09.30.2019 → 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 → 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 → The temperatures of the islands are a steady 98° 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.
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.
In all honesty, Turtlehop still couldn't tell the difference from a clam and an oyster. As long as they were edible, she didn't care what it was called. But anyway, she was distracted by poor Tunapaw not quite getting the joke at first. Bless his little soul, he thought she was serious! There was no way Tinystar would ever be in her right mind and name a fighter such a thing as Tunafish. Unless she severely disliked him. Turtlehop doubted that; Tunapaw was too much of a character.
She burst into soft giggles, and gently bapped his ears with her white paw. "I am, I'm sorry sweetie. Trust me, you won't be named Tunafish. That I can seriously guarantee." He wouldn't be disappointed with whatever name he received - she knew that. There'd never been a fighter who had. She purred softly, and began sorting herbs back into neat little piles.
"They can have fun," she agreed with a nod. "Not always, but life isn't good without a little fun." Which was very true. Sometimes, even she didn't take enough time to relax and goof off. It came with the title, she supposed. It was hard to be playful with cats who looked up to you. That's why she loved talking to fledglings - they let her be a little more silly. They expected life lessons, sometimes, but like Tunapaw, didn't take them seriously often. They just appreciated her treating them less like a fledgling, and more like a cat.
Perhaps, having an apprentice would lead to more lighthearted moments and fun. It would be good for the aging she-cat.
"Now, it's getting late," she purred eventually, as they finished getting the scattered leaves in order. "How about I make you up a nest, and you spend the night here? We'll get some more poultice on in the morning, and then you can go back to your friends flea-free tomorrow night."
For tonight, she would enjoy the warmth he offered the old church.
ulla
Swiftwave - Jungleclan warrior Rain that Blurs the Sky - Tribe navigator Turtlehop - Tidalclan Healer
The young she-cat was coming to life the more they talked, and it warmed Turtlehop's heart like it hadn't been warmed in moons. Having Shellpaw in her den was going to make the church so much more lively! This was going to add so much more perkiness to the older cat's daily duties. Any worries about her not liking the new title were quickly being quieted, replaced by confidence that Shellpaw would eagerly learn what she needed to be taught.
The tortoiseshell followed after her slowly, watching her sniff each herb. They were all familiar to Turtlehop - but probably looked the same to Shellpaw. Only smells might differentiate them apart. But to her surprise, the fledgling caught on that there was a pattern. Her yellow eyes widened slightly in happy surprise. "Very observant!" Tunapaw had been in here just a few days earlier, and had messed everything up in his lack of understanding. Though she still adored him, of course.
The space was a bit tight, but she squeezed closer to Shellpaw to nose out what the younger cat was just missing. "See, it's being sorted by a few different categories. Most useful and used, and delicacy. I put herbs like coltsfoot and goldenrod closer to either entrance.." her tail, with some difficulty, flicked to either side of the benches where they opened back to the church. "Because I'm going to be grabbing them most often for sore pads and scratches. Then herbs like catmint and poppy seeds are in the middle, where they're even more protected." She pointed first to a green leafy herb that smelled very, very tempting, then to some delicate black seeds. "The catmint only grows in one spot behind one of the twoleg buildings, so it's very rare and precious. But poppy seeds are all over the old gardens, and is used often for cats who need to calm down or sleep. Why do you think they're in the middle of the store?"
Time to put her fledgling's observation to the test. Would she understand the tiny seeds could easily scatter all over if you weren't careful, and tucking them away from mischievous paws was the safest option?
ulla
Swiftwave - Jungleclan warrior Rain that Blurs the Sky - Tribe navigator Turtlehop - Tidalclan Healer
Sharksong, obnoxious? Well.. Perhaps a little. At least he was aware of it, and that was the first step to toning any bad behavior down. But perhaps what he saw as obnoxiousness, Tinystar had seen as strength to speak his mind. A deputy needed such talents, because they were what kept the Clan safe when leaders sometimes made bad decisions. Not that Turtlehop could imagine Tinystar doing such a thing, but only the Gods knew a cat's future. Sharksong was what the clan needed.
