Chapter 37
BushClan/Tumbleheart
Her dreams were muddled, something was approaching from the side, too small and sleek to be a fox. Yet, the adrenaline that filled her said otherwise. It was just as dangerous as a fox and she couldn't see it clearly. Shadows slowly gave way to two small kits. Faceless and still mewling. They were in a nest, crying out for someone. Slowly she approached them, thick fog hiding their pelts from her, but she could make out their milky scent. She attempted to curl up around them, anything to make them stop crying.
They stopped, burying their faceless faces into her side. Tiny paws kneading into her fur before stopping. With soft sighs the kits settled down. She looked around, wondering if the fog would let up and let her see if their mother would return. Instead, all she saw was a dull shining glow as another cat stepped into her view. Stars frosted their paws and fur, visible light tortoiseshell fur came into focus as they stepped closer. Their brown eyes glittering like stars.
"Leaftail." Tumbleheart whispered, feeling relieved. "Are these your kits? My siblings?"
Leaftail looked to the tiny kits, her brown eyes warm. "That they are, your brother and sister, Batkit and Starlingkit. They await for when StarClan can allow them to return to the world to finish the lives they didn't have a chance to have."
"And their faces..." Tumbleheart murmured.
"They probably had moss on their faces." her mother whispered, going over and move their faces out. "There, see? They still have them."
"I just thought... never mind." Tumbleheart looked away.
Leaftail purred softly. "They may be kits, but they are still part of StarClan. Not all kits get moss all over their faces, so I imagine that they were trying to give you a message."
"What for?" Tumbleheart whispered, looking up at her mother.
"Kits know things like everyone else in StarClan. They may never grow up, but I know in my heart they choose to be this way so when they are allowed to be among the living they can go without any memory of being in StarClan." Her mother told her, flicking her tail. "Perhaps, they send a warning, perhaps they are just happy to smell someone new, or maybe they can sense the love in your heart and want you to be careful. Whatever it is, I wouldn't know. I'm not them."
Tumbleheart nodded, "Right, then why am I here?"
"Now that I can answer." Leaftail meowed, sitting before her. "Tell your father that he can follow his heart. He doesn't quite believe in StarClan so I can't reach him, but tell him that it's okay to press on and it's time for him to find love again after closing his heart for so long."
"Is he looking at another she-cat?" She asked, starting to sit up a little.
"From what I can see from StarClan, he is and I am okay with it. I just hope he will believe you that I want him to move on. I approve of his choice, I just wish I could reach him to tell him myself."
"Are you certain?" Tumbleheart whispered, feeling her heart crack for her mother.
The light tortoiseshell she-cat nodded solemnly. "Of course, I wouldn't have had you come here if I wasn't sure. I want him to be happy, even if he is an apprentice now, I know how tenacious his heart is and I don't want him to think he is betraying my love."
The brown and tan tabby looked to her paws, uncertain if she could do this. She had her father, but if he was looking at another she-cat, was she truly ready for that? Ready to have half-siblings and a new mother-figure when she hadn't had one in moons? That was when Batkit let out an indignant mewl. As though to remind her that this wasn't her choice to make. It was her father's. No matter how she would feel, it was his choice to try again.
"I will pass it along." She whispered.
Leaftail blinked warmly. "I know it won't be easy, but remember there is more then finding kin again, it's when your kin can find themselves and be proud of it."
"I know." She meowed, looking to her littermates who had no chance of surviving when she was barely brought into the world. "Perhaps they would like the kits that would come, so they can be with me too."
"Perhaps," She mewed, "I wouldn't be surprised. Regardless, you have to be strong, just like you always have been. Named after the emotions I felt, but given a full warrior name that makes you who you are. I know you will be fine."
"But how can you be so sure?"
"When a warrior receives "-heart" in their name it is a sign of great courage, bravery, and above all compassion and loyalty. You have the strength of your courage and loyalty to be able to get through anything. While you also have the compassion and bravery to do what you feel you must." Leaftail explained. "Ancient StarClan warriors have told me this. Every name has a reason to exist. Every name has a personal reasoning for the cat it is given to. They all have many wonderful meanings, but very few can hold every meaning."
