Challenge #1 - Part 2 of 'Create-A-Story' forum. Join it, I guess...

Takes place in Forum: Oakclan, Pineclan, Plainclan, and Streamclan: Roleplay Forum. More specifically, Pineclan.

Challenge Theme is Drought. There's a couple of requirements that I completed! You'll see them both!

Before the Encore of Death

"Vixensong! Vixensong!" The clan called the newest edition of Pineclan, only 20 moons, a very young age to become a warrior.

It was about to become green-leaf. The sun was more of an eighth away from fully setting, giving the warrior about two hours to glory in her new name before going on her treacherous vigil. Vixensong was surrounded by her friends and family, along with regular members of the clan, as she had been a very popular apprentice. She was liked by the elders, loved by her friends and family, respected by her more only acquainted apprentices, and praised by the senior warriors. Life was good for Vixensong.


A moon later after her ceremony, there was no rain. The sun beat down on the clans below, but throughout it all, Vixensong had created a light in the heart of every cat around her. She made a newer friend.

His name was Ravenfeather. He was older than Vixensong only by four moons, and they shared the nursery together when Vixensong was young kit, barely able to remember him.

The pair had gotten so close in the next half-moon that even cats that she didn't know teased her about her relationship with Ravenfeather. She denied that she was the mate of him, but every cat seemed to think otherwise.

"So, how are you today?" Ravenfeather asked Vixensong as the sun was setting. Many cats were staring at them intently.

"Worn out. Did Olivenose seriously have to give me that many patrols today?" she complained about the extremely old deputy who had basically been her father-figure since her real father had been killed in a battle when she had been a kit. She added, more curious than anything, "Do you find it strange that it hasn't rained for a while?"

Ravenfeather shrugged, "The senior warriors don't seemed bothered."

Vixensong nodded, agreeing with him, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong. She meowed, "True."

After a moment of silence to let them both eat their fresh-kill, Vixensong asked, "Ravenfeather, are you aware of the gossip that is spreading around camp?"

"Y-yes." The usually cool and collected tom was now nervous, his light gray pelt bristling nervously. Vixensong gave him an eye of concern. What was wrong with him? Actually, the more correct term would be: What is wrong with toms? She rolled her eyes and took another bite of her mouse. Ravenfeather also took a bite, a very, very large one at that.

Vixensong continued, now nervous, "Is it true? Like are we a thing or something?" Vixensong was good at many things, but relationships were never her strong suit. Her best friend already had a mate and she became a warrior about a moon before the she-cat who looked like a fox received her own warrior name. In fact, her best friend was considered the relationship expert in the clan. Every cat came to her about their relationship problems and such.

Ravenfeather was now very nervous, "Uh, are we? We could. I mean we are very close and-" he was about to go on his little nervous ramble when Vixensong slapped her tail on his mouth.

She rolled her eyes, "We can be if you want to. If it doesn't work out, at least we know we tried."

The official news of them becoming mates spread across camp like wildfire. They were the talk for a few days before they moved on to Shadowstar. He had recently lost a life and the whole clan was panicking.


About two moons later, Vixensong and Ravenfeather were still mates. They had become one of the more famous couples throughout the clans as Vixensong was well-known among the other clans and Ravenfeather was known for his little expeditions over clan borders as an apprentice.

Vixensong thought it was strange that there still hadn't been rain. She noticed the stream drying up and the gorge lapping against the stone lower than before. She was starting to get worried, but since no other cat was worried, she didn't show it openly though she did confide her worries with her mate who thought the same as her clanmates.


Another couple moons went by and there still was no sign of rain. Her clanmates had started to get worried. They started to be more cautious about how much water they drank and they were very hesitant to lap up a few mouthfuls.

Vixensong was one of those cats that barely drank. She spent all her energy on patrols and only drank a little bit.

One day, Ravenfeather confronted her about it. He meowed, concerned, "Vixensong, you need to drink more."

"The clan needs it more than I do."

"Right now, the clan needs you more than ever! You won't do yourself any good by depriving yourself of water!" Ravenfeather argued loudly, angry that his mate wasn't taking care of herself.

Vixensong growled, "The clan needs the water! Queens are expecting! I can't just be a selfish brat and drink the water that they need!"

Ravenfeather twitched his tail angrily. "What if you aren't being a selfish brat by doing so? The clan needs you in full condition!" His voice was loud and angry, but his voice softened when he murmured, "I need you..." He muttered something that Vixensong couldn't hear.

The queen's dark-brown-tipped ears flicked in acknowledgement. She promised, "I'll drink more water." It was a false promise, as she only drank water around him to give him comfort, but when she was without him, she didn't drink at all.

Vixensong's live for her clan was driving her to death which all of her clanmates confronted to her about it, making her angry and annoyed. She ran off into the forest to seek peace from being all alone with just herself and her thoughts.


The clan struggled and struggled for two more moons before it started to become a downpour. Every cat was soaking wet, but they all knew it was better than no water at all. Leaf-fall was just around the corner.

One day, Ravenfeather came up to Vixensong with this twoleg thing that had this oddly-shaped orb hanging off of it. (Necklace, to those that are wondering)

He meowed, "Here."

"What is this?" Vixensong meowed in surprised.

"A present. I found it off-territory."

"Y-you went off territory?" Vixensong widened her eyes in shock.

Ravenfeather shrugged, "I went there a lot as an apprentice. It isn't dangerous."

Vixensong hissed, "It could be! You never know after so long!"

"Why are you getting so mad? It's not like me leaving the territory is going to create a sickness that will wipe out every single cat in the clans!" He meowed sarcastically.

Vixensong sighed. It wasn't so bad. At least he didn't ditch the gathering like he did when he was an apprentice alongside her. Back then, she thought he was a trouble-maker not worth her time, but look at the she-cat now! Her whiskers twitched in recollection of the times when she was so naive of her future.

Little did he know that what he returned from his adventure, meant as a harmless gift, created the worst sickness that the clans had ever seen. Through the gathering that the clans held that night, the greencough transferred to almost every cat.

Another history lesson! Yay! But this time, i added in how the sickness started. Seems legit, but that was only a side plot, as there was a drought that had happened in the last days of summer before the start of the sickness in the fall.

So, hope you enjoyed!

~Caio

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