CW: Blood, violence, character death.
- MOON 2 -
By the next moon, Hickorylight had formally gotten her leaders name, Hickorystar from StarClan.
She'd taken to going on patrols by herself, partially because she couldn't stand to see Turtlehaze and Badgersky acting all lovey dovey. They always went out together now it seemed. She supposed that made sense, there wasn't anyone else to go with them.
It was after an annoying outing where her allergies acted up that things changed.
A loner, with kits.
Turtlehaze explained about how the gray queen asked to join them, a nervous twinge in her voice despite her confident posture. The loner looked neutral at cool, as if Turtlehaze and Badgersky weren't there, staring only at Hickorystar. Badgersky seemed to be avoiding eye contact for some reason- had he argued against her joining?
Hickorystar smirked a bit, she respected this stranger in a way she couldn't quite yet place.
"What made you want to join us?" The speckled leader asks her.
"...I want my kits to be strong." The gray queen answers, voice quiet, but steady, surprisingly firm.
The leader appraises the kits, they were so young it was hard to know what to make of them yet.
The little pale gray tom Turtlehaze was carrying seemed startlingly relaxed. The fuzzy yellow kitten at the loners paws looked more frightened, tucked between her ankles, but glaring at her as if to seem tough. And the gray molly Badgersky carried batted at his whiskers. Maybe they wouldn't amount to much, but Hickorystar felt a warmth in her heart for them.
"Then you'll fit right in ThrashClan." Hickorystar grins.
Shortly after, she'd hold a ceremony, giving the mysterious queen the name Buzzardfur.
Her kits, named Honey, Nectar, and Ferret, took on the clan name of -kit.
Hickorystar was intrigued by then and hoped she'd get to know them in the days to come.
- MOON 3 -
The next moon would be hard on the elders, unfortunately one of whom was their medicine cat, Cloverblink. Hickorystar didn't know what they would do without him, Alderkit had snuck off to see the old gray tom from time to time, but he had no true apprentice.
And Flowerpatch... something bothered her about her passing. She was old, so it was inevitable, but perhaps the change had been too much for her. Mumbleleaf, Cloverblink's mate had spoken highly of Hickorystar's thrash, saying how happy he was able to see it before he died. But Flowerpatch hadn't cheered with anyone in the crowd. She must have been a prancer. Hickorystar thought, swishing her tail a bit, wanting to be alone again.
She wouldn't find herself alone for long though.
And neither would Buzzardfur, thought not at the same time. She'd excused herself early from the funerals. She found it nice, but didn't know these cats after all. It was a comforting thought to know she could be honored after her death like that.
Death was nothing she wanted on her mind, and if ThrashClan needed a new healing cat, she would find one.
She knew of another cat, not by name but her obvious yellow pelt and strange behavior. Buzzardfur doubted it would take long to find her. It took for the better half of the day, but the flowery scent surrounding the sleeping loaf was unmistakable.
"You should join us." Buzzardfur meows, prodding her awake. The fuzzy loner yelps and jumps up in alarm.
"And you could try saying hellofirst!"
Buzzardfur rolls her eyes and sits down, to show she wasn't threatening her. "Hello."
The other cat shakes her head and tsks. "You're the Buzzard from ThrashClan..?" She asks with a squint.
Buzzardfur blinks. "How did you know?"
"mm... I had a dream telling me I should look for you..." She murmurs reluctantly.
"I didn't want to go anywhere I couldn't bring my little stars though." She stands up, revealing two kittens.
"Let me carry one. Then we can go." Buzzardfur says. It was more of a demand than a request, but the cat listens.
Brightmoon's introduction to ThrashClan didn't go as smoothly as Buzzardfur's. As she followed the somber older cat through the territory, rehearsing in what her head what she may need to say to please a leader, suddenly those thoughts were interrupted by the hot scent of fresh blood.
"Ah-" Brightmoon gasps, stumbling back at the sight of a grey speckled queen with a huge gash across her face.
Hickorystar whirls around, hostile glare until she sees Buzzardfur. "There was a bloody rouge." Hickorystar huffs, swishing her tail. "But not that one, who's she?"
"She can help." Buzzardfur say plainly.
"Not what I asked."
"I..I'm Brightmoon..." She murmurs, muffled by the calico in her jaws.
"Don't move. Let her help you." Buzzardfur says, taking the kit from Brightmoon and wrapping her tail around the both of them. She nods, indicating she'd watch them while the medicine cat got to work.
"Knew there was a reason I let you join us." Hickorystar laughs, spitting out blood.
She wouldn't forget the experience of getting this scar any time soon.
- MOON 4 -
The next moon, things settled into an easy peace in comparison.
Brightmoon's kits were considerably more nervous than Buzzardfur's. Cloverkit and Tornkit were hiding particularly from Bloomkit, despite her enthusiasm to meet them.
Bloomkit was bouncing around in excitement for another reason too. She noticed Hickorystar looking their way from a distance. "Ooo, I wonder if she's picking mentors for us! I'd love to be her apprentice, oh or Turtlehaze's! Badgersky would be fine too."
