| I will not be like a bird bred in a cage, I thought, too dull to fly even when the door stands open. |
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INVENTORY
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Post by Ginger on Dec 16, 2019 22:23:50 GMT -5
Frostjaw nightclan warrior 32 moons They had been longing for it for their entire lives. Training with one another since birth to be the best they could be. All of that "pre-training" finally led up to this moment. Real battle training. Frostjaw always looked forward to seeing the great fighters of the clan emerge during battle training.
He and the other mentors had worked together to prepare for this day. Even NightClan's leader, Darkstar, had expressed interest in joining. It was going to be a glorious one for NightClan.
The night had just begun. The massive white tom roused himself and Crowflame, the warrioress sleeping nearby him, heading over to the apprentice's den. He stuck his head into the den, icy eyes surveying the sleeping forms in their nests.
"It is time." His deep voice resonated through the den, waking up the apprentices.
"...what?" Breezepaw's eyes blinked open ever so slightly, jumping at the sight of Frostjaw's massive head in the entrance of the den. She had completely forgotten that battle training was happening today. Wonderful. With Crowflame as her mentor, Breezepaw had been allowed to move at her own pace. However, since this was large group training, Breezepaw knew she wouldn't be afforded that luxury. Gently nudging her siblings, then finally Roachpaw, Breezepaw got up and made to follow Frostjaw out of the den.
As she left the den, Breezepaw brightened up to see that Crowflame was standing beside Frostjaw. This meant that there was a chance for her to not have to do something she couldn't.
"Move quickly. We must not waste any time." Frostjaw's eyes glanced towards Darkstar's den, seeing a figure stirring in its interior. So she would be joining them. Good. Especially in this crucial time where war was imminent, it was necessary to scope out the best fighters among the apprentices. Now it was time to go.
Frostjaw made his way out of the camp, heading towards the pine needle clearing. He felt his paws grow warm, the closest he ever got to feeling excitement over fighting. While he would never admit it to anyone (including himself), Frostjaw enjoyed battle. Enjoyed training. Enjoyed the art of warfare.
only in darkness can you see the stars |
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| You said my words would kill you but you stood there all the same. |
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STAFF
GaleClan MCA
INVENTORY
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Post by ♛ 𝔽𝕒𝕓𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 on Dec 18, 2019 17:06:21 GMT -5
when you grow up your heart dies BrAmBlEPaW nightclan she-cat 9 moons Bramblepaw's moss nest was almost frozen stiff with damp. The painful nip of cold had given her a restless, uneasy sleep filled with distant, eerie dreams. The entire day and evening had been spent in misery, trying to keep shelter from the pelting hail that rolled down into the entrance of the cavernous camp and piled at the bottom in thick clumps. It had been hard to sleep with that constant drumming sound. Bramblepaw had been itching to dart out into the open, to stalk something, or at least get out of the stuffy NightClan cavern for awhile, but of course she found the harsh rays of sunlight oppressive despite the Leaf-bare chill. As Thornscar had once explained, they are like owls, who hunt best in the darkest nights, while the other Clans were like little songbirds that clung fearfully to the light. The one thing that had occupied her thoughts during those hours of restlessness was...
Battle training! She jolted awake beneath Breezepaw's touch, her golden eyes growing wide as saucers in the darkness of the cave. It was dark, and Frostjaw was standing ominously in the entrance with Breezepaw moving to follow him, her dark tortoiseshell pelt just barely visible. Feeling a thrill of excitement, she scrambled to her paws with all the energy that had been pent up throughout her kithood. That excitement became sombre and subdued as the memories of the attack on her clanmates rose fresh in her mind. Her ears flattened somewhat, and she felt the desire for justice against TreeClan clench at her heart. They forever remained the villain to her nursery tales, and so far nothing she had seen had indicated they were anything but. Prodding Hollowpaw gently with a dark paw, she slid out into the main cave with her sister, her eyes adjusting rapidly to the lack of light.
