#bonebracken

Deep inside the leader’s den, Icystar’s mind could not rest. Through the entrance of her den, she looked out into the clearing. Her eyes were focused on the clan’s only apprentices, Bonepaw and Marigoldpaw. More specifically, on Bonepaw, the oldest of the two.

“Something on your mind?”

Icystar snapped out of her thoughts as her mate and deputy, Sapflow, walked into the den and took a seat beside her, resting his tail on her shoulder.

“Daydream wants us to conduct a warrior assessment for Bonepaw now that he’s 12 moons old. She says that he’s ready, but I’m not sure. I was hoping we could hold it back for the next moon or two.”, Icystar explained. Her attention was still set on Bonepaw.

Sapflow looked at her in surprise. “Why? The clan needs as many warriors as it can get.”

“I know that, but you and Daydream don’t know Bonepaw like I do. Ever since he was a kit, he’s been highly strung. I was hoping that age would toughen him up, but he’s still the same! Our clan’s warriors should be confident and daring! How will the other clans perceive us if the first warrior I welcome is nervous and insecure?” The end of Icystar’s reasoning started to sound more like a rant as frustration and anxiety took over her mind.

While none of the leaders of the other clans were vocally against StarClan’s will to form TallClan, she saw doubt in their eyes. How could a clan survive in a mountain that had claimed the lives of so many before them? How could they be expected to protect the former sacred grounds of StarClan from rogues if their warriors weren’t up to the task? As the cat who had received the message from StarClan, Icystar had a lot to prove.

“Well, you want to know what I think? There’s more to being a warrior than being quick to launch into action without a second thought. What Bonepaw lacks in confidence, he makes up for with his teaching skills,” Sspflow began to advise, “Just look! Marigoldpaw and all the other cats that came from the forest and the field have adjusted well into living in the mountains and it’s all thanks to Bonepaw! He’s passing down what he’s learned being born here.”

When Icystar didn’t answer at first, he added, “Plus, he’s done a great job adapting to this big change. If you ask me, leaving his birth clan to start a completely new one is very brave of him to do at such a young age. He’s the sort of warrior we need to ensure our clan’s future generations prosper.”

His words held the truth. One that Icystar couldn’t deny even if she wanted to. “You’re right,” she said, before letting out a sigh, “I’m sorry. I’m just so nervous about all of this… I have a lot to prove. Not only to the others, but to StarClan themselves. I’m worried that if I make a mistake, they’ll regret ever entrusting me with this important task.”

Sapflow’s ears perked as she began opening up to him. Icystar was hardly one to be vulnerable in front of someone else, including him. Sure, they were mates, but that was more of a conventional matter. Icystar needed a deputy. Someone to help her guide the clan and to provide heirs with. Since it was his ancestor that delivered StarClan’s message to her and was the clan’s Spiritual Guide, he seemed like the most obvious choice.

“You know, no one is perfect for this job and no one will ever be,” Sapflow reassured her, “I’m sure StarClan knows this and they won’t fault you for any mistakes you make along the way. They chose you for a reason and it must be a good one.”

For the first time since he arrived, Icystar looked at him. It was hard to read her expression and for a moment, he wondered if he said the wrong thing… That is until she smiled at him. A smile that he hadn’t seen since the time they were GlintClan apprentices.

“Were you always this good with words?” she said, light-heartedly, “I don’t remember you ever being this wise!”

Sapflow felt his face flush and he looked away. “Of course! Otherwise, I wouldn’t be your deputy now, would I?” Internally, he cringed at his words, but Icystar’s giggles put him at ease.

Icystar • 52 moons old • Ambitous

Sapflow • 54 moons old • Wise

Later that day, before the sun sets, a warrior assessment was held for Bonepaw. Just as his mentor, Daydream, had predicted, he passed with flying colors! With their ancestors looking over them, Icystar was proud to welcome Bonebracken as TallClan’s first warrior! He’s honored for his efficiency. He has gone from insecure to nervous. He’s grown to be a good teacher!

Daydream • 30 moons old • Strange

Bonebracken • 12 moons old • Nervous

Icystar and Mulberrystripe, TallClan’s Lead Healer, have been best friends ever since their days as apprentices when the only times they could really interact with one another was during the Gatherings. Now that they’re in the same clan, they spend the majority of their free time together.

Icystar • 52 moons old • Ambitious

Mulberrystripe • 57 moons old • Competitive

Summer continued to drag on in the valley and life continued to be as boring as usual in the clan. That is until Scrubpelt caught the scent of intruders crossing into TallClan’s territory. This was to be expected. It wasn’t uncommon to see loners, rogues, and travelers passing through this part of the valley or making temporary camp here. However, that was back then when Stars’ Touch was a neutral territory between the clans. Now that a clan has settled down in the area, that would not be tolerated anymore.

