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

[Fortune's Fool]

𝔾𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕥
-- She-cat :: 42 Moons :: Guard :: ~Coldfang
Hunting was a good distraction, actually. Something to focus on beyond recent events. The pheasant she carried now had, admittedly, been a bit of a lucky catch. It had startled her, rather than the other way around, and her reflex to swipe at it had caught it's wing in just the right way to bring it down. A catch was a catch though, and this was a good one. Though she was certain she'd looked a bit on the ridiculous side catching it, there were few enough cats around that she wasn't particularly bothered by that fact. It had almost made her laugh, and that was nice.


𝔽𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕕𝕝𝕠𝕥𝕦𝕤
-- Tom :: 26 Moons :: Scout :: ~Sagepaw, Fogstep, Beefang
Once they'd been out of camp, Fadedlotus had recovered far more quickly. Though few and far between, once and a while he'd question Sagepaw on one aspect of the territory or another, his voice quiet to keep the conversation just between them, but otherwise he didn't say much.
As it turned out they did not spot Viper near the territory borders - though scent on the wind confirmed that he'd been by recently and they had likely just missed him - and thus couldn't ask him about the activities of others in the area. Eventually though, they came across an area that had him stopping, expression intent. Signs of a cat crossing the border, just as Stormhaze had suspected. "He was right," he murmured thoughtfully, pointing out the signs to the fighters.


𝔽𝕠𝕘𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕡
-- She-cat :: 25 Moons :: Fighter :: ~Beefang, Fadedlotus, Sagepaw
"Figures," Fogstep snorted softly, inspecting the signs of a hunt just inside the borders. "Rabbit, judging by the scent, probably earlier today." She glanced to Beefang with a sigh, "we'll have to report this once we get back, I suppose." What a pain, she would have preferred nothing to have been out of the ordinary. Just their luck, really. "Not much of a sign of them any more, from what I can tell, didn't stay long. Probably took the rabbit with them."


𝔽𝕠𝕩𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖
-- Tom :: 31 Moons :: Scribe :: ~n/a
{{I dunno what to do with him yet I'll reply for him later whoops}}


ℤ𝕖𝕣𝕚
-- Non-binary :: 19 Moons :: Music Courtier :: ~n/a
With no music required for now, one of the high bloods had taken to ordering Zeri around. Which is what had led them to be cleaning one of the dens, mismatched eyes just a bit unfocused and their mind elsewhere. This wasn't especially a task that required much thought or awareness, so there was little harm in it really. They were unlikely to make any mistakes, they'd done this so often.

𝕍𝕚𝕡𝕖𝕣
-- Tom :: 27 Moons :: Rogue :: ~Crocodile
Eventually Viper had made his way back to his den, but he hadn't lingered for long - instead making his way toward the river with a small bird and a couple mice hanging from his jaws. Something he had taken to doing... not often, but on occasion when he had prey to spare. Seeing what trinkets Crocodile may have found had become an interesting break from his usual schedule since she'd broken off from the clan. When he approached, he had to set his prey down in front of paws before he was actually able to greet her, "Crocodile," her name was accompanied by a dip of his head, "find anything interesting?"

[Dragonheart48]

╔══⠀⠀══╗
xxCrocodile
xx•Female•
xx•Rogue/Loner•
xx•24 Moons•
xx•Homosexual•
xx•Crush: open•
xx•Tags- open•
╚══⠀⠀══╝

xxxx"Viper", she returned her eyes flicking to the prey for a moment. She considered the other rogues question for a moment sifting through one of piles of tangled metal wiring. "More of the usual things bits of metal, bones, and hide. However, this", she said dragging a length of metal with smaller wires wrapped around it to form barbs free from the tangle, "is new. It catches and tangles on fur well enough and if something were to run into it head on it could cut quite deeply into flesh as well". The she cat figured that the barbed wire must've been crafted to act as a trap for hunting or to help protect something. She didn't find many things worth keeping after the few moons she'd been actively trading, but this had the potential to be a fun addition to her wardrobe.

