#Talonpaw

[forestclan-clangen]

MOON 7 (Part 1)

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Hopechase has a big fight with Olive, pushing her to actually name her kits. She tells her that they're asking Hopechase to give them names, because Olive refuses. Hopechase sympathizes with her fears, but she begs her to give her kits this grace. Olive finally breaks down and names them.

(Hopechase, warrior, female, 89 moons) (Olive, mediator, female, 62 moons) (Branchkit, kitten w/ brown pelt, female, 2 moons) (Perchkit, kitten w/ lilac pelt, female, 2 moons)

Barleywave spends time with Perchkit and Branchkit. He still misses Warblerkit, but he vows to do what he can to protect them.

(Barleywave, warrior, male, 36 moons) (Branchkit, kitten, female, 2 moons) (Perchkit, kitten, female, 2 moons)

Redstar surprises Talonpaw with something nice, as a thank you for doing his apprentice hcores without complaint. Talonpaw wants to be just like Redstar when he grows up!

(Redstar, leader, female, 65 moons) (Talonpaw, apprentice, male, 11 moons)

Iciclepool spends some time with Shiverpaw on patrol, happy to be with her and watch her skills grow. Shiverpaw is just glad to have her mom by her side for a while, especially after everything that happened the moon prior.

(Shiverpaw, medicine cat apprentice, female, 7 moons) (Iciclepool, deputy, female, 63 moons)

Hopechase asks Iciclepool if she'd like to spend some time together. Hopechase asks if Iciclepool ever thought about mates after Cliffstep's passing. She pauses before saying she was very stressed after his passing, but she does miss the support and comfort of a partner. Hope asked if, hypothetically, she ever DID want a partner, what kind of traits would she be looking for? Hypothetically.

(Hopechase, warrior, female, 89 moons) (Iciclepool, deputy, female, 63 moons)

The Plentiful Gathering is hosted, with Cloudthunder cooking and Redstar and Hopechase teaching stories and history. During the festival, Redstar timidly shows an idea for a new Clan symbol - the ideal future she hopes they can reach together: a gentle home, ringed in spears.

(Talonpaw, apprentice, male, 11 moons) (Redstar, leader, female, 65 moons) (Olive, mediator, female, 62 moons) (Cloudthunder, warrior, female, 40 moons)

---

Redstar hoped that the Clan would love this. She really, truly did.

When she was an apprentice, she imagined that these types of festivals would be massive, filled with so many cats willing to show their chosen foods to the Clan, with everyone trying a bit of everything. She was quickly brought back down from her daydreams by Hopechase pointing out that the Clan consisted of eleven members, two of which were kits, three couldn't leave camp without a warrior, and two more were restricted to the medicine den.

"It used to be only one person was in the medicine den, but..." Hopechase eyed Redstar's bandages and splinter stabilizing her back leg.

Redstar's pelt turned hot. She groomed her front paw to hide her shame. She stayed quiet as she thought about what Hopechase said. She admitted that she had a point. Only five cats were capable of hunting the required food on their own - and that's only if she forced Windfur into doing so. The more she thought about it, the most unreasonable it seemed for the Gathering to be grand.

It broke her heart...but she had to be a better leader. Too much all at once would do nothing but stress her Clan.

"Do you have any suggestions for a smaller scale event?" Redstar asked.

Hopechase tapped her tail on the ground pensively. "Well, the celebration was originally to remember the culinary works from the lost clans," she mused out loud. "Unfortunately, many of the preserved recipes were lost with the death of Flametwig."

Redstar's heart sank as she fondly remembered the old gib. Their bushy face lit up with wonder at every spice Chicoryglint would defeatedly surrender. They made the greatest steamed birds and jerky.

She wished she had spoken to them more.

"What I'd recommend," Hopechase started slowly, "is to start with just one Clan this year. When our Clan has more members, we can expand to remember the rest of them."

"But - what if something happens to you? What if we lose that knowledge?"

Redstar's objection was sudden and despairing, and she knew it. She felt guilty the moment Hopechase looked at her quizzically.

"I'm not saying we don't talk about the other three Clans. I'm saying that we choose one Clan to make a dish for, and we could share stories or history of the other Clans during the celebration. You and I could talk about what we know, and explain our plans for future seasons. We're a small Clan now, Redstar. Starting small is the best we can do."

Redstar paused for a while, then sighed. "Very well. You're right. I just...don't know where to start. How could I be made to choose?"

"What about LakeClan?" Hopechase suggested. "They were known for their fish and roe. Cloudthunder has developed quite an adventurous streak over the past year. She's been coming back with all sorts of new things to cook and taste test." Hopechase's whiskers twitched in amusement. "She's always enjoyed working around a fire since she was an apprentice, and I'm sure she'd be glad to see what she could do with some fresh fish, if we can manage."

"But none of us are apt at swimming. How can we catch fish from the lake?"

"Well, it doesn't have to be from the lake..."

****

Redstar and Hopechase had spent more than a week's worth of time preparing for this. When they had announced to the Clan together their plan for this year's revived Plentiful Gathering, there was an anxious excitement in the air. Cloudthunder wanted to try drying out minnows, and Windfur offered to give her some spare rosemary to spice them with. Barleywave offered to rake some fallen leaves for the kits to play in during the festival, and Talonpaw was eager to help with any fishing endeavours. Only Morningpaw seemed hesitant to step outside of camp, and Iciclepool redirected her to keeping Olive company and playing with Branchkit and Perchkit.

Redstar hoped that now, during the second full moon of leaf-fall, she and her Clan had done enough to honor their ancestors.

The sun vanished and the sky had darkened enough for the stars to glitter above. Not a single cloud was present, and Redstar took it as a sign that StarClan was watching over their revived Gathering with interest.

She brought her sights back down to the camp before her. She slowly crawled down from the High Rock, careful not to put weight on her broken leg.

Cloudthunder had made a small cooking fire in the middle of camp, and built it up rapidly with the help of Twoleg matches she stole. The smell of roasted bass invaded her nostrils as it was being cooked over the flames. Redstar's whiskers twitched in amusement as she remembered how Talonpaw acquired it. He wrestled the catch out of the beak of a young heron - much to Iciclepool's dismay and subsequent lecture. Redstar couldn't help but feel a tinge of pride for the tom. Maybe, in another time, an ambitious LakeClan apprentice also ambushed a heron for the prey in its beak. Redstar decided to sit down by the cooking fire, basking in its warmth. She glanced around the rest of camp, admiring her clanmates.

