#Whiskershadow

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 4 - CEREMONY

"All cats of Needleclan, gather for a Clan Meeting!"

Speckleback glanced up from the medicine cat den.  Currentkit pushed Riverkit towards the center of the camp, and Riverkit whined. A red leaf drifted from a branch above Finchstar, and the leader watched as it twirled around, eventually landing on Lichenpaw's head.

Hollypaw watched from the medicine den, looking a little irritated. Speckleback was keeping him confined to the medicine cat den, despite the fact that he wasn't woozy anymore. At least he was paying attention. 

Daisyshadow poked out a head from the nursery. Whiskershadow glanced up from the fresh-kill pile, which was nearby.

Good.

"I have the honor of stating that today, we have our very first warrior promotion!" Finchstar purred, meeting eyes with Lichenpaw. She hopped down from a tree branch. "It has been my pleasure to have trained Lichenpaw, even before we were a part of a Clan. Her judgment has been vital to her protecting our clan." 

Finchstar hopped down from the tree completely, walking towards Lichenpaw. They were on the same eye level, now. "Lichenpaw, by the powers of me being leader, I name you Lichentooth."

Lichentooth looked almost surprised. 

Finchstar purred, touching noses with Lichentooth before backing away.

Hollypaw was the first to cheer, "LICHENTOOTH!" The other cats followed, even the kits after a few moments. It was small, so Finchstar joined in. Lichentooth stood in the center of it, shrinking a little but still smiling.

Once the cheering had stopped, Finchstar continued, "Now, for the second task of today..." Finchstar met eyes with Riverkit and Currentkit. Currentkit bounced up and down, and Riverkit nudged his shoulder to get him to stop. "Riverkit and Currentkit. You two have reached six moons, and are therefore now apprentices. Until you are trained fully, you will be called Riverpaw and Currentpaw."

Currentpaw grinned. "I'm Riverpaw, right?"

Riverpaw shook her head, still smiling a bit herself. 

Finchstar jumped up onto the roots that made up the entrance to her den. She didn't jump back up to the higher branches again. "No, Currentpaw. Now..." Finchstar met eyes with Whiskershadow, and her deputy straightened up. "Whiskershadow. As my new deputy, you haven't yet explored everything about the territory due to being confined to camp." She grinned. "You might as well explore it with an apprentice." She was not going to bring up how Lightningpaw was once his apprentice, as well. "You will be Riverpaw's mentor."

Riverpaw got up, blue and green eyes sparkling despite the deceptive calmness to her movements, and walked over to Whiskershadow. She reached up to Whiskershadow's nose, and Whiskershadow leaned down to meet her. After that, she moved to sit by him.

"...Lichentooth."

Lichentooth straightened up upon being called again. "...me?"

"Yes. Your judgement is excellent, and your calm nature would help with teaching." Finchstar paused. "I think it does, anyway. You will be mentoring Currentpaw."

Currentpaw gasped, then jumped and dashed over to Lichentooth, stopping just in front of her. "I get to be your first apprentice!"

Lichentooth still looked a little shocked. "Are you... are you sure?"

"Confident." Finchstar nodded. "You'll do great, Lichentooth. I know you can."

Lichentooth didn't seem convinced. But she leaned down to touch noses with Currentpaw, who vibrated in his spot. He then sat down right there, only turning to look at Finchstar again.

Finchstar held her head up. "Clan meeting is over!" She hopped off the root, heading for the fresh-kill pile. "Why don't you go get acquainted with your apprentices?"

As Finchstar reached down to grab a bird from the pile, she heard Riverpaw ask Whiskershadow about gathering fresh bedding for everyone. After a few moments, she heard Currentpaw turn and whine at Lichentooth to NOT do that.

Events Referenced: Lichenpaw gets promoted to a warrior. Finchstar says it's been an honor to train her, and names Lichenpaw Lichentooth, and commends her judgement. Riverkit becomes Riverpaw and gets assigned to Whiskershadow. She offers to immediately start gathering bedding. Currentkit is so excited to become Currentpaw, and is assigned to Lichentooth.

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 0 - FIRST NIGHT

"... So the second parts of their names are either for appearance, or for a skill, or their personality..." Petunia meowed, ears perked up with interest. "Huh. That actually sounds rather nice."

Speckle, at Finchstar's other side, was quiet. He looked to be deep in thought. Finchstar glanced over to him, frowning. "You okay, Speckle?"

"... I had those dreams, before you joined me." He mumbled. "But- ancestors interacting with our every move? I don't know if I like that." Speckle glanced up to Finchstar, and his fur caught the sun for a moment. "But I do have... some knowledge of herbs." Speckle frowned, once again out of the light. "Not sure if I quite have enough, though..."

"You'll learn." Finchstar said, brushing past a bush. With that, they were near her den- and near the camp. Finchstar could see why this was once used in the past, even with some of the dens no longer being there. She smiled, hopping up the tree that made up her den. "Alright, clan cats! Come and gather!"

Daisy, the cream she-cat with a single darker stripe down her back, who had taken the kits from Finchstar when informed of what their parents had done, pulled the kits along with her. The black and white kit with mismatched eyes, Riverkit, cuddled up to Daisy, and the speckled pale tom with copper eyes, Currentkit, stared up at where Finchstar was.

There was a sparkly presence at her side. Finchstar focused in front of her, ignoring it. "We are gathered here, in our future Clan's camp. Thank you for sticking with me through... all of that." A few laughs from the small crowd. "Today, we become a part of a whole. Today... I'm granting you your new names."

"Shouldn't we name the clan?" Lightning said, loudly. Lichen's tail stuck straight up.

"Maybe. But what I want to do is to name ourselves first, then name our clan, making our first step as a clan as our new selves. Yeah?" Finchstar nodded. "Yeah. So... first off... our kits."

Daisy used her tail to nudge the kits forward a little. "Their mothers should be ashamed of themselves." She spat. "Leaving River and Current behind?"

"They will be Riverkit and Currentkit. Our young will have those names." Finchstar nodded to Lichen next. "Those of..."

A whisper. Six moons.

"Six moons and older, and training under another are our Apprentices. Apprentices..." Finchstar met eyes with Lichen. "Have the second part of their names be paw. Lichen, you are Lichenpaw, and you will still be training under me."

Lichenpaw nodded, smiling.

Finchstar glanced at the other two cats who were young, but not kit age young. Lightning, the orange cat with a striped tail, and Holly, a pale gray dappled tom who stared up with amber eyes.

"Lightning, you are now Lightningpaw. You will train under..." Her eyes met with Whisker, the white and gray spotted tom. "Whisker.

