juniper
"and this time, she won't be forgiving"
time tended to the wounds of the spirit... medicine pressed into tender flesh that worked towards reunion. but what of the aching soul of the clan as a whole? loss had haunted them more than ever of late... in the shape of their gentlest found dead in more and more gruesome ways. the other clans had little part to play in their misfortune, so who was there to blame? StarClan, for its complacency in watching it unfold? Loonstar was unwilling to bet on their negligence, knowing the faces that danced amongst Silverpelt to be too righteous for that. an image of Thornstar buckled over, hacking up starlight itself, hangs like an omen in her mind. was it possible death itself punished those who took action after death?her wondering is interrupted by the bodies of the sun's first risers leaving their dens. the activity of another day, even if haunted by the absence of those who'd recently walked another path. she clambers onto the rough bark of the tree that leans against her den. a sturdy perch, a lofty spot to gaze down at the whole and inspect its parts. ultimately, they were doing well in these dreary winter months, right? and today would promise them that would carry them forward, with so many ready to start their paws in new directions. "Good morning," she croaks, pausing to clear her throat of a restless night held in long silences. "Mulberry, step forward." this one had already been delayed too long, but he seemed more comfortable now and would be eager to match his new friends hopefully. "It's only fitting as a member of ThunderClan that you be given a proper name. It seems your ready... so... from today onward, until you're named an apprentice of course, your name will be Anemonekit." delicate, just like she remembered Hollykit to be. though... he even was not so little anymore.
she lifts her chin to encourage her clan to cheer for their young clan-mate, trying to ignore the way the nape of her neck feels tense.
today would be full of bittersweet moments... she'd come prepared for it, already trying to shove down the urge to grow weepy well before a sentence has been said. "We've got many young, eager paws who are ready to begin their training I believe... Falsekit, Faithkit, Slitherkit, Victorykit, Sunkit, Frecklekit, Echokit, Dancingkit... and Hollykit... come closer where the clan can see you." she'd made sure to fuss over Hollykit this morning, taking in their last night sharing a nest for all it was worth. his warmth, the smell of his fur no longer clinging to milk-scent. "From today until you've proven yourselves worthy of being warriors, you'll be apprentices... so I give you your new names."
"Falsekit... you will be known as Falsepaw and your mentor will be Briarfox. He's an impressive combatant and will teach you how to defend yourself and the ones you love. Faithkit, you will be Faithpaw. Your mentor will be Webfrost, I'm hoping she'll be able to teach you to find passion even in the worst of times." stubbornness, more than likely.. but passion nonetheless. "Slitherkit, I name you Slitherpaw and ask Applehop to be your mentor. They'll be an excellent teacher in hunting especially. Victorykit... you'll now be called Victorypaw and I can think of no better mentor for you than Blisteringfury. He was a stern teacher for Tenebrouspaw and I trust he'll teach you the importance of duty." Tenebrouspaw, who'd soon be freed of the shackles of needing a kitsitter at all.
"Sunkit, it's time to take on the mantle of Sunpaw- I've decided Blizzardblaze will be your mentor. He'll teach you how to act carefully but bravely. Frecklekit, for you, it's now Frecklepaw and Warpath will be your mentor. He'll foster a boldness befitting a young warrior and the discilpine to match. Echokit, I now name you Echopaw and put you in Hazelheart's care. She's an experienced mentor and will make sure you are given all the space you need to thrive. Dancingkit... we welcome you as Dancingpaw and for you, Grizzlypurr will be your mentor. He may look soft and fuzzy but he's got strength in his gentleness. And of course... Hollykit." her smile is genuine, though pained.. the last fledgling to leave the nest.
"Today marks you as Hollypaw. Daisynose, I ask you to mentor him and teach him to defend himself." the rest would come naturally, learning to hunt ... learning to explore. she offers a long moment for all of the new pairs to meet each other. to greet each other. it would be a busy end to the season with so many inexperienced apprentices potentially scaring off already scarce prey. hopefully their teachers would have the patience not to snuff out their hopeful hearts while also preserving the clan's food stores.
she lashes her tail to signal again for quiet, "Tenebrouspaw, Thistlepaw, Asterpaw, Searingpaw, Gutsypaw, Rattlepaw, Torridpaw and Heartpaw... stand in front." not only for the clan to behold but for the sun and stars too. she skims over them, many being the clan's first ones born under a new name. how special, this generation... ready to be warriors at last. "StarClan as my witness, today you all take your first steps into warriorhood. And with it, a name to last you a lifetime." with any luck, one of them might someday take the head of ThunderClan and endure one last change. "Tenebrouspaw, your determination and tenacity have served you well thus far under Blisteringfury's measured guidance.... from this moment forward, you will be known as Tenebrousthorn." prickly on the outside as much as the inside but not without reason now... not reckless. "Thistlepaw... I've watched you grow, your understanding, your perserverence... they carry you through the good and bad and Coppperstorm did well to foster those natures in you. You will be known as Thistlecloud!" her heart hammers wildly in her chest, hoping that Serpentberry and Thornstar are not laying their paws against their eyes and sighing disapprovingly. once, she might've been able to ask the medicine cat directly... maybe this was a mistake. maybe she should've visited the Moonstone again and begged for counsel....
it's too late now.
