PAFP Camp WC Eyes of yellow, scales and feathers [Storytime...?] Tails and teathers, turn the lights off.

[Finchpaw Finchpaw]

{$title} Meanie apprentice goes out of their way to ruin some small children's day

Finchpaw sat in the camp, fluffy tail thudding with a muted expression on their maw. Everything was too tense, too uneasy. They couldn't seem to drag anyone to play with them in the snow, even! If the entertainment wasn't coming to them, then they'd bring it to the camp.

The apprentice found their way to the nursery, seeing some of the kittens sat just outside. They took a pause, eyeing the nursery opening, wanting to ensure... Their eyes glittered, Ivorystorm nowhere to be seen. They had an uneasy feeling about the molly, more than some of the other strangers brought into camp. But at the very least, her kittens weren't as off-putting to them.

"Hiiiiya!" They purred in their particular little drawl, plopping themselves down nearby Poppykit and Yewkit, giving them both a toothy smile. "D'ya wanna hear a story?" Finchpaw's eyes crinkled with a smile that didn't quite reach their eyes. They didn't wait for an answer, instead starting into their tale.

"Weeeeell. There was a warrior once, who used to be a tunneler like I'm trainin' t' be. And e'ery day they'd go deep in the tunnels an' dig the way fer e'eryone to use!" The apprentice took a breath, looking to the kittens, then peering over their shoulder for a moment, continuing on. "Well they did. But they didn't know there was somethin' else in the tunnels with 'em." Finchpaw stood on their paws, padding about. "Behind eee'ery dark corner, they just barely saw big round eyes starin' right back. 'nd ahead've 'em there'd be pawsteps racin' t'wards 'em, but before they'd see what was there, they'd turn the corner 'nd nothin' stared back."

The apprentice didn't stop to check the entrance as they continued to talk, a sly smile on their maw. "All until one dark night, the tunneler was all alone, they kept seeing thems eyes, gettin' cloooser an' closer. They called out to scare it off, but it was stalkin' 'em like prey." Finchpaw padded around the kits, pawsteps light as they reached the peak of the story. "Then the pawsteps came hammerin' t'wards the tunneler, 'nd before they could do nothin' the monster in the tunnels-" They hopped towards, slamming their paws hard into the earth underpaw "-lept out an' ate the tunneler whole!"

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OOC - Tagging @Yewpaw & @poppykit for story time, but any kit can join in! And also @Hootpaw to overhear! I'd prefer only for kits/young apprentices to overhear at first, and then adults can come tell Finchy off :p
This takes place BEFORE the January meeting!!!!!

​

FINCHPAW They/She, Windclan Tunneler Apprentice, 6 moons.
A small creme tabby with a long bushy tail and wide owly eyes.
mentored by Clayspots // mentoring no one
sibling to Hootpaw
Owlbear x Bushrunner / parent to noone / mated to noone
"SPEECH" // 'THOUGHTS' // ATTACK
penned by Pheo & Cypress ↛ phoenixwashere on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

 

[poppykit's icon poppykit poppykit]

POPPYKIT | WINDCLAN
"TELL ME I'M AN ANGEL, TAKE THIS TO MY GRAVE"

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Poppykit is huddled against his sister for warmth, looking out at the snow-covered camp with a purr rumbling in his chest. Mismatched eyes light up when Finchpaw approaches - and they're looking right at the pair of them! Do they want to play with us? The thought of an apprentice inviting him to play excites him greatly, and he's already shifted to sit upright on fidgety paws by the time Finchpaw says hello.

"Hi Finchpaw!!" Poppykit is just about to beg for a game of moss ball when the apprentice suggests something else. A story? For us? Stories seem to be something that are common for the older cats to regale kits with here in WindClan - Momma never really told him stories, so he likes when the WindClan cats offer such things. "Yes, please!! I wanna hear!!" His tail flicks back and forth excitedly, leaving little indents in the snow.
He quiets down when Finchpaw begins, huddling close to Yewkit once more as wide eyes remain laser-focused on the apprentice before him. A story about the tunnels... Poppykit has heard about them, but of course he has never been in them himself. Finchpaw has, though, so this must be a story that's passed down to all the tunnelers of WindClan! How exciting!

