#wildcave

Whelp, that streak of good luck ended.  The greenleaf rains hit hard, and, being underground, the camp is prone to flooding.  ElementClan also doesn’t have many water-blessed cats (only Cilantro-69-and Silverpsots-26), so they are at a serious disadvantage if their were to cave flood.  Which, of course, it did.  Lightheather (25) was the first one to sound the alarm that the waters were rising.  In the aftermath, he can’t help but wonder if tragedy would have been prevented had he had acted sooner.  The nursery, where Cypressbadger (74), Cilantro, and the kits were hanging out, was hit hard.  Lotuskit (4) and Rubblekit (4) didn’t know how to swim.  Cypressbadger was able to get Rubblekit out, but, when she went back to try and help Cilantro and Lotuskit, she found that Cilantro had hit her head on a treebranch, sinking to the bottom of the cavern with Lotuskit in tow.  Cypressbadger tried to save them, but was unable to and drowned as well.  Fry (114) helped Chiku (142) to safety. He regretted that he never had the chance to confess his feelings before he succumbed to the waves.  Timberarch (125) tried to help Tornflake (35) and Glowquake (44), both of whom were injured, to safety, but the waves took all three of them. After the floodwaters recede, Chiku lies next to Fry’s body as the Clan sits vigil for him.  His world has ended with Fry’s.  Chiku never considered the possibility that he would one day be without Fry and wishes that they had had more time together. Primcrest (50) and Wildcave (91) are devastated by the loss of their father.  Primcrest wails when she sees Fry’s body, laying still and cold.  If she were more talented with her water magic, could she have saved him?  Once the vigil ends, Primcrest curls tightly in her nest, her throat raw from crying.   For Wildcave, Fry was his last tie to his life before the Clan.  Losing him feels like losing a tail, or a limb, or his shadow.  Wildcave relied on Fry, trusted him, and contemplating moving on from the loss seems impossible.  He and Primcrest hold each other close, taking comfort in their sibling bond.  Primcrest also lost Glowquake, which tears at her.  Primcrest takes comfort in Rubblekit.  Despite they’re rocky start, he reminds her a lot of Cragpaw. Then there’s Frecklestone (35), who lost her only surviving family member.  And little Rubblekit, who lost his mom. He doesn’t really understand what happened, so Creekstar (62) tries to explain it to him.  It’s hard.  She can’t help but blame herself for how the Clan is faring.  How could she do better?  The Clan has known so much loss.  Will it never end?  

Sadly, just before her apprentice ceremony, Slipkit (6) died of kittencough.  It just affirms some cats’ belief that powerless cats are inherently weaker than powered ones. With the loss of their sister hanging over them, her siblings are made apprentices.  In a bit of an unorthodox move, Volcanoblossom (78) is mentoring Whistlepaw (6) herself.  Their similar power levels should help her train her kit more effectively.  Due to the lack of other water-blessed warriors, Yuccastar (130) has decided to train Rockypaw (6) themself.  He hasn’t expressed interest in being a mediator, so she is the only logical choice for his mentor.  In other Clan news, Wildcave (34) and Rustsong (20) have become mates!  While talking with Frostheart (54), Creekkit (5) almost lets slip that she’s dark-cursed.  She manages to avoid it.  But she wishes she didn’t have to and she could just tell some cat.  Pigeonspot (20) decides to take her complaints about Wildcave all the way to the leader.  She complains about only getting to go on hunting patrols, but Yuccastar insists that is all that she can do as an earth-blessed cat.  It’s not like her skills are useful in battle.  This does not help the situation and just leaves Pigeonspot feeling resentful towards most of ElementClan’s leadership.

