Open Event Territory we're moving to follow // shadowclan presence

[SABLESTAR]

"The smoke has passed." Sablestar twitched his tail over his back as he gave one last glance over ShadowClan's camp. "I will be leaving to see what happened to my kin. Any of you are free to come with me, I won't ask why." The tuxedo did not hesitate a moment more before taking off through the ferns. The most direct path would lead him to a thunderpath he prepared to cross, looking to his apprentice briefly. Timber would have carried her when he came into the pocosin, they would have to be careful.

"Monsters patrol the thunderpath, and they do not show mercy if they find you in it's path." His only warning as he took a step onto the sun-warmed path, keeping his ears alert as he paused. "It is safe, hurry!" In a few long strides he arrived to the other side, disappearing into the tallgrasses. The earth was loamy under his paws and the air tasted like rain. If they kept the pace, he would see the farm before sunhigh.

The land itself is pleasant, something serene and peaceful he would call. Birdchatter and cicada buzzing filled in the silence and the grass provided some decent shade from the direct sunlight. "Shouldn't be much farther now."

this heart beats cold like the devil his own

• "mew"
• 

  SABLESTAR— he/him ･fifty-four moons ･leader; shadowclan ･penned by gonkpilled

  a black and white tuxedo with dark amber eyes

 

[Mothbite]

Still so young, Desperate for attention!

indentttMothbite rises from his nap, groggy. Were they leaving already? He doesn't have time to ask for more details before Sablestar is bounding through the ferns, leaving Mothbite scrambling to catch up. 'Damn! He's in a rush. Must be worried about his family.' In the back of his mind, he wonders what that must feel like. Despite being separated from Murkyfang, he hasn't spared a single thought to her well being, other than to imagine gloating to her about his new life in the marsh. Caring that much about a cat you hardly see just because you share blood is foreign to him.

indentttRegretfully, he thinks of his Mother. He used stay up at night fantasizing about seeing her again. What had happened? Was he so caught up in his life of adventure and luxury that he had forgotten the affection she had generously shown him, the sacrifices she made for his care? The thought makes his stomach churn, guiltily.

indentttHe doesn't have time to mull on it any more before Sablestar is pausing in front of the Thunderpath, waiting for the monsters to pass. On his leader's call, Mothbite dashes forward, avoiding becoming the next victim of the monster's wrath.

indentttThe land on the other side of the Thunderpath is warm and sunny, decorated with rolling hills and tall grasses. Mothbite hasn't been here since leafbare - the sights and sounds of the moor coming to life are new to him. He stops, just for a moment, to smell the sweet newleaf air on the breeze. The lack of trees would be nerve-wracking anywhere else, but Mothbite finds he's comfortable slipping through the tall grass, it's green stalks shading him from view of any birds of prey. It seems a nearly idyllic place to live.

indenttt"Your family is from around here?" Mothbite asks, trying not to let his wide-eyed gaze give him away. "It seems nice." 'Why would you ever leave a place like this?

ababaugfbiufhufbdfduibabababa

Mothbite | 20 moons | Shadowclan Nightguardbababbnihfibnfdifdhfhabbabab

 

[Stoatpaw]

——————————————— Together, we'll make our way home ✦

Stoatpaw nodded intentionally with Sablestar's words, feigning ignorance; no cat knew or had caught her sneaking across the thunderpath once before. It was dangerous, she knew, but her newfound friendship with Ice wasn't something she was willing to give up yet. She had known Sablestar intended to cross the thunderpath to seek the... "barn cats". She already knew she had to steel herself for what was to come, but also seeing the rest of the cats and seeing if they were well, it felt important to her.

She did as the leader told, she still peered about, and satisfied there was nothing, she bolted across the Thunderpath, stood triumphant, waiting for the rest to follow suit. The rich scent of the moors was comforting, sweet and floral with the abundant flowers poking up through the grasses, she might have to collect some on their way back. For taking such long trips to Fourtrees and back, to the moors and the other side of the thunderpath, Stoatpaw was grateful she seemed to have good endurance when it came to crossing long distances. She always worried it was difficult, arduous even, but with her friend Fleapaw as her only reference, she learned quickly she wasn't exactly the pinnacle of what an apprentice is able to do... Just the thought actually made her feel rather guilty. Flea was a more than capable cat, but even now, Stoat was larger than her in size and height, the other barely growing...

The apprentice shook the thought from her head, especially as Sablestar and Mothbite continued ahead, she noted the night guards' question, curious herself. "Yeah, you must know some cats around here, you never seem as interested in any other outsider's health." She hummed, trotting along, just ahead of the rest. She wondered what it was like to live here, what the taste of rabbits was like, or even how one might catch things.

