindClan, that made them a lot more sinister than divine. There were no ranks, no different roles except the ones you wanted to be (and the ones you felt obligated to be). Yet out in the prairie, she was infinitely more free, despite being tethered now to this structure, this new way of life.

Sweat wiping onto the ground below her, the molly hefted a new piece of prey onto the pile. The older catches below rolled slightly under the weight. Unlike Molewhisker, she took the first thing she saw. Sometimes it was a stringy, measly mouse. Other times, she would take the juiciest rabbit – whatever her jaws found first. But like Molewhisker, she ate out of necessity, often selfishly wolfing down things outside of camp to avoid the socializing of meals. Maremane had already eaten her first of the day, and she had busied herself in the field, grateful to find something to show for it.

The huddled figure moved, catching her eye as they picked at a sad-looking rabbit. She wasn't one to chide or pester someone into taking more, but damn, Molewhisker's meal looked… Maremane grunted without thinking, blinking at the fur at the warrior's paws.

 

[GOLDENROAR]

Goldenroar tries not to think of the barn, most days. It's a difficult subject for all of them, lives lost in the flames, and on top of that, his first home. The only place where Goldenroar had come to known peace. Being dumped on the side of the roar anywhere else would have lead him and his brother to death, but finding their way there, to a barn full of cats just like them- it had been their saving grace. He tries not to think about any of the cats that could be dumped there now, kits or apprentice aged cats that can't fend for themselves.

He digs his teeth into the rabbit he took, ripped free flesh, and swallowed it like it didn't take like ash.

Aqua eyes shifted towards two cats that he sees in passing- for the most part. These two didn't often engage in tongue-sharing or prey-sharing, Maremane preferring to eat and get it over with- and the other.. Molewhisker. He doesn't see that individual often, given their want to remain underground. He knew who it was now, given the fact they were given a name in the meeting. Dustystar must have recognized Molewhisker in some capacity. Goldenroar watches them interact briefly, aqua eyes flashing towards the pair of them.

This felt... incredibly awkward. So he decides to break the silence, teeth wrapping around his rabbit and settling closer to the hermit and hardass. (Affectionate nicknames from Goldenroar himself.) "How are you both, then? Your meals treat you well?" Goldenroar asks, the deputy looking between the pair of them as he takes another bite of ash-tasting rabbit.

_______________________ I KEEP RUNNIN' BUT ☼ I'M STANDING STILL _______________________

• "speech"
  // ic opinions on the nicknames LOL im so sorry
  

• 

• GOLDENROAR he/him, windclan deputy, thirty six moons.
  ☆ a lh golden red marbled tabby with low white and glimmering aqua eyes. often seen with a smirk, confidence oozing from him in heaps, but always the ever-helpful guy.
  ☆ mentored by who / mentoring no one
  ☆ older brother to merry
  ☆ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ☆ penned by dallas ↛ dallasofnines on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
  
  ☆ mini by tasmagoric, ref image by dallas (yours truly!)