"Your name is ironic now"
Chapter two
~Berryflash~
Berryflash swept the medicine den floor, pushing shreds of herbs out into the clearing. Firepelt's nowhere to be seen again. Surprise, surprise, surprise. The ginger and cream long-haired tom glanced around the clearing.
Marigoldeye was laying in one of the bright sunbeams that had dried up all of the mud from that morning, her belly not even swollen. She isn't even a moon pregnant, but expects us all to wait on her. If Firepelt didn't say she was actually expecting, I frankly wouldn't have believed it.
His nephews frolicked around their mother, wrestling and play fighting with the moss ball he had rolled for them that morning. Lilyfur caught his gaze and flicked her tail in greeting as her five moon old sons squabbled.
A heavily pregnant queen slipped out of the nursery, and made a beeline for Berryflash. Distress was evident in her amber eyes as she huffed over to him. Berryflash tilted his head in surprise, her kits weren't due for another two weeks.
"Has Eeljaw came back with Leechpaw yet?" Squirrelleap asked, as she sat down in the entrance of the medicine cat den. She gently flicked her tail as she gazed at Marigoldeye who was snapping at Nightkit. "Also you mind if I stay here for a heartbeat or two? I can't really stand the newest addition to the nursery."
Berryflash let out a purr of amusement. "Stay as long as you like, Squirrelleap. I might have to put you to work." He laughed as he began nosing the rest of the shredded leaves out of the den. Squirrelleap glanced at entrance to the camp, before shoving a leaf out.
"He was suppose to be back by sunhigh." She said as she flicked a dried piece of herb from her pelt. Now she had his attention, Eeljaw was one of the most punctional tom's in the clan. He hardly ran late. Berryflash blinked in disbelief, as he glanced up at the sky. It had passed the midday mark, but it was hardly past noon.
"That is odd." Berryflash concluded, glancing at the camp entrance. "I'll ask one of the warriors to go make sure everything is alright." He gently touched her shoulder with his tail for comfort, and she visibly relaxed. Flicking a ear, he called to Mintear who had padded out of the den with a yawn.
The grey she-cat stalked over to him, her tufted ears flat on her skull. Her eyes widened as she listened to Berryflash recount what Squirrelleap had told him, and the heavy queen nodded along. "I'll go find them, you can count on me. I'm sure it's nothing, Squirrelleap." Mintear's grey fur bristled with apprehension. "I'll take Muddystreak as well."
With a good-natured flick of her bushy tail, Mintear motioned to one of the guards at the entrance, Muddystreak with her noticeable darker streak along her spine. Berryflash barely caught her eyes widening as the two warrior set out at a quick pace, somewhere between a trot and a run.
Squirrelleap and Berryflash continued the sorting of the herbs with little speaking, worry crossing the queens face. Settling back on his paws Berryflash gave his face a quick wash, and Squirrelleap let out a sigh she settled onto her belly.
"I wanted to ask him about names for the kits." She commented between licks as she washed her paws. "He's a bright tom for his age, but I fear that maybe the pressure may be getting to him." Berryflash's ears pricked at the concern in the ginger queen's voice. Squirrelleap paused as she glanced at the barrier, her fluffy tail swishing side to side. "He doesn't smile like he use too, Berryflash. What happened to my sweet little kit?" Squirrelleap rested her head on her white paws, letting out a huff as the barrier quivered. The rapid approach of pawsteps had half the camp turning their head in shock, tiliting heads in confusion.
"We need Firepelt! Get Berryflash!" Eeljaw burst through the bramble barrier, a sodden bundle of lean smoky fur lolling on his back. Muddystreak was on one side on the deputy while Mintear began to lick the wet fur of the apprentice. Panic rose in Berryflash's belly as Eeljaw gripped Leechpaw's scruff in his jaws and laid the tom at Berryflash's feet.
"He fell into the river," Eeljaw huffed, out of breath. "He tumbled over the waterfall. I'm so sorry Squirrelleap." Squirrelleap rose to her paws as she glanced franticly around the clearing. "I tried to grab him before he fell, but he slipped." Eeljaw looked down at his apprentice, his yellow eyes wide. Squirrelleap gritted her teeth and Berryflash could tell that she struggling not to lash out at the tom.
