TW: Sensitive Content Open Backwritten ShadowClan what doesn't kill you — apprentices return

[Fleapaw]

{$title} Fleapaw was attacked by coyotes while out in the territory. She returns to camp with Tickpaw and Sealpaw, alive but injured.

TRIGGER WARNING

Descriptions of shock and throwing up.

-

// takes place after this thread

Everything tilted—shadows tangled with light, the marsh a smudge of green and brown and black that bled together with every jostling step.

She could hardly feel at all anymore. The fire trailing up her leg quenched, replaced by dull needles. Her mouth tasted of metal, tongue felt too thick to fit between the gaps of her teeth. Her throat clenched with nausea.

Somewhere along the way, she couldn't hold it anymore. Bile welled up her throat, and she stopped to empty the contents of her stomach. Her gut wrenched with every heave until tears streamed down her cheeks and she was completely flushed.

The forest floor dipped and tilted beneath her with every blink. She leaned heavily against the bodies that cradled her, teeth bared, wide pupils boring ahead. The warmth of her brother and sister she could've recognized in pitch darkness, but the other—a spotted pelt—blue eyes creased with worry. Sealpaw. Fleapaw decided she didn't have the energy to figure out why they were helping her.

A cool sensation continued to trickle down her leg, caking around her paws. She didn't look, sure that the sight of her mangled leg would make her hurl again. A small black nose twitched, soaking in the approaching scent of cats—of camp.

The apprentice should've been relieved to reach their destination, but dread stirred. She braced herself for a rush of questions. "Tick..." Fleapaw croaks, hoping he understands what would be asked of him next. Much as she hates leaving it all to her brother, she doesn't have the strength right now to face it alone.

@Sealpaw @Tickpaw @webpaw

Coyote, I'm treading water

FLEAPAW

10 MOONS
SHE/HER
- Undersized cinnamon solid with folded ears. She's thin but stubby with very messy fur.
"SPEECH" - crimson | 'THOUGHTS/EMPHASIS' - crimson

Fleapaw values family the most with survival at a close second. In conversations, she is blunt, fun-loving, and clever. She is guided by her desires which often leads her astray. Despite her abrasive personality, she cares deeply for those she loves and will do anything to protect them. Due to her experiences, Fleapaw is corrupt and has minimalistic, if any, morals. She does not care for the warrior code and its restraints. Neither does she believe in StarClan. Growing up in a kitten mill, being separated from her mother, and ending up on the streets have deeply affected her view of the world.

Don't lead me straight to the slaughter

 

[webpaw]

Webpaw had always seen Fleapaw as something unstoppable. Like her tiny form was invincible to harm, her visible ribs as armor. Her heartbeat landed in her paws, every step sending her stomach twisting further into knots. She watched her sister's injured leg struggle alongside her, as if it were only attached and not a limb.

"You look so bad," she whispered, finally looking away from the gory sight. "But we're here. And you're alive."

Flank-to-flank, Webpaw could almost feel Fleapaw's heart racing. She met Tickpaw's eyes on the other end of the line, nodding with resolution at her brother. His words would come better explained. They stunk of coyote, vomit and far too much blood. All she wished for was to skip in time, where they were all huddled in the apprentice's den with the scent of herbs and sleep.

 

[Sealpaw Sealpaw]

You Say That You Are Close

Is Close The Closest Star?

x

Her heart is still beating rabbit fast against her ribs, almost painfully so. The scent of the coyotes is still overwhelming though its quickly fading with distance. The apprentice can't help but glance over her shoulder, past the three just behind her to the treeline where their pawsteps left a clear trail in the mud to follow. Were they going to be ok..? Coalstrike and the others were more than capable, but still two coyotes was a lot. Blue eyes briefly catch Fleapaw's and she turns back with a suppressed shudder; a moon ago she could very well have been in the other's place when she was chased across the thunderpath.

"Flea, try to stay awake, ok? W-we're almost there..!" There's a tremble in her voice that she struggles to get under control, eyes darting every which way to look at anything other than Fleapaw's leg. Ears pin back when they have to stop when Fleapaw's stomach empties. When a plea is slurred from her mouth to Tickpaw and Seal's jaw sets in a frown.

"I'll run ahead and let Cicada and Magpie know what happened," Sealpaw finally manages to get her voice under control, briefly reaching forward to touch her nose to the cinnamon molly before turning to sprint away. "Hang in there, ok? Just a little longer..."

She wished she was a bird. Or maybe a monster. Something faster than her own paws could carry her. Every second counted and she worried she might be too late.

You Just Feel Twice As Far

SEALPAW

— Shadowclan Apprentice
— She/They
"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
— Grey Rosetted Tabby With Blue Eyes And A Bobbed Tail.
#4c66bf

 

[Tickpaw Tickpaw]

When you're lost in the universe, lost in the universe, don't lose faith
My mother says, "Your whole life's in the paws of the Stars"

.

Worry clawed at Tickpaw's chest as he watched his sister, a deep frown etched across his scarred face. She had taken the brunt of the attack, any cat could see it. It showed in every agonizing step she took, in the way her voice rasped out his name as they neared camp. Without hesitation, he pressed his head gently against her shoulder, his scruffy tail draping protectively over her back. No words needed. Of course he would be there. Always. He kept pace with his sisters, flanking them as they moved, already bracing himself for the barrage of questions Fleapaw would face. But he would in her stead. And if anyone got too close... Any cat who wasn't there to help or heal, he'd shove them back without apology. Webpaw was with her. She wasn't alone. She would never be alone again.

