NightClan Roleplay

===March 7, 2011===
Stormstar and Icefur pad over to the fresh-kill pile and grab a vole and a fish. They sit down and talk quickly and quietly.
Icefur finishes her vole and stands up and mews to her leader, "Goodbye."
She trots into Pebbleheart's den.
"Yes, it's just as I thought. You're expecting kits, Icefur." he mutters as he presses his muzzle against her flank. "I can feel them kicking. Well, them or it. I don't know how many." he pads around her.
Pebbleheart stops in front of her. "But they are older than I'd expect. How long have you known?"
Icefur shakes her head. "I haven't known. I just felt something kick me last night, and so I came to you."
Pebbleheart nods. "Well, you'd better go join the other queens."
"Thank you, Pebbleheart." she dips her head and backs out of the den.
Stormstar looks up at her. "Stormstar, we need to talk." she meows and leads him into his den.
"You're going to have to find a temporary deputy." she explains nervously.
Stormstar looks at her. "What? Why?"
Icefur looks down at her paws. "I'm expecting kits." she croaks.
"What?"
"I-I'm expecting....kits." she repeats slowly.
Stormstar smiles. "I thought so. It's getting a bit obvious." he flicks his tail toward her slightly swollen belly.
"Thank you, Stormstar." she mews quietly and slips out of the den.
Stormstar just sits there. "Icefur has a mate?" he murmurs.
Icefur glances around the empty camp and hurries into the warriors' den. She comes out wih the moss from her den and carries the bedding into the nursery.
"Icefur? Is that you?" Dreamkit mews as the white she-cat pads in.
Icefur freezes. "Uh, yeah. It's me."
"Thought so. I knew you were coming in. I won't tell, don't worry." Dreamkit replies.
Icefur looks at her. "Tell what?" she meows cautiously.
"Who your mate is. I won't tell." she whispers.
Petalfur lifts her head. "Oh, hello Icefur. What are you doing in here?"
"Uh, I'm making, a uh, nest." she walks deeper into the den and puts her nest together near Petalfur's nest.
Petalfur stares at her in suprise. "You're expecting kits?"
"Yes."
"Oh, well then, er, make yourself comfortable." Petalfur mews.
Icefur nods. "Thanks."
She sets her nest in a comfortable position and pads out of the den.
"She is rather strange, isn't she?" Petalfur meows to Dreamkit.
Dreamkit stares at hr eerily. "Aren't we all?"
Icefur looks around as Dawnpaw and Stormspaw pad out of their den. She quickly races out of camp.
Dawnpaw looks at her brother. "Odd."
"Yes, very." Stormpaw agrees and settles down next to his sister near the fresh-kill pile.
Pouncepelt trots out of the warriors' den, followed by Orangenose and Dawnflower.
"Where's Icefur?" Orangenose looks around for the white deputy.
Dawnpaw shakes her head. "Last time I saw her, she was rushing out of camp."
Stormpaw nods.
"That's weird." Pouncepelt comments.
Dawnflower shrugs. "She's deputy. She must have had something important to do outside of camp."
"Alone?" Dawnpaw stands up. "What would she be doing out in the forest, alone?"
"I don't know." Orangenose looks at the thorn barrier as it quivers and Icefur pads in.
Pouncepelt smiles. "There she is." she calls to the she-cat. "Hey, Icefur! Do you want us to go hunting?"
Icefur looks at her. "Uh, sure. I don't know. Ask Stormstar. I have to go." she disspaears into the nursery.
Dawnflower stares after her. "Something's up."
Orangenose nods. "There is definetly something wrong."
===March 8, 2011===
Spottedwhisper and Flamepelt pad out of camp, tails entwined.
Morningsong watches them go from the warriors' den. She sighs. "Those two....."
"Morning, Morningsong." Owlheart mews as he pads out of the den from behind her.
Morningsong smiles. "Morning, Owlheart."
Owlheart pads over to the fresh-kill pile and grabs a squirrel. "Want to share?" he looks at Morningsong.
"What? Oh! Sure." she pads over to him and sits down.
Stormstar pads out of his den and watches as his clanmates emerge from their dens.
He jumps onto the low-hanging branch on the Talltree. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Talltree for a Clan meeting!" he calls.
The cats all look up to him and gather beneath the ancient tree.
"I have decided on who will take Icefur's place temporarily until she is out of the nursery." he begins.
There is a sudden outburst of whispering among the cats. "Icefur's expecting kits?"
"Who's her mate?"
"When did Icefur become a queen?"
Stormstar ignores the questions. "Until Icefur is ready to continue her duties as deputy.........Mousetail will be deputy." he meows.
Mousetail stares up at his leader in shock. "Me?"
"Yes, you." Stormstar purrs.
Mousetail slowly pads up to his leader. "I say these words before Icefur and all of MoonClan, so that they may hear and approve my choice. Mousetail will be the temporary deputy of StarClan." Stormstar mews.
Stormstar rests his muzzle on Mousetail's head, and the tom licks his shoulder in return.
"Mousetail! Mousetail! Mousetail!" the cats cheer the tabby tom's name.
Stormstar flicks his tail for his deputy to sit down. "Before I end this meeting, I would like to make Dreamkit, Mintkit, Ivykit, and Stonekit apprentices."
Mousetail smiles as Fawnbreeze quickly tries to lick her kits, but Stonekit had already rushed in front of Stormstar.
His littermates followed, Dreamkit strolling along behind.
Stormstar chuckles. "Stonekit. From this moment on you shall be known as Stonepaw. Spottedwhisper will be your mentor."
Spottedwhisper had just settled down in the crowd next to Flanepelt. She looks up to her leader and blushes.
She stumbles up to the front of the crowd and sits in front of Stormstar and Stonepaw.
"Do you promise to teach Stonepaw all that you have been taught?" Stormstar asks.
"I do."
Spottedwhisper touches noses with Stonepaw, and the two young cats sit down.
"Mintkit, from this moment on you shall be known as Mintpaw. Your mentor will be Dawnflower." Mintpaw turns around to see Dawnflower already behind her.
Dawnflower and her new apprentice touch noses and sit down next toStonepaw and Spottedwhisper.
"Ivykit, you will be known as Ivypaw, and Marshtail will mentor you." the StarClan leader meows.
Marshtail and Ivypaw touch noses.
Stormstar looks down to see Dreamkit looking up at him. "And Dreamkit. And you will now be called Dreampaw. Cloverstorm will mentor you."
Dreampaw turns and touches noses with Cloverstorm.
"Stonepaw! Mintpaw! Ivypaw! Dreampaw!" the Clan yowls merrily.
===March 9, 2011===
Mousetail stretches and pads out of the warriors' den.
"Hey, Flamepelt." Mousetail meows to the tom as he pads out behind him.
Flamepelt looks at him. "Oh, hi, deputy." he purrs.
Lilypaw pads out of the warriors den and glances around.She spots Breezefeather eating a mouse, and runs over to him
"Will you take me training? Cloverhearts asleep, I dont want to disturb her." she asks hopefully.
"Yeah sure, I guess, but what about Rosepaw?" Breezefeather asks
"Oh, she was out on a patrol late last night, shes tired."Lilpaw replies.
"Alright then,come on." Breezefeather signals for her to follow.
===March 12, 2011===
Dreampaw pads out of the apprentices' den and trots out of camp.
Willowtail watches her go. She hurries into the warriors' den and informs Cloverstorm of her apprentice's location.
"Yes, I know." Cloverstorm mumbles as she stretches. "She does that almost everday."
Willowtail stares at her. "And you allow her to do that?"
"Of course."
Willowtail shrugs and follows the calico she-cat out of the den.
Icefur pads out of the nursery and sits in front of the brambles. She stares at her paws, then up at the sky.
She closes her eyes and it starts to rain.
"Hmph! That's weird....It looked like such a nice day outside." Petalfur meows as she sits beside Icefur.
Icefur looks away. "Uhh....yeah.."
"Something wrong?"
Icefur nods. "Yeah......I mean, no!" she mews quickly.
Dreampaw pads back into camp, a rabbit in her jaws.
"Nice catch!" Cloverstorm meows to er apprentice as she places the rabbit on the fresh-kill pile.
Dreampaw looks up at her. "Thanks."
Cloverstorm turns to Mousetail. "Can Dreampaw and I join a border patrol?" she asks.
"Sure." he flicks his atil toward where Foxcharge stands with Bramblefur and Swiftstep.
Cloverstorm smiles. "Thanks."
===March 13, 2011===
Cloverheart pads out of the warriors den.
Lilypaw pads into camp with a vole in her jaws.
"Nice catch!" calls Rosepaw from where she was snoozing in the sun.
"When was the last time you've been training?" Lilypaw asks, padding over to her sister.
"Ummm... I cant remember. Applenose has been busy." Rosepaw admits.
"Me, Breezefeather, Jayflight, and Cloverheart are going training. Maybe you can come?"Lilypaw suggests.
"Sure, that'd be great!" Rosepaw smiles, then glances at her mentor who was asleep in the warriors den, snoring the day away. "He wont be mad will he?"
"No, Breezefeather and Cloverheart will cover for you." Lilypaw reassures.
"Okay, lets go." Rosepaw says, getting to her paws.
"Go meet Cloverheart by the exit, I'll go get Breezefeather and Jayflight." Lilypaw says, bounding over to the warriors den.
"Dont worry about me, I'm already up." Yawns Jayflight, exiting the warriors den, and padding over to his mate.
"Get up!" Lilypaw says, prodding Breezefeather.
Breezefeather raises his head and grumbles. "Is this going to be a daily thing?"
"Yes, now come on!" Lilypaw says impatiently.
Lilypaw and Breezefeather pad over to Cloverheart, Rosepaw, and Jayflight. "Ready?" Asks Cloverheart.
"Ready." mutters Breezefeather tiredly.
The five cats exit camp.
Spottedwhisper and Flamepelt pad into camp, carrying a fish and a crow.
Pebbleheart stumbles out of his den and pads into his father's den.
"Yes?" Stormstar meows deeply.
Pebbleheart dips his head. "Umm, Stormstar?" Pebbleheart pauses. "I need to, uhh, go somewhere."
