clan population: 26 | next starclan visit: may 28th (today) | servings: 05 | mod: katrione | pebbles: 75 | archive: x
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────The scent of soft earth and sound of birdsong followed her as they made their way towards the lake, birch and aspen trees providing some cover from the gentle heat of the greenleaf sun. Sparrowtail's darker coat pressed against her side was familiar, a habit built since their earliest days as apprentices together, after the ex-kittypet had stumbled his way into the open stream face-first and she'd tried to keep him warm. Heathersong smiled, happy to be walking with him. Perhaps today would be the day she'd risk it all and tell him, but for now, his pleased humming and company was enough.
Before her, the trees grew spindly and dark, their bark peeling and trunks swaying as she went. Some part of her mind wanted to be alarmed by this, by how they split and fell and melted into the earth, but instead, Heathersong just moved onwards, side brushing against Sparrowtail's mischeviously. "It's a beautiful day," she said, but her eyes were trained on Sparrowtail's face and not the land around them.
"We're here," Sparrowtail said in reply, tilting his head towards what was before them. The tall, fire-blackened trees looked ready to crumble to ash at the slightest breeze. Around the lake, countless bodies were spread, bloodied and battered and broken, rogues and loyal cats alike. Marshstar's glassy eyes, Berryclaw's blood-splattered fur, Rabbitpaw's mangled throat, Dapplefur and Deerfoot and Mothgaze and Whitespeckle and more fallen friends than she could possibly hope to count. Dead, gone, scattered through the clearing without care.
"What is this?" Heathersong managed to choke out, her stomach churning violently as awareness came to her once more. She already knew the answer to her own question. "No, this can't be happening. Not again." She glanced to Sparrowtail— Sparrowstar?— but there was something ever so slightly off about him. Namely, the wide, eerie grin he wore like a crown.
"That's funny," said not-Sparrowtail, an unnatural laugh falling from his mouth as his black-and-white coat blurred before her eyes. The friendly face warped into something scarred and smirking, laughter twisting into something crueler as a massive dark tabby with cold eyes now towered over her. Heathersong froze, unable to back away as Sharptalon grinned at her, even despite the hatred in his gaze. "Why aren't you laughing?"
"No," she gasped, "No, you're dead, you can't hurt us anymore." As she backpedaled, the ground beneath her feet grew sticky and wet, and one glance down showed the lake's water stained red with blood. Pained screeches and terrified howls of cats fighting rang in her ears. "You're dead!" Heathersong wailed, squeezing her eyes shut tightly. "Please, stop, go away! Sparrowstar!"
"Wake up," said Sharptalon, still chuckling. "Wake up, Heathersong. Wake up."
With a frightened cry, the red tabby shot to her feet, chest heaving. It was still dark out, since the only light in the caves was a faint silver moon's glow. Gingerly, Heathersong stepped out of her rumpled nest, shaking the moss she'd shredded up in her sleep from her claws, and padded quietly out of the warrior's den. Each step on cold stone and not soft, grassy earth was a wake-up call, but it wasn't enough to settle the trembling of her paws, to soothe rattled nerves after one of her more vivid dreams. She needed to see, just to be sure.
It didn't take too long to find the mouth of his den, so deep in the caves that she couldn't hear the gentle croaking of crickets outside. The only thing she could hear was the thrum of a nervous heartbeat in her ears. Sure enough, Sparrowstar was tightly coiled in his own nest, limbs knotted up in a ball as he snored. Heathersong smiled softly, but as she turned to leave, a rustling sound behind her caught her attention once more. The black-and-white tom rolled over, stretching out slowly, before blinking at her in thinly-veiled confusion.
"I'm sorry to wake you," she apologized, voice a low murmur, "I needed to see that you were alright."
"S'alright," Sparrowstar yawned, fangs on full display. His yellow eyes were still cloudy with sleep. "Nightmare?" He shifted in his moss-and-pine nest again, patting the woven bundle he laid in gently. Heathersong nodded without a word, her red fur hardly more than a dull grey in the night. "C'mere," he said finally, stifling another yawn as his words slurred together. That same white paw patted the edge of the nest once more. "Y'had a nightmare. Sleep, Heather." She just smiled in quiet gratitude, curling up against his side. Her breath skipped a bit as the tom smiled sleepily, resting his own head on the hollow of her back. "G'night," he said, more of a sigh that a clear word, as his eyes finally fluttered shut.