" We got you. " he murmured, voice low, steady, for her and for himself. His eyes flicked to Sealpaw as she darted ahead, calling out for Cicada and Magpie. A part of him burned with uncertainty. Would Cicada even give them the herbs they needed? Would he care enough? He didn't know. But he'd fight for Fleapaw's care if it came to it.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

10 MOONS

𖧧

SHADOWCLANNER

𖧧

SONG

𖧧

bio

 

[Stoatpaw Stoatpaw]

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

The day was calm, unusually so. Even for the standards of a deaf cat, it was quiet... It wasn't as if there was much of interest for Stoatpaw to join in on. Either stuck in camp or wandering the territory in search of something novel to find other than her usual flower picking. So on days when she couldn't sleep but Sablestar wasn't about to join her to the border, she was simply.... Stuck.

She curled up in the sun, at least it was one small joy she could partake regardless of her punishment, lounging in the sun as the bitter scent of her favourite pale white flowers grew stronger. Stoat knew she would need to find more, renew her pelt decorations, but at least she could dry and save the delicate petals to line her nest until that too was abandoned for fresh moss. But as she lounged in camp, quite literally nothing better to do, through lidded eyes she saw figures enter the camp. Initially, she couldn't care less, just another patrol she missed out on joining. She was nearly tempted to roll over and resume her lounging until the scent of... Blood? Her head darted up; there was no mistaking the acrid, foul scent in the air. She could just about stomach it when eating birds or squirrels, but hung in the air just reminded her of that awful nightmare, as the amount of blood that had to be spilt was a dangerous level.

The ivory apprentice shot up to her feet, eyes focusing on who had entered the camp. She saw Sealpaw first, but she was uninjured. Stoatpaw swallowed hard, looking around. "Seal, I smell blood what hap-" Before she could really register consciously, a cry slipped from her throat in horror, seeing a bloodied and dazed Fleapaw being hauled into camp. Tears pricked at her eyes, running towards the huddle that desperately tried to hold Flea up. "Quickly, Seal, please go find Cicadabuzz.." Her voice cracked upon her plea for help. Usually, Stoatpaw would be the one to run, to get help, get backup. But not when her best friend had ended up like this.

Stoattpaw delicately pressed a nose to Fleapaw's cheek, the nauseating concoction of blood, vomit and... Something else. It was strong and foul, before her eyes widened in horror, knowing where she recognised it. Desperately, she tried to choke back tears, looking to Tickpaw as always for some sort of grounding presence and explanation. "Please, oh please don't tell me a coyote got her." Stoatpaw's voice wavered; she refused to allow the tears to drench her cheeks, not when it seemed Flea's life could be on the line. She didn't know how severe an injury had to be, but just the sight of her best friend's mangled leg was enough to make the apprentice wince in kind. "Oh, Flea..." She didn't want to stand in the way of her getting help; she instead nudged Tickpaw's cheek gently and looked to Webpaw with bleary eyes.

"Please just... Take her to Cicada. We can't lose her..." Never had Stoatpaw been faced with the unavoidable truth that her best friend's life could genuinely be in danger, the blood that trailed from her leg and left a crimson droplet trail across camp would haunt her. Maybe she was catastrophising, but with little to no knowledge on injuries or herbs or the like, all that settled in her mind was a dread that began to gnaw in her chest. So, instead, she desperately tried to get the two to bring their sister to the medicine cat den. Just as always, Stoatpaw was helpless, able to do nothing but watch. She wanted to, oh, how she truly did, but there was nothing for her to do. She didn't want to risk moving either cat, helping Flea walk, Seal had run ahead to alert Cicadabuzz and Magpiepaw.

All she could do was sit, and wait, and do nothing as she often did. Though this time felt like a punishment itself, some cruel sleight at her from the world itself. Useless as a warrior, useless to her friends. She would find some way to help; she was sure she could. But for now, there was nothing to do but watch her best friend, bloodied and in agony, be brought along with the gentlest paws to try and save her, barely even noticing as the tears finally trickled down her face.

——— While you were sleeping,

Everything changed at once. ———

• 
  Stoatpaw
  ✦—Shadowclan apprentice | 9 Moons
  ✦—She/Her
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK, PAWSPEAK
  ✦—A slender white cat with faint lilac markings and blue eyes.
  #96d5f1/#50BBF0
  
  ⤷ Written by Phoenix ​

 

[Blightkit]

Things are simple, at least seemingly so for Blightkit, running around simply through camp and bothering a few members that would still allow it - not very many would but it was still a sizeable number thankfully - though as the band of apprentices got nearer to camp and the strong stench of blood drew closer and closer things began to quiet more and even Blightkit with their never ending questions knew to stop, to be quiet. Something itched at the back of their mind as eyes followed those of the others around them towards the entrance as the coppery scent finally reached their nostrils, nose bunching slightly before orange eyes landed finally on Fleapaw and the sight of the now-mangled leg from the predators that stalk the territory. Blight had seen their own fair share of wounds in the small amount of time they'd been allowed away from the side of their mother, eyes wide with curiosity as each one entered into camp and quickly was led towards Cicadabuzz, but they hadn't seen one like this yet, not one from a cat so young, and with the grand scale of things still not fully grasping around the four moon old's brain they couldn't help but let out a small "Whoa." Under their breath as paws moved carefully forward, abandoning the cat they'd been speaking to just moments before.

A few moments of silence to connect things, to look at the older apprentice before them, eyes scanning the crowd. "Fleapaw's gonna be fine, right?" Kit-like question rang out quieter than usual, big eyes looking to the first adult they could find in the mess of apprentices that had gathered first, ears pricked high as they did so. Because she had to be, Blightkit had too many questions to ask her now for her to not be okay.

OOC

text BLIGHTKIT they/them, shadowclan, 4 moons. black smoke w/orange eyes kitten of ShadowClan mentored by none // mentoring none unknown, single, crushing on no one NPC x NPC peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking penned by tikki ↛ rabbitcake on discord, feel free to dm for plots.