Open Territory WindClan tell me ill see you again someday ✿ — memorial

[Meadowpaw]

Sitting in the dark waiting on the stars
Thinking through all the places that you've been

.

The last few weeks didn't allow much time for grieving. There was no pause between the fire and the aftermath—no quiet moment to gather the fallen or shed tears for the ones who wouldn't be coming back. There had only been smoke, pain, the scrape of cobwebs on burns, and the ceaseless rebuilding of what had been lost.

And now that the world had slowed—just a little—Meadow didn't know what to do with herself.

She sat alone on the edge of the moor, wind brushing through her fur as she stared at the little memorial she had made. Three carefully balanced stacks, each one nestled into the earth so they wouldn't topple with the next breeze.

So much had changed.

So much.

Meadow never knew death so closely before now, not until brushing with it herself. And for the first time in her life, she didn't want change. She wanted to go back to sitting in barn windows. Back to dreaming of stomping in puddles and flowers and racing across the snow. When all her worries were a whole lot simpler.

Even without her mother's shadow looming over her, she still felt trapped.

Her dull green eyes drifted downward, to where her leg used to be. She flexed the muscle, and a jolt of pain shot up her spine, frayed nerves still healing, still remembering what they'd lost. She sucked in sharply through her teeth and waited for the pain to pass. But she was still there, wasn't she? Still herself even if she didn't feel like it anymore.

Meadow sighed and leaned forward, her paw pressing gently to the cool, smooth surface of one of the stones. "I'm sorry," She whispered into the breeze. Others were not as lucky as she was. She shook her head. It wasn't right to feel sorry for herself when so many others were still hurting.

"Alder… Chicken… Hoot." Their names felt like ash and wilted flowers and warmth she couldn't reach anymore. But they wouldn't want to be remembered like that. Meadow didn't want their memory to only be occupied by grief.

She leaned back, dragging a paw through the soft grass, before twisting her body to gather the flowers she'd brought—fresh and clumsily bundled. Everything was harder now. Everything hurt. But even though she couldn't do much, the least she could do was this.

"I brought some flowers for you all," She mewed softly.

"Alder I brought you some um..." She nudged a bundle of soft pink wild roses forward, "—Roses. You looked after so many of us, even when no one asked you to. Your care and your love won't be forgotten. We're all tough as weeds, and we'll be okay even if we are a little lost right now without you. So please, just… rest. Please let yourself have that if nothing else."

Her paw brushed over to the next pile of stones.

"Nutmeg helped me gather these." She nudged the bristly purple blooms forward, a shaky smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. "I dunno why, but they just… remind me of you. You were warm and kind. It's not as bright around here without you Meemaw, but we're trying our best, especially Dusty—ah um Dustystar." The grey molly had stepped up and taken care of them when things were hardest. Meadow hoped she would get a chance to rest soon. "You don't gotta worry about us, but I know you will anyway."

Her eyes lowered, welling as she placed them, gradually moving onto the next.

"Brought you some sunflowers Hoot. They match your eyes I think." She paws them into place, sniffling softly. "We're all really gonna miss your stories. I'm trying to remember them all so I can share them too, but I don't think I can tell them like you do… I'll try though." She adjusted each flower gently, like they'd break apart if she moved too fast. Then she sat back to take in her handy work. "I think it's gonna be real hard for Owl now that you and Chicken are gone. But… I'll try an look out for her in whatever way I still can."

"Are you all together in StarClan now?" She tilted her head back to take in the sky. Flat clouds drifted with the wind casting shadows across the prairie. "I still don't really get all that stuff yet… but I hope you are so that I can see you again someday." Dustystar had said their ancestors were in StarClan, so that had to mean that Alder, Chicken and Hoot were there too right? Well, for now, she would like to go on thinking so.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

8 MOONS

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WINDCLAN

⟢

SONG

⟢

bio

 

[Merrystalk]

