#lynxclaw

It wasn’t odd for a young molly to have kits. It was expected, even. Never stated out loud… but everyone knew it. Lynxclaw knew it was something that would happen to her eventually— but now that she was expecting kits, she had strange feelings she never anticipated.

She loved her mate. She knew she would love her kits too, but at the same time… something nagged at the back of her mind.

Is this all she would ever be?

“Are you sure you don’t need more help moving in?” Ratleaf asked.

“I’m alright, Rat.” Lynxclaw said.

Hopebud bumped Lynxclaw’s side. “You don’t have to worry about her, Ratleaf. She’ll have me.”

Beetleheart had his jaws on a large rat, which he left at Lynxclaw’s feet. “The best freshkill for the new mother!”

“Dad—!” Lynxclaw started to protest— after all, she had only just found out she was expecting kits a day ago! She still had at least a moon and a half before the kits were born, according to Aspenstripe.

It was Lynxclaw’s mate, Locustclaw, who suggested she pick a nest early and move some of her moss into it. After all, it would be more comfortable to ease herself into the nursery than move all at once, he supposed. Hopebud was already in the process of staking out their future nest, though they weren’t moving into the nursery yet either. But why had her brother and father insisted on tagging along too?

“Let’s not crowd them, you two.” the voice of a familiar molly rang out.

Beetleheart and Ratleaf backed off, letting her stride through. It was Lynxclaw’s mother, Slatestripe.

“Sorry, mom.” Ratleaf murmured.

“I understand you want to help her, but I know from experience that everyone fretting just makes it more stressful.” Slatestripe said calmly. “Lynx, would you like to go on a walk with me?”

Lynxclaw practically jumped at the opportunity. “Of course mom!”

The mother and daughter ducked out of the weaved brambles of the nursery and strode through the bushes. At the outskirts of camp, Lynxclaw paused.

“Hey, mom?”

Slatestripe stopped, looking back at her daughter. “Yes, Lynx?”

“Did,” she gulped, then continued, “did you ever feel like you were giving up on your dreams when you had me?”

Slatestripe looked surprised, before her confusion turned to a soft smile. She sat down, before patting the grass next to her. “Come, sit.”

Lynxclaw obliged, making herself comfortable next to her mother.

“You know… I was in the running for deputy once.” Slatestripe started.

Lynxclaw gasped. “You were?!”

“Yes. The old deputy was killed on patrol… Badgerstar wanted someone young to replace him. Someone who could become leader. That was almost me.”

Slatestripe cocked her head to the side. “But… on the prey pile that morning, there was a sign pointing to someone else.”

“Aunt Bonestripe.” Lynxclaw breathed.

Slatestripe nodded. “I won’t lie… that day, I cried a little. I thought that my ambitions were destroyed,” she smiled, as though reminiscing on an old memory. “But your aunt… as cunning and cold as she is, she always turned to me for advice. And when someone broke the warrior code, I helped explain their position to her and allowed them to stay in the clan. That was the day I realized that deputy wasn’t the end-all-be-all.”

Lynxclaw blinked. “So… you’re saying I should aim for deputy?”

Slatestripe laughed. “No, Lynx. I’m saying that even if your original goals seem lost to you now, there’s always a way to follow your ambitions… even if they change a little on the way.”

Slatestripe got to her feet, turning back to her daughter.

“That being said… if you did become deputy, I would support you every step of the way.”

—

Lynxclaw still ruminated on the lesson her mother had given her. Standing up, she padded her way out of the camp for some air. What did she want to after this? Certainly, she didn’t want to be boxed into the role of mother forever. But she wasn’t sure if she wanted to be deputy.

As she stepped through the forest, she heard some strange noises. They almost sounded like… wheezing?

“Hello?” Lynxclaw said, dropping into a crouch. She wasn’t too large yet— so she was able to slink towards the target without issue.

There, hidden beneath a bush, was her aunt.

“A-Auntie!” Lynxclaw ran towards her. Bonestripe was on the ground, her face contorted into a pained scowl. “What happened?!”

Bonestripe heaved. “D-deathroot… that bastard… he poisoned me!”

Lynxclaw panicked. What could she do? She only had one idea. “Uh, stay here! I’m going to get some help!”

Bonestripe growled. “No use, you fool! They’re… the ones… who did this….”

