WaterClan - Vaporeons
Leader: Pebblestar*
Deputy: Raindrop*
Healer: Reedfin (Aquapaw)
Warriors:
Ripplethorn, Splashtail, Creekshine, Puddlenose, Rapidwind, Riverfern, Mistyeyes, Waveheart
Queens:
Brookstone
Apprentices:
Driftpaw, Finpaw, Floodpaw, Aquapaw
Kits:
Rushkit, Bluekit, Streamkit, Shellkit
xxx
LeafClan - Leafeons
Leader: Blossomstar*
Deputy: Vinetalon*
Healer: Leppafur
Warriors:
Fernsong, Chestopond, Berryfrost, Flowerfall, Greenclaw, Dewstream,
Grassybrook, Bloomingtail
Queens:
Ivydust
Apprentices:
Pechapaw, Rawstpaw, Twigpaw, Meadowpaw
Kits:
Seedkit, Petalkit, Cloverkit
xxx
MoonClan - Umbreons
Leader: Jetstar*
Deputy: Shadowfoot*
Healer: Umbraspots
Warriors:
Shademoon, Blackshine, Onyxheart, Dreadpool, Sootstorm, Goldentooth, Duskpelt
Queens:
Nightrain, Slateriver
Apprentices:
Darkpaw, Ghostpaw, Ravenpaw
Kits:
Starkit*, Ebonykit, Sablekit
xxx
FireClan - Flareons
Leader: Burntstar*
Deputy: Heatspirit*
Healer: Torchstep (Burningpaw)
Warriors:
Flamepath, Scorchedfoot, Redfang, Ashblossom, Blazingheart, Flickernose, Charredfur
Queens:
Emberleaf, Cinderpool
Apprentices:
Burningpaw, Flarepaw, Scarletpaw
Kits:
Blazekit, Lavakit, Smokekit, Flamingkit, Coalkit
xxx
SunClan - Espeons
Leader: Shootingstar*
Deputy: Lightfang*
Healer: Echowind
Warriors:
Dawnpath, Rayspots, Morningfoot, Spiritcloud, Marbletail, Glowingfur, Silenteyes
Queens:
Brightleap, Shiningleaf
Apprentices:
Risingpaw, Everpaw
Kits:
Shinekit, Aurakit, Silverkit, Shimmerkit, Daykit, Flashkit
xxx
IceClan - Glaceons
Leader: Hailstar*
Deputy: Aurorapetal*
Healer: Freezefire
Warriors:
Icytail, Blizzardeyes, Frozenclaw, Sparklingpool, Squallsong, Chillyfern
Queens:
Frostwater, Meltingflame, Snowdrop
Apprentices:
Glacierpaw, Windpaw, Flurrypaw
Kits:
Breezekit, Sleetkit, Floekit, Howlingkit, Frigidkit
xxx
LightningClan - Jolteons
Leader: Thunderstar*
Deputy: Staticriver*
Healer: Skystare
Warriors:
Cloudflower, Chargedust, Sparkfur, Zaptalon, Stormcloud, Runningstorm, Yellowblossom
Queens:
Shockfire, Strickenwing
Apprentices:
Boltpaw, Voltpaw, Joltpaw
Kits:
Strikekit, Ragingkit, Ampkit, Crashkit, Rumblekit
*Pokémon is shiny.
A Glaceon! How could she possibly have become a Glaceon? She had MoonClan to lead, for Arceus' sake! Just then, a terrible thought drifted through her mind and wedged itself there stubbornly, refusing to leave.
She could not go back to MoonClan.
I'll be exiled! she thought in horror. Arceus, what have I done? I've ruined my leadership before it's even started!
Suddenly, noises could be heard in the distance, coming closer and closer to Starkit. Frightened, Starkit did the only thing that she could think to do - she hid in a snowdrift beneath a snow-covered fir so that only her eyes peeked out.
"Who's there? Freezefire, I was sure I could hear noises coming from over here!" called a high-pitched and youthful voice from out of the distance. The voice's owner, a small and fluffy brown Eevee, slowly came into view out of the thick winter fog and was joined by another, a leggy Glaceon that appeared to be his mentor.
"You may consider getting your ears checked, Windpaw. I think you're hearing things!"
Starkit watched warily as the Eevee - Windpaw? - scampered too close for comfort to her hiding place beneath the fir tree. Freezefire followed him dubiously, obviously feeling that this was all a waste of time.
Unfortunately for Starkit, a wild Snover chose that instance to leap up from the ground a couple of tail-lengths away, startling Starkit right out of the bushes.
"A Shiny Glaceon!" Windpaw gasped, immediately tackling Starkit to the ground to prevent her from escaping. "Great Arceus, I can't believe it!"