The apprentices took it upon themselves to decorate the camp with Hopechase's guidance. The dark warrior regaled them with stories of the other clans, and they decided to make little decorations for each Clan. Morningpaw and Talonpaw taught Shiverpaw how to make rope from pine roots, and all three of them made frames out of sticks in the shape of cat heads. In each head, they used pine sap as glue to put symbols of the other clans within them.

"But how am I supposed to stick water on this?" Redstar heard Talonpaw complain.

"You could do MountainClan instead?" Morningpaw offered.

"But I wanna use the heron feather I snagged the other day! Using it for LakeClan makes sense!" The black tabby tom grumbled. "It would look really cool if I could make it look like it was floating on water. You think the transparent stuff Twolegs have might work? Like, the things they put food and trash in?"

"You want to leave camp in the middle of the night to steal from Twolegs?! No! What if something bad happened?" Morningpaw protested.

Shiverpaw worked quietly on her piece as the two warrior apprentices bickered. She put a simple bit of a pine branch facing upright to create ForestClan's symbol before putting it aside, and weaving a few more sticks again to make another frame. Redstar suppressed a purr of amusement. She knew Iciclepool was keeping an eye on them from the camp gates - she trusted her deputy to make sure they were safe.

Redstar glanced at the nursery, and saw Windfur helping Olive to her feet. He had spent the past moon pushing her into gentle physical exercises. She still needed assistance to keep her brace intact, but Redstar noticed the steady recovery - and from a molly that recently gave birth, at that. Windfur helped her move outside and settle on a firm bedding near the campfire, next to Redstar. Windfur noticed the leader sitting at the fire, and frowned.

"I thought I told you not move from your den until I came to get you."

"I'm fine, Windfur. I know how to climb down a rock."

"You have a broken leg. One wrong move and your healing process will need to restart." The tom's eyes narrowed. "I'm serious."

Redstar sighed. She didn't like being confined, but she decided not to argue back at this time. "Understood."

Windfur stared at Redstar for a moment before walking away from the fire and towards the medicine den.

Olive, meanwhile, looked around the camp. Her green eyes had been filled with apathy and emptiness for the past two moons, and although she had nursed her kits willingly, it took much longer for her to name them. Redstar watched as the mother's eyes fell on Barleywave and her kits near the apprentice's den, where Branchkit squealed and threw herself into a pile of leaves. Perchkit let out a playful yowl as she jumped in after her. It wasn't long before the kits tumbled out, biting at each other's ears and leaving leaves scattered around camp.

Redstar glanced back at their chef for the night, and couldn't help but snicker. Cloudthunder's pupils were dilated with excitement as she stared intently at the marinated bass.

"This is going to be so good. I can feel it in my bones, Redstar," she said.

"I don't doubt it. It smells wonderful."

"Hopechase told me that LakeClan used to have other spices thanks to trading with MountainClan, like salt and spicebush. Couldn't find any of that, but rosemary will do great!" Cloudthunder started scattering a few dried herbs over the fish's meat.

Olive stared at the food for a while. "...I've never met any cats with the ability to do what ForestClan does," she murmured.

"To do what?" Redstar asked.

"Create fire. Cook food. Cats do not need to do that. We can eat raw meat just fine." The gentle fire was reflected in Olive's eyes. An unknown emotion spread through her. "...Your walls, your gates, your baskets and herbs. I've seen cats play with string and colorful toys provided by their Twolegs. I've seen them steal Twoleg food and pelts. But you...can do what Twolegs do. Not on a large scale like they can. But enough to be an echo."

Redstar waited quietly. Outsiders often had these kinds of feelings towards ForestClan. She assumed Olive had more to say.

"...And still, you choose to live here."

There it was. Redstar braced herself ahead of time, preventing her fur from bristling. Cloudthunder wasn't prepared for it, however, and the grey and white molly's expression darkened. A tense silence fell around the fire as it continued to crackle.

Finally, she found a retort. "Have you ever considered that if there was a territory free of all danger, we would've already gone there?"

"Free of all danger? No. You'll always have to live in places with some danger. But you live here. Where something evil has claimed the territory as its hunting ground." Olive turned to meet Cloudthunder's gaze. The two mollies regarded each other steadily. Cloudthunder saw no hostility in Olive's eyes, just fatigue. The younger molly forcibly relaxed. She misread Olive's intent. She licked her paw and started grooming herself.

"...I know that this place has many evils. We've all seen them," Cloudthunder said. "But, the Clans have been here far before the Woodcrawlers have."

"But there's just one Clan now, is there not? Why stay in this place?"

Redstar's tail tapped against the ground. "Those are reasonable questions to ask, Olive. And ones that many cats have asked themselves. There is a reason why ForestClan has such small numbers."

Olive glanced at Redstar from the corner of her eye. "...Small?" she echoed.

Redstar suppressed a mrrow of amusement. "Yes, we are much smaller than we used to be the year before. A Clan is a society, a culture..."

"....And maybe something we can teach you more about tonight!" Cloudthunder interjected as she started shuffling the bass onto a cold serving stone. The light returned to her words. "It's easier to show you why we value our home and Clan than to tell you."

Olive didn't reply. She took her gaze back to her kits, and watched them play.

The full moon had reached its apex when the cats finally all gathered around the cooking fire, with Iciclepool helping Cloudthunder serve the bass and dried minnows. The apprentices hung their makeshift clan symbols below weaved branches around the High Rock, and Hopechase started to regale them with the history of the Plentiful Gathering.

Redstar listened as Hopechase explained the cultures and renowned traits of the four lost clans - LakeClan, FieldClan, MountainClan and MarshClan. Redstar looked around the campfire, and felt a soft joy as Perchkit and Branchkit listened with wide-eyed awe, questions dancing impatiently on their tongues. Her warriors were focused on Hopechase in between mouthfuls of fish, and the three apprentices listened in varying levels of interest, to Redstar's amusement. Shiverpaw was attentive, Talonpaw was half-listening, distracted by food, and Morningpaw looked almost too focused, as though worried she was going to be quizzed on it later.

