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fallenclan · 11 months ago

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//an: this is the third part of this. if u could link the second part of that it would be greaaatt thank u very much

//tw; implied past abuse, death

Applebranch has her second litter the next moon.

"I want to name this one Crowkit," she says, pointing to a tortoiseshell she-cat. Then, she points to a tiny brown swirled molly with her tail. "And this is Molekit."

All that's left is a black and white tom. She stares fondly at him.

"I'm not sure what to name him," Applebranch says. "He's quiet, I'll give you that."

"Quietkit?" Silverbelly prompts.

"It doesn't feel right," Applebranch muses. "Thoughts on Coalkit?"

"No," Silverbelly says. "That one doesn't feel right either."

She takes note of how Crowkit and Molekit both seem to nestle into the little tom.

"Blackkit?"

"No," Applebranch says. "Too basic."

Then, the little kit sneezes. Silverbelly stares at the pine needle that just landed on him.

"Pinekit?"

"Pinekit."

Hailpaw flexes her leg. "It feels good."

"Alright, then you're free," Silverbelly says. "Don't strain it too much. Tell Otterslip to only do lighter exercises for a half moon, so you can get back into the swing of things."

Hailpaw grins at her. "Yeah! Okay! Bye Silverbelly, bye Lichenstripe, bye Stormsight. Thank you!"

Hailpaw was unique. She had this thing where instead of saying "thanks, you guys" she thanked every cat individually. She had boundless energy, yet stayed completely still while she was recovering. Sleeping, silently watching her littermates.

"Lichenstripe," she softly calls. The tom perks his head up. "When you catch Otterslip, tell him to keep an extra eye out for Hailpaw."

"Will do," Lichenstripe says.

Silverbelly turns back to her herbs, prepared to begin stocking them, when she hears rustling behind her. One sniff tells her all she needs to know.

"Oaktuft," she dully asks. "What do you need today?"

(She held a specific brand of sarcasm just for Oak "I once stubbed my paw on a rock and screamed loud enough to wake the dead" tuft. He knows she doesn't mean it.)

"I think Moxie is expecting kits," he hastily says.

Lichenstripe perks up. "Send her my way later."

"I was hoping... you could... ask?"

Silverbelly, as maturely as possible, groans. "What did you do?"

"I just, don't think she knows yet?" Oaktuft says. It comes out like a question.

"You mean to tell me," Silverbelly inhales. "That you picked up a queen was expecting before she did?"

"Yes?"

"You know how stupid you sound right now?" Silverbelly gawks. "Like, you're usually stupid-"

"Hey!"

"- but this is breaching new levels of idiocy. Lichenstripe, tell him how ridiculous he sounds."

Lichenstripe stays perfectly still. "I'll check on her later. I'll just say there's a stomach bug I need to check for or something."

Oaktuft grins. "Thanks Lichenstripe, you're the best!" And then he runs back off.

"Why do you oblige him?" Silverbelly sighs.

"He's funny," Lichenstripe hums. "Sometimes."

Moxie, as it turns out, is expecting. Oaktuft can be strangely perceptive when he's actually paying attention to things.

Silverbelly sighs, and drops a pebble in Lichenstripe's "made an inacurrate assumption about something and was wrong" hole.

Stormsight and her are out gathering herbs when he perks up, pile of poppy forgotten.

Then, he's walking through the bush.

"Stormsight!" She shouts, her own little pile of oak leaves left to the wind.

She follows his tail, and that's when she picks up on it. A tiny, barely audible mewing, followed by frantic shushing.

And he stops at a bush.

A cat with a bright ginger back and jagged stripes looks up at them, and hisses. "Get the hell away from me!"

"Are you alright?" Silverbelly asks.

She picks up one of her kits, and hisses again. "Back off!"

"My name is Stormsight," Stormsight smoothly says. "This is Silverbelly. We're medicine cats. We don't hurt cats, we heal them."

"That's what the last one said," the queen snarls. "And then I was attacked."

Silverbelly takes notice of the small nick on her ear, and the little scratch bleeding from her stomach. She sees a little nest of dead leaves and moss.

"What's your name?" Silverbelly gently asks.

"I'm," she pauses. "I'm Jagged."

"Do you need somewhere to stay, Jagged?" She instinctively asks. "We have a home. We can help you, and treat your wounds."

"I don't need help," she spits. As if on cue, one of her kits wails, and tries to paw at her belly. "I don't."

It takes a very long time, but eventually Silverbelly and Stormsight manage to convince her to come to camp, where she sleeps in the nursery with her kits, and continues to hiss at anyone who gets too close. But she talks to Holly, and Applebranch, even if it's just curt responses, so it's an improvement.

Moxie gives birth to one kit. Newtkit. A scrappy little thing that seems to hate everything except her mother and Bluekit.

And Jaggedstripe has gotten better. She has real conversations with Applebranch, and Moxie, and she lets Silverbelly check her over with minimal fuss.

