#Estherfern
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RippleClan: Moon 74
Rattlepelt starts weaving lavender through her fox pelt to mark her changed self since her possession. Splashtuft cuts his leg on ocean debris and develops a scar.
[Image ID: Rattlepelt now has a sprig of lavender by her ear. Under her, it reads + ACCESSORY: LAVENDER, - CONDITION: BITE WOUND. Splashtuft now has a small scar on his left hind leg.]
(Rattlepelt: 57, female, artisan, thoughtful, leather artist)
(Splashtuft: 22, male, historian, adventurous, fast runner, student of art)
(Moon 74, Part 2)
Estherfernâs kits become apprentices.
[Image ID: Estherfernâs five kits now have apprentice sprites. Under Thunderpaw, it says LEVEL UP! THUNDERKIT â THUNDERPAW, BULLYING â ADVENTUROUS. Under Boughpaw, it says LEVEL UP! BOUGHKIT â BOUGHPAW, QUIET â RIGHTEOUS. Under Brightpaw, it says LEVEL UP! BRIGHTKIT â BRIGHTPAW, SKY â LONESOME, + PERMANENT CONDITION: SOCIAL ANXIETY. Under Foampaw, it says LEVEL UP! FOAMKIT â FOAMPAW, UNRULY â TROUBLESOME. Under Wolverinepaw, it says LEVEL UP! WOLVERINEKIT â WOLVERINEPAW, SKITTISH â COMPASSIONATE.]
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âLet me be the first to say that you five have a hard apprenticeship ahead of you,â Downstar declared over the camp as Estherfern sat behind her kits. All five sat as groomed as Estherfern could get them, trying to remember their motherâs lessons on decorum. Brightkit shook harder than anyone else, ears threatening to tilt down. Wolverinekit and Foamkitâs tails poked at the other, unable to keep their excitement hidden. Thunderkit sat just a bit closer to the Shiprock while Boughkit remained the only one still and politely attentive, as Estherfern taught her to be. The rest of RippleClan listened with similar captured attention to their leader.
âOn top of some of the personal struggles you face,â Downstar continued, âIâm afraid you wonât have the same freedoms most of your Clanmates had at your age. We canât risk you being caught unawares by the spirit that claimed our beloved deputy.â Estherfern would make sure of that. She had already performed a ritual over the apprenticeâs den with Honeybuzz and Weevilpaw, guarding the incoming apprentices from harm.
âDespite that,â Downstar said, âRippleClan will ensure you are ready for the challenges ahead. The five of you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. Thunderkit, from this day forward until you receive your full name, you shall be known as Thunderpaw. You have expressed interest in the path of a caretaker, and I have chosen Drumtooth as your mentor.â The newly named Thunderpaw jumped up, scanning the crowd behind her mother for her new mentor. Drumtooth slipped around Estherfern and the other kits. Thunderpaw was almost Drumtoothâs size, making it easy for her to touch his nose. Her whole pelt shivered with excitement.Â
âIn order to give you the best pawhold on your future,â Downstar added as Drumtooth and Thunderpaw returned their gaze to her, âTroutpool and Paleseed have arranged for you to receive some lessons in Clan-sign from Mummichogleap, a deaf warrior of SlugClan. Iâve already informed Drumtooth of this arrangement and with his help, you shall become an excellent caretaker.â
âIâll try, Downstar,â Drumtooth promised with a deep nod.
âMe too,â Thunderpaw chirped.
Clan-sign? Estherfern had never heard of any lesson plans. She was Thunderpawâs mother, why hadnât she been informed? She found Troutpool to the side of the crowd, seated with Tallowpaw and Slushpaw. Troutpoolâs focus was on Thunderpaw as she and Drumtooth moved aside for the next kit of the litter to earn their name. Why would Troutpool agree to these lessons? How much time would this Clan-sign take away from Thunderpawâs important lessons? Why did she have to learn such a trick when she should use that time to hone her survival skills? If they had to talk to someone outside the Clan for these lessons, obviously no one in RippleClan knew Clan-sign. What would be the point of learning something no one else understood?
Estherfern got so caught up in herself, she nearly missed when Boughkit stepped forward and Downstar delivered her new name.
âFrom this moment on,â Downstar declared, âuntil you receive your full name, you shall be known as Boughpaw. You have chosen a historianâs path, and I have chosen Oilstripe as your mentor.â
âYou did?â Oilstripe muttered so quietly Estherfern barely heard her. She crept out of the crowd, focus shifting between Boughpaw and Downstar.
âWeedfoot taught you well, Oilstripe,â Downstar sighed with a slow nod. âI want you to continue following in her pawsteps by training a new apprentice.â Oilstripe held her breath at the mention of the former deputy. She sighed, bowing softly with a quiet purr. She softly touched noses with Boughpaw and escorted her to the side.
âBrightkit,â Downstar called. Brightkit didnât move at first, eyes locked on Downstar, paws stuck in the sand. Foamkit head-butted him from behind, making him skitter forward. He fought to his paws, staring up in awe at his leader. âFrom this day forward until you receive your full name, you shall be known as Brightpaw. In order to craft you into the best warrior you can be, Trumpetspore shall be your mentor. Her wisdom and skill shall guide you down the path youâre destined to follow.â Estherfern hid her disappointment when Trumpetspore came up. The black molly was too awkward for Estherfernâs tastes. Brightpaw needed a mentor with strength and confidence to supply him with what he lacked. Estherfern bit her tongue as Trumpetspore and Brightpaw touched noses.
âFoamkit,â Downstar said, but the ticked molly was up and ready before her name was even called. âFrom this moment on, until you receive your full name, you shall be known as Foampaw. You have decided to be a caretaker like your sister, so I have chosen Mosspounce as your mentor. Donât get into too much trouble, now.â A chuckle rose through the Clan as Mosspounce bounded to his new apprentice. The pair smacked into one anotherâs faces in their eagerness to touch noses. Now if only Foampaw was a warrior and Brightpaw was a caretaker. Their mentors would have been good influences then.Â
âNow Wolverinekit,â Downstar sighed, focusing on the youngest and fluffiest of the litter. âYou have yet to tell me what path your paws wish to follow. As such, I will place you as a warrior apprentice, and you may change this path if you feel called to do so at any time. Do you understand?â
âYes, Downstar,â Wolverinekit said. Estherfern tensed. Why was her confident, curious daughter unsure what to train as? It was her vision, Estherfern was sure of it. She felt insecure in her skills, she had to. How could she not? There had to be a way to cure her vision, no matter what anyone else said. Estherfern would find that cure.
âThen from this moment on, until you receive your warrior name,â Downstar declared, âyou shall be known as Wolverinepaw. Leathermask shall be your mentor.â The Clan began to cheer before Leathermask even got close to Wolverinepaw.
âThunderpaw! Boughpaw! Brightpaw! Foampaw! Wolverinepaw!â What a long chant! It seemed undignified for a priestess to raise her voice like everyone else. Still, her children deserved the honor. Estherfern yowled along with her Clanmates as her five kits beamed in the praise.Â
âCan we all train together?â Thunderpaw asked, gently pawing Drumtoothâs shoulder. âCan we go see Battle Beach?â Wolverinepaw and Foampawâs eyes glinted at the idea.Â
âMaybe we should get you all settled in the apprenticeâs den first,â Oilstripe suggested. âItâs almost sunhigh. We might as well make sure you all have a place to sleep, considering how little room there is in there.â
âIâm making my nest next to Vervainpaw!â Foampaw yowled. She charged across camp, ignoring Estherfern entirely.
âI already said Iâm sleeping next to her!â Wolverinepaw huffed, running after her sister. The other cats trailed after the excited mollies, accepting the congratulations of their Clanmates as they passed. However, only four apprentices headed for the apprenticeâs den. Brightpaw whispered something in Trumpetsporeâs ear. Trumpetspore listened intently and nodded. Brightpaw scurried off toward the warriorâs den. Now what was so important that Brightpaw would run away as soon as his ceremony was over?
Estherfern trailed through the dissipating crowds after her only son. Brightpaw paused at the edge of the den, looking in and out. Estherfern paused outside the artisanâs supply den, pretending to nibble an itch on her paw. Spikecrash padded to the warriorâs den with a big yawn. From the corner of her eye, Estherfern saw Brightpaw paw at Spikecrash before she could enter. She turned her ear to the conversation.
âThat was horrible,â Brightpaw gulped. âI thought you said the ceremony wouldnât be bad!â
âIt wasnât, I promise,â Spikecrash insisted, tail to Brightpawâs shoulder. âDo you remember what I told you?â
âMy heart makes me more scared than I need to be around others,â Brightpaw muttered, head sinking, âbut I need to trust my heart too, donât I?â
âSocial anxiety can be a deceitful disorder of the mind, Brightpaw,â Spikecrash said. âWhen it comes to these moments, your heart wants to run away, but just remember, you donât have to. Whatever you may think, itâs not what everyone else thinks. Try to remember that the next time you have to talk to a lot of cats.âÂ
Social anxiety? Now what was that? Estherfern had never heard of a disorder of the mind before. She knew mediators dealt with those sorts of issues, but she had dismissed them as simple emotional problems. Was Brightpaw sick? How long had he been talking to Spikecrash? Why had he not told Estherfern what was wrong? Another kit of hers, sick, set apart from the Clan, placed at disadvantageâŚ
Estherfern would not stand for this.
(Downstar: 133, female, leader, wise, trusted advisor, very clever)
(Estherfern: 108, female, cleric, bloodthirsty, great mediator, prophecy seeker)
(Brightpaw: 6, male, warrior apprentice, lonesome, lover of art)
(Wolverinepaw: 6, female, warrior apprentice, compassionate, always asking questions)
(Foampaw: 6, female, caretaker apprentice, troublesome, always wandering)
(Thunderpaw: 6, female, caretaker apprentice, adventurous, moss-ball hunter)
(Boughpaw: 6, female, historian apprentice, righteous, constantly climbing)
(Drumtooth: 22, trans male, caretaker, loyal, great hunter, clever)
(Oilstripe: 78, female, deputy, charismatic, ghost speaker)
(Trumpetspore: 35, female, warrior, nervous, excellent potter, good storyteller)
(Mosspounce: 35, male, caretaker, adventurous, talented fire-starter)
(Leathermask: 22, male, warrior, nervous, good fighter, eloquent speaker)
(Spikecrash: 49, female, mediator, wise, good speaker, lore keeper)
Stormkit is worried about Lightningkit, who whimpers in her sleep.
[Image ID: Stormkit approaches Lightningkit, asking "Lightningkit?"]
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The nursery was so different from the one Stormkit saw in her earliest memories. That nursery had been so packed with kits and queens, there was barely any room to move come nightfall! But now, with Estherfernâs litter in the now stuffed apprenticeâs den, only two nests remained. Stormkit was getting too big to sleep with her father and littermates in the same nest, but she stayed close to the warmth of Waspdawnâs chest regardless, at peace with the weight of his chin on her back.
She wasnât sure what woke her up at first. Her droopy eyes took a while to adjust to the dark and empty den. Sandkit and Yellowkit were thrown on top of each other, lost in their dreams. Waspdawn breathed slowly, his escaping breath tickling Stormkitâs fur. Their nest was a dark golden blur in the deep shadow. Puddlewhisper slept in the back of the den with Lightningkit and Cobaltkit. She, her siblings, and James took turns sleeping with Lightningkit and Cobaltkit in the nursery ever since Weedfoot left camp and returned as still and limp as Littlekit had once been. Whatever woke Stormkit, the noise came from the back of the den.
Stormkit pulled herself out from under Waspdawnâs chin. His head plunked into the nest. Stormkit froze, waiting for Waspdawn to wake up, but he remained asleep, breath now fiddling with the loose moss at the nestâs edge. Stormkit crawled out of the nest and peered deeper into the nursery. A tiny whimper caught her ear.Â
âLightningkit?â Stormkit whispered. Deep blue eyes burst to life at Puddlewhisperâs side. Really, did neither adult hear her denmateâs cries?Â
âHuh?â Lightningkit gulped with a crack in her voice. âStormkit?â
âWere you crying?â Stormkit asked. She snuck closer to the long-furred kit. Cobaltkit and Puddlewhisper were still deeply asleep, but Lightningkit, tucked by Puddlewhisperâs leg, blinked sleep from her eyes.
âWas I?â Lightningkit mumbled. âSorry.â She rubbed her face in her nest.
âAre you alright?â Stormkit asked. She sat at the edge of the nest, studying her kinâs dark face.
âMaybe,â Lightningkit said. âI⌠think I was dreaming about my mom.â Her voice quivered and her whiskers shivered. âI thought Puddlewhisper was her for a moment. I really wish she was here.â Stormkit licked Lightningkitâs shoulder. She gently nuzzled the red molly.
âI wish I could bring her back for you,â Stormkit mumbled.Â
âItâs too quiet in here,â Lightningkit gulped, no longer able to keep her sorrow from her words. She pressed into Stormkit with another whimper.
âPuddlewhisper and my dad wonât be too mad if we walk around camp,â Stormkit suggested, pulling her face out of the mess of Lightningkitâs long fur. âLetâs walk around.â She gently nipped Lightningkitâs paw, pulling her out of the nest. Lightningkit swallowed hard. She crawled away from Cobaltkit and Puddlewhisper. Stormkit leaned against Lightningkit, nudging her onwards. The two crept out of the dark nursery and into the camp clearing, dimly lit by a small fire.
It wouldnât fill the nursery again, or the gaps in either mollyâs lives, but it would help a bit. It was the best two kits could do for one another.
(Stormkit: 5, female, kit, know-it-all, loves to eat)
(Waspdawn: 40, male, codekeeper, strict, learner of lore, clue finder)
(Lightningkit: 4, female, kit, self-conscious, always wandering)
Anchovypaw gets lost on patrol.
[Image ID: Anchovypaw is lost.]
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Anchovypaw was not lost. He just wasnât sure which part of the forest he was in. When youâre focused on the hunt, the trees all start to look the same! It wasnât Anchovypawâs fault. He was trying to feed his Clan! Still, the smell of autumn consumed his path from Halibutdusk and the rest of the hunting patrol. All he could smell were sharp orange leaves and the two dead mice in his jaws.
Anchovypaw set the mice at his paws and called, âHalibutdusk? Splashtuft? Billowpaw?â All he received in return was a flutter of leaves dancing overhead. One landed on top of his head. He chuckled and batted the leaf off. Alright then! If he couldnât call out to his patrol, he would just go home. The camp was by the ocean; if Anchovypaw kept walking east, he would eventually hit the beach and would find his way back to camp in no time at all. Besides, being alone meantâŚ
Anchovypaw pounced on a fat oak leaf. The crunch sent glee pounding through his pelt. He purred and wiggled his flank, no longer caring about the proper hunterâs crouch. He pounced on a pile of leaves blown into the crook of a thick trunk. He purred harder with each crack and crinkle. He rolled in the leaves, closing his eyes and enjoying the dappled light creating strange shadows on his eyelids.
Anchovypaw rested his head on the leaves and stared out at the mix of green, orange, and red that was the forest of RippleClan. Autumn was by far the best season to wash over the territories. Maybe he could convince Weevilpaw and Wolfpaw to sneak out and jump in the leaves. Except⌠no. It wasnât safe to be out alone. No one else had been able to see the ichor covering Downstar as Rapidleaf carried her into camp, mixing with her blood. Not everyone understood what it meant for such danger to stain the walls of camp. Too many remembered the Shardlingâs wild yellow eyes tearing into the nursery.
Anchovypaw hurried to his feet, the leaves scattering around him. Halibutdusk was likely getting nervous. No matter how much Anchovypaw wanted to enjoy the beautiful, cool day, he had to get home, for everyoneâs sake. Yet as he reached for his mice, something black caught his eye. It had been hidden underneath the leaves at first, but now it absorbed the dappled light in the shape of a blurred paw print. The paw print was made of ichor.
Anchovypaw cleared away the leaves. He slapped and smacked them to the side, using his tail to clear as many as he could. He found three more ichor-stained paw prints under the leaves. They pointed toward the unseen ocean, but were thicker going the other way. The first paw print Anchovypaw found was the farthest along the strangerâs path, with only the slightest stain of ichor telling Anchovypaw what had happened. There was no way to know just where they were going, if they were heading for camp or somewhere else⌠but Anchovypaw could figure out where the paw prints came from. He had to. For his friends. For his siblings. For Robinkit and his mother.
Picking his mice back up, Anchovypaw traced the paw prints through the leaves and litter. He slowly followed the trail backwards, brushing aside leaves as he went. The trail looped around pines and firs, as though enjoying a humble stroll. But nothing that left paw prints like these could be considered humble.
The ichor pooled at the edge of a dark den dug under the weak roots of a thin tree. Anchovypaw took a deep breath, but could not smell anyone inside the den. All he smelled were herbs. Creeping around the thick paw prints, Anchovypaw peered inside the den.
A mushroom circle filled the interior of the den. Anchovypaw might have thought it natural at first glance, but each mushroom had been plucked, dried, and carefully placed within the den. A strange green poultice filled the holes in between the mushrooms. Anchovypaw couldnât tell what herbs were used, but it reminded him of chats with Weevilpaw in the medicine den. The black ichor dripped out of the heart of the circle and into the dip near the denâs entrance. Someone made this strange circle, but who? Whoever left the ichor behind, Anchovypaw was the only one who could get rid of it. He would show the clerics, Weevilpaw, and Wolfpaw the den, but first, he had to handle the threat. This time, heâd be the one to defeat it. It was his gift to bring the things to life. It was his responsibility.
Anchovypaw set his mice aside and peered at the puddle of ichor. He could already taste it. It hadnât been too long since the Shardling stampeded through the nursery, but in that moment, Anchovypaw felt both five moons and five hundred moons old, the tragedy both a day and a thousand days in the past. Anchovypaw dipped his muzzle into the ichor pool and grabbed hold.Â
The ichor pulled from the pool like flesh ripped from prey. This time around, Anchovypaw could keep his feet firmly planted as the supernatural goop dragged itself out of the circle, collecting in Anchovypawâs jaws. He braced himself as the Dark Forest energy manifested in his grasp. It was the size of an apprentice, only slightly smaller than himself. But the size didnât matter. Anchovypaw would deal with it.
As the manifestation opened its red eyes, forming feline ears and a sharp, swishing tail, Anchovypaw threw it to the grass. The beast was only prey to him; dangerous prey that had to be snuffed out like a dying fire. Anchovypaw dug his teeth into the spiritâs throat. It screeched and gurgled like bubbling mud. Anchovypaw stood on its flank and pushed down, biting harder and harder. The creature clawed at Anchovypawâs pelt, taking out chunks of brown and white fur. Anchovypaw dug his claws in in return. The ichor pooled between his pads.Â
Anchovypaw didnât let go until the creature dissolved into nothing but dripping goop, leaking like salt water from the apprenticeâs bared jaws. All that remained was a small pile of ichor, sloshing like wet clay. Anchovypaw sat beside it, panting and gagging on the taste. StarClan, he hated that part. Whatever energy remained over the strange den, it was gone.Â
But how did it get there in the first place?
(Anchovypaw: 9, male, warrior apprentice, playful, curious about StarClan)
Estherfern senses a presence on patrol.
[Image ID:Â Estherfern sees the ghost of Harvest. Under Estherfern, it says + GUIDANCE FROM STARCLAN: BEWARE (PROPHECY).]
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Estherfern rarely got moments alone when she lived with the cat-minded human. That den had been so packed and chaotic, she considered anything that didnât hurt to be a blessing. But when she did get time to herself, when she could quiet her mind, the realms of the spiritual opened to her. Thatâs what made her so good at connecting with the afterlife of the Clans, how she won the admiration of the other clerics despite her disdain for medicine, how she found security. She was good at it.
So why were her prayers unanswered now?
âThis should fix it,â Estherfern grumbled as she rubbed the earthy poultice in the gaps of the mushroom circle. The poultice had dried up the last time Estherfern visited her private den; that was likely why she was met with silence on her last visit. Either that, or her offering had been unsuited for her guest. A little trial and error was to be expected; there was only so much she could ask Terracottafoot about these summoning rituals without raising the odd clericâs suspicion. The rest of it was pieced together from Troutpool and Honeybuzzâs lessons on channeling StarClan spirits (a ritual Estherfern hoped to see in practice sooner rather than later).
Estherfern rubbed the last of the fresh poultice into the dirt and licked her paw clean. She stepped out of the den and grabbed her new offering; a tuft of Lightningkitâs fur, plucked from her nest while the kit played with her sister. Sure, Estherfernâs earlier attempts had been partial successes, but she had yet to have a full conversation. She had only managed to recreate a pool of that strange ichor that peeled off Rattlepeltâs skin moons ago, but that splashed and rolled deep into the forest before she could do anymore. Perhaps Estherfern shouldnât have focused on stories of a long-dead cleric, but heeded one of Oilstripeâs stories; a tale of a father who would do anything for his kits. Perhaps this approach, with this offering and Estherfernâs earnesty, would prove successful.
âI call upon the spirit of Hawthornstealer,â Estherfern said as she placed the offering inside the circle, âbanished from StarClan for his disastrous pursuit of his offspringâs legacy. Despite your sins, your assistance is required. Return to the Clans, if only for a moment. Speak to us.â Estherfern sat at the edge of the circle and closed her eyes. The summer sun beat onto her spiky pelt and lulled her mind. She kept her ears pricked, waiting for the sound of bubbling mud.
âEstherfern!â The brown cleric jumped, her head smacking into the ceiling of her makeshift den. She turned, slightly dazed. The sun crowned a brown and white figure outside the den. Glowing white eyes glared through Estherfern. Starlight sparkled and shifted across the figureâs pelt. Estherfern had not known her for long, but she couldnât forget Harvest and the fury which she fought for her kits. A fury that was now turned to Estherfern.
