Aroace
🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅
if you need me ill be listening to sweater weather by the neighborhood on repeat
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Post by 🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅 on Jun 11, 2023 7:47:44 GMT -5
An Isolated Clan: Starless Lies
InformationI’m a beginner author, working towards improvement. This is my fan fiction including my warrior cats OCs that I’ve been outlining for awhile now, and I finally want to start writing it. In theory, all that I write here is just a big draft for once I end up writing this on google docs, but feel more then welcome to read what I write here. I’m open to constructive criticism, because as I said above I’m a beginning author who is working to improve. I hope you enjoy my work! BlurbThe flowers grow in PetalClan territory as usual, and everyone seems to be happy. But when three young cats learn a secret that was supposed to stay hidden, tragedy grows from something that was supposed to be just a small lie.
What Fogpaw, Melodypaw, and Nightgaze don’t realize is that they must grow past their frustration, as their decisions will shape the future of the clans.
AllegiancesPetalClanLeader - Duststar - Solid creme colored she-cat with yellow eyesDeputy - Swamptail - Brown muscular tabby tom with green eyesApprentice: Tansypaw Medicine Cats
Cardinalflight - Dark ginger she-cat with a white underbelly and amber eyesApprentice: Nightgaze
Nightgaze - Small black she-cat with yellow eyesWarriorsVineshade - White tom with black spots and black face markings with green eyesDaisyfoot - Fluffy creme she-cat with one white pawGraywillow - Gray she-cat with white speckles along her backCrismonrose - Dark ginger she-cat with blue eyesApprentice: MelodypawBluefire - Grayish blue tom
Whitebreeze - Pure white large fluffy tom Apprentice: Shellpaw
Branchswirl - Large brown marbled tabby with green eyesApprentice: Fogpaw
Sweetfang - Calico she-cat; formerly a lonerSilentstep - White tom with icey blue eyes; formerly a lonerOrangewhisper - Ginger tom with blue eyes; formerly a lonerAmberbush - Reddish brown long-haired she-cat with amber eyesApprentice: Sunflowerpaw
Thornbranch - Golden tom with white chest fluff
Forestsnap - Dark gray tabby tom with green eyes. ApprenticesFogpaw - Pale gray tom with a white paws and tail tip
Melodypaw - Dark gray tabby she-cat with yellow eyes
Shellpaw - Creme diluted tortishell she-cat with distinctive tabby markings
Sunflowerpaw - Golden tom with green eyes
Tansypaw - Tall, lengthy calico she-cat with icy blue eyes; formerly a loner
QueensPollenflutter - Tortishell she-cat with orange eyes
Hollywish - Black she-cat with a white tail tip; expecting Thornbranch’s kits
KitsPumpkinkit - Brown tortishell she-kit with orange ears and a striped tail; four moons EldersCottontail - Pale gray she-cat with a white speckled face and white tail
(Cats within other clans that aren’t in major roles will be added within their appearance)
StoneClanLeader - Deerstar - Light brown she-cat with a white underbelly
Deputy - Owlsight - Tortishell transgender tom with green eyes
Medicine Cats - Yarrowwhisper - Golden she-cat with light brown points
Warriors
Mistpool - Dark striped grey tom with lighter ears and tail
Apprentices
Tulippaw - Ginger tabby tuxedo she-cat with bright blue eyes
Queens
Brindleheart - Brown brindle she-cat with green eyes
Kits
Duskkit - Grey tabby tom; 1 moon
Stormykit - Brindle grey tabby she-kit; 1 moonFrostClanLeader - Streamstar - Small tom siamese cat with icy blue eyes; formerly a rouge
Deputy - Juniperleap - Black she-cat with white paws and green eyes
Medicine Cats
Dewdapple - White tom with a silver muzzle
Apprentice: Rainpaw
Rainpaw - Blue gray she-cat with blue eyes Warriors
Pantherstripe - Blackish grayish tabby tom with a large dark stripe running down his backside
Apprentice: Pinepaw
Snowfall - White tom with a grey tail and blue eyes; born deaf in one earDappleleaf - Brown she-cat with creme dappled fur and green eyesApprentice: Berrypaw
Adderheart - Tortishell she-cat
Lightningstorm - Orange tabby she-cat with white chest fluff and amber eyes
Monarchwing - Pale brown tabby tom with blue eyes
Ravensight - Black she-cat with a white spot on her head
Lilythorn - Grey tabby she-cat with white ear tufts and bright green eyes
Apprentices
Pinepaw - Brown tom with blue eyesBerrypaw - Silver tabby tom with blue colored speckles on his facePetalClan Family Tree
(For now only PetalClan will have a family tree because it is the protagonists’ clan. Cats from previous time lines will be added within their appearance. The family tree is also only based on the events of the beginning of the story to prevent spoilers.)
Cottontail <3 ? = Graywillow
? </3 ? = Branchswirl, Swamptail
Graywillow <3 Branchswirl = Melodypaw, Fogpaw, Nightgaze
? <3 ? = Vineshade, Cloverleaf
Duststar <3 Cloverleaf = Daisyfoot, Whitebreeze, Thornbranch
Daisyfoot <3 Bluefire = Shellpaw, Sunflowerpaw
Hollywish <3 Thornbranch = Unborn Kits
Pollenflutter <3 Forestsnap = Pumpkinkit, Gingerkit, Darkkit
Amberbush <3 ? = Crismonrose, Cardinalflight
? <3 ? = Sweetfang, Silentstep, Orangewhisper, Tansypaw Fan Art/Requested Art(Only includes spoiler-free art, as story progresses more art work will be featured)
[image unavailable] The trio, drawn by @swaggycassie  Fogpaw, drawn by ! (Ġray) !  Nightgaze, drawn by 𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 (scars are not cannon in this book)  Angry Melodypaw, drawn by ✦⚝Stormscar⚝✦
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Aroace
🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅
if you need me ill be listening to sweater weather by the neighborhood on repeat
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Post by 🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅 on Jun 14, 2023 18:53:47 GMT -5
Prologue: A dark ginger she-cat lied in a lonely meadow, confused. Why was she here?
In the distance a misty shape of a cat approached. As it got closer and closer, the she-cat recognized it as a familiar white and black spotted Tom. She sat up.
“I’m glad to see you made it to StarClan safely, Cloverleaf,” she said, dipping her head.
“Greetings, Cardinalflight,” Cloverleaf replied.
“What brings you here?” Cardinalflight asked. She hoped Cloverleaf hadn’t come to bring bad news. The clan had enough to worry about with the recent death of their deputy.
Cloverleaf sighed. “Fog will cover the night skies as a melody plays. Together, these three things will protect us all from a hungry tiger…” Cloverleaf’s starry body then started to fade away.
“No!” Cardinalflight shouted, “Tell me more!” But it was too late, Cloverleaf was gone. She felt a little angered. Cloverleaf hadn’t said nearly anything, he just gave her an unexplained prophecy and left. What would she do now?
Cardinalflight awoke to an urgent cat yowling her name. “Cardinalflight! Cardinalflight!” The voice called. She jumped to her paws to see a brown marbled tabby tom nervously standing in the medicine den, right next to her nest.
“What is it, Branchswirl?” Cardinalflight asked, ready to grab herbs.
“It’s Graywillow!” The tom panted, “She’s having her kits!”
* * * *
Cardinalflight stared down at three small kits, fighting for their mother’s milk.
“They are healthy kits,” she told their mother.
“What will you name them?” Branchswirl asked. He was Graywillow’s mate.
Graywillow took a deep breath, as if she had been preparing for this moment her whole life. “The pale gray tom, he will be Fogkit. He will protect his younger littermates, just like how fog covers the distance, like a shield. The small black she-cat will be Nightkit, because the night is fierce, yet still calm. And finally, the youngest, the gray tabby she-cat, will be Melodykit, because I wish for her and her littermates to be happy and stay together, like the melody of a song,” Graywillow declared proudly. She smiled down at her squirming kits, and so did Branchswirl.