"It might be hard," she warned, about the clan respecting him. Healers had it easy - cat wouldn't question the Gods' will. But a young deputy, who some might say overstepped more worthy candidates? He was in for some unrest. "You're young. There's older cats who will take some time getting used to taking orders from the obnoxious young tom." She shot him a wary smile. "You have the strength to cope, I think. Just don't forget, you have Tinystar and me to help you."
Like she was helping him now, she hoped. He questioned what more tests he needed, and she dodged the question with a soft "Oh, you'll see soon enough." Her paws sped up a little, hurrying towards the beach.
She noticed, on a side tangent, that her belly had started to develop a bit of a pudge. It waddled a tad as she ran. Gods, am I really getting old? she thought, mildly shocked. It was perhaps a good thing she had a young cat to keep her running around at a higher pace. They would need to practice some defense moves too, as all healers did, and that would perhaps work off the few extra mice she was apparently carrying around.
Their paws hit the sand soon enough, and she slowed to a halt, panting. There was no way to hide her motives now, and she needed to come clean. "I.. Want to make sure the Trial hasn't left any scars. Mental scars," she added, before he could argue he was physically fine. "It's a traumatic experience, to nearly drown. If you're to feel confident about yourself, you need to face any fears it might have left." She walked toward the waves, and looked over her shoulder to Sharksong with soft eyes. "I believe in you, okay? I'm here."
He needed to go back in the water, and make sure he was able to cope. A deputy who could no longer feel at ease in the waves was a deputy who would lack respect.
ulla
Swiftwave - Jungleclan warrior Rain that Blurs the Sky - Tribe navigator Turtlehop - Tidalclan Healer
Shellpaw was such a sweet cat. Turtlehop thought she had made the right decision, even if she was worried that the young female wouldn't think so right away. Declining the offer to take moss from her stores until they collected more was the kind of thoughtful thing a young Turtlepaw would have said, and made the healer's heart warm. "That's a lovely attitude," the older feline praised, tail curling over her back. "I suppose we could do with collecting some more, maybe tomorrow. That way we can a do little tour of the territory."
Now now, she knew that Shellpaw had been a fighter apprentice for a moon. But there was a difference between a fighter touring their lands, and a healer. They looked for different landmarks, and Turtlehop was surprised when Shellpaw could already remember two decent moss places. "I think I know the same two," she purred in reply. "That's impressive you remembered them!" Usually fighters payed more attention to prey trails and boundaries. "We can go see about collecting some at the beach, before the sun dries it up. I'll point out all the best herb patches along that route."
Turtlehop was perhaps feeling a little more at ease, now Shellpaw's shock was wearing into excitement. She bounded out of the nests, and padded over to her herb stores. They were tucked under the shelter of two old church pews, one toppled backwards onto the other so that it made a little sheltered tunnel between them. It protected the precious bundles from ever getting wet - sometimes the old building sprung little leaks in the time of Shrieking Storms. The bundles were lined in two rows, with an empty space in the middle so a cat could pad through them and choose which they needed, while exiting the other end of the tunnel without disturbing anything.
Her tail pointed to the spot. "The stores are here. Take a walk through, and get used to the scents. It's strong, but soon your nose will grow so accustomed to them that you'll be able to go through blind and know which are which."
ulla
Swiftwave - Jungleclan warrior Rain that Blurs the Sky - Tribe navigator Turtlehop - Tidalclan Healer
He was trying very, very hard to convince her he was fine. It was... Perhaps almost painfully obvious? That or she was really just that good a healer. Spending time around sick cats who just wanted to get away from her herbal remedies made her pick up on little details. Sharksong's smile was just a little too wide, his expression just a tad too desperate. He needed out of camp, and honestly, she understood his need.
But she was the oldest cat of the high ranks. She was darn well going to make sure he understood that pushing himself just to appear tough was a stupid thing to do. At least he would admitted he wouldn't go back to warrior duties without her consent, but she knew he'd argue with her fiercely if she was to say no.