âBeware, Estherfern!â Harvest yowled. Unfelt wind buffeted her pelt. Estherfernâs spine curled. âThe spread of spores produces nothing but decay! They grow not in light, but darkness! A path without sight, without sound, heart pushing out of your chest, is a blessing compared to the fate that awaits the rot!â
And with that, she disappeared. The wind stirred Estherfernâs heart in the dead queenâs absence.
(Estherfern: 108, female, cleric, bloodthirsty, great mediator, prophecy seeker)
(Harvest: 58, female, queen, nervous, good fighter)
#clangen#warrior cats#rippleclan#warriors#rippleclan story#rattlepelt#thunderkit#thunderpaw#boughkit#boughpaw#brightkit#brightpaw#foamkit#foampaw#wolverinekit#wolverinepaw#estherfern#drumtooth#oilstripe#trumpetspore#mosspounce#leathermask#spikecrash#anchovypaw#waspdawn#stormkit#lightningkit#harvest#splashtuft
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I love how spiky the Esther family is.
If you told me James found a newborn kit and snuck it into Weedfootâs nest, I would believe you- AND THEIR NAME IS COBALT- I know thatâs a metal but isnât that also like- blue?
Guys is James colorblind?
#clangen#rippleclan art#warrior cats#rippleclan#warriors#unfortunatereader#Waspdawn#Weedfoot#James#Estherfern#Stormkit#Yellowkit#Littlekit#Sandkit#Foamkit#Wolverinekit#Thunderkit#Boughkit#Brightkit#Lightningkit#Cobaltkit
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RippleClan: Moon 75
Yellowpaw, Sandpaw, and Stormpaw are apprenticed to Asterblaze, Spikecrash, and Clammask.
[Image ID: Yellowpaw, Sandpaw, and Stormpaw are apprentices. Sandpaw says, "Do you think Thunderpaw is impressed?" Under Yellowpaw, it says LEVEL UP! YELLOWKIT â YELLOWPAW, NOISY â COLD. Under Sandpaw, it says LEVEL UP! SANDKIT â SANDPAW, SELF-CONSCIOUS â LOYAL. Under Stormpaw, it says LEVEL UP! STORMKIT â STORMPAW, KNOW-IT-ALL â CHARISMATIC.]
(Yellowpaw: 6, female, caretaker apprentice, cold, quick to make peace)
(Sandpaw: 6, male, mediator apprentice, loyal, interested in Clan history)
(Stormpaw: 6, female, caretaker apprentice, charismatic, loves to eat)
Honeybuzz helps the three star-blessed apprentices.
[Image ID: Honeybuzz, Weevilpaw, Wolfpaw, and Anchovypaw watch Estherfern talk with a Dark Forest spirit. Under Honeybuzz, it says + NEW SKILL: GOOD TEACHER.]
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Honeybuzz cupped his paw around one of the many plucked mushrooms that formed the unholy circle. He sniffed at the herbal mixture that sealed the pickings together. A few strands of black and red fur clung to the wet earth that lined the edges of the muddy den. The constant rain of the last four days made the ground slick and sent water dripping from the root-lined ceiling. Anchovypaw, Wolfpaw, and Weevilpaw stood outside the den, heads close together as they peered inside. The rain glued their pelts to their skin.
âAnd youâve known about this for how long, Anchovypaw?â Honeybuzz asked. He absently batted at his wooden necklace, the freshly plucked cicada wing glistening with raindrops. He pointedly sat outside of the circle, mud sinking into his thin fur.
âOnly a few days,â Anchovypaw admitted. âI didnât want to say anything until I could come back here, but thereâs even more ichor here than there was when I first found the den.â
âYou should have told us sooner,â Weevilpaw huffed with a glare so sharp that, had she had her sisterâs ability, Anchovypaw would have frozen stiff.
âI wasnât going to scare anyone if I didnât have to!â Anchovypaw huffed. A sharp flick of his tail sent a stream of water flying over Weevilpaw and Wolfpawâs backs. âIt could have just been where the beast that killed Weedfoot went to die. I only waited a few days! It took me that long to get away from Halibutdusk!â
âYou didnât do anything wrong,â Honeybuzz promised. He squeezed around the apprentices, squinting as the rain splashed his eyes.
âNow we know someone else has been here,â Wolfpaw pointed out.Â
âWhat is it, Honeybuzz?â Weevilpaw asked. She moved further into the den, eyes locked on the circle.
âYou remember my lessons on channeling StarClan?â Honeybuzz said, shivering. âIt exhausts power StarClan wasnât planning to use, but the immediate and physical communication can justify an absence of subtle signs and assistance.â
âBut we donât use mushrooms,â Weevilpaw said. She poked at a mushroom, making it roll out of its spot. âWe form a circle of cats, not plants.â
âBut do you remember when you met Terracottafoot?â Honeybuzz sighed. âI asked them to tell you about last Harvest Moon, and some of their knowledge of the Dark Forest. Newtstream, their mentor, taught them about channeling Dark Forest spirits using a circle of mushrooms.â
âSomeoneâs summoning Spirits of Shadow,â Wolfpaw gulped.
âWho would be that mouse-brained?â Anchovypaw growled. His claws left gouges in the mud. âWe all remember the Shardling. Who would want to bring something like that back?â Anchovypaw looked like he was going to be sick. Wolfpaw rubbed against Anchovypawâs side. âYou were right, Weevilpaw. I should have destroyed this den as soon as I found it.â
âThen they would have made another one,â Honeybuzz pointed out. âNo, we need to find a trusted warrior to watch this den. They can wait until the culprit visits again. Waspdawn or Puddlewhisper would do well. I trust them.â Weevilpawâs soaked fur prickled. Her eyes widened, locked on something Honeybuzz couldnât see. Her mouth dropped slightly, breath catching.Â
âOut, out!â Weevilpaw hissed, lunging past Wolfpaw. She scrambled into a thick bush, still bursting with summer life. Wolfpaw and Anchovypaw were instantly at her side, following her into the shadows. Honeybuzz stumbled in after them, sharp branches poking his ribs.
âWho did you see?â Anchovypaw whispered just as the shrubbery on the other side of the dark den shifted. Bicolored eyes glimmered through the mid-morning haze.
âEstherfern?â Honeybuzz gasped as the older cleric stepped into full view. Estherfern carried a ball of fur in her jaws, the same red and black colors Honeybuzz found in the strange den. Her fur on her cheeks drooped like heavy leaves. She strolled into the shadows, ignorant to her spies.
âThe Shardling almost killed her kits,â Anchovypaw growled, his rage making the leaves shake. âWhy would she deal with the Dark Forest?â
âKeep listening,â Wolfpaw whispered. âWe might find out.â Estherfern placed the furballs in the center of the circle. Her cool gaze settled on Weevilpawâs disturbed mushroom. Honeybuzz grit his teeth. Estherfern carefully nudged the mushroom back into its original position. She sat in the denâs entrance, back to Honeybuzz and the apprentices.
Estherfern declared, âI call upon the spirit of Hawthornstealer, banished from StarClan for murder in the name of his kits. Despite your sins, your assistance is required. Return to the Clans, if only for a moment. Speak to us.â
âDo you see that?â Anchovypaw whispered, pressing into Weevilpaw. âDo you see that?â Honeybuzz squinted. The circle was still. Suddenly, Weevilpaw gasped. She bit into her paw to muffle her shock. Honeybuzz braced his heart for whatever the star-blessed apprentices saw.
It began as a shift in the mud, like water in a pot at the first stages of boiling. The ground around the fur offering darkened. Black sludge bubbled out of the mud and lapped up the fur balls like medicine. The sound of its formation reminded Honeybuzz of paws trapped in thick gunk, pulling out of the mess with a sucking slurp. It leaked from under the mushrooms and collected in the circleâs center. The ichor pulled itself upward like drops of water falling from the ceiling, perverting the pull of the earth. A subtle red glow illuminated the den.
âItâs finally working,â Estherfern gasped as the ichor took shape. It lifted itself high like a cat arching their back. It clung to the ground at four points that slowly took on the details of paws. A claw-like tail sprouted from its back. The ichor bubbled and bulged into a muzzle. Two glowing red eyes erupted from the spiritâs face. StarClan help them all.
âSo you are Estherfern,â the spirit said. Its voice was as sticky as the mud from which it was born, dissolving into the sound of the tumbling rain.
âHawthornstealer?â Estherfern asked. The spirit blinked slowly, its eyelids like a mudslide.Â
âWhy do you call?â the spirit groaned.
âOilstripe and Lavendertwist told me your story,â Estherfern explained. She inched closer, back still stuck in the rain. âYou killed an elder to ensure more food for your kits in a famine. You would have done anything for them. StarClan doesnât seem to have the power I need. Iâm hoping you can help.â
âExplain.â
âMy kits are sick, and RippleClan can do nothing to help them. One of my daughters is going deaf, the other is half-blind. And now my only son has issues of the head, issues the mediators are simply bandaging, not fixing.â Was she talking about Brightpaw? Spikecrash had asked Honeybuzz and Troutpool about any relaxing herbs the young tom could take before the Gathering, something to ease the panic that overtook him when too many cats surrounded him. It was manageable. There was no need to resort to such extremes.
âYou are searching for a cure.â
âI canât let them struggle like this. How can I fix them?â The spirit stared at Estherfern silently, the rainfall burning into the background of Honeybuzzâs mind. The only sign of un-life in the spirit rested in its long, slow blinking. Even Estherfern, collected as she was, twitched under the spiritâs unending, blank stare.
âIâŚ,â Anchovypaw whispered, âI donât think thatâs the ghost of Hawthornstealer.â
âWhy not?â Wolfpaw whimpered.
âItâs too empty,â Anchovypaw groaned, struggling to find the right word. âWeedfootâs stories said Dark Forest ghosts looked like themselves. Even the Shardling looked a little like Autumnstar, isnât that what Downstar told us? This thing doesnât look like anyone. It looks like a shadow."
âWe may have the power,â the spirit finally coughed through its thick ichor. âWe need help.â
âThatâs what I expected,â Estherfern sighed. âWhat sort of ritual do I need to perform? Is there another spirit I should talk to?â
âYour children were destined to develop these afflictions,â the spirit gurgled. âTheir destinies must be replaced. Replaced with anotherâs.â
âElaborate.âÂ
âThe eyes of the clear sighted.â The spiritâs red eyes shone like a flickering fire. âThe ears of the cautious listener.â Its pointed ears flicked, their first movement since the spiritâs arrival. âThe tongue of the charmed.â Its black teeth peered out from muddy lips. âThree sacrifices. Three kits.â Estherfern stilled. Honeybuzzâs heart sank. Despite her standoffishness, despite her argumentativeness, Estherfern was part of the Clan, her kits were part of the Clan. How could she throw that away to fix what didnât, what couldnât be fixed?
âWeâll stop her before she begins,â Anchovypaw growled, inching a paw out of hiding. StarClan asked for Estherfern. Why would they send for her if she could be swayed like this?
âOffer the deadââ
âNo.â All four hidden cats perked their ears high. Estherfern stood, tail rippling slowly as she stared the spirit down. The spirit, to Honeybuzzâs continued shock, flinched.
âNo?â the spirit spat.
âWhat do you take me for?â Estherfern scoffed. âYou think Iâm so blindly devoted to a cure that you can turn me into a murderer? A sadist for the sake of my children?â
âYou want them cured,â the spirit growled. Its paw lingered at the edge of the circle. âThis is how you cure them.â
âAnd what happens when I do?â Estherfern asked, tilting one ear in a shocking taunt. âI know how your land works, the rules of your afterlife. They will go to StarClan some day and learn what I did for them, if they do not find out in life. They will despise me for what I have done.â
âBut they will be cured.â
âFurthermore, I know the creatures that inhabit your Dark Forest.â Estherfern walked around the circle like a hunter. The spirit never turned its head, face stuck in a sneer. âIt is the home of murderers and scoundrels. I would surely arrive there after my own death were I to kill three innocents for you. You would condemn me to eternity without my children.â
âYouâve already been damned, Estherfern. You brought forth the Skin Nâ Bones that slew your deputy. You are the cause of your Clanâs suffering. Do you believe StarClan will forgive you for that?â A Skin Nâ Bones. Of course. Nothing else would have injured Downstar like that. Nothing else would have devoured Weedfoot alive. Estherfern stopped. The calculated and callous look that always hung in her eyes cracked. Honeybuzz could almost see Estherfernâs soul drop. âWhy give up now? Youâre too far gone. Your children are not. Why summon us if you were not willing to do whatever it took to fix your kits?â
âI will not have them hate me!â Estherfern rounded on the spirit, lips curled tight. âI will not have them curse my name!â She shook her head low. âI will find a different cure for them. I will find another way. I send you back, spirit, back to your dark wanderings, where StarClanâs light does not reach.â Estherfern reached for one of the mushrooms. Her paw breached the circle.
âNo!â The spirit dug its fangs into Estherfernâs paw. Ichor dripped into her fresh wound. She pulled back, ripping more of her skin in the process.Â
âI respect what you did for your kits, Hawthornstealer,â Estherfern hissed, licking her paw. âI realize now, however, that where you could put aside your kitsâ emotions for their futures, I cannot.â
âWe,â the spirit growled, voice dissolving, âare not Hawthornstealer.âÂ
The spiritâs legs melted like snow. Its form dissolved and splashed about in a massive sticky pool. One by one, the mushrooms rolled into the ichor and vanished under the writhing mass as though falling into a great black hole. The ichor bubbled and squirmed as though in a death rattle. It leaked from the confines of the circle and coated the den floor. Estherfern backed up, back paws slipping on the soaked grass.
Weevilpaw raced out of the bush before Honeybuzz could react. She threw her full weight into Estherfernâs side. The two clerics tumbled into the shrubs. In that moment, the ichor exploded. It sprayed the walls of the dirt den and shot into the rain in an endless cascade. More ichor escaped the den than could have possibly made up the spirit in the circle. As it flew into the forest, large clumps tumbled to the side like wayward drops from a massive wave. The glops tumbled and sloshed against the wet ground before launching through the trees and out of sight. More and more of these glops scrambled away until finally, finally, the spray slowed. A long black trail led out of the den, which was now nothing but ichor and goop.Â
Honeybuzz, Anchovypaw, and Wolfpaw crept out of hiding as Weevilpaw got off Estherfern. Mud coated half of her brown pelt. The ichor stunk like rotting flesh and mushrooms.
âHow long have you been there?â Estherfern asked, slow to her paws.
âWolfpaw, you might have to freeze me,â Anchovypaw growled, claws out. âIâm a whiskerâs length from killing her.â
âAnchovypaw, no!â Weevilpaw stood in front of Estherfern, paws skidding. âShe didnât want to hurt anyone. She was trying to help her kits. We canât blame her for that!â
âBut the Dark ForestâŚâ Wolfpaw gulped. With the puff in her fur dissolved in the rain, she seemed half her size.
âIt is full of dead cats, not unlike StarClan,â Estherfern huffed. She stepped around Weevilpaw and faced down the furious crowd. âAll I wanted was a way to cure my kits, something youâve shown you cannot do.â
âEstherfern, you werenât talking to a dead warrior,â Honeybuzz groaned, almost stepping on the ichor trail. âThat was a Herald. Their entire purpose is to trick the living into allowing Spirits of Shadow into the territories.â His gaze lingered on the forest. He could almost hear the half-formed monsters slurping across the grass, taking their true, cursed forms.
âYou heard her!â Weevilpaw huffed. âShe wasnât going to listen to the spirit. She was going to destroy the circle.â
âShe didnât commit murder,â Anchovypaw scoffed. âYou did well, Estherfern. You did the bare minimum.â
âIs it your fault?â Wolfpaw muttered, voice almost lost in the rain. âDid you get Weedfoot killed?â Estherfern stared into the ichor-soaked den.Â
âI didnât know,â she said softly.Â
âShe didnât know, Anchovypaw,â Weevilpaw snapped. âSheâs a good cat!â
âShe didnât care about killing anyone, she cared about what her kits would think,â Anchovypaw growled. âHow can we trust a cleric who doesnât care if you live or die?â
âI trust her,â Weevilpaw huffed, pressing into Estherfern. âEven though sheâs strange.â
âWeevilpaw,â Honeybuzz sighed, jumping over the ichor, âtake Anchovypaw and Wolfpaw and go back to camp. Just go to the medicine den and wait for us.âÂ
âWhat are we going to do with her?â Anchovypaw asked.
âLeave that to me,â Honeybuzz said, shaking his head. âNow go. Stick together, and hurry. Weâll follow you soon.â The apprentices hesitated, all glancing at one another. Weevilpaw was the first to break; she joined Wolfpaw and nudged her onward. The sisters ran toward the coast. Anchovypaw followed, his burning eyes digging into Estherfern as he vanished into the foggy trees.
âIt seems I underestimated the vigor of the Dark Forestâs supernatural entities,â Estherfern hummed, cleaning the mud off her injured paw.
âDo you have any idea what youâve just done?â Honeybuzz hissed softly.
âOf course I do,â Estherfern snapped, curling her lips. âYou love to tell the story of the Rippling Ashes. They ventured into the Dark Forest, they had Newtstreamâs advice. What made my own approach so wicked?â
âBecause itâs dangerous!â Honeybuzz groaned. âBecause channeling Dark Forest souls, even when they want to help, clears a path for Spirits of Shadow, and they donât care about any of us. Theyâre born to hunt. This isnât worth it.â
âIf your kits were sick, wouldnât you do what you could for them?â Estherfern growled with a large thrash of her tail. âYou canât fix them. I thought the Dark Forest could.â
âThey donât need to be fixed!â Honeybuzz yowled, throwing his whole height up to glare down at Estherfern (who, unlike Rapidleaf, would not cower). âThey arenât dying, Estherfern! They can adapt! Iâm sorry I canât cure Thunderkit or stop Brightpawâs anxiety, but theyâll be fine!â As Honeybuzz yowled, the first crack appeared in the sky, striking through the gray clouds. Thunder echoed far overhead. Estherfern stared at the growing storm.
âWhatâs out there now, do you think?â Estherfern sighed.
âDog-cats, forsaken prey, honeybitesâŚâ Honeybuzz muttered, spine itching. âThere may even be monsters we rarely see, ones we donât have names for. We donât want to know everything thatâs out there now.â
âThis is something we can fix,â Estherfern huffed. She marched around Honeybuzz and stood on the roof of the wicked den. Jaw tight as her bit paw moved, Estherfern dug at the soaked grass. Her pelt was more mud than fur. Chunks of earth tumbled into the den. The sopping ground folded in on itself like a wave. Estherfern rolled away as the roof of the den fell and covered the sticky, stinking ichor. Grass stuck to Estherfernâs underside. Honeybuzz hurried to her, helping her away from the crumbled remains of her sins.
âWe can,â Honeybuzz gulped. âWe can fix this.â
(Honeybuzz: 23, male, cleric, daring, skilled toolsmith, good teacher)
(Anchovypaw: 10, male, warrior apprentice, playful, curious about StarClan)
(Weevilpaw: 10, female, cleric apprentice, adventurous, curious about StarClan)
(Wolfpaw: 10, female, codekeeper apprentice, thoughtful, curious about StarClan, confident with words)
(Estherfern: 109, female, cleric, bloodthirsty, great mediator, prophecy seeker)
Sandpaw and Spikecrash arrange time for Estherfern to see the kits she worked so hard to âfixâ.
[Image ID: Estherfern faces Thunderpaw, Wolverinepaw, and Brightpaw.]
---
Estherfern didnât belong at such a lively celebration. The sumptuous food, the well-rehearsed performances⌠Harvest Moon was as grand as RippleClan claimed it to be. Every Clan gathered as the sunrise poked through the trees, preparing their stews and games and performances. But it was a holiday to drive off Spirits of Shadow. What good would it do to have their herald nestled in the safety of the firelight?
âSpirits of Shadow hate charms,â Troutpool explained as she tucked a catâs wood-carved face into the boughs of a low-hanging pine. âAshClan spends a lot of time carving these trinkets, and all that care under StarClanâs protections makes them especially useful in warding off danger.â All the clerics roamed the edgeâs of the great clearing with baskets of charms and other concoctions to protect the five Clans. Estherfern carried RippleClanâs heavy basket as Honeybuzz, Troutpool, and Weevilpaw prepared the defenses to Troutpoolâs instruction.
âHow many do we have to place?â Weevilpaw asked, shoving a charm as far into a bush as she could reach.
âWeâre covering this entire corner,â Troutpool explained. âWe donât want to leave any openings for spirits.â Estherfern nearly broke the charm in her jaws with how tightly she grit her teeth. She quickly passed it to Honeybuzz.
âEstherfern!â Two figures slipped through the massive crowd. Spikecrash and Sandpaw walked side by side, mentor and apprentice in sync. Sandpawâs gaze wandered throughout the clearing, taking in the sights of all five Clans for the first time.
âYou want to speak to me?â Estherfern asked. While her tone made her question sound casual, the brown priestess hid her surprise deep. She didnât talk to many cats outside of the medicine den. Why would two of the Clanâs mediators want her? Did they know the real reason why Honeybuzz reported a surge of spirits in the Clan? The reason it was too dangerous to leave camp alone? Why all five Clans, not just RippleClan, now had a newfound fear for their lives? Had Honeybuzz not lied for her, Estherfern would have told the truth and accepted the consequences, yet why he kept it secret, Estherfern didnât know She glanced at Honeybuzz, but the young gold and white cleric focused on his charms.
âIâm hoping we can borrow you,â Spikecrash explained. âTroutpool, do you still need Estherfernâs help?â
âWeâre just placing our wards at the moment,â Troutpool explained, reaching into Estherfernâs basket. âWe could finish without her if you really need her.â Estherfern carefully slipped the basket off her neck.
