#ploverbelly

“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.

Night yawned, picking herself up from her nest. She slept beneath a Twoleg porch with her guardian, a grouchy old cat named Rime.

“Let’s get a move on before Snotlout starts bothering us.” Rime barked, referring to the kittypet that lived in the house above.

“But I wanted to sleep in!” Night whined.

“You sound like a kittypet. Come on, let’s hunt.”

As they stepped through the Twoleg place, Night had an idea. “Can we hunt on the other side of the Thunderpath today?”

Rime grunted. “Do you think you’ll find them this time?”

Night sighed. “I really hope so.”

It wasn’t always just Rime and Night. Once, she was known as Nightkit— a cat born of the clans in the wilderness beyond the Twoleg place. Night was only just a moon old when her clan was attacked, and everyone slaughtered within it. Sometimes, she wanted to go back to her old territory, but there seemed to be new residents. A clan she didn’t recognize prowled in their old hunting grounds. She was always chased off before she could make her way to their old camp.

Night knew that after all this time— half a year, as Rime called it— the likelihood of her parents still being alive was slim. Still, she held onto hope that someday, she could rejoin her family in whatever form they existed in.

“If you join those there feral cats, I won’t be coming with.” Rime said sadly. “My old bones wouldn’t be able to live there in those meadows. I won’t be able to support myself on those slim pickings.”

Night nodded. “I know, Rime. I know there isn’t a high chance of anyone in my old clan still being alive. I’ll probably stay with you until you keel over— but that’ll probably be a long time away!”

Rime swat at the young cat’s head playfully. “Stop flattering me, Night.”

They didn’t end up crossing the Thunderpath— Night figured that was for the best anyways. As much as she hoped to find her family again, she knew she’d probably be chased away again.

They spent the latter half of the day chasing away the cold by hiding under their porch. The Twoleg nests provided a lot of heat, which was needed for the chillier days. Night found herself drifting to sleep once more.

When she awoke, it was to the smell of smoke. The porch was saturated with it— the Twoleg nest must be on fire!

Night ran out from beneath the porch frantically, hacking out a lung from the smoke. She couldn’t see Rime anywhere. Where was he?!

“Rime!” she yowled, looking for any trace of the old tom. Twoleg monsters swarmed the nest, and Twolegs raced around. One spotted her, approaching.

She hissed, running away. She’d find Rime later. First, she needed to get to safety! She realized the only place that was safe would be the other side of the Thunderpath.

Taking a deep breath (before coughing up a storm), she ran across. She hasn’t properly looked both ways, but she was desperate!

She heard the sound of a deafening bellow, causing her to jump. A monster was barreling towards her!

She bolted, but it was not fast enough. She felt unimaginable pain as she flew to the side of the Thunderpath. Her eyes fluttered as she coughed weakly. Was this how it ended?

The last thing she saw before she faded into unconsciousness was a group of cats, faintly in the distance.

—

Night found herself curled up in a warm nursery, wedged between a little black cat and a large gray cat. It was a dream she had often; it was her mother and sister. She didn’t remember their faces, only their scent and the way they felt that fateful night.

As always, though she wanted to stay in the warmth, she untucked herself from the cocoon and waddled out of the nursery. She was a very big kit by this point— nearly one whole moon, and exploring was on her mind. Leafpelt was so strict, always keeping her in the nursery. Well not tonight!

She crouched down as to not be seen by the other warriors. As sneaky as possible. She made it all the way to the warriors den before someone saw her.

“Now, what are you doing?”

A white molly stood before her.

Blazestar!

Little Nightkit stammered, facing her leader.

“Um… I wanted to explore.”

Blazestar chuckled. “How very brave of you. I remember when Puddlesplash and Swanjaw were still kits. They did the same thing.”

Nightkit gasped. “Really?”

Swanjaw and Puddlesplash were Blazestar’s own children. She’d seen Swanjaw duck in to tend to his three kits, who were much bigger than her.

“They’re just like me? So I could become a great warrior someday?” Nightkit said.

Blazestar smiled at her. “Of course.”

Night wanted to savor this moment. Surrounded by the happiness and tight-knit life of her clan. However, she knew what would come next.

She heard yowling at the center of camp. Blazestar looked over. Her face was as horrified as Night remembered.

“Oh, is someone playing? I want to play to!” Nightkit yipped, waddling towards the noise.

