How is everyone doingâAre the herb stores and fresh kill pile enough for everyoneâI have a cat that would love to help :] their name is SkyRiver, they're a pale gray/brown mottled short-haired she-cat with pale blue eyes :>
Theyâre alive!!!
Also sorry if your oc is inaccurate i donât visualize text well
Part 2 here
(^ explains the hiatus + just wasnât sure if it was right to put it in the ask)
After the rogue attack, Beaverspots has a chat with the stranger who saved him. Bluff is now recovering in ChimeClan.
Beaverspots and Brushnibble are unable to patrol for the next moon.
==========================
As Beaverspotsâ consciousness stirred, the scent of herbs and cold night air finally hit him. He slowly opened his eyesâ well, one good eye. The other was wrapped in cobwebs and poultice.Â
In the patientsâ nests nearby, two other cats were curled up. Brushnibble was asleep, while a gray tabby, the same one who helped fight off the rogues, was staring at the denâs exit.
âEy, sleepyhead,â The stranger meowed when he realized the warrior was awake. âFeelinâ better?â
âWell,â Beaverspots glanced at his back leg. It was also covered in herbs. âNot dead, thanks to you. What are you doing here?â
âEh, got badly hurt too.â He raised his front leg. âYer leader and Wanstreaks got me patched up.âÂ
âYou mean Streak - swan.â
âEr, yeah. Streakswan,â He dipped his head in apology. âSorry, whatâs a swan?â
âYou donât know?â Beaverspots tipped his head curiously. âWell, what about ducks? Swans are like them, but white and have long necks. Theyâre from our old territory.â
ââŠHave ye got a weird animal name too?â
âTheyâre not weird,â The warrior sighed. âBut my name is Beaverspots.â
The stranger looked at him expectantly.
ââŠTheyâre brown, like my pelt, and they eat trees to build dams over rivers.â
âNow, how do I know you arenât pulling my leg?â The stranger paused, looking at his front paw. âOr whatâs left of it anyway.â
âI canât exactly show you,â He meowed with a tinge of regret.Â
While he didnât mind explaining, it was still strange to meet someone who may never even knew an ounce of their old home. Someone who didnât know of the strange birds, or the soft rocks by the river. Someone whoâd never meet his precious clanmates, now gone.
But theyâre all still here somehow. He fondly remembered his visit to the Moon Falls. The lecture from his first mentor for being a handful. The pride and love behind the licks his mothers gave. The attempts of his littermates to tackle him (they never got past 4 moons). All those moments⊠Until the moon could no longer light the crystal.
âEr, right. I forgot to tell ye my name,â The stranger, finally sensing the awkward silence, meowed. âSorry âbout that. Itâs Bluff.â
Bluff? Like a lie? Beaverspots tipped his head. So much for saying my nameâs weird.
But heâd say that for another timeâ he had a more important question.
âWell, Bluff,â Beaverspots meowed. âDid you know those cats?â
âThe rogues who ambushed ye?â Bluff meowed. âNay, but Iâve seen âem around the area for a while now. I jumped in because...â
âBecause?â Beaverspots prompted him.
Bluff paused, then the young tomâs voice grew serious. âYe remember that whole speech before the skirmish?âÂ
The warrior furrowed his brow as he recalled the exchange. The rogues accused them of taking their territory.
âWhat about it?â
âThose cats claim territory for fun,â Bluffâs blue eyes narrowed. âThey never eat prey, only take trinkets.â
âNow, Iâm a wandererâ never had a territory of my own,â He continued. âBut to disrespect the cats who need it to survive? Never liked it.â
âSo youâve been following themâ wait.â Beaverspots frowned. âHow long have you been on our territory!?â
âErâŠâ Bluff smiled sheepishly. âLike I said, Iâm a wanderer. I go wherever, even if ye clan cats have borders. Of course, I try not to take much, unlike those rogues.â
âStill,â The warrior sighed. âIf prey wasnât so plentiful, thatâd be a problem.â
âEy, donât get yer fur in a tangle. I did save yer life, eh?â
âI guess.â
âDonât worry,â Bluff dipped his head. âOnce my leg works, Iâll be out of yer clanâs fur.â
Beaverspots nodded, and his mind slipped into thinking again. How many trespassing cats have they missed?Â
Our clanâs still small, so of course we canât cover ever bit of territoryâŠ
He glanced at Bluff. He noted the muscles within his pelt and the scar along his eye.
