warriors-fallen

[warriors-fallen]

I FEEL LIKE IVE FOUND A LITTLE SECRET NUGGET OVER HERE

TEEHEE HI

#friend #ask

[warriors-fallen]

CHAPTER THREE: [WHISPERKIT]

Claws scrabbled on rock as a white-flecked silver kit pushed her way up onto a mossy boulder, her hind paws digging hard into the soft patches of green growth as she hauled her way up to the top of the boulder. Her shoulders strained with the effort, and all the breath seemed to leave her as she finally collapsed at her destination, panting hard as cold stone pressed against her cheek. She let herself breathe and relax for a few moments, before getting to her paws, digging her claws into the soft moss below her to make sure she didn’t lose her grip.

“Ahem,” she cleared her throat, peering down at the sandy earth below the boulder. “Okay, Fishkit-“

Her gaze landed on a silver tabby kit below the boulder, and she heaved a loud sigh as she saw he was curled up with his eyes shut.

“Fishkit!” She rolled her eyes, snapping at the tom loud enough to startle him and make him kick his paws around for a few moments before he blearily blinked up at her, eyes glazed from sleep. “It took me, like, a second to get up here! How did you already fall asleep?!”

“Sorry, Whisperkit,” Fishkit grumbled, voice hoarse as he pulled himself up into a sitting position, fur ruffled from his startled awakening. He lifted a paw and shook the sand from it. “I was tired.”

“You’re always tired!” Whisperkit huffed, tail lashing behind her as she shot Fishkit a half-hearted glare. “No more sleeping, we’re playing now.”

Fishkit nodded, eyes half-lidded as his jaws spread in a big yawn. “Mhm.”

He’s going to be impossible to train. Whisperkit thought as she watched the tom sleepily peer up at her. He won’t wanna get up and do anything!

“Okay,” Whisperkit began, nodding seriously. “We’re playing Medicine Cat. I’m the medicine cat, this is my den, and you have to come to me to get healed.”

Fishkit nodded, getting to all four paws and letting out another, smaller, yawn. He awkwardly lifted a hind leg off the ground, stumbling closer and into the shadows the boulder cast on the ground. He padded to the slope of the big rock where Whisperkit had hauled herself up, and stared incredulously at it for a moment, before peering up at the other kit standing tall at the top.

“I don’t want to climb up there,” Fishkit put a front paw on the cold stone, letting it slide back down to the ground. “It’s too hard. I slide right off.”

“Oh, for-“ Whisperkit whined, neck fur bristling a little as she turned and carefully began easing her way back off the boulder, claws gripping into patches of moss and small cracks and grooves in the stone to keep herself from falling down on her face. “Lazy bones. I really wanted my den to be up there! It’s cool!”

“Sorry.” Fishkit flicked an ear, looking a little apologetic as he stepped back to give Whisperkit room to step off the boulder.

Whisperkit puffed and shook out her fur, flicking her head towards the shadow of the boulder as she padded into it, using her tail to sweep away some of the sand so she could sit without it all getting into her fur. She plopped down, watching as Fishkit limped his way over to her.

“What’s the problem?” She asked, voice turning as even and confident as she could make it.

“I…” the silver tabby looked around, thinking. “I, um…went hunting. At the falls. And, I…slipped. And hurt my leg.”

Whisperkit nodded, scooting closer and tenderly resting a paw on Fishkit’s pretend injured leg, feeling it up as gently as she could, humming thoughtfully to herself. If it was supposed to be broken, Fishkit would probably sound like he was in a lot more pain. But all he did was raise it off the ground and limp. If he slipped and hurt it, it was probably a sprain. Satisfied with her diagnosis, she nodded to herself.

“A sprain,” she informed Fishkit. “You need elder leaves. I’ll go get you some and make a poultice. Lay down here and rest your leg.”

She got to her paws and nudged Fishkit to where she had been sitting. He obediently laid down, sighing softly and awkwardly sticking his ‘injured’ leg out at an angle. “Thanks, Whisperkit.”

“I’ll be back in a moment!” She turned and bounded away into the camp clearing, looking around to find something she could use as fake elder leaves for her game.

CascadeClan’s camp was a large hollow in a rocky cliff, dens being tucked into natural dips in the rock walls, sheltered with woven stalks and branches. An old, fallen tree with chipped, brittle bark lay at one side of the camp, roots dusted in the sandy dirt that coated the ground all around camp. High, high above was a large, open space in the rock that let sunlight beam down into the camp. Whisperkit was pretty sure the fallen tree had come from up there, where more trees and woods hugged the very top of the rocky cliffs. A couple of mossy boulders were leaned against each other at another side of the camp, with a big gap between them that Whisperkit knew led into the medicine cat’s den. Her tail eagerly flicked behind her at the familiar sight of it.

Her Clanmates that weren’t out on patrol or training were milling about in camp, sharing tongues or chatting or sunbathing in the warmest spots they could find. Whisperkit spotted the bracken-brown tabby coat of Gorsestalk and the dark grey tabby pelt of her apprentice, Stormpaw. The two were in the sunlight, chatting about something as Gorsestalk gestured with her tail. Stormpaw nodded along, his own tail twitching behind him.

Dappleheart was sunbathing near the warriors’ den, the tortoiseshell’s beautiful pelt layered with cream patches. She was stretched next to Berrybird, the ginger tabby’s fur as bright as fire in the sunlight as the two she-cats lazily murmured to each other, occasionally exchanging soft laughs and playful whacks with each other’s tails.

Bringing her eyes back to the fallen tree, Whisperkit spotted a few old leaves that must have been dragged in by cats going in and out of camp. She padded over to them, using a paw to gently dust the sandy dirt off of them before she gathered them in her jaws. They crunched just a bit between her teeth; they weren’t fully crispy and dead, but they were getting there. Tail raised high with her successful find, she began trotting back over to the mossy boulder where Fishkit was waiting for her to treat his pretend sprain.

“You playing Medicine Cat again?” Pawsteps followed by a purr sounded behind Whisperkit, and she paused and peered behind her to see a glossy silver she-cat, greying face scrunched in a smile that showed her yellow teeth.

Whisperkit dropped the leaves, watching them swirl delicately to the ground.

“Hi, grandma!” She purred, weaving around the old she-cat and nuzzling her cheek as Minnowscale lowered her head to her. “Mhm! I’m playing with Fishkit. I’m gonna treat his sprained leg!”

“I’m sure you’ll do well.” Minnowscale rasped, nosing the kit’s ear softly. She seemed to hesitate, before she continued, voice as soft and gentle as feathers. “Your apprentice ceremony is soon, yes?”

“Mhm!” Whisperkit felt a thrill of fresh excitement go through her paws. “I think I’ve worn Rockleap out. I got so excited I knocked over his sorting pile of juniper berries yesterday.”

She eyed her grandmother as the she-cat sat next to her, gesturing with her tail for her to sit too. She slowly sat down, tail curling over her paws. She always felt a…tenseness around her grandmother. Always expected her sweet words to feel sharp when she didn’t expect it. She loved her very much, of course! Just…when it came to her future…

She looked away, not wanting to think about it. Maybe this conversation wasn’t going where she thought it was.

“I’m glad you’re excited.” Minnowscale paused, thinking, her next words slow and careful, like she was trying not to scare a fish with her shadow. “I love you, Whisperkit, and I just want you to know, even if StarClan doesn’t pick you to be a medicine cat…it will be okay. I know that’s what you really want, but…”

A hot zip of irritation went through Whisperkit’s spine as she jerked away from her grandmother, getting to her paws and scowling as she dug her claws against the stone underpaw, smoothed by countless pawsteps. Mood instantly soured, she felt the fur along her neck bristle. She knew it!

She could not stand when her grandmother did this. When any of the elders did this! When Wadefoot and Acornfall and Rainshade did this! When they doubted that StarClan would choose her to be apprenticed to Rockleap, when they tried to tell her in sweet voices that being a medicine cat was wonderful, but so was being a warrior. How she shouldn’t get her hopes up, how she should be prepared just in case…it hurt her feelings! It was like they didn’t believe in her!

She had been interested in herbs since she was four moons old! When she was brought back to CascadeClan, she would go to Rockleap’s den and watch him. She would ask him about all of his herbs, she would pester him to tell her what each one did. She wasn’t even an apprentice yet, and she knew how to treat lots of injuries and sicknesses. Sure, she didn’t know them all, but she knew a lot more than most of her Clan! Why wouldn’t StarClan choose her? She was perfect for it!

The comments got more and more frequent, especially now that her apprentice ceremony was any day now. Why did her Clanmates want to hurt her like that? Couldn’t they see how every time they said something like that, her whole day was ruined? It felt like they took every chance to bring it up!

“Whisperkit,” Minnowscale murmured, amber eyes dark pools of sympathy. “I’m just trying to…prepare you. It’s never a guarantee what you’ll be; I don’t want you to be crushed, sweetheart. You’re so excited, playing all these games…”

“Thanks, grandma.” Whisperkit hissed, pawing the dried leaves she had collected closer, careful to sheathe her claws so she didn’t shred them. “You know, I bet Stormpaw and Waterpaw didn’t hear all this when they were kits.”

“They weren’t hoping for anything specific,” Minnowscale stood and tried to lay her tail over Whisperkit’s back, but she shot her a glare and the elder drew her tail away. “I’m just looking out for you. Please don’t be so sour, little minnow…”

Sweetheart. Little minnow.

She was being so condescending!

“Maybe they weren’t!” She snapped, ears flat against her head. She was aware now of burning gazes on her pelt, as her relaxing Clanmates heard the commotion. She tried her best to ignore them, baring her teeth at her grandma, who just looked…sad. “But, look at them! Stormpaw’s great in the forest, he’s a perfect hill dweller! And Waterpaw’s a great swimmer and always comes back with a fish! She’s a perfect water dweller! And I’m good with herbs! I’m a perfect medicine cat!”

Lashing her tail, Whisperkit hurriedly picked up the dried leaves, careful not to clench her teeth and ruin them. She scurried back to the big boulder where Fishkit was waiting for her, eyes burning with unshed tears as she flew past her Clanmates who were staring at her enough to practically burn holes through her pelt.

Fishkit was completely knocked out, softly snoring in the shadows of the boulder where Whisperkit had left him. She let go of the leaves, letting them flutter down to the ground as she drooped, a heavy lump like a stone dropping in her gut. She had been having so much fun until her grandmother had ruined it…she curled her lip and snarled to herself, peering behind her to see Minnowscale had disappeared. The camp felt uncomfortably quiet; the murmurs of conversation and purrs of relaxation had stopped altogether.

Whisperkit hated the tension in the air. She hated that Minnowscale did that in the middle of camp, in front of every cat! She was so embarrassed and hurt but she forced herself not to cry as she shook Fishkit awake with a firm paw.

“Fishkit! Wake up!” She demanded just loud enough to make him groan softly and open his eyes. “I have your treatment!”

“Mm…right,” the silver tabby blinked to clear the sleep from his eyes, presenting his ‘sprained’ leg to her. “Do your thing.”

Whisperkit felt his soft leg again with a paw, before bending her head down to grab one of her pretend elder leaves. She began chewing it up, wincing at the bitter taste that pooled at the back of her throat. Luckily, since the leaf was dying, not much juice seemed to be left in it, making it a little less yucky to chew up into a pulp. Once she was satisfied with how much it was chewed up, she crouched and licked it onto Fishkit’s leg, the poultice sticking easily to his fur. She sat back up once she was finished, swiping her tongue across her teeth to try to dislodge the leaf bits that got stuck between them.

“Okay, now to keep it on…” Whisperkit grabbed another leaf from her small pile, swallowing against the lingering bitterness in her mouth. She bent down and used her tongue to press the leaf to the poultice, making it stick to secure the paste as best as she could. Usually, cobwebs or leaf wraps would be used for that sort of thing, but she didn’t have anything other than these little leaves with her at the moment.

Fishkit scrunched his nose as he looked at his leg. “That’s kind of gross.”

“It’s how you heal sprains!” Whisperkit used her tail to sweep away the last few leaves she hadn’t needed to use. “That’s what me and Rockleap will have to do if you actually sprain your leg.”

“Still gross,” Fishkit sat up, his treated leg sticking out at an angle. “Is the game over? Can I take this off now?”

“At least keep it on for a little while!” Whisperkit grumbled. “I had to find leaves and everything! It’s not easy being a medicine cat!”

“Okay.” Fishkit sighed, though he didn’t look at all devastated or bothered. “I’ll keep it on for a little bit.”

Whisperkit nodded approvingly. She smacked her jaws, still tasting the bitterness of the leaf juice. When she focused, she could hear now that the noise of the Clan had picked up again, and her shoulders she didn’t even know she had tensed relaxed. Now that she had played her game with Fishkit, she had nothing else to focus on but Minnowscale trying to have the ‘don’t get your hopes up’ talk. Her eyes began to burn again and she slumped, backing further into the shadows of the mossy boulder.

Fishkit was eyeing her now; she could see his curious look in the corner of her eye.

“What’s wrong?” The tom got to his paws, shuffling closer. He stuck his ‘treated’ leg out at an angle.

