RippleClan: Moon 58
Rustshade dies of yellowcough.
[Image ID: Oilstripe begs the ghosts of Rustshade and Fennelspot, âDad⌠Dad, no, I need you to visit.â Under her, it says + CONDITION: GRIEVING.]
Oilstripe probably should have felt bad about her fatherâs death. He was another founding member of the Clan, gone barely a moon after Fennelspot. And yet, Oilstripe was closer to Fennelspot in life and still didnât grieve him. That was, in part, because she still saw him all the time.
Fennelspot loved to linger. Oilstripe was sure he would be one of the Blessed Ones, guiding the growth of herbs along, the Celestial of RippleClan Clerics (she was trying to get that title going for him early on, he was the first of their Clan after all). Oilstripe would see Fennelspot in the gardens often, trotting around the caretakers and eyeing how they tended his herbs. He would also show up in the medicine den, surprising Oilstripe when she went to see her daughter. Oddly enough, Troutpool was never shocked to hear of Fennelspot being around. She would say she âhad a feelingâ he was watching. Sometimes, Oilstripe forgot Fennelspot was dead at all. How could she grieve someone who never left?
That was how it was with Rustshade as the Clan sat at his vigil. Rattlepelt treated him well, weaving a crown of wheat stalks tenderly bartered from WheatClan, honoring his role in the Clanâs founding. His grandkits were with him now; Troutpool gently groomed his forehead as Honeykit, Splashkit, Leatherkit, and Drumkit, all just a few days away from their apprentice ceremony, pretended they werenât still kits and kept quiet. Carnationspeckle, whose pelt was half-shaved from all the mats they had to cut off, sat with Downstar, offering a gentle word to her old mentor while her daughter and mate grieved. Except Oilstripe wasnât grieving. She sat with Clammask, grooming the sadness off her pelt with Scrubmask on the other side, but Oilstripeâs eyes were off to the side. She wasnât looking at her fatherâs empty shell, she was looking at Rustshade himself.
Rustshade sat with Fennelspot and Puddlespeckle, watching his own vigil. Valleybrookâs ghost sat a ways behind them (he had passed a while ago, killed by a human farming wheat). Oilstripe figured Rustshade needed time to process the fact that he was dead. She was sure it would have been a shock for him to fall asleep and never wake up. As Scrubmask collected her kits from Rustshadeâs body, the ghosts wandered toward the exit. Oilstripe brushed against her younger sister once more and followed the spirits outside.
âDad!â she called. Puddlespeckle continued on, vanishing into the tree line, but Fennelspot and Rustshade stopped and turned around. Oilstripe had to dig her back paws in to avoid tumbling through her fatherâs spirit. âSo then, what did you think of your own vigil?â
âIâm happy with how Iâve been honored,â Rustshade sighed, whiskers drooping. âTake care of your sister and your kin, Oilstripe.â There was an odd finality to the phrase that made Oilstripe cock her head.
âYou say that like Iâm not going to keep seeing you around,â she laughed. Rustshade bristled and Fennelspot placed his tail on his friendâs back. One of the red petals that forever stayed in his fur slipped onto Rustshadeâs pelt.
âIâm dead, Oilstripe,â Rustshade huffed like a mentor reminding their apprentice of an obvious fact. âThat means Iâm not going to be here to help you.â
âYes, not in the same way you used to be,â Oilstripe chuckled awkwardly, one ear tilted to the side. âBut youâve always been a comforting weight at my side, and youâll keep being that as a spirit of StarClan. You can join Applepelt when they shadow me sometimes. Theyâre good company.â
âNo, Oilstripe,â Rustshade growled. âYou donât understand. The next time you see me, youâll be a warrior of StarClan yourself.â Rustshade was right. Oilstripe did not understand.
âBut Iâll see you when you visit the territories,â Oilstripe huffed. âjust like I see Twinekit and Locustseeker and Burdockcreek.â A hole, not too different from the gnawing anxiety that bit her pelt when Carnationspeckle was held captive, opened in her chest.