âThank you, Troutpool,â Spikecrash sighed. She flicked her tail for Estherfern to follow. It seemed no one cared if Estherfern actually wanted to speak with Spikecrash, but who was she to refuse? She trailed after Spikecrash and Sandpaw, heading over to the ovens. Clammask and Stormpaw worked with Drumtooth and Thunderpaw, laughing over an unheard joke as they tended the fire under a massive pot of stew.
âI hope this isnât too much of an invasion of privacy,â Spikecrash began, her scarred flank lifted high in a long stretch. âHoneybuzz and Weevilpaw spoke with me a few days ago and said you were having some difficulties with your kits.â Estherfern narrowed her eyes.
âIf weâre going to discuss my kits,â she sighed, âmaybe you could tell me why no one told me about Brightpawâs meetings with you?â
âSo you do know about that,â Spikecrash sighed. âBrightpaw is an apprentice now, Estherfern. We arenât pressured to tell you anything he didnât want you to know.âÂ
âIf heâs sick, I want to help him,â Estherfern huffed.
âWhy do you think he didnât want you to know?â Sandpaw scoffed. âLook how you acted with Wolverinepaw and Thunderpaw.â Oh if only he knew just what Estherfern had done for them. What the Dark Forest wanted her to do.
âIâve only ever tried to help them overcome their own limitations,â Estherfern said, her sharp stare ricocheting off Sandpaw and muting his confident words.
âThatâs why we wanted to show you a few things,â Spikecrash explained. She waved a paw toward the oven where Thunderpaw and the other RippleClan cats gathered.
âThe only goal of tonight is to have a better stew than WheatClan,â Drumtooth explained, shooting a friendly sneer at WheatClanâs oven and their large pot. He licked the surface of the stew and smacked his jaws. âItâs good, but itâs missing something.â Thunderpaw copied her mentor. Her face squirmed, thinking hard. She then made a strange motion with her paws; balancing on her back legs, she brought her paws close to her mouth and wiggled them as they moved away.
âI know this one,â Stormpaw chirped, completely focused on Thunderpaw. âIf the wiggles are the sea⌠seaweed! Thatâs seaweed!â
âYes!â Thunderpaw squealed. The two young apprentices cheered and giggled at their success, bunting one another
âAshClan borrowed our basket of seaweed,â Clammask explained, nudging Thunderpaw. âGrab some for us.â
âGrab seaweed,â Thunderpaw laughed. She quickly swiped the air like she was dragging a mouse out of hiding, then made the âseaweedâ motion again. Stormpaw mimicked the dragging motion as Thunderpaw hurried to AshClanâs oven.
âWhy is Stormpaw learning Clan-sign?â Estherfern asked her mediator companions.
âBecause Thunderpawâs teaching her,â Sandpaw chirped. âWhenever Thunderpaw gets back from her sign lessons with Mummichogleap, she practices with us apprentices. Most of us are learning a few words so Thunderpaw isnât left out.â
âAnd you want to learn?âÂ
âThunderpaw makes it fun!â
âYou canât expect the whole Clan to learn this second language.â
âNo one does.â Spikecrash touched her tail to Estherfernâs shoulder.. âBut there are cats who want to make the effort. They can translate for those who donât know. It puts pressure off Thunderpaw. She can miss what someone said, but sheâll have friends and family who can let her know.â Thunderpaw trotted back to the oven with a few long strips of seaweed. Clammask tore the seaweed into stew-sized chunks, showing the apprentices how to curl their paws just right. Thunderpaw seemed⌠happy.
âNow if youâll follow us over hereâŚâ Sandpaw purred, strolling around the Leaderâs Stone. Estherfern followed, tail a bit higher than before.
Brightpaw, Ravenpaw, and Vervainpaw sat with a gaggle of apprentices from the other Clans. They lounged about, chatting and laughing. Brightpaw nodded along to an apprenticeâs story, his flank stretched out like frog legs. Ravenpaw relaxed on top of him, oohing and awing over the tale.
âI donât know what your birth place thought of disorders of the mind,â Spikecrash whispered, brushing against Estherfern once more, âbut like most disabilities, you can learn to live with them. There was a great gathering of warriors and codekeepers here at the new moon, do you remember? Brightpaw managed to befriend these apprentices during the visit. They invited their friends and littermates to chat today, and Brightpaw is happy to spend time with them. His mind is likely lying to him right now, but he knows ways to manage that. He could overcome his anxiety naturally some day, but thatâs a minor part of who he is.â
âI know that,â Estherfern huffed. âHe loves to play with Rabbitjoyâs paint supplies. Heâs sensitive, and loves his sisters with all his heart. Iâve only ever wanted to help those traits shine.â
âThatâs not how Brightpaw sees it,â Sandpaw scoffed under his breath. The comment hollowed out Estherfernâs chest. Before she could respond, two brown blurs shot past the Leaderâs Stone with a horde of apprentices and young warriors at their tails. Wolverinepaw and Yarrowpaw led the crowd to an open spot within the festivities. They studied their followers like leader and deputy, the sunrise framing their profiles.
âWeâve got until after sunhigh to prepare!â Wolverinepaw cheered.Â
âAre we going to let some dusty old bones beat us?â Yarrowpaw cried.
âNo!â the young crowd yowled joyfully, already shoving and jumping over each other.
âLetâs show them what the new generation can do!â Wolverinepaw called. Her followers cheered, yowling to the high branches. They scattered throughout the clearing and split into sparring groups. They steadied their stances and wiggled their flanks. With sheathed paws, the youth of the Clans launched into training, trading blows and careful bites. Slushpaw lingered near the edge of the training grounds, cheering the others on.
âSlushpaw!â Sandpaw yowled to the older mediator apprentice. âWhat are they doing?â
âWell,â Slushpaw laughed, trotting up to Sandpaw, Spikecrash, and Estherfern, âYarrowpaw and Wolverinepaw were arguing with Darkkick and another old warrior about what was a better trait in a fight; youth or experience. Suddenly all these other cats started joining in, and now the senior warriors are going to have a big mock-battle with the apprentices, plus some warriors who havenât attended a Harvest Moon before.â
âAnd Wolverinepawâs participating in this?â Estherfern huffed. She searched for her daughter in the crowd. She found Wolverinepaw rolling about with Yarrowpaw in the middle of the mess. Yarrowpaw shoved Wolverinepawâs head into the dirt. Wolverinepaw snapped her jaw around Yarrowpawâs leg and pulled her onto her shoulder. Yarrowpaw laughed as Wolverinepaw took her place on top of the older apprentice.
"She's as capable as any apprentice her age," Spikecrash assured Estherfern.
"She seemed so insecure during her ceremonyâŚ" Estherfern muttered.
"Wolverinepaw?" Spikecrash chuckled. "I don't think so. From what I've heard, she thinks she's strong enough to take on an actual wolverine."
"She didn't choose a role in time, though," Estherfern pointed out.
"Because she wanted to do everything!" Slushpaw laughed. "I talked with her right up to her ceremony. She had a new role in mind every day!" Oh. Had Wolverinepaw's sight not come up at all? Surely her decaying vision would make it hard for her to fight. Yet she kept up with Yarrowpaw, tumbling across the clearing with abandon. Had Estherfern's kits always been so sure of themselves? Surely they wanted cures. How else could they survive in a world that showed no mercy to the weak? In the cat-minded human's den, if you couldn't match up to the others, you wouldn't eat. Three of Estherfern's brilliant kits would have died in that awful place. ExceptâŚthey weren't there anymore, were they?
"Can I guess what's been going on?" Spikecrash asked. "You've been so focused on a cure in their future, you've ignored how they are in the present. When's the last time you talked to them about something, anything but their health? Have you talked to Foampaw or Boughpaw at all?" Estherfern glanced from one kit to another. Their faces glowed with holiday glee. Did they ever glow around Estherfern anymore? When was the last time she shared a meal with them?
"Spikecrash," Estherfern muttered, her pride burning her words, "I need you to teach me something."
A short time later, Estherfern approached Thunderpaw and the RippleClan stew. The bounties of the ocean danced in the broth, specially prepared for that oh so exciting celebration. Thunderpaw stared eagerly into the stew while Stormpaw and their mentors talked with other caretakers. She spotted her mother and her eyes grew big and calm, mimicking Estherfern's eternally serene expression. Estherfern's heart did not carry that serenity as she approached her bold daughter.
"Do you needâŚ" Estherfern said hesitantly. She awkwardly sat on her hind legs. She held out one paw, pads down, and angled the other on top of it, claws out. Thunderpaw's eyes sparkled at the sign.
"Help," she whispered as Estherfern quickly returned to a natural position. Thunderpaw made the sign with ease, quickly hopping from her hind legs and back. She ogled Estherfern, her thoughts not caught up to reality.
"I want to spend time with you," Estherfern explained. It felt like someone carved her pelt off, leaving her exposed. "I want to share your stew with you and your littermates." Thunderpaw blinked slowly. It took her so long to reply, Estherfern was about to repeat herself, just in case her pounding heart muffled her words.
"Do you want to learn the sign for littermates while the stew finishes cooking?" Thunderpaw gulped. The tip of her tail twitched wildly as her earlier joy bloomed across her face once more.
"If it means time with you," Estherfern sighed.
(Estherfern: 109, female, cleric, bloodthirsty, great mediator, prophecy seeker)
(Troutpool: 36, female, cleric, insecure, ghost sense)
(Weevilpaw: 10, female, cleric apprentice, adventurous, curious about StarClan)
(Honeybuzz: 23, male, cleric, daring, skilled toolsmith, good teacher)
(Spikecrash: 50, female, mediator, wise, good speaker, lore keeper)
(Sandpaw: 6, male, mediator apprentice, loyal, interested in Clan history)
(Drumtooth: 23, trans male, caretaker, loyal, great hunter, clever)
(Thunderpaw: 7, female, caretaker apprentice,
(Stormpaw: 6, female, caretaker apprentice, charismatic, loves to eat)
(Clammask: 69, female, caretaker, righteous, lore master, good teacher)
(Brightpaw: 7, male, warrior apprentice, lonesome, lover of art)
(Wolverinepaw: 7, female, warrior apprentice, compassionate, always asking questions)
(Yarrowpaw: 10, female, warrior apprentice, thoughtful, stares at fire)
(Slushpaw: 11, female, mediator apprentice, wise, quick witted, bats at string)
#clangen#warrior cats#rippleclan#warriors#rippleclan story#yellowkit#yellowpaw#sandkit#sandpaw#stormkit#stormpaw#estherfern#honeybuzz#anchovypaw#weevilpaw#wolfpaw#spikecrash#troutpool#drumtooth#thunderpaw#wolverinepaw#brightpaw#clammask#yarrowpaw#slushpaw#spirits of shadow
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RippleClan: Moon 72
Wolverinekit doesnât understand why everyone seems so far away and is sad to learn from Honeybuzz and Weevilpaw that her eyesight is failing.
[Image ID: Honeybuzz and Weevilpaw talk to Wolverinekit and Estherfern. Estherfern says, âWell? Fix her.â Under Honeybuzz, it says LEVEL UP! CONSTANTLY FIDDLING WITH TOOLS -> SKILLED TOOLSMITH. Under Wolverinekit, it reads + PERMANENT CONDITION: FAILING EYESIGHT. Under Estherfern, it says - CONDITION: RECOVERING FROM BIRTH.]
The anniversary of RippleClan was by far one of the greatest things Weevilpaw had seen in her short life. She had never imagined the world could be so warm back when she was a kit. The entire Clan, kits and elders and all in between, frolicked in the softer sands that lined the stunning ocean. If that day was meant to celebrate all RippleClan meant, it succeeded.
Tallowpaw chased Littlekit around the sand, both toms laughing and yowling their heads off. Rabbitjoy, Mitespark, Lavendertwist, and Potterypaw performed a show along the edge of the waves, depicting the war with AshClan and the loss of Downstarâs first life. Half the Clan watched them as they shared tongues and mused over their own memories of the events (Halibutdusk mused on the danger in romanticizing war while Clammask reminded her mate to just enjoy the show). Estherfern sat with her kits, probably giving them some grand speech on the God who brought her to RippleClan and the nature of StarClan (Weevilpaw understood she agreed to a life of spiritual discussion when she became an apprentice, but really, did Estherfern not know how to talk about anything else?).Â
Weevilpaw, meanwhile, traipsed through the waves, purring whenever fresh foam slapped at her legs. Some of the petals that she stuck in her fur (ever since Troutpool put them in at the clericâs meeting, a gentle reminder of RippleClanâs first cleric) drifted off into the ocean, but that was alright. Weevilpaw could always get more!
Off to the side of the festivities, past where James dipped Lightningkit and Cobaltkit in and out of the water, past where Downstar and Weedfoot laughed at the old fatherâs antics, Wildclaw and Rattlepelt gazed off into the glistening blue. Rattlepelt laid in the sand, but kept her head high, letting the light bounce off her eyes. The water soaked the tail of Rattlepeltâs fox pelt, but the artisan didnât seem to mind. There was a softness to her posture that Weevilpaw had never seen. She couldnât help but approach them.
âIf this is what every anniversary is like,â Weevilpaw chirped, catching Wildclawâs eyes first, âI never want it to end!â Weevilpaw hopped out of the water, shaking out her pelt. Petals drifted into the wet sand, which stuck tight to Weevilpawâs dripping legs.
âMy siblings and I were just kits during the first anniversary,â Wildclaw laughed. âAll four of us pretended we were great whales hopping out of the water.â Wildclaw hopped over Rattlepelt as Weevilpaw approached. She leaned into Weevilpaw and added, âI asked Oilstripe earlier. Weâve got a lot of ghosts celebrating with us today.â Were Harvest and Robinkit in their numbers?Â
Weevilpaw glanced toward Anchovypaw and his littermates. They were all talking with Rapidleaf, practicing some basic battle moves. Anchovypaw whipped around Currentpaw, batting and kicking his brother, utterly confident in his body. They seemed to be coping with their losses⌠still, did Anchovypaw struggle to look at Rattlepelt the same way Weevilpaw did? Did he hurt when he saw the bite marks on Rattlepeltâs shoulder, the scars yet to fade? Still, she was smart enough to know the true scars wouldnât fade if they were ignored.Â
A premonition of Rattlepelt stood out of her real body and strolled deeper into the crowd. Her pensive gaze steadied Weevilpawâs nerves. She stood in the premonitionâs path as it vanished. When the idea to leave came upon Rattlepelt, rather than an easy escape, she saw Weevilpaw before her.
âAre you keeping your wound clean?â Weevilpaw asked.
âIâve been making sure she does,â Wildclaw promised.
âI donât know when you became the responsible one,â Rattlepelt sighed, purring slightly at the way her mate stood tall.
âIâve always been responsible,â Wildclaw insisted, once more taking a seat by Rattlepelt. âJust not in the way others consider responsible.â
âWeevilpawâs father would say otherwise,â Rattlepelt scoffed. Wildclaw shoved the fox peltâs head over Rattlepeltâs eyes. Rattlepelt laughed for the first time in Weevilpawâs memory.
âIâm glad youâre doing better, I really am,â Weevilpaw sighed, swallowing the nerves that bit at her confidence. âYou⌠seem more like the cat Honeybuzz told me about.â
âI feel more like myself,â Rattlepelt said, shoving the fox pelt back to its proper place. âWhen we tell the other Clans the truth, Iâll be sure to thank you and your friends publically. Thank you for stopping me.âÂ
âWe just wanted to keep everyone safe,â Weevilpaw chuckled awkwardly. Downstar had asked all of RippleClan not to discuss the powers of the three kits for now, giving the other clerics time to figure out how exactly they possessed said abilities. Just having RippleClan ask about her strange, hard-to-trigger premonitions was overwhelming enough. Weevilpaw did her best to take the brunt of the hard work for Anchovypaw and Wolfpaw, but she couldnât handle the curiosity of four more Clans on her shoulders!
âMaybe someday weâll be able to joke about you almost taking off Rattlepeltâs shoulder,â Wildclaw chuckled, nudging her mateâs wounded shoulder.
âA responsible cat would know better than to even suggest joking about that,â Rattlepelt huffed. She gently kicked Wildclawâs leg and sent her tumbling into Rattlepeltâs fox pelt.
âYouâre the artisan,â Wildclaw chuckled, happily lounging on top of Rattlepelt. âYou should recognize how good a story this is.â
âMaybe Iâll see it when Iâm not traumatized,â Rattlepelt scoffed.
âWeevilpaw!â Honeybuzz called from the other side of the beach. Drumtooth and Elmsprout watched over most of Estherfernâs kits while Honeybuzz stood with Estherfern and Wolverinekit to the side of the celebration.
âItâs nice to meet you, Rattlepelt,â Weevilpaw said, backing up. âYour true self, I mean.â Weevilpaw left the pair to their gentle bickering and weaved through the crowd. Honeybuzz waited patiently for her beside their fellow cleric.
âSorry to pull you from your partying,â Honeybuzz said, touching noses with his apprentice, âbut Estherfern has asked for our help with Wolverinekit. With Yarrowpawâs dead eye, youâll need more lessons on eye care than I had at your age.â
âIs something wrong with Wolverinekitâs eyes?â Weevilpaw asked.
âCare to explain?â Estherfern sighed, careful gaze burrowing into her daughterâs long fur.
âYouâve been busy!â Wolverinekit huffed, puffing up like her angry namesake. âI thought it would fix itself!â
âIâm not a healer, Wolverinekit, Iâm a priestess,â Estherfern said with a smooth shake of her head. âI canât help you with these problems. You should have spoken with Honeybuzz sooner.â Technically, Estherfern was a cleric now, not a priestess; she should have been learning medicine, just like Weevilpaw! But a shared glance between Weevilpaw and Honeybuzz silenced the building frustration.
âSo tell Weevilpaw what you told your mother and I,â Honeybuzz said.Â
âEverything started looking funny last moon,â Wolverinekit grumbled, kicking the sand. âI canât see inside the nursery at night, itâs too dark. I need to really look at you to really see you.â
âAny issues with blurriness or color?â Honeybuzz asked. He peered into Wolverinekitâs eyes, searching for the sort of visual differences Weevilpaw once noticed in Yarrowpaw.
âI donât know,â Wolverinekit huffed. âHow do I know if what I see is what you see?â
âWhat color do you think I am?â Honeybuzz asked.
âYour head or your body?â Wolverinekit sighed. âMomma, I donât like this. Can we stop?â
âDarling, we need to figure out whatâs wrong with you,â Estherfern sighed. âBe patient.â She licked the top of Wolverinekitâs head. Weevilpaw hummed softly, studying Estherfern. Who was this strange âpriestessâ?
âWeevilpaw, perform the vision tests we gave Yarrowpaw when she started her apprenticeship,â Honeybuzz said, stepping back. Weevilpaw shot lightning through her paws. Time to work!
âWolverinekit, I want you to stare right at Honeybuzz,â Weevilpaw ordered, moving next to her mentor. âIâm going to move, but I donât want you to look at me, keep looking at Honeybuzz. Tell me when you canât see me anymore.â This test fascinated Weevilpaw when Honeybuzz first showed it to her after her apprenticeship, gauging the severity of Yarrowpawâs condition so Rapidleaf could adapt her training. She just hoped she did it rightâŚ.
Weevilpaw crept to the side, step by step. Wolverinekit kept her eyes on Honeybuzz. Estherfern stared at Weevilpaw while she moved. Weevilpaw tried not to make eye contact.
âStop!â Wolverinekit called. Weevilpaw shared a glance with Honeybuzz. She stood at an angle to Wolverinekit. The young molly should have been able to see Weevilpaw move until she was standing beside her. Weevilpaw was only halfway there.
âAre you sure you canât see me move?â Weevilpaw asked, batting a paw in the air.
âI canât see you unless I look at you,â Wolverinekit huffed, breaking her gaze from Honeybuzz. Her chaotic fur drooped. âThatâs⌠not normal, is it?â
âTheyâll fix it,â Estherfern promised, quickly pressing her nose into Wolverinekit. Wolverinekit nuzzled her mother absentmindedly. Estherfern tucked Wolverinekit close to her. âWell? Fix her.â
âThereâs more we need to understand about her vision,â Honeybuzz explained. âThere are a few more tests we should conduct. The problem is, Wolverinekit hasnât been injured, and she displays no other signs of illness from what I see. I donât know enough yet to say for certain, but thereâs a chance this could simply be part of her blood.â
âWhatâs the cure to that?â Estherfern huffed. Honeybuzz took a long, slow breath.
âWeevilpaw, can you take Wolverinekit back to the festivities?â Honeybuzz asked. âShe might like bothering Trumpetspore for a while.â
âYouâre talking about me,â Wolverinekit snapped, jumping away from her mother. âI should hear whatâs wrong with me!â
âIt isnât about that, Wolverinekit,â Weevilpaw groaned. âIâll explain it to you later.â She waved Wolverinekit over. Wolverinekit glared at Honeybuzz, but followed Weevilpaw anyway. Honeybuzz lowered his voice and moved closer to Estherfern. Weevilpaw was grateful Wolverinekit couldnât see the anger blossoming over her motherâs face.
âHow bad is it, Weevilpaw?â Wolverinekit asked as she and Weevilpaw strolled toward the ocean. Waspdawn jogged past the two mollies, his daughters at his heels, laughing. Waspdawn looped around Drumtooth and Elmsprout, but Yellowkit and Stormkit charged into Boughkit, Brightkit, Foamkit, and Thunderkit. The group collapsed into a pile of flailing limbs and cries of mock outrage. Weevilpawâs tensed shoulders eased as she sat with Wolverinekit along the edge of the water.
âMy best guess?â Weevilpaw sighed. âIf youâre like Yarrowpaw, I donât know if youâll ever see things like everyone else does.â Wolverinekit nodded softly, pulling her tail close. Weevilpaw wrapped her tail around the younger molly. âThat might not be all that bad! I know it might be sad, but thereâs still a lot you can do. The Clan will make sure you can achieve whatever you want to achieve.â Behind them, Estherfernâs pelt prickled and her lips curled slightly as she spoke with Honeybuzz. Wolverinekit remained unaware.