"And the start of my name?" Tumbleheart asked, feeling more at ease now.
"My sweet daughter, The name comes from a weed that is found on the territory, but it also has the meaning I have given it. My emotions tumbled inside me, wondering if I should have left your father, wondering if I should have tried harder to have him join me in BushClan. Wondering if I had simply used him to have you. You are of the questions and what if's I had before you had been kitted. But you also come with the answers."
Tumbleheart blinked slowly, as though realizing what her mother had meant. She was brave enough to bring back help, loyal enough to return to her Clan, being compassionate enough to stand by their side and let her father learn, while being courageous enough to agree to her mother's words in a dream. She was once a question of a kit and now, she was the true answer to her mother's musings.
She wasn't a mistake, nor had Leaftail used Crowpaw to have kits. It was just meant to be even if it never felt like such for what felt like countless moons. At last, she knew what it was that made her mother proud. Her pride in her surviving daughter to do what is right and to always find the answer within herself, inside her heart. She dipped her head low, accepting these answers as she closed her eyes one last time.
"I will tell him," she vowed.
.
Rays of sunlight slanted through the din of the warriors den. They were thick golden-yellow rays that warmed her brown and tan pelt. With a yawn, she stretched and prepared to get up for the sun-high patrol. Her dream clung to her mind like a pesky and dusty cobweb. She knew that Morningstar was leading it to assess both apprentice's himself to make sure they were doing well ever since they joined their Clan.
It had been eight sunrises since they fought with the foxes, the night of the half-moon had come and with it their strength. Pigeonstream had gone back to his warrior duties, mostly taking apprentices tasks to build his strength back up. Foxgaze and herself had recovered enough to get back to their duties. More importantly her training of Rubypaw. For a short time Morningstar had let Jaggedcloud take over in training him until she was well again. Today was the day she would see how well Jaggedcloud had taught Rubypaw.
Perhaps even see if she could talk to Crowpaw afterwards, anything to give the message to her father. The long haired black tom waiting patiently alongside their leader, Jaggedcloud, and Rubypaw. His green eyes glinting as she did a quick wash of her face and a swift shake of her pelt. She had to hurry, anything to make sure Morningstar would let her keep training Rubypaw, even a little longer.
"Glad you could join us." Morningstar meowed as she stepped up to them.
"Sorry, it felt a little weird to sleep in the warriors den after being in the medicine den." Tumbleheart apologized, before looking to Jaggedcloud. "I take it that Rubypaw had been listening to you well?"
"Perfectly." The reddish-brown and white she-cat informed her. "You had taught him well to listen, not that it was too difficult since he is already excellent in hunting and fighting."
"I agree, he might become a warrior very soon from the sounds of it." Morningstar admitted, although there was a sparkle in his golden eyes. "Although, we will have to make sure he understands the warrior code well."
"We can quiz him on it later." Tumbleheart suggested, "Let's check their skills on the patrol and do some hunting."
"Excellent suggestion, Tumbleheart." Morningstar dipped his head before looking to Jaggedcloud. "We can even take a break to eat some of what we catch."
"That would be perfect. Let's get going before these two get ants in their pelts." Jaggedcloud teased, leading the way out of the camp.
The barrier that had long been destroyed after the battle had been repaired. Thorns scraped through her pelt, bringing her a joy inside her heart. Everything was slowly getting better, especially with the warm breeze of newleaf. Soon, everything would heal and with it a change that was waiting to begin. Once she had passed through the branches, the thin-trees were still young, but growing each season. She swears that they never changed, but visible claw scratches had stretched higher and higher as time went on, slowly being taken into the growing bark of the trees.
"It feels almost like leaf-fall." Jaggedcloud murmured, "I bet newleaf is coming after the full moon."
"I wouldn't be surprised." Morningstar meowed, "Give it a few moons, the forest will be healed and we will be ready to take whatever FearClan plans."
"That's if they don't attack within those few moons. You know how ruthless they are." Tumbleheart added in, looking to Rubypaw and Crowpaw who were looking around diligently. "I don't want it happening before Rubypaw and Crowpaw have more training under their paws."