Stormstar sits up. "Where?"
Pebbleheart gulps. "Th-the Moonpool."
"The MoonPool?" Stormstar stares at him.
"Yes."
The StarClan leader sits back. "Why do you need to go to the Moonpool?" he asks calmly.
"I've recieved a dream from MoonClan, and it's urgent. I must leave at once." Pebbleheart mews quickly.
Stormstar nods. "You may go as soon as possible, but take Tawnyfur with you. We don't know what ShadowClan is up to."
Pebbleheart nods. "Yes, Stormstar."
"Good luck." Stormstar calls to his son as he backs out of the den.
Pebbleheart trots into the warriors' den where Tawnyfur is resting from the dawn patrol and a hunting patrol. "Tawnyfur!" he whispers.
The she-cat lifts her head. "Yes?" she mumbles.
"We're going to the Moonpool." he meows.
Tawnyfur leaps up and out of the den. She grabs a squirrel, they share it, and head out of camp.
===March 14, 2011===
Daisycloud picks up the moss from her nest in the nursery and quietly transfers it to the warriors' den.
"Hey." a voice meows from the shadows. Mousetail pads up to his mate and purrs.
Daisycloud rubs against him. "Congratulations." she whispers. "You're deputy!"
"Only for a while. Once Icefur gets out of the nursery I'll just be a plain old warrior." Mousetail reminds her.
Daisycloud shakes her head and picks up her moss. Mousetail follows her into the den and helps her arrange her nest.
"You'll never be a plain old warrior to me." she mews.
Mousetail nods. "True."
The two cats pad out of he warriors' den.
"You'd better go do your duty." Daisycloud tells him. She flicks her tail to Foxcharge and Cherryheart sitting near the fresh-kill pile.
Breezefeather depostits a mouse and a fat thrush into the fresh kill pile.
"Nice catch, can I have it?" Lilypaw asks, padding over.
"Okay I guess. But take the mouse to the elders." Breezefeather says.
"Alright, thanks!" Lilypaw picks up the mouse and heads over to the elders den.
"Apprentices. I cant believe the clan put up with me." purrs Breezefeather.
"Hi Breezefeather, want to share?" Hollytail offers from where she was sitting with Rosepaw.
Breezefeather nods and pads over to her.
Lilypaw pads out of the elders den and runs over with her thrush. She settles down beside her sister.
"Alright, now what should I do?" asks Rosepaw, finishing her prey.
"Go see if Applenose will take you training." Hollytail suggests.
"Alright!" Rosepaw bounds over to the warriors den.
"So hows training going, Lilypaw?" Hollytail asks.
"Its great! I hope I'm going to be a warrior soon." Lilypaw says, taking the last bite of her thrush.
"Lilypaw, lets go training with Rosepaw and Applenose!" calls Cloverheart padding out of the warriors den.
"Bye Breezefeather! By Hollytail!" Lilypaw calls racing over to her mentor.
"This is rediculous. My second best friend is an apprentice." Breezefeather purrs once she was out of earshot.
"She is entertaining though. She is really nice, and she seems to love training. She'll make a great warrior." Hollytail points out.
"Yeah, I see that. Shes dragged me to almost all her training sessions." Breezefeather mumbles.
Hollytail purrs. "I've heard you complaining in the morning."
===March 21, 2011===
Bramblefur pads out of the warriors' den,"Mousetail!" Bramblefur calls to the temporary deputy. "Can I join a patrol?"
"Sure." Mousetail nods. "You can go with Daisycloud, Pouncepelt, and Owlheart."
Bramblefur nods his thanks and pads over to the small group of cats.
"Hey." Pouncepelt mews. "You joining my patrol?"
Bramblefur nods. "Yeah, I think so."
"Great!" she meows and leads the patrol out of camp.
Icefur hobbles out of the nursery an into Pebbleheart's den.
"Oh." Pebbleheart murmers as Icefur whispers something into his ear. "Yes, I can do that. Sure thing, Icefur."
Pebbleheart pads out of his den, acting as natural as possible, holding his breath and hoping Dreampaw isn't near by. He trots into the nursery and says to the queens,"It's a lovely day outside; why don't you take the kits just outside of camp for an outing?"
"Why that's a great idea, Pebbleheart." Petalfur meows softly. "What do you think, you two? Do you want to go out into the forest for a bit?" she looks at her two sons.
Brackenkit stares up at his mother. "Of course!" he squeaks.
"Okay." Fawnbreeze stands up and leads her kits out of the nursery, followed by Petalfur, Brackenkit, and Eaglekit.
Pebbleheart pads back out and nods to Icefur, who is waiting outside of his den.
Icefur stumbles into the den.
Icefur lays down in her nest, and lets out a small squeak of pain, followed by quiet mewling. "There." Pebbleheart meows quietly.
"Oh, thank you, Pebbleheart. I won't forget this," Icefur mews to the medicine cat as he gives her some borage leaves.
"No problem." Pebbleheart sits up and licks a paw. "But, won't the father care to know?"
Icefur nods. "Oh, I'll tell him soon. Or he'll find out."
"Who is he father, anyway?"
Icefur shakes her head. "That I can't tell you."
"Oh. What will you name her?" Pebbleheart flicks his tail oward the white she-kit suckling and squirming in Icefur's nest.
Icefur doesn't wait a second to reply. "Frostkit."
"Okay, Frostkit is a lovely name. Good bye, Frostkit, Icefur." Pebbleheart says as he backs out of the nursery.
Icefur purrs as she looks down at her tiny white daughter. "Frostkit."
Icefur stares in suprise as Frostkit breaths softly and cold air floats into her face. "She's just like me?"
===March 25, 2011===
Cloverheart, Breezefeather and Lilypaw pad into camp.
"Lilypaw! There you are!" Rosepaw bounds over from across camp.
Lilypaw nods, fur stuck out in clumps.
"Whats wrong?" Rosepaw asks.
"She fell out of a tree." Cloverheart says.
"Are you alright?" Rosepaw asks worriedly.
"F-fine, Breezefeather caught me." Lilypaw replied.
"Maybe you should go sleep it off." Breezefeather flicks his tail towards the apprentice den.
"Oh, alright." Lilypaw nods, padding over to the den.
Petalfur apds out of the nursery and grabs herself a thrush and picks a shrew and a vole for Icefur and Fawnbreeze. "I wonder when Icefur will have her kits?" she murmers to herself.
The she-cat pads back into the nursery and gives Fawnbreeze the vole. She brings the shrew to Icefur and notices a large scrap of fur in her nest.......breathing!
"Icefur...." she stammers. "wh-what's, that?" Petalfur sniffs the small white thing.
Icefur looks down at her kit. "Umm, it's......a kit."
Petalfur stares at the white queen in shock. "A kit? When did you give birth?!"
"Not too long ago. Her name's Frostkit." Icefur says as casually as possible.
Petalfur shakes her head. "I must be going blind. Where were we?"
"Outside. I asked Pebbleheart to empty the nursery. I wanted to keep Frostkit a secret for as long as possible." Icefur mews.
Fawnbreeze stands up and pads over to Icefur's nest. "Icefur had her kits?"
"Kit." Icefur corrects.
Fawnbreeze's kits stumble over to the nest. "She's so cute!" Honeykit squeaks.
Fawnbreeze purrs. "She's very quiet considering her eyes are already open."
Icefur watches as her daughter's eyes slowly open. "Good morning." she licks her kit. "She was just asleep. She opened her eyes the night after she was born. But she kept quiet, like I told her to."
"Hi!" Frostkit squeals to the other kits.
Thornkit smiles and his tail waggles like a dog's. "Want to play?" he asks Frostkit.
"Yeah! What should we play?" the white she-kit hops out of her mother's nest and runs off with te other kits. "Wait for us!" Brackenkit and Eaglekit race out after them.
Icefur sighs. "I guess she's not a secret anymore."
Petalfur looks at her. "Why did you want to keep hr a secret?"
"Yeah?" Fawnbreeze asks.
Icefur shakes her head. "I don't know. I guess I didn't want her father to know about her because then it wold be obvious who the father is."
"Why won't you tell us who the father is?" Petalfur asks curiously.
"Because, I don't have to. And he's, well, I can't tell you. I'd better go check that Frostkit is okay. Talk to you later." Icefur hurries out of the nursery.
Petalfur watches her go. "Something's up."
"Something is definetely up." Fawnbreeze agrees.
===March 27, 2011===
Gasps spread through the Clan as Frostkit and the other kits play all through the camp.
"Who's that?"
"Who's the mother and father?"
"Is that Icefur's kit?"
Icefur pads out of the nursery slowly and cautiously pads over to the fresh-kill pile. She picks up a mouse and sits in front of the nursery, watching her daughter play.
Heathercloud pads over to the white she-cat and sits down next to her. "Hello Icefur." she mews softly.
"Hey Heathercloud."
Heathercloud looks nervously at Frostkit and asks Icefur without looking away from the kit,"Is, uh, that your daughter?"
"Who, Frostkit? Yes, yes she is my daughter." Icefur meows casually.
Heathercloud nods. "Who is Frostkit's," Heathercloud pauses and swallows,"father?"
That did it. Icefur stops eating, swallows her mouthful and stands up. "Does it really matter that much to you cats as to who my mate is?" she looks at the many, many cats who asked her who her mate was.
"I do not have to say anything about my mate nor do I choose to." Icefur picks up her halfeaten mouse, calls to Frostkit, and the two identical she-cats disappear into the nursery.
Frostkit sits happily next to her steaming mother. "Icefur," she begins,"I learned how to play moss-ball today. It was very fun!"
Icefur stops muttering to herself and smiles. She licks Frostkit between the ears and sets her daughter right next to her. Frostkit is very comfortable. "I'm glad you had a fun time, dear." she mews and the two gently fall asleep.
===March 28, 2011===
Stormstar paces back and forth in front of his den. Finally he calls for Pebbleheart and the tom appears at his side in an instant.
"Yes, Stormstar?" Pebbleheart asks.
Stormstar sighs. "Icefur hasn't come out of the nursery at all since her outburst yesterday morning."
