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fivepoolsclans-archive · 8 months

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Redfern's Message

NEWLEAF - MOON 0 - YEAR 0

Figdream stretched as he crossed the threshold of the medicine cat den. The morning newleaf sun brought a warm glow to his golden pelt, and he was thankful for the relief it brought to his sleepy limbs. It was the dawn of a new day under new leadership; Rootstar’s naming ceremony had just been last night and she was already guiding cats to different patrol groups this morning. There was a dash of pride swelling in Figdream’s chest at the sight of the HavenClan leader, and knowing that she was up and doing her job made Figdream determined to get started on his.

His stores were running low on tansy and garlic, which meant he had to go out and fetch some more. Newleaf is young, so there shouldn’t be a problem finding any, he thought. He could always check for herbs around the abandoned Twoleg garden, some cobwebs from the ditches by the fallen log that marked the entrance to the training hollow, moss from the trees around the river–

A squeal sounded from the nursery den, startling Figdream from his thoughts. He padded curiously to the nursery, ears alert for sounds of distress. His fur began to lie flat when he realized it had only been Frogkit playing with Cragquiver and Sunpatch.

Cragquiver must have come to relieve Sunpatch of kit-sitting duties. Last night had been Sunpatch’s turn to watch over Frogkit, which meant Cragquiver would look after her this morning giving Sunpatch the chance to breathe fresher air. Currently, Sunpatch sat outside of the nursery entrance chuckling at the display of Frogkit pouncing on Cragquiver. Ah, Figdream thought, it must be another game of capture-the-warrior.

“Good morning,” Figdream mewed as he approached.

“Good morning Figdream,” purred Sunpatch, licking her whiskers and dipping down low for a stretch.

“Morning there,” Cragquiver grunted, scrunching his face as Frogkit batted at his nose. “Easy there. No claws, remember?”

Figdream chuckled and turned to Sunpatch, “I need to go out and search for herbs. Would you like to come with me?”

“Oh, would I!” Sunpatch shook herself and padded closer to Figdream. She glanced over her shoulder at the other two with a purr, “I’ve been cooped up in the nursery all day yesterday.”

“Then a walk sounds like something you’d need,” Figdream laughed and waved goodbye to the other two wrestling cats with his tail. He began padding out of camp with Sunpatch following close behind.

It was good to be out of the grotto where HavenClan called home. Sunlight filtered through the fresh green leaves and pink blossoms on the trees, leaving quaking dapple patterns on the ground. Birds were singing new yet familiar tunes, and it was still early enough for the crickets to join their song. The cool dew on the grass felt refreshing underpaw and cooling on the cats’ pelts. Taking in a deep breath, Figdream was certain that a walk was what he needed, too. The stress of last night finally seemed to be melting away. “It’s a beautiful morning,” Sunpatch commented, and he agreed.

The morning passed as well as Figdream could have hoped. As expected, there were plenty of herbs to gather at the Twoleg garden. Figdream instructed Sunpatch how to harvest what they needed. It was quiet and busy work, and soon enough both cats had an impressive pile of leaves and roots to take back to camp.

“Have you ever thought about taking on an apprentice?” Sunpatch asked when they had decided to take a break and clean themselves of dust and dirt.

“A bit,” Figdream admitted while licking a paw and swiping it over an ear. “There’s not enough young paws at camp for me to consider it very much.”

“What about Frogkit? She’s very smart.”

“Maybe, but that’s not a choice to make right now. There’s time to consider.”

“I’d love to mentor Frogkit,” Sunpatch purred. “I’d get to continue to watch her grow into a strong warrior.”

Figdream’s tail flicked dismissively, “You and Cragquiver do a good job raising her, but I think it’d be wiser for Frogkit to have someone else as a mentor. She needs to learn new skills and how to be on her own without you two carrying her paws.”

Sunpatch fell quiet for a heartbeat then, then glanced at the golden tabby tom warily. Figdream could see the sparks of insecurity settle in and sighed. Between her and Cragquiver breathed insecurity as much as they do air. “Do you think,” Sunpatch began, “we are being too overbearing on her?”

“No,” Figdream said simply, “But you can’t expect to be next to her all the time. She needs her own experiences and her own thoughts to think. She’s just a kitten now, but she won’t always be.”

Sunpatch narrowed her eyes and nodded as she tried to take Figdream’s words to heart. Figdream couldn’t help but feel some admiration for her. Sunpatch never had kits of her own, so he could see the challenge of raising someone else’s. He had no doubt that Sunpatch and Cragquiver would raise the orphaned kitten excellently and with as much love and care as if Frogkit were their own flesh and blood.

“Words to take to heart, no matter the cat,” came the purr of a new voice. Figdream glanced about, eyes wide until he found the source perched high in the branch of a tree. As soon as he caught her eye, he frowned deeply.

“What is it?” Sunpatch asked, leaning in. “Are you alright?”

“StarClan is here.”

Sunpatch looked startled, then glanced around as if she would be able to find any strange, starry cats. She began to lick her fur in an attempt at a last-minute groom. “Where? Who? Aren’t they supposed to visit us through their den at the Cave of Hidden Stars? Why are they here?”

Figdream’s ear flicked, but didn’t answer. Instead, he watched as the pretty white-and-brown speckled she-cat hopped down from the tree, her starry pelt twinkling. She cast no shadow, as if the sun couldn’t touch her.

Redfern.

Redfern was a very old StarClan member, one of the first from HavenClan. Figdream had never felt comfortable around her; she was a troublemaker, and too confident in her place as a guide to other cats. Her smug demeanor had never settled right with him, and Figdream didn’t like how she treated other cats around her– as if she saw herself as the leader of StarClan.

He gestured with his tail for Sunpatch to crouch down with him and tuck their paws beneath them so that they could more easily communicate with the StarClan guide.

“That’s not necessary,” Redfern said, “I’m only here to speak with you, Figdream. Sunpatch doesn’t need to know.”

“Then what do you want,” Figdream snapped, “and make it quick.”

“Moody today, aren’t we?” Redfern sat between the two cats and hooked her tail over her paws.

“It was a nice day, until you showed up.” Amusement danced in the ghostly cat’s eyes, though horror rooted in Sunpatch’s at Figdream’s disrespect. He ignored it; he didn’t have to like Redfern, and he was not afraid to make it known. “What do you need to talk to me about?”

Redfern licked her paw and drew it over herself casually, “I have a prophecy to share.” Her pale blue eyes landed on Figdream. His hackles raised under her smug gaze. Sunpatch touched his side with the tip of her tail, and he was reminded that there are things bigger here than his distaste for the rude she-cat. He nodded for Redfern to continue, ignoring the satisfied smirk on her muzzle.

“Destruction falls when one becomes five.”

“Hm,” Figdream grunted, “How vague, as always.”

“What did they say?” Sunpatch’s eyes were wide.

“Things I’ll have to discuss with Rootstar about.” Figdream pushed himself to his paws.

“Leaving so soon?” Redfern teased.

“Well, do you have anything else to tell me?”

Redfern tilted her head with a smile, “No. Just be sure to remember my words.” She stood up and began to walk away, calling over her shoulder, “Keep HavenClan alive, won’t you? We’re safe as we are, and we’ll stay safe if you listen to me.” The she-cats pelt began to fade away, and in a blink of an eye she was gone.

Sunpatch reluctantly got to her paws when Figdream busied himself with a bundle of herbs. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah,” Figdream mumbled around a mouthful of leaves. “Let’s just get back to camp.”

There was something about Redfern’s words that rubbed him the wrong way. Her message was worrying, sure, but Figdream couldn’t help but feel that there was something more to it. Something that stood behind Redfern’s words. He closed his eyes and sighed. Redfern served as a reminder of why StarClan was Figdream’s least favorite part of being a medicine cat.

#Figdream #Sunpatch #Redfern #HavenClan #ClanGen #clangen fanart #clan gen #warriors #warrior cats #fivepoolsclans

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signs-of-the-moon · 1 year

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Moon High: Chapter 10

Silver light shined through the canopy above, dappling the pelts of all the cats who traveled this night. The brilliant glow of the full moon made for an excellent guide in the darkness. And the buzz from all the warriors around her made Moonpaw's pelt tingle with excitement. She hurried along to keep up with her clanmates, eager to prove she could handle the long journey ahead. Tonight was her first time being invited to the Gathering. She was excited to meet all the different cats within the Land's Star. What interesting things could she learn from them, she wondered. How different was the folklore in the other clans? Did they believe in the stories of the ancient clans and the creation of cat? These were all questions Moonpaw was eager to ask, if she could make friends with anyone tonight.

Up ahead, the trees began to thin, making room for a thick wall of shrubbery. Blazestar led his patrol through the bushes without hesitance; guiding them into a massive clearing on the other side. Moonpaw gasped at the sight of it. Cats of all sizes and colors filled the space, mingling as one. It was hard to differentiate what clans they all belonged to from a distance. But most seemed to be having a good time, and that was a wonderful sight to behold.

"Go ahead and join the crowd," Blazestar invited, "remember not to let any cat corner you. Be friendly, but spare as little information as possible." After his speech, the firey tom took off into the crowd, headed towards his perch at Split Rock. Then Moonpaw's clanmates began to scatter about, leaving her as the only cat reminding by the bushes. Moonpaw bristled a little, looking left, then right, trying to figure out which direction she should head in first. She decided to go forward, and allow the crowd to manuver her wherever may be most convenient. On one side as she walked, Moonpaw observed a group of warriors regailing tales of battles past, passing the occasional joke between them. A little further ahead, five elders sat clustered together, complaining about anything and everything they could think of. Badgerface was with them, rolling his eyes at the stupidest of his peers' comments. Moonpaw chuckled, waving hello with her tail as she passed. She heard a nearby queen mentioning their kits, another cat griping about a thorn they'd found in their nest, and a nearby apprentice talking about the latest battle move they'd learned.

As Moonpaw padded along, watching the interactions of all the other cats surrounding her, something threw her off her paws. She fell with yelp, head hitting the dusty floor underpaw. Moonpaw groaned as she sat up, rubbing a white paw against her now aching head. It took her an extra heartbeat to realize what had happened. Another cat lay a tail-length away, letting out a sneeze as they returned to an upright position. It would seem Moonpaw's wandering eyes had distracted her enough to cause an accident.

"Oh my Starclan, I'm so sorry!" She apologized, voice frantic as she jumped to her paws. She rushed over to the other cat, sniffing and checking them over. She'd feel terrible if her daydreaming had caused another cat to get injured. "Are you alright? Are you hurt? I'm such a mouse-brain, I wasn't paying attention to where I was walking, I'm so so sorry."

The other cat simply shook her head, giving Moonpaw a reassuring smile as she stood. She was a pretty cat, short and plump with white and black patched fur. Moonpaw noticed the little nub she had for a tail, and wondered where this cat had come from. As far as Moonpaw knew, only some members of Treeclan had small tails. Could this apprentice be from outside the Land's Star? A kittypet perhaps?

"It's ok, I'm ok," the stranger assured, "It wasn't your fault. I should have been the one watching where I was running. I was so busy trying to see if I was beating my friend in a race that I wasn't looking out for any cat that may be walking up ahead. What about you, are you ok? How's your head?"

"Oh good, I thought you might be injured." Moonpaw sighed with relief. "I think I'll be alright though. My head's a bit sore but I'll get some herbs from Mothsong when I get back to camp. My name is Moonpaw by the way, I'm from Treeclan."

The other she-cat's smile grew bigger. "I'm Swiftpaw, from Grassclan. Sorry for running into you. What a terrible way to meet huh?"

Moonpaw shook her head, raising her tail. "Not at all, it'll make for a great story to laugh about later on. Besides, there could always be some cosmic reason for why we've met this way."

Swiftpaw gave her head a thoughtful tilt. "Huh, maybe. So you said you're from Treeclan? Do you know Smokepaw and Magpiepaw?"

A feeling of elation lifted Moonpaw's heart at the mention of her brother and sister. It hurt that neither of them were invited to this moon's gathering, but at least now she'd have something fun to tell them when she got home tonight.

"Well I should hope so, they are my littermates after all. They're not here tonight, but I can tell them you said hi," Moonpaw replied, twitching her nose in amusement. Swiftpaw gasped adorably. She seemed to become lost in thought for a few heartbeats, her eyes trailing Moonpaw's features. Moonpaw guessed that the other molly was picking up on the similarities between herself and her kin.

"Hey, who's that?" Swiftpaw asked suddenly, nodding at a cat behind Moonpaw. Moonpaw turned to look at who she was referring to. Much to the Treeclan apprentice's excitement, it was her father.

"Oh, that's Wolfheart! Come on, come meet him," she insisted, taking Swiftpaw over to the tom. Moonpaw padded a fox-length away, standing in front of the fluffy warrior with a bright smile. "Hi papa-I mean-Wolfheart." She giggled. "Meet my new friend, her name is Swiftpaw."

Wolfheart turned his green gaze down onto Swiftpaw, studying her for a moment. Moonpaw noticed the other apprentice tense under her father's stare, and hoped she would not remain intimidated by him. Wolfheart seemed to notice as well and turned his attention onto Moonpaw.

"Hello my little one. And hello to you, Swiftpaw. It's a pleasure to meet you, I heard your name announced at last moon's gathering. How's your training going?" He asked, putting on his most friendly face.

Swiftpaw seemed to relax. "I think I'm doing pretty good. Chicorynose says I'm a natrual born hunter."

"Ah, so Chicorynose is your mentor?" He queried. Swiftpaw gave a firm nod, and Moonpaw suppressed a giggle. "That's good, I'm sure she'll make a fine warrior out of you yet. Now, I think you two should run along. There isn't much time until the gathering begins, and I'm sure you want to catch up with more of your friends. It was nice meeting you, Swiftpaw, take care." Wolfheart dipped his head to the white and black patched apprentice, turning to lick Moonpaw between the ears. Moonpaw trilled at him, bunting her head against her father's chin. Wolfheart smiled warmly at her before finally padding back into the crowd. Moonpaw watched after him briefly.

"Do you want to come with me over to Split Rock?" Swiftpaw asked. "I bet Frostpaw's over there looking for me, she probably thinks I ditched her."

"Oh sure," Moonpaw agreed, walking with her new friend over to the ancient cracked boulder. As they approached, a silver and white tabby rushed over, pouncing on Swiftpaw. Moonpaw moved out of the way just in time to escape being knocked to the ground with the pair.

"Swiftpaw, where have you been? I've been looking all over for you!" The apprentice yowled as she sat on top of the nubby tailed apprentice. "And who's she?" The silver and white tabby's attention suddenly fell onto Moonpaw.

"That's Moonpaw. I accidentally crashed into her during our race, and kinda got sidetracked," Swiftpaw explained before reasoning, "At least you got to spend time with you mom and sister."

The other she-cat rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well I was still worried about you. There's a lot of cats out here, it's easy to get lost or cornered by an overly curious enemy."

Swiftpaw mumbled another apology then glanced away.

"If anything, it was my fault that Swiftpaw was held up," Moonpaw interjected, "Im sorry for keeping your friend. By the way, you are the famous Frostpaw that I was told about, right?"

The other she-cat smiled, leaping gracefully off of Swiftpaw's flank. "'Famous?' Stars, I wouldn't go that far. But yep, that's me! I'm Frostpaw! And where did you say you're from again?"

"Treeclan," Moonpaw purred with amusement. The other she-cat's bubbly attitude was infectious. She couldn't help but find it charming.

"Ooh." Frostpaw nodded, trying to look as though she remembered learning that information before, when she hadn't. Moonpaw found it adorable that she was trying to be so courteous. "Hey, is it true that your clan has lots of kits because once one cat has a litter, everybody wants one?"

Caught off guard by the question, Moonpaw broke out into a mrrow of laughter. She politely seated herself, wrapping her tail around her paws neatly. "Something like that. Although not everyone wants kits. We do value family, but its not like every cat in the clan needs kin or offspring. And what about Grassclan? Is it true that you're all neat freaks?"

"Nah." Frostpaw lifted a paw to clean as they talked. "We do like to keep things organized, especially Whitestar, but we aren't obsessed with cleanliness."

"I see," Moonpaw mused, letting out a thoughtful hum. She was interested in learning more about what the other clans were like. And while she was here, she figured she might as well get some information about Grassclan from Frostpaw. But before she had the chance to ask another question, a cat approached the pair.

"Greetings," the stranger purred, turning her ice blue eyes onto Moonpaw. Moonpaw stared back at her, confused by the adult cat's approach. It was a molly, with sleek silver lynx point fur, and a feathery looking tail. A few flowers were settled behind her ear; a set of holly leaves, a snapdragon, and a stem of lavender. She smelled bitter like herbs, with the slightest touch of wildflowers. Perhaps she was from Grassclan? Had the molly come to keep Frostpaw fron divulging any of her clan's secrets?

"Who might you be, little one?"

"Oh hello, my name is Moonpaw, I come from Treeclan." She smiled sweetly, trying not to let her confusion show.

"Moonpaw~" the older molly repeated the name, almost sighing it lovingly as she purred harder. "How lovely. I bet you are a well behaved apprentice, aren't you? Are you listening to your mentor? Do you pay attention to your lessons?"

Moonpaw nodded, forcing her fur to lay flat. Something about this molly's voice was making her pelt want to bristle. It sounded so familiar. But Moonpaw was certain she'd never met this cat before. An eerie sensation crept its way inside of her, like a grub burying into the bark of a tree. But Moonpaw didn't want to appear rude. So she kept up her polite facade, hoping the cat would go about her business soon and leave her alone to wonder.

"I work really really hard! Leafheart's the best mentor, I'm learning so much from her. I'm already thinking about becoming a Hunter or Den Keeper when I become a warrior," Moonpaw responded.

