☼SunClan☼

|Palestripe|Location: Forest|Mentions: Hawkpaw|

"Why thank you, Hawkpaw," Palestripe rasped to the young tabby apprentice, "I am partial to a good mouse or two." His melancholy attitude seeped into his attempt at a purr of thanks, and the elder coughed a little in the silence of the forest. Easing down onto his haunches, the elder took a moment to look at the massive trees. "What a gift from Starclan this place is. Such a forest must harbor plenty of prey, as fertile as the old territory was before..." His words hushed for a moment, as if mulling over his last words, "Before the fire."

He silently began to eat, coughing a but more. 'I didn't go that far, did I?' he wondered. His breathing certainly wasn't getting better, but Palestripe didn't want to disappoint the apprentice by leaving him in silence. "Thank you for the mouse, not a bad catch for the apprentice. I am sure you will catch even bigger prey under Mudsong's guidance."

🦆 Duckpaw - Location: Temporary Camp - Mentions: Sleetwhisker, Mudsong 🦆

Before Duckpaw could get a response from her mentor, Foxstar returned and made an announcement. Her eyes sparkled with interest at the mention of patrols exploring the territory, that did sound fun! Her paws tingled with the excitement at the thought of exploring the new land. What new things are they going to find? Are there going to be cool holes to hide in? What if there are other creatures or monsters to find? Are they going to have to fight something like a fox? Wait, how do you fight a fox again? She broke out of her thoughts as she heard Foxstar mention moving out again and her excitement fell off her face. Ugh, again? They gotta move again? But whyyy?  She sat down with a hmph with a pouty face as the clan started to break apart to organize the patrols.

Duckpaw's attention turned to Mudsong as the warrior came on to her and Sleetwhisker to invite them on her patrol. She was quick to bounce back on up to her paws with a big beaming smile on her face, "Oh, oh!! I wanna go!! I wanna go explore!!" She spun around and looked up to Sleetwhisker with a begging look, bouncing lightly on her paws, "Can we go with Sleetwhisker? Pleeeeeeeeeassee?" She ignored everything in the background as the others worked on sorting out the rest of the patrols, eagerly waiting for her mentor's response.

🦅Hawkpaw | Location: Temporary Camp | Mentions: Palestripe, Mudsong🦅

The oversized 'paw dipped his head respectfully. He nudged the still warm prey closer for the elder, turning his ears away as the elder hacked for a moment. Hawkpaw's pelt ruffled uncomfortably. He felt strangely guilty to have escaped the fires unscathed, while many of his clanmates, from cats his own age like Dawnpaw to Palestripe before him, were not so lucky. Not to mention Greenpath... The young cat shook himself and only half heard the elder's remark. He gave a very small nod in agreement.

"It seems nicer than most the places we've stopped so far." he admitted while the other tom tucked in. He felt pride rise and then stagnate. 'For an apprentice', tch. Half the warriors in the clan couldn't catch a blind toad. He whined to himself, Mudsong isn't any help anyways, I might as well be training myself. Looking at the height of the sun, Hawkpaw guessed it had been some time since his mentor had slipped away. She might be back and looking for him by now. Foxstar may even be gathering the clan to leave, and as much as he distrusted most cats he knew, he trusted them more than strangers, or his own skills as a loner.

He dipped his head again as a good-bye, meowing before he bounded away, "Speaking of Mudsong, she's probably looking for me. I'm going to return to the lone tree. I bet we'll be on the move soon again, maybe don't hang out here too long."

With his young, strong body, it took little time at all for Hawkpaw to get back to the assembled cats. Almost everyone was awake, now, talking about patrols and hunting, and where others were-including himself. This seemed far more than the usual morning activity during the journey. Catching sight of his mentor, he walked up beside her and asked about it.

"What about scouting patrols? Is everything okay?" his monotone voice betrayed his disinterest.

