Moonsplash and Shrewfang

Rain kept pouring across the moors as Moonsplash was out hunting. Her fur was by now soaked, but she didn't mind. While she had inherited Lotusflower's beauty, she loved the water. A trait that came from Honeystar's mother Tigresspool [Moonsplash's grandmother]. While most of the other WindClan cats were trying to keep warm in the rabbit burrows of their camp, she was trying t find something to feed her clan. She hoped that one day she would become Deputy, maybe even Leader of WindClan. Finally she detected the scent of some rabbit nearby. She lowered into a crouch as she stalked towards the bush where the scent was strongest. She waited for the right moment and then bolted inside. This caused two rabbits to dash out into the open, and Moonsplash stared pursuing one of them.

Shrewfang stomped through the pouring rain, mud splashing everywhere as he forced his paws down as hard as he could go. Gunky brown liquid landed on his brother's gray and white pelt. "Hey! Watch it!" Northclaw snapped, pulling back his lips to show razor sharp fangs. "Sorry," Shrewfang flinched. Northclaw sighed, "It's okay. I'm sorry for snapping at you." Shrewfang nodded, and ran ahead. Ignoring the mud splashing his brown tabby pelt, he kept running along, tail high in the air. His whiskers were now a brown, bits of harder mud falling as he jumped over a puddle of water, landing nimbly on his paws. He saw a cat, and cocked his head. Why would a cat be out in this weather? he thought. He tried to clean his pelt, but everytime he took a step, his pelt became a murky brown again. He walked over to the she-cat, and looked at her pretty, clean pelt compared to his. He smiled sheepishly, "Are you WindClan?"

~Are any of the other WindClan cats allowed to interfere? xD~

Fernleaf flattened her ears against the lashing rain that flattened her dark brown fur to her sides, and readjusted her grip to slick leaves that made up her leaf wrap for her herbs. She knew that it was ridiculous weather to search for herbs, but elder bark was easiest to gather when the rain had softened it. Water ran in rivulets down her back, and Fernleaf quickened her pace. She caught the traces of Moonsplash's scent and veered slightly to the right. She knew that the young warrior was probably hunting, and didn't want to scare away her catch. Fernleaf scrabbled up the slick, muddy slope and stumbled to an unceremonious stop by an elder bush, her legs covered with sticky mud.

~Of course Sagedapple.~

Moonsplash was so busy chasing the rabbit, she didn't realize the two strange toms approaching her. With a final surge of energy she overcame her prey, and killed it with a single bite. Only after she looked up did she noticed them. Still panting from her chase, she was unable to yowl or anything at them as they came closer. When one of them finally spoke, she noticed how that tom was looking at her. She felt surprised, embarrassed, flattered, and irritated at the same time. "Yes I'm from WindClan!" She finally managed to mew in hoarse voice. Clearing her throat she continued. "And who are you two, and what do want trespassing on our territory?"

Fernleaf hissed softly in annoyance, almost dropping her leaf wrap straight into a mud puddle. Tripping over root tendril, she just managed to find firm footing and safety on the wide, tangled roots of the beech tree. "Clumsy nut," she scolded herself. Pricking her ears, she thought she heard Moonsplash something, but the soft rustling of the heather covered it up. "Must've missed the darned rabbits," Fernleaf muttered. Carefully picking her way down, she wedged herself between two twisted roots and began tugging off strips of silver bark.

"Hello?! We're trying to talk to you!" Northclaw said, clearly agitated as his tail swished back and forth, sending mud flying on Shrewfang. Shrewfang sighed, and shook the mud off his tabby pelt. "Excuse my brother. We're from the Tribe of Falling Darkness, and we were hoping to trade?" Shrewfang said hopefully, letting a weak smile appear on his face. As he sat down, he started to clean the brown muck off his pelt, and gave a satisfied purr at his soft brown tabby pelt. His gold eyes shined, and he curled his tail around his paws. "We need more herbs. We'll trade herbs for prey," Frozenlily added, and gave a shocked mrrow at her nasty brown pelt. She instantly started to clean her pelt, and Northclaw rolled his eyes, "She-cats." Shrewfang elbowed his brother, and whispered, "Be nice!" Northclaw growled, but Frozenlily shot him a look and he stopped. "We apologize for our brother's attitude," Cheetahfur and Frozenlily said in unison. Shrewfang snorted, and Northclaw glared at them.