"...And so, for this year, we will start small. The Plentiful Gatherings involved the preparation of food found outside our immediate borders, near territory the former clans would've lived. This year, we're starting with one Clan, and we will increase the dishes we will make each year." There was a hint of pride to Hopechase's voice. "Tonight, we have dried minnows and roasted bass, food that would've been a staple to LakeClan meals. LakeClan was thought to be well-fed, as fish were in no short supply near their riverbed home. Salt might've been used as seasoning, if they could trade with MountainClan. But today, we're using rosemary."

"What's trading?" Perchkit asked.

Redstar answered. "It's where one clan would offer up food or materials found on their territory to another clan, usually in exchange for something they couldn't find on their own territory."

Olive's ear twitched. "...And they didn't just try to steal the materials?" she asked.

"Well, that, we don't know," Hopechase admitted. "I have to assume that the Clans weren't completely free of strife - especially in the colder seasons. But what we do know for certain, is that in the end, the clans valued each other." She continued with more solemnity. "In their greatest hour of need, ForestClan housed every cat that escaped from the great monster that rampaged over the territories so long ago. The Wretch was a creature more horrible than we can describe. It cared little about the camps of the other clans, and...it was known to absorb cats into itself," Hopechase said more cautiously as she glanced at Perchkit and Branchkit. They seemed upset, but not horrified, and they remained quiet. "But the Wretch could not breach ForestClan's defenses. The walls of tall pines that cascaded our landscape halted its advance, and prevented it from hurting more cats. Within our camp, the other Clans sought protection and refuge."

"...What happened then?" Branchkit asked meekly.

"I think Redstar is more qualified to answer that one, as a historian," Hopechase meowed as she glanced at Redstar with a glint of affection. Redstar licked her chest a few times, bashful. She cleared her throat, then spoke.

"Well, historically speaking, when the Wretch disappeared, the Woodcrawlers and Nature's Mockeries started appearing around the territory. One of the clerics of ForestClan, whose name has been lost to time, received a vision from StarClan. They dreamed of a large, sprawling camp, housing cats of every background, shape and size - even former kittypets and loners. The cleric stepped outside the camp, and saw that the walls were ringed in sharpened spears, with points of starlight. The light repelled the shadows of monsters. No matter what they did, they could not breach the walls."

Redstar couldn't help but smile as her clanmates listened intently, their eyes flickering. "The vision came with four words. Some saw it as a prophecy, and for others, a mantra. Loyalty. Bravery. Sacrifice. Death. Many cats could not make sense of this sign. Clerics and leaders debated its meaning for many seasons, choosing to follow their own interpretations of the vision. I think - or rather, I hope - that I can share my thoughts with the Clan about these words." Redstar glanced at Hopechase and Iciclepool for encouragement, who nodded at her in response. Redstar took a deep breath as she stumbled to her feet, careful not to put weight on her broken leg.

She felt a tinge of nervousness as her clan watched her. She had never been...this vulnerable with them before. This was something that mattered to her. She only hoped that they treated her kindly.

"I believe that the night the clans almost died, we were sent a message of hope, and peace," Redstar began. "That one day, it was possible to build a sanctuary. Not just for clan cats, but perhaps, one day, all cats who sought refuge against the woods. But, it could not be done without effort." Redstar slowly limped towards the base of High Rock, and picked up a cat head frame that she had made in private, long before the start of the Gathering. As she brought it back towards the circle, she hid it from view, waiting for the right moment to reveal it. She sat back down, and continued. "The words that were shared with us, I believe, had meaning. Loyalty. Loyalty to each other. To this cause, and this faith in a better world. We had to be united against the Woodcrawlers.

"Bravery. We had to be brave. The world was cruel, and dangerous. There would be monsters in our home now, trying to overwhelm us, frighten us away. But in a world where there is loyalty, there will be bravery to remain loyal to our friends, family and cause.

"Sacrifice. No change came without sacrifice. Unfortunately, I would be lying if I said this did not lead to many eras of pain and strife in ForestClan." Redstar's voice lowered. "Many thought this meant collective sacrifice. We would need to sacrifice wants, needs and safety, to guarantee survival of the whole. But I don't believe in this. I believe that in our acts of bravery - there will be sacrifice, no matter what. A parent protecting their children."

Iciclepool's eyes brimmed with sorrow.

"Cats fighting to protect newborns."

Barleywave's head hung low.

"Our love for one another, as clanmates, friends, and family," Redstar meowed. "Love drives sacrifice. We find something we are so willing to be loyal and brave for, that we are willing to sacrifice parts of ourselves for it. Which leads me to the final word."

All eyes were focused on her now. Even Talonpaw had sat up and was now watching her intently.

"Death. I know this has been construed as an omen of fear, especially after how many cats we've lost to the woods for years and years on end. In the past, it was used to justify apprentice trials, and to accept that kits would always be at risk in the woods. But I believe, with all of my heart, that it was always a message meant for the leaders, blessed by StarClan. Why else would our ancestors gift leaders nine lives, if not to use them to protect their clan? It is the embodiment of all the remaining tenants. We must sacrifice, and die, and be brought back again and again. Because that is the burden we must carry. As leader, I will take the lives I'm given, and I will fight with all I have to make sure you are safe. I am one cat. I cannot prevent tragedy." Redstar felt her heart tighten with sorrow as she remembered Warblerkit, and the lives of her former clanmates so long ago. "But I will die trying. Until StarClan calls me one final time."

Perchkit and Branchkit stared at the leader with wide eyes. Had they not been told about the lives Redstar was given? Olive's ear also twitched at this, her expression unreadable.

"I know that for as long as ForestClan has stood, our symbol has been the sturdy pine tree. I come offering a proposition - something to truly separate us from past leadership. A new beginning, and a sign of my commitment to you all."

Redstar pulled the frame she crafted, and held it up for her clan to see. Everyone's heads bobbed to forward to see, and admired the bent branches and lashing knots that took the shape of an arch, with pointed spikes on its outside. On its inside, was a small rectangle with pointed ears - a cat.

Hopechase's whiskers twitched in amusement. "A gentle camp ringed in spears?"