Lightningpaw blinked, then padded over to Whisker. The two of them stared for a bit, before Whisker touched noses with him. Whisker purred. "A pleasure, Finchstar."

"Holly. You are Hollypaw." Hollypaw stood to attention. "You will train under Daisy."

She seemed reliable and caring. Hollypaw, taking from Lightningpaw's lead, stumbled over to Daisy and touched noses with her. He then moved to sit beside the kits. 

"Now, our fighters." Finchstar lashed her tail. "You will be more complicated." She stood up. "After all, I just met some of you last moon!" She laughed. Whisker and Petunia both laughed as well. Daisy just tilted her head. Speckle sighed. "But I will try my best to name all of you."

"Petunia. You will be Petuniaclaw." Finchstar hopped down from one branch. "Whisker, you will be Whiskershadow. Daisy, Daisyshadow."

"Why are we sharing names." Daisyshadow said, curt.

"Both of you surprised me when we met." Finchstar said, and Whiskershadow snorted. Daisyshadow rolled her eyes. "Besides, it's only a part of your name. The whole is different." Another hop down a branch. "Speckle... You will be Speckleback."

Speckleback glanced at his back. Then back to Finchstar. "Clever...?"

"I know, I am." Finchstar responded, back down on even ground with the others. "Everyone can rest for today. Tomorrow, we wake up a new clan... and we can think of what we're named."

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 13 - FADE AWAY

Whiskershadow's body was left out in the middle of camp.

It was still. Not even his usual raspy breathing was coming from it. Speckleback stared down at the unbreathing body, his tail curled up against him. Wasn't fair. He did all he could, he was told that by everyone and everything possible, but that didn't change what had happened.

Whiskershadow was dead. A cough, all-consuming, taking and taking until all that was left was a husk, conversing without his heart in it. They both knew it. But Speckleback wanted him there.

Finchstar wandered by, tail curling around him. Speckleback jumped, turning to glare, but Finchstar's own saddened expression made the words that were climbing to his teeth slip away unsaid. Finchstar managed a smile.

"I have to appoint my next deputy." Finchstar meowed. "Already. I'm... sorry to ask you this, but..."

"I'll put him back into the den." Hidden away. Not like the smell of death wasn't hitting the air. He needed to gather more rosemary. "And then we'll bury him." It was a demand, and not a request. 

Finchstar smiled at him, and then grabbed Whiskershadow's body by the scruff. Speckleback helped pull the body towards and into the den, laying him back onto the corner nest. If Speckleback closed his ears, he could even pretend that Whiskershadow was just sleeping.

"You have an apprentice to train soon." Finchstar reminded, once the body was laid back on the nest. "I promise I'll help you bury him."

"I would too, if my bite was gone." Daisyshadow offered, irritation in her voice at the still festering snake bite. It was a wonder she was still kicking.

Speckleback huffed. "It's fine. I promised. You do not have to keep reminding me-"

"That we're here for you, like clanmates are?" Finchstar meowed, loud. "Like we're supposed to be? We were there for Lichentooth, and now we're here for you."

Speckleback didn't say anything else. He just pulled himself out of the den again. Daisyshadow shuffled over to the entrance, and Batpaw stumbled over her trying to reach the entrance, too.

Finchstar wandered over to the roots that made up her den, hopped up, and then hopped up to her announcement branch. She cleared her throat. "All cats of Needleclan, gather for a clan meeting!"

The kits burst out of the nursery, and they had obviously been looking forward to this. Boughkit even looked directly at Speckleback, who was more a part of the center of the camp this time. The warriors and the apprentices came out next, and the sight of them made Finchstar inhale. Riverflight was looking rather distant from Currentdash, but she was still glancing up at Finchstar, waiting. Currentdash glanced to Speckleback, then glanced away. Hollyspike looked as if he was growling. Lichentooth was attentive, but deliberately trying to stick to the edges of the crowd. Bogpaw and Goldpaw were sticking together, while the other apprentices, Graypaw, Larkpaw, and Buzzardpaw went around them.

So many apprentices. So little warriors to apprentice them to.

"Yesterday, Whiskershadow faded away from his greencough." Finchstar announced, as if everybody didn't already know. Speckleback despised the glances he got, and also the ones he didn't. "Life... has to go on. I will appoint a new deputy."

Riverflight, Currentdash, Lichentooth, Hollyspike.

Daisyshadow's snake bite still wasn't healing, so not her. Only the former apprentices, the ones that had been around since the start of the clan.

She knew her choice. Was it the right one?

"Riverflight."

Gasps. Riverflight blinked.

"You will be our new deputy. Your level head will mean great guidance as our deputy."

After a few moments of shocked silence, Currentdash shoved himself into her, purring. "You did it! You're deputy!"

The others cheered. Bogpaw laughed, nudging herself into Goldpaw and chattering about something Finchstar couldn't pick up on. The kits bounced on their paws.

"That's not the only thing I had to announce!" Finchstar's voice boomed, and everyone went quiet. Finchstar grinned. "We have some kits to promote to apprentices. Why don't you three step up?"

Tricklekit was the first, followed by Rindlekit and Boughkit. Speckleback took that as a cue to step up as well, and everyone's eyes followed his dappled pelt.

"First... I will let Speckleback speak for me."

Speckleback nodded. "I have-" Oh, his voice was shaking. Not great for his appearance. "Boughkit will become my apprentice. Instead of fighting out there for the clan, Boughpaw will be at my side, helping to harvest and heal."

"And talk with Starclan!" Boughpaw said, walking forward. She carefully stepped around and to Speckleback's side. "So... yeah. I'll be another healer."

Finchstar laughed. "Thank you, Boughpaw. Now, Tricklekit. You are now Tricklepaw."

The black and red apprentice nodded her head, gaze fierce.

So few warriors to go around.

"You will be apprenticed to Hollyspike."

Tricklepaw padded over, paws harsh on the ground, to Hollyspike. She reached her muzzle up to touch his, and the fire in her eyes seemed to blaze. After that, she sat to Hollyspike's side.

"Rindlekit, you are now Rindlepaw. You'll be apprenticed to Currentdash."

Rindlepaw touched muzzles with Currentdash, and then sat to his side. The pale apprentice and the pale warrior.

Leaving Riverflight more free for her deputy duties. This would be good. 

Riverflight stepped forward, paws hesitant at first but growing more determined as she sat on the other side of the leader's den. It had been a while since a deputy was well enough to do so.

"With that, clan dismissed!" Finchstar hopped down from the branch to the top root of her den. "Riverflight, you and I can discuss in my den."