Yet instead of striking the tom, Squirrelleap began to roughly lap against her son's fur. Her green eyes filled with panic as Berryflash, padded into his den. What happened? What helps breathing? Goosegrass for bleeding, and dandelion for shock. Blessed thistle to help with his breathing. Where is Firepelt! Berryflash let out a huff as he shook his head to clear his anxiety, as her rapidly began to grab small bundles of each.
Leechpaw laid on his belly, his breathing shallow as Squirrelleap began to knead her son's chest. Berryflash buried his nose in the soaked fur, gently touching the bones under skin. No notches, and everything seemed to be in place, yet the skin was cold to the touch. A shadow fell over him as another pair of paws began to knead with deft paws.
"Did you grab thyme?" The calm voice spoke in Berryflash's ear as the sweet scent of juniper filled his nose. Fallowfern tilted Leechpaw's jaws as the former medicine cat began to press with all of her body weight on the apprentice. With a heady cough, foul smelling water poured out of Leechpaw's mouth. "I did." Berryflash breathed.
"Can you check his fur for leeches? You're doing well." Fallowfern asked as she began to chew the herbs into pulp. Berryflash nodded as the his former mentor pushed the pulp into the half dead apprentice's mouth. With a cream paw he began to stroke Leechpaw's throat and he inwardly sighed when the apprentice swallowed.
"Squirrelleap, go to the nursery or find Snakefang. This stress isn't good for the kits." Fallowfern snapped at the queen who gazed at the medicine cats in confusion. "I should be my son! These kits will wait." The ginger tortoiseshell's queen was in near hysterics, almost in shock herself. Berryflash rose to his paws, anger rising in his belly.
"Leechpaw is our paws and his fate is written in the stars. You're getting in our way." Berryflash snapped, his voice rising as his ears flattened to his head. Leechpaw let out a groan when Berryflash prodded his shoulder. Wincing Squirrelleap padded a few tail-lengths away, her green eyes filled with anguish. Berryflash jerked his head out of the slowly drying fur, his nose suddenly coated in slime. Gently parting the fur with large paws, three wriggling greenish worms pulsed with Leechpaw's heartbeat.
"Leeches?" Berryflash blinked in surpise as Fallowfern's bright yellow eyes widened. "You need to send someone to get Silverfeather, now." Fallowfern hissed, her long fur puffing out like a pine cone. The elderly fawn colored medicine cat spun around, leaving Berryflash inwardly panicing as Leechpaw groaned, the apprenice's paws twitching.
Fluttering underneath Leechpaw's eyelids his eyes rolled. Berryflash could hear the calmness of Fallowfern's voice as Tunnelstar and her debated back and forth. None of us are equipped to deal with leeches like Silverfeather. She was trained to deal with them, we don't swim like Echoclan so we never bothered to learn. Swirlingbreeze was the best at getting rid of leeches. He never bothers to teach us before he died. May the Path of Endless Stars, bless him.
Berryflash couldn't remember if the parasites dug into the skin of their patients or if they bled the victim out. Leechpaw was a slender tom, with long legs and a willowy figure. It's not like he had much blood in his body to start with. Did leeches belch their stomach into the bloodsteam? Wasn't it hard to stop the bleeding after being bitten?
"Send Spikepaw over, Sandstar wouldn't turn an apprentice away begging to help his clanmate." Tunnelstar finally concluded, nodding tightly to the grey apprentice with flecks. Berryflash couldn't help but notice how the apprentice's eyes shone brightly, bright amber orbs. With a dash, the sturdy tom began to pelt out of camp, only to brush past a tall tom, a lighter brown tabby with stone colored paws.
"Where is my son?" Snakefang bellowed as Squirrelleap rushed toward him, her slender muzzle boring into the willowy tom's chest fur. His face fell as he peered past his mate, over to Berryflash, and the still bundle of smoky fur. "Leechpaw! How is our son?" Snakefang slide past Squirrelflight, who puffed to keep up with long steps of her mate. Berryflash felt pity rise in his belly.
