#leopardscut

[lightclans-story]

Moon 0, Part 1

Eskerhope didn’t know if this was a good idea, but she knew she had to leave.

Every day she spent in her den, managing the prey piles, and repairing the dens, she keeps hearing her clanmates talk about traitors that defy Starclan itself. It’s been the talk of gatherings, subjects of clan meetings, and even a cause of war.

She’s sick of it. The rumors of these so-called “traitors” existing might not even be true. She’s never even seen one, even though the others claim they’re extremely visible. Just the thought of them existing seems to be driving Zinniaclan mad, however… and if they’re being driven mad, she’s being driven mad.

That’s why she’s here now, searching the plains for anywhere suitable to live. The journey is quite exhausting… but her train of thought got interrupted by a booming voice from the nearby forests.

“Eskerhope! What are you doing out here alone? The plan was for all of us to go together! As a group!”

Eskerhope chuckled. “Where’s your apprentice then, Leopardscut?”

Silence. The long-furred tortie sat in silence before yelling for her apprentice, Eskerhope laughing at the thought for a whole 2 seconds…

Until she saw a hole that was too big to even fit a badger… crawling inside, she found a network of tunnels, along with several leaf nests, almost all of them growing mold. Clearly, this place used to belong to a larger community… but for some reason, it was abandoned…

Aside from all of that… She probably wouldn’t mind this place being her new home.

Eskerhope has joined the clan. (Eskerhope: A medium-furred tan and white she-cat)

The clan has encountered Leopardscut. (Leopardscut: A muscular long-furred orange and brown tortie she-cat)

[lightclans-story]

Moon 13, part 6

Tw: Animal injury, attempted murder

This is a pretty long part!

It was just a normal patrol. Leopardscut takes Cinnamonpuddle and Rimeheart to mark the borders and then they go back to camp. It’s easy. It’s SUPPOSED to easy. You may run into another clan or two, maybe all three, but keep calm and they won’t attack.

And to be fair, they didn’t attack, but there was a badger in the den that they still needed to address. Cinnamonpuddle perked up at the sound of water… and screaming. Rimeheart didn’t hear it at first, but then he realized exactly what that was…

The waterfall. He’s been there once, but there typically wasn’t screaming in the lake it flowed into… Cinnamonpuddle dashed off, Rimeheart following behind. Leopardscut was confused, but she followed as well…

What they saw was… interesting, to say the least. A group of loners were throwing themselves into the water, which was starting to be stained red by something’s blood. Something was thrashing in the water… no, multiple things. Another cat was standing at the top, but Rimeheart couldn’t see them clearly. They were yowling something to the carnage below, but it was hard to get the words with the splashing drowning it out.

After a moment, the figures became clear… that was a twoleg… and a strange brown object. Cinnamonpuddle started swimming like her life depended on it.

The loners fought the twoleg.

It dropped the object.

Cinnamonpuddle swam towards the object, slowly losing breath…

…Slowly…

…She grabbed on…

…And didn’t let go…

…Until…

…

…

A loud splash came from the waters as the cats that fought the twoleg rushed to help. The cat sitting at the top even climbed down to assist.

Cinnamonpuddle was pulled out of the waters, hacking and coughing… and… another, heavily injured cat was pulled out of the water as well. His mouth started to bleed as he was brought onto the surface.

Rimeheart recognized one of the cats that helped them, but clearly… she was not in a great mood. “Gods, why did he want to drown ‘im? I don’t care that he’s old and still breathing, that human is a sick bastard! Lily, come with me. I celebrate your heroics, but you’re much too young to deal with what you just saw. Canary, talk with them, will you?”

The cat walked away, the younger of the two cats, probably apprentice-aged, followed her. The large, burly tom was left behind.

“Bring him to your place. His collar said “Swashbuckler.” You have a healer?”

Leopardscut spoke, a little intimidated at the large cat. “Uhh… yeah. We have two. I’m not sure if that’s gonna be enough to-“

“He’ll be well. I’m sure of it. And so will your friend. Can you carry them?”

Rimeheart spoke up again… “I think so. Thanks for your help, Canary!”