"Move quickly. We must not waste any time." Frostjaw meowed, his gaze fixed on Darkstar's den. Bramblepaw's fur lifted. Would she be participating? She flicked her tail uncertainly. Despite Bramblepaw's ever-growing confidence, she still had the desire to impress the tortoiseshell warrioress, and feared failure while within her fiery-orange gaze. Especially when it came to fighting prowess. She didn't want to be the one to disgrace her bloodline. Her kin had been powerful NightClan fighters for generations, and she wasn't about to be the one who broke that chain. "Where's Greywolf?" She meowed politely, glancing around her to try and spot her mentor. Surely she'd be coming, too? |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2019 8:39:43 GMT -5
Disgusting. The small chocolate brown kitten thought, craving the fresh air outside. The dirtplace was the one thing Baypaw despised about clan life. There seemed to be nothing more awful in the world than to stumble into the overwhelmingly disgusting smell of feces and urine, and from a clan she hadn’t quite acquired a taste too yet. It made her stomach roil and flip, a headache rattling her brain, the new apprentice’s sensitive nose swamped with the smell of NightClan’s dirt. Rules were rules though, and no guard would let a lone apprentice outside of camp. Not with TreeClan on the loose. Baypaw hadn’t known the cats too well, those who returned battered to a pulp yesterday, but she still felt indignance rise from her gut. Why were their deciduous neighbors so barbaric? Baypaw heard plenty of stories in her time here. Blackwolf. Rookshade. Pinewhisker. All only in the past couple seasons. The she-cat questioned whether clan life really was for her, but memories with Rookshade, Buckfur, Nettleheart, and the others warmed her heart. There was a fear inside the tiny she-cat’s heart: a fear of being truly alone. Pinewhisker gave Baypaw a curt nod in passing as the senior headed towards the entrance. The small chocolate apprentice had much respect for the warrior, despite how decrepit she seemed to look. Pinewhisker is a living legend in this clan! Baypaw thought, watching the ginger she-cat (who looked like she should be an elder already) sit amiably by the entrance with the sentry, speaking calmly, gentle laughter resonating from the two cats. It was like music to Baypaw’s ears. Though that good feeling was suffocated by the smell pouring out of the hollow behind her. The dirtplace’s scent leaked into the main cavern of the underground clan, but Baypaw wasn’t one to complain. Not out loud at least. She noticed Frostjaw’s form in the way of her hasty retreat, excitement prickling under her pelt as she saw the emerging forms of her fellow apprentices. Or, rather, the clan-born apprentices. A lot of cats did treat her a little differently, but Baypaw brushed it off. She may not be the best offensive fighter, or the best hunter, but her senses were keen and her mind was sharp. If Baypaw was honest with herself, she felt she was the best tracker, and as slippery as a fish. No one could catch her! And I’m fast too! Baypaw thought happily, bouncing exuberantly to the gathering apprentices, tail straight as a stick. There was a benefit being small and agile, whether her friends saw it or not. It looked like she would be able to show off this time, in front of everyone. Baypaw made a big, high speed entrance, releasing a flurry of questions to anyone who would satisfy them.
“Where is everyone? When do we start? Will we still have to have sheathed claws? Who will I be paired with first?”
A loud rumble from the pit of Baypaw’s stomach halted her questions, but only for a moment.
“Should we eat first or catch something on the way?”
Baypaw felt like today was going to be a good day. Fawn
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Post by Taxx on Apr 6, 2020 23:56:06 GMT -5
It is time rumbled through the apprentices' den, and Hollowpaw's eyes snapped open to see his mentor just backing out of the den. He rolled to his paws, stretching his front legs and then hind before padding toward the den entrance. Breezepaw and Bramblepaw slipped out in front of him, and Hollowpaw settled beside them both, looking up at the warriors who were mentoring the three. He got to his paws as Darkstar joined them, dipping his head toward the tortoiseshell she-cat, and then flicked a glance at Crowflame as she bounced to her feet to follow Frostjaw. Hollowpaw scrambled to catch up to his mentor and strode along at his side, tail up and strutting with enthusiasm.
