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Post by thistle on Apr 2, 2024 19:12:35 GMT -5
"And if I'm not helping Snowdance! I'm still in trouble..." Fuzzypaw added, chuckling awkwardly. "I like you too! So, we're friends, then? Yay!" She gave a little bounce of happiness. She cast her eyes around the clearing, checking the sky. It didn't seem like it would rain again soon. "Should we start on the nursery? Or maybe we shouldn't disturb Cherryvine and the other queens..."
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Post by Willow on Apr 2, 2024 19:17:41 GMT -5
Featherkit listened intently, her ears pricked as she focused on Hazelblaze. Cool...She blinked wide green eyes as Pearlkit answered, snuggling further against Mistkit as they listened. "Shadowstar was the first leader to go to Starclan though right? She caused a lot of fighting." Mistkit mewed softly. Hazelblaze hummed in agreement, "That's true, but in the early days the clans didn't have the warrior code or the mutual respect the clans have for each other now. Some cats were out to get Shadowstar and in the end, a cat named Quickwater killed her while Shadowstar was trying to kill Quickwater. They both went to Starclan that day."
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Post by thistle on Apr 2, 2024 19:30:52 GMT -5
Featherkit shrank back against Mistkit, burying her nose in her sister's fur.
"That's scary!" she said, muffled by fur. "That doesn't happen anymore?"
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Post by Willow on Apr 2, 2024 20:14:29 GMT -5
Hazelblaze shook her head, running her tail soothingly over Featherkit, "No, not nearly as much anymore. The warrior code binds us all to much more honorable fighting."
Mistkit nudged Featherkit, "Mama promised to keep us safe, nothing will happen to us."
Pearlkit giggled, "My papa promised the same thing."
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Post by Moonblazer on Apr 2, 2024 20:36:32 GMT -5
"And if I'm not helping Snowdance! I'm still in trouble..." Fuzzypaw added, chuckling awkwardly. "I like you too! So, we're friends, then? Yay!" She gave a little bounce of happiness. She cast her eyes around the clearing, checking the sky. It didn't seem like it would rain again soon. "Should we start on the nursery? Or maybe we shouldn't disturb Cherryvine and the other queens..." “Yeah… Longpaw and I are still in trouble too, we can’t go out of camp much yet still. Punishment buddies!” Lightpaw giggled, before she seemed to tense up. “I don’t mind. I don’t want to see those prey-maulers ever again…” She murmured, before shuffling the terrifying memory away. “I bet we can do the nursery fast enough so the kits don’t get bothered.”
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Post by thistle on Apr 2, 2024 21:06:11 GMT -5
Hazelblaze shook her head, running her tail soothingly over Featherkit, "No, not nearly as much anymore. The warrior code binds us all to much more honorable fighting." Mistkit nudged Featherkit, "Mama promised to keep us safe, nothing will happen to us." Pearlkit giggled, "My papa promised the same thing." Featherkit let out a small breath, feeling glad of the warrior code that bound the Clans together. "Y-yeah! All the warriors will keep us safe until we can help too, mama and papa said so!" she said, unaware of the news that hung over the Clan like a dark cloud.
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Post by thistle on Apr 2, 2024 21:15:28 GMT -5
"And if I'm not helping Snowdance! I'm still in trouble..." Fuzzypaw added, chuckling awkwardly. "I like you too! So, we're friends, then? Yay!" She gave a little bounce of happiness. She cast her eyes around the clearing, checking the sky. It didn't seem like it would rain again soon. "Should we start on the nursery? Or maybe we shouldn't disturb Cherryvine and the other queens..." “Yeah… Longpaw and I are still in trouble too, we can’t go out of camp much yet still. Punishment buddies!” Lightpaw giggled, before she seemed to tense up. “I don’t mind. I don’t want to see those prey-maulers ever again…” She murmured, before shuffling the terrifying memory away. “I bet we can do the nursery fast enough so the kits don’t get bothered.” "Punishment buddies!" Fuzzypaw agreed. Sensing Lightpaw's hesitance at the thought of the prey-maulers, Fuzzypaw brushed her tail comfortingly along the other apprentice's flank. "I hope none of us have to; we didn't see them when we brought back Cliffheart, but we saw what they could do..." She shook herself briskly, her curly coat dirty and unkempt from the rain and flood. "Right! The nursery! Hazelblaze has got Mistkit, Featherkit, and Pearlkit distracted, so at least some of the bigger kits are out of the way." She began to trot over to the nursery. "Maybe we can even have some of Cherryvine's other kits help." Fuzzypaw wondered if it would be helpful to distract the kits and give the queen some peace and quiet.
