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Post by cowbird on Jan 9, 2022 13:11:47 GMT -5
Chris
“Well, you shouldnt find it that hard to believe,” murmured Dawntide. She winced slightly as Otterkit slipped and tumbled on his face. She didnt bother reaching to help as he leaped back to his paws, however. In the last few moons she learned just how resilient kits were. “She’s been a great leader for this clan for seasons- StarClan was right to appoint her when they did.” She felt the warm gaze of her friend on her and Dawntide purred, nudging the queen’s shoulder gently as they enjoyed each other’s company. “What is it? Did you have a dream?”
…
Mossfur had been daydreaming to her content as the gentle chatter of her clanmates vibrated the air around her. She was seeing her favorite storyline- her fur groomed and smooth, twirling elegantly in a wide, endless field of tulips and daisies underneath a clear blue sky dotted by puffy white clouds. She looked radiant in this particular fantasy as if someone had given her a compliment and she was just about to come across a non-frozen, clear river and-
A timid mew cut right through Mossfur’s imagination, sending her right back to the jarringly coldness of reality. Fog curled from her nostrils as she spun around, ready to glare at the intruder… but her disappointment seemed to stall when she noticed who it was. She hadnt spoken much to Arrowtip- even before the Ancient Laws had been abolished. He was always a quiet tom who kept to himself and she only ever saw him in the company of his littermate. It shamed her to realize it, but she didn't know anything of substance about her longtime denmate other than the fact that, well… he was there. And now he was here… but for what exactly?
Rolling her shoulders uncomfortably, Mossfur replied awkwardly, “Erm… hi Arrowtip. How’ve you been?”
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Post by Goldenstar on Jan 19, 2022 5:21:36 GMT -5
"Something like that..." as her sons splashed and played in the chilly water and snow, Lionpurr pushed herself closer to her dearest friend. The gold and tan molly leaned over and lowered her voice, her muzzle pressed to the pretty orange she-cat's ear. "I have been keeping it a secret... what happened during my kitting..." her voice faltered a bit when Dacekit perked his head up and then diverted his attention back toward his brother. "I went into labor late at night and didn't even realize what was happening at the time." She paused. "I wanted to call for help but my words wouldn't come. The pain in my back was incredible, Dawny, and I thought for sure that I would never feel my toes again. I could smell blood everywhere and I knew that I as dying. Something was wrong, very wrong..." she shuddered. "I felt myself slip away and then I was looking down at my own body. I was so sad, Dawntide... sad that I had failed my kits and sad that I'd never get to watch my siblings grow up or see you again. But then, someone came to me. It was my father- Sunstrike. He told me how proud he was of me and that he was very thankful that I have Feralblade to love and protect me. He then told me that my boys are special and that they are part of something much greater than I can comprehend. There is something coming to the Vale, to the Valley, and the Manor, and Golden Park. He didn't know what it was, but it will take all of the clans together to stop it. My kits are blessed by Starclan, chosen to be leaders and healers and true warriors... the strongest weapons against what is to come..." something sad and afraid entered her voice. "And I am part of an allegiance of mollies who give birth this winter who have nurtured blessed kits. We will become known as The Mothers... linked to Starclan and guided by the cats who came to us when we were bringing life to the new generation." She was quiet for a long time. "Dacekit has a white star-shaped birthmark on the back of both of his ears. Otterkit has them too but they're brown. These marks are symbols of their destiny... of what they are to become." Lionpurr pulled her head away, her golden eyes dark with thought. "I haven't told anyone this, Dawny... not my mother or Darkwater. I just... wanted you to know." ~ "Better, I guess. I can talk now and stuff so..." Arrowtip winced, feeling like he had already cursed himself out of a chance with the pretty she-cat. He shuffled his paws for a moment then regained his composure, eyes bright. "I was... wondering if you'd like to go hunting with me? I found a pool down the territory a ways that still has some good sized fish in it. And the walk there is absolutely beautiful... with the snow and what not..." he shifted his eyes nervously. "I-I mean if you're busy and you'd rather not, I totally understand and that's fine too..."
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Post by cowbird on Jan 21, 2022 14:24:32 GMT -5
Dawntide nearly slumped to the ground in shock at her friend’s revelation. She didnt even know what to say, where to start. Was there any possible way to respond to someone saying, ‘oh yes I basically died while giving birth and before I came back my father’s ghost told me my kits would help defeat some unknown evil’? The young warrior was subdued for a moment, looking distractedly at the kits as she tried to wrap her head around all the information. Clearly the near death experience in itself was not as important- though she was half ready to march to the medicine den and demand one of the healers be in her friend’s constant presence in case StarClan wanted to send life threatening messages again. Sunstrike’s message however seemed to stump her more. StreamClan- Lionpurr alone!- had gone through enough in the last few seasons to last a lifetime of drama. A new undefined danger approaching was the last thing any of them, especially her friend, needed at this time. Or, well… ever. “Well I am glad you are alive and well but… well, I dont see how a threat to CloudClan is a threat to us? Or concerns us in any way?” She shifted her paws uneasily as she looked away from her friend’s face and back down as Dacekit and Otterkit squeaked and yelped as they tackled each other in the snow. “Yes, we are allies now but… CloudClan has more than enough to handle its own troubles. I dont see why our families need to be brought into this,” she added with a deep sigh, her ears lowering in exhaustion. …
For a split heartbeat, Mossfur stared at Arrowtip blankly. It was as if what he had said wasn't fully clicking in her head- why was he telling her about a pool? It didnt-
Then it clicked.
“Oh… Oh!” She straightened, her eyes wide as she looked at her denmate with seemingly new eyes. “I…,” she looked around, wondering if anyone was witnessing them both being jittery messes. That wouldnt fly well for her, especially if her mother or Nighthunter found out. “I would like to, I think,” she mumbled, looking down at her paws as her face heated up. If this is what I think he’s doing, I’m making him feel terrible I just know it.
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Post by Treeheart on Jun 2, 2022 22:07:55 GMT -5
The Fallen Expand
Walking grew harder and harder as the time passed.
The forests changed. Familiar dimness and thick over and underbrush lessened, prey seemed less likely to rush past her paws before they even touched the ground, and the music of songbirds filled her ears. The ground seemed to soften with each step. These were not the woodlands that she'd known. This was not her home anymore. But that was to be expected.
