LightClan's Legacy

This blog follows my attempt at a Warrior Cats Legacy Challenge in The Sims 3.

The "Ask The Cats" tab can be used to... well, ask the cats questions! Or you could also use it to ask me questions... or to make suggestions for the story and whatnot. I don't know, I'm not a cop.

A list of my personal rules, as well as a collection of mods/custom content that I use, can be found on the Rules/Resources tab!

A list of all of the known cats in the territory (updated to match the latest post) can be found on the Allegiances tab!

Happy reading! :)

Hyper

Adventurous

Noisy

Hunter

Current Role: Warrior

Bearbuzz is on the job! This young warrior is full of energy and spunk, and she constantly strives to do the best she can. She's a lot more mature than she was as an apprentice, but her goofy personality doesn't always let her deductive skills shine.

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Newleaf was gradually drawing to a close. Lightstar looked over her budding... no, blossoming clan, wondering how the time had passed so quickly. With the impending arrival of Greenleaf, it had been four full seasons since she arrived in the elm forest. Back then, she had worried if she would drag her ragtag group of barn cats into the earth, or cause them to flee for fear of starving. Running a clan was never her plan... but she took the mantle because there simply was no other cat. But now, her clanmates were not just surviving... they were living.

"Bearpaw," She called, gazing down on the apprentice. "You have trained long and hard as an apprentice, and your bravery in chasing after Hopekit proves that you are ready to receive your warrior name. Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

The young cat at the base of the rock wore a big, toothy grin as she responded with a loud, excited "YES!". Lightstar couldn't help envying Bearpaw's energy; it felt like a long time ago now that she was that age, ready to graduate from Lightpaw... to become something greater than herself. Oh, how little she knew back then.

"Then, may StarClan shine upon you like a warm ray of light. From this day forward, you will be known as Bearbuzz. LightClan will forever honor your bravery and bright spirit."

"Bearbuzz!"

"BEARBUZZ!!!"

"Bearbuzz..!"

Magic was among the first to cheer, followed swiftly by Flowerpaw, Elmpaw... and soon, the entire clan had erupted into excited cheers. Bearbuzz turned to face them, eyes glittering with joy as she began to prance around to each individual clanmate.

It was moments like this Lightstar was happy she came to the forest. Many of these cats had been born rogues, loners, and kittypets... but those same cats were thriving, and creating new lives (and families) for themselves under the careful watch of her warrior ancestors.

Lightstar looked to the sky, trying to gleam what her warrior ancestors might have in store for her clan next. Certainly, things wouldn't be easy... they hadn't been up until now. They had lost so much already. And now, with a growing clan and new rivals along the borders, she couldn't be sure where her path would lead. But, at the very least, she could have faith that StarClan would light her path.

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Bearpaw receives her warrior name, Bearbuzz, in honor of her energetic nature.

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It had been storming all day, and Bearpaw would be lying if she said the weather didn't worry her. For some reason, bad things always happened during storms. Rain on its own was nice, but thunder? Lightning? Never a good sign.

She'd been patrolling by herself near the edges of camp, making sure everything was in order. Every time the lightning crashed to the ground, she could hear it, and the sound made her fur stand up on its ends. However, the next time the lightning struck, she could hear a different sound accompanying it.

"AAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

The loud, terrified wail of a kit in the distance snapped Bearpaw out of her typical duties, and she looked around in search of the source. The sound wasn't coming from camp... it was coming from the thunderpath.

Racing after the sound, Bearpaw caught the little form of one of Birchshine's kits, already on the other side of the path in her panicked dash. That was... Hopekit, wasn't it? Had the lightning startled her, too? Oh no. Oh no. What should she do?

"Come back!" She shouted, stopping at the edge of the territory. "Hopekit, no! Don't run off!"

But either the little kit couldn't hear her, or she was too panicked to process her words.

It would far too dangerous to run back to camp for help; Bearpaw wasn't sure if they'd be able to track her scent through the rain if she let Hopekit get out of sight. She had to go after her. She had to go right now.

"WAAAIT!" She shouted, pelting off through the rain after the kit. Bearpaw was surprised that Hopekit could move so quickly; to her memory, wasn't this kit the weakest of the litter? Suddenly, she felt bad for Birchshine.

...

Huff... puff... puff...

Bearpaw could not believe she lost the kit. How fast was she?? This whole situation is rigged. Ridiculously rigged.

"Hopekit!" She called, looking for the missing kit. The thunder was slowing, signaling the passing of the storm, but there was still no sign of the kit. "Hopekit, where ARE you?!"

Surprisingly, Bearpaw didn't find Hopekit in all her shouting... but she did find someone else.

"Elmpaw? What are you doing out here?"

"I, uh-" Elmpaw stammered. "I was-"

"Wait, never mind! Hopekit's missing! She ran this way; help me look!"

"I... okay..!"

"HOPEKIT!"

"Hopekit..!"

Elmpaw's voice was a bit quieter than hers, so maybe he wouldn't be that much help in calling for the kit... but at the very least, Bearpaw appreciated the company. With two sets of eyes on the prowl, Bearpaw was much more confident that they'd find their missing kit.

"WOAH!!"

That was Hopekit's voice..! Bearpaw hurried in the direction of the noise, hoping it was a "woah" of excitement and not a "woah" of fear. It was hard to tell through the rain.

"Hopekit!" The moment Bearpaw had eyes on the kit, she let out a sigh of relief. "What were you thinking?"

"Look! I found a shiny!" Hopekit seemed completely unbothered by her current distance from home, and from the scolding tone in Bearpaw's voice. "Look at the colors! Aren't they pretty?"