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Post by Willow on Apr 2, 2024 21:34:41 GMT -5
Mistkit frowned, she had heard what Cherryvine had said, their Papa was gone. "Stormfury's not coming back Featherkit."
Hazelblaze went silent at Mistkit's blunt statement, she looked to Featherkit unsure of how the quiet she-kit would react.
Pearlkit looked down at her paws, she would miss the tom. She liked watching him play with his kits outside the nursery. She could tell he had loved them as much as her Papa loved her.
~~
Cherryvine was slouched over in her soggy nest, her voice hitching every once in a while as she tried to hide her quiet cries. She would never see her mate again.
Pinekit and Hailkit were curled up on her back, the only way for her to keep them off the damp moss. They were pressed together sleeping fitfully, trying to pretend they couldn't hear their mother crying.
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Post by Moonblazer on Apr 3, 2024 18:16:06 GMT -5
“Yeah… Longpaw and I are still in trouble too, we can’t go out of camp much yet still. Punishment buddies!” Lightpaw giggled, before she seemed to tense up. “I don’t mind. I don’t want to see those prey-maulers ever again…” She murmured, before shuffling the terrifying memory away. “I bet we can do the nursery fast enough so the kits don’t get bothered.” "Punishment buddies!" Fuzzypaw agreed. Sensing Lightpaw's hesitance at the thought of the prey-maulers, Fuzzypaw brushed her tail comfortingly along the other apprentice's flank. "I hope none of us have to; we didn't see them when we brought back Cliffheart, but we saw what they could do..." She shook herself briskly, her curly coat dirty and unkempt from the rain and flood. "Right! The nursery! Hazelblaze has got Mistkit, Featherkit, and Pearlkit distracted, so at least some of the bigger kits are out of the way." She began to trot over to the nursery. "Maybe we can even have some of Cherryvine's other kits help." Fuzzypaw wondered if it would be helpful to distract the kits and give the queen some peace and quiet. "They say that Palepaw's injured because of them..." Lightpaw murmured, having overheard some worried chatters earlier. "Why can't they just leave us alone? They don't go hunting in the other Clans, why Shadowclan?" Lightpaw mumbled with a hint of bitterness.
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Post by Moonblazer on Apr 3, 2024 18:20:09 GMT -5
Mistkit frowned, she had heard what Cherryvine had said, their Papa was gone. "Stormfury's not coming back Featherkit." Hazelblaze went silent at Mistkit's blunt statement, she looked to Featherkit unsure of how the quiet she-kit would react. Pearlkit looked down at her paws, she would miss the tom. She liked watching him play with his kits outside the nursery. She could tell he had loved them as much as her Papa loved her. ~~ Cherryvine was slouched over in her soggy nest, her voice hitching every once in a while as she tried to hide her quiet cries. She would never see her mate again. Pinekit and Hailkit were curled up on her back, the only way for her to keep them off the damp moss. They were pressed together sleeping fitfully, trying to pretend they couldn't hear their mother crying. "What do you mean Stormfury's not coming back?" Flowerkit had heard Mistkit's words from his spot hiding under Songbreeze's tail, his eyes wide and upset at Mistkit's implications. The gentle little tom sniffled. "He has to come back, h-he promised he'd show us a crow feather last time!" He seemed distraught. Grovekit was quick to nudge at her brother's side, the wise yet gruff she-kit shaking her head sharply. "Mistkit's right. If Starclan's already taken him... then he can't come back." She explained simply, watching her brother's miserable sniffles with a softened look.
