[☥𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒☥] ♛Warriors RP♚ Aᴄᴄᴇᴘᴛɪɴɢ!

[squarshed]

𝓡𝓸𝓼𝓮𝔀𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓻
|| molly || 32 moons || priestess of Horus|| tags; Beefang || mentions; || n/a

Letting out a small purr, a friendly smile finding its way upon her face, Rosewater nodded. "Ready as ever." she hummed, starting to move towards the Gala entrance. She made sure to stay right by Beefang's side, as to not get lost in the gathering crowds. It seemed as though it took forever to get anywhere near the doors. The constant movement of everyone around them forced Rosewater to bump into her escort a multitude of times (she let out a small "sorry" every time it happened), and cause some discomfort. She wasn't used to being so close to so many cats. Usually, she was locked away in the dens, busy healing small injuries and praying.

When she did get out, cats often veered out of her path, not wanting to touch a Priestess. Sure, cats would come and greet her, say polite, kind words, but few actually seemed to want to hold up a conversation with the chatty Priestess. It kind of upset her, as Rosewater was a social cat by nature, and loved to talk to others about anything and everything. It took every bone in her body not to go on some tangent with Beefang while they made their way to the gates. She racked her brain of things to say, but every time she was jostled by surrounding cars her mind would clear, and the words she was going to say were forgotten.

By the time they got to the gates, Rosewater's excitement was just about to bubble over, and she was pretty sure her fur was a bit messed up from the walk there. As she was searched, she gave her self a few licks, fixing her mask with her spare time. As she was released, and waiting for the younger tom, she took a look around inside the Gala. The site almost brought tears to her eyes. The thorn wreaths, the banners, the lanterns and the music. It tied together wonderfully, all of it. "She would have loved this." was the first thought through the molly's mind. The remembrance of the recently passed Priestess brought only a faint smile onto Rosewater's face; she still felt a grief, but one that could be dealt with at another time. She was at a Gala, for Gods sake! She could push her feeling to the side, for now.

Turning to see an emerging Beefang, she felt her excitement return, as well as mirthful feeling warming her from nose to tail tip. While she wouldn't admit it, his ruffled fur gave the younger tom a more friendly, youthful look. As if anyone could approach him; it was a nice look for the tom. Humming, as usual, she met his eyes with her own as she began to excuse herself. "Thank you for escorting me here, Beefang. I hope you have a wonderful night. Perhaps, our paths with cross again tonight." She gave him a smile as she turned to disappear into the crowd. Before she she was off, she turned to look back; why, she really didn't know. She had taken a liking to the shy, friendly tom, and leaving him behind tugged at her heart strings a little bit. "Unless, you wouldn't mind me hanging around?" she had to raise her voice to be heard above the myriad of cats, her ears pricked and gaze uncertain as she waited for an answer.



𝔉𝔞𝔩𝔩𝔢𝔫𝔠𝔩𝔬𝔲𝔡
|| molly || 17 moons || guard || tags; Weaselheart, Stormhaze || mentions; n/a ||

Fallencloud matched her escorts direction of glance, at the Gala doors. The line was only growing, and the tall doors remained heavily guarded. She could feel the anticipation bubbling up inside, and suddenly jumped to her paws, tail lashing impatiently. "Then, let's go." she kept it short, leading the older tom to the doors, weaving through the crowds with ease and grace. She had a sinking feeling that those around her could tell who she was, from the way she held herself and the expensive accessories she had. For the time being, she honestly couldn't have cared less, though. All of her focus was diverted between getting to the doors and not losing her escort. She had to pause a good couple if times in order to avoid losing him in the crowd.

Once at the doors, she was examined and ushered through the doors rapidly. She remained patient enough to wait for her escort to be searched as well, and hurried through the doors. Now that she was finally in the doors, she felt herself relax, and look around with wonder. The decorations were gorgeous, and placed with obvious care. Various banners could be spotted with Sunclan's insignia plastered on them, and wreaths of thorns and roses hung among the decorations and walls. The overall aura of the Gala made the white molly feel a kit-like giddiness, a breathless joy that lit up her fiery eyes. Clan members mingled, laughing care-free, where ranks mattered not and everyone got along. Magical, was the only way Fallencloud could find herself describing it all.

Turning to Weaselheart, she politely excused herself, with a simple "Thank you for escorting me, have a wonderful evening." Then, she was off. She spoke with many she barely knew, that didn't know her in the slightest. Mostly in passing, with kind and joyous small talk. Then, they would part, and she would speak with another. Her eyes were gleaming and her smile was permanent, gentle and nothing short of happy. Yet, deep down, she kept an eye out. For the white tom with a stiff stature and new wounds. For the cat she always found her mind drifting back too in times of silence, when she was finally alone and could think freely. While she was aimlessly floating around, she found a way to move with a hidden purpose.

She had just finished a short-lived conversation about patrols with a bubbly young she-cat when she spotted him. Her breath caught in her throat and her bright amber gaze locked onto him. In the Throne Room, right in the middle of the ruckus. Of course. Where else would a cat of such high status be? And she knew it was him; his straight back and intense gaze, alongside the recovering wounds on his back made her certain. She had to push through the crowd to even get close, coming up from behind him on the left. The closer she got, the lighter she stepped, the more hesitant she became. Would he even recognize her? Maybe not. But, she would never know unless she took the chance.

Her previous joy returned alongside a strong confidence, and she strode to stand beside him, perhaps a bit too close. She sat down, almost letting out a purr at how comfortable she became with finally getting a rest. Not looking up at him at first, she decided to start it off neutrally and polite. "A wonderful night to hold a Gala, don't you agree? Fitting, to help cool everyone's nerves after the whole fiasco with the priestess. We guards all had our paws busy with that." She rose her gaze from the ground to meet his green eyes, resisting the urge to look away from the feeling that accompanied it. An intimate feeling, one that almost made her shiver instinctively.

"With all these cats here, I didn't expect to bump into you, Stormhaze. I'm most certainly not upset, though." Her tone was genuine, yet slightly teasing, almost begging him to respond in the same tone. Her amber eyes remained bright, sharp, two fiery whirlpools that searched for any hint of similar feelings. Her confidence refused to disperse, and was being accompanied by a growing feeling of warmth in her pelt. If this backfired, only the Gods knew what would happen. Sure, the molly's flirting methods were a bit bold and vague, but she hoped that they were direct enough to get her point across. And she prayed to any and all Gods that this would work out. Despite all the conflicting and strong emotions rising within her, Fallencloud's gaze did not waver, and her head remained high.



ℭ𝔬𝔩𝔡𝔣𝔞𝔫𝔤
|| tom || 26 moons || fighter || tags; Fogstep, open || mentions; none ||

Smiling with an almost sly nature, Coldfang quickly sped up his pace to match that of his escortee. He could see the eager look in her eye, and he himself felt the same. He kept his steps far smaller than usual, in order to keep in pace with the smaller molly, so he didn't lose her in the crowd. He had no problem with the brushing of their pelts as the two manuevered through the crowd to get in line. He found himself subconsciously fiddling with his bands, his tail tip flicking constantly and paws shifting. He felt as though the guards couldn't possibly go any slower when searching him, and almost let out some impatient groans and they did so. As soon as they let him pass, he scampered away, turning back slightly to allow Fogstep to catch up.

From her look earlier, Coldfang had many doubts she would stick around. Thus, before she could excuse herself, he did. "I hope you have a splendid night, Fogstep. If you end up running into trouble, or are starting to get bored, just come and find me; I'm always available for a friend." He gave her a polite nod goodbye (alongside a wink), letting his icy blue eyes meet hers for a split second, before making his way through the crowd to make conversation with anyone who would listen. He always liked to talk, to make others laugh. It was always something he found himself doing, during all events. He joked with a group of toms, some bachelors, from what he could tell. But, after awhile their topics began to repeat, and off Coldfang went.

He danced with a ginger molly who seemed to have a tendency to talk about herself, and how she swore trees could talk, and he swiftly ended the dance to 'get something to eat real quick', and didn't turn back. He made his way into every room, speaking and dancing with more cats than he could possibly remember. The masks seemed to blur together, and he found himself sitting in the courtyard. His paws ached slightly, and his ears rang a little, so he decided it was best to rest for a little while, towards the edge of the ruins. He kept his eyes on the glimpses of water he saw from between the legs of passing cats, waiting for his ears to stop ringing and his paws to stop aching so he could go back to the crowd, and socialize once more. He wouldn't mind if someone came to him for a personal chat, though.