"They... they sure are." Bearpaw couldn't help softening a little at the kit's bright, genuine excitement. If Hopekit wasn't scared... then it meant she was safe. And that was all any of them could really hope to ask.

"Can I keep it? Please?? Pleeeease???"

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Hopekit runs away from camp, panicked by the lightning. She's thankfully unharmed.

Hopekit finds a rare Soulpeace gem while out of camp and completely forgets about her distress. She begs to keep it.

Bearpaw and Elmpaw bring her home, where Birchshine and Magic are relieved to see her safe.

Hopekit's parents do not think her keeping the gemstone is a good idea. They compromise by placing the Soulpeace in the healers' den for decoration.

Lightstar takes some time to play-fight with Horizonkit in the rain.

!! Hey, everyone! This chapter contains heavier themes, such as: grief, kit loss, absent parents, and infighting. Viewer discretion is advised! !!

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Magicburst... no, Magic... had been in a daze for far longer than he'd care to admit. It spanned much farther than just since his demotion... it'd been many days since Sunkit was taken by the twoleg, and Magic hadn't been himself. Hadn't felt himself. He snapped far too easily at cats who didn't deserve it... he hurt his mentor. He didn't deserve his warrior name. And he definitely, definitely didn't deserve the fluffy queen that hovered awkwardly near the exit of the nursery, visibly wondering whether she should speak or leave him be.

"Let me guess," Magic sighed. "Do you want me to stay away from the kits now? Are you worried I'll hurt them, too?"

Birchshine's muscles tensed at the words, but she used them to pad a little closer regardless.

"...I'm worried about you."

"Me?" He let out a scoff. "I'm not the one who got hurt, Birchshine. I'm fine."

"You're not!" She huffed, a flicker of defiance in her eyes. "Any cat with a lick of sense can see that you hurt Pepperfrost because you're hurting!"

"As if that's any excuse!" Magic couldn't help the hiss that rose in his throat as he finally met her gaze.. but the sound felt far too rough against his ears... so he quieted. "Besides... you're hurting too, and you didn't nearly kill someone. Lightstar was right. There's no excuse for hurting a clanmate, and it's not the first time it's happened." For a moment, he considered mentioning Mousetail, or the time he injured Bearpaw during training... but the words caught in his throat, tangled like a hairball.

His mate seemed to suffer the same, visibly clenching her jaw as she lowered her eyes to the ground. He knew those deep pools of gray far too well... he could practically see her thoughts behind them. He knew he'd made a valid point, and... it was only a matter of time before she saw reason.

"...Look, Magicburst—"

"That's not my name."

"—whatever." The white-furred queen shook her head. "I... I know you're not perfect. I know what you've done. But I still chose you... and I'll keep choosing you, even if you mess up. Just please... please promise me this won't happen again." Magic could hear the desperation in her plea, accompanied by the crumbling of her expression. "I don't... I don't want our kits to grow up not knowing their father. I don't want them to live like I did."

Magic's chest ached at her words. He knew firsthand that Skunktooth's exile had been hard on her, and even though that situation was different than his own... he didn't want to end up that way, either. He didn't want to lose the clan that had taken him in and raised him so lovingly as their own. And he certainly didn't want to lose any more of his kits.

"Birchshine..." He wanted to say something meaningful in response. He really did. But words don't come easily to fools, and StarClan knows Magic was a fool for his mate. "I... I promise. I don't want to be the kind of tom you have to worry about... so for you, and for the kits, I'll try."

Without any conscious effort, Magic felt himself step forward and rest his head against hers, nuzzling close and taking a deep breath. Breathing in her sweet, milky scent, it was easy to convince himself that things would be alright. That they could get through this... together.

"I trust you," She murmured softly. "And I love you."

"I love you too."

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Magic confides in his mate about his worries when it comes to his temper. She consoles him, promising that they'll get through this hardship together.

As a result of hitting rock bottom and being determined to change, Magic has lost the Aggressive trait. He now has the Independent trait instead.

Dawnkit is oblivious to the tension, spending her day following the Forest Spirit around. Birchshine gently scolds her for doing so.

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Antstride found himself following in the footsteps of his mother, Honeypurr, as the cats made their way toward the meeting-place. At first, he was surprised that Lightstar wasn't the one in front. But Honeypurr reassured him that she knew exactly where they were going; she had spotted this place on the way to the Far Greenhouse, and since she'd already been this way, she could safely lead everyone. Of course, Antstride had never doubted his mother's abilities. By far, she was one of the strongest cats he knew, even if she didn't always look the part.

His mother had seemed leery on the idea of coming here, and now that they had arrived, he could see why. The whole place screamed "twolegs", caged and full of long-worn paths, smooth-cut stones, and structures that had fallen to ruin. They had clearly been well-used in their time... He couldn't imagine why the twolegs would let such a place fall into disrepair. but then again, why do twolegs do anything? They were beyond any cat's understanding. And, after the incident with Sunkit, they were certainly not to be trusted.

Speaking of creatures that weren't to be trusted...

Antstride could soon see some figures in the distance, crowded near a platform and a pile of stones. He had expected their mystery host to be alone, but there were four cats among them, matching their own patrol evenly. One of them was far more recognizable than the rest, and it made the warrior's chest flutter with excitement.

"Mousetail!" He called, bounding forward to meet his sister. She had been gone since the beginning of the season, with no scent trail to speak of. Now, she smelled of den, of dirt, and of fungus... but she was undeniably his sister. "You kept your promise!"

But the response he got was stiff, anxious, and not at all like the warmhearted sister he knew.

"Shh," She hushed quickly, flicking her tail. "I'm not here to visit. This is business. Keep your head on straight, and... and try not to stare."