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Post by thistle on Apr 3, 2024 18:38:56 GMT -5
Featherkit blinked at Mistkit, confusion clouding her gaze. "Grovekit said StarClan...but that's where dead cats go, right?" she asked, her heart speeding up in her chest. "Is our father dead?"
---
Fuzzypaw stopped her trot, her fur spiking in untidy clumps as she felt a wave of uncharacteristic anger. "I don't know," she said, her voice edged with despair. "But if I ever meet one, I'll fight it! I won't let it hurt any other cats, not like Cliffheart when...!" Fuzzypaw stopped to steady herself with a breath. Despairing wouldn't help now. She forced a bright smile. "Whatever their reason, ShadowClan will be okay! That's what I believe!"
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Post by Foxstar26 on Apr 3, 2024 18:40:44 GMT -5
Hey)
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Post by Icefire15 on Apr 3, 2024 18:43:25 GMT -5
meep)
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Post by Moonblazer on Apr 3, 2024 18:45:17 GMT -5
Featherkit blinked at Mistkit, confusion clouding her gaze. "Grovekit said StarClan...but that's where dead cats go, right?" she asked, her heart speeding up in her chest. "Is our father dead?" --- Fuzzypaw stopped her trot, her fur spiking in untidy clumps as she felt a wave of uncharacteristic anger. "I don't know," she said, her voice edged with despair. "But if I ever meet one, I'll fight it! I won't let it hurt any other cats, not like Cliffheart when...!" Fuzzypaw stopped to steady herself with a breath. Despairing wouldn't help now. She forced a bright smile. "Whatever their reason, ShadowClan will be okay! That's what I believe!" “Well… if you believe it, then so will I.” Lightpaw decided. “Let’s go get the nursery moss before it gets everyone’s fur all soggy.” She decided, not wanting to talk or think about the prey-maulers right now.
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Post by Willow on Apr 4, 2024 21:36:20 GMT -5
Hey Ice, Spottedpaw just walked into the medicine cat den with a bunch of herbs the apprentices saved, he asked if any of them would be helpful for Palepaw )
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Post by Willow on Apr 4, 2024 21:39:50 GMT -5
Mistkit gave a barely perceptible nod toward Featherkit. "I was with Mama when Cardinalblaze told her. The flood carried him away."
Hazelblaze took a deep breath, looking between the kits with sorrow. "Stormfury was very brave and saved Raccoonmask from the water. In the end though, it swept him away and he is in Starclan now. He will be able to watch over you now though, don't forget. I know you will all miss him, but he's still here looking out for you."
Pearlkit nodded, "My Mama is in Starclan, that's why Songbreeze helped raise me with my Papa. My Papa tells me stories about Mama so we can keep her spirit alive until I get to meet her one day when I go to Starclan too."