"Go far, my little star," her mother's voice still echoed in her ears, even if it had been a little over a moon since she'd last heard it. "Be quick, my dear, and be safe."
So here she was, her small form thinner than it should be, especially with the obvious swelling in her abdomen. Her pelt was hastily groomed yet still poorly kept, a product of whatever moments she could steal for herself where she could settle and... try to keep herself clean. It was a bit difficult with the amount of times she spent diving into bushes and rolling in dirt to hide predators she had no chance of fighting.
Go far. She had no chance of figuring out what "far" truly meant. She just knew she couldn't stay in Fallenclan anymore. It wasn't safe anymore. Even if she had only just gotten her Warrior name. Even if she was meant to still be in the Nursery, soon to bear a kit to help grow their numbers with strong, Blessed cats. She was meant to be providing for her clan.
But her mother told her to leave. She'd been so serious about it that she'd sent Rootprint to escort her to the edge of their territory. So serious that her mother had wept into her pelt, shivering, apologizing.
So here Goldenbranch was. Her paws were swollen from carrying her weight, along with the bursts of movements she'd been making throughout her travels. Her stomach ached from hunger pangs, as prey became more difficult to catch as she grew less able to leap and pounce properly. Her muscles ached from... a mixture of both of those reasons.
She was tired. So tired.
So tired that she almost felt as if she was imagining the... mossy barrier that stretched between her. She'd been following a river that babbled and ran lazily down its bed. The river's water was cool, fresh, soothing whenever she dared to pad into it.
Now the forests had given way to open wetlands. Now she stood before something she had... never seen in her life.
Now... now she was tired. And she curled beneath just one of the tall... pillars? She wasn't quite sure.
And it wasn't long before something came upon her.
Well. Someone.
"Well..." Riverdash of Streamclan, having broken off from her patrol group when she picked up an unfamiliar scent, looked down at this small she-cat.
She was unsure what to think of this... small, likely apprentice-aged she-cat, sleeping at the outskirts of their territory. She knew she was meant to challenge trespassing cats, but this little one seemed so harmless. It didn't help that she was clearly, visibly... pregnant. Was such a small molly fit to be carrying kits?
"Whitepool!" She turned her head back to call out for her group again. "Cloudwhistle, Shelly! We... we have someone Darkwater should see to right away."
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Post by Goldenstar on Jun 22, 2022 2:51:19 GMT -5
(Gonna do some freshnesssssss.)
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Post by Goldenstar on Jun 22, 2022 2:57:17 GMT -5
[[ Inactive characters ]]
^Koistar- a small she-cat with a big heart, Koistar has looked at the darkness in her clan's history and has sworn to show them the light again. Formerly Koiwish, she got her name from her peculiar fur pattern. She was born with a sleek, streamlined body perfect for swimming with a white base coat and orange splotches mixed across her pelt. She has black spots on her back and black freckles along with big crystal blue eyes that have a sort of black 'eyeliner' around them. Her tail is long and white, and feathers out orange and black at the end- making it look slightly like a fin. She's a kind she-cat, who was humbled by the dark traditions of her clan and the monstrous kind of cat Silverstar was. She's an equalist, not putting any cat in her clan below herself- be it tom or she-cat... but she wasn't always like that. Growing up, Koiwish was just like just about everyone else in her clan- a loyal traditionalist. She accepted the laws of Streamclan and treated them like gospel, she was even ecstatic when the former leader (Jadestar) assigned her the tom of her dreams as her mate- Darkwater. As the moons went on, however, that viewpoint started to take a steep downfall. At first, things seemed great, but she quickly realized that Darkwater didn't feel the same way she did and was trapped in a one sided relationship with her. She started questioning things at that point- like why were she-cats so higher ranked than toms? Why didn't they get leadership positions or any sort of say about their mates? As she opened her mind, she started to realize that a lot of traditions in StreamClan just didn't make sense and just seemed.. medieval. Taking CloudClan for instance; why was there a large clan so close to them that they hated so much? What reason was there to rival against them? Because a cat who lead so long ago hated them? But none of it was enough for her to do anything about it... not until she became a queen and lost all three of her children to a sudden and mysterious fever. It was then that she knew through her pain and her grief that StarClan was sending her a sign that things needed to change. So she climbed through the ranks until she took over as leader. And she took the clan by storm when- during her first meeting as leader- she ended her relationship with Darkwater and promoted him to Medicine Cat- which is what she knew he really wanted to do with his life but was never able to obtain because male Medicine Cats are frowned upon. Most in the clan were shocked, half were disgusted, and a couple even threatened her with revolt. But she didn't care. That was just the first brick down to setting her clan free of the oppressive laws that have held them back for so long. Building trust and becoming allies with CloudClan is the next step, and she knows that it could potentially tear the clan in two. Which is why she's set to building a strong frame of support in case that happens, including her best friend as deputy and her former lover and friend as her head medicine cat. || Brother is Grayfire. Former mate is Darkwater and his is the father of their deceased children: Minnowkit, Graykit, and Silverkit. || Lives- 7: 1.) Murdered by Gingercrane and Silverlight, 2.) Murdered by Gingercrane and Silverlight, ... || Closet Bisexual. || Rowanstar ||
^Grayfire- a proud and steadfast tom, Grayfire's mindset when it comes to clan traditions doesn't exactly match up with his sister's. Though he doesn't exactly agree with how toms are treated in StreamClan, he's a loyalist who will uphold the laws of his clan until the day he dies. He's a handsome looking tom, with a tall, streamlined muscular body. His base coat is grey with orange and dark grey splotching across his pelt and his eyes are a burning amber color. He accepted his status as a lesser cat long ago, and does his best to uphold the laws of his clan and wishes of his superiors. He never thought that those two would cross each other one day, however. Growing up, he always knew his sister was different than everyone else. She was kinder to him than the other she-cats, and always spoke to him as if he were an equal to her, even before she hatched her revolutionist mindset. He does his best to support her, but views what she's trying to do for the clan as 'reckless'. He knows she's a capable leader, but he's afraid for how the strong traditionalists will act when they see how his sister is trying to unravel the very core of the clan's laws. He has incredibly mixed feelings about the choice to ally with CloudClan, as they'd been rivals for so many moons now, that any other way just doesn't seem foreseeable. He's very respectful of Koistar nonetheless, and he would die for her ten times over if he had to. || Sister is Koistar. Gingercrane is his mate and she is expecting kits. || He has had a crush on Minnowstripe since they were paws, but he can never approach her to tell her how he feels due to the laws of the clan. || Straight || Rowansky. ||