Lynxclaw didn’t stick around. She needed to help her aunt. Quickly, she ran towards the cleric den. There was a spot in the back where she could squeeze into the log, she remembered. Yarrowheart had gotten scolded when he snuck in that way.

Ignoring the pain in her legs, she pushed herself into the den.

There, she was surrounded by herbs of many smells and sizes. What did her aunt need?

“Lynxclaw?” Cloverpelt shambled into the den. “What did you need?”

“I-I think I accidentally ate some deathroot!” she lied, frantically.

Cloverpelt looked annoyed, then fumbled around with some herbs on a shelf. Lynxclaw could have sworn she heard her mumbling something about overdramatic queens.

She spat out something black at Lynxclaw’s feet. “This should neutralize any deathroot you might have swallowed.”

Then, she left.

Lynxclaw quickly grasped it in her jaws and squeezed out the way she came. From there, it was just a short run to where Bonestripe lay. But every moment of it was agonizing.

“What… do you have… in your mouth?” Bonestripe asked, weakly.

“Dunno. But eat it.” Lynxclaw’s voice was muffled.

“That… that isn’t allowed, Lynx.”

“Shut up!”

Lynxclaw kneeled to her aunt’s side, nudging her mouth open, and feeding her the black substance. Bonestripe weakly swallowed it.

Lynxclaw sighed. “I-I’ll stay with you until I’m sure you’ll be ok.”

Bonestripe looked furious, but she could barely lift her head.

“A thank you would be appreciated for saving your life.” Lynxclaw growled.

“I don’t want you… breaking rules on my behalf.” Bonestripe practically whispered. “Especially with your kits…. They’ll use it as an excuse… to hurt them too.”

“Who did this to you?”

“I… don’t know.” Bonestripe admitted. “But… I know Badgerstar is behind it… he always is…”

“How did you know it was deathroot?”

Bonestripe paused.

“Not… the first poisoning… he’s done. Deathberries are too… easy to cure. Deathroot… hard to find the cure…. Need to trade for it.”

Lynxclaw frowned. “Why would Cloverpelt give me some then?”

Bonestripe laughed. “…didn’t want to deal with… Slatestripe mourning again… my guess.”

Lynxclaw sat there, looking at the withered husk of her aunt. She was too stubborn to ask for help— too paranoid to trust anyone. She cursed their clan for pushing Bonestripe to that point.

“I’m going to move you somewhere safer.” Lynxclaw finally said.

“You… don’t have to.”

“Shut up.”

Lynxclaw slowly dragged Bonestripe to the base of a tree she knew had an old snake den dug into. Inside, she put Bonestripe. She covered the top with leaves.

Hopefully, she would be safer there. Bonestripe seemed to be regaining a bit of her strength. Lynxclaw was certain she would make it.

She padded her way back to camp, before slipping in. It didn’t seem like anyone noticed she was gone.

Some of the older warriors were huddled up by the elder’s den. Lynxclaw could barely hear their conversation.

“…won’t be deputy much longer…”

Lynxclaw paused. They were talking about her aunt.

She found herself walking to the side of the elder’s bush, as if heading to the dirtplace. Instead of leaving camp, she was quiet as she pressed herself into the leaves of the den. Then, she listened.

“Bah, what do you even mean by that, Shinewhisker?” Flybracken, an older tortoiseshell warrior, said.

“Oh… just a hunch.” Shinewhisker laughed.

Shinewhisker was a brown-and-white warrior— Goosetuft’s father, Lynxclaw remembered. He would have a good motive to poison her aunt. After all, his mate Brokenpad was one of Badgerstar’s children, and a staunch supporter of his faction.

“Treason talk isn’t good to have in camp.” Larchfang, another senior warrior, mentioned.

“Who’s even listening? Slatestripe? She’s a bleeding heart, but even she realizes that Bonestripe’s not becoming leader.” Shinewhisker said. “I mean, not even the rest of the cursed family is on Bonestripe’s side!”

I’m on her side! Lynxclaw thought. Then, she remembered how invisible she was to her clanmates. She doubted they even remembered she was a member of the same family as Bonestripe, at this point.

“Who do you think will become deputy instead?” Flybracken asked.

