Post by xvinn on Jun 13, 2024 1:24:23 GMT
dipperpaw (he/him) | orchidclan
The camp was quiet, though it was something to be expected for the early moments before the sun peeked its rays over the horizon. Across the Clans, only small clusters of cats would be up and ready to take on the day. The rabbit-hunters of GaleClan would be preparing for their prey to be active. The deputy of ShoreClan would be waking up the cats who would ready themselves for an early dawn patrol. Meanwhile, in OrchidClan, a black and white medicine cat apprentice would be opening his eyes in order to be awake before some other cat could startle him out of his dreams and start his day off on a bad step.
Dipperpaw lifted his head, yellow eyes scanning behind him towards Ice-eyes, still asleep in her nest. A cat who had been truly patient beyond any other cat for an apprentice who was constantly on the verge of having a panic attack. It had been two seasons now since he'd moved into the den permanently, learning more about herbs and berries that grew in OrchidClan's territory, as well as those that grew in other places that Dipperpaw would one day have to find when cats were sick. He learned what each leaf and flower did, and grew more and more fond of the plants. There was something beautiful about them that he enjoyed, the way they grew and the colours that they painted the forest with, with the wonderful add on that they were never out to kill him lest he was idiotic enough to ignore their warning signs and the things he'd learned.
Getting to his paws, Dipperpaw stretched out his entire body. His front paws reached far in front of him as he dipped forward before he rolled the stretch along his spine into his back legs. His tail twitched near the end as his paws paced towards the entrance of the medicine cat's den, searching out into the empty camp in front of him. It wouldn't be long before the dawn patrol were up and ready to get moving, likely heading straight towards GaleClan's border, a thought that made the young tom's fur crawl in fear and irritation.
It had been an eventful quarter-moon. The Gathering had been held when the moon was full, and Wapatostar had been announced as the new leader of GaleClan. Dipperpaw still felt his fur crawl along his spine when he gazed upon the leader, who seemed broken in a way he couldn't entirely comprehend. But something else buzzed in OrchidClan from this news, a different energy than the profound sadness that had struck Dipperpaw when he saw the former warrior of ShoreClan. It was clear that something was brewing, something that he wasn't in on the plot of. It seemed that something was always happening in Morningstar's den, which was only intensified by the leader's newfound free time after Dipperpaw's sisters, Gracklesong and Wrentuft, had received their warrior names. His sisters had been mentored by the leader and deputy respectively, something that almost surrounded the litter as some sort of sign that they were destined for something great. Yet, Dipperpaw didn't want to think too hard into that. He didn't want to imagine himself as destined for greatness - he wanted to see himself as being destined for nothing more than mediocrity. A simple life where he could stow away in the dark corners of the medicine cat's den where no one would bother him. Unfortunately for him, it was pretty clear that such a future would never be found.
Looking skyward, Dipperpaw's ears twitched at the sign of dark storm clouds overhead. It certainly wasn't unheard of for the transition between newleaf and greenleaf to bring storms, and the black and white tom wasn't totally upset by them. Usually a storm meant that cats stayed hidden away in their dens, wanting to avoid the rain by all means possible, which also meant that they wouldn't bother him.
That being said, the apprentice had promised Ice-eyes that he would gather some feverfew and yarrow down by where the river ran into the lake around the glade. Both were often found in damp areas near the water's edge, and the last thing that Dipperpaw wanted was to get caught out in the rain. Just like any other cat - except perhaps the mousebrained ShoreClan cats - the last thing he wanted was to be wet. The thought alone sent a shudder down his spine, giving him just the energy he needed in order to get to his paws and head out of camp towards the water.
As he stepped out of camp, the sun had only just started to kiss the horizon. It wouldn't be long before it was enveloped in the storm clouds above, so it was nice to enjoy the rays while they lasted. Orange hues began to paint the ground near Dipperpaw's steps, as though they were guiding his way to where he was meant to be. Each step he took, the ground underneath him almost seemed as warm as a rock in direct sunlight. The tom couldn't help but close his eyes and enjoy the feeling of warmth on his paw pads until he nearly stupidly stepped directly into the water.
