TW: Sensitive Content Open IT THRIVES IN THE DARK [bone quiz]

[ASHBIRD]

CW – discussion of bones in an anatomical way, thoughts on death/dying​

༄༄ Is it a bit morbid, to sort through the remains of numerous creatures with the objective only being to judge them? Certainly. Yet to a cat like Ashbird, it is merely a facet of life. When creatures die, what is left behind is a body. And when that body fades, what is left behind is a skeleton. Bones settle awkwardly with nothing to hold them in place, but there is a beauty to it, as well. Bones will always remain, even after the soul is gone—they are memories made physical, proof that they had once been alive. Perhaps there is something to be said there, on the topic of ending another creature's life. But Ashbird must eat, their clanmates must eat. Lingering on such thoughts for too long would render them useless, they believe.

They turn to their apprentice, their pelt flame-streaked just like Ashbird's own, and present a simple question. "Tell me, which of these is a rabbit bone?" Their gaze shifts across each of the bones laid in an array before them, picking out the rabbit's skull amongst the scattered, mixed remains of squirrels and mice. The scents muddle and mix together—they are nearly indistinguishable by smell alone. But by sight, it is clear to the calico that the size does not align with the rest of the bones. It is an obvious choice, in their opinion, given that the skull is amongst the most unique of moorland animals. The delicate lacing across the front edges of the skull mesmerizes the tunneler, wondering how such structures were formed. Perhaps it has to do with the swift running speed of the prey animal, just as the hollow bones of birds have to do with their ability to take flight.

As their apprentice looks over the animal remains, Ashbird's golden eyes raise to meet any other clanmates who happen to have shifted closer. A subtle dip of their scarred head is a silent invitation; if any here know the answer faster than their apprentice speaks, they are welcome to share.

CALL HER PROPHET ☽♰☾ CALL HER PRIESTESS

• ooc: they're directly asking @ASHPAW but inviting others to answer; you DON'T need to wait for ashpaw!
• ​
• 
  ASHBIRD ⋆⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺⋆ she/they, tunneler of windclan
  ༄ small, slim flame-streaked calico with fiery golden eyes. shows little to no emotion.
  ༄ stern and serious, ferociously protective of her clanmates. rarely seen aboveground.
  ༄ sibling to [name] ; mother to ashblaze
  ༄ mentor to ashpaw
  ༄ peaceful powerplay is allowed, but reacts poorly to being touched
  ༄ penned by foxlore

 

[Fowl]

xx

Fowlpaw

Growing up in the colony, things were much more fast-paced, there was little room for learning the world around when one was trying to conquer all. They expected to continue being taught battle training and fighting moves like back at home. But life moved with purpose in the clan. Knowledge of the fields around you was just as vital as tracking prey.

Death wasn't something they thought of past rotting flesh; once life hit that stage, there was nothing more it could offer them. Bones belonged to the earth, yet Ashbird stood next to a pile of bones with Ashpaw. Two near-perfect copies right next to each other.

Long brown ears twist to listen to a lesson not meant for them but for the another apprentice. Fowlpaw wondered if the mentor wanted an answer to an impossible question. Their tense frame stood by, stretching their neck to peer at what looks like bones. Nothing really noteworthy to them, but apparently holding a rabbit's remains scattered with bones of others. "They, umm, all look the same…" If the warrior was pulling their leg, they were none the wiser.

❥━━♡━━❥​

Fowlpaw // he/them // 6 moons old // Windclan moor runner apprentice

A short chocolate colored cat with a lighter brown tuff of fur covering half their face and a light brown tail.

mentored by Hollowmumble
NPC x NPC

penned by Ghostnoodles ↛ frieddnoodles on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

 

[Solacewhisper]

♰ Solace did not often concern themself with the matters and happenings of carcasses after they have been put to rest by either consumption or burial. Matters of the emptied flesh were for Life and Death to sort for themselves, worms and creeping rot-consumers would be shepherded through their burrows to feast upon long-gone creatures and mementos of their existence would remain where they were laid to rest. Though, now as someone who crawled in the underneath... like any common mole or worm would... perhaps he could understand one's fascination with the hard, sun-bleached gifts all animals left behind.

