Post by Jaguar on Apr 27, 2021 6:21:16 GMT -5
Hello! Ages(years actually) ago I had written a fanfic titled Spotted Blood. I stopped after being unhappy with it and planned on putting more effort into it. Unfortunately a lot happened and I never did get to properly do anything with it until now. So, I have changed it a bit recently and decided to start posting it again! I consider this a fun little hobby story. Consider this my first playful test on writing a story.
Any polite constructive criticism on typos, odd sentences, etc are welcomed!
SUMMARY
Born as loners raising themselves after the death of their family, young Charlie and Ariel are left to their own devices in their second leaf-bare alone. Knowing they can’t survive it, and hearing fellow loners whisper about clans, Charlie makes the decision to try and join a forest clan. After being apprenticed as Jaguarpaw and Leopardpaw, respectively, Jaguarpaw realizes clan-life may not be all what she expected. When a colony of cats that oppose clan life threatens them, and she gets an ominous prophecy from Starclan, she begins to regret their decision to have joined.
ALLGENGIANCES
PROLOGUE
Chapter One
Any polite constructive criticism on typos, odd sentences, etc are welcomed!
SUMMARY
Born as loners raising themselves after the death of their family, young Charlie and Ariel are left to their own devices in their second leaf-bare alone. Knowing they can’t survive it, and hearing fellow loners whisper about clans, Charlie makes the decision to try and join a forest clan. After being apprenticed as Jaguarpaw and Leopardpaw, respectively, Jaguarpaw realizes clan-life may not be all what she expected. When a colony of cats that oppose clan life threatens them, and she gets an ominous prophecy from Starclan, she begins to regret their decision to have joined.
ALLGENGIANCES
(to be updated as chapters go on)
Thunderclan
Leader: Petalstar - Red tabby she-cat with copper eyes
Deputy: Webtail - Tuxedo she-cat with pale green eyes
Medicine cat: Doveleap - white tom with yellow eyes
Medicine cat apprentice: Tigerpaw - long furred ginger and white she-cat
Warriors:
Roseleap - Large, fluffy light golden she-cat with a pink nose
Apprentice, Jaguarpaw
Ravenfall - charcoal bengal tom
Apprentice, Leopardpaw
Waspfang - dark tabby she-cat with slight underbite, yellow eyes
Apprentice, Batpaw
Icestep - a white tom with a dark grey face, paws and tail
Apprentice, Daisypaw
Apprentices:
Daisypaw - calico she-cat
Jaguarpaw - spotted brown bengal she-cat with golden eyes
Leopardpaw - silver marbled bengal she-cat with blue eyes
Batpaw - tortoiseshell tom
Queens
Falconwing - ginger she-cat with pale amber eyes
Kits
Brownkit - a speckled brown tom
Hawkkit - black tom
Thunderclan
Leader: Petalstar - Red tabby she-cat with copper eyes
Deputy: Webtail - Tuxedo she-cat with pale green eyes
Medicine cat: Doveleap - white tom with yellow eyes
Medicine cat apprentice: Tigerpaw - long furred ginger and white she-cat
Warriors:
Roseleap - Large, fluffy light golden she-cat with a pink nose
Apprentice, Jaguarpaw
Ravenfall - charcoal bengal tom
Apprentice, Leopardpaw
Waspfang - dark tabby she-cat with slight underbite, yellow eyes
Apprentice, Batpaw
Icestep - a white tom with a dark grey face, paws and tail
Apprentice, Daisypaw
Apprentices:
Daisypaw - calico she-cat
Jaguarpaw - spotted brown bengal she-cat with golden eyes
Leopardpaw - silver marbled bengal she-cat with blue eyes
Batpaw - tortoiseshell tom
Queens
Falconwing - ginger she-cat with pale amber eyes
Kits
Brownkit - a speckled brown tom
Hawkkit - black tom
PROLOGUE
The setting sun glowed against the snow that brutally rained from the sky, obscuring the vision and freezing any who dared to walk in it which, unfortunately, two young sisters were just the victims to. Charlie pulled herself forward, pushing against the wind that felt like thorns against her face. Her sensitive brown ears pressed tightly against her head in a desperate attempt to shield them from the blistering wind. Behind her was a smaller silver she-cat who was shivering from the wind, her small paws following the trail in the snow her sister was leaving behind.
