#blazepaw

BLAZEFIRE

Previous ao3

Flickerpaw looked thoughtful, clearly taking his duties as guide serisouly. “You know the Highrock already,” he flicked his fox-red tail over to the big, smooth rock, “Bishop Blizzardstorm always adresses the Kingdom from there. Her den is down there,” lifting his nose to point towards a hollow in the side of the Highrock, lichen hanging over the entace, sheltering the Bishop’s nest from wind and rain, “Her den was carved out many moons ago by an anceint stream. The only ones allow in beside her is her Attendant, her mate if she had one and her Rosetteanthem, because she is her kit,”

“What’s an Attendant?” Blazepaw asked.

“An Attendant is a Bishop’s second in command, aiding them in their tasks and will perform their duties if the Bishop is ill, injured or unable to perform their duties for any other reason,” Flickerpaw nods his head to the gray molly with the red scaled tail who was organizing some felis into groups for hunting and patrolling, “and they would die for the Bishop if needed to. Rosetail is Bishop Blizzardstorm’s Attendant,” he then puffs up his chest, “And my mother,”

With that, Flickerpaw beckons towards a grassy clearing surrounded by ferns of all sides, except for where a rock that was split down the middle by a large crack, sits. Two felis were there, mumbling over a pile of what looked like herbs. The older one was a tom, with silver fur marked by teal-gold scales along his belly and yellow horns, “Now, what can we give to Nettlebreeze to soothe his toothache,”

“Alder bark,” the younger one mews out, a small black tortoishell molly with spalshes of red scales and a white chest, “Chewing it will soothe his teeth, I can give him some now Featherwhisker,”

“You go do that, Spottedpaw,” Featherwhisker smiles, “I’m going to make sure we have enough blackberry leaves...the bees will be coming soon and with how Dust is...I just know some kits are going to get stung,”

Spottedpaw chuckles and turns, but blinks at the sight of Flickerpaw and Blazepaw, “Oh! Flickerpaw...and the new Apprentice,” she steps forward, taking a sniff out of Blazepaw and scrunches her nose, “Ugh..she smells worse than a Orc...I am so glad that I sleep here...I feel sorry for you, Brindlepaw and Tigerpaw for having to share a den with that stench,”

Blazepaw hisses, lips curling and wanting nothing more to ram her black horns into the other molly when Featherwhisker walked over, “Spottedpaw,” he gently warns, “As a Soothepurr apprentice, I expect you to be a little more welcoming to the newcomer,” he turns his yellow eyes at Blazepaw, “Welcome to Thundergrowth, don’t mind Spottedpaw, I think she just snappy because she just had to deal with Sheepear awhile ago,”

“That is understandable,” Flickerpaw stated, “Who wouldn’t have a furball stuck somewhere after dealing with that bad-tempered tom,”

Spottedpaw spat crossly at him, but picks up the alder bark and trotted away. Featherwhisker shakes his head, “Now away the both of you,” he flicker his tail, a lively glimmer in his yellow eyes, “How am I able to work with you two yapping about,”

“Sorry Featherwhisker,” Flickerpaw apologizes before leading Blazepaw away towards a massive tangle of bushes that was a few paces away from the Highrock, “This the General Den, where the Warriors and Crafters sleep,” Blazepaw crouches, where she could see a sheltred space inside filled with moss and fur. “The senior members of Thundergrowth sleep nearest the center, where its warmest. Once we earn our full Kingdom name this will be where we sleep, but for now its best to stay away from it unless our mentor calls us over,”

Blazepaw quickly sat up, feeling her skin flush underneath her fur as it bushes up in embarammnet. Flickerpaw’s whiskers twitched in amusemnt and she huffs, “you said Warriors and Crafters sleep there, but Thrushcloud mention Monarchs and Caretakers? Where do they sleep?”

“Oh in the nursery. The Monarchs, well thats only a temporary duties, they are just given that rank when they are expecting or caring for kits. Caretakers are those who take care of the Monarchs and the kits. They also care for orphan kits that are found on the territory,”

“Wait...that actually happens?” Blazepaw asked and Flickerpaw nodded his head.

“More than you think, though it hasn’t happen for Thundergrowth in awhile. Besides the Coaltions and Drifters, the Kingdoms are the most stable structure in Gatali. Its not surprising that felis who live alone would want their kits to have a better chance of life. So finding Foundlings alone on our territories is completely normal for the Kingdoms, and that why we have the Caretaker rank, they care for the little ones, rasing them to be a member of the Kingdom,”

“So...Warrior, Crafter, Monarch, Caretaker, Attendant...Bishop,” Blazepaw mutters out, trying to remember the ranks of Thundergrowth, “Is there anymore?”

“There is the Elder rank, they have their own place on the other side of the camp. I’ll introduce you!” trotting after Flickerpaw across the clearing, they stopped beside a fallen tree that shelted a patch of lush grass. Sheltered among the soft greenery, were three elders, one of them was the ragged ginger tom with white scales that spoke up for her. Both of his eyes were a cloudly white, his whole body covered in scars and even one of his brown horns were broken, showing his harsh life of battles. All three of them were tucking into a plump rabbit.

“This is Sheepear, Weedwhisker and Nettlebreeze,” Flickerpaw whispered, “Nettlebreeze is the oldest felis in Thundergrowth, he was an warrior during the time of the Deranged Bishop,” Blazepaw’s ear flick at that, and she stared at the old tom, now wondering if he got some of those scars from fighting against the Sentires of the Hearth, “Once you reach your fourth year of service for the Kingdom, you can apply for it, though many wait longer, do more years...but its still a very respected rank,” the tone in his voice was firm, as if he was trying to make Blazepaw understood. She nodded her head and Flickerpaw sigh, “Its our jobs as apprentices to catch fresh-kill for them and to attend to their need, which includes changing their bedding,” and both him and Blazepaw scrunch up their noises at that, “and getting rid of fleas and ticks,”

“You keep that up young one, I’ll make sure Sparrowsong gives you Elder Duty for a moon,” the old tom wheezes, looking over at the two of them with his cloudly eyes, “So...this is our new apprentice, Blazepaw is it?”

“Yes sir,” Blazepaw mew and nodded her head politely, even though he wouldn’t be able to see it. But the other tom, who looked like Neetlebreeze but with pale ginger fur smiles softly at her.