^Wildfire- Quiet and serious, yet determined to make a name for himself as a warrior, Wildfire is always striving to become better- to prove that he can be more than just a tomcat in StreamClan. Ever since he was a kit, he's been preparing for his apprenticehood. Sneaking off, watching trainers with their apprentices, silently taking notes in his head and practicing while nobody is watching. Wildpaw is a tall, thin but muscular tom with bright orange fur and oak brown tabby stripes. His eyes are a burning amber with rings of brown around his irises. He's a serious type, who focuses more on his skills than making friends. He's fairly competitive with a hint of arrogance, but that doesn't mean he's a bad cat. He just wants to become strong enough that the clan will see his worth. Ever since he was a kit he was looked down on- JUST because he was a tom. His mother accompanying him everywhere, teaching him to not talk until spoken to. He was sick of it, so he decided that maybe with enough training he could prove that toms are more useful than just being kit makers. He's gotten in trouble a couple times for practicing moves without a mentor, but he doesn't care. He has to be careful when he sneaks out of camp, however, as he has zero sense of direction whatsoever and has a tendency to get lost. || No siblings, no mate, no kits. || Straight || Rowansky ||
^Owleyes- tom. || Rowansky. ||
^Salmonpaw(Salmonrunner)- Silver tom kit with black flecks going down his back, a light ginger underbelly, and blazing orange eyes. || Mother is Gingercrane, father is Grayfire. Two sisters are Silverscale and Riverglade || Any extra information about your pretty kitty. || Sexuality/Gender identity if it's important to the character. || Rowansky. ||
^Silverpaw(Silverscale)- Pretty silver tabby she-kit with darker grey paws and crystal blue eyes || Mother is Gingercrane, father is Grayfire. Brother is Salmonrunner, sister is Riverglade || Any extra information about your pretty kitty. || Sexuality/Gender identity if it's important to the character. || Rank in the clan. || Rowansky. ||
^Riverpaw(Riverglade)- thin ginger she-kit with dark brown tabby markings and river green eyes. || Mother is Gingercrane, father is Grayfire. Brother is Salmonrunner, sister is Silverscale || Any extra information about your pretty kitty. || Sexuality/Gender identity if it's important to the character. || Rank in the clan. || Screen-name. || Rowansky. ||
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Post by Goldenstar on Jun 22, 2022 3:16:20 GMT -5
"May all cats old enough to swim in the creek, gather here beneath the Highfall for a clan meeting!"
The sun was shining bright when Minnowstar called out to her clan. In an instant, the shores surrounding the waterfall and stream were alive with the excited, glittering eyes of warriors. Her warriors. It had been three moons since Koistar's disappearance and Minnie had to admit to herself that perhaps her best friend just wasn't coming back. The night before, the apprentices had been made warriors. Minnowstar's kits... had been made warriors. Now, Gingerbell sat side by side with her former mentor, looking up at her mother with proud, expectant eyes. In the same meeting, Lionpurr's two sons- Dace and Otter- had been made apprentices. Dacepaw, with his spitfire attitude, had been drafted to Feralblade as the tom's first apprentice in Streamclan. Otterpaw had been given to the sweet and gentle Hollyglen- who was sitting close to Dawntide and Lionpurr herself. And of course, the most shocking announcement... for the first time since any of them could remember, Streamclan was again going to be partaking in seasonal Anlach and the transition of celebrating the tradition was overtaking the camp in excitement. Now, dozens of glittering eyes looked up kindly at their leader. A clan united. At last.
"Today we choose who will be joining us for the meeting! I would like for our new apprentices to go, Lionpurr as well since it has been many moons since her last meeting, Hollyglen, Finchtrill, Harvestmoon, Gingerbell, Wolfsnap, Lightprism, Dawntide, and Violetpetal. Darkwater has prepared splendid traveling herbs for us all. Let's eat them then head out!" she offered a happy smile then bounded down from the falls, splashing into the chilly water as her clan dispersed to discuss the day and what it had in store.
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Post by Goldenstar on Jun 22, 2022 3:28:28 GMT -5
Abe(I'm going to clone Leo so don't be alarmed by seeing her twice. xD)
Lionpurr let out a brilliant, booming... well, purr... as she leaned against Dawntide and batted her best friend's ears. "Ah! At last! Our first meeting together in seven moons! Oh, Dawny, I'm so excited. I can't wait to see the Valley! I can't wait to show off my boys! I can't believe they're already apprentices, I just..." Lionpurr puffed out her chest in pride and then burst out into a fit of giggles. "Oh, also! Dawny... I didn't tell you. I heard from a friend of a friend of a frienddd... a little fishy heard a rumor that someone in the clan has a crush on you. It's so wild to think only a few years ago we couldn't even talk about this and now look! Look at how far we've come!" ~
"Hey..." Arrowtip sad down beside Mosspool awkwardly. He looked away from her for a second, still not sure how to approach a she-cat... and being able to speak first. "Uhm. So neither of us got called for the meeting." What a weird thing to say, Arrow! "So... Uhm... I was thinking... maybe since the Vale is celebrating Anlach now... if maybe you'd... want to... uhm... go help me... uhm... f-find... stuff to... to, uh uh..." ARROW USE WORDS! "To decorate the camp! Yeah, since we've never done it before it would be a cool thing to... do. Together. And stuff. Uhm. If you want, of course..."
Mikah
(Gonna still reply to the post about Goldenbranch as if it was still happening because I don't want to miss it. <3)
"What's up?" Cloudwhistle was on Riverdish's paws in an instant. And then... "Oh. Oh, she's... little." Shellcollector followed more slowly, lowering her head. The unusual she-cat had, had a little bit of medicine cat training and tilted her head. "She's dehydrated for sure... I don't recognize her clan scent. It's clan-based but I don't know... where. It isn't Goldenclan." "Could she be part of the Brotherhood?" Whitepool asked, the fur along her spine rising as she took a step back. "We could just ask her," Cloudwhistle reasoned back as he gave the she-cat a gentle shake. "Hey... hey, honey... wake up." ~ Otterpaw let out an excited squeal and ran around Hollyglen in excited circles. "My first meeting! Oh, I'm so excited! Hollyglen, I can't wait! I'm going to make you so, so proud! I promise! What do I need to know about the other clans, huh? Are meetings scary? Are they scary?!"
