𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐍.
population: 77 cats [ 38 fem : 38 male : 1 nb ]
servings required: 13 [83] - pebbles: 81
population: 77 cats [ 38 fem : 38 male : 1 nb ]
servings required: 13 [83] - pebbles: 81
𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙩
moderator: deimos - next moonstone: any time
moons since last nonsense: 4 (lf)
moons since last nonsense: 4 (lf)
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- 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐨.
The clan was alive with a bustle of new activity. As the last dregs of Greenleaf swept over the territory, it seemed as half the cats in the world had appeared looking for refuge in NorthernClan territory. Sleetstar seemed amenable to the new additions, but several cats noticed the hard gaze she trained at fixed points of nothing when she thought no one was listening. For the most part, Sprucepaw liked the new cats.
Olivetuft was a big, brawny elder with kind eyes and a gentle demeanor, but her booming laugh filled the elder's den, and her eyes lit up when she sparred with Magpiefeather, the two old she-cats finding a comfortable companionship in their banter. Poppywish had been adamant on keeping a close eye on her, as the eldest of the new arrivals, and thus Sprucepaw had been relegated to daily health check ups since her arrival about a week ago.
"You know you don't have to fuss over me like a newborn," she laughed as Sprucepaw turned her paws over to check for infected pads, "takes more than a little old mountain to kill big ol' me."
"Maybe so," Sprucepaw laughed, "but I do it for Poppywish, not for you. Stars know if I didn't he'd turn himself completely white worrying about you, and he's already fretting enough with the boys. Owlhop's lucky he's getting sent out on patrols, the other two have been sitting around camp sulking because he won't let them head out before he's absolutely sure they're not going to contract anything or give the clan some foreign plague."
"That's Poppywish," Magpiefeather said with an indulgent chuckle, "say, Sprucepaw, you meet just about everyone. What do you make of all these new recruits that everyone keeps gossiping to us about? None of them have deigned to pay us a visit yet, and Poppywish looks like he'll explode if he spots me away from Olivetuft at any given time." Sprucepaw laughed, setting his herb bundle aside and sweeping his bushy tail over his massive paws.
"They seem nice. Owlhop seems on the younger side. He's very excitable, and a little clumsy, but he seems like he's taken well to Flamestream. I see him following him around all the time. Ouncespirit is the oldest one to come in, and he's quieter, almost shy I suppose? He seems alright, if not a little withdrawn. And then there's this weird looking warrior... Cairnstone. Big paws like mine, curled ears, bobbed tail, strange, strange accent. I haven't really talked to him much, but Featherfall and Butterflyshine seem to like him just fine... then again I'm sure those two could like anyone just fine."
"That they could," Magpiefeather chuckled, "I suppose we'll know this Cairnstone if we ever see him then."
"Oh for sure," Sprucepaw nodded with a laugh, "he's baffling to look at. Not another cat I've ever met is anything like him- not even any of the rogues that attacked us. I'm telling you, he's weird-looking."
"Well now, that's not very nice. Anyone could say you look weird-looking too, you know."
"They do. Frequently." Sprucepaw took his herbs and stood up with an amused glint in his eye. "I believe my most common descriptor is 'freakishly large', but I think it's perfectly understandable when you look at my parents. Now, you ladies have a nice day, and I'll tell Poppywish for the millionth time that you don't need a kit-sitter."
"Thank you Sprucepaw," Olivetuft purred, Magpiefeather leaning around her to call after him;
"You're a good cat for a freakishly large kitten!" Sprucepaw laughed, his tail swishing in amusement as he ducked out of the den and into the sunshine, coming almost face to face with Cairnstone. The warrior had bright blue eyes, and he blinked them, his large paws brushing Sprucepaw's from how close they were standing.
"Oh," he said, and then he laughed, bright eyes twinkling, "just as fate would have it, eh? I was looking for you. Silvercreek said I could find you here."
"Did she," Sprucepaw leaned around him to give a quizzical look to his best friend, who simply shrugged and went back to her conversation with Brewingice and Wolfwhisker, likely about their apprentices. "Well... can I help you with something then? I doubt you were looking for me just for the pleasure of my conversation, because as charming and handsome as I am, I am pretty busy and I'm sure you're quite aware of that."
"Oh yes. I'm quite aware of how charming and handsome you are... and how busy you are too," he grinned as Sprucepaw gave him an amused look, trailing behind him as he climbed the rise toward the medicine den, "Poppywish was heading out of camp, to get some herbs he said. He sent me to see you, said you would be able to do my checkup." He paused for a moment, glancing back down into the campground. "Say... I heard you and Silvercreek grew up together. How come you still have an apprentice name?"
"You hear a lot for someone who has only been here a few days," Sprucepaw said, tucking his herb bundle away and gesturing for Cairnstone to sit.
"I have big ears, like," the other tom said, twitching them, and Sprucepaw snorted, beginning to check the tom over.