Events Referenced: Whiskershadow dies of greencough. Speckleback doesn't take this well. He relies on his clanmates for comfort and company. Riverflight becomes the new deputy. Finchstar still isn't sure if she's making the right decisions, but life must go on. Tricklekit becomes Tricklepaw and swears to starclan she'll do her best for the clan as she touches Hollyspike's nose. (in her head.) Rindlekit's headache went away, and she becomes Rindlepaw, apprenticed to Currentdash. Boughkit becomes Boughpaw, the medicine cat apprentice.

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 10 - CEREMONY

Speckleback unwrapped the cobwebs bandaging Hollyspike's bitten side. It seemed like the wound had disappeared from his side. Hollyspike got up from his nest, stretching his large form out. Speckleback waited for the warrior to be done.

"You are free to go."

"Finally." Hollyspike meowed, heading for the entrance. His pawsteps slowed at the entrance, and he turned back to face towards Whiskershadow's side of the den. After a few moments, he turned around and left.

Speckleback pretended not to notice. Right when he turned to organize his herbs-

"All cats of Needleclan, gather for a Clan Meeting!"

Ah. Speckleback turned back towards the entrance of the den, padding forward and sitting himself down. He heard Whiskershadow shift in the den behind him.

The gaggle of kits all moved out of the nursery, followed by Daisyshadow pushing them along. Goldkit glanced to Bogkit, and Bogkit giggled, pushing Goldkit forward.

Lichentooth sat beside Currentpaw, and Riverpaw sat by herself. Hollyspike sat close to her.

"Today, we promote one new warrior!" Finchstar cheered. "Currentpaw, you are now named Currentdash! Your judgement is just as sound as Lichentooth's. I know she's trained you well."

Lichentooth blinked, before allowing herself to hold her head up. Currentdash stepped forward, smile on his face. Riverpaw was silent for a few moments, eyes glancing towards the gaggle of kits.

"Just Currentdash?" Speckleback mumbled.

"Riverpaw snuck Bogkit out of camp." Whiskershadow provided. Speckleback's ears turned towards him before Speckleback did, himself.

"What are you doing out of your nest? Do not strain yourself."

"I will be fine." Whiskershadow coughed after his words, earning him a glare from Speckleback. 

They turned their heads back when Finchstar started to speak again.

"Our recent kit arrivals are now the first to become apprentices!" Finchstar stood tall. "Goldkit, Batkit. You're apprentices now, named Goldpaw and Batpaw. Goldpaw, you are apprenticed to Daisyshadow."

Goldpaw stood up, then glanced to Daisyshadow next to him. Daisyshadow bent down and pressed noses with him. Goldpaw pressed noses back.

"Batpaw, you are apprenticed to Lichentooth."

Lichentooth froze up at the new attention, and with Batpaw ramming into her side. The warrior stumbled, but managed to stay upright. She copied Daisyshadow, and Batpaw copied Goldpaw, before settling by Lichentooth's side.

"Again?" Lichentooth mumbled.

Finchstar jumped down from her tree branch, landing on the roots that made up her den. "I did mean it when I said you did excellent with Currentdash." Her eyes glanced over to Riverpaw. "...Riverpaw, I promise you will be next. I just do not want our kits endangered."

Riverpaw rolled her eyes. "...okay. I get it."

"I know you do. Clan dismissed."

Hollyspike butted heads against Currentdash, and Currentdash stumbled before butting heads back. "Finally got out of the den in time, huh? Won't be stuck with your former mentor!"

"Daisyshadow's gonna be in there, you know."

"She's busy with the kits! Come on." Hollyspike padded towards the warriors den. "Gotta get you a good nest!"

Currentdash rolled his eyes, and he looked back to Riverpaw. "See you soon."

Speckleback pushed against Whiskershadow. "Come. Back to bed."

"Alright, alright."

Events Referenced: Hollyspike has healed from the cat bite. Currentpaw is named Currentdash, and is commended for their judgement. Lichentooth thinks herself as lucky to have trained him! Riverpaw just barely didn't make it to the trainee threshold haha Goldkit becomes Goldpaw and is apprenticed to Daisyshadow.  Batkit becomes Batpaw and is apprenticed to Lichentooth.

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 7 - STORY

"Hey."

Whiskershadow glanced down at his apprentice, who was staring up at him with green and blue eyes. Their trek to the edge of the territory was taking a bit- the part that bordered the ThunderBorder was a long while away compared to the borders with the other clans.

Riverpaw tilted her head. "...The others mention being a loner before becoming a clan. What's with that?"

Whiskershadow hummed thoughtfully. "Well, it's true. We all used to be wandering loners, fighting for ourselves- or, in the case of Finch and Lichen, just the two of them. Hunting alone, fighting others if they tried to get our catches, maybe chatting occasionally-"

"Well, yeah." Riverpaw interrupted, her tail swishing in the air. "I mean, why make a clan? I know I was there, but I was very small then."

Whiskershadow twitched his whiskers, smiling still. "Finchstar would know all the details."

"You were there. So...?"

Whiskershadow chuckled, shaking his head. "Fine."

He kept his eyes forward as he hopped up some steeper land, and Riverpaw followed. It evened out closer to the ThunderBorder.

(He didn't care that nobody else seemed to call it that.)

"Well, Finchstar was the first to find that cat. Hazelstreak, I believe." His pawsteps grew a bit slower, and he stopped to let himself breathe. HIs lungs were getting to him. Riverpaw walked closer, waiting. Whiskershadow nodded. "Finchstar was living alone with Lichentooth then, so the sudden new presence worried her. But Hazelstreak used to live in where our camp was- in fact, she lived with other cats there, too."

Riverpaw was silent. Whiskershadow recovered most of his breath and continued walking.

"She was told to gather cats who wanted to live together. I was approached by our old deputy, Petuniaclaw-" A hitch of breath. He shook his head. "And I was intrigued by the idea of not having to fight each other for food. I had just earlier that week fought Finchstar, actually."

"Oh, really?" Riverpaw spoke up, finally. "I'm surprised she made you deputy, then."

"It wasn't personal. We just needed to live." Whiskershadow meowed. "Petuniaclaw was the first to join her- they had lived close to each other, and rarely fought. I was further out in the territory-" His eyes glanced over an old tree, and he paused to look at it.

Riverpaw walked ahead a bit, before noticing and turning back to him.

"... In fact, it was right around here." Whiskershadow glanced around.

Riverpaw twitched her tail. "... We should continue getting to the border. Show me later?"

"Of course." Whiskershadow drew away from the tree, a mark in the wood a sign that he used to live around there. "Some cats did not want to live with others. Others wanted to have safety and security, and learning to rely on each other was easy."

"... so why are my and Currentpaw's parents not here?"