[dinolover519]

Layla| female | 11 moons | courtier |Location: Courtyard|Tags: none|mentions: highoods

Layla hit the ground with a thud. The high blood looked at her with scorn. “Why are you sitting around slave? Get to work!” he hissed. The timid she-cat dipped her head and began cleaning the mess made earlier, washing the ground where the captain had been whipped. She felt a tad faint as she washed away the blood that was beginning to stain the floor. Oh by the gods.. She held in her nausea. Why must my life be this way?

Silver|male|24 moons|chattel cat| location: Royal mines|tags: Fenrys |mentions:

He grinned back at the tom as the two chattels carved out the gold vein. He didn’t say anything for a while as they removed the precious metal, thinking over his new situation.The scrawny tabby mined at the shining mineral bitterly. The silence echoed a few more moments before Silver finally mewed, “I’m sorry if you dislike the quiet, or when I speak. I haven’t had another cat in here for moons...”he glanced at the strong tom next to him with a small smile. “Would you prefer silence or would you like to chat?” Silver asked.

Druidia|female|18 moons|loner|location: by the clan border|tags: none|mentions: none

Druidia trotted a tad into Sunclan’s territory. It was certainly richer, and with no cat at the border stopping her, it didn’t matter if she caught some prey there, especially silly with the sunlight beginning to beam down so intensely. It wasn’t long before she had caught another hare. She gave a quick prayer to Artemis before carrying her prey back across the border. She snatched the other prey she had gathering before heading back towards her den. Thank the Trifold that Sunclan’s too busy with something to be checking by border.

Scarabstone|male|24 moons|scribe|location: commoner den, heading to treasury|tags: Foxfire, Mothpaw|mentions: Ravenpaw

He blinked proudly at his apprentice. Mothpaw has the makings a fine scribe. I should request his final assessment soon... Scarabstone noted. “I have no idea where she’d be. You know her much better than I do.” he mewed as he jotted down some notes.

[~Wildfire]

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

Badgerpaw watched with thinly veiled disgust as his Captain took the lashings for his misstep the day before. Blood pooled around the tom's paws and it took every ounce of the apprentice's willpower not to interfere when he saw Stormhaze's father making it purposely more painful, just for the sake of proving some sick and twisted point. But he would never disrespect the Captain like that, by getting up and trying to help him. Not when it would make Stormhaze seem weak. And so instead he sat by the podium, his shoulders thrown back and a stony expression that was so uncharacteristic for the young tom.
When it was finally over, he didn't rush over to help like his instincts screamed at him to, it was not his place and he knew that if their positions were reversed, Badgerpaw wouldn't be interested in any pity from his fellow guards. And so instead he stayed where he was, waiting to hear which patrol he was to join.
A harsh, hissed command drew his attention to one of the guards who was ordering around a pretty black she-cat. When she landed on the ground hard, a barely audible growl rumbled in his chest. There has been enough violence for one day. But when he stood up and headed over to the guard who was obviously having a blast ordering the poor courtier around, it was not with a frown and aggression, but rather an eager apprentice's smile and a relaxed posture.
Reaching the guard, Badgerpaw bowed his head and spoke, "Stormhaze is sorting out patrols and he wanted you present. I'm to stay in camp today so I can make sure the slave does as she was told." He kept his head lowered though he met the guard's eyes. The brute considered the young tom and then nodded curtly before padding off to join Stormhaze and get his supposed instructions. Badgerpaw smiled in relief and turned to the courtier who was still cleaning up the puddle of blood on the podium.
"He won't bother you again. I'm sure the Captain has some job for him or other," he meowed with a friendly smile, while still keeping a lookout for anyone who might get too close and see or hear that he was getting too friendly with a low ranked cat. Not because of his own pride, but rather because he knew that she would be much more severely punished than himself for this particular conversation.
If he was being completely rational, he would have kept his mouth shut, sat down and simply been happy with the fact that he had gotten rid of the abusive guard. But something about the molly made him want to reassure her that he wasn't like that, that he wouldn't hurt her. For some reason he couldn't bare the thought of her believing that he was a threat, an enemy of sorts. And so he found himself risking both their necks just to convince her otherwise.

