#moon 35

[mantis-clan]

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[dark-tides-and-storms]

Moon 35, Part 2, POV Flintfur

Cats: Flintfur, Mystery Guest

He was in water. He had no idea how or why he had ended up here, but he was here, and he wasn't drowning. He was floating, drifting, and he looked around, able to breathe, able to swim. The water was just as Amberpaw had described it, actually, he thought, clear and blue with a white sand floor and just... The ocean.

Flintfur had dove in the ocean a few times, but not long or far, and as he clawed through the water, he paused, watching in shock as whales swam by above him, pale in color, huge, but they had no interest in him. Something tugged in him, like something was holding his tail but deeper, rooted in him, and Flintfur turned in the water, looking, trying to find that tug.

He swam, legs pumping, and then... He saw it. His body. No longer covered in protection, floating limply beneath the waves, and it was oddly washed out, despite the gray fur. He remembered what Amberpaw had said, that he had found his body, that he had touched it and been brought back.

And even as Flintfur thought that, he could see a little black on his body, threading through the fur, drifting upward, some vicious matter he had never seen through, seeping through the fur and drifting upward in the waves. It leaked from the closed eyes and even as he floated there, a few tail-lengths from his body and the possibility of coming back, he stopped.

He wanted to be with Goldstar and their kits. He didn't want to leave them, not yet. He didn't want Yellowpaw to carry those memories with her for the rest of her life. He could go back. He was tempted.

But something in him told him no. No, this was different than Amberpaw. If he did this, if he touched that body that was no longer his, slowly leaking that strange black liquid, he had the unshakable feeling that something terrible would happen.

So he didn't.

Flintfur turned away and swam after another pull inside him, pulling him up, pulling him away from his body, and he swam by a whale, breaking through the surface, and then-

And then... He woke on the beach. At first glance, he thought it was the Beach of Stars.

It certainly looked like it, with black sands and cliffs on either side, rolling green, tree-less hills behind him, and rocks out in the water, but Flintfur had the distinct impression that it was not.

He could not say how he was sure, looking around, the light softly filtered by thin gray clouds, the water looking gray as well, but he knew it was not the Beach of Stars. And yet he felt calm. He was not scared or confused, though memories of Yellowpaw and Amberpaw were still at the forefront of his mind, despite the journey through that other place. He knew they were safe. He knew they were okay. And that made what came next easier.

He had no idea where he was or what was going on, whether or not this was Starclan since that other place certainly hadn't been, but he felt drawn to the waves lapping at the black sands. He pushed himself to his paws, looking around more, and he noticed that here and there, a crab lay upside down in the sand or a fish lay just at the touch of the waves, dead and still.

That in itself was odd, but he couldn't smell them, which was odder.

But the water, the waves, were calling him, and Flintfur looked regretfully back at the green hills and the open sand behind him, but he couldn't go back. He couldn't explain it, but he had to go to the water, and he did.

The water was neither cold nor warm as he stepped into it, the waves buffeting him, and Flintfur waded further, slowly going deeper, until the sand disappeared beneath his paws, and there was no choice left but to swim. So he swam, until the moment he realized he could go no further, and he dove beneath the waves instead, following that pull inside of him, tugging him forward in a way he couldn't describe, telling him what to do.

He was in the clear water again, swimming through it, but it was different than last time, and as he swam further out, further away from the black sands of the shore, he saw something else drifting in the water.

It was a body, a cat, but it was not him. No.

This cat was covered completely in the black that had been dripping from his own body, the black dripping off in an upside-down way, floating up to the surface, and this cat... This cat was wrong.

Several long... Things, like vines or tails, drifted around them, but they couldn't be tails, because they appeared to be bursting from the cat's underbelly, long, black, thick, and odd.

It chilled Flintfur to the bone. Something was so wrong here, so wrong, and yet... And yet he could not feel pity for this cat, as wrong as they looked.

The pull was not toward them, however, and he hesitated for just a moment before swimming over.

There was something he could not shake in his mind, but the further he swam the more things slipped from his mind, and he sank his teeth into the scruff of the limp, drifting oddity, pulling them, beginning to tow this cat with him.

Flintfur had to have faith that the pull was leading him to Starclan, because this certainly wasn't it. And maybe this cat, as weird as they were, as wrong as the black liquid seeping into his jaws was, had merely gotten lost on their journey. If so, Flintfur would not leave them.

He swam, clawing through the water, and suddenly the cat came loose, still limp, drifting away, but Flintfur couldn't stop, no matter how much he wanted to, no matter how far he fought. The cat slipped away and he looked back, trying to get back, but it was like something had captured him and wouldn't let him go.

The cat was still limp, still drifting, but the... The tentacles- like an octopus, that was the word he needed- were reaching toward him, and one snagged around him.

Flintfur jolted with surprise and the tentacle drove into his stomach, through the fur, pulling at him, piercing him, even as the thing that had hold of him yanked him hard, and then...

Flintfur was gone.

10/23/2025-10/24/2025

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[dark-tides-and-storms]

Moon 35, Part 1, POV Amberpaw

Patrol: Flintfur, Amberpaw, Yellowpaw

TW/CW: Blood, Injury, Animal death

Having Yellowpaw as his co-apprentice did not bother Amberpaw in the slightest.