“Welcome to Thundergrowth, young Blazepaw,” he smiles at her, his yellow eyes shining with warmth, “I never imagine a Felis from the Ruins joining the Kingdom, but I think I can see what our Bishop sees in you. I can’t wait to see you flourish,” a purr erupted from Blazepaw’s throat, but then her fur prickles as her stomach growls, “Haven’t eaten yet have you?”

“No sir...i was too nervous to eat this morning,” Blazepaw admitted. And it was true, no matter how much her mother had urge her to eat a few stripes of duck or rabbit, Blazepaw had been so nervous about being turn away, she felt like she would had thrown it all up.

“Well there is enough to go around,” he smiles at the two, “with Spring here now, and Tigerpaw and Brindlepaw turning into fine hunters. Would you mind if these fledglings shared a mouse, Nettlebreeze,”

“Of course not, Weedwhisker” Nettlebreeze croaks out, “Help yourself,”

Weedwhisker turns his gaze to the gray tom, who Blazepaw noticed was glaring at her, “Sheepear?”

Sheepear curls his lips, showing his sharp teeth and hisses, “Fine...but I hope she learns that this is the only freebie that she gets. Full stomach are earned from hard work and blood,” Blazepaw takes a step back at this, while Nettlebreeze sighs, shaking his head.

“Thank you,” Flickerpaw quickly mewed, stepping forward and taking a small boar from the pile of prey, dropping it at Blazepaw’s feet. Nodding her head in thanks, Blazepaw crouched down, and took a large bite from the boar, purring at the juicy and tender flesh that sang with the flavors of the forest. It was so much different from the rabbits and ducks that the farmers raise. Flickerpaw sat down beside her, bending down to take a bite as well. The two apprentices kept quiet, quickly eating as they listen to the elders speak.

“I still think this is a bad idea, allowing a Ruindweller to join us,” Sheepear mutters, making Blazepaw flinch as he not so subtly glares at her, “Our ancestors from the Startrail will be looking down at us in disappointment.”

“Maybe that’s a good idea,” Nettlebreeze mutters under his breath, “I know some Felis who I would love nothing more than to have them disappointed in me,”

“What’s the Startrail?” the elders turn to Blazepaw, the ginger and black scaled molly blinking up at them.

“What’s the Startrail?!” Sheepear retorted, “I know you Ruindwellers have different ideas about the Gods but I never thought you lot wouldn’t know about Lady Nocta’s Startrail!”

“Easy Sheepear,” Weedwhisker laughs, “As you said, those from the Ruins have different beliefs on our Gods,” Sheepear snorted but Blazepaw frowns, the tip of her tail twitching as her ears pinned. “Now, the Startrail...was a promise that Lady Nocta gave to Blazing Shimmer,”

“Blazing Shimmer?” Blazepaw whispers, her eyes lit up as she listen to what the elders were speaking.

“Yes...long before we came to the Strath, the four Kingdoms were once one, we were once known as the StoneLake Kingdom” Weedwhisker gently revealed, smiling a bit at her, “for we once lived by a grand lake that consisted by wooldlands and a moorland, large enough to hold the many Felis that once called it home. It was also home to Lady Nocta herself, she claimed the tunnels underneath the Lake as her own. But…” at this he whispers looking up at the rising stars as if afraid that Lady Nocta would hear him, “at the time, she was not kind to the Stonelake Felis...for a King, by the name of Howl Stone lead a futile attack on her, thinking himself better than the Goddess...he nor his men were able to kill her...but he did wound him,”

“How?” Blazepaw gasps, eyes widen, “How can you wound a Goddess...and Lady Nocta herself?”

“You wound the heart,” Sheepear rasped, licking a paw, “Lady Nocta at the time laid two eggs, and under the orders of Howl Stone, the Sharpclaws were able to destroy one of them. Her rageful cries of agony and grief echo through the tunnels, and to ensure that Lady Nocta wouldn’t destroy them all, Howl Stone made a promise… that he and his family would run through the tunnels, and she shall hunt them. If they escape from her, they are allow to live...if they are caught by her fangs...she eats them,”

“That’s...a bit cruel,” Blazepaw whispers but Nettlebreeze smiles.

“A grieving mother is cruel to those who hurt their children,” he muses, “But, the descendants of Howl Stone...had a ploy...they trick her. They made the run a rite of passage for the graduating Sharpclaws. Before they could take the mantle, they will run through the tunnels...with the higher family rubbing against them, they smelled like they were descendants of Howl Stone...and it was like that for years...until Blazing Shimmer came to be. She had been a Sharpclaw to be and went through the rite herself...but unlike the others who walked the same path as her, she discovered the truth,”

“How?” Blazepaw whispers, her eyes wide, “How did she discovered the truth?”

“By meeting Lord Mourna himself. At the time the God was still young, still under the care of his mother. The two met when Blazing Shimmer was running through the tunnels away from Lady Nocta’s angry fangs that wanted to rip her apart. While hiding the two began to talk, and Blazing Shimmer realized the truth about what the Higher Family was doing, and after the lost of her brother, Soot Shimmer, she wanted the truth out...she wanted vengeance,” Blazepaw couldn’t help the shiver that went up her spine at those worlds, but she couldn’t help but agree. If Fuligo had been killed because of some cat decided to anger one of the Gods, and then sacrifice there own people to escape the punishment, she would have been furious.

“It kinda reminds me of the stories of the Bolt Coalition...about how Liege Zeus started only caring about himself and his children...becoming indifferent and then cruel to the cats who he was suppose to look after,” Blazepaw thought, thinking of the Lost Coalition, but she turn back to the elders to listen to the story.