"Sometimes it can't be helped." Morningstar pointed out, "We just have to hope that somehow they won't strike too soon."
Jaggedcloud flicked her tail. "I would never put it past those scoundrels to try so soon after the foxes. They always like letting the leafbare weaken us and striking just as newleaf starts. Making it so dangerous for us all."
"I agree." Her leader looked ahead. "Which border should we check on?"
"Blackdapple said we should check the one towards where the Twoleg kits play." Jaggedcloud informed him, "It's been some time since we have checked on it due to not having enough warriors for the patrols, so we can scent mark there and see if there is anything to hunt yet."
"Always trying a new place to hunt so the recovering prey isn't over-hunted. Good thinking on Blackdapple's part." Morningstar mused, nodding to her. "Lead the way Jaggedcloud, I'll bring up the rear while Tumbleheart checks on their skills."
Tumbleheart nodded, letting Jaggedcloud take the lead as she fell into step with the toms. "Do you pick up anything?"
Crowpaw tasted the air, before reporting, "I can pick up some mice."
Soon after Rubypaw added in, "I can pick up that a squirrel had gone by earlier today."
Tumbleheart nodded, "Good, those are the signs of newleaf approaching and a sign that there is prey over here that the hunting patrols can use."
Jaggedcloud slowed to a stop, "How about try here near this Twoleg path?"
"Go right on ahead." Tumbleheart meowed, gesturing with her tail. "Tell us exactly what you can pick up."
Crowpaw and Rubypaw stepped forward, carefully staying out of view of any Twolegs as hey parted their jaws carefully. In the large territory, many Twoleg paths were in their way, so it was best for them to check and make sure that no dogs or Twolegs have crossed recently. If any had, they would have to be extra careful when on the way back. Regardless, Tumbleheart trusted their judgment. They had lived alongside the Twolegs much longer then herself.
The apprentices tasted the air carefully, licking their lips as though judging each scent carefully. Rubypaw nodded to Crowpaw to give him the chance to go first again. As such the long haired black tom backed away from the path and spoke in hushed tones. "I could taste a dog had passed by not too long ago with a Twoleg or two. I wouldn't be surprised if they come back."
Rubypaw nodded, encouraging his assessment before adding in his own. "Other then that, nothing much else. Not even stale cat or fox anymore."
"They might have headed into that marsh across the thunderpath over there." Tumbleheart muttered, before shaking her head. "Good job, you two have the finest noses for this. We will check again on the way back."
Jaggedcloud nodded, "Right, let's cross altogether."
Morningstar continued to hang back even after they crossed, his ears twitching to each sound as his eyes scanned the undergrowth carefully. Tumbleheart felt her fur crawl from anticipation. Something was on their leader's mind and he was keeping it to himself from them. Whatever it could be, she had to hope it wouldn't be too dangerous.
Soon enough, they managed to hunt down some pigeons that were distracted by pecking at the frozen ground where seeds had been tossed by an older Twoleg earlier in the day. They were able to share a pigeon between themselves and save the other ones they caught to bring back to their Clan. It hadn't been easy, especially since Crowpaw had to hunt with Tumbleheart, leaving them with only three pigeons, now two.
"I'm sorry for not being the best hunter." Her father apologized as they continued their break to check for other prey-scents.
"There is no need to apologize." She assured him, "You are still learning and not even a warrior always makes a catch. I only caught it because I learned to jump as high as I could. You will learn to do what you can with your skills and that is what is more important. Team work makes a Clan strong."
Crowpaw nodded, seeming relieved that she didn't think badly of him. "Thanks."
"No problem." She breathed, looking over the foliage, she decided that now was better then any time. "Last night I had a dream of Leaftail and two black kits."
"Is that so. Sounds like a nice dream." He murmured.
"She said they were my brother and sister. They didn't survive the kitting." Tumbleheart explained, looking to him. "She also told me, that it was okay for you to follow your heart."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means, that if you find another she-cat who you are falling in love with it will be okay." She tried to explain, "She wants you to be happy."