𝓢𝓪𝓰𝓮𝓹𝓪𝔀
|| molly || 10 moons || scout apprentice || tags; Starlingpaw || mentions; Stormhaze, her father ||

Walking with Stormhaze through the crowd had surprisingly calmed Sagepaw's nerves significantly. While she still felt heavily detached for some reason, there was something comforting about having a bigger, stronger escort lead her through the crowd. The young Molly was searched at the gates before hurried in to the busy Gala. As soon as she looked up, her mind seemed to short-circuit, as all nerves seemed to both drain and flood her senses and mind all at once. The lights, the noise, the scents, all of it collectively brought a new awe upon her. Before she knew it, Stormhaze had slipped off, and Sagepaw was alone with her own thoughts, and the feeling of overcrowding and being overwhelmed creeped back to her.

Hastily, she moved to the edge of the crowd, where very few sat. While it wasn't much dimmer, it was quite a bit quieter, and far less cats around her. It gave her a second to catch her breath, and recollect her thoughts. She sat with her head bowed, eyes fixed on the floor, focusing on her breathing. Tonight was a Gala; a perfect, rare opportunity to open up. To try and move past the anxiety that tended to grip her. It wasn't like anyone would recognize her with the mask and perfume. A good night to finally make some friends, for once.  In the past, she didn't need to go and make friends, her sister made them for her. Heatherpaw had been her only true friend, though, and with her passing, well, no one really wanted to stick around the quiet, jumpy she-cat that Sagepaw was.

Her father's voice seemed to ring in her ears, mixed emotions filling her as soon as she heard it. "You can't be this way forever, Sagepaw. You can't shut yourself off; it's embarrassing, for both you and me. She's dead, and there's nothing you can do about it. Move on." Perhaps, her father was more correct than she wanted to give him credit for. While their connection had now been deteriorated to barely nothing, while he seemed to care no more for his only remaining list from his first mateship, tried to hide the connection between the two, he had a point. One day, she needed to move on, become strong enough to be on her own. Now was a good start.

Lifting her head, her sky-blue gaze searched the area for anyone that was her age. There seemed to be none near her, at first, but her gaze then stopped at a black tom. He seemed a bit older than her, but definitely still an apprentice. His feathered mask was what caught most of her attention, drawing her in. No doubt was the young tom handsome; had she ever seen him before? He certainly wasn't an apprentice of a commoner, else she would recognize him. No, his stance screamed he was of higher rank than that. Nonetheless, her sudden streak of confidence got her paws moving, and she walked over, slowly feeling a sense of regret eat at her the closer she git. Too late now, for she was only two tail lengths away, now.

Taking in a shaky breath, she halted about a tail length away, praying she wasn't to close. As she sat, she wrapped her tail tightly around her paws, practically shaking from the tip of her tail to her ears. Sparring herself only a second to steel her nerves, she turned to look up at the tom, in order to say something. Oh Gods, what was she going to say? She didn't think that far ahead. "In the name of Osiris, Sagepaw, say something! Anything!" she pleaded with herself, racking her brain for something to start the conversation with.

Softly, with increasing volume and strength, she rambled to him. "It's a lovely evening, isn't it? The courtiers outdid themselves; I mean, it's just breathtaking, the decorations and the music. All of it. This is the first Gala I've been to, and I most surely haven't been let down! It's a real shame that the Priestess herself couldn't be here, I've heard she loved these." Realizing she was rambling, Sagepaw immediately shut her maw, glancing nervously at the ground, feeling her pelt get hot as she fiddled with her own paws upon instinct. Great, she already messed this up. Good job, you fool. Gosh, Sagepaw already felt the need to crawl into a deep, dark cavern and never come out again. She should have stuck to the walls and left as soon as possible. "It's definitely too late now", she thought regretfully to herself, as she waited for his response, if he even had one for her failed attempt at communicating with someone.



𝔐𝔬𝔱𝔥𝔭𝔞𝔴
|| tom || 13 moons || scribe apprentice || tags; Wolfheart, open || mentions; n/a ||

The sound of Wolfheart's apology snapped Mothpaw out of his thoughts, causing his head to swivel in her direction with a fashion of borderline panic. He hadn't heard her walk up, and it gave him a bit of a scare, was all. Letting out a gentle laugh, he cheerfully said "It's quite alright! I didn't mind the wait. My Gods, you look wonderful! I love the necklace; it's so intricate!" Mothpaw's friendly, chatty demeanor quickly took over his once nervous feelings. He had to hold himself back from having an entirely one-sided conversation with the poor molly, so the pair could hopefully make it to the entrance with some time to spare. Thus, he gave himself a small shake and met her eyes with his and an apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry about the rambling, I'm just very, very excited, and when excited, I get a bit more... chatty, would be a nice way to put it." Nervously glancing at the ground for a split second he quickly said "We should make our way over to the entrance so we don't get stuck in the line or anything; I'll lead the way, since I'm a bit smaller."

Flashing a fake confident smile that obviously said "we'll probably get lost", Mothpaw led the way to the gates. While he was definitely leading completely blindly at first, he ended up using some common sense to follow other cats to the entrance direction. Mothpaw found himself constantly looking back to make sure Wolfheart was still there, only continuing to walk once he saw her. Once they made it to the gates, he and Wolfheart were searched and ushered in, no doubt to keep the growing lines moving. The decorations, lights, and noises almost distracted him from engrained politeness; he quickly turned to look at Wolfheart and said "I guess this is where we part. Have a wonderful night, Wolfheart! You can always come and find me if you need anyone!" Keeping his head high, he strolled off towards a nearby table to get a little something to eat before socializing.




𝓕𝓪𝓻𝓻𝓪𝓱
|| molly || 52 moons || music courtier || tags; Layla, Auria || mentions; Zeri ||

The black molly's nod and gentle smile soothed Farrah, letting the tensity of her muscles relax. A deep purr escaped her, thick tail wrapping around her front paws, amber eyes overlooking Layla's stature once more. Perhaps it was just in her head, but the younger cat appears to be very excited, yet, muscles tense with... anticipation? Was that the emotion she was trying so hard to mask? Farrah quickly dismissed the thought; Layla no doubt was nervous about her duties, but the environment would excite any cat of any status. Layla had nothing to hide, and the fact the doubt had crossed Farrah's mind disgusted her. Her age, along with the daily labor, was muddling her mind. She always thought herself as being very good at being able to determine a cat's thoughts and feelings, even without words (perhaps, that was why she understood Layla so well), but it seemed as though that was fact no more.

Bringing herself back to the moment, she smiled reassuringly at the molly, saying "I'm glad to know you are alright. No doubt are you nervous, that I can see well. But, it'll be alright. If it gets too bad, come to me, and I'll find something for you to do away from it all. No one will hurt you tonight; it is a sacred night, one that no one will dare to dishonor." Despite her own words, Farrah couldn't help but send a small prayer, to Sekhmet, for Layla's protection. For everyone's protection; but, mostly the courtiers and slaves. The thought that anyone would break the gorgeous, exciting and peaceful aura of the Gala felt impossible, sickened her. Nothing was impossible though, thus her offer. Her nerves led her to give Layla a few comforting licks on the head and behind her ears, also smoothing out her fur. A heavy sigh left her unexpectedly; tonight would be a long night.

A thin white figure broke Farrah's trance, causing her honey-colored head to snap in its direction, fur raising instinctively. The realization of who it was calmed her immediately. Auria. She had known Auria for many, many moons. Since the white molly had been born, and herself only 5 moons old. A newly made courtier, back when her family remained mostly whole. Now, she had built herself her own family, one where Auria and Layla were included. And she was happy with what she had, content with what the gods have given her. Dipping her head in a polite and welcoming greeting, she listened to Auria's words carefully, ears pricked in order to hear over the surrounding noises.

"I'm glad you are alright as well, Auria. I don't see any injuries from here, and you did a wonderful job helping put everything together. You both did. This place is simply stunning!" The compliments and concern were voiced genuinely, and she glanced between the two of them to emphasize her meaning. Shifting her weight, Farrah stood once more, stretching her muscles, surveying the area. They would need her for more intricate works of music soon, and she truly didn't wish to see the end of the stick if she were to show late. Zeri wouldn't be to happy with her late appearance, either. With a heavy heart, she turned back to the two in front of her and sighed again "I'm afraid I must go. They will be needing me shortly. But, please, if you have any trouble, or any concerns, come and find me. I won't be going anywhere the entire night, that I can assure you of. Be safe, you two." Maybe, for a split second, her gaze lingered on Layla for a second too long. She simply could not shake the feeling that something was wrong; and yet, she could not figure it out. Alas, it was a problem for another time; she had to get in place, or else Zeri would no doubt have her head for making them wait.