“Hopefully Houndheart. It’s better to have one of Badgerstar’s kits in the seat. I’d like Brokenpad, but we’re getting a bit too old for that stuff nowadays.”

Larchfang spoke up. “Houndheart?! Don’t be stupid, Shinewhisker. Slatestripe is meant to be leader. Badgerstar will pick her after Bonestripe passes.”

“She’s too fond of that cursed family now, and too unwilling to grab her destiny. It shouldn’t happen— not after she had those kits with that cursed tom.” Flybracken grumbled.

Lynxclaw couldn’t listen to them insult her mother any more. She left abruptly, pretending she was returning from the dirtplace. The senior warriors never even paid any attention to her. She was invisible to them— nothing more than just a queen. Slatestripe’s daughter. Maybe even a cursed one, if they remembered that. But she would use that to her advantage.

—

“It was Shinewhisker. Maybe Brokenpad helped.”

Bonestripe was cleaning the dirt off her paws. “How in Starclan did you learn this?”

“I listened in on their conversation.”

She huffed, before standing.

“…Very well. I’ll take this information to your brother. I’ll have him organize a trial for them.”

She turned to leave. Lynxclaw stopped her with a paw on her shoulder.

“Wait. I have one more thing.”

Bonestripe grunted. “No. Whatever it is, no.”

“Let me be your informant!”

“Absolutely not!” she growled. “This was dangerous enough as-is!”

Lynxclaw shook her head. “It’s not dangerous at all. Nobody even notices me, after all. All I’m doing is being observant.”

Bonestripe sighs. “You won’t relent until I say yes, will you?”

Lynxclaw nodded.

“You’re just like your mother.” She chuckled a bit, almost smiling. “Fine. Bring me any information you think will help.”

With that, she walked away to camp.

“Ish dish enough frefkill?” Nightflower muffled through two mice crammed into her mouth.

Darkstar chuckled. “Hey, you shouldn’t have your mouth full when speaking, Nightflower.”

She spits the mice out onto the ground. “Heh, sorry Dad.”

Still, he nodded affirmatively. “With Shimmersky’s fish and Gingerclaw’s bluejay, we should have enough food for the gathering.”

“Darkstar! Darkstar!” a large bundle of orange fur barreled towards the two cats, crashing into Nightflower.

She laughed. “What’s wrong, Tigerkit?”

The ball of fluff straightened himself out until he resembled a normal cat. “Applepaw’s being mean again. She snapped at Pebblekit!”

Darkstar sighed. “Acting out isn’t going to make me change my mind. I’ll have a talk with Blossomtail.”

“About what?” Nightflower asked.

“I decided to have Applepaw stay behind this Gathering. She’s been too irresponsible as of late.”

“I suppose that makes sense.” she probably also would have been sulking if she was left behind.

“You know, since I’m so helpful…” Tigerkit started.

“No Gatherings until you’re an apprentice.” Darkstar sighed.

—

The Gathering itself was just as bustling. The fresh kill was deposited atop the grates of the flaming barrel for the after-gathering feast. Nightflower still didn’t do well with fire, so she handed off her freshkill to Dawnpaw. She decided to meet up with Lynxpaw and Firepaw while Dawnpaw took care of the food.

Firepaw wasn’t hard to find. Her bright red fur was like a beacon, even among a sea of other ginger cats. She was sat with Lynxpaw, who looked very happy.

“What’s the occasion?” Nightflower asked as she padded over.

“My warrior ceremony!” Lynxpaw declared, the enthusiasm palpable in her voice. “I’m Lynxclaw now.”

Firepaw looked glum. “I wish. My mentor’s been ignoring my training… I’ll never be a warrior at this rate.”

Lynxclaw paused. “I’m sorry Firepaw. That sucks.”

“Ah… whatever. I think Smallcloud is just getting sick or something. I don’t know why he’s been ignoring me.”

“Oh… I can’t imagine how you must be feeling.” Nightflower said. Even Leopardcloud, stuck in the nursery, still made sure she kept up her training when she wasn’t able to be there.

A large silence fell over the Gathering. It was time to start; the first leader stepped to the front. This moon, it was Redstar.

“To start, Swampclan has been well. Our kits are well-fed, and will grow strong. Our apprentices, even more so.” Redstar stated simply, before stepping back.

