Warriors Down Below

- Applebreeze, Petalwhisker, and Nettlemask are all siblings!

- Envystar was once a warrior of a clan named LightningClan, but it fell apart due to poor leadership and infighting!

- Burntpath and Hiddengaze were found alone in the snow as kits, and were raised alongside Rainthorn and Ottersplash!

- Mistdapple is a pacifist!

Though they have not met yet, to the west of MineClan territory is a large area of grassy plains, inhabited by a tribe. This Tribe will play an important role at some point. For now, they are unaware of MineClan’s existence.

The Tribe of Rolling Plains

Healer: Watcher Of The Swirling River (Riverwatcher) pale orange tabby she-cat with a light orange-white underbelly

Prey-catchers:

Glow of Rising Sun (Sun): golden tabby tom

Bee That Rests On Flower (Bee): patched silver tom

Lightning That Strikes Tree (Lightning): black tabby tom

Fox That Sleeps At Dawn (Fox): Cream tabby she-cat

Feather Falling From Heron (Feather): silver and black she-cat

Light That Falls On Leaf (Light): white and brown tom

Storm That Kills Fire (Storm): dark gray she-cat

Nest Guards:

Wind That Moves Grass (Wind): tawny she-cat

Whispersong: Black and white patched she-cat, former MineClan warrior

Fallen Branch In River (Fallen): White tabby tom

Flurry That Covers Rock (Flurry): patched black and orange she-cat.

Blue Of Clear Sky (Blue): dark brown tom

Cry Of Hungry Eagle (Cry): dappled golden tom

To-bes:

Fang Of Hissing Viper (Fang): gray tom

Streak Of Falling Star (Streak): tortoiseshell she-cat

Owl That Flies At Night (Owl): Silver tabby tom

Kit-Mothers:

Ember That Floats In Breeze (Ember): white tabby she-cat.

The body of the deceased cat is laid on it’s side in the middle of the camp, stretched out as if leaping so that the Clan can see as many of their features as possible.

The leader will leap onto the High Point to give a eulogy and send the cat’s soul out of the mines and to the stars, asking their ancestors to receive and honor them. After the leader has finished speaking, the Clan approaches the body to say their goodbyes.

Traditionally, all cats say farewell, but the dead’s friends, family, mentor and apprentices (if they had any) would say goodbye first, followed by the leader, deputy, and medicine cat. After them, the rest of the Clan is allowed to share tongues with them.

When everyone has finished, the elders carry the body down to a special burial cavern, with the leader following them. While the elders bury the body, the leader scratches out a symbol on the walls of the cavern to make sure that the cat is remembered. The symbol usually relates to the dead cat’s name, like a cat named Leafclaw would have a leaf carved into the wall with claw marks going over it.

After the burial is completed, the elders and leader return to the main camp, where the Clan take turns sharing stories of the cat’s achievements and celebrating their life while also mourning their death. The medicine cat heads to the MoonStream to see if StarClan has received the dead’s spirit.

Coldflower: ...I did. I broke it.

Envystar: No. No you didn't. Sparkheart?

Sparkheart: Don't look at me. Look at Quickstep.

Quickstep: What?! I didn't break it.

Sparkheart: Huh, that's weird. How'd you even know it was broken?

Quickstep: Because it's sitting right in front of us and it's broken.

Sparkheart: Suspicious.

Quickstep: No it's not!

Mistdapple: If it matters, probably not, but Sparrowstep was the last one to use it.

Sparrowstep: Liar! I don't even drink that crap!

Mistdapple: Oh really? Then what were you doing by the coffee cart earlier?

Sparrowstep: I use the wooden stirrers to push back my claws. Everyone knows that, Mistdapple!

Coldflower: Okay let's not fight. I broke it. Let me pay for it Envystar.

Envystar: No! Who broke it!?

Quickstep: Envystar... Medusatail has been awfully quiet.

Medusatail: REALLY?!

[Everyone starts arguing]

Founder: Envystar

Main prey: bats

Main threats: wolves, rabies

MineClan has a good amount of territory, but most of their time is spent underground, in a system of caves and mineshafts they made into their base. From the main opening, there is a downwards, straight path that leads to the main camp.

(All locations and directions are described as if you are standing on the High Point, facing the entrance)

The leader calls meetings from the High Point: a tall ledge that is directly under an opening to the surface, allowing the sun or moon to shine on them. The High Point also functions as the leader’s den, accessed by a small gap between the rocks at the bottom.

To the right of the entrance to the camp, there is a slightly elevated ‘cliff’ of sorts that requires a cat to leap to reach it. On top of that small ledge, a cavern. This is the apprentice den, and the jump helps train their legs to be strong.

