Open Camp hold you're breath [Open/ Return From Gathering!]

[WOLFPACK]

AND I AM SORRY MY CONSCIENCE CALLED IN SICK AGAIN

______________________________________________________________________​

The walk back was mostly quiet. Not silent– that would have been too much to expect after everything that'd just been witnessed– but for once Wolfpack was glad for the chance to be left to his thoughts. The image of that glowing cat still burned behind his eyes. A ghost– no, a spirit. The kind Cicadabuzz was visited by. The kind Sablestor swore had chosen him.

Kind of.

It was closer to a confirmation than the shared dream the clan had suffered through after that storm. Closer to the kind of thing he'd witnessed when he'd pulled Dustystar into that ditch and ripped their throat open with his teeth. To what he'd seen when Sable had taken him away from the territory and asked him to rip away their first life with own claws and teeth and then watched them rise like nothing had happened once it was all over.

So many secrets. When had he started keeping those?

He picked his way down the muddy slope and down into the camp, knowing the rest of the clan was right behind him. He could already sense the anticipation clinging to the air like humidity– cats that hadn't gone to Fourtrees were craning their necks from the shadows and stirring in their nests, waiting for answers. Wondering what had happened.

He turned, giving a short, clipped call to no-one in particular. "We're back." he announced, "No one died. From here, anyway."

That was probably the most pressing question on everyones mind, particularly considering how… unpopular they were among the clans.

---

​

OOC NOTES . ◭ . CHARACTER INFO

• ooc : — if you saw a note here saying he was carrying Magpie kit, disregard that!!! He's just addressing those who stayed behind :) Likely was traveling near his apprentice, @cloudberrypaw
  ​
• shadowclan deputy - male - mentoring Cloudberrypaw - a large, monochrome chimera with mismatched eyes and several scars

 

[GOSSAMERPAW]

— It had been easy to make the decision to stay behind. The Gathering is new; new cats, new Clans, new traditions and, from the sound of it, new conflicts. As the whole of ShadowClan comes trickling into the basin of their camp, Gossamerpaw lifts her head to rake over each body until she picks out her brother's, slender and striped like a feather. The mass of returning cats give little away that Tusslepaw's face does not already tell her; something has happened in a way that is concrete and meaningful, and Gossamerpaw has been left out of the loop.

The ghost-striped moggy's ears twitch as Wolfpack calls out. We're back, he says, No one died. But it's a half-truth, apparently. As the white-dappled deputy continues his quip, Gossamerpaw's periwinkle gaze slides towards her own peers. Cloudberrypaw is nearby, as is Tusslepaw, and her gaze pleads them to reveal more. Tension bears down from the sky. Eventually she finds the courage to face Wolfpack directly: "What do you mean?" The question comes out throaty and light as a dove. "Who... died?" Not a ShadowClanner, surely, but her mind flits through different possibilities. A ThunderClanner, perhaps? Maybe.... Her eyes skirt again to Tusslepaw, but his face holds no satisfaction. Owlbark must still be alive, then, she concludes, though she feels like a castle in the sand.

OOC.

.

GOSSAMERPAW

SHADOWCLAN'S DEER IN HEADLIGHTS — 09 MOONS — SHE / HER

A ghost-pale, long-furred tabby with cryptic swaths of black and periwinkle eyes. Gossamerpaw is a quiet, wraith-like girl with a weak will. She clings to her sibling Tusslepaw's side like a leech, drinking in his anger and desire for revenge against Owlbark, the cat who murdered their parents. Gossamerpaw is generally friendly to her peers, though she is not outgoing in the least, and will generally do as she is told.

