|☾ ☼ ϟ ≈ Skyclan: The Resilient and Tough |☾ ☼ ϟ ≈ ☁| ☼

Willowkit was wandering outside camp, like she wasn't meant to be doing. The young molly was having the time of her life. At one point she heard something. Feral instincts kicked in and she leapt, wiggling her haunches in that cute but also terrifying way before a feline's pounce. She narrowed her eyes and growled as something crawly slithered from underneath her.

The she-kit stared at the thing before her, crouched and low as she prepared her next attack. The beetle flitted it's wings, but clearly they had been damaged. 'Mother' The thought went through her head and she picked up the six-legged creature, it's spiky limbs tickling and pinching her maw.

Willowkit turned, expecting to behold the sight of the camp entrance, her legs weren't tired so that meant she hadn't gone very far. But as it is, the forgetful kitten had forgotten where she was. Following her gut instinct, Willowkit went, and went, and went...and went. Farther and Farther she trudged, slowly gaining greater distance between camp. Slowly, but surely, she did.

“I never really was kicked out of any just never seemed welcome anywhere which is why I became a loner!” Pond replied. “It’s not too bad,” She paused for a second. “Just really lonely.” She sighed.

“I can imagine.” Plumwillow mumbled around the mice tails in her jaws. She tried to sound as clear as possible, unable to hide her curiosity. “Hey, did you follow the big river to get here, by any chance?” She pointed her tail in the direction of the Skyclan and Riverclan border, divided by the river that cut through the territories.

“I first followed it before straying away to explore this forest to see if it was suitable for living for a few days.” Pond meowed in reply.

Plumwillow nodded. So, her hunch had been correct. Pond was from lands far beyond what any of the Clans knew. That was why her scent was a new one for the Warrior’s nose.

“War? That’s a pretty heavy subject for kits… how about I tell you about a battle instead? It’s been a very long time since we’ve had a War to tell a story about.” Lichengaze inquired, though it was clear that a flicker of guilt filled his eyes. He had no intention of recalling Adderclan and what he had done all those moons ago. He offered. “Skyclan has had some interesting quarrels on the borders.”

“Bloodshed isn’t fun, Willowkit.” Tricklefrost mewed sternly, the queen lashing her tail. “A true Warrior never yearns for blood, and only draws it to defend their Clan. You must be careful with that line of thinking. Cats who have only cared for battle always make the greatest damage to the Clan.” She shook her head, sighing deeply.

“I have no Wars to share anyway.” Lichengaze shrugged lightly. “Though, if it’s battle training you want, you’ll learn plenty from your mentor when you become an apprentice soon. But, keeping our current peace is good, especially after the awful fire we had.”

“How much longer until we reach your leader?” Pond asked, bouncing with excitement. She couldn’t wait to possibly finally find somewhere too belong! 

"Not very," Warblerpaw answered. He'd also darted away to collect the remainder of their catch. "Though, I'm not sure if she'll be accepting visitors at the moment." He flicked an ear. Spiritstar's life was recovered, but she was still resting in the medicine den. He wasn't sure it was wise to let an outsider see her in such a state. "Has Whitesun's patrol returned?" he asked Plumwillow.

Warblerpaw flanked behind Pond, eyes trained ahead at Plumwillow. His pelt prickled uncomfortably under the scrutiny of their Clanmates' gazes.

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Emberpaw hesitated for a moment, before she slowly pulled to her paws. She stopped though, as Plumwillow and Warblerpaw seemed to be leading an unknown cat right towards them. Without hearing a noise, Spiritstar had already risen to her paws, slipping gently past Hawkpaw and Emberpaw as she stepped out of the medicine den.

“Plumwillow. Warblerpaw. Who is this?” Spiritstar asked, the silver she-cat neither stern nor gentle as she addressed the approaching group. She eyed the bird in Pond’s jaws with a hint of concern and suspicion.

Withermist was about to respond to Frostlight, only to turn his head quickly as the new cat was brought into camp. He tipped his head, rasping out. “Oh… They look… hm. Far away…” He commented to the air.

Sunnykit bounced with curiosity, though she was quickly ushered to her mother’s side alongside her siblings. Tricklefrost bristled, not risking this newcomer near her kits.

- - -

Buzzardfall mused. “A bad fire struck from the Shadowclan border many moons ago. They lost two of their Warriors, but the damage was harsh to the trees near the border. They’ve grown back of course, but the border was scorched for a long time.”

Warblerpaw dipped his head to Spiritstar.

"She calls herself Pond," he meowed. "We found her near the border of RiverClan and ThunderClan; she caught this prey on our territory."

He flicked his tail to usher the loner forward to speak for herself.

“Because they have so many legs!” Lichengaze explained with a rusty purr, though his eyes shot over to the medicine den, where cats were beginning to gather to warily see the strange cat that was brought in.

Spiritstar listened to Warblerpaw as he spoke, turning to look at Pond and the bird with the faintest hint of bewilderment. She remained quiet, though it was quickly flooded with whispers, some cats seeming to be impressed, others prickling with anger that a loner had been hunting on Skyclan territory.

Spiritstar stood to her paws and eyed the bird. She supposed that it was quite an offering, if this loner had been willing to leave the prey without a fight. She had a feeling her son would have had a good reason to allow Plumwillow to extend a possible opportunity for the loner. She carefully inspected Pond, before she mewed simply. “Had you nothing to show for it, I would not be keen to consider it. Not because I spite you, but because our Clan is already at a capacity where more mouthes to feed would be a danger to us.”

“Spiritstar…” Redspring urged, looking cowed, before Spiritstar lifted her tail to gently silence the stern she-cat. Redspring obeyed, stepping back but looking at Pond with sharp eyes.

“You seek refuge. But Skyclan will not be a rest stop for wandering cats. If you stay, then you would stay indefinitely. If your hunting is already trained, then you save us alot of time and energy needed to teach you. We have already had a loner wisely return to their home in Twolegplace… but I have a feeling this may be different. Clan life is demanding, when you become a Skyclan cat, you serve your clan with your life. There will be dangers here beyond your belief. There is no shame in not staying, but the only chances I offer are in full, not in part.”

Spiritstar looked at Warblerpaw and Plumwillow then. “Do you believe Pond, when she says she caught this bird? Do you believe she could be aid to Skyclan instead of a hinderance?” She tested, wanting to see Warblerpaw’s resolve even though her mind was already made up.

Warblerpaw lifted his voice so all the gathered cats could hear him, aware of the expectations of a leader's son.

"I do believe she caught this bird. The scent was fresh when we found her," he said evenly. "This cat does not seem to be a threat, but she has joined and left other groups in the past, if what she says is to be believed."

He shifted his paws before continuing, aware that though Spiritstar was his mother, he was an apprentice speaking to a leader, as well.

"If I may," he said, dipping his head in a show of respect. "I propose that, if she is to become a Clan cat, she should have to prove her worth, first."