âI used to see more,â Wolverinekit grumbled. âDo you think Iâll go blind like Yarrowpaw?â
âSheâs only blind in one eye,â Weevilpaw said.
âYou know what I mean!â Wolverinekit huffed, the prickles in her pelt matching her mother.
âI really canât say what will happen,â Weevilpaw groaned as the ocean licked her paws. âI promise that Iâll learn whatever I can to help you out, cure or no cure, blind or not.â Wolverinekit just stared at Weevilpaw. Weevilpaw did her best not to break away from the stare. She coughed awkwardly and said, âI helped you once, right? Made sure you got out of the nursery with your littermates. Donât you think I can help you again?â
Estherfern stalked away from Honeybuzz, tail thrashing. This time, Wolverinekit noticed her motherâs posture. Her head followed Estherfern all the way back to her kits. She settled down amongst her rambunctious kittens, head turned away from Wolverinekit and Weevilpaw. Weevilpaw could guess what Honeybuzz told her.
âI trust you, Weevilpaw,â Wolverinekit mumbled.Â
âThanks, Wolvy,â Weevilpaw sighed.
(Weevilpaw: 7, female, cleric apprentice, adventurous, curious about StarClan)
(Wildclaw: 64, female, caretaker, fierce, trusted advisor, good fighter)
(Rattlepelt: 55, female, artisan, thoughtful, leather artist)
(Honeybuzz: 20, male, cleric, daring, skilled toolsmith)
(Wolverinekit: 4, female, kit, skittish, always asking questions)
(Estherfern: 106, female, cleric, bloodthirsty, great mediator, prophecy seeker)
During the anniversary celebration, Tallowpaw plays with Littlekit too long in the sun. He gets heat exhaustion while the small kit gets heat stroke.
[Image ID: Honeybuzz yowls at Tallowpaw and Littlekit, âGet in the shade, now.â Under Littlekit, it says + CONDITION: HEAT STROKE. Under Tallowpaw, it says + CONDITION: HEAT EXHAUSTION.]
(Littlekit: 3, male, kit, skittish, splashes in puddles)
(Tallowpaw: 8, male, historian apprentice, nervous, splashes in puddles)
(Honeybuzz: 20, male, cleric, daring, skilled toolsmith)
Wolfpaw, Waspdawn, Silverpaw, and Puddlewhisper go hunting.
[Image ID: Silverpaw, Puddlewhisper, Waspdawn, and Wolfpaw patrol together. Under Silverpaw, it says + NEW SKILL: QUICK WITTED.]
---
The bounties of summer, with extra herbs to fatten meals and strengthen the Clan, did not mean less hunting for Wolfpaw. As Waspdawn loved to stress, growing careless on the hunt was always a bad omen, regardless of the season. While summer meant more time to memorize the various intricacies of the warrior code, Wolfpaw and Silverpaw still had to join their mentors on hunting patrols. Codekeepers didnât just sit around camp waiting for codebreakers, after all.
âIf the historians say we canât hunt squirrels for a while,â Silverpaw asked as she strolled alongside Puddlewhisper, leading Waspdawn and Wolfpaw, âdoes that mean we have to investigate every dead squirrel we come across?â
âIf the death looks suspicious,â Puddlewhisper admitted, âbut if someone were to kill a squirrel, I doubt they would leave the body lying about. Still, theyâd have no reason to. There are many other creatures we can hunt. We can allow the squirrels to regrow their numbers for a while. We donât need more squirrel pelts.â
âLavendertwist noted an increase in the rat population to the southwest,â Waspdawn explained, catching Wolfpawâs eye. âI think youâre both ready to hunt down rats. Theyâre not much different from mice. Theyâre simply sleeker, quicker, and a bit more vicious. This should help you learn how to identify rats with disease. Sometimes weâre asked to investigate things like that when the clerics or caretakers need a paw. That reminds me, Puddlewhisper, we should ask Honeybuzz if the apprentices can sit in on diagnostic lessons with Weevilpaw.âÂ
As Waspdawn went on, Silverpaw trailed back, walking on Wolfpawâs other side. She copied Waspdawnâs face with a comical grimace. She mouthed along to his words, crossing her eyes in the process. Wolfpaw slapped her sisterâs shoulder, but couldnât stop herself from giggling. Waspdawn cleared his throat. Wolfpawâs spine arched. She glanced back to her mentor with big, awkward eyes and half-tilted, apologetic ears. To her surprise, Waspdawn froze with a few paws off the ground, mouth stuck mid-word. He tumbled to his side like a knocked-over pot.
âSorry!â Wolfpaw yelped, squeezing her eyes tight. âIâm sorry! Itâs been happening more when Iâm nervous. Iâm sorry, Waspdawn!â Waspdawn, broken from his spell, scrambled back to his feet. Silverpaw and Puddlewhisper stared at Wolfpaw and further burned her pelt.
âAre you alright, Waspdawn?â Puddlewhisper asked as her brother shook out his pelt.
âI barely felt it,â Waspdawn said as Wolfpaw ducked her head. âStill, could you and Silverpaw give me a moment with Wolfpaw? We wonât be long.â Wolfpaw burned hotter as the other two mollies slowly continued on their path. Silverpawâs feather-covered tail brushed Wolfpawâs back as she walked off. Wolfpaw kept her eyes firmly locked on the well-trod grass.
âI wasnât trying to freeze you,â Wolfpaw promised, heart pounding. âI promise Iâll be more careful where I look. I know it could be dangerous to freeze someone on accident. Iâm sorry I canât control myself like Weevilpaw or Anchovypaw. I wonât let this happen again.â
âYou donât need to panic, Wolfpaw,â Waspdawn said. âIâm not upset.â
âBut someone else could be,â Wolfpaw gulped, âor I could freeze a Clanmate during a battle on accident and get them killed! Or I look at someone while weâre swimming and they sink to the ocean floor!â Wolfpaw wouldnât even open her eyes now. âI know right now this wasnât a problem, but it canât keep happening. I have a responsibility to use my stare wisely. I canât brush this aside.â
âThat might be true,â Waspdawn sighed, âbut Wolfpaw, you do remember youâre only seven moons old, right?â Wolfpaw risked opening her eyes. Waspdawnâs paws peeked into the top of her vision. She carefully lifted her head. Waspdawn sat in front of her, blinking slowly. His half-tail tried to reach his paws, but failed, leaving it awkward at his side.
âWhy does my age matter?â Wolfpaw asked softly.
âYouâre an apprentice,â Waspdawn reminded the fuzzy gray molly. âYouâre more than allowed to make mistakes.â
âNot with this,â Wolfpaw huffed with a hard shake of her head.
âIf you panic yourself over a mistake this small, youâll never master your ability.â That did nothing to stop the burning in Wolfpawâs blood. She shoved her head back down, but Waspdawn hooked his paw under her chin and forced her to look up. âI bring up your age, Wolfpaw, because at this point in your life, it is your responsibility to learn and make mistakes. Regardless of the sort of talents you possess, you can learn from incidents like this and master your skills.â
âThat doesnât sound right,â Wolfpaw mumbled, only managing to stare at Waspdawnâs chest rather than his careful gray eyes. âIf I had frozen the Shardling earlier, Harvest and Robinkit might not have died.â
âYour powers saved the lives of my kits and every other cat in the nursery,â Waspdawn reminded her, ducking his head to once more look Wolfpaw in the eye. âYou helped Weevilpaw fight Rattlepelt when she was possessed. When I heard what your sister saw in her premonition, I had nightmares for days on end about what could have happened had you not intervened. Thatâs two times youâve saved my sons and daughters. You were still a kit when that happened, and you still did more than anyone would have asked you to. Youâve already done enough, and Iâm sure youâll continue to impress me. You can afford to give yourself grace as you train.â Wolfpaw took a deep breath. Waspdawn copied her. The pair held their breath like Paleseed had shown them, two separate lessons coming together in one moment, and then they let it go.
âItâs hard to know how to practice my stare,â Wolfpaw admitted, itching under the sustained eye contact. âI donât even know why I have it in the first place.â
âI may not understand it,â Waspdawn said, standing, âbut if we work together, I think we can come up with ways to hone it. Letâs catch up with our sisters.â Wolfpaw took another big breath and nodded. She followed her mentor along Silverpaw and Puddlewhisperâs path, easing out the anxiety prickling her fur.
(Wolfpaw: 7, female, codekeeper apprentice, thoughtful, curious about StarClan, confident with words)
(Silverpaw: 7, female, codekeeper apprentice, strict, always asking questions, quick witted)
(Puddlewhisper: 38, trans female, codekeeper, righteous, natural intuition, ghost sense)
(Waspdawn: 38, male, codekeeper, strict, learner of lore, clue finder)
#I believe my hiatus is done!#getting back into the groove of writing rippleclan again#inspired once more#clangen#warrior cats#rippleclan#warriors#rippleclan story#weevilpaw#honeybuzz#wolverinekit#estherfern#rattlepelt#wildclaw#tallowpaw#littlekit#wolfpaw#silverpaw#puddlewhisper#waspdawn
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RippleClan: Moon 69
Waspdawn brought a litter of four kits to camp with the hopes that a WheatClan queen can nurse them.
[Image ID: Leathermask says to Waspdawn, âTheyâre quite cute, Waspdawn.â Four gold and white newborns sit in nests. The mostly yellow kit has the caption NEW PLAYER: YELLOWKIT, 0, FEMALE, NOISY. The white kit reads NEW PLAYER: SANDKIT, 0, MALE, SELF-CONSCIOUS. Below him, the dark golden kit reads NEW PLAYER: STORMKIT, 0, FEMALE, KNOW-IT-ALL. Lastly, the white and gold kit reads NEW PLAYER: LITTLEKIT, 0, MALE, SKITTISH.]
The Clan was a hive of chatter when Weedfoot and James returned from their slow walk around the territory. Weedfootâs pregnancy weighed on her aging bones, but she wouldnât let that stop her from taking some time to be with her mate. That meant when the pair entered camp once more, a light dusting of snow clinging to their heels, winterâs final push, they had no idea what was going on.
Paleseed, recovered from her bought with whitecough, raced past her mother, her tail weave of red feathers smacking Weedfoot in the face. Spikecrash hurried behind her, ducking between Weedfoot and James. Before Weedfoot could ask them what was the matter, they were gone.
âThatâs not like Paleseed,â James muttered. âDo you suppose somethingâs happened?â
âOur Clan is riled about something,â Weedfoot sighed. Cats sat throughout the camp, eagerly explaining the unknown situation to their kin. A large crowd stood around the nursery. They peered into the nursery with soft gasps and excited whispers. Oilstripe, Lemmy, Clammask, and Harvest herded their kits into one group, keeping them entertained as whatever happened in the nursery unfolded.Â
âMom, we should really get Rattlepelt away from the nursery,â Anchovykit whined. He tried to run past Harvest, but the reddish-brown molly blocked his escape.
âSheâs allowed to look,â Harvest huffed. âWhy are you so worried about Rattlepelt?â
âWell, um,â Anchovykit gulped, âshe, uhâŚâ
âShe can get really angry sometimes,â Robinkit said as he paced in front of Clammask and Lemmy, who worked as a team to stop Robinkit and his little patrol of friends from causing mischief.Â
âRattlepelt is having a rough time,â Oilstripe said, taking a break from her story with the well-behaved kits. âNone of you need to concern yourself with her. Rattlepelt will be alright.â
âJust sit down!â Lemmy groaned. She jumped in front of Vervainkit before she could squirm around her guards. Weevilkit acted on the gap in their defense before anyone even realized there was a gap. She charged out of the swarm of kits. Clammask swiped at her tail, but the young tortoiseshell acted too quickly for her. She scampered to the dirt place, free from the queensâ imprisonment. Lemmy groaned, but did not chase her daughter.
âOilstripe, if youâre all out here,â Weedfoot muttered, approaching the chaos, âthen what is everyone looking at by the nursery?â Oilstripeâs troubled gaze brightened at the sight of her former mentor.
âIt would be better if you went to look for yourself,â Oilstripe chuckled.
âCongratulations,â Slushkit chirped from her spot beside her mother. Weedfoot chuckled, for that was all she could think to do.Â
âWhat do you mean?â she asked.
âAnd here I thought you were the wit in our relationship,â James chuckled. âWeed, itâs the nursery.â The spark of truth danced in Weedfootâs mind a moment later. She quickly looked through camp. Paleseed had left, no need to count her. Puddlewhisper spoke to Downstar by the leaderâs den. Lavendertwist and Scaleripple were a part of the crowd around the nursery. One kit missing.Â
âWaspdawn?â Weedfoot muttered, paws leading her to the nursery. James trotted after her, tail high. As the mates neared the nursery, Scaleripple, who stood near the back, took note of their approach.
âLet my mom in,â Scaleripple said. Though he spoke softly and to no one in particular, the rest of the Clan took notice of Weedfootâs arrival. They quickly scampered to either side, purring and giggling and staring. Lavendertwist stayed where he was, kneading the sand, dry for the first time in moons.
âCome look!â Lavendertwist cheered in a whisper. Weedfootâs heart thrashed in her throat as she and her kin entered the nest-covered den.
Leathermask was with Waspdawn inside, constructing a new nest lined with leather. Neither noticed the change to the crowd outside. Waspdawn sat on the edge of Lemmyâs nest, looking down into Weedfootâs freshly prepared nest. Four little drops of pale honey squirmed in her nest. Weedfootâs whole face melted at the sight. The four kits couldnât have been much older than a quarter moon, their fur just beginning to grow out. Each kit was a mixture of gold and white, from the darkest honey to the palest yellow.
âTheyâre quite cute, Waspdawn,â Leathermask chuckled, turning from his task. He froze when he saw Weedfoot and James staring inside.
âIâll be good to them,â Waspdawn promised. He dipped a paw into the nest, gently petting the largest of the four kits. The yellow spotted kit mewed loudly and cuddled closer to their father. âIâve had good mentors in parenthood.â
âI thought Lavendertwist would give us our first grandkits,â James said. Waspdawnâs ears perked up, paw retracting. He turned to the beaming faces of his parents and brothers.
âWait, you did?â Lavendertwist said. James gently smacked his tail over his sonâs face and let it rest there.
âWaspdawnâŚâ Weedfoot whispered. She crept closer to the four kits in her nest. She couldnât look away.
âLeathermask, could you give us a moment?â James asked.
âA fair request,â Leathermask said awkwardly, ducking his head. He squeezed around Scaleripple, who backed out of the den entirely to give the other warrior room to leave.
âThey look just like you,â Weedfoot breathed. She stuck her muzzle into the nest. The darkest colored kit squealed, blind face angling toward the new scent as best she could. The litter was an even split; two toms, two mollies, gold and white splashed equally between them all. The biggest molly looked exactly like Waspdawn had when he first laid nursing at Weedfootâs belly, a tiny blob named after the apprentice that never got to shine.
âI know you have questions,â Waspdawn sighed, laying beside the nest. âI want to answer them as best I can.â
âThe code says you donât have to,â Scaleripple said, creeping back into the den and examining Leathermaskâs newly crafted nest.
âI remember how hurt and confused everyone was when Shadowdrop and Wildclaw brought Tempestshade, Trumpetspore, and Mosspounce to camp,â Waspdawn said. âI donât want anyone to believe Iâm repeating his mistakes.â
âWeâre listening, then,â Weedfoot said. She moved closer to her son. Scaleripple sat in the new nest. James and Lavendertwist watched from the nurseryâs edge.
âAbout two months ago, I was by the southern border,â Waspdawn began, âwhen a loner called me over. Her name was Gwen. She was new to the area and wanted to meet her neighbors. Regardless, we talked for a while. As you might be able to guess, instincts overtook us, and we mated.â Scaleripple draped a paw over his muzzle at the thought, unable to look at his brother. âSoon after, a monster slowed to a stop beside us. Gwen decided to approach them. The humans inside picked her up and took her into the monster before running down the path. I would have thought nothing of it if I didnât reunite with Gwen half a moon ago.
âAround that time, one of our patrols told Downstar of a confused queen they escorted off the territory. I overheard them. Their description matched that of Gwen. I decided if she had come back after over a moon, she was likely looking for me, so I set off to find her. It didnât take me long. She was taking shelter with a few of the barn cats in the nearest farm. She had deteriorated since I saw her last. Her fur was poorly kept and she was far too thin for how pregnant she was. She took a while to recognize me. Eventually, I learned the humans she had left with were of the wicked kind. They took her to a small human den with a Clanâs worth of cats trapped inside. They couldnât leave and had little food.â
âI heard tales of humans like that in my youth,â James sighed, sneering. âWaspdawn, your friend was taken by a human we call cat-minded. They believe themselves to be cats and feel compelled to bring as many cats into their den as possible. Those dens become graves for the unfortunate cats they claim.â Lavendertwist squirmed, shoulder rubbing against his collar.Â
âGwen and another pregnant queen eventually managed to escape,â Waspdawn explained. âI agreed to offer some of my Clan training to further Gwenâs recovery. Iâve spent much of my free hours there, learning from the barn cats just as much as they learned from me. They were able to safely deliver Gwenâs litter a quarter moon ago.â Waspdawn set his chin on the nest with his kits. âWhen I realized how much they looked like me, I began to see them as mine, not just Gwenâs. The kitting made Gwenâs mind clear, and we were able to discuss what had happened between us. Gwen has no interest in living in the Clans, or any packed colony again. Thatâs when I offered to claim the litter and raise them here. Gwen decided that it would be better for them to grow up in stability rather than with a wanderer like herself. When they were strong enough to travel, I asked Puddlewhisper and Honeybuzz to assist me in bringing them home.â
âYou could have told us,â Weedfoot said. Her paw touched Waspdawnâs.
âI only made the decision to claim them a few days ago,â Waspdawn admitted. He sat up and added, âI made sure I didnât break the code by helping Gwen. I only provided her with my time and knowledge and took none of the Clanâs resources. Iâll stand trial if I have to and declare my innocence to the entire Clan.â
âYouâre not going to trial,â Lavendertwist scoffed. âReally, Waspdawn, everyone knows Rustshade had his second litter with his old WheatClan mate, and no one did a thing about that. Nothing about your story sounds wrong to me.â Lavendertwist made his way around the many nests in the den and bunted heads with his brother.
âAlright, letâs not make that rumor into history,â Weedfoot reminded her brown and white son.
âPaleseed and Spikecrash went to WheatClan to ask for someone to nurse them,â Waspdawn explained. âWith no one having milk, I wanted to make sure they ate well. Puddlewhisper is still discussing the situation with Downstar. She⌠may be annoyed that I didn't tell her about the kits.â
âShe will get over it as soon as she sees these cute furballs,â Lavendertwist laughed. He waved his tail over the kitsâ tiny noses, drawing their limited attention.
âTheyâre old enough for names,â Scaleripple noted with a twitch of his ears.
âI let their mother name them,â Waspdawn said. âHer last gift to them.â He carefully stepped into the nest with his kits. He nosed each one, naming them as he went. âYellowkit⌠Sandkit⌠Littlekit⌠and Stormkit.â
âI like those names!â Lavendertwist cheered. âI might take naming inspiration from you when I have kits of my own!â Lavendertwistâs expression softened as he stared at his nieces and nephews. He hummed softly, thoughts unknowable. Eventually, he puffed up his chest and said, âIâll be back soon.âÂ
He marched out of the nursery like a warrior on a mission. He quickly found his target by the warriorâs den. Weedfoot looked outside; Lavendertwist was staring at Elmsprout.
âElmsprout!â Lavendertwist called, tail hooked overhead. Elmsprout, who had been making the finishing touches on the Clanâs evening meal with Rabbitjoy, looked up quickly. âHow would you like to have my kits someday?â Weedfoot groaned, turning her head from the disaster. Scaleripple, in an uncharacteristic show of playfulness, snorted. James shook his head, sighing.
âWhy would you phrase it like that?â Elmsprout yowled across camp as the entire Clan stared at her and Lavendertwist. Their heads flicked back and forth as though watching birds flutter through the trees.
âBecause I want to have a family with you someday!â
âAnd you ask me now?â
âWhy not?â
âWhy yowl at me from the other side of camp?â
âI didnât want to wait!â
âIf you want to be my mate, just ask me that!â
âOkay! Do you want to be my mate?â
âIs this really working?â James muttered, sticking his head out of the den.
âIâve wanted that for moons,â Elmsprout laughed. She bounded away from the oven and joined Lavendertwist outside the nursery. The Clan cheered as they rubbed pelts, laughing all the while. James joined his son, bunting his shoulder in congratulations.
âNow youâll say youâre planning to have kits,â Weedfoot purred, looking over at Scaleripple.
âI donât,â Scaleripple said, literal as ever. âI donât think Tempestshade and I ever planned to have kits. I just wanted to be their companion.â Weedfoot could think of nothing to say. She turned back to her grandkits. Her first grandkits! StarClan, did that make her feel old. How much of the gray in her pelt was from her age?Â
âSandkit looks more like you than me, I think,â Waspdawn hummed as his kits searched for a warm belly. âWho knows? Maybe one of them will be like you, Scaleripple.â Scaleripple left the nest and joined his kin by the newborns. He stared at the four golden lumps, squirming and settling into deep sleep. Something in his eyes sparkled.
âI would kill for them,â he said. He locked his eyes on Waspdawn with a more focused stare than Weedfoot had ever seen from her youngest son.
âI think we all would,â Weedfoot purred. She nuzzled her grandkits, bathing in the warm joy of their tiny bodies.
