09.30.2019 โ There has been some exciting changes on CD lately! We've added a new monarchy to the groups of cats on the islands, as well as restructured the boards a bit to allow for some space - thus, redrawing the map! We've also promoted Nifty to Global Mod! There are some auditions open right now for JungleClan Deputy as well as for all of the new Kingdom of Mokuhau high ranks - Artemis
09.12.2019 โ Unfortunately Elaedria is stepping down as administrator due to life being too busy to keep up! The site will be going through some restructuring in high ranks as well due to this. Effective immediately, the word count is now 100 minimum. Some more changes will be coming in the future - members have been emailed a survey to help us figure out what to change and how to get better. Thanks for your patience! - Artemis
WEATHER
Year 55, Scorching Sands 09.05.2019 โ The temperatures of the islands are a steady 98ยฐ F on land/ high 80s in water. There is almost no breeze, the sun is uncomfortably warm.
Prey during the day is pretty scarce due to the heat, however is quite active after the sun goes down.
The layout of the site (including the profile, mini profile and affiliate table) was created by Leap. The cbox plugin was created by Alanna. The concept, content and some additional coding of the site was built by Elaedria, Rosa and Artemis. The Warriors Cats series is the intelluctal property of Erin Hunter. Favicon from Freepik. All images found on Chasing Dusk are copyright their respective owners ยฉ
Lost in the dense jungles of scattered islands, facing perils unimagined by their ancestors, are three warrior groups - The traditional JungleClan, descendants of the original clans carried aboard a twoleg contraption from their home long ago and breaking new ground on old beliefs. Second, the curious TidalClan, made up of kittypets who chose to abandon their long since passed twoleg civilization ways for those of true felines. Lastly, the mysterious Tribe of Twisted Roots, hidden in the mist from others with their strange ways and a deeper knowledge of the land around them. Together they must learn how to take their fate into their own paws if they wish to survive this land of erupting mountains and roaring waters.
Join our crew and dive into an island-based Warriors roleplay - a twist on the original series by Erin Hunter. We are a semi-literate site with a minimum of 100 words per post.
Sharksong watched as she cowered, and he was surprised at how good it made him feel. It was better than he felt in what seemed like moons and moons. He was tired of feeling like a clam in the mud. He needed to take control of everything that was slipping from his grasp. Focusing on that pleasurable feeling seemed like a start. If he moved even closer to the healer, if he pushed her a little bit moreโฆ[break][break]
He quickly caught on to his thoughts, and he recoiled away from Turtlehop, immediately hating himself. He didnโt know how to even begin delving into those thoughts, and what was even scarier was that he wasnโt aware of them until they already happened. More than a little disturbed, he struggled to look at the older she-cat, struggled to comprehend her words. They were all pointed, and he had the mental picture of him being peeled away piece by piece. โIโฆ Iโฆโ he tried, but there was nothing he could say in his defense. No way for him to cross the distance that stretched far between them now. No way to apologize.[break][break]
He wilted further under her verbal assault, and he kept his eyes firmly fixed on his paws. The thought of acknowledging what he now had to faceโฆ it was almost too much to bear. Never mind facing it and attempting to conquer it. Stepping in the water was the last thing he ever wanted to do. It made him feel sick, like his skin was crawling and his stomach was weighed down with a stone, like his lungs were on fire. He could already taste the salt in his mouth as he dared to look at the water breaking calmly a short distance away.[break][break]
โIโฆ canโt,โ he said at last, still unable to look at Turtlehop. โI canโt face this.โ He knew he wouldnโt be able to handle it. What was the point of trying?