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Post by Treeheart on Jun 22, 2022 8:42:34 GMT -5
Chris
(Aaaaa, yish!!!)
"Even if she was from the Brotherhood, Whitepool, I doubt being afraid of her is... necessary," River tilted her head as she examined the small creature. In her opinion, the only true thing Yellowwasp and her goons have is numbers. This little one was on her own. Even if she was a threat, there was little to nothing she could do against them that they couldn't handle as a patrol, much less an entire clan.
Cloudwhistle's touch didn't wake her at first. It took a moment before the molly showed any sign of stirring. Though once she did, and her eyes cracked open to see what had disturbed her, she was suddenly on her paws in a blink.
"N-No!" She sputtered, stumbling to keep balance. Her eyes were locked on the group in front of her, yet clearly unfocused, still bleary with sleep. "Wait- no- I- I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'll- I'll come back. I'll come back, don't hurt me. Please. Please, I wasn't- I wasn't trying to run away! I was, I just, I--"
"Easy," Riverdash stepped forward, the stranger tensing as her attention switched to the Streamclan molly. "We're not going to hurt you. We just wanted to know what was going on with you, that's all. You don't look so good."
The molly blinked at Riverdash before swaying and thumping down on her bottom. "... You're not... Stormstar wouldn't have ever sent she-cats after me... Where... am I...?"
Well, that's a strange thought. Riv didn't press on it, however. "You're in Streamclan territory. I'm Riverdash, and these cats here are on patrol with me. What's your name?"
The panic seemed to drain from her then, exhaustion taking its place, though she did perk up when asked her name. She puffed her chest out proudly as she stated, "My name's Goldenbranch."
Oh. A... Warrior then... Riverdash frowned. I suppose adult cats can be small, but... "What a lovely name. I apologize, but I... mistook you for an apprentice at first."
"Stormstar gave me my name early," Goldenbranch purred, tired eyes now glittering. "He said I was just what our clan needed in new Warriors."
"Early," Riverdash hesitated again. "That's... that's very impressive! How... how old are you, then?"
"I'm--" She seemed to pause for a moment, counting invisible days in her head, before she answered. "I'm, ah... I was about seven moons when I got my name, so... Eight moons? Nine moons? I've been... traveling for a while..."
-
To say Holly was surprised to have Otterpaw as her apprentice... was an understatement.
She'd been watching Lionpurr from a distance for a while now. Ever since they were apprentices. There had been nothing wrong with her feelings, she knew that, but that didn't mean they were easy to act on. She was the Deputy's - now Leader - only daughter, only kit. She was Minnowstar's pride and joy. If her mother wasn't already making plans for her, then surely she was making her own plans of finding a tom to give her kits of her own and moving up in the clan. That would be... a bit more difficult with Holly, who was in every way a she-cat.
Then she had her boys. Hollyglen didn't interact with kittens often at all. They were so small and helpless... the very thought made her nervous. But Dace and Otter... they were something else. Just like their mother, she watched them from afar. It'd broken her heart when she'd heard Leo was pregnant, but she never said anything about their father.
Now, looking at Lionpurr and her family... it was more likely that Dawntide had a place at the pretty young Queen's side, rather than Holly.
Otterpaw's excitement drew a weak laugh from Hollyglen's lips, despite herself. Luckily, plenty of time had passed from her strict life beneath the old Streamclan laws, so her first instinct wasn't to snap at him. He was young and excited. She was excited when she became an apprentice too, relishing in the newfound trust and independence that her mentor granted her. Lion's two boys had always been excitable anyway. She wouldn't dare try to stifle that fire in Leo's dear son.
"The meetings aren't scary," she finally answered him, reaching to pause his eager laps. "The clans aren't scary. They're our allies. All the meetings are is a way for the clans to communicate with each other. If the clans don't speak and have some link to each other, then we aren't able to understand each other. And with that, we are forever at odds. Streamclan has been against Cloudclan since its founding. This allows us to put that Ancient grudge behind us."
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Post by cowbird on Jun 22, 2022 17:03:45 GMT -5
Chris
Dawntide puffed her chest out with the pride of a mother as she saw Dacepaw and Otterpaw perk and bristle with excitement at the opportunity to join the Meeting. She had been by her friend’s side nearly every major moment of the kittens lives so far- whether it be when their eyes opened and they ventured out of Lionpurr’s nest or when they had their first fish- Dawntide had been there. They were brave little toms and Dawntide knew they would make fine warriors. She didnt want to admit it, but she had been hoping to mentor one of them. It only made sense in her mind that she would be best to train one of her best friend’s kits after all. Yet she wasnt chosen and Dawntide had to force down her jealousy and disappointment and focus on the positives of it all. Plus- she had raised them alongside Lionpurr practically- maybe it was best if the cat they saw as a maternal figure didnt mentor them.
Lionpurr’s words yanked her back to reality and for a moment, Dawntide was silent, only half hearing what her best friend was meowing about. Then, like a jolt of lighting, the warrior jerked to attention and twisted her neck swiftly towards the former queen, her eyes wider than Feralbalde’s paws. “I- wh- who- what?...” the warrior was speechless, gaping at her friend in surprise and slight dread. What on StarClan’s blessed earth was she supposed to do with a crush? Dawntide wasnt against a mate, not really. But she had been so devoted to Lionpurr and the boys that she had wasted no time idling over potential partners. Plus- she had never been attracted to any of the cats in the Clan before. At least not that way.
“Well? Who… who is it?” The rosy-orange warrior asked nervously, glancing around the camp at the backs of the warriors doting the bank.
…
Mossfur watched the lithe tom stutter away and a small smile etched itself on her face. Arrowmask had been tentatively talking to her (first mind you) for a few moons now since leafbare’s start and Mossfur had to admit, even though the warrior was no less nervous than he was the first time he approached her, his determination softened Mossfur’s hesitance towards him. She didn't exactly know what his motive was; he did want to be her friend at least but then again, Mossfur didnt know any toms besides her brothers too well so… his advances could mean anything.
