Howlpaw's tail was held high as he followed after his clanmates through the grotto and to the beautiful flower field. He craned his neck, wide green eyes looking for a particular spotted tom. As he caught sight of his target, Howlpaw quickened his pace, falling in line beside his fellow apprentice.
"Softpaw! Hey, you didn't introduce me to the other apprentices at the last Gathering. Can I tail you when you go to say hi?" he asked earnestly.
Softpaw's ear twitched, the older apprentice looking incredulously at Howlpaw. "When I say hi? Howlpaw, I don't say hi. The Gathering is a formality, but there's no point making friends with cats you may have to fight."
"That's not what Kestrelstar said," Howlpaw argued, frowning as he flicked his gaze ahead. "Well fine, if you're going to be like that. I'll just introduce myself without your help."
A mrow of laughter caught Howlpaw off guard, Softpaw not even attempting to muffle his snickering as he rolled his eyes. "Ok Howlpaw. I'll see you at Dandelion Memorial. Good luck." Softpaw trotted ahead after Goldeniris and Honeyeagle, his tail tip flicking to hit Howlpaw's nose.
The gray apprentice jumped, swatting at the air where the tail once was, before huffing. As his fur began to lie flat, he gave himself a few quick licks before eyeing the gathered cats. He eventually noticed a smaller, younger looking tom. He was white and spotted with pale brown patches, standing alone.
Maybe he's nervous to meet other apprentices, just like me!
With a steady breath, Howlpaw trotted over with his head raised high, flicking his tail in greeting. "Hello there! I'm Howlpaw of SeedClan. Are you..." He paused only a moment, scenting the air. "...a SorrelClan apprentice?"
"I am." The tom's smile was small. He dipped his head in greeting to Howlpaw. "My name is Bumblepaw. I've been training for 4 moons now under Cranefang. You train under Kestrelstar, don't you?"
Howlpaw's eyes widened. "Wow, you know a lot!"
Bumblepaw purred with a small laugh. "Word gets around, especially when a leader trains an apprentice."
Pride swelled within him, Howlpaw unable to keep from flattening his ears with a show of embarrassment. He opened his mouth to speak further, but was interrupted by a flash of gray nudging her way between them, a bright smile on her face.
"Hi there! Socializing today, huh? Ooh, I'm glad there's a SeedClan cat willing to chat. That Softpaw is always telling me to bug off." She laughed loud enough to make Howlpaw duck his head, wary of others around them who glanced over with somewhat annoyed glances.
The dark gray tabby waved her plume-like tail. "I'm Rainpaw - CoyoteClan apprentice. I see you've met Bumblepaw. Got any scoop for me before the Gathering starts?"
Blinking at her in shock, Howlpaw stuttered. "I don't think uh- I mean I think that's Kestrelstar's job, not mine. That is uh..." He glanced away. While he was glad they were friendly, he hadn't exactly expected this.
"Rainpaw, quiet down," Bumblepaw whispered calmly. He nodded ahead to the Leaders, who stood proud as a hushed silence fell over the group. Howlpaw too straightened up, turning to pay attention.
The Gathering was starting.
Ryestar stepped forward, setting a Petunia down before his paws. "CoyoteClan is steadily recovering from the flood. Plummoon has taken up his deputy duties, but unfortunately we ran into a nasty fox that managed to mangle his leg. Lakeburn says he will make a full recovery." Murmurs of well wishes were exchanged, a few glances being cast towards Rainpaw, causing Howlpaw to glance at her as well.
Ryestar continued. "Rainpaw bravely finished chasing the fox off, and helped her mentor back to camp. I would like to acknowledge her tonight and thank her for protecting our new deputy."
Wow! Howlpaw gazed at Rainpaw with admiration. He couldn't imagine chasing off a fox and taking care of Kestrelstar like that. And her mentor was a deputy! Rainpaw was pretty amazing!
The she-cat noticed his look, puffing out her chest with a smile of delight. "You should've seen the way it yipped when it turned tail and ran. It won't mess with CoyoteClan again, that's for sure!"