Transfemme she / her | 08 moons
Apprentice of ShadowClan | Mentored by Lilypelt
Towering Oak x Swaying Willow | Sibling to Tusslepaw

"Speech." — Penned by Meghan

 

[ASTERPAW]

x

They follow along with the rest of the Shadowclanners and can't help feeling like a sore thumb amongst the crowd, the scent of the marshlands is thicker here, and it makes them feel rather lightheaded. They're torn out of their own thoughts as the rough voice of Wolfpack announces that they have arrived, Asterpaw can't help but frown at his next words about how nobody had died from Shadowclan reminding them of their mother that had lost a life at the gathering by the jaws of Hawkstar. Their jaws tighten deciding to remain silent if anyone else wanted to make it known that Juniperstar had given a life for a life then it'd need to be someone else as they continued to keep their head low so that they'd hopefully slip underneath the radar without being noticed by anyone else.

Gossamerpaw approaches as she asks who had died and Asterpaw makes sure not to allow their gaze to linger in the direction of the moggy and press their ears flat against their head, a frown still pulling at either side of their mouth, and they begin to regret coming here. Maybe... maybe they should've gone with the rest of Thunderclan to make sure that Juniperstar had turned out okay and comforted her with their presence. Did their mother start to wonder their whereabouts... is she worried? Would it be too late for them to turn around now and try to find their own way home to return to the side of their mother?

Suddenly, the world feels too big and Asterpaw stops himself from taking another step forward as a pathetic little wheeze slips out from their jaws and he feels crowded all of a sudden, even as the Shadowclanners start to disperse. The chocolate tabby tries to focus on his breathing but continues to let out a wheeze or two and his claws dig into the earth, he feels as if the world is spinning and its all so overwhelming, and where he wished to remain out of sight... to be hidden. He feels seen, oh great Starclan, they must all see him now?

Oh god, they can all see him.

He hates the lightheaded feeling that follows... he should've stayed home, he shouldn't have come... he... he can't think clearly. This was a bad idea... this is a bad idea.

IN FIVE YEARS TIME WE MIGHT NOT SPEAK

ASTERPAW

THUNDERCLAN APPRENTICE
TRANS MASC x HE/HIM/THEY/THEM​

x

"speech", thoughts, attacking
a runty, longhaired chocolate tabby with clay toned eyes and low white. a sickly apprentice with small patches of fevercoat left over in his pelt, kitten fuzz, and fat that clings to him but is fading away to give way to a taller/more lanky build
sickly child of juniperstar and sablestar; littermate of dreampaw and magpiepaw

asterpaw's an introverted apprentice that keeps to himself for the most part unless family's involved, he usually keeps his head low and eyes averted so he doesn't make direct eye contact. once, he actually gets to know someone is he more open towards them and can prove to be a devoted friend. once he's comfortable around other individuals, he tends to speak a lot more and sometimes over shares about himself without realizing it. he hates that he was born sickly but despite it, he tries to overcome it and pushes himself harder than any of the apprentices

 

[MIREPURR]

Mirepurr is a bundle of shock as they follow the rest of the Gathering patrol back home. They're certainly glad for the way they had kept to themself, strictly behind ShadowClan borders, instead of interfering with the others. After the great battle, it had initially unsettled them to think of previous friends and denmates as foes... but now, they see actual sense in keeping their distance. The mood with a ThunderClan or SkyClan acquaintance would surely turn sour under these circumstances, and their heart would not easily bear the brunt of losing kinship over inter-Clan politics.

This shall be the new norm. It has to be; Thornstar's glimmery appearance only solidifies for them that they are on the right path.

Mirepurr listens to the words exchanged between their Clanmates. Wolfpack offers precious little when it comes to context, and just as Mirepurr is about to soothe Gossamerpaw's worries, their attention flits to someone else. Stars. It's ironic that they had just appreciated keeping to ShadowClan strictly—their heart now twists with sympathy for Asterpaw. Technically, the little tabby is part of their Clan too, thanks to Sablestar's blood running in his veins. It would feel too unlike themself to ignore a cat in need.

"Hey, take it easy,"

they soothe, their voice a low murmur beside one of Asterpaw's ears. It's surprising that Juniperstar had allowed her child to leave the herd when things are so tense. Perhaps that's precisely why; going back home to a mother who had been deceased just moments prior would not be easy, either.

