Chamrosh's Chattel Conglomeration

[Chamrosh]

Gustclan

Previous Gustclan Post (19)

Next Gustclan Post (21)

Gustclan Description
Writing Master Post
Original Version

xxxxThere was a weird perception that Moraine had seen among certain clan cats, that as soon as a molly had a crush, she was expected to be quiet and doping and forget all her own ambition.
xxxxThis was not true for her.
xxxxAlmost as soon as they were out hunting, her crush had been almost entirely put out of her mind, and she was laughing along with her three friend in between actual hunting. It was only the odd occasional glance that made her feel awkward momentarily. And every time it happened, one of the other mollies gave her an encouraging look- “Go on! We’ll support a friend in whatever reasonable thing she decides to do!”

-----

xxxx“Next moon’s gonna be super weird, huh?” Droserapaw asked his brother. Shellpaw continued staring down at the little brown newts in the pond below. They were sitting next to each other on a reasonably large rock so that their front paws rested at its edges. Shellpaw had his eyes intently focused on a single newt that was resting just below the surface, by a water lily leaf.
xxxxDroserapaw flicked his tail impatiently at how poorly his brother reacted to trying to be social. It might be hard to relate to his brother a lot of the time, but he still wasn’t willing to leave him alone, in case he got in trouble. “We’re going to be big brothers! And I think Sparrowkit and Nettlekit will become apprentices, too. And then if we do well this moon, we might become warriors too!”
xxxx “Hmm.” The newt popped his nose up for air, and Shellpaw focused for a second before quickly hooking his paw into the water, and whipped it up with the newt caught in his claws. He pinned the newt for a second. “I’d like to help name them.” He grabbed the newt in his teeth, and trotted back just the few fox lengths into camp.
xxxx“You know that’s too small to actually deal with anyone’s hunger, right?”
xxxxShellpaw dropped the newt, and pinned it with his paw before it could shuffle off anywhere. He knew he didn’t need to pin it, as bitten prey didn’t ever live long, but it stopped it trying to escape or struggle. “It’s to help Nettlekit learn how to hunt more quickly.”
xxxx“Nah, that’s just your way of flirting.” Droserapaw said in a joking manner, although he was sure he was close to the truth.
xxxxShellpaw huffed, and picked up the newt. Slipping through the fin in the door, he shot one last glare at his brother.

-----

xxxxArgusheart walked, tail high, into the nursery, and jumped up beside the leader onto her nest space. The nursery was right next to the medicine cat den, which Heronstar had thought as a good idea because it meant that Harrierpelt could regularly check in without having to travel too far. The space was a little too small for two cats (at least when one of them was flaked out, trying to sleep, and Heronstar grumbled as she made the space for Argusheart to sit too.
xxxx“Shellpaw’s doing well.” Heronstar waited for Argusheart to continue, and Argusheart had gotten enough used to Heronstar’s wishes to not interrupt that she knew to only wait a second. “I reckon he’s nearly ready to be a warrior, and both Bugleclaw and I want to have kits before the season changes again and it starts to get more risky.”
xxxxHeronstar scowled at Argusheart for a few seconds, not liking the suggestion that Argusheart was slacking off her duties. And then she paused to think about it before she acted. It really didn’t make sense to push back Argusheart’s wish to have kits and risk her- and their- lives this year, nor to push back for a whole year and all the time that they could end up contributing to clan life. It made a lot more sense to let Argusheart have them, but to ensure there were sensible conditions upon that. “Alright. You can have kits now, if you want, but you need to assign someone else to take over for you if you can’t continue training. I expect you to still teach him the warrior code, and I expect you to be there. And ideally, you make sure he’s up to standard as a warrior before you need to move in here too.”
xxxx“I reckon he’s nearly trained. I was planning to take him out training today actually, to help with a bit of a loose corner for him.”
xxxx“Okay. I’ll want to see a demonstration of what he’s been taught before you’re off the hook entirely, though.”
xxxxArgusheart nodded, and jumped off of Heronstar’s nesting spot. “Thank you.” She said, stalking off with tail high.

- 791

[ Heronstar has been gestating for two moons ]
[ Myrtleclaw and Droserapaw train ]
[ Argusheart and Shellpaw train; climb ]
[ Argusheart and Bugleclaw try for kits ]
[ Heronstar and Harrierpelt stay in camp with the kits; Sparrowkit and Nettlekit ]
[ Chubtail, Boulderdash, Osierfang, Bugleclaw and Lobeliafur go on a patrol ]
[ Pearstone and Moraine go hunting ]
[ Gustclan consumes a mouse and a hare – 4 portions ]

Heronstar hauled herself onto her meeting spot, calling for her Clan to gather. She decided that since she was so close to having her kits that she would make Sparrowkit and Nettlekit apprentices a moon early. "Sparrowkit and Nettlekit, you are now ready to start your apprenticeship. From this day on, until you receive your warrior names, you shall be known as Sparrowpaw and Nettlepaw."

"Sparrowpaw, your mentor will be Pearstone. Nettlepaw, your mentor will be Boulderdash."


[ Droserpaw learned the Stalking skill while training ]
[ Shellpaw learned the Climbing skill while training ]
[ Argusheart is expecting kits! They are due in two moons ]
[ Chubtail, Boulderdash, Osierfang, Bugleclaw and Lobeliafur caught scent of twolegs and their dogs while on patrol ]
[ Pearstone and Moraine caught a frog and a hare while hunting ]

[Chamrosh]

Gustclan

Previous Gustclan Post (20)

Next Gustclan Post (22)

Gustclan Description
Writing Master Post
Original Version

xxxx“Heronstar, we smelt dogs and twolegs by the lake shore, and in the Western woods.”
xxxx“Humans." Harrierpelt corrected Chubtail, from his position in the medicine cat den, calling out to where the nursery was, and Heronstar had been as the deputy came in to report on the patrol. Chubtail slightly rolled his eyes. “If we can have a proper name for their bridges, we can definitely have a proper name for them. You may have also noticed that birds have twolegs too? Should we not call all birds twolegs if we call humans twolegs? And you may have noticed that they do have four legs, just two are withered and short, so they must struggle on just their two back legs; they should be witheredlegs if anything.”
xxxx“But it is our tradition to call them twolegs, Harrierpelt, you can’t just change every word you don’t like.” Chubtail called back.
xxxx“Tradition should not be the sole reason for something.”
xxxxHeronstar flicked her tail, impatiently, waiting for her deputy and medicine cat to stop debating over trivial matters. Honestly, she sided with Harrierpelt on this, although both terms seemed reasonable, and him randomly interrupting rather vital matters for a terminology debate was unhelpful.
xxxx“Alright. Our territory is easily large enough for us to be able to avoid them as long as we take good care to stay away from their normal routes. I suggest we have a watch high up- preferably on the closer of the two peaks of the hills- who can quickly return to warn us if any humans, twolegs, whatever term you use-" She gave Harrierpelt a bit of a pointed look- yes it’s fine to question words, but don’t belittle things of actual import “-are approaching our camp. For the mean time, I don’t want any cats not yet warriors to approach the western woods or the lakeshore. I suggest the apprentices are all trained fairly near camp.
xxxx“There’s no reason that we cannot still have hunting patrols and border patrols, but only cats who are not going to charge out the twolegs or humans, and risk us getting evicted by them should go anywhere near those areas. Further, only cats able to run and quickly recall to us what happened should go.”
xxxxShe would have gone herself to scout out what was going on, if it weren’t for her pregnancy. She had 9 lives, she could spare one on keeping her clan safe from the dogs.
xxxx“If any cat sees a dog, they are to climb up a tree immediately if they cannot reasonably get to camp before it catches up with them, but more importantly do not go near the dogs under any circumstances. Then we won’t need special measures about how to avoid their fangs. If you cannot escape one that’s noticed you, and it is not attacking you, leave it be, so you don’t make it want to attack you.”

-----

xxxx“Hey, Shellpaw!” Called Droserapaw, bounding up to his brother as he practiced his running skills within camp. Shellpaw kept running, in short bursts of high speed around the courtyard area. Or, high speed for him. He wasn’t that good at running quickly yet, and kept stumbling over or around things. “Did you know twolegs can turn their legs into weird yellow things?”
xxxx“Nuh-uh.” Shellpaw panted out, having stumbled over a large rock seconds before.
xxxx“Well, they can. There were a load of them- one big twoleg, and a load of his kits- I didn’t realise twolegs could have so many, I always thought they only had one or two before- all out on the water with big sticks with giant duck feet on the end. They were all turning around in the water.”
xxxx“Right. Maybe Harrierpelt’s right that we shouldn’t call them twolegs if sometimes they don’t even have any legs?”
xxxxDroserapaw shook his head at that assessment. Changing their terms would just confuse other clans needlessly when they went to gatherings, or needed allies, so he dismissed that thought of his brother’s. “We don’t see them swim very much, because they’re awful at it, really. Their tails point forwards as well as backwards, and they have the giant duck feet instead of fins themselves. And some of them had conjoined tails, made of something green and shiny, and each of them had half of a stick-with-duck-feet., and those ones all had their tails ripped open, so I could see all the bones in them.”
xxxxShellpaw stumbled at his next sprint and almost catapulted himself into a flowerpatch. “And how’d’ya work that out? Didn’t mum say we’re not meant to go very far out of camp?”
xxxx“…I was just practicing climbing. Ma said we’re meant to have a look-out at all times until the twolegs and their dogs are gone, and I know none of them are gonna be able to reach me half way up the cliff. And besides, the one way to get an apprentice to do something reliably is to tell them not to do it, right? Like you telling me to stop trying to look after you, to stop you getting hurt!”
xxxxShellpaw shot him a glare, but unfortunately for him, a cat who regularly flinches at basic physical contact was not particularly intimidating even with his best efforts.