Snuffling a purr from rising out of her throat in a slight choking sound, Mossfur rose to her paws and pressed her nose against Arrowmask’s warm cheek briefly. He smelled musky, as if he hadnt stepped a paw in the rivers this morning. He probably hadnt. “I’d love to,” she murmured, her eyes blinking sweetly at him. “Though I hope you know what you’re doing. I’ve never decorated before.”
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Post by Goldenstar on Jun 22, 2022 21:56:59 GMT -5
Mikah "I grew up in a cult, Riverdash. I'm always afraid of everything," Whitepool whispered as the she-cat bolted awake. As soon as she started rambling and her eyes widened with fear, Whitepool instantly softened. "Shhh, sweetie. It's okay. You're safe," Whitepool told her in a gentle voice, sweeping her tail over the molly's flank. "You don't have to be afraid. The Water Vale is safe." Now it is anyway. "Goldenbranch? That's a pretty name..." Then the statement. I was about seven moons when I got my name, so... Eight moons? Nine moons? "You're nine moons old?... that's so young. I'm sorry for what you've been through." She exchanged a glance with Cloudwhistle while Shellie doubled back to fetch Darkwater or Tawnypaw. "Hey, our camp isn't very far from here... would you like to come back to our camp? It may be a bit more wet than you're used to, but there will be a warm nest for you and some fresh prey." ~ "Ohhh. Okay." Otterpaw sat down and lifted his head high, trying to look distinguished. "How many clans come to the meetings? Are there a lot of cats there?" he looked a bit worried all of a sudden and pinned his ears back. "Will... will they make fun of me for being small? Or because I don't have a dad?"
Abe "Brokenstep, oddly enough," Lionpurr replied, whispering in her friend's ear. She reeled back to gauge Dawntide's reaction but noticed the pretty orangish-pink she-cat didn't seem too excited about her news. She tilted her head to the side. "Really, I thought you'd be excited. Dontcha ever get tired of hanging around me and the boys? Do you ever think about, you know... making a family for yourself? Don't get me wrong, I will always be attached to you- up until the day I die. But, I do want to make sure you're taking care of yourself and doing things you need to do for you. Liiike... maybe talk to a tom who likes you." ~ "I think I know how to do it?" Arrowmask tilted her head, his nose and ears filling with color. "I've seen a lot of how the Cloudclan cats decorate. You use flowers and stones and I know our water has the prettiest pebbles this side of the mountains." He flicked his tail across her shoulder gently. "It's an outdated practice here in the Vale. I guess we'll learn together." As the two of them took off side by side, Jaycall- his father- watched fondly with those adoring blue eyes. He was proud of the life his children were building... and more proud still of the courage they were using to do so. Once out in the forest, Arrowmask splashed willingly along a thin brook. "Do you think some of the water has dried up in the Valley? The last meeting we had with them- they were nearly swimming to catch prey."
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Post by cowbird on Jun 23, 2022 4:27:29 GMT -5
Chris
Dawntide winced slightly at the disappointment in her friend’s words and looked down at her paws, her ear tips heating up. Maybe she wasnt ready to talk about this with Leo after all. “Well… I never really thought I’d have my own family anytime soon. I never thought about it like at all. I was trained to believe that I would have to force myself on some poor tom who didnt want me- nor I him- and it would lead to another long, wasteful life that just wasnt needed. So when the Ancient Laws had been abolished, I was free to make my own choice on my own terms. I never wanted to be leader anyways so I knew I was never required to do something like that, as crucial as that, by force.” She finally looked up at Lionpurr, her stressed gaze shifting into affection.
“Then you had the boys. I wanted to hate them because of what they stood for, because of the pain that their arrivals cost you. But the damage was done and the pain turned into probably the greatest event of my life as well as yours. I poured so much into you guys because I feel as if you are my true family- my only family. I… I’m not sure if I could do anything else.” There was a silence as Dawntide looked off absently over towards the Waterfall. “Brokenstep does seem… alright though,” she finally conceded with a sigh and eyed Lionpurr. “Who exactly told you this?”
… Mossfur followed him dutifully in the small stream, shifting through the soft, smooth earth beneath in search for the brightest pebbles she could find. She may not know how to decorate but no one was going to say they didnt get the best of the best. With a yowl of satisfaction, the black and gray warrior scooped up a clear and purple stone from a hook of rock near the bank. Something like this will do, she declared.
“Oh I had forgotten about that,” Mossfur mewed back, her ears perking in concern for the Valley cats. “Do you think its still that bad there? Surely the rains have started reeling back by now- its nearly greenleaf.”
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Post by Treeheart on Jun 23, 2022 8:03:03 GMT -5
Chris
"Ah..." Riverdash grimaced in realization. "Right."
"The... Water Vale?" Goldenbranch's fear melted into wide eyed curiosity. "Is that where I am? I thought the forest just got weird. I've never seen that before." She turned her head towards the moss eaten fencing.
"Where were you trying to go?" Riverdash spoke up again.
Goldenbranch seemed to think for a moment before shrugging, looking a bit downcasted again. "Just... away. I don't know. My mother just told me to go. I've been wandering for... a while now."
The mention of her age made her begin to perk up again, only for Whitepool's tone to pause the swelling pride and replace it with a confused smile. "Well, you say that like something really bad happened to me! Sure, having to leave home... wasn't fun... but that was the most unusual thing to happen so far. Plenty of Blessed mollies become Warriors young. Starclan chose us for a reason after all! Why keep us in training for so long if we have little to prove?"
Riverdash frowned a little, glancing towards the others as if they had any other explanation for the young she-cat's odd words. Though after looking over her form again, ignoring the swell of pregnancy that had first drawn her gaze, she found something else that was odd. A stretching of markings that covered her body, soft yellow in hue, that swirls and looped into shapes and spirals. Some remained shapeless, some formed almost stars and moons. It was the most unusual pelt pattern River had ever seen.
Before she could comment on it, Goldenbranch perked up properly at the offer of warmth and food. "Oh yes, please. My paws hurt a lot from walking... I don't remember when I started getting tired so easily..."
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"Many," Holly allowed a small smile at her young apprentice. "Many, cats will be there. There will be Cloudclan, Inkclan, the Tribe, and us, of course. As well as Goldenclan, I believe... But Cloudclan alone has enough cats to fill Streamclan twice over, maybe more. They've always been large in numbers."