"Poppywish didn't want to take an apprentice at first, so I trained as a warrior until I could annoy him into taking me on. It's not that I didn't like being a warrior... but I wanted to be a medicine cat. I liked that it challenged me intellectually as well as physically, and I like helping cats. It makes me feel good to do this, but it's hard work. There's a lot more to learn, and when I'm ready Poppywish will know, but I'm happy to keep learning. Sometimes it feels that I'll be learning forever... and I think I'd be okay with that. Poppywish has always trusted me to learn by experience, like this."
"Seems like you're doing a good job," Cairnstone said, letting Sprucepaw check his paw pads, shifting onto his side so the other tom could reach his back paws, "so who did you train with when you were a warrior apprentice?"
"Frostclaw was my mentor. He's nice; quiet but not shy, and he gave simple and clear directions. It was always easy to understand what he wanted from me, and what I needed to do to get better. It... it helped that I was training with cats I trusted too. Silvercreek, Auroracloud... and my sister." He saw the look of confusion on Cairnstone's face, and he shrugged. "Willowpaw. She passed away just before she was ready to take her warrior assessment. She pushed her mentor out of the way of a landslide, but she couldn't get out of the way fast enough."
"Wow... I'm sorry, I didn't-"
"It's okay. If she heard you apologizing like that she'd cuff you round the ears and tell you to stuff it," Sprucepaw chuckled warmly, and Cairnstone relaxed, sitting up as the tom moved away, "I miss her, of course I do, but she made the decision she believed in, and she wouldn't want me moping over her for the rest of my life. So... instead I just try to do the best I can. To make her proud by making decisions I believe in. Following her example and all... ah. Anyway. You're clear, so go. Shoo." Cairnstone chuckled, getting to his paws.
"I don't know you very well, and I never knew her... but I think she would be proud of you, even if you are a mean little mouth." Sprucepaw laughed, heading to the front of the den to farewell Cairnstone as he slowly made his way back down the cliff path, while Fogbelly limped up in the other direction. Sprucepaw blinked at her, before purring in amusement.
"Now what have you done?"
"Don't make that face at me," she laughed her deep rumbling laugh, "put my paw in a hole is what I did. Your mother sent me back, told me to get it checked over to make sure it wasn't anything worse than a little bit of a twist." Down in the campground, Tempestflame crossed toward Silvercreek and her brother, touching Wolfwhisker's nose with her own as a greeting before she settled into the circle, glancing up to check on Fogbelly.
"Well, you seem to be doing okay if you got here with Tempestflame's help. If it were any worse it probably would have taken a little more than one cat to shift you all the way back over here. Come on, sit down and I'll check it for you. If it helps, I can put you in a-" a squeal made him pause, and he rushed to the edge of the ledge outside the medicine den to check the campground. Owlhop was laughing, Flamestream having caught him by the scruff of the neck. The cream tom hauled him upright, still laughing, as the little calico peered up at him with adoring eyes. Fogbelly sucked in a breath. Sprucepaw gave her a quizzical look.
"Ah, nothing," she said with a rumbling laugh, brushing past him, "come on, get me back on my paws, o' healer o' healer."
"I'll do my best," Sprucepaw said, trailing after her into the den, but he couldn't shake the tingle in his spine of something about to go terribly wrong.
-
"Lynxdash!" The slinky tom looked up to see Featherfall bounding toward him with her graceful steps, a vole clutched in her jaws. She placed it down at her paws with a purr. "Do you want to share with me? It feels like forever since I last got to talk to you." The tom had to stifle a laugh, but he nodded, and Featherfall purred in delight, picking up the vole and shepherding him to a corner where they could eat in peace.
"You know it's only been a few days, right? I know you're busy... Duckbriar needs you right now, and I know Wolfwhisker and Plumiris have you watching her like a hawk to make sure she's alright. I'm not exactly going to be raving mad if you prioritize her right now." Featherfall huffed at him, leaning across to tug at his ear with her teeth, making him yowl in surprise, before he coughed to cover it up, bashful.
"You're as much our friend as she is," Featherfall said stubbornly, "and while she might need my support, I am allowed to hang out with whomever I like, and I'm capable of managing my time between multiple friends, so you don't have to try and shoo me away from you. You're as important as all of my other friends are, and I won't let you pretend anything to the contrary."
"You know you don't have to do that, right?" Lynxdash sighed, suddenly feeling thoroughly disinterested in the concept of eating. "I know you're just trying to be nice after... after the clan lost Sycamorepath, but I'll be alright. I didn't know her that well. I liked her, and she was a good friend... but she was your friend too, and I'm not going to drop dead of grief if you take a second to help the ones who are dealing with more than I am."
