Chapter 7 Part 2
By the end of the moon, they were forced to find a place to settle. Hollyleaf and Barkpelt decided to move to the outer city, where it would be safer, and until they could decide on a permanent location that would be a fair distance from the city. The other cats that had already joined the clan also moved towards the outer part of the city. They would come almost daily to learn things from Barkpelt, who had learned them earlier from Hollyleaf, when she was still able to move freely. They would also go and try to recruit more cats, but were rarely successful. A white tom with a black tail and two others joined soon after they moved, but it was a while before anyone else joined.
Hollyleaf kitted in early Greenleaf, giving birth to Rainkit, Clawkit, and Featherkit. Rainkit was the first and was a gray she-cat with darker grey spots. Clawkit was and orange tabby tom with green eyes who reminded Hollyleaf of her grandfather, but tried not to think about it when she saw the kit. Finally, Featherkit was a small gray-and-white she-cat, the smallest of the litter. She stared at the small and soft bundles sleeping at her belly before giving each of them a lick on the head and falling asleep.
Barkpelt had been there during the entire ordeal, whispering words of comfort until she had been able to relax. He decided he would go out to bring her something for when she woke up so she could keep her strength up as well as try and find a plant she called "borage" to help her milk come. However, while he was out he ran into a black she-cat that called herself Morgan. She was reluctant like to join like a couple of the other cats, but agreed in the end. Afterwards, she helped him catch a mouse to take back to Hollyleaf.
It was about two more moons before it had been decided where they would go. In a moon, they would move into the tunnels, just outside of clan territory. A month later, they had recruited two more cats off of the streets: a fluffy white she-cat and a gray she-cat with black spots. Hollyleaf and Barkpelt agreed that this would be enough cats to start with and that her's and Abby's kits were strong enough to make the journey there.
The moon passed quickly and uneventfully. Not all of the cats had been as quick of learners as Barkpelt had been, but Hollyleaf determined that they had definite warrior potential. Greenleaf was starting to fade away and give into the oncoming leaf-fall.
The trip to the tunnels had gone for the most part without a hitch, until on the second night one of Hollyleaf's kits had wandered off. Featherkit was nowhere to be seen when the group woke up. The entire group searched frantically for almost the entire day before Dom found her hiding inside of a hollowed-out tree, sleeping. Hollyleaf had smothered her kit with licks while at the same time scolding her for running off, embarrassing her.
They made it to their destination after two more days of travelling. Several of the cats were concerned with how narrow and short the tunnels were at first, but their leader assured them that they got bigger they further they went in. After figuring out where exactly the dens were going to be, Hollyleaf had to get down to serious business. The first thing she would be doing would be to explain the warrior code.
Most of the cats seemed unsure about this, Hollyleaf and Barkpelt did everything they could to calm down the cats that didn't like the idea of having to completely change their lives. One walked out as she was speaking and another left almost immediately after she had finished. She told them it was the only way for them to stay together as a strong, cohesive unit.
"You will all be receiving your clan names tomorrow," she announced at the end of the clan meeting. "We will once again meet here. I have faith that we will soon be just as strong as or stronger than the clans above us surrounding the lake. Good night, clan." She watched as the cats slowly walked out of the meeting hollow. All of their meowing sounded so uncertain and anxious, that Hollyleaf wasn't even sure this clan would survive more than a moon into Leaf-bare.
When the last cat had walked out, Hollyleaf slumped down and sighed. Barkpelt was there to put his tail on her shoulder, "What's wrong, Hollyleaf?"
She shook her head. "I don't know. I'm not sure if I am going to be able to do this," she tilted her head to look up at him. "I'm not very strong-willed, I don't know if I will be able to command the respect of my clanmates, and I don't know if Starclan is agreeing with this." She buried her face into her mate's brown chest fur.
Barkpelt licked her head before speaking, "It will all be okay, just give it some time, okay?" Hollyleaf nodded into him. "Now let's get some sleep, you will feel much better in the morning." The two of them lied down, Barkpelt did his best to curl around her and comfort her.
When they woke up in the morning, Hollyleaf and Cocoa asked Dom and Larry to join them in hunting. They were moderately successful, catching five pieces of prey between them. Four of them were mice, while two of them were squirrels, both of which were caught by Dom, who's speed greatly surpassed anyone else's in the clan and could easily challenge a Windclan cat, which was the main reason he was able to catch his prey since his stances weren't as good as a full warrior's yet.
There was enough fresh-kill to feed the entire clan that morning and once everyone had finished eating, Hollyleaf called together the clan with a yowl that was just loud enough to halt the quiet conversations going on. "Today marks the real start of this clan," she began. Hollyleaf looked around and noticed one was missing. "Wait, where is Jack?"
"He left this morning not long after you went hunting," responded Snow. "He told me that he didn't think that this would work out."
"Well then, I thank everyone who has decided to stay," mewed Hollyleaf disappointed. "I promise you this will work. We are strong together." She paused. "Moving on, today is the day you all receive your clan names. First is Dom. Come up here." She would be doing things a little bit differently. As the tom was walking to her she spoke, "When a cat receives their warrior name, it is custom to chant that new name." She turned to Dom. "Dom, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
The dark-gray tom nodded his head. "I do."
Hollyleaf was so nervous saying these words. She could only hope Starclan was going to hear and except what she had to say. "Then with the grace of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Dom, from this moment on you will be known as Runningspirit. Starclan honors you for making this decision, and welcomes you as a full warrior of…" she hesitated. Hollyleaf had never really thought about what she would call the clan, so she said the first thing that came to mind: "Earthclan." She rested her muzzle on the tom's head, surprising. "Lick my shoulder, then sit with the rest of the clan." The tom did just what she said.