(Weedfoot: 118, female, deputy, charismatic, steady paws, formidable fighter)
(James: 145, male, elder, charismatic, den builder, formidable fighter)
(Anchovykit: 4, male, kit, charming, curious about StarClan)
(Harvest: 57, female, queen, nervous, good fighter)
(Robinkit: 4, male, kit, unruly, avid play-fighter)
(Oilstripe: 73, female, historian, charismatic, ghost speaker)
(Lemmy: 46, female, codekeeper, cold, deep StarClan bond)
(Weevilkit: 4, female, kit, bullying, curious about StarClan)
(Slushkit: 5, female, kit, polite, quick witted)
(Scaleripple: 22, male, warrior, lonesome, formidable fighter)
(Lavendertwist: 35, male, historian, playful, great singer, good storyteller)
(Leathermask: 17, male, warrior, nervous, great speaker, good fighter)
(Waspdawn: 35, male, codekeeper, strict, learner of lore, clue finder)
(Yellowkit: 0, female, kit, noisy)
(Sandkit: 0, male, kit, self-conscious)
(Littlekit: 0, male, kit, skittish)
(Stormkit: 0, female, kit, know-it-all)
(Elmsprout: 36, female, caretaker, charismatic, helpful insight)
While showing Harvest around the territory, helping her find a place in the Clan as she raises her kits, a kittypet asks about joining the Clan with her five kits.
[Image ID: Estherfern, a brown tabby with sunlit eyes, says âIt seems your ancestors have an interest in me.â Under her, it says NEW PLAYER: ESTHERFERN, 103, FEMALE, BLOODTHIRSTY, GREAT MEDIATOR, PROPHECY SEEKER, + CONDITION: RECOVERING FROM BIRTH. Beside her are five kits. The solid lilac molly reads NEW PLAYER: THUNDERKIT, 1, FEMALE, BULLYING, MOSS-BALL HUNTER. The dark brown kit says NEW PLAYER: BOUGHKIT, 1, FEMALE, QUIET, CONSTANTLY CLIMBING. The gold tom reads NEW PLAYER: BRIGHTKIT, 1, MALE, SHY, LOVER OF ART. The ticked kit reads NEW PLAYER: FOAMKIT, 1, FEMALE, UNRULY, ALWAYS WANDERING. The last brown molly reads NEW PLAYER: WOLVERINEKIT, 1, FEMALE, SKITTISH, ALWAYS ASKING QUESTIONS.]
---
When Oilstripe was a WheatClan kit, she spent a lot of time asking the various cats of the Clan whether she would make a good warrior or artisan or whatever role they held. Considering how much she loved hearing their stories, the path of a historian seemed obvious to her now. Yet if that worked for her, perhaps Harvest, who had yet to declare herself in any official role beside a humble queen, needed that same chance to hear what it was like to follow a certain path through the Clans.
Oilstripe, Puddlewhisper, Carnationspeckle, and Halibutdusk sat with Harvest on a hill in the open southern lands, where sunhigh reminded them all of springâs return as they bathed in its yellow beams. It was the perfect spot to survey the territory. While cold air still nibbled at their pelts and the trees showed no sign yet of newborn buds, the longer days left rich mud and life across the land. Harvest sat with her tail twitching while everyone else lounged about, sinking into the dull, tan grass.
âIf you choose to be a warrior, there isnât much you have to learn,â Halibutdusk explained, stretching out his front legs. âYouâll help out where needed and go on patrols. Your old friend taught you how to fight, so you wonât need extra training.â
âIt sounds nice,â Harvest admitted, head tucked down, âbut Oakface would brag about the other positions in Clan life. I feel Iâd be dishonoring him if I didnât consider them.â
âIf you want to spend more time in the nursery,â Carnationspeckle purred, laying in an awkward looking yet shockingly comfortable heap, âyou can become a caretaker. Some caretakers choose to spend all their time in the nursery as permanent helpers. Would that interest you?â
âOh, donât misunderstand me,â Harbest gulped, âI love raising my kits, but I donât want to be stuck in the nursery forever.â
âIf you have an interest in order and justice, you should become a codekeeper,â Puddlewhisper pointed out as she itched her back paw. âWe spend a lot of our time assisting Downstar and Weedfoot in organizing the Clan and honoring the code.â
âDonât forget historians!â Oilstripe chirped, stretched out in an arch along the grass. âThereâs a lot to learn, but our stories are important.â
âItâs just as overwhelming as when Oakface described them,â Harvest laughed awkwardly. âItâs so strange to say Iâll only do certain tasks the rest of my life.â
âThatâs not what weâre saying, donât worry,â Carnationspeckle promised. She tapped her paw against Harvestâs. âYou can always make a change later on. No one will blame you if you take more time deciding!â
âYou might need to join some patrols, though,â Puddlewhisper pointed out. âItâs important to contribute.â
âOf course,â Harvest said. âThereâs so much to do now that Iâm here. I hope to experience as much as I can.â
âAnd I hope we can fulfill your dreams,â Carnationspeckle chirped. Puddlewhisper lifted her head, ears turning south. She squinted, pupils narrow in the shiny sunlight.
âSomeone just crossed the border,â she said, getting to her paws. Oilstripe, Carnationspeckle, and Halibutdusk followed her lead, claws out. âYou can see them in the distance.â The Clan cats quickly followed Puddlewhisperâs gaze.
The intruder was nothing more than a speck in the grass from that distance. Oilstripe couldnât even smell if they were a tom or a molly. Their dark fur was a shard of dull ocean rock thrown into the middle of the land, smooth from moons upon moons battered by the waves. They wandered deeper into RippleClan as though they were on patrol.
âIf this is one of the same barn cats that keep trespassing,â Halibutdusk sighed, âwe might have to show force.âÂ
âSomething feels different about them,â Puddlewhisper muttered, eyes narrowing even more. âI canât explain it.â
âI can,â Oilstripe said. As the intruder drew closer, Oilstripe saw another shape slipping through the grass. His ginger fur and white-wrapped torso were stuck in Oilstripeâs memory. He seemed to lead the newcomer toward the small gathering. Now why was Fennelspot leading a stranger over the border?
Carnationspeckle was the first to trot downhill, silky fur swaying softly. The others followed single file, all eyes on the stranger. The wind carried a mollyâs scent to Oilstripeâs nose. The brown molly had bright bicolored eyes, coolly watching the incoming patrol. Fennelspot stopped when the patrol grew close. He looked to Oilstripe, familiar eyes easing any concerns she had of the intruder. With a low nod and a quick blink, Fennelspot vanished, leaving just the brown molly to tackle.
âExcuse us,â Carnationspeckle coughed. The brown molly sat undisturbed, eyes drifting over each cat. âIâm sorry, but Iâm afraid youâre trespassing on our Clanâs territory. Youâve crossed our border by the horse path.â The others spread out around Carnationspeckle.
âIâm aware,â the stranger purred. Her tone was light and airy, a whispering wind or tuft of smoke blown from an oven where stew simmered and watered the mouths of passersby.Â
âThen you know youâll be escorted out,â Puddlewhisper huffed. âWe donât allow outsiders to wander into our land as they please.â
âI believe there is supposed to be an exception for me,â the stranger sighed. âMy name is Esther, though from what I know, my name will change slightly when I join you. It seems your ancestors have an interest in me.â The patrol shared glances, shifting awkwardly, wondering if any of them had a good answer to Estherâs odd declaration.
âHow would you know that?â Harvest asked, back arched slightly.
âI would be happy to tell you,â Esther said, getting up, âbut first, would you help me with my kits?â
âYour kits?â Carnstionspeckle gasped, peering about like the kits would suddenly pop out of the grass.
âIâve left them just by your border,â Esther explained. She flicked her tail the way she came. She sauntered off, but paused when no paw steps followed behind. âI didnât wander into one of those territorial Clans, have I? The sort to leave a queen and her kits alone?â
âWeâll help,â Oilstripe promised. She gave everyone a cautious, knowing look. That was all Carnationspeckle needed to follow Esther toward the border. Harvest, Halibutdusk, and Puddlewhisper lingered behind while Oilstripe joined her mate. If Fennelspot was leading Esther into RippleClan (whether or not anyone knew he was there), then Esther couldnât be a danger.
Esther led the patrol to the horse path, quiet of any rolling monsters. Esther was just another patch of mud in the recovering grass, a spot of brown in a sea of tan. Oilstripe could smell the kits before she saw the small dip in the ground some ways beyond the horse path. Esther crawled into the dip and nuzzled the tiny bodies tucked within.
âHello, my darlings,â Estherfern purred. Five kits mewed with delight at their motherâs return. They were all earth-colored, ranging between brown and pale tan. Almost all of them sported Estherâs sunlit eyes. There was only one tom in the bunch. All five stared wide-eyed at the Clan cats. The tom and the brown tabby hopped over Esther and hid behind her. The dark brown kit stood on Esther to get a better view of them. The two pale mollies, however, scurried out of their makeshift nest and stared down Oilstripe.
âSo many kitsâŚâ Puddlewhisper muttered as Esther pawed at her wayward daughters, urging them back to her side.Â
âTom cats!â the brown tabby gasped, peeking out from behind Esther. âAre you tom cats? Momma, you brought tom cats!â
âIâm a molly,â Puddlewhisper huffed, tucking into herself. âHalibutdusk isnât a tom, either. Theyâre separate from toms and mollies.â Where Puddlewhisper seemed like sheâd rather sink through the grass at the comment, Halibutdusk simply nodded, tail sagging.
âYou can be something else?â one of the pale colored kits gasped, eyes sparkling.Â
âWolverinekit, donât ask rude questions,â Esther warned, âand Thunderkit, donât pester them.â Thunderkit stuck her tongue at her mother. A sharp glare from Esther sent Thunderkit scrambling toward her dark brown sister.
âThey have Clan names,â Oilstripe realized. âHow do you know how we name our kits?â
âI asked,â Esther purred. She glanced at the thin clouds above. âIâve named my kits Thunderkit, Boughkit, Brightkit, Foamkit, and Wolverinekit.â Each kit jumped up at the sound of their name. Thunderkit and Foamkit were the pale mollies, one solid, one ticked. Boughkit was the dark brown kit, Brightkit was the golden-brown tom, leaving Wolverinekit as the curious long-furred tabby.
âI need an explanation before I lead you to our camp,â Puddlewhisper huffed, taking the lead. âItâs fine to ask to join our ranks, Harvest here did the same with her kits only a few moons ago.â
âHello,â Harvest said with an awkward twitch of her tail.
âBut claiming youâve spoken to StarClan?â Puddlewhisper scoffed, unable to stop her ears from going flat. âI just donât trust it, kits or no kits. So before I feel comfortable helping you, I want to understand what youâre suggesting.â
âTake a deep breath, Puddlewhisper,â Oilstripe said. She touched her tail to Puddlewhisperâs side. âBelieve me when I say, thereâs at least some truth to what Esther is saying.â Oilstripe turned to Esther and added, âShe is right, though. I want to know what led you here.â
âAre you expecting my lifeâs story?â Esther sighed. Her son crawled under her chin. Esther groomed Brightkitâs head, earning a purr.
âTell us how you know about StarClan,â Oilstripe said, sitting at the edge of the dip.
âWhere I come from,â Esther sighed, âfar to the west, prophecy is commonplace, if not more straightforward than what your ancestors love to craft. A prophecy is no more than a message from our God. When my God told me to travel east and find the five Clans, who was I to say no? I am needed here, apparently. I would have been here moons upon moons ago, if not for the human who snatched me in my sleep and threw me into her den. It was not the sort of place one could escape from, all filth and violence and too many cats in too small a space.â
âThatâŚâ Puddlewhisper muttered, pacing to the other side of the dip, âsounds familiar.â She studied the five kits, who all watched her like she would become a fearsome bear, ready to strike at any moment. âEsther, do you know a cat named Gwen?â
âShe and I found a way out of that cesspool close to a moon ago,â Esther said. âBy then, I had fallen pregnant, but I made do. Theyâre quite cute, after all.â Boughkit slid off Estherâs back with a small squeal, earning Thunderkitâs mockery. âWhile I rotted away, however, I began to hear more from your ancestors in my dreams. I was thrown off guard by their way of speaking, but I grew to find the meaning in their metaphors. Their prophecies told me how to find you, how to escape, and how to name my kits.â Wolverinekit stared bug-eyed at Puddlewhisper as the gray molly thought through Estherâs story.
âDo you believe her, Oilstripe?â Puddlewhisper asked. Oilstripe loafed at the dipâs edge, carefully staring at Esther.
âCan you describe any of the cats from your dream, Esther?â Oilstripe wondered.Â
âOh, there were a few over the moons,â Esther sighed. âNone gave me their name. The most common sight in the last few moons has been⌠a tailless tortoiseshell, gray and ginger.â
âParsley?â Carnationspeckle gasped. While Harvest was unphased by the name, everyone else paid a bit more attention to Esther.Â
âIf StarClan has called you here,â Halibutdusk asked, âthen you must have some idea as to why.â
âI can give you their last prophecy to me,â Esther purred as Wolverinekit and Brightkit started nibbling at each other. âBut I need to know youâll escort me to your camp. I need to secure a safe home for my kits.â
âThereâs no reason we wouldnât, right Oilstripe?â Harvest said with a friendly cock of her tail.
âIf you have so much experience with prophecies,â Oilstripe said as Foamkit once again left the dip and sniffed around the Clan catsâ legs, âRippleClan could use your expertise as one of our clerics.â
âI want to hear this prophecy, first,â Puddlewhisper huffed. Foamkit pawed at Puddlewhisperâs leg. Puddlewhisper peered down, curious. Foamkit wiggled her flank and launched at Puddlewhisper. She clawed up Puddlewhisperâs leg and stood on Puddlewhisperâs back. Puddlewhisper could only stand stunned for a moment before she suddenly started laughing. âOh, do you want a horse ride?â
âWhatâs aââ Foamkit said, but she wasnât fast enough. Puddlewhisper kicked and bucked like a frantic horse. Foamkit dug her claws in, squealing and laughing the whole way. The other kits wooed and awed at the sight, running toward Puddlewhisper. They chased after her as Foamkit held on for her short life.
âWell, while youâre busy mangling my daughter,â Esther sighed, âIâll give you the prophecy.â Esther climbed out of the dip and cleared her throat. âFerns spread spores across fertile soil. There is much to learn from their growth, good and bad.â
âSounds like your average prophecy,â Oilstripe admitted. âI donât think Downstar and Weedfoot will have any issues with you joining the Clan as another cleric. Iâm sure Honeybuzz and my daughter, Troutpool, would appreciate the extra paws.â
âI know you gave your kits Clan names,â Carnationspeckle pointed out, âbut you donât have to change your name if you donât want to. There are plenty of cats who keep their old names in RippleClan, like James!â
âThank you, but I actually decided on a Clan-like name while I was recovering from my kitting,â the strange brown molly said. âI was hoping to be called Estherfern. I believe the name to be appropriate
(Oilstripe: 73, female, historian, charismatic, ghost speaker)
(Halibutdusk: 60, nonbinary (they/them), warrior, gloomy, masterful storyteller, clever)
(Harvest: 57, female, queen, nervous, good fighter)
(Carnationspeckle: 71, female, caretaker, compassionate, fish-like swimmer)
(Puddlewhisper: 35, trans female, codekeeper, righteous, natural intuition, ghost sense)
(Fennelspot: 113, male, cleric, insecure, trusted advisor, incredible runner)
(Estherfern: 103, female, cleric, bloodthirsty, great mediator, prophecy seeker)
(Wolverinekit: 1, female, kit, skittish, always asking questions)
(Thunderkit: 1, female, kit, bullying, moss-ball hunter)
(Boughkit: 1, female, kit, quiet, constantly climbing)
(Brightkit: 1, male, kit, shy, lover of art)
(Foamkit: 1, female, kit, unruly, always wandering)
Rattlepelt eavesdrops on Wolfkit.
[Image ID: Anchovykit says to Wolfkit, âShe scares me, Wolfkit! My mom wonât believe me!â Rattlepelt listens in from the side.]
---
A kit just couldnât get any privacy in RippleClan, it seemed.Â
The first place Anchovykit tried to speak to Wolfkit was between the Shiprock and the medicine den. It was blocked off enough, so cats would have given them a bit of privacy. But new arrival Estherfern was causing a fuss in the medicine den, complaining about the herbs inside (âHow can I focus on developing my relationship with your higher powers when you want me to crush leaves and roots all day?â). So that wouldnât have been a good place to talk.
Anchovykit tried the quarantine den next. No one was there, so no one would interrupt. Except he then remembered just how many cats passed by to make dirtâŚ. Not the right place.
He didnât even stop to consider the nursery. Clammask and Lemmy were still talking to the visiting WheatClan queen about whether she needed to stick around and nurse Waspdawnâs kits, or if Estherfern could assist in the task. With well over a dozen kits of all ages inside, Anchovykit wouldnât have been able to think, let alone talk to Wolfkit.
That was when he remembered that Mitepaw was the only apprentice in the Clan, and she had just left to collect wood with Rabbitjoy. The apprenticeâs den was completely empty. The perfect place to talk.
âAnchovykit, why do you need to be so secretive?â Wolfkit sighed as Anchovykit led her into the apprenticeâs den. The setting sun cast the entire den in deep shadow, better hiding the pair.
âBecause this is really important!â Anchovykit huffed. With just the one nest inside, the den felt rather barren. The planks covering the roof seemed hollow in comparison to the secure stone walls of the nursery. Regardless, Anchovykit sat to the side, urging Wolfkit deeper into the darkness.
âSo what is it?â Wolfkit asked. Anchovykit held his breath, trying to build up his courage and words.
âDid you talk to Spikecrash last moon about seeing things that werenât there?â he gulped. Wolfkit pinned her big ears flat.
âHow do you know about that?â Wolfkit whined.
âI overheard Spikecrash and Paleseed discuss it while I was making dirt,â Anchovykit admitted. âWolfkit, I need to know! Do you see things glow, too? Do you see whatâs wrong with Rattlepelt?â Anchovykitâs ears were as flat as Wolfkitâs.
âWhatâs wrong with Rattlepelt?â Wolfkit gulped.
âThe ooze!â Anchovykit cried, stamping his paw. âThe black stuff! The⌠oh what did she call it? The ichor! Itâs all over her! She scares me, Wolfkit! My mom wonât believe me!â
âI donât know what youâre talking about,â Wolfkit whined.
âYou know how mad she gets sometimes!â Anchovykit groaned. âDidnât you see her yell at Mitepaw and Elmsprout yesterday?â
Anchovykit didnât know what started the fight. He had been with Robinkit, Silverkit, and Vervainkit, learning a hunterâs crouch from Scaleripple. Mitepaw and Elmsprout had been talking about AshClan woodwork, the former showing off some of her pieces to Ravenkit. She had carved a birdâs wing out of a chunk of fallen wood, much to Ravenkitâs awe. It was in the midst of this happy moment that Rattlepelt appeared, giving into her own rage like a fire devouring the last of its fuel and surging upward in defiance. In Anchovykitâs unique eyes, Rattlepeltâs gaze shifted between the dark copper described by others and a burning, hateful yellow, her ichor smearing the sand. Oh how she had raged against Mitepaw and Elmsprout, screaming of traitors and false loyalty. It took both Puddlewhisper and Waspdawn to drag Rattlepelt away from the terrified mollies, the mediators hot on her trail, ready to uncover the truth of the outburst.Â
But Anchovykit knew. Heâd known for moons.
âThereâs something wrong with Rattlepelt, and no one will believe me,â Anchovykit groaned. âItâs more than anger. I think sheâs cursed! I thought you saw it too!â
âThatâs not what I talked to Spikecrash about,â Wolfkit muttered, staring at her paws. âI see something else.â
âDo you see the future too?â Anchovykit and Wolfkit jumped, backs arched comically high. Weevilkit stood at the denâs entrance, shaking sand out of her pelt.
âItâs not nice to eavesdrop, Weevilkit!â Wolfkit huffed as her sister joined the duo inside.
âI only heard the last little bit,â Weevilkit insisted. âNow tell me what it is you see!â
âNo, wait,â Anchovykit said, trying to smooth out the surprise prickling his pelt, âdid you say you see the future?â
âWell, Iâve been keeping it a secret,â Weevilkit chuckled with a cocky sway of her flank. âI want to shock the clerics when I become an apprentice. I donât want them to be jealous of how special I am.â
âDo you get visions from StarClan?â Wolfkit asked.
âNot like the clerics,â Weevilkit purred. âI see things just before they happen. Like when Estherfern arrived today! I saw her enter camp just before she actually entered camp. Iâve been seeing things like this for a while now. I didnât know what it was at first, but now I know that itâs just what makes me special!â
âOh, I know the word for that!â Wolfkit gasped. âPremonitions!â
âThatâs it!â Weevilkit chirped, bouncing. âDo you have them too?â
âI see something else,â Anchovykit said, a bit more confident than when Weevilkit first interrupted. âI think itâs⌠influence. I see what StarClan touches, I think. If they like a place or person, it glows. I think I uncurse cats, too! I had a dream where a StarClan cat helped me uncurse Tempestshade so they could go to StarClan.â Wolfkit and Weevilkit looked at Anchovykit like they would look at a great hero of the Clans.
âSo weâre both special,â Weevilkit gasped. She shoved Wolfkit and said, âWhat do you see, what do you see?â
âI donât know if I actually see anything,â Wolfkit gulped, sitting with a plop, gaze stuck downward. âThere was just something weird that happened last moon. I donât think itâs happened since.â
âWell, try to make it happen again,â Weevilkit insisted. âWhat was it?â
âUmâŚâ Wolfkit muttered. âI was playing with Yarrowkit, and I ran in front of her and glared at her like this.â Wolfkit lifted her eyes and stared at Anchovykit.
There was no moment between Wolfkitâs stare and what happened next. Anchovykit was on the ground, Weevilkit standing on his shoulder, smacking his head. Wolfkit crouched in on herself, shaking.
âAnchovykit!â Weevilkit yowled. She smacked Anchovykitâs face again. Anchovykit shoved her off.
