#bluestripe

Well, Dawnstar (125) got over Bluestripe pretty quick.  And speed-ran falling in love with Sofanthiel (130).  The two have become mates and, with their heads pressed together speaking their commitment in front of the Clan, there’s nothing in Sofanthiel and Dawnstar’s worlds but love.  Dawnstar also decides to adopt Ryepaw (11), something he never did for Bluestripe’s kits.  Dapplemuzzle (38) can’t help but feel like Sofanthiel is replacing her mom.  She steps on Sofanthiel’s foot and pretends not to notice.  Dapplemuzzle goes to Aries (107) for advice on how to process her feelings, but regrets it immediately when Aries misses the point and starts talking about all the trouble she could get Sofanthiel in instead.  Aphidwhisker (38) still has a grudge against Hatchswipe (86) for some reason.  Hatchswipe does not reciprocate said grudge.  She’s doing her usual ‘looking-out-for-other-cats’ thing and reminds Aphidwhisker to grab some fresh-kill.  Aspenpaw (11) has also been made a warrior!  He is named Aspenthud, in honor of his logic.  Flailvalley (33) is proud of his first apprentice, although seeing Aspenthud’s siblings congratulate him makes him miss his own littermates. Tansypaw (11), despite having her brother in the healer’s den with her, is starting to realize that being a healer can be lonely.  It’ll be a while before she gets her full name, like Aspenthud just did.  She feels disconnected from him.

Healer’s den: Embershell (water in lungs), Flailvalley (phantom pain)

Croucheye (44), still thinking about her bonding time with her mother, goes on a long walk in the territory.  She thinks about all Kestrelcreek (132) has seen and done, all the cats she’s loved and lost, and resolves to do something to give back to her mother.  She deserves it, after all she’s given to the Clan.  Meanwhile, Ryekit (3) asks Dawnstar (117) a question about using his dark-cursed abilities.  What’s it like, draining the life from another cat?  He’s a little scared of what that aspect of his power means.  Dawnstar stutters.  He’s never killed a cat with his magic.  Bluestripe (108) might be a better option.  The deputy in question is checking in with Sofanthiel, giving any advice she can on raising a dark-cursed cat.  She’s probably a pretty good source of information, considering she’s a mother to two dark-cursed cats and dark-cursed herself.  Sofanthiel (122) also feels like Embershell (51) isn’t living up to her potential.  Her mind always seems to be somewhere else, instead of in her Clan.  Ryekit and Blizzardkit (3) spend some time playing together, racing each other across the clearing.  Ryekit’s wind magic does give him a bit of an advantage, though.  Aspenkit (3) is excited to start learning how to fight and challenges Hatchswipe (78) to spar with him.  Hatchswipe obliges, letting the kit win.  Aries (99) is actually finding parenting to be a bit boring.  She’s impatient to get back to mediating.  Maybe she’ll even sabotage a couple of cats, just to make things interesting.   Bumble is annoyed with Hatchswipe.  He can hear her snoring even from the healer’s den! Hopcurl (51) seems to be developing a bit of a crush on Aphidwhisker (30).  Xey joke around with her about the other Clans and thinks that Aphidwhisker’s eyes are very pretty.  Aphidwhisker is determined to work her way back into Dawnstar’s good graces and gives some advice to him.  Which he, of course, doesn’t heed.  He’s feeling quite sassy today.

Healer’s den: Bluestripe (greencough), Aries (greencough), Longpelt (mangled tail), Ryekit (stomachache)

Well, it seems like the Clan shouldn’t have been worried about Aries’ (95) kittypet roots influencing her loyalties.  Instead, they should have been worried about Dapplemuzzle (26)!  She was seen taking food from a Twoleg!  Scandalous.  Dawnstar (113) is thrilled that Bluestripe (104) is finally his mate.  The two were caught enjoying a midnight stroll by Aphidwhisker (26).  She was not thrilled to see her mom and leader being all gross and in love.  With Aries expecting kits, Hopcurl (47) is having to take on more of the mediator duties.  That includes mediating the relationship between Sofanthiel (118) and Kestrelcreek (188).  Xey will do it, but xey’re not a fan of Sofanthiel.  Croucheye (40) continues to get along with Sofanthiel and is surprised by her being thoughtful.  Embershell (47) has been a bit bored around camp lately and has taken to helping out Bumble (106) in the healer’s den.  Bumble appreciates her efforts, although he was a little nervous about having a fire-blessed cat around his precious herb supply.  Aphidwhisker thinks that she had a dream from StarClan and tells Bumble about it.  Bumble can’t make sense of it.  Maybe it’s not actually from StarClan. . .

