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Post by theatricals on May 18, 2019 17:00:01 GMT -6
(This thread is reserved for those a part of a patrol--War with Emeraldeyes, Silent with Thicketfrost, Nifty with Yarrowpaw, and Dark with Jaggedpeak)
The damp leaves crunched beneath her paws as she padded through the forest, the raindrops a mere inconvenience as they fell from the trees. It was a miserable day, and for all the bad things that had happened, a thorn in her paw was just one more thing. She had forgotten to watch where she stepped, and after pulling it out herself, she could only imagine she was leaving little drops of blood as she walked. She didn't think to stop, though, or even slow down.
The memory of how her sister looked at her burned her to the core, and while she should be angry, her body shook with sadness and frustration as she struggled to get as far away as possible. She had followed her, left the Clan for her, had tried to get her to come back... but being accused of caring more about bringing her back to the Clan than caring about /her/... it was too much for the she-cat to digest. In defeat, she left, and was now among the land that she had once called her own.
Thistlemoon was tired. She was no warrior--was probably barely more than an apprentice, and she suddenly felt very small. She wanted to believe she was right for going with her sister, but she had abandoned her Clan to do it. How was that for loyalty? The bitter thought wouldn't leave her, but as she smelled scent marks behind her, she was forced to finally stop and take note.
AspenClan territory. There was a reason she was here, and she wouldn't be caught trespassing. Taking a few hesitant steps back, her paw itched a great deal, the twigs and undergrowth bothering her already irritated paw. Her eyes were wide, even confused, but she could do little more than wait.
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Post by silentpaws on May 18, 2019 17:19:45 GMT -6
It wasn't often that hunting patrols ventured this far towards the outlands border. Or Thicketfrost, for that matter, but with a large group of apprentices in the central forest undergoing hunting assessments Echofrost had asked him to keep his patrol out of their way. Which was how he found himself walking along the scent markings with Emeraldeyes and Yarrowpaw in tow, Jaggedpeak having already wandered off in pursuit of a promising scent trail. Thicketfrost would have preferred them to all stay together a little longer but the other tom had never been one of his supporters so he hadn't even tried to refuse him.
He paused to scent the air, but rather than picking up prey scent he was surprised to find a cat scent carried on the breeze towards them. It wasn't AspenClan but was a scent that he was sure he recognised, wondering first if Honey had come to track him down. But the cat who came into view wasn't Honey, but a face he had grown up with and assumed he would never see again. "Thistlemoon?" he called out into the quiet, taking a few steps ahead of Emeraldeyes and Yarrowpaw. They would probably be confused, but he could explain to them in a moment.
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Post by Warrioress on May 19, 2019 9:41:38 GMT -6
Emeraldeyes blinked in surprise at the sight of Thistlemoon, remembering that the she-cat had disappeared not long after her own mentor had disappeared. It took a second before it registered that Tansyglow and Thistlemoon were sisters. She remained slightly behind Thicketfrost, near Yarrowpaw and waited to see the outcome of this meeting.
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Post by niftyshark on May 21, 2019 13:26:47 GMT -6
Yarrowpaw was far from confused, she was bored. Patrols didn’t interest her much because there was almost nothing that ever happened. When Thicketfrost paused ahead of them, indicating that something was different, perhaps wrong, she began to display interest. She moved away from Emeraldeyes’ side and towards the edge of the border where Thicketfrost was. He called out a name that she didn’t recognize, and immediately she noticed the stranger as they padded into view. Dabbled in pale grays and creams, it was no one she recognized in the slightest, but they did seem to have a warrior name. Her fur lifted not out of fear, but excitement, and she stared at the stranger openly, her claws sliding out. She didn’t understand the circumstances of what was happening, and she didn’t much care to. She only wanted to know when she could act against the intruder.
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Post by theatricals on May 21, 2019 13:43:23 GMT -6
Hearing her name called, Thistlemoon nearly jumped, but when she saw three cats start to move into view, she knew almost immediately that they were cats that she knew--or, at least, should know. Thicketfrost was the only cat she really knew. The other cat she recognized to be Emeraldpaw... but she supposed the she-cat was a warrior by now. The final was a younger she-cat, obviously an apprentice, but one she couldn't possibly know the name of. Thinking about it made her realize that besides Thicketfrost, who she had trained with, they all seemed so unfamiliar to her, and her eyes became wary as she took a tiny step back. "Um... y--yes. It's me." She had grown confident talking with her sister and Breezehowl when they were together, but this was different.
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Post by Warrioress on Jun 4, 2019 21:28:56 GMT -6
Emeraldeyes moved forward, and placed a paw slightly in front of Yarrowpaw, giving her a look that told her to stay there. She turned her gaze back t Thistlemoon with a slight smile "it's been a while." she mewed softly, her gaze flicking behind the she-cat curiously, slightly hoping that her mentor would walk out of the undergrowth behind her sister. "Tansyglow isn't with you?" she asked, careful to keep her voice slightly neutral, not wishing to give her hope any fuel.
