Post by Mistybreeze on Sept 3, 2016 20:15:37 GMT -5
This is my first fanfic I have posted here. Feel free to point out any typos since I wrote this awhile ago and don't have time to reread it. But please be nice when you do. I make mistake just like any other writer.
This fanfic takes place in the time gap between FQ and SD. It contains backstories for many of the new SkyClan warriors that appeared at the start of SD. Since we really don't know much about most of them or many of the events that took place, I had a pretty good amount of freedom in writing this. Without any more ado, this is Surviving, a fanfic by Misty.
Chapter 1
A cold breeze blew through the gorge. Leafstar shivered as she watched Sharpclaw sort out patrols.
“Patchfoot, take Bouncepaw and Clovertail and go hunting in the forest. Maybe there’ll be prey today. Cherrytail, Sparrowpelt, take your apprentices and see if you can find anything on the other side of the territory.”
Leafstar sighed. Leaf fall had settled over the gorge. An early storm has left the gorge blanked in snow. It was getting harder and harder to find prey. Her cats were starting to show signs of hunger, even Petalnose, the only queen in the Clan.
Leafstar padded leaped down from the Rockpile and joined Sharpclaw.
He nodded to her. “Do you want to check the borders with me?” he asked.
“Of course.”
As they started up the trail, Sharpclaw looked at her. “Do you think Firestar and Sandstorm made it back to their Clan yet?”
Leafstar shrugged. “I don’t know. I hope so. I’d hate for them to get caught in this cold.”
It has been a half moon since Firestar and Sandstorm left them. It has been hardest half moon of her life. She has been forced to watch her cats freeze and starve.
Sharpclaw padded stopped. “Do you smell that?” he hissed.
Leafstar tasted the air. “A kittypet. A tom by the scent.”
The ginger deputy growled. “Let’s drive him out!”
Leafstar flicked her tail. “Let’s see if he’s a threat before he chase him out. If he’s not a threat, maybe we can convince him to join the Clan.”
Before Sharpclaw could argue, she added “Remember that we still need more warriors. It would be foolish to drive out a promising cat.”
Without another word, Leafstar let the way through the snow. The scent soon got stronger and before long they could hear a cat moving noisily through the bushes.
Leafstar paused before calling out, “Hello!”
There was a startled gasp before a voice replied.
“Who are you and what do you want?”
“I am Leafstar, leader of SkyClan. I was wondering if you needed help.”
Pawsteps approached them and a gray and white tom stepped around a gorse bush. The tom seemed intimidated by the presence of both Leafstar and Sharpclaw. Leafstar glanced at Sharpclaw and the ginger deputy stepped back.
The tom visibly relaxed. “Yes, I need help. I got chased by a dog in the Twolegplace. I ran until I lost it. I don’t know where my Twoleg nest is.”
Leafstar nodded. “Do you know which direction you came from?”
The tom shook his head.
Leafstar pressed on. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Jasper.”
“Well, Jasper, why don’t you come back with us? You could have a piece of fresh-kill and rest in a spare nest.”
Jasper wrinkled his nose. “I don’t eat dead things.”
Sharpclaw spoke up. “Starve then.”
Leafstar glared at him. “Maybe after you have rested we can help you get back home.”
Jasper blinked at her. “I guess that’s okay.” He glanced at Sharpclaw. “Who are you?”
“I’m Sharpclaw. The deputy.”
Leafstar twitched her tail. “Let’s go back to camp.”
As she left the way, Sharpclaw and Jasper walked side by side. Leafstar was relieved to hear them making friendly conversation.
“So how big in the Clan?”
“Not very big. We only have a few warriors.”
“I heard you were new to this area. Is that true?”
“Most of us lived in this area as loners and rogues before. There are a few kittypets here. A leader from another Clan named Firestar came and united us.”
“Firestar? Was he an important cat back in the other Clan?”
“Yes, he is the leader.”
The gorge came into view and Leafstar paused to let Sharpclaw and Jasper by. Jasper walked unsteadily down the trail, leaving bloody pawprints behind.
Once they reached the bottom, Leafstar called to Echosong.
The silver tabby appeared at the entrance to her den. “Is someone hurt?” she called.
“Just cracked pads.” She called back.
Echosong disappeared and emerged with a bunch of herbs. She glanced at Jasper. “Who’s this?”
“This is Jasper. He’s a kittypet that we found near the border.”
Echosong nodded and got to work. She sniffed his pads and asked if anything else hurt. When he replied no, she ordered him into her den. As he limped away, Echosong glanced at Leafstar and Sharpclaw.
