Is it new-leaf yet? As the cold continues to permeate across the island, the clans and tribe settle into one of the worst leaf-bares in seasons. Likewise, we're sure the rest of us could do without the cold ourselves, right? This month we have a slew of site updates, a new art contest, OTM winners and nominations, and our usual plot updates, so make sure to check out the February Announcements! Additionally, we have a few new patrols and a game-plan for our patrols from September, October, and December, so make sure to check those out as well!
The Apostles is a warrior cats roleplay based in northern Wisconsin. On Lake Superior, the wild cats have made the Apostle Islands their home. It is on these islands - Rocky Island and South Twin Island - that the clan and tribe cats have lived in a peace and harmony that ebbs and flows with the tide.
But as the tides turn, so does the truce that binds them to one another; and as the water raises, a darkness follows, an evil that will end in bloodshed and violence.
Snow had fallen for the first time that season. It fluttered down on the wind, some of the flakes managing their way through the branches of the pines and balsam firs. The tree branches drooped from the weight of the snow and pull of the wind. Dawn light filtered between the needle-like leaves, quietly spotting the forest floor with its yellow hues. Hawktail stood tall in the glaze of crystal-white substance, her pelt fluffed up and muscles quivering from the cold. Her leafbare coat was already filling in nicely, but she still found her teeth chattering softly.
The more snow that fell, the quieter the forest seemed. Her tall ears lifted and swiveled in different directions as she tried to pick up the sound of nearby prey; her brown nose twitched as it strained to catch a scent; her large eyes stared like daggers at her surroundings. Nothing. No matter. The day had only just begun, after all. The birds, or at least those that remained in spite of the season, would soon start their morning prayers and Hawktail would no doubt find a few of them.
The tall, elegantly strong warrior heaved a sigh. Her hot breath billowed out in front of her like a steamy cloud. For once, her ever-so-hard gaze softened - even if only slightly. She allowed herself, momentarily while she was alone, to enjoy the shower of snow. There was only one tried and true way of warming up in the snow, and she found it quite fun.
Her paws sprang into action without hesitation as she ran through the pine forest, further and further away from the ThistleClan camp. She was careful to control her breath so that she was not gasping for air, but the icy chill of the air made her nose burn with every inhale. Over a fallen log, she leaped with a graceful bound.
Her paws landed on the ground heavily and struggled to get a foothold as she was sent sliding down the steep ridge. She hadn't seen that. She dug her heels into the snow in an attempt to stop her momentum. It was to no avail, and only succeeded in making her spin so much that she became dizzy.
Her face collided with fur and, more painfully, bones. "Ah!" she hissed, getting up and rubbing her nose with her front paw. Her green eyes peered at the other cat she'd just slammed into, watering from the pain in her muzzle. She wobbled unsteadily, still dizzy, and had to set her paw down quickly to steady herself. "Sorry," she mumbled.
Post by wolfiedemon on Nov 17, 2019 16:58:31 GMT -6
Lilypad hadn't really planned on leaving her den just yet. It was warm and cozy and safe from the falling snow that was covering the camp. But after looking around, her brother was no where to be seen. "Cloudstep where have you gone in weather like this...." she didn't want to think too much on it. He was probably out on a patrol of some kind. She got up slowly to that thought and gave her muscles a stretch.
She exited the den slowly, taking in the site of the camp. It looked like a wonderland with the snow already accumulating on the ground and still falling slowly. She opened her mouth to try to catch one. No matter how old she got, this was her favorite part of leaf-bare, the snow that came with is or after it. Sometimes the weather wasn't consistent, but when it was it made her excited. She let out a purr as a snowflake landed on her tongue. She looked around to make sure no one saw her acting like a kit. She let out a sigh of relief before heading out of the camp. She wanted to see if she could catch anything and also take in the site of the surrounding forest.
As she made her trek through the woods, she couldn't really pick up much of anything when it came to prey. The forest was quiet, a little too quiet. She shrugged and continued to make her way further from camp, hoping to see or hear something that would be her breakfast. She crouched at the bottom of a slope, hearing something ahead of her. Was it prey? Or something else?
