Chapter 3
Moon 8 | Frosty
The kits had been a positive influence on Hazelstar's mind, so much so that she managed to leave her saddened state and began to take on patrols. She wanted to set a good example for them and keep the territory safe for them to grow up in. However, Rustyfeather remained locked in her grief stricken mind for a quarter-moon longer. As leaf-fall grew chillier and chillier, things began to lighten up around Hazelstar.
The dark ginger tabby she-cat was finally interacting with the kits, sharing prey and even stories of her past. Even when the kits asked the more blunt and invasive questions, Rustyfeather gave an honest answer from the bottom of her own heart. She was so caring and doting upon them that Hazelstar knew that, one day, she would make a great mother to her future kits.
"Hazelstar, I wish to speak with you." Rainstripe suddenly said, bringing the elderly she-cat's focus onto her.
"Is something the matter?" She inquired, sitting up onto her haunches, searching the other she-cat's gray eyes.
Rainstripe hesitated, before speaking softly. "I visited Sleecrash sometime ago and... I know I just adopted three kits, but I'm with kits now. Darkwhisper's kits to be exact."
The light brown she-cat sat stock still, blinking owlishly. Rainstripe was expecting kits, the first kits of StormClan to be born. Sure, Heatherstem was the first trainee of StormClan and the trio of kits were the first kits they ever have in the Clan; but this was a milestone for sure!
"Congratulations." She dipped her head slightly, her tail curling as her pelt ruffled with excitement. "I trust you to know when to take it easy. After all, you know your body more than I do." She purred with pride.
"I plan to accompany Sleetcrash in preparation of being in a nest waiting for my kits to arrive." She meowed, looking away to the three kits that were playing with Darkwhisper. "I just hope Bonekit, Weevilkit, and Peakkit will be happy to become older siblings to them."
"Well, tell them what I've always been told by my mother. Love doesn't have pieces like prey does. Love is like the sun and moon. There are phases to it, yes, but like the sun it is ever encompassing and warm." Hazelstar advised.
"Thank you, I'll keep that in mind when I tell them." She promised.
Before Hazelstar could even dwell on any complications or what life could throw their way, Rainstripe was already heading to the small family. It wouldn't be long until the she-cat's flanks showed signs of kits on the way. Even so, leaf-bare would be a hard time for any mother to have young. She had to hope that, somehow, they could withstand the colder moons as they came.
.
Even with exciting news on the way, Hazelstar patrolled the territory on her own to ensure the territory was safe for her Clan. It was upon her return that she learned that the usual moss gathering place was damaged by some sort of creature in the inland forest. Hazelstar didn't like the sound of it, but she supposed it could be much worse and they could have found what did it by mistake.
Haillaurel and Miyun went hunting a few days later, struggling to find prey as they searched high and low. Apparently the cooler temperatures were making the animals curl up in their holes or stay away from the shore. Without Rustyfeather, the Clan was struggling; but Hazelstar had faith that, somehow some way, they would be able to survive.
Moon 9 | Long Night
As the nights slowly grew longer and longer, the beach no longer felt like home to Hazelstar. Rustyfeather managed to get out of her grief and take on duties again, however she fell ill after going on long hunts to find prey to bring home. With yellowcough, Rustyfeather was in the medicine den and attempting to get better again. However, she wasn't alone as Haillaurel somehow contracted the more dangerous greencough.
Sleetcrash was well prepared and was swift in caring for her Clan-mates, keeping on her paws and taking naps whenever she could to make sure her patients made it through the cold nights. Leafbare was upon them and there was nothing Hazelstar could do to help her poor Clan. The most she could do was be with Sleetcrash and help gather herbs. Even now, she was on patrol in the dark chilling night. They managed to find burdock root and cobwebs, but nothing more to help with the sickness back in camp.
Things only got worse when Miyun came back with claw wounds from the border, forcing Sleetcrash to use whatever horsetail she had to stop the bleeding. Hazelstar stayed on stand by, trying to help the best she could. All the while, Rainstripe had stayed in Darkwhisper's nest with the three older kits. Her balance was a little off from the kits in her belly, making it difficult to try and help around. She was sure it would be a small litter, she was hoping, especially now that she saw how much the Clan needed an extra pair of paws.
Hazelstar had to promise that all was well, even as she picked up a piece of prey and took it to her den. She tucked in near her nest, wanting a quick meal before resting. However, not all was as it seemed.
