YOU DON'T OWN ME [ MEETING ] YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ME

[cygnetscratch]

"What code, Hawkstar?"

It was then that the stagnant air of the gathering, festering with bickering apprentices and unsure warriors, snapped from the tension. Her tail must've been held in someone's mouth, for the dirt beneath her claws tell a tale they wish they had. Cygnetscratch wishes she had the votality to release herself from her leash, to crash into brown fur and make the same mess of his flesh as he had done unto her brother. It did not matter his tale, whether or not it was true - what mattered was her brother, his death, and the spit that now smeared overtop of his grave. What code?

She turns to the nearest warrior, and for the first time since that morning, she speaks. Cygnetscratch's voice is raw from unshed tears and a hungering rage. "He's their deputy - their deputy! - and he doesn't honor or respect the code of the Clans?" The molly's voice wavers. Her tongue gets clipped by her fangs, the taste of ichor on her tongue as she continues on haphazardly, "They're all bloodthirsty, idiotic heathens -! All of them!" She had not missed the chaos by the river cats, the biting remarks between the shadow cats. She wouldn't be surprised if WindClan, too, had something hiding beneath their scruffs.

"StarClan save us - if they've assembled cats of all reaches, and not a single one respects the code..." She starts, her voice raising in a crescendo, yet the molly isn't sure where to lead it. They've traveled through harship after hardship, lost loved ones to sickness and injury - StarClan should revere them and yet they are gifted with Clans that sooner wish to draw blood than make amends. What's next - their deputies have not trained apprentices? Their medicine cats have kits? They cannot prey before eating a meal, or they let children play about the territory without care for their safety? Her rage simmers tenfold, and she finally spits out, "They're going to doom us all." And what can SkyClan do now? Fester in the long aching wound with everyone else, waiting for it to kill the host?

 

[Swirlpaw]

Swirlpaw, -- 8 Moons / Skyclan Apprentice -- Ages on the 5th
Brown and orange tabby chimera she-cat with mismatched eyes.
Daughter of Milkheart, sister of Creampaw and Nutmegpaw.
Tagging N/A

---

What code. What code. Swirlpaw felt dizzy in the aftermath of the gathering, processing everything that happened. The other clans didn't even have a code.

What was wrong with them all? Did they not believe in Starclan? Surely they had to. There's just... there's just no way there was no code! Why- they were no better than rogues! Prancing around the forest, attacking and killing any cat they please! "You should have seen it," she murmured to the other apprentices and young warriors that had stayed behind to defend camp, "Thunderclan was all so bloodthirsty, like they didn't even know or care that they killed someone!" it made her fur stand on end, at the thought of them being so close. "They were terrifying! They looked like they would do it again!"

It scared her. What if they went after her next? Or one of her sisters? Or her father, even? She looked around, laying eyes on @Creampaw. and @Chestnutpaw just to make sure they were okay. "Juniperstar was defending Rosebelly's murderer! It was awful! What kind of leader does that!?" her voice pitched a bit at the end of her sentance, fear making it's way in. Leaders were supposed to lead their clan and protect their clanmates from harm, and keep the peace if anyone did something like... something like...! She just can't even imagine having a leader like that! Did they kill random kits in the woods too!? How low could they possibly get!?

 

[Creampaw~]

CREAMPAW // 8 Moons // Skyclan Apprentice // She/They // #f1b8be
A very short but incredibly fluffy furred cream shaded she-cat with floppy ears and deep blue eyes.
Daughter of MILKHEART and DUCHESS, sister to CHESTNUTPAW and SWIRLPAW
Mentored by DAISYDREAM
Often soft-spoken and a little on the shy side. Frightens easily!

---

Creampaw had stayed back at camp the night of the first gathering. Too afraid to go for the very first one and made even more afraid to go by the murder of Rosebelly... It had been a good thing too that she'd stayed behind because by the sounds of it everything that could go wrong, had gone wrong.

Rosebelly's killer had been there at the gathering. Had ThunderClan no shame? No responsibility? Did they feel nothing over what had happened? Surely no cat could be that cruel, right? And yet SkyClan had come back to camp boiling with tension. It had been ThunderClan's own Deputy that had killed Rosebelly, and the other clans didn't respect the warrior's code too? Creampaw hung onto her sister, Swirlpaw's every word after she had come back from it all. Creampaw was usually the first of the sister's to frighten but here Swirlpaw was with fear creeping it's way into her mew too. The apprentice would try and comfort her sister, gently bumping her head into Swirlpaw's shoulder if she allowed it.

