GRAVELPELT.
warrior of thunderclan?
He hadn't returned to camp last night. It all had felt too much to attempt to handle at that moment, his whole world having just been flipped upside down. Last night, he'd realized, could very well be his last peaceful night. So even it had been cold, he'd wandered for a while before settling down between the roots of a tree and just existing.
And then, when the sun started rising, he stretched away any stiffness and set out for camp to share the news with everyone else before they could notice their leader's sudden absence.
After walking through the camp entrance he took a moment to brace himself, unable to meet anyone else's eye, before stumbling to the High Branch and forcing himself to hop up like he owned the place. Which now, he supposed, he really did. Once ThunderClan had been updated on the situation and he'd had a moment to talk to Peachblossom, he supposed he'd be sent off to receive his nine lives. Would StarClan give him them all, when Wildstar hadn't even lost her own yet?
A thought to worry about another time no doubt, as now that he was looking down upon everyone, it was shockingly hard to breathe. "Th-ThunderClan," he called out pitifully, voice wavering. "Please, everyone, gather below me." This was news that affected everyone, from the newest kit to the oldest elder. He could already hear everyone murmuring as they surprisingly heeded his request.
GRAVELPELT.
warrior of thunderclan?
With red eyes widened from their usual lazy droop, Gravelpelt looked upon Doepaw and felt his heart sink with more sudden realizations. Not only would he have all these headstrong warriors suddenly looking to him for guidance and answers, but also apprentices and even kits- young, impressionable souls who wouldn't know better about the world until they were told or learned the hard way. It was going to be up to him to provide a safe, stable environment for parents to properly raise their young in. Seeing Moosestomp in the crowds, thinking of his brother's kits that Gravelpelt so cherished, the mottled brown warrior suddenly felt light-headed. Why me indeed, he couldn't help but think.
"Yes, Wildstar told me all of this last night. As I said, she woke me for a walk in the direction of RiverClan's border. Once we reached the border, she told me StarClan had sent her visions of other cats she needed to go help, and she believed they had told her that I should be in charge during- during her absence." If only he could give everyone a timeline, but they were just as in the dark as he was. If only he had more to share, to put worries at ease a bit more, even if the situation was rather hopeless. "Go to RiverClan's border, where you can pick up Wildstar's scent trail and follow it, if you don't believe me." He looked towards Cinderfern as he said this, eyes back to their perpetual tired droop.
He felt a headache coming on as Heavyroar spoke, as Peachblossom spoke, as Hazelpaw spoke, reaching deep within himself to find that tireless patience he so often prided himself on. Heavyroar was worried about his position in the Clan, something he'd dedicated his whole life towards. Peachblossom had been close to Wildstar, and as she openly said, had always wanted the leader position herself, even if StarClan had other plans for her. Hazelpaw, likely above all else, was worried about her mother. None of them were trying to purposefully be hard about the situation.
"I will venture to the Mooncave with Peachblossom tonight," he repeated, a tinge of a sigh to his tone. "I will speak to StarClan and report immediately back to all of you on what our ancestors have to say. If they want me to lead, well-" Gravelpelt allowed a subdued grimace onto his features, glancing away from everybody as the possibilities flitted through his mind. ThunderClan was likely about to go through growing paints, without a doubt. "And if they don't accept me, if they name someone else, I will step aside. Until that point, I will honor Wildstar's wishes with belief in her words strengthening my heart."
With a grunt, he hopped from the High Branch onto the slushy ground below. "Now, I'm going to prepare myself for the journey to ensure we all get an answer in a timely fashion," he explained. For a moment he hesitated, gaze flitting from the Warriors' Den, to the Leader's Den, to the camp entrance, before he started slinking towards the last option. Occupying Wildstar's den at the moment would be too soon and bold, and the Warriors' Den would not offer enough privacy.