“I heard that those kits born last moon were his.” Lynxclaw whispered to Nightflower. “Jaggedkit and Sharpkit, I think they’re named. Poor kits. Now they have to turn out evil with those names.”

Nightflower wasn’t so sure, but she wasn’t willing to be scolded for talking during the Gathering.

Next, Finchstar took the front.

“My son and his mate have had a litter of three healthy kits! We thank Starclan for them.” He showed an uncharacteristic amount of emotion, before frowning again. His tone was grave. “Unfortunately, one of our border patrols was ambushed by a coyote. One of our apprentices, Splinterpaw, did not make it. We ask other clans to increase their patrols and stay wary until the coyote has left our lands.”

Whispers carried over the crowd— uncertain, and somewhat panicked, before the Wanderers representative spoke up.

“It will not take long for the coyote to leave. The Twolegs will chase it out once they notice it. Remain alert, but calm, while on patrol.” the representative stepped back, allowing Badgerstar to step forward.

“We have two new warriors, as well as one new cleric apprentice.” he drawled, seemingly not caring. “Lynxclaw, Locustclaw, and Mitepaw.” He paused to allow the clans to cheer.

Nightflower made sure to cheer extra hard for her good friend, who seemed extremely flattered by all the attention. Firepaw, on the other hand, looked like her flames had been doused by a heavy rainfall.

After the noise had died down, he spoke again. “We grieve the loss of our beloved Seedwhisker, who succumbed to illness. May my son carry on his path of benevolence in Starclan, just as he did in life.” he bowed his head, ushering in a moment of silence.

Nightflower looked over at Starleaf. Her mother was close with Seedwhisker, right? He was one of the members of her prophecy journey. Her mother was huddled up with her Grangeclan friends, Dovelight and Pearlheart.

The silence was broken with a single exclamation.

“Seedwhisker!”

Now, every clan was looking at the three mollies. Pearlheart was staring at the faded outline of a tom, though Nightflower couldn’t pick out any of the details. He was glowing a bright blue, which certainly wasn’t a real pelt color. Was that… a Starclan cat?

“What’s she looking at?” Lynxclaw asked, confusion lacing her voice.

“You don’t see the glowing cat in front of her?” Nightflower said.

Firepaw shook her head. “She’s just staring at nothing.”

“Well, there’s a Starclan cat right in front of her!”

Nightflower quickly looked around. Badgerstar had his head in his paws, and Bonestripe looked shocked. Finchstar merely looked confused, and Redstar was simply annoyed.

Clouds began to crowd around the full moon, blotting out all but a small circle in the middle.

Darkstar took the front, interrupting the moment. “Starclan has spoken. The Gathering has ended for now.” he jumped down, gathering the clanmates.

Nightflower barely had a moment to say goodbye to her friends when she was pulled away with the rest of Crystalclan.

He padded over to Nightflower as they left the Gathering. “Your mother is staying behind.”

“What was that?” Nightflower asked her father.

“You could see it, couldn’t you? How well?” he dodged her question.

“But— well, yes. I could see the glowing blue cat. I couldn’t tell who it was though. Was he from Starclan?”

He nodded to her. “So not well. I see… yes, that glowing cat was a Starclan cat.”

“But why did that ghost appear?”

“To say goodbye.” Darkstar replied. “or maybe to give a warning. We won’t know until we ask your mother.”

“I guess that food will go to waste now…” she said absentmindedly.

“It won’t. Don’t worry about it.” he licked her forehead. “Come on. Let’s go home.”

As he walked away, Nightflower could only wonder what Starclan was thinking. Perhaps she’d ask her mother. Hopefully her mother was willing to share what she’d learned.

—

“Beware the jagged thorns of the lake, for they will sink into you like a lifeline.” Pearlheart repeated back to the other two.

“What could that mean?” Starleaf asked, worry in her eyes.

“I don’t know Leafy.” Pearlheart had a worried look on her face. “But he said the message was for you.”

Dovelight turned to Starleaf. “If you need extra warriors, Grangeclan will send them.”

Starleaf shook her head. “No. I will not put your clanmates in danger. We will handle this ourselves.”

Pearlheart pressed against Starleaf’s side, letting out a sad huff. “Be safe Leafy. Please.”

“I will, Pearlheart. I promise.” Starleaf spared one last look towards the spot where Seedwhisker supposedly stood, thoughts swirling with confusion and fear.