He was disappointed that Civetbeak was still recovering, so he couldn't continue his training, but Flintfur was a good mentor, and fun to have another apprentice alongside him. Fogpaw was okay, but they weren't really close and didn't really talk, and Tulippaw had hated Amberpaw since they had been in the nursery together. Quailpaw fell in the same camp as Fogpaw, more or less. Almondfern, Laurelbright, Pumaspot, and Furledseed were all so much older than him that they hadn't done much together either.

But Yellowpaw didn't hate him and Amberpaw didn't mind that she was four moons younger than him, and it was nice. She also respected the fact he did not like touching other cats, though he did tolerate it for combat training.

It was fun and it was nice, and for the first time in his life, Amberpaw could say that he actually had a friend.

Today, they were on patrol with Flintfur, covered in protection, Amberpaw carrying the conch, and Yellowpaw was pestering them both for details about the small dog they had chased off yesterday.

"It wasn't that big, and it ran when I started chasing it." Amberpaw said with a shrug, not seeing what the big deal was.

"How big?"

"Not as big as some, but most certainly had some size to it. Most cats would have felt some kind of caution. Amberpaw dove at it like one of them was going to die and it wasn't going to be him." Flintfur said, purring with amusement.

"I didn't want it to get to camp." Amberpaw muttered, and it wasn't like he had been alone.

Flintfur had been right there with him, after all, and they had chased it off together.

"I think I would be so scared. I don't like dogs!" Yellowpaw said, looking impressed.

Amberpaw shrugged, not sure what else to say, but Yellowpaw thankfully dropped the subject.

He still felt... Odd. He was now firm in the knowledge that he didn't seem to be able to die; when Skypelt and Quietback had gone to the lighthouse, he had gotten into a border skirmish with Hollowclaw from Weedclan and cracked his head on a rock. It had killed him and he had found himself in the ocean again, his body above him, and he had done the same thing as last time. And here he was.

He wasn't sure what to make of it, though Skypelt was convinced that it was a blessing from Starclan, that he had been chosen or something. Amberpaw hated that, but he couldn't dissuade her, and had given up arguing about it. He could only imagine the look on Hollowclaw's face when he turned up at the Gathering; the other warrior had definitely fled in a hurry by the time Amberpaw had gotten back to his body.

He had told Goldstar, gathered with those who had already known about it, but no one knew what to make of it or what to do. Plumsong had wryly said that Amberpaw would save them some herbs, and Amberpaw knew the cold medicine cat had merely been trying to cheer him up, make light of it, but it hadn't worked.

They were in an open stretch of ground toward the edge of their territory, on the edge of a narrow gully toward the Burning Caves, where a stream trickled toward the ocean, cliffs that were sharp and straight leading down to that little trickle. A fall from there would certainly kill a cat, and Amberpaw thought of jumping and seeing what would happen, but he didn't have the courage.

Flintfur quizzed them both as they walked, giving them each a question, and they answered dutifully, but then, Amberpaw caught a familiar scent.

Metallic like a monster and blood, and-

"Rainfall!" he called out as he spotted the dark cloud rapidly sweeping toward them.

"Run! Go, head for the hills! There should be a cave!" Flintfur ordered and they began to run.

Yellowpaw was the slowest of them, but Flintfur and Amberpaw stuck with her, and Amberpaw stopped to blow the conch before racing after them. They ran, swerving, looking around, and finally Amberpaw spotted a small niche up ahead, a spot under an overhang... But the way up was a slick wall of rock.

"There!" he called, jerking his muzzle, and Flintfur nodded.

"Get up there, Amberpaw, and I'll give you Yellowpaw." he ordered and Amberpaw didn't argue.

The rain came over them before they reached it, however, and Amberpaw shuddered, but their protection was working.

He scrambled and clawed his way up the quickly wetted stones and got up, digging his claws in. He turned and reached down, Flintfur trying to carry Yellowpaw up with him, and the pair slid down

"Papa, let me climb!" Yellowpaw cried, wriggling in his jaws.

Flintfur released her and climbed right behind her, shoving her up with a paw when she slipped, and Amberpaw managed to catch her scruff. He heaved and hauled her up, her paws churning, and then they were under the shelter.

"Papa, hurry!" Yellowpaw said, reaching out, but Amberpaw kicked her back.

"Let me." he grunted as Flintfur slipped down, his protection beginning to bleed off.

"Flintfur, come on!" Amberpaw said, stretching, digging his claws into the rocks.

Flintfur did his best, but then he paused, staring at the sky, and Amberpaw followed his gaze.

A rainbow was in the sky, but it was not like any rainbow Amberpaw had seen. It was a perfect circle sitting in the dark cloud of rainfall, shining like an outline of the sun, oddly bright, and he stared for a moment.

Then he yowled at Flintfur, who was still having trouble getting up, and then a... Sense... Washed over him, his fur prickling, an awareness washing over him, like he could tell that a cat had just come close. But it hadn't.

There was no cat, no other animals, nothing, and then...

"Flintfur." he whispered, spotting pawprints pressing into the earth close behind the cat.

Huge pawprints, bleeding black into them when what was making them lifted, filling with rainfall, and Flintfur saw it, too.

"Papa. Papa-"

"Shh! Be quiet, be still!" Flintfur hissed and looked up at Amberpaw.

"Protect her." he said, his blue eyes shining, and Amberpaw realized what he was going to do.