-----

xxxxHeronstar waited in her nest, in the nursery, waiting for when the kits actually started to come. Moraine had come in to try to keep her company for a few moments until Chubtail returned. She kept kneading the bedding around her, trying to perfect the shape of it for when they came, to make sure they’d be warm and- more importantly- unlikely to fall out of the nest.
xxxxMoraine sat nervously by one side, a short way off. Harrierpelt was trying to organise herbs for what he would need quickly accessible once the kits started coming. Moraine had been tasked with fetching him when he was needed.
xxxxHeronstar groaned, and fidgeted again. “Do you have any distractions? Yes, what was it about your name and …glaciers, was it?”
xxxxMoraine was somewhat nervous of this. “Yes. They were huge, enormous, and their shells could scrape entire mountains away. They could spray huge streams of water out of their throats, leaving lakes high up in the mountains where they wouldn’t otherwise be found. They laid out lines of rocks - moraines- as worship to their deities. They came in swarms, each swarm in a single shell, like bees, and they’d would swallow any cat who got too close. They’d charge towards good cat territory, to hunt. The gaps in the shells housed their mouths, and they’d use their long tongues to pull in cats who strayed too close to the gaps. They were so fast, that no cat ever saw them come out to grab one, but you could hear their screams as they landed in the beasts’ maws. They were so fast, even, that a whole shell hasn’t been seen in generations, but all cats know well enough to not go out looking for them, lest they be consumed themselves.”
xxxxHeronstar was staring at Moraine in something close to terror as moraine finished her description. “You are sure that they are nowhere near here? That they cannot get far enough out of their shells, and their home territory, to reach us?”
xxxx“I think it has been a long time since any glaciers lived near here, Heronstar. But glaciers do not like to descend from mountains- our ancestors cause their shells to disintegrate and fall away, and their very bodies to evaporate when they leave the mountains, as a form of protection. I doubt they can get here.”
xxxxHeronstar looked only slightly more reassured. “Remind me to never put you in charge of kit minding.”

- 1293

[ Myrtleclaw and Droserapaw, Argusheart and Shellpaw, Pearstone and Sparrowpaw and Boulderdash and Nettlepaw go training close to camp ]
[ Osierfang, Lobeliafur and Moraine go hunting close to camp ]
[ Heronstar and Harrierpelt stay in camp to prepare for the kits coming ]
[ Chubtail and Bugleclaw sit as look outs for dogs and twolegs close to camp ]
[ Gustclan consumes 1 mouse and 1 hare – 4 portions ]

Harrierpelt looked up from the herbs he was sorting when Shellpaw entered the den. "What is it?" The dark grey medicine cat asked.

"I think Heronstar is in pain." Shellpaw mewed, a worried look flashing in his eyes. "Argusheart told me to come get you." Harrierpelt quickly got to his paws and followed the white tom to the nursery.

[ Droserpaw, Sparrowpaw and Nettlepaw learned the Hunting skill ]
[ Shellpaw learned the Stealth skill ]
[ Osierfang, Lobeliafur and Moraine caught a mouse, hare and frog while hunting ]
[ Heronstar gave birth to three kits

[Chamrosh]

Gustclan

Previous Gustclan Post (21)

Next Gustclan Post (23)

Gustclan Description
Writing Master Post
Original Version

xxxxHeronstar was still in considerable pain in the aftermath of her childbirth, though she didn’t know why. Harrierpelt was onto the task, but it meant she was struggling to do basic tasks, like just stand up properly at the moment. She was sure something really was wrong, but she wasn’t a medicine cat, she didn’t know what it was.
xxxxBut far more important than her own discomfort, were the three beautiful balls of fluff she was wrapped around. One pale female, who took after Heronstar, and two others, a male and female, who looked more like their father.
xxxx“Shellpaw, can you fetch your father and brother?”
xxxxShellpaw nodded vigorously and hurried off, evidently pleased about his younger siblings.
xxxxThe two apprentices were both obviously excited, although Shellpaw was a lot more subdued about it, in the way that Argusheart had come to expect from her apprentice. Chubtail was physically holding Droserapaw back with one leg to stop him moving too quickly, and risking a trip onto any of the newborns. Shellpaw was comfortable keeping his distance, and also in making a long series of gentle coo-ing noises at the kits.
xxxx“You’ve got two sisters and another brother, both of you. And I was thinking, maybe, you might want to help name one of them.” Argusheart shot her a quizzical look, and accompanied by the expressions on her family’s faces, Heronstar got the hint to explain. “One day, you’ll be naming your own kits, and you need to know what is and is not acceptable- diplomatically, in order not to blaspheme against Starclan, so that our system works to help each cat remember every cat’s name more reliably- and you won’t have our guidance then. Far better you get the practice now when we can correct any truly grave issues.”
xxxx“Well, if we want to be really easy to remember, we should call them small brother, small sister and tiny sister.” Shellpaw suggested, helpfully.
xxxxChubtail had to supress a laugh at his son’s complete lack of attempt to make a proper name for the kits.
xxxx“He does have a point. We could call one of them Sis-something, right? There’s bound to be something that starts “Sis”.”
xxxxHarrierpelt called through from the medicine cat den; “Cicely. It’s got white flowers, so it could fit that molly.”
xxxxHeronstar had almost wanted to call her Saxifragekit, she’d mentioned it before, and it was a cute name, but she did like Cicely, and she appreciated how her sons had backed each other up on that. It was an easy choice in the circumstances. “Cicelykit. A good name.”
xxxx“We don’t have any mushroom names.” Shellkit observed. “That’d be pretty unique and therefore easy to remember.”
xxxxHeronstar nodded at Chubtail. Chubtail seemed to blank for a second, before taking drastic action. “Hey, Harrierpelt! Do you know any brown and white mushrooms?”
xxxx“I’m not a kit-naming service!”
xxxx“That doesn’t mean you’re not good at it!”
xxxx“Fine! Dryad’s Saddle and Bracket fungus are both brown on top and white underneath, go ask Starclan yourself instead of bugging me, please.”
xxxx“Saddle could work quite well with a lot of suffixes.”
xxxxHeronstar nodded. “Let’s name the molly Saddlekit, then. And I was thinking, none of us have water-birds names, and we’re right next to the lake. It’d be a shame to miss out on such a variety of names. Do you like Ploverkit, Chubtail?” Chubtail nodded. “Well, this is Ploverkit then.”
xxxx“You already decided you were going to call him that.” Said Argusheart, as if admiring the cunning of doing that last so they were all less likely to refuse. Heronstar didn’t deny it.

-----

xxxxThe pain intensified the day after the kits were born. Around when the sun was setting, the pain became unbearable, and Heronstar started yowling. Just a few hours later she fell silent. Argusheart, Harrierpelt and Chubtail were the only ones in the nursery at the time. Argusheart winced, but carefully extricated each of the kits so they could at least be warm for now. She was silently willing that Heronstar still had the majority of her lives left, so she wouldn’t have to be in charge of these kits too.
xxxx“I would do something, Chubtail, but this is up to Starclan now. I don’t know what’s wrong.”
xxxxHeronstar woke up much later, to three hungry kits squealing at her from beside her stomach. The pain was all gone, thank Starclan, and she knew well enough to fuss about her kits before herself after their healing. She knew in her state she wouldn’t be able to get to the gathering, but that was alright for one moon. She’d also have to wait another moon to make Shellpaw and Droserapaw warriors, as she hadn’t the strength to consult Starclan about their names this moon, hopefully they wouldn’t be too embittered about another moon of training each, and they were at the stage of training where Myrtleclaw could probably handle both of them.

-----

xxxx“Sparrowpaw, for your sister’s safety, don’t leave her alone for a second.”
xxxxSparrowpaw had long since gotten used to her Starclan sister’s impositions in her thoughts, having had them almost as long as she could remember. That didn’t mean it was welcome now, when she was trying to sleep, and they’d all need to be rested up to make sure they could provide properly for Heronstar’s kits, who would come any day now.
xxxxMostly it was the getting her sleep interrupted which had her annoyed, and only her sister’s serious tone stopped her snapping her next two words; “Why not?”
xxxx”I can’t say. Something even worse will happen if I say. That’s what happens when you try undermining prophecies!”
xxxxGreat. Very helpful. It was so useful to have ancestors (or sisters) who could see into the future if they’d only say what was happening in the vaguest way possible. Sparrowpaw wanted to follow her sister’s advice, but she knew that would never be properly manageable once they became apprentices. She just hoped it wasn’t anything significant; just an over-reaction. And she thought, if undermining prophecies made things worse, surely her acting as she’s been warned would have the same effect? She would still be undermining a prophecy. Maybe just protect Nettlepaw when it looked like she most needed it, so to avoid the worst that that could mean? Yes, that seemed best. Sparrowpaw just hoped it was.

