Border RiverClan There will be rain // Fourtrees Patrol?

[Russetfall]

FALLING FOR THE PROMISE OF THE

EMPTINESS MACHINE

.

Most days Russetfall didn't mind the water, be it rain or the river itself. Today was not most days, however when it seemed that the sky itself opened up and began to loose an entire season's worth of rain on the patrol. Just their luck when they needed to cross the river to get to Fourtrees.

The life guard stands at the riverbank with a scowl, shaking herself in a fruitless attempt to rid herself of the feeling of being soaked to the bone.

"Terrible time for rain like this." Her complaint is nearly lost in the downpour and she raises her voice to meow to the rest of the patrol. "Crossing by the stepping stones seems like a disaster waiting to happen with this rain, so we'll have to swim across. I want apprentices swimming side by side with their mentors-" Briefly she locks eyes with her own apprentice before addressing the others. "We'll block the brunt of the current to make it easier for them to swim across. The sooner we finish this the sooner we can get back home to get dry and warm."

With any luck everyone would make it across with little issue. The molly's tail curls over Thunderpaw's back, acting as both reassurance and a tether of sorts.

'You'll do fine, Thunderpaw. You're going to be ok.'

22 moons

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Life Guard of Riverclan

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she/her

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tags

it's been decided how we lose

RUSSETFALL

— Life Guard of Riverclan
— She/Her
"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
— A Green-eyed Chocolate Mackerel Tabby With Low White
#8a2c55

ooc: Surprising exactly nobody, this patrol falls victim to a torrential downpour. Unlike the usual rainstorm, it feels like this one soaks you to the bone and chills you!
Apprentice tag: @Thunderpaw
Patrol tag: @Wavesong @STORMSWIRL @hazecloud

 

[JUNCOPAW]

Juncopaw grapples with feelings of déjà vu. The sky has opened up to allow downpour to comes across instead of the usual sunshine. It seems to sour the mood of the patrol around her, but there is still a hop in her step despite it all.

Soon enough, Juncopaw gets an inkling of why her Clanmates seem to hate this type of weather so much. A chill threatens to settle in as they converse before the crossing, so she fluffs out her pelt to keep herself warm.

"Is it dangerous?"

she asks, eyes going from Russetfall to Stormswirl. Of course, her mentor had explained the risks that come with swimming, even for the most experienced warriors. But still—this is the first time she actually gets to enter the water when a storm disrupts the usual calmness of it.

Her voice does not waver, however. Juncopaw crosses without much mishap; only once does the water splash across her chin, but she quickly snorts out the liquid that threatens to enter her mouth.

@STORMSWIRL

 

[hazecloud]

𓆝 . ° ✦

Stepping over the rain-slicked river rocks was no easy feat, most of them layered in mossy slime residue. It slid across her paw pads and into her fur with an icky, spine-shuddering sensation that made Hazecloud grimace. The rain wasn't the worst, no, but this certainly was. She could manage just fine with a soaked coat as the river normally left her carrying the extra weight of water, she could even ignore the silt and sand that itched between her toes on every paw, but slime...

Russetfall had the right idea simply avoiding it all and wasted no time to join the rest of the patrol into the water. Juncopaw held most of her attention while her legs broke through the current's strength. Her daughter does not disappoint, crossing the river with them in confidence. Hazecloud made it to the other side with the ease of an experienced swimmer and paused to wait for Juncopaw, reaching her paw into the shallows for her. "Don't make it look too easy, now." The molly teased gently. "You might make the other apprentices jealous."

✧ ° . ✶ . ° ✧

ooc Information

• ooc: —
• 

  HAZE— SHE/HER ･ 37 MOONS ･ RIVERCLAN PEARL DIVER ･ PENNED BY @gonkpilled!

  a smoky blue molly with warm green eyes. haze is a short and stout molly with a longhaired pelt that is beautifully kept. she is a highly skilled, agile swimmer and fisher with a surprising mischievous streak.

 

[Wavesong]

And that's why we share all we have with you
Though there's little to be found
When all you've got is nothing
There's a lot to go around

.

Her heart practically sang the moment her paws touched the water. The downpour wasn't quite what she had hoped for, but it was water nonetheless, and she would accept it. A loud purr broke from her chest, though it was likely drowned out by the rain that clattered around them. Her long fur, once fluffy, now clung heavily to her skin, slick and cold, and all she wanted was to plunge into the river and let gravity and current do their work. Yet her eyes softened as they landed on Thunderpaw, catching the uncertainty etched across the apprentice's face. With a gentle step, she moved closer to Russetfall and Thunderpaw, her flank brushing softly against Thunderpaw's as reassurance. " Don't ye worry… I'll help Russetfall an' also take th' brunt o' th' current. Ye get two fer one. " she said with a playful wink, glancing up to meet Russetfall's eyes with a quick grin.