"Oh how nice! I'm sure you will be a warrior who'll make Treeclan proud," the she-cat commented raising her tail.

As Moonpaw parted her jaws to respond, a yowl sounded from the nearby crowd.

"Moonpaw!"

Moonpaw whipped her head around, spotting Wolfheart in the distance. He motioned for her to come to him, shooting the older she-cat beside her a glare. The stranger then turned, trotting over to where the medicine cats sat.

"I have to go, I'll see you later," Moonpaw quickly mewed to Swiftpaw and Frostpaw before padding off to join her father. Safe beside her kin, Moonpaw let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, papa."

Wolfheart said nothing in response. He swept his tail over her, guiding his daughter through the crowd.

"I don't want you near that cat again," he eventually spoke once the pair were far enough away from their original position. He sounded stern, much moreso than Moonpaw had ever heard him.

Moonpaw looked up at her father, confused. "Why? Who is she? Is she bad..?"

"Her name is Snowfrost. She's not a bad cat but...she can't be trusted," Wolfheart answered, avoiding her gaze. "I'd prefer if you kept your distance from her."

Moonpaw didn't quite understand what Wolfheart meant. But he was a smart cat, if a bit overprotective. She knew he was only advising her for her own safety. And so, Moonpaw took his words to heart. She'd do her very best to avoid Snowfrost next time she was around, even if she didn't know the reason.

As Moonpaw and Wolfheart padded along, Skunkpaw trotted over trying to keep up with them.

"Hiya, Moon," he greeted with a purr.

"Hi Skunkpaw! How are you enjoying your first gathering?"

"It's alright I guess. I'm having a decent time. And I see you're having fun too. Say, who's that pretty cat you were talking to? The white and black one."

Moonpaw let out a small snort, glancing at her brother. "That's Swiftpaw. She's a Grassclan apprentice. And apparently a cat who's caught your eye, hm?"

Skunkpaw suddenly paused in their stride, choking back a noise of alarm. "S..shut up! Pretend y-you didn't hear anything!" He stammered, neck fur ruffling with embarrassment. Moonpaw giggled, turning to stand with him.

"Aw, don't be so embarrassed. I think it's really cute. And kind of surprising. I thought you only liked toms?"

Skunkpaw rolled their eyes, licking down their chest fur. "Gender doesn't matter to me. I know beauty when I see it."

"And clearly Swiftpaw is "it"?" Moonpaw teased with a smirk.

Skunkpaw lowered his ears slightly, pulling his lips back into a playful snarl. "I'm gonna kill you."

His reply only made Moonpaw's smirk grow into a mischievous grin. "Only if you can catch me!" she goaded, dashing off deeper into the clearing. Skunkpaw called out behind her, and Moonpaw looked back to see them still standing beside Wolfheart. Wolfheart simply shook his head, a loving smile spread across his muzzle. He nudged Skunkpaw, urging his youngest kit to pursue their sister. From this distance, Moonpaw could hear Skunkpaw groan before he finally sprinted after her. Moonpaw picked up her pace instantly, weaving around warriors left and right, until she finally lost Skunkpaw in the crowd. After waiting a few moments for him to catch up, Moonpaw turned around and began retracing her steps back to him. As she walked, a cat bumped into her shoulder. For Starclan's sake, not again! Moonpaw resisted the urge to groan at the thought of knocking into yet another cat tonight.

But when she turned to apologize, Moonpaw was delighted to see the cat had nudged her on purpose. It was Hazepaw, the Oceanclan apprentice she had taught the Hunter's Crouch to before.

"Hey, remember me?" He meowed with a smile.

Moonpaw trilled. "Of course! It's good to see you again, Hazepaw. How are you?"

"Pretty good. I'm just bored is all," Hazepaw replied with a yawn.

"Bored? Really? Well, I could try to entertain you, if you want. I know a few good stories that'll keep your attention while we wait for the meeting to start."

"That sounds nice actually," Hazepaw admitted, flicking his tail. "Let's go sit over there?"

"Sure," Moonpaw agreed, following the tom closer to the shrubs that surrounded the gathering clearing. Here they could get a good view of the leaders on Split Rock while having a bit of space to spread out and relax. Almost at once, Hazepaw flopped onto his side, spreading out his back legs as if he were lounging in his own nest. Moonpaw had never seen a cat act so casually before. At least, no one except for Skunkpaw. But Moonpaw supposed the rumor of Oceanclan cats's laziness must hold some weight to it, if they were so content with relaxing this way around dozens of enemy warriors. Or maybe Hazepaw was a special case.

Before she could begin to start telling any of her stories, a caterwaul sounded from across the clearing.

"Let the Gathering begin!" Moonpaw saw Wavestar yowl as he settled on his section of Split Rock. He waited as the warriors below fell quiet before he started his announcements. "The winds have picked back up along the shoreline; mid-Newleaf storms approach. My clan and I are taking shelter in our newly built Forest Patch camp as a precaution. We have lost too many cats in past Newleafs to rough waves and high tides. Shellsplash and Tunafin have already fallen victim to a recent storm. I believe this new temporary camp will help prevent further casualties."

A moment of silence was given for cats to reflect and give respect to the recently departed Oceanclan warriors. Moonpaw gave a glance to Hazepaw. He muzzle was pointed towards his leader, but she could see he wore an unpleasant expression on his face. His eyes were dark with despair, and Moonpaw wondered if he had been present when one of the mentioned cats had died.

"By Greenleaf we should be back at our usual camp under the Twoleg Settlement Bridge," Wavestar added. Another pause was taken after Blazestar gave a scoff. The fur along Wavestar's spine rose, and a glare was flashed at the Treeclan leader. But Wavestar made no comment, and instead continued; "In other news, my clan welcomes three new apprentices to our ranks, my kits: Whisperpaw, Currentpaw, and Stonepaw."

Moonpaw followed Hazepaw's gaze towards the three mentioned apprentices.

"They were just named this morning," he whispered in her ear. Moonpaw nodded in acknowledgement.

The larger pair seemed excited to receive the spotlight; a few cats around them giving welcoming chants and reassuring mews. Meanwhile the third cowered back, her eyes lowered to the ground. She looked like she wished a hole would appear to swallow her up. Poor thing, Moonpaw thought sympathetically.

As the crowd settled back down, Wavestar stepped back to allow Blazestar to have his time to speak. A sinister smirk was set on the ginger leader's face as he snickered;

"You know it's funny how you mentioned moving into the Forest Patch, and yet you forgot mention that you and your clan have been trying to take Rubble Path from Treeclan while staying there. And yet, you keep failing. How many skirmishes have there been in the past moon? About five or six now?"

Hazepaw bristled uncomfortably, sitting up to tensly focus on the leaders in front of him. Moonpaw observed him, with her tail swaying to-a-fro beside her. She'd known about the battles taking place at Rubble Path recently, but didn't realize there were so many. She hadn't been ordered onto any of the defending patrols, much to her relief. But it was concerning that two clans were fighting so frequently. If they weren't careful, a war could be declared. But in this moment, Blazestar didn't seem to care about what ire he might draw from the opposing leader, Wavestar.

"Until the storms pass and the winds die down, my clan is stuck in the Forest Patch. But your old leader, Ravenstar the Wise, did not think to give us more space for emergencies such as these. Of course we are trying to take Rubble Path, it's high ground, and serves well for hunting," Wavestar growled in response.

Blazestar snarled, his tail lashing as his temper flared stronger. "Yes, but that land rightfully belongs to Treeclan," he snapped. "Your territory begins where the sand line lingers. Not at the edge of the rocks by the top of the hill. Your cats merely want to use the rocks to bask upon anyhow, not to hunt like Treeclan frequently does. And another thing-" Blazestar suddenly turned his angry orange glare onto Whitestar, the leader of Grassclan. "It seems that more than one clan has been trying to push at our borders lately. Very recently I have had patrols coming back from the Grassclan border, telling me they've found scents of Grassclan cats past the scent markers, and have found remains of a few mice."

Moonpaw knew what he was talking about. She'd been on one or two of those particular patrols. The mice that were left behind were usually half eaten, abandoned for the crows to pick at. Treeclan cats didn't dare try to bury the remains, though. It was bad luck to chase crows from their food. But when cats could reach the mice, the clear scent of Grassclan was found on the prey.

Moonpaw watched Whitestar take a step forward on Split Rock, confusion in her pretty purplish-blue gaze.

"From what I know, none of our apprentices have stepped paw passed the border," she responded. "And my warriors know better than to hunt beyond the meadow," Grassclan's leader was trying her best to settle Blazestar, her voice even and cool. But the ginger and white tom was unable to be swayed.

"There has been several reports of trespassing from your cats, Whitestar, too many for it to be an accident. One of your warriors has been stealing mice from Treeclan, and I advise you to investigate the situation and correct it, before I'm forced to remind you where the border lies. The same goes for you as well, Wavestar," Blazestar warned each leader, looking between them as his tail lashed harder. "Keep your claws out of our forest and off of Rubble Path before I reclaim the land Ravenstar the Wise so graciously granted you while you still lived under Pebblestar the Malevolent's rule."

Wavestar lowered his ears uncomfortably after hearing the of name "Pebblestar". Hazepaw's tail thumped at the utterance of it, too. But Moonpaw had never heard of such a cat. Whoever they were, they must have been very impactful. Curiosity bloomed in Moonpaw chest at the thought of learning some history she never knew before. After the gathering, she was determined to question Hazepaw about it.

Suddenly, Brightstar of Marshclan stepped forward on Split Rock, drawing the attention of her peers and breaking the tension. "Heyyy, I don't mean to interrupt, but how's about we finish tonight's announcement so you guys can get back to fighting each other once it's over?" Anger was still written on the conflicting leaders' faces. But after a silent moment of thought, the three finally agreed to settle and finish the gathering without anymore incident.

The rest of the announcements seemed boring in comparison, and Moonpaw found herself blocking them out until Fogstar of Mountainclan announced the conclusion of the gather. Then she stood with a stretch, preparing to speak just a little more with Hazepaw before meeting up with her clanmates.

"Thanks for sitting with me," she mewed, "I'm a little sad, though. didn't get to tell you any stories!"

"That's ok," Hazepaw assured, sitting up. "You can make it up to me."

"Oh?" Moonpaw prompted. "How?"

"Stay here with me after everyone leaves?" He requested, his yellow eyes glittering with hope. Moonpaw felt her pelt heat at the invitation. She hadn't known Hazepaw was interested in her enough to have her sneak around for him. But did Moonpaw have enough interest in return? She thought for a moment. She was certainly curious to learn more about the fluffy white tom. And if she stayed, she could ask him to tell the story of Pebblestar. As crazy of an idea that it was, Moonpaw found herself hardly hesitating to agree.

"Sure," she blurted out. "We just have to make sure neither of us gets caught."

"Of course," Hazepaw agreed. "Lets go meet with our clans. We can sneak away when they're not looking."

"O...ok!" Moonpaw responded, embarrassed by the fluttering sensation that started to form in her belly. "See you soon?" She double checked.

"Yeah," Hazepaw reassured. "See ya soon."

#warrior cats #warrior cats ocs #wcs #wcs ocs #Signs of the Moon: Moon High #Signs of the Moon #Moon High #Chapter 10 #moon pov

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eire-cant-write · 2 years

Text

Blooming Out of Death

Chapter 4

Word count: 756

Squirrelflight couldn’t help but laugh at Mapleshade’s demand. “You’re kidding. That is the worst plan I’ve ever heard. Don’t you know he has all nine of his lives?” She scoffed, surprised that such an oversight had been made in the Dark Forest cat’s plans. “Some observation you’ve been doing,” she said scornfully.

The ginger cat doubted if Mapleshade had really been watching them if she thought that Bramblestar could be killed that easily.

With a throaty growl, Mapleshade scowled at the mocking of her idea. Fear flashed through Squirrelflight; upsetting a known killer was not a good idea.

Yet, a heartbeat later, a sickeningly sweet smile replaced the frown.

“If you aren’t capable, you only need ask for help,” she cooed in a saccharine tone. “I’ve trained plenty of cats to kill. You’re promising. I’m sure I could work something out for you, even as little as you are.”

Squirrelflight couldn’t tell if it was her heartbeat she felt in her paws or not. Her heart was racing with fear and adrenaline, yet the pulsing she felt underpaw was rhythmic and slow, like the earth itself had its own pulse. She stared down at the ground, where the green grass had begun to wilt. The earth beneath looked slick and grey, rot covering the surface. An angry yowl sounded, and her gaze snapped up, finding Mapleshade’s honey eyes for a split second.

Squirrelflight awoke with a start, safe in the warriors den. Sunlight and murmuring filled the den. A few cats shot her concerned looks.

She had been dreaming. The she-cat let go of a breath she hadn’t known she was holding. Perhaps she had just had a nightmare, brought on by her constant worrying. Nevertheless, now that she was away from the pulsating rotting meadow, her rapid heartbeat slowed.

A moment later the entrance to the den rustled as a broad tabby head appeared. Amber eyes fixed on the deputy. Squirrelflight felt every muscle tense. “A word, Squirrelflight?” His voice was a cold hiss, betraying his anger. She dipped her head. “Yes, Bramblestar.”

As the she-cat followed her leader out of the den, she was sure she caught a hint of that misty dark scent from her dream. Setting her jaw, Squirrelflight braced herself for a talk with her mate.

For the first time in moons, Squirrelflight was invited, or more so ordered, into Bramblestar’s den.

Normally she would be happy, knowing that she’d get to curl up next to him to sleep or even just to spend time with him, but now, she wanted nothing more than to leave. He stared her down, eyes burning into her. She tried her best not to shy away, remembering when she would’ve stood up to him.

It had been so long ago. Perhaps she lost that part of herself when he found the truth about their adopted children; when he turned his back on her, and the cats he once thought of as his children.

“Are you listening to me?” The question pulled her from her memories. She stared at him, her eyes wide and filled with confusion. “Of course not,” he growled. “I said you need to take your position as deputy more seriously! You can’t be sleeping in like a lazy apprentice. I had to do your job for you today.” He huffed, his tail flicking irritably. “If I can’t trust you to do your duties now, how am I supposed to entrust the clan to you when I’m gone?”

Squirrelflight’s vision flickered for a split second. When it came back, she saw the body of the clan leader laying at her paw, covered in wounds, blood smearing over the stone floor and puddling beneath his body.

She blinked, and the scene before her changed again, back to Bramblestar glaring at her with apparent disappointment in his eyes. Do it. A quiet gravelly voice whispered to the deputy. A flash of light the color of honey appeared just behind the tabby tom.

Squirrelflight lowered her head, staring down at her paws, clean of blood. “I’m sorry,” she murmured. “It won’t happen again.”

Bramblestar sighed, dismissing her with a wave of his paw. “See to it that it doesn’t,” he growled.

Dipping her head once more, the ginger she-cat backed out of the leader’s den. A few cats in the clearing gave her curious looks. Wondering if she looked as unnerved as she felt,

Squirrelflight made her way to the medicine den. If there was one cat who could help her, it was her sister, Leafpool.

#warriors fanfic #squirrelflight #squirrelflight x mapleshade #squirrelshade #bramblestar #leafpool

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thunders-warcats-stuff · 3 years

Text

Reject the Deputy

Fireheart can’t take the deputyship but he refuses to leave his Clan to fend for themselves.

“Ah, Fireheart. Come to report on how the extra patrols are going?”

“I’ve come to ask a favor.” Fireheart corrected nervously.

“Not unusual for you. Go on.”

“I need you to make someone else deputy. Someone older, maybe. Like Whitestorm or Speckletail.”

“No.”

“There are cats far more experienced than me who are able to help you guide this Clan.”

“And yet I have chosen you.”

“You chose wrong!” Fireheart insisted. “Why can’t Whitestorm be deputy? Or Mousefur? Longtail and Darkstripe already think they can do a better job, why not make one of them deputy?”

“Because I don’t want to.” Bluestar sneered. “A deputy is a cat I will have to stare at and talk to for most of the day. Half your choices are insufferable and the other half would not be willing or able to guide the Clan through such a difficult time. “Furthermore, you were the first to warm me about Tigerclaw’s treacherous ways. None of these cats knew. I sure didn’t, at first. Even then I didn’t want to believe you and look what happened?!” Bluestar snapped. “Clearly you are the cat StarClan wanted to lead from the beginning. So lead.”

With those words, Bluestar flicked her tail and dismissed Fireheart from her den.

Outside, Fireheart stood, stiff and quiet, as if a tree’s roots had sprung from the ground and wrapped themselves around his legs.

“She can’t be serious.” He whispered after a few moments of his heart thudding in his ears. “She can’t be. There has to be another choice.”

“It sounds like she wants you.” Darkstripe sneered.

“Foxdung to that!” Fireheart snapped. “I have spent the last few moons running around doing my part to make sure the Clan runs smoothly, trying to make sure Tigerclaw didn’t hurt anyone else, and training three apprentices, one whose training ended due to another one of Tigerclaw’s mouse-brained fox-hearted plots and you all think I’m going to lead you? I’d rather go back to being an apprentice than lead such an ungrateful group of cats anywhere! Pick someone else and hope you all don’t fall apart because Bluestar won’t get any better.”

With those words, Fireheart stormed for the gorse tunnel and out of the camp.

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He didn’t really know where he was going until he stopped and found himself at Fourtrees, the neutral Gathering place of all four Clans. Right now it stood empty and was the perfect place to think.

“This can’t be all I’m good for. This isn’t what I was meant to do. StarClan can’t have chosen me. For what?”

“It’d be a good idea to find out.” A slightly welcome and familiar voice offered.