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Post by theatricals on Jun 8, 2019 15:43:50 GMT -6
Of all of the questions she could have asked, that one was the last one she would have thought of. Taking a moment to think, it made sense though, and a fresh wave of heartbreak swept over her, making her lower her head. "No. She didn't come with me." After a pause, Thistlemoon opened her mouth to explain, maybe even tell them where she was--or, where she had last left her--but the terms in which she had departed were not good, and she didn't think her sister would forgive her for it.
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Post by silentpaws on Jun 11, 2019 16:31:17 GMT -6
Thicketfrost noticed Thistlemoon's wariness as she took a step back, adjusting his stance to make sure he wasn't coming across as too intrusive. "It has," he echoed Emeraldeyes' statement, waiting for her to answer the young she-cat's question to answer his own curiosities. He could remember the day that she'd left along with Tansyglow and Breezehowl, two of the cats he had grown up in the Clan alongside, but he was just pleased to see one of his former denmates instead of wishing she wasn't alone. He could understand Emeraldeyes' question though, he knew that Tansyglow had been her mentor. "I hope you're all ok," he said, then asked "How come you're here?"
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Post by niftyshark on Jun 17, 2019 8:39:42 GMT -6
“Does it matter?” Yarrowpaw interjected after a moment. “I’ve never seen this cat, and the fact that she’s over the border says all I need to know.” She didn’t care that the other two seemed to know her. The stranger didn’t even smell like AspenClan, and so she made no effort to sheath her claws. Her gaze quickly turned from curious to hostile. What did borders mean if they didn’t defend them? If she wasn’t mistaken, it almost seemed like they were going to invite the stranger over. And no one was informing her otherwise, not that it would stop Yarrowpaw’s suspicions. “I thought this was a border patrol.”
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Post by Warrioress on Jun 17, 2019 10:58:15 GMT -6
Emeraldeyes turned her gaze to Yarrowpaw "enough Yarrowpaw! Thistlemoon IS a clanmate who left looking for her sister. The fact that we know her should be enough." she nearly growled. "Besides, at the moment its not up to any of us, Raggedstar will make the final call, but seeing as she is his niece I don't think he will look favorably on anyone who attacked her" she finished, looking pointedly at the apprentices claws.
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Post by silentpaws on Jun 20, 2019 14:18:55 GMT -6
"Emeraldeyes is right. Please put your claws away, Yarrowpaw," Thicketfrost said, his voice mild yet firm. He was glad that Emeraldeyes had jumped in on his behalf, meaning that the role of keeping Yarrowpaw in line didn't just fall to him, but as the most senior warrior he still needed to take the last word. After watching the apprentice through narrowed eyes for a moment he added "Thistlemoon and I trained together, she has as much right to return to the Clan if she wishes than I did." Probably moreso, if he thought about it, but he didn't want to give either Yarrowpaw or Thistlemoon the chance to get into that. Glancing back at his old Clanmate, he said "Please, go on."
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Post by theatricals on Jun 20, 2019 22:41:15 GMT -6
Thistlemoon had opened her mouth to answer, but the young apprentice--Yarrowpaw--had spoken up before she could, and she was almost surprised by the fierceness in which the apprentice spoke. Thicketfrost's following comment to the apprentice was confusing, and the look she gave him was curious, but that wasn't why she had come. There were many things she didn't know, and from the way that Yarrowpaw had spoken out, perhaps it was best that she hadn't come at all. She was almost lost for words. Thistlemoon wasn't always the most confident, but the hostility shown--even if it was just from one cat--was almost enough to send her running. Her mouth dry, she stopped to think, and with a heavy heart, realized that the whole truth wouldn't get her very far at all. Despite their fight, she wouldn't speak of her sister as a traitor. "I found her and Breezehowl." That was the truth, at least. "I followed them for a while. They seemed to be... concerned about something. S--something about the Clan--that it was in danger. The next day I... I found blood. Fox scent. I don't know..." Suddenly she remembered just how long it had been--plenty of time for her to return to the Clan by herself. Tongue-tied, she said, "I tried to find them. I tried... I couldn't. I didn't want to come back until I... I was sure. But I still don't know."
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Post by darkwolf45 on Jun 24, 2019 18:45:22 GMT -6
He wasn't overly happy being stuck on a patrol with Thicketfrost, the toms origins and personality rubbing him the wrong way. Of course it wasn't hard to rub Jaggedpeak the wrong way given his own personality, but the other tom's connection to Akai and Whitefern was hard to ignore, even if he had saved Raggedstar's life. The scent trail he was following ended at the base of a large tree, the squirrel perched on its branch gnawing on a nut. He hissed at the dead end before swinging around to follow the patrol's scent and catch back up. He was careful not to make too much noise and scare away the prey, and as he got closer to where he could hear Thicketfrost and the others talking he stopped short.