Whiskershadow grew to a stop.

"...You've heard about Starclan, I assume?"

"Yeah, apparently dead cats go there." Riverpaw meowed, words hushed, before glancing up to Whiskershadow. "Speckleback mentions them. He also mentioned hearing the voice of the dead cat after she died."

"... Hazelstreak, along with three other cats that helped the other leaders, had mentioned that their clans were around so long ago." Whiskershadow sat down, and Riverpaw sat down with him. "You saw the state of our camp when we started. How Daisyshadow had to dig out the nursery and make its walls. How Speckleback had to work with the leaves that made up his den."

"How old was Hazelstreak?" Riverpaw asked.

"We don't know." Whiskershadow said, honestly. "Because during the official formation of the clans, when Finchstar got her lives, they disappeared in front of our eyes. Into stars."

Riverpaw tilted her head, eyes widening slightly.

"Your parents did not like that. They ran, leaving you both behind."

Riverpaw was silent for a few moments. She glanced down at her paws, eyes narrowing. The song of a bird didn't even distract her away from the ground.

"... I see." Riverpaw inhaled, then got back to her paws. "Come on. We have a border to mark."

Whiskershadow followed after her. "I hope that answered your question on our formation?"

"It does." Riverpaw glanced back, her frown breaking into a smile. "I liked it."

Events referenced: Whiskershadow tells Riverpaw a story as they go out to the further borders.

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 9 - SICK

It was a persistent cough. It would flare up when he hunted, causing the prey to escape from his grasp instead of being fully caught. It caused him to stop moving in order to sneeze, which left him wheezing due to his lungs.

The moment he realized it wasn't a one day thing, he went to Speckleback. Speckleback regarded him as a friend, but the moment his cough started, Speckleback went from happy to very, very worried.

His lungs. His time struggling to get good air from the water left them damaged for the rest of his life, he knew that. No matter what breathing exercises he did, he was always a bit winded at things he had spent his whole life being good at.

"It'll pass, won't it?" Whiskershadow meowed, sniffling a little bit.

"We don't know that." Speckleback hissed, sorting through his slowly growing pile of herbs. Whiskershadow didn't comment, but he did smile. Speckleback turned to glare at Whiskershadow. "Lay down. You will need rest."

"I'm not as bad as Riverpaw was!"

"You'll get there with how your lungs look!" Speckleback hissed, then breathed in. "... apologies. You know that, don't you?"

Whiskershadow glanced away. He did. The slight wheeze to his breathing. The reports of him snoring when that had never been an issue before. 

Riverpaw had recovered. He hoped to do the same.

Whiskershadow made a 'mrrp?' sound of surprise when Speckleback placed his chin on his head, sighing.

"We need you."

Whiskershadow didn't respond for a few moments. He bumped his head up, rubbing against Speckleback.

"I'll be better."

I hope.

Events Referenced: Whiskershadow gets sick with whitecough. Speckleback gets worried because of his weaker lungs.

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 1 - DROWNING

Speckleback huffed, still in the middle of brushing away dirt from what he was claiming to be the medicine cat's herb storage. It was a few rocks in the middle of the den, which was build out of thick shrubbery that was actually growing out of the rock itself. A miracle. It had called to him, as a cat of medicine.

It was just a shame that he still couldn't get his bearings around here.

Someone stomped near him, shouting, "SPECKLE! SPECKLE!" Young. Annoying. Hollypaw.

"It's Speckleback, Hollypaw, how many times..." He turned to Hollypaw, and froze. The apprentice was freaking out, with a coughing and sputtering older cat on him. It took Speckleback a few moments to remember the full name, himself. "Whiskershadow?"

Another cough, another hack. Water droplets that didn't seem to quite be from spit escaped him. The white and gray tom managed to open his eyes, and managed to weakly lift a tail. Hollypaw managing to hold onto that weight was impressive.

"Help him. We- We were training, and we came across the river, and..."

"I'll deal with it, just go and train with your mentor, whenever she shows up..." Speckleback said, tail swishing. Hollypaw nodded, dumped the man on the ground, and spun around and exited the medicine den's area. Speckleback walked next to Whiskershadow, pushing himself beneath the other cat to push him up. Another hacking fit.

Speckleback once again glanced to the rock in the center of the medicine den, and the fact that there were no herbs on it. He inhaled, exhaled. Oh, this was going to be bad.

"Just try to breathe, alright?" Speckleback said, setting down Whiskershadow on the extra nest he had laid out. Just try to soothe Whiskershadow to sleep. Think about the lack of herbs later. "In... hold- no it's alright. Just as much as you can. In..."

Events Referenced: Whiskershadow fell into a river and has been coughing up water since. Speckleback absolutely failing to get herbs at all

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 8 - PORCUPINE

"Hey, what's that?"

Lichentooth's voice brought the patrol's attention to a little creature off in the distance, past some bushes. Finchstar raised her head over the bush, then her eyes widened.

"A porcupine." Finchstar leaned back, looking to Lichentooth. "You hadn't seen one at all on your own before?"

"Seems like they're coming back. In the cold?" Whiskershadow meowed, tilting his head. "Which means none of the apprentices might know about it."

"Hollyspike's out solo right now, but..." Finchstar smiled. "You know where Riverpaw and Currentpaw are, right?"

"Hunting, yeah." Lichentooth meowed, glancing to Whiskershadow. "Do you... want to grab them?"

"Absolutely. Let's do that." Whiskershadow turned around and walked to where they had seen the two earlier. Lichentooth followed, scenting the air. The porcupine smell had been what had caught her attention, and that was still there.

Currentpaw pounced on a mouse, killing it in one bite, and lifted his head up at the sound of footsteps. He dropped the mouse when Lichentooth came out of the bushes. "Wh- Hey, what're you doing here?"

"Can't scent around a mouse yet?" Whiskershadow meowed, amused.

"No, I can!" Currentpaw objected. "I just caught the mouse. Unfair!"

Riverpaw came up behind him, holding a small rabbit. She dropped it. "Hey."

"Good that you've joined us. We've found something interesting." Whiskershadow tilted his head the way they came. "Follow us."

Their apprenticed glanced between each other, but followed their mentors anyway. Back to the bushes they first spotted the porcupine from. Riverpaw blinked, then tilted her head. "What is that?"

"Take a look." Whiskershadow glanced to the porcupine, who was nibbling on something. "You see those spikes on the back? They are not for decoration- they are like our claws." Whiskershadow lifted his paw up, unsheathing his claws for a demonstration. "A defense, and something that can hook into your skin and tear at muscle."

Lichentooth winced. Currentpaw glanced towards the porcupine, worried. Riverpaw continued staring, tilting her head.