For a cat as lazy and sleepy and distant as Fishkit was…he was always there when Whisperkit needed someone. She sniffled and moved close enough to make their pelts brush. In the two moons since she had been in CascadeClan, Fishkit had comforted her through this exact thing countless times.

He already knows, Whisperkit thought miserably as she felt his tail brush against her back. No cat can keep their words to themselves!

“My frog-brained grandma!” Whisperkit finally spat out, sniffling again and fighting back the hot tears that threatened to well up and spill. “She was all sweet and interested in me playing Medicine Cat, but then she had to ruin it!”

Fishkit silently leaned against her.

“Rockleap thinks I’m going to be his apprentice! My mom and most of the Clan do too!” Whisperkit fiercely blinked away the tears starting to well up. “Why can’t she? And everyone else who doesn’t believe in me? This is my future! What I’m gonna do my whole life! They’re so mean! Don’t they trust StarClan to make the right choice?”

Fishkit was still silent, so Whisperkit sighed heavily, shoulders sagging.

“It’s okay,” Fishkit finally spoke, voice soft and low. “I think you’ll be a really good medicine cat. You fixed my leg really good.”

Whisperkit gave a wobbly smile. He wasn’t the best with emotional words, but it still made her feel a whole lot better, and meant a whole lot. “Thank you.”

She sat in the shadows with Fishkit for a while longer, until he settled, leg sticking out, and dozed off again. Whisperkit fell into a crouch, breathing slow as she watched her Clanmates leave and return from patrols and chat warmly with one another, her outburst and the tension forgotten. As her eyes were starting to droop, she spotted a familiar white pelt at the crevice in the rock wall that led into the camp and hurriedly got to her paws.

Mom!

Behind her mother was Fallstar, blue-grey tabby pelt sleek and well groomed. He passed his deputy and purred greetings to his relaxing Clanmates. Spraywhisker looked around, blue-tinted whiskers twitching, before her gaze settled on the mossy boulder. She squinted into the shadows, smiling as she spotted Whisperkit.

Whisperkit nearly slipped on the stone underpaw as she hurried to her mother, sending bits of sand spraying behind her. She purred fiercely as she threw herself against her mother’s soft chest, breathing in her scent of creek stones and ferns.

“Little minnow!” Spraywhisker purred warmly, touching her nose to Whisperkit’s head. “I’ve missed you all day!”

“Where were you?” Whisperkit peered up at her, eyes wide. “You and Fallstar were gone for so long!”

“We went to talk to Boundstar,” her mother used her tail to usher her along, guiding her to a quiet corner near the apprentice’s den. A little stream of water trickled from a hole in the rock, pooling into a dip in the stone. Whisperkit stepped over it and settled beside her mother as she sat. “He was kind enough to share prey with us.”

“Why did you need to go talk to him?” Whisperkit asked, puzzled. Boundstar was the leader of DeerClan if she remembered right; they shared a border with CascadeClan. She couldn’t imagine what they needed with DeerClan.

“A hunting patrol saw a sick squirrel in the woods acting strange yesterday,” Spraywhisker leaned over, using her tongue to smooth the fur between Whisperkit’s ears. She squeaked lightly in protest. “We wanted to warn DeerClan. Sick prey isn’t safe to eat. We wanted to warn them to be safe with what they catch in their forest. We got caught up chatting and sharing prey and stayed longer.”

“Oh.” Whisperkit shuffled closer, pressing into her mother’s warm side. She was a really good deputy. It was great she and Fallstar were looking out for their neighbors.

Spraywhisker eyed her for a moment. “Is something the matter, little minnow?”

That obvious? Whisperkit nodded, shuffling her paws.

“What is it?” Her mother frowned, face darkening with worry.

“I was playing Medicine Cat with Fishkit and grandma said something again,” Whisperkit murmured, ears flattening at the memory. “It hurt my feelings.”

Spraywhisker exhaled sharply, and when Whisperkit peered up she could see a glare on her face as she stared at the shadowy elders’ den across camp. A soft growl rumbled in her throat, and she leaned down to nuzzle Whisperkit’s cheek.

“I’ll talk to her,” she sighed, bitterness heavily dripping from her tone. “My mother is persistent. But StarClan knows all, and I’m sure they know you’re the future medicine cat of our Clan.”

Whisperkit felt warmth bloom in her chest at her mother’s confidence, and she happily touched her nose to her mother’s. “Thank you, mom.”

Spraywhisker’s angry expression softened. Her eyes brightened after a moment, and her tail started to eagerly thump the ground, stirring up sand. Whisperkit tilted her head curiously.

“Almost forgot! I have a surprise for you!” Spraywhisker purred with delight, whiskers twitching.

A thrill went through Whisperkit’s paws. “A surprise?”

“Yes! A little fish told me…” she leaned close, a grin spreading across her face. “Agaria and her kits are coming for your ceremony!”

Whisperkit gasped, a squeal tearing itself from her throat.

Agaria! Rain! Star! They’re coming?!

She didn’t think they could make it! It was such a long trek from their territory to CascadeClan! Were they really going to walk that far just to see her ceremony?! Joy fluttered in her belly like butterflies, and she jumped to her paws, spinning in circles and squealing, not even bothered when her paw slipped into the little pool of water next to her.

Spraywhisker watched her spin with fondness, laughing softly as she stuck out a paw to get her to stumble to a halt. She felt dizzy as she blinked up at her mother, giddy and warm and full of what felt like bubbles. She had thought her day was ruined, but now it was so much better than it was before Minnowscale had said anything! This was great news! The best news!

“Agaria sent a good friend ahead to tell the dawn patrol this morning. They’ll be here in two sunrises; just in time for your ceremony.”

“I’m so excited!” Whisperkit gasped, feeling like she could explode with her excitement. “I can’t believe it!”

Her ceremony was so soon! And she’d get to see Agaria and her kits again! She hadn’t seen them since she was brought back to CascadeClan!

“Maybe I should have waited to tell you,” Spraywhisker shook her head, laughing fondly. “You’ll be impossible to get to sleep tonight.”

“Mhm!” Whisperkit giggled, knowing it was true.

She couldn’t wait. Not even Minnowscale’s doubt in her could damper her excitement now.

#warriors #warrior cats #warriors oc #warriors fanfiction #warrior cats oc #fanfiction #fallen #chapter #whisperkit #cascadeclan #warrior cats fanfiction

[warriors-fallen]

CHAPTER TWO: [NIGHTKIT]

Green eyes glinted in the low light that shined at the yawning entrance to the tunnel. Mostly hidden in shadow, a tiny black kit’s gaze was focused intently on a large brown spider. The creature lay incredibly still, and Nightkit didn’t dare to move. She kept her breath even and quiet, as if breathing any heavier would make the spider scurry away. The little hairs along its body glittered faintly in the little light that it was perched in. One long leg twitched for just a moment, and Nightkit held her breath.

Wiggling her haunches, Nightkit braced herself. She focused all her attention on the spider, and as quick as she could muster, she pushed off with her hind legs and pounced at the eight-legged creature. Her front paws splayed as she slammed them down, but with a squeak of dismay she realized she had landed just short. The spider immediately darted away, so fast Nightkit nearly lost sight of it. It took her a moment to see it as it scurried beyond the tunnel, out into the light of the BurrowClan camp.

With a squeal, Nightkit gave chase, paws skidding on the ground for a moment before she steadied herself. As she burst into camp, she saw it was mostly empty, save for two cats who were chatting in the shadows at the edge of the camp. She recognized them as Roottail and Swiftstreak. The cream and brown siblings paused their chatting, matching brown faces looking up as they noticed Nightkit. Nightkit stopped paying attention to them after that, focusing again on the spider. She pushed herself to go a little faster, so close to catching it…

Then it suddenly took a turn, and Nightkit nearly slammed face-first into a camp wall. Squeaking, Nightkit stumbled backwards and fell back on her haunches. Panting heavily, she shook herself and turned back away from the wall. To her immense frustration and disappointment, she could no longer see the spider.

It’s half the size of my paw! How did I lose it?!

Puffing, the kit padded forward and tried to catch sight of it. But despite how impossible it seemed, the big spider was no where to be seen.

“Fox-dung!” Nightkit whined aloud. She had really wanted to catch it! She had never seen a spider so big! She wanted to prance around with it and show off her successful hunt!

“Hey, you almost had it!” Roottail’s friendly voice piped up, and Nightkit turned to see the she-cat had approached her. Her brown tail gestured as she spoke. “That was really good! It looked like you were chasing a rabbit, not a spider!”

“Yeah!” Swiftstreak chimed in, padding up behind his sister. The darker cream stripes along his body were paler in the dappled sunlight cascading down from above. “That was really good form. I know I didn’t chase that well when I was your age!”

“Thanks,” Nightkit was warm under the praise of her Clanmates, feeling much better about her failure now. Roottail and Swiftstreak were burrow hunters! They knew a lot about hunting, so their praise was extra nice! “If I ever see it again, it won’t escape twice!”

“That’s the spirit!” Roottail purred, reaching out a paw and gently patting Nightkit’s head.

“No spider will be safe with you in the Clan.” Swiftstreak meowed, his voice light and encouraging.

“Yeah!” Nightkit unsheathed her claws and puffed out her chest, trying her best to look fierce. “I’ll hunt down all the spiders in the burrows!”

The two warriors chuckled, eyes shining as they watched her put on her most menacing display.

“Well,” Nightkit sighed after a moment, sheathing her claws and relaxing her muscles. “I guess I gotta go find something else to do!”

Nightkit had been running off and trying to find something fun to do when she had spotted the spider and decided to try to catch it. Foxkit and Quickkit were busy having fun outside with their mom, her dad was off with the other burrowers working, and her mom was busy in the nursery. None of the kits were allowed in there for the day; when Nightkit had awoken that morning, it was to the sound of Ravenhaze groaning and complaining. Her mother had told her it was because the queen’s kits were coming soon, which had really excited Nightkit! While the kits would be super tiny and have closed eyes when they were born, she was excited at the idea of more denmates! But, that had meant all the kits were shooed out of the nursery so the expecting queen could have space and peace.

Warrenstalk had opted to stay and watch over Ravenhaze. Rabbitear had asked if Nightkit wanted to join her and her kits outside, but she had said no because she wasn’t in the mood for going outside. She was very quickly regretting it, though. She had nothing else to do!

Roottail seemed to think for a moment, humming softly and snapping Nightkit out of her thoughts.

“We could play with you,” the she-cat offered after a few more moments of thinking. “We’re not on patrol, we have nothing to do.”

Nightkit perked up. “Really?”

“Yeah!” Roottail purred, Swiftstreak smiling and nodding. “What would you like to do?”

“Can I play Leader?” Nightkit eagerly lashed her kinked tail behind her. Oh, she was so excited! She didn’t usually play with warriors, apart from her family and Rabbitear! “I can be Nightstar, and you two can be my warriors!”

The siblings’ gazes were fond and amused as they glanced at each other.

“Of course,” Swiftstreak bowed his head. “Whatever you say, Nightstar!”

“Yay!” Thrilled the warriors were happy with her game idea, Nightkit puffed out her chest importantly, lifting her chin and standing as straight and tall as she could. She hoped she at least looked a little as confident and regal as Tunnelstar did. “My first order of leadership is…um…”

Looking around, Nightkit spotted a little twig. It must have fell from the plant cover above, or was dragged in by a returning cat. She quickly padded over to it, using her tail to sweep it back to where she had been standing in front of Roottail and Swiftstreak.

“My deputy has been…murdered!” Nightkit cried, sounding as anguished as she could manage. She crouched over the twig, ears flattening against her head as she laid her cheek upon the scratchy bark. “Oh, StarClan, why!”

Swiftstreak and Roottail looked briefly startled at the sudden dark turn, before they gasped and crouched around the twig as well.

“Oh no! Our beloved deputy!” Swiftstreak cried, and Nightkit had to suppress a laugh at how unconvincing his sadness was. He sounded like he had just lost a mouse, not a Clanmate!

“Who did this?” Roottail sounded much more convincing, eyes wide as she sorrowfully stared down at the twig corpse.

“I don’t know!” Nightkit whimpered, before lifting her head away from the twig and glaring. “But, we must find out! Roottail, you are my new deputy. Investigate this murder with Swiftstreak!”

“How come she’s deputy?” Swiftstreak was staring at his sister, who smugly grinned back at him. “She’d be a terrible deputy! She can’t remember where she puts fresh-kill, no way she could remember who she puts on patrols!”

Roottail gasped, expression quickly souring as she glared. “Oh, really? Like you could do better! Just the other day you said you ‘didn’t hear’ Hollowcry asking for help when her paw got stuck in that bush! You just walked away!”

“I didn’t hear her! I really didn’t!” Swiftstreak huffed, and Nightkit quietly coughed. This wasn’t apart of the game anymore!

Roottail opened her mouth to continue bickering, before she glanced at Nightkit. Sheepishly, she bowed her head. “I am honored to be the next deputy, Nightstar!”

“Good choice, Nightstar,” Swiftstreak muttered less enthusiastically. Though his expression was lightening, and Nightkit could guess the siblings weren’t at all serious with their retorts and comments. They looked rather amused as they shared a look, making Nightkit feel better now that she knew they weren’t actually going to fight!

