Hahahahaha! Trick question! There was no answer! 3 points to all who attempted it.
Petalsplash with 12 squirrels
IslaTheFairyOfIce with 10 squirrels
Crescentclaw with 8 squirrels
Empress Tansy with 7 and a half squirrels
RainwishandSunwishofShadowclan with 7 squirrels
Meh with 6 squirrels
LakeStream with 6 squirrels
Kikidusk with 5 and a half squirrels
Wolfclaw of Mountain clan with 5 and a half squirrels
Hairy Tail with 5 and a half squirrels
Lilystripe608 with 5 squirrels
Celtic Silver with 5 squirrels
I'mTheDreamAssasin with 4 squirrels
peaceloveandmooshrooms with 3 and a half squirrels
Redfire with 3 squirrels
Severus Snape with 3 squirrels
Song of Phoenix with 3 squirrels
Tigerpelt with 3 squirrels
Silverfrost137 with 3 squirrels
WolfOfLilacs with 3 squirrels
Song of the Felines with 3 squirrels
Anova00 with 3 squirrels
Silverwillow of the Freljord with 3 squirrels
TheFanfictionMaster with 2 and a half squirrels
xXJayflightXx with 2 and a half squirrels
Willowsmoke of Shadowclan with 2 squirrels
Epic Swag Cat YOLO with 2 squirrels
Rebellegirl with 2 squirrels
Guest with 2 squirrels
Keeralie Starflight with 2 squirrels
Warriorsfan4life with 2 squirrels
Sienablaze88 with 2 squirrels
Guest with 2 squirrels
Splashpaw with 2 squirrels
Ryuuka with 2 squirrels
Cupcaketail-of-Windclan with 2 squirrels
NinjaStarCraft with 1 squirrel
Waffle the Badger with 1 squirrel
Echos Of The Storm with 1 squirrel
ParodyLol with 1 squirrel
Guest with 1 squirrel
Firestar3271 with 1 squirrel
Featherstream100 with 1 squirrel
BlackStorm with 1 squirrel
Guest with 1 squirrel
Lolkat123 with 1 squirrel
Aurithalene with 1 squirrel
ticatoast with 1 squirrel
Cinderfire16 with 1 squirrel
Leafpelt of Thunderclan with 1 squirrel
acupeachure with 1 squirrel
Hollyleaflover with 1 squirrel
Guest abc with 1 squirrel
Icebreath of Thunderclan with 1 squirrel
BrightfallPotato with 1 squirrel
Silvermist-of-Windclan with 1 squirrel
HollyleafXScourge with half a squirrel
The ranks have changed! Petalsplash is still in first, but Isla is pulling second and Crescent coming in third! Wow! And I'm sorry for tricking you...but I had to. If you follow a slight off-section of that tree, you come to multiple flower names though.
"Brindleface! What took you so long? Willowpelt and Whitestorm are already here!" Silverstream exclaims as the former Thunderclan queen bursts into WCC.
"I went to drop off that gift basket for Mapleshade," Brindleface reminds her, placing her handbag and jacket on the coat hanger by the door.
"I thought you said that would only take a few minutes?" Silverstream asks, turning back to the stove where she is currently boiling some water for tea in her favorite purple teapot. Mapleshade's black one is sitting lonely and unused in the cupboard nearby. Brindleface shakes her head with a small sigh.
"It was far stranger than what I had expected. I truly should call Jayfeather later and advise him to end that relationship. It seemed abusive and unhealthy," She mews earnestly, smoothing her ruffled pelt, "My! It's getting a little chilly out there!" She says sweetly, reaching into her hanging purse and pulling out a pretty sunshine-yellow cardigan. Silverstream smiles.
"Oh, I don't think their relationship is terrible. Sure they have their little spats, but doesn't every couple?" She reminds the other she-cat as the teapot whistles fervently. Brindleface frowns slightly.
"I don't ever remember Redtail and I having a fight," She meows.
"Well, I know Graystripe and I were never the perfect pair!" Silverstream laughs lightly.
"Didn't he split with you for that kittypet?" Brindleface asks. Silverstream stiffens.
"We don't talk about her," The silver warrior says firmly, "We'd rather not have our family associate with psychopaths." Brindleface nods with gentle understanding.
"Of course, dear. Redtail tries not to either, but, of course, I always visit Ashfur when he's resubmitted to Better Brains Reconstruction Institute for the Mentally Unstable and bring a batch of cookies. His girlfriend joins me from time to time, but with her kits it's very difficult…" Brindleface mews, taking a cup of tea from Silverstream gratefully and dropping three small golden honey drips into it, "Sandstorm never visits him, ever since he attempted incest with Squirrelflight and tried to kill her foster kits. And Ferncloud never forgave him, either…disappointing, really. All he ever did was love too much." Silverstream tries to smile, but disagrees in her head. Crazy tom… She thinks to herself. How can Brindleface still love him?
"Well, we should get in there and counsel. Time's a wasting!" Brindleface mews cheerfully, "Coming, Silverstream?"
"Yes, of course. One minute," Silverstream purrs. She takes the tea bag from her mug and sips, taking good care not spill anything on her freshly groomed silver tabby pelt. With one final mouthful, Silverstream puts down the mug and hurries into the counseling room.
Whitestorm and Willowpelt are sitting next to each other on the soft green couch, while Brindleface is seated primly in Mapleshade's big purple armchair, holding the tortie's clipboard. Silverstream resists the urge to laugh at what she imagines Mapleshade's face to be when the tortie finds out the sweet, upbeat queen has made herself at home in Mapleshade's own cushy purple armchair.