Try not to stare? At his confused brow-furrow, his sister gestured with her tail back toward where he'd come from... back toward Lightstar, and toward Mousetail's companions, whom he quickly realized were also familiar to him.

"No wonder you sent a messenger!" Lightstar spat, with fur bristled and anguish in her eyes. "I wouldn't have come if I'd known it was YOU. Skunktooth, how dare you show your face in front of me!"

Skunktooth... His father. Exiled when he was a kit, after accidentally killing a clanmate in self-defense. Antstride had known Mousetail left LightClan to live with him, but he didn't know he'd be here tonight. It was the first time Antstride had seen Skunktooth since he was a kit, and... he still didn't know how he felt about the whole thing. When Stormflower first suggested meeting with him, he had refused. It felt like he was doing something wrong by even being in his presence, even here, on neutral ground.

But there was something different about him. The way he didn't cower in front of Lightstar, like he had moons ago... he stood tall. Like a real warrior.

"I'm not the one who wanted to talk to you," He responded plainly, looking away. "It was Stormflower's idea."

Wait, Stormflower was here too? Just how many of these cats did Antstride know? Mousetail, Skunktooth, Stormflower- oh, that fourth cat is a stranger. A loosely familiar-looking stranger, but maybe that was just the lighting. They'd certainly never met before.

Stormflower brushed her tail against Skunktooth's side, then stepped up to face Lightstar. "My friend, we should not fight. Not tonight. I believe you know why."

Lightstar stiffened, then glanced upward. Antstride followed her gaze... up at the stars and the moon, which cast its greenish glow over them all. He knew the full moon was important, especially when it came to StarClan... but he had no idea what Stormflower meant.

"Of course I do," Lightstar sighed finally... turning and leaping up onto one of the smooth-cut stones that lay on the twoleg structure. "I see what game you're playing... and I'll play along."

"Excellent!" With a small signal, Stormflower leapt up onto another stone, followed by Skunktooth. "With that, let us begin. Welcome, warriors of LightClan and StoneClan, to our first official Gathering."

Antstride cast Mousetail a look, but she didn't meet his eyes. StoneClan? What was going on here?

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LightClan has discovered a new location: The Flooded Quarry Camp.

The full-moon patrol arrives at the Flooded Quarry and is met by Mousetail, Skunktooth, Stormflower, and a former-kittypet named Otis.

Stormflower announces that she and Skunktooth have worked together to form a new clan called StoneClan. The LightClan cats aren't sure how to feel about this.

Lightstar is especially shaken by this news, but she doesn't dare to protest under the full-moon truce.

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Lightstar had been pacing all afternoon. It had only been a few days since Bearpaw's mentor lost his warrior name, and since that weird kit showed up, only to disappear again. She had caught a glimpse of him as Honeypurr escorted him to the border... he looked scrawny and unkempt, but had a weird sparkle to his eyes that no other cat seemed to notice but her. It was like he knew something, despite how dumb he seemed. But Bearpaw didn't think that was what Lightstar was so stressed about. Her stress probably had something to do with the message.

"Are you seriously considering going?" Honeypurr's mew was edged with concern as she spoke gently to Lightstar. Bearpaw could hear them clearly from her spot in the clearing.

"What else is there to do?" The blue-furred leader fretted, "A meeting at the night of the full moon... the full moon is such an important night for Clan cats from my home. There's no way that's a coincidence."

"But it could be," The golden queen interjected. "Cats arrange things based on the moon phases all the time, Lightstar. And what if we show up and there's an ambush? He never said who the message was from."

"If it's who I'm thinking, then it'd be worth our while to go. The only other cat in the area who knows the significance of the full moon is Stormflower. It has to be her."

Bearpaw's ears twitched at the sound of Stormflower's name. It had been a while since anyone had talked about her; ever since she and Mousetail disappeared, most had assumed she was continuing her travels, and was now far, far away. After all, why would Stormflower have stuck around, after leaving without any notice? Mousetail she could understand, since her mother and siblings are here... but Stormflower?

"I don't know if that's the only possible explanation," Honeypurr shook her head. "But I know you won't rest until you have an answer. So if you want to go to that meeting, then..."

"I wanna go too!" Bearpaw piped up finally, rushing to join the grownups. "There's no telling what'll happen! You need lots of warriors to protect you!"

"...You're not a warrior yet, Bearpaw." She looked to meet Honeypurr's eyes, surprised to see that the queen's worry was extending to herself as well. "Things could get dicey."

"No," Lightstar sighed. "She can come. It's customary for apprentices to go on at least one long trek in their youth. The experience will be good for her."

"Yessss!!" Bearpaw leapt up onto her hind paws, excitedly batting at the air. "Can Sleetpaw and Elmpaw and Flowerpaw come too? They haven't gone that far from camp yet either, and—"

"No," The leader's mew was firmer this time, but not angry. "Birchshine is still weak from her kitting, and the nursery will need guards in case another twoleg comes through. We can't bring everyone."

"So who are we bringing, exactly..?" Honeypurr's eyes narrowed a little.

"Well..."

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After discussing the matter with Honeypurr, Lightstar decides to attend the full-moon meeting. She announces that she, Honeypurr, Antstride, and Bearpaw will attend, while the rest of the clan stays back at camp.

Pepperfrost is recovering well from her injuries. She isn't quite well enough to resume her warrior duties, but she'll be there soon enough.

!! Hey, everyone! This chapter contains heavier themes, such as: grief. Viewer discretion is advised! !!

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As the waxing moon's light glittered along the pond's surface, Lightstar was able to relax the smallest bit. It had been an incredibly draining evening, to say the least. Far too much blood had been spilled... and far too many memories had been brought to the surface. Newleaf was supposed to be a season of new beginnings, of life and love and prosperity. So why did the world feel like it was constantly caving in around her? Sometimes, StarClan's gaze seemed to mock her, silently playing her for the fool.

