Open Camp WindClan Raise You Up ✪ 6/11/25 Meeting

[Dustystar Dustystar]

✪ Align my Heart, my Body, my Mind​

indent"Everyone old enough to hunt their own prey, gather around the Tallrock. It's time for a clan meeting."

indentDustystar tucks her tail neatly around her paws as she picks out faces in the crowd. Once she's satisfied that the whole clan has gathered, she clears her throat and opens her mouth to speak. "Four moons have passed already, since we made this place our new home. I hope you've all settled well into your new lives here." Dustystar thinks she's settled in well. Her new duty weighs heavy on her shoulders, but knowing she has the stars' approval steels her heart. She can only pray her clanmates are finding the same sort of peace.

indent"Our allyship with Shadowclan has granted us knowledge of that clans of old, and their customs. In particular, the custom of apprentices and their mentors." Dustystar's eyes fall upon the younger cats in the crowd. "Instead of being left to learn and grow unguided, apprentices - that is, cats between 6 and 12 moons old - will be paired with a mentor, who will train them, and shape them into competent, proud warriors." When Dustystar had heard of the system, she was a bit embarrassed to have not thought of it herself. It seemed obvious, in retrospect. Not only did it help the young cats learn and grow, but it built strong bonds between cats that may never have interacted closely otherwise. And of course, it meant that the apprentices have at least one person keeping an eye on them while they're out and about. They're less likely to get into trouble, that way.

indent"I'd like us in Windclan to take up this tradition as well." Dustystar continues. "I see many promising young cats here, and I'd like nothing more than to see them flourish. That being said." Dustystar lowers her gaze once again, letting it settle on the faces of each of their apprentices. "Petalpaw, Eclipsepaw, Cometpaw, Pebblepaw, Icepaw, Coldpaw, Sparrowpaw, Charitypaw, Sparrowpaw, and Meadowpaw, please come forward." She waits for the cats to approach, before she moves on.

Dustystar - 26 moons - Windclan Leader

yahoo, it's time! Its time for pairings! As of today, 6/11/2025, all following pairing have been made, even if it takes a bit to get to them in the thread -

@Petalpaw & @Tinytail
@Eclipsepaw & @Swiftwatcher
@Pebblepaw & @Nutmegpurr
@Coldpaw & @Sassafraschill
@Sparrowpaw & @Sweetnose
@Charitypaw & @Molewhisker
@Icepaw & [NPC]claw
@Peafowlpaw & @Maremane
@Chickpaw & @Harefoot
@Dandelionpaw & @Goldenroar
@Coyotepaw & @Crowstep

 

[Cricketkit Cricketkit]

'Cause I'd get a thousand hugs from ten thousand lightning bugs
As they tried to teach me how to dance
A foxtrot above my head, a sock hop beneath my bed
A disco ball is just hanging by a thread

.

ShadowClan! She had met ShadowClan! The funny-looking apprentice with the thing over her head, and her friend! That had definitely counted as Important Adventuring, right? Cricketkit crouched behind the sneakiest of sneaky hiding spots, her one wide eye peeking up at Dustystar. Her whiskers twitched nervously. Oh no... What if she got in trouble? Not just regular trouble, but Dustystar Trouble! But… but it wasn't like she had done anything bad! She had been gathering information! Sort of! And she had totally not gotten lost! Not really! [ Maybe a little when she had nearly fallen in the gorge... ]

She flicked her ear and tried to stand taller, well, as tall as a tiny scarred five-moon-old kit could. She was practically old enough to hunt her own prey anyway! She hunted bugs and stuff! Some of those were definitely edible. So she had every right to be here. Even if she was surrounded by all these tall-legged apprentices and warriors. But as her gaze swept across the group, her puffed-up confidence deflated. Everyone was being called up. They all had mentors now... They were paws. And she… she didn't. Cricketkit's lip jutted out in a very serious, very dramatic pout. It wasn't fair! She was smart! She was brave! She went on sooo many missions! She even had a secret sister code with Meadowpaw! Why couldn't she be Cricketpaw already?!