Her tail flicked, staring back at the warriors, nodding the confirmation that they would arrive soon. She had only ever been on the edge of the territory, so any further was a whole new world until they reached the barnyard itself. Most of that was still new, but she was still intrigued to see what may have changed. Stoatpaw bounded along, the tall grass making it a little more tedious for her to traverse, but she managed, rye and grass tickling her paws and nose. Maybe she could smell the barn from here?...

She paused, further ahead from the other cats, but her stark white fur meant she wasn't difficult to find. Though her face scrunched up, over the top of the sweet flowers was a lingering, bitter scent. She went to step closer to where it was coming from, only to realise the ground underpaw felt strange. Looking at her paws, there was some grey, powdery stuff that clung to the pads of her feet, muddying the usual soft pink. The apprentice's ear flicked, a sudden unease in her chest. Stoatpaw didn't quite find leading the group as appealing anymore as she knew they were approaching the farm now, a little too aware of what was dusting the moors.

——— While you were sleeping,

Everything changed at once. ———

• 
  Stoatpaw
  ✦—Shadowclan apprentice | 7 Moons
  ✦—She/Her
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A slender white cat with faint lilac markings and blue eyes.
  #96d5f1
  
  ⤷ Written by Phoenix ​

 

[Dustystar]

✪ Align my Heart, my Body, my Mind​

indent Dustystar has finally begun to recover enough to allow her to survey the new territory. She never strayed all too far from the farm in her previous life, so much of her knowledge of the area surrounding camp has been through reports from other cats. Now that she's able to see it for herself, she's pleased. The rolling hills and tall prairie grasses aren't quite enough to heal her aching heart, but it does fill her with hope for the future. Starclan had lead them to such a beautiful home.

indentAs she scents the air, she realizes that sweet flowers aren't the only thing she smells. There's a damp, earthy smell, carried along on the scent of strange cats. Cresting over a hill to overlook the source of the scent, Dustystar sees a little white cat push through the grass. At first, she thinks this must be another unattended kitten - it would be the first straggler they picked up since they had to leave the farm, but she wasn't about to turn down a needy kitten. Before she can call out, she sees two black tomcats move behind her, like twin shadows. The kitten hadn't come alone, then.

indent"You there! What are you doing here?" Her voice is stern, but not angry. She doesn't know for sure that these cats mean Windclan any harm. Jumping to conclusions and acting aggressive will just cause unnecessary fights. Still, she can't let down her guard, either. If she wants to lead Windclan, she needs to be ready to defend it, too.

Dustystar - 26 moons - Windclan Leader

 

[Merrystalk]

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

The tom overheard the leader's idea to survey the territory, and while he and Dusty were far from close friends, he decided to tag along. Maybe he could be of some use to point out anything important he or his clanmates may have found in their time hunting amidst the prairie. By that, it was mostly Merry talking aloud to her, they edged towards the winding thunderpath to the west of the moors, he had briefly recalled the... Conversation with Skyclan on the east, along the gorge. To have the territory surrounded by such dangers was unnerving, but if they played it safe, they would be okay.

Though Merrystalk hesitated in his steps, his nose raised in the air. While the damp scent of the swamp was always a little stronger over this side of the territory, but this was something else. Damp clung to the scent of... Cats. The tom's fur bristled. Skyclan wasn't particularly kind to them, so he hoped whoever this was was more welcoming, perhaps. That was, until Merry's eyes furrowed in confusion. A little blur of a thing, like a clump of cotton caught in the breeze, but just about kitten-shaped.

"Another one?" He glanced to the other, brow furrowing, it was only a half moon ago that another little thing showed up in the moors, but at least this one had the sense to run muzzle first into a rabbit's warren. "This one don't seem as... Scrawny as that lil Flea fellow." Merry hummed, he went to approach the little thing, ask if they were okay, wondering if maybe though-

His trail of thought was interrupted and maybe confirmed as a pair of tom's approached in suits of the ball of fur, the scent of damp growing stronger. Merry stood resolute, he hoped these cats didn't mean harm, but having a tiny thing in their midst made him guess they might have other business here. Dustystar spoke up first, commanding and stern, to which he followed suit - or as best as Merry could.

"Y'all got business here?" He spoke, without the usual hum in his voice, glancing between the heavily scarred older cat, the younger tom whose eyes seemed to dart around, and the stark white kitten - apprentice perhaps? "Or did that lil' cinnamon thing get outta y'all's territory again?" Merry clicked his tongue, plucking a fresh stalk of rye from the ground to place in his mouth. Neither he nor Dusty spotted the thing in their wandering, but who knows? She seemed the crafty type after all.