“Now, remember… you’re Shimmerpaw’s littermate,” Darkstar reminded Nightpaw. She nodded.

“I remember the story Dad. I’ll be ok.”

Nightpaw looked behind her. Tonight’s gathering would be the first since the attack… and the first she ever attended. The entire clan was with them— Darkstar said it was to look stronger.

She hung close to her friends as they made it to Four Corners. It was an old Twoleg den. Nightpaw had a lot of experience with those.

At the center, a strange light emanated from a smooth, round cylinder. She bristled; wait, it was fire!

Sandpaw put his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry. It’s not like real fire. It stays in that cylinder.”

She sighed. “How did you know that was what I was thinking?”

“Because that was my reaction too.” he laughed with a mrrp.

They laughed together for a bit, until Darkstar hushed them. She took the opportunity to have a look around.

The three other clan leaders were sat at the highest part of the den. The first was a very old black cat— he was lighter than Darkstar, but much bigger than him. She assumed he was Badgerstar of Treeclan. Next was one she knew a little more— a tom with a maroon coat and white upper half. That was Finchstar. He was the youngest of the leaders. When she looked at the last leader, she felt fear.

His coat was a light ginger. It was spotted— but what drew her gaze was his crimson eyes. They were sharp. Piercing red. That must have been what he got his name from, she thought. Redstar.

He cleared his throat, starting first.

“We have had a good moon. Swampclan has welcomed two new warriors, Junco-eyes and Ploverbelly.”

He paused to allow the gathering to yowl their names. The Crystalclan cats merely glared at him. That didn’t seem to phase him— he continued as usual.

“And one new apprentice. Welcome, Hawthornpaw! And thank you to the Wanderers for shifting her our way!” He motioned to another cat on the balcony, seemingly a member of the Wanderers.

“Why is a member of a rogue group up there with the leaders?” she asked Starleaf.

“The Wanderers aren’t just a rogue group.” she said sternly. “It’s their job to rotate cats around our area. Taking exiled cats away from their clans and placed elsewhere, as well as placing interested kittypets and loners into the clans as well as anywhere else they desire. In that way, they’re like a fifth clan to us. You should know this— I was born into the Wanderers. And so was Shimmerpaw.”

Nightpaw chuckled nervously. “Look, I pay attention. I just didn’t realize the Wanderers were so… big and important, I guess.”

Nightpaw’s gaze was shifted to a pretty little cat— Hawthornpaw. It was clear— she was a former kittypet. Her pelt was a rare one in the wild. With luxurious cream fur and brown points, she couldn’t have been born a warrior.

Meanwhile, the two warriors looked somewhat familiar to her. Their grey pelts just seemed to remind her of something.

Starleaf murmured to her.

“Swanjaw’s kits.”

Nightpaw gasped. She remembered them! They were in the Bayclan nursery with her— just a few moons older!

“Wasn’t there three of them?” she asked.

Starleaf nodded. “Yes, but… Woodpeckerkit was a black kitten. They… well, you know.”

She looked away. She didn’t want to think about that.

Starleaf nudged her, pointing to the leaders again. Finchstar had rotated to speak.

“Grangeclan has not had much occur this past moon. However, we have one new apprentice, Firepaw.” he spoke curtly and quickly, before stepping back.

The aforementioned Firepaw was a very red cat. Next to her, her not-as-red mother and very blue father looked proud as they could be.

Up next was Badgerstar, who ambled to the front.

“Treeclan has recently lost a young apprentice. Perchpaw will be remembered for her enthusiasm and determination. A moment of silence for her, please.”

Everyone was quiet, besides the wailing of another Treeclan apprentice.

After that moment, Badgerstar left the front. It was Darkstar’s turn.

He went up to the front. “We have two new apprentices.” he said, with a smile. “Our kits are growing up. Nothing could be better!”

Nightpaw wasn’t stupid. She could easily tell that he was lying through his teeth. But the others seemed to have bought it.

“With one last thanks to Starclan, the Gathering is adjourned.” Everyone began to break for socializing.

“Leafy!” A cat cried, lunging at Starleaf. She was a cat with a pinkish hue, and strange pendant around her neck.

“Hello Pearlheart. How are you?” Starleaf mrrped happily.

