🐾 Fallen Stars [On-site WC RP] [LITERATE] [OPEN] 🐾

Duskwhisper || Warrior || Location: United Camp || Mentions: Bearheart, Doerose, Stormgaze

Duskwhisper felt a wave of relief flow through her when Bearheart announced the camps they would be scouting first.  ShadowClan and RiverClan.  She could deal with those territories if she had to.  She knew that the United would have to search WindClan's territory eventually, but she was trying not to think about it.  She wasn't ready to go back there and see what had become of the place that had once been here home.  Duskwhisper had briefly visited WindClan's camp right after the fire and earthquake, but had decided that, with her brother and parents dead, there was no place for her there.  The Clan had betrayed her trust in the horseplace attack.  

 As Bearheart was talking, Duskwhisper noticed Doerose looking at her.  When Duskwhisper was younger, she might not have noticed or paid it much attention, but now she had trained herself to notice the small things other cats did.  She wouldn't allow herself to let another cat betray her again.  Duskwhisper tilted her head and looked at Doerose as the co-medic turned her attention back towards Bearheart. She was probably just noting my burns.  Should I ask her to take a look at them?  Well, it was either ask Doerose or ask Stormgaze.  The tom seemed more serious and intimidating than Doerose did.  Besides, he had been RiverClan's medicine cat.  Duskwhisper had fought RiverClan on many occasions and, after Sparrowsky's betrayal, she had no love for the water-loving Clan. It would be best to avoid him and his former clanmates.  So, Doerose it is.  Once Bearheart was finished speaking, Duskwhisper decided she would go see if there was anything Doerose could do for her burns.

✦Petaldawn | Location: United Camp | Mentions: Bearheart✦

"It's not, Cherrylight is..." she replied to her father, unable to finish her sentence. Despite what the old tom and other ThunderClan survivors had relayed to her, Petaldawn was still somewhat in denial. Part of her wanted to go to the border herself, find the shattered battleground, and search them for that familiar ginger pelt... But then again, if she did, she couldn't handle it. Resigned for the moment, she leaned back and sat up on her own. Scarletleap made a face, hardly one to deal with the emotional side of things. That had been his own mate's forte.

"Maybe you should, you know, take a walk?" he asked gently, implying she visit her littermates. The calico shook her head vigorously.

"No, nonono--I don't even know how to feel about... taking a walk, yet." she finished rather awkwardly. I hope I get better at this code speak quickly. She thought in exasperation.

The pretty she-cat was pulled out of the conversation by the announcement of the large tabby. She quickly stepped forward, meowing "I volunteer to go."

Stormgaze

Co-Medic | Location: United camp | Mentions: Doerose, Bearheart, Duskwhisper & Petaldawn

Sea-colored eyes darted up to Bearheart as the older tom's voice sounded. Huffing softly, the medic shook his head. "We'll have to go herb hunting then, I know I don't have enough to handle the influx of injured cats." He muttered under his breath, the tom didn't know about Doerose but he figured that she had the same thoughts. Speaking of which, the tom figured that he should head over to the calico to the feline. Without much care for how he looked, the male made his way over to the other medic a soft growling purr rumbling in his throat. Stormgaze paused but only a few pawsteps from the she-cat, tail waving in silent greeting.

"I was thinking about going searching for herbs. Is there anything you have, that I don't need to keep an eye out for?" He asked, gaze flickering around camp as he spoke. Something for burns of course. Cobwebs too. Honey. It would be a pain in his tail to get the honey but it would be worth it. But going through the trouble to help his clan-mates was always worth it. Even if it meant they bothered them with their plebian problems. Blue eyes flickered to Duskwhisper and her burnt leg, he frowned for a heartbeat then shook it off figuring the she-cat would seek out one of them to deal with it sooner or later.

Turning his gaze back to Doerose he added, "I have some Borage leaves, Cobwebs and Horsetail hidden away but that's about it." While he had not really been paying much attention to Bearheart's announcement and what the others were concerning themselves with, his ears did perk up when Petaldawn volunteered to go. While the tom would never admit it, his mind blanked for a few heartbeats, before a mixture of emotions - ones he would not be discussing ever - spilled out the top of the emotional volcano inside him and burst out of his mouth. "No! Absolutely not Petaldawn! There is no way in Starclan that, I'm allowing you to go out on some crazy adventure." He snapped as he stomped forward a few steps, tail lashing.