"You're doing much better, injury wise," she agreed slowly, settling back onto her haunches and looking him in the eye. "I think in that regard, you're good to go. But," she continued, before he could cut her off or get too hopeful, "You've been through a very life-changing event. I have a few more things I'd like to check before I give you the clear."
She stood, flicking her tail for him to follow her. "I could use some fresh air just as much as you. Let's take a walk, shall we?" Turtlehop jogged off at a decent pace for an older cat who spent most of her days sorting herbs, trying her best to push him physically. Mentally would come soon enough.
Her paws guided her confidently, though she made it seem as if they were going in any sort of random direction. Though in reality, she was heading for the coast. Hoping to keep him distracted, she shot him a smile. "I know you've been doing your best to keep up with your deputy duties from the camp. You're doing well," she encouraged him, completely honest. He was a capable young tom, who could fall into the role easy enough. He just needed to settle. "How are you finding the shift? Gaining more power can be.. difficult to adjust to. You walk around with everyone thinking you're sent from the Gods." Turtlehop snorted. She'd had her own fair share of it, though it was utterly stupid. She was as normal a cat as anyone else, outside her duties.
ulla
Swiftwave - Jungleclan warrior Rain that Blurs the Sky - Tribe navigator Turtlehop - Tidalclan Healer
You can reserve him sure! How about like in a week if you're still not sure I'll put him back up, and later on if you decide you'd like him and he's still hanging around you can have him. :3
As for the name change, maybe just check with staff if Ink is an okay prefix?? Otherwise I'm not fussed - c a n n a -
Swiftwave - Jungleclan warrior Rain that Blurs the Sky - Tribe navigator Turtlehop - Tidalclan Healer
Turtlehop could only hope the soft-spoken she-cat would soon get used to this new life. She wasn't dense; it was obvious how shocked Shellpaw was at the sudden announcement. But as the older cat reassured the younger with a warm smile, she could begin to see the right attitude appear - excitement. The grin Shellpaw offered her showed it all.
A pleased purr rumbled in Turtlehop's throat. "That's the spirit!" she approved, tail flicking over her spine in happiness. Now, just to work out what to show her fledgling first. It did not take her long to decide. Despite never having her own apprentice, she had spent seasons interacting with them and watching their mentors teach. The basics were learning where everything was, and making the fledgling comfortable in their domain. Her muzzle flicked for Shellpaw to follow her towards the abandoned church. "First things first, let's show you your new den."
The pair would pad through the entrance, to be greeted by the dark, cool interior of the church. It held the aroma of fresh and dried herbs, pungent, but a pleasant and comforting smell to Turtlehop. She looked down somewhat apologetically to Shellpaw. "I know the smell can seem intense at first, but soon enough you'll barely notice. It'll just make you feel at home."
Not for the first time, she fretted over the possibility that Shellpaw never adjusted to this life. What if she hated healer duties? What if she'd made a mistake picking a cat who had already started training as a fighter? Who would want to give up that exciting life for an existence caring for fleas and sick cats? She swallowed, fretful. Perhaps she ought to have waited for a new litter of kittens in the clan, and picked an apprentice from them...
She realized she'd paused for too long. "Ah.. Anyway, my nest is over here..." She trailed off, padding over to the bundle of moss tucked into a well-sheltered corner. Her white paws began to work it into two bundles, dividing it into a bed for each of them. "One of your duties now will be to help me find moss on quieter days, and store it for when sick cats need to sleep in our den." Turtlehop nodded to space where she'd been keeping bundles of dry moss, tuck under a twoleg sitting place so rain would leak onto it. "You can help yourself to some, make your new bed a little extra comfy. I won't tell." She winked, trying to be extra welcoming and nice. The fear that Shellpaw would hate her new life was still trying to sneak up on her, so perhaps in a way the healer was trying to overcompensate.
ulla
Swiftwave - Jungleclan warrior Rain that Blurs the Sky - Tribe navigator Turtlehop - Tidalclan Healer
She seemed to agree that they could at least talk to Toucanstar about the expedition, and he felt a small bit of satisfaction that she hadn't argued about it. Perhaps it would do her good to be included, willingly, into something. He did miss the old Cranefeather, the one who hadn't been a cold shell of a cat.
