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talonslockau · 1 month

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Forest of Secrets - Chapter 13

Chapter 12 || Index || Chapter 14

Fireheart shook himself off as he entered camp, carrying the limp body of an ill-fated cardinal. The first snows of leafbare had at last arrived, beginning to coat everything in cold, white flakes. Only the camp currently remained uncovered, thanks to the careful pattern of branches and leaves that stretched over it, though he imagined that it wouldn’t remain that way for very long.

As he took his kill to the freshkill pile, he could see that camp was bustling with activity. He could hear Goldenflower’s litter begging her and Frostfur to go out and see the snow, while the elders were bitterly complaining about how the cold was reaching their bones. Even most of the warriors were sitting around camp, sharing tongues in the evening light. It was good to see the Clan thriving, even despite leafbare and the sinister plots that threatened them.

“It’s quite active today.” He heard Longtail remark to Tigerclaw as he deposited his prey. “Has something happened while we were out?”

“Bluestar will be calling a meeting shortly.” The dark tabby deputy responded with his usual low growl. “You’ll see.”

Fireheart perked his ears, but he knew better than to ask anything of the treacherous tabby. It was too early for anything regarding the Gathering; it was still over a half-moon away. No, he thought to himself as his eyes drifted towards where Cinderpaw and Snowkit were play-fighting, this had to be something else.

He caught sight of Peppermask, who was sitting near the entrance, and trotted over with a tail flick as greeting. “Where’s Graystripe?” He asked her curiously as he sat down beside her. “Surely the Twolegplace patrol got back before we did.”

“They did. Tinyfrost and Dustleap are here.” She pointed out the two warriors with her tail, nearly on the opposite sides of camp. “He must’ve left almost immediately, because he wasn’t here when I got back from patrol.”

The ginger tom frowned at that. “Do you think he’s avoiding us?” He wondered, glancing at the bramble entrance. It was empty - all the patrols for the day had already come back. “He’s been spending a lot of time out of camp since the Gathering.”

“Since Quickflash died.” The spotted tabby replied, her ears dipping slightly as she gave him a warning glance. “He’s likely just distracting himself with hunting. He probably thinks he’s being helpful.”

“He wasn’t in camp for the battle, either. You think he’d stay in camp after the scolding Tigerclaw gave him when he finally showed up again.” He huffed as he recalled getting woken out of his drowsing by Tigerclaw’s yowling. He couldn’t fault the deputy, either: All Graystripe had brought back from his day-long hunt had been a couple paltry voles that would barely feed one of Goldenflower’s kits. “I hope he doesn’t miss this meeting. Do you think it’s going to be-?”

“I hope it is. I don’t think anyone can deny that Cinderpaw fought bravely during the battle. Taking on Ratscar and Tangleburr by herself- that’s something any cat could be proud of. Especially with what happened to Mistspring…” Fireheart glanced across camp towards the healer’s den as Peppermask spoke, but the entrance was covered in shadow in the evening light; he couldn’t see inside at all. “If she’s not made a warrior after that, then when?”

“Right.” Fireheart couldn’t disagree with that; he was thinking much the same thing. It had to be a ceremony; if it were anything else, surely Peppermask would have already heard the gossip and told him as such.

“And it’s past time for Snowkit to be apprenticed, too. Sandstorm’s been dropping ‘hints’ all day that she thinks Tigerclaw is going to pick her to be his mentor. It’s her time, or whatever.” The molly rolled her green eyes with great exaggeration. “I was about ready to claw her mouth shut on patrol!”

Fireheart hesitated. It was clear that Snowkit’s deafness, and his being held back, wasn’t common knowledge around camp. Was it fair for him to share it with Peppermask? As he glanced towards the nursery, he could see that Speckleflight had separated him from Cinderpaw and was now busily grooming his head and face. Perhaps Peppermask was right, and Snowkit would be apprenticed today after all.

“There!” The tabby beside him gasped, and he looked over to see Bluestar emerge from her den and immediately scale the Highrock. Even before she said a word, the Clan started to swarm out from around the clearing.

“All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!” The Thunderclan leader called out proudly, watching her warriors assemble beneath her. “As you all surely know by now, Brokentail and his rogues were indeed planning to invade our camp. Already they had been stealing prey from our territory.”

There were jeers and hisses at her words, and he noticed a few cats glance back towards the prison where Darkstripe was guarding with a scowl. Word had also spread of Brokentail being held prisoner, and while the Clan had accepted Bluestar and Yellowfang’s word on the matter, it was clear that they had mixed feelings about it. Fireheart couldn’t blame them: Even though Yellowfang was true to her word and hunting and caring for him, he still felt strange about protecting the kit-killer after they had taken in his victims.

“Each warrior in the patrol performed their duties admirably. Fireheart, Dustleap, Longtail and Mousefur acted with great courage and risked their lives to make sure our camp remains safe. Thunderclan honors each of them.” There were excited and envious murmurs at her words, and he noticed several cats stealing a glance towards where he was sitting. He ignored them, keeping his eyes focused on Bluestar.

“However, there is one cat on the patrol that acted just as bravely as each of these warriors, who has not yet received her name.” All eyes now turned towards where Cinderpaw was sitting, near the middle of the crowd. The dark gray molly sat as still as stone, but her tail tip rattling furiously betrayed her excitement. “Her mentor and I have agreed: she has earned her warrior name. Cinderpaw, step forward.”

She did so readily, her dark blue eyes as wide as the moon as she gazed up at the silver queen. “I, Bluestar, leader of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn.” Their twin blue gazes were locked on each other now. “Cinderpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?”

The young molly’s body was shaking all over now, yet she still nodded determinedly. “I do!” She yowled, her voice echoing through camp for all to hear. Several cats stifled a chuckle, Fireheart among them.

“Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Cinderpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Cinderspark. Starclan honors your valor and quick thinking, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan.” Bluestar jumped off the Highrock to meet the new warrior, and rested her muzzle on the dark gray molly’s forehead before allowing her to lap respectfully at the leader’s shoulder.

“Cinderspark! Cinderspark!” Fireheart called along with the rest of the crowd, glancing towards the healer’s den as he caught sight of movement. Mistspring stood next to the rocky entrance, her own icy blue eyes glittering with pride as she watched. He could see that her throat was covered in white cobwebs; she was still recovering from her wounds, and he guessed she was under healer’s orders not to use her voice.

The rest of the crowd parted as they caught sight of her, allowing the former mentor through to the newly-appointed warrior. He saw her mouth move slightly as a few quiet words were exchanged before they gently touched noses. As Mistspring began to move back towards the healer’s den, the crowd quickly pressed in, eager to welcome Cinderspark into the warrior ranks.

Fireheart joined them, watching as the newest warrior beamed in pride as she welcomed congratulation after congratulation. “Well done.” He mewed softly to her, touching noses with her softly. “I knew you could do it.”

“Thank you, Fireheart.” He paused as she replied, glancing back at her sparkling blue eyes. “For believing in me, despite everything.”

“Of course.” He dipped his head before continuing on, allowing Peppermask to greet her sister as a warrior. He fondly thought of his own warrior ceremony, as much of a blur as it was from how exhausted he had been. At least Cinderspark wouldn’t have to sit vigil with those mourning, like he had. Tonight would be a night of triumph for her.

He was just about to pad away when he heard a loud yowl from the crowd. “Wait!” He turned to see Speckleflight glaring at Bluestar, who had begun to make for her den. “There’s still one more ceremony to be performed tonight.” The pale golden queen growled, her yellow gaze locked on the leader. “I’ve waited long enough: it’s time to make Snowkit an apprentice.”

While the cats in the crowd perked their ears in curiosity, Bluestar’s own ears flattened in anger. “I’ve already had this conversation with you far too many times, Speckleflight.” She snapped, her blue eyes narrowed to slits. “My decision is final.”

“He deserves a ceremony!” The oldest queen howled, the fur on her spine beginning to raise. “Would you truly make him stay in the nursery forever?”

The silver leader’s scruff started to rise in response. Cats around them whispered eagerly, Cinderspark’s ceremony momentarily forgotten in the sudden drama, and Bluestar glanced towards them with a frown. After a long moment, she sighed and forced her fur to flatten. “If you insist on Snowkit leaving the nursery, Speckleflight, then I suppose I have no choice but to agree.”

She began to ascend the Highrock once more as Speckleflight grinned triumphantly. Fireheart wanted to celebrate with her, but something about the leader’s flicking tail told him to hesitate. “Snowkit, step forward.” She called out, gazing out at the white kit sitting near the nursery still.

Snowkit stepped forward at his mother's coaxing, looking surprised and a little nervous as Bluestar glared down at him. "Snowkit. The time has come for you to move to the elders' den." There were gasps of shock at her words. Most of the Clan wasn't aware of the young tom's deafness, so such a move would no doubt confuse them. “I will have Dewpaw arrange you with a suitable nest."

The gathered cats eyed each other uneasily as Snowkit stood there, his head tilted in confusion. After several moments of tense silence, Speckleflight came to stand beside her kit. "He won't be going to the elders' den without me." She growled defiantly at her leader as she rested her tail on her son's flank.

Several heartbeats passed. Even though the air was freezing, his fur felt hot from the tension between the two. At last, the leader dipped her head in acknowledgement. "Very well." Bluestar replied coldly. "Speckleflight. Is it your wish to retire to the elders' den?"

Fireheart shifted nervously as he watched the two mollies face each other down. "If you make us, then yes." The dappled golden queen snapped, the fur on her spine beginning to rise.

The silver leader ignored her attitude and continued on. "Thunderclan honors you, Speckleflight, and all the moons of service you have given us in the nursery. May it be Starclan's will that you have many moons of rest."

It was then that Fireheart realized the disparity between the two elder ceremonies, and he grimaced uncomfortably. It was clear that Bluestar cared very little for Snowkit, which seemed so uncharacteristic of her normal motherly demeanor towards the rest of the Clan.

He glanced at where Cinderspark was standing as Speckleflight began herding Snowkit towards the other elders, and saw the dark gray molly's tail was bristling out of anger for her friend. Still, if she had any objections, she didn't voice them.

“Clan dismissed.” Bluestar called, and the rest of the Clan immediately started gossiping amongst themselves. A kit going straight to the elders’ den was unheard of. And while Speckleflight was the oldest queen in the nursery, it had been assumed - expected, even - that she would have another litter after Snowkit. What would her retirement mean for the nursery?

“Fireheart…?” He glanced over to see Peppermask padding over to him. “You don’t look surprised. Did you know…?”

“I-” He glanced back at the elders’ den. Smallear seemed to be leading Snowkit into the den, presumably to get him a nest, while Rosetail and One-eye were pressed into Speckleflight’s side in comfort. “Back in leaf-fall, the Gathering after I became a warrior, I overheard Speckleflight talking to Bluestar about his apprentice ceremony. Bluestar said she wouldn’t give him one, but I didn’t know why until recently.” He looked back to meet her questioning gaze. “Snowkit is deaf.”

“That’s why…? Oh. Oh.” Peppermask looked past him to the elders’ den. “I- I guess I can see that. Most elders retire once they’re no longer able to hear certain sounds. I guess I can see the logic in it, but to never even give him a name seems cruel.”

Fireheart hesitated. He didn’t know where he stood on such matters. He was still new to the Clan and its ways, and while he knew why Bluestar had done it, some part of him agreed with Peppermask. He had seen the delight on Snowkit’s face when pretending to spar with Cinderpaw - a delight he remembered well from sparring with his friends as an apprentice. It felt cruel of Bluestar to never give him the chance to experience that for himself.

“Graystripe!” He blinked out of his thoughts as he heard Peppermask call her brother’s name, and turned to see the gray tom exiting the bramble entrance. “Where have you been?”

He looked startled to see them, his yellow eyes wide as they flicked back and forth between his sister and his friend. “I- uh- I was just taking a walk. Enjoying watching the snowflakes falling and all that. What happened? Why is everyone gathered around the Highrock?”

“Cinderspark got her warrior name. You missed it.” Even though he didn’t look at her, he could feel the tense anger in Peppermask’s form beside him. Obviously, she wasn’t pleased with Graystripe in the slightest. “And Speckleflight and Snowkit-”

“She did?” Graystripe gasped in surprise. “I better go congratulate her then! Thanks for letting me know.” He breezed past them, not even bothering to listen to the rest of her words. The gray spotted tabby stared after him, her mouth agape in shock.

“That was weird, even for Graystripe.” Fireheart observed out loud. “He doesn’t even look wet from snow-melt.” Actually, it was quite the opposite - his fur was light and fluffy, as though it had been well-groomed.

“Yeah…” Peppermask replied, her tail twitching beside him. “He doesn’t seem like he’s mourning much at all anymore. Enjoying the snowflakes falling? He’s never liked the cold. He wouldn’t be out there without a reason.”

The ginger warrior hesitated beside her. Had Graystripe lied to them? But why? Surely he knew he could trust them with anything. Even as he thought it, however, thoughts about his sister surfaced. He often lied and said he was going hunting when he visited her. But Graystripe certainly didn’t have any kittypet kin, so who would he be lying about visiting? No, he thought to himself - it must be something else.

“I guess it doesn’t matter right now.” The spotted tabby sighed, getting to her paws. “I’m going to go bring some prey to the nursery. We’re all going to have to take care of the apprentice chores, until Goldenflower’s kits become apprentices.” Her nose twitched irritably. “Unless Bluestar holds them back, too.”

“I hope not!” Fireheart mewed as she padded away. Still, he couldn’t get his mind off of Graystripe. What was his friend hiding? Was it the same reason he seemed to be avoiding them? As he watched Cinderspark accepting congratulations from her brother, he couldn’t help but shake the feeling that something was wrong - and that he wouldn’t find out what until it was too late.

#talonslock #warrior cats #the prophecies begin #fanfic #thunderclan #bluestar #fireheart #peppermask #snowkit #speckleflight #tigerclaw #longtail #darkstripe #cinderpaw #cinderspark #graystripe #talonslock story #forest of secrets

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strelles-universe · 1 year

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Strike the Match - Pre-Story Allegiances

The Stormborn - Sweetsoul’s Treasured

The Brastilian: Asterdawn (Bluestar) - A short furred blue molly with darker legs, ears and tail - her eyes are blue/green. Asterdawn is a muscular cat which intimidates other cats.

Lieutenant: Mottletail (Redtail) - A long furred primarily ginger calico tom with pale green eyes and a vibrant ginger tail. Mottletail has rounded paws and a slender build.

Diplomat: Larkwing - A smaller but long-legged brown tom with a gentle heart and yellow eyes. Larkwing is well muscled with long ears and a short muzzle.

Starmender(s): Spottedholly (Spottedleaf) - A pretty primarily black furred calico molly with a white chest plume and pretty leaf green eyes. She has a bushy tail and is known to carry moon berries in her fur. | Mender

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Guards (Heavy Defenders and Patrollers)

Head: Lionbelly- A large golden tabby tom with a fluffy mane around his neck and green eyes. With a long tufted tail and wide feathered paws; he holds the form of a Stormborn.

Tigerslash (Tigerclaw) - A large deep red near brown tabby tom with amber eyes and claws that were too long to be fully sheathed. Tigerslash appears to have been blessed with Ancient Fennyield’s braided stripes and claws.

Cricketleap - A short furred chocolate cat with two white toes and sharp pale green eyes. Their ears are folded.

Wildheart - A thicket coated cinnamon tortie cat with round, sharp yellow eyes and a white splotch on their left ear and on their hind leg. They wear feathers in their tail to convey their current pronouns.

Swallowflail - A cinnamon tabby tom with interesting russet front legs and orange eyes.

Chikadeechitter - A short furred fawn tabby tom with pale yellow eyes and a white chest.

Pricklestripe (Darkstripe) - A large lean, sleek, dark gray tabby tom.

Volewhisker - A gray smoked, ticked mackerel tabby tom with yellow eyes.

Longtail - A pale sandy colored, long-legged tabby tom with black stripes and a narrow muzzle. His tail is much longer than the average Stormborn cat and is thin.

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Hunters (Primary Feeders of the Clan)

Head: Callastorm (Whitestorm)- A lithe and fast mostly white tom with blue eyes and long double layered fur. His tail, legs and ears are all faintly shaded black.

Thrushpelt - A pale grayish brown tom with a white plume on his chest and pale very light green eyes. Thrushpelt is flecked with small thin white streaks.

Acornleap - A light brown furred classic molly with pale blue eyes and darker legs and tail. Her tail is very faint.

Dovetail - A long furred cinnamon tortie molly with pale green eyes and a pale belly. Her paw pads were gray and so was her nose leather.

Titfeather - A medium furred cinnamon mackerel tabby tom with yellow eyes.

Cedarfur (Mousefur) - A small and fast solid dusky brown molly with smaller and rounded ears and orangey-yellow eyes.

Nadderpelt (Willowpelt) - A pretty silvery gray she cat with pale blue eyes

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Crafters (Barrier Builders and Innovators)

Head: Thicketdawn - A light gray, ticked spotted tom with sharp green eyes and a double layered coat. He is blue shaded. Acting Head.

Pollendance - A small thick-furred golden cream mackerel tabby molly with yellow eyes and a splash of white on her belly

Aspenwind (Runningwind) - A lithe, lean and muscular light brown tabby tom with green eyes.

Buzzardback - Cream mink-point tom with a heavily scarred back and sharp yellow eyes

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Apprentices (In Training to become Warriors)

Chaffinchpaw (Sandpaw) - A buff cream with classic molly with powerful legs, small ears and a short muzzle. Her hind legs are noticeably longer than her front legs and her tail is average length, but the base is stiff. Training under Callastorm.

Wrenpaw (Dustpaw) - A very dark brown short coated tom with darker stripes and amber eyes and a shorter than average tail for a Stormborn cat. Training under Mottletail.

Ravenpaw - A short furred, long-tailed bicolored tom with one white right paw, a white tip on his tail and a white locket on his chest. Ravenpaw has pale purple eyes with semi-short whiskers. Training under Larkwing.

Jackdawpaw (Graypaw) - A long furred, thick coated gray smoked ticked tom with bright yellow eyes. Jackdawpaw has longer whiskers than the average cat. Training under Lionheart.

Cardinalpaw (Firepaw) - A medium furred ruddy rosetted tom with distinctive green eyes and white front toes. Training under Brastilian Asterdawn.

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Monarchs and Sitters (Nursing cats and cub watchers)

Head: Brindlewing (Brindleface) - A braided pale gray molly with green eyes and a rounded face.

Frostfang (Frostfur) - A pale white short furred molly with sky blue eyes. Mate to Lionheart, nursing his cubs; Cinder, Warm, Singe and Bright.

Daisyflower (Goldenflower) - A long-furred pretty golden coated molly with yellow eyes and pale stripes. Raising cubs sired by Minkbelly, Lynx and Wolf.

Speckletail - A pale goldish classic molly with amber eyes and a curious spray of spots on her tail

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Elders (Cats relieved of Active Duty)

Sparrowtail (Halftail)- A large dark brown, patchy furred tabby tom with a very short tail and yellow eyes. Lecturer.

Elkear (Smallear) - A short furred gray tom with amber eyes and small folded ears. Retiree.

Minkbelly (Patchpelt) - A small black and white tuxedo tom with yellow eyes. Retiree/

Dappledfawn (Dappletail) - A broad-shouldered, calico molly with a thick, sleek coat, a shiny pelt and yellow eyes. Lecturer.

Whiteeye (One Eye) - Pale gray virtually blind molly. Her left eye was clawed out, and the wound has since sealed shut- her remaining eye is a foggy yellow. Retiree.

Roselyric (Rosetail) - A silvery-gray molly with an unusual russet tail. Retiree.

Sablefoot - A deep chocolate brown tom with a long tail and dark brown eyes. Lecturer.

Hollypelt - A medium furred black molly with two white back paws and yellow eyes. Retiree.

Juniperhaze - A long furred blue smoke tabby molly with white paws and a lighter underbelly and chest. Lecturer.

Bearnose - A short furred brown tom with a naturally stubby tail and small, round ears. Retiree.

The Galespun - Servants of Moonsoul

The Vendus: Magpietail (Tallstar) - A short furred tuxedo tom with a long tail, long legs and a narrow muzzle.

The Zephyr: Deadfeather (Deadfoot) - A small fully black tom with a twisted left front paw with pale green eyes and a long tail. Deadfeather can walk on his left paw but it causes him immense pain.

Diplomat: Grasswhisker - A pale brown long whiskered molly with an even longer tail and orange eyes. Grasswhisker has a single splotch of white on his chest and his left ear is torn.

Moth: Briarflutter (Barkface) - A short furred, dark brown tom with a naturally bobbed tail and yellow eyes. | Starseer

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Guards (Camp Defenders)

Head: Splitears (Tornear) - A dark gray, black striped tabby tom with yellow eyes and one missing ear. Both of his front paws are white.

Redtooth - A russet pelted tabby tom with longer, thinner legs than the average tom and sharp yellow eyes.

Gorsepelt - A deep orange tabby tom with pale yellow eyes and a lighter underside.

Pinkfoot - A shirt furred white tom with pale red eyes.

Oatwhisker - A lanky long furred golden tom with long dainty whiskers

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Runners (Over-Ground Hunters)

Head: Ashfeather (Ashfoot) - A short furred and long-legged gray cat with blue eyes. Her back is speckled with darker gray marks.

Milkblossom - A predominantly cream, short furred chocolate pointed tom with yellow eyes and pink pads. Milkblossom has longer upper canines that stick out from his mouth.

Branchtail - A long-legged chocolate tabby tom with a lighter underbelly and chest.

Volespring - A dusky brown tom with short fur, short whiskers, yellow eyes and a long tail.

Prickletoe - A dark brown mackerel tabby tom with orange eyes

Rushtail -

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Tunnelers (Underground Hunters)

Head: Sunwhisker - A short furred, pale gold tabby tom with pale green eyes and brown paw pads.

Ashwhisker - A long furred molly with a silky gray pelt and darker ears.

Rabbitear - A short tailed gray molly with yellow eyes and a white belly.

Bristlebark - A medium furred gray tom with fur that sticks out in every direction and yellow eyes.

Smokepelt - A short pelted gray molly whose fur is darker along her spine and gets lighter going down her belly. Her eyes are an intense, light blue.

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Escorts (Territory Monitors and Watchmen)

Head: Cloudrunner - A mostly white long furred tom with blue eyes and gray legs, ears and face.

Haresprint - A short furred tan tom with blue eyes and hind legs longer than his forelegs. He has four white socks and white tipped tail.

Morningflower - A long furred predominantly cream tortoiseshell molly with amber eyes and four white paws.

Darkfoot - A medium furred black tom with blue eyes and a white splotch on his chest and two white front paws.

Flytail - A short furred black tom with white back legs and a white tail.

Wrenflight - A short furred brown molly with yellow eyes and four white paws.

