[ `` groveclan !! ] [ archives - dnp ]

My gallery · by **solyn** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:12 am

inspired by rose_thorns' laurelclan archives

i have recently decided to start participating in the 'create a clan' forum game,
and to make things simpler for myself, i decided to take inspiration from rose_
thorns, and create an archive to keep track of my posts & other writings conce
rning groveclan. please do not post on this thread, but if you are interested in
it, feel free to pm me!

ＣＯＮＴＥＮＴＳ：

introduction [here]

description

clan list [updated: date]

first post

cat information

My gallery · by **solyn** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:13 am

ＧＲＯＶＥＣＬＡＮ：

starclan watches in dismay as slowly but surely, one by one, clans fall away and cats fall to greed, hatred and envy. sickened and saddened, starclan knows they must take action to prevent the corruption of all clan cats. and so, in an isolated alcove protected by thick underbrush and staunch trees, starclan sends a cat to become the leader of a new clan; groveclan, named for the forest grove that they call home. starclan hopes that this clan will follow the warrior code and behave justly, with honour & conviction in their morality.

ＴＥＲＲＩＴＯＲＹ：

map (please do not steal!)

groveclan is situated in an isolated area of mostly evergreen trees. the camp is inside a forest grove, the entrance hidden by the leaves of a willow tree that fall lightly over the mouth of the tunnel one is required to go through to reach the camp. the dens of the cats in the clan are burrows underneath the roots of the trees, or hollows in the trunks. the leader's den is a hollow in the willow's trunk, above a low-hanging branch that the leader uses to address the clan. the medicine cat den is in the hollow of an oak tree on the other side of camp, near the nursery. the territory includes forest, fields, the lake and the river. the forest and the fields are good places to hunt as there are many creatures there, and many cats like to go to the big rocks around the lake to relax in the sun. the river runs quite dangerously through most of groveclan's territory, and has steep riverbanks, so it is dangerous to go here, however when the river gets closer to the lake, it is a suitable fishing place. groveclan is bordered by mountains to the north, the waterfall to the west, the dead tree to the east (a large, dead tree in the field, the only one in sight) and by the lake to the south. common prey include birds, squirrels, small fish, rabbits, mice, and voles. predators for the clan are foxes, badgers and large birds of prey. their moonpool is at the base of the mountains to the north. to enter, cats must go through a burrow underneath a large oak tree, and follow the tunnel until coming out at a walkway at the top of the cave, and following the path down to the water.

ＴＨＥＣＡＴＳ：

groveclan is a clan for second chances. clan cats can come here to escape their pasts, and groveclan is willing to forgive or forget. while many have varied personality traits, there are among them many optimistic and idealistic cats. the older cats tend to be a bit more grounded in reality, but they all share a strong conviction in a shared moral code. groveclan cats are loyal and are a great asset to have as allies, as they are fearless and resilient. groveclan cats tend to fare better with longer coats, although the short coats are very thick to protect them from the cold. it is rare to see cats with flat faces in groveclan, as the altitude can be difficult to deal with for cats with breathing problems, especially in the unforgiving winters. groveclan cats are hardy, friendly, and fascinated by nature.

ＴＲＡＤＩＴＩＯＮＳ:

when an apprentice sits their warrior assessment, they must venture into groveclan territory to find a rock that represents them, and carry it to a monument above the waterfall, where the cats believe their spirits go to meet starclan. they must then hunt above the waterfall for a piece of prey, and return to the camp before nightfall for their ceremony. the new warrior will then sit silent vigil for a night.

when the leader of an ally clan dies, the leader of groveclan will take a fresh-kill offering to the other clan, and sit vigil with their old ally's body, to protect their spirit on the way to starclan. this is also a show of good faith, so that ally clans know their alliance will continue even past the current leader's death.

My gallery · by **solyn** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:20 am

[ updated: feb. 7 '19 ] [ 66 cats : 33 ♀ & 33 ♂ ]
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

mates & kits wrote:flintburr & silvermoon are mates
↪ halfpond & sedgefire are their kits
hawkthorn & acornstream are mates
↪ squirrelwhisker, woodbloom & hazelpaw are their kits
badgerstar & maplefall are mates
↪ juniperpaw, midnightpaw & twilightkit are their kits
roseclaw & pinefeather are mates
stonepatch & fawnrunner are mates
↪ elkpaw, thunderpaw, mistpaw & deerpaw are their kits
longriver & harrierstreak are mates
dustfang & shadowtail are mates
↪ falconpaw, cinderpaw, sleetpaw & oakpaw are their kits
burningcloud & meadowfang are mates
mousestone & novella are mates
ashenstrike & lionheart are mates
↪ fernkit & flamekit are their kits
boulderflame & flowershine are mates
jayfur of hazeclan & woodbloom are mates
↪ dahliakit, willowkit, sparrowkit, twigkit, wrenkit & finchkit
are their kits
willowthroat & burrcall are mates

-

silvermoon & whitefoot of cosmoclan are ex-mates
↪ ripplemist & frostbranch are their kits

other family wrote:shadowtail & hawkthorn are siblings
dawnblossom & dusklight are siblings
harrierstreak & mousestone are siblings
roseclaw & lionheart are siblings
grouseclaw & willowthroat are brothers
novella & archibald are siblings

-

dustfang is boulderflame & burrcall's father
featherpelt is ternflutter & avocetnose's mother
fircloud is rivuletflight's father

mentors & apprentices wrote:sootface mentors elkpaw
novella mentors thunderpaw
boulderflame mentors mistpaw
flowershine mentors deerpaw
ashenstrike mentors juniperpaw
pinefeather mentors midnightpaw
dusklight mentors emberpaw
harrierstreak mentors falconpaw
wolverinjaw mentors cinderpaw
featherpelt mentors sleetpaw
adderstorm mentors oakpaw
dawnblossom mentors hazelpaw

-

lionheart was flowershine's mentor
flintburr was burrcall's mentor
maplefall was boulderflame's mentor
ashenstrike was longriver's mentor
shadowtail was dawnblossom's mentor
lionheart was dusklight's mentor
flowershine was novella's mentor
flintburr was halfpond's mentor
ashenstrike was sedgefire's mentor
dustfang was squirrelwhisker's mentor
badgerstar was woodbloom's mentor
acornstream was adderstorm's mentor
roseclaw was cormorantpath's mentor
lionheart was sandcatcher's mentor
longriver was avocetnose's mentor
hawkthorn was ternflutter's mentor

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

𝐃𝐄𝐂𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐍 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒

name | age | ♂/♀ | cause of death | residence | 🌷

My gallery · by **solyn** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:36 am

𝔾ℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℂ𝕃𝔸ℕ !!
# of cats; total
next moonpool visit; date

𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕠𝕟 𝕒𝕘𝕠,
respond to last events
𝕥𝕠𝕕𝕒𝕪,
Put your post of what your cats are doing here

Leader:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
Lives: ★★★★★★★★★

Deputy:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Medicine Cat:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Warriors:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Apprentices:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Queens:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Kits:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Elders:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

affiliate clans wrote:ally clans;
Clan Name | Username
Clan Name | Username

enemy clans;
Clan Name | Username
Clan Name | Username

borders;
north | Clan Name | Username
east | Clan Name | Username
south | Clan Name | Username
west | Clan Name | Username

inventory wrote:medicine store;
Herb | Usage
Herb | Usage

fresh-kill pile;
mouse | x0 | 0 servings
vole | x0 | 0 servings
rabbit | x0 | 0 servings
bird | x0 | 0 servings
fish | x0 | 0 servings
squirrel | x0 | 0 servings

relationships wrote:mentors;
Mentor | Apprentice | No. of training sessions | Moves
Mentor | Apprentice | No. of training sessions | Moves

deceased cats;
Cat Name | Cause of Death
Cat Name | Cause of Death

family;
Name and Name | Kits
Name and Name | Kits

My gallery · by **solyn** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 3:43 pm

𝔾ℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℂ𝕃𝔸ℕ !!
# of cats; 01
servings consumed; 2 (unsure if this applies first post)
next moonpool visit; none, never visited

𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕠𝕟 𝕒𝕘𝕠,
The first cat came to the grove. Young, and tired, the loner was known as Nemo; nobody. Never had a family, never had a name. A nobody that no one would miss. Panting and achy, the tom sank into the soft forest floor, closing his green eyes. "Ah," he hissed as his stomach clenched painfully in hunger, curling in on himself. The walk had been long, but the pulling in his heart had subsided. He didn't know where he was, but somehow, it felt right. He was exhausted now, his breathing slow and rattly, as if it were struggling to escape his maw.
In front of him, the ghostly apparition of a cat appeared. The tom entertained a bitter laugh, nodding wryly to himself. "So this is it, huh? You've come to take me to the never?" He nodded, swallowed his fear and closed his eyes. To his surprise, the cat laughed back, ethereal and light, like the sound of the bells he had once heard at the human place. "Not quite, dear," the she-cat mewed, and somehow he felt her move closer, before something of a fresh breeze touched his nose, and his world exploded.
He saw many starry cats, racing across the black sky. He saw war and famine and disease, cats hurt and dying and self-destructing in the worst possible ways. He saw this all, before the cool feeling was gone, and he was left gasping and panting on the forest floor, struggling to get to his paws. "Who are you?" He croaked. "What was that? Who were those cats? What do you want?" He was frantic now. He was a young cat, and this was too much for him to handle. The starry molly simply smiled at him.
"I am Dovestar, your ancestor," she mewed, "not your mother, mind you, but your great, great grandmother. I am the patron of the clan who will restore importance to the ancient warrior values. Your clan."
"My clan?" The tom laughed, incredulously. "What kind of joke is this? I'm barely an adult cat, I don't know anything about these 'ancient warrior values' you speak of, and I'm the only cat here. What clan?"
"Groveclan," she mewed, "of which you are the founder. Your heart brought you here, as it was the will of Starclan. We will be watching over you, I will be watching over you. This clan is not just a new beginning for us, but for you as well. For we can give you the one thing you have always wanted; a name." Nemo looked up, blinking in confusion as the molly stepped forward, closer to him. "Will you accept your destiny?" There was a pause.
"I will."
"Then from this day forward," she intoned, raising her head to the stars, "you will be known as Badgerstar. Starclan grants you your nine lives, and bid you lead your clan well. We will teach you the warrior code, and you will instill it in the cats we bring to follow you. This clan is your destiny as much as it is ours, Badgerstar. Guide them well." She touched her nose to her forehead, and energy shot through Badgerstar like an electric shock, causing the tom to gasp, and collapse. Panting, he hauled himself to his feet, trying to comprehend what had just happened.
"Badgerstar," he whispered to himself, laughing, "Badgerstar! I have a name. Thank you, Dovestar, thank y-" he turned, to find the clearing empty. It was just him, standing alone in the grass, letting the cool night air ruffle his fur.
𝕥𝕠𝕕𝕒𝕪,
The blizzard howled through the camp, covering everything in a blanket of white snow. Badgerstar lay in his nest, safely tucked away in the hollow of the willow tree that stood sentry over the entrance. The past moon had been grueling, as he prepared the camp for the arrival of new cats that Dovestar promised him were coming. Things were ready now, but it had been a moon and there had been no sign of other living cats.
Slowly, Badgerstar got to his feet. He was no longer weak with fatigue; his pelt gleamed and shone, standing out against the white of the snow outside. He crawled from the hollow onto the branch, before making his way down the trunk of the tree to the ground. Even though it was blizzarding, Badgerstar could not give up hope. Besides, it was difficult to tell how long the blizzard would last, and it was important that he stockpiled food. After all, it wouldn't do to starve in the hollow, not after how far he'd come.
From camp, Badgerstar set off through the forest, in the direction of the fields, knowing that this route would give him the most prey, if any were still out. He also resolved to keep an eye out for any cats seeking shelter from the blizzard. Perhaps this was the deliverance of his new clan that Dovestar had mentioned? The thought made the black tom perk up as he trotted through the snow, in search of sustenance and companionship.

[ badgerstar looks for new cats while hunting in the forest ]

Leader:
badgerstar | 17 moons | ♂ | 🌷
Lives: ★★★★★★★★★

Deputy:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Medicine Cat:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Warriors:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Apprentices:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Queens:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Kits:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Elders:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

affiliate clans wrote:ally clans;
crescentclan | chasing the moon
Clan Name | Username

enemy clans;
Clan Name | Username
Clan Name | Username

borders;
north | Clan Name | Username
east | Clan Name | Username
south | Clan Name | Username
west | Clan Name | Username

inventory wrote:medicine store;
Herb | Usage
Herb | Usage

fresh-kill pile;
mouse | x0 | 0 servings
vole | x0 | 0 servings
rabbit | x0 | 0 servings
bird | x0 | 0 servings
fish | x0 | 0 servings
squirrel | x0 | 0 servings

relationships wrote:mentors;
mentor | apprentice [#]
↪ skill, skill, skill, skill
mentor | apprentice [#]
↪ skill, skill, skill, skill

deceased cats;
name | cause
name | cause

family/mates;
name and name
↪ kit names
name and name
↪ kit names

My gallery · by **solyn** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 12:45 pm

𝔾ℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℂ𝕃𝔸ℕ !!
# of cats; 02
servings consumed; stockpiling (2)
next moonpool visit; none, never visited

𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕠𝕟 𝕒𝕘𝕠,
The wind howled through Badgerstar's ears, forcing him to duck his head into the gale as he trudged back toward camp, black pelt blanketed by white snow. The hunt had been surprisingly fruitful; two squirrels he had cornered in a hollow, and a pigeon that had been snowed out of the air. He carried his prizes back through the dark, panic seizing his chest at the thought he might not ever make it back. This had been a silly idea, he realized suddenly. He should have stayed in camp. Under the snow, his foot hit something solid, and he yowled, falling face first into the snow.
"Fox dung!" He spat, sitting up and shaking out his fur, before collecting his food again. After a few moments, he stood, and continued to trudge in the direction of camp, oblivious to the shape following him at a distance through the snow. Badgerstar could not begin to describe the relief he felt as the willow tree's leaves brushed his back, and he stepped into the tunnel, sheltered briefly from the blizzard. Not quite ready to face the abysmal weather again, he put down the kill he was carrying, and shook the fur out of his snow. There was a grunt from behind him, and he turned, rapidly.
Behind him stood a she-cat, tall and stocky with an intelligent, observant face. Also on her face was a glob of snow dislodged from his coat. He gaped, unsure of how this cat had managed to sneak up on him. She shook her head, and turned slightly to brush off her snout with a paw, and he caught sight of a long scar along her left flank. Finally, the dumbstruck awe faded, and he found himself able to speak.
"Who are you?" He demanded, doing his best to sound the brave and regal leader Dovestar had promised him he would be.
"My name is Lionheart," she mewed, "and there's no need for the hostility. I saw you hunting, and I was hoping you and your clan could offer me shelter. My clan disbanded three moons ago, and I've been on my own ever since." Her voice startled him, low and baritone, with the underlying twinge of authority he was keenly aware that his own lacked.
"Well," he replied, coughing nervously, "I can give you shelter, but there's not much of a clan. It's just me at the moment."
"Just you?" She sounded confused. "How did that happen?"
"It's a long story," Badgerstar sighed, before casting a glance at the kill, "if you help me carry this to my den, I'll tell you the whole thing. I think we have time on our side."
𝕥𝕠𝕕𝕒𝕪,
"Eighteen moons," the ginger she-cat mewed incredulously, padding alongside Badgerstar. The black tom was having significant trouble getting through the snow, as he was much shorter than his companion. "I have never heard of a leader being appointed at eighteen moons. You're sure you're not clan born?"
"I told you," he mewed, before giving a frustrated hiss and leaping up and out of the snow, only to smack down into it, "I don't remember anything before I was six moons old. I just remember going to the two-leg place, and that's it. But if Dovestar is my great great grandmother, then maybe I am."
"I still think it's odd," Lionheart muttered.
"That's because you're a cynic," he replied airily, smiling impishly as Lionheart gave an annoyed 'hmph' sound, and lashed her tail. "Anyway," Badgerstar said, "it's more important that the weather has died down. I thought we were going to be stuck in my den forever! And then I would never find new cats, and we would never be able to found Groveclan like Dovestar intends for me to do."
"Oh," said Lionheart, amused, "so it's 'we' now, is it?"
"I hope so," Badgerstar replied, before hesitating briefly. "You are staying, aren't you?"
"Well," Lionheart paused, obviously thinking, "my clan is gone, and my clanmates are scattered. It's not as if I have anywhere else to go... so," she cleared her throat, "I am at your command, Badgerstar." The black tom beamed, tail raising in excitement, and consequently dumping more snow onto his back, causing him to yowl. Lionheart chuckled good-naturedly in amusement.
"Sorry," he replied sheepishly, "let's go hunting together. We need to make sure the fresh-kill pile has enough for any cats that might be seeking shelter after the weather." Lionheart nodded.
"To the forest? That's the best place to hunt around here, isn't it?"
"To the forest! And hopefully to new friends, too!"