“Is he going to join the Clan?”
Leafstar shrugged. “He’s welcome to if he wants, but I doubt he will stay. He said he just got lost in the snow.”
Echosong nodded and picked her herbs. She retreated into her den.
As Leafstar started to pad away, Sharpclaw blocked her path.
“He can’t stay here. We don’t have enough prey for ourselves!” he hissed angrily.
Leafstar glared at him. “We will escort him back to his Twoleg nest as soon as he’s ready. He won’t be staying very long. And if he wants to join the Clan, he will be as welcome as any other cat.”
Sharpclaw opened his jaws to reply, but Leafstar cut him off. “You seem to have forgotten that some of the Clan used to be kittypets. Are you implying that Sparrowpelt, Cherrytail, Echosong, Petalnose, and the kits all have less right to be here than the rest of us?” she spat.
Sharpclaw narrowed his eyes, but didn’t say anything.
Leafstar turned sharply and stamped angrily over to the fresh-kill pile. The anger dissipated like mist at sunhigh when Leafstar saw that there was only one mouse where the pile should be. Ignoring her hungry belly, she picked up the mouse and trotted towards the nursery.
The mewling of kits reached her ears as she squeezed past the boulder. As her eyes adjusted to the sudden dark, she picked up the scent of Petalnose and her kits, along with Clovertail.
Leafstar brought the mouse to Petalnose and dropped it at her paws. Sagekit and Mintkit immediately tore into it, mewing excitedly. Leafstar’s heart sank when she saw that even the kits were starting to get thin.
“Any news?” Clovertail mewed from her nest.
“We found a kittypet who was lost in the snow.”
Petalnose looked up from her kits. “Who is it?”
“A tom named Jasper. He said he was chased by a dog and got lost in the forest. Echosong is treating his cracked pads right now.”
“Did he say which part of the Twolegplace he was from?”
Leafstar shook her head.
Petalnose stood up and stretched. “Maybe I can find out where he’s from.” She stepped over her kits and trotted from the den.
The snow continued the next day. Looking at the gray clouds, Leafstar feared that another storm was upon them. She sat with the other warriors and apprentices as Sharpclaw sorted patrols. She decided that she would hunt and patrol just like any other warrior for the time being. They needed every hunter they could get.
Excited mewing brought her out her thoughts. Petalnose was leading her kits out of the nursery. Jasper followed them. Leafstar blinked in surprise. The talk with Jasper must have went well if Petalnose was allowing him to around her kits.
“Leafstar,” Sharpclaw mewed, jolting her out of her thoughts. “Can you go on a border patrol with Clovertail? And maybe see if you can find any prey along the way.” He glanced up at the clouds, worry darkening his gaze. “It looks like we won’t be hunting for a few days after today. Make sure we have enough to last through the storm.” He flicked his tail and the cats dispersed into their patrols.
Clovertail and Leafstar trudged up the trail, their ears freezing in the cold. Once they were out of the gorge, Clovertail and Leafstar walked side by side.
“I hope the snow melts soon. It’s only leaf fall!”
Leafstar nodded in agreement.
Soon, they came to the border nearest the far side of the territory. Clovertail left a marker and they continued on until they had gone across the entire territory. Once Leafstar had left the last marker, they started back towards camp.
A lone bird call caught their attention. A blackbird was sitting on a branch in the middle of a pine tree. Leafstar signaled to Clovertail that she should climb up the other side of the tree while she climbed the front of it.
Stepping lightly so she wouldn’t disturb the branch, Leafstar crept closer to the bird. She stopped when she was within two tail lengths of it. Once she saw Clovertail in position, she let out a screech.
Startled, the bird flew upwards into Clovertail’s claws. She killed it with one nipe to the neck. Leafstar closed her eyes. Thank StarClan they found a decent meal for once!
Once they had climbed down the tree, Leafstar looked a little closer at the blackbird. It was a little scrawny due to the cold, but she could see that it was young and healthy.
“Petalnose and the kits are going to eat well tonight.” she commented.
Clovertail nodded, unable to reply with the blackbird in her jaws.
They set off once again and didn’t see anything else in the sparse trees in this part of the territory.
Leafstar could hear mewing coming from the gorge before they reached the top of it. As they descended, Leafstar picked up the smell of fresh-kill. She was surprised to see most of the Clan gathered, all eating various pieces of fresh-kill.