"Hold on there, Windpaw. We don't know who this Glaceon is or where she's come from. I think we'll have to take her back to camp for interrogation," Freezefire commanded.
Oh, no! Not back to the IceClan camp! thought Starkit fearfully. I'll surely be discovered - they'll know I'm actually Starkit the MoonClan heiress! I've got to think of a way out of this, or I'll be exiled!
"Excuse me." Freezefire cleared her throat. "This is IceClan territory. We'll have to bring you back to our camp to appeal to Hailstar about what to do with a trespasser."
Windpaw's eyes widened like moons and he swung his head at Freezefire. What in Arceus' name is she thinking? The last time I checked, we desperately needed an Arceus-blessed heir to IceClan's leadership!
"Err, Freezefire, in all due respect, I don't really think we should be treating this much-sought-after Shiny Glaceon with such hostility. You and I both know that Hailstar would greatly appreciate this very Glaceon as IceClan's heir."
Freezefire seemed to swell with anger. "I believe I am the authority here, Windpaw. If I say this Pokémon will come back to camp with us for scrutiny, then so it shall be!"
Windpaw hung his head meekly. "Yes, Freezefire."
"And you," the Glaceon turned her piercing blue eyes on Starkit. "You are coming with us."
"What could you have been thinking, Windpaw? We do not speak of our Clan's quandaries to the enemy. As punishment, Clan confinement for seven sunrises, save for your Berry gathering duties, which must be done regardless. I should hope to never again see such a poor display of judgement on your behalf, Windpaw." Freezefire had subjected her apprentice to angry lecture once they got back to camp and sent Starkit to the Clan leader, promising to follow shortly after.
Windpaw ducked his head in embarrassment, though he wasn't sure he was especially sorry for his actions. IceClan really needed an heir. Hailstar and Aurorapetal were growing old and though Hailstar had nine lives, the standard for all Clan leaders, the first suspicions had arisen that it wouldn't be long before him and his deputy would simply die of natural causes. Windpaw was sure Freezefire knew this as well as he did, but for some reason he couldn't fathom, the Glaceon was far too proud to allow herself to be ruled by a trespasser.
The worst part of it all was that, for merely trying to recruit the Clan a new heir, (or heiress, in this Shiny Glaceon's case) he had been punished. Now he would have to remain cooped up in the Clan camp for seven sunrises - except for collecting Berries, that was.
Freezefire sure knows how to choose her punishments! Windpaw thought bitterly as he followed his mentor to Hailstar's den for the Shiny Glaceon's trial. They arrived just as Hailstar and Aurorapetal, his deputy and mate, were beginning to question the new arrival.
"So. It's not every day we see a Shiny Glaceon roaming our territory." Hailstar was only half-joking; Windpaw could tell, despite his Clan leader's trademark optimistic attitude, that he was slightly suspicious something like a Shiny Pokémon - especially a Shiny Glaceon - would just be hanging around, the very thing they were in dire need of. IceClan had to be careful about exactly how desperate they wanted to be.
"What's your name, love?" Aurorapetal asked kindly.
Oh, Arceus. Starkit had to think fast. Obviously, she couldn't say 'Starkit'. Knowing that it couldn't be a warrior name, either, because she was supposed to be wild, Starkit blurted out the first name she could think of.
"Crystal! Uh, yeah, my name is Crystal."
Starkit looked nervously at the IceClan leader and deputy, hoping they wouldn't notice her discomfort.
"Very well," Hailstar mused. "And what were you doing in our territory, Crystal?"
The manner in which he pronounced Starkit's made-up name nearly made her shiver, but she quickly composed herself and tried her best to weave a believable tale through complete improvisation.
"Well, I used to be a captured Pokémon..."
One of Starkit's former Clanmates, Duskpelt, who had actually been a captured Pokémon before she joined MoonClan, had once told her that Shiny Eevees were so rare, usually only the rich humans owned them, for they were the only ones that could afford the astronomical prices the breeders asked for them. This tale hadn't been of much use before, but it couldn't be more handy at the present.
"I was owned by a very rich Trainer named, uh," - Starkit looked around wildly - "Rock! Yup, his name was ...Rock... and he was an awful human being. All he ever wanted to do was battle, battle, battle and so I, um, I escaped. And came here."
It was the lamest story ever, Starkit knew, but it was the best she could come up with on such short notice. It was at least slightly believable, right?
Hailstar and Aurorapetal exchanged glances. There was a bit of an awkward silence before anything was said, but eventually, Hailstar spoke. "We'll train you as an apprentice of IceClan."
Starkit hadn't realized she'd been holding her breath, but now she exhaled in a rush, not knowing whether to feel anxious or relieved about IceClan's decision to accept her. However, she figured that this "Crystal" she was pretending to be would be thrilled.
