──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────clan population: 40 | next starclan visit: july 21st (today) | servings: 07 | mod: katrione | pebbles: 151 | archive: x ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
The early morning patrol found Ravenswoop at the foot of one of the pine grove's many towering trees. His small body was littered with bites and scratches, but no recognizable scent clung to it, leading a shaken Applefall to announce that the killing was the work of some unknown rogue. Fernpelt and Pineshade both refused to leave the caves all day after that.
There wasn't a single warrior that wasn't guilt-ridden after the announcement, each one blaming themselves for not noticing his absense sooner, but Thistledance was inconsolable. First, she'd laughed at the news. Disbelief soon gave way to a white, seething rage as she snarled at the bearer of bad news and shrieked curses up at the stars. Her anger simmered until it boiled over, leaving her exhausted and miserably sad. But once she'd cried herself raw, refusing to leave her nest and throwing garbled threats at whoever dared interrupt her, all the energy seemd to drain out of her. She was hollow, walking around in a state of horrible, lifeless apathy. Not even Cherryclaw could get her to utter a single word, no matter how hard the grey tabby tried.
As his only known living relative, Thistledance was left to make the call on whether his funeral would be a clan-wide or a private affair. She chose the latter, though Sparrowstar wasn't sure if it was to protect the rest of the clan from the sight of his body, or to protect herself from being seen by the clan. But he was a cat of his promises, and so the affair was a very small one. Only he, Thistledance, and Cherryclaw were in attendance, though he suspected he was just there for burial rites and Cherryclaw for her soon-to-be mate's comfort rather than a connection with the deceased.
It didn't take long to carry out the traditional rituals before Ravenswoop could be lowered into the ground, especially considering that there were only three cats there to pay their respects. It was a short and quiet affair, from Sparrowstar's spoken address to the moment that the last bit of dirt covered the grave. As the leader stared at the mound with sad eyes, Cherryclaw slipped away to grab lavender springs for adornment. Thistledance finally stirred once her closest friend had vanished from sight. "Sparrowstar," she said, breaking the heavy silence that hung in the clearing. It was the first thing she'd said since Ravenswoop's funeral. "If I have to live without him... I want to carry him with me, somehow. Do you understand what I'm asking you?"
"Yes," he said back, "I understand." As she blinked up at him, expectant, Sparrowstar deliberated for a moment. The name had to be perfect, had to embody the brother she'd lost without being him. When it came to him, he spoke. "From this moment forwards, you will be known as Thistleflight. May StarClan's light and Ravenswoop's memory guide you every step of the way."
"Thank you," she whispered, after a moment of letting the new name sink in.
"Of course," Sparrowstar murmured, pressing his nose to her forehead gently. "I'll let the rest of the clan know about the change to your name." He looked weary when he leaned away, and wearier still when he turned to leave. But after a few paces, the black and white tom paused, looking back to her with knowing sympathy. "Your brother was a good cat, Thistleflight," he said. "A really good cat."
"Yeah," she said back, voice creaky from earlier anguished howls. The young warrior had cried herself out of tears, it seemed, for her wide green eyes were red-rimmed but dry. She offered her leader a melancholy smile. "He really was."
Sparrowstar left them there, after that, certain that Thistleflight would rather have the privacy. The grey she-cat didn't seem to notice his departure, too focused on staring at the mound of fresh-dug dirt. 'Ravenswoop is under there.' It was all so surreal, but she'd always thought he'd be there. It was too painful to consider a future where he wouldn't be. She'd never considered this. Cherryclaw sat by her side, grey-striped tail twining together with Thistleflight's. The other she-cat was unresponsive, but she allowed the comforting gesture without complaint. Ravenswoop's grave was small like the warrior had been, but it had just enough room for the two she-cats to lay at its edge. Together, they waited all night for the sun to rise.
---
"You'll be fine," Softpaw reassured, curly white fur brushing up against his friend's side with a comforting nudge. "You've trained for this day for moons now, and don't tell anyone I said this, but you're definitely the best of all of us at literally everything. The final assessment's going to be a breeze."