But Cardinalflight wasn’t smiling. Fog will cover the night skies as melody plays, She repeated Cloverleaf’s words in her head over and over again. She stared down at the tiny kits, stuck in her thoughts. She was sure of one thing, one thing that may change the fate of the clans forever.
These kits will have to learn to protect not just PetalClan, but all the clans, Cardinalflight thought.
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Aroace
🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅
if you need me ill be listening to sweater weather by the neighborhood on repeat
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Post by 🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅 on Jun 17, 2023 20:57:23 GMT -5
Chapter One: Melodypaw awoke to birds crackling over PetalClan camp. She gazed around, still lying in her cushioned nest in the apprentice den. The white and orange spotted shape of Tansypaw was fast asleep in the nest next to Melodypaw, making no sound but gentle breathing. Melodypaw’s brother Fogpaw was in the other nest beside her, snoring loudly. Everyone in the den had found his snoring annoying at first, but as time passed they learned to cope with it. There were no other apprentices in the den at the moment.
Shellpaw and Sunflowerpaw must have had the dawn patrol, She thought. Melodypaw carefully got up in stretched, not wanting to wake the other two apprentices. Then, she remembered something that almost made her fur jump off with excitement.
Today is my assessment!
Melodypaw and Fogpaw had been told by their mentors yesterday that they would have their assessment sometime today. Melodypaw was confident she would ace the assessment. Her mentor, Crismonrose, had taught her everything she could. There was no chance she’d fail! Melodypaw’s spirits then turned down when she glanced at Tansypaw. Tansypaw had done four assessments, and had never passed any of them. She had been an apprentice far longer than Melodypaw had been, and she had yet to receive a warrior name, while all her littermates did. Swamptail, Tansypaw’s mentor and the deputy, had always insisted her training still needed work before she became a warrior.
She trotted outside. PetalClan’s camp looked beautiful, fallen petals from the blossom trees above sprinkled the clearing. It was New-leaf, and that was a fantastic season for the clan. Prey was now emerged from its shelter that it needed for Leaf-bare. Hollywish, a permanent queen, was expecting kits that were bound to come soon. The clan was thriving.
Graywillow, Melodypaw’s mother approached. Her pale gray white spotted coat shined in the sunlight. “Are you ready for the big day?” She asked.
“Of course I am!” Melodypaw replied confidently, “I’ll have my warrior name by sundown!”
“I’m sure you will,” Graywillow replied, “Nightgaze already received her medicine cat name, so soon all my kits will have their full names.” Nightgaze was Melodypaw’s sister. She had chosen to train as a medicine cat, and had received her full name a few sunrises ago at the Moon Tree. She was rather quiet compared to Fogpaw and Melodypaw, but that’s what Melodypaw liked about her. She could talk all she wanted to Nightgaze, yet would never be interrupted by her. Her sister was rather smart too, knowing almost every herb off the top of her head.
A dark ginger cat started to approach Melodypaw and her mother. It was her mentor, Crismonrose.
“Hello, Melodypaw,” she greeted, “Where’s Fogpaw?”
“Asleep,” Melodypaw replied.
“Well, tell him to get ready. In not long Duststar will order Branchswirl and I to assess you two.”
Melodypaw nodded. Branchswirl was her father, and Fogpaw’s mentor. She had always looked up to Branchswirl, he was so strong and brave, Melodypaw wanted to be just like him. Mentors usually don’t get to have their kits as an apprentice, and she was jealous when her brother was given to Branchswirl instead of her. But Melodypaw thought Crismonrose was a great mentor, and she couldn’t ask for anything more.
Duststar was PetalClan’s noble leader. She was rather patient, yet expected highly of those around her. This sometimes came off as a flaw to Melodypaw, but she had no disrespect for her clan’s leader. She had lots of wisdom, and Melodypaw didn’t want to be so quick to judge any leader, let alone her own.
As she trotted towards the apprentice den, Melodypaw felt a rush of excitement once again.
I’m going to be a warrior! She thought. |
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Aroace
🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅
if you need me ill be listening to sweater weather by the neighborhood on repeat
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Post by 🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅 on Jun 18, 2023 11:44:29 GMT -5
Chapter Two: Nightgaze scanned the herb storage, looking to see what herbs were needed. The PetalClan medicine den was in a small part of the hollow, covered away by brambles and thistles.
“We need poppy seeds,” she told her mentor, Cardinalflight, “And juniper berries.”
“Anything else?”
“Daisy leaves,” Nightgaze replied. The herb store wasn’t completely filled, but since New-leaf approached they had found more herbs. However, Cardinalflight insisted that there were herbs they still couldn’t find that they needed, and she was right.
“We need the Daisy leaves. Cottontail was complaining of aching joints earlier, and I think the Daisy leaves might ease them,” Cardinalflight said.
“Even with Leaf-bare passing they’re still aching?” Nightgaze asked. Cottontail always had something to complain about. She was Nightgaze’s kin, being her grandmother, but was quite a grouchy elder. Nightgaze always thought it was from not having any other elders to talk too.
“I think they are always aching, Nightgaze,” Cardinalflight replied jokingly. Nightgaze smiled. She loved her mentor.
“Do you want me to go and look for some daisy leaves?” Nightgaze asked, “I could try to find some poppy and juniper too.” She had known Cardinalflight wanted to go out herself, but Nightgaze didn’t want her too. Ever since Nightgaze’s naming ceremony at half-moon, Cardinalflight had seemed down and ill, almost timid. Cardinalflight had been getting on in years, sure, but Nightgaze never thought she was that old.
Did I do something that frightened her? She asked herself.
“Sure,” Her mentor murmured, “just be careful. I heard your littermates are going out for their assessment, so try not to disturb them.” Nightgaze nodded. She went out to the path leading to the camp’s exit, when she saw her brother.
“Hello, Fogpaw,” Nightgaze said, “Excited for your assessment?”
“Not really,” her brother grunted. He wasn’t very upbeat and confident about the assessment like Melodypaw was, “What if I fail?”
“I’m sure you won’t.”
“But I might,” Fogpaw insisted, “Tansypaw has taken four assessments and failed all of them!” Nightgaze frowned. Tansypaw was her friend. It was true that she had failed her assessment several times, but Nightgaze always thought Swamptail was too hard on her.
“Well, this isn’t Tansypaw’s assessment,” Nightgaze reminded him, “It’s your assessment. Your’s and Melodypaw’s. Why can’t you brighten up like her?”
“This is all easy for you to say!” Fogpaw snapped, “Your a medicine cat! You’ve never had to take a warrior’s assessment!”
“Fogpaw!” Brachswirl called, “We are going to head out!” With that, Fogpaw stomped away. Nightgaze rolled her eyes. Why was her brother so stubborn? She continued to walk out of camp, onto PetalClan’s territory. Nightgaze went in the direction of the Great Waterfall. The Great Waterfall was just what it sounded like. A huge, wide waterfall. The water was deep, too, not to mention how high of a fall it would be if a cat fell down. It bordered PetalClan and StoneClan territory. FrostClan’s wasn’t far from it either, however. It also shared boarders with PetalClan, taking the area where the huge oaks and blossom trees of PetalClan territory where no longer there, and there were instead dark, mysterious pines.
Nightgaze turned as she approached the Great Waterfall, scenting for daisy leaves. They usually grew best near there. She had always found it odd how such a delicate plant grew near such a roaring waterfall.
It’s kind of like my littermates, Nightgaze thought, One a delicate and cheerful daisy, the other a snappy, stubborn waterfall.
She picked a cluster of daisy leaves and headed to the FrostClan boarder, where several juniper bushes grew. As she made her way toward the boarder, she scented something.
FrostClan patrol! Nightgaze alerted. They were on PetalClan territory! The misty shapes of cats were seen in the distance. She pranced towards them. There were three cats, two warriors, one apprentice. She recognized the black tom, Pantherstripe, from gatherings, and the brown apprentice, Pinepaw. But the other warrior was the FrostClan deputy, Juniperleap.