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Cadets

Mintpaw - A tan broken mackerel tabby tom with a lighter underbelly and lighter paws. Training under Grasstooth.

Hornetpaw (Onepaw) - A mostly pale brown tom with long gangly limbs, large ears and yellow eyes. Training under Prickletoe.

Tumblepaw - A deep brown spotted tom with amber eyes and long legs. Training under Gorsepelt.

Swallowtailpaw (Leo) - A medium furred, glossy ginger mackerel tabby tom with bright yellow eyes. His tail and front paws are white. Training under Rabbitear.

Quietpaw (Melody) - A dilute mackerel tortoiseshell molly with irregular splotches of white along her back and olive eyes. Training under Wrenflight.

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Monarchs and Sitters

Head: Meadowslip - A pale gray, short furred molly with orange eyes.

Acornstripe - A dusky brown torbie molly with yellow eyes and a short coat. Former tunneler nursing Brown and Vole

Pidgeonfeather - A light gray tabby molly with white splotches on her chest and flanks. A runner nursing Crane.

Bluebellwhisker - A long furred, pale blue classic tabby molly with bright green eyes and a white underside.

Coalpelt - A dark gray, near black classic tabby molly with a short coat and yellow eyes. Former escort nursing Cobweb and Tiny.

Quailfeather - A long furred lanky blue tom with pale blue eyes and white paws.

Fieldsight - A medium furred brown and white molly with yellow eyes and gloved paws.

Sereandeplume (Bailey) - A medium furred tortoiseshell molly with gentle yellow eyes. She has a white locket on her chest and white paws.

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Elders

Crowfur - A short patchy furred black tom with green eyes and a silvery muzzle. Retiree

Redclaw - A small dark ginger mackerel tabby tom with interesting tabby hind legs and dark green eyes. Redclaw has one white left front paw. Lecturer.

Whiteberry - A small, short furred completely white tom with blue eyes. Retiree.

Eagletooth - A short furred thick pelted brown tabby tom with amber eyes and white back paws. Retiree.

Ryestalk - A pale tortie molly with kit soft fur and a pretty smile. With long legs and angular features, she’s the pinnacle of Galespun beauty. Lecturer.

Stagleap - A short furred brown tom with a shortcut tail and permanent limp favoring his right hind-leg. Retiree.

Doespring - A long-legged light brown molly with a sleek coat and pale eyes. Lecturer.

Silverchime - A silver classic tabby molly with yellow eyes and white legs. Both of her ears are torn. Retiree.

Larksplash - A patchy furry tortoiseshell molly with long whiskers and pale-green eyes. Retiree.

Aspenfall - A short furred cream tom splotched with irregular patches of white. Retiree.

The Shorerisen - Favored of Riversoul

The Styrman: Stormdrift (Crookedstar) - A massive light brown tabby tom with a twisted jaw and sharp yellow eyes.

Lieutenant: Oakshanty (Oakheart) - A large and powerful pale brown tom with yellow eyes.

Frill: Reedtail - A russet and white speckled molly with a long, bushy tail.

Starmender(s):

Cottonberry (Brambleberry) - A small and lithe black spotted molly with a pink nose. | Mender

Mudsky (Mudfur) - A lithe and long furred pale brown tom with yellow eyes. His belly is a lighter brown than the rest of him. Mudsky was once a warrior. | Starfrayer

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Guards (Heavy Defenders and Patrollers)

Head: Stoneswipe (Stonefur) - A pale, silvery blue tom with yellow eyes and a like his sister, a rather heavyset build. Stoneswipe is short-furred with wide, heavy paws and one split ear. His whiskers are short and he has a pink nose and pink ears. Dual Class: Ice-Stomper.

Tidestorm - A well muscled, blue furred tom covered in spots. His muzzle and underbelly are pale gray and his eyes light blue. Tidestorm has pink ears and paw pads with long feathered whiskers. Dual Class - Ice Stomper.

Frogleap - A powerful ticked gray tabby tom with amber eyes, a broad head and large paws. Frogleap was named for his hind legs which are longer than his front ones.

Beetlenose - A short furred muscular black tom flecked with scars and pale yellow eyes

Carpfin - A massive tannish/brown ticked tabby tom with copper eyes. Carpfin has a boxy shaped muzzle and short-whiskers- he’s often asked to help out the Ice Stompers when the river begins to freeze over.

Troutleap - A large, muscular red furred ticked tabby tom with large heavy paws and yellow eyes.

Grassfeather - A short and glossy furred molly with pale rosettes and pale green eyes with white lock on her chest

Blackclaw - A sleek, short furred powerful smoky black tom with sharp orange eyes. Blackclaw has a torn right ear and a long tail.

Asterlichen - A long furred blue tabby tom with heavy paws and yellow eyes.

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Hunters (Dry-Land Hunters)

Head: Leopardshine (Leopardfur) - sleek golden furred molly blessed with the rosetted coat of Ancient Shorerisen with amber eyes. Leopardshine has as powerful build- her pads and nose are brick red.

Mudbelly (Loudbelly) - A large muscular dark brown tom with pale yellow eyes and large paws. Mudbelly’s ears are shorter than usual and he’s been proven to be capable of closing them underwater. Mudbelly’s sealable ears are thought to be a gift from Riversoul. Dual Class; Ice-Stomper

Ottersplash - An mostly orange molly with various patches of white all over her fur. Ottersplash has a short muzzle and amber eyes. Her paws are larger than usual and her right ear was shredded in a previous battle.

Hibiscousfoot (Mistyfoot) - A large and powerful looking molly with thick muscles and a thick jaw. Hibiscousfoot has a lilac tortie lush, thick coat and is more heavyset than the average hunter. Her pelt is more pale lilac than the other colors only a splotch of pale orange on her back.

Whiteriver (Whiteclaw) - A solid, golden powerful tom with white paws and a sleek coat.

Silverwhisker - A long furred, rough coated silver-gray tabby tom with yellow eyes

Blackear - A short furred, long-legged black tom with a cap and saddle pattern on his fur. Blackear has amber eyes and a boxy muzzle. Blackear is lankier than the average Shorerisen cat.

---

Divers (Specialized Aquatic Hunters)

Head: Sedgecreek - A long furred brown tabby molly with light green eyes, two white paws and a very thick coat. Like her brother, she inherited small ears albeit she can’t seal them - something she good-naturedly says is unfair given their roles in the pride.

Ripplepelt (Rippleclaw) - A silvery blue furred molly with short ears, and small paws. Ripplepelt is sleek and skilled with a talent for twisting herself in various shapes and direction when swimming. Her muzzle is short and whiskers are long.

Skyheart - A pale brown tabby molly with completely torn ears and green eyes. Her stripes are only apparent on her legs and tail.

Puddleeye (Puddlefur) - A short furred solid brown tabby tom with amber eyes and long legs with wide paws. Puddleeye has unusually long straight whiskers and fluffy ears and a sloped muzzle. Puddlefur has a very rare trait: a second clear eyelid said to be a gift from Riversoul himself as a method of assistance for swimming in murky water.

Eelmane - A short furred sleek charcoal tom with pale rosettes and yellow eyes

---

Crafters (Weavers and Designers)

Head: Goldenfin - A long furred shimmery, golden classic tabby molly with a pink nose, pink pads and a pink inner ears. Goldenfin has four white boots on her paws and her whiskers are long. On her front paws, Goldenfin has an extra toe that she uses for tasks that are harder to do with lesser toes.

Brushwhisker - A short furred brown tabby tom with orange eyes and a tan underbelly. Brushwhisker’s whiskers are much longer than the average cat and his paws are small and rounded.

Owlnose - A thick furred, sleek coated brown tom with a white underbelly, white hocks and white tipped tail

Baywish - A sleek furred and silky coated cream ticked tabby molly with a lighter underbelly and green eyes

---

Cadets (Cats In-Training)

Emberpaw - A short furred primarily ginger calico molly with intense blue eyes and webbed paws. Training under Owlnose.

Heavypaw - A short, thick furred tom with yellow eyes and pale pink ears, His belly and mouth are a paler brown than the rest of him with a broken black mackerel pattern. Training under Blackear.

Shadepaw - A very dark gray furred molly who appears black coated at first glance. Her eyes are yellow and she has very faint broken mackerel stripes. Her stomach was rusted by the sun and appears bronze or copper. Training under Stoneswipe.

Fogpaw - A pale furred gray, mackerel tabby tom with a thick sleek coat that runs easily off of his back. His whiskers are long and feathery with a rougher edged underside with intense bright blue. Both of his front paws and his mouth is white. Training under Puddleeye.

Osierpaw (Silverpaw) - A long furred, silvery classic molly with pale green eyes and one white paw. Osierpaw has a pink nose and pink paw pads with rounded paws. Osierpaw’s pelt is sleek and very soft with a white underbelly. Training under Ripplepelt.

Rushpaw - A small but powerful short furred torbie molly with long legs and a bouncy personality. Rushpaw has brick-red paw pads and nose and her claws always seem to poke out from her paw. Training under Goldenfin.

---

Monarchs and Sitters

Head: Lilystem - A gray mackerel tabby molly with a thick, long coat, round cone ears and feathery whiskers.

Ospreyfreckle - A pretty brown and white tom with white paws and a big fluffy tail. He has streaks of darker brown scattered throughout his fur.

Hakeflower (Greenflower) - A sleek furred, brown molly with a white splash on her chin and a plump build. Pregnant, undisclosed sire..

Swantooth - A lithe and long furred mostly white calico molly with pale blue eyes and black paw pads.

---

Elders (Retirees and Lecturers)

Softwing - A lithe but powerful mostly white molly with patches of golden striped fur scattered at random across her body. Retiree.

Petaldust - A thick coated, mottled tortoiseshell molly with leaf-green eyes and chronic joint-pain. Retiree.

Dawnlight - A tortoiseshell molly with a white underbelly and a thick, sleek coated molly with yellow eyes. Retiree.

Fogpool (Graypool) - A short furred predominantly dark gray molly with a thick, sleek coat and sharp yellow eyes. Lecturer.

Pheasanttail - A sleek furred, handsome tom with a long, red coat and a vibrant and much lighter red tail. Retiree.

Panda - A somewhat sickly short furred black and white bicolor molly with soft yellow eyes and small, rounded ears. Being supported until death.

The Fennyield Pride - Slysoul’s Devoted

The Skua: Raggedjaw (Raggedpelt) - A messy coated tom with matted legs and perpetually tangled coat.

The Heir: Brokenclaw (Brokentail) - A large brown tabby tom with matted fur and a flat faced with orange eyes. | Former Guard | Executioner

Diplomat: Toadpelt - A pale brown tom with green eyes, short legs and a slashed ear.

Starmender(s):

Boarfang (Yellowfang)- A flat faced, long furred molly with pale yellow eyes and a tangled coat. Boarfang has small ears and very round eyes with a set of claw marks scarred onto her face. | Starfrayer

Mangrovebay (Runningnose) - A skinny, patchy gray and white tom with amber eyes. There’s crust around his nose and in the corner of his eyes. Mangrovebay has the longest legs and tail of the Fennyield cats and it’s often remarked that it’s a shame he isn’t a hunter or a murker. | Starfrayer

---

Guards (Heavy Defenders)

Head: Blackfoot - A mostly white furred tom with huge black paws, black rimmed ears and yellow eyes. His right front paw has six toes.

Scorchedmaw (Scorchwind) - A long furred, ginger tabby tom with round paws and a rounder than usual face. Scorchwind has very short whiskers and long legs. Scorchedmaw is intensely scarred with claws over his eyes and missing patches of fur on his back legs.

Clawedears (Clawface) - A thick furred brown tabby tom with yellow eyes who is covered in various scars, both of his ears are torn

Jaggedstump (Stumpytail) - A large, long-legged, small eared tom with a slightly offset jaw from his cadet-hood. His tail is short and bobbed. He has a dark brown, thick sleek coat with thin, black stripes running along his body.

Flintfang - A powerful fluffy gray tom with yellow eyes and large paws. His paws are unusually fluffy, and his right ear is shredded.

Howlstep (Wolfstep) - A long furred gray tabby tom with a thick coat and short rounded ears. His eyes are a sharp blue and his whiskers are slightly curled at the end. Howlstep’s underbelly and legs are white.

Lizardsnarl (Lizardstripe) - A pale brown tabby molly with white underbelly and pale yellow eyes. She’s proud to have many battle scars including a torn left ear, a permanent mark over her eye and a slight limp favoring her hind leg.

Toadskip - A short furred, sleek tabby tom with cone-shaped ears and a rounded tail tip. Toadskip’s face, legs and underside are all white - in theory.

Grayspeckle - A pale gray cat with a soft, short coat. Despite the way his coat feels like laying in a pile of dandelion fuzz, it’s noted to be sleek and distinctly waterproof. He has white ‘tears’ throughout his coat and pale yellow eyes.

Mousewhisker - A small short furred brown tom with white paws and deep brown eyes. His ears and paws are round with his ears being thickly furred.

Boulder - A medium furred classic tabby tom with green/blue eyes and a large, muscular build. Boulder is aptly named and many cats joke that fighting him like being repeatedly smacked by an animated mountain.

Ashheart - A mostly pale gray, short furred tortie cat with pale blue eyes and long curled whiskers. With a dark gray nose and sturdy paws, some cats wonder about the heritage of her parents with curiosity.

Saffronblister - A lanky ginger ticked tabby tom with a long winding tail and intimidating yellow eyes

Applescratch (Applefur) - A short furred and soft coated lilac tortie point molly with large, cone-shaped ears and striking green eyes.

Hunters (Dry Land Hunters)

Head: Tangleburr (Tanglefurr) - A short furred brown and white tabby molly with a white underside and white paws. Tangleburr is named for her curled coat that dries surprisingly fast.

Hemlockflower (Darkflower) - A medium furred, dark gray tabby molly with orange eyes and a torn left ear from the occasional scuffle she was in.

Russetflash (Russetfur) - A dark ginger tabby molly with a medium length coat, fluffy soft fur and soft pink ears. Russetflash has long, feathery whiskers and sharp green eyes that seem to catch everything.

Newtspeck - A thick furred, short pelted tortie molly with yellow eyes. She has a permanent limp from a previous fight. Newtspeck used to be a Sitter.

Mazzardfoot - A short furred ticked ginger molly with gentle yellow eyes and a lighter undrebelly

Patchflicker - A golden brown torbie tom, with sections of his fur that appear to be lumped together

Murkers (Swamp Water Hunters)

Head: Amberleaf - A pretty long-furred amber molly with light green eyes. Her paws are all white while her back and ears are a darker gold than the rest of her. Her underbelly is slightly lighter than the rest of her.

Salamanderfoot - A pretty long-legged, tortie molly with green eyes and two white front paws. She has medium length furred with a fluffy plumed tail that she is very proud of.

Fieldpoppy (Tallpoppy) - A long-legged, light brown tabby molly with green eyes and long lightly curled whiskers. Her fur is short and very sleek, seeming to shine under moonlight. Fieldpoppy’s underbelly and chest is paler than the rest of her.

Bogswirl - A short furred, thick coated olive-brown classic tabby molly with pale yellow eyes

Stagclaw (Deerfoot) - A short furred brown tabby tom with a white right foot and yellow eyes

---

Crafters

Head: Sunstone - A short furred, sleek golden-brown mackerel tabby molly with round, orange eyes

Willowthorn - A short furred, torbie jack with tufted ears and green eyes. Their left ear is split.

Marrowfang - A surprisingly lanky, brown and white van patterned tom with blue eyes

Crowtalon - A short furred, sleek coated tom with a locket on his chest and yellow eyes

Quiveringheart - A short furred ticked russet tom with pale green eyes

Thistlesight - A chocolate tortoiseshell jack with yellow eyes and paler front paws

Cadets (In Training to Become Legionaries)

Wetpaw - A long furred dark gray-almost black -tom with brilliant yellow eyes. His stripes are almost the same color as his general coat. His legs are shaded in a way that makes them look wet even when they’re not. Training under Boulder.

Littlepaw - An absolutely tiny long furred color pointed cream cat with a pink nose, pink pads and a pink nose. His eyes are a gentle yellow green and his whiskers are feathery. Training under Applescratch.

Mudpaw - A short furred chocolate tortoiseshell molly with piercing orange eyes and small, semi long claws. Mudpaw has a long tail with small but cone-shaped ears with an orange splotch just below her eye that looks vaguely like a leaf. Training under Newtspeck.

Minkpaw - A short furred black jack with pale blue eyes and small ears. Training under Sunstone.

Cootpaw - A predominantly black furred tortoiseshell molly with only a couple orange splotches and only yellow. Training under Thistlesight.

Tinypaw - A small mostly black classic tabby tom with a lighter underbelly and yellow eyes. Training under Fieldpoppy.

---

Monarchs and Sitters

Head: Maggotflight - A medium furred tabby tom with a chocolate shaded fawn coat. Both of his ears and have been shredded.

Nettlespot - A dark gray molly with a large orange splash on her chest. Nettlespot’s fur is waterproof but wirey and rough which allows water to reach her skin - much to her annoyance.

Nettleflower (Brightflower) - A bright ginger tabby molly with a flattened face, a snub nose and wide set amber eyes. She has a beautifully curly coat that is difficult to maintain in the muddy territory but she’s proud of it all the same.

Dawncloud - A short furred dilute tortishelle molly with a series of white splotches across her belly and on her front legs. Her eyes a gentle light blue and her whiskers are all shorter than average.

Fernshade - A slender tortoiseshell and white molly with long, wirey whiskers and gentle yellow eyes

---

Elders

Hollythorn (Hollyflower) - A dark gray and black molly with a more silvery underbelly and deep blue eyes. Her muzzle is turning white with age. Lecturer.

Spidercloud (Poolcloud) - A long furred molly with a pale gray and white coat with striking light blue eyes and two shredded ears. Lecturer.

Rowanberry - A short furred and sleek coated chocolate and cream tortie molly with small rounded ears and amber eyes. Retiree.

Deerleap - A short pelted warm gray tabby molly with light blue eyes, white paws and a white belly. Retiree.

Featherstorm - A brown furred, small pawed molly with a lighter underbelly and yellow eyes. Retiree.

Nightrattle (Nightpelt) - A short furred, sleek pelted solid black tom with intense yellow-green eyes and a long tail. Both of his ears are nicked from the various battles he’s been in, and his muzzle is going gray. Retiree.

Cinderburr (Cinderfur) - A short furred, thin gray tom with dark yellow eyes and half chewed off whiskers. Retiree.

The Kingdom of the Shining Sun

Queen: Iyeŕa (Acting Queen) - A bronzey spotted molly with serious golden eyes and a very sharp tongue. Though sweet in private, Iyeŕa is a very strict molly and liable to tear out your throat for rudeness

King: Hraye - A fluffy, spotted ginger tom with a distinct shade of green eyes. Okohi was a wanderer and is very familiar with the clans. Deceased.

Crown Heir: Isaŕia - A long furred, plump brown and white molly with two white front paws and a spotted underbelly

---

Heirs and Honored Guests

Asha - A pale cream rosetted molly with golden-brown eyes, a white belly and a thick fluffy coat. Second in line.

Hreto - A medium furred cinnamon rosetted tom with two white paws and a white belly. His eyes are bright blue. Fourth in line.

Soŕi - A medium furred ruddy rosetted tom with distinctive green eyes and white front toes. Fifth in line.

Adihikko - A very dark almost black rosetted tom with odd-colored eyes (one blue, one gold) and two white front paws. Last in line.

Ahasra - A long furred silver charcoal sokoke molly with hyacinth eyes and a white underbelly. Ahasra also has white front-paws. Third in line. Squiring for Osheŕa.

Sumisiŕa - A medium furred, feather-tailed blue lynx-point tom with pale blue eyes. Second prince of the Rising Moon.

---

Enforcers (Defenders and Combatants)

Lead Captain: Xibo - A short furred, muscular brown tabby molly with a white underbelly and yellow eyes. Xibo’s coat is actually somewhat coarse and thick preventing most claws from penetrating.

Co-Captain: Kibaŕa - A medium furred burly chocolate brown molly with orange eyes and a sun-rusted underside

---

Healers (Advanced Healers and Makai Users)

Lead Captain: Yakuyi - A golden tabby molly with a feather whiskers, a white belly and pale green eyes

Co-Captain: Ilanoko - A short furred cream ticked tabby with short puff of a tail and blue eyes

Seekers (Couriers and Bounty Hunters)

Lead Captain: Shaŕi - A small but skilled russet furred tom with long, soft fur and red paw pads.

Co-Captain: Aŕasi - A short and sleek furred charcoal brown tom with golden eyes and black paw pads.

Farmers (Livestock Maintainers and Breeders)

Master: Aneha - A thick furred, somewhat stocky black smoke tabby molly with yellow eyes

Gardeners (Herb Producers)

Master: Puffin - A thick-furred, double-coated sleek round black-and-white appaloosa tom with gentle yellow eyes

Nurses (Child-Minders and Caretakers)

Master: Huyanra - A long furred and lanky chocolate and white furred molly.

Artisans (Crafters and Innovators)

Master: Onehuŕa - A dark gray tabby tom with two torn ears, a faded scar on his muzzle and pale blue eyes.

Master: Yuŕa - A short furred ticked golden molly with a white underbelly and dark-green eyes

---

First Chapter

#strelles universe #strike the match #strike the match allegiances #worldbuilding #strelles allegiances #strelles the greenwood empire

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thewidowsghost · 3 years

Text

A Warrior's Destiny - Chapter 4

Main Masterlist

Series Masterlist

"Hey, Firepaw!"

Rusty hears Graypaw's friendly voice behind him. Firepaw! A thrill of pride surges through him at the sound of his new name. He turns to greet the gray apprentice with a welcoming sniff.

"Great fight, Firepaw!" mews Graypaw. "Especially for a kittypet! Longtail is a warrior, although heonly finished his training two moons ago. That scar you left on his ear won't let him forget you in a hurry.You've spoiled his good looks, that's for sure."

"Firepaw!"

"Hey, Firepaw!"

"Welcome, young Firepaw!"

Firepaw closes his eyes for a moment and lets the voices wash over him.

"Good name, too!" Graypaw mews approvingly, jolting him awake.

Firepaw looks around. "Where did Longtail creep off to?"

"I think he was heading off towards Spottedleaf's den," (W/p)paw steps forward to talk to the two younger apprentices. "She's our medicine cat," (W/p)paw tells Firepaw. "Not bad-looking -"

A low yowl next to the three cats stops (W/p)paw. The three turn, and Firepaw recognizes the powerful gray tabby cat who had sat behind Graypaw earlier.

"Darkstripe," mews Graypaw, dipping his head respectfully.

The sleek tom looks at Firepaw for a moment. "Lucky your collar snapped when it did. Longtail is a young warrior, but I can't imagine him being beaten by a kittypet!" he spits the word kittypet scornfully, then turns and stalks off.

There is a warning yowl from an old gray cat sitting on the edge of the clearing.