"As I said, I am only offering it as a proposition," Redstar said hastily, the heat rising to her face. "I'd rather leave it to a vote."

"Well, in that case, let's vote," Cloudthunder said with a twitch of her tail. "I like this symbol, Redstar, but I think the pine tree makes us humble. It reminds us of what saved ForestClan during the attack of the Wretch - our defenses, made of pine trees. By that notion, the pine tree itself is both the wall and the spear, no?"

Redstar bowed her head in response. "That is very true. The pine tree is the symbol of our home, and the sign of what we have always been. Regardless of the adversity we face, we will always be ForestClan, and the trees will always be there for us." The leader's tail brushed the ground lightly. "I will abstain from voting, as I believe that this should be a decision made by the clan members themselves."

"Very well. All those for the ringed camp?" Hopechase declared as she raised her tail. Redstar couldn't help but feel her heart race. She looked and saw Barleywave, Talonpaw, and the two kits raise their tails excitedly, but felt deflated when the others didn't.

"Those for the pine?" Cloudthunder asked. Iciclepool and Windfur raised their tails, but the nervous Morningpaw and Shiverpaw abstained, shuffling on their feet. Redstar swallowed down her feelings to be a good leader. Yes, she wanted the ringed camp, deep down. But the pine was also the spear. It was not wrong to keep it.

"Morningpaw, Shiverpaw? It's alright if you wish to keep the pine tree. It's been a symbol for your home ever since you were born."

Morningpaw didn't meet Redstar's gaze, but she hesitantly lifted her tail. "I'm sorry Redstar," she meowed quietly. "I just...I remember my first day out of camp. When Iciclepool and Barleywave taught me how to climb a tree. From the top of a pine, I saw home." She lifted her head, her amber eyes flickering with feeling.

A few of the cats purred at that answer, and Redstar felt empathy for the young cat. She blinked slowly at her in reassurance. "That is a wonderful perspective to have, Morningpaw. I wouldn't ask you to feel any less." The leader looked at the youngest apprentice. "And you, Shiverpaw?"

Shiverpaw looked away, shuffling on her feet. Redstar noticed that Shiverpaw had become more withdrawn since the last half-moon, and she knew why. She felt a pang of sympathy for the poor kit. Being tasked with carrying StarClan's greatest secret was a burden she knew very well - one that Redstar had chosen to put aside. She could not help StarClan when she was alive - only when her soul was accepted above could she help them fight the Iris. For now, she could only control what happened here. But it seemed like that knowledge weighed on Shiverpaw's decision, which saddened the calico leader.

"I...I don't know," Shiverpaw mewed. "I...I feel like it's...a heavy task. To ward off everything. To...be responsible for protecting everyone." She swallowed. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright, Shiverpaw." Iciclepool, her mother, touched her nose to her kit's ear. "While I do love the new symbol, I think we need more time to grow like the forest." The deputy gave Redstar a kind look, and Redstar nodded. She understood her position.

"I dunno, I think you're all overthinking it," Talonpaw scoffed. The young tom's tail flicked with anticipation. "Like, yeah, ForestClan has pine trees. But that's not the thing that defines what we do, or who we wanna be! Maybe the pine tree was a good symbol when the other clans were here, but they aren't. We need to make a new symbol - one that represents not just ForestClan, but the other clans too. They didn't just die for nothing, right?" Talonpaw took his gaze towards Redstar, seeking approval. Redstar couldn't help but feel her heart warm with affection. Someone understood what message she wished to convey - and she was happy.

"That's my reasoning as well," Barleywave spoke. "The other clans came to ForestClan for protection, but it sounds like they simply conglomerated into ForestClan. If we became a clan ringed in spears, we'd be making them a promise to never forget them. We're not just ForestClan - we're all the Clans. That's why you made four points, right? One for each lost clan?"

Redstar looked at her symbol again. Yes, she did make four points on the arch.

That was completely unintentional.

"Yes, of course that was a part of it," Redstar lied. "I didn't want to sway anyone's opinion based on it, however, so I kept quiet."

"Well I like it!" Branchkit piped up. She jumped to her feet excitedly. "It means that anyone who sees it knows they're safe!"

"Yeah! And I like the little cat," Perchkit added. The older cats purred in amusement.

Cloudthunder seemed pensive. "Well, in that case, without your vote Redstar, it means we're tied." The young she-cat looked at Olive, who had remained quiet. "What about you, Olive?"

Olive looked at her with wide eyes. "Me?"

"Well, yes. You're a part of the clan."

Olive looked like she wanted to hide behind her whiskers. "I don't know about that," she mumbled.

"Olive, you've been here for half a year," Barleywave snapped. "Don't try to tell us that we shouldn't see you as a clanmate, because we won't believe you."

Cloudthunder suppressed a mrrow of amusement at Barleywave's comment. "It's true, you have been with us since newleaf. Your voice matters to us."

Olive blinked rapidly, as though caught off guard. After a few moments, she asked, "Has it really been that long?"

"Since the end of newleaf, yes," Windfur confirmed. His dark blue eyes softened. "I know it hasn't been pleasant for you."

"And yet, you would spend your resources to help a loner like me. A cat with a broken back, pregnant, in these woods. And I haven't been able to repay a single thing in return."

"But mama, we love you," Perchkit mewed as she stumbled towards her mother with wide eyes. "Branchkit and I wouldn't be here without you."

"And we really like it here!' Branchkit added.

Redstar bowed her head. "Helping vulnerable cats is the right thing to do, Olive. There's nothing to repay."

Olive looked at the innocent eyes of her two kits, then lifted her head to meet Redstar's gaze.

"...Please vote for the spear camp?" Branchkit blurted.

The clan laughed and Perchkit shoved her sister roughly. "Stop it, Branchkit! It's her choice!"

"But it's so cool!" Branchkit whined and rolled around on Olive's paws. "Pleeeeease?"

Olive huffed lightly. She lifted her paw and put it on Branchkit's face, causing her to squeak in protest.

"Nooo! Stop!" Branchkit whined in between trying to playfully bite her mother's paw.

Redstar then saw something from Olive that she had never seen since the molly was first brought into camp. After months of pain and sorrow, Olive smiled.