Healer’s den: Flailvalley (mangled tail), Aries (pregnant), Sofanthiel (pregnant)

Well, it seems that Bluestripe (101) wasn’t too shaken up over Tanglechirp’s death, because Dawnstar (110) confessed his feelings to her and they have become mates.  Or maybe Bluestripe is coping with his loss by distracting herself.  Either way, their relationship has some. . .interesting parallels to Peakspots and Yuccawillow’s.  Hopefully it ends up better than theirs did.  Longpelt (40) doesn’t seem to understand the whole ‘grieving’ thing and is amused by how grumpy Bluestripe looks all the time. Kestrelcreek (115) really relates to Peatfeather (38), having lost her siblings, and tries to cheer her up by heckling other Clans at the gathering together.   Aries (92) is still a little unsure of how to best help the Clan.  Embershell (44) notices her sulking around camp again, and Peatfeather makes sure to check in on Aries.  Aries hopes that Peatfeather’s brother, Petalfrost, is doing well in StarClan (he is, actually-he’s enjoying exploring the territory).  Bumble (103) seems to suspect that something is going on with Aphidwhisker (23).  She was in the healer’s den the other day, and he stepped on her foot, pretending not to notice.  Dawnstar called a Clan meeting, intending to give a rousing speech, but forgot what he was going to say when he saw Bluestripe watching him.  Hatchswipe (71) is feeling tired.  Life in the Clan has been stressful lately, and all she wants to do is sleep.

The tensions in the Clan have finally come to a head.  First, the lack of herbs claimed another life.  Although Bumble (102) was able to recover from his broken bone, he was unable to save Tanglechirp (72), who died of yellowcough.  Bluestripe (100) mourns the loss of her mate, but takes comfort in her kits.  Dapplemuzzle (22) does her best to support her mother, but isn’t truly grieving herself.  It’s not like Tanglechirp did much to help raise her.  Aphidwhisker (22) is a bit annoyed by Bluestripe’s attention.  She would much rather be spending time plotting against Dawnstar (109) and Boulderflood (41) with Pebbletuft (58).  But the drama in the Clan is not yet done.  Badgers seem to have a grudge against ElementClan, and yet another gang of badgers attack the camp.  Minnownudge (17) and Flailvalley (17) are on guard duty and are enjoying a moment of peace after the war.  Which is interrupted when a badger bursts out of the bushes and kills Minnownudge with a single bite.  Flailvalley freezes and doesn’t do anything as the badgers stream into the grotto.  Nettlestripe (94) sounds the alarm with a burst of flame, but is trampled to death as the badgers stream in.  However, his sacrifice and alarm gives Dawnstar a moment to rally his cats.  He assigns Burdockbeam (41) and Boulderflood to one half of the camp while he and Dapplemuzzle are on the other.  He doesn’t trust Aphidwhisker enough to tell her to do more than guard the healer’s den, and the injured Pebbletuft.  Meanwhile, Hollowminnow (26) and Mitemask (26) end up fighting next to each other.  Mitemask has a sudden sense of dread and tries to warn Hollowminnow about a surprise attack that was coming.  He ignores her and is severely injured.  Mitemask fights over her brother as best she can, but they both perish.  Meanwhile, Scorchhawk (17) and Mistytooth (17) go out to find their brother.  The camp needs his power.  However, a badger blocks their path and kills both of them.  Petalfrost (37) insists on fighting on his own, despite Peatfeather (37) urging him to work with his Clanmates.  But why would he, when they had never truly welcomed him?  He glares at ElementClan as a badger shakes him from its back, breaking his neck.  With so many cats injured or dead, Copperheart (41) takes it upon herself to do something responsible for a change and protect the elder’s den.  However, her lack of practice from her many days goofing off mean that she can’t defend it and both she and Cherviljumble (130) die.  On the other side of camp, Boulderflood and Burdockbeam are being pushed towards the Healer’s den.  Burdockbeam sees her sister and partner in crime fall from across the camp and is momentarily distracted.  It’s enough for a badger to kill her.  Boulderflood is left to mourn both her sisters and try to fend off two badgers at once.  Aphidwhisker watches from the Healer’s den.  She could kill both of the badgers with a touch.  But. . .she glances at Pebbletuft, who shakes her head.  She chooses to do nothing and watches as Boulderflood is slaughtered.  However, a badger surprises her and tosses her aside, killing Pebbletuft.  In the clearing, fighting alongside Bluestripe and Dawnstar, Dapplemuzzle gets tired of watching her clanmates fall.  And of watching her sister do nothing to help.  When a badger pins Peatfeather, she snaps.  She lashes out with her magic and fells three badgers, giving her clanmates a chance to gain the upper hand and officially proving herself.  The day is won, but at the cost of twelve lives. And both of the Clan’s star-blessed cats.  Graysong’s omen about lights being extinguished has come true.

