Intro
The mud pulls at your paws and belly fur, squelching loudly with ever step you take. You curse inwardly, hating your lack of stealth, but there is little you can do about it at this point. Tail twitching irratably, you pick you way gingerly through the marshland, cursing your decision to venture into this godforsaken place. For all you know, you're chasing a rumor, a fantasy. A story made up for kits. Because surely, no cat could survive in a place like this! With mud still sucking at paws, you push through the last of the fronds and find yourself staring out at a beautiful expanse of water. Patches of fronds and lily pads break the surface and here and there a log floats lazily along an almost nonexistent current. You let out a faint growl of annoyance. You SHOULD should have known better, honestly. You've lived here all your life and never once seen any proof that the Everglade cats existed. Granted, you had never had the guts to venture out here before either but that's beside the point. You've been all through this marsh and have yet to see signs of a single cat. Something moves in your peripheral vision and you snap your gaze to the left, tensed to flew, but it's only just a lot floating closer and closer to the shore where you stand. Not precisely keen on getting your paws wet, but hoping to get a better vantage point to see if you can spot any paw prints or cat-sized walking paths, you prepare to leap into the log. You'rYou're just about to make the leap when, out of nowhere, a small black cat covered in mud hurtles from a stand of fronds to your right and slams into you, bowling you over with surprising force. At the same time, the log explodes out of the water, massive jaws snapping shut where you had stood only moments before. The small black cat turns on the Alligator, tail fluffing up, and let out a surprisingly ferocious hiss. The alligator opens its gaping jaws, taking one threatening step towards you and the She-Cat. Refusing to back down, she swipes at the creature'screature' s snout, causing it to shrink backwards to avoid her claws. The She-Cat takes that opportunity to advance, growling low in her throat. The alligator snaps it's jaws as of in warning, though it looks a lot less confident than it did before. Your protector swipes again, this time taking razor sharp claws across the thick skinned nose of their attacker. Having apparently had enough, the alligator shrinks back into the water with a hissing noise.
The muddy black She-Cat stands her ground for several long moments, eyes locked on the rippling water where the animal disappeared. Finally, apparently satisfied it's not coming back, she turns and fixed you with toxic green eyes. "Mousebrain. Even the dumbest lot in all of GladeClan knows not to fall for that trick!" She growls, the top of her tail twitching irritably. You flinch, hoping she isn't about to turn her claws on you next. "I-I'm sorry! I've never seen an Alligator up close. I've only heard stories." You stammer, flicking a nervous glance at the now quiet waters. The She-Cat snorts in what sounds like amusement.
"What's a Kittypet like you doing in the big bad Everglades anyway?" She finally asks, looking genuinely curious. Her eyes don't seem quite so dangerous anymore. They're actually rather pretty now that you think about it. "I... um... I heard about a group of cats who lived out here. I wanted to see if the stories were true. So... they? Are you one of them?" You ask, suddenly buzzing with excitement at the thought of actually speaking to one of the wild cats you heard about. The she-cat eyes you thoughtfully, green eyes roving from the curve of your muzzle to the top of your tail, before finally meeting your gaze.
"That's right. I'm Gatorpaw; I'm an apprentice of GladeClan." She purrs. You smile, relaxing slightly, and think about how fitting the name is for the feisty, fearless little she-cat. You talk for a little while longer, and Gatorpaw is nice enough to explain clan life. But finally she sends you on your way. A Kittypet wouldn't survive in GladeClan, and that was more than enough adventure to last you a lifetime.
Plot
Welcome to GladeClan! My name is Gatorpaw. I'm the daughter of our esteemed leader, ___________. GladeClan was founded countless seasons ago, by the ancient ones. Heart of Eagle, the very first leader of GladeClan, wanted to find a place where his cats could thrive and grow in peace. He wanted a safe place. Unfortunately, during the long journey to their new home, his mate Song of Sea, had her kits. The cats were forced to set up camp in the dangerous Everglades, where they had to contend with fierce predators for every piece of prey they caught. Heart of Eagle never intended to remain there, but the group was so settled in by the time his three kits were strong enough to make the journey he couldn't bear to uproot them. So, they settled there. And season upon season, they grew stronger and adapted. They learned to move quietly through the mud so that it didn't alert their prey to their presence. They learned that by covering themselves in mud they his their scent and brightly colored pelts from both prey and predator alone. They learned to defend themselves against the Alligators, Snakes, and Snapping Turtles who made their home in the Everglades as well. They taught themselves how to swim faster than an otter, to fish better than a King Fisher. They evolved, growing webbing between their paws that allowed them to move faster in the water. Their lungs also grew bigger than most cats, allowing them to hold their breath under water longer. The Clan we know and love today is so far above the cats we once were, they wouldn't even recognize us as their descendants if they came across us in this day and age. We, of GladeClan, are proud, noble, and strong. And, most importantly, we are fearless in the face of danger. We face it every day, and never do we flinch away or hesitate.
Main Thread