As Ryestar stepped back, Whisperstar went next, the CherryClan leader dropping her pinkish colored flower to the ground. "For this Gathering, I bring Gladiolus. It represents strength and growth, which I believe CherryClan has been experiencing. We will not let hardships keep us down." Her voice sounded more powerful, making the raspy tone that betrayed her age. "CherryClan welcomes a new apprentice. Icepaw has been apprenticed to my deputy, Quiverwatcher, and we believe he will continue to uphold CherryClan's values."
Icepaw?
There was a new apprentice in CherryClan? That meant he was just a moon younger than Howlpaw! He'd have to say hi and congratulate him before they left.
"Icepaw! Icepaw! Icepaw!" the gathering cheered, Howlpaw raising his voice as he craned his neck and looked around for the apprentice.
He finally spotted him. A spiky white tom stood fierce and proud, a smile not even cracking his features. Howlpaw could see why he was named Icepaw. His eyes were like sunlit ice, and his cold exterior and white pelt made him fit for the chills of leafbare.
"We also have a new member of our clan. Apricotfeather has moved to the nursery with kits, but we have learned her mate is an outsider. As the code is to protect kits, we have taken him in to strengthen our ranks, as will the kits when they are born."
Chivestar's lips curled back in a snarl, and Ryestar even seemed surprised. "You took in an outsider, even after Bushclaw's death?" he asked warily.
"Churro has already proven his innocence," hissed Whisperstar, not explaining herself further. "Apricotfeather has suffered enough this past moon." Her fur bristled, before she stiffened and straightened herself. "And unfortunately, so have we. The truth is that twolegs came into our territory... and they managed to capture Tadpolefern. He was taken."
Everyone gasped, fur bristling as panic seemed to rise from the crowd.
"T-Taken?" a white SorrelClan she-cat timidly cried out
"Does CherryClan not protect their own?!" snarled Quillbeak.
"Silence!" Whisperstar cried, lashing her tail as her silver eyes betrayed the pain she felt. "CherryClan is feeling great shame. We loved Tadpolefern, and we have sent countless patrols out in search of Twolegs. But alas it hasn't led to any success..." She trailed off, sighing. "CherryClan is rebuilding, but with what is sounding like a large litter, we will be stronger than ever," she insisted, admittedly rather defensive.
"I also have a warning to my fellow clan cats." Whisperstar's voice was stern and serious. "As you may have noticed, our medicine cat Maplefern has been absent two Gatherings now. I'm informing you all now that she has been exiled from CherryClan."
Howlpaw's ears flattened as shocked whispers flooded the clearing. His pelt felt hot, knowing well where Maplefern was. He lowered his head, yet kept his eyes looking at Whisperstar as she continued to speak.
"As is the code of Healers, they must not take mates, nor carry kits, as it impedes upon their relationship with StarClan. When we learned she had been seeing a loner, she lost her rights to our support."
Kestrelstar eyed the white she-cat, frowning. Her demeanor did not go unnoticed, as Whisperstar glared back. "Do you have something to say, Kestrelstar?"
"Only if you're finished," Kestrelstar replied coolly, voice muffled by the large yellow flower she carried.
Whisperstar huffed and stepped back, eyeing the SeedClan leader with her silver eyes as they traded places. Kestrelstar set her offering down, raising her tail as she gazed upon the gathered cats.
"I have brought a Sunflower because SeedClan has unwavering faith, and are looking towards the light that is the sun. This past moon has brought change, but we are strong and certain in our actions." She took a soft breath, puffing out her chest as she spoke. "The truth is that SeedClan has taken in Maplefern."
"You what?!" Whisperstar bared her fangs, silver eyes blazing with fury. "Does SeedClan spat in the face of StarClan's word?"
"I should be asking CherryClan that," Kestrelstar hissed back without hesitation. "Does CherryClan leave kits to die and fend for themselves?"
Whisperstar sat upright in shock. "Kits? What do you mean?"
"Maplefern had kits with her. They appeared to be almost 2 moons old. She most certainly had to have been pregnant when you cast her out." Kestrelstar's amber eyes hardened. "Maplefern may have broken the healer code, but she is still a queen, and the code says to never neglect the innocent."