🦊Foxstar | Location: Temporary Camp | Mentions: SunClan🦊

Foxstar stretched luxuriously, letting her thick tail arch and sway with the breeze. Her forelegs pressed against the warm stone, and as her muscles relaxed she let her rear legs slump under her as well, lying down. There was little for her to do right now, unless Daystep and Mudsong needed any help arranging their patrols. She took mental note of any cat seemingly not present, a bolt of anxiety striking her as Hawkpaw made the list. Of course the rebellious tabby was missing, he wouldn't miss the opportunity to shorten her nine lives with worry. Thankfully, her concern was short lived as he came loping back through the undergrowth towards her friend and his mentor. He seemed no worse for wear, Foxstar swore she even caught the scent of prey fresh on his pelt.

I'm sure he kept it for himself, she thought with some annoyance, although I can't blame him too much. He only had Greenpath and I to teach and enforce the warrior code for him, and our numbers now hardly require the hauls of fresh-kill they once did.

🕷Spiderfang | Location: Temporary Camp | Mentions: Shadedfern, Daystep🕷

Spiderfang glanced back at Shadedfern, nodding in acknowledgement. He watched him address his apprentice, feeling a pang of regret for not remembering his friend's apprentice. How could he have forgotten? He was so proud of Shadedfern when he was first named Dawnpaw's mentor, they had rambled for hours about their own days as warriors in training, and debated eagerly about what he should teach first. He was suddenly snapped out of his memories by Daystep's query.

"That sounds great!" he dropped down to a whisper, adding, "Between you and me, Mudsong's patrol sounds a little uh, 'overcrowded'. A nice calm patrol with friends sounds more my speed."

Mudsong || Location: Temporary Camp || Mentions: Hawkpaw, Sleetwhisker, Creekstep, Daystep, Duckpaw

She wouldn't tolerate Creekstep's disrespect for his clanmates, even if they seemed to have refused his advances towards leading their patrol. "Mind your tongue about your clanmates." Mudsong reminded the calico tom with a scolding twitch of the tip of her tail. "Even if they disagreed with your decisions, they're still your clanmates, your family. Unity is imperative at this moment. But...do know that Foxstar assigned this patrol to me, and therefore you will be under my command as we scout." It needed to be clarified. Creekstep kept trying to take charge, and Foxstar had asked her to do this. She wouldn't let just any cat go against Foxstar's direct command. Not on her watch. After uttering those words to the tom, Mudsong offered a kind nod to Daystep once more. Perhaps it was better if she just tag along with the younger toms, otherwise they'd be stuck in a super patrol once more. Besides, she seemed close to Shadedfern and Spiderfang.

"No need to take them along on my patrol." She mewed softly to Daystep, although it appeared that Spiderfang already had the same idea. "I think you three will do plenty good on your own." Shadedfern had run off to attempt to nudge Dawnpaw along, an idea that made Mudsong mentally cringe. It was like poking a sleeping badger. Between her own apprentice and the broken-jawed tom...she didn't know which was more touchy. For now, she was to wait for Sleetwhisker's decision on Duckpaw. The young she-cat seemed enthusiastic to tag along, excitement that made Mudsong purr softly. "Let me know where your patrol heads off, Daystep." The split-furred molly seemed to be taking charge of her patrol. "That way we can ensure that we don't cover the same ground."

She was slightly jealous of Sleetwhisker. Duckpaw seemed like a good egg- maybe a bit of a handful from time to time, but jolly nonetheless. Mudsong imagined training with the young calico to be entertaining. "We'll head out once Sleetwhisker makes his decision." She couldn't resist offering Duckpaw a good-natured smile. 