"Are you okay? Come, you should lie down. I can ask Cicadabuzz or Magpiepaw to check you over perhaps..."

they trail off, suddenly unsure if that would be appropriate. Cicadabuzz had been killed by a ThunderClanner not that long ago. Would bug spare a moment's glance at a 'paw of theirs?

Talking to @ASTERPAW

 

[Grayflight]

┍

Grayflight looked up from his newest trinket, a strange little pebble that he could just barely see through, attached to sharp, thin claw. What the Twolegs did with this, he couldn't be certain, but it was pretty enough to bring back to camp. After all, if the light caught it juuust right, it almost seemed to glow a little. Not much though. In any case, his Clanmates had returned from the Gathering, with news of....

"Somecat died?" He asked Wolfpack, padding up to the deputy, tipping his head in respect. "How? Why?" Was there a fight? Or did someone suddenly die from an illness? In either case, this seemed like pretty big news.

‎┙

OOC

Tagging: @WOLFPACK

BIO

ShadowClan Thief
57 moons || he/him
SPEECH || THOUGHTS

 

[Sealdawn Sealdawn]

You Say That You Are Close

Is Close The Closest Star?

x

"The Skyclan leader killed Juniperstar..." Sealpaw speaks up, voice trembling as much as her own body. She couldn't believe it. Juniperstar, kind and quiet Juniper, had been killed as if she was nothing at all. The apprentice couldn't wrap her mind around it.

"Hawkstar tore her throat out in front of every cat there," Her fur bristled as she pressed into @Flamerunner, eyes glassy as if lost in the memory. "And then walked off as if it was just a normal night for her. She ruined something that was supposed to be peaceful."

A wheeze reaches her ears and the apprentice turns her head sharply to the noise. A kit she doesn't recognize is standing amongst their number. The scent on them is unmistakably Thunderclan... Had he gotten lost in the crowd somehow? Or... No, hadn't Dreampaw and Magpiepaw mentioned another sibling, once? Maybe this was him?

Sealpaw leans forward, a paw hesistantly raised to step towards them but they already seemed rather overwhelmed and Mirepurr was already trying to comfort them as best as the warrior could.

"...Do you want me to get you some water..? Or I can show you to it too..?"

You Just Feel Twice As Far

SEALPAW

— Shadowclan Apprentice
— She/They
"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
— Grey Rosetted Tabby With Blue Eyes And A Bobbed Tail. 13 Moons
#4c66bf

ooc:

 

[VULTUREPAW VULTUREPAW]

​

‎

Sealpaw was trembling like a poor scared lamb when revealing what had happend during the gathering like she never had tore out somebody elses throat before. Joining that gathering had never been of interest but now it was a shame he hadn't been there to see it. Vulturepaw would have appreciated that view in live action at a close look much more then thier....shivering denmate did. " Who would have thought that a group of kittypets actually had it in them to spill blood..." An interesting thought to think about, perhaps even impressed although that would never be admitted out aloud. Unfazed by the terror this so called news were suppose to bring them like he was suppose to care about what happend between the other clans. It was better if they killed each other off and Shadowclan alone stood and breathing in the forest. More territory for them, more food and no longer having to live on the scraps of this damn lizards and frogs....Lividsmoke for sure would agree with him on that.

Soon enough he spotted them as well, the intruder, the lil shivering squirrel that had got brought back in. " Why are they here?." Snarl growling in the throat he seeked answers from Wolfpack, eyes locked and narrowed at them. The rest seemed more interested to help the intruder like they where one of them or something....had he missed something here?. Teeths bared the black vulture locked eyes at the thunderclanner for a split second. glaring at them with not so friendly intentions behind those burning gaze. If the command had been given there would have been no hesitation rushing forward and tear this ones throat open just like that skyclan leader had done to his leader, that was for certain.