Poppykit's brow furrows as the story takes a turn he didn't expect, but he holds his ground, still listening intently despite the occasional shiver down his spine. It's just from the cold... definitely the cold! His eyes follow Finchpaw back and forth, shrinking in on himself as his tail now curls around his small form. "W... what happens next? Is th' tunneler okay?" His forepaws fidget nervously as the story nears its conclusion, and finally, with a slam of their paws against the ground, Finchpaw reveals that the tunneler was eaten whole!!
"EEP!" Poppykit leaps up when Finchpaw pounces, nuzzling against Yewkit to hide his face. He tried to be brave, but... "I... it only stays in th' tunnels, right? Yew, promise ya won't go in there! I don't want it t' eat you!!"

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"TELL ME I'M A BAD MAN, KICK ME LIKE A STRAY"

POPPYKIT
WINDCLAN KITTEN
5 MOONS
HE/THEY
"SPEECH" | THOUGHTS | ACTION | LUCIDITY

 

[YewpawYewpaw's icon]

YEWKIT

.

.

Yewkit doesn't move, not with Ivorystorm out and about. If she really needed to, she would, but she'd rather not be gone when mother returns, even if she wants to. And so she just sits next to Poppykit, her tail wrapped around her little brother.

As pawsteps approach, Yewkit looks up, expecting to see mother coming back, but it's only Finchpaw, the older cat coming to them with clear intention. Finchpaw places themself on the ground close to the pair, a bit too close, and Yewkit instinctively shifts back, to create more distance between the two of them. She doesn't want to hear a story, not really, she wishes Finchpaw would get up and leave, but if it makes Poppykit happy... she will endure. She says none, big eyes staring at the apprentice defensively as she pushes closer to her little brother.

Finchpaw's story begins normal, but quickly takes a darker turn and Yewkit wonders what the point of such a story is. Her tail curls protectively around Poppykit's smaller frame, pressing tight against him. She doesn't want the story to get to her, she really doesn't, realistically she knows Finchpaw is most likely just making it up. And still... she finds her paws trembling at the thought and wills them to stop, not wanting to scare Poppykit as well. She's meant to protect him and she can't do that if she makes him afraid.

Yet her mind whirls with thoughts - anxiety over becoming an apprentice increasing. The thought of being a tunneler had crossed her mind, the idea of hiding beneath the dark earth more appealing, if she has to choose. Or, well, it was before. Now, even more than ever, she finds herself not wanting to leave the nursery, mother's safety and protection.

You left me. How can I save you if you left me?

She doesn't want to, she really doesn't. If it was up to her, Yewkit would never leave mother's side, never leave the safety and watchful eye of Ivorystorm. The world out there is not safe, the cats and creatures are dangerous, exploting her weaknesses - she can never be truly safe, neither as a tunneler nor as a moorrunner, not when Ivorystorm isn't by her side. Finchpaw's story just confirms her fears.

She realises she got too lost in thought when Finchpaw pounces, scaring Poppykit who in turn leaps away in fear. Her first instinct is to protect her brother and Yewkit turns to him, giving his head a few comforting licks, speaking softly. "Hey, hey, it's okay Poppy." her voice is quiet, only for Poppykit to hear. "I'm not going to get eaten." She doesn't promise she won't go into the tunnels, she doesn't promise she won't die - it is not up to her and she doesn't want to lie. But she does her best at comforting Poppykit.

Her heart fills with not only sorrow for Poppykit, but her protectiveness turns to anger, directed at none other than Finchpaw. Yewkit turns around and glares at the smug apprentice. "That's not nice of you." she states. "Scaring unsuspecting kittens for your own amusement. Does it make you feel good to make Poppykit scared?" Yewkit no longer cares whether the story is real or not, her fur bristles protectively as she stands in front of her brother. "It'll be best if you leave."

Ivorystorm was right. Even their own clanmates are out to get them.