“Hey!” She shouted, “You are on PetalClan territory!”
“We are aware!—“ Pinepaw yowled, but Pantherstripe lashed his tail, signaling not to say anything more.
“We are simply here to take back what is ours,” Juniperleap said, “This patch of territory up to where the Great Waterfall begins is rightfully FrostClan territory.”
Nightgaze had heard stories about how after Dark Forest cats started targeting PetalClan cats to train, Streamstar, who was a new leader at the time, secretly gave PetalClan a chunk of their territory to confuse the Dark Forest cats if they ever invaded. When the Dark Forest cats did invade, the plan worked, and Streamstar let PetalClan keep the territory. But that’s all Nightgaze knew. The Dark Forest invasion was a heavily forbidden topic to talk about.
“I believe this isn’t FrostClan territory until Duststar says it is,” Nightgaze said, trying to hold back her anger.
But the FrostClan warriors weren’t wrong. This was their territory once.
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Aroace
🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅
if you need me ill be listening to sweater weather by the neighborhood on repeat
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Post by 🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅 on Jul 7, 2023 21:52:05 GMT -5
Chapter Three: Fogpaw glanced at Branchswirl and Crismonrose as they trotted away, ready to find a spot to watch him and his sister. He turned to Melodypaw. She was beaming, clearly excited for their assessment to begin.
But Fogpaw wasn’t. He wasn’t quite sure his hunting skills were completely on point, but he knew he couldn’t act like a frightened kit, he had to get his warrior name. It was now or never.
”I’m going to start hunting!” Melodypaw declared.
Fogpaw’s ears became hot with frustration. “With you making that much noise, there may be no prey around to hunt!” He hissed back to his sister in a quiet tone. Melodypaw dashed off behind the blossom trees of PetalClan territory, leaving Fogpaw alone.
Good, Fogpaw thought, Melodypaw is a great hunter, but I’ll be better off independently.
He lifted his nose in the air, trying to find any scent of prey nearby. A scent soon stumbled upon him, the scent of a vole. Fogpaw carefully padded towards the scent, then dropping into a hunter’s crouch. There, right beside a small bush was a fat vole. Fogpaw knew it would be a great catch, as the vole looked juicy and enjoyable to any cat. Just getting a quick glance at it made Fogpaw hungry himself.
He approached the vole, careful not to step on any twigs or make any slightest sound that could alert his victim. Slithering between the grass, Fogpaw got ready to pounce at the small creature. He lifted his body up into the air and…Snap! The vole had fallen limp in between Fogpaw’s jaws, its neck now broken.
Fogpaw smiled. Perhaps my assessment will go well after all, he thought. He dug into the dirt ground and carefully placed his vole in the hole he had created, before burying it right back up. It seemed almost too good for a first catch. Luck, maybe. Fogpaw couldn’t help but wonder how Melodypaw was doing. He felt bad for snapping at her, but no cat could deny that she was quite a loud she-cat. Fogpaw shook his head. He had to focus.
Turning around, Fogpaw caught a glimpse of a ginger shape behind a tree. Crismonrose. He thought. Taking a deep breathe, Fogpaw walked away, trying to show no sign of how nervous he truly was. He headed towards the Great Waterfall. That was always a great place for hunting. Prey liked to be close to running water and streams, and although sometimes the noise frightened it, the noise also covered up the sounds of predators getting ready to catch a delicious meal. Branchswirl had taught Fogpaw that. Fogpaw wanted to be like Branchswirl one day, but he still didn’t get why Melodypaw was so obsessed with him. Sure, he was their father and Fogpaw’s amazing mentor, but that didn’t mean she had to get all excited over him.
Fogpaw brought his mind back to prey. He caught the scent of mouse, and followed it. So far his assessment was going smoothly, and he hoped it would stay that way.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2023 9:34:50 GMT -5
Will review each chapter (hope you don't mind) - Hi!
Prologue - A smart medicine cat, thank you, yaaaas
Chapter 1 - Petalpaw is cute, she is super energetic!!! I can imagine her being deputy, maybe leader as she matures?
Chapter 2 - Nightgaze seems cool. Though can you tell me a bit more about this battle or is it spoilers?
Chapter 3 - Fogpaw would be a good warrior if he could extend his kindness a little further! I wonder what his name will be! Maybe Fogshade or shadow or maybe stalk?
Chapter 4 - Nightgaze you need to learn better comebacks!!
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Aroace
🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅
if you need me ill be listening to sweater weather by the neighborhood on repeat
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Post by 🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅 on Jul 8, 2023 10:03:30 GMT -5
Will review each chapter (hope you don't mind) - Hi! Prologue - A smart medicine cat, thank you, yaaaas Chapter 1 - Petalpaw is cute, she is super energetic!!! I can imagine her being deputy, maybe leader as she matures? Chapter 2 - Nightgaze seems cool. Though can you tell me a bit more about this battle or is it spoilers? Chapter 3 - Fogpaw would be a good warrior if he could extend his kindness a little further! I wonder what his name will be! Maybe Fogshade or shadow or maybe stalk? Oh yes, there are like no medicine cats in the series that actually use their brain cells, so I thought Cardinalflight should use hers. I love Melodypaw. So basically this battle plays a huge part in one of the siblings future development, so I can’t say much. However, the protagonists don’t know much about this battle do to it being a very hushed upon topic within the clans. The Dark Forest invasion was a very dark time (which you’ll eventually learn more about) and the clans don’t like giving the younger generations lots of information on it. PetalClan really struggled the most during that time. I can tell you that Fogpaw will grow up to be a very loyal cat to his clan, and will soon learn to become more caring and less snappy. He will receive his warrior name soon. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2023 12:15:33 GMT -5
Fogpaw leaves his Clan maybe?! COOL, I can't remember a protag doing that (besides graystripe, but he came back so)
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Aroace
🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅
if you need me ill be listening to sweater weather by the neighborhood on repeat
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Post by 🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅 on Jul 8, 2023 12:25:12 GMT -5
Fogpaw leaves his Clan maybe?! COOL, I can't remember a protag doing that (besides graystripe, but he came back so) OH NO I MADE A TYPO I MEANT TO SAY CAN INSTEAD OF CANT. BUT IN SOME WAYS HE ISNT LOYAL BUT COMPARED TO HIS SIBLINGS, OH BOY HE’S LOYAL |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2023 12:39:38 GMT -5
hehe
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Aroace
🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅
if you need me ill be listening to sweater weather by the neighborhood on repeat
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Post by 🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅 on Jul 8, 2023 15:21:32 GMT -5
Chapter Four: Nightgaze unsheathed her claws, only to hear Pantherstripe chuckle.
”You have a lot to say for a medicine cat,” He snickered. Nightgaze frowned, embarrassed. She hated being mocked by older warriors, due to her not knowing what to say in reply. She hated being mocked by any cats. It made her feel defenseless, like a tiny mouse waiting to be pounced on.
”I—“ She muttered, “I’m just stating what I believe is right.”
”May you please escort us to Duststar so we can discuss this with her?” Juniperleap asked. Nightgaze nodded. She grabbed her daisy leaves and padded in the direction of PetalClan camp, anxiously glancing back from time to time to make sure the FrostClan patrol was still following her.
Why do they even want this territory back just now? Nightgaze thought. Sure, the juniper berry bushes were great use, but Dewdapple and Rainpaw, the FrostClan medicine cats, weren’t ones to request territory to get herbs. Maybe their having trouble with StoneClan, Nightgaze suggested to herself.
StoneClan’s territory was on the other side of the Great Waterfall. Unlike PetalClan’s, their territory also ranged in the area before the Great Waterfall dropped, meaning they shared boarders with FrostClan too. The narrow old bridge was the only way to get from PetalClan to StoneClan territory, and it lied just in front of where the Great Waterfall dropped, meaning if it fell, the cat crossing it would fall or drown to their death. The thought always made Nightgaze shiver.
