#leopardscut

Eskerhope didn’t know if this was a good idea, but she knew she had to leave.

Every day she spent in her den, managing the prey piles, and repairing the dens, she keeps hearing her clanmates talk about traitors that defy Starclan itself. It’s been the talk of gatherings, subjects of clan meetings, and even a cause of war.

She’s sick of it. The rumors of these so-called “traitors” existing might not even be true. She’s never even seen one, even though the others claim they’re extremely visible. Just the thought of them existing seems to be driving Zinniaclan mad, however… and if they’re being driven mad, she’s being driven mad.

That’s why she’s here now, searching the plains for anywhere suitable to live. The journey is quite exhausting… but her train of thought got interrupted by a booming voice from the nearby forests.

“Eskerhope! What are you doing out here alone? The plan was for all of us to go together! As a group!”

Eskerhope chuckled. “Where’s your apprentice then, Leopardscut?”

Silence. The long-furred tortie sat in silence before yelling for her apprentice, Eskerhope laughing at the thought for a whole 2 seconds…

Until she saw a hole that was too big to even fit a badger… crawling inside, she found a network of tunnels, along with several leaf nests, almost all of them growing mold. Clearly, this place used to belong to a larger community… but for some reason, it was abandoned…

Aside from all of that… She probably wouldn’t mind this place being her new home.

Eskerhope has joined the clan. (Eskerhope: A medium-furred tan and white she-cat)

Tw: Repetition

Tw: Animal injury, attempted murder

This is a pretty long part!

“May all cats who can hunt their own prey gather in front of the leader’s nest for a clan meeting!”

Once again, Leopardscut was startled awake from a pretty good sleep. She knew her mate was an early bird, but she didn’t think THIS early! She lethargically went and walked over to the leader’s nest, where the rest of the clan was already sitting. Leopardscut tried to blink the sleep out of her eyes as she sat down and looked at Eskerstar, waiting for her to start.

“As you all know, Flurrydancer, our deputy, has tragically passed away… though we had lost someone so important so early, we need to lift ourselves up and move on… and that means choosing a new deputy to take his place.”

There was a pause. Leopardscut looked around the clan while thinking… all of the warriors seem too young and inexperienced… and those that are experienced have never mentored an apprentice before.

“Leopardscut, may you please step forward?”

Of course, Leopardscut forgot about herself. She stepped forward anyway, though she was a little shocked.

“You have been a valuable clanmate for the entire clan. You make sure that we’re safe from any and all threats that might come our way. Do you agree to take over my position if things go south and be in charge of future patrols?”

Leopardscut’s voice shaked, but she knew this was for the good of the clan. She finally uttered two very important words… “I do.”

“Then for now on unless something changes, I hereby announce that Leopardscut is to be the deputy of Lightclan!”

Leopardscut didn’t expect any of this… the cats wanting her word… and accepting her for who she was… but she liked every second of it.

Leopardscut is appointed as deputy of Lightclan!

(Eskerstar: A medium-furred tan and white she-cat)

Sparklefang soon faded from Eskerstar’s vision, so she decided to make her way back to camp. She had to find Rimepaw and talk to him as soon as she could. She didn’t notice Trinity looking at her oddly until she shook her fur to dry herself off.

“Man, the swamp monster’s got a bit of an attitude today…”

“What was that?”

“Um… nothing. But you probably should have given me a warning before you gave me a shower!”

Eskerstar didn’t reply. She just wandered her way to the warrior’s den where Rimeheart was telling a story to Leopardscut. A very fake story, but still a story.

“…And so, after Cloudysight overthrew her tyrannical leader, she and her clan lived happily ever after! So… any thoughts?” Rimeheart had just finished telling the story, so he was looking at Leopardscut, likely expecting praise.

“Well, just one thing. You did say Cloudysight was blind, right?”

“Yeah… the story’s to teach kits that differences don’t make a cat more or less of a cat.”

