#Lichentooth

[warriors-cat-names-for-your-use]

Lichentooth

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 4 - CEREMONY

"All cats of Needleclan, gather for a Clan Meeting!"

Speckleback glanced up from the medicine cat den.  Currentkit pushed Riverkit towards the center of the camp, and Riverkit whined. A red leaf drifted from a branch above Finchstar, and the leader watched as it twirled around, eventually landing on Lichenpaw's head.

Hollypaw watched from the medicine den, looking a little irritated. Speckleback was keeping him confined to the medicine cat den, despite the fact that he wasn't woozy anymore. At least he was paying attention. 

Daisyshadow poked out a head from the nursery. Whiskershadow glanced up from the fresh-kill pile, which was nearby.

Good.

"I have the honor of stating that today, we have our very first warrior promotion!" Finchstar purred, meeting eyes with Lichenpaw. She hopped down from a tree branch. "It has been my pleasure to have trained Lichenpaw, even before we were a part of a Clan. Her judgment has been vital to her protecting our clan." 

Finchstar hopped down from the tree completely, walking towards Lichenpaw. They were on the same eye level, now. "Lichenpaw, by the powers of me being leader, I name you Lichentooth."

Lichentooth looked almost surprised. 

Finchstar purred, touching noses with Lichentooth before backing away.

Hollypaw was the first to cheer, "LICHENTOOTH!" The other cats followed, even the kits after a few moments. It was small, so Finchstar joined in. Lichentooth stood in the center of it, shrinking a little but still smiling.

Once the cheering had stopped, Finchstar continued, "Now, for the second task of today..." Finchstar met eyes with Riverkit and Currentkit. Currentkit bounced up and down, and Riverkit nudged his shoulder to get him to stop. "Riverkit and Currentkit. You two have reached six moons, and are therefore now apprentices. Until you are trained fully, you will be called Riverpaw and Currentpaw."

Currentpaw grinned. "I'm Riverpaw, right?"

Riverpaw shook her head, still smiling a bit herself. 

Finchstar jumped up onto the roots that made up the entrance to her den. She didn't jump back up to the higher branches again. "No, Currentpaw. Now..." Finchstar met eyes with Whiskershadow, and her deputy straightened up. "Whiskershadow. As my new deputy, you haven't yet explored everything about the territory due to being confined to camp." She grinned. "You might as well explore it with an apprentice." She was not going to bring up how Lightningpaw was once his apprentice, as well. "You will be Riverpaw's mentor."

Riverpaw got up, blue and green eyes sparkling despite the deceptive calmness to her movements, and walked over to Whiskershadow. She reached up to Whiskershadow's nose, and Whiskershadow leaned down to meet her. After that, she moved to sit by him.

"...Lichentooth."

Lichentooth straightened up upon being called again. "...me?"

"Yes. Your judgement is excellent, and your calm nature would help with teaching." Finchstar paused. "I think it does, anyway. You will be mentoring Currentpaw."

Currentpaw gasped, then jumped and dashed over to Lichentooth, stopping just in front of her. "I get to be your first apprentice!"

Lichentooth still looked a little shocked. "Are you... are you sure?"

"Confident." Finchstar nodded. "You'll do great, Lichentooth. I know you can."

Lichentooth didn't seem convinced. But she leaned down to touch noses with Currentpaw, who vibrated in his spot. He then sat down right there, only turning to look at Finchstar again.

Finchstar held her head up. "Clan meeting is over!" She hopped off the root, heading for the fresh-kill pile. "Why don't you go get acquainted with your apprentices?"

As Finchstar reached down to grab a bird from the pile, she heard Riverpaw ask Whiskershadow about gathering fresh bedding for everyone. After a few moments, she heard Currentpaw turn and whine at Lichentooth to NOT do that.

Events Referenced: Lichenpaw gets promoted to a warrior. Finchstar says it's been an honor to train her, and names Lichenpaw Lichentooth, and commends her judgement. Riverkit becomes Riverpaw and gets assigned to Whiskershadow. She offers to immediately start gathering bedding. Currentkit is so excited to become Currentpaw, and is assigned to Lichentooth.

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 10 - CEREMONY

Speckleback unwrapped the cobwebs bandaging Hollyspike's bitten side. It seemed like the wound had disappeared from his side. Hollyspike got up from his nest, stretching his large form out. Speckleback waited for the warrior to be done.