-----

xxxx“The two-legs already have their own place, why in Starclan do they have to come onto our territory?” Osierfang asked, lying on her belly, on the top of a cluster of rocks in the hill closer to the lakeside, looking down at the lakeshore below, where a two-leg mentor was teaching two-leg apprentices, all of them with the strange fish-tails instead of legs. Droserapaw had been talking about them to the entire clan, claiming the two-legs had some magical shape-changing ability. Osierfang was embittered by the two-legs not just because they were straying on Gustclan territory, but because they meant she had to sit out here in the blazing sunshine on a freakishly hot day. She dreaded to think how over-hot Bugleclaw felt, even from under the shade of the thorny bush they'd found.
xxxx“Because humans have no respect for us. They have a whole lake to practice their swimming in, and they have to use this corner!” Bugleclaw slumped down beside her. His ears pricked up but a few moments later. “It looks like there’s one of the human tails attached by a root to the island.” He paused, trying to think through what that could mean. “They must be some kind of disgusting... some kind of cannibals. Only humans are large enough to kill other humans, so what else could leave part of a human carcass?”
xxxxOsierfang shivered. “The brutes! Perhaps they even do it to give them the power to turn their legs into fish tails!”
xxxxBugleclaw hissed quietly at the thought of that being the case, and yet, how else could they turn their legs into tails?

- 1331

[ Ploverkit, Cicelykit and Saddlekit are born ]
[ Heronstar suffered from postpartum infection due to prolonged labour and has lost a life! (or more if that seems appropriate)* ]
[ Heronstar, Harrierpelt and Argusheart stay in camp to mind the kits; Ploverkit, Cecilykit and Saddlekit ]
[ Myrtleclaw, Droserapaw and Shellpaw, Pearstone and Sparrowpaw and Boulderdash and Nettlepaw go training ]
[ Osierfang and Bugleclaw keep an eye out for two-legs ]
[ Lobeliafur and Moraine go hunting ]
[ Gustclan consumes one squirrel and 2 frogs – 4 portions ]

Chubtail stood outside of the nursery, watching Harrierpelt as he looked over Heronstar and gave her more herbs to help with her infection. Since the kits were born, Heronstar had died twice. After the first time, Harrierpelt thought Heronstar would be fine, but then several hours later Heronstar's cries could be heard from the nursery again. The medicine cat left his den just as Argusheart was carrying Heronstar's kits out of the den, saying she didn't want them to see their mother in pain.

Harrierpelt joined Chubtail outside of the nursery. "I gave her everything I have that will help with her infection. I won't know if it'll work until later." He mewed. "I'll be back in a little bit to check on her."

[ Heronstar has lost two lives, leaving her with seven ]
[ Sparrowpaw and Nettlepaw learned the Swimming skill while training ]
[ Lobeliafur and Moraine caught a squirrel and a frog while hunting ]

Chubtail stayed near his mate most of the day, only leaving when Heronstar managed to weakly ask him to do Droserpaw and Shellpaw's warrior ceremony for her, muttering the names she had chosen for them several days prior. The brown and white tabby chose not to stand on Heronstar's perch, instead gathering his clanmates in the center of the clearing. "As many of you know, Heronstar isn't well enough to leave the nursery. She has asked me to do the warrior ceremonies for Droserapaw and Shellpaw." He turned to his two sons, gesturing for them to join him.

"Droserapaw and Shellpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your lives?"

"I do." The littermates mewed.

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior names. Droserpaw and Shellpaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Droseratail and Shellcloud. Starclan honors your loyalty and strength and we welcome you as full warriors of Gustclan."

"Droseratail! Shellcloud!"

Droserapaw and Shellpaw are now warriors; Droseratail and Shellcloud ]

[Chamrosh]

Create a Tribe is a game based around building a tribe (as in Warriors) from the ground up.

Character Masterpost
Drawing Prompts list
Writing prompts list


My posts



00 01 [url=?]02[/url] [url=?]03[/url] [url=?]04[/url] 05 06 07 08 09
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39
40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49







Bits between posts




Contest entries


[url=?]?[/url]

[Chamrosh]

Rippling Corrie

[url=?]Next Corrie Post (2)[/url]

Tribe Description
Writing Master Post
Original Version

xxxxWind roared up the mountain side, bearing heavy rain, that came down in thick sheets that soaked any cat’s fur.
xxxxCorrie’s fur was drenched, waterlogged, carrying far more material than any cat was ever supposed to. It might be summer, but it was also Wales, and the weather had a habit of ignoring Summer, and rushing headlong into Autumn. Any other impression of the area than wet or grey as an average was only going to be misleading for whatever cat tried to use it. There was sun, sure, but only for a few minutes every hour when there was a brief break in the clouds - clouds almost black they were so full of rain.
xxxxThis weather could just clear off as far as Corrie was concerned.
xxxxHis paws kept slipping in the mud near the little streams, skidding and leaving tiny brown streaks in the grass, which were swiftly folded over by moss that squelched as it moved.
xxxxA few wild flowers shook nervously ahead of him, scared that the rain might continue … and probably at Corrie’s tempers too. The slope wasn’t that steep, for the area, maybe around a 25% incline, and with flat rocks dotting the area, once Corrie reached a patch of them, if he planned his route, he could easily jump up a few metres without having to touch the dirty ground at all.
xxxxHe knew what this rain meant for the cwm.
xxxxThe cwm caught all the rain and grew large from it. And as the cwm was where his mentor had taught him that the tribe of Endless Hunting spoke to cats around here, it made sense that they were deliberately filling the cwm. That when the cwm was full, that meant they were more fully there in spirit. It wasn’t that they wouldn’t talk when it was lower - of course they would. How could they claim benevolence if they weren’t willing to talk outside painful weather?
xxxxBut if you had a large request, Corrie was sure that going when the tribe of Endless Hunting were calling for his attention was the best plan. If he went otherwise, when they didn’t want him there, they might not want to grant such a large request.
xxxxAnd of course, the tribe of Endless Hunting were clearly active here. They were always filling their spirits from above into the cwm. It was hardly like he’d ever be restrained in when he wanted to go to it. The ancestors were very present here, always wanting to be heard. Corrie had heard that the last remaining tribe had once lived not far from here, to the South-West, and if that were true, he could see why - with so much presence from the tribe of Endless Hunting, if only one area could still host a tribe, of course it had to be here. Where else had more..?
xxxxThe last section of the slope was a smooth concave shape, flattening out until a long flat peak was reached, joining up to a semi-circular, sheer rocky rim around the cwm. One section of the rim towered above, forming a clear mountain peak as a part of the ridge at the Northern Edge of the territory.
xxxxThe water was nearly black, looking almost surreal.
xxxxExactly how the ancestors seemed to want it.
xxxxThe last few steps had to be done slowly. Not because of any inherant meaning, or due to worrying about proper respect, but purely because of the sheer sense of awe which ran along a cat’s back as a shiver when they came this close to the cwm.
xxxxCorrie bent his nose to the water, and closed his eyes.

- 626

[ Corrietellerfounds the Tribe of Rippling Corrie and becomes a Healer ]
[ Corrieteller requests a Prey-hunter ]

?

[Chamrosh]

Gustclan

Previous Gustclan Post (22)

Next Gustclan Post (24)

Gustclan Description
Writing Master Post
Original Version

xxxx“Come on, Cicelykit!” Saddlekit mewed, looking up to where her sister was still stationed in the nest where they slept. They were just big enough to totter around the nursery, but Heronstar had been pretty clear to stay within the nursery so far. That didn’t mean Saddlekit couldn’t do a thorough exploring here though. “It’s fine! Mama never said we couldn’t explore here!”
xxxxCicelykit gripped the mauve fabric with her claws, head pointing down, strangely close to the edge. “No!” She cried back.
xxxx“Cicely, it’s fine. I wouldn’t be down here if I thought it was dangerous!” Ploverkit added.
xxxx“No!” Cicelykit yelled again.
xxxx“Cicelykit, you’ll be alright, it’s only a short drop to the floor, and I can fetch Harrierpelt very easily if you do fall awkwardly.” Argusheart said. Ploverkit and Saddlekit were not so sure about the “very easily” part, as it was clear from where they now stood, but not from the nest, that Argusheart’s belly was huge from pregnancy. They both thought it best not to mention this.
xxxx“Come on, Cicelykit! Argusheart’s right. It’s only about twice my height to jump, it’s nothing!” Said Saddlekit, exaggerating how tall she was. “I know it looks high from there, but it’s really easy.”
xxxx “You’ll never be a warrior if you stay in the nest all day!” Ploverkit declared.
xxxxCicelykit bit her lip, still tense and nervous, then, relaxed very slowly in a way that showed she really wasn’t relaxed. Then she shuffled forwards, jumped… and almost entirely face-planted on the floor. “OOOWWW!” she yowled, as her siblings panicked around her, wondering what could have gone wrong.
xxxxArgusheart awkwardly shifted, and got off the chair. When she reached Cicelykit, she nuzzled her gently, making sure she really was alright. Cicelykit wriggled awkwardly, trying to escape her huge ‘attacker’ and hitting Argusheart on the nose with one paw several times. Cicelykit rolled onto her back, ready to attack.
xxxx“It’s alright, sweetie, I’m not going to hurt you. Looks like you’re all good and strong, nothing broken or hurt.” Argusheart said, evaluating. Ploverkit still pushed his sister gently with his nose, making extra sure that Cicelykit was fine. Unfocused eyes hit a point near his nose.
xxxx“Ploverkit, I’m fine! I just couldn’t see where I was landing, that’s all.” She pushed her brother away with two paws, and rolled smoothly onto her feet. “I don’t need extra help because of it.” She said, like she hadn’t been terrified of the unknown drop beside their nest. She’d thought it was a lot further down than it had been, and if you didn’t know how far your first jump was, you’d be pretty reluctant to take it too. She didn’t see any reason why she couldn’t become a warrior anyway.