"I don't know what kind of damage is out there in the territory but I'm not risking you. Along with the damage wrought by the fire and the quake, there might be other creatures picking off what's left of the poor souls that went unburied!" He snapped, then scathingly added," Not to mention the danger you'll be putting your kits in."

Maplehaze 

Warrior | Location: United Camp | Mentions: Bearheart, Petaldawn, Pinknose, Duskwhipser & Stormgaze

At the mention of Shadowclan, the muscles in Maplehaze's body tensioned with a mixture of dread, fear, and excitement. This was her chance to find her lost ones. Give those that needed it a proper burial, and hopefully, find a few lost clan-mates. The curly furred feline stepped forward, face set into a hard look as if daring anyone to disagree with her. "I too volunteer to go." She stated, her firey emerald gaze finding the bi-colored gaze of Bearheart. 

In the back of her mind, she realized that Petaldawn had volunteered to go, the calico she-cat was not one she knew much about. But then again, most of Maplehaze's knowledge of other cats' outsider Shadowclan came mostly the second paw, unless she'd managed to meet them in battle. After all, the she-cat tended to taunt those she fought, if only to gain a better understanding of their personality. A cat who was more short-tempered was more likely to try a risky move than an even-tempered one after all.

The feline visibly startled when Stormgaze voiced his disapproval and opened her jaws to snap back at him. Only to pause and realize that the aggravated tom was speaking - more like berating - Petaldawn. Glancing at the she-cat's swollen belly, she conceded that sending the obviously heavily expecting queen out on the adventure would not be a good idea. Maplehaze flinched, the medicine cat was right. It wasn't just the damage brought by the fire and quake they needed to be concerned about. While she'd never seen or heard about a fox or a badger eating a cat, she didn't want to find out what desperate animals did. I guess I'm going alone. 

She glanced up at Bearheart, and then to Pinknose. Unless either of them wants to come along. She glanced over at Duskwhisper and frowned. She doubted that Duskwhisper was in any shape to go traipsing about either.

✧Pinknose | Location: United Camp | Mentions: Petaldawn, Stormgaze✧

Pinknose listened patiently to the wise tom, silently agreeing with his words. As daunting as it was, they were eager to prove themself to the newly formed group, and determined to help however they could. Not to mention the importance of rescuing any survivors that may not be able to make it out on their own. RiverClan territory in particular sent a prickle down their spine. The pale cat's boundless optimism coaxed fantasies of returning to find the camp exactly as it had always been, brimming with friendly and sleek-furred clanmates. However, they tried their best to be prepared for the worse, and likely gruesome reality.

The deputy was caught off guard and concerned when the mottled queen spoke up immediately. It certainly wasn't smart to let her go, but thankfully they didn't have to tell her that. Stormgaze chastised her quickly. The medic's blunt nature surprised them for such a young cat, even knowing him longer than most cats in the United. Their throat tightened as Stormgaze went on. 'Picking off what's left of the poor souls'... StarClan, don't let that be true. Pnknose took a deep breath, gave themself a good shake, and put on a brave face once more.

"I'll certainly be going as well." they stated, mustering all of their bravado. As valiant an effort as it was, it probably did little to impress anyone coming from such a small, innocent fluffball.

✦Petaldawn | Location: United Camp | Mentions: Stormgaze✦

[TW: suicidal thoughts]

The queen's gaze whipped around to face whomever had spoken up, landing on the gray and white tom.

"Who are you to tell me--" she began, but was interrupted by his second wave of rebukes. All at once she was overwhelmed with indignation and upset, exacerbated further by her heightened emotional state. Then, the dam holding Petaldawn together busted and tears welled in her eyes. She opened her maw to speak, but nothing came out. Defeated and wanting nothing more than to be alone, she turned and ran--as best as any expectant queen could--away from the gathered cats. Bringing kits into a world like this is a danger to them!

After the she-cat left, Scarletleap thundered up to Stormgaze, growling, "You may've had a point, fish-breath, but how dare you speak to my daughter that way? I don't know how RiverClan treats queens, but in ThunderClan we never jumped down their throats for wanting to help! And another thing, her mate and father of those kits may be one of the cats you're talking 'bout being picked off!"

Meanwhile, Petaldawn was far out of range of hearing her father's defense. She lay flat on the pebbles on the edge of the island, staring blankly across the lake. She would've been searching the treeline of her old home, had her vision not been blurred by tears. StarClan, I'd rather you take me and my kits than have to suffer another heartbeat like this. She wallowed pitifully.