Amethystdapple (96) and Fry’s (76) kits have been made warriors!  It’s crazy to think that the birth of these kits, particularly Primpaw (11), sparked a revolution, and now they’re warriors.  The Clan has grown and changed so much since then.    Mossypaw (11) has been given the name of Mossyfleck, honoring his warmth (hah).  Amethystdapple is proud of her only son.  Brightpaw (11) has been given the name of Brightfern, honoring her assurance.  And, the star (hah) of the ceremony, Primpaw, is given the warrior name of Primcrest, honoring her adaptability.  She may not have proven herself yet, but Creekstar has no doubt that she will.  Chervilcry (148) has been trying to spend more time with her grandkits, but said grandkit Cypressbadger (35) finds all the attention annoying.  She and the mediator end up getting in a fight.  At least Sleepyfoot (35) seems to like her grandma.  It’s still a little weird for Wildcave (52) to think he has younger siblings the same age as his kits.  Oh well.  At least he enjoys sharing the latest inter-Clan gossip with his daughter.  Conegoat (52) is less thrilled with having a niece.  She ignores Daisypaw (10) and gets her in trouble for not changing out the bedding in the nursery. And she’s not the only one upset with Daisypaw. Rabbitfur (25) is still annoyed with having Daisypaw as an apprentice.  She rolls her eyes when Daisypaw argues with her over a technique, but doesn’t provide any reason why her way of doing it is better.  Daisypaw can’t wait to be done with training and be a warrior like her aunts are. Meanwhile, Shard (66) has grown quite fond of Fennelkit (5).  She knows she won’t be able to mentor the young cat, as their powers don’t match, but she wishes she could.  

Poolbounce (20)  just can’t stop adopting kits.  This time, he adopted two kits a loner left to the Clan.  Both of them are water-blessed, which Creekstar (38) is grateful for.  At least one of them will become a mediator.  It’ll be nice to have one again.  The little girl, Swiftkit (2), loves using her water-blessing to get into trouble.  She uses it to make the splashes from puddles even bigger to drench one of Poolbounce’s other kits, Robinkit (1).  He’s not a fan of getting doused with water, and the most his fire-blessing can do is warm him up a little bit.  The other kit, Silverkit (2), makes quite a team with Swiftkit.  Sometimes the two of them will make a wave that completely drenches the nursery.  How fun.   Lightkit (1) seems to be getting along better with Silverkit and Swiftkit than his bio brother.  He has a fun time joking around with Silverkit.  Robinkit is excited to escape his splashing tormentors and dreams about becoming a warrior.  In other family relationships, Gladepatch (60) is feeling a little defensive of his daughter after she got rejected by Wildcave (67).  He doesn’t think the other tom is being completely honest with Creekstar about his feelings.  Pigeonspot’s (53) efforts to get along with Sleepyfoot’s (50) older kits seem to be going well, at least with Astertwist (20).  She appreciates the advice the young Healer gives her.  She’s also been spending time with her younger bio son, Elmroot (14) and wants to explore the whole territory with him.  Primcrest feels the need to keep all of her skills sharp and challenges Elmroot to spar with her.  Frecklepaw (11) is enjoying her Healer training, particularly the parts where she gets to hang out with the elder, Peakspots (153).  She promises she’ll always take care of him. Tornpaw (11) is working hard at developing fighting techniques that take advantage of his disability.  He’s determined that he’ll be just as skilled in battle as any able-bodied fire-blessed cat!

Creekstar (77) cannot catch a break.  This moon, Wildcave (106) was bitten by a snake and succumbed to the venom.  She’s inconsolable, convinced that she’ll never feel normal again without Wildcave beside her.  At least her kits have Vaxxstreak (109) to help care for them while their mother grieves. Primcrest (65) is shocked to have lost her last surviving brother.  Her once huge family is now just her, and her and Creekstar’s kits.  It feels wrong.  Spotkit (4) is also hit harder than his siblings.  He’s hiding from other cats and Downkit (4) takes a turn being worried about him.  Creekstar wonders if all the loss in the Clan is her fault.  It’s because she’s dark-cursed, isn’t it?  Her powers must inadvertently give Yuccawillow access to the Clan and the expleader is trying to destroy the Clan that wronged her.  Creekstar is testy and annoyed, getting into a fight with Safariaster (130) over a piece of prey that she doesn’t even like. In brighter news, Smokefoot (12) has been made a warrior, in honor of her care.  She had a difficult apprenticeship due to not getting along with her mentor, but she still  became a warrior before her sisters.   Despite doing her best to support her, sometimes Charipeak (89) doesn’t feel like she knows Tumblepaw at all.  She made a joke that she just doesn’t get.  Primcrest’s kits have been close, but being apprentices together is straining their relationship.  Flowerpaw (7) hears an ugly rumor about Dawnpaw (7) and believes it. 

