#silverwhisker

By Turukhan and Supernovae on DeviantArt, respectively

Previous: https://www.tumblr.com/residents-of-the-darkforest/726285713008705536/sickly-part-1?source=share

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Blossomtuft drank countless mouthfuls of water, swirling it around in her mouth before spitting it onto the ground next to her, then swallowed several more to take the feeling of ick out of her throat. She was going to make Hazebird pay for this, which she promised.

A karma of sorts–feed him something bad, put something of foul stench in his nest or stick something to his fur with honey so that it would be hard to get out.

First thing’s first though, was seeing Myrtlewing. Blossomtuft didn’t think that it was enough to make her sick, but she was going to check anyway. After all, she was a mother now.

Blossomtuft’s heart melted in her chest, warming her entire body as she thought of her sweet little daughter. Silverkit looked like her father’s twin, nothing but her eyes to match her to Blossomtuft. But that didn’t matter, she was precious all the same. Blossomtuft remembered hearing her kit’s first words, and smiled as she then remembered the way she had pranced around the entire camp, bragging about how much of an early-learner her kin was.

She had felt so great throughout her pregnancy–most of it, anyway. Blossomtuft guessed that Hazebird–who had given her questionable but not harmful food many times in the past–put a stop to his tricks while Blossomtuft was pregnant and nursing. Silverkit had weaned off of milk now, so that must make her back to fair game. Insults, on the other hand, had never ended, though Hazebird was more than willing to back off when Blossomtuft’s irritation reached a dangerous high due to her condition.

These thoughts lead her to a detour. She padded toward the nursery and stepped inside, smiling down at Silverkit laying in her nest, listening with wide eyes as her father, Rainbur, told her a story.

Rainbur broke off when he noticed his mate. His eyes light up and his tail perked upward. “Morning, dear. Off on a hunt?”

Blossomtuft crouched so that she could lick a moss fleck from Silverkit’s whiskers. “My beautiful kit!” she gushed. Raising again, she answered the question. “The stream to wash my mouth.”

Rainbur was visibly trying to hide his amusement, hiding his mouth behind a paw. “Has Hazebird returned to the usual routine?”

Blossomtuft’s tail bristled. “For now, until he knows what’s good for him. I just wanted to stop by and see our daughter. I’m going to Myrtlewing now.”

Alarm widened Rainbur’s eyes. “Was it that bad?”

“The cursed tom fed me mouse-bile,” Blossomtuft responded through gritted teeth. “I feel fine–for now–but that doesn’t mean I can’t make him worry that he got me sick.” That, and she wanted to be extra safe. She turned and headed for the medicine den.

“I won’t get caught up in this, will I?” Rainbur asked after her.

“Mama! You’ll miss the story!” Silverkit called.

and it reminds her of her mother and how Blossomtuft pushed her away to spare her the pain, and while she understands that she doesn't want to do the same thing. So she fights, she tries as hard as she possibly can to hold onto life so that she can be there for her precious babies.

Lionfeather + Grassbloom 

= Redkit (scar)

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Elderchirp + Birdsun 

= Mosskit (fire), Flowerkit (stem/star), Fernkit (light)

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Runningcloud + Silverwhisker

= Shiningkit (moth/dawn), Snowkit (star), Tanglekit (bounce), Rosekit (mouse)

Red is canon Redscar, who becomes a medicine cat. He is seen in Code of The Clans. After Snowstar and their deputy, Brightwhisker, died, it was up to him to choose the next leader. He chose Flowerstem. Also decided to make him an only child because he seems like one.

Mossfire dies battling her Clanmate, Jumpfoot, for the deputy position after Brightwhisker died before she could name a replacement. He died in the battle too.

and as mentioned, Snowkit becomes a leader.

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Fern, Tangle, and Rose are OCs. The good thing about Code of the Clans is that they don’t tell you all the Clan’s names, so you can make some of your own.

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I’m debating adding Jump or Bright in here somewhere, but might add them to someone else. Don’t know who tho, since there aren’t a lot of options. 

Jump looks a lot like Hollyclaw, so maybe she pulled a Blaze/Russet and had a biological father to bore her a son, possibly with a she-cat? I would also need a bio dad and she-cat for her....

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First are Runningcloud’s and Silverwhisker’s litter (we’ll be seeing them soon!) (yes he did name Tangle after his apprentice).

and I imagine the siblings have their kits around the same time 

When he was young, he was ambitious and always energized, something his denmate, Echopaw, found endearing. The two fell for each other while still young and remained close throughout their lives. Echofoot was especially helpful when Molespots was recovering from a badger attack.

