#applepelt

[rippleclan]

RippleClan: Moon 62

Oilstripe wakes up and wails, her dreams haunted by visions of Rustshade.

[Image ID: Oilstripe says to Carnationspeckle, “We need a fresh start, Carny.” Under her, it says + CONDITION: NIGHTMARES, PREGNANT.]

She saw him. Oilstripe saw her father, a glimmering ghost standing between the trees, heather blue eyes coldly watching as she ran towards him. Why wouldn’t he visit? Why did he have to so coldly reject his own daughter? Downstar told her she saw Rustshade in StarClan when she lost her life to the humans, a soft comfort to ease an awkward relationship, so why, why would he see Downstar and not Oilstripe? Why was he always a bit too far away for Oilstripe to reach him? He didn’t need to speak! He didn’t need to do anything! He just had to be the quiet, comforting backbone Oilstripe grew up with. She needed her father!

Oilstripe woke up in the earliest moments of the new day with a lump in her throat. The dull embers of the campfire glowed against the edge of the den. Oilstripe’s Clan was still asleep, piled on one another in peaceful dreams. Clammask and Halibutdusk were awake, tucked into the same nest, muttering to one another. Oilstripe and Halibutdusk made eye contact, but Oilstripe quickly looked away, trying to breathe., She crawled out of her nest. She tiptoed around Wildclaw and Rattlepelt, gently tucked under their fox pelt. Oilstripe stepped into the cool, salty night.

Scrubmask’s ghost laid just outside the warrior’s den, startling Oilstripe. The dead warrior did not move, ears still turned to the den. Her eyes passed over Oilstripe and her raised fur. Scrubmask scoffed.

“You’re so distracted by your dream,” she said, “I would bet you didn’t notice your mate was gone.” Oilstripe looked back inside. Sure enough, Carnationspeckle’s spot by Oilstripe’s nest was empty. Oilstripe sniffed. Her mate’s scent was fresh, and still close by. She followed the scent out of camp. 

Carnationspeckle was on guard duty. Her fur drifted in the soft breeze. When she saw Oilstripe, it was like her soul returned to her body, her usual soft glimmer sparking in her eyes once more. Oilstripe curled up beside Carnationspeckle.

“You look tired,” Carnationspeckle whispered.

“I am,” Oilstripe mumbled. “I’m not having good dreams.”

“Have you talked to Paleseed?” 

“She’s been… I don’t know, distracted. Besides, I feel stupid for not knowing how to deal with this. Everyone else is able to grieve. I get to see other spirits all the time, and it might still hurt to know they’re not here anymore, but I can check in on them. My dad… he doesn’t want to see me. He’s making the active decision to not be involved in my life anymore.”

“He wouldn’t be able to see Clammask whether or not he visited. Maybe he wanted to be fair to both of his daughters. Maybe he knew Scrubmask was going to die, and didn’t want to make his own passing any worse for Clammask.” Carnationspeckle whimpered a bit as she said Scrubmask’s name. Oilstripe sat up.

“Life’s been hard for us lately, hasn’t it,” Oilstripe sighed. Carnationspeckle leaned against Oilstripe.

“I don’t like being alone in dens anymore,” Carnationspeckle muttered. “I get nervous, no matter how much I talk myself down. I get nauseous when I eat prey as-is, no matter how well-cooked it is. My mind thinks it’s raw, like it was with the Witch Hunters. I got so sick with them.”

“You haven’t told me that before.” Oilstripe nuzzled Carnationspeckle’s shoulder.

“Spikecrash has been helping me. I didn’t want to give it power by mentioning it to anyone else. I thought it was getting better, and then Scrubmask… do you think it was a Witch Hunter? Do you think we’ll ever know? I’m terrified, Oilstripe. I don’t know what to do with myself.”

“Me neither.” 

Oilstripe and Carnationspeckle buried their faces in one another’s fur, breathing in the other’s warm scent. All Oilstripe could hear was Carnationspeckle’s soft whimpers.  and the breeze in the trees. All they had lost in the past few seasons, friends and family and sleep and normalcy, bit at Oilstripe like a pack of rats. Rustshade was not there, but Oilstripe could feel her father in her heart, his voice springing to life. You’ll lose a lot more before your journey’s done. Find something to fill the space around that void.

“We need a fresh start, Carny,” Oilstripe sniffled, stepping back. “We’ve been chasing one tragedy after another, we need something new.” Her words got stuck in her throat. She forced them out like a cough. “We were trying to get pregnant when you were kidnapped. Let’s try again.” Carnationspeckle stared at Oilstripe like she said the ocean was made of bone broth.

“Now?” Carnationspeckle asked. “I… Oilstripe, I don’t know if we’re in the right place to do that.”

“And I don’t know if we can wait!” Oilstripe groaned. She leaned her head against Carnationspeckle’s head. “Raising Troutpool with you has been incredible. She’s so much like you, clever and caring and good at what she does. I’d like a kit or two like me!”

“Troutpool does have your eyes,” Carnationspeckle pointed out, a bit of laughter breaking through her sorrow and shock.

“She and Rattlepelt are great daughters,” Oilstripe chuckled, mind fuzzy with Carnationspeckle’s scent. “Maybe we can add a son to the pot. We can teach them all about Scrubmask and my dad and, and anyone else we may lose. I want to keep going with you.” Carnationspeckle took a moment. Her breath caught. Her nose touched Oilstripe’s.

“Let’s find a suitor somewhere beside the human settlement,” Carnationspeckle gulped, a sob mixing with her joy. Oilstripe laughed, love pressing against the hole in her life as she pressed against Carnationspeckle.

Yes. This was what they needed. A fresh start.

(Oilstripe: 66, female, historian, charismatic, ghost speaker)

(Halibutdusk: 54, nonbinary (they/them), warrior, gloomy, masterful storyteller, clever)

(Scrubmask: 76, female, warrior, gloomy, fast runner, good hunter)

(Carnationspeckle: 64, female, caretaker, compassionate, fish-like swimmer)

Halibutdusk has been a comforting presence in Clammask’s life for as long as she can remember, and with Scrubmask gone, she decides to commit herself to them.

[Image ID: Halibutdusk and Clammask have + MATE: CLAMMASK and + MATE: HALIBUTDUSK written under them respectively.]

---

Clammask’s shifting and muttering woke Halibutdusk up. It had been a dreamless sleep, easy to disturb and hard to return to, which meant the rest of RippleClan was left in their peaceful slumber despite Clammask’s state. Halibutdusk had moved their nest closer to Clammask after Scrubmask’s death, giving them a perfect view of how Clammask’s back leg twitched and the tip of her claws peeked out of her paws. Halibutdusk scooted to the side of Clammask’s nest. They quietly watched their friend’s tremors. Their soft breath stirred Clammask’s whiskers. The golden molly opened her eyes partially, the faint embers outside catching her irises.

“Halibut?” she grumbled, throwing a paw over her muzzle.

“Sorry,” Halibutdusk whispered, giving Clammask room to breathe. “I wanted to check on you. Your dreams seemed cruel.”

“In a way,” Clammask yawned, slowly blinking. She sat up, prompting Halibutdusk to their paws. She hesitated as she spoke. “You’re a warrior, Halibutdusk. Do you ever dream about killing other cats in battle?” Halibutdusk wondered if the truth was appropriate in Clammask’s situation. It was Clammask, though; she would understand.

“Do you remember when my littermates and I snuck out of camp to reclaim territory from AshClan?” they asked.

“Of course I do,” Clammask whispered. “Downstar was so scared when my father brought you home.” Halibutdusk felt younger for a moment, an apprentice once more, wrapped up in Wildclaw and Shadowdrop’s antics, pulling them into their own. Shadowdrop clawed at Halibutdusk’s heart, sticking to them like bitter honey.

“I blinded Heronflank,” Halibutdusk said. “I could have killed him. It was the first serious wound I inflicted on another cat. Outside of a few fights with rogues, I haven’t hurt anyone else like that since. Sometimes, when I’ve had a difficult day, Heronflank sneaks into my dreams, and this time, I don’t just blind him.” Clammask nodded softly. As she did, Halibutdusk noticed Oilstripe on the other side of the den, bright blue eyes wide. They stared at each other for a moment before Oilstripe slipped out of the den. It seemed Clammask wasn’t the only cat having a difficult night.

“So you regret it in your dreams, then,” Clammask muttered. Her shoulders tensed. “Am I wicked for not feeling regret until I wake up?”

“Only the dead can control their dreams,” Halibutdusk reminded her. “Dreams just happen. You can’t be blamed for what your heart does when you’re not in control.”

“Will you judge me if I tell you what I dreamed of?”

“Never.”

“I killed the Witch Hunter that killed Scrubmask.” So it was about Scrubmask. Just not in the way Halibutdusk assumed. Clammask stared at the wall as she spoke. “I know we aren’t sure it was a Witch Hunter, but who else could it have been? I dreamed I drowned them like they drowned her, and I didn’t regret it.”

“I miss her too.” Halibutdusk laid back down, tucking their paws under them. “How are the toms taking her death?”

“They have been asking Rapidleaf for stories of when Scrubmask was an apprentice,” Clammask said. “They don’t have much else to do since three of them are still recovering from that bad rabbit. They’ll be okay. I’m proud of them! They’re strong toms. They have Scrubmask’s spirit.”