Pebbleheart nods. "Queens lose their temper sometimes. When they're under stress from giving birth, watching their kits and making sure they stay out of trouble, scolding them. Icefur is just very stressed. On top of being a queen, she is StarClan's deputy, and everyone wants to know who the father is."
"Oh." Stormstar sits down.
"Don't fret, Stormstar. Mousetail is doing very well taking Icefur's place. And before you know it, everything will be back to normal, and Icefur will be deputy once more." Pebbleheart tries to comfort his father.
Stormstar nods. "I hope you are right, Pebbleheart."
The medicine cat dips his head and pads away.
Mousetail yawns and stretches in the warriors' den. He trots out into the morning sunshine.
"Morning, Stormstar!" he calls to the StarClan leader.
Stormstar stands up. "Good morning, Mousetail. Got the dawn patrol under control?"
Mousetail pads over to his leader. "Yes. Sedgeflight, Redtooth, Foxcharge, and Tawnyfur will be on the dawn patrol this morning."
"Excellent." Stormstar meows and walks into his den.
Foxcharge pads out of the warriors' den, followed by the rest of the dawn patrol.
Mousetail flicks his tail towrd the entrance. "I want you to check the ShadowCla border. Yesterday a patrol caught a very strong scent of them, on our side of the border."
Foxcharge growls. "If we must we will teach them a lesson."
"Only if you have to." Mousetail warns.
The patrol pads out of camp.
Icefur sits in her nest, watching Frostkit play tag with Thornkit and Brackenkit.
Petalfur sighs. "You can't stay in here forever, you know."
"I know. But I will stay in here as long as it takes." Icefur growls.
"Help! Foxcharge! Pebbleheart!" Ravnepaw streaks into camp.
"Foxcharge!" Icefur whispers and charges out of the nursery.
Icefur rests her muzzle in Foxcharge's cold fur. "He was my mate." she whispers.
The cats all hang their heads.
===April 3, 2011===
Breezefeather pads out of the warriors den.
"Hey Breezefeather." Cloverheart yawns, padding out of the warriors den.
"Hi Mom." Breezefeather says turning around. "You just waking up?"
"Yeah. By the way, I was going to take Lilypaw out for her assesment, but Applenose is still asleep. Can you watch Lilypaw while I watch Rosepaw?" Cloverheart asks.
"Sure. I'll go get them." Breezefeather gets to his paws adn pads over to the apprentice den.
"Assesment? Really!" Lilypaws excited voice sounded in the apprentice den.
"Yep. Come on!" Breezefeather says.
"Lets go!" Rosepaw says impatiently.
The three cats pad out of the apprentice den and over to Cloverheart.
"Are you quite ready?" Cloverheart asks
"Yeah! But wheres Applenose?" asks Rosepaw glancing around.
"He was on a late patrol, I'll be watching you."Cloverheart says.
"Well who will watch me?" Lilypaw asks.
"I will." Breezefeather says stepping forward.
"Okay!" Lilypaw smiles.
"Lets go then." Cloverheart flicks her tail towards the exit.
The four cats exit camp.
===April 18, 2011===
Tawnyfur closes her eyes and sighs. She sees Lilysplash and Breezefeather, her mate, sitting next to each other. Tawnyfur peers closely at Lilysplash. She stares at Breezefeather like he is a cat from MoonClan. Is Lilysplash in love with Breezefeather?
Tawnyfur shakes her head in disbelief, then turns, and crashes right into her least favorite cat. Smokefur.
"What?" she meows, trying to hide the snappiness in her voice.
Smokefur sighs. "Tawnyfur, can you come out into the forest with me, to talk in private?"
Tawnyfur rolls her eyes, almost in disgust. "Okay, but make it quick. I have a hunting patrol soon, and I refuse to miss it."
She looks Smokefur in the eyes and notices the grief and sorrow there. She softens her tone. "Let's go."
===April 19, 2011===
Breezefeather pads out of the warrriors den, followed by Lilysplash.
"Breezefeather, last night Icefur said she wanted you to lead a border patrol." Hollytail scurries up.
"Alright. Do you want to come?" Breezefeather asks his sister.
"Of course! Shall I fetch Berrylight?" Hollytail asks.
"No he was out late. Fetch Rosepetal and Jayflight. Oh and do you know where Tawnyfur is? I feel like I havent seen my own mate in moons." Breezefeather asks.
"No, I havent seen her since yesterday when her and Smokefur went out." Hollytail says walking away.
Breezefeathers heart skips a beat. Please dont let him steal her from me!
Lilysplash turns to Breezefeather. "Can I come on your patrol?"
"Sorry, but we cant have to many cats, why dont you go hunt or clean up the bedding in the warriors den? Some cat made a mess in there."
"Oh, okay." Lilysplash looks dissapointed and pads over towards the warriors den.
Hollytail, Rosepetal and Jayflight pad out of the warriors den.
"Lets go!" Breezefeather leads his patrol out of camp.
===April 24, 2011===
Tawnyfur limps into camp, bleeding heavily from her left shoulder.
Pebbleheart looks up from his afternoon nap in front of his den and hurries to her side. "What happened?" he asks.
"Smokefur....attacked me...." she chokes out.
Pebbleheart stares at her in disbelief. "Smokefur? Why would he do that?" Pebbleheart thinks to himself,My brother wouldn't do such damage to one of his own Clanmates, would he?
Stormstar sits next to Swiftstpe in front of his den, and seeing Tawnyfur, he scrambles to his paws and rushes to her side.
"What on earth happened to you?" he gasps.
Pebbleheart sighs. "Smokefur," Pebbleheart stares at his paws,"attacked her."
"What?"
Pebbleheart leads the two cats into his den, and lays Tawnyfur down into a soft nest of moss and feathers. He brings her a soaked ball of moss, and she quickly drinks the water.
She rests her head down, putting out her injured shoulder for Pebbleheart to treat. Tawnyfur takes a soft, deep breath, and hears a voice.
"You'll be alright, Tawnyfur. But you must watch Breezefeather closely. Try to stay near him, and don't ever let him go into the forest alone, or Smokefur will have no mercy on him."
Tawnyfur recognizes the voice, and murmers in her head,"I will watch him, and stay near him, Pinestar, I promise."
"Good." the voice whispers, then everything falls silent.
Pebbleheart stares at the soft and staedy breathing of Tawnyfur, and realizes she is asleep. Finally he turns to his father. "I don't understand.....," he begins,"why would Smokefur do such a thing?"
Stormstar shakes his head. "I don't know. Smokefur was, after all, in love with Tawnyfur, so why would he hurt her?"
"Breezefeather. He's, he's mad at Breezefeather. Tawnyfur became his mate after Smokefur snapped at Tawnyfur, and she and Smokefur just didn't click. Breezefeather and Tawnyfur clicked. And, Smokefur was enraged,. Ever since then, Smokefur has hated Breezefeather." Pebbleheart gasps.
Stormstar shakes his head, his eyes closed. "I can't believe that my own son, would attack one of his own Clanmates."
Stormstar looks up at Pebbleheart. "Has he returned to camp yet?"
"No." Pebbleheart meows sadly.
The StarClan leader whisks away, out of the den.
"Mousetail!" he calls.
Mousetail appears at his leader's side at once. "Yes, Stormstar?"
"Gather a patrol immediatly. Find Smokefur. Bring him back to me as soon as possible. Alive, but don't be afraid to get your paws bloody in the process." Stormstar sighs. "Smokefur is not okay. Now go."
Mousetail nods. "Yes, Stormstar." he turns around and calls to the cats across the clearing. "Robinfrost! Cloverstorm! Come with me on a patrol, and bring your apprentices. And hurry!"
The cats nod and hurry off to fetch Nightpaw and Dreampaw. The four cats hurry over to Mousetail. "What's the patrol for?" Cloverstorm asks.
"We must find Smokefur, and bring him back. But Stormstar says he's not okay, so we may have to fight him. Be ready for anything."
Mousetail leads the cats out of camp, Nightpaw stares at Dreampaw, smiling as he slides his claws out.
===April 26, 2011===
By the time Tawnyfur had awoken, her wound had already healed. No suprise there, she thinks.
She sits up and yawns. She shakes her fur and a load of feathers and moss fall from her pelt.
The calico she-cat slowly pads into th morning sunlight, her eyes adjusting to the brightness. She spots Flamepelt sitting near the fresh-kill pile eating a sparrow.
"Mind if I join you?" Tawnyfur mews to her brother.
Flamepelt looks up. "What? Oh! Tawnyfur! You're better. Oh, of course." he pushes the sparrow towards Tawnyfur as she settles down beside him.
"So, how is that," he flicks his tail toward her scarred shoulder.
Tawnyfur swallows. "Oh, it's fine, now."
Flamepelt nods, staring still at her nearly healed wound. "It's fine, already? Wow, Pebbleheart must be getting really good, if he can heal a bad wound like that overnight."
Tawnyfur shakes her head, smiling.
She sees Breezefeather trot out of the warriors' den and she stands up. "Talk to you later, Flamepelt."
Flamepelt rolls his eyes and purrs, eating the rest of the sparrow before padding over to Mousetail to join a patrol.
"How's that cut?" Breezefeather asks as he licks his mate's cheek.
"Oh, this? It's much better. I'm fine now. But," Tawnyfur chuckles softly,"Pebbleheart doesn't know I've left his den."
Breezefeather purrs. "How'd you get that cut, anyway?"
Tawnyfur stops. "Uhh, Smokefur."
"Smokefur?" Breezefeather growls.
Tawnyfur nods, not looking at Breezefeather. "Yeah...."
Breezefeather leads Tawnyfur to a shady spot near the warriors' den. "What did he say?"
Tawnyfur winces at the question. "Well, he threatened to get his revenge on you and I just know that he's waiting out there for you, just waiting to find you alone." Tawnyfur blurts. "Promise me you won't go into the forest unless your with me or on patrol?
Breezefeather looks away.
"Promise?" Tawnyfur presses.
Breezefeather nods. "I promise," he sighs.
Tawnyfur licks her mate's ear and turns as she sees Pebbleheart scramble out of his den. "Tawnyfur! I have to tell you something!"