She slowly started to creep towards the source of he sound when she saw snow rolling on the ground towards her. Before she could react much, she was slammed into from behind. She unsheathed her claws ready to attack, her fur bristling. She was about to lunge when she saw that it was only the Clan's deputy Hawktail. She quickly tried to calm herself, sheathing her claws. "Hawktail, I didn't think any other cat was out here this early." She padded over to make sure she was ok. She looked up and saw a path in the snow that Hawktail must of caused. "Are you ok?" She leaned against the she-cat giving her some support just in case.
397 | Why does she always get run over? | catalysta
For a moment, Hawktail leaned into her fellow warrior, but only for a moment. She regained her stability and stepped away, looking the patched molly up and down with surprisingly un-narrowed, not-unfriendly eyes. Her nose still emanated soreness, so she twitched it in an attempt to 'shake it off'.
Of course it was Lilypad. Bubbly Lilypad. Not a single barbed remark Lilypad. Youth on her side Lilypad. There was something admirable about the young warrior, though. Real life experiences had yet to stain her heart. A biting part of Hawktail wanted to protect that wide-eyed worldview, but a much larger, howling part wished to knock that wall down. In a way, it would save her some pain. Ah, but was Hawktail truly an individual who would disrupt others' lives?
...
Yes.
In Lilypad's case, however, it wasn't a pressing issue... fortunately - for her.
"You think a bump on my nose is gonna be enough to take me out?" Hawktail smirked and scoffed, "save yourself the worry,"
A flicker of movement caught the corner of her eye, and Hawktail glanced up the ridge to see a little wood frog sitting upon it, tucking into the minuscule inches of snow. She tilted her head; it was staring at them. Then, without further ado, it hopped along its way.
With a slow swing of her head, Hawktail eyed Lilypad yet again. This time, a question was in her gaze. "What are you doing out here? Whatever it is, never mind. You're going to come with me," she decided abruptly.
Lifting her head, though her nose felt twice the size and weight that it was, Hawktail made her way alongside the ridge. She walked between the sturdy pine trees with a purpose in her step, her darker tail-tip curling behind her. She would not converse on their way through the comforting, dark, snow-and-needle riddled forest - even if Lilypad tried.
The scabs on her cheek had just started to get itchy, which was a good sign. It meant they were healing, but still... what she would give to scratch that impulsive, heated itch without slowing that process. The ear on the same side of her head twitched irritably, while the other stood pricked, attentive to their semi-quiet surroundings.
That was, until the soft sound of gurgling water began to creep up on them. The Poisonous Bog, so aptly named due to the dangerous herbs that grew along the edges of its perimeter. A favored hunting spot, but Hawktail was not intent on hunting. It was early; she and Lilypad had the whole day ahead of them to chase down frogs and newts and salamanders of all shapes and sizes.
Looking back at Lilypad with a beckoning glance, Hawktail pushed through the tall, flimsy weeds and approached the very outer rim of the bog. She stopped right before they would get their paws wet, merely damp. A yew tree towered above them, unkempt and disheveled. Hawktail stood beside it, looking up at it.
A sly grin on her angular face, she looked directly at Lilypad and said, "Dare ya to eat one," in reference to the little red berries.
500+ words | you put the killing thing between your lips, but you never give it the power to kill you
Post by wolfiedemon on Dec 8, 2019 17:16:02 GMT -6
Lilypad internally shrugged that being brushed off after making sure the she-cat was ok. Yes the supposed injury wasn't something to worry about she was just trying to be a little friendly is all. She didn't have many friend in the Clan with how the other cats act around each other. She was used to it but deep down all she wanted was someone she could talk to that wasn't her family. There were things she wanted an outsiders view on at times. Her sister was too young for Lilypad to voice her concerns to and her brother.... Well there was just some things you don't bring up to any of the males.
She followed the she-cats gaze and saw the frog hanging out int he tree. It wasn't something she would want to eat herself but if Hawktail went after it that would be on her. It moved away from them and she saw that Hawktail wasn't giving chase. She sighed internally. Frog wasn't something she wanted to try just yet. She turned her attention back to the she-cat as she was asking a question. She was just about to answer when Hawktail cut her off. She tilted her head in confusion before following after her.
