Keeping the Clans Alive {An Advanced Warriors RP} discussion

{Roleplay}

Flamepaw stepped silently out the medicine cat den, her nose twitching as she scented the camp. Her nose was quickly able to tell her who was in the Clan and what most of them were doing. Fresh scents near the tunnel told her that a patrol had just left, likely the dawn patrol, and the strong rabbit scent told her that a hunting patrol had just returned. At the thought of the succulent animal, her stomach rumbled and she breathed deeply, wondering if her mentor would allow her to eat before she started work for the day.

Featherstar padded up to the medicine cat apprentice. "Morning, Flamepaw!" she smiled. "How are you this morning? I'm fine, but what about you?" Featherstar loved to talk, she found much pleasure in simply sitting and chatting with whoever was closest. She knew quiet Flamepaw wasn't the most social cat, but she had to make do.

Flamepaw turned her icy blind gaze on the leader. She could've heard the she-cat coming from yards away, she was so loud. She flattened her ears as her leader began to chat, wanting nothing more than to just turn and pad away as if nothing was happening. Maybe she could...Maybe she could pretend she was deaf as well as blind. Then maybe no cat would try to talk to her. And with any other cat, she probably would have; just walk away, that is. But this was her leader. And if she ever wanted to be a good medicine cat, she had to speak with her leader.
"I'm fine, Featherstar." her reply was short, but she tried to sound at least a bit friendly.

Featherstar could tell that Flamepaw didn't want to talk, and started getting annoyed. If she wanted to be a good medicine cat, she had to start talking sometime. Nonetheless, she maintained her cheerful disposition and gave Flamepaw a friendly flick with her tail. "Come on, mouse-brain," she mewed, smiling at the she-cat's frown. "Lighten up! You've got a whole day ahead, and it's so warm today!" She smiled and took a deep breath.

"I hate the heat. It's unbearable," Flamepaw muttered grumpily, lashing her tail. Though she could quickly sense a light frustration, or perhaps...annoyance? drifting from her leader, so she spoke again, and quickly. "Though I've been told hot days are the best day to make my pelt look nice. Supposedly it shines like fire."

Featherstar looked at the pretty she-cat, what she said was true. "You do look beautiful in this sunshine!" She sensed that Flamepaw was growing impatient, and gave up. "Well, I'll let you get back to work. See you later!" She turned and walked away, mumbling to herself. "Flamepaw just doesn't like other cats. At some point she'll have to start talking. I'll just wait for that day." She laid down in the sunshine, waiting for patrols to go out.

Flamepaw listened as Featherstar padded away, and retreated back to the medicine cat den. She returned with her mentor and the two padded out of camp, licking their lips from the bitter traveling herbs they'd taken. Flamepaw could feel excitement for once in a long time. It was finally time to go to the Moonpool again.

((Do you mind if I post with Moonpelt real quick Arieya?))

((Not at all, go right ahead))

Moonpelt usually enjoyed going to moo pool but this time she was not. It had only been half a moon since she had killed her sister and her unborn kits in a fit of jealous rage. She wondered if Duskflight knew it had been her sister who had killed her and sent her to Starclan early. She wondered if Starclan had been watching that night, would they visit her in her dreams and cast her out of the clans? Could they do that? Moonpelt wasn't sure but she didn't want to take take that chance either, but it would seem suspicious if she let Flamepaw go alone. Sighing she readied the travel herbs that she and Flamepaw would need. Then she waited for Flamepaw to get done talking to Featherstar. When she was done she silently handed Flamepaw her share of the travel herbs and they set off.

Stormpaw padded into camp and looked around. When she saw all of the other cats she retreated back to the apprentice den she just wanted to be alone

Maplenose yawned, blinking sleep out of his eyes. He had slept later than most of the other cats, he'd been on watch last night which was his excuse for sleeping past the normal time. But now its time to get up. Maybe lead a border patrol, he thought as he slid out of the warriors den. His golden brown pelt ruffled, and splayed out in every direction. Settling in his favorite spot on the edge of the clearing, Maplenose began to give himself a quick morning grooming.