"Smallear smells trouble!" (W/p)paw meows, immediately alert.

Firepaw barely has time to look around before a young cat crashes into the clearing, panting heavily. He is skinny and - apart from teh white tip of his long, thin tail - jet black from head to tail.

Ravenpaw sways and (W/p)paw bolts forward to steady her friend.

Graypaw gasps. "That's Ravenpaw! Why is he alone? Where's Tigerclaw?"

Firepaw looks at Ravenpaw. His coat is ruffled and dusty, his violet eyes wild with fear.

"Who are Ravenpaw and Tigerclaw?" Firepaw whispers to Graypaw, as several other cats race past him to greet the new arrival.

"Ravenpaw's like an apprentice. Tigerclaw's his mentor," Graypaw explains quickly. "Ravenpaw went out with Tigerclaw and Redtail at sunrise against RiverClan, the lucky furball!"

"Redtail?" Firepaw echoes, thoroughly confused by all the names.

"Bluestar's deputy," hisses Graypaw. "But why on earth has Ravenpaw come back alone?" he adds to himself. He lifts his head to listen as Bluestar steps forward.

"Ravenpaw?" the she-cat speaks calmly, but a look of worry clouds her blue eyes. The other cats draw back, curling their lips with anxiety, but (W/p)paw remains at Ravenpaw's side, supporting the black apprentice. "What has happened?" Bluestar jumps up onto the Highrock and looks down at the trembling cat. "Speak, Ravenpaw!"

Ravenpaw is still struggling for breath, and his sides heave fitfully while the dust around him turns red with blood, but he manages to scramble up onto the Highrock with (W/p)paw's help to stand beside Bluestar. He turns to the crowd of eager faces that surround him, and summons enough breath to declare, "Redtail is dead!"

Shocked yowls rise up from the Clan cats and echo through the forest.

Ravenpaw staggers slightly. His right foreleg glistens, wet with blood that flows from the deep gash on his shoulder. "We m-met five RiverClan warriors beside the stream, not far from the Sunningrocks," he goes on shakily. "Oakheart was among them."

"Oakheart!" Graypaw gasps beside Firepaw. "He is the deputy of RiverClan. He's one of the greatest warriors in the forest. Lucky Ravenpaw! Wish it could have been me. I'd have really—" Graypaw is silenced by a fierce glance from the old gray tom who had first sensed Ravenpaw's return.

Firepaw turns his attention back to Ravenpaw.

"Redtail warned Oakheart to keep his hunting parties out of ThunderClan territory. He said the next RiverClan warrior to be caught in ThunderClan territory would be killed, but Oak...Oakheart would not back down. He said his Cl-Clan had to be fed, whatever we threatened." Ravenpaw pauses to wheeze for breath. His wound is still bleeding heavily, and he stands awkwardly, leaning against (W/p)paw, to keep the weight off his shoulder. "That's when the RiverClan cats attacked. It was hard to see what was happening. The fighting was vicious. I saw Oakheart had Redtail pinned to the ground, but then Redtail..." Suddenly Ravenpaw's eyes roll in his head and he lurches sideways into (W/p)paw. Half scrambling, half falling, he slithers off the Highrock and collapses on the ground below on top of the (E/c) eyed apprentice.

A ginger queen bounces towards them and crouches at the apprentices' sides. She licks his cheek briefly after helping (W/p)paw slither out from under Ravenpaw. "Spottedleaf!" the queen calls.

Out of the fern-shaded corner trots the pretty tortoiseshell Firepaw had noticed sitting beside Graypaw earlier. She hurries over to Ravenpaw and meows for the queen and (W/p)paw to stand back. Then she uses her small pink nose to roll the apprentice over so that she can take a good look at the wound. She glances up and meows, "It's all right, Goldenflower, his wounds aren't fatal. But I'll need to fetch some cobwebs to stop the bleeding."

As Spottedleaf sprints back to her den, the hushed silence in the clearing is broken by a mournful howl. All eyes turn to the direction it had come from.

A massive dark brown tabby staggers through the gorse tunnel. Between his sharp teeth the warrior holds, not prey, but the lifeless body of another cat. He drags the tattered creature into the center of the clearing.

Firepaw cranes his neck and glimpses a flash of bright ginger tail hanging limply in the dust.

Shock ripples through the Clan like a chill breeze. Beside Firepaw, Graypaw drops into a crouch as grief sweeps over him. "Redtail!"

"How did this happen, Tigerclaw?" demands Bluestar from her position on the Highrock.

Tigerclaw lets the scruff of Redtail's neck fall from his mouth. He looks steadily back at Bluestar. "He died with honor, struck down by Oakheart. I couldn't save him, but I managed to take Oakheart's life while he was still gloating over his victory." Tigerclaw's voice is strong and deep. "Redtail's death was not in vain, for I doubt we'll see RiverClan hunters in our territory again."

Firepaw glances at Graypaw. The apprentice's eyes are dark with sadness.

After a moment's pause, several of the cats move forward to lick Redtail's bedraggled fur. As they groom, they purr hushed phrases to the dead warrior.

Firepaw whispers into Graypaw's ear, "What are they doing?"

Graypaw doesn't take his eyes off the dead cat as he replies. "His spirit may have left to join StarClan, but the Clan will share tongues with Redtail one last time."

"StarClan?" Firepaw echoes.

"It's the tribe of heavenly warriors that watches over all Clan cats. You can see them in Silverpelt."

Firepaw looks confused, so Graypaw explains. "Silverpelt is that thick band of stars you see each night stretching across the sky. Each star is a StarClan warrior. Redtail will be among them tonight."

Firepaw nods, and Graypaw steps forward to share tongues with his dead deputy.

Firepaw's eyes fall on (W/p)paw and the ginger queen that had run up to Ravenpaw. Goldenflower is lying close to the apprentice as (W/p)paw lets her nose rest against the late deputy's head.

Firepaw guesses that Goldenflower must've been (W/p)paw's mother, as the queen was letting her tail brush down (W/p)paw's side.

Bluestar had remained silent while the first cats come to pay respect to Redtail. Now, she leaps down from the Highrock, and walks slowly towards Redtail's body. The other cats retreat and watch as their leader crouches down to share tongues with her old comrade one last time.

When she had finished, she raises her head and speaks. Her voice is low and thick with grief, and the Clan listens in silence. "Redtail was a brave warrior. His loyalty to ThunderClan could never be doubted. I always relied on his judgment, for it bore witness to the needs of the Clan, and was never swayed by self-interest or pride. He would have made a fine leader."

Then she lowers herself onto her belly, her head bowed, her paws stretched neatly before her, and silently she grieves for her lost friend. Several other cats come and lay down beside her, their bowed head and hunched backs echoing her mournful pose.

Firepaw watches; he had not known Redtail, but he can't help feeling moved as he witnesses the Clan mourn.

Graypaw comes up to stand beside him again. "Dustpaw will be sad," he remarks.

"Dustpaw?" Firepaw asks.

"Redtail's apprentice. That brown-striped tabby over there. I wonder who his new mentor will be?"

Firepaw glances over at the small tom who squats near Redtail's body, staring unseeing at the ground. Firepaw looks past him to the Clan leader. "How long will Bluestar sit with him?" he asks.

"Probably the whole night," replies Graypaw. "Redtail was her deputy for many, many moons. She won't want to let him go too quickly. He was one of the best warriors. Not as big and powerful as Tigerclaw or Lionheart, but quick and clever."

Firepaw looks at Tigerclaw, admiring the strength that swells in his powerful muscles and broad head. His massive body shows signs of his warrior life. One of his ears is split into a deep vee shape, and a thick scar slices the bridge of his nose. Glancing at (W/p)paw again, Firepaw notices some similarities between the large warrior and the older apprentice. They had the same head shape, and the same powerful shoulders.

"Are (W/p)paw and Tigerclaw related?" Firepaw murmurs to Graypaw, and the gray apprentice looks up.

"Yes," Graypaw replies. "(W/p)paw is his daughter."

Suddenly, Tigerclaw stands up and stalks over to Ravenpaw. Spottedleaf is crouching beside Tigerclaw's wounded apprentice, using her teeth and front paws to press wads of cobweb onto his shoulder wound.

"Stopping the bleeding. It looked like a nasty cut. And Ravenpaw seemed really shaken up. He's always been a bit jumpy, but I've never seen him this bad before. Let's go and see if he's woken up yet," (W/p)paw meows, having gotten up from her mother's side and padded over to the two apprentices.

They make their way through the grieving cats towards the spot where Ravenpaw lay and settle themselves a respectful distance away to wait until Tigerclaw had finished speaking.

"So, Spottedleaf." Tigerclaw addresses the tortoiseshell with a confident meow. "How is he? Do you think you can save him? I've spent a lot of time training him up, and I don't want my efforts to be wasted at the first battle."

Spottedleaf doesn't look up from her patient as she replies. "Yes, a pity if, after all your vaulable training, he dies in his first fight, eh?" Firepaw hears a teasing purr in her mew.

"Will he live?" Tigerclaw demands.

"Of course. He just needs to rest."

Tigerclaw snorts and looks down at the motionless black shape. He jabs Ravenpaw with one of his front claws. "Come on, then! Get up!"

Ravenpaw doesn't move.

"Look at the length of that claw!" Firepaw hisses.

"Too right!" replies Graypaw with feeling. "I know I wouldn't want to get into a fight with him!"

(W/p)paw lets out a purr of amusement.

"Not so fast, Tigerclaw!" Spottedleaf places her paw over Tigerclaw's sharp talon and gently moves it away. "This apprentice needs to keep as still as possible until the cut has healed. We don't want him opening his wound by jumping about trying to please you. Leave him alone."

Firepaw finds himself holding his breath as he waits for Tigerclaw's reaction. He guesses that few cats dared to give orders to the warrior like that. The big tabby stiffens, and seems about to speak when Spottedleaf mews teasingly, "Even you know better than to argue with a medicine cat, Tigerclaw."

Tigerclaw's eyes flash at the little tortoiseshell's words. "I wouldn't dare argue with you, dear Spottedleaf," he purrs. He turns to leave and catches sight of Graypaw, (W/p)paw, and Firepaw. "Who's this?" he asks Graypaw, towering above them.

"He's the new apprentice," Graypaw mews.

"He smells like a kittypet!" snorts the warrior.

"I was a house cat," Firepaw meows boldly, "but I am going to train to be a warrior."

Tigerclaw looks at him with sudden interest. "Ah, yes. Now I remember. Bluestar mentioned that she had stumbled across some stray kittypet. So she's actually going to try you out, is she?"

Firepaw sits up very straight, anxious to impress this distinguished Clan warrior. "That's right," he mews respectfully.

Tigerclaw eyed him thoughtfully. "Then I shall watch your progress with interest."

Firepaw puffs his chest out proudly.

Tigerclaw gives his daughter an affectionate nuzzle before he stalks away.

"Do you think he liked me?" Firepaw asks.

"I don't think Tigerclaw likes any apprentices!" whispers Graypaw as (W/p)paw stares in confusion after her father.

He never shows me affection around other Clan cats, (W/p)paw thinks, but then she shrugs, shifting her paws under her.

Word Count: 2222 words

A Warrior’s Destiny Masterlist:

@emilygarmadon

#warriors cats x reader

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everybody-loves-purdy · 2 years

Note

I completely understand that Warriors has never used realistic genetics and it's therefore unfair to push such standards on the original characters of others, and I'm glad the fandom learnt that (I agree that there definitely was such a time where people enforced this way too much considering most of their rules were completely ignored by canon itself), but I do wish to see more semi-realistic roleplays, AUs, all that stuff.

Reminds me of a time when I was hanging around a roleplay wiki (not to rp I was just interested) and saw people with more ambitious, pink and purple cats, one with yellow star-shaped markings, and someone had the audacity to comment and passive-aggressively explain that this wasn't physically possible like the person who made the characters was outright stupid and had never seen a cat in their life. Let people be creative.

I'm personally obsessed with the coat genetics of dogs and cats, it's been a special interest of mine, so I love making my OCs 80% realistic from a physical standpoint, often with just slightly brighter saturation and stylistic stripes. But I also love ambitious, over-the-top designs where Dovewing's eyes contain three or more colours, Firestar is neon orange, etc. It’s just fun either way and I like seeing people have fun with their designs.

I completely agree with all of this! I personally like more realistic designs when I’m thinking of how I would personally design characters but if someone shows me a bright green OC with red eyes then I’ll be like “Yeah! That’s super neat!” If someone shows me a bright neon blue Bluestar with dark blue swirly stripes then that’s amazing, it would be a super cool design. This fandom is full of so much creativity I just love seeing it - as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone then I say go for it no matter how crazy it gets.

#dogroseberry

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fencesandfrogs · 3 years

Text

funerals. mourning. prayer.

part of my world building series for warrior cats. bracketed numbers represent notes that i felt disrupted the piece. see them under the cut.

THUNDERCLAN funerals are simple. the bodies are dressed, and vigil is sat in silence. at sunrise, elders will bury the bodies. sometimes younger cats, those who haven’t experienced a close death, will want to follow the elders, to know where their loved one is buried, but they are always held back. it’s bad luck to confuse a cat, to call their name. they could get lost on their way to starclan.

the cats in mourning try not to linger on it. there is always the fear they will call too strongly, and summon their ghost, keeping them from starclan. stories will not be told of them for at least a season, when the pain is no longer sharp and more of an ache, and the spirit has made it safely to starclan.

fireheart learned these traditions, and felt fear he kept spottedleaf to him, prevented her from finding peace. it was too late for her when he learned this. she assured him he kept her from nowhere, that she was only visiting.

and thunderclan believes in the visitation of individuals. they pray to those who have succeeded before them, or to those that have failed. one day an apprentice will pray to swiftpaw that they are made an apprentice soon, and before receiving their nine lives, a new leader will pray to bluestar that they never lose faith.

SHADOWCLAN rites are private. loved ones clean the coat and whisper their name, trying to breathe their memories into the spirit before it leaves for starclan. the elder will bury the bodies, but mates and queens and mentors will chose the place, that they know where to visit.

no one expects anything from a mourning cat. they may not speak for as much as a moon, hunting only enough to sustain themselves, going on patrols only as required. a grieving mentor may have their apprentice reassigned, a grieving apprentice might find they become a warrior a moon later than their littermates. this is done in kindness, not punishment.

a cat who mourns too quickly is troublesome. dawnpelt’s anger over flametail was to be expected. how could tigerheart not stand by his littermate? anything less would be cold. to mourn for a cat too quickly is to imply they aren’t worth committing to memory, that their name does not deserve honoring.

shadowclan prays together, at dawn and dusk. the leader begins morning prayer, before they eat, and the medicine cat leads evening prayer. as soon as kits are old enough to stand, they know to be quiet at these times, and it is often the first thing they leave the nursery for. a queen asks a medicine cat to pray for a kit who is weaker than the rest, and a mentor asks a leader to pray their apprentice does well on their assessment. the whole clan listens, knowing their ancestors will guide them to fulfill the prayer.

RIVERCLAN funerals are celebrations of life. bodies are decorated in flowers and sent down the river. stories are told, and the name of the lost cat is shouted many times. other clans find this disrespectful, that they should feel contrite. but riverclan will sleep soundly on the days of a death, secure that the river will bring their loved one to starclan.

cats who linger in mourning are concerning. it is one thing to hold on to a trinket swiped from the nest before it was sent down the river, but it is another to be saddened by loss for too long. life moves on like the river, and so must cats.

when he was in riverclan, graystripe took comfort in this. he had his own reasons, of course, but no one blamed him for focusing on his kits. when his first rainstorm came, he was nervous to share, so soon to her death, but it was a familiar act that soothed a grieving heart. [1]

riverclan doesn’t pray the same as other clans, but they do pray. they make shrines and memorials to those who have lost, gather trinkets in one place. when the rain comes, and they are well-fed and happy, they share stories. a queen may present her kits to the shrine of her lost mate, and feel his approval. riverclan believes in the divine and in their own connection to it.

WINDCLAN funerals are short. the body is dressed, a final goodbye is said, and elders and the medicine cat carry it, leaving it on the moor. the location is whispered to the deputy, in a somewhat illicit act, so that patrols can avoid the location for at least a half moon, when the body has likely vanished.

this is when the cat has run to starclan, they say, when the spirit has parted and sprinted home. it is a bad omen to find a body, and a worse omen to bury one, trapping them under the earth with no chance at finding home.

this is why talltail was so upset over his father. a tunneler’s biggest fear was that death, the inescapable. even tunnelers ran to starclan. they didn’t dig their way there. so not only did talltail lose his father, his father was not guarunteed to starclan. [2]

windclan cats pray as individuals. only the medicine cat, only a named medicine cat, carries the power to bless, and what a power that is. a queen can pray over her kits, but she seeks the blessing of the medicine cat that they will grow safe and healthy. [3]

SKYCLAN funerals are public. the whole clan gathers to mourn. each life lost is a precious thing, a small and kindling flame lost to the clan. the whole clan buries the fallen, the clan lacking sufficient elders to task them with it. elders do get to dress the bodies, and they are responsible for choosing the burial place.

a tree growing on the grave is said to be good luck. skyclan has not had the luxury of mourning for very long: they have been fraught with grief for their modern existence. so mourning is supposed to be a productive act, a way to preserve the life they have.

skyclan fears sickness. firefern. rileysong. they treasure their medicine cats, hope they are never without them, because they have seen the danger of it. that is why leafstar took her clan away: she feared sickness and poison, enemies that can only be weathered, never defeated. [4]

like shadowclan, skyclan prays together. in the gorge, they prayed on full moon nights, when they could only gather among themselves. the full moon is still a holy time, when the spirits of their ancestors are closest. they pray in small groups, too: mates praying for their kits, all of the mentors praying for an injured apprentice. [5]

[1]: i kind of get into this, but basically, hunting is good (for riverclan) in the rain, so riverclan often celebrates on rainy days.

[2]: tunnelers used to be buried. but the decline of the tunnelers is not as sudden as it was to those who experienced it.

[3]: as discussed in “names. leaders. meaning.”, windclan medicine cats get a second name when they become senior medicine cat. kestrelflight is spirit seer. barkface is moor healer. it’s a huge mark of respect, and there’s never more than one. sometimes zero, if there is a tragedy, but never more than one.

[4]: i haven’t read much of skyclan’s latest focused work, so i’m drawing from memory.

[5]: old skyclan prayed like this, too. barn owls hunt the best in the full moon, so they gathered under the new moon. modern skyclan is still finding its feet, although i think eventually they’ll hold a group prayer on the new moon.

#warriors culture #warriors worldbuilding #warriors au #warrior cats #warriors #mine #txt #1st #March #2021 #March 1st 2021 #cloudtail's daughter #jaywing #dovefeather #essay #long

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curiositys-cat · 3 years

Text

Burn Up The Light: Chapter 7

Sandstorm keeps a careful eye on Fireheart these days, though maybe that’s nothing new. Even when she hadn’t wanted to, back in the beginning, she’d always been aware of him and his bright coat, the way his voice cut through crowds, the-- just about everything, really. No matter what he did, he had a way of filling the space.

Maybe that wasn’t accurate. Other cats didn’t seem to notice it, so maybe it was this-- no matter what he did, Fireheart had a way of filling her thoughts.

But she watches him now, because he watches her-- because he knows her, and she’s going to get him right back.

Dustpelt had just scoffed when she’d told him this particular plan. He does that whenever she mentions Fireheart. He’s been doing it a lot lately.

“Fireheart looks off today,” Sandstorm murmurs over the rabbit she and Dustpelt are sharing. She keeps her voice down, but his ears prick in acknowledgment. “Do you think something happened with Cinderpaw?”

Fireheart plods across the out of the medicine cat’s den, coming to a rest at the base of highrock, where a shadow stretches for just a few tail lengths. When he lays down, it’s more of a collapse. Sandstorm frowns.

“Does anything new need to happen?” Dustpelt asks.

“Hm. Maybe not. He looks exhausted, though,” Sandstorm says. “More than normal. And he looks like he hasn’t had a proper groom in a moon.”

“Someone should fix that. Why don’t you go over and share tongues, hm?”

Sandstorm almost chokes on her rabbit. “What?”

“You said he looks ungroomed. Offer to do it for him, if it bothers you so much,” Dustpelt says with a roll of his eyes, and Sandstorm gets the definite feeling that she’s missing something. She’s quick to shake her head and follows the impulse to leap to her feet, legs suddenly jittering with nervous, buzzing energy.

“I’m not doing-- that -- but I can do something else for him.”

“Suit yourself,” Dustpelt says, looking at her with unimpressed half lidded eyes. “Make sure to get a good sniff of him while you’re over there so you can describe how he smells to me again.”

“It was important to the story!”

“Sure was. I’m not saying I was glad when Tigerclaw interrupted to give me dawn patrol, but...”

Sandstorm resists the urge to box him around the ears like she would’ve when they were apprentices-- she’s a warrior now, and she’s got more important things to do than tumble around camp with her best friend, no matter how much she’d like to see his face if she took him down right now. If Bluestar saw, she’d fix Sandstorm with one of those looks .

But. Bluestar isn’t around.

Sandstorm sends herself hurtling at Dustpelt, eyes gleaming with sharp light. They’re laughing before they hit the ground.

Cinderpaw’s accident lays like snow over the clan, the kind that melts during the day and freezes thicker at night, trapping everything beneath it in sickly ice. No one knows what to do. There’s sympathy, of course, and hope, and a sense of relief and heartbreak in equal measure from the nursery, where Frostfur minds Cloudkit with an almost obsessive fervor. She stinks of guilt and grief and a fear that hasn’t gone away since the day Cinderpaw came off the Thunderpath.

In it all, no one else seems to notice how badly Fireheart is doing. Maybe they do, but with all eyes on his apprentice, Fireheart’s pain seems smaller. It is. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t hurting, and Sandstorm hates seeing the way his steps grow heavier with each passing moon. He’s a creature meant for crowing, not for this slinking half-sleep.

Sandstorm, once she’s brushed herself off, heads over to him, on a warpath to make his life easier. She gets his murmured permission, and then goes to hunt down his old apprentice, and the extra one he seems to have taken on these days with Graystripe’s absences. She’s noticed those too, of course, but that’s none of her business. For now.

Cinderpaw and Brackenpaw meet her at the thorn tunnel. “Are you both ready to head out?”

“Yep! Weather’s great!” Cinderpaw chirps. Sandstorm gives a look at the heavy clouds and shakes her head.

Her brother is more subdued. He always is, but he seems even quieter in the shadow of his lightning crack of a sister. It’s slow going, but Cinderpaw keeps a steady pace, and a steady stream of infectiously good natured commentary as they go.

“I think we should hunt here,” Brackenpaw starts before they’ve gone far, tail twitching nervously.

Sandstorm look at him curiously. “We’re too close to camp. Prey won’t linger this close to cat-scent. Has Graystripe not--?”

