ThunderClan RiverClan ShadowClan SkyClan WindClan it never hurts to give thanks to the local gods // half moon

[rowanpaw]

☆ So much has happened since Rowanpaw first thought of the idea of a moonly meeting between the medicine cats of the clans. Both with herself and everything around her. When she'd first thought of it, she didn't know… she didn't know Cicadabuzz was going to rob Riverclan, nor that her mother would… that Serpentberry would attack her. Could a peaceful meeting really happen now? Or was it always just a pipe dream…?

But she goes to fourtrees anyways, and Serpentberry does too, and Cicadabuzz joins them, still looking slightly worse for wear. There's a look on her mother's face when she sees bug– something Rowanpaw can't place. She doesn't ask either, not right now. She so badly wants this to work, to be able to learn… learn everything she can, so that she can help, so she can be useful.

The trek to the moonstone is long and tense. If Serpentberry and Cicadabuzz speak, Rowanpaw tries not to listen, unwilling to learn of her mother's transgressions. She's grateful when they bump into Swallowpaw, Jinglemoon, and his apprentice– Rainpaw– though the arrival of the Riverclanners don't really do anything to make things less tense and awkward.

Rowanpaw falls into step next to Swallowpaw, and breathlessly whispers, "Swallowpaw," as her tail just barely brushes against Swallowpaw's. "It's uhm… it's good to see you again. I hope you've been well…?"

Just then, she spots Gladebloom and Meadowpaw in the distance, half hidden by the tall grass as they walk. "Oh, there they are…! We all came," she says, just as breathless, eyes wide. "I can't… I can't believe it."

Everyone is here. The high stones are in sight, the moonstone tucked between them, and they're all here.

☆ ROWANPAW. 11 moons
mentored by serpentberry,
adopted daughter of serpentberry and thornstar
sister to maplefrost
peaceful powerplay allowed
ooc - @serpentberry @cicadabuzz @Magpiepaw @SWALLOWPAW @Jinglemoon @Rainpaw

 

[cicadabuzz]

CICADABUZZ, 31 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 walks with the rhythm of a wound that never quite stopped bleeding. Their gait is steady, but strained—dragging through leaf-littered shadow, every step stiff with the memory of fangs at their throat. The wounds on their shoulders tug and pull beneath fur still split in places, their copper-and-bronze pelt matted where it hasn't yet grown clean again. A cicada's husk clings stubbornly to the edge of shoulder scars. When they enter the meetingplace, the tension between Serpentberry and them is not spoken. It doesn't need to be. It crackles in the air between their pelts, quieter than insect song in the deep of night, but no less present. Cicadabuzz does not look at her, and does not speak. The bite on their throat flares with each breath, a cruel reminder. Words catch on it. Scrape raw.

When Rowanpaw's voice rises from the hush—gentle, searching—Cicadabuzz's ears flick, but they do not turn. The apprentice is sweet, well-meaning, flitting from cat to cat with a desperation that feels almost fevered. Cicadabuzz recognizes the scent of hope. They know how easily it curdles. They pause only once on the slope, letting the others pass. The wind rises around them, catching in the dry weeds like wings brushing bone. Their gaze turns to the stone ahead, the jagged teeth around it, the cold promise it keeps. Everyone is here. And still it feels thin.

Cicadabuzz finally speaks, their voice a rasp dragged from beneath the bark of a dead tree—crooked, cracked, and low. "Indeed." Disbelief is an acceptable reaction to the notion of this meeting. Their throat throbs from the effort. The bite scar stretches taut. They shift their weight forward again, continuing on, closing the distance, moving like a beetle with a fractured shell—never still, never safe, but alive through stubbornness alone. Peace does not bloom simply because the petals are arranged neatly to make a beautiful picture. A low breath rattles loose in their chest. "Magpiepaw. Stay by my side, will you?" The peeling bark that is their throat creaks again as more words spill forth from beneath. Their eyes linger on the viper curled neatly in the grass.

"Serpent," they greet, head tilted in a facsimile of curiosity. "You're well, I hope, little snake?" No venom drips from their tongue, not like that which spills from her fangs.