The rest of the clan cheered his new name, some of them unsure and others very excitedly, "Runningspirit! Runningspirit! Runningspirit!"
Earthclan! It actually made sense and she was surprised that she hadn't said something completely idiotic. "Abby, you are next. Bring your kits with you," the ginger she-cat and her two kits padded up to their leader. The two kits were shaking like leaves. "Abby, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Abby swallowed and nervously answered, "I do."
"Then with the grace of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Abby, from this moment on you will be known as Gingerpelt. Starclan honors you for your motherliness, and welcomes you as a full warrior of Earthclan." Hollyleaf placed her jaw on Gingerpelt's skull who in-turn licked it. "Now, have you decided on clan names for your kits, Gingerpelt?"
"Yes, Hollyleaf. With help from Dom, er, Runningspirit we know what to name our children." Gingerpelt mewed nervously. It would probably take a bit for the cats to get used to each other's new names. "She will be named, Flutterkit," indicating a light orange she-cat, then pointed her tail at her other kit, a gray tom, "And he will be named Soaringkit."
Hollyleaf nodded then returned her attention to the rest of the clan. "From now on Gingerpelt's and Runningspirit's kits shall be named Flutterkit and Soaringkit." She had the two sit down before continuing the ceremony.
It had been a while before they finished, but when they were done, Hollyleaf was more confident than ever. This confidence grew from there on and she began to realize that Starclan had kept her alive for a reason. That reason must've been to create this clan and lead them into a new age where the Warrior Code would once again guide the clans to strength and prosperity.
When the rains started to come, Hollyleaf remembered that there was a problem: the tunnels could flood. She had thought that they were far enough back from the lake that it wouldn't affect them, but was wrong based on how close the water had come to the medicine den and what would eventually be the elder's den. They decided the best thing to do would be to dig holes for the water to run and pool into when it rained enough. It took a while and many had lost some of their claws doing it, but in the end, they were safe from drowning.
Soon after the start of the apprenticeship of both her kits and Gingerpelt's, Hollyleaf decided to get the clan together and tell them of what she now knew. She gathered all of them into the meeting hollow at night and told them about what had happened before in her old clan life: how she had broken the Warrior Code by holding secrets from the clan. The fact that she had killed another cat had been nearly erased from her mind from denying it and blocking it out. She continued by convincing that only they could save the clans now and that they must do whatever it takes.
The clan had become extremely loyal to her in the short time they had known her and they cheered her when she finished speaking. Their leader told them that soon they would start planning what to do, and in a few moons, Earthclan would rise to the surface and show the clans that what they had been doing was wrong, and should've been following the warrior code all along. Hollyleaf was somewhat surprised and thankful when they didn't question what she had lain out and was very proud of what they had accomplished so far.
Hollyleaf initiated her plan almost immediately after but without telling her clan. She began by stealing prey from the borders of Windclan and Thunderclan when the flows of the river in the tunnel allowed it. The first result of it was a few border clashes. The following gathering, the clans decided to not meet for gatherings anymore. Realizing the tensions between the clans would continue to grow even if she didn't do anything, Hollyleaf decided that she would wait to do anything else until the apprentices become warriors and all of the other cats had become fully-trained.
(A Few Months Later: Present)
She had gathered all together again just a few days prior and told them of her plan. In the end, after a little bit of debate, Earthclan agreed that Hollyleaf's plan to steal prey and turn the clans against each other was the best plan.
A blue-gray tom, Larry when he had joined the clan, but now known as Splashbelly, stepped into the den of Hollyleaf and Barkpelt and bowed his head before speaking. "It appears Thunderclan is preparing to attack Windclan soon, possibly within the next few nights."
"Excellent, thank you for reporting to me Splashbelly," Hollyleaf mewed pleasantly. However, she noticed that Splashbelly was nervously shuffling his paws. "What is it, what's wrong?"
"Well…I also heard that Firestar has died." Splashbelly said quickly and quietly, scared to say it, knowing his leader's relationship with Thunderclan's now former leader.
Barkpelt looked at his mate for a moment before looking back at Splashbelly. "You may leave." The messenger left quickly, ducking his head as he left. Hollyleaf buried her face into her mate's fur in her grief.
AN: This chapter could've been much longer, but I wanted to get it out. Sorry the end isn't that great even after rewriting it.
All reviews are appreciated. Please tell me if I've made any mistakes.
Earthclan
Leader
Hollyleaf – Black she-cat with green eyes and a bushy tail
Deputy
Barkpelt – Large dark brown tom with amber eyes
Medicine Cat
Snakebody - Hairless gray-and-white tom with amber eyes
Warriors
Runningspirit – Extremely fast dark-gray tom
Apprentice, Featherpaw
Gingerpelt – She-cat with a ginger pelt
Apprentice, Rainpaw
Splashbelly – Blue-gray tom
Apprentice, Soaringpaw
Blacktail – White tom with black tail
Apprentice, Flutterpaw
Ravenflight – Jet-black she-cat
Apprentice, Clawpaw
Snowcloud – Fluffy white she-cat with blue eyes
Greyspots – Gray she-cat with black spots
Apprentices
Rainpaw – Gray she-cat with darker gray spots
Clawpaw – Orange tabby-tom with green eyes
Featherpaw – Small gray-and-white she-cat
Flutterpaw – Light orange she-cat
Soaringpaw – Gray tom
I'm not so great at naming cats. xD
Also, the end of the year is coming up for school which means its time for massive projects. D: