πππππππππ !!
# of cats; 66 (β: 33 / β: 33)
servings consumed; 11 servings
next moonpool visit; any time
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π ππ ππ π π πππ ,
Excited chatter whirled around the clan's camp as the cats gathered in a semi-circle around Badgerstar, who looked much more relaxed, now that the gathering was a moon gone and an alliance with QuickClan had been struck. Not only that, but the first moon of Newleaf had brought with it good hunting again, and Badgerstar seemed a little less frazzled after making it through another Leafbare with no serious illnesses. Spirits among the camp were high, especially as two apprentices had returned successful in their warrior assessments.
"I, Badgerstar, leader of GroveClan," the black tom started, "call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to learn the ways of the warrior code, and I recommend them to you in each of their turns. Avocetpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?" Avocetpaw's eyes flicked from his mother, to his sister, before lingering on Sandcatcher for a moment. He smiled.
"I do."
"Then from this day forward you will be known as Avocetnose, for your expert tracking skills. StarClan honours your patience, your diligence and your resourcefulness. It is my pleasure to welcome you to GroveClan as a full warrior." He paused, allowing the clan to cheer for their newest warrior while Ternpaw shook beside him, excited beyond belief for her warrior name. "Ternpaw, do you swear to uphold the warrior code, and to defend you clan, even at the cost of your life?" Ternpaw purred.
"Yes, I do."
"Then you will be known as Ternflutter, for your light-spirit and the speed of your feet. StarClan honours your kindness, vivacity and intelligence. It is my honour to welcome you as a full warrior of GroveClan." Again, cheers went up for Ternflutter as Featherpelt pushed forward through the crowd to touch noses with her kits, the three of them purring loudly. Hawkthorn and Longriver converged on their former apprentices, uttering congratulations as Sandcatcher sidled up next to them.
Badgerstar smiled, catching Maplefall's eye from the corner of his own. Still grinning, he got to his paws to pad toward her, touching noses with her in greeting. "What?" He asked, tone barely containing his happiness. "You're just... so handsome when you're smiling like that. I missed seeing you happy like this," she said, leaning their foreheads together. Badgerstar gave a content sigh, pulling back so he could look Maplefall in the eye.
"The clan is flourishing. I have the most amazing mate, and two gorgeous kits. What could possibly stop me from being happy with that?"
"Sap," Maplefall teased, nuzzling his cheek, "I love you."
"I love you too, Maplefall. More than the moon and the stars."
"More than the sun and the sky."
"More than the grass and the trees."
"More than the sea and the wind."
"Are you determined to outdo me?" Maplefall laughed, leaning on her mate. The pair of them turned back to the clan, watching as the older warriors led their two newest ones to the best place for the moonlight vigil, the sun setting behind them and painting the Newleaf sky red and orange.
β β β
"You're staring again," Rivuletfight's tone was distinctly amused as he looked up at where Archie was staring at him from across the camp. For a black cat, the tom had poor luck disguising himself. Archie scowled, but after a hesitant moment he stamped forward, coming to a halt directly in front of where the pointed cat was lounging, blinking languidly at him.
"You don't have many friends," Archie said, making Rivuletflight laugh, "just your dad. You never hang out with anyone else." The lighter coloured tom shot Archie a brilliant smile, shaking his head in amusement. "If you don't mind my saying so, Archie, it's not as though you have that many friends either. You only ever hang out with your sister." That seemed to stun the other tom for a moment, before his features settled into a scowl again. Rivuletflight continued to smile at him.
"Would you like to sit?"
"No."
"Alright then," he rolled over onto his side, and stretched out with a yawn, "it's not that I don't have any friends, but most of the cats my age are preoccupied with their own things. Mousestone is very kind, and very friendly, but she's often got her time taken up by Novella, or being a medicine cat, or whatever scheme she and Dusklight are working at. Sedgefire and Halfpond are reconnecting with lost family members, Novella is difficult to interpret and Dawnblossom is often with one of the others. Wolverinejaw is stand-offish, Boulderflame and Burrcall are both preparing to start families... it's simply not the right time for me to connect with them."
"Sounds like a lot of excuses to me," Archie said.
"And so what's yours?" Rivuletflight asked. "Through Novella, you have an in with practically every cat your age. And yet you don't seem to like them much, just as you don't seem to like me, even though I did save your life." Archie's ears flattened at that and he looked away sullenly. Then, to Rivuletflight's surprise, he turned in a small circle and settled himself a safe distance away from the other tom, but close enough that he could feel the warmth radiating from him.
"The kingdom didn't exactly encourage having friends," he said quietly, "it was all about total devotion to the gods, and to strength. You saved me but... that was showing weakness, the fact that I needed to be saved. It's... well. It's hard to un-learn that I guess. I see Dusklight and I wonder what would have happened if I had someone there to support me when I'd lost my eye. I see Dawnblossom and I wonder what it would have been like if Novella hadn't been chased out. And you... you got to escape everything unscathed."
"Not all scars are physical, Archie," Rivuletflight smiled, and for the first time, Archie noticed there was a tiredness behind them, "but I understand. I'm sorry you had to go through all that. Just know, if you do ever need a friend... I am a pretty good listener."
"I know."
"Good." Archie gave him a shy smile, ducking his head away as Rivuletflight returned the gesture. The pair lapsed into companionable silence, turning their faces up toward the sky, where the stars glittered in Silverpelt, and the moon bathed the campground in a pretty glow.
β β β
"He says his name is Spidernose," Flintburr sat beside a smaller, short-furred black tom with a twisted leg. Badgerstar, Lionheart, Goldleaf and Mousestone sat in a row in front of him, blinking at the stranger. "He says he's a medicine cat- from GraveClan." Mousestone snorted at the name, and Goldleaf gave the tom the sixteenth skeptical one over she'd given him since he first set foot in the camp.
"Charming," she said flatly, "a very welcoming name."
"Makes you think of lots of lovely things," said Mousestone, "sunshine, rainbows, death..."
