TW: Death Border ThunderClan LAY ME DOWN IN A BED OF ROSES [private for now]

[Rosebelly]

Oh, I can't stop feeling I want her love ♡

Since becoming a warrior he was trying too hard, he was working too hard, he was pushing himself relentlessly. What was there to prove? He was already clanborn and even if his mother was weak-willed he had a powerful bloodline, she was once deputy for a reason after all. Rosebelly didn't need to claw his way to the top as he was doing, but he did all the same. It was a cyclical torture, he wanted to be a cat who could stand amongst Hawkstar's finest, to pass on his mentor's teachings to his own apprentice, to represent SkyClan before all other clans with loyalty and dedication - proving their superiority and his own devotion. Cats like Stormcrow were to be admired, but he wanted more than to simply bend and obey beneath Hawkstar's will, he wanted to be her equal, he wanted to stand next to her and not behind her. The deputy position was open, he clenched his teeth knowing that he was the cat who deserved it most, who else was more dedicated, who else was trained by the leader herself? It was a place on the throne he had all but earned from the day he came mewling into the world, to the long journey to this point in the forest, through the mist and kittypet slog.
The chocolate tabby crouched low, a squirrel perched before him that remained idly nibbling upon some seed as his throughs ran rampant and his fur bristled with exhilaration. The prey had waited for him to compose himself, at least, his tail flicking as he inched closer and with a spring landed upon it, though the vermin squealed and twisted to break from his claws and dash away; Rosebelly was not deterred and tore after it. There was a brief moment as he broke through a wall of pine scent, an indication of a border marked, where he considered pulling back, but he pressed on with a shake of his head. This squirrel was on SkyClan territory, it belonged to them, it was rightfully theirs, and so when a wall of brown tabby burst from the foliage to pounce upon it he didn't hesitate to leap upon the other with his claws outstretched, "That belongs to SkyClan!"

But all my dreaming is not enough...

Rosebelly

— Warrior of SkyClan
— He/Him
"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
— Chocolate Sepia Tabby w/low white & blue eyes.
#ef6c71

 

[OWLBARK]

It took time to become accustomed to the woods. When Owlbark was a kit, he was petrified of any bird call or twig snap. He would cower in the brush and wait until the noises passed before leaving. He had been so skinny those days. Eating carrion or any kittypet food leftover he could find. It was what drove him to adapt and become the top predator of the forest. The underbrush became a tool instead of a hidey hole and bird call meant a meal.

If his younger self could see him now, he would cower. How pathetic he was. Young Owl still lived inside of him, though. That scared little kit that had no food made him do strange things. He didn't want for food as badly as he did then, but the idea of going back to that state terrified him. It's what drove him to dig his claws into that WindClan apprentice. That was ThunderClan food. His food. He felt marginally bad, but it was a good lesson taught at the end of the day.

The deputy moved through his forest with ease. The mantle of leadership gave him only further drive to become attuned to these woods. He had been given these woods to patrol and hunt and teach to his clan. He often did this: patrolled on his own. Some may follow, but he shook them or directed them far from his desired path. It made the hunti-

A squirrel sluggishly - for a squirrel - darted in front of him. He followed it briefly with his eyes before pouncing on top of it. A scent, unfamiliar and feline, laid in its fur. A question was brought to his mind, but was quickly pushed aside by claws digging into him. There were words, but they were drowned out by blood rushing in his ears. His body took over, and his claws found pelt and muscle. He gave them no words, only tears and growls. His food. His territory. His.

i turned 'round and there you go *ੈ✩‧₊˚

• ooc: -
  
• 

  ☾ OWLBARK
  ☾ THUNDERCLAN DEPUTY
  ☾ 51 moons, ages every 1st of the month
  ☾ open to peaceful interactions
  ☾ "SPEECH"
  ☾ penned by muddly

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[Rosebelly]

Oh, I can't stop feeling I want her love ♡

A more skilled warrior would've realized he was outmatched well before leaping, Rosebelly was still young - his name still freshly given, his skills in combat having never been the best but he had coasted by with the basics and had mostly thrived as a hunter. A more skilled warrior would've pulled back when he was met with only a snarl and swiping claws, knowing he had crossed a line, had set off a cat's natural instincts to defend themselves from a blind attack, but he was not. He was no veteran of battles, had never been in a real border skirmish before either, had never faced down a dog like his mother had, had not defended his clan from a hawk or fox, had not even tousled with a rogue. To make his first bout against a cat larger than he was, more tenacious, more quick on the draw, it was simply asking to be hurt and hurt he was. His flailing attempt to swing his own paws in retaliation met only air, the tabby's long limb thrust forward to both hold him at bay and to tear at the soft underbelly he had left exposed in his blind leap. A fool's mistake, he wondered if Hawkstar had chosen his name as a warning - to tell him he needed guard it better, to keep his belly low an safe from claws or maybe she predicted what would one day take his life.
The pain is so blinding he does not even register it at first, tumbling backwards before stumbling upright to all fours, the ground is slick and wet suddenly and for a moment he doesn't understand why, then it comes in waves, agonizing and sharp and he dry heaves as he steps back away from the other, blindly swaying backwards paw after paw to get back to SkyClan's border: to safety, to Swallowbreeze, to his mother - the thought gives him pause briefly, he had not wanted her in moons; had snubbed her and rejected her since becoming an apprentice and now here he was, aching like a kit to be at his mother's belly once more. Warm, secure, happy...
The chocolate sepia drops, heavy as stone, his paws sliding out from under him and his body half-rolling to the side. He was unskilled in medicine too, but even he wasn't stupid enough to think any of Swallowbreeze's herbs would fix the mess that he became.

