Private Thread After the Clash

rise from the smoldering pyre of wormwood and weeds
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Nettleplume's ears immediately fell back at the interruption, his pale blue eyes lifting from the sage and comfrey spread neatly before him. He regarded Skypaw for a moment, expression flat and unimpressed by the interruption of sorting the herbs in the herbal den.

"Merryaster isn't here."

His tail flicked toward the entrance of the warren without looking up from his task. "She's resting on the bough near the elders' den." Nettleplume's ears remained slightly flattened as he sorted another bundle after going through some of his stock from the previous day's battle, clearly more interested in finishing his work than entertaining questions.

"Go see her there."

Merryaster had been most fortunate that her injuries were only superficial cuts and scrapes. Others were not so funrtunate. It left no invitation for conversation. Nettleplume had a wounded leader to check on in his den and very little tolerance for idleness.

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
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Merryaster rested along the sturdy bough beside the elder's den, her dark striped gradient body stretched over the wood. She had been discharged that morning with strict instructions to rest for the day, followed by a few days of light duty while the shallow wounds she'd earned during the battle finished healing.

Her teal eyes wandered lazily over camp and suspected the medicine cat would have plenty to say if he caught her attempting anything more strenuous than he instructed. So what was she supposed to do today? She was restless...Maybe she could watch camp like her mentor oft did in some high place, but then she realized she might just invest chores for her to do if she did that...

She could visit Otterwhisker. Or check on her siblings. Perhaps spend some time with Skypaw...

Stars do not pull each other down to be visible, they shine brighter.

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Skypaw gave a nod to Nettleplume, he seemed, disinterested in what she wanted really and that wasn't really anything of his concern or worry anyway, she wasn't injured, so it wasn't his jurisdiction anyway.

She slipped out of the medicine den as quickly as she had entered and scanned the camp for her mentor. Once noticing the dark mink tabby she-cat, her white face seemed to light up, she wasn't infected! At last it didn't seem like she had been and her wounds seemed only superficial... so that alone pulled a weight from Skypaw's shoulders.

"Hello Merryaster." Skypaw greeted, her relief being buried under a warm greeting. But then, it came back, this time with a hint of worry returning for her mentor. "Are you alright? Do you need any prey? I could get you some. Or maybe company instead? Since you're supposed to be resting today I can get you whatever you need." She stated in quick-fire succession, it may have seemed annoying, Skypaw fretted that, but she couldn't help but worry. Her mentor had just been in a battle how could she not?

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
༻❁༺

Merryaster's ears perked at the familiar voice, and her head lifted from the bough. The moment she spotted Skypaw the stretch of a smile in genine lifted on her muzzle despite how tired she was. "Hello Skypaw." She couldn't help but find the apprentice's flurry of questions touching, especially when the white she-cat seemed to barely give herself enough time to breathe between them.

Merryaster shifted slightly on the branch, careful not to put too much pressure on her healing wounds. "I'm alright." She assured her, giving a small twitch of her tail. "A little sore, perhaps, but Nettleplume says I'll mend just fine. How have you been - certainly worrying about the both of us..." Still, the offer was nice and Merryaster was a bit hungry.

"But since you're offering...A nice, fresh mouse would be lovely and if you wouldn't mind bringing it back here, you can join me...I could use the company."

Stars do not pull each other down to be visible, they shine brighter.

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At the confirmation that Merryaster was alright, Skypaw let out a sigh, a breath that she had been holding for longer than she thought. "Lilyriver says I worry enough for a whole patrol sometimes." Skypaw replied with a little dry laughter in her voice before perking up at the acceptance of the offer. "Of course! I'll be right back with the best mouse I can find!" she chirped before bounding off to the fresh kill pile.

Skypaw immediately took to scouring the pile of fresh kill, taking mental note of the prey she found, and every bit of scrutiny about how some weren't the best for her mentor. "Too skinny... too cold..." she murmured to herself and then... "Found it!" She nearly jumped into the air when she found the mouse and picked up they fresh prey in her jaws, trotting back to her mentor with it.

"Here you go Merryaster!" She purred through the fur of the mouse that she placed near her mentor's paws before getting comfortable beside her. "Did... did RiverClan win, at the battle yesterday? I saw that Goosesong didn't get back until moonhigh." She mumbled, fiddling with the fur on the bottom of her paws.

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
༻❁༺

Merryaster's ears flicked forward as Skypaw returned with the mouse, and she gave her apprentice an appreciative smile. "Perfect." She lowered her muzzle to start the process of defluffing the creature with soft bites.