“And you?” Halibutdusk wondered. Clammask was not as quick to reply this time around.

“It feels wrong to feel better,” she eventually muttered. “I’m always going to miss her, but I don’t want her death to be something that keeps me down forever. I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be like Downstar when her mood sours.”

“You didn’t offend me,” Halibutdusk promised. “My mother knows it’s hard to be around her when she’s struggling. She doesn’t want to be like that either.”

“I never want to let Scrubmask go,” Clammask gulped, fur bristling, “but I don’t want her to keep me stuck, either. I want to carry her with me and start my life again. I want to grow closer to Oilstripe. I want to see my sons through their apprenticeships. I want to fall in love again!” Nearby warriors stirred slightly at the emotion in Clammask’s voice. Clammask flinched and leaned closer to Halibutdusk. “Is that wrong?”

“Why would it be?” Halibutdusk asked. Clammask’s eyes softened. Her breath grew so slow and soft, Halibutdusk could not see her body move.

“Can we go on a walk together?” Clammask asked. Halibutdusk was about to agree when Clammask quickly muttered, “Not as friends.” Halibutdusk cocked their head. Clammask took a giant breath. “I jumped right into having kits with Scrubmask because she won me over so quickly, and I love her, but I want to see what it feels like to flirt and let a relationship grow like Oilstripe and Carnationspeckle did, or like Weedfoot and James, so if you’re interested we can see what it’s like to look at each other as mates rather than friends.” She panted as she finished her anxious rambling. “Sorry. I… really needed to say that.”

Halibutdusk’s mind was still behind. Mates? Romance? With them? Halibutdusk didn’t consider themself a handsome or even good looking cat; dusky gray fur without any special markings, about as bland as a tabby could look. They had friends, there wasn’t a reason they wouldn’t, but for someone to actually take a romantic interest in them… especially Clammask, of all cats! This gorgeous golden molly who helped all the caretaker apprentices with their chores and helped Halibutdusk tell stories… what else could they say but—

“Where do you want to go?”

(Halibutdusk: 54, nonbinary (they/them), warrior, gloomy, masterful storyteller, clever)

(Clammask: 56, female, caretaker, righteous, lore master, good teacher)

(Oilstripe: 66, female, historian, charismatic, ghost speaker)

Parsley wanders out into the territory. She is later found dead, a peaceful expression on her face. Carnationspeckle is hit hardest.

[Image ID: Carnationspeckle and Oilstripe face Parsley’s ghost.]

---

If RippleClan had not known about Oilstripe’s wonderous ability, they would have called her mad as she yowled at nothing, demanding that Parsley, whose gray-speckled body laid in camp, explain why “in the Dark Forest would you leave camp like that without a word to Carnationspeckle?” Carnationspeckle loved her mate and how fiercely she fought for her, even if a new part of her soul felt empty without the confident former loner in her life. Even though she was sluggish with her recently developed pregnancy, even though she still wasn’t sleeping well, Oilstripe insisted she join Carnationspeckle, Rabbitjoy, and Trumpetspore in burying Parsley beside Scrubmask and Fennelspot. If Oilstripe wasn’t encouraging her, Carnationspeckle wasn’t sure she would have been able to make the journey to the graveyard.

Rabbitjoy had a sense of humor with Parsley’s burial accessory. She found some parsley leaves and wove them into a wrap around the small remnant of her tail. Parsley’s ghost was likely laughing at that. Carnationspeckle could hardly imagine Parsley with her tail, and the wrap would have been painfully tight had she been alive. 

Had she been alive.

Burying Parsley was a quick affair. Her body had been blessed, her memory honored, and all that was left was to put her old, frail form in the dirt. Rabbitjoy and Trumpetspore took up the bear’s share of digging. Oilstripe and Carnationspeckle sat to the side, too tired to contribute. It was just after sunhigh, and it seemed like the sun wanted to treat Parsley’s body like prey on a fire, cooking everyone else with her. They buried her in the shade, all four mollies silently noting that Parsley would have been upset if she was buried in the middle of the hot sunshine.

According to Oilstripe, Parsley agreed with that. The awkward expressions on Rabbitjoy and Trumpetspore’s faces silenced any further ghostly discussion.

“StarClan, that took a while,” Rabbitjoy sighed as she kicked the last of the dirt over Parsley’s body. “Enjoy your rest, Parsley. RippleClan is glad to have met you.”

“I know I have no say in tonight’s meal,” Trumpetspore said, grooming clumps of dirt off her paws, “but I remember Scrubmask telling me how she convinced Parsley to stay in RippleClan. I believe she won her over with some pemmican. Could we make that for the Clan in Parsley’s honor?”

“Mosspounce and Wildclaw are on stove duty tonight,” Rabbitjoy sighed, “but if you mention that idea, they should agree. We just have to check the ingredients. What do you think, Carnationspeckle?”

“I like that,” Carnationspeckle said, a bit of life returning to her voice.

“Let’s head home, then,” Rabbitjoy said, patting Parsley’s grave.

“Actually,” Oilstripe said, nuzzling Carnationspeckle, “we may stay here a while longer.” They would? Carnationspeckle looked back at her mate. Why linger in the loss? Hadn’t they promised each other only half a moon before that they would work to grow around the holes in their spirits? But Oilstripe placed her tail over Carnationspeckle’s, and the brown ticked molly remembered how much she trusted her star-sighted mate.

“If you need to,” Rabbitjoy said. She touched noses with each molly and said, “We’ll be sure to save you both some pemmican. We’ll see you back at camp.” Rabbitjoy flicked her ears at Trumpetspore. The black molly nodded to Oilstripe and Carnationspeckle, then followed Rabbitjoy out of the graveyard, bugs singing them home.

“What are you thinking?” Carnationspeckle asked when Rabbitjoy and Trumpetspore were out of earshot.

“The better question would be, what is Parsley thinking,” Oilstripe awkwardly admitted, laying on her side. Carnationspeckle looked around, as though she expected to develop Oilstripe’s gift and see her tortoiseshell friend standing at her own grave. “It turns out that my little outburst in camp gave her a few things to say to you before Applepelt takes her away.” 

“Applepelt’s here?” Carnationspeckle gasped. “How are they?”

“As silly as usual,” Oilstripe chuckled. She gave a performative gasp and scoffed, “Don’t make that face at me! You know I’m right!” 

Carnationspeckle purred at that. It was hard to picture Applepelt’s brown face and friendly eyes, but knowing she did her best to stay a part of her friends’ lives eased the loss a bit. Truthfully, the more Carnationspeckle embraced Oilstripe’s sight, the weaker death struck her vigil after vigil. In some ways, they weren’t dead at all; they were just across the border, or on a quest, their reunion with Carnationspeckle guaranteed.

“So what’s about to happen?” Carnationspeckle asked, laying next to Oilstripe. 

“I’ll tell you what Parsley says,” Oilstripe explained. Carnationspeckle nodded and closed her eyes. The warmth of the sun acted like a fire on a chilly night. The buzzing bugs quieted the sorrow in her heart and her many questions. “What are you doing?”

“If I don’t close your eyes, I’ll just hear you, not Parsley,” Carnationspeckle explained. Oilstripe hummed and scooted closer to Carnationspeckle. To Carnationspeckle’s ears, it was not Oilstripe that spoke next, but Parsley.

“Hello again, stranger.”

Carnationspeckle couldn’t help it; she gave an undignified, snorting sort of laugh.

“Is that what you think she sounds like?” she laughed, staring at her flushed mate.

“You all need to stop laughing at me, that is an accurate accent!” Oilstripe whined, her whiskers giving away her shared laughter. The bugs almost sounded like Applepelt and Parsley, laughing at Oilstripe’s odd attempt to translate for Carnationspeckle. Carnationspeckle rested her head in the direction of Parsley’s grave and closed her eyes once more, purring.

“Hi, Parsley,” she said.

“I suppose Ms. Oilstripe was right,” Parsley sighed. “Knowing how the Clans work, I probably shouldn’t have just wandered off to die like that. You gotta understand though, Carnationspeckle, some cats… we just wanna be alone in our last moments. You can feel death coming up on you, and you don’t want everyone crying and screeching over you. It’s a natural thing, you know. Most cats are solitary folk. Death, it makes you scared. You feel weak, knowing you can’t protect yourself. Don’t get me wrong, I felt as safe as can be in RippleClan, but it’s not the sort of instinct you can easily ignore.”

“I just wish you went to fetch me, instead,” Carnationspeckle muttered. “You were old enough to be my mother many times over, but ever since you came to RippleClan, I considered you one of my closest friends. Why else would I trust you to watch Troutpool when she was a kit?”

“And I loved that, don’t misunderstand me,” Parsley said. “I wasn’t seeing clearly. Literally, the world looked covered in fog, and my ears felt like they were full of bugs! You try to think logically when you feel like that.”

“But if you had been thinking clearly, would you have let me know? I could have been with you. Wasn’t it lonely, dying outside of camp like that?”

“Oh, it wasn’t so bad. I felt a bit better curled up in a bush like that. It was what I needed. But yes, to answer your question, I would have let you know. I might have still wanted to go out on my own, though.” Carnationspeckle’s body tightened. 

