Forest Cats
By Rhiannon Alexander
Allegiances
Ferntribe
Leader: Sapstar- dark brown she-cat
Deputy: Brackenclaw- black tom with brown stripes.
App: Spikepaw
Med Cat: Smokewing-dark gray tom
Warriors
Clearstep- white tom w/ light gray stripes, paws, chest and Dark blue eyes. App: Thrushpaw
Lightstrike- White tom with black line across his back and green eyes
Featherlight- light gray she-cat with dark gray stripes
App: Deerpaw
Treetail: Black tom with white stripe along back
Duskclaw- Dark gray tom with white paws
App: Dapplepaw
Blacknose- White tom with black muzzle and paws
Darkleaf- Black she-cat with white stripe along back and belly
App: Darkpaw
Cherrytail-light gray she-cat
Gravelclaw- Dark gray she-cat
App: Stormpaw
Apprentices
Spikepaw- Brown tom with black stripes
Thrushpaw- Brown tom with white & black patches
Deerpaw- Light brown she-cat with white flecks
Dapplepaw- beautiful she-cat with dappled coat
Darkpaw- Black tom with white chest
Stormpaw- dark gray tom
Queens
Leaftrail- light gray she-cat mother of Duskclaw's kits (Spiderkit-black tom with white paws and Volekit- light gray she-cat)
Lilywhisker- white she w/ black flecks expecting Treetail's kits
Elders
Dustwing- dark gray she-cat; former queen
Specklefur- ginger tom with light ginger specks
Whitewind- pure white she-cat; former queen
Darktribe
Leader: Pinestar- Black tom
Deputy: Scartail- brown tom with scar on tail
Medicine cat: Fawnleap- light brown she
App: Mousepaw (dark brown tom)
Warriors
Ratnose-Dark brown tom
Snowclaw- white she-cat
Brightwhisker- white she-cat with ginger patches
App: Frecklepaw (white she w/ ginger flecks)
Seedheart- Dark brown tom; former Ferntribe warrior
Daisythorn- Black she-cat
Mistcloud- silver she-cat
App: Marshpaw
Thornstep- black tom with brown stripes
Toadclaw- Dark brown tom with white paws
App: Frogpaw (Dark brown tom)
Mapleleaf- white she with maple colored spots
Queens
Flickerleaf- white she-cat w/ ginger flecks mother of Seedheart's kits (Rockkit-dark gray tom, Wrenkit- light brown she, and Moonkit-white tom)
Sunfern- Ginger she-cat expecting Pinestar's kits
Elders
Cinderwhisker- Dusky gray she-cat
Streamtribe
Leader: Lakestar- light gray she
Deputy: Reedfeather- Dark brown she-cat
Medicine cat: Mallowstripe- white tom w/ gray stripes
Warriors
Furzeleap- ginger tom
Sandtail- sandy colored she-cat
Beetlenose- black tom with white paws
App: Whiskerpaw (white she-cat)
Reefwhisker- light gray tom
Pantherlight- Black she
App: Oakpaw (light brown tom)
Raccoonleaf- light gray she with black stripes and paws
App: Foxpaw (fox looking she-cat)
Troutleap- light gray tom
Berryflower- cream she with ginger patches
Mouseclaw- brown tabby tom; former kittypet
Queens
Spottedpool- pretty tortoiseshell she-cat mother of Mallownose's kits (Shadekit-black tom, and Whitekit- white she-cat)
Fleck- white she with ginger patches mother of Mouseclaw's kits (Larkkit- Brown tom, Redkit- ginger she-cat, Willowkit- gray she)
Elders
Carpclaw- Black tom
Splashleap- light gray she with splash mark on forehead
Heatherclan
Leader: Gorsestar- light brown tom
Deputy: Heatherlight- light ginger she-cat
Medicine cat: Krestlewing- gray she-cat
Warriors
Hawkwing- brown tom with white splotches
Crowflight- Black tom
Nightstripe- white she-cat with black stripe down back
App: Lakepaw (light gray she-cat)
Amberlight- ginger and white tom
Misttail- dark gray she-cat
Onestep- black and white tom
Rushfoot- silver tom; Rainwhisker's brother
Larkfeather- ginger she-cat
Sedgefrost- light brown she-cat
Queens
Rainwhisker- silver she-cat with dark gray stripes; expecting Clearstep's kits
Berrywhisker- cream she; mother of Hawkwing's kits (Falconkit-Dark brown tom, Eaglekit- Dark brown tom with white head, and Wrenkit- cream she-cat)
Elders
Poppyleaf- light brown she
Owlnight- Dark brown tom with black stripes down back
Cats Outside the Tribes
Squash-white she with ginger patches
Raspberry- cream she-cat with ginger patches
Prologue
A white tomcat with gray stripes paws tail-tip and chest walks through the forest. His dark blue eyes looking for anything. His paw steps deftly unheard but only by a single cat. He pads to the lake-side and waits. A beautiful silver she-cat with dark gray stripes, tail-tip, paws, and chest pads out from the trees. They greet each other with a purr. "I have been thinking." The she-cat mews silently. "Well Clearstep I don't know how to say this." She mews again. Clearstep nods listening. She leans in and whispers in his ear and his whiskers twitch his tail waves and he licks her cheek. "That would be wonderful Rainwhisker." He purrs. They both get up and whisper a goodbye. Clearstep runs into the thick forest and slips into his den in his clan. He quickly falls asleep happily. Rainwhisker pads then runs over to her clan and slips into her den also happily.