‎

I'M GONNA SHOW THEM WHAT I HAVE BECOME.​

 

[Flamerunner Flamerunner]

FLAMERUNNER OF SHADOWCLAN

Flamerunner stayed pressed close to Sealpaw, his fluffy tail curled protectively around her frame. A deep frown tugged at his face. So much had happened tonight, and none of it according to plan. The Gathering, meant to be a symbol of peace, had crumbled into accusations and bloodshed. And Sealpaw was right. It had been ruined, shattered by the arrival of a Clan that felt more like a storm than a community. They came from afar, true, but so had RiverClan and WindClan once.

Still... WindClan got a free pass, didn't they? Family ties bought alliances, it seemed. His eyes shifted to the unfamiliar apprentice in their midst. A flicker of curiosity lit his expression. Was that the sibling of Magpiepaw and Dreampaw? What was their name again…? The kit looked on edge. Understandably. " Nobody's here to harm you, kiddo. Take a breath. " Flamerunner said gently, offering a faint but warm grin. His tone was calm, until it wasn't.

His gaze snapped to Vulturepaw with sharpness not often seen from the flame-point tom. " Don't be daft. " His hackles lifted ever so slightly, a rare show of tension rolling beneath his fur. " What exactly do you think you're doing? " His voice was lower now, firm. " Touch a hair on that kit and you'll have Sablestar's full ire on your back. You want to be the one who treats one of his own as an enemy? " A pause. His voice dropped, just a bit softer, but no less pointed. " Hardly seems like a wise move, does it? "

RUN BOY RUN ——･ﾟ✦​

･ﾟ✦ —— THE SUN WILL BE GUIDING YOU

 

[Tickfrost Tickfrost]

When you're lost in the universe, lost in the universe, don't lose faith
My mother says, "Your whole life's in the paws of the Stars"

.

Tickpaw scoffed as he padded into camp, giving his fur a brisk shake, droplets of dew and dust scattering into the air. His mind still churned with the chaos of the Gathering, thoughts crowding each other like anxious birds on a wire. The questions had already started, meows flying, curious yaps about what had happened. Typical. He couldn't blame them, not really. But the noise grated on his ears all the same. A mildly annoyed look flickered across his face before he turned to Sealpaw's explanation and gave a sharp shake of his head.

" It wasn't only Thunder and Sky. " he said at last, his orange eyes narrowing as they swept across the camp. " I caught the scent of blood over near RiverClan and a collapsed body. Something happened over there, too. " His ears pinned back, a grimace tugging at his features. " WindClan was smart. They left the second it started getting messy. " He fell silent after that, thoughts drifting. He wanted to speak to Mirepurr. Ask them if they'd seen it too… That strange cat cloaked in starlight. But what if it hadn't been real? What if it had only been a trick of the light, an image born of adrenaline and fear?

His train of thought was cut short when his eyes fell upon a kit carrying obvious ThunderClan scent with him. A fragile thing, thin and sickly, clinging close. Instinctively, Tickpaw's eyes darted to Mirepurr, who was already moving to comfort the child, of course they were. That was just who they were. And if Mirepurr was going to help, then of course he would too. " Hey. " Tickpaw said gently, his voice quieter now, the edge smoothed. He stepped closer to the kit, offering a small, crooked smile. " You're not on enemy ground. No matter what that one might make you feel. " He flicked his tail dismissively toward Vulturepaw without looking at him.

" Your father's coming soon. You'll get to spend some time with him, yeah? " He tilted his head slightly, warm despite the stiffness in his posture. " How 'bout I take you to Dreampaw? Bet you'll be happy to see your sibling, right? " He thought of his own siblings, Fleafire's raging strength, Webpaw's spark and felt a pang of warmth settle beneath his ribs. Yeah. Seeing your littermate always helped. Made the world feel a little less sharp around the edges.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

10 MOONS

𖧧

SHADOWCLANNER

𖧧

SONG

𖧧

bio

 

[Coalstrike Coalstrike]

A looming figure shadowed the camp entrance as Coalstrike returned, his steps measured and heavy with thought. The chaos of the Gathering still clung to his pelt, the memory of Stilldream's company a fading flicker in his mind as his amber eyes swept the clearing. He knew Asterpaw was here now. Knew, too, that the kit belonged to Sablestar. With luck and a firm enough paw, perhaps all three kits would remain in ShadowClan. It was clear after tonight's display that Juniperstar lacked the strength to keep them safe. But Sablestar… Sablestar would protect them. As any true father should. And if that was the case, then the scent of ThunderClan would eventually fade. And all that would remain... would be Shadow.