Given his previous thoughts, and what he suspected, Sharksong wasnโt surprised that Newtstripe picked out the completely opposite prey item. It pitched them both on opposite sides, which seemed fitting given the mood between them. He kept his gaze on the tom carefully, switching it between Tinystar and their surroundings as needed so it wasnโt as obvious that he was watching closely.[break][break]
When Tinystar โchoseโ, Sharksong raised a brow, forgetting Newtstripe for a moment. Was it intentional from the start that she would choose both? But then again, it would be hard to share a single hare or a smaller fish between the three of them. There was logic behind it, but he wondered if it saved her from having to pick between him and Newtstripe.[break][break]
Why would she need to choose between the two of them? His lips pursed, and he decided it was another thought that could be pursued later.[break][break]
She was waiting expectantly, and he quickly understood that she didnโt want to eat first. Sharksong was torn between treating her or indulging her wishes. Technically as the deputy, it was probably proper that he wait too, but did that protocol apply in a relaxed setting? Plus, he was worried that theyโd never get to eating if it was a waiting game between all of them.[break][break]
Taking a risk, he pulled the hare and tuna a short distance to where there would be room for all three of them. He settled in front of both, then tore a hind leg off of the hare. He used his claws to section off a piece of the fish, then leaned back. He didnโt yet take a bite, waiting for Newtstripe and Tinystar to take what they wanted. Sharksong wore a smile that was nothing but friendly, and he was nothing but pleasurable. Now that the sun was out and the sky was a clear blue, it was far easier to act the way he did. It was easier to keep his darker thoughts at bay.
[attr=class,punkisavelighttext]Dragonfly was confused.[break][break]
While there was always a tear in her relationship with Monarch, there seemed to be peace between them. They were both adjusting, but they had been comfortable around each other.[break][break]
This seemed distinctly unlike that. It was tumultuous. Full ofโฆ distrust. Was that the unknown bitter feeling she felt before? She wasnโt sure. All she knew was that there were fractures between her and Monarch that she didnโt notice before. Her, Ember and Stingray, theyโd been having a simple discussion. It was something Monarch could have been around. It wasnโt about him.[break][break]
But it was almost like he suspected something. But what? She shook her head in frustration. They were innocent, but they were treated like they werenโt. Monarch wasnโt supposed to alienate any tribemate. Yet that was what he did. Dragonfly wanted to storm off and follow him, tell him exactly what she thought, but she didnโt want to lose composure. She assumed anything she said would fall on deaf ears, anyway, as that was the pattern she was noticing. A small part of her, though she could barely admit it to even herself, was afraid of saying anything. It was who she was to be forefront and not mince words. What if she spoke her mind and she lost Monarch forever?[break][break]
โฆNow was not the time to say anything, in any case. She had time to deliberate. Dragonfly looked at Ember, and he seemed quietly grateful. She looked to her paws then, troubled. She meant every action she took, but did that put her at the front of all the cats who disagreed with Monarch? What did that mean for the future? It was a simpler task to focus on Ember speaking to Stingray, so she did that instead.[break][break]
While she would have expected Stingray to be uncomfortable or unsettled by the tension that was just displayed, she didnโt expect the reaction that she was currently witnessing. Her eyes widened, and she looked at Ember helplessly. Dragonfly was completely out of her league if it meant trying to comfort someone. She tended to avoid the emotional aspect of dealing with other cats if she could, so she was ill-prepared toโฆ stop Stingray from whatever was happening to him.
