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Post by joyfulkitty on Sept 6, 2021 2:16:52 GMT -5
she stopped walking and looked uyp at him. "well-" she began and spoke again what she had just told pumpkinseed. Leaving out no detail of what she remembered. after she finshed she looked at the stars "could it be somthing bad is going to happen?" she meowed
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Post by Goldenstar on Sept 6, 2021 3:37:27 GMT -5
The color had drained from Rabbitear's nose, ears, and lips. He studied Pinkpaw's face for a long time, silence stretching between them like a fog. He then gave her one small nod and headed on back to camp. "Something bad, indeed..." he said over his shoulder as they padded into camp. "Keep it between us. Starclan is always cryptic, sadly... Come now, let's get some sleep..."
---
[Two weeks later.]
"Pinkpaw?" the soft mew came from Songpaw as the apprentice entered the Medicine Cat Den, a small limp coming from her favored hind leg. "Can you take a look at my paw? I think I have a thorn lodged in my pad and I can't find it but it stings like fury."
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Post by joyfulkitty on Sept 6, 2021 3:46:15 GMT -5
Pinkpaw looked over at songpaw and smiled "of course. Come on in. Take a seat over there I will be right with you" she said as she finished wrapping up a warriors treatment for a bite from a rabbit that he tried to catch "Alright, now just keep that cob web on it for a while!" She ordered and seen the Tom off and walked over to songpaw.
"A thorn in your paw pad hey?" She asked and took her paw and turned it so she could get a closer look "ah I see what it is, it is indeed a thorn, but not a normal thorn" she said and used her claw to gently pull. And eventually she pulled away a bee "you must of stepped on a bee" she meowed and killed the bee by stepping on it over some moss "not to worry, your paw will swell a bit, but it will ease" she said and went to the herb storage and returned to her
"Take some poppy seeds for the immediate pain, and I am going to put thus dandelion paste on your paw, and it will help as well" she said and smeered the paste on her paw pad and placed a leaf over it, wrapping it with cob web "now, take it easy for a few hours" she meowed and seed the she cat off. After leaving she looked at the clan and smiled softly.
---
Wavestar was sitting on a patch of grass above the camp watching everyone closely. Her nose twitching as she sensed the scent of change in the air. The time for the seasons to change was approaching. And there was much to prepare for
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Post by Goldenstar on Sept 6, 2021 3:59:49 GMT -5
"Oh thank you so much, Pinkpaw!" Songpaw yipped, flinching when the stinger came out. She stuck her tongue out when Pinkpaw crushed the bee. She eased when the poultice went on her paw and she nodded at the instructions as Rabbitear padded back into the den, his jaws full of moss. "Good morning, Rabbitear!"
"Morning," the gray tom murmured as he set down the foliage. With a thankful flick of her tail on Pinkpaw's shoulder, Songpaw left quickly, keeping weight off her hind paw. She hadn't been gone two minutes when Hawksight entered the Medicine Cat Den.
"What was wrong with Songpaw?" he half asked, half growled. "She's off to the apprentice's den to rest. Is she hurt? Why didn't you come get me?"
"Temper temper," Rabbitear grumbled as he sorted through the herb supplies. "You'd think she was your daughter instead of your apprentice. Ask Pinkpaw- she cared for her. Not me." ~ "You seem tense." Iriswish sat down beside her mate, placing a blackbird at her paws. "Eat. You can't lead the clan if you're starving."
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Post by joyfulkitty on Sept 6, 2021 4:05:10 GMT -5
Pinkpaw flicked her tail at hawksight and looked towards him "i didn't think I needed your permission to treat a cat" she said with hint of 'go fuck off' in her voice. She then blinked "she stepped on a bee. Nothing serious but she will be kept on nest rest for at least 2 days" she said and looked back at the herbs. Mentally counting how many they needed "now if that's all hawksight, me and rabbitear are very busy" she said ignoring anything else the Tom had to say
---
Wavestar pushed the bird away "I have already eaten today" she said and looked at iriswish "I fear that greencough will destroy this clan..." she whispered
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Post by Goldenstar on Sept 6, 2021 4:19:08 GMT -5
"Snappy and disrespectful! Just like your mentor," Hawksight snarled, turning on his paws, his tail lashing. "The next time something happens with my apprentice- I'd like to know!"
"Maybe if you'd spend more time mentoring her instead of mooning over her mother- you would have noticed she'd hurt herself!"
"How dare you?!" Hawksight rounded on Rabbitear and the tom twisted, baring his needle like fangs at the Warrior.