"You are free to go."

"Finally." Hollyspike meowed, heading for the entrance. His pawsteps slowed at the entrance, and he turned back to face towards Whiskershadow's side of the den. After a few moments, he turned around and left.

Speckleback pretended not to notice. Right when he turned to organize his herbs-

"All cats of Needleclan, gather for a Clan Meeting!"

Ah. Speckleback turned back towards the entrance of the den, padding forward and sitting himself down. He heard Whiskershadow shift in the den behind him.

The gaggle of kits all moved out of the nursery, followed by Daisyshadow pushing them along. Goldkit glanced to Bogkit, and Bogkit giggled, pushing Goldkit forward.

Lichentooth sat beside Currentpaw, and Riverpaw sat by herself. Hollyspike sat close to her.

"Today, we promote one new warrior!" Finchstar cheered. "Currentpaw, you are now named Currentdash! Your judgement is just as sound as Lichentooth's. I know she's trained you well."

Lichentooth blinked, before allowing herself to hold her head up. Currentdash stepped forward, smile on his face. Riverpaw was silent for a few moments, eyes glancing towards the gaggle of kits.

"Just Currentdash?" Speckleback mumbled.

"Riverpaw snuck Bogkit out of camp." Whiskershadow provided. Speckleback's ears turned towards him before Speckleback did, himself.

"What are you doing out of your nest? Do not strain yourself."

"I will be fine." Whiskershadow coughed after his words, earning him a glare from Speckleback. 

They turned their heads back when Finchstar started to speak again.

"Our recent kit arrivals are now the first to become apprentices!" Finchstar stood tall. "Goldkit, Batkit. You're apprentices now, named Goldpaw and Batpaw. Goldpaw, you are apprenticed to Daisyshadow."

Goldpaw stood up, then glanced to Daisyshadow next to him. Daisyshadow bent down and pressed noses with him. Goldpaw pressed noses back.

"Batpaw, you are apprenticed to Lichentooth."

Lichentooth froze up at the new attention, and with Batpaw ramming into her side. The warrior stumbled, but managed to stay upright. She copied Daisyshadow, and Batpaw copied Goldpaw, before settling by Lichentooth's side.

"Again?" Lichentooth mumbled.

Finchstar jumped down from her tree branch, landing on the roots that made up her den. "I did mean it when I said you did excellent with Currentdash." Her eyes glanced over to Riverpaw. "...Riverpaw, I promise you will be next. I just do not want our kits endangered."

Riverpaw rolled her eyes. "...okay. I get it."

"I know you do. Clan dismissed."

Hollyspike butted heads against Currentdash, and Currentdash stumbled before butting heads back. "Finally got out of the den in time, huh? Won't be stuck with your former mentor!"

"Daisyshadow's gonna be in there, you know."

"She's busy with the kits! Come on." Hollyspike padded towards the warriors den. "Gotta get you a good nest!"

Currentdash rolled his eyes, and he looked back to Riverpaw. "See you soon."

Speckleback pushed against Whiskershadow. "Come. Back to bed."

"Alright, alright."

Events Referenced: Hollyspike has healed from the cat bite. Currentpaw is named Currentdash, and is commended for their judgement. Lichentooth thinks herself as lucky to have trained him! Riverpaw just barely didn't make it to the trainee threshold haha Goldkit becomes Goldpaw and is apprenticed to Daisyshadow.  Batkit becomes Batpaw and is apprenticed to Lichentooth.

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 8 - PLAY

"Hey. Hey Riverpaw."

Riverpaw peeked open her blue eye, glancing up at Currentpaw hovering over her nest. With the place empty of Hollyspike now, it was just her and Currentpaw. 

It was nice.

... Not so nice when he woke her up when she wanted to nap.

"What?" Riverpaw asked, trying to keep the irritation out of her voice. She opened her other, green eye to see Currentpaw fully. She wasn't going to get back to sleep, judging by his face.

"Well..." Currentpaw grinned, backing away to let Riverpaw sit up properly. "We have free time..."

Riverpaw did not point out how she was spending her free time napping in the apprentices den. Instead she just stared at him.

"Let's play?" Currentpaw asked, hunching a little bit and blinking his eyes. "Please?"

"Did you see the kits playing and want in?" Riverpaw asked, and Currentpaw glanced away. He did not answer. Riverpaw sighed, getting to her paws. "Fine. I'll do it."