H A Z E L P A W
Cariboupaw getting up in her face made the grey apprentice's nose scrunch up in a sneer. Believe it or not, it took a considerable amount of self-control for the molly not to reach out and smack her in the muzzle. But boy was she tempted. Luckily for the other apprentice, Peachblossom stepped in before she could act. Hazelpaw snorted, turning her back on Cariboupaw and her entitled little attitude. What made her think she was so righteous anyway? Furthermore, the medicine cat's whisper in her direction planted nasty seeds in her mind. If she were lucky, the other molly would never have to face her in sparring, or she'd walk away battered and bruised.
However, before things could progress, Gravelpelt was speaking up, stopping further outbursts from happening. But what he had to say just made her pelt spike with indignation. "My mother wouldn't just leave without saying goodbye to us!" To me. There was so much more the fiery apprentice wanted to say; she wanted to take out all of her frustrations on the poor tom standing at the front of all this commotion. But her voice was one of the last to be heard. Moosestomp was stepping forward, trying to quell the chaos. Just the very sight of him irritated her. Sure, he was a warrior and she was an apprentice, he had seniority above her but none of that mattered to her. Ranks were just that-- ranks. A meaningless title. If anyone thought that they deserved her respect just because of a word they claimed themselves as, they would be sorely mistaken.
Didn't they know that?
Heavyroar had come to speak up next, the Clan deputy rightfully putting his foot down and challenging Gravelpelt's claims. Never had she been more grateful to see him than right now. "That's right!" She spoke up, chin high. "Even if Wildstar has left, Heavyroar is the one who deserves to lead in her absence, not some nobody no one has paid attention to before now."
She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Every single word that was spoken up in favor of the spineless warrior who dared to try to stand at the top of their Clan just enraged her further. Hazelpaw was seconds away from losing her mind and resorting to spitting out mindless curses, only for Peachblossom to beat her to it. Though she had to admit, what the medicine cat had to say held a lot more grace and composure than anything that would have come out of Hazelpaw's mouth.
Of course, it went without saying that she agreed with everything the cream queen had to say. The grey apprentice listened intently, waiting for her to finish before she faced Gravelpelt herself. Her blue eyes were cold as ice, fully giving away her anger and her hatred for the situation he had put ThunderClan in. "I will never accept you," she stated bluntly, "This is Wildstar's Clan and when she comes back, you'll be nothing but a fool." Her declaration earned her looks of bafflement from her Clanmates, the upset clear on their faces. Many of them couldn't believe that an apprentice would have dared speak to their supposed new Clan leader the way she did, but Hazelpaw didn't shake from her beliefs.
Her mother would come back any day now, they'd see. Then, they would all look like cowards who didn't have the guts to keep their faith in Wildstar. Huffing in resentment, the grey molly turned and stomped right out of camp. She needed some fresh air and she didn't want to be anywhere near any of these mouse-hearts any longer.
The flurry of mixed responses to Gravelpelt announcing himself as leader gave the medicine cat a headache. She understood the confusion, Wildstar never was a traditional leader but to think she would leave and expect all her strong minded warriors to believe the random unbacked words of a mere warrior. Her nerves calmed when Heavyroar spoke up, he was a good deputy and would be a great leader. Her heart was torn, the clan seemed split on the decision, how could they easily turn on their deputy, no matter what Gravelpelt was saying they should still be backing not only their medicine cat but also their deputy. Her ears pinned tight to her skull, whipping around facing her clanmates, “You should all be ashamed of yourself. I am as confused as you are on this matter, but the idea that so many of you would turn your backs on your deputy so easily sickens me. Such loose loyalties will be the death of Thunderclan.”
Fighting back her tears Peachblossoms gaze turned to the tom standing up on the High Branch. “Gravelpelt I’m sure as someone who wants to be leader, you can understand the confusion and chaos that choosing to make an announcement like this so out of the blue would cause. This is something you should have spoken to Heavyroar and myself about prior.” She understood where he was coming from though, he knew this news would affect everyone and wanted to share it with the entire clan. Peachblossom stared him down, her blue eyes lite with Fire and determination, if he wanted to play leader she’d play his game but they’d play it her way. “As my duty, I will accompany you to receive your lives. But just know if we arrive and you aren’t accepted by the Stars hell will brake loose in Thunderclan, and my loyalties lie with my kits first and Heavyroar second.”