[ badgerstar and lionheart look for new cats while hunting ]

Leader:
badgerstar | 18 moons | ♂ | 🌷
Lives: ★★★★★★★★★

Deputy:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Medicine Cat:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Warriors:
lionheart | 39 moons | ♀ | 🌷
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Apprentices:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Queens:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Kits:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Elders:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

affiliate clans wrote:ally clans;
crescentclan | chasing the moon
Clan Name | Username

enemy clans;
Clan Name | Username
Clan Name | Username

borders;
north | Clan Name | Username
east | Clan Name | Username
south | Clan Name | Username
west | Clan Name | Username

inventory wrote:medicine store;
Herb | Usage
Herb | Usage

fresh-kill pile;
mouse | x0 | 0 servings
vole | x0 | 0 servings
rabbit | x0 | 0 servings
bird | x1 | 3 servings
fish | x0 | 0 servings
squirrel | x2 | 4 servings

relationships wrote:mentors;
mentor | apprentice [#]
↪ skill, skill, skill, skill
mentor | apprentice [#]
↪ skill, skill, skill, skill

deceased cats;
name | cause
name | cause

family/mates;
name and name
↪ kit names
name and name
↪ kit names

My gallery · by **solyn** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 9:39 pm

set: between the posts of 002
characters: badgerstar & lionheart

Outside Badgerstar's den, the blizzard howled, blanketing the branch in front of him with white snow. Inside the den it was comfortably warm, however, unusual for the season. The previous nights he'd slept alone in the den, on the cold wooden base of his den, but tonight, it was different. The den was only really large enough for two cats, and so as he lay curled against the side of the strange ginger she-cat who had followed him back to the grove, the air became warmer, and almost stiflingly thick.
"We should talk," he mewed suddenly, "this feels very weird. Very weird."
"You speak a lot when you're nervous," she observed evenly, "I told you, I'm not here to hurt you. I don't want anything other than to be out of this blizzard."
"It still doesn't explain how you got here," he replied, turning his face to look at her. His green eyes stared into her amber ones, and she blinked slowly, before sighing and casting her gaze back toward the blizzard raging outside. For a brief moment, her expression turned melancholy, and he suddenly felt bad for pushing her. After all, the molly named Lionheart was the only other cat he'd seen for a whole moon. Well, unless you counted Dovestar, but she was a ghost so it wasn't really the same.
"Sorry," he murmured, "if it makes you feel any better, I'm not sure how I got here either. I came from a two-leg place, and I just kept walking because something was telling me to come here. I couldn't tell you what, but something said that I needed to come here. I guess it was Dovestar, guiding me toward my destiny."
"That makes sense," Lionheart mewed, "after all, Dovestar did say she was your kin. It makes less sense for me. I left behind an entire life. My clanmates, my littermates, my friends, my loves... I left it all behind and came out here, to an abandoned grove to meet a kit-leader in a snowstorm." She laughed, almost dryly, and Badgerstar started. It was the first time he'd heard her laugh, or portray any kind of emotion besides indifference.
"I can't say I understand," he said honestly, "up until a moon ago, I was Nemo. Nobody. I didn't have any kin, or friends, or loves. I just had me. I didn't even have a name until Dovestar gave it to me when I got here. So this is my destiny, and I'll do everything I can to make Dovestar proud, because a part of me still thinks that if I don't live up to her expectations, she'll take it away from me, and I'll have to go back to being Nemo. And I can't live like that anymore."
They sat in silence for a few minutes, just watching the snow outside. Badgerstar felt a great swell of sadness in his chest. He realized that he had never before admitted to something like that, but then again, he'd never had anyone to admit it to. He cast a glance back at Lionheart, sitting so much taller than him, with her shoulders squared and her head held high. She looked regal and commanding, and he wondered why she had not been chosen to lead Groveclan.
"We're connected, you know," she said, finally, "somehow. You said you were Nemo before this. So, you have never been a clan cat? You don't know the warrior code?" Badgerstar shook his head, somewhat hesitantly, and then Lionheart chuckled, genuinely this time, shaking her head in amusement. "I suppose that's where I come in, then. I know the warrior code off by heart. I think your great great grandmother, Dovestar, may have brought me here to teach you how to be a warrior."
"You were a warrior before, then?"
"Yes," she said, "I'm surprised you couldn't tell by my name. You've really never heard of clan cats before, then?"
"Only whispered rumours around the twoleg place," he replied earnestly, "and I doubt that they were even accurate. I don't know anything, which is why I'm so confused about why Dovestar chose me to found a clan. She could have very well chosen someone like you. You'd be a better leader than I would."
"Please," the she-cat said with a rumbling chuckle, "Lionstar wouldn't suit me as well as Lionheart does."
"But why would you be Lionstar?" The ginger molly stared at him blankly for a few seconds, before sighing, as if resigned to a fact that she'd only just come to realise. Then, she laughed. A soft, gentle sound, like tinkling bells or the sound of raindrops hitting the broad leaves of the canopy. Musical and soothing.
"Oh, Starclan," she breathed, "we do have a long way to go."

★★★

"Okay, I think I get it," Badgerstar said, leaping onto a fallen log to avoid having to wade through the snow. While Lionheart had no issue with the snow level, the shorter Badgerstar was almost up to his neck in it. "So, the basic principles of the warrior code are honour and justice. Don't kill in battle unless you absolutely have to, don't leave kits to die and stay loyal to your clan. It seems pretty easy to remember."
"Trust me," the she-cat said dryly, "you would be surprised. The amount of illicit affairs that Moorclan saw in it's time-" she cut herself off, casting a glance at Badgerstar. The black tom had stopped moving, tail raised like a banner, and grinning in an almost cheshire-like fashion. She scowled at him. "Don't look so proud of yourself."
"Don't look so grumpy," he shot back, "that's the first time you've mentioned your clan by name. You're from the moors?"
"Yes," she sighed, exasperated, "it's not important."
"It is to me," he replied, batting some snow at her, "I don't know why you avoid it. At least you have a history you can remember and a family, I don't have any of that. Just memories of dingy two-leg streets and eating out of noisy tin cans. Fresh kill tastes so much better than anything I would ever find in here. I have a new life, and I'm willing to let my old one go. You cling on to your memories but refuse to confront them."
"They're too painful," she snapped back, "I'm not ready to deal with them. Not yet."
"Okay," he said, "but you could at least tell me something about you. You know everything about me, but I don't know a thing about you. Well, except your name, but even that doesn't really make sense to me. I mean, it does, you are very lion-hearted, but how did your parents know to call you that when you were just a kit?" Lionheart chuckled, and she sounded relieved, obviously glad to have a change of topic.
"Okay then, Badgerstar. If you must know, I'm thirty-eight moons old. My parents were Cherryflower and Frostjaw. I had three brothers and a sister. Their names were Roseclaw, Gingerstrike, Dawnleap and Russetwing. I am from Moorclan which was, yes, on the moors, and I was born there, as Lionkit. I swear I've explained the naming process to you before."
"Yeah, but I didn't get it," he whined, "how did you go from being Lionkit to Lionheart? And why! Why not just call yourself Lion and be done with it? It would be so much easier."
"It's a warrior tradition. All kits born into a warrior clan will be called with the 'kit' suffix for their first six moons. Then, when they become an apprentice, they will be 'paws, to signify that their paws are on the journey to their warrior name. When that time comes, Starclan will guide you to give the cat a name that represents them as a full warrior of the clan. Oh come now, don't look so worried by that. Starclan will be there to help you. That's why leaders have the suffix 'star', because they have a close connection to Starclan."
"But not closer than the medicine cat?"
"No, not closer than the medicine cat."
"Will we need one of those?"
"You will need a medicine cat eventually, yes. You're lucky to survive this leafbare without one, it has been rather punishing. And if you ever want kits, it's not save for a queen to give birth without a medicine cat to ensure there are no complications."
"Okay, I think I get it. So, what does Lionheart mean then?"
"Well, my mother named me Lionkit," she began, "and then I became Lionpaw, and then eventually, it came time for my warrior ceremony, so I could join the clan as a full adult cat. Lion was obviously because I was a ginger cat, and heart... well. Warriors who are given the suffix 'heart' tend to be brave and stalwart, just and integral. I suppose that's what my leader thought of me."
"I can see why," Badgerstar mewed, "you are very kind to help me hunt now that the storm's gone."
"It's the least I could do," she said, "you did shelter me from the blizzard, after all, and I'm fairly sure it's my duty to Starclan. Groveclan's watchers brought me here for a reason, and that reason must be to guide you toward knowledge and understanding of the ancient warrior way of life. I cannot see any other reason I could have possibly been brought here."
"Perhaps it was fate," he suggested, "not! Not like that! I mean... platonic fate. I haven't really had any friends before, so maybe you were brought here because we're supposed to be friends, no matter how we meet?" He ducked his head bashfully. "I know it sounds silly, and like a kit's tale, but... I'd like to believe that. I'd like to believe there's a reason for all those moons of loneliness, if that was the reason that you were brought to Groveclan."
Lionheart's gaze softened as she looked at the black tom. She tilted her head softly, evaluating the fluffy pelt of her new acquaintance. The naivety spoke volumes of his youth, but he was a seemingly sweet and innocent cat. With a soft chuckle, she shrugged her shoulders, before angling her head toward the forest, indicating they should move deeper.
"Come on then, friend," she said, trying not to smile too much when Badgerstar's face lit up, and he broke out into a purr, "all that prey out there won't catch itself."

