Academy Award nominee for Best Original Song , Antony of Antony and the Johnsons presents his debut collection of visual art, thought-provoking dreamscapes composed of paintings, drawings, photography, collage, song lyrics, and writings. Often fragmentary images, these pieces capture liminal states and elements of the unconscious. Some images are reclaimed and reconfigured in order to transcend their previous form. The intersecting mediums inform each other and create an interesting dialogue with Antony’s music, his creative muse, and personal mythology.
Fans and collectors will relish this lavishly produced volume, which includes Antony’s newest full-length CD Swanlights, and reveals the creative process of one of the world’s most gifted artists.
Swanlights è il quarto album del gruppo Anthony and the Johnsons, pubblicato il 12 ottobre 2010. L'uscita dell'album è accompagnata, in edizione speciale, ad un volume omonimo che raccoglie disegni, collages e dipinti di Antony. All'album partecipano Nico Muhly e Björk (che canta in Flétta). Infine, ricompare un pezzo dal titolo The Great White Ocean, già utilizzato come spot della campagna di Prada 2005/2006. La canzone The Spirit Was Gone è dedicata alla defunta figura del danzatore butoh Kazuao Ohno.
Swanlight is a canon cat. She’s Graypool’s daughter she just died as a kit. She has canon littermates as well who died young. In canon her father is Rippleclaw but that’s changed.
Her warrior name is an oc part I guess.
In my rewrite:
She, Spalshsong, and Morningriver are the kits of Mudfur and Graypool. This makes them the half-siblings of Leopardclaw (Leopardfur).
She’s the lovely mate of Reedtail and one of the cats who honestly adopts Ice at this point.
Here’s one Riverclan’s power couple: Swanlight and Reedtail. I just like that they both have red eyes so any kits they have also have red eyes aside from two kits. They to have contests of who can hold their breath longest. For lgbt headcanons of them Swanlight is asexual (not sex-repulsed) panromantic and Reedtail as bisexual.
Tallbark or Duskbark/Barkdusk in my rewrite: I love this ship a lot. I see them having a small thing as apprentices and rekindled it when Duskstorm (Talltail) returned. Duskstar told Bark about Jake and Bark got to meet him. (In the image they are talking about clan matters and their kits). Lgbt headcanons: Duskstar is gay (obviously), Barkface is non-binary and gay Bonus: Jake is bisexual Genderfluid. The ‘eye’ on Barkface’s side is something all medicine cats and seers gain as they go through training.
Mosspelt and Silvertide: two littermates talking smack and exchanging stories. They are the clan gossips along with Silverstream. Silvertide and Silverstream look exactly alike a part from their eye color and they have similar voices. This leads to pranks being made. Silvertide suspects two ideas: Stormstar is their sire or they were sired by a Windclan cat. Mosspelt is pansexual and Silvertide is gay.
Riverclan cats have water drops on them, any cat with Riverclan blood tends to have this trait as well such as Runningbrook of Windclan.
Icepaw shot up as he woke, his back leg thumping slightly. He walked out of the den, yawning as he did. He glanced around the clearing more specifically the fresh-kill pile. He padded closer noting how small and pitiful it looked. It reminded him of the scraps that Nutmeg would bring for his brood to eat and the times when The Bloodbound had lost a good prey spot.
"Hello Icepaw" he looked up to see Thrushpelt, his green eyes held pride and kindness.
"Hey Thrushpelt"
"I hope The Blazing has been good for you so far, Spottedleaf and Redtail told you've charmed them"
Icepaw chuckled "I'm glad, I'm surprised I did since half of the cats here think I can't do anything and will run at the first chance"
"Give it time" Thrushpelt replied "Others tend to be afraid of what they don't understand"
"I'll take your word for it"
"From what I've heard the guild eagerly awaits your progress no matter what path you take"
"That's good" Icepaw agreed "Better than being hissed at like with Smallwhisker or Robinwing"
"Yes they tend to be.....much" Thrushpelt hummed "Could you and a friend or two go on a small hunting trip? I need to discuss some things along with your meeting with Swanlight with Bluestar"
"Okay, I'll get Ravenpaw"
Thrushpelt nodded and turned back to Bluestar's den.
He headed back to the cadet's den and woke Ravenpaw up, slightly jerking him awake.
