#cypressbadger

Whelp, that streak of good luck ended.  The greenleaf rains hit hard, and, being underground, the camp is prone to flooding.  ElementClan also doesn’t have many water-blessed cats (only Cilantro-69-and Silverpsots-26), so they are at a serious disadvantage if their were to cave flood.  Which, of course, it did.  Lightheather (25) was the first one to sound the alarm that the waters were rising.  In the aftermath, he can’t help but wonder if tragedy would have been prevented had he had acted sooner.  The nursery, where Cypressbadger (74), Cilantro, and the kits were hanging out, was hit hard.  Lotuskit (4) and Rubblekit (4) didn’t know how to swim.  Cypressbadger was able to get Rubblekit out, but, when she went back to try and help Cilantro and Lotuskit, she found that Cilantro had hit her head on a treebranch, sinking to the bottom of the cavern with Lotuskit in tow.  Cypressbadger tried to save them, but was unable to and drowned as well.  Fry (114) helped Chiku (142) to safety. He regretted that he never had the chance to confess his feelings before he succumbed to the waves.  Timberarch (125) tried to help Tornflake (35) and Glowquake (44), both of whom were injured, to safety, but the waves took all three of them. After the floodwaters recede, Chiku lies next to Fry’s body as the Clan sits vigil for him.  His world has ended with Fry’s.  Chiku never considered the possibility that he would one day be without Fry and wishes that they had had more time together. Primcrest (50) and Wildcave (91) are devastated by the loss of their father.  Primcrest wails when she sees Fry’s body, laying still and cold.  If she were more talented with her water magic, could she have saved him?  Once the vigil ends, Primcrest curls tightly in her nest, her throat raw from crying.   For Wildcave, Fry was his last tie to his life before the Clan.  Losing him feels like losing a tail, or a limb, or his shadow.  Wildcave relied on Fry, trusted him, and contemplating moving on from the loss seems impossible.  He and Primcrest hold each other close, taking comfort in their sibling bond.  Primcrest also lost Glowquake, which tears at her.  Primcrest takes comfort in Rubblekit.  Despite they’re rocky start, he reminds her a lot of Cragpaw. Then there’s Frecklestone (35), who lost her only surviving family member.  And little Rubblekit, who lost his mom. He doesn’t really understand what happened, so Creekstar (62) tries to explain it to him.  It’s hard.  She can’t help but blame herself for how the Clan is faring.  How could she do better?  The Clan has known so much loss.  Will it never end?  

Unfortunately, Cragpaw (8) could not beat greencough and died.  The young cat had been doted on by the Clan and they are sorry to see him go.  Creekstar (59) is especially broken up.  Yet another cat has died on her watch.  Is she truly that bad of a leader?  If a star-blessed cat were leader, would they have been able to step up and heal Cragpaw?  Primcrest (47) and her mate are also shaken by the loss of their only kit.  It feels wrong that he should have died so young.  Why can’t they escape loss?  The Clan does need some lifting up, so Creekstar decides to try and act like she’s alright (even though she’s not).  She notices that Fry (112) is upset with the death of his grandkit, so she hides behind a bush to pounce on him.  Rubblekit (1), despite being young, notices that something is up with Creekstar and asks her how she’s doing.  She appreciates it, but doesn’t want to trouble the kit.  Primcrest is feeling a bit lost and asks Creekstar for advice on how to keep going.  Creekstar supposes that giving someone else assistance helps. She suggests helping out Cypressbadger (71) in the nursery.  Primcrest is still not a fan of Rubblekit.  She thinks he’s so much more stuck up and rude than her Cragkit was.  And he’s always using his wind powers to make a breeze whistle through the camp.  And boost the sound of his yowling.  Can’t Cypressbadger get that under control?