My gallery · by **solyn** » Mon Jul 17, 2017 10:35 pm

𝔾ℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℂ𝕃𝔸ℕ !!
# of cats; 06 (♀: 3 / ♂: 3)
servings consumed; stockpiling (3)
next moonpool visit; none, never visited

𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕠𝕟 𝕒𝕘𝕠,
"Does he... always stare this much?" The black tom asked, sounding a little wary of the younger cat standing in front of him and staring at him intently. The ginger molly accompanying him sighed and gave the warrior an apologetic smile.
"You're lucky he's not squealing," she replied flatly, "don't mind Badgerstar, he's just excited about meeting a new cat. Who are you and what are you doing here?"
"Flintburr," he replied cautiously, still watching the staring tom, "I come from Obsidianclan, but it disbanded. I've been wandering and I guess now I'm on your territory?"
"That's okay!" Badgerstar finally spoke, prompting Flintburr to start a little. "Groveclan is open to all. The weather out here isn't too great so you are more than welcome to accompany Lionheart and I back to camp. Unless you don't want to. I mean that's a perfectly reasonable reaction considering we're just two strange cats that you met in the forest. We could be part of a cult- maybe one that worships the Dark Forest? That's the bad side of Starclan right? Oh! Oh! Even worse, we could be dog worshippers and sacrifice our brethren to a dog overlord every full moon."
Flintburr gave Lionheart a quizzical expression. The molly sighed, again, as Badgerstar continued to babble nonsense about talking to strange cats in unfamiliar forests and whether or not that was a lesson that kits were taught by the mothers (and if it wasn't, he declared, then it should be because that could have some very serious repercussions).
"He's new at this," she said by way of explanation.
"Evidently," he murmured, watching the tom continue to talk as if he hadn't even realized Flintburr had stopped listening.
"Do you want to come back to camp? There's less snow and fresh kill. And warm-ish dens."
"Sounds like a dream," he admitted, his expression having morphed to amused bewilderment at the antics of the young leader.
"Hey," Lionheart said sharply, and Badgerstar started, "I'm taking Flintburr back to camp. You should keep patrolling and see what you find."
"Okay!" He chirped. "I'll see you later Lionheart, nice to meet you Flintburr! I hope you decide to stay!" He waved his tail wildly in farewell to the ginger and black cats, watching them wade through the snow until they were out of sight. By that time, he'd deduced that Lionheart was still the tallest cat he'd ever met, although Flintburr's fur made him look stockier. He was still thinking about this when something cracked behind him.
Whipping around, the black tom wildly looked from side to side, trying to catch a glimpse of whatever had made the noise. He flattened his ears against his head, wondering idly if his talk of dog overlords had accidentally summoned a dog. That would be less than ideal. He remembered them from the twoleg place and had no desire to deal with them again. In front of him, a bush swayed in the wind. His eyes continued to roam, unt-- hey, wait a second!
"I know you're there," he called, "the wind is blowing in the wrong direction for the bush to move like that." There was a smidge of smugness in his voice at having figured that out. Silence, for just a moment, before the bush rustled violently, and a slender she-cat stepped out of it, blinking shyly at him.
"Sorry," she mewed, "I heard cats coming and I hid. I didn't know if you were friendly or not."
"I like to think I'm friendly. I mean, I like making friends, does that classify as friendly? I mean, not that I really had friends before Lionheart, she was kind of my first friend, on account of her choosing to stay in Groveclan even though she didn't have to and all that. And I don't think I would ever want to properly hurt a cat for no reason so that makes me friendly, right? I can't think of anything that I do that would constitute as unfri-"
"You talk a lot," the calico interrupted with a tinkling laugh, "and don't worry, I don't think you're the type to sacrifice cats to dogs."
Badgerstar flushed. "Oh, so you heard that, huh?"
"Yeah-huh."
"I babble when I'm nervous. Lionheart says it'll probably pass with age."
"Lionheart seems to know what she's talking about," the young cat agreed, "and you're Badgerstar, right? Does that mean that you guys are clan cats? My mama used to tell me stories about clan cats all the time."
"Yep. This is Groveclan, my clan. What's your name?"
"Maple," she mewed, "I've never had a clan, and I don't have any family anymore. They died last fall, and I've been on my own since then." Startled, the she-cat frowned as Badgerstar's expression suddenly became melancholy.
"Well," he said finally, "I know what it's like to not have any family. You're welcome in Groveclan, if you want to stay. I think we're all a bit alone, and that's what makes us our own family. What do you say, Maple? Wanna be a clan cat?" The calico took a moment to think about this, tail swishing as she thought.
"Do I get a cool name like Lionheart's?" She asked, with a grin. Badgerstar beamed back.
"Of course you do!"
"Then I'm in."

★★★

Flintburr and Lionheart walked in peaceful silence. The ginger molly didn't mind the fact that the dark-coloured tom was eyeing her warily. If she'd met anyone other than Badgerstar, she would have been suspicious too. Besides, if she got her pelt in a twist over a tom simply looking at her, she wouldn't be very well suited for clan life at all. So, she simply walked on, with Flintburr matching her step for step.
"So, that's the leader?"
"He's Starclan sent," she explained, "or at least, that's what he tells me. I'm inclined to believe it considering when I first met him he didn't even know how the naming process worked."
"You're kidding," Flintburr's eyes widened considerably, "how old is he?"
"He's in his eighteenth moon," she replied smoothly, taking delight in the choked noise that he made, "I know, it seems ridiculous."
"And how many of you are there?"
"Just us two," she replied, "possibly three, if you're willing to stay on."
"Starclan," the black tom muttered, "if this is where they took me after Obsidianclan disbanded, there must have been a reason. Besides, it seems like you're going to need all the help you can get." He offered Lionheart a wry smile, which made the ginger she-cat laugh, and nod her agreement.
"Oh, sir," she said, "you may just be right about that."
𝕥𝕠𝕕𝕒𝕪,
"I love newleaf," Lionheart sighed, stretched out in the sun against Flintburr. The black tom was curled against a tall root of a tree, having been sunning for a while, and was now very warm. "It's so good to feel the sun again after having been wandering through sleet and snow for the past few moons. I'm so glad that leafbare is over."
"Badgerstar still seems to be in hibernation," Flintburr muttered, cracking one golden eye open and glancing toward the hollow in the tree where their leader stepped. Beside then, Maplefall purred in amusement. Lionheart liked the calico molly. Although she had a playful attitude, she was hard-working and eager to help.
"Give him a break," Lionheart said, "he's not used to the pre-dawn wakeups yet."
"Who's not?" Came a voice from behind them, and all three heads swiveled to blink owlishly at Badgerstar, standing on top of the root and blinking at them curiously. "Oh!" He said. "Oh, you meant me. Sorry. I climbed up the tallest tree in camp to see how the water is doing, since all the snow has melted and everything's wet."
"That's great," Lionheart mewed, swiftly getting to her feet, "what's the verdict?"
"I would steer clear of the river. It's too dangerous right now," he said, "and the lake has flooded the area around it, so it won't be pleasant to hunt near." He cast a glance at Lionheart, nervously, but brightened up when he saw her beaming with approval. He knew that meant he'd got it right, and he was pleased that he was learning from everything that Lionheart had taught him.
"Well then," she said, glancing between her clan members, "with that information, I guess we can start the patrols."