“All I thought when I was with the Witch Hunters was, I don’t want to die away from my family.” She couldn’t help it, she was crying again, shaking despite Oilstripe’s pressure on her side. “I hate thinking you might have felt like that. I don’t want anyone to feel like that.”

“And I didn’t, Carnation. I really didn’t. I know I’ll be the wild old molly in a lot of cats’ memories, and I’m happy with that. Don’t feel bad for me, really. I’m excited to see what your afterlife is all about, what with all the recent noise around death and ghosts we’ve been through. And apparently, I can come visit whenever I’d like, so I’ll be doing that a bit. I’ll be lingering around the nursery once your next litter is born, I can promise you that. Now, I know you can’t feel it, but I’m pressing my nose against your head. Just imagine it for me, alright? And don’t feel too bad for old Parsley. She’s got it under control.” 

A cool nose touched Carnationspeckle. She gasped, eyes flying open, only to find it was Oilstripe’s nose on her head, not Parsley’s. Carnationspeckle leaned into it, purring through her pain.

(Oilstripe: 66, female, historian, charismatic, ghost speaker)

(Carnationspeckle: 64, female, caretaker, compassionate, fish-like swimmer)

(Rabbitjoy: 99, female, artisan, charismatic, master weaver)

(Trumpetspore: 23, female, warrior, nervous, excellent potter, good storyteller)

(Applepelt: 31, she/they, historian, rebellious, lore keeper)

(Parsley: 156, female, elder, righteous, great speaker)

Paleseed and Darkkick discuss Terracottafoot’s proposition.

[Image ID: Darkkick says to Paleseed, “Why do you think you have to live up to anyone?”]

---

Darkkick did not want to be alone with Tempestshade. The cursed caretaker was an incredible cook and could stir a purr out of even Darkkick’s grumpy old heart with their kit-like antics, but, at no fault of their own, they were still cursed, and Darkkick didn’t trust that she would make it home if she left camp with just Tempestshade at her side. So, when Tempestshade invited her to collect a few fresh herbs for a heart-strengthening stew, Darkkick casually dragged Paleseed with her.

Tempestshade trotted ahead with a basket, leading the pair through the humming mid-morning forest toward their favorite herb patches. They sang under their breath, seemingly happy just to have some company as they hunted down fresh thyme. Darkkick and Paleseed walked beside one another, enjoying the sunshine through the trees and the warm dirt under their paws.

“We don’t need you destroying any of these roots, remember that!” Darkkick called to Tempestshade.

“I know better than to do that!” Tempestshade laughed, spinning around and walking backwards. “Besides, who wants thyme roots in their stew? No thank you!” They spun back the right way and continued their happy trot.

“I don’t think thyme strengthens the heart,” Paleseed whispered to Darkkick.

“Whatever they have planned, it should taste good at least,” Darkkick sighed. Paleseed hummed in agreement. Her tail twitched with unspoken nerves. Her chin drooped and her eyes grew lost in thought. 

“Harvest Moon is less than a moon away,” Paleseed muttered. She glanced Tempestshade’s way, but the young caretaker was too absorbed in their task to hear. “My mom and I spoke with Terracottafoot, and we agreed to help them with the Autumnstar situation.”

“Really?” Darkkick scoffed, unable to stop the ice in her voice. “That Clan was going to let Weedfoot die, and now she wants to help them?”

“You didn’t hear her at the Gathering,” Paleseed huffed, head rising to contest Darkkick’s ire. “She talked to a lot of the AshClan cats there. They’re so apologetic. Whether they were alive back then or not, most of the Clan regrets what they did to my mother and her friends. She won’t let Autumnstar hurt more cats.” Darkkick’s pace slowed. Paleseed sounded more like her namesake than herself for a moment. The summer sun’s glimmer on her pelt reminded Darkkick of Paleshade’s ginger patches.

The moment faded as quick as it came. Paleseed ducked her head once more, her moment of confidence come and gone.

“And you?” Darkkick sighed. “You’re no fighter, Paleseed. I don’t know what StarClan expects you to do in the Dark Forest.”

“I don’t know either,” Paleseed admitted, “but I want to be brave. I want to do my part to make a difference in someone’s life.”

“You do that just fine already,” Darkkick scoffed, stopping altogether. Tempestshade didn’t notice, continuing through the trees without them. Paleseed stood in front of her, confused. “You don’t need to give up your life for a Clan that never wanted you born.”

“Maybe I’m not just doing it for AshClan, then,” Paleseed suddenly snapped, her tail bristling. “Maybe I want to do more than help grieving cats. How am I ever supposed to live up to Paleshade if I can’t do what StarClan asks of me?” Darkkick’s scarred tail pointed down. Her small ears tilted to the sides. 

“Why do you think you have to live up to anyone?” Darkkick growled. “You think you have to be a hero to be important? You think you have to be Paleshade? If you weren’t aware of it, you aren’t Paleshade. You’re your own cat, you can do nothing else with your life and still be as important as she was.” Paleseed’s frustrated warped to shock as her bristling tail slid between her legs. “By the stars, don’t be scared! You think I’m mad at you? I’m just trying to tell you that forcing yourself to live up to what others want of you will just make you miserable. Being a cleric, a tom, an AshClan cat, that was what everyone else wanted for me. My family, Autumnstar, even StarClan! If I don’t have to be those things, what makes you think you have to be Paleshade? Do you think Waspdawn believes he has to live up to a long dead apprentice? Does Lavendertwist have to pretend to be the molly Rabbitjoy fell in love with? You shouldn’t be going on a dangerous quest like this just because it’s what Paleshade would have done!” 

By the end of it all, Darkkick was out of breath. Paleseed’s eyes were huge, staring at the old molly as she panted and tried to smooth her pelt. Paleseed gulped, forcing her tail out from under her. Darkkick sat, the rain-hungry trail exploding in dust and coating her flank.

“Mediators would call that a breakthrough,” Paleseed muttered, slightly out of breath. 

“Well,” Darkkick huffed with a lick of her chest, “it needed to be said.”

“I still want to do it,” Paleseed said. “I promised Terracottafoot I would help. I think you should help too.”

“You think you can convince me?” Darkkick sighed.

“It’s not exactly the sort of reason a mediator should give for something like this…” Paleseed groaned, tail circling overhead as she approached, “but spite. Do it out of spite.”

“Spite,” Darkkick said, monotone.

“Autumnstar hurt you,” Paleseed said, sitting. “It might help you if you got to show him how much you’ve grown since then.” Darkkick thought it over, rolling the word on her tongue. Spite. Spite.

“You should have someone else go with you anyway,” Darkkick conceded. “If I need to go with you—”

“What’s slowing you down?” Tempestshade trotted back down the path, ears tilted down. “How long have you been standing there?”

“Sorry, we got distracted,” Paleseed said, slinking to Tempestshade’s side. “We just… had to talk something through. I think we’re in agreement now.” 

That they were.

(Darkkick: 122, trans female, lonesome, talented swimmer, understands nature)

(Tempestshade: 23, nonbinary (they/them), caretaker, childish, incredible cook)

(Paleseed: 28, female, mediator, insecure, incredible runner, steady paws)

[fcclangen]

Moon 17

Worm babies are almost all grown up!!

[mousetoe-wc]

Palebird Rewritten Family Tree! My First Windclan Family tree rewrite! Windclan was surprisingly easy for me. Now on to the Notes:

Tallpoppy and Applefur of Shadowclan and Tawnyfur of Windclan are the kids of Rabbitear. Tallpoppy and Applefur were stolen during into the wild when windclan was being chased out by shadowclan.

Rabbitear died in the battle and Tawnyfur was nursed/raised by Ashfoot and Morningflower, Gorsekit, Tawnykit and Eaglekit were inseparable.

Wrenflight is Onewhiskers mother because I find considering the Windclan leader problems in TNP.

[blooming-fire-au]

Burning Thistles Finchflight: Disgusting (among other things). Hope his spirit gets destroyed. Hope he rots forever if nothing else. No sympathy

Blooming Fire Finchflight: Literally just some guy. The Brackenfur or early Thornclaw of pre-Brokenstar ShadowClan. Would probably destroy the spirit of his counterpart if he found out about him. Actually sympathetic

@burning-thistles-bt probably my favorite imagining between our counterparts of the same character (although Frostfur is up there, and I'm wanting to work out Copperleaf and Dawnfoot)

[frongle444]

squirrelcrow hypokits

i don't like this ship personally but it kind of just happened

inspired by the three (sort of?)

left to right: Inkspot (Hollyleaf), Blazesplash (Lionblaze), Applepelt, Jaystripe (Jayfeather)

[healing-fire--rewrite]

I'm no longer able to fit this into Healing Fire due to the erasure of twolegs, so here's the original rewrite of Firestar's Quest because I'm very proud of it and love it very very much.

.　 . • ☆ . ° .• °:. *₊ ° . ☆

Sweetflower (Princess) and Sandstorm go and create Modern SkyClan together. Fire has his dreams as per FQ, but as he's the only advisor of Thunder Sect, he's like "I would fucking love to help but I cannot". He confides in Sandstorm, Greystripe, and Sweetflower about it, and Sweetflower's like "hey, I'm your kin, which means I also don't have Sect blood. I'll go rebuild the Sky Sect in your place!" Sandstorm is like "not without me, you're not!"