Featherstar opened her eyes to see Rabbitrun holding her, yowling at the camp. She saw Silentpaw stare down at her and smiled. She was home. She wondered why she hurt so bad, then looked down at herself and saw a long gash on her leg and gasped.

Silentpaw saw his leader's eyes open and nudged Rabbitrun. He looked down at the she-cat and shook her gently. Silentpaw began to wash the blood off of her cut.

Stormpaw gazed at the camp, looking for Moonpelt when she saw that Moonpelt wasn't back yet she wispered to Rabbitrun "I'm going to get some cobwebs." Then bolted, as fast as she could go into the moor, looking desperately for cobwebs.

Featherstar shook her head. "No, I'm fine," she lied. The three words made her entire body ache all over. She looked down at her leg again and noticed it was covered in cobwebs. "Thank you," she murmured, before closing her eyes and blacking out again.

Silentpaw shook his leader, wishing he could yowl. His leader needed care. How was WindClan supposed to uphold the warrior code if no one could lead them?

Stormpaw returned with cobwebs and padded them on Featherstar's leg. She looked really worried "I need to go find Moonpelt" she wispered with a look at her leader lying helpless on the ground, she turned and ran to the moonpool.

Slinking out of the apprentices' den, Silverpaw joined Stormpaw, watching as Rabbitrun and Featherstar slipped into the leaders' den. "What happened?" she questioned her fellow apprentice, flicking her striped tail in query. She had not seen Featherstar's injury, but from the yowling assumed someone had been hurt.

Stormpaw ducked her head and mumbled "We...w.were...o.on a border...patroll and...F.Featherstar accused them o..of taking...our...prey...a..and... they..a.attacked us..." She looked down at a gash on her shoulder which is dripping blood on the groud. "F..Featherstar is h...hurt!"

Concerned, Silverpaw looked at Stormpaw's shoulder and nosed his uninjured flank with her nose. "You should find out how to keep that clean and help it heal," she mewed. "What do medicine cats usually use?"

Moonpelt rushed into camp "Whetes Featherstar?" She asked no one in particular. She took one look at the injured apprentice and knew that her dream had been true. "Stormpaw I want you to go rest in the medicine cat den." She said

Flamepaw skittered in after her mentor. When no cat replied to Moonpelt's call, she tasted the air. A thick scent of blood was wrapped around Featherstar's own scent, and it led to the leader's den. She dashed over and beckoned her mentor. "She's in here." she called. Then she rushed through the crowd of cats, pushing her way through them roughly, unable to see a clear path. She disappeared into the medicine cat den and reappeared a moment later with the proper herbs Moonpelt had listed during their run back. She shoved her way through again, meeting her mentor at the leader's den once more.

Moonpelt nodded though she knew Flamepaw couldn't see and rushed to the entrance of the Featherstar's den. "Move out of the way." She hissed at a cat who was standing still a and blocking Flamepaw's path. "Thank you Flamepaw lets just pray to StarClan that Featherstar hasn't sustained a serious injury or lost a life." She said before entering Featherstar's den.

Stormpaw limped into the medicine cat den and layed down, oh her shoulder hurt so much. She grimiced in pain and thought: Next time I meet the warrior that did this I will claw of his ears!

Snowpaw watched her sister limp into the medicine cat den, her eyes filled with concern and sadness "If only I would have been there, I could have protected my sister." She thought then got up and padded after her sister into the medicine cat den.

"Careful," mewed Silverpaw, looking at Harepaw curiously, trying to work out why she was so excited. She barely remembered being a young, new apprentice, now that she was close to becoming a warrior. In fact, seeing Harepaw and her brother made her wonder if she had ever even been like that. She liked to think of herself as quite reserved compared to her littermates, and these two apprentices reminded her of Graypaw and Lionpaw. "Have you two been out on your first patrols yet?" the silver tabby asked, sitting down by the dark brown cats, looking first to Harepaw, and then to Rabbitpaw.