Fireheart whipped around, fur bushed up and claws unsheathed.

“What?” He snapped, annoyed.

“It’d be a good idea to find out.” Dustpelt said again. The dark brown tabby looked uncomfortable as he spoke and Fireheart couldn’t help but wonder who sent him.

“I’m not even your apprentice anymore and you’re still wearing me out.” Cinderpelt panted as she limped into the clearing.

Ah. That made sense.

“Sandstorm’s around here somewhere. She’s the one who led us to you, but she wasn’t sure if she’d be welcome.”

“And you two thought you were?”

“I’m always welcome.” Cinderpelt snorted. “Dustpelt wanted to talk to you.”

“Did he?” Fireheart scoffed, letting his fur relax. “What about? And what would be the point of having Sandstorm lead you here if she’s not going to show herself?”

He raised his voice for the last part and watched as a pale ginger form slunk through the treetops and skipped down one of the trunks to join them.

“Well met, Fireheart.” She offered courteously.

“Indeed. What are you all here for? I’d rather not have to deal with whatever mess someone made at camp.”

“Well, originally we came to make sure you didn’t do something stupid, like cross into another Clan’s territory, but Fourtrees is as good a spot as any.”

“It is. You can go now. I might leave, but I’m not that quite enough of a fox-heart to send you all to war.”

“Leave?” Dustpelt scoffed. “And go where? You’re no kittypet-.”

“Wow, what a turn-around. Seasons on seasons of the same old insults and you only admit the truth when you need me to do something for you. Great to know. But there are more than just housecats in the Twolegplace.”

“Are you taking Cloudpaw with you?”

“If he wants to leave the Clan, he’s welcome to join me, but he’d be going straight back to his mother.”

Dustpelt scowled and burst out,

“I can’t believe you’re actually considering this. You’ve been here your whole life-.”

“No, I haven’t.” Fireheart corrected numbly.

“Close to. You’ve been a Clan cat longer than you’ve been anything else and you’re just going to leave that behind? For what, because of a few insults?”

“It’d be one thing if it were just you that I were dealing with.”

“Why does it sound like there’s more to this?” Sandstorm asked.

“I’m surprised you’re not on his side.”

“There is no side, Fireheart, we need you!” Sandstorm snapped. “As a Clanmate, whether you’re our deputy or not. But Bluestar seems to think you should be. Why? And why don’t you want to be?”

“Bluestar’s still sick, isn’t she?” Cinderpelt realized. “This is more than just greencough.”

“It’s been, what, two or three moons since Tigerclaw left. I’m tired of running interference for cats who don’t know what it takes to deal with Bluestar when she’s like this. When she’s paranoid.” He added. “So I’ve stepped down as deputy and you all can choose among yourselves.”

“But you’re coming back, right? You’ll still be a warrior.” Sandstorm insisted.

“Maybe. I could just as easily find Barley and be a barn cat. I hear he’s got great hunting.”

“Fireheart-.”

“I need to think. You should get back to camp. Cats will actually wonder where you’ve gone.”

“Fireheart-.”

“Let’s just go.” Dustpelt ground out. “He clearly doesn’t want to hear from us.”

The three of them left with Dustpelt in the lead, each cat more reluctant than the last.

“Peace and quiet.” Fireheart grumbled as he settled himself to the ground and stewed in his thoughts.

If only the quiet was enough.

At some point, his paws lead him back to camp with a mouthful of prey. He puts it on the pile and settles himself at the center of the camp. It wasn’t particularly cold, being green-leaf and all. And he didn’t want to face any cat until he absolutely had to and was trying to put that off for as long as possible.

He drifted off without interference and woke to moonlight streaming through the trees overhead.

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“This isn’t what we wanted for you.” came a familiar raspy voice.

“Right back at you.” Fireheart grumbled, shifting so that he could face the former medicine cat properly.

“Fair enough. Fire was supposed to save the Clan, not be trampled underpaw.”

“Sorry.” Fireheart mumbled, ears heating up. Whitestorm wouldn’t flounder like he’d been.

“Not your fault.” Yellowfang rebuked. “There is still a chance, though. You’re not snuffed out yet, Flame. Show those cats why.”

Fireheart sniffled and inhaled Yellowfang’s scent. He felt like half a cat, whatever these ancestors thought.

“Sandstorm is a good cat.” Yellowfang said out of nowhere. “If anyone can help you through this, it’s her.”

“Funny that you think so.” Fireheart snorted. “But I guess I’ll make like a fish and bite. What are you on about?”

“She’ll be a valuable ally, to start with. And a good friend, if you let her.”

“If I let her. One of the cats who made fun of me for my entire kithood suddenly wants to be friends?”

“You saved her life at the gorge. That caused her to re-evaluate some things.”

“Right. Good to know.”

“Give it time, she’ll prove me right.”

“That’s about as likely as Bluestar reuniting with her kits.”

“That’s cold, kit.” Yellowfang scowled. “She’s not well, you know that.”

“Stars above, do I know.” Fireheart groaned. “I don’t have to be deputy up here, do I?”

“You don’t belong up here.”

“But no one expects me to do anything big here. I can just be a normal warrior with no expectations, no cats begging for patrols or food or anything else.”

“You can’t stay here, kit.”

“I’m tired, Yellowfang. I don’t want to be deputy. I’m not even sure I want to be a warrior.”

“I know, kit… I know. You can’t stay here, though. You have to wake up, Fireheart.”

“Wake up!” Chanted some bodiless voices around him. "Wake up! Wake up! Wake up, Fireheart! Wake up!”

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“Wake up!” Came Sandstorm’s voice.

Fireheart’s eyes snapped open and, sure enough, Sandstorm crouched before him, worry leaking from every hair on her pelt.

“What happened?” Fireheart groaned as he got to his paws.

“Stay down, nothing’s wrong with the Clan.” Sandstorm insisted, guessing correctly.

“Then what’d you want?”

“I… you stopped breathing a few heartbeats ago. I thought you were on your way to StarClan.”

Fireheart decided it probably wasn’t a good idea to tell her about seeing Yellowfang.

“Nope.” He grumbled, ambling to his paws and shaking each one out. “Anything happen overnight?”

“No.”

The pair settled onto the grass as sunlight peeked between the trees.

“It’s just about dawn. Have patrols been worked out?”

“Mousefur and Breezefoot are doing the border patrols today and Speckletail and Goldenflower handle hunting. We plan in pairs and rotate. Start from one end of the dens and go to the other. It’s been working, for now.”

“Sounds good. Feel free to say I’m on one of those.”

“You’re going for a walk?”

“Yes.”

“Can I come with you?”

“Sure.” Fireheart muttered, more than a bit confused.

“Give me a few heartbeats.”

Fireheart nodded and Sandstorm wheeled around, racing for the warriors’ den.

He didn’t have to wait long before she came back.

“Let’s go.” She chirped.

The pair headed for the gorse tunnel and soon the ravine was far behind them.

“Do you want the center nest?” Sandstorm asked suddenly.

“What for? I don’t even know if I’m staying.”

“But if you are…”

“No, I don’t want the center nest. That’s Tigerclaw’s nest.”

“It’s the deputy’s nest. It could just as easily be Whitestorm’s or Mousefur’s.”

“It should be.”

“Bluestar won’t talk to anyone, not even Whitestorm. She only wants to see you.”

“Well that bites like trout scales.” Fireheart deadpanned.

“What?”

“It’s a RiverClan saying. Means that’s not a good thing. But what am I supposed to do about it?”

“Depends on what you’re willing to do.”

“Apparently it’s not about willing.”

“We can rotate on handling Bluestar, we can keep track of our own patrols, we can scour every step of the territory to make sure Tigerclaw isn’t a problem anymore-.”

“Aren’t you already doing that? What do you need me for?”

“To speak for us. Officially. No Clan is considered complete without a leader and a deputy. It’s why the Code is so strict about the line of succession.”

“ShadowClan was complete and look what that got them.”

“Fair enough. That rule in particular can go eat mouse-dung.”

“Apparently there’s some medicine cat rule that means they can’t make their own families. Seems kind of weird to draw the line at mates and kits when cats are rarely born alone. Is Cinderpelt not allowed to acknowledge Frostfur as her mother? Or Thorn, Bracken, and Bright as her siblings?”

“When you put it that way, it doesn’t seem fair.” Sandstorm mused. “I didn’t know that was a rule. Poor Spottedleaf must have been so alone after Redtail died, especially if the medicine cat rules say she can’t acknowledge Willowpelt.”

“Now Willowpelt is pretty alone, I guess. Except for Whitestorm, so maybe not for long. Ugh, I am not looking forward to Cloudpaw asking where kittens come from.”

“Where do kittens come from, Fireheart?” Sandstorm snickered.

“The nursery.” Fireheart deadpanned.

“Good choice.”

“Simple and has the bonus of being true.”

“How do they get to the nursery?”

“That’s a completely different question. And their mothers carry them, of course. Mothers carry their kits everywhere.”

“Inside and out!” Sandstorm cackled. “Oh, Fireheart, this is brilliant! You have got to let me know when Cloudpaw starts asking around. I want to see his face.”

“I’ll consider it.” Fireheart snorted, amused. “Might be better to let his mother handle that one. Princess is rather blunt and not very faint-hearted. She worries for us, of course, but she’s got her own way of explaining the facts of life.”

“Definitely take me with you next time you see her.” Sandstorm was giddy with laughter and excitement. “Tulipwood could have used this on me and I wouldn’t have known the difference!”

“Your mother?”

“Yes. She was from Mousefur’s litter. She died not long before I was apprenticed. It was a hard leaf-bare.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

“It was a while ago. Besides, I still have Mousefur, Breezefoot, Whitepelt, and Sparrowpelt.”

“I only know Mousefur.” Fireheart offered apologetically.

“You know all of them. Elders can change their names when they retire. Sparrowpelt lost his tail to a badger and Whitepelt is pretty much blind and deaf.”

“Halftail and One-eye.” Fireheart realized, breathless. “Are all names so cruel?”

“They named themselves. It’s Clan tradition, and who are we to go against our elders?”

“Clan tradition doesn’t always mean it’s right.” Fireheart scowled.

“Bluestar was right to choose you.” Sandstorm said, obviously changing the subject.

“What?”

“Bluestar was right to choose you, even if she did it past moon-high. You’ve been doing such a good job that no one saw how much stress you were under until you cracked… I’m sorry I didn’t see it before.”

“It wasn’t for you to see.” Fireheart admitted. “I didn’t want anyone to see.”

“I… that’s fair. You’ve been under a lot of pressure. I just… let me know before you leave again.”

“What?”

“Tell me when you feel like leaving and I won’t stop you. With the way things are going, I might even scoop up Cloudpaw and come with you.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s your nephew. He’d miss you if you left.”

“He has family here. And in Twolegplace.”

“Ever since he found out he was adopted, he hasn’t been as open with anyone else. He could go back to his mother, but I doubt he would truly be happy as a house-cat. He likes to explore.” Sandstorm deadpanned, recalling when she and Fireheart went looking for three adventurous kittens, one of whom successfully caught prey.

“He sure does.” Fireheart agreed with a laugh, recalling the exact same thing. “Why would you want to come with me?”

Sandstorm was quiet as they walked and she spoke after they passed a few trees.

“I’d miss you. If you left. Even if you did tell me before you went, I… I don’t think I can see ThunderClan lasting much longer without you.”

“So you’d want to get out while you can?”

“No, I’d want to go with you.” She insisted.

“Why?”

“Because I… I think you’re a good cat, Fireheart. And I’d be willing to follow you wherever you felt like you needed to be.”

Fireheart narrowed his eyes and snorted.

“Whatever helps you sleep at night.” He offered neutrally.

“A race might.”

“What?”

“Help me sleep better.”

“You’ve always been faster than me.”

“Well, then, I guess it’ll be a hunting race. Whoever brings the most prey back to camp at sunset gets a favor.”

“You’re on!” Fireheart crowed.

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Cloudpaw sat at the center of the camp when Fireheart and Sandstorm returned with their hunting wares. His fur bristled with excitement and his eyes were wide with determination. He fidgeted from time to time, something that the cats around him didn’t appreciate.

“Relax, Cloud! Either he’ll come back or he won’t and if he doesn’t come back by moon-high, he probably won’t ever.” Ashpaw scoffed.

“You shut your muzzle before I bury it in the dirtplace!”

“That’s not how you talk to your Clanmates.” Sandstorm called out, voice muffled by the mound of prey she carried in her jaws. Once all of their collective stash was on the fresh-kill pile, she turned to talk to the apprentices.

“Apologize, Cloudpaw. What you said was inappropriate. No one should be shoving anyone’s muzzle anywhere near the dirtplace unless it’s to cough up a hairball or gag.”

“Ew!” The apprentices groaned in a chorus.

“Exactly.” Sandstorm snorted, satisfied. “And I heard what you said to Cloudpaw, Ashpaw. That was not okay. You need to apologize to him as well.”

The apprentices exchanged half-hearted apologies, even though Ashpaw protestested while doing so.

“It’s not like Fireheart is coming back. You heard him just like everyone else. He hates us all.”

“If that were the truth I’d have left you to Tigerclaw a long time ago.” Fireheart muttered, irritated, before springing from behind the nursery and creeping toward the apprentices.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Dustpelt does.”

“I doubt that.”

“I’m going to tell him you said that.”

“Go ahead.” Sandstorm scowled through gritted teeth. “Though I can’t say you’ll have much of a mentor to run to.”

Fireheart fought the urge to snort and decided to change his approach.

“Leave the kits to their dreams, Sandstorm. Everyone’s got to look up to someone.”

“Fireheart!” Cloudpaw screeched, bowling him over. Several heads popped out of various dens and soon the clearing was filled with cats.

“I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry please don’t ever leave again-.”

“-don’t know how you handled all these patrols-.”

“-Bluestar is just not herself at all, how did we not notice?!”

“Back up!” Greystripe snapped suddenly. “Let Fireheart breathe. And he might listen better if he knew what you were saying.”

“Right, because you always know what he’s doing and when and how he feels about it.” Mousefur snorted.

“Because he looks overwhelmed.” Sandstorm corrected quietly. “Just this once, I agree with Greystripe.”

She turned to Fireheart to find that he’d since sat up and was now curled around Cloudpaw, who sniffled and clung to his fur.

“-I wasn’t exactly using my head at the time, kit. I panicked and that was the result. I didn’t think I’d need as long as I did but I also didn’t want you to see me like that. Yelling at the entire Clan was bad enough.”

“But you left without saying anything! And then you didn’t come back for days! I only didn’t get to look for you because Sandstorm wouldn’t let me. She kept saying you were okay.”

“And you didn’t believe her because you never believe anyone about anything.” Fireheart snorted fondly.

“I believe you.”

“I know you do.”

“I think you’re a good deputy.”

“I think that Bluestar forgot to ask if I wanted the job.”

“Well, you proved everyone wrong. Now they know we need you, just like I do.”

“Good to hear, Cloud, but I do believe that moon-high approaches.”

“Aw, no!” Cloudpaw half-whined half-snarled.

“Now, Cloudpaw, you know Whitestorm planned to train you with Brightpaw-.” Brindleface began.

“Fireheart won’t be here tomorrow if I go to sleep. You all ran him off and we’re lucky he spent the day with Sandstorm.”

“Cloudpaw, what are you talking about? He’s right here. You knew he was going to come back, you said it yourself.”

“I said he would come back, not that he would stay.” Cloudpaw retorted icily. “I won’t be late for training tomorrow, just let me talk to him a bit more.”

“Slow down, Cloudpaw.” Fireheart murmured. “No one’s in trouble. You can talk to me whenever you like.”

“They ran you off!”

“I’m pretty sure I used my own four legs, kit.” The ginger tom chuckled.

“You don’t like it here, though.” Cloudpaw insisted.

“I like ThunderClan just fine. Things just aren’t going all that well for everyone and I wasn’t handling it like I should have. I needed space and I got it.”

“So you’re not going to be a loner?”

“Nope. But I’ll let you know if I’m going away for longer than the sun is up. You need your sleep.”

“Okay.” Cloudpaw said simply. The white tom got to his paws and trudged for the medicine den, only looking back once to make sure his uncle was really there.

“I almost forgot what that felt like.” Fireheart grumbled, annoyed, and swiped his tongue against his teeth as if there were a bad taste on it.

“Forgot what?”

“Cats who live with Twolegs give up all rights to their litters after the kits are weaned off milk. Usually the Twolegs are generous and let them have long enough for the kits to be taught some things, but it’s pretty well-known that there’s a deadline. It’s why my sister asked me to take Cloud in the first place. She wanted to make sure at least one of her kits was someplace she could find. It’s safe to say that Cloudpaw feels differently about family than the rest of you and that he’ll always want to be around the cats he’s closest to.”

“You said you almost forgot.” Swiftpaw noted. “Did… did you get taken from your mother too?”

“Everyone does at some point. It’s like leaving the nursery to go to the apprentice den.”

“That’s not the same at all.” Longtail sputtered. “When you first came to the Clan… you never mentioned any family. How long had you been alone?”

“Had to be two or three moons, I think. It’s a bit foggy, but I know my sister and I are the spitting image of our parents. At least, according to the cats around town.”

“So you just… never saw your entire family again?”

“I’ve seen Princess a few times when I was younger. And she gave me Cloud.”

“It’s different.” Goldenflower choked out. “Fireheart, I couldn’t imagine giving up my kits. How did your mother ever cope with not seeing you at all? How is your sister faring with what amounts to the loss of an entire litter?”

“Feel free to come ask her if I ever meet up with her again, because I’m not touching that with a Twoleg stick even if you gave me all your fresh-kill.”