But in FrostClan territory Nightgaze didn’t know if they had any way to get across the other side of the stream. Surely they did, they had too. How would the battles fought between the clans ever happen if there was no way to get to the enemy clan’s territory?
As Nightgaze and the FrostClan cats padded down the vine path that leaded into PetalClan’s camp, Juniperleap broke the silence that the four cats had kept throughout the short journey. “Let me do the talking,” she hissed to her patrol. Pantherstripe and Pinepaw nodded, although Nightgaze caught a glimpse of annoyed frustration in Pantherstripe’s eyes. Nightgaze was surprised she hadn’t spotted or scented Fogpaw or Melodypaw, but her sense of scent had been blocked by the strong, icy scent of the FrostClan cats.
Nightgaze watched as all the cats in her clan turned to the FrostClan patrol, all whispering to eachother about their accusations on why the patrol was in their camp, followed by a nervous medicine cat apprentice carrying daisy leaves.
“Mother, who are those strange cats?” Pumpkinkit squeaked.
”FrostClan?” Amberbush questioned, her ears pricking up.
”What do they want?” Bluefire snapped. Swamptail approached Nightgaze, his tail flicking side to side in the air.
“Why are these cats doing here?” He asked, his dark green eyes glaring at Nightgaze.
Nightgaze took a deep breath. She had never liked the PetalClan deputy’s snappy attitude, but she had learned to get used to it. However, I’m her mind it was still a big deal to talk to Swamptail about the clan. “They would like to speak to Duststar,” she answered, “Where is she?”
”In her den,” Swamptail answered, “I’ll go grab her. Keep those FrostClan cats put!” He trotted back behind the Grand Blossom Tree, which was where Duststar held meetings. She sat on the highest branch, and her den was behind the tree.
Nightgaze sighed. She hoped that FrostClan’s greediness to get the territory they gifted to PetalClan wouldn’t cause a harsh battle between the clans. Battles were never a good time for medicine cats, or for any clan cat for that matter.
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Aroace
🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅
if you need me ill be listening to sweater weather by the neighborhood on repeat
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Post by 🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅 on Jul 9, 2023 7:34:42 GMT -5
Chapter Five: Melodypaw scampered through the trees. She had already caught two squirrels, but now she wanted to catch a mouse. Fogpaw and her had been out hunting for quite a bit now, and she wanted to catch as much as she could before the assessment was over. So far she felt very confident in herself. The squirrels were good sized catches, and she believed her hunting technique was great. She had done everything Crismonrose had taught her to do. Melodypaw would be a warrior soon, and she knew it.
As she detected the scent of a mouse nearby, she crouched down, following the scent of her prey. She saw it, sitting next to a tee. The mouse was nibbling on something, too distracted to notice Melodypaw. She crawled towards and, and then pounced. With one quick snap to the neck, the mouse was dead. Melodypaw beamed with pride. Her assessment had gone perfectly!
But how did Fogpaw’s? Melodypaw thought. Even if if brother was always in the worst mood, he was nervous about his assessment earlier. Had he done great too? Melodypaw couldn’t stand the thought of being made a warrior without him.
”Melodypaw!” A voice called from the bushes. Melodypaw nearly jumped, not expecting the voice, only to see it was her father, Branchswirl. “You have completed your assessment.”
”Where’s Fogpaw and Crismonrose?” She asked.
”Crismonrose went to grab Fogpaw,” Branchswirl said, “Now come on, let’s go back to camp.”
”Did I do good?” Melodypaw asked. She loved it when her father praised her. She felt special when he did. Getting a compliment from her older kin made Melodypaw feel on top of the world.
”I’m not supposed to say before your warrior ceremony—“
”Oh please! Can’t you just tell me?”
”What I can tell you is that from what me and Crismonrose saw, you’ll be a warrior,” Branchswirl answered with a smile. Melodypaw had to resist the urge to bounce around the whole forest like an eager tiny kit. She would be made a warrior! Fogpaw and Crismonrose then approached her and Branchswirl. The four cats started trotting towards camp.
”How’d you do?” Melodypaw asked her brother. He was carrying a fat vole and a shrew.
”I did okay…” he murmured, “I missed a pounce on a mouse.”
”You’ll be fine,” Meoldypaw said, “Look at the size of that vole! You’ll be made a warrior in no time!”
”But I didn’t make three catches,” Fogpaw protested.
”No one said you needed to make three catches!—“ Melodypaw paused. She picked up the scent of Graywillow, and they weren’t near camp yet. It was just her mother’s scent, no one else’s. What was Graywillow doing outside of camp alone? “Do you smell that?” She asked. Branchswirl and Crismonrose were to far ahead to hear the question.
”Graywillow’s scent? Yeah,” Fogpaw answered.
”Why is she out alone?” Melodypaw asked.
”I don’t know,” Fogpaw said, “Why are you being so nosy? There’s also fresh FrostClan scent here, but that’s older than Graywillow’s scent. I’m more concerned about the FrostClan scent.”
They were now at camp, only to see the whole clan running around, as if preparing for something.
”What is happening? Why did we smell FrostClan scent?” Crismonrose asked.
“FrostClan wants the territory they gifted to us back!” Silentstep hissed, “And if they want a battle, they can get a battle!”
“Swamptail, organize a border patrol. Whitebreeze and Thornbranch, you two are our strongest builders. Start to thicken the barrier all around camp. We must not make it easy for FrostClan to invade if they dare to.” Whitebreeze and Thornbranch nodded, scampering towards the barriers. “Tansypaw, Sunflowerpaw, I want you two gathering as much material for Whitebreeze and Thornbranch as you can.”
”Got it!” Sunflowerpaw said. He and Tansypaw padded towards the camp exit. Right as they went out, Graywillow came back in. What was she doing out there? Melodypaw thought.
”Daisyfoot, Bluefire, Vineshade, border patrol,” Swamptail ordered from the lower branch of the Grand Blossom Tree. Melodypaw was glad she and Fogpaw had an excuse to not go on the boarder patrol, and that Graywillow wasn’t sent to do anything either. Melodypaw still wanted to know what her mother was doing. Melodypaw was a rather nosy cat, always invested in the lives of others. She just had to know what her mother was doing alone.
But the most concerning part was that Graywillow never leaves camp alone, so why would she now?
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Aroace
🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅
if you need me ill be listening to sweater weather by the neighborhood on repeat
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Post by 🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅 on Jul 10, 2023 22:43:21 GMT -5
Chapter Six: Fogpaw glanced at his sister and mother from a distance. They both seemed to be deep in conversation, but Fogpaw knew that Melodypaw’s true goal wasn’t just to have a friendly chat with Graywillow. She wanted to know where she had gone, which Fogpaw thought was completely unnecessary. Graywillow was a fully grown warrior, and had a right to do whatever she pleased. Unless it was against the code, but Fogpaw knew his mother would never do such a thing.
His sister was just being too nosy yet again. She could never keep her muzzle out of other cats business, no matter what it was. Her curiosity always got to the best of her. But that’s what made it fun to be around Melodypaw. Fogpaw found her quite annoying sometimes, but when they were just fooling around she was great company. Nightgaze was too, but she always seemed to be too busy. She wasn’t exactly an outgoing cat anyways, always staying quiet and having her nose stuck in herbs.
Fogpaw’s attention went on Graywillow and Melodypaw again. Melodypaw went over to the fresh-kill pile and grabbed one of the squirrels she had caught earlier. The two started to share the meal. Fogpaw wondered if he should come over and share with them too, but he wasn’t hungry. Either way, Melodypaw was up to some sort of mission. Some sort of mission that would get her some sort of scolding, whether it was from her mentor Crismonrose, Swamptail, or any other older warrior.
He, like his sister, had never liked Swamptail. Swamptail was technically their kin, being brother to Branchswirl, but he never felt like an uncle. The biggest praise Fogpaw had ever gotten from Swamptail was him saying he did an okay job catching a mouse, and then preceded to tell Fogpaw a better way to hunt. Swamptail wasn’t even just stubborn either, he wasn’t even considerate. He was a great warrior, but Fogpaw never understood why Duststar would ever choose him as her deputy.