"My lips are sealed," Badgerpaw murmured, going for humor and missing by a mile. There was a tremor in his paws he just couldn't seem to shake, and his eyelids fluttered shut more often than they should. Softpaw couldn't see any of this, but he could tell by the tabby's voice that Badgerpaw was exhausted. But it didn't take a genius to know the apprentice hadn't been sleeping well for days, just resting in fitful hour-long bursts before forcing himself back onto his feet (Honeypaw was a wonderful informant). "It's time," Badgerpaw sighed, shaking himself vigorously. "Cardinatail's probably waiting for me. See you afterwards." Parting words spoken, the tabby sprang into action, darting off towards the pine groves in the distance.
"Good luck!" Softpaw called after him. Once he was sure that Bagderpaw was out of earshot, he sighed, ambling back to the training grounds to work with Hailsplash on mastering battle without vision. 'He's going to need it.'
Cardinaltail was indeed waiting by the edge of the pine groves. The ruddy tom had curled up at the base of one of the taller evergreens, and looked to all the world as if he were deep in thought, or deep in sleep. He stirred at the sound of Badgerpaw's approaching footsteps. "Over here!" the Somali called, with a wave of his tail. "Ready for your final assessment?"
"I hope so," Badgerpaw said back, trotting close enough that he wouldn't need to yell. Cardinaltail smiled, but the pleased expression faded a bit as he took in his apprentice's appearance.
"Well, alright, but take a couple deep breaths for me first," Cardinaltail said. "Don't want you too stressed out before we get started!" He hesitated for a beat, but the expectant gleam in the Somali's eyes was too difficult to resist. Badgerpaw inhaled deeply, and closed his eyes. 'Focus on the inhale, focus on the exhale, focus on—'
In the darkness, there were memories imprinted clear as day. How horrible it felt to have claws rip through tangible flesh. The sensation of cold mountain air by the cliffside, lapping at his fur. That same sharp smell of a blood-soaked black pelt beneath him as it tangled up in his claws. Cold river waters lapping at his sides as he scrubbed the scarlet from his fur, purged his scent from Ravenswoop's body. Sharptalon's vicious grin, flashing white, all four of his paws stained that terrible red red red—
He opened his eyes with a gasp, nearly tripping over his own paws. "Are you sure you're feeling alright?" Cardinaltail murmured, all traces of friendliness replaced with concern. "You really don't look well. We can hold off the assessment until—"
"No!" Badgerpaw said, clenching his jaw. "I need to do this." The apprentice's usually-glossy tabby coat was dull and a bit matted. His seeing eye was wide, gaze fixed firmly on an innocuous spot on the stony ground, but clouded over with fatigue and the faintest hint of fright. A muscle near his ear twitched. Cardinaltail noted all of this with deep concern, but he knew better than to argue with his charge.
"Okay, then," the Somali sighed, beckoning Badgerpaw towards the pine groves with a wave of his tail. "But don't say I didn't warn you."
---
Riverhowl found herself lying out alone in the clearing again, letting the warmth of the sun sink in deep enough that she could ignore the oppressive melancholy of her clanmates. Twice in the span of three moons, a life had been lost. She knew better than to press Fernpelt for company. The ex-rogue's nest, where she'd been hiding all day, reeked of fear-scent. It seemed that once again, Riverhowl was the only cat at a loss with how to mourn the fallen. She hadn't heard from Jaypaw, though, and for a moment, she entertained the hope that her apprentice might come out and join her
"I wonder if that makes me a bad cat," she mused, watching as a particularly fluffy cloud inched past overhead. The cloud did not answer, but she let the question float away on the breeze regardless. Riverhowl laid there in the gentle sun for what felt like hours, or maybe just minutes. It might have been peaceful enough to let her drift off into sleep, had her trance not been interrupted by the sound of a cat approaching. One blue ear twitched, and she turned to face the source of those recognizable pawsteps. "Hello, there," Riverhowl greeted, looking to her apprentice as he approached her slowly. Perhaps he, too, was uncomfortable in the environment of mourning for a stranger. "Come to enjoy the nice weather?" Jaypaw didn't look up to make eye contact.
"Riverhowl," the small grey tabby said, still not meeting her eyes. "I think I'm sad."
"Oh?" the blue she-cat asked, a hint of worried confusion seeping into her tone. Jaypaw's shoulders were slumped, his eyes glossy and red-tinged. He certainly looked sad."What's the matter?"