“I think I would like to meet this sister of yours.” Brindleface mused. “She must know so much about Cloudpaw, maybe she’ll be able to help him through this.”

“No wonder he was so upset all this time.” Fernpaw realized. “Fireheart is all he has and the rest of the cats he’s surrounded by don’t like him.”

“It’s not that we don’t like him-.”

“You never liked him.” Sandstorm insisted bluntly. “I’m not exactly blameless in any of this but I can admit Fireheart got piled on like a patrol trying to take down a dog.”

“And… so did….” Swiftpaw offered in an odd voice.

“Hey, Cloudpaw!” He called, springing to his paws and racing for the medicine cat den.

#warrior cats stand up reject the deputy #warrior cats stand up #wolf says fuck canon warcats #let cats react appropriately and with common sense

4 notes · View notes

doritopaw101 · 4 years

Text

Arc1, book 2: Chapter 7

"It's my fault Tiger-roar" Cinderpaw mewed, lowering their head in submissiveness "We were hunting-"

Tiger-roar held his large paw for the apprentice to be silent. "Icebelly, come here"

Icebelly stepped forward but was pulled a little when Tiger-roar grabbed their chin. "Another episode I presume" he growled.

Tiger-roar was very much used to their episodes, he knew the look their eyes had when they were glazed over. "Y..Yes" Icebelly answered, he felt Tiger-roar's grip loosen a little "My fur was burning and I didn't know the river was frozen over"

Tiger-roar hummed at their reply. He started examining Icebelly's stomach "And your belly?"

"I feel alright" he replied

The great tabby let go of his chin "Graypaw Icebelly come with me, Raveneye, Ebonypaw, and Cinderpaw you three hunt, at least three pieces"

"Yes Tiger-roar" Raveneye replied "Let's go you two"

The long run back to camp didn't stop Graypaw and Icebelly's teeth from chattering.

A few days later Icebelly woke to find the first fog of leaf-bare filling the den. He had been sleeping in the warriors den since they hadn't wanted the kits and queens to get sick, even with his litter due soon. Thymeroot told him to never pull a stunt like that again or else she would drag him, thanks Yellowfang.

He was glad when Redtail's litter finally became apprentices as well as Marigoldkit. Dustpelt had Pouncepaw, Embereyes volunteered to train Amberpaw to lessen the load, and Birchstep had Lightpaw, after some convincing.

When they crept outside, they could barley see the other side of camp normally but he couldn't see for shit. He heard pawsteps hurrying toward them, and Mousefur appeared out of the gloom. The molly's ribs were slightly visible through her fur.

"Redtail wants to see you" the molly mewed

"Thanks Mousefur" Slight alarm ran through them. They've been slipping away to visit Princess yesterday. Had Redtail noticed? Shit what if Tiger-roar or Nightshade noticed?

"What was that?" Graypaw's voice wheezed behind them. While Icebelly had managed to recover after two days, Graystripe wasn't as lucky.

"Redtail wants to see me" Icebelly replied

"About what?" It was Larkpaw who said that. The black and white molly already had a few scars around her right front leg and tail. Her littermate, Palepaw wasn't as bad with having Mossthorn as a mentor.

"Shouldn't you be resting Palepaw?" Icebelly mewed "I heard sniffling from you"

The mostly white molly shook her head "I'm good, I'm fine really"

"How's training?" Graypaw asked

"Great" Palepaw replied "Mossthorn's great as a mentor, they taught me so much about tracking and strategy"

"Robinwing's tough to please, that's for sure" Larkpaw added scratching her ear with her hind leg "But she knows some things, she says me, Palepaw, Seedpaw, and Smokypaw should receive our names soon"

Graypaw chuckled "That's Robinwing for ya" The chuckling was cut short by a small bout of coughing.

"I better go see Redtail, you should rest Graypaw" Icebelly mewed "Or see Thymeroot or Yellowfang"

"I'll try"

They could see the shapes of Redtail, Lionheart, Leopardstorm, and Tiger-roar through the mist, sitting below the highrock. As Icebelly padded over to them, they stopped talking and Redtail turned to him "It's time Cinderpaw, Smokepaw, Lichenpaw, and Brackenpaw were assessed"

"Already?" Icebelly mewed in surprise. Though he knew the apprentices have been training for a while. Sandstorm had nothing but great things to say about Lichenpaw, he was already aware of how hard Chestnutclaw tended to push Smokepaw, and Cherrycloud did seem to help Brackenpaw's confidence.

Cinderpaw and Lichenpaw were in a competition of sorts at this point, Smokepaw only joined when Chestnutclaw wanted her to.

"They've been progressing well so far" Redtail stated

"We need more warriors with the nursery being filled up and with Shadowclan on the prowl" Tiger-roar added with a flick of his bushy tail, pointing at Icebelly's bulging stomach.

"I've been taking Brackenpaw and Cinderpaw out with me every day" Icebelly mewed "Sandstorm doesn't slack on her duty neither does Chestnutclaw, Cherrycloud has a valid excuse as of why they can't right now"

Tiger-roar shared a glance with Leopardstorm and nodded "Yes, but this is your first time as a mentor. It's a lot for you to take on, you're expecting kits now and as you said Cherrycloud's ill, and Thunderclan needs well-trained warriors for this season"

'I know and I'm just a kittypet, not a clanborn warrior, cats in this clan won't let me forget it' Icebelly thought bitterly 'are these your thoughts Tiger-roar or are these others that are too chicken shit to say it to my face'. They looked down at their paws, stinging with resentment. They might put on a brave face for their friends but they often thought about leaving Thunderclan. When they lived in Bloodclan they weren't treated different, Scourge treated him well, his siblings didn't treat him like this.

He often wondered how Flamepaw and Moonclaw felt with these views.

But he was expecting kits now, he couldn't go back now.

Redtail went on "Sandstorm has already offered to assess Lichenpaw and Smokepaw, You'll send Brackenpaw and Cinderpaw on a hunting mission through Tallpines, as far as Twolegplace. Keep an eye on them, watch them hunt, and report to me. I'll be interested to how much they add to the pile"

"If Cinderpaw's skills match their enthusiasm, there should be plenty to eat tonight. I hear their a keen apprentice" Leopardstorm added with approval

"Yes, they are" Icebelly agreed though he did wonder why he was being sent to Twolegplace again "I'm guessing Sunningrocks is off limits"

Tiger-roar curled his lip and his two-colored eyes narrowed "Yes, Riverclan has been scented there, we'll take care of it"

Leopardstorm curled his dark gray tail around Tiger-roar, the larger tabby sighed and relaxed.

"As for the fog" Lionheart continued smoothly though his green eyes were narrowed whenever he had to look at Icebelly "hunting in difficult conditions will make the test more interesting"

"For you or them?" Icebelly asked, raising an eyebrow

Lionheart curled his lip and looked ready to spit but Redtail shushed him with his name sake tail.

"Get to it Icebelly but make sure it's everything you can handle"

"Of course Redtail" Icebelly replied , ducking his head respectfully to the warriors "I'll tell Cinderpaw and Brackenpaw. We'll get started right away"

When they told the apprentices about the assessment, Cinderpaw loved the challenge of the fog.

Icebelly tracked the two apprentices through the Tallpines. The springy layer of pine needles underpaw felt strangely soft after the frozen ground in the rest of the forest. They followed Cinderpaw's trail until He could at least make out the pointed cat stalking eagerly through the forest. Then he picked up Brackenpaw's scent and followed that. The trails crossed here and there. Icebelly could smell where the apprentices had run fast, where they sat down, even where they had lingered together at one point.

Before long Icebelly found a spot where Cinderpaw had a kill. They had taken it with them as he followed their trail, he could smell scent of their catch mingling with their own. Then they discovered where Brackenpaw had caught a thrush. The feathers were scattered everywhere. The apprentices were hunting well. They knew this for sure when he detected a scent thick with fresh-kill. They dug down among the needles at the roots of a pine. There was a stash of prey hidden underneath it, left by Cinderpaw to pick up later. Icebelly felt a glow of pride of their work. Tiger-roar should be pleased. Cinderpaw had been heading for the oak woods so Icebelly followed.

He scented just beyond the edge of the pine forest, they picked up Brackenpaw's scent. It was strong, which meant the apprentice was nearby. Icebelly tried looking when he heard a voice behind them "Hi!"

Icebelly spun around

"How are we doing?" Cinderpaw asked with excitement, looking up at him with their head to one side.

"Your not meant to know or ask that Cinderpaw!" Icebelly spat "I'm assessing you, We're not supposed to speak"

"Oh!" Cinderpaw mewed "Sorry!"

Icebelly sighed. He didn't want to scare Cinderpaw but if they were going to be a warrior they needed to know how to obey.

"Were you really born there?" Cinderpaw asked "Twolegplace?

Icebelly was slightly caught off guard "The Stoneplace but yes however my life is with the clan now, my old life wasn't bad but it's over and I'm glad" Why did that last part feel forced? Was he really glad or was he just trying to convince himself?

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

He should've been hunting but he couldn't, why?, so they didn't see him like this. Blackfoot felt his insides turn as he vomited them out. The frog he ate was rotten but he had been starving so he didn't care. He wouldn't go so far as to eat the bodies of his clanmates like the others did.

He may be part of Brokenstar's elite but that didn't mean he ate any better than the rest of the clan. Though when he did get something good he more often than not gave it to the queens. He hardly called himself a hero seeing as he killed Ash-heart for disloyalty after she wouldn't bend over for Clawface and Brokenstar and called them foxhearts. All Brokenstar had to do was flick his kinked tail a certain way and Blackfoot would do it.

He had slashed Ash-heart's throat knowing what would happen to him if he didn't. But then again, boy did he enjoy the blood beneath his claws when she fell.

Brokenstar would cuss out some of the elite for falling asleep when 'teaching mollies their place' but they just felt tried.

Houndbelly and Rowanberry were just recovering from being mated and it looked like the toms were just taking a very small break, so Blackfoot did what he had too. He drugged their prey with poppy seeds or catmint for amusement to watch them make fools of themselves infront of Brokenstar which they got punished for. Sometimes the mollies ate the tainted prey and fell asleep and were brought back to camp. In that case it was a win-win, did he tell anyone of this, no no he did not.

Why he did it? to make sure Fernshade had something to eat. He never said he's proud of what he's doing.

Blackfoot felt his stomach growl with hunger. He looked down at his vomit, that was his lunch for the past 2 days. "Gonna see if you can make it 3 days"

"Shut up Rosetail" he growled

Ever since she died she wouldn't stop bothering him. Thrushpelt did the same but didn't come as often. Rosetail was an annoyance that he couldn't get rid of. The times when she wasn't annoying him, they talked about their lives, times before Brokenstar took power. Rosetail often talked her kits Raveneye, Cherrycloud, Chestnutclaw, and Dustpelt, how she was worried for Doekit and Volekit's survival and how she wanted to shred Robinwing. Blackfoot talked his mother and his littermates before it all went to hell.

Blackfoot was about to stand up but he heard an all too familiar voice "Seems living under Brokenstar is as a nightmare as I thought it would be"

Blackfoot clicked his teeth "How are you still alive?"

"What a thing to say to your mother" Rosetail sneered, her star filled pelt gleamed "Whom you haven't seen since Brokenstar's rise and who you can't shut up about"

"Black took us in" Hollyflower replied "Good tom he is"

"Good for you all" he tried leaving but in a swift motion his mother stopped him. He saw a kitten in her jaws.

"This is your cousin Graykit, take her with you"

"Are you insane?" Blackfoot growled "She could and probably will die if I take her back"

"She'll have you, Fernshade, and Flintfang to protect her"

"Like Flintfang can do shit when he very openly hates Brokenstar, Fernshade maybe could help but she barely talks to me anyway" Most cats who oppose Brokenstar are silent about it but his brother was a brave cat or a very very stupid one. Fernshade didn't say shit to him, with good reason. The only kin he got along with were Pinetail and Badgerfang, for all the right (wrong) reasons.

"And you Blackfoot?" Hollyflower said raising an eyebrow "You're a very strong cat after all"

"Not under these conditions I'm not" Blackfoot replied coldly. He remembered his days as an apprentice when Brokenstar introduced mating to him in the roughest and bloodiest way possible. It didn't stop now that he was grown and he figured it wasn't going to anytime soon.

"Try Blackfoot" Hollyflower pleaded, she nudged Graykit forward "It's better this way, Brokenstar will find her anyway and it'll be worse if he does"

Blackfoot's eyes narrowed as he hissed "I'll take her but get out of here now, if someone catches you I won't stop them from killing you and I knew nothing about your presence here" He didn't wait for her reply as he grabbed Graykit and dashed back to the broken wasteland that was the Shadowclan camp.

"You just found her all alone" Fernshade mewed grooming the tiny kit who mewed softly in response

"Yes" he replied simply "Bloody, her dam must've not wanted to deal with a runt"

"Should've left her in twolegplace than here" Fernshade said, she gazed up at him "For once I'm glad you did something, if it had been someone like Toadpelt or Nutwhisker they would've fucked the kit or killed it like they did with Beetlekit"

Beetlekit was alone when Dappleclaw decided to run for it. She just gave birth and left her kit there to die. Beetlekit was only brought back to camp after Nutwhisker was done 'playing' with her. Whitethroat had to console Houndbelly and Sootmask since they were a wreck that their mother's would abandoned them though Houndbelly had been doing her best to keep her younger sister alive.

Brokenstar made a new rule: "Any cat that wishes to join Shadowclan, have to satisfy three warriors to get in" The 'wishes' didn't mean shit. Many of the elite went into twolegplace and captured kittypets and loners for the clan. They went for pregnant mollies most of the time.

Pineshadow and Crowcloud were prime examples. The only saving grace was that they hadn't been too successful with dogs and twoleg traps around twolegplace.

"Shadowclan's nothing anymore" Whitethroat growled "I'm just waiting til Bluestar or Duskstar snap and just join forces and wipe us all out"

"Some of us want to live Whitethroat" Appletooth growled, softly licking Snakekit. Whitethroat made clear he'd rather be dead than be here. Blackfoot remembered Palecloud stopping Whitethroat from eating deathberries a few times. He could relate, he would often stand near the Thunderpath wondering what would happen if he leaped forward.

But he couldn't, not yet. He had Foggypelt and Elderpaw to worry about.

"They wouldn't kill the innocent ones" Poppyflower added

"Bet" Whitethroat replied

"When can we go home?" Pineshadow asked. She was sharing a nest with Fernshade while Crowcloud was sharing Whitethroat nest.

"I miss my humans" Crowcloud whimpered

"Never" Whitethroat drawled "Brokenstar never lets you leave, unless you mange to escape like Dappleclaw did"

"Bitch" Houndbelly growled

Crowcloud curled her fluffy tail around herself. Whitethroat seemed to take pity and wrapped his paws around the black molly.

"Are there any good cats besides you all?" Pineshadow asked

"They only good ones are the ones that aren't in Brokenstar's elite" Marshshadow mewed, grooming Buzzardkit, her eyes narrowing slightly on Blackfoot. The queens would criticize Brokenstar heavily and would tell him to report what they said to Brokenstar but for some reason Blackfoot never did and this was before Rosetail started showing up.

Blackfoot turned his head to see Dawncloud knocked out near Marshshadow and Whitethroat. The ginger and white tabby's coat looked freshly groomed. Her teats looked swollen from the excessive nursing. "She's alive" Marshshadow mewed "She just needs a well deserved rest". Marshshadow had taken a leadership role among the queens, helping the worn out ones and the ones who just wanted to die.

"Who's the fathers of your kits?" Crowcloud asked

"Palecloud for Hollowheart and Mossclaw for the rest" Whitethroat growled, he slapped the ground in anger then dug his claws into the ground

"Cloudpelt gave me Whitethroat and Wolfstep is the father of Foxtrot and Buzzardkit" Marshshadow said, slowly coaxing Dawncloud awake when Poppyflower came back with wet moss.

"Brokenstar is Rottingpaw and Dirtpaw sire, Scorchwind is Emberkit and Redkit's sire" Darkflower mewed "Fernshade's kits Badgerfang and Pinetail's father is Brokenstar, he also sired Oakpaw and Snakekit"

"Who's Boulderkit's sire Dawncloud?" Crowcloud asked lifting her head from Whitethroat's fur.

"Frogtail" Dawncloud replied "Toadpelt hasn't touched me in moons neither has Brokenstar, Toadpelt has a new whore in Muddywater. At least Frogtail's decent enough"

The somewhat calm atmosphere in the nursery came crashing down when Nutwhisker, Mossclaw, Toadpelt, Frogtail, and Jaggedtooth came bursting into the nursery.

"Wake up sluts" Nutwhisker snarled, his scent was thick of the marsh ponds.

Whitethroat stood, lip curled with hate "What in the name of Shadowstar's nine lives do you want?"

"Brokenstar wants everyone outside for a meeting" Frogtail answered

"So you decided busting in was a good idea you frog-brains" Marshshadow growled

Mossclaw sliced Marshshadow across her face "Shut up breeding stock and do as your told"

Whitethroat pounced on Mossclaw, the two wrested hissing and spitting. They rolled out of the nursery into the clearing. Blackfoot just stood there and did nothing because there was nothing he could do.

He quickly rushed outside

Nutwhisker and Toadpelt had Whitethroat pinned to the ground while Mossclaw was panting and just staring at the black tom. Marshshadow getting her face covered in cobwebs by Blossompaw and Blackfoot saw Clawface and Creamfang holding Elderpaw down, for the reason he did not know.

"Blackfoot, come over here" Brokenstar ordered and Blackfoot obeyed. He took his spot below Brokenstar next to Dewflare and watched the clan move with the chaos. He kept his eyes on Elderpaw.