Another cat was behind Pearlheart. This cat was a lot scruffier— she was a brown tabby with a red bandana. “You should be less forceful, Pearly.”

She pouted. “But I was so worried after I heard about the attack!”

The other cat noticed Nightpaw. “Who’s this, Leafy?”

“Oh, I’m Nightpaw! I’m Shimmerpaw’s sister.” she said quickly.

Starleaf motioned something to the two mollies, whose eyes went wide.

The brown tabby nodded. “We understand, Leafy.” She turned to Nightpaw. “It’s nice to meet you, Nightpaw. I’m Dovelight, deputy of Grangeclan. I’m an old friend of your mama. Take care of ol’ Foxtail for us, will you?”

She nods. They must know Foxtail Barley, Shimmerpaw’s mother. “I will.”

Pearlheart spoke as well. “And I’m Pearlheart, Grangeclan cleric! Your mom is very dear to me. I don’t know what I’d do without Lea-without Foxy!”

“Oh um— I’ll tell her that too!” She shot Starleaf a scared look.

Starleaf chuckled. “It’s alright. They can be trusted. They’re my best friends.”

With that, a wail erupted from the Treeclan gathering. A young molly apprentice, the same as before, was mourning.

“Go comfort her.” Starleaf signaled to Nightpaw.

“Wait, isn’t she from another clan?”

“War is rare. Friends in other clans are much more important… especially in this time.”

She noticed how Starleaf’s gaze lingered on Redstar.

Nightpaw nodded. “Alright, I’ll go help her.”

She walked over, mulling over what to say.

The apprentice was a white and brown molly, with a beautiful butterfly ornament attached to her ear.

“Hey. I’m Nightpaw. How are you feeling?” She whispered, sitting down next to her.

“Not good. Obviously.” she sniffled. “I’m Lynxpaw.”

“She was your sister, wasn’t she? I’ve lost a littermate too. I understand how it feels.” Nightpaw said gently.

“I knew the curse would take one of us.” Lynxpaw said, looking at the ground. “But why Perchpaw?!”

“Oh my stars, Lynxpaw, you need to shut up about the curse!” A dark tom apprentice snapped at her.

“Well, how do you explain our family’s luck then! You don’t believe it’s true, but now Perchpaw is gone!” she yowled back.

“Woah, woah, woah, enough!” Nightpaw heard the sound of Shimmerpaw behind her. “What’s this about a curse?”

Shimmerpaw laid herself to the other side of Lynxpaw, forming a tight huddle around her.

“My family is cursed. Every generation, when four kits are born… one will die horribly as an apprentice. We don’t know why. My father lost his sister as an apprentice, my grandmother before him… and so on.” Lynxpaw explained.

“Starclan has said that there isn’t a curse!” The dark tom lunged, only to be caught by the red apprentice from earlier.

“That’s enough.” Firepaw said, holding him back. “This is a Gathering. Fighting isn’t allowed.”

Nightpaw looked over to see if Starleaf could help, but she was deep in conversation with the Grangeclan deputy and cleric. Dang it!

“Yarrowpaw, I wish you would just believe the facts.” Lynxpaw muttered.

Nightpaw looked between this spat of littermates with extreme worry. “Um, hi. Firepaw? I’m Nightpaw. Do you think you could deal with Yarrowpaw for us?” She addressed the red Grangeclan apprentice.

“I’ll take care of it!” she winked. “Also, nice to meet you.”

With that, Firepaw dragged the unfortunate Yarrowpaw away from the girls.

Lynxpaw sighed. “My brother… he doesn’t believe in the curse. But it almost seems like he doesn’t care at all.”

“I’m sure he does—” Nightpaw started.

“He’s so mean to you. You don’t deserve it.” Shimmerpaw interjected.

Nightpaw shot her a confused look.

Shimmerpaw merely signed “validate her not justify him”

“Yeah, he’s a jerk!” Nightpaw said with gusto. “Don’t worry, I’m sure Firepaw is giving him a piece of her mind!”

Lynxpaw sniffled. “Thank you. But… he isn’t the worst of it. I feel like the clanmates who believe in the curse are worse…” she trailed off, then continued. “Sometimes, I feel so isolated with my clanmates. I feel like they hate me because of my lineage. It’s like they didn’t even mourn Perchpaw— they didn’t even care she was killed! They just see her death and my whole family as an extension of the curse. To them… our lives are nothing more than an inconvenience!”