"I miss Ravenswoop," her apprentice whispered, after a pause, and sudden realization made its home in Riverhowl's mind. "He saved my life. He is—" Jaypaw paused, his face crumpling of any resolve he'd had left. The fur around his cheeks glistened with budding tears. "He was the greatest cat ever. I wanted to be like him. And now that he's gone, I— I don't know what... is this what is means to be grieving?" he croaked. "I don't want to be grieving. I don't want to know what it's like."
Riverhowl could only stare in horrible sympathy, rising to her paws quickly and hurrying towards him. "Jaypaw," she began, but trailed off without the right words. It felt like nothing she could say would be right, would fix this. "Jaypaw, I'm so sorry. I wish I could do something—"
"I want him back," Jaypaw wailed, sobbing openly now. He'd always struck Riverhowl as the optimistic type, blindly happy almost to a fault, but she'd never expected to see him distraught. It tugged at her heartstrings in all the wrong ways.
"Oh, Bluejay," she murmured, sweeping her apprentice in close and hugging him tight. The small tabby let out one keening, broken whimper, weeping into the thick fur of her chest. "I hoped you'd never have to know grief." And as she held him there, acutely aware of each heaving breath and each wet sniffle, Riverhowl made her decision. She'd never let him be broken like this again.
---
Not for the first time, the crowd of SpruceClan cats gathered in somber silence at the foot of Tall Stones for a ceremony. The only sound asides from quiet bird's chirps was the occasional clearing of throats or shuffling of paws against the ground. It was supposed to be the greatest day ever. Once Emberkit was an apprentice, their world would expand, and they wouldn't have to wait too long until Hollykit would be there by their side. But this was nothing like the cheerful day they had envisioned. How could they celebrate, when Ravenswoop was dead? Emberkit glanced to Hollykit besides them. The munchkin kit, their best friend, just bumped her head against their side. "Go on," she whispered. "Just two more moons and I'll be there, too." They just nodded, long tail twitching nervously, and looked to the other cat by their side.
Roselight, who had quickly forged an identity as "mother to all that dared say hello," was the closest thing they had to a relative. The tortoiseshell queen stood behind them, a small beacon of support, and one reassuring pat from her was enough to restore Emberkit's confidence. They stepped forwards into the heart of the crowd, looking up at Sparrowstar with clear yellow eyes. Sparrowstar stared back, offering a soft smile. He looked unwell. The thick red fur along Emberkit's spine rose, ruffled by the gust of cool air that whisked through the clearing.
"Emberkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed," Sparrowstar said softly. There was no need to project his voice in a clearing so eerily silent, even with the mass of cats that circled them. "From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Emberpaw. Your mentor will be Cherryclaw. She has proven time and time again her dedication and vigor for life —" the leader paused, bending over as he was overtaken by a coughing fit. When he straightened back up, sheepishly apologetic grin on his face, the tremors in his paws were more visible than they'd been before. "Excuse me," he breathed, still a little raspy. "Cherryclaw is a wonderful young warrior, and I trust she will help you flourish into the best cat you can be."
Thistleflight gave a soft cheer for her closest companion as the grey tabby left her side for the first time that day. Cherryclaw smiled back at her, sad eyes crinkling at their corners, before padding forwards to greet Emberpaw by gently tapping her nose to theirs. They returned the gesture with a shy smile. Roselight and Hollykit, in tandem, began to cheer their new name. The rest of the clan joined in, too, though it was subdued.
"Emberpaw! Emberpaw! Emberpaw! Emberpaw!"
With a quick murmur of apology, Cherryclaw excused herself to return to Thistleflight, but not before motioning the small cluster of apprentices forwards to greet their newest member. They approached just as the grey tabby made her escape. "Hey, congratulations," Dovepaw said brightly, tilting her flat muzzle up to make eye contact with the much-taller Emberpaw. "I'm sorry the cheers weren't too loud. I yelled as loud as I could, promise!" She didn't seem phased by the young apprentice's height. Having lanky Crowpaw and Tallthorn as her only relatives, Dovepaw had become quite accustomed to being the shortest cat around.