Moving with long strides and surprising speed, the large golden tabby made her way through the gathering crowd to Zeri, where she would be performing all night long. It didn't take long for her to get to where she needed to be. She could only manage a quick clean up and a few spare breaths before being ushered out to start singing the first piece, with Zeri at the harp. It would be a very long night indeed.

[silverlock]

╔═════════════════════════════╗
𝒯 𝒾𝒹𝑒𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓅
female | 19 | captain of the guard's squire
location: the courtyard
tags: Rowanflame
╚═════════════════════════════╝

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxThe gentle reflection of the starry night sky in the courtyard’s pool was mottled with those of the bright lights and chatty cats surrounding the ever so still surface. The spectacular decorations and banners bearing Sunclan’s crest invigorated the atmosphere with the sense of grandiosity it was intended to have. All of that combined with the alluring scents of exotic dishes, rhythmic drumbeats and hypnotizing singing voices of what seemed to be some especially talented courtiers made for an invigorating feast for the senses. Tideleap allowed herself to be overrun by every aspect of her surroundings, relishing in the chaotic yet so pleasant way it all came together. After all, the next event of such a grand scale was not going to happen anytime again in the foreseeable future. Not in the she-cat’s own, at least. Who knew if she’d even live to see another Gala in her lifetime?
xxxxxxxxTideleap glanced at the living wall of mollies surrounding her – a few of them had hurried off to the party with their own escorts, some of which openly made quarrel about the other’s poor time management skills or nagging behavior. There were no single toms in sight, unsurprisingly. The ash grey fae swished her tail in a lazy manner, letting her surroundings intoxicate her body once again. By the word of Osiris it seemed that no single tom was going to show up soon so she let her mind wander yet again this evening.
xxxxxxxxBack to the topic of lifetimes… If she had to be honest, Tideleap had never had any high expectations of her own longevity. She was surrounded by both lurking and aggressive dangers for the most part of her kithood – growing up in such hazardous circumstances wouldn’t spare any cat’s mind, no doubt leaving an impact on a fundamental level. The fae flicked the tip of her tail as one thought switched to another. What about the commoners here? Would they even be able to defend themselves with no special training?
xxxxxxxxA flick of her tail to the left. The part of society that was times more vulnerable than the well-paid portion of it had to work day and night for just a miniscule fraction of what, say, a high-ranked cat received. One such as Tideleap. Her ears twitched almost undetectably but still enough for her to register that she wasn’t pleased at her realization. Guilt began to drip its way into her train of thought. What about the courtiers who’ve worked day and night so the rest of the clan could enjoy a night of pleasure? Despite how invisible society required them to be, the sheer skill of fulfilling their duties was practically oozing tonight. Every banner, meal, musical note was a product of their hard but sadly overlooked work for which they received near to nothing.
xxxxxxxx Another flick to the right. Those same cats who worked their hinds off were required to serve even on what was supposed to be a night of joy and celebration. They were stuck on their assigned posts, not allowed to even dare of thinking about leaving their position lest risk a punishment so bad only those of their own rank knew the limits of. Even though she wouldn’t admit it out loud, Tideleap found the whole situation to be ridiculously outrageous – despite how much they worked, servants and commoners alike seemed to receive absolutely unfair treatment. The squire’s thoughts suffered a light cursing as they targeted her social ignorance again this evening.
xxxxxxxxTideleap glanced at the incense box neatly placed beside her paws. She wanted to prepare a gift for the royalty out of courteousness without paying much attention to what she’d actually wish for in return. Frankly, she’d been hoping that she’d find a good reason to utilize her wish as she went along with the night’s flow. Horus seemed to have lent her a helping paw on her way to figuring out what that reason was. There was a subtle but sure change in her unfocused expression – she now knew exactly what her wish would be.

xxxxxxxxTideleap would have loved to continue her mental ramble if it wasn’t for the sudden yet cool “Shall we?” that rattled her train of thought completely off the rails. She whipped her head instinctively, perhaps a tad bit too sharply, towards the source of those two words. Next to her stood a ginger tabby tom but oh boy, was he anything but conventional. His messy fur was sticking out in all directions. From his neck was hung the loosely wrapped body of a green boa, out of all things. The fae’s gaze glided a tad bit cautiously up towards his face. The tom wasn’t wearing a mask but it was obvious that he’d played around with his kohl. The outlines of his makeup were supposed to imitate a mask, as far as she could tell and, surprisingly, it all brought out the color of his pelt and eye quite well.
xxxxxxxx ”Hold on.” was the only thought the she-cat could muster. She could only see a single clear orb of green at first. So she switched her point of focus to the other half of her mysterious escort’s face. A surprisingly big scar ran across his left eye which was barely hidden by a tuft of messy fur over it. Tideleap would have taken her time to observe it a little longer but that would be inexcusably rude of her. So she straightened up and bowed her head politely ”Most certainly.”
xxxxxxxx Before the fae took off with her extravagant escort her mind raced yet again, only a flick of her tail indicating so. The tom seemed rather friendly – he was the only one to show up for her, after all. Besides giving her offering to the royalty, Tideleap didn’t know what else she’d do with herself all night long. Gods, dancing was a tradition for the Gala! And she knew nothing about it. No variations, no steps – absolutely nothing. A flash of anxiety appeared in her gaze as she contemplated on what to do next. Protecting Sunclan and its territories, sometimes on her own, was one thing. But asking someone to do something he was not obliged to was another thing entirely. The harder thing for her to do was based entirely on the brief episode of self-loathing she went through. But the only way she could truly begin to integrate herself into the society in which she was living required just that – genuine communication.
xxxxxxxx”Would you mind sticking around after I give my offering?” her voice sounded softer than she’d imagined it would ”This is my first time actually… attending a social event.” Tideleap was hoping to every god out there that she sounded as cool and casual as possible because her inner critic was cringing to death. ”Dear gods, help me out here…”

[LucidDreary]

കx𝐒 𝐭 𝐨 𝐫 𝐦 𝐡 𝐚 𝐳 𝐞
────────────────
─ Feeling; Amused; Alluring; Location; The Throne Room Tags; Darius (mentioned); Darkstar(mentioned); Fallencloud; ─

xxxxCats danced upon the very rooftop of the Throne Room- shadows chased shadows two-and-fro like young kits amongst playmates- Stormhaze could literally feel the joy in the air. It was an exhilarating experience that sent indescribable tinglings into his paws. He couldn't help but feel restless, even when he flexed his stiff muscles and ignored the slight sing whenever he moved a certain way to crane his neck as he possibly scouted the crowd.

xxxxFor threats, certainly.
xxxxOf course.

xxxxThat was it.. yet his eyes caught mischievously on the white she-cats that waltzed the floors every so often. And each time, he swore his breath caught, just a little bit. It took everything within himself to reign in his slightly thundering heart above the music. It had been a long while since he'd allowed himself to loosen up a bit and just enjoy something for once. So many things had been happening throughout Sunclan lately that he supposed he never really had the time to think about such things. He had expectations that demanded his absolute attention and focus. And the cats of Sunclan deserved no less. Stormhaze would rather die than allow a single cat be harmed under his watch...and something had died within him when he had beheld the priestess's lifeless body before him that dreadful night. He could still feel that dangerous rage that had slipped from him in that moment.

xxxxHe could still feel the hot, sticky blood of that brute he'd slain. The iron tang stung his maw even now.. And he didn't regret it. Not one bit. Had enjoyed it, in fact. Any brute who'd kill his own brother was absolutely sick and the tom would kill him again if he were given the chance. Perhaps that side of Stormhaze was what kept him going...that darkness within him had always followed. And Darkstar had seen it himself.

xxxxThe guilt was another blow entirely.
xxxxThere was no point in denying that Stormhaze was a killer. Trained to be so since the moment he'd opened his green eyes that revealed his deeply threaded high blood heritage. To compete for the crown, no doubt. But Stormhaze had no need for crowns or any politics that were above his station. He had no interest in wealth other than what he had earned for himself. Perhaps his family would never understand, and that was fine. He could live with that.

xxxxThe stone beneath his claws dissipated quickly as he felt her rather than saw at first. His eyes traced the outline of cats, yet hers stood out like a proud lioness. Instinctively, Stormhaze kept his expression absent, yet his eyes followed her every move. His body tensed slightly as she sat next to him and her soft, yet firm voice sent his ears into a slightly alert prick. "A wonderful night to hold a Gala, don't you agree? Fitting, to help cool everyone's nerves after the whole fiasco with the priestess. We guards all had our paws busy with that."