“Now, you two need to investigate! We have to avenge our old deputy!” Nightkit stood over the twig, determinedly lifting a paw and pointing. “Leave no spot unsearched!”

“Got it, Nightstar!” Roottail nodded, looking around before bounding off to a random spot in the camp. She looked back at Swiftstreak, beckoning him over with her brown tail. He quickly followed, and Nightkit used a paw to stir up some bits of dust as if she were burying the twig corpse.

She watched her two warriors crouch and sniff and stalk around, eyes narrowed as they looked out for a suspect. A few times she saw Swiftstreak batting at Roottail’s tail when she wasn’t looking, and she would twist back to cuff his ears. They would both hiss and laugh before going about their search.

After a while of this, Nightkit felt soft thumps in the earth underpaw, soon followed by voices. She perked her ears and peered at one of the dark tunnels that she had seen cats returning from the outside come through many times. Soon enough, five cats appeared.

The first to come into view was Mudrunner, the deputy’s dark brown pelt rippling as he walked. Following right behind was Poolfang. The black she-cat was talking to a sand-colored tom with white, interconnecting stripes who Nightkit recognized as Lizardweb. Then, bringing up the rear, was Rockpatch and Peatpaw. Since they didn’t have any prey, Nightkit assumed it was a returning border patrol.

Nightkit watched the cats fan out and saw Lizardweb pause to speak to Roottail and Swiftstreak, who gestured back at her. Lizardweb glanced at her, and waved his tail in greeting. Nightkit waved her tail back.

Mudrunner plopped down at the base of the cracked boulder at the far end of camp. Poolfang went to sniff at the fresh-kill pile, and Rockpatch joined her a moment later. Peatpaw disappeared down another tunnel.

Hm…

Nightkit grinned as an idea came to her. She quickly trotted over to Roottail and Swiftstreak, who were still chatting with Lizardweb.

“What are you doing?” She snapped at the warriors, instantly earning their attention. “That’s the cat who murdered our deputy! I’m certain of it! Why are you talking to him?!”

Lizardweb looked puzzled, and Roottail giggled.

“Nightkit’s playing Leader,” she explained. “Our deputy was murdered. We’re supposed to find the killer.”

“And that’s me?” Lizardweb’s quiet voice rumbled as he slowly blinked. He shuffled his paws for a moment. “Okay.”

“Get him!” Nightkit screeched, launching at the warrior. He let out a quiet ‘oof’ at the impact, but stayed steady. Nightkit bounced back and hissed fiercely.

“How dare you kill our deputy?” Swiftstreak demanded, rearing back and cuffing Lizardweb’s ear. The other tom let out a little noise at the attack. “Murderer!

Roottail gently swatted Lizardweb’s flanks. The tom finally seemed to get into the game, as the light touch sent him crouching low on his belly. He glanced at the three cats glaring at him and swatting at him, and Nightkit took the chance to pounce and lightly clamp her jaws in his neck fur, careful not to actually bite him. He gasped and made a pained noise, and Nightkit watched as he rolled onto his side and closed his eyes, twitching and then going still.

“We did it!” Nightkit yowled. “The murderer is dead!”

“BurrowClan rejoice!” Roottail cried, and Swiftstreak joined her as he triumphantly put a paw on Lizardweb’s shoulder.

“Okay, good job,” Lizardweb murmured, the tom opening his eyes and gently shoving Swiftstreak’s paw away as he pulled himself to his paws. “You are all very strong warriors.”

Nightkit grinned, lifting her chin high. “We are!”

“That was fun,” Lizardweb began padding away, craning his head to lap at his ruffled shoulder fur. “Have fun with your game.”

Nightkit watched him go.

He’s kind of bad at playing.

Nonetheless, Nightkit had fun! She turned to her warriors, who were giggling quietly.

“You have done well for your Clan,” Nightkit dipped her head, the siblings snapping to attention. “Our former deputy has been avenged.”

“Thank you, Nightstar,” Swiftstreak dipped his head in return.

“It was an honor!” Roottail nodded.

“I think the game is done now, so I’m gonna go do something else!” Nightkit purred, slipping out of her pretend leader mode. “Thanks for playing.”

“Of course!” Roottail grinned, bending down to touch her nose to Nightkit’s ear.

“See you around, Nightstar.” Swiftstreak chuckled, gently nudging her shoulder. He turned and padded off, Roottail opting to veer away and join Poolfang and Rockpatch, who were sharing a sparrow in the sunlight.

Now…what to do?

Nightkit looked around her, a bit stumped on what she wanted to entertain herself with next. Her kinked tail twitched behind her in thought, and she mindlessly started padding across camp, passing by Mudrunner who was now curled up in the small shade that the cracked boulder cast. One amber eye opened as Nightkit passed, before the deputy shut it once more and seemed to doze off.

She continued on, stopping in front of the mouth of a yawning tunnel near the cracked boulder. Her whiskers twitched as she stared into the darkness, and with a small sniff she caught a fresh, growing scent of cats.

Must be another patrol!

Nightkit slid into the tunnel, focusing on the cluster of scents as she followed it. Might as well meet the patrol and say hi, since she really wasn’t sure what to do. Within a few more pawsteps, the jumble of scents started to become clearer and Nightkit could pick them apart. The heavy scent of wet clay and mud mingled with the cat smell, and Nightkit could pick out her father’s, her uncle Digspeckle’s, Sandburr’s, and Dustsneeze’s scents. All the burrowers!

Delighted, Nightkit hurried forward, careful to navigate correctly and not smash face first into a tunnel wall. She felt a bend coming with her whiskers, and slowed down to turn. She started to hear voices, and followed the sound when the tunnel came to a fork.

“I think we’re getting close to the BranchClan border on that tunnel system,” Darkfrost’s voice was rumbling. “I’ll ask Tunnelstar where we should reroute. Don’t want to cause issues tunneling in BranchClan’s territory.”

“Would they even notice?” Nightkit heard Sandburr’s voice next. “Not saying we shouldn’t reroute, I agree, but BranchClan is a…spacey bunch.”

Nightkit stopped where she was as the voices grew louder, waiting for the cats to run into her. She didn’t really know what they were talking about. All she understood was the tunnel talk; she only knew BranchClan as one of the Clans to share a border with BurrowClan.

“I doubt it,” Digspeckle chimed in. “They’re kind of weird, if you ask me.”

A loud sneeze burst through the air, and Nightkit held back a giggle at the familiar, distinctive high-pitched tone of it. She knew who’s sneeze that was by heart!

“Eugh.” Dustsneeze’s voice rose, followed by a loud sniffle. “I need to wash my pelt, I-“

Another sneeze.

“Dustsneeze, we love you, but I’ll never understand why you do this work,” Sandburr meowed with affectionate exasperation. “Your poor nose!”

Before anyone could say anything more, the cats were right in front of Nightkit, and they finally realized her presence.

“Nightkit!” Darkfrost purred, and even in the darkness Nightkit could tell he was smiling. She felt him lean down and bump her cheek with his, and she happily purred back in greeting, not minding the bit of mud she could feel from his cheek.

“Hi, dad!”

“Hey, kiddo!” Digspeckle’s voice called out to her.

“Aw, have you come to give us a welcome back party?” Dustsneeze cooed, sniffling loudly.

Nightkit opened her mouth to respond, but was cut off by Sandburr.

“Very nice to see you, Nightkit, but can we get to camp first? I really need to get this mud off, I’m getting itchy.”

“Right,” Darkfrost chuckled, and Nightkit obediently turned around and moved on as her father gently nudged her. She heard the burrowers’ pawsteps as they all filed after her and her dad, and she delighted at the fact it was like she was leading them around.

I can’t wait to be a burrower, too! Soon I’ll be leading everyone around the awesome tunnels I dig!

It didn’t take long for the cats to be basked in faint light, and soon after pad into the bright camp. Nightkit blinked, screwing up her eyes to adjust to the light after having been bathed in darkness for a little while. She stumbled forward while she adjusted, it not taking more than a few heartbeats for her to be able to fully open her eyes. The burrowers had made their way out of the tunnel too, all in various stages of being covered in mud and dust and tiny bits of clay.

Dustsneeze looked particularly…dusty. Her brown tabby pelt was looking pale with the amount of dust and speckles of dirt that was gathered on her coat. Her eyes were watery, and she sniffled loudly again, face screwing up as she visibly held back another sneeze. Sandburr came up beside her, her own rough sandy-brown fur caked in spatters of mud. She sympathetically laid her dirty tail over Dustsneeze’s back. Dustsneeze gave her a half-hearted look of some kind, and Sandburr made a funny expression as she seemed to swallow back a laugh.

Nightkit squealed as Digspeckle suddenly swatted her haunches and spun her around, looking up into his white face as he stuck his tongue out at her. His white-speckled black pelt was the least dirty of all the burrowers.

“How’s my favorite stinker?” Digspeckle teased, and Nightkit let out a loud squeak that turned into a giggle as he cuffed her over the ear and ruffled the fur atop her head with a dirty paw. “Causing all kinds of trouble in the tunnels?”

“Nuh-uh!” Nightkit protested, still giggling as her uncle bopped her on the cheek, darting his paw back when she tried to swat at it. “I was being good!”

“Hmmm…” Digspeckle stared at her incredulously, turning to look at his brother who had been watching the interaction with a very soft fondness. “Do you think she’s telling the truth? I got a feeling she was up to all kinds of trouble…”

“I wasn’t!” Nightkit protested, taking the opportunity to reach up and swat her uncle, who gasped.

“See! She just hit me! She’s clearly guilty!”

“Nooooo!” Nightkit squeaked.

“That did look pretty troublesome,” Darkfrost nodded seriously, white ears twitching as he thought for a brief moment. “If Nightkit’s causing trouble…I’ll have no choice but to…”

He lowered himself just a bit, dramatically and slowly stalking towards Nightkit.

Nightkit jumped back, immediately recognizing that pose. “Nuh-uh! No crazy rabbit!”

Darkfrost grinned, wiggling his haunches.

“Uh-oh,” Digspeckle watched as his brother crept forward. “The crazy rabbit’s come out! You’re in big trouble!”

Darkfrost sprung forward before Nightkit could do anything, and she squealed in protest as she was gently knocked onto her back, flailing her paws as her father crowded over her, making weird little squeaking noises as he batted her around between his paws like she was a big, awkward moss-ball.

“Noooo!” Nightkit wailed, using her hind legs to kick at Darkfrost’s belly. Amusement was bubbling in her chest as she was shaken and batted, and she tried her hardest not to laugh as she flailed. “Stop it, dad!”

“There’s no dad!” Darkfrost’s voice deepened menacingly, and he grinned as he rolled onto his side, wrapping his front paws around Nightkit to drag her with him, the two beginning to tussle and roll around on the camp ground. “There’s only crazy rabbit!”

Nightkit wailed again, before she burst out laughing, wrapping her paws around her father as they wrestled and play fought. Her dad’s big, muddy paws were gentle as he kicked at her and there was no pressure behind his teeth as he bit her ear. His rumbling laugh seemed to vibrate Nightkit’s entire body as she growled and used her hind legs to batter at his soft belly.

After a moment, Darkfrost finally detached, panting. Nightkit found herself panting too, springing to her paws and sticking her tongue out at him. As much as she wailed in protest when her dad went ‘crazy rabbit’ mode, she loved it when her dad acted all silly like that. It was so much fun!

“That looked fierce!” Nightkit turned to see Digspeckle, who had sat down to watch his brother and niece tussle and play. “I was on the edge of my paws!”

“She’s starting to wear me out,” Darkfrost puffed. “It’s getting harder to hang onto her! Stop growing so fast, Nightkit!”

Nightkit giggled as he nudged her. “But I wanna grow! I wanna hurry up and be a burrower!”

“That’s the spirit!” Digspeckle got to his paws, stretching one hind leg behind him.

“Still wish you didn’t grow up so fast,” Darkfrost touched his nose to Nightkit’s ear. “It feels like just yesterday you were a tiny little kit!”

Nightkit craned her head to touch noses with her dad. To her, it felt like forever ago since she was super small! She barely remembered opening her eyes for the first time, it seemed so long ago now! Though she guessed time moved a little different for grown cats. She couldn’t count how many times she heard an adult say ‘it seems like just yesterday…’!

“I’m gonna go join Dustsneeze and Sandburr,” Digspeckle jerked his head toward the tunnel Nightkit had seen the border patrol come through earlier. “You wanna come?”

Darkfrost took a quick look over his mud-streaked pelt, before nodding. “I better. I’d rather the creek than trying to lick this all off!”

Digspeckle laughed and padded off.

“Aw…” Nightkit pouted up at her dad. “Do you gotta? I’m gonna be bored!”

He only just got back!

“It’ll just be for a little bit,” Darkfrost assured, though he did look sympathetic. “It won’t take long for me to wash up. I’m sure there’s something you can do.”

He glanced behind her for a moment, then smiled and nodded. “Look! Foxkit and Quickkit.”

Nightkit spun around, indeed seeing her friends as they entered camp. Rabbitear wasn’t with them, and she guessed she had joined her own mother in the nursery.