"Lightstar..."

The blue leader stiffened at the sound of her name, whirling around to see... oh. She forced herself to relax a little. It was only Honeypurr.

"I'm not taking back his punishment," She mewed firmly. "Magic needs to learn from what he did."

"That's not what I came here to ask," The golden queen sighed. "Frankly, the situation with Magic's temper should've been handled much earlier. But... this isn't really about him, is it?"

Confusion and irritation edged their way into Lightstar's eyes, but she forced her voice to stay low and collected despite them. "I don't know what you mean."

"You're not upset that Magic lashed out at Pepperfrost. You're upset that he reminds you of Briarclaw."

In under a second, Lightstar could feel the fur on the back of her neck bristling. What would Honeypurr know about Briarclaw? What did any cat know about Briarclaw?

"Briarclaw has nothing to do with this," She hissed firmly. "Magic broke the warrior code by injuring a clanmate. That's all."

"But Briarclaw picked fights all the time!" The fluffy queen retorted, lashing her tail. "She was... callous... and she hurt Skunktooth first!"

"Don't you think I know that?!" Honeypurr flinched at the sudden snap of her leader, but Lightstar wasn't finished. "EVERY DAY I have to look at those kits, whose father I sent away, and YOU, who lost your mate because of a... because I... because she..."

Before Lightstar could find an ending to her sentence, Honeypurr had closed the gap between them, nuzzling her way into her neck fur. She heard a sob, and... she was far too surprised to find it was her own. How long had it been, that Lightstar kept these thoughts to herself, for her to lose her composure so quickly?

"...She was my friend," She choked out, pressing against Honeypurr like her life depended on it. "And she was a mouse-brain, but... I loved her. I loved her so much, Honeypurr."

"I know..."

"No you don't. I don't mean as a friend. I loved her so much more than that. I never... I've not— never felt that way about another cat before. She was callous and she was so, so stupid, but I loved her."

"I know."

Honeypurr's voice was a little firmer this time, but still held a gentle, maternal fuzz to it. It was... it felt wrong for Lightstar to be so emotional with her clanmate, when it was her job to be calm and collected and right about everything. But the truth was that she wasn't.

"I... I'm sorry about Skunktooth," Lightstar murmured finally. "I couldn't... I can't look at him anymore. Not after what happened. And I'm sorry you lost him. But I lost someone that day, too."

The warrior shook her head. Lightstar hadn't noticed until now, but... Honeypurr's eyes were gentle, but they were also wise. How many seasons had Honeypurr seen before Lightstar entered the forest? The thought alone was enough to make her feel like a kit.

"I made my own choice that day, Lightstar. I could've gone with him... but I didn't. Because I had my kits, and because I had this clan. I've never known a family like this before— one that I know would have my back if I ever ran into trouble. That kind of love goes beyond romance."

"...You're right." Lightstar closed her eyes, blinking away moisture, and could see glimmers of her life before LightClan and the elm forests, of her life as a warrior in her birth clan. It felt so far away now, but it wasn't really that long ago. "Clan life... it's more than love. It's hard... but it's worth it. I'm glad you realized that. It means... that me coming here was worth it."

"And I'm glad you did." Honeypurr whisked her tail gently closer, resting it over Lightstar's spine. "I've got your back, too. That's what clan life means, right?"

"Yes... yes it is."

For a few moments, the two sat in silence, enjoying the rustling of prey among the canopy. But... soon, Lightstar realized that there was a different rustling nearby. She lifted her head from out of Honeypurr's dampened fur, swiveling her ears toward the sound.

"Oh! Hallo!" A little voice piped up from the underbrush, an unfamiliar cat's eyes meeting hers with absolutely zero fear. "Are you two done? I was waiting extra patiently, but I can wait longer if you need more time!"

Who in StarClan's name is that? And, more importantly, how had Lightstar not heard them sooner? An odd sensation struck her as she stared at the little cat, who carelessly trotted out of the underbrush to join her. It was like she recognized him... or like she was supposed to recognize him, but didn't. He was young, barely older than a kit, but he carried himself with the sort of confidence that could easily be either wisdom or idiocy. Or perhaps a mixture of both.

"Why are you here?" Honeypurr's hackles raised, and Lightstar wondered if she was merely feeling protective after the emotional conversation. "Every cat this side of town knows this is LightClan territory."

"Yes!" The little tom purred. "That is why I am here! I was asked to deliver a message to you!"

"You were?" Lightstar quirked a brow questioningly. "And why would any reasonable cat send a kit out into our territory alone?"

"Because you do not know me! Most cats do not know me. I am new to this whole... touching grass thing. It is very fun! I quite like it."

"...Well, go on, then. What's your message?"

"Oh! Right! The message!"

Alright, so it's definitely idiocy. But there was still an important air about this cat, and Lightstar intended to figure out why.

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Lightstar confides in Honeypurr about her lingering grief (and love) for Briarclaw. The two grow closer as a result.

Their conversation is interrupted by a twinkly-eyed stranger who comes bearing a message.

He was sent by a mysterious cat who would like to meet with Lightstar in a specific location on the night of the full moon.

!! Hey, everyone! This chapter contains heavier themes, such as: violence, anger, and grief. Viewer discretion is advised! !!

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"Enough!"

Lightstar's voice rang out over the clearing, forceful enough that it snatched the attention of everyone nearby. The majority of the clan was gathered already, with the sole exception of Lilacdream, who was still treating Pepperfrost's injury, and the kits of the victim, who were visiting their mother. Every other cat was simply panicking while they tried to figure out what to do about what they'd all just witnessed.