"Yes," Crowpaw agreed, moving forwards so as not to be his sister's towering shadow. His long tail swished from side to side with nervous energy. "I cheered, too."
"Sorry, everyone!" a third voice chimed in, and Violetpaw pranced into the clearing. "I'm just a little late 'cause I had to help build you your new nest! Poppypaw an' Daisypaw are in the den, but they might still be arguing. Anyways, they wanted me to tell you they said hello!" As he spoke, the tabby bounded over to where Crowpaw was standing and nestled up to his side. Tension seeped from his shoulders as the black oriental relaxed into the touch. Violetpaw offered him a soft smile, before turning his attentions back to Emberpaw. "Congratulations!"
"Thank you," Emberpaw said, with a flattered dip of their head. One paw reached up to fiddle with the corner of their bandana. "I appreciate it."
"Well, uh, I guess we're supposed to show you to your new sleeping quarters!" Dovepaw chirped, breaking the silence. "Come on, then! After me!" Emberpaw allowed themselves to be ushered away in the crowd of other apprentices, each one clearly forcing enthusiasm for their sake, but spared a glance back to the dissolving crowds as they went. In front of both Cricketpounce, Hollykit was still standing, waving at them excitedly with all the energy her tiny body could muster and grinning with pride for her best friend. Emberpaw smiled back. Two more moons until she'd be in the apprentice's den, too. They couldn't wait.
---
"Share with me," Heathersong murmured, nudging the small fish towards her mate with a paw. "It's fresh, I caught it this morning." Sparrowstar just shook his head grimly, turning away from her offered meal and letting his chin slump onto his paws. He didn't look well, face gaunt and frame thinner than ever. Not even the Dark Wars had gotten to him this badly, but then again, there was no telling just how many of the clan's recent losses he blamed on himself. Sighing, Heathersong just curled up besides him, laying her red-furred tail against Sparrowstar's side comfortingly and trying to ignore the way his ribs shifted with every hacking cough. She just hoped that her presence in their shared nest could bring him some sort of peace of mind as they both waited for sleep to take them.
The coughing was worse the next morning, and this time, Heathersong would not ignore it. Her mate was near-delirious, mumbling at the shadows on the cave walls and sniffling like he'd caught a nasty cold. Sparrowstar's every cough was so raucous that it seemed as though he'd hack out a lung at any moment. It took all of her patience and a not-unimpressive amount of strength to drag him to the healer for a check-up. He protested the whole way, muttering something about "divine punishment" and "guilt" with each step he was forced to take outside their den. Applefall didn't look surprised by his condition, though the way his tail-tip twitched incessantly betrayed how concerned he really was.
"He's not sick with any illness I can treat," the healer said, resigned. "I can try to make him eat a few herbs to ease the coughing and promote appetite, but nothing else will make a difference. It's all in his head."
"Alright," Heathersong muttered, somewhat unconvinced. "But Sparrow should still spend the night in your den. I don't want him to get any worse without a healer around." She, too, chose to sleep in the little "healthy" alcove of the healer's den where relatives could stay to keep their loved ones company. It wasn't half-bad, really, though her worries about her mate and his cloudy eyes and wheezy breathing made it much harder to fall asleep than she would've liked.
In the middle of the night, Heathersong and Applefall woke to the sounds of their leader thrashing about in his nest. His rattling coughs had picked up with a fervor. Sparrowstar's thick black and white coat was rumpled and heavy with sweat, but he did not wake, just continued to spasm in his sleep. "He's sweating like he's trying to fight a fever," Applefall rambled, desperately kneading the moss at the side of his patient's nest. "But how can he be fighting a fever? His temperature's so low!"
"Sparrow," Heathersong said, shaking him gently. "Sparrow, wake up, you need to tell us what's wrong." He did not wake up. Still unconscious, he gave another strangled, keening cry, twitching one last time in his nest before falling deathly still. Applefall and Heathersong looked to one another with a quiet fear. "Sparrow?" Heathersong whispered again, her voice cracking inelegantly. Her voice was usually enough to rouse him, but this time, he did not stir. Almost as if in a trance, the healer stumbled towards the nest.