“Well, that name might make the kits you tell the story to think that blindness means cloudy eyes. Have you met Clamtail?”

“He told me stories when I was a kit! Of course I met him!”

“His age had made him partially blind, and I bet you didn’t even realize!”

“…He was blind?”

“What did I just say, mouse-brain?”

Eskerstar entered the warrior’s den during the conversion, and just said one thing. “I’m gonna need to talk to Rimeheart for a second, if you don’t mind.”

Leopardscut’s tone instantly changed. “Of course you can talk to him! You’re the leader!”

Rimeheart stood up and followed Eskerstar to her den… he looked like he was dreading the coming conversation…

Eskerstar won’t tell Trinity why she’s acting weird.

Rimeheart tells a story to Leopardscut, who gives him ideas for how to make it better.

(Eskerstar: A medium-furred tan and white she-cat)

(Leopardscut: A muscular, long-furred tortie orange and brown she-cat)

(Trinity: A tall, medium-furred black and white tom)

Although she could never admit it, her heart flutters when they’re together. It feels like her heart could jump out of her chest and give the cat she loves, so, so much all of the love she deserves, and then some.

She gathers the flowers from her earlier patrol into a small bouquet, before venturing out again to meet her love. Her pelt looks almost completely golden in the sunlight, and she is just… so pretty… so kind to her… the clanmate that she couldn’t have if she stayed in Bulbclan.

She wanted to waste no time. A walk towards her becomes a run, as if she could just fade away in a blink of the eye. She knows she’ll likely have more time if things don’t work out… but her heart doesn’t.

She only started to slow down once she was closer, as to not scare her like she was a small, helpless kit. She looked her love directly in her eyes, a task that would be so difficult in the current moment. She drops the flowers in front of her paws…

“This might be sudden, but I can’t keep it hidden for much longer. I love you, and I would do anything for you! I would grab a star from the sky… I would fight a hurricane… and especially, I would face your toughest battles for you!” Leopardscut’s voice showed a lot of vulnerability, especially for a cat that was as brave as her. Her voice started to shake as she continued… “If you don’t want to… that’s ok! But… Eskerstar… will you make me the happiest molly in the Clans and be my mate?”

Eskerstar’s reaction to Leopardscut’s confession of love shifted rapidly. At first, it was shock… then sort of embarrassment… Leopardscut was scared. Did she mess up? She was about to excuse herself when Eskerstar finally spoke…

“Of course.”

Eskerstar affectionately bumped heads with her, now also shocked, mate. Leopardscut didn’t know what to say, but she didn’t have to speak…

Her purring said everything that she wanted to say. This was their world now, and no force was going to separate them.

Leopardscut confessed to Eskerstar, and they became mates!

(Leopardscut: A muscular, long-furred tortie orange and brown she-cat)

(Eskerstar: A medium-furred tan and white she-cat)

“A leopard can’t be strong if it’s raised to be sweet.”

How long ago was she taught that? She doesn’t even remember… but she hates it either way. Bulbclan is only friendly to the other clans… not to outsiders or their own clanmates.

She just wants it to change. Her own apprentice was sweet… he really was… and if he’s hurt? He still won a fight when he was severely outnumbered.

And to tell the truth? She’s not strong. She can win a fight and all, but strength isn’t just about whoever kills more cats than others. She wants to focus on a different kind of strength… the one she was never taught.

She can’t train on her own… she’d forget the words too quickly and scare them again. She’d make a wrong assumption and cause them to be offended.

She looks to the plants as if they could speak to her… at this point, it wouldn’t be too far-fetched if they could. If the clans could believe one cat that thinks like rabbits, then why couldn’t she do this?

She grabs a plant and pulls it up, then another… and another… still enough to grow… but also enough to use for her training. She wished she could forget what was said to her… but she wished she couldn’t forget the life she’ll get to live…

If she’s brave enough to try it.

Leopardscut gathers a few bindweeds and forget-me-nots on a walk outside of camp.

TW: This might be attempted gaslighting.