It had been the first time he was put in charge of a patrol. They were only meant to mark the borders, there wasn't enough of them to fight, but when he scented the badger getting too close to their border, he decided to lead the charge anyway. Thankfully, a member of his patrol was able to find another close by, and the beast was chased off without more injury.

Later that same day, Echofoot had told him how upset she was that he had taken such a stupid risk, and told him that he would have to be more careful from now on, since he was going to be a father. A surprising, yet perfect way to find out.

“I told you, I’m fine,” Dawnpaw grumbled. She padded alongside her sister, step-sister, technically, since their parents had them before getting together when Dawnpaw and Silverpaw were kits. Silverpaw’s (Silverkit at the time) parents had broken up, and her mother allowed custody to her father, who then became mates with Dawnpaw’s mother, who’s mate passed before she was born. 

It was a peculiar bond, but that’s what made it feel all the more better. They were more than sisters, they were lives brought together by life itself, even outside of blood bonds. But that didn’t prevent Dawnpaw from glaring sideways at Silverpaw, who looked pointedly at Dawnpaw’s awkward step. “You’re favouring your left paw.”

“I just like walking on that one better.”

“Doubt it.” Silverpaw lifted her muzzle to speak to their mentors ahead. “Rainbur!”

“Don’t!” Dawnpaw hissed quietly. 

Silverpaw looked curiously at her, then rolled her eyes. “You’re not seriously still scared of the medicine den, are you?”

“No!”

“What’s wrong?” Rainbur asked, rubbernecking. 

“Nothing!” Dawnpaw answered quickly, while Silverpaw stepped forward. 

“Dawnpaw’s paw is hurt.”

“It is not!”

Rainbur only turned around. “We’re heading back to camp now anyway. Dawnpaw, I want you to head straight to the medicine den. If everything is alright, you can finish the day with giving food to the elders.”

Dawnpaw hung her head, knowing she was defeated. “Okay.”

“Relax,” Silverpaw told her, bumping her shoulder against Dawnpaw’s. “It’s just a bunch of medicine gathered in a rock.”

Dawnpaw glared at her. “I hate you.”

The anger subsided into one of fear as she approached the fern-tunnel that led to the medicine cat’s den. She knew there was nothing to be afraid of, that the healers would help her and that they care for the Clan and speak to Starclan and all of that. That didn’t stop her heart from racing as she hesitantly walked through.

The space opened up to a small grassy clearing. On one end, Hickoryskip mumbled to himself as he sorted through herbs, some moss sticking in clumps against his pelt. Dawnpaw coughed.

Hickoryskip turned around. “Yes?”

“Uhmm. I, er.  I have a paw..”

“We all do.”

Dawnpaw let out a fake laugh, although she shook with nerves. Why did Hickoryskip have to be so intimidating? “I have a hurt paw.”

Hikcoryskip dipped his head. “I have to see to Wolfburn’s infection, but I’m sure Myrtlepaw will fix you right up.” He flicked his tail to the shadows, where Myrtlepaw was dipping moss into the small stream that trickled by. Dawnpaw hadn’t seen him at first. 

As Hickoryskip left and Myrtlepaw padded toward her, Dawnpaw couldn’t help but feel relieved. Having another apprentice care for her, albeit an older apprentice, lifted some of the anxiety from her shoulders. 

“What’s up?” he asked as he neared. “Thorn?”

“No, I–Ah!” She had tried lifting her paw to show him, only for it to sting painfully. 

Myrtlepaw sniffed along the leg, looking around carefully, without moving it or hurting her. “Definitely sprained. You’re going to have to take the day off tomorrow, lucky fur-ball!”

Dawnpaw’s heart sank. “But I’ll fall behind!”

“Not for one day.”

“But!” Dawnpaw couldn’t find an argument, so she just let her fur ruffle in annoyance.

“Think about it,” Myrtlepaw went on, almost soothingly. “You can either take one day off and have your leg heal, and then return to training. Or, you can not take the day off, have it heal improperly or get worse, and have that infliction follow your training for the moons to come.”

Dawnpaw sighed. “You make a compelling point.”

“I do,” Myrtlepaw agreed. He padded back to the crack in the rocks, shuffled around, and returned with two bundles of herbs. “Elder leaves,” he explained as Dawnpaw sniffed at them curiously. She opened her mouth to lap them up, and he quickly put a paw to her muzzle. “They’re poisonous. They go on the wound, you don’t consume them.”

Dawnpaw nodded vigorously, trying not to think about how she nearly poisoned herself. “So how do you squish them up?”

“Like this!” Myrtlepaw said with excitement, as though the task was a thrilling one, and crushed the leaves beneath his paws. He then gently pulled at Dawnpaw’s and pressed the mush against her leg. 

“Now this, I can chew.” He pulled out more leaves, chewed them, then, to Dawnpaw’s surprise, turned over her other paw and pressed them into her pad. “I imagine you leaned more on this leg. It might be sore. Probably not, but just to be safe.”