CherryClan cats spoke up, eyes wide with horror.
"We didn't know!" Icepaw declared, catching Howlpaw's attention. He was surprised a new apprentice would speak out so loudly. But the white tom stood tall, not even flinching as the other cats gazed at him. "CherryClan would never harm innocent kits!"
Kestrelstar waved her tail for silence. "We have been taking care of Maplefern and her kits. While it is Maplefern's decision, we believe the kits will grow into fine warriors of SeedClan, unless CherryClan wants to change their mind?"
A hushed silence fell through the air. A look of shame was plastered on Whisperstar's face. She lowered her head before shaking it. "We will start no conflict over the kits. I admit the wrong I have done to Maplefern." Her voice hardened as she met Kestrelstar's gaze though. "However, she is not welcomed back in CherryClan. While she should've been taken care of as a mother, she has chosen to flee rather than use the code that would've saved her. CherryClan wants no part of her, nor her kits after her banishment."
"I want to apologize too," Ryestar spoke up. The elderly tom would stand as she looked to Kestrelstar. "Maplefern came to CoyoteClan asking for herbs, but we did not give them to her. Her kits were no where in sight when she came, and she didn't speak of them to us. Had we known, we would've provided her the care she needed."
Kestrelstar appeared unimpressed, glaring at both of them. "She was injured. Did you not know that either?"
To her surprise, Ryestar shook his head. "She smelled like garlic actually when she came. She looked to be in fine condition, and merely left when we explained we didn't have herbs to spare. We weren't even aware of her banishment at that point in time."
Howlpaw tilted his head in confusion. Why would Maplefern not tell those around her the full story? She could've gotten help so easily it sounded like, and yet she hid her kits and what happened. It was like Softpaw had caught her or something.
Kestrelstar dipped her head, accepting Ryestar's answer, albeit with a still displeased expression. With a soft sigh, she continued to speak. "Softpaw completed his Border Trial, bringing him closer to becoming a warrior of our clan. This is where he found Maplefern, escorting her back to camp without conflict. With her came her three kits - Slatekit, Bluekit, and Hollowkit."
The gathered cats seemed restless, surprised still with all they had heard so far. However, as Chivestar stood up for his turn, his uncharacteristically hostile expression caused near everyone to hush up. As he set down the Forget-Me-Not, everyone seemed to stiffen.
"SorrelClan is in mourning. While our apprentice Bumblepaw completed his Training Trial, we bring unfortunate news of the death of our sole Healer, Fireleopard."
Most seemed to murmur condolences. The tom was rather old after all, but with no apprentice to follow in his pawsteps, what would SorrelClan do?
Chivestar continued. "We are not without a Healer though. Icywish has stepped forward, volunteering to become a Healer after Fireleopard's passing. She has already begun receiving additional training from Lakeburn of CoyoteClan, however Icywish has impressed us with her knowledge of healing and herbs she already knew."
Kestrelstar spoke up. "Chivestar, know if Icywish needs any further training, Fallendapple is very able."
"I'm afraid I'll have to pass, but thank you, Kestrelstar." Chivestar's voice was short and curt. Howlpaw noticed the way Kestrelstar's pelt prickled in surprise, before she dipped her head with a nod.
"But while Fireleopard was old, it was not StarClan who came for him," he declared, green eyes looking to Whisperstar. "We found Fireleopard on the CherryClan border. Do you care to explain yourself, Whisperstar?"
It was one surprise after the other, the cats bristling in shock as they begun to turn on each other. Bumblepaw remained calm as he sat with the other apprentices, but his green eyes shifted to look over at Icepaw, who was lashing his tail in fury.
"Are you accusing CherryClan of killing a Healer?!" Whisperstar spat.
"Well you're willing to cast out kits. What other rules of the code are you breaking?" Chivestar snarled back, lashing his tail as he approached the CherryClan leader.
"Chivestar!" "Whisperstar!"