At the mention of Goosesong, however, she lifted her gaze to the white she-cat, considering how best to explain what had happened without placing more weight on her young shoulders than necessary. "RiverClan accomplished what we set out to do, yes..." Her tail curled loosely over the bough and set her voice a note lower.

"Goosesong was there when we attacked, but he didn't fight when his Clan needed him to. He stayed back while the rest of us faced ThunderClan and then he left us." Her voice remained even, without the sharpness of condemnation. She knew there were reasons a cat might hesitate when faced with the reality of battle. She'd felt that hesitation herself even when she forced herself to move and not think too much about what was happening.

"It's frightening when it stops being a training exercise and there are real claws, real blood, and the possibility of cats who might not come home. I don't think any of us should take that lightly. But if he didn't believe in what we were doing or couldn't bring himself to fight he should have said so before we committed to the attack. Coldstar needed to know he could rely on every warrior who went with us."

Merryaster paused, allowing Skypaw time to take in her words and finally took her first bite of mouse. Once she swallowed the fresh flesh, she continued softly.

"That's why he'll be facing punishment." Demotion, she thought inwardly. But she wouldn't voice it. Being a warrior meant making a commitment to your Clanmates and Coldstar needed to know he could count on each and every one of them.

Stars do not pull each other down to be visible, they shine brighter.

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For a moment, Skypaw beamed with pride as the pseudo-praise washed over her pelt like soft rainfall. But once she had mentioned Goosesong, it had turned into a whole thing... What was meant to be a small off-handed comment became a whole... thing.

"I was just saying... that he got back late last night. I didn't mean to bring anything up." Skypaw tucked her tail under her body and lowered her ears. "I'm sorry for bringing it up. It's... not my business." She breathed, a little quieter this time. She didn't want to push her opinion in where it wasn't needed, when it was yet to matter as much as Coldstar, Cinderwisp or the other senior warriors. 

Skypaw didn't speak on what Goosesong did, she didn't know his side, so she wasn't intending on taking anyone's unless she had heard from every one of them. And if she didn't than indifference, as... uncommon as is might be, was where she would stand on the matter. "We can talk about something else... if you want."

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
༻❁༺

Merryaster's ears angled back slightly at the sight of Skypaw tucking her tail beneath herself. She hadn't meant to make her apprentice feel as though she'd done something wrong, and a flicker of regret crossed her features. Setting the mouse between her paws she sighed.

"You don't need to apologize, Skypaw. If anything...I'm sorry. Everything's still fresh in my mind, I suppose. I didn't mean to turn your question into something so heavy..." For now... perhaps there was something more useful she could teach her.

"We can talk about something else. Actually..." Merryaster shifted to settle more comfortably, mindful of the sore places beneath her pelt. "How about the Warrior's Code?" Her teal eyes softened as she studied Skypaw, remembering being an apprentice herself.

"You'll hear plenty of opinions from warriors about what the Code means, and you'll see cats interpret it differently. It's important to learn the words, but it's just as important to think about why they're there." She gave a small, encouraging smile as she took another bite, burying her jaws into the body to get the cooling offal.

"So...Would you like a lesson on the Warrior's Code today?"

Stars do not pull each other down to be visible, they shine brighter.

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Merryaster's words seemed to ease a small weight from her shoulders her posture loosening as she smiled, it was small but it was there and it was genuine. "I understand, tensions are probably still a little high." She added, much less... self-degrading. She didn't want Merryaster to feel bad for something she said, even if Skypaw feels that way sometimes. She doesn't want her mentor to feel that way, knowing how it feels.

When the warrior code was mentioned, Skypaw's ears shot up to full attention, her eyes brightening a little with eagerness, as if the damp mood from moments before had vanished. "I'd love to! Lilyriver taught me... bits and pieces, though little stories she used to tell us. Maybe it's so we could retain it a little better a kits." she purred, the tip of her plumed tail twitching enthusiasticlly.

"But I'm sure there's more that I don't know." Skypaw added, her voice brightening. Eager to learn and even more eager to be taught my Merryaster, who she had really come to like, over the part few days anyway. She'd hate to disappoint her.

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
༻❁༺

Smile still stretched along her muzzle, she nudged the mouse over to her white apprentice, indicating her interest to share a few bites if she wanted as she appreciated her eagerness to learn. There wasn't right or wrong answers when interpreting the Code. Merryaster leaned back, reciting the Code as she learned by heart.

"Noble warrior who hears StarClan’s Call, Will walk in the light one day over all.