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Dragonfly is like D:
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His first thought was that he failed.[break][break]
What made him think he could hide anything from Turtlehop? She was the healer. She was trained to see what others could not. His deputyship was doomed. If she knew, then it was only a matter of time before he was found out to be not suited for the role. Then what would happen? He wasnโt sure heโd be able to face the clan once they knew. His bravado wasnโt good enough for that.[break][break]
His second thought was that he struggled to believe what he heard.[break][break]
Sheโฆ wasnโt judging? He was so jostled by that knowledge that he didnโt register or respond to her physical comforting. She continued, and he faltered. Butโฆ the gods, the clanโฆ none of it had been on his mind. He was ready to give up everything for safety. How could he be trusted?[break][break]
Sharksong didnโt know how it was possible to feel number than he already did, but when the Resurgence was mentioned, he felt like he was frozen solid. That would be him, in the future, if he lived that long. Guilt followed quickly. He was still thinking about himself. Tinystar faced worse than he did, yet she was still capable. It felt like he could hardly put one paw in front of the other.[break][break]
He closed his eyes briefly. โIf Iโm supposed to lead the clan someday, then why am I afraid of a little rain? Of the darkness?โ His voice was hollow at first, but as he kept talking, kept admitting what ate away at him, his voice grew in feverish intensity. Self-loathing, he realized. It wasnโt the first time he felt as much. But nowโฆ it was more than just him. More than the disappointment of his small family. The entirety of TidalClan was at risk.[break][break]
All because he was like a little kit, bumbling out of the nursery. โI donโt know what to do. If the rest of the clan finds outโฆโ He didnโt bother finishing his sentence. Just because Turtlehop understood, didnโt mean others would. He pulled away from the healer and faced her, almost glaring. โYouโll keep this a secret, I presume?โ Nothing about his situation was comfortable. He hated feeling vulnerable and exposed. And for someone to see him in the state he was in currently took every particle of self-control he had. โI donโt want anyone else to find out about this. Andโฆ I plan to assume my role now. Iโm tired of cowering.โ[break]
Maybe not picking first wasnโt such a good idea.[break][break]
It was hard enough to ignore Newtstripeโs lingering comment. His mind stuck to it like a burr, trying to figure out what it meant and why he said it. There were so many comments that touched upon sensitive subjects that he could no longer ignore his suspicion. But now Newtstripe turned the fresh-kill pile into a game on top of everything? Why? The undertones of suspicion grew more and more with each passing moment. It was nice to feel an emotion that wasnโt fear, but it still wasnโt one he wanted to face with his current mindset. What if he said something wrong and ended up revealing his fragile state to either of them? He pushed his concerns away for the time beingโhe could think on it when he was alone.[break][break]
He couldnโt even get a moment to forget his thoughts, unfortunately. Newtstripe thought he himself knew what Tinystar liked? Why would it matter to Newtstripe if he did or not? The nagging feeling wouldnโt go away, so he stared at the other tom for a long moment, expression carefully schooled to neutrality.[break][break]
Tinystar immediately played along with Newtstripeโs antics, so he turned to look at her. And then it began to dawn on him.[break][break]
Was Newtstripeโฆ jealous? Shock replaced the suspicion, and Sharksong knew he had to be right. He thought heโd been friendly with the fighter. Was that no longer the case? When did it change?[break][break]
Sharksong wasnโt one to care if cats didnโt like him. Even with Newtstripe, it was easy to brush off the feelings that came close to a sense of betrayal. It was no different from how Wavestep treated him. But like any cat in his position, he still wondered why.[break][break]
The following epiphany was sudden and dark. If Wavestep and no other family member cared that he came back alive, did that apathy also apply Newtstripe?[break][break]
โฆDid Newtstripe count on him dying? He knew what jealousy could do to a perfectly good cat. It wasnโt a question he could know the answer to, but he had experience with it. Tinystar didnโt seem to notice any ill intentions, but he felt cold inside all the same.[break][break]
He turned his focus to the fresh-kill pile. He could play along. โHmm.โ Sharksong made a show of looking Tinystar up and down. โIt has to be the hare. I know when it rains a lot, the last thing I want is something from the water.โ His reasoning made sense to him, so he could only apply his logic when he didnโt know anything else. And if he was wrong, then he would learn something new.[break]
Tangpaw drew closer to Shellpaw, almost conspiratorially. โWe didnโt know what it was. It brushed against Tunapaw while we were swimming, then it vanished. We never got to see it, but we quickly left the lake. What if it tried to take a bite out of one of us?โ Her eyes widened for theatrical effect. She never heard of any stories about cat-eating fish in the lake, and she doubted that the fish there got so big, but there was a first time for everything, wasnโt there?