"Icepaw? What's going on?" he mewed sleepily
"Let's go hunting, alone, come on we won't be gone long"
Ravenpaw stood up nervously. He followed closely behind as they left the cadets den and padded out of camp. It was early and few cats were out. Icepaw saw the veterans laying in the sun, Smallwhisker seemed to be grumbling about something while Sparrowstrike and Palesong were nuzzling each other.
The scent of the forest filled his nostrils and his heart as he remembered that he lived here now. He lived in the grass filled land and not the cement city.
"Want to try ground or tree prey?" Ravenpaw asked "Trees look sturdy enough and there's no wind today"
Icepaw glanced back at him "Tree prey?"
Ravenpaw nodded "Squirrels and birds, climb up these trees to find them"
Icepaw stared upwards at the large trunks, the branches could easily break and fall. "Absolutely not"
The black tom chuckled, it was a lovely sound. It strangely made his heart flutter, he wanted to hear it more.
The forest was being kind today, they caught a total of four voles, two mice and a squirrel.
"This should work, Thrushpelt should be pleased" Icepaw stated
Ravenpaw's jaw slightly dropped in shock "T..Thrushpelt sent us out to hunt?"
Icepaw nodded, unearthing his last vole and picked it up "The pile was very pitiful and it needed to be filled, why is that such a surprise?"
"It's considered an honor for the lieutenant to send you out like that, shows his trust"
Icepaw looked up "Well I'm his cadet, he'll have to trust me and I hope Bluestar was thinking when she picked him"
Ravenpaw nodded "She usually is, I'm glad I have Leopardstorm"
"I've seen you jump around him sometimes"
"He's a big cat" Ravenpaw mewed "He looks like he could crush me with one paw"
"You say the same thing about most cats Ravenpaw" Spurcepaw burst from the bushes, a fat squirrel in her mouth, Ravenpaw shrieked "Many cats could crush you"
"E..exactly" Ravenpaw mewed quickly "I l..live on b..borrowed time"
"Oh relax" Spurcepaw chuckled "This is a usual thing" she mewed to Icepaw
Icepaw chuckled then bumped his side against Ravenpaw's "I can see that" They padded through the gorse tunnel, fur brushing against each others.
Thrushpelt was organizing patrols. Most cats were out and about, talking and sharing tongues. They padded over to the fresh-kill pile, dropping off their kills.
"Great catches you three" Spottedleaf mewed, tail-tip flicking in delight as she yanked a vole "Plump as can be" she was wearing thin bands on both her upper front legs, two on each.
"T...thanks S...Spottedleaf" Ravenpaw replied with a smile
"The forest thought we should have luck" Icepaw added "Glad for it, what's those bands?"
"Unlike the thicker ones these ones are for seers and medics. Thymepaw will get these when she's finished her training" Spottedleaf shook her fur "Spurcepaw, Timberface wants to see you"
"I know no rest" she sighed "See ya" she called
Spottedleaf turned to Icepaw and Ravenpaw" Could you two bring some prey for the nursery then meet back out here, I've heard that your doing some training session"
Icepaw nodded "Come on Ravenpaw"
They padded over to the sheltered den, the milk scent wrapping them up. A cat was just outside, it was a black tom with ginger patches with yellow eyes, he reminded Icepaw of Fuzzypelt.
"H..hey F..Furzepounce" Ravenpaw mewed
"Hey Raven, this the newpaw?" he asked
"Icepaw and yeah what of it?"
"Glad you have the spine" Furzepounce commented "It was getting boring round here"
Icepaw snorted "Hope to not disappoint"
Furzepounce flicked his tail "Go on"
Ravenpaw ducked his head underneath the thorny entrance
"Hello?" he called
"Who is it?"
"Ravenpaw and Icepaw" he replied
"Enter"
Icepaw padded in first with a rush and nearly crashed into a white molly with blue eyes "Sorry" he winced
The white molly didn't speak but only smiled and nodded.
"She's says it's fine" a golden tabby molly mewed "She's deaf"
"Thank you" a tortoiseshell and white molly replied, her green eyes gleaming.
Icepaw suddenly felt himself being dragged, his first instinct was to strike whatever it was until he felt a tongue lick his ears. It was the white molly with black speckles with beaming blue eyes.
The cats were slacked jawed as they watched the display.
