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Post by tor on Jan 8, 2024 14:33:36 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/r6QpkKw/foxpaw~jpg The apprentice den was full of cheerful conversation, a cluster of apprentices winding down after a day of training. Foxpaw was pressed between two cats they weren't entirely sure the names of - both apprentices much older and much bigger than them. They felt, in that moment, too afraid to do anything but smile and nod at every other sentence they heard, trying to seem like they belonged in this group of cats even if they couldn't figure out how they ended up here. They remembered coming in from training, wanting to take a nap, settling in an empty nest... Oh, StarClan, it hadn't been empty. They'd been so tired from their patrol that they settled right among a group of cats already mid-conversation - and those cats welcomed them. Foxpaw's tail went rigid at the memory of one of the cats greeting them, calling them Oakpaw or something that definitely wasn't their name, and all the other apprentices carrying on as if Foxpaw belonged there. What would happen when they realized the mistake they made? Foxpaw nearly shivered at the thought, only managing to stay steady when they realized one of the cats next to them might feel it and ask what was wrong. No, they needed to stay unnoticed. If they could just get through a little more conversation, it might end, and they could slip out before the apprentices around them knew their mistake... Except, the apprentice currently speaking would not stop talking. Foxpaw was trying hard not to make eye contact with Wheatpaw, knowing that anger would bloom in their stomach if they looked at him too long. After all these moons, they still hated the smug tom for how he challenge Coyotepaw - then Coyotekit - to a stupid fight. Maybe, if he hadn't done that, Coyotepaw's reputation (and Foxpaw's, by extension) wouldn't be so rancid. Focus, Foxpaw, they thought to themself, willing their fur to lay flat as Wheatpaw kept talking. Or he'll notice. |
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storms make trees take deeper roots
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Post by cosmic on Jan 13, 2024 22:20:06 GMT -6
#s://i~imgur~com/bzu3iZG~png "As if that rabbit thought it could get away from me. My claws were too fast, it almost caused it to fly through the air and land in the river," he continued to speak, with his tongue licking claws in between words. StarClan, it felt good to talk about himself. He was his own keeper, and Wheatpaw needed everyone to know he was the best. If his mother and half-siblings didn't believe it, then for mousedung sake, he would make sure he did. The apprentices around him laughed, letting him breath a sigh of relief masquerading as a sigh of accomplishment. He had his friend group believing that he was the best apprentice around, and yet, some still didn't.
"And don't get me started on the cats that we ran into on the border with the flower field. They were a couple of rogues, looking for food a few moonhighs ago, and that's when my patrol..." The apprentice trailed off, before catching the eyes of someone looking at him. Foxpaw. Honestly, for one moment, he forgot they were related to Coyotepaw. However, the scar on his head was a permanent reminder of what happened. Still, he had nothing wrong with them, he guessed. Other than being a weak kittypet from their mom... Hey... That's not a bad idea.
"Foxpaw, why aren't you joining us, huh? Are you too good for us?" Wheatpaw's head tilted, as some of the cats in the group looked toward them. No cat seemed to have a problem in his cliché with them, which gave some puzzled looks his way. Being careful to not let the ginger-and-white cat see, he winked to his friends to give him a chance. Oh, this would be good.
"As I was saying, we ran into these two cat at the flowering field. Rogues, Hillfoot said. They had been seen earlier that day. It was Hillfoot, Flowersong, Houndjaw, Mothpaw, and myself on that patrol, as we creeped up on the two cats. Before we knew it, Hillfoot and Houndjaw confronted the two cats, with Flowersong and I appearing moments later. You know, to make the patrol seem scarier. I didn't really pay attention to what was said, but then one of them leaped toward Flowersong!" His body language followed every word, with exaggerated movements and all. Mothpaw sat beside him, with nods indicating that the story was true. "But I was quick, and I slammed myself into the rogue to knock it out of the way! That's when Hillfoot and Houndjaw managed to chase them off after giving them a thrashing." His tail stood tall, with his eyes looking toward every cat. Especially Foxpaw. "Cinderstar thanked me for my bravery after the warriors came up to her after the patrol. Hillfoot said there's no doubt that I will get a cool name when I become a warrior."