Kestrelstar pushed herself against Chivestar, nudging him back with a growl. Ryestar's form towered over Whisperstar, pleading for the she-cat to not launch herself at the SorrelClan leader.
Whisperstar huffed. "I'm sorry for your loss. You have my condolences, really. But CherryClan had no part of it. Though perhaps if SorrelClan cats are such fox-hearts, they deserve to lose a life to even the score."
"Why you-!" Chivestar raised his haunches, but Kestrelstar blocked him, giving him a pleading gaze. The gray tom seemed to stare at her, before flattening his ears and looking to his clan.
"SorrelClan, we're leaving!" he called, trudging ahead and smacking his tail against Kestrelstar as he left. The SeedClan leader flinched, amber eyes wide.
Howlpaw shifted uncomfortably. He and Rainpaw both glanced over at Bumblepaw, who stood up without a word.
"Yeah, turn tail and run back to your camp!"
Looking up with a shocked gaze, Howlpaw saw the spiky white form of Icepaw pushing his way through the crowd. He bared his fangs, snarling at Bumblepaw, who was far bigger than the new apprentice. "Your leader is a liar. Fight me here and now and we'll settle this!"
Bumblepaw's expression barely shifted. It was only now that Howlpaw noticed his smile didn't reach his eyes, and that his green gaze was cold and lifeless.
"I wouldn't waste my time on a scrap of fur like you," he murmured, voice velvety smooth. He dipped his head to Howlpaw and Rainpaw, before turning to leave.
Rainpaw look stunned, mouth agape in a grin. Despite the terror sweeping through Howlpaw, Rainpaw seemed to be relishing in this animosity.
Maybe because it's not her clan...
Icepaw snarled, glancing at Howlpaw and Rainpaw before puffing himself up to look bigger. Even when he did though, he was easily the smallest still.
"Ah um, hi!" Howlpaw greeted, offering a nervous but friendly smile. Icepaw looked ready to claw his fur off, but Howlpaw wasn't sure what else to do. The white tom would glare before turning around and sauntering off, lashing his tail in annoyance.
Rainpaw craned her neck to watch him go, before snickering. "Wow, now that was a dramatic gathering. Phew, I'll have a lot to tell Plummoon about."
"Are you not scared? Or feeling um... bad for everyone?" Howlpaw asked, astonished at first before trailing off into a more meek and nervous tone.
"Well it doesn't affect my clan," she spoke simply. Rainpaw flicked her ear before nudging Howlpaw with a smile. "Yours just grazed some trouble though. Congrats on your new Healer and kit combo though. And hey, let's chat more next time." The dark gray tabby would perk up as a ginger she cat raised her tail to follow. "I gotta go, but see ya around, Howlpaw."
And just like that, he was alone. He saw the rest of his clan leaving, Kestrelstar at the helm. Her eyes looked troubled, trained ahead as her tail lashed with irritation. Howlpaw felt a knot within his stomach, tightening with every pawstep. He gulped, uncertainty clear in his dark colored gaze.
Four different clangen files are being used for this project. While mostly following SeedClan, the activities of SorrelClan, CoyoteClan, and CherryClan may also be featured at times.
The following rules are in place for these files:
No restarting the file. Save file manipulation will only occur to move exiled cats back in for story, add an adopted parent to an orphaned kit, or remove a leader’s life due to war.
Decision to proceed, do not proceed, or antagonize during events is decided by the cat’s personality type.
As is tradition in these clans, apprentices must pass a trial before they receive their name. An apprentice must survive a solo border, hunting, and training trip (w/ proceed option chosen), as well as assist the medicine cat with their duties to earn their warrior name.
Allow mass extinction events.
Allow leaders to automatically choose a new deputy. This decision will not be manipulated by the player.
Cats choose their own path of life. Allow apprentices, warriors and elders to choose to become mediators/medicine cats. Cats can choose to retire. Cats choose their own mates. Allow affairs and mate switches.
Experienced based apprentice graduation is turned on.
Patrolling is based on Moon Events. Cats who “wish to be alone” will do a solo trip. If the relationship event describes hunting, or desiring to hunt in the cat’s profile, then they will have those respective duties. The exception to this is apprentices for their choice of trial completion.