Nightpaw leaned in. “I-I’m sorry.”

“My aunt is the deputy, you know. She had to fight so hard for that spot… she couldn’t become it until Starclan itself declared her worthy. But Badgerstar hates her! He’s been pushing her to step down for years!”

Nightpaw was confused. “Can’t he just replace her?”

Shimmerpaw shook her head. “No, any deputy appointed by Starclan sign cannot be removed for anything other than a crime against the warrior code. She’d have to step down herself.”

Lynxpaw cried. “It’s so awful! My aunt is a really good deputy, but why doesn’t anyone see it? My sister was full of enthusiasm, she had dreams— and yet, nobody mourns her but me!” She quieted down, her head hung low. “I-I don’t want to go back to my clanmates yet.”

Nightpaw merely stayed with her. “We’ll stay with you until the Gathering is over.” Shimmerpaw nodded in agreement.

“Thank you.” she murmured.

Firepaw bounded over. “Yarrowpaw is dealt with. I informed his mentor.”

Nightpaw could see a gray tabby molly scolding Yarrowpaw. He wouldn’t be a problem for a while, she suspected.

“Thank you.” Lynxpaw said.

“It’s nothing. By the way, I’m Firepaw!”

They all could tell. She was the youngest apprentice there with such fiery red fur. It was fluffy and stood out for its extravagance, especially here in the clans.

“Nice to meet you, Firepaw.” Shimmerpaw grinned. “Come sit with Lynxpaw here. The more friends, the better.”

“I don’t know how to thank you more.” Lynxpaw had eyes wider than the moon.

“No need. We’ll stay with you until the end.” Nightpaw nuzzled into Lynxpaw.

(For some reason, Badgerstar and Bonestripe keep being messed with)

(I have decided I no longer will mess with it. That is why there are duplicated lines)

LEADER BADGERSTAR—a black tom

LEADER BADGERSTAR—a black tom

DEPUTY BONESTRIPE — a black molly with a white

skull-and-ribs-like pattern on her face and

back

CLERICS CLOVERPELT—a gray molly

ASPENSTRIPE—a black tabby molly

SEEDWHISKER—a dappled golden tom

MEDIATORS ROACH-HEART—a pale ginger tabby molly

APPRENTICE, RATPAW

WARRIORS SUNSTRIPE—a ginger tabby tom

FLYBRACKEN—a gray molly with a ginger

face

APPRENTICE, LOCUSTPAW

LAKEFACE—a silver molly

APPRENTICE, SPRUCEPAW

LARCHFANG—a pale gray tabby trans-molly

BROKENPAD—a gray-and-white tabby molly

APPRENTICE, YARROWPAW

STONEPELT—a dark gray tom

CLIFFMOON—a dark gray smoke molly

GHOSTWHISKER—an unusually spotted

black tom

BEETLEHEART—an unusually spotted black-

and-white tom

WET-TAIL—a masked gray tabby molly

SLATESTRIPE—a white molly with a striped

gray tail and two gray stripes on her head

APPRENTICE, LYNXPAW

PINESPIDER—a black tabby tom

DAWNWING—a masked ginger tabby molly

HOUNDHEART—a black smoke tom

BRANCHTAIL—a black-and-white tom with a

long tail

FERNCLAW—a white molly with gray-tipped

ears, tail, and nose

APPRENTICE, GOOSEPAW

SHINEWHISKER—an unusually dappled

brown-and-white tom

WILLOWHEART—a ginger tabby tom

TIMBERFOOT—a pale ginger tabby molly

APPRENTICES SPRUCEPAW—a ginger tabby tom

GOOSEPAW—a masked light brown-and-

white molly

LYNXPAW—a white molly with lilac ears

YARROWPAW—a dark tabby tom with a

white patch

RATPAW—a white tom with a speckled gray

gray leg; apprentice to the mediator

LOCUSTPAW—a dorsal-striped golden tom

QUEENS BOGPATCH—a pale gray molly (mother of

Gustkit, a speckled ginger tom)

POPPYLAKE—a golden molly (mother of

Milkkit, a dorsal-striped brown tom, and

fostering Mitekit, an unusually dappled gray

molly)