Currentpaw gasped, then he jumped. "Sweet! Come on!" He ran out of the den. Riverpaw yelped, jumping out after him. Most of the warriors were out doing something separately, and Whiskershadow had allowed them some breaktime.

Nearby, the kits were all gathered in a group. Bogkit and Graykit were talking to each other, Larkkit was impatient, Rindlekit fidgeted with a mossball beneath her claws, Tricklekit had her tail tapping against the ground impatiently... Boughkit's eyes traced the mossball, and Buzzardkit was sitting nearby, not involved.

"Come on, stop watching them!" Currentpaw complained, and Riverpaw quirked her ears up and turned to Currentpaw. "Let's do something!"

"Like what?" Riverpaw asked, still standing.

Currentpaw leaped at her, and Riverpaw was bowled over. 

She let out a yelp, but she decided to roll with it. She let the two of them roll for a bit, and then collapse. She laughed, trying to shove him off with her back paws. "Hey, get off!"

Currentpaw lifted his head up, but he didn't move. He smirked. "Mmm... nah. Don't feel like it."

"Get off!" Riverpaw meowed, louder this time, though she was still laughing. She shoved her head into his neck, and Currentpaw let out a gasp that loosened his grip. Riverpaw slid out from under him, and then leaped away.

Currentpaw jumped back. "That's unfair!"

"All's fair in a fight, Currentpaw." Riverpaw meowed, and then turned away. "Try to catch me!"

The kits were watching them. Riverpaw instantly swerved away from the kits and started running. She faintly heard Buzzardkit speak up, but not what he said. 

Currentpaw ran after her. She made sure to slow down ever so slightly to give him a chance, but then sped up right when he wanted to lunge. Currentpaw growled, but he laughed afterwards. 

"Stop doing that!"

"I'm not doing anything!"

"Liar!"

"Excuse me." A voice, quiet, said eventually. Currentpaw jumped in order to go face his mentor. Lichentooth, who had a few rocks at her feet.

With them no longer playing, Riverpaw could hear the kits jumping around and chasing each other too. Buzzardkit was one of the ones being pursued, and he ran straight into Whiskershadow, who just entered camp from that side.

Buzzardkit scrambled away without another word. 

Whiskershadow chuckled, shaking his head. "I see we came back at the same time, Lichentooth."

Lichentooth nodded, now loaded up with her pebbles. Currentpaw moved to the side, and Lichentooth moved towards the kits. Riverpaw closed the gap, watching as Lichentooth approached the kits. 

She came up on Boughkit's right side, and the kit jumped when Lichentooth got close. Lichentooth leaned down and put the rocks down, and Boughkit gasped. The kit batted one rock towards the entrance of the den, and then followed with the other pebbles. The other kits dodged around her.

"I noticed she liked a pretty feather once. So..." Lichentooth nodded towards Boughkit, who was batting the pebbles inside, and Daisyshadow laughed from the inside. "Yeah. So, what were you two doing with your free time...?"

Currentpaw opened his mouth.

"Training!" Riverpaw interrupted, ears up. "It's nice to train with someone else, no mentor."

"Maybe you'll be able to do that soon, then." Whiskershadow purred, walking forward. "But for now... Currentpaw, Riverpaw, we're going hunting."

Events Referenced: Currentpaw and Riverpaw play around with each other like they're kits again! Buzzardkit bumped into Whiskershadow while playing and didn't even apologize. Lichentooth brought the kits gifts, and Boughkit decorates her nest with them!

[needleclanclangen]

anyway the lichentooth fun fact was that she went from calm to nervous right after lightningpaw and petuniaclaw died in front of her so i made it Trauma Related

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 13 - SILENCE

"It's border patrol time."

Lichentooth glanced up from her mouse to Hollyspike. Near Hollyspike was his apprentices, Tricklepaw and Buzzardpaw. She glanced back down to her mouse, sighing. It was that time, wasn't it?

She leaned down and took one last bite, savoring the meat between her jaws. She got to her paws and nodded. "Lead the way."

"Are you really going to leave that mouse like that?" Tricklepaw asked, padding over to the remains of the mouse.

"We have to do the patrol first. Can't leave the border unmarked." Buzzardpaw meowed, dark ginger tail twisting.

Tricklepaw stared down at the mostly boney remains of the mouse, then sighed with a shrug. "Fineee."