“It took many moons, whenever Blazing Shimmer had a chance, she slip back into the tunnels. But soon, she had been able to convince Lady Nocta of the trickery that the Higher Family did...and she was enraged. Not only did her show of mercy was spit upon, she had been killing innocent cats, free from the blood spill of her killed child. So...she told those who were free from the Higher Family sins to follow Blazing Shimmer, who will follow the trail of stars that go along her back to a new home, while she takes her revenge...and many did follow her….they followed through the harsh lands which killed without mercy...many did not survive but those who did reach the Strath flourish...though our ancestors did not form the Kingdoms until after Blazing Shimmer’s death...one felis that we all call The Forsaken who started gathering Felis from not only their group but from those outside...but those not with him find themselves facing his anger and rage...soon the groups found themselves fighting constantly, over prey or even the smallest of things. It was a lawless bloody time for the Strath and many felis died,”

Weedwhisker went on where Nettlebreeze took a breath, trying to catch his air, “One night when the moon was full, the felis of the strath agreed to meet at a clearing surrounded by four great oaks. They argued over stolen prey and before long claws flashed as challenging yowls filled the clearing. A terrible battle followed and soon the ground was wet with spilled blood, Blazing Shimmer being one of them. When she dropped to the ground The Forsaken’s claws stained with her blood, they found themselves bathe in moonlight as Lord Mourna came down alongside his mother. She stared at them in disappointment as her son called upon the spirits of their slain kin. No longer torn and bloodied but with fur shining like fallen stars. The survivors huddle to the ground when the spirit of Blazing Shimmer erupted into flames, becoming Lady Solta and creating the new sun that lit up the sky after the many years of darkness,”

Blazepaw blinks at this, “Blazing Shimmer became Lady Solta?” her eyes were wide in that. In the Coalitions it was believed that Lady Solta had a cycle of rebirth, that every time she burns out, she would be reborn. It kinda amazed her that the Kingdoms believed that one of their own became the Goddess of the Sun and Life. But Blazepaw kept her mouth shut, focusing on eating her food.

Sheepear eyes her, but after a moment he nodded his head, “Yes, yes she did. And as Lady Solta stood besides Lord Mourna and Lady Nocta, all three of them staring down at the huddle felis, the mortals saw a terrible vision of the future. They saw the Strath drown in blood, their kits stalk by Lord Mourna at every pawstep and they all knew that the fighting had to stop.

“Unite or die,” Nettlebreeze whispers, before he shakes his head, “that is what they were told to do. They only meant to survive but it was clear to them that they needed a guiding paw. Lady Nocta found four to be worthy, Holly Shadow, Jay River. Heather Wind and Roaring Thunder who each sought out felis with similar strengths and abilities. Jay River sound cats willing to fish for their prey. Holly Shadow gathered night time hunters with clever minds and sharp claws. Roaring Thunder found hunters who could track prey through the thickest undergrowth. To Heather Wind came the fastest runners and felis who loved the open moors. These four devoted themselves to Lady Nocta, Lord Mourna and Lady Solta, wholly, in body, mind and soul that they became the first Bishops. They laid down borders and through out the seasons created the code that which the Kingdoms to this day follow. They strike down dissent and cull down, nourishing the Kingdoms with courage and nobility. Proving themselves in the eyes of Lady Nocta and as she promised, gifting them with eight more lives,”

“The Code?”

Sheepear snorts, “You’ll learn soon enough...if you don’t go running off back into the Ruins,” Blazepaw frowns at him but at that moment Flickerpaw sat up, softly nudging her away.

“Thank you for the story,” he calls over his shoulder, “but we should get some sleep, who knows when we will be told to wake up,” Flickerpaw led her away from the Elder’s den, both ignoring the yowl Sheepear let out as Weedwhisker baps him on the head, to a thick bush of ferns that lay behind a mossy stump tree. “All the apprentices share their meals over here by this stump,” he explains as he settles besides it.

“How many apprentices are there?”

“Well besides you and me, there is Tigerpaw, but he is nearly graduated,” Flickerpaw said, “and then there’s my sisters, Spottedpaw and Brindlepaw. Spottedpaw is being train as a Soothepurr as you know but Brindlepaw is being trained as a warrior like me,” he looked a bit sad, “Not as many as we usually get, we lost a lot of kits during Nixames visit this winter...it was just so cold,” he whispers but before Blazepaw could do anything to comfort her new friend, Tigerpaw walked over, sneering down at her.

“So you did come,” he growls, his tail lashing behind him, “I can’t believe that I’m going to have to train beside you,” he huffs, his nose scrunching as if he was smelling something terrible, “I don’t know why the Bishop is doing this, it won’t be long before you run back home with your tail between your legs,”

“I suggest you be quiet Tigerpaw,” Blazepaw turns her head to see a young pale gray molly with dark blue scales on her neck and belly crawling out from beneath the ferns. Her blue eyes were glaring at the dark brown tabby, “You don’t want Voleclaw to be hearing what you’re saying about Blazepaw. I know it isn’t what we were expecting but Blazepaw is now a part of Thundergrowth,” she meowed calmly, not even flinching as Tigerpaw’s paws long claws unsheathe, digging into the earth. Blazepaw turned her head between the two, when Tigerpaw held up his head and all but stomped into the cluster of ferns.

The speckle molly shakes her head, before turning her head towards the two, “Welcome to Thundergrowth Blazepaw, I’m Brindlepaw.I suggest you two get some sleep, Sparrowsong came and told me that you two will be joining him and Rossetteanthem for a dawn patrol,” Flickerpaw groans at this, making Brindlepaw laugh before she spun around, slipping back inside.

“Great...I hate dawn patrols..” Flickerpaw whispers before he stood up, flicking his tail, “We better listen and get some sleep. Rossetteanthem may be a new warrior but she is strict. She will be so piss if we don’t wake up on time tomorrow,”

“Language!” Blazepaw heard Brindlepaw cry out as follows Flickerpaw inside. The sleeping area was covered with soft moss while the pale moonlight turned everything a delicate soft shade of green. Blazwpaw’s nose twitched as she smell the air, which was far warmer than outside but was fragrant with fern.

“Where do I sleep?” she asked, looking around.

With a snarl, Tigerpaw who was prodding with some moss with his paw snaps his head up, “Anywhere as long as it isn’t near me,”

Ao3 Previous part

“What was the one thing that everyone has told you,” both Ardere and Fuligo cringed as their mother, Consort Nubes stares down at them. Their father, Liege Flamma, sighs as his mate scolds their two youngest, “Do not go past the boundary of the Strath! Those...Kingdom Felis ,” she spits out, “could had hurt you worse than they did,” Fuligo crouches down, his tail curling between his legs, bristling.

“Now now…” their father step over, bringing his head over to press his cheek against hers, “Deep breaths now...the two of them were only curious…”

“Its your fault,” she whispers, pulling back and narrowing her blue eyes at him, “Telling them those stories of Kesteraltail! Giving them ideas in their head...they belong here, not out there,” she shakes her head.