Flintfur let himself slide down the rocks and onto the ground; he couldn't make it up without moving, and the rainfall was going to run through his protection sooner rather than later.

"P-" Yellowpaw began, but Amberpaw grabbed her.

He risked it, flattening her beneath him, watching as Flintfur yowled, turning, skittering across the ground, the Unseen, as they had started to call them, following him, its pawprints suddenly changing direction.

Yellow was shaking beneath him and Amberpaw shifted a paw over his muzzle, draping himself over Yellowpaw to muffle her breathing, holding as still as he could.

He watched as Flintfur yowled and unsheathed his claws, and then the Unseen pounced. A blow sent Flintfur flying and he skidded across the ground, and he got up as the pawprints approached.

Amberpaw watched as a blow ripped through Flintfur's protection and pelt, drawing blood, and Flintfur moved further back, drawing the Unseen away from them, and...

Flintfur fought bravely, but he couldn't take the Unseen alone. He took a huge blow across his shoulder, scarlet pouring from it, and another across his flank. And Amberpaw knew he should obey, because Flintfur was the deputy, a senior warrior, and his mentor, but he couldn't. Especially when Yellowpaw got her head out from under him, saw what was happening, and screamed.

"PAPA!"

"Stay here!" Amberpaw ordered and launched himself from the shelter.

He landed heavily on the ground and yowled, drawing the Unseen's attention away from Yellowpaw, and Flintfur mimicked him.

Maybe they could distract it until it went away, the one on the beach had gone away-

Flintfur leapt on something invisible and attacked viciously, clawing, biting, fighting like a true warrior, but the blood was pouring fast from his wounds, and Amberpaw could see that his exposed fur and skin around the wounds looked wrong.

The rainfall. The rainfall was making the injuries worse, was hurting him like that deer. Amberpaw took a blow himself, his blood spilling onto the ground, but Flintfur was there to protect him, drawing the Unseen away, but then he was lifted off the ground, writhing, trying to get away-

It was going to eat him. And Amberpaw lost it.

Something in him snapped and he yowled, launching himself forward, blood splattering from his wound onto the Unseen, making parts of it somewhat visible, and-

A cry, high and mournful, and then suddenly Flintfur was falling, Amberpaw was falling, and the Unseen was... Gone.

No more pawprints were pressed into the earth and the rainfall was letting up, Amberpaw running over to Flintfur.

He was lying on the ground, sides heaving, and there was so much blood. The rainfall had made the wounds bleed faster and there was blood everywhere, Amberpaw pressing his paws against the worst one desperately.

"Flintfur-"

"Yel... Yellow...?" Flintfur wheezed, sides heaving jaggedly, his breathing wrong, his voice too soft.

"Safe. She's safe." Amberpaw promised, the blood flowing sluggishly beneath his paws.

The rainfall was almost gone now, the sky lightening, the clouds disappearing as quickly as they had come, and Flintfur's head shifted a little, like he was nodding.

"Papa! Papa, Papa, Papa!" Yellowpaw cried, appearing next to them, looking down at her father.

Flintfur's eyes locked on her, and she pressed her head against his, shaking, Flintfur returning the gesture, and then he went still. His sides stopped heaving and his eye unfocused growing vacant, and Amberpaw's heart lurched.

"Flintfur?" he said, lowering his head to the other cat's mouth, but no breath met his ear.

"Papa...?" Yellowpaw whispered, her voice small and frightened.

"He's gone, Yellowpaw." Amberpaw said gently, swallowing hard.

Yellowpaw let out a high-pitched wail and buried her face in Flintfur's side, crying softly, and Amberpaw sat with her.

Her sat with her until the sky fully cleared and everything was normal again, the vegetation around them wrong for the season, and then he could give her no more time.

"We have to go, Yellowpaw. We have to take him back to camp." he said, pulling himself together.

It took some effort, but he roused her and gave her the conch, and they got Flintfur's limp body on his back. Amberpaw refused to drag him, and going for help would take too long.

He walked, bearing the weight of his dead clanmate, and Yellowpaw walked beside him, both of them mourning silently as they walked.

It seemed to take forever, but finally they reached camp, and Skypelt was the first to see them.

"We heard the conch-" she began, stopping when she got a good look at them.

"Oh, Starclan! What happened?!" she exclaimed, rushing over to them.

Amberpaw didn't stop until he reached the medicine cats' den, but the clan, those in camp, had already seen and were gathering, Jackdawnudge freezing when he saw them.

"Flintfur." he gasped, rushing over.

He helped Amberpaw lay the body on the ground and Yellowpaw collapsed, Lester rushing over to her.

"Where is Goldstar?" Amberpaw asked, swallowing.

He felt... Numb.

"She and Pumaspot are returning kits to Weedclan's camp." Almondfern replied from the entrance of the den.

"What happened?" Skypelt repeated as Jacknudge examined Flintfur.

Amberpaw explained as Plumsong fussed over his wound and it felt merciful that Quailpaw was out with Gillfeather, though Yellowpaw could have used her family right now.

The entire clan that was in the camp seemed to be crowded in or around the medicine cats' den, and grief was heavy in the air. Amberpaw swallowed hard, but he forced himself to be strong, because right now he knew what had happened and he didn't want Yellowpaw to have to recount it at any point.

"We need to take him." Quietback said softly after a long silence.