Hawkpaw...finally, he was back. The scent of prey on his pelt forced the warrior to begin jumping to conclusions- had he caught prey for only himself, and not for the clan? How could he be so disrespectful, as to forget their injured and elderly that needed a meal more than he did? Yet, Mudsong caught a whiff of Palestripe on his pelt. It reassured her. "...Thank you for catching prey for Palestripe." She assumed that he did. Well...she really, really hoped that was what he'd been doing. "I'm leading a scouting patrol, and I'd like you to come along. I know I left you this morning, and I'm sorry. I should've wakened you, but I wanted you to rest and preserve your strength for today." Her pale eyes darted towards the forest. "...Because I made a mistake, it's only fair that I make it up to you. We'll practice whatever you'd like while we patrol- tracking, sparring, stalking, whatever you'd prefer." Of course, it would only be for the patrol. After that, she'd resume his training as she saw fit. It was important that she maintain a balanced relationship with Hawkpaw- she couldn't just be his buddy. She wanted to be on good terms, but she needed to be his mentor first and foremost. And she needed to be honest. 

Remus || Rogue || Location: Gray Fox Burrow || Mentions: Raventide [indirect]

It spoke again.

Maybe he wasn't going insane like Biscuit had, but then again, he didn't want to get his hopes up. He was afraid that loneliness would quickly drive him to madness, and already the tom swore he was seeing and hearing things. Remus could still feel his heart pounding in his chest as he lay dormant in the abandoned fox burrow, trying to decipher the odd sensation in his chest. Fear? Excitement? Hope...?

He wasn't sure. He hoped that it might be true, that there were cats attempting to settle the giant's forest, but he didn't want to disappoint himself. He felt a mixture of emotions, because something about seeing new faces just made him feel anxious. Remus didn't know why. He wanted friends, he desired companionship more than anything else in the world. It felt as if there was a war being waged in his head.

The silver tabby finally released the breath that he held for what felt like an eternity, reliving the burning sensation in his chest. He needed rest. This day was more than he bargained for already- and it was only dawn. 

Dawnpaw || Location: Temporary Camp|| Mentions: Shadedfern

Oh, of course. He was the second priority. Finally Shadedfern remembered that he had an apprentice of...what was it now, two moons? 

...And "big guy"? Oh, StarClan...

"...You're not my dad. Don't try to be." The golden-furred apprentice refused to make eye-contact with his mentor, stubbornly feeling sulky since he'd been forgotten so quickly. He wouldn't let his mentor easily walk out of this one, not without a fight. He felt particularly testy in that moment, and he intended on riding his momentary rage out to the very end. Dawnpaw felt his frustration course through his entire body, feeling his claws tense as they curled into the grassy earth. 

He had no interest in being apart of SunClan's history. In that moment, he wanted to be completely eradicated from it- gone, forgotten. All he'd be remembered for was the incident that cost his mother her life. "I don't want to go." It was a curt response. The apprentice curled his lip at the thought of hanging out with his mentor's "buddies", a situation he had no interest in being apart of. He didn't want to be the third or fourth wheel, whatever it was. He wanted to be priority number one.

To seal the deal, the pouting apprentice resting his head on his paws with a dramatized huff. Stars, his mentor's forced enthusiasm was sickening. He wasn't a kit anymore. 

...Even if he was acting like one. 

⌘  Shadedfern | Location: Temp. Camp | Mentions: Spiderfang, Dawnpaw ⌘

Shadedfern couldn't say he was surprised by Dawnpaw's responses, and the first words he spoke made his heart burn. "I wasn't trying to be your father, Dawnpaw. Just... attempting to get you in a better mood." Since I made it worse in the first place.

"Do you really wish to not go on the patrol, or are you just saying that because you feel a certain way? Because, trust me, I want to make it better, no matter how mediocre that sounds to you." He said in a low tone, genuinely wanting to know. He took his tail off of the young tom's back and curled it around his paws.

His ears told him that Spiderfang was working things out, but he didn't dare take his eyes off of his apprentice, wanting him to feel the honesty and truthfulness in his words through his gaze if nothing more.

⁂ Raventide | Location: Forest/Temp. Camp | Mentions: Spiderfang, Daystep ⁂

Raventide's growing worry finally began to ebb away as he found following his own trail was a bit easy. It did, however, become stale closer to the camp, but that was expected. Looking up and around, he slightly recognized this part of the forest. Yes, he remembered that hollow in the trunk, and that tree with a lower branch than the others.