"What will you do, brother?" Rabbitear's namesakes pinned against his head and the fur along his spine began to rise. "Fight me?"
"One day, Rabbitear... your wit won't be able to save you..." snapped the Warrior as he spun out of the den. Rabbitear lifted himself back to his paws and gave his pelt a shake.
"Waste of a good pelt on that one..." Rabbitear spat, licking his lips as if he were trying to rid his mouth of a foul taste. "What my traitor of a father ever saw in him, I'll never know... but he loved him for some reason..." Rabbitear looked suddenly very old and tired... and sad. He settled back down by his work and began to sort again. "More than he ever loved me..." he murmured more to himself as he pushed some burdock away from the rest of his supplies. "Don't let him get to you, Pinkpaw," he said a bit louder, some of this usual gruff back. "He's just bitter. Don't ever become bitter. If you do... it turns your soul sour. Nothing good ever comes from grudges." ~ "Eat again," Iriswish insisted, taking a mouthful of bird. "There won't be rich hunting much longer. Redpaw said he saw snow this morning... in speaking of, it's time for him to have his Warrior name, don't you think? Cinderfog said he did excellent on his last assessment." She flicked an ear in surprise with Wavestar mentioned Greencough. "My love, you worry too much... Rabbitear and Pinkpaw chased out the illness weeks ago. Our clan is healthy. Don't worry yourself with it."
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Post by joyfulkitty on Sept 6, 2021 4:24:55 GMT -5
"I am sure I will never become as bitter as him, even when I become a grouchy old elder" she joked and chuckled "grumbling about how apprentices don't know how to get rid of ticks or clean the bedding like it should be!" She meowed jokingly and pawed through the herbs. Carefully separating some and piling them in a neat pile, away from little kits paw lengths.
-----
Wavestar nodded "yes, redpaw will become a warrior today" she said and flicked her ear. She listened to her mate speak of pinkpaw and rabbitear "that's their job. But they can't prevent it from returning" she growled slightly. She bent down, taking a single bite from the bird and left her mate to go.call a meeting.
She lept ontop of the stone and yowled "let those old enough to catch their own prey join here for a clan meeting!!!"
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Post by Goldenstar on Sept 6, 2021 5:00:49 GMT -5
"You won't be an Elder, Pinkpaw. Medicine Cats don't retire like Warriors," he told his apprentice with a fond tone to his voice as he picked out over dried pieces of thyme. "Medicine Cats are Medicine Cats forever... until they die. So if you have anyone to blame for your bad bedding- it's you," he chuckled, rolling his shoulders. "Come on. We hardly have any thyme or comfrey. We need to make the most of the forest while the plants are still green. Let's go gather." ~ (His Warrior name will be Redtide. <3)
As cats began to gather beneath the Highstone, Rabbitear changed course.
"We'll gather after this," he said to Pinkpaw as they took their place up front by Iriswish- who gave Pinkpaw a warm, loving lick on the cheek.
Redpaw came sprinting from the apprentice's den, his head held high and his whiskers twitching with excitement. A white and blue molly began to lick his ears while a few paces away, a dark red and brown tom was standing with pride radiating off of him in waves.
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Post by joyfulkitty on Sept 6, 2021 5:24:41 GMT -5
Pinkpaw smiled at iriswish a d purred softly and let her lick her cheek. She flicked her ear and turned back to look towards the group of cats that had gathered. She noticed some cats looking not so great. She made a mental note to check with them after she gathered herbs with rabbitear after the meeting.
She looked towards wavestar who started to speak
~
"Today, one of our apprentices have proven that he is ready to become a warrior. After discussing with iriswish, and his mentor. I agree" she meowed "redpaw, step foward" she meowed. When the apprentice did as told she looked at cinderfog and nodded "redpaw, cinderfog has trained you to be a courageous fighter and a skilled hunter. With the sense of honor and pride. With that being said, do you promise to withhold the warrior code, and protect your clan with your life?" She asked.
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Post by Goldenstar on Sept 6, 2021 5:46:33 GMT -5
Redpaw was trembling, his eyes wide with excitement. He'd been waiting so long for this. "Yes, Wavestar, I swear!"
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Post by joyfulkitty on Sept 6, 2021 14:43:02 GMT -5
Wavestar smiled "than from this day Onward you will be known as Redid. Starclan honors your skill and courage" she meowed and lept down and licked the warriors shoulder. She smiled softly. A hint of tiredness in her eyes "welcome redtide"
The clan yowled out the new warriors name with excitement. Cats congratulated the new warrior.
~
Pinkpaw watched and smiled. This was her first time seeing a warrior naming ceremony. And she was so glad that redtide was now a warrior.