Same sex cats cannot have kits, but may adopt or get a surrogate (happens if kits are found w/o a mother).
Disabled romantic interactions with former mentors and first cousins.
SeedClan
Leader:
Kestrelstar - dark gray tabby she-cat with dark amber eyes
Apprentice: Howlpaw
Deputy:
Honeyeagle - bright ginger tabby tom with amber eyes
Healer:
Fallendapple - long furred speckled light brown she-cat with bright blue eyes
Mediator:
None
Warriors:
Goldeniris: black and dark ginger tortoiseshell she-cat with one gold and one blue eye
Apprentice: Softpaw
Quillbeak: long furred pale tabby and white tom with dark amber eyes
Apprentices:
Softpaw: white and golden speckled tom with silver eyes
Howlpaw: black speckled tom with hazel eyes
Queens:
Maplefern - black and white she-cat with yellow eyes. Former CherryClan Medicine Cat. Mother of Bluekit, Hollowkit, and Slatekit.
Kits:
Bluekit - marbled black tabby tom with bright blue eyes.
Slatekit - dark gray spotted tabby tom with yellow eyes
Hollowkit - dark brown and white tom with yellow eyes
Elders:
None
SorrelClan
Leader:
Chivestar - gray tabby tom with hazel eyes
Deputy:
Ochreclaw - pale and brown mottled tortoiseshell she-cat with yellow eyes
Healer:
Icywish: unusually spotted dark brown and white she-cat with pale blue eyes
Mediator:
None
Warriors:
Floodthrift: pale gray tabby and white tom with gray eyes
Cranefang: white she-cat with black patches on her face and dark blue eyes
Apprentice: Bumblepaw
Apprentices:
Bumblepaw: light brown and white tom with dark green eyes
Queens:
None
Kits:
None
Elders:
None
CoyoteClan
Leader:
Ryestar: spotted dark gray tom with dark blue eyes
Deputy:
Plummoon: pale gray ticked tabby tom with blue eyes
Apprentice: Rainpaw
Healer:
Lakeburn - long furred dark brown tabby tom with blue eyes
Mediator:
Havenbramble: golden and white tom with blue eyes
Warriors:
Aphidsun: beautiful long furred ginger she-cat with a darker colored stripe and blue eyes
Apprentices:
Rainpaw: long furred dark gray tabby she-cat with silver eyes
Queens:
None
Kits:
None
Elders:
None
CherryClan
Leader:
Whisperstar: white she-cat with silver eyes
Deputy:
Quiverwatcher - black, gray, and white cat with silver eyes
Apprentice: Icepaw
Healer:
Moonbumble - long furred black, gray, and white she-cat with gray eyes
Mediator:
None
Warriors:
Churro: long furred pale ginger smoke tom with amber eyes
Apprentices:
Icepaw: white tom with icy blue eyes
Queens:
Apricotfeather: long furred dark gray tabby she-cat with green eye. Expecting Churro’s kits.
Kits:
None
Elders:
None
Cats Outside the Clan
Sekhmet: fluffy speckled ginger tom with blue eyes and a red bow collar
Tantomile: silver tabby tom with blue eyes
Tadpolefern: silver tabby tom with hazel eyes. Lost.
Some of the cats we’ve seen so far from SorrelClan.
Chivestar -- (89 moons)
A kind and gentle tom with a charismatic aura. He’s witty and likes to joke around with his clanmates and make them feel like friends. He’s never been big on the whole reverence and respect thing, and treats his clan as equals with him as the helm of command to put reason into motion.
Ochreclaw -- (120 moons)
Incredibly loyal to Chivestar, and the deputy of SorrelClan. She’s exceptionally skilled, but her own social skills could use some work. She greatly admires her leader and is stubborn about retiring, despite the question coming up numerous times.