The small molly padded by Heavyroar, offering him a supportive shoulder bump, her words hushed for his ears only. ““Heavyroar, you have my support until I witness him being accepted my the stars. If we return and he isn’t accepted, you’ll be the first to know.”
Moving along Peachblossom made her way to the nursery, wanting nothing more than to curl up with her kittens. “Gravelpelt, come fetch me when you’re ready to go. Until then unless someone is dying leave me be.”
Cinderfern a young warrior, who had remained silent for the duration of the uproar, finally broke her silence, "Everyone please, may we not just take a deep breath? We mustn't act in such a crude manner, not around our apprentices or our kits, whom are of impressionable minds. If they see us behaving as such, they will emulate it because it's what we've taught them." She was worried that if they didn't keep themselves all in check then their young warriors to be might end up growing up without knowing how to conduct themselves with patience and grace. "I understand everyone is feeling rather unsettled and upset, and that's perfectly valid, but we must lead by example and not lose ourselves to our emotions. There is a time and a place to let it out, but that is not here and now. First, we must get to the bottom of this, without throwing insults, accusations, or casting doubt upon our fellow teammates." She took to Heavyroar's side, giving him a warm and understanding gaze, knowing he must feel rather shaken up that perhaps Wildstar had replaced him as deputy without his knowledge. "Heavyroar I respect you and you've been a wonderful deputy. But, perhaps instead of casting doubt on our clanmate, we should hear him out first? I know it might be difficult for you to hear, but it's unfair to insult and deem Gravelpelt a liar. I don't know him well enough, but he doesn't seem the type of feline with ill will or to lie.
He seems to be just as anxious as the rest of us. I'm not going to fight a battle for him, but I do want us all to clear our heads and just listen to what else he has to say. I'm not saying you have to believe him at face value." She cast her sapphire gaze up to Gravelpelt regarding him with inquisitiveness, "Please let's all take a moment to collect ourselves, and now- Gravelpelt. I am not one to cast doubt on my clanmate, but I would appreciate if you had some proof backing your claim. Calling a meeting as though you are our deputy is not something to be taken lightly. If you haven't any proof of your claim, it is up to you and you alone to convince the clan with your honesty in another way."
HEAVYROAR.
deputy of thunderclan?
He'd been in the same boat as Peachblossom when Gravelpelt had wandered back into camp and stumbled up onto the High Branch like he'd owned the place, even daring to call a meeting. Gravelpelt wasn't the deputy. Heavyroar was, last time he'd checked. Whatever the anxious piece of gravel needed to be announced, he should have had Wildstar or himself do it, not taken it upon himself. And the longer Gravelpelt stood up there, looking like an idiot as his niece tried to smack-talk the medicine cat, the more the deputy was talking himself into getting up there himself and shoving the warrior off. He doubted anybody would complain.
But, at long last, the idiot was speaking. And he really must have been an idiot, if he believed anyone would believe what he'd had to say. He was speaking gibberish. Wildstar hadn't received any visions! At least... At least none that he'd known of. She could have hid them from him. "And you expect us to just believe all of this? Fox-dung!" The marbled light brown tabby shouted, jumping to his paws. If Wildstar was gone, he should be in charge, not this nobody Gravelpelt. "I'm the deputy here. I'm in charge when Wildstar is gone. None of us are kits, we weren't born just yesterday." He turned to the crowd as he spoke now, looking to see who among them supported what he had to say.