Chapter 1
Clearstep wakes up and pads out and yawns. He sees his brother, Thrushpaw, talking to Dapplepaw. He pads over to them. "Hey Thrushpaw can I talk to you?" Clearstep asks. "It's fine go ahead Thrushpaw. I will see you later." Dapplepaw mews as she gets up and pads away. "What is it." Thrushpaw mews. "Follow me." Clearstep pads out Thrushpaw following him both unaware of the danger ahead. Clearstep jumps on a boulder distorted by time gleaming in the sunlight. "Well Thrushpaw. You know about me and Rainwhisker, right?" Thrushpaw nods flicking his tail with annoyance. "Well she and I have decided that-" Clearstep is cut off as a fox leaps on him. Clearstep claws the fox's nose making it furious. It leaps at Thrushpaw and he claws its chest. "Go get help!" Clearstep howls jumping squarely on the foxes shoulders. Thrushpaw streaks through the forest and gets back to camp panting and wide-eyed,. "There is a fox on our territory and Clearstep needs help!" Thrushpaw yelled across the clan. Dustwing pops her head out of the elders den. "Not my son!" She wails. Duskclaw, Dapplepaw, and Treetail run out with Featherlight, and Deerpaw on their trail. Thrushpaw leads them to the site. When they get their Clearstep is panting and circling the fox. "Attack!" Duskclaw yowls and he jumps on its back. Dapplepaw and Thrushpaw nip at it and claws its side. Featherlight grabs Clearstep gingerly conscious of his wounds, with a bone protruding from his side. "Please don't die Clearstep. Please!" Featherlight wails ruefully. "Deerpaw." She yowls and Deerpaw jumps off the fox and runs to Featherlight. "Yes Featherlight?" Deerpaw asks anxiously. Just then the fox lets out a yelp shaking the warriors off and Thrushpaw and Dapplepaw run to the side. The fox runs off and Duskclaw and Treetail chase after it making sure it doesn't return. Dapplepaw and Thrushpaw tentatively walk over to Clearstep, Deerpaw and Featherlight. "Let's get him back to camp." Featherlight mews. They drag him back to camp and when they get back Lightstrike runs over. They lay him on his back, and pad over to the medicine cats den. "Smokewing, Clearstep needs help." Thrushpaw mews as they set him down. "Leave. Soon I will tell you if he is ok." Smokewing mutters sniffing Clearstep. Dustwing pads in. "I'm staying. He is my son." Thrushpaw pads out and Dapplepaw next to him. "It will be ok." Dapplepaw mews. "Smokewing is our medicine cat he will fix your brother right up." Dapplepaw saw Duskclaw and Treetail walk in and she ran over to them. "What am I going to tell Rainwhisker?" Thrushpaw breathes.
Thrushpaw leaves camp and rushes to the lakeside and sits there waiting for Rainwhisker. Rainwhisker pads out of the shadow and snarls at him. "What have you done to Clearstep?" She hisses. Thrushpaw stands up. "I have done nothing Rainwhisker. I am just his brother Thrushpaw." Rainwhisker calms a little. "How do you know my name?" She questions. "Clearstep told me. Anyway I came here for Clearstep." Thrushpaw mews. Rainwhisker sat. "Where is he?" She mews. "He is in the Medicine cats den. We were attacked by a fox and I went to get help and he was hurt badly. We got it away." Rainwhisker stared at him her eyes filled with sorrow. "Will he be alright?" She wailed. Thrushpaw looked at her. "About that..." He mewed. "I really don't know."