"If none of them respect the code, then what do they respect? Not even their own clanmates?" She had heard tidbits of what had happened. The other clans didn't even sound like clans at this point... If even a deputy didn't respect the code then... "What are we going to do? Is SkyClan still safe living here...? The other clans are hardly warriors at all if they follow no code!" Living alongside four other large groups of cats all of whom had no warrior code to help guide their paws, they may as well have been living next to groups of rogues!

She huddled closer to her sisters and father, afraid for the future of SkyClan, but trusting that Hawkstar would know what to do.

 

[TAWNYBEAM]

Hey, Hawkstar, there's an invader, but it's just a kit...

Hey, Hawkstar, you're goin' to want to see this...

Hey, Hawkstar, don't be mad but...

Hey, Hawkstar-

Fitzgerald decisively shakes his head. Ever since the "ambush", he has completely pushed aside his need for sleep. The night continues on above him, silent and unbothered, and it will not end until he gets to see his Clanmates' return. Part of him still itches with anticipation—had they been successful? Had it only ended created even more disaster? The other part of him fears Hawkstar's reaction when Swallowbreeze tells her to come inside the medicine cat den. A stray sickly kitten... Hawkstar cannot abandon it, but the timing couldn't be more terrible than this if war with ThunderClan is on the horizon...

No matter how hard he tries to recite his own words for when the other half of SkyClan comes back, Fitzgerald cannot find anything that sounds good enough. He already knows how his leader's remaining eye will narrow until he spits it out. Nervousness sits like a heavy stone in his belly.

And then finally, finally, the camp's entrance shivers. Fitzgerald's tail mirrors the movement. With a grunt, he pushes himself to his feet and quietly exits the medicine cat den.

Cygnetscratch is not the cat he expects to see. Swirlpaw, Creampaw, and Chestnutpaw are next... but Hawkstar or Flowercloud are nowhere to be seen. Fitzgerald's blood freezes in his veins. Cygnetscratch's too-quick explanation doesn't help it much, but at least she doesn't mention anything crazy like Owlbark going berserk and killing everybody. Well, she does say crazy stuff- like Juniperstar defending her subordinate's murder.

"Barbarians,"

is the first word out of Fitzgerald's mouth. He stares ahead with jaws hanging open, unable to believe what he had just heard. The journey comes back to mind—the fact that they had abandoned everything just to form five Clans once more, and now it all comes to this?

"Wait, wait, wait..."

Fitzgerald stammers.

"What do you mean they don't respect the code? The code?"

It had been the very first thing hammered into his brain, back when he had stumbled into SkyClan and became a daylight warrior. He may not be as hardworking as his Clanmates, but even he knows and obeys the rules.

 

[Quailstep Quailstep]

Quailstep felt ice in her veins. How could ThunderClan call themselves a Clan if there was no respect for the code? Her paws moved of her own accord as she approached @cygnetscratch, pressing her forehead to the young warrior's shoulder in an act of solidarity. Words couldn't come to the warrior, because truly, what could she say to bring comfort?

If the other Clans felt no attachment to the code, if they didn't respect borders.... How could their Clan be safe, even in their own territory? Their own camp?

Clearly they had no respect even for the sanctity of life- to justify a cold-blooded killing was heartless.

But the primary question now.

What did Hawkstar plan to do?

 

[Mousefang]

A rake of claws against a mirror - grazing pelts we all once wore.

SkyClan had traveled long to reach this place of their ancestors and now they find the other clans here have no respect for the code that they had long since followed for countless moons, the code that his mother had upheld rigorously and dutifully until her dying breath, a code that Hawkstar would spill blood for. He can not help but feel some sense of unease with what had happened, he had not expected to see another leader fall this gathering but he had wanted retribution just as any of his other clanmates had. But for a brief second, the chocolate tabby on the ground under their leader's paws had looked like his mother, frail and folded and though their once leader had died a bloodless death it had felt like a murder all the same; a murder of time. Shaking his head up he raises it defiantly, justice was done. Not the clean cut sort of thing he expected, it was almost barbaric in its swiftness and efficiency but he could not deny it had been handled. A small voice in the back of his head whispers that it was cruel, it sounds alarmingly like his mother, he dismisses it.
"We've come to a forest of lawlessness. They know NOTHING."
The rosette spotted tom steps up alongside Quailstep, nodding to the other as she offers comfort to Cygnetscratch whose brother was the catalyst of all of these things. Say what you would of Rosebelly, his death opened many eyes whether they wanted to see or not. He looks to Fitzgerald and scoffs, "They claim to not know that an honorable Warrior does not KILL. They are apparently not even our ancient clan ancestors but new ones wearing their titles..."
He paces, tail lashing in irritation as he looks from each clanmate.
"What other code do they disregard? Will they let our lost kits die if they come across them? They've already proven to not respect our borders or the sanctity of life." He wasn't entirely convinced Rosebelly trespassed, it would be just like a murderer to lie to save face.