A Clan could be a harsh unit. Their mistrust of her had broken Cranefeather, it seemed. Swiftwave didn't admit it to himself, but the prospect of trying to put an ex-friend back together did tempt him. Perhaps they could bond over feeling distanced? He had no thoughts of anything romantic in mind, yet, but he was aware she made him somewhat.. Warm, whenever she gave him a look that wasn't entirely hostile or cold.
Luckily for both of them, he wasn't creepy enough to suggest they cuddle under the stars together. Even the thought made him snort. "Aye aye. Enjoy your rest, Miss Mysterious," Swiftwave told her with a wary smirk, beginning to pad away. "I'll do my best to keep you updated on the expedition, but I'm not poking Cocoafur more than necessary about it." He did after all, like his coat intact, and harassing the brown she-cat would probably lead to him being clawed in annoyance.
What was it with him and making 'friends' with the snippiest females in the jungle?
Description sentence: A brown tabby she-cat with white markings and amber eyes.
Appearance: Rain is an average sized she-cat, with the muscle of an experienced navigator. She has a dainty appearance, but don't let a fluffy coat be taken for softness. She packs a heavy hit when needed. Otherwise, she can be considered a very pretty cat, with a dark brown tabby coat broken by white around her muzzle, paws, and chest. Her coat is thick and bushy, with a brush of a tail. Her left hind leg has a bald spot where a whooping crane once pierced her skin in a fight, but she is otherwise unmarred. Her eyes are a light amber, and are usually very gentle.
Personality: Rain that Blurs the Sky is perhaps one of the most light-hearted Tribe cat you could come across. Not as intense or warrior-like as her tribemates, Rain instead goes about life with a cheerful air. She's a very sweet, loyal cat. She cares about everyone, and has no issue making friends with her ray of sunshine personality. Once she cares about you, she will be a faithful ally who's there when you need her. Despite her gentle nature, she is after all, a member of the Tribe of Twisted Roots; when threatened, she can hold her own without issue. She is especially protective over her sister, Breeze, and will often impulsively rush into scraps if she thinks Breeze is being threatened or insulted.
However, sometimes she can't tell insults from compliments. Rain can sometimes naively believe other seemingly nice cats, be it trusting strangers or thinking a lie is true. It can make her seem air-headed at times.
"I'll do that when a turtle flies."
"Oh gosh can turtles fly?? I want to see!"
Because of this, her tribemates might see her as a gullible cat. Rain is someone who will happily jump on board with a bad idea, if the others make it seem like a good idea. Her impulsive nature can only be curbed by her sister, who often steps in to give Rain a guiding figure whenever she's tempted by a hare-brained scheme.
History: Her mother was always a restless soul, and despite being heavily pregnant, decided to wander into the jungle unsupervised to stretch her legs. Perhaps she had very poor luck, but it result in the she-cat going into labor outside the camp, with no one knowing where she was. The navigator managed to find shelter in a hollow tree, going into a somewhat long birth as a storm began to brew. The firstborn was named Breeze that Gently Touches Leaves, as she watched the wind begin to pick up through the jungle. A little while later, the second she-kit was born as a downpour starter. She was named Rain that Blurs the Sky.
The sisters' birth took a toll on their mother, with no Witch to give her herbs to soothe the pain. They were eventually found, the kits father having noticed soon after his mate disappeared and organizing a search party. The kits were strong and healthy, but their mother was weak the days following. She developed an illness that wouldn't go away, and eventually passed away not long after the sisters opened their eyes.
They were lucky another nursing queen was there to feed them, but they were also old enough to realize that it wasn't their mother. Rain and Breeze were treated lovingly, especially by their father, but the lack of a mother figure made them very close at a young age. Yes, their nurse was caring and did her best to raise them, but she had kits of her own; Rain and Breeze kept to themselves, growing up with the notion that they needed each other and no one else.