He would allow no snarls. No mutters. No venom cast toward the kit.

" Stand down, Flamerunner. " His voice cracked through the air, low and cold. His gaze then snapped to Vulturepaw, sharp and unforgiving. " And you. Keep yourself in check, boy. If you've got aggression to spare, use it for something useful. Get some training in. Hunt for the clan. " Hackles briefly raised, then flattened as he turned his full attention to watch the kit for a moment. Then, he looked to the clan. " As long as this apprentice walks our land, he will be treated properly. As a ShadowClan cat. This is Sablestar's son. And we will treat him as such. Just as we have with Magpiepaw. Just as we have with Dreampaw. "

___________________ I DON'T FORGIVE, I DON'T FORGET ☆ A wound's a warning, a debt is a debt. ___________________

• "speech"
  

• 

• COALSTRIKE he/him, shadowclanner, sixty-six moons.
  ☆ a lh black cat dangerous amber eyes. has a mane around his head, is huge [ grandiose ]
  ☆ mentoring vanillapaw
  ☆ loyal to sable, despises thunderclan
  ☆ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ☆ penned by lion ↛ lionharted on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

 

[cloudberrypaw]

Cloudberrypaw holds to the roan-speckled haunch of their mentor, pale eyes flickering about. The gathering had all but exploded, hallowed ground once again drenched with blood before anyone could truly make sense of the scenery. The young moggy can't help the intense spiraling of her mind, the churning in her gut. Their tail lazily drags along the ground, an extra effort they cannot stand to fix, and they watch as cats discuss the disaster it all ways.

Many flock to a cat nearly like-aged to her - chocolate fur and snotty nosed, looking no different than a frog shortly before dying. Vulturepaw snaps, and his anger bleeds into her. Others tell the black furred apprentice to relax, that the stranger is one of them. A sibling to Magpiepaw, no less. Cloudberrypaw feels the anger lighten with the brevity of understanding, yet it compares only to a consolation prize. Her chest heaves and rattles, and her true heart shows as she sputters a, "He'll only be a waste of herbs." Herbs that she refuses, at least. As if the lack of them make her stronger. As if she can ever repair her lungs that seem to only rend themselves.

"I'm going to sleep," she says, uncharacteristically sharp, towards her mentor. There's no pleading for forgiveness for the deputy, only a stiff change in her path towards whatever apprentice nest is closest.

 

[CICADABUZZ]

CICADABUZZ, 32 moons / shc + med. cat
a SH cinnamon tabby/chocolate tortie chimera w/ black eyes
parent to cloudberrypaw, hemlockpaw, mistletoepaw ; mentor to magpiepaw
a reserved, pragmatic healer driven by duty rather than sentiment

Cicadabuzz has been working quietly while the camp hums with anticipation. The sound of paws filtering down into the hollow carries through the medicine den long before the cats themselves are visible, but bug does not look up immediately. Bug finishes what bug has been doing—sorting the drying tansy into neater stacks, placing the last stems with meticulous care before brushing the remnants from bugs paws. Only then does bug step to the den's entrance, tail swaying slow and deliberate, herbs still tucked into bugs fur.

The scene bug finds is one of tension knotted through the clearing like brambles. The returning cats are slick with mud, their voices layered with the uneasy clamor of rumor and report. Too many speaking at once, too many listening half-frantic. Cicadabuzz's eyes narrow slightly, scanning the space until they find the source of the disruption. A small tom—ThunderClan-scented, with dark fur and wheezing breath—stands braced against the ground as though it's threatening to swallow him whole. Mirepurr is beside him already, speaking gently; others hover, some bristling, some soothing, some barbed. The medicine cat does not waste words asking questions. Bug pads forward, movements unhurried, gaze steady. A wheeze, another—Cicadabuzz hears it keenly. Bugs tail tip flicks once before bug speaks.