To the left of the High Point is another cavern, slanted slightly downwards with a wide mouth. This is the warrior’s den, the wide opening allows them to leave quickly without fear of hitting a wall or each other.

Left of the entrance is a cave that curves around and opens back into the camp. Basically a large semi-circle with two smaller chambers accessible from within, it is used as the medicine cat den. The inner ‘wall’ of the semi-circle, the one that separates the two openings, is littered with small cubby holes, used to store herbs. The smaller chambers are where sick cats are put, and sometimes used as nests by the medicine cats themselves if there are no patients.

In the back of the camp, to the right of the High Point there is a cluster of stones that are covered in moss. This is the nursery, with small coves in the rocks serving as sleeping places.

Bisexual:

Envystar

Thymeheart

Ottersplash

Pan:

Sparkheart

Ripplefur

Duskclaw

Lesbian:

Medusatail

Burntpath

Nettlemask

Fawnpaw

Gay:

Olivepaw

Hiddengaze

Sparrowstep

Falconwing

Asexual:

Mistdapple (aromantic as well)

Quickstep

Batnose

Trans:

Batnose

A MineClan one-shot

Twistedbranch felt the eyes of his Clanmates before he saw them as he exited the small cave at the base of the High Point. “Smokestar-“ he stumbled over his words, trying to decide how to deliver the horrible news, “Smokestar has died.” There were a few scattered cries of grief, and the medicine cat felt guilt snake through him. “Snowfoot, you were deputy when Smokestar died, so now you must get your nine lives and leader name from StarClan.”

Snowfoot stepped forward, trying to hide his shaking. “I’m ready, I will try and follow in his footsteps as Clan leader.”

“We’ll take care of burial and vigil while you’re gone.” Dawnfur said, gazing painfully at the leader’s den. “Don’t worry.”

Twistedbranch waited for Snowfoot to finish saying his goodbyes, then started the path to the MoonStream. It may have just been their eyes playing tricks on them, but the cavern seemed to give off a soft, pale green light instead of its normal colorless light. The medicine cat stood at the entrance of the cavern, wanting to keep the ceremony between the deputy and StarClan. Snowfoot lapped at the MoonStream, and almost instantly fell asleep, curling up with his nose hidden under his tail.

He had never visited StarClan before, and the moment he opened his eyes the white tom felt overwhelmed. He could tell there were tunnels and caves, but he couldn’t see any, only the stars swirling above him and the frost glittering off the trees and grass. He felt a breeze from behind him, and he turned to see the entrance to the mines. A familiar scent filled his nose, and he tore his eyes away from the sky to see Smokestar, but a younger, stronger Smokestar, not in horrible pain from infected bat bites and old age. “Snowfoot, my deputy, now that I have joined StarClan, you will be given nine lives and the title of leader. Are you ready?”

“Yes, I am.” Snowfoot waited, expecting something other than the nothingness that followed, when he opened his eyes, Smokestar was gone, and replaced by nine cats he didn’t recognize. They stood in a semicircle around him, frost sparkling on their pelts and stars swirling in their eyes. They had an aura of wisdom about them, and they seemed willing to share. The first cat to approach Snowfoot was a dark brown cat who seemed slightly younger than the rest, but still carried himself with pride.

“I am Olivestem, a warrior of MineClan.” The tom said, flicking his tail, “I was given a warrior name in spite of my immaturity and recklessness. When I received it, I was so desperate to prove myself that I chased a bat off the edge of a ravine. I broke my legs in the fall, and because nobody knew where I had gone, I died alone and in horrible pain. So with this life, I give you what I never had, patience.”

Olivestem pressed his nose against Snowfoot’s and the deputy saw a flash of light before he was back in the tunnels of MineClan, blindly chasing a bat. He felt the ground seemingly dissapear under his paws, and the wind rushing past him as he fell. He didn’t see when he hit the ground, but he felt it and saw another flash of blood red. He had never hurt this much in his entire life, and his legs gave out beneath him. Just like that, it was over.

Snowfoot found himself back in StarClan, panting and struggling to stand while Olivestem gazed sadly down at him. The deputy realized that he had just lived through the warrior’s death, and a feeling of sadness washed over him. “Snowfoot, may my gift to you help you avoid mistakes and think before acting, and be used to prevent pointless deaths like mine.” Olivestem turned away as the white-furred cat pulled himself to his feet. Was his brain still recovering from the pain, or was the small black she-cat refusing to look at Olivestem?

Snowfoot didn’t have time to ponder this, as a second cat approached, this time a white she-cat with so many grey dapples it was hard to tell what her pelt color really was. Her face had a grey splotch on it as well, and Snowfoot noted how he didn’t see a single scar on her. “I am Mistdapple, the first medicine cat of MineClan. I was a sworn pacifist in life, and never hurt a soul as long as I lived. I believe peace can be won without bloodshed, but I understand that sometimes, you are left with no choice. That said, with this life, I give you mercy. May you use it to limit the amount of blood spilled in the name of peace when you are forced to fight.”

