#Calico Tom pride | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

kittypets-unite-au · 2 years ago

Text

KU: Into the Wild Prologue

I just realized that I haven’t posted any actual chapters for this blog even though the prologue and chapter one are done. Whoops! Prepare for a double update today party peeps!

It was the darkest night in winter that any cat could recall, although it certainly wasn’t the coldest. The eye of Silverpelt had fluttered shut, which left only stars to grace the land with their eerie glow. Thick, dark clouds hung over her star dappled pelt and the biting cold seemed laced with tense anticipation.

On the ground below the heavens lay a wide river, its waters warbling quietly and gently. On one side of this river lay an expansive wetland that gave way to rolling grasslands and open marshes, dotted with the occasional willow, birch, or alder. On the other side of the river lay a dense forest, ringed by dense undergrowth and tall grass akin to a defensive line protecting the woods from any outside threats.

On the sandy bank near the forest lay a wide collection of boulders, laying flat or towering high above the ground. Some crevices and cracks sheltered the tender stalks of dills, and the occasional mouse gained enough courage to snatch a fallen seed that had fallen from the canopy above.

A few silent minutes passed before a rustle came from the forest undergrowth. Cats began to slide out of the foliage with their claws unsheathed and their ears pinned back. The group prowled closer to the rocks with lashing tails, and while some of them made their way into the thick of the stones, others climbed onto the largest boulders and crouched.

Just a moment later, several more cats slid unannounced from the river. Their sleek pelts shed the water with ease as they marched forward to meet their forest foes.

Each group hissed and spat at each other, their unsheathed claws glinting with star light. Heading the front of the river crowd stood a large cinnamon tom whose relaxed posture exuded confidence. His dark green eyes held a glint of contempt as his gaze swept over the comparatively thinner forest cats.

Only a heartbeat later, a small calico tom with a large, bushy ginger tail emerged from the forest crowd. Unlike the river tom, his muzzle was wrinkled and his ears laid flat against his head. Despite his angry appearance, his steps were silent as the two toms trotted to face the other down. The crowd quieted and tension hung in the air as the two toms faced off.

“Oakheart.” The small tom struggled to keep his tone neutral. His large tail twitched, carefully being restrained from lashing in frustrated arcs. He breathed through his nose and straightened up in a poor attempt to appear taller than he really was.

“Redtail.” Oakheart spoke smoothly. Unlike Redtail, he kept his calm and haughty posture, which seemed to please the river cats.

Redtail’s deep amber eyes narrowed. “I do believe Bluestar has warned your warriors time and time again that the sunningrocks is ours. It’s been on our shore for generations now, after all.”. The forest cats behind him yowled in support.

Oakheart smirked in response and puffed his pale chest out in pride. “Really now?” He drawled mockingly. His squared head tilted to the side. “Because I remember that these rocks were those of our ancestors, and that they warmed their fur and hunted on them long before you ThunderClanners ever took them away. Not all that fair to claim these stones for your own, hmm?”

“Hunting my ass!” Shouted a small pale brown molly from the back of the ThunderClan patrol, “All you fat otters do nowadays is laze around and act like you own the place! At least we actually hunt here!”

Her clanmates shouted their support and yelled jeers and taunts at their enemies. The sleek cats behind Oakheart growled and hissed right back, but a look and flick of their deputy’s tail-tip silenced them.

He turned back to Redtail, his face not betraying the same outrage as his clanmates. He raised a darker colored paw and patted the smaller tom’s head like he was nothing more than a misbehaving kit. This drew offended gasps from the cats gathered behind him and made the smaller tom hiss.

“Now, chap, is this really worth the effort? I’ve heard quite a bit that your numbers are low lately, are they not? And here we are, strong, well-fed, and outnumbering your pathetic excuse of a battle patrol!”

He leaned in close enough that their noses nearly touched, his paw still resting on his head, and murmured, “So, what do you think is wise? Turn back now and save yourself the trouble, or get your scrawny asses whipped by us?”

Redtail chose to not dignify those words with anything more than a low growl, and barreled into the surprised RiverClan tom. Oakheart yowled in shock as the two toms interlocked in a fierce battle.

On cue, the two groups of cats launched at each other, hissing and spitting at each other as a colorful array of loose fur and blood splattered the smooth stones. The Thunderclanners positioned on top of the rocks leap down onto their foes, which drew yowls of shock and rage.

In a short amount of time, Oakheart managed to smack Redtail hard enough to dislodge him. Redtail ducked away and rejoined the battle, but before Oakheart could do the same, another tom pounced on him.

His new opponent was a far cry from the smaller but faster calico, towering over the cinnamon tom with well-muscled limbs and broad shoulders full of power. His thick, long dark brown tabby fur flowed in the cold breeze and the faint starlight cast a frosty, ethereal glimmer to his fur. His small amber eyes almost seemed to blaze in the night and he carried a multitude of scars on his pelt.

They rolled around in furious combat, locked together in a whirlwind of teeth, claws, and fur. Oakheart had the advantage of grace and quick reflexes, being quick enough to dodge several of his blows, but the large tabby had the upper hand strength-wise, and a well-aimed blow to the RiverClanner’s head knocked the tom backwards, disorienting him enough to fall onto his back.

He struggled to his paws but was forced onto the ground, the tabby’s large paws pinning his shoulders down and erasing any chance to escape. And any attempts to squirm away were met with long claw-tips only just digging into his skin. Not enough to truly tear his flesh but enough to serve as a warning.

“Oakheart!” The tabby tom snarled furiously. He jutted his broad muzzle into Oakheart’s face as his lips peeled back into a snarl. “How dare you hunt in our territory! The Sunningrocks belong to ThunderClan!”

Oakheart laughed heartily and sneered, “You ThunderClanners are denser than your trees! After tonight, this land will belong to us once more!

Tigerclaw’s pale amber eyes narrowed into slits of pure anger. He lifted a paw and slammed it into the RiverClan tom’s throat, harsh enough to knock the breath out of him but gentle enough to not crush it entirely.

Oakheart heaved and gasped for air, looking up at the ThunderClan warrior with poorly hidden fear and hate. The dark brown tabby tom chuckled as the tom heaved and gasped for air.

“What, run out of clever things to say, fishface?” He taunted. He leaned to the pinned tom so close that their muzzles almost touched in a similar manner that the RiverClan deputy had done with Redtail moments earlier.

Oakheart snarled indignantly as his breath finally returned to his lungs. He tilted his head backwards and yowled loudly with an edge of desperation to his voice.

Tigerclaw's eyes flew wide open. He slammed his paws into the tom’s throat to cut off his cry, but it was too late. He whipped his head around and saw several RiverClanners slipping out of the river. They launched themselves onto the shocked ThunderClan warriors, their dripping jaws locking onto them like vices.

The tabby’s muzzle drew into a furious snarl. Of course these fish-faces would pull such a dirty trick!

He felt a set of claws rake his cheek, snapping him out of his furious thoughts. With a snarl, he turned back to the RiverClan deputy. Oakheart was now free with his back arched and his tail swinging back and forth. But when Tigerclaw tried to retaliate with a hefty blow of his own, his opponent ducked out of reach and disappeared into the battle.

His narrowed amber eyes followed the tom’s movement, but he knew it was better to let him run and direct his attention somewhere else. He dove back into the throng of tussling felines and scanned the battleground with calculated calm for any cat that needed an extra set of claws.

“Help! Help m-” The molly from before’s desperate scream reached his ears. He whipped around and saw her pinned underneath a spiky-furred silver tom with distinctive black stripes. His massive, webbed paw was placed on her throat and his hooked claws dug dangerously close to her windpipe.

The molly writhed under his hold, but his other paw dug into her shoulders. A smirk played along the RiverClanner’s muzzle. He cooed in a sickeningly sweet voice, “Aww, what’sa matter, ThunderClanner? Not so tough now, ain’t’cha?”

Tigerclaw growled before launching himself at the RiverClan tom. The other tom barely had time to turn his head towards his attacker before he was bowled into the ground. Tigerclaw smacked his paws against the tom’s face and clawed his shoulders. The tom yowled in agony, and the large tom took the momentary distraction to catch a glimpse of the small molly.

The pale brown molly’s left shoulder had three deep scratches that oozed blood onto the ground. Part of her right ear was torn off, and her flanks bore a deep bite mark and multiple jagged scratches. She struggled to her paws and blinked gratefully at her clanmates.

Tigerclaw yowled, “Go back to camp, Mousefur!”

Mousefur nodded gratefully at the senior warrior and bolted back to the forest.

Tigerclaw watched the small molly go before he felt a searing pain in his right cheek before sharp teeth latched onto his broad chest. The silver RiverClan tom’s teeth dug into the thick chest fur, and despite Tigerclaw’s bucking and clawing, wouldn’t let go.

He began to see red and snarled. The large tabby slammed chest-first into the rock floor, causing the RiverClan to detach with a wheezing hiss of pain. While distracted, Tigerclaw dug his fangs into the enemy warrior’s shoulder and threw him down into one of the shallow gullies dotted around Sunningrocks.

The silver tabby gave a screech of pain and struggled to his paws. Tigerclaw approached the edge of the gully calmly to observe the enemy. The tom staggered to his paws and glared at his opponent, but instead of throwing himself back up to defeat the burly tabby, he ran off with a hiss.

Tigerclaw snorted disdainfully and flicked an ear. ‘Such weakness.’

He turned around, fully prepared to throw himself onto another RiverClan cat, when he was stopped by ThunderClan’s deputy.

“Tigerclaw!” Redtail yowled. He panted from the strain of fighting and (presumably) running over to meet Tigerclaw. “This battle’s hopeless! We need to cut our losses before it’s too late.”

Tigerclaw hissed in outrage.

“You can’t possibly suggest that we retreat!!” He bared his fangs, “If we give up now, these rocks will belong to those fishfaces! They have enough rocks to feed our cats!”

Redtail’s eyes hardened. “I’m well aware, Tigerclaw.” He stated evenly, “But RiverClan’s warriors far outnumber our own!”

Tigerclaw snarled and drew himself to his full, imposing height, towering over the much smaller deputy. “Your cowardice will cost us, Redtail. If we had this land before winter, we might not have lost so many.”

The calico tom met his clanmate’s eyes aloofly. “Tigerclaw, stand down.” He commanded, “If your pride is too strong to admit defeat, then feel free to die over these rocks. But I’m getting my warriors out of here before we lose anyone else.”

Before the large tabby tom was even given the opportunity to argue, Redtail clambered on a tall rock that overlooked the battleground of squirming, fighting cats.

“Retreat, ThunderClan, retreat!” He yowled into the cold night air. His tail hung low in defeat, but he kept the disappointment from his eyes as he stared at his injured clanmates.

The ThunderClan warriors gaped at their deputy in horror, but they didn’t raise any complaints as they darted back into the woods. A few RiverClan cats gave a half-hearted chase, but by their smug grins, they knew they had won.

As Tigerclaw watched the warriors run, he had to admit that they all looked worn and ragged. Each was covered in several scratches and bites with harried fur.

Nonetheless, he growled at Redtail’s incompetence. The young tom couldn’t even win their land back. He stormed to the edges of the forest but paused as he leaped onto an old, moss covered log to look back at the battlefield.

Despite their own wounds, the RiverClan cats were cheering and whooping at their victory. Many of them recounted their attacks on Tigerclaw’s clanmates and bragged about their prowess.

Perched on a boulder above the crowd was Oakheart, with a proud smile for his warriors. He caught Tigerclaw’s eye and smirked, winking smugly at the enemy warrior.

The massive dark brown tabby’s amber eyes narrowed and snorted in disdain. But he chose to leave it be and follow the scents of his fleeing clanmates, leaping over the log and running off into the night.

...

Later that night, the moon was just beginning to dip down into the horizon, and the first traces of milky daylight were present on the horizon.

In the middle of ThunderClan’s forest lay a shallow, rocky gorge, one that the forest cats called home. An opening through the thick thorn bush barrier led to small, jutting cliffs that acted as a stairway to the camp floor. All around lay tightly woven bushes, burrows, and caves within the rocky walls of the gorge, where the soft snores and mumbles of sleeping cats could be heard.

On the steepest cliff in the camp that overlooked the entire gorge sat a regal blue-gray molly, with a silver muzzle and a long, arching scar on her shoulder. Her head was tilted upward and her narrowed eyes were focused intently on the night sky, almost like she was waiting for something.

But nothing came. The old molly sighed heavily and lowered her head, staring blankly at her paws. Her tail lashed in frustration and her silvery muzzle was drawn into a deep frown.