“You know we can’t keep them here…” Father gently said, placing his tail on her side, “There at that age that they want to explore, to see the world, to find out who they are,” he smiles at Ardere and Fuligo, “I know I gave my mother a few gray hairs when I started wandering...we should be grateful that Rubinus doesn’t feel the pull like I did,” Ardere watches as her mother narrows her eyes at her father who grins cheekily, “Anyway...I think she should go,”

Ardere’s head snap to him, while Fortis and Rubinus’ jaw drop. The two had been enjoying watching their younger littermates being scolded by their mother, hiding their amusement behind their paws. But now, they couldn’t hide the shok looks that were painted on their faces. Neither could their mother, “You...you want our daughter to join...they will eat her alive!” she shrieks, fur poofing up so much, it made her look like a giant compared to their father, “This is insanity...you finally have lost it. She knows nothing about them!”

“But how will I learn about them if I don’t give them a chance,” Ardere gently spoke up, for once since they had returned back to the Coalition. There mother had took one look at their limping forms and had hurried them to the Head Medic Hedera to get look at before she started to confront them as soon as she caught the scent of the Strath clinging to their pelts, “I mean,” she shuffles on her paws, “They’re only giving me a chance...I might not like it and they say if I don’t I could always come back home...I just…”

“She will regret it if she didn’t give them a try,” Father gently whispers, “Her eyes have always been drifting towards the Strath...ever since she learned about it, when she not doing chores, you can always find her at the border, staring at it”

“And if I do like it...I will come visit,” Ardere promises, “They said they won’t keep me from my family, I just got to do it at my own time and not when I’m hunting or suppose to do something important,”

“Very reasonable,” Father pointed out and Mother sighs, closing her eyes.

“Well, I think you’re an idiot!” Fortis hisses, “You will die out there for a bunch of stranger that not only you don’t know, but who attacked our brother!”

“Who have been attacking us for years,” Rubinus hisses, tail lashing behind her, “don’t you remember how many of us they killed?! The stories Commander Henricus about the Raids, that they only stopped after grandmother struck down the Deranged Bishop! The fact that you are leaving us behind to go frolic in the Strath. By the Gods, at least Fuligo is smart enough not to do something this idiotic,”

“I mean,” Fuligo cringes as both their elder littlermates snap their heads and glare at them, “Bishop Blizzardstorm only offer Ardere...but I know that if she had offer me a place I would take it… well maybe not really, I don’t see myself sharing a den with Tigerpaw,” he grimaces, his ice blue eyes filling with fear “But honestly, I wish I could join a Kingdom,” he smiles, eyes sparkling, “Learning how to hunt and fight, in a different way than other Coalition Felis can...I mean...I think this is the first time a Coalition cat been ask to join a Kingdom,”

Father nodded his head, “I think so too...Kesteraltail told me that they have welcome in a lot of Drifters into their ranks… though the last time I talk to him, he said that Windmoor isn’t allowing anyone to join as of right now,” Fuligo deflates at that, having grown an exciting look on his face, “But I do know that there’s another Kingdom that allows outsiders to join. The Drifting Sun lives by them during the summer months, when Lady’s Solta’s eye grows the hottest. I could ask Overseer Apollo to allow you to travel with them and ask the Kingdom if you could join them,” he then squawks when mother began to smack him with her paw, bapping him in the place.

“Mama!” she stops, looking at Fuligo, “Can I please at least try?” he looks up at her with icy blue eyes, big and wide, “The Drifting Sun will be staying around there all of spring and summer...if I don’t like it, I’ll be back home by winter,”

Their mother, with the same icy blue eyes as Fortis and Fuligo, stares at them before she closes them tightly, “My babies are growing up...leaving the nest so soon,” she whispers before she curls around the both of them, licking at their ears,

“Well...I think they’re stupid,” Rubinus hisses, tail lashing as she glares at the two, “Go ahead and leave us for those...monsters,” she hisses before she stood up, turning around and leaving the nest. Fortis frown at the two of them, before following after their sister.

“Give her time,” Father whispered to them, “This is your decision. What you want to do in life is up to you, and how brave you are willing to be to do what you believe is right,”

The two littermates blink up at their father, wondering what he meant by that. But they didn’t have much time to think of it as their attention was pulled towards their mother. The rest of the day and night wore on, seemingly endless as the two spent Ardere’s last full day in the Coaltion. She could tell that there were some (maybe all) who didn’t want he youngest princess to leave the safety of the ruins to join the Kingdom that had attacked them in the past. Thought their father eyed them before they could say anything.

When Solta’s eye was high in the sky, Ardere sat beside the border. Tail high as she looks in the undergrowth for any sign of the two Felis that Bishop Blizzardstorm would have sent. The smells of Bishop Blizzardstorm, Voleclaw, and Tigerpaw were very faint, but they were swirling around her. She couldn’t tell if they were here now, or if they weren’t. Ardere frowns but her ears prick, as she heard the leaves rustles before a sandy gray tom pushed his way out. Ardere stared up at him, noticing that he was a little bit smaller than the other two Thundergrowth warriors had been, and had red scales painted across his shoulders and up his face. He has the same white horns as Voleclaw did, but his eyes though were a soft and kind green that shine down at her, “I am guessing you are Ardere?” At her silent nod he sat down, “so what is your decision?” 

“I wish to join you,” Ardere replied, “if the offer still stands,”

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t,” he chuckles a bit, eyes glimmering, “My name is Thrushcloud, a Caretaker of Thundergrowth” Ardere blink at this, taking a step towards him and took in a breath, smelling the smell of milk that mixed in with the strong scent of forest that cling to his pelt. But then she stills, fur pricking as a chill went down her spine when she not noticed another freshe smell hiding in the bushes.

Turning her gaze towards it, she hisses, “You’re not alone,” she whispers and a chuckle echo from the bushes as another cat pushes their way out of the undergrowth. She blinks at blue-gray molly that looked a lot like Bishop Blizzardstorm, but this one has the same rosette markings that Ardere saw on herself, her father and her siblings.

“Maybe there is some potential in you,” the molly stated, eyeing Ardere up and down with her orange eyes. 

“This is Rosetteanthem,” Thrushcloud introduced, “one of Thundergrowth’s newest warrior but one with great potential,” Rosetteanthem cracked a smile a bit before her face went neutral once more, but her eyes kept staring straight at Ardere.