"Well" the golden molly mewed "Frostbite certainly likes you"
"Didn't expect that that honestly" a pale gray molly added "She only grooms Lionheart like that"
"I don't get this" Icepaw replied "Why is she-"
"When was your last groom?" Frostbite mewed, her voice slightly strained "Your mother would be shocked"
"Uhhh..." Icepaw had no idea how to finish that, whenever he was dirty he would either jump into ponds or rarely let humans clean him. Nutmeg rarely groomed him, he had Princess or Luna to do it before he learned to do it himself. "A while"
"Nonsense to that"
A white cat with gray patches chuckled "It's alright kit, she won't hurt ya"
Icepaw hummed
"She fixed your head hair so that's a plus" Ravenpaw commented
"Was my style that bad?" he asked
"Not bad but..." Ravenpaw trailed off
"It needed improvement" the golden molly finished, her amber eyes soft "My name is Goldenflower, daughter of Speckletail and Sunstar"
"Proud blood in that one" a tortie with white mewed
"It's nothing" Goldenflower waved at the tortie then glanced at everyone else then back to Icepaw "Do you know anyone here?"
Icepaw shook his head
"We're fixing that" the white charlie said "Name's Mossthorn, kit of Bluestar, sired by Thistleclaw, adopted kit of Thrushpelt" then Mossthorn hummed "Well I guess son for right now"
"Sweetheart, daughter of Poppydawn and Windflight, these are my kits Seed and Apple"
"Name's Ambertuft, daughter of Stemsong"
"Willowpelt, daughter of Featherwhisker, adopted daughter of Thrushpelt and Rosetail, niece of Sunstar"
"Goldenflower, daughter of Speckletail and Sunstar"
"Brindleface, kit of Goosefeather and Sagewhisker, you've met Frostbite, adopted daughter of Robinwing and Fuzzypelt, and you and Tigerclaw already know each other"
Tigerclaw let out a low growl
"Tiger" Goldenflower mewed
"Son of Thistleclaw and Snowstorm, nephew of Bluestar, great grandson of Oakstar and Cloudberry" he grumbled out
"Wasn't Oakstar stripped?" Mossthorn called
"He was still a commander" Tigerclaw retorted "We should be proud of our heritage Mossthorn"
"Let me be proud to be related to Thistleclaw and I might"
"I'd ask about my mother but she's off with Robinwing" Goldenflower sighed seemingly to herself
"I thought Robinwing was making moves on Smallwhisker" Icepaw mewed
Mossthorn and Ambertuft turned over laughing, Brindleface seemed to suck their lips in to keep from snorting. Ravenpaw just looked mortified.
"He's a sire for their kits" Goldenflower said though it sounded like she was convincing herself
"Is he?" Tigerclaw muttered "They could always go to the great shroom"
"Quiet love"
"Excited for new siblings?" Mossthorn snorted
Goldenflower's lips twisted into a fine line
"Who's kits are those?" he glanced at Sweetheart's belly
"Mine and Bluestar's" Sweetheart replied "If you're asking who sire then Patchpelt"
"Is Badgerswipe sired by him as well?" Icepaw asked "They looked pretty similar"
"Indeed"
"Ravenpaw, come here" Mossthorn mewed, breaking the conversations "Don't hide from me kit"
The black tom meekly padded forward towards the white and gray charlie...tom. These scents were confusing. Mossthorn pulled Ravenpaw close and started grooming him
"Mossthorn" Ravenpaw whined
"Hush, I've barely seen you and Dustpaw is being a mouse-brain, let me enjoy this"
Icepaw chuckled for a moment. He glanced at Tigerclaw who looked like he was ready to jump off a cliff. "How's the kits?"
"More than I thought" Tigerclaw replied gruffly, he moved his paws slightly to reveal three kittens "They'll live"
"Don't speak so soon" Goldenflower mewed as she laid beside him
"What're their names?"
"They don't have names yet" Goldenflower replied "It's too soon"
"Why?"
"Kits die" Tigerclaw stated bluntly, his eyes clouded
"If the kits dies without names, it gives the souls have a chance to be reborn and have another chance" Goldenflower added quickly, curling her tail around Tigerclaw's "She's being watched over by Harku's light and hopefully," she nosed the kitten softly "Tomlu is merciful for these ones"
Icepaw felt his heart glow at that "That's really nice actually" he thought over the two new names "Who's Harku and Tomlu?"
