PAFP Event RiverClan ShadowClan WHERE THE NORTH WIND MEETS THE SEA ] heist

[cicadabuzz]

CICADABUZZ, 30 moons / shc + med. cat
a SH cinnamon tabby/chocolate tortie chimera w/ black eyes
parent to deathberrykit, hemlockkit, mistletoekit ; mentor to magpiepaw
a reserved, pragmatic healer driven by duty rather than sentiment

The air near Fourtrees is dense and quiet, save for the faint rustle of leaves stirred by the breeze and the slow breathing of cats in shadow. Cicadabuzz stands still, their tail draped in dried tansy and marigold, dew glistening against the fibers like stars caught in a spiderweb. Their gaze drifts from one gathered cat to the next—Wolfpack, tall and still; Stoatpaw and Vulturepaw shifting with a mix of nerves and determination; Coalstrike nearly indistinguishable from the darkness he stands in. Cicadabuzz speaks low, their voice soft, but never uncertain.

"We are not here to fight." The words carry like a whisper shaped from stone. Final. Measured. "We go in quiet, move fast, and leave faster. I've explained to you what the herbs I would like to to grab look like. You will grab them and get out." They pause and look upward—just briefly—toward the open sky framed by the four ancient, towering trees, as if reading something from the stars before dropping their eyes again. "There is no glory in spilling blood tonight. No need to prove yourselves here. If a cat wakes, if RiverClan catches wind of us—do not waste time playing hero. Take what you have and run." Their shoulders rise and fall in a slow breath. Their fur shifts slightly as the dried petals and herbs attached to their pelt catch a draft in the silence between words. They don't speak for drama—Cicadabuzz never does. But they let the silence stretch for a heartbeat before continuing. "If claws are drawn, defend yourselves. But don't linger. Don't try to carry more than you can. If you're cornered, you will run. If it is between yourself and the herbs, you drop the herbs and flee."

Their gaze lingers a moment on Stoatpaw, then Vanillapaw, then Vulturepaw. Younger bodies. Fast, yes—but new to risk. "I won't patch any of you up just to watch you bleed again for pride. Do not make me waste what we came to collect." They turn slightly, glancing toward the distant shimmer of reeds and riverwater where RiverClan sleeps unaware. "I know what they keep there. I've seen it before, when we were not yet ShadowClan. Fennel. Goatweed. Willow leaves. Things we do not have in our land. That is what we're after. Not vengeance. Not territory. Not some self-righteous stand." Another glance backward. Eyes meeting each of theirs again, slow and steady. "If something happens and I fall behind, don't come back for me. I will find my own way."

A flick of the ear cuts off any imagined protest. "That goes for all of us. No martyrs tonight." They step forward, tail trailing behind like a river weed in slow current. "Once we cross the river, no more talking. You know your instructions. You know your goal. The moon is now behind cloud. Let's move before it changes its mind." And with that, Cicadabuzz melts into the underbrush, the herbs woven in their fur rustling like dry breath on stone, leading them into the dark.


[ please wait for a few of the people tagged to post first before replying!! ]
[ @WOLFPACK @Coalstrike @Cherryblaze @Jadethorn @Hollowmist @Stoatpaw @VULTUREPAW @VANILLAPAW ]

 

[Hollowmist's iconHollowmist]

♢Worried 'Bout The Future

Ain't Fuckin' With The Past♢

It glides forward like a silent ghost, body low and ears pricked to listen to the medicine cat's instruction. Fennel. Goat weed. Willow leaves. Hollowmist sees all of them in its mind's eye and nods slowly. All of them were easily recognizable.

"If someone wants they can follow me and help gather the willow leaves. I will break the leaves from their branches and you may collect. It will make for faster work." They scan the rest of the patrol to see if anyone would take the offer, before rolling their shoulders and stepping towards the water's edge. "...Do not drown while crossing."

The reminder- command- is said to no one in particular as Hollowmist wades in until its paws are no longer able to touch the sandy bottom and it kicks off with force to swim across with smooth strokes. They stand on the shoreline to be sure the rest of the patrol makes it across before turning and padding into the undergrowth with a flick of the tail. They will find the closest willow tree and strip it bare to the bark if need be.

Ain't Got No Time To Waste On Bullshit

♢

You Know I Gotta Keep My Head On Straight

• short and sweet, gathering willow leaves!
• 
  Hollow
  — Thief of Shadowclan
  — It/They
  "SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  — A LH Black/Fawn Chimera W/ High White (LaPerm)
  #a7767c

 

[Stoatpaw]

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

At first, Stoatpaw was estatic to be trusted for a seemingly on the down low patrol, especially after her attricious attempt at sparring she was thrilled to still be trusted. Though it faultered as they made it again to Fourtrees, the same place she brought her clanmates. The strong scent of Riverclan was unmistakable.

Of course, Stoat's jaw grew slack at the realisation of what this was, a heist. They were here to collect herbs, and they needed silence. For a moment, she looked at her paws, which had been an issue with her making noise during training. She had improved, significantly so, but this was a hell of a high-stakes way to test her training. Part of her wanted to ask if she could go home. Yes, the Riverclan cats were downright rude when she tried to talk with them, but she was apprehensive about trespassing to steal herbs... Then again, it wasn't her first time. She had snuck into Windclan plenty of times to go flower picking, maybe she could just think of it like that? Plus, what would the clan think if she chickened out now...

