Welcome to The Boreal! We are a Warriors roleplay set in a cooler climate based on taiga, boreal forests, and surrounding areas, with four original and unique clans inhabiting the territory. To read more about our setting and to join in on the fun, get started here!
Site News
1/3/21 - Happy New Year! Check out the most recent announcement here!
12/21/20 - Congratulations to our new MudClan leader, Mignightstar (played by blue)!
12/19/20 - High rank auditions for MudClan leader closing on December 21st!
In-Character News
High ranks are open! Post in the audition thread to apply.
Seasonal
It is currently early leafbare, so the weather is starting to get cold and the few deciduous trees are losing their leaves.
Stoneheart walked slowly into the Sun Meadow, his large paws barely making a sound. His yellow eyes gazed the area, tail flicking slightly behind him. After a few moments of doing this repetitive process, he felt content with finally giving himself time to relax. There didn't seem to be any snakes, and because it was getting colder, they weren't likely to be too active anyways. Still, he knew he had to be aware of his surroundings. Just in case. So, the long-haired tabby swiftly found a sun patch to rest in, only closing his eyes ever-so-slightly. Just for a few moments -- that was all. Stoneheart had been working himself ragged for the past few days and taking a little bit of time for himself before hunting again was perfectly fine. Normal, in fact.
He kept repeating those ideas in his head, but it really wasn't working. How could he relax if he had to keep telling himself to do so? He gave a small huff to himself in frustration. Perhaps it was better to just go hunting.
[attr="class","monbody2"]Appleblaze's tail swished back and forth in amusement. He had been hiding from his warrior duties that evening, hoping to spot a lonely lucky she-cat to romance for the day. After all, the Sun Meadow can be quite the romantic outpost during busy Clan life.
But instead, Appleblaze was in for a pleasant surprise today. As he crouched high in the tree branches, he silently spotted his former mentor stroll right past his hiding place and walk out into the Sun Meadow. Stoneheart then seemed to go to sleep in a sunny patch of grass. Why, was that old cat that bored without him to boss around all day now? Appleblaze stifled a giggle at his own joking thoughts. Without respect or dignity, Appleblaze tumbled down out of the tree and bounded toward Stoneheart.
"Say, I see someone's enjoying a quiet afternoon without me!" He pronounced loudly as he approached. Appleblaze bundled into Stoneheart with far more affection than necessary, very well knowing his more stoic mentor might not appreciate the sarcastic affection. Despite knowing Stoneheart's personality, Appleblaze never hesitated to bother and tease him. "For all that scenting and tracking you taught me four moons ago, you don't seem so keen at spotting me. So tell me, what goes on in that genius mind of yours during these lonely lonely walks?"
Stoneheart was still lost in thought when a sudden noise -- well, ruckus -- caught his attention. He quickly opened his narrowed gaze. His head swiveled toward the sound only to see a familiar russet tabby bound over towards him. His normal frown increased dramatically at the sight of his flamboyant former apprentice. So much for a peaceful rest, he thought to himself with a mixture of exasperation and affection. How could he not? Appleblaze was important to him, even if he didn't always show it.
The younger tom made a very loud quip, and before Stoneheart could make a reply, Appleblaze had bounded into him. With a grunt, the silver tabby was knocked onto his side. It was obviously not done to cause harm, and Stoneheart's fluffy coat helped with extra padding, so the only wound he faced was annoyance. Letting out another noise of vexation, the tom listened to the other's persistent question. "I was merely relaxing before continuing with my duties," He defended himself articulately, quickly adding, "And they are not lonely." Shaking his head a bit, he asked before Appleblaze could tease him, "And what are you doing, hiding out here? All of that scenting and tracking that I taught you seems to be going to waste. Do you not have your own duties to fulfill?" The tone he took on with misbehaving apprentices was back in full force.
[attr="class","monbody2"]Appleblaze's eyes sparkled with amusement at Stoneheart's words. This was the mentor he knew! When he first started his apprenticeship, he had absolutely hated all of Stoneheart's scolding, but in time Appleblaze had learned to have some tough skin. He hobbled off of Stoneheart without the slight semblance of grace. "Oh for StarClan's sake, relax. Not everything's about duty and duty and duty." Appleblaze gave his ruffled chest a few licks, very well knowing that one of the few things Stoneheart ever did was relax. "I was just hiding out here waiting for my beauty tonight. Alas, seems like she did not show up."
Appleblaze gave a short sigh of disappointment. All of his dates never lasted longer than a night. Looks like this one would not either. Once they found out about Appleblaze's history, or heard some of those nasty rumors going around, they up and left him quicker than hunted mice. Of course, it was no use talking to Stoneheart about such matters. His mentor always seemed to have... more important and more mature things to do.
Then again, Appleblaze could not help but wonder, there was no cat that did not have emotions, right? What was a younger version Stoneheart like? Perhaps he would have been less... stony.
"Say Stoneheart," Appleblaze gave his stone-cold mentor a coy smile, fully expecting Stoneheart to be annoyed with his obnoxious questions. "You got a lady you like?"
Stoneheart rolled his eyes with a scoff as Appleblaze told him to relax. They both knew that was something he wouldn't do. Not when he was a deputy, and certainly not when he was trying to stop his Clan from continuing a war. Though, perhaps his former apprentice didn't need to know quite that much information.
As the russet tom claimed he was waiting for a supposed 'beauty,' the only response he could muster was a frown of disapproval. There were more important things to be getting done than romance. Surely, Appleblaze had to understand that by now?
As he was about to voice his concerns. Stoneheart was cornered with a question regarding his own love life. Or rather, lack of love life. He stilled for a moment, embarrassment creeping up on him from such a blunt question. After a few moments, he responded calmly, "No. My responsibility takes precedence over caring for another. It would merely be a distraction." Eyeing Appleblaze with a hint of mischief, he turned the tide towards him and questioned, "I suppose those are beliefs you wouldn't quite understand considering your... storm, of relationships?"
[attr="class","monbody2"]Well, that was certainly better than the response he had been expecting. Appleblaze gave an amused purr and shook his golden pelt in feigned relaxation at Stoneheart's pointed question. At least his mentor had not clawed his ears off. "Well, certainly a storm is better than none at all," he muttered somewhat self-consciously. Appleblaze, in reality, would love a dose of commitment, but he just could not seem to muster up the maturity and understanding to do so. He grew bored so easily, and the she-cats in the Clan seemed to feel the same way. Not that Stoneheart would know any of that, Appleblaze guessed.
"A family, kits, good relations among the Clan are just as essential to being a warrior as hunting and fighting," Appleblaze said matter-of-factly when in reality he cared little for any of those things. He just wanted to have fun. He glanced at Stoneheart and doubted his stoic mentor agreed, but it was worth a point.
"But also," he continued in a mildly sarcastic and sing-song voice, "I would love a distraction from my duties. You've made them out to be awfully boring. What's the point of hunting and fighting if not for the ones you love?"