"So be careful when hunting them?" Riverpaw meowed.

"Be careful?" Currentpaw repeated, baffled. "But-"

"Yes, in fact." Whiskershadow nodded. Currentpaw drew back a bit. Lichentooth tilted her head, just as confused. "See, they have a soft underbelly- and they make for good prey."

Riverpaw shifted forward. A bush branch snapped, and the porcupine lifted its head up, then scurried off at the sight of cats.

"Another time, then." Whiskershadow laughed. "Riverpaw..."

"...Oops."

Events Referenced: Lichentooth and Whiskershadow bring Riverpaw and Currentpaw to see a porcupine. The two of them watch the thing with wide eyes and Whiskershadow points out the spines on its back.

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 8 - SPIKES

"All cats of Needleclan, gather for a Clan Meeting!"

Daisyshadow padded to the entrance of the den, bringing the kits along with her. Her kits walked a bit ahead, while the new kits were hesitant in their steps. Daisyshadow laughed, pushing one of them- Boughkit- up with her tail. "Come on. We're getting an announcement."

Boughkit glanced up to Daisyshadow, turning her head to the left, before facing back forward and continuing to walk. A little troublemaker, that one.

"Am I gonna be an apprentice?" Larkkit asked, blinking her eyes. "Please?"

Daisyshadow chuckled. "No, you're still too young." She walked forward to sit along with her other clanmates, beside Hollypaw. Hollypaw fidgeted in his spot, to the right of Boughkit.

Yeah, she knew what this was about. Finchstar smiled down at Daisyshadow.

"Hollypaw has trained for many moons, and I think he is worthy of being named a fighter of our clan!" Finchstar announced, and Hollypaw straightened up. "After much debate with Daisyshadow over a name-"

"And myself," Whiskershadow interjected, and Finchstar laughed.

"And Whiskershadow, we settled on one choice." Finchstar closed her eyes, keeping them closed for dramatic effect. 

Hollypaw padded forward when the silence drew on for a bit. Boughkit jumped when he did so.

"Hollypaw." Finchstar opened her eyes, holding her head high. "You are now named Hollyspike!"

Daisyshadow purred, padding forward to brush against Hollyspike. Hollyspike laughed, brushing against her as well. Currentpaw shouted Hollyspike's name at the top of his lungs. Riverpaw laughed, following suit, and soon the whole clan was cheering. The kits even joined in!

"That is all! Whiskershadow will assign our patrols now."

Events Referenced: Hollypaw is named Hollyspike! Daisyshadow purrs like he was her child.

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 6 - HUNT

It was getting harder and harder to find anything out here.

Lichentooth buried her prey beneath her, letting out a breath. It fogged up in the air, floating away and dispersing. 

At least she had long fur. Currentpaw shivered, padding a bit away from her to try and get another scent of the air. Most of their trees still had their leaves, but some had no leaves at all.

Nothing... nothing... Lichentooth got up from burying her prey, padding over to Currentpaw. "... scent anything?"

Currentpaw meowed, "No," but he scented the air one last time anyway.

Currentpaw's ears shot straight up, and he hunkered down into a crouch. Lichentooth startled, before crouching down next to him.

A breath in, out. "Congratulations on scenting it. Now, do you remember your hunting crouch?"

Of course he did. Currentpaw rolled his eyes, starting to pad forward towards the scent he had spotted nearby. Closer... closer...

The mouse was in sight, nibbling on a frostbitten piece of grass. Currentpaw stepped forward-

The grass shifted beneath his paws, and the mouse glanced towards him, then darted off. Currentpaw yelped, then leaped forward, but landed just shy of the mouse. The mouse scurried off, uncaught.

That could've been so valuable. And he wasted it on a stupid mistake! He felt Lichentooth's fur against his, and he looked away.

Lichentooth didn't speak for a few moments. After that, she whispered, "It's okay. I've failed catches too..."

"Don't sound too confident there, Lichentooth." Currentpaw grumbled, staring at his paws. 

Lichentooth made the beginnings of words, unable to fully form them. She sighed, getting up. "I... I think it was a good crouch. Anyone would've forgotten about the different noises the grass makes this leafbare."

Currentpaw glanced over to Lichentooth. Lichentooth smiled nervously, brown tail swishing against the ground.

"You'll always get another chance." Lichentooth glanced up to the sky, then back down to Currentpaw. "We should head back to camp. The second hunting patrol should be out soon."

Currentpaw got to his paws, and then glanced down at his paws. The icy grass at his paws crunched oddly. The same sound that alerted the mouse was... actually kinda nice. He felt Lichentooth walk towards where she buried her prey. 

He pat that piece of grass again. And again.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

It was kinda fun. Almost made up for losing the catch. Almost. He stomped all over it, in a mixture of anger and glee. Anger for it existing there, glee for the noise it made. Crunch, Crunch.

"Wh.. what are you doing?" Lichentooth meowed, muffled through the prey in her mouth. Currentpaw startled, staring towards her. Lichentooth had a small smile on behind her mouth, though, and she tilted her head towards the camp. Currentpaw knew that meant to go back, and so he followed her when she started moving.

The closer they got to camp, though, the louder an argument got. Currentpaw knew one of the arguers very well. Well, he knew all of them, but-

"-don't think you needed to defend me that hard! Scarring a kit like that!"

"Riverpaw, please don't-" Whiskershadow attempted to interrupt, but-

"Oh, and what was I supposed to do? Let a kit get sick?" Hollypaw.

"By telling him to get away from the entrance!"

"You weren't going to-"

Currentpaw spotted an icy piece of grass near the training place. He purposefully stepped on it.

Crunch.

Riverpaw, Hollypaw, and Whiskershadow glanced towards the noise, argument stopping in its tracks. Currentpaw was in the lead, with an apologetic Lichentooth behind him. Currentpaw ignored that. He leaped up over the branch that served as part of the pathway to the training ground, then towards Riverpaw. "Hey! Whatcha doin'?"

Riverpaw glanced to Hollypaw. She glanced back to Currentpaw. "... We were... debating about something that happened earlier."

"Debating?" Hollypaw muttered, but he didn't say anything more.

"We just got back from hunting, mind if we join?"

Lichentooth's eyes widened, and she glanced to Whiskershadow. Whiskershadow nodded, a tail pointing back to camp. "I can take care of him. Go drop off the mouse and come back."

Whiskershadow's eyes lingered on Currentpaw, before he held his head up. "Okay, you three. I want you all to work together to try and take me off balance."

Currentpaw watched Lichentooth run off, hopping over another branch. He then got down into a crouch. Riverpaw twirled a tail over to sign to Hollypaw to come closer, and the three apprentices got together to discuss.