The ivory apprentice let out a small sigh as Cicadabuzz finished talking and noticed Hollowmist interjecting. The idea of helping one of the warriors sounded like a better plan than going out alone, at least if she was too loud, she knew Hollow wouldn't hesitate to remind her of much.

She trotted to the cat, looking up with a nod. "I'll help with the willow leaves." She desperately tried to whisper, it'd be one of the only things she could speak, she wouldn't even dare to breathe too hard when she crossed into the territory. At least she and Hollowmist had the advantage of the moonlight in some way, but with a cloudy night, that would come few and far between.

She sculked behind the warrior, constantly checking her pawsteps to not shuffle them in the dirt, seeing no plumes like she had so much before. Stoatpaw settled her breath, though a small smile tugged at her lips, realising the brief opportunity to swim. Now she was especially grateful for her father's lessons.

The cool water was refreshing and for a moment, soothed her nerves, but she realised something else would come in handy. The strong scent of the pocosin was dulled on Hollowmist now as their long fur dripped water to the riverclan soil below. Their scents had been masked, if only having been washed away from the river. It gave her a thought, but she couldn't risk lagging behind the warrior, quickly shaking off the excess water so she wouldn't be bogged down, padding along in Hollowmist's pawsteps.

Stoatpaw could recall how Cicadabuzz described the willow, and it sounded rather familiar; she could have sworn the patrol had passed something like that trying to locate the moss. The memory was hard to push away; she wasn't certain she was right, but regardless, the apprentice trotted ahead of Hollowmist, eyes scanning diligently. The area looked different at night, but she knew there was a tree like that somewhere-

Like a sudden realisation struck Stoat, her tail stood up as she turned and motioned to Hollow, a smile reaching her eyes as she motioned to the tree. She hoped it was the right one, but at least she could be of some use, having come to the territory recently, if only to the border.

——— While you were sleeping,

Everything changed at once. ———

• 
  Stoatpaw
  ✦—Shadowclan apprentice | 8 Moons
  ✦—She/Her
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK, PAWSPEAK
  ✦—A slender white cat with faint lilac markings and blue eyes.
  #96d5f1
  ⤷ Written by Phoenix

 

[Coalstrike]

I'LL SHOW NO MERCY, I'LL SHOW NO REMORSE.

——————————​

Coalstrike watched Cicadabuzz with a faint scowl tugging at his face, a scoff nearly rising to his throat before he turned his focus to his apprentice. Dipping his head slightly, he spoke in a low, firm voice. " Pay heed to what's said, Vanillapaw. Keep yourself hidden, make sure your stealth is sharp. Watch your surroundings and take note of anything you think might be useful to our medicine cat. " His ear gave a single flick, tail lashing once with a sharp snap. Fish-eating vermin… The thought made his fur bristle.

He turned slightly at the sound of Hollowmist's voice, nodding with reluctant approval at the mention of willow leaves before offering his own plan. " I'll look for goatweed. " he rumbled, stepping ahead and casting a brief glance over the group. " Anyone who wants to come with me, come. Otherwise, split off and form your own group. Find what we need. We won't get anything done stumbling around like headless chickens. "

Without waiting for further discussion, the tom began moving forward with a steady, purposeful stride. As he walked, he added over his shoulder in a gruff murmur. " If you've got questions, Vanillapaw, ask. "

—————————————————————————————————

I'll watch the battle until the dust is clear.

 

[WOLFPACK]

AND I AM SORRY MY CONSCIENCE CALLED IN SICK AGAIN

______________________________________________________________________​

Wolfpack held his tongue the entire time Cicadabuzz spoke. He wasn't against helping himself to their neighbour's supply of herbs, but he wasn't sure how he felt about their medicine cat being there. They were arguably more important to Wolfpack and the clan than Sablestar himself was, and he wasn't exactly willing to trust in the morals of a neighbouring group to not seriously harm them should the group be caught And what would Shadowclan have then? Magpiepaw? He'd already made his thoughts on that clear enough– and opinions aside, they were too young to do any real good for the clan.

"If something happens and i fall behind, don't come back for me."

He didn't object there and then, because now wasn't the time to get into a debate over what would or would not be done, but the soft growl that rumbled out of his chest was low and unmistakable– not angry, but certainly discontent with the healers decision. Though he seemed to know–

No point trying to get that mountain to bend.

Cicadabuzz would do, what Cicdabuzz wanted.

The group started to split, cats peeling off into pairs and trios. Hollowmist and Stoat. Coalstrike and Vanillapaw. All fine. Wolf didn't care what the others did or who they ran into.

"I'm with you." he said flatly, stepping after Cicadabuzz as they turned to move, glancing back once at Vulturepaw in the cluster and signalling for him to follow as well.

Shaking off the fact that their medicine cat was with them, Wolfpack put his focus in the task at hand, instead. Because really, he was pleased to have been asked along. The clan knew well by now that he didn't share in the same silly illusions of peace that some did, and in many ways this was just as much a thrill as it was a risk. The two– for Wolfpack at least– often found themselves entangled messily. Crossed-wires, maybe, or just the natural instincts of any territory-holding carnivore.

It was hard to draw the line, sometimes.

---

​

OOC NOTES . ◭ . CHARACTER INFO

• ooc : —​
• shadowclan deputy - male - a large, monochrome chimera with mismatched eyes and several scars