There was no doubting what had happened; Magicburst just attacked Pepperfrost, his own mentor, in a fit of grief-induced rage.

Antstride... pitied him. While he'd never particularly cared for Magicburst's temper, he knew deep down that Birchshine wouldn't be with him if he were irredeemable.

"There will be no more of this! Magicburst, you have taken your anger out on a clanmate for the last time. There must be punishment, regardless of the context."

In the eyes of his sister, his mother, and his leader, Anstride could see that there was a scary sense of familiarity in the air tonight. All of them, unwittingly, were holding their breath. "Pepperfrost could have been killed at your paws; that is an act that no warrior should ever resort to. Until you can act like a real warrior, you will not be treated like one. From this moment forward, you will be stripped of your warrior name. Any cat who dares to call you anything but Magic must answer to me. Am I understood?"

Antstride heard an exhale, surprised to find it was more than just his own. Had he, Birchshine, and Honeypurr all feared the same fate for Magicburst... for Magic?

Had Lightstar knowingly spared Magic from his own father's fate? Or was the situation different now than it was with Skunktooth? Antstride had no way of knowing.

"Yes, ma'am," Magic's voice replied, weak in comparison to the rage of the clan's leader. It was the weakest Antstride had ever seen him, even through tragedy after tragedy.

"Good. Now, all of you are dismissed. If I catch one more cat going feral on another like this, there'll be worse consequences to pay."

Lightstar leaped down from the rock and made her way out of camp, as unceremoniously as she would any other, normal meeting between clanmates. However, none of the other cats in the clearing seemed to know what to do with themselves, because everyone continued to sit near the rock, looking around in silence.

After a few moments, only Honeypurr stood, simply walking off in the direction Lightstar had gone.

Was she going after her, Antstride wondered? He hoped that, whatever was going on in the leader's head, his mother could help put her mind at ease.

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Lightstar publicly punishes Magicburst for infighting by revoking his warrior name. Until he's learned his lesson, he will be known simply as Magic.

!! Hey, everyone! This chapter contains heavier themes such as: blood, near-death, anger, grief, and mentions of stillbirth/kit loss. Viewer discretion is advised! !!

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It was storming again.

The true motive? Who knows. Magicburst had been so on edge since Sunkit was taken. He was anxious, sleep-deprived, and above all, he was grieving.

Pepperfrost knew how it felt, to feel so high-strung over the loss of a kit. Berrykit had been so young, and though Sunkit was older, it was only by a few days. She could only imagine how much worse Magicburst had it, after stressing so hard over his mate's illness, only able to hope that his kits ended up alright once they arrived... only to witness the traumatic event that tore his son away from him firsthand.

She felt for the young tom, she really did. But... why had it come to this?

...

"You traitor!" The tabby hissed, snarling at Pepperfrost with claws drenched in blood. "That prey wasn't for you! It should've gone to the kits!"

"I already said I was sorry!" Pepperfrost hissed in response, though she stopped herself from properly fighting back. She'd clawed him a bit when he first lunged at her, if only on impulse, but she knew better than to retaliate legitimately. She knew Magicburst did, too, but...

"Sorry doesn't fill bellies, Pepperfrost! You have no right to be so selfish."

"Selfish?" She panted. "I've been hunting all evening, and I'm the deputy! I get that you're grieving, we all do, but stop taking it out on everyone else!"

Oh. Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say, because Magicburst's eyes flashed with rage.

"I'm not taking it out on anyone! Don't look at me like that! I'm tired of everyone looking at me like that!"

For a moment, Pepperfrost thought he might strike at her again, but he was swiftly cut off by their clanmates breaking up the scuffle.

"Magicburst! Stop it!" Hissed Birchshine, seeming to snap the tom out of his blind rage somewhat. Pepperfrost was glad she was here; if there was anyone Magicburst would listen to, it was his mate. "She didn't do anything wrong! You need to stop doing this!"

Lilacdream was only a few paces behind the queen, ears pinned as she rushed to flank her. "Pepperfrost, are you okay? Oh, you're bleeding so much- here, I've got you, let's go to the healers' den-"

"I'm fine!" Pepperfrost huffed, trying to stand. However, when she did so, she was surprised to feel dizzy all of a sudden. Her body ached... had he really struck her that severely? She didn't notice until now just how weak she felt.

"You're not fine! Here, at least let me stop the bleeding first..."

┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛

Magicburst abruptly picks a fight with Pepperfrost and wins. Both cats are injured, though Magicburst only receives a small scratch.

Magicburst is not given treatment for his injury, but it will heal easily on its own.

Pepperfrost is gravely injured from the scuffle.

┏━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┓

Newleaf was in full swing by now, and Bearpaw could tell by the scent of pollen in the air. However, the wind still held a certain chill to it, one that made her grateful that her fur was so thick. During the day, it wasn't so bad; in fact, the weather was so nice that Lightstar decided it was high time they had a group training session.

"Alright, you four," The blue-furred leader began, addressing the group. "Today we're going to be doing something a little different. Flowerpaw, Sleetpaw, Elmpaw, I want you all to work on your hunting; you've all been doing some great fishing since the pond thawed, but I want you to put those land-hunting skills to the test today. Antstride and Honeypurr will supervise you and help if you're feeling stuck."

Bearpaw felt a little confused that the leader was specifically speaking to her denmates and not her. However, those concerns were quickly put to rest.

"Since Bearpaw is still a bit ahead of you, I'll be coaching her privately in some fighting moves. Don't think that means I'm not watching you, though. Stay on your guard, and be well-behaved— That means you, Sleetpaw."

There was a bit of snickering from the trio, though it stopped the moment Lightstar specifically called Sleetpaw out; while the smallest apprentice was always eager to get going, she was known to be a bit of a troublemaker. It was good that Lightstar was her mentor, she figured, as it would keep her head on straight.