— 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

 

[Stoatpaw]

——————————————— Together, we'll make our way home ✦

Her eyes widened a little to look up and see two cats, one grey and one tortoiseshell. She stumbled too close to them, something Sablestar was surely going to reprimand her for, but from where she stood, she could see the scarring on both of them from the... The fire. She swallowed hard, getting deja vu from having stumbled on Riverclan. How this kept happening was besides her, but at least these cats weren't huge and scary- Well.. The molly seemed scary, her eyes narrowed.

Stoatpaw stepped back a little bit, wanting to be closer to Sablestar and Mothbite than these strange cats. They were barn cats, though. They were kind, right? The upside of being so close, she could read their lips, albeit with some strain since they didn't speak quite like Shadowclan cats, at least the tortie spoke kinda weird.

"We uh... Sa-Sablestar's looking for someone." She spoke, tentatively. Her eyes flickered back to the two black cats, but she didn't want to look away from the two cats in front of her, knowing how dangerous it'd be. Instead, she steadied herself and tried to feign some bravery. "We wanted to go to the barn yard and find his- uh. Someone..." Stoatpaw stumbled on her words, she didn't want to say anything she wasn't supposed to. The apprentice stood there, waiting for either one of Sable or Moth to show up in her periphery.

Though her eyes lit up a little with the mention of a cinnamon cat from their territory, she spoke again, curiously. "Fleapaw was here?" Her head tilted curiously, she had... Vanished again for a short while, a little bit ago. Did these cats find her?

——— While you were sleeping,

Everything changed at once. ———

• 
  Stoatpaw
  ✦—Shadowclan apprentice | 7 Moons
  ✦—She/Her
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A slender white cat with faint lilac markings and blue eyes.
  #96d5f1
  
  ⤷ Written by Phoenix ​

 

[Mothbite]

Still so young, Desperate for attention!

indentttMothbite grimaces, just a little. "Damn, really? Isn't anyone keeping an eye on her?" The thought of Fleapaw being turned into a fine red paste while crossing the thunderpath makes his stomach churn. Ugh. Can't Possomgrin do anything about her? He turns to Sablestar, waiting to see his expression, before turning back to the strangers.

indenttt "I'm lookin' for a blue tom, with a nasty scar on his shoulder. I got a score to settle." He tacks on the bit about scores to make it sound less like he's doing a wellness check for a cat he hardly knows, but quickly backpedals when he realizes how that must sound. "N-not that we're gonna fight, or anything! I just wanna talk, see if he's still... around."

indenttt'Still alive, more like it.' The cats are watching then from a distance away, but Mothbite can recognize burn scars marring their coats, and the face of the grey molly. Whatever had caused that smoke, at least some of these cats had gotten caught up in it. There was no way to be sure that the cats they were looking for hadn't met the same fate, or worse, succumbed to the flames.

ababaugfbiufhufbdfduibabababa

Mothbite | 20 moons | Shadowclan Nightguardbababbnihfibnfdifdhfhabbabab

 

[Dustystar]

✪ Align my Heart, my Body, my Mind​

indentDustystar had heard about the little Flea Merrystalk and his group had met. She must have come from the same place as these three, if Merry recognized the scent.

indentThe name the little white kitten had used was interesting though. Fleapaw. It fit the same prefix-suffix scheme that Windrose had instructed her to use. Sablestar, too. Were the cats from across the road also touched by Starclan? The idea makes her fur bristle with excitement. Perhaps, if Windclan saw they weren't the only ones, they'd have an easier time adjusting to their new life. She'd have to ask 'Sablestar' how he managed, and how she could take after him to keep her clan safe.

indentBefore she can get to excited about the prospects of another clan, the kitten mentions the barn, and the littler tom asks after a cat who sounds an awful lot like Sassafraschill. 'He's looking for his... someone' Dustystar's heart sinks. "If you're looking for the barn, you're far too late. It burned down just a while ago. Reduced to ashes." She lowers her head, somber. "I can take you back to the camp where us survivors are staying, though. Hopefully your 'someone' is among them"

indent(She makes the decision not to worry about whatever Sassafras has gotten himself into. The little tomcat doesn't look like he's in for a fight, but if he is, Sassafras probably deserves it. She'll kick him out if he starts a fuss, but figures it's no harm letting him come along.}

Dustystar - 26 moons - Windclan Leader

 

[Merrystalk]

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

Merry winced a little at what the tiny white kitten had to say, this rather brooding-looking tom - the group's leader from the ever so familiar suffix Dustystar too wore with pride - likely had kin in the barn. A someone he hoped wasn't one of the few lost in the inferno. He hesitated for a moment to try and speak on the matter, before a familiar name fell from the kittens mouth. Merry nodded with a hum.