"Rats have always been a problem for our clan" Brokenstar began "I want our cats to prove themselves so I've decided that our apprentices will be fighting the rats to keep their numbers low"

"Have you gone mad?" Russetfur hissed "Don't you remember what happened to Foxheart"

"And Cedarstar" Scorchfang added

"They were weak while the strong lived, this is how Shadowclan thrives" Brokenstar retorted "I do realize as well that a certain apprentice seems to think he can dictate what happens in Shadowclan" He narrowed his gaze on Elderpaw

"Well sorry for not wanting my friend to be raped, you fox-heart" Elderpaw growled, his forehead was bleeding and it ran down the side of his dirt-covered face. Blackfoot wanted to rush towards him but he knew that was a death sentence.

Brokenstar flicked his kinked tail a certain way and Clawface nicked Elderpaw's ear.

"Brokenstar I'll go with the apprentices" Blackfoot offered, anything to make the torture of his son stop.

"No Blackfoot, since Russetfur is so concerned she can go and take Scorchfang, Whitethroat,Littlecloud, and Flintfang with you, meeting dismissed Fernshade, Dewflare come with me"

Blackfoot jumped from his post. "Cinderfur take a patrol near the border with Thunderclan" he ordered

Cinderfur looked shocked at being allowed to do anything but quickly nodded "Yes Blackfoot" the gray molly replied signaling Wolfstep, Wetfoot, and Badgerfang to follow.

Blackfoot watched the apprentices pile out of camp, looking either excited or terrified. Blackfoot didn't know what complied him but he followed them.

He stalked from bushes as they made their way to Carrrionplace. He stopped when Rosetail hissed "A cat is in danger"

"So? That's a norm here" he continued to walk on "Cats get hurt all the time, I need to worry about Elderpaw"

"No It's a Windclan cats" Rosetail spat "Help them"

"What am I supposed to do?" Blackfoot retorted "I need to help my son"

"Do something rather than letting it just happen" Rosetail growled "Elderpaw will be fine"

Blackfoot stomped the ground and ran the opposite direction. "Where are they?"

"By the Thunderpath near Windclan territory" Rosetail replied

Blackfoot moved with speed he didn't realize he had. He heard a cry of pain. He saw a brown molly and a pale brown molly being attacked by Clawface, Claypelt, and Jaggedtooth.

'How am I supposed to stop this?' This isn't like when Mossclaw was going to attack Whitethroat Blackfoot was trying to come up with an idea but his ghost demon seemed to get one for him. "Here" Rosetail showed him some large sticks. Blackfoot grabbed one and tossed it and it hit Clawface square on the head.

"Who did that?" Clawface hissed "Muddypaw? Lizardpaw?"

"Ignore it" Jaggedtooth growled, going to slash the pale brown molly again

Blackfoot tossed another and it hit both toms.

"That's it" Jaggedtooth, Claypelt and Clawface ran towards where the sticks were being tossed. Blackfoot was glad he ran through mud so they didn't smell him.

Blackfoot ran over to the mollies "Hey hey, are you awake?"

The brown molly groaned. Her legs were bitten and looked dislocated and broken. The pale brown molly looked more with it "Who are you?"

"Nobody special, can you walk?"

The pale brown molly stood "I can do my best" she replied "Help my sister"

Blackfoot looked around. He didn't have long til Clawface, Claypelt, and Jaggedtooth got back. He grabbed the brown molly and made his way to the Thunderpath, her sister close behind. They waited til the monsters passed and ran for it. He tripped on some roots and felt his leg twist.

He slowly got up trying to ignore they pain. He smelled cats and mating. "Hey stop fucking and come over here" he felt his muscles buckle and he landed on the ground with a thump.

"Mother!" Blackfoot looked up and saw it was Icebelly and a brown tabby tom staring at him "Auntie!"

Icebelly hissed at him "What did you do to them foxheart!"

Blackfoot said nothing

The brown tabby tom pulled the brown molly close "She's hurt really bad, I'll get her back to camp, Rabbit-tail help me, you deal with Blackfoot Icebelly"

"Stay awake Wrenflight" the pale brown molly urged as they made their way back to Windclan.

Icebelly rounded on him, despite his growing stomach he was swift on his paws. Those were no doubt Brokenstar's kits. "What the fuck was that?"

Blackfoot flicked his dark tail "Those are Brokenstar's kits aren't they"

The pure white tom curled his lip "He isn't getting them and won't know they exist" he unsheathed his claws "I'll make sure of it, I'm sure Brokenstar would be delighted to know you have three other kits in Thunderclan"

Blackfoot's gaze remained locked on Icebelly, all he saw was a desperate young cat trying to raise his kits and forget how they came to be. "Keep my secret and I'll keep my mouth shut"

"Deal" Icebelly seemed to relax "You didn't hurt them did you?"

Blackfoot chuckled to himself. He started to walk back to the Thunderpath.

"You are an interesting motherfucker Blackfoot" Icebelly stated

Blackfoot couldn't help but stop and laugh "Aren't we all?"

6 notes · View notes

vagrantblvrd · 4 years

Text

Thinking about werebear Michael again?

(Because reasons.)

And like.

That one fantasy-ish AU where Ryan’s Some Dude wandering around? Something of a mercenary/former mercenary who just.

Wanders.

(A vagabond, if you will.)

Here and there and knows a little bit of magic - small spells that don’t account for much up against properly trained mages or other magic users but handy all the same, right?

(Can make the business of starting a campfire easier after a long day on the road when the sun starts to set and the cold comes rolling in. Keeps him from freezing when he’s in the mountains or up north. Other little tricks like that.)

And there are monsters out there too, right? Ghosties and ghoulies and he’s learned (the hard way) how to kill the ones trying to kill him. How to leave the ones going about their own business alone and so on. (And sometimes what his fellow humans call monsters are better people than they could ever hope to be and all that.)

Anyway.

Wanderer Ryan who comes to a small mountain town somewhere and realizes something is Wrong.

Comes to find out there’s a monster in the woods surrounding the town that’s been plaguing them for some time now.

The townspeople have put up a bounty for its head, hefty reward offered by the people and more than a few people who have gone there hoping to claim it.

Ryan’s not really interested because he’s still got money from recent jobs he’s taken. (And not all that keen about venturing into unfamiliar woods after some unknown beastie and all that.)

But!

He’s got this look to him, seems confident and capable and the mayor makes a convincing case.

Missing livestock and attacks that injured/maimed several townspeople. Worries that it might get bold enough to poke around town, attack the townspeople and children and so on and so forth. (Sweeten the pot with promise of more money after he supplies proof of the creature’s death. Its head or pelt or something else along those lines.)

And Ryan.

He can tell he won’t get a moment’s peace until he agrees to accept, so he does. (Can’t hurt to have a little extra coin and such.)

Ryan doesn’t go looking right away, though. For one it’s late and he’s tired when the mayor “convinces” him. For another, something is weird?

(There’s a figure in a corner of the tavern, travel cloak with the hood pulled up and he knows he’s being watched.)

Also.

The mayor was all weird about this monster in their woods?

So.

He says yes when the mayor asks if he’ll deal with the monster in their woods and then finishes his meal and dirnk and goes to bed. (Tries to ignore the feeling of eyes on his back as he heads up the stairs to the room he’s paid for for the next few nights.)

The next morning he does a little poking around town under the guise of resupplying and such.

Buys food and whatnot for his travels. Gets new shoes for his horse and chats idly with the blacksmith about things.

Man’s had similar talks with other mercenaries and the like passing through, the handful who took up the bounty Ryan’s after now. Idiots and blowhards for the most part, jumped up on their own self-importance and none of them properly kitted out to deal with whatever they might come across in the woods.

All steel and iron and not a sliver of silver among them, he says.

Ryan listens and buys a pretty little knife off the blacksmith. Delicate thing, bright and shiny and not the best when pitted against solid steel but monsters are real and there’s some truth the old stories and all that.

(Feels like a frivolous purchase, but Ryan lost a knife like it some time back. Stuck it in the heart of a monster haunting another small town and always meant to get it replaced.)

ANYWAY.

He wanders the town all day seeing to errands and such he’s meant to get to but hasn’t and chatting with the locals.

Hears a few things that don’t quite mesh with the story the mayor told him, but nothing unduly worrying.

The monster’s appearance was sudden, unexpected. Took a while before anyone noticed it had taken up residence since it seemed content to keep to itself. But as the weather grew colder and game scarcer it went after easier prey, and livestock went missing and then people went looking and things went on from there until a bounty was decided on and here Ryan is.

People are a bit furtive about it all, but not in a way that sets off alarm bells in the back of his head and Ryan decides he’ll go looking the next day. (No sense in looking for the damn thing at night, after all.)

AND.

While he’s eating his dinner that night, same quiet table in the tavern that figure in the travel cloak sits down across from him and gives him a once-over.

Nothing hostile to it, if anything the man looks curious.

Lean figure with messy hair and this faint smirk and something amused (tired) in his eyes.

Asks Ryan if he’s there for the reward, and Ryan not seeing a reason to lie, tells him it wasn’t his intent.

But.

An annoyingly insistent mayor and maybe Ryan’s an idiot for saying yes, but the children here are unbearably adorable and sweet and Ryan’s seen instances like this turn ugly if left untended, so.

Better to take up the bounty than leave things as they are and hope for the best. (Doesn’t say for who, though, because some people don’t understand.)

That gets him a look, curious, thoughtful, and the figure laughs.

Quiet thing, and wishes him luck with his little hunt as they head out.

Ryan watches them leave and sighs because something tells him that’s not the last he’ll be seeing of them and hopes things don’t turn out messily the way they tend to in his experience.

...They do, though.

(So. Much.)

When he sets out to hunt down the monster that’s been prowling the woods he finds old tracks and all that. (Strange ones mixed in. Human to monstrous and baffling and that bad feeling of his again.)

Follows them best he can and finds the places where previous encounters with the monster must have taken place.

Old bloodstains and torn up ground and greenery and other things - broken weapons beginning to rust after being left out in the elements for so long and so on.

Realizes whatever this monster the quiet little town has, it’s bigger than he thought. (They usually are, though, so. Yes.)

Sighs and forges on and after a few hours realizes the woods around him have gone quiet.

Eerily so.

No birds, small animals.

Early winter and he’s high up enough there’s a couple of inches of snow on the ground and that quiet, muffled quality to the world around him it brings.

The tracks or whatever he’s been following have led him to a clearing and the opening of a cave and this awful feeling, because there’s blood on the snow here.

Signs of something big disturbing the snow, bloody tracks and heavy whuffling breathing somewhere behind him. Crunch of snow underfoot (underpaw?) and he turns to see the quiet little town’s monster shuffling towards him.

Big old bastard, and if Ryan didn’t know better he’d think it was just some overgrown animal walking towards him and not something else. (Other.)

But he does know better, and has time to swear under his breath because of course - and then the wind shifts. Carries his scent to the monster and Ryan sees it realize he’s there, nostrils flaring as its massive head lifts and spots him.

And then the fighting starts, because of course it does.

Monster rearing back on its hind legs and roaring at him, deadly fangs and claws and Ryan is so very small in comparison. (He’s faced worse, though. Managed to survive in spite of everything.)

Strangely, oddly, the fight isn’t like the ones he’s been in before.

The monster bellows and roars, bares it teeth and swipes at him with huge paws, but Ryan manages to evade it easily enough.

Dodges and rolls and blocks with his sword. Makes his own little attacks, and watches the way it watches him,

Angry, furious, really.

Snapping and growling and knocking his sword aside but instead of rushing in to crush him with those paws before he recovers his sword or gets back to his feet...it doesn’t.

Or rather it doesn’t kill him.

(Sends him tumbling, rolling a time or two. Scratches and bruises where there should be rents and gouges and broken bone, a dead idiot blood soaking into the snow and mud.)

Forces him away from that cave with the chunred up snow and mud and blood, and that’s when Ryan sees it. (Broken off blade in its side, glint of metal peeking through bloodstained fur and flesh and careful to keep that side away from Ryan’s attacks.)

An arrow lodged in one huge shoulder and other injuries and Ryan backs up a step, two. (More.)

Waits to see what the monster will do, if it will follow him or retreat.

It does neither.

Just watches him, alert and wary and bleeding into the snow and Ryan pauses -

“I see you still haven’t learned any manners,” Ryan hears, and turns to look to the side where that odd figure in the travel cloak is standing at the edge of the clearing.

Hands on his hips and this look on their face.

Annoyed? Exasperated?

Something like that.

The monster cocks its head, makes this curious little grumbling noise that almost wants to be a growl.

And that figure, slight and fragile in the way people tend to be, rolls their eyes.

Walks right up to the monster who snarls and growls and snaps their teeth at them right up until it doesn’t.

Looks almost alarmed as that slight figure keeps coming, backs it up against cave entrance.

Whuffles and chuffs and - to Ryan’s surprise and faint amusement - looks to him like it thinks he might intervene.

He doesn’t.

Just watches as that slight figure scowls up at the monster and lectures it?

No.

Mocks it.

Affects an accent as he looks the monster over. Eyes narrowing as he sees the same injuries Ryan had, breath hissing through his teeth and -

“You stupid bastard,” he finishes, sounding tired.

Exhausted.

Hands dropping to hang by his side as his head lowers, and Ryan starts to take a step forward when the monster whines.

Makes this odd noise it sways towards the slight figure, noses at his shoulder.

Ryan stops, stares as the figure laughs - that quiet little thing of his again - and looks up at the monster.

Edge of a wry smile on his face as he looks up it, and Ryan is very confused because this is not how things like this tend to go.

(Usually there’s more screaming and blood and flashing steel and silver, not. This.)

And then that slight figure sighs, fondness and exasperation as the monster whuffs, pressing its head against his shoulder and he hugs it.

Ryan watches, because odd, and after several moments go by in which no one is horribly killed, wipes the blood off his sword and sheathes it.

Clears his throat because it’s obvious they’ve forgotten about him, and he almost - almost - laughs when they starts and look over at him.

Hides a smile at the small, silent, fight between the two of them trying to shove the other behind them in case Ryan’s a threat - honestly.

The monster is the size of a small shed and -

Well.

It’s ridiculous, really, is the thing. The sight of that slight figure trying to push the monster behind him and vice versa and Ryan realizes whatever is going on here it’s bound to be a long story.

...it is.

Dear God is it ever.

Something, something, something a warrior and a bard (or so Gavin claims to be) and a series of missteps that ended in a curse, a spell, some bit of magic and idiots being idiots.

Protective idiots, in this warrior fearing the curse would take away his human reasoning, make him no better than a wild animal - a monster - and dangerous to anyone around it. (A loved one.)

So he’d run.

A curse/spell affected by the phases of the moon and those odd tracks Ryan had found. (Human leading to monstrous and baffling.)

(And run and run and run as far as he could until he felt he was somewhere safe, somewhere he wouldn’t come across anyone else and pose a threat to others.)

But then winter has started to set in and a lean year and he’d been forced to hunt too close to a quiet little mountain town.

Drawn attention he didn’t need in the townspeople and the mercenaries they hired and on and on and on until Ryan happened along.

And all this time, all this time Gavin following what whispers and rumors he could to find his idiot. Chasing smoke, and being turned around a time or two until he ended up in a certain quiet mountain town and just.

“And you call me an idiot,” he mutters, tending to Michael’s injuries with Ryan’s assistance.

Annoyed, obviously, and worried and scared and Ryan has a feeling he’s gotten himself inolved with another troublesome incident. (There have been so many over the years, but none so bafflingly odd.)

He could, he knows, go back down the mountain to the small town and continue on his way. Tell the mayor he didn’t find a thing up here and to keep his money as he continued on his way, but.

The monster - not so much much a monster as the idiot Gavin claims him to be.

Head resting on his paws as he watches Gavin like he never thought he’d see him again. (Follows him with his eyes as Gavin moves about the cave he’s been living in for the past few weeks, months?, seeing to his wounds and such.)

Closes his eyes when Gavin pauses to lay a hand on his head, a brief moment of respite before he gets back to work.

Complaining about the hardships he’s had to endure chasing after Michael and how unbearable it was (a pun, perhaps?) and how Michael owes him and on and on and no heat to any of it.

Ryan watches the two of them and smothers a sigh because he’s the soft touch Meg always tells him he is. (Soft-hearted and stupid with it, and it’s gotten him in trouble more times than he cares to think about.)

(And then, like. Shenanigans in which Ryan falls in for Gavin and Michael, when he’s in his human form between full moons and a Quest to break the curse/reverse the spell and just.

Lots of shenanigans and Michael and Gavin being wary of him at first - because of course - but the fact he didn’t kill Michael when he had the chance and so on has them willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and like.

Shenanigans?

ALSO.

Realizing there’s no way to break the curse/reverse the spell but that’s fine, it’s okay.

Having a huge fucking werebear on your side who’s figured out how to control where/when he shifts from human to fuck-off huge bear and back is a handy thing indeed.

...:D????

#ragehappy #mavin #mavinwood #idek #/o\#technically not a fic #vagrant fic #werebear michael fantasy au

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atlxntic-wxlf · 5 months

Note

@ the "why are there so many canine therians" anon and in regards to your post, I only realized i was a boar after my family adopted a pig. i always thought i was some kind of canine but turns out swine share a lot of characteristics and a lot of my shifts and feelings that felt out of place in a canine identity suddenly lined up when i began spending so much time around a pig. so yeah many people identify as something that a.) explains their feelings and b.) is familiar and may or may not change that identity as life goes on

I didnt have much to add, but anon here is a good example for the last post i made about "why so many therians are canines". A lot of therians realise their type once theyve spent time around their type or see more information about their type.