Antstride and Honeypurr nodded to Lightstar; no doubt they'd been coached privately before the outing began. The five of them all began to do their own thing, with Pepperfrost's litter all trying their paws at proper stalking techniques, and Honeypurr settling off to the side to oversee them while Antstride did much of the heavy coaching. It was funny how different the tom's methods were from his mother's laissez-faire teaching style.

"Now, Bearpaw," Lightstar began, tail flicking as she approached. "I know things have been hectic lately with your own mentor, but I want you to try and practice with as much focus as if he were here, alright?"

Sigh. She'd honestly been trying to forget the whole situation with Magicburst, but Bearpaw couldn't blame the leader for wanting to check in with her. Her mentor had hardly spoken to anyone in days, let alone taken her out for training. Is this why Lightstar wanted to coach her privately?

"Thanks, but I'll do fine. Honestly, wasn't even worried about it," Bearpaw mewed in response, looking up at the leader.... huh, have her eyes always been that weird rainbowy color? Maybe she'd have the chance to ask at some point during training.

"Oh? Well, alright. But just know you can come to me if you have any concerns. I'm all ears!"

Bearpaw hesitated for a moment, almost wanting to take Lightstar up on the offer, but she was quickly interrupted by Sleetpaw's voice ringing out from across the field.

"HEYYY! Guys, look guys, I caught a snake! How cool is that?!"

Lightstar's ears perked up at her apprentice's voice, and she turned to look only for a brief moment before returning her attention to Bearpaw. But it was enough time for the apprentice to feel her moment had passed, and so she decided to drop it and proceed with training.

"Alright, I'm ready. Give me everything you've got!"

┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛

Lightstar, Honeypurr, and Antstride lead all of the kits on an outing to Sunshine Pond. The younger apprentices hunt while Lightstar teaches Bearpaw some fighting tactics.

Sleetpaw makes three catches, Flowerpaw makes two, and Elmpaw makes one.

The patrol goes well for a while, but the group decides to turn tail and run home after a twoleg arrives with a large dog.

Magicburst has been incredibly distant since the loss of Sunkit. He exclusively speaks to Birchshine now.

Antstride tries to cheer up his sister after the loss of Sunkit. The two spend some time sharing tongues in the sunlight.

!! Hey, everyone! This chapter contains heavier themes such as: kit loss & grief. Viewer discretion is advised. !!

┏━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┓

Magicburst felt like something was off tonight.

Birchshine had dismissed his concerns, of course, insisting he must be feeling overly protective after her getting sick, and subsequently giving birth to their kits. Something about his new paternal instincts kicking in.

He guarded the camp anyway, ignoring the reassurances of his mate. Nothing was truly safe, not when the clan's warriors weren't in top condition.

Suddenly, a warning yowl could be heard from outside of camp. Magicburst raced over in a heartbeat, urgency coursing through his veins.

Antstride stood before a strange-looking twoleg, hissing and spitting. Magicburst couldn't help wondering who this twoleg was and why it was here, bothering the clan's territory under the cover of night when they weren't even nocturnal. But then, recalling the secret treasures that now hid within the camp, he bristled.

"Keep that thing away from the nursery!" He shouted, snarling as he moved to approach. But Antstride was already fumbling.

For once, Magicburst was grateful for his kittypet origins; while he knew the lumbering creature's clicks and whirrs weren't a threat, Antstride did not. As his fellow warrior backed away, afraid, the twoleg was able to move toward camp.

Anger. Magicburst couldn't get to the twoleg quickly enough, though he'd tried to dart across the camp and cut it off, the twoleg's legs were much longer, and its stride barely outpaced him. It followed the mewls that came from the nursery, and...

"Birchshine!" Magicburst yowled, hearing his mate's angry hissing, no doubt standing firm against the intruder. But she was far too weak, both from her kitting and the aftermath of her Sickness, and Magicburst knew it well.

The chaos had started to stir the rest of the warriors into action, snapping Antstride out of his daze and bringing him into the clearing. The twoleg clearly hadn't expected a crowd, looking like it might flee- but Magicburst didn't let it, not yet. With a snarl, he lunged for the creature's leg, sinking claws in as deep as they would go. He clung there for a few moments, being shaken around as the twoleg tried to remove him.

He didn't know how, but he was on the ground, and the twoleg was running away. Antstride and Lightstar gave chase, while Lilacdream rushed to Magicburst's side to check on him.

"Let me go!" He hissed, trying to force himself up.

But the healer stopped him. "It's leaving," She reassured firmly, taking a tone he hadn't heard from her before. "You need to stay down, I need to make sure you didn't hit your head-"

"Birchshine- is Birchshine okay?"

"She's alright," Honeypurr piped up. Magicburst hadn't even seen her enter the nursery in all the fuss, but it didn't surprise him that her first instinct was to check on her daughter. But from the fearful meowling coming from the den, which he recognized to be his mate's, Magicburst knew something was wrong.

"Sunkit is gone!" She wailed. With the desperate cry ringing in his ears like a bad nightmare... the world went dark.

┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛

A twoleg intrudes on LightClan's camp.

Magicburst, Antstride, and Lightstar work together to drive it away, but not before the twoleg grabs hold of one of the kits.

Sunkit has been taken by a twoleg. He is now missing.

Birchshine and Magicburst are grieving.

Magicburst receives a minor injury from the scuffle with the twoleg, but he mostly just needs rest.

!! Hey, everyone! This chapter contains heavier themes such as: birth complications & mentions of kit death/stillbirth. Viewer discretion is advised. !!

┏━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┓

"Mom? Is everything okay..?"

