#shinebreak

Vaxxstreak (144) is embracing his role as an embarrassing elder.  He shares a story about Greenrapid (14) with Hershey (24) that he was asked not to share.  Brightmouse (33) is starting to recover from Shinebreak’s death.  Bluestripe (33) tries to keep her distracted by challenging her to spar with her.  Skipneedle (33) overhears Dawnfreckle (41) complaining about her behind her back.  She tells Brightmouse, and Brightmouse goes to talk to Dawnfreckle on her sister’s behalf.   Archdapple (33) feels like her efforts to heal the Clan are underappreciated in Lakepelt’s (66) presence.  She understands that it’s good to have a trained Healer in the Clan, but wishes that her contributions would be noticed.  She’s decided to remain as a Healer for the time being.  Skipneedle is worried about Hatchkit (3) and hopes that she’s doing well following her dip in the river.  Hatchkit just wishes that other cats would stop babying her.  Hyacinthkit (3) is annoyed with Whorlkit (3), who is being all shy and refusing to play with him.  Downgaze (39) is feeling protective of his kits and is sharpening his claws to be prepared for battle, if necessary.  Almondback (29) is glad to have a friend in the Clan and is sharing tongues with Sweet Marmalade.  Meanwhile, Lilacdrizzle (25) mistakes Spotfoot’s (39) kindness for a romance.  He thinks Spotfoot is the most beautiful cat in the Clan.

ElementClan seems to be entering another season of loss.  This moon, Safariaster (159) was buried alive in a landslide and Shinebreak (27) died of greencough.  Nettlestripe (21) is sad that his mother is gone, but he’s been preparing for it for a while.  She was old, and a part of him could sense that it was coming.  Mated cats have really bad luck in this Clan.  Brightmouse (27) is miserable.  How can Shinebreak be dead?  Her throat is raw from crying as she dwells on how Shinebreak won’t see another morning.  Even her fire powers aren’t functioning properly and the camp feels colder than usual.  The terrible triad is having some issues.  Skipneedle (27) gets in a fight with Bluestripe (27) and Brightmouse is distracted and distant. Primcrest (94) understands the grief of losing a mate and settles near Brightmouse to eat her fresh-kill.  Primcrest also feels like Rootwing (19) should be working harder to become a better mediator and gets in a fight with him over it.  Lilacdrizzle (19) knows that getting in a fight with the deputy is hard and checks on Rootwing to make sure he’s okay. Tumbleswoop (41) still misses Echomoor, but can appreciate that Sweet Marmalade (37) is very handsome.  He admires the young warrior from afar. . .  Also, Rindlefur (19) seems to be this moon’s heartthrob.  Both Nettlestripe and Downgaze (33) are developing crushes on her.  Cavepaw (10) is impatient to become a warrior and is thinking about how cool it will be to be one.  Greenpaw (8) worries that he’s falling behind in training.

Greenkit (6) is now an apprentice and his mentor is Shinebreak (25), giving her her first apprentice.  Tumbleswoop (39) and Echomoor (31) have both made full recoveries and are excited to spend some time together as mates (outside of the healer's den!).  Almondback (21) also recovered from dislocating his leg only to break it falling off of a snowdrift.  Poor guy.  Streamhiss (21) wishes her brother would get healthy already so they could spend more time together.  Sweet Marmalade (35), having spent most of his time in the Clan in the healer's den, is grateful for all Safariaster (157) does. Both Primcrest (92) and Creekstar (104) are annoyed by Orioleclover (16).  Wow, something the leader and deputy agree on! They have been growing apart these past couple moons, so it’s nice for the old friends to find something to bond over, even if it is dislike of a clanmate.  Dawnfreckle (34) insists on trying to help Echomoor prove himself.  Echomoor is unenthused.  Spotfoot (31) is having a bit of trouble getting along with Echomoor.  He finds the way he acts uncomfortable.  Echomoor doesn’t notice his brother being awkward around him.  He’s too busy purring at one of Tumbleswoop’s lame jokes. They decide to go out on a walk together, using their water magic to make sculptures out of the snow.  Sadly, Echomoor and Tumbleswoop’s outing is ill-fated.  A storm rolls in and Echomoor freezes to death.  Tumbleswoop is left to carry his mate’s body home.