She wiggled where she crouched, frowning at her paws. Just one moon. Just one more moon and she'd get her name, too… right? She'd get to stand beside Meadowpaw and train with the others. She could do this! She should be up there already! But for now... She stayed hidden in the shadows, watching with a big eye and a twitching tail, pouting like it was the most tragic thing in the world.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

5 MOONS

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WINDCLANNER

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SONG

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bio

 

[Swiftwatcher]

SWIFTWATCHER OF WINDCLAN

Swiftwatcher perked his ears as Dustystar's voice rang out over the clearing, warm and sure as ever. His yellow eyes lifted toward her with quiet curiosity, the fur at his shoulders twitching slightly as he rose to his paws. With the grace of someone well-used to long days and longer memories, he padded closer, drawing near to where their leader called them to gather. He settled down, tail curling neatly around his forepaws, and allowed his gaze to drift across the faces of his clanmates. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his muzzle, it felt like only yesterday they had stumbled upon this place, soot-streaked and desperate after the barn fire. The grass had been flattened from unfamiliar paws, the scent of ash clinging to their fur.

And yet here they were. Moons had passed. Apprentices were being named. Life, stubborn and bright, pressed on. They were lucky... No, blessed, to still be here.

Dustystar spoke of mentors, of guidance, of watching the young grow into their paws. Swiftwatcher's ears flicked forward, and he gave a slow, thoughtful nod. " A fine plan indeed. " he murmured, voice low and steady, like the rustle of prairie grass. His gaze drifted to the cluster of apprentices. So much life ahead of them. So much to learn. And they wouldn't have to do it alone. " May the paws who guide them walk steady... " he added under his breath, more to himself than anyone else. He remembered guiding his own kits. He remembered what it meant to shape another's future with nothing but his own trembling paws and hopeful heart. And now… he watched it begin again, a little spark of joy flaring inside him.

I'll be your light, your match, your burning sun ——･ﾟ✦​

･ﾟ✦ —— I'll be the bright, in black that's making you run

 

[Pebblespaw]

PEBBLEPAW

You taught me the courage of stars before you left. How light carries on endlessly, even after death

It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. He had searched everywhere. Called faer name until his voice went hoarse. Scoured every path, every shadow, every scent that even might have been faer. And still.... Nothing. The fur along his shoulders bristled, his chest heaving with the weight of frustration he didn't know how to hold anymore. He wanted to scream again. To cry. To do something. But then... Dustystar's voice rang out across the camp. The fire in his eyes flickered, dimming slightly as his ears perked. He turned toward her, quickly pasting a smile onto his muzzle, like smudging paint over a crack.

Mentors. Wait... Mentors? What did that mean? Did this mean they wouldn't be allowed to wander freely anymore? To leave? To search? His heart skipped. No, no, no... If he had to report to someone, how would he keep looking for faer? He swallowed hard, a frown tugging at the edges of his mouth before he forced it back, replaced it with that same trembling grin he always wore. Pebblepaw pushed himself to his paws, stepping up beside the other apprentices.

" ...G-gosh, exciting, huh? " he murmured to one of them, voice a little too high, too quick. Then, turning to another with wide, glassy eyes. " Who do you think'll be your mentor? " He smiled again. Like this was all fine. Like his world wasn't falling apart all over again.

═════════════⊹⊱ ⟡ ⊰⊹═════════════

 

[Meadowpaw]

Meadowpaw sat near her sister, heart fluttering in her chest. Around her, clanmates shifted, murmured and fell into stillness as Dustystar began. Meadowpaw sat a little straighter.

She'd known this was coming. Had spent the whole morning smoothing her fur, letting the dew soak off before tucking a few fresh flowers behind her ear—soft whites and yellows strewn throughout her fur. A silly thing, really, the hope that stirred in her chest, but for her and many of the other apprentices, today was a new start.