"Asterpaw," she stares at her son, the only of her children she is given the chance to name this way. sorely she wishes Dreampaw were here, that Sablestar would not steal another moment from her. "Your devotion knows no limits... and your head-strong personality sees it made manifest... for that, I give you the name Asterdust. Graybird made sure to teach you to leave your good intentions in your wake." and she'd forever thank him for keeping her son safe this long. "Searingpaw... you too make a strength of devotion and have displayed impressive wit- your mentor has assured me you are ready so I name you Searingshade." an intelligence hidden under the shadowy surface. it wouldn't fail to surprise opponents that offered doubt.
"Gutsypaw, your brutality leaves no questions for the fate of the undeserving and your vitality promises you'll find survival easy... your mentor nurtured your strength as a fighter and it shows. I name you now, Gutsyswarm, overwhelming as you are even as a single opponent." a flurry of blows that could not be stopped. "Rattlepaw, your gentleness hangs in balance against war and your hope will light the way. I give you the name Rattleheart, hoping you will carry your heart with you always and listen to it closely." a little sentimental, a little soft... but sometimes it was what the world needed most.
"Torridpaw, your charisma is as much as weapon as it is a strong defense... and you've demonstrated the courage to use it as is necessary. Owlbark taught you that balance as it has been learned in his own life." give could not exist without take... the scars decorating her neck promise that much. "From now onward you will be known as Torridflame... warmth can be gentle or it can burn." knowing when to choose one over the other took practice. "And Heartpaw... your compassion and humility are truly fitting a name like yours... Houndhowl nurtured the best parts of you. You will be known as Heartwhisper, for you carry its compassion in every little action." it needn't be shouted from the treetops to be witnessed.
the cheers today should be an uproar, for the bounty of their success is marked in the sheer volume of promotion that comes from her lips. she does not abandon her perch, knowing of one more detail to care for before blanketing the new warriors in her congratulations. still, the space they are deserved is offered willingly, finding no urgency today... not when they deserved to celebrate so much more than just this and mourn those who weren't there to witness it.
"I've also..." she pauses, uncertain what sort of response she will be given, "Asked Ghoststrike to step away from my council. He's been a great asset to ThunderClan but does not represent the future I want to foster." she needed someone more conducive to collaboration, to the soul of what being a clan meant. and perhaps.. that would be best found in someone younger, someone bathed in the purpose of the clans from birth. her eyes glance over the new warriors without meaning to, before shaking herself from her thoughts and waving away the wide-eyed stares. "That is all from me, congratulations all of you... and if you'd give your attention to Owlbark please-"
at last she abandons the trunk, dropping to the earth with a small thud before rushing towards Asterdust with a huge grin, "I'm so proud of you..."
-
this was a huge meeting oh my god ... congratulations everyone!! to those of u that gave me free will over ur warrior name u can let me know if u dont love it! im happy to change it and wont take it personally i promise <3
ty to everyone whose been posting during the busy holiday rush u guys are crazy for that.. and i super appreciate how involved everyone has been, encouraging new relationships and reaching out to new faces. u guys really do the work to make thunderclan feel welcome and open and im hoping in the next year, even as we transition through new and old hps that it'll continue to feel inviting and comfortable <333
@MULBERRY -> anemonekit
@FALSEKIT -> falsepaw [briarfox]
@Faithkit -> faithpaw [webfrost]
@SLITHERKIT -> slitherpaw [npc]
@Victorykit -> victorypaw [blisteringfury]
@SUNKIT -> sunpaw [blizzardblaze]
@Frecklekit -> frecklepaw [warpath]
@HOLLYKIT -> hollypaw [daisynose]
@Echokit. -> echopaw [hazelheart]
@dancingkit -> dancingpaw [grizzlypurr]
@tenebrouspaw -> tenebrousthorn
@thistlepaw -> thistlecloud
@ASTERPAW -> asterdust
@SEARINGPAW -> searingshade
@GUTSYPAW -> gutsyswarm
@Rattlepaw -> rattleheart
@TORRIDPAW -> torridflame
@Heartpaw -> heartwhisper
@GHOSTSTRIKE has been demoted- loonstar is looking for younger and more cooperatively minded guards for the future
-
loonstar
leader of thunderclan
five lives remain
Last edited:
