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Post by Taxx on Oct 2, 2018 18:23:14 GMT -5
Smokestorm This gal right here's gonna rule the world
No, I won't sit still and look pretty The night should have gone well- peacefully. Smokestorm had mingled briefly with the other Clans before settling to listen to the leaders speak, but Silverstar had barely begun when a yowl and the rush of paws had cut him off, and then there were strangers hurtling into the Gathering with five foxes following close behind.
Palepaw's shriek of fear had been followed all too closely by a yowl cut short. Dawnblossom, she recognized, for a moment stunned by the sight of their medicine cat lying dead in the clearing. She was startled out of it by the sudden form of Palepaw pressed to her side, the young she-cat trembling all over, her eyes huge with fear. With a quick, rough lick, Smokestorm began to edge the apprentice toward the StoneClan border, wary of any foxes charging them. She managed to catch Boulderjaw's eye and summoned him with a flick of her tail, grateful to have him at her side.
At the leaders' rock, she could see Eagletalon and Hawkstar as they fought another fox, but she left them to it- the two of them were more than capable of handling a fox on their own. Instead, she turned to Boulderjaw. "Watch her!" she ordered, tail flicking at the apprentice, and then she dove back into the crowd to look for more StoneClan warriors. Kestrelclaw she spotted first, and Smokestorm leaped to his side.
"Kestrelclaw! Help me find our Clanmates- meet me back over there with anyone you find; Boulderjaw and Palepaw are there waiting." Deputy of StoneClan |
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Post by Fawn on Oct 13, 2018 9:26:44 GMT -5
Kestrelclaw 18 Moons - Tom - StoneClan Kestrelclaw's first experience of danger was not the flash of fox tails and fox eyes. It was the fleeing expressions of terror and uncertainty that permeated the crowd of cats like wildfire smoke. "Sootpaw! Sootpaw where are you? SOOTPAW!" Kestrelclaw shouted above the din, grunting in surprise as he was jostled aside by cats in a rush to escape whatever had caused all this confusion. What is going on?
It was just as he spotted his father - teeth glinting in a snarl - take on a male and female pair of foxes, that Smokestorm reached him. Kestrelclaw started, but recovered quickly. With a stiff nod, his tongue too heavy with alarm to form a reply, Kestrelclaw bounded into the crowd, rapidly looking to and fro for signs of StoneClan cats.
The many mottled coats of five Clans and a Tribe did not make his job easy. Yet even as he searched, his heart was pulled back towards the boulder - back where his father was fighting. He'll be okay. He and Uncle Hawkstar have fought off worse than this. Eagletalon was the greatest warrior he'd ever known. Those foxes wouldn't know what hit them.
Kestrelclaw broke through a wave of retreating cats into a cluster of violence. A smattering of RainClan warriors were trying to fight off two fox cubs; a dark-coated male, and a pale-furred, distinctive-looking female that seemed to be eying the nearby apprentices nastily. A large silver tom, far larger than Kestrelclaw or Eagletalon, was trying to stave off both foxes; he hadn't been very successful. A young male apprentice lay slumped against a familiar tortoiseshell coat; with how bloody Pipitpaw was, Kestrelclaw had thought, for one heart-aching moment, that Sootpaw had been injured too. Instead, the StoneClan apprentice seemed to be trying her best to support Pipitpaw.
"Stay there, Sootpaw! I'm coming!" Summoning all the courage of LionClan, Kestrelclaw found an opening in the fight between Brookfall and the foxes. The male cub, wary of a harder challenge, retreated in search of easier prey. The pale-coated vixen, however, snarled and moved back to regroup.
"Pipitpaw? Pipitpaw. Pipit..." Brookfall's stern voice fell on unresponsive ears. The RainClan cat looked visibly shaken over the loss of his apprentice. Kestrelclaw, however, rushed to Sootpaw's side. "Are you okay?"