As Dustystar's words rang across the clearing, she listened attentively. ShadowClan was kind to share their knowledge with them. Before the idea of burdening some warrior with a crippled apprentice seemed cruel in her eyes…

When her name was called, Meadowpaw swallowed, tail curling over her stump. She got up and hopped forward, careful not to jostle the flowers tucked neatly into her fur. Anticipation in the air a gentle but firm weight upon small shoulders. Meadowpaw stood at the front, a nervous smile peeking. She looked around at the other apprentices and tried to breathe past the lump in her throat.

__________summer melts into a snowscape ✿ tell your heart to mend___________

• "speech" - thoughts
  

• 

• Meadow she/her & riverclan
  ✿ Three-legged black and red tortoiseshell with green eyes.
  ✿ 9 moons
  ✿ Peaceful and healing powerplay permitted. All others DM.
  ✿ Fur smells floral and mildly sweet.
  
  
  penned by Scarlet​

 

[MAREMANE]

fart

​

Maremane had settled, alright. To others, the settling looked like food and shelter, something solid after devastation. To her, she felt like the separation of mud and water, waiting for something to stir her into a storm again.

She blinked in realization. Four moons. Her bones ached deep in the marrow at the idea of having been here that long. Four moons since Maremane had almost escaped. It had gone by in the blink of an eye, and she had let it.

The molly's eyes followed the apprentices' steps, claws clutching the soil as they usually did during meetings. She knew her position warranted this new responsibility to prioritize her as a mentor. Though she despised her own impatience and fury, she hoped Dustystar saw it as a reason to delay her from this. Maybe Tinytail would be a first choice. Her demeanor paired well with the duties of a teacher: always kind and forgiving, something that Maremane had always appreciated but never deserved.

Nervous energy buzzed in the air. It wasn't only the apprentices who seemed to anticipate. From around her, warriors shifted and moved, whether out of excitement for becoming a mentor or dread. Maremane sat eerily still, looking at her paws. Maybe if she didn't make eye contact, Dustystar would forget she existed and she would walk away with only her current duties.

 

[Sparrowpaw Sparrowpaw]

———————————— The sun hesitates more on each evening's darkening ✦

Sparrowpaw couldn't help but shuffle nervously, awkwardly. Their paws seemed more interesting with the passing moments. They just barely managed to shuffle ahead and settle beside Meadowpaw and Chickpaw, smiling sheepishly as if he wasn't incredibly nauseous at having heard their name spoken aloud before the whole clan.

Mentors... Just the idea felt strange, but it made sense. It felt like the apprentices had been wandering rather aimlessly unless one of the warriors brought them on a patrol, or more likely, they tagged along with Meadow for picking up plants. Maybe it would help; they could hunt okay, Merrystalk had been teaching them since they were young, but anything else? Well, Sparrowpaw felt kind of helpless otherwise. They just hoped to end up with someone gentle or kind, patient. There were some... Abrasive cats in the clan. They'd struggle for sure with them.

They had to sigh, trying to soothe themself, shooting a watery smile to their friends and kin. They just had to trust that Dustystar had the best interests of everyone, which, well, it really seemed she did with the last four moons.

Though their fur bristled as Pebblepaw spoke to them suddenly, having to act like the simple small talk didn't nearly make them jolt out their own pelt. "Uhm.. Honeyflower would be nice, I think, or Merrystalk. But that might just be cause I grew up 'round him... You hopin' fer anyone?" The tortie asked, more out of politeness. They weren't exactly one to talk with those outside their immediate social circle, but it seemed clan life called for something more sociable than what they were used to.