"Thanks, Buzzardpaw." Hollyspike meowed, placing a tail on the tom's back. Buzzardpaw stiffened a little bit, nodding rapidly. 

Tricklepaw walked back to the little group, and they departed out of the camp.

As they wandered towards the Rattleclan border, Tricklepaw scented something and broke off. Hollyspike's pelt bristled and he shouted at her to focus on getting to the border. Lichentooth stood in place, tail swishing nervously on the forest floor. Buzzardpaw stood by them, eyes narrowing but tail swishing like Lichentooth's.

Tricklepaw returned, with a mouse in her jaws and a gleeful light to her eyes. She dropped it, head held high. Buzzardpaw gasped, but he was smiling.

Hollyspike sighed, but they buried Tricklepaw's catch and continued on towards the border.

When the trees thinned out and the grassy plains came into view, there was another group there. Galetuft lifted her head up, and Floodpaw nervously pulled into the deputy's side. Meadowpaw and Swanshine were there too, and their chatter had stopped to glance at the new scents.

Lichentooth bowed her head. Hollyspike briefly nodded. "Let's just get on with this, then."

Galetuft snorted, but she was smiling. She pushed against Floodpaw to get them to start moving, and the Rattleclan patrol followed. Lichentooth waved a tail and watched them go. Hollyspike pulled ahead to start marking, and Lichentooth followed suit.

Events Referenced:

Lichentooth is recruited by Hollyspike to help with the border patrol with Tricklepaw and Buzzardpaw. They meet with Rattleclan and just continue marking the border.

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 12 - NEST PRANK

"Currentdash." Riverflight held up her paw, with a gash currently going across one of her paw pads. "What is this."

Currentdash looked up from his meal, glancing at the gash. Looked like something from the thorn he hid in her nest.

Judging by the way Riverflight's expression twisted, she figured it out just by looking at his face. She sighed, shaking her head. "Daisyshadow's snake bite got worse again, probably thanks to going to the gathering, and now Speckleback has to deal with this?" She waved the paw again.

"It's just something small- nothing a bit of cobwebs can't fix!" Currentdash leaned forward, his head on his prey. "With Whiskershadow getting better, you get to talk to him more, too!"

"I-" Riverflight paused, then sighed, shaking her head. "I guess you thought this out, huh? You still really shouldn't have done that." She rolled her eyes, sitting down beside him. After a moment, she stole a bite of his prey.

Currentdash's tail went up, and he batted at the air in front of her. "Hey."

Riverflight leaned away, whiskers twitching despite her serious face. "You hurt me, I get to steal your prey. Equal deal."

"That is not equal. That's food and that's injury, two separate things."

Riverflight shook her head. "The injured get food first, so I think it's fair, actually. It was only-"

"It hurts!"

"Stop trying to open your eyes, it'll hurt worse!"

The two stopped their conversation at the sound of Batpaw and Lichentooth, glancing towards the entrance. Right there was Lichentooth, pulling Batpaw forward with her tail...

Batpaw's normally glaring eyes were screwed tightly shut, clawed all over. Lichentooth was guiding him towards the medicine den, pushing him along. The panic was clear in her fur and her shaking pawsteps.

Boughkit was waiting by the entrance, but she backed away the moment she saw the painful claw marks over Batpaw's eyes. She had her right eye closed again.

Speckleback was at the entrance, mouth open to make a comment before he noticed the damage on Batpaw's eyes. He grew tense. "First Whiskershadow, then Daisyshadow, now you? Come in." He shoved Batpaw inside, and Lichentooth let her tail fall away, fur still on end.

Currentdash pushed forward first, and Riverflight followed. Lichentooth turned to them, her fur still on end and her eyes starting to fill with tears. Currentdash pushed himself against her, and Lichentooth shoved her face into his fur.

"What happened?" Riverflight meowed. "You guys went out to hunt."

"I- we messed up a hunting crouch." Lichentooth meowed, voice low. She was still shaking. "Batpaw approached from behind. Rabbit was a hare, and then he- he got scratched really bad, there was a lot of blood, and I just, I didn't do anything again, I-"

"Shh." Currentdash purred, trying to get Lichentooth's nerves to cool. She shut her eyes tight, breathing still fast.