★★★

"So, did you have any family before you came here?" Flintburr asked in his deep baritone voice. Lionstar paused, almost hesitantly before nodding her head 'yes' in answer to his question.
"My parents and my siblings," she said, "what about you? Did you have any family in Obsidianclan?"
"Yes," he replied, looking worried, "I had a mate, and two kits, newly born. I hope they're okay. In all the madness, we split up and I haven't seen them since." Lionheart paused, as Flintburr had stopped walking. Carefully, she pressed her nose to her cheek in a comforting manner.
"I know how it feels," she said, "but I'm sure they're fine. I'm sure Badgerstar will take you to the next gathering so you can get word of them, but if that's too late to wait then I'm sure we can ask the allies that we made at this gathering to keep their ears open for news of them." Flintburr gave her a grateful smile, and she dipped her head in return, before striding forward and flicking his ear with her tail.
"Now," she said with an air of authority, "enough chit-chat, let's go catch the clan some prey, shall we?"

★★★

"There are a lot of refugees," Badgerstar's voice was concerned as he glanced between the siblings standing in the tunnel to the camp. Maplefall stood behind him, peeking around his flank at them, and blinking. Even though she'd been here a moon, she was still fascinated by the older, more experienced warriors.
"It seems a lot of clans are disbanding," replied the she-cat, shaking her head sadly, "it's a true shame. So many families are being split up. Hawkthorn and I are just lucky that we managed to stick together. It's been a very tense few moons, and we'd really appreciate it if Groveclan could give us shelter."
Badgerstar's brow knitted, and he turned slightly to look at Maplefall. "I don't want to turn away a cat in need," he said uncertainly, "but Groveclan is still small, and we don't have the resources to house refugees who don't plan on staying."
"Who says we don't plan on staying!" Shadowtail mewed. "Hawkthorn and I are more than happy to help out. Just give us a trial run, and we'll pull our weight. I promise you, we'll be the most hardworking pair of warriors that Groveclan has ever seen."
"Please," said the tom, startling all three cats, as he was notoriously quiet, "we don't have anywhere else to go. Groveclan seems good territory and you seem good cats. We don't have a home anymore, but I'd like to make Groveclan mine." Silence fell in the tunnel as the four cats regarded each other, before Badgerstar breathed deeply, and smiled.
"Okay," he said, "Lionheart and Flintburr are out hunting in the forest to the north. If you can hunt in the meadow to the east, that would be wonderful. A bigger clan means more hungry mouths to feed."
"Of course!" Chirped Shadowtail, "we won't let you down."

[ flintburr and lionheart go hunting in the forest
shadowtail and hawkthorn of lunarclan have joined groveclan!
shadowtail and hawkthorn go hunting in the field
maplefall and badgerstar look for cats on border patrol ]

Leader:
badgerstar | 19 moons | ♂ | 🌷
Lives: ★★★★★★★★★

Deputy:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Medicine Cat:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Warriors:
lionheart | 40 moons | ♀ | 🌷
flintburr | 55 moons | ♂ | 🌷
maplefall | 15 moons | ♀ | 🌷
shadowtail | 29 moons | ♀ | 🌷
hawkthorn | 29 moons | ♂ | 🌷
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Apprentices:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Queens:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Kits:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Elders:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

affiliate clans wrote:ally clans;
crescentclan | chasing the moon
echoclan | Katrione

enemy clans;
Clan Name | Username
Clan Name | Username

borders;
north | echoclan | Katrione
east | Clan Name | Username
south | Clan Name | Username
west | Clan Name | Username

inventory wrote:medicine store;
Herb | Usage
Herb | Usage

fresh-kill pile;
mouse | x0 | 0 servings
vole | x0 | 0 servings
rabbit | x0 | 0 servings
bird | x1 | 3 servings
fish | x0 | 0 servings
squirrel | x2 | 4 servings
capacity: 7 servings (3 posts)

relationships wrote:mentors;
mentor | apprentice [#]
↪ skill, skill, skill, skill
mentor | apprentice [#]
↪ skill, skill, skill, skill

deceased cats;
name | cause
name | cause

family/mates;
flintburr and silvermoon
↪ halfkit & sootkit
unknown and unknown
↪ shadowtail & hawkthorn
name and name
↪ kit names

My gallery · by **solyn** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 4:27 pm

𝔾ℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℂ𝕃𝔸ℕ !!
# of cats; 08 (♀: 5 / ♂: 3)
servings consumed; 3 servings
next moonpool visit; today

𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕠𝕟 𝕒𝕘𝕠,
"So," Badgerstar said to Maplefall as they ambled along in the new-leaf sunshine, "what do you think about the refugees? First Flintburr, then the siblings from Lunarclan. It seems like a lot of clans are having trouble these days. And I don't know if I can lead all these cats! I mean, before all this, it was just me and Lionheart, and I'm still learning from her! I'm basically her apprentice since I don't know much at all about clan life and she-"
"Badgerstar!" Maplefall interjected, laughing. "You will be fine. You've been leading Flintburr and I perfectly well for the past moon and I am of the opinion you'll be a great leader to all cats. As for the refugees... I don't know. I don't know Flintburr well enough to ask him why Obsidianclan disbanded."
"True," Badgerstar hummed to himself, before stopping, with a frown. "Hey, do you smell that?" He asked, looking this way and that for the peculiar scent. Maplefall stepped up next to him, scenting the air before frowning and nodding. "That's not one of our cats," he said, just to confirm. Maplefall nodded again, her expression worried as she looked to Badgerstar. The black tom seemed undecided on the best course of action, before a small, sandy-ginger she-cat burst from the bushes in front of them. Both older cats jumped back a step.
"I'm sorry!" The cat blurted, "don't hurt me! I didn't mean to scare you! I'm just hungry and I'm so afraid! There were dogs chasing me and I don't know where I am!" The cat looked fit to cry, and Badgerstar's jaw dropped in panic. He made a strangled sound, unsure of how to comfort the tiny cat, before Maplefall stepped forward, crouching a tad to be at eye level with the young stranger. She smiled kindly at the other, and instantly the cat seemed to calm down.
"It's okay," she said gently, "my name's Maplefall, and this is my good friend Badgerstar."
"You're clan cats!" The young cat gasped.
"Yes," Maplefall purred with amusement, "yes we are. Badgerstar here is the leader of our clan, Groveclan. We have some food you can eat, and a place you can rest. If you want to stay with us, you're more than welcome. Right Badgerstar?" She turned to glance over her shoulder. The black tom nodded enthusiastically, relieved that Maplefall had managed to placate the strange cat. She nudged the apprentice forward, casting a worried look at Badgerstar.
"Forget what I said before," he said confidently, "Groveclan can handle the new cats. Welcome to the clan... er...?"
"Magnolia," she replied, glancing up at Badgerstar with inquisitive eyes. Badgerstar looked helplessly at Maplefall, who simply shrugged back at him.
"Well don't look at me," she said, "wait till we get back to camp. Lionheart will know what to do."