But all my dreaming is not enough...

Rosebelly

— Warrior of SkyClan
— He/Him
"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
— Chocolate Sepia Tabby w/low white & blue eyes.
#ef6c71

 

[flowercloud]

she was hunting in her own direction, snuffling at leaves, and following a scent- a mouse has come through recently. any prey was good prey- a simple catch that would fill a young hungry body-

She thought of the simpler days, showing her children how to eat a mouse for the first time, how to pick a part a bird, and the feathers making them sneeze and giggle. their first little attempts at prowling- she imagined they thought like she did as a young child, that she was a magnificent lion, even though young paws are clumsy, and butts are always too high in the air- she missed those moments.

the giggles, laughs, and purrs as she hummed her pile of children- adopted and blood- to sleep. It didn't matter to her. all the children were her own, and that was another thing crowsight just failed to understand. she just missed the scampering of paws, the badger rides...

and now?

she faced glances filled with hatred- and her paws were to weak to carry her to them- teasel and magpie didn't... But, it still hurt to see that her children hated her. And she only wished she could have changed how she explained it to them- told them sooner. That she could've stopped lavenderpaw before she disappeared.

a voice in the wind, drawing her ears to perk as she quickly ditched the mouse that caused such nostalgia, and found her way tearing through the foliage. branches whipped against her flank, and her body slid as her leg gave from under her.

but she wasn't crazy- she had heard Rosebelly, and it didn't sound good.

She pushed herself back up, a snap reaction that sent pain down her leg. but it wouldn't hold her back. It couldn't. Realization struck as she tore through the border markings, and she hoped she wasn't wrong. She hoped that she wasn't just imagining things, and that Rosebelly didn't cross the border. Because.. that wouldn't make sense. The giantess smelled him with confirmation, that it was indeed her son- but the next thing she smelled? the smell of iron hit her tongue so devastatingly- a choked sob escaping her as she feared the worse. Her body flew through the foliage, green gaze wild in fury as suddenly, she spotted him. chocolate fur glazed in blood. It soiled the air, and she felt her breath leave her body. He lay crumpled, defeated, and her gaze softened as her lips wobbled slightly, before pressing her forehead into the side of his face, a clench of her teeth.

Her gaze hardened, and the molly let out a snarl as her body turned to take a protective step over Rosebelly, fluffy golden fur raised as her teeth bared. "ENOUGH! Back away from my son," she growled. Ripples of a snarl on a black muzzle was ugly and distorted as she braced her claws and her usual friendly green gaze burned. Everything in her screamed. Her muscles twitches, claws digging into the dirt, and she shook- not in fear, but holding back every piece of rage that threatened to burst through. Rosebelly needed her alive, not bleeding. And she didn't have time to fight him, but she would remember. Every feature to come back for him.

"I am taking my son, that is all I want," she said in a lower tone, honey sweet voice guised under a low growl. pupils slitted, body bracing. Because if this Thunderclanner moved towards them- hell hath no fury like a bear protecting its cubs. Shed tear him down, and be happy to do so. She had never felt this way about fighting another cat, but her normal thoughts about avoiding fights weren't there. Her thoughts were hard to control, imagining striking the tom down where he stood.

Hawkstar will know about this. But until then, she was not about to start a war. Not yet. And as soon as the tom either struck- or backed away, she would consider Rosebellys health more. She would get him to safety. she would get him help. he would make it. he was strong, and she prayed, begged to starclan. he had to make it.
​

 

[OWLBARK]

Owlbark wasn't even trying that hard. No battle strategies came to mind in the heat of it all. He was going off instinct alone. Apparently it did the job a little too well. Skin and muscle rended from each other and coppery red oozed between his toes and between his jaws. He released the SkyClanner as soon as he weakly pulled away.

It did not look good. The tom was weakly staggering to his side of the border and Owlbark only watched in disinterest. SkyClan couldn't be all that great if their warriors fell after a few blows. The tom collapsed on the other side of the border. A she-cat approached. She shook and wailed and begged for mercy. A sense of pride welled up in Owlbark. Pride in himself and in his training. No remorse showed its uglyself, either. He was justified. He had been ambushed.

The deputy gave no words to the she-cat. He simply looked at her with no interest and slinked back into his forest to groom away the blood.