Amethystdapple (96) and Fry’s (76) kits have been made warriors!  It’s crazy to think that the birth of these kits, particularly Primpaw (11), sparked a revolution, and now they’re warriors.  The Clan has grown and changed so much since then.    Mossypaw (11) has been given the name of Mossyfleck, honoring his warmth (hah).  Amethystdapple is proud of her only son.  Brightpaw (11) has been given the name of Brightfern, honoring her assurance.  And, the star (hah) of the ceremony, Primpaw, is given the warrior name of Primcrest, honoring her adaptability.  She may not have proven herself yet, but Creekstar has no doubt that she will.  Chervilcry (148) has been trying to spend more time with her grandkits, but said grandkit Cypressbadger (35) finds all the attention annoying.  She and the mediator end up getting in a fight.  At least Sleepyfoot (35) seems to like her grandma.  It’s still a little weird for Wildcave (52) to think he has younger siblings the same age as his kits.  Oh well.  At least he enjoys sharing the latest inter-Clan gossip with his daughter.  Conegoat (52) is less thrilled with having a niece.  She ignores Daisypaw (10) and gets her in trouble for not changing out the bedding in the nursery. And she’s not the only one upset with Daisypaw. Rabbitfur (25) is still annoyed with having Daisypaw as an apprentice.  She rolls her eyes when Daisypaw argues with her over a technique, but doesn’t provide any reason why her way of doing it is better.  Daisypaw can’t wait to be done with training and be a warrior like her aunts are. Meanwhile, Shard (66) has grown quite fond of Fennelkit (5).  She knows she won’t be able to mentor the young cat, as their powers don’t match, but she wishes she could.  

Rubblepaw (6) has been apprenticed to Queenyspeckle (86).  The Clan isn’t sure if this is a strategic move on Creekstar’s (86) part to gain favor with a cat who doesn’t like her much, or if it’s just because Queenyspeckle hasn’t had an apprentice yet.  Maybe a bit of both.  Rubblepaw seems to understand that his mom should be here for this occasion.  His claws dig into the ground as he glares up at the sky, wondering why Cypressbadger can’t be there with him at such an important moment.  With Creekstar having kits soon, Wildcave (93) is getting nervous.  What if something happens to her or their kits?  What if he’s a bad father?  Silverspots (28) does his best to comfort him and build up his confidence.  Chiku (144) decides that, even though they won’t be fighting, it’s a good idea for him and Silverspots to keep their fighting skills sharp.  So he spars with the mediator.  And it’s a good way to keep his mind off of Fry.  Afterwards, Silverspots asks Chiku to tell him a story and the elder happily obliges, telling him about what life was like when he first joined the Clan. 

Cypressbadger (70) has had her kit!  He’s a little wind-blessed kit named Rubblekit (0).  Cypressbadger isn’t telling anyone who the other parent is and no one is claiming him.  Interesting. Although there are rumors that Cypressbadger has recently been seen with a cat from RaccoonClan.  Maybe Rubblekit’s half-clan?  Cragpaw (7) still has greencough and is getting frustrated.  He’s the son of the deputy-he should be stronger than this!  Fry (111) checks in on him, wanting to make sure his grandkit is alright.  He’s not alright and loudly informs Fry of that fact.  Primcrest (46), while also not happy that her kit has greencough, is glad she got out of the nursery before Rubblekit arrived.  She thinks he’s annoying.  Her kit was never that annoying, right?  Her mate, on the other hand, has an entirely different view of Rubblekit.  Glowquake (40) is excited to have a cousin and wants to spend more time with Rubblekit.  Tornflake (31) and Lightheather (21) continue to grow closer to each other.  They have a great time heckling a neighboring Clan at the gathering and Lightheather feels giddy about getting sent on the same patrol as Tornflake.  Hmm.  Maybe Primcrest is trying to set the two up?  Despite initial worries, Queenyspeckle (80) is proving to have none of the thirst for power and control that Yuccawillow did.  He’s just glad to help out and does his Clanmates’ chores with a smile on his face.  Another kittypet has joined the Clan, a powerless tom who takes the name of Vaxxstreak (90).  He seems nervous about being in the Clan, but he agrees to join because of the medical treatment the Healers can offer.

