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Post by Moonblazer on Aug 14, 2023 8:08:12 GMT -5
Pondpaw let out a small purr. She liked Dreamlily already. “I’m sure he’ll teach me well.” Pondpaw looked out at the forest. She could feel the rocks under her paws as she walked forward. Being there in the quite reminded her of being a loner except this time she wasn’t alone. Pondpaw smiled. Even though she missed the quiet nights and freedom she had as a loner, she knew that she would never regret her choice. “The first thing you should know is that Skyclan isn’t the only Clan. If you came from the direction of the river, then if you had crossed to the other side, you would have been in Riverclan. They hunt fish, and like to swim. Skyclan prefers being on cliffs, or in the trees. Do you know how to climb a tree? The largest tree we have is Skystar’s Tree, or, Sky Oak. They’re the same thing.” Dreamlily explained as she padded through the beginnings of the thick oak forest.
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Post by []̷ 𝓜𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓼𝓽 []̷ on Aug 14, 2023 9:14:31 GMT -5
“Riverclan…” Pondpaw repeated, trying to memorize it. “Swims and fishes…Oh year I can climb! I love climbing! I love being in the trees in general!” She said. “Also, are Skyclan and Riverclan the only clans? Or are there more.” Pondpaw wondered.
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Post by Moonblazer on Aug 14, 2023 9:32:36 GMT -5
“Riverclan…” Pondpaw repeated, trying to memorize it. “Swims and fishes…Oh year I can climb! I love climbing! I love being in the trees in general!” She said. “Also, are Skyclan and Riverclan the only clans? Or are there more.” Pondpaw wondered. “You’ll fit in just fine then.” Dreamlily assured, before she continued. “There are five Clans. Skyclan, Riverclan, Shadowclan, Thunderclan, and Windclan. We border every other clan except Windclan. Thunderclan hunts on the forest floor and is mostly undergrowth, while Shadowclan is active at night, and hunts in marshes and pine groves. Windclan hunts rabbits on the open moorlands, and Skyclan, us, we hunt mostly in the trees or amongst the rocks.”
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Post by []̷ 𝓜𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓼𝓽 []̷ on Aug 14, 2023 9:35:51 GMT -5
“FIVE?!” Pondpaw said, suprised. “Wow, that’s a lot more than I expected! So are you all friends? Do you guys work together when it’s winter?”
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Post by Moonblazer on Aug 14, 2023 10:05:43 GMT -5
“FIVE?!” Pondpaw said, suprised. “Wow, that’s a lot more than I expected! So are you all friends? Do you guys work together when it’s winter?” “Ah…” Dreamlily hesitated for a moment. “It’s very complicated. We are civil at the gatherings every full moon, but each Clan protects its territory, and Warriors are loyal to their Clan above all else. Sometimes that means we must… fight, to defend our territory. I only hope you won’t have to experience that soon, but it’s usually inevitable.” She admitted softly, not one to enjoy fighting. “Right now, we are pretty close with Thunderclan, and are working together to get extra prey from Twolegplace, and exchanging herbs too. But the other Clans, we are neutral with right now.”
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Post by []̷ 𝓜𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓼𝓽 []̷ on Aug 14, 2023 10:11:06 GMT -5
“Defending territory huh.” Pondpaw murmured. “That’s why I have to learn how to fight. I was wondering why I had to. I assumed it was for fending off foxes and housefolk if they bothered us.” She continued. “Is there anything else important I should know?”
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Post by Moonblazer on Aug 14, 2023 10:16:34 GMT -5
“Defending territory huh.” Pondpaw murmured. “That’s why I have to learn how to fight. I was wondering why I had to. I assumed it was for fending off foxes and housefolk if they bothered us.” She continued. “Is there anything else important I should know?” “That’s a part of the reason. Foxes are alot more common than twolegs out here, though.” Dreamlily nodded, before she approached the Sky Oak, towering high above them and reaching out into the sky. She looked up and mewed. “This is the tree you’ll climb to earn your name, when the time comes. Every apprentice usually has that as part of their assessment. Soon, Warblerpaw, Coldpaw, Fallpaw, Firepaw, and Sunpaw will have to climb it fully.”
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Post by []̷ 𝓜𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓼𝓽 []̷ on Aug 14, 2023 10:25:00 GMT -5
Pondpaw gazed up at the tip of the Sky Oak above her. “That’s taller then I expected.” She paused for a moment before crouching down. “But nothing I can’t handle.”
