#nutclan

His border patrol had come across the lone SpikeClan leader earlier in the moon. She was friendly, and even said that StarClan sent an omen to be kind to their new neighbors.

Now on the way to the gathering, he and his cats had walked on what seemed to be a tiny thunderpath. Up ahead was a twoleg den without a roof. A stream flowed around it, and curved rocks laid scattered through the island.  

“We’re sure this isn’t a trap?” Nightsplash whispered to Windstar.

He pricked his ears. There was the chatter of cats inside. “If it was, they’d be more quiet.”

“StarClan had also confirmed the older clans meant no harm to us,” Swanstreak said. He had visited the Moon Falls after Windstar reported his patrol.

“Windstar! There you are!” A black tabby rushed out from the entrance. She was only slightly bigger than Beaverpaw, but scars littered her pelt. This was the leader of SpikeClan. 

“Greetings,” A white and silver cat followed. “You’ve already met Bonestar; I’m Halfstar, leader of NutClan.”

“Nice to meet you,” The dark blue tabby dipped his head. “Thank you for inviting us.”

“No thanks necessary. Although StarClan assured us about your presence, it’d be best to know our neighbors,” Halfstar meowed as she led his cats inside. “Welcome to the Four Walls.” 

Inside, there was a sizeable number of cats– more than three times the size of ChimeClan. Their heads soon turned to the new group, exchanging looks of curiosity, wariness, or welcome.

Windstar turned his gaze elsewhere, observing the ruined twoleg structure. While it did indeed have four walls, the holes in them were tall and unnatural. Several long rocks were scattered through it, but the most notable was the pile in the middle. Bonestar called it the Echoing Stone.

“Is that actually a clan?” A white tom with purple eyes meowed. “They look like a bunch of rogues— one even looks like a kittypet!”

He was looking at Dancingtree, whose ears and legs were a dead giveaway. The former housecat tried his best to look small. 

“Lavenderpatch!” Halfstar meowed sharply. “Do you not remember the omen our healer told us about!?”

“What if they’re the wrong cats?”

“Even I can see StarClan’s mark on the other’s forehead.” A senior… No, an elder sat on the Echoing Stone and stared at Windstar. “Introduce yourself, leader of...”

“ChimeClan,” He did as he was told, and looked to the other cats gathered. “I am Windstar of ChimeClan. We’ve journeyed from beyond and set up camp by the foot of the mountains. We hope you’re willing to let us stay and… later, negotiate borders.”

“Indeed, these are the right cats,” The cat on the Echoing Stone nodded. “I, Dappledstar, leader of BugClan, welcome you all, ChimeClan.”

“As does NutClan.”

“And SpikeClan.” Bonestar grinned. “Come and take your place, Windstar.”

As the leader hauled himself up, the foreign cats cheered their clan name. Streakswan carefully joined the other healers, and Nightsplash bounded up to the other deputies. She sheepishly turned back when she realized those were a group of BugClan warriors who simply sat nearby.

“We are now complete,” Halfstar flicked her tail as the halfmoon’s light shone down upon them. She slammed a paw on the rock beneath them, which gave a resounding ring. “Let the gathering begin!”

As Bonestar had described, the leaders spoke in order of the clan’s age: NutClan, BugClan, SpikeClan, and lastly, ChimeClan. All had reported a prosperous first halfmoon of Newleaf; Windstar couldn’t help but think that truly, StarClan led them to the right place.

“Now, onto border discussions,” Halfstar meowed. “I’m sure you’ve explored the land nearby your camp, correct?”

“Until the thunderpath, and until we detected another clan’s borders.” Windstar nodded. “We’d like to have a side of the river near the foot of the mountain, and a patch of the forest for herbs.” 

Dappledstar hummed as she gathered her thoughts. “No.”

Before Windstar could negotiate further, the strange cat stared at him.

“Our StarClan likes to sit there. You can have the side farther down. Close to here.”

“That’s… Reasonable,” Windstar tried to suppress the shiver he felt. “Thank you.” 

“The forest is far from your camp, and NutClan has many mouths to feed.” Halfstar said. “Our land is not worth your time.” 

“With all due respect, Halfstar,” Streakswan meowed from below. “Only certain herbs grow in the forest.”

“No, we still need our territory. The forest around the Four Walls is neutral ground,” She said firmly. “And you have the land across the thunderpath. Just take from them.”

Windstar turned to Bonestar, who shook her head.

“We don’t have any forest to offer because of…”

“Like I said,” Halfstar narrowed her eyes at the she-cat. “We need our territory.”

“Oh, yes yes,” Bonestar lashed her tail. “Say that one more time, would you?”

“Well–”

“I understand and agree with these arrangements,” Windstar interrupted before they could bicker further. “We, ChimeClan, are grateful for your kindness.”

The leaders nodded, and Halfstar slammed a paw on the Echoing Stone again. 

“The Gathering is over.” She yowled. “You are free to mingle until your leader says so.”

She jumped down and led her clan back to camp.

“They’re all a bit stubborn,” Streakswan whispered to Windstar as he landed next to the healer. 

“It wouldn’t be wise to press further,” He meowed. He turned to look at his other clanmates; at least they were having fun.

Nightsplah had thrown herself into a conversation with the other deputies, while a friendly BugClan cat had a chat with Dancingtree. Badgerpaw was engaging the other apprentices with a tale from the journey; from his movements, Windstar guessed it was about the wolves.

“Any plans for the rest of the moon?” Bonestar sat beside the leader. 

Hunting, gathering… Not to mention, the caves and land across the thunderpath hadn’t been explored yet. 

“I suppose we’ll settle in,” He simply meowed. “Simply get some rest. We’ve been searching for a new home for too long.”

“I understand,” She nodded. “Back then, SpikeClan had done the same, too. We’ve been here for… 600 moons, give or take.”

“Honestly,” She continued. “It’s interesting to see a new clan form. I feel like I’m watching the old tales unfold in my time instead. And for that, you have SpikeClan’s full support!”

“Thank you, Bonestar,” He dipped his head, but he didn’t take her words to heart. While her excitement was clear, her intentions weren’t. “Do you know anything about the other clans?”

“Oh, NutClan has been here forever. That’s why they hate every new clan,” She said with an annoyed flick of her tail. “They’re so… Traditional.”

“My, watch your tongue, young one,” Dappledstar meowed. Her deputy was helping her down. “When BugClan was formed, NutClan welcomed us with open paws. They had no interest in taking the plains, and they once aided us with various herbs. Stories say that during the war–”

“Oh, yes yes. How noble of NutClan,” The she-cat replied dryly. “Well. Look at the time. We should get going.”

BugClan’s deputy narrowed his eyes, but seeing his leader unphased, he chose to say nothing. Dappledstar agreed that they will be leaving, too. 

“We’ll do the same then,” Windstar meowed. “See you at the next Gathering.”

Previous Moon Event - Moss and Directions

The Heads of the Nearby Clans

Clan Territories