"How can you say that? You're our friend too, Lynxdash. Yes, I am grieving my friend, but so are you. You don't have to try and justify or quantify yourself. We all knew you liked her, and even if you didn't know her for a long time, I know just how much that loss hurts. We would have been just as distraught if we lost you, you know, and I'm not going to let you isolate yourself just because you think we ought to worry about other things. We've had enough self-sacrifice in this clan. What we need now are cats who know how to live for each other, and I am certain I know how to live for my friends, including you. So... no matter what you say, I'll be here, and there's not anything you can do to scare me away." Lynxdash blinked and then he smiled, shyly.
"You're really not going to quit, are you?"
"No! Duckbriar is hurting right now... but she has people to support her, and I know you're drawing away from your friends, which is only going to hurt you more in the long run. So I'm here for you, and I'll be here for you even when you try to make me go away, because I know what it's like to need someone."
"Is someone there for you?" Lynxdash shook his head as she started to reply. "I mean really. You're always flitting between cats, but have you actually allowed yourself enough time to grieve? It's all well and good to soothe the hearts of your loved ones, but what about your own heart? You must be tired, holding up everyone the way you are. It's okay to feel sad too, you know. No one is going to fault you if you need to take your own time to feel it."
"I do feel it," she said softly, "every day when I wake up and those nests are empty, I feel those losses like claws in my chest. And I am sad- terribly, terribly sad- but I have known grief, and I have known pain, and even though my heart aches, I know the ache will come to pass. I miss them with every breath and every step, but I'm not going to collapse over them. I have cried for them, shed my tears and said my goodbyes, and now I have to keep moving on, to defend the clan they loved, the clan they died protecting. I feel it."
"Okay," Lynxdash said gently, leaning his head against hers, "if you ever need a shoulder to cry on..."
"I'll keep it in mind," Featherfall nodded, before shoving his shoulder with hers. "Now eat. You'll need your strength to support this clan if you keep insisting on doing it all on your own." Lynxdash laughed, nodding his head obediently.
"Yes ma'am."
-
Greenleaf nights were still warm, but a chill was beginning to set in, marking the arrival of cold fronts just over the horizon. Sprucepaw lay sprawled out, relishing in the last warmth to be dragged from the stone, Silvercreek wrapped around him and grooming between his ears idly as they listened to Tempestflame and Lightningivy bicker about something that he hadn't really been keeping track of in the first place. Auroracloud ducked her head in a polite laugh, and then stood.
"I'm just going to get some fresh kill," she told them, with a little nod, "does anyone else want anything?" Silvercreek shook her head and Sprucepaw grunted a negative, shifting a little so Silvercreek could curl into his flank with his fluffy tail wrapped around her, while he took his turn grooming her silken fur. Auroracloud nodded to the arguing sisters, and her own sister watched her move toward the fresh kill pile.
From across the way, Erminebubble looked up. He was a timid young warrior that had joined just after the chaos of the battle, and went about his business with his head down and his shoulders hunched up like he was worried someone would descend from above and tear him to shreds. He didn't really speak to anyone else, and those who were with him on patrol touted him as efficient but shy. Still, he got up from where he had been cleaning his paws, and hurried toward Auroracloud.
"Hey," he said, wincing as she jumped in shock, "hello."
"Hi?" A silence suspended.
"I... good work on patrol today. You, I mean, not me. I realize how that sounds." He cleared his throat, tail swishing nervously behind him. "You are... a very good hunter. Where did you learn that?"
"Hunting? Um... from here? My uh, my mentor- Winderstrike." She nodded toward where the black and white tom was standing with his mate, speaking to their oldest daughters. Erminebubble ducked his head awkwardly, as if he were afraid to be caught staring, and nodded emphatically as if she were telling the most interesting story in the whole world.
"Right. He seems... adept."
"Yeah." Another silence.
"Oh, this is painful," Sprucepaw said with a wince, and Silvercreek shoved him, but she was barely stifling a laugh.
"Shut up, like you're any kind of a casanova."
"I don't know, he is pretty handsome and charming, I've been told," the pair looked up as Cairnstone settled next to them, an amused glint in his eye. Sprucepaw chuckled, and Silvercreek sighed, as if completely fed up with their antics, but she was smiling as she shook her head, turning her worried attention back to her much shier sister.
"I like... your fur," she was saying, "it's very clean."
"Oh- thank you? It's... hard to maintain. Because it's white."
"Yeah." Auroracloud looked at her own singular white paw, and Erminebubble looked too, before he tore his gaze away and coughed a little awkwardly. "I was... just going to get some prey."
"Oh. Would you uh... like to share?"
"Um, I was going to share with my sister..." Auroracloud said, and Erminebubble winced, "but... some other time, maybe?"
"Yeah! You too, I mean- that would be nice. If you would like that." Auroracloud smiled shyly at him and nodded, before she stepped past and continued on her way. Erminebubble watched her go with a wondrous sparkle in his eye, before his ear swiveled and he turned his head to see the group of cats watching him for the first time. Looking sufficiently cowed, he ducked his head and scurried away, and only when he was out of earshot did Sprucepaw burst into laughter.
"Shut up!" Silvercreek hissed. "He was trying!"