Not understanding Harepaw at all, Silverpaw watched her with scorn, but left her otherwise be. They were no longer kits, and the quicker Harepaw realised that they had to mature, ready to become warriors, the better. A few sunrises, and then Silverpaw was prepared to 'teach' the younger one. "You'll have to be careful. ThunderClan clearly will not hold back if they meet another of our patrols," she told Rabbitpaw, lifting one paw to lick clean. "What have you done so far?"

"Show me your hunting crouch," Silverpaw told Rabbitpaw, ignoring his littermate for the moment to focus on him, her tail swishing gently side-to-side. Hearing Marshfire approach, she glanced to him, confused about who he was talking about, "Featherstar? She was, when she was young. Or do you mean my brother, Lionpaw?"

"Rabbitpaw," Silverpaw mewed sternly, giving him a flash of her amber eyes to accentuate her tone. "Hunting crouch, show me. You need to put your training first now, remember," she told him, and glanced to Marshfire, "Jaypaw?" she questioned, curious as to who he was talking about, but keeping her sternness fixed to Rabbitpaw, determined to help shape him into a strong warrior.

Threatened by how Rabbitpaw put her down, Silverpaw's ears flattened and she let out a huff. "Just because a cat is energetic doesn't mean there's anything wrong with them. It just means they need to learn how to control themselves, calm themselves down, and redirect that energy into hunting and fighting," she retorted, rising to her paws. "All I was trying to do was help you, Rabbitpaw," she added on, turning her gaze on Marshfire. "I'm sorry, Marshfire, to hear that he died so young. I should be going - I'm going to ask an apprentice who knows how to put their kithood behind them to hunt with me." Stating her intentions clearly for the brown apprentice to hear, she dipped her head in respect to the elder, thanking him for his time, and looked once more to Rabbitpaw, daring him to speak.

Silverpaw looked at Marshfire, momentarily confused, and shook her head, not even knowing what to say to him. She felt that holding back her tongue would be better. Turning back to the apprentices, she yowled after them, "You can't go hunting! You have to ask permission and have a warrior accompany you. It's too dangerous right now!" Frustrated, she lashed her tail side-to-side and walked off, tempted to have a warrior scold them, but the Clan had to focus on the injured, and ensuring there were no more fights with ThunderClan too soon.

Silentpaw stumbled out and stared at the apprentices, his eyes dull and lifeless. He remembered Featherstar's limp body in her den and looked up, padding over to them. He nodded to Harepaw and Rabbitpaw, them walked over to Silverpaw. He had heard her talking about going hunting, and tilted his head at her. I could go with you, if you want... he thought. But we'll need a warrior with us. Otherwise we'd be breaking the code.
Breaking the code...
Breaking the code.
Silentpaw shuddered as he thought of the words. Nothing was more important than the code. Nothing. Shaking his head, he looked at Silverpaw.

Silverpaw sighed in frustration as the two apprentices continued on their way. "I understand fine, Marshfire," she simply said, flicking her tail to end the conversation. Seeing Silentpaw approach her, the silver tabby tilted her head to the side, trying to work him out, before it clicked. "Do you want to go hunting with me?" she asked, needing that confirmation in a nod. His silence was difficult for her to judge, and while he was not her first choice, at least he would be silent throughout. Glancing around for a warrior, she mused - what warrior would even be able to accompany them? Most seemed busy. Some were too.. dull, weak, mouse-brained, she thought.

Moonpelt padded out of the den Flamepaw right behind her. She saw Marshfire limping and turned to Flamepaw "Do you think you can give Marshfire some herbs for his joint pain?" She asked then spoke to Rabbitrun "Perhaps you should take a couple of the apprentices out to hunt? The fresh kill pile is getting awfully low and Featherstar will need to eat after she wakes up." Moonpelt suggested

Silverpaw huffed, annoyed that he was trying to lecture her. She respected her elders, but why did he not understand that some cats had to put down the younger ones, so that they could learn where their priorities lay? "I do understand - look at them. They ran out of camp, without telling any warrior where they were going, despite our fight with ThunderClan. They have put themselves in danger, and have disappointed the Clan," she meowed, just loud enough for cats around them to hear, for someone to understand. She glanced to Silentpaw, hoping that he agreed with her.

