#featherfrond

[canisalbus]

a hoe never gets lyme disease

.

[fallenclan]

Now I bend like a willow, thinking of you

‘Do you want to hear,’ Moxie says, ‘the story of Goldenstar?’

‘Yes, please!’ Mistykit tucks her paws under herself, rests her head on the end of the nest and blinks politely up at Moxie—the silver she-cat purrs, amused.

‘Isn’t he alive still?’ Sleepykit mews. Willowkit pushes him. 

‘Shut up! I wanna hear the story.’ She turns her face to Moxie. ‘Please?’

Moxie licks her forehead. ‘Sleepykit, Goldenstar founded this Clan. Aren’t you interested? Willowkit, it’s not nice to tell someone to shut up.’

‘Sorry Sleepykit…’ Willowkit grumbles, and he whisks his stubby tail, pleased. 

–

Willowkit can hear yowling. Bluefern curls around her and over her and Willowkit burrows into her mother and tries not to scent the fear emanating from Bluefern’s belly. 

‘What’s happening?’ Icekit whimpers. ‘Mama, I’m scared.’

‘It’ll be alright,’ Bluefern says. ‘I’ll protect you. Moxie and I won’t let anything bad happen to you.’

Toro, her silhouette black against the entrance to the nursery, makes a horrible, cut-off gasp, and Willowkit huddles against her mama as cats pour into the camp, claws gleaming against the moonlight. 

Bluefern stands over her kits, fur bristling and a snarl on her lips, but it’s no use.

Willowkit squeezes her eyes tightly shut and tries to camouflage with the nest.

– 

‘Goldenstar was a kittypet’s kit. His mama was called Hera. He had two siblings, Nola and Cinnamon. Just like you, Mistykit.’

‘Not just like me!’ Mistykit hisses, her polite demeanor falling. ‘I had five siblings!’

Moxie blinks, as though trying to hold back tears. 

‘I know, lovely. Maybe Goldenstar had five as well.’ She pulls Mistykit close with one paw and licks the top of her head, and Willowkit stumbles closer as well, trying to get Moxie to notice her.

– 

Willowkit holds her breath, jumping from paw to paw nervously. Who would Goldenstar pick as her mentor? Someone nice, like Hailcrash? Or someone grumpy and mean like Wormshade? 

Sleepypaw blinks reassuringly at her from where he’s standing next to Newtscar. Willowkit takes a deep breath, sneaks a glance at Mistykit–paw! Mistypaw doesn’t seem like she cares at all! She’s too busy staring up in awe at Blizzardfang.

Wait! What if she gets Crowflame? He seems scary, but he was always nice to them… 

‘Willowkit,’ Goldenstar says gently. ‘Step forward. You are now six moons old, and it is time you were apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Willowpaw. Your mentor will be Henryclaw. I trust he will pass down all he knows to you.’

Henryclaw gapes at him. Goldenstar smiles slightly. Willowpaw starts hopping from paw to paw again. 

‘Henryclaw, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have shown yourself to be wise and insightful, and I expect you pass this onto Willowpaw.’

Willowpaw stretches up to touch noses with the grey tom. He grins at her.

‘You’ll do great.’

– 

‘But when Goldenstar wasn’t much older than you, he got separated from his mother and siblings. Seeing as he couldn’t track them down, he wandered around lost for a while.’ 

Moxie tugs them all closer with her tail, and Willowkit watches Rowankit roll over and over until she’s pressed against her mother’s side. 

‘He finally ended up in the mountains. And there, he met Scorchstar.’ 

–

Willowpaw follows Henryclaw up the summit of the mountain, trying her best not to pant. She doesn’t want him to think her weak.

But he stops with a playful huff. 

‘Willowpaw, what can you see?’

‘… A forest.’

‘In the forest?’

‘… Leaves?’

He purrs. ‘What else?’

‘Twigs. Trees. Rocks?’ She looks sidelong at him, trying to work out what the right answer is.

Henryclaw curls his tail, delighted. ‘Yes. What can you smell?’

Willowpaw takes a massive sniff of the cold mountain air. 

‘Moss. I think that’s mouse? Birds – Oh! I can smell Mama!’

Henryclaw pokes her with his tail. ‘How long ago do you think she was here?’

‘A while ago… because her scent is stale?’

‘Good. Could you follow her track? I’ll be behind you the whole time. Or… we could see who can find her first.’

Willowpaw’s tail shoots up. ‘Yes! Loser has to clean out the elder’s den!’

He laughs from his chest. ‘Go on then. I’ll give you a headstart.’