There’s something to do!

Turning back to her dad, she nodded enthusiastically. “Okay, I’m gonna go play with them! Bye!”

“Bye!” Darkfrost leaned down to touch noses with her, then turned and hurried in the direction his fellow burrowers had gone. Nightkit stood watching him for a moment, before she turned and bounded over to her friends.

Quickkit perked up as soon as he noticed her approaching, skipping over to meet her excitedly. “Nightkit!”

“Hi!” Nightkit purred as the pale grey tom bounced around her, waving her tail in greeting at Foxkit who had remained where she was. The ginger pointed tabby waved her tail back, eyes following her energetic brother’s movements.

“Hi!” Quickkit paused in his bouncing, sniffing at Nightkit’s ruffled pelt. “Were you playing in mud?”

Nightkit twisted to try to see where Quickkit was sniffing. Though it was hard to tell with her black pelt, she could see some small wet spots she hadn’t been paying attention to before.

“No, my dad just got back from burrowing and we played some,” Nightkit shook out her pelt, though she knew that wouldn’t help and she’d have to groom off some tiny bits of dried mud later. “He got some on me.”

“I don’t know how burrowers do it!” Quickkit shook his head, taking to circling around Nightkit with his tail raised high. “I wouldn’t want mud all over me!”

“When I’m a burrower, I’ll get extra muddy just so I can shake it all on you!” Nightkit teased, and Quickkit squealed as he leaped away from her, as if she were already caked in mud ready to get all over him.

“Meanie!” Quickkit puffed, giggling softly.

Nightkit playfully glared at him, before she padded over to Foxkit, who was watching them quietly.

“How was outside?” She asked.

“Good,” Foxkit murmured softly. “I caught a butterfly. But Quickkit ate it before I could show it to my mom.”

Nightkit tried really, really hard not to laugh at the thought of Quickkit snatching away a butterfly from his sister just to eat it. She didn’t know why, but the thought was super funny! She turned to look at Quickkit, who had joined them, and he did look a little guilty.

“I didn’t know you wanted to show it to mom!” He hung his head. “I just wanted to know what butterfly tastes like!”

“What does it taste like?” Nightkit inquired, curious. She had eaten a small beetle before when she found it crawling around in the nursery, but she hadn’t ever caught or eaten a butterfly.

“It doesn’t really taste like anything,” Quickkit sounded disappointed, and Foxkit twitched an ear, rolling her eyes half-heartedly. “So it wasn’t worth it.”

“If it helps,” Nightkit sat down, nodding at Foxkit. “I tried to catch a super big spider earlier to show everybody. But I lost it. So we both didn’t get to show anybody our cool catches.”

Foxkit gave a rare, tiny smile. “Sorry you lost it, though.”

“It’s okay! Roottail and Swiftstreak said-“

Nightkit was cut off by a commotion, and her eyes widened as she caught sight of her mother’s golden brown tabby pelt darting by.

“Clayclaw! Burrowpelt!” She was yowling, stopping in front of the tunnel that led into the medicine cats’ burrow. “Come quickly! Ravenhaze’s kits are coming!”

Clayclaw quickly appeared, his grey pelt dusted in scraps of moss, his eyes a bit cloudy like he had just woken up from a nap. His dark grey undercoat and paws made him blend a bit easier into the darkness of the tunnel.

The medicine cat nodded, turning to look behind him.

“Burrowpelt! Bring some wet moss and a stick for Ravenhaze to bite down on!” He ordered, before he and Warrenstalk pelted away to the tunnel that led to the nursery.

“The kits are coming!” Nightkit squeaked excitedly, looking back at her friends. Quickkit looked like he was going to explode from excitement, while Foxkit’s quiet excitement was much more contained.

“Oh! I wonder what they’ll look like!” Quickkit thumped his tail against the earth, pacing.

Nightkit watched as Burrowpelt appeared, holding a clump of wet moss and a small stick in his jaws. The brown tabby wasted no time in hurrying off after Warrenstalk and Clayclaw.

I bet they’ll be so, so cute!

“The kits are coming?” Nightkit looked to see the tortoiseshell pelt of Hollowcry, who had just arrived in the camp. Her eyes glittered with excitement, and she looked to where Mudrunner was tucking into a mouse near the fresh-kill pile.

“Congratulations!” She called, making the deputy look up. Nightkit saw Tunnelstar coming from the elders’ burrow, his own eyes glimmering at the news of the arriving kits.

“Thanks,” Mudrunner mumbled, looking away to the side.

            I didn’t know he was the dad! Nightkit blinked, puzzled. He’s never come to visit Ravenhaze.

“It’s always wonderful news when kits are born,” Tunnelstar rumbled, his powerful voice seeming to boom all around the camp clearing. His muscles rippled under his pelt as he padded to the center of the camp, nodding his head to the nursery tunnel. “It’ll be great to welcome Ravenhaze’s kits to the Clan.”

Nightkit couldn’t help but to feel extra small when Tunnelstar was around. He was so big, so powerful! She was in awe of the leader every time she saw him. She had heard so much about how great of a leader he was! She remembered the amazement she had felt when she had tottered into the camp for the first time, blinking up at the big tom as he warmly welcomed her to the Clan.

By now, many of her Clanmates were gathered in the camp, eagerly chatting about the news of the new kits. They all kept glancing at the nursery tunnel, awaiting the news. Mudrunner had hastily shoved the rest of his mouse over to Swiftstreak who had approached him, before scurrying off out of camp. Nightkit was further puzzled, but she didn’t focus on it long.

Quickkit was still pacing, and Foxkit settled down, watching her brother with lidded eyes. Nightkit wasn’t sure what to do; she couldn’t focus on a game or anything when she was so excited about the new kits, and she didn’t wanna lay down and maybe nap in case she missed the announcement that they were born!

After what seemed like ages, Burrowpelt emerged and padded into camp. He had nest scraps clinging to his tail, and he lashed it to detach them. Cats started to ease forward and cluster around him eagerly.

“Are the kits here?”

“How many?”

“Is everything well?”

“The birth went perfectly,” Burrowpelt announced, and the cats in camp all let out little cheers and purrs of delight at the good news. “Ravenhaze has had three healthy kits.”

“Three!” Nightkit squealed. Oh, she couldn’t wait to see them! She hoped she was allowed back in the nursery soon!

“Yay!” Quickkit squeaked, eyes shining happily. “I’m gonna show them all the best games when they’re old enough!”

“We’ll be apprentices by then,” Foxkit pointed out.

“So? I’ll still play with them!” Quickkit spun in a circle. “Like how Peatpaw plays with us!”

“I will, too!” Nightkit purred. She couldn’t wait!

The Clan was bustling and happily talking about the news. Nightkit was just watching and listening, just as thrilled, when she spotted her mother out of the corner of her eye. She quickly got to her paws and bounded over.

“Hi, hon!” Warrenstalk greeted. Her eyes were bright.

“Are the kits cute?” Nightkit weaved under her mother’s soft belly for a moment in her excitement. “When can I see them?”

“They’re beautiful,” Warrenstalk purred, sounding absolutely delighted. “And very cute. You can come see them now, but you have to be very, very quiet, okay? Ravenhaze is very tired and needs her rest.”

“Okay!” Nightkit nodded, excitement tingling in her paws.

“Foxkit, Quickkit,” Warrenstalk beckoned the kits over, who quickly padded up. “Would you like to come see the kits? You have to be very quiet, though, so Ravenhaze can rest.”

“Yes, please!” Quickkit squealed, nodding determinedly. “I’ll be so quiet!”

Foxkit didn’t say anything, but Nightkit could tell by the flicking of her tail-tip she was pretty eager herself.

Warrenstalk nodded, smiling, and led the way into the tunnel that led to the nursery. The short walk felt like ages to Nightkit; she really, really wanted to see the new kits! She felt Quickkit’s warm, excited puffs of breath fanning over her haunches and tail behind her.

Finally, Nightkit saw light and forced herself to pad softly after her mother as she emerged into the nursery. It was incredibly quiet, and smelled very milky. Nightkit bustled past her mother to crane her head to look at Ravenhaze’s nest. The queen looked less plump now, her black and brown pelt a bit messy. She was asleep, and Nightkit could make out three tiny bodies bundled and suckling at Ravenhaze’s belly.

They’re so tiny! They’re so cute!

Warmth pooled in Nightkit’s chest, and she felt Quickkit fidgeting beside her, surely struggling not to run around with his excitement. Foxkit’s eyes were wide, focused on the kits.

Nightkit looked around the nursery, spotting Clayclaw murmuring something to Rabbitear and Wildrunner, who were sitting nearby. The medicine cat bent down and grabbed the moss Nightkit guessed was the same moss Burrowpelt had brought. He waved his tail at the kits and Warrenstalk before disappearing down the nursery tunnel.

Warrenstalk used her tail to gently guide Nightkit closer, Foxkit and Quickkit following. They stopped about a few pawsteps away, and Nightkit eagerly peered closer at the kits now that she could see them better.

One was black, one had a brown tabby coat, and one was a dark grey with a paler undercoat. They were all super fuzzy looking, with closed eyes and very tiny ears. Their tiny tails stuck straight out like little twigs as they kneaded at their mother’s belly, suckling softly. Nightkit felt her heart squeeze from the super cute sight. She wondered if they had names yet.

Looking up at her mother, Nightkit could see her shining eyes were filled with fondness and longing. She was intently gazing at the new kits, in a way Nightkit hadn’t ever seen from her mother before.

She had an idea of what it was after a few more moments.

Nightkit was called her parents’ little miracle, because they didn’t think they’d ever have any kits. Nightkit had been told the story many times; her parents had been told they couldn’t have kits, which devastated them, because they had wanted to have some so badly. For moons they believed it, before one day her mother had stomach pains and went to the medicine cats’ burrow. Clayclaw had told her she was pregnant, and she and her dad were super happy. Then she came along, and everything was good, and they loved her so much.

But she had been born an only kit, and Nightkit was certain with how badly her mom and dad wanted kits, that they would have loved to have more. Nightkit knew her parents loved her more than anything and that she was their little miracle, but it would have been just as great if she had had littermates. Nightkit would have been happy with siblings, too! She was glad she had Foxkit and Quickkit, because otherwise she wouldn’t have any other kits to play with!

Nightkit stepped closer to her mom, leaning her head against her shoulder. Warrenstalk snapped out of her trance to gaze fondly down at her.

She wasn’t sure if her momma would ever have any more kits, but she was glad Ravenhaze’s new litter delighted her mom so much.

Standing there, gazing at the cute new kits, Nightkit felt her heart swell. She was certain BurrowClan was the best Clan to grow up in, and was excited for the new kits to learn that, too.

#warriors fanfiction #warriors oc #warrior cats oc #fanfiction #fallen #chapter #warriors #warrior cats #nightkit #burrowclan #warrior cats fanfiction

[warriors-fallen]

CHAPTER ONE: [NIGHTKIT]

Tiny paws silently crept along the ground as a tiny black kit eased forward in a crouch, her kinked tail twitching eagerly behind her. Her green eyes narrowed, glinting in the soft light beaming down from above. Her target’s pale grey fur was in sight, the little kit rolling around in the soft moss of a warm nest, oblivious to the eyes closely watching him.

Flexing her paws, the black kit narrowed her eyes, focusing as she stalked as close as she could get, whiskers twitching as she watched the other kit roll onto his back and wiggle around as if he were antsy. Bracing her haunches, she pushed off and leapt towards him, her front paws slamming right into his belly.

Squealing, the grey kit’s paws wrapped around her in a tight grip, and the two began to roll around and tussle, dust beginning to stir as they tumbled out of the nest.

“Nightkit!” The grey kit squeaked in protest as the black kit finally pinned him down, a pout growing on his face. “Unfair! You’re bigger than me!”

“Only by a little!” Nightkit puffed, beaming triumphantly as she stepped off of Quickkit, giggling as he sat up with his fur all messy. He giggled with her, reaching out a paw and swatting at her muzzle.

“I snuck up on you good, didn’t I?” Nightkit leaned away from Quickkit’s paw. “I’ve been practicing my stalking! My momma showed me some tricks the other day.”

“I didn’t see you!” Quickkit confirmed, tail beginning to thump behind him. Nightkit always swore instead of blood he had only energy inside him. He was always moving!

“I-“ Nightkit began.

“Please be quiet!” An irritated, hoarse groan cut her off, and Nightkit turned to look at the black and brown she-cat half-hidden in shadow at the far end of the nursery. Her swollen belly heaved as the she-cat turned in her nest, eyes narrowed at the two kits. “I can’t get any sleep!”

“Sorry, Ravenhaze!” Nightkit squeaked, snapping her mouth shut when the further noise earned her a harsher glare. She hung her head and shuffled her front paws, glancing at Quickkit who was looking similarly crestfallen at the scolding.

Ravenhaze is always so grumpy! Nightkit thought with annoyance. We weren’t even being that loud!