“I’ll be watching your training with interest,” she calmly said, before she turns towards Thrushcloud, “we better head back if we want to make it before the night patrol heads out,”

Thrushcloud nodded his head in agreement and eyes Ardere, “Think you can keep up?”

Looking at the two of them, with their long legs, and what look like strong muscles from moons of training, Ardere knew that she could not keep up. But she kept her head straight, her eyes glaring at them in determination, “Yes,”

“Confident,” Rosetteanthem smoothly said, “let’s see if you can keep it, Ruindweller,” and then she bounded off, Thrushcloud close behind her. Eyes widening, Ardere scrambles up and quickly follows after them. Grateful that she already said her goodbyes last night and this morning, as the two kingdom Felis made no allowance for her.

Ardere gritting her teeth, trying to keep pace with them, but as soon as they left the clearing, it was made much harder to keep up. But Ardere was determined to not look weak to these Kingdom Felis. She was breathing heavily, trying to keep up, which was made harder when she couldn’t make the graceful jumps that they did over logs, streams and rocks, or when they made a sharp turn that almost made Ardere run into a tree face first. They were easily bounding through the woods, weaving through all the obstacles like their fur was made of air. And even then, Ardere could tell they were not going as fast as they usually did.

But finally, finally, the two slowed down, allowing Ardere, with her sore paws stinging from sharp stones and thorns, was finally able to just be a step behind them. She eyes them, trying to hide her wheezing, as she follows them through a well-worn trail through the undergrowth, she noticed that the forest grew thicker and thicker. The smell of many felis grew stronger as well, mixing in with the scent of mice and birds. At last, Thrushcloud and Rosetteanthem paused, stepping onto a small rock that rested on the edge of a ravine, “We are very close to our camp now,” Thrushcloud meowed, whiskers twitching in amusement as Ardere halted beside them, puffing for her breath. Glaring at him, she shakes her head, suckling in another breath before she strained to see any signs of life- moving leaves, a glimspe of fur among the bushes below, but her eyes saw nothing except the same undergrowth that covered the rest of the forest floor.

Rosetteanthem rolled her eyes, “Use your nose. You must be able to scent it,”

Grimacing, Ardere closed her eyes and sniffed. Rosetteanthem had been right, she was able to scent it, and how much different it was to the Felis of the Hearth.

“There will come a time, if you are accepted into Thundergrowth, even our own scent feels like home to you,” Thrushcloud smiles, before nodding his head down towards the ravine, “Our camp is down here. It may look like a hard climb, but follow us closely and you won’t fall,” Ardere gulps at this but scrambles back up, grimacing in pain a bit from her pads throbbing, Thrushcloud as he led the way nimbly down the boulders to the bottom of the ravine and through a thick patch of gorse. Ardere push through the small gap in the gorse, Rosetteanthem behind her, watching her with orange eyes as Ardere’s long fur got caught by the thorns and prickly gorse. Ardere looked down, noticing that the grass beneath her paws were flatted into a strong-smelling track.

“This must be the main entrance to the camp,” she thought before looking up as they burst into a bare, hard earth clearing, shaped by many generations of pawsteps. Green eyes widen at the sight before her, though she took a bit of a step back when many eyes turn to her, gazing her with either curiosity, confusion, distrust, or worse anger. But Ardere held her head up high, just as her father told her to. The Hearth Coalition, leadership was inherited by blood, from mother to daughter, the heiress taking the name Hestia once they become Liege, taking the name of their founder. Many look down on her and her siblings because their father was the Liege, as their grandmother, the last Hestia, formerly known as Crystallo didn’t give birth to any daughters. The Veterans, those who have retired from their duties, thought they had lost the favor of the Solta though it had settled down once her and her littermates were born.

So, she raised her chin, keeping her gaze steady as she stared back. It was so crowded, felis everywhere, sitting alone or in groups, sharing food or purring quietly as they groom one another. In the corner, Ardere could see three kits wrestling about, bapping each other and giggling, while a fourth was peaking his head out from the entrance of an impenetrable- looking tangle of brambles, “Over there is the Nursery,” Thrushcloud smiles, noticing where Ardere was looking at, just as a pale golden molly, with patches of gray scales on her legs and face, her belly swollen with kits of her own, squirmed out through the small gap, her tail brushing the black kitten’s head gently as a silver gray molly with teal-gold scales along her shoulds appeared around the bramble bush. The two mollies exchange a friendly lick between the ears before the gray molly slipped inside the nursery.

“The care of our kits is shared by not only the monarchs but also the caretakers,” Thrushcloud meowed, “All felis serve the Kingdom, loyalty to the Kingdom is the first law in the Code, a lesson you must learn quickly if you wish to stay with us,”

Ardere nodded her head in understanding, but turns it to Rosetteanthem as she raises her head, “Here comes mother,” she mewed as she sniffs the air. Raising her head herself, Ardere was please to recognize the scent of Blizzardstorm before she appeared from the shadow of the large boulder that stood tall in the center of the clearing.

“She came,” Bishop Blizzardstorm purred, addressing the two as she walked over.

Thrushcloud chuckles, “Rosetteanthem was convince she would not,”

Rosetteanthem huffs, “We never had anyone from the Ruins join us...sure some of our own had joined the Ruins but..” she shakes her head, “She surprised me,” Rosetteanthem admitted, “She kept up well on the return journey...she has potential I will admit that,”

Bishop Blizzardstorm nodded at this, before she turns back towards the large boulder and leap onto it. Ardere watches before she was gently nudged by Thrushcloud to stand underneath the rock. When the Bishop had reached the top of the boulder, she cried out, “Let all those felis old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the Highrock to listen to my words!” Her clear call brought all the felis trotting towards her, emerging like liquid shadows from the edges of the clearing. Ardere frowns when she recognized Tigerpaw’s brown tabby fur among the cats. Beside him sat a large black molly with purple scales going down her spine, licking at his ears before she chuckles when he pulls away. A large dark gray tabby crouched behind them, the blue scales on his face making his yellow eyes glow as he stares up towards the Bishop.

