((Hello everyone! Thank you Wasppaw, and thank you all for participating in this thread, as it will be the introduction to the character I adopted to be apart of SkyClan! I greatly appericate it- *sniff*, thank you! I think the new site's design will make the coding fail in this post, but I'll try to make it legible.))
(( wishiwashi
You can join in this thread- or another one later!))
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((Dunnocktail is Poppyblossom's (now Poppystar) father. He and her surviving sibling were swept away form SkyClan by a huge flood, and he had stayed far from the clan until now. It's on purpose, if no cat knows their connection- even Dunnocktail and Poppystar don't know or can see the connection, hopefully until later.))
((Dunnocktail's dream is in the spoiler. It's not too important, but it describes the night of the flood in which he was separated from the clan.))
At first, it was the feeling of water swelling around his paws. Before he could properly react (only had time to lift his paw in surprise), his body was being swept by a current. He let out a cry for help, but the thunder above silenced it. The waves began to batter and push the tom downwards. Now fighting for his life, his outstretched claws gripped a drifting branch and he heaved himself upwards, keeping his head from going under. Blinking water out of his eyes, the tom frantically looked into the dark. He saw a familiar pile of dry moss and sticks floating on the water. With all his strength, the cat pushed the branch he used as support towards the floating nest. Atop the nest was a soaked bundle of fur, shivering and mewling. The tom had recognized it as his young son. He made the quick decision to abandon the branch and instead push the nest to anywhere that could be safe. Looking across the expanse of the dark murky water that tore trees from their roots, the tom felt his heart sink. Had he doomed both his and his kit's life? A spark, a shake of the head, and a stubborn decision had ignited his muscles to burn with effort to continue to push the nest. The structure of the moss and sticks began to fall apart, so the tom gripped the kit's scruff in his teeth and carried on to swim through the storm. Fear had gripped him again, that he may drown his kit if he fails to hold him above the water. Blood pulsed through his ears, ringing from the explosive thunder and the pitched cries of his son.
He finally clawed into the trunk of a sturdy tree, the ground that rooted it was cat lengths underwater. Each stretch of his limbs felt as if he was lifting stone. His kit was heavy to carry in his mouth, but the tom continued to pull both of them up the tree. He climbed up to a lower, shaky branch and discovered a hole in the tree. In the safety of the nook the tom placed his kit. He felt both sadness and relief to see those tiny eyes. Horrified by what was happening, his kit stared back at him.
The tom felt a shift, heard a splintering sound, then he had plunged into the waters again— fell from the tree. For a moment, his body was accepting this fate and limply going with the current. He managed to save his kit, perhaps that was good enough and now StarClan will be waiting for him. Those thoughts cut short as the tom crashed into stone. A burst of bubbles escaped his mouth as he tried to scream in pain. He then tried to swim upwards to breathe, but something was wrong, his limbs couldn't move. The darkness grew, swallowing his vision. Even when everything began to fade, he can still hear his kit cry loudly. Those cries were suddenly deafening, fraying the visuals into a chaos of colors, then transforming into the face of the tom's kit—
With a gasp, Dunnocktail woke up. It took him several quick heartbeats to steady his breathing, but then he realized where he was. The surrounding roots had provided shelter from the early morning rains. “Not bad,” Dunnocktail said, commenting on the choice to sleep in the oak. He took a moment to stretch, and boldly took his first step with his left front paw. When he was outside the den, the sun was nearly to its highest point, shining down on the forest of trees and all that grow and crawl within it. Unlike in his dream, there was no large body of water in sight. The flood dissipated moons ago, and the forest restored its original state. Dunnocktail sighed, knowing that some things won't disappear.
A scent caught his nose as the wind picked up. The trail led deeper in the forest, and Dunnocktail was so familiar with this scent he could barely tell it from his own. His son has gone hunting before Dunnocktail even woke up; he will return at their usual meeting place when he decides to. Dunnocktail knows they both could be separated from each other far beyond the horizon, but reuniting was hardly an issue. There was a tinge of pride in Dunnocktail that his son has grown as a fine cat.
Dunnocktail's smile faded as he continued to stare where his son's scent leads. He reflected further on how they both lived. This way of life has provided well for both cats, but Dunnocktail knows what his ancestors would think of it. 'Loners' is what they would be defined as— and at this point, they might as well be. Before the flood, Dunnocktail was a member of SkyClan. He was a warrior who sworn by his name to dedicate his life to the clan and the warrior code. Now, he and his son lives outside of the clans' territories. He contemplates, why does clan life have to be in the past? The thought of returning to his home, he set aside many times. Dunnocktail knows where the SkyClan territory, but he had deliberately led his son far from contacting with a clan cat. A weight, a guilt has manifested over time and it can't be ignored.
At this sunhigh— perhaps it was something in the greenleaf air Dunnocktail was on the verge of a new decision. He will go to the SkyClan camp, and ask the leader to accept him and his son back into the clan. He felt it would be the right thing to do, even if the clan rejects them— and if so, they will move even farther from the clans. Dunnocktail considered if he should tell his son, but then affirmed that he will after meeting the clan. He would like have some discussion, if this is truly would be what he and his son would want. Deep in his heart, he wished for acceptance. He wants to belong with his clan again, to see Sparrowdawn again— how he missed his mate. He pushed back thinking more about those he loved in the clan as he might see them soon.
Dunnocktail nodded and turned to walk, then winched. After the small jolt of pain subsided, he realized that he moved his leg too quickly. He then, carefully began to head towards the clans. On his walk, Dunnocktail considered how exactly would he approach the clan. He has a vague idea where the camp is, perhaps he can enter through— no, then he'll be an intruder looking for a good clawing. Maybe he could pretend to be in trouble and yowl for attention, but then how would he explain that when cats do arrive. Dunnocktail shook his head.
Without realizing how close he was to approaching the border, Dunnocktail had smelled SkyClan cats. His whiskers twitched and he pushed past the scent markers into the undergrowth. He then felt nervous, entering the territory— even when he could recognize it well. Dunnocktail stopped in an open clearing. Based on his memory, this area connects to several other common trails patrols would take, then those funneled into the clearing, and a path could be followed to go directly to camp. He decided this is where he'll stay, with intention to be found by the clan cats. He then struggled to decide if he should sit or lay down. Whatever the position, he could be easily seen— possibly a target.
In his anxious thoughts, he became conscious of his brown pelt. Being unkempt for longer than he would like to admit, it has formed into awkward tufts. He tried to give himself a quick groom while his ears twitched towards the slightest sound. He anticipated this day for a long time; now faced with it he hopes to, at least see the camp again.