So they talk with Bluestar and she lets them go. Tawny, who stayed with the Thunder Sect but never really felt like a part of it, volunteers to go as well. She and Bramble still haven't received their warrior names- they're still being treated as evil disasters waiting to happen.

Tawny ultimately decides to stay and live with live Sky Sect; they don't know her family history, after all, and she truly feels connected to these cats. She eventually (years down the line) becomes deputy!

The main argument between Sweetflower and Sandstorm is Kittypet Life vs Warrior Life, instead of Dead Girl vs Alive Girl. Sweetflower believes that Boris and Cherry can absolutely live as both warriors and house cats; Sandstorm insists they can't. Sweetflower knows what it's like to be forced to choose between two things you love; Sandstorm is scared that she's going to leave her.

Name Changes Leafdapple → Leafheart Cherry → Same change as FQ Boris → Applepelt Tawnypaw → Tawnyfur Sharpclaw → Waspclaw Clover → Cloverbelly Echosong → Echocreek Petalnose → Petalfur Patchfoot → Patchfur Hutch → Briarstripe Lichen → Lichenshade

[shadowsofcrystals]

ALLEGIANCES

SunClan

Leader: MorningCrystal - Golden colored tabby molly, with cream colored underbelly and forest-green eyes. She wears a sunflower as decoration.

Deputy: BristleRose - Silver colored molly with rough, spiky fur and white underbelly. She has dark green eyes and a scar across her face. She wears a red rose as decoration.

Healers:

CanarySong - Golden colored tom with lighter spots, and orange eyes.

CherryWing - White and reddish colored molly, with a few ginger patches and amber eyes. She has folded ears. She wears a yellow rose as decoration.

HoneyLeaf - Brown colored tom with a lighter underbelly, and cream speckles across his pelt. He has amber eyes, and wears juniper berries as decoration.

Warriors:

KestrelCloud - Light brown colored molly with cream underbelly and darker speckles across her pelt, like a kestrel's feathers. She has amber eyes, and really soft fur.

AshFire - Dark gray colored tom with lighter speckles, and blue eyes. His body is covered in burn scars, and has torn ears.

DaisyBloom - Cream colored molly with ginger freckles and amber eyes. She wears small, purple flowers as decoration.

BrambleRoar - Black colored tom with brown tabby stripes, and white underbelly. He has blue eyes, with a clawmark across his face. (StarPaw)

AmberFur - Flame colored tom with a lighter underbelly and amber eyes. (DawnPaw)

SilverBloom - Silver colored tom with white underbelly, purple eyes, and a scar across his face. He wears purple flowers as decoration.

EbonyWhisker - Black tom with gray spots and purple eyes. Wears vines as decoration. (FogPaw)

GoldenFlame - Flame colored molly with a lighter underbelly and amber eyes. (LittlePaw)

FeatherWish - Gray colored molly with black tabby stripes and white underbelly. She has brown eyes.

Queens:

SparkPoppy - Calico molly with amber eyes, and wears a yellow rose as decoration.

FrecklePelt - Light brown molly with cream underbelly and spots. She has purple eyes and wears a sunflower as decoration.

SageFlower - White and silver colored molly with green eyes. She wears sage flowers as decoration. Permaqueen.

MoonHeart - Silver colored molly with white underbelly and darker freckles. Lavender-colored eyes, with a clawmark across her face. Currently pregnant with AmberFur's kits.

Apprentices:

StarPaw - Cream colored molly with a lighter underbelly, and star-shaped patches across her pelt. She has blue eyes.

DawnPaw - Ginger molly with a lighter underbelly and golden ears. She has yellowish-green eyes.

FogPaw - Dark colored tom with silver underbelly and blue eyes.

LittlePaw - Gray tom with cream underbelly and ginger freckles and green eyes.

Kits:

HeatherKit - Pale gray colored molly with white underbelly and brown paws. She has lavender-colored eyes, and wears lavender as decoration. Kit of WillowClaw and FrecklePelt.

FerretKit - Sand colored tom with brown tabby stripes, and brown mask across his face. He has blue eyes. Kit of WillowClaw and FrecklePelt.

MapleKit - Calico molly with amber eyes. Kit of EbonyWhisker and SparkPoppy.

BlossomKit - Calico molly with purple eyes, she always has leaves stuck in her fur. Kit of EbonyWhisker and SparkPoppy.

CrowKit - All-black tom with heterochromic blue and green eyes. Originally found in abandoned, adopted kit of EbonyWhisker and SparkPoppy.

Elders:

RipplePelt - Gray tom with pale blue eyes and small ears. He has a scar across his shoulder.

AcornNose - Brown colored tom with lighter patches and yellow eyes.

MistyHeart - Gray molly with darker patches and blue eyes. She has a scar across her face.

ApplePelt - Cream colored tom with ginger speckles and purple eyes.

TawnyFlower - Brown colored molly with lighter patches and amber eyes. She wears a sunflower as decoration.

LavenderPetal - Blue-gray colored molly with purple eyes. Wears lavender as decoration.

LeafClan

Leader: StormCrystal - Dark gray colored tom with lighter underbelly and mask across his face. He has dry, rough fur, and amber eyes. He wears dry maple leaves as decoration.

Deputy: CinnamonCloud - Reddish colored molly with cream underbelly and blue eyes.

Healers:

FireFlake - Flame colored tom with lighter underbelly and blue eyes. Wears leaves as decoration. (MouseStripe)

Warriors:

MoonDancer - Silver colored tabby tom with amber eyes.

SunChaser - Golden colored molly with lighter underbelly, and darker spots. She has green eyes.

AppleDapple - Golden, reddish and brown colored molly with green eyes. (FlowerPaw)

BlueTail - Dark brown tom with blue-gray patches and tail, and red eyes.

CreekRipple - Brown tolly with white and golden patches, and red eyes.

BrackenWing - Brown molly with a lighter colored stripe along her back, and blue eyes. (Created by Fives)

ReedPelt - Reddish-brown colored tom with white underbelly and amber eyes. (OakPaw)

LynxShadow - Golden colored tom with black ears and paws. He has green eyes. (Created by Fives)

RussetRose - Rust colored molly with lighter patches and green eyes. (HawkPaw)

Queens:

MilkFlower - White and silver colored molly with green eyes. Wears a sunflower as decoration. Currently pregnant with MudStorm's kits.

HazelPelt - Light brown and golder colored molly with green eyes. Currently pregnant with CreekRipple's kits.

MarigoldBloom - Golden colored, elderly molly with brown eyes. She wears a sunflower as decoration. Permaqueen.

Apprentices:

MouseStripe - Healer's apprentice, former warrior. Light brown tom with a darker stripe running down his back, and round ears. He has blue eyes.

OakPaw - Cream colored tom with brown patches and brown eyes. (Created by Fives)

FlowerPaw - Golden-ginger tabby molly with blue eyes. (Created by Fives)

HawkPaw - Dark brown tom with cream underbelly and blue eyes.

Kits: N/A

Elders:

OwlFeather - Brown and golden tabby tom with big, green eyes.

RiverFlow - Blue-gray colored molly with darker speckles. She has blue, blind eyes, and wears juniper berries as decoration.

RunningFoot - Dark brown tom with lighter tabby stripes, and yellowish-green eyes.

AspenLeaf - Dark gray molly with lighter underbelly and blue eyes. She wears blue flowers as decoration.

SongWillow - Dark gray molly with lighter underbelly and heterochromic blue & yellow eyes. She wears a luna moth wing as decoration.

MountClan

Leader: FoxCrystal - Reddish and cream colored transmasc tom, with black ears and paws, resembling a fox. He has green eyes, and always has leaves stuck in his fur. He also has a scar across his left eye. (StormPaw)

Deputy: HollyFeather - All-black transfem molly with brown eyes, and long, silky fur. She wears holly leaves and berries as decoration.

Healers:

BadgerFrost - Black molly with white stripes, resembling a badger. She has small ears and purple eyes. She always has dry leaves in her fur. (CinderPaw)

Warriors:

MudStorm - Brown tabby tolly with white underbelly and amber eyes.

BurrStrike - Brown tom with cream underbelly, with light brown and black spots all along his pelt. He has yellow eyes with a clawmark across the left one, and wears oak leaves as decoration.

WillowClaw - Gray tolly with black tabby stripes and blue eyes. Wears oak leaves as decoration.

SquirrelHeart - Ginger cat with amber eyes.

SwiftClaw - Black and white tom, covered in battle scars. He has amber eyes.

RavenFlight - All-black molly with purple eyes. (WolfPaw)

HawkFeather - Brown and light brown transfem molly, with black speckles and amber eyes.

BlueBird - Handsome, blue-gray tom with white underbelly and torn ears. He has blue eyes, with a scar on the right one. (WindPaw)

JayClaw - Blue-gray tom with white underbelly and speckles. He has blue eyes.

BugWhisker - Gray and white colored tom with yellow eyes and a scratch on his nose bridge. He has sprouts growing from his fur. (Created by Fives)

Queens:

ThunderWhisker - Dark gray molly with black patches, and gray underbelly. She has amber eyes. Permaqueen.

BlackFlower - Dark gray molly with black speckles and yellow eyes. She wears a sunflower as decoration. Permaqueen.

