#snailpaw

More cats had filled the hollow, their pelts were dotted with dirt and mud, especially on their paws. Most of them sat in isolated clusters, casting glares at any nearby VineClan cats. Must be MireClan. Goldenpaw thought. I can’t believe they can live with all that mud on their pelts. That must be heavy!

MireClan has been weird since its founding. Nobody who decides to live in a place with more mud than grass is normal.

Do you like anything about the other Clans?

There was a long pause. CloudClan has some decent fighters.

That’s it?

You want me to lie?

Goldenpaw snorted.

The apprentice group she had seen earlier had grown by a few cats, her brother one of them. He whipped around to greet her when she was a few steps away, startling her for a moment. He covered his mouth with a paw, trying desperately to hide his grin, but it was so stupidly large it was pointless. Goldenpaw rolled her eyes and swatted playfully as his ears.

“What’s happening over here?” she asked.

“Rainbowpaw and Squirrelpaw are sparring,” Blazepaw motioned to the two apprentices rolling around in the center of the semi-circle. “Rainbowpaw’s from CloudClan, Squirrelpaw from VineClan.”

“Trying to show off how great their Clans are?”

Blazepaw shrugged, “Probably.” He lowered his voice and leaned in, “That tom over there was bugging Rainbowpaw the entire time Squirrelpaw was sparring with that golden cat over there, Avenspaw I think.” He first motioned to a white and brown tom with a permanent scowl on his face, then to an out-of-breath apprentice. “He told him ‘she’s younger than you and you’re letting her upstage you’ or something like that.”

“If Cloudytalon was like that with me, I’d tear his whiskers out!” Goldenpaw hissed softly. Blazepaw nodded in agreement.

“HEY! NO EAR TUGGING!” an elder from the sidelines yelled.

“She was ear tugging earlier!” the white and brown tom protested.

The elder curled her lip, “Don’t speak for an apprentice that isn’t even yours.”

Goldenpaw and Blazepaw exchanged glances.

“You think he’s a control freak or something?” she whispered.

“Yeah,” he agreed. “Must be jealous someone got an apprentice instead of him.”

“Mhm.”

They turned their attention back to the spar. Goldenpaw had spotted Squirrelpaw sparring earlier just before she left to have her disastrous conversation with the healers. She still had a lot of energy, slipping, ducking, and jumping over Rainbowpaw like her namesake. She might be the only cat in the Clans who wouldn’t be tired after a border patrol.

[ID: A digital drawing of four cats, two on each side of a diagonal line. On the left of the line are two angry cats staring each other down. The left cat is a white cat with a brown colorpoint head and a torn ear. The right cat is a dark ginger spotted cat with a mane of fur running down her back. Both are outlined in red. The background behind them is a purplish-brown that fades to a dark blue. On the right of the line are two sparring apprentices. Squirrelpaw is a gray and white tabby with a thick tail and speckles on her legs. Rainbowpaw is a dark gray and white tabby tom with odd-colored eyes, droopy tufted ears, and a tear-shaped marking under his left eye. Squirrelpaw is leaping over an unenthusiastic Rainbowpaw, her hind leg moments away from whacking him in the face. End ID.]

Rainbowpaw wasn’t faring well, and looked uninterested in the spar. His gaze frequently darted elsewhere and his movements were slow and sloppy. The white and brown tom on the sidelines dug his claws into the ground. Rainbowpaw scowled at him before Squirrelpaw pinned him and let out a triumphant yowl.

I hope you were paying attention, Goldenpaw. This is a great opportunity to learn the other Clans’ fighting strategies.

I was. Goldenpaw recalled multiple moves Squirrelpaw had used. She didn’t stay in one spot for long, and didn’t seem interested in grappling. She imagined in a thick forest she’d be diving in and out of ferns or rebounding off tree trunks, giving her opponent no time to breathe before the next attack. Rainbowpaw, though he didn’t put in any effort at all, showed CloudClan’s reliance on sight. In their wide open territory, sight must be the most important sense, so it made sense it’d be the same in combat.

I wish I was able to see Avenspaw fight.

Agreed. That Rainbowpaw cared more about being spiteful than showing his strength.

She watched Squirrelpaw hop off Rainbowpaw and turn to a pair of MireClan apprentices with a raised tail. “Either of you capable of beating me?” she tilted her head, a large grin on her face.

“I think the leaders are about to start talking,” the younger MireClan apprentice said. Goldenpaw had seen her on a border patrol with her mentor not too long ago. “Lichenstar’s on the Great Stone now.”