Tawnyfur stands up and looks over her shoulder at her mate. "I'll be back soon." she calls. "I hope," she mutters under her breath.
"Tawnyfur, come sit here, please." Pebbleheart directs the she-cat.
Tawnyfur sits back in the nest she slept in last night. "Yes, Pebbleheart?"
"Tawnyfur, you're pregnant!" he blurts, then slaps his tail over his mouth. "I mean, did you know that you are expecting kits?" he asks, his neck fur flattening.
Tawnyfur stares wide-eyed at her medicine cat. Her mouth drops open. "I'm what?"
"Expecting kits." Pebbleheart gulps. "While you were sleeping last night, and I was treating your wound, I checked the rest of you. I even checked you leg that you hurt when you were an apprentice. It looks fine, now." Pebbleheart takes a deep breath. "Anyway, I felt your stomach, and something kicked my paw."
Tawnyfur looks at her flank and smiles. "I thought it was a belly ache, but belly aches don't kick." Pebbleheart finishes.
Tawnyfur smiles and takes a deep breath, lost for words. "I must go tell Breezefeather!" she meows exitedly and rushes out of the den.
"You'd think she was a new apprentice, the way she acts." Pebbleheart purrs.
Breezefeather, licking his ungroomed pelt, hears quick pawsteps coming towrdshim and sees Tawnyfur racing towrd him. She skids to a hault beside him, gasping for breath. "You'll never believe," she gasps,"what Pebbleheart told me!"
Breezefeather cocks his head to one side. "What did he tell you?"
"I'm expecting kits!" she practically squeals.
Breezefeather's eyes widen in happy suprise. "Really? That's great, Tawnyfur! Does that mean...."
Tawnyfur finishes his sentence. "You're going to be a father!"
Lilysplash, who was watching from the fresh-kill pile stares at him. Sadness shone in her eyes and she quickly looked away.
"Lilysplash." Rosepetals voice sounded behind her only a heartbeat later. "I heard Tawnyfurs expecting kits."
Lilysplash jerks her head away quickly as she tries to press her muzzle onto her forehead. "I know."
"I'm sorry-" Rosepetals voice was cut off from Mousetails call.
"Breezefeather! Can you lead a patrol?" Mousetail called to the young warrior.
"Sure!" Breezefeather glances at Tawnyfur, whos eyes are full of concern. "Lilysplash, Rosepetal, and Jayflight, join me?"
"Alright." Lilysplash raises her head.
Rosepetal nods and gets to her paws.
Jayflight says goodbye to Cloverheart and pads over to his son.
Tawnyfur presses her muzzle into Breezefeathers ear. "Promise me you will watch out for Smokefur. And dont spilt up! Stay close to someone, no matter what!"
"Alright, I'll be careful, I promise I'll be back." He rests his muzzle onto her head.
"Are you ready?" Jayflight calls impatiently.
"Coming!" Breezefeather calls, then adds quietly to Tawnyfur. "Try not to worry to much till I get back." he bounds out of camp followed by his father and the two she-cats.
"Just be careful!" Tawnyfur calls to her mate before he dissappears into the forest.
May 17, 2011 Tawnyfur pads wearily out of the nursery. She fluffs out her calico fur against the strong wind and slight sprinkling of water.
She stretches, then stumbles toward the fresh-kill pile, the weight of her stomach slowing her down. As she grabs a small rabbit from the pile, she feels a kick. She purrs and cautiously pads back into the nursery.
As she settles down with her rabbit, she licks her swollen belly. "I got to say, sweethearts, for young little kits, you sure do know how to slow a she-cat down."
Once she finishes her meal, she raises her head towards the roof of the den. She says a small prayer to MoonClan. I ask my warrior ancestors to grant me a safe kitting, and that my kits are strong and healthy.
Tawnyfur sets her head down and closes her eyes, but can't fall asleep. A ripple of pain runs through her body and she fliches. She lets out a tiny squal of pain, then slaps her tail over her mouth, realisig that she has just aroused Petalfur.
"What? Whu-" she pauses and yawns,"wut is goin' on? Somethin' wrong, Tawnyfur? You okay?" her eyes stretch wide open as she sees Tawnyfur laying sprawled in her nest, her fur ungroomed. "Should I get Pebbleheart?" Petalfur stands up.
Tawnyfur's only response is a curt nod.
With Tawnyfur's slight movement Petalfur whisks out of the den, her tail streaming out behind her.
"Pebbleheart. Pebbleheart! Come quick, Tawnyfur needs you." Pertalfur calls softly to the medicine cat once inside of his den.
Pebbleheart appears and doesn't respond; he leads the way quickly through the rain and back into the nursery.
Breezefeather, who had already strolled out of the warriors' den, sees the commotion and hurries after them, a blur of black and white fur.
"Breezefeather! I'm glad you came. I think Tawnyfur is kitting, but I don't undestand why. She's nearly half a moon early." Pebbleheart mews as Breezefeather scrambles into the den.
Breezefeather only nods and sits next to his mate, stroking her ear with slow, gentle licks. "Do you know what it is I need you to do?" Pebbleheart asks.
"Yes. I lick the kit once you give it to me, and I place it with Tawnyfur. Right?" he confirms. "Yes." Pebbleheart responds as he places a paw on Tawnyfur's flank.
A stong ripple of pain passes through Tawnyfur and she closes her eyes tightly, while Pebbleheart warns,"Here comes the first one."
A black and white she-kit rolls onto the moss, squalling and squirming until Pebbleheart picks her up by the scruff and gives her to her father, who immidiately begins licking his daughter. She seems to understand he was her father for as he licks her chest, she grabs his nose and licks it.
Breezefeather places the she-kit in the curve of her mother's belly and she reluctantly suckles.
Another kit falls into the nest, a calico tom, who struggles to get free of Pebbleheart's grasp. He settles down when Breezefeather licks him and sets him down next to his sister.
Another tom and she-kit are born, and Pebbleheart gives Tawnyfur borage and pads out of the den into the cloudy gray day.
===May 24, 2011===
Tawnyfur stays inside the nursery for three whole days, not stepping paw out of the warm den.
"I'll fetch you some fresh-kill." Fawnbreeze meows and trots out of the den, her kits trailing behind her.
Thornkit lashes his tail playfully and turns on Honeykit. "ShadowClan intruder! Look out, Fernkit!" he squeals.
"I'll get you, StarClan, and your kits! Muah ha ha ha ha!" Honeykit squwaks and jumps onto Fernkit's back.
Fernkit runs around in circles. "Ahh! Thornkit, help me!" she wails.
"I'll save you." Thornkit jumps over Fernkit, shoving Honeykit off of her back.
"StarClan wins!"
Stormstar watches the kits with dull, cautious eyes. "I hope that's what will happen, young kits." he meows darkly.
===June 4, 2011===
"Can't catch me, Lightkit!" Prowlkit teases his sister as he scrambles out of the nursery.
Lightkit snorts. "Can to!" she growls and races after her brother and jumps onto his huanches. "Ha!"
Prowlkit stumbles to the ground. "Hey!" he says in a muffled voice."Get off me!"
Lightkit sits up, her black and white pelt ruffled. Her nose twitches and she turns her head toward the camp entrance. "What's that?" Her nose twitches again.
Ashclaw leads Marshtail, Owlheart, and Nightstorm into camp, their jaws filled with fresh-kill. Prowlkit's eyes bug out at the sight of all the prey.
"You caught all that?" Lightkit gasps.
Ashclaw sets down the rabbit and mouse he was carrying. "Yes. Prey is everywhere in green-leaf."
"Wow. That is quite a bit of prey. Where did you hunt?" Robinfrost asks.
Marshtail pads up. "Near the river. The prey is thirstier now that the weather is hotter."
Robinfrost nods. "True. I think I'll ask Mousetail if I can lead a hunting patrol." The brown tabby warrior walks off. "Hey, Mousetail! Can I lead a hunting patrol?"
"Sure. Take Spottedwhisper, Stonepaw, and Morningsong." Mousetil orders.
Robinfrost dips his head. "Thank you."
"Spottedwhisper, Stonepaw, Morningsong! We're going hunting." Robinfrost calls.
The cats hurry out of their dens and rush towards Robinfrost. "Really?" Spottedwhisper breaths. "It fels like I haven't been out of camp in moons! Let's go."
===June 10, 2011===
Frostkit marches out of the nursery, followed by Thornkit, Brackenkit, Honeykit, and Lightkit.
"Wait!" Frostkit squeaks. "I smell ShadowClan!"
The 'patrol' sneaks behind a holly bush and watch as Dawnflower pads into camp, smelling of ferns and moss.
"Attack!" Frostkit screeches and the kits jump out of the bush, toppling Dawnflower to the ground.
Dawnflower purrs and plays along. "Oh, no! The StarClan warriors caught me! I am so foolish to let them catch me. Now they will take me prisoner."
The kits scramble to their paws and form a circle around the she-warrior. "Start walking!" Thornkit snarls.
They take her to the entrance to the nursery, and Prowlkit stalks out.
"What is this?" he snaps.
Frostkit dips her head. "W-we found her on outr side of the border, Prowlstar."
"A spy, eh?" he squeaks. "Send her away. I don't want her in my camp."
Dawnflower smiles, and dips her head. "Oh, Prowlstar, have mercy on me!"
"Kits. Time to eat." Petalfur calls from the nursery entrance.
Prowlkit loses his strong stance. "Awww!!! But we were just about to punish a ShadowClan spy!"
Dawnflower purrs with amusement. "Petalfur's right. You should eat."
The kits rub against Dawnflower, thanking her for playing with them and reluctantly march back into the nursery.
===June 13, 2011===
Cloverheart pads out of the nursery and lays down in the sun
Breezefeather pads out of the warriors den and walks over to the fresh kill pile
Lilysplash, who is curled up beneath a fern, lifts her head when she hears pawsteps.
Breezefeather walks right past her not even giving her a passing glance.
Lilysplash sits up, fluffing her long grey fur out, her eyes flash with fire.
Rosepetal pads over to her sister and settles down beside her
Risingkit and Winterkit pad out of the nursery and bound over to the two she-cats
"Hi! Im Risingkit!" The black tom boasts. "This is my sister Winterkit."