"We can't even have a vigil?!" Yellowpaw cried, jerking away from Lester.

"This was discussed-"

"He deserves a vigil!" Yellowpaw cried, Lester gently wrapping around her.

"We can say goodbye to him, little one, he just can't stay here so long. That's all." she soothed, but it didn't seem to help.

The warriors started talking and Yellowlily slipped in, comforting Yellowpaw, and before long, Quailpaw arrived back with Gillfeather. Amberpaw didn't know who told him, but the crowd of cats parted and the apprentice ran through, his gray-and-white pelt on end.

"Papa! Oh, Papa!" Quailpaw cried, rushing to Flintfur's side.

He cautiously nosed his father and his face crumpled, but he didn't linger by the body. Instead, he went to Yellowpaw, and he curled up beside her, leaning on her, his eyes round.

"What happened?" he asked, voice choked.

Amberpaw explained, but he hadn't finished by the time Goldstar and Pumaspot returned, and Goldstar rushed through as well, stopping in front of her mate's body.

"Flintfur. No. No, no, no." she whispered, dropping down beside the body.

She buried her nose in his muddy pelt and her kits crept over, nestling on either side of her, and Amberpaw started over. He swallowed hard again when he finished, and Quietback spoke.

"Goldstar, we need to take him now, just in case. It's not an easy journey and night will fall..." he began gently.

"Mama? Mama, are you okay?" Quailpaw was saying, and Plumsong rushed over.

Something was wrong with Goldstar; she was shaking violently, even more violently than Yellowpaw, and she reacted fiercely when Plumsong tried to pull her away from Flintfur.

Yellowlily and Lester herded Yellowpaw and Quailpaw away and between them, Wasp and Plumsong took Goldstar away to the more private part of the den. Wasp emerged to get herbs, and it seemed to take a long time before Plumsong emerged.

"Goldstar is in shock right now. She isn't... She can't... She won't be able to take Flintfur, or name a deputy." he said gravely and murmurs went through the camp.

"It's only right if she takes him." Lester protested.

"We can't wait that long. We can't risk it. You know how soon after they buried Dashclaw it happened." Plumsong said sharply.

"I want to take him. I'll take him." Yellowpaw croaked, her eyes still wide.

"No, little one. You can't. You and your brother are too young; you would never make it." Almondfern said, shaking his head.

"He was my mentor. I will take him." Quietback said, his voice raw with grief.

"I would take him. He trained me well. But I can't make it that far. Not quickly." Civetbeak said, sitting beside Amberpaw.

His voice was heavy, too.

"I'll go." Amberpaw volunteered and everyone looked at him.

"I carried him here, and I'm fast and strong. I can go with Quietback." Amberpaw continued firmly.

"And I'll go as well. Three will be easier so someone can switch." Yellowlily put in, and that was it. "While you're gone, we will appoint a temporary deputy until Goldstar is able. And if she still isn't, the medicine cats and Wiggity Wacks will confer." Plumsong said, and no one protested.

Amberpaw was coated in fresh protected and Yellowlily and Quietback followed suit. They let the clan say a brief goodbye, but then they left, Quietback and Amberpaw carrying Flintfur between them.

Yellowlily took the lead and Amberpaw glanced back, seeing Yellowpaw and Quailpaw sitting just outside of camp, pressed together, watching them carry their father away.

10/18/2025-10/20/2025

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[dark-tides-and-storms]

Moon 35, Part 4, POV Plumsong

Cats: Goldstar, Plumsong, Jackdawnudge, Skypelt, Buzzardglide, Petalcurrent, Civetbeak, Tumbledaisy

While Yellowlily, Quietback, and Amberpaw took Flintfur to be burned, there was still much to do in camp. Lester took Yellowpaw and Quailpaw to the apprentices' den and gave them poppy seeds to help them sleep; Yellowpaw was inconsolable and Quailpaw was trying his best to be strong, but they were still young apprentices.

Plumsong and Jackdawnudge focused on Goldstar, while Skypelt and Wasp looked after the rest of the clan. Goldstar was in shock and it honestly wasn't that surprising; their clan had been built on the ruins of the old ones, and Flintfur had been with her since before that.

Many of them had already suffered great losses in their lives, and for Goldstar to lose her deputy and mate... No surprise.

The issue was, their supply of thyme had rotted, and Plumsong was racing through the territory with Petalcurrent and Buzzardglide at his side; the children of Jackdawnudge, neither of them had ever shown interest in herbs, but they were very familiar with them.

And replenishing an entire supply when someone was actively in shock... The more cats the better.

Plumsong went to the usual patch, which they had left alone to allow to grow, and the littermates were on his heels, knowing this was urgent, and when they reached it, he let out a cry of horror.

Dead, withered stems and leaves, smelling of rot and decay, the entire swath of vegetation in the air dead and damaged, for the most part. A rainfall must have passed through here briefly, and the plants had gotten stuck in the cycle of dying but not regrowing.

It would regrow, but not in time, and Plumsong cursed, dashing away. The warriors followed on his heels ad this was what he had been dreading since these rainfalls had started; vital herbs being hit when their stocks needed to be replenished.

Goldstar had only lost one life before, so she had plenty yet, but Plumsong did not want to risk her losing one. No leader had lost a life since their connection to Starclan had broken, and he had no idea if she would be able to come back to them, or if her lost life would go to Starclan like it was supposed to.