Nightkit got to her paws and opted to slink into the shadows toward where her and her mother’s nest was. The moss was a little cold by now since her mother had left with Quickkit’s mother and sister to stretch their legs, but she happily sank down into it, purring softly at the strong, comforting scent of her mother. She looked out into the nursery, glancing over the smooth, dug out walls and up above at the hole that let light shine in through a cover of all kinds of plants. Nightkit remembered her father telling her that it would let light in that way while also blocking out most of the rain.

The nursery had been dug out wide to leave plenty of room for queens and kits. Nightkit knew, from what she had seen, that it was almost as big as the warriors’ burrow! It never felt cramped to her, even with four queens currently staying in it. If Nightkit focused, she could see where Wildrunner’s nest was close to Ravenhaze’s. Wildrunner had only recently started to plump up, so she didn’t stay in the nursery very much.

Nightkit turned her gaze to the nearest wall where her and her mom’s nest was. While the nest was in the shadows, a little bit of light pierced through and shone faintly on the wall. Dark, little pawprints were clustered all along it. Nightkit peered a little bit away from the wall, even closer to the nest, where one little pawprint was. That one was hers! All the queens had their kits leave a muddy, clay paw mark on the wall, from what her mother had told her. She had wanted to better tell where hers was, though, so her mother let her put it away from the other marks. Her mother had proclaimed it as ‘Night’s Corner’. Nightkit felt warm thinking about it. She had made her mark when she was three moons old, and now she was four moons old! Her paws had grown a bit since then. If she lifted her paw up, she could tell the difference better.

One day my paws will be so big, you won’t even see my mark next to them!

Nightkit purred quietly at the thought. She was going to be a burrower just like her dad and uncle, with big strong paws! She couldn’t wait! She would dig the best tunnels ever!

Quiet voices snapped Nightkit to attention, and she craned her ears towards the entrance tunnel to the nursery. Quickkit, who had been rolling around in his mother’s nest again, also perked up, jumping to his paws and excitedly lashing his tail. As the voices grew, Nightkit recognized them.

Swallowing back an excited squeal when she remembered Ravenhaze’s scolding, Nightkit jumped out of her and her mother’s nest and bounded over to Quickkit, standing beside him. After a few moments, a golden brown tabby she-cat appeared in the tunnel, chatting eagerly with a pale grey tabby she-cat with a folded ear. A little brown tabby kit with ginger points followed, her tail raised high in the air.

“That’s what I was saying! It was so silly-“

“Momma!” Nightkit purred happily, crashing into her mother’s golden tabby fur, nuzzling her chest eagerly. Her mother’s voice was cut off as she laughed lightly, bending her head to lick Nightkit between the ears.

“Hi, sweet thing!” Her mother purred, the soothing rumble making Nightkit feel warm.

“Mom! You were gone so long!” Quickkit was squeaking as he circled his mother, tail still waving behind him. His sister Foxkit had taken his spot in their nest, sitting and smoothing her chest fur with her tongue.

“It was only a little while,” Rabbitear sighed in exasperation, though Nightkit could tell she was playing around by the smile on her face. She watched her son circle around her fondly for a few more moments, before she carefully stepped over him to plop down into her nest beside Foxkit.

“I snuck up on Quickkit, momma!” Nightkit beamed, lowering into a crouch. “I crouched just like this, like you showed me! He didn’t know I was there until I got him!”

“Impressive!” Warrenstalk praised, gaze warm as she watched her daughter creep forward to demonstrate. “You’re already a little warrior!”

“Yeah!” Nightkit squeaked, getting back to her paws. “You think Tunnelstar will make me an apprentice early?!”

Warrenstalk laughed affectionately. “You’re still a little too young. But I’m sure you’ll already be an amazing apprentice when you get there.”

Nightkit huffed, though she enjoyed her mother’s praise.

“Great StarClan, can’t I get any sleep?!” Ravenhaze’s sharp voice made Nightkit flinch. The plump she-cat was glaring from her nest at the gathering of cats, her teeth glinting in the low light as her lip curled.

Nightkit saw Warrenstalk shoot the other queen a harsh look, though Ravenhaze seemed to not be bothered as she puffed and settled further into her nest, tail-tip twitching irritably.

Rabbitear was staring at Ravenhaze herself, pausing in her grooming of Quickkit’s ruffled fur as he had settled in next to her, Foxkit having scooched to make room for him. She cast a glance at Warrenstalk, and the two she-cats seemed to share something silent. Nightkit wasn’t sure what it was.

“Why don’t you three go play in the camp?” Rabbitear offered after a few more moments of silence. “Let Ravenhaze get some peace and quiet for a while.”

“That sounds fun!” Warrenstalk agreed, leaning down to give Nightkit another lick between the ears. “Your father was in camp when we left. He might still be there, if you hurry!”

Nightkit perked up immediately. She nodded eagerly, and Quickkit was by her side in an instant, bouncing on his paws. Foxkit joined them a moment later, quietly looking back at her mother.

“Let’s go, let’s go!” Quickkit squealed, pelting into the tunnel at the entrance to the nursery.

“Bye mom!” Nightkit called as she hurried after Quickkit, bursting into the darkness of the tunnel. She heard her mother softly call her own goodbye, and felt the breath of Foxkit on the tip of her kinked tail.

Foxkit’s always so quiet! Is she even excited to come play?

Nightkit slowed down as the darkness in the tunnel grew, navigating the familiar path. The warm walls of the surrounding earth thrummed softly at her sides, relaxing muscles she didn’t even know she had tensed. She always felt so relaxed and safe in the familiar tunnels and burrows of BurrowClan’s territory; she couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. When she had first learned the other Clans didn’t live underground, she had been so shocked! The outside was fine, she had been up there with her parents a few times, but it felt so open and exposed, and was so noisy with so many smells! She didn’t know how other cats were happy without the comforting darkness and hugging tunnels of the underground. She didn’t even have to look where she was going to get around! Her paws knew where she was, and she was hidden from anything that might want to hurt her.

After a few more pawsteps, light began to show ahead, lighting up the pale grey tips of Quickkit’s ears. He hurried forward, and Nightkit picked up the pace as well. Soft sounds were beginning to fill her ears, and the earth below her paws was gently thumping with the pawsteps of other cats.

The kits soon burst free of the tunnel, out into a large dug out space with a massive hole above, covered with many plants just like the nursery. The warm sunlight shone through the plant cover, casting a dappled pattern on the ground below. Dark entrances of tunnels were everywhere along the smooth walls, leading to burrows and tunnels of all kinds. At the far end, across from the kits, was a cracked boulder the size of two warriors.

Nightkit felt Foxkit brush past her as she excitedly looked around. The camp was so cool! Quite a few of her Clanmates were milling about, chatting with each other or basking in the sunlight. She saw a few cats clustered around the fresh-kill pile near the big boulder, and from what she could tell it was super full! Hunting must have been great!

Hm, now where’s dad…

Looking around for him, Nightkit-

“Oh! Oh!” Quickkit gasped, nudging Nightkit in the shoulder and interrupting her thoughts. He raised a paw and pointed, and she followed his paw. She could see he was pointing at a brown tom with darker brown spots along his pelt; he was currently stretching and yawning with his tail rose high. She recognized him as Peatpaw.

“Peatpaw!” Nightkit immediately squealed, forgetting what she had been doing and wasting no time in rushing towards the apprentice. He always played with them! He was the best at moss ball and Clan Invasion!

The apprentice looked at the kits running towards him, and he gave them a smile, sitting up and yawning again. “Hey, kiddos! Out on your own, hm? Causing trouble?”

“We’re not causing trouble!” Quickkit protested, hopping around Peatpaw. “Ravenhaze was being grumpy!”

Peatpaw winced. “Sounds like her.”

Nightkit nodded seriously. “So we have a duty to do!”

Peatpaw tilted his head, tail flicking out of the way of Quickkit’s paws as the tom kept bouncing around him. “Hm?”

“We left our mommas unprotected! So now we must defend them!” Nightkit announced, eagerly looking up at the apprentice. She hoped he would take the invitation to play! He was so fun! Her paws itched to pounce!

An expression of realization dawned on Peatpaw’s face, before he grinned and narrowed his eyes mischievously. “So, it would be the perfect time to invade, huh?”

“Never!” Quickkit growled, jumping away from him to stand at Nightkit’s side. His tail lashed fiercely, and his pelt bristled. Nightkit matched his fierce stance, seeing Foxkit slowly pad up to join them. She looked a little less fierce, but a soft snarl rumbled from her throat.

“Are you three the only thing stopping my invasion?” Peatpaw laughed, getting to his paws and lifting his head. “BurrowClan must be the weakest Clan ever! I’ll invade, and take all your prey and burrows!”

“Never!” Nightkit yowled, leaping at Peatpaw with her paws outstretched. His soft fur tickled her paw pads, and he yowled as she clung to his shoulder, her claws carefully digging only into his fur and not his skin. He tried to shake her off, but Quickkit nipped gently at his hind leg, making him tumble and flop to his side.

Foxkit growled and rushed over, her paws firmly landing on Peatpaw’s haunches as she tried to pin him down. Peatpaw gasped and flailed, making Foxkit let out a rare squeal as she lost her balance and tumbled on her back.

“We got you, intruder! Surrender!” Nightkit hissed, still holding tight onto his shoulder.

“I will never surrender!” Peatpaw yowled, struggling and wiggling until Nightkit and Quickkit lost their grips. Nightkit yowled as if she were struck, dramatically envisioning scratches all along her pelt. Quickkit panted beside her, quickly getting to his paws as Peatpaw began to rise.

But before he could, Foxkit had launched herself at him again, managing to squirm onto his back and hang on tight. The apprentice screeched, stumbling, and Nightkit and Quickkit quickly recovered to help Foxkit.

Unable to take the onslaught yet again, Peatpaw fell onto his side.

“Oh, no!” He cried dramatically, an anguished look in his eyes. “I underestimated you! I’ve been defeated!”

“Do you surrender?” Quickkit squeaked, his fierce façade quickly turning excited. Peatpaw sighed, looking warily at the kits pinning him down, before nodding sadly.

“Yay!” Nightkit happily detached herself from the apprentice, watching as he shook Quickkit and Foxkit off, both giggling as they slid off him.

“Having fun?” An amused meow sounded behind them, and Nightkit looked behind her to see Rockpatch’s grey tabby coat. He was eyeing his apprentice fondly, and Peatpaw laughed.

“Yeah! Crazy kits.” Peatpaw whacked Foxkit with his tail, making her sneeze as his fur tickled her nose. The sound made Peatpaw chuckle.

“He was an intruder! We defeated him!” Nightkit happily informed the large tom. Rockpatch smiled.

“You did a good job!” He reached out a large paw to gently pat Nightkit on the head. When Quickkit scurried up, he patted him too. Foxkit just stayed where she was, grooming her ruffled tabby and ginger pointed pelt. “You’ll be great warriors.”

Nightkit beamed at the praise.

“Now, Peatpaw,” Rockpatch looked back at his apprentice. “Poolfang and I are going to investigate a faint badger scent we got near one of the breeze tunnels. Would you like to come?”

“Yeah, sure!” Peatpaw perked up.

“Alright,” Rockpatch nodded approvingly, a twinkle in his eyes. “Give yourself a good grooming, and join us by the warriors’ burrow tunnel.”

Peatpaw blinked, looking over his pelt which was severely ruffled from the playing. Looking a little embarrassed, Peatpaw nodded.

Rockpatch chuckled, before turning and padding away to join Poolfang by the tunnel that led to the warriors’ burrow. The black she-cat was sitting patiently.

“Well, I best do that.” Peatpaw nodded at the kits, fondly nudging Nightkit with one paw. “Have fun protecting us from invaders!”

“We will!” Nightkit promised, watching as he stalked a bit away to find a spot to groom.

“What now?” Quickkit was already back to pacing, as if the play fighting hadn’t worn him out at all.

“We could go see the elders,” Foxkit’s soft voice surprised Nightkit, and she turned to her. “They like it when we visit.”

“Good idea!” Nightkit agreed, and Quickkit seemed to agree as well by the way he was already running towards the tunnel that led to the elders’ burrow.

It’ll be nice to visit my grandpas!

“He’s so wild,” Foxkit murmured, and Nightkit fell in beside her as they followed Quickkit more slowly. “I can never keep up. Mom says he’s just like dad.”

Nightkit frowned, reaching out her kinked tail to drape it over Foxkit’s shoulder. Her mother had told her Quickkit’s and Foxkit’s dad had died before they were even born. Before she was even born. She couldn’t imagine not having a dad! “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Foxkit gave her an appreciative look. “I didn’t mean to be sad. I was just saying.”

Nightkit nodded.

“Mom says when she was pregnant with us, her stomach hurt all the time,” Foxkit went on, and Nightkit withdrew her tail. “She thinks it’s ‘cause Quickkit was running circles in her belly.”

“Ha!” Nightkit giggled; she could certainly imagine that! That was such a funny image! “He probably was!”

Before Foxkit could say anything else, Nightkit heard her name being called. Pausing, she peered behind her shoulder, perking up excitedly when she saw a familiar black pelt adorned with white ears.

Nightkit glanced over at Foxkit, who waved her paw.

“You can meet us there.” She simply said, padding on her way. “I’ll tell the elders to wait if they want to tell stories.”