"Oh let me" Mossthorn mewed "Harku is the seer of life, his light is over us all"
"You mean guildborns" he replied
"Our seer watches over you too Icepaw" Mossthorn corrected "When you join a guild, his light becomes a part of you"
Icepaw doubted that if Robinwing's attitude was anything to go by.
"It shines on The Rushing Breeze first and The Plaguing Darkness last" Mossthorn continued
"What about Tomlu?"
"She watches The Plaguing Darkness first" Mossthorn replied "The Witch of death and souls, her shadow crepes around us"
Icepaw stared at him "She stalks us?"
"In a sense, we are as much as her children to as we are to Harku and The Great Mother herself"
"The Great Mother?"
"The creator of all cats" he turned his head to meet purple orbs of Willowpelt "She watches all of us"
"Didn't really think we had a creator but I guess we all had to come from somewhere"
"S..Sorry to cut this short b..but our me...mentors wanted m..m..me and Icepaw for s..something" Ravenpaw mewed "S..Spot..Spottedleaf s..said so"
"Spottedleaf wants everyone for everything, I got lucky when she agreed to be my mate" Mossthorn drawled, waving his paw lazily "That molly is another thing, this one time I got a bad leg injury and she used her ton-"
"Mossthorn!" Goldenflower shushed "Cadets!"
Icepaw chuckled at them trying to shelter their innocence when Scourge and Brick especially made sure him and his littermate knew about what mating is and how it worked. They even demonstrated a bit before Bone stopped them.
Icepaw followed Ravenpaw out of the nursery and back into the clearing, they found Thrushpelt chatting with Leopardstorm and Bluestar.
Ravenpaw slowed his pace and lowered his head as they neared.
Leopardstorm caught their gaze "Great, you're here"
"S...sorry Leopardstorm, t..the nu..nursery h..held us u...up a b...bit"
Thrushpelt turned his head "We're battling training with Lionheart, Graypaw, Cinderpaw, Bluestar, Sandpaw, Rookstrike, Chestnutpaw, Nightshade, Cherrypaw, Cranepaw, and Miststrike"
Icepaw smirked "Sweet"
"Yes let's go best not keep the waiting" Bluestar mewed leading them out of camp towards the training hollow. Everyone named was already there and waiting.
"Let's begin" Bluestar called everyone attention "Today we shall be sparing in pairs"
Icepaw sat next to Thrushpelt, he itched to move but Thrushpelt's comforting tail kept him in place.
"However before we get to that, I'd like to see our newest cadet's skills: Icepaw"
Icepaw padded forward towards the center, his tail-tip flicked anxiously.
"Cinderpaw, spar with Icepaw"
Admittedly, Icepaw wasn't prepared for Cinderpaw's speed as he was slammed to the side. He quickly onto his paws and bit into Cinderpaw's foreleg, the molly struggled standing on her back legs. Icepaw lunged forward causing Cinderpaw to fall onto her back to which Icepaw quickly pinned her.
"Alright I give" Cinderpaw mewed
"We'll work with you soon enough Cinderpaw" Bluestar stated "Icepaw, well done"
"Yeah" Cinderpaw said as she got up "Didn't think of that foreleg bite move" she bumped against him "Tricky snowball"
Icepaw beamed at the praise and nickname as he walked back over to Thrushpelt "I did good?"
"Yes you did" Thrushpelt purred
"Cranepaw and Chestnutpaw vs Cinderpaw and Sandpaw" Bluestar called
"Cinderpaw's alot faster than she looks" Icepaw commented
"Indeed, Sandpaw learned that quickly" Thrushpelt replied
"Oof" Cranepaw groaned as Cinderpaw slammed her and pinned her on her back. Chestnutpaw and Sandpaw were tusseling and rolling around, neither back down but clear this wouldn't end soon.
"Stop" Bluestar called "Sandpaw stay, Chestnutpaw, Cranepaw, and Cinderpaw go"
The cats obeyed.
"Graypaw and Sandpaw you'll spar with Cherrypaw and Icepaw"
Icepaw padded over to one side where Cherrypaw was. Her piercing amber eyes were calm and collected like her mentor.
He felt her amber gaze rest on him, nodding silently to which he returned.