—————————————— Dreaming along in a pace you'll understand. ✦

Merrystalk had been busying himself in camp that day; helping Owlbear and the kittens, bringing prey to those who couldn't hunt for themselves yet. Really it wasn't too different to what he did back in the barn but... Well, nothing would be quite the same as home. He sighed, heart aching. It had been almost a moon, and yet the pain in his heart hadn't lessened any. Not as if he had given himself much time to think nor mourn, he needed to help his fellow cats first and foremost-

Though even then, Merry now found himself padding through the moor, tracking the faint scent of an apprentice. Sparrowpaw, nervous as ever, had come to the warrior with a worry in his eyes. Ever since their close friend Meadowpaw had ended up severely injured from the fire, they'd been worrying about the other to a constant degree. Amidst everyone busying themself, Meadow had taken herself out of camp, and even after having asked Glade, they had no idea where the other had ended up. Which - of course - meant Merry was sent off to find the young apprentice.

Meadow wasn't a foolish cat, she was kind and gentle from watching from afar, though anyone could have seen how smothered the poor thing has been by her mother. Merry didn't want to smother her more, that freedom was something every young cat needed, but having only recently lost a leg from the fire, he held a small nervousness himself. He hoped though she hadn't strained herself too much, he was guilty of the same at her age after all. His stride, though, became gentle steps as he noticed the calico, a tiny little outline in front of... Stone memorials?

Merry stopped in his tracks, watching with bated breath realising how right he was. The young apprentice spoke kind words to each of the cats lost in the fire, laying flowers in their memory. She spoke to them, as if they were still here, bringing them a gift like she might have in the barn. As much as he didn't want to admit it, Merry felt his throat grow tight, heart aching realising Meadow had done what no one else had. Memorialised and held vigil for cats that had died. Everyone had been too busy with those who lived to mourn and remember those lost. Of course, Merry had spent many fitful nights missing his friends who couldn't join them, but no one had stopped to give their formal respects.

A watery smile fell on the tom's face, he couldn't have tried to hide the pain and pride in his face if he tried. Rather than lingering back, he stood up from where he sat amidst the moors and approached the apprentice, being sure to rustle the grass around to not her too much. Merrystalk sat at her side, looking to the three memorials in front of them, flowers laid lovingly besides them. "Meadow, this is such a kind thing for ya' to do." He spoke, softly, trying to stop his voice from betraying the ache in his heart. "Wherever they're all 're, I know they'd be mighty proud of ya'."

He heard the pain in her voice as she spoke too, Merry pressed a nose to the top of the apprentice's head as a comforting motion, his eye flickering for a moment to her scarring. It wasn't something he wanted to bring up, clearly, she was suffering enough as is. So, he paused for a moment before continuing. "This is 'n awful situation. It's not just yers to bare alone, Meadow." For a moment, his voice faultered, the tom steadied himself rather than lingering on his own thoughts. "If ya ever need anythin', don't forget the clans here to take care of ya' too. Don't get pushin' yerself too much, okay?"

The tom looked to Meadow, a small sadness in his eyes, but knew just as much she wasn't going to accept resting without a fight. She was up the moment she could to give respects to those they'd lost. He could see that spark in her eyes he had as a kitten too, at that though, a smile fell on his face. "Ya' said 'bout keepin' an eye on Owl too, I'm sure the kittens would love to hear some stories 'bout their grandpa, and Owl a lil break from the rascals." He chuckled, lightly. "They're a handful, I'll tell ya." Mourning was important, but Meadow had a good point earlier in her talking to the dead. Keeping the memory alive of those they'd lost to those who hadn't the chance to know them was important, it would give the apprentice a sense of direction perhaps, especially while she was healing.

Merrystalk sat at Meadowpaw's side, looking to the memorials. He closed his eyes for a moment. 'Be safe, wherever y'all 're. We'll be okay in the end..'