“I-I’m freezing, Charlie!” The silver she-cat stuttered out, her breath coming out like mist.
Charlie acknowledged what her sister said and stopped walking. Her golden eyes squinted, blinking repeatedly from the blizzard. With how bad the weather is she needed to find shelter for the both of them. Last leaf-bare they barely managed, she wasn’t sure what was going to happen this leaf-bare. Regardless, all that matters is getting them out of the blizzard. Foggy in the distance, about a few fox-lengths away, she could spot a bulky monster that the twolegs would use.
“Follow me, Ariel!” Charlie called over her shoulder
Charlie pushed through the elbow length snow, purposely leaving a more open trail to make it easier for her sister to walk through. Eventually, the two arrived at the snow-covered monster. Charlie did not fear the monster waking up or a Twoleg coming out since neither happens during heavy snowfalls such as this. She began to dig at the snow beneath the monster, making a hole for the two to take shelter in.
“T-that’s smart!” Ariel purred shakily
Charlie then motioned with her tail for Ariel to lay in the hole first. Once she abided Charlie curled around her, trying her best to keep Ariel shielded from the snow and provide warmth from the wind.
Ariel nuzzled into Charlie’s fur, burying her face. “Are you going to be okay?” Her muffled voice asked through the fur.
Charlie shakily licked the top of Ariel’s head, “D-don’t…” She breathed in, “..Worry. I’ll be okay. We are out of the snow, that’s what matters.”
Eventually the two were able to fall asleep.
The next day the sun radiated in the sky, the snow and wind slowed down making the day less threatening than the one before. She lifted her paw to rub across her head and flinched when it ran across her ear, 'Must've scraped it..' She thought to herself. She could hear her sisters stomach growl and it made her heart drop, what were they going to do? Every leaf-bare was a struggle for them as loners. Trying to find food was harder during these times, other cats fighting to the death over a scrap of frozen crowfood that wouldn’t be enough for even a kit, paws that stung from constantly standing in the cold snow.
“Charlie, w-what are we going to do?” Ariel meowed sadly.
Charlie didn’t respond, she had no idea. She couldn't tell her sister that, though. She looked out from beneath the monster, forcing the stiff gears in her head to turn. Then, she got an idea. During the seasons outside of leaf-bare, Charlie would meet and talk with other loners. A topic that’d be brought up was about forest cats, clans. Charlie flicked her tail thoughtfully, was she really considering going into the forest and attempting to seek them out? Cats around here had mixed reputations about them.
“What are you thinking?” Ariel questioned while grooming her sister's cold fur.
Charlie took a deep breath, “I… might have an idea,” She answered, “You remember the talks of clan-cats?”
Ariel finished her grooming and looked up at her, “Yes. Why?”
Charlie faced her, “My idea is that we seek them out.” She spoke with confidence.
Ariel blinked, “I’m not against your idea, Charlie. But how can we be so sure they aren’t like these cats?”
“We don’t. But those cats work together. Cats here? They don’t. At least, not forever. They are always a mouse-length away from attacking each other.” Charlie sighed, maybe not the families though.. With sorrow she remembered her family.
A loving mother and father trying their hardest to care for them and their two other siblings. The two left in search of food and never returned. When Charlie went looking she followed their scent into a ditch, an image that can't leave her mind.
"It's worth a try, at the very least." Charlie pushed herself up onto her haunches.
Ariel shifted out of the way to give her sister space, "Can't go wrong with trying."
"I'll make sure the coast is clear." Charlie stiffly crawled out from beneath the monster. With the weather having died down it was only a matter of time before the twolegs came and woke it up. As she surveyed the clearing she found no threats and motioned with her tail for Ariel to come out.
Once the two left the uncomfortable shelter and shook remaining specks of snow from their pelts they faced the forest. Despite the cold breeze and dreary weather the sunlight broke through the cloudy sky and washed over the trees in the far distance in an almost inviting way. As if it were calling for Charlie and Ariel to come forward.