–

‘This could have been the end of Goldenstar, if he weren’t so lucky as to run into Scorchstar just as the sun was setting. A badger could have snapped’ and she lunges at Mistykit, rolling her over –’at him, or maybe a fox might have’ Moxie grabs Willowkit by the scruff, and drags her along the ground as she giggles, ‘dragged him away, or perhaps a dog might have grabbed him and taken him home to its twoleg,’ Moxie wraps Rowankit in her tail, ‘but they didn’t. Scorchstar found him instead.’ 

Sleepykit droops slightly. 

‘She brought him home to FallenClan, and she asked him if he’d like to stay. Goldenstar thought of the badgers and the foxes and the dogs, and said yes.’

–

Willowpaw flattens herself to the ground, trying desperately to keep her tail still. The blackbird caws and hops forward a few steps. 

Willowpaw takes a careful step towards it, checking to ensure that she wouldn’t land on any twigs, and tries to surrepitiously glance around for Henryclaw.

She rolls a stone beneath her paw. Carefully, just like Windripple in The Witch Hare, she tosses a pawful of stones to the other side of the clearing, where they rustle the grass as they fall. The bird turns its head, ruffling its wings for flight. 

Willowpaw stalks closer, closer. As the bird stretches out its wings, she pounces, cracking its neck with a satisfying crunch.

‘Was that good enough for you?’ Willowpaw calls out, tail whisking into the air.

Henryclaw drops from a nearby tree, his tail high.

‘Yes.’ As they turn to go, he twitches his ear. ‘Was that manoeuvre from The Witch Hare?’

‘…Maybe so.’ 

– 

‘There were only three in FallenClan then. Scorchstar, her mate Nettlestem, Wildfang, and Oaktuft. But they welcomed little Goldenstar as if he were their own kitten. And not even a moon later, Sunwish joined the Clan. ’

‘So is that it? Is that the end of the story?’ Sleepykit says, amber eyes wide. 

‘He’s not even leader yet, dummy!’ Willowkit yelps. He growls, stubby tail lashing. Moxie purrs soothingly. 

‘Willowkit, that isn’t very nice. If you can’t listen quietly you can’t listen at all. Sleepykit, it’s not the end of the story. Let me finish.’ They lie begrudgingly against Moxie’s side, glaring at each other, as she continues.

‘Maybe Scorchstar saw something leader-like in little Goldenstar, for she mentored him herself. He was a good, willing pupil, and he took everything she said to heart. He learned fast, and before long he was a warrior.’

–

‘I, Goldenstar, leader of FallenClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn.’ 

‘Henryclaw, has Willowpaw learned the skills of a warrior? Does she understand the importance of the warrior code?’

‘She does.’ Henryclaw’s eyes are welling with pride and Willowpaw has to turn her gaze away.

‘Willowpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?’

Willowpaw feels her heart rise in her chest. ‘I do.’

‘Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Willowpaw, from this day onwards, you will be known as Willowsplash. StarClan honors your playful nature and your skill in telling stories, and we welcome you as a full warrior of FallenClan.’

He jumps from the rock and rests his muzzle on her head. She licked his shoulder, listening to her Clan call her name. She raises her head and joins in. StarClan, she wishes Moxie were here.

‘Sleepycloud! Mistyfish! Rowanleaf! Willowsplash!’

–

‘When Goldenstar was just a few months into his apprenticeship, another cat, just 5 moons older than him, joined the Clan. Her name was Morningpaw.’

–

Sleepycloud blinks earnestly at them all. ‘Isn’t Ivybounce the prettiest cat you’ve ever seen?’

‘Not really.’ Mistyfish offers. Sleepycloud rolls his eyes.

‘Just because you’ve got no taste–’

‘Go talk to her!’ Willowsplash offers. ‘I’ll tell your future kits this story.’

‘Fuck off,’ Sleepycloud says, but he’s already rising to his paws and trailing up to the ginger and white molly.

Ten moons later, and Ivybounce is expecting their kits. 

Willowsplash loves being right.

–

‘Even though Goldenstar loved Morningbloom, he couldn’t muster the strength to tell her, especially after she broke her back.’

‘Why not?’ Rowankit volunteers.

‘He was scared that if he told her, she’d die before they could do anything about it.’

–

Mistyfish coughs wetly. Silverbelly hovers between them, before stepping out of the way with her head low.

‘Don’t get too close. Greencough is very contagious.’

Bluefern clenches her jaw. Willowsplash rests her head on her mother’s shoulder, trying not to sob.

She is doomed to lose all of them.

Mistyfish blinks up at them.

‘Mama,’ she whispers, her voice scratchy. ‘Do you remember the stories you used to tell me in the nursery?’

‘I… Of course, Misty. Do you want me to tell you one?’