âWhat your father means,â Fennelspot sighed, stepping closer, âis that heâs tired. Heâs lost many of the cats he cared for. He is one of StarClanâs ranks who find returning to the Clans too painful. The friends youâve known who have joined StarClan, they like to visit, but Rustshade wants to spend time with his long-gone children in the stars.â
âBut no,â Oilstripe said, unable to stop a panicked laugh from slipping out, âthat would mean heâs leaving me.â Fennelspot and Rustshade simply stared at Oilstripe, their gazes heavy. âDad⌠Dad, no, I need you to visit.â
âYou havenât needed me in a long time, Oil,â Rustshade sighed. âYou have a strong life built for yourself. You donât need me.â
âNo, Dad, I donât knowâŚâ Oilstripe stammered. She reached a paw toward her fatherâs ghost. Rustshade stepped back. With a soft shake of his head and one last look with his stern heather eyes, he walked out toward the trees. âDad, stop! Come back! Fennelspot, stop him! Bring him back!â
âIâm sorry, Oilstripe,â Fennelspot gulped. âLet him rest in peace.â Fennelspot ran to catch up to his old friend.Â
âStop!â Oilstripe begged. âYou canât leave like that! You have to come back! Even for one visit! Dad!â Fennelspot and Rustshade were nothing but specks of red among the early dawn trees. One blink and they were gone..
When the Witch Hunters captured Carnationspeckle, Oilstripe had not known what to do. There was an uncertainty in her heart, a hundred questions she could not answer. She supported Troutpool and Rattlepelt, demanded answers from Lemmy, and searched for reassurance when she could. She was scared, but she had not felt hopeless, because if Carnationspeckle had died, her spirit would have stayed at her side. She would return, not in the way she wanted, but she would have returned.
Was this what true grief felt like?
Oilstripe needed the pain to go away. She didnât know how to handle it. It was killing her. She couldnât breathe. She needed her fatherâs quiet support at her side. She crouched in the sand, shaking. Why would Rustshade leave her like that? Didnât she mean something to her father?
âOilstripe.â Carnationspeckleâs soft, gentle fur pushed into Oilstripeâs stiff pelt. Her touch broke down the wall in Oilstripeâs throat. A deep, guttural sob broke free.
âHeâs leaving me!â Oilstripe wailed. âHeâs leaving me behind!â Carnationspeckle was strong; she could handle Oilstripeâs entire weight against her. Oilstripe shook so hard, she thought she might break like Trumpetsporeâs half-finished pottery.
âWhen you rescued me,â Carnationspeckle said softly, âyou told me youâd do everything possible to make my heart right again, and thanks to you, I know Iâll get there someday. Iâll do the same for you.â Each mate pressed into the other, clinging for life like debris along the sea.
(Oilstripe: 62, female, historian, charismatic, ghost speaker)
(Fennelspot: 113, male, cleric, insecure, trusted advisor, incredible runner)
(Rustshade: 102, male, codekeeper, sneaky, learner of lore)
(Puddlespeckle: 156, male, elder, strict, good hunter, good kitsitter)
(Carnationspeckle: 60, female, caretaker, compassionate, fish-like swimmer)
When Scrubmask and Clammaskâs kits are apprenticed, Honeypaw asks to train as a cleric and gets cicada wings as decor. His littermates train as a historian, warrior, and caretaker respectively, apprenticed to Weedfoot, Trumpetspore, and Elmsprout.
[Image ID: Honeypaw, Splashpaw, Leatherpaw, and Drumpaw all have their apprentice forms, with Honeypaw sporting some cicada wings. Under Honeypaw, it says LEVEL UP! HONEYKIT -> HONEYPAW, NOISY -> DARING, + ACCESSORY: CICADA WINGS. Under Splashpaw, it says LEVEL UP! SPLASHKIT -> SPLASHPAW, NOISY -> BOLD. Under Leatherpaw, it says LEVEL UP! LEATHERKIT -> LEATHERPAW, IMPULSIVE -> VENGEFUL. Under Drumpaw, it says LEVEL UP! DRUMKIT -> DRUMPAW, QUIET -> LOYAL.]
