When Skysong replied to her, Poppypaw flicked her tail in acknowledgement. Still digging at that little piece... In her... Got it! She spit it out to the side, where no cat was sitting, and licked over her paw gently. It felt all right, didn't feel broken or bloodied. Poppypaw was leaner than a majority of the other cats her age, and smaller, too, so she seemed to take tumbles easier. That and she didn't seem to be as beaten up when it came to the prey and water situation. Still, she was a little thin.
"Oh, thanks, Camelstride!" she purred to the ginger she-cat who came over to help. Camelstride wasn't much older than her, but was always really nice to her. Poppypaw had been the only one who survived in her litter, and both her parents had been lost since the drought and loss of prey. Her spirits were surprisingly undampened, however. As much as the older cats griped that SunClan had left them, Poppypaw could feel, deep down in her gut, that wasn't true. She knew there would be news soon. Perhaps that's what Sunseer was calling for now.
With Camelstride's help, Poppypaw's pelt was clean. Just in time for Sunseer to speak up again.
Eyes widened, ears perked up, Poppypaw was on her paws in an instant. "SunClan has spoken?!" The apprentice began to vibrate with excitement. She bumped into Camelstride rather vigorously as she turned to face her. "A prophecy! Everything's going to be ok!"
@Subducting (Camelstride)
Thistlefur had rolled her eyes as Dappleflight padded out behind them to sit. The paler she-cat had a knack for always seeing the bright side of things. Thistlefur was really, truly convinced that SunClan had left them to rot in the mountain. Her tail twitched behind her as she grumped, licking down a particularly unkempt patch of chest fur. It was then that Dansomflower hurried over, greeting his grandmother, Swallowtail, and the others. Thistlefur shifted and sat a little straighter, looking the tom cat over. He was far too young for her, but if she was still breeding age... She wouldn't have minded it. He got his good looks from his grandmother, after all.
A big harrumph and a slap of her meager tail. "Thank you, Damsonflower. At least
someone knows how to treat their elders." She returned to grooming herself, even turning aside to help Swallowtail out. At least she could be comfortable now, having been dragged from her den by the summons. However, another cat approached them now.
"She wasn't calling for you, Dandelionclaw!" she hissed a bit grumpily now. "Too many cats," followed in a mumble, her tail whipping out from beneath Swallowtail - who had gently sat down on it before. She was thoroughly annoyed now.
Then Sunseer spoke again. There was another big roll of her eyes as her pelt fluffed up. "And how, exactly, does SunClan expect us to follow the river?" Her gaze turned up towards their leader. "We haven't been able to catch enough prey for a while now, we're all weak and tired. How are we expected to go off galavanting and following the river to somewhere new? In pieces we will survive, they say!" Thistlefur spat her words. "I don't think any of us will survive!"
@belloblossom (Dandelionclaw)
@Blinded By Silence (Swallowtail)
@Subducting (Dappleflight/Damsonflower)
Nutpelt had been sitting dutifully at the base of Tall Stone, waiting for Sunseer to speak again. The elders continued to grumble and huff and puff in their corner, though she didn't dare try to hush them. A few more glares were sent their way, though. Even if none of them were to see it. Perhaps Damsonflower or Dandelionclaw could get them to quite down, since the two toms were there. A few good licks to her chest to even out the fur that had started to rise in irritation, and then she was waiting again. Tail tip twitching.
It was then that Branchtail sauntered over. Ah, the flirt. There was a little snort from her. "No better or worse than any other cat, thankfully," she would say softly. An ear flicking to acknowledge him without taking her eyes off Sunseer and Skysong.
At Sunseer's words, the she-cat took a few moments. As the rest of the clan reacted - kits excited, elders irritated - she sat calmly, absorbing the information. As Thistflefur rambled and went off, Nutpelt bristled beside Branchtail. She stood and barked over towards the elders. "And none of us will survive if we continue to stay here and let the Two-Legs take all our water and prey!" Her tail lashed. "If leaving is our only hope, then we should do it!"
@belloblossom (Branchtail)