Hopefully, the story impressed Foxpaw enough to let their guard down. |
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Post by tor on Jan 31, 2024 13:56:28 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/r6QpkKw/foxpaw~jpg Bolts of static ran down their spine when Wheatpaw said their name. Foxpaw nearly sat up, rigid-straight, but managed to keep their stomach pressed to the ground, as if they were just lounging with the other apprentices. They certainly weren't lounging now that Wheatpaw had called out to them, but neither were they hiding between other apprentices anymore. They could've sworn the cluster of Wheatpaw's friends would chase them out the moment they realized who accidentally slipped into their group. But they were all just... letting them stay? They didn't respond to Wheatpaw, except to smile awkwardly, then make more of an effort to listen to him. Wheatpaw sucked. But it would suck more to make him mad by not listening to him, right? And the story was pretty cool. Foxpaw hadn't spent much time with their mentor yet, but they liked to hear all the stories of Houndjaw's adventures. It was like getting a taste for what they might learn or experience as they continued training together. Like the other apprentices, Foxpaw gasped when Wheatpaw described a rogue leaping at Flowersong. Now they were really hooked into the story, their claws digging into the ground anxiously as Wheatpaw described fighting back against the intruders. Did he really fight? He wasn't much older than them - did warriors let apprentices this young fight? So thrilled by the story, Foxpaw couldn't help stare back at Wheatpaw as he reached its conclusions. They sighed in relief at the happy ending, then nodded in agreement with Hillfoot's statement. "Cinderstar thanked you?" That was admirable. Other than being named by her, Foxpaw had never once spoken to their leader. "Cool. What sort of name do you think you'll get?" Wheatclaw, maybe? |
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storms make trees take deeper roots
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Post by cosmic on Feb 4, 2024 21:19:16 GMT -6
#s://i~imgur~com/bzu3iZG~png His story was impressive as all the cats around him praised it with "ooh's", "ahh's", and questions. It felt great to be able to grab the attention of the cats around him, even if the story was quite exaggerated. Yes, the patrol came over some trouble, but it was one cat and it was a scared loner. Houndjaw and Flowersong were diplomatic in telling the loner that they trespassed, while Hillfoot was desperately trying to keep his apprentice away from giving the loner an unnecessary claw to the face. No incident had happened, and of course, Wheatpaw was scolded for his actions. However, Mothpaw was such a close friend that they knew that promoting the bogus story would increase their popularity too.
But the comment and questions that stuck out to him the most was that of Foxpaw's. Perfect, he had trapped them into his grasp. This would be so fun.
"Uh huh, Cinderstar was impressed with my bravery. I only did what I had to do to protect my clanmates from the rogues. But, I have no clue what name she will give me. Maybe something like Wheatroot or something. Only the best of the best get that name," he concluded, before looking to Mothpaw. The grin on the other apprentice's face was almost too much for Wheatpaw to keep his demeanor calm.