WaspSpike - Golden and white molly with black tabby stripes and blue eyes.

RoseBloom - Reddish and cream colored molly with black ears, paws and freckles. She has amber eyes and wears a red rose as decoration.

Apprentices:

WolfPaw - Gray colored tom with black speckles and amber eyes.

WindPaw - Pale gray, tabby tom with yellow eyes.

CinderPaw - Healer's apprentice. All-black molly with amber eyes.

StormPaw - White colored tom with dark gray, tabby patches and yellow eyes. Ex-kittypet, until his owners abandoned him. (Based on my old housecat <3)

Kits:

RedKit - Reddish and golden colored molly with white underbelly, and yellow eyes. She wears red flowers as decoration. Kit of RoseBloom.

BlossomKit - Reddish molly with white underbelly and black ears. She has blue eyes and wears yellow flowers as decoration. Kit of RoseBloom.

PetalKit - Ginger and cream colored molly with brown eyes, and green eyes. She wears blue flowers as decoration. Kit of RoseBloom.

WishKit - Golden and flame colored, tabby molly with blue eyes. Kit of SquirrelHeart and WaspSpike.

BeeKit - Golden colored molly with brown tabby stripes, and blue eyes. Kit of SquirrelHeart and WaspSpike.

BrightKit - Golden colored tom with ginger patches and green eyes. Kit of SquirrelHeart and WaspSpike.

Elders:

SparrowTail - Brown tom with black tabby stripes and amber eyes.

RobinPelt - Cream colored molly with brown eyes, and black tabby stripes. She has green eyes.

BriarPetal - Reddish and ginger colored molly with orange eyes. She wears a red rose as decoration.

SpiderFur - All-black tom with torn ears, and flame-colored eyes.

HeatherFlight - Pale gray molly with lavender-colored eyes.

SnowClan

Leader: BloomCrystal - Cream colored molly with a ginger mask across her face, and ginger freckles. She has folded ears, lavender-colored eyes, and wears lavender as decoration.

Deputy: DappleHeart - Tortoiseshell tolly with white underbelly and blue eyes.

Healers:

JayFlower - Blue-gray molly with long, velvety fur. She has white patterns on her fur, and blue eyes. She wears blue morpho wings as decoration. (DovePaw)

Warriors:

GoldenHeart - Golden colored tom with cream underbelly, a scratch on his nose, and green eyes. (HollyPaw)

MothPetal - Golden colored molly with cream underbelly, darker freckles, and blue eyes. She wears moth wings as decoration. (DarkPaw)

ThrushSong - Light brown and white tom with green eyes. He always has leaves stuck in his fur.

DuskThorn - Black and gray colored molly with white spots, and blue eyes. She wears blue morpho wings as decoration.

DeerBerry - Light brown and cream colored tom with white freckles, and amber eyes. He wears red flowers as decoration. (SweetPaw)

FernPool - Dark gray, transmasc tom with gray tabby stripes, and white underbelly. He has brown eyes, and wears oak leaves as decoration.

EagleTail - Dark gray molly with gray tabby stripes, and white underbelly. She has lavender-colored eyes.

IceWhisker - All-white tolly with silver freckles, and amber eyes. They wear juniper berries as decoration. (ThistlePaw)

FlamePelt - Flame colored tabby tom with green eyes.

RedFang - Reddish colored tom with ginger underbelly, and golden freckles. He has amber eyes.

Queens:

NightFur - Black molly with white underbelly, blue eyes, and a scratch across her face. Permaqueen.

IvyLeaf - White and gray molly with blue eyes. She wears oak leaves as decoration. Currently pregnant with FlamePelt's kits.

LilyPetal - Pale gray molly with white underbelly, and blue-gray freckles. She has curly fur, and blue eyes. She wears luna moth wings as decoration.

Apprentices:

DovePaw - Healer's apprentice. Pale gray molly with white underbelly, and amber eyes. She wears purple flowers as decoration.

SweetPaw - Light brown molly with cream underbelly, blue-gray freckles, and blue eyes. She wears moth wings as decoration.

ThistlePaw - Black and white tom with gray tabby stripes, light brown freckles and green eyes.

DarkPaw - Black and gray colored tom with cream speckles and blue eyes.

FlyPaw - Reddish-brown and cream colored tom with black tabby stripes and blue eyes.

HollyPaw - Black and cream colored molly with white underbelly, and green eyes. She wears holly leaves and berries as decoration.

Kits:

DaisyKit - Golden and white molly with blue eyes. Kit of RedFang and LilyPetal.

RainKit - Blue-gray tom with white underbelly and amber eyes.

FoxKit - Flame colored tom with cream underbelly, reddish freckles, and green eyes.

Elders:

WhiteFlower - All-white molly with amber eyes.

StormFeather - Dark gray tom with lighter underbelly and black spots. He has blue eyes.

SilverShine - Silver colored molly with blue eyes.

BlueMist - Blue-gray tom with blue eyes. Strange, blue mushrooms are growing on his fur.

BeechFoot - White tom with brown patches and brown eyes. He wears leaves in his fur.

Cats Outside of Clans

River - Pale gray molly with white underbelly, and black tabby stripes. She has heterochromic blue and green eyes, and a scratch on her nose bridge. She wears juniper berries as decoration. Usually wanders around MountClan's territory. (Created by Fives)

Chester - Brown tom with lighter patches and mask. He has eerie green eyes, and wears a purple collar. Kittypet, near SunClan's territory.

Scarlett - Reddish-ginger colored molly, with amber eyes and a nicely decorated collar. Kittypet near SunClan's territory.

Snowflake - Huge, white and silver colored tom with purple eyes. He wears a purple bandanna and has a scar across his face. He lives in a barn near SnowClan's territory.

Blueberry - Blue-gray colored molly with darker freckles, and curly fur. She has brown eyes, and a scar across her left eye that makes her half-blind. Lives with Snowflake in the barn, currently pregnant with his kits.

Spirits

SootStep - Black colored rom with gray speckles and green eyes. Resides in CrystalClan.

BlizzardGaze - White colored tom with reddish speckles and blue eyes. Resides in CrystalClan.

WildFlower - White colored molly with reddish tabby stripes and emerald-green eyes. Her fur is decorated with all kinds of flowers. Resides in the Deadly Woods.

ColdHeart - Blue-gray tabby tom with red eyes. Resides in the Deadly Woods.

FrozenTear - Blue-gray tom with white underbelly and ginger freckles. He has clawmarks across both of his eyes, making him blind. Resides in the Deadly Woods.

Founders

Rising Sun - Short-legged molly with curly, ginger fur and golden underbelly. She has bright green eyes, and wears monarch wings as decoration.

Mountain Peak - Dark gray tolly with black tabby stripes, and rough, spiky fur. They have ragged ears, yellow eyes, and longer fangs. They wear juniper berries as decoration.

Shining Snow - Molly with snow-white pelt and gray underbelly. She has blue and yellow, heterochromic eyes, and is deaf in her right ear. She wears blue flowers as decoration.

Autumn Leaf - Calico tom with unusual, blue eyes, and a scar across his face. He wears oak leaves as decoration.

Who's your favorite?

As you can see, many of these characters were originally created by my dear Fives!! ( @transmascanakin ) Make sure to check him out!

Although I did not show any pictures, felidaze's picrew was a huge help in coming up with all these different cats!!

EDIT 1: Added "tolly" as a gender neutral term; added founders

[mountaingoat-clan]

Mountain Goat Clan Alegences

Leader

Starlingstar [tom]

Deputy

Slugflower [tom]

Medicine cat/ healer

CootStripe [tom]

Warriors

Bramblingheart [she-cat]

Rosenose [tom]

Applepelt [tom]

Apprentices

Hollypaw [she-cat]

Shadowpaw [trans she-cat]

Linnetpaw [tom]

Queens

Ravenberry

Blueear(Capedkit[tom])

Crowblaze(Cremékit[tom])

Elders

Bramblecloud[she-cat]

[wc-icestars-rise]

Applepelt, Warrior of Shadowclan

Applekit - Applepaw - Applepelt

Reddish-brown tom with brown eyes

Affiliations

Shadowclan

Kin

Mother: Liongaze

Father: Eaglebone

Sister(s): N/A

Brother(s): Hollyclaw

Mate(s): Gingersplash

Daughter(s): Foxfang, Brightblaze

Son(s): Firewhisker

General Info

Applepelt is hard to like. He has a very bristly personality and a superiority complex to match. It’s a wonder none of his children inherited it. He hates it when cats touch him and is very testy at gatherings, making him a hazard to bring along. His temper and flare for the dramatic has only worsened as he’s gotten older and his clan mates are exasperated to say the least. Applepelt has been known to cause trouble and start fights if anything even remotely controversial were to be brought up at a gathering.

How Applepelt and his mate, Gingersplash, got together no one is certain. Gingersplash was a Windclan warrior who moved clans to be with Applepelt, knowing Viperstar’s feelings on the matter of half-clan relationships. They had three kits together, but Gingersplash died during a storm when a tree crushed her. Applepelt may have been nearly intolerable before the accident, but this added bitterness onto everything else.