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Post by Moonblazer on Apr 8, 2024 10:06:10 GMT -5
Mistkit gave a barely perceptible nod toward Featherkit. "I was with Mama when Cardinalblaze told her. The flood carried him away." Hazelblaze took a deep breath, looking between the kits with sorrow. "Stormfury was very brave and saved Raccoonmask from the water. In the end though, it swept him away and he is in Starclan now. He will be able to watch over you now though, don't forget. I know you will all miss him, but he's still here looking out for you." Pearlkit nodded, "My Mama is in Starclan, that's why Songbreeze helped raise me with my Papa. My Papa tells me stories about Mama so we can keep her spirit alive until I get to meet her one day when I go to Starclan too." “Our mama and papa are both in Starclan. I don’t remember them at all… but I guess we’ll see them one day, up there.” Grovekit mumbled with a shrug, wanting to act tough about it even though inwardly she felt a flicker of emotion she couldn’t yet describe. Flowerkit always cared more about the parents they never knew than she did. “Songbreeze and Lionscorch take care of us, but Eaglesight does too. Cause he’s our uncle.” She explained. “So, I guess you’ll see Stormfury up there again too. Just gotta wait, I think.” Grovekit tried her best to console.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Apr 9, 2024 8:12:24 GMT -5
Ratmask smirked at the fond memory Lynxdapple mentioned. It had been a long time since he and Leaffrost did a prank like that. "Perhaps I'll talk to Rustlepaw about it if Cedarstar doesn't have an answer for us. Her observations of him could give us a hint to how Cedarstar is training her so well." Houndthroat let go of the bramble when it finally came free. He looked back at Lilywhisper in surprise, not expecting her to roll back so hard. "Are you alright?" Lynxdapple paused before he gave a long sigh. “Starclan, I’m getting old or I’m getting dumb if I didn’t think of just asking Rustlepaw how Cedarstar goes about her training.” He shook his head with a snort of laughter as he finished the section of the new wall. “Luckily, I can still weave a den, age or intelligence not required for that one.” Lilywhisper pulled to her paws, pushing her embarrassment down as she huffed. “Yes, yes, I’m fine. Just… a little muddy, now.” She grumbled, having landed right in a muddy puddle during her tumble. She looked like a tiny silver rat with her fur now darkened. Ratmask chuckled. "Don't worry, Lynxdapple. I won't tell anyone you're slipping in your old age." He took a step back from the wall and nodded to it. "I'd say it looks pretty good." Houndthroat used his tail to try and flick some of the mud chunks off of her. "Well, get used to it. Until it dries up, we're all going to be a little muddy."
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Apr 9, 2024 8:19:14 GMT -5
Littlemoon blinked and looked back at Mouseclaw with a guilty look. "I'm afraid I don't. I stayed clear of the medicine den when I was younger. I didn't want anyone to get the idea that I should be a medicine cat just because I'm quiet." She looked ahead, scanning as they ran for any stalk of horsetail. "All we can do is get what Snowdance wants now." Whorlpaw bent down to look under a bush where it was kind of dry. "It doesn't seem like they made it since they're back here. StarClan, Palepaw fought the prey maulers? I thought we would only ever see them on our territory. Not at a place like the Moonstone." Mouseclaw flicked his tail, "No need to be sorry, I don't know either. I just thought it would be worth an ask. I never know who has medicine cat knowledge anymore." he mewed with an amused snort. His eyes snapped to the left as he noticed something that looked vaguely like Littlemoon had described. There was only a stalk or two left on the withering plant. "Is this it?" "You'd think Starclan could find a way to protect it." Duskpaw mewed, her voice much more solemn than it usually was. "I'm starting to think they're not as powerful as some cats say they are." Littlemoon twitched her whiskers. "We seem to have a lot of cats with some sort of medical knowledge, don't we?" She followed Mouseclaw over to the plant and nodded. "Yes, that's it. I wonder if there's anymore around." She looked off, hoping that this plant was mature enough to send its seeds nearby. Whorlpaw looked sadly at her sister. "Remember the stories everyone told about AdderClan? They said the Dark Forest took over the Moonstone for a time. That's what led to the ShadowClan/WindClan alliance back then, before father was born."
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Apr 9, 2024 8:24:08 GMT -5
(No biggie!) Cedarstar flicked his ear twice. He hoped Starrylight was right and he stayed put to show his belief in her words. "Duskpaw and Whorlpaw," he muttered softly. "First they find Cliffheart and now they see their brother like this." He lifted his paw to rub the missing tip of his left ear. "I hope they don't think I can't protect them." "They think the world of you. You got Palepaw back here as soon as you could." Starrylight replied firmly. "These things that have been happening lately, they're out of your control. Would you blame Northstar for the fire or the flood? Or Falcontalon if he had become leader? How about the new enemy that appears now to be gearing up to attack not only us but maybe every clan." Cedarstar let out a long sigh. "You're right, of course. There's just so much going on. I'm struggling to handle it all. The last thing I wanted was for something to happen to you and our kits." He pressed against Starrylight and brushed his tail against her swollen belly. "How can I keep our second litter safe if I can't even keep our first litter safe? The timing for everything is..." He trailed off with a shake of his head.