Fireleopard -- (154 moons)
An elderly medicine cat with a temper. He’s skilled with his paws, his work with braces and the mending of bones having earned him expertise in this area within the territories. Other clans would often bring those with broken bones to Fireleopard to heal, before the Great Division happened. He’s snappy and rather rude, chasing off any apprentice who even slightly showed interest. SorrelClan’s newest warrior, Icywish, is often tasked to lend him a paw as his comments seem to bounce right off of her.
Fireleopard has been more on edge recently after he received a vision from StarClan, Icywish still unsure what exactly he saw...
Icywish -- (13 moons)
A witty young warrior who was trained by Ochreclaw. Despite being the deputy, Ochreclaw’s influence had little affect on Icywish. Icywish often felt let down by the deputy’s more awkward tendencies, easily able to walk over her with her sometimes shock-worthy remarks. Icywish always could keep up with Fireleopard’s sharp words, so she lends the aging tom a hand here and there.
She worries about what he saw in the water’s vision that made him freak out so much, but he won’t talk to her about it...
The Gathering - a time for sharing news with the other clans and coming together under an oath of peace.
It was tradition, honored by generations of cats before her. As leader of SeedClan, Kestrelstar took great pride in the Order of the Flowers.
She led her clan to Rainbow Fields, gentle with the golden plant in her mouth. She dare not let it wilt, something she always worried about despite its fresh picking. Still, under the eyes of the full moon, knowing this was when StarClan was closest, she couldn't help but always feel a twinge of dutiful anxiety.
As her clan began to settle in, Kestrelstar took her place next to a familiar gray tom. His hazel eyes gleaned with interest, already eyeing her offering.
"Guh evenun, Kestrasta. Wha flowa ha yo brough?"
Watching as his own flower flopped about only made Kestrelstar's nose scrunch up. Amber eyes looked away, giving Chivestar only a flick of her ear in acknowledgement. With this movement, the clans lulled into a hushed murmur before falling silent, eyes fixed upon the four leaders before them.
Kestrelstar took a step forward. Gently, she placed the golden plant down, and looked out amongst the crowd of cats. "Under the honor of the full moon, I have the blessing of going first this moon-lit gathering. Today I have brought with me Goldenrod. Representing prosperity and good fortune, that is what I believe SeedClan has had this past moon. Softpaw has been continuing his training and completed the Trial of Training. Young Howlkit has also been growing stronger every day, and will be beginning his apprenticeship very soon."
Her gray paw rested atop the stem of the goldenrod, always worried the soft breeze might just blow it away. Amber eyes would give a firm nod as she completed her words, turning to the smiling Chivestar as if to say, finally you can speak.
Placing the purple plant down, the fellow clan leader could only chuckle softly before speaking up. "Today I have brought Borage," he announced, his voice stronger now that it wasn't muffled by leaves. "Borage is used to reawaken the heart, and grant courage. I will first say that we have a new warrior in our presence. Having completed the Trial of Herbs, we are proud to welcome Icywish as a full warrior of SorrelClan."
The clan cats erupted into cheers, chanting Icywish's name, others murmuring congratulations to the proud brown she-cat.
Chivestar continued. "Bumblepaw continues to work hard, and completed the Trial of Borders. SorrelClan continues to grow stronger, and I believe our hearts only continue to awaken and grow stronger with it." As he finished his words, Chivestar cast a lasting a glance at Kestrelstar, a knowing smile on his face before flicking his tail, turning away to look at the elderly gray tom who would be next.
"Ryestar," Chivestar murmured with a dip of his head.
The CoyoteClan leader sighed calmly under his breath, adjusting his aching bones as he gently placed his flower down before him. He had to clear his throat, voice raspy as he spoke up. "I have brought with me Violet today. It represents humility, peace even. That is what CoyoteClan has been. Rainpaw has completed her Trial of Training, and Havenbramble has made great strides in his visits recently to the other clans. I understand SorrelClan welcomed him as a guest for a few sunrises this moon, to great success." Ryestar turned to look at Chivestar expectantly.
"Certainly. Havenbramble is a welcomed cat in my clan, and myself and my clanmates were honored to have him," Chivestar replied, dipping his head.