"Actually, I did hear her talking to another warrior about you, Foxpaw. She mentioned something about your name. Let's see... oh, I remember! Cinderstar said that for your courage, your name would be... Foxdung!" Before he could continue, the cats that were close to his posse began to burst into laughter, with his face shining with cockiness. Wheatpaw had led the apprentice on to think that he would actually care about them... what a fool! "Oh, don't be sad, Foxdung, it's just a suitable name for a cat that has the heart of a kittypet. Just like your pipsqueak brother, Coyotepaw." The other apprentices began to chime in with their own jokes, as the pale tom still sat where he was on his nest, with a swift lick and comb with his paw against his ear. "You know, I give Coyotepaw some credit though. He was actually able to put his claws where his mouth was. But not you, Foxpaw. You are too worried about following the rules and keeping your mouse of a brother in line." An ruthless laugh escaped from his maw, with his green eyes keeping an eye on the ginger-and-white cat before him. |
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Post by tor on Feb 13, 2024 9:58:07 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/r6QpkKw/foxpaw~jpg Wheatroot. That name was actually a little stupid sounding, but Foxpaw didn't say that, not wanting to anger the apprentice they found themself on weirdly good terms with, at least for the moment. It was true that -root was only given to special warriors, so maybe, even if it sounded dumb, it was a good name anyway? Foxpaw hoped they'd never become Foxroot. Foxpelt was good enough for them. "Actually, I did hear her talking to another warrior about you, Foxpaw.""Huh?" Oh no. "She mentioned something about your name." Their name? But they were so young! "Let's see... oh, I remember! Cinderstar said that for your courage, your name would be... Foxdung!" Foxpaw's stomach dropped. Of course. Of course Wheatpaw was an asshole. Why did they expect any different? Still, hurt, rather than anger, flowed through them first, wondering what they did to ruin the good will that briefly seemed to exist between them. It wasn't fair. Why couldn't they just be good enough for Wheatpaw and his stupid friends? Or for anyone. "Oh, don't be sad, Foxdung, it's just a suitable name for a cat that has the heart of a kittypet." Foxpaw deflated at Wheatpaw's continued battering. They didn't even have the strength to fight it, just lower their head in shame. "Just like your pipsqueak brother, Coyotepaw." Now anger flared in them - not because they didn't want to be compared to Coyotepaw, but because how dare Wheatpaw put their brother's name in his mouth like that. Foxpaw raised their head to glare at Wheatpaw as he kept speaking before finally snarling a response. "That mouse of a brother put you in your place," they snapped. "What, not good enough to beat a pipsqueak kittypet, so you pick on an even smaller kittypet instead? You're pathetic. Stupid." Their tail lashed in anger, knowing they were pushing their luck, surrounded by Wheatpaw's friends. Luckily, the gathered apprentices seemed too stunned that they snapped back to react. "Let me guess: next, you'll bully an ant? Maybe then you'll win." |
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storms make trees take deeper roots
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Post by cosmic on Feb 27, 2024 12:20:25 GMT -6
#s://i~imgur~com/bzu3iZG~png [tw: foul language]
The echoing laughter of the apprentices around him made him proud. It was a weird feeling to feel appreciated. Wheatpaw finally felt as though he had reached the peak of his apprenticeship status, as if he was the top of the food chain when it came to the apprentice's den. Only being 10 moons old, and still having to finish out his tunneler training, he would be here a while to be able to pick on those unfortunate enough to get in his way. Including... anyone that dared be associated with that stupid apprentice Coyotepaw.
Seeing Foxdung's face drop at the mention of his insult was the exact reaction that he craved. Bad attention was still attention, right? His tail continued to lash out beside him as he saw Foxdung's face turn from shame and sadness to anger. Obviously, he hit a nerve while mentioning their brother's name. He took a mental note to remember in the future.
As Foxdung started their retort, the other apprentices began to listen to them intently, with some ooh's and ahh's escaping their maws from time to time. Wheatpaw, however, stayed as cool as he could, with maybe a lip twitch in anger here and there. Did the clan really think that Coyotepaw, that little shit, put him in his place? Surely not. It was all a lucky strike from the kit, as Wheatpaw could have easily destroyed that little twerp at any point. Surely.
There was one thing that got to the tom, and that was Foxdung saying that he was pathetic. That made his paws kick the dirt around him, his claws itching to unsheathe. Creeksong believed he was pathetic, he knew it. And that's what made his blood boil more than anything.
"Your brother will get what's coming to him, whether he picks a fight with the wrong cat or something else because of his arrogant nature. He'll surely go to StarClan before he even become a warrior because of his stupidity." It wasn't like Wheatpaw to get so morbid about his clanmates in that way, but he did slightly believe that Coyotepaw would meet his demise for being too abrasive.
