When Will They Wake Up And See? { OPEN }

[SOOTSTAR]

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is it a daydream or a nightmare?

428 words OPEN hungry 

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The life of a leader is a difficult one. Rise early, join the first patrol, return to the Clan, settle petty feuds, join a hunting patrol, return to the Clan, feed the elders, check with the Medicine Cat, take out an apprentice for training, return to the Clan, monitor the Clan’s activities for the evening, and then at last lay down for sleep to begin it all over again come sunhigh the next day. Eating was sometimes optional, but on the busier days, it was simply not possible. Today had been one of those days.

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Sootstar had felt her heavy paws pulling her toward her den, but the day was not quite done. It had been a day full of small arguments among cats, and those were always draining. She had never been a very good socialite, and interaction was always a wear-down on her system. Still, Sootstar knew that she must do what she must, and so she listened patiently, counseled, and sent the others on their much-more-merry way.


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Sootstar had also been feeling a lot of tension after her first Gathering. It had been painful to watch every cat announce their new leadership, and to hear that Marshstar may not last much longer. What if he had already moved on to join the ranks of StarClan? At the Gathering, it was made clear that the position might be in jeopardy. Who would be the new leader? While a leader’s primary objective was to focus on their own Clan’s success, it was necessary to think of the other Clans, too. This was especially true when StarClan seemed to wish to deal such heavy punishment.



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Four Clans in one moon, and a fifth possibly having already joined in that count. Sootstar was by far the youngest, and she felt it. She wasn’t even close to thirty moons, and yet here she was, sitting atop a stone and watching her Clan calmly, being as much in charge of the lives of these as the other leaders were, and as leaders past had been. It was extremely overwhelming, and made Sootstar dizzy just to think of it. That, or perhaps she had gone too long without food or water. Wishing she could justify eating before the Clan was asleep and had all most definitely been fed—but of course, she knew full well that she couldn’t and she was happy to be a good example to the warriors and apprentices who also had to wait—she stared out at the Clan, hoping a distraction might find its way to her.


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[BRIARFOOT]

and on a day like this

with skies so bright and hearth warm, blankets tight; there are no worries.

Times were troubling, but Briarfoot did his best not to let it show in his demeanor. There was something strange in the air that made his fur prickle—a sort of looming tension that wouldn’t abate, and it wasn’t just over Windclan. The other clans were feeling its presence, too, and it had claimed the lives of… almost all of the clan leaders. Something foul twisted around inside of his stomach, and Briarfoot distracted himself by ducking under the bramble tunnel to enter the camp. His jaws were parted widely by a limp, dusty colored rabbit, and from the amount of dirt clinging to his paws, the chase was a lengthy one.

His eyes quickly scanned the camp to try and spot one of his siblings, or perhaps his father, among those gathered. With little luck, the young warrior merely chuffed and set his sights on an entirely new target for his company and affections—Sootstar, herself. Smiling crookedly around the rabbit’s bloodstained scruff, Briarfoot’s paws took him across the clearing towards his dear friend, and he dropped the rabbit down in front of her.

“You’re looking rather wraith-y again,” he murmured with a tone that was both joking and soothing. His ears fell back into a relaxed position as the long bodied tom cat edged close and settled down beside Sootstar, trying to nestle up against her.
“I’m worried this rabbit was sick,” he fibbed, tossing his head back and looking away, letting his tail-tip flick rapidly as a tell-tale sign of his lie, “You should take a bite to check the meat. I could be wrong, but before it goes on the kill pile…” he trailed off, shoulders shifting awkwardly as his eyes slowly rolled back towards her, a sheepish smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.

Briarfoot lowered his chin until it rested on his paws. Even with a crooked face, the mild look of worry was easy to spot as it tugged his features awry and set his eyes to glimmering.

words: idk • tagged: sooty! + any • other: toast

♥

[SOOTSTAR]

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[attr="class","tunatuna"]

is it a daydream or a nightmare?

430 words BRIARFOOT uneasy

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Sootstar did not notice Briarfoot any more than she had noticed any other cat in the crowd of the clearing, which would have been unusual for her had she not practically keeled over internally from sheer exhaustion. The poor she-cat was beginning to let her eyes glaze over as she thought, and while she did in fact see Briarfoot approaching with a kill that was presumably for her, she did not process it. Only his words cut through the fog that had taken over her face and being.

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"Right," Sootstar said, shaking her head a little to jog her mind back to the present. "I'm feeling a bit like a ghost, to be honest. Probably because I need a bit of sleep." While she had no intention of ever actually getting more sleep, she hoped it was enough of an excuse to let her behavior slide. There was so much more troubling her, and she was worried for her Clan. She was not quite ready to explain everything, even to Briarfoot. No one else deserved such a burden placed upon them.

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Sootstar looked up at Briarfoot, not the least bit fooled by his act. However, she was just amused enough to cave. "Well, I suppose if you fear for the Clan, it is only my duty as a leader to ensure that they do not get sick. After all, I've got plenty more lives to lose to bad hunts." She sniffed the rabbit, taking a quick bite. Meat and congealing blood filled her mouth, and she had to resist the urge to show any signs of hunger. She wanted the Clan to eat before her, but she was in fact starving, and her stomach took the rabbit meat with gratitude.

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Sootstar took a few more bites, but stopped halfway through the rabbit, sensing that Briarfoot was concerned. She straightened up, once more looking out at the Clan. Her Clan. The fellows around her who all looked to her in trying times. Were they beginning to sense just how trying this time was going to be? With a soft sigh, she spoke, not taking her eyes off of the apprentices that had just entered the clearing. So young and full of life, ready to lead the charge. Where would the path of the Clans take them? Only time would tell.

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"Four leaders in one moon," Sootstar said, trying not to betray her fear, but ultimately failing. Her voice wavered ever-so-slightly, and she knew Briarfoot would pick up on the tremor. "I wish I knew what to think."

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