Her expression softened a bit more at the insecurity, and she draped her tail over the tom's back. "Of course not, Otter. Cats come in all shapes and sizes, that's a known fact. And I'm sure plenty of cats your age or even older were raised with only one parent. There's no shame in it. You're not ashamed of only having your mother, are you?"
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Post by Goldenstar on Jun 16, 2023 22:06:59 GMT -5
(Why do I never post here this place is great.)
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Post by Goldenstar on Jun 16, 2023 23:48:22 GMT -5
(To mark the official return of activity here- I've made a giant freaking post with everyone's characters. xD Interact as you see fit!)
"Thank you everyone for listening! Enjoy your evening!" Minnowstar leaped down from the Highfall as the meeting drew to a close. She had announced who would be attending the meeting in a few days and everyone was buzzing with excitement.
"I can't wait to go!" Otterpaw laughed as he bounced in eager circles around his mentor- Hollyglen. Recently, Holly had become more and more like a second mother to the boys. (Of course, that was partially because Hollyglen and Lionpurr were in love with each other and refused to admit it.) He headbutted his mentor as Dacepaw rolled his eyes at his twin. "I can't wait to see how big the Valley is! I don't even remember it from my first time. But come next meeting, we'll be Warriors!"
"If we pass our assessments," his brother corrected. "So we'll have to wait and see."
---
Minnowstar and Heavyrain sat side by side by the Highfall, discussing all kinds of matters that were to come. Of course- she had confided in her deputy what her daughter had told her. That her sons were unique and blessed by Starclan, fated to stop some terrible evil that was to come. And of course, there were the good things too. They had a new medicine cat apprentice in eager Treepaw and Fogbounce had given birth to three healthy kittens. It seemed that, finally, the Vale was on the mend.
---
"We could do with one more apprentice," Darkwater, Streamclan's senior medicine cat, was talking to his co-healer- Tawnytoes. The blind she-cat nodded and flicked her tail. She could sense sweet Treepaw nearby- the she-cat talking eagerly to one of the warriors about the upcoming meeting where she'd be introduced.
"Not enough kits in the nursery for that. Shroomkit has promise."
"There will always be more kits," Darkwater sighed. "Bit by bit, we're discovering what it's like to have mates and families because we love each other. Not because it's duty. It'll take time, Tawnytoes. You'll see."
"Odd thing to say to a blind cat," she teased as she pushed to her paws. "Come on! Let's go mingle. We sound like two old blackbirds bickering over pine seeds..."
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"I can't wait for the meeting!" Treepaw was telling Snowdrop and Wolfsnag energetically. The young she-cat was very close to the two warriors. She was an orphan and had been raised in part by the friends (along with Lionpurr's help in the nursery). They were the closest things she had to family- despite how close in age the three realistically were. "I'm so nervous though. Does Cloudclan really have a thousand warriors?"
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Jaycall and his mate- Forestshadow- were sharing tongues in a warm ray of sun after the meeting had drawn to a close. They'd been elected to go to the meeting and Jaycall was nervous- but excited. Cloudclan would be in the heaviest parts of celebrating Anlach- a ritual Streamclan had long forgotten but was working on bringing back to life. It was odd to see The Vale slowly taking part in something as soft and open as declaring love for one's mate. The tom turned his head toward his beloved and tilted his head. "It's crazy to think that a few seasons ago, you and I were meeting in secret in the forest. Now... cats keep asking us when we're going to find someone to have kits with. Isn't that insanity? How much can change in just a year."
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Whitepool decided it was time to shoot her shot. She sighed, angry at herself for her own nervousness. She collected a stone- a nicely colored brown pebble, and headed into the forest after a certain prickly warrior. She had asked as many questions as she could about Anlach. And for days now, she had demanded encouragement from her deputy brother- Heavyrain. Now, she decided it was time. She circled around and cut off the tom, nearly coming nose to nose with him as she did. Her eyes stretched wide and she swallowed her insecurities. A year ago- this warrior wouldn't have had a choice. She would have spoken for him and that would have been it. But now?... He had the right to reject her. And to be honest- it horrified her. Whitepool placed the pebble at the warrior's paws.
"Nighthunter," she greeted anxiously. "Hi. I was wondering... could we talk?"
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"Dad, I'm just saying!"
"And I'm saying to forget it, buck!" Sandsparrow was pacing around at the edge of camp. He and his son were in an argument again (per usual) but this one was a bit different. This time, it wasn't about Cloudwhistle's softer nature or who he had feelings for. This time... it was about the old man.
"Dad, it's been so many years since mom died." The words stopped Sandsparrow in his tracks. Cloudwhistle lowered his ears and gently pressed his pelt against his father's own. Sandsparrow didn't move away. "You're lonely. You deserve to be happy."
"My work makes me happy. This clan being free makes me happy. You make me happy, Cloud."
"That's new," his son countered dryly. "But dad..."
"Forget it! Who could even love someone as prickly as me?"
"I don't know- go ask," Cloudwhistle teased with a small smile. He sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "All joke's aside, pop... I think you deserve a second chance at love. It would be what Meadowclouds would have wanted."
"You don't know what she would have wanted!" Sandsparrow snapped. "You never knew her!" Realizing he had gone too far with his only kit, the senior warrior turned on his paws and stormed out of camp- leaving Cloudwhistle to look crestfallen behind him.
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"Should I go tell her? I should- I should go tell her. Ohhhh what if I can't... I..." pacing, Featherlea sucked in a deep breath. She was by herself out in the forest and had unknowingly missed the meeting. That was okay- she was on Vale Anlach Decorating duty anyway. Covered in sheets of ivy and moss, she had tried to make the entrance to camp look more inviting. She did okay- I think. But it all had come grinding to a stop when she saw the cat she'd been pining after for moons- Bluefern. She turned to her best friend, Riverdash, with pleading eyes. "Should I tell her today?" (Of course, Riverdash didn't approve. Bluefern was so prickly and angry and...)
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"I think we should head over toward the marsh beyond the emergency camp," Brokenstep grumbled to his hunting partners- Shellcollector and Fallowfawn. They were an unusual hunting party and yet... the three of them, especially together, had an extremely high success rate. All three were unique characters and weren't too social outside of one another. They were definitely a trio of oddities. But effective, none the less. "Those marshes won't be as bothered by all this rain lately. I think we could get some mice and voles up there."
