Chapter Text

THUNDERCLAN

LEADER

SNOWSTAR—large dark gray color point molly.

DEPUTY

PIDGEONPELT— sandy brown tom*

GUIDE

FEATHERWHISKER—Thick-furred, pale silver-gray tom with bright amber eyes

HEALER(S)

SPOTTEDBLOSSOM—dark tortoiseshell tom with a distinctive dappled coat.

CRICKETDAWN (CRICKETKIT) —blue-gray charlie (they/zer)

ELDERS

SPARROWPELT (HALFTAIL) — big dark brown tabby tom with part of his tail missing.

SKUNKEAR (SMALLEAR) — gray tom with very small ears. The oldest tom in thundering clouds.

PATCHPELT— small black-and-white tom.

LILYEYE (ONE-EYE) — pale gray charlie-molly, the oldest cat in thundering clouds. Virtually blind and deaf. (she/they)

DAPPLETAIL— tortoiseshell molly with a dappled coat.

FUZZYPELT—black tom with fur that stands on end, yellow eyes, and a thick-furred tail 

PANTHERFOOT (LEOPARDFOOT) —dark gray molly with black leopard spots

GENERALS

TIGERFANG (TIGERCLAW) — big dark ginger tabby molly with unusually long fangs.

ROOKIE, RUSTPAW

SPIDERSTORM (WHITESTORM) — massive,thick-furred, long-bodied, and muscular, gray color pointed tom

ROOKIE, SANDPAW

BLACKSMITH(S)

FEATHERCLOUD (FEATHERKIT) —deaf white tom with blue eyes.

CHERRYRIPPLE (CHERRYPAW) —ginger-and-white molly

WOLFSHADOW—black and gray tom, with short fur, and copper eyes*

MERCHANT(S)

BIRCHWIND (RUNNINGWIND)—tabby tom.

AMBERTHROAT—long-haired, calico charlie, with amber eyes. (it/its)*

HAWKPATCH— black and gray charile with white markings (thy/thou)*

     GUARDS

INDIGOFLOWER (BLUEFUR) —blue-gray molly, tinged with silver around her muzzle.

CORMORANTSTRIPE (DARKSTRIPE) — sleek black-and-gray tabby tolly. (he/she)

THRUSHPELT—a sandy-gray tom with a white flash on his chest and bright green eyes.

BRANCHTAIL (LONGTAIL) — pale tabby tom with dark black stripes.

MOUSETAIL (MOUSEFUR) — small dusky brown molly.

LIONHEART—large golden tabby tom with thick fur like a lion’s mane.

ROOKIE, HURRICANEPAW

HUNTERS

WITHERSTORM—large black charile with grey and white spots* (they/them)

DOESPECKLE—cream brown molly with white speckles*

BLIZZARDTHROAT—black tom with white speckled throat*

ROOKIE, CHESTNUTPAW

NIGHTSHADE (NIGHTKIT) —a black molly

SQUIRRELTAIL (REDTAIL)—dark tortoiseshell and white tom with a bushy dark ginger tail and amber eyes.

ROOKIE, DUSTPAW

SOLDIERS

ICEFOOT (SCOURGE)—a small black tom with one white paw and a split face

ROOKIE, RAVENPAW

CROWTALON—tall lanky gray tabby charlie with yellow eyes (xe/it/she)*

WILLOWPELT— very pale gray molly with unusual blue eyes.

BRINDLEFACE— tabby charlie. (they/them)

SWEETHEART (SWEETPAW) — small white molly with tortoiseshell patches, with large bat-like ears

BLAZINGSHADE — ginger tabby color point charlie (he/him)^

ROOKIES (more than six moons old, in training to become soldiers)

DUSTPAW— dark brown tabby tom.

HURRICANEPAW (GRAYPAW)— dark gray tom with rosettes and a dark stripe

RAVENPAW — small, skinny black tom with vitiligo

SANDPAW— pale ginger molly with red and black patches.

RUSTPAW (FIREPAW) — dark reddish ginger tom with a split face.

CHESTNUTPAW (CHESTNUTKIT)—reddish-brown tom

ROYALTY (toms, mollys, and charlies expecting or nursing kits)

FROSTFUR— white molly with gray patches, partially deaf. (expecting lionhearts kits)

GOLDENFLOWER— pale ginger molly. 

MOSSJAW (MOSSKIT) — pale gray-and-white charlie with sleek fur with two colored eyes. (he/she/they)

KITS

SWIFT—small black-and-white tom with ginger patches and amber eyes. [goldenflower + tigerfang]

OWL (LYNXKIT) — ginger tom with black patches [goldenflower + tigerfang]

CARETAKERS (cats who help take care of kits)

SPECKLETAIL— pale tabby molly, and the oldest nursery molly.

ROSETAIL— gray tabby molly with a bushy, pinkish-orange tail

MISTPELT (MISTKIT) — a gray molly

SHADOWCLAN

COMMANDER

BROKENSTAR—a matted, black tabby tom with a broad, flat face, a black bent tail, and red eyes.

TRAINEES, FERRETPAW

DEPUTY

SHADOWFOOT (BLACKFOOT) —black color point tom with black paws and extra toes

HEALER(S)

RATFANG—albino tom*

TRAINEE, SHREDPAW

HEALER(S)

PALECLOUD (RUNNINGNOSE) — small gray-and-white tom.

LIGHTINGBELLY—A short-haired, brown molly.*

GENERAL(S)

CLAWFACE —battle-scarred brown tom.

TRAINEES, LITTLEPAW

NIGHTCLAW—black tom*

HIGH COUNCIL

BOULDERSTEP (BOULDER) — silver tabby tom.

TRAINEE, FOGPAW

LEACHTAIL (STUMPYTAIL)— brown tabby tom.