S M O K E S T E P
{ male - 49 moons - pharaoh's squire - location: camp - mentioned: stormhaze - tags: darkstar }

The tom prodded the soft bedding so that it was just right, standing on his hind legs to be able to reach into the pharaoh's golden coffin. It was one of the tasks he had been performing daily ever since becoming Darkstar's squire, and it had become more of a ritual than a chore. Get up, clean up, and then join Darkstar in his duties for the day. It was peaceful and after what happened the day before, a little calm and routine was very much welcome.
But thoughts of the blood trial and the morning's lashing hounded his thoughts anyway. Only moons of experience and an iron will had allowed him to walk up onto that podium and the Captain of the guard chained atop it without hurling his guts up. While he was content with his rank and honored to be able to serve the pharaoh, this was the one part of his job that he despised. It made his skin crawl when he handed that whip to Stormhaze's father and then stood by to witness the punishment. He never felt so ashamed and disgusted with himself as he did in those moments, carrying out an order that went against his very being.
Shaking his head, Smokestep let out a pent up breath, pushing the grim thoughts to a far corner of his mind. It was not his place to question the decisions of the pharaoh. Stormhaze had made a mistake and had been punished accordingly. Finishing the nest, the silver tom dropped back to the ground, tuning out the writhing thing inside him that protested against those facts.
Adjusting the heirloom sapphire that hung from his neck, the brawny tom trotted out of the den, his pawsteps nearly silent on the stone floor of the tunnel. Once he emerged into the warm light of the courtyard, the desert air ruffling his long fur, he headed straight for the Royal Archives, where he knew Darkstar would be headed at this time of day. There was definitely a lot of paperwork for the pharaoh to go through, and even though that wasn't Smokestep's forte at all, he usually found some way to make himself useful.
Nearing the Royal Archives he spotted Darkstar just outside the entrance and slipped into step beside the pharaoh as if he had done it a thousand times. He supposed that he actually had. The brute walked on in comfortable silence, letting the pharaoh to speak if he so wished. Smokestep was a cat of few words who despised small talk, he believed that words should have meaning and so he spoke little, but it was always worthwhile.

[moondust405]

Reeddapple

Molly~29 moons~Priestess of Anubis~Location: Temple~Tags; ??

Reeddapple offered up a prayer to Anubis after Stormhaze left, hoping for any warnings of threats. Someone might take advantage of the current rather frazzled state of the clan, and she'd hope they'd at least be somewhat prepared. The molly blinked her eyes open as she finished, getting up from her position and stretching, letting out a small yawn. It seemed the night of zero sleep was finally catching up. She shook her head; it wasn't even close to dark yet, and there were things to be done. The Priestess adjusted the familiar weight of her bangles before heading to the herb store, intending to count their stock.

Beefang

Tom~23 moons~Fighter~Location: Territory~Tags; Fadedlotus, Fogstep, Sagepaw

Beefang narrowed his eyes at the disturbed ground and lingering scent of rabbit, lashing his tail almost on instinct behind him. "Wonder if they're going to be caught," he mentioned off-handedly. "This report's going to be fun," the tom added with a small sigh, glancing to the furthest he could see as if he could somehow still find the loner. Tensions back at camp were already running a bit high with the death of the Priestess, and now prey had been taken from inside the border. Absolutely enthralling. The tabby tapped down on his mental sarcasm, returning his attention to the moment at paw. "Do you think there'd be two loners stealing prey in the same day?"

[Fortune's Fool]

𝔾𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕥
-- She-cat :: 42 Moons :: Guard :: ~Coldfang
Hunting was a good distraction, actually. Something to focus on beyond recent events. The pheasant she carried now had, admittedly, been a bit of a lucky catch. It had startled her, rather than the other way around, and her reflex to swipe at it had caught it's wing in just the right way to bring it down. A catch was a catch though, and this was a good one. Though she was certain she'd looked a bit on the ridiculous side catching it, there were few enough cats around that she wasn't particularly bothered by that fact. It had almost made her laugh, and that was nice.

𝔽𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕕𝕝𝕠𝕥𝕦𝕤
-- Tom :: 26 Moons :: Scout :: ~Sagepaw, Fogstep, Beefang
He certainly hoped not. The report would be hard enough to make is it were. With little reason to stay near this spot, the loner already gone, he started leading the way along the border once more. Only to come across yet another spot where someone had hunted across the border. "Another rabbit," he murmured, inhaling slowly. "Scent seems to be the same?"