"Goodnight, Sparrow," she whispered into the darkness. He didn't respond, but the rise and fall of his breathing was reassuring enough to lull her into a contented sleep.
---
Smokestep hadn't stopped purring since the moment Applefall had welcomed him back into the nursery. Nightfang didn't protest as the grey tabby wrapped himself around her, grooming her mussed black fur and cooing at the two kits by her side. She just smiled, tired but content. "I'm jus' so happy," he murmured, staring with teary eyes at the mewling kit that most resembled him. "They're perfect, Night. I think I might cry."
"They need names," she said, nuzzling the forehead of the grey she-kit with a white belly, and was rewarded by the tiny kitten yawning widely, showing off her tiny white teeth. The other kit, a little tom with brown-grey fur and similarly dark stripes, was already fast asleep. "Why don't you name one?"
Smokestep paused, smiling fondly at Nightfang as he mulled it over. "I had a sister. She didn't make it past kithood, but 'er name was Ashes. Maybe the lil' grey one could— nah, that's silly, I'm sure there's a better name for her." He shook his head, backing away from the idea sheepishly. "They don't need to grow up livin' someone else's life for them."
"I like Ashkit," Nightfang said firmly, stopping his apologetic rambling in its tracks. "That's a wonderful name, Smoke." He smiled again, touched, and gave the newly-named Ashkit a gentle nudge. "And what about the other one? Any ideas?"
"Aww, Night, you should really name him," the warrior said, insistent. "He's your son, too!"
Nightfang laughed. "Fine, fine. How about Cinder?" she offered. "It matches Ashkit's name. Do you like that?"
"I do," Smokestep purred, pressing his forehead to hers once more. Cinderkit's little flank rose and fell with every breath, and Ashkit finally wriggled closer to her brother and the warmth of her mother's side, falling asleep almost instantly with her face smooshed into Cinderkit's thicker fur. Smokestep cooed at the kits again, unable to help himself. "Cinderkit and Ashkit. I love them. I love you."
"I love you, too," she said, stifling a yawn, though the sentiment was no less true for it. She smiled fondly as his ears twitched with pride. "Now get cozy, it's late, and you should get some sleep." Obediently, the grey tom snuggled in further to her side, curled protectively around the three most important cats in his life, and it was in that position that he finally drifted off to sleep.
---
"Are you sure this is alright?" Cloudchaser whispered to Redwhisker, careful not to be too loud. "Being here, I mean." Her white fur, stark against the darker stone walls, seemed to call attention to her despite how carefully she moved to avoid it. Her ears flattened instinctively as unfamiliar eyes followed their trail. "I'm not from this clan like you are."
"I think you're just being paranoid," the elder sniffed, limping slightly as he kept one foot from brushing the ground. Cloudchaser shrugged wordlessly, though she did not step away from his side as she did her best to support his weight. The grumpy calico who smelled heavily of plants and flora was on his other side, matching her step-for-step as they moved the stubborn, injured elder into the healer's den. "SpruceClan's all good cats. Relax those shoulders, kid. I've got things under control."
"That's rich, coming from you," the calico butted in suddenly. Cloudchaser couldn't help her fur from spiking with alarm— she had always been easily spooked. His frustrated rant continued. "Redwhisker, we all thought you were dead. Now you show up here with your leg all mangled and perfectly alive over twelve moons later? Stars, how have you not died yet?"
At that, the old tom laughed. "I'm hardly as fragile as you think, Applefall," he said, chuckling. "Don't forget which one of us gave young Sparrowtail a good thrashing in combat, even at my age." Applefall glowered, but relented, letting the elder lie down on the patient's nest as he trotted off, calling for his apprentice. "See?" Redwhisker said smugly, eyeing his young companion. "You'll be fine, they didn't even bat an eye."
"Hello, new cat! Hello, Mr. Redwhisker!" a young voice called, just as the calico returned with a small golden tabby at his side. The little tabby grinned. "I'm Honeypaw. You're in good paws. We'll have you fixed up in no time!"
