Blossompaw's Escape

Part Four: The Newcomers

She told Braveheart where she was going as she left just before dawn. Braveheart nodded and wished her luck on her quest. Blossomfang headed immediately towards the cliff line, wasting no time with hunting even though her belly rumbled with hunger pains. She couldn't help but let her mind wander as she began the long walk to the mangrove forest.

Ashclan had come so far in only a moon and a halves time. And while she had made enemies of the city bosses as long as she stayed out of their way they wouldn't squabble over borders. The cats were training hard and eager to learn about the warrior code. There was only one thing holding Foxtooth and Fawndapple back from declaring Ashclan officially. And that was the fact they didn't believe in their warrior ancestors. No-one did for that matter, except maybe Whisperheart.

Blossomfang came into line of sight of the cliffs. She glanced over the edge and the daunting and frothy waters below. If you fell in you wouldn't be getting back out. That was the risk with the mangroves, since they were on a secluded beach that could only be reached by a narrow cliff path it was extremely dangerous. Not to mention high tide might completely submerge the whole area. Blossomfang hoped the Sparkling Stream would be safe to reach.

Her ears pricked as she heard a squirrel chattering. She looked back towards the trees and saw the unsuspecting prey nibbling on fallen seeds. Her belly growled again and the prey was too tempting to resist. She dropped into the hunters crouch like Flintmask had showed her and crept forward. Just as she was starting to sprin and voice shouted, "watch out!"

Blossomfang collided head on with another she cat. She went reeling from the force of the impact and the squirrel nimbly climbed a tree. She looked after the forest creature with longing before turning her attention back to the stranger.

"Sorry bout that, didn't think anyone else was around these parts," the she cat chuckled and licked her disheveled fur. Blossomfang was struck by the cats appearance, her coat was white and short and she had wide blue eyes like hers. She was much bigger than Blossomfang though, her long legs showed well defined muscles.

"I didn't think anyone was around here either. My name is Blossomfang," she introduced herself.

"I don't really have a name," she shrugged. "My friend Aspen calls me Frost when I give her attitude."

"There are more of you?" Blossomfang asked. That could be a problem for Ashclan if there was another group close by.

"No, it's just the two of us. What brings you around these parts, most stick close to the city?"

"Oh um, I live with a group of cats called Ashclan," Blossomfang said. She looked over Frost's shoulder a bit impatiently. She wanted to reach the mangroves as soon as possible.

"A clan? That's new. I only thought cats worked together in gangs like in the city. That's why I left with Aspen, too much drama," Frost laughed to herself.

"Right well I best be going," Blossomfang ended the conversation and pushed past the white she cat. Frost didn't seem begrudged by Blossomfang's hasty exit. She called out a goodbye and trotted off into the foliage of the forest.

Not long after that Blossomfang found the steep path that led to the beach of mangroves. She precariously climbed down it. As long as she kept her eyes glued to her paws she felt secure enough to not slip. But the descent would be a bit reckless for elders like Bugs and Whsiperheart. She wasn't sure Braveheart would even be able to fit on the path. If the Sparkling Stream was somewhere down there she'd need to find another route which was easier to access.

Her front paws met sand and the tangy smell of salt flooded her nostrils. The long roots of the mangrove trees made navigating the beach harder. But she managed to explore various crevasses and shallow caves worn into the cliff wall. There were no streams, not even a puddle. It was another dead end. Blossomfang let out a growl of frustration and climbed up the path back onto higher grounds. She was back to square one. It would be so much easier if Starclan just showed her were they wanted her to go. She had been spoiled with her easy connection to Ashstar and her father, now they were making things a little more difficult.

As she headed back to camp she stumbled upon Frost once more. This time however Frost was accompanied by a spotted Bengal, Aspen presumably.

"Oh good you're here! We've been waiting for hours!" Frost chuckled and greeted Blossomfang warmly.

"But why?" she asked in confusion, why would a stranger wait for her for hours?

"Well I told Aspen about meeting you, she recognized your name!" Frost exclaimed. Blossomfang was on guard immediatley.

"You heard about me from the city?" she demanded warily. Both cats looked confused.

"No, Aspen recognized your name as one of a warriors!"

Now it was Blossomfangs turn to be confused.

"I don't understand," she said at last and waited for Frost to elaborate.

"Aspen never told me before because it wasn't really important. She used to live near a gorge, there was a Sky group or whatever that lived there and called themselves warriors and had names like yours. The cats were really territorial and so Aspen left the gorge and wound up here!"

Blossomfang had never heard of the clan Frost spoke of, but none the less it was a clan.

"That still doesn't explain why you were waiting for me," she pressed. This time it was Aspen who spoke.

"Life in the city was hard, and life in the forest is harder. But living with a big group like a clan has benefits. Frost and I want to join, if that's possible," Aspen said simply.

"Oh, well that's great! You'll be great additions to Ashclan I'm sure. Once you are trained of course. But before you can join two cats need to approve you. You see we are kind of living on their territory."