"There are worse alternatives." Ariel humorously purred.
Charlie giggled, "That's true. Well, let's take the risk then." The two then slowly began to make their way into the forest.
“I-I’m freezing, Charlie!” The silver she-cat stuttered out, her breath coming out like mist.
Charlie acknowledged what her sister said and stopped walking. Her golden eyes squinted, blinking repeatedly from the blizzard. With how bad the weather is she needed to find shelter for the both of them. Last leaf-bare they barely managed, she wasn’t sure what was going to happen this leaf-bare. Regardless, all that matters is getting them out of the blizzard. Foggy in the distance, about a few fox-lengths away, she could spot a bulky monster that the twolegs would use.
“Follow me, Ariel!” Charlie called over her shoulder
Charlie pushed through the elbow length snow, purposely leaving a more open trail to make it easier for her sister to walk through. Eventually, the two arrived at the snow-covered monster. Charlie did not fear the monster waking up or a Twoleg coming out since neither happens during heavy snowfalls such as this. She began to dig at the snow beneath the monster, making a hole for the two to take shelter in.
“T-that’s smart!” Ariel purred shakily
Charlie then motioned with her tail for Ariel to lay in the hole first. Once she abided Charlie curled around her, trying her best to keep Ariel shielded from the snow and provide warmth from the wind.
Ariel nuzzled into Charlie’s fur, burying her face. “Are you going to be okay?” Her muffled voice asked through the fur.
Charlie shakily licked the top of Ariel’s head, “D-don’t…” She breathed in, “..Worry. I’ll be okay. We are out of the snow, that’s what matters.”
Eventually the two were able to fall asleep.
The next day the sun radiated in the sky, the snow and wind slowed down making the day less threatening than the one before. She lifted her paw to rub across her head and flinched when it ran across her ear, 'Must've scraped it..' She thought to herself. She could hear her sisters stomach growl and it made her heart drop, what were they going to do? Every leaf-bare was a struggle for them as loners. Trying to find food was harder during these times, other cats fighting to the death over a scrap of frozen crowfood that wouldn’t be enough for even a kit, paws that stung from constantly standing in the cold snow.
“Charlie, w-what are we going to do?” Ariel meowed sadly.
Charlie didn’t respond, she had no idea. She couldn't tell her sister that, though. She looked out from beneath the monster, forcing the stiff gears in her head to turn. Then, she got an idea. During the seasons outside of leaf-bare, Charlie would meet and talk with other loners. A topic that’d be brought up was about forest cats, clans. Charlie flicked her tail thoughtfully, was she really considering going into the forest and attempting to seek them out? Cats around here had mixed reputations about them.
“What are you thinking?” Ariel questioned while grooming her sister's cold fur.
Charlie took a deep breath, “I… might have an idea,” She answered, “You remember the talks of clan-cats?”
Ariel finished her grooming and looked up at her, “Yes. Why?”
Charlie faced her, “My idea is that we seek them out.” She spoke with confidence.
Ariel blinked, “I’m not against your idea, Charlie. But how can we be so sure they aren’t like these cats?”
“We don’t. But those cats work together. Cats here? They don’t. At least, not forever. They are always a mouse-length away from attacking each other.” Charlie sighed, maybe not the families though.. With sorrow she remembered her family.
A loving mother and father trying their hardest to care for them and their two other siblings. The two left in search of food and never returned. When Charlie went looking she followed their scent into a ditch, an image that can't leave her mind.
"It's worth a try, at the very least." Charlie pushed herself up onto her haunches.
Ariel shifted out of the way to give her sister space, "Can't go wrong with trying."
"I'll make sure the coast is clear." Charlie stiffly crawled out from beneath the monster. With the weather having died down it was only a matter of time before the twolegs came and woke it up. As she surveyed the clearing she found no threats and motioned with her tail for Ariel to come out.
Once the two left the uncomfortable shelter and shook remaining specks of snow from their pelts they faced the forest. Despite the cold breeze and dreary weather the sunlight broke through the cloudy sky and washed over the trees in the far distance in an almost inviting way. As if it were calling for Charlie and Ariel to come forward.