They raced through the territory, searching, and part of Plumsong had half the mind to run straight to Foggyclan or Weedclan rather than carry on a desperate search when time was wasting away, but given the state of the world now, they might not be too willing to share. It would also be better to have Wiggity Wacks with him for that, not two warriors, and he shook himself mentally.

They raced to the next spot where they gathered time, the spot the medicine cats had collectively decided to leave alone to regrow and flourish so the patch would still be there, but they did not have much of a choice right now.

Luckily, there was still thyme to be had, and though it went against his instincts as a medicine cat, Plumsong harvested it with the warriors.

It was perfectly fine, but it smelled sickly to him, the nubs of the stalks seeming to glare accusingly at them as they bundled the herbs into their jaws, but needs must.

They turned away and sprinted back to camp, but the detour and racing away to a further part of the territory had cost them.

By the time Plumsong careened into the private part of the den, he found Jackdawnudge and Skypelt sitting beside Goldstar, who was very still in her nest.

"She's losing a life." Jackdawnudge said gruffly.

"Starclan damn it!" Plumsong shouted after setting down his bundle of herbs.

"It happens, Plumsong. She'll be mostly recovered, at least from the worst of it, by the time the life is gone." Jackdawnudge said and Plumsong peeled back his lips.

"I know that! But Starclan had abandoned us! What if she doesn't come back? What if her lost life starts forming some kind of monster? I was a medicine cat long before you ever were, Jackdaw!" he snapped, bristling.

"Hey, there's no need for that." Petalcurrent butted in, setting her herbs down as well.

"Plumsong has valid worries." Skypelt said, looking down at Goldstar.

She curled around the still form of the leader, burying her nose in her fur, and closed her eyes, likely praying to Starclan that everything would be fine. There was nothing to be done but wait and see, and as they watched, a pale, ghostly shape rose up from Goldstar.

It drifted aimlessly above her, curled and limp, and Plumsong's stomach churned. He held his breath, the four of them with their eyes open watching, waiting. It was taking too long, this wasn't how it was supposed to happen... Then suddenly the pale form of the life jerked, rising higher and higher until it had disappeared into the roof of the den.

Goldstar was still for a little longer, but then her flanks began to move again, and her eyes soon cracked open. The worst of it was gone, but she was still in shock, and as Skypelt rose and pulled away from her, the medicine cats set to work.

They did all they could, but Goldstar was still suffering from the shock, even though she was out of danger, and there was no way she could pick a deputy by moonhigh.

So the clan gathered, save for Lester's kits, Goldstar, and Goldstar's kits, and while it seemed wrong to do this with four of their warriors absent, they had no choice.

The clan cast votes by not shouting for the cat they wanted to stand in, because that could have been messy, but by laying stones gathered from around camp in that cat's nest.

When everyone had placed their stones, Plumsong went and counted them, and there were really only three contenders. But even then, the chosen cat was obvious.

"Skypelt." he said, emerging from the warriors' den.

"Our clan has chosen you to lead us and guide us until Goldstar is able to name our deputy. Do you accept this role? And do you understand it does not mean you are the deputy?" he asked, looking the she-cat down.

She bowed her head.

"I understand, and I accept this role. I will serve my clan however I can." she said and Plumsong nodded.

That was it, then.

Most of the clan gathered outside after that to hold a small vigil for Flintfur even though they did not have his body, and Plumsong returned to his patient.

He couldn't help but notice that Jackdawnudge was curled in his nest, the scent of grief wafting off him, and he was curled up as tightly as a cat could be.

Jackdawnudge was older than Plumsong, and while they had all lost their clans in the great war, Plumsong noticed that since forming Hyacinthclan, Jackdawnudge seemed a bit more effected by grief.

Copsespots and her kits, Ashtalon, and now Flintfur... Each time his fellow medicine cat had been struck heavily by his grief. Plumsong worried that one day, Jackdawnudge might not recover from that grief.

He checked on him, but Jackdawnudge ignored him, and Plumsong curled up with Goldstar, keeping her warm and monitoring her, doing his best to swallow down his own grief, too.

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Goldstar was out of danger, but the shock still took some time to wear off, along with the grief. Plumsong was also concerned that something had gone wrong when she had lost her life. The shock seemed to be gone, and the grief was to be expected, but she was so still and quiet that the medicine cats, and the clan, were worried.

Jackdawnudge was also refusing to leave his nest now, succumbing to his own grief, and Plumsong was glad that Skypelt was taking charge of the clan, because the medicine cats had enough to handle at the moment.

With a clan as small as theirs, especially in a clan formed of such tragedy, every loss hit hard. They were lucky to have only lost five cats over the past thirty-five moons, and each one was still a hard blow.

Copsespots, Firkit, Shrewkit, Ashtalon, and now Flintfur.

And Plumsong couldn't shake it out of his head that Jackdawnudge and Yellowlily, not to mention himself and even Goldstar, were getting on in moons.

More losses were more likely to happen sooner rather than later, and hopefully the clan would be able to recover from them. Of course, losses from old age were far different than the five losses they had suffered.

Yellowlily, Quietback, and Amberpaw were still gone, Yellowpaw and Quailpaw still restricted from the den because they did not need to see their mother like this, when Goldstar finally spoke, the shadows long and the light fading.

"Flintfur...?" she croaked and Plumsong turned away from the thyme he was taking care of.

