Got Another One! Another Burning Thistles Piece; Spoilers!

Got another one! Another Burning Thistles piece; spoilers!

@burning-thistles-bt

The beginning of the Dark Forest should have started with you.

CATEGORY 5 SPOTTED BELLY INCIDENT

I know this is technically a positivity blog but today I am full of hate. reblog to bite an exclusionist.

Midnightclan; Moon 2

Cavestar stared out over the camp, sheltered by cave walls, intertwining vines and the occasional thicket of weaved brambles and branches. Midnightclan camp was beautiful, no cat could deny. Cavestar couldn’t enjoy the view though, not with his troubled mind. He stretched, muscles rippling under his dark brown pelt, striped with thick black stripes, before he started down from the ledge that held his den.

With a thud, Cavestar landed on the floor of camp, longfurred tail drifting along the dusty ground and he padded forward. There was something bothering him. Was this a good idea? This clan? He recalled the day he stood before his former leader, calling for cats to join him and leave the wretched place. Few had dared join him. He shook his head. Of course, his former clan was… bad to say the least, but there had been order. Cavestar lifted his yellow-green gaze from the ground and looked over his cats as he slowly walked by. How could he ever protect them all?

He passed Branchdapple, who was watching over Bluffkit and Skykit. He slowed, though he wasn’t moving at all fast before, to hear what they were talking about.

“Bluffkit, how can you NOT be excited?” Skykit mewed, “You’re going to be an apprentice next moon! If it were me, I’d be bouncing off the walls with excitement!”

A purr of amusement escaped Branchdapple. “You already are Skykit!”

It was true, the gray she-kit was hopping around the brown tabby warrior and her white and gray denmate with unrestrained excitement. She fumbled a bit at Branchdapple’s comment and gave the warrior a sheepish grin.

Bluffkit however, didn’t seem all that enthused. “I know Skykit… but I’ll be so lonely! I’ll be the only apprentice in the clan.”

“Don’t think of it like that Bluffkit, think of it like… you’ll be the first ever apprentice of Midnightclan! That’s a big thing! Right Branchdapple?” Skykit turned her blue gaze to the brown warrior, but she was focused on their leader.

“Cavestar! I didn’t notice you! You’d think I would have heard you coming considering those big paws of yours!” A teasing smile played on her face, and Cavestar returned it with a chuckle.

“I suppose that would be the assumption, wouldn’t it?”

Skykit had stopped to look at Cavestar, enthusiasm replaced by a nervous smile. Bluffkit nodded politely to the leader, still not over the apprehension of the lonely apprentice-den.

Cavestar nodded to the group, and started off again, lumbering along. He would have to choose a mentor for Bluffkit. But who? There were several experienced warriors in Snipclaw, Drydapple, and Wildpelt, but how could he know for sure that they were right for Bluffkit? A cat’s mentor could shape a lot about them. He frowned. He wasn’t sure what he thought of himself being in such a position of power.

Cavestar’s ear twitched as he heard Wildpelt and Nutback, his deputy, talking. They were lazing in a rare spot of sun, apparently done with their duties for the day. Hazelspot had her head rested on Nutback’s… well, back. The medicine cat wasn't paying attention to the conversation, and seemed to be lost in thought, though likely not as deep as Cavestar’s by the look on her face.

“Who do you think Cavestar will choose to mentor Bluffkit?” Nutback asked Wildpelt.

“I’m not sure. You never can be too sure with these things.” The older calico she-cat had her white paws neatly tucked under her body. “I’m sure whoever he chooses will be the right cat though”

Nutback nodded then mewed, “When do you think we’ll have more kits in the clan? I mean, I know we’ve only been an official clan for two moons, but I miss having little paws running around!”

“It would also be good for the clan’s expansion. I doubt Torrentclan will soon forget what we did anytime soon… we need more paws if we’re to properly defend ourselves… that being said I’m not sure when exactly we’ll have more kits.. But I’d like to have some myself.”

Nutback and Hazelspot’s ears perked with interest, perhaps the light brown medicine cat was listening after all. “Really?” The gray deputy meowed with interest. “Is there any cat you’d like to have them with?” A mischievous purr escaped from her throat.

Wildpelt shook her head with a small smile. “No, no cat has caught my eye yet. I’d just like to have kits. I’m getting older and it’ll be harder to care for them if I’m an elder. I’d just like to have kits before I retire.”

Nutback nodded. “Well, I’m sure either Cavestar or Acornspring would be happy to surrogate.”

Cavestar turned from the conversation. He liked Wildpelt, but perhaps not like that. He continued across the camp before the thought crossed his mind. There were only three toms in the clan, one of whom was a kit. Cavestar frowned again. He might have to take a mate if the clan was going to grow, even if the idea didn’t appeal.

He continued, an odd squirming in his stomach. He shook his head and finally decided to sit down. He looked up. Across the camp from him was Snipclaw, fixing a patch in the walls with brambles. The white and brown she-cat turned as Drydapple passed, and meowed a friendly hello, which the dilute tortie she-cat returned.

Cavestar's ear twitched. He hadn't even considered checking the walls. He shook his head. How could his clan expect him to lead them well if he couldn't remember to make sure the basic tasks were done? Perhaps he had bit off more than he could chew.

Approaching pawsteps drew his eyes upwards. The fluffy body of Drydapple was before him, her pale yellow eyes staring intently at him.

"You seem troubled." She mewed as she settled on her gray haunches. "What's wrong?"

Cavestar looked at her then sighed. "Is this a good idea? There are so few of us, we have a powerful enemy in Torretclan, and I'm inexperienced. I was never a deputy. How can I make sure this clan is safe?"

Drydapple blinked then rolled her eyes. "You're too hard on yourself Cavestar. You're plenty qualified to lead us. Just look at you and Nutback." The two cats looked across camp at the deputy, still chatting with Wildpelt. "She's energetic, sneaky, and I'd say a little unqualified." Drydapple sniffed before continuing. "Leaders like Riverstar will choose cats who will give their undying loyalty to their leader, with barely a thought of their own; those leaders want cats like Wildpelt. But Nutback, she's always been a rather outspoken she-cat. She'll question you, keep you in line. You'll learn from each other. You make the perfect pair."

Cavestar felt flattered. "I.. thank you Drydapple."

She nodded. "Now about your other worries. They're valid that's for sure. We're still small and vulnerable, but that's expected. You can't expect these things to be perfect immediately."

Cavestar slowly nodded, shuffling his pale paws in the dirt. "I needed that Drydapple, thank you."

The gray and cream she-cat nodded before mewing "Now, if you don't mind I need to make dirt. Scuse me."

Cavestar shifted out of the way, not realizing that he had been blocking the dirtplace entrance. He stood, and shook out his fur, he could do this.

A rustling at the camp entrance made him turn. The pale ginger tail of Acornspring, Cavestar's former apprentice, appeared in the tunnel. The young tom stepped back, head down, pulling a very large rabbit into camp.

Everyone turned to look with awe, and Cavestar felt a swell of pride rise in his chest. Prey was running well, the weather was good. They would survive. Midnightclan was thriving.

Sheep! Which animal should I draw next?