She smelled the air, she knew exactly where they were and it was a place she tried to avoid at all costs. But today that would not be the case. She internally groaned as she followed after Hawktail. She sat next to her and stared at the plants as well. She gave Hawktail a stare after she dared her to eat one of the red berries. "I'll eat one if you do as well." She wasn't as mouse-brained as some of the other cats in the Clan. Even she knew since kithood what these berries could do to a cat.
Hawktail rapidly picked up on Lilypad's tension, and her green eyes characteristically narrowed in thought. Or at least, that's what she thought was the problem. It made sense to her. She was not someone that any other warrior would want to 'hang out' with, she knew that. Now that she was deputy... well, she supposed most cats would feel an obligation simply out of loyalty - or fear. Such was not the case, however; no one owed her anything unless it was their duty to the Clan.
Her the end of her tail curled through the air once, and she turned to Lilypad so they were face-to-face. She wasn't so close that it would be uncomfortable, though, or so she hoped.
A part of being deputy was gaining the trust of her Clan-mates, if not their favor. She didn't have to be the favorite; she just had to be respected. Garnering the respect or approval of the individual versus the crowd was a totally different... challenge. A challenge she was willing and ready to accept. More importantly, it was a challenge she had to overcome with the majority of her Clan-mates.
She knew some of them feared what she was capable of, or grew anxious in her presence. What with all the passing news of the thing she'd done and ordered her warriors to do with the foxes, it came as no surprise to her. Some cats, even ThistleClan cats and especially the younger ones, couldn't handle her intensity. Perhaps Lilypad was one warrior that Hawktail would benefit from showing her nicer side to.
"What's wrong, Lilypad?" she asked suddenly, her voice emanating a subtle hint of concern in its edgy depths, "really. You're being... unusually quiet, and you took my joke a bit too seriously. So, tell me what's on your mind."
300 words | wow ok, who are you and what have you done with hawktail>.>
Post by wolfiedemon on Dec 9, 2019 21:36:57 GMT -6
Lilypad was a little taken aback by the sound of Hawktail's voice. The small amounts of concern she could hear in it. This was something new to her. She was the one used to showing concern towards others, not the other way around. She sat there calmly trying to gather her thoughts. She didn't mind the closeness of the other cat. It was comforting in a way. A nice change from how the others act. Like how some of them can't stand to be near each other. This closeness was refreshing.
She took a deep breath to gather her thoughts before answering the she-cat. What was going on with her? What was causing her to act differently then her normal bubbly, talkative self? "I'm doubting myself as a mentor." she hadn't meant to say it but there it was. She fiddled with her paws, feeling embarrassed. "Mothpaw is an excellent apprentice for being my first but I feel at times I'm leading him astray." She would of brought these concerns to her mentor. But he had recently passed. "I was going to talk this over with my brother since he too is a new mentor but I don't want him to know how I'm second guessing myself."
She kept her eyes on her paws as she spoke. She was scared to look her deputy in the eyes. This was a leader of the Clan and here she was telling her she felt unfit to train those in their Clan. Her tail started to twitch. She tried to make it stop but she didn't have to strength. In that moment, she was showing her weakness to an older, more experienced cat which she had respected for quite some time. Maybe after this confession things would start to get better between them?
Lilypad, to Hawktail's pleasant surprise, opened up. Even though it was clearly with hesitation and a bit of embarrassment, she still opened up. Hawktail's eyes flicked down to her Clan mate's nervous, shuffling paws and back up to her averted gaze.
Hawktail didn't find Lilypad's confession troubling or, at least, not as an urgent problem. Her apprentice, Mothpaw, wasn't doing poorly. At least, not to Hawktail's knowledge. Now that she was deputy, she would have to keep a closer eye on the future warriors of ThistleClan, and she made mental note of that.