âSo why are you a wanderer? Isnât it hard?â
âEh?â Bluff blinked in surprise. âEr, it isnât too hard. Sure, Iâve got no place to call home but⊠I like it that way.â
Bluff looked around the den. Crystals dotted the walls, and herbs were neatly stored along stone shelves. Meanwhile, Brushnibble and Streakswan were still fast asleep.
âThereâs many things to see in this world. All sorts of cats to meet. Ye see, Iâve been to a cave like this once, but the rocks donât glow. The fish and worms do. Though I wouldnât recommend eating âem. Taste too funny.â
âBut, er, it does get lonely sometimes,â He admitted. âMaybe thatâs why I talk too much.â
âWell, I thought that was interesting.â Beaverspots meowed. âWe never had any glowing fish in our old home, or found any here.â
âHeh,â Bluff seemed to enjoy the attention.
âStill, Iâm surprised youâve never seen a swan!â
âEy, give me a break,â Bluff laughed. âMaybe I did, but I donât bring a tour guide along.â
They stopped as a cat stirred in a nest. It was Brushnibble.
She yawned. At her spot near the denâs exit, the first rays of dawn were starting to show. She looked at them in surprise. âHold on, have you two even slept?â
âEh?â
âItâs already morning?â
âGreat StarClan.â
âWell, in our defense,â Beaverspots meowed. âI was asleep for most of the day.â
âAye, me too.â
âNo, I found you awake already!â
âNay. A lie.â
Brushnibble sighed and curled deeper into her nest. In her sleep, her dreams were already filled with their voices. If she had to listen more, sheâd go insane!
Note: these images are a different style / a bit lower quality because I was going to animate the fight! But then it's taking too much time and... I wanna get to more kitty drama sooo I'll just link the animation eventually.
After finding traces of trespassing rogues, Beaverspots rushes to find them. He and Brushnibble are ambushed!
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âSo now theyâre taking our prey!?â Beaverspots hissed after Brushnibble shared the news. âThen what are we waiting for? We need to get rid of them!â
âYou should know better than to rush into battle,â Beetail, his former mentor, scolded him. âWe donât know how many there are, and itâs best we get Windstar.â
âBut heâs still out helping Streakswan,â The young tom lashed his tail near the campâs exit. âWeâre all good fighters, and with four of us, the number of rogues doesnât matter!â
âUhm, three,â Badgerpaw timidly raised his paw. âI donât have battle training yetâŠâ
âStill! Three warriors!âÂ
âWe donât even know where they are, Beaverspots,â Brushnibble meowed.
âYou said they smelled like kittypets,â He looked outside. âThen of course, weâll start near the twoleg place.â
âItâs not that simpleââ
âWell, Iâm going either way!â He snapped. âItâs better than doing nothing and only finding more traces of them.â
He leapt out the exit, and the cats sighed.
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âYou think Iâll let you go alone?â Brushnibble hissed after catching up to him. He was a fast runner, sheâll give him that.
âOf course not,â He purred, then looked at the ground. âLook, paw prints. Do they smell like the rogues?â
â...Yes. Still fresh.â
He scanned the tall grass. They must be nearby.Â
Finally, after all the reports weâve gotten. Windstar believed they were just passing by, but after that stunt⊠Who knows what theyâre up to!
He paused as his blue eyes met green eyes, hiding in the grass.
âThereââ He yowled as sharp claws dug into his back, and the force sent both cats tumbling forward.
He kicked off his attacker and swiped at them. As the cat backed away, he turned to Brushnibble. She had dodged another rogueâs attack, and slammed him right into the ground.
Five more figures emerged from the grass, leaving the two warriors surrounded.