Silentpaw nodded with Silverpaw, knowing very well that elders were not to be quieted, but he knew that Marshfire was only meaning well. He flicked his tail, as if to remind Marshfire that some apprentices were still loyal. He saw Rabbitrun walking by and cocked his head. His mentor knew him well, and nodded. "Let's go," he meowed to Silentpaw and Silverpaw. "Where shall we hunt?" He noticed the blood on Silentpaw's back and paws, and meowed, "Shouldn't you get that checked?"

Silentpaw shrugged. It isn't my blood, he thought. He flicked his tail, standing up, and led the cats out of camp, letting Rabbitrun slip ahead.

"Yes, Marshfire," mewed Silverpaw, hanging her head, but taking none of his words to heart. She did not need lecturing from a cat so old that he was stuck generations ago. The silver tabby touched Silentpaw with the tip of her tail to his flank. "I'll get you some fresh-kill, Marshfire," she told the elder, running to meet Rabbitrun, stopping by him. "We could go near the Hollow first, and then to the Moorlands if we do not catch enough there," she suggested, padding out of the camp.

Flamepaw dipped her head to her mentor and made her way to the medicine cat den. She returned a few moments later with a leaf bundle in her jaws, struggling to find Marshfire's scent through those of the herbs. Luckily for her, the old elder wasn't far away. She made her way over to him, dipping her head respectfully. "I've brought you some herbs for your joints, Marshfire." she meowed softly. She ignored the presence of her sister, trying to act as though the she didn't bother her, but relief wafted from her as Silverpaw padded away from them.

Snowpaw exited the apprentices' den with a wide yawn, and sniffed at the air. Bright day, hopefully a nice-spirited one too. "Good morning, WindClan," she meowed, her grey fur warmed in the heat of the sun. Glancing around the camp, she spotted Marshfire and Flamepaw, and blinked slowly, remembering being a kit and bringing Marshfire little gifts and scraps of prey.

Flamepaw smiled, opening the leaf bundle and pushing forward the poppy seeds and chamomile leaves for him to swallow as the elder spoke. She flicked her ears, slightly tense at when the old tom called her by her father's apprentice name, but didn't have the heart to correct him. She looked so much like her father, of course he would get confused.

She stepped around him, sniffing at him carefully, and spreading comfrey root over his most obvious joints. She continued to press on the poultice until it stuck to his fur. She assumed it looked a bit awkward, but she would have no real clue, seeing as she couldn't see it herself.
"I can line your nest with some comfrey as well tonight, if you'd like." she meowed to the elder softly.

Flamepaw flicked her ears again, smiling as he messed up her name a second time. "Alright, I suppose it wouldn't be." she meowed in agreement. She sat back when she was finished, pulling the beech leaf back and looking up at Marshfire with her blind eyes. "Any advice or stories to tell me today?" she asked.

It was one of Flamepaw's loves to visit the elders in their den and listen to their stories. When she'd been unable to walk the first four moons of her life, all there was to do was lie in their den and listen to their tales. Most cats would have grown bored with the elders by now, especially the apprentices, who were always changing bedding and using mouse-bile on the old cats. But Flamepaw had always enjoyed the atmosphere. The elders never seemed to have any prejudice over her, and she liked that. It was a feeling that she didn't find very often around the Clan.

Featherstar and Moonpelt padded out of the den. Featherstar leaned close to her friend's ear. "I- I did lose a life, because of the injury. A big tabby tom- Tiger-something I think- jumped on me, and then a big grey tom joined him. I tried to fight back, but the tabby's so strong!" She shuddered, remembering the shock of the tom's body pushing down on hers. "And then I couldn't breathe, and everything went black, and then I woke up and came here, and then I lost a life- my second now. We'll just pretend it's my first." Though the WindClan leader was usually open about most things, she had hidden the loss of one of her lives, as she had lost it days after she had received it, and didn't want her Clan to deem her unfit.