(Honeypaw: 6, male, cleric apprentice, daring, has lots of ideas)
(Splashpaw: 6, male, historian apprentice, bold, never sits still)
(Leatherpaw: 6, male, warrior apprentice, vengeful, avid play-fighter, confident with words)
(Drumpaw: 6, female, caretaker apprentice, loyal, moss-ball hunter)
Waspdawnâs tail is injured by a fox.
[Image ID: Splashpaw sneaks off while Troutpool and Honeypaw surround Waspdawn, who has + CONDITION: MANGLED TAIL written underneath him.]
---
Elmsprout had gotten into a bit of trouble; Parsley accused her of giving prey to AshClan, as seen on one of her many strolls with Carnationspeckle. Waspdawn and Puddlewhisper, chosen as defender and inquisitor to the potential trial ahead, went out to investigate the scene and get information from AshClan. Unfortunately, they stumbled across a rather sickly and feral old fox that stuck a solid blow against Waspdawn, nearly biting his tail clean off! It threw the Clan into a bit of a whirlwind. Lavendertwist, who had gotten his stitches out but still wasnât allowed to speak or eat hard foods, stayed at his wounded brotherâs side. Weedfoot and James shared tongues outside the medicine den, waiting for news.Â
That left Splashpaw deeply, deeply bored.
He probably should have felt worse about Waspdawnâs terrible injury, but he had no doubt he would be fine. Honeypaw had only been training for a quarter moon and was already great at his job. But with Weedfoot worrying over her kit, Splashpaw could only sit in camp and kick at clouds.
Leatherpaw and Drumpaw trotted out of the apprenticeâs den, laughing. Splashpaw rolled to his paws, eyes gleaming.
âWhat are you doing?â Splashpaw asked, leaping to his littermatesâ side.
âTrumpetspore and Elmsprout are taking us to our first sparring session!â Leatherpaw cheered with a playful wiggle of his flank. âI wonât lie, Iâm a little nervous to see what actual battle is like, but I canât wait to drive off predators and rogues!â
âNervous?â Drumpaw laughed softly. âMore like overeager. Trumpetspore will stomp that out.â
âPlease take me with you,â Splashpaw begged, crouching pitifully. âIâm so bored.â
âOur mentors will be focused on our training, not yours,â Leatherpaw said. âYouâll have to keep yourself entertained.â
âBut Honeypawâs busy with Waspdawn, and our moms are on patrol!â Splashpaw whined.Â
âFigure it out!â Leatherpaw said without a hint of sympathy. Drumpaw, at least, gently batted Splashpawâs ear. Leatherpaw and Drumpaw ran to the entrance, where their mentors were already waiting for them. Splashpaw watched, envy bubbling in his stomach, as they sauntered off. As soon as they left, Mosspounce walked in, tail held low.
âMosspounce!â Splashpaw called. âCan you show me some battle moves? Or take me hunting? Please, give me something to do.â Splashpaw rolled onto his back in front of Mosspounce.
âNot now, Splashpaw,â Mosspounce sighed, stepping over the gold and white apprentice. Splashpaw cocked his head, still upside-down.
âDid you not enjoy your walk?â Splashpaw huffed, turning right side up. Mosspounce groaned dramatically and gave into the apprenticeâs insistence, sitting.
âIt wasnât just a walk,â he grumbled. âI was waiting by the river for Lemmy. Again.â Splashpaw had a very clear memory of Lemmy from her visit three moons prior, after Carnationspeckle went missing. She had seemed so fierce, even with her silly yellow collar.Â
âShe still hasnât come to see you?â Splashpaw huffed. âI thought we were friends with the Witch Hunters now.â
âThey could have found out about her dreams,â Mosspounce mumbled. âThey would have labeled her a witch if they knew about them. Itâs just that⌠I think I really liked her, Splashpaw. I wanted her to join RippleClan. I thought thatâs why StarClan visited her dreams. But maybe not.â Mosspounce shook his head and slunk into the warriorâs den. As his black tail vanished, Splashpaw got an idea. A brilliant, stunning, heroic, fun idea.