"No! No Badger stinky!" Ferretkit laughs.
Bloomkit gasps, "No he's not, he's really nice!"
"Stinky, stinky!" Ferretkit chants.
"Oh come on. Nectarkit- Alderkit? Someone help me back him up!" Bloomkit turns towards the other kits. Nectarkit shrugs.
Alderkit leans up from using Honeykit as a small pillow. "Uh, yeah, I mean- he's fine." He didn't seem to be paying much attention to the topic. It didn't seem like he'd slept well.
"Yeah, you see, perfectly fine! I would rather have Hickorystar but still!"
Brightmoon chuckles at the kits, and sidles towards Buzzardfur who was staring at them like a hawk. "Hmm, where would you put your two cents on this debate, I wonder." She smiles at the gray queen.
She doesn't even look at her in response.
Brightmoon coughs awkwardly, feeling a slight shiver at her cold demeanor. "I uhm.. heard a rumor from Badgersky she was thinking of making Alderkit become a medicine cat before I came, but maybe she doesn't have to now..."
Buzzardfur flicks her ear like there was a fly on it.
I don't want to be a fly. Brightmoon thinks miserably, but continues trying to engage Buzzardfur in the gossip.
"Bloomkit, who knows. I..I think Hickorystar would like to mentor one of your kits herself."
Buzzardfur finally cuts the corner of her eye towards her now that she was talking about them.
"You'd prefer her to mentor them than the others, wouldn't you?" Brightmoon smiles coyly.
She looks away, as if it were a mistake to look at the silly yellow fly. She watches Honeykit follow Alderkit to go talk with the elder Mumbleleaf. He was showing them some kind of dried up old flower wreath, handling delicately. She couldn't hear him, but she thought she could understand some of the words he he was mouthing. Clover blink... The one who had died.
"Er, Buzzy?" Brightmoon tilts her head.
"I don't care who she picks. As long as they can help them defend themselves. They have to be strong." Buzzardfur murmurs.
Brightmoon squints, she was a difficult cat to read. Badgersky seemed to think Hickorystar had feelings for her or the other way around. This felt like something else to her though.
"I'm sure they will?" Brightmoon says quickly trying to think of a way out of this conversation. Oh right- her kits. "Oh right, my kits- well uh I best see where Clover and Torn scampered off to."
Buzzardfur flicks her tail and points wordlessly.
"T..that way? Thanks. Uhm, bye!" Brightmoon scampers off, unsurprised not to hear a goodbye from her.
Brightmoon's predictions would prove inaccurate soon, however.
"I will mentor yourself Alderpaw. I can't wait for you to see the things I hope to teach you." Hickorystar smiles, touching noses with her.
"Alderpaw! Alderpaw! Alderpaw!" The clan cats cheer. Buzzardfur's kits had come out to watch with her and Bloomkit. Bloomkit was the only one not cheering, and went back to the nursery to sulk.
As the ceremony died down, Alderpaw followed Hickorystar out of camp.
She beamed at her new mentor, still surprised she had been chosen. "So, what are we going to do first?" The tortishell asks.
After a moment of hesitation, she answers, "Well.. this isn't the typical thing for new apprentices but... I have a special task for you."
Alderpaw's eyes widen, nodding in interest.
"I want you to follow Turtlehaze's patrol... And let me know if you hear them talking about anything strange."
"Strange? Strange how?" She tilts her head, confused.
"You'll understand if you hear it." Hickorystar says, voice harder than before, but smiles when she catches herself, "Don't overthink it. That's the biggest thing a Thrasher has to learn. Trust your gut."
"I won't let you down!" Alderpaw exclaims, taking off.
Admittedly, Hickorystar felt safer with her apprentice going with a larger group, she'd scented fox in the area again. She still didn't want to be around Turtlehaze and Badgersky though. She didn't trust them.
"I wonder who'll give me my leader's name." Turtlehaze hums and purrs in the warm summer sun.
Badgersky chuckles nervously, "Getting ahead of yourself aren't we dear?"
"What, you don't think I could win the winter tournament?" The ginger and white tabby frowns. She smiles and play tackles him. "Are you going to help me practice~?"
Badgersky squeaks, easily pinned down. "I..I sure could try, but... you already know you're better than me," He huffs and tries to laugh it off, but his worries seep out, "Hickorystar though... she killed her own mate I..If that didn't stop her, I don't think she'll stop at anythin."
Turtlehaze frowns too. "Well I wouldn't do anything stupid like that. I know why you're worried, but I've got moons to practice. I think I could have a real shot at this. Hickorystar might be crazy crazy, but our love is stronger!" She giggles and nuzzles his nose.
"Guess that's right!" Badgersky giggles hesitantly and wraps his paws around her to cuddle. He doesn't have long to enjoy it as his fur bristles at a snapping branch.
"Fox?" Turtlehaze springs to her paws.
"I..I didn't smell one this time..." Badgersky freezes, ducking behind her nervously. She unsheathes her claws and prepares to spring out the sound protectively.