Pondpaw pushed forward on her hind legs and stretched her paws out onto the tree bark. She dug her claws into the wood before thrusting herself up once again and made her way up the tree. Pondpaw swiftly climbed onto a branch nearby before looking down to face Dreamlily.
“How’d I do?” Pondpaw called from above.
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Post by Moonblazer on Aug 14, 2023 10:29:59 GMT -5
Dreamlily, whether by concern or interest, moved to climb up the tree after her, scaling up the branch Pondpaw was on before she nodded. “Well, you weren’t lying. You do know how to climb. That makes Mudwasp’s job even easier.” She teased, before she looked down across the darkened territory and admitted. “I always am amazed how lucky I am, to get to call this place my home. It means so much to me, to all of us, really.”
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Post by []̷ 𝓜𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓼𝓽 []̷ on Aug 14, 2023 10:35:36 GMT -5
“And one day it’ll mean a lot to me as well.” Pondpaw murmured. “It already does!” She relaxed and settled down on the branch. “This is the place that I’ve ever felt most home at. And I hope to serve it and the cats that created this home well.” Pondpaw glanced at Dreamlily, happy that she found another friend.
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Post by Moonblazer on Aug 14, 2023 10:42:34 GMT -5
“And one day it’ll mean a lot to me as well.” Pondpaw murmured. “It already does!” She relaxed and settled down on the branch. “This is the place that I’ve ever felt most home at. And I hope to serve it and the cats that created this home well.” Pondpaw glanced at Dreamlily, happy that she found another friend. Dreamlily looked at her for a moment before she gave a look of understanding. “You must have been on your own for a long time. I’m only sorry that it took this long for you to find a place that let you in. You seem like such a good and helpful cat. Sometimes Starclan leads the right cats to us, along the right path.” She admitted kindly, before she looked up at the few stars between the gaps of the leaves towering above. “We could have lost our home in that awful fire a few moons ago. I’m very happy you didn’t have to see that. It’s why some of the trees are blackened or fallen. You’ll see them near the Shadowclan border.”
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Post by []̷ 𝓜𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓼𝓽 []̷ on Aug 14, 2023 10:48:25 GMT -5
“Oh. That’s unfortunate.” Pondpaw commented. “I’m sorry about that. And you’re right, I am glad I didn’t see that.”
Pondpaw looked at her paws then looked up at the stars again. “What’d ya say we head back now? I bet you’re tired. I know I am.” She said with a yawn.
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Post by Moonblazer on Aug 14, 2023 11:01:14 GMT -5
“Oh. That’s unfortunate.” Pondpaw commented. “I’m sorry about that. And you’re right, I am glad I didn’t see that.” Pondpaw looked at her paws then looked up at the stars again. “What’d ya say we head back now? I bet you’re tired. I know I am.” She said with a yawn. “Ah, if you’d like to.” Dreamlily nodded softly, moving to scale back down the tree and landing on her paws. Her voice was soft with laughter as she asked. “Plumwillow said Warblerpaw leaped right down on you when they found you. Is it true?”
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Post by []̷ 𝓜𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓼𝓽 []̷ on Aug 14, 2023 19:02:47 GMT -5
Pondpaw followed Dreamlily to the ground. “Yep. That’s true.” She replied. “I guess I’m not the best when it comes to defense.” She said with a shrug. “I’ll learn soon enough.”
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Post by Moonblazer on Aug 14, 2023 19:22:10 GMT -5
"Warblerpaw seemed to warm up to you quickly, though." Dreamlily purred, before she admitted after a moment. "You know, one of the reasons Spiritstar probably allowed you to join so easily is because Warblerpaw vouched for you. Warblerpaw is her only kit, her and Slateheart's." She admitted. ""But... don't bring it up too much. I have a feeling that Warblerpaw wouldn't be fond of being known only for who his mother is." She flicked her tail gently, the deep secret of her own mother swirling in her mind. She could never tell anyone, and she planned to keep it that way. She was happy here, with her father, even if her mother could never claim her and her siblings. A medicine cat, and one in Shadowclan? It went beyond the typical cross-clan secret relationships.
She shook the thought away, smiling once more as she admitted. "I see the kits took a quick liking to you."
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Post by []̷ 𝓜𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓼𝓽 []̷ on Aug 14, 2023 19:26:18 GMT -5
“Willowkit and Sunnykit? Oh they’re so sweet.” Pondpaw meowed. “I was suprised at first at how quickly they wanted to befriend me but then I learned that Willowkit is just like me and it all made sense.”