And Hailcrash has truly grown into herself. She's a spectacular fighter, clever and intelligent. Otterslip always says her name with the utmost pride.

Henryclaw is a new addition to the clan, someone that Jaggedstripe used to know. They say tense hello's and nobody pries farther.

Two things happen in the following moons.

One, Lakelily has been more tense during their half moon meetings. Hesitant to say anything about his clan or how his cats are doing. He won't meet her at the border for herb trades. She has a horrible feeling Floodstar is behind it.

Two, Neo dies in his sleep. He was old, it was bound to happen.

Three, Goldenstar loses his first life defending his son from a dog. He spends one day in her den recovering, then leaves.

"Come back if it starts hurting again," she calls.

Goldenstar flicks his tail, but she knows he won't be visiting anytime soon. She watches Celia run to greet him, and realizes that he might have someone to keep him in check after all.

"You're old," Newkit says.

Moxie stares at Silverbelly. "Am I?"

Silverbelly winces, and decides the floor is the most interesting thing in the world. Moxie looks at Oaktuft, who looks like he was just viciously insulted.

"Are we old, Newtkit?" Oaktuft whispers, a single tear leaking from his eye.

"Yeah," Newtkit loudly says. "You should retire so you stop complaining about your bones hurting after patrols."

Oaktuft frowns. "Oh."

"I suppose we are old," Moxie muses. "Thoughts on retiring?"

"I guess we can retire," Oaktuft says.

And that is the story of how Moxie and Oaktuft retire. Because their four moon kitten calls them old.

Jaggedstripe leaves the nursery.

Her kits are six moons old, so she's technically supposed to leave. Technically, they've been complaining they don't need her since they were four moons, but she stays regardless.

"I don't think I want to move," Jaggedstripe says.

"You could stay in the nursery," Stormsight says. "Nothing wrong with that."

"Newtkit will be an apprentice in hardly a moon," Jaggedstripe says. "There's no point in staying in the nursery if there are no kits to look after."

Silverbelly hums. "It's up to you."

And later that day, she sees Jaggedstripe carrying a small bundle of moss into the warrior's den and smiles.

"Inhale," she says.

Sillymoon takes one deep breath.

"Exhale." She hums as she listens, then steps away. "Everything sounds fine. Don't push too hard, Toro will show you the ropes."

"Thank you for your help," Sillymoon says. "I appreciate it."

"You're welcome," she says. "Stay safe."

Then, Jaggedstripe walks into the den, and drops Newtpaw at her feet. "She fell from a tree. She seems fine, but I just..."

Silverbelly nods, and noses through her fur. "Anything hurt?"

"No!" Newtpaw exclaims. "Everything's fine. I'm just sore."

There's one bruise blooming on Newtpaw's shoulder, but otherwise she looks fine.

"See?" Newtpaw turns to Jaggedstripe. "I told you I landed on the moss."

Jaggedstripe concedes, and nods.

"You," Silverbelly breathes. "You what?"

"I think I accidentally flirted with Wormshade?" Flyspots meekly says.

"Aw, he's all grown up," Applebranch teases.

"Momma!" He squeaks.

"My little baby is finally feeling things," Applebranch purrs. Flyspots ducks under her muzzle.

"You know what, forget I said anything," he declares. "Never talking to you about romance again. Maplethorn!"

"Why is he talking to Maple?" Applebranch gawks. "He's horrible at romance. He has never once felt anything for anyone."

"Maybe he's looking for a more realistic opinion?" Silverbelly blinks.

She's promptly interrupted by Wormshade bowling into her. "Hey, if I hypothetically wanted to be Flyspot's mate, would you kill me?"

Applebranch hums. "Depends on how fast you can run."

"Oh," he says, then slowly backs up. "Yeah, I'm gonna. Yeah."

"Stop scaring his future mate off," Silverbelly says. "They're cute."

Landslides are one of the common dangers of mountain life. They've happened before, it's easy to avoid them if you're in shape and out of the way and it's easy to hear them coming.

She digs frantically, paws churning at the mud. He needed to be here. She can't explain this to Lakelily.

A warm pelt brushes her, with the underlying coolness that says it belongs to the stars, and she stops.

One yellow limb pokes out of the mud, unmoving.

"Oh," Holly whispers. "I'm so sorry."

Silverbelly tucks her head into her paws and cries.

"I'm sorry," she blurts.

Lakelily stares at her. His eyes are dull, and his tail lays flat along his paws. "For?"

"Lichenstripe died," she hollowly says. "He got caught in a landslide. I'm so sorry."

Lakelily pauses, then stares up at the moon. "That's not your fault."

She watched the newly named Eveningstar climb the rock, and the conversation abruptly ends.

Pinefrost and Molesong become warriors.

Crowpaw stares at them from next to Mudsplash, who murmurs something to her. Crowpaw doesn't acknowledge the words.

Silverbelly continues to cheer for her kits, and makes a mental note to check on Crowpaw later.