——— Like grief and sweet memory,

Wildflower and barley. ———

• 
  Sparrowpaw
  ✦—Windclan Apprentice
  ✦—They/He
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A longhaired tortoiseshell with amber eyes and protruding canines.
  #bf4916

 

[Dustystar Dustystar]

✪ Align my Heart, my Body, my Mind​

indentDustystar gives the apprentices time to step forward. Once they've settled, she continues.

indent"Icepaw, Pebblepaw, you're both bright young cats. As you grow and become strong, I'm sure you'll become wonderful warriors." Really, the two siblings were already very strong. Losing Alder must weigh heavy on their hearts, especially after being separated from their birth parents. With a little help, they'll only become stronger. "Nutmegpurr, I hope you'll accept the honor of taking on Pebblepaw as an apprentice." Hopefully, a nurturing and sisterly soul like Nutmegpurr could soothe the pain of losing Alder. "Icepaw, I place you in the paws of [NPC]claw. I'm sure you'll work well together." In reality, she's not so sure about this pairing. Icepaw is a resilient little cat, though, so she has hopes It'll work out.

indent"Petalpaw, you're next." Dustystar had to admit, she has a hard time understanding Petalpaw. Of course, it's always a bit difficult to understand someone who doesn't speak, but what she really doesn't get is, what exactly is keeping Petalpaw from talking? She's sure the young cat has their reasons, but she just can't seem to wrap her head around it. "Tinytail, please look after Petalpaw." TInytail seemed like an obvious choice. Another quiet soul, one who can surely find a way to relate with Petalpaw in the ways Dustystar seems so incapable of. It's what Petalpaw deserves.


indent"Peafowlpaw, you only lived in the barn for a short while before we had to leave." When he first showed up, Dustystar was a bit annoyed. After all, he was the latest in a trend of unaccompanied kits showing up, needing care and shelter. But, as always, Dusty had been powerless to refuse him, allowing the other cats to bring him in. His story of losing his mother made Dusty's chest twist with sympathy. "You've had to adapt to an awful lot of changes in a short amount of time, but you remain vibrant. I'm sure you'll grow into a wonderful warrior, under Maremane's guidance."

- @Icepaw @Pebblepaw @nutmegpurr ♡ @Petalpaw @Tinytail @Peafowlpaw @MAREMANE -​

Dustystar - 26 moons - Windclan Leader

 

[Eclipsepaw]

ECLIPSEPAW // 07 moons // WindClan Apprentice // He/They // #ff9e42
A scruffy long-furred tortoiseshell tom with low white, large ears and sky blue and soft yellow heterochromia eyes
Son of ASTRO and NEBULA, sibling to TWINKLEPAW and COMETPAW
A young cat with a bit of an attitude, self-important, sometimes snarky but also loves to explore and fascinated with the stars.

---

Eclipsepaw took up a spot looking tall and proud next to the other apprentices' when they were all called forwards-- He didn't really want a mentor truth be told. He didn't like being told what to do and it sounded like he'd have a much tougher time going off on his own to do as he pleased with a mentor hovering... Buuuuuut if that mentor ended up being Dustystar herself? He could allow that, being the leaders' apprentice sounded important and special! Now that was more his speed.

Sitting up with his fur fluffed next to his brother Cometpaw one of his long ears would flick hearing some of the other apprentices nearby murmuring about who they though would be their mentors. Eclipsepaw already knew his own answer and if not the leader then... The deputy of course! Goldenroar! Eclipsepaw admired that cats' confidence! He could pass on all the medicine cat stuff. He was certain either one of the two though would be the best pick for himself! Except- It wasn't up to him to pick! Dustystar began to name the mentor and apprentice pairings. Nutmegpurr for Pebblepaw, Tinytail for Petalpaw...

Eclipse's tail began to twitch eagerly as he waited for his turn, excited to also hear who would be mentoring his brother too!

OOC- Eclipsepaws' mentor choices are all IC wants in his mind just to make that clear <3 I am so sorry you got the little guy with an attitude Swiftwatcher! ily ;; Looking forward to training threads :3