"Oh, thank you so much!" Starkit dipped her head in gratitude to the leader and his deputy. "You won't be sorry."
Freezefire swelled in protest. It was clear that she did not share the frame of mind to allow Starkit to stay in IceClan as Crystal, an apparent loner Pokémon escaped from her Trainer.
If only that were the truth, thought Starkit sadly. This lie was going to be very difficult to uphold.
"Yes, well, one mishap and you're out. We can't be too careful with wild Pokémon." IceClan's leader said this sternly, as if only to appease Freezefire, but even Starkit could see right through it. It was obvious that Hailstar and Aurorapetal's decision to let her join the Clan had not been difficult to make.
Funny, Starkit thought again. If they knew I was of MoonClan heritage, much less their former heir, I'd be kicked out faster than I could say 'Arceus'.
After it had been decided that Hailstar himself would mentor "Crystal" to keep the best track of her actions (which earned another protest from Freezefire, even though the idea made sense), the meeting was adjourned and Windpaw was instructed to give Starkit a tour of the camp. Freezefire had told him it would be a good use of all the time he suddenly had on his paws as a result of his punishment.
IceClan's camp was, surprising, not buried in a snowdrift on Route 216, but was instead a series of caves in the icy cliffs on the Route. When she asked, Windpaw looked at her as if she were insane.
"Umm, why else? So we don't all turn into Glaceons the day we're born! Eevees, as apprentices, receive special training to resist evolution, so we can leave camp, but what about the kits? They'd be drastically underlevelled and my mother, Snowdrop, says that does weird things to their battle abilities. Or something." Windpaw blushed, feeling that he had blabbed enough about this trivial matter.
Starkit, however, was not listening. She was lost in her thoughts, as usual. Was I supposed to know that? Yikes, I really don't want to mess this up; Hailstar did say 'one mishap and I'm out'. Acting out of character of "Crystal" probably counts.
"Are you ready to move on?" Windpaw's voice snapped Starkit out of her stupor.
"O-Of course!" Starkit yipped, immediately scolding herself for not paying attention to her tour guide.
To kick off the tour, Windpaw showed Starkit the healers' den. It was a smaller cave close to the entrance of IceClan's cave camp, where Glaceons and Eevees roamed around freely, many staring at her from afar.
"Have they never seen a Shiny Glaceon before?" Starkit muttered sarcastically to herself, feeling very self-conscious indeed. Did they really have to stare?
"Oh, ignore them," Windpaw said meekly. "News spreads through Clans like wildfire and between Clans almost as fast. Just try and ignore them if you can."
Windpaw's comment slightly unnerved Starkit. It got her to thinking - if news travels so fast between Clans, the news of her own disappearance from MoonClan would be reaching IceClan faster than she'd expected. It surely wouldn't take long for the Clan Pokémon to make the connection between the appearance of "Crystal" and the disappearance of Starkit, especially since she hadn't been able to lie low for a couple days to discourage that very connection. The problem was, as soon as the news reached the IceClan camp, everyone would know that Starkit and "Crystal" were one and the same.
"Crystal! Hey! Are you coming? ...Crystal?" It took Starkit a minute to realize it was to her that he was speaking. Remembering quickly that she was supposed to be "Crystal", she jolted to attention.
"I'm really sorry, I'm just so overwhelmed about being taken into IceClan that I'm missing every word spoken to me," Starkit admitted, and though it was a downright lie, she got the embarrassment part right, for that, at least, was true-blue.
Windpaw shook it off amiably and continued showing Starkit around the camp, with all its various den-caves and training rocks and secret hiding places. Some of these things were clearly only things kits and young apprentices used, like the rocks and hiding places. This hinted at the fact that Windpaw couldn't be very old himself, if he was still playing kit games. He could've fooled Starkit - the apprentice seemed very mature for his moons.
Night fell shortly and the cave was plunged into pure darkness as the sun set behind the horizon. Starkit tried to feel her way in the dark towards the apprentices den, but failed, and eventually just resorted to collapsing on the cave floor. As she drifted off to sleep, she pondered the events of the day.
So now I am "Crystal", Starkit coached herself. "I am a wild Shiny Glaceon with no experience in Clan life whatsoever."
Starkit repeated this a few more times to make sure that it fully sunk in. There would be no more name and/or personality slip-ups tomorrow. From this moment on, she was officially Crystal.
Although, despite the fact that she had almost completely convinced herself that she was now Crystal, the former loner Glaceon; deep in her heart, she knew full well that she was still Starkit, the former heiress of MoonClan.
A/N: Ah, a long-awaited update at last. Sorry it took me so long, I've been out of Internet access for a little while. Hope this lives up to expectations. :) Review if you're feeling especially generous, if you'd please. :D