Goldstar's eyes were open and unfocused, and he rushed over.

"Goldstar? It's Plumsong." he said, crouching in front of his leader.

She looked at him, her eyes dull with grief, and Plumsong had seen this enough times to know that while the shock was gone, the grief was not.

"He's gone." Goldstar whispered and Plumsong nodded.

"I'm so sorry." he said, and he was.

There wasn't a cat in the clan who had disliked Flintfur, and even his prickly old pelt had found comfort in the dark gray warrior.

"How do you feel?" Plumsong asked next.

"Thirsty." Goldstar said, and he fetched water.

Soaked the ball of moss in the little pool in the den, giving it to his patient, and fetched Lester, who got Wasp and Skypelt.

By the time he made it back, Jackdawnudge had heaved himself from his own nest and was curled up with Goldstar, white and dark ginger-spotted pelt and golden, white-marked pelt pressed so close together they seemed to be one cat, and Jackdawnudge was being oddly tender, licking Goldstar's ears.

"Goldstar. I am so sorry." Skypelt said, sympathy pulsing in her voice.

Goldstar nodded, her ears laying back at the sight of all of them, and Lester and Wasp left without a word, being the junior medicine cats. Though Plumsong wasn't quite sure if Jackdawnudge counted as a medicine cat right now, considering he was also a patient.

"Yellowlily, Quietback, and Amberpaw have taken Flintfur to be burned. He is in good paws, Goldstar, you know that." Skypelt assured her and Goldstar gave a dull nod.

Goldstar gave a feeble nod.

"My kits...?" she asked, her eyes filled with worry, despite how dull they looked.

"Quailpaw and Yellowpaw are looking after each other. Yellowpaw is as fine as she can be. She blames herself, little scrap, but we're all making sure she understands that it wasn't her fault." Plumsong said and Goldstar closed her eyes.

"I should-"

"No. You may be their mother, but you are allowed to grieve. And forgive me, Goldstar, but they really shouldn't see you like this. Not right now." Skypelt cut in, her voice firm.

"Goldstar, I hate to ask right now, but we need to know. What... What happened when you lost your life? Was it like what Amberpaw described?" Plumsong asked, because they had to know.

Starclan had been silent for eight moons now, and while Amberpaw had revived, Flintfur and others had died, and no leaders had lost lives (that they knew of) since all this had started happening.

"I... I was on the Beach of Stars. But it wasn't... It was quite right. I couldn't move, I couldn't do anything. I felt... Stuck." Goldstar said, her breath hitching.

She had lost a life before, and this was certainly not how it had gone. The beach and the ocean were consistent with what Amberpaw had said, but being on the sand rather than the water and being stuck was not.

"Then?" Skypelt prompted.

"I think... Flintfur... I think he guided me to Starclan." Goldstar said softly and Plumsong's ears pricked.

"You made it to Starclan?" he asked, shocked.

"Someone... A cat with gray fur... They pulled me into the water. And when I surfaced, I was standing in Starclan. I saw Mallowstar." she said, referring to the last lives-blessed leader of Oleanderclan.

"Did she say anything?" Plumsong asked softly.

"I couldn't hear her. It was like she was trying to speak underwater. There was... Something between us." Goldstar said and laid her head on her paws.

"I'm sorry. That's all I remember." she said, voice growing soft as she did.

"Don't apologize." Plumsong said sharply, because this was better news than he had hoped for.

Well, not exactly better, but it at least meant despite all the strangeness, Starclan was still there. Still trying to talk to them, it seemed. Even if they were unable. But that still left all the questions they had been grappling with for moons, and part of Plumsong wanted to demand more answers out of Goldstar, but he knew she did not have them.

There was nothing more to discuss right now. Goldstar was in clearly no state to choose a deputy, so they let her have peace. She refused the mouse Plumsong brought her and he let it go now, bringing her herbs instead that she lapped up. Then she curled up with Jackdawnudge and closed her eyes, the two pressing tightly against each other.

Plumsong let them be, sitting at the entrance of the den, watching as the last of light slipped away. He would tell Lester and Wasp what Goldstar had said soon, but right now, he wanted to ponder it. What did it mean? Why was Starclan cut off from them? Why did this cut Starclan off from them in the first place?

Clearly, Starlcan was aware and trying, but what was this ocean and beach? It wasn't truly the Beach of Stars. And a cat with gray fur... Had it been Flintfur? Another warrior? Perhaps Ashtalon? But no, the length must have been obvious, and Flintfur had- had had long fur. So not Ashtalon.

Had it been... Had it been Skypelt? Plumsong had to wonder that for an instant. After all, the she-cat had curled up with Goldstar, and shortly after, Goldstar's life had broken free.

But no. No, Skypelt had never shown any unusual abilities nor had she come to him or Jackdawnudge about dreams or omens.

Then again, Amberpaw had seemed completely normal... Until he had been killed. And he somehow possessed the ability to sense the Unseen as well.

It was late when Plumsong sought out Skypelt, Wasp and Lester informed, thoughts to be puzzled over even though no answers would come.

Tumbledaisy was perched in the tree as the rainwatcher, as usual, a post she took pride in, because admittedly, a blind cat as a warrior could be difficult at times, but these days, well... But her sense of smell was unrivaled, and she had proved wonderful at detecting rainfalls.