"You know, at least an ant has more purpose than you do, Foxdung." Did he really believe that? ... kind of, yes, he did. "You are just a waste of a nest here in the apprentice den. You think you can be a great warrior? HA! That's like a butterfly wishing it could swim. It's. Not. Possible." Suddenly, with claws sheathed, he jumped forward to land in front of the apprentice, hoping to take them by surprise and have them fall backward off their nest. Whether or not he did, his point would still be valid. He wasn't a cat to try to intimidate. |
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Post by tor on Mar 8, 2024 11:23:41 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/r6QpkKw/foxpaw~jpg "Your brother will get what's coming to him, whether he picks a fight with the wrong cat or something else because of his arrogant nature." Unfortunately, Foxpaw agreed with Wheatpaw, yet they still bristled to hear him say it. Criticizing Coyotepaw was fine when they did it, because deep down, they loved their stupid brother, no matter how hard they would refuse that very fact. Wheatpaw didn't love him. Wheatpaw was just an ass. "He'll surely go to StarClan before he even become a warrior because of his stupidity." Their stomach dropped. They hadn't considered that. Coyotepaw's arrogance got him into fights and other kinds of trouble, but death? Fear rippled through their pelt at the thought of losing Coyotepaw because he was too stupid to see his own mistakes. So distraught by this, Foxpaw barely paid attention to whatever else Wheatpaw was saying. It didn't matter. He was just trying to upset them because he felt bad about himself, or whatever. His stupid, long body probably meant he didn't know how to feel normal - it took too long for feelings to get to his head from his heart. Sure enough, not paying attention to the other apprentice meant Foxpaw startled back when Wheatpaw landed in front of them. They gasped in surprise, eyes wide as they looked up at him. He was so close. Was he going to hurt them? Oh - oh no. Tears were welling up in their eyes, not because of fear of Wheatpaw, but because they couldn't shake the thought of Coyotepaw dying.
"You're such a jerk," they said, voice tight as they choked on tears. "Do you really think he'll die?" The tears were falling now, soaking the nest they refused to leave. "If you were a real warrior you'd want to help him. Like Heronpaw. But you're just a bully." |
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storms make trees take deeper roots
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Post by cosmic on Apr 24, 2024 14:54:19 GMT -6
#s://i~imgur~com/bzu3iZG~png [tw: foul language]
He longed for this, despite his father's and mentor's protests. To feel powerful and strong against those that were weaker than him, it made him feel a lot better. It was always a stupid life of him ever since he was born, poor little Wheatpaw.
The mention of Coyotepaw's inevitable death due to his arrogance made Foxdung change attitude. Wow, they actually care that much about their brother, especially with all the turmoil and emotion that he puts them through. What a miserable life for the orange apprentice, always having to worry about others. Not Wheatpaw. He didn't worry about anyone what-so-ever. He was on his own, and he would always be on his own. Fuck his clanmates.
Seeing the tears and emotion in Foxdung's voice caused his own throat to grow dry. He didn't like this budding sense of his father coming through. Sheepfeather was weak, caring and showing so much emotions on his shoulders. He hated to admit that he was like his mom, but he really was. Relentless, ruthless, all the things that he despised about her. "If you think I'm the jerk, then I can't wait until you come across a rogue or another clan. They'll eat you alive," he scoffed, as he backed up into his original placement after jumping at the younger cat. "You're stupid for asking that! Obviously, you really don't know your own sibling if you don't realize the path he is going down."
Wheatpaw snorted, with his closer apprentice friends whispering and laughing behind him. "Me? Help a lost cause like Coyotepaw? I would be wasting my breath and energy! Heronpaw is a fool for trying to help a cat like him. All of you all are stupid for giving him your faith." His emerald eyes narrowed toward Foxdung, as he plopped his behind down on his nest. "He'll drag you down with him." |
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