Winterkit dips her head to the two she-cats.
Lilysplash looks at the two kits. She partially want to snarl at the kits, but they had such unknowingness in their eyes, she just smiled. "Im Lilysplash, and this is my sister Rosepetal."
"Your my daddys friend right?" Risingkit asks
Lilysplash swallows hard. She couldnt tell the kit she was angry with his father. "Y-Yes." She forced the words out.
Rosepetal sensed her sisters anxiety. She knew she wanted to escape the kits intrested gazes
"Is he a good warrior?" Winterkit asks.
"Hes an excellent hunter." Lilysplash offers
Tawnyfur slips out of the nursery. She frowns when she sees her kits talking to Lilysplash.
Risingkit leaps on Lilysplashes tail.
Lilysplash jumps up in suprise jerking her head around.
Risingkit jumps backwards, looking baffeled. "Sorry!" He squeaks
Lilysplash cringed, then let her head droop, her shoulders sagging. "No I am." she mutters.
Winterkit nudges Risingkit and they scurry away.
Lilysplash pads out of camp.
===June 20, 2011===
Pebbleheart sits in silence in the back of his den, sorting herbs.
The rest of the camp is almost silent, except for the murmering of the wind.
Pebbleheart's ears prick. What was that? He jerks his head around to see the warriors of MoonClan.
"Greetings, Pebbleheart." Pinestar steps out from the crowd and dips his head to the living medicine cat.
"Pinestar." Pebbleheart dips his head in return. "I hope all is well in MoonClan?"
Pinestar shares a worried glance with his starry Clanmates. "I'm afraid not."
Pebbleheart's neck fur begins to bristle. He gazes at the cats behind Pinestar. Foxcharge sits among them his bright orange fur no longer matted with blood; his paws surrounded by stars.
To the medicine cat's suprise, Foxcharge steps out from the cats and comes very close to the small tabby tom.
"Listen to me carefully, Pebbleheart. You have to believe me when I say this. Will you?" The tom asks slowly.
Pebbleheart gulps and nods shakily.
Foxcharge takes a breath. "You're brother, Smokefur, is leading a large group of rouges from a faraway Twolegplace here, into the StarClan camp, to destroy StarClan. As we speak he is charging through long faraway places to get here and attack. Smokefur says he no longer wants to kill Breezefeather."
Pebbleheart lets out a sigh of relief.
"But he wants to kill Tawnyfur and Breezefeather's kits, and the rest of the Clan, to make him supposedly feel his pain." Foxcharge closes his eyes. His gaze snaps back to Pebbleheart. "You have to protect your Clan, Pebbleheart. If StarClan does not win this battle, there will be no more StarClan."
Murmers of agreement rise from the starry warriors.
Pebbleheart stares in disbelief. His jaws part to scream, and as he lets out the yowl of shock and fear, the warriors vanish.
"Stormstar! Stormstar!" Pebbleheart howls and races out of his den. "Father!" he pants.
Stormstar appears from the entrance to his den. "Pebbleheart! What is it?"
"Let me tell you in private." his son gasps.
Breezefeather tilts his head, a juicy vole in his jaws. "I wonder what's got Pebbleheart so spooked?" He shrugs and carries the vole into the nursery.
A few minutes later Stormstar charges out of his den and leaps into Talltree. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Talltree for a Clan meeting! Now!"
The StarClan cats quickly gather under the ancient tree and a hush falla over the Clan as Stormstar speaks.
"We must prepare for battle at once! Smokefur is on his way here right now to attack with a huge group of rouges from a faraway Twolegplace." Stormstar stops to let the Clan take what he just said in.
He Continues,"But there is a reason for his actions, therefore, I want Breezefeather, Pouncepelt, Orangenose, Marshtail, and Ivypaw. Protect Tawnyfur and her kits at all costs. And all of the kits. They are the future of the Clan. If we lose them, we may perish, just as Smokefur hopes."
Breezefeather bolts of of the nursery. "Smokefur wants to kill my mate and kits?! He'll never even see a whisker of them! Not on my watch." he growls fiercely.
Tawnyfur appears from the nursery and licks his cheek. He licks her ear and she disappears into the darkness of the nursery. "Hush, my kits, daddy will protect you, don't you worry." Tawnyfur comforts her kits.
"What about the rest of the camp? Who will fight, and who will protect, Stormstar?" Mousetail asks his brave leader from the roots of Talltree.
Stormstar shakes his fur. "Right. Nightstorm, Dawnshade, Ravenclaw, Stormfire, Redtooth, Spottedwhisper, and Stonepaw. Try to keep most or even all of the rouges back, Try to let only one cat in; Smokefur. He has a dispute with Breezefeather to settle. And Breezefeather," he looks at the black and white tom," if you need and help, we will."
Stormstar continues," Mintpaw, Dawnflower, and Cloverstorm, say with Pebbleheart in his den. They may try to destroy our herbs, and we do not want that. The rest of you, fight any and all cats that get past Nightstorm, Dawnshade, Ravenclaw, Stormfire, Redtooth, Spottedwhisper, and Stonepaw."
"Swiftstep, you, Flamepelt, and Cherryheart need to move the fresh-kill pile to Pebbleheart's den. Right now. Hurry!" Stormstar orders.
A voice calls strongly from behind Stormstar. "And what should I do?"
Gasps and cries rise from the cats. "Dreampaw!" Cloverstorm races to her apprentice, and all the cats cry in relief," Dreampaw! Dreampaw! Dreampaw!"
Stormstar clears his throat. "You shall help to protect the nursery. And Dreampaw," Stormstar calls,"it's good to have you back."
Dreampaw dips her head. "It's great to be back, Stormstar." She stops, her muscle tense, and squeezes her eyes shut. "They're in the forest!" she gasps, racing in front of the nursery.
The cats in charge of blocking the rouges line up quickly in front of the camp entrance. The cats in charge of protecting the nursery stand shulder to shoulder, covering every small space to squeeze through.
The cats in charge of protecting the herbs dissapear into Pebbleheart's den, the fresh-kill pile being dragged behind them.
The rest of the cats scatter around the clearing, their fur bristling with rage, their claws digging into the ground, and their teeth bared, hungry for a fight.
One single screech splits the air and rouges of every size and color fight against the cats in their way. "StarClan, Attack!" Stormstar cries.
"Rouges, Attack!" Smokefur's cry is strongest as he leaps over the StarClan cats.
"Breezefeather! I know you're here. Come out!"
Breezefeather slinks out of the shadows, his claws leaving long, deep scars in the dirt.
Smokefur smirks. "You scared, Breezefeather? Scared that You'll lose everything? Your mate, your kits, yourClan?"
Breezefeather shakes his head. "No, I'm not scared, but you should be."
"They're breaking through!" Redtooth warns. His red fur is lost under the choking dark fur of the rouges as they charge into the camp.
"Come get some of this!" Owlheart screeches.
A rowan rouge leaps through the tunnel and onto Owleart's back.
"Coward!" the rouge growls.
Owlheart rears up on his hind legs and falls onto his back. "Who's a coward?" he snarls in the tom's ear.
"You- I mean-" he chokes as Owlheart sinks his calws deeper into the rouge's neck. "Me! I'm a coward!" he howls and scampers away.
Owlheart smirks and turns as he hears a cat call his name.
"Owlheart! Help!" Morningsong cries to the gray tom as a she-cat leans in toward's the Clan cat's neck, he teeth bared.
Owlheart screeches and bowls the white she-cat over, blood now staining her flank.Morningsong grunts in pain as Owlheart helps her up, blood dripping quickly from her chest.
"Go to Pebbleheart. Quickly!" Owlheart meows.
Morningsong shakes her head. "That's all the way on the other side of the camp. I'll be attacked for sure!"
Owlheart stares deep into her eyes. "I'll help you."
The two cats scramble flank to flank through the crowd of bloodsatined fighting cats.
"Pebbleheart!" Owlheart hisses. The medicine cat appears from his , his paws covered in green goop.
Pebbleheart nods toward Morningsong. "Bring her in here."
Owlheart follows the tom into the cool den, Morningsong now leaning heavily on his shoulder.
"Here, Morningsong. Lay here. Pebbleheart will take care of you." Owlheart licks some of the blood from her neck and begins to trot away.
"Owlheart," Morningsong croaks,"be careful."
Owlheart nods and dissapears into the swarm of cats. His battle cry Dawnflower asks is heard even from the medicine den.
"Is she okay?" Dawnflower asks.
Pebbleheart nods. "She will be when I'm done with her. Bring me some cobwebs."
Dawnflower pads away and returns with a stick in her jaws. "Here." she claws at the cobweb at the end of the stick.
"Thanks."
A deep snarling voice makes Mintpaw jump. "Well, what do we have here? A cat who fixes wounds? Hmmm....Oh! This must be your medicine cat. How pathetic." The rouges claws slide out. "This won't take long."
Mintpaw jumps in front of him snarling annd growling; her fur standing on end. "You'll have to go through me to even touch him, flea-bag!" she growls in his face.
The rouge tilts his head to the side. "What is this? A kit? All right. I'll kill you and the medicine cat."
"I'd like to see you try!" she screeches and bowls him over and out of the den. The two roll over and over and over, bumping cats out of the way.
Mintpaw is the first to get up. She rears onto the hind legs and leaps onto the tom.Just before he falls on his back, she jumps off, leaving the tom to fall with a sickening thud. He quickly leaps to his paws and charges at Mintpaw.
She barely moves. Just as he passes her she sticks a paw in his way, making him trip. He rolls into a boulder and howls in pain.
"Stupid kit," he mumbles as he scurries away.
Mintpaw stares triumphantly at the tom. "Sissy!"
A paw tapping on her white shoulder makes her spin around and come face to face with a young tabby tom about her age. She freezes, staring deep into his golden brown eyes, dumbfounded.
"What's you're problem?" he growls. Was that a hint of softness in his voice? Mintpaw wonders.
She suddenly doubts it as he takes a threatening step towards her. She gulps as he raises a paw. She squeezes her eyes shut as she backs up against a wall hidden in shadow. No cat could see her to help her. I'm done for! she squeals silently as she stares at his muscles rippling under his pelt.
"My name's Thrush. What's yours?" he lowers his paw as soon as they are both hidden in shadow.
Mintpaw stares in shock at the tom as he sheaths his claws. "Mintpaw."
"Hi, Mintpaw. Sorry if I scared you. But I wanted my friends, well, sort of friends, to think I was attacking you." Thrush confesses.
Mintpaw's jaw drops. "Wh-why didn't you hurt me? Aren't we fighting against each other?"
Thrush nods. "Yeah, we are. But I saw you fighting Snake, and I-I freaked out. I-I think you're really cute. And especially brave to stand up to Snake like that! he would have clawed my ears off if I had even said something offensive to him."
Mintpaw's eyes soften, and her heart melts. He thinks I'm cute? And brave? She purrs in embarrassment. "I like you, too, Thrush."
"But how can we be together if we're fighting against each other?" Thrush asks.
Mintpaw looks at her paws and shakes her head. How can I be with Thrush? I've dreamed of being a loyal StarClan warrior since I was a kit. But I love Thrush. Her heart twists and seems to tear. She looks at Thrush and sees blood dripping from several scratches on him.
"You're hurt!" she gasps and starts to lick his bleeding ear.
Thrush feels warm inside. "Oh. That's okay. I'm fine, really."
"Fine nothing. Hold still." she looks at the enclosed area they are sitting in. I've never been in here before. She spots some cobweb in a corner and grabs it with her paw. "Here. This should stop the bleeding." she applies the cobweb to his deepest wounds and licks the smaller ones clean.
Thrush licks her ear affectionately. "We have to out there again." he murmers in her ear.
Mintpaw grunts reluctantly. "You go first so it doesn't look like we've been in here together."
Thrush licks her cheek once and whispers,"I love you," before bolting out of the small lean-to.
Mintpaw sighs. Warriors of MoonClan, help me to do the right thing! She slowly crawls out of the lean-to and she discovers why she' never seen it before. It's behind Talltree.
She smiles and shakes her head. Suddenly a sharp pain shoots through her side. The next thing she knows she's rolling over the dirt in the clearing. A dark gray tom is standing over her, her blood dripping from his teeth. He shakes the white fur out of his teeth and slices a long claw through the place where he bit her.
Mintpaw screeches in agony as the ground under her turns red. The colors around her mix and everything goes black.
Thrush freezes and turns away from cuffing a spotted gray she-cat.
"Mintpaw!" he screeches and leaps onto Dark's back. "What did you do to her, you fox-hearted coward!"
A gasp escapes Dark as Thrush slices his claws through Dark's back. "I attacked her. That's what we're doing, isn't it, Thrush? Besides, it was easy."
"She's just an apprentice!" he howls and bites Dark's neck, sinking his teeth into the soft dark gray flesh.
Dark turns on Thrush. "Traitor!" he hisses and dashes away from the young tom.
Thrush turns and hurries to Mintpaw's limp body. "Mintpaw." he gently shakes the now red apprentice. "Mintpaw wake up, wake up Mintpaw, please. For me, Mintpaw, wake up for me."
Mintpaw's eyes open and gently look into Thrush's.
"Everybody out of my way." Pebbleheart orders and barges through the crowd. Stornepaw, Ivypaw, na d Dreampaw sit side by side, watching their poor sister.
Thrush looks at the medicine cat. "Will she be okay? She's not going to die, is she?"
Pebbleheart sighs and stares at the apprentice. "I don't know for sure. Help me carry her to my den."
Thrush nods and genty takes Mintpaw's scruff in his jaws.
The three cats dissapear into the medicine den.
Smokefur snickered when he saw Breezefeather leaping toward him. He stepped aside and slamed his paw onto Breezefeathers head, smashing it onto the cold rock beneath them.
Breezefeather jumped up, dizzy.
Smokefur smiled evily. "Ha. You cant defeat me."
"Well I am better for Tawnyfur then you. MoonClan is on my side anyway."
Smokefurs eyes flared. He leaped at Breezefeather and scored his eye, leaving an ugly cut.
Breezefeather yelped and stumbled backwards. "Its on now." Breezefeather leaped at Smokefur and clawed his cheek.
Smokefur threw Breezefeather to the ground and jumped ontop of him. He clawed at Breezefeather's flank.
Breezefeather, crushed under Smokefurs weight, manages to claw Smokefurs leg and underbelly, blood dripping down onto his flank.
Smokefur smiles and places his paw onto Breezefeathers throat. His claws began to slowly unsheath.
Breezefeather stretches his head trying to struggle lose. His hind paws were thrashing wildly, slashing Smokefurs stomach. His throat began to hurt as the points of Smokefurs claws sank into him. Suddenly, all Smokefurs weight is lifted off of him.
Lilysplash snarls, pinning Smokefur. She let her claws sink into his chest. She was much smaller then Smokefur, but her fury made her look two times her normal size. "Dont you ever do that again." She hissed.
"This is my battle Lilysplash. Let me finish it." Breezefeather smiles.
Lilysplash leaps off of the tom and allows Breezefeather to get back ontop of him.
Breezefeather snarled into his face, lips curled back.
Ivypaw yells as a tome claws her shoulder. "They are getting into the nursery!"
"Oh no they're not." Jayflight leaped raced towards the struggling cats
Risingkit lets out a wail as a rouge wraps his jaws around him.
Tawnyfur leaps at him but he throws her off and bursts out of the nursery.
Jayflight flings himself onto the tom and knocks him down under his weight.
The rouge, Tiger, scrables on the ground trying to get loose.
Jayflight claws his ears, tearing them.
Redtooth bounds over and gets the kit out of Tiger's mouth and returns it to Tawnyfur
Jayflight jumps off and lets the tom flee camp.
Lilysplash lands hard onto the ground as a muscular grey tom jumps onto her. She lets out a wail.
The tom eases off as she lets out a shrill wail. "Are you okay?" he whispers
"I could be better!" she gasps, trying to catch her breath. "Why do you care?" she adds in a hiss.
"I dont know, it just seems your sick, or upset." The tom glances around, seeing if any cat noticed them.
"Its nothing. Its just- oh never mind. Your a rouge, what would you care." Lilysplash says softer, but her eyes were still cold.
"You can tell me anything." He says pressing his muzzle into her fur.
Lilysplash opens her mouth, then shuts it again. "You are a rouge. Why should you be any better than Breezefeather?" She blurted out.
"Who's Breezefeather?" He asked.
Lilysplash stared at him. He was actually listening. He really cared. No he didnt. He's just like Breezefeather right? Maybe not....
"If you dont wanna tell me thats fine. But if you ever change your mind, you can find me."
"Wait, how?" Lilysplash asked
"Just look around. I'll be here." he says, eyes sparkling as he bounds off.
Lilysplash stares after him and sighs. Am I falling in this crazy thing called love all over again?
"Lilysplash!" A farmilar meow broke her from her thoughts." Standing around isnt gonna help us win!"
"Sorry Breezefeather." she spat in his face.
"Dont talk to me like that, I'm the one who brought you here." He spits back.
"You also broke my heart!" She snarls.
"Okay just stop it! Why do you hate me so much cause I dont like you? This is rediculous!"
Lilysplash hisses and leaps at him.
Breezefeather catches her in air and throws her onto the ground." What are you doing?"
"Let me go!" she snaps.
"Enough!" Breezefeather snarls. "Our Clan's fighting rouges, not each other!" he says, letting her go.
She bounds off into the mist of cats
Breezefeather sighs. "Poor cat."
Smokefurs shadow looms behind him once again. "Guess who." he growls.
"Smokefur! Again?" Breezefeather spins around.
"Afraid yet?" Smokefur smiles evily, showing his sharp fangs
"Never."
Smokefur leaps onto him again. "I will make you suffer! Just like I did!" He snarls, sinking his claws into his back.
Hollytail and Berrylight stand tail lengths away, fighting a rouge side by side.
Pebbleheart snarls and slashes out at a rouge just outside of his den. "Find your own herbs to destroy!"
Mintpaw's eyes slowly open. She winces as she tries to sit upright. "Ouch! Gah! Where am I, wha?" she blinks quickly and looks up to see Thrush standing over her.
"You're in Pebbleheart's den. Don't you remembering blacking out after Dark attacked you?" Thrush asks.
Mintpaw slowly shakes her head. "Is the battle still going on?" she asks wearily.
Thrush shakes his head grimly. "I'm afraid so."
"Then go fight! Let me fight!" she urges him, then goes quiet as she realizes he's torn between his family and her.
Outside, Tawnyfur screeches in fury and bowls Sokefur off of her mate. "What's your problem, eh? Why can't you get over the fact that I love Breezefeather? Why can't you find someone else to have kits with?"
"Blah, blah, blah. Just get off me so I can rule the forest, eh?" Smokefur growls and flings Tawnyfur back into the nursery.
Swiftstep watches in horror as her son destroys his friends and family. "Smokefur....stop...." she whispers the plead from where she stands just a few tail-lengths away.
Despite all of the noise around them, Smokefur hears his mothers plead. Suddenly all the anger leaves his face and he looks like he did when he was a kit. "Mother..." he whispers. "..I'm--I'm sorry." he mouths, and backs away from her, into the throng of bloody cats.
"My baby......" Swiftstep wails.
"Swiftstep, look out!" Robinfrost shouts and shoves Swiftstep out of the jaws of a huge gray rogue.
Swiftstep wiggles out from under Robinfrost. "Thanks," she pants.
"Hey, are you okay? You were kinda zoned out over there." Robinfrost asks.
Swiftstep shakes her head. "I'm fine. I just can't believe that my son," she chokes.
Robinfrost nods. "I understand. But be more careful, okay? I dont want to press my nose into your cold fur anytime soon, 'kay?"
Swiftstep nods and charges with a battle cry back into the battle.
On the other side of the clearing, Pouncepelt grabs Ivypaw by the scruff as a vicious she-cat closes in on Ivypaw's jugular.
Stonepaw jumps over a motionless rogues body to his sister's side. "Pick on someone your own size!" he hisses to the she-cat rogue.
The starnger smiles evilly. "Like you?" she growls.
