#madtomtuft

Leaf bare-Part 3

True to his word, Cowbirdsoar leaves at sunset. He emerges from the cave into the fading sunlight. He steps carefully into the bright snow, shivering as it meets his paw pads.

"Be careful," He mews to Madtomtuft, "There could be ice underneath."

She steps beside him. "I doubt it's cold enough for that."

He rolls his eyes, but doesn't press it. It's only her first leaf bare, he reminds himself. "Just be careful, please."

"Alright."

They carefully make their way up to the meadow. Under the last traces of daylight, they creep through their old territory. Despite himself, Cowbirdsoar stops when they reach Grouseclan's former camp. The dens were little more than scraps now. The snow had buried the nursery and caved in the Leader's den. No den, was safe, not even his den. The sturdy oak log that he slept had been split in half. The infected in there must have grown through the walls. He shivers. If I had stayed there…

Madtomtuft noses his shoulder. "Let's keep going," She whispers. He nods, casting one last glance at the camp before leaving.

They continue through their territory, and Pipitclan's before eventually finding the cave. He motions for Madtomtuft to sit down. He speaks quietly, "I need you to keep guard." She opens her mouth to protest, but he raises a paw. "The cave is well protected, except for this entrance. If an infected comes while I'm in there… I need you to be able to warn me, okay?"And be able to run if I can't.

She flicks her tail with irritation. "Fine." He smiles at her and steps towards the cave's entrance.

The dark, endless maw welcomes him. Jagged, gray teeth stick out from the roof, threatening to destrly any predators. Or cats Starclan rejects. He brushes the thought out of his mind and walks into the cave. The inside of the cave is just as dark.

He traces along the rocks as the cave grows tighter and tighter. It's a tight fit, but he manages to squeeze himself.

He emerges into The Guardian's cave. There, he sees the ancient bones of Guardian, curled up in xyr eternal slumber. The only light in the cave comes from the mushrooms that grow over xyr bones. Xyr giant skeleton easily outpaces even the infected. He tries to focus elsewhere, but his eyes keep drifting back to xyr head. Xyr skull is almost the size of his body. If xe were alive, xe could easily crush him.

Cowbirdsoar 

Part 1 

Cowbirdsoar lays in the healer's den, basking in the cool morning air. His- the kits lay against his side. He curls his tail over them.  

Last moon, he tried to get them to sleep on their own. He and Madtomtuft cleaned and added moss to the apprentice’s den. But after spending the night in it, they refused to return. No bribery or insistence would change their minds.  

Cowbirdsoar knew he could force the issue, but that would do them no good. So, instead he chose to accommodate them. He brought the moss from the apprentice den and added it to his own nest.  

That made the comfortable nest the three of them lay in now. He yawns into the empty air and stretches. Rhubarbkit squeaks against him, while Plumekit just curls further in on herself.  

He looks down at them, his golden eyes shining. They are mine... Stars it is wrong, but they are my family. He looks at the cave roof and imagines Starclan looking down at him. He imagines the face of his mentor, the one he had made his oath to. He can see her scowling at him. I promise I am still loyal, He says to the visage. I will never take a mate, never have kits. But let me have this selfishness.  

The visage stares through him, it says nothing, but a lightness creeps into his heart. He rests his head against his kits.  

“Are you up yet?” Madtomtuft calls from the entrance. He narrows his eyes at his niece, making a shushing motion with his tail. She covers her mouth and backs away.  

Leaf fall- Brambleclash

Part 1

Cowbirdsoar refused to leave the den after they got back. Brambleclash tried to soothe his nerves... but she wasn’t enough. Even though she had been the one to deliver the killing blow, he seemed to carry the death on his head.  

So, she did what she could; she supported him. Every day, she would bring him prey and wet moss. She would groom his ruffled fur and help him entertain the kits. It was exhausting, but there was no other way. If she didn’t care for him... that wasn’t something she planned to think about. She was a good clanmate and that meant that she would help him.  

And of course, help the kits. They still made her a little uneasy, especially Rhubarbkit. But they were kind of cute. They played mossball with each other and cuddled up to Cowbirdsoar every chance they got.  

The worst part of it was trying to hide him. When the guy has his own den, it’s hard to keep cats from looking there.  

But Brambleclash considered herself a clever cat. She took the two older girls to explore the territory. The changing season brought forth a plethora of colors. There were leaves falling, lizards sunning, and even some fish closer to camp. Hopefully, it would be enough to distract them.  

Nighthawkflash immediately abandoned the other two to chase the lizards. It wasn’t out of malice, more a need to blow off steam. Cowbirdsoar’s withdrawal had affected everyone, whether they could admit it or not.  

Brambleclash nudged Madtomtuft. “Why don’t we walk along the beach?”  

The younger warrior scrunched her nose. “What if we run into any of the... the infected?” she asked quietly, as if her voice would summon them.  

“I patrolled earlier, if we’re quiet, we should have no problems.” Brambleclash rested her tail on the other’s back.  

Madtomtuft weighed her options. She dug her paws against the stone as she thought. “I guess we can then.”  

The two walked down to the beach together. Despite Brambleclash’s confidence, they still stayed close to camp. Madtomtuft would even peroidically stop to make sure that Nighthawkflicker was still in view.  