d7c829
➰ 𝕄𝕠𝕠𝕤𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕞𝕡 ➰
𝕎𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕚𝕠𝕣 𝕠𝕗 𝕋𝕙𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣ℂ𝕝𝕒𝕟
After a long morning of hunting and only finding very little prey, his patience was already running rather thin. Big paws walking through the slush of the snow and mud mix that was the trail leading back into camp. All the hung from his jaws was a measly finch, barely enough to feed a pregnant queen but maybe it would be enough for the hungry mouths in the nursery that were beginning to eat meat. First thing he noticed upon entering camp was that there was more traffic within the clearing, more so than usual. Next thing he noticed was that felines had their chins tilted back towards the High Branch, where Gravelpelt was perched. Gravelpelt? He suddenly realized, eyebrows rising in surprise upon seeing his sibling. “Hey, Moosestomp. Ain’t that your brother?” A fellow warrior spoke in his ear, causing him to grunt in acknowledgment, beginning to trot towards the fresh-kill pile.
Although he never did make it to fish-kill pile, dropping his finch and hurrying forth as he spotted Cariboupaw arguing with both Hazelpaw and Peachblossom. Two very toxic females who had horrid tempers, Peachblossom suddenly getting in his daughter’s face as the Medicine Cat was attempting to put his child back in her place. Cariboupaw stood her ground, but he frowned as he got closer, his child stalking off while Peachblossom looked liked she was about to rake her claws across his daughter’s rump. “Hey, hey.” Moosestomp quickly stepped in front of Peachblossom, keeping the pregnant Molly from launching herself at Cariboupaw. “Kids right?” He chuckled nervously, dark golden eyes flickering towards Hazelpaw to see her own irritated expression. “Let’s just calm down. Cariboupaw can get a little carried away. She’s young, we’ve all done dumb things.” He smiled as he tried to sway Peachblossom’s anger, not so worried about Hazelpaw’s reactions. “I will talk to her, hm? Don’ stress yourself out Peachblossom.” He smiled with a nod of his chin.
Turning on his heels, he quickly marched towards Cariboupaw as he wished in that moment that he had a much longer tail than his stump. Instead he lifted a massive paw in order to cuff the young mollies ear as he hissed lightly. “What are you trying to do? Get your ears clawed off by Peachblossom?” He said in a hushed voice, but his eyes were lifting back towards Gravelpelt as his brother began to speak and address the clan below. Of course, Cariboupaw was trying to voice her argument but he shot her down with a look. “We will talk about this later, Cariboupaw. Right now be silent so we can hear Gravelpelt.” He advised his daughter, nose wrinkled in annoyance before he gave Gravelpelt his full attention.
Wildstar had left? Visions from Starclan to leave? What sort of ancestors did he have for them to send away their leader? Grunting with disbelief, his eyes lowered slightly in order to try and search for their deputy, Heavyroar. Although his ears perked up when his brother explained that he would be the one to travel to StarClan about this turn out. “Did Wildstar say that to you?” He asked, having to raise his voice above the chatter, suddenly becoming worried for his sibling with the negativity arising amongst his fellow clanmates.
#1fa6a4
D O E
doepaw -- apprentice of thunderclan
Doepaw stared incredulously at the scene before her, lips parted in a way suggesting surprise and confusion. What, she wondered, did I eat that must be addling my brain. The ginger-furred molly's head swiveled toward the angry hissing and spitting nearby, discovering it to be Peachblossom, Hazelpaw, and Cariboupaw. Had she been closer, Doe might have caught on to the bitter words from each party-- instead, she watched with not a small amount of confusion at her bristling clanmates. It was Gravelpelt's familiar, soft voice that cut through and drew her attention once more, sharp green eyes flicking back to the tom. "But-- why you?" She asked, naturally loud yet feeling that much louder when the question tumbled from her lips. Was that me? Did I say that? Her shoulders rose, a frown tugging at the edges of her lips, but she stubbornly remained where she was, staring up at-- Gravelpelt? Gravelstar?