Applepelt was never close with his parents, and wasn’t very affected when they died as elders. They had led good lives and Applepelt was happy for them, but Hollyclaw had been closer to them growing up. This didn’t mean that Applepelt didn’t get along well with his brother. Hollyclaw was the only cat growing up who saw past Applepelt’s grouchy exterior until Gingersplash came into the picture. Applepelt was ready to fight Viperstar for Hollyclaw’s right to keep Ashstorm, and was immensely relieved he didn’t have to. The two know the other one has their back no matter what.

Personality

Applepelt is grouchy, easily irritated, and extremely prideful. He sees himself as the best warrior in Shadowclan and even the smallest slights greatly offend him. He is very passive aggressive when it comes to letting others know they have wrong him and holds grudges. Another way to describe him is petty and vengeful.

Fun Facts

- Applepelt has a rivalry with Badgerclaw of Riverclan and Fidgetleg of Skyclan

- Applepelt has never had an apprentice due to his abrasive nature

- Applepelt tries to go on at least one patrol with at least one of his kits everyday

[burning-thistles-bt]

So... I've been inspired by your AU and have kinda made my own version of it. There's a lot of changes, such as names and relationships (for example, Thistleclaw also went after Willowpelt when she was still an apprentice), plus a lot more creep factor in the other Clans (Finchflight has become a decent guy, he's Amberleaf's mate and the father of Tallpoppy and Applepelt (Applefur from TF), but Brokenstar... yeah I made Brokenstar a lot worse), so it's by no means a direct copy, just a similar starting idea

Also Hattie takes the role of Fireheart in terms of the canon story, Darkstripe and Longtail are littermates and both actually good guys, and this Frostfur is actually hugely sympathetic and sticks up for her friends Spottedleaf and Willowpelt, to the point where Willowpelt trusts her with Greystripe's father being Flintfang of ShadowClan and she promises to take the secret to her grave if she must. There's still some victim blaming but it's from other characters, though one of them is a tragedy herself since she was in a similar situation...

Oh, wow!

Hi, Alder here, and we're glad that our story has inspired you to write your own! I personally know the feeling lol

It sounds like you've got a lot planned out already, and I love the similar yet slight difference you've made!

The idea of bringing Hattie in as a pseudo firestar is an interesting and definitely original idea!

We wish you luck on your writing journey! Welcome to the club lol

Lolling feel free to edit this to add your own thoughts!

Lolling’s edit to add: this is an awesome story idea!!!!! I’m so glad BT could inspire you <3333 (also supportive Frostfur yes~~~~)

[strelles-universe]

Pre-Story Allegiances - ShadowClan

Leader: Nightstar: A sleek furred black tom with sharp yellow eyes.

Deputy: Cinderburr: A short furred, thin gray tom with dark yellow eyes and half chewed off whiskers.

Diplomat: Toadpelt [Former Hunter]: A pale brown tom with green eyes, short legs and a slashed ear.

Medic: Runningbay [Combat Healer]: A skinny, patchy gray and white tom with amber eyes. There’s crust around his nose and in the corner of his eyes. Runningbay has the longest legs and tail of the ShadowClan cats and it’s often remarked that it’s a shame he isn’t a hunter.

---

Warriors

---

Stumpytail (Guard): A large, long-legged, small eared tom with a slightly offset jaw from his apprenticehood His tail is short and bobbed. He has a dark brown, thick sleek coat with thin, black stripes running along his body. 

Frogleap (Hunter): A smallish, tortie molly with yellow eyes and a shortened tail.

Nettlewhisker (Hunter): A small and rough furred molly with yellow eyes and small paws with a shiny, water-repellent coat.

Salamaderfoot (Guard): A pretty long-legged, tortie molly with green eyes and two white front paws. She has medium length furred with a fluffy plumed tail that she is very proud of.

Grayspeckle (Guard): A pale gray cat with a series of white flecks torn through his coat and pale yellow eyes.

Newtpelt (Hunter): A brown furred tom with short legs resulting in a matted belly and a shortened tail. His muzzle is rounded and he has vibrant yellow eyes.

Wetfoot (Guardcat): A long furred brown tabby tom with bright yellow eyes. His stripes are so dark they’re almost unnoticeable.

Mousewhisker (Murker): A short furred brown tom with white paws and brown eyes.

Wolfstep (Guardcat): A long furred mostly gray tabby tom with a white underbelly and white legs

Fernshade (Murker): A slender tortoiseshell molly with pale yellow eyes and two clawed ears.

Applepelt (Hunter): A mottled brown, long furred tabby molly with pale green eyes

Ratscar (Guard): A dark brown almost black tabby tom with pale green eyes and a long scar across his back.

Russetfur (Murker): A sleek, deep ginger molly with green eyes

Newtspeck (Guard): A thick furred, short pelted tortie molly with yellow eyes. She has a permanent limp from a previous fight. Newtspeck used to be a Sitter.

Lizardstripe (Guard): A pale brown tabby molly with white underbelly and pale yellow eyes. She’s proud to have many battle scars including a torn left ear, a permanent mark over her eye and a slight limp favoring her hind leg.

Littlecloud (Hunter): A tiny, long furred cat with black ears. The black covers his eyes and moves up to his neck and stretched down his back to the tip of his tail. He has pink paw pads and nose with yellow eyes.

---

Apprentices

---

Mudpaw: A mostly brown tortoiseshell molly with a proud demeanor and piercing orange eyes. Apprentice to Newtpelt.

Pinepaw: A tortie molly with piercing yellow eyes and long hindlegs. Apprentice to Grayspeckle.

Brownpaw: A dark brown tabby tom with a white belly and small ears. Apprentice to Stumpytail.

Oakpaw: A russet furred tom with yellow eyes and a surprisingly long tail.  Apprentice to Wetfoot.

---

Monarchs

---

Darkflower (Former Hunter): A black furred tabby she-cat with orange eyes and a torn left ear. Nursing Scorchwind’s kits Rowankit, Cedarkit and Lavanderkit.

Tallpoppy (Head Sitter): A long-legged, light brown tabby molly with green eyes and long lightly curled whiskers. She’s very proud of them despite whispers of a possible RiverClan parent.

 Brightflower (Sitter): A bright ginger tabby molly with a flattened face, a snub nose and wide set amber eyes. She has a beautifully curly coat that is difficult to maintain in the muddy territory but she’s proud of it all the same.

Nettlespot (Sitter): A predominantly white molly with ginger spots speckled across her body, long whiskers and pale blue eyes.

---

Elders

---

Ashfoot (Retiree): A dark gray molly with nearly black legs and pale blue eyes.

Deerleap (Lecturer): A pale gray tabby molly with light blue eyes, white paws and a white belly.

Hollyflower (Lecturer): A dark gray and black molly with a more silvery underbelly and deep blue eyes.

Flintfang (Retiree): A fluffy gray tom with yellow eyes and large paws. His paws are unusually fluffy. Flintfang retired early but didn’t state his reason for doing so.

Poolcloud (Retiree): A long furred gray and white molly with feathery ear fluff and long legs.

Toadskip (Retiree): A brown and white tabby tom with light blue eyes. His underbelly, legs and thighs are all white.

Featherstorm (Lecturer): A deep brown tabby molly with yellow eyes and a steadily graying muzzle.

[rippleclan]

RippleClan: Moon 56, Part 2

Mosspounce takes Scalepaw battle training while Lavendertwist recovers.

[Image ID: Mosspounce says to Scalepaw, “Half of glory is believing you deserve it.”]

“Get back up!” Mosspounce yowled, wiggling his flank as Scalepaw shook sand out of his long fur. “You can do this, keep going!” Mosspounce dug his paws deeper into the wet sand lining the shore. Scalepaw’s panting mixed with the gentle waves. 

Since Lavendertwist could barely talk with the stitches in his neck, let alone train his apprentice, Mosspounce volunteered to take Scalepaw battle training. It had taken a generation or two to give the grass-touched northern beach a name, but now every mentor and apprentice practiced their battle moves on Battle Beach. Sure, Mosspounce wasn’t a proper mentor yet (and he doubted he would get to train Clammask’s kits, since a lot of the Clan was still upset with him about Lemmy), but training Scalepaw made him forget that for a while. They were training with the sunrise, working up an appetite for the sunhigh meal Tempestshade was spending the whole morning on. Scalepaw’s white spots, which took over more and more of his fur every day, looked like stars against his gold fur.

“Charge me!” Mosspounce cheered. “Don’t give up until I’m running away or I can’t stand up!” Scalepaw grit his teeth. Sand exploded behind him. Mosspounce was going to shove the apprentice away, but he was bigger than Mosspounce expected. Scalepaw’s sheer weight knocked him down. He knocked the air out of Mosspounce. Sand filled his nose. He squirmed and tried to push Scalepaw off, but he couldn’t move the heavy tom. It seemed Scalepaw took Mosspounce’s orders literally. He was a great fighter!

Yet despite that, Scalepaw shivered violently and scrambled off Mosspounce. Mosspounce coughed up sand. He shook out his pelt and stared at Scalepaw. The round tom squirmed. His paws danced over the sand like he was walking on fire. He groaned and itched at his neck.

“Why’d you jump off?” Mosspounce asked. “You had me. I wasn’t going anywhere.” Scalepaw groaned again. His mouth opened and closed, trying to form an explanation. He squeezed his eyes tight. He bolted toward the trees, tail low. With the lack of foliage, Mosspounce could see Scalepaw’s thick cream fur far into the scrub. “Scalepaw, where are you going?” 