Applefall muttered the names of some herbs to the apprentice by his side, and she bounced off into the back of the den to find them as the more experienced tom began inspecting the wound area for infection or broken bone. Redwhisker grumbled at the uncomfortable prodding, but stretched out anyways to let the healers do their job. He cracked one eye open, peering at Cloudchaser as she stood quietly besides him. Honeypaw came bounding in, just as the elder began to speak. "What'd I tell you? These cats don't bite. They're too well-behaved for that."
Applefall rolled his eyes, but spread the offered cobweb over the elder's wounds regardless. Honeypaw, meanwhile, looked rather pained as she chewed up the bitter chervil leaves between her teeth to make a poultice. Once she'd finished, she slid the leaves over towards Applefall and tried to discreetly hack and spit until the taste was gone from her tongue. She was not discreet enough, since the fluffy white she-cat in the corner cracked a smile and even the stern calico healer had to fight to restrain his amusement. Only Redwhisker, whose deep cuts were being treated with that same chervil, was bold enough to laugh openly at her disgust.
The golden tabby, a little embarrassed, moved out of her mentor's way, and ended up settling right besides the older white she-cat. "Thank you for your help," Cloudchaser murmured, once she'd gathered the courage to speak. "My name is Cloudchaser." Honeypaw just offered her another one of those bright smiles, eyes crinkling at the corners and ears perked.
"It's nice to meet you, Cloudchaser," the apprentice said cheerfully. "Welcome to SpruceClan!"
---
It was pleasantly warm for so close to Leaf-fall, and it was this weather (and the convenient cancellation of the day's training sessions to celebrate the birth of Nightfang and Smokestep's kits) that saw Cherrypaw and Thistlepaw exploring the pine groves on their own. The older tabby apprentice was in the lead, her younger friend following behind quickly. Thistlepaw, usually an enthusiastic talker, was content to let her friend fill in the silence with inane babble about the newly born kits, or the weather, or what she'd had for lunch. Today, though, she didn't really want to talk back.
"How are you feeling?" Cherrypaw said suddenly, stopping halfway through her tangent on how Mintpaw had nearly brained himself during their last sparring session. "You're not usually so quiet."
Thistlepaw considered lying for a moment, but something about the worried look on her face made her think twice. She shrugged. "Not that great."
"Oh," said Cherrypaw, frowning at Thistlepaw's uncharacteristic silence. "You wanna talk about it?"
The thought of 'talking about it' made her feel a little queasy, her throat stopping up a bit. "It's stupid," the younger apprentice said finally. "It's really stupid, just—"
"It's really not," Cherrypaw cut in. "Your feelings aren't stupid. Whatever you're feeling is real, and there's nothing stupid about that. Talk to me?"
It was hard to articulate how much that meant to hear. "Mom's gone," Thistlepaw said, blinking back angry tears. "Mom's gone, after always telling us how our dad left us and how she'd always be here for us, and now she's disappeared, and I don't even know if she's dead or if she abandoned us, too. And Raven doesn't even care! He's not mad. He's not even fazed! So I don't know why I'm so upset over this, 'cause it's stupid to be angry that she's missing and nobody can find her, but I just... I don't like being left behind."
"I don't think anyone likes being left behind," Cherrypaw said, voice soft. "But thank you for telling me about it, even if I don't really know how I can help. Have you talked to Ravenpaw yet, Thistle?" Thistlepaw looked to her with wide eyes, a strange sort of fluttering hope in her chest. Cherrypaw had never used her shortened name before. Only close friends or family or... well, mates did that. She turned away for a moment, oddly flattered.
"I'll talk to him," she said. Her mouth turned up in a wry grimace of a smile. "But I don't think it'll do much."
"Cheer up!" Cherrypaw said, already beaming at her friend's improved mood. Something unreadable and fleeting crossed her face for just a moment, before twisting into something mischievous. "Hey, I know. Let's play a game!" Thistlepaw blinked, surprised by the change of pace. Her only warning of what was to come was the wriggling of Cherrypaw's haunches, before the tabby leapt into the air in a masterful pounce, barreling into her from above and knocking her to the ground. They rolled for a moment, before tumbling to a stop at the base of a large pine.