Pepperfrost perks up somewhat at the sound of her kit's voice. Elmpaw was perhaps the most perceptive of her brood, and she wasn't surprised that he approached her. She must have seemed awfully upset.

"I'm alright," She sighed finally. "I'm just... relieved that Birchshine's litter wound up alright, after all of this. I couldn't help worrying."

Elmpaw visibly hesitated. Pepperfrost could see the thoughts churn in his head- 'how am I supposed to respond to this?' She almost wanted to take the words back. She'd said way too much, as per usual.

"...This is about Berrykit, isn't it?"

Ah. Pepperfrost couldn't help wincing. She was supposed to be the adult in this situation. How could she let her son read her so easily? But his eyes were so kind, as kind as they always were; they were his father's eyes, through and through, and it was times like this that she longed for her mate's presence.

"I'll be alright," She responded again, more sure of herself this time. "I just needed a few minutes to myself, that's all."

Silence followed. Though her son was quiet as always, some things didn't need to be said out loud. He was here for her, just as her other two remaining kits were.

"...Do you need a hug?"

"...That sounds great right about now."

Elmpaw only slightly hesitated before nuzzling his face into Pepperfrost's fur, keeping her warm against the last remnants of leaf-bare that still hung in the air.

She would always long for what could've been. Maybe she'd never stop staring at new mothers with healthy litters with such jealousy and longing. But for now, she could only support the clan, as a good warrior... no, as a good deputy should.

┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛

Under the watchful eye of the Forest Spirit, Birchshine gives birth to four kits.

Kitten 1 is male and born healthy. He is Non-Destructive and Clueless.

Kitten 1 receives the name Horizonkit in the hopes of a new era for LightClan.

Kitten 2 is female and born frail. She is Playful and Adventurous.

Kitten 2 receives the name Hopekit in the hopes of a long, happy life.

Kitten 3 is male and born frail. He is Neat and Proud.

Kitten 3 receives the name Sunkit for a bright future.

Kitten 4 is female and born sickly. She is Adventurous and a Hunter.

Kitten 4 receives the name Dawnkit for a bright future.

Pepperfrost is feeling a bit jealous of Birchshine's litter, resulting in her acting a bit more distant.

┏━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┓

"Aren't you worried about the cats that went missing?" For once, Bearpaw found herself to be the voice of reason. With Flowerpaw by her side, she felt way more mature by comparison. "Mousetail was such a good hunter, and Stormflower kept everyone safe! Why would they just leave like that?"

"I'unno," Flowerpaw shrugged, seeming indifferent to the whole situation. "Maybe they just wanted to explore. I can't say I blame 'em."

The two had been fishing together for a while under the cover of night, both plagued by the itch to fish while the pond was still thawed. Bearpaw especially felt the weight of the empty prey pile on her shoulders. With so much having gone on lately, she wished she could just focus on her training and not have to worry about grown-up stuff.

"I don't think that's it," She sighed finally. "Didn't you say your mentor looks sad lately? What if Mousetail said something before she left?"

"How come you're so invested in my mentor's social life, huh?" Though Flowerpaw playfully nudged her shoulder, Bearpaw couldn't help rolling her eyes at the topic shift. "Do you have your warrior assessment coming up? Is it 'cause you're gonna join him in their den soon? If you have any tips for me, let me know after it's over, okay?"

Warrior assessment... Bearpaw hadn't found time to ask Magicburst about it yet. She was still young when Antstride and the others had their assessments, but to her understanding, they were rather spur-of-the-moment. Her own mentor hadn't even gotten an assessment, instead earning his stripes by bringing her into the clan. How could she possibly impress Lightstar, after Magicburst had fought off a twoleg, and Antstride, Birchshine, and Mousetail helped discover the Moontree? Anything she tried to do would just pale in comparison.

Flowerpaw didn't seem to care when she didn't answer; instead, she just returned to fishing without a word. Bearpaw didn't really have much to say, anyway.

┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛

With several of their best hunters distracted by current events, the clan is struggling to keep the prey pile full. No cat goes without, but the stress is beginning to weigh on everyone's minds.

The apprentices work hard to keep the prey pile as stocked as they can. Bearpaw takes it upon herself to teach the younger cats whenever she gets the opportunity.

Birchshine has recovered from her illness, though she still needs to rest and take care of herself for the sake of her kits.

Magicburst dutifully watches over Birchshine, growing fiercely protective.

!! Hey, everyone! This chapter contains heavier themes such as: Pregnancy Complications. Viewer discretion is advised. !!

┏━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┓

"Is she going to be okay?" Magicburst's voice could barely be contained to a hush, if only so that Birchshine could rest.

"I... I'm not sure," The meek healer responded, avoiding his gaze. "I-I mean, yes, but only theoretically. I know how to treat the Sickness by now, but Birchshine..."

"I'm sure this is because of Mousetail, that traitor," He hissed, unable to bear listening to Lilacdream's avoidant behavior for much longer. If Mousetail hadn't turned tail and run away just a few days ago, abandoning everyone- Birchshine might not have fallen sick. "Everyone's stressed out enough without having to wonder where she's run off to. Birchshine has enough on her shoulders."

"A-About that..." Lilacdream continued to mumble, glancing back at her patient to watch over her. "Birchshine is... in a precarious situation right now. She should be fine herself, but-"

"But what?!" He hissed abruptly, impatient. "Spit it out. I'm her mate for crying out loud!"

Lilacdream flinched as he raised his voice, and Magicburst had to stop himself. He promised himself he wouldn't become an angry cat, nor a vengeful one, for the sake of his mate. He forced his shoulders to relax, and he took a deep breath. Think about flowers, he reminded himself. Clovers and dandelions.