"Play nice," Lionheart said, shooting both of them a glare before she turned back to Spidernose, "so... if you were from another clan originally, what happened? Why'd you leave?" Spidernose shuddered a little, closing his eyes with a deep sigh. "Things had been... bad for a while. Then, there were four consecutive murders for four days, under very odd circumstances and things just... fell apart. The clan split to pieces. I wandered, and I made it here." The four cats fell silent, glancing between one another.
"GroveClan has never been one to turn away refugees," Badgerstar said, "you're free to stay here for as long as you need. As for... staying on permanently, I can't force Goldleaf to work with you... do you have any experience with training as a general warrior?" Spidernose shook his head. "Do you think you would be able to learn with your leg?" Spidernose hesitated. Badgerstar gave him a kind smile. "That's okay. What do you think, Goldleaf?" The cream tabby gave the tom a once over again.
"You've been a medicine cat for a long time?"
"Yes."
"And you don't know how to do anything else?"
"Yes."
"You're willing to dedicate yourself fully to this clan?"
"Yes."
"And you're aware that if you're using this as a way to have access to cats in this clan so that you can hurt them, and I find this out about you, I will claw your face off myself?" Spidernose cast a bewildered look at Lionheart, who only look faintly amused, before he cleared his throat and nodded. "Yes. I am. Understood." Goldleaf nodded.
"Then I will work with you. For now, Mousestone outranks you. She's young but she's good and if I'm not around then she's in charge. We'll put you to work organizing the medicine den while we're out collecting herbs. Let's see what you've got."
"I promise you, Goldleaf, I won't let you down."
π₯π πππͺ,
In the warm Newleaf air, Hawkthorn and Acornstream sat pleasantly shoulder to shoulder, Hazelkit nestled between her mother's paws. Lionheart's ginger head appeared from the warrior's den, and like clockwork, Ashenstrike excused himself from his conversation with Flintburr, Silvermoon and Sedgefire and hurried across the camp to her side. Acornstream could feel the impish smile radiating off of her mate, and she nudged his shoulder with a mock-warning glare. Hawkthorn continued to smile at her, before he called out over the camp:
"That'll do, Ashenstrike! I think you've broken the record for how fast you magnetize to her," Lionheart laughed out loud, as Ashenstrike pouted at his friend. "He's right you know. If you're this overprotective already, Goldleaf is going to salt a circle around the nursery so you can't get in." Ashenstrike teasingly nipped at her ear, shaking his head good-naturedly. Lionheart purred, leaning against him. Her belly had just started to swell enough to be showing, and the clan anticipated she'd be retiring from her deputy duties any day now in order to have a comfortable pregnancy.
"Anyone else got anything they want to get out there?" Ashenstrike asked, as he and Lionheart headed toward the family. "Buddy, I've been waiting for this day for moons," Hawkthorn said, "what other things did you say to me while Acornstream was pregnant?" The group of them laughed as the toms knocked shoulders, hush falling over the clan as Badgerstar climbed down from his tree, with Maplefall in tow. Although she spent her days in the nursery, Maplefall wasn't showing enough to stop her from climbing into her mate's den with him each night.
"All cats gather below Highbranch!" He called, rousing the last of the warriors from their morning activities. The clan gathered in a semi-circle around the tree, Hazelkit sitting brightly at attention near her mother's paws. She and Acornstream exchanged twin smiles, as her mother leaned down to touch her nose to her daughter's, prompting a purr from the small she-kit.
"Hazelkit has reached the age of six moons old," Badgerstar announced, "and is ready to be apprenticed. Hazelkit, from this day on until you receive your warrior name, StarClan will guide you on your journey as Hazelpaw. Your mentor will be Dawnblossom, who I trust to teach you everything you need to know to be a warrior." Dawnblossom was nudged forward by her brother as Hazelpaw shot toward her, reaching up to touch noses with the ginger molly. "Dawnblossom, you were an excellent and tenacious apprentice to Shadowtail, and you have time and time shown yourself to be brave, diligent and an absolute pleasure as a clanmate. I know you will be a great influence on Hazelpaw, and she will become a fine warrior under your tutelage." Badgerstar dipped his head, and cheers went up around the clan for the newest apprentice. She was promptly swamped by her cousins, having missed the little half-somali in their moon apart. Cinderpaw, especially, seemed excited to see her back with them again. Badgerstar waited for the noise to die down.
"I believe that Lionheart has an announcement she'd like to make," Badgerstar mewed, "as some of you may have noticed from Ashenstrike behaving like a bee to honey-" the clan laughed as Ashenstrike huffed and ducked his head, "-Lionheart will be taking some time off from her role as deputy to raise her kits. She will be assigning the new deputy, who will act in her place until she can return to her duties." He stepped to the side as Lionheart stood up next to him, smiling.
"I know it'll be odd to be back in the nursery, and it'll definitely give Pinefeather and Roseclaw some war flashbacks," a ripple of laughter went around the camp, "and for all your teasing, Ashenstrike is probably the only cat who could make this any easier on you. In my place, I will be assigning Longriver as deputy." A murmur went around the clan as all eyes turned to Longriver, who looked bewildered while his mate nudged him excitedly. "Longriver," Lionheart mewed, "I know you're a bit of an anxious cat, and I know you'll want to impress, but please feel no pressure in this role. You've already impressed me, countless times over. In the moons since you joined GroveClan as a gangly little loner, you have shown yourself to be logical and diligent. You're a smart cat and you can make hard decisions on the spot. I know GroveClan will be in good paws, and if you need anything, I'll only be in the nursery."
Lionheart took a step forward, as a beaming Longriver moved in to meet her. The two cats touched noses as cheers of congratulations and welcoming yowls for the new deputy echoed around the cats of the clan. Lionheart smiled at Longriver as they pulled away, the smaller tom still grinning at her in a stunned manner.
"Thank you, Lionheart. I promise I won't let you down."