"Are you sure it wasn't just a dream?" He asked.
Tumbleheart nodded, "I'm sure of it. I wouldn't have dreamed of it on my own. I never worried or thought about it until that dream."
Crowpaw nodded slowly, looking ahead quietly. "On one path, I want to believe that you truly dreamed it. On the other, I feel like I shouldn't as it's too good to be true. I joined BushClan to learn what your mother loved about it and to learn more about you. I never wanted to find a new mate."
"If you do, it's okay." she assured him, feeling more certain now then she had in her dreams. "Part of being in a Clan is finding love and opening your heart all over again. It's a tough life, but it has it's healing and positive moments. Leaftail would want you to find happiness and not live with the shadow of your past love with her."
He glanced to her. "I'm only an apprentice, I wouldn't have time to look for a mate with so much to learn."
Tumbleheart blinked warmly. "That is true, but there is always time."
Crowpaw blinked slowly, nodding as he started to understand. "Still, shouldn't the spirits talk to medicine cats and not a normal warrior?"
"StarClan works in mysterious ways." She told him as she glanced back ahead. "They choose who to go to and as long as a cat believes in them, they can visit their dreams. Since you are still learning about StarClan and why the Clan looks up to them along with the code they passed down to us."
"Still, if she can communicate from wherever she is now, then how can she be okay with it?" He looked genuinely puzzled, his green eyes looking to her for answers.
Tumbleheart thought for a moment before speaking once more. "Perhaps, it is because she cannot be here with you physically anymore. She wants you to find love here in the living and she approves of whomever your heart aches for. Whatever the reason, all that it matters is you can move on if and when you are ready to."
Crowpaw nodded slightly in the corner of her vision, looking ahead as well. "I'll have to think about it."
As though on cue, Morningstar, Jaggedcloud, and Rubypaw joined them with extra prey to bring back to the camp. They had always been a small Clan, that was something her mother often told Tumbleheart. Explaining that they branched off to form a Clan after starry cats visited their first leader and Poppyclaw. Ever since, any kits born were killed during raids from FearClan who had more cats. The older cats had died in the constant fights. Bushstar fighting to the death many times until he had perished, giving rise to Nightstar who fought just as fiercely to the end until now.
Their history as a small Clan was starting to change, kits of the original members were growing well and becoming proud warriors. The ones that had survived at least, now more and more kits were coming into the world, making their numbers climb for the first time in BushClan history. Tumbleheart believed that the more mixed blood they would have, it would be better for their cats. Leaving her in hopes that, somehow, accepting new cats into their Clan would be more normal in the future. After all, as long as each cat brought in truly wanted to become a warrior and learn about StarClan, then they deserve to become a loyal warrior of BushClan.
The patrol continued on with those in her thoughts, reaching the edge of BushClan territory and began to scent mark everything carefully. Morningstar rubbing his cheek on a branch of a bush while Jaggedcloud kept watch for danger as Crowpaw clawed up the moss and soil to place his own scent in the grass. Rubypaw took it a step further by reaching up a spindly tree and raked his claws along it's trunk. Tumbleheart opted for her favorite way to mark territory, which was rubbing her cheek along some ferns and twining her tail with long strands of foliage.
With a purr, she brushed her body along the brush, biting some leaves to mark them as well. Her green eyes glinting as she looked to Jaggedcloud who flicked her tail for them to hurry up. With prey to be carried, they were much more likely to be targeted by other cats and even other predators to steal from them. Taking the hint, she shook out her fur and padded over to pick up her pigeon. Soon enough, Morningstar, Crowpaw, and Rubypaw joined her, gathering up the prey the best they could before heading back they way they came.
Author Note:
I took my time with this one, and so everyone knows: This entire story is taking place in March 2014 because it is the only year where after the full moon spring begins.
I looked up a moon calendar for this story and I keep it up constantly so I can accurately time skip without missing a half moon. What is my life, I am writing a story of a Warrior Cats AU and I am doing so much reacearch for this it puts the half-hearted works of trying to write essays in my past English Classes to shame. XD
Anyway, have a good day/night and thank you so much for reading. - NightSky