#alterhuman #therian #Ask-underpaws #theriotype #Nonhuman #Otherkin

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sohannabarberaesque · 4 years

Text

Crazy Claws’ Caturdayz

I just hope we can find an ending to this

So with fall coming upon the Waterpark Capital, the outdoor waterparks having essentially ended their seasons and the fall colour bound to attract its share of patronage on the boat and Ducks tours (especially as things start getting more and more blatant colour wise), I’m beginning to wonder how much longer this new and improved series of observational essays can carry on from no less than the legendary artificial shores of Artificial Lake Delton, which sees a winter drawdown just after Hallowe’en and can smell as heck for a few days afterwards when the drawdown takes force.

Still, it’s possible that you can sense some fodder for this piece out of the crisp autumnal evenings in Wisconsin, given the sun’s setting early in unusually mild conditions and leaves crunching underfoot--or underpaw, in my case--as the drop ensues to signal winter’s approach. But at any rate, such couldn’t quite stop the somewhat irrepressible Honey and Sis with their mobile shortwave worldcasting station calling upon my quarters less for a “pop-up” worldcast than just to kill time. Let alone trying to hook up with some decent roadside stands offering some decent apples, apple cider, honey, jam and/or cheese atypical of the Midwestern autumn.

And kill time did we, with some cream of wild rice soup to which some ham and chicken breast chunks had been added, as well as some heated-up ciabatta rolls with plenty of that good Wisconsin butter and some iced tea I managed to brew up.

“Still,” said I as we kept the conversation going, “I have to guess that your shortwave station keeps getting more and more interesting.” To which Sis responded, “When you’re into shortwave worldcasting as we are, and especially so with a mobile ‘pop-up’ station like we have, not knowing where you might next be able to worldcast from ... it’s only as good as the number and quality of QSL reports that you’re able to generate.”

“QSL?” I asked.

Honey responds, “That’s radio jargon for a reception report.”

Sis adds, “Broadcasters have always wanted to know how far their signal can get, and to see how many listeners they can reach in the process. Hence, their asking for reception reports from time to time.”

“What would perhaps be your worst ever broadcast when it translated to QSL reports?” added I.

Sis: “I think there was one broadcast out on the desolate ranges of southern Iowa once where we were lucky to get about five QSL’s in toto.”

Honey: “But for sheer numbers, perhaps one of the more interesting, textbook even, cases of QSL response would have to be that time we actually did a worldcast underwater.”

Moi: “UNDERWATER?! You mean you actually did a shortwave broadcast from underwater?!!”

Sis: “Yep--from no less than one of Minnesota’s Ten Thousand Lakes. While wearing full SCUBA kit and wearing one-piece tankinis ... in just one five-minute period alone, we averaged one reception report every 12 seconds via e-mail, and listeners as far afield as Andorra, Cyprus, Israel and Japan couldn’t believe how clear our voices were sounding from underwater ... credit newer SCUBA technology as can allow for conversation underwater!”

Honey: “And no less than Peter Potamus ‘himself’ was kind enough to share a reception report from near La Jolla, California! He said that we came in remarkably well for the time of day!”

Moi: “Isn’t that where Peter Potamus’ Travelling SCUBA Par-tay has their beach house colony and dive practice base?”

Sis: “How did you know?!”

Moi: “Let’s just say we happen to have some rather Funtastic connexions!”

Which had things breaking up in laughter in their own way on what became a somewhat temperate autumn’s evening of the Wisconsin sort.

@warnerarchive @hanna-barbera-land @warnerbrosentertainment @themineralyoucrave @hanna-barberians @fini-mun @wherearethememesonmyplate @jg376 @hanna-barbera-blog @dinobirdy @screamingtoosoftly

#fanfic #hanna barbera #caturday #crazy claws #wisconsin dells #lovethedells #autumn evenings #honey and sis #cream of wild rice soup #shortwave radio #shortwave worldcasting #qsl #pitfalls of broadcasting #hannabarberaforever

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warriors-windandfireau · 4 years

Text

Wind and Fire AU: Fire and Ice - Chapter Seventeen

Read on Ao3

Firepaw hardly noticed the white flakes of snow beginning to fall from the clouds as he stared after Onepaw's disappearing figure. The green grass underpaw was slowly turning to frosty white, but Firepaw paid no mind to the change in weather. He had hunted in the cold and snow before, so it shouldn't be too much of an issue for him.

Regaining his composure and whatever focus he had left within him, Firepaw set off towards the heart of WindClan's territory once again. He had promised Onepaw he was going to hunt, and that was what he was going to do.

And I’ll get back to meet him later, too.

He could only hope he’d be able to quickly scent some prey. They would probably begin retreating to their dens due to the sudden snowstorm, so he figured he should get hunting quickly to not risk all of the prey hiding.

So far, though, he struggled to smell anything. It was most likely a mix of the snow masking their scent, as well as the prey going to hide.

He refused to stop, though. The ground was becoming completely coated in thick snow fairly quickly. Before long, the sound of his paws crunching in the freshly laid snow was ringing in his ears. The snowflakes clung to the tips of his fur, melting and causing his wet fur to lay flat.

The chilly water caused him to shudder, and he rubbed his ears to get some warmth into them.

He sneezed sharply, but quickly recovered by shaking himself and continuing his walking.

I just need to smell something- once I catch at least one piece of prey, I’ll be fine with going back… but I can’t go back empty-pawed. I’d only be helping the Clan starve by doing that.

Despite the harshly growing cold, Firepaw pressed on. Just as he was about to turn to go to Fourtrees to see if he could find something there, an all too familiar scent hit him.

Field mouse! he thought, growing somewhat relieved.

He crouched against the ground, shivering as the icy snow brushed against his belly. It was difficult to pick out exactly where the scent was coming from. The fresh scent of snow overwhelmed his senses, and it became increasingly difficult to focus on anything else.

Upon being able to pinpoint a solid trail for the field mouse, he began inching closer. It was difficult to stay quiet while pushing through the mounting snow, but he was able to spot his prey after following the trail for a little bit.

The field mouse seemed to be struggling as well, too small to push through the snow properly. It was relatively small, probably not quite an adult yet.

Firepaw squeezed his eyes shut for a few moments. Stay focused. It doesn’t matter what it looks like.

Without another thought, he used his haunches to boost himself forward upon the field mouse.

To his ultimate dismay, he overshot it and his paws landed next to the field mouse. Firepaw growled as it quickly shot away, skittering over the snow with a speed he already knew he wouldn’t be able to match considering his condition.

Firepaw watched the mouse dash away longingly, wanting to go after it but also knowing there was no way he'd be able to catch up with it.

One piece of missed prey is nothing, he reassured himself, still determined to find something to bring back for the Clan. It was small anyway.

He ignored the disappointed pit in his stomach, willing himself to continue his hunt. He quickly began padding around again, sniffing the air every chance he got.

He puffed air out of his nose, shuddering and wrinkling his snout upon realizing how cold and icy the air had gotten.

As he went on, the snow only began to get worse. He couldn’t help but long for his nest back in the apprentice’ den, with his friends surrounding him while the only sign of the snowstorm was the sound of the wind outside.

Did Onepaw’s patrol still end up going out? He found himself wondering.

The snow only got worse, the cold whipping into his face and making him squint. Every so often he’d stop to lick out some of the snow caught in his fur.

He sneezed again, hardly registering the fluid dripping from his nose. His ears were somewhat numb.

At this point, he had settled with the fact that he had whitecough. The signs were very clear, considering how he’d seen other cats with it. He hadn’t let that stop him, though- other cats were dealing with greencough. He had the luck of it being mild, so he wouldn’t let it stop him from helping the Clan.

They say to prioritize your Clan over your life, anyway.

He grew increasingly frustrated at the lack of prey- he hadn’t scented anything since the field mouse. Surely there had to be some things still out and about.

Noticing himself getting more wobbly, he looked around for a place to rest for a little bit. Not too far away, he could see one of the rare low-hanging trees in WindClan’s vast territory.

He stumbled over, before sitting down. It was a little more peaceful- the trunk thankfully blocked him from the wind and freezing temperatures.

He looked out over the white landscape. The scent of WindClan was a lot less clear due to it being covered up by the thick snow. He hadn’t been a snowstorm as fierce as this in a bit- the last time he had experienced one was when he and his Clanmates were forced out of their territory.

Still, it was a whole new experience seeing all of this change on his Clan’s own territory. He hoped it wouldn’t last too long.

However, it seemed as if StarClan had no intention of stopping the storm anytime soon.

The StarClan cats have power over this, don’t they? Why do they want us to suffer? This is just causing more cats to get hurt.

He began licking his fur, trying to warm himself up. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t have the thickest fur, so he was rather weak when it came to the cold.

After he had warmed up somewhat, he convinced himself to continue his hunt. He didn’t want to waste time- this weather would only get worse, after all.

What Firepaw failed to realize as he continued was how his condition changed. His movements got slower and more sluggish the longer he walked.

The snow is just slowing me down, he reassured himself.

He felt a gentle ache in his stomach, telling him that he was hungry. It wasn’t too bad- it went rather unnoticed beneath the numbness of the cold.

I can’t eat yet, anyway. I haven’t caught anything.

He began to feel somewhat hopeless- he couldn’t smell any sort of fresh prey anywhere nearby. He just needed to get one thing, and then-

Firepaw’s thoughts were cut off as he heard a distant sound. He strained his ears, glancing around. Maybe it’s prey?

As the sound continued, he realized that someone was calling his name.

“Firepaw! What are you doing?!”

He looked around, squinting his eyes to see who was addressing him. His gaze landed on the shape of a cat getting closer. As the shape got bigger and bigger, he began to be able to make out some of it’s details.

Tallstar, he realized.

The tom had gotten a lot closer, and was standing in front of his apprentice.

“Tallstar?” Firepaw meowed, blinking blearily.

“What is wrong?” Tallstar asked, concern in his amber eyes. “Are you okay?”

Firepaw attempted to stand taller. “Yeah, I’m fine. I was just trying to catch something.”

Tallstar squinted at his apprentice, before shaking his head. “Why would you do that? It’s awful out!”

“Why-” Firepaw coughed sharply. “Why are you out right now?”

“I’m on a patrol. But it’s nonsensical to go out on your own when the weather is like this,” Tallstar scolded.

“It wasn’t bad when I first went out,” Firepaw muttered.

“That’s not an excuse. Surely you saw the incoming clouds?” Tallstar pointed out.

“Yeah, but I needed to catch something,” Firepaw said insistently. “I didn’t want to go back empty-pawed.”

Tallstar frowned at Firepaw, before sighing and shaking his head. “You’re going back to camp. Now.”

Firepaw furrowed his brow, his eyes widening somewhat in surprise. “But- but I haven’t caught anything! I don’t want this to be a waste.”

“You’re clearly sick. If you’re completely debilitated, you won’t be able to catch anything any time soon. Now go back. That’s an order.”

Firepaw opened his mouth to protest again, but quickly put his head down and nodded. Firepaw shot one last desperate glance at the snowy fields, before turning to head towards camp.

Tallstar watched his retreating shape for a small bit, before quickly running over to catch up.

Firepaw shot a questioning glance at the older tom.

“I don’t trust that you’re strong enough to get back on your own. I’m going to accompany you on the way back,” Tallstar explained.

As the two walked, Firepaw grew progressively more dizzy and blurry-eyed. He pressed his ears against his head, trying to push out the sharp whistling of the wind.

Firepaw paused, growing too dizzy-headed to continue walking. He raised his head to look over at Tallstar, who had stopped as well. Then, his legs buckled from beneath him, and everything went dark.

---

Firepaw’s head was pulsing with pain. The only thing he could feel was a dull ache. His eyes were screwed shut, and it took him a little bit to be able to open them wide enough to be able to see something.

Everything was blurry, but he was able to register a few distorted shapes and distant voices.

Firepaw wanted to call out to ask what was going on- he couldn’t remember where he had been last, and he didn’t know where he was now.

The voices sounded far away, yet they echoed in his ears.

He was hardly able to register what they were talking about, or what the words meant.

“What’s wrong with Firepaw?”

“How long has he been like this?”

“How bad is it?”

“If he has greencough-”

Firepaw squeezed his eyes shut once more.

Greencough?

#Warrior Cats #Warrior Cats AU #FAIChrono

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fortheloveofwarriors · 5 years

Text

Warriors: Blossoms in the Tide: Into the Wild: Chapter 5

Two days… it had been two days since Princess’ entire world had turned upside down. She kept going back to that night, that dawn, searching every second she could remember in a desperate hope for a clue that Rusty may have actually made it. But how could he have? Three clan cats bearing down on him and he hadn’t even star-

“Hey, there!” a cheerful voice broke through the thought loop she had been caught in. Realizing she had been staring at her paws for only the gods knew how long, the calico was surprised to find a fish in front of her now. She turned her eyes upward, making eye contact with Shadepaw. Princess was eternally grateful for this molly; at times, it felt like Shadepaw was the only cat who genuinely cared- not tolerated, but cared- when she talked about Rusty. Shadepaw had tried to help her come up with situations where Rusty had made it through, brought her food, participated in an activity the clans called sharing tongues with her, and just seemed generally determined to get Princess back into good spirits.

“Hey, Shadepaw,” she greeted in a much more subdued tone. As grateful as she was, she wasn’t sure the molly’s efforts were working.

Shadepaw’s expression faltered for a moment, seeming more sympathetic before bringing back her cheeriness in full force. “Well, scooch over; this fish is for us to share!” she squealed while moving around to cuddle with Princess in the nest. Princess made room for her but couldn’t help the awkward flush that came over her skin at the apprentice’s closeness.

Shadepaw had just drawn the fish forward and had her mouth open to start her daily ramble about her training when another cat came into the den. The scent wasn’t Mudfur’s, so it got their attention quickly. Instead, it was the brilliant golden tabby who had been named deputy; what was her name again? Leopard-something?

“Leopardfur!” Shadepaw helpfully chirped. “Were you looking for Mudfur? He wasn’t here when I came in,” she started going on. Sensing one of Shadepaw’s talkative moments, Leopardfur waved her tail for silence.

“Thank you, Shadepaw, but I am actually here to talk to your new friend.” This caught Princess’ attention; outside of Shadepaw and Mudfur, no one had talked to her since the night Oakwatcher died. The long legged molly- or, at least, she was long legged in comparison to most of the cats in Riverclan, according to Shadepaw- couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous.

The dark grey cat cuddling her just cast a wide eyed glance her way. Leopardfur didn’t leave either of them with time to respond before turning back to the entrance with a flick of her tail. “Come on,” she meowed, her tone pleasant, “we’re going for a walk.”

Shadepaw had told Princess about clan roles and clan life; she knew what Leopardfur’s new position meant. She didn’t really want to go with this molly who was basically a stranger, but did she really have a choice?

“Okay,” Princess agreed uncertainly as she padded after the older molly. The afternoon sunlight was harsh. Princess had barely left Mudfur’s den since Leopardfur received her promotion and she certainly hadn’t been back to the main camp since that night. She froze, momentarily overwhelmed by just how busy it was. Cats were going to and fro, a couple were basking in the sun’s rays, and Mudfur was sniffing and running a paw along the belly of a very pregnant molly.

A golden tail tip harshly flicked against Princess’s nose, causing the housecat to flinch back. “Pay attention and keep up, please,” the deputy meowed, her tone showing her impatience. Now that she had the young molly's attention, Leopardfur briskly walked toward the camp entrance.

“Where are we going?” Princess asked as she exited the reed tunnel. To her surprise, Leopardfur was already halfway across the small stream surrounding the camp. She picked up the pace, almost stumbling over her paws in her haste to follow the deputy.

“Around,” the pretty golden tabby answered vaguely. Her pale yellow eyes held a spark of amusement as Princess gracelessly hurried her swim across the tiny channel. “When a Riverclan cat loses someone close to them, they're usually only placed on patrols. It lets them work while being surrounded by others, leaving them able to focus on their feelings while there are others to aid in their duties. Also, we find long walks tend to help stir other emotions in a cat so they can feel something other than their grief,” Leopardfur explained when Princess had reached the shore.

Without warning, Leopardfur took off at a light run. “Keep up!” she reminded. It took Princess a moment, but as was running as soon as her mind registered the tabby's words.

She was smaller than the clan cat. Her lanky legs brought her to the deputy's shoulder but she was a twig compared to Leopardfur's muscle. So it was a surprise to them both when Princess easily caught up to the wild cat. They kept pace for a time, shoulder to shoulder as they ran. Laying in a nest for two days definitely hadn't done the little calico any favors. She had never been able to run as long as her brother, who had quite easily been the fastest cat she knew, but she was fairly certain running long distances hadn't been this hard before.

As Princess tired, Leopardfur pulled ahead. By the time Princess had caught up, Leopardfur was crouching in front of a wooden fence, her breaths heavy as she rested. The calico crouched beside her, panting as she caught her breath.

The fence wasn't like the one that had been around her housefolk's garden. This one had many open gaps; a twoleg could easily step over or slip under it. On the other side were strange animals. Some were puffy and white, like clouds, with black legs, hooves, and faces. Others were even taller than the living clouds; they were easily the biggest animals Princess had ever seen. They had huge, powerful hooves, legs more muscular than her entire body, wispy tails, and oddly long faces. They even had what appeared to be a second tail sprouting from their necks!

“Leopardfur, what are those?” she whispered, both amazed and intimidated. She was unable to pull her wide green eyes away from the oddities before her as they contentedly munched on grass.

“The white ones are called sheep and the tall ones are called horses,” the deputy told her, her whiskers twitching as she watched the younger cats awed staring. “They're harmless enough; as long as they aren't spooked, they don't even care for our presence. That means no fast or sudden movements and no loud noises,” she instructed, satisfied when she received a nod.