Shellpaw padded towards him. “Hey, Fogpaw!” The young apprentice called. Shellpaw had only been apprenticed not even a moon ago, along with her brother Sunflowerpaw. She was pretty friendly, and she seemed to look up to the other apprentices, as they were all far older than her. “How was the assessment?” She asked.
”It was alright,” Fogpaw replied, “I think I passed.”
“Good for you!” Shellpaw said, “What’s an assessment like? I want to know everything before I have my own!”
”It’s not much different from any other hunting patrol or mission. It’s just that Whitebreeze and Amberbush would watch you, since you’d take the assessment with Sunflowerpaw because he’s your brother and Amberbush is his mentor,” Fogpaw told her.
”You must get at least a bit nervous, right?” She asked.
”I was really nervous, and I still am, but it’s not as intimidating as I expected it to be.”
”Do you think the fight will be scary?” Shellpaw asked.
”The one with FrostClan?” Fogpaw questioned, “We don’t know if that will even happen.”
“It has to happen!” Shellpaw exclaimed, “I’m so excited to fight. I’m sure PetalClan will scare those FrostClan warriors so bad, they’ll flee shaking so bad that their fur will fall off!” Fogpaw hadn’t participated in many battles during his apprenticeship. PetalClan had gotten a false alarm about an attack from StoneClan at the waterfall, but the fight never happened. Another time PetalClan came to help defend StoneClan against FrostClan during a fight, but there had never been an invasion in PetalClan territory while Fogpaw was alive. He had heard stories about a fox attack that happened shortly before he and his littermates were born that killed the former deputy, Cloverleaf, but that didn’t count.
“Fights are cool and all, but they take preparing,” Fogpaw said, “I don’t want anything to delay my warrior ceremony.”
”The apprentice den is going to feel so empty now,” Shellpaw paused, “Is it true that Tansypaw has failed her assessment four times?”
”Why do you ask that?” Fogpaw asked.
”I don’t know. It seems like a myth almost, I mean, how can you fail an assessment so many times?”
”You could ask Tansypaw,” Fogpaw pointed out. He believed that Tansypaw had failed her assessment so many times. It was one of the reasons he was so nervous before his own assessment, the thought that you could fail your assessment so many times made Fogpaw queasy.
”I don’t want to,” Shellpaw admitted, “It seems wrong.”
”Ask Nightgaze then. She’s best friends with Tansypaw.”
”Oh, alright,” Shellpaw then trotted away.
”Fogpaw! Fogpaw!” Melodypaw called. She was no longer sharing prey with Graywillow, but instead coming over to sit with Fogpaw.
“What is it?” Fogpaw asked.
”I can’t get anything out of Graywillow, she seems to be hiding something.”
”Why are you so invested in what she was doing?”
”Fogpaw, you mouse-brain! Don’t you remember when we were kits, and she told us that she never likes leaving camp alone? She never does leave camp alone. Why would she now?”
Fogpaw opened his mouth to talk, but he couldn’t find any words. His sister did have a good point. “So what do you want me to do?” He asked.
”Help me follow her trail!” Melodypaw said, “Come on! We need to ask Nightgaze to help too before the scent is gone!”
”Wait, you want Nightgaze and I to help you follow our mother’s trail, alone, without anyone’s permission?”
”Exactly,” Melodypaw answered, “Now let’s go grab Nightgaze—“
”But what if we are caught out of camp without permission? They’ll delay our warrior ceremony.”
”Fogpaw, you’ve gotta live a little,” She said.
”Fine,” Fogpaw grunted, not able to believe he was doing this.
Also, @angelfire I could add you to a ping list if you are interested in knowing when new chapters are updated. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2023 17:03:34 GMT -5
Love the new title
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Aroace
🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅
if you need me ill be listening to sweater weather by the neighborhood on repeat
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Post by 🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅 on Jul 12, 2023 7:35:10 GMT -5
Chapter Seven: ”We have all necessary herbs for battle,” Cardinalflight said, “But I’d still like some more marigold.”
Nightgaze nodded. She had been rather quiet since her encounter with FrostClan. She didn’t like the thought that she was the one who found the patrol asking for battle over a small part of territory.
Why does every cat think FrostClan is going to invade? Surely the battle would start at the juniper bushes?
Nightgaze stopped. She saw her two littermates sticking their head into the medicine den. Melodypaw tilted her head, urging her to come over. “I’ll go grab that marigold for you,” Nightgaze told her mentor.
”Are you sure?” Cardinalflight asked, “You already gathered me some herbs this morning and got into some trouble with FrostClan, I could go grab these herbs.”
”No, it’s fine,” Nightgaze replied. She then padded out of the medicine den. Once Fogpaw, Melodypaw, and her were out of earshot from Cardinalflight, she started asking questions. “What are you two up to?” She asked.
”More like what is Melodypaw up to,” Fogpaw groaned.
”Graywillow left camp alone today,” Melodypaw said.
”But she never leaves camp alone,” Nightgaze muttered.
”Exactly!” Melodypaw exclaimed. She then toned down her voice, “That’s why we are going to follow her scent trail.”
”What? Have you gone mad?” Nightgaze said, “Think about the trouble we’d get in. Cardinalflight isn’t trying to show it, but I know she’s already not pleased with me for my encounter with the FrostClan patrol. Isn’t it best we just stay here? Especially with a battle threat.”
”I told you she wouldn’t buy it,” Fogpaw hissed at Melodypaw.
“But what if Graywillow is in danger?” Melodypaw asked persuasively.
”She seems fine to me, and I’m the medicine cat here.”
”Well, what if something is troubling her?”
Nightgaze rolled her eyes. “I’ll go. But if we get into any trouble, it’s on you, Melodypaw.”
The three young cats walked towards the vine path, but then they were stopped by Orangewhisper. “What are you three doing?” He asked.
”I—“
”We’re helping Nightgaze gather marigold,” Fogpaw said. Orangewhisper just nodded, glancing at them suspiciously, and then padded off. “Do I have to do all the talking?” Fogpaw snapped.
”Well, I’m not much of a talker,” Nightgaze said. Memories of the FrostClan patrol swayed through her head.
’ You’ve got a lot to say for a medicine cat,’ Maybe Pantherstripe was right.
“But I am!” Melodypaw said as they started walking, “I talk!”
”And what would you have said if you answered Orangewhisper’s question?” Fogpaw asked.
”Well—“
”Exactly.”
”Is this the trail we are looking for?” Nightgaze asked. The scent of her mother was slightly fresh, but it was turning stale beneath her paws.
”Yep! Now let’s go!” Melodypaw said. Fogpaw and Nightgaze stayed behind, following their eager sister as she moved every inch there was Graywillow’s scent. As they walked farther and farther, the trail seemed to be leading to the FrostClan boarder.
Maybe Graywillow encountered them too, Nightgaze thought. Suddenly, another scent grazed her nostrils. Vineshade, Bluefire, Daisyfoot…
”The border patrol!” Fogpaw said, “And come over here! There’s different FrostClan scent from other cats!”
”We should follow it. The boarder patrol might be in trouble,” Melodypaw suggested.
”But I can’t get in anymore trouble with FrostClan,” Nightgaze said.
”Would you rather have your clanmates get seriously injured, just because you couldn’t face FrostClan?” Fogpaw snapped.
”Well—“
”Stop arguing! You two are wasting time!” Melodypaw said. She dashed towards the scent, which seemed to be leading to the FrostClan boarder.
Then, in front of them was Vineshade, Bluefire, and Daisyfoot, fighting fiercely against Streamstar, Snowfall, Berrypaw, a tortishell she-cat, a ginger she-cat, and Dappleleaf.