Mistdapple touched her nose to Snowfoot’s, and while he expected to find himself seeing through her eyes, he found he was engulfed by a fierce, and oddly soothing light that only seemed to grow brighter with each passing moment. The deputy realized that it was Mistdapple’s vow of peace, and how her will to uphold it burned as brightly and as powerfully as any warrior’s will to protect the warrior code. “There is nothing cowardly about allowing someone to live, Snowfoot.” Mistdapple said when she pulled away, “if anything, it is one of the bravest things you can do.”

The third cat to approach him was another she-cat, with a gentle look in her starry eyes. “I am Petalwhisker. In my time as a MineClan cat, I raised many kits to become warriors, both as a mother and a mentor. Smokestar was my great-grandson, as a matter of fact, though I died before he even born.” She paused and chuckled. “Look at me, praddling on like an elder to a kit. Though I guess Olivestem’s gift might help with it.”

Snowfoot found himself at ease, something about the russet warrior was calming to him, and she had a motherly way a speaking, like she saw him as another one of her kits.

“With this life,” Petalwhisker purred, with matronly affection, “I give you empathy. Feel for your Clanmates, the warrior code, all of StarClan’s blessings, and most of all, for life itself.” Like with Mistdapple, found himself engulfed in light, but it was different. It had the roar of a fire and was so bright it hurt, and his heart seemed to pound in fear. This was how strong Petatalwhisker’s feelings and sympathy for her Clanmates were, and it seemed to last forever, never even dulling slightly. This was a dedication he had never experienced, and just when he though he couldn’t take anymore, she pulled away. “Take care, Snowfoot. Understand what your warriors are going through, and you will never let them down.”

The russet cat left, and her place was taken by a scarred orange tom. His pelt was almost more scars than fur, and he carried himself with a strength that Snowfoot had never knew existed. He towered over the white tom, and spoke in a rough voice. “I am Dragonsoul, a warrior of MineClan. With this life, I give you strength.” Their noses touched, and Snowfoot felt a strange power coursing through him, and pain stung him the same places the large tom had scars. The marks of many battles hard fought, and the payoff from it. “At times, my ideals were not the same as my leader’s, but I refused to let that conflict prevent me from being a loyal warrior. Keep that in mind, Snowfoot.”

Dragonsoul took his place back in the semi-circle, and a beautiful calico she-cat stepped forward. Snowfoot noticed how she brushed against the black she-cat in the middle. “I am Nettlemask, they tell the story of how I fell in love with my Clan leader, and she with me. With this life, I give you love.”

Nettlemask pressed her nose to Snowfoot’s, and the pain he was expecting never came. There wasn’t even a bright light like with Mistdapple’s, just a soothing warmth, and the sound of two hearts beating in sync. “There is no greater joy than one you find from love.” Nettlemask mewed, “and there is no greater sorrow as well.” She turned away, and sat down next to the black cat, their tails intertwined.

A russet-brown she cat approached next, a bit of a hop in her step. “I’m Applebreeze,” the brown cat mewed, “With this life, I give you skill, use it to succeed in your hunts and provide for your Clan.” When their noses touched, Snowfoot felt like he could jump above the stars, and chase down any prey. It was an exciting, sparkling energy that made him restless, and he noticed how Applebreeze was chuckling at him when she pulled away. She left, and was replaced by a cream tom.

“My name is Hiddengaze. With this life, I give you focus, use it to see what others miss, and hear what is dare not spoken in the light.” At Hiddengaze’s touch, Snowfoot’s heart pounded. It was the same energy Applebreeze had given him, but in a different form. He felt like he could see for miles, hear whispers in the lowest parts of the mines, feel the breeze on each individual hair on his pelt, smell the musky cavern where Twistedbranch was waiting. Hiddengaze pulled away, and wordlessly moved to take his place.

A long furred, tawny she-cat approached, sitting in front of the deputy. “I am Coloredstar,” the she-cat said, her tail swishing through the grass behind her. “With this life, I give you mentoring. Use it well to train the cats of the Clan, and to pass on your knowledge and skill to them.” Snowfoot felt pounding pain when Coloredstar touched their noses together. The pain grew and grew until it seemed to break, and a sweet feeling of relief washed over him. Instead of meeting the leader’s eyes, Snowfoot found himself staring at the brown warrior who had given him his first life.

Coloredstar sighed, “Nobody could have known how Olivestem let his excitement get the best of him. He seemed to be ready. We thought he was ready. You can’t blame anyone.” Coloredstar seemed defensive, but Snowfoot didn’t know why. She obviously wasn’t the leader when Olivestem was made a warrior. Was she defending the leader who did? Coloredstar turned away, having fulfilled her duty.