"Oh now I know you!" Moonsplash mewed more friendly. "You must be Fang and Iceclaw's kits!Snowlily told us about you. Cedarheart and Frostwing will be happy to see you! You better come with me." She picked up her rabbit and started leading the four Tribe cats towards the camp. It's been a long time since I've been to the Tribe terriotory. She glanced back at the tom named Shrewfang and noticed how he was still looking at her. Is he? No it can't be!...Must be the rain around my eyes or something she tried shaking her pelt, but that made her more wet.

Fernleaf paused, her claws resting lightly on the bark when clear, unfamiliar voices rose above the waving heather. Moonsplash's soft voice answered them, and her curiosity was aroused. Snatching up her bark-filled leaf wrap, Fernleaf hopped up the hill in hope to avoid the most of the mud. No luck. Sighing, she rounded the slope and came face to face with a white she-cat. "Tribe of Falling Darkness?" she blurted out, glancing for the familiar silvery pelt of Moonsplash.

"Yeah! We're Icee and Iceclaw's kits," Shrewfang felt a stab of pain well up in his chest, and threatened to overcome him. For a second, there was a look of defeat and sorrow in his eyes, but he quickly blinked it away. "Right behind you," Northclaw caught up to the she-cat, and smiled warmly. "It's alright, but we have to go," Frozenlily soothed her brother. Cheetahfur nodded his head, and ran over to Northclaw and Moonsplash. Shrewfang got up slowly, then walked a ways behind the other cats. Frozenlily motioned with her head for Shrewfang to come up with them, and he obeyed. He ran over, and put a fake smile on his face. "So...This is Northclaw, Cheetahfur, and Frozenlily," He pointed to each cat with his striped tail as he said their name, "and I'm Shrewfang." He sighed, and looked at the grassy floor. He noted how different it felt on his paw pads. He was used to the stone in the Tribe of Falling Darkness, so this felt way different on his rough paw pads. It felt soft, and he liked it. "What's your name?" Shrewfang asked after some thought. Frozenlily pricked her ears as she heard an unfamiliar voice say something to them. "We're here to trade, we're no threat," Frozenlily called to the she-cat. "You must be the Medicine cat!" Her blue eyes glowed as she recognized the familiar smell of herbs. "She wanted to be Medicine cat, obviously," Cheetahfur explained.

Fernleaf pricked her ears in slight amusement. "Yes, I'm the medicine cat," she agreed, nodding at the four warriors. "My name is Fernleaf, nice to meet you. Honeystar would like to see you," she added, gazing curiously at the uncomfortable looking Moonsplash. "We should go to camp quickly, before you all catch your deaths out here. We can talk along the way." Fernleaf flicked her white-tipped tail and shook the rain out of her eyes with a sigh. "Or we could drown," she muttered.

Moonsplash, with the rabbit still in her jaws, was unable to say anything as they continued back to the camp. She quickened her pace so that she was right beside Fermleaf. She tried not to look back at Shrewfang, as they got closer to the entrance. She placed her prey on the fresh kill pile. Most of the fresh kill was as soaked as she was. "Try to keep yourselves dry and comfortable as best you can." She mewed to the Tribe cats.

Fernleaf nodded slightly at Moonsplash, and inclined her head at a small rocky overhang in a corner of the drenched camp. "Why don't you guys wait over there?" she suggested to the Tribe cats. "It'll be drier there, as good as any of our dens. It may be a little squished, but..." Fernleaf shrugged apologetically. She looked at Moonsplash and mumured, "So you think Honeystar will mind I gave them some tansy? I'll feel bad if they caught a cold."

Shrewfang, Northclaw, Cheetahfur, and Frozenlily were silent the rest of the way. "Wow, what a strange camp," Northclaw commented as he walked in. All four of the Tribe of Falling Darkness Warriors looked at the camp, mouths agape, awe evident on their faces. "So, what kind of prey do you have?" Northclaw broke the silence as his hunger took over him, and his stomach let out a loud rumble. "Your name should've been Loudbelly," Cheetahfur joked, shaking the remains of the mud off his pelt before he walked into the camp. "So, what's your name?" Shrewfang asked the pretty silver tabby she-cat, trying to push Icee and Iceclaw out of his mind. "I'm Northclaw," He smiled slyly, and puffed out his chest proudly. "Ucch," Cheetiahfur rolled his eyes at his brother. Shrewfang sighed, and an image of Iceclaw and Icee with all of them as kits in IceClan appeared in his mind. He tried to push it away, but he couldn't get it out of his mind. It took everything he had not to let the tears stream down his face, but keep them inside. So he just looked at the image more carefully. Iceclaw was laughing, Icee purring. Frozenlily was cleaning her fur, as usual. Northclaw was play-fighting with Cheetahfur. He was just sitting there, laughing and purring. He finally managed to push the image away, and focus his attention on the pretty she-cat.