Riverflight curled her claws into the ground. Boughkit tilted her head up at Riverflight, then to Lichentooth. She approached the two other warriors, leaving Riverflight to just overhear as Lichentooth tried to slow her breathing.

Riverflight could still hear Speckleback, words stressed and harsh in tone, saying something about first Whiskershadow.

Whiskershadow had been recovering, right?

... right?

Her thorn that given her a scratch suddenly seemed so minor. How had this gotten out from under her nose? Did Speckleback just not tell her?

There was a bump against her leg, and Riverflight glanced down to Boughkit, who had opened her eyes again.

"Um..." Boughkit pat her paws together. Her right eye was still closed, the remaining open one staring up at Riverflight. "...Whiskershadow is talking. That's... important, I think?"

Riverflight felt herself lower her shoulders, exhaling heavily. 

Comforted by a kit. Granted, one that was almost an apprentice, but still. She shut her eyes and glanced away. "... Thanks."

"Um... 'elcome." Boughkit nodded, then noticed Tricklekit staring from the nursery and bounded in her direction. She rammed into the side of the nursery, laughed, and entered into it properly. Tricklekit hesitated a bit before following after her.

"Lichentooth." Riverflight meowed. "We'll be fine. Batpaw's strong."

"It wasn't your fault." Currentdash meowed.

Judging by how Lichentooth only made a humming sound, she didn't believe them.

Events Referenced: Riverflight is the victim of a thorn in nest prank Batpaw recovers from the splinter. Batpaw mistakes a hare for a rabbit and gets eyes clawed. Daisyshadow's snake bite isn't healing as it should. Whiskershadow still chatting with Speckleback, naturally.

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 11 - DOGS

"Your paw is fine, right?"

"Yes." Batpaw rolled his eyes. Goldpaw still frowned at him.

Lichentooth nodded. "... we'll take it easy. I'll... defend you." Her voice grew quieter towards the end of her sentence, though, so Batpaw scoffed and went back to pointedly not stepping on the center of the paw that had gotten the splinter.

At least the bandage was off.

"C'mon, let's go." Goldpaw meowed, walking to Lichentooth's side. Lichentooth nodded, and then took the lead. Batpaw fell a little behind.

Their journey through the forest to get to a prime hunting spot was short-lived, though, because of Lichentooth picking up on the sound of noise.

Noise, like a bunch of paws struggling against something... She shoved the apprentices with her paws down to the ground. Batpaw complained, but Goldpaw shushed him, obviously hearing the commotion too.

Lichentooth breathed in, then out. She creeped forward, nosing her way carefully through the bushes. There was a smell of meat, and of dogs... and twolegs? She poked her head out of the bush, laying low to the ground. The Twoleg pulled on the leash attached to the collars of the two dogs, who had sunk teeth marks into...

A deer carcass.

Freshly killed.

Batpaw gasped, but stayed quiet otherwise. The apprentices had caught up. Eventually, the twoleg pulled away, taking the dogs with them- towards the ThunderBorder.

Lichentooth placed a tail on Batpaw's back, making sure he didn't move forward. Batpaw still moved forward, so Lichentooth meowed, "Hey, wait-"

Batpaw made it to the deer carcass. "It's fine, the dogs are away! Eugh, it's gross."

Goldpaw padded out too, rolling his eyes. "Well, yes, but Bat, it could've not been safe."

"Batpaw." Batpaw corrected. Goldpaw sighed, but he nodded. Batpaw glanced to Lichentooth. "Well?"

"Goldpaw's right, you could've been in danger." Lichentooth meowed, walking up to the deer. It would be a good choice for when everyone ate together. She frowned. "What if the dogs got away from the twolegs? What if you had gotten hurt? Been killed?"

Batpaw and Goldpaw went quiet.

Lichentooth could still see the red drying on the ground, but instead of the deer, she saw the fluffy fur of another, so long ago. He could've been here if she had just been faster-

Safer.

Lichentooth narrowed her eyes. "Wait until you do not scent active dog anymore. This will also help in your fights." With that, she bent down. "We should bring this back to camp."

"Can't wait to eat it!" Batpaw cheered, then walked around and chomped down on a part. He bent back up, nose scrunching. "Eugh, what?"

Goldpaw went to an unoccupied spot, biting down. He frowned. "...How can one eat this?"

Lichentooth paused. Instead of giving an answer, she bit down and started to drag. Batpaw and Goldpaw helped as well, following her lead.