Before all else shall your clan be your life, And give for its safety your blood in battle’s strife. Though family you’ll have and friends may be gained, No honor above your clan should be maintained.

Respect be always in each word you say, And learn to treat all in the same noble way. Suffer never shall helpless and innocent kit, And claws must never a Medicine Cat hit."

Merryaster paused briefly to take into account Skypaw's reaction, blinking at her encouragingly before she continued the last half.

Stars do not pull each other down to be visible, they shine brighter.

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Skypaw's eyes moved to Merryaster as she spoke, her ears turned towards her as well. The way she spoke the warrior code was as if it had been engraved in her very soul. And she supposed it should be. Skypaw didn't interrupt her, it would have been rude too, even if the eyes that glittered with awe didn't say what was needed.

She began to murmur the words silently to herself, as if trying to write them down into her very being. The warrior code is something all of the clans lived by. And if she didn't know it, she couldn't be a warrior. She wanted to do well by not just Merryaster and her kin, but by RiverClan too. It was her home, her clan. And now she'd have another piece of land to think about.

Skypaw didn't speak, necessarily, she more rather spoke with her eyes, they were wide and gleaming in amazement, the smile that marked her features hopefully gave her mentor the information that she needed. Skypaw was listening, and she thought the words were everything.

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
༻❁༺

Merryaster continued, slowly and meticulously, noting Skypaw trying so hard to memorize it on the first turn. It was not so much memorization that internalizing, but it helped to have it straight from the source.

"Territories must each clan maintain, So the Clan may hunt and fresh-kill be gained. But paws of a Clan to their own land must stay, To keep borders secured and marked every day.

Know the prey in your home is StarClan’s Gift, So hunt must you always remembering thrift. Food first shall go to Clan members in need, Then may a warrior who hunted then feed.

Never in cold blood shall you cause a loss, Unless that cat StarClan’s code does cross, Or only by killing may lives dear be saved. Never soft like those Twoleg-enslaved."

It might have taken a minute or two, but when the striped mink she-cat paused she took another bite of mouse when she realized that her offer had gone unnoticed. Licking her lips, she mewed softly over at her. "Which part of the Warrior Code is your favorite? We'll go through part by part."

Stars do not pull each other down to be visible, they shine brighter.

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It was only when Merryaster had pulled the mouse away that Skypaw had noticed that it had been offered to her. And now, she couldn't help but feel a little guilty for hardly even acknowledging it and her brows furrowed for a moment in a silent apology as she listened to the rest of Merryaster's words. The words passed down from StarClan.

"My favourite?" Skypaw seemed to completely snap away from the trance she had put herself in while trying to internalise the words said to her. And then her eyes softened ever so slightly. "The part about not allowing innocent kits or the medicine cats to get hurt." She responded softly, she couldn't imagine any cat that would go out of their way to harm a medicine cat and especially a kit. It seemed so obvious to her, but maybe there was a reason that it was written in time so consistently, maybe ancestors didn't respect such a thing.

The young apprentice let out a sigh, glancing over at the remains of the mouse, then back to Merryaster. "I could dispose of that when you're done. Sorry I didn't see you offer me some, I was a little... distracted." She hummed in good humor. She seemed to be feeling a lot better now. All things considered.

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
༻❁༺

Merryaster's expression softened as Skypaw spoke, and she gave a small nod of approval. "That's one of the noblest parts of the Code, for obvious reasons - although not so obvious that our ancestors had to specify." She paused, teal eyes thoughtful. There were few things more important than making sure the smallest and most vulnerable among them could grow up without fear.

At Skypaw's offer to dispose of the mouse and Merryaster would oblige her. It would make the young she-cat feel useful and she understood that was always important to her. Her nose pushed the rest of the prey back over to the apprentice, allowing her to eat before she took it to be disposed of. "Here you are...Now. Let's see. Before all else shall your clan be your life, And give for its safety your blood in battle's strife. Though family you'll have and friends may be gained, No honor above your clan should be maintained." She recited the words slowly, letting each line stand on its own before she added with a playful smile.

"StarClan has blessed me with a large family. And just like family, your Clan is always something you can lean on when you need it. Just like RiverClan depends on every one of us. It can lead to hard decisions..." She admitted, licking her lips.

"For example, if Galepaw were in danger, of course you'd want to protect them. But if saving them meant abandoning a patrolmate who also needed your help that would be a difficult choice to make...Sometimes there isn't a right answer."