"I suppose he wouldn't mind..." Moonsplash replied back. She didn't want the Tribe cats to get a cold either, but mostly so they wouldn't have to stay here for too long. "We usually eat rabbits, but also certain birds like pheasant, grouse and such. As well as mice and voles and occasionally hares."
"I thought I smelled Tribe cats." Craneflight called out as he approached the camp. "How is everything over there?"
Moonsplash looked at the excitement in her brother's expression. She had almost forgotten how Craneflight had spent a moon at the Tribe Camp. She started remembering when she had came along with him.
"H-how is Kitty doing?" Kitty had originally been her mentor before leaving WindClan to became the Tribe's leader.

"Good, we just need more herbs as not many grow on cliffs," Cheetahfur said with a chuckle. "Kitty's doing great!" Frozenlily said happily, but she itched to go see the Medicine Cat den. "But we have a new Deputy. Tigerspirit got killed in an attack by an eagle..." Northclaw said sorrowfully; he had been the closest of the kits to Tigerspirit. "She saved Gracesong, though," Frozenlily added, her brightness fading away. "Yeah," Shrewfang said shyly, scared to say anything he shouldn't, after all, they were in an enemy's camp. "On the bright side, she would've never been a warrior if it hadn't been for Tigerspirit. I guess she proved Tigerst-" Frozenlily started to say, but Northclaw smacked his tail against her mouth. "Ouch!" She rubbed her tail against her mouth gently, then spit out of some of the fur that got in her mouth. "Anyways, what is all this raining about?" Shrewfang asked, trying to change the subject.

Sagedapple had followed Craneflight. "Hey," she greeted them. She had been close enough to hear Shrewfang's question when she had approached. Laughing, Sagedapple answered, clearly amused. "Isnt it raining over by the Tribe too? I guess it feels heavier here since there's not as much shelter..." Sagedapple blinked suddenly and dipped her head at them. "But what are you here for? Besides the fact of a rather friendly visit?"

Snowlily's ears had perked up as she heard a few familiar voices from the Windclan camp clearing. A slight pang of nostagia struck her as the voices became clearer as more familiar to her. A loud purr rumbled from deep in her throat as her eyes closed gently. She was curled up neatly around her kits as they tossed and turned in their sleep, occasionally brooding at her sides and stomach and winding here for a few short heartbeats. She kneaded at the moss beneath them and continued to purr loudly as her ears shifted around searching for any sounds she could identify for something to do. "they were kits the last time I saw them". As much as she had wanted to leave her nest to visit with them she was needed there to keep the kits warm and she didn't want to get in Honeystars way by distracting any guests. It was enough that she came and left Windclan as she pleased. Snowlily refused to cause any more trouble.

Moonsplash noticed the shock and grief that appeared on Craneflight's face. "NO! It can't be...." He turned around, stormed past her and she watched as he disappeared into the moors. It was no secret about how much Craneflight had cared so much for the Tribe Deputy.
"What's going on?" Honeystar called out as he emerged from the nursery.

"What is going on?" Shrewfang repeated. Northclaw just stood there like a statue, his jaw hanging wide open. "Dude! Can't you ever be nice?!" Cheetahfur snapped, and elbowed his brother. Shrewfang's tabby fur rose, and his eyes became wider as he understood what had happened. "Did he...?" He shifted his golden eyes onto Moonsplash, not needing to finish the sentence. "Poor guy...I'll go see what's wrong," Frozenlily said sorrowfully, and followed the siamese tom.

"Craneflight? You okay?" Frozenlily said gently as she approached him. She sat down next to him, and curled her snow white tail around her paws neatly.

Honeystar listened to Moonsplash re-telling how Tigerspirit had died. He shook his head sadly. "That is tragic...She was such a wonderful Deputy and warrior. Honeystar recalled how it was here at WindClan when Tigerspirit first came as a half starving rogue. So much had happened since then. Focusing back to the present he looked at the Tribe cats. "So what else brings you all here?" he asked calmly.

Craneflight had his eyes closed, and it was hard to distinguish between the rain drops and his own tears.

