Moon Tales || Writing for Eclipse Clan || Rise

[SkyWishes21]

It was the early morning, the sun barely making its way above the horizon. The fog was heavy on the horizon, and Alder couldn’t be any happier to have his darling Blizzard by his side. Their face was buried in his side and he purred happily.

“Isn’t it wonderful?” they murmured, practically beaming with radience. “I’m right here, with you. I have a home and a family.”

“Even if it’s just me?” Alder asked, his eyes twinkling down at his darling. “Unless, of course, we want to expand our little family.”

Blizzard snorted with laughter. “Me, a mother. Can you imagine? I’d be awful at it!”

Lightly, Alder swatted against her scarred cheek with his paw. “I’m sure you could do it. I’d be right here with you, of course. I love kittens. I know I’d be a wonderful dad. And if you’re here with me I can help you learn how to be a good mom.”

Blizzard tipped their head to the side thoughtfully. Alder watched as the little mice that ran their mind zoomed from place to place. Was it a good thought that they were thinking?

“I suppose…” they said finally, looking away bashfully. Their fluffy fur prickled and they laughed, leaping away from Alder. “Seriously, what a thought. What a thought!”

Alder rose to his feet, his warm copper eyes sparkling as he hopped after her. The breeze was picking up, and it ruffled through his silvery pelt as they played a kit’s game of chase.

With a leap, Blizzard perched on the low hanging branch of their oak tree. Claw marks were scored into the exposed bark, a permenant memento of their love, their true love.

“What would we name them?” Blizzard asked as soon as Alder was settled next to them. “I like Blossom.”

“Blossom is good,” Alder agreed. “Perfect for a little molly. What about Sky for another?”

“Sky? I mean, I don’t see why not,” Blizzard mused. Their gaze caught Alder’s, and their icy blue eyes glittered in the light. Just like a blue sky on a clear day. “Why though?”

“If they have your eyes,” Alder said, unable to tear his eyes away, “it would be perfect. A lovely sky blue, just like the day we met.”

“You sap!” Blizzard shook their head and laughed again. “Yes, that would be lovely. I love you so much, Alder. You’ve really opened my eyes.”

Alder’s smile was brighter than the rising sun, warmer than the fires that had once ravaged the forests around them. “I love you too, my dearest. No matter how icy you are.”

As it turned out, melting Blizzard was so easy. They melted over onto his side, purring and purring like a happy kitten who’d just caught their first prey.

“You really are so amazing,” Blizzard said, nose pressed into his side. “I think we should name a tom Birch, after a tree. Just like you are. After all, we ought to have kittens named after ourselves, don’t you think?”

Oh! That really was a nice prospect. “And I like Avalanche for one who looks like you, dearest,” he mewed back happily.

“So does this mean we’re settled?” Blizzard asked, amused. “If we’re naming them, and there’s not any yet, does this mean that we’re actually going to have some?”

“If you’re interested in that,” he purred. “I’d be happy to have kittens with you.”

“Just give it a couple of moons,” Blizzard said, leaping away again. “Give me time to actually figure out how to be a mom. Then we’ll talk again, okay?”

“Absolutely!” And Alder could only watch in reverence as the love of his life leaped again and again.

[SkyWishes21]

“You’re kidding me, right?”

Marblestar looked up from the glittering geode she was examining to stare at her mate. This was unprecedented in many ways, and she wasn’t quite sure what was going through their head.

Dawnglow took their place beside her mate and began gently grooming their flustered mate. “No, dear.I think it would be a wonderful idea. After all, our darlings deserve to have a few more siblings, don’t you think.”

Marblestar was quiet for a moment, though she allowed herself a soft purr and cuddles. More kittens? Starpaw was barely an apprentice. And after the fallout with Puddle, she wasn’t sure that she trusted the loner toms any more than she could throw them. Which wasn’t very far.

“Who’s kittens would they be?” she asked slowly, looking up at Dawnglow. “The rogues really have it out for us, you know. It’s been difficult.”

“Not a rogue, dear,” Dawnglow responded with a laughing purr. “No, no, there’s that new barn cat, Match. He’s wanted to be a dad, but he’s not interested in romance. There’s no ulterior motive either. Apparently he had two moms, and he’s happy to help us out.”

Marblestar let out a sigh and curled up closer to Dawnglow. “Mmm, I’m going to have to meet him. Is he a gentle giant?”