Doepaw was, perhaps, not the smartest of the apprentices, with a tendency to act first and think later. Most notably, she was loud, could be crass, and carefully trod the line of obnoxiousness despite her efforts. In general, she was not taken too seriously by warriors and other adults, who believed that she was either too immature or too dumb to ask intelligent questions on topics of importance, and she was quick to avoid the stares of her clanmates. "It's just weird, right?" She asked, softer now, more to herself than anything else.
GRAVELSTAR.
warrior of thunderclan?
Walking into camp, he'd known this whole situation wouldn't go over well. Climbing atop the High Branch, looking down upon his Clanmates, he'd known this was going to go poorly. However, he really couldn't have ever been mentally prepared for this amount of poorly. He couldn't even launch into his announcement right away, like he'd been planning on, already being ridiculed by Hazelpaw and Peachblossom, with Cariboupaw sticking her nose into business it didn't belong. It was cute, that she thought he could protect honor she had no idea he'd given up long ago. It was also foolish, and giving him more time to stew in his thoughts then he would have liked.
If he were a different tom, he might have interjected at the very start of this hubbub. If he were an even slightly different tom, he'd say something snappish about actually allowing him to say what he had before loosing their heads over the situation. As it was, however, once he'd determined they were all done squawking in each other's faces, he simply let loose a world-weary sigh and refrained from rubbing at his face, feeling a headache coming on right between his eyes.
"As I was going to say," he finally began, the unspoken 'before you all lost your shit' lingering in his tone, "Wildstar has had to leave the Clan because of visions she received from StarClan." Fed up with trying to address everyone already, and more worried about how he was going to lead this Clan than how he was going to announce he was going to be leading now, he decided to lay it all on them. Everything he knew, they'd know. He was always better at delivering the facts.
"I wish I could provide you all proof of this, but the best I can do is point you towards RiverClan's border so you can at least scent her leaving the territory. She woke me up for a walk last night, so I went along with her. She told me StarClan required her assistance with a matter, and that they had dictated I should be her stand in until-" Well, that was the kicker. He didn't know how long.
He glanced away from everyone, clearing his throat as the doubts once more slammed into him. "I will- I'll venture to the Moonpool tomorrow and, and speak with StarClan myself about all of this."
And with that, he fell silent, waiting for the uproar to once again commence. This time, likely far worse.
Cariboupaw at first said nothing in the face of Peachblossom's words, she didn't need to justify herself to a Medicine Cat that was acting like a spoiled kit that was told no for the first time in her life. If anyone is being righteous here it's Peachblossom, with how she believed herself entitled to talk to her uncle in such a callous manner. And how Peachblossom enunciated that she believed that Cariboupaw thought she needed to be a pushover. No, she simply thought she should conduct herself with more grace and tact.
If Starclan really thought Peachblossom was suited for this job, then they were wrong, because as far as Cariboupaw could tell, the clan needed a Healer who wouldn't berate their clanmates for stepping up to face something that maybe downright frightened them, but still did so anyways in spite of the fear. They needed support and encouragement, not to be torn down and to be left to bleed by someone who should be healing, instead of causing wounds. In this case the wounds would be mental, instead of physical but her point still stood. As far as she was concerned her uncle if he was ever to become Leader would be far more suited for it that Peachblossom was for her role. After she came to that point, she spoke again, calm and collected, Peachblossom's words rolling off of her like water off of a duck's back. She stood up, and made herself tall and called across the clearing, feeling everyone's eyes on her. She knew she'd be in for it when everything was said and done, by her mentor, by Gravelpelt, by several senior warriors and elders - but she didn't give a rat's ass. She had had it up to here with Peachblossom accusing her of being high and mighty, when she was flaunting her title around as a way to avoid her own issues. "Oh, I understand, I understand Starclan chose wrong. I am merely here to support my uncle. I can fight alongside my uncle, it's what actual CLAN cats do. They support their clanmates and fight their battles alongside them. Me coming to my uncle's defense is me merely being a loyal clanmate, unlike yourself. Also, when did I say that you had to be a push over? Don't put words in my maw, Peachblossom. I don't expect you to be a push over, but I do expect you to have enough sense to know that there is a time and place to let your emotions out, but now is not the time. There is obviously something serious going on that you need to be apart of and handle, and if you cannot see that then you're not fit to be our healer. A healer should know and understand that you need to push your own emotions down for the sake of everyone else and then and only then can you worry for yourself, it's your duty. And if you cannot do that, then you don't deserve to call yourself our Medicine Cat." She stared back at the Medicine Cat, nothing but fiery determination blazing like the sun within her eyes.