Laugh at yourself first, before anyone else can. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2018 17:57:59 GMT -5
Sootpaw was shaking from ears to tail, but still desperately was trying to hold it together. She was covered in blood, she didn't know whose. She made her way over to a figure that, from what she could gauge of the situation, was laying slumped. Pushing her body underneath, ignoring her own fear scent and the fear scent of the cat she was trying to help, she attempted to prop up the heavy form, still not knowing who she was helping, knowing only that they desperately needed the help. Then she heard his voice. He was looking for her. Kestrelclaw was looking for her. She yowled "I'm over here! I need help!"Pipitpaw. Pipitpaw... Pipit...Those words. So much loss in one voice. Sootpaw lowered her head out of respect. With the blood of this unfortunate apprentice staining her pelt, she scented Kestrelclaw as he arrived at her side. "I'm okay. I don't know if i'm hurt, or whether the blood I can scent isn't mine, but I think i'm okay."She stepped away from Pipitpaw, his rapidly cooling body hitting the floor with a muted thud as the support she had provided gave way to dead weight. Looking in the direction of the obviously upset cat, she murmured "I'm so sorry for your loss. He hunts with StarClan now."She buried her muzzle in Kestrelclaw's shoulder, taking comfort from his warmth and his steadiness. "Foxes... I'd know that scent anywhere. Kestrelclaw, i'm scared."254 / Fawn Taxx |
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Post by Taxx on Nov 5, 2018 15:03:15 GMT -5
Smokestorm This gal right here's gonna rule the world
No, I won't sit still and look pretty It was chaotic- there was no other word to describe what the Gathering had become and Smokestorm could hardly orient herself through the flood of scents and the flash of pelts as cats streaked past her, fleeing the clearing or running to fight and defend their Clanmates. She did manage to get a glimpse of Sandblaze, safely huddled next to Boulderjaw, with Littlepetal and Sorrelclaw urging the medicine cat and Palepaw out of sight toward StoneClan's border. That just left... Bearclaw, Kestrelclaw, and Sootpaw. And Hawkstar and Eagletalon, but they were capable of taking care of themselves; her task was to get the rest of her Clanmates out of danger.
The sudden collision of another cat into her bowled Smokestorm over and she snarled, instinctively flashing out unsheathed claws and sinking them into the black-and-white body that lay nearby; the cat screeched in pain at the unexpected attack, eyes wide in fear. "Watch where you're going!" Smokestorm snapped, scrambling upright again and flashing off again, ignoring the other cat as they stumbled off, blood now flowing down their shoulder and leg.
Kestrelclaw's voice rang above the noise and Smokestorm headed for it. She checked, just a moment, at the sight of the RainClan cat crouched over the smaller form of an apprentice, and utter hatred for the beasts sent her claws sinking into the ground. There was nothing she could do for them, though, and so she turned to her half-brother and Sootpaw. "Come on, we've got to go. Don't worry, Sootpaw, you'll be fine. Kestrelclaw and I will look out for you."
She couldn't quite help a glance back, just in time to see a smaller silver tabby pause at the side of the big tom, pressing her shoulder to his with sadness in her eyes, a low murmur of her voice, words meant only for the tom to hear as she gazed down at the dead apprentice. Fur prickling, Smokestorm turned her gaze forward again, reaching to nudge Sootpaw into motion. "Over there," she directed, pointing with a paw at their Clanmates, Boulderjaw hovering as a beacon for any stray StoneClan cats left. Deputy of StoneClan |
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Post by Fawn on Nov 19, 2018 15:45:38 GMT -5
Kestrelclaw 18 Moons - Tom - StoneClan "Foxes... I'd know that scent anywhere. Kestrelclaw, i'm scared."
"I'll protect you, Sootpaw." Kestrelclaw's body shook but his voice was surprisingly strong. "I promise we'll go home safe and sound." They had Smokestorm with them now. The presence of his kin taking charge amidst the chaos put the steel back into Kestrelclaw's legs. He swept his tail around Sootpaw, pressing her against his flank as he took careful steps to follow the Clan deputy. Kestrelclaw's heart shivered with relief upon seeing two of their own - Boulderjaw and Palepaw - looking frightened but together.
He frantically tried to recall all of the cats that had been invited, even as he caught sight of more bodies strewn throughout the Gathering. Was this what war felt like? Was this how his father had felt, the day StormClan had devastated their home? No, his father had fought until Hawkstar had sounded the retreat. He hadn't stared, bewildered and numb, the way Kestrelclaw was doing.