Flicking his tail, the tom lowered his head once more, searching for a different scent. I can't come back to the 'camp' empty-jawed and expect not to get questioned. He thought, and soon caught the scent of vole. He found two skittering across a dusty patch of land, digging up seeds possibly dropped by birds or squirrels.

He crept as close as he could before pouncing on the creatures, catching one in his mouth, smacking the other with his paw. With it dazed, it gave Raventide enough time to drop the already dead one to kill the next. Collecting the small creatures in his mouth, he went towards the scent of many familiar cats. He decided that he would eat when he got there.

Coming into view of the makeshift camp, he suddenly remembered why he liked being alone more than being around collective groups. Much of the cats seemed to be awake and were even conversing about patrols and such. He padded up to Spiderfang and Daystep, who were talking about their own patrol. He dropped both of the voles by their paws, nodding to them briefly. "Good morning." He said quietly, then retreated to a further corner of the 'camp', 

Ignoring the angry rumbling of his stomach, he curled his tail around his paws neatly and raised his head, gazing out at the cats. He saw Duckpaw hopping around, Creekstep looking nervous and slightly chastened, Shadedfern talking to Dawnpaw, Foxstar laying on a rock, and much more.

🦅Hawkpaw | Location: Temporary Camp | Mentions: Mudsong🦅

Hawkpaw waited impatiently for his mentor to respond. He flattened one ear temperamentally, expecting the emotion crossing his mentor's eyes to result in a scold. His angst relented in momentary surprise when Mudsong thanked him instead. It came right back, though, as he replied.

"No thanks to you." he muttered, barely audible, as the warrior went on. He briefly considered each topic of study she mentioned, but his mind drifted, along with his eyes, towards Dawnpaw. Lazy bloke. He thought, although he's got the right idea. He decided to humor Mudsong, and met her eyes for the first time during the conversation.

"Since I've practiced stalking plenty on my own," he gibed once last time, "tracking might be interesting."

Mudsong || Location: Temporary Camp || Mentions: Hawkpaw, Sleetwhisker, Creekstep, Duckpaw

Negotiation had always been her specialty. While her apprentice was still young and not quite her "equivalent" as of yet, he would be in the future. 

Although she didn't appreciate his back-talk. She'd let him win for today, given her own mistake, but she wouldn't tolerate him attempting to gloat over his short victory. Because I haven't been mentoring you for a whole two moons, hm. The pointed feline thought to herself curtly, holding back the comment so as to maintain whatever peace they managed to have. Between the confusion of the patrols among some of the warriors and now having to mediate her own situation with Hawkpaw, it seemed that Mudsong finally found balance. Not perfect balance, mind you, but it was as good as it was going to get. "A wise choice." Ignoring his seething comment, Mudsong instead focused on positivity. She needed to be strong. She wouldn't let his attitude get to her. "Given the purpose of this patrol, of course. We may just come across some new scents completely foreign to both you and Duckpaw."

In regards to the calico adolescent, Mudsong didn't want to disappoint her. Sleetwhisker seemed to be feeling under the weather, maybe from all the travel and smoke, and decided that he wouldn't be participating in the patrol. But since Creekstep was supposedly taking along, she saw no harm in still taking Duckpaw. "Since Sleetwhisker is staying in camp, you'll be working on tracking with us as we patrol. Don't want to leave you out of all the fun of exploring unknown territory."

...They might need her energy.

Dawnpaw || Location: Temporary Camp|| Mentions: Shadedfern, Hawkpaw

Better my mood? The golden tom flattened his ears against his thick skull. Yeah, you did just that alright. His mentor seemed content on refusing to relent, but Dawnpaw found himself equally as stubborn. He refused to attend a patrol filled to the brim with his mentor's buddies, in which the focus would be primarily on their "good times" that they shared together. Dawnpaw wasn't interested in their little "clique", especially without any other apprentices tagging along.

"I don't want to go." The broken-jawed apprentice answered once more in a darkened tone, sniffing bitterly before breaking eye contact with Shadedfern once more. His fur bristled out of frustration. StarClan, as much as Shadedfern claimed to not be acting like he was his father, he sure seemed to sound like one. Like all those cats who tried to fill the empty role of the father he never knew. He didn't want some phony father.