"I thought it was sweet," Cairnstone said. "Painfully awkward... but sweet."
𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧.
Leaf-fall had set in quickly with chilly breezes and the sun in shorter supply, but Leopardrunner didn't mind the cold. Once upon a time he would have complained, but he found that after so long in the mountains, his fur had thickened and he seemed far more at home than he had been upon arrival. It helped that more often than not, Flamestream had pressed close to his side, the handsome ginger tom never far from him. They'd been fast friends, and Leopardrunner appreciated his company, although recently his attention had begun to swing elsewhere.
"I'm actually really glad they're waiting," Flamestream was saying, creamy tail sweeping behind him as he walked, "I think Daisypaw especially is trying too hard not to think about what happened, but it's important that they give themselves time to grieve. I can't imagine what I would feel if I lost Emberpetal, much less if I had to watch her die. I mean, I'd be beside myself after losing any of my siblings- I miss my brothers so much- but a littermate..."
"It's different," Leopardrunner said quietly, "when it's someone you spent your whole life with, when they've been a part of every memory you have..."
"Did you-"
"Flamestream!" Owlhop's voice made the two toms startle, and Leopardrunner turned his face away, suddenly realizing how close he was to the cream tom who turned with a cheerful smile to the little calico bounding toward him, his tail waving excitedly. "You and Leopardrunner walk so fast! Gosh, I've been practically sprinting to catch up. Listen, Honeyheart says you guys are heading in the wrong direction. We're going north, not south. He doesn't want us near the border."
"Oh, right," Flamestream laughed a little, fluffing up his fur in embarrassment as Ausmasthorn's tinkling laugh rose into the air.
"How did you get your warrior name again, you directionless fool?" Flamestream stuck his tongue out at her, shooting Leopardrunner an apologetic look as the two of them turned to head toward her again. Leopardunner balked as Owlhop fell into step at Flamestream's right shoulder, where the bengal tom usually took up sentry. With his mismatched eyes, he gazed up at the tom, tail raised high as he scuttled along beside him.
"Oh, don't be too hard on Flamestream! He was distracted, obviously," he cast a cheeky look back over his shoulder at Leopardrunner, who frowned, "besides, everything out here looks like same! All trees and rock and rocks and trees."
"Just wait till it gets covered in snow," Flamestream laughed, and Leopardrunner rolled his eyes, feeling an uncomfortable swimming in his gut as Owlhop laughed as if it were the funniest joke in the world. Ausmasthorn gave him a quizzical look as he fell back into step with the party, Owlhop having to half-jog to keep up with Flamestream's long strides, while Lynxdash and Honeyheart walked in quiet solidarity at the front of the group.
"Are you..."
"I'm fine," Leopardrunner said shortly.
"You're a terrible liar," she sighed, flicking her ear, "you know, you could just-"
"Thank you for the advice, Ausmasthorn, but I'm quite capable of sorting myself out." He veered away from the group, and the bobtailed molly gave a frustrated hum, glowering at his retreating form.
"Where are you going!"
"Hunting in the south! If no one else is around there, I'm sure the prey will be emboldened, and it's better if it's just one of us."
"You shouldn't go alone-" Flamestream started to say, but the fur on the back of Leopardrunner's neck bristled, and with a powerful push of his legs, he bounded forward and into the trees, too fast for anyone else on the patrol to even have a hope of catching up. Honeyheart sighed, and shook his head as the rest of the patrol turned toward him for guidance. Silence descended over the cats as the old tom led them on, and as Flamestream hung his head, quizzical expression on his face, Owlhop pressed in close to his shoulder.
-
Hollyfeather closed her eyes against the chill, curling her tail around herself as she nestled into her nest. She got the impression that Sleetstar was taking it easy on her, after everything that had happened. Half of her appreciated it, the other half wanted to rip her ears off for the boredom that ensconced her, sending her into her nest early on in the night for lack of anything better to do. Scuffling paws alerted her to a presence, and she lifted her head, blinking in surprise as Twilightflower ducked into the den.
"Hey," she said, clearing her throat to rid herself of the scratch of sleep, "you're back early."
"I never went anywhere," Twilightflower said, sounding amused, "I've been in the nursery all day, gossiping with the queens. Stars know Rivermask needed some assistance with Whisperwind and Midnightblaze taking up space. Bramblingrose has been freaking out a little all day too. Poppywish thinks Whisperwind's kits could come any day now, and so naturally he looks like his heart might give out at any time. Whisperwind's fine though, as expected, mostly just annoyed with everyone fussing over him."
"He would be," Hollyfeather chuckled, moving over to make room in her nest for Twilightflower, "he's always been like that. Self-sufficient I mean, even when he was younger. It was a little scary, looking back on it, to see someone so young be so sure. He's going to be a good father though. His kits will be very lucky."