"Step aside." The words are soft, but they hold no room for refusal. Cicadabuzz moves closer to the child, giving only the briefest glance to Mirepurr, then lowering bugs head to better see Asterpaw's expression. The trembling, the tightness of his ribs as he struggles to draw air. "Breathe with me," bug says, tone flat as a stone, not coaxing but directing. "In. Out. Match it." Bug demonstrates, slow and deep, eyes not leaving the child's. Cicadabuzz is a wall against the storm of noise surrounding them; bug does not turn when another cat hisses or comforts or snarls. Bugs voice cuts through again. "You will not suffocate here. Slow yourself. In. Out."

After a few breaths, Cicadabuzz straightens, tail brushing over the ground. Bugs gaze flickers briefly to the gathered cats—their swirling questions, their unrest. "You all speak too much," bug observes, flatly. "If the gathering has ended, then let it end. Noise will not mend what was broken there." A pause, bugs ear twitching as bug regards Sealpaw and then Wolfpack with the same unreadable calm. "Those who saw will speak in time. Those who did not will learn patience."

Bugs attention returns to Asterpaw, more rooted than the rest. "You will come with me," Cicadabuzz says, dipping bugs head slightly toward bugs den. "You will breathe where it is quiet. You will settle. If necessary, you will have coltsfoot to ease your breathing."

And then, without raising bugs voice, Cicadabuzz delivers the final boundary meant for the whole clearing. "If any of you mean to keep bristling at a half-grown kit, you may take your complaints to someone else. My den is not for quarrels; none will be welcome within if they can not bite their tongue." Bug does not look to see who bristles or who relaxes. Cicadabuzz simply turns, tapping bugs tail lightly against Asterpaw's flank in wordless instruction, and begins leading the way back toward the shelter of herbs and stone.

 

[FLEAFIRE]

-

The gathering left everyone abuzz, and she was no exception. They literally watched a cat get murdered—kinda sick—but also that cat was Magpiepaw's ma. The other ones ma too, whatever his name was. Seemed like a bad time to ask though...

Fleafire didn't have the same bad blood for ThunderClan that others did, but she didn't much care for them either. Though it wasn't like any of Sablestar's kits did anything to her. Vulturepaw's acidic tone earns him an irritated look, not because she cares about who its directed at but because he grates on her especially. "Such a dumbass." She mutters under her breath. "Like read the room." When Flamerunner and Coalstrike light into him she can hardly smother the smirk that wants to jump onto her face. He opened his fat mouth and got his ass chewed for it. Served him right.

Dull amber eyes drag to give the ThunderClanner a lazy once-over. Everyone seems content to smother him. Pressing closer, offering this and that to try and soothe him. Of course any son of Sablestar's, no matter how pathetic, would get more attention. That's just how that worked.

Cicadabuzz's hair-raising voice is Fleafire's cue to leave. Hunting sounds like a good idea… With a yawn, she creeps past the cluster and makes her way back out of camp. They could all gossip without her. She never really liked that sort of thing. Although she was interested to hear what Froststorm had to say about it all...

- Exit Fleafire -​

They don't know, they can't see

FLEAFIRE

11 MOONS
SHE/HER
- Undersized cinnamon solid with folded ears. She's thin but stubby with very messy fur.
"SPEECH" - crimson | 'THOUGHTS/EMPHASIS' - crimson

Fleapaw values family the most with survival at a close second. In conversations, she is blunt, fun-loving, and clever. She is guided by her desires which often leads her astray. Despite her abrasive personality, she cares deeply for those she loves and will do anything to protect them. Due to her experiences, Fleapaw is corrupt and has minimalistic, if any, morals. She does not care for the warrior code and its restraints. Neither does she believe in StarClan. Growing up in a kitten mill, being separated from her mother, and ending up on the streets have deeply affected her view of the world.

Who we are, fear is the enemy