"That lazy lump?" Crowflame laughed, flicking her tail at Bramblepaw. "She'll catch up, I'm sure. I woke her before I left the den." She glanced at Frostjaw and then back at Darkstar, bright-eyed as she continued, "What's the lesson plan? Group spars, I assume?" Her gaze flickered toward Breezepaw and she shifted to walk side-by-side with her apprentice. It wouldn't be easy for her, but of the other three present... maybe Bramblepaw would be gentle enough while hopefully encouraging Breezepaw to fight back. I'm a soldier till its over I will never fall
fearless hearts holding on through the night Hollowpaw NightClan |
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| I will not be like a bird bred in a cage, I thought, too dull to fly even when the door stands open. |
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INVENTORY
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Post by Ginger on May 4, 2020 20:57:40 GMT -5
Frostjaw nightclan warrior 35 moons Breezepaw, Bramblepaw, Baypaw, and Hollowpaw stumbled out of the den. At Bramblepaw's question, Frostjaw narrowed his eyes and looked to the young she-cat. "Today Darkstar will be joining us in battle training. That will be sufficient."
Almost as if at the mention of her name, Darkstar exited her den and made her way to the cluster of warriors and apprentices as they left the camp and headed to the Pineneedle Clearing, a scowl on her face. NightClan's leader was still fuming over their loss to the TreeClan patrol. These apprentices didn't know what was coming for them.
Frostjaw recognized the glint in the leader's eyes and huffed approvingly. This training session would be good.
Breezepaw, who also had noticed Darkstar's particular mood, was a little less optimistic about training. This was not going to end well for the gentle-hearted tortoiseshell.
As the group approached the Pineneedle Clearing, Crowflame spoke up to Frostjaw, making the large tom look over to her. "You are correct."
The massive warrior swiveled around once the group reached the center of the clearing, facing the four apprentices. "Today, we will be sparring. This is a good chance to use what your mentor has taught you on an opponent, while also learning about what your peers' mentors have taught them. Do not simply fight. Learn."
Darkstar walked up beside Frostjaw, then in a large gesture, stepped in front of him to interject. "We are fighting a war. This is not just any simple sparring match. If you want to protect your clan, you will put everything into this."
Breezepaw gulped when she realized what her aunt was implying. Did NightClan's leader really want the apprentices to fight claws-out? But that was so dangerous! "C-can I have Bramblepaw?" she asked nervously, eyeing Crowflame for a little support. Her calico mentor immediately caught on, nodding as she looked to Bramblepaw. "Don't go too hard on each other," she said lightly in the hopes that Darkstar wouldn't hear.
"In that case...Baypaw, you will spar with Hollowpaw. Begin."
Breezepaw shuddered as she turned to face her sister. "It's okay, I know Darkstar is watching. You can go harder on me if you want to impress her!" Really, the terrified she-cat was looking for any excuse to not have to try hurting her sister. Breezepaw had no qualms with being seen as a bad fighter. She just didn't want to be seen as a bad warrior. But she had found a new determination inside of her, and she was set on making her clanmates respect her in a totally nonconventional way.
Breezepaw didn't want to completely let down her mentor though. Therefore, she assumed a near-perfect defensive stance, ready to take whatever hits Bramblepaw threw at her.
only in darkness can you see the stars |
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| You said my words would kill you but you stood there all the same. |
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STAFF
GaleClan MCA
INVENTORY
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Post by ♛ 𝔽𝕒𝕓𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 on May 10, 2020 10:47:17 GMT -5
when you grow up your heart dies BrAmBlEPaW nightclan she-cat 9 moons Great. Bramblepaw thought, her golden gaze fixing with some suspicion on the solid chocolate-brown apprentice that trotted over to them from the dirtplace, the pervasive smell of faeces trailing in her wake. She felt an inherent distrust towards her loner-born denmate, even though she was secretly impressed that Baypaw had managed to survive on her own for so long before she was discovered by NightClan. Or had she discovered NightClan? It didn't matter, because no matter what, Baypaw would always be other to her, not NightClan as she, Breezepaw and Hollowpaw were. Though she felt a slight prick of guilt at the cowardice in her silent judgement of her fellow apprentice, she knew many cats in the Clan supported her feelings. A loner-born cat could never reach the same level of honour and strength as a NightClan warrior with the blood of the marshes running through their veins, no matter how strong their loyalty or how hard they trained. Bramblepaw knew it the way she knew the moon would rise each night, she viewed it as fact rather than a malicious or mean thought.