“Oh, you know it! I want our kittens to be as ruthless as you but gentle like him.” Dawnglow smiled, never mind the uncomfortable stone beneath her paws. There was only Marblestar right now.

“Oh, like Starpaw isn’t already shaping up to be like that?” Marblestar snarked, though her forest green eyes sparkled as she lay against Dawnglow’s considerable bulk.

“She’s not tall. She takes after you in that department.”

Eyebrow raised, Marblestar stared at the beautiful cat beside her. “Are you calling me short? Is that what you’re doing?”

“Yes, yes I am!” There was a smug grin on Dawnglow’s face, and they tapped their tail against Marblestar’s head. “It’s lucky you’re so sweet, because you know I could crush you.”

Marblestar huffed and bat at Dawnglow’s paw, claws sheathed. “But I have the lions on my side.”

“That’s cheating!”

“Who ever said rules were made to be followed?”


“You.”

“Fair.” Marblestar shook her head, a dumb smile on her face. “Anyways. More kittens, hm? Were we going to recruit Patchbelly and Redsky to keep an eye on them along with their little ones? Or would someone else be better nurses?”

“Blizzard’s the official nurse. I’m certain they can handle it.” Dawnglow’s eyes took on a haunted look. “I’m not sure if I want our babies alone with them, though. Could be… risky. You know what they’ve done.”

“And I’m still deliberating,” Marblestar said, flexing her claws as she glared into the distance.

“True.” There was a sour note to Dawnglow’s voice. Marblestar caught a tight hint of venom and wondered if they were thinking of their brother, forced to put their old clan back together after Blizzard’s interference. “So, is it a go?”

“Why not. I’m certain Starpaw and Cherryblossom will appreciate the siblings. You know Cherry’s wanted a lot of siblings. He was so excited last time! I hope he’s not a grump again.”

“It is a pity that he’s developed that attitude,” Dawnglow said softly. “A real shame. But he does his job well. Duststripe has been a good mentor for our boy.”

“He really has. Everyone has, really. I’m not sure what we’d do without everyone else.” Marblestar laughed. “Starpaw is a clan favorite, you know.”

“How could I not? She looks so much like you, after all.”

“And our next ones had better have your spots, dear!”

“I’ll try.”

[SkyWishes21]

Early spring was always a lovely time. The snow that kept the clan trapped inside its cave was finally melting away and it was finally time to send out hunting patrols to give everyone full bellies again.

During the snow, the clan had picked up a young cat named Midnightwhisper. It was now time for him to prove his actual worth in a hunting patrol, led, of course, by Marblestar herself and joined by Moonriver and even Blizzardwatcher.

“Now, you really need to be quiet,” Marblestar said exasperatedly, turning to glare at Midnightwhisper, who had just stepped on a stick. “We’re here for food, and if you scare all the prey away, no one gets to eat!”

Midnightwhisper glared at his leader. Who was she to boss him around? He was only here for the food! His mouth opened so he could retort back but before he had the chance Blizzardwatcher stepped on his tail.

“Hey!” he yelped, turning to glare up at them. “What was that for?”

“Oops,” they said, sounding not at all sorry. “I didn’t see your tail there.”

And then they sauntered off. Within moments, they returned with a bird in their mouth and a smirk on their face.

“Top that!” Blizzardwatcher said, dropping a large bird in front of him. “Then maybe I’ll teach you something, kid.”

[SkyWishes21]

“It is time,” murmured Duststripe, nudging Marblestar awake. “The Lions are expecting us.”

With a few sleepy blinks and a large yawn, Marblestar rose to her feet. Though she had to tip her head to look into Duststripe’s eyes, she never lost her regality.

“Very well then,” she said cooly. “To the geodes, then.”

No more words were exchanged as the two mollies slipped through the camp cavern into the tunnels in the back. It was midnight, and a new moon. The darkness was almost all consuming, but the path was as familiar as ever.

It was silent save for the sound of pawsteps. Though Marblestar was unconcerned, Duststripe couldn’t suppress the shiver down her spine. It felt so wrong.

A sudden echo heralded their entrance into the Geode Home. Marblestar halted in her tracks, but Duststripe forged on until her paw hit the Shattering Stone.

With a deft movement, she picked it up and, after pawing around for a moment, dropped it on a geode.