Sharpclaw ran up the meet them, his green eyes glowing. “It seems that the prey had the same idea we had. The forest was teeming with prey, for this time in the season at least.” He took the blackbird from Clovertail and laid it down where the fresh-kill would be.
“We still don’t have enough to save for the storm, but at least everyone will go to sleep with a full belly tonight.” He glanced around at the eating cats. “Seeing how everyone else already has food, why don’t you two share this blackbird?”
Leafstar nodded and picked up the bird. She carried it over to the rockpile where Cherrytail and Patchfoot were sharing a scrawny squirrel.
As she tucked into it, she was surprised by how juicy the flesh was. This bird was not as thin as she first thought.. She and Clovertail picked most of the meat off the bird.
Once she finished, she looked up at the sky. The clouds were too thick for her to see the sun, but she guessed it must be near sunhigh.
Pawsteps sounded next to her and Jasper stood in front of her.
“May I go back to my Twolegs today?”
Leafstar sighed. “I’m sorry Jasper, but not today. There is a storm coming and I can’t spare any warriors to escort you back. And we have no idea where you live; cats might get stranded if the storm starts soon.”
Jasper’s tail drooped and he said nothing.
Leafstar gave him a sympathetic look. “I’m truly sorry Jasper, but I don’t want to risk any lives.”
Jasper nodded sadly. “I understand.”
He paused. “Maybe I can help out then? I don’t know how to to hunt, but maybe I can watch Petalnose’s kits for her so she can go hunting.”
Leafstar blinked at him surprise. “I don’t know, you’d have to ask Petalnose.”
Jasper nodded and trotted over to where Petalnose was watching her kits play by the stream. He talked with her and Petalnose seemed to be pleased.
He padded back to Leafstar. “She said it was a great idea.”
Leafstar nodded. “It’s settled then. Whenever Petalnose goes hunting, you will watch her kits.”
Jasper purred. “Thank you so much!” He trotted happily back to Petalnose.
After he had left, Clovertail looked at Leafstar. “That was surprising.”
Leafstar nodded. “Indeed. I think that’s a good sign.”
“Perhaps he will decide to stay after all.”
Leafstar shrugged. “Maybe, but we shouldn’t forced him to join if he doesn’t want to.” She got up to her paws and trotted over to Sharpclaw.
“Do you need me to do anything else?”
Sharpclaw liked his lips. “Yes, I want you to lead another hunting patrol before dark. Take Sparrowpelt and the apprentices. They should get some hunting practice in before the storm.”
The clouds continued to gather as Leafstar led her patrol up the path. The apprentices were chattering excitedly at going patrol with the leader. Sparrowpelt spoke up from his place at the back of the patrol.
“Keep quiet or you’ll scare all of the prey!”
The apprentices apologized and continued on silently. The patrol continued on until they reached a hollow in the forest. Leafstar stopped and signaled for the apprentices to line up in front of her. Sparrowpelt stood at her side.
“Now, can all of you show me you hunting crouches.”
The three apprentices crouched down and Leafstar and Sparrowpelt inspected them.
“Bouncepaw, keep your tail still.”
“Tinypaw, tuck your haunches in a little bit more.”
Once they were satisfied with the apprentices’ crouches, they went deeper into the forest. Leafstar was scenting the air as she went and stopped when she smelled mouse. She spotted it gnawing on a seed near a holly bush. She twitched her ears at Sparrowpelt and he stopped. He followed her gaze and signaled to Rockpaw to catch it.
Rockpaw tasted the air and looked around. He spotted the mouse and dropped into a crouch. He crept slowly across the forest floor and was almost there when he stepped on a twig. The mouse froze and then fled towards the holly bush. Rockpaw leaped after it and grabbed the mouse before it could escape. He killed it with a bite to the neck. Sparrowpelt strolled up to him.
“Nice catch, although stepping on a twig was a little bit sloppy. Be careful not to do that next time.”
Rockpaw nodded and padded back to his littermates.
Bouncepaw and Tinypaw rushed to congratulate him.
“That was such a good catch Rockpaw!” Tinypaw mewed admirably.
“I’m gonna catch something a lot bigger than your mouse.” Bouncepaw meowed teasingly.
Rockpaw put down the mouse. “No you won’t.” he retorted.
Sparrowpelt and Leafstar hurried over to break up the argument.
“That’s enough. A mouse is better than nothing. Rockpaw don’t bury it. I don’t want to take the chance of a fox digging it back up.” Leafstar mewed.
Rockpaw nodded and picked up the mouse.
They continued on into the forest. The had only gone a few foxlengths further when they heard a lone bird chirping. Leafstar halted the patrol with her tail.