“No, he has!” Brackenpaw asserts, a little too quickly. “It’s just that I haven’t been going out as much, and it’s pretty cold, and I guess I just think I don’t want to go too much further.”

“I see.”

“Sandstorm’s too nice to say it, so I will,” Cinderpaw cuts in. “That’s a mouse-brained idea if I ever heard one. Let’s go.” She doesn’t wait for them to reply, pushing off deeper into the woods.

They continue in silence. Cinderpaw no longer seems to want to chat, eyes trained in front of her, jaw set as she pushes the pace. Brackenpaw scrabbles behind, hovering uncomfortably as he goes.

When they arrive at the spot Sandstorm’s picked for hunting, a shaded grove near the Riverclan border, Cinderpaw’s breath is puffing out hard in front of her. Sandstorm makes no comment. Let her be the judge of how hard she wants to push. When someone hurts like that, sometimes exhaustion is the best you can do-- wear yourself to the quick and when the night tries to haunt you, at least you can escape to sleep.

“Yellowfang said you’d be able to collect some herbs for her out here,” Sandstorm offers. “You know what you’re doing?”

“I do,” Cinderpaw says. “Catmint and dock grow in wet, shaded areas like this. I’ll have a sniff around and see what I can find. You two enjoy hunting.” Her eyes flash as she says the last bit, but she turns before Sandstorm can see any more.

“We’ll be nearby.” Sandstorm touches her tail-tip to Cinderpaw’s shoulder before the apprentice starts away. She wishes she could do more, but saying it aloud would be worse. If Cinderpaw doesn’t want to acknowledge that she might need accommodation, she certainly doesn’t want anything that Sandstorm could tell her about grief.

Sandstorm’s heart aches for the apprentice, but she’s smart enough to keep that to herself.

“Shall we hunt?” Sandstorm turns to Brackenpaw.

“Yes!”

A few beats pass. Sandstorm cocks her head when no further response seems forthcoming. “Brackenpaw, can you tell me what prey is around?”

Eyes going wide, Brackenpaw drops his mouth open so far to scent she’s surprised it doesn’t hit the ground. “I think there’s a vole over in the roots there,” he finally says. “Sorry.”

“No need to apologize. Different warriors do things differently, I suppose. I just assumed Graystripe had taught you like my mentor did me.”

“I think he might’ve,” Brackenpaw squeaks. “I just-- I guess I forgot.”

“Why don’t you see what you can do with that vole?” Sandstorm prompts.

She watches him drop into a hunting crouch-- not a bad one, all things considered. But it’s clumsy, and he’s only getting as far as he is on natural talent, not training. She’s not surprised when he overshoots, only barely managing to avoid bonking his head on the tree-trunk.

“When was the last time your mentor took you out hunting, Brackenpaw?” She asks.

“Sorry, I know I jumped too far. I think I could’ve gotten it if I’d been a little more careful.”

“Probably,” Sandstorm agrees. No point in lying to apprentices. “When did Graystripe last take you out here?”

Brackenpaw looks away. “Not that long ago.”

“The half-moon?” The moon will be round in the sky tonight.

He still won’t look at her.

“The day before the last gathering,” he says. “But it was really good! We caught enough prey for all the elders-- and Dappletail said my mice were extra plump!”

“She knows good prey when she sees it.” A full moon since his mentor had last taken him out-- maybe there’d been a patrol or two since then, but it's worse than she’d thought.

“I’ll get the next one,” he says. After a pause. “I’ll try.”

“Yes, I’m sure you will,” Sandstorm says, shaking her head as she tries to drive her wonderings away. Graystripe’s business is his own business, and if Bluestar feels he’s neglecting his warrior duties, that’s for her to say. Sandstorm has a job in this clan, and minding everyone else’s apprentices isn’t it. “Let’s find you something warm to sink your teeth into.”

It’s the middle of leafbare, and there isn’t much to go around to start with. Between Brackenpaw’s earlier attempt and the way her thoughts wind round her head like honey-suckle vines, it’s slim pickings. Brackenpaw does his best, but when all he has to show for his efforts is a half-starved mouse, it’s hard to miss the sag of his shoulders, the shame that slicks down his ears.

“We should find your sister,” Sandstorm meows around her blackbird. It’s not much, but it’s something.

“Can we just hunt for a little longer?” Brackenpaw casts a look around, as if prey is just going to wander into his paws. “I’m not ready to head back yet.”

“The prey’s all bolted to their holes.”

“Then we’ll find some more birds! There are always birds, even in leafbare,” Brackenpaw protests. Then, seeing Sandstorm’s unmoved expression, he adds, “please, I can’t head back with just this.”

He scuffs a disdainful paw over his mouse, turning it onto its stomach. It’s barely enough to feed a kit, and they both know it. What an earnest little cat he is, all rushed apologies and open worry. Sandstorm shakes her head, but before she knows it she’s agreeing.

“Fine. We’ll stay for a little while longer, but I want to see you working hard-- we need something more than fluffed fur to show for a whole day’s hunting.”

He nods solemnly, like she’s said something profound rather than muttered an instruction.

“Do you think that you could-- I know that I’ve been an apprentice for a while, but, could you just remind me about hunting?”

“What, in general?” Sandstorm asks, blinking.

“I mean, or just birds, or whatever we find!” Brackenpaw hurries to add.

Stars above. “Yeah, okay.” She drops down into her best hunting crouch and walks him through the basics-- stuff he should’ve had down moons ago, but from the way he’s drinking it in, it seems like at least some of it’s completely new to him.

He copies her, body low to the ground and almost deathly still. He starts padding forwards. His ears angle towards a scuffling that she hadn’t noticed until he’d started towards it. Another mouse maybe. Even if he misses, she’ll commend him for getting wind of it before she had.

His steps are light on the frost-crusted ground, quiet enough that even a mouse won’t notice his approach. He’s a quick learner, despite everything.

Just a tail-length away, one puffed breath between him and his prey, Sandstorm notices him slow. The next trembling paw he puts down slips on an ice-slick leaf, and all at once he’s a scrambling frenzy as he tries to hook the mouse before it manages to retreat. From the way his tail thwaps against the tree, she knows that he’s failed.

“Fox-dung!” Brackenpaw curses. “If I hadn’t slipped --”

“It happens to the best of us,” Sandstorm says.

“But now we’re just taking back this , and everyone’s going to be hungry because I slipped ! It was a stupid mistake!”

Sandstorm takes a step towards him, ready to try and comfort him-- she’s no stranger to a hot-blooded outburst after a bad hunt. “We learn and do better next time. What did we learn there?”

“That I’m a useless hunter,” Brackenpaw spits. “Can’t even catch a mouse.”

“The evidence to the contrary is in a hole with my blackbird.” Sandstorm keeps her tone even. “What else?”

Tail lashing, Brackenpaw looks away in frustrated silence before he finally breaks. “To pay more attention to where I’m putting my paws, I guess,” he says. “But I already knew that. I just forgot, because I’m always forgetting.”

“We learn by doing,” Sandstorm says. “And it seems to me that you haven’t had much practice.”

“Because I’m not good enough for Graystripe to mentor!” Brackenpaw returns, with more fire than she's ever seen in the calm apprentice's eyes. “I’m just-- not good enough.” His voice breaks, softens. “I didn’t understand it at first, but now I know. He doesn’t want to train me because he knows it’s useless. ” There's a lower venom in that hiss, the kind that only the young really feel, self-revulsion big and loud enough to break the banks of a frozen river.

“Brackenpaw,” Sandstorm says.

“I miss going hunting with him,” Brackenpaw continues. “But he’s so busy, so it’s not really surprising that he doesn’t want to make time for it, you know? It’d be okay if I were learning faster from Fireheart, but--”

“Mentors don’t get to choose whether or not they want to train their apprentices, Brackenpaw-- it’s a duty, just like hunting and patrolling. If Graystripe’s not doing that, it’s a reflection on him,” she meets his eyes, “not you.�� She knows before she’s finished saying it that it’s useless. Platitudes, no matter how true, are as good here as a twig in a forest fire. They only make it worse.

Brackenpaw snorts. “It’s not his fault his apprentice has three left paws. And Cinderpaw doesn’t want anything to do with me either, and I just-- I don’t know how I’m so bad at everything .”

“I can’t make Graystripe a better mentor, but I can let you know-- you might feel lonely right now, but you’re not alone.” Brackenpaw’s shoulders climb high and tight. “Brackenpaw. Look at me. I mean it.”

Begrudgingly, he meets her gaze, but he breaks it almost immediately.

“If you want to be a good warrior, that’s the first thing that you have to know. No one in a clan stands by themselves. From the day we’re born to the day we die, we’re always just one part of something bigger,” Sandstorm says.

“I know all of that,” Brackenpaw shoots back. “But that doesn’t mean I want to be the weakest part of it! Cinderpaw’s going to be a medicine cat and save lives, and I’m just going to be-- here.” He looks around the empty clearing, to the scrap-pile of prey. “I just want to know what I’m doing wrong .”

Nothing, she wants to say. You’re too young for these mistakes to count. Even with his sister-- and she can see what’s happening there, his overbearing concern coming hard on a cat who wants nothing more than to live freely-- it’s an honest mistake, an easy one, and it’ll all be salvageable when they figure it out.

Instead, she finds herself thinking of Fireheart.

“Fireheart’s done worse than you ever have.”

Brackenpaw snorts again, but he can’t hide the way his ears prick in interest.

“You may be too young to remember it, but I was an apprentice with him,” she says. “And the list of things he got in trouble for-- it goes on. I’m not exaggerating when I say he spent half his apprenticeship picking ticks off of elders-- you can ask Dappletail yourself later.”

“I’m just good at pretending,” Brackenpaw says. “Nobody but Graystripe has noticed how useless I am out here--”

“And what am I? A tree trunk?”

“You’re just being nice,” Brackenpaw shoots back.

“You and your sister-- when did I get nice?" She mutters. "Look, I’m trying to make a point. Fireheart was an awful apprentice. He was always sleeping in late for patrols, and going off wandering in the night doing Starclan knows what-- he talked back to the senior warriors, and he couldn’t catch birds for a moon longer than the rest of us. And Bluestar was his mentor.”

This gives Brackenpaw pause. “Bluestar?” he asks.

“He was a kittypet mess, and she didn’t give up on him. Because she knew that he was a warrior at heart-- that he wanted it.”

“Wanting catches no prey. It doesn’t matter”

Sandstorm flicks him with her tail. “Wanting got Fireheart to a warrior name, and plenty more besides it. He wanted this life so badly that he rebuilt himself around it-- burnt everything that he was down to the ground and grew again from that little wanting root. And for a little while, he was really, truly alone.”

“What did he do?” Brackenpaw

“His best,” Sandstorm said. “That’s all he ever does. I really don’t think it’s anything more than that-- he’s just got a good heart and this infuriating tendency to follow it further than anyone with his head screwed on right would do.”

“Is that-- a good thing?”

“Unfortunately.”

Brackenpaw’s face twists in confusion. Sandstorm changes tack.

“What I’m trying to say is that you just have to keep trying, with all of it. No one knows it better than Fireheart, and it sounds like you’re going to have to learn it well too. You have to figure out what you want, and if the answer really is to be the best warrior you can, you’ll do it. You just have to decide,” she says, tasting Fireheart’s words on her tongue.

“You said he was lonely,” Brackenpaw says. And it’s that part that he cares about more than the rest of it-- he doesn’t just feel useless, he feels abandoned , alone in a way that no clan cat was ever meant to be. Alone in the way that so many felt, with the way that the forest seemed to claw youth out of its apprentices, leave them scarred and grown before the kittenfluff had left them. “But he’s not anymore.”

“I should hope not!” Sandstorm gives a laugh.

“And now he has someone like you,” Brackenpaw murmurs.

Sandstorm’s eyes go wide. “Well-- and Graystripe and Yellowfang and the rest. He has all of us. But--” she gives a hasty lick to her fur, “I suppose he does have me, too.”

And where had all that come from? Why was Fireheart her first idea when she tried to think of a good warrior? Was he that much on her mind?

But how wouldn’t he be? Fireheart’s the brightest star in any sky-- you’d have to be blind not to see it, willfully ignore him, like she had when she was younger. And the way it feels to think about him, too, like catching a rabbit racing across a clearing, exhilarating and all-consuming. Like waking up to thunderclap, jolting into blood pumping wakefulness. Like--

A rustle of the bush at the edge of the glade and Cinderpaw bursts through, crying out around a bundle of dark leaves in her mouth-- but Sandstorm realizes quickly she’s not running away from anything. Instead, she’s herding , a fat vole scuttling just before her paws.

Sandstorm could snap its neck in a single move, but she ignores her rumbling stomach. “Brackenpaw!” she calls.

He freezes, startled for a single suspended heartbeat, and then he snaps into action. Brackenpaw leaps, landing squarely on the creature’s back this time and sinking his teeth into its skin. One solitary squeak and that’s it.

“Thanks, Brackenpaw!" Cinderpaw pips, muffled around her herbs, eyes shining.

“That was great-- you drove it right into my paws,” Brackenpaw says.

A moment of hesitation, and Cinderpaw’s eyes flick over her brother, searching for a trace of insincerity. She doesn’t seem to find it, though, and when she purrs it’s with her whole chest. “I just saw it and thought--”

“Good catch, the two of you!”

Sandstorm starts off towards camp, leaving the siblings to exclaim over their catch without a warrior looming over them. On the way back she thinks of Fireheart-- and the fact that she can’t stop thinking about him.

#wc #warrior cats #warriors fic #sandfire #sandstorm #firestar #cinderpelt #brackenfur

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leporellian · 4 years

Text

how i would rewrite warrior cats: into the wild

rewriting the entire series is a big Thing in the warrior cats fandom, and i don’t have the time to do that. however i have been having Ideas about what i would do if i rewrote the books, and the changes are... drastic, to say the least, so i figured i would write them down in a bullet-point style List Thing to see what happens.

- we open on henry, an old wise sage-type kittypet, telling two kittypet kits- rusty and smudge- about the forest cats and their legends, primarily that of how the clans were born

- there were always little groups of cats in the forest, and they were originally very hostile- except for a lush spot full of prey, herbs, just about anything needed for survival. this spot has had many names and is referred to by a different name for each clan but universally, it’s called fourtrees, because there are four grand oaks that guard the area. this spot was something of a truce area where all the groups could get along

- however tension slowly boiled throughout the forest until there was a massive war at fourtrees. lots of cats dead and even more wounded. their spirits joined together to form starclan, who told the cats to unite or die- and as punishment for breaking the fourtrees truce, they set the whole thing ablaze. it’s no longer the survival spot it was

- however, the spirits say, the four oaks will grow from their charred remains again, as will the rest of the area. everything will be as it once was in time. starclan themselves cannot last, and must be reborn every 600 moons (or some other large number) from the midst of celestial battle. however, every time this happens, the spirits say, the coming of the ‘end of the stars’ will always and only be heralded by a heroic cat in a flame-orange coat, as a nod to the fire that started the clans to begin with. so it’s kind of like an avatar thing

- anyway 6 moons later there’s a battle at sunningrocks that kills redtail and oakheart. bluestar and spottedleaf, while discussing who will replace redtail, see a comet across the sky

- every falling star means a warrior has faded in starclan, and it means they are to be reborn- and something wonderful is on the cusp of beginning, says spottedleaf. spottedleaf also notes that according to the calendar system kept by the medicine cats the ‘fire alone’ cat should have arrived about 6 months ago, so everyone’s worried about what’s going on w/ that, Where Are They. she does note however that a lot of cats think the calendar had a miscalculation at some point and that the ‘fire alone’ cat is shadowclan’s new leader

- anyway rusty, the kittypet, decides to enter the forest. the twoleg nests here are Not A Good Place for cats to live, bc there’s constant fighting between the kittypets and everyone has their own boundaries and it’s very chaotic. there is a group that tries to monitor it called the blood brothers, but they’re usually in the city so their guidance isn’t often There. so both rusty and smudge want to Get Out and join the clans

- like in the original books he meets graypaw, who’s always interested in outsiders, and then bluestar, lionheart, and tigerclaw. lionheart is graypaw’s mentor, bluestar is thunderclan’s leader, and tigerclaw is bluestar’s nephew who is kindly yet determined, and has become deputy after redtail’s demise. again like in the originals he’s accepted into thunderclan fast

- smudge feels Betrayed. for some reason the writing takes special note of the glimmer in his striped collar- it’s all kind of colors, purple, red, blue, yellow. it’s very distinctive...

- next morning, lionheart and tigerclaw lead rusty to the thunderclan camp. all is well and good until longpaw and sandpaw roll up

- longpaw and sandpaw are twins and look exactly alike. they’re also the children of redtail and are both very competitive with everyone and each other (although they are very close) because they want to be Like Their Dad. both are taking redtail’s death hard

- longpaw is like ‘i wanna beat him up’ and given these are two 10 year olds basically everyone’s like ‘well rusty can fight too so Bet.’ it’s an even fight, longpaw gets his ear torn and rusty gets his collar ripped off

- this fight proves rusty is capable of being in thunderclan, and he’s renamed firepaw, which is a nod to the ‘fire alone’ thing as a ‘hey isn’t it funny he came right after the clock lined up for a fire-cloaked savior? strange lol’

- anyway firepaw is introduced to some Other Characters besides everyone i’ve mentioned thus far: - ravenpaw, medicine cat apprentice. he was a loner kit found abandoned on the territory and he’s constantly nervous and jittery. he’s also kind of clingy and a tad annoying because he’s constantly worried of being abandoned again, but he Is endearing - graypaw and darkpaw, twins similar to longpaw and sandpaw (although unlike them they have an ‘opposite twins’ kinda thing). both are the sons of willowpelt and a shadowclan tom, but both deal with it differently: graypaw is a dreamer who constantly is interested in cats from outside thunderclan ‘like him’, and darkpaw wants to try and overcompensate for it by being nothing but loyal- especially to his mentor, tigerclaw, who’s a father figure to him. dark isn’t mean but he is very sardonic and sarcastic, and it’s also made increasingly obvious that he Knows Something and is very nervous about it. weird - (yes, longpaw and sandpaw are annoyed that they’re the only ‘fully clan’ cats in this batch of apprentices.) - spottedleaf, thunderclan medicine cat. kind of a ditzy aunt type, it’s joked that she acts like a stoner bc she’s inhaling all the Herb Scents all day. fully enables all of the kids to do Dumb Things - the elders, who dislike all these new apprentices bc besides long and sand none of them are fully clan-blooded. the most vocal about this is thistleclaw, an elder always trying to start shit, and tigerclaw’s father (altho tiger is embarrassed by thistle’s outbursts). - and finally, cinderkit, who always tags along w/ the apprentices although she isn’t supposed to. she is however very smart and the apprentices don’t mind her tagging along. she’s made an apprentice like 1/2 way through here

- anyway at the gathering windclan is MISSING and NOBODY seems to know what is going on, but both riverclan and shadowclan are acting shady about it.

- also brokenstar, The New ShadowClan Leader, seems like a nice guy, a Poster Boy type. his fur is bright orange so everyone’s like, ‘yea he’s the fire that’ll herald feline gottdammerung’ but nobody wants to THINK about feline gottdammerung yet because like, That’s An Upsetting Thought! it’s also noted that he’s way young for a leader

- anyway the apprentices (and cinderkit) are like. ‘we gotta know what's happening and why windclan vanished’ and everyone is involved (although sand and long keep their distance). it’s a very ‘up at midnight at a slumber party’ kind of aesthetic. everyone in shadow and river also has a motive, and at points there’s even evidence that something caused windclan to die out. lots of red herrings

- eventually yellowfang comes into the picture like she does in canon and they figure out shadowclan drove windclan out and that windclan is Alive and Out There somewhere. the evidence is enough that spottedleaf and tigerclaw (who's like the Cool Resident Dad) agree about it and so a spy patrol is sent to sneak in on shadowclan

- anyway everyone discovers how fucked up shadowclan is behind the curtain (what with the elder abuse and child warfare) and is like ‘holy shit we gotta stop these guys’ so there’s a big fight like in the original book and brokenstar is dethroned like he is in canon and brought to thunderclan

- thunderclan saves the day, yellowfang joins spottedleaf in the med cat den, and the apprentices all get names (save ravenpaw who’s a med cat apprentice)- firepaw is fireheart, graypaw is graystripe, darkpaw is darkstripe, longpaw is longtail (in honor of redtail), and sandpaw is sandstorm. it’s noted darkstripe looks super uncomfortable when tigerclaw is mentioned to be deputy. long and sand have a humorous argument abt their names and who got the Cooler One

- however everyone’s like ‘ok so brokenstar wasn’t the Fire Savior so who IS’ and fire is dismissed out of hand bc he’s a kittypet and all the past fire saviors was clanborn. ravenpaw however tells fireheart in private that he believes fireheart is the Fire Alone, and that Shit Is About To Go The Fuck Down

- meanwhile, darkstripe asks if he can see fireheart alone, and fireheart obliges. darkstripe sits down and, very quietly, says ‘i have to tell you about what happened to redtail.’

- and it ends there lol that’s book one.

#warrior cats #warrior cats rewrite #rambles

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brackenfur · 3 years

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i actually wrote a small pre-relationship tallpoppy/stonefur thing from me n @exaggerated-yawning ‘s au ....i rly love tallstone and enjoy it omg so just have this drabble that i was able to pump out after i got home frm work tonight omg

He must be having a nightmare again, Tallpoppy thinks as she watches him shiver in his nest. In his waking hours, Stonefur is usually more withdrawn and quiet; it’s a stark contrast to a time before, of a tom that she remembers from Gatherings as being so full of confidence in himself and his family. Not of the arrogant kind; just a cat who knew his path in life and want he wanted for himself. Seemingly not glory or fame, not a high position (although he got that eventually) just the joy of being in his home with his family at his side.

So many cats, Tallpoppy thinks, go through their lives not realizing that sometimes that’s all they truly want; to belong, to have a shared community. She thinks of Brokenstar, who she remembers from her kitdays, who constantly shied away from ShadowClan and withdrew into himself until the resentment for Lizardstripe, and the coddling Raggedstar gave him boiled over until he couldn’t contain it. Of Tigerstar - a tom she didn’t grow up around, but knew just as well from Gatherings, proud and arrogant and so blinded by needless ambition, that he lost his Clan and family from his own doing and is now spending his days trying to recover from that blow by punishing others for what he lacks.

But Stonefur, before TigerClan, wasn’t like that. She didn’t know him well before helping rescue him from Blackfoot, but she felt as though she understood him from a distance. What you see is what you get, one of those cats.

But then again, no one is really like that; she remembers the collective shock of ShadowClan when Tigerstar told them how Stonefur and Mistyfoot were half-ThunderClan, sired by Oakheart but carried by Bluestar. The way he recalled it, amber eyes stirring with hatred and disgust - Tallpoppy thinks that part of why it bothers him so much is that the cat who mothered Stonefur is the cat who drove him from ThunderClan, and he wanted to go for the next best thing after Bluestar now that she’s gone from this world: her children.