-----

xxxxNettlepaw had taken into heading into the nursery to make a fuss of the kits when she wasn’t training, in a similar way to how Shellpaw had for her. Much like her friend, she also brought them things to play with, and enjoyed making a fuss of each of them in turn.
xxxxHeronstar and Argusheart didn’t mind her being around, as she was pretty capable of stopping them doing anything dangerous (especially as they were still all very small), and it gave them both a little more time. Not to mention, they’d really need all the help they could get once there were two litters of small kits running around.

-----

xxxxDroseratail sat down next to where Lobeliafur was lying, flacked out on her side in the middle of the courtyard area. There were only a few mollies his age within the clan, and Lobeliafur really was pretty. Someday he’d get up the courage to actually talk to her, and maybe even ask her to be his mate. Someday.

- 624

[ Heronstar, Harrierpelt and Argusheart stay in camp with the kits; Ploverkit, Cicelykit and Saddlekit ]
[ Pearstone and Sparrowpaw and Boulderdash and Nettlepaw go training ]
[ Chubtail, Myrtleclaw and Bugleclaw go on a patrol ]
[ Osierfang, Moraine and Shellcloud go hunting ]
[ Lobeliafur and Droseratail stay to guard camp ]
[ Gustclan consumes 1 frog and 1 big fish – 4 portions ]

[ Sparrowpaw and Nettlepaw learned the Climbing skill while training ]
[ Chubtail, Myrtleclaw and Bugleclaw found an elder while on patrol ]
[ Osierfang, Moraine and Shellcloud caught two big fish and a frog while hunting ]

[Chamrosh]

Gustclan

Previous Gustclan Post (23)

Next Gustclan Post (25)

Gustclan Description
Writing Master Post
Original Version

xxxx“I’m sure I’m over-due.” Argusheart complained, at her swelling belly, and at the medicine cat. Harrierpelt gave her a scolding look.
xxxx“There’s no set timing for these things. Starclan does what Starclan does, and it’s not our job to question them.”
xxxx“I’m just concerned if there’re a lot of them and if they all grow so much, it may be difficult for just myself to support them all- and inevitably it will be just me, with Heronstar having to resume leader duties as soon as she can manage.”
xxxxHarrierpelt flicked his tail, dismissive of her attitude. “Much as I would tend to agree, the more fussing you make, the worse that will be for the kits. Let Heronstar and I worry about that; I’m sure between us, and yourself once they’re born, we’ll have a reasonable solution.”

-----

xxxxBarn-owl wasn’t too sure of this warrior thing (his father may have been a warrior, but that didn’t mean he was cut out for it), so he was very glad when the cat who introduced himself as Chubtail (strange name) said that, as an elder cat, he would have no obligation to do any duties he didn’t want to.
xxxxChubtail seemed impressed that Barn-owl was looking after himself so well at his age. But fishing didn’t require too much energy. It more needed patience and a dextrous paw, and he had plenty of practice, from living near the lake shore for all of his life.
xxxxIt was also very calm, sitting on the rocks, staring at the water, at where the night-eyes’ reflections hit the water. Apparently the warriors called them stars. Which was strange, as they bi-named so many things. It gave him a lot of time to think, and to come to what he thought were wise things to have come to.
xxxxHe’d probably done as much thinking most moons as many cats did in whole seasons.
xxxxSo he was more than happy for his job in the clan to involve talking about those ideas.
xxxx“We don’t actually have any suffixes for fishing.” Chubtail said, as Barn-owl explained how he’d managed so well on his own, as a loner. “Which is rather strange, now I think about it. Fishing is important, and we’ve got enough water resources that it’s about equally useful to hunting. We’ve got two suffixes for hunting, so why don’t we have any for fishing? I’ll ask Heronstar about what it should be but, would you be okay with us calling you by Barn- and whatever suffix Heronstar decides is appropriate for fishing?”
xxxxBarn-owl nodded in assent, before going on a long explanation about how much they clearly had left to appreciate about fishing if they didn’t even have a way of recognising skill in it yet. Myrtleclaw and Bugleclaw were quite glad to get back to camp and end that.

-----

xxxxBarn-owl trotted up to the door, and took a long and thorough demonstration of the door fin from Bugleclaw and Myrtleclaw before he was sure it was okay to use. He slipped through as a orange-and-white dart, and marvelled at the size of the surroundings he found himself in. It was mostly open, with what looked like square trees holding up some flat cave-roof (or whatever it was).
xxxx“So, where would the elder’s den be, then?”
xxxxThe toms who had found him all blanked, uncertain.
xxxxBetween them, they spent a while searching for a good den, before they realised that the space just to the right of the main fin didn’t currently have a use. The wood in front had just a large enough gap between it and the white border, that Chubtail could just slip his paw in and hook it open wide enough for them to get through.
xxxxThey all did.
xxxxThe space beyond was large and spacious, with large squishy jumping platforms like in the nursery, but smaller than in the warriors’ or leader’s dens. The opposite wall was entirely made of the magic ice, so that there was a large space lined with just tree material where the sun shined. Little vertical containers held brown shredded things, that looked like they used to be plants, a long time ago, except for one on the end that had a small round thing (with spikes that hurt Chubtail’s nose upon investigation) instead.
xxxx“This looks like a good elders’ den, although I suppose the sunning spot should be free for everyone to use- but only if they don’t disturb my sleeping for it.”

-----

xxxxBugleclaw came into the nursery to see his mate not much later, upon the cue of Harrierpelt. Heronstar was around to protect her kits, aware that some males could get aggressive to kits under the wrong circumstances, but she’d fallen asleep, curled around Ploverkit.
xxxxArgusheart nodded towards the two wakeful kits as Bugleclaw entered, signalling for him to watch as subtly as he could. So he did.
xxxxCicelykit had unseeing eyes pointed roughly towards her sister’s head.
xxxx“I’m going to be the best fighter!” Saddlekit cried, tail high in the air. “I’m going to be so good, that Gustclan will be able to defend ourselves from anything!”
xxxxCicelykit tried to look authoritative, but it was pretty clear she hadn’t learned the proper body language for that. “Saddlekit, that’s not how it works. Gustclan wins every fight because we don’t join any fights. Other clans say the best defence is a good offense; we say it’s keeping our whiskers far enough out of everyone else’s business that they’ve no reason to bother us. You’ll mess that up!”
xxxx“If we can defeat them, who cares? Wouldn’t it be better for one clan to ultimately be in charge, so that we can unite against really big threats? And why can’t it be us, with us as warriors, and me as the head warrior?”
xxxxCicelykit flicked her tail in irritation. “There’s only a few of us, and some clans are huge, it just wouldn’t work.”
xxxx“How do you know that?”
xxxx“I heard Heronstar say it.”
xxxxSaddlekit got a daring gleam in her eye, after a second of looking slightly despondent. “If they were constantly fighting each other, none of their clans would be very big. If only one clan is around, there’d be peace after that, and if there’d been a whole load of conflict before, they’d surely all appreciate strong leadership.”
xxxxCicelykit hissed quietly. “It’s against the code to kill warriors.”
xxxx“No it’s not. The code says ‘an honourable warrior has no need to kill’. It doesn’t say they can’t. It doesn’t even say that killing other warriors is a bad thing. And Gustclan wouldn’t be doing the killing anyway.”
xxxxBugleclaw looked across at Argusheart, checking for confirmation of his actions before he did anything. He took a few steps forward, then mewed quietly for the kits’ attentions. Cicelykit jumped, and shot a concerned look vaguely towards where Saddlekit had been, while Saddlekit looked defiant. Bugleclaw could respect that confidence, even if the context was less desirable.
xxxx“I think Cicelykit’s right on something else, Saddlekit. You’re not going to be the best fighter in Gustclan, because that’s already my title.”
xxxx“I could be if you taught me.” Bugleclaw wasn’t so sure that was a good move, with how the kit was talking before.

-----

xxxx“Petite Sparrow, I want to briefly check your hunting technique is still in good form.” Pearstone said, as Sparrowpaw finished off her food.
xxxx“But Pearstone, I shouldn’t leave Nettlepaw alone!”
xxxx“Why not?”
xxxx“I have a… feeling that she’s in danger. I have to stop it.”
xxxxPearstone tutted. “You’d be much better at protecting her if you are making sure that your training is in good shape normally. Practicing often often makes perfect, non? There is not much you can do, even if you are right (which is unlikely, as such feelings are not based on facts), if you are not keeping your training as good as possible, Petite Sparrow.”
xxxxSparrowpaw reluctantly followed Pearstone out of camp, sure that something bad was going to happen to her sister while she was gone.