“Tinypaw, Bouncepaw, see if you can spot the bird.” she mewed quietly.
The apprentices scanned the trees. Tinypaw pointed with her tail. “There.” she called softly.
Leafstar followed her tail and spotted a finch sitting on a branch halfway up the tree. She signaled to Sparrowpelt and he looked to.
“It’s too risky to have the apprentices try. Maybe we should get it.”
Leafstar nodded and turned to the apprentices. “I want the three of you to watch how we catch this bird.”
“Why can’t we try?” Bouncepaw asked.
“Because the Clan needs prey and we can’t risk losing that bird.” Sparrowpelt snapped. “Don’t argue with a warrior, especially your leader.” He glared at Bouncepaw and the ginger apprentice lowered his gaze.
Leafstar looked at Sparrowpelt. His dark brown fur will match the wood of the tree, he will be the one to catch it. They started up opposite sides of the tree. Sparrowpelt positioned himself a few branches higher than the finch and Leafstar stopped a few tail lengths away on a lower branch. When Sparrowpelt looked at her, she gave a fearsome yowl. The bird startled and flew upwards. Sparrowpelt grabbed it as it flew by and slammed it down on the branch. He nipped it on the neck and it went limp. Leafstar and Sparrowpelt descended to the ground. The apprentices were staring at them with wide eyes.
“That was incredible!” Tinypaw squeaked.
“I want to try!” Rockpaw mewed.
“Me too!” added Bouncepaw.
Leafstar glanced at the darkening sky. “It is too late for more hunting practice today. Let’s get back to camp.”
Before they could leave, a bush rustled and a pale brown she-cat padded out. Leafstar and Sparrowpelt instinctively stepped in front of the apprentices.
The she-cat looked friendly, her fur was flat and she looked at the SkyClan cats curiously.
“Are you SkyClan cats?” she inquired.
Leafstar and Sparrowpelt exchanged a glance before Leafstar answered.
“Yes, we are. I’m Leafstar, the leader of SkyClan. This is Sparrowpelt, Tinypaw, Bouncepaw, and Rockpaw.”
The she-cat dipped her head. “My name is Fallow.”
“Why did you ask if we were SkyClan cats, Fallow?”
She looked at Leafstar with bright blue eyes. “I asked because I want to join you. I can hunt and I know how to fight. It’s been getting harder and harder to find prey and I don’t want to be alone when this storm hits.” she finished.
Leafstar beckoned to her. “Come with us back to camp.”
Fallow trotted after Leafstar as they headed back to camp.
Sharpclaw greeted them at the bottom of the gorge when they reached the bottom. His eyes glowed approvingly when he saw the prey the apprentices were carrying.
“Did they catch that?”
“Rockpaw caught the mouse. Sparrowpelt and I caught the finch. It was too high up for the apprentices to try.”
Sharpclaw nodded. Then he spotted Fallow. “Who’s that? Did you rescue another kittypet?” he mewed scornfully.
“I’m Fallow.” the rogue mewed. “I lived in the forest downstream from the gorge. I want to join SkyClan.”
“Do you know how to hunt and fight?”
“I’ve never hunted in trees before,” she admitted, “but I am willingly to learn. If you will have me, that is.”
Sharpclaw appeared pleased by her answer. “Well then, welcome to SkyClan, Fallow. I am Sharpclaw, the deputy.”
Fallow dipped her head. “Pleased to meet you Sharpclaw.” she mewed politely.
They padded across camp to the fresh-kill pile and the apprentices deposited the prey. Leafstar was relieved to see that there were several voles and shrews as well as a blackbird on the pile. By this point, every cat that was in camp had spotted the patrol and had gathered around Fallow curiously.
“Who are you?” asked Mintkit curiously.
“Are you a rogue?” added Patchfoot.
Sharpclaw glanced at Leafstar. “I think you have better make an official announcement.”
Leafstar scrambled up the Rockpile.
“Let all cats old enough to catch prey, gather beneath the Rockpile for a Clan meeting!” Most the Clan was already gathered and a few more cats emerged from dens.
“This is Fallow. She is a rogue that decided to join SkyClan. I hope all of you make her feel welcome.” she finished and scrambled down the rocks.
Clovertail nodded to the she-cat. “Welcome to SkyClan, Fallow. I am Clovertail. You have already met my kits, Bouncepaw, Rockpaw, and Tinypaw.”
Fallow already looked at ease with the small group of cats. Leafstar knew that she had made the right decision to let Fallow join.