"Indeed," Twilightflower chuckled, "I think any kits born into this clan are, or ones that come here without a family, like Ironpaw and Pepperpaw and Gustpaw. It's so easy for them to make friends. I was worried about that, with my babies, but I shouldn't have been. They're all fine."
"Of course they are, they had you for a mother. Tempestflame especially has your spirit, you know. I always thought... I always thought Blizzardheart did too. He was brave, and a little loud-mouthed and brash... but he had a big heart, and he cared deeply about his friends, and he was much smarter than anyone gave him credit for. He used to pick up on things that even I missed when we were on patrols... and it always reminded me of you. Eyes that truly see and all that."
"You don't have to flatter me so much, you know. We're already friends. But... thank you, for what you said about him. Everyone is so gentle when it comes to him, but they forget that I lost two kits already. I know he'll be looking after them, up in StarClan now... and mostly it means a lot to me when people say they have good memories of him, because I know his spirit will live on through that."
"He won't be forgotten," Hollyfeather assured her, pushing her nose behind one of her ears, "he has siblings who adore him, and friends that are never going to forget everything he did for them. And... he has me. He was the best apprentice I could ever have asked for, and he made me proud every day that I knew him."
"He'd be proud of you too, you know, and how far you've come." Twilightflower blew out a sigh, leaning into her friend. "I wanted... I wanted to see how you were doing, though. You lost him too, and then you lost The Stranger. I know you two got close toward the end there..."
"It seems strange that he's not around anymore. At first I never considered him, and then all I thought about was him and his weird quest or whatever... but I think I get it now. It was about feeling needed, I think, and about always being there for someone else when they felt lost. He was a guide, a mentor, someone whose heart always knew the right thing to do... and we could use more cats like that. Before he died, he said that the clan had me now... and I guess it weighs on me a little. I want to prove to him that he was right to entrust that legacy to my care, but I don't know if I have what it takes."
"Oh Hollyfeather, of course you do. Have you met yourself? All you care about is this clan, and what's best for it. You always know when something is really, truly wrong, and I know you would do whatever it takes to make sure that the clan stays happy and healthy. You're a little suspicious and sometimes tactless, yes," she laughed at Hollyfeather's glare, "but no one can deny that you care, and that matters. That's what he saw in you that made him sure you would have the strength and the wisdom to help the clan through any tough times to follow."
"Well... if you believe in me, then I guess I have to trust myself not to screw it up."
"You're going to do fine," Twilightflower assured her gently, "no one is asking you for life-changing counsel, at least not right now. You're just meant to be the moral compass, to look and to understand when someone is taking a path that they won't be able to walk back from, and to gently steer them away if that happens. It's not as if anyone expects you to play therapist or something."
"I hope not," Hollyfeather winced, "I'd rather claw my own eyes out than get between whatever's happening with Graypeak and Addersong." Twilightflower laughed, nudging Hollyfeather with her shoulder, and making the other molly smile as she pressed a nose to her forehead with a purr.
"No matter what... you know you always have me to lean on, right?"
"I know," Hollyfeather replied, with a slow nod, "and I feel it too."
-
Burningflame watched the cats up ahead of her anxiously. Brackenstrike had aged gracefully, since the she-cat had abandoned the Merchants. If she'd been smart, she would have followed her old friend then and there, but pride had wounded her and kept her stationary. Now, she kept close to the pale tortoiseshell who laughed as if the tabby were the funniest cat in the world. It was good to see her happy again, after everything she'd endured.
Less happy to see her were the young grey and white warrior, and the slinky former Shadow from her first encounter with the clan. Although many had warmed up to her presence in the past few moons, the pair of them had remained suspicious, and they walked ahead of her and the leader, whispering between themselves and occasionally glancing back at her. She got the gist. With a sigh, she turned to Sleetstar, watching her as she nimbly picked her way over the rocks.
"Are you sure this is a good idea? Sending me out on patrols and such?"
"You'd rather I leave you alone in camp with cats who haven't quite made up their minds about you?" Sleetstar chuckled as Burningflame huffed at her, casting a wary glance up at the other cats. "Howlingeye and Viridianfire have always been... suspicious, I guess. They might not trust you, but they're not going to do anything. They'll come around eventually, they just need more time. They're the kind of cats that don't forgive for the power of love."
"Fantastic," Burningflame said dryly, before shooting an apologetic look to her mate as she chuckled, and shook her head lightly.
"You know, if you two have questions you can always just ask them," Sleetstar said, and Viridianfire jumped, pretending not to be looking as Howlingeye sniffed and lifted his chin defiantly. "Come on then, why don't you drop back and walk with us? Unless you're just trying to be intimidating."
"We have to keep up appearances, darling," Howlingeye said and Sleetstar laughed, but nonetheless they closed the distance between them, dropping to the other side of Sleetstar's shoulder as they followed Brackenstrike and her mate up the rise. "No one would say anything to your face about it of course, but there are a few cats around the clan who are worried that this has the potential to go very badly. Some who worry about intentions."
