Private Leader's Den face me entirely ──✩°｡⋆⸜ council meeting

[juniperstar juniperstar]

juniper

she'd done a fair bit to rearrange the current standings of ThunderClan's authority figures... with the bowing out of those who did not feel the role suited them, the need for replacement had become important. new clans seemed to spawn along the borders constantly, though maybe in recent weeks it had stagnated... Juniperstar can't be sure, between the haze of her time spent feverish and the fussing of Asterkit's never-improving health. "It seemed appropriate we discuss how we want to proceed with the other clans," she begins, offering Copperstorm and Ghoststrike a particularly long glance. they would be newer insight than the rest... though she had no doubt Owlbark would be a little zealous in his new-found position as deputy.

"I'd like to attend whatever patrols are headed in the direction of SkyClan or WindClan next; I think it'd do some amount of good to introduce myself. Owlbark, I'd except you'd keep me company?" if for no other reason than to make sure she wasn't being 'too soft' as he liked to put it. or rather, out of a nervous protectiveness following a rather embarrassing first death. First... and to think how many more might yet be endured. the spotted tabby tries not to shudder under the spotlight of that thought, becoming increasingly aware of Serpentberry's presence and how she was certain the medicine cat must seethe with contempt for her actions.

"I've had an apprentice approach me recently as well... he's fearful of fighting... how do we teach the young ones to respect fighting for what it is rather than run from it? I don't want them unprepared if they need to defend themselves..." Sablestar had already proven more than once that he didn't fight with honor... did not keep the playing field level. they couldn't risk being caught unawares and untrained. would he stoop so low as to attack those who weren't even old enough to be proper warriors? the fact Magpiepaw was made an apprentice at all still sat sour on her tongue.

just leaves... he'd said...

but it wasn't just herbs.

"I just... want things secure."

──✩°｡⋆⸜ ✮

• juniperstar leader of thunderclan eight lives remain

  ignore me

 

[Copperstorm]

You walk along the edge of danger
AND IT WILL CHANGE YOU

.

Copperstorm's pawsteps were quiet as he made his way to the council meeting, ears flicking at every murmur and shuffle as he settled into his place. His thick, dark tabby pelt had been groomed into something almost presentable, most of the leaves, brambles, and burrs removed after a thorough attempt at de-nesting himself. This was, after all, his first council meeting as Stormguard. It mattered. With his bushy tail neatly curled around his paws, Copperstorm let his golden eyes settle on Juniperstar. She looked composed, but he could still see the weight on her shoulders, a leader not so long ago laid low by death, and now risen again. StarClan had brought her back. It still left him feeling a touch uneasy, the idea of dying only to return. There was awe in it, certainly... but something unnatural, too. His eyes shifted momentarily to fall upon Serpentberry, the slightest flick of the tip of his tail before he forced himself to look away from her.

When the topic of the other Clans arose, he flicked an ear thoughtfully. The idea of meeting SkyClan and WindClan was... sound. A good move, one meant for diplomacy, not aggression. And StarClan knew they needed more of that. Still, his mind instinctively shifted to caution. He dipped his head in agreement, his voice quiet but steady. " Meeting the other Clan leaders is wise. Just be sure to take cats with you who are ready if things turn tense. There's still no telling who might speak peace and who might mask a threat. "

As the discussion shifted to the apprentice, one who feared fighting, Copperstorm's frown deepened slightly. He didn't speak right away, instead letting the silence weigh for a heartbeat. Then, golden eyes lifted to Juniperstar once again. " Have you spoken with them? " he asked, voice low, measured. " Do you know why they fear fighting? Whether it's trauma, doubt, or something else... it matters. Not every cat is born with claws ready, but many can learn what it means to fight for something greater than themselves. For their clan. " There was no judgment in his tone, just curiosity, maybe a sliver of concern. He believed in strength, yes... But more so, in the reasons behind it.

His gaze lingered on the leader a moment longer. There was something in her expression, tiredness that ran deeper than physical exhaustion. Was it the memory of death? The ache of her kits now spread across other clans? Or the crushing knowledge that every decision from now on would affect not just herself... but all of ThunderClan? He let the silence stretch as he pondered it, tail tip twitching once more. Then, ever so slightly, his eyes softened.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

33 MOONS

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THUNDERCLAN

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SONG

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bio

 

[hazelheart hazelheart]

(🜲) hazelheart sits with her tail wrapped around her paws next to juniperstar. she has been to enough council meetings to know how they go, and thus fixed her attention on her tabby leader. her brow furrows as the queen mentions attending patrols to the two newest clans. there is always worry when her family leaves camp - perhaps residual trauma from bracken's death, perhaps simple anxiety. either way, an approving nod is given when copperstorm insists on bringing more cats. "i agree, it is smart to make yourself known." at least if she were known, there might be less danger to the clan as a whole.

a pink tongue wets rubbery lips as the leader speaks of the fearful apprentice, and the woman hums in thought. she wonders vaguely if it had been grizz, her own apprentice, to approach their leader. the boy, while jovial and confident, needed more experience with his claws. "there is something to be said that the young ones are afraid of fighting," hazelheart's mew is thoughtful, her tail tapping a gentle rhythm against her paws as she speaks. "to fear violence is wise, for if they were seeking it, no good would come." she twitches her ears, turning golden eyes upon her sister-in-law. "copperstorm is right, we should talk to them. there is a way to emphasize the importance of being able to defend oneself without advocating for needless violence." the woman's gaze flits to serpentberry, to copperstorm, ghoststrike, to her daughter, before arriving back at juniperstar. "perhaps a group training session. we tell the story of our clan's founding, warn of the dangers in the forest. we develop some kind of clan pride, so our young feel confident in defending us."

she can see it, the apprentices gathered, perhaps in the sandy hollow, to learn of moons past, of the suffering that happens with complacency. "it may simply be that some still fear to fight, but they must at least know the importance of it."

I NEED MY GOLDEN CROWN OF SORROW 🜲 MY BLOODY SWORD TO SWING

• // forgive the lateness of this xoxo " #b8a300"
• 
• HAZEL 🜲 SHE / HER, WARRIOR OF THUNDERCLAN. 54 MOONS OLD, PENNED BY LAVS
  
  
  a stocky, medium-haired brown tabby with hazel eyes. this is a large cat with a rippling musculature. hazel's frame is wide and tall, shoulders broad, muzzle and eyes heavy in her skull. chestnut and chocolate fur swirl across her pelt, sliced through with tabby stripes of shadow. her eyes invoke images of a sweet summer's day, honey and brown mingling into a soft amber gold

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