"Hello, dears," Brindleface smiles at the couple sitting across from her. Willowpelt returns it easily, while Whitestorm shoots his mate a sullen glare.
"What brings you here to WCC today?" Brindleface asks, propping her pen up on the creamy white notepaper.
"Well," Willowpelt begins, "He has jealousy issues."
"Issues? More like completely valid concerns, considering my 'mate' has had two mates before me, along with two other kits, one of which was evil!" Whitestorm scowls, "How do I know she won't go and cheat on me? And have more evil children? I'm a Dark Forest fighter!"
"Babe, I told you, they weren't-" Willowpelt protests, but Whitestorm stops her.
"No, I've heard it before. I've heard the excuses." The huge tom sighs.
"I'm telling you, baby, I've never loved any cat as much as I love you!" Willowpelt pleads.
"Whitestorm, she does have a valid point. She saved a kitten by you from a badger, and died for him. If that isn't love, then I'm a Dark Forest warrior!" Brindleface meows.
"That's all true, but what about her other mates? With a past like that, I'm not sure I can trust her in the future!" Whitestorm sighs heavily, looking reproachfully at Willowpelt, who stares at him pleadingly.
"Well, Willowpelt, why were you mates with Tawnyspots and Patchpelt?" Brindleface asks, her voice smooth and soothing as honey. Silverstream watches, impressed by how clam the two seem to be under the watchful gaze of the former queen. Willowpelt gives her shoulder a quick lick before speaking.
"Tawnyspots was an innocent crush. He was older than me, and I'd never truly known what love was before. I thought I was in love, but I realize now it was much less love, and more kit-like infatuation. He was the deputy, strong and brave…and I got pregnant too young, and he decided being a father was too much responsibility and left me with Darkstripe…of course, I had no idea he would turn out to be what he was…" She trails off. Brindleface looks at her sympathetically.
"I understand, dear. I have dear little Ashykins in that boat as well. Attempted murder! Good gracious. But go on, sweet. Patchpelt?" Brindleface mews gently.
"Patchpelt I thought, and felt, was far more real than Tawnyspots. I loved him so much, but he always loved Robinwing more than me, even moons after her death. He never seemed to pay as much attention to our son as he did to theirs, and that's what ended it. I didn't miss him when he went to the elders den, and Graystripe barely ever knew his father.
"And then…I was still recovering. It's hard having loved twice and realized they never returned your affections to the fullest extant. Yet, someone took hold of my heart so strongly, I almost feared their touch. The minute he was made a warrior, I knew he would be the one I would lie next to every night for the rest of my life." Willowpelt murmurs, looking fondly at Whitestorm. The white tom gazes at her, most of the apprehension gone from his eyes, with only a twinkle of mistrust remaining.
"And our kittens," Willowpelt sighs happily, "Our kitten are the most wonderful, beautiful, amazing things ever to happen to me. All three of them! Sootfur, Rainwhisker, and Sorreltail…my sons died far too young, and Sorreltail had to leave her youngest daughters too soon, with Seedpaw joining us when she should have been living and training. I love them all with all of my heart."
"I love them too." Whitestorm says softly.
"So, you respect her choices now?" Brindleface asks.
"Yes. Forgive me, love, for doubting you." Whitestorm purrs, licking Willowpelt's cheek.
"I'll always forgive you." She smiles. Brindleface beams.
"Well isn't that perfect! Now, run along, it says here on your preliminary forms that you have a birthday party to attend." Brindleface states, rising from the armchair.
"Oh, yes! Hollypaw, Sorrelpaw, and Fernpaw's birthday party! We can't miss it! They're our great-grandkits!" Willowpelt gasps, leaping to her paws.
"Did you put the gifts in the car?" Whitestorm asks hurriedly.
"Yes, of course! But it starts in ten minutes!" Willowpelt shrieks. The pair dash out the door, calling over their shoulders that they'd send the check later.
"Wow! That was so easy!" Silverstream mews in awe, staring at Brindleface as she calmly bustles about collecting her things.
"Yes, dear, they usually are. You just have to be patient and listen." Brindleface says offhandedly as she removes the purple pen from behind her ear and fluffs her whiskers in the mirror of her compact.
"No wonder. Mapleshade never listens. Or is patient. Or kind. Or understanding," Silverstream mutters, "Can I hire you?"
"Oh, I'm afraid not, sweetie. I've got my own business to run!" Brindleface clucks.
"How in Starclan's name to we get more customers than you if you're so efficient?" Silverstream asks, helping Brindleface with her things.
"Easy, dearest, your site has more reviews, so you pop up first in the search. Most are so desperate they don't do their research." Brindleface explains, "Well, I've got to hurry on out and visit Ashy at the asylum. Pip pip cheerio!" She chirps, bouncing ouyt the doors.
"What a busy, peppy, sweet she-cat," Silverstream says to herself, slumping down in Mapleshade's armchair, "I can't believe I could take all that. Even I'm not that cheerful. Can't wait til Mapleshade's back!" She mews. Then, she jumps in shock.
"Did I really just say that?" She squeaks.
"Oh, yes you did, Streamy. Am I too late?"
I guess the marathon's over...
QOTD: Who would you prefer as a coworker?
Silverstream?
Mapleshade?
Brindleface?
Or Hawkfrost?
Or would you rather just work at Daisy's Ye Olde Muffin Shoppe to stay away from these loons and get free muffin fridays?
SQUIRREL: Our next couple is quite...interesting. It will require a special guest, and some vile cursing and bloodshed. Another forbidden romance might re-blossom, but its fruit is rotten. Get my drift? It includes a main character from WCC itself. I saids too much! ;D
Til next time,
Bright