‘Of all times for StarClan to be silent, why would they choose now?’ She thought. She mulled over the long, harsh winter that had befallen their territory, and the almost comical amount of cats that it claimed along with it. So many kits and warriors had been lost, some from starvation, some to frostbite, and even more to the greencough epidemic that had ravaged their clan. She herself had lost two lives to it.

‘I can only hope spring will be kinder to my clan… although this defeat certainly isn’t a good way to start it off. What should have been a glorious win has now become a shameful defeat…’

“Bluestar?” A soft voice called from a few pawsteps behind her. The molly’s ears swiveled backwards and she lifted her head. A few paces behind her was a petite calico molly, her sleek tail swishing behind her.

“Spottedleaf.” She greeted stiffly. “How is Mousefur?”

Spottedleaf shrugged and padded to sit by Bluestar. “Oh, she’ll be fine. She had a great deal of wounds, but most of them weren’t deep enough to keep her in my den for long.” Spottedleaf explained, “Now if she doesn’t strain herself too hard with hunting or patroling and keeps her wounds clean, she’ll be able to continue her warrior duties.”

“And the others?”

“As long as they also take it easy, they’ll recover as well.”

Bluestar dipped her head. “Thank Spottedleaf. You’re truly a gifted druid.”

The calico chuckled awkwardly and jokingly smacked Bluestar’s shoulder with her tail. “Oh, stop! If this keeps up, my ego will inflate and reach Silverpelt herself!”

She mrrowed at her joke but trailed off as she saw the leader’s head turn back to the stars.

“Stars above, if you keep worrying yourself like this, you’ll go completely gray next winter!” She purred good-naturedly.

Bluestar looked down at her with amusement gleaming in her eyes, although her face remained neutral. “It’s a leader’s job to worry, Spottedleaf. I would expect the same from you, when your charges disobey your orders.”

Her calico companion laughed and replied, “Oh yes, but I remember hearing all sorts of stories of you shrugging off injuries before. You warriors always disobey the poor druid’s orders only to end up right back into my den!”

Bluestar purred, a small smile gracing her muzzle. “Yes, perhaps so. Although I like to think I’ve paid more heed to your warnings in my old age.”

They fell into a somber silence for a bit. Bluestar gazed down at the camp, although from the faraway look in the old leader’s icy eyes, she wasn’t truly seeing the gorge. Spottedleaf frowned but let the silence be.

“Spottedleaf, ThunderClan needs new warriors.” Bluestar murmured. “We’ve lost many lives over the winter. But there’s not enough apprentices, and none of them are ready to become warriors anytime soon…”

The old leader’s tail-tip twitched. “We’ll need to look for outside help.”. She turned to face the young druid and asked, “Have you received any messages from StarClan?”

The young cat slumped over in shame. “I’m afraid not, Bluestar. I haven’t heard a word from them since autumn began…”. Her eyes grew misty and her face screwed up in sadness, “I’m sure Featherwhisker would have found something by now…”

Bluestar blinking, regret burning in her chest; she knew she shouldn’t have brought this up. Her tail draped itself over the much younger molly’s shoulder to comfort her.

Poor kit was grieving for her mentor. He had only died a moon ago, dropping dead from exhaustion as he endlessly cared for sick patients. She’d only been made a full druid a few moons prior, and now she was solely in charge of the clan. Bluestar was frankly surprised she hadn’t cracked under the pressure yet.

‘At the very least, it’s finally spring…’

They fell back into a thick silence, this time choked with grief and tension. Spottedleaf sniffled miserably and Bluestar let her lean on her shoulder.

The druid cast her gaze up to the sky, when her pupils dilated and a gasp tore itself from her throat. She stood, but her legs shook like they would give out at any time. Her hackles were raised and her plumy tail was puffed out like a pinecone. Her eyes held an odd white sheen, giving them a glazed look.

Bluestar’s bewildered gaze settled into a knowing look. She had bore witness to enough druids receiving a vision to know the signs. There wasn’t much she could do beyond waiting however, so she simply stood still and allowed her time.

And then, as if woken from a dream, Spottedleaf jerked awake, her pupils shrinking back to normal. She struggled to catch her breath as the violent shudders slowly but surely died down.

“It was a prophecy.” She murmured. She still seemed shaken by whatever StarClan had shown her and her face grew more serious than usual.

Her leader simply nodded, her tail curling neatly around her paws. “Then tell me about it.”

The calico pursed her lips, seeming to struggle to process whatever vision she saw. “I-I was in the forest, surrounded by a lot of other cats. There was darkness on all sides, and I could hear enemies all around us. There were so many!”. She shuddered in horror. “Then…”. She paused here, a look of amazement entering her eyes and a soft chuckle leaving her mouth, “It was so strange, but a fiery tom emerged from the cats, and chased away all the darkness. But he didn’t burn the forest; no, it seemed like he was protecting it!”

Spottedleaf’s eyes narrowed slightly. “And then I heard the words ‘Fire alone will save our clan’...”

The young molly trailed off, still looking dazed but amazed by this vision. But Bluestar’s hackles were raised and her tail lashed.

“Fire?” She echoed incredulously. Her ears flattened. “But fire doesn’t protect; it destroys!”

Spottedleaf simply shrugged in response. “I suppose, but that’s what StarClan’s message was.”

The regal leader didn’t share her druid’s conviction and stared deeply into her soft amber eyes. But there wasn’t a hint of deceit or uncertainty in her gaze, only faith in their ancestors.

Bluestar blinked and then sighed and shut her eyes. Her shoulders sagged, suddenly looking much older than she really was.

“Then I suppose it’s so.” She murmured tiredly. She opened her eyes once more and stared at the night sky. “Fire alone will save our clan…"

#Warrior Cats #Warrior cats AU #warrior cats rewrite #warrior cats fanfic

4 notes · View notes

flourishingvalley · 2 years ago

Text

Olivenose of Featherclan

‘an intelligent & kind ginger & silver calico molly with olive green eyes & a small pink nose’

Olivekit —> Olivepaw —> Olivenose

she/her | molly | 41 moons

affiliations

Current: Featherclan

Past: Featherclan

Rank: Medicine Cat

Apprentice(s): Partridgepaw

Mentor: Cranefeather

family

Mother: Juniperhop

Father: Crowstar

Siblings: Magpiemoon, Thrushtail

Mate: Stormwish (forbidden)

personality/backstory

Olivenose is Featherclan’s medicine cat. As a kit, she was fascinated by the life of a medicine cat, and was a little shadow to Cranefeather. Olivenose was a very quick learner, already memorizing plants and their usages, as well as the best places to find and grow them. When she was ready to take her oath as a medicine cat, she swore off relationships. At the time this was not a struggle for Olivenose, as she never felt much attraction to the other tom-cats in the clan, what she failed to realize though, that her fondness for her fellow clanmate, Stormwish, was more than just friendship. She knew having a relationship, even between two mollies, was strictly forbidden, but she’s willing to do whatever she can to keep her love a secret.

relationships

Juniperhop — “I love my mother, as she taught me kindness and courage, and also provided mentorship during my apprenticeship. She’s the reason I can climb through the trees with skill in order to find ripe fruits in the highest branches. When my father died only 15 moons ago, my mother was distraught, and was often comforted by our new leader, Briarstar, sleeping on his old bedding till the twigs had rotted. She also would often reside in the medicine cat den, and I would provide her mixtures of sweet smelling herbs to calm her senses enough to sleep. She ended up retiring early at only 122 moons, but I can tell this decision was best for her, as her grief subsided, her energy and optimism had slowly been restored. It’s nice having my mother back, and I love watching her play with the kits and tell stories of her beloved mate to the youngest members of the clan.”

Crowstar — “My father was a very stoic figure, which made him an effective leader. I was scared my father would disapprove of me taking the medicine cat route, but he couldn’t have been more proud. When my mentor, Cranefeather, died, I had the privilege of becoming the main medicine cat under my father’s leadership. Even though that period of time was short, it was truly an honor, and I miss him everyday.”

Magpiemoon & Thrushtail — “My siblings and I are very close, and I feel immense pride watching them both blossom into their ranks as deputy and warrior. When we were kits, they would tease me for my short stature and tiny nose, but as I’ve grown to love those traits, they’ve grown as well! I’ve gotten a bit better at teasing them myself!"

Stormwish — “The most beautiful cat in the valley, my Stormwish. We officially met when she was starting her apprenticeship, and I was nearing the end of my medicine cat training. Her and her mentor had been navigating the tree tops when a weak branch snapped under Stormpaw and she fell to the forest floor, fracturing her leg and injuring her back. She spent a few moons of her training recovering from the incident. Stormpaw had been incredibly lucky, if she had fallen from any higher of a branch, or landed in a different way, she could’ve been paralyzed for life, or even worse dead. It was pure luck me and my mentor had been nearby looking for herbs when we heard Stormpaw’s scream, and the sound still haunts me. Because I was nearing the end of my training, Cranefeather often left me to figure out many things myself, so Stormpaw and I spent many days with only each other as company. When Stormpaw recovered, she quickly finished her training where it had left off and became a warrior. Even with her busy days as a warrior, she manages to find time to visit the medicine cat den everyday with fresh kill in the mornings as a sign of gratitude. Though we remain cordial and friendly in the daytime, we are as inseparable as two cats could be the second the clan falls asleep.”

Cranefeather — “Cranefeather was a bit of an oddity. He was often disorganized, and a bit jumpy, but when it was between life and death, he was assertive and calm. There was a method to his madness, a method that took me many moons to understand. He taught me the most valuable skills I possess, the skill of healing. He knew I was smart enough to pick up his lessons through his spontaneous string of thoughts, a patience he told me other cats would not have enough of to put up with him. He and my father had been best friends growing up, often exploring the forest together, and while my father found his place high in the trees, he preferred to forage below, fascinated by the vast amounts of herbs, plants and flowers to be collected. He’s the reason my passion for medicine is so strong!”

Partridgepaw — “My sweet apprentice! I can tell he doubts his skills as a medicine cat, but I can tell he will blossom well into this role. He seems a little bit lonely, and he can’t keep up with the energy of the other apprentices, but he gets along quite well with the older warriors and the elders! He seems to be very eloquent for his age.”

#flourishingvalley #natinettie #olivenose #warriors fanart #warrior cats #warrior cats oc #my ocs #oc art

4 notes · View notes

nightly-ruse · 2 years ago

Text

Bubdubdubbdud bu! Introducing the new and very meticulously crafted-

Ever since they were founded they’ve struggled, living in a thick thorny forest with larger than normal predators, few connections out of the woods, and a seemingly persistent curse on their clan since it’s founding. Will it’s new leader Mockingbirdcry be able to pull the snake around her neck or will it poison yet another leader?

They follow a different code, one promoting survival over care. Leaders don’t get the -Star suffix, botanists can have kits (though it’s semi looked down upon after a incident), and believing in their ‘afterlife’ is more out of fear then true belief.

May expand the clan if I need but I’m set on all the characters below. Send asks about them! Or for their ref sheet so I know who ppl want to see drawn.

Allegiances

Leader:

Mockingbirdcry- tall black, gray, and white molly with scars all along her back. She is good with its words but deep sorrow stalks her like its own shadow, and a certain cat makes sure it’s secrets stay in her mind. She/it, trans molly and parent of Moonflutter and Witchwing though not close with either.

Deputy:

Batswoop- long lykoi cat with speckled fur, vibrant yellow eyes, and scars over their face. Xer is very distant keeping a good paw length away from anyone close to them, it’s also mute after a infection to xer’s throat that left xe with a raspy painful voice. They/xer, grayromantic, growing crush on Locustbite.

Botanist:

Scorpionsprout- heavily decorated long furred cinnamon cat with tattered ears. She is poised and proper, to step out of line in front of her will end with a scratch. Stays tightly to her role and wears it like the plants around her throat, beauty is pain but brings pride and she loves pride. She/her and unlabeled, mentoring Oleanderpaw though the two are on bad terms already.

Warriors:

Frecklefeather- cream ticked tabby with silver on his muzzle and golden feathers down his spine. He is reserved and looks a lot into how others see him, as such she was never able to be close to little Fledlingkit. Always trying to keep his image clean. He/him and straight.

Houndstripe- large muscular tom with dark brown fur and brindled fur, his eyes are green and he tries to keep the clan together though his efforts keep on slipping. After he lost his last apprentice he keeps Fledlingpaw close to his side. Bit of jealousy over the clearly less qualified Batswoop being deputy. He/him and bisexual, mate of Yarrowthroat.

Locustbite- tall caramel molly with sleek fur, one green eye and one golden eye. She’s a very ambitious cat with a desire to be the leader, a few ideas of her are a bit unethical though she doesn’t share them. Training Fledlingpaw to be her little lackey and trying to get her claws into Batswoop though the more she learns about xer the more she feels. She/her and courting Batswoop, mentor of Nightshadepaw.

Mantisbloom- calico cat with green eyes and long droopy ears, he wears flowers on his pelt and a leaf bracelet. Him and Locust used to be very close as foster siblings but when Locust started going down her dark path he pulled away, that’s when he met Witchwing. The two soon fell for eachother and can’t wait for kits which he plans to raise mostly. He/him trans and mate of Witchwing.

Witchwing- dusky brown molly with lighter streaks and round sapphire eyes, her ears are long and tufted with moth wings on her mane. She wears a matching tail bracelet with her mate. She is a happy, funny cat who loves to see the brightest part of everything and a massive mom friend. She/her trans, mate of Mantis, Sister of Moon, daughter of Mockingbirdcry. (Black witch moth)

Moonflutter- fluffy white molly with darker spots down her back and round dark eyes, she wears moth wings on her mane and behind her ears. While her sister always looked to the light she stares right into the shade, her tone sharp and precise and barley any can escape her gaze when she latches onto them. Mentoring Nightshadepaw and teaching the cat well. She/her and aroace, sister of Witchwing, daughter of Mockingbirdcry, mentor of Nightshadepaw. (Yellow wooly bear moth)

Apprentices:

Fledgingpaw- golden tom with ginger speckled stripes and a white round belly, their tail tip cut from a past battle with a fox. He has always been fearful and receiving little support besides bitter words from their dad keeps him quiet, but when Houndstripe stepped in to help he soon started to open up more and sees the tom as more of his father then anyone else. Treats Wolfkit like their sibling and the two mates have pretty much adopted him as theirs. He/they and gay, son of Frecklefeather and adopted by Houndstripe and Yarrowthroat.

Oleanderpaw- gray and yellow calico with curled back ears, a nub tail, and one empty eye socket, their other magenta. When they were younger their hopes were much higher but the world soon showed them its teeth. While they always felt a draw to plants and learning having Scorpion as their mentor makes their sharp temper even worse, acting out more just out of spite. Still tries to stay sweet for Nightshadepaw. They/them and bisexual, sibling of Nightshade.

Nightshadepaw- black white and yellow tortoiseshell cat with floppy ear tips, a limp front paw, and pretty violet eyes. Their sibling always shaded them from the harshest truths creating a world for them were their father didn’t abandon them and they weren’t just traveling to find warmth. Now with their secretive mentor Locust they keep the secrets piling up, making them even more naive and quick to protect the cats closest to them. They/them, sibling of Oleanderpaw.

Monarchs:

Yarrowthroat- brown seal point molly with round ears and shaded hazel eyes, her pelt slowly becoming more dotted with white mostly around her face throat and paws. She tries to be very calm but snaps when it becomes too much, and when she lost almost her whole litter of kits it really broke her. While she loved little Wolfkit she can’t help but feel sorrow when she remembers the kits three littermates. Worries she’ll never have any other kits and spends so much time worrying she forgets to groom, luckily the sweet Fledlingpaw helps her a lot and she quickly adopted them. She/her and straight, mate of Houndstripe, adopted mother of Fledlingpaw and mother of Wolfkit.

Kits:

Wolfkit- little scruffy brown seal point kitten with round blue and hazel eyes, her coat still having some silver from when she had a fever coat. Wild little kitten who loves to play and doesn’t know much yet, she loved to play with her parents and doesn’t even know Fledlingpaw isn’t her blood brother. Dreams of being a great hunter to feed her whole clan someday. She/her, kit of Yarrow and Hound. Lone survivor of her litter after Snowdropkit, Starflowerkit, and Sunflowerkit passed away from sickness.

Elders:

Addershade- old deep red and silver tom with a crooked long tail, always drawn claws, and slightly clouded blue eyes. He was the old leader of the clan before having to retire once his eyes started to go and he couldn’t do many of his duties with a clear mind anymore. But as he’s aged he’s grown more and more vengeful, seeing Mockingbirdcry as somehow responsible for his downfall holding the secrets he knows over her head and his claws around her throat. Father of Scorpionsprout thought he two aren’t close, just sharing a respect by prowess.

5 notes · View notes

maggotclangen · 1 month ago

Text

Moon 10 (Leafbare)

Primrose steps into the leader’s den, gagging at the scent of blood. Why did his den always smell like this? “Warmstar?”

The tabby groans in his nest, peeling an eye open. “Yes, Primrose?”

Primrose approaches the leader, putting a paw on his forehead. “Yer burnin’ up. Sure you don’t want me to move ya into the healer’s den?”

Warmstar coughs. “No, I don’t want the clan knowing I’m sick.”

Primrose sighs. “Well, I think it’s just a case of whitecough, nothin’ too threatenin’.”

“Then the clan doesn’t have to know about it.” Warmstar rasps.

Primrose sighs. She had noticed that the cat had a stubborn streak, always insisting that he hid anything that could be viewed as weakness. It was worse than what she had seen in some rogues. “You really should go to the healer’s den, we can monitor it be-”

“I am your leader and I say I stay here!” he growls, tail lashing.

Primrose is silent for a moment. “Fine. You can stay, leader.” She silently pads out of the medicine cat den.

Meanwhile…

“Oh my stars!”

Cavepool rushes to meet the injured warrior at the end of camp. Yelloweyes was bloody and bruised and panting heavily. Yet strangely enough, he was smiling…

“Yellow, what happened!”

“I won…” Yelloweyes rasps out, eyes triumphant.

“Wh-What!?”

“I showed… that stupid fox… what for…” he pants.

“W-Wait, do you mean-”

“Brave’s fox. Yeah, it. Been looking for it for moons now.”

“Wait, you’ve been actively hunting this thing!?” Though it made sense. Yelloweyes always jumped at the chance of a border patrol, especially near the site they found Bravepaw.

“It remembered me…” Yelloweyes growled. “It even started salivating.”

“Y-You can tell me about it later! Let’s get you patched up first!” Cavepool admonished, already assessing the damage.

“O-Okay…” his clanmate replied, both annoyed that his story had been interrupted and flustered that Cavepool was giving him so much attention, even if it was just his job.

Cavepool leads him to the healer’s den and lays him down in a nest. “You’re not too bad off, just some cuts and bruises.”

“Hah!” Yelloweyes laughs proudly. “You should see the fox!”

“Oh, really?” Cavepool asks, gingerly applying garlic to reduce the chances of infection.

“Yeah! I mauled the thing’s face! He won’t be finding any mates, I’m sure of it! Gave me one hell of a fight though.”

“I can see.” Cavepool sighs, patching up larger cuts with cobwebs.

“But you wanna know the best part? Just as it was fleeing I managed to get it by the base of his tail and shred it to the tip!” Yelloweyes boasts, eyes shining with pride.

“Well, what goes around come around I suppose.” Cavepool purrs, knowing that this is simply Yelloweyes way of getting closure.

“Hey, Cavepool…” Yelloweyes start, now quiet. “Do you think they’ve forgiven me?”

Cavepool curls around the bi-colored tom, knowing exactly who he’s talking about. “I think they’ve always forgiven you. I think you’ve forgiven you.”

Late that night…

Warmstar coughs as he fixes the bones into position. He knows he really should go to the healer den but it would be harder to feed her from there.

After chanting all too familiar words, she appears, a lithe figure of shadow and fire. Warmstar tosses the hare to her. “Here.”

The figure looks at the hare, disappointed, obviously expecting something more… substantial.

“Look, this is all I could get. If you haven’t noticed, I'm sick.”

The figure gives what must have been a sigh before touching its nose to the hare. Upon contact, the hare instantly decays, becoming nothing but a pile of bones. The creature then stands, stretches, and disappears.

Events

Primrose no longer has whitecough!

Warmstar has whitecough!

Yelloweyes gets bruises after fighting a fox!

Characters

E B P O G Z V K N | ??? | ??? | Demon | ??? | ??? | ??? (she/it)| ???

Our friend has a name~

#clan generator #clangen #warrior cats clangen #maggotclanmoons #warmstar #cavepool #primrose #yelloweyes

1 note · View note

satyrradio · 4 months ago

Text

alt Calico Tom Pride flag

#my flags #calico tom pride #intersex #actually intersex #transmasc #ftm

17 notes · View notes

masquerade-flags · 22 days ago

Text

Marmalade Molly or Orange Molly pride

meant to be a sister term to Calico Tom pride

This can be used by any woman or similar gender with XY* chromosomes. Whether they are intersex, trans, part of a system in a body that has XY chromosomes, or some combination.

*also including chromosomes variations such as XYY, Turner Syndrome/X0, and even though is don't match up with the cat genetics theme Klinefelter syndrome/XXY.

The flag design is based off the bear flag. Orangish brown, orange, yellow and off white are orange cats shades. With the lighter pink-orange representing non-binary and multi-gender women, and the darker pink representing binary women

[Note: in terms of real life cat genetics these terms would not really be exactly equivalent. While it is true that solid color orange cats are more likely to have XY, by what is estimated to be about 80%, this is not the same as the around 99.90% of calicos/tortoiseshells having XX. We just wanted to make an equivalent term that keeps the cat theme]

#marmalade molly pride #marmalade molly #orange molly pride #orange molly #does this look too much like the sunset lesbian flag?#trans woman #intersex #trans female #alters #intersex woman #trans girl #transfem #system #mtf #our flags #coining #-v #-blurry

27 notes · View notes

oldcoffeeart · 3 months ago

Text

Chapter 4: Scheming

CW: Bullying, Suggestive comment

Walking into school the next day Savannah, Savvy, felt a surge of confidence. Her head was held higher with a brighter shine in her eyes. She heard people around her whisper, a smile pulling at her lips. One girl, a calico cat, walked up to her. She had a soft smile pulling at her lips. “I really like that flower bow you're wearing, where'd you get it?” Savvy smiled, gently touching it. “My grandma gave it to me, she made it.” The girl smiled up at her. “She did a good job, it looks really nice.” Savvy’s tail began to wag. “Thank you.” Lina and Genny would wave Savvy over as she wished the feline a good day before leaving.

Lina had her arms crossed, a prideful grin on their face. “You look amazing, Savvy.” Savvy would do a little spin to show off the dress she was wearing further. “I feel amazing.” Genny would pull her close, an arm wrapped around her shoulders. “Look at us, a perfect confident trio.” Lina smiled brightly, a twinkle in her eyes. “You’re exactly right there Genny, I'm ready to set fire to the status quo here.” Savvy turned to look behind her as she heard Tom call her name out. “Savvy? Wow… I didn't know you were dying your fur.” Savvy would smile, her tail giving a friendly wag. “I wasn't fully sure if I was, but I'm glad I did.” Tom would grin, his eyes squinting with it. “You look good.” Savvy could feel the skin under her fur grow warm as she looked up at him. “Thank you.” Tom would nod then excuse himself as his football team called him over. Genny and Lina would glance between each other before giggling. Savvy held the side of her neck. “Is… something funny?” Lina smiled at her. “Tom Dawson, I never thought that jock would be your type.” Savvy blushed heavily as she laughed awkwardly. “I mean, he’s super sweet. Though I wouldn't say he’s my type.” Genny covered her mouth as she giggled. “Don't look now but Brook is absolutely seething.” Savvy could feel her heart flutter, a tangle pulling in her stomach. “What? Why?” Lina huffed playfully, rolling their eyes. “She had a thing with Tom a few years back.” Savvy would hum quietly, biting at the inside of her cheek.

Brook had her arms crossed over each other, an irritated twitch to her eye. Her tail lashed behind her, ears folded back. “Brooklyn.” She heard Rachel call out, making her snap her head back to her. “What?” Rachel raised an eyebrow. “You look like you're about to pop a blood vessel.” Alicia glanced between the two. “Why are you watching that new girl anyway? Do you know her? Oh if you do could you tell me where she got that dress? It looks super comfortable.” Rachel rubbed her shoulder. “It’s Savannah, Brook’s old friend.” Alicia was silent for a few moments before letting out a long and drawn out ‘oh’ sound. “She’s looking good. Are you jealous, Brook?” Brook made a miffed noise. “No, of course not. She’s just some irritating little girl.” Rachel hummed quietly, turning to look at her. “If you say so, just don't have a stroke.” Brook muttered something unintelligible under her breath before turning to leave as the bell rang.

In class Savvy sat next to Genny, the two joyfully talking to each other. Rachel sat in front of them, a small smirk pulling at her lips as she thought of a plan to get the three girls who began to be a pain in her ass back in line. She tampered with a pen before turning around to face Savvy. “Hey, Savannah Alicia wanted to know where you got that dress so I thought I’d ask you.” Savvy looked up, stunted for a few moments before beginning. “Oh I got it-” She was swiftly cut off as a stream of pen ink coated her face and the front of what she was wearing. She and Genny would shout, Genny covering both of their eyes as she was coated as well. Rachel would gasp, starting a stream of apologies. Genny would glare at her, arms crossed before the teacher spoke up. “Hey what’s going on- Savannah! Genevive! What happened to you two?” Savvy would look down over herself, paw clasping over her mouth. Genny would be the one who spoke up. “Rachel sprayed us with pen ink.” Rachel would look at the teacher. “It was an accident.” The teacher pinched the bridge of his nose. “How does all that happen by accident… whatever. Just go to the principal Rachel, you can explain it to her. Savannah, Genevive, get to the nurse and clean up.” Sage raised his paw. “Can I take them?” The teacher sighed, looking at the clock. “Yeah, sure, go ahead. I’ll call the principal so she knows you're supposed to be with her, Rachel.”

The two girls were escorted by Sage who spoke up. “I'm sorry about that, I don't know why she did that.” Genny would huff. “She just felt like being an asshole I guess. I'm just glad it didn't get in our eyes.” Savvy rubbed her arm. “I'm sure it was an accident.” Sage looked over his shoulder. “How does that happen by accident?” Savvy was quiet for a moment before giving a shaky smile. “Why would she do it on purpose? I know I wouldn't.” Sage would sigh, looking away. “I'm glad you have hope in people.” Genny rubbed her shoulder as they made it to the nurse. “Some people are just assholes, Savvy.” She hummed a little, looking to the side. “I want to believe in her. There's a reason people like her.” Sage shrugged, a tired smile on his face. “In any sense, thanks for letting me take you two here. I was getting bored sitting in class.” Genny laughed. “I knew there was a reason for you taking us.” Sage raised his paws up. “Guilty as charged.”

Sage left the two, pulling out his phone to text Brook. “Hey, don't know if you wanted Rachel to do this but she sprawled Savannah with ink.” It only took a few moments for her to reply. “What??? Is she okay?” Sage leaned against a locker. “Yeah, her dresses might be ruined. Do you have any extras for her?” Sage watched as the three dots came up, disappeared, then came up once again. “Yeah, be there in a moment. Don't tell her that it was me, I'll beat your ass if you do.” Sage laughed, a smile on his face. “Okay noodle arms. Mind getting something for Genny too?” “I'm gonna bite you, but okay.”

The wait wasn't long before Brook showed up, a bag of clothes in her paw. She handed it over to Sage. “Why did you assume I had spare clothes with me?” Sage shrugged. “I mean you always do in case someone wears something awful.” Brook hummed quietly. “Touché.” Sage looked over at the nurse’s door and then down either side of the hallway. Brook did the same before asking. “Is there something you need to talk about?” Sage sighed, his eyes falling to the ground. “Has Tom been talking with Savvy?” Brook would nod, her paws slipping into her pockets. “Yeah, they have classes together from what I know.” Sage huffed, crossing his arms. Brook gently rubbed his arm. “If it upsets you so much you should just talk to him.” Sage shook his head. “No, you know I can’t. I can say the same to you about Savvy.” Brook laughed a little, looking to the side. “I thought I was over her.” Sage huffed a similar sound. “Yeah well… crushes like ours don't just disappear.” Brook rolled her eyes. “I need to get back to class, you need to do the same. Asshole.” Sage smiled. “Okay noodles.” Brook flipped him off playfully before walking away, leaving Sage to ring the bell to the nurses office.

Savvy and Genny had cleaned up and changed, gratefully accepting the bag from Sage. Savvy looked disappointedly at her dress while Genny rubbed her shoulder. “It’ll wash out.” Savvy exhaled, her eyes closing. “You're right, still pisses me off though.” Genny motioned for her to follow. “C’mon, time to get back to class.”

The day marches ever onward until it was time for Savvy and Lina to try out for their respective after school activities. Genny wished them both luck before she went back home. Savvy gave Lina a hug before they separated. “You’ll do awesome, knock ‘em dead girl.” Lina grinned back at Savvy. “Break a leg.” Savvy made her way to the stage, a small lump in her belly as she took a deep breath before letting it out. She walked into the back-stage room. She was greeted by a small group of pets, a mix of both women and men. The calico cat from earlier that day waved to her, a bright smile on her face. Savvy waved back, her tail wagging slowly. She looked around before spotting Tom, her eyes widening a little in surprise before she walked over to him. “Tom? I didn't know you liked theater.” Tom looked over at her, giggling a little. “Oh, I'm just here to bring Sage home. I do help backstage from time to time.” Savvy nodded, smiling gently. “I'm glad there's someone I know here.” Tom chuckled, sitting down on a bench and tapped the spot next to him. Savvy joined, looking at him as he spoke. “The people here are really sweet, drama-filled, but sweet. You’ll get close to everyone pretty fast.” Savvy crossed her arms over one another. “That's good to know, Lina and Genny recommended that I join.” Tom nodded as he listened to her. “I think you’ll fit in. What role are you going for?”

Walking around backstage to make sure everything was in order Brook couldn't help but glance over at Savvy and Tom. Her blood felt like it was brought to a boil everytime he made her laugh. He tail lashed with irritation at the show. That should be her, not some stupid jock welcoming Savvy to the crew. She felt a growl bubble in her throat as Savvy touched his arm, wide innocent eyes sparkling as they spoke. If Brook had it her way that damned jock wouldn't ever step foot back on this stage for talking to her-

Brook was snapped from her thoughts when Mrs. Miller started speaking. “Alright everyone! Those who are auditioning for a part please come form a circle! This is the first time we’re meeting as a group and I want us to know each other.” Brook shook her head, going to join the circle. Savvy would do the same, holding her hands over her stomach. Mrs. Miller grinned at the surrounding students. “So, I want everyone to introduce themselves. Starting with your preferred name and pronouns, something you do as a hobby, and finally what you know about Romeo and Juliet. I'd like to remind everyone this is a safe space.” Savvy’s lips curled into a smile as she listened to the various introductions. Her eyes landed on Sage as he started his introduction. “I'm Sage, I go by he/him. I play football and I don't know squat about shakespeare.” The group would chuckle at the last part, Mrs. Miller rolling her eyes. “That's fine Sage, we’ll read the play as a group.” Brook would be next, her eyes meating Savvy’s before she spoke. “I'm Brook, I go by she/her. Outside of school I like to make clothes. I’ve read Romeo and Juliet before.” Savvy’s eyes would drift to the next person in the circle until it was her turn. Savvy shifted awkwardly for a few moments before starting. “I'm Savvy, I go by she/her. I enjoy reading and I've read Romeo and Juliet as well.”

Once introductions were done Mrs. Miller led the group through warm ups, encouraging everyone that looking ridiculous was normal. Once they were done she gave everyone a collection of lines to perform. Groups were randomly selected and Savvy ended up working with… Brook and Sage. She could feel herself deflate a little once she heard Brook’s name. “Awesome…” She muttered under her breath. She rolled her shoulders as she went to join them. Brook glanced at her before looking back to Sage. Savvy stood with them, greeting Sage with a gentle smile. Sage would be the first to speak. “Alright so-” Brook would interrupt him. “I told you not to be here.” He froze looking between the two. “Brook-” Brook stopped him. “Why are you here, Savvy?” She hissed the last part. Savvy took in a deep. “I told you, I want to join a play about a book I like.” Brook scoffed. “That's a bunch of shit, I don't know what you think you're doing by forcing yourself into my life but-” Savvy interrupted her. “Force my way into your life? What are you on Brook? Theater isn't just a you thing, you know.” Sage raised his hands up. “Please we should-” Brook and Savvy interrupted him. “Shut up Sage.” Sage crossed his arms, looking to the ground before walking away.

As Savvy and Brook continued their fight Sage found his way to Tom. He sat down next to him, holding his head in his paws. Tom glanced at him before rubbing his shoulders. “Need someone to read those lines with?” He would nod, handing the canine the other paper. “Thanks Tom.” He chuckled a little before they began the reading. Sage stifled laughter at the various strange voices Tom chose to use. Tom grinned brightly at each reaction. Sage would eventually break character and ask. “Why don't you join the play?” Tom shrugged. “Ah, I don't like being on stage like that. It’s just… not my thing.” Sage hummed, leaning his head into his palm. “Ah well, always worth asking.” Tom leaned against the wall behind him. “Besides, I enjoy watching what you guys do backstage too much to be an actor.” Sage raised an eyebrow, a smirk pulling at his lips. “That sagestive.” Tom would shove him as he laughed. “Perv.”

The joyful mood was cut off as everyone lined up to read the lines out loud. Tom patted Sage’s back. “Break a leg.” Sage smiled back at him as he got in line. Sandwiched between the two he could see Savvy and Brook still frustrated with each other. He took in a slow breath, shaking his own nerves out before it got to him. Brook was the first to read the lines out of their group. She spoke with confidence, her head held high. Once it was over the line clapped, Mrs. Miller nodded as she wrote on her paper. Sage would go next, following the performance with ease. He bowed as his crew members clapped for him then patted Savvy’s shoulder, whispering to her. “Don't let your nerves get to you. Just feel the character.” She flashed him a shaky smile before she took a deep breath and began. She spoke clearly and proudly, losing herself in the character as she began to put her body into it. Her anxiety seemed to evaporate as she spoke, bowing fully by the end. The crew would clap for her as well, Mrs. Miller smiled as she wrote what she was thinking down.

Savvy could feel her body shaking, tears in her eyes as she stood there. What Mrs. Miller said couldn't reach her ears as she thought over and over about what just happened between her and Brook. “I wish I never met you, you've never been the friend I needed.” As soon as she could, Savvy left, wiping at her cheeks as tears began to drip from them. Sage watched before looking at Brook. She had calmed down but now looked like she felt immensely guilty. “Brook… what happened?” She shook her head, holding her arms tightly. “I messed up.” He pulled her aside, holding her shoulder. “Talk to me?” Brook’s lips quivered before she began to silently sob, her paw clamped over her mouth. Sage pulled her into a tight hug, letting her cry into his shoulder.

In the hallway Savvy curled into herself, hugging her knees tightly to her chest. Tom would soon join, sitting next to her. He slowly rubbed her back. “It’s okay.” Savvy looked up at him, thick tears falling from her cheeks. “I just wanted Brook back. I missed her so much.” Tom continued to rub her spine, chewing his lip as he spoke. “Maybe we can both get what we want.” Savvy sniffled, wiping tears away. “What do you mean?” He looked around before whispering. “You want Brook’s attention and I want Sage’s. How about we… pretend to be a couple?” Savvy blinked, laughing a little as she wiped her tears away. “Would that actually work, Brook told me she wishes she never met me.” Tom smirked a little. “That is a bold faced lie, if that's how she felt she wouldn't be acting like this. She just needs to think she’s… losing something she wants.” Savvy would blink before a smile bloomed across her lips. She would nod, her eyes shining. “Yeah… yeah okay. Let's do it.” Tom would nod, taking her paw in his as a mark that they agreed to the idea.

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |

#lgbtq #furry #sfw furry #fanfiction #lps popular

0 notes

primrose-petals-wc · 5 months ago

Text

FlameClan Allegiances

FlameClan The Sturdy and Prideful

Leader Brightstar - tall, ginger, bicolored, mackerel tabby she-cat with a white chest and bright-blue eyes

Deputy Stormstrike - short, dark gray, classic tabby tom with amber eyes and a large scar across his face

Healer Juniperlight - aging, blue gray tom with messy, matted fur, a dark stripe running down his spine and blue eyes Apprentice, Nightpaw

Senior Warriors Ashcloud - short, gray spotted tabby cat with dark amber eyes Echosight - short, gray classic tabby she-cat with dark amber eyes Poppyspots - tall, ginger, bicolored, mackerel tabby she-cat with white spots and bright blue eyes Smokewhisker - stocky, black tom with icy blue eyes Toadleaf - stocky, black tom with icy blue eyes, blind in one eye Apprentice, Tawnypaw Gingerleaf - light ginger flame point tabby she-cat with light blue eyes Embertuft - ginger flame point tabby tom with blue eyes Ivybloom - dark brown she-cat with white speckles and blue eyes (In Nursery) Elmfoot - small, lithe, dark gray blue striped cat with bright light yellow eyes Apprentice, Brindlepaw Willowfall - pretty, bicolored blue gray she-cat with white markings and blue eyes (In Nursery) Wolfheart - stocky, dark blue gray tom with dark blue eyes

Warriors Sandbelly - light ginger flame point tabby she-cat with light blue eyes Finchclaw - brown mackerel tabby tom with a white face and belly, and amber eyes Apprentice, Leafpaw Sparrowheart - brown mackerel tabby tom with a white face and tail, and blue eyes Iceshade - white tom with a black tail and light amber eyes Apprentice, Berrypaw Snowmask - buff white she-cat with sparse black marking, mainly a large one one her face, and light amber eyes Kestrelleap - handsome white tom with black speckles and light amber eyes Blossomlight - tall, black she-cat with dark amber eyes Ravenflower - tall, black, she-cat with dark amber eyes Bluemoon - blue gray she-cat with blue eyes (In Nursery) Sorrelstorm - pretty, short tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes (In Nursery) Littleskip - short, tortoiseshell tom with blue eyes and one leg that’s shorter that the rest Apprentice, Cricketpaw Lionclaw - dark ginger tom with thick manelike chest fur and bright amber eyes Owlsong - bicolored brown tom with white markings and light blue eyes Sagenose - bicolored brown cat with a white nose, and light blue eyes Alderbelly - white tom with brown marking and light blue eyes

Apprentices Brindlepaw - pretty darkbrown mackerel tabby she-cat with blue eyes Leafpaw - white and brown spotted tabby she-cat with blue eyes Berrypaw - brown mackerel tabby tom with a white belly and blue eyes Cricketpaw - short, tortoiseshell she-cat with strong backlegs, blue eyes, a hearing impairment Tawnypaw - short, tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes Nightpaw - black tom with white markings and dark amber eyes

Queens Bluemoon - blue gray she-cat with blue eyes, Mate of Owlsong (Kits: Rainkit a blue gray tom and Aspenkit a brown and white she-kit) Sorrelstorm - pretty, short tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes, Mate of Kestrelleap (Kits: Violetkit a calico she-cat, Sunkit a ginger tom and Mousekit a tuxedo tom) Willowfall - pretty, bicolored blue gray she-cat with white markings and blue eyes Mate of Ashcloud (Expecting) Ivybloom - dark brown she-cat with white speckles and blue eyes (Expecting)

Elders Silverfrost - graying blue gray she-cat with one blue eye and one cloudy blind eye

Cats Outside the Clan Primrose - pretty, fluffy, sea point ragdoll she-cat with bright blue eyes; kittypet

Deceased Brookheart - dark brown she-cat with a pale chest and blue eyes. Watches over her sister, Ivybloom, often and misses her dearly. Amberpaw - ginger tabby she-cat with dark green eyes. Former medicine cat apprentice who died due to a disease. Palestorm - a white and gray she-cat with light blue eyes. Juniperlight’s deceased mate.

#warrior cats #fanclan #flameclan

0 notes

darktreeroots · 1 year ago

Text

Palestar’s Trials

Allegiances:

Leader:

Stormstar - a pure black she-cat with golden eyes and a second star hidden on her stomach

Deputies:

Algaebrook - a dark tabby tom Frogheart- an elderly gray tom Mewlight - an elderly white spotted black tom

Medicine Cat:

Wavespring - a spotted calico tom

Warriors:

Adderstripe - a orange tom with a few white spots Sunnystalk - a yellow she-cat Sweetfang - a gray tabby tom

Queens:

Bubbledrop - a spotted calico expecting mother Quailbreeze - a red tabby queen, mother of Poolkit, Palekit, Lavenderkit, and Deerkit

Elders:

Troutsplash - a beautiful old golden tabby she-cat

9.5k words, tws for ableism, transphobia, misgendering, and deadnaming

Palewince has worked long and hard to get to this point, season after season she had worked herself endlessly to become the best warrior she could be.

Had it all been for naught? Would she be mocked even now?

No. Palewince thinks to herself, holding back her frown and her voice as the rest of her Clan gave a half-hearted cheer for the newest leader of LaurelClan, No I refuse to let this all mean nothing! Palewince stumbles backwards, wet moss squelching under her feet. The crowd parts behind her in a way they hadn’t for the leader when he emerged through the barrier leading the pack of deputies and medicine cats.

Palewince turns and runs from camp. They all let her go.

From the first moment that she knew that she could be, Palekit wanted to be leader of LaurelClan. They were the youngest Clan, so that meant that they needed to hold themselves to high standards. LaurelClan needed to prove that they were better than every Clan, but especially MarshClan to show them that they had lost their strongest warriors due to their pride.

Out of her, Deerkit, Lavenderkit, and Poolkit, it was obvious that Palekit was the one who was going to become leader. She had the good sense to listen to her elders instead of scampering around playing moss ball or anything dull like that. Adderstripe had told her that she had the clean markings of a future leader.

She had asked then, What about Poolkit? Because they had the same markings, just in opposing colors. Her father had laughed, looking out of the nursery at the writhing pile of limbs that were just outside. Poolkit was covered in muck. Somehow his pelt was covered in dirty water and he was making no attempts to clean himself.

The markings are yours. Adderstripe had said with a wink, glancing back at the cream diamond on her back, I can imagine your second star going right there. For defense. Ah! Her father said aloud, before rolling over and landing directly on top of her.

The other queens laughed at her as she squealed for help, clawing her way out of her father’s bulk. Right before she can get free, Adderstripe placed his paw on her head.

Will this stop a future leader? He had asked her.

It isn’t raining as she leaves camp, but she feels as if it should be.

There was a story that Palepaw always loved, no matter how old she was when it was being told. She had heard it first in the nursery from Bubbledrop and it was still Bubbledrop who told it the best. Palepaw doesn't call out before she enters the warrior’s den, carefully keeping to the edges of the weaved fern walls as she approaches the calico cat.

Bubbledrop rose her head as she approached. Palepaw knew that she would have gotten a stinging rebuke for bothering her if what had kept her from calling out wasn’t the large carp in her mouth. The blood kept on flowing into her mouth and she was salivating after a long day of hunting but she would keep the carp for Bubbledrop. Only if Bubbledrop was in the mood to share would Palepaw get to eat the prey she had caught.

“What is it you want from me?” Bubbledrop asked, but not unkindly. When Palepaw was a kit, Bubbledrop had barely talked to her and her siblings. Only after they had all left and Palekit was alone in the nursery would Bubbledrop even bother with her. Palepaw understood—kits were loud and annoying and always underfoot. Palekit worked hard to be better than her siblings and it was through that effort that she got so close to Bubbledrop.

“I want to hear the story of our Clan again.” Palepaw requested, embarrassment prickling under her fur but she didn’t let it show. She had heard this story many times before from many people. Bubbledrop knew this and lets out a small sigh. Palepaw debated the idea of excusing herself and simple leaving but Bubbledrop patted the space beside her with her paw, allowing Palepaw to slide in beside her.

Palepaw took it all in for a second, the clear air drifting in through the small holes in the barrier. They would need to be patched up with moss and clay and that would be her job. But that can be for later, now is for breathing in the clear air and feeling the soft moss beneath her pads and pressing her body against the soft fur of Bubbledrop’s side. There is a hunger deep within her gut but if she acted right, she would be free from it.

Newtwhisker was proud of her, as he always had been. She had just learned that if she flipped in the water that it did not help hunting at all but if there was a fish nearby then thrashing around to try and right herself would cause her to accidentally hook it with her claw and doing all that would look purposeful and impressive. (It wasn’t the former, but it was the latter.)

“I thought you heard this from someone else just the other day.”

“I don’t have many ‘other days’.” Palepaw pointed out. She had only been an apprentice for two moons and is one of the youngest cats in the Clan. She was still yet to learn the names of all her Clanmates.

“Humor the kit.” Purred Sunnystalk who was sitting beside her best friend.

“I’m an apprentice!” Palepaw squeaked.

“Yeah, yeah.” Sunnystalk replied before stretching, spreading out each of her paws and wriggling her butt like she’s about to pounce, “I’m going to go hunt something. I’ll be back soon.”

“Sure. Just leave me.” Bubbledrop called out. Sunnystalk’s only response as a flick of her tail, “Keep yourself clean. I don’t want you dragging that awful sickness back.”

Sunnystalk stopped for a moment and looks back at them, but the shadows fall over her yellow face and hid her expression. She didn’t say anything else before leaving the warrior’s den.

“That cat…” Bubbledrop mumbled under her breath before she turned to Palepaw, “I would say that she’s nearly as bad as Wavespring if Wavespring wasn’t just so awful.” Palepaw nodded along. She knew well Bubbledrop’s issue with the medicine cat. After all, she had only been an apprentice for two moons, just a bit longer than Bubbledrop has been reinstated as a warrior.

She was in the nursery when it all happened. It’s Wavespring’s fault that Palepaw and her siblings are the youngest cats in the clan.

“Eh.” Bubbledrop took a huge bite out of the carp, tearing away the top layer of scales and revealing the soft pink meat underneath. Palepaw’s hunger doubled, renewed by the sight of food, “Laurelstar again. Fine. I can do that.”

Bubbledrop cleared her throat, “Many seasons ago, there were only three Clans. MountainClan, a secretive Clan that kept to their land into the white-tipped peaks and the caves that tore through the ground. They spoke to StarClan and interpreted their signs before they found the Moonhole and revealed it to all the Clans so that they wouldn’t be the only Clan with such power.”

“Which made them the most noble of the three Clans.”

“I was going to get to that.” Bubbledrop snapped. Palepaw lowered her ears and eyes in apology. Bubbledrop let out a snort before she continued.

“CloudClan lived under the open sky, and the wind in the air flew inside of them and made them even faster than the breeze. ForestClan longed for the protective trees and settled down underneath them. However, they were the least noble of the three founding Clans and thus couldn’t remain like that. First it was ThinleafClan, claiming that their Clan was too restrictive and breaking off. Then it was MarshClan, due to their inherent corruption and lack of honor they were unable to live within ThinleafClan.

“There were honorable cats within MarshClan, but many cats were silenced for speaking out and their ideas and lessons were ignored. Once such cat was a she-cat named Laurelpuddle. Laurelpuddle was fox-lengths ahead of any other cat when it came to intellect and that scared her leader and deputy. Being a brave and just member of her Clan she served them as well as she could, but was never even acknowledged by being given a deputy.

She asked her leader over and over to have an apprentice, but she was refused. Laurelpuddle was mocked and cast aside, even when it came to her own name.

“Laurelpuddle asked her leader over and over to have an apprentice, but she was refused. She was mocked and cast aside, even when it came to her own name. Laurelpuddle had always been different, preferring the clear waters at the edge of the territory to the swampy marshland that the Clan resided in. Still, because she was endlessly kind, she still decided to train her Clanmates to bear such waters, teaching them skills such as diving for fish and advanced swimming techniques. She trained nearly every cat in the Clan, from the youngest apprentice to the oldest warrior.

“Even so, Laurelpuddle would have been content to living and dying a loyal member of MarshClan had it not been for an appearance of the Rot.”

Palepaw shivered. Bubbledrop paused for a moment and finds nothing to say to her, so she continues.

“The leader of MarshClan claimed that covering one’s fur with mud could keep the Rot at bay—that covering up the beautiful fur that StarClan blessed us with was the solution to their punishment. When Laurelpuddle disagreed with that horrible idea, she was nearly forced into exile by their leader. The only reason she wasn’t is because the deputy wanted to keep her as an example of what happens when you go against the leader.

“They forced Laurelpuddle to work with the sick cats without any medicine cat training, fully intending her to become ill with Rot. Even when the ill cats were forced away from camp, Laurelpuddle was forced to go with them.

However, she returned a few moons later free of Rot and announced that she was going to found a new Clan using the fallen seeds of a rotten plant. Many cats followed Laurelpuddle and she established this Clan, using herself as the first seed for the Clan to sprout from.” Bubbledrop gestures with her paw to the den, “She saw potential in this place, just as she did every one of us. Potential that we have to work hard to live up to every day for—”

A scream rang through camp, high-pitched in the way that only an apprentice’s could be. Bubbledrop was up in a moment, trampling over the remains of the carp. Palepaw’s stomach twisted painfully but she ignored it in favor of following the warrior into camp.

“What happened?” A cat whose name Palepaw doesn’t know asked. She can only shake her head in reply, following Bubbledrop as they head for the turned over log at the end of camp, nearby a small stream.

Just as they approached, Wavespring comes out carrying Poolpaw by the scruff who looks completely unapologetic after he’s disturbed the medicine cat. Palepaw smoothed down their fur, an apology ready on her tongue before a cat interrupted them.

“What happened?”

“Just a kit getting where they don’t belong.” Wavespring tossed Poolpaw to the side. Her brother landed heavily and winces but the proud expression on his face doesn’t leave as he whirled around and shot back a sharp retort.

“What do you mean, where I don’t belong? It’s the medicine den. The only thing that changed in there is Sweetfang! What happened to his fur? Why is there so little of it?”

“Nothing happened—” Wavespring began but before he can regret his words, Bubbledrop interjected, shoving herself to the front of the crowd with Palepaw on her heels. With every step, Palepaw sunk into the soft moss. With every step, Bubbledrop’s unsheathed claws tore moss out of the ground.

“What? Happened?” Bubbledrop growled as she comes to stop a few tail-lengths away from the medicine cat who only gave her a derisive glance before pushing Poolpaw behind him, “Wavespring! Answer me!”

“I don’t answer to you.” The medicine cat replied with a bored expression, “I answer only to the leader. I don’t want to deal with your emotions. As far as you are concerned, Sweetfang is fine.” He held his ground with a lash of his tail and bared teeth, “Checking on him will not make him any better.”

“Hmm.” Bubbledrop said, before whipping around to glare at Poolpaw, “Well, since someone wants to lie to me today, I guess I’ll have to look to a kit for the truth.”

“I’m not a kit!”

“Good. Kits lie like medicine cats do.”

“I’m not lying—”

“Was Sweetfang breathing? Was my mate alive?” Bubbledrop asked him, looming over Poolpaw. With an impossibly smug look on his face, Poolpaw shook his head.

“You—!” Bubbledrop rose her paw to give Palepaw’s brother a rightful strike but before she could do so a yellow cat raced past Palepaw and lets out a wordless cry as she dove between Bubbledrop and Poolpaw. Bubbledrop stopped herself at the very last moment. She hissed at Sunnystalk as the other she-cat stood in front of Palepaw’s still smirking brother, blocking him from view.

“Bubbledrop!” Sunnystalk pleaded, “Don’t lose your head. Please, just for a moment—”

Bubbledrop lunged forward, faster than Palepaw can follow. She grabbed Sunnystalk by the neck and in one swift motion, snapped her Clanmate’s neck, tossing her limb body to the side. The yellow cat hit the ground with a thud and even now Poolpaw still looks smug as the raging warrior came to loom over him. Wavespring stood beside her brother, not a whisker out of place.

“Sweetfang’s blood is on your incompetent hands.” Bubbledrop snarled.

“I didn’t kill him.” Wavespring replied calmly, stepping away from her swipe, “But it seems as if you will believe in whatever you want instead of listening to reason. As always.”

“You’re no brother of mine!” Bubbledrop leaped on top of the medicine cat, and it takes only a moment until they’re a ball of hissing and claws, holding onto each other so tightly that neither of them could escape. Only when a cat leaped between them, getting clawed by both sides do they halt.

A yellow cat—Sunnystalk?—stood between them, fur wet and with blood running down their sides.

“For once in your lives can you two get a handle on yourself! Dealing with your constant drama is ridiculous. It’s exhausting, it’s—”

“What is that sound?” Poolpaw said from beside her, ears perked, not paying attention to the situation that he so crudely caused. They all paused for a second, listening to the soft sounds and the three adults turn back to the medicine den in horror.

Hack hack hack.

Hack…and then silence.

As Wavespring ran into the medicine cat den with Sunnystalk and Bubbledrop right on his heels, Palepaw looks at Poolpaw. He still looked unconcerned.

Rage bubbles in her stomach. Her claws unsheathed. She kept them pressed into the moss.

This can’t be! Palewince tells herself as she paces in a small pool of water. It barely comes up to her stomach, weighing down her fur. She feels it with every step she takes, the wrongness close to the added water weight. There’s no way that StarClan truly let this happen!

No. Palewince tells themself as they look up at the moon in the distance. It’s normally dim during the day but Palewince cannot find it. For a moment, she believes that this is a sign, that it means the new leader was chosen against the will of StarClan—but then she sees it again. Dimmer than usual, nearly eclipsed by the sun.

…Is this your sign for me, StarClan? The moon, being swallowed up by the sun? Are you telling me that I am being blocked away?

Palewince digs her claws into the wet muck under the pool, staring up at the sky, Are you telling me to do something—no, you must be. There isn’t a chance that you want me to stand aside. I won’t believe it!

Or are you telling me that I must become the sun and overshadow the one chosen by the moon? Is this a call to action or a cry of despair?

She hisses, And it’s not as if I can ask Wishstream to interpret. She’d just tell me that it was just the sun or something inane like that.

Is that why your directions have been so muddled? Is this why you let him become deputy in the first place—an incompetent medicine cat that wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between a sign and a fish’s scales?

“So I cannot trust her.” Palewince tells herself.

“Who can you not trust?” Replies her daughter as she strolls up. Palewince takes a moment to berate herself—of all the scents to miss!—and turns to face Cypressfire. Her daughter keeps a calm, level stare as she strolls up as if she expects her mother to explode at any moment. Not an incorrect assumption, but Cypressfire should know better than to expect such a reaction from her mother.

Whether wind, fire, or rain, Palewince would keep calm.

“Wishstream.” Palewince says curtly. Cypressfire quickly bows her head in agreement. How much their medicine cat was lacking was a widely known secret. Palewince didn’t know what she was expecting from the apprentice of Wavespring, but she didn’t think she was expecting things to get even worse than a kin-killer.

“I believe that I’ve just gotten an message from StarClan.” Palewince says, “But I cannot trust her to interpret it.”

Cypressfire tilts her head, “And of course making it to the Moonhole is impossible.”

Palewince pauses, one paw in the air. Water drips down her paw and hits the water in droplet. She pays it no mind.

“No. StarClan is on my side.” She turns around, heading toward the deep end of the pool. This place connected to one of the major rivers. Once she got to the Gathering Island, she knew where to head. And when she was lost? StarClan would guide her the rest of the way.

“I will be back. With answers.”

Palewince dives into the water, confident down to every last hair on her pelt.

“Do you want to take a nap? It’s been a stressful half-moon.” Newtwhisker asked, almost nuzzling up against her. She didn’t pull away from her mentor but she did shake her head, still staring at the turned-over and hollowed out tree trunk. Her parents were fretting inside, it’s basically become their second home.

“I’m fine. I’m going to ask Stormstar if I can go out on a border patrol.”

Newtwhisker shook his head, “Algaebrook wants to bolster up the fresh-kill pile a bit. Ah—” Newtwhisker looked back toward the already large pile of prey. Palepaw had just eaten and she swore that some things were about to go rotten soon. She lamented the stupidity of the deputy who is also the leader of her family.

She flicked her whiskers, “Is Stormstar still insisting that we don’t try take some land from MarshClan?”

Newtwhisker shuddered down to the tip of his tail. Palepaw wondered how such a conflict-averse cat was allowed to become a warrior. It seems likely that he would flee in the face of battle like MarshClan’s Asternewt. There have been many times that Palepaw wished that she got a senior warrior as a mentor, she can only guess that it’s because she was leagues ahead of her siblings and the young warrior needed to have an apprentice sometime.

“Yeah, and for that I’m glad. You’re too young to see battle yet. Training is more than enough for you.” Newtwhisker pressed his muzzle to the top of her head, “So, want to hunt with me?”

“I was thinking of going out with Crimsonpaw, actually.” She lied.

Newtwhisker let out a happy purr, “Oh, let me not come between young love then.” Her mentor slipped away and she’s thankful for it. There’s not a doubt in her mind that Crimsonpaw would agree to go out hunting with her without any complaints, but it was better to avoid any complicated questions like when they had time to plan this out.

Someone yowled in the hollowed out tree trunk and something came stumbling out.

A stupid mistake made flesh and fur.

Palepaw rose to her feet and sought out her siblings. At the very least she knows that Deerpaw and Lavenderpaw haven’t been consumed by the newest trend of worrying over a cat that caused all of his problems.

Deerpaw was missing, but Lavenderpaw was sticking across camp from the medicine den. She looked worn out and haggard, fur clumped in some places as she stared at the small hollow that held their parents. Palepaw remembered that Lavenderpaw had been the one to scent MarshClan scent past their border lines and had started the whole argument between Stormstar and his deputies. She remembered that Lavenderpaw was so excited to tell their parents about what they had found.

Palepaw looked at Lavenderpaw and is overwhelmingly aware of the cleanliness of her own fur compared to her sister. She turned to find Crimsonpaw instead.

The Gathering Island is as beautiful as it always is, but Palewince doesn’t pause as she reaches it, climbing onto the bank and shaking out her fur before she continues onto MountainClan territory.

“It was such a shame to lose such a loyal warrior so early.” Stormstar told her privately. Their leader is pure black except for the jagged scar down her shoulder. Her second star is hidden someone that no cat can seem to find, “But I have faith that you are able to adapt to this situation and come out stronger for it.”

Palepaw nodded. She wondered if she’s supposed to look penitent. She wondered how to do that. After all, Newtwhisker’s death was not a surprise, nor was it a great tragedy. Newtwhisker had no potential, he had barely risen to the occasion of being her mentor and heavily relied on the senior warriors despite being an apprentice himself only a few moons prior. She wouldn’t be surprised if he died during an attempt to flee.

“I won’t disappoint you.” Palepaw told her new mentor, chosen via convenience because there was only about a half-moon until she was required to train under her leader anyhow. Stormstar nodded, amber eyes turning away from her and back to the raging river in front of them, “How many fish do you want me to catch?”

“More than you can carry.” Stormstar said in return.

Palepaw jumped into the river and drowned.

She’s been this path before, seasons ago. Back then their last true leader lead Palewince and her siblings all the way to the Moonhole after Palewince’s insistent requests and ability to tell which cats would be the most likely to have mercy on a grief-stricken apprentice and pass the message onto to Stormstar.

Palewince pushes back her ears and bears the cold wind as it comes down the mountain. Her paws hurt just as much as they did when she was an apprentice—LaurelClan land was wet and soft, nothing like the dry grasses and hard pebbles under her feet.

Not many LaurelClan cats made this journey these days, for while they are one of the closest Clans to the Moonhole, it just was never highlighted. The only way Palewince learned of it was from a few BroadleafClan cats, proudly cawing like ravens about the experience. Palewince had wanted to take it not for the simple reason of becoming a warrior—she had wanted to know her destiny.

Clearly, she was greater than her siblings. She had been since birth. There had to be something waiting for her—and there was. An unknown cat had come down from the sky, stars laced in her pelt. The brightest star was the one on her back.

Laurelstar had told her that she was going to do great things for her Clan, that she must never let her head fall. They would be trials, but she would succeed in every last one of them.

Palewince lowers her head to brace herself against a particularly harsh wind. She ignores the pain that lingers in her body and pushes herself further forward. This is only another trial. And I will succeed.

Palepaw raised her head and breathes in the clear air. The scent of sickness that had lingered nearly her entire life had dissipated just a moon or two earlier and she had learned what it truly meant for the air to smell like home. It was like ferns and and clay and water and prey. It was like every cat she had ever known.

“I, Stormstar, leader of LaurelClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn.”

She sat taller.

“Palepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?”

“I do.” Is there any other choice?

“Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Palepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Palewince. StarClan honors your intelligence and skill, and we welcome you as a full warrior of LaurelClan.”

The entire Clan started calling out their names and Palewince basks in the attention while thinking to herself. Wisdom and skill. Were those the traits that stood out most for me? Though I guess that Lavenderswallow got honesty and energy which aren’t that positive. I mean, what does it mean if someone compliments you on being energetic?

Commitment doesn’t describe Deerspots at all, nor patience, but I guess Stormstar was trying to instill those in her instead of actually describing her.

…

Palewince glanced over at her only brother. She had noticed the brief look on his face when he was given his warrior name, but he doesn’t know why he even bothered to be annoyed at it. It fit him after all—giving him a different name would be a mistake. Cats like Rockstep and Graymoon and Scorchtree and Snowdance may complain but really, what else was Stormstar supposed to do? Give them LaurelClan names?

They weren’t LaurelClan cats, they were barely better than parasites. MountainClan didn’t want them, why should they?

Halfleg looked back at her, but Palewince had already moved onto the vicious she-cat glaring at her from the other side of camp. Floodburn didn’t even try to conceal her hatred. Palewince looked back and winked.

Resilience and dedication really are the only words to use for you, Halfleg—and really it’s only one word!

Palewince doesn’t know where to go, but does not admit it. Instead she prays and hopes that someone will show her the way.

“All cats who are old enough to catch their own prey, gather under the HighWillow for a Clan meeting!” Stormstar yowled just as she enters camp. Palewince flicked her tail, irritated. The border patrol that she had been leading separates. Flameback paused for a moment, aiming a long look at his former mentor.

Palewince shook her head. She had no clue what this is about—she had only spent two moons as Stormstar’s apprentice but had made an effort to stay around the leader and listen to her complaints. She wouldn’t be surprised if she was closer to their leader than Algaebrook was and he was one of her deputies.

If there was going to be a Clan meeting, then surely she would have been told ahead of time. Especially so since she would have missed it entirely if she spent any more time on the border patrol.

The clan collected slowly—it’s midday and many warriors were taking naps while apprentices worked on their duties. There is so little movement from the elder’s den that Palewince catches an apprentice’s eye and quickly jerked her head toward them in a sign that they need to be woken up.

“Hurry up.” Stormstar snapped, lashing her tail, “Or do I lead a lazy Clan?”

“Of course you don’t.” Palewince called out as she comes to the front of the crowd.

“I’d like to debate that idea.” Muttered her brother. Palewince quickly unsheathed a claw and pressed it into their remaining front paw. Halfleg winces but doesn’t cry out. He’s used to the tactics she used to keep him quiet. It’s for his own good really—a cat as lacking as he should know when to not cause trouble.

It takes a few minutes for the Clan to collect in numbers enough that Stormstar is satisfied with. Her eyes blazed gold. “After many many moons of being undermined and talked back to and given advice so horrendous that at times I’m not sure that I’m speaking to a cat or one of the Rotten, or even a wolf—but no longer! Algaebrook is no longer a member of LaurelClan—”

Immediately there’s noise. Loudest of all is Algaebrook, loudly protesting their sudden expellment.

What does she mean no longer a member?!

“Stormstar! Did you forget what it means to be loyal to your elders! I’m appalled!” The dark tabby yowled, using the same arguments that Palewince would overhear in front of the leader’s den, “I have served you for seasons—”

“Poorly.”

“And I have earned—”

“Nothing.”

“You—!”

“Get off of LaurelClan land.” Stormstar leaned down, leering at the former deputy—the former LaurelClan cat, “If you are seen here by the next sunrise, then you will be killed on sight. I don’t need weak cats like you.”

“Please! Please Stormstar!” Troutflash called out. Apparently the elder was fully awake now, awake enough to fall on her stomach in front of the HighWillow, “I beg of you. My mate will not survive alone.”

“I won’t—” Algaebrook started, indignant before Troutflash turns to him. It’s a quick look, accompanied by words that Palewince is just far enough to not hear but somehow it’s enough for Algaebrook to stop mid word. And after a few moments, he lowered himself as well, bowing in front of Stormstar.

The smile that she gave is one that only a leader can truly have—the look of a cat who has gotten everything they wanted and the last thing in their way has bowed its head and let them have their way with it. Palewince basked in its light.

She cackled, “Well if you’re going to bow and beg for forgiveness I guess that I can’t be too harsh on you, can I?” Stormstar stretched out her paw, rhythmically sheathing and unsheathing her claws, “But I can’t just let you get your old position back, can I?”

“The new deputy of LaurelClan has already been chosen!”

Algaebrook opened his mouth, Troutflash closes it with her tail. She looked up at Stormstar, expectant.

Of course it’s not going to be you. Palewince thought, mind flying, She hates Algaebrook, why would she ever chose his mate to replace him? No, Stormstar needs a cat that was under Algaebrook, someone related to him but not so closely kin as to be under his influence.

Adderstripe’s mother was from the same litter as Troutflash—and my family is under Algaebrook’s deputyship. She needs a cat who has already trained an apprentice! Deerspots and Lavenderswallow haven’t trained one yet and Halfleg has only been training Mistpaw for a moon!

There’s also Hollowbass and Goldenhaze, but there’s no way that Stormstar would chose HalfClan kits as a deputy!

So it must be me!

Stormstar turns and looked directly at her. Oh her eyes as so gold.

“Halfleg will be the new deputy of LaurelClan!”

W h a t?

Palewince looked at her brother, who is smugly looking back at her.

The winds are harsh, but she can be harsher.

“It’s your fault.” Palewince snapped, voice choked with grief, “It’s your fault our sister is dead!”

Rain had descended mid-way through the vigil, so Stormstar had cut it off early. He had slunk out of camp and Palewince had followed him, unwilling to let her thoughts go unheard. The rain has grown heavier but that doesn’t hide the furious look on Halfleg’s face when he looked back at his sister and snarls.

“Are you saying this because you’re sad she’s dead, or because you just want to piss me off?” Halfleg snarled at him, “It’s not my fault that she died. She should have known better than to try to take her own leg off. Her death has nothing to do with me.”

Palewince stares at her brother, cruel words ringing in her ears.

“She died trying to be like you.”

Halfleg stares at her, golden eyes slowly narrowing, “And that was her mistake. Not mine. Look at me,” Halfleg raises up their partially missing leg. It has long grown fur over the wound, but he can never regrow the limb.

It had, in a way, redefined Halfleg’s life.

In a way, it had changed nothing at all. He was still the crude, unrefined, headstrong cat that he had been as Poolkit. There was still nothing that phased him, no matter how much worse he made life for all the cats that were around him. Still, when Palewince told him all of this Halfleg would deflect and turn his back on her.

“I wish that you had tried to hack your leg off instead of Lavenderswallow.” Halfleg growled as he ungracefully slinks toward camp, “Leave me alone. I’m going to bed. It’s been a long night for every except you apparently.”

“It would have been better if you had died that day.” Palewince said truthfully. Halfleg stops.

“Well, isn’t it such a shame that I didn’t?” Halfleg lashed his tail, “But StarClan hath not stricken me down so I guess that I am acceptable enough.”

Palewince may be lost, but she was right when she was depending on someone to come and save her. She just didn’t expect it to be someone that she recognized. MountainClan cats rarely came to Gatherings, the only time they could be counted to come was when they had a change in leadership. It was moons ago that they last appeared, the same moon that their false leader had gotten Mistpaw as an apprentice and a few moons before Mistpaw’s death.

This cat, though? Well their appearance must be a sign.

“Palewince of LaurelClan, correct?” Says the former leader of MountainClan. Choruswhisper’s head barely comes up to her chin but there’s a clear air of command about them…though that might be the cat that stands beside them. Palewince doesn’t know their name, for she only learned the names of the deputy and the leader.

“Correct.” Palewince nods before shivering, “I need to speak to StarClan.”

The cat beside her sighs, “And I presume that you are unwilling to hear them through us?”

Palewince shakes her head, in part to say no and in part to get out the light whispering that seemed to surround her head.

The cat sighs again.

“Stonecall, don’t sigh like that.” Choruswhisper presses their head into the larger cat’s mane, “It’s not like we have much to do now. We can try and help her at least.”

The cool-faced Stonecall looks between them before whishing their tail against the thin layer of slow on the ground. Apparently that’s is a Okay I guess I’ll lead her with you because that very neutral expression was enough sigh for Choruswhisper to visibly brighten, curling their tail toward Palewince.

“Let’s go then. Just keep close to me.” Choruswhisper winks, “And if you hear whispers in your ears, ignore them! The dead had their chance, they get no do-overs!”

The expression (at least Palewince thinks it is an expression) is slightly worrying, but she is in no position to argue. Even without snowstorms, MountainClan territory is not one that she could survive on her own. Every cat that lived here needed to have so much fur that they were more fluff than cat—every unfortunate litter that had a short-haired cat was immediately cast down the mountain to warmer lands.

The words of StarClan are never to be ignored, but Palewince is not in a position to argue that. Definitely not after her long day of travel.

She bows her head and follow after them.

The ground is scraggly and hurts her paws, but she follows Choruswhisper’s footsteps the best she can. There’s no pools of water as far as the eye can see, but she knows that if there was one that it wouldn’t be like home. It would be freezing cold and drag her under in moments.

Not like this place isn’t already cold enough. Palewince thinks as the wind begins to blow full force.

Choruswhisper glances back at her. They aren’t even shivering.

“We’re going into the tunnels.” They say curtly. Stonecall throws them a quick look—Palewince knows that Choruswhisper stepped down after a disastrous cave-in—but Choruswhisper doesn’t meet their eye and instead changes direction. Palewince follows because she must, even though there is a second of hesitation as the former leader disappears into a tunnel.

“Do not be scared.” Choruswhisper tells her, voice bouncing against stone, “I will keep you safe.”

Palewince glances back at Stonecall, but the angry glare that she gets in return startles her. Apparently daring to question Choruswhisper is a sin to them.

I will be fine. StarClan led me here. I am here with the former leader of MountainClan and a cat named Stonecall. I am being called here. I will be safe.

The darkness swallows her up.

“Keep your nose on the tip of my tail.” Choruswhisker commands so Palewince does so, pressing her face into their fluffy tail, “I know that you’ve had a long journey. It’s not much farther.”

It definitely feels like that to Palewince. The cold has eased under the tunnels but the hard ground has not. Every step is painful, but she cannot stop. With every moment that passes an undeserving cat rules over LaurelClan for a moment longer.

LaurelClan is a young and honorable Clan. They cannot have someone bring them down.

“Is this it?” Palewince asks hoarsely as the tunnels begin to light up for something other than the glowing mushrooms that dotted the walls. The two MountainClan cats had been having idle discussions between each other which Palewince had kindly participated in for every moment that she could before she was just too exhausted.

“Yes.” Stonecall replies curtly.

“All your exhaustion will be gone by the next morning.” Choruswhisper tells her, “And we will stay by your side that you can leave safely the next morning.”

Palewince nods with responding, pushing past Choruswhisper to take the front of the back. The glow grows stronger for every step that she takes, until she’s in a small clearing so stunning that Palewince is irritatingly aware of just how much her body hurt.

She takes a step forward, paws on the blissfully soft grass.

And then she’s asleep and her dreams are full of stars.

She opens her eyes, blinking the stars out of her eyelashes and looks out at a camp that is hers but clearly is not. For one, the HighWillow is much larger and the leaves have turned an ethereal silver. The moss on the ground glitters with starlight.

There is Laurelstar, looking down at her.

Palewince starts to scramble to her feet.

“Be calm, child.” Laurelstar says, “I do not blame you for being on the ground. That is how all cats enter without a specific calling.”

“Let her get up.” Remarks another cat. As she gets up, Palewince looks along the branches of the HighWillow. Near the outside edge there is a pure black cat with golden eyes and two glowing stars. “She always surprises me. Let her continue to do so.” Stormstar says.

Palewince bows her head in respect.

“See?” Stormstar says.

“It does not matter if she surprises you or not.” Laurelstar snaps, “You surprised me but I wouldn’t call that a good thing.”

Stormstar gives Laurelstar a level stare but does not respond.

Laurelstar sighs, “As you know, my Palewince, it was a mistake to let Halfleg become leader. The bigger mistake was allowing him to become deputy in the first place, but that was not an error that myself or you made.”

“I still can’t believe you let that half-cat become your deputy.” A tortoiseshell tom remarks.

“I still can’t believe that StarClan sought fit to let three completely incapable deputies remain for as long as they did.” Stormstar replies calmly, “Don’t dare try to tell me that you would have let Algaebrook become Algaestar.” She shudders.

…They said that Halfstar was a mistake? So why are they now speaking as if the other two deputies do not exist?

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Laurelstar snaps back, “But could you have not chosen any other cat to replace that oaf as deputy? A good replacement is right here and has clearly wondered why she wasn’t chosen dozens of times herself.”

“I needed a cat who would truly show Algaebrook just how easy he was to replace? What does it say if you’re replaced by a cat that’s missing a leg and can barely hunt or fight?”

“You needed a cat who could be your successor. Why did you replace him moons ago?” Laurelstar snaps at Stormstar.

She shrugs, “I mean, I had two worse deputies. It was worth keeping him around. It’s not like he wasn’t qualified or anything like that.”

“Mistpaw died.”

“Mistpaw was alive at that point.” Stormstar placidly licks her paw, “And I didn’t expect much from him to begin with. I doubted that he could ever become a warrior.”

“Mistpaw was only partially deaf.” Another leader replies, “If he was fully deaf then that treatment I could understand.”

“Mistpaw was partially deaf and fully dull.” Stormstar replies, “If you had been watching as much as you talk back then you would have noticed that. Giving them to any other warrior would have been a disservice.”

“Quiet you two.” Laurelstar snaps, “Not in front of our guest who has traveled so far to hear from us. We only have her for the night, and even that can slip away from us so easily. What is it you came to ask from us, traveler?”

“I believe you already know.” Palewince says, head lowered in deference, “But I was going to ask you if Halfstar was really the righteous leader of LaurelClan? He has not earned the position.”

“Brightstar earned the position by being the best worst option.” Laurelstar replies dully, “And yes, I do honor that name. Like it our not, StarClan did willingly bestow on him all nine lives.”

Laurelstar sighs, “The situation was as thus that Lichentail and Whirlnose were both wildly incapable. Nevermind the amount of times they had gone behind their leader’s back or broken the code, both of them should have been put in the elder’s den seasons ago. Giving them nine lives is just begging for LaurelClan to fall.

“The issue came with Halfleg being chosen as deputy. There were many cats better suited to that position. However, considering current events…there is no doubt in my mind that you have been very badly insulted by not being chosen as deputy that day or any day after that.” Laurelstar glances back at Stormstar.

“If the great leader will allow me to interrupt,” Stormstar says, voice dripping with sarcasm. Laurelstar reveals her teeth but allows her to continue, “I have to agree with her. Making Halfleg deputy to spite Algaebrook was a mistake. While he didn’t make enough problems to make replacing him something I needed to do immediately, it’s clear that a cat like himself cannot be leader.

“You would have been the better choice. There is no mistake in my mind that you could have lead LaurelClan into an era perhaps as bright as mine.”

A cat scoffs.

“If you want to deal with Heronstar and Fawnstar, then be my fucking guest.” Stormstar snaps behind her, “...Although.”

“You’re having an awful thought.” Laurelstar says.

“It’s only awful if you’re looking at it the right way.” Stormstar says with a wink that goes by so fast that Palewince thinks that she imagined it, “After all…both Heronstar and Fawnstar are in our ranks despite what they did. Heronstar led a violent coup and Fawnstar killed his own father yet it’s not uncommon to see those three playing like kits together.”

Stormstar chuckles, “I mean…it is only right, right? This mistake must be fixed. And look who has delivered ourself right to our doorstep to fix it.”

Palewince is quick to calm their expression. She was already aware of the violent coup, it had happened midway through her apprenticeship. It is part of the reason why her first mentor perished, in battle against MarshClan when they tried to take advantage of their supposed weakness.

But Fawnstar killed her father? Fawnstar was killed barely two seasons ago but no one protested her leadership. If Palewince had been told this by another other than a StarClan cat, she wouldn’t have believed it. If Stormstar was alive then she simply would not have believed it. Palewince wasn’t aware of Fawnstar’s family line other than his disgraced siblings but…wasn’t there a deputy that disappeared under strange circumstances once? Or was it a medicine cat?

Even so, Fawnstar was made deputy after Asternewt stepped down, right? Did she kill the former deputy to threaten Asternewt into stepping down? That would make sense as to why Asternewt is still deputy now, despite her cowardice. She must feel like she has earned the position after all that she went through.

And then, playing like kits?

Palewince moves on from that thought quickly. It doesn’t interest her.

Then comes the final thing.

This mistake must be fixed.

A solution has delivered herself right to our doorstep to fix it.

“Are you telling me that I should become leader?”

One leader sighs an all-suffering sigh, “I thought you said that she was going to be surprising. Why is she questioning us?”

“She’s questioning us because asking if we want her to kill her brother nine times and become leader is too straight-forward.” Laurelstar says, looking down at her with slitted eyes. Palewince knows that her every reaction is being judged, even the ones she tries to suppress, “Which is smart of her. If we have misinterpreted her, then we would simply never let her leave our skies.”

…If?

“Congratulations, Palewince. Well, soon to be Palestar,” Stormstar crows, barely trying to suppress her laughter, “Now you get to fix the error that these ones have too little on their plate to try and forget.” She lies down on the branch, gesturing with her paw.

“I guess that the elegance and wisdom is learned with time…” A she-cat says, a bit closer to Laurelstar. Stormstar glares at her. She gets no look back.

“Ignoring them,” Laurelstar begins, “The choice for deputy to replace him is obvious. After that, simply kill Brightstar nine times over. Do not worry about consequences, StarClan has given you the blessing to go and do this. So go forth and put the leadership of LaurelClan in four good paws.”

Go and retrieve everything that is owed to you.

Laurelstar’s words still linger in her ears as she strolls into camp. After visiting the Moonhole she felt revitalized and the trip that took from sunhigh until late night only took from dawn to just before sunhigh. When she steps into camp, she keeps her head held high.

“Brightstar!” She calls out, strong voice ringing through camp. Most cats stop to turn and look at her, activities halt completely as she stalks up to the leader’s den and pokes her head inside.

Palewince barely misses the unsheathed paw that took a swipe at her muzzle and moves away to allow her sibling to get out of the den. He seems to have perfected a look between smug and irritated. He bares his teeth at her.

“What are you doing here? I thought that you had finally stopped being a thorn in my side.”

Palewince starts to respond but the second cat that comes out of the leader’s den speaks before she can, “I can make her stop.” Floodburn snarls, “Just give me the word.”

“I’m not going to let you kill my sister.” He says, exasperated.

Floodburn shrugs, “One of us has to be open to the idea.”

“So you let your mate threaten my life? What kind of leader are you?” Palewince snaps, looking between the two cats, “I am here after making a visit to the Moonhole to speak to StarClan myself. LaurelClan, listen to my words!”

Palewince crouches to pounce and climb up the HighWillow, but her brother shifts to stand in front of her. A clear sign that she would not be allowed up, even if she took a different approach. Palewince was confident that she could get around her brother, but Floodburn? Well she wasn’t going to risk her image to chance it.

“StarClan has made it known to me that Stormstar wishes to fix an error of hers! Lichentail and Whirlnose may have too much respect to admit it—” Ha! “—but both of them were chosen as incapable of becoming leader for reasons I will leave up to StarClan on their day of judgment.”

Palewince doesn’t look at either of the two deputies. She knows that they’re looking at her.

“Any cat who was deputy would have been chosen as leader over them, from the youngest kit to the eldest apprentice! It—”

“So you’re saying that Lichentail and Whirlnose have broken the warrior code?” A cat calls out. Palewince sends her strongest glare in their direction and lashes her tail. A few cats start to whisper and she slams her paw on the ground, a signal for silence.

“As I was saying, it was not because of his virtues or any of his attributes that Brightstar was made leader! I went to StarClan and Laurelstar herself told me that I should have been made deputy in Brightstar’s place!”

A gasp, shared by the entire Clan.

“But since I know patience, I have come back with StarClan’s blessing that I should become deputy to replace Brightstar after his ascension to leader.”

And then soon become leader after that~

“That is all.”

Palewince turns to her brother.

Brightstar looks back at her and then lurchingly climbs up the HighWillow. There are several points where he nearly falls and at one point Palewince swears he does.

“Cats of LaurelClan!” Brightstar calls out, “The new deputy of LaurelClan is Floodburn. That is all.” Brightstar leaps from the HighWillow and lands on his face. His body slams into the ground and all of his bones shatter. Then Palewince goes back to the Moonhole and is given her nine lives because there’s no way that StarClan would ever allow Floodburn to be made leader instead of her.

Brightstar leaves camp, Floodburn in tow. Palewince steps on their heels, hissing lowly.

“You can’t make your mate deputy! That’s against the rules!”

“Ah yes, those wonderful rules.” Brightstar says bitterly. A few cats follow them out of camp but seem to have the good sense to quickly disperse after the false leader and false deputy glare back at them and tell them to beat it. Palewince gracefully asks them to leave them alone, “Those wonderful rules that have served me so kindly.”

“Have you forgotten the code?” Palewince snaps.

“Has the code forgotten me?” Brightstar snarls in return, “The code that has been so kind to abandon me ever since my accident as an apprentice? But I guess you don’t care about that, you’ve hated me since far before that, haven’t you?”

Brightstar’s fur is spiking, rage deep in her eyes, “Not once since I lost my leg have I been treated as a worthy member of this Clan, much less a cat deserving of respect. No, every one looks at me like I’m going to fail, like it was a mistake that I was allowed to make it this far, like it would have been better if I died that day!

“But I didn’t! I didn’t die and so if my survival is every one else’s problem then so be it. I don’t care how many cats my existence hurts—I am not going to apologize for the crime of being alive!” Brightstar’s chest heaves and this all is a horrible show of emotions but he doesn’t even try to compose himself as he continues.

“There’s not a doubt in my mind that you did actually go to the Moonhole. And that you did actually speak to Laurelstar and Stormstar. And that they did actually agree that you should have been made leader instead of me. But you know what, Palewince? I don’t care what they have to say? They’re dead and gone!

“And I might be their mistake, but I am their living mistake. A mistake that will live and die and continue on.”

Brightstar turns away from her, smacking Palewince in the face with her tail.

“Oh, and also I’m never going to make you deputy. First off because Laurelstar and Stormstar can swallow rocks and toss themselves in a river, secondly because there’s no doubt in my mind that you would try and take my life to become leader. Didn’t you just reveal to the entire Clan that not only was I an unfit leader, the other two are so incompetent that whoever the third deputy would be would confirm that they become leader.”

Brightstar smirks at her, “And well, it’s not like I don’t trust you not to kill me or anything like that. Or am I wrong to?

“Don’t bother to answer.” Brightstar says before he stumbles his way back to camp. His camp. The camp of his Clan.

Palewince lowers her eyes and doesn’t see red. Instead she simply turns away to hunt. If she wasn’t going to be able to succeed Brightstar the normal way, well, then she would just have to build up favor within the Clan.

“What in StarClan’s name are you three doing?” Palewince snaps at her Clanmates who she’s been following since sunset. Streambreak and Ripplepaw apparently believed that they were just fine to stroll out of camp with Hollymask, one of the loudest cats in the Clan. It was truly a disgrace that more cats didn’t notice their loud escape.

The three of them jump. Hollymask yowls. Palewince cuffs her over the head for daring to be so loud. She lost them for a short while but picked up their trail going into MarshClan territory. What in StarClan compelled them to not only be in MarshClan territory but also scream?

Palewince should have these three severely punished once she dragged them back to camp. In fact, she should have the ringleader exiled for such a dangerous exercise. While not being a deputy, she had nearly as much power as one. Just because Brightstar never let her sit beneath her at Gatherings didn’t mean that she didn’t hold enough power to.

“Well?” Palewince snaps, looking between the three young cats.

“We don’t have to explain ourselves to you! You aren’t a deputy!” Ripplepaw pipes up to say.

Palewince lashes him across the face, claws out. Ripplepaw recoils, releasing a quiet yowl of pain as blood flows down his face, getting stuck in his fur. She was careful to avoid soft spots. He would be fine. She may be getting on in years but that didn’t mean that she was incapable.

“We’re going home.” She snaps and quickly leads them all home. Ripplepaw, who was currently training under Brightstar, is made an apprentice for three more moons and Hollymask was put on apprentice duty for as long as possible. Streambreak, the one who had put the idea in their heads that they should go to BroadleafClan in the middle of the night. Probably whatever thing that rouge and Vaststar were getting up to but it wasn’t in Palewince to care.

All she had to do was keep on working hard, just as she had her entire life.

She slumps to the ground in a pool of warm blood, BroadleafClan scent filling her nostrils. With every breath she takes, more of her blood colors the ground. She cannot deny this reality.

Palewince tries to look at the cat who attacked her. Hollymask looks horrified. Then her vision is taken from her in a flash of red that makes her yowl out with pain.

What…wasn’t I supposed to become leader? I have a great destiny! A destiny for things greater than this! I can’t—I can’t die here!

And then—claws to her chest.

#warrior cats #allseeing eyes close #warriors oc #warrior cats oc #kitty talking #palewince #brightstar #stormstar #laurelstar

1 note · View note