𝔽𝕠𝕘𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕡
-- She-cat :: 25 Moons :: Fighter :: ~Beefang, Fadedlotus, Sagepaw
"Just our luck, isn't it?" Fogstep snorted irritably, nudging Beefang as she did, "same cat crosses the border twice in one day, this one seems even fresher." All she'd wanted was a quick patrol so she could get some rest after standing guard most of the night before, and now this happens. "What now, then?"


𝔽𝕠𝕩𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖
-- Tom :: 31 Moons :: Scribe :: ~Mothpaw, Scarabstone
"I'd check the den first and foremost," Foxfire brought up after a second, "perhaps she returned there from wherever she had gone. If not... I'm not entirely certain." He should have a better idea of where to find his apprentice, but he truly wasn't sure where she'd go. He needed to pay more attention, clearly. He'd have to work on that.

ℤ𝕖𝕣𝕚
-- Non-binary :: 19 Moons :: Music Courtier :: ~n/a
With no music required for now, one of the high bloods had taken to ordering Zeri around. Which is what had led them to be cleaning one of the dens, mismatched eyes just a bit unfocused and their mind elsewhere. This wasn't especially a task that required much thought or awareness, so there was little harm in it really. They were unlikely to make any mistakes, they'd done this so often.

𝕍𝕚𝕡𝕖𝕣
-- Tom :: 27 Moons :: Rogue :: ~Crocodile
For a second he seemed amused at how her eyes immediately went to the prey he had brought, but his attention returned to her wares as she started speaking. "Interesting... could probably do some damage if used the right way," he mewed appreciatively, his tail flicking back and forth. His eye shifted to the bits of metal after a second however, as he tended to do. Specifically it was a bit of normal wire, as opposed to the barbed wire she held. He'd been making some form of wind chime when he was particularly bored recently, which was the entirety of his draw to it. "Picked up on any news from the clan? I haven't run into any patrols lately."

[LucidDreary]

✶xＤａｒｋＳｔａｒ
────────────────
─ Feeling; Loyal; Annoyed; Weary; Location; Royal Anclove; The Archives Tags; Smokestep ─

xxxxxDarkstar didn't pay any mind to Smokestep, who so keenly kept his maw shut; even as they passed through the depths of the Archieves; straight down into the Pharaoh's personal anclove. Where the cave had been littered in a bitterly organized chaos of parchment tornado, now was a pristine mess. As it had been the day before. And the day before that..
xxxxxThe tom wove around the stacks of paper and eventually reached an elegant desk, who's expertly claw-carved features were perfectly obscured by the daily rabble he'd have to go over that was the only neatly stacked parchment of scrolls on it.
xxxxxThe library, which they had strode silently through in order to reach his office, was in honestly no better condition. Darkstar would've demanded servants of some sort cleaned up the horrible abuse of their precious history, but the chance of one of them knowing how to read was too risky. Information of their culture was one thing, but if the wrong cat managed to find the wrong scroll, it could injure the clan beyond repair. And thus, the library, and especially his office, would most likely be like this until the tom died. Perhaps beyond that.
xxxxxAlthough he had a beyond capable tom beside him that he could easily order to clean up this mess, Darkstar hesitated. It wasn't about his caution on the precious information. The tom knew he could trust the brute with his life, if need be. They'd grown up together, and Smokestep had sworn in his oath to serve him until his last days as Pharaoh came. Be it if he died or when he lost one of his nine lives, Smokestep swore he'd be there for him. Always. And the tom had come to his rescue each and every time. It was the closest to kinship aside from his mate that the brooding cat had ever come to what he would hesitantly call, "a dear friend."
xxxxxNot that he'd ever admit it.
xxxxxBut a subtle glance at Smokestep, and you would know that he felt it too. Even if he perhaps disagreed with the Pharaoh's desiccation at times, he never once faltered to remain at Darkstar's side.
xxxxxWearily, Darkstar turned toward the tasks and accounting-ships that awaited him. It was going to be another long day; but mercifully, the loyal tom beside him knew when it was necessary to open his maw, and when to keep it shut. Perhaps that was why Darkstar had favored him from the beginning.