"I remember how I felt when I was assigned my first apprentice. It wasn't much unlike how you feel now," her eyes wandered, thoughtful, as she recalled those memories. The bog gurgled and burped beside them as Hawktail went on, "Try not to overthink it so much, Lilypad. All you need to do is make sure Mothpaw is capable of fending for himself should a situation ever arise. He can pick up on complexities as he grows, and that's how it always happens anyway. Experience is the best mentor, after all," she sighed as she looked at Lilypad's entirely demoralized demeanor, and felt a wave of empathy wash over her heart.
That wasn't something Hawktail liked feeling. Mentally, she rejected it instantly. The only sign of that shift in emotion was that her muscles tensed and her eyes regained their guarded shadow. As she pushed away such unwanted sentiments, her thoughts prattled on about how she just needed to boost Lilypad's confidence. There was no need to feel empathy for her; no point in having a sappy-ass conversation over something so normal and trivial.
"Unless all you two are doing is chasing butterflies around and talking about your feelings all day, then I'm sure he'll come along just fine," she added, voice a little more gruff than before - but also hopeful. Perhaps that hope and confidence would be contagious, and Lilypad would catch some.
300ish words | aha, the internal struggle of being decent. sooo relatable /s
Post by wolfiedemon on Dec 30, 2019 14:26:11 GMT -6
Lilypad felt a little silly after Hawktail spoke. Her worries were not important when it came to Mothpaw's training. He was turning out to be a fine hunter but his battle skills needed to be improved on. She hoped after a few mock fights he would be ready should the time comes. At the same time she could go the rest of her life knowing that he would never see battle. She was worried for his safety more then his lack of skill.
Talking about apprentices made her remember something. "Hawktail, how is my little sister's training coming along? I've been meaning to ask you sooner but I was caught up with Mothpaw." She looked the She-cat in the eyes again. Feeling a little better about her situation after hearing what Hawktail had to say on the matter. "I've talked to her a bit but I wanted to hear it from your side." Mistpaw was on her mind alot recently. She should take her out sometime to see fully what she was learning. But she didn't want to step on anyone's paws if she was taught a certain way to do things.
She looked around at the scenery for a moment. It was quiet, and it was getting a little chilly. "We should probably head back soon." She would wait for the other cat to lead the way home. It only felt right since she dragged her out to the bog in the first place. "Maybe we could go on a quick hunt on the way?"
Thank goodness Lilypad didn't remain so upset and anxious, or at least not outwardly. Hawktail sighed in relief, her body relaxing a bit. She was not prepared or ready to pick up the pieces of another cat. So, if someone wanted to fall apart, Hawktail was not the cat to do that in front of. She'd sooner walk past the mess than waste time and energy fixing it. When it came to her own Clan-mates, okay, sure, she could afford to stop and sloppily put it back together. That was still more than she'd ever done for herself!
But this wasn't a den that needed patching. This was Lilypad's own issue to get over. Hawktail looked at the gray-and-white warrior beside her. She was fine!
She's fiiine! I'm stressing out over this too much. Ugh, this is why I don't get close to anyone anymore. Hawktail thought, tail-tip twitching with mild irritation.
She couldn't have been more glad that Lilypad changed the focus onto her own apprentice, Mistpaw. Hawktail lifted her head. This was her opportunity to show Lilypad what it looks like to be confident in one's own abilities even when truthfully, one doubts. "Well, I'm not as familiar with her or her training as much as Foxshade was. It's a bit of an obstacle to work through, but Mistpaw is a willing and ready apprentice. She wants to succeed, and I will give her whatever means necessary in order to do so,"
Hawktail's tail snaked through the air once, proudly. She was proud not only of Mistpaw as a potential soon-to-be warrior, but also proud of herself. It was nice, to finally get where she'd worked so hard to be in life, and be able to stand before her Clan-mates with the authority she so desperately wanted. It seemed she didn't know what to do with it now that she had it. Earn her keep, she supposed, by raising her Clan-mates' morale and showing them she was trustworthy - albeit cold and sometimes harsh. Though she would never be the most attentive or compassionate figure head, she made up for that in more important ways.
She nodded curtly at Lilypad's suggestion, "I think that's a good idea, Lilypad. You can take the lead,"