Flamepaw twitched her nose, smelling her mentor and Featherstar moving through the clearing. She moved her sightless gaze to stare at Moonpelt, asking her silently if she needed her, but stayed in her spot where she sat outside the medicine den. She'd finished her chores for the day, including caring for the elders and wasn't sure if there was anything else for her to do, so she simply sat there, listening to the rest of the Clan.

Moonpelt stiffened "I'm so sorry Featherstar." She murmured quietly "I'll be right back." She said walking towards Flamepaw. "Can you see if any cats from the border skirmish have sustained injuries?" She asked "If not then you are free to do whatever as long as you check up on Stormpaw every so often." She said wanting to talk with Featherstar in private and didn't want Flamepaw or anyone else for that matter interrupting them. "But if one of them does have an injury or Stormpaw wakes up come fetch me immediately." She said in a firm tone though she allowed some softness to creep in. She then walked back to Featherstar "It's not you fault." She soothed "Let's go talk about this in private alright?" She said

Featherstar nodded and beckoned Moonpelt to her den. She was worried about whether to tell the Clan, it was so early in her leadership.

((I'll post in leader den))

((Kk))

Lionpaw padded into camp, a small mouse dangling from his jaws. He'd caught it near the ThunderClan border, his favorite place to hunt. He spotted Flamepaw, wondering if she'd eaten yet today. The mouse dropped onto the fresh kill pile, Lionpaw preferring to not make his sister feel like he was trying to take care of her. "Hey Flamepaw," he said cheerily, dipping his head as he passed both Featherstar and Moonpelt on his way over to his sister.

Maplenose watched as Featherstar and Moonpelt headed to the leader's den, wondering what it was like to have that much power sitting on your shoulders. Probably really stressful, he thought. He was stressed out just by being a mentor for one young she-cat, he couldn't imagine being in charge of an entire clan. He then realized that he probably should take Silverpaw out for some training. She had taken to hunting pretty quickly, today he planned on working on some battle moves with her.

Mousestep sat at the edge of the clearing, giving herself a quick bath. She'd spent the morning out hunting on the moor, her fur was covered in the dust her and the rest of her patrol had kicked up from their sprints. She didn't have an apprentice yet, so the rest of her day was pretty much open unless she was asked to go on a patrol.

Ashscar skulked from out of the warriors' den, and at first avoided glancing at her apprentice, Lionpaw, allowing him to talk with his sister for awhile, and joined her own sister, Mothstrike, briefly, to share a reluctant greeting, her mood poor from the news of the skirmish.

Mothstrike ignored the depressing rain cloud of Ashscar's mood, and walked over to Maplenose, sitting down by him, "I saw Silverpaw go out hunting with Silentpaw and Rabbitrun," she informed him, "But I'm sure they will be back soon. How are you getting along with training her? Stormpaw is doing well, though I worry how bad her injuries are.. I pray to StarClan that she will be able to continue her training."

Flamepaw flicked her ears and dipped her head to her mentor, only to turn and collide with Lionpaw. "Ah! Oh, hi Lionpaw." she meowed with a smile. "Been hunting?" she asked, smelling the thick mouse scent all over him. That must have been why she didn't smell him approach, the mouse scent had disguised him to her.

Maplenose looked up as Mothstrike sat beside him, "Oh. Thank you for letting me know," he said with a dip of his head. A part of him annoyed that Silverpaw hadn't told him where she was going, she knew how much he worried when he didn't know where she was. "Stormpaw will pull through. She's stronger than she looks," he assured her, "And Silverpaw is doing well. She's got great instincts when it comes to hunting." He didn't want to admit the troubles he'd had with her, not that she was a bad apprentice by any means, but the two cats didn't always see eye to eye on everything.

Lionpaw let out a purr of amusement, he rarely was able to sneak up on Flamepaw and this time it had been an accident. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," he said, giving her ear a quick flick with his tail. "Yeah, I was over by the ThunderClan border. I missed the first two mice, but then I caught the third!"