Splashpaw glanced around camp. Most cats were focused on the medicine den, waiting for an update on Waspdawn. Splashpaw fluffed himself up and marched out of camp.
âWhere are you off with such swagger?â Tempestshade was guarding the entrance and purred mischievously when Splashpaw appeared. The lie came to Splashpaw with shocking ease.
âWeedfoot said I could join my littermates at Battle Beach!â Splashpaw chirped. âItâs north along the shore, right?â
âHead straight there, and have fun,â Tempestshade said with a nod. Splashpaw chirped happily and jogged away from camp.
Splashpaw was going to be a hero. He was going to find Lemmy and bring her to RippleClan for the reward she deserved.
(Splashpaw: 6, male, historian apprentice, bold, never sits still)
(Leatherpaw: 6, male, warrior apprentice, vengeful, avid play-fighter, confident with words)
(Drumpaw: 6, female, caretaker apprentice, loyal, moss-ball hunter)
(Mosspounce: 19, male, caretaker, adventurous, talented fire-starter)
(Tempestshade: 19, nonbinary (they/them), caretaker, childish, incredible cook)
Splashpaw heads into the human settlements to find Lemmy.
[Image ID: Splashpaw now wears a purple ribbon collar, and has + ACCESSORY: PURPLE RIBBON COLLAR written under him. He says to Lemmy, who has + CONDITION: YELLOWCOUGH under her, âThis is a rescue mission!â Lemmy replies, âYet weâre both trapped now.â]
---
Splashpaw wasnât sure why so many of his Clanmates talked about the human settlement like the Dark Forest on earth. Yes, it smelled, it was loud, and until just recently, the loners that lived there might have killed Splashpaw for visiting. But Splashpaw liked the intense smells and sounds. He liked the tall dens and whinnying horses. He could see why so many cats lived here, whether with humans or along the horse paths. Who knew what stories and adventures lay hidden among the humans and Witch Hunters?
Splashpaw trotted eagerly through the streets, largely ignored by the humans. It was late afternoon, and the humans were as active as a Clan full of kits. They yowled and jostled one another, waving their paws about and stepping around the horse dung that covered the paths. Splashpaw knew the dangers of a horse path; Spikecrash made it her mission to warn every new litter of the danger of horses, sharing the tale of her scar. Yet the horses and monsters they dragged about moved slowly, careful to avoid the humans.
As Splashpaw crept among the humans, one of their gangly pink paws reached down and stroked his back. He shivered at the foreign touch and scampered away. To his surprise, the touch didnât feel too bad! If humans touched kittypets like that all the time, Splashpaw could see the appeal of the lifestyle. He shook himself out though. He needed to focus!
A group of humans yowled and gawked at baskets of strange fruit, set within a wooden structure. A lilac tom relaxed at the base of the structure, idly watching the humans.
âExcuse me!â Splashpaw yowled. He weaved around the humans to reach the tom. âIâm looking for Lemmy. Sheâs a tortoiseshell with a yellow collar. Have you seen her?â
âI havenât seen Lemmy since before that trouble at the Singing Place,â the tom sighed. âSorry, young tom. .â Splashpaw crept underneath the structure and around the chattering humans. Even the loners of the human settlement hadnât seen Lemmy? What had happened to her?
Two pink paws wrapped around Splashpawâs torso. He should have yowled and clawed, bitten and kicked at his attacker, scrambled away to rethink his plan. Yet as his paws left the ground, Splashpaw was frozen. What was happening? He looked overhead and saw the gleaming, furless face of a human. It bared its teeth and made a high pitched sound that hurt Splashpawâs ears. Splashpaw hissed as his heart beat wildly. He snapped his jaws at the humanâs small paws, but even as his fangs dug into the soft flesh, the humanâs grip only tightened. It made that high pitched sound again and pressed Splashpaw to its chest. The billowing fabric around its lower half swished as it spun and took off down a side path away from the taller humans.