“Where is everyone? When do we start? Will we still have to have sheathed claws? Who will I be paired with first?” Bramblepaw flicked an ear at the flurry of questions, even though she had been wondering the same herself. Her blood roared in her ears as she waited for them to go off into the night. The dusk sky was reddish orange beyond the camp entrance, it looked almost as though it were bleeding. Baypaw's stomach roared, reminding Bramblepaw of her own hunger. “Should we eat first or catch something on the way?”
Baypaw asked, and Bramblepaw let out a snort of laughter. "Your stomach would scare away anything we wanted to catch on the way there, Baypaw." She joked, and despite her own private feelings of distrust towards the other apprentice, her tone was more lighthearted than mocking. She didn't see the point in bullying and scorning over blood. She had nothing to prove to Baypaw, no dominance to assert (unlike certain insecure felines). It would be silly to not try to at least get along with a cat you would likely fight beside in battle someday. Crowflame shot her a gently stern look, which caused Bramblepaw to fall silent with a disappointed twitch of her tail. Just because you were training didn't mean you couldn't have fun.
Crowflame looked amused at her question, casting a wry glance back to the tunnel that led to the Warrior's den. "That lazy lump?" She chuckled. "She'll catch up, I'm sure. I woke her before I left the den." Bramblepaw rolled her eyes with a grin. That probably meant Greywolf would be unconscious until the moon was above the trees. She hoped she would at least wake up in time to see her kick Roachpaw or Baypaw's tail. Frostjaw paused and peered at Bramblepaw with a withering expression on his face, his pale grey eyes narrow. "Today Darkstar will be joining us in battle training. That will be sufficient." Even Bramblepaw, who had grown in confidence and cheek over the past few moons, shrivelled under his gaze and nodded obediently, half-wishing she hadn't asked. Darkstar's attention swivelled to her, and she found herself freezing to stillness under the scrutiny of the leader's glowing gaze.
"What's the lesson plan? Group spars, I assume?" Crowflame went straight for official business, turning to Frostjaw and Darkstar with her head held level. "You are correct." The impressive white warrior replied, and the cats set off with NightClan's next generation in tow. The marshes were the same as they always were at this time of night, alive with the creaking of crickets and frogs alike. Bramblepaw had to physically restrain herself from bouncing towards the interesting sounds as she laid a dark brown tail on Breezepaw's shoulder. "You'll do fine." She whispered reassuringly, her eyes glowing in the darkness beneath the coniferous trees. The patrol was almost entirely silent as they flowed like liquid shadow through the night towards their destination, which Bramblepaw slowly realised was the Pineneedle Clearing. This had been their makeshift home during the flood, when Bramblepaw and her siblings were tiny bumbling kittens. She wished it hadn't been this place, there were many harsh memories of sleepless days here, the sunlight cutting down through the branches like they were unable to do back at the cavern.
The needles were soft beneath her paws, like a nest of feather down. They came to a halt in the middle of the clearing, the sounds of the night surrounding them, distant hoots of owls making her ears swivel. Frostjaw turned to address the apprentices, his white form standing out against the darkness of the night. "Today, we will be sparring. This is a good chance to use what your mentor has taught you on an opponent, while also learning about what your peers' mentors have taught them. Do not simply fight. Learn." He announced, his eyes landing on each and every one of them. Bramblepaw straightened up, nervousness and excitement mingling together into one odd emotion she couldn't describe. Darkstar strode forward to take Frostjaw's place, the dark orange markings beneath her chin looking almost like injuries to her throat as she spoke. "We are fighting a war. This is not just any simple sparring match. If you want to protect your clan, you will put everything into this."
It took several moments for Bramblepaw to realise what Darkstar was implying. She didn't know quite how she felt about the prospect of fighting with claws unsheathed.
She could smell waves of fear radiating from her sister, and scooted closer to brush her pelt against hers protectively. "C-can I have Bramblepaw?" Breezepaw asked, her voice trembling. To Bramblepaw's surprise, Crowflame offered a solemn nod. "Don't go too hard on each other," She meowed. Frostjaw turned his eyes towards Hollowpaw and Baypaw, clearly eager to get started. "In that case...Baypaw, you will spar with Hollowpaw. Begin."