I would be as frantic as them if anything happened to Lilyfur, or my nephews. I can't imagine how they feel, this is their firstborn. The only kit in their first litter, and they devoted every day to their kits. They don't deserve this. Stars be mercyiful on them.
Berryflash glanced up at the sky, cold, blue and endless as the stars that hid behind the sun and clouds. He hoped his prayer had fell on listening ears, because Leechpaw needed the help of the ancestors to help him through this. Most cats don't tumble over a waterfall and live, but for Squirrelleap's sake and Snakefang's he hoped the slender apprentice would.
Squirrelleap buried her nose in Snakefang's shoulder, who gazed down at his son with fear. Snakefang's yellow eyes widened in despair as Leechpaw let out a slight moan as he shuddered in his sleep. "Redleech didn't even live this long." Snakefang's eyes drifted onto Berryflash, love and worry in his gaze. "What are the chances of Leechpaw living?" His voice cracked. "If anyone can save him, it would be you two." Snakefang turned to his heaving mate, his slender tail twining with hers.
"Redleech must have being protecting him." Snakefang sighed, as Squirrelleap began to gently lap at her son's pelt. "I wanted to talk to him about the new kits," Squirrelleap paused as Leechpaw suddenly coughed. "So he could help name them." Snakefang's fur bristled. He wrapped his striped tail around his son's shoulders, eyes filled with memories. "Leechpaw, come back to me, son. Don't worry, I'm here to keep you safe."Snakefang's voice was hardly heard in Berryflash's ears. "I promise, if you come back to us, I'll never let you fall into harms way again. Stars you know I failed Redleech, don't take my son away too." Berryflash turned away, padding to Fallowfern who sat a few tail-lengths away watching the small family.
Snakefang was there when Redleech died, and he is right. Redleech never made it this far along, he died upon impact. There is hope for Leechpaw yet, if only Spikepaw comes back with Silverfeather to get rid of the leeches. I know Leechpaw was always nervous about letting Snakefang down, and disappointing the clan, but he couldn't ask for better parents. Squirrelleap and Snakefang would die for him and their kits, and I hope they won't have to bury their son by sunrise.
~Owlpaw~
Heat itched her thin pelt, and her green eyes squinted against the sun. Inside of the camp, she could hear the conversation between Sunblaze and Sunnystripe, both agreeing that this had been an unsually warm February, the first they had seen in their lifetime.
Does this mean that the summer moons will be cool? Or that the heat will scorch the ground and wither all the plants? Ivy rustling, the large, long-furred tom yawning as he paused in the entrance of the camp before he padded the rest of the way through, taking a seat on the other side of the barrier. The entrance to camp was guarded most of the time, and Owlpaw's assignment today was to stand watch till the sunset.
Her father was probably suffering more than she was in this heat, under all of his long, fluffy cream colored fur. The entrance had snagged a few tufts, and they gently waved in the wind. Despite the harsh winter, the bramble barrier was covered in thick ivy vines that laced in between the spiky branches and thorns and the plants were thriving so much that a few unlucky cats would probably have to trim them down, Owlpaw thought with a huff. It's probably going to end up to me and Beepaw.
"How is my daughter today? Finchsong said your training is going well," Sunblaze said with a yawn, his amber eyes sparkling with pride. "That you should be made a warrior by the end of the next moon or early the one after that." Owlpaw let out a purr of appreciation at her father's gushing tone.
Owlpaw could only imagine the reason that Sunblaze was such an attentive parent was because he raised her alone. Whoever her kittypet mother was Owlpaw could barely remember her, and once she was two moons old, Owlpaw was whisked off to Echoclan with her father. All Owlpaw could really remember was the loud footsteps of the Twolegs and the gentle rumble of her mothers calming purr.
Sunblaze grunted as his hindleg stratched at his ear. "Which cats are out on patrol?" Owlpaw straightened up her spine, puffing out her chest proudly. "Flowerpaw left camp early this morning with Dawnflash but didn't come back with her." Sunblaze twitched an ear in interest but resumed his washing.