This was just like his first Gathering; Tempestshade managed to bring him back eventually, so perhaps Mosspounce could do the same? Perhaps solving Scalepaw’s crisis would Downstar that Mosspounce was mentor material; if not with Clammask’s litter, then the next. As dreams of grandeur filled Mosspounce’s mind, he jogged up to the tree line. It wouldn’t be hard to track Scalepaw down. Even if he wasn’t easy to see, even a kit would be able to track his thick scent. Maybe Downstar would agree to let Mosspounce finish Scalepaw’s training, even though they were of different roles? 

Mosspounce stopped and batted at his own ear. No, what was he thinking? Scalepaw wasn’t a stepping stone to being a mentor or deputy. He was an apprentice who was obviously struggling with something. Mosspounce needed to treat him like a tom, not a tool. Now if he could just remember what Tempestshade did for the young apprentice…

Scalepaw stopped beside the base of a pine and curled into a ball. Mosspounce slowed to a stalk. Scalepaw glanced at Mosspounce before burying his face under his paws with a groan.

“Should I fetch Spikecrash?” Mosspounce asked. Spikecrash often accompanied Lavendertwist and Scalepaw out to train, helping Scalepaw through his unique sensitivities. Perhaps this was a job for a mediator.

“I’m too embarrassed,” Scalepaw mumbled. Mosspounce hid his surprise. Usually when Scalepaw got upset, no one could get a word out of him for ages. Was he improving? Perhaps it was all a part of growing up.

“Why?” Mosspounce scoffed, scooting closer. “You were great! You’ll be an amazing warrior some day.”

“I can’t touch you,” Scalepaw said. He risked a glance under his paws. “I can’t touch anyone. I hate it. It feels like too much. Fur makes me cry. I can’t be a warrior.” Scalepaw shivered and hid his face again.

“Not with that attitude,” Mosspounce chuckled. Scalepaw sat up slowly. His deep blue eyes glared at Mosspounce, a mixture of confusion and annoyance. “I mean it! You have a great instinct. My sister was telling me about the patrol. You fought with just as much skill as every other warrior out there. If touching others is as bad as you make it seem, you didn’t show it to those Witch Hunters.” Scalepaw bristled and stared at his paws. “Here, I’m going to put my paw on your tail, try to stand it for a minute.” Mosspounce sat next to Scalepaw. The apprentice didn’t move away, so Mosspounce made his move. He set a paw on Scalepaw’s fluffy tail. Scalepaw shivered and his tail flinched, but he stayed still.

“I think you’re going to be the sort of warrior who learns every advanced combat move the Clans have ever made,” Mosspounce said. “You just have to be proud enough to step up and work through your issues. Half of glory is believing you deserve it. And trust me, kit, you deserve it.” For a few minutes, Mosspounce wasn’t sure if Scalepaw really heard him. Then, slowly but surely, Scalepaw turned his head and touched his nose to Mosspounce’s shoulder. Mosspounce purred and gave Scalepaw a friendly nuzzle.

“Stop touching me now please,” Scalepaw said. Mosspounce quickly stepped back. Scalepaw shook out his pelt, but he stood tall. 

“Ready to get back to training?” Mosspounce asked, cocking his head back toward the beach.

“I want to learn moves where I don’t have to touch someone for long,” Scalepaw said, stretching his neck to try and seem taller. “New claw strikes. Special kicks. What do you know?” Mosspounce cocked his tail and purred.

“Let’s go have some fun,” he laughed. He jogged back toward the beach. Scalepaw ran past him like a beam of light, a newfound eagerness leading his young paws to a fresh start.

(Mosspounce: 17, male, caretaker, adventurous, talented fire-starter)

(Scalepaw: 9, male, warrior apprentice, lonesome, avid play-fighter)

Fennelspot heads out alone to collect juniper. Oilstripe, Weedfoot, Downstar, and Scrubmask come across him just as he plummets from the tree.

[Image ID: Downstar, Oilstripe, Weedfoot, and Scrubmask watch something offscreen that gives off a loud CRACK. Downstar yowls “Fennel!” Under her, it says + CONDITION: GRIEVING.]

---

Oilstripe needed to be out and about. Downstar may not have wanted her near the border for fear of the Witch Hunters, but she still had a vast territory to patrol. She needed to keep her mind busy. She couldn’t obsess over what the Witch Hunters were doing to Carnationspeckle. She had to work.

Weedfoot, Downstar, and Scrubmask agreed to join her on a hunt. Oilstripe was a bit surprised Downstar agreed to it, especially when she let Oilstripe take the lead on the patrol. She supposed the old hostility that used to plague her interactions with the leader had faded over the moons. She lingered with Scrubmask in the back while Weedfoot walked alongside Oilstripe. A late winter snowfall blanketed the territory. It was a thin snow, the sort that Oilstripe’s paws sunk into and left a layer of ice underneath. Oilstripe had to unseathe her claws a few times to keep from slipping. 

“I’ll be glad when we see the end of this,” Weedfoot sighed, her tail flicking the snow. “The hunting has been so poor this winter.” Oilstripe bit her tongue. She had planned to catch some prey with Carnationspeckle when they were finished in the human settlement; the squirrels and mice were likely sheltering in the warm human dens. The Witch Hunters likely weren’t feeding Carnationspeckle; how much was she suffering? Was she warm? Was she bleeding?

The death cry of a mouse snapped Oilstripe out of her thoughts. Scrubmask carried a mouse in her jaws; small, but good to add to soup at dusk. Oilstripe made a silent promise to share a bowl with Rattlepelt and Troutpool; her daughters were suffering just as much as she was. Oilstripe dug a small hole for Scrubmask’s catch. She licked her numb paws as Scrubmask buried the mouse for later.

“Should you go back early?” Scrubmask asked, nodding at Oilstripe’s paws.

“I just need to warm up,” Oilstripe said, breath fogging around her. As she groomed warmth back into her legs, she picked up a familiar scent in the approaching wind. “Huh. I thought Fennelspot was still in camp. I can smell him a ways ahead of us.”

“He snuck out while you were making dirt,” Downstar explained. “I believe he wanted to collect some juniper.”

“Let’s go see if he needs any help,” Oilstripe suggested. “Maybe he’s seen some squirrels.”

“Lead the way,” Weedfoot purred. With feeling restored to her feet, Oilstripe marched on through the snow. She rubbed against Weedfoot, who gave her a comforting lick on the ear. Things felt at least close to being alright when Oilstripe was on patrol with her mentor. The wind continued to blow Fennelspot’s scent into Oilstripe’s face. Thank StarClan he was better; Oilstripe needed her old friend.

There were a few tall junipers that grew in the southwest portion of the territory. Oilstripe had helped Fennelspot collect juniper berries and leaves many a time before, so she knew just where to go. She even spotted a squirrel digging at one of Fennelspot’s pawprints halfway there (Weedfoot beat her to the catch, sparking some playful teasing that further eased her heart). Oilstripe even pranced within Fennelspot’s pawprints, making Weedfoot laugh. For once, Downstar said nothing of the mischief.

The junipers grew in a few bundles overlooking a thick patch of maples, ashes, and rowans. While some juniper trees were only a few fox-lengths tall, a few glared down at the patrol, fluffing up like thick manes against the cold. Snow sat on ice-covered branches. Oilstripe squinted through the leaves of each tree, but didn’t see Fennelspot.

A sharp, sudden yowl drew Oilstripe’s attention. Fennelspot’s bright orange body tumbled from the branches of the tallest juniper. Oilstripe gasped, back arching. Fennelspot landed with all four paws flat on the ground, the perfect example of a cat’s natural agility. The snow splashed around him. He froze with his back curved and tail puffed and held high. He panted, shivering slightly. Oilstripe couldn’t help but laugh. Did Fennelspot just fall out of a tree? Oh she was sure to make fun of him for that. 

Oilstripe was going to tease him. She was going to make sure he was alright, that he didn’t fall too far. She was going to playfully find wherever he set his basket and offer to carry it home for him. She was going to cherish the moment, right up until a massive crack echoed across the territory and a huge, ice-covered branch tumbled off the juniper and slammed into Fennelspot’s head at high speed. 

Blood sprayed across the trunk of the juniper. Fennelspot crumbled like a newborn kit. His eyes froze in the half-shocked, half-embarrassed glimmer they held before everything went wrong. The snow turned red. The dried petals that covered Fennelspot’s back slipped out of his fur.

“Fennel!” Downstar shrieked. She shoved past Oilstripe and Weedfoot. She skidded across the snow and ice to crouch at Fennelspot’s side. She looped around Fennelspot. Downstar whimpered as she caught sight of the back of his head. She looked sick. 

Scrubmask trailed slowly up to her dear friend. She placed a paw on Fennelspot’s shoulder. A shiver ran down her fur. A mournful mew broke out of Scrubmask’s chest. 

“Not like this,” Weedfoot moaned softly. Downstar wailed with the fury of the crashing sea. Birds scattered from the trees. Weedfoot hurried to her leader’s side. Her eyes shook at the sight of Fennelspot’s wound. Oilstripe could not bring herself to look at it. She couldn’t move at all. Her paws were once again numb, but not from the cold. Had that really just happened? Just like that, a careless branch….