Chapter 2
Clearstep limps from the medicine cats den and sits on a sunny rock and lies down. Clearstep stares at the sky mind whirling. That was the fox from Featherlight and my warrior ceremony! Clearstep thought. He looked around and sighed. 3 moons I've been in Smokewings den. Good I can finally get out. He thought about the fox again. That was when the Heathertribe cats were coming over to bring Stormkit back from starting a fight! That's when I met Rainwhisker. Clearstep purred at the thought and Featherlight padded up to him and purred. "May I join you?" Featherlight purred. "Err…Sure." Clearstep mewed. He looked at Featherlight as she lay next to him. Clearstep looked at the sky and dazed for a while. He was at his warrior ceremony and had just been made a warrior. The tribe is just about to call my name when-. "Clearstep. Can I tell you something?" Featherlight mewed breaking his thoughts. "Sure." Clearstep mews. "Clearstep." Featherlight mews looking at him, eyes filled with love. "I love you." Featherlight mews embarrassed. Clearstep looked at her in awe. "Do you like me Clearstep?" Featherlight went on. "The thing is….. I want to have kits. With you I mean." Featherlight finished staring at him. Clearstep searched his mind for something to say. "You're a great cat Featherlight but…." Clearstep saw Brackenclaw come stomping over.
"Clearstep, I need to talk to you about Thrushpaw." Brackenclaw growled. I've never seen Brackenclaw angry. Thrushpaw must have done something bad. Clearstep thought as he limped out of camp with Brackenclaw. They went to the rock where Clearstep was attacked and Brackenclaw glared at him. "Leave Featherlight alone!" Brackenclaw hissed. "I love her. I want her to be my mate. Find yourself another mate!" Brackenclaw glared at him. I already did. Clearstep thought. "Fine, I will." Clearstep muttered. He limped back and limped into the medicine cats den ignoring Featherlight. "What happened?" Clearstep heard Featherlight mew. "He probably doesn't appreciate you. I do." He heard Brackenclaw mew. He heard Featherlight sigh. "I love you Featherlight." He heard Brackenclaw again. "Will you be my mate?" Clearstep bristled and lashed his tail. He heard Featherlight purr. "Of course." He heard Featherlight. At least I didn't have to reject her. Clearstep thought.
He lay down in his nest and fell asleep. He was soon woken by Smokewing. "You can leave my den now. You are fully healed." Smokewing growled falling asleep again. Clearstep got up and made it look like he was headed for the dirt tunnel. He went in came out and padded to the thorn barrier. "Where are you going?" He heard Lightstrike mew. "Outside. Did Thrushpaw leave?" Clearstep asked. "Yeah, a few seconds ago." Darkleaf mewed. "I'm going to find him." Clearstep mewed going through the thorn tunnel and racing for the Heatherclan border. "He is still in the medicine cats den Rainwhisker. I don't know when he will be out." Clearstep heard Thrushpaws angry mew. "He has to be out it's been 3 moons already!" He heard Rainwhisker. He pushed on and appeared just before Thrushpaw clawed her. "Thrushpaw!" Clearstep growled. Thrushpaw sat back anger blazing in his eyes. "Your back!" Rainwhisker cried with relief and ran over to him they both nuzzled each other. Clearstep scented more Heatherclan cats coming and over the rise came 2 cats. A ginger she-cat and a silver tom. "Larkwhisker! Rushfoot!" Rainwhisker mewed happily. "Is this your excuse for a mate?" Rushfoot growled at Clearstep. "Rushfoot be quiet. This is the one who got hurt by the fox." He heard Larkwhisker. He smelt herbs and saw some in Larkwhisker's jaws. "Just in case the kits come." She mewed noticing Clearstep staring.
Clearstep nuzzled Rainwhisker as he and Thrushpaw left. They were a few fox lengths from camp when they heard a yowl. They raced through the forest. Moontribe tell me nobody heard that. Clearstep prayed. He got back to the clearing seeing Rainwhisker panting and Larkwhisker helping her. "She's having the kits." Rushfoot gasped. He went and soothed his sister.