And not just Bluestar’s, either; Tallpoppy remembers seeing two apprentice-aged cats huddled together tightly, eyes fearful and wide as they take in the ShadowClan warriors before them. RiverClan apprentices from the look of them, but there was something about their head shape, the molly’s too-thick coat-

“RiverClan doesn’t just house two half-Clan cats, but four,” Tigerstar had hissed to them, narrowing his eyes at the apprentices. “Crookedstar’s grandkits have a ThunderClan father; how embarrassing for his legacy.”

It was that moment that Tallpoppy had felt as though she had enough; her children, her kits, were taken from her. Killed by Brokenstar at three moons old. There was no funeral, no ceremony. No one gathered for a vigil to send her kittens to StarClan and wish them well on their journey. Dawncloud and Brightflower pressed against her sides, murmuring that they would be there for her through this - but that was all. Her kittens are dead, and ShadowClan had to move on. No one had tears to shed again for a dead litter; it was too common for them now, that it almost felt as though no one but her mourned them truly.

She tears her thoughts from her kittens, though; she has to, in order to get through the next day, and the day after that. And the next. It’s something that the queens of ShadowClan have learned over the past seasons.

But that idea - of killing two apprentices, just for their parentage, was something she’d rather turn a rogue than to go and perform. This wasn’t the forest she was born into anymore.

Stonefur twitches again, and Tallpoppy blinks at him softly; in the moonlight, his blue-gray fur shines brightly. The patches of missing fur from where Blackfoot attacked him are almost grown back, but some of the wounds have scarred too horribly for any fur to grow back. She looks at the one on his side, and her stomach tightens.

He’s a strong tom. He lost his home; his leader was perfectly comfortable with him being killed to suit Tigerstar’s needs. But as he stayed with the rebels in ShadowClan, with Littlecloud nursing him back to health, Tallpoppy did not think he would stay with them. Perhaps go back with his sister and her son to RiverClan, or maybe join ThunderClan.

But, just as shockingly, he began...talking to her. Well, she talked to him first, mostly; he was still too shell-shocked, too shook up to really carry on a conversation for too long. Their first conversations consisted of her reminding him that he wasn’t their prisoner, that he could go anywhere he liked - he was just here to heal, but if he didn’t want to stay, she understood that.

But after awhile, they began to talk more; it was awkward and guarded at first, due to their differences, but the walls began to drop the more they understood each other.

He’s proud and strong-willed because his father taught him to be; Oakheart was a tom of confidence and generosity. His father had to protect his brother from their Clan at a young age, and Stonefur and Mistyfoot were taught to protect each other. He has a bit of a temper that he says is from his mother; when Tallpoppy’s whiskers twitched, he explained that Graypool had quite the temper, and no one could really calm her down once she started to fire up.

Maybe it’s because his personality compliments the side of hers that is instinctively protective, that tries to look at the best in life and tries to move forward with what she has, but they did grow closer over the moon before the battle with BloodClan.

And after that, he stayed.

He didn’t explain why, exactly; he merely shrugged and said that Mistyfoot is Leopardstar’s new deputy, and she can keep the other molly and check from there. That his sister will always be his sister regardless of the Clan. But Tallpoppy mostly thinks it’s because you can’t go back to that; to a Clan who wanted you dead, and a leader who turned a blind eye to it. Mistyfoot is as badly damaged from it as he is, but Tallpoppy also knows that she wasn’t the one under Blackfoot’s claws - that was Stonefur. Every scratch, every bite, every wound opened - it was on Stonefur. She thinks that there’s a difference in that.

Tallpoppy nestles closer to him; he started to sleep next to her when the nightmares came back. Strangely, after all is said and done - with Tigerstar dead, BloodClan defeated, and ShadowClan trying to begin a new chapter again, wondering who will lead them next and if they’re ready to move forward, and how, she still has nightmares.

About her kits, mostly. But sometimes it’s about herself, too; where she’s the one that Brokenstar is taking out for battle training, while her kits watch.

Stonefur didn’t say anything that first night, merely plopped next to her and went to sleep. But his presence helped; a familiar scent of someone who is trying to get back on his own paws was nice to have.

But now it’s him who’s having the nightmare; he twitches in his sleep, eyelids fluttering. Tallpoppy frowns; she cares about him in a way that’s new for her, something that’s hard for her to put her claw on. Her kit’s father was just a fellow warrior; it wasn’t a courtship of that kind. She’s never really had relationships outside of her friends and Clanmates; but this thing, with Stonefur, it’s different. She finds herself aching for his companionship in a way that’s just different from Dawncloud or Littlecloud’s friendships; she wants them to sleep in the same nest for every night they have left together. She wants him at her side when ShadowClan decides to go to the next Gathering, and to look down (because, adorably, he is shorter than her) and see him there. To do the whole tail-twine, gaze up at the sunset thing that she’s seen so many couples do ever since she was a ‘paw.

But mostly, she’s just glad to be here with him, to know she has someone at her side through this confusing time.

She leans down and licks his ears; he doesn’t instantly relax at first, but as she moves closer to him, nosing his cheek, he slowly does, leaning into her touch.

#srry mobile users if it doesnt like cut off under the readmore #shark noises #writings #wc #tallstone #long post #jic

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stagwhisker · 3 years

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Zepp's Wc Design Headcanons

-- I've always pictured Poppyfrost as a diluted tortie point. Anytime the -frost suffix is on a cat I alwasy see them as white or pointed tbh.

-- Bluestar ABSOLUTELY resembles a Nebelung in my eyes I can not change this anymore. We need more long haired bluestar.

-- Crowfeather has the Windclan look, that being similar to an Oriental Shorthair with big ears and a thin frame. He's blue but it's on the darker end.

-- Nightcloud looks much more like what you'd see from Shadowclan than windclan with a shorter, stockier build. Fluffy classic smoke tabby. I can't see her as anything but tabby tbh and it could be because my brain needed some kind of destinction between her a Breezepelt.

-- Breezepelt looks JUST like his dad with the same ears, eyes, and frame but gets his neck fur and feather tail from his mama. He's a classic smoke as well but it's not as obvious as Nightcloud, he looks more solid.

-- Leafpool looks like a cinnamon tortie I don't make the rules. (This is actually exactly how I see Leafpool, Lionblaze got his lion look from somewhere and it wasnt rat ass Crowfeather)

-- Sasha makes more sense as a flame point than a seal point seeing as Mothwing was straight up red/cream. I also think it would explain why shes never described with typical pointed features like dark legs and face because they just don't always show up well.

-- I've always liked seal point Hawkfrost designs with more white on them even though I have NEVER drawn him that way for some reason. I think it separates him a bit more from every other tabby in wc. Pretty Boy Hawkfrost has also been burned into my brain the past several years.

-- Longtail has short legs, not like munchkin short, but short enough that when compared to his tail it's noticeable. It's a trait from grandpa Adderfang that skipped Patchpelt and rammed into Longtail.

-- Sandstorm will always be a torbie in my mind no you can't change it. I have two Sandstorm variations, one being a cinnamon torbie and one being a regular Torbie so it looks like her fur is colored like yellow and black sand.

-- Ashfur is a big guy, big enough to square up to Bramble if he wasn't such a coward. He gets this from his mama Brindleface who I've always seen as a pretty big cat. Fernsong has it too actually.

-- Birchfall is a silver broken mackerel tabby. Honestly I'm not sure why he isn't grey or silver in canon anyway since he was named Birch as a kit but whatever.

-- Shadowsight looks a lot more like Tigerstar II than Dovewing. Big, solid, fluffy boy.

-- Flipclaw is a red tabby to me. I used to see him as a brown tabby but I can't now.

-- Millie is a silver torbie. I like this a lot because it helps separate her from "Silverstream 2" a bit more. Also just makes her a unique cat since I can't see any others as silver torbies. Probably carries point like Greystripe too.

-- Blossomfall has Vitilago! That's it, thats the headcanon.

-- Briarlight is a dark seal point. The kind that almost look Tonkinese/Burmese.

-- I have ALWAYS seen Tree and Rootspring as big cats. I know in canon Tree is supposed to be smaller but screw that big fluffy dad. I'vre tried drawing Tree like he is in the books and it never sticks. Rootspring is a bigger cat because of the Sisters' blood on his dads side and Hawkwing's blod on his mothers side. Not as big as Tree and hes not as solid but still bigger than the Skyclan apprentices at least. Which kind of adds on to how silly it is to the others that he's just kind of bad at everything at first.

-- SPEAKING of cats I imagine bigger than they are in canon Alderheart is absolutely the same size as his dad. I can't see him as a small cat, just gentle giant.

-- Same with Feathertail too she's a big cat like Graystripe and looks even bigger on top of it with her thicker fur.

-- Rosetail was a chimera. I've seen some chimera cats that have their tail a different coat and not the rest of their body before. It's rare but it does happen.

-- Crookedstar is a black tabby and Oakheart is a greyish tabby. They have two grey parents and honestly with their names it would make more sense with Crooked being named Storm as a kit and oak trees tending to have a more washed out color of greyish brown. (Crooked on the left, Oak on the right)

I ran out of images I could add so there might be a part 2 to this eventually but for now this is just about it!

#warrior cats #headcanons #design headcanons #shut up zepp

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thistleclaws-hatred · 4 years

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Darkstripe’s Loyalty - Novella - Chapter Eight

Previous Chapter Next Chapter

“I am pleased to be here with you at the Gathering this night.” The huge tabby spoke with quiet authority. “I stand before you as the new leader of ShadowClan. Nightstar died of the sickness that took so many of my Clan, and StarClan has named me as his successor.”

Darkstripe could feel his heart thumping wildly in his chest. Tigerclaw..Tigerstar was alive! Like a fox had been removed from his back, he felt free again. He lifted his head higher, silently begging for the ShadowClan leader to look at him. From the side he could feel Cloudpaw looking at him, those blue eyes boring holes in his pelt. I can’t let a kittypet shake me!

“StarClan brought me to ShadowClan when its need was greatest,” Tigerstar meowed from on top of the Great Rock. “Not enough cats survived the sickness to hunt for the nursing queens and the elders, or to defend their Clan, and no warrior was ready to take on the leadership. Then StarClan sent an omen to Runningnose that another great leader would arise. I swear by all our warrior ancestors that I will become that leader.”

Darkstripe looked over at the elderly medicine cat, who shifted his paws the moment Tigerstar mentioned the omen. Did Tigerstar lie? Darkstripe shook the thought from his head. What reason would Tigerstar have to lie now? He had gotten what he had wanted.

Fireheart stood up as Tigerstar sat. Darkstripe could see the familiar burn of hatred flash in Tigerstar’s amber eyes for just a moment before his gaze became calm and orderly once more. Fireheart spoke about the fire and Darkstripe was surprised when he saw Tigerstar flinch at the mention of Yellowfang’s death. Although, Darkstripe himself had acknowledged Yellowfang as a part of ThunderClan, not that he would ever say that outloud.

“ThunderClan accepts that StarClan has approved your leadership,” Fireheart meowed. “As rogues, your followers stole from all four Clans while they roamed the forest, so it is good that they have their own Clan again. We trust that they will be bound by the warrior code and will keep to their own territory. But we will not tolerate any invasions into ThunderClan territory. In spite of the fire, we are strong enough to drive out any cat who sets a paw over our borders. We have no fear of ShadowClan.”

Darkstripe saw Tigerstar lift his head higher, saying that ThunderClan had no reason to fear ShadowClan. And just like that, the gathering was over. Darkstripe glanced over as Fireheart meowed something quietly to Whitestorm and Sandstorm. What’s he up to?

The black tabby looked around, trying to see if he could spot Tigerstar anywhere. The new leader was meowing hastily with Crookedstar, who seemed less than impressed with whatever Tigerstar was saying. The RiverClan leader flicked his tail to dismiss himself from Tigerstar and leaped down to join his own clanmates.

Fireheart called for ThunderClan to leave and Darkstripe felt a pang of longing, wanting to say something to his former friend before they left. When Darkstripe couldn’t find his familiar tabby pelt he thumped his tail to the ground and turned to follow after his clan.

“Darkstripe!”

The warrior perked his ears and looked around. He saw a pair of amber eyes looking at him from behind an oak tree. Darkstripe padded over, trying to contain his excitement. He dipped his head respectfully to the new leader.

Tigerstar’s gaze was guarded, as though he was weighing his options. “You should’ve come with me.”

Darkstripe twitched his tail, “Maybe.”

“But now I can see how much use you will be since you are still in ThunderClan,” his words had an edge to them and his long claws extended into the soil. “I saw the fire. I saw Fireheart save Bramblekit.”

Darkstripe nodded, “It was, um, brave of him.”

“I want to see my kits!” Tigerstar demanded. “How are they getting on?”

The ThunderClan warrior tilted his head and answered cautiously, “Getting bigger and stronger everyday, Bramblekit especially.”

“Bring them to the border at the half-moon, I wish to speak to them without prying ears.”

“How am I supposed to sneak two kits out of the camp?” Darkstripe asked, bewildered.

“Figure it out. Then I will have something else for you to do,” Tigerstar snarled, turning and walking away into the woods, back towards his own, new territory.

Darkstripe flicked his ear. Leave it to Tigerstar to always want something. He sighed and ran back to camp, not wanting to cause more suspicion from Fireheart.

Darkstripe left the warriors’ den early, trying to at least make himself look useful as he helped the clan as much as he could. He glanced over at Ashpaw and Fernpaw, the two youngest apprentices and...his kits. He saw the same sleek fur on Ashpaw that he had on his own and Fernpaw had faded stripes all along her pelt, same as him.

Darkstripe also wasn’t blind to the fact that Dustpelt had his eyes all over Fernpaw whenever she wasn’t out training. Fernpaw was Darkstripe’s own apprentice, a shock to the whole clan that Fireheart would even consider giving him an apprentice. Darkstripe tried not to let it show, but being a mentor was one of his most favorite parts of being a warrior.

It was then that Bramblekit came walking back into camp, a mouse dangling from his jaws. Darkstripe saw the small tabby kit bring the mouse right up to Fireheart, who had a pained look in his eye. Fireheart glanced down at the small kit and forced a smile, praising him. Goldenflower, Bramblekit’s mother, had her gaze locked on the two toms, ears perked and tail twitching.

Tonight I must bring Bramblekit and Tawnykit to the border. Darkstripe reminded himself, sighing,looking up at the half-moon, nearly four days after Bramblekit had caught that mouse. Part of him felt as though this counted as betraying his clan, but on the other paw Tigerstar had a right to see his kits.

Darkstripe looked around the camp, it was eerily quiet. The death of Snowkit, the poor blind tom, had shocked the clan. Speckletail, Snowkit’s mother, rarely ever left the nursery now and pieces of prey never seemed to leave the entrance, where apprentices often left them for her to eat.

Darkstripe fluffed up his coat and walked carefully over to the nursery, where, thankfully, Bramblekit and Tawnykit were playing just outside. “Bramblekit, Tawnykit, come here.” He beckoned them with his tail.

Their ball of moss forgotten, the two kits ran over to the warrior and looked up at him, their eyes gleaming, “I want to take you somewhere tonight.”

“Where?” Tawnykit asked, her tail fluffing up with excitement.

“I’m going to take you to see your father,” He whispered low, looking around to see if anyone was watching him. “Near the ShadowClan border.”

“That’s so far!” Bramblekit meowed, impressed.

Darkstripe nodded, “But we must keep this quiet, no need to get the whole clan riled up over nothing, right?”

Both kits nodded quickly and whispered to themselves.

“I’ll come get you once the moon has risen.”

The moon rose far too soon for Darkstripe’s liking. Swallowing the ball of anxiety that swelled up in his throat, he stalked his way to the nursery and poked his head inside. He reached in with a paw and gently nudged Bramblekit and Tawnykit awake, “It’s time.”

The trek, he soon realized, was far too long for a kit to make, but he knew that Tigerstar would claw his ears off if he disobeyed. “Follow me. Try to keep up, can’t you?”

“I’m tired. My paws ache,” the little tortoiseshell she-kit complained.

“What, a strong kit like you?” Darkstripe meowed. “Don’t be silly. It’s not far now.” He told himself, although he could see the tiredness in Tawnykit’s eyes. Bramblekit, however, was ripe with energy, bounding over his sister and trying his best to keep up with Darkstripe.

The strong reek of ShadowClan reached Darkstripe and he felt a blast of...something, grip his pelt. He wasn’t sure if he was nervous or excited to see Tigerstar again.

“Yuck, what’s that?” Tawnykit squealed.

“Is it a fox?” asked Bramblekit.

“No, it’s ShadowClan scent,” Darkstripe replied. “Come on, we’re nearly there.” He led the kits across the border, Tawnykit complaining that she was getting the horrid scent all over her paws. “You’ll get to see your father here in just a few moments.” The mention of Tigerstar seemed to lend some energy to the kits.

Just as he spoke, Tigerstar emerged from the ferns, his broad shoulders rippling with power. His amber eyes held a cool, steady gaze as he eyed Darkstripe and then looked down at his kits. Darkstripe noticed Tawnykit hold her head higher and Bramblekit didn’t show an ounce of fear, even despite the fact that Tigerstar’s paw was bigger than their heads.

“Do you know who I am?” meowed Tigerstar.

“Darkstripe said he would take us to meet our father,” replied Bramblekit.

“Are you our father?” Tawnykit added. “You smell a bit like us.”

Tigerstar nodded. “I am.”

The kits exchanged a wondering glance as Darkstripe mewed, “This is Tigerstar, the leader of ShadowClan.”

“You’re a clan leader?” Bramblekit asked, bewildered, his pelt now standing on end.

Tigerstar purred with amusement, the sound sent shockwaves through Darkstripe’s pelt. The black tabby looked over his shoulder, making sure that they were alone. He sniffed, but the overwhelming scent of ShadowClan blocked out all others.

“When will they be apprenticed?” Tigerstar looked up to face Darkstripe.

“In a moon or so. If I didn’t have Fernpaw, I’m sure I would mentor one of them,” Darkstripe meowed quickly, puffing up his chest.

“Somehow, I doubt Fireheart or Bluestar would be on board with that,” Tigerstar hissed, he then bent down to talk to his kits again, “Can you hunt?” he asked them. “Can you fight? Do you want to be good warriors?”

Darkstripe twitched his whiskers with amusement as the two kits tried to boast to their father.

“Why are you the leader of ShadowClan, but we live in ThunderClan?” Tawnykit asked. Darkstripe felt a chill creep down his spine. No one in the clan had revealed the truth to the young kits. How would Tigerstar talk his way out of this one?

“Good day, Tigerstar,” a voice meowed from behind the group. “You’re a long way from your camp. And so are you, Darkstripe.” His tone sharpened. “What are you doing here with these kits?”

Darkstripe turned around, dumbfounded. Fireheart had a blaze in his eyes that Darkstripe had never seen before on the kittypet. He fought to keep his claws sheathed.

“Fireheart.” Tigerstar dipped his head, the courteous greeting of a leader to the deputy of another Clan. There was no hostility in his tone, but Darkstripe knew better. “Blame me, not Darkstripe. I wanted to see my kits. You wouldn’t deny me that, surely?”

Darkstripe gulped. Fireheart and Tigerstar had more than just a history. Darkstripe found himself wanting to side with Tigerstar versus his own clan deputy.

“What if a hawk attacked? There’s still little cover in some parts of the forest. Have you forgotten Snowkit?” One of the kits let out a whimper and Fireheart stopped; he didn’t want to frighten them. “Take them back to camp, Darkstripe. Now.”

Darkstripe exchanged a glance with Tigerstar and shrugged. To the kits, he meowed, “Come on. Fireheart has spoken, and we must obey.”

Tigerstar shot Darkstripe a glance. Darkstripe knew that he would come back tonight, alone, just as Tigerstar had always planned. But, for now, he took the kits back to camp. They rambled on question after question, most of which Darkstripe dodged. He didn’t know what lies Tigerstar was planning on telling them before Fireheart had interrupted and he didn’t dare want to ruin that part of the plan.

As soon as the moon was high above the clearing the following night, Darkstripe crept his way out of camp and made his way back to the ShadowClan border. ThunderClan was tense now, on high alert as their once noble leader, Bluestar, slowly descended into madness.

Just like the previous night, Tigerstar sat at the border, his coat looking shiny and freshly groomed. Darkstripe stumbled in his steps.

“I feared you weren’t coming,” Tigerstar meowed, his voice rumbling low in his chest.

“The camp is tense, things aren’t going so well.”

“It would appear so. Things are also about to get a lot worse for ThunderClan,” Tigerstar smirked, a fire returning to his eyes.

“What do you mean?” Darkstripe stammered out, watching Tigerstar wrap his long tail around his paws.

“You have a pack of dogs living on your territory,” Tigerstar pointed out. Darkstripe nodded, but said nothing, “I intend to use them, to use them to destroy your clan.”

“How?”

“I’ve been catching prey for them, leaving it all over your territory. It’s only a matter of time before they catch and kill a warrior. Once that happens, ThunderClan will fall!” Tigerstar held his head high. “But I need your help.”

“Anything Tigerstar,” Darkstripe meowed all too quickly. He found himself regretting the words.

“I need you to make sure that Fireheart dies at the paws of these dogs. Do whatever you have to do to make it happen. If ThunderClan casts you out, you will have a place in ShadowClan,” Tigerstar’s deep amber gaze locked onto Darkstripe. The ThunderClan warrior felt his pelt prick at the thought. “That kittypet deserves to rot!” Tigerstar added, noticing Darkstripe’s hesitation.

“I will try my best,” Darkstripe vowed, unable to make eye contact.

The plan with the dogs...didn’t go as planned. At least, not from Tigerstar’s point of view. Darkstripe was shocked when Brindleface was found dead, her throat slashed open. He had been the one to find her, and Tigerstar’s unmistakable scent was covering her entire body. He rolled her around in some nearby dog dung and dragged her body back to camp.

Darkstripe felt an odd sense of dread and despair fill his body from the tip of his tail all the way to his muzzle. He never really cared for Brindleface, they weren’t exactly mates, but she had still mothered his kits and the two of them had a few good memories here and there. If any cat other than Tigerstar had been responsible for her death, then he would’ve ripped them to shreds.

Tigerstar has killed again. Darkstripe thought with a shudder upon looking at her body. He thought back to his times learning under Tigerstar, under his careful gaze and sharp claws. How Tigerstar had molded him from a pathetic kit into a powerful warrior. He had Tigerstar to thank for all of his skills in fighting and hunting. Not to mention that Tigerstar held something more powerful than all of StarClan in his paws: Darkstripe’s heart.