"Swanpaw was sent on a hunting assement with Parsleytail, a solo hunting mission." Her voice was slightly toned with jealously. "Mudrift, Tallstep, and Rosepool are on a border patrol near the river." Owlpaw's brow furrowed as she struggled to remember who else was in the forest.
"Blackflower left a while ago, she didn't say where she was headed." Disgust crossed both of their faces. Blackflower had an awful habit about disappearing for days at a time, deciding to come back to the clan with the scent washed from her fur. Sandstar had punished Blackflower time and time again, but that only made the selfish she-cat more angry and bitter toward the clan. Rumors had circulated around camp for moons about exile of the black and cream warrior, yet no punishment as severe as that happened.
"Dustyclaw is on the patrol near the twolegplace with Ashfang, they should be back soon. Swallowfern and Spiderwing were patrolling the far border, past the barn and the far mountians." Owlpaw sighed, the heat causing the air to shimmer. "That's it for patrols, and the hunting patrols have already came back."
Sunblaze's ears suddenly flicked forward, the grumbling of a young tom bouncing off the trees. Swanpaw stumbled unhappily into Owlpaw's view, and she noticed that the white and tabby tom's ears were pinned against his skull, fur along his spine bristling.
Swanpaw turned his head around, letting out a sigh. "We're almost there, the camp is just up ahead." Owlpaw rose to her paws, and Sunblaze was on alert, his long fur bushing in worry. "Who goes there?" He called, his voice deep and commanding. Owlpaw unsheathed her claws, a growl rumbling in her throat.
The tom apprentice swiveled his head around to face the warrior, sheepishly flicking his tail as if ashamed. "It's just a pregnant kittypet, Sunblaze. She wants to talk to Sandstar." Swanpaw explained as the pregnant grey kittypet blinked owlishly at the guards as the kittypet appeared behind Swanpaw.
How stupid can Swanpaw be? He led a kittypet this far into the territory, showed her the way to our camp! He's defiantly insane. Owlpaw unseathed her claws, shooting a glance at Swanpaw who couldn't meet her gaze.
Sunblaze nodded as he disappeared into the entrance, his tail beconing all of them into the camp. Swanpaw went first into the camp, with the plump kittypet who kept her head facing the ground. Owlpaw followed her through the barrier, letting out a hiss as the kittypet's bushy tail smacked her across the face.
Snapping around the kittypet met Owlpaw's gaze, fear lacing her daisy colored eyes. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it." She whimpered. "My name is Wren." Owlpaw shrugged. It's not like you'll being staying long enough for you to learn my name. Why even bother to tell me yours? She honestly believes that Sandstar will let her stay so far…
Owlpaw talked over to the apprentice den, where Beepaw was sitting in the sun. Beepaw only flicked her eye open for a heartbeat before closing it. Frustration itched along her pelt, making her squirm as Sandstar seemed to be discussing with Wren.
"A kittypet wants to join the clan." Owlpaw said, knowing that would rouse Beepaw out of her drowsy daze. As if on cue, the cream tailed apprentice lazily opened her eyes and fixed them on the Wren. "Quiet, I want to listen." Beepaw teased, her fluffy tail wrapping around her paws. "You already ruined my nap, so don't ruin my show." Owlpaw let out a good natured huff as she settled onto her belly with Beepaw.
"The housefolk will take her kits, Sandstar. I've seen it happen time and time again." Owlpaw's jaw dropped in astonishment. Was Sunblaze actually defending this lazy kittypet? Sunblaze stood next to shivering Wren who looked terrified, the sunny eyes darting around the clearing worriedly as cats came out of the den at the raising clamor in the camp.
Sandstar had his head tilted to the side, his blue eyes thoughtful. The short-legged leader seemed to roam around Wren with a calculating gaze, but it softened. He seemed to be taking in every word intently.
"My mate is missing as well…. I wouldn't be asking this if Rebel were still around." Wren had begun to knead the ground with her paws. She had begun to tear up the new growth between her toes. "She doesn't have claws!" Beepaw flicked her tail over Owlpaw's ears, pointing to the Wren's paws. Sure enough, where warriors had claws Wren had clipped, white stubby nails.