 

[SWALLOWPAW]

stars twinkle overhead as swallowpaw leads jinglemoon and rainpaw through windclan's territory. if there is conversation, it's minimal, and swallowpaw uses it to fill the long walk. she sticks close to the edge to respect the boundaries, wading through tall grass and blooming flowers until they reach their destination.

the air becomes thick with tension when thunderclan and shadowclan meet them halfway. swallowpaw sees a break in the clouds when rowanpaw falls next to her. "hey," she smiles, "i've been good..." her voice trails off and her eyes wander to the medicine cats she hasn't seen. she assumes the viper-like tortoiseshell is her... mentor,. swallowpaw's eyes linger a little too long on the raw injury marking cicadabuzz's throat. their voice comes out so harshly, she winces in sympathy.

that's a child. is all she can think when she looks at magpiepaw. swallowpaw decides to stick close to jinglemoon for the time being.

"it's um... nice to see everyone here... finally..." she manages, sitting on the ground and curling her tail.

ʚɞ

 

[serpentberry serpentberry]

How the fuck are you alive?

Serpentberry let's the notion flash in her eyes, like scales just beneath the river's waves, and then sink into her pelt. The gentle ruffle of her fur as she maintains her composure, following the guidance of her daughter for once. Only Rowanpaw can thieve control from her and not earn reprimand - not yet, anyways. This endeavor is an inspiring one, at least. Serpentberry had anticipated it with joy after her daughter spilled the details, yet now... She feels the many legs of bugs itching in her pelt. They say nothing; she says nothing. They walk in cool, confident silence. Serpentberry will not be first to break.

Eventually, they meet up with more supposed medicine cats. Some from the wetlands, some from the moors. Serpentberry's watchful eyes notices the gentle connection between Rowanpaw and one of the other youths, and a snake's grin splits her features. Not taunting, not this time. For once the simplicity of motherhood finds its bearing as she watches them interact, if only for a moment. The fluttering lashes, the lowered tones. Oh, how adorable.

If only Cicadabuzz had kept bug's mouth shut, then she could've enjoyed the evening.

"Hmm?" she purrs in their direction, her own tail flicking. If allowed, she touches it to that gaping spot of their neck, and croons a, "Sorry, you sound like a squished little bug. I hope everything is healing up well." How are you alive? Flashes again in her gaze, the minute wrinkle of her nose as her smile grows wider. She thought their heart stopped, and the blood that spilled had killed others. Was she a fool all along? No - no, not her. Them. Whatever phantom they've become, Serpentberry wasn't going to falter. She leans slightly, showing off the red-tinged-yellow petals scattered along her spine. "Aren't these pretty? An old friend gave them to me." I've lost nothing. Yet her frustration, confusion, and anger grows still.

Her gaze flicks to Swallowpaw as the other speaks, sitting close to one of the river cats. She takes this opportunity to purr, "It's nice to finally meet you, bird. You saved me from certain death a few moons ago, you know. That's an awful lot of knowledge for a girl so young to have," she pries and pries with teeth and claws, "Where's your mentor, littleling?"

 

[Magpiepaw]

He'll learn your face by heart

BUT YOU'LL BE IN BLACK & WHITE IN HIS EYES

Initially he was excited for this meeting of medicine cats, this gathering of the minds to discuss his new special interest but now he dreaded it. His ambling, bobbing walk was heavy as he trailed alongside Cicadabuzz's flank, sticking to their side tightly even well before arriving and he needed no further words to encourage him to settle as closely pressed to his mentor as possible. Magpiepaw's ears fall back reflexively, a brief glance at Rowanpaw sleek and burning like a star in her joy at plans pulled together and he wishes he could indulge in that delight too but he is too afraid to put a paw out of place.