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Post by Goldenstar on Sept 7, 2021 0:21:58 GMT -5
"Redtide!" came the cries as the Warriors surged forward to congratulate him.
"They don't seem happy," Rabbitear whispered to his apprentice, flicking his tail over to where Flowerscar and Hawksight were talking in hushed voices, their heads close together. Rabbitear's pupils narrowed. "One day when I'm dead and gone, Pinkpaw, it'll be your job to keep an eye on him. I think that's the greatest burden of all- even more so that protecting this clan from injury and illness."
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Post by joyfulkitty on Sept 7, 2021 0:35:38 GMT -5
"Meeting dismissed" wavestar said and went to her den and laid down with a huff. She curled into a ball and took a deep breath.
~
"Why arnt they happen for redtide? Becoming a warrior is every apprentices dream" she frowned and looked over at redtide "he looks so happy..."
She frowned "if they were good clanmates they would share in the moment and cheer for him, and embrace him as a new warrior"
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Post by Goldenstar on Sept 8, 2021 2:50:59 GMT -5
"Some cats can never be happy for others. Their hearts are too bitter." Rabbitear flicked one of his namesakes and sighed, shaking his head. He used his tail to flick Pinkpaw's side. "Come come. Let's go make the most of the day. Off we go to gather."
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Post by joyfulkitty on Sept 9, 2021 22:08:38 GMT -5
Pinkpaw and nodded. She padded out of the den with her mentor. Walking along the sand, she glanced at the clan. Cats were starting to look hungry. But nobody looked more hungry and tired then wavestar. She had noticed recently the leader had been denying prey, or taking prey and giving it to other members of the clan. This worried the apprentice. Hungry cats going into leaf-bare wasnt good. It could lead to more sickness then what shes heard leaf-bare already brings. She walked with her mentor through the terriotry and spoke "Rabbitear? what do we do during leaf bare to help the clan? herbs wont be able to be gathered...and with prey becoming harder to get" she began and looked down "cats are gonna go into it hungry, and that leads to sicknesses" she flicked her ear and blinked "maybe, i should reduce my own rations, and offer them up to cats that need to. After all, they need energy to hunt and protect this clan" she meowed
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Post by Goldenstar on Sept 18, 2021 4:24:08 GMT -5
"There isn't much we can do, Pinkpaw. Even Medicine Cats don't have herbs to save their clan from the harshness of leaf-bare..." Rabbitear flicked his tail as they padded along into the forest. "We can show the clan what berries are safe to eat. We can give them herbs to stifle hunger pains and give them strength... but wasting herbs is not wise in the moons that come when we cannot readily go out to collect more." Rabbitear turned his icy blue eyes to his apprentice. "That's noble of you, Pinkpaw... but the clan needs its Medicine Cat. You must be healthy. I'm getting older and I don't know how many moons I have left in the clan. One day the health and longevity of Bayclan will rest on your shoulders. I must make sure you are ready and you must make sure you are strong enough to handle the task. You cannot do that if you are hungry." He did pause thoughtfully. "We'll start sharing our meals from now on. It won't fill our bellies but it will keep us fed and give more prey to the clan. How does that sound?"
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Post by joyfulkitty on Sept 18, 2021 5:42:04 GMT -5
Pinkpaw nodded at her mentor "yes, I would like that very much" she meowed and continued walking. Eventually they arrived at where they would gather the herbs that was low in their den. She gently pulled leaves and flowers from the plants and wrapping them in large leaves. Flicking her fluffy tail and stopped for a minute and thought. "Whats leaf bare like for the other clans? Is it more common for fights to break out due to lack of food?" She asked with questioning in her eyes.
As she spoke she pricked her ears and looked up at the sky and felt a cold breeze rush through her white fur. "Thats a chill" she said and noticed the leaves on the trees starting to turn colour "rabbitear, look" she meowed, pointing her tail to a few leaves on a tree that were turning brown.
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Post by Goldenstar on Oct 1, 2021 12:56:51 GMT -5
Rabbitear flicked one of his large name-sakes and seemed lost in thought for a moment. "Each clan handles the cold differently. Unless the water freezes- we always have food to eat in Bayclan. Woodclan, who hunt in trees, generally do well because the prey hides in the trees and they can easily find them there. It's Meadowclan who suffers the most during leaf-bare. It's hard to find prey on the moor when they're burrowed in the ground..." he gathered a few pawfulls of dandelion leaves, thankful that there had been a late bloom so far into the colder months. He glanced up to where Pinkpaw had motioned with her tail. He gave a slow nod but all of a sudden his pupils narrowed. Something akin to shock spread across the old tom's face and he whirled around on his paws, his pupils huge. He opened his mouth- drinking in the scent of something so faint, he couldn't believe it was real. Rabbitear reared back on his hind legs, peering through the thinning ferns and foliage. He came back down on all fours and tilted his head. Surely he had imagined it... He flicked an ear in embarrassment then gave a small nod to Pinkpaw, as if he had forgotten she was there. "Uhm, yes... we had better get these herbs back to camp, huh?..."