★★★

"A magnolia is a flower," said Lionheart flatly, an amused Flintburr sitting behind her, "did you two genuinely not know that?" The befuddled looks the young cats were giving her were answer enough. Sighing, she looked at the apprentice cowering behind Maplefall's flank. "Well, you have to give her a clan name and a mentor, Badgerstar. Look at her, she can't be much older than a kit! And she seems quite taken with Maplefall, it would be good for her to have an apprentice. How old are you?" She demanded of the stranger, who squeaked lightly.
"Six moons," she said nervously.
"The perfect apprentice age." She nodded toward the high branch, and the other cats waited expectantly as Badgerstar nervously clambered up to the branch. He felt his stomach drop as he looked down at his clan, mouth dry. He felt like he was forgetting the words, until there was a whoosh of air next to his head, and he glanced across to see the ghostly form of Dovestar sitting on the branch next to him. He took a deep breath and cleared his throat, before beginning to speak;
"Magnolia, you will now be called Flowerpaw until you receive your warrior name. I have decided your mentor will be Lionheart. I hope that she will pass down all her knowledge to you." The ginger molly looked surprised, glancing at Maplefall who just giggled and winked at her. Badgerstar continued; "Lionheart. You have had the most challenging apprentice recently, and if you can train him, you can train anyone." They shared a private, knowing smile. "You have shown yourself to be tenacious and good-hearted and I expect you to pass down your knowledge and heart to your new apprentice, Flowerpaw."
"Flowerpaw! Flowerpaw!" came the cheers as Lionheart and Flowerpaw touched noses, and the other cats of the clan gathered around the young apprentice. Badgerstar remained on his branch, looking down at his clan with a sense of pride swelling in his chest. He had done that. He had appointed Groveclan's first apprentice. He grinned, and at that moment, Lionheart turned her head and caught his eye. She nodded to him, and he nodded back, and in that moment and entire silent understanding passed between them, unheard by the rest of the clan.
𝕥𝕠𝕕𝕒𝕪,
"Another one," Badgerstar sounded dismayed as he glanced at the long-haired brown molly standing in the centre of his camp. "Is something happening that we're not aware of? Is something happening to make clans disband. I don't understand! That's three different clans in as many moons!"
"It happens," the new cat replied smoothly, with a graceful shrug of her shoulders. "I was just hoping this clan would give me refuge. I've been walking for moons and I don't think I can walk for much longer without collapsing." She glanced around the group of cats gathered before her; a small black tom with a distinctive white blaze, looking concerned, a taller black tom standing next to a slight calico she-cat (the tom looking unimpressed, the she-cat looking curious) and a pair of brown tabbies eyeing her quizzically. Not to mention the bright ginger and smaller, lighter ginger next to her.
"We can't turn away a cat in need," the ginger finally said, gaining an enthusiastic nod from the smaller of the brown tabbies.
"I agree," mewed Shadowtail, "and so does Hawkthorn. I know we've only been here a moon, but we needed refuge too and you didn't turn us away then. It's a part of the principles of Groveclan! Like Lionheart said, we're all vagrants and wanderers with no other home. If this she-cat doesn't have a home, then Groveclan has to be her new one. It just has to."
"You're right," Badgerstar sighed, but he was smiling, "thank you for that, Shadowtail. I could never turn away a cat in need of a home, it's just cruel and it would be hypocritical of me, when I spent so long searching for a home of my own. Welcome to the clan. I'm Badgerstar, and these are the other cats- Lionheart, Maplefall, Flintburr, Shadowtail and Hawkthorn, and Flowerpaw, our newest member... besides you, of course."
"Acornstream," she supplied, "and I'm forever thankful for your kindness."
"Well, Acornstream. You come at a busy time! Today, I make my first journey to the Moonpool to talk to Starclan, and ask Dovestar for guidance. Lionheart will be in charge until I get back, because she's been here the longest and seems the most used to corralling kits, which is why she has the apprentice and not anyone else." A ripple of amusement went around the clan, and Lionheart rolled her eyes at her friend.
"Don't keep Starclan waiting," she said, stepping forward to lick Badgerstar's forehead. The black tom nodded, bowed his head and bounded out of camp. They watched him go, before Lionheart breathed deeply, and turned to face the other cats. "Flowerpaw and I will be training near camp today, if you need us. Flintburr and Maplefall will patrol the border, and Shadowtail and Hawkthorn can hunt. Acornstream, take the day to rest in camp. I know how exhausting it is to travel for so long. Your work begins tomorrow."

★★★

Badgerstar was in awe of the cave. It was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen in his life. Cautiously, he padded down the spiral path, and onto the smooth floor of the cave. It was so quiet, so peaceful... the perfect place to talk with ancestors past. He moved toward the pool, settling himself down at the edge, and gazing at his reflection. He couldn't help but gasp; in the past three moons since he'd come to the forest, he had changed so much. No longer was he scraggly, unkempt and scrawny. He'd filled out, and his pelt shone with a softness he hadn't seen before. He laughed, to the ancestors listening.
"Thank you, Dovestar," he said to the empty cavern, "you did this. And now, I must ask Starclan to do help me, and my clan. Lionheart says I will need a medicine cat if I am to keep Groveclan alive, and she is never wrong so I don't doubt her advice. I ask for Starclan to send me a medicine cat, or lead me to one, so that I can ensure that my clan thrives and prospers. Thank you for this new life you have given me, and please, hear my plea."
Taking a deep breath, he touched his nose to the water.

★★★

At dusk, Acornstream sat against the roots of a tree, enjoying the last rays of sun. Suddenly, a shadow fell over her, and she looked up to see the silent brown tabby she'd come to surmise was named Hawkthorn. She blinked at him, before giving him a half-smile and tilting her head at him; "can I help you?"
"Not help," he replied, in a deep but soft voice, "but I did want to know. Have you really been walking for three whole moons?" Acornstream nodded. Hawkthorn blew out an incredulous sigh, as he sat down beside her, shifting to be out of the way of the light. "Shadowtail and I weren't even walking for a moon before we found this place. We had nowhere else to go. We're just lucky that we ended up here together."
"Well, I didn't have to worry about that," Acornstream said with a dry laugh, "I didn't have any family. Not in Asterclan, and not anywhere else in the world." The pair were silent for a few moments, watching Flowerpaw demonstrate some of the hunting techniques she had learned to Maplefall, while Lionheart and Flintburr sat together in hushed conversation. He said something that made the she-cat laugh and shake her head lightly.
"Well," Hawkthorn said quietly, "I think you have to worry about that now." She gave him a quizzical look. "We haven't been here long, Shadowtail and I, but from what I can tell... everyone's a family here. Like Lionheart said, we all come here because we're a bit lost and have nowhere else to go. And I think that thread of understanding... that makes us family. All of us. So even if you didn't have family before... you do now. And you're stuck with us, whether you like it or not." There was a beat of silence, before Acornstream chuckled breathlessly.
"Thank you, Hawkthorn," she said, sitting up to be able to touch her nose to her cheek.
"You're welcome," he replied, ducking his gaze away from hers shyly. "Now come on, Badgerstar will be back any second to tell us what he learned from the Moonpool."
"Badgerstar's quite young, isn't he?"
"Oh, you have no idea."