xxxxStormhaze cleared his throat before speaking; his tongue happened to always suddenly be dry whenever Fallencloud happened to be reporting or talking to him in any way. And the rare factor that they spoke at all was..always engraved in his mind. He could still remember when he first saw her- just barely named Stormpaw and training in perhaps one of the most brutal ways you could treat a young kit the day he'd finally moved out of the nursery. His eyes glinted as he spoke,

xxxx"Well said indeed, Fallencloud... it is a shame though, I knew she was rather fond of these.." He trailed off as he gestured to the glory of the Gala, and as he did so, his eyes snagged on her own for a long moment. ""With all these cats here, I didn't expect to bump into you, Stormhaze. I'm most certainly not upset, though." Stormhaze barely registered what he said as he gazed into those depthless amber eyes.
xxxx"Neither am I in the slightest.."

xxxxHe held his breath for a moment and just drank the she-cat in. She looked absolutely nothing short of stunning..yet with or without the jewels or the gold, she still managed to take his breath away. His maw curled up into an extremely rare smirk as he noticed the tease in her gaze. Oh, he could play that too...perhaps even better.
xxxxGetting to his paws, he sketched a bow and held out a paw- his head inclining to the dancefloor. "In fact," he allowed his voice to give way to the slightest hint of husky curiosity, the kind that sent females into a blushing mess, "Perhaps the Pharaoh's daughter could show me a thing or two about dancing..?" he drawled. She had no idea what she was in for. On top of that, it's a masque, there would be no one to tell him it was inappropriate to be flirting with the Pharaoh's daughter. No doors in his face, no customs or cats between them. Stormhaze knew he'd damn himself before he didn't take advantage of it.

⪩x𝑭 𝒆 𝒏 𝒓 𝒚 𝒔
────────────────
─ Feeling; Curious; Irritated; Exhausted; Location; Chattel Cats Cell Tags; Silver; Fallon; ─

xxxxThe tom was nothing short of restless. His eyes kept flicking from Silver to the rusted cell door- the tom had a point. But so did he himself. No guard or citizen would risk their hide trying to help cats who obviously could care less about anyone but themselves. No one would tip the scales in their favor- especially when they had nothing to offer in return. He got to his paws to examine the bars once more, yet he froze entirely as a she-cat stepped before them. He said nothing as he recognized her. Her eyes gave everything away as though time had slowed and it was only the two of them for a brief moment.
xxxxYet the moment passed all too quickly as soon as Silver opened his mouth, “Come to gawk at the slaves, highblood?”
xxxxThis just sent Fenrys into a wicked, mocking smile. He wondered what business the fae could possibly have down here with two chattel cats who obviously had more than just ill intent toward the very cats she served daily. Nonetheless, there was obviously a very important celebration occurring above them; certainly she would rather spend her momentary freedom to flee Sunclan? His eyes narrowed as he studied her. Beguiled in jewels and as fine groomed as perhaps even the Pharaoh's children. He couldn't deny Silver's observation: she truly did look the part of a High Blood, and carried herself as though she really was one.
xxxxPerhaps she was one- once.
xxxxHe sat down and ran a tongue slowly over his desecrated pelt; internally cringing at the filth he'd been forced to work in. But the tom showed no discomfort as he said between licks, "Indeed, Silver. I'm sure she just came to gloat. We both look like we've been trampled by a desert wind storm- I can't blame her if she mistook this to be entertaining. It's a good thing that this isn't a petting zoo, however.." His eyes glinted teasingly; daring her to make a remark that would give any of her intentions away.

≋xℚ 𝕦 𝕚 𝕖 𝕥 ℝ 𝕒 𝕚 𝕟
────────────────
─ Feeling; Anxious; Overwhelmed; Location; The Throne Room Tags; Fadedlotus; Golvenwaves (mentioned); ─

xxxxQuietrain's ears went slightly red as she met Fadedlotus's eyes. She honestly didn't know how to respond as she dumbfoundedly took in the cats around her- suddenly feeling quite anxious and overwhelmed by the Gala's intensity. The music rang in her ears and made her heart thump with it- yet she wasn't entirely sure if that was a good thing as her eyes lead her toward the magnified definition of the Pharaoh and his mate, Goldenwaves. Their silhouettes glinted with the foreshadow of their wealth- there was no doubt that the Pharaoh had spared no expense for this particular celebration. Sekhmet would likely be pleased, but there was no telling whether the cats of Sunclan would ever be in her good graces anytime soon.

xxxxThe death of the priestess was still fresh in the she-cat's mind as she beheld the statuette of Sekhmet that was housed between the twin thrones upon the dias. It's bejeweled ruby eyes sent shivers down her spine- causing her to involuntarily back away a few steps as the memory of the Omen once more washed over her. Quietrain wasn't sure whether she could handle much more of this.. she sucked in a breath in attempt to gather herself. The she-cat was fine- she had to be. She couldn't allow the past to repeat itself.
xxxxNever again.

[Fortune's Fool]

GleamingHeart
-- She-cat :: 42 Moons :: Guard :: ~Smokestep
Her own eyes softened slightly at the offer, he was so willing to sacrifice his own night just for her. She truly didn't deserve anything near what he offered her. Gleamingheart stood up a little straighter, forcing down her unease as well as she could. If only for him she could do this. "Maybe a little later we can see if there's any truth to that," if she got too uncomfortable again, felt too out of place. It being just the two of them might be... nice. Before that, though, she wanted him to be able to enjoy the gala. She was not going to ruin tonight for him. That was her promise.
He had to put up with so much because of her. Her avoidance and resistance to the subject of kits -- a subject still sore so many moons later. All her little insecurities she tried to hide and likely failed to do so. He deserved to not have to worry about her state and just enjoy himself. "I'm okay, I promise." She lifted her head slightly, watching the crowds for a second before she gave a weak purr. "Would you like to dance?"


FadedLotus
-- Tom :: 26 Moons :: Scout :: ~Quietrain
It didn't take a genius to realize that something was wrong, and as Fadedlostus followed her gaze to where she had been focused on he could take a guess to at least one thing that was eating at her might be. He imagined no one had been hit harder by the death of a priestess than the other priestesses beyond perhaps the gods themselves. They were the ones that would interact with her the most after all, likely their connections to said gods made it even worse and Quietrain was tied to Osiris specifically. While he'd been lost in his own negative thoughts, so had she been. His instinct said to try and comfort her. Normally he wouldn't even consider it, the difference in their positions far too great. But the anonymity of the night meant that didn't matter.
And it actually hurt a bit to see her like this, even more so when she backed up a few steps. She seemed to be trying to ground herself but Fadedlotus knew how difficult that could be without a distraction. That was something he could do, and he moved slightly so he was actually in front of her -- ensuring she would be focusing on him. "Perhaps--" his already weak voice faltered slightly and he cursed himself silently even as his eyes remained gentle, "perhaps you would honor me with a dance before we go our separate ways?" As he was certain they would. Few were willing to put up with his melancholy for long.


FogStep
-- She-cat :: 25 Moons :: Fighter :: ~Coldfang, open
Her escort was just as impatient as she was, it seemed. And the line to get in was painfully slow. She shifted her weight from paw to paw, eager to get in, the entire time they were waiting and murmured a low "finally" under her breath once they were free to enter. Her only response to her escort's offer was a delighted laugh as she took off near immediately -- headed straight for the dancing crowd. She flitted from one dancing partner to the next, not bothering to keep track of masks or voices. A blur of music and movement that was dizzying and exactly what she'd wanted. There was no thought in what she did, just instinct and whatever or whoever caught her attention at that exact moment.
Finally she was forced to take a break by her own sore paws, but she didn't stray far. She picked a spot where she could still see much of the dancing to sit, tail curled loosely around her as she ran a careful tongue over a paw. She was sure she'd regret tonight in the morning but she was having fun and that's what really mattered. No point in holding back.