"Redstar. You said that in the vision, the camp housed outsiders. Is that true?"

"Yes, that is correct."

"I didn't understand why you stayed in these woods at first. And a part of me still doesn't. But I think I understand a little better what you are trying to do. It's...kind. Almost too kind to seem true." Olive removed her paw from her kit, letting the little kitten scramble and dash away giggling. "But if that's truly what your shared goal is, exemplified through your treatment of me, even if I can't ever return the favor," the queen's green eyes softened with kindness. "Then it feels like the ringed camp already exemplifies everything you've been to me."

At this, Branchkit and Perchkit squealed with delight and tackled each other in their joy, barrelling towards Talonpaw.

"Hey, hey! Careful! Watch the plates!" Talonpaw protested as he pushed aside the flat stones.

Redstar purred deeply at the sight. Joy swelled in her heart. She could not express the gratitude in proper words. But still, she felt like if half the clan wished to keep the old symbol - she could not simply ignore that.

"I've decided on a compromise. The pine tree has always been ForestClan. Like Cloudthunder said, it keeps us humble. It is our home. We've always relied on the safety of the pines, and it's only right to honor it. So, the ringed camp will represent all clans. The ones of the past, StarClan, and ForestClan's future. The clan we wish to become, together."

At this, Iciclepool and Morningpaw visibly brightened, and Windfur nodded sagely.

"Oh, this is so exciting!" Cloudthunder exclaimed with her chest fur puffed out. "We're making history today with a new symbol! We'll have to find a way to tell this story to future kits, wouldn't we?"

"Didn't you vote against it?" Windfur asked, his head tilted.

"I can still be excited that we're making history, beebrain!"

Redstar purred in amusement, and watched as her clanmates started chatting among themselves with the warmth of fire surrounding them.

She took her eyes to the night sky. The stars flickered brilliantly above, as though showing their approval. She twitched her whiskers, and hoped that she made them proud.

---

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[songclangen]

this moon upset me so much. i almost went back on it because riverpetal is a fave of mine, he and rainstreak were the first kits in the clan apart from icymoss and were the first kits of sloeprong. also because beebright is so young. but the talonpaw thing is actually true, he’s had that flavor text twice and he feels like a caring little guy, so i think he’ll do his best with this!

also mothpaw badass<3

[smewduck]

removed splashpaw and silentpaw, so here's the updated cast of Alpine apprentices :]

having fewer of them allows me to give more attention to their characters

[talonpaw]

mister talon palon

[hexxo707]

Smokepaw or Nightwing? Smokepaw was the apprentice that fell off the cliff during the journey, and Nightwing was his mother!

Included Talonpaw here too, why not!

[koolaidcatley]

[airocats]

[rose-warriorcatsrefs]

[celestralferretdesigns]

Talonpaw

[warrior-cats-rewritten]

Missing Kits, Part 2/?

Part 1

Dragonflykit - Greenflower's son, now surviving greencough. Dragonflypaw is mentored by Grasswhisker, and becomes Dragonflynose. However, between Firestar's Quest and Midnight, before the Forest starts getting ripped up, Dragonflynose slips off to the Moonstone and transitions, becoming Dragonflywing! She looks a lot like her mom.

Duckkit - Now a dark tortoiseshell molly with a small tail, Duckkit does still pass, but Greenflower is seen getting reassurance from Mudfur that he saw her in Starclan, running around with a moss ball.

Featherkit - Now Dappletail and Stormpelt's son. His death is now retconned. He was deaf, yes, but he wasn't a strong kit to begin with. He passed from fading kitten syndrome, but had a nice life before that, and was starting to get interested in herbs.

Cricketkit - A blue-gray tom like Bluestar, but with yellow eyes. He was apprenticed to Russetmoth, Willowpelt's father, and named Cricketfang. He is mates with Longtail's sister, Heatherwish, and now the father of Cinderpelt and Brackenfur.

Sol's siblings are brought up but they're for another post, as are Cloudtail's and Firestar's.

Quietkit - Now a dark brown tabby molly with brilliant blue eyes. She has made it through her sickness! Her mother has been renamed from Ashheart to Gravelheart. She is currently apprenticed to Russetfur. I have bumped her up to have been born a few moons before ITW, but she should NOT be an apprentice right now, this is much too early. Thankfully, Russetfur is good to her. Her warrior name will be Quietfeather.

Her siblings are under the cut!

Turtlekit - Now a dilute tortoiseshell molly with one green eye and one yellow eye, Turtlekit is Gravelheart's second born child, and is currently apprenticed to Blackfoot. She is also too young for this. Her warrior name will be Turtlesong.

Rubblekit - Another rare prefix, a lot of these kits gave prefixes never seen before. Now he is a small gray tabby tom with (as a reference to his wiki sprite) bright green eyes! He is illegally apprenticed to Nettlespot, who thankfully acts tough but is very gentle with him. His warrior name will be Rubblefang.

Cherrypaw - Originally Robinwing and Fuzzypelt from long ago, appearing in Spottedleaf's Honest Answer. Well Robinfuzzy is getting destroyed and SHA no longer exists, so Cherrypaw is getting moved away from that and is now bulky ginger and white molly with amber eyes, and a child of Grayflower (OC) with her littermates Dustpelt and Ravenpaw. She was made a warrior early due to fighting off a boar! Her mentor was Frostfur and her name is Cherryshine.

Chestnutkit - He was bumped down to be Frostfur's littermate as Brindleface is no longer her sister, he was mentored by Snowfur, and he is also now a skinny pale brown tabby tom with a white chest and blue eyes named Chestnutwing. He will mentor Elderpaw after Russetmoth dies.

Lavenderkit - Now a rose-cream mollynwith deep blue eyes, Lavenderkit survives her illness and is apprenticed to Volewhisper. She becomes Lavenderpool, and is mates with Blossomclaw.

Smokepaw - Nightwing's boy, the apprentice that falls. He is a HUGE part of The New Prophecy! A main character now! He will still fall, but find his way home, and he is featured in WCR!Graystripe's Adventure, found by Graystripe and Cody. His name will be Smokeheart.