"Also, you think I'm pretending to be anything? No, I know who I am, and I know what being a true Thunderclanner means, I am true to myself and my clan. It means being brave in spite of your own fear and insecurities, which you seem incapable of doing. So instead, you lash out at others, like my uncle who is doing his best, to hide that fear. Though you might be able to heal you're undeserving of being our Healer because you don't know how to be a true member of our clan.
She shook her head, the very fact Peachblossom thought that this was acceptable behavior to display was downright appalling. No one should be talking down to their clanmates, least of all an apprentice such herself. Instead, she could be taking into consideration her words and learning from them, not tearing her down as well.
"You're projecting yourself onto my uncle because you cannot cope with what this might mean for our clan and for you. I know you've suffered, but your suffering does not entitle you to be cruel towards others. You talk of opinions, but you tearing down my uncle is not an opinion. An opinion is like deciding which prey you think is better compared to the view of your other clan mate. Displaying hostility and cruelty is not an opinion. Also, it says more about you than me, what kind of Medicine cat goes around aiming to hurt an apprentice of all things? " She snorted, her maw slipping into a scowl, as she lashed her tail.
"Your words mean nothing to me, I know how cruel clan life can be, and I know it's not all sunshine and rainbows. But at least I know better than to let it turn me into a bitter bee-brain. I'll manage without your herbs, because as you so kindly put it, we should FIGHT our own battles, right dear. So why do you bother healing anyone, if we should fight our own battles. If that's your philosophy, then all clan cats should fight their own sicknesses and their own physical ailments themselves. Flawed logic from a flawed feline, who is the one pretending. Pretending to be brave." With that she sauntered away off to the farthest patch of grass from Peachblossom and Hazelpaw. As far as she was concerned, they could live and be well away from her. She wanted nothing to do with those that brought others down because they were too spineless to face their own fears and instead try to transfer those fears onto cats that didn't deserve it. With those thoughts in mind, she closed herself off to everything else and focused soley upon her uncle.
A loud rumbling giggle flew out of the molly's muzzle when Cariboupaw tried her hardest to stand up to Peachblossom, she found it cute that a cat like that thought their words would do anything to the medicine cat. Part of Peachblossom missed this feeling, the feeling of rage seething at the paws, the itch to return to her old ways crawling under her skin. “Someones feeling a bit righteous today arent we? Did my words hurt your feelings? Little piece of advice: stay out of business you don't understand. If he wants to get up there and play leader then this is the backlash he will have to deal with whether it's from me, the other warriors, or even the other clan leaders. He doesn't need an apprentice to try and fight his battles, and if he does then he doesn't deserve to call himself leader of Thunderclan.”
Moving closer to Cariboupaw the healer locked eyes with her, her tone becoming dry and monotone. “Here's something to remember, Starclan chose me, they knew what kind of cat they picked to heal this clan. So don't go around throwing the ‘you're a healer’ around. I'm entitled to my own opinion as are you. I don't need a child trying to act all high and mighty, but I see playing pretend runs in the family.”
“I don't need to be a soft spoken, kind, push over cat to be a healer, I do my job and I do it rather well. If you issue with that, go find someone else to heal you and prance around acting like all is sunshine and rainbows.”
“This clan wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.” Her words muttered only to herself as she left the apprentice to return to Hazelpaw.