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Post by joyfulkitty on Oct 2, 2021 19:03:45 GMT -5
Pinkpaw looked at her mentor with a questioning gaze. she lifted her body up in the sky as high as she could and took a deep breath, trying to catch a whiff of what had caused her mentor to act so strange. She caught a slight scent of bayclan. It was a scent of a bayclan cat she never smelt before. Taking another deep inhale she flicked her ear as she got back on all her paws and blinked in confusion. She knew everyone in the clan by scent. But she didn't know this scent. She looked to her mentor and picked up herbs and started to return back to camp with him.
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Post by Goldenstar on Oct 22, 2021 8:29:02 GMT -5
Several moons had passed throughout the territories and now the cold wind was slicing through the hilltops. Last leaf-bare was brutal and proved fatal to many and with the stirring of this leaf-fall, it didn't seem that next season would be any kinder. Rabbitear flicked one of his namesakes as they trudged upward, guided by the light of the half moon's glare. As they neared the boulder that marked the corner of the three territories, Rabbitear's steps lightened. Pumpkinseed and Amberfield were huddled together against the cold but they nodded warmly as the the other healers approached.
Pigeonfeather, after being so stubborn for so long, had finally taken an apprentice. Standing next to her was Sorrelpaw- a brown she-cat with big blue eyes. This was her first meeting, as she had come to Medicine Cat training a bit late in her apprenticeship and was still fairly new to the ways of the healers. Pigeonfeather gave Rabbitear's cheek a swift nuzzle and Pumpkinseed bounced over to Pinkpaw and touched her nose to her friends' muzzle.
"Hiya Pinkpaw!" she greeted in her usual chipper voice. "Cold night huh?"
"Coldest in Bayclan, I'm sure," Pigeonfeather said as the Medicine Cats began to walk toward the Moonpool (Moonstone? I forget what it is. xD). "Off the water like that, you are certain to get a chill!"
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Post by joyfulkitty on Oct 22, 2021 14:55:17 GMT -5
Pinkpaw flicked her ear as she walked beside pumpkinseed. "It is cold for sure" she meowed and glanced over at pigeonfeather "the winds can be brutally cold, but we have been trying to find ways to block the dens from the dens. Would hate for cats to wake up cold" she meowed as she walked. Her fur was more fluffy then usaual. It also seemed thicker then it did in green leaf. Her ears twitched as they approached the moonpool. The group had cats were walking pretty close together as to try to keep warm. Her mind wandered as her thoughts took over. Wavestar wasnt getting better at all. She was actually getting worse. No matter how much herbs her and rabbitear gave her. She had also become aggresive, and refuses to eat much at all. Her eyes filled with worry.
Sorrelpaw walked inbetween her mentor and rabbitear. Her tail flicking as she listened to these cats speak about the cold, and how the season effects the clans. She rolled her eyes. 'Everyone knows how the seasons effect the clans, no need to discuss it' she thought and flicked her ear
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Post by Goldenstar on Oct 23, 2021 11:01:32 GMT -5
Once reaching the Moonpool, Rabbitear lifted his tail to show that he wanted to speak. He sat and looked at each Medicine Cat in their turn. "Before we share with Starclan, there is something that needs to be done." His icy blue gaze flickered lastly to his apprentice as he curled his tail around his paws. "Pinkpaw, you have worked exuberantly hard to learn all the ways of a clan healer. You've dealt with sickness, death, life, and anguish. That is why... I believe it is time for you to earn your full name." He dipped his head, expression unreadable. "Step forward."
"I, Rabbitear, medicine cat of Bayclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of a medicine cat, and with your help she will serve her Clan for many moons. Pinkpaw, do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?"
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Post by joyfulkitty on Oct 23, 2021 13:47:31 GMT -5
Pinkpaw smiled happily and sat infront of her mentor. Curling her tail she purred "I do!! I will!!" She meowed with excitement. Her eyes glanced over at pumpkinseed and she could feel pumpkinseeds excitement for her just by looking at her.