TRAINEE, WEASELPAW  

MERCHANT(S)

SPOTTEDJAW—short-haired, black spotted tabby tom, with green eyes*

WARRIORS

BLAZEJAW (WISHKIT)—dark brown molly with gray patches

SMOKELEAF—smokey gray molly*

FEATHERPOPPY (TALLPOPPY) —light brown charile-molly (she/they/zer)

FLAMEFUR (RUSSETFUR) —dark ginger tabby molly

STRIKECLAW— dark gray tom*

FINCHFLIGHT—black-and-white tom

MISSINGTAIL—gray molly with no tail*

WILLOWCLAW—black and gray charile-tom (he/they)*

SNAKEFANG—black tolly (she/he)*

FLINTFANG — black, gray, and white tom

TRAINEE, BADGERPAW

ASHENTHICKET—a brown tom with black spots*

ASTERFLIGHT — black tabby charlie (they/it/he)^

LEOPARDSHADOW—gray and black tom with white markings*

TRAINEE — SNOWPAW

TRAINEES

WEASELPAW (BROWNPAW)—a brown tom

FOGPAW (WETPAW) —a gray spotted tabby tom

LITTLEPAW—a brown and white tabby tom

BADGERPAW—fluffy black-and-white tom

SNOWPAW (WHITEPAW)—black tom with a white throat

FERRETPAW—red and white charlie, with short fur (they/it)*

SHREDPAW— gray and black tom with a twisted back paw*

ROYALTY

DAWNCLOUD— small ginger tabby molly. (expecting finchflight’s kit)

TIMBERMASK—a black and brown color point tom (expecting flintfangs kits)*

ADDERFURY (HOPEKIT)—gray molly with brown patches

KITS

MINT—grey tom [adderfang]

LAVENDER (MARIGOLDKIT) —tortoiseshell molly [adderfang]

CARETAKERS

FROSTSTORM (BRIGHTFLOWER) — black-and-white molly.

NIGHTPELT—black tom with white flecks

DAYCLAW—albino tom*

ELDERS

ASHFLECK (ASHFUR) — thin gray tom

FROGSTREAK—a gray and brown tom.*

WINDCLAN

LEADER

HERONSTAR (TALLSTAR) — a black-and-white tom with a very long tail. (Moor Runner)

DEPUTY

HOPFOOT (DEADFOOT) — a small, stocky black tom with an unusable, twisted left forepaw. (tunneler)

GUIDE

MOTHSTORM—black spotted tabby molly.*

HEALER

BARKTAIL (BARKFACE)—short-tailed brown tom.

HIGH COUNCIL

PALEBIRD—a black-and-white molly

WOOLYTAIL—gray-and-white tom

CLOUDRUNNER—pale gray tom

ASPENFALL—gray-and-white tom

MERCHANT(S)

DAPPLELEAF—a red spotted tabby tom*

SANDNOSE—red tabby tom, with short fur, and reddish copper eyes.*

TUNNELERS

DUSKFACE—blue short furred molly*

GARLICFACE—A black spotted tabby molly*

MOLECLAW—a black tom*

SPARROWWING (SPARROW)—tawny brown tom

DARKFOOT—blue-gray tom with black paws

PIGEONFLIGHT —dark gray tom with white patches

ROBINSPECK—short-haired cream tom*

FLYFOOT (FLYTAIL) —albino tom

BRISTLEBARK – a black tom

MUDCLAW—mottled dark brown tom (tunneler)

MOOR RUNNERS

FALCONWHISKER (ONEWHISKER) —brown tabby tom

HEMLOCKFOOT—a black and white molly*

CINDERSTREAM—blueish-gray and white tolly* (he/she)

MINKCLAW—brown and white charlie* (xe/they)

SORRELSHINE—gray-and-brown molly

RABBITEAR—a pale brown molly

WRENFLIGHT—a brown molly

BRAMBLESTREAK— a pale ginger and white tom*

THORNEAR (TORNEAR) —tabby tom. (Moor Runner)

ROYALTY

ASHFOOT—gray charlie (they/zim)

CARETAKERS

MORNINGFLOWER—tortoiseshell-and-white molly

FERNGAZE—short-haired, red-spotted tom*

WHISPERING RIVERS

KING

STORMSTAR (CROOKEDSTAR) — a huge light gray tabby with a twisted jaw.

PRIVATE, GOLDPAW

AUXILIARY(S)

OAKJAW (OAKHEART) — a dark gray tom.

PRIVATE, SILVERPAW

LEOPARDSNARL (LEOPARDFUR) —spotted golden tabby molly

PRIVATE, FROSTPAW

GUIDE

DAWNDREAM—cream spotted tabby charlie-molly with hazel eyes (she/they)*

CLERIC(S)

MUDFUR—long-haired brown tom

GENERAL(S)

STONEFANG (STONEFUR) —battle-scarred pale blue-gray tom

HIGH COUNCIL

REEDPOOL (GRAYPOOL) —thin gray molly with patchy fur and a scarred muzzle

SLEETFANG (WHITEFANG)—snowy white tom with a striped tail and brown paws

MERCHANT(S)

DUCKFACE—black and red, tortoiseshell tom*

BLACKSMITH(S)

FOXTHROAT—red ticked tabby fox-tom*

KNIGHTS

TAUTOGCLAW (BLACKCLAW) —smokey black tom (ice stomper)

PRIVATE, WILLOWPAW

WILLOWBELLY —dark brown charlie-molly (they/she) (diver)*

WAVESTEP (HEAVYSTEP) —brown tabby tom (ice stomper)

PRIVATE, GRASSPAW

SNAKEFEATHER—black tom, with short fur (ice stomper)*

SPIDERLILY—black and red calico tom (diver)*

PRIVATE, VIXENPAW

MISTYFOOT —pale blue-gray molly (diver)

PRIVATE, MINNOWPAW

SHELLBELLY (LOUDBELLY)—dark brown tom (diver)

KRACKENCLAW— dark ginger tom (ice stomper)*

MORINGGOOSE—a blue-gray colorpointed tolly (she/he) (diver)*

PIKESNOUT — a battle-scarred calico charlie-tom (he/they)^

PRIVATES

SILVERPAW—silver tabby charlie (she/he/they)

GOLDPAW (SILVERPAW) —golden tabby tom

WILLOWPAW (WILLOWKIT)—smokey-black tom

MINNOWPAW (MINNOWKIT)—dark gray molly

FROSTPAW (WHITEPAW)—black tom with white paws

VIXENPAW—black moly

GRASSPAW—brown tabby molly

MALLOWPAW (GREENFLOWER) —brown-striped molly with a white splash under her chin, one white hind paw

ROYALTY

CROWCLOUD — short black furred molly* (expecting)

RAVENCLOUD — long black furred molly* (expecting)

CARETAKERS

CORVIDCLOUD — curly black furred molly*

ELDERS

CEDARPELT—brown tabby tom with a short-tailed

OWLFUR—brown-and-white tom

BRAMBLEBERRY—white molly with black-spotted fur

ECHOMIST—gray molly

NEWTSTREAM—black molly, with short fur, and amber eyes*

CLANESS CATS

ASHFANG— old dark gray and yellow charlie with a broad, flattened face. (they/them)

SMUDGE— plump, friendly black-and-white kitten who lives in a house at the edge of the forest.