"She can't stay with us now." Owlpaw leaned over her friends shoulder. "She can't hunt. Sandstar would be insane to accept her." Beepaw let out a laugh, glancing at Owlpaw with a amused smile on her face. "You do realize that could have been you, right? You're part kittypet yourself, so don't get all high and mighty on me."
Disgust rolled in Owlpaw's belly, and it turned her mouth bitter. Could I have been in Wren's place? I'm an apprentice though, and Sunblaze is my father. I'm much better than that fat kittypet. I thought the clan had finally accepted me with the exception of Ashfang that is. Is that how they see me? Worthless and lazy?
Sandstar rose to his paws, and Owlpaw realized she had been so focused on tearing up the grass at her paws than actually listening to the conversation. He opened up his mouth to say something, "You can't be serious! With all due respect Sandstar, we can't afford more mouths to feed." Nightnose stood at the edge of the warriors den, stiff and straight.
"We had so many warriors die this Leafbare," Nightnose flicked his tail over the nursery where Strikekit and Sleekkit tumbled around, "due to starvation. I wouldn't have said anything if she had her claws, but she doesn't. She can't even hunt for herself. " His amber eyes scanned the small crowd of cats, most seemed to be agreeing with him. "The wild is no place for a clawless cat, one that's been sitting on the laps of twolegs and being fed all of their life. A life without claws is a death sentence, and she has no way to defend herself or her kits." Nightnose glanced over at the nursery.
Rainbreeze had risen to her paws, nudging her adopted kits into the den. "You are right, Nightnose." Sandstar sighed, his face turning to Wren. Rainbreeze appeared from the nursery, slowly padding over to her mate as she pushed through the crowd.
"If anything," Rainbreeze dipped her head respectively to Sandstar, "that's all the more reason we should give her safe haven here to raise her kits." Sandstar smiled with amusement at the silver queen, before flicking his tail for her to continue.
"You've peaked my intrest, Rainbreeze. State your case." Sandstar grumbled good-naturedly at her. Rainbreeze nodded, meeting Nightnose's frusted amber eyes as she began to speak. "You have no claws?" Wren glanced down at her paws before replying with shame. "You said that a cat without claws has no way to defend herself or her kits from predators." Nightnose tensed up as Rainbreeze wrapped her tail around her paws.
"Rouges would leave her for dead. After all, she can't provide for herself so why should they care. Aren't we better than them?" Rainbreeze paused. "We are clan cats, Sandstar. We take care of those who can't take care of themselves." Sandstar flicked an ear but said nothing. "Would you expect me to hunt for myself while I'm nursing kits?" Nightnose glanced away.
That's his litter. He wouldn't dream of doing that! "If we send her out by herself then she will die, there is no doubt about that." Rainbreeze tilted her chin up, her eyes sparking with fury. Her beautiful face scanned the crowd of cats who swarmed around the camp. "I don't want blood on my paws. Do you all?"
Sandstar sighed, ears flattened to his head. "Then you will be in charge of her watching, Rainbreeze. I can't condemn innocent lives to die when we can prevent." Nightnose looked as shocked as Owlpaw felt. He stared at his mate, and then glanced back to his leader. Rainbreeze only shrugged, meeting her mates amber gaze evenly. Was that defiance? Or teasing? Rainbreeze had always spoke what she thought, and Owlpaw could remember at her ceremony that she had hoped to have the grey warrior for a mentor. Now though she was grateful she had even-tempered Finchsong. "Get her settled into the nursery." With that the regal leader turned tail and padded into his den.
Wren had stopped shivering now, and Rainbreeze placed a paw on her shoulder. "Can you belive that?" Owlpaw snapped at Beepaw. Beepaw shrugged. "All this means for us is that we need to go on more hunting patrols." Beepaw eyed Wren, silently judging. "They both look like they're about to pop soon." Owlpaw sighed, resting her head on her paws. "At least Strikekit and Sleekkit will be able to lend their paws." Beepaw murmered.