âWhat was that?â he snapped.
âYou werenât breathing,â Wolfkit whined, swallowing hard. âYou wouldnât answer us. You werenât doing anything. It was just like with Yarrowkit.â
âI donât remember anything,â Anchovykit huffed, shaking out his pelt.
âWolfkit, stare at me this time!â Weevilkit chirped, bounding away from Anchovykit and sitting in Mitepawâs nest.
âOkay,â Wolfkit gulped. She turned her fearful gaze to Weevilkit.Â
Anchovykit stared, waiting for something to happen. Except nothing did. Anchovykit quickly realized that was the point. Weevilkit did not move a single whisker. She did not blink. She did not breathe. Her eyes seemed hollow, frozen in a memory, a moment that had passed her by but that she could not leave.
âHow do you stop it?â Anchovykit gasped. Wolfkit blinked hard. Weevilkit snapped back to life, once again wiggling with anticipation for something that already happened. She realized what she had missed as soon as she looked over at Anchovykit.
âWeâre all special!â Weevilkit cheered. She ran to Wolfkit, nuzzling her sister. âWeâre all special! I love it! You freeze people, Wolfkit! Youâre special!â Wolfkit beamed in her sisterâs praise. âLetâs go, letâs go! Letâs celebrate! Weâre special!â Weevilkit charged out of the apprenticeâs den. Caught up in the moment, Anchovykit and Wolfkit ran after her.
Rattlepelt was sitting directly next to the apprenticeâs den. Anchovykit skidded in the sand at the sight of the furious, unnatural yellow eyes that only he could see. The ichor that pooled around Rattlepeltâs legs stained the leather she had been mending. Her claws poked through the leather. Anchovykitâs legs went numb. How much had she heard?
âThis way!â Weevilkit snapped, nipping at Anchovykitâs scruff. The excitement and joy that had consumed her a moment before had vanished, replaced with a stiff terror. Weevilkit led Wolfkit toward the dirt-place. Anchovykit ran after them, just as Rattlepelt got to her paws.
Weevilkit skirted around the shipwreck and dove into the empty quarantine den. Anchovykit and Wolfkit scrambled to keep up, panting as their little hearts beat hard.
âI had another pree-me,â Weevilkit gulped.
âPremonition,â Wolfkit said softly.
âRattlepelt was about to get really, really mad at us,â Weevikit said, shivering. âIs she following us?â Anchovykit glanced outside. The dirt-place was empty. No sign of Rattlepelt.
âThereâs something wrong with her,â Anchovykit huffed. âSpecial cats always use their powers for good in stories, right? I think we need to use ours against Rattlepelt.â
âMaybe we should tell an adult,â Wolfkit suggested, glancing outside.Â
âThey wonât believe us,â Anchovykit huffed. âWaspdawnâs litter is so small! We have to keep them safe from Rattlepelt.â
âWould she hurt them?â Wolfkit gulped.
âYou donât see her like I do,â Anchovykit huffed, trying once more to be brave. âI think with her curse, sheâs capable of anything.â
(Anchovykit: 4, male, kit, charming, curious about StarClan)
(Wolfkit: 4, female, kit, polite, curious about StarClan, confident with words)
(Weevilkit: 4, female, kit, bullying, curious about StarClan)
(Rattlepelt: 52, female, artisan, bloodthirsty, leather artist)
#clangen#warrior cats#rippleclan#warriors#rippleclan story#waspdawn#weedfoot#james#sandkit#yellowkit#littlekit#stormkit#estherfern#boughkit#thunderkit#foamkit#brightkit#wolverinekit#oilstripe#anchovykit#weevilkit#wolfkit#robinkit#harvest#puddlewhisper#scaleripple#lavendertwist#elmsprout#halibutdusk#carnationspeckle
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RippleClan: Moon 70, Part 2
Mitespark drugs Rattlepeltâs meal so she falls into a deep sleep.
[Image ID: Mitesparks speaks with Weevilkit, Anchovykit, Wolfkit, and Downstar.]
Anchovykit and his friends stayed in the quarantine den with Downstar and Honeybuzz the rest of the day while Waspdawn kept prying ears away from their conversation. There was something so adult about it all that even with Weevilkitâs terrifying description of what Rattlepelt could have done, Anchovykit still stood tall and tried to talk to his leader like a noble warrior. To his shock, Downstar and Honeybuzz didnât talk down to him. They actually seemed to respect the kits! Maybe it was how close they were to apprenticeship, or maybe it was their powers. Whatever it was, Anchovykit liked it.
He did wish he could play a bigger role in the upcoming fight, though.
As dusk slipped away and night covered the camp, the kits pressed their ears against the walls of the shipwreck, listening to the conversations in the medicine den through layers of wood. They couldnât hear much, but Anchovykit had a sharp picture in his mind; Rattlepelt, sitting in a nest with her bite wounds bandaged, Troutpool and Estherfern minding their business as the kitsâ spy entered the den.
âRattlepelt,â Mitespark called, voice clear through the shipwreck. âAsterblaze and I made dinner tonight. Itâs just a simple soup, but I added a little salt to your bowl, since youâre hurt.â
âHmm,â Rattlepelt huffed. âThank you.â There was a long pause (most likely, Mitespark was setting down the bowl of soup for Rattlepelt). Eventually, Rattlepelt asked, âDid Waspdawn find out why those kits tried to kill me?â
âI think heâs still interviewing them,â Mitespark gulped. âWhatever reason they had, theyâre still kits. Iâm sure you can talk it through.â
âWhat I should do is treat them the same!â Rattlepelt suddenly yowled.Â
âRattlepelt!â Troutpool snapped, suddenly reminding Anchovykit of her presence.
âI know, I know, I shouldnât say that,â Rattlepelt growled.
âJust get some rest,â Mitespark sighed. The medicine den grew quiet. Weevilkit was the first to turn around and greet Mitespark when she looped around the shipwreck. Downstar and Honeybuzz had been waiting to the side of the den, sharing tongues. They quickly stood at the young artisanâs approach.
âDid you drug the soup?â Weevilkit asked, hurrying up to Mitespark.
âI put the medicine in, like Honeybuzz asked,â Mitespark gulped, fur prickling. âDownstar, this doesnât feel right. Why did we need to sedate Rattlepelt?â
âBecause her recent behavior hasnât been her own,â Downstar sighed with a sorry shake of her head. âYouâve done well, Mitespark. We just need to wait for Rattlepelt to fall asleep now.â
âDo you think my parents will still be mad at me after this?â Wolfkit asked, still listening through the shipwreck.
âOnce we explain the situation,â Honeybuzz promised, âMosspounce and Lemmy will understand. You were just defending the other kits.â Wolfkit nodded, although Honeybuzzâs assurances did not ease the tension tightening through her shoulders.
âHow long will it take Rattlepelt to sleep?â Weevilkit groaned. âWhat if she acts out again?â
âIâll go back to the medicine den and fetch you when sheâs dreaming,â Honeybuzz said. He trotted out of the quarantine den, leaving the kits to wait. Weevilkit paced around Anchovykit and Wolfkit. Her soft glow, invisible to all but Anchovykit, reminded him of the moon, shifting positions around the sky, providing a gentle but stunning light.Â
âWolfkit?â Weevilkit asked, still pacing. âAnchovykit? Do you two know what you want to train as?â
âWeâre talking about this now?â Wolfkit gulped. She sat in a tight loaf. The stress building under her pelt made Anchovykit hurt just looking at her. He sat down beside Wolfkit, cocking his head to Weevilkit.
âAnswer the question,â Weevilkit huffed, sitting with a dramatic thump.
âIâll be a warrior,â Anchovykit declared. âIâve known that forever! What else would I be?â
âYour sight would make you a good cleric,â Downstar pointed out from where she continued to lounge.
âThatâs funny,â Anchovykit laughed.
âI was really impressed with Waspdawn today,â Wolfkit said, finding her voice through her fear, âeven though he scared me. I would love to train with him.â
âIâll keep that in mind, Wolfkit,â Downstar promised. âWeevilkit, are you asking because you arenât sure?â
âThe opposite,â Weevilkit huffed. She stopped pacing and gave her chest a lick. âI want to be a cleric.â Really? Weevilkit; wild, commanding Weevilkit, as a humble cleric?
Before Anchovykit could pry into his friendâs odd decision, Honeybuzz hurried back to the den, panting, âSheâs asleep. Letâs do this quickly.â
âTo your paws, kits,â Downstar huffed as Honeybuzz scurried back to the medicine den. Downstar trotted after her youngest cleric, with the three kits on her tail. Waspdawn joined them, leaving his guard post.
The soft fire under the clericâs personal oven illuminated part of the medicine den. The clericsâ ointments and concoctions cast soft, but disorienting shadows onto one another. Troutpool and Estherfern watched in sheer confusion as the gaggle of cats stormed inside. Rattlepelt slept in a nest tucked to the side. She seemed to drown in the black ichor that forever oozed off her legs. Anchovykit knew there was a bandage wrapped around her shoulder, but the ichor smothered it. He ground his paws into the sand. Possessed or not, how dare she even think of attacking Waspdawnâs kits?
âHoneybuzz, whatâs going on?â Troutpool asked as Estherfern carefully glared at the group.
âI think you should explain this to them outside the den,â Downstar muttered. Her dark gaze revealed her true intentions. Honeybuzz flicked his ears and looped around his fellow clerics. He herded them outside like a monster pushed a horse onwards.
âWhatever this is,â Estherfern said, eyes locking on Anchovykit, âgood luck.â Did she know what was happening? Whatever the case, Anchovykit quickly looked away from the brown cleric. No time to worry about creepy clerics. It was time to save Rattlepelt.
âDo you know what youâre doing?â Waspdawn asked as Anchovykit crept toward Rattlepelt.
âI should,â Anchovykit gulped. He mimicked the hunterâs crouch so often demonstrated in camp. Even now, in such tense of circumstances, he couldnât stop himself from wondering if his form was right, if the adults were impressed.
The black ichor covering Rattlepelt sloshed in Anchovykitâs presence. With how close he now was, he swore the spiritual ooze had a scent; something like mushrooms, or faded autumn leaves. Anchovykit braced his poor tongue for the awful taste ahead. He carefully bit into the ichor, Ripplefernâs guidance echoing in the background. Peel it off like a lid.
âI see something!â Wolfkit gasped as Anchovykit pulled. The taste made Anchovykit want to vomit, but he pushed on. He dug his paws in, straining his neck. The ooze stuck to Rattlepelt, slimy tendrils hooking around her as Anchovykit pulled more and more of it off. Even though he only grabbed the one leg, the ichor draining from the others seemed pulled to Anchovykitâs grasp like rain falling from the sky. Fat, sticky drops flew off Rattlepelt and onto the growing mass in Anchovykitâs jaws. It was getting too big for his mouth. How much ichor was on Rattlepelt?
With a loud, decisive groan, Anchovykit wrenched his head back and pulled the last tendrils of ichor off Rattlepeltâs body. He threw the huge, squirming mass away, bile stinging his throat. The bubbling, oozing ichor (which, from the horror in the eyes around him, everyone could now see) flew across the medicine den. It splattered at Downstarâs paws with a violent squish.
âThatâs a Shardling?â Waspdawn muttered as Wolfkit sneered at the pile of ichor. Weevilkit hissed as a bubble formed on the surface of the ichor and popped.
âWhat do we do with it?â Wolfkit asked. Downstar had no time to answer; Weevilkit suddenly jumped with a loud yowl, making everyoneâs fur spike. She stared at the ichor, seeing something that Anchovykit could not⌠not for a few seconds, at least.
âGet out!â Weevilkit screeched, running for the exit. âGet out right now!â Anchovykit and Wolfkit immediately raced out of the medicine den, looping around the ichor. Waspdawn and Downstar scrambled back just in time. The second Downstar moved, the ichor lunged at where she had been standing, impossibly sharp fangs suddenly launching from the mess like a great beast of the sea breaching the waves.
âStay behind me!â Downstar yelped. She skidded across the sand and shoved the kits to her back. The ichor lunged and stumbled like a drowned frog, flopping out of the medicine den. The clerics stood to the side of the den and gawked at the sight. Elmsprout, who had been dutifully on guard duty outside, rushed back into camp.
âWhat is that?â she yowled as the ichor bubbled and gurgled. A solid form crawled out of the ichor like a cat crawled over a cliffâs edge to save themselves from a long fall. Each feature was sharp, pointed like fangs but thick like shadows over mud. Yellow eyes, the same eyes Anchovykit had seen for the last season in Rattlepeltâs glare, burst to life along the Shardlingâs angular face. It mimicked long fur with slick tendrils of ichor and darkness. Its bile stained the sand with fat, sloppy drops. Anchovykit tried to stop his tail from slinking between his legs, from cowering behind Downstar, but he could not stop himself. The Shardlingâs wicked stare settled on the nursery.
âWeeeeeeeeeeeeedfoooooooooooooot!â the Shardling screeched. Its cry was claws against bark, crumbling stones and screeching bats. Before anyone could stop it, the Shardling raced into the nursery.
[Image ID: Weevilkit asks Anchovykit and Wolfkit, âDoes this make us⌠heroes?â]
Yowling instantly enveloped the nursery. Ravenkit and Silverkit scrambled out of the den with their mother at their heels. Waspdawn, Elmsprout, and Downstar charged into the chaos. There was no choice in the matter; Anchovykit, Weevilkit, and Wolfkit followed, despite how hard their hearts pounded.Â
The nursery was a thunderstorm over a raging sea. Anchovykitâs friends and littermates scrambled over each other as the Shardling ran and tripped through the nursery. The queens scrambled from their sleep, still trying to grasp what stood before them. The Shardling sneered at Weedfoot, who sat in the far back of the den. Her two tiny kits, one red, one black, mewed loudly, disturbed but unaware of the danger that lurked nearby.
âYou can do it, Harvest!â Weevilkit yowled. A few seconds later, Anchovykitâs mother fulfilled Weevilkitâs prophecy. She pounced on the Shardling, screeching louder than anything Anchovykit had heard before.
âEveryone, out!â Downstar ordered. She ushered Clammask and her kits around the fight, navigating through what little room remained in the den.
âIâll help, Mom!â someone in the horde of kits yowled. As Yarrowkit, Billowkit, and Currentkit watched as their mother spun around the den, claws locked into the monster, Robinkit charged into the fight.
âGet back!â Waspdawn roared. He shoved into the nursery, but tripped over Boughkit and Brightkit, laying curled and terrified near the exit. His large body blocked most of the scene.
âRobinkit, run!â Harvest cried. The Shardling slammed her jaw into the rock wall. Still, even with a splatter of blood staining the wall, Harvest launched back into the fight. Anchovykit could hear his brother somewhere in the mix, but had no idea what was happening to him.
âWeâre smaller,â Weevilkit said, batting at Downstarâs shoulder to catch her eye. âWe can get through this! We can grab the other kits!â
âYouâre not apprentices yet!â Downstar snapped. At that moment, Anchovykit decided heâd take a hundred punishments from Downstar if it meant no one else got hurt.
Anchovykit dove under Waspdawnâs legs and snatched Brightkit by the leg. No time to be gentle, his denmate had to leave. He dragged Brightkit out of the den and into Weevilkit. Wolfkit lunged through the gap formed in the kitâs absence and slipped into the den.
Waspdawn grabbed Boughkit and set her beside her brother. As he moved, Anchovykit raced inside. Waspdawn ran for his kits, who screamed in their nest. Wolfkit ran face-first into Thunderkit; Foamkit and Wolverinekit ran about wildly, searching for a way around the battle rolling through the den.
âFollow me!â Wolfkit yowled. She spun back and ran out the way she came. Thunderkit, Foamkit, and Wolverinekit scrambled after their savior. Weevilkit lunged in just as Wolverinekit ran out to her littermates.
âLeave, mousebrains!â Weevilkit yowled at Anchovykitâs siblings. Billowkit and Yarrowkit hissed and shook, unable to look away the Shardling that tore its claws through Harvestâs pelt. But where was Currentkit? Anchovykit could hear his sappy little brother crying somewhere on the other side of the fight.
But it was only when Harvest kicked the Shardling aside that Anchovykit realized he no longer heard Robinkit.
Currentkit wailed over Robinkitâs body. His red face was redder than ever before, dyed with his own blood. A frozen, panicked gaze clung sightlessly to Anchovykit. Ichor dripped from Robinkitâs claws. Currentkit shook Robinkit, choking on his own cries. Anchovykit nearly vomited from the overwhelming stench of rot and mushrooms in the den.
Harvest and the Shardling rolled back, concealing Anchovykitâs dead brother once more. Anchovykit instinctively pressed closer to Yarrowkit and Billowkit, the shock of the scene before him yet to pierce into his heart as reality. Wolfkit and Weevilkit had found their way to Weedfoot, still weak from her kitting only a quarter moon ago. Weevilkit helped Weedfoot to her paws as the Shardling gorged massive lines down Harvestâs shoulder. Anchovykit yowled as his mother cried out.
âWolfkit, the stare!â Weevilkit screamed, throwing herself over Lightningkit and Cobaltkit. âDo the stare!â
âThereâs too much happening!â Wolfkit whined.
âJust do it!â Weevilkit yowled. Wolfkit dug her paws in. She squeezed her eyes tight, panting hard. Waspdawn pulled Harvest aside and ducked as Downstar flew into the nursery. The tortoiseshell leader slammed the Shardling down. Waspdawn pinned its flank, but even the might of two strong cats would not hold it for long. The Shardling bubbled and squirmed, as slippery as a fish, threatening to lift the pair off the ground.
âWolfkit!â Weevilkit cried. Wolfkit opened her eyes. The fear that had plagued the kit all day was gone. Instead, when Anchovykit looked in Wolfkitâs eyes, he saw burning grass, a raging wildfire focused entirely on the Shardling.
The Shardling stopped moving. It froze with one paw twisted toward Downstar, ready to claw her eyes out. Its squirming, sticky pelt stilled. The hate in its yellow eyes no longer burned, but stabbed; consistent, unmoving, but still powerful. Downstar and Waspdawn panted hard, catching their breath, shaking. Harvestâs surviving kits could not look away from the monster that killed their brother. That was, not until Downstar chomped down on the Shardlingâs neck.
The Shardlingâs form shivered with the impact of Downstarâs fangs. Waspdawn dug into its slimy torso. Wolfkit broke her stare, squirming at the sight. Not that it mattered anymore. As Downstar tightened her grip, the Shardling began to dissolve. Its form sunk underneath Downstar and Waspdawn. The ichor oozed into the leather and sand lining the nursery. Soon, nothing remained of the horror but sticky, reeking piles of gunk. A huge crowd stood outside, yowling and trying to figure out what was unfolding inside.
âMom,â Yarrowkit gasped.Â
Anchovykit, Billowkit, Currentkit, and Yarrowkit scrambled across the den. Their paws stuck to the stained leather. Harvest laid in Waspdawnâs nest, blood oozing from her mouth. Her jaw laid broken, claw wounds staining her white markings. She breathed hard, but her green eyes remained clear, wide and shaking.
âMom,â Currentkit sobbed as Waspdawn helped Weedfoot, Weevilkit, and Wolfkit carry the newborns outside. âMom, RobinâsâŚâ
âIâm sorry,â Anchovykit gulped. He pressed his paws into the large wound on Harvestâs shoulder. âIâm sorry, Mom. We were getting the Shardling out of Rattlepelt, I donât know why it wanted Weedfoot.â
âWhat are you talking about?â Billowkit cried, sneering at his brother.
âTroutpool!â Weevilkit yowled outside. âHoneybuzz!â Harvest groaned, broken jaw twitching. Anchovykit leaned close. It was hard to understand what his mother said, but each word stunned regardless.
âYou were brave,â Harvest said. âKeep being brave for me.âÂ
âMomââ Anchovykit whined. Suddenly, Honeybuzzâs white paw pulled him back. He and Troutpool nudged the kits back, surrounding Harvest with baskets of medicine. Honeybuzz put his ear to Harvestâs mouth. When he didnât stand up, Anchovykit knew his mother was gone.
Anchovykit ran outside, shoving through his Clan. Downstar herded Weevilkit and Wolfkit into her den. Anchovykit ran blind after them, cats shoving against him. Downstar looped her tail around Anchovykit as soon as he entered her den, gently nudging him toward her nest in the large, old, wooden box.
âThe three of you, take a moment,â Downstar huffed. âIâm going to stand outside and answer everyoneâs questions. You tell me when you want to see anyone. I promise, you all did well, you arenât in trouble. Iâll explain everything to the Clan. Everything will be alright.â Downstar crept backward out of the den as RippleClan called her name, trying to figure out how exactly two of their Clanmates ended up dead, what just stormed through the nursery.
âDoes this make usâŚâ Weevilkit muttered, âheroes?â
âAnchovy,â Wolfkit whined, bunting Anchovykitâs side, âIâm so sorry. I should have frozen the Shardling sooner.âÂ
Downstarâs den glowed. As the heavy weight of loss sank deeper and deeper in Anchovykitâs lungs, soft light danced around the walls of the den. It was so much like the glow that covered Weevilkit and Wolfkit, but purer. Brighter. Calmer. It enveloped the leaderâs den, spreading like a wave. Anchovykitâs weight stuck in his throat at the sight. Weevilkit didnât see it, he was sure of that; the darkness of the nightâs events still clouded her gaze. But it was like all of Silverpelt came down to say, âWe know tonight was hard. Weâre sorry we took them.â No, that wasnât what they said. âWeâre sorry we left.â
But with how Anchovykit saw the world, they never really would leave, would they?