Events Referenced: Currentpaw catches scent of a mouse- in leafbare! Lichentooth congratulates them, and then tries as best as she can to prepare for the stalk. If currentpaw catches the mouse, it will be valuable. Currentpaw barely misses it, and it scurries off. Hollypaw (big form but not named yet) and Riverpaw get into an argument during training and Whiskershadow stutters, unable to get them to agree on something- or to stop.

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 6 - FROSTED MORNING

The frost hit, and the frost hit the beginning of that moon hard. 

Speckleback returned to camp with rosemary in his jaws, dropping it at the entrance of the den. Riverpaw avoided the medicine cat, eyes crinkling slightly.

"... Can I... leave?" Riverpaw said, without a sniffle to her voice. 

Speckleback eyed her, then grumbled an affirmative before going inside the den. Riverpaw turned back around, shaking her pelt out slightly before she noticed the kit watching her from the entrance of the nursery. Orange pelt, Buzzardkit.

What was a buzzard, anyway? Riverpaw didn't know, and she wasn't going to barge in and ask while Daisyshadow was nursing the other kits. Why was Buzzardkit away from his mother, anyway? They were barely a moon old.

Was she that small, once? It was really hard to imagine.

Buzzardkit's hazel eyes were wide, paws trembling at the edge of the nursery. Riverpaw held her head up high, imagining she was a deputy, about to give an apprentice a task. She had just been dismissed, so it wasn't like she was-

"Hey!"

Oh, Hollypaw. He was big now, fluffy. She wanted that coat. It was cold.

Buzzardkit flinched, eyes darting over to the bigger cat. 

There was something new on the dwindling fresh-kill pile, and Whiskershadow was heading over to the leader's den to discuss something with Finchstar, who had seemingly got back from a patrol herself.

Not the point. Back to Hollypaw, glaring at Buzzardkit, who was withdrawing away from him.

"You shouldn't be outside of the den, staring at Riverpaw!" Hollypaw scolded, shaking his head. "Riverpaw could still be sick, and-"

Buzzardkit, wide-eyed.

"I'm fine, Hollypaw." Riverpaw meowed, surprising Hollypaw. She flicked an ear. "He was staring earlier."

"Staring's rude." Hollypaw muttered, glancing down at his paws. Buzzardkit backed away, glancing up at Riverpaw.

"It's fine if I say it is." Riverpaw meowed, smiling. She turned to Buzzardkit. "It's cold, so go back to your mom."

Buzzardkit nodded, then turned and dashed for a spot beside Daisyshadow. Daisyshadow accepted the tom in, licking his head and mumbling something that Riverpaw didn't quite pick up.

Riverpaw glanced back to Hollypaw, ears lowering on her head. "You did not need to do that."

"He was gonna bother you, kits do that, and I thought-"

"That doesn't matter." Riverpaw sighed, shaking her head. "I just need to get back to training." She continued on her way, towards where she last saw Whiskershadow. "My mentor finished training you for the day, so it's time for myself."

Off she went, ignoring whatever Hollypaw could've tried to say next.

Events Referenced: Speckleback gathers rosemary between moons, and then got very cold while looking for herbs in leafbare. Riverpaw recovers from greencough Whiskershadow taking over training Hollypaw for Daisyshadow while she's taking care of kits Riverpaw has to deal with there being young kits now, and is trying to be impressive while Buzzardkit walks by. Buzzardkit gets into a fight with Hollypaw over Buzzardkit's behavior

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 5 - PATROL

Marking the border of Downclan was a tiny bit tougher than the border for Rattleclan. 

While Rattleclan's territory was simple, a plain that didn't have many trees to it, and therefore the border was where the trees ended and the plains begun.

Downclan may have made their homes on the rocky cliffs, somehow, but they also had some of the side of the mountain, which did meld with the forests that Needleclan resided in. While Talonclan also technically shared a border, some of that shared border was connected by the Pool of Gathering - name pending - and also by a river. There was a point where the three borders of Needleclan, Rattleclan, and Talonclan met, and...

Finchstar wasn't exactly sure where to put the border marks there, either. So they were just going down around the general points of the first markings, and sticking with it. Down the Downclan border, putting the markings down where they were last time.

At her side was her deputy, Whiskershadow. He put a nose to the air, and he paused. His whiskers twitched. "Oh, there's a Downclan patrol."

"Oh?" Finchstar stepped away from her marking, turning in Whiskershadow's direction. She stepped forward, scenting the air as well. Yep, cat scents. The collected Downclan scent, but if she could scent further...

No, they were pulling into view. She flicked her tail in the air. "C'mon. Let's go greet them."

With that, she bounded down the border towards the three cats. 

The leader had lavender in their fur, and the other two were chatting while watching. The youngest of the three, a pale ginger tabby, flicked an ear and glanced towards Finchstar. He sort of tensed up, which alerted the other two of Finchstar's presence.

That was fine. "Alderpaw, was it?"

The tabby nodded. The other cats stood at attention, glancing between each other. The lavender-accessorized cat meowed, "Finchstar, is it? Did not expect to see you here."

"It's the border." The last of the three meowed. "I think she's allowed to do border patrols. Beestar does them."

A sigh. "That's not what I-"

"How are Pikekit and Turtlekit?"

Alderpaw beamed. "Pikekit is always asking me stuff, but he's kinda fun!"

"Turtlekit is always toddling after her brother." The leader of the patrol said, though he seemed a little concerned. Whatever it was, he didn't speak about it. "Has your queen given birth to her kits yet?"

"Yes, she has." Whiskershadow said, approaching. He was taking it slow due to his lungs, but he was still healthy. "Four kits. It's remarkable how much they resemble her. Only one doesn't!"

"Wow." Alderpaw blinked. "Multiple queens."

"Not what he meant." The last of the three meowed, and Alderpaw snickered. 

"You'll surely hear about them from the gathering, but since we're here..." Finchstar leaned forward, making sure her paws were kept on her side of the border. "Larkkit, Graykit, Bogkit, and Buzzardkit."

Alderpaw blinked, as if trying to reconcile the fact that the kits mostly resembled Daisyshadow while the names indicated that the kits looked differently. The warriors of the Downclan patrol chuckled a bit.

"Similar in another way, I assume," The leader said. "Not fur color?"

Whiskershadow's whiskers twitched, and he purred, "Exactly right. I'm sure you'll see them in six moons."

Alderpaw was still trying to figure it out. 

The third of their patrol planted a tail on his shoulder, and he jumped. "Little alder, come on."

With that, their patrol continued on their way. The leader waved a tail goodbye. Finchstar waved a tail back.