Zeri
-- Non-binary :: 19 Moons :: Music Courtier :: ~Farrah
It certainly was a glorious display of wealth, but there was something else under it all. They knew it when they saw it, something that had been commonly seen by the humans they had known so long ago. Something about this whole event seemed... hollow to Zeri. Perhaps it was the death still hanging over the entire clan that they were feeling. It was difficult to tell for certain and Zeri wasn't especially inclined to dig too deep into the general mindset of this clan. That seemed a little too much for them. Instead they simply kept their head down and played the music that was required of their role. Mismatched eyes were uncharacteristically unreadable behind the required mask, tail curled around their back paws as they sat up on them to be able to pluck at the strings. It was always easy for them to get lost in music as they played at least. No overthinking, no fear or sorrow, just the music. It had been a fluke that they found themself with this role but one they were thankful for -- a small flash of luck in the misfortune of their recent life. It was their job, but also an escape.
They had a very brief break, which was when Farrah was finally to join them. They dipped their head to her as she arrived but then they were back to it once more.

[moondust405]

Beefang

Tom~23 moons~Fighter~Tags; Rosewater

Beefang was able to let out a returning smile, relaxing somewhat at the priestess' seeming ease. He kept an eye on the milling crowds of cats, from those not willing to enter the Gala quite yet, to those without escorts. The tom blinked in surprise when Rosewater bumped into him the first time, but a reminder of the other members of the clan who didn't recognize her made him realize exactly that: they didn't recognize her, and wouldn't have the same aversion to contact as they would normally. Beefang attempted what he hoped was a reassuring smile- he didn't mind, honestly.
Rosewater went ahead of him at the entrance to the Gala, leaving Beefang to his thoughts, even for just a moment. He nodded at the guards as they searched him over, letting out a small sigh of relief as he was released from their hold. He continued onward, and just about halted in the entryway as he saw all the carefully placed decorations spread across the Gala space. Elaborate lighting, painted banners- was that incense he smelled, or was his nose playing tricks on him? It, almost amusingly, wouldn't be the first time, and wouldn't be the last of many. Beefang took a good minute, it seemed to him, to realize Rosewater was still waiting for him, and he blinked for a moment before feeling his face burn (from the desert heat, he told himself). Shaking himself out of his reverie, he hastened over and dipped his head.
"Thank you for escorting me here, Beefang. I hope you have a wonderful night. Perhaps, our paths with cross again tonight."
"It was my pleasure. Maybe our paths will cross again, and I hope your night is great as well, Rosewater." Beefang returned the smile, a bit hesitant to start wandering off on his own. But that was the whole purpose of the Gala, was it not? A time for cats of any rank to mingle- well, he rethought, slightly cringing at the sight of the servant ranks running around, almost any. He was about to give in and just wander off, before hearing Rosewater's last statement. Beefang blinked, twitched his ears to make sure he wasn't hearing things (he wasn't), and couldn't help the small, rumbling purr he let out. "I wouldn't mind at all."

[dinolover519]

Layla| female | 11 moons | courtier |Location: sunclan|Tags:None|mentions: Badgerpaw, Zeri, Farrah

The scrawny black fae inwardly let out a sigh of immense relief as she watched the older molly pad away. The young courtier could not afford to slip up in the slightest tonight. Her heart pounding louder than the thundering drums of the celebration, Layla slipped through the crowd, doing her best to avoid catching the cautious eyes of high bloods. Luckily, few cats would even give such scum a second thought, much less track her down to a back corner table where it appeared that she was grabbing a platter to serve the party goers.


In the blink of an eye, Layla had vanished from the scene, hidden beneath the decorated cloth of the serving table. Holding her breath with the fear that the slightest noise would mean certain death, she slipped off her dreaded server’s mask and donned on the elegantly decorated mask she had hidden earlier. The black molly removed a single golden bracelet tied to the mask which she had acquired and slipped it onto her left paw. Smoothing her fur and praying to the gods one last time, she slipped out from beneath the table.

To her immense relief, it appeared that no one had noticed the small fae who had seemingly appeared from no where, and Layla. Holding herself proudly like that of a rich and powerful highblood, she gracefully flowed through the waves of cats and admired her surroundings. In this light, everything seemed different.

Behind her mask, the heterchromatic she cat could sit and listen to Zeri and Farrah’s beautiful music without being beaten for not working, she could snack on edible delights instead of serving them, and most importantly, she could see Badgerpaw again. At the thought, she glanced around the party. It would be incredibly difficult to find the young tom with everyone’s identity hidden. Had she been able to, Layla would have hissed at herself for forgetting such an important detail.

[~Wildfire]

R O W A N F L A M E
{ male - 24 moons - scout - location: the courtyard - tags: tideleap }

Rowanflame stood still, waiting as the fae looked him up and down. The way she surveyed him actually made the tom tilt his head in surprise because, it seemed, she didn't know him. There was no glint of exasperation or amusement in her green gaze, only curiosity. Under different circumstances he might have given credit for that to the anonymity of the event, but given his choice of both attire and accessories, that wasn't very probable. Which meant that this really was a complete stranger.
Though how that was possible, Rowanflame had no clue. Ever since that first day that he had arrived in Sunclan's camp, all bloody and unconscious, everyone had seemed to know him, or at least know of him. And the gruesome scar marring his face, or the milky blind eye, really didn't help matters much. Though most of the clan cats had been kind and helpful and the ginger brute owed the priestesses his life, it had still been hard for a young tom to hear whispers and feel gazes both curious and distrustful on his back wherever he went. And worst of all, he hated the pity in their eyes. It made his fur prickle and his claws itch to be used, because every time someone obviously felt sorry for him, Rowanflame could practically hear his father's sneer, telling him he would always be helpless and weak. And though the apprentice knew that he had to try to leave it all behind, the memories stung more than he would like to admit.
And so over time, he both learned to mute others out almost completely and also turn the attention from his appearance and history to his antics and attitude. After all, it was much easier being the local fool than the local cripple.
And so, given how used he was to that certain type of attention, he hadn't expected how refreshing it would feel to come across someone who didn't know him, or for that matter, how tense he had been, expecting a swift dismissal. It made the fae standing before him that much more intriguing. Not that she wasn't arresting in and of herself. All of her accessories looked unique and painstakingly made and he wouldn't have been surprised to hear that she had put in the effort to create them herself. And they brought out the green in her eyes beautifully.
He turned, ready to head over to the guards and escort the fae through the gates and into the Gala, only to be stopped in his tracks by her question of, "Would you mind sticking around after I give my offering?" Rowanflame had to bite down on a pleased purr as he sat back down, a friendly smile spreading over his face. Her next words, explaining that she hadn't attended any social event of the clan yet, explained to him how it was possible that they didn't recognize each other. They simply didn't run in the same circles. But the other thing that caught his attention was the way she spoke. It was a composed and cool statement, yet Rowanflame thought he could see a slight glimmer of embarrassement behind it, so brief that he might have imagined it. It only made the scout want to stay and get to know her more.
"Of course. I'll show you around if you want. I'm hopeless with paperwork and such, but navigating social events is definitely one of my strengths. You just gotta know who to avoid." The tom gave her a playful wink that said he was mostly kidding, before standing up and inclining his head towards the gates. When the two of them fell into step beside each other, Rowanflame lowered his head and added, quiet enough that only she would hear, "And you didn't miss out on anything with the other celebrations, this is pretty much the only entertaining one."

S M O K E S T E P
{ male - 49 moons - pharaoh's squire - location: courtyard - tags: gleamingheart }

Smokestep watched his mate closely as she contemplated his offer, with a soft, loving gaze. They had already passed through the gates of the gala and there were cats mingling all around them, but the tom barely registered any of them, all of his attention instead focused on the stunning molly standing in front of him.
It had definitely not been all rainbows for the two of them from the beginning. Hell, he still remembered the dread coiling in his stomach when the day came for him to be assigned a mate. Only a couple moons since his warrior ceremony, he had been invested solely in his duties as a squire, serving the pharaoh, and couldn't even begin to imagine how a mate might fit into all that. Let alone how he could ever make someone happy, what with his lack of social skills. Never had he felt as uncomfortable as when he walked into the temple that day.
But then, Gleamingheart's name had been announced along with his and he had turned to face her, an apology already on his lips - only to be met with those striking yellow eyes. He had barely noticed her before, as he had barely noticed all of his clanmates except for Darkstar up until then, and so it was like meeting a stranger. But never had a stranger made his captured his attention like she did. Because this wasn't just some bubbly, cheery she-cat that he would feel increasingly uncomfortable around. No, she had a warm smile that made him want to smile too, the way she carried herself radiated strength and there was a spark in her eyes that spoke of both intelligence and defiance. But he thought he could glimpse a terrible sadness there too, and felt the impulsive need to help wipe those sorrows away.
And now, many moons later, he was glad to see that though he knew her past still haunted Gleamingheart, it seemed to have lessened, if even by the tiniest fraction.
When she decided to stay and participate in the festivities, the silver brute lowered his head, a fond yet slightly teasing look in his green eyes. He could tell that she was being tough for his benefit. "Okay then, but if you change your mind, just say the word. I don't care where we are, so long as you're comfortable," Smokestep murmured, his voice low enough that only his mate would hear. And it was true. He didn't care much for fancy decorations or expensive wine. Seeing a real, happy smile spread over Gleamingheart's face was worth a thousand galas any day. That was all that really mattered.
However, when she suggested dancing, he couldn't deny the thrill that stroked down his spine. It had been a long time since he was allowed to just let loose and have some fun, what with his duties and all. Even if he could have done with a bit less of a crowd. "I would love to dance." Smokestep purred and nuzzled her shoulder in a gesture of comfort, taking care not to damage any of her accessories. The same could not be said about his own though - when he pulled back, his mask was knocked askew, but the spark of amusement in his eyes spoke clearly: Worth it.