"More kits mean more warriors." Owlpaw found herself saying, and she had heard it repeated half a dozen times from many different warriors. Beepaw rolled over onto her back, her white fur flattened. "More clanborn kits." Beepaw gave a loud purr, one filled with amusement at Owlpaw's comment. Owlpaw watched silently as Rainbreeze led the kittypet into the nursery, disbeilf running underneath her pelt.
"Sandstar!" A voice yowled as a unusual grey pelt streaked into camp. Spikepaw?
"Intruder!" Nightnose launched himself toward the apprentice, shouldering the tom roughly. Spikepaw took a step away from the deputy, and his fear scent was so strong that Owlpaw could smell it from across the camp.
"Please," The tom begged, his eyes wide. "We need Silverfeather! Leechpaw fell over the cliffs and he has leeches stuck in his fur." Spikepaw's yowling woken what few cats weren't already awake. A grey she-cat brushed past Owlpaw and Beepaw, fur matted with sleep from the apprentice den.
"Spikepaw? What are you doing here?" Flintpaw called, eyes suddenly wide with emotion. Owlpaw rose to her paws, studying Flintpaw's sudden chance of demonor. The grey she-cat was tense, eyes fixated on Slateclan tom, and her tail flicked side to side slowly as in entrance.
Spikepaw's eyes brightened, but he turned to Nightnose. Nightnose let out a deep growl, jostling him with a heavy paw. "Silverfeather!" With a grunt, Silverfeather stalked out of the medicine cat den yawning.
Silverfeather's fur was littered with herbs, and her eyes were dark as Spikepaw recounted the story. "I can go," Silverfeather nodded to Nightnose, "If you allow me." Nightnose's fur bristled along his spine. Nightnose rolled his amber eyes, his long tail lashing. His growl rumbled in his throat, and he unseathed his claws.
"Go if you want!" Nightnose hissed, angryily turning away from them. "I'm not the leader." He stalked away from Silverfeather and Spikepaw, disappearing into the forest. Flintpaw's ears drooped. Owlpaw let out a snort as Silverfeather walked through the barrier, Spikepaw trotting on his heels.
"How dare she?" Owlpaw unseathed her claws into the soil. Flintpaw flattened her ears, annoyance lighting her gaze, pursing her jaws. "She leaves her post, and is going to help Slateclan! They have like three medicince cats!" Owlpaw ranted, sitting oh her haunches.
Annoyance flared underneath Owlpaw's pelt, making it fluff out like a pinecone. "Rainbreeze could have her kits any moment," Flintpaw rolled her eyes. "And Silverfeather goes running off." Flintpaw brushed past the brown mottled she-cat, letting out a low rumble.
"Sometimes I forget you aren't clanborn,Owlpaw." Flintpaw smugly said, amber eyes glinting in the half light of the apprentice den. "Because true clanborn cats know that one life is as important as any other." Owlpaw bristled, gritting her teeth. "But I suppose that a kittypet wouldn't know that."
~Dragonblaze~
Her sight was limited by a distinctive greenish tom, his striped fur smelling of dust and blood. She was half the size of him, her legs not having their slenderness she now had as a warrior. "Thistlestar, I don't apologize for what I've done." The tom's voice was similar to a soft breeze. "I'm not willing to kill rouges that trespass, no matter what you say. That she-cat took no prey, and left when I asked her too. The problem was solved with no bloodshed. I don't see why you're angry with me."
"Dragonpaw, get away from Greengrass." Her leaders amber orbs tunneled into Dragonpaw's, same as the shining sun. They burned like dying stars. " He's a traitor!" Dragonpaw slid away from her mentor, standing a tail length away. Thistlestar was the one she feared more, and she knew that her place in the clan was already on thin ice.
She was the half-breed kit of Thistlestar's son, Creekrush, and knew that Ruinclan had no tolerance anymore for her kind. Thistlestar was angrier than she had had seen him, his fur matted and drool flinging from his jaws. White foam drizzled from his lips as he spat at his deputy. Fear running beneath her pelt, she took a step farther away from Greengrass. Greengrass gave her a sideways glance, his green eyes worried not for himself- but for her.