[ badgerstar requests a medicine cat from starclan at the moonpool
lionheart takes flowerpaw training to teach her the hunting skill
flintburr and maplefall go on border patrol
shadowtail and hawkthorn go hunting in the forest
acornstream of asterclan has joined groveclan!
the clan consumes one bird from the kill pile. ]

Leader:
badgerstar | 20 moons | ♂ | 🌷
Lives: ★★★★★★★★★

Deputy:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Medicine Cat:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Warriors:
lionheart | 41 moons | ♀ | 🌷
flintburr | 56 moons | ♂ | 🌷
maplefall | 16 moons | ♀ | 🌷
shadowtail | 30 moons | ♀ | 🌷
hawkthorn | 30 moons | ♂ | 🌷
acornstream | 30 moons | ♀ | 🌷
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Apprentices:
flowerpaw | 7 moons | ♀ | 🌷
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Queens:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Kits:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Elders:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

affiliate clans wrote:ally clans;
crescentclan | chasing the moon
echoclan | Katrione

enemy clans;
Clan Name | Username
Clan Name | Username

borders;
north | echoclan | Katrione
east | Clan Name | Username
south | Clan Name | Username
west | Clan Name | Username

inventory wrote:medicine store;
Herb | Usage
Herb | Usage

fresh-kill pile;
mouse | x1 | 1 servings
vole | x1 | 1 servings
rabbit | x2 | 4 servings
bird | x2 | 6 servings
fish | x0 | 0 servings
squirrel | x2 | 4 servings
capacity: 16 servings (5 posts)

relationships wrote:mentors;
lionheart | flowerpaw [1]
↪ hunting, skill, skill, skill
mentor | apprentice [#]
↪ skill, skill, skill, skill

deceased cats;
name | cause
name | cause

family/mates;
flintburr and silvermoon
↪ halfkit & sootkit
unknown and unknown
↪ shadowtail & hawkthorn
name and name
↪ kit names

My gallery · by **solyn** » Mon Jul 24, 2017 8:41 pm

𝔾ℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℂ𝕃𝔸ℕ !!
# of cats; 09 (♀: 6 / ♂: 3)
servings consumed; 3 servings
next moonpool visit; 28/07 onward

𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕠𝕟 𝕒𝕘𝕠,
The moon was high in the sky, and the stars glittered overhead as the cats of Groveclan sat in the night, waiting for their leader to return. Shadowtail, Hawkthorn and Acornstream sat in a close-knit circle together, laughing about something, while Flowerpaw had curled up fast asleep next to Maplefall. Lionheart and Flintburr sat shoulder to shoulder, watching the entrance of the camp, waiting for the shape of a small dark cat to dart through.
"He's fine," Flintburr said to Lionheart reassuringly, "I'm certain of it. He has nine lives, after all." Lionheart simply nodded, keeping her head turned toward the entrance, unwilling to look away in case she missed his arrival. Nerves swelled in her stomach. Badgerstar was her first friend in a long time, and a cat who had given her a home and a purpose. If anything had happened to him, she didn't know what she would do. Flintburr nudged her shoulder with his own and she jolted a little, blinking at the fluffy black tom in surprise. He smiled at her, gently.
"Sorry," she said, "thank you, you're right. What do you think about that cat, by the way? The one you and Maplefall found? I haven't had a chance to talk to her yet."
"She... seems genuine," Flintburr replied after a while, "she had a warrior name and everything, not like Maplefall when you two found her. And she seems to know her herbs as well. I feel like you would like her, she just about bit my ears off for being even the slightest bit wary of her. And she terrified poor Maplefall. I daresay she's grumpier than you." Flintburr's mouth curled up in a smile as Lionheart snorted, shooting him a play-annoyed look.
"Goldleaf, right?"
"That's right."
"We'll see what Badgerstar has to say about her," Lionheart said.
"Say about who?" The voice behind her made Lionheart jumped, and she whipped her head back around, before the entire clan were on their feet, crowding around their leader excitedly. He stepped forward, and touched noses with Lionheart, the ginger molly purring in relief. As he spotted Maplefall, Badgerstar's tail curled above his back and he bounded forward. They paused in front of each other, hesitantly, before he touched noses to her too, with a soft chuckle.
"We found a cat, Badgerstar," Flintburr said, "and it's good to see you back safe."
"Another refugee?" Badgerstar's tail drooped as he turned back toward the older cats, but it was Maplefall's shake of her head that drew his attention back to her, his body relaxing. Flintburr nodded to the calico to take the lead, glad to see the youngest warrior in the clan showing initiative.
"She's not from a clan around here," Maplefall mewed, "she says her name is Goldleaf, she's a medicine cat, and that Starclan sent her to us." Badgerstar's face lit up, and he whipped around to look for the cat in question, his eyes falling on the pale gold fur emerging from the den he'd designated to be the medicine cat's den. Their eyes met, and Goldleaf looked amused by the black tom's apparent glee at seeing her.
"So Starclan did answer me!" He crowed gleefully. "Hello, Goldleaf, I'm--"
"Badgerstar, I know," she mewed coolly, "Dovestar's had me travelling here for moons. And before you ask, she appeared to me in a vision and told me I was needed here. And I would never question Starclan. If they tell you they have a plan for you, then they have a plan, and she lead me here. I see you're in need of a medicine cat?"
"We are," Badgerstar said, "welcome to Groveclan. That is, if you want to stay?"
"Well, I came this far didn't I?" She said, with a wry smile. Lionheart's ear twitched. She could see what Flintburr meant; the molly's sharp tongue was already amusing. She turned, glanced back at the medicine cat den, and huffed. "But I might not stick around if that herb supply stays so empty. I'll need a warrior to help me gather herbs tomorrow."
"I'll do it," Lionheart said, "Maplefall can look after Flowerpaw for the day."
"Then it's settled," Badgerstar said, glancing around his clan with pride, "everyone, welcome our newest member- Goldleaf!"
𝕥𝕠𝕕𝕒𝕪,
The storm clouds overhead were worrying, but the mood inside Groveclan was cheerful. Ever since the arrival of a medicine cat, tensions had been much lower. There was no more underlying fear of no one to help them if there was an injury, and Goldleaf seemed more than capable. As the first spatters of rain came with the dawn, Badgerstar emerged from his den onto the branch and yowled for the rest of the clan. They gathered underneath the high branch, looking up at him with expectant eyes. Badgerstar cleared his throat.
"Good morning everyone," he said cheerfully, and a murmur of a chuckle went around his clan at his lack of formality, "Lionheart and Flowerpaw are going to train today, so I'm going to take Maplefall and Flintburr with me on a patrol to see if the rain is flushing out any new warriors. Acornstream, can you take Shadowtail and Hawkthorn hunting in the forest? Stay away from the lakes and the river, it's too dangerous right now."
"Yes, Badgerstar!" Shadowtail trilled cheerfully, already on her feet. Her brother and the acorn-brown she-cat were quick to follow, calling out their goodbyes as they loped out of the camp and into the territory. The canopy of the forest blocked out most of the rain, but the smell of petrichor in the air was overwhelming, and even with her nose directly to the ground, Shadowtail was having trouble picking up the scent of anything. A drop of water rolled directly off a leaf above and splashed her on the forehead. She huffed and shook her head roughly.
"No luck," she whined, turning to Hawkthorn and Acornstream. "I feel like a dog, tracking with my nose to the ground, but I can't pick up anything! What about you, are either of you having any luck?" Her brother shook his head, and Acornstream just sighed, her ears flattening dejectedly, before perking up again.
"The rain must be washing all the creatures back into their dens," she said, "I know Badgerstar said to stay away from the lake, but it's possible we could go there, where the dens and burrows will be flooded. Or, we can hunt in the trees. Birds can't fly when it's wet and it'll be harder for them to get away!" Shadowtail and Hawkthorn turned to her with twin beams, and it struck her how similar they were when they looked at her like that. Hawkthorn purred, while Shadowtail giggled gleefully.
"Acornstream," she meowed to her friend, "you are an absolute genius!"
"I try," she purred, shaking out her wet fur that hung off her frame like lichen moss. Hawkthorn snickered at her and she playfully splashed water at him, the droplets easily sliding out of his short fur. She huffed at the unfairness of the motion; neither he or Shadowtail were bothered by their pelts getting bogged down in the rain.
"I think we should stay away from the lake for now," Hawkthorn added, "I don't think Badgerstar would be mad, but we have to be conscious of our own safety. And I don't want... either of you getting hurt." Shyly, he smiled at Acornstream, whose tail curled happily at him. She nodded, and glanced upward at the trees. Shadowtail's eyes followed hers, and so did Hawkthorn's, the three of them staring into the green leaves above their head.
"Then it's settled," Acornstream mewed, "let's go catch some birds."