Kestrelclaw gave himself a hard shake, then carefully licked Sootpaw's ear in reassurance in case he jostled her.
"Palepaw! Boulderjaw! Have you seen my dad? What about Dawnblossom and Uncle Hawkstar?"
Boulderjaw's yellow eyes swiveled and pinned Kestrelclaw beneath his stare. Something about the way Boulderjaw paused told him to brace himself; Kestrelclaw held his breath.
"Dawnblossom's dead," Boulderjaw rumbled. "I don't know about the others, I'm sorry. Littlepetal and Sorrelclaw just took Sandblaze home."
Kestrelclaw's whiskers twitched, indecision splitting him right down the middle. He wanted to stay with Sootpaw, he wanted to be there every step of the way home so she wouldn't feel afraid anymore - but what about Eagletalon? What about Hawkstar? He couldn't leave the Gathering knowing they were still here, fighting.
"We have to help Eagletalon and Hawkstar. Right, Smokestorm?" Right? Kestrelclaw's light amber eyes were pleading as they found Smokestorm's face, the young warrior desperate for the word that would send him running to his father's side. We're still warriors. We can't just run... Laugh at yourself first, before anyone else can. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2018 14:11:22 GMT -5
Sootpaw had calmed down significantly since Kestrelclaw wrapped his tail around her. But she knew he wouldn't rest until he knew that his father and uncle were okay. She knew he'd be torn between making sure she was safe and making sure his father was. Judging by scent alone, she knew they'd found Boulderjaw and Palepaw a few heartbeats before Boulderjaw spoke. Then her world came crashing down very suddenly around her. Dawnblossom? Dead? It couldn't be. She'd been so kind, so gentle, to Sootpaw when she first lost her sight. With her tail drooping onto the ground, Sootpaw turned to face Kestrelclaw. [b"Go and find Eagletalon. I'll make it home. I'll be fine. Just promise me one thing, Kestrelclaw. Return home safely. Please?"[/b] Turning to Smokestorm, she rested her head on her shoulder as a brief gesture of encouragement, before heading over to where Boulderjaw and Palepaw were standing. "I'll be right here. I'll see you both soon?"163 / Taxx Fawn |
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Post by Taxx on Nov 30, 2018 13:09:44 GMT -5
Smokestorm This gal right here's gonna rule the world
No, I won't sit still and look pretty Standing beside the knot of StoneClan warriors, Smokestorm only half listened to Boulderjaw; she knew Dawnblossom was dead, but as horrible as it was, she had to put the living warriors first. Her tail lifted at the sight of Bearclaw darting over through the thinning crowd, and she turned to the rest as Kestrelclaw looked at her.
"Of course," she assured. "We're going back for them and Dawnblossom. Boulderjaw, Bearclaw, stay here and keep these two safe." Her tail flicked to Palepaw and Sootpaw, reaching to brush her cheek against Palepaw's shoulder before turning again, beckoning her brother to follow as she returned to the clearing. Her gaze roamed the clearing, fur prickling at the stench of fear, blood, and fox- three foxes lay dead, she noticed; a fourth was locked in combat with Eagletalon and Hawkstar still, and Smokestorm had tensed to run to help them when she spotted a fifth fox, ginger fur streaked with blood, padding to where Dawnblossom still lay.
Tail bushing, Smokestorm hissed and changed her path, hurtling toward the beast, green eyes locking with cold amber as the fox saw her coming and braced. Smokestorm didn't leap to attack just yet, skidding to a halt with every hair on her pelt bristled as she snarled at the fox, facing it over her aunt's unmoving body, a glimpse from the corner of her eye telling her that Kestrelclaw- bigger and stronger than she- was at her side. "Back off, dungbreath," the deputy growled, taking one step forward so she was standing over Dawnblossom. "I'll go to StarClan before you take another cat from us." Deputy of StoneClan |
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Post by Fawn on Dec 3, 2018 10:37:24 GMT -5
Kestrelclaw 18 Moons - Tom - StoneClan Kestrelclaw saw the fox make its way over to - over to Dawnblossom - and at first he didn't understand what it was going to do. She's dead, what else do you-- Oh, no. Smokestorm hissed, hurtling towards the fox that was trying to eat their kin. Kestrelclaw bounded after her, his stomach tense and queasy from the revulsion. He'd forgotten that cats were like prey animals to foxes. It gave him a sudden burst of sympathy for the small creatures they hunted on a daily basis.