There was another voice there, one that was familiar and it made him stagger forward out of the bushes, gaze swinging towards the familiar pelt of Thistlemoon. Thisltemoon who had left after her sister and Breezehowl, Thistlemoon who had been one of the first cats to not judge him and talk to him like maybe he wasn't a terrible cat. His brow furrowed and he walked forward, getting much closer than the rest of the patrol until he was a tail-length away. "You came back?" He almost sounded like he was demanding an answer, his eyes wide and his ears back as he waited for her to deny it, to tell him she was only passing through.
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Post by theatricals on Jun 26, 2019 20:45:20 GMT -6
Thistlemoon almost jumped, the appearance of another cat spooking her for a moment, but she eventually saw who it was and relaxed slightly. Perhaps if it was someone else who didn't sound so demanding, she might not have worried so much, but the judgment she felt as well as the knowledge of her lie made her uneasy and the nod she gave him was slow and unsure. "Yes, I... I did." She wasn't sure how much he had heard before he had approached, but she was not willing to repeat the story. Considering everything, she knew she'd have to get the story straight before speaking of it more, but it wasn't the time nor the place.
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Post by niftyshark on Jul 1, 2019 10:03:19 GMT -6
Yarrowpaw bared her teeth at Emeraldeyes, but when Thicketfrost joined in she flattened her ears and wrinkled her nose. She looked away, muttering to herself, but her focus locked on Jaggedpeak when he finally appeared. She thought he might be one that shared her opinion, but the way he approached the stranger with such familiarity had her fur rising. Were all her clanmates mousebrained? She took a few steps back, quietly, eyes shifting left and right. She had no interest in finishing the patrol if they were just going to disregard the fact that borders existed for a reason. Maybe they would be so distracted that she could leave... Yarrowpaw lingered as she watched intently, waiting for her moment to slink away.
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Post by darkwolf45 on Jul 5, 2019 19:21:43 GMT -6
The black and white tom eyed her for a long silent moment before he leaned back, he wanted to say more, wanted to demand why she left. Except he knew her sister had left the same time, and likely that was the answer to his question. Stepping away he gave a tense nod, trying to reign in his own emotions and mind, because Thistlemoon was one of the few cats he actually liked, except, that had been many moons ago and he barely even understood what their friendship was then much less now. "Good." Jaggedpeak replied.
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Post by Warrioress on Jul 5, 2019 20:22:06 GMT -6
Emeraldeyes narrowed her eyes at Yarrowpaw, bout ready to snap out a reprimand but held her tongue. No doubt it wouldn't do any good and resolved to talk with Shadowheart, hoping he would be able to reign in his apprentice. She watched the interaction between Jaggedpeak and Thistlemoon as the tom arrived, her fur rippling uneasy at the tension that rose. Once Jaggedpeak stepped back she relaxed slightly before looking at Thicketfrost "we'll have to send word to Raggedstar and Echofrost, we can make our way back to camp while someone runs ahead" she suggested, wondering what would happen now.
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Post by silentpaws on Jul 17, 2019 15:07:09 GMT -6
Thicketfrost also gave Yarrowpaw a warning look, the fur around his neck rising at how she bared her teeth at Emeraldeyes, but he jumped properly at Jaggedpeak's sudden return. While he'd been confident before he knew that he was far from Jaggedpeak's favourite cat, and he struggled to retain control of his patrol now that Thistlemoon was talking to him and Emeraldeyes was speaking in Thicketfrost's direction. "Uhh, yes," he said to Emeraldeyes, nodding in agreement. He wouldn't dare try and send Jaggedpeak away and he didn't want to risk sending Yarrowpaw in case she didn't go back as she was asked to, but at the same time it would take away the possibility of her continuing to be aggressive towards Thistlemoon as they made their way back to camp. His mind made up, he turned to the apprentice and said "Yarrowpaw, please could you run back to camp and let Raggedstar know that the Clan has a visitor. A friendly visitor," he stressed, very aware of his Clan's history with bringing outsiders home.
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Post by niftyshark on Jul 20, 2019 15:53:40 GMT -6
Yarrowpaw froze from her casual inching away when Thicketfrost addressed her. At first she was expecting to be yelled at more, but his request came as a mild surprise. Did he notice, and was he giving her a way out? Or was it because he was trying to get rid of her? She held his gaze with a blistering stare, tilting her head up as she considered him for a moment. Eventually she turned and headed back to camp without verbally acknowledging the request. She didn’t care what the reason was, if she could leave, she was accepting it. Telling Raggedstar would be an easy price to pay for it.
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Post by silentpaws on Aug 10, 2019 15:01:44 GMT -6
He was wary for a moment when Yarrowpaw only held his gaze and didn't give him any response, but sighed internally when the apprentice turned tail and ran back to camp without questioning him. "We should start to head back then," he said to the rest of the patrol, giving Thistlemoon a reassuring smile before he started to walk and glanced at Emeraldeyes to see if she wanted to join him. He imagined that Jaggedpeak would be speaking to Thistlemoon so was happy to lead back along with his oldest friend, back to where Raggedstar would be there waiting for them. And if Thicketfrost could make a comeback into the Clan after everything he'd done, he knew that things would be ok for another former Clanmate who had no smudges on her history at all.
{ f i n }
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