Talonpaw - Now pale gray with large white feet, the attack from the kittypets nearly killed him, and he collapsed unconscious when he dragged himself back to camp. He would lay in effectively a comatose state, being given a Dying Warrior Ceremony from Blackstar. He woke up during the end of Sunset, and was shocked to hear cheers of his new name: Talonshine.

Nightwhisper - Nightwhisper would not become Darkflower's mate, but instead brought his young daughter to be nursed by Queens who could help. Kinkfur was that kit. She is, for all intents and purposes, half Bloodclan.

Pouncetail - To avoid same names, this man had been not only hit with the Gender Beam, but also a cool new name. Meet Muntjactail! Now has an itty-bitty tail, a lighter chest and belly. She is mates with Stoatrunner (1 half of Stoatfur, who is now split into 2 cats) and is the mother of Beenose!

Since Wolfstep is dead, the lean tabby tom and tortoiseshell queen with 2 kits are now Rubblefang, and his sister Turtlesong. He is giving her loving support. Wetfoot has just died, he was the father of her kits. Ivykit (Ivytail) and Whitekit (Whitewater).

Crowfrost - Dawncloud now gets together with Picklewish (OC, kinda. One of the names from the Fan Vote that Wafflepaw won. He joins Shadowclan during the Journey) and has Crowfrost. He will also be surviving AVOS! She also has them a little bit later than canon.

Spiderfoot - Crowfrost's brother, a cowardly little guy who leaves to become a kittypet. His kittypet name is Socko, and he is loved.

Swallowtail - Now a skinny gray-cream molly with darker legs and amber eyes. Born to Vixenleap and a posthumous Swancall a few weeks after the Battle for Bloodclan, Swallowtail may look like a Windclan cat, but she is a shining star in Riverclan. She even earned her name early and was trusted with an apprentice before anyone else! She has secret kits with Rainwhisker!

Wait, what?

Pebblefoot - Now a mottled pale brown tom with bright green eyes and small paws, Pebblefoot is an alright enough guy. He had a bit of a celebrity crush on Ashfoot when he was young. His mentor is no longer Mosspelt, but now Heavystep, who is no longer an early elder. He gives the next Riverclan Leader a life after his death during The Hopeless Storm.

Minnowtail - Oh, I have BIG plans for this girl, should all go well with ASC. That's far away for now, but just know that us Mouse x Minnow fans are EATING.

Tumblekit - Now a chubby little boy. I am deeply sorry for anyone who likes this little guy and wanted him to live. He was never meant to survive. I tried to think of how I could spin him, but his death is a Canon Event for Minnowtail.

Mallowtail and Grasswhisker - Grasswhisker is now a trans tom who might later realize they're actually a tolly! That isn't set in stone, but what is is this relationship! But, since he and Mallowtail cannot have kits of biologically, they get help from a sire. Who, you ask? Well that's private! (a loner) after Mallowtail gives birth, they are shocked to see that one of their kits, Beechkit, looks VERY much like Grasswhisker! The other is Rippletail. Mates of Gorsetail and Petalfur.

[stus-warrior-designs]

His death is brutal

[forestclan-clangen]

MOON 8 (Final)

<< FIRST | < PREVIOUS |

Tree helps Shiverpaw find herbs, and they run into a Woodcrawler. Tree miraculously incapacitates it, barely getting hurt! Tree tells the Clan that they've warded off Deep Root entities before. Closer to the ends of their legs, their roots are sensitive. They're like a heel - the tendons are weak. They can be torn apart, causing the entity to lose motor control.

(Tree, warrior, non-binary, 39 moons) (Shiverpaw, medicine cat apprentice, 8 moons) (Woodcrawler. A mockery of nature. Without defined age.)

---

Shiverpaw felt uncomfortable when Windfur told her that she was capable of gathering plantain by herself. She felt even more uncomfortable when Windfur asked Tree to accompany her.

Ever since she came back to camp with Talonpaw the moon prior, Windfur had been stiff around her. She didn't know if it was something Talonpaw told him, or something she did, but the fact that she was being ousted with a stranger in the middle of the woods to gather herbs made her feel like…like Windfur didn't like her. She wasn't…doing anything bad, right? She knew that earlier in the moon they got into a fight about the Nature's Mockery she saw, but she thought that enough time had passed for it to not matter anymore.

It was hard to believe that when Windfur was looking at her less and less.

She quietly grabbed one of the woven baskets by the handle, and quietly padded up to Tree, who was waiting patiently by the camp entrance.

"Well, no time like the present, eh?" Tree meowed.

Shiverpaw nodded wordlessly, then walked past them and through the entrance. Tree padded after the apprentice, their eyes staring at the ropes and sliding mechanisms that were attached to ForestClan's front gates. Their tail twitched with interest.

Shiverpaw wasn't sure what to make of the former loner. They were brought back to camp by Cloudthunder and Morningpaw the moon prior, and almost immediately went from non-committal about joining, to gaping and inquiring about every little aspect of Clan life. Tree had especially taken interest in speaking to Windfur, fascinated by the amount of medical knowledge and herbs he had at his disposal. Windfur noticed the tinge of lemonweed emitting from their pelt, and offered to provide them with regular dosage, if they wished. Tree was happy to agree.

This happened with almost every single clanmate in camp. Tree asked about the fire burning beneath a makeshift table of stones, and Cloudthunder was happy to show them how they dried out strips of meat. Tree asked about the thick ropes binding the logs of pine and spruce that created their walls, and Barleywave was happy to show them the ropes, literally. Tree asked about how long they've existed in this forest, and Redstar was happy to give them ForestClan's history. Every day, Tree seemed to have another question for someone to answer.

But not for her.

Not that she could really blame them. She…wasn't exactly the most interesting cat. At least, she didn't think so.

As the two cats trekked through the undergrowth, Shiverpaw took a moment to appreciate the sunshine. It was getting colder, and the red and yellow hues of early leaf-fall had long gone. The ground was painted in husky brown leaf litter, and the birch and oaks were stripped bare of their foliage. The only thing that remained were the evergreens, their pines growing dark under the cold.

Shiverpaw's appreciation of the gentle sun was cut short by cloudy overcast. She sighed.

"Ah, poor sunshine." Tree's voice spoke up from behind her. "I was enjoying that."

