MoonClan
patience is a virtue
Posts: 49
Pronouns: he/him
Played By: Sunni
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Post by nettlestorm on Aug 30, 2023 20:11:55 GMT -6
Nettlestorm had tossed and turned in their nest all night, just as he had been doing every night since Webleaf disappeared. He couldn't let it go. So many of his Clanmates assumed she died sometime after the battle, but Nettlestorm couldn't believe it. He wouldn't.
Moonlight flitted through the brambles of the den's ceiling. Nettlestorm opened green eyes and could make out the forms of his denmates around him. The tom sighed and hauled himself out of his nest. He wouldn't be sleeping anytime soon anyway. He shoved his way out of the warriors den and shook out his fur, his grey coat fluffing up against the cool night air. The moon had slipped past the peak of the sky. There'd be some time yet before dawn broke. He sighed. Nettlestorm could start his search in peace.
Nettlestorm cast a wayward glance back to the warriors' den, hesitating for a moment. His eyelids were heavy, feeling like he could slip into sleep at any moment. But he knew it'd be no good to try and sleep again. A racing mind was the enemy of steady paws.
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MoonClan
riding the momentum
Posts: 37
Pronouns: He
Played By: VioCrow
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Post by Nightfrost on Aug 31, 2023 16:44:08 GMT -6
~~~★ Nightfrost ★~~~ Looks like the old villain is on the move, Nightfrost mused to himself, hardly awake, as he listened to a cat leaving the warriors' den. Ah, but... his grandfather didn't sleep in the warriors' den. As the scent of the escaping cat finally registered in Nightfrost's mind, he felt himself wake up substantially. His head darted up ears alert and tired eyes scanning the situation. Quickly and quietly, he padded out to Nettlestorm's side. “Waking me up early even as warriors,” he mused quietly, a joke his instinct before tilting his head with a genuine concern. “Are you okay?” |
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MoonClan
patience is a virtue
Posts: 49
Pronouns: he/him
Played By: Sunni
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Post by nettlestorm on Sept 1, 2023 10:01:30 GMT -6
Nettlestorm jumped a little when he heard Nightfrost's vice beside him. "I'm fine," he muttered, not meeting his friend's amber gaze. "I'm going to find Webleaf. Even if all of StarClan has given up on her, I'm going to find her."
He dug his claws into the ground and his voice broke when he spoke. "She can't be dead. I know she's not."
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MoonClan
riding the momentum
Posts: 37
Pronouns: He
Played By: VioCrow
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Post by Nightfrost on Sept 2, 2023 0:38:01 GMT -6
~~~★ Nightfrost ★~~~ Nightfrost's ears flattened as he listened to Nettlestorm. The image of Stormfade's corpse flashed through his mind. “I believe you.” I can't bear to not. With a few steps, he positioned himself to be in the direction of Nettlestorm's gaze - even if he wouldn't look directly at Nightfrost, he wanted to make sure Nettlestorm was forced to be aware of his presence. “I'll even help you look for her.”His eyes darted briefly to the warriors' den. “You're not going to sleep anytime soon, huh?” He definitely looked tired, concerningly so, but if he hadn't slept yet... would he even be able to now? Indecision weighed on Nightfrost, but he dismissed with with a twitch of his tail tip. Instead, he chose to refocus on Nettlestorm. |
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MoonClan
patience is a virtue
Posts: 49
Pronouns: he/him
Played By: Sunni
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Post by nettlestorm on Sept 2, 2023 15:36:10 GMT -6
Nettlestorm shook his head. "No, I haven't slept in..." his voice trailed off. Nettlestorm sighed, continuing, "I don't know how long."
Nettlestorm noticed Nightfrost had moved, but his tired eyes wouldn't meet Nightfrost's. "Webleaf has always been there for me. Even when I got into trouble. Even when I wasn't an easy apprentice. It just- The whole Clan just-" He clamped his jaws shut. Anger and bitterness welled in his stomach. Everyone just continued with life like nothing was wrong. No more patrols were sent out looking for her, hardly a mention of her name anymore.
Nightfrost's offer still rang in Nettlestorm's ears. "Do you think we'll find her? Honestly?" Nettlestorm finally met Nightfrost's gaze, a plea in his eyes as if he was begging Nightfrost to affirm that he wasn't alone. That somebody else believed in Webleaf the way he did.