"It looks pretty badass," Bluefern says.

"It does," Newtpaw agrees. "I look cool as fuck."

Silverbelly sighs.

"Check back with me later," she yells.

Goldenstar does not check back with her later. When she finds him, sleeping in his nest, she asks Celia to send him her way when he wakes up.

Predictably, he does not stop by. Celia says sorry, and she says it's okay, but she wishes her leader would take care of himself for once in his life.

"The verdict?" Evie asks.

He's a brand new, so dark brown he looks black in most lights, recruit to the clan. Also, he's sick, and hacks his lungs out every four minutes. When he is not doing that, he is winking at Bluefern when she passes by.

"Greencough," she says, then passes a leaf to Evie. "If you're going to cough out phlegm-"

"What's that?"

"-please cough it out on this so I can properly get rid of it."

"Okay," Evie says.

"Maybe I'll retire soon," Curly says. She flexes her tail, now scarred in a ring like way.

She hums. "If you'd like."

And she promptly ignores how shamelessly Evie is flirting with Bluefern and Newtscar, who are also flirting with eachother. She can't tell if it's a joke.

"Crowflame, did you know male torties are like, super rare?" Blizzardfang says.

Crowflame hums. Silverbelly feels the fur on her spine stand. Applebranch laughs.

One moon later, Evie has recovered.

"I wonder what Bluefern thinks about mates," he mumbles. Silverbelly can feel her jaw drop. Next to her, Jaggedstripe gawks.

"Silverbelly?" Goldenstar asks.

"Look who finally pays me a visit," she says. "What do you need?"

"Would it be betraying Morningbloom if I loved someone else?"

"Why do you ask?" She carefully studies his conflicted expression. "Oh my stars, it's Celia. You like Celia. Why?"

"He has a charming smile," Goldenstar mumbles. Silverbelly groans.

"But to answer your question," Silverbelly says. "I think Morningbloom would want you to be happy. If Celia makes you happy, she would want that for you."

"I know," Applebranch whispers, in a soothing voice. "I know, Silvie."

"I keep having the same damn dream," she whispers. "Since I was an apprentice."

She chokes out a sob, and Applebranch murmurs hollow words of comfort.

"What do you mean you thought we were already mates?"

Flyspots tilts over, a dumbstruck expression on his face. Wormshade looks enraged, but the way the fur on his face fluffs up says everything she needs to know.

Applebranch catches his eye, and Wormshade wilts.

She wakes up with fluffed fur and unsheathed claws, panting hard.

She stares at Stormsight, and it's like the vision has come crashing down at her. Those fucking rocks, tumbling down a cliff, a trail of blood pooling behind them.

Otterslip is on guard. "Where are you headed to?"

"The glow cave," she says. "I need to speak with Starclan."

Otterslip blinks at her, confusion filling his gaze. "Do you want an escort?"

"No," she breathes. "Not really."

He nods. "Okay. I'll tell everyone where you went."

And Silverbelly allows her paws to guide her east of the mountains, where the clouds block the moon and a faint drizzle accompanies the chilly air.

She passes a Cricketclan patrol, who nod at her, and she continues walking, and numbly stops at the glowcave.

"What does it mean?" She whispers, to nobody in particular. "What does it mean?"

She glares at the pool, snarling. "Oh, so now you don't want to talk to me. I haven't gotten a proper rest since before my first litter, and now you want to be quiet?"

She feels her hackles stand. "Fucking talk to me!"

A whisper climbs behind her, and she whips around to face it.

"Yeah, you think this shit is funny? I'm being haunted by three rocks and it's a silly game for you. Of course it is."

The spirit settles next to her, and opens its mouth. Then, it closes again, and materializes a stick in it's jaws.

She stares as it draws a shaky line in the wet clay. She watches a shaky v shape take form, and the spirit points behind her.

"What are you trying to tell me?" She pleads. "Show me what you want me too see."

The spirit raises one paw, ever so slightly lifts it, and points behind her, to the starry pool.

Silverbelly rolls her eyes and looks behind her. And she stops, hissing and snarling as she wheels backwards.

Three rocks. Dark brown with a darker line, a dull brown pebble with two curved lines, and a more ginger one with white spots.

"Tradition," the spirit whispers. "Like an heirloom, of sorts." And then she hears it fade away behind her, leaving Silverbelly alone in a cave with three rocks that mean something, but she doesn't know what.

-🍭

part one | part two

LOLLIPOP. I AM IN FUCKING SHAMBLES DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS FIC IS DOING TO ME. when applebranch called her Silvie i almost started crying actually. and i LOVE all the little nods to the characters that didn't do much in canon, like Lichenstripe and Holly,,, oughghghh. the little hints of bluenewtevie. oaktuft being a dumbass. the goldencelia. this fic is a fucking masterpiece and i love it so much

#i want to print it out and hang it on my wall #fallenasks #fallenfic #lollipop anon

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