"What?" Lionheart spat "Why him?" his gaze locked onto Icepaw "Have Cranepaw do it"
"Cranepaw already spared" Bluestar said evenly "She'll spar with Ravenpaw after"
"Change it"
"Lionheart, are you questioning your commander?" Thrushpelt growled, it surprised Icepaw that the gentle older tom could make such a sound "Icepaw is a fine cadet and it'll be good for the cadets and him"
The golden tom growled in annoyance but said no more.
"Now then begin"
Icepaw went for Sandpaw, he had scores to settle and it seemed she did too. The two locked into each other, striking each other as hard as they cloud without claws. He saw Cherrypaw going defense with occasional swipes with Graypaw was too slow for.
"Faster Graypaw" Lionheart ordered
"Hit harder Cherrypaw" Nightshade added
"Sandpaw, use your legs" Bluestar finished
Thrushpelt gave him no command, he seemed to analyze him seeing what his weak points and strengths were.
Icepaw leaped to one side trying to side swipe Sandpaw when he crashed into Graypaw instead, he shrugged it off quick and went for Graypaw but wasn't as brutal like last time. Cherrypaw synced with this change and dodged Sandpaw's blow.
Icepaw pinned Graypaw but he forgot to not add too much pressure because the kitten winced in pain.
"Shit sorry-" he was cut off when he was knocked away by Lionheart, the golden tom clawed his leg before he was pulled back by Leopardstorm.
"Lionheart!" Bluestar hissed
"He tried to-"
"It was an accident dumbass" Icepaw snapped back "I didn't mean to" he tried to stand but winced on his hurt leg
"Come Icepaw" Thrushpelt mewed, pulling Icepaw up "Let's get that treated"
"Lionheart, take a walk" Bluestar said
"But-"
"Now" Bluestar growled, her mane fluffed up "That wasn't a suggestion Lionheart, that was an order from your commander"
Icepaw felt Thrushpelt nudge him forward as he let him lean on him "Don't worry about him, he'll calm down" he murmured
"Nightshade, go with him" Bluestar ordered
"Stars no, let me have Leopardstorm"
"Tough Lionpaw" Nightshade sneered
"He'll calm down by sundown" Thrushpelt sighed
Icepaw snorted as Thrushpelt lead him back to camp.
/
"Lionheart sure gave you a good clawing" Spottedleaf mewed, she had a stick with cobwebs in one paw and his leg in the other, she already dressed his wounds with marigold "Good hit but not much blood and you'll recover quickly"
"I've faced worse from rats" Icepaw replied as she finished the wrap "This was nothing compared to those small bites from those filthy rodents"
"That and it was good when Leopardstorm pulled him away when he did" the tortie seer added "Lionheart isn't usually like that, he's actually good-hearted"
"He's still pissed from when I attacked Graypaw" Icepaw stated "I understand it but not at me getting nearly mauled"
"You could've killed him!" Lionheart burst into the den
"Lionheart, get back" Spottedleaf warned
"He should've expected that when he attacked me, I was in my right when I felt threatened" Icepaw snapped, feeling the fur on his back rise
"He's barely an cadet" Lionheart retorted
"Exactly why he shouldn't have attacked me if he's had no previous fighting experience, you were sending him to get hurt or killed with that idea" Icepaw sneered "You're lucky I didn't think he was worth killing cuz I know cats who would've killed him without a second thought"
Lionheart took a step forward with a paw that had his claws unsheathed when Spottedleaf stopped him, her fangs bared "I believe it's time for you to go, I'm treating a patient and it's not you so leave" It was only just now that Icepaw realized that Spottedleaf and Lionheart were the same height.
The golden tom's fur fluffed up and Spottedleaf wrapped her paws around Icepaw "You wouldn't argue with your seer Lionheart, nor attack her when she's mates with our dear commander's son"
Sharp green eyes faced off against blazing amber. It was so tense it could be sliced through.
Lionheart's fur fell flat and his eyes narrowed "No, of course not Spottedleaf" he padded out of the den glaring at Icepaw one more time before he left.
"Is attacking you that big of an offense?" he said
The tortoiseshell molly chuckled "Yep," Spottedleaf started grooming his ears "If Lionheart gives you any trouble, come to me"
/
Icepaw padded into Bluestar den where he saw Thrushpelt next to her and two new mollies sitting close by, one was a brown tabby with green eyes and the other was a brown molly, white markings littering her pelt. He softly limped in, his injury not fully healed yet. Lionheart and Graypaw seemed to spend the time glaring across camp at him
He and Sandpaw were in a battle for top cadet at the moment. Chestnutpaw could try but he didn't hunt as good as he and Sandpaw did. Cranepaw wasn't too bad of a hunter but she was quickly taken down in fighting by him. She wasn't as scared of him as Graypaw seemed to be which amused him when he figured she was trying to intimidate him by fluffing up her growing mane.