Skypelt was sitting at the edge of camp, looking out over the ocean, and Plumsong joined her.

"Skypelt, I need to ask.. Have you ever had strange dreams before? Anything... Unusual... That you can't quite explain?" Plumsong asked bluntly when neither of them said anything.

Skypelt blinked, swiveling her head, and angled her ears.

"What? Like Amberpaw?" she asked after a beat, as if processing his words.

"Yes, or something else." Plumsong said and Skypelt shook her head.

"Not that I know of." Skypelt replied, letting out a soft mrrow. "Why?"

"I was just wondering." Plumsong said, shaking his head.

It had been foolish. They had been in a clan together for thirty-five moons, had traveled here before that, and surely he would have noticed if there was something strange about her, if she had dreams or abilities.

Skypelt nodded and Plumsong began to get to his paws, but Skypelt spoke.

"Plumsong... If you don't mind, would sit with me for a while? I could use some company." she said and Plumsong was surprised.

But he found he couldn't deny her the request and he sat next to her, their pelts brushing, looking up at the stars until, finally, they both returned to their nests.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Let all cats of the clan gather beneath the tree for a clan meeting!"

Goldstar's voice rang out clearly through the clearing, but the clan had more or less already been waiting, and it hardly took them any time to gather.

Goldstar had certainly looked better and she was still grieving deeply, but she had managed to get up from her nest and speak to her kits, and today she was doing her duty to the clan by appointing the new deputy.

Yellowlily, Quietback, and Amberpaw had returned by this point, and they had told them how the journey to and from had gone, as well as how the burning had gone. It seemed to have worked as originally planned, which was good, and Goldstar plunged on.

"I need to appoint our new deputy. Flintfur... Flintfur served us well, but we can not have the place vacant, and he would understand. So Starclan, hear and approve my choice. Skypelt, if you are willing, I would like to become Hyacinthclan's new deputy." Goldstar said, and no one was surprised.

Skypelt stepped forward and bowed her head respectfully.

"I am willing, Goldstar."

"Do you swear to uphold the duties of a deputy, to look after your clan, to care for them when I am unable, and to ultimately lead them when I am gone?" Goldstar asked, not the traditional words, exactly, but much about their clan was not traditional.

"I do."

"Then I am name you deputy of Hyacinthclan. May you serve us well." Goldstar said, leaping down to rest her muzzle on Skypelt's forehead.

When she was done, she climbed back into the tree, waiting until the clan's cheers had died down. The cheers felt almost inappropriate with their grief, but they cheered anyway.

"And there is another matter I need to address. Yellowpaw, you not only lost your father, you lost your mentor. And you need a new one. I will mentor you, when I am able, and for now, I ask that Civetbeak take Yellowpaw on alongside Amberpaw, if you can." she said, looking at the dark warrior.

Buzzardglide leaned over and repeated the words in her brother's ears.

"Yes, leader, I am fine with that." Civetbeak said with a nod, and that was it.

Goldstar ended the meeting and slipped back into her den, and Plumsong followed after. She was still grieving, still in pain, and so was Jackdawnudge. Well, they all were, but those two cats, they were suffering from it the most.

But, at least, Goldstar had ensured that even in her grief, the clan had stability, and that was all Plumsong could ask her for right now. He had to hope, that in the moons to comes, despite another loss, that Hyacinthclan would recover once more.

11/4/2025-11/9/2025

[mantis-clan]

Mantisclan Moon 35

The muscles in Sunsap’s stump don’t seem to understand they aren’t connected to anything anymore- Sunsap purrs gratefully as Dovewhisker helps massage her. He may be getting older, but that doesn’t stop him from caring about his former apprentice. Sunsap has a particularly high security with him 🥺 don’t think too hard about his past okay <3

Mumblecrackle’s tail is all healed up and Echodapple’s head finally feels better! However Locustpond has gotten yellowcough.

Peter Pangrove runs into an old rogue friend of his, now all grown up. She decides to join the clan.

Just hours after meeting Lynx, while out on patrol, Bluesky, Fumble, Peter Pangrove and Magnoliapaw run into an injured loner. Unable to leave a fellow cat to die, they take the loner in. She introduces herself as Spider and seems relieved to be getting some help- that is, until she spots Lynx. Then she goes dead quiet and doesn’t speak for the rest of the night.

previous / next

[dark-tides-and-storms]

Moon 35, Part 3, POV Amberpaw

Cats: Yellowlily, Quietback, Amberpaw, Aphidrise, Stoneleaf

TW/CW: Dead body, cremation

Amberpaw had never been to the Burning Caves before, as new as they were, and the journey was hard. He was glad that Hyacinthclan territory was closer to it, even if their camp was still a good distance. He couldn't imagine what it must be like for Ferretclan and Weedclan to get their dead here, or would be like.

He didn't know if any cats had been taken to the Burning Caves before.

It was a long journey, and hard. Amberpaw was large and strong, though he was also shorter than both Yellowlily and Quietback, and hauling a body wasn't easy, either. Especially when Flintfur went cold and stiff, and Amberpaw felt terrible for every slide and slip after this happened.

Yellowlily made sure that Flintfur didn't slip from Amberpaw's and Quietback's shoulders and backs, for the most part, and it was a hard journey. Luckily, Yellowlily was carrying the conch and watchful.