— And it's harder than you think,

Telling dreams from one another. —

• 
  Merrystalk
  ✦—Windclan moor-runner | 26 Moons
  ✦—He/Him
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A skinny, tortoiseshell cat with bright green eyes and pelt speckled with hay.
  #9D6E46

 

[Dustystar]

✪ Align my Heart, my Body, my Mind​

indent Dustystar watches from a distance as Meadow completes her little ritual. She doesn't want to interrupt the young cat, in case she gets nervous or embarrassed and flees. This is something Meadow needs to finish.

indentIt's only once the little calico goes silent that Dustystar approaches, carrying a bundle of wildflowers in her maw. She doesn't know what they are, they're just ones she found while surveying the area near camp, that she thought looked nice. Hopefully the lost didn't mind. Gently, she places the bundle alongside Meadow's, as she touches her tail to the other cat's mottled shoulder.

indent"They are, Meadow. I can promise you that." Despite everything that had happened, Dustystar still took comfort in the knowledge that they were being watched over by those who had left. It made her feel a little less lonely. "I'm sure they're all very proud of you." Meadow has been incredibly brave. It pains Dustystar to see the once far more energetic molly be weighed down with pain and grief, but the fact that Meadow was still here today spoke to her resilience.

Dustystar - 26 moons - Windclan Leader

 

[Meadowpaw]

Sitting in the dark waiting on the stars
Thinking through all the places that you've been

.

Meadow stirred at the sound of approaching pawsteps, her ears flicking toward the noise as she twisted to find who they belonged to. Green eyes glistened, tears clinging to her lashes, too stubborn to fall.

To her surprise, it was Merrystalk—and soon after, Dustystar. Her gaze shifted, settling on the flowers Dustystar had brought. Without much effort, she recognized a few of them. They were very pretty. The gesture along with Dustystar's kind words, made her chest ache even more.

She hadn't expected anyone to come. But now, it occurred to her that her absence might've caused some concern. Meadow hoped that it hadn't stirred too much trouble, not when everyone was already so busy. The last thing she ever wanted was to add to their list of burdens.

"They're proud of all of us," She said firmly, gaze drifting back to the small garden of stones and flowers. What she did was nothing special, and she didn't think it deserving of any praise either. Meadow did it because it was right. Because the thought of them lying forgotten under piles of ash and charred wood made her hurt so horribly. "I-I just—I didn't want them to feel forgotten about. I know everyone's been gettin' used to all the changes..." The words came out quieter than she meant, struggling to press past a lump in her throat.

Meadow knew some might rather forget about the fire and all the hurt it caused, she understood that, she did, but they deserved there to be some proof they existed. For there to be more than pain to their memory. Meadow wanted to remember them as they should be. Because they were kind and good, and they were loved. She just hoped that these stones were enough.

"I'm okay, really." Or at least she would be, eventually. "Everyone's doing their part and I will too. This was small, I can handle this much." Meadow muttered softly, "Besides, you all got enough to do without fussin' over me." She was not the fragile thing that everyone seemed to think she was. Ever since they escaped the fire, Meadow noticed how they fussed and fretted. It was touching to be so cared for, but she didn't want it to distract them from their new duties.

She didn't want to be another obligation.

Her eyes lingered on the ground as she apologized to the two of them, "I'm sorry if I worried anyone by coming out here. I really didn't mean to."

Her throat clenched as Merrystalk comforted her, his kindness making it difficult to swallow the grief. Meadow allowed herself a small surrender, slumping against the tom with a sniffle. The motion finally jostling a few tears loose. They trickled down her bright cheeks, the few tumbling off and striking the dirt below, the ones that followed gathering under her chin.

At the mention of Owlbear's kits, a smile peeked through. They brought a ray of warmth back to them, like the sun peeking into barn windows in the earliest of mornings. "They sure are." She laughed softly. "But I think it's a good thing they are, makes it lively again." Like it used to be…" But yeah I think I will. Even if they'll never get to meet him, least they'll have his stories. I might have to practice first though." Hoot sure didn't make it easy to fill his shadow, but she would do her best for his grandkits, and for him.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

8 MOONS

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WINDCLAN

⟢

SONG

⟢

bio

 

[Merrystalk]

—————————————— Dreaming along in a pace you'll understand. ✦

Merry hadn't realised another cat had come to the trees either, though he shot Dustystar a smile as she brought flowers for the memorials. If he had known what they were, he would have stopped to collect some too, maybe he could later.... He nodded in kind to what the other had to say, but Meadow darted in with something else. "They're proud of all of us." The tom had to pause before smiling softly. She was right after all, they'd all have been proud of what they'd made, even despite all the awful events of the last moon that they had stuck together. "'nd it's an honorable thing to do, but don't ya worry. None of us would be forgettin' the good they all brought to us any time soon." It was a painful thought really, that someday they would be forgotten, that they all would, but it just meant they had to carry on with the memory of those in their hearts to prevent it as long as possible.