Stormgaze

Co-Medic | Location: United camp | Mentions: Doerose & Petaldawn

While Stormgaze would never regret his words towards the heavily pregnant queen, but he would admit his anger had gotten the best of him. Had he not spoken so harshly, she may have not been so openly distraught. But it was too late to take back his words now, so all he could do was smooth the hurt he'd caused. He forced his fur to flatten after it had raised on ends after Scarletleap started growling at him. Meeting the toms gaze, Stormgaze made a soft retort, anger clear from his voice. "I'm treating her like any other clan-mate. While my anger may have been a touch too much, it was in the right place. I've berated a great many of cats in my own clan for fish-brained ideas, and as a rule, I treat every cat the same, no matter their rank or origin." He started. 

The tom gave his tail a flick, holding back the sigh that wanted to escape. "I'll not allow any cat to put themselves or others in danger that can be avoided. I understand that she wants to find her mate, I want to find my sister. But it is not logical for her to go searching for survivors for so many reasons. As far as I know, she's the only queen we have. I'll not risk her, or her kits so she can go off on this less than happy adventure. If she wants to help, there are plenty of ways she can do that without putting herself in danger." 

Stormgaze huffed, then turned his gaze to Doerose hoping the she-cat had an answer for him about his earlier question. If not he'd just have to get a little of everything. What a drag.

Maplehaze 

Warrior | Location: United Camp | Mentions: Petaldawn, Stormgaze & Pinknose

With the argument between Petaldawn, Stormgaze, and Scarletleap, the curly-furred she-cat felt the hair along her spine rise in agitation, before she forced it to lay flat. Arguing with a medicine cat is lizard-brained, She thought absently, before conceding that both had a point. Shaking her head the torbie huffed, "No matter that, who's going. We have places to be and cats to find." Maplehaze snapped, growing tired of the argument. Her tail lashed for a few heartbeats, before she turned her gaze to Pinknose, "I assume that you'll be leading the patrol?" She asked, head tilted to the right slightly.

If it was just the two of them, the search might take a while, but with cats that were formerly from Shadowclan and Riverclan, Maplehaze figured it might even out the odds than non-Shadowclan and Riverclan cats going. After all, no Thunderclan, Windclan, or Riverclan cat would know Shadowclan territory like a Shadowclan cat. The reverse could and should be said for Thunderclan, Riverclan, and Windclan territory either. Maplehaze figured that she'd find Riverclan and Windclan territory the most interesting of the territories, for various reasons. Mentally giving her head a shake the she-cat returned her attention to the Co-deputy.

Bearheart || Leader || Location: United Camp || Mentions: Stormgaze, Petaldawn, Pinknose, Maplehaze

There was no denying the natural affinity he felt towards Petaldawn, given that they were from the same clan and he had been responsible for the queen while he was medicine cat of ThunderClan. Shaking his personal bias would be difficult in times like these, but it was necessary for him to try his best to do so. During the time that he'd met him, Bearheart never quite slated Stormgaze as the 'bitter' medicine cat sort. Bearheart had never wanted the medical position that had been forced upon him- but he never took his frustrations out on his clanmates. Not for a moment. "We honor and respect your willingness to do anything in your power to help others, Petaldawn. But with your kits due so soon, it is imperative that you remain in the safety and stability of the island, where you can have proper assistance if they're to suddenly come early." He meant no disrespect to Scarletleap, either. He admired the previous deputy of ThunderClan. "Our code commands us to treat our queens, elders, and kits as our priority...if we catch wind of any survivors, you'll be the first to know."

Although, it appeared that the heat of argument had been too much for the pointed queen, and she retreated onto the rocky shores of their island sanctuary. The elected leader bit his lip. StarClan give him strength to hold them all together... "...And Stormgaze," the tom began in his typical casual tone of voice, "...I will remind you that peace is our priority. As of this moment, we are all that we have left. We cannot risk fracturing the delicate bonds that hold us all together. Even if Petaldawn was wrong to volunteer, she shouldn't be berated for it." Even if the medicine cat had a valid point in which the leader had agreed with, Bearheart thought that he could have delivered his orders to the expecting molly in a much more...comforting manner. He was young and perhaps his experience was more limited with queens, but their current world was sink or swim. He'd need to learn to mind his tone with emotional cats, just as Bearheart would have to watch his. He did get a little...cocky.