"...She hasn't told you?" Lilacdream piped back up, catching Magicburst off guard for once. He must have made quite the weird face, because the healer just sighed. "S-She's expecting kits, and... at this rate, I- I don't know if they'll make it. Only time will tell."

Kits? Kits?! Magicburst found himself floundering out of nowhere. This was the first he'd heard of this- surely Birchshine would've told him if she knew? But he didn't have time to worry about whether his mate was intentionally keeping secrets from him; he was far more concerned with making sure she'd survive.

"...Just... do your best. Please."

┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛

Birchshine is expecting Magicburst's kits!

Birchshine has contracted The Sickness and is doing particularly poorly due to a combination of stress and pregnancy.

While Birchshine is treated and will likely recover, it is unknown what effects The Sickness may have on her kits.

Magicburst is unable to focus on work, instead spending his time at his mate's side and helping Lilacdream with whatever needs done.

Flowerpaw is the first one awake, and she immediately begins training hard.

With one sister gone and the other gravely ill, Antstride is feeling particularly lonely. He takes some time to try and bond with his apprentice.

┏━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┓

With the warmth of newleaf once again turning to a frosty chill, the forest was greeted with a light snowdrift that stuck to the ground once more. Perhaps, like the frozen pond, it would melt again once the sun rose. But for now, the forest was blanketed in quiet, with the full moon shrouded in mist far overhead.

"What do you mean you're leaving?" Birchshine exclaimed, startling poor Mousetail somewhat. She had expected surprise, and perhaps apprehension from her siblings when she broke the news, but...

"I-I mean..." She quieted her voice somewhat. "...I know it's a fair distance away from here, and it'd be a difficult adjustment, but..." Although her tail trembled from the cold, she did her best to regain her composure. "I... I want to live there, with Skunktooth. He said we'd have a new home there, one where it's warmer... you should come with us!"

"Come with you?" Antstride chimed in, a bit less shocked than their sister, but he was still... confused, and concerned. "Mousetail, I have an apprentice now! I can't just leave Flowerpaw alone."

"And whether you like it or not-" Birchshine interjected, "-I have a mate now! Do you really expect both of us to uproot our lives for a cat we hardly know?"

Mousetail felt shame growing in her heart, but her sister's words lit a flame of resentment that managed to keep her going. Of course she would bring up Magicburst again.

"He's our father! It's not like he's a stranger..."

"Mousetail, he's been gone since we were kits," Birchshine scolded. "And Honeypurr- our mother, in case you've forgotten- lives here. Why are you so willing to leave your family?"

"Y-You're one to talk!" Mousetail squeaked out. "All you care about these days is your mate! I'm not gonna tell you who you can and can't be with, but it's like you don't even take my concerns seriously..."

Birchshine stiffened. "What? This again? I already defended you, I don't know what else you want from me! Besides, you went off and met with Skunktooth on your own, you didn't even wait for me! If anyone has a reason to feel brushed aside, it's me!"

Antstride, visibly uncomfortable, stepped slightly in between the two sisters. "Hey, both of you calm down. Let's not turn this into a fight..."

"No, it's fine," Birchshine hissed, brows furrowed. "You can do what you like, Mousetail. But my loyalty lies here, with my mate, and with my clanmates. Not with a sister who'd so willingly ditch us all."

"Birchshine-"

Mousetail tried to step toward her, but the fluffy she-cat turned away and started storming off before she could say anything else. Her heart ached with a mixture of sympathy and guilt. She wasn't abandoning them... she was trying to reunite their family! Why couldn't Birchshine understand that?

Antstride's paws prodded anxiously at the snow. Mousetail felt a bit guilty for making him witness that... but there wasn't much she could do about it now.

"...I'm guessing you're gonna storm off with her, too?" Mousetail huffed with a bitter edge to her tone.

"No," He sighed. "If you want to go with Skunktooth, then... I support you. But... I'm staying here. LightClan needs us- and Flowerpaw needs me."

Her heart sank. Mousetail scolded herself internally for getting her hopes up, but... her brother's presence was one she would miss greatly.

"...I get it. When Birchshine calms down... tell her I'm sorry. But I need to do this. It just feels like the right path for me."

Antstride nodded, then leaned forward and nuzzled her. "Just... promise you'll stay safe, okay? I love you."

"I love you too." Mousetail's heart grew warm once more. Maybe Birchshine didn't understand right now, but at least she could rest easy knowing her brother would always be on her side. "This... this won't be goodbye forever, y'know? We'll see each other again. Maybe Birchshine will come around by then."

He laughed half-heartedly. "I'll put in a good word for you."

Mousetail stayed pressed against Antstride for a few more moments, finding comfort in the warmth that radiated from him. But before long, it would be time to go. Stormflower promised she'd be able to see her family again... she hoped that day would come soon.

┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛

Mousetail says her goodbyes to her siblings and has left the clan under the watchful eye of Stormflower.

Stormflower also goes missing during this time. The clan is deeply troubled by this development, if only because she leaves without a word.

Shy

Genius

Hunter

Adventurous

Neat

Non-Destructive

Current Role: Leader, Spirit Cat

!! Clan Founder !!

Lightstar used to be a warrior belonging to a faraway clan, but her paws had always ached for adventure. StarClan always seemed to whisper at her every turn, beckoning her farther and farther south of her clan's territory. After traveling a long distance and meeting with the Spirit of the Elm Forest, Lightstar was granted a magical connection to the land where she founded her new home, LightClan.

Now that she's taken up the official position of leadership, Lightstar is doing her best to support her new clan, which is made of a mixture of former outsiders and cats born in the territory. It's been a few seasons already, but Lightstar still has a long way to go before the clan is truly one with their home.