"Ah!" his voice squeaked as he jumped back away from the water's edge, shaking the droplets off his paw in annoyance. Ugh, how did ShoreClan willingly go in the water?
Dipperpaw started to clean the water off his paw. Yet, as he placed it down on the ground beneath him, he realized that the ground seemed a new colour altogether. It seemed that even the trees, wind singing through their branches, were changing in the light of the sun.
Yellow eyes moved forward, gazing towards the horizon over GaleClan as the sun began to meld into the dark storm clouds. Everything began to darken with the exception of the sun itself, which turned from its usual hues of yellow and white to a dark, sickening red. The wind passed through the leaves, through the blades of grass and along the water in front of Dipperpaw, breaking the calming waves into something more vicious. He couldn't help but stare at the sight in front of him, a bloody red falling over the moors and dancing into OrchidClan. The burst of gales almost threatened to knock the apprentice over, the scent of blood filling his nostrils and moving through his body, making his stomach turn.
Something bad was on the horizon. Something bloody and sickening.
Dipperpaw's eyes widened in fear as he crouched close to the ground, as though trying to prevent himself from being picked up and carried away. Jellyfishstar. Basilstar. Mellowrain. Cats were disappearing left and right and it was only a matter of time before whatever was carrying these cats away came into OrchidClan.
Normally, Dipperpaw's mind would have spiralled further and further into his usual mode of a panic attack. He'd be frightened that this wind was the exact thing that was taking cats away and it was here to take him away, too. But it was as though someone were speaking to him, telling him that this wasn't what was going on. This was something different entirely.
It was a bloody morning.
Dipperpaw's eyes snapped open. He forgot entirely about the feverfew and yarrow as he finally picked himself up and raced back towards camp as fast as he could move. He pounced over fallen logs with a dexterity he rarely displayed, his body filled with a great importance. He had to see—
"Morningstar!" Dipperpaw cried out as he burst into camp, heading straight towards the leader's den. More often than not, he was terrified to so brazenly speak to the leader. The idea of entering her den filled him with fear, as though he were being prepared to be reprimanded. But this was important. It was as though a new cat entirely had taken over the apprentice's body, filling him with a shameless and proud demeanour that what he had to say was worth listening to. Though as he broke into the leader's den, his eyes were filled with fear, his breath heavy and his entire body shook from what he'd seen, he still stood tall, knowing that he couldn't take no for an answer.
Dipperpaw lifted his head, yellow eyes scanning behind him towards Ice-eyes, still asleep in her nest. A cat who had been truly patient beyond any other cat for an apprentice who was constantly on the verge of having a panic attack. It had been two seasons now since he'd moved into the den permanently, learning more about herbs and berries that grew in OrchidClan's territory, as well as those that grew in other places that Dipperpaw would one day have to find when cats were sick. He learned what each leaf and flower did, and grew more and more fond of the plants. There was something beautiful about them that he enjoyed, the way they grew and the colours that they painted the forest with, with the wonderful add on that they were never out to kill him lest he was idiotic enough to ignore their warning signs and the things he'd learned.
Getting to his paws, Dipperpaw stretched out his entire body. His front paws reached far in front of him as he dipped forward before he rolled the stretch along his spine into his back legs. His tail twitched near the end as his paws paced towards the entrance of the medicine cat's den, searching out into the empty camp in front of him. It wouldn't be long before the dawn patrol were up and ready to get moving, likely heading straight towards GaleClan's border, a thought that made the young tom's fur crawl in fear and irritation.
It had been an eventful quarter-moon. The Gathering had been held when the moon was full, and Wapatostar had been announced as the new leader of GaleClan. Dipperpaw still felt his fur crawl along his spine when he gazed upon the leader, who seemed broken in a way he couldn't entirely comprehend. But something else buzzed in OrchidClan from this news, a different energy than the profound sadness that had struck Dipperpaw when he saw the former warrior of ShoreClan. It was clear that something was brewing, something that he wasn't in on the plot of. It seemed that something was always happening in Morningstar's den, which was only intensified by the leader's newfound free time after Dipperpaw's sisters, Gracklesong and Wrentuft, had received their warrior names. His sisters had been mentored by the leader and deputy respectively, something that almost surrounded the litter as some sort of sign that they were destined for something great. Yet, Dipperpaw didn't want to think too hard into that. He didn't want to imagine himself as destined for greatness - he wanted to see himself as being destined for nothing more than mediocrity. A simple life where he could stow away in the dark corners of the medicine cat's den where no one would bother him. Unfortunately for him, it was pretty clear that such a future would never be found.