The sense of vulnerability and fear was something he wished on no one.
Kestrelclaw, lightly-winded, stopped protectively as his sister's side. He squared his chest, hissing and swiping towards the fox. There was too much of a gap for his claws to actually find flesh or fur, but it was the gesture he was going for. He darted forward, swiping again and growling as loudly and menacingly as he dared. The message was clear: get out.
We don't have time for this! Kestrelclaw's eyes darted to the fight happening between Eagletalon and Hawkstar. His jaw fell open in horror as Hawkstar was flung bodily onto the stones. A cry tore from Kestrelclaw's throat. Their leader wasn't moving. Uncle, get up. C'mon, c'mon... Dad do something! The young warrior was jolted back to his own fight when he felt fox teeth graze his shoulder; hissing, he crouched away, stepping back and losing the ground he'd gained just a few heartbeats earlier.
"We have to hurry," he said urgently, trembling from the effort it took not to abandon this fight and go join Eagletalon's. Last he'd seen, Eagletalon had thrown himself at his opponent, and they were grappled in some kind of death match. And... And it looked like Eagletalon was losing.
Laugh at yourself first, before anyone else can. |
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Post by Taxx on Dec 10, 2018 17:58:56 GMT -5
Smokestorm This gal right here's gonna rule the world
No, I won't sit still and look pretty Kestrelclaw skidded to a halt beside her, lashed out at the fox in a warning but it ducked back, jaws coated in blood and lips pulled back to reveal stained fangs. Smokestorm shuddered to think which cat those teeth had sunk in to- which cat was injured or possibly dead because of this monster.
Her brother's cry wrenched the she-cat's head toward the fight between Eagletalon and the other fox, and she'd just drawn breath to tell him to keep his mind on this fight when the fox they were facing snapped at him; Smokestorm lashed out with a hiss, scoring her claws against Arisu's nose as Kestrelclaw backed away. "I know," she growled, "Keep your mind on this fight, okay? Help me-!" Her voice rose to a yowl as the fox chose that moment to spring, ducking under her strike and clamping its jaws onto her shoulder, fangs piercing her pelt and twisting her off her paws. Pain scorched her but she reacted quickly, turning her head and sinking her own teeth into the fox's nose; her hind legs curled up to lash out at Arisu's chest, raking downward as hard as possible in an attempt to get it to release.
Another yowl rang through the air and the fox staggered, dropping Smokestorm and whipping her head around to gash at the other cat, a brown tom who was not of their Clan, who had plowed into her, blood welling up from the slash. Staggering back to her paws, wincing as she tried to take weight on the bitten leg, Smokestorm once more faced the beast and darted in to rake her claws at it, the three now working together to drive Arisu off- a bare glimpse from the corner of her eye now showed both Hawkstar and Eagletalon, as well as their fox, now lying still; fear for the two toms was a weight in the she-cat's stomach.
Kestrelclaw lunged forward at her side, a flurry of blows connecting with the fox's slim muzzle; at the triple onslaught, Arisu began to retreat and then, with a shrill shriek- Smokestorm could almost hear the curse in it- she whipped around and ran, dodging a blow from a hissing ginger tom huddled over a smaller white she-cat before finally disappearing. Smokestorm hardly spared her a glance after she'd run, spinning to face her leader and Eagletalon, and every shred of hate and anger and fear turned to ice as she took in Hawkstar and Eagletalon; the StoneClan leader was just climbing to his paws, but his brother, the cat who was just as much father to her as Silverstorm had ever been, now lay draped across Hawkstar's back.
It was all she could do to stay on her paws, despite how her legs shook beneath her. Dimly she heard her leader speak, barely aware as the StoneClan warriors that remained began to gather around her- Boulderjaw taking Dawnblossom's body on his back to carry home, and she had to squeeze her eyes shut, turning her head away from the sight of their dead, trailing at the rear of the subdued patrol as they began the trek back to their camp. Deputy of StoneClan |
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