"There are worse alternatives." Ariel humorously purred.
Charlie giggled, "That's true. Well, let's take the risk then." The two then slowly began to make their way into the forest.
Chapter One
The two had never stepped one paw inside these boundaries before. It felt different, in a good way. So many trees to climb, so many boulders to jump over, and foliage to crawl through. Even the smell was pleasant to their senses. The air was clean, it was fresh. Sunlight flickered through the leaves, reflecting off the bits of snow covering the ground beneath their paws. The snow wasn't as thick here either and the trees provided coverage from the wind.
Suddenly a sharp pain shot through Charlie's ears causing a painful disruption to her thoughts.
Ariel took immediate notice, "Are you..." She paused for a moment, her eyes flickering, "..okay?"
"I think it's just this cold. When we have a warmer place to stay it'll get better." Charlie reassured her sibling with a gentle smile.
Ariel gave a nod of hesitance, "So, um, how do we find a clan-cat?"
"They must be around here somewhere. They have territories, don't they? Perhaps we can find one?"
The forest came with overwhelmingly new scents. The two-leg place was full of similar and repetitive scents, this was beyond what she's used to. She loved it.
Ariel perked up, "I smell something. It's.. sour?"
How were they going to locate a clan if they couldn't tell anything apart? They were in unfamiliar territory after all.
Charlie immediately began to connect things with what she could see; the smell of oak led her eyes to a squirrel climbing in the trees, a gentle rustle in a dead bush was a bird pecking about.
"We narrow the search, then." Charlie concluded, "See what connections these scents have and take it from there."
"Good idea! There's so much to see," Ariel took a quick sniff in the air with excitement, "We could follow this sweet smell, the dewy one.. oh! How about the sour one I first caught?'
Even though Charlie was amused at her sister's excitement, she knew the two couldn't be reckless, "This is still unfamiliar ground we are on, Ariel. We must stay safe and cautious."
Ariel quickly bobbed her head in agreement, "Of course!"
"That said.." Charlie took a step forward, eyeing the sour direction, "It definitely stands out from the other two."
The duo began to follow the curious scent. The smell was somewhat familiar to her and maybe that's why she followed it. It smelt bad, comparable to crowfood. She expected to find just that.
The stench ended at a fallen tree with a burrow beneath it. Ariel was the first to poke about.
"The smell ends here." Ariel noted, "I don't think it belongs to the cats."
Charlie shrugged, "I agree. Let's try the-" a growl sounded out from behind the two cats causing her to immediately spin around.
A red and black animal was growling with bared fangs. The scent was far more stronger now.
Their fur puffed up and they weren't sure how to respond to this unknown animal. Charlie had never seen something like this. Whatever it was, it wanted to tear their heads off. Charlie would've happily taken crowfood over this encounter.
"Go!" Charlie yowled, giving a quick slap to the creature's nose before darting away with Ariel.
The two ran for their lives through the snow, but so did the animal hunting them. Charlie delayed a jump over a tree root causing her to trip and stumble, missing the animal's teeth by an inch.
"It won't stop!" Ariel cried as she looked over her shoulder.
Charlie came to an abrupt stop and shouted, "Ariel stop!"
Ariel skidded to a halt. Snow went flying off the edge of a cliff.
They had reached a dead end.
Beneath the tall cliff were dozens of other trees. She stepped back until she bumped into Charlie.
Charlie hissed at the animal and had all her claws unsheathed and readied for a fight to the death. Was this it? Did Charlie lead them into their own deaths?
She didn't have time to ponder. She needed to protect her sister. As the animal lunged forward, so did Charlie, connecting her fangs to its throat.
"Charlie!" Worry filled Ariel's tone.
The animal threw Charlie to the ground, nipping her on the ear. This sent a bolt of sharp sensitive pain rippling throughout her nerves. This left her in a momentary daze. Just as the animal prepared a final bite, a loud hiss was heard and it turned into a blur of red and yellow.
Two other cats darted past and jumped into the fray of hissing and snapping. A large she-cat bit down on the creature's neck while the others followed suit.