She settles near the tortoiseshells, watching Ashbird with a subtle curiosity in their eyes. Were they a collector of such things? Anyone with a passing interest in the dead and their associated totems caught their eye, and he would wonder if this was just a material hobby or indicative of some deeper interest. Either way, she would watch and listen with contentment, letting the youth express their confusion first, tipping their head in understanding. "Look closely... This thigh bone here... it's short and squat, it likely belongs to a small, shortlegged creature. Rabbits have large, powerful legs..." He hummed, nudging over a mole femur toward the young cat to look more closely at. Of course, he has seen enough rabbit skulls in his life to spot it easily enough, but he would not deny the clan's young ones a lesson. "I must say, Ashbird, they are quite clean and well-kept... your bones, I mean. " She purred and returned her dark blue gaze toward the other tunneler, watching them closely.

♰ THERE IS NO BAD. THERE IS NO GOOD. I DRANK ALL THE BLOOD I COULD.

• ooc:
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  ♰ solacewhisper - windclan tunneller - 36 moons - she/they/he - parent of temperancepaw charitypaw and justice. a handsome stranger with a ghost-filled past, a longhaired fawn point with a slight build that looks soft around the edges despite the hardship of clan life. their dark blue eyes have an unnerving, too-watchful quality to them.
  
  - solace seems relatively polite, if cagey around questions of his life before his arrival. in any case, he's patient with children and those with... difficult personalities and stays relatively mellow. she is prone to somewhat odd, morbid behaviors, but does not advertise their lifelong devotion to an old god of death.
  
  - speech in "A87C7C" , attack in underline, penned by eezy
• 

 

[ROOSTERTUFT]

x

Roostertuft can't help but be curious when he notices the bones that Ashbird has laid out on the ground for her apprentice to see and its a rather morbid sight really, they seemed rather clean from blood and bits of meat, and he can't help but raise a brow in the direction of the tunneler. Perhaps, he would remember to never make the tortoiseshell angry lest he wishes to become part of her collection of cleaned up bones and he tilts his head to observe them carefully. She seems to ask her apprentice if they can tell her which are the bones belonging to that of a rabbit and he must be stupid since he's a whole ass adult unable to tell the difference of either of the bones, it all looked the same to him.

The tortie smoke never actually took a moment to glance over the bones of every meal he ate... he kinda just tossed em to the side or buried them underneath the ground once he was done with them. "You must have a good eye for all of this, Ashbird. It's a rather interesting... collection of trinkets." Roostertuft settles down on his haunches to glance over the bones once more then turns his eyes in the direction of Solacewhisper who seems to know what he's talking about. The moor runner gives a nod of understanding unable to help the half-amused snort that leaves him when Fowlpaw speaks up saying that the bones looked the same to them, "Me too, kid... me too."

FACES ILLUMINATED IN THE DARK

ROOSTERTUFT

WINDCLAN WARRIOR
TRANS MASC x HE/HIM​

x

"speech", thoughts, attacking
a large, longhaired black smoke tortie/blue ticked tabby chimera with a pair of earthy toned eyes and low white
has complicated feelings towards goldenroar and subtly interested in nutmegpurr

charismatic, stubborn, adventurous, aloof, and awkward would be a few words that describe roostertuft as an individual. a former barncat that's getting accustomed to clan life after the events of the barn burning down, he oftentimes misses the life before it burnt down yet he's someone who'll adapt to change.

 

[sassafraschill]

SASSAFRASCHILL, 31 moons / windclan moor-runner
a pale blue tabby with scraggly fur and a large shoulder scar
sister to honey, mate and parent to none
a scrappy cowboy who feels he has something to prove. stupidly stubborn with hotheaded tendencies.
Tagging person here

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Sassafraschill normally would not care for bones other than ridding them after a meal. They provide nothing more than morbid decor or feasts for flies when he is finished with them, after all. Ashbird has other means for them, however, provided hers are ridden of any leftover sinew and skin. Cherished, clearly, though he couldn't see reason as to why. What was so good about identifying prey through bone when they needed them alive to consume?

Of course that oddball Solace may find it endearing. It took all of Sass's efforts not to roll his eyes back into their sockets, instead focusing on Roostertuft's approach. He tipped his head at his friend , knowing he did just the same as himself with prey remains. "What'll bones do for you when yer hungry, anyhow." The tom meowed dismissively.