“Thanks, Foxkit!” Nightkit called after her, before grinning and running towards the tom waiting for her.

“Dad!” Nightkit squealed, launching herself at the tom. He smelled strongly of clay and dirt, and judging by his muddy paws and crusty pelt, he had probably just returned from working on a tunnel. He laughed as she collided with him, and she felt his big strong paws wrap around her as he sat down, pulling her into his chest and belly.

“Hi, little miracle!” Darkfrost purred, nuzzling her cheek and making her giggle as his whiskers tickled her face. He cooed at her laughter, his tail coming to wrap around her to join his paws. Nightkit sank into his warmth and hold, feeling like her chest was going to burst with how hard and loud she was purring.

“Hi, dad,” Nightkit smiled, craning her head to look up at her father’s face. “I couldn’t see you earlier! Momma said you were in camp.”

“I was,” he nodded, wiping excess mud off one paw on the ground so he could run it through Nightkit’s fur. “I had to leave for a little while to finish up some work. I’m done for the day, though!”

“Yay!” Nightkit cheered, excitedly shifting on her paws. Now she and her dad could hang out!

Wait! The elders!

She couldn’t hang out with him yet! She had to join Quickkit and Foxkit!

“What have you been up to?” Darkfrost prompted, swiping away a stray loose piece of fur on Nightkit’s shoulder.

“A lot! But can I tell you later? I’m supposed to go see the elders with Foxkit and Quickkit!” Nightkit flicked her head at the dark tunnel that her friends had disappeared into.

“You have no time for your dad?” Darkfrost gasped, a look of anguish and hurt in his eyes. He let go of Nightkit to place a paw on his chest, his ears flattening against his head. “B-but…”

“Daaaad!” Nightkit giggled. He looked so silly! Her father’s expression lightened, and he leaned down to touch his nose to her cheek.

“Playing! Go have fun. We can catch up later. Say hi to your grandpas for me!” Darkfrost nudged her, and Nightkit nodded, eagerly racing off with a quick goodbye.

She wasted no time in darting into the short tunnel that led to the elders’ burrow. It only took a few strides to pop out into the dug out burrow; all of the burrows except the nursery were really quick to get into.

Pale light shone from above through the leaf covering, lighting up the pelts of Foxkit and Quickkit, who were clustered around the three elders chattering away in their soft, feather-lined nests.

“Hi, grandpas!” Nightkit greeted, making two toms look up at her.

“Nightkit!” Gravelheave rasped, his dark grey pelt a little unkempt. His white tail-tip flicked in greeting, and Nightkit trotted up to him to touch noses with her mother’s dad.

She moved on to touch noses with Badgerclaw, her dad’s dad. His white nose stripe and back stripe stood out starkly against his black pelt, making him really look like a badger! Nightkit had never seen one, but she had heard tales of them.

“Nice to see you,” Badgerclaw murmured fondly, and Nightkit settled between her grandpas. “Siltdrop was just telling Foxkit and Quickkit a story.”

Nightkit peered at her friends, paying full attention to a silver tabby she-cat with a dark grey chest.

“…And then, Blazepelt leapt at the hawk! It let go of Rootkit, and Rabbitear caught her!”

Quickkit and Foxkit both gasped aloud, and Nightkit puffed.

“Aw, they were supposed to wait for me for the stories…” Nightkit grumbled, though she didn’t actually mind all that much. It was a story about their dad. “But I guess it’s okay.”

Gravelheave chuckled, tucking his front paws under him. “There’s plenty of stories to hear. You have all the time to hear all kinds of stories.”

Nightkit meowed a soft agreement, half-listening to Siltdrop’s story for a moment, before she sniffed at Gravelheave’s slightly messy pelt. “Do you want help grooming a little, grandpa?”

“That would be sweet of you,” Gravelheave looked at her appreciatively. “You can help with my back. It’s hard to twist back there, and Badgerclaw and Siltdrop are always too sleepy to help.”

“I helped the other day!” Badgerclaw retorted, with no harshness behind his words. “You just have so much fur, it tangles up just sitting there.”

Gravelheave huffed, and Nightkit couldn’t suppress a smile at the elders and their remarks. She sat up and leaned over her grandpa, softly lapping at his dark grey pelt, focusing on smoothing the fur along his back. She didn’t mind helping at all in general, but she could also see it as early training! Apprentices had to look after the elders and help them out, after all. She was just getting a head start!

It didn’t take long to smooth Gravelheave’s ruffled back. It really wasn’t that messy, just a little ruffled. By the time she was done, Siltdrop had finished her story, and Foxkit and Quickkit were chatting amongst themselves about the story. “Dad was so cool!” Quickkit thwacked his tail against the earth, stirring up a bit of dust. “I can’t believe he fought so many hawks! They’re so big!”

“He was the Clan’s best hunter when it came to birds,” Siltdrop rasped. “You have to be careful aboveground. Big birds like to look for anything out in the open. Blazepelt was brave, and didn’t let the birds get near anyone if he could help it.”

Nightkit shivered. No thanks! I’m happy underground!

Luckily for her, when she did go out, she had her parents watching the sky. She couldn’t imagine going outside alone!

Badgerclaw curled his tail close, drawing his tongue across his lips. “Hawk tastes really good. Maybe one of you will grow up to be a hawk hunter.”

Foxkit’s eyes gleamed at that idea, and Quickkit gasped enthusiastically.

“I’d bring ‘em down with one swipe!” Quickkit squealed. “They’d be no match for me!”

“Very brave of you,” Siltdrop purred, though her tone quickly became serious. “But it’s important to remember a hawk can drag away even a full-grown cat. You must not do anything reckless if you see one.”

Foxkit and Quickkit nodded obediently. Nightkit knew that Quickkit could occasionally be a little serious…at least, when it came to situations where he could get seriously hurt.

No way I’d try to get a hawk!

“Oh! Looks like I missed you, Nightkit,” Siltdrop rumbled. “Hello! Would you like a story? I’m sorry you missed out, Foxkit really wanted to hear a story about Blazepelt.”

Nightkit got to her paws, carefully stepping around her grandpas to make her way over to the other elder and her friends. “Oh, yes please!”

“Hm…” the silver tabby she-cat hummed thoughtfully as the three kits quieted down and settled around her, eyes wide and expectant. “How about…a story about the curse?”

“The curse?” Nightkit tilted her head.

“Isn’t that a bit scary for kits?” Gravelheave piped up. “Don’t give them nightmares! I think their mothers would have our pelts.”

“Relax,” Siltdrop dismissively flicked her tail. “It’s not that bad.”

“What’s a curse?” Quickkit asked, fidgeting with his paws.

“It’s something that haunted BurrowClan for many seasons,” Siltdrop began, flicking her ear at Badgerclaw and Gravelheave who looked at her warily. “It brought great destruction. The Clan almost perished completely.”

The kits all gasped, and Nightkit’s eyes widened. That sounded bad! Why hadn’t she heard about something so serious and dangerous before?

“The curse came as cats,” the tabby elder went on. “It happened so randomly, it was impossible to predict and prepare for. Some kits would be born cursed, and bring destruction with them. Cats would mysteriously die all around the Clan, and StarClan would send a warning to try to help us. The curse was beyond them.”

“StarClan…” Foxkit breathed. Nightkit shared her awe. StarClan, their warrior ancestors…they were so elusive!

“Wow!” Quickkit squeaked, eyes wide in horror. “Cats would just…die?! Because of the cursed cat?”

Siltdrop nodded grimly. “So many would.”

“What happened when StarClan sent the signs?” Nightkit leaned closer, her pelt itching with curiosity.

“The signs would tell who was causing the destruction,” the elderly she-cat went on, dipping her head. “Then, the leader would exile the cat. But it wasn’t always simple. Once, almost the entirety of the Clan was wiped out by a curse, before my time. StarClan’s sign was a little too late. But, as you can tell, we’re still standing.”

“StarClan couldn’t take the curse away?” Foxkit tilted her head curiously.

“No, it was beyond them. But they helped however they could.”

“But…what if there’s another one?!” Quickkit gasped, suddenly looking terrified. “What if one of us is cursed, and we don’t know yet?! Is everyone gonna die?!”

Foxkit leaned to comfort her brother, but all it did was make him wail.

“Told you you’d scare them!” Gravelheave scolded, and Siltdrop rolled her eyes. Her gaze softened, and she gently reached out a paw to Quickkit. Nightkit understood his fear. Dread was pooling in her belly. Why hadn’t anyone warned her about curses? She didn’t realize her Clan could be in so much danger!

“It’s okay,” Siltdrop soothed, and Quickkit sniffled. “I wasn’t finished. I was going to tell you about how BurrowClan got rid of the curse once and for all.”

“We…got rid of it? For real?” Quickkit quickly started to calm down, Foxkit letting out a little relieved noise. Nightkit felt herself relax, too.

Thank StarClan! It’s not around anymore!

“For real,” Siltdrop confirmed softly. “Our leader, before Tunnelstar, was Duskstar. I was around when she was alive. She gave a great sacrifice to save the Clan from cursed cats. I witnessed many of my Clanmates die when I was young. But Duskstar saved us.”

“How?” Nightkit whispered. She sounded like a hero!

“She gave up the rest of her lives,” Siltdrop murmured, looking wistful and in awe herself. “She had seven left. But when she lost so many of our Clan, she took action. She went to the Moonfalls with the medicine cat, Eagleflake, to commune with StarClan, and desperately pleaded to ask what she could do. StarClan told her they discovered the power of a leader’s lives could defeat the evil source of the curse. So, she readily gave them all up.”

“Wow!” Nightkit breathed, awestruck.

“That’s so brave!” Quickkit sounded just as breathless.

“That’s so sad,” Foxkit murmured. “I wish it could have been defeated by something else.”

“It is sad,” Siltdrop agreed. “But it saved our Clan. Eagleflake brought back Duskstar’s body, and Tunnelshadow became Tunnelstar. We’ve had no curses for moons and moons. Duskstar truly saved us all.”

“I’m so sad nobody talks about her!” Nightkit frowned. “She was a hero!”

“We do talk about her,” Badgerclaw gruffly pointed out. “We just don’t usually tell kits. It can be a scary story for a cat so young.”

“It wasn’t scary!” Quickkit insisted. “I mean, it was…but we know the curse is gone, so it’s not scary anymore!”

Siltdrop gave a pointed, smug look to the other elders, who both huffed.

“I’m getting hungry,” Foxkit quietly meowed to Quickkit after a moment of silence. “I’m gonna go get some food and go back to mom.”

“Oh! Me too!” Quickkit got to his paws. “Thanks for the stories, Siltdrop! Bye!”

Nightkit giggled as Quickkit wasted no time living up to his namesake, racing out of the elders’ burrow. Foxkit shared an amused look with Nightkit, before slowly padding off after her brother.

“Goodbye!” The elders all called after the kits.

Nightkit got to her own paws. Now that she wasn’t focused on an intense story, she could feel hunger biting at the edges of her belly. “I’m getting hungry, too. Thanks for the story.”

“Of course, dear,” Siltdrop purred.

Nightkit padded over to her grandpas, touching noses with them again. “Oh! Dad says hi, by the way.”

“Tell him hi back,” Gravelheave purred, the sound rough and raspy.

“And that he needs to visit more!” Badgerclaw added. “Him and his brother must think they’re too cool for their ol’ dad.”

His tone was teasing and light, and Nightkit laughed. “I will!”

Bounding off after her friends, Nightkit emerged back into the camp clearing. Most of the cats she had seen out and about were gone now, likely doing their own thing. As she glanced up at the hole above, she saw the light was fading just a little. It was getting close to evening, so most cats were probably finishing patrols or duties for the night.

Some cats were sprawled around camp, sharing prey and chatting. Nightkit saw Foxkit and Quickkit in the middle of the clearing with their mother. Nightkit spotted Warrenstalk next to her, and ran over.

“Hi, mom!” Nightkit squeaked, reaching up to touch their noses together.

“Hi!” Warrenstalk purred, sitting down and patting the spot beside her with one paw. Nightkit obediently sat down. “From what Foxkit and Quickkit are saying, you had an exciting day!”

“Yeah!” Nightkit nodded eagerly.

Before she could go on about her day, Darkfrost came into view with a plump rabbit hanging heavily from his jaws. He was walking over from the fresh-kill pile, and flicked his head. Warrenstalk got up, and guided Nightkit over to a quiet spot where they all huddled down in front of the rabbit.

“Picked just for you guys,” Darkfrost murmured, nuzzling Warrenstalk. She purred, licking his cheek. “The plumpest rabbit on the pile.”

“Thank you, hon,” Warrenstalk looked over at Nightkit. “Wanna tell me and your dad about your exciting day, sweet thing?”

“Yes!” Nightkit eagerly purred, sinking her teeth into a small, soft part of the rabbit’s belly. She ate it quickly, swallowing as her parents dug in themselves. “So, first me and Foxkit and Quickkit defeated Peatpaw…”

After a filling meal and rambling on about her day to her parents, as well as a game of moss ball and some evening sunbathing, all three cats headed to the nursery. From the faint moonlight cascading into the nursery, Nightkit could see Rabbitear and her kits were soundly snuggled in their nest, so she carefully stepped around her. Ravenhaze was sprawled out as much as she could be with her huge belly, thankfully asleep. Even Wildrunner, with her mud stained white and grey splotched coat, was in her own nest near Ravenhaze, a rare occurrence.