Darkstripe knew that he could not betray the ShadowClan leader, his former friend and former partner. He loved Tigerstar, not deeply or too intimately, but enough for it to matter. The two of them had grown close to one another, even if Tigerstar seemingly neglected him time and time again. Darkstripe found himself unable to disobey those amber eyes, no matter how much trouble they got him in.

And then Fireheart’s plan to get rid of the dogs happened. Still struck by grief, Darkstripe found himself unable to push Fireheart over the cliff just as Tigerstar had instructed him to do. He found himself frozen in place as his two kits outran the pack of blood-thirsty dogs. The memory of Swiftpaw and Brightpaw, now called Lostface, struck him. Swiftpaw had been brutally murdered by the dogs when he and Lostface tried to go drive them out on their own. And Lostface...well she was mangled, mauled and now half of her face was missing. She was a sickly sight to behold and Darkstripe couldn’t help but feel partially responsible.

Bluestar saved Fireheart. She knocked the dogs into the river below and ended up losing her life as well. Darkstripe was currently held underneath Tigerstar’s powerful paws while the dark tabby spat in his face about how much of a failure he was. He’s right. Fireheart should’ve died. Darkstripe felt sharp claws slash across his ears and a warm trickle of blood let him know that Tigerstar had inflicted damage.

“I’m sorry Tigerstar,” Darkstripe whimpered out pathetically.

“You better be,” Tigerstar spat, “I’m sending Blackfoot to your territory in exactly one moon from now. He’ll give you your next task. You better not betray me Darkstripe.”

#darkstripe’s loyalty #tigerstar #tigerclaw #darkstripe #bluestar #firestar #brindleface #dog pack #fireheart #thunderclan #shadowclan #warriors #warrior cats #novella

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thunders-warcats-stuff · 4 years

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Burning Water Chapter Sixteen

RiverClan and ShadowClan had not yet arrived, but WindClan was already there. Tallstar greeted Bluestar with a respectful nod. Fireheart spotted Onewhisker and bounded over to meet him.

“Hi!” he meowed. It had been over two moons since he’d last seen the small brown tabby warrior at Fourtrees, when WindClan had been brought home.

“How’s everyone been? How’s Morningflower?”

“Happy to be home,” replied Onewhisker. “Her kit is growing quickly now.”

Fireheart purred gratefully.

“The whole Clan is well,” Onewhisker added. He glanced at Fireheart with an amused gleam in his eyes. “It’s great to eat rabbit again. I hope I never have to taste another rat as long as I live!”

Fireheart detected a fresh scent on the night air. RiverClan was coming. He could smell ShadowClan, too. He scanned the ridge that ran around the edge of the hollow. Sure enough, RiverClan cats were streaming down one side. On the opposite ridge, Fireheart saw ShadowClan cats poised at the top, their coats gleaming in the moonlight. The lean figure of Nightpelt stood at the head of the group.

“At last,” growled Onewhisker. He’d spotted them as well. “It’s too cold to be hanging around tonight.”

Fireheart nodded absently. He was searching the crowd of RiverClan cats as they entered the clearing, looking for Silverstream. He recognized the pale gray she-cat easily. She skidded to a halt at the bottom of the slope, then followed her father as he exchanged reserved greetings with the warriors from the other Clans. Fireheart was tracking her so closely that he didn’t hear Deadfoot approach.

“Good evening,” meowed the WindClan deputy. “How are you?”

“Fine, more than.” The ginger tom meowed. He was about to say more when the familiar call of his sister jolted him from his thoughts.

“Fireheart, Fireheart!” She yelped. “You didn’t tell me there’d be so many cats!”

Nutleaf was shivering, he realized as she promptly glued herself to his side.

“Greetings, young one.” Deadfoot meowed calmly. “Might I ask your name?”

“Nutleaf.” The brown and white she-cat stammered. “I assume you are from ThunderClan?”

Nutleaf nodded.

“Fireheart’s my brother. I only came tonight because he and Bluestar want me to meet new cats, but there’s so many in ThunderClan alone… Stars, I’m babbling! I knew I should have stayed in the nursery!” She squeaked.

“You can’t hide in a den forever.” Fireheart insisted gently.

“Watch me!” She hissed. “At the very least, I know Cloudkit will be getting into all sorts of trouble without me.”

“Cloudkit has Frostfur to reel him in.” Her brother reminded her. “He’ll not put one paw out of line if he wants to play Mossball ever again. You’ll be fine, Nutleaf, and if you feel too overwhelmed you can always stick with me.”

“If you’d like, I could show you around a bit.” Deadfoot was the one who spoke, much to the surprise of his tabby Clanmate.

“If it’s not too much trouble.” Nutleaf whispered.

“You remind me quite a bit of my son, Crowkit. He’s at the age where he can start walking and is absolutely determined to do so by himself, but if he sees another cat besides me or Ashfoot coming, he’ll run for the nest quicker than we can say ‘hare!’ It’s the cutest thing.” Deadfoot purred. “You mentioned that you have kits of your own?”

Deadfoot lead Nutleaf through the crowd, and Fireheart, confident in the WindClan deputy, turned back to Onewhisker.

“You’ve been blessed by StarClan!”

Fireheart fought the urge to laugh. Poor Onewhisker had no idea how right he was.

“Seriously, Deadfoot only talks to Tallstar and Ashfoot, and I’ve never heard him breathe a word about Crowkit!”

“That’s nice to know.” The ThunderClan warrior chuckled, scanning the crowd for Silverstream. She sat with Blackclaw and Greenflower, and she flicked her tail when she met his gaze.

“Would you like to meet some of my friends?” He asked.

Onewhisker nodded and they weaved through the crowd.

“Well met, Firestar.” Silverstream purred, dipping her head.

“You’ve got to stop calling me that.” Fireheart groaned. “I’m not going to be leader of ThunderClan.”

At least, he hoped. He desperately, desperately hoped.

“Well, you act like one.” Greenflower chirped. “Have you met Blackclaw? He’s my mate!”

“We’ve met.” The RiverClan tom nodded politely.

“It’s good to see you again, and congratulations.”

“To you as well, or so I hear.” Greenflower purred. “So, what’s she like?”

He was saved from having to answer by the call for the Gathering to start.

“We welcome Tallstar and WindClan back to the forest!”

“RiverClan has been on our territory and I would like to know why.” Bluestar hissed acidly.

“The river has been frozen for too long this leafbare, and the Twolegs have caused lasting damage to the prey in our territory. We have to go out of our way for food, yes, but we've found a spot. Any cats found on your territory are not there on any mission I know of, so feel free to treat them as you wish. No true member of RiverClan would be so foolish as to disobey their leader. Besides, ThunderClan seems remarkably keen to mark their border with us, so there shouldn't be a problem.”

Bluestar looked troubled, but dipped her head.

“We'll keep sharp eyes on who comes and goes. Hopefully after tonight, no cat will stray.”

Fireheart found himself looking for Greystripe, mind blazing with fury. It was about time the grey tabby took responsibility for his actions.

Blackstar,” Bluestar went on to address the new leader. “ShadowClan seems to be thriving under your leadership.”

“Thank you, Bluestar.”

“Have you seen any hint of Brokenstar in your territory? We've found strange scents on ours, like ShadowClan mixed with nothing I've ever put my nose to before.”

Blackstar bristled, shocked.

“We have not.” He offered solemnly. “But if we do, if any of you encounter our former leader and his band of rogues, make sure you're not alone and make sure he dies for it.”

“Indeed, we will keep that in mind.” Tallstar spoke for the first time tonight. “Because we have come across the same scents as Bluestar on some of our patrols. It would seem that Brokenstar couldn't see fit to stay gone.”

“Well, let us hope he hasn't got anything in the works for newleaf, but we should watch our backs nonetheless,” Blackstar announced to the cats of the Gathering. “I won't tell your leaders how to lead, but for your own safety, do not go anywhere alone. Brokenstar is too dangerous to be faced head-on without at least a patrol’s worth of cats.”

“We will keep your concerns in mind. Thank you for your advice to us and your service to ShadowClan.”

The other three leaders had merely the usual to report, so the Gathering ended rather quickly.

Fireheart found himself brushing pelts with Nutleaf as she chattered on about Deadfoot and who she was introduced to.

“I'm proud of you.” He murmured to his sister. “Thank you for being so brave tonight. You faced a fear.”

“I had help.” Nutleaf mumbled.

“You did make a friend or two.” Fireheart chuckled. “What did you and Deadfoot talk about?”

Nutleaf brightened and told her brother all about the WindClan deputy and his family. His mate was eager to be a warrior again, so instead of lounging around in the den with Crowkit, Ashfoot often taught him hunting crouches and WindClan battle swipes. Nothing major, of course, but just enough to keep her kit entertained and herself sharp on her paws.

“I was thinking, now that the kits are up and about, that I could start spending time with Yellowfang in the medicine den. I’d still be wherever my kits are, but it’d be nice to see what I’m getting into.”

“That sounds like a good idea. You should see what Bluestar and Yellowfang think.”

He was sure the former ShadowClan medicine cat would be more than willing to pass on her knowledge. Yellowfang had never truly seemed like the mothering type. Then he remembered that she’d had kits of her own that she’d never gotten to raise and she’d crafted Cinderpelt into a fine apprentice. So maybe it just wasn’t as obvious as it was in Goldenflower or Willowpelt.

The patrol padded into camp and Bluestar called a Clan meeting.

“It turns out that the strange scents we found were not the ShadowClan we’ve come to know, but the rogues we thought to have left behind. Brokenstar is back in the forest.” She announced.

A mix of fear and anger rose in the yowls of his Clanmates, and Fireheart fought the urge to join them. He remembered easily enough what ThunderClan had decided to do after successfully defeating the former ShadowClan rogues, and if he wanted to avoid that this time then he’d have to speak with Bluestar. Stars, if he wanted to avoid the ridiculous state the camp had been left in when Brokenstar had attacked he’d have to tell Bluestar.

Overall, he didn’t have the best feeling about tomorrow… maybe some rest would do him well.

“You do realize that StarClan isn’t the answer to your every problem.” Redtail offered from far off. Fireheart groaned.

“Then why do I keep coming here?”

“You seek guidance,” The tortoiseshell tom informed him. “but we don’t see much beyond our own skies, and Brokenstar is well beyond StarClan.”

“Do you think there’s anything I can do to prevent Brokenstar’s devastation of our camp? And the fact that we sheltered him before?”

“Some things, you’ll have to figure out on your own, young one. I can tell you that you’re on the right track.”

“Good to know.” Fireheart muttered bitterly. If StarClan couldn’t give him answers, what hope did any of them have against Brokenstar? They’d survived the first time by a hair on a downy kit’s pelt, because the patrols were fast enough to get back and Brokenstar hadn’t have the weight of his Clan behind him. If things changed this time as much as they already had…

“Sleep, young tom. Tell Sandstorm that I’m doing enough pestering for the both of us.”

“You’re… alright with us being together?” Fireheart asked.

“You’re as good a cat as anyone else she could have latched onto. Good luck with your choice, Fireheart. Mercy is never an easy thing to give, but it does wonders for one’s character.”

“Thank you, Redtail.” He whispered before darkness consumed him.

Fireheart snapped awake and rolled to his paws. He had a catastrophe to avert.

“Bluestar, may we speak?”

The ginger tom stood at the entrance to the leader’s den, watching the lichen sway in the night breeze.

“Come in, Fireheart. What would you like to discuss?” Fireheart stepped through the lichen to find Bluestar and Whitestorm sharing tongues.

“Sometimes I can’t sleep.” The snowy tom admitted. Fireheart nodded. He knew what that was like.

“I… one of my dreams has made a reappearance. I think it means something about tomorrow.” “What happens tomorrow, Fireheart?” Bluestar asked, eyes calm as she stared at him.

“I think Brokenstar is going to attack one of the Clans. Ours is most likely, because we helped ShadowClan drive him out, but we should get word to ShadowClan that he might be coming for them. And…”

“Yes?” His leader’s meow was surprisingly patient, and Whitestorm was staring at him curiously.

“I think we shouldn’t have too many warriors out of camp the next few days.” “I’ll tell Tigerclaw to plan the patrols accordingly. Do you think this will defeat Brokenstar once and for all?” “It will help.” The ginger tom insisted.

“Good, then. Rest well, Fireheart. You may have avoided a battle tonight.”

Or made it worse…

Fireheart dipped his head and padded out of the den.

What should happen now? He was far too wired to sleep, and no one was awake this time of night.

“I hope you’re not thinking of leaving camp.” Whitestorm rumbled. Fireheart tripped over his paws and tumbled down the rocky path from Highrock. Whitestorm stood at the entrance to his aunt’s den, and stared at the ginger warrior. He was not impressed.

“Not really.”

Something told him there could only be trouble at this time of night. He was far better off staying in camp.

“Good.” The snow-pelted tom meowed. “Then you won’t mind me joining you.”

Fireheart narrowed his eyes.

“If that’s what you want to do.” He offered warily. This version of Whitestorm was far stranger than the one of his previous youth. There was hardly any of the older tom’s previous openness here, and while Fireheart never felt uncomfortable around the yellow-eyed warrior, he did have an unsettled way about him. The need to sit up straight and lick his chest fur basically quadrupled, that was for sure.

Fireheart smothered the urge as he settled into the grassy clearing that made up the camp’s floor. Whitestorm did the same, and placed his head on his paws.

“I do believe,” He murmured. “that of all the cats I’ve met, you intrigue me the most.”

Heat bloomed in his chest and warmed him from nose to tail-tip. It wasn’t the same as being with Sandstorm, thank StarClan, but it was almost… almost like finding Nutleaf in the forest. But why?

#warrior cats just a dream burning water #fireheart #onewhisker #deadfoot #nutleaf #silverstream #redtail #bluestar #whitestorm

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warriors-windandfireau · 4 years

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Wind and Fire AU: Fire and Ice - Chapter Three

Read on Ao3

WindClan burst into the large clearing of Fourtrees. Firepaw suddenly realized how long it had been since he had stepped paw into the enormous clearing. Seeing the four great oaks towering in each of the corners, as well as the large boulder that the leaders sat on in the center of it, made him all the more excited and happy at being able to leave the camp again.

Glancing around the clearing, as well as making out the scents the best he could, he realized that ThunderClan and RiverClan were already there. Many groups of cats were spread throughout the wide space, talking and gossiping about StarClan knows what. He saw Bluestar and Crookedstar perched atop the Great Rock, while their respective deputies and medicine cats sat around the base of the rock.

Firepaw was so caught up in taking in the sights of Fourtrees that he jumped slightly as he heard Whitepaw's voice from so close to him. "Wow! It's so big!"

"Told you," Onepaw replied. He glanced around the clearing for a moment before adding, "Looks like ShadowClan isn't here yet, so we have some time for ourselves before the Gathering starts."

"I'm gonna go find some other cats to talk to! It's gonna be so much fun! Who wants to come with me?"

After some momentary silence, Webpaw shrugged, glancing around the crowd. “I’ll go. I don’t have much else to do. Usually, before the Gathering begins, we try to find some apprentices from the other Clans to meet.”

Whitepaw nodded, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. “Well then, let's go! There are so many cats to meet.” She turned to Onepaw and Firepaw. “What about you two?”

Firepaw laughed slightly, glancing nervously out at the crowd. “There’s someone I want to meet with.”

Onepaw shrugged, adding, “Figured I’d tag along with Firepaw.”

Whitepaw nodded. “Well, you two have fun! I sure will!” She giggled enthusiastically, and without any more hesitance, dragged Webpaw out into the crowd of cats.

“So, I’m guessing you want to speak with Greypaw?” Onepaw inquired once the two other WindClan apprentices vanished.

Firepaw nodded slightly, looking around at the loud, bustling group of cats. “Yeah, but I figured I’ll just check around to see if there are any other cats I know first.” He paused. “Although, yeah, eventually I do wanna check up on him.” An image of Greypaw during the ShadowClan raid flashed in his mind, and he frowned slightly.

Onepaw chuckled slightly. “Well, I suppose we should check out the ThunderClan crowd. We don’t really know anyone in RiverClan.”

Firepaw hummed in agreement, padding off towards the scents of ThunderClan, with Onepaw not far behind.

The two spent a bit of time checking around. They could recognize quite a few faces, (to both of their surprise) but none did they know well enough to consider an acquaintance.

That is, till Onepaw nudged Firepaw, pointing his tail towards a pair of ThunderClan apprentices. “Hey, remember them?”

Firepaw squinted, before recognizing the two faces. “Sandpaw and Dustpaw.” He nodded, remembering seeing the two ThunderClan apprentices during the battle with ShadowClan. “We could go speak with them.”

Onepaw padded over to the two, and Firepaw followed his friend. Sandpaw noticed their approach first, and she looked at the two with a flash of recognition before begrudgingly welcoming them. When Dustpaw noticed them, he seemed put off by their friendliness, but welcomed them as well.

“How have you two been doing?” Onepaw asked, sitting down in front of the two, with Firepaw following suit not long after.

“Fine,” Sandpaw replied curtly.

“Well, er,” Onepaw muttered, a bit awkwardly, “how has ThunderClan been since the ordeal with Brokenstar?”

“We have been faring well.” This time it was Dustpaw who replied. “Not too many cats were injured, anyway.”

"What about your Clan?" Sandpaw added curiously. "You guys were affected the most by Brokenstar and his allies."

Firepaw thought for a moment. “We’ve been… well,” he began to continue. “Well, a few cats died when we were forced out- Tallstar will probably mention them during his speaking time in the Gathering- but we’ve been repairing the camp ever since we got back. Leaf-bare is always tough, of course.”

“How would you know that?” Sandpaw suddenly said, a hint of something aggressive in her tone.

“W-what?” Firepaw stammered, confused at the molly’s reaction.

“You’re a kittypet. Or, at least, were, yes?” she said, a hint of accusation in her tone.

“Why does that matter?” Onepaw shot back before Firepaw could say anything in his defense.

Firepaw could see some sort of tenseness incoming, so he gently touched Onepaw’s shoulder with his tail, before turning back to Sandpaw. “Yes, I was a kittypet. I joined WindClan when I was six or seven moons. Why?”

“Meaning you don’t know a thing about how difficult leaf-bare can be,” she said without missing a beat.

Firepaw made sure to reply before Onepaw could snap back. “You’re right. I had no struggle with leaf-bare during my time in Twolegplace. But I do know how difficult it can be- I was stuck in a tunnel with the rest of WindClan for the majority of this one.”

Dustpaw was the one to speak this time. “It’s difficult for all Clans to survive in these times.”

“And cats shouldn’t be bringing things up that don’t matter as if they’re important,” Onepaw muttered.

“Calm yourself, rabbit-chaser. We’re just making conversation.” Dustpaw sniffed.

“Hey, hey. Come on,” Firepaw attempted to calm down the situation. “It’s good to see you two again. We should just continue being peaceful, right?”

“Right.” Sandpaw nodded.

“Right…” Onepaw muttered with a slight hesitance.

Firepaw sighed in relief, and found himself unsure where to continue with the conversation. “So- er- did Greypaw come to the Gathering?” he blurted, before immediately regretting his words.

“Why?” Sandpaw inquired, suspicion lining her voice.

“I just… want to check up on how he’s doing…” Firepaw mumbled.

“Well, he did come. I last saw him over there.” She pointed her tail at another throng of cats.

Firepaw nodded. “Thank you. I’m gonna go look for him. Onepaw…?”

“I’ll stay here. I might join you later, though,” the brown tom said slowly.

“Right.” He nodded in farewell to the three, before heading towards where Sandpaw had directed she had last seen Greypaw.

It took him a few moments to spot his friend. When he did, he saw that Greypaw was sitting alone towards the edge of the large clearing, grooming himself. After glancing around, Firepaw approached the grey tom.

It took a bit for Greypaw to notice Firepaw approaching, but when he did, he blinked in surprise, lifting his head up from grooming himself.

Firepaw smiled slightly at him. “Mind if I sit here?”

“Of course not.” Greypaw nodded at the spot before him.

Firepaw took his place in front of Greypaw. “How have you been?”

Firepaw could remember how distraught Greypaw had been last time they spoke to one another, crouching near Silverpaw, unmoving and refusing to speak. It was a stark difference to how he looked now. Still, though- it was unnerving that Greypaw was just sitting alone, rather than the usual of enthusiastically chatting with his Clanmates.

“I’ve been okay.” There was a certain hesitation before Greypaw responded. “You?”

Firepaw wasn’t quite sure how to respond- of course, he had said he was fine when speaking with Sandpaw and Dustpaw, as he didn’t know the two well, but now that he was with someone who he trusted and considered a friend, he found himself pausing.

Upon noticing Firepaw’s lack of response, Greypaw smiled somewhat. “Right. Yeah. Leaf-bare has been difficult.”

Firepaw nodded in agreement. “It used to be so easy in Twolegplace,” he realized, remembering Sandpaw’s spiteful words.

“Must be different from what you went through in the last moon, huh?” Greypaw chuckled, although there wasn’t much humor in the noise.

Firepaw nodded, but before he could think of something to say, he saw a cat approaching in the corner of his eye.

When he craned his head to see who it was, he realized it was Onepaw. Greypaw nodded in greeting, while Firepaw muttered a quick “hello”.

However, by the time Onepaw settled, and appeared as though he was about to speak, there was a loud noise from one of the entrances to the Gathering. ShadowClan cats swarmed into the clearing, with Nightpelt in the lead.

The Clan looked significantly different from the last time Firepaw had seen them. Most cats seemed less thin, their coats just a bit fuller, their eyes just a bit brighter.

Nightpelt wasted no time in heading for the leader’s rock. His head was held high, and he showed little hesitance when he took his place beside Crookedstar.

It seemed that the other leaders were impatient in waiting for the Gathering to start from there. Almost as soon as Nightpelt took his place, Bluestar stepped up and let out a yowl to catch the attention of the gossiping cats below.

The bellow immediately forced the crowds into silence. Tentative ears waited for Bluestar to tell her announcements.

“ThunderClan has been faring well during the last moon. Prey has been difficult to find, but that is expected during leaf-bare. Nonetheless, we thank StarClan for the gifts we have been given. There isn’t anything else worth mentioning.” The large molly dipped her head, stepping back to let another leader take her place.

After a few glances among the four cats, Tallstar stepped in front of the three.

The cats of the Gathering seemed to quiet even more, curious and eager to hear what was going on with WindClan; after all, they had vanished for so long so suddenly.

“I am sure many cats here are curious to hear where WindClan has been during these past few moons. It’s a complicated story, one that I will not go into detail about, but we were driven out of our territory by a patrol sent by Brokenstar.” He didn’t bother pausing, as he didn’t want to give the cats below a chance to interrupt him yet. “We were forced to travel far, far away, and had to stay in a damp, flooded tunnel for an unfortunate amount of time. Thankfully, the ThunderClan apprentice Greypaw came to find us. We were able to come back to our territory.

