#grousestar

[ascentclan]

You find yourself walking the stars of Silverpelt, a ghostly landscape surrounding you and a single, starry cat sitting within a clearing. The cat approaches you, stars glittering in their dark fur as if they were made of Silverpelt itself. You don't recognize them, but this meeting… it feels like a reunion with an old friend somehow.

"My name is Flitsky." The cats ethereal-looking green eyes crinkled with the gentle smile they gave you. "You meet me tonight, but the cats under your care will all meet me one day when they join the stars. For now," they press their nose to your forehead, "Take this gift, to help you see the dawn behind the darkness."

The mist at the edge of the clearing takes shape. Dozens of starry spirits emerge, quickly surrounding you. "We grant you your remaining 8 lives. Use them well with our blessing." You awake, your new name echoing in your ears. Grousestar.

[ascentclan]

"Sable's scent joins with another here. It leads past the border." The healer's tone was matter-of-fact as he led Grousestar to the edge of the territory. He had insisted once he'd caught the deputy's scent on his own solo patrol to gather herbs in preparation for the encroaching leaf-bare. "I'm not familiar with that scent…" One of Cliffpelt's long ears flicked in annoyance at the obvious statement. "Yes, another loner perhaps. A molly for sure by the smell of it." He kept his tone even, waiting for her to figure it out. "Do you think he might've been attacked?"

Cliffpelt's head twisted towards his leader, wondering if she was actually stupid or simply in denial. "No, Grousestar," he said through bared teeth. "He walked off the territory if anything. He. Left. Of his own volition." He put emphasis on each word hoping their meaning burrowed into her skull. The gray and white molly's expression faded into something sadder, more tired. "So.. You're saying…" "Great Starclan, beat around the bush further won't you?" he allowed some venom to seep into his voice. "Sable left. With another cat. A loner. Over his own clan, you feather-brain."

A heavily silence settled between the two for several heartbeats before Grousestar spoke in a quiet voice. "You think its my fault.... don't you?" "Sable leaving? No." "I don't blame a cat who has no ties to a clan he joined on a whim. And you can do little to control the free will of a cat who's lived in solitude for most of their life. Only a fool would think like that." Cliffpelt hefted a sigh, tired blue eyes closing in thought, brow furrowed. "I do blame you for making him deputy. The clan is worse off because of your judgement. And we will need to make up for it."

"You. Will need to make up for it." Grousestar didn't bite back like she often did this time and Cliffpelt realized she was seriously considering his words for a moment. He gave her a look and turned away from her, trudging along the border, as he resumed his search for herbs deciding to let the leader stew in her thoughts. He didn't need another set of paws to find what he was looking for anyway.

[ascentclan]

Weevilfleck had become more and more prone to wandering as the clan settled more into their home. Grousestar hardly could stop the old tom. She had dragged him into this after all, but the elder hardly seemed bothered by it. Yet it was hard for her to not notice how restless he sometimes was. No cat could've predicted that the former deputy would return from one of his wanderings with a kit in tow. The elder looked almost sheepish as stepped into camp with the oddly quiet bundle of fur being held gingerly by his scruff.

"Weevil, what-?" Grousestar was equal parts confused and concerned. "Who's this lil' guy?" Sable purred as he peered down at the little brown spotted kit whom glanced around the cavern with wide eyes, shuffling closer to Weevilfleck's leg to escape prying eyes.

"Kestrelkit," Weevilfleck answered, a proud purr rumbling in his chest. "He's mine." "Where is his mother?" Cliffpelt pressed, voice detached and cold as he stepped from his spot at the healer's den. "You can't just disappear and then bring a kit here with no explanation." "Cliffpelt." Grousestar bristled, her tail lashed as her green eyes met Cliffpelt's icy gaze. "Weevil doesn't owe us an explanation."

"We need more warriors. Not more mouths to feed." "And what makes you an expert?" "E-Enough. Does it really matter?" Sable stepped between the two, voice wavering. The tension between the leader and the healer could've been cut with an unsheathed claw. Weevilfleck was silent at the confrontation, tail curling around Kestrelkit protectively. "A kitten will hardly upset the balance here and Kestrel will learn well to help the clan as he ages." The old tom bent down and licked the top of the small kit's head. Cliffpelt's eyes narrowed, but he was silent, turning away and stalking back to the healer's den.

[ascentclan]

It had only been a moon or two since Grousestar and Weevilfleck had found a loner willing to join AscentClan's ranks. Rather eagerly as well. He went by the name Sable and that was the name their newly joined warrior kept. It was nice to have an extra set of paws to patrol their newly set borders.

Yet the grey and white molly was still troubled. Weevil was slowing down considerably. The tom was old and should've retired long ago.

It was… selfish of her to push the duty of her right paw onto him. They'd barely spent a second moon on the mountain before he approached her about retiring. The journey here had been tedious and strenuous for both of them, especially so for the elder.

As the sun rose on the third moon Grousestar announced to her small clan, rather reluctantly, that Sable would be appointed as AscentClan's new deputy.

_____________________________________________________________

"Are you sure about this?" The normally outgoing warrior looked apprehensive for once as he questioned his leader.

"Weevilfleck is getting old. The clan cannot be without a deputy," she decided to be blunt with the younger tom. "No cat here is fit to be deputy. But there is no other cat than you."

The emotion in Sable's eyes was unreadable, but he didn't argue further simply dipping his head towards the molly as she retired to her den.

[ascentclan]

"Grouse we're a lil' too old to be startin' a clan, don't you think?" "Flitsky couldn't have been wrong. And I can't be wrong choosing the cat I trust the most as my right paw." The spotted tom frowned at his old friend. "Don't know how qualified for the job I am, but surely you want a younger cat?" Weevilfleck pointedly glanced at Cliffpelt, a brown tom younger than both of them whom had been chosen as the healer of their newfound clan. "No." The answer was firm, unwavering. "He will stay in his role. I don't know him as well as I do you."

Cliffpelt's eyes were on them now as he organized bundles of herbs he'd brought with them to their new home. His tail flicked anxiously as he watched them discuss in… not so hushed tones.

His role… Right. He tried to bite down on the bitterness he felt. Two old badgers who didn't know what they were doing, but he supposed as a healer he didn't know how to run a clan any better.

[ascentclan]

Leader of AscentClan, a group that has made their home among the caverns carved into the mountains.

[destinyclan]

Clan Founder - Grousestar

Name: Grousestar Former Names: Grousekit (Kitten), Grousepaw (Apprentice), Grouseflood (Warrior) Age: 70 Moons Fur Length: Short Pelt: Sokoke Eyes: Sunlit Ice Gender: Female Trait: Fierce Skills: Omen Sight & Great Speaker