Shiverpaw let out a huff of agreement. "I was always told that I'd miss the sun the closer to leafbare we got. But…it's hard to really get that when you're a kit."

"Experience is the best teacher," Tree said simply. They paused, then tilted their head slightly. "So you've never felt winter - er, I guess you call it leafbare - before?"

"No," Shiverpaw confirmed. She started walking again, remembering the path towards plantain that Windfur showed her.

Tree padded up beside her and continued the conversation. "It's not very pleasant. The cold is the worst part of it. And how dark it gets, so early."

Shiverpaw gave them a curious glance. Her ear turned towards Tree, attentive.

"But, despite the cold and the darkness, there's something…oddly reassuring about it." Tree's green eyes were filled with unknown emotion. "It's a little mad, with how many creatures manage to survive a time that is so hostile to life. There's beauty in that - but perhaps only a hateful beauty. One that's admired only because we appreciate that there are things not like it. Such as your clan." Tree gave Shiverpaw a look. "It's wonderful how much you create together."

Shiverpaw blinked in surprise. The way Tree described leafbare was harsh, but also poetic. It strangely made her look forward to leafbare - but she'd never admit that to anyone in the clan!

"I'm glad that you like our camp. We work hard on it," Shiverpaw meowed quietly, staying polite. She stopped as the path beneath her feet turned from dirt to stone, and she found the patch of plantain she needed. "Oh, here it is." Shiverpaw put down the basket and trotted towards the herb, carefully cultivating the leaves - as wilted as they were becoming.

"Did you need any help grabbing them?"

"Um, not right now - I'm trying to see what's still good to take."

"Take your time, then. We're in no rush." Tree sat down comfortably on one of the flat stones on the path. They stretched out their front legs and arched their back, letting out a big yawn. Shiverpaw caught them yawning from the corner of her eye, and failed to suppress one of her own. Tree let a mrrow of amusement.

"I suppose we're all due for a nap later."

"That'd be nice," Shiverpaw agreed. She kept winnowing the plantain, hoping that she was leaving enough of the plant to grow back in newleaf. She was so focused on her careful task, that by the time she had turned around with a bundle of them in her mouth, she was caught off guard by Tree standing upright and staring off into the woods.

"...Um, Tree?"

Tree lifted their tail up as a sign to stay quiet.

Shiverpaw froze and her hair stood on end as she panned the scene, desperate to find out what they were looking at. All she saw were rows of tree trunks sticking out in all directions, growing smaller into the horizon. The undergrowth was a heavy layer of dead pine needles and dormant plants, with the largest being the now-bare branches from a broad shrub. Brown leaf litter dappled the ground. Her eyes flicked back and forth, her heart racing.

She scanned around her again. The tree trunks. The branches of shrubs. Leaf litter.

Again. Trees. Shrubs. Leaf-litter.

"I can smell it. I see it." Tree whispered. "Don't move."

Shiverpaw did as she was told. Then, the wind blew softly against her, and her blue eyes widened with terror. Her heart seized in her chest and it took everything in her to not start panting. Her eyes watered as she remembered the wretched scent that invaded her nostrils two moons ago. When she returned to the Dome last moon with Windfur, the absence of the monster gave her peace. She dreamed of StarClan. Icypaw spoke to her clearly, and seemed relaxed. She even saw Warblerkit, and he told her that he was going to be a big brother to any kit that needed his help - it made her purr. It made her happy. She thought, maybe, the moon she was apprenticed - it was all a bad dream. A horrible nightmare that she could move on from, and she could be a good cleric for her clan, just like she wanted.

She wanted to wail and burst into tears when the wet, bloody scent invaded her body.

She didn't want this. She didn't want this.

She couldn't force herself to look away from the undergrowth. She expected a red, foul mass to crawl around the branches of the shrubs and pull itself up to reveal the dead, black eyes of a cat's deformed skull. It would rise above the trees, above the sky, blot out the sun, and lock its eyes on her. Its jaw, raw and haggard, would shudder. "WE…CAN…HEAR…YOU."

"Shiverpaw." Tree's voice pierced into her waking nightmare. "Hold your breath. When the legs rise - run."

Shiverpaw was jostled from her nightmare, rattled by Tree's words. Legs? What legs? What -

She scanned again. The branches of a shrub. Thicker than normal. The tree trunks. Far on the horizon. The leaf litter. The branches of -

Shiverpaw's eyes shot open wide and her claws unsheathed.

Those were not branches.

The legs of the Woodcrawler rose.

Shiverpaw burst into a dash back down the path. Her heart dropped as Tree was absent. She skidded to a halt and looked back to see them hissing as the Woodcrawler's legs jabbed down.

"TREE!" she howled.

Tree did something unfathomable. They dodged, and then jumped at one of the Woodcrawler's legs. Their green eyes were wild with unbridled fury. With all four sets of claws outstretched, they latched on and started gouging. They plunged their fangs around a bulging point near the base of its leg and started tearing.

The Woodcrawler thrashed in silent agony, its legs flailing as it tried to stab the tortoiseshell cat. Tree glanced up to see one of its dagger-like legs above, and pushed themselves off as the attack came down. Tree sprinted towards Shiverpaw screaming, "GO!"

Shiverpaw didn't need to be told twice. The rush of terror and bewilderment that Tree just did that gave her the boost of speed she didn't know she had. Her head throbbed as she felt something chasing them. She could hear it thrashing through the woods, its many legs skittering across the dirt and leaves, rumbling like a Thunderpath. It lasted only a few moments before she heard a loud crash and snapping branches, then silence. The sound of blood pumping through her ears and Tree panting as they ran beside her replaced it.

Shiverpaw felt desperate relief as she saw the tall walls of the camp come into her line of sight. "WOODCRAWLER! HIDE, HIDE, HIDE!" she screeched.

ForestClan sprung into action, everyone's furs on end. Shiverpaw felt the world around her spin. She could hear Redstar barking orders and scrambling with her three functional legs to close the gate with Barleywave. Windfur and Morningpaw's pelts blurred as they dashed into the nursery and pushed Olive up. Branchkit and Perchkit were wide-eyed and limp as Cloudthunder and Talonpaw grabbed them by the scruff. Before she knew it, the clan was huddled into the back of Redstar's den, trembling in the dark.