โTunapaw would be the better cat to ask. He might have noticed something distinctive about it. I only heard splashing and saw him freak out.โ It was hard to keep a straight face. Nothing perilous came of the encounter, so in her opinion it was acceptable to bring humor into the situation โYou should have seen his face! It was like heโd seen the gods themselves.โ
The rumors of the fish in the ocean were plentiful. Fish bigger than comprehension, some with sharp teeth and a large appetiteโฆ That was one place she didnโt mind leaving unexplored, if the rumors were any indication of the dangers.
โWe could go back to the tree I climbed. The branch I jumped off of hangs over the lake. Maybe we can get some kind of clue there, especially if we see something unusual?โ Tangpaw gestured in the direction of said tree, slowly beginning to move in that direction as she looked at Shellpaw for confirmation.
โMaybe. But I think I have enough charm to pull it off.โ He pushed through and continued his easygoing demeanor. โTheyโll get used to me, and my decisions will be decent enough that theyโll know Iโm a perfect fit.โ That was how it had to be. If he said it enough, thought it enough, then it would have to be true. Wouldnโt it?
He didnโt like the answer to his last question. Suspicion churned in his gut before it completely changed to anxiety. Her pace quickened, and it suddenly felt hard to keep up with her. Sharksongโs pace slackened as the trees revealed wide swaths of sandโฆ and the ocean glittering tauntingly ahead.
At first, Sharksong simply didnโt understand what Turtlehop was saying. The words were simple, but his mind refused to heed them. He was fine. There was nothing wrong. He had no mental problems. He was ready to forget about the trial and focus on his deputyship. He didnโt need to waste his time sightseeing with the healer. He had important tasks to complete.
He had to get in the water?
He wasnโt ready. His trial was nothing but a shameful attempt at surviving. The clan never was his focus. He froze up and trembled when night arose, felt sick to his stomach when rain fell. There was something wrong with him. He wasnโt worthy. The gods already knew, but TidalClan didnโt.
He did nothing but stare at the healer. His mind tore through her words, and he watched numbly as she moved towards the waves.
โNoโฆ no. Iโm fine. I really, really donโt need to do that. I made it in one piece, see? Iโm fine.โ He laughed as the words spilled out, the sound rough and hoarse. He took a step back, mind spinning and spinning and spinning. He had to prove to her that he was okay. He couldnโt let Turtlehop glimpse his failure.
Sharksong sat down, trying to quell the sudden dizziness as much as he was trying to stall. โDoโฆ do the gods not think Iโm right for TidalClan? Did they tell you that?โ The questions were supposed to give him time, but he suddenly realized he didnโt want to know their answers.
Dragonfly held on to the hope that the situation would go smoothly. The three of them were conversing harmlesslyโmostly. Monarch had to know that he had to choose his words carefully, especially around all of them. She had enough faith in him that he would know what to do.
And that was where everything went wrong. Where she went wrong.
She stared in disbelief as her brother took the exact course of action she didnโt want him to. Instead of building bridges, his words urged in seeds of dissent. His tone took on the weight of authority he did not yet have, and as he continued, she felt her heart sink lower and lower.
The worst part of it all was when Monarch looked her way, proving he knew just what he was doing, what line he was crossing. He knew the best way to take, he knew what her thoughts would beโฆ and he avoided all of it anyway. He was supposed to be proving himself worthy to all their tribemates. Instead he was proving their convictions and conceived notions.
Dragonfly felt a stab of a foreign emotion when his blatant disregard became clear. She remained silent as the rage blistered in Emberโs eyes, and she still did not speak as it bled through the older navigatorโs voice. She had to admit that she knew exactly where Ember was coming from.