“Things have been well enough since then- we have been working to repair our camp, and leaf-bare is especially difficult. However, there were losses. Spiderdapple and Willowspot died in the battle in which we were being forced from our territory, Eaglekit died during a flood in our temporary tunnel camp, and two of Morningflower’s kits died during kitting. Each were a great loss to our Clan.”

Tallstar finally went quiet. The entire clearing was shocked into silence for a good few seconds, before there were numerous loud shouts and yells. Many cats were furious over the violations of the warrior code, others were horrified by the amount of deaths in so short a time.

It took multiple attempts from Tallstar to try to quiet the Clans, and when he finally succeeded, he finished off his report.

“All of WindClan, as well as I’m sure many others in other Clans, will grieve over the loss of these innocent cats. But alas, now that we are back, we hope to return to ordinary Clan life.”

Tallstar stepped back, and thankfully, this time there wasn’t an immediate reaction of bellows and angry shouts from the Clan cats. Crookedstar quickly took the place of where Tallstar had stood.

“It has been difficult for RiverClan in the past moon, but we have been alright. There hasn’t been too much freezing over the river, thankfully. However, I am unhappy to report that one of our apprentices, as well as my daughter, Silverpaw, was killed in a battle. Me and my Clan are still grieving over her loss.”

There was a brief silence among the Clan cats, confusion and sadness settling over the groups. However, this reflection was short-lived, as Nightpelt wasted no time in stepping up.

“I am sure you were unhappy to hear about Brokenstar’s decision to drive out WindClan. However, he has been driven out by the loyal cats of my Clan, along with his allies. I have taken his place as the leader of ShadowClan. I have yet to take the trip to the Moonstone, however, my name has changed from Nightpelt to Nightstar.”

Firepaw felt a brief flash of confusion at his words- after all, he had been told that StarClan was the one to give that name. However, his feelings of confusion were quickly forgotten as he heard a low growl.

He glanced over, surprised to see Greypaw glaring up at Nightpelt- or Nightstar.

Firepaw had no time to ask what was wrong before his friend stood up and began speaking.

Or, perhaps, spitting was a better word.

“How dare you?” His howl echoed around the clearing, and was met with silence. “Oh, ‘your loyal followers’? I’m sorry, your memory must be failing you! From what I remember, the majority of your cats either fought for Brokenstar, or stood by, watching and doing nothing like cowards! Do you forget about Onepaw and Firepaw, the entire ThunderClan patrol, for StarClan’s sake, Silverpaw? She gave her life to get that wretch out of the Clans, and she’s being rewarded with what? What?” He genuinely paused, even if it seemed to be a rhetorical question. No one answered.

“She gets to be brushed over, forgotten, and given no credit. Was RiverClan even told how she died, or could you not even push away that small of an amount of your fragile pride? Or are you so fox-hearted to completely forget about how a young apprentice threw away her life for your Clan?

“And then you have the audacity to call yourself ‘Nightstar’! There is only one group of cats that can give you such a name; StarClan. It isn’t something self-given! By StarClan, you don’t even have nine lives! Oh, and what is your excuse? You had half a whole moon to take the short trip to the Moonstone! Were you so busy with repairing your Clan that not a single night could be spared? Or did you- did you find it unnecessary to- to-”

Greypaw’s flow of speaking was interrupted, and he shook his head, growling. “You disgust me, Nightpelt.”

And with that, the grey apprentice stormed off, shoving through the crowd to the outskirts of the clearing to where Firepaw couldn’t see him.

Firepaw found himself shocked into silence. He knew that Greypaw was upset by Silverpaw’s death, but he wasn’t aware it was still to the point where he’d belittle a Clan leader in front of a Gathering.

The other cats in the clearing were similarly silent.

Firepaw felt a strong urge to follow his hurt friend- Greypaw was clearly very upset, and Firepaw could only hope he’d be okay.

However, he wasn’t able to do this.

Bluestar’s voice echoed around the clearing. “I think it is best we end the Gathering. We all are finished sharing information.”

The other leaders agreed, and just like that, the cats below were set in motion, preparing to leave.

Still, Firepaw couldn’t help but desperately hope Greypaw was okay.

#Warrior Cats #Warrior Cats AU #FAIChrono

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strelles-universe · 6 months

Text

Strike the Match - Post Story Allegiances

The Stormborn - Sweetsoul’s Treasured

The Brastilian: Asterdawn (Bluestar) - A short furred blue molly with darker legs, ears and tail - her eyes are blue/green. Asterstar is a muscular cat which intimidates other cats.

Lieutenant: Callastorm (Whitestorm) - A lithe and fast mostly white tom with blue eyes and long double layered fur. His tail, legs and ears are all faintly shaded black.

Diplomat: Larkwing - A smaller but long-legged brown tom with a gentle heart and yellow eyes. Larkwing is well muscled with long ears and a short muzzle.

Starmender(s): Spottedholly (Spottedleaf)- A pretty primarily black furred calico molly with a white chest plume and pretty leaf green eyes. She has a bushy tail and is known to carry moon berries in her fur. | Mender

The Strix: N/A

Guards (Heavy Defenders and Patrollers)

Head: Tigerslash (Tigerclaw) - A large deep red near brown tabby tom with amber eyes and claws that were too long to be fully sheathed. Tigerslash appears to have been blessed with Ancient Shadow’s braided stripes and claws.

Cricketleap - A short furred chocolate cat with two white toes and sharp pale green eyes. Their ears are folded.

Swallowflail - A cinnamon tabby tom with interesting russet front legs and orange eyes.

Chikadeechitter - A short furred fawn tabby tom with pale yellow eyes and a white chest.

Pricklestripe (Darkstripe) - A large lean, sleek, dark gray tabby tom.

Volewhisker - A gray smoked, ticked mackerel tabby tom with yellow eyes.

Longtail - A pale sandy colored, long-legged tabby tom with black stripes and a narrow muzzle. His tail is much longer than the average Stormborn cat and is thin.

Jackdawstripe (Graystripe) - A long furred, thick coated gray smoked ticked tom with bright yellow eyes. Jackdawstripe has longer whiskers than the average cat.

Cardinalfire (Fireheart) - A medium furred ruddy rosetted tom with distinctive green eyes and white front toes.

Hunters (Primary Feeders of the Clan)

Head: Thrushheart (Thrushpelt) - A pale grayish brown tom with a white plume on his chest and pale very light green eyes. Thrushpelt is flecked with small thin white streaks.

Acornleap - A light brown furred classic molly with pale blue eyes and darker legs and tail. Her tail is very faint.

Dovetail - A long furred cinnamon tortie molly with pale green eyes and a pale belly. Her paw pads were gray and so was her nose leather.

Titfeather - A medium furred cinnamon mackerel tabby tom with yellow eyes.

Cedarfur (Mousefur) - A small and fast solid dusky brown molly with smaller and rounded ears and orangey-yellow eyes.

Nadderpelt (Willowpelt) - A pretty silvery gray she cat with pale blue eyes

---

Crafters (Barrier Builders and Innovators)

Head: Thicketdawn - A light gray, ticked spotted tom with sharp green eyes and a double layered coat. He is blue shaded. Acting Craft Head.

Pollendance - A small thick-furred golden cream mackerel tabby molly with yellow eyes and a splash of white on her belly

Aspenwind (Runningwind) - A lithe, lean and muscular light brown tabby tom with green eyes.

Buzzardback - Cream mink-point tom with a heavily scarred back and sharp yellow eyes

---

Cadets (In Training to become Legionaries)

Wrenpaw (Dustpaw) - A very dark brown short coated tom with darker stripes and amber eyes and a shorter than average tail for a Stormborn cat. Training under Mottletail.

Quietpaw (Melody) - A dilute mackerel tortoiseshell molly with irregular splotches of white along her back and olive eyes. Refugee of the Galespun.

---

Monarchs and Sitters (Nursing cats and Cub watchers)

Head: Brindlewing (Brindleface) - A braided pale gray molly with green eyes and a rounded face. Co-raising Callastorm’s cubs Fern, Ash and Elder.

Frostfang (Frostfur) - A pale white short furred molly with sky blue eyes. Mate to Lionheart, nursing his cubs; Cinder, Warm, Singe and Bright.

Daisyflower (Goldenflower) - A long-furred pretty golden coated molly with yellow eyes and pale stripes. Raising cubs sired by Minkbelly, Lynx and Wolf.

Speckletail - A pale goldish classic molly with amber eyes and a curious spray of spots on her tail

---

Elders (Cats relieved of Active Duty)

Sparrowtail (Halftail)- A large dark brown, patchy furred tabby tom with a very short tail and yellow eyes. Lecturer.

Elkear (Smallear) - A short furred gray tom with amber eyes and small folded ears. Retiree.

Minkbelly (Patchpelt) - A small black and white tuxedo tom with yellow eyes. Retiree/

Dapplefawn (Dappletail) - A broad-shouldered, calico molly with a thick, sleek coat, a shiny pelt and yellow eyes. Lecturer.

Whiteeye (One Eye) - Pale gray virtually blind molly. Her left eye was clawed out, and the wound has since sealed shut- her remaining eye is a foggy yellow. Retiree.

Sablefoot - A deep chocolate brown tom with a long tail and dark brown eyes. Lecturer.

Hollypelt - A medium furred black molly with two white back paws and yellow eyes. Retiree.

Juniperhaze - A long furred blue smoke tabby molly with white paws and a lighter underbelly and chest. Lecturer.

Bearnose - A short furred brown tom with a naturally stubby tail and small, round ears. Retiree.

Deerleap - A short pelted warm gray tabby molly with light blue eyes, white paws and a white belly. Retiree.

The Galespun - Servants of Moonsoul

The Vendus: Magpietail (Tallstar) - A short furred tuxedo tom with a long tail, long legs and a narrow muzzle.

The Zefer: Deadfeather - A small fully black tom with a twisted left front paw with pale green eyes and a long tail. Deadfeather can walk on his left paw but it causes him immense pain.

Diplomat: Grasswhisker - A pale brown long whiskered molly with an even longer tail and orange eyes. Grasswhisker has a single splotch of white on his chest and his left ear is torn.

Moth: Briarflutter (Barkface) - A short furred, dark brown tom with a naturally bobbed tail and yellow eyes. | Starseer

---

Legionaries

|| Legionaries Unaccounted For ||

---

The Shorerisen - Favored of Riversoul

The Styrman: Stormdrift (Crookedstar) - A massive light brown tabby tom with a twisted jaw and sharp yellow eyes.

Lieutenant: Leopardshine (Leopardfur) - sleek golden furred molly blessed with the rosetted coat of Ancient RiverClan with amber eyes. Leopardshine has as powerful build- her pads and nose are brick red.

Frill: Reedtail - A russet and white speckled molly with a long, bushy tail

Starmender(s):

Cottonberry (Brambleberry) - A small and lithe black spotted molly with a pink nose. | Mender

Mudsky (Mudfur) - A lithe and long furred pale brown tom with yellow eyes. His belly is a lighter brown than the rest of him. Mudsky was once a warrior. | Starfrayer

---

Guards (Heavy Defenders and Patrollers)

Beetlenose - A short furred muscular black tom flecked with scars and pale yellow eyes

Troutleap - A large, muscular red furred ticked tabby tom with large heavy paws and yellow eyes.

Grassfeather - A short and glossy furred molly with pale rosettes and pale green eyes with white lock on her chest

Blackclaw - A sleek, short furred powerful smoky black tom with sharp orange eyes. Blackclaw has a torn right ear and a long tail.

Asterlichen - A long furred blue tabby tom with heavy paws and yellow eyes.

---

Hunters (Dry-Land Hunters)

Head: Hibiscousfoot (Mistyfoot) - A large and powerful looking molly with thick muscles and a thick jaw. Hibiscousfoot has a lilac tortie lush, thick coat and is more heavyset than the average hunter. Her pelt is more pale lilac than the other colors only a splotch of pale orange on her back

Whiteriver (Whiteclaw) - A solid, golden powerful tom with white paws and a sleek coat.

Silverwhisker - A long furred, rough coated silver-gray tabby tom with yellow eyes

Blackear - A short furred, long-legged black tom with a cap and saddle pattern on his fur. Blackear has amber eyes and a boxy muzzle. Blackear is lankier than the average Shorerisen cat.

---

Divers (Specialized Aquatic Hunters)

Skyheart - A pale brown tabby molly with completely torn ears and green eyes. Her stripes are only apparent on her legs and tail.

Eelmane - A short furred sleek charcoal tom with pale rosettes and yellow eyes

---

Crafters (Weavers and Designers)

Brushwhisker - A short furred brown tabby tom with orange eyes and a tan underbelly. Brushwhisker’s whiskers are much longer than the average cat and his paws are small and rounded.

Owlnose - A thick furred, sleek coated brown tom with a white underbelly, white hocks and white tipped tail

Baywish - A sleek furred and silky coated cream ticked tabby molly with a lighter underbelly and green eyes

---

Cadets (In-Training to Become Legionaries)

Emberpaw - A short furred primarily ginger calico molly with intense blue eyes and webbed paws. Training under Owlnose.

Heavypaw - A short, thick furred tom with yellow eyes and pale pink ears, His belly and mouth are a paler brown than the rest of him with a broken black mackerel pattern. Training under Blackear.

---

Monarchs and Sitters

Head: Lilystem - A gray mackerel tabby molly with a thick, long coat, round cone ears and feathery whiskers.

Ospreyfreckle - A pretty brown and white tom with white paws and a big fluffy tail. He has streaks of darker brown scattered throughout his fur.

Hakeflower (Greenflower) - A sleek furred, brown molly with a white splash on her chin and a plump build. Nursing Reef and Cod.

Swantooth - A lithe and long furred mostly white calico molly with pale blue eyes and black paw pads.

Mossfur (Mosspelt) - A short furred gentlehearted calico molly with webbed paws, a sleek coat and kind blue eyes. Pregnant with Frogleap’s cubs.

---

Elders

Softwing - A lithe but powerful mostly white molly with patches of golden striped fur scattered at random across her body. Retiree.

Petaldust - A thick coated, mottled tortoiseshell molly with leaf-green eyes and chronic joint-pain. Retiree.

Dawnlight - A tortoiseshell molly with a white underbelly and a thick, sleek coated molly with yellow eyes. Retiree.

Fogpool (Graypool) - A short furred predominantly dark gray molly with a thick, sleek coat and sharp yellow eyes. Lecturer.

Pheasanttail - A sleek furred, handsome tom with a long, red coat and a vibrant and much lighter red tail. Retiree.

Panda - A somewhat sickly short furred black and white bicolor molly with soft yellow eyes and small, rounded ears. Being supported until death.

---

The Outskirted

Frogleap - A powerful ticked gray tabby tom with amber eyes, a broad head and large paws. Frogleap was named for his hind legs which are longer than his front ones. Outskirted for having sexual relations with a cadet.

The Fennyield - Slysoul’s Devoted

The Skua: Nightrattle (Nightpelt) - A short furred, sleek pelted solid black tom with intense yellow-green eyes and a long tail. Both of his ears are nicked from the various battles he’s been in, and his muzzle is going gray. Retiree.

The Heir: N/A

Diplomat: Nettleflower (Brightflower) - A bright ginger tabby molly with a flattened face, a snub nose and wide set amber eyes. She has a beautifully curly coat that is difficult to maintain in the muddy territory but she’s proud of it all the same.

Executioner: Applescratch (Applefur) - A short furred and soft coated lilac tortie point molly with large, cone-shaped ears and striking green eyes.

Starmender(s):

Mangrovebay (Runningnose) - A skinny, patchy gray and white tom with amber eyes. There’s crust around his nose and in the corner of his eyes. Runningbay has the longest legs and tail of the Fennyield cats and it’s often remarked that it’s a shame he isn’t a hunter or a murker. | Starfrayer

---

Guards (Heavy Defenders)

Head: Lizardsnarl (Lizardstripe) - A pale brown tabby molly with white underbelly and pale yellow eyes. She’s proud to have many battle scars including a torn left ear, a permanent mark over her eye and a slight limp favoring her hind leg.

Jaggedstump (Stumpytail) - A large, long-legged, small eared tom with a slightly offset jaw from his cadethood His tail is short and bobbed. He has a dark brown, thick sleek coat with thin, black stripes running along his body.

Flintfang - A powerful fluffy gray tom with yellow eyes and large paws. His paws are unusually fluffy, and his right ear is shredded.

Toadskip - A short furred, sleek tabby tom with cone-shaped ears and a rounded tail tip. Toadskip’s face, legs and underside are all white - in theory.

Mousewhisker - A small short furred brown tom with white paws and deep brown eyes. His ears and paws are round with his ears being thickly furred.

Carriongrowl - A dilute tortoiseshell cat with light blue eyes and two shredded ears. Carriongrowl is smaller than the average Fennyield cat with softer, gentler fur.

Wetjaw (Wetfoot) - A long furred dark gray-almost black -tom with brilliant yellow eyes. His stripes are almost the same color as his general coat. His legs are shaded in a way that makes them look wet even when they’re not.

---

Hunters (Dry Land Hunters)

Head: Tangleburr (Tanglefurr) - A short furred brown and white tabby molly with a white underside and white paws. Tangleburr is named for her curled coat that dries surprisingly fast.

Hemlockflower (Darkflower) - A medium furred, dark gray tabby molly with orange eyes and a torn left ear from the occasional scuffle she was in.

Mazzardfoot - A short furred ticked ginger molly with gentle yellow eyes and a lighter undrebelly

Patchflicker - A golden brown torbie tom, with sections of his fur that appear to be lumped together

Littlespore (Littlecloud) - An absolutely tiny long furred color pointed cream cat with a pink nose, pink pads and a pink nose. His eyes are a gentle yellow green and his whiskers are feathery.

---

Murkers (Swamp Water Hunters)

Salamanderfoot - A pretty long-legged, tortie molly with green eyes and two white front paws. She has medium length furred with a fluffy plumed tail that she is very proud of.

Fieldpoppy (Tallpoppy) - A long-legged, light brown tabby molly with green eyes and long lightly curled whiskers. Her fur is short and very sleek, seeming to shine under moonlight. Skypoppy’s underbelly and chest is paler than the rest of her.

Bogswirl - A short furred, thick coated olive-brown classic tabby molly with pale yellow eyes

Ratwelt - A short furred gray tom with torn ridges

---

Crafters

Head: Sunstone - A short furred, sleek golden-brown mackerel tabby molly with round, orange eyes

Willowthorn - A short furred, torbie jack with tufted ears and green eyes. Their left ear is split.

Marrowfang - A surprisingly lanky, brown and white van patterned tom with blue eyes

Crowtalon - A short furred, sleek coated tom with a locket on his chest and yellow eyes

Quiveringheart - A short furred ticked russet tom with pale green eyes

Thistlesight - A chocolate tortoiseshell jack with yellow eyes and paler front paws

---

Cadets (In-Training to Become Legionaries)

Minkpaw - A short furred black jack with pale blue eyes and small ears. Training under Sunstone.

Cootpaw - A predominantly black furred tortoiseshell molly with only a couple orange splotches and only yellow. Training under Thistlesight.

Tinypaw - A small mostly black classic tabby tom with a lighter underbelly and yellow eyes. Training under Fieldpoppy.

Pinepaw - A short-furred cinnamon tortie molly with yellow eyes. Training under Grayspeckle.

Brownpaw - A short furred chocolate tortoiseshell tom with a short but shaggy coat and sharp yellow eyes. The fur on his tail is longer and thicker than the fur on the rest of his body. Training under Jaggedstump.

---

Monarchs and Sitters

Head: Dawncloud - A short furred dilute tortoiseshell molly with a series of white splotches across her belly and on her front legs. Her eyes a gentle light blue and her whiskers are all shorter than average

Nettlespot - A dark gray molly with a large orange splash on her chest. Nettlespot’s fur is waterproof but wirey and rough which allows water to reach her skin - much to her annoyance.

Fernshade - A slender tortoiseshell and white molly with long, wirey whiskers and gentle yellow eyes.

Newtspeck - A thick furred, short pelted tortie molly with yellow eyes. She has a permanent limp from a previous fight.

---

Elders

Hollythorn (Hollyflower) - A dark gray and black molly with a more silvery underbelly and deep blue eyes. Her muzzle is turning white with age. Lecturer.

Spidercloud (Poolcloud) - A long furred molly with a pale gray and white coat with striking light blue eyes and two shredded ears. Lecturer.

Rowanberry - A short furred and sleek coated chocolate and cream tortie molly with small rounded ears and amber eyes. Retiree.

Featherstorm - A brown furred, small pawed molly with a lighter underbelly and yellow eyes. Retiree.

Cinderburr (Cinderfur) - A short furred, thin gray tom with dark yellow eyes and half chewed off whiskers. Retiree.

Boldflank (Blackfoot) - A mostly white furred tom with huge black paws, black rimmed ears and yellow eyes. His right front paw has six toes. Retiree - chronic pain.

The Kingdom of the Shining Sun

King: Hraye - A fluffy, spotted ginger tom with a distinct shade of green eyes. Okohi was a wanderer and is very familiar with the clans. Deceased.

Crown Heir: Isaŕia - A long furred, plump brown and white molly with two white front paws and a spotted underbelly

---

Heirs and Honored Guests

Asha - A pale cream rosetted molly with golden-brown eyes, a white belly and a thick fluffy coat. Second in line.

Hreto - A medium furred cinnamon rosetted tom with two white paws and a white belly. His eyes are bright blue. Fourth in line.

Soŕi - A medium furred ruddy rosetted tom with distinctive green eyes and white front toes. Fifth in line.

Adihikko - A very dark almost black rosetted tom with odd-colored eyes (one blue, one gold) and two white front paws. Last in line. Away for Studies.

Ahasra - A long furred silver charcoal sokoke molly with hyacinth eyes and a white underbelly. Ahasra also has white front-paws. Third in line. Squiring for Osheŕa.

Ravencroon - A short furred, long-tailed bicolored tom with one white right paw, a white tip on his tail and a white locket on his chest. Ravencroon has pale purple eyes with semi-short whiskers. ‘Ambassador’ of the Stormborn.

---

Enforcers (Defenders and Combatants)

Lead Captain: Xibo - A short furred, muscular brown tabby molly with a white underbelly and yellow eyes. Xibo’s coat is actually somewhat coarse and thick preventing most claws from penetrating.

Co-Captain: Kibaŕa - A medium furred burly chocolate brown molly with orange eyes and a sun-rusted underside

---

Healers (Advanced Healers and Makai Users)

Lead Captain: Yakuyi - A golden tabby molly with a feather whiskers, a white belly and pale green eyes

Co-Captain: Ilanoko - A short furred cream ticked tabby with short puff of a tail and blue eyes

---

Seekers (Couriers and Bounty Hunters)

Lead Captain: Shaŕi - A small but skilled russet furred tom with long, soft fur and red paw pads.

Co-Captain: Aŕasi - A short and sleek furred charcoal brown tom with golden eyes and black paw pads.