Goldenpaw turned her head to the Great Stone and had to do a double take. The cat she had bumped into earlier now sat beside Kitestar.

“Why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?” Blazepaw asked, looking at the Great Stone as well. “Did a leader swipe at another leader? The elders say that’s enough to end a gathering.”

Goldenpaw shook her head, “I bumped into Lichenstar earlier and she nearly clawed my pelt off thinking I was VineClan.”

Blazepaw sucked in a breath through his teeth. “Yikes. Glad you’re still in one piece.”

“Yeah. Do you know why VineClan and MireClan are at each other’s throats?”

“Uh…” Blazepaw looked around, making sure nobody was listening in on their conversation. “I don’t know. Needlefrost heard from her dad—Berrydrop not Woodbat—that VineClan’s been sending out more border patrols than usual.”

“It’s always border disputes, isn’t it?” Goldenpaw sighed.

Blazepaw nodded. He suddenly whipped around and stared straight ahead of him, startling the MireClan apprentice approaching them. He’s going to snap his neck if he keeps doing that!

The apprentice cleared her throat, “Uh, sorry to startle you?” She stared at Blazepaw with furrowed brows before turning to Goldenpaw, “You’re that FlameClan apprentice I saw on the border a few days ago, right?”

“Yeah. Sorry our conversation was cut short, I don’t know what was up with my mentor. I’m Goldenpaw.”

“Snailpaw,” she smiled.

They both leaned forward and touched noses.

“Were you on camp duty today? You smell faintly of moss,” Snailpaw asked.

Goldenpaw nodded. “Were you hunting? You smell like reeds.”

“Yeah, I tried to do some fishing.” Snailpaw glanced away, “Not very good at it...buuut my mentor said I’m doing a better job than she was when she was my age.”

“Can’t be fun with the cold water.”

[ID: A digital drawing of Snailpaw, Goldenpaw, and Blazepaw. Snailpaw is a pale blue-gray tabby with little antennae above her eyes, and cheek fur that curls like a snail shell. She is walking over to Goldenpaw and Blazepaw with a smile. In the middle is Goldenpaw, a golden rosette tabby with tufted ears, a lightly colored mane, and three scars along her side. She is chatting happily with Snailpaw. On the right is Blazepaw, a golden rosette tabby with blue eyes, tufted ears, a little mohawk, and a star-shaped white patch on his chest. He watches Goldenpaw and Snailpaw speak with raised brows and a smile. Around Snailpaw and Goldenpaw are blank speech bubbles, with Snailpaw having more than Goldenpaw. End ID.]

“It’s freezing!” Snailpaw exclaimed “I’m so glad the water’s shallow by the Wavestones, I couldn’t survive swimming in that water.”

“We were surprised it was so shallow,” Goldenpaw flicked her tail between her and Blazepaw.

Snailpaw perked up, “Oh! I forgot about you!” She dipped her head to Blazepaw, “Sorry. What’s your name?”

Blazepaw waved a paw with a smile, “It’s fine. I’m Blazepaw, her brother. We would’ve been a trio if our brother Volepaw wasn’t sick. I think he’d like you a lot, he’s just like you!”

“That sucks! I hope he gets better soon, I’d really like to meet him at the next gathering.”

A yowl rang out from the Great Stone and the announcements officially began. The trio moved closer to the stone to get a better look at the leaders.

On the far left was Lichenstar, whose tail lashed at her side. Her eyes were locked with a large ginger tom, VineClan’s leader. In between the two was Kitestar, who looked disinterested, or tired. It was hard to tell with an old cat like her. Last was CloudClan’s leader on the far right, a fidgety golden tabby.

[ID: A digital drawing of the leaders of the Clans. On the far left is Lichenstar, a bulky very pale blue-gray ticked tabby with lichen-like frills on each side of her face, and dark brown eyes. She stares angrily at Poppystar. The next cat is Kitestar, a dark blue-gray torbie with a darker mask, curled ears, long ear fur, and yellow eyes. Half her face is cream with a spot of cream on her left shoulder. She stares ahead with furrowed brows. Next cat is Poppystar, a large ginger tom with a thick mane and cheek tufts shaped like poppy petals, and blue eyes. He has a splash of white on his chest in the shape of a star. He stares angrily at Lichenstar, his fur bristling. The final cat is Silkystar, a fluffy golden rosetted tabby with a long, white mane, a patch of silky hair on her head, and yellow eyes. She looks away from the other leaders nervously. End ID.]