Ooc- ooc info here.

x

Mousefang

— SkyClan Warrior (Scout)
— He/Him
"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
— A black rosette tabby with high white & mint green eyes.
#84ba64

 

[DUSKPOOL]

DUSKPOOL​

"Because StarClan's got bees-for-brains and ain't told 'em the one damn thing that meant anythin' to us all." Came Duskpool's bitter response, remarkably deadpan despite the turbulent emotion bubblin' beneath iron-clad skin. His bulky figure stood in the clearin' like a shadow carved from iron and smoke, loomin' and unable to ignore. His presence crackled through the air like thunder before a storm. His thick, wooly coat, obsidian and etched with faint ghost markings, rose with the slow breath of tension, scarred and weathered like an ancient battlefield. "Rotten bastards." He grumbled under his breath, whether he was talkin' about StarClan or someone else, that ain't for anyone but him, timbre practically too low for anyone to hear him.

A molten copper glared beneath a battered brow. His jaws were set firm. The muscle twitchin' like he was chewin' back words. And he was. The mess of it all. The bloodshed paintin' the fourtrees a deep, crimson hue. Massive and unmovin', he stood as if darin' the earth to shift first, broad-shouldered and barrel-chested, quiet in a way that spoke volumes. A protector and a threat wrapped into one.

With a muted huff, Duskpool skimmed the camp bathed in eerie moonlight for his kits, chest tight. It ain't till he shifted, wooly plumage sweepin' the ground, watchin' Swirlpaw with a twinge of muted caution. She'd been adamant in watchin' the slaughter. His molten ember narrowed. Should've never brought 'em along. Rumblin' softly, Duskpool slid a blazin' iris to Maiseyleg, "Come on, let's get ya somethin' to drink." He rumbled gravelly, chest vibratin' with the sensation.

we're only haunted by the things we refuse to accept

ooc

information

main ref

• @Maiseyleg @Swirlpaw
• 

  DUSKPOOL he/him a storm carved in flesh and smoke, duskpool towers with the bulk of a maine coon and norwegin forest cat. his wooly black pelt bristles with ghost-stripes and scars—old wounds etched like lightning through dusk. one copper eye burns like molten steel and the other a mangled ruin of war. every step is heavy, thunderous—war-born, death-burdened, and unflinchingly alive.
  
  ᯓ★ senior warrior of skyclan (sun guard during coffeestar's reign)
  ᯓ★ brother to outlawbite & thistlestrike, half-brother to flowercloud
  ᯓ★ eighty-three moons; ages on the 1st of every month
  ᯓ★ speech thought action
  ᯓ★ peaceful/healing powerplay permitted
• ​

 

[Sagesong's icon Sagesong Sagesong]

Oh, now I'm here and i'm hoping
for sun in the afternoon

.

Sagesong had given up on sleep in the wake of Ptarmigan's...intrusion. How were they going to explain this to Hawkstar? Would Ptarmigan stay after she recovered? A small part of them hoped so, anger briefly flaring in their chest at the thought of them going back to their colony. Who sends a kit out alone to collect herbs? For a supposed debt?

Voices faintly reach her ears, growing louder and more... more angry. Had the gathering ended? Had there been justice for Rosebelly? It doesn't sound like it.

'Bloodthirsty...all of them! ...doom us all. ...was defending Rosebelly's murderer...

Fitzgerald rises to meet those returning, being the most able-bodied of the two and they huff slightly in annoyance of their own injuries. What had happened? What had happened?

At the very least she did not smell blood, a small relief.

She takes a breath, trying to ignore the pain of broken ribs as her lungs expand. "What's happened!?" Sagesong meows to the entrance of the medicine den, a wide net thrown in the hopes that someone will hear and come to explain. "Is everyone alright???"

...What about the code? Did Thunderclan just completely blow them off and ignore them? She vaguely catches Fitz utter the word "barbarians" and it sets her mind alight with every possible terrible scenario that could have happened. They struggle for a moment to sit up in their nest, healing wounds still tender nearly to touch, as mismatched eyes stare at the entrance pleading for someone-anyone- to come and explain.