F A L L O N
{ female - 22 moons - courtier - location: the mines - tags: fenrys, silver }

Fallon couldn't help the very ungraceful derisive snort in response to the chattel cats' open hostility. It was to be expected, she did look like the cats that had degraded and imprisoned them. And even if the tom had recognized her for what she was - nothing more than a lowly Sunclan slave - she was still part of the clan. But the molly wouldn't let them get away with prickly remarks just because they had been wronged. After all, they weren't the only ones.
She tilted her head to the side, the glint in her blue eyes mirroring Fenrys's. "Oh yeah, definitely. Can't think of a better way to spend my time," she responded, a sarcastic tilt to her mouth. It would take a lot more to deter the molly, the daily remarks of entitled guards having made her practically immune to such attitude. But looking past it, she could see the curiosity sparking in both their eyes. However, if she was being honest with herself, Fallon didn't quite know why she was there either. Risking being thrown into one of the cells right next to these two toms if anyone found out what she was up to. The white she-cat shook her head, interrupting that particular train of thought. She simply had to make sure that she wasn't caught.
Focusing on the task at hand, she padded over to a nook cleverly hidden in the corner of the tunnel wall. A satisfied smile tugged at the corners of her mouth when she found what she was looking for and turned back to the bars of the cells, four mice dangling from her jaws. They were a far cry from fresh or plump, but definitely a step up from whatever the guards had been feeding the brutes, if only in quantity. Fallon walked over to the grey-white tom first, her pawsteps silent on the stone floor, and nudged two pieces of prey through the bars towards him. "If you're quite done being an ass, you might want to eat something. You both look horrible." She knew the remark wasn't quite fair, given the conditions they were forced to live in, but if they were going to behave like fox-hearts, then they deserved it. Without waiting for an answer, the fae twisted away and gave the remaining two mice to the silver tom.
A glint of iron caught her eye and she turned her head, spotting the assortment of chains and whips mounted on the far wall. Her upper lip curled in disgust and the muscles on her back twitched in memory of pain both old and recent. For the longest time, Fallon had fought to prove her worth, to hopefully one day regain her position in the clan, reclaim the name her parents had given her. After all, the disgrace was deserved, she had betrayed Sunclan all those moons ago. But the longer she stayed, the less convinced she was that it was all worth it.


R A V E N W I N G
{ female - 21 moons - fighter - location: the courtyard - tags: open }

Ravenwing kept a smile on her face as she checked cat after cat, striking their names from the list she had been given. It was a tedious task, especially when she could hear the music and laughter coming from inside the temple. But thankfully, the line seemed to finally be getting shorter, and the uncrossed names on her list dwindled.
If she was being honest, the most alluring was probably the music. Of course she longed to show off the costume that she had worked so hard on, but the way her very blood seemed to pulse with the reverberating beats was incredible in and of itself.

B A D G E R P A W
{ male - 12 moons - guard's apprentice - location: courtyard - tags: sandwhisper }

Badgerpaw escorted Sandwhisper through the gates of the gala, a polite smile pasted firmly on his face. As soon as they were cleared by the guards, he bowed his head to the molly, wishing her a lovely evening. He couldn't deny the excitement that crawled over his skin when he turned away and scanned the crowd for a familiar jet black pelt and mismatched eyes. Even the din of the crowd and thunderous beat of the music faded into the background when he spotted her.
She was standing on the other side of the room, wearing one of those ridiculous masks that all the servants were required to have. It was another way of identifying and degrading the lower classes and the black-and-white apprentice grit his teeth as he stopped himself from growling out loud. He took a deep breath and padded forward, intent on joining her in the corner of the room. But before he could get close, the fae moved as well, walking with purpose that made it seem she was simply off to refill some glasses. He tracked her through the crowd with his green gaze, tilting his head with curiosity.
His suspicion was confirmed when she suddenly disappeared from sight. Among the other party-goers even Badgerpaw wasn't sure where exactly the molly had gone. But a couple moments later, another cat appeared in her place. If he hadn't been intently watching, the brute wasn't sure he would have recognized her. But the way his breath caught when she turned in his direction - even though she didn't notice him - was identical to when he first saw her scrubbing that bloody floor.
Badgerpaw dove back into the crowd, dodging around his clanmates, who were now one big anonymous mass thanks to the scent-masking perfumes, until finally he emerged a few steps away from the sleek black she-cat. The accessories that hung from her small frame were delicate and tasteful, but what drew his attention and made him stop in his tracks was the awe and excited glimmer in her eyes as she observed her surroundings. Shaking his head he regained his composure and let a charming smile spread over his face before approaching her.
"You look absolutely stunning," he spoke, his voice a low rumble that vibrated in his chest.

[squarshed]

𝓡𝓸𝓼𝓮𝔀𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓻
|| molly || 32 moons || priestess of Horus|| tags; Beefang || mentions; || n/a

Rosewater almost let out a cry of relief when Beefang agreed to stick by her for a while longer, not to mention in that of a happy and friendly tone. Yes, the Priestess considered herself a very social creature; and many would agree. The large crowds, the loud noise of chatter, and the constant touching of cats she barely knew managed to drive her up a wall. She simply wasn't used to it. She had always opted out of going to Galas; there was too much happening there. And besides, someone had to stay behind to heal any injuries that were bound to occur that night. So, she always volunteered. Did it tug at her heartstrings, and always make her regret her decision after she had already said she'd be on den duty for the night? Yes. Every single Gala. But, she always did it, because she loved to help, in any way she could.

This one was different, though. It was a Gala for Sekhmet, the Goddess her fellow priestess once represented. There was no way she would miss out on it, not for anyone. But everything was so new, and she couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed and frightened. And her escort had that warm, happy aura about him that made her just want to be near him. Especially at this stressful time. An anxious weight fell off her shoulders as she walked over to Beefang in a brisk manner, her dark golden eyes giving away her emotions with ease. She paused next to him, turning her body to face the way he was, before looking up at him (was he always this much bigger than her?).

"I hope I'm not taking up your time, and I really do thank you for this. It's just, a lot to handle at once, ya know? I've never been to a Gala before... odd, I know, but it's kind of a whole thing on why not. Not to mention, you give off such a, to put it simply, good aura, that I just.. felt inclined to stay with you, rather than plunge head-first into that mess alone. I hope that makes some sense." The Bengal molly's chatty personality was definitely beginning to kick in, with the way she was rambling. Her ears swiveled and she turned a bit, trying to spot out an area that would be a bit out of the way, for her to go to.

When she did manage to spot on, a bit behind the pair, a secluded area not far from the entrance, the question slipped out before she could stop it. "If you'd like, we can continue talking back there? That way we aren't in anyone's way. Or we could walk around. I'm not too picky!" Her suggestions ended in a gentle laugh, ears pricked as she waited for a response, smile lingering and eyes bright (and far less anxious then earlier).



𝔉𝔞𝔩𝔩𝔢𝔫𝔠𝔩𝔬𝔲𝔡
|| molly || 17 moons || guard || tags; Stormhaze || mentions; n/a ||

The white molly almost had to ask Stormhaze to repeat himself, when he suggested a dance. Heat seemed to creep up her neck, all the way to the tip of her ears. Whiskers shivered, and it was from a feeling she couldn't quite describe. Fallencloud was not, in any way, concerned about her skills on the floor. Gods, she was royalty. Dancing had been taught to her for as long as she could remember. It was ingrained, instinct to know how to do a perfect waltz, foxtrot; whatever the ballroom threw at her. It was his voice, the interest and husky tone. And his green eyes, gleaming with their own intensity, his own teasing nature. It almost made her unravel.

