TRIGGER WARNINGS - Domestic violence, a cult(?), forcing a cat to have kits, kit death (starving), trying to starve, talk of wounds and infections
Nettles is a story centering around a warrior named Nettlefern, who was born into the faithful and loyal Nightclan. They (And the other clans, Braveclan and Stormclan) believe in a Starclan similar to the canon descriptions. However, "Starclan" in this story is actually a creature made up of all the cats who have died believing in its religion. The creature is erratic and rarely makes sense, given that it houses the scared souls of hundreds of cats. To living cats that believe in Starclan, the creature appears as a loved one. Cats who know the truth see it as a blurring mass of limbs, eyes, teeth and claws. Nightclans medicine cat, Stormgrass, found out about the real nature of "Starclan", sending Nightclan into panic and confusion. The other clans refused to believe this, accusing Nightclan of blasphemy and further dividing the clan. Stormgrass, the only medic, died of a heart attack after a dream with the creature, leaving Nightclan defenseless over a harsh winter. Nettlefern, a senior warrior, ended up the last of only a handful of cats. Braveclan, a powerhungry and bloodthirsty clan, believed this death to be a sign from Starclan and rushed in to finish the job. Nettlefern runs, and is the only cat left alive, only because another cat, a tom named Ashton, saved her. Ashton is her ex mate, a loner that tried to force her to have kits with him. Nettlefern hates him, but stays because her injuries are major and Ashton did technically save her. Ashton purposely keeps her longer than needed, refusing to let her gain any independence, and eventually Nettlefern is forced to bare two kittens. Nettlefern tries to keep them alive, but the last bit of her hope and compassion dies when they do, both starving to death. Nettlefern runs and hides in the nearby twolegplace. Her leg is still badly hurt, festering and rotting. Though she fully intends to die there, a kittypet, Sophie, saves her, trying to heal her and eventually having her housefolk take Nettlefern into the vet. Nettlefern is angry because she did not want the twolegs to take her leg, and because she wanted to die. Once released again, Nettlefern hides with some ally cats and grieves her family, clan and old life. After a while, she returns to Sophie, apologizing and thanking her for saving her life. Moons later, the two become mates, and adopt Salamanderpaw, a Stormclan cat trying to escape a prophecy.