26 moons

◆

skyclan warrior

◆

they/she

◆

bio

The Flood, The Feeling Comes Over

SAGESONG

✿—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
✿— Small, Curly-furred, Mottled Black And Brown Cat With Heterochromia.
#356458

 

[stormcrow]

The walk home feels three times as long as the walk there. Perhaps it is the weight of her leader leaning on her shoulder, or the weight of all that has transpired. The journey, the deaths, the murder, the revelation that the dream they had worked towards was but smoke and mirrors… It is heavy. It's almost unbearable. But Stormcrow must get Hawkstar home, so she grits her teeth, carries on, and thinks, vaguely, that she would carry Hawkstar till the ends of the earth if she must.

As soon as they arrive back at camp, they are bombarded with questions. It's understandable, given the state of things, but it does nothing to ease the pain growing in her head. She nods dimly, and only speaks up properly when Sagesong approaches them.

"We are unharmed," Stormcrow replies evenly. She refrains from adding at least physically. "But the… the clans–" she spits the word out, like they have somehow dirtied it by using it– "are nothing but bloody pretenders. Liars, thieves, murderers, and heretics. The murderer was accused, and his crime was defended by his leader. They know nothing of the code, nothing of justice…"

Her voice drifts off as her gaze drifts towards Hawkstar, whose maw still drips blood. She does not speak of what their leader, her king, had done. It is not for her to say.

♡ STORMCROW. 54 moons
mentor of stonepaw,
daughter of snowveil
peaceful powerplay allowed
ooc -

 

[Hawkstar]

LEADER OF SKYCLAN

.

The Gathering had been a disaster. Even Hawkstar, the harbinger of all hell cast down upon them last night, could agree (whole-heartedly) that the Gathering had been ruinous, and she was the one to ruin it. She had played right into ThunderClan's greedy paws, what with their down-playing of Rosebelly's death and their dismissal of the code. ThunderClan didn't care for SkyClan life and sanctimony anymore than they cared for ShadowClan's stealing. Their leader has made a martyr of herself, no doubt to further isolate SkyClan away from the rest of the clans, no doubt to prove to her barbaric clan that their flippancy of the warrior code gave her a sort of pyrrhic victory over the cats that had given their lives for the code, and not in spite of it.

Hawkstar could still taste the blood in her mouth and the bile at the back of her throat. She had taken a life. She had never taken another cat's life before. An honorable warrior does not need to kill to win their battles. It had been drilled into her over and over and over again, even when dealing with the rogues and kittypets that lingered on the edges of SkyClan's dwindling home. An honorable warrior did not kill … and yet, in pursuit of vengeance, she had allowed herself to disregard the code to stoop to the level of liars and colony rogues.

She staggers away from Stormcrow to the base of her usual perch as the rumble of her clanmates begins to swell into a roar. Heretics. Barbarians. Bastards. Hawkstar had led her noble clan to a forest of lawlessness and had naively thrown them directly to the wolves as a result. What kind of leader would allow this? Who of their ancestors would protect them? And why were they not warned before their descent into this hell?

Was it her? Had she, with all of her pride and her stubbornness, condemned her clan to this danger? Was it her punishment to see her clan get slowly picked off by murderers, pick-pockets, liars, and anarchists?

She doesn't even have the strength to pull herself up to address them. Instead, she sits limply next to her den, stinking and rotting in the new-dawn light. Crimson all over.

"I have failed you all." Hawkstar begins in a rasp. "I promised you a forest that was bountiful. I promised you all a home safer than the one we left behind. You left your mates and your Twolegs and your families, and sacrificed everything you knew to follow me here, but everything we thought true has turned out to be a lie.

The clans of this forest are pretenders. They are not the clans we knew from legend. They are colonies, done up with a new StarClan, probably no older than Lostmoon's kits and still just as wet behind the ears. The so-called 'deputy' of ThunderClan killed Rosebelly, and defended his actions with a speech I can only describe as roguish. His leader defended his decision without question."

She swallows thickly, pulling back the strands of spit that formed at the very thought of him, of what he had done, and what she had agreed to in her fury.

"I failed you all because I was no better than them last night. 'A life for a life.' I wanted his head for what he did to my apprentice. For his callousness. For his disrespect to the title of deputy as a codebreaker. Juniperstar refused me the killer and offered herself instead."

"A life for a life," Hawkstar repeated, "that was our agreement. ThunderClan's debt is paid, and I have disrespected the very code I was tasked to protect you all with. The clans here know no code except survival and bloodsport, and I - I just -"

She takes a slow, shaky breath. "I was wrong. And for that, I am so… so sorry."

pointed torbie

◆

64 moons

◆

she / they

◆

bio

 

[Swirlpaw]

Swirlpaw, -- 8 Moons / Skyclan Apprentice -- Ages on the 5th
Brown and orange tabby chimera she-cat with mismatched eyes.
Daughter of Milkheart, sister of Creampaw and Nutmegpaw.
Tagging N/A

---

Swirlpaw stared up at their leader, the cat chosen by the stars to uphold their code and ethics, to pass down wisdom to their clan and protect their clanmates, to lead the clan into prosperity and peace. The clan's blazing star. She blinked, Hawkstar's words washing over her. She couldn't... be wrong. She just couldn't. Her word was law. She can't make mistakes like this...