As they reached the time to become Swabbies, Rain was beginning to show her airy tendencies. She would have had a tough time with her training, had it not been for her more level headed sibling guiding her and helping her to practice fighting in secret at night. Her mentor was very hard on her, yet Rain never wavered in her good nature and cheerfulness. As long as at the end of the day, she could go to her nest and curl up next to her sister, she was happy.
Perhaps she would have never found the spark of a fighter, if it hadn't been for an incident involving Breeze and herself in their tenth moon.
The pair were sent to practice solo fishing together, their mentors hoping that Rain could gain some skill from her calmer, tactful sibling. As they waded in the water, Breeze found herself stalking fish into the reeds; she startled a particularly bad-tempered whooping crane, who tried to attack her. Her yowling alerted Rain, who quickly rushed over to the scene in a panic. Finally, her training snapped into place. It didn't matter she was clumsy or disliked fighting - her sister was in danger, and she couldn't lose her like they'd lost their mother. Rain leaped to Breeze's aid, finding the fire of protectiveness inside her to fight back. The pair managed to drive the crane off, but not before her leg was pierced by the bird's beak.
Proud that she'd finally proved herself a capable tribemate, Rain let the scar stay as a reminder that fighting is important, when your loved ones are at stake. She earned her title of navigator at the same time as Breeze, and while she's still a little naive and overly friendly, she's quite capable of holding her own in battle and within the sometimes harsh life of the Tribe. She's still extremely close to Breeze, and the pair are often inseparable outside of their duties, but she also has quite a few cats who see her as a friend.
Other Notes
Shop Purchases: I won the raffle thingy for doing an activity check!
She had honestly been so relieved Sharksong has passed the trial. Turtlehop had believed in him, knowing he was one of the candidates Tinystar had mulled over, but the ominous vibe of the announcement had left her wary. For once, she had been wrong in assuming it was a bad omen. He had survived, bruised and battered, but alive. He needed her careful medical care, but in the long run, she knew he would survive to be deputy for many seasons.
Her reasoning keeping in him camp was less medical, and more mental. She wanted him to recover from the trauma fully, before pushing himself. The trial was traumatic, to say the least. But with trauma came the chance to grow stronger, she knew. It was... Oddly cruel, but their way of life. Turtlehop would do her best to help him move past it.
He was, slowly. She knew he was restless in camp, eager to return to his duties. But there was something still mildly off about how he held himself. The pressure of his duties now, she imagined. The healer had felt it too, when Palmsong died and she was suddenly in charge. It was distancing, in an odd way. You suddenly held more power than before. For a fighter becoming deputy, it was even worse giving orders to those who were once on the same level of respect as you. And Sharksong was young.
So really, she wasn't surprised when her name was called from the entrance to her den. She nodded to Shellpaw, her very new fledgling helping to sort rotten herbs from fresh. "Finish those up, please? I won't be long." She nudged the small she-cat affectionately, and padded towards the lighter entrance of the old church.
"Everything alright, Sharksong?" Turtlehop asked pleasantly, lifting up onto her haunches like a squirrel to check his cobweb bandages. The wound was healing nicely, and she decided mentally if this conversation went well, he could probably be free of them and go back on patrols in the next few days.
ulla
Swiftwave - Jungleclan warrior Rain that Blurs the Sky - Tribe navigator Turtlehop - Tidalclan Healer
He had a hard time not rolling his eyes. Perhaps she liked the air of mystery and chaos the clan had put upon her, and she disliked the fact he could see some sort of good down in her still. Yes, she'd been beaten into this miserable, harsh feline. But if it came down to defending themselves from strange creatures or cats, he couldn't see her fleeing. His trust was that she wouldn't be a coward when it came to fighting.
At any rate, trust or not, she was interested. His tail twitched in amusement at her comment of exploring the islands if Toucanstar exiled her. He would likely end up doing something similar... If he wasn't so bland that he was under everyone's radar. His ears fell back slightly at the mention of Cocoafur. "She's.. Hard to get along with. Even when we first discussed it, I wasn't entirely up for risking my neck. But really, what is there to lose?" He drew a paw up to lick, and then wash his cheek where a mosquito was trying to latch on. "You can dislike her all you like. She's not my favorite cat either. But there's a mission at hand, and I think she would care enough about it to put aside rivalries and work with you for the sake of exploration."