Still, Amberpaw was surprised that the runners had managed to get the fire to the caves as quickly as they could have, though it had taken some tail-lengths of sun movement in reality, and a reason why they had been broken into teams with fresh sticks each time.

Night fell before they got there and though it felt wrong, it was too dark to continue, and Yellowlily insisted they stop.

"But... What if an Unseen comes?" Amberpaw said, looking at Flintfur's pelt.

"Only for a short time. You and Quietback need rest, or we aren't going to make it." Yellowlily assured him, adding, "And you can sense them, can't you? You'll be able to give us a warning."

Amberpaw nodded and they stopped in a sheltered area to hunt, rest their paws, and drink from a stream.

Amberpaw sat first watch, and he looked at Flintfur, covered in protection, matted with blood, and it felt wrong. He had couldn't remember when the clan had prepared Ashtalon and protection hadn't existed back then, but he knew what they did.

While he waited, he took the conch Yellowlily had left with him, and he submerged it in the stream. It was hard and clumsy, but it held just enough water after he had dragged it back, and he began to wash the protection and blood from Flintfur.

It was hard and several times Amberpaw dragged his body away from where it rested because of the mud puddle, but by the time Quietback and Yellowlily returned with prey, including some for Amberpaw, he was clean.

He glanced at the older warriors, feeling worried that they would scold him for what he had done, but they did not. Yellowlily nodded approvingly and Quietback thanked him, beginning to help him dry Flintfur.

They ate, rested, drank, and then moved on, Flintfur still stiff on their shoulders. It was slow progress and they watched the sky in fear of clouds, but no rainfall came. No Unseen, no rainfall, no anything that was concerning or worrying.

They arrived at the caves after sunrise and their presence was quickly noted, Aphidrise appearing after an unfamiliar cat disappeared into the Burning Caves.

He let out a pained cry when he saw Flintfur's body.

"Flintfur! What- What happened?!" Aphidrise cried, his eyes wide.

Amberpaw had never seen him so shocked, never heard him so loud- Aphidrise was so quiet and calm that half the time he forgot the cat was even there. Aphidrise had been very enthusiastic to volunteer to be a Firekeeper.

"Let's get in the cave first." Yellowlily said, drawing her tailtip over Aphidrise's flank.

He nodded, walking shakily with them, and the rest of the Firekeepers looked shocked when they entered. Everyone had known Flintfur and respected him, it seemed, and Amberpaw did his best to explain, even though he didn't want to.

The inside of the cave was hot, the fire burning bright and hot at the back, and a side tunnel smelled oddly damp, Stoneleaf emerging and letting out a cry of her own before Amberpaw got far in his explanation.

She nuzzled Flintfur and then leaned into Aphidrise, and Amberpaw lost track of the other cats, their names just not registering in his mind.

Two from each clan, ten cats in total, and they held their own, brief vigil for Flintfur, but then it was time.

Aphidrise and Stoneleaf picked up his body and took it to the pit of fire, heaving it in, and something in Amberpaw cringed. He didn't look, didn't want to see the flames swallowing Flintfur up, and then Aphidrise ran off. He came back with bright marigold flowers in his jaws and placed them near the edge of pit, along with hyacinth and periwinkles.

"What are the flowers for?" Amberpaw asked, tilting his head.

"A gift since we can't sit vigil. We decided it together." Aphidrise said, delicately picking up a marigold.

He tossed it into the flames and Stoneleaf did the same, as did the rest of the Firekeepers.

Amberpaw, Quietback, and Yellowlily did the same, Amberpaw picking up one of the purple hyacinths, so familiar to him, and tossing it toward the dark shape of Flintfur.

It landed and soon caught, and the thirteen cats stood on the edge of the fire, until the scent of burning flesh and the heat got to be too much.

Then the Firekeepers led them down the side tunnel, which was longer than expected, and Amberpaw was surprised to find a spring in a smaller cavern, surrounded by moss and a few patches of plants, likely due to the hole in the roof that allowed sunlight in.

They all settled down to rest and Amberpaw saw nests here, along with mossballs, and the flowers, too.

He curled up and took a deep breath, an overwhelming feeling of sadness and guilt filling him, though he knew Flintfur's death hadn't been his fault. One of them had been likely to die, and Flintfur had decided to take that into his own paws so that Amberpaw and Yellowpaw would live.

That was a warrior. That was a deputy. And Amberpaw knew he would do his best not only to live up to Ashtalon's legacy, but Flintfur's, too.

But for now, he listened to the gentle talk of the Firekeepers and curled up on the soft moss, letting himself grieve for Flintfur.

10/29/2025-10/31/2025

Flowers and meanings (in the language of flowers version I use):

Marigolds: Grief

Hyacinth (purple): Forgiveness, please forgive me

Periwinkles: Tender recollections

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[theroyalloopclan]

Moon 34

Moon 35

I made Bixby his 2nd mate as I was tired of waiting

Oh wait

she is a child. I am inviting her in

Moon 36 but shh

[pikaclan]

Moon 35

Mossystar has officially drawn the line. Unless a kittypet, loner, or rogue is wishing to join the Clan, if you are caught speaking to an outsider, there will be punishment, as harsh as necessary to Mossystar's discretion. While she does not want her Clan to forget their roots, they are a Clan now and must grow from those roots.

Flamepaw has received his warrior name.

A new kit was left to the Clan

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