Mistyfish nods. She tucks her paws under herself, rests her head on the end of the nest. She blinks up at Bluefern unevenly.

‘Which one?’

‘The Witch Hare,’ Mistyfish whispers, and the five cats huddled silently in the medicine den listen to the tears in Bluefern’s voice and try not to think about how Silverbelly said this was the end.

–

‘Did Morningbloom die?’ Mistykit says, her voice trembling. ‘Is that why she isn’t in the Clan anymore?’

Moxie nuzzles Mistykit.

‘She didn’t die then. She healed perfectly, and Goldenstar was so relieved that he confessed to her immediately.’ She tugs the kits a little closer. ‘She reciprocated, and they became mates.’

–

‘Hi.’ 

Willowsplash opens one eye, rolling over on the rock. The sun had been especially nice thus far, and now a cat was blocking her light. He was angular and tall, and he stood like he knew what to do with all his limbs, like he was confident in the space he took up. His eyes sparkled as he looked at her. ‘Who are you?’

‘My name is Bub. Can I join your Clan?’

‘You’d have to ask our leader, Golden– His name is Maplestar.’ He sits beside her, curls his tail around his paws. Willowsplash looked at him out of the corner of her eye. ‘What are you doing?’

‘Waiting for you. You don’t seem quite ready to leave yet.’

‘Hm.’ She flicked her tail. ‘You said your name was Bub?’

‘Indeed.’ He curled his tail against his side. Willowsplash couldn’t help a smile.

‘What do you do, Bub?’

‘All sorts. I used to run with a couple of other loners, but I got bored of that. I want some more excitement in my life. More stories to tell.’

Willowsplash hoists herself to her paws, feeling more alive than she had for days.

‘You tell stories? Good ones, right?’

‘I’d like to think so,’ he purrs. 

They talk until the moon rises and the sky turns black. Willowsplash wonders if her littermates are watching. She decides she doesn’t care.

–

‘Morningbloom and Goldenstar had kits not long after Goldenstar’s confession. They were very excited. Goldenstar thought it would be a big litter, while Morningbloom thought it would be a small litter. In the end, they were both right. They had three kits.’

‘Like Mama!’ Sleepykit mews. 

‘But Morningbloom didn’t survive her kitting. Goldenstar named them. Applebranch, Maplethorn, and Honeygleam.’ 

All four kittens look up at her with big, horrified eyes. 

Moxie rumbles a purr, curls around them. Willowkit lets herself be tumbled and her pelt ruffled as she cuddles against Moxie’s side. ‘It’s alright, lovelies. She’s up there right now, enjoying the vibrant forests and bright lands of StarClan.’

‘Didn’t Goldenstar miss her?’ Willowkit whispers. She can’t imagine if she’d never known Bluefern.

‘Of course he did!’ Moxie cries. ‘But she died long before you were born. He’ll always love her, but he has a life here.’

Willowkit pauses. ‘Was Applebranch a cute kit?’

Moxie purrs. ‘I’d like to think so. I never saw her as a kit. But you know who was the cutest kitten?’

‘Who?’

‘Your mama Newtscar.’

–

Bub trots into camp, tail high. For a moment, Willowsplash is so pleased to see her mate (her mate, over a year later and she can still call him hers) that she doesn’t notice the bundle he’s carrying in his jaws.

‘Willowsplash,’ he purrs. ‘I found a kit.’

‘You – what?’

‘Oh, Willowsplash, look at him. This is our only chance to be parents, Willow. And I’ve already named him…’ 

She looks at him. Bub is right, this is their only real chance to be parents. The kitten is small. He is fluffy and golden and he has piercing yellow and blue eyes. He opens his mouth to mew and she realises he is loud.

‘Alright.’ She steps closer to Bub and twines her tail with his. 

‘Thank you!’ He purrs. ‘Look, Sunnykit! This is your mama!’

The kitten topples over backwards trying to look at them.

Luckily for Willowsplash, two moons later she can bring back Sunnykit’s sister and repeat the whole rigmarole. 

Petalkit and Sunnykit are beside themselves at being reunited, and Willowsplash can settle into Bub and watch their kits play.

One day they will be Petalslip and Sunnytuft, and she will love them with all the ferocity and strength of Bluefern telling nursery stories to her dying kit.

–

‘After Scorchstar was killed by dogs, Goldenstar led the Clan into a new age of prosperity.’ Moxie says. ‘He’s much kinder to outsiders than she was. That’s how we came to be so big.’

‘Cool,’ Sleepykit breathes. Then he turns to Rowankit. ‘Let’s go play Goldenstar!’

She chases him out of the nursery. Mistykit dithers for a moment, and then runs after them, yowling “wait for me!”

Moxie watches them with a purr. 