She might seem like she has a big head, but she had reasons for it. Peachblossom had been the sole healer of Thunderclan since she was just an apprentice. The higher ups in Thunderclan constantly changed, the healer being the only consistent one in the group, she threw her life away for this clan and if someone was going to claim to be leader this was something they would have to deal with moving forward. Peachblossom wasn't going to change, she didn't need to. It didn't matter whether she was the nicest molly around or even if she was ‘evil’ she did her job, and supported her leaders, once they were actually leaders. If Gravelpelt had half a brain he would have come directly to Peachblossom first before deciding to call a meeting with the entire clan, her position deserved more respect than that. Huffing Peachblossoms tail brushed against Hazelpaw, shaking her head slowly at the molly. She loved her attitude and her readiness to back Peachblossom on the matter but if she let Hazelpaw fight her battle she was no better than the tom standing on High Branch. Though in a hushed tone, only loud enough for Hazelpaws ear to hear, “Remember during apprentice training accidents happen all the time.” A dark smirk creeped onto the molly's muzzle, disappearing just as quickly as it showed. Her attention turned to Gravelpelt, “If you’re going to continue this meeting, do so with courage and a booming voice. You know stuttering through your words won't do.” Peachblossom stared at Gravelpelt, determination filling her eyes, if he was offended by her words then surely this relationship as leader and healer wouldn't work, but she had a small amount of faith in him, if he could push passed the hate and roll with it she knew he’d be an excellent leader.
"My uncle is my business!" Cariboupaw fired back tersely, crinkling her muzzle as if she'd just eaten a rotten piece of prey. She glowered at Hazelpaw, flicking her tail, her fur bristling, how dare Peachblossom talk to her uncle in such a callous way, pregnant or not - that was no way to talk to your clanmate.
Also, the audacity of Hazelpaw telling her to mind her own business when her kin was being dragged through the mud for no reason. Certaintly there was a reasonable explanation as to why he would call a meeting, and instead of acting like kittens with burrs in their bums, Peachblossom and Hazelpaw should shut their traps and listen. "You both are acting as kittens with burrs stuck to your bums." She grumbled to herself, shaking her head. "You need to calm down and keep your emotions in check and listen - then you can deal with your emotions later. I'm sorry that you're both feeling how you are, but this must be important."
❈ H A Z E L P A W ❈
She had been spending a lot of her time lately with Peachblossom. The creamy medicine cat understood her better than anyone else in ThunderClan-- even her siblings. Hazelpaw had been huffing and puffing, grumbling and groaning, ever since Hollystar reappeared back into their lives. She still hadn't forgiven the black warrior for disappearing on them before they were born and then showing up again, claiming amnesia like it was come kind of excuse.
Even now, as she sat next to Peachblossom, something unsettling bubbled in her stomach. And that unsettling feeling only increased when Gravelpelt came walking back into camp and stumbling his way onto the high branch. Her brow furrowed dangerously and her eyes narrowed at the shaggy-pelted warrior. "What does he think he's doing?" She grumbled to the pregnant healer, "That's mom's spot."
It seemed as though Peachblossom didn't need her encouragement to speak out. The plump creamy she-cat was already yowling out at him from where she sat in the clearing. Hazelpaw nodded curtly in response to her hiss, clearly agreeing with her that Gravelpelt didn't belong up there. However, it didn't seem like everyone agreed with them, or their reaction to the warrior's call for a meeting. Cariboupaw had joined the meeting and was mouthing off something to Peachblossom, like her feelings weren't relevant or something just because the tom was her uncle. Hazelpaw scrunched up her nose at the other apprentice, her lip curling as she spat at the other molly, "Maybe you ought to mind your own business," she mocked, curtly turning her head away from her as she instead returned her attention to the high branch. "What are you doing?" She demanded, "Where is Wildstar!?"
The unease she felt from earlier only seemed to escalate. She hadn't seen her mother since late last night, and the things she had said were very cryptic and didn't provide much of an explanation.
Just what was going on?