She would make sure the young ones crossed safely. The stepping stones were too risky, one slip, and disaster could follow. No, this way would keep them all intact. With a steadying breath, Wavesong planted herself firmly in the river, tail low for balance, ready to guide, steady, and protect. She would be an anchor, their watchful presence, and she would see every cat across safely, even if she had to brave the cold rain and churning water herself.

" Y'see? Nothin' to it, dear heart. " she spoke, looking back to Thunderpaw and Russetfall with a gentle smile. Bless Hazecloud and Juncopaw for already being across the river, it was nothing short of an example that they could arrive there safely and hopefully Thunderpaw would see that too and follow.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

37 MOONS

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RIVERCLANNER

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SONG

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bio

 

[Thunderpaw Thunderpaw]

——————————————————— You who bares all your teeth in every smile. ✦

The apprentice had initially met the idea of the patrol with her usual overzealousness, excited to see fourtrees - even if it meant crossing the river. But, she had assured herself it was fine; she and Russetfall had been doing plenty of work desensitising herself to the water. And while she couldn't really swim all too well still, it was progress!

But, as the patrol approached the border, the weather slowly darkened, growing worse. Now, for how obvious her terror was when it came to the river itself, Thunderpaw still had the poor habit of keeping as much as she could under wraps. Her unease about the approaching storm only made her grow more and more wary, her grin and stride slowing the closer they inched to the river.

And, just as Thunderpaw's fears were desperately trying to be quashed, it was only realised as they came to the riverside. Water lashing sharp and harsh, cruel and unwavering. Thunderpaw's first step back was instinct, the second was panic, and the third was interrupted by both Russetfall and Wavesong. It was molly's first patrol since giving birth, and where she thought she would have liked a break from parenting anyone, she immediately took a stride towards Thunderpaw and gave her reassurance. As did her mentor, as always, the steady, comforting presence.

The affectionate curl of Wavesong and Russetfall's tails across her shoulder, watching Juncopaw and Hazecloud cross over, to admit Thunderpaw's face burned with shame. She had always been assured she would never be pressured about her fears, and that much had always been true. But, even so, it didn't stop her feeling sickeningly self-conscious at the fact she was a drypaw. The fact that there was a name for it and she had heard her brother utter it once was enough to make her feel far smaller than she really was. Like a little kitten needing to be coddled. The apprentice never minded when it was only her and her mentor; the understanding felt genuine and guiding, but when other cats saw it, she felt weak.

It was why she took a deep breath, trying to hide that she shook in her voice as she nodded to both the mollys. "I'll be fine! Just you watch." She got them both a watery grin; it was probably obvious she was bluffing, lying to herself and the others, but sometimes that's what Thunder just needed to do.

Wavesong was the first to pad into the water, and as Russetfall ushered her towards the water, the apprentice stepped in, the chill of the water making her breath catch in her throat. Thunderpaw blinked away the fear, the panic that seized in her chest, the heavy sensation of water that clung to her fur, the pressure on her chest- She leaned harder into Russetfall, the familiar sensation of her mentor at her side made the crossing possible for her. Where seconds stretched into something far longer in her mind, the three of them had finally crossed over with no mishaps.

Even so, Thunderpaw struggled to hide the shake in her paws, which was only exacerbated by Hazecloud's comment to Juncopaw. Shame burned like a blaze in her chest, which rose a little too fast for her liking. She was able to have a moment to dry her face off; any water that clung to her face would be impossible to ignore for the rest of the patrol. But, more so to her frustration, the dull ache in her ears from water sloshing in made the apprentice's face knit in annoyance. It was easy, at least, to lose focus on her wet pelt as the curly-eared cat grew annoyed at the sudden clogging of her ears from the pesky splashing of the river, shaking her head as she hoped to dislodge most of it.

The apprentice had to sigh, clogged ears were better than... What could have happened, so she looked up to Russetfall and Wavesong, meeting them both with a genuine smile. "Thank you for helping me cross." It was simple, rumbled with a slight purr, but even if she was ashamed to need help at all, she was still grateful to cats who did help her - without judgement or snide comments, of course.

——— Take a swim in the water

Dear Arkansas daughter. ————

• 
  Thunderpaw
  ✦—Riverclan apprentice | 10 moons
  ✦—She/Her
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A stocky cinnamon sealpoint molly with long curled ears and cold blue eyes.
  #DE966C