But she did.

It send Swirlpaw's head spinning, the idea that Hawkstar could be wrong about something. She wasn't wrong though! She did what needed to be done! The only way to make those lowlife rogues understand, truly understand what they had done was to take a life for a life. They don't function under the warrior code! They don't understand thinks like the Skyclan cats do. They only understand through violence and murder. If Hawkstar hadn't have done it, Thunderclan would have done it again, probably! Chased them down and attacked anyone near the border! Now they understand the cost of justice, the cost of callous murder, the cost of attacking Skyclan and killing her clanmates. They were only lucky that Juniperstar offered herself... Juniperstar has more lives... right?

Ignoring the sinking feeling in her gut, she glanced around at her clanmates, staring at their reactions. Hawkstar couldn't be wrong.

...But she was. She said it herself. She admitted it. She said it aloud to all of her clan who look up to her and trust her to lead. She... admitted her mistake. And... isn't that harder than anything else? Making a mistake as a leader and admitting it? That has to be so hard for Hawkstar to do. To face her clanmates with a brave face and say that she did wrong.

That's more admirable than anything else, to Swirlpaw.

 

[Ptarmigankit Ptarmigankit]

———————————— You're not meant to sing along, it isn't that kind of song. ✦

The scrap of fur writhed in their sleep; whatever Swallowbreeze had given them had begun to do its work, but even so, their fever had yet to break and with the rising sun grew warmer and warmer as their sleep became disturbed.

That sudden cacophony of shouting, of frustration and rage, jolted them awake with a startle. Heart racing out of their chest as their bleary mind nearly forgot where they were, a momentary panic settled in seeing the place lit up in the daylight. It was Sagesong's voice that had returned them to reality, the kindness, the gentle words, and they let out a shuddered sigh. From the hastily put together nest the remaining cats had made them to sleep, the overwhelming overlapping sound of upset cats filled the den.

Gently, as carefully as they could, they half-stumbled over their paws and shakily settled at Sagesong's side, craning their head up to look at them. "Where did they come from? They were not h-here when-"

Though, Ptarmigan's voice drifted to a silence as the scent of blood permeated the air, instinctively they ducked behind the cat at their side, peering as a scarred molly came to view from the maw of the den. Blood dripped from her lips down her chest, like she had been in a massacre. Her voice rang out through the air, clear but shaking. Clans and colonies? Codes and Warriors? Life for a life....

Her blood ran cold; it was a sentiment she was all too familiar with. Anything one takes must be paid back in full. Ptarmigan only had a debt of herbs, but wasn't unfamiliar with the ideals of trading life for life. Their ears flattened back, a new wave of terror drumming in their chest. But... She apologised?

That was the shake in her voice, guilt. Unlike cats of their own colony, like the one she speaks of, "Thunderclan", pride is taken in repaying a debt, be it a lifetime's herbs or a traded life. This cat, she was remorseful for what she did, driven to it from a desperation perhaps....

Ptarmigan's paws still shook, be it residual panic or sickness or even the sheer number of cats who had poured into camp, but she didn't feel scared. It was a strange sensation, really. The kitten watching on from nearby, one of the few cats she believed would not hurt them (Given they had the chance to during the night, and yet they awoke again), a glimpse of curiosity about how this place functioned.

——— Now you're lying face down.

You blend into the background. ———

• 
  Ptarmigan
  ✦—Future Skyclan Kitten | 4 moons
  ✦—They/He/She
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A long-haired sealpoint kitten with tired amber eyes.
  #94e4ae

 

[TAWNYBEAM]

Fitzgerald's breath hitches when more cats pour into the camp—at the helm, Hawkstar. Her fur is more stained than before she had left... no, it's not even stained anymore, but drenched. It looks fresh, and it absolutely terrifies him. At least she wastes no time with offering an explanation to everyone, and Fitzgerald is but one sheep amongst the herd, head snapping towards her when she moves. He drinks up her every word, except-

"No!"

He freezes when he realizes that he had voiced his opinion out loud, instead of screaming internally. His tailtip twitches and his flank suddenly itches. There is nothing to do but continue now.