“No problem.”

The Clan (with some help) saved an old cat being drowned by a twoleg. Swashbuckler has joined the Clan.

Swashbuckler has a broken jaw.

Cinnamonpuddle inhaled a lot of water while rescuing the old cat.

(Leopardscut: A muscular, long-furred tortie orange and brown she-cat)

(Cinnamonpuddle: A medium-furred brown she-cat)

(Rimeheart: A short-furred greenish-yellow and white tom)

(Swashbucker: A short-furred mottled brown tom)

(???: A very tall, medium furred half-orange, half striped black she-cat)

(Lily: A short-furred tabby brown and white she-cat)

(Canary: A very large, long-furred orange tabby tom)

Sorry this took forever! I hope it was worth the wait!

Also “badger in the den” is cat for “elephant in the room.”

[lightclans-story]

Moon 11, part 1

“May all cats who can hunt their own prey gather in front of the leader’s nest for a clan meeting!”

Once again, Leopardscut was startled awake from a pretty good sleep. She knew her mate was an early bird, but she didn’t think THIS early! She lethargically went and walked over to the leader’s nest, where the rest of the clan was already sitting. Leopardscut tried to blink the sleep out of her eyes as she sat down and looked at Eskerstar, waiting for her to start.

“As you all know, Flurrydancer, our deputy, has tragically passed away… though we had lost someone so important so early, we need to lift ourselves up and move on… and that means choosing a new deputy to take his place.”

There was a pause. Leopardscut looked around the clan while thinking… all of the warriors seem too young and inexperienced… and those that are experienced have never mentored an apprentice before.

“Leopardscut, may you please step forward?”

Of course, Leopardscut forgot about herself. She stepped forward anyway, though she was a little shocked.

“You have been a valuable clanmate for the entire clan. You make sure that we’re safe from any and all threats that might come our way. Do you agree to take over my position if things go south and be in charge of future patrols?”

Leopardscut’s voice shaked, but she knew this was for the good of the clan. She finally uttered two very important words… “I do.”

“Then for now on unless something changes, I hereby announce that Leopardscut is to be the deputy of Lightclan!”

Leopardscut didn’t expect any of this… the cats wanting her word… and accepting her for who she was… but she liked every second of it.

Leopardscut is appointed as deputy of Lightclan!

(Eskerstar: A medium-furred tan and white she-cat)

(Leopardscut: A muscular, long-furred tortie orange and brown she-cat)

[lightclans-story]

Moon 9, part 5

Sparklefang soon faded from Eskerstar’s vision, so she decided to make her way back to camp. She had to find Rimepaw and talk to him as soon as she could. She didn’t notice Trinity looking at her oddly until she shook her fur to dry herself off.

“Man, the swamp monster’s got a bit of an attitude today…”

“What was that?”

“Um… nothing. But you probably should have given me a warning before you gave me a shower!”

Eskerstar didn’t reply. She just wandered her way to the warrior’s den where Rimeheart was telling a story to Leopardscut. A very fake story, but still a story.

“…And so, after Cloudysight overthrew her tyrannical leader, she and her clan lived happily ever after! So… any thoughts?” Rimeheart had just finished telling the story, so he was looking at Leopardscut, likely expecting praise.

“Well, just one thing. You did say Cloudysight was blind, right?”

“Yeah… the story’s to teach kits that differences don’t make a cat more or less of a cat.”

“Well, that name might make the kits you tell the story to think that blindness means cloudy eyes. Have you met Clamtail?”

“He told me stories when I was a kit! Of course I met him!”

“His age had made him partially blind, and I bet you didn’t even realize!”

“…He was blind?”

“What did I just say, mouse-brain?”

Eskerstar entered the warrior’s den during the conversion, and just said one thing. “I’m gonna need to talk to Rimeheart for a second, if you don’t mind.”

Leopardscut’s tone instantly changed. “Of course you can talk to him! You’re the leader!”

Rimeheart stood up and followed Eskerstar to her den… he looked like he was dreading the coming conversation…

Eskerstar won’t tell Trinity why she’s acting weird.