It’s nice for the Clan to have so many young cats running around.  Hopepaw (7) is hard at work training herself to become a mediator and Wildcave (101) has to remind her to grab something from the fresh-kill pile.  Creekstar (72), being pregnant, is getting cravings.  She thinks the marmot Hopepaw eventually chooses looks delicious.  Having shared the nursery with Primcrest (60), Smokepaw (7) is making sure that the deputy knows she appreciates her.  Kestrelpaw (7) is a little bit shy, but Primcrest admires how brave she is even if she would rather be alone.  Charipeak (84) is so proud of her kits and wants to explore the whole territory with Hopepaw.  Tumblepaw (7) has been having some weird dreams lately, filled with shadows and screams.  She explains this to her mom, but she doesn’t know how to help her.  Safariaster (125) and Queenyspeckle (94) are less thrilled by the influx of young cats.  Both of them think that Jumblepaw is a little weird and wishes that she would act more normal.  Queenyspeckle has also translated his grudge from the leader’s daughter onto the leader’s apprentice and glares at Tumblepaw from across the clearing.  Dawnkit (2) has decided to be annoyingly curious and is asking his mother where kits come from.  Awkward.  Flowerkit (2) overhears Vaxxstreak complaining about her behind her back and asks her mother what it was about.  It was about her being dark-cursed, and Primcrest does her best to explain it to her daughter, although it’s challenging.  Having dark-cursed cats around makes Vaxxstreak anxious and he tries to breathe deeply to no avail.  Chiku (152) is trying to help by telling stories about Yuccawillow.  It is not helpful and just ends up scaring Dawnkit.  He runs away and tries to hide from other cats with little gusts of wind swirling in his fur. He thinks that the ex-leader is going to come kill him.  

The Clan had a close call this moon.  Patchkit (3) was grabbed by a hawk.  She panicked and couldn’t call her fire powers.  Thankfully, Queenyspeckle (90) was watching.  He set aside his grudge and used a powerful gust of wind to knock the hawk out of the sky.  Patchkit survived, but was injured.  Creekstar (68) is worried about her daughter, of course, but is grateful for Queenyspeckle’s actions.  In other good news, Primcrest (56) has announced that she is expecting kits.  Yay!  With his sister expecting again, Wildcave (97) decides to steal some time with her and they sneak out of camp together to play in the snow.  Rubblepaw (10) thinks it’s a little weird that the cat he’s come to view as a parental figure is expecting more kits.  But Primcrest has a nice talk with him and they come to a deeper understanding of each other.  She also decides to officially adopt him.  Frecklestone (41) has been stressed about the prophecy.  She wonders if it referred to the hawk that almost killed Patchkit.  Wildcave makes sure to check in on the Healer and help her know that she is loved and appreciated by the Clan.  Since Patchkit is the only other cat anywhere near his age, Rubblepaw decides to get to know him and they chat while grabbing something to eat.  In other news, the Clan finally seems to be growing!  It gained not one, not two, but seven new members this moon!   First is Amberwhisker (73), a powerless former loner, and then Charipeak (80), a water-blessed former kittypet who brings with her five kits.  All five of them are girls and three of them, the lonesome Kestrelkit (3), charming Smokekit (3), and daydreaming Jumblekit (3), are powerless.  The other two are water-blessed.  The bossy Tumblekit (3) has a relatively weak blessing while sweet Hopekit’s (3) magic is almost as powerful as her mother’s.  It’s nice to see the Clan growing again.  Creekstar hopes it lasts.

It’s a mixed moon for the Clan.  On the plus side, Creekstar (65) and Wildcave (94) have had their kit!  A powerful fire-blessed little girl they named Patchkit (0), after Gladepatch, Creekstar’s dad.  Creekstar is a little ashamed to feel relief that her daughter isn’t dark-cursed.  Wildcave is just so excited to be a dad that he’s vibrating. Now that she’s not pregnant anymore, Creekstar has been enjoying some moonlit strolls.  Chiku (145) covers for her.  Creekstar is also quite protective over Patchkit and promises to always look out for her.  Queenyspeckle (87) still doesn’t think Creekstar is a good leader and prays that he doesn’t have to go on patrol with her.  With Creekstar in the nursery, Primcrest (53) has to take on a lot more responsibility.  It’s stressful.  And she misses having her father and mate to help support her.  Lightheather (28) got bitten by a snake and died.  Silverspots (29) is shocked to be the last survivor of his once thriving family.  It feels weird to be without kin in the Clan.