BARLEY— black-and-white tom who lives on a farm close to the forest.

PRINCESS—light brown tabby and white molly

TIGGER—dark ginger tabby tom*

THISTLECLAW—gray-and-white tabby tom

FLAME — a dark ginger tom

Chapter Text

Smooth granite boulders took on a silver hue from the glow of the claw moon. Only the ripple of the swift black river's water and the rustling of the trees in the surrounding forest could be heard.

There was a rustling in the shadows, and from every direction, lithe, dark figures crept silently over the rocks. In the moonlight, unsheathed claws glistened. Then, as if in response to a silent signal, the cats pounced on each other, bringing the rocks to life with wrangling.

A large dark ginger tabby pinned a gray tom to the ground in the middle of the furious fight, then raised his head triumphantly. ''Oakjaw!'' the tabby growled. ''The sun Carin is Thundering Cloud's territory, so how dare you hunt here?''

''After tonight, Tigerfang, this will be just another piece of Whispering River territory,'' the gray tom spat back. A shrill and anxious warning yowl could be heard coming from the shore ''Watch out! More whispering river knights are coming!'' Tigerfang whirled around to see sleek, wet bodies emerging from the water beneath the rocks.

Without even pausing to shake the water from their fur, the soggy whispering river knights scampered silently up the shore and launched themselves into battle. Oakjaw received a glare from the dark ginger tabby.

she drew back her lips and showed her teeth as the cat struggled beneath her, ''You may swim like otters, but you and your knights do not belong in this forest!'' The frantic scream of a thundering clouds molly rose above the fighting.

The brown soldier was flat on her belly, pinned by a wiry, croaking river tom. Still, dripping from his swim across the river, he dove toward her neck. Tigerfang released oakjaw after hearing the cry.

She dislodged the adversary knight from the molly with a strong leap. Before attacking the croaking river tom who had threatened her, she yowled to Mousetail, ''Quick Mousetail, run!''. Wincing from a large gash on her shoulder, Mousetail scurried to her paws before sprinting off.

The whispering river tom cut open Tigerfang’s nose as she spat in rage. She briefly experienced blindness from the blood but continued to move forward and sink her teeth into the back leg of her foe.

The whispering river cat yowled and clawed its way free. A soldier with a golden mane yowled to her, ''Tigerfang! There are too many whispering river knights, this is useless.''

''No, Lionheart''. Tigerfang yowled in response, leaping to Lionheart's side. ''Thundering clouds will never be beaten! This is our territory!” she shook her head as blood began to well up around her broad, black muzzle.

''Thundering clouds will honor your bravery, Tigerfang, but more soldiers must not perish. Snowstar would never count on her soldiers to stand up to such overwhelming odds. We'll get another chance to exact revenge for this loss'' Lionheart pleaded. He held Tigerfang's amber eyes steady for a moment before rearing away and leaping onto a boulder at the edge of the trees.

''Retreat, thundering clouds! Retreat!'' He yowled, Immediately, his soldiers writhed and fought to get away from their adversaries. They retreated in the direction of Lionheart, spitting and growling.

The whispering river cats briefly displayed bewilderment, Was this battle so easily won? Then Oakjaw yowled in a jubilant cry, The whispering river knights joined their auxiliary in caterwauling their victory as soon as they heard him, raising their voices.

Lionheart regarded his soldiers from below. With a flick of his tail, he sent the thundering clouds diving down the opposite side of the sun carin and into the trees. The last to follow was Tigerfang. She paused at the edge of the forest before turning to look at the bloody battleground. her eyes were angry slits, and she had a grim expression. Then, leaping into the still forest, she followed her Clowder. 

———————————————————————————————————

A gray colorpoint Molly was sitting by herself in a deserted clearing and gazing up at the night sky.

She could hear sleeping cats moving and breathing all around her in the shadows. A small tortoiseshell tom emerged from a shadowy area with silent, brisk paw steps. The white cat gave a friendly head-dip.  ''How's Mousetail?'' She meowed.

The tortoiseshell plopped down on the cool grass of night, ''Her wounds are deep, Snowstar. But she is young and healthy; she will recover quickly.’’ ''And the others?'' Snowstar asked ''They will all recover as well'' Snowstar nodded. ''We were fortunate not to lose any of our soldiers during this incident. You and Cricketdawn are gifted healers.” She cocked her head once more as she observed the stars.

''Tonight's loss has me very upset. Since I became the leader, thundering clouds have not been defeated in its own territory'' she mused. ''For our Clowder, these are challenging times. There are fewer kits because this new leaf season is late. More soldiers are required for Thundering Clouds to survive.''

''The year has only just begun. When Greenleaf arrives, there will be more kits.'' Spottedblossom emphasized calmly The broad shoulders of the white cat twitched. ''Perhaps. It does, however, take time to train our young to be soldiers. Thundering Clouds needs new soldiers as soon as possible to protect its territory.''

Following Snowstar's gaze up at the swath of stars glittering in the night sky, ''Are you asking the spirits for answers?'' Spottedblossom questioned. ''We often need the advice of our ancestors in times like these''

''Have the spirits spoken to you?'' Spottedblossom shook his head ''Not for some moons, Snowstar.” A shooting star suddenly flared above the treetops. The fur along Spottedblossom's spine bristled, his eyes turning black. While Spottedblossom continued to look up, Snowstar's ears perked, but she said nothing.

From the corner of spottedblossom’s eye, dark shadows started to swirl around him, they began to wrap themselves around him as he choked trying to gasp for air. The shadows let go of spottedblossom as he gasped for air, he muttered 10 words before passing out “The flames of the rusted one will destroy our clowder”

Chapter Text

It was very dark. Something was approaching, Blaze could feel it. The tom’s eyes widened as he scanned the thick underbrush. Even though he was unfamiliar with the environment, he was drawn deeper into the shadows by the strange scents.

He was made aware of his hunger by the growling in his stomach. He slightly opened his mouth so that the fragrant glands on the roof of his mouth could take in the warm scents of the forest. A small furry creature's alluring scent blended with the musty smell of leaf mold He was abruptly passed by a gray flash. Blaze halted while he listened. It was less than two tail-lengths away, concealed in the foliage.

Because of the tiny heart's rapid beating deep inside the fur of his ears, Blaze could feel that it was a mouse. He choked down a growl and swallowed. His hunger would soon be sated. He crouched for the attack while lowering his body gradually.

He was near the mouse's downwind side. It was unaware of him, he knew that. He checked one last time for his prey's location then he lept. Blaze pushed back forcefully on his haunches, kicking up leaves on the forest floor as he rose.