Dawnpaw pricked her ears. She hadn’t thought of that. It was smart! As he worked, gathering cobwebs to stick to the mushes so that they wouldn’t fall, she began to pur. Then she realized suddenly that she had begun to pur, and promptly stopped.

“All done!” Myrtlepaw announced proudly, sitting back. “How is it?”

Dawnpaw stood, testing her paws. “Better,” she replied. 

Myrtlepaw smiled. “Go rest now. And get hurt again sometime.”

Dawnpaw, who had begun to pad away after a thanks, looked back at him in confusion.

Myrtlepaw shrugged mischievously. “Adults are boring. And they’re not half as impressed by some leaves.”

Dawnpaw snorted, smiling. “I’ll make sure to.”

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“Tell me–” Dawnpaw looked up as Myrtlepaw approached– “why are you so afraid of my den?”

“I am not!” Dawnpaw began defensively. 

Myrtlepaw dropped the crow into his paws and passed a chunk to her. “Really? Because everytime you pass it, you look like this.” He bunched his shoulders up, frowning deeply, and stared ahead with wide eyes and flattened ears.

“You’re exaggerating,” Dawnpaw tried brushing him off. 

“Okay then,” Myrtlepaw replied. 

Relieved that it was dropped so easily, Dawnpaw leaned forward to chew into the bird, and right on cue, her stomach grumbled. But her jaws snapped air. She looked up, glaring at Myrtlepaw, who had hooked the chunk and dragged it back. “Food is for the honest.”

“I hate you.”

“Is that why you avoid my den like greencough?”

“No!” Dawnpaw instantly felt guilt seep into her skin. Myrtlepaw didn’t really think that, did he?

“Then what?”

“I…” Dawnpaw took a deep breath. “I don’t know what it is. My father died before I was born and I was mostly told about how great he was, but for some reason the only thing that ever stuck with me was the fact that he died in there,” she pointed her tail in the direction of the medicine den. “I never even met him. I don’t know why it bothers me so much.”

Myrtlepaw looked to be in thought. He passed the chunk back to Dawnpaw, then, after a few long heartbeats, said, “maybe it’s because you never met him.”

Dawnpaw shook her head. “But that doesn’t make any sense!”

“It kind of does. You never got to meet someone that would have been really important to your life, and in an indirect way, the medicine den was involved in that. Maybe being near the place just reminds you of what could never be.” He ended the surprisingly insightful  explanation with a sneeze as a feather stuck into his nostril.

Dawnpaw laughed at him, then quickly grew serious. “You know… I think you’re right. I know I shouldn’t be afraid….”

“It’s okay to be,” Myrtlepaw assured her, pushing another chunk over. “But remember that this time, I’ll be there. So long as I am, I promise you will be safe.”

Dawnpaw nodded, feeling overwhelmed with gratitude and the new-not-new revelation. “Thank you.”

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“Ha! Beat that!” Dawnmoth hopped off the ground. Then a moss-ball hit her head before she could land. “Hey!” she glared at Silverwhisker and Alderstar, who both stood innocently on the other side of the rounded stone. 

“Wasn’t me,” Silverwhisker said innocently, giving kit-eyes.

“Who would do that?” Alderstar asked, looking around.

Beside Dawnmoth, Myrtlewing chuckled. 

“Very funny!” Dawnmoth grumbled. She hooked the moss in her claws and tossed it over Silverwhisker’s head.

Silverwhisker stuck out her tongue in victory. “Missed me!”

“Like you missed the moss so many times!” Myrtlewing replied. “Have you forgotten who won?”

“Lucky shots,” Alderstar replied, eyes glinting.

Myrtlewing smirked playfully. “Best two out of three, then.”

“You’re on!” Alderstar gathered his paws under him. Silverwhisker was already scrambling for the moss-ball, while Myrtlewing and Dawnmoth gave each other room to block it. As she did, Dawnmoth’s heart swelled with appreciation. Even through everything else, gatherings, patrols, hunting, fighting, talking, or even playing with other Clanmates, these moments were the ones she came to cherish the most. Myrtlewing was a good teammate, as were Silverwhisker and Alderstar when she played on their side. The four of them never failed to have a blast no matter what they played.

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Every hair stood on end, as if they too wanted to flee, but were stuck clinging to the trembling body that couldn’t lift her paws off the ground. Her eyes threatened to burst from her skull if she, somehow, managed to stretch them any further. 

Perhaps she should shut them. She would shut them, and she would wake up, and she would realize that it had all been a horrible nightmare. A figment of her imagination. And what an imagination it was, too. To think that their medicine cat was trying to hide a body.

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