"I know you won't," she said, as Ashenstrike came to flank her shoulder, "you're going to be great, Longriver."
β β β
"You two seem happy," Pinefeather's tone was distinctly teasing as he watched Shadowtail and Dustfang walk shoulder to shoulder, tails entwined. Dustfang shot him an amused look. Only Meadowfang remained in single file, scenting the air ahead of them. Roseclaw flanked Pinefeather at his left shoulder, and Midnightpaw at his right. Badgerstar's son had grown considerably in the last few moons. Clearly, Badgerstar hadn't gotten the 'tall' genes in his family, as his son had surpassed him in height and looked larger than him in bulk.
"We are," Shadowtail said, leaning against Dustfang, "being a mother is wonderful and I wouldn't change our kits for the world, but I'll admit it's nice to be back. I don't know how cats like Silvermoon do it. She's been in the nursery what- three times now? I think I'd go mental." A ripple of laughter went around the group as the mates skipped forward to walk shoulder to shoulder with Roseclaw.
"It'll be interesting to see how Lionheart copes with round two," he said, "she didn't so much 'cope' with round one as she did bulldoze her way through it and give poor Adderbite more than a few grey hairs." Pinefeather looked aghast, scoffing. "Poor Adderbite? What about poor me having to listen to her complain and pre-empt most of her little escapades? All of the grey hair i have in my fur is from your sister, my dear."
"Don't act like you didn't love the scheming." Roseclaw nudged his mate, making Pinefeather laugh, purring as he rubbed his head under Roseclaw's chin. "Perhaps I did," he said, "but I would have enjoyed it more if I'd have you to scheme with. The next time we have kits I'm making you stay in the nursery with me. The queens won't know what to do with us." Silence fell over the group, as Roseclaw turned a bewildered glance to Pinefeather.
"I didn't know you had kits," Midnightpaw tried finally in an attempt to break the silence. Dustfang cast a curious glance at the ginger tom. "I didn't know you were planning on having more."
"We... hadn't discussed it," Roseclaw said, sounding as if the wind had been knocked out of him, "I... my love, are you sure? I wasn't sure you wanted to have more kits, not after-"
"Darling," Pinefeather turned, coming nose to nose with his mate, "I love you, so much. And for all I complain and gripe about it, those moons I spent in the nursery caring for our kits were the best ones of my life. I don't need a family to be happy with you, Roseclaw, you are, always have been and always will be, enough for me. But... I would like to have kits again, someday. What happened was tragic, and upsetting, but at least we got to watch them grow. At least we got to see them live. And I trust it here. I think if we were to have kits, things would be okay this time. If... you wanted to."
"Of course I do," Roseclaw pressed his forehead against Pinefeather's, "you have the worst timing for serious conversations but that's part of what makes me adore you the way I do. I love you, Pinefeather. More than the sun and the sky."
"Well, my darling, you didn't even give me a chance," the group laughed again as Roseclaw and Pinefeather twined tails, the patrol setting forward again.
β β β
The sun shone down in the sky, twisting through the trees of the grove and bathing the cats in sunny afternoon sunlight. Maplefall lounged against Badgerstar's flank, her mate lovingly grooming her behind her ears, while Lionheart and Ashenstrike stretched out on the warm ground, paws outstretched toward each other and just touching. A wistful sigh escaped Maplefall, causing Ashenstrike's ears to prick up toward her.
"Everything okay?" He asked as he lifted his head, paw instinctively pressing itself over Lionheart's for comfort. His ginger mate blinked a little at him, amber eyes curious. Maplefall let out a lilting laugh. "Yes, everything's fine. I guess I was just thinking... it seems like the good old days. Back when the clan was small, and it was just Hawkthorn and Acornstream so horrendously in love... when Dawnblossom and Dusklight were still meddlesome kits and Ashenstrike and Lionheart had all this tension they couldn't seem to get around... it reminds me how far we've come and yet how nothing has changed."
"I suppose we have come a long way," Ashenstrike and Lionheart shared a fond smile, "if I'm being honest, I didn't ever think you'd return my feelings. And yet here I am, about to be a father to the kits of a passionate, strong, incredibly intelligent molly who almost started an interclan war posing as a leader during the first gathering she attended for the clan." Maplefall, Badgerstar and Ashenstrike all laughed, while Lionheart snorted and rolled her eyes. Ashenstrike's expression quickly darkened with worry.
"What's wrong?"
"What? Nothing's wrong?"
"No, he's right," Badgerstar was staring now too, "usually that memory makes you laugh. You always say it's what Squirrelstar would have wanted, that she would have liked our memories of her to bring joy instead of sadness. Usually you're the one laughing hardest of all about when you first met Beestripe. What's going on?" Lionheart tensed for a moment, before she looked to Ashenstrike. As her eyes met his green ones, full of concern, her shoulders slacked and she exhaled.
"I'm just a little worried," she mewed, "I guess it's dumb but I haven't seen EchoClan at a gathering for a while now. Not just Beestripe- none of them at all. I don't know, maybe it's just the whole 'having kits again after the last disaster attempt' getting to me but... I can't help but be paranoid. I'm worried about her, you know? What if they're in danger or things have gone poorly and they need help?"
"Honey..." Ashenstrike shifted forward to touch his nose to hers, "you're not being dumb, trust me. It's okay to worry sometimes, you know. And look, they're a border clan. It would be easy for us to check up on them, right?"
"Right," Badgerstar said, "I'll go tonight if it'll make you feel better."
"You don't have to do th--"
"But I want to," Badgerstar smiled, "EchoClan are our oldest friends. Maybe your fears are unfounded, but you've always had good gut instincts Lionheart. I know that's not exactly a comfort in this situation, but worst case scenario they do need help and we can give them the help they need. I'll go tonight, and I'll be back before dawn. Everything will be fine, okay?" Lionheart hesitated, and then relaxed.
"Okay."