When the felis were still, Bishop Blizzardstorm spoke, “Yesterday, I, Voleclaw and young Tigerpaw encounter a pair of fledgings on the border besides the Ruins. Tigerpaw had attacked one of them and had injured them a bit but before me and Voleclaw could put a stop to it, the fledging’s sister struck him first. And as you can see, Tigerpaw ended up with some bruises and a wounded pride,”

“So that’s why he was sulking in the Apprentice’s den,” laughter broke out at this and Tigerpaw hisses in fury, his tail lashing out.

“After seeing the fledgling’s bravery to protect her brother, even though Tigerpaw is much stronger than her, I offer her a place into our Kingdom, to become an apprentice,”

“Lucky enough to become an apprentice,” craning her head, Ardere blinks at the sight of the black tom with fur sticking up, teal-gold scales going across his throat, glaring defiantly at the Bishop.

“Really my Bishop...is this wise?” one cat inquired, an older dark brown tabby tom, with half his tail missing looked up at her in curisosity, “Its one thing to allow Drifters to join our ranks, but a felis from the Ruins?”

“But aren’t Drifters from the Ruins as well?” a tortoiseshell that sat beside him ask, shrugging his red scaled shoulders, “I mean...whats the difference if we accept someone straight from the Ruins and not one whose been drifting around,”

“Its because Drifters at least know the harshness of the outside world. Ruindwellers stay inside the comforts of the Ruins, all but praying that the Others will come back and care for them,” Ardere frowns at this, eyeing the black tom who spoke in pure disgust, “The Kingdom needs Kingdomborn felis, not another soft mouth to feed,”

“Whose the soft mouths you’re talking about?” Ardere speaks up, the black tom narrowing his yellow eyes at her, “I pray that you aren’t talking about the kits,”

“I’m not a soft mouth!” a wail erupted from the confines of the nursery, drawing laughter from the gather group of Felis.

“You’re just a spoiled brat who doesn’t know the meaning of hard work!” he jeers, barring his teeth at her.

“If anyone is the spoil brat its you,” Ardere calmly stated, not showing the anger that made her stomach churn, that made her claws itch to rip into his pelt, “I mean, who speaks when their leader is speaking?”

The tom growls, but he shuts his mouth when Bishop Blizzardstorm gives him a look, “She may be from the Ruins, but she has plenty of potential, both Thrushcloud and Rosetteanthem agree with me,”

“I seen worse…” a ragged ginger tom wheezes out, “And we could do with some new fresh blood,” he pointed out, “Let’s give the fledgling a chance,”

“Nettlebreeze...you are blind,” a gray tom with small ears pointed out, rolling his yellow eyes.

“He’s right though,” a gray tom with a long scar going down his shoulder pointed out, “It wouldn’t hurt to give her a chance, Spring is here now so if it all fails it won’t hurt us like it would have if Nixames was here with Winter...I support our Bishop’s decision.”

The gather felis quietly mutter to themselves, but no one else spoke up against the idea of Ardere joining. Bishop Blizzardstorm leapt down. Ardere raised her head, stepping into a shaft of sunshine, allowing the pool of light to blaze brightly on her orange pelt, making her fur glow. Bishop Blizzardstorm approached her, whose blue eyes were looking her up and down, “You look like a brand of fire in this sunlight,” she gently spoke, and Ardere frowns a bit when she saw her eyes flash briefly, as if her words had more meaning. But she then duck her head, pressing her nose against Ardere’s forehead, “Lady Solta, you know every felis by name but I ask that you take away the name from the felis you see before you, as with her new path in life, it no longer stands for what she will become. By my authority as Bishop, until this apprentice has earn her Kingdom name, she will be known as Blazepaw-in honor of her flame-colored coat,”

“Blazepaw! Blazepaw!” Ardere, no Blazepaw allow the voices of Thundergrowth wash over her as they cheer her new name. She kept her head up high, even as the felis parted, going back to what they were doing before the meeting.

“So you’re the one who spoiled Tigerpaw’s good looks,” turning her head, Blazepaw watches as the tortoiseshell that spoke up earlier bounce over, “He’s very close in getting his full Kingdom name, but that scar you left on him will make sure to never forget about you,” he nodded his head, amber eyes twinkling, “I’m Flickerpaw, welcome to Thundergrowth!”

Blazepaw smiles, but a low yowl made both of them jump. They both turn to see the gray tom that who had sat beind Tigerpaw earlier glaring at her with his yellow eyes. Flickerpaw dipped his head respectfully, “Darkstripe,”

“Don’t get use to being around here,” Darkstripe sneers, “It will only be a matter of time before you go back running into the Ruins, where you belong,” he spat out the word ruins scornfully before he stalked off.

“Don’t listen to Darkstripe,” Flickerpaw hisses to Blazepaw under his breath, “We have more important things to worry about,” at this Blazepaw blinks at him and he smiles, “Like showing you around the camp! Can’t have you poking your nose into something you shouldn’t and get into trouble,”

Ao3. Previous part

She was surrounded by starlight, to the leaves that hung over her head, to the very ground that of the well trodden grass of a hollow she stood alone in. 

“No, I’m not alone,” she thought, raising her head up to the sky, but instead of seeing more stars, she saw different shades of eyes, all peering down at her.

“Eons agone, these lands were rife with gods and their adherents. What befell this pantheon? Alas, Tis the nature of beast to forget and Gods to be forgotten. Mayhap they left. Mayhap they slept. Mayhap they devour and were devour in turn. Those few who remain though, they spread their roots, spun their webs and molded the ways of how others live… but sometimes, things left best forgotten, can crack through, whisper in the ears of those who can give it power…what will you do little spark… what can you do?”

Ardere snaps her eyes open, panting as she sits up. She regretted that as she hisses, sunlight that shine through one of the many broken windows that were scatter across the Yowlplace that made the Liege’s Family Den. Her grandmother, Crystallo, before her passing, told her many stories about how years before, when the world was young, that the Others, who had ruled it with a cruel fist, would gather in the place and yowl to their heart’s content.

Arching her back as she stretches, Ardere frowns as she tries to remember her dream that was now slowly fading away. Shaking her head, she stood up, and began to run her tongue over her dark ginger fur, making sure she was presentable enough for her mother. “I do not need another scolding,” she chuckles to herself as she gave herself one more shake before leaving not only the comfort of her nest, but the Liege’s Family den itself.