Mossthorn told him that apparently Frostbite has practically adopted him which was making it tense between her and Lionheart, it made him feel great inside to piss off Lionheart more.
"Umm Bluestar?" he called
"Oh Icepaw great you're here, come in" Bluestar replied
Icepaw padded in "Yeah, Leopardstorm said you want to see me"
Bluestar nodded "Yes Icepaw, Swanlight has graciously agreed to help you with the issues that come with being albino"
"Great" Icepaw purred
"You, me, Spottedleaf, and Thrushpelt will go with you. Sedgecreek and Morningpool here will be taking us"
Icepaw nodded "It won't be too far right?"
"Not really" Sedgecreek mewed "I'm sure Thrushpelt could carry you"
/
The trip to The Cold River was alright. If being carried like a kit was alright. This time it was Thrushpelt who carried him though the tom didn't seem to mind.
Icepaw felt the world bump up and down when they used rocks to cross the river. Thrushpelt did his best to make it easier for him.
Thrushpelt set him down and let him walk through the passage into The Cold River camp. The camp was drastically different compared to the Blazing camp he was used to. The smell of water and fish was a given and it wasn't that bad like it was the first time he smelled it.
"Stormmoon!" Sedgecreek called, her bushy striped tail flicking back and forth "The Blazes are here!"
He saw Stormmoon emerge from his den with Oakheart and Mudfur in tow. "Is this the cadet Bluestar?" the assistant mewed
"Indeed Oakheart, this is Icepaw"
"My daughter should have a good time"
"Oh Swanlight will have a field day" Morningpool added
"Alright then" Stormmoon mewed "Swanlight should be here soon enough, now let's discuss..."
Icepaw was shaking his head and ended up scratching his ear with his back leg. Everything around was turning into mindless chatter. 'Why does the world have to ring? Why does my body have to burn?' He felt he paw prod him. It was a molly that looked just liked him, Swanlight. Her eyes while messy like his and showed nothing but kindness, her belly was fat with kits.
"Hello young one" she mewed softly, her tail lad gently on his back "Come along, your guildmates will stay here, don't worry"
Icepaw nodded and followed her. She brought him to an area of the camp where there was a small pond filled with reeds for cover. A gray tabby tom with a thin reed-like tail lying down near by. Icepaw guessed that was Reedtail, he couldn't blame him Swanlight was expecting his kits after all.
"This is the place we bring kits so they can learn to swim, it helps cover from herons"
"Herons?"
"Birds" Swanlight replied
"Here's a tip Blazer: Don't eat one, trust me on that" Reedtail drawled "Might snatch ya up"
"Hush darling" Swanlight mewed, swatting his ears lightly "You and Sky tease too much"
Icepaw dabbed the water a little then jumped back a little. "You have trouble with the sun?" she asked
"Yeah, sometimes it gets so bad when I'm in the sun" he replied "My fur feels so hot and it burns my eyes"
"Yeah, I know the feeling" Swanlight chuckled "it's great that I live in The Cold River instead of The Rushing Breeze, the water helps alot, try it I saw you scratching before"
Icepaw stepped into the water, trying to be as calm as possible. "Roll around" Swanlight advised "It'll help your pelt cool down"
He did as told. Rolling around a few times. It felt much better, the burn could go fuck itself. "Feel better?" the white molly asked
"Yeah" He could get used to doing this.
"When water isn't available, you could use aloe"
"You guild cats know that stuff?"