Rimeheart tells a story to Leopardscut, who gives him ideas for how to make it better.

(Eskerstar: A medium-furred tan and white she-cat)

(Leopardscut: A muscular, long-furred tortie orange and brown she-cat)

(Trinity: A tall, medium-furred black and white tom)

(Rimeheart: a short-furred greenish-yellow and white tom) 

[lightclans-story]

Moon 7, part 2

Although she could never admit it, her heart flutters when they’re together. It feels like her heart could jump out of her chest and give the cat she loves, so, so much all of the love she deserves, and then some.

She gathers the flowers from her earlier patrol into a small bouquet, before venturing out again to meet her love. Her pelt looks almost completely golden in the sunlight, and she is just… so pretty… so kind to her… the clanmate that she couldn’t have if she stayed in Bulbclan.

She wanted to waste no time. A walk towards her becomes a run, as if she could just fade away in a blink of the eye. She knows she’ll likely have more time if things don’t work out… but her heart doesn’t.

She only started to slow down once she was closer, as to not scare her like she was a small, helpless kit. She looked her love directly in her eyes, a task that would be so difficult in the current moment. She drops the flowers in front of her paws…

“This might be sudden, but I can’t keep it hidden for much longer. I love you, and I would do anything for you! I would grab a star from the sky… I would fight a hurricane… and especially, I would face your toughest battles for you!” Leopardscut’s voice showed a lot of vulnerability, especially for a cat that was as brave as her. Her voice started to shake as she continued… “If you don’t want to… that’s ok! But… Eskerstar… will you make me the happiest molly in the Clans and be my mate?”

Eskerstar’s reaction to Leopardscut’s confession of love shifted rapidly. At first, it was shock… then sort of embarrassment… Leopardscut was scared. Did she mess up? She was about to excuse herself when Eskerstar finally spoke…

“Of course.”

Eskerstar affectionately bumped heads with her, now also shocked, mate. Leopardscut didn’t know what to say, but she didn’t have to speak…

Her purring said everything that she wanted to say. This was their world now, and no force was going to separate them.

Leopardscut confessed to Eskerstar, and they became mates!

(Leopardscut: A muscular, long-furred tortie orange and brown she-cat)

(Eskerstar: A medium-furred tan and white she-cat)

THAT’S RIGHT, WE HAVE YURI IN LIGHTCLAN! OUR FIRST PAIR OF MATES AND IT’S ALL YURI FLAVORED!

[lightclans-story]

Moon 7, part 1

“A leopard can’t be strong if it’s raised to be sweet.”

How long ago was she taught that? She doesn’t even remember… but she hates it either way. Bulbclan is only friendly to the other clans… not to outsiders or their own clanmates.

She just wants it to change. Her own apprentice was sweet… he really was… and if he’s hurt? He still won a fight when he was severely outnumbered.

And to tell the truth? She’s not strong. She can win a fight and all, but strength isn’t just about whoever kills more cats than others. She wants to focus on a different kind of strength… the one she was never taught.

She can’t train on her own… she’d forget the words too quickly and scare them again. She’d make a wrong assumption and cause them to be offended.

She looks to the plants as if they could speak to her… at this point, it wouldn’t be too far-fetched if they could. If the clans could believe one cat that thinks like rabbits, then why couldn’t she do this?

She grabs a plant and pulls it up, then another… and another… still enough to grow… but also enough to use for her training. She wished she could forget what was said to her… but she wished she couldn’t forget the life she’ll get to live…

If she’s brave enough to try it.

Leopardscut gathers a few bindweeds and forget-me-nots on a walk outside of camp.

(Leopardscut: A muscular, long-furred tortie orange and brown she-cat)

[lightclans-story]

Moon 3, part 4

TW: This might be attempted gaslighting.

Leopardscut, in fact, would have rather dealt with the kits than go gather herbs with Creavasserise. It’s not like she doesn’t LIKE him or anything, but it’s all of the same with him. He checks on her, notices a problem, and before she realizes what’s going on, she’s in the medicine den for whitecough she doesn’t have. At least… that seems like it might happen, especially today.