"Have you lost your battle skills?" Thistlestar jeered, his claws digging into the grass. "I made a mistake naming you my deputy if you can't follow simple orders." Greengrass met Thistlestar's gaze evenly, green meeting amber. The deputy stayed cool, his fur smooth and flattened. "That she-cat you spared—she'll be back. She will eat our prey, harm our apprentices, and spy on us and sell our secrets to our enemies for prey and a cushy nest." Thistlestar lashed his tail, smiling.
Greengrass tensed. "I don't believe that it will go that far." He said. Thistlestar let out a rough laugh, his eyes narrowed. "Ruinclan does not tolerate traitors, Greengrass. I made that clear when I offered to make you my deputy." Dragonpaw knew better to speak up what she really wanted to say—that Greengrass was a fantastic mentor, a loyal deputy that the clan respected, one that the clan secretly hoped would level Thistlestar's legendary temper.
Thistlestar launched himself toward Greengrass. White claws slashed across the deputy's ear, tearing it down to the skull. "Dragonpaw!" Greengrass leapt farther away from his apprentice, green eyes fearful. "Get out of the way." Thistlestar let out snort, raising onto his back paws, lashing a claw over Greengrass's eye. He let out a shriek. Greengrass reared up, meeting the muscular leader with claws open.
"I do not tolerate traitors!" Thistlestar roared as Greengrass knocked him to the ground. "Take notes Dragonpaw!" Greengrass's eyes blazed. White claws met his throat, tearing fur and muscle. "Leave her out of this." He gurgled, blood bubbling at Greengrass's lips. Greengrass slumped across Thistlestar, who heaved him off with a snort, shaking blood from his fur.
Thistlestar's amber eyes met Dragonpaw's. "Your new mentor will be Russetclaw." With a broad paw he kicked dust onto Greengrass's pelt. Blood leaked from the dead deputy's throat into the slushy grass and snow mixture below his corpse. "He will teach you more than this traitor ever could." Thistlestar flicked his tail, turning away to disappear into the trees.
"Take care of my son, Dragonpaw." The sweet scent of fresh grass filled her nose, and then faded.
Dragonblaze felt herself being shook awake, only feeling the prick of the unseen cats claws. Sweat soaked through her pelt, and it was knotted as if she had been thrashing around in her nest. She never winced at the taste of the salt on her fur as she lapped at her silver and gold pelt. Wolfmoon glanced at her, retracting his paw from his friend.
She was the youngest warrior to be given their warrior name, given it at only ten moons when the normal in these clans was twelve to thirteen. Some even had to go longer than that, but she had somehow gained Thistlestar's favor. Strange, since his own children he could barely stand. Even more so since she was a half-breed born to a wandering rouge, and Thistlestar hated all rouges, loners, and kittypets with a passion.
Wolfmoon's amber eyes flashed in the darkness of the warrior den. "You have to watch the camp, and weed out traitors." A tone of disgust laced his low voice. Gently lapping at her ears, he sighed. It was well known that Thistlestar was paranoid, and the daily search of traitors within the clan was a fruitless task. No cat would dare betray Ruinclan, but inside a few were probably being pushed to their breaking point.
"I never get a hunting patrol anymore." Dragonblaze snapped, her tailtip lashing. "I'm tired of this stupid busy work he assigns me. It's a waste of time." She rose to her paws, claws pricking at the moss that lined her nest. A gasp rose from the back of the den, and swivilng her ears behind her.
"You can't say that!" A ginger and white warrior protested. "Thistlestar know what's best for us." Dragonblaze rolled her eyes, her face showing no emotion. Wolfmoon stifled a chuckle at Gingerbloom's shocked tone as he followed his friend out of the den.
Dragonblaze flicked her tail over his ear, as friendly as she could be with him. Her emerald almond eyes surveyed the camp with a bored expression she took in every detail no matter how small. She leapt up onto the Guard stone by the entrance, her claws leaving white scraps in the dark stone.
The leaders den was a pile of branches, woven with ivy and brambles to strengthen the gaps, it sat off to the right of the maple tree that sat the edge of the camp. Farther down from the leader's den was a large bramble set that surrounded a wild raspberry bush, where the warriors slept.