Stepping through the hole in the wall, Ardere frowns as it rains lightly, feeling the weight of the raindrops falling on her ginger coat, making the black rosettes sparkle a bit. Sighing a bit, and glaring up at the sky, Ardere stalked through the clearing, strolling many cats who were going about there day. She nodded at them each on greeting, tail held up high. She smiles at the sight of a few kits tumbling about playfully, two of them hissing a bit as they bapped at each other’s face, even as a black and white tom with blue scales quickly walked over to pull the two apart.

She watches as another group of cats headed over to the fields, where they will switch places with the night group to take care of the chickens and rabbits that feed the coalition. Ardere couldn’t help but giggle as one trips clumsily over her paws when she tried to yawn. Shaking her head, Ardere smile drops off her face as she walked over to two other kits around her age. One was a light gray rosette molly with the same black scales crawling up her legs, who was watching as a group of Sentries were doing the morning warmup with blue eyes. Next to her, was a slightly large black tom with hard to see rosettes in his fur, white scales crawling up his face, making his blue eyes pop. He leans towards the molly whispering something, making her laugh. But her laughter died when she caught sight of Ardere, “Oh its you...finally decided to finally wake up I see,”

“Thought you decided to stay with Lady Nocta with how much you were squealing in your sleep,” the tom sneers at her and Ardere sighs.

“Morning Rubinus, Fortis,” Ardere greeted them without any heat. It was too early to get into an argument with them. “What’s on the agenda for today? Has father said anything?”

Fortis grumbles when Ardere didn’t react to their mocking, “I’m going to be joining the sentries in there training,” he shrugs, “If I don’t like it, I’ll be sent to the Farms or the Nursery, to work with them,” he shivers, “I rather work with kits than learn to fight and be under Solta’s eye all day in the field chasing after rabbits,”

“I’ll be talking with Overseer Apollo alongside father,” Rubinus said, drawing a paw over her face, “Then we will be talking to Commander Henricus about Thundergrowth,” her face scrunches up in a sneer, “it seems that they're getting aggressive lately and the elders are fearing that they’ll strike at us once more,”

Ardere frowns at this, “But the Deranged Bishop has been dead for seasons now. We have been in peace with Thundergrowth since Bishop Goosefeather took over,” she pointed out, a frown on her face.

Rubinus groans at this, rolling her eyes, “Just because the leader is dead doesn’t mean his followers are. Many of Thundergrowth agreeded with his beliefs, and I know for sure that they didn’t get truly punished for their actions against us,”

“Just because you were friends with Pineface, doesn’t make all of Thundergrowth your friend,” he glares at her, “And if you do, why don’t you follow Fuligo’s example and go find one?”

Ardere stood up, her green eyes widen, “What do you mean follow Fuligo’s example,” she hisses, tail lashing behind her.

“He went out to the forest that borders the camp,” Fortis mews, nodding his head towards the dense green forest, “Saying he was going to prove to us, how big and strong he was by making a friend with a Kingdom cat,”

“You two idiots!” Ardere snaps, heart beating in her chest as ran towards the woods, plunging through the bushes that marked the border. She couldn’t even stop to marvel in awe at what was on the other side, too worried about her brother. She didn’t stop when her paws hit every sharp rock, rough root and pointed stick, didn’t stop when her fur was pulled by a briar bush, nor when her lungs ache with a burning feeling in them. Especially when she heard a screech of pain that could only come from her little brother.

Bursting though some undergrowth, Ardere skitted to a halt in horror at the sight before her. Her brother, looking like a tinier version of Fortis, with the same black fur and faded rosettes, but with white scales covering his left paw. His tail was bushed in terror as he tries to scramble up, but the large brown tabby with white scales over his face and belly, and red scales across his neck pounced again, pinning Fuligo to the ground. His amber eyes gleam as he brought his paw up, claws unsheathed to swipe at Fuligo’s muzzle, making him squeal in agony.

A growl erupted from Ardere’s throat before it turns into an angry yowl as she sprung on him, throwing him sideways off her brother and into a clump of nettles. Sinking her teeth into his shoulders, the larger tom hisses in pain, twisting as he tries to throw her off of him. She gets off of him, before he could flipped onto his back and crush her, and then dodged as he swipes at her face, blood welling from the scracthes those long claws made along her cheek, but Ardere hisses aggressively, her fur rise to make herself look bigger than she was but the other, glares down at her. “Get out of here you Ruindwellers!” he orders, tail lashing behind him, “You don’t belong here,”

“That doesn’t mean you get to attack my brother!” Ardere snaps, glaring up at him with narrow green eyes. Her body thrum, from head to the tip of her tail, every part of her ready for battle.

The tabby opens his mouth, but a new voice cuts in, stopping him, “What is going on here?” Ears pinning to her head, Ardere watches as two adult cats strides into the clearing, the sunlight shining down on their fur through the trees, making Ardere and Fuligo see them clearly. The tallest one, was a molly with pale blue-gray fur with darker tabby marking. Patches of yellow scales grew along the back of her neck and shoulders, with a scar parting the scales across one shoulder. The scratches on her face to the nick of her ear showed the hard life she had, but her blue eyes glowed with inner strength. Ardere shivers a bit, as those blue eyes looked down at her in curiosity. A second cat followed him, this one making the brown tabby grimace. He too had gray fur, but was covered in teal scales on the neck and belly.

At the sight of this tom, the brown tabby who attacked Fuligo crouched down, grimacing at the narrow blue eyes aim at him, “Tigerpaw what were you thinking?” The gray tom growls, “are you trying to start a war with the Hearth Coalition?”

“I was just protecting our territory!” The now name Tigerpaw explains but keeping his head down, not looking up at them.

“Oh yes, you sure protected our territory,” the gray tom growls, “attacking a pair of kits. You know the code, don’t you Tigerpaw? No warrior can neglect a kit, even if the kit is in danger? That doesn’t just effect Kingdom cats,” he scolds.

Ardere drops onto her pads, loosening her muscles and unbending her spine as she turns to Fuligo who was standing up, shaking in place as he stares at Tigerpaw with terror in his blue eyes, “are you ok?”

He turns to her, shivering and nodding his head. Ardere frowns and presses to his side, brushing her tongue against his head in a soothing manner.