Warrenstalk laid down in her nest, and Nightkit snuggled into her belly, sighing as her eyes fluttered shut. She was so sleepy and worn out from her exciting day. She felt Darkfrost curl around her and her mother, and she happily fell asleep, feeling loved and safe between her parents.

#warriors ocs #warrior cats oc #warriors fanfiction #warrior cats fanfiction #fanfiction #fallen #warrior cats #warriors #chapter #nightkit #burrowclan

[warriors-fallen]

PROLOGUE

“I’m hoping they leave soon,” a quiet voice spoke, whiskers twitching as smooth pelts brushed by foliage in the darkness. “I’m getting so hungry I’ve considered just walking right up and begging for food.”

“Good luck!” a pelt brushed against hers, and she shot the dark form an amused look. “You can’t exactly thank StarClan for something from a twoleg.”

“I know,” the pale ginger she-cat nudged the tom beside her. “Always so serious, Smokepelt.”

“I was joking,” Smokepelt murmured beside her, affectionately flicking her ear with a paw.

“You never sound it,” the she-cat teased, taking a deep breath of the chilled night air.

The sky was a deep, beautiful blue that held multitudes of shimmering stars and a gloriously full moon. The mystical light shone atop everything, illuminating gorgeous flowers and vegetation, illuminating every movement on the twoleg worn road ahead of them. It reeked of monsters, an unpleasant touch to such a scene, but it undoubtably smelled like home. It was a constant, a smell always on her mind when she remembered being a carefree kit, and a boisterous young apprentice more eager than anything to grow up.

She wistfully wished for those days to come back- she was getting older told by the annoying ache in her bones and how she was slower and slower on hunts. She had several more moons before she would let herself retire, but she wished that while she was still a warrior she could be just as strong and quick as she was as a younger, excitable she-cat.

“Honeybee?” Smokepelt’s coarse voice brought her out of her thoughts. She grinned at him and leaned into his shoulder, sighing softly. She traced his paler, wispy smoke like patterns down his pelt with her eyes, faintly illuminated in the moonlight.

“Just thinking back to when we were younger warriors. Back before your breath stank.”

“Hey!” Honeybee laughed as Smokepelt thwacked her with a heavy paw. “It’s not that bad!”

The two senior warriors erupted into laughter, looking affectionately at each other for a few moments. They twined their tails and bumped noses, before Smokepelt withdrew and yawned, his yellowish teeth on full display.

“Well,” the tom stood and shook out his pelt, arching his back in a quick stretch. “If you’re so hungry, would you like to hunt?”

Honeybee did feel incredibly hungry- enough for her stomach to churn uncomfortably. This silly night time walk and sightseeing could pause a bit for a mouse or two. The camping twolegs were behind them, and the road was usually devoid of roaring monsters at this time. It was a good opportunity for potentially easy prey.

“Alright,” Honeybee stood and stretched her legs, bumping shoulders with Smokepelt. “I’m sure there’s something running around. Let’s go.”

Smokepelt opened his maw to respond, before he paused and swiveled an ear. Honeybee gave him a questioning look, before her own ears picked up on the sound.

A monster was approaching.

Honeybee was more annoyed than frightened- PathClan was used to this, it wasn’t unusual. They didn’t panic like the cats from other Clans. They stalked along twoleg camping territory and roads with confidence. It was their home. All she had to worry about was the fact the prey nearby would duck and hide at the loud sound, and she and Smokepelt would either have to stalk further off or go back to camp with empty bellies until the morning.

“Mouse-brained twolegs,” Honeybee hissed through her teeth, plopping back down on her haunches. “Ruining a perfectly good night.”

“Are you sure your name isn’t Grumpybee?”

Honeybee rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at Smokepelt, who teasingly bared his fangs and chuckled.

The rumble and noise of the monster was intensifying, and Honeybee flattened her ears. It was one of the obnoxiously loud monsters, then. The ones that were usually filled with equally loud, blabbering twolegs.

The lights flashed around the corner of the road. The monster was going fast. A little too fast. Its wheels were struggling to keep it straight. Honeybee felt her fur bristle, and she went to yowl out to Smokepelt to ensure they both got out of the way in case-

The monster swerved, faster than the cats could blink. Right off the road.

All Honeybee heard was a screech from Smokepelt and a deep roar of the bellowing monster.

And then she was gone the moment the beast slammed into her.

-

It was warm. Certainly a little warmer than it should be near the end of greenleaf, with leaf-fall quickly approaching. But she wasn’t complaining.

A blade of grass tickled her nose, and she scrunched up her face, turning her muzzle away. She was too warm and comfortable to want to open her eyes and properly wake up. It must have been a little past dawn, and she guessed her Clanmates, sympathetic of her older age, decided not to jostle her awake for the first patrols of the day.

Well, good. After all the hunting and hard work she had done for her Clan, she thought she deserved a little rest. Especially when dawn brought with it deep and gnawing aches. She wanted to prolong a visit to Loudrock, the much too overbearing medicine cat, as long as possible.

A paw landed on the top of her head, prodding softly. She grumbled in annoyance, peeking open an eye and expecting to see Smokepelt urging her awake to get the day started. An early riser, he was.

She was instead met with the starry pelt of an unfamiliar spotted cat.

“StarClan?” Honeybee was fully awake now, her amber eyes wide in shock and amazement at the ethereal power in front of her. “But- but why-.”

She saw a flash. She heard the roaring. She felt the hard slam against her.

She was dead.

“Welcome, Honeybee of PathClan,” the spirit smiled softly down at her, a sorrowful look contrasting in its eyes. “It is unfortunate that a reckless twoleg took your life.”

“Smokepelt! Is he okay?” Honeybee blurted out, jumping to her paws. She couldn’t think about her death without finding out if the tom was safe. “Please, tell me he’s okay!”

“He is alive. The monster did not hit him.” The StarClan cat soothed, and Honeybee felt like her legs would buckle from the relief the calming voice brought her. “He will feel grief, but he is still alive.”

“I- I’m glad,” Honeybee breathed, before she let the gravity of what happened sink in. She was dead. She hadn’t gotten to live out her elder years with Smokepelt and her Clanmates…a stupid twoleg who clearly didn’t know how to direct a monster had killed her. She was devastated, to be sure, but oddly enough she felt…subdued. Subdued and unable to break down in front of this cat of StarClan.

“I know you must be shocked from such a sudden experience,” The StarClan cat laid its tail over her own starry back, their brown and white spotted pelt carrying an aura of comfort and peace. “But you are safe here. Your Clanmates will miss you, and you will miss them. But one day, they will join you and reunite with you here. I know you were eager to retire and live out your days as an elder, but you will be just as happy here. There’s endless prey, endless warmth, and endless space. Your kin and their kin are here, and you’ll get to see them again.”

Honeybee felt lulled into a state of peace. Right…right, she didn’t need to mourn right now. There was time for that later. She was in one of the most beautiful places to exist, she should enjoy it all first.

“What’s your name?” Honeybee queried as the StarClan spirit began to lead her away from where she had woken up.

“I’m Squirreltuft,” the brown and white spotted cat purred pleasantly, eyes glimmering. “In life, I was a warrior of SkyClan.”

Honeybee halted in her tracks, gasping in astonishment. SkyClan? One of the five original Clans? Her potential ancestor? The legendary cats who bravely sent their own away to ensure the survival of every cat?

Squirreltuft laughed airily, curling their tail and smiling. “That’s a common response. And because I know you’re thinking it, yes, I am your ancestor, Honeybee. My kin have gone far and wide, and the blood trails leading to me are small and forgotten. But we are kin, all the same. My kits were among the warriors of SkyClan that left the lake to form the Clans you know today. You have my blood within you.”

“That’s incredible,” Honeybee breathed, and for the first time she noticed she was ache-free…and so full of light and energy. Her kin was dazzling, an impressive legend to be told…she was honored to be related to such a brave cat. She couldn’t imagine the pain of the sacrifice they endured, watching their own kits travel far away and start new lives without them.

“I have a lot of questions!” Honeybee squealed despite herself, before she flattened her ears sheepishly. She was acting like a kit in front of a StarClan warrior, one who was an ancestor to her Clan.

“And there’s plenty of time to learn,” Squirreltuft flashed her another dazzling smile. “But first, we need to get you initiated.”

Honeybee tilted her head. Initiated? Wasn’t she already one of StarClan?

“You are,” Squirreltuft mewled, as though they could read the pale ginger she-cat’s mind. “Initiation here is not what you’d think. All it means is that you can access all of StarClan afterwards. It was put into place to make sure no more bad cats weaseled their way into our ranks. They can’t access StarClan if they don’t deserve to be here.”

“Oh…that makes sense,” Honeybee hummed in agreement, though she wasn’t quite sure why StarClan, with all their powers, needed a processing system like that. Surely they’d be able to handle it just fine? But she wasn’t about to argue, she was perfectly fine with it. She knew she was a good cat. Squirreltuft did too. “So…all of this around us is only a small part of StarClan?”

She gazed up quietly at the beautiful sunhigh sky and the soft clouds rolling across it like the soft fluff from kits. All around them was a grassy, lush expanse, with impossibly healthy trees and the wonderful sound of abundant prey squeaking and cawing to be swept up and fill the bellies of joyful, star pelted cats. She could see quite a ways ahead, but she supposed that wasn’t much considering no other StarClan cats were wandering around. It felt empty.

“It’s not even close to all of StarClan,” Squirreltuft flicked their head, gesturing to the possibility of more. “But you’ll be amazed when you see it! We have pools to splash in, fields to run in, soft nests to lay in and see the living as you doze. It only takes a second. Here- watch!”

Honeybee felt a tremble run through her as Squirreltuft’s nose gently touched her cheek, and her vision gave way for the briefest second. She instinctively unsheathed her claws to ground herself, but within moments she could see again and make herself secure.

The two were presumably…underground? Glimmering rocks were all around them, weaving into never before seen twists and patterns that weren’t possible in the living world. A pool of glowing blue and purple water like the night sky gently cascaded like a small waterfall, trickling into small cracks and creating glowing streams underneath their paws. In the middle of the water was a circular orb of some sort, thrumming gently and emitting a soft blue light. It seemed to be made of stars itself.

Honeybee couldn’t help her awestruck face- this was beautiful. She felt an overwhelming sense of tranquility, she could barely recall that she was dead.

But she was. She faltered a little, thinking about the pain it caused both her and her Clanmates…

Especially Smokepelt.

Before she could dwell on it too long, Squirreltuft gently brushed past her and gestured at the amazing sight that made up the glowing water.

“All you have to do is step into the water,” Their eyes gleamed briefly with some sort of emotion Honeybee didn’t really care to notice. “It’s deep, and some cats find it frightening. But I promise it’s safe. All you have to do is be submerged, and before you know it, you’re suddenly in the rest of StarClan! You won’t drown or even feel it, it isn’t like real water.”

Honeybee nodded numbly, wondering how this whole thing worked. Did the water read her actions? Her life? Did it decide based on that? She slowly stepped forward, to the edge of the rock surrounded pool.

What was she worried about before?

She breathed in the misty spray from the small waterfall.

This was amazing. She was happy.

Squirreltuft watched her intently, smiling softly and stepping up to the edge of the pool as well.

“It’s like a little dunk in a puddle,” the StarClan cat purred, dipping a paw into the water. “Don’t worry. You don’t sink right away.”

Honeybee stepped into the liquid- it was cold, but not so much so it would freeze her and chill her skin. She shot a smile back at Squirreltuft, and watched quietly as the other cat stepped into the pool with her, getting nose to nose.

“You’re too kind a cat.” Squirreltuft rumbled, and Honeybee suddenly felt like the water below was ice. “But we can fix it.”

Honeybee was sinking. She was struggling to breathe. Images forced their way into her head.

“You’ll have fun,” Squirreltuft’s soft features were suddenly curled into a snarl. “It’s the best part of my existence to play with those stupidly loyal Clan cats.”

Honeybee desperately tried to escape the overwhelming screeching and death in her head, tried to fight against the image of cat after cat leaping to their deaths with smiles on their faces- she had to get out! Everyone was being lied to! She- she-

What was she thinking again? She looked up at Squirreltuft, and felt her muscles relax as the water met her chin.

“See you soon,” Squirreltuft trilled, baring their teeth and stepping out of the water as it closed over Honeybee’s head.

It all went blank.