β β β
"Are you sure this is okay?" The stars twinkled overhead as the small group of cats stood near the camp entrance, "I mean, this is my first day on the job and we're not going to have a leader and-" Badgerstar smiled at Longriver, effectively cutting him off. Beside him stood Maplefall, Lionheart and Ashenstrike at his other shoulder while Harrierstreak stuck close to his mate's side. "I know telling you to worry isn't going to help you any," Badgerstar said, "so here are the facts. If I run hard it won't take me long to get to EchoClan. I'm just going to check up on them, if I sense anything wrong I'll come immediately back. No matter what, I will be here before sunup, and if anything happens in that time then you can go to Lionheart. She has just as much experience running this clan as I do and she's better at making hard and good decisions."
"Okay," Longriver exhaled, "good luck, Badgerstar. May StarClan guide your paws." The two toms nodded to each other, as he turned to his mate. Maplefall stared at him, a fond twinkle in her eye. "If you get yourself into trouble, I'm going to take the rest of your nine lives," Badgerstar laughed, nuzzling his nose against hers as she purred, "be safe."
"I will be," he gave Lionheart a meaningful look, "if I see Beestripe, I'll tell her you're looking out for her. And take care of Ashenstrike okay? He's looking faint from the stress." The congregation of cats let out a little laugh, before Badgerstar nodded to them, and ducked beyond the willow, through the tunnel and into the night.
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β¦ servings consumed
11/11 - 3 birds and 1 rabbit
β¦ clan events
elkpaw, thunderpaw, mistpaw & deerpaw attempt their warrior assessments
dusklight & dawnblossom teach emberpaw & hazelpaw the battle skill
harrierstreak & featherpelt teach falconpaw & sleetpaw tracking
adderstorm & wolverinejaw teach cinderpaw & oakpaw to hunt
goldleaf, mousestone and novella search for herbs
badgerstar goes to check on their allies in echoclan
β¦ patrols
hunting -
1 - longriver, flowershine, burrcall, willowthroat, cormorantpath, avocetnose
2 - hawkthorn, acornstream, sootface, squirrelwhisker, ternflutter, burningcloud
3 - pinefeather, midnightpaw, roseclaw, meadowfang, shadowtail, dustfang
4 - fircloud, rivuletflight, ripplemist, halfpond, sandcatcher, boulderflame
border -
1 - flintburr, sedgefire, frostbranch, sparkfur, archibald, grouseclaw
# of cats; 66 (β: 33 / β: 33)
servings consumed; 11 servings
next moonpool visit; any time
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π ππ ππ π π πππ ,
Excited chatter whirled around the clan's camp as the cats gathered in a semi-circle around Badgerstar, who looked much more relaxed, now that the gathering was a moon gone and an alliance with QuickClan had been struck. Not only that, but the first moon of Newleaf had brought with it good hunting again, and Badgerstar seemed a little less frazzled after making it through another Leafbare with no serious illnesses. Spirits among the camp were high, especially as two apprentices had returned successful in their warrior assessments.
"I, Badgerstar, leader of GroveClan," the black tom started, "call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to learn the ways of the warrior code, and I recommend them to you in each of their turns. Avocetpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?" Avocetpaw's eyes flicked from his mother, to his sister, before lingering on Sandcatcher for a moment. He smiled.
"I do."
"Then from this day forward you will be known as Avocetnose, for your expert tracking skills. StarClan honours your patience, your diligence and your resourcefulness. It is my pleasure to welcome you to GroveClan as a full warrior." He paused, allowing the clan to cheer for their newest warrior while Ternpaw shook beside him, excited beyond belief for her warrior name. "Ternpaw, do you swear to uphold the warrior code, and to defend you clan, even at the cost of your life?" Ternpaw purred.
"Yes, I do."
"Then you will be known as Ternflutter, for your light-spirit and the speed of your feet. StarClan honours your kindness, vivacity and intelligence. It is my honour to welcome you as a full warrior of GroveClan." Again, cheers went up for Ternflutter as Featherpelt pushed forward through the crowd to touch noses with her kits, the three of them purring loudly. Hawkthorn and Longriver converged on their former apprentices, uttering congratulations as Sandcatcher sidled up next to them.
Badgerstar smiled, catching Maplefall's eye from the corner of his own. Still grinning, he got to his paws to pad toward her, touching noses with her in greeting. "What?" He asked, tone barely containing his happiness. "You're just... so handsome when you're smiling like that. I missed seeing you happy like this," she said, leaning their foreheads together. Badgerstar gave a content sigh, pulling back so he could look Maplefall in the eye.
"The clan is flourishing. I have the most amazing mate, and two gorgeous kits. What could possibly stop me from being happy with that?"
"Sap," Maplefall teased, nuzzling his cheek, "I love you."
"I love you too, Maplefall. More than the moon and the stars."
"More than the sun and the sky."
"More than the grass and the trees."
"More than the sea and the wind."
"Are you determined to outdo me?" Maplefall laughed, leaning on her mate. The pair of them turned back to the clan, watching as the older warriors led their two newest ones to the best place for the moonlight vigil, the sun setting behind them and painting the Newleaf sky red and orange.
β β β
"You're staring again," Rivuletfight's tone was distinctly amused as he looked up at where Archie was staring at him from across the camp. For a black cat, the tom had poor luck disguising himself. Archie scowled, but after a hesitant moment he stamped forward, coming to a halt directly in front of where the pointed cat was lounging, blinking languidly at him.
"You don't have many friends," Archie said, making Rivuletflight laugh, "just your dad. You never hang out with anyone else." The lighter coloured tom shot Archie a brilliant smile, shaking his head in amusement. "If you don't mind my saying so, Archie, it's not as though you have that many friends either. You only ever hang out with your sister." That seemed to stun the other tom for a moment, before his features settled into a scowl again. Rivuletflight continued to smile at him.
"Would you like to sit?"
"No."