A small scoff could be heard, causing Ryestar's ear to twitch. Dark blue eyes shifted to the small white she-cat next to him, the final leader to speak. Clearing his throat, Ryestar cast a gentle look upon her.
"Whisperstar, would you care to go next?"
"As the stars decree, yes?" the white she-cat snarled back. The other leaders would look to her with wide eyes, surprised by such an openly hostile tone at the sacred gathering. Whisperstar practically flung her flower to the ground, the sharp inhale of breath from Kestrelstar unable to be missed.
"This evening I have brought the Petunia. With it I bring anger, because one of my own was murdered," Whisperstar hissed.
Murdered?! Kestrelstar's eyes widened, staring in shock as hushed murmurs echoed through the gathering. Some CherryClan cats looked down with sorrow, while others bristled and carried the same anger their leader did.
"CherryClan had welcomed Bushclaw as a full warrior of their ranks, however... in the dead of night, something..." Whisperstar paused, bristling as she raised her head and her voice in turn. "Someone killed him. The claw marks along his throat are unmistakably from a cat. So I'm going to ask you all right now, who was it?!"
"You dare accuse us of such a thing?!" Ochreclaw shouted. The SorrelClan deputy's tail lashed.
Fireleopard would snarl as he sat amongst his fellow medicine cats. "Don't look at SorrelClan. Perhaps instead look at SeedClan. Perhaps they seek vengeance for their fallen mediator."
Fallendapple's eyes widened in shock, immediately backing away from the SorrelClan medicine cat. "Fireleopard?! You dare say such things? To instigate fighting under the light of the full moon is blasphemy!"
"Don't think just because you're a medicine cat that I won't claw your ears off, you old sack of bones!" Quillbeak had stepped forward, protectively standing in front of Fallendapple and forcing Firelopard to back up.
Kestrelstar began to feel the hair on her pelt rise. Her amber eyes saw the clouds beginning to gather overhead. The winds pushed old air into her ears, and the petals of her goldenrod would waver with their touch. She knew that this had to stop!
"It is unfair to accuse SeedClan and use our grief against us," Honeyeagle called out. He gently pushed Quillbeak back, looking to his clanmate with a sympathetic gaze.
Kestrelstar felt a sense of calm rush over her, thankful for her kindhearted deputy.
"Besides-" Honeyeagle raised his head with a narrowed gaze. "You didn't even talk about CoyoteClan."
Honeyeagle!!
That was not helpful. Yowls of fury echoed from Ryestar's cats, the elderly leader frowning as he cast an unapproving gaze at Kestrelstar. Her ears burned with embarrassment. Kestrelstar knew she'd have some stern words for Honeyeagle later.
A soft tail brushed against her back, causing the she-cat to look up. Chivestar smiled at her with those same gleaming eyes. "No hard feelings, Kestrelstar. I will be having words with my cats as well. I assure you that we are allies in this troublesome time."
While she hated to admit, she was grateful for Chivestar's patience and kind words. "Thank you," she murmured back, softly so that no cat heard.
Clouds rolled over the full moon, the peace having been broken. Kestrelstar knew they should take their leave before blood should dare be spilled. With a quick dip of her head, she said her goodbyes to Chivestar, only giving a quick glance to Ryestar and Whisperstar.
Amber eyes fell down upon the goldenrod she had brought. Prosperity. Growth. So much for that... Quickly, Kestrelstar shook her head. She mustn't forget the traditions of their ancestors. Before she took her leave, the dark gray tabby tenderly picked up her plant before any other leader could do the same to theirs, placing it softly within the Rainbow Bend. Soon the seeds will fall and spread through this field to create the array of so many colorful flowers. That beauty would never fade, not if Kestrelstar had anything to say about it.
"SeedClan, we are leaving," Kestrelstar called.
With but a flick of her tail, her clan went silent, eyes following her as she padded through the crowd of cats. Mixed expressions greeted her, but one by one the clan followed their leader.
The moon remained clouded, the stars unreadable in the night sky.
Fireleopard receives an intense vision in the ripple of puddles.
Lakeburn and Ryestar speak to StarClan.
SorrelClan
“Is this enough Fireleopard? Can we head back now?”