#warriors fanfiction #warriors oc #warrior cats oc #warriors ocs #warrior cats fanfiction #fallen #fanfiction #chapter #prologue #warriors #warrior cats

[warriors-fallen]

Allegiances

DeerClan

Leader: Boundstar- Grey tabby tom 

Deputies: Doebranch- Pale brown she-cat with white paws Fernshine- Brown tom with white lower body 

Medicine Cat: Sunberry- Golden tabby tom with stunning pink rimmed eyes

WARRIORS

Fawnyarrow- Dappled brown she-cat with dark tabby stripes pointing in the same direction 

Grasspod- Dark brown tabby she-cat

Leafwhisper- Golden-brown tom with white splotches 

Auburnbush- Dark ginger tom

Bramblewind- White tom with brown and cream sections

Russetcloud- Russet she-cat with fluffy fur and a white tail

Flashpelt- Black tom with a silver back

Redfern- Russet tabby tom

Gleamfur- Silver tabby tom with exceptionally sleek fur

Brackenstep- Dark brown tabby and white tom with dainty paws

Blackwhisker- Lithe black she-cat

Milkbreeze- Cream she-cat with thick fur

[Apprentice: Quailpaw]

Stormbristle- Dark grey tabby tom with white paws and spiked fur

Thrushwing- Brown she-cat with dark brown speckles and white patches along her back

Mapleface- White she-cat with an orange face, tail, and paws

APPRENTICES

Quailpaw- White and brown dappled she-cat

QUEENS

Yewfur- Cream tabby she-cat

[Mother to: Frolickit and Meadowkit]

Weblight- Pale grey she-cat

[Mother to: Flowerkit, Mosskit, Brackenkit, and Yawnkit]

KITS

Frolickit- Cream she-cat with a grey underbelly

Meadowkit- Silver tabby tom

Flowerkit- Pale grey she-cat

Mosskit- Black tom 

Brackenkit- Grey-brown tabby tom

Yawnkit- Black and grey she-cat

ELDERS

Cloudtuft- White, fluffy tom

Robinsong- Brown she-cat with dark ginger belly and chest

Puddlesplash- Dark grey tom with a darker grey lower half

Raystripe- Golden tabby and white she-cat

CascadeClan

Leader: Fallstar- Blue-grey tabby tom

Deputy: Spraywhisker- White she-cat with blue tinted whiskers

Medicine Cat: Rockleap- Grey tabby tom with black legs [Apprentice: Fishpaw- Silver tabby tom]

WARRIORS

[WATER DWELLERS]

Troutstream- Brown and white tabby tom

Creekdapple- Deep grey she-cat

[Apprentice: Waterpaw]

Mosspelt- Black tom with thick fur

[Apprentice: Frostpaw]

Splashfur- Brown tabby she-cat

Dappleheart- Tortoiseshell she-cat with cream patches

Iceswoop- White tom with striking blue eyes; deaf

[Apprentice: Reedpaw]

Bubblebrook- Blue-grey she-cat with a darker nose and haunches

Rainshade- Grey she-cat with black stripes

Lakelily- Brown tabby and white she-cat

[Apprentice: Hailpaw]

Wadefoot- Black and white tom with fluffy paws

WARRIORS

[HILL DWELLERS]

Breezeheart- Dilute tortoiseshell tom

Berrybird- Ginger tabby she-cat

Seedclaw- Grey tabby tom

Briarpelt- Brown tom

Gorsestalk- Bracken-brown tabby she-cat

[Apprentice: Stormpaw]

Twigtail- Brown and white tom

Acornfall- Ginger and white tabby tom

Snowpool- Willow-grey she-cat 

[Apprentice: Whisperpaw]

Dewspot- Pale grey she-cat with darker grey spots along her flanks

APPRENTICES

Waterpaw- Blue-grey she-cat

Frostpaw- White she-cat 

Reedpaw- Black tabby tom

Stormpaw- Dark grey tabby tom

Whisperpaw- Silver she-cat with white flecks

Hailpaw- Blue-grey tom with one white hind leg

ELDERS

Thornscar- Brown tabby tom with long scar across face; blind

Turtlebelly- White she-cat with brown belly

Heronfeather- Sleek pale brown tom

Minnowscale- Silver she-cat with glossy fur

PathClan

Leader: Waspstar- Black she-cat with wispy white markings 

Deputy: Tornflank- Pale brown tom with dark tabby stripes and thin fur

Medicine Cat: Loudrock- Pale grey tabby tom [Apprentices: Dustpaw- Dark brown tom with lighter brown flecks and Rumblepaw- Tortoiseshell and white she-cat]

WARRIORS

Echoflight- Ginger she-cat with darker ginger flanks

[Apprentice: Bandit]

Flintpatch- Black tom

Boulderfang- Grey tabby and white she-cat

Stonemist- Pale grey she-cat

[Apprentice: Roarpaw]

Sheendawn- White she-cat

Silvercloud- Silver and white she-cat

Logblaze- Dark brown tabby tom with white flecks

[Apprentice: Mimi]

Jaggedwing- Dark grey tom with scars littering his back

Beetlebeam- Dark ginger tom with a darker ginger back 

[Apprentice: Raccoon]

Hazegaze- Pale grey she-cat with a striped tail and one blind eye 

Firebreeze- White tom with orange tabby patches

Windwhistle- White she-cat

Sneezenose- Dark golden tabby tom

APPRENTICES

Roarpaw- Ginger tabby tom

Raccoon- Dark grey tom with a black face and tail

Bandit- Black tom

Mimi- Short, dilute tortoiseshell she-cat 

QUEENS

Mumblethroat- Black and ginger she-cat

[Mother to: Strikekit and Wheezekit]

KITS

Strikekit- Black and white tom 

Wheezekit- Tortoiseshell she-cat with a white underbelly and paws

ELDERS

Ashmask- Pale grey she-cat with a darker grey face

Dartleap- Golden tabby she-cat

Tanglepath- Cream-brown tom

Clawleaf- Blackish grey tom

Smokepelt- Dark grey tom with pale grey wisps like smoke

BranchClan

Leader: Birchstar- Pale brown tabby tom

Deputy: Ospreyflash- Mottled black and white tom [Apprentice: Yewlight- Russet she-cat with bright green eyes]

Medicine Cat: Berryleap- Cream she-cat with brown points

WARRIORS

Alderpoppy- Pointed cream tom

Oakshade- Brown tabby tom

Brambleheart- Light brown tabby she-cat with dark brown chest 

Thicketcreek- Grey tom with darker grey stripes along his back and tail

Willowtail- White she-cat 

[Apprentice: Grovepaw]

Leafstripe- Brown she-cat with dark, swirling stripes

Vinefeather- Dilute tortoiseshell tom

[Apprentice: Volepaw]

Twigtail- Pale, dusty brown tom with a thin tail

[Apprentice: Blossompaw]

Squirrelleap- Pale brown tabby she-cat

Spottedflank- Ginger tom with darker spots littering his flanks

Morningpetal- Pale grey and white she-cat

APPRENTICES

Grovepaw- Dark grey and white tom

Volepaw- Grey tabby cat

Blossompaw- Small, dainty, brown she-cat with white legs

QUEENS

  Cherrymoon- Russet she-cat with darker “ring” like patterns

[Mother to: Padkit, Moldkit, Mousekit, Dapplekit, and Moonkit]

  Birchstripe- White she-cat with darker stripes wrapping around her body (Expecting)

KITS

  Padkit- Tortoiseshell she-cat 

Moldkit- Black tom

Mousekit- Grey she-cat

Dapplekit- Russet she-cat with faint ring like patterns and black and white freckles on her face 

Moonkit- Black tom with russet tabby dapples and a white splotch on his chest

ELDERS

Sparrowthroat- Brown tabby tom

Kestrelspeckle- Grey and brown tom with white speckles

Wrenwing- Pale brown tabby and white she-cat

Paleshine- Pale ginger she-cat with a white face and darker ginger spots on her flanks

BurrowClan

Leader: Tunnelstar- Speckled brown tom with white tail 

Deputy: Mudrunner- Dark brown tom

Medicine Cats: Clayclaw- Grey tom with dark grey paws and undercoat 

Burrowpelt- Brown tabby tom

WARRIORS

[BURROWERS]

Darkfrost- Black tom with white ears

Digspeckle- Black tom with white face and white speckles

Sandburr- Sandy-brown she-cat with rough fur 

Dustsneeze- Brown tabby she-cat with a dust sensitive nose

WARRIORS

[BURROW HUNTERS]

Poolfang- Black she-cat 

Rockpatch- Grey tabby tom

[Apprentice: Peatpaw]

Hollowcry- Tortoiseshell she-cat 

Roottail- Cream she-cat with a brown tail and face

Swiftstreak- Cream tom with darker cream stripes and a brown face

WARRIORS

[BURROW SUPPORTERS]

Earthheart- Dark brown and white she-cat 

Lighteye- White and black speckled she-cat; blind

Lizardweb- Sand colored tom with white, interconnecting stripes

Spidernose- Black tom with red nose 

APPRENTICES

Peatpaw- Brown tom with darker brown spots

QUEENS

Ravenhaze- Black and brown she-cat 

[Mother to: Crykit, Sweetkit, and Dawnkit]

Wildrunner- White she-cat splotched with grey and an especially mud stained coat (Expecting)

Rabbitear- Pale grey tabby she-cat with a folded ear

[Mother to: Foxkit and Quickkit]

Warrenstalk- Golden brown tabby she-cat 

[Mother to: Nightkit]

KITS

Crykit- Black she-cat, noisy 

Sweetkit- Brown tabby she-cat

Dawnkit- Dark grey she-cat with a paler undercoat

Foxkit- Brown tabby she-cat with ginger points

Quickkit- Pale grey tom

Nightkit- Black she-cat with a kinked tail

ELDERS

Badgerclaw- Black tom with a white nose and back stripe

Gravelheave- Dark grey tom with a white tail-tip

Siltdrop- Silver tabby she-cat with a dark grey chest

ShadeClan

Leader: Lichenstar- Golden brown tom with a darker underbelly and patches on his legs

Deputy: Spottedjaw- White tom with ginger speckled jaw

Medicine Cat: Marshstem- Black she-cat with grey dapples of varying shades 

WARRIORS

Fernshrew- Small brown tabby she-cat

[Apprentice: Shadowpaw]

Sharpstep- Dark ginger tom

Vixenrook- Thick furred, bulky dark ginger she-cat

Thornpetal- Dark brown tabby tom with white splotches 

Fleetpelt- Black tabby tom

[Apprentice: Swamppaw]

Stumpybramble- Golden tabby tom

[Apprentice: Pricklepaw]

Pinefall- Golden she-cat with darker speckles, ginger stripes

Needlewish- Dark grey she-cat 

Mudfern- Brown tom

Tawnydapple- Ginger speckled grey she-cat 

Thundercrackle- Dark grey she-cat with a striped flank

Frogpounce- Light brown tabby tom with white legs

Bogreed- Black she-cat with a brown tail

APPRENTICES

Shadowpaw- Dark grey tabby she-cat

Swamppaw- Ginger tom

Pricklepaw- White she-cat with spiked up fur

ELDERS

Suncloud- Ginger tabby and white tom

Sootshade- Dark grey and tabby black tom

Pebblefrond- Silver tabby she-cat

CATS OUTSIDE THE CLANS

Agaria- Ginger tabby she-cat with a white chest, paws, and eye splotch 

Star- Black and white she-cat with ginger spots

Rain- Black cat with white tail and one white paw

Sweetie- Fluffy brown tabby she-cat with a blue collar

Aster- Sandy colored tom with a striped tail

Lorain- Black she-cat with a white belly and tail

Duke- Dark ginger tabby cat

Veevee- Tortoiseshell she-cat with a pink, sparkly collar

#warriors #warrior cats #warriors fanfiction #warrior cats fanfiction #warrior cats oc #warriors oc #fanfiction #fallen #allegiances

[warriors-fallen]

Fallen

Fallen is a Warriors fic about six Clans living in a nature park vaguely based on Clifty Falls, Indiana. It follows the POVs of one cat from each Clan, showing their struggles dealing with a manipulative StarClan and their respective Clans' unique cultures. Summary and links under the cut. This fic will include dark themes such as death, abuse, suicide, and the usual themes in the Warriors world. The main characters and some of the other characters were chosen by my friend and QPP respectively.

Long after the reign of Bramblestar, the original five Clans began to shift and falter. Feeling like the Clans were truly going to be snuffed out, the five Clans around the lake sent half of their cats away to find themselves a new home while they stayed behind. There were too many cats, they had to split up if the original five were going to survive. StarClan had foretold it.

Three decades later, six Clans stand strong, their roots far away but not forgotten. Completely loyal to StarClan, they have thrived in a vast nature park.

Their reign won’t last as long as their predecessors, however. For their guiding ancestors that shape their every day lives may not be what they seem.

Nightkit, a BurrowClan kit struggling under the weight of a shocking revelation.

Whisperpaw, a CascadeClan apprentice angered with her star-chosen destiny.

Cherrymoon, a BranchClan queen forced to grapple with the fact her kits are in danger.

Sunberry, DeerClan’s medicine cat anguished over his healing paws not being of his own control.

Vixenrook, a ShadeClan warrior desperately trying to find peace for her and her mate.

Sheendawn, a PathClan warrior with a secret that could leave her outcasted.

Follow these cats as they must dig up the roots of the misery their own Clans and ancestors are bringing upon them; before it’s too late for not just them, but for every cat.

CHAPTER LINKS:

Allegiances

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Other places to read:

#warriors #warrior cats #warriors fanfiction #warrior cats fanfiction #warrior cats oc #warriors ocs #fanfiction #fallen