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Aroace
🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅
if you need me ill be listening to sweater weather by the neighborhood on repeat
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Post by 🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅 on Jul 14, 2023 8:03:20 GMT -5
Chapter Eight: Vineshade glanced at the three confused littermates as he fought off Dappleleaf. The brown she-cat was a fierce fighter that Melodypaw had seen at gatherings, but Vineshade had gotten her pinned. ”Don’t just stand there!” He snapped, “Fogpaw help us fight off the FrostClan warriors. Melodypaw, go get help. Nightgaze I suggest you get back and start preparing herbs with Cardinalflight, Daisyfoot already has a nasty shoulder wound—“ Dappleleaf pounced up from Vineshade’s grasp, digging her claws deep into his sides. He yowled in surprise, then slid underneath her belly to trip his opponent. Melodypaw had never saw that move before, but she had no time to be admiring unique fighting skills, she had to get back to camp and warn the others. ”Nightgaze, let’s go!” She shouted. Melodypaw started sprinting across territory, dodging any blossom trees in her way. She could hear her sister’s hot breathe against her fur. Melodypaw would not let her paws stop, no matter what happened in PetalClan territory as she passed. What mattered was that the border patrol needed help, and she was going to get them it. But once they got to camp, the familiar scent came again. No! Not again! Melodypaw thought. She walked down the vine path only to find that her clan already knew FrostClan had came, because they were already fighting them. Even more warriors were fighting from both clans, a far bigger patrol had came to attack their camp. ”I’ve got to get to Cardinalflight!” Nightgaze cried, running off. Melodypaw charged in the fight, looking to find Duststar. PetalClan wasn’t outnumbered here, but they were at the FrostClan border. She needed to get her leader to send a couple warriors to the battle on the other side of territory. As she passed through the battle trying not to get attacked, she got a glance of Juniperleap, the FrostClan deputy. If Streamstar is up at the boarder, Juniperleap must have lead her clan into this fight, Melodypaw thought. Through the battling cats, she saw a glance of creme fur. Duststar’s daughter Daisyfoot was fighting in the other fight, so it had to be Duststar. Dodging cats, she saw her, fighting off Ravensight, a black FrostClan she-cat. Melodypaw knew that she was Pantherstripe’s sister, but nothing more. Duststar seemed to be defending her, so nothing mattered.
But suddenly, Melodypaw felt the weight of a cat pin her down. She flopped over, only to see Pinepaw from FrostClan.
”Get off me you foxheart!” She yowled, tossing him off. Melodypaw sunk her teeth into his shoulder, but the brown apprentice clawed her sides, making blood run down her fur. Giving Pinepaw a taste of his own medicine, she dug her claws into his own sides in return. Pinepaw yowled in pain, not expecting that coming.
”You are the foxheart here!” He shot back in fury, “Your clan took FrostClan territory!”
”We never took anything! It was given too us!”
Pinepaw just hissed in return, attempting to trample Melodypaw. He failed, but almost succeeded. Melodypaw stumbled, but didn’t fall. Pinepaw went to bite Melodypaw, but she shoved him off, giving him a deep bite to his stomach.
Once again, something pounced on Melodypaw, right on her wound. She resisted the urge to screech in pain. This cat was heavier than Pinepaw. Then, she got a glance who it was. It was Juniperleap.
She sunk her teeth into the claw wounds that she received, then sunk her teeth into the same wound again. Melodypaw didn’t know what to do. She seemed defenseless, her wound burning with pain.
”Would you like to hurt a FrostClan apprentice again, huh?” Juniperleap taunted, once again biting the wound she had already created. Melodypaw didn’t reply. Even if she wanted too, she was completely pinned down, having nothing else to do but suffer. Melodypaw had never hurt an already wounded wound. She had never been trained that way, and it seemed cruel. She didn’t even know how to do it, if she thought about it. Melodypaw winced in pain. What was she supposed to do?
But then the wait on Melodypaw was lifted up. Juniperleap had been thrown off Melodypaw. Melodypaw got up, seeing Swamptail face to face with the FrostClan deputy. Swamptail, the cat Melodypaw disliked so much, had saved her.
”How dare you attack an apprentice with much less skill than you?” Swamptail hissed.
”I was only fighting beside Pinepaw,” Juniperleap hissed, “If you want your apprentices not to end up so terribly wounded, then train them better in fighting.”
”Oh really? I could have sworn I just saw you only jump on Melodypaw because she was absolutely destroying Pinepaw,” Swamptail snapped. He then charged at Juniperleap, biting at her leg, causing her to lift it up in the air. Swamptail took advantage of this moment, flipping her over. “If you want to use that lovely knowledge that we learned when we were younger,” Swamptail whispered to her, “Then I will too.” Melodypaw stood, confused. What knowledge that they had learned when they were younger?
”Swamptail, the border patrol is being attacked too. They are outnumbered and need more warriors,” Melodypaw said, wincing in pain. Her side burned, blood oozing out of the dreadful wound.
“Get Silentstep and Whitebreeze. Tell Whitebreeze to bring Shellpaw too,” Swamptail said. Juniperleap was up now, swatting at his face. She bit into his shoulder, but Swamptail bit her back before she could manage to bite him multiple times. “Then you go to the medicine den. I don’t want to see any apprentices weakly mangled before their warrior ceremony.” Melodypaw opened her mouth to protest, but she stopped herself. She did need the medicine den, and she had to get Silentstep, Whitebreeze, and Shellpaw.
She first spotted a white cat, and knew it could be either Silentstep or Whitebreeze. She dashed over passing several battling cats, finding Silentstep fighting Monarchwing, a FrostClan tom. Silentstep was one of the best fighters in the clan, and he was winning of course. Monarchwing retreated, a small trail of blood leaving behind as the gray tom dashed away.
”Silentstep, go to the FrostClan boarder,” Melodypaw said, “There’s a battle going on there with another FrostClan patrol and PetalClan is outnumbered.” Silentstep just nodded in response, and went to the exit of camp. Melodypaw was glad he didn’t ask why an apprentice was ordering him around. She just wanted to get this done with so her wound could get healed.
Padding forward, she saw Whitebreeze telling Shellpaw something near the Grand Blossom Tree. “Hey! Whitebreeze, Shellpaw!” Melodypaw called, “Go to the FrostClan border, our patrol is outnumber up there!”
”Oh, okay,” Shellpaw said.
“Get to the medicine den, Melodypaw,” Whitebreeze ordered, “That isn’t a very nice wound.” Melodypaw nodded. She watched the two cats pad off, and then started to make her way to the medicine den. She had done her job, now hopefully her wound could be healed quickly and she could jump right back into battle.
However, something caught Melodypaw’s eye. Graywillow had been pinned down by a warrior that she couldn’t see. Amberbush’s body was covering who the warrior was, and what the cat was doing. Amberbush didn’t seem to know who the cat was either, not noticing Graywillow.
”You wouldn’t harm me, would you?” Graywillow said to the warrior. Melodypaw couldn’t hear what the warrior said in reply. She tried to move to see the warrior, but she still couldn’t see or make out who the FrostClan warrior was. But why was Graywillow saying he wouldn’t harm her? He was an enemy warrior, surely he would!
”You were never there in our kits lives. Branchswirl acts as a better father to them then you could ever be, and I’m just disappointed that you committed to our half-clan relationship and then when I expected your kits, you just ran away and stopped visiting me. You should be ashamed.” Graywillow spoke.
Melodypaw froze. Her blood seemed to turn to ice. Her wound didn’t even hurt anymore. Betrayal rushed through her body. She sprinted towards where Graywillow had been, but she was gone. There was no FrostClan warrior either, they had both ran away. She was angry, angry that she had been lied to her whole life, and she seemed to be the only cat in the battle that overheard Graywillow’s words.
Melodypaw was not Branchswirl’s daughter. She was half-clan, born to her mother and a tom from FrostClan, and she didn’t know which tom. |
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Aroace
🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅
if you need me ill be listening to sweater weather by the neighborhood on repeat
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Post by 🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅 on Jul 16, 2023 21:58:47 GMT -5
Note: If you saw the previous update, I had a part of chapter nine finished. Well, I completely scrapped that part because I decided having a Fogpaw chapter wouldn’t be as climactic as having a Nightgaze chapter at the moment. I hope you enjoy my work  Chapter Nine: Nightgaze watched the battle from inside the medicine den, keeping an eye out for any injured PetalClan cats coming their way to be healed. It looked like absolute chaos in the camp, fights breaking out in every corner. Blood splattered the clearing. Nightgaze shook at the sight. It was at times like these when she really appreciated her choice of being a medicine cat.