Stonepaw freezes for a moment to examine his size to his sister's. Am I really that much bigger than her?
Nearby, Lightkit pokes her little head out from behind to watch the battle going on outside of the nursery. Her eyes widen in shock at the sight of it all.
There's blood everywhere, scattered on cats' pelts and all over the clearing.
Suddenly, Lightkit's eyes focus on a tom closing in on her. Lightkit looks to her mother for safety, but Tawnyfur wasn't looking. She was watching Lightkit's father fighting Smokefur.
The rogue grabs Lightkit roughly by the scruff and akes off, shooting through the battle bloody cats.
"Heeeeeeeellllp!!!!" Lightkit squeels in terror as she and her kidnapper come nearer and nearer to the camp entrance.
Lightkit stares in amazement as the familiar pelt of Owlheart, though bloody, jumps from the group and bowls the rogue over.
Lightkit screeches in terror as she is flug out of the tom's jaws and into the fighting group. She intinctively unsheaths her tiny claws and lands on the neck of a she-cat closing in on Nightstorm.
The young warrior stares dumbfounded as Lightkit sinks her teeth and claws into the tabby's flesh. "Who is doing that? I can't see it!!! Get off of me!!" she screams at her unseen attacker.
Nightstrom winks at Lightkit and jumos onto the she-cat's back, grabs Lightkit, and runs for the nursery. But he is tripped by a young rogue tom, and Lightkit is flung once again, but this time heading for her father's attcker.
Tawnyfur watches in horror as her smallest, and most daring, kit flies through the air like a peice of fresh-kill. "Lightkit!!No!!!"
"Lightkit!" Breezefeather raced after her. He stood infront of her as she laid on the ground, protecting her from Smokefur.
Lilysplash fought as hard as she could, but she couldn't help but think about that tom she had met earlier... And then Breezefeather.
Rosepetal saw her sister, she seemed so deep in thought yet she was clawing any cats that came near her. She wondered if she was imagining the tom was Breezefeather. All the sudden, Rosepetal was thrown to the ground, knocked off gaurd.
Lilysplash watched in horror as a tom twice Rosepetals size threw her to the ground. She tried to rush to her sisters side, but a tom tripped her, and started to fight with her.
Rosepetal wailed in suprise, pain washing over her as she was attacked. He sank his claw into her shoulder, slowly and painfuly. Rosepetal wailed in agony.
Applenose jerked his head around and saw his former apprentice beneath the claws of a huge rouge.
Suddenly all the weight was lifted off of Rosepetal. She opened her eyes to see the tom laying on the ground beside her, beneath the claws of a farmilar tom. "Are you alright?" he asks.
"Thanks Berrylight." Rosepetal rasps.
Berrylight claws Rosepetals attacker till he was wailing like a kit, then he allowed the tom to turn tail and run. "I'll help you to the medicine cat den."
"I dont need to go." Rosepetal argues.
"Yes you do." Berrylight says, pressing up against the she-cat. This time she didnt argue.
Tawnyfur rushes into the clearing and grabs Lightkit, quickly scurries back to the nursery, and huddles there licking her dumbfounded kit.
"Breezefeather!" Smokefur shouts above all the other cries of pain and triumph.
Suddenly al the cats stop fighting and split into two groups; the rougues and the Clan cats.
Breezefeather and Smokefur are alone in the center of the clearing.
"I've waited far too long to kill you, Breezefeather." Smokefur growls as the two toms circle each other.
"Prove that you have any right to claim what isn't yours, Smokefur."Breezefeather shouts at the vicious-looking gray tom.
Smokefur smirks. "Oh, I'll prove myself. I'll prove that i am more powerful than any cat in the forest!" he stops stalking in a circle. Breezefeather stops. "So, show me what you've got, Clan cat."
Breezefeather growls, glances at his family and Clan, and springs at Smokefur.
Smokefur dodges his attack and leaves Breezefeather lying on the ground. He quickly rises back onto his paws.
We are with you, Breezefeather. Do not be afraid. We are with you. Breezefeather hears a soft whispering in his ear.
Kill him, and no one will dare stand up to you. Kill him, and you will rule the forest. Smokefur hears Tigerstar's voice in his head.
Smokefur scrapes his long, sharpened claws through the dirt. They glint in the early dawn light.
"Remember this sunrise, Breezefeather. It will be your last." Smokefur meows to the black and white tom.
Breezefeather looks sympathetically up at Smokefur's father. I'm sorry, he pleads with his eyes. I'm sorry, but I have to do this. I have no choice.
Stormstar grimaces and looks away.
Smokefur charges at Breezefeather and grabs onto one of his paws with one large claw, dragging him down.
Breezefeather looks up to see Smokefur already on top of him, leaning in for his throat, his eyes locked on Breezefeather's jugular.
Tawnyfur screeches in pure fury and launches herself at Smokefur. "What in the name of StarClan is you freaking problem!?!?!" she shrieks as she bowls the heavy cat over.
Breezefeather quickly jumps to his paws and races to his mate's side.
She and Breezefeather face each other for three seconds wjile Smokefur gather himself.
"This is my battle to fight, not yours." Brezefeather insits.
"Yeah, well, no offense, but, you're not doin' so good so far." she mews quickly and spins around to face Smokefur, and Breezefeather copies her.
The three cats stand in complete silence, except for the loud cawing of a crow in the distant.
No cat moves.
Finally. Smokefur jumps ont Tawnyfur and drags her to the ground. he slices open her belly, and runs out of the camp.
Tawnyfur's body lays there stiffly as blood gushes out of her underbelly.
Tawnyfur becomes still, but is still breathing, and in just seconds a pool of blood gathers around her almost-motionless body.
"TAWNYFUR!" Breezefeather howls, racing to his mates side.
Pebbleheart rushes out of his den and plops huge loads of cobwebs on Tawnyfur's side.
"Tawnyfur, stay with me. We need you here, to take care of our kits, remember? Our four, beautiful kits." Breezefeather licks his mate's face, trying to urge her to stay awake.
"Pebbleheart, will she make it?" Stormsatr asks, watching a tail-length away as his son tries to save the queen.
"I don't know, Stormstar. Her wound is deep, but thank MoonClan there's only one." Pebbleheart meows.
Tawnyfur coughs as Pebbleheart removes the already soaked cobwebs and replaces them with thicker, fresher webs. "She might make it if I have enough cobwebs, but if I run out, she's done for." Pebbleheart says grimly.
Stormstar nods. "Nightstorm, Stonepaw, and Flametail, go get more cobwebs, and hurry back; we don't know how far Smokefur ran." he turns to the rogues. "Those of you who do not wish to stay, leave this place, now, and NEVER return."
A large group of cats stalk out of the camp, incuding Dark, Tiger and Snake. A few stay, including Thrush, and the tom Lilysplash met. A small weary she-cat stands behind them, along with a pretty tabby she-cat.
"She might make it." Pebbleheart continues. Tawnyfur? Can you hear me? I need you to eat this, and you'll feel better. "
She opens her eyes and opens her mouth slightly. Pebbleheart places two popp seeds in her mouth. She chews and swallows the seeds and closes her eyes again.
"Tawnyfur?" Breezefeather whispers.
"Relax, Breezefeather. I just gave her some poppy seeds so she can sleep soundly while I treat her wound." Pebbelheart explains.
Breezefeather relaxes a sits back to watch Pebbleheart treat his mate.
Nightstorm, Stonepaw, and Flametail emerge from the brambles of the camp entrance, each holding a stick covered with cobwebs in their mouths.
The three toms gently place the sticks at Pebbelhearts paws. "Thank you," he murmers and continues to place cobwebs on her wounds. "Fernkit," he calls.
Fernkit slowly emerges from Pebbelheart's den.
Whispers erupt from the crowd of cats.
"What was hse doing in there?"
"How did she get in there unnoticed?"
Fernkit rots to Pebbleheart's side. "Yes, Pebbleheart?"
"Would you go get me some goldenrod and chew it into a pulp for me?" he asks.
She nods and trots back into his den.
Fawnbreeze's jaw drops.
Stormstar leans down and whispers to his son,"I think I see and apprentice in your near future." he purrs, then straightens and falls silent once more.
Fernkit pads out of Pebbleheart's den, chewing a large amount of goldenrod in her mouth.
"thank you, dear. "Pebbleheart mews, taking the pulp from her and spreading it over the still-white cobwebs. "The bleeding has stopped, which is and excellent sign, but we need to keep her fro getting an infection, which is what the goldenrod is for." Pebbleheart explains to Breezefeather, Stormstar, and Fernkit.
Fernkit nos and copies Pebbleheart in placing the pulp on Tawnyfur's wound.
"Now we just need to move her into my den and see how she does." he nids to Breezefeather. "She'll be fine. But I need you to pay attention to your kits just as much as you do your mate. See if any of the queens can spare some milk for them. Tawnyfur may be able to feed them herself in a few days."
Breezefeather nods and stumbles like a kit to the nursery, where his kits are waiting for him.
===September 18, 2011===
Early the next day the dawn patrol heads out, unaware of what they will find at the border.
Tawnyfur's eyes flicker open and she looks around. She is in Pebbleheart's den. She tries to stand up but tumbles back down in her nest, suddenly aware of the sharp pain in her side.
She clears her throat and Pebbleheart pads out of his smaller den filled with herbs and his nest.
"Ahh, your awake. How do you feel?" he asks her, already inspecting her wound for infection.
She stammers at first. "O-okay, I guess."
"Mm-hmm..... no infection today, let's hope for the same results tomorrow. Would you like some water?"
Tawnyfur nods. "Yes, please."
Pebbleheart grabs some moss and dips it in the small stream running through his den. "Here you are," he meows, placing the moss by her muzzle.
She dips her head in thanks and laps up the water. Do you think I could sit up,or should I stay lying down?" she asks the medicine cat.
"It would be best to stay lying down for now; we don't want you to re-open your wound." he replies.
She nods in agreement and looks around, sniffing.
Lightkit's scent drifts into the den, followed by Lightkit.
"Here momma, I brought you a mouse." she mewls, dropping a mouse at her mother's paws.