“Hey kid, you doing alright? Your breathing’s been a little… huffy… lately.” Crevasserise asked.

Leopardscut simply muttered “Great Starclan, leave me alone…”

“What was that?”

Leopardscut forced a smile on her face upon hearing Creavasserise’s question. “I said I like spending time with youuuuuu… and I don’t have ashcough, you… FAVORITE UNCLE!”

“Kid… I’m your only uncle. We might need to get some lungwort while we’re at it…” Crevasserise turned his back towards Leopardscut, while Leopardscut shuddered, thinking about what she just implied by not calling him a manipulative fox-heart… a little white lie shouldn’t cause any harm, but here she is… she doesn’t know whether her uncle was just lonely or insane… or both… her lips quivered as she just stood there… she needed to do something.

There was a nearby puddle brought by newleaf rain. She slammed her paw into it, sending water everywhere… but especially on herself… and Crevasserise. The medicine cat took one look at his niece and splashed her with more water from the same puddle.

“WHAT WAS THAT FOR?” Leopardscut asked, now in a rage.

“YOU SPLASHED ME FIRST!” Crevasserise answered, also in a rage.

“I ONLY MEANT TO SPLASH MYSELF TO GET THIS STARS-DAMMED SNEEZE OUT!”

“YOU JUST HAD TO SNEEZE? I THOUGHT YOU HAD YELLOWCOUGH!”

“IT’S NEWLEAF! WHO GETS YELLOWCOUGH IN NEWLEAF?”

…

In the distance, a training session was in progress between Eskerstar and Owlpaw.

“Eskerstar… I think you were right about foxes. These two look MENACING!”

“…Owlpaw… those are our clanmates.”

“Well… should we-“

“No. Leopardscut would take all of my lives if she finds out we were ever here. Come on, I’ll show you how to pin down your enemy in battle.”

“Okay…”

(Eskerstar: A medium-furred tan and white she-cat)

(Leopardscut: A muscular, long-furred tortie orange and brown she-cat)

(Crevasserise: A short-furred orange rosette tom)

(Owlpaw: A long-furred dark brown smokepoint tom)

[lightclans-story]

Moon 3, part 2

Trinity was a little confused by what Eskerstar said… he hasn’t heard of any rumors that Eskerstar would take seriously… maybe it was that cat everyone’s talking about? What was her name… Mudthrift? She seemed to be very important if everyone is reacting this much to her death. He looked at the prey pile, absentmindedly pawing at some of the fresh-kill in front of him. Nobody’s been saying anything…

“HEY! Are you going to actually eat your prey or would you rather have crow-food?”

Trinity flinched as he looked towards Leopardscut… he thought Eskerstar was the leader… so why’s she acting so strict? “I’m… sorry? I’ve just… been thinking. About these… rumors. Could you tell me about them?”

“Why? Don’t you already know the gist? So-called ”Hidden Potential” is saying that certain cats are killing Starclan! That’s all we need to know!”

Trinity looked shocked… “What in the…”

“And I think I already know how this is going! A spy for that “Hidden Potential” wants to join us so they can tear us down from the inside! All because they don’t want the truth to come out! If I catch you doing anything suspicious, you might have to-“

Flurrydancer dashed in, separating Leopardscut and Trinity, glaring at Leopardscut with rage in his eyes. “Listen, this may seem absurd, but you can’t say that about a new clan member! Yes, he was formerly a rogue, but he’s my friend! I’m probably his best friend! Is your Bulbclan seeping through you? I thought you didn’t agree with Dawnstar!”

Surprisingly, Leopardscut backed off, knowing the word of the deputy is probably gonna be worse than any other clan member… well, maybe Eskerstar’s worse, but oh my Starclan…

Flurrydancer looked towards Trinity, his expression looking calmer. “You can have the bird. It’s my favorite prey and I want you to try it.”

“Thanks…”

(Leopardscut: A muscular, long-furred tortie orange and brown she-cat)

(Flurrydancer: A tall, medium-furred white tom with a light grey stripe down his back)

(Trinity: A tall, medium-furred black and white tom)