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Mushroomstem and Feralblade were decorating the inside of camp. Feralblade, with his Cloudclan knowledge, had been a huge asset in bringing Anlach back to the Vale. Now, the two of them were twining flowers into the trees around camp. You had to half-bury them too. So they didn't float away.
"Hey!" the half lyxn called to a group of chattering young warriors. "Wanna help out?"
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"Not a single grandkit yet!" Treeholly was wailing to her mate, Smallflower, as they watched Fogbounce's kits play outside the nursery. "Honestly, at this rate Streamclan will need a Breeding Bond from Cloudclan soon! She's the first queen we've had since Lionpurr's boys were born."
"Yes," the white and ginger she-cat agreed with a small purr of amusement at her mate's dismay. "My are so very handsome. Arrowtip and Addertongue should have been fathers moons ago. And both Flecknose and Dapplemoon are quite spry and energetic. It doesn't make any sense!" she huffed and licked down her chest fur. "Maybe bringing Anlach back here is a good thing. Perhaps it will bring in some traction from the young ones in the Vale." She turned her gaze toward their companion- Yellowrose. "What do you think, dear?"
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"Okay, can you show me that again?" Emeraldiris lashed her tail as she hunkered down into a crouched position. She, and a lot of the other warriors, had gathered in the back of camp for a fun refresher training session. With her was Poollash, Fernprint, Lavatwist, Ripplelake, and Lightprism. She was currently facing off against Addertongue- the smooth, charismatic tom dancing in front of her from foot to foot. "Slow down!"
"I can't slow down, you'll catch me!" he teased as he lashed out with a paw and cuffed her ear. "Come on! Jump, twist, and land!"
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"Flecknose, why won't you just tell me who you like?" Dapplemoon chirped as she and her brother padded along in the glen through ankle-deep water. Flecknose rolled his eyes at his litter-mate as a fish swam right away from him from her loud trotting.
"Dapple, you're scaring away all the minnows!"
"Impossible- there are too many minnows in the Water Vale," she laughed back. "Oh, come on! Just give me a hint."
"Seriously, Dap, you're such a pest."
"Is it a she-cat?"
"Dap."
"A tom?"
"Dap!"
"Well!" she laughed. "You've been so starry eyed over someone for moons. Excuse me for wanting to know who it is. The old laws don't matter anymore, Fleck. You can love a boy if you want."
"It's stupid," Flecknose groaned. He tilted his head at his sister. "So just forget it. Come on, didn't some of the others say they were downstream? Let's see if we can actually catch some fish!"
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Patchnose was sitting in the back of camp. He had heard the meeting. He got to go. He just wasn't excited. He was hoping that, since the Revolution, finding someone he wanted to spend his life with would be easier. But it felt more difficult now than it ever had. There seemed to be so few options in Streamclan- especially for him. Being a son of Laststorm, he was related to a large portion of all the cats in the Vale. He wondered if it was even possible to find a mate here that wouldn't be crossing backward over his own whiskers. And then of course... There's the fact that you're as gay as a minnow is silver. He sighed and covered his eyes with his paws. If his mother found out her final kit was gay... he was sure it'd break her beyond repair. "Why is this so hard," he grumbled to nothing. "I just want to be myself."
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Mudstripe had listened to the entire meeting mostly glued to his mother's side. Now that it was over, he and Finchtrill had gone out hunting. Their energetic warriors worked up a mighty appetite- especially when they were training and playfighting all the time. "Maybe we should split up?" he suggested and Finchtrill nodded.
"I'll check the eastlands- you check the west."
"Good idea." With that, Mudstripe slid away into the direction he was assigned. He wanted to give something to Bluefern. He knew Anlach was usually for lovers, but who said a good old momma's boy could give his life-giver something shiny? He got distracted pretty quickly and ended up looking for flowers for Bluefern. Because she was the best and deserved the best.
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Gingerbell was leaning against her best friend, Arrowtip, staring up at the way the trees swayed in the breeze. She had a daisy in her paws and was gingerly (teehee) plucking the petals from the flower- one by one. "He loves me... he loves me not. He loves me... he loves me not... I tell him how I feel, I tell him not..." Arrowtip, who was half-snoozing underneath her- opened an eye.
"Daydreaming again?"
"Mmm... something like that," she purred as she plucked another petal. "I tell him..."
"Who is this 'him' you're always mumbling on about, hmmm?"
"I tell him not..."
"Brokenstep?"
She made a face and shook her head. "He loves me..."
"Mmm... Heavyrain?" Another petal fell.
"He loves me not."
"Okay, I think I know."
"He loves me..."
"It's Antmarch, isn't it?"
The last petal fell from Gingerbell's paws and she looked down at her best friend with wide, shocked eyes. "Arrowtip!"
"It is, isn't it!" He crossed his paws and raised an eyebrow. "ooooooooooh girl, that is juicy!"
"Arrowtip, don't..."
"I can see it now." He rolled over on his back and pawed at the air. "Two star-crossed lovers from different worlds, both born from high-ranking families. Life long friends united from the love of their children."
"He's in Cloudclan!"
"And you didn't say no," Arrowtip replied as he booped his best friend on the nose. "I ship it. His shoulders?" Arrowtip shuddered. "Delicious. Your secret's safe with me."
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Harvestmoon paced nervously in the forest, her eyes downcast. This is bad, this is bad, this is so very bad... How was she going to explain to her mother that she was pregnant? And that the father of her kits was from Inkclan? They weren't mates. It was just a fling. This wasn't supposed to happen! The young warrior collapsed in the grass and covered her face with her paws.
"Stars, I'm screwed..."
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"Hello Copperbrook- Laststorm. Hey Battlescar and Mistfeather! How are you today?" the soft, gentle voice was that of Waterlily. The pretty, polite gray she-cat was one of the most attentive of the elders and today she had brought them moss-balls with drops of honey. She smiled and gave each of the retired of her clan a gentle brush with her whiskers. "Some of the others will be by soon to help change your bedding. I know for a sure Nettlewhisker is coming and Flamecrypt will be by soon with some prey."
"What a good girl," Battlescar, the oldest cat in Streamclan, purred as he fondly lifted his old, wrinkled head. "You're such a sweet one, you know that? Your parents did right by you."
"Her mother did at least," Laststorm growled and Waterlily rolled her eyes. She placed a mossball in front of each elder- saving Laststorm's for the final.