Events Referenced: Lichentooth takes Batpaw and Goldpaw hunting, but on the way encounter a bunch of barking and commotion. They silently creep up to find several dogs gnawing on a deer carcass, and their twolegs shouting angrily at them and pulling the dogs away. Alright, Batpaw and Goldpaw, time to drag these corpses to the clan- they'll feed the clan!

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 10 - BURROW

Riverpaw nosed her way inside of the burrow, mismatching eyes staring down the rabbits hiding inside. They stared up at her.

Before they could move, Riverpaw sliced a hand out, wounding one of them. She pounced on one that tried to flee outside of the den, then finished the job on the last.

Drop, drop, drop. These rabbits were hers. Riverpaw pulled them out of the burrow, nudging them along. She stared up at Finchstar, who was carrying a bird in her jaws.

"Oh, wow. Excellent work!" Finchstar grinned. "I'm sorry for keeping you an apprentice, truly. But Bogkit could've been hurt- Rogues like to wander around."

Riverpaw nodded, picking up one of her rabbits. She knew. Starclan above, she knew. She just thought it would be nice to give the kit a peek of the territory. Plus, she knew how to keep herself hidden, despite her cream pelt.

But she was wrong. Kits were supposed to be sheltered.

She heard about what happened the other day. A kit, left alone to die in their forest. Riverpaw wanted to make sure nothing like that happened again. She was going to patrol more if she could help it. And if kits weren't wandering around without permission, it would be safer.

… It sank terribly in her stomach. She picked up her other rabbit, nodding to Finchstar. Finchstar picked up the last rabbit Riverpaw had hunted, and the two of them started to head back to camp.

As they grew closer, though, the sounds of an argument drifted to their ears. Finchstar dropped her rabbit and bird, drawing closer to the sounds. Riverpaw drifted after her, ears perked high on her head. She was still holding her rabbits, though.

"…I'm saying I should go first!" Batpaw's voice greeted Riverpaw's ears, and Riverpaw rolled her eyes. Great. This again.

"We should wait-"

"Wait, wait, wait. Who cares about waiting! We need to fight! And I'm saying I'm the best for the job!"

"We don't even know what we're training for yet?"

Daisyshadow stood there, watching the two of them argue. Finchstar crouched in a bush nearby. Riverpaw followed suit. Finchstar pressed a tail to Riverpaw's back.

Lichentooth glanced between the arguing brothers, and then scented the air briefly. Lichentooth blinked, then glanced to the bushes, then back to the speckled duo.

Daisyshadow glanced over. "Hm?" Then her eyes widened, and she grinned. "Ah, perfect."

She stepped forward, paw slamming against the ground. Goldpaw and Batpaw straightened up, and Daisyshadow smiled. "Thank you. Now, while you two were arguing, you were ignoring the forest around you… you were even ignoring us." Daisyshadow tilted her head, grinning. "Now… what did we just do?"

Batpaw froze. "Uhhhh….?"

"I… remember Lichentooth turning to say something to you. But… that's it." Goldpaw meowed, quiet.

Riverpaw huffed, quiet. A lesson in paying attention. She would've paid attention.

"Do me a favor, and scent the air."

Goldpaw was the first to sniff the air, then he paused. "That's… Finchstar and Riverpaw? And… blood?"

Riverpaw took the chance to wander out of the bushes, surprising Batpaw. Riverpaw smiled, dropping the rabbits at her feet. "I just hunted some rabbits. What were you two doing?"

"…fighting?" Batpaw grinned, nervous. Daisyshadow barked out a laugh. Lichentooth nodded.

"…and because of you two fighting, they were able to sneak up on us, despite the fact that we should be vigilant!" Lichentooth meowed, standing up. Finchstar nodded, following out after Riverpaw.

Daisyshadow grinned. "See… even just two cats fighting distracts the whole patrol! Now, let's get to hunting crouches. Mind grabbing the rest of your prey?"

Events Referenced: Finchstar and Riverpaw go hunting, and Riverpaw finds a rabbit burrow with rabbits still inside! Riverpaw catches a rabbit! Lichentooth and Daisyshadow take the new apprentices Goldpaw and Batpaw out for training. Goldpaw and Batpaw get into an argument, and Lichentooth looks to Daisyshadow- only for Daisyshadow to just… let them fight it out. (some of this was my invention but i'm not quite sure… what parts were. So yeah)

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 9 - GHOST

Lichentooth led the patrol out into the woods. Over the log near camp, as the sun began its descent. The night patrol was already out near the border, so the remaining cats were just... training.