In search of safety, the mouse dove toward a ground hole. However, Blaze was already on top of it. With his thorn-sharp claws, he caught the helpless creature and lifted it into the air before tossing it up in a high arc onto the leaf-covered ground. The mouse touched down alive but confused. It attempted to flee, but Blaze again snatched it up.

Once more, he threw the mouse, but this time it was thrown a little further away. Before Blaze caught up with the mouse, it was able to run a short distance. There was whispering that appeared out of nowhere. The mouse was able to escape Blaze's claws as he spun around and peered around.

As soon as Blaze turned around, he saw it dart into the shadows among some tangled tree roots. Blaze stopped his search in rage. With glaring green eyes, he spun around to locate the noise that had cost him his kill.

The whispering persisted and became more accustomed. Blaze's eyes flickered open. The forest was no longer there. He was curled up in his bed in an abandoned kitchen. The shadows on the slick, hard floor were created by moonlight that came through the window. The wind was making a noise as it passed through a broken window.

It was a dream. He raised his head, letting his chin rest on the edge of his bed. Uncomfortably, his collar rubbed against his neck. Fresh air was ruffling the soft fur in his dream where the collar would normally itch. Blaze turned onto his back and continued to enjoy the dream for a short while.

He still detected mouse odor. He had the dream three times in a moon, and each time the mouse escaped his grasp. His lips were licked. He could smell his bland food from his bed. Food spilled onto the floor after a large bag of cat food was torn. His dream's warm scents were chased away by the dusty smell.

Blaze stretched the sleep from his limbs as the hunger continued to rumble through his stomach, Blaze pushed himself up and he padded across the kitchen floor. The taste of the food struck him as being bland and dry. Blaze swallowed one more mouthful grudgingly. He then turned his back on the food and pushed open the cat flap in the hopes that the scent of the garden would revive his dream. The moon was shining brightly outside.

There was a drizzle. Blaze made his way along the orderly garden's gravel path while feeling the cold, sharp stones beneath his paws. He jumped up onto the fence, swayed, and stood there while gazing out into the forest. Although the woods beyond his fence were completely shadowed, the overgrown lawn behind him was bathed in moonlight.

Blaze extended his head forward to inhale the moist air. Under his thick coat, which kept him warm and dry, he could feel the weight of the raindrops, which glittered on his ginger fur. He shifted his focus to the woods. After the rain, the fresh scent of the woods was even stronger. His spine's fur started to prickle out of nowhere. Blaze peered forward, trying to see or smell if there was anything out there that was moving or watching him.

However, the dim, tree-scented air made it impossible to do either. Straightening his legs and arching his back, he lifted his chin proudly, stood up, and stretched, one paw grasping each corner of the fencepost. His eyes were closed as he took another whiff of the forest. It appeared to make him a promise, luring him deeper into the murmuring shadows. He briefly knelt while tensing his muscles.

Then, on the opposite side of the garden fence, he lightly dove into the rough grass. The bell on his collar rang as he touched down, piercing the quiet nighttime atmosphere. A recognizable voice behind him called out, "Where are you off to, Blaze?". Blaze raised an eye. A young black-and-white cat was ungracefully balancing on the fence. "Hello, smudge" Blaze greeted.

Smudge's amber eyes were wide as he asked, "You're not going to go into the woods, are you?” Blaze shifted uncomfortably but maintained, "Just for a look." "You wouldn't get me in there." Smudge scrunched up his black nose in disgust, "It's dangerous! tigger claimed to have been in the woods once.” The tom raised his head and pointed his nose toward tigger garden through the rows of fences.

“That chubby old tabby never went into the woods,” Blaze scoffed. “Since he visited the veterinarian before the humans left, he has hardly ventured outside of his garden. Just eating and sleeping will do for him.” "There, he caught a robin.” Smudge insisted, “Well if he did, it happened before the vet.

He now complains about birds because they keep him from falling asleep.” “Well, anyway,” Smudge continued, oblivious to the mockery in Blaze's mew, "Tigger told me there are all kinds of dangerous animals out there. Huge wildcats who sharpen their claws on decaying bones and eat live rabbits for breakfast!'' "I won't be here long.” Blaze meowed.

“Don't claim that I didn't warn you,” Smudge growled. The black-and-white tom turned and jumped off the fence and back into his garden. Beyond the garden fence, Blaze sat down on the rough grass. He nervously licked his shoulder and pondered how much of Smudge's rumors were accurate. He was suddenly drawn to the movement of a small animal. It moved under some brambles as he watched it.

He sank into a low crouch out of instinct. He drew his body forward through the brush with one deliberate paw after another. He approached the animal with his eyes unblinking, nostrils flared, and ears perked up. It was now plainly visible, perched among leaves and munching on a sizable seed held between its paws, a mouse. As he got ready to leap, Blaze rocked his haunches.

In case his bell rang again, he held his breath. His heart was pounding as excitement swept through him. His excitement reached new heights as he realized that this was even better than he had imagined. The mouse scurried into the thickest tangle of the bramble bush as his bell jingled. Blaze remained still while observing his surroundings.

Up ahead, he could make out the white tip of a red bushy tail snaking through a stand of tall ferns. He detected a strong, unusual scent that was unmistakably from a meat-eater—it wasn't a cat or a dog, though. Blaze was preoccupied and turned his attention away from the mouse to watch the red tail with interest. He desired a better view. Blaze moved forward while straining every sense he had. Then he heard another noise.

It came from behind but sounded muted and distant. To better hear it, he turned his ears backward. Pawsteps? He wondered, but he kept his gaze fixed on the odd red fur up ahead and moved forward at a slow pace. Blaze didn't become aware that something was wrong with him until the soft Rustling behind him turned into a loud, quickly approaching leaf crackle.

Blaze was thrown sideways into a patch of nettles after a creature struck him with an explosion-like impact. He struggled to free himself from the attacker that had attached itself to his back by yowling and twisting. It was holding him in its razor-sharp claws.

Blaze could feel his neck being pinched by sharp teeth. From whisker to tail, he writhed and scrambled, but he was unable to free himself. He briefly felt powerless, followed by a moment of freezing. He quickly turned over onto his back. He instantly understood how risky it was to show his tender belly, but it was his only chance.

He was fortunate because it appeared that the plan had been successful. As his assailant's breath left him, he heard a "hhuuffff" beneath him. Blaze was able to escape by violently thrashing. He ran straight toward his house without turning around. A flurry of paw steps behind him signaled to Blaze that his assailant was pursuing him. Blaze decided that he would rather turn and fight than allow himself to be jumped on once more, even though his scratches hurt beneath his fur.