Monarch was crossing too many lines. It was evident enough by the fact that she could practically hear Oceanโs voice instead of Monarchโs as he addressed Stingray. It was like their father somehow took over him. She knew that wasnโt possible, but it made her feel that much colder.
She wanted to at least appear as a united front to others when they were together. She wanted to be a trustworthy confidant to the quartermaster. She wanted to help heal the divide between the positive and negative views others held of him. She wantedโฆ many things. But she could do nothing if Monarch didnโt meet her halfway. He made not even the slightest attempt, and she couldnโt let his subtle insults slide. And so, she knew whose side she had to take.
Dragonfly stepped up to stand at Emberโs side. She looked at Stingray for a long moment before she finally spoke. โMonarch.โ Her voice held no edge, no bitterness, but the warning was there all the same. โStingray knows what he needs to do and when. He is the witchโs swabbie, not your own.โ There was no way the quartermaster could push a witch swabbie to his own whims. It also wasnโt right to get Stingray caught up in the middle of tension that wasnโt his own. She stared her brother down, posture rigid, the weight of her words ringing in her own ears.
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Orchidbloom hoped her offer was appealing. She came up with it practically on the spot, so she didnโt know how suitable it would be. If Anispine requested something difficult, could she do it? Well, she would have to now, but there was no way of knowing if she went over her head.
The medicine cat made a noise, then fell silent, and she realized he was thinking about it. She was surprised at the mild anxiety that swirled through her in that moment, and it made her realize just how important learning basic herbal medicine was to her. She blinked at the self-realization. Where did it come from? She was a warrior through and through, she knew that much, yet the sudden desire to know what she wanted to about medicine was quite overwhelming.
She expected agreement, or perhaps refusal, right away. Instead, Anispine trailed off in uncertainty, and Orchidbloom stared at him in momentary disbelief. JungleClanโs medicine cat for moons didnโt know if he was doing anything right? She was about to open her mouth, but he continued, and his statement made more sense. But then she thought about it, and she found she was still confused. Anispine was brilliant at his trade. Would it be that hard to pass that knowledge on?
Not everyone was suited for being a teacher, she had to remind herself quickly. She loved it, personally, but that didnโt mean Anispine had to. It was completely acceptable that he didnโt know what to do. Perhaps it was expected, given how long he worked by himself.
Orchidbloom was still getting to know Ratpaw, her own apprentice, but then again, she already had methods down on how to work with an apprentice. She nodded without hesitation, a relieved smile on her face. โOf course I can help with that, Anispine. Iโd love to, in fact. But if thereโs anything else you need or want in addition to that, please donโt hesitate to let me know.โ What he was getting in return wasnโt quite as fair, so she meant her every word.
โIn terms of starting... would you like to start now? Or would you prefer to wait until the morning?โ She also wanted to set up a time that she could meet with him regularly, but she could wait until later for that.
She was speaking, but she was also looking at him firmly. Like she was seeing through him. He fidgeted his paws ever so slightly, and it grew harder to hold her gaze. His heart sank even though he expected her to have more to check. Heโd held on to the slim hope that heโd be all clear immediately, but now there was no chance of that at all.
Despite himself, Sharksong perked up slightly when Turtlehop asked him to walk with her. He was leaving camp? His heart picked up in excitement, and he glanced up towards the sky. It was blue, almost completely devoid of clouds. It was safe. He bounded after the healer to the camp exit, more than willing to follow her.
When the territory opened up around them, he felt his spirits soar. He kept the set pace without even thinking about it, and he found himself looking around with wide eyes. It was like he was a fledgling leaving home for the first time again. The old buildings faded into lush, green grass and trees that reached up to the sky. He took a deep breath and enjoyed the scent of forest and saltwater for the first time in days.
Sharksong looked down at the healer when she broke the silence. He forced himself to smile at her compliment, even if it felt hollow to him. He believed it was real, but he worried he wasnโt worth her praise.