- 1339

[ Barnfish joins Gustclan ]
[ Heronstar goes to the Moonpool to request a cat; warrior/apprentice ]
[ Harrierpelt and Argusheart stay in camp with the kits; Ploverkit, Cicelykit and Saddlekit ]
[ Pearstone and Sparrowpaw and Boulderdash and Nettlepaw go training ]
[ Myrtleclaw, Osierfang and Moraine go on a patrol ]
[ Droseratail, Shellcoud and Lobeliafur go hunting ]
[ Chubtail, Bugleclaw and Barnfish stay in camp ]
[ Gustclan consumes 2 mice and 1 squirrel - 4 portions ]

[ Sparrowpaw and Nettlepaw learned the Fishing skill while training ]
[ Myrtleclaw, Osierfang and Moraine found an apprentice while on patrol ]
[ Droseratail, Shellcloud and Lobeliafur caught a squirrel and two mice while hunting ]

[Chamrosh]

Gustclan

Previous Gustclan Post (24)

Next Gustclan Post (26)

Gustclan Description
Writing Master Post
Original Version

xxxxOsierfang was shocked at the appearance of the young cat through the bushes. More so than even Myrtleclaw and Moraine. She looked like some rogue toms did when they realised they actually had kits.
xxxx“Hello, ladies, and hello sir, I am the awesome Merlinpaw.” The apprentice said, confidently, sitting up a tree on the Western border (if it even counted as a proper border), preening the fur between his claws. “I was looking for a clan that could make use of my soon to be fantastic skills. It took so long for you to get out here that I’m sure you could use me.”
xxxxThe actual warriors exchanged glances between each other, and Moraine held back a snicker.
xxxx“You didn’t happen to know a cat called Larchstorm, did you?” Osierfang asked, dryily, surprising the other two Gustclan cats with how certain she seemed of the answer she’d get.
xxxx“You bet I did. My father was awesome." Osierfang audibly sighed. “He died fighting down badgers that invaded camp.” Just a hint of vulnerability entered the young tom’s voice, for not even enough time for the Gustclan warriors to really pick up on it. “He ran to the top of the gathering point, and he leapt down on the badgers, and he clawed one’s eyes out, and slashed another’s throat, sacrificing himself to a valient and noble death to save the rest of the clan! And one day I’ll be that awesome, and I’ll be able to do something so noble, but I won’t die doing it.”
xxxx“Right.” Osierfang answered again, with that same dry tone. “Definitely the same Larchstorm. You’re pretty much exactly like him.”
xxxx“Why thank you, beautiful” (Osierfang made a retching noise) “I strive to be as awesome as possible, exactly like him.”
xxxx“Larchstorm was my cousin, making you my first cousin once removed, and aren’t you boasting about being awesome while you’re stuck up in a tree there?”
xxxxMoraine snickered again, and Myrtleclaw did a good job hiding an amused smile. Merlinpaw did a very bad job at hiding a disgusted expression, which he really should have had at the mere thought of flirting with a cat three times his age, just a few seconds ago.
xxxx“No-o-o, no, I’m just… admiring the view. It’s an excellent vantage point, and there’s no way I’d get stuck.”
xxxx“So you don’t mind us leaving you there for the night, then? Just you said you’d been waiting a while, and not many cats would want to clean themselves while up a tree, which suggests… you’ve been up there all day?”
xxxxMerlinpaw scowled. “No, I’m not stuck, and I’d definitely have worked out a way down if that were the case, although I wouldn’t mind someone else coming up here to… admire the view with me.”
xxxx“Sure.”
xxxxMoraine laughed again. “You are so going to have to be his mamau.”
xxxx“And his mentor.” Myrtleclaw added.

-----
xxxxMoraine walked a few steps behind Pearstone as they headed into the main part of camp.
xxxx“I really like your tail.” She said, trying, once again, to get his attention in that way. “It’s beautiful.”
xxxxHe flicked it in a slightly awkward mannerism, then replied in a tone that made it clear she hadn’t been successful. “Thank you, Moraine.” He vanished through the flipper, leaving Moraine looking after. She shook her head slightly before following through. They headed through to the back of the dens, past some of the square-trees that held up the upper spaces, where the two-legs who used to live in their camp had left strange platforms, mostly of the same height, but some taller.
xxxxPearstone had jumped up ahead, and sat squarely on the table, before he launched into a standing position like a dog had just barked from below at him. His bushy tail fluffed out as fully as it could. Moraine jumped up beside him, trying to work out what he’d seen, but he was gone, leaping past the intermediary platforms in a surprisingly agile manoeuvre, not even bothering for neatness.
xxxxHe paused, looking behind something… was that brown fur that was poking out?
xxxx“Meutre!” Pearstone alarmed with only a moment’s hesitation. “Poison!”
xxxxMoraine jumped down after him, to see what had him so rattled. Argusheart’s nest couldn’t be seen from their spot, or from what they had found, but it was obvious how she stirred from sleep by her startled cry. The noises of several kits crying followed.
xxxxHer reaction was similar to her friend’s.
xxxxHer tail fluffed out, she jumped, she yelled (drowning out the rest of the cacophony in the nursery), and then she started sobbing.
xxxxThere were two limp bodies, nestled in a blind spot from the nursery, towards the medicine cat den, sprawled out. The smaller had drool dangling from her tiny mouth, and a pained but frozen expression, eyes wide open in a look of agony. The other was twitching, tail barely moving, clearly struggling just to move her limbs. They were both surrounded by the remains of their last meal.
xxxxMoraine could guess what Meutre meant.
xxxxMoraine was out like a bolt of lightning, yelling at the top of her lungs for Harrierpelt to come to help. Saddlekit was long gone, but if Nettlepaw was at least twitching, surely there was some hope for her.

-----
xxxx“Boulderdash, I’m terribly sorry, you still can’t come in.”
xxxxLobeliafur had been tasked by Harrierpelt with minding his patient. Wanting to have ample space, without disturbance, Harrierpelt had decided to claim a space as his ‘sick-bay’ (as he called it), upstairs. Its entrance was close to the square rocks leading to the top, and unlike the other dens the humans had made, it had a corner cut out (where the square rocks came up underneath). At the far end was the soft platform, and the notch in the outer material allowed cats to jump up and look over the elder’s den to much of the territory below- at least, until the trees. It would be a good place for weakened cats to practice their agility again, as if they fell, they’d land on something soft not far below. Looking outside would at least provide some entertainment, even if patients had to be kept apart for their own health.
xxxxHarrierpelt’s thinking, if anyone but Lobeliafur (and seemingly Droseratail) was asked, was clearly to keep anyone who tried to get in busy with Lobeliafur’s constant chatter, so they’d give up before they actually got in. It had worked with everyone else.
xxxx“…see, I don’t know if it’s infect… infech… invectya… what was that word? Spreading, anyway, so I don’t know if it’s safe to let anyone else in, yet. You can talk through the door, can’t you? Except Nettlepaw doesn’t seem too talkative right now, she hasn’t done any talking yet, which was a bit of a surprise, y’know, because she normally seems to really like chatting-!”
xxxx“Lobeliafur! Stop i’! Tha’s my dau’er and you will le’ me see her! I’ve already lost one o’ my kits withou’ a proper goodbye, I will no’ le’ myself jus’ lose another, ‘n’ especially no’ ‘cause some na’ering twi’ tells me no’ to!”
xxxxLobeliafur let Boulderdash in.
xxxxShe tried not to listen in to the pained crying and one-sided conversation. They might not be her family directly, but just listening to it was breaking her heart. Lobeliafur really hoped they found whoever killed Saddlekit and poisoned Nettlepaw as soon as possible.

-----
xxxxHeronstar quivered with grief as she took her place for the ceremony she’d thought up before. It had taken a few minutes to remember what she’d said for Elmkit, and she could remember having said she’d hoped she wouldn’t need it again for a while. Why couldn’t that hope have been correct?
xxxx“I ask my warrior ancestors to look down on Saddlekit. She may not have had the time to become a warrior or learn your ways with Gustclan, but she surely had the ambition of a warrior. Let Starclan receive her as an apprentice, under the tutelage of all of our ancestors between your clans, so that she may learn your code as a part of Starclan. May she receive the name she truly would have earned in time among you.”
xxxxShe leaned in against Chubtail as she dropped down to the level of the other cats, both seeking comfort in the other.

-----
xxxxThe clan woke to yelling from the nursery again late in the night. Argusheart’s long-over-grown baby bump had disappeared, and she’d only just realised it was entirely gone, aided by her awkwardly trying to get to sleep after what had happened. Her crying lasted until the next morning, and she was still clearly upset for the next few days. The stillborn kits were removed as soon as Argusheart loosened her vice-like grip around them.

-----
xxxx“I’d really appreciate an apprentice soon, now, Heronstar. I hadn’t wanted one due to my own level of experience previously, but I really feel the clan needs a second medicine cat, and I think I now have the experience to support that.”
xxxxHeronstar tilted her head slightly, only raising it marginally from fussing over her two remaining kits. “Alright. I’ll be looking for suitable candidates over the next few litters. If we don’t find one by then well… some traits seem to be found in child and parent, and maybe some of those would include good memories, and so on… I’ll give you permission to have a litter of your own if we need it.”
xxxxHarrierpelt tried not to look too awkward or guilty as he continued on to tend his other patients. That wasn't really what he'd meant.