Looking skyward, Dipperpaw's ears twitched at the sign of dark storm clouds overhead. It certainly wasn't unheard of for the transition between newleaf and greenleaf to bring storms, and the black and white tom wasn't totally upset by them. Usually a storm meant that cats stayed hidden away in their dens, wanting to avoid the rain by all means possible, which also meant that they wouldn't bother him.
That being said, the apprentice had promised Ice-eyes that he would gather some feverfew and yarrow down by where the river ran into the lake around the glade. Both were often found in damp areas near the water's edge, and the last thing that Dipperpaw wanted was to get caught out in the rain. Just like any other cat - except perhaps the mousebrained ShoreClan cats - the last thing he wanted was to be wet. The thought alone sent a shudder down his spine, giving him just the energy he needed in order to get to his paws and head out of camp towards the water.
As he stepped out of camp, the sun had only just started to kiss the horizon. It wouldn't be long before it was enveloped in the storm clouds above, so it was nice to enjoy the rays while they lasted. Orange hues began to paint the ground near Dipperpaw's steps, as though they were guiding his way to where he was meant to be. Each step he took, the ground underneath him almost seemed as warm as a rock in direct sunlight. The tom couldn't help but close his eyes and enjoy the feeling of warmth on his paw pads until he nearly stupidly stepped directly into the water.
"Ah!" his voice squeaked as he jumped back away from the water's edge, shaking the droplets off his paw in annoyance. Ugh, how did ShoreClan willingly go in the water?
Dipperpaw started to clean the water off his paw. Yet, as he placed it down on the ground beneath him, he realized that the ground seemed a new colour altogether. It seemed that even the trees, wind singing through their branches, were changing in the light of the sun.
Yellow eyes moved forward, gazing towards the horizon over GaleClan as the sun began to meld into the dark storm clouds. Everything began to darken with the exception of the sun itself, which turned from its usual hues of yellow and white to a dark, sickening red. The wind passed through the leaves, through the blades of grass and along the water in front of Dipperpaw, breaking the calming waves into something more vicious. He couldn't help but stare at the sight in front of him, a bloody red falling over the moors and dancing into OrchidClan. The burst of gales almost threatened to knock the apprentice over, the scent of blood filling his nostrils and moving through his body, making his stomach turn.
Something bad was on the horizon. Something bloody and sickening.
Dipperpaw's eyes widened in fear as he crouched close to the ground, as though trying to prevent himself from being picked up and carried away. Jellyfishstar. Basilstar. Mellowrain. Cats were disappearing left and right and it was only a matter of time before whatever was carrying these cats away came into OrchidClan.
Normally, Dipperpaw's mind would have spiralled further and further into his usual mode of a panic attack. He'd be frightened that this wind was the exact thing that was taking cats away and it was here to take him away, too. But it was as though someone were speaking to him, telling him that this wasn't what was going on. This was something different entirely.
It was a bloody morning.
Dipperpaw's eyes snapped open. He forgot entirely about the feverfew and yarrow as he finally picked himself up and raced back towards camp as fast as he could move. He pounced over fallen logs with a dexterity he rarely displayed, his body filled with a great importance. He had to see—
"Morningstar!" Dipperpaw cried out as he burst into camp, heading straight towards the leader's den. More often than not, he was terrified to so brazenly speak to the leader. The idea of entering her den filled him with fear, as though he were being prepared to be reprimanded. But this was important. It was as though a new cat entirely had taken over the apprentice's body, filling him with a shameless and proud demeanour that what he had to say was worth listening to. Though as he broke into the leader's den, his eyes were filled with fear, his breath heavy and his entire body shook from what he'd seen, he still stood tall, knowing that he couldn't take no for an answer.
desolate ● 1392 words