A burst of violent violet light burst forth from the crystalline shards. Both mollies looked up with silent awe as the spirits of the Great Lions of the Sky burst forth.

Badar, Sandya, and Menodora towered over the two mollies, looking down at them, no, looking down at Marblestar with an incredibly disappointed look.

Before Marblestar had a chance to speak, Badar spoke.

“You know what you did.”

“You know what you have to do,” Sandya added, scowling deeply.

Menodora spoke last of all, towering over everyone else in the room. “There will come a day when the stars will take their fate in their paws, and the Lion’s Rage will cry again.”

And with that, the lions disappeared. Duststripe and Marblestar looked at each other in horror, ears pinned to their skulls.

“I don’t even know what I did!” Marblestar said, a tremor in her voice.

“It’s a prophecy, I think,” Duststripe said softly. “We’re gonna die.”

[SkyWishes21]

“We need to talk.”

Marblestar froze, looking up from her fresh mouse to stare with wide eyes at Dawnglow, who had a most disapproving look on their face.

“Yes, dear?” she asked tentatively. “What is it?”

Oh, by the lions she hated vagueries like this! Was Dawnglow going to leave her? What was going on?

Dawnglow sighed, and settled down next to Marblestar. “You need to stop oogling Diamond. Not only does she have kittens, but you’re already married! You’ve got me!”

Marblestar shrunk into herself, not daring to meet Dawnglow’s disappointed teal eyes. “I… Well… I… I was just looking?” she offered, knowing it was a lame excuse.

“‘Just looking’. Sure. But giving her special treatment that you didn’t give Redsky isn’t just looking. I don’t care about her kittens, kittens always get good treatment. No, I care about the way you side eye her whenever you think I’m not looking. I care that you seem to be focusing on her when she isn’t even into you. What are you even thinking?”

Marblestar looked down at her paws. “I… I may have forgotten to think, dear. That… Might be the problem.”

“Well, start thinking and get your head out from under your tail. I’m here, I’m your wife, and I want us to last. Understand?” Dawnglow stared at Marblestar, and though they tried to hide it, they had tears in their eyes.

“I understand,” murmured Marblestar. “I understand completely.”

[SkyWishes21]

“Uncle Patchbelly! Uncle Redsky!”

Thus was the chant from the veritable hoard of small fluffy kittens that threatened to drown Redsky and his Patchbelly in an ocean of adorable. It was, after all, their time to watch the kittens.

Patchbelly laughed and gently pushed Hickorykit away from his tail, wincing as the tiny needle-like teeth dug into it. “C’mon kids, settle down and I’ll tell you a story, okay?”

“But I wanna play!”

“Shut up Shadow-mouse, Uncle Patchbelly and Uncle Redsky tell the best stories.”

That last bit was from Starkit, Marblestar’s beloved baby, who sat primly as was expected of the heir with a smug look in those brilliant amber eyes. According to her, she was the best of the best because she was going to take over the clan someday. This did not go over well with Shadowkit, whom she always called a mouse.

“Don’t call the other kits names, Starkit,” Redsky scolded, before gently draping his long tail over Hickorykit so he’d stop squirming. “And yes, Patchy dear, tell them a story, will you?”

Patchbelly chuckled. “Have you little ones ever heard the story of how your uncle Redsky and I met?”

Although a chorus of little “nos!” could be heard from the four kittens, it was very much a lie. Patchbelly had told the story a thousand times and they loved it every time. He was happy to tell it again and again - it was his favorite too.

“One day, moons before you four were even though of, I was out hunting on my own. It was the early days, and Marblestar wanted me to go find out all the new sorts of prey. After all, where we’d lived before had had very different prey animals!”

The kittens sat in fascinated silence Patchbelly spoke. A tiny nose poked against him; Solsticekit had scooted up to be right next to him as he told the story. Patchbelly couldn’t stop the slight chuckle.

“Continue the story!” Solsticekit squeaked eagerly. “Please.”

“Well, there I was smelling all sorts of new smells and trying to decide which one was food when I smelled something unusual. It was a sweet smell, almost like flowers in the spring except it wasn’t a plant. So I started following it - nose to the ground and tail in the air.

“I’m going in circles and circles and driving myself dizzy before I’m thrown into the sky and a very pretty cat has me pinned and before I can even say a word, he says-”

Patchbelly gestured to Redsky who interjected with “Why, hello handsome!”