She didn't remember when or how, but she had opened her eyes seeing Cricketwhisper in the realm of what she had named the Sea of Stars. Her dark brown eyes wide in shock at the saddened expression on the dark gray tabby and white tom's amber eyes.
"When...?" She whispered.
He shook his head. "It's alright. Mistakes happen. There is no way you or your Clan would have known that prey was tainted."
Her vision swam, the starlit puddle beneath their paws seeming to sway before vanishing.
Hazelstar woke up in the morning, cold to the bone, and next to her nest. No cat knew she had passed. No cat knew she had lost a valuable life.
How much more can any of us take?
Moon 10 | Storm
The thick of leafbare left little to the imagination of the former sea-cats. An icy storm had struck the very night Rainstripe had her litter. Hazelstar had lent a helping paw in bringing fresh moss and keeping Darkwhisper busy with fetching a stick to help while Sleetcrash coaxed the first-time mother to breathe through her contractions and focusing on building the energy to push her kittens into the world safely.
The night wore on as three perfect little kittens were born. Darkwhisper was proud to have two litters to call his own, the older kits peeking curiously at the new tiny additions. Hazelstar blinked warmly, glad to see the little ones and looking forward to the type of cats they would grow up to be.
Bonekit was quick to ask how the kits were born, but none of the older cats were sure how to go about it. Even as they left the family be, Hazelstar couldn't fathom how to properly answer. Having kits was a trying time, even more so in the middle of leafbare. None of them had said it, but it was obvious how hard it would be. She spared a glance at the pale gray she-cat beside her as she walked her back to the medicinal den.
"I hope everyone in there are feeling better soon." She whispered, "Bonekit, Weevilkit, and Peakkit are almost full-grown. They will need to have someone show them around the territory and how to hunt."
"That is true," Sleetcrash murmured in return as she checked over her patients. "But even if they aren't feeling well enough just yet, it's alright. They have a protective mother in you to keep them safe."
Hazelstar snorted in amusement. "I would be sending one of them to help you gather herbs so they can be safe-safe."
"Perhaps, but I have never been one to shy away from any helping paws." She pointed out warmly.
"I wish Heatherstem was still with us." The elderly leader confessed. "She would have loved having her first trainee."
Sleetcrash frowned slightly, flicking her plumy tail. "I'm sure she wishes for it as well. No cat can replace her and I know in some ways she was like a daughter to you. Her spirit is in safe paws with that Cricketwhisper, right?"
"Right." She conceded, peering into the den, taking note of the coughs, snuffles, and sneezes that came out. She knew that the sickness was contagious, so much so that Miyun had to stay in her own den on the far side of camp to avoid catching it.
"Believe it or not, Hazelstar, this is the best they have sounded all moon." The healer told her warmly. "Now, go and rest. You need to think about the options to give Rainstripe for her eldest kits."
By the silver moon, there are a lot of options.
Hopefully, they will be good options next moon, should they be healthy again.
Moon 11 | Ice
As leafbare took its time to draw to a close, Hazelstar stood tall on the Slanted-deck one fine morning. She waited until every cat had a chance to sun themselves and prepare for the ceremony. With very little time to spend, she was looking forward to announcing the choices that Rainstripe had chosen. The sun's weak warmth gave her the strength she needed to begin.
"Let all cats old enough to swim and fish gather before the Slanted-deck for a Clan meeting!" She yowled as powerfully as she could.
Every cat slowly approached, Rustyfeather was wide eyed, not even a hint of the ailment she had suffered. Haillaurel was much the same, her pelt smooth and giving her a well put together appearance after her brush with greencough. Darkwhisper and Rainstripe finished grooming their eldest kits, making sure they were prepared for the ceremony while the younger siblings looked on in awe. Sleetcrash sat politely, her tail curled around her paws as her pale green eyes watched Hazelstar above her.
"It is time for a grand announcement. Rainstripe and Darkwhisper's eldest litter of kits are ready to become the first trainees we will ever celebrate having. Bonekit, Weevilkit, and Peakkit, please come forward to the center." She called out as the kits padded into place; each one trying their best to look as prim and proper as possible despite the excitement shining in their eyes.
Hazelstar went on with the ceremony. "Bonekit, until you receive your full warrior name, from this day forward you will be known as Bonepaw. Your mentor will be Rustyfeather, I entrust her to teach you everything she knows in turn."