-----
xxxxBoulderdash had spent all morning going around camp and asking all the cats if they had any idea who had poisoned her daughter. This was stupid, as a murderer would not confess to having done it, and a good murderer would either have ensured there were no witnesses, or given said witnesses some reason not to talk about what they’d seen. A bad murderer would not have been able to sneak into the nursery and get an apprentice to follow them.
xxxxPearstone sat on his wall, again, as he normally did. Moraine sat with him, which was beginning to feel rather typical behaviour from her, though why she always seemed slightly awkward around him was a mystery in itself.
xxxx“Boulderdash asked me a third time just now.”
xxxx“Vraiment?”
xxxx“There’s got to be someone who can do something, if only because we can’t let a kit-murderer get away with it.”
xxxx“That is not how life works. It is a possibility that we would not be able to find out whom it was, even if we do not wish to let them get away with it.” Pearstone’s tone made it clear he didn’t think that would be the case, but that didn’t stop him wanting to point that out. “I would agree we must look for them.”
xxxx“There’s got to be someone who’s got the brain to work it out. Boulderdash has been asking everyone with no luck.”
xxxx“Of course she’s had no luck. They’d be an énormémont incompétent murderer if they just confessé.”
xxxx“Well, surely there’s some way to find out what happened.” Pearstone flicked his tail in a slightly telling motion. “You’re able to, aren’t you, Poirroche? You can see how to work it out.”
xxxxPearstone slowly nodded. They were working with a potentially skilled but presently unexperienced murderer (so stopping them before they got any experience was likely to be a good idea). In any other scenario, they would either not have thought to try killing Nettlepaw, or would have actually succeeded. As it was, it looked like killing her was an after-thought, and not enough fungus was brought to kill them both; having some spare, though, indicated they expected a kit to be around to see, rather than an apprentice. The murderer had to have at least some understanding of herbs and plants to have been able to select a type of fungus which would kill so that the bodies could be out of sight. They probably hadn’t had the time to deal with the bodies before Pearstone and Moraine arrived, otherwise they wouldn’t have remained in camp, much less the nursery, with much less frequented areas around. That meant they were probably close by at the time, with a good ability to hide or detect other cats early. Why they’d kill a kit, and how come Nettlepaw alone was present (and not any of Saddlekit’s litter-mates) was the mystery. If he could work that out… the murder would become very easy to solve.
xxxx“So you know I’m not partial; may Starclan strike me down this instant if this is a lie; I did not move in anyway, to my knowledge, which would have harmed those youngsters, and I would never do so.” He paused, for a few uncomfortable moments. “Eh, it is good to know no future version of me will be a kit-murderer. It may be best to not alert the others, in case it helps the murderer, but I will take up the case.”
xxxxMoraine beamed at him.

- 2187

[ Merlinpaw joins Gustclan and becomes (adopted by and) mentee to Osierfang ]
[ Saddlekit has died; she ate a poisonous fungus! ]
[ Nettlepaw is sick due to contact with poisonous fungus. She has suffered brain damage and is now mute! She is too sick to train. ]
[ Argusheart has reabsorbed her kits; Harrierpelt uses 1x thyme ]
[ Heronstar stays in camp to look after her kits; Ploverkit and Cecilykit ]
[ Harrierpelt stays at camp to look after his many patients ]
[ Chubtail, Boulderdash, Argusheart, Bugleclaw and Barnfish stay in camp ]
[ Pearstone and Sparrowpaw and Osierfang and Merlinpaw go training ]
[ Myrtleclaw, Droseratail, Shellcloud, Lobeliafur and Moraine go hunting ]
[ Gustclan consumes 1 big fish and 1 frog – 4 portions ]

[ Starclan has a new star among its skies. Saddlekit will be well looked after ]
[ Sparrowpaw and Merlinpaw learned the Tracking skill while training ]
[ Myrtleclaw, Droseratail, Shellcloud, Lobeliafur and Moraine caught two squirrels and a frog while hunting ]

[Chamrosh]

Gustclan

Previous Gustclan Post (25)

Next Gustclan Post (27)

Gustclan Description
Writing Master Post
Original Version

xxxxPearstone had spent a long moon collecting all the information he needed. He was sure he knew enough about each of their natures to be able to narrow down who would have down any crime, and narrow it down he had.
xxxxPearstone stared across the patient’s space towards the lone figure within it. Nettlepaw looked down at him with huge eyes. Eyes that had seen so much trauma so young, having to watch her young friend die in front of her, knowing there was nothing she could do to help.
xxxx“It is alright, petite Nettle, or it will be. I will make sure of it.”
xxxxShe opened her mouth, but not even a squeak came out. She huffed, and just nodded her head very slightly in gratitude.