Princess was unable to look away until she noticed Leopardfur was getting up. The golden molly had stood and was walking under the fence and into the pasture! “Leopardfur!” she whisper yelled. “I don't think w-” she started before stopping; it was clear the deputy wasn't listening.

Hesitating, Princess looked around. What should she do? Leopardfur had said they were harmless as long as you were careful but all it took was one stomp and she'd be dead! Still, she had seemed so confident going in…

With some deep breaths, Princess steeled her courage and slid under the fence. She was creeping along slowly, her belly close to the ground when she heard a bleating noise that was much higher pitched than that of the sheep. She looked around cautiously for the source and found an odd little creature. It looked like a sheep kit with a thin, light layer of woolly cloud around it.

It made the bleating noise again before coming over and bending down to give her a sniff. She sniffed at it in turn. When their noses briefly touched, it reared back with an abrupt bleat. Princess flattened herself to the ground, convinced that she was going to be trampled, only to find that the little one was still staring at her curiously. There was a harsh bleat from a nearby sheep, resulting in the baby running to its side, bleating almost nonstop and bucking excitedly.

Her nerves mostly settled, Princess continued slinking through the large animals. When she reached the other side of the fence, Leopardfur was waiting for her. The deputy had this odd neutral smile on her face. “You took a bit long,” she meowed.

“This thing that looked like a weird sheep was curious about me,” she meowed softly as she shuffled her paws.

“Lambs,” Leopardfur meowed as she rose to her paws and began walking away from the pasture. “They're curious just like the kits of every kind. We try not to go through the pasture unless needed; however, it does well for teaching patience and tolerance to younger cats,” she continued to explain as they walked.

Princess looked around as they went. A short distance from the pasture, blocked from the sight of the Riverclan camp by the trees, streams, and shrubbery, was a fair sized twoleg home. "You live so close to housefolk?” she asked as the earth underpaw started becoming steeper, heading uphill.

“They twolegs leave us be and they never seem to have a problem with us when we cross the pasture. We think they like us,” Leopardfur meowed. “Still, better to be cautious. After all, they don’t have any kittypets so they mustn’t like cats too much,” she muttered. The golden tabby steered them closer to the river as the land began to rise away from it. The further the land rose away from the water, the more a loud crashing filled Princess’s ear.

The land kept rising and the crashing kept getting louder. She had no idea how high they were now and Leopardfur was keeping her distance from the edge. Where the river was beneath them resulted in a huge gap in front of them; it was like a violent tear in the earth. On the other side of the gap was the flattest land Princess had ever seen. Many places merely held the springy moorland grass; other spots were covered in vast swaths of low growing shrubs and vines.

The young tortoiseshell could feel her curiosity growing. Keeping herself low, she carefully crept close to the edge and stuck her neck out so she could see down below. She felt like her stomach was going to drop through the earth. The river- beautiful and swirling at a speed that resulted in white foam on the surface- was so far beneath her that it looked tiny. She looked upstream and saw a large waterfall, stunning in its own right.

She slowly backed away to find Leopardfur had come back closer to her. “I wouldn’t advise walking so close to the edge,” she meowed, seemingly a bit annoyed at the kittypet’s lack of self preservation. She looked across the gap and meowed, “That’s Windclan’s territory.”

Princess’s head whipped back to the moorland in disbelief. She looked back toward Thunderclan territory; the stream that Rusty had pushed her in branched off at the bottom of the moorland. “We were that close?” she whispered. Maybe her hope hadn't been that far fetched? She didn't know how far the stream had carried her, after all.

She turned to Leopardfur almost frantically, only to be met with the deputy shaking her head. “Don't get your hopes up,” she warned.

“But he could have made it!” the calico argued, painfully aware of how close she sounded like she was begging. But she had to try. Maybe Rusty had reached Windclan; maybe she could find him!

“And if he isn't in Windclan, what will you do?” Leopardfur challenged with a hiss. Despite her hiss, she seemed more stern than outright angry. “It won't make the hope go away, kittypet. Anything could have happened to him after you were swept by the current. Maybe he ran to Windclan; he could have also ran in the direction of Shadowclan,” she pointed out. “And that's assuming he got away in the first place; there's always the possibility that he got caught. Maybe he got exceptionally lucky and was able to run back to his twolegs.”

“But he's my brother!” Princess insisted, standing as tall as she could. “I have to check!” she insisted as she started to lightly hiss back.

“I never said you didn't. You just can't check now,” the deputy elaborated. She then went on to mumble something about young cats being ‘so argumentative’ as she lashed her tail.

“Why can't I? Windclan territory is right there! There must be some way to reach them and ask,” she insisted, trying to be more polite. She couldn't help but look back at the moor, desperately trying to spot any sign of flaming red fur.

With a sigh, Leopardfur gave her a sympathetic look. “It's not a matter of ability, but a matter of circumstance,” she explained. “Windclan and Shadowclan have been at extreme odds lately. Every moon there's more tales of battles and injured cats. Lately, there have even been deaths,” she explained.

“Even if we ignore the dangers we face just by trespassing to ask them, it could have lasting consequences,” Leopardfur sternly meowed as she looked around for a patch of dirt. Upon locating one, she drew two crisscrossing lines with slender claws.

“The clan territories, conveniently for the purpose of this simplified explanation, form a loose square. Windclan in the top left, Shadowclan in the top right, and I assume you know where Riverclan and Thunderclan lay on this map?” She asked, gesturing to each spot in turn. Princess nodded, more than a little frustrated at being held from Windclan.

“In times of hardship or war, it's common for the clan to find an ally in the clan across from them,” the golden tabby elaborated, drawing more line to connect the diagonal clans. “It's easier to steal from immediate neighbors. Your warriors don't have as far to travel and aiming for the one diagonal from you is likely to upset your neighbors as well.”

“So if Windclan and Shadowclan are going at it, Windclan may think we're there to help their enemies,” Princess meowed, her head hung low.

"Yes… More to the point, Windclan and Thunderclan may already be allies. Even though you didn’t seriously wound him, you did make an enemy of Tigerclaw, the Thunderclan deputy; you and your brother are Thunderclan’s enemies by extension. Depending on how much Rosestar- the Thunderclan leader- cares about the whole situation, and how badly Windclan is fairing in all of this, Privetstar may be made to take action. I am sorry for what happened to you and your brother. The whole clan is. But wanting to question them when it won't necessarily prove anything will accomplish nothing except roping my clan into a war," the deputy meowed firmly, her tone making it clear the conversation was done.

Princess went silent, gazing at the moor with her head down. She understood what Leopardfur was saying and she didn't want to risk getting others hurt in her search for answers but… she couldn't help the deep pit of longing in her belly. She only turned her eyes to her guide when she heard her sigh heavily.

"Nothing lasts forever, Princess," she said, resulting in Princess giving her a shocked look. When had she given this other cat her name? "Information like names spread like wildfire in a clan," the deputy soothed, a short giggle in her tone.

"Back on topic, this fit going on between Windclan and Shadowclan, it'll end eventually. When it does, there are many cats in the clan who would volunteer to escort you to their border to wait for a patrol. We would do that now but… Windclan is getting very defensive. I'm not asking you to give up; Starclan knows, I would never ask that. I'm just telling you to have some patience," she finished with a stern finality in her words and gaze. She didn't even give Princess the time or acknowledgement needed to reply; she just walked by her in the way they had come from.

The calico followed after a few heartbeats. They weren't going back through the pasture. Instead, they stayed by the gorge. "I'm sorry if I messed up the tour," she meowed, just trying to break the somewhat tense and awkward silence.

She got a head shake in response. "You didn't. There wasn't much left to see up that way. I had wanted to check a bit more of the border while there but that was just as good of a turning point as any other.” The younger molly eyed her oddly. Why had they even gone as far as they had if there wasn’t much to see? Why show her the Windclan border if they couldn’t go check on Rusty immediately?

So distracted by her thoughts, Princess almost ran into Leopardfur from behind. The golden tabby had stopped before a small but sturdy looking bridge. The river, still holding plenty of speed from the gorge, rushed underneath; an unstoppable torrent that would certainly wash away any cat that tried to swim across rather than walk. “This bridge is our most direct path to Fourtrees,” she meowed, only continuing to walk when she was certain she had the other cat’s attention once more.

Instead of crossing the bridge, she continued to lead them by the river. “Once a moon, under the light of the full moon, the clans meet at Fourtrees. There is a permanent truce on this night; it is merely a night to share information and peacefully settle disputes peacefully,” she explained as she lead Princess under a weeping willow tree. The kittypet couldn’t help but gape at the beauty inside.

The golden light of sunset shone through the delicate, wavy fronds. Everything inside the dome of leaves was painted as golden as the sun itself. A bit of the river flowed under the leaves, leaving a small island of roots for the mollies to sit on. Princess followed the clan deputy as she took her seat on a large willow root. The older cat practically glowed in the sunshine; her naturally golden coat seeming to radiate a golden aura. Princess’s own coat, a mix of dark black and fire red with some white patches thrown in, seemed to take on a golden sheen.

Neither cat said a word; Princess took the moment of quiet to try to sort through her thoughts. More than ever, a glimmer of hope at seeing her brother burned brightly inside her. Even outside of her lingering doubts and her own memories saying he tried fighting rather than running, she felt better somehow. Sharper, more alert; it was as though something about her tour had woken up something inside her.

“I’m sure you see it now,” Leopardfur meowed. Still curled up with her tail over her paws, the golden tabby sat with her eyes closed as she addressed the young one with her. Yellow eyes opened to meet green. “It’s always good to work through your grief but you should never dwell on it. That’s why we send those who have suffered a loss on patrols; they can do work that helps keep them focused while giving them grieving room,” she explained.

Princess nodded. It was true, the pain and worry weren’t gone entirely but she did feel better. Still, why had Leopardfur done this for her? While their general policy made sense, why include an outsider such as herself. The deputy did not seem like a cat why would just extend a helping paw to outsiders like that without a hidden motive. At least, that’s what Princess had gathered from Shadepaw’s tales of the deputy and what little she had seen of her herself.

Sure enough, the next words out of Leopardfur’s mouth had been ones she had been expecting in one form or another for what felt like an eternity. Then again, the entirety of the two days she had been in clan territory felt like an eternity. “What do you plan to do now?”

It was a fair question. Even without Leopardfur snapping her somewhat back to her senses with a run of the territory, she wouldn’t have been able to stay in Mudfur’s den forever. That would just be leeching off of Riverclan’s kindness. That didn’t mean she knew where she would go or what she could do now, though. “What are my options? I wouldn’t be able to return home, would I?”

“I’m afraid not. Normally, such escorts aren’t a problem. The problem is that your home is on the other side of Thunderclan territory. That leaves you with two,” the muscular molly explained, turning to face the slim tortoiseshell. “While I don’t think the twolegs in our territory would take you in, we do know some rogues who could escort you to other twoleg places. They’re kind and would make sure that you’re taken in by gentle housefolk,” she assured.

It was tempting. She wasn’t even sure she could survive without twolegs. Still, knowing she could never go home to her housefolk stung almost like knowing she could never see Jake again. They had been apart of her family. Who would be there to make sure the little kit stayed out of trouble while her father was taking care of things in another room? Who would help him soothe her cries, or play ball with her, or cuddle close to her when she was cold? ‘They’ll probably get another kittypet,’ she thought sadly. He certainly would need the extra paws. But could she move on so easily? Could she just blend into another family and leave her old one behind?

The pangs in her chest was all she needed to know her answer. “What’s my other option?” she asked quietly as she put a paw over her bell. Her collar, battered and torn, had somehow remained intact. True to form, it had jungled all throughout the day. With so much else on her mind, princess just hadn’t been able to focus on it enough to keep the accursed bell quiet.

“You could stay with Riverclan. Crookedstar is willing to allow you in; you’d train with the other apprentices and learn our culture, laws, as well as how to provide for yourself and your clanmates.” The deputy had a proud smile on her face at the thought.

“You really think I have what it takes to be a clan cat?” Princess asked her, her expression incredulous. “I can’t hunt, the little bit of fighting I have done was entirely beginner’s luck, I can’t run as long as you can, and I can barely keep my head above water if there’s a moving current,” she pointed out harshly, seeming to sag the more she insulted her own abilities. Still, while she knew her own shortcomings, she couldn’t help but feel a touch hurt by how quick Leopardfur was to agree with her.

“That’s all true,” she agreed. “But isn’t also true that you’re the same cat who, through sheer determination and will to live, fought the Thunderclan deputy to save her kin, ran herself to exhaustion because she was wise enough to not fight a battle she knew she couldn’t win, forced her body to stay afloat in what must have seemed like rapids, and still managed to stay awake long enough to explain everything to the clan that sheltered her? No cat is born knowing how to survive or how to be a warrior. That’s why everyone must be an apprentice before they can be a warrior,” she explained.

“It’s not how much of a natural you are that shows your ability to be a warrior, but your willingness to learn. A cat who was born a loner but understand loyalty, selflessness, and order has better potential to be a warrior than a clan born cat who’s only focused on battle, glory, and their own life,” the golden deputy pointed out nonchalantly as she began grooming a front leg.

Princess was still unsure. What Leopardfur had said made sense but how could she be sure that the young calico had it in her to tough it out in the wilderness. “You really think I could get by out here?” she asked in uncertainty.

“I think you owe it to yourself to try. After everything you’ve been through, I think you should at least invest in some self defense lessons. Those are valuable wherever you go,” she pointed out.

Though there was another worry. “Clan cats are very close to each other, aren’t they?” she asked quietly, taking her eyes off the deputy and turning to her golden-looking reflection in the river. “When Shadepaw talks to me about Riverclan, she talks like the whole clan is her family.”

“We are all a family. Not through blood, of course, but through the heart, spirit, and home. We fight and provide for each other, we mourn together and support each other. We all celebrate every important event in each other’s lives-” the deputy boasted proudly. Kittypets may have a sense of family but she doubted they had a sense of community like the clans did. She would have listed more but the kittypet before her cut her off.

“And how often must you all mourn together? How often do you have to say goodbye to the cats you call family because of a fight or there wasn’t enough food?” Still, she kept her eyes focused on the water. If it hurt this much when she lost Rusty, how much would it hurt if she joined the clan only for her new family to start dying?

The questions resulted in a stunned blink from Leopardfur that moved into a look of understanding. "I'll preface this with an answer. We undoubtedly see more death than kittypets but it isn't like we lose someone every other moon. Sometimes we go a whole year without losing anyone. Other years, we get hit with an outbreak of disease that claims three or four lives. Still, I don't think this should impact your decision," she meowed, going back to her grooming. Princess twisted back to look at her, confusion twisting her features.

"Death is inevitable, Princess. Even if you stayed at your twoleg's den with your brother, you would have witnessed death eventually. As terrible as it is to lose someone, it's a part of life and, just as with other parts of life, life won't stop just because of that moment. It carries on and we can either do the same or drown in the emotions of the moment," she said solemnly, flicking her tail to Princess so it would brush against her flank.

Princess considered Leopardfur's words. She supposed they were true enough but they still didn't quite soothe the worry she held. Seeing this, the deputy said something startling. "You know, Mudfur is my father."

Emerald orbs wide, Princess meowed, "How? Shadepaw said healers aren't allowed to take a mate or have kits."

"Normally that's true; most healers are never warriors. My father was the exception. He found love and had a full litter of kittens," she replied with a short lived purr.

"What changed?" Princess muttered grimly, drawing herself back. Something had to have happened, why else would Mudfur give up his family?

"My mother became sick while pregnant. She was too sick to survive labor and her illness made my siblings sick as well. I was the only one out of the litter to make it through," she explained. "It made my father decide that he wanted to heal instead of battle."

Princess sighed and turned back to the water. She figured as much. Yet, Leopardfur still had a point. Mudfur had to of still been devastated, but he pushed through. Maybe she should do the same. Besides, Rusty risked everything, possibly sacrificed everything, so she could have a chance to live. Didn't she at least owe it to him to learn how to defend herself? "If I try being a warrior and it isn't for me?" she murmured.

"Crookedstar is willing to put you on a trial run, if you wish. You can train with us for one moon and see how you like clan life. After that, you can leave if you wish."

Princess sat in silent contemplation. A moon to see how it went couldn't hurt, right? And it'd give her more time to figure out what she wanted to do now. Besides, she may actually enjoy clan life, once she gave it a chance. Turning back to the deputy, she nodded. "I'll do the trial run," she announced, feeling sure for the first time since coming here.

Leopardfur gave her a small smile. "Excellent," she meowed before standing and stretching. "We'll tell Crookedstar at once; he'll want to hold your ceremony as soon as possible," she added before darting out if the golden sanctuary, in the direction of camp. Princess scrambled behind her, wondering what this trial had in store for her.

#warriors au #warriors rewrite #warriors #blossoms in the tide #warriors: blossoms in the tide #chapter five #chapter 5

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signs-of-the-moon · 1 year

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Moon High: Chapter 12

Sunhigh came around all too soon. It was tradition for those on the gathering patrol to sleep until midday, in Oceanclan. But Hazepaw had been up all night. The amount of sleep he'd managed to get after meeting with Moonpaw was pitiful. But Hazepaw couldn't let himself fall behind on training because of it. Nor could he allow anyone to suspect that he had been out later than he should have been. Still, that didn't mean Hazepaw was going to act happy about being woken up.

"Rise and shine, 'Paws. Time for some battle practice!" Called one of the mentors from outside the apprentice's den. Hazepaw made a drawn out groan, sluggishly lifting himself from the warmth of his nest. His paws ached as he stood up, likely from the long journey to and from the Gathering clearing. Daylight stung his eyes as he emerged into the open, dimmed only by a gathering of clouds. The scent of rain hung in the air, alerting Hazepaw that the day would be as miserable as he felt.