(Anchovykit: 5, male, kit, charming, curious about StarClan)
(Mitespark: 12, female, artisan, charismatic, good mediator)Â
(Rattlepelt: 53, female, artisan, bloodthirsty, leather artist)
(Troutpool: 31, female, cleric, insecure, ghost sense)
(Weevilkit: 5, female, kit, bullying, curious about StarClan)
(Downstar: 129, female, leader, wise, trusted advisor, very clever)
(Wolfkit: 5, female, kit, polite, curious about StarClan, confident with words)
(Honeybuzz: 18, male, cleric, daring, constantly fiddling with tools)
(Estherfern: 104, female, cleric, bloodthirsty, great mediator, prophecy seeker)
(Waspdawn: 36, male, codekeeper, strict, learner of lore, clue finder)
(Elmsprout: 37, female, caretaker, charismatic, helpful insight)
(Harvest: 58, female, queen, nervous, good fighter)
(Robinkit: 5, male, kit, unruly, avid play-fighter)
(Currentkit: 5, male, kit, polite, constantly climbing, has lots of ideas)
(Yarrowkit: 5, female, kit, noisy, stares at fire)
(Billowkit: 5, male, kit, bossy, active imagination)
#clangen#warrior cats#rippleclan#warriors#rippleclan story#weevilkit#wolfkit#anchovykit#downstar#mitespark#rattlepelt#troutpool#estherfern#honeybuzz#waspdawn#elmsprout#harvest#robinkit#currentkit#yarrowkit#billowkit#child death
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RippleClan: Moon 73, Part 1
Curious about Oilstripeâs abilities, Lemmy gives Oilstripe some oak leaves as a gift in exchange for learning more about her ghost sight.
[Image ID: Lemmy asks Oilstripe, âSo you see them, whether or not they want to be seen?â]
(Oilstripe: 77, female, historian, charismatic, ghost speaker)
(Lemmy: 49, female, codekeeper, cold, deep StarClan bond)
Downstar calls a ceremony to honor Darkkickâs movement to the elderâs den.
[Image ID: Darkkick becomes an elder.]
(Darkkick: 133, trans female, elder, lonesome, talented swimmer, understands nature)
Although Tallowpaw recovers from his heat exhaustion, Littlekit dies of heat stroke. Tallowpaw blames himself. Weedfoot offers advice, historian to historian.
[Image ID: Weedfoot says to Tallowpaw, âLife is about loss and regrets, and moving past them.â Under Tallowpaw, it says - CONDITION: HEAT EXHAUSTION. Under Weedfoot, it says - CONDITION: RECOVERING FROM BIRTH.]
(Tallowpaw: 9, male, historian apprentice, nervous, splashes in puddles)
(Weedfoot: 122, female, deputy, charismatic, steady paws, formidable fighter)
Thunderkit keeps asking cats to repeat themselves until itâs clear something about her hearing is weak and unreliable. Her mother is less than happy that there is no cure.
[Image ID: Under Thunderkit, it says + PERMANENT CONDITION: PARTIAL HEARING LOSS.]
(Thunderkit: 5, female, kit, bullying, moss-ball hunter)
Weevilpaw notes that Estherfern is disappearing a lot latelyâŚ
[Image ID: Weevilpaw watches Estherfern slink away.]
---
âThank you for helping us practice, Weevilpaw,â Waspdawn said as Weevilpaw steadied herself on the sands of Battle Beach. Wolfpaw waited across from her sister, anxiety apparent in the flicking of her whiskers. She squinted against the light shining on Weevilpawâs back and reflecting off the sea in a blinding glare.
âIâm excited to see what training is like for you!â Weevilpaw admitted. âEspecially when itâs magic training.â
âI donât like calling it magic,â Wolfpaw groaned, turning from the rising sun. âItâs just my stare.â
âStarClan gave you your stare for a reason,â Waspdawn explained, stalking around the two sisters. âThe more you can control it, the more you can help your Clan. Now, Weevilpaw and I will run at you at random moments. You have to lock in your stare and freeze us before we get to you. Hold it until the other cat can tackle your target for you. Youâll lose points if you freeze us when weâre just walking around, or if you unfreeze us before weâre pinned.â
âThis is point based?â Wolfpaw gulped.
âYouâll do great!â Weevilpaw cheered. Wolfpaw swallowed and steadied herself. Her flickering eyes focused on her mentor with a half-confident nod and a decisive flick of her tail.
âCopy me, Weevilpaw,â Waspdawn said. He took off down the beach, kicking dry sand behind him and into the swift breeze. Weevilpaw ran after him. She hissed as sand flew into her eyes. She almost didnât notice Waspdawn turn around and take off in a random direction. Weevilpaw decided to run the opposite way, looping around Wolfpaw. Wolfpaw spun like a whirlpool, trying to keep track of both cats. Weevilpaw laughed and did a silly little dance where the sand met the grass. Wolfpawâs face brightened as Weevilpaw pranced about.
As Weevilpaw danced, Waspdawn reared around from where he stalked and charged toward Wolfpaw. Wolfpawâs big ears spun back. She scrambled around, almost slipping on the sand. Waspdawn lunged toward Wolfpaw, but his paws froze mid-air. He flew into the sand, leaving a long gully behind him in the impact. Wolfpaw glared at Waspdawn, eyes bulging. Weevilpaw ran to Waspdawnâs frozen body and stood on top of him. Her pelt prickled when she entered her sisterâs freezing gaze. Wolfpaw blinked, and Waspdawn spasmed, his mind catching up to the present.
âGood!â Waspdawn groaned as Weevilpaw hopped off. âThatâs what you need to do. You froze me at the right moment. If a cat falls like that, theyâll wake up stunned and sore.â Waspdawn groaned as he pushed himself up, shaking sand out of his golden pelt. As Weevilpaw squinted to avoid sand in her eyes, her gaze caught a shape lurking in the tree line. With the sun shining against the forest, Weevilpaw could clearly see Estherfern, slowly making her way through the territory.
âWaspdawn?â Weevilpaw said. âIâll be right back. I need to, uh⌠go make dirt quick.â
âDonât take too long,â Waspdawn said, dismissing the tortoiseshell with a flick of his half-tail. âWolfpaw, weâre doing that again.â
âIâm ready,â Wolfpaw said. Weevilpaw purred inside when she heard her sisterâs brighter tone, but she didnât stay to celebrate. She jogged towards the forest as Estherfern slipped in and out of view.
âEstherfern!â Weevilpaw called. The older clericâs brown pelt prickled. She turned her head to Weevilpaw, bicolored eyes burning yellow in the morning light. Her stare sapped some of Weevilpawâs energy.
âDid you need something, little apprentice?â Estherfern sighed.
âI just wanted to talk to you,â Weevilpaw said slowly, slipping next to Estherfern. âYou havenât been in camp much.â
âIâve been deepening my connection with your ancestors,â Estherfern explained. âTheir behavior and abilities are quite different from my own God. Iâm beginning to understand why I was sent here.â
âWell, thatâs nice,â Weevilpaw said, nodding along. âI was worried you were mad at us, what with Thunderkitâs diagnosis.â It had been Weevilpaw who noticed Thunderkitâs hearing issues when she kept missing parts of Rabbitjoyâs stories or Slushpawâs attempts to energize the kits towards their upcoming apprenticeships. Was that why Estherfern gave her such a blinding look when Weevilpaw called to her? It wasnât her fault her daughter may one day go deaf. It was no oneâs fault.
âMad at you?â Estherfern huffed with an almost taunting twitch of her whiskers. âNo. If I was mad, it wouldnât be at you, little apprentice. Youâve taught me a lot in recent moons.â
âI have?â Weevilpaw echoed, cocking her ears to the side.
âYou and your blessed friends.â Estherfern strolled around Weevilpaw, tail swaying as her gaze trailed over Weevilpawâs colored patches. âHoneybuzz and Troutpool have yet to find an explanation for your abilities outside of their starry origins, am I correct? You are living proof of the untapped power that vibrates across your lands. The rituals your cleric predecessors have crafted to touch that power, reach through the waters of life and death, they can do much when performed properly. Perhaps if your training wasnât so focused on medicine, you could reach further. Do more.â Weevilpawâs ears followed Estherfern around and around.
âIf thatâs a compliment, thank you,â Weevilpaw chuckled awkwardly. âStill, medicine is really important. I donât think half of our treatments would be as successful as they are if we didnât have our connections to StarClan!â
âWe can agree to disagree on that,â Estherfern sighed. She stopped in front of Weevilpaw, sitting gracefully. âI just donât want you to waste your spiritual potential bogged under a mountain of herbs. Tonight, why donât the two of us find a spot to study the stars? We can draw your ancestorsâ focus to RippleClan. I may even teach you some of the ways I connected with the spiritual world in my old home.â
âReally?â Weevilpaw gasped. âI would love to learn under you! Thank you, Estherfern!âÂ
âKeep honing your connection with your ancestors, and I believe weâll get along well,â Estherfern sighed. Weevilpawâs heart soared when she picked up a soft purr in the older mollyâs voice. âRun along, little apprentice. Iâll see you tonight.â Estherfern strolled deeper into the trees, tail high. Before Weevilpaw could turn back to the beach, however, Estherfern paused and looked back. âThank you for caring, Weevilpaw. I know youâre doing your best.â
âOf course, Estherfern,â Weevilpaw chirped, but the brown molly did not stick around to receive her thanks in turn.
(Waspdawn: 39, male, codekeeper, strict, learner of lore, clue finder)
(Weevilpaw: 8, female, cleric apprentice, adventurous, curious about StarClan)
(Wolfpaw: 8, female, codekeeper apprentice, thoughtful, curious about StarClan, confident with words)
(Estherfern: 107, female, cleric, bloodthirsty, great mediator, prophecy seeker)
#clangen#warrior cats#rippleclan#warriors#rippleclan story#oilstripe#lemmy#darkkick#tallowpaw#littlekit#weedfoot#waspdawn#weevilpaw#wolfpaw#estherfern#thunderkit
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i know there is a Spirits of Shadows compendium, but i dont see the spirits mentioned by Esther in there. is there more information about them somewhere? or will they be added at one point to the compendium?
Estherfern was talking about a specific cat who resides in the Dark Forest; a cat named Hawthornstealer. She just accidentally summoned a Herald instead who wanted to prey on her ableism.
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I ALSO JUST REMEMBERED. Ferns spread through spores. Estherfern's brought five new kits to the clan. (Fun fact! That's the maximum litter size in vanilla clangen, with the minimum being one.)
Harvest's told Estherfern to not cavort with the DF, and...she's done exactly that already, if Weedfoot's corpse is anything to go by. And now, she'd done it AGAIN. If she wasn't caught, three (if not all five) of her kittens would be dead and in Hell.
I want to slap Estherfern so bad. 10/10 writing as always!
I love Estherfern, but yes, she does need to be slapped, lol.
Iâm so glad you know that fact about ferns, I had one reader thinking the prophecy was about Trumpetspore and didnât know if I should have corrected them. I will say, though, the wording meant that, had Estherfern not realized her mistakes, Estherfern would be destined for damnation. Now, though, she has a chance to make things right.
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I remember the oct 11th vote...ohhhhhhhh BOY. Esther, time to reap what you've sown.
I understand her motivations, but it's clear that she's focusing on what SHE wants, and herself alone, which is completely antithetical to how clans (and most societies tbh) work.
Wanting to be a Cleric, yet refusing to learn medicine. Wanting to be a prophet, yet failing to understand that Starclan and the DF are very, very different from her own Gods.
Her ableism is painfully realistic, which I must applaud! I love when the non-overt forms of bigotry are displayed within media.
And her kits...oh, she's NEVER going to be able to fix their relationship. Being an abusive parent (ableism and bigotry is inherently abusive) is already setting fire to the bridge, and MURDERING TWO PEOPLE? The two highranks of Rippleclan, no less?
The first deputy, Weedfoot? A legendary cat who was a short ways away from retiring? A mother to many, a grandmother to even more? Yeah, she suffered a gore-filled death because of Estherfern.
And yeah, Downstar isn't Dead dead, but if she wasn't blessed with extra lives, she'd be buried with Weedfoot.
TLDR: rest in pieces Estherfern, you've fucked up BAD, and super lucky that you aren't being executed.
I love seeing your responses, you put so much thought into them! My plans for Estherfern arenât exactly what youâre thinking though. Sheâs not the focus of that vote.
Because as of Moon 75, Honeybuzz isnât telling anyone what she did.
Itâs similar to the Rapidleaf situation. Right now, Honeybuzz sees no good coming from exposing Estherfernâs mistakes. It takes effort to quiet the apprentices, but a promise of revealing information later has placated them for now. A lot of it comes from what Honeybuzz overheard during Estherfernâs conversation with the Herald (the thing Estherfern summoned). While Estherfern did summon the creature that killed Weedfoot and Downstar, it was far from her intention. She didnât even realize the connection until the Herald pointed it out to her. She also flat out refused to kill anyone else, wanting her children to love her, not hate her.
Yes, Estherfern was cocky. She thought herself above the others in skill. She thought StarClan and the DF were just afterlives with empowered cats residing there, as nuanced as any other cat. But I wanted to symbolize her realization of these mistakes by having her destroy the summoning den. She is smothering those poor intentions, those mistakes, that selfishness and superior attitude. And Honeybuzz wants to give her a chance.
Iâm very happy with the depiction of her ableism. Estherfern has good intentions, fearing for the future and success of her kits if they lack the same strengths as the rest of society, but again, her own self-centered nature made her blind to the supportive community she joined, alongside the ways her kits were working against that. The bridge is burnt, but I wanted to show with the Harvest Moon scene that Estherfern is bringing in new wood, wood from a healthy tree, rather than the sickly wood of that old bridge. She is meeting her children where they are and accepting their differences.
I hope I finish Estherfernâs big arc well, even if it doesnât go the way you may expect. Thank you for the love!
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hmmm a bit suspicious of Estherfern. this whole 'fix my disabled children.' puts such bitter taste in my mouth, but i cant wait to see how far she could go with the whole spiritual thing.
it is kind of funny how two of her kits ended up disabled, having two of most used common senses impaired (sight and hearing). those cant be exactly 'healed', which makes me wonder how would she react to stuff like broken back, leg or jaw.. thing that can be 'fixed' by medicine she brushes off, but with a chance of it not healing right (weak leg, paralyzed waist down, bent jaw).
i want to study her under a microscope.
Iâll say this now, fun things ahead in the next few moons! Iâm studying Estherfernâs character as much as you are.
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Sandkit gets a special picrew to show off his cream tinted white fur.
Yellowkit, Sandkit, Littlekit, Stormkit, Estherfern, Thunderkit, Boughkit, Brightkit, Foamkit, and Wolverinekit.
#clangen#warrior cats#rippleclan#warriors#rippleclan art#picrew#yellowkit#Sandkit#Littlekit#Stormkit#Estherfern#Thunderkit#Boughkit#Brightkit#Foamkit#Wolverinekit
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RippleClan: Moon 76
A dog-cat makes its appearance in the territories, one of many spirits that have appeared thanks to Estherfern. With Wolfpaw there to freeze the Spirit of Shadow, the battle patrol takes it down, but Mosspounce is bruised and Downstar breaks her leg.
[Image ID: Wolfpaw, Downstar, Mosspounce, Waspdawn, Scaleripple, and Moonpaw head off to battle. Downstar yowls "Stay together!" Under Downstar, it says + CONDITION: BROKEN BONE. Under Mosspounce, it says + CONDITION: BRUISES. Under Moonpaw, it says LEVEL UP! FAITHFUL â PLAYFUL.]
(Wolfpaw: 11, female, codekeeper apprentice, thoughtful, curious about StarClan, confident with words)
(Downstar: 135, female, leader, wise, trusted advisor, very clever)
(Mosspounce: 37, male, caretaker, adventurous, talented fire-starter)
(Waspdawn: 42, male, codekeeper, strict, learner of lore, clue finder)
(Scaleripple: 29, male, warrior, lonesome, formidable fighter)
(Moonpaw: 11, female, warrior apprentice, playful, quick to help)
Tallowheart and Slushtrail earn their names.
[Image ID: Tallowheart and Slushtrail are adults! Under Tallowheart, it says LEVEL UP! TALLOWPAW â TALLOWHEART, SPLASHES IN PUDDLES â GOOD SWIMMER. Under Slushtrail, it says LEVEL UP! SLUSHPAW â SLUSHTRAIL, QUICK WITTED â CLEVER, BATS AT STRING â TALENTED WEAVER.]
(Tallowheart: 12, male, historian, nervous, good swimmer)
(Slushtrail: 12, female, mediator, wise, talented weaver, clever)
Lightningpaw feels Weedfoot beside her as she and Cobaltpaw are apprenticed to Tallowheart and Lemmy. Lemmy agrees to train two apprentices since there are no more codekeepers for Cobaltpaw. Vervainpaw is left unhappy with sharing a mentor.
[Image ID: Vervainpaw watches Lightningpaw and Cobaltpaw become apprentices. Under Lightningpaw, it says LEVEL UP! LIGHTNINGKIT â LIGHTNINGPAW, SELF-CONSCIOUS â INSECURE. Under Cobaltpaw, it says LEVEL UP! COBALTKIT â COBALTPAW, QUIET â LOYAL. Under Vervainpaw, it says LEVEL UP! AMBITIOUS â BLOODTHIRSTY.]
(Lightningpaw: 6, female, historian apprentice, insecure, always wandering)
(Cobaltpaw: 6, female, codekeeper apprentice, loyal, loves to eat)
(Vervainpaw: 11, female, codekeeper apprentice, bloodthirsty, loves nature, quick to make peace)
Having snuck away from Puddlewhisper, Silverpaw finds an abandoned human den she didnât remember seeing before. It takes her too long to figure out the den is secretly a honeybiteâs mouth. The Clan never finds her body.
[Image ID: Silverpaw approaches a red bush with white eyes inside.]
(Silverpaw: 11, female, codekeeper apprentice, strict, always asking questions, quick witted)
#clangen#warrior cats#rippleclan#warriors#rippleclan story#wolfpaw#downstar#mosspounce#waspdawn#scaleripple#moonpaw (clam/halibut)#tallowpaw#tallowheart#slushpaw#slushtrail#lightningkit#lightningpaw#cobaltkt#cobaltpaw#vervainpaw#silverpaw
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RippleClan: Moon 70, Part 1
Weedfoot and James happily welcome their next (and last) litter into RippleClan.
[Image ID: Weedfoot and James watch over a red newborn and black newborn, with Weedfoot saying âI love them so much⌠but Iâm not doing this to my body again.â Under her, it says - CONDITION: PREGNANT, + CONDITION: RECOVERING FROM BIRTH. Under the red kit, it says NEW PLAYER: LIGHTNINGKIT, 0, FEMALE, SELF-CONSCIOUS. Under the black kit, it says NEW PLAYER: COBALTKIT, 0, FEMALE, QUIET.]
(Lightningkit: 0, female, kit, self-conscious)
(Cobaltkit: 0, female, kit, quiet)
(Weedfoot: 119, female, deputy, charismatic, steady paws, formidable fighter)
(James: 146, male, elder, charismatic, den builder, formidable fighter)
Tallowpaw and Slushpaw are apprenticed to Lavendertwist and Paleseed. Mitespark earns her name.
[Image ID: Tallowpaw and Slushpaw have their apprentice sprites, while Mitespark has her adult sprite in the middle. Under Tallowpaw, it says LEVEL UP! TALLOWKIT -> TALLOWPAW, SKITTISH -> NERVOUS. Under Mitespark, it says LEVEL UP! MITEPAW -> MITESPARK, INSECURE -> CHARISMATIC, QUICK TO MAKE PEACE -> GOOD MEDIATOR. Under Slushpaw, it says LEVEL UP! SLUSHKIT -> SLUSHPAW, POLITE -> WISE, + NEW SKILL: BATS AT STRING.]
(Tallowpaw: 6, male, historian apprentice, nervous, splashes in puddles)
(Mitespark: 12, female, artisan, charismatic, good mediator)
(Slushpaw: 6, female, mediator apprentice, wise, quick witted, bats at string)
Rattlepelt glares at Littlekit and his littermates from across camp.
[Image ID: Rattlepelt stares at Stormkit, Sandkit, Littlekit, and Yellowkit. Under Stormkit, it says + NEW SKILL: LOVES TO EAT. Under Sandkit, it says + NEW SKILL: INTERESTED IN CLAN HISTORY. Under Littlekit, it says + NEW SKILL: SPLASHES IN PUDDLES. Under Yellowkit, it says + NEW SKILL: QUICK TO MAKE PEACE.]
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Were Weevilkit and her sisters as cute as Waspdawnâs sons and daughters when they were that little? Sure, Weevilkit was still technically a kit, but she was practically an apprentice in her eyes, and Waspdawnâs litter was so⌠little!Â
Weevilkit, Wolfkit, and Anchovykit watched as Stormkit, Sandkit, Littlekit, and Yellowkit made piles of sand. Stormkitâs fur had darkened exceptionally fast in the last moon, leaving her a dark ginger molly standing out against her white and golden littermates. She sniffed and batted at her sand pile while Sandkit buried his face as deep as he could. Weevilkit couldnât tell if Sandkit was white or an impossibly pale cream tom, but he did, in fact, look like the sand around him. Littlekit and Yellowkit worked together to build as big a sand pile as they could manage. It was about their height, but whenever Littlekit tried to put more sand on, the pile crumbled. Weevilkit couldnât help laughing when they squealed in dismay.
The older kits were in charge of watching Waspdawn and Estherfernâs litters run around camp while the caretakers expanded the apprenticeâs den, arguing about how to best move the large boulder that made the back wall. There was no chance of keeping Estherfernâs kits in once place; they were scattered around camp, investigating as much as they could. Thunderkit and Foamkit demanded to help the caretakers, much to Mosspounceâs woe. Brightkit and Wolverinekit sniffed around the warriorâs den, daring the other to enter. Weevilkit had no idea where Boughkit had run off to, but since no one was panicking, she didnât worry.