"Alright then," he rolled over onto his side, and stretched out with a yawn, "it's not that I don't have any friends, but most of the cats my age are preoccupied with their own things. Mousestone is very kind, and very friendly, but she's often got her time taken up by Novella, or being a medicine cat, or whatever scheme she and Dusklight are working at. Sedgefire and Halfpond are reconnecting with lost family members, Novella is difficult to interpret and Dawnblossom is often with one of the others. Wolverinejaw is stand-offish, Boulderflame and Burrcall are both preparing to start families... it's simply not the right time for me to connect with them."
"Sounds like a lot of excuses to me," Archie said.
"And so what's yours?" Rivuletflight asked. "Through Novella, you have an in with practically every cat your age. And yet you don't seem to like them much, just as you don't seem to like me, even though I did save your life." Archie's ears flattened at that and he looked away sullenly. Then, to Rivuletflight's surprise, he turned in a small circle and settled himself a safe distance away from the other tom, but close enough that he could feel the warmth radiating from him.
"The kingdom didn't exactly encourage having friends," he said quietly, "it was all about total devotion to the gods, and to strength. You saved me but... that was showing weakness, the fact that I needed to be saved. It's... well. It's hard to un-learn that I guess. I see Dusklight and I wonder what would have happened if I had someone there to support me when I'd lost my eye. I see Dawnblossom and I wonder what it would have been like if Novella hadn't been chased out. And you... you got to escape everything unscathed."
"Not all scars are physical, Archie," Rivuletflight smiled, and for the first time, Archie noticed there was a tiredness behind them, "but I understand. I'm sorry you had to go through all that. Just know, if you do ever need a friend... I am a pretty good listener."
"I know."
"Good." Archie gave him a shy smile, ducking his head away as Rivuletflight returned the gesture. The pair lapsed into companionable silence, turning their faces up toward the sky, where the stars glittered in Silverpelt, and the moon bathed the campground in a pretty glow.
β β β
"He says his name is Spidernose," Flintburr sat beside a smaller, short-furred black tom with a twisted leg. Badgerstar, Lionheart, Goldleaf and Mousestone sat in a row in front of him, blinking at the stranger. "He says he's a medicine cat- from GraveClan." Mousestone snorted at the name, and Goldleaf gave the tom the sixteenth skeptical one over she'd given him since he first set foot in the camp.
"Charming," she said flatly, "a very welcoming name."
"Makes you think of lots of lovely things," said Mousestone, "sunshine, rainbows, death..."
"Play nice," Lionheart said, shooting both of them a glare before she turned back to Spidernose, "so... if you were from another clan originally, what happened? Why'd you leave?" Spidernose shuddered a little, closing his eyes with a deep sigh. "Things had been... bad for a while. Then, there were four consecutive murders for four days, under very odd circumstances and things just... fell apart. The clan split to pieces. I wandered, and I made it here." The four cats fell silent, glancing between one another.
"GroveClan has never been one to turn away refugees," Badgerstar said, "you're free to stay here for as long as you need. As for... staying on permanently, I can't force Goldleaf to work with you... do you have any experience with training as a general warrior?" Spidernose shook his head. "Do you think you would be able to learn with your leg?" Spidernose hesitated. Badgerstar gave him a kind smile. "That's okay. What do you think, Goldleaf?" The cream tabby gave the tom a once over again.
"You've been a medicine cat for a long time?"
"Yes."
"And you don't know how to do anything else?"
"Yes."
"You're willing to dedicate yourself fully to this clan?"
"Yes."
"And you're aware that if you're using this as a way to have access to cats in this clan so that you can hurt them, and I find this out about you, I will claw your face off myself?" Spidernose cast a bewildered look at Lionheart, who only look faintly amused, before he cleared his throat and nodded. "Yes. I am. Understood." Goldleaf nodded.
"Then I will work with you. For now, Mousestone outranks you. She's young but she's good and if I'm not around then she's in charge. We'll put you to work organizing the medicine den while we're out collecting herbs. Let's see what you've got."
"I promise you, Goldleaf, I won't let you down."
π₯π πππͺ,
In the warm Newleaf air, Hawkthorn and Acornstream sat pleasantly shoulder to shoulder, Hazelkit nestled between her mother's paws. Lionheart's ginger head appeared from the warrior's den, and like clockwork, Ashenstrike excused himself from his conversation with Flintburr, Silvermoon and Sedgefire and hurried across the camp to her side. Acornstream could feel the impish smile radiating off of her mate, and she nudged his shoulder with a mock-warning glare. Hawkthorn continued to smile at her, before he called out over the camp:
"That'll do, Ashenstrike! I think you've broken the record for how fast you magnetize to her," Lionheart laughed out loud, as Ashenstrike pouted at his friend. "He's right you know. If you're this overprotective already, Goldleaf is going to salt a circle around the nursery so you can't get in." Ashenstrike teasingly nipped at her ear, shaking his head good-naturedly. Lionheart purred, leaning against him. Her belly had just started to swell enough to be showing, and the clan anticipated she'd be retiring from her deputy duties any day now in order to have a comfortable pregnancy.
"Anyone else got anything they want to get out there?" Ashenstrike asked, as he and Lionheart headed toward the family. "Buddy, I've been waiting for this day for moons," Hawkthorn said, "what other things did you say to me while Acornstream was pregnant?" The group of them laughed as the toms knocked shoulders, hush falling over the clan as Badgerstar climbed down from his tree, with Maplefall in tow. Although she spent her days in the nursery, Maplefall wasn't showing enough to stop her from climbing into her mate's den with him each night.
"All cats gather below Highbranch!" He called, rousing the last of the warriors from their morning activities. The clan gathered in a semi-circle around the tree, Hazelkit sitting brightly at attention near her mother's paws. She and Acornstream exchanged twin smiles, as her mother leaned down to touch her nose to her daughter's, prompting a purr from the small she-kit.