Though the tom shifted with her apology. "Now, there ain't no reason for apologies." He hummed softly, the wind bristling the grass, wafting the sweetness of the flowers through the air. "Though I can't lie, Sparrow got a touch nervous, but that's the lil feller for ya'. Yer ya' own cat, 'nd long as you ain't gettin' in no trouble 'nd lettin' folks you ain't run off on us." Merry knew damn well the pressure she had always been under from her mother, once overbaring now barely acknowledging the poor thing, he didn't want anyone else coming along to control her every step like that, just as long as she wasn't off getting herself hurt or in danger she had just as much right as any other cat to wander the moors.

The tom steadied himself to quip about something or other to Dusty, maybe with an exception for kittens since the rabbit holes seemed a magnet for little cats to get stuck in, only to feel a weight against his side. He looked down and his heart broke to see the calico curled at his side, tears pouring down her cheeks, which she'd clearly been trying to stifle this whole time. "Oh lil flower..." Merry steadied the apprentice with a gentle paw around her, holding her carefully not to irritate her scars. He couldn't deny the stinging in his own eyes, it really had been true none of them had given a moment to stop and mourn, but Meadow needed this more than him so the tom steadied his breath. He stooped down and gingerly cleaned her face of tears; he would not tell her to cease her crying, there was no need for it. She was allowed to let her emotions pour for once in a place she felt safe.

He spoke softly, to reassure her, seeing the smile when he mentioned Owl's kittens, steadied his heart a little. "You've got a smart head on those shoulders of yers, Meadow, you'll do great." He purred, still allowing the youngster to lean against him for comfort as long as she needed. "Well, ya can always come try out yer story tellin' with me, I can help ya' fill in any gaps if ya' need." See, Merry wasn't as bright of a cat as he could tell Meadow was destined to become, but the stories from Hoot when he was the apprentice's age, the stories he witnessed happen in the barn, he could give her those wisdoms of the past.

There was a light in Meadow's eyes, a spark he only saw when she talked happily about plants with Sparrow or found herself having fun with her friends away from the cruelty of her mother's gaze. He would hate to see that dulled. She was a kind young cat, and even then, there was a twang of nervousness within Merry. Realising she wore her heart on her sleeve just as he always had, he made himself a promise to try and keep the apprentice safe. For a world so cruel to have done what it did to the barn cats, remembering there is light all around was always enough to help him carry forward.

— And it's harder than you think,

Telling dreams from one another. —

• 
  Merrystalk
  ✦—Windclan moor-runner | 26 Moons
  ✦—He/Him
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A skinny, tortoiseshell cat with bright green eyes and pelt speckled with hay.
  #9D6E46

 

[Comettail]

Well I'm still here...
They can't tell me who to be... Cuz I'm not what they see—​

---

COMET(TAIL), He/Him / 7 moons / Barn Cat (Future Windclan Apprentice)
Short fur black self tom with low white and fluffy tail + ginger somatic mutation in tail, bright yellow eyes
Son of ASTRO and NEBULA, Sibling to TWINKLE(TUFT), & ECLIPSE(SHADE)
Doesn't typically sit still, Quick on his paws and with his wits, Mischievous and a bit of a prankster but not unkind
Tagging [@]

---

Comet wasn't like he once was, and he was still struggling with loss— maybe he always would be? He wasn't sure, but he had also learned that it was okay to not be sure about things like that. As long as there were others around to support him he would recover, so he had to do his best to return the favor. More open to being around others, Comet took a look around to see what he could do, until he saw Meadow was doing something with some rocks and some flowers. He didn't approach her, he just watched on, listened to what she had said in honor of three elders that were lost to the fire. Alder, Chicken and Hoot. Comet knew what this was, or at least it was similar to something he knew about— burials. Two-legs back where he used to live did something like this when a cat in their care died. Sure, in this scenario there was supposedly nothing physical to bury, but the symbolism was still there...