Cragpaw (6) has been apprenticed to Lightheather (20)!  And he immediately comes down with greencough.  Joy. Meanwhile, Lightheather’s (30) paw-walking display seems to have endeared him to Tornflake, who brushes against him while correcting his stance and looks away with a purr.  Xhosa (71) is getting used to clan life and has proven herself to be quite the hunter.  Even Fry (110) compliments her, which means a lot coming from a senior warrior.  In preparation for her kits, Cypressbadger (69) is trying to harness her motherly instincts and reminds Silverspots (21) to grab something to eat.  Silverspots is getting really tired of his Clanmates’ inability to communicate and is thinking of teaching them communication skills.  Would it even help though?  Creekstar (57) proves that she’s an attentive leader by bringing Cypressbadger her favorite food in the nursery.  Rumors fly.  Could Creekstar be the other parent of Cypressbadger’s kits?  How would Wildcave (86) feel about that?  

While several of her clanmates are grieving the loss of their kits, Caterpillarmallow (103) is kind of regretting having kits with Chasingskip (65). She feels like the other she-cat doesn’t really care about her and just used her because she wanted kits.  Chasingskip doesn’t even know Caterpillarmallow’s favorite prey!  Not that she regrets their kits.  Cypressbadger (19) and Sleepyfoot (19) have grown into great cats.  She adores working with Sleepyfoot, who’s so wise for her young age, and Cypressbadger is using a gentle, compassionate way of teaching Featherpaw (9) how to best utilize her powers.  Meanwhile, Cypressbadger has noticed that her moms don’t get along.  She wishes that they would and has taken to surprising Chasingskip with her favorite prey.  Chasingskip, meanwhile, is also proud of the work Cypressbadger has done with Featherpaw.  The powerful young cat is mastering her magic quite well.  She hasn’t blown down a tree in moons! That’s a relief to the whole Clan.  In a more personal bit of relief, Creekpaw (7) is glad that she gets to be her full self in the Clan now that she has proven herself with her dark-cursed powers.  She has noticed that some of her Clanmates are giving her weird looks now, though.  She used to get along well with the older apprentices, but now they’re excluding her.  She wishes Songkit were still by her side.  He understood what it was like, being dark-cursed.  Gladepatch (29) and Cressfreckle (69) try to help her, but they just can’t get it.

The three wind-blessed kits have been made apprentices!  Featherpaw (6) has been apprenticed to Cypressbadger (16).  Despite the young warrior’s relative inexperience, she is the most powerful wind-blessed cat in the Clan and thus the best suited to keeping Featherpaw’s wind magic under control.  They can’t have her blowing down trees while they’re out on patrol!  Rabbitpaw (6) has been apprenticed to Frostheart (53) and is already settling into the apprentice den and gossipping.  Wormpaw (6) has been apprenticed to Amethystdapple (77) and has been getting along with her swimmingly.  Speaking of swimming, Whistlekit (5) has been enjoying playing around with her water powers (under her mother’s careful supervision).  She’s been enjoying creating a bubble of water out of the leaf-fall rain.  She still splashes her siblings sometimes, but she’s getting better at control (and sometimes the splashing is on purpose).  Creekkit (4) and Songkit (4)  have remained undiscovered for another moon.  Gladepatch (26) is beginning to hope that they’ll stay that way until they’re apprentices.  Or even until they’ve proven themselves like Shadestar did. He just wants them to be safe. Creekkit has taken to slipping out of camp to practice with her powers.  Gladepatch and Cressfreckle (66) understand how important it is that she masters her abilities, so they encourage her to sneak out and sometimes supervise her.  She understands why she needs to train, but sometimes she just wants to be a kit and play around.   Rustsong (19) has been spending more time with Wildcave (33) lately.  Being powerless, she wants to make sure she knows how to spar with a powered cat.  And it helps that he seems to enjoy spending time with her.  He even gave her a pretty flower!