Snailpaw leaned over and whispered, “The ginger tom’s Poppystar and on the end is Silkystar. I’ve seen Poppystar on the border before. He’s scary, and so’s his deputy.” She motioned to the lanky dark blue-gray tabby on the lower stone.

Goldenpaw slowly nodded. She’d heard stories from the elders of giants from the VineClan woods, and it was certainly shocking to see the stories weren’t entirely fiction. Poppystar sat like a scouting owl, ready to swoop down and snatch up an unsuspecting mouse at a moment’s notice. She wondered if VineClan cats were as silent as owls like the stories said they were.

“We’ll go down the line like we always do,” Kitestar’s scratchy voice was just loud enough for the far cats to hear. “Lichenstar, you may begin.”

FlameClan is bordered by all three Clans, so you should pay attention to all three announcements.

But we’re allies with all of them, right?

I’ve seen what’s happening on the borders. That won’t last for long.

Lichenstar tipped her head to the senior leader before she stepped to the front. Her tail lifted into the air, her fur hanging down like limp lichen. Her pale coat almost made her glow in the moonlight that shone down on her. She gazed down at the massive crowd of cats with the same look she had given Goldenpaw earlier, then began her announcements.

“MireClan has been doing well, despite the season. We have no ill cats under our healers’ care, and our fresh-kill pile has remained well-stocked,” she yowled. MireClan cats purred in approval, Snailpaw included. “However,” she turned to Poppystar, “I’ve received numerous reports of cats crossing the thunderpath and picking fights with my warriors. I hope they’re dealt with, Poppystar.”

“Rest assured, it will be dealt with,” Poppystar said coldly.

Lichenstar huffed and turned back to the crowd. “I have no doubt that this winter will continue to be kind on my Clan, but I can only hope the other Clans are shown the same mercy. That is all.” She stepped back and sat.

Kitestar slowly stood and gave each leg a nice long stretch before she began her announcements. “I apologize for our absence the previous gathering. My healers advised that we don’t attend due to an outbreak of yellowcough within our camp. The outbreak has since been contained and our sick cats are recovering well.”

“You’re sure no sick cats are in attendance?” Silkystar asked.

“I’m more than certain,” Kitestar slowly blinked at the leader. “Excluding that outbreak, FlameClan has done well this winter, as it always has. I made three new apprentices the previous moon: Goldenpaw, Blazepaw, and Volepaw.”

“Are we the same age?” Snailpaw’s eyes lit up. “We could be made warriors together!”

“I dunno,” Blazepaw leaned back, “our training is pretty advanced in FlameClan.”

Goldenpaw put on a very serious expression. “To become apprentices, we had to jump over a wall of fire.” Blazepaw nodded as she spoke. “Blazepaw did a backflip over the fire, so it’s very likely he’ll become a warrior before you.”

“Goldenpaw did a frontflip, which is good luck,” Blazepaw added. “So yeah, you have to do a lot to catch up.”

Snailpaw laughed. “No fair, we don’t have walls of fire in MireClan!”

“Then make some, it’s easy!” Blazepaw rolled his eyes, trying his best not to laugh.

Snailpaw shoved him playfully and they broke into a fit of laughter.

“SHH!” nearby cats shushed them.

Kitestar cleared her throat and continued. “I’m certain they will become fine warriors. On a less positive note, a badger on our territory has proven itself a threat. Last time we saw it was near the VineClan border,” she turned to Poppystar. Something about her gaze made him bristle. “FlameClan has nothing more to announce.” She stepped back and slowly sat back down with a grunt of effort.

Poppystar’s gaze lingered on Kitestar for an uncomfortable amount of time. The senior leader flicked her tail, urging him to step forward. He curled his lip and stepped forward, pawsteps heavy and slow, like a stubborn kitten.

“VineClan has done well this season,” he began. “I am happy to announce that we have two new warriors, Alderstalk and Pinecrash, as well as a new apprentice, Strawpaw.”

He paused to let his Clan chant their names. Squirrelpaw and another gray apprentice loudly chanted Strawpaw’s name. The young apprentice was startled by their shouting, taking shelter by an older CloudClan apprentice.

“Unfortunately, we did lose two of our elders not too long ago, Lionswipe and Petalstem. They were fortunate enough to have passed in their sleep, so they did not suffer.” Murmurs of mourning spread across the hollow. Goldenpaw could just barely hear elders on the other side comforting the VineClan elders who had lost their denmates.