"Hazelkit has reached the age of six moons old," Badgerstar announced, "and is ready to be apprenticed. Hazelkit, from this day on until you receive your warrior name, StarClan will guide you on your journey as Hazelpaw. Your mentor will be Dawnblossom, who I trust to teach you everything you need to know to be a warrior." Dawnblossom was nudged forward by her brother as Hazelpaw shot toward her, reaching up to touch noses with the ginger molly. "Dawnblossom, you were an excellent and tenacious apprentice to Shadowtail, and you have time and time shown yourself to be brave, diligent and an absolute pleasure as a clanmate. I know you will be a great influence on Hazelpaw, and she will become a fine warrior under your tutelage." Badgerstar dipped his head, and cheers went up around the clan for the newest apprentice. She was promptly swamped by her cousins, having missed the little half-somali in their moon apart. Cinderpaw, especially, seemed excited to see her back with them again. Badgerstar waited for the noise to die down.
"I believe that Lionheart has an announcement she'd like to make," Badgerstar mewed, "as some of you may have noticed from Ashenstrike behaving like a bee to honey-" the clan laughed as Ashenstrike huffed and ducked his head, "-Lionheart will be taking some time off from her role as deputy to raise her kits. She will be assigning the new deputy, who will act in her place until she can return to her duties." He stepped to the side as Lionheart stood up next to him, smiling.
"I know it'll be odd to be back in the nursery, and it'll definitely give Pinefeather and Roseclaw some war flashbacks," a ripple of laughter went around the camp, "and for all your teasing, Ashenstrike is probably the only cat who could make this any easier on you. In my place, I will be assigning Longriver as deputy." A murmur went around the clan as all eyes turned to Longriver, who looked bewildered while his mate nudged him excitedly. "Longriver," Lionheart mewed, "I know you're a bit of an anxious cat, and I know you'll want to impress, but please feel no pressure in this role. You've already impressed me, countless times over. In the moons since you joined GroveClan as a gangly little loner, you have shown yourself to be logical and diligent. You're a smart cat and you can make hard decisions on the spot. I know GroveClan will be in good paws, and if you need anything, I'll only be in the nursery."
Lionheart took a step forward, as a beaming Longriver moved in to meet her. The two cats touched noses as cheers of congratulations and welcoming yowls for the new deputy echoed around the cats of the clan. Lionheart smiled at Longriver as they pulled away, the smaller tom still grinning at her in a stunned manner.
"Thank you, Lionheart. I promise I won't let you down."
"I know you won't," she said, as Ashenstrike came to flank her shoulder, "you're going to be great, Longriver."
β β β
"You two seem happy," Pinefeather's tone was distinctly teasing as he watched Shadowtail and Dustfang walk shoulder to shoulder, tails entwined. Dustfang shot him an amused look. Only Meadowfang remained in single file, scenting the air ahead of them. Roseclaw flanked Pinefeather at his left shoulder, and Midnightpaw at his right. Badgerstar's son had grown considerably in the last few moons. Clearly, Badgerstar hadn't gotten the 'tall' genes in his family, as his son had surpassed him in height and looked larger than him in bulk.
"We are," Shadowtail said, leaning against Dustfang, "being a mother is wonderful and I wouldn't change our kits for the world, but I'll admit it's nice to be back. I don't know how cats like Silvermoon do it. She's been in the nursery what- three times now? I think I'd go mental." A ripple of laughter went around the group as the mates skipped forward to walk shoulder to shoulder with Roseclaw.
"It'll be interesting to see how Lionheart copes with round two," he said, "she didn't so much 'cope' with round one as she did bulldoze her way through it and give poor Adderbite more than a few grey hairs." Pinefeather looked aghast, scoffing. "Poor Adderbite? What about poor me having to listen to her complain and pre-empt most of her little escapades? All of the grey hair i have in my fur is from your sister, my dear."
"Don't act like you didn't love the scheming." Roseclaw nudged his mate, making Pinefeather laugh, purring as he rubbed his head under Roseclaw's chin. "Perhaps I did," he said, "but I would have enjoyed it more if I'd have you to scheme with. The next time we have kits I'm making you stay in the nursery with me. The queens won't know what to do with us." Silence fell over the group, as Roseclaw turned a bewildered glance to Pinefeather.
"I didn't know you had kits," Midnightpaw tried finally in an attempt to break the silence. Dustfang cast a curious glance at the ginger tom. "I didn't know you were planning on having more."
"We... hadn't discussed it," Roseclaw said, sounding as if the wind had been knocked out of him, "I... my love, are you sure? I wasn't sure you wanted to have more kits, not after-"
"Darling," Pinefeather turned, coming nose to nose with his mate, "I love you, so much. And for all I complain and gripe about it, those moons I spent in the nursery caring for our kits were the best ones of my life. I don't need a family to be happy with you, Roseclaw, you are, always have been and always will be, enough for me. But... I would like to have kits again, someday. What happened was tragic, and upsetting, but at least we got to watch them grow. At least we got to see them live. And I trust it here. I think if we were to have kits, things would be okay this time. If... you wanted to."
"Of course I do," Roseclaw pressed his forehead against Pinefeather's, "you have the worst timing for serious conversations but that's part of what makes me adore you the way I do. I love you, Pinefeather. More than the sun and the sky."
"Well, my darling, you didn't even give me a chance," the group laughed again as Roseclaw and Pinefeather twined tails, the patrol setting forward again.
β β β
The sun shone down in the sky, twisting through the trees of the grove and bathing the cats in sunny afternoon sunlight. Maplefall lounged against Badgerstar's flank, her mate lovingly grooming her behind her ears, while Lionheart and Ashenstrike stretched out on the warm ground, paws outstretched toward each other and just touching. A wistful sigh escaped Maplefall, causing Ashenstrike's ears to prick up toward her.