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Post by Moonblazer on Apr 9, 2024 8:26:34 GMT -5
Lynxdapple paused before he gave a long sigh. “Starclan, I’m getting old or I’m getting dumb if I didn’t think of just asking Rustlepaw how Cedarstar goes about her training.” He shook his head with a snort of laughter as he finished the section of the new wall. “Luckily, I can still weave a den, age or intelligence not required for that one.” Lilywhisper pulled to her paws, pushing her embarrassment down as she huffed. “Yes, yes, I’m fine. Just… a little muddy, now.” She grumbled, having landed right in a muddy puddle during her tumble. She looked like a tiny silver rat with her fur now darkened. Ratmask chuckled. "Don't worry, Lynxdapple. I won't tell anyone you're slipping in your old age." He took a step back from the wall and nodded to it. "I'd say it looks pretty good." Houndthroat used his tail to try and flick some of the mud chunks off of her. "Well, get used to it. Until it dries up, we're all going to be a little muddy." “How kind of you.” Lynxdapple snorted, eyes flashing with mischief before he nodded at the den. “Yep. Looks about as good as I hoped. If I get another branch, I can expand the nursery entirely. We’ll need it, with Snakesong having five kits to add to the pile, and with Starrylight expecting any day now.” He mused. Lilywhisper rolled her eyes, though she did not push his tail away. Rather, she appreciated his assistance, or perhaps, his closeness. Even if she was in a rather sour mood, she knew it could have been much worse. “Thanks. For the help.”
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Apr 9, 2024 8:58:01 GMT -5
Ratmask took a deep breath and looked around the camp. "Seems like a lot of queens are expecting now. I don't know how we're going to keep up with prey after everything that's happened. We'll likely need more vulture hunters in the clan."
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Apr 9, 2024 8:58:59 GMT -5
Houndthroat mildly shrugged. "You were helping me first, it's only fair I return the favor." He frowned at how deep the mud went into her side. "We might need to find you a clear puddle to wash off in."
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Post by Moonblazer on Apr 9, 2024 9:51:31 GMT -5
“We’ve done it before. I know we can find a way.” Lynxdapple mewed confidently. He glanced at Ratmask. “I was there when my brother thought of the process to catch vultures. He started on birds in Carrionplace, tucking into the Carrionpiles to wait while he used crowfood to bait them in. I thought it was dreadfully boring, and a waste of time at first, but I was proven wrong when I watched that big crow come down. For such a cold leafbare, seeing that prey was like seeing Starclan itself.” Lynxdapple recalled his younger moons with his brother fondly.
“You of all cats should know that if we can’t use our claws to solve a problem, we use this instead.” Lynxdapple lifted a paw to point at Ratmask’s head, indicating his brain.
Lilywhisper wanted to bluntly tell him that she didn’t care much for favors, but his offer to find a clean puddle to clean in was a good one. She nodded once. “Sure. You could use it too. So I’ll be nice and share it when we find one.”
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Post by thistle on Apr 9, 2024 18:14:00 GMT -5
Featherkit's heart seemed to slow back down as the realization set in. Stormfury really was dead, and she wouldn't be seeing him again. Her green eyes glistened with emotion, but seeing Mistkit, Pearlkit, and Grovekit being brave made her feel like she had to be brave, too. "Oh," she said quietly. "A-all right."
Then again, Flowerkit was showing his sadness out loud, so maybe that was okay, too. "I'll really miss him," she said in a little voice.
--
Fuzzypaw perked up again. "Right!" she said brightly. "Those mangy prey-maulers aren't here now, so let's focus on what we can do!"
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Post by Moonblazer on Apr 9, 2024 18:33:14 GMT -5
Flowerkit looked sadly at Featherkit, the brown and white tom ducking closer to Songbreeze as he murmured miserably. “Snowdance has dreams. Do you think she’ll have a dream of him?”
Lightpaw followed after Fuzzypaw with a skip in her step as she nodded. “Sounds right! Hey, so. What’s with you and Spottedpaw? You guys do like, everything together!”