At last, the small, black she-cat approached Snowfoot. She didn’t say her name, only stared for a few seconds before speaking, “As I grant you your ninth and final life, I also give you loyalty. I made a choice to commit fully to my Clan, and I hope my gift will make my struggle to decide an impossibility to you. I valued my Clan over all else, and I gladly gave all nine of my lives for it. May you do the same as the next leader.” So this she-cat was a leader of MineClan. She touched her nose to Snowfoot’s, and there was a flash.

He was seeing through the eyes of the she-cat, standing on the High Point and surrounded by rocks. He felt his claws slip, and he crashed to the ground. Snowfoot landed neck first on a patch of rocks, and heard a sickening snap before the pain hit. Another flash, and he was out in a snowstorm, frantically calling for someone named Brownstripe in the she-cat’s voice. His fur was too thin to keep him warm for once, and the cold seeped into his very bones. He managed to force himself to keep walking until he saw a patch of blood-stained snow, with the broken body of a brown tom cat. His legs gave out and he fell in the snow, his eyes closing. He felt his heart slow, until it came to a stop. Like with Olivestem, he was living through this cat’s deaths, except she had died nine times.

Snowfoot nearly screamed in agony as he experienced the remaining seven. Starving to death to make sure somebody else got food when prey was scarce, flinging himself off the High Point when he got rabies and he felt his sanity begin to slip, writhing in pain as an adder that nearly bit a kit sunk it’s fangs into his leg, greencough, suffocation from a cave-in, infection from an untreated cut. At the ninth life, there was a strange, soothing peace, like a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders, and he could finally relax. He didn’t know how he knew, but something told him that this cat had stepped down from the leadership at her ninth life and retired as an elder.

Snowfoot fell to the ground when the black cat pulled away. She gazed sadly at him. Suddenly, he knew who she was. The first leader of MineClan, who took control of her destiny when she lost everything. “You’re Envystar.”

“Ah, I feared I was forgotten. I’m glad to see my fears are unfounded.” A bit of humor glistened in her eyes. Envystar, though small, was one of the greatest warriors of all time. She defied StarClan, took a she-cat as her mate, fought wolves, built a Clan out of nothing, rewrote her destiny, and left a legacy that would never be forgotten. Snowfoot would make sure of it.

“Snowfoot, you have been given nine lives by the warriors of StarClan, who have also given you gifts to help you lead MineClan well. From this moment on, you will be known as Snowstar. Guide MineClan as well as I and my successors did.” Envystar said, purring.

Seven of the cats vanished, replaced by only two others. The black she cat and Coloredstar stood in front of Snowstar while the two others moved to stand next to them. He didn’t recognize the brown-patched tom, but he did recognize Smokestar.

“Snowstar!” The four cats spoke with one voice. “You are the fifth leader of MineClan. Envystar, Coloredstar, Tunnelstar, and Smokestar entrust the Clan they led to you.” Three of the leaders walked back up to the stars, disappearing in glistening frost. Only Envystar remained.

Envystar pressed her head against his, and whispered, “Take care of what I built, Snowstar, and never be afraid to challenge what the stars demand.”

Location: Deep within the mines

Discovered by Mistdapple, connection with StarClan discovered by Envystar.

The MoonStream is the MineClan version of the Moonstone and Moonpool, as it is where leaders and medicine cats go to communicate with StarClan. Any cat can go to the MoonStream whenever they like, but they must tell the leader, deputy, or medicine cat beforehand, just so they aren’t thought missing. While cats are encouraged to speak to Envystar or Mistdapple for help, they understand that sometimes the wisdom of StarClan is needed. It also lets them know if someone is in a rough place or is not doing so well so they can keep an eye on them.

The MoonStream is located in a cavern deep within the mines. There are several small holes in the ceiling that cast moonlight onto the stream, as well as crystals that grow from the cavern walls, casting a fractured light. The light is usually colorless. Like the Moonpool, a cat drinks the water from the stream and falls asleep, waking up in StarClan. A cat usually wakes up in the field just outside the mines.

There is no tradition of apprentices visiting the MoonStream. Notably, medicine cat ceremonies take place in StarClan itself, not in the cavern beforehand. In addition, StarClan chooses a medicine cat’s name, the only exception being Mistdapple naming herself as the first medicine cat, back when she was known as Mist.

Envystar is noted to have an unusual amount of dreams for a leader, speaking with StarClan sometimes several nights in a row. However, she is stated to travel to the MoonStream whenever she wishes to speak to a particular cat. Most of the time, she speaks with her sister or her old apprentice.