Alderpaw's eyes widen at this, not wanting her to jump on her. "No, it's me, Alderpaw!" She squeaks, hurrying out of the bushes.
"Alderpaw?" Turtlehaze blinks in bewilderment, quickly switching back to a more relaxed posture.
"What are you doing out here honey, are you lost?" Badgersky asks, getting to his paws.
"Oh no, uhm- Hickorystar just sent me to check on you, that's all."
Turtlehaze thought it seemed strange, and wondered if something else was bothering the apprentice. "Well okay.. how about you join us for hunting then..?" Alderpaw nods quickly and they head off.
Meanwhile, Buzzardfur was having trouble hunting herself. She hisses in frustration as a mouse slips out of her paws... and into those of another cat!
It was an older golden tabby with blue eyes. He blinks, holding the squirming mouse in his paws without killing it. "Oh, I'm sorry, was this yours?" He asks.
Don't just play with it! Buzzardfur thinks in annoyance. She nods, giving him a cold stare, unsheathing her claws.
He doesn't seem to catch the hint. "Well, if you still want it, I don't mind to share, its probably big enough for you and my kits." Just then the mouse wriggles away, scampering past a den with two kits. "Ah- shoot- well, it was." He flattens his ears sadly, and the kits let out a few pitiful mews.
Buzzardfur sighs inwardly. Is this my job now?
"We have more food at camp if you'd like to join us."
"Why thank you kindly," The loner purrs, passing a kit to Buzzardfur to carry and picking the other up himself.
Hickorystar doesn't come back until late. There are whispers in the clan the something must have happened. Just as Turtlehaze starts to put together a patrol to search for her, the queen limps back in, fresh wounds from her fight with a fox.
"Hickorystar!" Alderpaw gasps, hurrying over.
"What happened?" Brightmoon asks.
"Fox. I think its gone for good this time." Hickorystar winces, and Brightmoon quickly scampers off to fetch herbs and poppy seeds.
"You fought a fox?" The new loner asks, round eyed.
"Sure did," She narrows her eyes at him before she notices his tail wrapped around his kits protectively.
"Don't you worry, you can rest easy your kits will be safe here." Hickorystar beams.
((It says Hickorystar has a new scar but I can't tell where it is lol? Maybe her ear?))
MOON 4 ALLEGIANCES
THRASHCLAN
LEADER
HICKORYSTAR - Large gray furred molly with white speckles, green eyes, and a sizable scar across her back, and a fresher one across her face. Lonesome, smart. APPRENTICE: ALDERPAW
DEPUTY
TURTLEHAZE - White she cat with bright blue eyes and ginger tabby patches. Empathetic, excellent fighter.
MEDICINE CAT
BRIGHTMOON - Shorthair cream molly with hazel eyes. Strange. Formerly a loner.
KITS: CLOVERKIT, TORNKIT
WARRIORS
BADGERSKY - Plump, longhair tom with cream colored fur and golden eyes. Compassionate, very smart.
BUZZARDFUR - Pale gray molly with a lighter muzzle, notch in her ear, and dark blue eyes. Cold. Formerly a loner.
KITS: HONEYKIT, NECTARKIT, FERRETKIT
FERNTAIL - Golden tabby tom with dark blue eyes. Altruistic. Formerly a loner.
KITS: SNIPKIT, LOSTKIT
APPRENTICES
ALDERPAW - Amber eyed tortishell molly. Altruistic. MENTOR: HICKORYSTAR
KITS
BLOOMKIT - Black molly with furless patches on her muzzle and paws, golden eyes. Strange.
HONEYKIT - Pale gray longhair tom with a lighter muzzle and amber eyes. Charming.
NECTARKIT - Cream tom with dark blue eyes. Daring.
FERRETKIT - Pale gray molly with hazel eyes. Charming.
CLOVERKIT - Black and white molly with ginger tabby patches and green eyes. Daring.
TORNKIT - Cream tom with a black nose and green eyes. Insecure.
SNIPKIT - White molly with ginger tipped ears and tail. Dark blue eyes. Insecure.
LOSTKIT - Tortishell molly with dark blue eyes. Troublesome.
ELDERS
MUMBLELEAF - Light brown tabby with green eyes and white chest and paws.
STARCLAN
STARCLAN GUIDE
IVYGORSE - (I never made note of their appearance unfortunately.)
DIED IN MOON 1
ASHSTAR - Lean, pale gray molly with furless patches on her snout and paws. Golden eyes. Bloodthirsty, fantastic teacher. Thrashed by Hickorystar. (Bled out)
HAREFUR - Shorthair white tom with a red nose, a brown patch on one ear, and dark blue eyes. Troublesome, strong connection to StarClan. Thrashed by Hickorystar. (Neck wound)
DIED IN MOON 3
FLOWERPATCH - Plump calico molly with green eyes and a brown tail. Compassionate, great storyteller. Died of old age. 181 moons.
CLOVERBLINK - Eldery tom with dark gray, almost black fur, furless patches on his face and paws, and green eyes. Fierce, excellent hunter. Died of old age. 197 moons.