To face his pursuer, he turned around after skidding to a stop. This kitten had a broad face, strong legs, and a thick coat of shaggy gray fur. The kitten struck Blaze at full speed, he collapsed back into a confused heap after being surprised by Blaze's turnabout.

Blaze leapt onto the gray tom digging his claws into the gray kitten snarling and hissing. He clawed the kit’s face leaving claw marks on his nose but before he could attack more, a large golden tom barreled into Blaze spitting and hissing at Blaze, “Lionheart no!” a dark gray-pointed molly ran after him and pulled the golden tom off of him.

"Lionheart, what are you thinking attacking a kit?" the gray-pointed molly growled at him, "He attacked Hurricanepaw," Lionheart spat. "Maybe if he hadn't attacked me, I wouldn't have attacked him." Blaze spat at him and growled as he stood up and hissed, he swiped at Lionheart cutting his lip, Lionheart growled and lunged forward to try to snap at him.

The gray-pointed molly growled at Lionheart, fluffing up her fur, "I will demote you back to a soldier if you do not stand down now!" Lionheart growled then let his fur lie flat. The gray molly turned to face Blaze and said, "I'm sorry about him, I'm Snowstar, this is Lionheart and that's Hurricanepaw." Blaze stared at the molly and toms suspiciously after what happened.

"Blaze" he meowed. "What are you doing in the woods late at night?" Snowstar inquired. "Just exploring" Blaze responded with defensiveness "I'm sick and tired of eating dry food, I wanna taste mouse, surely yall have enough mice" "There is never enough!" hissed Snowstar, fluffing up the fur along her spine. You'd realize that if you didn't live a spoiled life, you should go right back to your twolegs kittypet!"

"I would if I had any!" Blaze hissed back at her, arching his spine. "They all fled a month ago after hearing a loud caterwaul sound." Snowstar looked at him, perplexed. "That's what that sound was?" she inquired, puzzled.

"Plus..." said Blaze, looking away. "I'm running short on food; I think I have enough for a week before I go hungry... my sister pays visits to our father. He's taught her how to hunt, but she won't teach me; she continues insisting I'll survive on dry food and won't listen when I say I won't." Snowstar saw the strain and desperation in his eyes as she stared at him. Lionheart sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Too bad, so sad now go home!" He hissed at Blaze. "Stop, Lionheart! He's battling to survive; perhaps we should let him join." Snowstar meowed at Lionheart "Let a kittypet join us?" questioned Lionheart. He spat out the word kittypet as if it were venom.

"Have you lost your mind Snowstar?" Lionheart inquired, his gaze fixed on her. Snowstar rolled her eyes and meowed, "I still have a sharp mind, Lionheart," before turning to Blaze.

"Would you like to join us, Blaze?" Before meowing, "Can I think about it? Blaze pondered for a moment. Snowstar nodded and turned away, before leaping back into the forest she meowed "I will be back here tomorrow to get your answer" snowstar nodded and without saying anything, the three cats leaped back into the woodland, vanishing into the darkness. Blaze paused for a second before climbing over his fence into his yard.

Chapter Text

The mouse dream reappeared that morning, this time being even more vivid than before, as Blaze rested after his night of wandering. He stalked the fearful creature while unconstrained by his collar and the moonlight.

But he was conscious of being observed this time. He noticed dozens of yellow eyes shining from the forest's shadows.

The Clowder cats had arrived in his lucid dream. Blaze woke up startled as something lept from the shadows and tore into his throat. a voice called out "You ok, Blaze" He turned to face his sister Princess and said, "Yeah, I'm fine just having a nightmare." He got up and went outside.

Smudge called out, "Morning Blaze," and Blaze jumped up onto the fence next to him, "You should have been up an hour ago when the baby sparrows were learning to fly." he meowed to Blaze licking a paw.

"Did you catch them?" Blaze asked. Smudge yawned and licked his muzzle. “Couldn't be bothered. I had already had enough food at home. Anyway, you were complaining about tigger sleeping all day yesterday, and today you're not much better yourself, so why weren't you out earlier?” Smudge asked

Blaze rolled his eyes and meowed, "In case you forgot, last night, I went into the woods and met three cats."

Smudge's eyes widened "And you made it out alive!?" he meowed in horror "Yes, I did. They even asked me to join their clowder." Blaze cocked his head and said, "Perhaps they need more cats, so I'm thinking of joining them."

Smudge climbed the fence and stood in front of Blaze. He cried out in terror, "Please don't go, Blaze. I might never run into you again.” Blaze lovingly gave him a gentle head nudge.

“Don't be sad. You’ll find a different cat. You two will get along just fine. You get along with everyone!” "But it won't be the same!” Smudge exclaimed,  Blaze's tail began to twitch impatiently.

“Exactly, that is the point. It's boring here because everything is the same.” he meowed. Smudge had a perplexed expression. "Boring?" He echoed, “Yes, everything is monotonous and the same. Instead of acting like tigger, I want to try something new,” Blaze said. ''oh.” Smudge looked down at his paws.

"Well, I guess I know He's a little bit lazier now, but he's not unhappy." He muttered. “Fun was still a possibility.” Blaze simply sighed, "Smudge, ever since I was young, I've dreamed of being in the forest, running around, and catching prey. I want to be free from this life."

Smudge looked down, "Oh guess I should have known you've never been happy here. Well, let's have one last day of fun together." Smudge meowed, nuzzling Blaze. He nodded while grinning.

He visited his old haunts with Smudge and conversations with the cats he had known since he was a youngster had Blaze enjoying the morning even more than usual. He experienced a supercharged sense of heightened awareness in every sense, as though he were about to make a significant leap. Blaze grew impatient to see if Snowstar would be waiting for him as sunhigh drew near.

“So this is it,” Smudge asked. "Yeah, I'm going to miss you, Smudge. You'll always be my best friend." Smudge hugged Blaze before leaping over the fence. where he first encountered the clowder cats the previous evening, Blaze was standing at the edge of the forest.

The shade provided by the tall trees kept the ground cool during the midday sun. A sliver of sunlight occasionally peaked through a gap in the leaves and illuminated the forest floor. Blaze detected the same cat scent as the previous evening, but he was unsure of its age.

Sniffing Uncertainty, he raised his head. “You have a lot to learn” a voice meowed from the bushes. “The smallest Clowder kittens can detect the presence of another cat.” Snowstar stepped out of the bushes. “Can you tell if I'm alone?" the scents of the forest hit the roof of his mouth. "Lionheart and Hurricanepaw aren't with you but someone else is," he said.