Yet, she kept her composure. Head held high, back straight and tail close. She prayed the white tom wouldn't notice the shaky breath she took, the way her paws trembled for a split second as she rose from her spot. It took a surprising amount of strength to meet his eyes with her own, amber and green clashing, yet seeming to fit together so well. It was almost strange, the way she felt around him. There was no doubting the attraction, the one that dragged her towards him like a magnet. While she had known him since a kit, their interactions were limited to professional only. It was exhilarating, to have the chance to be herself around him. To be with him in a way that wasn't strictly business.

Giving her legs a quick stretch, a playful purr found its way out of the molly's maw. "I don't see any harm in doing so. More fun than harm, for certain." Flicking his shoulder gently with her tail-tip as she moved past, she strode a couple of steps, to the edge of the dancefloor. Amber eyes glanced back at him, claws extending and retracting out of habit, one that she did whenever a strong emotion seemed to take over. This emotion, being elation. What would they do? A tango? The tango was definitely designed for the fast-beat music playing currently. Not to mention, she was fairly decent at the tango, from what she knew. Whatever they did, it was up to Stormhaze; it was typically the tom that led a dance, and she wouldn't argue that at a time like this.

Once he made his way over, Fallencloud couldn't help but make a sly remark. "And perhaps, you can show me a thing or two, sir", making sure to emphasis the sir, the title she always had to call him by while at work. It was accompanied by a smile that obviously was trying to contain a giggle, her eyes shining at her own joke. She even had to briefly glance to the side in order to prevent herself from bursting out laughing. In that moment, she understood when cats said they felt butterflies around their certain someone.



ℭ𝔬𝔩𝔡𝔣𝔞𝔫𝔤
|| tom || 26 moons || fighter || tags; Fogstep, open || mentions; none ||

Smiling with an almost sly nature, Coldfang quickly sped up his pace to match that of his escortee. He could see the eager look in her eye, and he himself felt the same. He kept his steps far smaller than usual, in order to keep in pace with the smaller molly, so he didn't lose her in the crowd. He had no problem with the brushing of their pelts as the two manuevered through the crowd to get in line. He found himself subconsciously fiddling with his bands, his tail tip flicking constantly and paws shifting. He felt as though the guards couldn't possibly go any slower when searching him, and almost let out some impatient groans and they did so. As soon as they let him pass, he scampered away, turning back slightly to allow Fogstep to catch up.

From her look earlier, Coldfang had many doubts she would stick around. Thus, before she could excuse herself, he did. "I hope you have a splendid night, Fogstep. If you end up running into trouble, or are starting to get bored, just come and find me; I'm always available for a friend." He gave her a polite nod goodbye (alongside a wink), letting his icy blue eyes meet hers for a split second, before making his way through the crowd to make conversation with anyone who would listen. He always liked to talk, to make others laugh. It was always something he found himself doing, during all events. He joked with a group of toms, some bachelors, from what he could tell. But, after awhile their topics began to repeat, and off Coldfang went.

He danced with a ginger molly who seemed to have a tendency to talk about herself, and how she swore trees could talk, and he swiftly ended the dance to 'get something to eat real quick', and didn't turn back. He made his way into every room, speaking and dancing with more cats than he could possibly remember. The masks seemed to blur together, and he found himself sitting in the courtyard. His paws ached slightly, and his ears rang a little, so he decided it was best to rest for a little while, towards the edge of the ruins. He kept his eyes on the glimpses of water he saw from between the legs of passing cats, waiting for his ears to stop ringing and his paws to stop aching so he could go back to the crowd, and socialize once more. He wouldn't mind if someone came to him for a personal chat, though.



𝓢𝓪𝓰𝓮𝓹𝓪𝔀
|| molly || 10 moons || scout apprentice || tags; Starlingpaw || mentions; Stormhaze, her father ||

Walking with Stormhaze through the crowd had surprisingly calmed Sagepaw's nerves significantly. While she still felt heavily detached for some reason, there was something comforting about having a bigger, stronger escort lead her through the crowd. The young Molly was searched at the gates before hurried in to the busy Gala. As soon as she looked up, her mind seemed to short-circuit, as all nerves seemed to both drain and flood her senses and mind all at once. The lights, the noise, the scents, all of it collectively brought a new awe upon her. Before she knew it, Stormhaze had slipped off, and Sagepaw was alone with her own thoughts, and the feeling of overcrowding and being overwhelmed creeped back to her.

Hastily, she moved to the edge of the crowd, where very few sat. While it wasn't much dimmer, it was quite a bit quieter, and far less cats around her. It gave her a second to catch her breath, and recollect her thoughts. She sat with her head bowed, eyes fixed on the floor, focusing on her breathing. Tonight was a Gala; a perfect, rare opportunity to open up. To try and move past the anxiety that tended to grip her. It wasn't like anyone would recognize her with the mask and perfume. A good night to finally make some friends, for once.  In the past, she didn't need to go and make friends, her sister made them for her. Heatherpaw had been her only true friend, though, and with her passing, well, no one really wanted to stick around the quiet, jumpy she-cat that Sagepaw was.

Her father's voice seemed to ring in her ears, mixed emotions filling her as soon as she heard it. "You can't be this way forever, Sagepaw. You can't shut yourself off; it's embarrassing, for both you and me. She's dead, and there's nothing you can do about it. Move on." Perhaps, her father was more correct than she wanted to give him credit for. While their connection had now been deteriorated to barely nothing, while he seemed to care no more for his only remaining list from his first mateship, tried to hide the connection between the two, he had a point. One day, she needed to move on, become strong enough to be on her own. Now was a good start.

Lifting her head, her sky-blue gaze searched the area for anyone that was her age. There seemed to be none near her, at first, but her gaze then stopped at a black tom. He seemed a bit older than her, but definitely still an apprentice. His feathered mask was what caught most of her attention, drawing her in. No doubt was the young tom handsome; had she ever seen him before? He certainly wasn't an apprentice of a commoner, else she would recognize him. No, his stance screamed he was of higher rank than that. Nonetheless, her sudden streak of confidence got her paws moving, and she walked over, slowly feeling a sense of regret eat at her the closer she git. Too late now, for she was only two tail lengths away, now.

Taking in a shaky breath, she halted about a tail length away, praying she wasn't to close. As she sat, she wrapped her tail tightly around her paws, practically shaking from the tip of her tail to her ears. Sparring herself only a second to steel her nerves, she turned to look up at the tom, in order to say something. Oh Gods, what was she going to say? She didn't think that far ahead. "In the name of Osiris, Sagepaw, say something! Anything!" she pleaded with herself, racking her brain for something to start the conversation with.

Softly, with increasing volume and strength, she rambled to him. "It's a lovely evening, isn't it? The courtiers outdid themselves; I mean, it's just breathtaking, the decorations and the music. All of it. This is the first Gala I've been to, and I most surely haven't been let down! It's a real shame that the Priestess herself couldn't be here, I've heard she loved these." Realizing she was rambling, Sagepaw immediately shut her maw, glancing nervously at the ground, feeling her pelt get hot as she fiddled with her own paws upon instinct. Great, she already messed this up. Good job, you fool. Gosh, Sagepaw already felt the need to crawl into a deep, dark cavern and never come out again. She should have stuck to the walls and left as soon as possible. "It's definitely too late now", she thought regretfully to herself, as she waited for his response, if he even had one for her failed attempt at communicating with someone.



𝔐𝔬𝔱𝔥𝔭𝔞𝔴
|| tom || 13 moons || scribe apprentice || tags; Wolfheart, open || mentions; n/a ||

The sound of Wolfheart's apology snapped Mothpaw out of his thoughts, causing his head to swivel in her direction with a fashion of borderline panic. He hadn't heard her walk up, and it gave him a bit of a scare, was all. Letting out a gentle laugh, he cheerfully said "It's quite alright! I didn't mind the wait. My Gods, you look wonderful! I love the necklace; it's so intricate!" Mothpaw's friendly, chatty demeanor quickly took over his once nervous feelings. He had to hold himself back from having an entirely one-sided conversation with the poor molly, so the pair could hopefully make it to the entrance with some time to spare. Thus, he gave himself a small shake and met her eyes with his and an apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry about the rambling, I'm just very, very excited, and when excited, I get a bit more... chatty, would be a nice way to put it." Nervously glancing at the ground for a split second he quickly said "We should make our way over to the entrance so we don't get stuck in the line or anything; I'll lead the way, since I'm a bit smaller."