⪩x𝑭 𝒆 𝒏 𝒓 𝒚 𝒔
────────────────
─ Feeling; Amused; Weary; Location; Royal Mine Tags; Silver ─

xxxxxThe tom's ears twitched, his calm demeanor simply giving nothing in his expression away other than a slightly bemused glance at the silver tom. His suddenly awkward mood made gave him the impulse to tease him to ribbons- it was a ridiculous thought. But the feeling still clung to him as he replied curtly,
xxxxx"Whichever you prefer is fine with me,"

≋xℚ 𝕦 𝕚 𝕖 𝕥 ℝ 𝕒 𝕚 𝕟
────────────────
─ Feeling; Concerned; Curious; Location; The Courtyard; The Temple Tags; Rosewater; Stormhaze; Fallowflower; ─

xxxxxIt hadn't taken them long to clean Stormhaze's wounds, apply the polituce, and bandage the tom up. But give or take, Quietrain wagered by the time he returned from his hunt, the cobwebs would be in ribbons. The other priestesses seemed to share the same suspicion judging on the knowing looks they'd exchanged with each other at the sight of the tom and his edged restlessness while they'd treated him.
xxxxxThe only reason why Quietrain herself had refreained from clawing his ears off when he would return was because of what the tom had unknowingly done for Rosewater. She had always been a skilled healer, and it was honestly a relief to see the she-cat back to her regular self as she had done most of the work in treating Stormhaze. It was good for the four of them to keep busy after the startling death of Fallowflower; the hotheaded priestess of Sekhmet. And although Quietrain herself didn't exactly enjoy the she-cat's company much, she never wished such a demise upon the fae. It was honestly a shame. But in turn, curiosity now gnawed at her.
xxxxxWho would the goddess choose to take her place?
xxxxxThe thought anchored in her chest as she had aided her fellow priestesses in cleaning up the excess herbs and headed into the Temple. It wasn't long until Quietrain finished up her regular duties and headed off to Osiris's special tomb- where she was expected to give him an offering and pray until dusk had set upon the horizon.

കx𝐒 𝐭 𝐨 𝐫 𝐦 𝐡 𝐚 𝐳 𝐞
────────────────
─ Feeling; Adventurous; Absent; Sarcastic; Location; The Territory Tags; Wolfheart ─

"Ready when you are."
xxxxxThe fae had startled him from his thoughts, as they had lingered where he knew they shouldn't have wandered. Yet he gave no hint of it as he got to his paws, stretched as much as he dared, and beckoned the she-cat with his tail. After conversing with the fae as they wove through the confusing tunnels that lead to the abandoned temple entrance, they fell silent as they passed the guard posted just outside the entrance. The cat straightened as Stormhaze passed, he offered the tom a curt nod before leading west of the Nile; the opposite of where he'd sent the border patrol. After they'd gone a measurable distance, the tom allowed Wolfheart to take the lead, to her surprise.
xxxxx"You're more than capable," The tom had simply replied, and smirked at her slightly, "I'm the injured one here, anyway. Worse comes to worse, you return without me. Perhaps take my place as Captain, eh? I'm sure you'd be good at it."

xxxxxThe hunt had gone without a hitch; save the unfortunate adder that decided to make an appearance when it spied the vole Stormhaze practically had his jaws when it struck. In a split second movement, Stormhaze had the adder in his jaws and it thrashed wildly, but could not bite him due to it's fangs being lodged into Stormhaze's vole. By Ra's graces, Stormhaze had managed to sever the adder's head from it's body- leaving behind it's thick morsel body as a rather coveted delicacy the Royals in particular enjoyed.
xxxxxA fitting offering to Darkstar and his family in particular, he thought to himself as he took in the damage the snake had done to his cobwebs. The priestesses would be irritated for sure, he thought to himself as he did his best to smooth whatever was left of them.
xxxxxIt was unfortunate that the Adder had ruined a perfectly good vole though, he thought. He could easily see himself giving it to someone in particular. The thought clung to him as he turned to the fae who had accompanied him. The afternoon would soon fade to dusk in an hour or two, give or take.
xxxxx"I think it might be time to return by now," he mewed, "The others will be returning shortly."