"It's not your fault!"

His voice shakes as he addresses Hawkstar.

"You didn't... you couldn't have known that these Clans- they're not even Clans, but anyway... nobody knew that we'd have to settle by this codeless bunch."

Fitzgerald swears his swallow is audible. Surely, not even StarClan had known that things would turn out this way? He might keep the topic of their starry ancestors at a tail's length, but he knows how important they are. If they wanted SkyClan to survive, then they wouldn't have led them here, where rules can be broken without consequence.

He remembers his Twolegs and how his heart had ached for them. Fitzgerald will never forget them, but he has not regretted his decision in following Hawkstar.

ThunderClan's dept is paid, Hawkstar says, and Fitzgerald tries to find Flowercloud with his gaze. He doesn't pretend to know a single thing about how this—murder, a life for a life, revenge—works. Still, he can't help but wonder whether the grieving mother agrees or not. Justice has been served but not for the murderer himself. Does that ease the hurt in Flowercloud?

Fitzgerald gasps when the new kitten's voice reaches his ears. He hadn't even noticed that the poor scrap had left the den.

"Stay close,"

he whispers to her, wrapping his tail around that too-small body and hoping that Hawkstar is too preoccupied with the Clan to notice the stranger.

"Nobody's gonna hurt you, but things are, uh... tense. We'll wait with your introduction."

 

[[SNOWVEIL] [SNOWVEIL]]

SNOWVEIL, 92 moons / SkyClan + Perm Queen
A lean silver black lynx point with milky blue eyes and many scars
Delights in listening to all that goes around, can be a bit gruff, will put you on your place
Tagging @Hawkstar

---

Snowveil listened in silence as discord rippled through the clan like a storm rolling in over still water. The tension hung thick in the air, words clashing, guilt and confusion rising in waves. Her milky eyes stared forward unseeing, yet her ears took in every voice, every whisper. Slowly, piece by piece, she gathered the truth. And then Hawkstar stood. Snowveil's heart stilled as she listened to her former apprentice speak, not with excuses, but with truth. Guilt. Ownership. The weight of a choice made. Hawkstar had broken the very code they were all sworn to uphold, and she had not hidden from it. A frown marked Snowveil's face. Her torn ear twitched as she considered how to respond. She hadn't gone to the Gathering. She had remained behind, knowing full well that justice was not something to be rushed, not with what was at stake.

And yet, justice had come. Bittersweet. The kind that tasted like ash. She had heard of the other clans, ragged voices, kits crying for mothers lost, leaders clinging to fading order. Survivors, yes. But adrift. A soft scoff left her lips. Snowveil finally rose, moving forward and carefully weaving through the crowd. Every step was precise, ears swiveling, murmured apologies offered whenever she bumped against a clanmate. Sightless, but certain, she made her way to the one she had once guided, trained, loved like her own. She stopped before Hawkstar. Her head lifted.

" Hawkstar. " she began, her voice low and even. She lowered herself to sit, thin tail curling neatly over her paws. " I am proud of you. " She let the words settle. " You took a life today. And yes, you're right, we do not condone this. We are warriors, not executioners. We were trained to protect, to defend, not to kill our own. " Her voice didn't waver, but there was a gentle undercurrent of sorrow. " Carry this with you. This feeling. Let it shape your future choices. Hold it in your heart, but do not let it consume you. You did what you thought was right in that moment… and that matters. "

Her ears flicked back briefly, then forward again. " As for bringing us here, I do not regret it. " A breath left her, steady and sure. " Our old home was crawling with rats. If we'd stayed, we would have gotten sick. We would have faded, one by one. And then? There would be no one left to carry the code. " She tilted her head, expression unreadable. " I do not agree with what happened. The death… it was unnecessary. But if these cats only know survival, then I can understand, mind you not forgive, not excuse, but understand. If they know nothing of the code, well… " She dipped her head slightly. " Then perhaps someone should teach them. "

She let a wry smile touch her face. " Maybe these idiots need someone to breathe life back into the code we've carried for generations. "

DON'T LET MY CALM FOOL YOU

there's fire underneath this snow

 

[SWALLOWBREEZE]

swallowbreeze decided to stay awake for the rest of the night. her body protested otherwise, but her mind thought otherwise— if people showed up broken and bloodied, it's better she worked sleep deprived than pulled from a deep sleep. she lazily pads to the mouth of her den, peering out, ears swiveling as they try to catch every cry of outrage.

her clan doesn't come home covered in blood, but their words weave a different kind of injury. skyclan had been struck in their most vital organ, their unwavering loyalty of the code, the ancestors that glitter above head. something sits heavy in the pit of swallowbreeze's belly as she recalls bits and pieces of her conversations with the other medicine cats.

seeing hawkstar caked in blood, her voice thick with grief, make swallowbreeze uncomfortable. the pointed king hasn't been ruling for long, but in her short reign she has shown to be powerful. no other cat would've been able to lead them through the gorge like she had, coffeestar knew exactly what qualities to consider when picking her successor.

she hadn't seen the little intruder stumble over her paws, and right when she's about to reach for her, fitzgerald gets their first. she sighs through her nose, then continues to listen. disappointed etched deeply in her visage.