Poppystar’s silence and saddened expression were brief. In an instant he rounded on Lichenstar, forcing Kitestar backwards with his presence alone. “I’d be wise if I were you, Lichenstar,” he hissed. “Don’t follow in your predecessor’s pawsteps.”

Lichenstar stood and challenged him with a low growl. The leaders locked eyes, pelts bristling like grass in a wind storm. MireClan and VineClan cats began to turn on each other, snapping at each other’s tails and spitting insults. Snailpaw grew closer to the larger Blazepaw, eyeing the VineClan apprentices nervously.

“Stay off MireClan territory and we’ll have no issues,” Lichenstar snarled. “Provoking my Clan will get you nowhere. We won’t let you crush us like snails.”

“You can’t win a war,” Poppystar’s spoke in a mocking tone.

“So I won’t go to war.”

“Mhm.”

Kitestar shoved her way between the two, tail whipping behind her. “Keep your claws in, this is a gathering!” her voice was louder than before. “You’ve both given your announcements, so sit in silence.”

Lichenstar stepped back to her spot, eyes still locked on Poppystar, who hadn’t moved.

“I don’t see why you’re so keen on defending MireClan,” he said to the senior leader.

Kitestar motioned toward a dark cloud that had drifted over the moon, dimming its light. “I’m not defending either Clan, I simply don’t want StarClan nipping at my ears for allowing a fight to take place tonight.” She looked back at Lichenstar, “You were both respectable warriors—Lichenstar a deputy. I don’t get why you’ve changed.”

Poppystar looked to his deputy, who gave him an eager nod. “Apologizes, Kitestar. I just assumed you were trying to save your skin.” Kitestar narrowed her eyes. “After all, it would be a shame if the other Clans knew that Reindeerstalk is still very much alive and in exile.”

[ID. A digital drawing of Kitestar. She is a dark gray masked torbie with yellow eyes, a white muzzle and star between her eyes, curled ears, and long white ear fur. Half her face is cream and she had a cream spot on her shoulder. She looks to the right with a shocked expression. End ID.]

“What!?” Lichenstar exclaimed.

The hollow erupted in a mixture of furious yowling and confused whispers. Goldenpaw’s brows furrowed. Reindeerstalk...She had never heard of a cat named Reindeerstalk, but clearly they were apart of FlameClan. How come we’ve never been told anything about them?

“Snailpaw, do you know who Reindeerstalk is?” Goldenpaw asked.

“I-I uhm...I think I’ve heard their name before?” Snailpaw’s voice grew quieter with each word. “I don’t know, I’m sorry.”

“Whoever they are, they’re controversial,” Blazepaw looked around the hollow. “The only cat’s with flat fur are the CloudClan cats. I don’t think Silkystar’s going to be able to announce anything with all this fighting.”

Do you know who Reindeerstalk is? Goldenpaw asked the voice.

I was there when she joined FlameClan as an apprentice and I was there when she became a warrior. I don’t remember anything else about her.

When exactly did you die—like how long ago did you die?

The voice went silent. Of course.

“Silence!” Kitestar yowled. “The gathering is not over yet! Silence!”

The talking hadn’t completely died down, but it was better than the furious roars happening earlier. All eyes turned to Silkystar, who looked ill. She took in a breath and stepped forward. Her long, silky-furred tail was low and swept the stone.

“As I’m sure some of you have noticed, Foglight is not in attendance. She is sick and is back at camp resting,” Silkystar’s voice quavered. “CloudClan has a new apprentice, Avenspaw, and a new warrior, Larkeyes.”

CloudClan’s chants were quiet. Goldenpaw spotted the disappointment on Avenspaw’s face as she turned her gaze to her paws. Goldenpaw raised her voice and joined in the chants, soon followed by Blazepaw and a hesitant Snailpaw. Through her chanting, she could catch Palepaw chanting for Larkeyes.

Silkystar continued once the chanting died down. “We’ve been having problems with hawks near our camp, but it should be dealt with before the end of the season. That’s all I have to announce.” She stepped back with a tip of her head.

“This gathering is now over!” Kitestar yowled.

The senior leader leaped off the Great Stone and onto the smaller stone beside it to pick up Marten. The deputy was immediately at Kitestar’s side and began a quiet conversation. VineClan’s deputy watched them go with a smug smirk on his face.

“It was really nice meeting you both,” Snailpaw said. “I’m sorry that Lichenstar was, uh, like that.”