Cariboupaw had just returned from a successful hunt with her mentor Chanterellefrost, and she was just in the process of depositing a particularly plump squirrel into the pile of prey, when her ears absorbed the sound of her uncle Gravelpelt calling out the rest of the clan. Which in turn caused her to haphazardly drop the squirrel. the large creature slipping out of her mouth by its tail and falling with a dull thump next to the pile instead of on it.
She snapped to attention and turned towards the origin point of her uncle's shaking voice. He had always been somewhat of a nervous fellow, so for him of all felines to be calling this meeting, she understood it had to be something of a serious nature. Gravelpelt wouldn't place his paws where a Leader was supposed to stand, tall, proud and unshakable- unless something had unfortunately gone awry.
She was about to address her uncle, and inquire as to what could possibly be amiss, however her words were drowned out by Peachblossom's booming berate. She narrowed her eyes and though she could feel her mentor's burning stare of a warning boring into the back of her cranium, she marched her bob-tailed behind right up to Peachblossom.
"Excuse me, with all due respect- please don't yell at my uncle. I understand you are pregnant and that can cause your emotions to run amuck, but you are our Medicine Cat and it's most unbecoming of you to yell at one of your clanmates, even I know better than to let my emotions cloud my senses. I apologize in advance if I am offending you, but you should know better than to be so vulgar towards someone you're meant to protect with your herbs if he should fall sick or become injured." She flicked her tail towards Gravelpelt, still trying to remain steady while waiting for those to gather round.
"My uncle would not call a meeting if it weren't something very serious, so instead of yelling at him and bringing him down, maybe you ought to listen."
With that she dipped her head to the Medicine Cat and without another word she sauntered by and went to settle down into the grass and waited for her uncle to speak. Knowing that later Peachblossom and her mentor might seek her out and she'd be in an earful for being so brazen as to address the Medicine cat in such a manner- but she would worry about that when the time came.
For now, she was more pressed on the matter at paw, wondering what it could be that has her uncle so shaken to his very core.
Being pregnant was already tough enough but when you tack on the pressure of having two other litters to raise alongside everything else. Peachblossom temper was already thin but with every growing day her ability to suppress her temper was…fading. She had spent the day trying to get in touch with Wildstar but their Oh So Great Leader had decided to spend the day lollygagging outside of the clan walls. With a loud huff Peachblossom plopped to the ground in the middle of camp, her expression reverting back to the one she often wore as an apprentice, sheer distaste. An apprentice with shaking paws had drawn the short end of the stick when the apprentices were ordered to bring the overworked molly a snack. The apprentice swiftly dropped it in front of her before scurrying away.
Her eyes watched as Gravelpelt paraded into Thunderclan camp, and stumbled his way up onto the High Branch, “What in the hell does he think he’s doing.” A low growl rumbled from the medicine cat apprentice. Her paws aching as she forced herself onto them again, waddling closer to the High Branch, a quick glance and flick of her tail told her other kits it was time to retire to the nursery. Normally she’d allow them the chance to attend the meetings but something in her paws told her it was best if they sat this one out. Seeing that Gravelpelt stayed on the branch, Peachblossom realized something was wrong, but she didn't want to believe it, “Gravelpelt! Enough of these kittish games. Get your ass off of High Branch!” The healer hissed, how dare a normal warrior waltz onto Wildstars branch and acted like he owned the place. Even if Wildstar didn't return, Heavyroar should be up there, not Gravelpelt.
Her small rounded ears twitched in annoyance at the warrior's pitiful attempt at calling a meeting, the emotions that she had done such a wonderful job of suppressing since she was blessed with a family, now releasing from her compact body. “If you’re going to stand up there and try to play the leader, at least know how to call a meeting properly.” She didn't mean to act like this towards one of the warriors, but Peachblossom could only think about the worst. The only thought swirling in her head was that he was announcing the death of Wildstar and she didn't want to hear that. Peachblossom couldn't handle the thought of loosing another key member in her family.