Rustyfeather approached the young tom and touched noses with her new apprentice. "I promise to do my best and take it slow for you."
"Thank you." Bonepaw breathed, sounding almost relieved.
Hazelstar looked to the gray and white tabby next. "Weevilkit, until you receive your full warrior name, from this day forward you will be known as Weevilpaw. Your mentor shall be Haillaurel, whom I believe can teach you best."
Haillaurel blinked, surprised as she padded up to her newly made trainee and touched noses with him. "I'm not considered the bravest, but I will teach him true courage." She vowed.
"Peakkit," Hazelstar meowed, leaping down from her post. "You will be known as Peakpaw until you receive your full warrior name and I will be your mentor. I promise to train you as well as I can."
Peakpaw was wide-eyed even as the elderly leader approached and finally touched noses with her. she blinked her heather blue eyes, a fresh wave of emotion seeming to fill her to the brim. "Th...thank you..." She managed to squeak out.
"We will begin training soon, for now, let's make you and your siblings a special nest to call your own." Hazelstar began.
"We should use Heatherstem's old den." Rustyfeather suggested. "She was the first trainee we had, even if she was one back on the sea-monster. It would only be right to make some use of her den in honor of her bravery. Without her, these kits might have struggled through leaf-fall and leafbare on their own."
"I suppose we could. No one is using it and it would be easy to fashion it into a special trainee den." Hazelstar thought aloud, glancing to Haillaurel. "What do you think?"
"I think it would be perfect." She chirped. "We can get started on cleaning it out now before fetching new moss and nest materials."
"Our first time learning and it's about making a den?" Weevilpaw suddenly spoke up, his tone full of disappointment.
"Hey, it won't be the only thing. You get to see where that moss and nest materials come from." Rustyfeather pointed out gently. "So you get to actually leave camp with us and see how we managed to even have as much moss as we do. Tomorrow we can do some hunting practice and explore the territory some more."
"You promise?" He looked at Haillaurel.
His mentor nodded. "Of course. Now, let's get to work. Who knows, maybe we can practice some hunting techniques as a break."
Hazelstar purred softly seeing how the trainee's faces all lit up at the idea. She may not be as young as she would have liked, but she wasn't going to disappoint them if she could help it. Swiftly, they began their work, keeping in mind the somber air within the den. The trainee's were quick in their work and helped dispose of the old bedding, learning where to take it before venturing out for new nesting materials.
Her den will be for the trainee's from now on.
We miss her, but we honor her bravery to be something our apprentices can look up to.
I hope she won't mind at all.
It will be lively in her old den now.
And, in time like all things, the bravery that was given here will be forgotten or twisted through our tales.
I hope we all have a decent story to be shared someday.
Allegiances (as of Moon 11)
Leader: Hazelstar - long-furred light brown elderly she-cat with bronze-colored eyes
APPRENTICE: PEAKPAW
Deputy: Rainstripe - long-furred dark gray tabby she-cat with gray eyes
Healer: Sleetcrash - long-furred pale gray and white tabby she-cat with pale green eyes
Warriors:
Rustyfeather - dark ginger tabby she-cat with pale blue eyes
APPRENTICE: BONEPAW
Haillaurel - pale cream ticked tabby she-cat with hazel eyes
APPRENTICE: WEEVILPAW
Miyun - long-furred unusually spotted pale silver she-cat with warm gray eyes
Apprentices:
Bonepaw - long-furred speckled cream and white she-cat with hazel eyes
Weevilpaw - long-furred gray and white tabby tom with pale yellow eyes
Peakpaw - long-furred speckled black and white she-cat with heather blue eyes
Kits:
Slopekit - brown ticked and white she-kit
Seedkit - gray ticked and white tom-kit
Cavekit - white and black tabby tom-kit
Elders:
Darkwhisper - long-furred dark gray and white tabby tom with yellow eyes
Author's Note:
Thumb's still busted. ;v; I do my best though.
StormClan has grown by leaps and bounds all of a sudden! I love it.
Frosty = November; a time where fall slowly becomes winter and has the world covered in frost.
Long Night = December; Winter begins at last and the nights grow longer.
Storm = January; The mid-winter sun is weak and stormy weather tends to persist.
Ice = February; Winter draws to a close as spring begins to try and take root in the warming sun; sheets of ice are over the waters though.
Thank you for reading, have a fantastic morning, day, evening, or night~! - NightSky