An idea sprung to mind for Comet, there was something he held dear to him, an item, one that he could go and find, a part of him he could leave to the care of the departed in some way. For the first time in almost a month, Comet had the drive in him to move quicker than walking, but not quite running yet as he scurried away as stealthily as he could to go some ways back towards where the barn was. There, he found his old ball, the toy he had held onto for ages before, one he kept with him during his time at the old barn.

The young cat picked up his ball, then made his way back to where the memorial was made. By the time he had done so, others had arrived, Merry and Dusty, to whom Comet did his best to give respectful acknowledgement and eye contact. An apologetic look was directed to Dusty especially since he still felt awful for snapping at her, doubly so since this memorial was also for her own meemaw.

"Uhm.." Gently shifting towards the memorial, Comet cleared his throat as he rolled the raggedy, worn but well loved old ball towards the rocks, holding it steady with a paw. "C-can... Can I give them this..?"

---

Yeah the world is still sleepin' when I keep on dreamin' for me,
And their words are just whispers and lies that I'll never believe!​

​

 

[Chickenscratch]

My broken wings dream of the sky
and they'll never be able to fly,​

---

CHICKENSCRATCH, She/Her / 50 moons / Future Skyclan Warrior
Long hair Amber 'blue' molly with flame point / short hair cream tabby chimera with golden eyes
Daughter of HOOT, Sibling of OWL(BEAR)
Super chill and a good listener, tends to look on the bright side wherever possible (maybe even a bit too much), almost always gives other cats silly nicknames so prepare yourself
Tagging [@]

---

For a good while, Chickenscratch had been helping out Owl and Daz with their three kittens alongside Merry, and outside of that just bringing her warm presence to others where she could, much like when they still had the barn, but so much had changed. Maybe... Too much? Chickenscratch wasn't entirely sure of some things as of late, but she busied herself with whatever she could focus on in the moment instead, hoping to find herself in what she had always done.

Once she had done all she could do for the moment, Chickenscratch supposed she could take a walk. She spotted Dusty and Merry in the distance, curious as to what they were up to now. As she approached, she saw Meadow and Comet, all of these cats were gathered around some stones and flowers.

Oh... Chickenscratch could quickly guess what this was, it was a memorial for the lost, she had seen these be made before in the past every now and then. Recalling those times, she thought through what was lost to.. Just get through life. She remembered when she was a kitten and didn't understand very much, when she was young and unsure of how to express complex feelings of loss, to where she had reached now, with all that she had experienced. Alongside her that whole time she had her family, and it was her father that had guided her for all that time with his own wisdom, his own experience, from when he was a kitten, to his last breath... Though it was with every breath before then that he had given strength and a great example to others, those who would carry him with them in their own tales like a gust of wind.

Chickenscratch silently approached the memorial and sat down among the other cats, thinking back to all those they had lost, about all that they were, and all that they meant, to remember them. For was anyone truly gone if someone could still know and remember even a small piece of them? Unknowingly, in her contemplative silence, Chickenscratch had at least partially performed a vigil of old Warrior tradition...

---

Only if we never try...
On my

LOOOOOOOVE

​

​

 

[Dustystar]

✪ Align my Heart, my Body, my Mind​

indent Cometpaw's apologetic face doesn't avoid Dustystar's attention. Although it had been a blow to her ego, she did understand the source of his outburst. He, and all the apprentices, had been through an awful lot of change in just one night. Although she's not privy to all of the details, Dustystar suspects Cometpaw and his family must have had some past before the barn. That ball didn't seem like something they'd keep around the farm, after all.

indent She nearly cries when Cometpaw offers up his ball. 'Did he run all the way to the barn to get that?'
"Of course you can, Cometpaw. That's a very thoughtful gift. I'm sure they'll love it." She places her paw atop his, holding the ball. "Should we bury it? Just to make sure no nasty coyotes try to steal it away."

Dustystar - 26 moons - Windclan Leader