How had Splashpaw not seen the human reaching for him? He had been so distracted by the other humans and his own quest, he forgot to pay attention to his surroundings. That was the first thing Weedfoot told him when she showed him the territory; even when he was simply enjoying time outside camp, he had to pay attention. He could never predict when an excited dog or angry bear could stroll through the trees and pick Splashpaw as its next meal. He had forgotten that simple lesson, and now he was going to meet some cruel fate at the paws of a mad human.Â
Splashpaw squirmed and clawed at the humanâs pale overcoat, but he couldnât break through the strange material. All of his efforts were met with a tighter hold that squeezed the air out of him. The human was slow, but its gangly walk disoriented Splashpaw. Eventually, as fewer and fewer humans appeared around Splashpaw and his captor, the human slowed. It stood in front of a den that was likely squat by human standards but still towered over any cat. Another small human waited by the denâs entrance with a long white pelt in its paws. It hurried over to its companion and wrapped the pelt around Splashpaw. His legs pressed into himself. He couldnât move!
The second human revealed a new object from the ripples of its colorful pelt; a bright purple ribbon. It reminded Splashpaw of Jamesâ ragged black ribbon he still insisted he wore. Splashpawâs terror cooled for a moment as the human wrapped the ribbon around his neck. It was shockingly smooth; no wonder James and Lavendertwist wore theirs as much as they could!
The peace only lasted a moment, however, as the pair of humans carried Splashpaw around their den and toward a smaller wooden den. The second human hurried ahead and moved the wooden barrier that revealed the dark interior. The human carrying Splashpaw quickly unwrapped his restraints and tossed him into the shadows. He spun and bolted for the exit, but the humans quickly slammed the wooden wall shut.
âLet me out!â Splashpaw yowled. âIâm not a kittypet! Iâm a RippleClan historian!â
âTheyâll be back with food later.â Splashpaw jumped. He peered into the darkness of the small den, barely big enough for a few cats. Giant human tools sat against the wall, sharp points jutting toward Splashpaw, ready to kill. A black lump laid in the corner, deep blue eyes glaring at Splashpaw. The entire den reeked of sick. As Splashpawâs eyes adjusted to the dim light, he could see the strange mollyâs yellow collar and red patches.
âAre you Lemmy?â he gasped, trying not to sneer at the smell.
âYou were one of the kits from RippleClan,â Lemmy huffed. She crept closer to Splashpaw before suddenly shivering. She coughed violently, bright yellow phlegm splattering onto the wooden floor. Memories of Rustshadeâs phlegm crusted face splashed through Splashpawâs mind.
âStay back!â Splashpaw yelped, pressing against the wall. âYou have yellowcough. You could get me sick.â
âIâll try not to,â Lemmy grumbled as she shook from the effort of coughing.Â
âHave you been here this whole time?â Splashpaw asked, claws digging into the wood. âMosspounce has been looking for you.â
âIâm not surprised,â Lemmy sighed softly. âI was going to assist him in rescuing his friend, but those human kits snatched me and threw me in here. I think they want me to be their housecat.â
âA collar means you already have a human, though,â Splashpaw huffed. âWhy would they take you from them?â
âI donât believe my human is very popular among the others,â Lemmy grumbled, shaking her head as she shivered once more. âHe tends to keep to his den. I wouldnât be surprised if the kits thought they were rescuing me.â
âThatâs what Iâm here to do!â Splashpaw chirped, standing a bit taller. âThis is a rescue mission!â
âYet weâre both trapped now,â Lemmy said. She returned to her spot in the back of the den. âIf youâre quick when they return, you can likely slip away.â
âIâm not leaving you behind,â Splashpaw huffed.Â
âThen youâll rot,â Lemmy growled, lips curled. Muffled yowls broke through the walls. Splashpaw backed up, ears perked. The yowling grew closer and closer. Suddenly, the wooden barrier tilted aside. Two big humans, male and female, crouched in the grass with long pelts in their paws. Splashpaw hissed, a warriorâs courage filling his heart. The humans cooed and clicked, but Splashpaw now knew better. He slashed at the long pelt and raked his claws along the big humanâs paw. This time, the human yelped and pulled back.