"No fair!" Thistlepaw wheezed, struggling uselessly under Cherrypaw's weight and trying to fight back a smile. "You've actually trained in in battling! Foul play!" As the perpetrator just giggled, the grey she-cat finally looked up at the tabby who'd pinned her beneath both paws. Those same wide blue eyes that had left her speechless once were now blinking down at her, all wide and shiny. Cherrypaw's face looked huge, up so close, and her laughter slowly trailed off as they stared at one another. Thistlepaw's heart leapt into her throat.
"Tag," said Cherrypaw, strangely breathless, before springing off of her and darting off deeper into the woods. "You're it! Catch me if you can!"
Thistlepaw laid there for a moment, heart racing and feeling warm beneath her grey fur, before scrambling to her feet and running off after the other apprentice. "I'm coming, Cherry!" she called after her, paws pounding against stone desperately. "Wait up!" From somewhere up ahead within the pines, Cherrypaw laughed delightedly in response.
---
When Badgerkit's eyes finally drooped shut, he expected to be drawn into darkness, or dreams, or something. He did not expect to find himself back in that marshy wet forest, unlike anything he'd ever seen in SpruceClan's mountain territory (though, to be fair, he'd never explored much further than the caves before a protective Briarmask had hustled him right back to the nursery). His little nose crinkled in disgust at the smell of decomposing leaves. For some reason, the odor was stronger than when he'd last been here; wherever 'here' was, at least. "Mom's gonna be so mad if I wake up smelling like this..." he mumbled, before a cold breeze and the sound of pawsteps behind him caught his attention.
"Welcome back," Sharptalon purred in that deep, rumbly voice that reminded Badgerkit of a slumbering bear. The little tabby smiled tightly in response. Something about Mr. Sharptalon still made him nervous, and he had to force his fur flat when the great dark cat patted his side. But Briarmask had said to be polite, even to the cats that you didn't like too much, and Sharptalon did say they were friends. Maybe the big tom ghost-dream-thing just wanted to chat?
"Thank you?" Badgerkit squeaked out, nearly leaping out of his fur when another gust of wind howled through the trees. Sharptalon just chuckled at the growing kit's skittishness.
"There's someone I'd like you to meet, little badger," he said, nudging the small tabby forwards with his bushy tail. Badgerkit stumbled forwards, but complied, allowing himself to be led deeper into the wet marshy woods and towards a dusty clearing of cracked earth. In the open space, surrounded by dark, thorny briars, something rustled. Only one of the two cats in the clearing seemed pleased to catch sight of a creeping shadow, while the other just quivered in fear. "Come out now," Sharptalon called, eyes glinting fiercely. The rustling ceased.
From the briar emerged a small, lanky young cat. Badgerkit's eyes were first drawn to the wide, brutal scar wrapped around the stranger's neck, but he next noticed the tan-and-brown mottled fur and obvious lean muscle. Both eyes twinkled, one green and one gold, and the unknown cat offered Badgerkit a cool, calculating smile. "Hi, there, Badgerkit," said the stranger, still smiling politely. Though it was obvious that he wasn't too old, given how small he was, it was his voice that betrayed just how young he was. The stranger probably wasn't too much older than Badgerkit himself. "My name is Birchpaw. I heard you were the one who's going to train with us, right? I hope we can be friends."
"This here is Birchpaw, my apprentice," Sharptalon called, to which Birchpaw dipped his head in acknowledgement. "He's young, like you, but that's what will make him such a good partner. We just want to help you be the best warrior you can be." Badgerkit swallowed thickly, while Sharptalon just nudged him towards the apprentice with a hoarse chuckle. "Go on, kitten. Show us what you can do."