★★★

Groveclan was not a bad place to live. The camp was on a rise so that it didn't flood, and it was sheltered from snow. Goldleaf's den was spacious, and had plenty of room to store her herbs. Or, what very few she had. She couldn't blame the other cats for never having collected any, they weren't medicine cats after all, but it was tedious trying to build up a supply from nothing, especially when the warriors were mostly needed elsewhere, so she had to carry everything herself. Luckily, Lionheart often opted to help her on days where she could pass her apprentice off to Maplefall for a patrol.
She exited the den, and shook her fur in the rain with a disgruntled huff. She went to take a step forward, when Flowerpaw crashed into her with a yowl. Alarmed, Goldleaf fell limp underneath the young ginger apprentice. What in Starclan's name is she doing! Goldleaf thought, but the thought abated when she heard Lionheart's tinkling laugh from the other side of camp. Pushing the apprentice off of her, the molly stood up, shaking her head.
"So, now you enlist your apprentice to help bully me?" She asked, amusement lilting her voice.
"I wouldn't say bully..." Lionheart mused, "don't look so grumpy, Goldleaf. You need to work on your battle skills too. So does Flowerpaw, since we never know when something bad might happen. I just think we're lucky so far to have not encountered any difficulties. At least we don't seem to be in danger from other clans. Badgerstar is good at making friends."
"But didn't you say you were posing as leader?" Flowerpaw asked, curiously.
"Yes, and I almost provoked an Echoclan warrior within the first few minutes because I accidentally ran into her," Lionheart felt warm as Goldleaf and Flowerpaw both laughed. The memory was fond now; her following chat with Beestripe had been very nice and Squirrelstar seemed very friendly too. Idly, she wondered how the dark brown tabby and her grandmother were going. Shaking her head, she flicked her ears at Goldleaf. "Anyway, what are you up to today?"
"Herb gathering," Goldleaf replied, "I don't suppose there's any chance you could accompany me today?" She sounded hopeful. She liked Lionheart; she was a strong-willed she-cat with a sharp tongue and an even sharper mind, and in the moon she'd been here, they seemed to get along swimmingly. She liked talking to Lionheart about clan life before Groveclan, where they came from and who they'd left behind. It was a good feeling; a warm feeling.
"Unfortunately, no," Lionheart mewed, "I have to train Flowerpaw. She needs to brush up on her battle skills and tactics, which is why we're practicing in the camp while no one is here, so she can learn how to defend it. You're always welcome to join us once you've finished collecting herbs." She added the last part teasingly, eyes sparkling with mischief. Goldleaf snorted, and then laughed, shaking her head at the ginger.
"You know what," she said finally, "maybe I will. But only after I've collected my herbs." With that, she turned and yowled goodbye to Lionheart and Flowerpaw over her shoulder, making her way out of the camp and into the territory beyond.

★★★

"I'm telling you," Badgerstar said, "if a badger and a dog got into a fight, then the badger would win, every time!" Flintburr snorted and rolled his eyes, while Maplefall giggled in amusement at their silly argument. They'd been debating this ever since they left the camp, and Badgerstar had made a comment about how cool badgers were compared to the dogs from the two-leg place.
"There are some pretty big dogs around," Flintburr pointed out to the other black tom.
"Yeah, but they're all whiny and wimpy! They hear the dog patrol van coming and they scatter. Badgers don't have to care about that and they don't listen to two-legs either. They'd beat a dog any day!" Flintburr scoffed and rolled his eyes. Badgerstar's tail lifted in amusement as he bumped the other with his shoulder. "You know I'm right," he sing-songed.
"I think you're both wrong," Maplefall interjected, drawing their attention. After a dramatic pause, she shot them both an impish smile, her tail kinked over her back, "I would win in a fight against both a badger and a dog." Flintburr and Badgerstar couldn't help but laugh with her, the merriment in the patrol obvious. It was such an inane argument, and it didn't even matter! But it was still fun to think about it, and the thought of little Maplefall triumphantly standing over the woozy, unconscious masses of a large dog and a badger was just too funny.
"Of course you would," Badgerstar finally managed, "you're one of the most brave and fierce she-cats I know!"
"Lionheart being the other?" Maplefall queried.
"Yeah."
"Now there's a she-cat that could defeat a badger and a dog," Flintburr said, prompting another round of laughter. Now that was more believable: Lionheart all claws and fury attacking a much larger enemy and triumphing. They all nodded. It seemed the argument had been resolved: it didn't matter if a badger or a dog would win in a fight because they would always eventually lose to Lionheart. Badgerstar and Maplefall had gone a few paces, before they realised Flintburr wasn't with them. They turned to see him standing still, and frowning.
"Flintburr?" Maplefall asked, concern laced into her voice. "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing," he said, shooting her a reassuring smile, "I just... think I smell some badger. It might just be because we've been talking about it though." A look passed around all of the cats, before Maplefall and Badgerstar scented the air as well. The mood dropped significantly as their noses came down, twitching with the scent of badger. Maplefall glanced between her two friends with worry.
"That's odd," she said, "I've never smelt badger this far into the territory..."
"The flooding must be driving them out of their burrows," Flintburr suggested, "Maplefall and I scented some near the lake when we patrolled there about a moon ago. We assumed they lived there, but if they do... they must be looking for a new place to resettle."
Badgerstar looked worried, his tail swishing in agitation. This was not good; things had just been looking up in the clan. He sighed, looking to his two warriors, who stared back at him expectantly. After a moment or two, he sighed again, with a half-defeated shrug and lowered his head. He was shaking it now as he turned and padded on.
"There's not a lot we can do," he said, "we just have to keep patrolling and hope we don't run into any trouble. I just wish we had some more warriors to deal with this. Not that you're not wonderful- but Flintburr and Lionheart are really the only experienced battlers we have. Acornstream and the tabby siblings seem to be hunters rather than fighters and I... don't know what I am."
"Let's hope Starclan hears you then," Flintburr murmured, "because I have a bad feeling about this."

[ badgerstar, flintburr and maplefall go on patrol to look for new cats
lionheart takes flowerpaw training (battle skill)
shadowtail, hawkthorn and acornstream hunt in the forest
goldleaf gathers herbs [catchweed/marigold priority]
the clan consumes a mouse and two voles ]

Leader:
badgerstar | 21 moons | ♂ | 🌷
Lives: ★★★★★★★★★

Deputy:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Medicine Cat:
goldleaf | 43 moons | ♀ | 🌷

Warriors:
lionheart | 42 moons | ♀ | 🌷
flintburr | 57 moons | ♂ | 🌷
maplefall | 17 moons | ♀ | 🌷
shadowtail | 31 moons | ♀ | 🌷
hawkthorn | 31 moons | ♂ | 🌷
acornstream | 31 moons | ♀ | 🌷
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Apprentices:
flowerpaw | 8 moons | ♀ | 🌷
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Queens:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Kits:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

Elders:
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]
name | age | ♀/♂ | [url=link]🌷[/url]

affiliate clans wrote:ally clans;
crescentclan | chasing the moon
echoclan | Katrione

enemy clans;
Clan Name | Username
Clan Name | Username

borders;
north | echoclan | Katrione
east | Clan Name | Username
south | Clan Name | Username
west | Clan Name | Username

inventory wrote:medicine store;
catmint [1] | greencough
chervil [1] | wounds/aches
marigold [1] | wounds
tansy [1] | coughs
goldenrod [1] | wounds
herb [#] | use

fresh-kill pile;
mouse | x0 | 0 servings
vole | x0 | 0 servings
rabbit | x2 | 4 servings
bird | x2 | 6 servings
fish | x2 | 4 servings
squirrel | x2 | 4 servings
capacity: 18 servings (6 posts)

relationships wrote:mentors;
lionheart | flowerpaw [2]
↪ hunting, battle, skill, skill
mentor | apprentice [#]
↪ skill, skill, skill, skill

deceased cats;
name | cause
name | cause

family/mates;
flintburr and silvermoon
↪ halfkit & sootkit
unknown and unknown
↪ shadowtail & hawkthorn
name and name
↪ kit names

[ `` groveclan !! ] [ archives - dnp ]

[ `` groveclan !! ] [ archives - dnp ]

[ `` groveclan !! ] [ about the clan ]

[ `` groveclan !! ] [ the clan ]

[ `` groveclan !! ] [ post format ]

[ `` groveclan !! ] [ 001 ]

[ `` groveclan !! ] [ 002 ]

[ `` groveclan !! ] [ intermission 001 ]

[ `` groveclan !! ] [ 003 ]

[ `` groveclan !! ] [ 004 ]

[ `` groveclan !! ] [ 005 ]

Who is online