He moved to look straight ahead, working his jaw as he thought about how to address her question. โIโฆ havenโt felt any different. Iโm already used to cats looking at me because of how obnoxious I am. Now theyโre looking at someone obnoxious who just got an ego boost.โ Sharksong watched Turtlehop from the corner of his eyes, smiling sideways. โAt least the clan will take me a little more seriously, now.โ It was easy to pick himself apart with humor, it always had been, but now he wondered just how true it was.
There was one thing he wanted to know that Turtlehop didnโt reveal yet. He sidled closer to her as they padded along. He lowered his voice and bent his head by her ear, partly because he didnโt want to be overheard, but also because he wanted to get a reaction out of the healer. โSoโฆ what more do you need to check?"
Sharksong grimaced. It seemed like Newtstripe was hitting everywhere it hurt. It seemed like he knew where to hit. That thought was so consuming that he had to stop and analyze itโso much so that he nearly forgot to answer.
Eventually, he shrugged uncomfortably. โI donโt know about that. Theyโฆ they never said anything.โ He was so worried about his own predicament that he never stopped to consider that none of his family approached him. None of them stopped by to check on him, to see he was safe. They never even congratulated him. It was a lot to unpack, so he pushed it out of his mind. He didnโt have the energy to focus on it.
While their struggling family was no secret to the clan, he was sure Newtstripe was trying to be considerate. He couldnโt have known how dire the situation was.
Sharksong closed his eyes and shook his head. He searched for something to change the topic, but Tinystar got to it first. He opened his eyes and sent her a relieved, grateful look. โIf Turtlehop will listen to anyone, itโs definitely you.โ To her question, he shrugged again, though his time was much lighter. He had almost nothing to do, so the thought of sharing prey with anyone sounded like a grand plan. It was only more so when Tinystar was the one asking. It took him yet another moment to realize heโd even had the thought. It startled him slightly, but then his mind quickly made sense of it. She was the only one who could relate to the experiences he had. They were both expected to support the clan and have answers to everything about anything, so it only made sense that he felt the way he did. It was the comfort of not feeling alone. "That sounds like a fine idea."
He turned towards the fresh-kill pile and led the way over. It was stocked recently, so there was a lot to choose from. Several different types of fish, mollusks, and land-caught prey like frogs and mice. He stared at all of it for a long moment, suddenly unable to choose. He shifted his gaze to Newtstripe and Tinystar. โYou both can pick first, Iโm fine with whateverโs left.โ
Tangpaw did take the wrong meaning at first, and she tilted her head in mystification. She scared away Shellpawโs thoughts? How? If she was honestโฆ it wasnโt the first time she did that to someone. Even then, she didnโt understand it, but it was something she reluctantly accepted. But then Shellpaw clarified somewhat, and Tangpawโs expression was caught between apology and amusement.
โWhile I definitely didnโt mean to scare your fish away, I canโt apologize for making you lose your thoughts. Though, you arenโt the first one.โ She struggled to keep from laughing. From the expression on Shellpawโs face, she looked embarrassed, but if anything, Tangpaw had more to be embarrassed about. Who would be weird enough to startle someone from what they were thinking about? Yet the fledgling wasnโt sheepish about it at all.
Shellpawโs discussing the fish in the lake made her think about the strange fish-like thing her and Tunapaw encountered in the lake. They never did figure out what it was, and Tangpaw never told anyone about it. Sheโd been careful to look out for it, but nothing ever came from it. She never thought to check at night.
Tangpaw flicked her tail flippantly. โDonโt worry, Iโll dry soon.โ She smiled at Shellpaw, debating whether to tell her about the mystery of the strange lake fish. In favor of quickly won her mental debate. โOn the other paw, the water feels nice when youโre used to the temperature. We could go for a swimโฆ or look for the mysterious fish that is rumored to live in this lake.โ Well, it was a rumor between her and her brother, but she didnโt think it hurt to recruit someone else to their little mystery.
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