"Aye that was it, Fleapaw, and... Interestin' name." He clicked, he assumed this little thing was friends with the tiny menace, there was always a soft-spoken one to go with the loud sorts like that Flea kid. "She was okay 'f course, got caught in a rabbit warren 'nd caught a couple 've us with stray claws when we pulled 'er out." Merry pawed at the bridge of his nose absently, before adjusting the rye in his maw. "She made it home fine 'm assumin'?"

Though Merrystalk snorts at the smaller toms addition of a very, very familiar-sounding cat. "Yer know Sassafras?" He would always be amicable to strangers, but towards him there would be no such thing, even if he wasn't here. "Aye he would be in camp, probably causin' more damn problems."

It was as Dustystar spoke that Merry's voice faltered, remembering the reason it seemed these cats were here. He nodded as Dusty spoke, and was a little surprised to hear her offer to bring these strangers to camp. Then again, their numbers were few, and though Windclan was still recovering, they could easily take on the bunch if push came to shove. Regardless, he would back up Dustystar, and it was a kind thing to allow this Sablestar to seek whomever he was looking for. "Our camp's still a bit 'f a walk from here, if ya' don't mind the extra trek." He hummed, better to let them know they still had a little ways to go.

But he paused for a moment, chuckling to himself. "Ya' would think runnin' into so many new folks I would learn my manners! 'm Merrystalk.." He clicked his tongue, stopping himself for a moment as he breathed to continue 'But folk still just call me Merry.' Even with everything changed, old habits die hard and as much as he respected the naming systems of the clan he had spent 26 moons being called just Merry, it was hard to adjust and as much was the same with the other cats in Windclan. But, if there was one thing he wasn't going to do was undermine Dustystar's authority. Friends, kin and clanmates could call him Merry, but these were strangers and they would know him just as his warrior name.

— 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

 

[HoneyflowerHoneyflower's icon]

Slow Down, Just Breathe

Honeyflower had been hanging back as the three walked, too preoccupied with trying to shake a burr from a hind leg to really chime in until Merrystalk stopped abruptly in front of her and the calico nearly tripped over her paws to keep from crashing into her friend. Her mouth opened to ask what was the matter when the stranger's scent hit her and she frowned before stepping to Dustystar's other side to get a better look.

A kitten and...two toms... She'd never seen the three of them before in her life. Green eyes briefly flick to... To her leader as the strangers speak. Another clan? Not Skyclan, clearly. Hopefully this other clan would be kinder than them.

The smaller tom's description leads to narrowed eyes at Mothbite. A score to settle... What had Sassafrass done now? "Sounds like you've met my brother, stranger." She mewed coolly, tail held high. "Sassafrass is fine, but what's this I hear about a score to settle with him? You're not here to start trouble with him are you? We've got enough of that around here what with the fire and all."

She was going to give him an earful later, she was sure. Lately it seemed that trouble didn't so much find her brother as he ran full speed into it.

xxx

All We Have Is All We Need

Tags

Honey

✿—Moor Runner Of WindClan
✿—She/Her
✿—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
✿—Dilute Calico Shecat With Green Eyes And A Floppy Ear
#a4e1ba

 

[Mothbite]

Still so young, Desperate for attention!

indentttOh man, looks like That Asshole's made a name for himself around here - Merrystalk and the pretty calico immediately knew who Mothbite was talking about, and they didn't seem all that surprised to hear he had gotten into trouble. In fact, it seems as if they expected Sassafras to be the one who started it, even though Mothbite is sure he was the one who egged him on first.

indenttt"Agh, yea. We've met up a few times and, uh, talked." It wasn't a lie! They had spoken, at least a little. It was a lie by omission then, although the other cats seemed to understand well enough what had happened, anyways. "I figured he lived nearby, so when I noticed the smoke I guess... I thought I'd come check it out." Mothbite's face scrunches up as if he's smelled something sour. His first conversation with these cats and he was already admitting to doing wellness checks for a guy who he'd only ever fought with before? At least Sablestar had a good reason for coming all the way out here, but slinking by to check up on your enemy was an all time low, for any cat. He almost wishes one of those scary grassland birds would come by and carry him away, never to be seen again. It would at least be less painful than this.

ababaugfbiufhufbdfduibabababa

Mothbite | 20 moons | Shadowclan Nightguardbababbnihfibnfdifdhfhabbabab

 

[SABLESTAR]

Sablestar regarded Mothbite's question with pause. The details on the whereabouts of any cat wound in his family was still a mystery. His parents were nothing more than faces faded to time, it was questionable if Alder even was his true grandmother or if he and Gray were no different than Shade and the countless other kits fae picked up. Fae was a good liar, and a charismatic cheat, but it was only him and his brother that fae ever claimed to be true-blooded.