Border patrols now had only one motive in mind: chase out anyone who shouldn’t be here.

This time, it was Marigoldflip’s and Bonebracken’s turn to patrol the border and so far, it has been dreadfully boring. No one has caught a whiff of intruders to the point that Marigoldflip wondered whether Scrubpelt had been mistaken. The senior warrior was really old now. Perhaps his age was starting to show. ‘Or maybe he’s always been bad at distinguishing tracks.’, she jokingly thought to herself.

Gossip was the only thing that helped kill time and fortunately for her, she had a lot to share. Well, most of it came from Scrubpelt. He had a lot to say about the comings-and-goings of their leader, deputy, and healer. He’s been yapping about it to any cat who would listen in the past moon or two. Everything Marigoldflip had been told was against her own free will, since no one stayed around long enough and Scrubpelt hardly bothered with Bonebracken. She had only been the older tom’s “apprentice” for the last moon of her training, but she guessed that was enough to get in his good graces. Only pro she found of this is that it made clan life more eventful.

“And that is what’s been going on between Icystar and Sapflow. Or what Scrubpelt believes at least.”

“Oh, that’s interesting…” That was all that Bonebracken said. His eyes were glued to the ground before them.

The two continued to walk. Unfortunately, in awkward silence.

“So, what do you think?”

“Oh? Uhm,” he stuttered as he searched for words, clearly caught off guard that Marigoldflip cared about his opinion, “I-I don’t really focus on stuff like that. Oh! W-weren’t you Mulberrystripe’s apprentice? Y-You know, when she was still a warrior? Have you talked to her about… all that?”

Now she was the one who didn’t know what to say. Her silence worried Bonebracken and he began to mumble an incoherent apology for stepping over a personal line.

“N-No, it’s okay! Don’t apologize!” Marigoldflip reassured him. “I needed a few seconds to think. Now that you mentioned it, I never thought about asking her. I-I don’t think I will, though. She’s been busy lately and so have I. Only times I’ve interacted with her so far since we came here is whenever I’m feeling ill or if she needs my help.”

Some of that was half of the truth. To be honest, Marigoldflip was avoiding her as best she could. The young cat hated to admit it, but she was still hurt that her former mentor had eagerly chosen to leave LogClan behind for TallClan. She didn’t even think about the apprentice she had spent so long training and bonding with. Had Marigoldflip not followed after her, she knew she’d be a quick forgotten memory. Perhaps that’s the reason why she has been tolerating Scrubpelt’s claims for so long. How could a cat so easily leave behind the clan they were born in and their family if not for something greater— love.

She didn’t want to think about this anymore.

“Anyway, enough about them! Tell me about you and Bluegale!”

“W-What?” Bonebracken replied, dumbfounded. His eyes darted around anxiously, as if expecting the mentioned Lead Mediator to show up at any moment.

“Don’t act dumb! I’ve seen how close you’ve two been lately! You’re practically prancing around her every day! And it looks like she enjoys your company too!” She teased.

Bonebracken’s face looked flustered.

“So? What about it? Any chance there’s going to be kits in the nursery?”

That was enough to get him to burst! Tripping over his words, he began to bashfully rebuke her claims, “H-Hey! It’s n-not like that! I don’t l-like her! I-I mean, I do! B-But— grah! Y-you know what I mean!”

Marigoldflip rolled her eyes. She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, that’s when she smelled it. “Wait! Do you smell—“

“AHHH!!!”

Bonebracken’s petrified scream cut her off. She followed his trembling, horrified gaze down to a rocky ditch their path was leading them to. Down below, propped against a boulder, was a cat, scarred and bloody all over. Without hesitation, Marigoldflip sprinted down the stone incline that led into the ditch to inspect the mauled stranger.

“A-Are they a-alive?” She heard Bonebracken whimpered, still frozen in place from where he stood.

Just as he said that, the cat wheezed and gurgled what resembled a grunt. It was then that Marigoldflip realized what exactly she was looking at. The cat wasn’t just propped against the boulder. Their whole face was smashed against it and to her utmost horror, their lower jaw was hanging loosely.

“Go get Mulberrystripe!” She yowled.

Bonebracken flinched, taken aback by the ferocity of her tone. He hesitated. His trembling body still stuck in place.