"Shall we get back to it, as well?" Whiskershadow meowed. Finchstar nodded, and they continued back down the border.

Events Referenced: The Downclan border is being patrolled by Finchstar and Whiskershadow. Finchstar breaks the tension with the Downclan patrol they meet with easy and friendly conversation, especially regarding good news Downclan brought up at the gathering.

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 4 - TRAINING

Lichentooth watched Currentpaw carefully. 

They had started off this moon with exploring the borders, and now they were training for the inside of it.

Fighting.

Lichentooth didn't want Currentpaw to go through what she did, frozen in fear as her clanmates died right in front of her. She wanted him to act. She acted wisely, but slowly. Currentpaw needed to act faster.

Currentpaw's copper eyes diverted for a second, and that was when she lunged forward. Unlike the previous times she did this, Currentpaw didn't freeze up first. He ducked down, rolling to the side. Lichentooth didn't go after him the moment she landed, but she did turn to face him. Her tail waved behind her.

A purr rumbled from her throat without her meaning to. "Good. You're picking up fast."

Currentpaw gasped, and he bounced in place. "Yesss! Does this mean I'll be a warrior like you quicker? Bigger?"

Lichentooth blinked rapidly. "Er..." Judging by how he looked, pale spotted fur pressed to his side, it seemed like he wasn't going to grow longer fur. "No, you still have to wait."

Currentpaw pouted, sitting down on the ground. "Awww. I want to help fight, not be stuck learning!"

"Uh, well, you know learning about what the clan has to protect and how to protect it best is important, right?" Lichentooth replied, and Currentpaw rolled his eyes. "How to fight best, if you know how to hunt under any circumstance... I wasn't made a warrior right away, so you simply have to do your best."

I'm still surprised I was chosen for your mentor.

Currentpaw huffed. "I bet Whiskershadow isn't this boring."

"Oh, no, I can be more boring." A voice from the shadows meowed, and the two of them jumped. Lichentooth almost unsheathed her claws until she recognized the scent. Whiskershadow, despite being a white and gray tom, had somehow stayed hidden until this moment. "It is simply that Riverpaw is more accepting of it, unlike you, Currentpaw."

Currentpaw gasped, and Lichentooth settled her fur back down. "What are you doing here, Whiskershadow? Weren't you going towards the Thunderpath border?"

"The ThunderBorder, yes."

Nobody was going to call it that. Lichentooth did not say it out loud. 

After a few moments, Whiskershadow tilted his head. "Were you out in the territory earlier, Lichentooth?"

Lichentooth nodded, an instinctive response. "Um, it's not bad, is it? I was just hunting."

Currentpaw pat his paws on the ground. Lichentooth glanced to Currentpaw, who glanced in her direction and then glanced away. He didn't say anything.

"No, it is not. I was just scenting out there earlier, and..." A pause. "Did you realize we have a scent now? As a group."

Currentpaw gasped. "We do?!"

Lichentooth stood up. "We're so few cats, how?"

"I guess... we've lived here for a bit. Maybe we're starting to settle." Whiskershadow smiled, and Lichentooth tried to let her fur rest. United scent. Easier to track. More careful, more careful. Whiskershadow saw that her face wasn't lifting, and his eyes pressed downwards. "Hey. We're all defend each other, alright? It is a nice scent, not as earthly as Downclan, but definitely a little sharp, like our trees."

Currentpaw nodded. "That's so cool! I haven't noticed it!"

Lichentooth nodded once, twice. "We will have to try and focus on scenting it." Mentor Mode. She looked to Currentpaw. "Next time we're out in the territory, we'll try to focus more on scenting... and beyond just looking for a single cat."

Currentpaw grinned, and his tail flicked. "Absolutely! Oh, that sounds so good!" He got to his paws again, walking around Whiskershadow. "Thanks, thanks!"

Whiskershadow purred. "Not a problem, young one. Listen to your mentor, now. I still need to get back to marking that border."

Events Referenced: Lichentooth training with Currentpaw, focusing on fighting techniques. He's very receptive to it! Whiskershadow sees footprints out in the clan territory, and realizes it's just another Needleclan cat. Nothing to be alarmed about.

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 4 - COUGH

Riverpaw started coughing, and not in a way with weakened lungs. 

It was a small thing at first, but as she continued to push herself, it got worse. When she woke up in the middle of the night, almost hacking up a lung, and also waking her denmate Currentpaw, Whiskershadow took her to the medicine cat den immediately.

It was his fault for not taking her sooner, of course. Riverpaw was resisting even when the gross stuff was streaming out of her nose.

Hardworking. When Whiskershadow breathed in, and his breathing made that raspy noise, she stopped resisting as much.

Speckleback glanced up from his rock when Whiskershadow entered, smile on his face and about to wave with a bushy tail... only to notice the very sick Riverpaw beside him. The smile faded, and the speckled cat instantly started ushering Riverpaw to some bedding in the very corner, near a droopy part of the den. Riverpaw sneezed before she could get any resistance out.

When Riverpaw was laying down, Speckleback took a few steps back, then turned to Whiskershadow. Whiskershadow saw the glare coming.

"I was taking my apprentice to be cared for by you, Speckleback." Whiskershadow clarified before Speckleback could speak. He still smiled, though.

Speckleback sighed, but it seemed his words worked. "I just wish for you to be careful. Your lungs are weaker- who knows if what she has could've passed to you?" Speckleback didn't mention the herbs, but Whiskershadow knew that Speckleback was concerned about that, as well. "Your deputy duties mustn't be disturbed, or your warrior duties."

"Of course." Whiskershadow nodded, and he padded to the entrance of the den. Instead of exiting, he sat. "But my mentor duties can be disturbed at any time."

"Sickness stops for nothing." Speckleback said back, sitting down. "Hollypaw is lucky I'm allowing him to sleep in the apprentices den."

The one close to where Lichentooth once slept, and in fact, hollowed out to include the former single nest. 

Whiskershadow twitched his whiskers, purring with amusement. "Thank you for caring for our group." Whiskershadow's eyes drifted back to the rock. "As small as it is..." He trailed off, sentence forgotten as he spotted something new.

On the rock. It was formerly bare, but... on top of it, a few yellow sprouts were on top of it. His eyes widened, and he grinned as he looked back to Speckleback. Speckleback grew a bit tense. "What is it?"

"You've got something for us!"

Speckleback nodded, hunched shoulders slowly loosening. "Oh, yes. I've figured out a few things to do with what's here." Speckleback glanced to Riverpaw, who had stopped coughing a bit ago and was drifting to sleep. "I can figure out something for Riverpaw."