âStill hopeless now?â Splashpaw yowled, kicking Lemmy. âLetâs go!â Life leaked through Lemmyâs cold eyes. She pushed herself up and, with whatever strength she had left, ran between the big humans. Splashpaw was right on her tail.
The human kits cried and wailed from the comfort of their large den as the older humans nursed their wounds. Splashpaw and Lemmy kept going. They ran across empty horse paths, as far from the human dens as they could. Splashpaw glanced back. Thank StarClan, the older humans were not chasing them; rather, they yowled at their wailing kits, utterly ignoring the escaping cats.
Lemmy collapsed as soon as they hit the trees. Splashpaw stopped, panting. Lemmy hacked up more phlegm, almost vomiting from the effort.
âI did it!â Splashpaw cheered, prancing around Lemmy. âI rescued you! Iâm a hero!â
âWe only got out because the adults finally realized their kits were keeping us trapped in there,â Lemmy growled, struggling to breathe.
âBut maybe that realized that because they saw their kits grab me!â Splashpaw chirped. âAnd you said it yourself, you didnât feel strong enough to run out on your own. So that means I saved you.â Lemmy laughed softly, shaking her head.
âThat little black kitten kept telling me to stay strong,â she scoffed. âI never thought she would send a kit barely older than she.â
âIâm an apprentice!â Splashpaw huffed with mock indignation. âWait, I never told you my name! Iâm Splashpaw. Mosspounce has been waiting for you. He rescued Carnationspeckle thanks to you! Everyone in the Clan loves Carnationspeckle, so Downstar agreed that if Mosspounce found you again, he could offer you a position in the Clan!â Lemmy narrowed her eyes. âWhatâs that face for? What, do you not want to join RippleClan?â Lemmy seemed to have a sharp retort ready to go, but she tightened her jaw instead.Â
Splashpaw took in their surroundings. Truthfully, he had no idea where he was. Still, he knew his directions, and if he kept heading south, he would eventually hit the Great Northern River. He wasnât sure if Lemmy had the strength to swim, but if they could find the stepping stones, they would be back in RippleClan like that! It was close to sunset though; his mothers would be so mad when he finally got home.
âI should make my way back,â Lemmy muttered, but she did not get up.
âAnd break Mosspounceâs heart?â Splashpaw scoffed. âYou do realize he is in love with you, donât you?â Lemmy blinked, her emotions well hidden behind her calculated gaze.
âHe does remember I tried to kill him, doesnât he?â Lemmy said.
âI think thatâs part of why he likes you,â Splashpaw admitted. âItâs a little gross to me, but you shouldnât keep him waiting. He told the Clan you would make a great codekeeper. I think itâs like what you used to do with the Witch Hunters, but youâre enforcing the warrior code rather than what the Witch Hunters follow. The Witch Hunter Code? I donât know.â Lemmy stared at Splashpaw for a while. She stared for so long that his long fur started to burn. Eventually, Lemmy got to her paws with another cough.
âI can at least get my cough cured, I suppose,â Lemmy sighed. Splashpaw couldnât hide his glee as his tail rose high. Lemmy shook her head, but there was no longer any malice in her face.
âThen Iâll lead you home, new Clanmate,â Splashpaw chirped.Â
As Splashpaw and Lemmy stalked into the trees, making their way toward their new shared home in the dimming light, Lemmy asked, âDo you know the way back?â
âIâm trusting my instincts!â
âSo you donât know?â
â...no.â
âThis will be a long night.â
(Splashpaw: 6, male, historian apprentice, bold, never sits still)
(Lemmy: 34, female, codekeeper, cold, deep StarClan bond)



