“Get Mulberrystripe!! NOW!!!” Marigoldflip ordered again, much harsher this time. Her claws dug at the ground, ready to push herself out of the ditch and fetch Mulberrystripe herself if Bonebracken didn’t move. Fortunately, he turned tail and ran. And that was the last time she saw him.

—

When help didn’t arrive as fast as she would’ve liked, Marigoldflip carried the injured cat on her back, similar to how one would give kits badger rides. If anything, she wished it could’ve been just like that. Although the adrenaline coursing through her body was the one thing that kept her standing, she could feel her aching legs trembling under the weight of the adult cat on her back. It didn’t help that the sun was burning down on them and all of her senses were clogged by the smell of blood.

She cursed Bonebracken’s name with what little strength she had left to speak. That foolish tom! She could already envision what must’ve happened when he arrived back in camp. He was too distraught for words. All he could say in between his ugly sobbing was just word vomit. At least his distress would send a patrol out looking for her and she was hopeful she would bump into them soon.

She should’ve known something was wrong when her arduous trek finally came to an end at the entrance of camp, where everyone was peacefully enjoying the last of the sun’s warmth before it set for the day. The panic and urgency only set in when they noticed who she brought with her. Her body and mind were too tired for her to notice that something was amiss and everyone else was too caught up in this new development in their relatively boring lives to notice it as well. It wasn’t until nighttime when the stranger was well-bandaged up, finally receiving the medical attention she needed, and Marigoldflip was explaining her unusual findings to Icystar when they realized.

“And Bonebracken? Where is he? I haven’t seen him since you two left on patrol this afternoon.”

Marigoldflip’s heart dropped.

“W-What do you mean? I-Is he not here?”

—

Maybe it would’ve been best if Marigoldflip had been the one to get help. Or maybe not. He wouldn’t have been able to live with the guilt if she died in his place. Then again, she wasn’t him. She wouldn’t have gotten lost in the territory, too petrified by fear and shock to see where she was going. Everything would have worked out in the end.

What would Daydream think of him? His heart ached when he suddenly remembered his former mentor. Sure, she only trained him during the last days of his apprenticeship and they hardly knew each other before that, but she had been the only cat in his life who truly believed in him without a doubt. Was she going to be mad? Ashamed? He sure knew that everyone back in GlintClan wouldn’t be surprised this was his end.

“Bonebracken?”

He flinched upon hearing his name. He didn’t know who was behind him, but he could guess why she was here— to guide him to StarClan. He didn’t turn around to face her. He didn’t want to.

“It’s time to go, dear.”

Tears fell from his cheeks, falling and vanishing into the pool of blood that laid in front of him. Just a few inches away laid his body, covered in several battle wounds, from head to toe. All the blood was coming out from a wound in his neck, the fatal blow.

“C-Can y-you give m-me just a f-few m-more minutes? P-Please?” He pleaded through his sobbing. “O-Or a-at least un-until s-someone gets h-here? I-I don’t want to l-leave m-me-my body here. I-I’m sc-scared n-no one’s going to f-find me. C-can’t I-I send t-them a message or lead them h-here?”

The sound of pawsteps could be heard heading their way. The usually quiet night air was interrupted by the sound of several cats calling out his name. Daydream’s stood out in particular.

“You don’t have to worry about that.”, the voice reassured him.

Now that he knew that his body wouldn’t be left undiscovered, the idea of staying here any longer made him anxious. He didn't want to see how everyone else would react. He wouldn’t be able to handle it. Especially not Daydream’s or even Marigoldflip’s reactions. He hoped the latter wouldn’t blame herself or be too mad with him. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, and turned around.

FIRST

CLIMB DOWN|CLIMB UP

⚔️ - The best fighter in the clan is Mulberrystripe! She was one of LogClan’s best fighters (and warriors in general) before leaving to become a healer. Despite her new position, she still keeps her fighting skills up to shape and has plans to teach these same skills to any apprentices + heirs she has in the future!

The only other cat that gives her a run for her money is Marigoldflip! Which makes sense, because she used to be her warrior apprentice. Plus, with her fierce nature, this makes Marigoldflip a force to be reckon with.

As for the cat who’s the worst fighter, I feel bad about saying this due to his fate, but I’d like to imagine it was Bonebracken 😭 He’s never been the fighting type and that was the one thing he struggled with a lot as an apprentice. He much rather preferred hunting and helping around in camp.

Now that he’s gone, the worst fighter title has been given to Bluegale. Sure, she’s a mediator, but I like to imagine cats who chose the path of a mediator at the start of their apprenticeships are given some level of battle training, just in case! It becomes a “no excuses” requirement after a certain event later in the future.