[dinolover519]

Layla| female | 11 moons | courtier |Location: Courtyard|Tags: badgerpaw|mentions: highbloods|

Had her head been up, the young tom looking to her would have seen deep puzzzlement in her odd eyes. However, instead, she kept her head and eyes low to the ground as she had been trained to. Yet, despite her instincts screaming at her not to, her ears remained perked, listening to what the apprentice said. Meekly, she glanced up, a minuscule act that could lead to dangerous consequences. She blinked at the tom thankfully, then tucked her head back down. The way he’s acting...does expect a response? I can’t speak...I wonder if he’s aware...is he trying to make conversation? Her mind raced in confusion.

It would be safest if she dipped her head and went back to work, but something stopped her. Instead she looked back up at her savior, though not daring to meet his eyes with her own mismatched ones, and mouthed the words “Thank you”.

Silver|male|24 moons|chattel cat| location: Royal mines|tags: Fenrys |mentions:

The silver tom nodded and decided it would probably be best to keep quiet for now. As his metal pickaxe banged against the stone walls, a second banging echoed in his chest. Perhaps he was getting sick, but everything about him felt odd, his fur felt much warmer than usual, and his heart and stomach seemed to be filled with butterflies. Maybe I’m getting sick...or maybe I’m just nervous around new company.... He began to realize how little he actually interacted with other cats, other than the occasional snarky remark to a guard. I need to get out more... he thought sarcastically, and a bit of a grin etched itself onto his muzzle.

Druidia|female|18 moons|loner|location: by the clan border|tags: none|mentions: none

The Savannah glanced one more time back at Sunclan territory, then shrugged off her worries and headed towards her den. The den was a rather large dug-in cave by an oasis spring. Next to it were two shrines, one to the Trifold that her ancestors worshipped, and one to the gods of Egypt, who ruled this land.The first shrine consisted of a small statue of the triple divinity, with some food offerings and moon-shaped rocks and trinkets. The second shrine was a tablet with pictures of a few of the gods carved in, surrounded by small offerings as well.

She bowed her head to each, and left a small piece of prey before each alter. Many would find her belief in multiple pantheons odd, but her mindset was simple. All deities were true to some degree, but guarded over different lands and domains. She worshipped a few gods of Egypt to protect her in her new home, but still honored the Greek ones that brought her here.

Quietly, The molly dipped her head to the crossroads goddesses and prayed in Greek. Oh Selene, Hecate, and Artemis, by the moon above, protect me and guide over me. Selene shine your light of wisdom upon me, Hecate protect my soul through life and death, and Artemis, let me hunt bountifully through the times to come.

Scarabstone|male|24 moons|scribe|location: commoner den, heading to treasury|tags: Ehhhhh|mentions: Foxfire, Mothpaw

He dipped his head to Foxfire in thanks for assisting his apprentice before continuing back to work. His green eyes scanned the treasures as he tallied them, making sure nothing had been taken. As he continued the nearly mindless repetition of tallying, his thoughts and worries about the apprentices and last night’s events faded with the simple repeating motions.

[~Wildfire]

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

As he watched the timid she-cat, her eyes stubbornly averted from his green gaze, her appearance suddenly clicked. He had heard some of the guards and high-bloods talking and making fun of a certain courtier that they referred to as cursed several times before, but had never paid much heed to such crude gossip. And looking at her now, on one hand he could see how someone might make such an accusation, what with her jet black fur and mismatched eyes. Also, it hit him that she didn't speak not simply because she was shy, but because she simply couldn't. But the closer and longer he looked, he couldn't understand how anyone could describe the molly as anything other than beautiful.
He blinked, realizing that he hadn't even introduced himself. With an easy smile the tall apprentice dipped his head to her, a barely perceptible movement of respect, usually only exchanged between cats of same rank. "I'm Badgerpaw. No need to thank me, i'm just sorry that some of us are like that," he meowed, keeping his voice down and glancing in the direction where the guard had disappeared off to, disdain, clear and sharp, flashing in his expression.
But it was gone when he turned back to Layla, only curiosity and kindness in his eyes. It made his blood boil that cats such as her, of lower ranks, were being treated with less dignity than a flea-ridden coyote, when they were no different from those that prided themselves on their heritage and blood. That was the ideology that his father had tried to instill in the black and white tom, and that most of the clan shared. Thankfully his mother had known better and had taught him better, because Badgerpaw wasn't sure how he would be able to live with himself if he became as brutal and cruel as was expected of a high ranked cat. But as a guard's apprentice, there wasn't much he could do for now, except trying to help as inconspicuously as possible.
When he finally managed to capture her gaze with his own, Badgerpaw gave the courtier a wink, a glint of ever-present mischief lighting up his eyes.