âThere you are,â The rogue leader hissed. He had a brown marbled pelt, and a green collar that matched his eyes. âYou lowlifes took our territory!âÂ
âYour territory?!â Beaverspots yowled. âYou werenât even here when we arrived!â
âEver heard of a vacation?â Another cat scoffed. Her cream pelt wasnât as shiny, but she did have prey bones affixed to her collar. âWe leave to visit Nancyâs for a few weeks, and a bunch of cats have pissed on the lawn!â
âWhatâ Hold on,â Brushnibble meowed. âIf you wish to make any claims on the territory, you can speak to Windstaââ
âIâm not here for negotiations!â The leader hissed. âIâm here to send a message. Youâre the youngest cats in that group, right?â
A black burly cat stepped closer. His amber eyes raged like fire.
âYour pelts are going on our list of trophies.â
Beaverspots leapt aside as the tom slammed his paws onto the ground, but he hissed as another cat bit down into his back leg. He kicked himself free, and came face to face with the same green eyes from earlier.
âYour threats mean nothing!â Beaverspots leapt straight at the leader, who screeched as the warrior dug his claws into his shoulder.Â
Before Beaverspots could subdue him, claws tore into his pelt. He tasted both dirt and blood when he realized the leader was on him instead.
He struggled against the cats holding him down. Through his uninjured eye, he watched as Brushnibble shook two cats off her. She tried to run to Beaverspots, but another two blocked her path.
I canât die, I canât dieâ
âNot very tough, are you?â The leader raised a paw, claws ready to slash his stomach.
A blur of gray knocked the rogue off him. With a yowl, Beaverspots twisted and slashed the other cat holding on him.
As he stood and shook off the hazy feeling in his eye and leg, he found that the stranger had already killed one of the rogues. On the other side, Brushnibble had driven out two more.
âTch, youâ Hey!â The leader yowled. Shaken by their losses, the rogues had started to scatter. âWhere are you going?!â
âI suggest ye join them,â The gray tabby growled.
âTch!âÂ
He fled as Brushnibble and the stranger stepped closer.
âYeah! Get out of here!â Beaverspots meowed. Though he tried to smile, things suddenly grew blurrier, and he couldnât stand anymore. âGood thing⊠You......â
Badgerpaw is apprenticed to Brushnibble, but he doubts if this is the right path for him. On their first hunt, they find abandoned prey.
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Badgerpaw trailed behind his mentor. How was his first day as an apprentice? He was as excited as any other kit. New things to do, new things to seeâŠÂ
But he was just so, so bad at this!
First, it started with the night before. Windstar suggested heâd try sleeping in his new nest before his ceremony. The kit completely expected the nursery and apprentice dens to be different butâŠÂ
StarClan, Badgerpaw didnât know why it bothered him so much. The sound echoed differently. The air felt colder.
If only he could run back to the nurseryâ or even the herb storage! But he had to be strong. He was almost an apprentice, and he didnât want to disappoint Windstar.
Unfortunately, the lack of sleep made things worse. He knew that at the final act of a ceremony, cats would cheer the new name of their clanmate. Heâs even heard it from inside the nursery.
But standing in the middle of the clearing, surrounded by everyoneâ It was much, much louder than he prepared for.Â
Did Beaverspots or Brushnibble feel that way before?Â
But he remembered that when he scampered out and congratulated them, both looked much prouder, more energized than ever.
âŠMaybe not.
And now, there was a single prey hanging from his jaws. Scrawny. Messily killed. It paled in comparison to Brushnibbleâs three catches.
He almost wanted to collapse, all his energy drained.
âDonât worry, Badgerpaw,â Brushnibble meowed gently. âIt really does take time to master a skill. Tomorrow, I have a plan to help.â
No, no, I sounded too nervous. He silently cursed at himself. Brushnibbleâs being so nice, I need to get my head together!
"Ah..." Brushnibble hesitated, clearly showing more hunting was, indeed, her original idea.
âItâs... Just... Moss gathering!â She reassured him. âSimple but it helps a ton. Trust me!â
Badgerpaw's ears fell.
"Sorry, Brushnibble," He meowed. "You don't have to keep adjusting for me..."
"Whaaaat? What adjusting? Haha..."
Even for someone as oblivious as Badgerpaw, it was painfully obvious.
"Okay, okay..."