A gray-pointed tom emerged from the bushes, and Snowstar nodded slightly in admiration. "This is spiderstorm," she meowed, "a senior soldier of thundering clouds." The fur on Blaze's spine rose. "Relax, before your fear-scent attracts unwanted attention," he advised.

"We are only here to transport you to our camp," they said. The fur along Blaze's spine gradually shrank, but he continued to look warily at the tall, lanky tom. Snowstar meowed "Let's go." all three cats leaped into the woods, As Blaze continued through the forest, he tripped over a root in the woods and flew into a stream.

Both Snowtar and spiderstorm slowed down while Blaze caught up after noticing he had fallen behind "Do you need help?" spiderstorm cocked his head, Blaze shook his head. “We are now very close to our camp,” Snowstar said as she stopped a few tail lengths in front of a thorn bush.

Blaze searched for signs of life—moving leaves, a glimpse of fur among the bushes below—but all he could make out was the same undergrowth that covered the rest of the forest floor. When Blaze took a deep breath and opened his mouth wide, the scents of several cats hit the roof of his mouth. "I smell cats, lots of them,” Blaze meowed

"There will come a time, if you are accepted into the clowder when you will know each cat-scent by name." spiderstorm meowed, “Follow me!” He shouted as he navigated the boulders to the bottom of the ravine and pushed his way through a dense patch of gorse.

Blaze tried to follow but ended up falling down and landed with a loud thud “Are you ok?” Snowstar asked Blaze, he nodded pushing himself up. As Blaze pushed himself through the gorse and brambles he was surrounded by cats that were moving around, talking, grooming, or entering dens.

A sizable boulder with a lichen-covered crack at the bottom was wedged between the roots of a sizable tree at the edge of the camp. Snowstar murmured to Blaze "You did well for a kittypet"

"I am not a kittypet, my humans left a while ago.” Blaze muttered “May I ask why,” Snowstar asked, tilting her head in confusion. “I don't know, like I said there was a loud caterwaul, they started to run around stuffing stuff into boxes then they left… without me… '' Blaze muttered as he turned to face Snowstar.

“Oh” she meowed before she leaped up onto the boulder and yowled, “Let all those cats old enough to catch their prey join here beneath the Highrock for a Clowder meeting.''

As cats gathered around High Rock Blaze could see Hurricanepaw in the clowder “Never before have we had so few rookies in training. It has been decided that thundering clouds will take in an outsider to train as a soldier....”

cats started to murmur but Snowstar soon silenced them with a yowl “I have found a cat willing to be a rookie” a tabby tom let out a growl “Lucky to become a rookie”

Blaze craned his neck and saw a pale tabby cat standing up and glaring defiantly at the leader. Snowstar ignored the tabby and addressed all of her clowder. “Both spiderstorm and I have met this young cat, and we agree that we should train him with the other rookies.” “Where does he come from?” “Which Clowder does he belong to?”

“What a strange scent he carries! That’s not the scent of any Clowder I know!” Then one yowl in particular sounded out above the rest. “Look at his collar! He’s a kittypet!” It was the pale tabby again. “Once a kittypet, always a kittypet. This Clowder needs wild-born soldiers to defend it, not another soft mouth to feed.”

Blaze felt a familiar burning sensation in his throat. The tabby made his way through the clowder and stood in front of Blaze “You are nothing but a weak kittypet you'll never be one of us” the tabby continued to mock Blaze.

Blaze stood in front of the tom. He was furious that the tom had called him weak. Flames started to erupt from Blaze's mouth as he growled, the flames licked at his jaws. While some cats began to whisper, others just stared in horror.

He growled at the tom, "Say that again, I dare you. I am not weak.'' The pale tom laughed, "Yes you are, but just because you breathe fire doesn't mean you are any less of a wea-'' The tom let out a screech and jumped out of the way as a fireball landed near his paws.

Blaze jumped at the tom and barreled into him as the tom turned to look up. Blaze's attack caught the tom completely off guard. He stumbled to the side and slipped on the parched ground. Blaze dug his claws deeply into the tabby cat's fur in a fit of rage and desperation to establish his dominance.

This fight was preceded by no deceptive swiping or boxing rituals. The two cats were engaged in a writhing, screaming struggle that somersaulted around the clearing in the middle of the camp. The other cats had to leap out of the way to avoid the screeching fur storm.

Blaze began to scratch and struggle as he abruptly realized he felt no fear—only excitement. He could hear the cats yowling around them through the roaring of the blood in his ears.

He slammed his body into the tom, he fell over and Blaze pinned him down. Blaze slashed the tom's ear clean off, and as the tom screamed in pain, blaze had a grin on his face.

The tom thrashed around knocking Blaze off before Blaze knew what to do, the tabby grabbed Blaze's collar and jerked back, sending him tumbling away from the tom. Blaze scampered to his paws and peered around.

With the collar dangling from his jaw, the tom was crouched three tail lengths away. Snowstar descended from the Highrock and let out a resounding caterwaul to quiet the rowdy crowd. Blaze and the tom stayed still, both of them struggling for air. Fur clumps dangled from their ruffled coats. Blaze could feel a cut stinging above his eye.

The tabby's left ear was torn clean off, and blood dripped down his lean shoulders and onto the dusty ground. With their anger still alive, they simply stared at one another. “In a struggle for his honor, the newcomer lost his Twoleg collar. The Spirits have given their blessing, freeing this cat from the control of his Twoleg owners and allowing him to join thundering clouds as a rookie” Snowstar solemnly nodded with her approval while turning to face Blaze.

He got to his feet and stepped into a shaft of sunlight, enjoying the warmth on his aching muscles. His ginger pelt was illuminated by a bright pool of light, which caused his fur to glow. Blaze proudly raised his head to survey the cats surrounding him.

This time, no cat complained or made fun of him. In battle, he had proven to be a worthy adversary. “Blaze, do you wish to join thundering clouds?” Snowstar questioned. “It is,” he meows.

“then you will be Rustpaw from now on until you receive your soldier name, tig- wait where is Tigerfang?” Snowstar asked as she looked around, suddenly a small black tom burst through the bramble terrified not noticing the blood dripping down his shoulder, the tom threw his head back and yowled something that sent waves of shock through the clowder 

.

.

.

“PIGEONPELT IS DEAD!”