Bramblepaw watched her brother from the corner of her eye as both apprentices began to spar, noticing that he unsheathed his claws as asked. She stood and faced Breezepaw, her entire body tensing. She didn't want to hurt her sister. She didn't want to disappoint Darkstar. Her golden eyes glowed with confliction as Breezepaw leaned close to whisper to her. "It's okay, I know Darkstar is watching. You can go harder on me if you want to impress her!" Bramblepaw glanced towards their leader and kin, uncertainty rendering her speechless. Then she offered Breezepaw a smirk. "Don't hurt me too bad." She purred, half-tempted to wink, but knowing that would definitely be seen as suspicious. Breezepaw faced her in a defensive stance, something Bramblepaw had anticipated. She knew her sister wouldn't be the one to attack first. Unsheathing her claws, Bramblepaw feinted left to right, ears flat as though she faced a real opponent, and charged forward. At the last moment, she sheathed her claws and attempted to give Breezepaw a clout on the nose, one that hopefully wouldn't be as damaging had her claws remained outside her paw.
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Post by Fawn on May 11, 2020 1:39:40 GMT -5
The kid has got a dark side Push too far you'll see Roachpaw had not been there at Frostjaw's summons. He hadn't been nose-deep in his nest, dreaming of victory and power; instead, he'd been running laps around the pineneedle clearing while his mentor watched, cold and impassive as he ran himself ragged.
He hated these exercises. He hated the repetition, the numbness in his paws as he ran until he stopped being able to feel the ground. But he had to admit, they were helping. When she swiped at him from the shadows, he no longer fumbled and faltered into the mud, helpless as a fresh-born deer. All of a sudden, Roachpaw heard paws trampling through the dense nest-like mat of pine needles and frost; he skidded to a stop, flanks heaving, to watch as several prominent warriors of the Clan all arrived - their various proteges in tow.
Darkstar! Darkstar was here! "What's going on?" Roachpaw whipped around to face his mentor, but Cobrastrike was out of reach. Out of earshot. He tried to scent for her, but the arrival of so many cats muddied his concentration.
Roachpaw eagerly padded closer, his presence obvious to the others though they made no grand effort to call out to him. It was assumed he would join. Roachpaw moved just within earshot of an older black-coated she-cat sharing quick words with the youngest of the apprentices.
"Shhh, Baypaw. Use your empty stomach as motivation. Food will be your reward at the end of this."
Roachpaw made no effort to conceal a disgusted roll of his eyes. Any apprentice who wasn't taking this seriously could hardly call themselves a NightClan apprentice. Battle training was everything. Battle training would separate the weak from the strong.
Battle training would tell him exactly who the Spiderbites were in this Clan.
Frostjaw began to speak, and Roachpaw listened intently, trying to ignore the silent presence of No-Voice just a few rabbit-lengths away. They made an odd couple; a wise powerful cat stuck wasting his time on a tom who couldn't even manage to conquer his own tongue. But Darkstar had given them to each other for training, and Roachpaw forced those judgmental thoughts out of his head.
It wasn't about Hollowpaw. It was about him, and how he squared up against his denmates.
"We are fighting a war. This is not just any simple sparring match. If you want to protect your clan, you will put everything into this."
Darkstar's words swarmed his ears, filling up every nook and cranny of his being with excitement. Eagerness blazed like fire in the brown tom's deep copper eyes, and he threw a challenging glare to his denmates, claws flexing, muscles rippling beneath a sleek otter-brown coat. Who thinks they can fight me and win?
Breezepaw snatched up Bramblepaw, robbing him of the chance to shred the most annoying and outspoken of Thornscar's litter. He turned, baring his teeth towards Hollowpaw - but the other apprentice was already paired up with Baypaw. Roachpaw turned his fierce gaze upon the adult warriors presence, searching for someone to blame. He managed to curb some of the defiance by the time his eyes found Darkstar's.
She must have read the look on his face, speaking up. "You'll wait your turn."
Fine. Roachpaw's tail flicked, and any protest he had died in his throat at the thought of mouthing off to the strongest cat in the whole forest. Not to mention, the second strongest cat was his mentor, and she was still watching him... somewhere.
With sourness on his tongue, Roachpaw studied the other sparring apprentices, attention latching on to Hollowpaw and Baypaw. Roachpaw @jet (for Baypaw!) BlooRey DVD (Cobrastrike mention~) Ginger ♛ 𝔽𝕒𝕓𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 |
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