"Thank you." Whiskershadow bowed his head. "I will leave you to it."

Speckleback snorted. "Good. Unlike some certain cats," He sent a glare in the direction of the nursery, "who I shall not name."

"You know she cares for this clan as well, right?"

"Not when it's disturbing my own duties. Go rest, Whiskershadow."

EVENTS REFERENCED: Man i really should've put down the exact events, but Whiskershadow and Speckleback were mentioned to be talking with each other a bunch, and Speckleback thinking of Whiskershadow as reliable! Also Riverpaw has greencough

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 3/4 - GATHERING 4

Whiskershadow was checked out by Speckleback one more time. Speckleback sighed, shaking his head. "It doesn't seem like you're still hacking up water... but your lungs are still weakened."

Whiskershadow adjusted his shoulders, glancing at Finchstar and Lichenpaw, who were waiting for him. Hollypaw was still confined to the medicine den to make sure his condition wasn't going to last longer, even though Hollypaw looked irritated about not going to the gathering.

Daisyshadow waited with them, her ears twitching.

"Well?"

Whiskershadow walked forward, joinning the group of three to make it a group of four. He turned back to the others. "Make sure the kits stay out of trouble!"

"We'll behave!" Riverkit meowed, loudly. 

Chuckling, Finchstar started on the diagonal trek towards the river that led to the pool. It was a bit of a walk, but then again, Downclan had to make a further walk. Or was their camp somewhere else in the mountains, across the river? She didn't know. She really didn't want to.

Judging by the lack of Downclan cats when they made it to the river and started walking down with it, it seemed they were slightly late.

Daisyshadow sighed. "Speckleback..."

"He was making sure I wouldn't keel over and die!" Whiskershadow joked, and Finchstar let out a snort. Lichenpaw stayed silent.

When they made it to the lake, a fluffy tabby cat from Rattleclan broke off from their group at the sight of Daisyshadow. Daisyshadow tensed up, but the cat from Rattleclan looked... actually, about as pregnant as Daisyshadow was.

"Nice of you to join us!"

Daisyshadow looked uncomfortable. "Uh..."

Finchstar opened her mouth, but Whiskershadow's now naturally ragged breath brought attention to him as he stepped forward. "I believe she's uncomfortable. Back up."

Finchstar, knowing Whiskershadow had it handled, hopped across the stones to the other leaders.

"Clan cats! May all those who have come get closer to the Pool!"

Finchstar stared at Beestar. The other two leaders smiled.

"We came up with it while you were late." Stonestar said. "Makes it sound more formal, does it not?"

"It's stupid. But it works." Quickstar pointed a tail to their clan, where, indeed, the gathered group was getting a bit closer.

"I'll start us off." Beestar held her head high. "I bring good news from Rattleclan! Flickercloud and Newtscreech have become mates!"

There was cheering from around. Flickercloud, the cat who had greeted Daisyshadow, shied away from all the stares going her way.

"She is expecting kits, as well!"

Flickercloud leaned in Daisyshadow's direction, paused, then leaned away. Daisyshadow stepped away from her. Flickercloud almost seemed a bit hurt.

Beestar let out a breath, and then hunkered down. Finchstar sat down next to her, and Beestar leaned into her. "I hate... I hate doing that."

"It'll be alright, you know. Breathe." Finchstar meowed, and Beestar nodded.

Quickstar got to their paws. "Our loner from last moon has recovered, and has decided to join us for his safety." Quickstar turned, and a brown tom with a white belly froze up, before waving with a tail. Mantisbrook nodded from his side. "He will be called Nutfang until he decides to leave us."

With their piece said, Quickstar sat back down.

Stonestar stood next. He dipped a paw in the water, testing it, before flicking it to the side. "While the Starlit Sea is off limits to us regularly-"

"It is?"

Stonestar ignored her. "-We have found other, smaller, pools of water in our clan, and we shall be learning to hunt there. So we are using our talons." He huffed.

A long pause. He didn't sit back down. Finchstar flicked her ears. "If you're done speaking-"

"I wasn't." Stonestar said, and he narrowed his eyes. The scar over one of them seemed to shimmer in the light. "One of our own, Spruceshadow, attacked and killed a cat who was not over our borders. She has been exiled."

Gasps from the other clans. Lichenpaw retreated a little bit into her fur.

"If you see her, do not let her into your territory. Send her away." Stonestar growled. "We do not kill others, not without reason. I have had enough fighting with our lives on the line to allow this." His mangled leg, his slightly clawed face, the bits of fur that did not heal on his tail. "Now you may speak, Finchstar."

He sat. Finchstar stood, feeling a little awkward to be sharing this news.

"Daisyshadow of Needleclan is pregnant!" Finchstar shouted, and there were cheers from Rattleclan's cats. "As she has been a great protector for our clan thus far and an amazing care-er for our kits Currentkit and Riverkit, I am sure her kits will be blessed."

Finchstar paused. "That is all." Her eyes wandered to the other leaders. "A bit more interesting this moon, hm?"

Stonestar started to hop away.

Quickstar rolled their eyes. "Quite." They got up. "Thank you. Kits really are possible."

Beestar stared at Finchstar for a few moments. When Finchstar looked, Beestar glanced away.

"See you next time."

With that, Beestar and Quickstar hopped away. Finchstar turned and hopped back to her cats.

Daisyshadow sighed, smiling as Flickercloud walked away to join up with Rattleclan. "Must you have told everyone?"

"It was the most interesting thing that happened!" Finchstar said, starting on the trek back. Daisyshadow followed. "What was I supposed to say? Speckleback got too hot when the leaves fell on him?"

"Yes."

Whiskershadow snorted, shaking his head. "Don't be too harsh on him."

Daisyshadow rolled her eyes. "Ugh, of course you agree with him. Whatever. I have to be stuck in camp with him, now. Don't expect us to get along."

Whiskershadow glanced to Finchstar, skeptical. Then he glanced back towards Daisyshadow. "Of course not. I think he's better than you think, however."

Lichenpaw nodded. "He knows how to keep you calm!"

Daisyshadow walked ahead. Finchstar fought to keep up with her.

Events Referenced: Whiskershadow's lungs are permanently weakened, but he's out of the medicine cat den.

[needleclanclangen]

on the topic of showing of the clan cats screens of my beginning cat members- i just completely forgot to do that! i just showed the clan page screen with them. hang on.

and, the dearly departed...

the fact they only lasted one moon sucks, by the way.

one time i opened up a new clangen clan just to mess around without taking notes for a bit and a cat that looked almost exactly like lightningpaw was one of the generated cats and had a lightning- name and i was like hello???

i wish i could know what lightningpaw's warrior trait would've been...