"We wanted to trade prey for herbs. Sorry if we hurt your son...." Cheetahfur murmured, not knowing what to say. His tail shot back and forth, and his claws were unsheathed. Shrewfang looked at Moonsplash again. He sat next to her, and whispered in her ear, "Did Craneflight like Tigerspirit?" He withdrawed before he could say anything else, as his brother was looking at him with a strange expression. "Grow up, Northclaw," Shrewfang snorted, and rolled his eyes.

Frozenlily nuzzled Craneflight respectfully. "She died honorably. She died saving her apprentice," She whispered, her blue eyes fighting back tears. She had to be strong for him, since she had come to comfort him, and it wouldn't help if she started crying, too. Frozenlily started to lick his face, getting the tears and raindrops off of his face. The only way she could distiguish the two was the tears were salty.

"Hello, Snowlily," Cheetahfur greeted the she-cat as he saw her in the nursery. "I didn't know you were still in WindClan!" He smiled, and purred at the cute little kits. "They're so cute!" He said, and purred again. Everything seemed so calm and warm in the nursery. He sat down, and licked the fur on his shoulder, as he spotted a remnant of dirt.

Phoenixwing paused on the well-worn path between the heather and paused warily, her golden eyes flicking back and forth. She dropped the mice and squirrel, carefully tasting the out-of-place scent. What was the Tribe doing in WindClan territory? Her stomach rumbled softly, reminding Phoenixwing of her priorities, but curiousity dulled her hunger. She glanced wistfully at her catch, then turned back the moor, ears pricked. The rain lashed the peaty earth, turning it into a slippery muck, and Phoenixwing loathed the idea of getting her thick fur muddy- it took forever to clean it out. She picked up her prey again and turned back to the path toward her den farther away in No-Clan's-Land. Phoenixwing carefully picked her way through the squishy, wet grass, the rain slicking her fluffy fur to her sides, making her seem much smaller than usual. She ducked beneath the branch of a poplar to readjust her grip on her fresh kill when she stumbled over a leaf satchel. Phoenixwing eyed it in wonder. It was beautifully crafted, weaved with strong, wide leaves and waxed with water-diluted sap. Curious, she nosed it open and discovered a cache of dried herbs. Hosetail, catmint, and marigold were some of the ones she recognized. There were much more. "Fernleaf's? she muttered. Blinked, Phoenixwing realized that she now had an excuse to head to WindClan camp. After a moment of hesitation, she added her catch into the satchel too, ignoring the rumbling protests of her stomach. They would work as a gift. Phoenixwing slid down the bank of a stream and nimbly hopped over the water, even though the water soaking her fur weighed her down. She gripped the satchel tightly and bounded deeper into the grassy moor.

Shrewfang waited patiently for Moonsplash to get a chance to respond, without getting a snicker from Northclaw. His tail flicked back and forth restlessly, leaving the fur on his tail matted with dirt. "If only Frozenlily was here, she could clean your pelt," Northclaw said with an arrogant smile. "Shut up!" Shrewfang snarled, losing his patience with his big brother. Now his tail shot back and forth, and he unsheathed his claws as his brother shot him a surprised look. He was clearly agitated as he flattened his soft brown ears, and pulled back his lips to reveal razor sharp fangs. "Alright, alright. I get it," Northclaw said, finally giving up. "Finally!" Shrewfang complained, and got back to his normal posture. "Sorry about that," He mewed apolegetically to Moonsplash. Once again bored, he couldn't keep his golden eyes from stopping on Moonsplash. She had silky silver tabby fur, and the prettiest aqua eyes. Her features were softly outlined in the moonlight. Haha, he thought. I bet that's why she was named that. Once he realized he was staring, he let out a shy clear of his throat. He shuffled his paws, and rested his eyes on them. He wanted to look back at Moonsplash, but forced himself to keep those golden eyes on his tabby paws. Entertaining himself, he dug his claws into the dirt, and pulled out some of the grass. Then he stopped, and retreated what self-control he had left. He looked at Moonsplash, and said softly, "Were you named because of the way the moonlight shines on your fur?" Shrewfang bit his lip to stop himself from saying anything else, and he bit hard. Sitcky, red blood flowed into his mouth. He reluctantly forced himself to swallow it, and had shut his jaws with a clip so he wouldn't gag. He turned at Moonsplash, and smiled sheepishly. "Loser," Northclaw said in between fake coughs.

"It's alright Cheetahfur," Honeystar mewed reassuringly. "He was bound to find out eventually. Though, it might be a while before he is through with the grief." Walking over to Snowlily he nuzzled her and purred, "Feel like coming out to say 'hello'? It must be a long time since you last saw Iceclaw's kits."