---

Farmers (Livestock Maintainers and Breeders)

Master: Aneha - A thick furred, somewhat stocky black smoke tabby molly with yellow eyes

---

Gardeners (Herb Producers)

Master: Puffin - A thick-furred, double-coated sleek round black-and-white appaloosa tom with gentle yellow eyes

---

Nurses (Child-Minders and Caretakers)

Master: Huyanra - A long furred and lanky chocolate and white furred molly.

---

Artisans (Crafters and Innovators)

Master: Onehuŕa - A dark gray tabby tom with two torn ears, a faded scar on his muzzle and pale blue eyes.

Master: Yuŕa - A short furred ticked golden molly with a white underbelly and dark-green eyes

Viperclaw’s Band - Exiles of the Fennyield

Leader: Viperclaw - A large brown tabby tom with matted fur and a flat faced with orange eyes

Scorchedmaw - A long furred, ginger tabby tom with round paws and a rounder than usual face. Scorchedmaw has very short whiskers and long legs. Scorchedmaw is intensely scarred with claws over his eyes and missing patches of fur on his back legs.

Toadpelt - A pale brown tom with green eyes, short legs and a slashed ear.

Saffronblister - A lanky ginger ticked tabby tom with a long winding tail and intimidating yellow eyes

Stagclaw - A short furred brown tom with a mildly curly coat and slightly matted legs

Maggotflight - - A medium furred tabby tom with a chocolate shaded fawn coat. Both of his ears and have been shredded.

#strelles universe #strike the match #strike the match allegiances #worldbuilding #strelles allegiances #strelles the greenwood empire

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where-the-wilds-things-are · 5 years

Text

Wild Meets Wild Chapter Two

Rusty openly gaped at what Bluestar had said. Behind him, Princess widened her eyes while Smudge gasped. Judging by her Clanmate’s expressions, they weren’t the only ones surprised by the question.

“You want us to join your Clan?” asked Smudge. The tom looked genuinely surprised at this, and so was Rusty. Lucky Land Lane cats had mixed feelings about the Colony of Feral Cats that lived in the forest. One group despised them, never forgetting the raids that had hurt and even killed their loved ones all those years ago. Others were curious about what life could be like outside the city, and the last was neutral.

Lionheart turned his golden head to face his Leader, shock burning in his green eyes. “Bluestar, are you sure about this? Sure, two of them are nearly bigger than a warrior, but all still have that kitty pet softness," meowed Lionheart.

“And they are kitty pets, how can they be Warriors if they have Housecat blood?” curiously sputtered Graypaw. Rusty shot him a look, and the gray tabby at least looked abashed of what he said.

Something flashed in Bluestar’s green-blue eyes. “Warrior Blood. Too much has been spilled lately. From ThunderClan all the way to ShadowClan.”

Bluestar fell silent and Lionheart took a step forward towards them.

“Bluestar is only offering you training, young kits. There is no guarantee that you would become a full warrior. It might prove too difficult for you three. After all, you are used to a comfortable life.”

Rusty inwardly bristled before quickly becoming contemplative. He and Princess had heated cat beds, food bowls that was never empty, countless cat toys and more. Smudge even had a pool in his backyard, and they swam in it whenever their owners left. What kind of life did a Clan cat live?

“Excuse me, Ma’am, but why give us the chance then. Surely you don’t want inexperienced cats in your Clan?" Mewed Smudge. His shock had faded and a questioning gleam entered his eyes.

Bluestar was the one who answered. “You are right to question our motives, young one. The fact is, ThunderClan needs more warriors, and I can tell that all of you are thinking about what I said."

“Understand that Bluestar does not make this offer lightly,” warned Lionheart. “If you wish to train with us, we will have to take you into our Clan. You must either live with us and respect our ways or return to your homes and never come back. You cannot live with a paw in each world.”

A cool night breeze stirred the brush, and Rusty shivered with hidden excitement. Countless opportunities were opening in front of them with this chance meeting. If joining this Clan stopped him and Princess from becoming like those conceited Show-Cats from Pleasant Street, then he’d take it with open paws.

Really. Those cats spooked him. When Princess compared them with those weird colorful humans in that movie with the girl with the bow and arrow, he didn’t want to believe it. It was when she pointed out that they wear outlandish cat clothing, are vain, and even talk in an off-putting high pitched voice without barely moving their jaws made him make the connection.

“Are you wondering if it’s worth giving up your comfortable kitty pet lives?” asked Bluestar gently. “But do you three realize the price you can pay for your warmth and food?”

Rusty, Princess, and Smudge shot each other glances before looking back at Bluestar with puzzled expressions. Was this a type of test that they had to answer to pass?

“Well, we can’t really see the stars sometimes since the city lights block them out. Do you see the stars more clearly in the forest?” meowed Princess.

“I lost count how many times my Neighbor blasts his Mixtape during the day, despite the complaints he gets from my owner and others. It’s not even good music either, just something his “band” made together. Is it quiet back in your Clan?" replied Smudge.

“Our Owners, despite giving us gifts and playing with us, always seem to leave us in our house. I don’t know where they are going, but we can be alone for hours until Constance and James come back," said Rusty.

Rusty could see the slightly confused expressions on the Clan cats and realized that maybe Bluestar was referring to something else.

“Well, I was going to say that clearly the two of you are toms despite the stench of two-leg place on your fur. But to answer your questions; the stars shine like dewdrops during the night, birdsong and the voices of your Clanmates are what you will hear, and fellow warriors can be your companions. Though can’t say I know much of the other stuff you had said,” replied Bluestar.

“What do you mean—still a tom? Are you saying you know about cats who are spayed or neutered by the vet?” muttered Smudge. At the mention of the word “vet," Rusty twitched his whiskers in irritation. He hated the sterile smell of those rooms and cold, gloved hands touching him for his check-up. That, and he was worried that he’ll be put under and wake up altered with a cone around his head, so that was another pro in the Clan side.

“You haven’t yet been taken by the Twolegs to see the Cutter,” meowed Bluestar gravely. “You would be very different then. Not quite so keen to fight a Clan cat, I suspect! As for your sister, she would have been Changed, something that would have stopped her from having kits if she wanted it.”

Lionheart spoke up, meeting their eyes with a steady gaze. “There have been stories of kitty pet toms and she-cats being altered in some way by having something taken from them. This can make them not have kits, and even make them fat or lethargic.”

“The Clan may not be able to offer you such easy food or warmth,” continued Bluestar. “In the season of leaf-bare, nights in the forest can be cruel. The Clan will demand great loyalty and hard work. You will be expected to protect the Clan with your life if necessary. And there are many mouths to feed. But the rewards are great. You will remain toms, and a she-cat. You will be trained in the ways of the wild. You will learn what it is to be real cats, your potential unleashed. The strength and the fellowship of the Clan will always be with you, even when you hunt alone.” meowed Bluestar.

“Wait a minute, I know someone that said the Clans have healers to take care of the ill. Is this true? commented Smudge.

Princess and Rusty blinked at the same time. This was news to them. Though it can explain how the Clan had lasted this long without dying of sickness with no help from humans. It was actually pretty astonishing if it is true.

“You heard about Medicine Cats?” asked Graypaw astonishingly. The tabby tom had been nearly silent for most of the conversation, observing the three beside Lionheart before speaking up in surprise.

Bluestar and Lionheart also showed shock that kitty pets had at least heard about Medicine Cats, though they recovered from it quickly.

“Why yes, we do have cats who treat our ill. As Graypaw had said, they are called Medicine Cats, and their job is to look after us when we are sick or injured, gather herbs, and much more," softly spoke Bluestar.

“Though, I'm curious as to where you had heard this. Smudge, was it?” replied Lionheart, who looked at his black and white friend.

Realizing that he had five gazes on him, Smudge shuffled on his paws. “An old She-cat named Shanty said she had heard a lot of Clan related stuff from her late old friend. One of them was about cats knowing about how to care for the sick. Actually, now that I think about it, she said that he came from a Clan!”

Alarm came off of Bluestar and Lionheart in waves. “Did she say what her friend was called?” Bluestar asked, her voice tense. She had a strange look in her eyes. Something that was mirrored by Lionheart. Graypaw just looked confused.

Taken aback by the sudden change in the air, Smudge licked his lips before continuing. “She said that his name was Pine and that they were very close friends," he meowed. "He even saved her from being hit by a car!"

At hearing the name Pine, the Clan cats reacted to this piece of knowledge. Bluestar and Lionheart’s eyes widened before narrowing and sharing a quick look. Graypaw looked to his Clanmates and the trio in confusion. “Pine?” Then his eyes grew huge. “Do you mean Pine—”

“That’s enough Graypaw," mewed Bluestar. She sighed, her ears twitching. “That is an old name that I thought I would never hear again, until now. And I apologize if I came on a bit hostile, it was just surprised that a kitty pet has had a knowledge of our home."

As the awkward moment passed, it was Lionheart who broke the silence.

“Come, Bluestar, let’s not waste any more time here. We must be ready to join the other patrol at moon-high. Tigerclaw and Mossflower will wonder what has become of us.” He stood up and flicked his tail expectantly towards the undergrowth.

“Wait, can we have time to think about your offer?” Meowed Rusty. While it was so tempting to say yes right off the bat, he and the others needed time to think.

Bluestar looked at them for a long moment and nodded. “Lionheart will be here tomorrow at sun-high,” she told him. “Give him your answers then.”

Bluestar murmured a low signal, and in a single movement, the three cats turned and disappeared into the underbrush.

Processing what just happened, Rusty shook his head. Nervous excitement clung to his fur like a second coat.

“So Smudge, when were you going to tell us that you kinda knew about the Clans?” asked Princess who batted the tom with her tail playfully.

“I didn’t know about a Medicine Cat at all!" Rusty exclaimed, hearing a nearby vole dart away. "How do they learn how to be like a Doctor? Is there a cat equivalent of a MED School going on that we don’t know about?"

As they made their way back home, Smudge replied. “I only heard of it a few days ago from Oscar when he was on his porch. Shanty used to tell a lot of stories to him and anyone who listened. But after she had that surgery with that stomach tumor, she stays in her house now.”

“Right, it was close to being really severe from what I heard. Glad they caught it before it got worse,” said Rusty. Though he only met her once, the brown tabby was kind to him and Princess when the Wintergreens brought them to her house to talk to her owner about something.

“So what will happen now? This feels like a once in a lifetime chance, but I don’t want to regret it either.” Princess meowed honestly. Huffing, she jumped on the fence post and stared at the colorful houses. When he and Smudge copied her action, she continued.

“Let’s be honest, we don’t really know much about the city except Lucky Land Lane, Hillcrest Ave, Pleasant St, that one Pet-Smart, and HeartGold Park. Other than getting into the car to be driven to the vet, that’s all we know. Should we really leave the familiarity of home to live in the unknown?” She said softly.

Rusty looked at her before focusing on what looked like a plane blinking in the sky. “Those are really good points, Princess. But you must have heard about what Constance and James were talking about. They want us to become Show-Cats in some high brow circuit. I for one don’t want to become a pretty-up-puppet that gets used to winning ribbons. They, they want to chip us too, so even if we do leave, they can track us. The timing couldn’t be better, besides, I want to have kits later in life man.”

“Can I add something?” Turning to Smudge, both were taken aback at the gloominess in his eyes. “I didn’t want to say it because I was still coming to terms with it, but… Donovan is coming over to stay for a while.”

Rusty recoiled and Princess stared at Smudge like he grew a second head. “Donovan? Your owner’s nephew with the creepy green eyes and yanks your tail hard on purpose? The one who tried to lure you into the tool shed that has sharp blades? And is probably a future serial killer in the making with those vibes he gives off? That Donovan?” She hissed.

Smudge balefully shook his head. “The one and only. Apparently, there was really bad water damage to their ceiling from that bad storm, and the ceiling caved in. Charlie offered to them to stay for a bit until it’s get fixed, or until they can get a hotel. I don’t know about you two, but if joining the clan keeps me from becoming one of the dead animals that are eventually going to be found under the bed or in the bushes, then so be it.”

Licking his paw and rubbing his head, he continued. “That, or just becoming a street cat. I can’t just can’t shake the feeling that if I stay, I might die, or actually survive just to get neutered, but I also don’t want to leave Charlie,” he said sadly.

Eyes softening, Rusty gently placed a paw on Smudge’s shoulder. “Smudge, you are our best friend and both of us would never abandon you. If you want to stay as a house cat, we can decline the offer and make sure nothing happens to you until Donovan leaves. Nothing the Clan can offer can make us leave you behind."

“Rusty is correct, whatever you decide, we will follow you either way. After all, that's what friends are for, right?” replied Princess.

Smudge eyes widened at the proclamation. “Th-thanks guys, really. And you know what, I do want to join to be a Clan cat. A Medicine Cat actually. How cool would it be to become a Doctor? I want to leave my mark on this world somehow, strange as it seems. If I can become a healer or at least a trainee to one, I can help save lives and maybe even find out why they are sick!”

“Does this mean that you want to join us?” asked Princess hopefully. When the black and white tom nodded his head, she made a happy squeaking sound.

“So like a more friendly Dr. House who happens to be a cat?” playfully teased Rusty. Truthfully, he wanted to jump up and down in excitement if he wasn’t on a fence post. Smudge was going to join them!

Smudge rolled his eyes at his friend's words before he blinked. “Hey, remember what Bluestar said about how it gets cold in leaf-bare, which is most likely the Clan term for Winter? What if we bring old blankets with us as a peace offering? Sure, Lionheart said we can’t have two paws in both worlds, but when they see how helpful it is, maybe they’ll let it slide?”

“That’s a pretty good idea Smudge. Maybe we should also bring some toys for the kits, we have loads of them back at our house, maybe ThunderClan will like that as well." Rusty said. He hoped that Princess didn’t pick up on the other reason why he offered to bring toys. He didn’t want to leave his favorite plush toy behind. It helped him during some very rough times.

Unfortunately for him, Princess saw right through it and gave him a dry look. “Sure, Rusty. I’m pretty sure this has nothing to do with your Lucha Libre Pikachu toy, PK Thunder. Though, it would be hypocritical of me since I have Bonnie. Hmmm, maybe we should bring some toys just for any kittens along with the blankets and say Bonnie and PK Thunder are very special to us.”

“Is it settled then? We wake up around seven, that’s when all of our owners leave. Then after we can gather as many toys and blankets we can carry, we can say our goodbyes to our friends before carrying our cargo to meet Lionheart at twelve, since that should be at sun high,” said Princess.

With the two toms nodded, Smudge jumped to the ground before he started walking to his house. "I don’t know about you two, but I’m going to bed now so I can watch Into The Spider-verse for the last time in the morning before we join cats who probably don’t even know what technology is." And with that, he darted to the cat door and disappeared.

“Huh, he’s right. Better get around to finally watching Lilo & Stitch," remarked Rusty as he and Princess slunk through the cat doors.

Princess yawned as she settled herself on his place on the cat tree. “Speaking of movies, you do realize that this means we can’t see any new movies or their sequels, right?" she mumbled before she closed her eyes.

Rusty shook his head. He hadn't thought of that. Shoot. Good thing John Wick 3 came on the TV last week before he leaves.

As Princess drifted to sleep, he settled on his warm strawberry cave bed and curled around Thunder. Looking around at the living room for his last night here, Rusty let slumber take him.

He dreamed of running free in the forest, free of his collar with Princess and Smudge. Of catching bountiful prey, a sea of stars and even starting a family with a cat that he got close to. Then the dream turned blurry and fast as he got visions of fire, death, and destruction. Eyes of yellow, blue, and green that held malice glittered in the dark as danger hid in the forest before it all grew into an enormous black reptilian shadow with the most intense glowing red eyes that he had ever seen. It opened its vast mouth with teeth that can swallow him whole and spoke with a voice like thunder.

I̷̡̡̨̠̭͍͓̙̎̍͋͐̇̓̾̿̂̂̽̀̾̊͝ ̴̨̲̣̫̺̬̘͕̼̻̣͕̆͛͛̔͊̏̒͝h̸̛̰͓̭̥̺̠̗̀̒͒͋̈́̊̊̎́́͊͝å̷̡̜̦̣͙͔͕̠̮͇̞̜͖̱̌̒́̍̿͗͊̍̈́̚͜͠v̴̧̤̬̹͇̱͖͈̐͐́͑͆̓̊̃͒͐̑̾͘͝ȩ̷̧̨̛͙͈͎̰̱͒̅̍̿̈̒̅̌ͅ ̸̲̞̲̲̪̬̲̖͉͝b̸̩̔̈́̔̿̓́̂̽́͆̈̚ȅ̶͕̯́̈́͛͂̚͝ę̷̣̰̤͔̯͔͈̲̜͈̤͒̾͛̈͘͘͘̚̕͜ͅn̴̲̮̳̭̈́͛̊̚͝ ̵̧̛̞̤̽̔͗̈̾̇w̷̧̧̢̫̬̰̠̯͎̲̱̟͓̳͙̋͂̆͂͊̀̀́̂̉̊́̔̊a̴̢͚̲̘̘̙͇̫̞̞̿̍̉͋̆̿̏̌̿͘̕͘̕͝͠i̴͙̞̕t̷̪̙͔̟̙̗̬͔͍̪͖̽̀̀̅̇̽̓͜ỉ̷̲̠͙͖͒n̷̝͉̰̥̪̄͑̏̃̂͒̃̋̚g̸̟̺̩͉̖̘̜̳̤͛̾̆̌̍͛̓̿̐̕̕͜͝ͅ ̵̢̢̪̣̦̳̗̥͙̞͇̰̜̌̉̾ͅf̸̞̞̗̫̹̾̇̊͑͌̈́͜ǫ̷̯̲̠̺̺̹̟̪̖̀̄̈́̔̑̐r̴̗͚̳͇͇̣̿̀̍̔̂̀̏͊̑̂̉̕ ̸̢̨͖͖̭̜̹̰͈̖̝͓̹̣͋y̷͓̟̗̩̤̪̖͊͒͜o̶̠̕u̷͓̾̍̔͐̇́̒̇̂͂̇̕,̵̨̨̡̛͉̩̫̹̼̜͓̲̱̌ ̷̱͍͔̯̦̺͕̠̯͓̗̠̺̭͘͜F̴̛̜̝̬̪͈͊͊̈́̐̑̍̒̊͗́̍͘̚ị̷̧̡̢̺̪̠̙͓̣̰̝̊̈̍͌͒ͅr̶̰̹̪͕̝̣͕̤͖̩̈́̓̄̆̊ͅę̶̰̰͕̤̹͈̝̩͇̻̠̠͌̂͊́͋̍͊̓͒̌͑̏̀̎̾ş̵̤̣̤̻̫̩͙̥̤̼̀̅͐̊̋̌́͂͐͋͜͜͝ͅt̵͕̀̽͝ą̴̨̢̳̲͓͕͕̗̖̯͔̈́͊͗̀̃̍̑̅͜͠r̴̝̤͕̤̩̘̼̠̭̒́͋̊̂̚.̶̗̱̿̈́̉

“-usty. Rusty!” he jostled awake from the harsh shaking to his shoulder. Yelping, he realized Princess was staring at him with a concerned look in her eyes. “You were making noises in your sleep and was twitching a lot. Are you okay?”

Rusty shook his head and noticed PK had fallen out of his bed, and that it was morning by the pale light outside. He could vaguely remember catching his thrush and eating it and then… nothing. So why make noises and thrash around like so?

“I’m fine Princess. I think I must have had one of those nightmares that you forget as soon as you wake up," he meowed. He belatedly felt that his throat was dry and that he wanted a drink to quench his thirst.

Princess twitched her whiskers and rolled her eyes. “So was it the one where you were being chased down a hallway by the Jigsaw doll on a bike or that girl from the Ring that wanted to drag you into the well? Though I don't know why you were scared, your ugly mug can send even Freddy running for the hills," she teased before nimbly dodging a playful paw swipe.

“Haha," he muttered as he stretched his legs and quickly went to the cat fountain. When he finished drinking, he met Princess in the kitchen. It seemed like his last meal as a house cat was venison cut up into pieces. Quickly eating the meat for the energy he’d need for later, Rusty looked on as Constance finished her coffee at the table. Leaping onto her lap, he let her pet him for the last time behind the ears.

When she left with James in one of their cars, Rusty and Princess nodded to each other. “I’ll get the blankets from the Laundry Room while you gather some toys. Don’t try to go overboard. We can’t carry all of it and we might overwhelm them as it is with them anyway." Sniffing at her, he lumbered towards the box that held many of the toys that the Wintergreens had bought them.

Soon, he made a pile that consisted of four mice rattles, five colorful balls and three plushies that were a seal, a fish, and a sheep. Three lavender-scented fleece blankets sat next to it. They were colorful, and were space-themed, jack o lanterns, and autumn leaves. Regretfully, he came to the conclusion that no, they can’t drag the cat tunnel with them. ThunderClan would never know of those wonders, unfortunately.

Convincing Princess that he should bring PK made him feel better though since she was taking the small toy rabbit too.

“Are you sure they’ll accept this? They might think it’s too much if they are like the Amish and like things simple,” asked Princess.

“I mean it’s free stuff. Who’ll turn down free stuff? Besides, maybe they’ll be grateful for the blankets when Winter comes and the toys can keep any kittens entertained,” said Rusty.

Hearing the cat flap being opened, they turned to see Smudge come in carrying what looked like a metal lunchbox in his jaws. As he got closer, Rusty could see it had Spider-Man proudly displayed on its surface.

Setting down his cargo, Smudge shook his head. “Hello, Rusty. Hello Princess.” Looking at the pile, he shook his head. "That’s kind of a lot of things, don’t you think? Good thing I brought the lunchbox to carry herbs if I become a Medicine Cat apprentice, maybe we can cram the toys in the box? That can lighten the load.”

After some trial and error, they finally managed to squeeze the items into the box, and drag the blankets and plushies next to the rose bushes for them to collect after they say their goodbyes.

“I never want to go through that again” muttered Rusty. Squeezing all of that in was no joke, and forcing the latches to close was harder. Sometimes he envied humans with their opposable thumbs.

“Leave it behind Rusty, let's just say our farewells to the others. It’s nearly noon already," said Princess. They were back on the fence again, taking in what will be their last morning in the city.

“We should stay to the backyards, don’t want any humans to see you two and wonder why aren’t you with the Wintergreens,” muttered Smudge.

Jumping down, the soon to be Clan Cats went to say goodbye to the city of Silverpine.

#i speak #where the wilds things are #wild meets wild chapter two #wild meets wild #rusty #smudge #princess #the city of silverpine #as you can see princess and rusty had it made #like cat fountains and excersie wheels #smudge had a pool #and a flat plasma screen tv #his last meal from his house was wet chicken and gravy meow mix #speaking of him i hope you like his reasons to leave and that talk between friends #and as you can see he is a big spider-man fan #princess is more of a flash fan and rusty likes superman

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