He just wanted his mom. 

Dawnpaw had no intention of making a scene- he just wanted to lay around camp and be at his own peace. Would he regret this decision later? Maybe- but for now, he was obstinate. He wanted no part in that patrol. He didn't want to grasp and celebrate all of this change. 

Someone was staring at him. 

Normally he'd be flattered- he was a good-looking cat, at least before the accident that stole away his mother's life. Now, he looked like a freak. It was Hawkpaw, Mudsong's apprentice who had the privilege of still having Foxstar as family while completely disregarding what little happiness he had left. Dawnpaw curled his lip over his protruding bottom canine. Ungrateful, entitled furball.

⌘  Shadedfern | Location: Temp. Camp | Mentions: Dawnpaw, Spiderfang ⌘

Shadedfern flattened his ears as well, and he let out a quiet sigh. "I can tell you are mourning, Dawnpaw... I'll respect your wish and leave you now." He whispered, and stood up, preferring not to make a scene with his apprentice.

He got up and gave the young tom a quick lick on the back of his neck, brushing the fur the wrong way. He gave him a light smile and padded off towards Spiderfang.

He flicked his ear when he saw Raventide drop off the voles and walk off. "Ah, a treat from the tom you admire." He chuckled, licking the fur on his chest. He glanced over at Dawnpaw once more before turning his eyes away.

🦆 Duckpaw - Location: Temporary Camp - Mentions: Mudsong, Sleetwhisker 🦆

Duckpaw's ears fell as her excitement faded as Sleetwhisker declined to go on the patrol. Her mentor wished to stay in a camp for a while longer, for whatever reason. What a bummer... Wait, does that mean she can't go!? But she wants to go still! She was really looking forwards to going out and exploring! Why does everyone else get all the fun? Her ears perked up as she spun around to look to Mudsong as the warrior offered to still bring her with and teach her tracking alongside Hawkpaw. Duckpaw's face lit up with excitement again with her being able to go still.

"Yay!! I can't wait to see what we find!! Let's go!!" The apprentice said with glee before turning away and darting off. She couldn't believe it! Something actually fun to do besides walking around all day! She couldn't wait to see what they found! She did a little bounce before coming to a skidding stop at the edge of the camp. She did a little spin to look back at the other cats as she stood there excitedly waiting for them. She had a big grin on her face and a twinkle in her eye as she stared expectantly at the other cats to follow as she tried to contain her excitement and wait for them.

Daystep || Location: Temp. Camp || Mentions: Spiderfang, Shadedfern, Mudsong, Raventide

The molly purred happily at his response. "Wonderful!" she replied. Daystep couldn't help but dip her head in agreement with Spiderfang's next sentence, however. Her eyes flickered over to Creekstep once more and winced as she saw Mudsong's demeanor toward him. She'd have her paws full, for sure.

Her attention was quickly caught by Mudsong when she heard the older she-cat's voice speaking to her, and she turned her head, only to purr at her words. "Thank you, Mudsong," she mewed, feeling her fur turn warm at the older warrior's praise. "I'll be sure to let you know once we decide," she added, nodding her head before turning to gaze at Shadedfern. Her heart dropped as she watched the tom try and convince his apprentice to come with them on the patrol, but from the looks of it, he wasn't having any luck.

Raventide's cool voice penetrated her thoughts and she turned to look at the large tom as he dropped the voles in the pile of fresh-kill. She hadn't even realized the tom had gone hunting. "Good morning, Raventide!" she purred in greeting, moving to stand when she noticed Shadedfern make his way over to them. Her yellow eyes looked concerned as she gazed at him.

"Did Dawnpaw not want to come?" she asked him, tilting her head. She could understand why; the young cat had bee through a lot in such a short time span, it must have been difficult to process. "I'm sorry, Shadedfern. Perhaps he'll feel up to the next one?"