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MoonClan
riding the momentum
Posts: 37
Pronouns: He
Played By: VioCrow
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Post by Nightfrost on Sept 5, 2023 18:15:18 GMT -6
~~~★ Nightfrost ★~~~ As he listened, he could feel a pent up restlessness growing in his chest, manifesting only in the ceaseless swaying of his tail in effort to maintain patience. Once Nettlestorm turned his green gaze into Nightfrost's soul, he could feel his heart leap into his throat. He took a step closer to Nettlestorm. His posture firmed and stilled with the severity of the air. “I know we will. There's not anything that can stop us.” There was a torment in not knowing. He'd always been somewhat aware of this. From his mother's wistful gaze just beneath StarClan to the mysteries so intentionally crafted by his grandparents, it'd always hung just above his head how painful it was to be so unsure. Now again, freshly a warrior, the knowledge of that agony stared him down with pleading green eyes. “... still, at some point you should probably get some poppy seeds from Pantherfeather. I think this is the sort of thing they usually give those out for.” He gestured vaguely to the camp's entrance. “If you want, though, maybe we can do a quick sort of patrol and see if we can find any clues.” |
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MoonClan
patience is a virtue
Posts: 49
Pronouns: he/him
Played By: Sunni
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Post by nettlestorm on Sept 6, 2023 10:20:30 GMT -6
Nettlestorm grumbled at the idea of visiting the medicine den. Maybe he knew how bad of shape he was in, even if only subconsciously. Maybe Nettlestorm was scared that Pantherfeather and Foxlily would tell him something he didn't want to hear. In any case, the idea wasn't appealing to him.
But it was hard for him to protest with a worried Nightfrost so close by. "Maybe I will," he ceded, even if he sounded unsure. Nettlestorm noticed Nightfrost's gesture and nodded. "Yeah, I think I'd like that. I've looked over most of MoonClan territory and a little outside of it. It's like she disappeared without a trace. I've been meaning to venture further into the mountains but it's really hard to climb in there." Nettlestorm sighed, rising to his paws. "I guess that's the place to start today."
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MoonClan
riding the momentum
Posts: 37
Pronouns: He
Played By: VioCrow
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Post by Nightfrost on Sept 7, 2023 20:39:47 GMT -6
~~~★ Nightfrost ★~~~ It probably wasn't a good idea to indulge in Nettlestorm's plans right now, before he'd rested, but Nightfrost had already committed to this. Without a trace, huh? “Hmm...” Cats didn't just do that. Part of their training had been to get skilled at hiding their scent and picking up others', though, and yet... “Well... if she's not in the territory, maybe she's lost? If we visit out of the territory enough, we'll either find her or she'll pick up our scent. Then it'd help her find her way home,” he pondered aloud. Determination hardened, Nightfrost nodded. “Don't worry, I'm used to leaving the territory. The two of us can handle the mountains, for sure.” He started towards the camp's entrance, only to stop immediately. “Have you eaten today? I don't want you to go and pass out on me.” |
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MoonClan
patience is a virtue
Posts: 49
Pronouns: he/him
Played By: Sunni
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Post by nettlestorm on Sept 8, 2023 10:22:13 GMT -6
Nettlestorm nodded, agreeing. Maybe they didn't have to find Webleaf after all. In searching for her, they could leave a scent for her to trace back to MoonClan. The idea gave Nettlestorm the first shred of hope he'd felt in a while.
Nightfrost asked if he'd eaten, and Nettlestorm shook his head. "I don't think I should," he confessed. "I've barely contributed to the fresh-kill pile since she'd been gone. I think Needlesong and the other senior warriors might be upset with me if I did." Nettlestrom shook out his tabby pelt. "You go ahead though. I can make sure nobody else wakes up to catch us."
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MoonClan
riding the momentum
Posts: 37
Pronouns: He
Played By: VioCrow
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Post by Nightfrost on Sept 8, 2023 15:23:51 GMT -6
~~~★ Nightfrost ★~~~ Nightfrost rolled his eyes as if he could shame the traditions and concept of guilt itself into laying off. “Nah, let's go. We'll catch something while we're out. I mean, you have to eat if you're going to have the strength to climb mountains - besides, no use waiting around here and risking getting caught, right?” As he started towards the entrance, the memory of sneaking out as apprentices under the cover of darkness shed its familiarity on the situation. “Some things don't change, huh?,” he mused, barely stifling a chuckle. |
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MoonClan
patience is a virtue
Posts: 49
Pronouns: he/him
Played By: Sunni
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Post by nettlestorm on Sept 9, 2023 1:30:40 GMT -6
Nettlestorm's whiskers twitched as Nightfrost moved past him. His paws carried him forward in time to hear his friend's comment and accompanying chuckle. A soft smile felt foreign on his tired maw as he responded: "No, I guess they don't."
He didn't feel as adventurous as he once did. He'd relish the cover of moonlight, sneaking past the camp entrance with ease after moons of learning the best routes out of camp and which guards would doze during their shifts. It had been exhilarating.
But fate was cruel, and the things that once sent excitement pulsing through Nettlestorm's paws now made them feel heavy as stones. With every tail-length he'd covered without finding Webleaf, a grim idea grew even closer. The sinking feeling that his Clanmates were correct, and Nettlestorm would never find his beloved mentor.
He'd spent all those moons trying to evade her, and now he'd spend the rest of his moons searching for her.
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