Flashing a fake confident smile that obviously said "we'll probably get lost", Mothpaw led the way to the gates. While he was definitely leading completely blindly at first, he ended up using some common sense to follow other cats to the entrance direction. Mothpaw found himself constantly looking back to make sure Wolfheart was still there, only continuing to walk once he saw her. Once they made it to the gates, he and Wolfheart were searched and ushered in, no doubt to keep the growing lines moving. The decorations, lights, and noises almost distracted him from engrained politeness; he quickly turned to look at Wolfheart and said "I guess this is where we part. Have a wonderful night, Wolfheart! You can always come and find me if you need anyone!" Keeping his head high, he strolled off towards a nearby table to get a little something to eat before socializing.




𝓕𝓪𝓻𝓻𝓪𝓱
|| molly || 52 moons || music courtier || tags; Layla, Auria || mentions; Zeri ||

(Is currently performing, and unable to interact. I'll bring her back in a bit later, maybe during a break she is given, or something along those lines)

[silverlock]

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𝒯 𝒾𝒹𝑒𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓅
female | 19 | captain of the guard's squire
location: the throne room
tags: Rowanflame
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xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxA breath in. And a breath out.
xxxxxxxxOne unnoticeable yet comforting inhale was all it took from Tideleap to regain her composure in a moment. Quick thinking was her best advantage while she was on duty but now, in the midst of an interaction with a stranger, it only seemed to be a burden for her. So she dropped it, then and there. No expectations, no planning and certainly no pressure - all these moons of hard work had paid off enough already. The squire had the right to loosen it up and relax for once. Who knew what would happen - maybe the gods had something in store for her as well tonight?
xxxxxxxxIsis seemed to be in a particularly gracious mood though. Despite the molly's low expectations, the eccentric bachelor's scarred face was lit up by a smile that erased all traces of what most cats considered to be a displeasing look. Tideleap even caught the tiniest glimpse of delight in his amber eye as he glanced back at her which made her fur feel just a tad bit warmer than usual. It didn't bother her at all though - in fact, she was relishing the way it made her feel, as if she was a little kit all over again. The flame of a tom turned out to be excellent company on top of his already friendly disposition. The gray fae let out a hearty laugh at his subtly snarky remark, not missing out on the wink accompanying it. "Lead the way then, social butterfly," she said in a playful tone as she winked in return, having picked up on her escort's attitude "for I am but a mere hermit on the social scene."
xxxxxxxxTideleap rose back up on all fours, picking the incense box up in her mouth. The ginger tom's nod was the only sign she needed before she sided her shoulder with his own, each other's pawsteps aligning like the drumbeats echoing in their vicinity. Before the molly knew it, her escort had lowered his head down to her level, throwing a private nag at the clan's regular entertainment programme. She let out a childish, amused giggle - that guy turned out to be a lot of fun! And she hadn't had such fun in a while. She sent her gratitude to every deity out there for lending her one heck of an escort while the two of them lined up after the last few couple of cats who entered the throne room, already impatient to dive headfirst into the party’s atmosphere.
xxxxxxxxThe security check went surprisingly quickly as the guard on post was basically itching to go celebrate already. Tideleap waited for her escort to be let in and catch up with her before absorbing her surroundings – everything around her consisted of an unimaginable explosion of sensations ranging from wonderful music and rich smells to a sea of differently colored pelts melting together into a single whole. A flash of wonder crossed her eyes as they widened, taking in every detail. Whatever regrets the fae had when she first went out tonight melted away in the blink of an eye. That spectacular gathering was not just a night of partying - it was an opportunity for the clan to create bonds stronger than before without the social stigma that ruled over its community. The molly couldn’t help but stare for a few moments at the breathtaking sight before realizing that she was stalling her escort. ”Damn me!” she snapped in her mind and hurried off to the closest table covered in delicacies where she set her offering. Just a breath before taking on her route through the countless dancing bodies and then the base of the royalty’s thrones.
xxxxxxxxTideleap turned around to take a good look at her escort once again – losing him in the crowd after taking care of her priorities would be most unpleasant. She took in his whole silhouette detail by detail - the contrast between his one amber and one milky white eye framed with black flames of kohl over his scar, the dark ginger stripes framing the rest of his lighter pelt, the way his figure towered over her own. The good news were that the gray molly had memorized the entirety of the tom’s appearance. The bad news were that it was too late when she realized how rude it was of her to stare like that. The fae turned her gaze down to the numerous dishes laid out on the table in a swift but rash movement, her tail curling around her hind leg. ”I’ll ask of you to excuse me now,” she said in a slightly embarrassed tone ”I’ll take a few minutes at most.” The she-cat dared to look into the bachelor’s eyes again, managing strike a cocky smirk, mostly to keep her own spirits up ”Don’t get lost while I’m away!”
xxxxxxxxAnd off Tideleap went with her incense box clenched between her teeth. A childish slip-up like that would in no way ruin her night off – in the name of Osiris, she was living out her best years! Going wild for once in her life wouldn’t do her any bad. ”The situation isn’t as bad as I thought,” the gray molly mused while passing by the dancefloor where couples were swirling in broad circles to the melody of a passionate tango ”he sure is an eye-catcher with all that kohl he’s got.” A few more thoughts of self-affirmation were all she needed to get her spirits back up in the time it took for her to reach the base of the pharaoh and his mate’s thrones where servants hastily kept the Gala’s overview in check. Tideleap braced herself before her interaction with the royalty but a part of her was itching to go back to her escort already and spent a wild night of fun with him, free of the restrictions her job had placed on her – he seemed worth it to have around.

[Euthymios]

━━━━━━━━━━━━
I. Swansoul II. High Priest's Apprentice III. Male
IV. 31 moons V. Tags: open VI. Mentions: Jaguarstream (briefly)
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Horror was the only emotion that Swansoul was feeling. Horror and a myriad of other emotions. The scene that lay before him was enough to scar him forever. Even if he closed his eyes, the ravaged, bloody, corpse of Sekhmet's Priestess had already been imprinted onto his cornea. Even though she had been Swansoul's least favorite to talk to out of all the priestesses...this was a tad too far for anything he could've wished upon her.

He remembered the night when the sounds of the clan had woken him up, telling him that something was wrong. He had stayed up late that night, reading one of his favorite texts on spiritual matters from many moons ago, so he had been suitably drowsy when he was called. But whatever grogginess he felt from that days sleep disappeared as he saw what had happened. At first, the High-Priest-In-training couldn't understand what had happened. How could one of their most important spiritual leaders be dead? He would've assumed she'd have been, well, better guarded! His confusion was soon mixed in with grief and anger. Anger at the two brothers but also anger at himself. He had decided to take time off that night, and maybe if he'd just been at that place at that time, he might've prevented the tragedy. Every cell of his body was screaming. Why - how could this have happened? The apprentice knew he'd be unapproachable for the next moon or so. The priestess’s death was deeply sacrilegious to the clan’s ancestral connection, but to him, it hurt like a scorpion's sting. And nothing stings like survivor's guilt.

━━━━━━━━━━━━
Alas, the bright lights of the Gala drew the Siamese tom back to the matters at hand. He was wearing a rose-colored mask for the Gala tonight. It had simple straps to keep it on his head, and on the left side, the rose branched off into several leaves inlaid with violet; Anubis was the god his family worshipped and he was no different. Since he was alone, he would have guessed that his older brother Gooseleap had already left. His mother had given him a different rose-opal necklace for the occasion. The opal pendant and gold leaves were in the shape of a simple, but pretty flower. Trust his mother to give him an outfit like this that just screamed out wealth and power. Leapordspring had always been one of those cats who cared about her appearance and role equally so.

Since Swansoul was a tom, he wouldn't need an escort for the Gala tonight. His mentor Jaguarstream had left earlier, leaving him to his own devices. Swansoul knew his mentor was struggling with the assigned mates, and longed to give some of his help, but tradition dictated that it wasn't his role. He clutched the candle in his mouth and when he got inside, allowed his eyes to drink in the Galla. He was pleasantly astounded. Such an event was a pleasant respite from the hustle-bustle life that he faced.

One worry bagged at the back of his mind. It would be full-moon soon, and that would mean that he was going to meet with the Gods above. He wouldn’t be as worried seeing Anubis, Ra or Isis, but he doubted that Sehkmet would be in the best mood.

Nobody seemed open at the moment, and Swansoul had an inkling of worry that he would be left hanging the entire night. Or....maybe Anubis would touch him with a stroke of fortune, and someone would show up for the occasion. He hoped Rosewater was here somewhere....he could use a good conversation right bout now...