Not very far from the warrior den, a old birch tree had fallen and the warriors had woven a thicket of ivy, branches and brambles to make a safe den to raise lots of litters of kits. Across the camp, on the other side of maple tree there was a large pile of rocks that a spring bubbled out of. Water gushed off the stones, and it drizzled into a small pool. Beside the small pool a log had lodged into the ground, and all of it except from the entrance was buried with dirt, so it made a large hill on that side of camp.
That was where medicine cat den was, and Lilacleaf slept. On the farther end of the hill, another pile of branches pokes out of the soil and that was where the elders' lived. Ivy was wove around the branches to make the den warmer and fill in the gaps. The apprentices den was next to that, under a large jutting branch that lead to a smaller clearing that was through a maze of twigs. Within the clearing it sprouted soft green ferns that apprentices used to line their nests.
Birds chirped overhead, and the exposed sky was bright blue, and a few clouds drifted lazily along on the breeze. Longing pricked in her belly, Greengrass always loved days like this. Antlerstrike was repairing the heather barrier around camp with Salmonpaw, who chattered almost loud as the birds. Two large dark red stones marked the entrance to camp, and the two guards could see into the camp and out into the forest from the stones.
Dragonblaze watched lazily as Grasskit scuffled with Leopardkit and was pinned beneath the larger tom. Grasskit was Greengrass's only kit. Hushed whispers came from the nursery, but they were quickly silenced as Russetclaw stalked out of the nursery. He so tall that his head scratched the entrance, raking his fur into stripes. With a graceful leap he took his place on the stone opposite to Dragonblaze.
"Your future apprentice was born last night." He grunted, his one good eye shooting daggers at the nursery. Dragonblaze flicked an ear but said nothing. Russetclaw was like an adopted father to her. Creekrush had never stood up as a father figure and prefers to ignore her existence. Odd, considering Dragonblaze was all that was left of his dead mate. As a kit Dragonblaze had realized that the tom blamed her for Mhysa's death.
Her mother had named her after a old story that her mother had told her, of monsters that flew in the sky. Dragons. Most cats just assumed that she was named after the metallic green and iridescent purple dragonflies that darted over the territory. Two cats beside her knew the truth, Lilacleaf and her father.
"Frostfoot still hates you, I assume." Dragonblaze replied coolly. Russetclaw sighed, scrapping a long claw over the reddish granite that matched his fur. Thistlestar had made a forced pairing of Frostfoot and Russetclaw, who absolutely despised each other. Russetclaw had been cordial with the unstable, lazy she-cat. Most cats hated her, she was angry and bitter. Rumors had circulated that Frostfoot would be leaving once their litter was born. Dragonblaze assumed that it would be even sooner now, just because there was one kit.
"His name is Chillkit." Russetclaw replied, ignoring her comment. That confirmed Dragonblaze's suspicions. "She doesn't like him and was trying to convince Sagestone to nurse him." Dragonblaze couldn't help but to feel sorry for the little tom. It was better to have a dead mother who could have possibly cared than a live mother who hated you.
"Chillkit is a good name. Better than Dragon anyway." She scrapped her claws on the stone, crossing them over the ones she had made previously. Russetclaw nodded, his one yellow eye following Lionstrike around the clearing. "I thought that Grasskit was to be my apprentice."
Russetclaw grunted at her comment, biting back a chuckle. His eyes flashed at the deputy flicked an ear in greeting at the two gaurds. Dragonblaze and about every other cat in the clan knew that the ginger tom and the deputy were rivals, and most of that rivalry was on Russetclaw's side. Lionstrike was cheerful, mature and hardly realized that it was a rivalry. He seemed to think that they were both the best of friends.
"Lionstrike wants him." The golden tom had a soft spot for the kit without a father present, maybe it was because the tom himself was an orphan. Dragonblaze could only assume. Besides if the way the greenish furred kit hid from every scuffle and never fought back, it could be assumed that it was that he was a coward. He wouldn't last long. There is no room in Ruinclan for cowards. Not anymore.
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Authors note: So we have heard about three clans, and the next one will have the a Pov from Calicopaw and a gathering. Who is your favorite couple? What do you think? Who is your favorite character? ~Fallingfrost