Weevilkit, Wolfkit, and Anchovykit were the only kits taking their kitsitting duties seriously. Potterykit, Moonkit, and Vervainkit were talking with Tallowpaw and Slushpaw about what it was like to be apprentices. The other six kits were either denying the morningâs arrival or basking in the newfound spring warmth. Weevilkit and her friends knew better, though. The kits needed protection only they could provide. They stood watch a short ways from Waspdawnâs litter, sitting like little warriors at vigil.
âThere she is,â Wolfkit whispered, nodding to the artisanâs storage den. Rattlepelt emerged from the darkness, the snout of her fox pelt the first thing to see the light. Weevilkitâs stomach flipped. Did no one else see the hate in Rattlepeltâs eyes? How had she not seen it before Anchovykit told her what he saw? How could she be the daughter of two of the Clanâs most beloved mollies?
âSheâs just as creepy as usual,â Anchovykit muttered, sneering.
âWhat do you think sheâs doing?â Weevilkit wondered.
âYouâre the one who has premonitions,â Anchovykit huffed.
âI think she was testing some of the old baskets,â Wolfkit explained. âYou have to take apart any that have faded too much.â
âShe probably loved destroying something,â Weevilkit growled softly.
âRemember Tempestshade, though?â Anchovykit sighed. âThey didnât like being cursed either. Maybe Rattlepeltâs the same.â
âI donât trust her,â Weevilkit huffed.
She was right not to. As Rattlepelt stood outside the storage den, her eyes settled on Littlekit, who tried balancing on his back paws. Stormkit jumped onto her little sand pile and howled like a wolf. Sandkit copied her, howling along.
âWolves outside camp!â Littlekit yowled. âHelp me, deputy!â
âYes, Littlestar!â Yellowkit cheered. Littlekit and Yellowkit charged at their brother and sister. They tackled the pair off their perches with dramatic battle cries.Â
All the while, Rattlepeltâs glare hardened. Her breath grew heavy. Her eyes were huge, unblinking, dilated so wide they seemed black rather than copper. Her snake-like tail curled behind her, wound tight and shaking.
The premonition began. A sparkling, transparent Rattlepelt launched out from where the real Rattlepelt stood. Her fox pelt tumbled to the sand. Rattlepeltâs sleek form charged into Stormkit, the red kittenâs future tumbling out of her real body. The ghostly Rattlepeltâs sharp fangs dug into Stormkitâs scruff. She lifted the kit, barely a moon old, high. She shook her head violently, like one might shake a rat to death. Future figures of the other three kits screamed in silence as Rattlepelt let go of Stormkit. Stormkitâs limp body flew into the stones and brambles that formed the camp wall. The premonitions had no voice, but Weevilkit could feel her denmateâs bones shatter at the impact. Her chunky body laid limp against the rocks.
Rattlepeltâs foggy form set against the other three kits as the adults, finally aware of the bloodshed, ran to the litterâs defense. A powerful blow there, a strong bite to the skull there, the kits were too small, too scared, they couldnât get away, their ghostly blood splattered against the sand as all of RippleClan fought to pull Rattlepelt back, unheard caterwauls of bloodthirsty glee reverberating from herâ
âNo!â Weevilkit screeched before the premonition could end. She ran at Rattlepelt as fast as her untrained paws could carry her. Wolfkit and Anchovykit scrambled to catch up, the imprisoned energy of an entire moon of careful watch released. Rattlepelt took a step forward, claws out. Before the awful vision could unfold any further, Weevilkit launched into Rattlepelt and dug her teeth into the artisanâs bony shoulder.
Rattlepelt yowled as Anchovykit head-butted her side, making her stumble into Wolfkit. Wolfkit flung her paws wildly, reckless claws trying to cling to thin skin. Weevilkit dug deeper and deeper into Rattlepeltâs shoulder until she tasted blood. The sharp, salty taste suddenly reminded her of Rattlepelt and Carnationspeckle, showing Weevilkit and her sisters a pot of hard-to-produce salt, allowing them each a taste. Where did that Rattlepelt go? What sort of curse could bury her passion and fire under so much anger?
âYou mangy, flea-bitten piles of bear-shit!â Rattlepelt screeched. She flailed wildly under the three young bodies. Her fox pelt fell over Wolfkit. Weevilkit slid off Rattlepeltâs sleek shoulder, but latched back onto her front paw, preventing her from swiping at Wolfkit. Anchovykit grabbed her other front leg. Something black pooled under his fangs.
Panicked and outraged yowls filled the camp as the adults finally realized their furless artisan friend was under attack. Downstar appeared from the nursery, where she had been meeting with Weedfoot as she rested from kitting. Downstar grabbed Anchovykit and pulled him off Rattlepelt. The black substance vanished as soon as Anchovykitâs jaws unclenched, leaving another bite-wound. Mosspounce dragged Wolfkit away, trapping her in the fox pelt. Someone grabbed Weevilkit by the scruff.
âNo!â she cried as the figure wrenched her off Rattlepelt. âI wonât let you hurt them! Theyâre so small! Why would you do that? Youâre a monster! Youâre a monster! You canât hurt them!â Weevilkitâs captor, Waspdawn, dropped her in the sand beside Anchovykit and Wolfkit. Half the Clan gathered around them, yowling and gasping at the blood on Rattlepeltâs gray skin. Waspdawn hissed at her like an enemy warrior. Weevilkit gagged at the blood in her mouth.
âWho attacked who?â Rattlepelt spat as Wildclaw shoved through the crowd. She sniffed her mateâs wounds.
âWhat were you thinking?â she growled, lips curled, glaring at the three kits. Wildclaw licked the deep bite on Rattlepeltâs shoulder.
âJust take me to Troutpool,â Rattlepelt snapped, pulling her shoulder away. She marched toward the medicine den, fox pelt abandoned. No one dared stand in her way. Wildclaw ran after her, shooting claws from her eyes toward Anchovykit, Weevilkit, and Wolfkit.
âYou three,â Waspdawn hissed, short tail thrashing. âWalk. That way. Now.â He shoved Anchovykit toward the dirt-place path. Weevilkit and Wolfkit hurried alongside their friend, braving the shocked stares of the Clan as Waspdawn escorted them to their doom.
âIâm not doubting you acted for a good reason,â Wolfkit whispered, voice shaky, âbut what did you see?â There were no words in Weevilkitâs mouth; only blood and the memory of cat flesh.
Waspdawn herded the three kits around the shipwreck and into the quarantine den. Anchovykit puffed himself up under Waspdawnâs furious gray glare, matching the codekeeperâs expression. Weevilkit could still hear the Clan yowling and debating what had unfolded, yet lacking answers. Downstar herself appeared around the corner, emotions hidden under a sharp and studious gaze.
âExplain yourselves, right now,â Waspdawn growled, unafraid to show his claws. The kits said nothing. Anchovykit and Wolfkit glanced at Weevilkit. âThis isnât a game! You just attacked a Clanmate, and I want to know why!â
Why? Why? What could Weevilkit say? Had she not acted, Waspdawn would be mourning at least one of his cute little kittens. He should be thanking Weevilkit for saving their lives!Â
âWeevilkit, what were you yowling about?â Downstar asked, her voice far more controlled than the golden codekeeperâs.Â
Flesh. Cat flesh, bleeding into her mouth. It was so wrong. Not in a supernatural sense, but⌠was that what warriors did? Bite into the flesh of other cats as easily as they would prey? Would Weevilkit have to do that again if she hoped to protect her friends, her family?
âWeevilkit, say something,â Wolfkit begged.
âWait a moment!â Honeybuzz hurried into the den with something long dangling on his back. Weevilkit broke out of her stupor when she realized Honeybuzz was carrying a dead snake.
âHoneybuzz, shouldnât you be helping Rattlepelt?â Downstar asked as Honeybuzz set down the snake.Â
âAnd what is that?â Waspdawn huffed. He nudged the snake.
âCarnationspeckle caught this rattlesnake before it could bite a member of her patrol yesterday,â Honeybuzz explained. âItâs the only venomous snake that lives near the Clans.â Weevilkit peered at the dead beast. Its gray scales were so much like Rattlepeltâs skinâŚ. âIâve been wondering if it was an omen related to Rattlepelt. I was going to speak to her this morning, but you three needed to see her more, it seems.âÂ
âWeevilkit had a good reason!â Anchovykit yowled, standing in front of his friends.
âThen why wonât she tell us?â Waspdawn hissed. âAnd why did you two join her?â Wolfkit stared at her paws. Honeybuzz gently nudged Anchovykit aside. With Weevilkit being small for her age, and Honeybuzz being one of the lankiest cats she knew, the cleric loomed over her like a giant pine. Yet he crouched, lowering himself to Weevilkitâs level.
âWeevilkit,â Honeybuzz said softly, âyou can tell me why you attacked Rattlepelt. Whatever the reason was, Iâll listen. I know you. Youâre cocky, but not vicious. Anchovykit and Wolfkit listened to you for a reason. What was it?â
âSheâŚâ Weevilkit gulped. Her tongue felt too big for her mouth, bleeding and smooth like Rattlepeltâs flesh. She couldnât stop tasting blood. âRattlepeltâs cursed. She was going to hurt them. Theyâre so little, Honeybuzz! What have they done to hurt her? Theyâre innocent!â StarClan, Weevilkitâs voice couldnât break now! She was the leader of this strange trio, she had to be strong! She couldnât cry in front of Honeybuzz, in front of Downstar! âShe was so cruel. I couldnât let her kill them.â Honeybuzz nodded along while Waspdawnâs tail thrashed derisively.Â
âWho do you think she was going to hurt?â Waspdawn huffed.
âYour kits!â Weevilkit cried, gagging on her tongue. âShe was going to kill Stormkit. It was awful, Honeybuzz! It was awful!â She couldnât stop shaking, no matter how much she wanted to. Anchovykit growled, his warriorâs courage burning brighter at the reason for his first battle. Wolfkit stared at Weevilkit and Waspdawn, horrified. Waspdawn curled his puffed-up tail close to himself, holding tight to his confidence posturing, even as it cracked.
âHow can you know that?â Downstar asked, creeping closer.
âBecause she sees the future!â Anchovykit snapped, his whole body turning into one giant puffball, standing strong under the hard looks of the adults. âShe saw it happen, and she stopped it! And sheâs right! Rattlepelt is cursed! Thereâs ichor all over her and only I can see it! I swear itâs real! And Wolfkit, sheâs special too! Show them, Wolfkit!â Wolfkit flinched at her name.
âI donât want to get in more trouble,â she gulped.
âWolfkit,â Downstar huffed, the caution in her tone vanishing. âShow us.â
âLike we practiced, Wolfie,â Weevilkit managed to say, swallowing hard through her fear. Wolfkit nodded, head barely moving. She stared at Waspdawn with as confident a stare as the scared fuzzy molly could muster. Waspdawnâs tense shoulders froze. He paused mid-breath. The sudden absence of his heavy breathing shocked everyone in the den. Downstar and Honeybuzz gawked at Waspdawn. Downstar waved her tail in front of Waspdawnâs face, but he did not react. Honeybuzz put his paw on Waspdawnâs side, and still he did not move.
âWolfkit can freeze you in place!â Anchovykit explained. Wolfkit blinked hard. Waspdawn snapped back to life, jumping at Honeybuzzâs sudden touch. âWeâre all special, and weâve been making sure Rattlepeltâs curse doesnât hurt anyone!â
âThis sounds like something from an ancient story,â Downstar muttered as Waspdawn fought to collect himself.
âI believe you,â Honeybuzz said.
âWhat?â Weevilkit gasped. The horror gripping her throat slipped away. Her heart still burned, but she could breath.
âI believe you three,â Honeybuzz said, nodding and turning to Downstar. âDownstar, do you remember the prophecy I received a few moons ago, the one I brought up to Estherfern after her arrival? It was about blessings and curses. Estherfern theorized it was about StarClan and the Dark Forest, and I think sheâs partially right. I think these kits are the blessings from that prophecy.â
âThat canât be true,â Waspdawn muttered, but he no longer sounded confident in himself.
âWe have stories of strange abilities in our history,â Honeybuzz pointed out. âIf the historians tell those tales, they have to have happened. The other clerics might know more about it, but I believe StarClan wanted to make sure I help these kits.â He believed them. He believed them!
âSay this is true,â Downstar huffed, closing her eyes and collecting herself. âWeâve been ignoring something else the kits have been saying. Anchovykit, how do you know Rattlepelt is cursed?â
âI see curses,â Anchovykit explained. âWell, I think. I also see blessings too, maybe. Oilstripeâs eyes glow, and Weevilkit and Wolfkit, thereâs this little shine to their pelts. Other things glow too, like the medicine den and the clerics, but not always. I think itâs when youâre doing rituals or something.â Weevilkit didnât know she glowed! The world must look so pretty from Anchovykitâs eyes. âRattlepelt is different. She has this black mud all over her legs, and it never stops flowing! Her eyes look weird to me too. I know theyâre supposed to be copper, but to me, they look bright yellow.â Downstar froze, but not because of Wolfkitâs gaze.
âYellow eyes?â Downstar gulped.
âIt was different from when I saw Tempestshade in my dream,â Anchovykit said. âOh, uh, I saw them too. Itâs how I learned what it is I see!â
âHoneybuzz,â Downstar gulped, ears and whiskers flattening. âThe Shardling.â Honeybuzz cocked his head for a moment, confused. Then his expression mirrored Downstarâs, tail tucked and back arched. Waspdawn backed out of the den.
âWhatâs a Shardling?â Wolfkit hesitantly asked. Downstar took a shaky breath.
âHas anyone told you three about the Rippling Ashes?â she asked. âIt happened shortly before you were born. Weedfoot, Darkkick, and Paleseed entered the Dark Forest to fight Autumnstar, who had cursed all of AshClan. Weedfoot destroyed his spirit in the battle. When a Dark Forest spirit dies, they break apart into monsters called Shardlings. They house small elements of emotion and memory leftover from the former spirit. One of Autumnstarâs Shardlings attacked Weedfoot and gave her that scar on her leg.â
âRattlepelt was right next to her when that happened,â Waspdawn gulped, claws digging into the sand outside. âShe was wrapping her wounds.â
âSo the Shardling cursed her?â Weevilkit guessed.
âWe donât think Rattlepelt is cursed, Weevilkit,â Honeybuzz said, fighting his own fear to speak. âWe think sheâs possessed.â
âLike a ghost?â Wolfkit yelped, sticking close to Weevilkit.
âThatâs why her mood has changed so much,â Downstar gasped, shaking her head. âStarClan, I⌠I would never have known. Autumnstar had yellow eyes. Anchovykit, youâre seeing the Shardlingâs eyes when you look at Rattlepelt.â
âCursed, possessed, I want to stop it,â Anchovykit snapped. âIf you believe us, can you help us hold her down?â
âWhat would that do?â Waspdawn asked.
âI thought I said it already,â Anchovykit said, lifting his chin high. âI donât just see curses. I can remove them, too.â
(Weevilkit: 5, female, kit, bullying, curious about StarClan)
(Wolfkit: 5, female, kit, polite, curious about StarClan, confident with words)
(Anchovykit: 5, male, kit, charming, curious about StarClan)
(Stormkit: 1, female, kit, noisy, loves to eat)
(Sandkit: 1, male, kit, self-conscious, interested in Clan history)
(Littlekit: 1, male, kit, skittish, splashes in puddles)
(Yellowkit: 1, female, kit, noisy, quick to make peace)
(Rattlepelt: 53, female, artisan, bloodthirsty, leather artist)
(Wildclaw: 62, female, caretaker, fierce, trusted advisor, good fighter)
(Waspdawn: 36, male, codekeeper, strict, learner of lore, clue finder)
(Downstar: 129, female, leader, wise, trusted advisor, very clever)
(Honeybuzz: 18, male, cleric, daring, constantly fiddling with tools)
#clangen#warrior cats#rippleclan#warriors#rippleclan story#weedfoot#james#lightningkit#cobaltkit#slushkit#slushpaw#tallowkit#tallowpaw#mitepaw#mitespark#rattlepelt#stormkit#littlekit#sandkit#yellowkit#wolfkit#weevilkit#anchovykit#waspdawn#wildclaw#downstar#honeybuzz
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Year 7 Allegiances
Leader:
Downstar - a gray/pale ginger tortoiseshell molly
131, wise, trusted advisor, very clever
Deputy:
Weedfoot - a rosetted silver molly
121, charismatic, steady paws, formidable fighter
Clerics:
Estherfern - a dark brown tabby molly
106, bloodthirsty, great mediator, prophecy seeker
Troutpool - a long-furred cream and white tabby molly
33, insecure, ghost sense
Honeybuzz- a gold and white rosette tom
20, daring, skilled toolsmith
Apprentice: Weevilpaw
Mediators:
Spikecrash - a masked dark brown tabby molly
47, wise, good speaker, lore keeper
Paleseed - a speckled silver molly
38, insecure, incredible runner, steady paws
Apprentice: Slushpaw
Artisans:
Rabbitjoy - a golden-brown smoke molly
109, charismatic, master weaver
Rattlepelt - a furless silver and white molly
55, thoughtful, leather artist
Mitespark - a black rosette molly
14, charismatic, great mediator
Apprentice: Ravenpaw
Historians:
Oilstripe - a ginger tabby molly
76, charismatic, ghost speaker
Lavendertwist - a ginger smoke and white tom
38, playful, great singer, good storyteller
Apprentice: Tallowpaw
Splashtuft - a long-furred, masked, gold and white tabby tom
20, adventurous, fast runner, student of art
Apprentice: Billowpaw
Codekeepers:
Lemmy - a dark gray/pale ginger tortie molly
48, cold, deep StarClan bond
Apprentice: Vervainpaw
Waspdawn - a rosetted golden and white tom with half a tail
38, strict, learner of lore, clue finder
Apprentice: Wolfpaw
Puddlewhisper - a speckled silver and white molly
38, righteous, natural intuition, ghost sense
Apprentice: Silverpaw
Caretakers:
Carnationspeckle - a brown and white ticked molly
74, compassionate, fish-like swimmer
Clammask - a masked golden tabby molly
66, righteous, lore master, good teacher
Wildclaw - a gray tabby molly
64, fierce, trusted advisor, good fighter
Apprentice: Potterypaw
Elmsprout - a long-furred silver smoke and white molly
39, charismatic, helpful insight
Apprentice: Currentpaw
Mosspounce - a black tabby tom
33, adventurous, talented fire-starter
Drumtooth - a dark gray tabby tom
20, loyal, great hunter, clever
Asterblaze - a silver tabby tom
19, thoughtful, constantly fiddling with tools
Warriors:
Darkkick - a long-furred dark gray bengal trans molly
132, lonesome, talented swimmer, understands nature
Rapidleaf - a golden brown tabby molly
90, lonesome, prophecy interpreter
Apprentice: Yarrowpaw
Halibutdusk - a gray tabby cat
64, gloomy, masterful storyteller, clever
Apprentice: Anchovypaw
Trumpetspore - a dark gray tabby molly
33, nervous, excellent potter, good storyteller
Scaleripple - a long-furred golden tom with vitiligo
25, lonesome, formidable fighter
Apprentice: Moonpaw
Leathermask - a long-furred, masked, golden brown and white tabby tom
20, nervous, good fighter, eloquent speaker
Apprentices:
Tallowpaw - a light brown and white ticked tabby tom
8, nervous, splashes in puddles
Slushpaw - a dark brown and white tabby molly
8, wise, quick witted, bats at string
Potterypaw - a dark ginger tabby molly
7, insecure, loves to sing
Moonpaw - a long-furred, white rosette molly
7, faithful, quick to help
Vervainpaw - a black tabby molly
7, ambitious, loves nature, quick to make peace
Weevilpaw - a dark gray/dark ginger tortie molly
7, adventurous, curious about StarClan
Ravenpaw - a black molly
7, nervous, picky nest builder, quick witted
Silverpaw - a gray smoke molly
7, strict, always asking questions, quick witted
Wolfpaw - a gray tabby molly
7, thoughtful, curious about StarClan, confident with words
Anchovypaw - a light brown and white tabby tom
7, playful, curious about StarClan
Currentpaw - a white and dark ginger smoke tom
7, loving, constantly climbing, has lots of ideas
Yarrowpaw - a dark brown and white molly
7, thoughtful, stares at fire
Billowpaw - a dark brown and white tom
7, thoughtful, active imagination
Elders:
James - a long-furred, dorsal-striped, pale ginger and white tom
148, charismatic, den builder, formidable fighter
Kits:
Thunderkit - a brown molly
4, bullying, moss-ball hunter
Boughkit - a brown ticked molly
4, quiet, constantly climbing
Brightkit - a ginger tabby tom
4, shy, lover of art
Foamkit - a brown ticked molly
4, unruly, always wandering
Wolverinekit - a brown tabby molly
4, skittish, always asking questions
Yellowkit - a white and gold rosette molly
3, noisy, quick to make peace
Sandkit - a white tom
3, self-conscious, interested in Clan history
Littlekit - a speckled ginger and white tom
3, skittish, splashes in puddles
Stormkit - a masked ginger and white tabby molly
3, know-it-all, loves to eat
Lightningkit - a dorsal-striped ginger molly
2, self-conscious, always wandering
Cobaltkit - a black and white rosette molly
2, quiet, loves to eat
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Any chance we could get a quick list of which kitten belongs to which RippleClan cats? I was already struggling to keep track before this update!
Oilstripeâs litter: Tallowkit, Slushkit
Clammaskâs litter: Potterykit, Moonkit, Vervainkit
Lemmyâs litter: Weevilkit, Ravenkit, Silverkit, Wolfkit
Harvestâs litter: Anchovykit, Currentkit, Robinkit, Yarrowkit, Billowkit
Waspdawnâs litter: Yellowkit, Sandkit, Littlekit, Stormkit
Estherfernâs litter: Thunderkit, Boughkit, Brightkit, Foamkit, Wolverinekit
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