"You know, I hear ghosts are more active at night." Currentpaw meowed. Lichentooth's steps faltered, and Riverpaw almost froze.

"Come on." Riverpaw said, after a moment. She turned to Lichentooth. "Ghosts aren't real."

Lichentooth looked very contemplative for a moment. Her paws stilled, and the patrol paused in the middle of the woods. A cricket sounded. "... not necessarily. You... remember what Speckleback said?"

"Well-" Riverpaw lashed her tail. "They aren't real enough to appear. She was still dead, and it was just her voice."

Currentpaw laughed. "That just means their voices are more active at night!" He lifted a paw in the air and swiped. "All the better to reach into our minds..."

Riverpaw tensed up a little, but she shook her head. "Doesn't matter. I don't hear them, and I haven't seen them, so it doesn't matter for our lives. At all."

Lichentooth still looked deep in thought. Riverpaw glanced up at her best friend's mentor. At the look, Lichentooth shifted, worry clear in her face. "... You say they aren't real enough to appear, but, um... I've seen some ghosts, actually."

Riverpaw stared, blue and green eyes wide. "You what?"

"It was back when I was a bit younger than you guys are." Lichentooth sat down. Whatever lesson plan she was planning on, it had been forgotten for this conversation. "It was during the formation of the clans."

Riverpaw sat down too.

"I was there for when Finchstar met Hazelstreak- she was the clan cat that introduced us to the idea of a huge group caring for each other instead of just being... loners. I liked the idea, and Finchstar did, too." Lichentooth curled a fluffy tail over her paws. Riverpaw mirrored her.

Riverpaw was slowly reaching her max height, but it seemed that she still barely reached Lichentooth's face.

"...and?"

"Hazelstreak... was technically a ghost. As were the other former clan founders."

Oh.

Whiskershadow told her about this. She had been more focused on...

Riverpaw shifted, breathing in to try and keep her fur laying flat. "They... disappeared into stars?"

Lichentooth nodded. "You heard about that?"

"... but it's only happened once, right? And Speckleback is the one who heard the dead cat, so maybe it's just him able to hear them now."

A rustle in the bushes behind her. 

Riverpaw jumped into the air, turning around to face the bush, claws out. 

Currentpaw moved out the bush, laughing. "Gotcha!"

She wanted to skin that stupid pelt of his. Riverpaw's fur was on end. Even Lichentooth laughed a little.

Ugh.

She sheathed her claws, but she jumped at him. Currentpaw yelped and dashed out of the way, causing Riverpaw to land right in front of the bush. Lichentooth quickly backed up, watching as the two of them fought.

That was one way for training practice to start.

Events Referenced: Lichentooth takes Riverpaw and Currentpaw out training. The patrol dives into ghost stories. Riverpaw tries to look brave, but gets startled by a bush rustling behind her.

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 8 - PORCUPINE

"Hey, what's that?"

Lichentooth's voice brought the patrol's attention to a little creature off in the distance, past some bushes. Finchstar raised her head over the bush, then her eyes widened.

"A porcupine." Finchstar leaned back, looking to Lichentooth. "You hadn't seen one at all on your own before?"

"Seems like they're coming back. In the cold?" Whiskershadow meowed, tilting his head. "Which means none of the apprentices might know about it."

"Hollyspike's out solo right now, but..." Finchstar smiled. "You know where Riverpaw and Currentpaw are, right?"

"Hunting, yeah." Lichentooth meowed, glancing to Whiskershadow. "Do you... want to grab them?"

"Absolutely. Let's do that." Whiskershadow turned around and walked to where they had seen the two earlier. Lichentooth followed, scenting the air. The porcupine smell had been what had caught her attention, and that was still there.

Currentpaw pounced on a mouse, killing it in one bite, and lifted his head up at the sound of footsteps. He dropped the mouse when Lichentooth came out of the bushes. "Wh- Hey, what're you doing here?"

"Can't scent around a mouse yet?" Whiskershadow meowed, amused.

"No, I can!" Currentpaw objected. "I just caught the mouse. Unfair!"

Riverpaw came up behind him, holding a small rabbit. She dropped it. "Hey."