Hatchswipe (70) is distraught at the loss of all three of her sister’s kits.  Her last ties to her littermates are gone.  She tries to hold onto their scents for as long as she can, but even those fade.  Kestrelcreek (114) is shaken by yet another mass death in her Clan.  She, Bluestripe, and Dawnstar are the only cats left of their generation.  She feels so old. Aries notices that her Clan is hurting, but isn’t sure how to help.  She goes on a long walk to try and make sense of her thoughts.  Hatchswipe also spends some time with Hopcurl’s (43) surviving kit.  Flailvalley has just lost all of his littermates.  She’s glad to have a clanmate as kind and considerate as him.  While no living cat knows the extent of Aphidwhisker’s actions (well, inactions), the death of her former apprentice is not a good sign.  Bumble feels like Dawnstar should be doing more to build up the Clan.

It’s now leaf-bare.  The only herbs in the store are two rosemary.  Bumble (98) is injured, leaving Pebbletuft (54) as the only working healer.  Things are not looking great.  Mitemask (22) feels like this will be a bad leaf-bare.  Something in his bones is telling him the worst is yet to come.  Dawnstar (105) does his best not to worry though, and just focuses on fixing the things he can.  He stops by the healer’s den to make sure Bumble is eating.  And because he has whitecough. Dawnstar also thinks that Bluestripe (96) is the most beautiful cat in the Clan.  With Dawnstar sick, Bluestripe is taking on the job of caring for the Clan.  It’s exhausting.  She appreciates the effort that Primcrest put in now.  And Pebbletuft is gathering deathberries.  Because that’s the herb they need so desperately.  Nettlestripe sees her picking them and is a little unnerved. Sofanthiel (110), at least, is feeling better, and is spending some time with Flailvalley (13).  She’s impressed with the young warrior’s insight.  Embershell (39) is frustrated that she got frostbitten on a patrol.  She was so busy keeping her patrol-mate warm that she forgot to warm herself!  She vents to Aries (87) and feels better afterwards.  Nettlestripe (90) gave Kestrelcreek (110) a gift of kestrel feathers, but she doesn’t like them.  She doesn’t want anything in her pelt and tells him as much.  He feels like he understands her better now.  Petalfrost (33) had enjoyed working with Dapplemuzzle (18) to reinforce the camp for winter, but then he overheard her talking badly about him, and how much she hated working with him.  Hurtful.  Hollowminnow (22) also worked with Dapplemuzzle on adding water-proofing to the healer’s den.  They argued about how best to do it, with Dapplemuzzle thinking growing plants over it would be better than Hollowminnow’s idea of putting a shield of ice over it.  Mitemask ends up fixing it just by weaving in some new brambles.

FurledClan hasn’t struck back against ElementClan.  Directly.  But. . .an abnormally strong windstorm hit the caverns and blew away all of the herbs.  FurledClan is known for having powerful wind-blessed cats.  Bumble (95) and Pebbletuft (51) are. . .a little worried, to say the least, especially after Cinderblockpuddle (237) dies from head damage.  The Clan is a little shaken by his loss, but they knew he wouldn’t be around for long.  The healers are more worried about Cavecatcher (76), who’s infected tail is not looking great.  And they don’t have the herbs to treat it.  Bluestripe (93) knows that Flailpaw (10) is under a lot of pressure right now and comforts him while picking burrs out of his pelt.  She makes sure he understands that it’s important for him to keep up in his training, though.  Later, as they’re curled up in Bluestripe’s nest, Tanglechirp (65) tells her that he doesn’t think that Flailpaw is being completely honest about how hard he’s working.  While Croucheye (29) may not be a fan of Mistypaw (10), her apprentice, she’s glad that at least Minnowpaw (10) isn’t her apprentice.  The young cat’s constant fretting is annoying.  Dapplemuzzle (15) is impatient to get to fight in a battle and prove herself.  She’s jealous that Mitemask got to fight in a border skirmish when she didn’t.  Mitemask (19) notices that she’s upset and wants to talk with her.  Dapplemuzzle ignores her.