He hoped, anyway. If Cocoafur could tolerate him, surely she could see past Cranefeather's bad points? She was tough, useful.. He'd maybe need to vouch for her presence though, he thought with a mental groan. That required communication.
The sky was slowly getting lighter and lighter, his eyes narrowing to adjust. This had been... Worth the trip. Perhaps Cranefeather didn't share the sentiment, but he had enjoyed the adventure nonetheless. He wanted to ask if they could do this again sometime, but that was probably pushing his luck.
He'd merely stalk her again, at some point.
"We should head back, before we're missed," he commented finally, sighing. "Don't want to give our clanmates more to gossip about you." He stood to stretch, looking sideways at her. "I appreciate letting me join you."
She was warming up to him a bit, maybe. Swiftwave felt like she was less irritated by him following her, but she still wasn't magically reverting to the apprentice he used to enjoy spending time with. Though, he wasn't the same cat either anymore. They both hard hardened, for different personal reasons.
At the same time, though, they had a similar outlook on life. "I doubt it would, and I wouldn't join a group of ex-kittypets," Swiftwave snorted, tail lashing briefly. He'd much prefer to just become a loner, but the issue was the island was small. There'd be only so many places he could be left alone. Even the forbidden islands might soon enough be taken over. "So I suppose I'm the same. I stay because it's just how it is. Doesn't mean I have to like it."
Her snort made his whiskers twitch. "She would have kicked you out before now if she really wanted you gone. She must want you around for some reason. Maybe it's just to keep an eye on you." He muzzle quirked into a small grin. "Or she's too busy with other issues."
Perhaps he might persuade Cranefeather to join himself and Cocoafur on the expedition, he thought. Out of any cat, she would be most likely to not mind defying orders if it came to it. He wasn't sure how well she could get along with Cocoafur's sharp tongue... But she would be useful. He'd seen how she traversed the Jungle at night - she'd be smoother than a lot of cats in unfamiliar territory. He chewed on it in silence a moment, before bringing it up slowly.
"You know.. I was talking to Cocoafur the other day.. She's thinking of urging Toucanstar to send a patrol onto the island." He nodded into the distance, where fog obscured the view. "Either with or.. Without permission. I dunno if you'd enjoy such a risk but.. I think you'd be a cat I could trust to have my back in strange territory." He looked over to her seriously. Yes, she was a risk according to others. But underneath that, he somehow knew she wasn't completely evil. Her skills would be useful.
Her comments were supposed to be funny, he assumed, but really he just felt like she was mocking him? Swiftwave stifled a sigh, and padded out of the way to observe her technique. His butt plopped into the sand, and yellow eyes watched intently as she gave it an attempt.
It wasn't a horrible attempt, in all honesty, but he of course felt mildly disappointed when she missed the catch. He noted she did a decent job startling them out of the water, though, and the leap was strong - just mistimed. He was about to give her some gruff encouragement, when she began to splash around like an utter kit. His expression dropped from interested, to an are you serious look.
"When you're quite done," Swiftwave would comment dryly, rolling his eyes, "come back to shore. I think you're quite close, you just need to work on your aim."
And your childishness, he thought, but kept that to himself. Perhaps he could be a bit more tolerant of her playfulness, but he was pretty sure most mentors wouldn't be. He definitely wasn't about to train a completely useless apprentice.
His tail flicked her forward impatiently, while his paws dug down into the sand. He pulled forth a chunk of driftwood, a little bigger than his paw, and batted it between his paws idly. "You need to do what I was doing. Once they start flying, bunch up, ready to pounce when one soars over your head. Don't fully body slam it, use a paw."
He smacked the piece of driftwood into the air, directly towards her head, with a comment of "You need to think fast."
Perhaps not the wisest thing to do with a scatterbrained apprentice, but he wanted her to learn okay?