Tawnyfur purrs. "Thank you dear." she licks her daughter atop her head and starts to eat the fresh-kill.
Pebbleheart smiles at the kit and her mother, then exits his den.
"Pebbleheart!" Fernkit calls, bounding over.
"Hi Fernkit, I was just about to go look for herbs. Do you want to come?" Pebbleheart asks.
"Sure!" Fernkit bounces excitedly.
Pebbleheart leads her out of camp.
Pebbleheart pads into camp and heads straight for Stormstars den. A moment later, Stormstar pads out and leaps up on the Talltree. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Talltree for a Clan meeting!"
StarClan cats gather slowly, unsure of wha there leader could be announcing.
"Pebbleheart and Fernkit met up with a cat on the border who claims she is Featherfrost, medicine cat of a clan called IceClan."Stormstar announces.
Dreampaw glances up a her leader, remebering her dream she had with Featherfrost.
===October 29, 2011===
Pebbleheart walks into camp, followed by Featherfrost of IceClan.
Murmers spread throught the Clan as cats notice her disappear into Pebbleheart's den.
"Was that Featherfrost?"
"Is she an IceClan cat?"
"What's she doing here?"
In Pebbleheart's den, Featherfrost sits down by the small stream running through his den. "Thank you for your kind hospitality," she mews. "We are very weary from our long journey."
Pebbleheart dips his head. "Of course. I can imagine how hard that would be for you and your Clan. What herbs are you missing on that side of the river?" he asks.
"We have not yet found any Borage, Coltsfoot, or any Goldenrod." she responds.
Pebbleheart nods. "I see. Let me see how much I have."
Fernkit pads into the den, then stops when she sees Featherfrost.
"Fernkit, this is Featherfrost. Featherfrost, this Fernkit, my future apprentice." Pebbleheart introduces the two cats.
"Nice to meet you, Fernkit." Featherfrost mews.
Fernkit dips her head respect. "Nice to meet you, Featherfrost." Fernkit mumbles.
Featherfrost purrs in amusement. "Shy little kit, isn't she, around strangers?" she meows to Pebbleheart. "Don't worry. I don't harm little kits. Or any cat, for that matter." Suddenly, she has a flashback from IceClan's old home. Cats fighting for their lives, blood everywhere. Featherfrost comes into view, slashing wildy at the attacking cats, her eyes wild with fear. She blinks and shakes her head.
"You okay, Featherfrost?" Pebbleheart asks, concern in his voice.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Sorry. Where were we?" She mews.
Pebbleheart meows," I was going to get you some Borage, Coltsfoor, and Goldenrod."
Pebblehart disappears into his herb den.
Fernkit's eyes turn into cold slits as she stares at Featherfrost. There's something else to IceClan's story. I know it. And so do you, Featherfrost. I will find out, for the sake of my Clan. Fernkit swirls around and stalks out of the den. She sees Dreampaw sunning herself outside.
Dreampaw opens her eyes to see Fernkit's questioning face staring at her. She nods.
===January 1, 2012===
Petalfur leads Fawnpelt, Robinfrost, and Ravenclaw ondawn partol.
Redtooth pads out of the warriors den and stretches, yawning to Morningsong, who appears next to him.
"Snow. I knew it would come some times or other. Great, now I have o walk around wet all the time. Brrrrr!!!" he mews.
Morningsong purrs. "Yeah, but snow is fun. It's fun to watch the kits play in it."
As she speaks, Thornkit and Honeykit run out of the nursery, plowing into the strange white substance.
"What is it?" Honeykit squeaks.
Fawnbreeze purrs. "It's calles snow. It's like rain from the sky, only frozen.You can even eat it." she plunges her muzzle into the snow and crunches on the ice.
The kits squeal and luagh.
Pebbleheart trots out of his den, and grabs a mouse off of the small fresh-kill pile. "I hope the dawn patrol brings back more fresh-kill." he murmers.
He swallows the mouse and grabs a squirrel, crow, and mouse and heads to the elders den.
In the elders den, Dustpelt and Ferretstalk are snoring away, while Tanglweed and Owlflight chat near the entrance.
"I see the snow has started to fall." Owlflight comments. "It's strange, but it came rather late."
Tanglewwed slowly nods in agreement. "Yes, rather late indeed."
She turns and sees Pebbleheart come in with fresh-kill in his jaws.
Owlflight breaths in the wonderful smell. "Mmmmmm, fresh-kill is just so good. It doesn't get much better than this, eh?"
Pebbleheart purrs. "No, I suppose it doesn't." He peers behind Owliflight and asks,"Are Dustpelt and Ferretstalk still asleep? It's nearly sunhigh."
Tangleweed nods. "Yes, it's about time they woke up. Dustpelt! Ferretstalk! Wake up!"
Dustpely groggily raises his head. "Can't you see I'm trying to sleep?" he mutters.
But Ferretstalk remains motionless.
"Ferretstalk, you lazy cat, wake up!" Tangleweed meows again.
Still,no movement from Ferretstalk.
"Ferretstalk?" Pebbleheart asks. "Are you okay?"
Pebbleheart pads slowly over to Ferretstalk's nest. Pebbleheart prods him several times.
Still nothing.
Ferretstalk was dead.
===January 2, 2012===
The whole Clan mourns the death of their eldest and wisest elder, Ferretstalk.
Ferretstalk's cold body lays in the middle of the camp, many laying next to him, mourning, sorrowing.
As night falls the other elders carry Ferretstalk's body out of camp to bury their friend.
"He may have whined all the time, but he was a good cat. I miss him already," whimpers Ivypaw.
===January 3, 2012===
Flamepelt leads Heathercloud, Marshtail, Ivypaw, and Willowtail out on dawn patrol.
Dawnflower leads Mintpaw out of camp to train and hunt.
The camp is quiet as more snow begins to fall.
===January 4, 2012===
Breezefeather pads out of the warrior den and presses past Hollytail, who is grooming herself.
"Where are you going?" a quiet voice sounds from behind Breezefeather.
"Winterkit? I was going out for a hunt." Breezefeather turns to her and smiles.
"Can I come?" Winterkit asks, green eyes glimmering.
"No, not till you become an apprentice." Breezefeather touches his nose to her ear tip.
"When I am an apprentice I am going to go hunting with you everyday!" she meows, straightening up.
Breezefeather smiles, amusment flickers in his green gaze. "I'm sure you will." he purrs licking her forehead.
Hollytail finishes grooming and gets to her paws. She smiles at Breezefeather and the kit and silently wished she could have kits. Then she shook her head. To much resposibility....
Breezefeather heads for the camp entrance and glances over his shoulder and sees Winterkit standing, looking at him. He hesitates. "How about we play mossball instead?" he offers, smiling lightly.
"Yay!" Winterkit bounces excitedly
Breezefeather hooks the mossball in his claws and tosses it to her.
===January 26, 2012===
Robinfrost and Willowtail head out to hunt together.
Cherryheart watches them leave with suspicious eyes.
Petalfur pads out of the nursery.
"I'm sure they're just going out to hunt. Nothing more," Petalfur comments. Then she glances at Cherryheart and sees her expression and adds,"Relax. Robinfrost loves you more than any other cat."
Cherryheart sighs. "I know. It's just, he's been hanging out with Willowtail a lot lately."
Petalfur purrs and rolls her eyes. "They're old friends. What do you expect. With all of the new cats in the Clan, it makes sense that they want to assure each other that old friends won't forget each other. Don't worry. I'm sure they're nothing more than friends. And you and Robinfrost are nothing less than mates."
She pads away to her kits.
Stormstar leaps onto the lowest branch of the Talltree, just as Robinfrost and Willowtail return to camp, their jaws filled with prey.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Talltree for a Clan meeting!" he calls.
The cats, young and old, gather beneath the Talltree and all eyes fall upon their Clan leader.
"I realize that it has been six full moons since the birth of Thornkit, Honeykit, and Fernkit." he begins.
"Thornkit, Honeykit, and Fenkit, please step forth to recieve you apprentice names." he smiles as the kits bounce forward, seething with excitement.
"By naming apprentices, we show that StarClan will survive and remain strong. Thornkit, from this moment on you shall be known as Thornpaw. Hollytail, you are ready for an apprentice. You will mentor Thornpaw." Stormstar announces.
Hollytail steps forward and touches noses to her new aprentice.
The two step back and sit near the warriors.
"Honeykit, from this moment on you shall be known as Honeypaw. Willowtail, you will be mentor to Honeypaw."
Willowtail and Honeypaw touch noses and sit next to Thornpaw and Hollytail.
Whispers through the crowd speard about Fernkit's apprenticeship.
"I think Heathercloud is going to be her mentor."
"Yeah, that's right. Heathercloud."
"Really? I thought it was going to be Mousetail."
"Fernkit. From this moment on, you shall be known as Fernpaw. But you have chosen a different path than you brother and sister. Pebbleheart, you will be mentor to Fernpaw, the future medicine cat of StarClan. When you join MoonClan, she will use the skills she was taught by you to take your place as medicine cat." Stormstar meows. He smiles at his smaller brother as he touches noses to Fernpaw.
Gasps spread through the cats, and then cheers.
"Thornpaw! Honeypaw! Fernpaw! Thornpaw! Honeypaw! Fernpaw!" they cried.
Pebbleheart leads his new apprentice to the medicine den, while Willotail and Hollytail lead Thornpaw and Honeypaw out of the camp to train.
"Welcome to your new den. Fernpaw." Pebbleheart purrs as Fernpaw looks around where she will be staying for much of her time. And where she would be sleeping.
"It's great!" she whispers in amazement.
Her stomach grumbles and Pebbleheart purrs. "But let's fill that grumbly stomach of yours before you learn anything."
The two pad out into the morning sunlight and grab a mouse and vole.
As they finish their meals, pebbleheart reminds her,"Also, we'll bring fresh-kill to the elders."
The two grab a crow, a squirrel, and a vole.
After they leave the elders' den, the medicine cats return to their den.
"Tonight we will travel to the Moonpool for you to be initiated into the ranks of medicine cats," Pebbleheart says to Fernpaw as he teaches her how to store dried oak leaves.
Category:Roleplay
Category:Roleplaying