Pausing long enough to clean his pelt of moss, Hazepaw managed to wake up enough to be a functioning member of Oceanclan. At Sandybreeze's call he padded along, following behind the other apprentices as they headed to the edge of the forest and beyond towards the training grounds. The shift from earth to sand underpaw felt uncomfortable, and Hazepaw realized he'd begun to grow used to living in the Forest Patch. Or perhaps the difference in the ground was more noticeable with aching paws.

"Stars, Hazepaw, you look exhausted," commented Otterpaw as she fell back to walk alongside him. Hazepaw only managed a grunt in response. "Did you have trouble sleeping?"

"You could say that," he mumbled, avoiding the halfclan molly's gaze.

"Me too," Otterpaw admitted with a sigh. "I was up and down all night because of some bad dreams."

Hazepaw's body tensed a little at Otterpaw's remark. If she had been waking up a lot, did that mean she had noticed he wasn't in his nest last night? "That sucks," he replied, forcing his voice to stay even just as it had before.

"And what about you?" Otterpaw asked suddenly, her tone dropping almost to a whisper. "What were you up to?"

"Uh..." Hazepaw became even more ridged, his tail flicking from nerves.

"Relax, I won't tell anyone," Otterpaw promised. For once she sounded so sincere, and her expression showed she meant it, too.

Hazepaw sighed, deciding to trust Otterpaw. "I was out with a friend last night. We weren't doing anything wrong."

"Knowing you I bet you were getting up to all kinds of trouble," Otterpaw figured which made Hazepaw laugh a little.

"You think that's all I do? Get into trouble?"

"No, but you certainly make trouble, especially for others," Otterpaw snickered

"I've been on my best behavior though, I swear."

Otterpaw gave him a look with a brow arched in disbelief

"Ok, well. Mostly," he admitted. Otterpaw simply shook her head in response, although she didn't seem to be disapproving. She had a smile on her face and a glint of mischief in her yellow eyes.

Up ahead, Urchinpaw called back to her, asking if she'd come join him on the walk. But Otterpaw responded back, telling the wiry black tom to walk beside her instead. Hazepaw bristled, uncomfortable with having Urchinpaw hanging around. Otterpaw seemed to notice, then yowled;

"Nevermind, I'll come to you," before scampering on ahead. Hazepaw sighed, relieved at being left alone, and spared of Urchinpaw's annoying presence. But he was also left with a thought. Was Otterpaw really going out of her way to be nice to him? It seemed strange. Ever since the death of Tunafin, Otterpaw had been treating Hazepaw differently. As if seeing him so vulnerable had changed the brown she-cat's opinion on him. She still teased, but there wasn't as much bite to her words as there'd once been, when she was new to the clan. And now she was checking up on him, even being playful. Hazepaw could hardly believe what was happening. Otterpaw's still halfclan though. She can't be trusted, he reminded himself as he padded along. She's probably just trying to play some mind games with me. But was she really? Or was Hazepaw just so used to being messed with that it was hard to recognize Otterpaw's genuine kindness? He didn't know for sure. But there were more pressing matters to focus on, so Hazepaw pushed back his wonder to consider later.

As the patrol headed farther onto the beach, seagulls circled them from above. Their shrill squawking was warning, as if they thought the beach was now their territory to claim. They were trying to scare the clan cats away with their calls. Dumb birds. It should be you who's scared. We'll make prey out of you all! Hazepaw thought as he looked up at them. In the distance, beyond the screeching, he could hear the rhythmic crashing of the ocean's waves. How Hazepaw longed to see them again. The training grounds were close by the shore, but he'd yet to have a chance to train there. He was excited to finally be able to; and to get back to some semblance of normalcy, for Oceanclan standards. But the mentors had other plans.

"A'right. Everybody stop. We're gonna do some battle practice right here," Silverdrop meowed, using her tail to block the group's path.

"Wait, like, we're not gonna go to the training grounds?" Precious, one of the eldest apprentices, asked. Her voice was laced with a permanent attitude that Hazepaw had come to expect. The she-cat wasn't really snooty though, it was just her voice that made her seem that way.

"The area's swelled up with water from the storms and high tide," responded Ripplesnout, one of the mentors. "It's too dangerous to go there. And this place is as good as any to practice what we're testing for today."

"What are you testing us for?" Urchinpaw piped as he sat on the silty ground.

Sandybreeze was the one to answer; "Today you'll all be assessed on your progress with battle training. That way we can see what each of your strengths are, and what you require more practice with."

"You will be sorted into pairs. Then, you will all fight at once, in order to simulate a real battle," chimed Driftbreeze, the mentor of the newly named Currentpaw. "Stonepaw, Currentpaw, and Whisperpaw, you three will have to sit on the sidelines and observe the action for today. Try and learn as much as you can from your peers in the meantime."

"No fair!" Currentpaw griped, his sister, Stonepaw, caterwauling in agreement.

"Yeah! How come the older apprentices get to fight?"

"Because we haven't learned how yet," Whisperpaw murmured.

"Yes w-" Stonepaw was interrupted by a jab to her flank from Currentpaw, who hissed under his breath for her to be quiet. Hazepaw arched a suspicious brow. Were they trying to hide something, he wondered. Instead of dwelling longer, he decided to chalk their behavior up to their eagerness. Perhaps the pair had been preparing to learn how to fight on their own, and Stonepaw wanted to show off. But Currentpaw was usually the sort to want to prove himself. So why would he silence his littermate for wanting to do the same? It was odd.

Ignoring the young cats' protests, Driftbreeze herded the three newest apprentices somewhere out of the way. Then Hazepaw stepped forward, awaiting his opponent assignment. He decided he could question the antics of the littermates some other time.

"Precious, you'll be fighting against both Urchinpaw and Shimmerpaw. And Otterpaw, you get to face off against Hazepaw," Otterpaw's mentor, Kinkfoot, instructed.

So Otterpaw's gonna try and fight me? This'll be interesting. Hazepaw suppressed a smug smirk as he turned to face the mentioned brown she-cat. There was no way he was going to lose to that halfclan rat. Meanwhile, the marble she-cat, Precious, looked nervously between her two opponents. Can't say I blame her, Hazepaw thought. But he knew Precious was being challenged more because of her upcoming warrior's assessment. Her mentor was probably using today's practice to determine if Precious was ready for her promotion. Hazepaw was only slightly envious to not be one of her training partners. He wanted to prove he could hold his own, even against a wiser foe. But he also knew that fighting one on one with Otterpaw would help him prove himself more. Taking down an enemy without the aid of a clanmate was no easy task. But it was seen as a great accomplishment. And right now, Hazepaw could use the boost of confidence winning solo would bring. Especially with how tired he was, and after being on the losing side of a few border skirmishes. Besides, at least Otterpaw could be seen as an honorable opponent, having full clan blood. Meanwhile Precious had been born and raised a kittypet, corrupted by softness. She would probably use dirty tricks to win her battles. Hazepaw wasn't in the mood to deal with something like that today.

The other apprentices around him began to size up their opponents, and Hazepaw realized he needed to start doing the same. Otterpaw was poised and ready to pounce the heartbeat she was given the chance. Hazepaw lowered his head, flexing his muscles, ready to take her on. She was smaller than he was in every way. She'd be an easy enemy to take down.

"A'right 'Paws," Silverdrop meowed, "begin!"

At once, Hazepaw barreled towards Otterpaw, striking out at her with a powerful paw. Otterpaw lunged to meet him, easily avoiding the blow as she came within range. Then she swung around, attempting to throw a hit of her own. Hazepaw intercepted, grabbing the brown molly by her forepaw and pulling her closer, snapping his jaws to grip anywhere he could latch onto. He managed to bite Otterpaw on the shoulder, met with harsh slaps to the face as he held on.

"Ow, Hazepaw!" Otterpaw yelped. "This isn't a real fight, get your teeth out of me!" Oh right, Hazepaw realized he was being too rough. This was only a test. He didn't want to get in trouble for taking things too seriously. Not today, at least. So, the white tom relented, allowing Otterpaw to break free from his grasp.

The brown she-cat growled as she backed up, her tail lashing wildly. She yowled as she lunged towards Hazepaw again, ducking beneath him. What!? From his backside, Otterpaw turned like a snake to grip Hazepaw's haunches, pulling him down to the ground. Then she threw herself onto his back, swiping at his flanks with claws sheathed. If that had been a real attack, Hazepaw could be seriously injured, he realized. To counter her, the white tom shook his body, trying with all his might to fling her away. Otterpaw eventually lost her grip, sliding as she was thrown, and spraying sand everywhere. Hazepaw shook his pelt from the debris, preparing to attack Otterpaw again. But before he could, Shimmerpaw came pelting past, Precious right on her heels. The black smoke molly was avoiding the surprisingly fast kittypet's blows, her eyes wide with fear. A bit of blood trickled from above one of her eyes, and Hazepaw wondered if Precious accidently used her claws against her. None of the warriors said anything about it, though.

Just then, Urchinpaw shoved past, intercepting Precious in her chase and knocking her to the ground. The pair of apprentices tussled on the beach, feigning hisses and swipes as they fought. They were getting in Hazepaw's way, preventing him from reaching Otterpaw.

"Watch where you're going!" He snapped, but was left ignored. When Hazepaw's attention returned to where Otterpaw once stood, he noticed she was no longer there. Instead she'd come around while he was distracted, then jumped on him, pushing Hazepaw onto to the ground once again. She forced him to roll onto his back, pummeling his delicate underbelly, tearing away at his long fur. Even with her claws sheathed she was doing damage. Hazepaw was sure his belly would be bruised after this. As quickly and roughly as possible, Hazepaw got his back paws underneath the brown molly. He pushed up into her, easily throwing her off himself once more. Huffing to catch his breath, the white tom rolled onto his belly and crouched. Just in time to watch Otterpaw fall on top of Shimmerpaw. Precious took advantage of this, shoving the brown molly aside to take hold of her enemy. Shimmerpaw shrieked, summoning Urchinpaw to her rescue. But he too was caught in the former kittypet's grasp, brought to the ground and forced to submit to her power. Hazepaw chuckled, realizing he'd underestimated the marbled she-cat.

Beside her, Otterpaw shook out her pelt, locking her eyes back on Hazepaw. She bared her teeth in a snarl, challenging him to come fight once more. Hazepaw took the invitation without hesitance, rising to his paws. He gave his haunches a calculating wiggle before going after his opponent once again. This time, Otterpaw rose onto her back paws to catch him, griping Hazepaw by the shoulders as she came back down. Her teeth snapped as she tried biting his neck and face. Hazepaw narrowly avoided her bites, backing up to break from her grip. But Otterpaw was surprisingly strong, holding him in place. With greater might the white tom managed to pull himself from the halfclan molly's paws. But his paw slipped as he moved, causing it to turn in an awkward angle along the shifty ground. Pain shot from his wrist up his forepaw, causing Hazepaw to yelp. Otterpaw took notice of the new weakness within him and used it to her advantage. She struck out, pulling the white tom's injured paw out from under him, making him fall with an audible thud. Then she got on top of him again. This time she gripped his scruff, holding him with a paw and forcing the white tom into surrender. Hazepaw allowed himself to go limp beneath her. He couldn't fight anymore with the pain he was in. He knew when he was bested. Even if it hurt more to admit that.

Triumphantly, Otterpaw tilted her head back and caterwauled her victory. The mentors around them began to praise her in response. They congratulated Precious, too, on her win against her pair of opponents. Both she-cats looked so proud and smug. They quickly abandoned their faux enemies to speak with their mentors, leaving the remaining three cats to recooperate.

"Hazepaw, you alright?" Urchinpaw padded towards him, checking the white tom over. "You took a hard fall."

"Why does it matter to you?" Hazepaw growled, pelt burning with humiliation. The last thing he needed right now was to be picked on by Urchinpaw. It was bad enough he'd lost his fight against Otterpaw of all cats.

"Is it a crime to check up on my clanmate?" Urchinpaw snapped back, his voice filled more with concern than anger. "Y'know, just because we don't get along well, doesn't mean I don't care."

"You've never acted like you cared before," Hazepaw pointed out, thrashing his tail. He was in no mood for Urchinpaw's anticts. But the wiry black tom wouldn't let up.

"Well, you never let me!" he defended, his voice raising. But before Urchinpaw could catch the attention of their other clanmates, he softened his tone. "I've always tried to be friendly with you, Hazepaw. But whenever I try to joke around, you escalate things and turn it into a problem."

"I do not!" Hazepaw countered.

"You take every joke too seriously! You think every little teasing word I say is a threat, and act on that assumption."

Hazepaw hesitated for a heartbeat, repeating the other tom's words in his mind. He thought back to all the disagreements and fights the pair had gotten in over the moons. Then, he began to realize the problems he'd always griped about had been escalated by his own actions. Hazepaw's pelt burned warmer as he came to understand Urchinpaw's side of the argument. "...Guess I hadn't noticed before," he admitted.

"Yeah, clearly," Urchinpaw snorted. "Look Hazepaw. I'm sick of all this bad blood between us. Can we let bygones be bygones already, and start trying to act like clanmates?"

"...Fine," Hazepaw agreed, although it almost pained him to do so. Maybe he hadn't given Urchinpaw a fair chance. Maybe he'd let his biases blind him from seeing the other tom's genuine interest in becoming friends. It almost embarrassed Hazepaw to think that he hadn't noticed before. Hazepaw's thoughts then rounded back to Otterpaw. She'd been the same as Urchinpaw, seeking his alliance. He considered things for another heartbeat. Perhaps it wouldn't be the worst to act civil. For the three of them become friends. He'd told Moonpaw that they were. But that had been a lie. A painful one, Hazepaw realized. He didn't have any genuine friends in the clan besides Whisperpaw. Though reluctant, Hazepaw decided he could let himself become closer with Urchinpaw and Otterpaw.

"C'mere," Urchinpaw summoned, offering his shoulder for Hazepaw to lean on. Hazepaw rose to his paws, trusting the wiry black tom to support his weight. It felt strange to be so close to him physically. But Hazepaw decided it wasn't so bad. Urchinpaw smiled at him softly, relief glittering in his eyes. Maybe their quarrel was something the tom had been grappling with in his mind for a long time. Now, he wouldn't have to worry about Hazepaw's reactions as much anymore. Hazepaw swore to himself he'd at least try not to overreact if and when Urchinpaw decided to tease him again.

Together, the pair made their way over to the rest of their clanmates, Shimmerpaw following at their heels. She soon pulled ahead of them to stand beside Ripplesnout, who helped to clean her injured forehead. The dark tabby tom purred at her, assuring she did her best in the fight. Beside her, Precious was being praised by her mentor, Bellapool. She boasted about her skilled fighting and promised that she'd hold the marbled siamese molly's assessment soon, after speaking with Wavestar. Hazepaw's own mentor Sandybreeze approached, agreeing with her fellow warrior. Then she made her way over to the two defeated toms. Otterpaw came around to stand at her side. She rubbed against her aunt, then beamed at her denmates.

"You two fought awesomely," she commented. "Nice use of teamwork, Urchinpaw!"

"Learned it from you," he complimented back. "Never thought a teamup would be the best approach to fighting. It sucks that Shimmerpaw and I lost, though.'

"You'll do better next time," assured Otterpaw before giving her attention to Hazepaw. "And Hazepaw, you're so strong! There were a few instances where I thought I'd be crowfood. You're really good at battling."

The heat that had crept through Hazepaw's fur before turned from a singe of embarrassment into a warm glow of pride.

"There's still a lot of improvement that needs to be done," Sandybreeze interjected. "But yes, you did well, Hazepaw. Work on strategizing more, and you'll be on your way to becoming powerful warrior."

Part of him wanted to thank his mentor for the compliment. But a voice in the back of his mind prevented Hazepaw from speaking up. It almost sounded like his mother, telling him not to thank others for skills he personally possessed. Instead, Hazepaw gave a grunt and held his head high. Sandybreeze chuckled, flicking her tail to prompt him and the other apprentices to follow her.

"That's enough practice for today. A couple of you got too rowdy, so we need to get you patched up before we do anymore training. We'll come back and work on your flaws tomorrow," announced the deputy, sweeping her gaze over each young cat.

"A'right youngins, that means we're goin' home," Kinkfoot ordered, taking lead of the patrol.

"No fair, no fair!" Stonepaw whined, stomping her paws. "We didn't get to do anything!!"

"Quiet yourself," Sandybreeze hissed before turning her attention to Scallopfall, Luckysong, and Driftbreeze. "Get to teaching your apprentices the basics. That way they can join us for tomorrow's lessons. We'll meet you back at camp later. But be sure to return before the weather sours. We can't afford to lose any more cats to the storms."

"Alriiight!" Currentpaw cheered. Stonepaw laughed triumphantly, leaping onto her brother to start a playful brawl. The littermates tussled along the beach with glee, still behaving like kits. Meanwhile Whisperpaw kept her composure, highlighting how a proper apprentice should behave.

"They're still fluffy behind the ears, they'll learn to take things more seriously with time," Urchinpaw mewed in Hazepaw's ear. He could barely supress the purr that began to rumble in his thought. Hazepaw chuckled.

"The rest of you, come along," Kinkfoot summoned once more, this time allowing Sandybreeze to take the lead. Hazepaw followed his clanmates as they walked back to their temporary camp, with Urchinpaw and Otterpaw right at his side.

#warrior cats #warrior cats ocs #wcs #wcs oc #signs of the moon: moon high #signs of the moon #moon high #chapter 12 #Haze pov

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