 

[Chestnutpaw]

Hawkstar was the last cat that Chestnutpaw would ever deem a codebreaker! A scandalized gasp escapes her as she leans closer to her sisters. To think she of all cats would disrespect the code, oh perish the thought she had to lean against @Swirlpaw for mock support. Lifting her head to stare at @Creampaw. with a dramatic pout as she moves her paw to rest against Swirlpaw's shoulder. "What have these monsters of cats done to our leader?" She wasn't afraid to fear monger amongst her kin. A wilting flower in the gathering of cats around them, her face remains cool while her voices carries the weight of a frightened girl. Clearly it couldn't be their leaders fault, the shining star that is Hawkstar wouldn't have done something like that unless her paw was forced. While the ThunderClan leader hadn't forcefully dragged her claws out her deputy's thoughtless actions did, that was just unacceptable as far as she's concerned.

There's talk of regret. How they maybe shouldn't have left their previous home, she doesn't think much of it truly. Raising her head with a sniff, glancing around in hopes to see her father in the crowd. What would Milkheart say of all this? Would he agree with Snowveil's sentiment. Whenever unsure on how to feel she knew she could rely on him to be some kind of guide. Chestnutpaw was young when they left, young enough to forget about their home but old enough to not erase all thoughts of it. Their mother was back at their old home, was she still waiting for their return? The apprentice couldn't help but let a part of her hope so, no matter what has been said. There's a dark hold of her soul, one that clings to hold on with all of it's claws. Gnashing it's teeth and cheering at the thought of them leaving, no matter how horrible their previous home had apparently been.

Instead she keeps her paw on Swirlpaw's shoulder. Ever the chittering apprentice she glances to her two sisters. "Did you hear that? Hawkstar said sorry" how impressive, how grand! She could never stoop so low as to apologise for something out of her control such as rogue cats with no code to hold them together. Chestnutpaw could never do that but she supposed it was rather impressive that the leader could do such a thing. How grand of her, she truly was star blessed!

MY EMPTY HALLS ECHO ☆ WITH GRAND SELF-MYTHOLOGY

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• 

• CHESTNUTPAW she/her, SkyClan apprentice, 08 moons.
  ☆ A chocolate smoke with high white and big blue eyes.
  ☆ MILKHEART X DUCHESS | Littermates with CREAMPAW and SWIRLPAW
  ☆ penned by Juice↛ Ouijeejuice on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

 

[Hawkstar]

LEADER OF SKYCLAN

.

Reassurance is an ashen thing against Hawkstar's ears. Fitzgerald surges forward, still hurt and aching as she was, still in the throes of recovery, throwing down his gauntlet to her again. Defending her against an accusation made so plainly by even this new "StarClan", who upheld Juniperstar's peace over SkyClan's justice. SkyClan had entered into a covenant foreign to them, hostile to them, without warning and still they were meant to pay the price.

"I have been loose with the code and with my morals. I have allowed myself to slip. It will be remedied."

She draws herself a little higher, imagining herself sitting by Coffeestar's side once more. Her loyal, lawful deputy, the brute to Coffeestar's quiet wisdom. Hawkeye never would've allowed herself to make such a mistake. Hawkeye was careful where Hawkstar was reckless.

Perhaps it was less than perfect to kill off the parts of her past, instead of learning from them.

"No matter what these rogues think, the warrior code of our ancestors has kept us alive and will continue to do so. For the sake of appearances, we will honor their only law: a gathering of peace every other moon, but we will not forsake our own because they believe themselves more enlightened than us. Every kit and apprentice will know the code before they know how to climb a tree or catch a bird. We will create two lines at every border: one where the border between clans sit, and one a fox-length into our territory. Our warriors will not cross our internal border for any reason aside from saving another clanmate and patrols should never be less than three cats strong.

Do not let your guards down with any clans. Do not assume their friendliness means kindness. ThunderClan and ShadowClan cannot be trusted. I will travel to RiverClan and WindClan to speak with their leaders. Until then, our borders are closed and our clan is shuttered. SkyClan has no use for liars and cheats for allies.