"Yep" Swanlight mewed "We have a whole garden of them, I'll get a few stocks for you to use"
Icepaw smiled "Thank you"
Swanlight purred "No problem little minnow" she then smirked "Now, let's teach you how to swim"
"Is it supposed to stick to my fur this much?" the mud seemed to cling no matter how much he shook
"The more bog, the better the herbs" Murkstorm drawled, bog water covering their pelt "Easier to save the use"
He returned the drawl with his own "Oh goody"
"You get used to it Whitepaw" Palespeckle added as he wrapped some strips of bark in a bundle
"I'd hope not, I actually like my white mane Palespeckle" Whitepaw replied "Just cuz Murkstorm-"
"Stop complaining and feel for roughness" the latter cut in "I don't need Raggedmoon complaining of sore cats and the builders have been working harder lately"
"Aww Murkstorm you do care" Whitepaw teased, he quickly dodged a swat to his ears
"Cheeky brat" the old charlie rumbled
"All in good fun Murkstorm" Marshshadow mewed
"Whatever" Murkstorm said gruffly "Whitepaw, do you feel any roughness"
Whitepaw moved his paw along the ground, claws clinging onto some rough texture "Yeah"
"Grab them"
"What do these do?" he gripped a pawful of it, it had a dull amber color as he pulled it out of the murky water.
"They're called leopard's tuft, they help with sores" Marshshadow answered "Dull the pain for a bit"
"Not as good as tigereyes but they get the job done" Palespeckle added "I'll have to ask Featherwhisker or Mudfur if they're willing to trade some"
"We'll need them with Raggedmoon's track record for testing Bluestar" Murkstorm commented "We don't even need the bloody land"
"What about leaf-bare?" Whitepaw asked "Kits will starve"
"Cats die no matter what you do Whitepaw, no cat knows that better than us" Murkstorm replied dully "I've seen plenty cats drop no matter the age, you get used to it"
"Glad I'm not a warlock" Whitepaw said
"Good of that, I have enough to deal with from these two" Murkstorm grumbled, said cats chuckled "You love us"
"You'd be better as a teacher if anything" Marshshadow commented "Have you asked Blazefang or Flintfang about it?"
"Well they-"
"He's not going to be a teacher" The look of distain was evident on his mother's face as Raggedmoon and Brokentail neared. Murkstorm snorted and resolved to cut some leaves with their knife while Palespeckle nodded in respect.
"Why not?" Marshshadow asked coolly
"He's going to be a spy dear sister" His uncle purred "My darling Fernshade has already agreed to train him"
"Him? A spy? Without consulting me or Finchflight?" she growled
"We're telling you know now dear sister and trust me he's perfect for the job" Brokentail replied
"His pelt is perfect for the work as well"
Murkstorm snorted
"Got something to say foxface?" Raggedmoon snipped
"Oh no my dear chief I just thought you remembered that looks don't mean anything" Murkstorm muttered which earned a glare from Raggedmoon however they met the glare with a lazy look "Considering Blackfoot is a spy and very good at it, just like his mother and grandfather before him"
"Like you know anything about qualifications Murkstorm" Raggedmoon growled
"Are you forgetting who was the head spy or are you being this toad-brained on purpose?"
"You don't get to talk you're nothing but a lonely warlock with the plants to keep you company"
Murkstorm shrugged "I call it a blessing, they give more sense for their worth in a moon that you do in a heartbeat"
Raggedmoon unsheathed her claws and Whitepaw felt his fur stand up slightly
"Hey now" Palespeckle mewed quickly "We don't-"
"Say out of this Runningnose"
"His name is Palespeckle" Murkstorm corrected harshly
"Enough will you mother" Brokentail mewed calmly "This is about Whitepaw and his future greatness for the guild, not for your petty feuds"
"In a rank that could get him kill-"
"That won't happened" Brokentail cut in
"Tell me why I should be okay with-" Raggedmoon placed a claw across Marshshadow's lips
"Relax daughter, we can talk more in my den however, I wish for Fernshade to get started on Whitepaw's training"
"What-"
"My den daughter" Raggedmoon turned and started to walk expecting Marshshadow to follow
"Oh so now I'm your daughter" He heard his mother mutter as she followed after their chief.
Whitepaw took a step to follow but Brokentail placed his kinked tail on his back
"Don't, she'll be fine" he said "Come on, let's go find Fernshade"
"I'm going with ya" Murkstorm stated "Palespeckle"
"I know" he sniffed "I got it"
Whitepaw gave one last glance at the herb pile before following Brokentail and Murkstorm down the path. He did his best to keep up with Murkstorm's strides, the warlock's large paws making imprints into the muddy ground.
"She should be here" Brokentail mewed
"She is" Murkstorm corrected, eyes narrowed "In that tree to the left"
His aunt jumped from said tree with a smirk "Aww Murkstorm, why ruin the surprise"
"I'm too old for this, just train this kit to do it" Murkstorm glanced at Brokentail "Best head out, this is spy training"
Brokentail hummed but obeyed.