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

Smokestep followed the Pharaoh into his royal office, the familiar, comforting smell of old parchment and leather-bound books wrapping around him and coaxing a small smile to tug at the corners of his mouth. Though the brawny male was a warrior through-and-through, the appeal of book-bound knowledge was not lost on him, and he usually found the dusty library to be a soothing place.
While Darkstar headed to the ornate desk, the silver brute took up a spot near the wall, sitting down comfortably for the inevitably long hours of work that awaited them both. The silence might have been deafening if he had to spend so much time with any other cat, but with the Pharaoh it was the exact opposite. Neither of the toms felt the need to fill it with unnecessary words and Smokestep knew when he was needed even without explicit commands.
He positioned himself so that he was facing the entrance, his ears perked and all his senses alert, ready to intercept any threat that would approach. He had no hesitations, no doubts when it came to Darkstar's safety. He knew that if worst came to worst, he would give his life to save the Pharaoh. And not just because he was the clan's leader or because Smokestep was his squire, oath-bound to protect the tom. But because the tom was his oldest friend and Smokestep would fight tooth and claw for those close to himself.
It was that fondness, that neither of them would ever mention to the other, and the fact that they had made it this far together, that had rooted in him such a deep sense of loyalty to the Pharaoh. He had stood near during the Trial of Longknives, when Darkstar was made pharaoh, and every step since and he knew better than almost anyone just how much it had taken to get where the clan was now. He might not agree with some of the decisions, but he was patient enough to always wait for the final outcome before he ever passed his judgement.

[squarshed]

𝓡𝓸𝓼𝓮𝔀𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓻
|| molly || 32 moons || priestess of Horus|| tags; none, open || mentions; || Quietrain, Reeddapple

With everyone now taken care of, Rosewater felt herself being weighed down again. Grief had already started to grab ahold of her mind once again; and yet, there was so much to do. Herbs to collect, cats to look after, prayers to make. She didn't have time to dwell on the past, only time to think of the future. She wouldn't feel completely better for a long while, but that didn't mean she couldn't accept death in the form it had come. She found herself making her way to the temple, eyes on the ground, formulating what exactly she would say. Taking a shaky breath, Rosewater lowered herself down to the waters edge, body flat against the cool ground, nose resting only a whisker length away from the surface of the pool. Closing her eyes, she prayed to any god that would listen, about anything and everything on her mind. She laid there for a measurable amount of time, the damp air causing dew to form on her whiskers and thin fur, chilling her to the bone. Even when her eyes had opened, and her prayers had ended, she hardly moved. In the temple, she felt safe, secure; her mind was soothed, and peace and hope covered her thoughts like a blanket.



𝔉𝔞𝔩𝔩𝔢𝔫𝔠𝔩𝔬𝔲𝔡
|| molly || 17 moons || guard || tags; Kindleflame || mentions; none ||

Drawing herself back quickly, Fallencloud's head spun, trying to wrap itself around the situation. While the interaction wasn't uncomfortable, not unpleasant, it just felt... wrong. Her immediate thought was to slice his ears with her sharp words, and equally sharp claws. But, she felt amusement bubble up within her chest; deep down, she seemed to almost know that, while Kindleflame was a very charming tom, his heart most definitely didn't lay with her. He was flirty by nature, for whatever reason that may be, and sometimes, one just had to accept a cat for who they were. Didn't necessarily mean she had to like it; just respect it. Besides, all of his "moves" wouldn't change where her heart had laid; where she found her mind and eyes wandering towards far to often to be appropriate. She felt her pelt warm at the thought, quickly switching back to the tom before her.

Letting out a small purr, she shook her head "You always were the charmer. Don't waste your time, Kindleflame; I bet someone's out there waiting for you. But that someone isn't me.". Blunt and sweet. While it wasn't completely proper, it was the best thing Fallencloud could say with what she had been given. Stationing herself not far from the entrance to the archives, she took up the left side, ears perked and amber eyes scanning for any possible threats.