“And then,” Redsky continued with a smile, “I kept talking. After all, there was a handsome toom right there! I said: ‘I’m Red, your local pretty boy! Who are you? Why do you smell like other cats?’”

“But of course, I was too stunned to answer!” Patchbelly chirped happily. “Because there was a very pretty tom right there and I forgot my own name. Eventually, though, Red got off of me and I finally remembered what words were. And the rest? They say it was history.”

Redsky gave Patchbelly an adoring look and rested his head on Patchbelly’s shoulder. Normally, this would have been met with a bunch of groans from the kittens, but it seemed that they were all asleep, cuddled together for once. Marblestar would be happy - hyper kittens at night were the worst.

“Mmm, aren’t they cute?” Redsky said softly. “I wouldn’t mind having some of our own.”

“What?” Patchbelly stared at Redsky with wide copper eyes. “Kittens? Of our own? Are you sure you’d want to do that?”

“If they’re yours, absolutely.” Redsky’s eyes never hardened. “It’d be nice. Don’t you think?”

Patchbelly considered it, twitching his tail back and forth. “Can we talk about this more first? It seems a bit sudden. Of course, I’d love to, but still!”

“Of course dear, of course.”

[SkyWishes21]

As Eclipse Clan was a new clan, it was not unexpected to find loners on the territory. It was, after all, previously uninhabited (though no one really wanted to be there anyways).

Moonriver was therefore unsurprised when they caught an unfamiliar cat scent just a ways away as they were hunting. It was distinct, musky scent that at first reminded them of the old Terra Clan scent before they caught the scent of ravens and… bones?

Well, might as well follow it. Slinking through the shadows, low to the ground, Moonriver kept their nose to the ground, following the fresh scent. Seriously. Bones. What’s up with that?

After struggling through the thicket, Moonriver found themself in a peculiar little clearing where an older looking black cat was lounging in the sun next to what looked to be the skull of another cat. The cat raised their head and blinked in surprise.

“You must be one of the new cats,” they said, staring at Moonriver. “What’s up with all of that anyways?”

“I - well - We’re making a new clan and we’re staking out this territory,” Moonriver said, sitting in front of them. “And my name is Moonriver, by the way.”

“Raven,” the other cat shot back. “Been living here since I was a kitten. Whatchu want with me?”

“Honestly? I just wanted to find the bone scent.”

Raven brightened. “A fellow skull collector, perhaps?” She gestured to her collection of skulls. “I’ve got quite the collection. Even got my dead mate!”

How was Moonriver supposed to respond to that? “I.. uh… maybe?”

“Maybe is good enough for me!” And with that, Raven hopped up and promptly dragged them into her den, eager to show off her collection.

What had they gotten themself into? Duststripe was going to kill them when they got back if they came back with skulls.

[SkyWishes21]

“... what.”

Blizzardwatcher stared at Marblestar, their blue eyes shining with a cold, steely light. What in the name of the great lions was she thinking?!?

“Well, everyone else has had a turn,” Marblestar said primly, looking utterly unphased by Blizzardwatcher’s murder glare. “It’s only fair that you should take a turn watching the kittens as well. Most of them are perfectly well behaved after all. It’s only Starkit that you need to worry about.”

“If you’re so sure about this, you’d better be prepared for an accidental kit murder.”

“I’ll have someone supervise you so it doesn’t happen. Moonriver does decently well.” Marblestar had no intention with putting up with their nonsense. Or murder. She didn’t like murder either, really. Blizzardwatcher was well aware of this fact from… past experiences with her.

“Fine. Send Moonriver to make sure I don’t kill your baby. I still think this is a terrible idea.” Blizzardwatcher let out an exasperated sigh and shook their spiky poof of fur. “After all… Never mind.”

Marblestar’s head whipped around from the stone she was causally examining. “After all what?”

“Never. Mind. It’s not important anymore.” They should not have said that. Not at all.

“No, please, go on. I’ll let you off kit duty if you tell me.” Marblestar’s green eyes were wide. No doubt she was eager to know more about Eclipse Clan’s most mysterious resident. Blizzardwatcher did not want to oblige.

“Nah, I’ll just deal with Starkit. It’s fine.”

And with that, Blizzardwatcher just stalked away.