“Not yet Icypaw. I understand you’re eager since this is your final trial and all, but do not test me with your impatience.”
“You really are no fun at all...”
Amidst SorrelClan’s dense territory, the healer, Fireleopard, diligently hunts for precious herbs to assist his clanmates. A reserved tom with a sharp tongue, Fireleopard much preferred when he didn’t have anyone to help him funnily enough. Perhaps that was why even in his growing age he still did not have an apprentice. Chivestar had begun to worry, reminding the elderly healer that he could do to be a bit more welcoming and not scare off the kits who could be potential healer in the future. But alas, Fireleopard often rolled his eyes and paid little mind, much to Chivestar’s displeasure.
Today though, he had the young Icypaw with him, a bright eyed she-cat who spoke rather freely all things considered. You’d think being an elderly healer combo would get you some more respect, but Icypaw didn’t pay Fireleopard such niceties. Instead the spotted brown tabby averted her gaze with a soft sigh, holding the herbs they had gathered so far neatly in her mouth.
They just needed some moss now, which grew around damp areas. Fireleopard would press his nose to the wet earth, the smell of rain in the air from the night before. His paw pads were pricked with an icy chill as he got closer to the water’s edge.
And then he saw a face.
A familiar face.
It stared back at him from within the water, like a mirror. That icy chill clenched his body, traveling up his legs and onto his back, to the very tip of his tail tip. As his eyes widened, he could only bristle and hiss, reeling a paw back. With all of his might he slammed his unsheathed claws into the pool, causing a tremendous splash to erupt from the surface.
Icypaw yelped, the herbs dropping from her mouth in her shock. “F-Fireleopard? What’s gotten into you? Are you even more senile than I thought?!”
The ginger tom paid her no mind, trembling as realization dawned upon him.
“It was a message from StarClan...”
CoyoteClan
The air was heavy, the damp undertones of rain still sitting in the air from the evening before. Many would call it humid, and keep out of it as to not plague their pelt with the same stench. But Lakeburn would not pass up the opportunity for the moment of peace in the silence of nature.
While much of the forest slept and hid themselves away from the open air, CoyoteClan’s healer looked up at the stars with the gentlest of smiles and a distant look in his gaze.
“Mind if I join you?” a voice spoke up.
The question would be met with silence though, much to the gray cat’s confusion. Carefully he padded forward and settled beside Lakeburn, tilting his head to get a better look. When he saw those dazed eyes, he could only chuckle knowingly. The gray cat swept his tail to the side to gently run over Lakeburn’s back, causing the dark brown tabby to perk up and blink.
“Ah, Ryestar. When did you get here?” the healer spoke rather monotonously, a hint of displeasure sneaking into his voice as he was interrupted.
Ryestar smiled fondly back, turning his blue gaze up at the stars. “You’re not the only one who likes a quiet night. Surely you must know that, especially when Havenbramble is away.”
Lakeburn would sigh softly in return. “He sure is... talkative. He’s SorrelClan’s problem this evening.”
“It’s a good thing for a Mediator to be,” Ryestar reminded, a soft purr in his voice. Both toms sat side by side, gazes fixed upon the stars. They too were quiet and still, their soft twinkling but a murmur in the sky.
Like a whip though, that silence was cracked, and a burst of light shot through the sky. Firm and straight, it caused both Ryestar and Lakeburn to flinch for but a moment, and all too soon it was gone.
The CoyoteClan leader would blink once, before chuckling softly. “A shooting star, huh? Did you make a wish, Lakeburn?”
Silence met him once more, and Ryestar wondered if his healer had really gone and lulled off again. However, when he looked over he instead saw Lakeburn’s gaze focused upon the sky, his pelt bristling as he shook his head.
“No, Ryestar,” the dark brown tabby softly murmured back. “The stars have already made their wish for us...”
Fireleopard of SorrelClan and Lakeburn of CoyoteClan too see visions from their ancestors, just as Kestrelstar did. Unbeknownst to them, they all share this fate, and little do they know of what has been foretold in the coming moons...