"But it's my job as a mentor to teach you in the best way possible," She smiled at him. "Sure, maybe Beetail would disagree... But if you hadn't said anything, I never would've thought of using moss. I forgot that father... had me cut moss first. It really trains your control over your claw muscles."
"So it's not adjusting. Just improving the training plan I have," She meowed. "After all, I'd want to continue being a mentor once you've graduated."
Badgerpaw nodded, a little more at ease. It was nice to know how Brushnibble started, but he also added a mental note on the new moss-usage he learned of.
âMoss does help the clan,â His ears perked up slightly. âSo other than bedding, fixing broken bones, and stopping bleeding... It's now for training, too.â
âYes!â Brushnibble gave him a strange look, but her smile didn't falter. âItâs still something important like hunting.â
However, the wind shifted, and the two cats stopped in their tracks. A strange scent was in the air. Some prey was left behind, but by whom?
âStay behind me,â Brushnibble meowed gently as they approached. It didnât smell like a fox nor dogâŠ
In the grass, all they found was a mauled body of a rabbit. There were clear signs the creature struggled, with its various wounds and terrified gaze. Its chest had been sliced open, only possible with the precision of a catâs claws.Â
It looks like my catch, Badgerpaw shivered. Is this like one of my dreams? Did I do something wrong?Â
ââŠRogues,â Brushnibble lashed her tail after inspecting the corpse. âWho does this without bothering to eat..?â
The wind once again shifted direction.
âTheyâre not here,â Brushnibble nudged her apprentice. âWe should go before they come.â
âAre we not going to stop them?â Badgerpaw asked in confusion. Was his first patrol ending so early?
âWeâll need more cats for that. Beaverspots and Beetail should be back by now.â
The white tabbyâs tail twitched. She wasnât always this energetic⊠But who couldnât be? Windstar had decreed that every new warrior and apprentice would visitâ
The Moon Falls! Brushnibble padded beside her aunt. Will I get to see Morningray? Maybe even Hawkwhisper?
âNow, try not to fall into the water,â Nightsplash swished her tail to slow her down.
âAh, sorry, sorryâŠâ The young warrior ducked her head. âI just want to see them⊠Badgerpaâ Badgerspots, do you think youâll see your old mentor?â
âOf course,â He hauled himself up the slope. âShe died a noble death. She deserves to hunt in StarClan.â
âDonât get your hopes too high,â Beetail meowed. âThe main question isnât whether theyâre in StarClan or not. Itâs whether you even meet them.â
âWhat?â Both former apprentices stared at the senior.Â
âWindstar decreed this ceremony because it was something you did from the old clans, didnât he?â Brushnibble tipped her head.
âWhen I became a warrior, the Moon Well did nothing for me.â
Would my parents not want to see meâŠ? Brushnibbleâs ears and tail fell.
âBut that was the old StarClan,â Nightsplash quickly said. âMaybe ours are more, you know, lax about who sees who.â
âNow come on!â She pointed her muzzle up the slope. âWe should be there by Moonhigh.â
They reached the crystal in time. Under the quarter moon, everything softly glowed, and the chime from the crystals sang alongside Brushnibbleâs heart.Â
Please let me see them⊠Please let me see them!
The new warriors closed their eyes and touched their noses to the crystal.
âBrushpaw?âÂ
She opened her eyes.
Before her stood two cats. The gray she-cat was large, with a fluffy striped pelt. The other was a white tom with sleek fur and black splotches.
âI-Itâs you!â She bounded up to Morningray. âFather!â
She dug her muzzle into his fur. The scent brought her back to her days as a kit; the times she fell asleep listening to his stories, or when she played mossball with him and Nightsplash.Â
Although her ceremony happened after the clanâs destruction, she remembered his proud yowl for her new name. All the times he purred when she showed him the prey she brought back. All the times he fiercely protected her during the journey.Â
âBrushpaw!â He purred and licked her forehead. âOr should I say Brushnibble? Made a warrior so early!â
âIâve missed you so much,â She meowed softly. âI just⊠wish I could see you, everyday. Like back then.â
Most of her time was spent exploring the new territory, providing for the new clan. It was somethin she enjoyed without a doubt. But when the night fell and her paws were empty⊠The only feeling left wasâ
âHey,â He licked her forehead. âIâm still with you everyday. I saw you chase off that fox last moon!â
Itâs still not the same⊠She thought but simply nodded, sinking deeper into his pelt. After a few heartbeats, she slowly pulled away and turned to the other cat.