"Everything okay?" He asked as he lifted his head, paw instinctively pressing itself over Lionheart's for comfort. His ginger mate blinked a little at him, amber eyes curious. Maplefall let out a lilting laugh. "Yes, everything's fine. I guess I was just thinking... it seems like the good old days. Back when the clan was small, and it was just Hawkthorn and Acornstream so horrendously in love... when Dawnblossom and Dusklight were still meddlesome kits and Ashenstrike and Lionheart had all this tension they couldn't seem to get around... it reminds me how far we've come and yet how nothing has changed."
"I suppose we have come a long way," Ashenstrike and Lionheart shared a fond smile, "if I'm being honest, I didn't ever think you'd return my feelings. And yet here I am, about to be a father to the kits of a passionate, strong, incredibly intelligent molly who almost started an interclan war posing as a leader during the first gathering she attended for the clan." Maplefall, Badgerstar and Ashenstrike all laughed, while Lionheart snorted and rolled her eyes. Ashenstrike's expression quickly darkened with worry.
"What's wrong?"
"What? Nothing's wrong?"
"No, he's right," Badgerstar was staring now too, "usually that memory makes you laugh. You always say it's what Squirrelstar would have wanted, that she would have liked our memories of her to bring joy instead of sadness. Usually you're the one laughing hardest of all about when you first met Beestripe. What's going on?" Lionheart tensed for a moment, before she looked to Ashenstrike. As her eyes met his green ones, full of concern, her shoulders slacked and she exhaled.
"I'm just a little worried," she mewed, "I guess it's dumb but I haven't seen EchoClan at a gathering for a while now. Not just Beestripe- none of them at all. I don't know, maybe it's just the whole 'having kits again after the last disaster attempt' getting to me but... I can't help but be paranoid. I'm worried about her, you know? What if they're in danger or things have gone poorly and they need help?"
"Honey..." Ashenstrike shifted forward to touch his nose to hers, "you're not being dumb, trust me. It's okay to worry sometimes, you know. And look, they're a border clan. It would be easy for us to check up on them, right?"
"Right," Badgerstar said, "I'll go tonight if it'll make you feel better."
"You don't have to do th--"
"But I want to," Badgerstar smiled, "EchoClan are our oldest friends. Maybe your fears are unfounded, but you've always had good gut instincts Lionheart. I know that's not exactly a comfort in this situation, but worst case scenario they do need help and we can give them the help they need. I'll go tonight, and I'll be back before dawn. Everything will be fine, okay?" Lionheart hesitated, and then relaxed.
"Okay."
β β β
"Are you sure this is okay?" The stars twinkled overhead as the small group of cats stood near the camp entrance, "I mean, this is my first day on the job and we're not going to have a leader and-" Badgerstar smiled at Longriver, effectively cutting him off. Beside him stood Maplefall, Lionheart and Ashenstrike at his other shoulder while Harrierstreak stuck close to his mate's side. "I know telling you to worry isn't going to help you any," Badgerstar said, "so here are the facts. If I run hard it won't take me long to get to EchoClan. I'm just going to check up on them, if I sense anything wrong I'll come immediately back. No matter what, I will be here before sunup, and if anything happens in that time then you can go to Lionheart. She has just as much experience running this clan as I do and she's better at making hard and good decisions."
"Okay," Longriver exhaled, "good luck, Badgerstar. May StarClan guide your paws." The two toms nodded to each other, as he turned to his mate. Maplefall stared at him, a fond twinkle in her eye. "If you get yourself into trouble, I'm going to take the rest of your nine lives," Badgerstar laughed, nuzzling his nose against hers as she purred, "be safe."
"I will be," he gave Lionheart a meaningful look, "if I see Beestripe, I'll tell her you're looking out for her. And take care of Ashenstrike okay? He's looking faint from the stress." The congregation of cats let out a little laugh, before Badgerstar nodded to them, and ducked beyond the willow, through the tunnel and into the night.
β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬
β¦ servings consumed
11/11 - 3 birds and 1 rabbit
β¦ clan events
elkpaw, thunderpaw, mistpaw & deerpaw attempt their warrior assessments
dusklight & dawnblossom teach emberpaw & hazelpaw the battle skill
harrierstreak & featherpelt teach falconpaw & sleetpaw tracking
adderstorm & wolverinejaw teach cinderpaw & oakpaw to hunt
goldleaf, mousestone and novella search for herbs
badgerstar goes to check on their allies in echoclan
β¦ patrols
hunting -
1 - longriver, flowershine, burrcall, willowthroat, cormorantpath, avocetnose
2 - hawkthorn, acornstream, sootface, squirrelwhisker, ternflutter, burningcloud
3 - pinefeather, midnightpaw, roseclaw, meadowfang, shadowtail, dustfang
4 - fircloud, rivuletflight, ripplemist, halfpond, sandcatcher, boulderflame
border -
1 - flintburr, sedgefire, frostbranch, sparkfur, archibald, grouseclaw
