Private Backwritten War Is Over, If You Want It - Decorating Graves

[Mothbite Mothbite]

{$title} takes places a few days after the November 2025 gathering

Still so young, Desperate for attention!

indentttJet black fur blends seamlessly into shadows cast by the thick canopy of trees that tower over Thunderclan's territory. Mothbite moves like a serpent, weaving through bushes and avoiding beams of soft moonlight that might reveal his intrusion. He's wasted most of the night, by now, trying to find where Thunderclan must be laying their dead. He's determined, though, to settle this matter before the first of Loonstar's warriors rise from their nests.

indentttHe's sure this is the place. It's dangerously close to camp, but the small clearing is still secluded enough to make Mothbite feel secure in his stealth. It's not as if anyone would be awake now, anyways.

indentttGently stepping from the shade of the trees, Mothbite approaches one of the grave markers. This stick has the most recent offerings. It makes sense that it'd be the most recent loss. Besides, when he approaches it, a strange feeling rises in his chest. It's cold, and constricting, snake-like. This must be the place. He places the fanged plants in a small bundle at the base of the grave.

indentttBefore he can say any words for the departed, Mothbite feels the coppery fur along his spine stand on end. Someone is watching him. He whips around to look at the stranger, but finds it's not someone to fear. An annoyance, maybe, but not someone who'd cause him trouble.

indenttt"Rowanpaw." He mews. "Or, is it something new, now that Serpent is gone?"

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Mothbite | 24 moons | Shadowclan Nightguardbababbnihfibnfdifdhfhabbabab

 

[rowanfeather]

☆ Rowanfeather walks the short path to the graveyard quietly, a bundle of fresh flowers between her teeth for her mother's grave. Before she can make it into the clearing, however, she hears… something. Something that shouldn't be here. Worried it might be a scavenger, she dips into the clearing, only to be met by probably the last thing she expected to see– a Shadowclanner. How on earth had he gotten all the way into the territory…? She supposes they didn't really send out night patrols, and if it was just him… their eyes meet and she feels her skin go cold. Her eyes flick to her mothers grave, the strange plants now lying there.

Then Mothbite speaks, and Rowanfeather blinks at him. She doesn't know what to do, let alone what to say. Should she call for help? Run and fetch a warrior? Her brother, maybe? But Mothbite doesn't seem hostile. She knows what Loonstar would want, but her mother… her mother…

She pads towards Mothbite and the grave, placing the flowers down gently next to the ones he'd brought. She adjusts the marker with a gentle paw, then lets her nose touch the cool stone.

Finally, she turns to Mothbite. "It's Rowanfeather now," she says softly. "My mother… Serpentberry gave it to me in a dream."

A beat. She considers Mothbite for a moment. "You came anyway," she says. It's not exactly accusatory; she can't blame him for it. Serpentberry had dug her fangs into him long ago. It only makes sense that she'd drag him across the border for her.

She looks over her shoulder at the flowers. "They're pretty," she whispers. "She would… she would be glad you came…" she turns back to look at him, fixing him with a glare that's not unlike her mother's, sharp but somehow gentle. "And she would be even happier that you broke the rules to do it."

☆ ROWANPAW. 14 moons
mentored by serpentberry,
adopted daughter of serpentberry and thornstar
peaceful powerplay allowed
ooc -

 

[Mothbite Mothbite]

Still so young, Desperate for attention!

indenttt "Rowanfeather." Mothbite hums. "It sounds nice. Suits you." He bites back a comment about the name not making sense - he's heard plenty of that regarding his own name. Besides, he knows how important receiving a name can be. It's a sign of the bond between you and the name's giver, a sign of all you are in their eyes, and all they mean to you. Mothbite doesn't want to sully that for Rowanfeather. She deserves to enjoy their mother's last gift.

indentttWhen Rowanfeather mentions Serpent's approval, Mothbite can't help but scoff. "If you told me that two moons ago, I would've been pissed. I didn't want to anything she would approve of. It felt too much like I was playing into her paws. Recently, though..." Golden eyes soften as they lay upon the decorated grave. "I'm coming to realize that, even if she was terrible, she also gave me something nobody else ever did. Something I really needed."

indentttWithout Serpent's soft care, Mothbite isn't sure he knows what sort of cat he would be. He's not sure he even wants to know. To have gone two entire winters, never knowing the love of a mother, seems like it must be impossible.

indenttt"If you dont mind me asking..." His voice is soft. "What did her in? Loony didn't share any details..." Mothbite's voice peters off into the silent darkness. Even though he's already crossed so many boundaries to be here, it feels improper for him to ask. Like he, having left Serpent so long ago, doesn't have the right to ask after the details that he would have know intimatley, if only he had stayed.

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Mothbite | 24 moons | Shadowclan Nightguardbababbnihfibnfdifdhfhabbabab