ALDERHONEY—a speckled dark molly

(mother of Tinykit, a dorsal-striped dark tom)

ELDERS GOLDLEAF—a spotted black molly with

piercing gold eyes

OLIVEFUR—a ticked golden tom

GRANGECLAN

LEADER FINCHSTAR—a dark ginger tom with a white

top half

DEPUTY DOVELIGHT—a masked brown tabby molly

with a red bow

CLERICS PEARLHEART— a white-and-light-brown

molly with a pearl earring necklace

FLYHEART—a black tabby-and-white molly

OLIVEHEART— a black tabby cat

BLIZZARDFADE—a pale gray smoke molly

MEDIATORS IRISRAIN—a black-and-white molly

SUNSONG—a golden tom

ASHRISE—a black tabby tom with

heterochromia

WARRIORS MAGPIEFUR—a speckled black molly

FOXSWOOP—a pale gray ticked molly

TOPCLASH—a brown ticked tom

APPRENTICE, CHESTNUTPAW

STEELSONG—a brown mottled tom

ANTLERFUR—a pale tom

COWFUR—a silver-and-white smoke tom

WHISPERFUR—a pale gray-and-white tom

APPRENTICE, BADGERPAW

BUDFERN—a tortoiseshell-and-white molly

SAGESPECKLE—a pale ginger molly with no

tail

CLOVEHEART—a white-and-golden tabby

molly

SMALLCLOUD—an unusually spotted dark

tom

APPRENTICE, FIREPAW

SMOKESPOT—a speckled dark molly

BLACKQUILL—a black tabby tom with vitiligo

and a red collar

BIRCHRAIN—a white-and-gray tom

COALSHADOW—a dorsal-striped black molly

APPRENTICE, HAVENPAW

WILDFADE—a black-and-white smoke molly

RAINLEAF—a silver tabby tom

BLOOMFUR—a red molly

CURLYBLOSSOM—a gray tabby molly

COPPEREYE—a pale-and-white smoke tom

APPRENTICE, SPLINTERPAW

HOLLYFOOT—a black ticked molly

GOLDFOOT—a golden tom

STORKFUR—a speckled black molly

CEDAR—a dorsal-striped brown tom

TAWNYHEART—a speckled ginger molly

APPRENTICES GLOWPAW—a dark tabby molly

BADGERPAW—an unusually dappled black

tom

SPLINTERPAW—a gray tabby molly

HAVENPAW—a black tabby tom

CHESTNUTPAW—a gray ticked tom

FIREPAW—a dark ginger molly

QUEENS BIRDFALL—a ginger-and-white molly

(fostering Graykit, a gray smoke tom,

Stoatkit, a spotted silver tom, and Lightkit, a

gray smoke tom)

ELDERS LAKESTRIPE— a pale smoke tom with his

eyes scarred over

SWAMPCLAN

LEADER REDSTAR—a speckled ginger tom with

copper-red eyes

DEPUTY BLOODTHORN—a red molly with green

eyes

CLERIC BLACKBERRY—a white-and-black

tom

WARRIORS IVYHEART—a silver-and-white molly

FROGLEAP—a dark ginger tabby tom

APPRENTICE, HAWTHORNPAW

PUDDLESPLASH—a white molly with a gray

patch on her chest

STARLINGFUR— a ticked brown tom

BUZZARDFANG— a cream cat with a lilac

tail

CUCUMBERLEAF—a gray molly

TALLSTEM—a brown tabby tom

SPARKFLOWER—a dark ginger molly

ALDERFLOWER—a gray smoke molly

ECHOPOOL—a pale tabby tom

FALLENFERN—a gray tom

DOEBIRD—a pale ginger molly

TICKSEED—an unusually spotted golden

tom

APPRENTICE, RYEPAW

SHEEPNOSE—a silver ticked tabby molly

BERGAMOTFUR—a ticked cream tom

JUNCO-EYES—a pale-gray ticked molly with

dark eyes

PLOVERBELLY—a pale gray smoke tom with

a white belly

APPRENTICES RYEPAW—a light brown smoke tom

HAWTHORNPAW—a seal-point Siamese

molly

QUEENS MARETAIL—a light brown molly (mother of

Rushkit, a speckled pale ginger molly, and