‘Not following them out, Willowkit?’

‘No… Moxie, can I tell you a story?’

‘You can tell me anything. What’s your story about?’

‘The Witch Hare. Henryclaw taught it to me the other day.’ 

Moxie tucks her paws under herself, and rests her head on the edge of her nest. ‘Go on, then.’

–

So many cats have left Willowsplash now.

Her mothers, her brother – StarClan, so many brothers, even Moxie is gone now.

Her younger relatives, the children of so many dead siblings, don’t quite look her in the eye. 

But Bub is here

Sunnytuft and Petalslip are growing up, and her litter-brother’s kits are adults with their own set of problems.

Generations stretch out before her. The deafness was a mercy, really. Bub knows she can’t stand the sound of dogs barking, or cats calling too loudly. When she started to lose her hearing they started to develop a language of ears and whiskers and tails.

Maybe she can’t tell them stories of Goldenstar and Maplestar and Cherrystar with her voice as well anymore. 

But she’ll tell them everything with her paws.

(beetle note: AUHGHHHH THIS IS SO GOOD.... had me rolling on the floor weeping and crying i love it so much <333 the little bits of character added to everyone, the background relationships, the exploration of willowsplash,,, such an underrated character, you did her fantastically)

[spiribia]

is it really possible for a dog knight to be in love with a bunny princess ?

i love ur little animals :)

AWWWWWWWW!!!!! :3 THANK YOU SO MUCH

[yuridovewing]

your headcanon s for squirrelflight or leafpool for the ych!!

i'm bisexual and trans intersex.... and i'm lesbian and nonbinary. and together we are........

was pretty fun to update these older designs :3 (dear lord why'd I put so much white on squilf....)

[felis-artis]

ashfoot character profile 👀👀👀👀

Dilute chocolate (lilac) classic tabby-tortoiseshell.

Ashfoot of the Vigil of Wind, a gifted storyteller and a valiant fighter. She leans more towards the centralist ideals in the first arc, but upon her death in the third arc, she's more left-leaning due to her son's whole... Thing. Ashfoot is the only child of Palefoot and Wrenflight, making her the half-niece of Breezestar. She takes a mate in Deadfoot, formerly Hopeshadow, and they have two litters of one. Gorsepaw and Blackbirdfeather.

Ashfoot is born during the Holy war between the Vigil of Shadows and the Vigil of Wind. The war itself was over the Seer position's validity and the land surrounding the Mooneye. Ashfoot was born when the war was cooling down.

She was mentored by Cloudrunner, a cat considered the best artisan for war tools and fighting technology. She gained an appreciation for the crafts of war by training alongside him.

She became a warrior just before the largest battle of the war, which ended up killing Palefoot and heavily injuring Hopeshadow. Hopeshadow takes an honor title soon after because of his bravery during the battle, defending Sagewhisker well. Ashfoot courts him during his healing and after, and they become mates soon after.

Her secondary education specialized in the written arts. She apprenticed under Breezestar, a great honor.

It was just after she completed her secondary training that she realized she was pregnant. Barkface had come up to her after she had presented her final to the clan, asking if she should have been doing that while pregnant.

The final straw is broken in the inter-vigil tensions, and the Vigil of Wind is driven to exile by Brokenstar's battalions. Ashfoot gives birth to Gorsekit during the exile, and feels an immense guilt about it.

That's all I have on her so far, but I'm excited to really flesh out the Vigil of Wind and their members!! very fun :)

[clangenrising]

OCTOBER FEATURED FOLLOWER POST!

After a break for September, Featured Follower is back. Congrats to this month's featured follower, @featherfrond! They are so sweet and kind, a consistent face in my notes. They've said that they check this blog almost every day and Wow! What a compliment!

The character they asked me to highlight is Oak, a character from their blog @feliniakattus. She was described to me as a 'wretched miserable angry woman with problems' and wow I'm in love. And on top of that she's absolutely gorgeous. <3

Next month I'll pick another follower! I'll be trying to pick people who reblog and comment so if you're interested in being considered, that's the way to get my attention. Please do not message me or ask to be featured.

Also! I hit 1000 followers this month!

WOW! Thank you guys so much! That's absolutely wild to me. When I started this blog in March I never could have imagined how much support it would receive. I'm really excited for the plot stuff coming up and I'm so glad I get to share it with all of you. I wouldn't be able to do this without all of you expressing interest in my work, so thank you all!

[amethyst-halo]

willow guild pretty boy

[iamfabiloz]

could you draw squirrelflight or leafpool?

my babies

sisters!! beloveds :] their very sweet! i dont really have a concrete squilf design so i just defaulted to this lolol! i hope u like it <3