-----

xxxxPearstone looked around the assembled cats. Heronstar had offered for him to use the normal meeting place, and to sit on the high rock, but he had opted out. Instead, he had chosen a small clearing, where great clumps of flowers, all white with fern-like leaves stood, and a large tree trunk framed off, toppled over in a storm that must have happened quite a few moons ago, judging by the raw quantities of woodlice and the state of the fungi upon it.
xxxxIt was dark, and Pearstone had made sure to frame this in the least accusatory sounding way he could to all the clan cats to get them to come. He didn’t want anyone ditching him because they thought they were going to be kicked out. Pearstone had encouraged them to all sit in a loose circle shape, and to choose whoever they wanted to sit next to them. It certainly was interesting where some of them put themselves (and why was Moraine so close to where he’d initially sat, and looking so disappointed when he stood up from it?). A full moon shone down; but solving this so all the clan could see was more important at the time.
xxxxHeronstar had deemed the kits old enough to be able to cope on themselves for a while, although she insisted that she be allowed to regularly be able to go back and check on them. As there was no reason that she would murder her own kit, and therefore she wasn’t a prime suspect, this had seemed a reasonable agreement. He would rather the kits not be there.
xxxxPearstone quickly ran through his evidence. The clearing itself, where the fungus had come from, the type of fungus that resembled so many other types, the proximity to the medicine den, the particular spot chosen to be out of the way, the brown feathers he had found in this clearing before, and the single sprig of white flower that had been hidden under Heronstar’s nest.
xxxxPearstone paced around inside the circle, noting where they’d placed themselves. That could be telling later, potentially. Moraine (disappointed look and all), Osierfang (expectant), Lobeliafur, Droseratail (shooting strange looks to his left), Shellcloud (deadly attentive, but at the clouds, not the group), Argusheart and Bugleclaw sat toward the left of the circle. Merlinpaw was trying to sit next to Sparrowpaw, but as she and her sister- now just recovered enough to walk out here, and looking considerably better than before- were nestled between their parents’ paws, that was proving tricky for him. Harrierpelt sat next to Heronstar, in turn next to Chubtail, and Barnfish ended the circle, having found a comfortable spot and lazing out in it in a fashion which showed he was liable to falling asleep.
xxxxHe tried to make his voice sound as dramatic as possible. When his mother had done this sort of thing in his birth clan, she’d always liked the dramatic. It only seemed appropriate.
xxxx“It was a night cruel that took such a young kit from our clan. Minime Selle was too young for to be a threat, or to offer any easily perceptible reason for killing. And yet, she was found dead, poisoned, with a gravement handicapé apprentice alongside.
xxxx“She herself-“ Pearstone tried not to look too awkwardly across at Nettlepaw, and fortunately he was quite proficient at that. “-lost her capacité to speak due to the effects of the empoisonnement, and thus cannot profess the coupable party. No warriors saw, and done in a litter where one kit is blind and thus cannot témoin and the other too timide to try to stop an attack. Ingénieuse.”
xxxxPearstone was getting a couple of harsh looks at having complimented a kit-murderer, and he huffed at having to explain himself. “Ah, ah, see, it is important we recognise the strengths of notre meurtriers. Else we are unwilling to paint them into a familier face, and they may forever defy justice à venir. Non? Is it not better to accept it? And, if we know the traits that lead to certain styles it is easier to prevent them. Oui, we must always recognise the qualité of a crime.”
xxxxThat didn’t seem to help with the harsh looks. Time to move on and change the subject instead. He cleared his throat.
xxxx“On the night that we found minime Selle and petite Nettle, we- that is myself and the lovely Moraine-“ (Moraine seemed to find him saying that a lot more awkward than the simple compliment demanded) “trébuché across a scene most foul. But it was clear what must have happened, non? Let us see.”
xxxx “Our meutrier took a distaste to minime Selle, for whatever reason. They sought out a form of quick death that would remove the object of their distaste, and, knowing blooded claws would raise soupçon, and that death berries would not be easily taken into camp, they opted for whatever other options they knew. They must have had at least a basic compréhension of plants to identify the fungus to use; not just, but to know how much to use and how long the death would be taking! Very skilful.
xxxx“They slipped into the nursery, and administré la dose to minime Selle. Half-way through, petite Nettle walked in. Knowing petite Nettle could témoigner what occured, they decided that she would best be silenced. And they made that so. They failed in finishing the job and killing, but succeeded in their goal. Silence. Not so easy a task, let me assure you. Too late, petite Nettle realised they were empoisonnement! Our murderer had already left, off to provide un alibi for themselves, reposant sur the long period most fungi take to start working their poison. Petite Nettle knew that minime Selle’s best chance was to work over to the medicine den, and that’s where she was found, after having fallen inconscient, crying over the body of her dying friend.
xxxx“Is that not right?” It was at asking that that Pearstone realised the number of worried looks that had formed at him saying that silencing a witness without killing them was hard. Or at least, he assumed it was that. He hadn’t really described enough murders to know which, but one was easier to resolve; he had meant silencing without killing, why was that a fuss? All that implied was that he hadn’t ever tried physically injuring a cat to achieve that. Not that he’d tried to achieve it ever, but they could surely have at least seen that and known not to be quite so concerned?
xxxxOther cats could be so confusing.
xxxx“And that was the start of mon enquête.”
xxxx“Why was he doing the investigation, again, Heronstar?” Came a voice, a younger one. Droseratail meant no offence to the older tail, and it was clear he was just curious.
xxxx“Because no one else was volunteering.” The leader helpfully supplied.
xxxxPearstone waited patiently for them to finish, and allowed a few seconds’ pause before continuing. “The most important facteur in a crime is motif- who has it, who has it but hides it well, who has one but does not considér it grounds for a killing, et cetera.
xxxx“The obvious motif I discovered, came from a helpful conversation from minime Cicely and minime Pluvier, réellement, discussing minime Selle’s complet et total disregard for Starclan! Mon Dieu, was there disregard!” (Pearstone would never willingly admit that he didn’t actually understand what “Mon Dieu” meant. His mother had used it, and it sounded good, so he did too). “Minime Selle had a sinistre plan to subvert the code should she ever have come to power. It is almost- note, almost- chanceux, that she died, or all the clans would have been facing a sinistre future, aussi. Mais, oui, she was just a kit! Such ambition!
xxxx“But a cat wishing to mainten peace, yes, I can see why they may have wished her gone also.”
xxxxPearstone’s eyes flashed, in a knowing manner. The opposite to the look in most of the cats’ faces at the many seeming nonsense words he seemed to feel the need to use. “There were two other cats who over-heard this conversation.” In a single pulse-beat, his tone turned harsh. “Arguscoeur, you were one.” Just the scowl Pearstone gave, and the rock-hard tone was enough to make Argusheart flinch slightly. There was a pretty much collective gasp- probably from those who thought he was already making an accusation, and didn’t realise how much satisfaction there was in running over everything properly.
xxxxBut the harsh tone was gone in a single breath. “Mais, non. You were enceinte... preg-nant? Carrying enough fungus to kill two kits, even over a short distance, in your mouth would surely have affected the kits you carried. You were so shocked and upset over their loss, I cannot believe you knew before it happened that they would be gone; and I doubt you could believe a toxique fungus would not have any effect on your kits if you had done the deed.”
xxxxArgusheart visibly relaxed. Pearstone received several incredulous looks at his stunt.
xxxx“How can you do that?” “How can you trick us?” and “What was that?” echoed around the circle for a second. Heronstar had been looking like she was wanting to check her kits a second ago, but now was utterly in the moment again.
xxxxPearstone held up a paw in a gesture he used to ask for calm. “Wait, wait, mes amis, there is method in my madness, if I am mad at all! Hear me out. If I were not to deny suspects in turn, you would be wondering how I got to my conclusion at all. See? It is much easier to just use a little of your patience!”
xxxx “Our other témoin, madams, et monsieurs, et tout des petits enfants, was none other than monsieur…” Pearstone made a motion like he was about to whip right around, but only turned one place, which looked rather awkward and stilted in total. “Buglegriffe!”
xxxxSurely, the whole clearing could see the way Bugleclaw tensed up, or they would, had there not been an accompanying round of gasps. “I was framed! I promise upon my place in Starclan I did nothing to harm S-“
xxxx“Monsieur, I would not be so hasty to stake my fate on the idea that I had never, even without intention, caused harm to a kit! But, indeed, you caused no murder.”
xxxxThere was another round of indignant outcries. (“You can’t do that twice!”)
xxxx“It is simple. He’s a griffe cat. He would not stoop to kill by poison against a kit!” Bugleclaw did not seem reassured by the manner of his acquittal. For understandable reasons. “Also, when I showed it to you, you thought the fungus was a lump of rock initialement, so I somehow doubt you’d have known how to poison a kit.” Bugleclaw also did not seem to appreciate that acquittal either.
xxxx“Oui, Buglegriffe was not our murderer. And… for the sake of complétude; our last témoin- minime Cicely would not have been able to go out of camp to find the nécessaire fungus without having someone help her, and anyone but minime Selle would have stopped her; minime Pluvier being too timid to stray out and all our apprentices and warriors being vaguement compétent; enough to at least not allow a blind kit out alone. I rather doubt minime Selle would have done anything to help in her own killing.”
xxxxThere was a general mumbling of “of course”es around the circle.
xxxx“Which rules out the idea that anyone actually meant minime Selle to die.
xxxx“The motive I started to lean toward most after ruling out that, was that the wrong cat was targeted; that minime Cicely was the intended victim.” Again a gasp. Pearstone really did find satisfaction in these reactions. “To a cat who would priorise the strength of the clan over its wellbeing, it would make sense to want to… dispose of a blind cat. If they do not have the wide-thinking nature to considér that a blind cat can still be useful, then to remove the blind cat would strengthen the clan; and further, if it freed the mother for having more kits, that could mean more kits who aren’t blind are born.
xxxx“So we need to look for cats who would be so désespéré for a stronger clan they might be willing to kill a kit, non?
xxxx“CHOUETTEPÊCHE!” Pearstone wailed, facing pretty much entirely the wrong direction. The ginger and white elder (Barnfish, whose name, translated into Pearstone’s rather strange words was indeed the intended party to react, would have reacted to the wailing being anything, given its volume and suddenness, so it had much the same effect in any language) snapped to alertness from where his head had lolled to the side.
xxxx“I didn’t eat the last mouse!” Came the reply.
xxxxPearstone turned around, confused, to look at the elder. “Non! Non, non! That was not... I meant, I was waking you up! I heard ronflement- snoring?!”
xxxxThere was a collective groan, as everyone was clearly hoping he was going to actually get on with his accusation soon. But where would be the fun. (“You definitely can’t do that thrice!”)
xxxx“Mais, non, I do not think there are any who fit for that motif.”
xxxxAnother collective groan.
xxxx“An idea I had not long into the search was that peut être… perhaps it must be our only cat who seemed to know anything about fungi.
xxxx“When I asked him about the fungus in question, he said it was more than likely that the meurtrier didn’t know what sort they were getting, didn’t you Harrierpeau?”
xxxxHarrierpelt twitched. “I did indeed.” (There was a snicker from Merlinpaw at how soppy Pearstone’s name for the medicine cat sounded).
xxxx“And I thought, who knows the woodland plants better than anyone, and knows exactement where to find them? Who can exactement identify the fungus- my excuses for not remembering the name-“
xxxx“Or mine.” Came a dry-toned response, undercutting Pearstone.
xxxx“Right down to how long it takes effect in? It all looked to be clear, except… You would never hurt petite Sparrow or petite Nettle would you not?” (“He just did that Four-thce-ses? That’s not allowed!” “Nor is that a word, Shellcloud!” “Shush you two, you’re interrupting!”)
xxxxMyrtleclaw, Harrierpelt and Boulderdash all shot looks at each other as subtly as they could manage, wondering who had given the game away. Boulderdash was significantly less subtle than the two toms. It was good news for her that eyes were on Harrierpelt, otherwise the entire clan would have figured out their little secret.
xxxx“Non, non! Not when you are… so fond of them!”
xxxxHarrierpelt gave a relieved sigh, as well as a cynical look (“Wait, what, that’s your reveal?”).
xxxx“You hide your love for them with a thick vernis of complaints, but you really are fond. Oui, some of your earliest patients. Naturellement.”
xxxxThere was another look between the three cats.
xxxx“And for a few moments, I even soupçonné loving Boulderhâte and Myrtegriffe. Note that they could have silenced petite Nettle by killing, mais, non, she remained alive. Not that there is an problème there, but that it looks a little soupçon for a témoin to be spared who happens to be your own kit. Mais… it is évident that you’re neither of you murderers, and the strength of the clan is certainement not a reason to hurt one of your own for you.
xxxx“Which really only leads to one conclusion, non? I thought of all that would appear to make sense.
xxxx“There was a erreur.”
xxxxThere was a collective gasp.
xxxx“You are probably all wondering why I called this here as opposed to elsewhere. When I asked monsieur Harrierpeau about where to find the fungus dans la question, he directed me here, to this fallen tree. And I réalisé, I had seen a flower like this around camp before. There had been one in the nursery, earlier on the day of minime Selle’s death. Cicely.
xxxx“One of the fungi which Harrierpeau said that the fungi dans la question could be mistaken for was la selle de la drêche- Dryad’s Saddle.
xxxx“And, of course, catching a Pluiver would be a struggle. Wouldn’t it, petite Nettle?”
xxxxAll eyes turned on the apprentice. She nodded sheepishly. The looks upon her intensified, and several sceptical eyes shot towards Pearstone instead.
xxxx“Petite Nettle had been helping as aid of the nursery for a while before minime Selle’s death. She’d got to know them all well, and in a doublement-avantageux move- to reproduire the goodwill of Shellcloud to herself as a kit, and to prove to minime Pluvier that not all of the outside world was dangereux- decided to give each of Héronétoile’s kits a present. Something spécifique to them that they would know automatiquement to be theirs.
xxxx“Explorant- which she should not have been doing, non-“ Nettlepaw’s expression turned deeply apologetic, and she seemed to shrink down on herself. “Whilst I was out entraînement with petite Sparrow, petite Nettle trébuché upon this clairière. And what a good spot to search! Masses of Cecily and masses of a fungus that looks at least somewhat like it could be Dryad’s Saddle; it would have been a perfect lead for that bait, oui?”
xxxxNettlepaw tentatively nodded again.
xxxx“I suppose your main option for minime Pluiver would have been the feather?” Nettlepaw nodded. “Oui. Ingénieuse. Cordialement; with a situation where two kits cannot come outside; one for being too timis and the other for needing a guide and their alternate option being rather hostile, any means to encourage them outside into a safe environnement seems worthwhile.”
xxxx“But… how did that lead to- to a death? How did that lead to Nettlepaw getting hurt at all?” Chubtail asked.
xxxx“Because petite Nettle got the wrong fungus.
xxxx“She brought the cicely back first, knowing it was unlikely to be found by its bénéficiaire before it was meant to be, and hid it, before making the trip again for the fungus. Of course knowing that she was not meant to explore alone-" Nettlepaw’s scared look intensified. “-when she came to give her gifts, she aimed to give them all while they could not be seen. She gave minime Selle’s first, and minime Selle probablement believing it to be food, ate it instead of playing, as young kits are liable to do. Petite Nettle did what she could to help minime Selle, going so far as to swallow some herself by accident, knowing it might be toxique, and in her désespéré attempt to lead minime Selle to Harrierpeau’s den for help, merely sped how quickly the poison worked.
xxxx“Ainsi she did not get around to delivering the feather or flowers properly, but she was out of sight and near the medicine den, framing it like a murder.”
xxxxNettlepaw was nodding somehow both furiously and nervously.
xxxxPearstone turned away from the rest of the circle, intense looks still following him. He sat in a space between Barnfish and Moraine.
xxxx“So. No murder. Just a mistake. Well, two. If anyone’s responsible, it’s me.
xxxx“Petite Sparrow warned me that she had a feeling that if she left petite Nettle alone, something “bad” would happen. I am not saying gut feelings automatiquement all come true, but there was warning there. And yet, I made petite Sparrow leave petite Nettle alone.” His eyes turned to Heronstar. “Do what you will, but petite Nettle did not mean to cause a death.”
xxxxHeronstar looked thoughtfully between both of them. She paused a while. She seemed to have to brace herself for the idea that she was going to have to judge that. “Neither of you meant there to be a death. Therefore, I hold neither of you responsible for that death.”
xxxxNettlepaw looked absolutely astonished that she’d gotten off without severe punishment. She wasn’t about to argue back- even if she could.