Iciclepool was at the den's entrance.

Redstar was staring out into the woods from the gate, her ears swivelling.

Shiverpaw could still hear her heart in her ears.

She felt the world around her blur as she stared at the interior of the den. The brown tree hollow was dark and splintered. Redstar's bedding was made of yellowed moss.

Her eyes couldn't focus on the moss. Something was wrong. It rippled and shifted. Like something had smudged it and dragged its shape out of reality. It felt wrong. The dirt floor was flat. Too flat. There was a beetle on the floor. It crawled slowly across the den, its antennae waving gently. It stopped, frozen. Shiverpaw wanted to blink. She didn't know how. Was the beetle real? Was the bed real? Were her lungs, her heart, her mind? Was -

She felt someone's paw press against her shoulder.

Shiverpaw blinked.

She looked at the paw, and saw a brown, spotted texture rising along its leg. She slowly turned her head to see Olive staring up at her with softness. In silence, Olive pointed to her own claws. Then her ears. Then her nose. One, two, three. Remember.

Shiverpaw took a deep breath. She unsheathed her claws and dug them beneath her. Dirt. It was dry. It snagged into her claws. Shoot. They were dirty now. She'll have to clean them later.

She breathed through her nose. She could smell her clanmate's individual scents. She smelled pine. The air was cold.

She twitched her ears. She could hear…birds? She thinks so. She could hear a songbird or two. Then, she heard something unfamiliar - a…flock of large birds flying overhead? They made a nasally bellow.

Tree's voice mumbled. "Geese. Big black and brown birds. They're just migrating. It's okay."

Branchkit and Perchkit must've heard the sound too, as their eyes twinkled with relief when Tree spoke. The two kits were wrapped around each other, seeking comfort. The rest of the clan remained quiet.

As Redstar gave a final chitter of alarm, Iciclepool sighed deeply. The camp was allowed to breathe again, and Shiverpaw and Tree were interrogated. Shiverpaw could barely recall what her answers were. She felt her mind move and speak automatically. It wasn't like the time at the Half-Moon Dome. There, she felt like something had actively taken over her. Now, it felt like her own mind had picked her up by the scruff, carrying her around and speaking for her. She knows Iciclepool curled up next to her and started grooming her. She knows Redstar spoke to her calmly. She knows Morningpaw brought her a few strips of jerky to eat. But she didn't really remember how she ended up in the medicine den, sitting in her bedding as she watched Windfur and Tree speak to one another.

"I'm going to have to clean your muzzle with water and mouse bile."

"A bit late for that. It was on my teeth. I spit it out, but if there's some kind of infection related to it, well…"

"Let me put it to you this way - I haven't seen someone insane enough to attack a Woodcrawler and survive," Windfur hissed as he started shoving the water and bile-soaked moss on Tree's face.

Tree hissed. "Ow. Ow. This sucks."

"Wouldn't need to do this if I knew what was in Woodcrawlers to begin with," Windfur sighed. "I guess I can sacrifice some of the honey, but I'm not happy about it. Next time, just run."

"We did run."

"No, you attacked it, then you ran. Big difference."

"If I didn't, it would've successfully chased us. I decided to not bring a giant spider back during my first moon living here, thank you."

Windfur's tail thrashed as he padded towards the back of the den and grabbed a flat pebble and a massive slab of honeycomb, carefully peeling away the wax and scraping off some of the honey. "You could've died," Windfur said gravely. "...You should have died."

There was a tense silence in the medicine den as Windfur grabbed Tree's paw and wiped it clean with moss, then added a layer of honey around a bleeding claw.

Shiverpaw stared blankly at Windfur's treatment. Honey for outer infections. Honey. Yes. That was nice. She tried to bump herself back to the present, coaxing gently. She knew the song, right? Windfur showed her last week.

"Bo-bumblebee, bo-bumblebee, give me a cure, one sweet and so dandy, for my little bird…" she mumbled the start of the nursery rhyme Windfur taught her. She was too quiet for either of them to pick up on it.

Tree watched as Windfur used a small, leather pelt to wrap around their foot. Windfur secured it tightly, then looked back up at Tree.

"...How did you live?"

Shiverpaw's ears twitched. She looked at Tree.

Tree tested their paw on the ground. Seemingly satisfied, they gave an answer. "I've had to fight them before, but I do not recommend it. I made a calculated risk, but you're right. I should be dead." Tree's emerald eyes were solemn. "This one was…I'd say the size of a large bramble bush. I wouldn't recommend confronting anything larger than that - which most Woodcrawlers are. Fighting it close to its den is also a death wish. It doesn't need you dead immediately, only tangled for long enough to drag you down. This one was either desperate, or a hatchling. It was nowhere near its den. Otherwise, Shiverpaw and I would've caught the scent of the den long before we saw the beast."

Shiverpaw blinked. She felt extremely uneasy as she remembered staring right at the Woodcrawler and only seeing the branches of a large shrub. It was so incredibly still that she wouldn't have known if it weren't for Tree.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt her face turn hot. She didn't know where the feeling came from. Embarrassment? Shame? Lingering terror? Tree saved her life. She'd be dead if they weren't there.

"That's not the question I asked," Windfur said curtly.

"I'm giving you the preamble because it's the same story I gave to Redstar," they meowed. "Running from Woodcrawlers is the correct answer. However," Tree's eyes grew stern as they glanced at both Shiverpaw and Windfur. "The ends of their legs - their points - there's a grouping of roots near the base of them that are sensitive. There's no bark or scale, just tendons. You can tear them out and cause them to lose motor control. If you're fast, you have time to disable one leg and then make a break for it. But that's all," Tree scowled, their tail twitching. "You can only stop it from chasing you and knowing where you sleep. In the moment, I decided that was a good option." There was a pause, then Tree's expression softened slightly. "But I understand the worry for my well being. Given how promptly you responded to the danger, I think I'll feel better now, knowing ForestClan can defend its home against the Woodcrawlers."

---

< PREVIOUS | NEXT >

[songclangen]

swankit……practicing bird calls…….you don’t even know how special you are

[smewduck]

sketched a bunch of ocs

[talonpaw]

[xxxfoxflowerxxx]

Warrior cat designs: Talonpaw