"Most of them, from what I can tell at least." He twitched the flecks of ash that clung to his tail-tip, stilling as he felt something approach. The marred face of another cat met them first, and then another with tales of Fleapaw having already made a reputation here. Teeth dig into his cheek while Stoatpaw overstepped and Mothbite spilled his intentions like a gutted sack of grain. The passage of interest does not interest him as much as news that the entirety of the barn was simply... gone. He hadn't thought the old building would ever come down, not in his day at least.

"A shame... A lot of good cats lived there." The invitation is extended to where they are located now, and Sablestar agreed with a single nod of his head. "The hospitality of horseplace still lives, we will be grateful to follow." The tuxedo eyed Mothbite for a moment as he fumbled through explanation for his own meaning. No fighting, his face read clear, as he stepped forward.

"ShadowClan does not seek to find enemies, today. I can assure you any squabbling won't come from us." Kin of whoever Mothbite had bad blood with appeared, just the night guards luck, and with hope that would be enough to prevent any clashing claws.

As they journey his strides match with the leading molly. "I do apologize for the intrusion, sincerely. We live in the swamp across the monster-path; my name is Sablestar, and this is my apprentice Stoatpaw. I'm looking for my grandmother, Alder. She had a brother too... Cowboy. And if they ever showed up again, Blanche was faer daughter."

this heart beats cold like the devil his own

• "mew"
• 

  SABLESTAR— he/him ･fifty-four moons ･leader; shadowclan ･penned by gonkpilled

  a black and white tuxedo with dark amber eyes

 

[Dustystar]

✪ Align my Heart, my Body, my Mind​

indentDustystar's eyes widen in surprise, and then, understanding. If this tom was a relative of Alder, than that means he must also be...

indent"You need to come to camp, then. Cowboy should be there now." She seems anxious, now, hasty to get back to camp and see her Peepaw. She turns to leave, but looks back over her shoulder, quickly. "The name is Dustystar, by the way. Sorry i forgot to mention it, before." With that, the makes a sign to follow with her tail, and heads off. "Camp is this way, not too far."

indentShe wastes no time calling out for her family as she enters camp. "Peepaw, someone's here to see you! Say's hes kin." Her tail twitches in anticipation. Was this mysterious tom really Cowboy's - and her - family? Had he been touched by the stars as well? Dustystar's mind is alight with questions - one she hopes Cowboy will be able to answer.

Dustystar - 26 moons - Windclan Leader

 

[Magpiepaw ★]

He'll learn your face by heart

BUT YOU'LL BE IN BLACK & WHITE IN HIS EYES

Plodding along on awkward, lopsided steps behind his father, Magpiepaw was already exhausted from the long trek by the time they got there but put on a brave face and uttered not a single complaint in response. All he knew is they had more family here, family outside his mother and father and littermates (and Graybird) and he was eager to see them and this new clan. To his knowledge there were only two clans but seemed more were appearing - was it coincidence or something else? It was a little beyond him to ponder such things and his attention drifted to the way the grass here rose up taller than a cat and the sloping landscape almost seemed to roll across his vision as the wind rustled the plains; it was far more open than ShadowClan and admittedly this much space without cover made him nervous so he bumped along against Sablestar's legs until he was perched properly under his father's taller figure for protection.
A swift gaze was exchanged with Stoatpaw as they listened in on the other cats introducing themselves, clan names like they had and one even had a star like his parents did! Magpiepaw's intrigue grew no further as he waited, not bold enough to venture anywhere alone but still trembling with overwhelming curiosity. When his father introduced the other cats he knocked his head against the older cat's limb to make clear he wanted to introduce himself, "I'm Magpiepaw, you're a clan too. What is yours called? We're ShadowClan like papa said."

In the flick of a feather, he flies to your side

MAGPIEKIT

— kitten of shadowclan
— He/They
"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
— Solid black w/low white & blue-violet eyes.
— Has 'wobbly cat' syndrome.
#9272ee