Ariel rushed to Charlie's side, "Are you okay?"
Charlie balanced her gaze at the blurry mess of fur and hissing in front of her, before responding to Ariel, "I've dealt with worse." She reassured.
Eventually the creature went running off. Leaving it to be just them, and the strangers.
Charlie stood up, backing away from the unknown group of cats, using her tail to guide Ariel behind her.
"You almost led that fox right to us!" A white and grey patterned tom hissed at them.
Charlie was scared, she was injured and outnumbered. One cat was large, about the same size if not bigger than the fox itself and fluffier. Accompanying her were two others. She was relieved the so called fox got chased off, but now the two were faced against what seemed to be angry well trained cats.
Charlie pressed defensively against Ariel, "We didn't know. We-" she was cut off by the larger she-cat.
"Back down, Icestep." Her voice was stern. She looked down at the two cats with interest, "Are you two aware you trespassed into Thunderclan territory?"
Charlie's eyes widened with surprise, "You're from a clan?"
A calico she-cat similar to Charlie's height, albeit a bit larger, poked out from behind the bigger cat and looked at her with curiosity.
"That doesn't answer our question." Icestep butted in with a hiss.
The golden cat narrowed her eyes at Icestep, "I said back down."
Icestep's ears twitched with embarrassment, "My apologies, Roseleap."
Roseleap returned her green gaze to the cats before her, "To answer your question, yes we are. Now answer ours."
Charlie glanced at Ariel who seemed mixed with excitement and caution, "Loners, Roseleap," She awkwardly meowed out, attempting to use her name as a sign of respect, "Me and my sister lost our family and barely survived the past leafbares on our own, including this one. I suggested we go into the forest and seek help from forest cats. Clan-cats, specifically. With so many unusual scents I went with the one that stood out. Unfortunately it led us to a.. fox. It chased us and well… here we are." She explained. But maybe this is their chance. They found the cats they were looking for.
Roseleap exchanged looks with Icestep. Charlie caught a somewhat sympathetic look from Icestep's pale yellow eyes before it disappeared.
Icestep sighed, "Very well, Rosestep?" He looked over at her.
"You may follow Icestep, Daisypaw, and me for a chance to speak with Petalstar." Roseleap then quickly padded past them, followed by Icestep and Daisypaw.
Charlie exchanged hopeful looks with Ariel before quickly following after them.
Suddenly a sharp pain shot through Charlie's ears causing a painful disruption to her thoughts.
Ariel took immediate notice, "Are you..." She paused for a moment, her eyes flickering, "..okay?"
"I think it's just this cold. When we have a warmer place to stay it'll get better." Charlie reassured her sibling with a gentle smile.
Ariel gave a nod of hesitance, "So, um, how do we find a clan-cat?"
"They must be around here somewhere. They have territories, don't they? Perhaps we can find one?"
The forest came with overwhelmingly new scents. The two-leg place was full of similar and repetitive scents, this was beyond what she's used to. She loved it.
Ariel perked up, "I smell something. It's.. sour?"
How were they going to locate a clan if they couldn't tell anything apart? They were in unfamiliar territory after all.
Charlie immediately began to connect things with what she could see; the smell of oak led her eyes to a squirrel climbing in the trees, a gentle rustle in a dead bush was a bird pecking about.
"We narrow the search, then." Charlie concluded, "See what connections these scents have and take it from there."
"Good idea! There's so much to see," Ariel took a quick sniff in the air with excitement, "We could follow this sweet smell, the dewy one.. oh! How about the sour one I first caught?'
Even though Charlie was amused at her sister's excitement, she knew the two couldn't be reckless, "This is still unfamiliar ground we are on, Ariel. We must stay safe and cautious."
Ariel quickly bobbed her head in agreement, "Of course!"
"That said.." Charlie took a step forward, eyeing the sour direction, "It definitely stands out from the other two."
The duo began to follow the curious scent. The smell was somewhat familiar to her and maybe that's why she followed it. It smelt bad, comparable to crowfood. She expected to find just that.
The stench ended at a fallen tree with a burrow beneath it. Ariel was the first to poke about.