”Nightgaze, please focus,” Cardinalflight said, “Do you mind grabbing some cobweb for Forestsnap’s wound? Don’t grab too much though, I want the marigold poultice to settle a little before I wrap it fully in the cobweb.” Nightgaze snapped out of her thoughts and grabbed a clump of cobweb. Thankfully Cardinalflight and her had gathered plenty of it, because they would need it. Cobweb was a necessary herb to have during battles like these. Every wound need to be wrapped carefully and cared for as gently as if handling a newborn kit.
Nightgaze stopped in front of her mentor, gazing down at Forestsnap’s wound. It was a bite wound above his thigh on his left hind leg. Although not deep, the gray tabby had lost a good amount of blood from the bite. Nightgaze hoped that once he was all patched up Forestsnap could go back fighting with his clanmates, although that was unrealistic considering how strict Cardinalflight was with keeping patients in the medicine den until healed long enough to be fine doing warrior tasks unsupervised.
“Do you want me to wrap it?” Nightgaze offered.
“No, I’ve got it under control,” Cardinalflight replied, “Get some marigold poultice ready though, I bet you we are going to need it in the next cat that comes in.” Nightgaze nodded, obeying her mentor. She approached the herb store, grabbing a clump of marigold. She started to chew it up, but was interrupted by a soft sound. Nightgaze turned. It was the sound of whining in pain, some cat had to be coming into the medicine den. Panting at the entrance was Melodypaw, blood dripping from a deep wound on her side. Nightgaze almost gasped, but she didn’t. It was impolite to be so astonished at other cats’ wounds, Cardinalflight had taught her. Even if it was her own sister, she had to stay calm.
“Lie down on the nest over there,” Nightgaze ordered. Melodypaw waddled over, putting more wait on her good side. She collapsed down onto the nest with exhaustion, wincing in pain.
“How did this happen?” Cardinalflight asked, turning away from Forestsnap and now gazing on Melodypaw.
”Juniperleap bit me multiple times on the same spot,” Melodypaw answered, “Is it bad?”
Neither medicine cat answered. The just gave subtle glances at eachother and turned back at the dark gray tabby she-cat, not uttering a word. Nightgaze wished she could bite Juniperleap back for harming her sister, but she didn’t have the confidence to, let alone the training. She padded back to where she had dropped the poultice and started chewing it again, now completing turning the marigold into a smooth poultice.
“Dab that wound with moss first, it’s got a lot of blood at it,” Cardinalflight reminded her apprentice.
“I know,” Nightgaze said, grabbing the moss too. She approached her sister, dropping the marigold. Carefully, she dabbed the moss around Melodypaw’s bloody wound. “Does that hurt?” She asked.
“Yes, but it’s not you. It just stings really badly,” Melodypaw said. She then dropped her tone down into a whisper, “Nightgaze, I need to tell you something important.”
“What is it?” Nightgaze replied softly back, “You know I don’t like secrets.”
“Then you’ll be just as angry as I am,” Melodypaw mumbled. She paused, leaving Nightgaze’s head swirling with questions. What would make Melodypaw really angry? If it was Fogpaw Nightgaze could believe that, but Melodypaw seemed to mainly think positive. She got frustrated when underestimated, but she never got that angry.
“Branchswirl is not our father,” Melodypaw whispered. The words came out of her mouth cold, sending a chilling feeling of emotion down Nightgaze’s spine. Nightgaze could see the fury flaring up in Melodypaw’s eyes as she spoke. She didn’t believe it. Surely her sister had confused something? Branchswirl was their father, she must have got something wrong. What could have made her doubt such a thing? Melodypaw was always determined to say she was right, but she couldn’t be this time. Who else would ever be their father?
“What would ever make you think that—“
“How’s her wound, Nightgaze?” Cardinalflight asked, interrupting the two sisters’ conversation.
“She says it stings,” Nightgaze said in a panic, dabbing the moss faster.
“Ow!” Melodypaw squealed as the moss touched the bite.
“Uh- sorry!” She said, “I’ll be more gentle.”
”Remember the trick I taught you? Let the moss absorb the blood itself. Think of it like collecting water from a stream,” Cardinalflight reminded her. That was something Nightgaze had been taught as when newly apprenticed, but she didn’t care about being treated like she was younger and forgot small simple things. Either way, she had done it wrong. But in reality, Nightgaze only cared about why Melodypaw would ever deny that Branchswirl was their father.
“Got it,” Nightgaze muttered. She now had soaked up the blood the proper way. She had to be paying attention. If her sister’s wound got infected from her lack of skill in being focused during traumatic situations, Nightgaze would never forgive herself. She then grabbed the marigold poultice and carefully applied it, trying not to disturb Melodypaw.
”It stings!” Melodypaw cried.
”It’s going to sting,” Cardinalflight said, coming towards the two sisters with poppy seeds, “You mentioned earlier the wound stung already before, so the marigold will make it sting a bit more. Don’t worry, soon it will feel much better. Now, why don’t you take a poppy seed or two and get some sleep?”
”But—I have to fight!” Melodypaw protested. She attempted to get up, but then collapsed in her efforts, wheezing in pain.
”Exactly,” Cardinalflight snapped, “Now go, eat the poppy seeds. Nightgaze, make sure she doesn’t take anymore then two. I don’t want Melodypaw to become too exhausted.” Nightgaze nodded at the reddish medicine cat’s words.
Once Cardinalflight padded back over to the herb storage and was slightly out of earshot, Nightgaze got ready to ask her sister a few quick questions before she gave her the poppy seeds. “How do you know this?” She whispered.
“Long story that I’m too upset to talk about,” Melodypaw snapped in a quiet tone. Nightgaze sighed. She gave Melodypaw the two poppy seeds, and her head spiraled with confusion, wondering if her sister really was telling the truth or if she was just being fooled.
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Aroace
🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅
if you need me ill be listening to sweater weather by the neighborhood on repeat
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Post by 🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅 on Jul 21, 2023 22:00:06 GMT -5
Chapter Ten: Fogpaw dashed through the battling cats. Where was the help Melodypaw was sent to get? They needed it desperately. The FrostClan patrol was twice the size as PetalClan’s, and Fogpaw was stuck fighting Berrypaw the whole time. Berrypaw seemed to only ever be attempting to attack Fogpaw.
His apprenticeship was only announced last gathering, Fogpaw reminded himself, Even though I’m an older apprentice and much larger than him, I’m still the only apprentice here to fight. He was probably told to stick to the cats his age.
It was very easy to tell Berrypaw was only recently apprenticed. His moves were rather clumsy and predictable. Despite this, Fogpaw showed the young tabby no mercy. He had already given him a deep wound to the leg, while Fogpaw only had a scratch or two with a small bite mark. Fogpaw unsheathed his claws, challenging his opponent once again. Berrypaw tried to pounce, but Fogpaw shoved him off. Berrypaw seemed to be embarrassed of his bad timing and fled towards his mentor Dappleleaf who had just forced Daisyfoot to give up their fight due to her shoulder injury. Melodypaw, speed up! Fogpaw thought.
”Daisyfoot, once help comes you need to get back,” Bluefire told his mate. Daisyfoot shook her head.
”I’ll keep fighting for my clan, thanks,” Daisyfoot snapped.
”And what will our kits say if you return home, incapable to fight again from a bad injury? Even worse, dead.”
Daisyfoot rolled her eyes, but Fogpaw could see that when she looked away she did think Bluefire was right. Shellpaw and Sunflowerpaw were still fairly young to loose their mother. Fogpaw would have felt awful if he ever even had to think of the thought of loosing Branchswirl or Graywillow. Branchswirl was not only his father, but mentor too. Everything he knew was because of him. What if he woke up and found him dead? Fogpaw would be devastated, and the same went for Graywillow.