ℭ𝔬𝔩𝔡𝔣𝔞𝔫𝔤
|| tom || 26 moons || fighter || tags; Gleamingheart || mentions; none ||

Heart beating fast, Coldfang proudly picked up his hard-earned catch. The hare, young and surprisingly well-fed, had been a hard catch. It was quick and had high stamina. The tom was surprised when his last attempt at a leap to catch the thing had worked, landing him right on his target. He quickly scanned the area for the dark pelt that had accompanied him on the patrol. He happily trotted over to her, purring at the sight of her catch. He tried his best to mumble out a 'good catch' around the hare's fur, only to inhale most of it. Putting the carcass down (and letting out a good couple if coughs as well), Coldfang decided to give her a more proper approval. "Great catch! Seems as though the pair of us have been having some crazy luck out here. Do you think we should continue hunting? These guys seem to be pretty big to be lugging around with us. Not that I mind staying out here. It's really nice, considering the fact that its nearly mid-day"



𝓢𝓪𝓰𝓮𝓹𝓪𝔀
|| molly || 10 moons || scout apprentice || tags; Fadedlotus, Beefang, Fogstep || mentions; none ||

Feeling dread start to gnaw away at her stomach, Sagepaw followed with silence and hesitation, eyes focused on anything that could be clues. While there wasn't really any new information to be scented nor seen, the new-comer felt like a bad omen. With all that happened yesterday, it felt unlikely that this cats appearance was a mere coincidence. Quietly, she asked "Is it possible she is part of his group?" Her voice did not waver, nor did she shake. She remained composed and calm, lake the smooth, untouched surface of a far away lake. Eerie, in a way to some, was the logical, cool gaze she gave the crushed grass. She didn't reach anyone's eyes, for she always found the custom of looking a cat in the eyes while talking awkward and unnerving. She remained surprisingly still as she waited for a response from the older clan members.



𝔐𝔬𝔱𝔥𝔭𝔞𝔴
|| tom || 13 moons || scribe apprentice || tags; Scarabstone, Foxfire || mentions; Ravenpaw ||

Giving his thick pelt a shake, Mothpaw nodded respectfully in Foxfire's direction "Alright, then. I'll go check around for her; if she doesn't turn up, I'll come back and let you guys know. I hope she didn't run off or anything..." Now lost within a train of thought, the young tomcat carefully left the treasury, hazel eyes glittering with concern. He cared for the molly, and her disappearance had been quite unnerving. But, knowing him, he easily could have overlooked her in his morning rush. More regenerated and hopeful, he made his way over to the apprentice's den, head higher and eyes clearer.



𝓕𝓪𝓻𝓻𝓪𝓱
|| molly || 52 moons || music courtier || tags; none || mentions; Layla, Badgerpaw, Zeri ||

She had been up since dawn. Farrah always woke up at dawn, starting her daily objectives early, but today had been different. She felt as though she had a paw in each den. On one side, she found herself constantly keeping an eye on the other young courtiers that were stuck at a similar fate as she. The other, busy putting out torches, cleaning out dens, planning her evening recital, the burial recital, and plenty more. She could already feel the heat starting to become trapped under her long, golden pelt. Taking a quick breather (she was the oldest cat there; let them shout at her, for she remembered each and every cat's birth, and wasn't afraid to shout their secrets right back at them), golden eyes narrowing at the sight of Layla and Badgerpaw.

Young, beautiful Layla; she remembered the day she joined Farrah in the servants quarters like it was yesterday. She practically raised Layla as her one of her own kits. A roaring wave crashed upon her, nearly shaking her at the sight of Badgerpaw so close to her. A guards apprentice, mingling with a servant? Unexpected, to say the least. And suspicious. Calming herself, the large tabby made a mental note to keep an eye on him. While she believed no one deserved Layla (or any of the young servants), it was nice, to see Layla get treated well. It always spun Farrah into a deep pit of anger to see any if the courtiers treated poorly, especially the way they treated Layla. The wounds she's had to help heal... A shout from a high-blood kicked Farrah back into gear, giving one last quick glance in the direction of the two young cats, before getting back to work.