-----

xxxxThe weather had changed to be sunnier over the last few days as new-leaf approached. After a patrol out to check for any cats who may have come looking for a home at the season’s change, they had come rushing back, disturbing Heronstar and her kits again.
xxxx“Heronstar, we found a young tom on the rocks by the lake, and we’ll need assistance to bring him back to camp!”
xxxxHeronstar sat bolt upright. “Take a patrol out to take him into camp as soon as possible.”

- 3536

[ Harrierpelt stays in camp to look after his patients ]
[ Heronstar stays in camp to look after the kits; Ploverkit and Cecilykit ]
[ Pearstone and Sparrowpaw, Boulderdash and Nettlepaw and Osierfang and Merlinpaw go training; fighting ]
[ Argusheart, Shellcloud Bugleclaw and Moraine go hunting ]
[ Chubtail, Boulderdash, Myrtleclaw go on patrol ]
[ Droseratail, Lobeliafur and Barnfish stay in camp ]
[ Gustclan consumes 2 rabbits – 4 portions ]

[ Sparrowpaw, Nettlepaw and Merlinpaw learned the Fighting skill while training ]
[ Argusheart, Shellcloud, Bugleclaw and Moraine caught three rabbits while hunting ]
[ Chubtail, Boulderdash and Myrtleclaw found two apprentices while on patrol- littermates ]

[Chamrosh]

Gustclan

Previous Gustclan Post (26)

Next Gustclan Post (28)

Gustclan Description
Writing Master Post
Original Version

xxxxThe patrol set out to retrieve the apprentice. Apparently his siblings had encountered some lawless clan that followed no guidance from the stars at all, after their previous clan had been all but entirely destroyed. He had tried to argue back to them, to say that they shouldn’t join that clan, but he had been unsuccessful, and had run away in fear of the clan. He had ended up falling into a river and getting washed up at the Gustclan lake as a result.
xxxxHe was lucky for his timing, as only a few days later rains meant that such a journey in such a manner would almost indubitably have led to his death.
xxxxBecause he seemed to be so old to still be an apprentice, Heronstar decided to assign his mentoring to Chubtail, as he would be most able to orchestrate events in such a way as to ensure that Firepaw could become a warrior in the fastest manner possible.

---

xxxxHeronstar was shocked to find that the patrol she had sent out managed to find two more apprentices so shortly afterwards. They were siblings, and this was clear from their manner.
xxxx“Langoustinepaw, sneak behind!” Came as a hissed whisper from one bush, warning the warriors that something was about to happen. Then a whirl of grey fur burst out of it, with a massive bundle of leaves and sticks in his mouth, almost too much to be believed to have come from the mouth of only a single apprentice. The grey tom started spewing leaves out of his mouth at the confused warriors, and they were even more confused when rocks started erupting from another bush on the other side of where they were walking, along with raucous laughter, but no visible cats.
xxxx“Excuse me!” Chubtail interrupted, in a highly authoritative voice.
xxxxThe apprentices, of course, ignored him. Boulderdash was clearly fighting the urge not to grin, while Myrtleclaw had a look of total bafflement about him.
xxxxBoulderdash was mostly wondering if the one spewing rocks was Langoustinepaw or if there was another apprentice called that around. She was also partly wondering what a Langoustine was.
xxxxThe grey tom ran out of leaves and twigs pretty quickly, and ran out into the bush where the rocks were coming from.
xxxx“Oh come on, you ruined it that quickly! Why couldn’t you have just been chucking them!”
xxxx“Because their faces.”
xxxxAnd the two voices cracked up in laughter. They seemed distracted enough, so Boulderdash started sneaking forwards into their bush.
xxxx“But it could have gone on so much longer!”
xxxx“Come, on let’s ge- aagh!”
xxxxThe first apprentice stopped as a grey streak pinned him to the ground with two paws. Boulderdash was quickly knocked off again by the other apprentice, a ginger molly, but not before Myrtleclaw had bounded after her with the fiercest look his innocent face could muster. For a claw cat he wasn’t very intimidating.
xxxxThe apprentices cowered for a moment, and started laughing again.
xxxxChubtail moved more calmly in after the other two. “You’re pretty good as a team, aren’t you?”
xxxxThe two apprentices nodded. Myrtleclaw cottoned on before Boulderdash but it took a while. “Our clan could use good teamworkers. It could even use good prankers, as long as they can keep quiet, and prank intruders rather than us.”
xxxx“Yeah, goo’ way ta intimida’ trespassers wou’ be ta have tha’ comin’ a’ them, woon’t I’?” Boulderdash added.
xxxxThe apprentices started laughing even more vigorously.
xxxx“Sure, if only so we can work out how to master that accent.”

---

xxxx“Three new apprentices in one moon!” Heronstar said in surprise, “Gustclan is really growing.”
xxxxShe considered the two apprentices, before realising that her sons were the only warriors who had been in Gustclan all their lives, and therefore were most likely to be able to instil the loyalty needed from Vendacepaw and Langoustinepaw to only try to ambush trespassers, and not Barnfish the elder. Yes, they’d do fine.

---

xxxx“Hey, Lobeliafur.” Lobeliafur’s ears pricked up to the gingery tom she’d spent so long around now. “I kind of knew, even as an apprentice, when I first saw you that you were the most beautiful c…” Droseratail’s confidence clearly petered a bit at the look Lobeliafur gave him. “Wow, this is as awkward as I thought it would be. But you are the most beautiful cat that I’m going to meet as part of Gustclan.”
xxxx“Gee, thanks.” Lobeliafur’s ears twitched, but she was genuinely pleased with the compliment even if it was a small one. “’Cause my choice is you, your brother or Firepaw, and two of those options are a little unappealing. Though you’re actually not that bad yourself, you know.”
xxxx“Thanks. Uh… so, what I meant was, would you wanna be my mate? You know fo-“
xxxx”Sure.” Lobeliafur said. “I’d love to have kits and stuff, just not right now when you’re looking to be a mentor soon, and when there’s already a load of apprentices running around. Better ta wait a bit, right? And none of that lovey dovey romantic stuff, we’re still warriors, not blackbirds.”
xxxxDroseratail was a bit disappointed but he nodded anyway, and tried to act like he was okay with those terms.

- 870

[ Langoustinepaw and Vendacepaw join Gustclan ]
[Argusheart and Bugleclaw try for kits ]
[ Harrierpelt goes out to look for herbs ]
[ Droseratail and Lobeliafur become mates; no kits yet ]
[ Pearstone and Sparrowpaw, Boulderdash and Nettlepaw, Osierfang and Merlinpaw, Chubtail and Firepaw, Shellcloud and Langoustinepaw and Droseratail and Vendacepaw go training ]
[ Argusheart, Bugleclaw, Lobeliafur and Moraine go hunting ]
[Heronstar, Boulderdash, Myrtleclaw, Barnfish, Ploverkit and Cicelykit stay in camp ]
[ Gustclan consumes 2 Frogs, 1 mouse and 1 rabbit – 5 servings ]

Argusheart laid on her side on the medicine cat den while Harrierpelt gingerly felt her flank. The young she-cat could feel her heartbeat pounding in her chest so hard that her head started to ache. After what felt like an eternity, Harrierpelt stepped back, a pleased and excited look on his face.

"Congratulations, Argusheart! You are having kits."

[ Argusheart is expecting kits! They are due in two moons ]
[ Harrierpelt found fennel and lamb's ear while herb hunting ]
[ Sparrowpaw learned the Diplomacy skill while training ]
[ Nettlepaw learned the Tracking skill while training ]
[ Merlinpaw, Firepaw, Langoustinepaw and Vendacepaw learned the Fishing skill while training ]
[ Argusheart, Bugleclaw, Lobeliafur and Moraine caught two hares and a frog while hunting ]