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Post by thistle on Apr 9, 2024 20:06:59 GMT -5
"Oh, Spottedpaw's my best friend!" Fuzzypaw said without missing a beat. She quickly dipped her head to Hazelblaze and the kits outside the nursery, noticing their downcast expressions but deciding it wasn't the right moment to butt in. She ducked into the tangle of thorns and drug out lumps of dirty and soaked moss to start drying.
"We started training right around the same time, even though I think I'm a little older than him. I'm not actually totally sure how old I am, since I can't remember!" she laughed, unbothered as she began to squeeze a ball of moss. "He really made me feel like I belonged in ShadowClan, even though I didn't know who I was or where I came from or any of that stuff."
"Ah, I'm chattering like a starling again! Sorry, your ears will probably drop off by the time I finally move to warriors' den," she added bashfully.
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Post by Willow on Apr 10, 2024 21:11:32 GMT -5
Mistkit's ears perked slightly at the mention of Snowdance, "I wanna be Snowdance's apprentice. Maybe I'll get to see Papa in my dreams again some day." she mewed hopefully, "I'll miss him too Featherkit. Lots and lots."
Hazelblaze held her nieces close, the pain of the losses settling down on her shoulders. "You'll miss him forever, and that's okay. I miss Redspark and Mosspaw every day, but I know they're in Starclan watching over me and our clan and that makes me feel better. You might get to see Stormfury again in your dreams Mistkit if you do become Snowdance's apprentice. Starclan speaks directly to medicine cats and leaders."
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Post by Willow on Apr 10, 2024 21:15:42 GMT -5
Mouseclaw flicked his tail, "No need to be sorry, I don't know either. I just thought it would be worth an ask. I never know who has medicine cat knowledge anymore." he mewed with an amused snort. His eyes snapped to the left as he noticed something that looked vaguely like Littlemoon had described. There was only a stalk or two left on the withering plant. "Is this it?" "You'd think Starclan could find a way to protect it." Duskpaw mewed, her voice much more solemn than it usually was. "I'm starting to think they're not as powerful as some cats say they are." Littlemoon twitched her whiskers. "We seem to have a lot of cats with some sort of medical knowledge, don't we?" She followed Mouseclaw over to the plant and nodded. "Yes, that's it. I wonder if there's anymore around." She looked off, hoping that this plant was mature enough to send its seeds nearby. Whorlpaw looked sadly at her sister. "Remember the stories everyone told about AdderClan? They said the Dark Forest took over the Moonstone for a time. That's what led to the ShadowClan/WindClan alliance back then, before father was born." "We could have had another too." Mouseclaw murmured quietly, flashing back to Cedarstar's rash banishment of Opalmist. He shook his head, glancing around for more of the plant. "No other plants are jumping out at me. We should hurry back though, we're going to have to just take what we can from this plant." "Do you ever think an alliance like that could happen again? From the prey-maulers or something else? I can't imagine living with the other clans somewhere that wasn't our camp." Duskpaw mused, eyes lighting up as she found a small swath of cobwebs.
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Post by Willow on Apr 10, 2024 21:38:24 GMT -5
"They think the world of you. You got Palepaw back here as soon as you could." Starrylight replied firmly. "These things that have been happening lately, they're out of your control. Would you blame Northstar for the fire or the flood? Or Falcontalon if he had become leader? How about the new enemy that appears now to be gearing up to attack not only us but maybe every clan." Cedarstar let out a long sigh. "You're right, of course. There's just so much going on. I'm struggling to handle it all. The last thing I wanted was for something to happen to you and our kits." He pressed against Starrylight and brushed his tail against her swollen belly. "How can I keep our second litter safe if I can't even keep our first litter safe? The timing for everything is..." He trailed off with a shake of his head. "Protecting our kits is a clan-wide task. It's part of our warrior code. I would lay down my life for any of our clanmate's kits and I know they'd do the same for us." Starrylight murmured gently. "I know this isn't ideal timing, but we can't go back now. We can only do our best to keep all of our kits safe with the help of each other and our clanmates. "
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