“I apologize for this whole mess,” the blue gray molly gently said, drawing the siblings attention to her, you have my word that Tigerpaw will be punished,” the gray tom nodded his head in agreement at this and Tigerpaw grimaces, “I am Bishop Blizzardstorm of the Thundergrowth Kingdom,” she dips her head, before gesturing to the gray and teal scale tom, “this is Voleclaw, one of my warriors and you have met his apprentice, Tigerpaw,”

Ardere stares at the Bishop, “I am Ardere, and this is my brother, Fuligo,” he brings his head up from Ardere’s side before he shyly nods it. Ardere frowns, “Bishop Goosefeather has pass?”

“Yes,” Bishop Blizzardstorm spoke sadly, “the last winter before this one,”

“That is sad to here,” Fuligo mutters, “he brought peace to our two groups for many years… Father will be sadden to hear he finally left to join one of the valleys guarded by Lady Nocta,”

“Agreed,” Bishop Blizzardstorm frowns, “you did not know then?”

“A few sentries had tried to get any news from you,” Ardere frowns, “but they are force to flee with a few whiskers missing. You lot have been getting so aggressive that it’s worried that you will start the raids again,”

The Bishop winces at this, while Voleclaw growls, “it seems we will have to keep a closer eye on our patrols,”

Nodding her head at this, Bishop Blizzardtounge sighs, “My apologies once more, the last two Season-cycles have been hard on us all. I promise to you that I will crack down on those who have been attacking you will be punished as well and they will be stop,”

Ardere nods her head at this, as they say in an awkward silence. Voleclaw coughs, “you fight well for someone from the Ruins,”

Ardere and Fuligo exchange looks, making Bishop Blizzardstorm chuckle, “we saw you throw yourself at Tigerpaw, right before we could interfere. Tigerpaw is stronger than you, but you didn’t even hesitate to charge in to protect your brother,”

Ardere’s ear flick at this and she ducks her head down. Fuligo chuckles beside her and nudges her with a smile on his face. She softly hisses at him, before turning her gaze back to the Bishop, kneading the ground underneath her. Finally she couldn’t hold in the questions that were burning in her throat, “I hope you don’t mind me asking but what is it like living in the Strath? How big is your Kingdom? What do you guys actually do?”

Blizzardstorm chuckles, good humor shining in her blue eyes, “Living in the Strath...may not be as comfortable as living in the Ruins as you two do, but to us Kingdoms, the rewards are great. Our territory is big enough to support us, which our warriors,” she flicked her tail towards Voleclaw, “feed, defend and care for the cats who cannot do it themselves. Of course we have other things that a cat can do if they do not wish to be a warrior. We have our Crafters, who help build the defenses of our home, to the caretakers who help with the raising of our kits alongside the Monarchs,”

“How many Kingdoms are there?” Fuligo speaks up, blinking with his wide blue eyes, “We know about Thundergrowth and Windmoor,”

“There are four,” Voleclaw spoke up, “Shadowmire and Riverglade. We have live in the Strath for many generations, and while usually we live in peace together, it hangs on the balace with how the Bishop at the time leads their Kingdom.”

“You seem very interested of the Kingdoms,” Bishop Blizzardstorm remarked, her blue eyes staring at Ardere in curiosity.

“Our father would tell us stories of the time when he travel with a Windmoor cat by the name of Kesterltail,” at this both Voleclaw and Bishop Blizzardstorm exchanged looks, Tigerpaw frowning at her while his amber eyes narrow. “But only of the days they had travel together, anything of actual Kingdom life is still a mystery to us,”

Bishop Blizzardstorm gazes at her for a bit, before nodding her head, “How about you find out for yourself,” at this, Tigerpaw’s head snaps to the Bishop, amber eyes wide, “What would you say if I ask you if you like to join Thundergrowth as an apprentice,”

“I would be very interested,” Ardere replies instinctavley, swallowing down the lump in her throat. Her heart was pounding against her chest, and she knew her eyes were widen in shock.

“But the Ruindwellers can’t live in the Strath!” Tigerpaw protested immediately, “They don’t have the blood that had been bless by Lady Nocta to live here,”

Fuligo frowns, “You do know that many years ago, the Strath was just a nursing place for Drifters long before you Kingdom cats came,” he pointed out, “And then you all got really prickly with borders and started attacking anyone who dare enter? The story of the Raging Sky and Mother Mist,” at this the two older cats wince, “It isn’t just a story, its a warning to all to be careful around you,”

Sighing Bishop Blizzardstorm shakes her head, “Too much of Nocta’s Blessed Blood has been spill lately. And I am only offering her training. There is no guarantee she would become a full member of Thundergrowth,”

Ardere felt stung by those words, and even more hurt when she realize the Bishop was only offering her a chance, not her brother. “Why offer me the chance then?”

“We need more help,” Voleclaw admits, “The last two winters brought by Lady Nixames’ wails were harsh. We’re short on paws, and now that we know that some of our patrols have been attacking others...we can’t afford to be choosy. Though make no mistake of this,” he looks at her in the eyes, with his dark blue, “Bishop Blizzardstorm is not making this offer lightly. If you wish to train with us, we will have to take you into our Kingdom. You must either live with us and respect our ways, or return to the Ruins and never come back. You cannot live with a paw in each world,”

Ardere frowns, “So...if I accept, that means I have to cut contact with my family,” she frowns, “I understand respecting your ways, but not being able to see my parents, to see my littermates…”

“Of course not,” Bishop Blizzardstorm gently responded, giving Voleclaw a glare, “All we ask that when you did visit them it will be on your own time,” at this, a cool breeze stirred the undergrowth, ruffling Ardere’s fur. She shivers, not with the cold, but with excitement at the possibility that was opening up. But she stills, frowning as she turns to Fuligo, “Are you wondering if its worth it? The price you may pay?” Ardere turns her gaze to Bishop Blizzardsstorm who was staring at her sadly, “Thundergrowth may not be able to offer you easy food or warmth. When Nixames comes and wails, nights in the Strath can be cruel. Thundergrowth will demand great loyalty and hard work. You will be expected to protect them with your life if necessary. While it is against our code to kill in battle, any fight poses the risk of death. Things are out of our control and if Lord Mourna calls you to walk with him to one of Lady Nocta’s Startrail,” she shakes her head, voice cracking at this, “Nothing can stop that. But...if you like to have at least a taste, a trial run to say,” Bishop Blizzardstorm looked at her for a long moment, “Two cats will be here tomorrow, at sunhigh,”

Blazepaw

Sootpaw