The Clan mourns the loss of Xhosa and Smokefoot.  They were beloved mothers, mentors, and siblings.  Kestrelcreek (35) can’t believe her sister is gone.  She made it through so much-and the last time they saw each other, they fought.  Now all she can do is beg for forgiveness and hope that Smokefoot is watching from StarClan.  Kestrelcreek retires to her nest when a concerned Hopedawn (35) ushers her there.  Tremors wrack her body as she dwells on how Smokefoot won’t see another morning.  It’s hard for Shinbreak (21) to have lost both her mother and her brother, but she takes comfort in Brightmouse’s (21) presence.  Shinebreak and Brightmouse have a lovely training session together.  While they’re sitting down and watching the sunset afterwards, Shinebreak sees Brightmouse watching her instead of the sun and smiles.  Almondback (17) and Streamhiss (17) miss their mother, Xhosa, but they weren’t as close with her as Shinebreak was to Smokefoot. In a much-needed miracle, Sweet Marmalade (31) survived his broken back and made a full recovery!  Paleburst (25) breathes a sigh of relief.  However, Tumbleswoop’s (35) injured leg has an infection growing in it, worrying Rindlepaw (13) and Echomoor (27).  But in another bit of good news, Oriolepaw (12) has been made a warrior!  Her name is now Orioleclover in honor of her hard work.  Rootpaw (13) has also been made a full mediator with the name of Rootwing, despite some reservations his Clanmates have about his abilities.  Bluestripe (21) is annoyed with the preferential treatment Dawnfreckle (30) is getting now that he’s proven and gets in a fight with Creekstar (100) over it.  Paleburst is trying to get Echomoor to stop bothering Rindlepaw and Tumbleswoop and asks him to spar with him.  He compliments Echomoor the whole time.  Blizzardpaw (9) is tired of being the only warrior apprentice, and Streamhiss is a harsh mentor.  She hopes she doesn’t have to train today. While on patrol, Bluestripe finds an abandoned kit and brings him back to camp.  She names him Cavekit (4).  He is powerless.

ElementClan welcomes four new warriors.  Shinepaw (13) is now Shinebreak, honoring her intelligence.  She’s glad to be a warrior, but wishes her brother could be there with her.  Skippaw (13) is now Skipneedle in honor of her sincerity.  Creekstar (92) appreciates her telling her about her visions, even though she didn’t have to.  Brightpaw (13) is now Brightmouse, honoring her caution, a rare trait in fire-blessed cats.  And Frostpaw (13) is now Frostblotch, honoring her amity.  Bluepaw (13) is now the only one of the fearsome foursome who’s still an apprentice.  Hopefully she’ll join her sisters soon. In other news, Tumbleswoop has come out as a trans tom! Tumbleswoop (27) has also been feeling a bit disconnected from the Clan lately and goes to Hopedawn (27) to ask for help.  She reminds him to always reach out to his family when he needs it.  She’ll always be there for him.  Paleburst (17) appreciates how Kestrelcreek (27) is so laid back and takes care of herself.  He adds a bit of her fluff to his nest.  Nettlepaw (7) feels like he should be a warrior already and is annoyed that Creekstar insists he’s not ready.  Despite almost being apprenticed, Lilackit (5) is still whining for milk.  He really just wants to spend some more time with his mom.  Almondpaw (9) has reached his angsty teenage phase and is ignoring Vaxxstreak’s (124) instructions.  Instead, he wanders off on his own during a patrol and brings a kit back to camp.  Fun.  She’s a quiet, powerless little girl named Blizzardkit (1).  Meanwhile, Streampaw (9) is listening intently to Spotfoot (19) in hopes that he’ll pick up on something that could be useful for making progress in controlling his powers. Blizzardkit is not the only new cat to join this moon. A former kittypet joins the Clan with a broken back.  Creekstar remembers how the cats with broken backs fared when she was young; aka, not well.  Safariaster (145) decides to do her best for this water-blessed tom named Sweet Marmalade (23).