Soon 4 new kits were born. 2 she-cats and 2 toms. "They are beautiful." Rainwhisker purred staring at them as they suckled. "What should we name them?" Clearstep mewed happily. "The ginger she-cat with the black stripe across her back will be Applekit. The other she-cat will be Dawnkit." She mewed. She looked at Clearstep. "What are the toms named?" She mewed. I get to decide! Clearstep thought. He looked at the dusky gray tom knew what to call him. "The dusky gray tom is Sootkit and the lighter tom is Wrenkit." He mewed proudly. "Here." Rainwhisker mewed nudging Sootkit and Dawnkit to him. "Take them. Put them under another she-cats care tell her you found them." She mewed staring at her kits sadly. "I-I can't." Clearstep choked on his words. "You must." Rainwhisker mewed. "Keep them until they are 1 moon then we meet and I will take
Chapter 3
Thrushpaw padded out of the apprentices den and walked over to Dapplepaw. "Hey Dapplepaw." He mewed. "Oh hey Thrushpaw." Dapplepaw mewed back. "Can I talk to you?" She asked. This is it she might love you! Thrushpaw thought. "Sure." He mewed casually. "Well. I really like you and I was wondering if…." She mewed. Thrushpaw was bubbling with excitement and Clearstep padded over ruining the moment. "Hey Thrushpaw can I talk to you?" He asks. Thrushpaw is just about to say no. "It's ok Thrushpaw. I will see you later." There was a hint of sadness in her mew as she went off and talked to Deerpaw. "What is it." Thrushpaw grumbled. "Follow me." Clearstep mewed. They padded through the forest and Clearstep jumped on a boulder distorted by time. "You know about me and Rainwhisker right?" Clearstep asked. Thrushpaw nodded his head hoping to get it over with. "Well she and I have decided that-." A fox jumps out of the bush and attacks Clearstep. Thrushpaw stares in horror. Oh no! Thrushpaw thought. He saw Clearstep claw its nose as it gave a furious yowl. It pounced at Thrushpaw and he stared in shock the jumped backwards and slashed at its chest. It gave yet another yowl. "Go get help!" He heard Clearstep yowl as he jumped squarely on the fox's back.
Thrushpaw streaked through the forest. I have to get help quickly Clearstep could get killed! He thought. He burst through the thorn tunnel cats staring at him. He swallowed his fear and got ready to tell them. "There is a fox on our territory and Clearstep needs help!" He yowled across the camp. He saw Featherlight prick her ears at the sound of Clearstep. He saw his mother Dustwing pop her head out of the elders den. "Not my son!" She wailed. Before he could say anything else. Duskclaw, Treetail, and Dapplepaw run past. He saw Dapplepaw look at him but Featherlight, and Deerpaw were hard on their trail. Thrushpaw left and pounded to the front leading them to the fox and Clearstep. What if he's dead! Thrushpaw thought then pushed it away. The cats entered the clearing as Clearstep was circling it snarling. A bone protruding from his side Thrushpaw gasped in horror. "Attack!" He heard Duskclaw yowl and he, Deerpaw, and Dapplepaw ran and clawed its legs. He saw Duskclaw jump on its back along with Deerpaw. Thrushpaw and Dapplepaw nipped it legs and clawed its belly. Treetail slashed at its face and Featherlight got Clearstep to safety. He heard Featherlight wailing over him. "Deerpaw." He heard her yowl. He saw Deerpaw bound of and race to her mentor. While they were talking Duskclaw shredded one of its ears and Dapplepaw clawed its belly once more when it let out a furious yowl. It shook Duskclaw of and Treetail jumped back. Dapplepaw and Thrushpaw jumped from under it. It ran off into the forest. Duskclaw and Treetail ran after it. They padded over to Featherlight cautiously and she looked up them. "let's get him back to camp." She murmured.
Thrushpaw left the medicine cat den and Dapplepaw had just run over to Treetail and Dusklight. Brackenclaw had just returned from patrol with Spikepaw, Stormpaw, Darkpaw, Darkleaf, and Gravelclaw. They had been on a border patrol then went to train. Spikepaw padded up to him. "I heard you fought a fox." He mewed with a hint of jealousy. Thrushpaw looked at him. "Yeah. My mentor was hurt." He grumbled. "Oh." Spikepaw mewed. "You know Dapplepaw thought you were really brave." He mewed. Thrushpaw remembered Spikepaw was Dapplepaw's brother. Thrushpaw nodded. Spikepaw nodded to him and padded over to Darkpaw. Feeling tired Thrushpaw padded over to his nest then crept out and went to see Rainwhisker.