As for the codes I have broken, I will fix it. I will fix all of it. I promise."

She'd rather destroy the whole of ThunderClan, or rip every one of her gifted lives from her body, than let another one of her warriors die because of her stupidity ever again.

Hawkstar lowers her head, her good eye lowering from clan to cat to k- to kit?

The pointed torbie looks up, confused by the new face behind Fitzgerald's fluffy tail. "Who's kit is that?"

pointed torbie

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64 moons

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she / they

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bio

 

[TAWNYBEAM]

Hawkstar disposes of Fitzgerald's attempts at comfort; or, for all he knows, she stores them away for later. He wouldn't expect her to lap them up in public, or even in the privacy of her own den. Fitzgerald rolls his shoulders—one not as much as the other—and decides that it is enough to have let himself be heard. Snowveil speaks the truth, too, and puts it so much more elegantly than he had. SkyClan is not turning against its leader in these trying times.

Can the other Clans say that for themselves, too? If they do not know of the simplest of codes, the ones that even kits can learn while their ears are full of fluff, then what do they know about loyalty?

His own vitriol scares him a little. He had never cared much for their neighbors. Now they feel impossible to ignore.

The fur along Fitzgerald's spine stands on end when Hawkstar's speech is punctuated by a question directed straight at him. He glances towards Swallowbreeze, as if asking for help, and decides against unloading the entire story. The Clan will know about this so-called colony that had sent a sickly kitten to steal... but that can wait. His tail releases Ptarmigan so that everyone can take a look at her, but Fitzgerald does not abandon her side.

"This is, um... this is Ptarmigan. They stumbled into our camp while we were waitin' for all of you to return."

He feels the beating of his own heart in his ears. Surely nobody is going to chase out a defenseless kitten? SkyClan, the only Clan with morale in this entire forest, apparently.

"I know I should've told you 'bout her earlier, but- heh. We were kinda occupied. So I thought I'd wait but you're perceptive as ever, Hawkstar, and you saw him... I'll just stop talking now."

 

[Swirlpaw]

Swirlpaw, -- 8 Moons / Skyclan Apprentice -- Ages on the 5th
Brown and orange tabby chimera she-cat with mismatched eyes.
Daughter of Milkheart, sister of Creampaw and Chestnutpaw.

Tagging @Chestnutpaw

---

Swirlpaw turned to her sister, eyes wide. Of course her sister would notice too, how admirable it was for Hawkstar to admit to her shortcomings and apologize! "I know, right!?" She whisper-yelled in response. "She's so brave!" Hawkstar started speaking again, and Swirlpaw turned back to look up at her with a reverence, hanging onto every single word. Her admittance to letting the code slip... Her promise that it would be remedied, no matter what. Swirlpaw most certainly believed every single thing she said. She would be even more cautious of the borders and the other clans, careful in a way that Hawkstar would approve. Shadowclan and Thunderclan cannot be trusted.

She needs to learn how to fight better, she realizes, after a moment. She had been going about her training with the eagerness of a kit- not understanding the full reasons of why it was important to learn, but throwing herself headfirst into it anyway. She needed to take it all more seriously, so she could protect her clan, her... her sisters, her father, Hawkstar. She needed to learn more.

It was only when their leader pointed out the kit, that her head twisted around to stare with her other clanmates. She hadn't even noticed it there! They certainly weren't one of theirs. He was so... small and frail. She leaned over to whisper into Chestnutpaw's ear. "Where do you thinks she came from? Do you think she's a Thunderclan kitten? Do you think they throw out their own kits? I wouldn't put it past them..." she gossiped.

 

[Quailstep Quailstep]

Quailstep watched as Hawkstar admitted to her own breaking of the code - but surely there was an interpretation of their code which allowed for the defense of the Clan against danger from outsiders. And that's what the other Clans were acting like, wasn't it? Not Clan but rogues, violent and hateful and only concerned with their own selves. No value for the code, no value for their ancestors. How had the other leaders even been gifted nine lives by their ancestors, if they held no value for the ways of Clan life?

In any case, she admired their leader for her admission, for vowing to do better. Clearly, Hawkstar was the right choice not only for their own Clan, but for enforcing the code among all the Clans. Perhaps, now that the Clans would meet in truce, the code could be shared with discussion.

Perhaps.

At the mention of the kit, she turned, blinking her eyes in surprise. The kit was so little- surely they had a place here for them!

OOC PROFILE DETAILS

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  ||open to interaction||
• SkyClan Warrior
  34 moons || she/they
  SPEECH || THOUGHTS
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