"We've talked about this, Laststorm. You're not going to talk badly about my daddy in front of me or I'm not going to come see you anymore. Okay?" she said in her sweet voice. "Now stick your tongue out and enjoy the treat. It's honey!"
"Honey," Mistfeather purred. "Oh, what a delight. Thank you so much, Waterlily. Really, thank you."
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Lionpurr laughed as she and Dawntide splashed through the water together. The yellow warrior turned on her paws and batted playfully at her best friend's ear. "Come on, slow poke! You're not gonna let a little bit of mud slow you down huh? Last one to the tree is a tadpole!" she laughed as she took off again through the puddles that were so present in the Vale.
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(I left the other characters kind of vague so you guys can add them in if you wanna. <3)
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Post by cowbird on Jun 17, 2023 21:53:24 GMT -5
( Treeheart you can always interject!) Goldenstar forgot to tag you last night!)) “Oh Tawnytoes! And Darkwater what a coincidence! We were just talking about kits and were wondering if you knew if anymore were coming along.” The jovial tones came from Nettlewhisker. The brown-green eyed warrior had settled leisurely by the reeds near the apprentice den, with Violetpetal washing herself drowsily beside him. When the two medicine cats approached, the warrior craned her head over to mew a greeting. She winced as her spine shivered in effort when she twisted. If only I could stop feeling like a fragile newborn these days…… Nighthunter nearly yelped in shock as he clambered out of the brush at the top of the slope and nearly walked right into a fast-approaching Whitepool. He had been quick to leave the meeting, just a tad bit annoyed he wasn't chosen to attend the Meeting in the Valley but quickly set his attention on something he found much more worth his time- hunting squirrels in the drylands above the marshes. He was one of the select cats who liked furry prey and he had just buried a quick catch when he found himself nose to nose with the fierce warrior. Only right now, she wasnt so intimidating. Not that she ever had Nighthunter shaking, even when the Ancient Laws were still in place, but he wasnt going to act like the powerful she-cat wasnt a threat had he put the wrong paw forward- and if it wasnt for the reeling power of his best friend Bluefern, he probably would have gotten himself killed already. Yet no… right now the warrior was staring back at him in… nervousness? Apprehension? That’s odd, he mused as he drew away from the still she-cat. Whitepool’s never this clamped up.
As his paws shifted, he felt something smooth underneath and when the large cat peered down, he saw a small, brown stone. One that was clearly from the river… which mean someone, or something had brought it here. The dark tom looked back up at the warrior, his ears perked as he heard the slight crack in her voice. “Uhhh yeah… whats to talk about he asked?” … “Featherlea! Dont tell me you did this all this by yourself?” The clipped tones of Bluefern had ricocheted towards the pair standing by the camp entrance, as the small but compact warrior slid out of the ivy-strewn barrier, careful not to dislodge the transformed entrance. She flicked her tail half-heartedly at Riverdash in greeting but her turquoise eyes were all for Featherlea. She gazed appreciatively at the decorations and then flicked her gaze over to the moss- and ivy-covered cat. “This is quite the work of art, miss,” she complimented, her eyes twinkling. … Crimsontalon gobbled the last bit of trout he had caught and trotted over to where Feralblade and Mushroomstem were working diligently at the few trees that littered the StreamClan camp. He was still licking the delicious taste off his whiskers when he reached the hard-working toms. Feralbalde seemed to be adamant to bring a little bit of his culture with him bit by bit every season and at first, the clan wasnt so hot on it. Even open-minded Crimsontalon seemed put off- StreamClan had their own customs. Some werent so great but… in the end it didnt matter though. Minnowstar was all too happy to let him introduce them to Anlach and while the dark ginger tom had no intention of participating himself, he though the decorations were rather breathtaking. “Sorry- Addertongue can be such a good storyteller when he is in the mood- I couldnt miss it,” he purred as he sat down, his eyes watching carefully what the two were doing but still not sure how to get there. “What exactly can I help here with?” … Yellowrose blinked at Treeholly’s question. She was usually ready with a response to everything no matter what. Yet she didnt know if she could honestly answer the older she-cat. She personally wasnt sure why some of the warriors werent having families yet. As loud and in-your-face as she was, her own attempts at love had been futile. She had sent her affections out to Arrowtip, but the tom had been tailing after her sister, Mossfur for a while and had been attached to the hip with Gingerbell for the last season. She thought maybe an older tom like Nighthunter or Heavyrain would give her some attention- she was after all beautiful, no need to debate. Yet those too had fallen out quickly- and she had heard from a friend of a friend that Heavyrain had a thing for Minnowstar herself… So Yellowrose had fell into a predicament of loneliness. She moved to the nursery, helping poor Fogbounce care for her new litter, hoping being part of little ones upbringing would fill her the hole in her chest. Even if they werent hers, she could pretend maybe that they were. The young she-cat stifled back a sigh. “Yes, yes Anlach might just to the trick. Its been enough time since the Revolution and all. Just the other day I could have sworn I saw Whitepool ogling at Nighthunter. If the grumpy badger can have she-cats padded after him, I'm sure Dapplemoon and Frecklenose will be right around the riverbend.” … “Over what?” Melodramatically, the shadows of the trees behind Harvestmoon seemed to shiver and the dappled coat of Mossfur glided out, her pawsteps softer than leaf falling from its branch as she made her way over to the distressed she-cat. She had been a warrior when Harvestmoon and her littermates were born, but she didnt feel as if right now the warrior needed a mother figure. Not that Mossfur would know how to be one… but just in case. She settled in a neat crouch beside the tormented warrior, her eyes soft with concern. “What’s got you so messed up there, friend? You’ve been distracted all week and now I come by to see you freaking out by yourself in the forest? What’s the deal?” … Dawntide let out a trill of excitement, feeling as carefree as a kit as she forged harder, flicking large clumps of mud off as she galloped through. The sun was beating down heavily over the puddles yet the wetlands were persistent and the small bodies of water remained. It didnt help that just before it had been raining for what felt like a moon. The two friends splashed on noisily until, tired and weak from running and squeaking like newborn kits, Dawntide stumbled onto a more dry spot, just a few rabbit hops from the tree. “I give up!” she gasped, her flanks heaving in effort to grab some air. “You win, Leo,” she breathed, her eyes half closed but still bright with laughter.
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