Fennelspot’s pelt began to sparkle. Little lights danced within his rosette markings. A glow outlined his body. Reality broke apart in Oilstripe’s eyes as Fennelspot blinked with open eyes. Another muzzle shifted from his face. New legs pushed a new body up from the snow. A second Fennelspot, translucent and shimmering, stood on top of his own body, paws going through the white vested pelt.

“Owww…” Fennelspot groaned, squeezing his eyes tight. “That is an awful headache.” When Fennelspot opened his eyes, he saw the three mollies gathered around his body, wailing and crying, prodding his fur. He looked down at his own dead body. He yelped and jumped away, dancing over the snow without a single paw print. That was when he met Oilstripe’s eyes and recognized that her gaze did not pass through him.

“That’s it?” Fennelspot said, looking back at his body. “I… died? That can’t be it. I need to help Rustshade with his yellowcough. Lavendertwist needs help. Oilstripe? What do I do now?” Oilstripe tried to find the words, but her mouth was as numb as the rest of her. 

“Fennelspot!” a young voice cried. Starlight glimmered in the corner of Oilstripe’s eyes. Twinekit stood in the snow, gazing joyfully at Fennelspot. Fennelspot’s tense eyes melted at the sight of the ticked tabby kit. He crouched to Twinekit’s level. Twinekit ran full speed at Fennelspot. She smacked into his face and rubbed against Fennelspot. 

“You came to fetch me, then?” Fennelspot sighed, placing a paw on Twinekit’s tiny back. 

“Actually, we all came this time!” Twinekit chirped. Oilstripe’s spine tingled. She looked behind her. She couldn’t breathe.

The spirits of old friends waited between the trees. Locustseeker and Burdockcreek laughed at their little sister’s antics. Duskkit and Shadowdrop lounged on top of one another while Mousesong sat beside them. Puddlespeckle and Ripplefern looked at Fennelspot with pride while Applepelt bounced about, purring. Even more cats stood behind them, cats Oilstripe couldn’t recognize. SlugClan warriors?

“Why are you all here?” Fennelspot gasped. Twinekit led him toward the horde of StarClan warriors. 

“Because we wanted to thank you,” Locustseeker laughed. “Thank you for all the hard work you’ve done for RippleClan. We wouldn’t be what we are without you.”

“You are RippleClan’s first cleric,” Burdockcreek reminded him. “We thought you deserved a more personal escort to StarClan. Everyone you’ve ever taken care of is here. We all want a chance to share tongues with you.”

“I don’t think I deserve that,” Fennelspot gulped, eyes bulging as he tried to get a good glimpse of all the dead souls in front of him.

“Of course you deserve it!” A white molly pushed her way through the crowd. 

“Moonpaw,” Oilstripe muttered softly. She bowed her head to the long-dead apprentice. “Fennelspot, this—”

“Moonpaw has visited me before,” Fennelspot said with a flick of his ear. Twinekit nuzzled his leg as Fennelspot bowed his head as well.

“You don’t need to do that,” Moonpaw insisted. She trotted up to Fennelspot and nosed his head back up. “I should bow to you! Fennelspot, you helped found an incredible Clan that will last for moons upon moons. Your name will be remembered across all five Clans!”

“I’m not the skilled cleric you think I am,” Fennelspot said. Moonpaw batted his ear. Fennelspot stared wide-eyed as the more youthful souls of StarClan laughed.

“Listen here, young tom,” Moonpaw huffed. “I’m allowed to call you that since I’m actually hundreds of moons old. But do you remember what you were like in SlugClan? You weren’t happy. You were always doubting yourself, and it certainly didn’t help when Gorgestar got hurt. But once you came to RippleClan? Wow, Fennelspot! You became a kind, understanding, and clever cleric that every cleric after you will spend their lives trying to emulate!” Fennelspot’s eyes rippled. He cleared the emotion from his throat. 

“We all love you, Fennelspot,” Twinekit purred. “We can’t wait to welcome you home.” Fennelspot licked Twinekit’s head. He glanced back at Downstar, Scrubmask, and Weedfoot. They were still huddled over his body, shaking.

“You can always come back and see them,” Oilstripe reminded him, moving closer to the ghost. “I expect you to visit me a lot, too.” StarClan surrounded Fennelspot. Locustseeker bunted against the cleric. Duskkit joined Twinekit and leaned against Fennelspot’s leg. Moonpaw touched Fennelspot’s nose. The glow of a hundred warriors blinded Oilstripe. It was all she could do to shield her eyes.

“I promise,” Fennelspot purred. 

When Oilstripe’s vision returned, Fennelspot and the spirits of StarClan were gone.

(Oilstripe: 60, female, historian, charismatic, ghost speaker)

(Weedfoot: 105, female, deputy, charismatic, steady paws, formidable fighter)

(Scrubmask: 73, female, warrior, gloomy, fast runner, good hunter)

(Downstar: 115, female, leader, wise, trusted advisor, very clever)

(Fennelspot: 113, male, cleric, insecure, trusted advisor, incredible runner)

(Twinekit: 2, female, kit, noisy, quick to help)

(Locustseeker: 12, nonbinary (they/them), historian apprentice, troublesome, moss-ball hunter)

(Burdockcreek: 40, male, historian, competitive, lore keeper)

(Duskkit: 4, female, kit, troublesome, quick witted)

(Shadowdrop: 34, male, warrior, sneaky, good teacher, eloquent speaker)

(Mousesong: 25, female, codekeeper, loyal, keen eye)

(Puddlespeckle: 156, male, elder, strict, good hunter, good kitsitter)

(Ripplefern: 18, female, historian, charismatic, talented swimmer, good fighter)

(Applepelt: 31, she/they, historian, rebellious, lore keeper)

(Moonpaw: 10, female, mediator apprentice, childish, good hunter)

[fcclangen]

Moon 5

Sibling energy

Forgot to add the outline to her but oh well lol.

[warriorsredux]

What would you rename Appledawn Poppydawn and Dawnstripe?

Apologies for the lateness on this. I can tell that it was just sitting in my inbox for forever based on the amount of asks it was hidden under.

Appledawn is a cream tabby, and Apple- fits that color, so she’s fine on her prefix. For her suffix, -dawn isn’t on the system I use here, so let’s change that. She doesn’t have much in the way of nameable traits, which means she’d be Applefur or Applepelt.

Poppydawn’s prefix fits her perfectly, since she’s a red molly. Suffix obviously won’t work, of course. I think that we can be a little generous on the suffix, because she’s remarkably blasé about many things, from what I’m reading on the Wiki. I think Poppycloud might be nice.

Dawnstripe’s name fits her perfectly! No complaints here.

[blooming-fire-au]

Felt like giving redemption to one of the Burning Thistles characters that is actually a decent guy in this AU. Warning for miscarriages (only mentioned, no details)

Names: Finchkit, Finchpaw, Finchflight

Orientation: Bisexual (mostly into mollies)

Gender and pronouns: Cis tom, he/him. Also intersex

Canon counterpart: Finchflight

Clan(s): ShadowClan. Was exiled by Brokenstar with the other elders

Parents: Unknown

Sibling(s): Mousewing, Sagewhisker

Mate(s): Amberleaf

Kit(s): Tallpoppy, Applepelt. Previous litters before them were miscarried

Mentor(s): Stonetooth

Apprentice(s): Lizardstripe, Rowanberry

Description: A large, fluffy black and white tom. His fur is a typical "tuxedo" pattern with a white muzzle, neck, chest, belly, and paws. The white on his hind paws extends up further than the white on his front paws. He has green eyes and long, thick fur. When he was younger, his fur could be described as feathery.

Personality: Finchflight used to be a hard worker, stepping up for patrols or to lend a paw around camp. As a younger warrior, he was often helping in the seers' den, partially as an excuse to spend time with his sister Sagewhisker after the death of her mentor Redthistle. He was also there for his brother Mousewing when he was in the nursery with his kits, and if not for his apprentice Lizardpaw, would have loved to mentor one of Mousewing's kits. Lizardpaw became Lizardstripe, he trained Rowanberry, and became mates with Amberleaf. Sadly, he and Amberleaf struggled to have kits together, and she had a lot of early miscarriages. The bad luck kept on coming--Sagewhisker died, then Mousewing, and suddenly Finchflight was more alone than he'd ever been. Sure, he had Amberleaf and his niblings, but it wasn't the same. Spiraling into depression, Finchflight elected to retire, though he and Amberleaf still tried for kits. Unfortunately, he was exiled with the other elders before he could meet his daughters, and ultimately died in exile.

[themissinglynx]

According to the Warriors Wiki, a name formed from the most common prefix and suffix would be Whitetail.

Names made from the next commonly used prefixes and suffix would be Willowfur, Rainfur, Reedfur, Nightfur, Gorsefur, and Cloudfur.

Names made from the third most commonly used prefixes and suffix would be Featherpelt, Stonepelt, Morningpelt, Fernpelt, Dewpelt, Swiftpelt, Applepelt, Sunpelt, Mosspelt, Dawnpelt, Silverpelt, Hawkpelt, and Birchpelt.

In order, the most common suffixes are: -tail, -fur, -pelt, -claw, -heart, -whisker, -foot, and -wing.