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Post by Moonblazer on Aug 14, 2023 19:42:19 GMT -5
“Willowkit and Sunnykit? Oh they’re so sweet.” Pondpaw meowed. “I was suprised at first at how quickly they wanted to befriend me but then I learned that Willowkit is just like me and it all made sense.” "There's quite a few like you in Skyclan." Dreamlily admitted. "Jadefeather apparently appeared to the Clan in a similar manner as you many moons ago, apprentice aged and determined to start her life over from whatever she had been through in Twolegplace. Even now, she never talks about her time there. Silvercloud, one of our most respected Warriors, was once a kittypet, but her friendship with Spiritstar over her own youth earned her trust. Lilith never changed her name, but provided Skyclan with Spectorswirl and Bloodrime, and... well, Lilith keeps to herself, but she will tell a rare tale or two. Cometblaze is from Thunderclan, and he joined Skyclan to be with his mate, Spotteddawn. It was hard, and they had broken the code, but they had mended it by him choosing a side." Dreamlily explained as they walked, recalling each story of her older clanmates. "Wildstorm was left on Skyclan territory as a kit, and was raised here. Withermist appeared out of nowhere on the territory as an older kit as well. According to the older Warriors, there wasn't even a scent trail of his own scent or anyone else's near him. As if he just appeared from thin air! I'm guessing he may have been dropped from a falcon or hawk, but. Who knows." She shrugged. "All that matters, is that you aren't alone, and if they all can become Skyclan Warriors, than so can you." She decided.
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Post by []̷ 𝓜𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓼𝓽 []̷ on Aug 14, 2023 19:56:45 GMT -5
Pondpaw’s heart lifted. If so many other like her can gain respect, then so can she! “Thanks for telling me! That was a good motivation boost!” Pondpaw looked forward and kept on trotting. Soon enough the entrance to camp was in sight. She walked into camp, giving a quiet greeting to the guards before facing Dreamlily again.
“Thanks for going on a walk with me!” Pondpaw said. “It was nice to get to know you and the territory and clans.”
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Post by Willow on Aug 14, 2023 20:16:59 GMT -5
Briarpatch looked down at their son, eyes immediately locking onto the small stump where his leg should have been. She let out a sigh, immediately blaming herself for this. She knew she shouldn't have continued to do so much. She closed her eyes taking a deep breath. "Okay, I'm focused now." she murmured. After several moments, another contraction camp and she pushed again. The third ginger kit, a tom, was born. Spiderbite flattened his ears. He couldn't help baring his teeth. "Are you sure you don't want to have another tantrum, pity party before you birth your last kit, Briarpatch? For StarClan's sake, FOCUS!" He nipped open the sack of the ginger kit and began warming it up. Briarpatch huffed, glaring at the medicine cat. "This isn't exactly how I thought it would go Spiderbite. Couldn't hurt you to be a bit nicer." In her moment of peace, she leaned against Flarestorm, comforted by his presence. It wasn't long though before the contracts started to intensify again and finally the last kit was born.
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Post by Moonblazer on Aug 14, 2023 20:33:11 GMT -5
Pondpaw’s heart lifted. If so many other like her can gain respect, then so can she! “Thanks for telling me! That was a good motivation boost!” Pondpaw looked forward and kept on trotting. Soon enough the entrance to camp was in sight. She walked into camp, giving a quiet greeting to the guards before facing Dreamlily again. “Thanks for going on a walk with me!” Pondpaw said. “It was nice to get to know you and the territory and clans.” “Thank you for listening.” Dreamlily responded with a small smile, gentle and kind, before she waved her tail and slipped towards the Warrior’s den.
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Post by Moonblazer on Aug 14, 2023 20:34:59 GMT -5
Spiderbite flattened his ears. He couldn't help baring his teeth. "Are you sure you don't want to have another tantrum, pity party before you birth your last kit, Briarpatch? For StarClan's sake, FOCUS!" He nipped open the sack of the ginger kit and began warming it up. Briarpatch huffed, glaring at the medicine cat. "This isn't exactly how I thought it would go Spiderbite. Couldn't hurt you to be a bit nicer." In her moment of peace, she leaned against Flarestorm, comforted by his presence. It wasn't long though before the contracts started to intensify again and finally the last kit was born. Flarestorm mewed to his mate, strained but trying to give his usual humor. “You know Spiderbite’s tongue is sharper than stone.” He mouthed a silent thank you to Spiderbite, knowing he would repay the tom someday. For now, he quickly took action without prompting, leaning down to warm the three kits while the last kit, a small she-kit, was born.