Chapter Text

rustpaw: You’re giving me a sticker?

dustpaw: Not just a sticker. That is a sticker of a kitty saying “me-wow!”

rustpaw: I’m not a preschooler.

dustpaw: Fine, I’ll take it back-

rustpaw: I earned this, back off!

tigerfang: sandpaw is at that very special age where a kid only has one thing on their mind.

hurricanepaw: Boys?

sandpaw: Homicide.

tigerfang: rustpaw is at that very special age where a kid only has one thing on their mind.

spottedblossom: Boys?

rustpaw: Homicide.

tigerfang: Hoodie pockets are so great. I can fit like three sandwiches and a grenade in there and my hands are still warm.

spottedblossom: Do you think I’m ugly?

tigerfang: It’s not about looks, spottedblossom. What’s valuable is on the inside...

spottedblossom: tigerfang...

tigerfang: For example, someone's heart.

spottedblossom: Aw... Stop it-

tigerfang: It could be purchased for more than a million dollars, you know.

spottedblossom: Seriously, stop.

ravenpaw: You can’t have a gun on stage!

rustpaw: WRONG AGAIN! I can have a gun, and I must have a gun, that’s the rule of Chekhov’s Gun: have a gun. And now that it’s been seen, I will have to shoot someone before the end of the play.

lionheart: rustpaw is a little bitch.

hurricanepaw: Why?

lionheart: Number one, they're little. Number two, they're a bitch.

snowstar: Adults are the most insanely stupid people I have the displeasure of interacting with.

dustpaw, referring to themself and rustpaw: Even us?

snowstar: Especially you guys.

rustpaw:

dustpaw:

rustpaw: Petition to kick snowstar out so they stop insulting us.

dustpaw: Seconded.

dustpaw: I’m so happy two of my favorite people are getting along now.

hurricanepaw: Uh, sandpaw and rustpaw are not getting along.

dustpaw: They’re not trying to kill each other.

hurricanepaw: You may have a point.

sandpaw: You’re mean!

rustpaw: You’re meaner!

sandpaw: Yeah, well, you’re ugly too!

rustpaw: You’re uglier!

sandpaw: You’re a dumbass!

rustpaw: You’re a dumberass!

sandpaw: You think “dumberass” is a good insult!

rustpaw: Apparently, it was Rude™ of me to pitch in my two cents on a conversation I happened to overhear, despite agreeing with them.

rustpaw: On an unrelated note, I am no longer allowed in the ceiling vents.

rustpaw: Sometimes I wonder if I’m hearing voices.

rustpaw: Then I remember that’s the last bit of sanity I have trying to get me to fall asleep at a reasonable time.

dustpaw: .. .----. -- / … --- .-. .-. -.-- (translation: I'M SORRY)

rustpaw: What's that?

dustpaw: Remorse code.

rustpaw: I'm even angrier now.

sandpaw: Why did you guys dress up as each other for Halloween?

dustpaw: rustpaw is the scariest thing I could think of!

rustpaw: dustpaw told me I should pick the dumbest costume possible.

Chapter Text

Shocked yowls erupted from the clowder of cats, echoing through the forest. Ravenpaw stumbled a little. His right foreleg glistened, moist with blood from his shoulder's deep cut. "We m-met five whispering river knights beside the stream, not far from the sun Carin," he said with a trembling voice. "Oakjaw was among them.”

Ravenpaw gagged as he remembered what happened. He stood awkwardly to keep the weight off his shoulder because his wound was still bleeding heavily. "Whispering river cats came charging. It was difficult to see what was going on. The combat was brutal. I noticed Oakjaw have Pigeonpelt pinned on the ground, but then Pigeonpelt…” Ravenpaw lurched sideways as his eyes rolled in his head.

He fell onto his side hitting the hard baked earth hard. A dark tortoiseshell tom bolted from a corner of the came alongside a blue-gray Charlie, they grabbed Ravenpaw and dragged him to where they came from.

A dark ginger tabby molly pushed through the thorn and bramble barrier, in her jaws was a cat, his throat was torn out with bits of flesh and blood dripping down from the tom's throat. The sight made Rustpaw gag, cats stared at the body as the molly dropped it in the middle of camp.

She raised her head As the molly dropped the cat amid the camp, shock rippled through the clowder like a frigid breeze. Hurricanepaw sobbed out behind Rustpaw as anguish washed over him. "pigeonpelt!"

"How did this happen, Tigerfang?" Snowstar questioned from her vantage point atop the Highrock. "He died with honor, killed by Oakjaw." "I couldn't save him, but I managed to take Oakjaw's life while he was still gloating over his victory," Tigerfang said, her voice soft yet powerful.

"pigeonpelt's death was not in vain, for I doubt we'll see whispering rivers knights in our territory again." After a brief pause, many cats advanced to lick the pigeonpelt's ragged fur. They murmured quiet remarks to the deceased cat while grooming.

Snowstar walked over to Tigerfang, uttering something in her ear, and Tigerfang turned her head to gaze at Rustpaw before padding over to him, "so you're my new rookie?" she questioned, tilting her head, and Rustpaw nodded.

Tigerfang observed a slice across his nose and said, "How did you get that cut?" "Oh, I got into a fight with a tabby with a long whip-like tail," Rustpaw meowed as he licked his paw wiping it over his nose, Tigerfang stood up laying her tail on Rustpaw's shoulder

"Come on let's take you to Spottedblossom he can fix your nose," she murmured while she guided him over the fern-enclosed corner the pale tabby had disappeared into.

"he's our healer, you'll see him when you need healing or if he needs you to help him gather herbs'' As they reached the den, Spottedblossom was standing over Ravenpaw, putting green goop on his shoulder and then spreading cobwebs on it.

Spottedblossom looked up to see Rustpaw and Tigerfang; as soon as he laid eyes on Rustpaw, his eyes widened, and he gazed at him as if he had seen a ghost. "W-whos this?" "My new rookie," Tigerfang exclaimed proudly as she puffed up her chest.

"He's going to be the best warrior in the clan," she boasted confidently. "Is that Tigerfang?" said a voice from the back of the den. "Yes it's me cricketdawn," Tigerfang meowed before turning to Rustpaw, "this is cricketdawn, our other healer, like I said you'll only see zer if you need them to heal you or if ze asks you to help gather herbs." Rustpaw nodded again, wondering why Spottedblossom looked and sounded so familiar.

Tigerfang encouraged Rustpaw to follow her, and as they padded out of the den, Rustpaw could swear Spottedblossom was staring at him with a sorrowful expression in his eyes.

They crept past the camp and into a den dug into the earth, Rustpaw feeling a surge of heat wash over him from within, a black tom amid the den. He stood over a chunk of flaming red metal, hitting it with a hammer, and glanced up from what he was doing to Rustpaw and Tigerfang.