Three cats dashed through the grass towards the boarder on PetalClan’s side. It’s help, Fogpaw thought, It has to be. Expecting to see several cats, Fogpaw turned, waiting to see a whole army, but only three cats were there. Shellpaw and her mentor Whitebreeze with Silentstep. PetalClan had more warriors than that! Where were the rest of them?
”Are you all Melodypaw could get?” Vineshade asked, taking the words out of Fogpaw’s mouth.
”Yes,” Whitebreeze replied.
”Haven’t you noticed this isn’t the whole battle?” Silentstep said, “FrostClan is at our camp too. We can’t afford to send any more warriors.”
”Less talking, more fighting!” Bluefire yowled, dodging a blow to the face from Adderheart.
“Go fight Berrypaw,” Whitebreeze told his apprentice, “He’s more of your size.” Shellpaw dashed towards Berrypaw and pounced. Berrypaw fell right onto the ground, but then shoved her off and got back up. Fogpaw shook his head. I need to focus on my own fighting, not theirs, he thought.
Daisyfoot was fighting Snowfall in the distance. She didn’t go back to camp, Fogpaw thought. Slowly, he crouched down, sneaking up on Snowfall like a price of prey. He was winning with Daisyfoot weakened by her shoulder, and even as an apprentice, Fogpaw could tell she was struggling due to her awful wound.
Fogpaw pounced on Snowfall, dragging him off of Daisyfoot. Despite being half deaf, the white warrior was a great fighter. He clawed at Fogpaw’s stomach while underneath his grasp. Snowfall was slightly bigger then Fogpaw, and he struggled to keep his opponent down.
”You don’t have to fight for me, but I appreciate the effort,” Daisyfoot said.
”Go home,” Fogpaw snapped, “You’ve been told already, now leave.” Snowfall kicked Fogpaw off. Fogpaw charged at him, ready to bite, but Snowfall dodged his move, and was ready to strike one against Fogpaw. Think about you battle training, think! Fogpaw told himself.
”I don’t need an apprentice to order me around,” Daisyfoot said, going back into her battle with Snowfall. Fogpaw sighed with annoyance. Daisyfoot was going to terribly hurt her shoulder, and PetalClan could not afford to loose more warriors. If Whitebreeze, Silentstep, and Shellpaw were right, the clan was battling back at camp too. They needed to stay strong, not weak.
Vineshade charged in, throwing Snowfall of Daisyfoot. “Go home,” he ordered, “I trained as a medicine cat apprentice once, I can tell you that the wound you have well not have a happy ending if you keep fighting.” Fogpaw turned, surprised. Vineshade had trained as a medicine cat? Since when?
But the thought of wounds brought Fogpaw’s mind to something else. What about Melodypaw and Nightgaze? Nightgaze couldn’t get hurt, it was against the code to attack a medicine cat for non defensive purposes, but Melodypaw could still get hurt. What if she was dead? Fogpaw shook at the idea.
She can’t be dead. FrostClan isn’t that cruel, right? He thought.
”Fogpaw, what are you doing?” Vineshade snapped, “Start fighting!”
Fogpaw knew what he had to do. He dashed to fight alongside Shellpaw, who was still fighting Berrypaw. Fogpaw slashed the FrostClan apprentice’s nose, giving him a deep cut. Berrypaw wailed in pain, distracted by his bleeding muzzle.
”Shellpaw, is Melodypaw alright? She sent you here, correct?” Fogpaw asked.
”Well…she did have a really deep wound on her side. It looked bad,” Fogpaw froze. FrostClan had hurt one of his sisters. He dug his unsheathed claws into the ground in fury. He wanted vengeance. “But I’m sure she’ll be alright!” Shellpaw added, probably seeing the flames reflecting in Fogpaw’s eyes.
Fogpaw pounced on Berrypaw in rage. This cat’s clan had hurt his sister. He was going to get payback. Fogpaw dug his teeth into the silver tabby’s back slowly, making sure he felt every moment of pain. Berrypaw screeched, desperately clawing at the ground to be let go. Berrypaw pounced up and started clawing at Fogpaw’s face. Fogpaw batted back at him. Berrypaw gave him a scratch to the eyebrow, infuriating Fogpaw. He dashed behind his opponent, biting his tail. Berrypaw leaned over and scratched Fogpaw’s back. Shellpaw came in, dragging Berrypaw off him.
Berrypaw spat in Shellpaw’s face. “Ew! Does FrostClan raise grimy foxes?” Shellpaw hissed. Fogpaw sighed. What had gotten into him? He had fully jumped into a fight unprepared, all just to protect his sister who wasn’t even there from a FrostClan cat that didn’t even hurt her.
I’d do anything for Nightgaze and Melodypaw, wouldn’t I? Fogpaw thought. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2023 17:14:20 GMT -5
Melodypaw is half-blood?! AHHHHHHHHh
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Post by valleylight on Jul 25, 2023 21:03:54 GMT -5
Wow, this is a great story you’ve got going! The pacing is well done, and the tension just keeps building. You’ve set up an intriguing mystery and lots of personality for your main trio. You do a great job of weaving in diverting details about the extended cast, too— I’m already curious about characters like Shellpaw and Vineshade. Even the enemy Clan cats feel like they have fully-fledged backstories waiting in the wings. Your care for character design really shows!
My favorite quote so far: “It’s kind of like my littermates, Nightgaze thought, One a delicate and cheerful daisy, the other a snappy, stubborn waterfall.” It’s packed with fun phrasing and really shows off her personality.
For constructive criticism, I’ve noticed you use the word “boarder” for “border” patrols. I wouldn’t pay attention normally, but it’s consistent throughout and a very important word narratively. Otherwise, it’s awesome seeing your writing technique get more nuanced with every chapter! Like I noticed more and more great word choice, verb choice, and tense consistency as I read. Amazing stuff!
Overall, I can’t wait to see what’s next for these PetalClan siblings. Thanks for sharing your story here!
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Aroace
🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅
if you need me ill be listening to sweater weather by the neighborhood on repeat
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Post by 🎄ᦓρ꠸ᥴꫀᠻꪖꪀᧁ🎅 on Jul 25, 2023 21:17:17 GMT -5
Wow, this is a great story you’ve got going! The pacing is well done, and the tension just keeps building. You’ve set up an intriguing mystery and lots of personality for your main trio. You do a great job of weaving in diverting details about the extended cast, too— I’m already curious about characters like Shellpaw and Vineshade. Even the enemy Clan cats feel like they have fully-fledged backstories waiting in the wings. Your care for character design really shows! My favorite quote so far: “ It’s kind of like my littermates, Nightgaze thought, One a delicate and cheerful daisy, the other a snappy, stubborn waterfall.” It’s packed with fun phrasing and really shows off her personality. For constructive criticism, I’ve noticed you use the word “boarder” for “border” patrols. I wouldn’t pay attention normally, but it’s consistent throughout and a very important word narratively. Otherwise, it’s awesome seeing your writing technique get more nuanced with every chapter! Like I noticed more and more great word choice, verb choice, and tense consistency as I read. Amazing stuff! Overall, I can’t wait to see what’s next for these PetalClan siblings. Thanks for sharing your story here! AHHHHH *cries in embarrassment* I’ve never been a good speller. Will go back and fix that soon. Thank you so much! I really appreciate your thoughts on my work, especially the compliment on my pacing (which is something I’ve been working on getting better for uhm, far too long). For the minor characters in the cast I want them all to have somewhat of a personality, unlike the up to date cannon Warriors books. I don’t want any character to feel robotic. I kind of want PetalClan to be like first arc ThunderClan, you know all the characters and their personalities. That’s definitely something to be worked on as this project progresses though, considering some of these characters have hardly made an appearance yet. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate you reading my work. It’s nice to get good advice from other authors, considering how much more I have to learn as a young author. |
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