He was at least an apologetic, and helpful young tom. She smiled at his awe of being able to differentiate herbs. It was difficult sometimes, but to a trained eye like her own, it had become as easy as sniffing out a mouse in the underbrush. "They will," she replied with a firm nod. "It looks hard, but didn't hunting seem hard when you were first learning? Soon enough, it's habit." Turtlehop began to paw the leaves apart with gentle movements, passing some of them to Tunapaw to make little piles of.
But, back to his earlier question. "We do," she chuckled, "But sometimes a good healer doesn't need visions and prophecies to see things. Sometimes it's intuition. As for your name.." She hummed solemnly, eyes narrowing as if in a trance. "I see.. I see Tinystar..." She gasped softly. "She's... Given you your fighter name.. It's.. It's.."
Her eyes opened fully, twinkling with good humor. "It's Tunafish!"
Okay, she definitely didn't have a vision just then. She was teasing, because she knew no right minded leader would ever name a poor cat such joke. Though her own name was Turtlehop, and that was quite the funny mental image...
She shook her fur out. "Seriously, though. I see a lot of potential in you. If you can learn to focus a little more, and goof off a little less.. You'll be a wonderful Tidalclan warrior." Turtlehop brushed her nose over his ears affectionately. "But never loose who you are. Your humor makes you, you."
She knew how it felt to have your personality crushed from you. Trying to be someone you weren't. It still left her lying in her nest at night, wondering how she would have turned out had she not had Palmsong taking an interest in her. Surely she would have been but a shell of who she was now? She hoped Tunapaw's mentor didn't crush too much of his plucky spirit.
ulla
Swiftwave - Jungleclan warrior Rain that Blurs the Sky - Tribe navigator Turtlehop - Tidalclan Healer
Her new apprentice was nearly shaking, she realized, as she stepped out of the crowd and walked towards her. Turtlehop's eyes held a soft, encouraging look. She believed in this young she-cat. She believed in a few seasons, Shellpaw would hold the respect of her clanmates, proving herself an excellent healer in her mentor's wake. There was the smallest pause while she waited for the fledgling to accept the title, but when she did, her voice held a tone of confidence that made the healer proud. Tinystar's purr made Turtlehop smile - they both were happy with this decision, and that was a good sign.
The tortoiseshell let her clanmates chant Shellpaw's name, knowing it was a special moment for her. Only when the voices died down, did she raise her tail high. The final words, sealing Shellpaw's fate, came next.
"We call upon the God of Shrieking Storms today to offer Shellpaw as the new Healer apprentice." Turtlepaw spoke, her voice ringing heavily as the Gods were called upon. These were powerful words, not to be taken lightly. This was a sacred position, between healers and their gods, and a connection was being forged unlike any Shellpaw's fellow fledglings would ever know. Her eyes flashed skywards, but no clouds marred the bright morning. A good sign, she prayed, turning her gaze once more to her apprentice. "She has taken on the heavy burden of sacrificing her destiny to the duty of the clan. Thank you for your sacrifice."
Only then would she smile, breaking the intensity of her gaze, and step forward to place her chin warmly on top of the young cat's head. Cats would come forward to congratulate her, and she would step back to allow the she-cat some space. But the morning was fading, and the clan had duties to perform. As they crowd slowly dispersed, she would beckon Shellpaw towards her.
"How are you feeling?" Turtlehop would question her softly, an understanding look on her soft face. She knew how overwhelming it was to suddenly have so much expectation put on your shoulders. The older she-cat would give her fledgling's ears a quick lick. "I know it's scary, but I promise - we wouldn't have chosen you if we didn't have faith this was your destiny."
Gods willing, Shellpaw would settle into her role comfortably.
@seaoi
ulla
Swiftwave - Jungleclan warrior Rain that Blurs the Sky - Tribe navigator Turtlehop - Tidalclan Healer
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Check out this announcement for high rank auditions, mod applications & more!
Oct 14, 2019 15:47:24 GMT -5
Jori: Hi Guest! The Kingdom is in the works, auditions for high rank cats just ended