Serpentberry's eyes flash briefly under moonlit light with the same shimmering red of the berries they were not to eat - ominous, a warning drenched in saccharine, he visibly flinches and curls his plume of a tail ever tighter around his paws. He wants to say hello to the other medicine cat he does not know, who smells like pine and fresh rain, but he is stricken frozen against Cicadabuzz and leans every further into bug's copper pelt - the heart beat thundering against one flush ear brings him a small comfort but he frets at it stopping again under smiling white teeth. The tiny black and white kit says nothing, no introduction of his name, no attempt to idle chat as he might normally would have - running his fool mouth a mile a minute in chirping delight; his violet gaze is wide and at the ground - anywhere but the mottled pelt he swears smells like blood even now but his imagination could be running wild.

As the ThunderClan medicine cat rips her gaze from them to speak to Swallowpaw he feels himself relax slightly, nostrils flaring as he exhales and his gaze darts to the pale sun-warmed sand colored molly being addressed, he prays for her - that the viper won't lunge again. Snakes, he has noticed, seem impossible to understand.

In the flick of a feather, he flies to your side

MAGPIEKIT

— kitten of shadowclan
— He/They
"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
— Solid black w/low white & blue-violet eyes.
— Has 'wobbly cat' syndrome.
#9272ee

 

[Gladebloom Gladebloom]

An half moon passed in a swift breeze after meeting Rowanpaw and Swallowpaw. The tall chocolate tabby glances at the others gathered around to quietly remember their faces besides the two she'd known already. She quickly picks up on the tension between ThunderClan and ShadowClan as they try to antagonize one another with poisonous tongues and false statements. Glade blinks uncomfortably when she sees that ShadowClan's medicine cat is named Bug and that Rowanpaw's mentor is apparently called something like Serpent. They should all share similar values, so it's difficult to understand why they're not getting along. The tension in the room could be broken with a blade of grass.

"Good evening, all."

Gladebloom would greet as she ignores the pettiness between the two medicine cats and instead aims to make common ground with the others instead of playing into the battleground of tongues. A small black and white figure catches her attention as she raises her eyebrow on why there was a child there that came alongside Cicadabuzz, and it surely wasn't their medicine apprentice, right? Please tell her it wasn't ShadowClan's medicine apprentice, and it was take your kid to work day instead.

 

[Meadowpaw]

Meadowpaw stuck close to Gladebloom's flank as they arrived. The pounding in her ears drowned even that of the wind that bore witness to the cats gathered tonight. She tried to make herself look nice, grooming her pelt as best she could and tucking a small flower behind her ear before they left camp. It had drooped a little on the journey, but she hoped it still looked alright.

The scent of many cats—some new and strange, others faintly familiar—made her nose wrinkle. She lifted her head, green eyes flicking across the gathered medicine cats, trying to memorize their faces. By the end of their time together, she hoped to have their names too. Meadowpaw already recognized Swallowpaw and Rowanpaw among the group, and she offered a shy smile. "Good evening…" The tortie echoed and bobbed her head in greeting.

She shifted her weight, tail curling against her frame as she settled. She had been excited for this, counting down the days with restless paws, but standing here now under the glow of the half-moon, surrounded by so many older, more seasoned medicine cats... Meadowpaw felt a little out of place.

There was something else—a tension so thick she could taste it, bitter as ragwort on her tongue. Her ears twitched at the exchange between the tortoiseshell and the unusual-looking tabby. The way their words clipped and crackled like twigs underpaw. They clearly knew each other already, though Meadowpaw wasn't sure what to make of their discussion.

Her gaze caught on the small black-and-white figure near the tabby, confusion knitting across her brow. Meadowpaw tilted her head slightly. Is that… really an apprentice? He looked even younger than her!

Meadowpaw watched with a soft frown. For a brief moment, she considered going to say hello to them. After all, she had figured tonight would be a chance to get to know the other medicine cat apprentices, but she dared not venture far. Whatever was going on over there seemed rather... personal.

______________I believe that there is a courage ✿ but its burnin' like ash in the wind_____________

• "speech" - thoughts
  

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• Meadow she/her & windclan
  ✿ Three-legged black and red tortoiseshell with green eyes.
  ✿ A light crisp-sounding voice
  ✿ Loves flowers and always has some woven into her fur
  ✿ Peaceful and healing powerplay permitted. All others DM.
  ✿ Fur smells floral and mildly sweet.
  
  
  penned by Scarlet​