âAre you⊠Hawkwhisper?â
âYes itâs me, dear,â The tabby purred, and the two cats touched noses.
Just like Morningrayâs stories, her voice was as silky as the moonlight, and within her pelt was the strength that could drive out badgers. In her eyes shone all the love Brushnibble was never able to witness.
âI wish I couldâve been with you,â Hawkwhisper meowed. âOh, you were so tiny back then. I watched every pawstep you made. Now youâve grown into a fine warriorâ a wonderful fighter. I couldnât be prouder.â
âSee? You do take after your mother,â Morningray laughed.Â
âJust be sure to eat a bit more, dear,â She playfully swished a tail at Brushnibbleâs belly.Â
But Iâm not that thin! The young warrior licked her chest in embarrassment. âI just want everyone to have a good meal firstâŠâ
Her parents simply purred, and Brushnibbleâs ear flicked when she heard a cat from behind her.
âNightsplash!â Morningray bounded past Brushnibble and pounced on his sister.Â
âHey!â She playfully hissed. They rolled across the stardusted grass.Â
âOf course thatâs their idea of a reunion,â Hawkwhisperâs whiskers twitched in amusement.
Brushnibble knew the two siblings were partners in crime. Their uncanny coordination allowed them to hunt all sorts of prey (or prank all sorts of senior warriors). Most importantly, it was Nightsplash who raised her and pulled Morningray out of his grief.Â
âIâm glad youâre all happy here,â The young cat meowed softly.Â
In the safe haven of StarClan, they could be as carefree as kits. There was no sickness, no twolegs.
The two eventually ended their play fight, with Nightsplash as the victor.Â
âSo Hawkwhisper, how are you doing?â The deputy looked at the she-cat. Poor Morningray was still under her paw.
âLess sick, but the lack of fighting is awful. Not even a spirit fox to yell at,â She rolled her eyes but playfully cuffed Morningrayâs muzzle. âUnfortunately this rascal joined meâŠâ
âStop ganging up on me!â
âAnywayâŠâ Hawkwhisper looked at Nightsplash and Brushnibble. âHow are you two finding your new home?â
âThe crystals make the camp so pretty,â Brushnibble purred. âAnd it feels great to be out in the meadows. I never knew rabbit tasted so good.â
âItâs comfortable and safe,â Nightsplash nodded in agreement. âThough Windstar and I have been doing border patrols lately. There are some traces of rogues, but they havenât shown their faces yet.â
âAh, those guys. We could tell you more butâŠâ Hawkwhisper gave a nervous glance at Morningray. He simply flicked his tail.
âCome on, itâs nothing ChimeClan canât handle. I even think Brushnibble can fight off three at once.â
âFatherâŠâÂ
âHey, whereâs my vote of confidence?â Nightsplash meowed, taking the attention off her niece.
Morningray simply lifted his paws, showing nothing but air.
âYouââ Before she could bite back, her face fell as she noticed the moonâs position in the sky. Soon, the crystal would no longer be lit, and their reunion would end.
âHey,â Morningray wrapped his tail around her and pulled her close. Hawkwhisker guided Brushnibble closer, and both cats joined in.Â
âDo you remember what you once told me, Nightsplash?âÂ
Nightsplashâs whskers twitched. âThat as a kit youââ
âNo, no! Iâm being serious!â
â...That while it may not be the same,â Nightsplash finally meowed. âOur clanmates will be there for us.â
âAnd some day,â Brushnibble continued. âOur time apart will be nothing to our reunion ahead.â
âYes,â He purred. âWeâll always be here in StarClan, and perhaps those words are too simple⊠But I hope they comfort you the same way they did for me.âÂ
Morningray licked Brushnibbleâs forehead as Hawkwhisper curled a tail around her. The moon will soon fall out of view from the cavern, but she squeezed her eyes tight. Let her carry the memory of their warmth forever.