“If another Clan was causing problems at my Clan’s border, I’d be a little pissy too,” Blazepaw shrugged. “It was nice meeting you too.”

“Maybe we’ll see each other on the border,” Goldenpaw said. “Once Volepaw’s better, I could drag him on a border patrol to meet you!”

“I’d have to convince my mentor to let me go to the border by myself. With all this fighting, I doubt it’ll be easy,” Snailpaw sighed. “Apparently the river gets crazy once all the snow and ice melts, so maybe we’ll have to meet at the next gathering.”

“Then we’ll see you then,” Goldenpaw purred. “Save travels!”

“See ya!” Snailpaw waved her tail as she went to join her Clanmates gathering on the other side of the hollow.

Goldenpaw and Blazepaw lingered there for a while, watching the Clans gather in their separate groups. I hope MireClan and VineClan don’t go to war, I don’t want Snailpaw to be in any danger.

“Goldenpaw! Blazepaw! We’re leaving!” Cloudytalon yowled.

The siblings skittered over to their Clanmates, joining the back of the crowd where Cloudytalon was waiting. The hairs along his spine were raised and his gaze didn’t stay in one spot. Seeing him this anxious made Goldenpaw anxious. She pressed closer to Blazepaw and moved further into the crowd. They found Palepaw and Sandpaw, who were motioning enthusiastically to each other.

Palepaw’s nose twitched and she turned around. “You guys got lucky, our first gathering wasn’t this exciting,” she smiled. “I’m surprised all that fighting didn’t spawn a thunderstorm!”

‘We saw a fight almost break out!’ Sandpaw signed, his paws moving so fast that Goldenpaw almost didn’t catch what he was saying.

Goldenpaw frowned, “You’re both way too excited about that.”

I don’t think it’s weird.

Because you love fighting.

Clans don’t have warriors just for show.

Kitestar yowled from the front of the crowd and started to lead the Clan out of the hollow. Palepaw thwacked her tail against her brother’s chest to get him to follow her to the front. She should be named Paletail for how much she uses it.

“Volepaw’s going to want to hear everything that went down,” Blazepaw said.

“Mhm,” Goldenpaw slowly nodded.

Snowypaw slipped into the medicine den, his mouth laden with herbs and his ears pinned back. He tried not to spend much time here, now that he had another apprentice nesting here that filled his den with noise and energy that made him want to claw her ears. But no, the others wouldn't accept that.

"Hi!" Snailpaw popped her head out of the alcove where the herbs were stored, darting forward with her tail high. "Is that the catmint?" She sniffed at the sweet-smelling bundle in Snowypaw's jaws. "It is, right?" Snowypaw nodded, setting it down in the alcove and setting to work rearranging the herbs. "You moved the herbs." He grunted.

Snailpaw flicked her tail. "Not much. Fringepaw and Wigglepaw were in here for their tick fever, so I was looking for the dandelions—" "I told you not to give them anything!" Snowypaw whirled around. "I told you not to give them herbs. Their next doses aren't until tonight." Sailpaw's eyes widened at his outburst, and she sank into a crouch. "I— I'm sorry, I wanted to help—"

"Well you've done enough of that." Snowypaw hissed. He unsheathed his claws, digging them into the earth beside his newly-gathered catmint. And a thought occurred to him.

Taking a deep breath, Snowypaw turned to look at Snailpaw; she was still crouched, ears flat against her head as she shuffled her paws.

"Hey," he said quietly, unable to miss her flinch. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped." He nudged a pawful of catmint (not everything he'd gathered— just enough for what he wanted to do) towards Snailpaw, flicking his tail. "Here. It'll settle your nerves."

Snailpaw blinked, sniffing at the catmint. "Oh, really? You never told me that."

A chuckle left Snowypaw's jaws. "Well, if I told any old cat that sort of thing, then we'd have no catmint left come leaf-bare." He nudged the leaves towards her again. "Eat. It'll make everything easier."

That was all the invitation Snailpaw needed; with the sweetness still flooding her nose, she swallowed all of the catmint Snowypaw offered to her. "Thanks," she said after a few moments. Snowypaw could already see the sluggishness overtaking her. "It's... it's working already..."

Snowypaw flicked his tail proudly, stepping around Snailpaw’s drooping body. "Good. Rest."

Settling into his own nest, Snowypaw enjoyed the peace and quiet as Snailpaw's breath evened, growing longer and deeper. He didn't get up when that rhythm turned sharp and panicked, her body rebelling against the catmint's effects.

"S— Snowy—" She gasped.