Blossomfang guided the two she cats back towards Ashclan's camp. But before she showed them where the blue twoleg nest was she told them to stay put and she'd be back in a minute. She was grabbing Cookie to come identify them so she could make sure they weren't spies for Niko. Frost and Aspen waited at the base of an Oak tree while Blossomfang darted back to camp. Luckily Cookie wasn't on the dusk patrol and went with Blossomfang. Fawndapple and Foxtooth were out hunting so they'd have to wait until they got back before the two she cats could be accepted. Blossomfang was positive that wouldn't be an issue since everyone else had been approved.

"What are you names?" Cookie asked, all business as they found Frost and Aspen by the oak tree. She was taking her role as identifier very seriously.

"I'm Aspen, my friend here goes by Frost occasionally," Aspen introduced. Cookie looked thoughtful, she circled them and sniffed her nose. Turning back to Blossomfang she spoke.

"I've never seen of heard of them before in my life honestly. Either way that means they aren't a part of Niko's inner circle," Cookie affirmed.

"In that case, welcome to Ashclan!"


Fawndapple and Foxtooth approved the new additions to the clan when they returned from hunting. Braveheart explained the training progression they would go through as apprentices until they received warrior names. Since the senior warriors already had an apprentice or two, Blossomfang decided Bravheart could take on Aspen as well as Bugs and she herself would train Frost.

But her escapade to the mangroves had accomplished nothing. She desperately needed to find a meeting place with Starclan. It was the only way the clan would accept their ancestors, and it was the only way they could stay a clan when the two months ran out. And the days seemed to be passing by faster and faster with every second wasted. Blossomfang was suddenly afraid her mission would fail. Fawndapple and Foxtooth would send everyone away and live in solitude. The clan would break apart, with everyone taking their former names again and scattering to become rogues or going back to the city. Braveheart might go back to the group of animals that escaped from the testing facility. Rabbitleap would probably join him. But Blossomfang could never go back, not after she left them.

In fact Blossomfang would have nowhere to go. Everyone else had a home or a life to return to. She had the distant memory of Ravenclan that still lingered, but it was no longer home. This was home.

Suddenly disheartened she walked into camp with her head low. No-one seemed to notice her sour mood, they were too busy getting to know the newest additions to the clan. The senior warriors were sitting in a circle, joking with their apprentices. Flintmask was sitting next to Zilla, Or Echo as she now called herself. Cookie still wasn't talking to her friend after their spat, and Whisperheart was acting like he'd seen a ghost. Apparently Blossomfang wasn't the only one feeling off.

She retired to the warriors den for some rest. Then she would go out again into the forest. She curled up in her moss nest but sleep wouldn't find her. Her white tail twitched as she contemplated where she would search next for the Sparkling Stream. A head poked into the entrance of the den.

"Oh, hi Echo," Blossomfang greeted when she recognized the she cats gray markings.

"You haven't been around camp much, still looking for your dearly departed?" she said with a twitch of her whiskers.

"If you mean looking for a meeting place with Starclan then yes," she replied stiffly. There was unabashed amusement in Zilla's gaze. It was irritating the white furred warrior.

"Why did you change your name anyway? You're acting nothing like when I met you," she said with a hint of annoyance in the back of her throat.

"Ask my brother," she snorted in reply.

"Brother?" Blossomfang asked in confusion. Since when did Zilla have a brother.

"Never mind, I was just pulling your tail," she corrected herself quickly.

"Right," Blossomfang said disbelievingly. Had Zilla lost her mind?

"Despite you Starclan delusions this is a pretty nice setup. A secluded forest with a safe distance from the city, a cherry orchard brimming with prey, and a group of loyal cats...and dog," she murmured to herself. "Too bad there's some self righteous she cat pretending to be a leader."

"Excuse me?" Blossomfang said, bristling. Echo had just crossed the line. Echo suddenly leaned in close to Blossomfang, their faces mere inches apart.

"Stay away from Flintmask," she warned. It took all of Blossomfangs willpower to not swat the she cats face.

"Why should I?" she challenged. Echo sat back with a smug look.

"He doesn't like you, he told me so. Sure he thinks of you as a friend, but nothing more. And there will never be anything more."

With that Echo left the warriors den, leaving a stunned Blossomfang in her wake. What she had said about Flintmask had stung more than it should have. He had told Echo he didn't like Blossomfang?

She realized now that if she told anyone what Echo had just said to her no-one would believe her. It would sound like she was overly jealous of a cat to whom she had no claim. Maybe that was the point of the whole conversation, to get a rise out of Blossomfang so she'd make a fool out of herself. Echo had just admitted she didn't want Blossomfang as a leader, and had practically threatened her. But how could she kick Echo out of the clan?

She couldn't was the answer. Echo had just won Flintmask and had ensured there was nothing Blossomfang could do about it. Blossomfang simply had to pretend she didn't care about Flintmask one way or the other and prove to the whole clan Starclan did exist. Easier said than done.


A. Is Zilla/Echo cookoo for Cocoa puffs?!

B. Does it appear out white furred feline has not so subtle feelings for Flintmask?

C. Thoughts on the Sparkling Stream?