"You're one of them?" Burningflame asked, and Howlingeye snorted.
"I know you're afraid of me, so no, I'm not particularly worried by you. I know you know where you stand with this clan, and I heard that Whisperwind already approached you, and if he's willing to forgive and forget then I suppose the rest of us should just suck it up too. But-"
"I'm worried about intentions," Viridianfire cut in, and Burningflame ducked her head shyly, "there are cats who were seriously hurt by your old clan, and they're going to take more time to heal than me. I'm thinking about Bearears in particular... but I just want to know why you did what you did. I can appreciate that it must have been a difficult position to be in, especially considering we all saw how your leader was... but how did you get there in the first place? How can we know that we can trust you, and this isn't just some long-form game that you're playing?"
"I trust her. Does that count for anything?" Sleetstar asked, but Burningflame gently pressed her nose to her cheek.
"I understand," she said seriously, "and I appreciate you asking me straight out. You know Sleetstar and I grew up together, in the Merchants. My parents were adults who were inducted into the group later on in their life, and they passed away when I was young, much like her parents, so for a while, all we had was each other. There's not an emphasis on family- not like there is here. There was plenty of infighting... and blood would spill blood for the power. That's how Boscoe did it. He proved he was willing to do things that no one else was, commit atrocities against even his own family members if it would grant him power. That was supposed to make him strong... and he never liked me. He didn't much like Sleetstar either, or Brackenstrike for that matter, but they had generations of blood in the clan, and I had none. That meant, to him, my loyalty was not assured." She paused, taking a shaky breath, jumping as Sleetstar jumped in.
"He started to get very power-mad. Had all these conspiracy theories about 'rebels' of some kind banding together to defile the good name of the clan. To him, everyone who didn't support him wholeheartedly was a threat. Cats started to go missing. We'd find them dead in ditches weeks later, and he'd pretend it was an accident. Anyone who spoke out about it went missing next. It became evident no one was going to change anything externally, and I started to hear whispers about Burningflame. I thought if I could get close to him, I could manipulate him into looking elsewhere. I was always good at talking, and I thought I could talk my way around him, change things from the inside. I didn't want to scare her. I thought it would make her look more suspicious, and he'd act before I had a chance."
"And so I ruined the plan," Burningflame laughed hollowly, "I was so angry, to think that she could hold the same affection for such a monster, or to think that that kind of power was more important to her than me. I felt like I was losing the only thing I was ever really sure of, the only family I had... and so I decided to get even, and to make sure I was safe. I thought it would be appreciated if I turned against someone I considered my own flesh and blood... but Boscoe never respected anyone powerful. Anyone powerful was a threat, and I realized that too late, because by the time Sleetstar was gone, he did everything he could to snuff out every ounce of power I could have ever possibly felt. It was all I could do to talk him out of attacking constantly. I suggested things like scouts, taking the time to train in special formations, especially after Brackenstrike defected, because I knew how she fought and so I tried to teach them things she would work against easily. I think he caught on after a bit, and he would-" her throat closed up, and Sleetstar leaned into her comfortingly. "If I... didn't do the things he wanted, or if he thought that I was lying to him, he would hurt me. Never enough for anyone else to see, because dissonance between us would be weakness... but enough for me to remember what my place was. That fight... that was something I couldn't stop. He smelt the clan on me, and supposed I must have been sharing information."
"Well..." Viridianfire said, "I'm glad you got out of there. That cat Hollyfeather was talking to. Is she..."
"Sienna's good," the group jumped at Brackenstrike's voice, looking up to find the molly standing with her pelt fluffed against the wind, "she's old guard, like me and Boscoe. Closer to his age, actually, but she lost family in the war and she's old enough to remember it too, but she was never bitter. Quiet, a little withdrawn maybe, but staunch and determined. She'll be a good leader to the Merchants, and she doesn't lie. As for Burningflame... I trust her too. I know what Boscoe is like, and what extremes he'd go to. I know how hard it must have been to escape, and I know she's not foolish enough to think she could fool the clan for long enough to hurt them. Besides, you all know what it's like to be in love. Ask yourself if you could fake it as well as you suppose she is." Silence descended over the group, before Howlingeye chuckled.
"Okay then," he said, "I'm very sorry for the frosty reception, my dear, but you did force me to expose a part of myself that I didn't really like all that much."
"In all fairness, I did say some horrible things to you about your previous origins. I'm sorry for that, by the way. You seem a very kind tom, and someone who cares about this clan."
"I do," Howlingeye said, "but I know you care too. It might just take some of the others some more time to see it. Until then... I will be standing at your side. I'll vouch for you."
"Me too." Viridianfire smiled, with a nod. "I know what it's like to make your own family, and doing it twice in one lifetime is probably more than I could stand... so I'll be here. And I know that Brackenstrike and Sleetstar are about to say something pretty sappy that's going to make all of us cringe, so brace for it." Laughter swept around the group, and Brackenstrike purred.
"Actually, I was going to suggest we get on with hunting."
"Let's," Sleetstar agreed, but she pushed her nose against Burningflame's cheek before she bounded forward nonetheless.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
` servings consumed
13/13 - x13 voles
` clan events
added ouncespirit from winter advent (x)
ironpaw takes her warrior assessment!
whisperwind is kitting! poppywish assists and gives him x1 raspberry leaf and x1 chervil
↪ genetics chart
carnationpaw, magnoliapaw and ospreypaw learn to climb
eaglepaw and tulippaw learn to track
gustpaw and pepperpaw learn to battle
sprucepaw searches for kitting herbs
thunderjaw and minkfur try for kits!
` patrols
hunting-
1 - brackenstrike, splitface, viridianfire, howlingeye, sleetstar, burningflame
2 - hawkeyes, bearears, primrosepetal, lunardawn, foxspring, koishimmer
3 - honeyheart, lynxdash, leopardrunner, owlhop, flamestream, ausmasthorn
4 - falconstreak, graypeak, blackdusk, sorrelsong, twosight, frostclaw
5 - addersong, hazerise, plumiris, erminebubble, auroracloud, argentripple
border-
1 - thunderjaw, minkfur, tempestflame, waspshine, birchfang, fogbelly
` servings consumed
13/13 - x13 voles
` clan events
added ouncespirit from winter advent (x)
ironpaw takes her warrior assessment!
whisperwind is kitting! poppywish assists and gives him x1 raspberry leaf and x1 chervil
↪ genetics chart
carnationpaw, magnoliapaw and ospreypaw learn to climb
eaglepaw and tulippaw learn to track
gustpaw and pepperpaw learn to battle
sprucepaw searches for kitting herbs
thunderjaw and minkfur try for kits!
` patrols
hunting-
1 - brackenstrike, splitface, viridianfire, howlingeye, sleetstar, burningflame
2 - hawkeyes, bearears, primrosepetal, lunardawn, foxspring, koishimmer
3 - honeyheart, lynxdash, leopardrunner, owlhop, flamestream, ausmasthorn
4 - falconstreak, graypeak, blackdusk, sorrelsong, twosight, frostclaw
5 - addersong, hazerise, plumiris, erminebubble, auroracloud, argentripple
border-
1 - thunderjaw, minkfur, tempestflame, waspshine, birchfang, fogbelly
- ` leader
`` sleetstar | 79 moons | ♀
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✧
` deputy
`` brackenstrike | 88 moons | ♀
` medicine cat
`` poppywish | 70 moons | ♂ - [5sp]
` medicine cat apprentice
`` sprucepaw | 19 moons | ♂
` warriors
`` summitsky | 82 moons | ♂
`` hollyfeather | 57 moons | ♀
`` thunderjaw | 77 moons | ♂
`` howlingeye | 60 moons | ♂
`` splitface | 85 moons | ♀
`` minkfur | 74 moons | ♀
`` bearears | 52 moons | ♀
`` fallowstep | 77 moons | ♂
`` hawkeyes | 82 moons | ♂
`` viridianfire | 44 moons | ♀
`` frostclaw | 94 moons | ♂
`` koishimmer | 46 moons | ♀
`` birchfang | 52 moons | ♂
`` sunnynose | 65 moons | ♂
`` waspshine | 53 moons | ♂
`` winderstrike | 67 moons | ♂
`` twilightflower | 57 moons | ♀
`` sorrelsong | 43 moons | ♀
`` twosight | 93 moons | ♂
`` ausmasthorn | 31 moons | ♀
`` bramblingrose | 31 moons | ♂
`` addersong | 62 moons | ♀
`` graypeak | 62 moons | ♂
`` falconstreak | 58 moons | ♀
`` emberpetal | 28 moons | ♀
`` flamestream | 28 moons | ♂
`` honeyheart | 62 moons | ♂
`` primrosepetal | 46 moons | ♀
`` wolfwhisker | 25 moons | ♂
`` butterflyshine | 25 moons | ♀
`` duckbriar | 26 moons | ♀
`` lunardawn | 46 moons | ♀
`` foxspring | 37 moons | ♂
`` fogbelly | 74 moons | ♀
`` hazerise | 72 moons | ♀
`` leopardrunner | 29 moons | ♂
`` tempestflame | 24 moons | ♀
`` brewingice | 24 moons | ♂
`` lightningivy | 24 moons | ♀
`` lynxdash | 23 moons | ♂
`` dapplelotus | 37 moons | ♀
`` featherfall | 25 moons | ♀
`` snowsilver | 25 moons | ♂
`` silvercreek | 19 moons | ♀
`` auroracloud | 19 moons | ♀
`` blackdusk | 17 moons | ♂
`` argentripple | 33 moons | ♂
`` robinwhistle | 37 moons | ♀
`` mapleskip | 63 moons | ♂
`` burningflame | 79 moons | ♀
`` plumiris | 26 moons | ♀
`` erminebubble | 20 moons | ♂
`` owlhop | 26 moons | ♂
`` cairnstone | 21 moons | ♂
`` ouncespirit | 38 moons | ♂
` apprentices
`` ironpaw | 16 moons | ♀
`` daisypaw | 14 moons | ♀
`` pansypaw | 14 moons | ♀
`` ospreypaw | 9 moons | ♀
`` eaglepaw | 9 moons | ♂
`` carnationpaw | 9 moons | ♀
`` tulippaw | 9 moons | ♂
`` magnoliapaw | 9 moons | ♀
`` pepperpaw | 7 moons | ☉
`` gustpaw | 7 moons | ♂
` queens and kits
`` rivermask | 67 moons | ♀
↪ foamkit, spraykit & oceankit [5, ♂♂♀]
`` whisperwind | 34 moons | ♂
↪ due now!
`` midnightblaze | 85 moons | ♂
↪ due 1 moons
` elders
`` magpiefeather | 124 moons | ♀
`` olivetuft | 118 moons | ♀
` ally clans
none currently.
` enemy clans
none currently.
` borders
↑ | open
→ | whitebark | grey_hoodie
↓ | two-leg village
← | ski slope
` medicine store
catmint [6] | greencough
lovage [1] | coughs
lungwort [1] | yellowcough
chickweed [2] | greencough
tansy [1] | greencough
fennel [3] | hip pain
ragwort [1] | strength
mallow leaves [1] | bellyache
dock [1] | scratches
burdock root [1] | infection
blackberry leaves [1] | bee stings
raspberry leaves [4] | kitting
cobweb [3] | bleeding
marigold [2] | infection
horsetail [2] | infection
chervil [2] | infections/kitting
` fresh-kill pile
vole | x2 | 1 servings [2]
rabbit | x8 | 2 servings [16]
stoat | x7| 2 servings [14]
small fish | x14 | 2 servings [28]
hare | x8 | 3 servings [24]
bird | x9 | 3 servings [27]
` mentors
ausmasthorn | ironpaw [4]
↪ hunt, battle, swim, adv. battle
duckbriar | ospreypaw [2]
↪ battle, hunt
winderstrike | eaglepaw [2]
↪ hunt, battle
silvercreek | carnationpaw [2]
↪ battle, hunt
summitsky | tulippaw [2]
↪ hunt, battle
fallowstep | magnoliapaw [2]
↪ battle, hunt
wolfwhisker | pepperpaw [0]
↪ skills
brewingice | gustpaw [0]
↪ skills
` deceased
galepaw | murdered by boscoe
stormkit | weak at birth
hurricanekit | weak at birth
willowpaw | crushed in landslide
dawnbreeze | killed in battle
blizzardheart | killed in battle
sycamorepath | killed in battle
buttercuppaw | killed in battle
breakerhowl | killed in battle
sootfreckle | killed in battle
dandelionpaw | injuries post-battle
the stranger | old age
` family ties
archive
none currently.
` enemy clans
none currently.
` borders
↑ | open
→ | whitebark | grey_hoodie
↓ | two-leg village
← | ski slope
` medicine store
catmint [6] | greencough
lovage [1] | coughs
lungwort [1] | yellowcough
chickweed [2] | greencough
tansy [1] | greencough
fennel [3] | hip pain
ragwort [1] | strength
mallow leaves [1] | bellyache
dock [1] | scratches
burdock root [1] | infection
blackberry leaves [1] | bee stings
raspberry leaves [4] | kitting
cobweb [3] | bleeding
marigold [2] | infection
horsetail [2] | infection
chervil [2] | infections/kitting
` fresh-kill pile
vole | x2 | 1 servings [2]
rabbit | x8 | 2 servings [16]
stoat | x7| 2 servings [14]
small fish | x14 | 2 servings [28]
hare | x8 | 3 servings [24]
bird | x9 | 3 servings [27]
` mentors
ausmasthorn | ironpaw [4]
↪ hunt, battle, swim, adv. battle
duckbriar | ospreypaw [2]
↪ battle, hunt
winderstrike | eaglepaw [2]
↪ hunt, battle
silvercreek | carnationpaw [2]
↪ battle, hunt
summitsky | tulippaw [2]
↪ hunt, battle
fallowstep | magnoliapaw [2]
↪ battle, hunt
wolfwhisker | pepperpaw [0]
↪ skills
brewingice | gustpaw [0]
↪ skills
` deceased
galepaw | murdered by boscoe
stormkit | weak at birth
hurricanekit | weak at birth
willowpaw | crushed in landslide
dawnbreeze | killed in battle
blizzardheart | killed in battle
sycamorepath | killed in battle
buttercuppaw | killed in battle
breakerhowl | killed in battle
sootfreckle | killed in battle
dandelionpaw | injuries post-battle
the stranger | old age
` family ties
archive