Expert paws parted the thick fur on Sparrowstar's chest, and one calico-dappled ear pressed up against his ribcage. For a tense moment, both cats held their breath as they waited for Applefall to pick up on the steady thump of a heartbeat. He held his ear to the leader's chest for an unnervingly long time, hardly moving save for the rise and fall of his own breaths. After a moment, the healer straightened up. "Oh, StarClan," Applefall croaked, backing away from the nest quickly. The fur along his spine was raised. "He's... he..." Something cold and fearful made its home in the pit of Heathersong's stomach.
Just as the realization of what had happened began to sink in, Sparrowstar bolted upright in his nest. His fur was still tousled from all the thrashing, nose still a little runny, but his breaths were even, if a little fast. There was no sign of the brutal, hacking coughs from the day before. "Did he just...?" Heatherong murmured, words trailing off as she took in the horrified expression on Applefall's face. Sparrowstar just blinked at them both, his eyes clearer than they'd been the night before. Much, much clearer. Too clear for a body's natural healing to have been the culprit. Applefall shook his head. He looked rather queasy.
"Too much death in one moon for me," he said. "I need a break." With a sound that was eerily close to choking back tears, the calico turned on his heel and stormed out of the den, leaving only Heathersong and Sparrowstar behind.
"Is he okay?" the leader finally asked, straightening up in his nest with urgency as his consciousness came back to him. "I need to go check on him."
"Don't," Heathersong said softly, all-too-aware of how the comforting paw she laid on his side was trembling. She'd just watched her mate die. Applefall had just lost his best friend. "He needs his space right now. And you need to eat, stars above. I'm getting you something from the prey pile and you are going to eat it whether you want to or not. I think you've had enough time to wallow in misplaced guilt." Before he could protest, Heathersong left the healer's den in a hurry. Sparrowstar just watched her go, too, his whiskers drooping. Not only had he failed Nightfang and Ravenswoop, he'd failed the two most important cats in his life. Alone, he buried his face in his paws with a whimper.
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
ACTIONS
SpruceClan consumes 7 mice
StarClan
[ Sparrowstar asks StarClan for a warrior ]
Rank Changes & Newcomers
[ Thistledance asks Sparrowstar to rename her Thistleflight in honor of her late brother ]
[ Badgerpaw takes his final assessment! If he passes, he will be known as Badgerstripe ]
[ Emberkit is now an apprentice! Their new name is Emberpaw ]
Patrols
[ Cricketpounce, Mintfur, Coffeebean, Cardinaltail, and Goldenheart hunt ]
[ Smokestep, Ramsey, Brambletuft, and Cloudchaser hunt ]
[ Briarmask, Tallthorn, Cherryclaw, Pineshade, and Hailsplash hunt ]
[ Sparrowstar, Heathersong, Fernpelt, and Riverhowl patrol ]
[ Applefall and Honeypaw search for herbs ]
Apprentice & Skills
[ Cherryclaw becomes Emberpaw's mentor ]
[ Badgerpaw attempts his final assessment ]
[ Brambletuft and Dovepaw train in swimming ]
[ Goldenheart and Crowpaw train in swimming ]
[ Heathersong and Poppypaw train in swimming ]
[ Cricketpounce and Daisypaw train in swimming ]
[ Ramsey and Violetpaw train in swimming ]
[ Sparrowstar and Ashpaw train in climbing ]
[ Cloudchaser and Cinderpaw train in swimming ]
[ Riverhowl and Jaypaw train in swimming ]
[ Hailsplash and Softpaw train in battle ]
Kitting & Healing
[ Applefall practices his skills ]
Deaths
[ Sparrowstar loses a life from stress-induced illness ]
Vigils
[ SpruceClan mourns Ravenswoop's death. Thistleflight is granted a break from this moon's warrior duties to grieve ]
MOD NOTES
* Please do not kill any cats marked with a ✧ symbol.
* Injury and illness rolls are fine, but please don't roll for death on patrols!