"The smell ends here." Ariel noted, "I don't think it belongs to the cats."
Charlie shrugged, "I agree. Let's try the-" a growl sounded out from behind the two cats causing her to immediately spin around.
A red and black animal was growling with bared fangs. The scent was far more stronger now.
Their fur puffed up and they weren't sure how to respond to this unknown animal. Charlie had never seen something like this. Whatever it was, it wanted to tear their heads off. Charlie would've happily taken crowfood over this encounter.
"Go!" Charlie yowled, giving a quick slap to the creature's nose before darting away with Ariel.
The two ran for their lives through the snow, but so did the animal hunting them. Charlie delayed a jump over a tree root causing her to trip and stumble, missing the animal's teeth by an inch.
"It won't stop!" Ariel cried as she looked over her shoulder.
Charlie came to an abrupt stop and shouted, "Ariel stop!"
Ariel skidded to a halt. Snow went flying off the edge of a cliff.
They had reached a dead end.
Beneath the tall cliff were dozens of other trees. She stepped back until she bumped into Charlie.
Charlie hissed at the animal and had all her claws unsheathed and readied for a fight to the death. Was this it? Did Charlie lead them into their own deaths?
She didn't have time to ponder. She needed to protect her sister. As the animal lunged forward, so did Charlie, connecting her fangs to its throat.
"Charlie!" Worry filled Ariel's tone.
The animal threw Charlie to the ground, nipping her on the ear. This sent a bolt of sharp sensitive pain rippling throughout her nerves. This left her in a momentary daze. Just as the animal prepared a final bite, a loud hiss was heard and it turned into a blur of red and yellow.
Two other cats darted past and jumped into the fray of hissing and snapping. A large she-cat bit down on the creature's neck while the others followed suit.
Ariel rushed to Charlie's side, "Are you okay?"
Charlie balanced her gaze at the blurry mess of fur and hissing in front of her, before responding to Ariel, "I've dealt with worse." She reassured.
Eventually the creature went running off. Leaving it to be just them, and the strangers.
Charlie stood up, backing away from the unknown group of cats, using her tail to guide Ariel behind her.
"You almost led that fox right to us!" A white and grey patterned tom hissed at them.
Charlie was scared, she was injured and outnumbered. One cat was large, about the same size if not bigger than the fox itself and fluffier. Accompanying her were two others. She was relieved the so called fox got chased off, but now the two were faced against what seemed to be angry well trained cats.
Charlie pressed defensively against Ariel, "We didn't know. We-" she was cut off by the larger she-cat.
"Back down, Icestep." Her voice was stern. She looked down at the two cats with interest, "Are you two aware you trespassed into Thunderclan territory?"
Charlie's eyes widened with surprise, "You're from a clan?"
A calico she-cat similar to Charlie's height, albeit a bit larger, poked out from behind the bigger cat and looked at her with curiosity.
"That doesn't answer our question." Icestep butted in with a hiss.
The golden cat narrowed her eyes at Icestep, "I said back down."
Icestep's ears twitched with embarrassment, "My apologies, Roseleap."
Roseleap returned her green gaze to the cats before her, "To answer your question, yes we are. Now answer ours."
Charlie glanced at Ariel who seemed mixed with excitement and caution, "Loners, Roseleap," She awkwardly meowed out, attempting to use her name as a sign of respect, "Me and my sister lost our family and barely survived the past leafbares on our own, including this one. I suggested we go into the forest and seek help from forest cats. Clan-cats, specifically. With so many unusual scents I went with the one that stood out. Unfortunately it led us to a.. fox. It chased us and well… here we are." She explained. But maybe this is their chance. They found the cats they were looking for.
Roseleap exchanged looks with Icestep. Charlie caught a somewhat sympathetic look from Icestep's pale yellow eyes before it disappeared.
Icestep sighed, "Very well, Rosestep?" He looked over at her.
"You may follow Icestep, Daisypaw, and me for a chance to speak with Petalstar." Roseleap then quickly padded past them, followed by Icestep and Daisypaw.
Charlie exchanged hopeful looks with Ariel before quickly following after them.