"So..what's first?" Whitepaw asked
Fernshade purred "First, get in the trees"
/
A sharp nip was delivered to his left ear, annoyance filled his already sore body.
"Wake up frogbrain" Badgerpaw hissed in his ear
Whitepaw swiped at his cousin, smirking when he heard a yip in response
"I'm tired, leave me alone"
"Why?"
"Ask your mom"
"Come on White, it's important"
Whitepaw rolled over, paw under his chin "What then?"
"My dad sent me out to hunt, he said I could bring someone"
Whitepaw stared at him "I'd rather stick my paw in a fox's mouth" he curled back up
Badgerpaw nudged him "Come on"
"I'm going to kill you"
"While we're at it, we could work on your spy training"
"That's supposed to be for spies and retired spies" he hissed lowly
"Brokentail cleared it with Fernshade and said it's fine if I watch"
"If I lose my head, I'll curse you and your kits"
"Noted cuz"
Whitepaw let out a yawn as he followed Badgerpaw out of camp. The sun rising ever so slowly, rays thankfully staying within the trees for the moment.
"Grab some leaves" Badgerpaw mewed "Goin bug hunting"
"I want frogs!" he whined "I can actually taste them"
"Too bad" his cousin smirked as he pulled out a large root "Try tree stalking while we're here"
"Try tree stalking while we're here" Whitepaw mocked but did it anyway. He was getting a bit better from Fernshade's words though his muzzle grip could use some work.
Badgerpaw dipped the root in crowfood and started swatting at the bugs, Whitepaw rolled his eyes at the display.
He walked swiftly through the branches, the maze of the marshes always amazed him. The way to move silently and quickly was something he always envied the spies and it made the opportunity to train as one even more exciting.
He spotted a red squirrel in between two branches, with admittedly not the most impressive pounce, he crushed the prey anima's neck.
"Stars damned Witch" Whitepaw's ears perked at Raggedmoon's hiss "Think she can talk back to me"
'What!' he softly leaped from his perch and padded towards the bushes. He was met with Raggedmoon staring at the thunderpath while Brokentail was sitting a paces behind her, looking very bored of this conversation.
"Relax mother"
"Think she can get away with questioning my orders" the chief flexed her claws
'Can't she do that as a Witch?' Whitepaw felt confused, Murkstorm and Marshshadow told him warlocks and witches' can questions their chiefs on whatever decisions they made.
"She is his mother" Brokentail mewed "She has been very protective of him since dear Cloudpelt's death"
"She needed to know her place as a Witch," Raggedmoon glanced at her claws "and those damn Breezes need to pay"
'Did she hit mother?' Whitepaw thought with horror, he hadn't checked with his this morning, he should when he gets back to camp.
"While I don't doubt that, don't let Marshshadow take too much of your mind"
"What about Marshshadow?" Whitepaw nearly jumped when he felt Badgerpaw's fur brush against his
"Quiet!" he lowly hissed "Before you get us caught"
Badgerpaw shrugged but obeyed
"It's that damn Murkstorm, I should've killed that foxface moons ago"
"Killing the head warlock for no reason wins you no favors mother" Brokentail stated "I wanted to talk to you about wanting to better the guild"
"The guild will be better without backtalking healers"
Whitepaw felt his claws slide out slightly, anyone who hurt his mother would feel his claws.
Brokentail sighed as he stood up "I was afraid you're mind would leave you mother"
"What's that supposed to-" she was cut off when she was pounced on
Whitepaw felt Badgerpaw still beside him in shock, was this a coup?
"Broken-" she was cut off with a hit to her face
"Quiet" he sneered
Raggedmoon was nothing if not a fighter but against her faster son, it was obvious who the victor was.
Brokentail bit into the back of Raggedmoon neck, claws slicing through the front, blood spraying the grass below. Raggedmoon gagged through her own blood, rasping for breathe
"Broken-"
"Shhhh" Brokentail soothed "Trust me mother, it's for the good of the guild"
Raggedmoon's moving became shallow until she had stopped moving all together.
Whitepaw risked a glance at his cousin but Badgerpaw looked as horrified as he did.
"Whitepaw Badgerpaw" Whitepaw felt his blood run cold "Come here"
