juniper
there is more to address than celebration, she understands that as she untangles herself from her nest, as she grooms down the cowlicks from a night of rolling sleep. there is more to acknowledge than the growth of the clan, she understands that as she pads out of the shadows that hide her den from the sun's piercing gaze.
her gaze sweeps the camp, notices what eyes linger at the roseate necklace at her throat, and stiffly turns away from them, carrying herself atop the perch that forms the doorway to her den-- their den. "ThunderClan.... good morning," she calls, hoping to soften their worries with the well-wishing greeting. the spotted tabby curls her tail around her paws, seated contentedly and lacking the rigid stance of a commander.
"I know you've all been wanting to talk about what happened at the Gathering and I promise you, today we will discuss it... but first, let's give our attention to two apprentices-" she'd held her child back, for fear his constant sickliness would only find him in trouble that much more often but... in Serpentberry's company, maybe she felt more secure. Then there was the matter of the young loner they'd taken in. "Owlbark... I'll be asking you to tend to Rufouspaw's training; teach him what the life of the clans is like... and how to keep himself safe," she starts, finding the scowling face of her deputy and hoping he understands this a gift rather than a burden.
"Asterpaw... I'm going to be handing your training off to Graybird- I have no doubt you'll be in good company under your uncle's care, he will keep you safe... and teach you what matters most."
That was all she had left to organize on the more fortunate end of things, though her discomfort twists in her belly to now confront the memory of teeth tearing through flesh and the jagged memory of Thornstar's visage. "SkyClan spoke of some sort of 'code', trying to weaponize a moral high ground against us despite the blatant trespass of one of their warriors. I have no reason to believe Owlbark didn't make the right choice and I expect each of you to place your faith in him too. He is your deputy... and he'll take my place someday. Trust him."
her brow furrows, feeling the knot in her chest becoming overwhelming as she dances around the subject of her most grisly death so far. "Hawkstar opted to... forego her own moral compass in the name of revenge and... I'm sorry that many of you were made to witness something so....."
terrifying. painful. torturous. dark.
"Violent."
her chin tucks in, unconsciously, as if trying to mask the mark of the onslaught. "But we will prove ThunderClan is not the battle mongering beasts she claimed us to be. We will be hypervigilant on our borders, we will choose peace to those that give us peace first. Do not scorn our allies for the bloodlust of SkyClan but be strong... be sturdy... be unwavering and confident."
let my blood be the ink that signs the contract to ThunderClan's greatest strength. unity.
"I know this may not satisfy your angers, your fears... so... speak them. Share them with me, we are stronger together and will address this with every voice in mind."
her gaze sweeps the camp, notices what eyes linger at the roseate necklace at her throat, and stiffly turns away from them, carrying herself atop the perch that forms the doorway to her den-- their den. "ThunderClan.... good morning," she calls, hoping to soften their worries with the well-wishing greeting. the spotted tabby curls her tail around her paws, seated contentedly and lacking the rigid stance of a commander.
"I know you've all been wanting to talk about what happened at the Gathering and I promise you, today we will discuss it... but first, let's give our attention to two apprentices-" she'd held her child back, for fear his constant sickliness would only find him in trouble that much more often but... in Serpentberry's company, maybe she felt more secure. Then there was the matter of the young loner they'd taken in. "Owlbark... I'll be asking you to tend to Rufouspaw's training; teach him what the life of the clans is like... and how to keep himself safe," she starts, finding the scowling face of her deputy and hoping he understands this a gift rather than a burden.
"Asterpaw... I'm going to be handing your training off to Graybird- I have no doubt you'll be in good company under your uncle's care, he will keep you safe... and teach you what matters most."
That was all she had left to organize on the more fortunate end of things, though her discomfort twists in her belly to now confront the memory of teeth tearing through flesh and the jagged memory of Thornstar's visage. "SkyClan spoke of some sort of 'code', trying to weaponize a moral high ground against us despite the blatant trespass of one of their warriors. I have no reason to believe Owlbark didn't make the right choice and I expect each of you to place your faith in him too. He is your deputy... and he'll take my place someday. Trust him."
her brow furrows, feeling the knot in her chest becoming overwhelming as she dances around the subject of her most grisly death so far. "Hawkstar opted to... forego her own moral compass in the name of revenge and... I'm sorry that many of you were made to witness something so....."
terrifying. painful. torturous. dark.
"Violent."
her chin tucks in, unconsciously, as if trying to mask the mark of the onslaught. "But we will prove ThunderClan is not the battle mongering beasts she claimed us to be. We will be hypervigilant on our borders, we will choose peace to those that give us peace first. Do not scorn our allies for the bloodlust of SkyClan but be strong... be sturdy... be unwavering and confident."
let my blood be the ink that signs the contract to ThunderClan's greatest strength. unity.
"I know this may not satisfy your angers, your fears... so... speak them. Share them with me, we are stronger together and will address this with every voice in mind."
✮