Camp the weight of the stars / juniper

[Ravensmoke]

RAVEN OF THUNDERCLAN

Raven stared ahead solemnly, his golden eyes fixed on the horizon. Sleep had become scarce, plagued by restless nights filled with haunting visions that refused to fade. The weight of loss pressed heavily on him, and though he wanted to push it away, fear lingered... fear for the future, for the unknown that loomed ahead. Hawthorne, gone too soon, another life lost to the harsh realities of their world. The echoes of his death reverberated through Raven's mind, leaving him uneasy and unsure of what lay ahead.

Flicking his ear once, he stamped a paw on the ground, the sound hollow in the quiet of the camp. His gaze shifted to the sky, squinting as if seeking some distant answer. The frost bit at his fur, a reminder of the cold that had seeped into both the land and his soul. A shudder ran through him, and with a reluctant sigh, he rose to his paws, padding toward Juniperstar.

She stood tall among the gathered cats. The weight of leadership hung on her shoulders, and Raven approached with a quiet demeanor, his voice subdued.

" Juniperstar. " he meowed softly, his amber eyes meeting hers. " Is... Is there anything I could help with? " His tone was quiet, hesitant. Once brash and quick to speak, now he was measured, almost lost in his own thoughts. Perhaps the old Raven had faded, replaced by something quieter, something uncertain.

There was a flicker of doubt in his expression, but beneath it, a silent hope that perhaps, in some small way, he could still be of use.

"IN THE DARK, I HEARD MY NAME." ——･ﾟ✦​

･ﾟ✦ —— "Lift your broken crown, and let's be warriors."

@juniperstar

 

[juniperstar]

juniper

the confidence that is drawn tightly wrapped around her is like faux fur, fake but believable to the naked eye. the sincerity might grow with practice, with consistency... the moment that ThunderClan felt stable maybe she could believe her efforts were worthwhile. perhaps it would take only a few lucky weeks... a couple of moons of struggle. to be so foolishly optimistic...

the approach of one who'd once blazed like flames in the summer heat is quieted... as if the embers had been drowned out and barely clung to their warmth enough to provide any heat. it's such a divergence of character... one that makes her pelt prickle with unease. the desperation to be useful, the uncertainness with which he carries himself.

"Raven," she greets him, a half-hearted smile pressed to find some sort of friendliness between them. "As long as you're not injured- did you already get checked over?" her head tilts, peering down his flanks for a sign of damage, any obvious reason she aught to tell him no and send him away to rest. "We'll need to all be at our best... rest when it's needed. Are you getting enough to eat?"

better to ask the hundred questions than be the one made to answer them herself.

──✩°｡⋆⸜ ✮

• juniperstar leader of thunderclan nine lives remain

  ignore me

 

[Ravensmoke]

RAVEN OF THE COLONY

" As long as you're not injured. "

The words caused Raven's amber eyes to widen slightly as he glanced up at her. She hadn't seen his battle... no, of course not. Everyone had been caught in their own struggles. Yet, there it was, that prickling sensation in the back of his mind, a nagging voice whispering that everyone was looking at him with disgust. Judging him for the choices he had made. Surely, they could still see the blood on his fur, even though he'd scrubbed himself raw trying to wash it away.

Even now, his chest tightened at the thought. The fear of judgment from their leader sat heavy in his heart.

Even if a more rational part of himself whispered it wasn't true.

" I... " he started, his voice faltering slightly. " No, I didn't get hurt. The battle was... short. " His gaze flickered, just for a moment, behind Juniperstar. Half-half. He thought he saw... but no. Cinder wasn't there. Of course, he wasn't. Cinder was gone. Dead. Swallowing hard, Raven forced his amber eyes to focus on Juniperstar again. He squared his shoulders, trying to stand a bit straighter.

" Over before you knew what was actually going on. " he finished quietly.

" Are you getting enough to eat? "

Raven hesitated, the question tugging at something deeper. He was trying, he truly was. He made sure to eat, to keep his strength up. But sleep? That was another matter. His dreams were relentless, haunted by Cinder's ghost. Still, he gave a small nod, forcing a reassuring tone into his voice.

" I do. I do. " he said quickly. " Prey is... scarce with leafbare, but not that scarce. This new part of the territory has grown slack. Didn't expect a bunch of cats to come traveling over here, I suppose. "

The faintest flick of his tail betrayed his unease, but he held Juniperstar's gaze, searching for any sign of what she might be thinking.

"IN THE DARK, I HEARD MY NAME." ——･ﾟ✦​

･ﾟ✦ —— "Lift your broken crown, and let's be warriors."