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ACTIONS
SpruceClan consumes 1 bird and 1 ermine
StarClan
[ Sparrowstar asks StarClan for any cat this moon ]
Rank Changes & Newcomers
[ Redwhisker is welcomed to SpruceClan ]
[ The clan celebrates the birth of Ashkit and Cinderkit! ]
[ Rosie and Micah are given warrior names! They will be known as Roselight and Brambletuft, respectively ]
Patrols
[ Cricketpounce, Ivyblossom, Cardinaltail, Ramsey, and Thistlepaw hunt ]
[ Smokestep, Micah, Hailsplash, Cloudchaser, and Goldenpaw hunt ]
[ Briarmask, Tallthorn, Coffeepaw, and Ravenpaw hunt ]
[ Sparrowstar, Heathersong, Cherrypaw, and Mintpaw patrol ]
[ Applefall and Honeypaw search for herbs ]
Apprentice & Skills
[ Goldenpaw and Cherrypaw practice for their final assessments next moon ]
[ Sparrowstar and Mintpaw train in swimming ]
[ Briarmask, Ravenpaw, Cricketpounce, and Thistlepaw train in swimming ]
[ Tallthorn and Coffeepaw train in hunting ]
[ Applefall and Honeypaw train in kitting procedures ]
Kitting & Healing
[ Redwhisker's injuries are treated with x1 cobweb and x1 chervil ]
[ Ramsey and Cricketpounce become mates, but decide to wait before asking for a surrogate ]
[ Rosie is kitting! The father is Micah. Applefall and Honeypaw assist, using x1 burnet ]
[ Bertha's kits are arriving now! ]
MOD NOTES
* Please do not kill any cats marked with a ☾ symbol.
* Unmarked cats may be rolled for injuries or illness, but not death!
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- LEADER
Sparrowstar | 48 moons | male | x
Lives: ★★★★★★★★★
DEPUTY
Briarmask | 38 moons | female | x
HEALER
Applefall | 43 moons | male | x
Skill Points: ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿
HEALER'S APPRENTICE
☾ Honeypaw | 7 moons | female | x
WARRIORS
Cricketpounce | 43 moons | male | x
☾ Smokestep | 34 moons | male | x
☾ Heathersong | 46 moons | female | x
☾ Tallthorn | 31 moons | male | x
Hailsplash | 35 moons | male | x
☾ Ivyblossom | 18 moons | female | x
☾ Cardinaltail | 17 moons | male | x
Ramsey | 48 moons | male | x
Micah (Brambletuft) | 44 moons | male | x
Cloudchaser | 15 moons | female | x
APPRENTICES
Goldenpaw | 11 moons | male | x
Cherrypaw |11 moons | female | x
☾ Mintpaw | 10 moons | male | x, x
☾ Ravenpaw | 8 moons | male | x
☾ Thistlepaw | 8 moons | female | x
Coffeepaw | 7 moons | female (amab) | x
QUEENS
☾ Nightfang | 35 moons | female | x
Rosie (Roselight) | 41 moons | female | x
KITS
☾ Badgerkit | 4 moons | male | x
Ashkit | 1 moon | female | x
Cinderkit | 1 moon | male | x
ELDERS
Redwhisker | 110 moons | male (afab) | x
- HERB STORAGE
Alder Bark (1) | toothache
Beech Leaf (1) | soothes scratches, sore paws
Bindweed (1) | sets broken bones
Blackberry Leaf (1) | bee stings
Borage (1) | eases fever, produces more milk
Bright-eye (1) | coughing
Broom (1) | broken bones
Burdock Root (1) | rat bites
Burnet (0) | kitting
Catchweed (1) | removes burrs in fur
Catmint (2) | cures greencough & whitecough
Chervil (0) | bellyache, infection, kitting
Cobweb (0) | binds a wound, stops bleeding
Fennel (1) | eases pains
Goldenrod (1) | chewed into poultice for wounds
Hawkweed (1) | cures greencough & whitecough
Honey (1) | infections, sore or damaged throat
Horsetail (1) | infection, stops bleeding
Marigold (1) | infection, inflammation, stiff joints
Ragwort (1) | kitting pains, joint pain
Raspberry Leaf (0) | kitting
Yarrow (1) | extracts poison or toxins
FRESH-KILL PILE
Snow Hare | x 5 | 3 servings
Bird | x 3 | 3 servings
Small Fish | x 2 | 2 servings
Ermine | x 2 | 2 servings
Frog | x 4 | 1 servings
Mouse | x 4 | 1 servings
MENTORS
Smokestep | Goldenpaw | hunt, swim, climb, battle
Heathersong | Cherrypaw | hunt, swim, climb, battle
Sparrowstar | Mintpaw | hunt, swim, climb, battle
Cricketpounce | Thistlepaw | hunt, swim, climb, battle
Briarmask | Ravenpaw | hunt, swim, climb, battle
Tallthorn | Coffeepaw | hunt, swim, climb, battle
Applefall | Honeypaw | kitting, illness, herbs, injury
DECEASED CATS
Cat Name | Cause of Death
Cat Name | Cause of Death
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