- leader:
badgerstar | 47 moons | β | π·
Lives: β β β β β β°β°β°β°
deputy:
longriver | 33 moons | β | π·
medicine cat:
goldleaf | 69 moons | β | π·
spidernose | 42 moons | β | π·
apprentice:
mousestone | 26 moons | β | π·
warriors:
flintburr | 83 moons | β | π·
hawkthorn | 57 moons | β | π·
shadowtail | 57 moons | β | π·
acornstream | 57 moons | β | π·
dustfang | 62 moons | β | π·
ashenstrike | 68 moons | β | π·
stonepatch | 44 moons | β | π·
fawnrunner | 43 moons | β | π·
flowershine | 34 moons | β | π·
harrierstreak | 35 moons | β | π·
boulderflame | 31 moons | β | π·
burrcall | 31 moons | β | π·
roseclaw | 79 moons | β | π·
sootface | 51 moons | β | π·
pinefeather | 77 moons | β | π·
dawnblossom | 25 moons | β | π·
dusklight | 25 moons | β | π·
novella | 25 moons | β | π·
halfpond | 29 moons | β | π·
sedgefire | 29 moons | β | π·
willowthroat | 35 moons | β | π·
grouseclaw | 35 moons | β | π·
wolverinejaw | 32 moons | β | π·
burningcloud | 64 moons | β | π·
meadowfang | 64 moons | β | π·
squirrelwhisker | 21 moons | β | π·
featherpelt | 69 moons | β | π·
adderstorm | 20 moons | β | π·
archibald | 25 moons | β | π·
fircloud | 81 moons | β | π·
rivuletflight | 29 moons | β | π·
ripplemist | 23 moons | β | π·
frostbranch | 23 moons | β | π·
cormorantpath | 20 moons | β | π·
sparkfur | 20 moons | β | π·
sandcatcher | 14 moons | β | π·
avocetnose | 13 moons | β | π·
ternflutter | 13 moons | β | π·
apprentices:
elkpaw | 12 moons | β | π·
thunderpaw| 12 moons | β | π·
mistpaw | 12 moons | β | π·
deerpaw | 12 moons | β | π·
juniperpaw | 11 moons | β | π·
midnightpaw | 11 moons | β | π·
emberpaw | 11 moons | β | π·
falconpaw | 7 moons | β | π·
cinderpaw | 7 moons | β | π·
sleetpaw | 7 moons | β | π·
oakpaw | 7 moons | β | π·
hazelpaw | 6 moons | β | π·
queens:
woodbloom | 21 moons | β | π·
silvermoon | 66 moons | β | π·
maplefall | 43 moons | β | π·
lionheart | 68 moons | β | π·
kits:
dahliakit | 2 moons | β | π·
willowkit | 2 moons | β | π·
sparrowkit | 2 moons | β | π·
twigkit | 2 moons | β | π·
wrenkit | 2 moons | β | π·
finchkit | 2 moons | β | π·
elders:
redrunner| 141 moons | β | π·
inventory wrote:medicine store;
catmint [4] | greencough
chervil [6] | wounds/aches
marigold [5] | wounds
tansy [2] | coughs
goldenrod [5] | wounds
catchweed [3] | poultices
poppy seeds [5] | pain
cobwebs [5] | bleeding
fennel [5] | pain
raspberry leaves [3] | kitting
ragwort leaves [4] | strength
alder bark [1] | toothache
beech leaves [1] | use ???
chickweed [4] | coughs
parsley [1] | bellyache
rosemary [1] | burial
willow bark [1] | pain
bindweed [1] | binds sticks
blackberry leaves [1] | bee stings
borage leaves [1] | milk
bright-eye [1] | cures coughs
burdock [1] | infections
broom [2] | breaks/wounds
burnet [4] | strength
celandine [4] | eye infections
horsetail [1] | stops bleeding
oak leaves [1] | stops infection
comfrey root [1] | wounds
daisy leaves [1] | aching joints
dock [1] | soothes scratches
chamomile [1] | strength
cob nuts [1] | unknown
fresh-kill pile;
mouse | x5| 1 servings [5]
vole | x5 | 1 servings [5]
rabbit | x4 | 2 servings [8]
bird | x2 | 3 servings [6]
fish | x6 | 2 servings [12]
squirrel | x5 | 2 servings [10]
capacity: 46 servings (4 posts)
relationships wrote:mentors;
sootface | elkpaw [4]
βͺ hunting, battle, climbing, adv battle
novella | thunderpaw [4]
βͺ hunting, battle, climbing, adv battle
boulderflame | mistpaw [4]
βͺ hunting, battle, adv hunt, climb
flowershine | deerpaw [4]
βͺ hunting, battle, adv hunt, climb
ashenstrike | juniperpaw [4]
βͺ hunting, battle, adv battle, tracking
pinefeather | midnightpaw [4]
βͺ hunting, battle, adv battle, swimming
dusklight | emberpaw [1]
βͺ hunting, skill, skill, skill
harrierstreak | falconpaw [1]
βͺ hunting, skill, skill, skill
wolverinejaw | cinderpaw [1]
βͺ battle, skill, skill, skill
featherpelt | sleetpaw [1]
βͺ hunting, skill, skill, skill
adderstorm | oakpaw [1]
βͺ battle, skill, skill, skill
dawnblossom | hazelpaw [0]
βͺ skill, skill, skill, skill
deceased cats;
twilightkit ; murdered by dante
family/mates;
flintburr β₯ silvermoon
βͺ halfpond & sedgefire,
due in one moon
tawnycloud β‘ shrikecry
βͺ shadowtail & hawkthorn
dustfang β‘ tanglestep
βͺ boulderflame & burrcall
hawkthorn β₯ acornstream
βͺ squirrelwhisker, woodbloom,
hazelkit
ripplebound β‘ junipernose
βͺ dawnblossom & dusklight
eagleleap β‘ dewfeather
βͺ harrierstreak & mousestone
badgerstar β₯ maplefall
βͺ juniperpaw, midnightpaw,
twilightkit; due in two moons
cherryflower β‘ frostjaw
βͺ roseclaw, russetwing, lionheart,
gingerstrike & dawnleap
roseclaw β₯ pinefeather
stonepatch β₯ fawnrunner
βͺ elkpaw, thunderpaw, mistpaw
& deerpaw
longriver β₯ harrierstreak
featherpelt β‘ seneca
βͺ avocetpaw & ternpaw
pigeoncall β‘ reedwhisper
βͺ grouseclaw & willowthroat
shadowtail β₯ dustfang
βͺ falconpaw, cinderpaw, sleetpaw
& oakpaw
burningcloud β₯ meadowfang
mousestone β₯ novella
ashenstrike β₯ lionheart
βͺ due in two moons
boulderflame β₯ flowershine
woodbloom β₯ jayfur
βͺ dahliakit, willowkit, sparrowkit,
twigkit, wrenkit, finchkit
niobe β‘ lancer
βͺ novella & archibald
fircloud β‘ callie
βͺ rivuletflight
silvermoon β‘ whitefoot
βͺ ripplemist, frostbranch
burrcall β₯ willowthroat