The piebald tom rolled his shoulders, allowing his form to relax before he moved onto other important matters. It wouldn't be wise to tag along, now that his only elected co-deputy was going out on patrol. Bearheart would need to remain in camp, to ensure that order was withheld after that little...disaster. Pinknose was a better choice out of the two of them, anyways. They knew their way around RiverClan. He nodded his thanks to both the white-furred cat and Maplehaze. "Any other volunteers for the patrol?" He was itching to go, but he did his best to retrain that desire. Bearheart would have his moment- he certainly wanted to attend the patrol for ThunderClan tomorrow. 

LittleBranch | Co-Deputy | Location: United camp | Mentions: N/A 

Halfpaw | Apprentice | Location: ShadowClan Camp | Mentions: N/A

It's gone. The young apprentice stared at the sea of gray surrounding him. Charred heaps blanketed the camp, as far as his eyes could detect. Which was not much. Halfpaw blinked, adjusting to the sunlight that emanated in thin slivers. A fine coat of ash had settled on his blue-gray fur. Numbly, Halfpaw staggered to his paws. Blackened rubble replaced the once bustling camp. The grass was scorched.  Was anyone else alive in this devastation? Halfpaw fumbled with a sharp hiss. Pain soared from his . . . His eyes widened. His leg. His ― what was ― Did anyone ― A whirlwind of confusion, of desperation, and of despair gripped him. His leg was gone. His family was ― his clanmates ― empty, it was all empty. The apprentice struggled to stand again. Somebody. Somebody, at least one cat, has to be here. Alive. Maybe unconscious. Somewhere. But where? Where could one hide in these remnants of ShadowClan? Halfpaw's breaths were quick and sharp. Calm, Halfpaw. Calm down. Breathe. The apprentice leaned against a boulder, decidedly to rest for a moment. He knew his time here was limited, depending on the hunger of badgers and foxes. His peripherals tentatively focused on the direction of ShadowClan's entrance. His paw tucked beneath his chest, Halfpaw crouched in silence. 

✧Pinknose | Location: United Camp | Mentions: Maplehaze✧

The snow white cat nodded curtly, feeling no need to waste more time.

"We'll check out the RiverClan camp first, then work our way towards ShadowClan territory." they instructed, before turning towards the bank of the island. Raised in the water loving clan, Pinknose plunged straight into the lake, a pleasant chill running up their body from their small pink toepads. Their ears swiveled, hoping to hear Maplehaze following overhead on the tree bridge. How perfectly it worked out that the pair of us will be well versed in the territory we're covering today. They thought optimistically, though still daunted by the possibilities.

The co-deputy made it quickly across the thin channel, and shook themself vigorously after emerging on the opposite bank. For the first time since gathering on the island, they allowed themself to look around their former home. Great barren swaths of black still clearly defined the path of the flames. A soft breeze swept by and ashes sprung up into the air, dancing. Their maw opened to draw in the scents nearby, but the acrid stench of smoke drowned out almost everything else. Pinknose sneezed and drew a paw over their nose, disgruntled. There's at least no scent of death in the immediate area... they conceded cautiously.

Doerose| Co-medic| Location: United camp| Mentions: Stormgaze

Doerose winced as the cats began shouting at each other. It wasn't nearly as fear inducing or chaotic as the screams of the cats during the disaster, but it wasn't very comforting. It certainly wasn't helping her forget about the incident. Kits?  Her mind echoed. How are kits supposed to survive out here? I don't even know if the warriors can. She dug her claws into the damp earth below her paws. That was comforting. It reminded her of the damp, shaded woods that had been Shadowclan territory. That's gone now. Her mind hissed. Everything's gone. You'll never see them again. Doerose closed her eyes, taking a shaky breath. When she felt she was calm enough to speak, she turned to Stormgaze.  

Doerose dipped her head. "I know where some poppy seeds, yarrow, and cobwebs are." She murmured softly, her throat aching as she did. The smoke hadn't done her any favors, that was clear. "They're further in Shadowclan territory. There may be some other herbs in the medicine den, but.." She trailed off. She wasn't sure if the medicine den had gone up in flames as well. It probably had, given how flammable its contents were. "I don't know if they all burned in the fire." She admitted quietly, remembering the raging flames. I should've grabbed herbs before I left. Instead, I escaped to save my own tail. Cricketpool wouldn't have done something so selfish. Her ear flicked, remembering the cat. She missed her mentor. She missed everyone, even her mother and father.