Blazestar stopped her. “How about we play a special leader game?”

“Ooo, I want to play that instead!” she said.

Blazestar lifted her by her scruff and dropped her higher up the hill. “It’s called Grangeclan run. Run through the gap in the bushes and keep going until you reach Grangeclan camp. Whoever gets there first wins! I’ll give you a head start.”

She stammered. “But… I don’t want to run so far.”

Nightkit looked back at Blazestar when an unfamiliar cat pounced on her. Blazestar yowled, throwing them off. “Nightkit, run!”

She sprinted as fast as she could, following her leader’s commands. Fear quickened her steps. Did Blazestar know the clan would be wiped out? She wondered about it many times over.

As she ran, she cried out, “Leafpelt! Mommy! Where are you?!” But Night always knew things ended the same. Leafpelt was always gone, and she was always running.

—

“You’ve inhaled a lot of smoke, huh. And survived a monster hit— I wonder who you are, little cat.

Night slowly opened her eyes to see what looked something like a small cave. Two toms sat at the entrance— one was a gruff, black tom with a large scar on his muzzle and the other was a calico with a white back half— though neither was looking at her. She didn’t think they knew she was awake.

“What are we looking at here, Rainfeather?” The black tom asked.

“Well, she seems to be around six or seven moons, I’d reckon. It’s old enough. Besides… she was saying Starleaf’s old name. I think it’s her.” The other tom, presumably Rainfeather responded.

The black tom sighed. “After all this time… she was right. Nightkit…”

He turned, and she pretended to be asleep. She wasn’t even sure why. He padded over to where Night lay. He pressed himself next to her.

“Do you even remember me, Nightkit? You were so young when everything happened. Please, wake up. Your mother and I miss you so much.”

He was her father?

She knew that her father used to see her in the nursery every day. His name was Darkheart, she thought. She couldn’t remember his face, but if it was true… she’d be so happy.

She pretended to wake up. “Darkheart?” she said. “Are you really my father?”

He looked overjoyed. “Yes, Nightkit. It’s me. Darkheart. I’m so glad you’re awake,” He barked to Rainfeather. “Get Starleaf. Quickly!”

He turned back to her. “Are you ok? Does anything hurt?”

She thought about it. Her throat was still sore and scratchy from the fire, and she could feel a dull pain in her leg. “My throat hurts. My leg, not as much.”

“The poppy seeds are working then.” He sighed. “I’m so glad you’re alright.”

A gray molly entered the den, her purple eyes shining. “Oh, Nightkit! You’re alright!”

She joined Night’s other side. Her scent was just as she remembered from that night as a kit. It was really her— Leafpelt!

“Leafpelt, mom, it’s really you!” she cried.

She nuzzled Night. “It’s Starleaf now. And your father is leader— Darkstar is his new name.”

“That means— you rebuilt the clan?” she asked.

“Yes. With help from my former kin in the Wanderers. We’ve done a good job of creating this new clan. It’s called Crystalclan. When you’re well enough, I’ll show you around.”

She felt at peace. Somehow, the impossible happened. But someone was missing.

“Where’s Ravenkit?” she asked.

Darkstar sighed. “With Starclan, now.”

Her heart dropped. It hurt, but part of her knew. She just didn’t want to accept it.

“Please focus on healing for now. We’re just so happy we got you back. Don’t worry about anything else.” Starleaf rested her muzzle on Night’s head. “I’m sure Ravenkit will visit you in your dreams.”

—

It took Night a few days to heal enough. She wasn’t perfect yet— her throat still required a lot of honey and poppy seeds to feel normal— but she could walk without pain. Starleaf had shown her around the camp.

It was a small sandstone cave, with a stream rushing through the center. On the higher side was the nursery, where a queen was currently grooming her kits’ wild fur, and the elder’s den. It was empty for now, but Starleaf said that some of the older warriors would be retiring there soon.

On the lower side, the cleric den was a large outcropping of the cave. An open section allowed for a patch of grass, where Rainfeather grew important herbs that couldn’t be found with foraging. Two extra caves acted as the recovery den where she slept and Rainfeather’s den, where he also kept his herb stocks. The warrior’s den was also on this side— a stout log dragged into the cave lined with nests. At the very center of the lower half was the crystal rock, which towered above everything else.

Darkstar was stood upon the rock. Night wondered what was going on.

(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