She turned her teal gaze back to Skypaw, her expression earnest. "I hope to be a cat who you can depend on, Skypaw - hope to be a cat RiverClan is proud of. You'll be one of those cats too, Skypaw. It's just...my intuition." Crossing her paws she purred softly, not at all bothered by the lingering ache in her shoulder.

Stars do not pull each other down to be visible, they shine brighter.

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Skypaw now had noticed that Merryaster had left some prey for her before it was time to dispose of the bones. She purred her thanks before pulling at the remaining few bites. She then put the remains to the side briefly as she listened to Merryaster speak. "I'm happy with Galepaw." She stated with a smile when Merryaster mentioned family. But it was known that things didn't last forever when she had found Cinderwhisper cold in the elders' den in the past. Nothing was permanent, and that's why she would need to make the most of it while she was here.

"You think I could be a cat that others can count on?" She perked her ears, letting out a small chirp of curiosity and almost awe. Merryaster was that exact thing to her, but she wondered if she would actually live up to that expectation to her clanmates. She wanted to, but wanting and doing are two very different things. "I hope I can be."

From how Lilyriver and Coldstar looked at her and her brother, and how she felt when messing up in training, it seemed so far away to even think about. But she had just started training, so maybe... just maybe, she'll get better and the mistakes won't seem so large. "I liked this lesson, Merryaster." She purred, moving to rest her head on Merryaster's paws, avoiding the sore shoulder of her mentor all the while.

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
༻❁༺

Merryaster's purr deepened at Skypaw's words, and she lowered her muzzle to give the apprentice a couple soft rasps between her ears. "I know you can be. Being someone others can depend on is something you learn... little by little." She let her rest there for a moment, careful not to shift herself.

It was a good thing to see her apprentice feeling more at ease. "I'm glad. Let's continue then." She cleared her throat. "The next part reminds us to treat others with respect, and to protect those who can't protect themselves. You can disagree with another cat without being cruel and should never exploit the weak..." She continued to the next stanza. "The part about territory is fairly straightforward - we have a duty to maintain and respect our borders. Borders can be complicated but we still have to understand what we are responsible for protecting." 

Merryaster glanced down at Skypaw. "Can you tell me what you think the next stanza about prey and who eats first?"

Stars do not pull each other down to be visible, they shine brighter.

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Skypaw thought for a moment, purr deepening at Merryaster's gentle grooming. Lilyriver hadn't necessarily taught her and Galepaw the stanzas outright, she had stated that it was a mentor's duty, but she did however, teach them some core values of the code in regards to what to follow, and what was more important to keep the peace for the most part. 

"I don't know anything about the stanzas and stuff... but prey should go to the cats that need it most before the warriors and apprentices get to eat. Elders, Queens, Kits and Medicine cats have to be fed before their clanmates eat." She replied, whatever uncertainty that had been seated before was completely gone, but there was still a touch of it that remained in her voice, even if she was certain of this. She could always be wrong, but Lilyriver insisted on this. 

"And what we catch goes to the clan, outsiders aren't permitted to have prey that doesn't belong to them." She added with a little hum, she knew that cats like loners and rogues had to eat too, but so did RiverClan. Her clan above all else, as Merryaster said. "I'm sure our ancestors said it better than me though." She let out a dry laugh at herself but her mood still seemed bright, that was something, at least.

Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
༻❁༺

"You understand it better than you think." Merryaster gave her apprentice an encouraging smile. "The stanzas might sound complicated, but the meaning is often quite simple once you think about how we live as a Clan. And Lilyriver taught you well."

She shifted slightly, settling her paws beneath her chest before continuing. "You're right that prey belongs to the Clan. StarClan has given us the land and the creatures that live upon it, and we have to be grateful for that. We shouldn't hunt carelessly or take more than we need. Warriors and apprentices eat last because they can usually afford to wait a little bit longer. "

Her voice grew a little more measured as she recited the last stanza of the Code. "Never in cold blood shall you cause a loss unless that cat StarClan's code does cross or only by killing may lives dear be saved. Never soft like those Twoleg-enslaved. This one is about when we use our claws...and why."

Her teal eyes lingered for a moment, remembering the battle at Sunningrocks and the cats who hadn't returned from the river. She didn't want Skypaw to think that being a warrior meant enjoying violence of worrying about how much harm they could inflict.

"And the last line... We're Clan cats. No way could we be tempted away to live a kittypet's life. " She gave a small, thoughtful nod as she thought about a kittypet choosing the life of a RiverClanner. It seemed doubtful, but plausible, if they were willing to learn and understand their traditions and StarClan accepted them.