It’s good that they have one another, Brambleclash purred to herself. Despite the cold that the ocean carried, her pelt felt warm. She breathed in the fresh ocean air and shook her pelt. The sun on her spine felt amazing. She wanted to lie down right now, like a big lizard, but Madtomtuft didn’t seem in the lying mood.  

Speaking of... up ahead, Madtomtuft had stopped in her pawsteps. Brambleclash hurried to meet her. “What’s going on?” She meowed curiously.  

Without a word, Madtomtuft raised a paw and pointed at a bright orange, half-submerged object. It kind of looks like a cats back half. Brambleclash carefully approached it. Whatever it was, it was dead.  

Madtomtuft followed her lead. She sniffed at the object, pushing it a little. Something clicked or snapped within it. Which sent her racing out of there like a bat out of hell. She kicked up a cloud as she ran. Brambleclash would have lost her if she had not fallen on her face halfway out.  

That was a story she would definitely pass on to Cowbirdsoar and the kits.  

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Leaf bare- Madtomtuft

Part 1

TRIGGER WARNINGS! DISCUSSION OF KIT DEATH/MURDER

A cold breeze blew through the territory, carrying with it the first flakes of Leaf-bare. While inside the camp, the cats lay huddled together. I wish I could grow a thicker coat, Madtomtuft laments as she buries her head into Nighthawkflicker's fur.

Nighthawkflicker runs her tongue over her ears. "We can find some moss or prey pelts to line your nest."

Madtomtuft purrs gratefully.

"Maybe Cowbirdsoar has some herbs that can warm us up?" Brambleclash stands up, a shiver running through her as her pads meet the stone.

Seeing the tabby's reaction, Madtomtuft immediately tucks her paws under her stomach. "No thanks."

"Someone is feeling mousey," Nighthawkflicker teases, swiping a paw at her. She rolls out of the way. Big mistake. She lies unhappily on her back, her belly and legs exposed to the cold air.

This is how I die.

"Save me." She raises her freezing paws. Nighthawkflicker rolls her eyes and goes to the healer. Luckily, Brambleclash takes mercy on her, rolling her back onto her belly.

"My savior!" She chirps, pulling her paws in tight.

"You're welcome, try next time rolling into her." Brambleclash puts her tail on Madtomtuft's head.

She snorts. It might help me get warm, too.

(As of 06/29/26)

Part 2- Nighthawkflicker 

Telling us about Ivyclan before we went to sleep was the worst possible decision Cowbirdsoar could have made. Nighthawkflicker tiredly turns over. No matter the position she took, Ivyclan would not leave her brain.  

What is life like for them now? How many did they lose? Did they even lose anyone? The questions swarm her like wasps. She tries to swat them away, but she only hits herself. She bats her tail against the stone.  

Lying here is getting me nowhere. Might as well take a walk or something. She rose to her paws. In the old days, she would wander to the training stones and practice whatever Eggstar had last taught her. Now... Now she just settles for stepping outside of the cave.  

The late-night air hits her like a badger. She shivers and tries to fluff up her pelt. The cave was cold, but this was unnatural.  

Madtomtuft’s voice cut through the air. “If you think this is bad, you should try going for a swim.”  

Nighthawkflicker glances around for her clanmate. I didn’t see anyone when I came out. And she’s not behind me. She double-checks just in case.  

Madtomtuft let out a purr of amusement, hopping down next to her.  

“For a cat named Nighthawk, you are not very good at looking at the skies.” She teases, her whiskers twitching with amusement.  

The gray tabby rolls her eyes. “And for a cat named Madtom...” She screws up her face, “you swim bad.”  

The brown molly lifts an eyebrow. “Did you forget what a madtom was?”  

Nighthawkflicker’s ears burn. Hoping to avoid further embarrassment, she shifts the conversation. “So, what are you doing out this late?”  

Madtomtuft deflates. “I... just needed to think,” She admits.  

“Well,” The tabby puts her paw on her friend's, “you aren’t alone there.” She offers a smile. 

Her denmate buries into her side. “I just... I don’t know how to feel,” she whispers. “I feel jealous and excited and... so confused.”  

Nighthawkflicker nods along. “I get it... as much as it sickens me, I’m jealous too.” She looks away. “Their leader survived, other cats survived... and I just think...” 

“Why not our clanmates?” Madtomtuft finishes for her.  

The tabby sighs. “Yeah.” She sits down, wrapping her tail around herself. “But I’m also... happy.” 

“Happy?” 

“Sounds weird, I know.” Nighthawkflicker grins awkwardly. “But another clan, that means we aren’t alone. It means that... we have a real chance.” 

Madtomtuft did not say anything after that. But the words seem to have done their job, as relief overtook her expression. She sits next to Nighthawkflicker and buries her head in.  

The mollies spent the next few nights sharing their fears and making plans to try to meet the other Ivyclan cats. There were still some mixed emotions, but they at least had another cat to share them with.  

Hi! These are subject to change but currently:

Cowbirdsoar- Tim Houston from Black Friday

Madtomtuft- Emma Duval from Scream MTV

Nighthawkflicker- kind of one but I need to sit on it more

Brambleclash- not settled on any

Longspurflood- Its between Loius from Left 4 Dead and Noah Foster from Scream MTV

Plumekit- not settled on any

Rhubarbkit- Edith Finch- What Remains of Edith Finch

Unknown- Verity from Something is Knocking at your door

Greenleaf- Madtomtuft

Madtomtuft turned to Nighthawkflicker. "I think I'm infected" She said breathlessly.

HORROR