“Ah, I'm glad you're here. I'm just about done with your satchel and knife” Tigerfang turned to Rustpaw meowing “This is Wolfshadow, he is one of our blacksmiths, the blacksmiths craft our tools and weapons'' Rustpaw nodded.

"Can you stand for me so I can put it on you,” Rustpaw looked at him puzzled "Uhh how do I do that?” Tigerfang sighed and helped Rustpaw slowly stand up “Stars, this hurts like hell," Rustpaw exclaimed in agony. Wolfshadow slid the bag onto Rustpaw.

“How does it feel? Is it too tight?” Wolfshadow asked, Rustpaw shook his head “It feels good,” Wolfshadow grinned. "Good, if you want a pattern or something, I can sew it on," Rustpaw nodded.

As they padded out of the den, Rustpaw meowed, "he seemed nice." Tigerfang scoffed, "No, he's a total asshole, I've known him since I was a kit and he's been a dick to me." She meowed, rolling her eyes.

Rustpaw tilted his head, "Is it because you're a molly?" Tigerfang chuckled a little, "Nah, he's just mad because I always beat him in training." she meowed.

They left camp and padded through the forest to a sandy hollow, which was filled with a mix of red sand and dirt. “This is where we'll be training, take your satchel off and stand in the middle” Rustpaw attempted to do as she instructed, standing on his rear legs and wobbling almost to the ground as he slid his satchel off.

They stood in the center, their claws unsheathed. "Ok so you're gonna attack me, if you can pin me down for five heartbeats then you win" Rustpaw nodded as Tigerfang meowed.

Rustpaw grabbed at her belly with his back legs as they leaped at each other, scratching and biting. Tigerfang smacked her paw into the side of Rustpaw's face, knocking him down.

She leaped onto him, pinning him down for four heartbeats, as it was going to be five heartbeats. Rustpaw tried to use his back legs to shove her off, but his paw slipped.

Tigerfang's eyes widen with pain and shock as she collapses in agony. Rustpaw's eyes widened in terror when he realized what he had done, "I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!" He meowed frantically, feeling terrible about what he had done.

Tigerfang let out a wheeze as she lay there in pain for a few moments, "it's... ok..." she meowed. Rustpaw helped her up "Are you ok Tigerfang?" Tigerfang nodded "I'm fine, why did you do that?"

Rustpaw looked down sheepishly "I didn't mean to, my paw slipped when I was trying to push you off." Tigerfang sighed and patted him on the back. "It's all right, my boy, just don't do it again, please " she meowed, and Rustpaw nodded.

Tigerfang gazed up at the sky, meowing, "It's almost sunhigh, let's go meet Icefoot and Lionheart.'' With the help of Tigerfang, Rustpaw put his satchel on.

They began to pad through the forest, which gradually transitioned from oak trees to towering, thick pine trees "The twolegs used to plant these trees and then cut them down, but since you said the twolegs are gone, they won't be here" Tigerfang meowed.

Rustpaw could see a small black tom speaking with Lionheart through the bushes, as Hurricanepaw and Ravenpaw playfully battled. Lionheart glanced up and frowned as he noticed Rustpaw.

"Fuck what are you looking at?" said Rustpaw, "Why did you bring him? He's not going to last long, so you might as well not train him," Lionheart said to Tigerfang.

"Stop being such a dick to MY rookie, I'm the one training him and I see potential in him!" hissed Tigerfang, enraged.

"You're a fucking idiot, just because he's a former kittypet doesn't mean he can't train," Icefoot hissed as he cuffed Lionheart's ear.

Icefoot rose and padded toward the forest, followed by Ravenpaw, tigerang, and Rustpaw, with Lionheart and Hurricanepaw picking up the rear. They eventually arrived at a Twoleg path indicating the pine woodland's end.

They dashed into the sheltering bushes of the oak forests beyond. However, Rustpaw detected unease and fury in the other cats. "We're approaching whispering river territory,'' Ravenpaw said quietly. "The sun Carin is over there." He pointed to a treeless heap of boulders with his paw.

Rustpaw was looking at the stones when he noticed a sandy brown tom sitting on them, his throat ripped open, blood pouring down his chest as parts of shredded skin hung down, and his eyes brimming with hate.

He approached Tigerfang, who didn't see, and mouthed the word "murderer" at her before disappearing into the winds. "You ok?" meowed Icefoot, noticing Rustpaw's horrified expression.

Rustpaw followed Tigerfang and Icefoot with a nod. The strong odor of unknown cats assaulted the roof of Rustpaw's mouth. He was startled at how different it smelt from the thundering clouds and camp's warm cat odors.

He was also astonished to notice how familiar and cozy the thundering clouds' odors already felt to him. "That is the smell of whispering rivers," Tigerfang growled beside him.

“Keep it in mind. It will be greatest along the border, where their knights would have scent-marked the trees." As they padded along the river Rustpaw could see four great oaks in the distance.

“That is four trees” Hurricanepaw meowed, noticing Rustpaw’s curious look "What exactly is Fourtrees?" Rustpaw inquired. "It is where the territories of all four Clans meet," Hurricanepaw said. "There are four great oaks there, as old as the clowder's—"

"Be quiet!" said Lionheart. "Don't forget how close we are to enemy territory!" he meowed, staring at Rustpaw as if he had done something wrong. As Lionheart moved forward, he shoved rustpaw with his shoulder, forcing rustpaw to nearly tumble into the canyon.

Tigerfang and Icefoot ran over to grab Rustpaw and drag him over the edge, his claws sinking into the earth as he struggled to pull himself up. He frantically clawed at the ground trying to pull himself up.

Tigerfang took Rustpaw by the scruff and pulled him up, placing him on the ground and checking him over, "Are you okay?" She meowed with concern.

Rustpaw nodded, and Tigerfang screamed at Lionheart, "WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU TRYING TO KILL A ROOKIE?!" She slammed her paw at Lionheart's side of the face, clawing his cheek, blood poured down the side of his face as he stared in shock.

"We're going back to camp, and I'm going to tell Snowstar what you did, Lionheart," Icefoot meowed as he stepped between them glaring at Lionheart. Tigerfang growled a little before picking up Rustpaw by the scruff and carrying him to the camp.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

so I have two new accounts on Tumblr now, one for my main and one for my new au

my new main is mothmans-w00ds and my new AU blog is heaven-lies

I've also got the first chapter of my new story out

https://archiveofourown.org/works/60504781/chapters/154460854