"What have you done to Clearstep?" She hisses. Thrushpaw stands up. "I have done nothing Rainwhisker. I am just his brother Thrushpaw." Rainwhisker calms a little. "How do you know my name?" She questions. "Clearstep told me. Anyway I came here for Clearstep." Thrushpaw mews. Rainwhisker sat. "Where is he?" She mews. "He is in the Medicine cats den. We were attacked by a fox and I went to get help and he was hurt badly. We got it away." Rainwhisker stared at him her eyes filled with sorrow. "Will he be alright?" She wailed. Thrushpaw looked at her. "About that..." He mewed. "I really don't know."
"Thrushpaw get up." Dapplepaw mewed prodding him with a paw. "I'm up, I'm up." Thrushpaw grumbled getting up. 3 moons since Clearsteps injury. I wonder when he will get out. Thrushpaw padded out where the other apprentices and their mentors were waiting. "Ok we are going to assess you all on hunting with a partner. Remember if you fail you will not be made a warrior." Brackenclaw growled. "I will work with Thrushpaw." Dapplepaw mewed before Deerpaw. "Ok. Spikepaw with Darkpaw, and Stormpaw with Deerpaw." Brackenclaw muttered. All the apprentices went into the forest their mentors behind them. When Brackenclaw nodded the apprentices sprang of in different directions. Dapplepaw and Thrushpaw went to the thickest part. They scented around and scented a squirrel. Thrushpaw snuck up while Dapplepaw was near the tree closest to the squirrel. After a while the warriors called for the apprentices. Thrushpaw and Dapplepaw took their prey back and had the most. Clearstep and Duskclaw nodded with approval. They went in and the apprentices waited near the boulder ledge. The warriors went in to tell Sapstar.
"I am going to be the best warrior ever." Spikepaw declared.
"We all are going to be good warriors." Thrushpaw replied.
Sapstar emerged from her den and jumped on the boulder ledge and called for the tribe.
"Today we gather to make some apprentices warriors." Sapstar called. She flicked her tail and we bounded up. "Do all promise to protect and defend this tribe even at the cost of life?" Sapstar asked. The apprentices nodded and she smiled. "Thrushpaw you are now Thrushwing. Dapplepaw you are now Dapplesplash. Stormpaw you are now Stormcloud. Spikepaw you are now Spikeclaw. Darkpaw you are now Darkhaze. And Deerpaw you are now Deerleap." Sapstar called. The tribe yowled our names. They went over and Thrushwing was bubbling with happiness. They went to sit vigil the whole night.
Chapter 2
Clearstep padded over to the warriors den. Thrushpaw is now a warrior. Thrushwing my own brother. Clearstep fell asleep. Clearstep awoke after a while and padded out and went over to the entrance. "Out." He murmured to the new warriors. He pelted down to the meeting spot where he saw Rainwhisker. She had just given birth to the kits. He padded over and she sighed. He saw two other cats. "Hello again Clearstep." Rushfoot mewed. Clearstep nodded to him. "Hello Clearstep, I hope you're ready to take the kits. We were only able to keep them clan hidden for a moon so now you take them." The she-cat mewed. Clearstep bowed in greeting and went on staring at his kits. "Here you go. Take Finchkit and Sootkit" She stared at Clearstep and he looked at the toms. "You will take Applekit and Wrenkit then." He murmured. Rainwhisker nudged Finchkit and Sootkit to him. "Take care of them." Rainwhisker murmured. Clearstep nodded. Rainwhisker got up and carried the other 2 home. He turned and padded back to camp. He padded through the entrance just at dawn. "Clearstep where did you get those kits?" Darkhaze asked. And the new warriors clawed him with questions. Thrushwing rolled his eyes angrily and slammed down his paw and snarled and everyone went quiet. "Shut up before you wake up the whole clan." He hissed and they all started murmuring. Clearstep dipped his head to his younger brother and went to the nursery and placed the kits by Lilywhisker and she looked at him. "Can you care for these kits? I found them by them by the Heatherclan border. I named them on my way here. The she is Finchkit and the tom is Sootkit." Clearstep mewed. Lilywhisker nudged them towards her. "Thank you." Clearstep mewed padding out and something tackled him. He saw Thrushwing and he shoved him off. "What?" Clearstep mewed. "Those are your kits right?" Thrushwing mewed as they walked around. "Yes. Why?" Clearstep mewed. "You should tell the clan. I know we have a bad relation with Heatherclan but everybody won't hate you." Thrushwing sneered. "Shut up." Clearstep mewed shoving him away. Thrushwing laughed and Clearstep watched as he bounded over to his friends. He can be serious when its needed but fun when he wants. He's a good cat, he would make a wonderful father. Clearstep thought then he padded out of camp for a walk.