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Post by Goldenstar on Oct 23, 2021 14:10:17 GMT -5
Rabbitear's cool eyes flashed- betraying his true feelings. Pride. Warmth. Maybe something close to love. He then blinked and the emotions fell away, leaving just the stoic, senior-most medicine cat among them. He lifted his head high and Pumpkinseed held her breath, her whiskers trembling with excitement.
"Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your true name as a medicine cat. Pinkpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Pinkcloud. StarClan honors your kindness, patience, and honesty, and we welcome you as a full medicine cat of Bayclan!"
"Pinkcloud! Pinkcloud!" Pumpkinseed cheered and soon Pigeonfeather joined in and all the others until they were all chanting her name.
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Post by joyfulkitty on Oct 23, 2021 14:13:22 GMT -5
Pinkcloud purred with happiness and smiled at the cats cheering her full name. She felt completed. She looked at rabbitear and shoved her face into his shoulder and licked his shoulder "thank you rabbitear...for teaching me" she whispered in his ear and stepped back then looked at the pool of water. The stars glistened in reflection and she touched the water. Soon falling asleep.
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Post by Goldenstar on Oct 23, 2021 14:23:15 GMT -5
Rabbitear lay beside Pinkcloud and he touched his nose to the cold water. Soon he found himself in a Starclan, looking up into yellow eyes and a smooth, pretty face.
"Who are..."
"My name is Cloudshine. I was a Medicine Cat in Bayclan long ago."
"It's an honor to meet you."
Cloudshine's eyes darkened and suddenly Rabbitear felt ill. He tried to push to his paws but found that the ground around him was sinking and he was being swallowed inside of it. When the dark earth got to his neck, he gasped and stared desperately at the Starclan cat.
"Cloudshine! Help me!"
"A darkness is coming. It will blacken the sky. Have faith, Rabbitear. Have faith in Starclan or Bayclan will not survive."
As the ground ate up over his face, Cloudshine turned away from him. In the next moment, his eyes stared frantically across a sky of dawn scattered with pink and orange clouds.
---
Rabbitear jerked awake, drinking in sweet gulps of air. He looked around and began to relax, noticing some of the other Medicine Cats beginning to wake. His body ached and was heavy and he could still feel the earth seeping into his ears. He looked down at Pinkcloud- who was still deep in her slumber- and his gaze flickered with worry. A sky of pink and orange clouds...
Was his apprentice a bigger part of something that would nearly bring Bayclan to destruction?... was she the key to its salvation?...
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Post by joyfulkitty on Oct 23, 2021 14:29:29 GMT -5
Pinkcloud slowly awoke and opened her eyes. She was in a starry field. Standing on her paws she looked around "hello?" She called out. Taking a few steps forward She heard no reply. She looked around more. Searching for somebody. Anybody. But nothing. She didn't feel the call to wake up from the dream so she kept walking on the starry field. Soon coming across a stream.
-----
Amberfield awoke and looked towards rabbitear. She noticed her looked frantic "everything okay?" She asked with concern.
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Post by Goldenstar on Oct 23, 2021 15:35:19 GMT -5
Soon a silky white she-cat with faded gray points approached Pinkcloud. She rested her tail on the she-cat's spine, her honey yellow eyes kind. "Hello, Pinkcloud. Welcome." ~ "Starclan sent me an omen," Rabbitear whispered. "Crytpic as usual."
"Starclan sent me grave news as well," this was Pigeonfeather who spoke- the lanky cat shaking her pelt. "I fear our clans may be facing something... something dark. A challenge we must not run from."
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Post by joyfulkitty on Oct 23, 2021 15:40:03 GMT -5
Pinkcloud looked up at the starclan cat "Oh hello!" She meowed "I am.sorry...I don't know your name..but your very pretty!!" She meowed "do you have to tell me somthing??" -------
Amberfield blinked "you as well? What is starclan saying I wonder..." she said and looked up at the sky and frowned. She looked towards pinkcloud "she's still walking with starclan?"
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Post by Goldenstar on Oct 23, 2021 16:22:31 GMT -5
"My name is Cloudshine. I was Bayclan's Medicine Cat long ago- long before your clan's oldest elder was even born. And yes, Pinkcloud, I do have something to tell you..." the she-cat's eyes darkened. "There are hard times coming to the clans, Pinkcloud. You will be part of a turning of the tide. You must be prepared. For the storm." ~ "Maybe Starclan is celebrating her getting ner name?" Pumpkinseed said lightly but her eyes held worry.
"She'll be awake soon," Rabbitear said with a nod of certainty. "We all dream at our own pace."
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