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Post by []̷ 𝓜𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓼𝓽 []̷ on Aug 14, 2023 22:08:52 GMT -5
Pondpaw smiled at Dreamlily as she headed to the warriors den. Pondpaw headed to the apprentice’s den. She crawled inside and to her relief, the other apprentice’s were asleep. She carefully stepped over the other apprentices and fixed her makeshift nest before settling down into the warm moss, curling her tail over her nose. Pondpaw closed her eyes and drifted to sleep.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Aug 15, 2023 9:17:52 GMT -5
Spiderbite snorted and went to the last kit. There's no time to be nice when lives could be at risk. He didn't like the look of Briarpatch's kits. They were so small and the missing leg on the one made him worry how the others could be underdeveloped. He moved the last kit to Briarpatch's belly. Four kits and a queen who just gave birth. There was no way he and Flarestorm could get them all back in one trip. "Flarestorm, lay with her. Both of you keep the kits warm. Briarpatch gather your strength. I'm going back to camp to get help."
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Post by Moonblazer on Aug 15, 2023 9:39:11 GMT -5
“I can help!” Withermist had seemed to get his bearings as soon as he had scented and heard Briarpatch through the forest. With Frostlight behind him, he cautiously slipped through the rocky terrain. His presence surprised Flarestorm, who stopped in his licking.
“Withermist? Frostlight, you-“
Withermist stared right at the kits, an unreadable expression crossing his face before he looked right at Spiderbite, eyes ghostly and wide as usual. “I felt… I came here. I… We can help.” He offered, flicking his gaze to Frostlight for a moment before he then looked at Briarpatch. His mumbling and pacing had stopped completely, and he seemed back to normal now.
Flarestorm curled around his mate and kits, but knew that getting the kits and Briarpatch back to camp was the top priority. He looked at Spiderbite.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Aug 15, 2023 10:26:32 GMT -5
Spiderbite sighed with relief. Thank you, StarClan, for sending Withermist and Frostlight to us. He nodded to the two warriors then looked to Briarpatch. "How are you feeling? Can you walk?"
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Post by Willow on Aug 15, 2023 14:21:59 GMT -5
Briarpatch slowly nodded, “I think so, can each of you take a kit?” She turned to dip her head to Withermist and Frostlight, “thank you for coming to help.”
Luckykit squirmed at his mother’s belly, squeaking as he was jostled around.
Snailkit was nestled close to her siblings, sleeping.
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Post by Moonblazer on Aug 15, 2023 14:32:44 GMT -5
“Yes.” Withermist replied quickly, though he wad incredibly gentle and careful as he reached out to pick up the last born kit in his jaws. He knew she was incredibly small, all of them were… but amongst the pain and anguish of their birth, Withermist was assured that there still was a destiny for them here amongst them. He blinked, before glancing at Frostlight.
Flarestorm shuddered out a breath. “They’re all here, and so are you. Thank Starclan, Briarpatch, you did so well, I-“ He choked, trying not to sound like a mess even if he felt like a mess. He nudged the three-legged kit gently, knowing he had to be careful with their son. He purred as he held him, hoping it would soothe the tiny tom.
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Post by Icefire15 on Aug 15, 2023 14:47:28 GMT -5
Frostlight followed not far behind Withermist, dipping her head to Briarpatch, Flarestorm and Spiderbite. “I’m glad you’re alright, Briarpatch.” She mewed, leaning forward and gently picking up one of the kits.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Aug 15, 2023 15:11:21 GMT -5
Spiderbite padded over to Briarpatch to help her to her paws. "Lean on me if you have to, Briarpatch. We'll get you and the kits back to camp safe, I promise." He looked at each of the others before looking at the territory. They'd have to walk along the thick roots of the tangling oaks as well as the boulders and rocks that scattered the territory. "We need to be quick, but careful. I want Briarpatch and these kits back in the nursery as soon as possible, understand?" He eyed each of the others before carefully picking up the last kit.
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Post by Moonblazer on Aug 15, 2023 15:36:31 GMT -5
Withermist nodded quickly to Spiderbite, the small she-kit in his jaws giving tiny little squeaks of confusion. He inwardly promised they’d get her warmth and food soon.
Flarestorm held his son, making sure each kit was accounted for, before he padded right to Briarpatch’s side to help support her.
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