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────LEADER
Sparrowstar | 56 moons | male | x
Lives: ★★★★★★★
DEPUTY
Briarmask | 46 moons | female | x
HEALER
Applefall | 51 moons | male | x
Skill Points: ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿
HEALER'S APPRENTICE
✧ Honeypaw | 15 moons | female | x
WARRIORS
Cricketpounce | 51 moons | male | x
✧ Smokestep | 42 moons | male | x
✧ Heathersong | 54 moons | female | x
✧ Tallthorn | 39 moons | male | x
Hailsplash | 43 moons | male | x
✧ Cardinaltail | 25 moons | male | x
Ramsey | 56 moons | male | x
Brambletuft | 52 moons | male | x
Cloudchaser | 23 moons | female | x
Goldenheart | 19 moons | male | x
✧ Cherryclaw |19 moons | female | x
✧ Mintfur | 18 moons | male | x
✧ Riverhowl | 50 moons | female | x
✧ Thistleflight | 16 moons | female | x
Coffeebean | 15 moons | female (amab) | x
✧ Fernpelt | 43 moons | female | x
Pineshade | 31 moons | male | x
APPRENTICES
✧ Softpaw | 15 moons | male | x
✧ Badgerpaw | 12 moons | male | x
✧ Ashpaw | 9 moons | female | x
✧ Cinderpaw | 9 moons | male | x
Jaypaw | 9 moons | male | x
Dovepaw | 8 moons | female | x
Crowpaw | 8 moons | male | x
Poppypaw | 8 moons | female | x
Daisypaw | 8 moons | female | x
Violetpaw | 8 moons | male | x
Emberpaw | 6 moons | nb (amab) | x
QUEENS
Roselight | 49 moons | female | x
✧ Ivyblossom | 26 moons | female | x
KITS
Hollykit | 4 moons | female | x
Sunkit | 3 moons | female | x
Fadedkit | 3 moons | male | x
ELDERS
Redwhisker | 118 moons | male (afab) | x
Mistywind | 104 moons | female | x
HERB STORAGE
Alder Bark (1) | toothache
Beech Leaf (1) | soothes scratches, sore paws
Bindweed (1) | sets broken bones
Birch Sap (1) | yellowcough
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 (1) | kitting
Catchweed (1) | removes burrs in fur
Catmint (2) | cures greencough & whitecough
Celandine (1) | soothes damaged eyes
Chamomile (1) | travelling herb
Chervil (0) | bellyache, infection, kitting
Chickweed (2) | cures greencough
Cobweb (1) | binds a wound, stops bleeding
Coltsfoot (1) | eases breathing, cracked paws
Comfrey (1) | broken bones, burns
Daisy (1) | joints, travel herb
Dandelion (1) | bee stings, eases pains
Dock Leaf (1) | soothes scratches
Elder Leaf (1) | soothes sprains
Fennel (3) | eases pains
Feverfew (1) | eases fever
Goatweed (1) | eases grief
Goldenrod (1) | chewed into poultice for wounds
Hawkweed (1) | cures greencough & whitecough
Honey (0) | infections, sore or damaged throat
Horsetail (1) | infection, stops bleeding
Marigold (1) | infection, inflammation, stiff joints
Ragwort (1) | kitting pains, joint pain
Raspberry Leaf (1) | kitting
Yarrow (1) | extracts poison or toxins
FRESH-KILL PILE
Snow Hare | x 8 | 3 servings
Bird | x 8 | 3 servings
Small Fish | x 8 | 2 servings
Ermine | x 8 | 2 servings
Frog | x 7 | 1 servings
Mouse | x 1 | 1 servings
MENTORS
Hailsplash | Softpaw | hunt, swim, climb, battle
Cardinaltail | Badgerpaw | hunt, swim, climb, battle
Sparrowstar | Ashpaw | hunt, swim, climb, strike
Cloudchaser | Cinderpaw | hunt, swim, climb, battle
Riverhowl | Jaypaw | hunt, swim, climb, battle
Brambletuft | Dovepaw | hunt, swim, climb, battle
Goldenheart | Crowpaw | hunt, swim, climb, battle
Heathersong | Poppypaw | hunt, swim, climb, battle
Cricketpounce | Daisypaw | hunt, swim, climb, battle
Ramsey | Violetpaw | hunt, swim, climb, battle
Cherryclaw | Emberpaw | hunt, swim, climb, battle
Applefall | Honeypaw | kitting, illness, herbs, injury
DECEASED CATS
Nightfang | shoved off mountain | StarClan
Ravenswoop | killed by Badgerpaw | StarClan
C