"Good that you've joined us. We've found something interesting." Whiskershadow tilted his head the way they came. "Follow us."

Their apprenticed glanced between each other, but followed their mentors anyway. Back to the bushes they first spotted the porcupine from. Riverpaw blinked, then tilted her head. "What is that?"

"Take a look." Whiskershadow glanced to the porcupine, who was nibbling on something. "You see those spikes on the back? They are not for decoration- they are like our claws." Whiskershadow lifted his paw up, unsheathing his claws for a demonstration. "A defense, and something that can hook into your skin and tear at muscle."

Lichentooth winced. Currentpaw glanced towards the porcupine, worried. Riverpaw continued staring, tilting her head.

"So be careful when hunting them?" Riverpaw meowed.

"Be careful?" Currentpaw repeated, baffled. "But-"

"Yes, in fact." Whiskershadow nodded. Currentpaw drew back a bit. Lichentooth tilted her head, just as confused. "See, they have a soft underbelly- and they make for good prey."

Riverpaw shifted forward. A bush branch snapped, and the porcupine lifted its head up, then scurried off at the sight of cats.

"Another time, then." Whiskershadow laughed. "Riverpaw..."

"...Oops."

Events Referenced: Lichentooth and Whiskershadow bring Riverpaw and Currentpaw to see a porcupine. The two of them watch the thing with wide eyes and Whiskershadow points out the spines on its back.

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 7 - MISS

Again. 

Currentpaw missed another mouse. 

The cold air felt like it was curling around him, focusing on the paw that yet again. He watched as the brown fur of the mouse scurried away. Lichentooth's eyes pinched inwards, and he looked away from his mentor. Stupid. So stupid.

"Don't worry," Lichentooth's voice, light and concerned, as she walked up to him and sat down. "It wasn't you, it was me." An airy laugh that died in the air. Currentpaw didn't respond, just staring after where the mouse had left.

No, he knew what he had messed up. Lichentooth had been teaching him the proper forms, even catching the mice herself later when they break apart- he knows, he's been talking to Riverpaw. He just made a stupid mistake.

He had to be more careful. He had to...

"Hey."

Lichentooth put a tail on Currentpaw's back, and the apprentice leaned into the warmth before he realized it. He straightened up into a sit, glancing up at Lichentooth. He didn't move the tail off of him.

"Your hunting crouch was perfect. It might be that I didn't teach you how to properly pounce." Lichentooth meowed, her tail twitching on his back. "Or we could move onto something else."

Currentpaw messed with the grass beneath him.

"Could we do something else? Hunt later."

Lichentooth nodded, brushing her tail down his back again before getting up. "Let's train, then. I want you to be able to fight better." She turned around, then faced towards him. "Let's go."

She then bounded forward. Currentpaw yelped, then leaped after her. The cold air in his face and digging into his pelt seemed to fly away as he ran, and he grinned and ran faster and faster.

He managed to notice the training path branches in time and jumped over, then realized that Lichentooth had fallen behind. He turned to face her, and she hopped over the branch. She was smiling.

"Alright. Let's get started..."

Events Referenced:

Lichentooth and Currentpaw miss a mouse, and the confidence is shaken. Yes, again.

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 6 - HUNT

It was getting harder and harder to find anything out here.

Lichentooth buried her prey beneath her, letting out a breath. It fogged up in the air, floating away and dispersing. 

At least she had long fur. Currentpaw shivered, padding a bit away from her to try and get another scent of the air. Most of their trees still had their leaves, but some had no leaves at all.

Nothing... nothing... Lichentooth got up from burying her prey, padding over to Currentpaw. "... scent anything?"

Currentpaw meowed, "No," but he scented the air one last time anyway.

Currentpaw's ears shot straight up, and he hunkered down into a crouch. Lichentooth startled, before crouching down next to him.

A breath in, out. "Congratulations on scenting it. Now, do you remember your hunting crouch?"

Of course he did. Currentpaw rolled his eyes, starting to pad forward towards the scent he had spotted nearby. Closer... closer...

The mouse was in sight, nibbling on a frostbitten piece of grass. Currentpaw stepped forward-

The grass shifted beneath his paws, and the mouse glanced towards him, then darted off. Currentpaw yelped, then leaped forward, but landed just shy of the mouse. The mouse scurried off, uncaught.

That could've been so valuable. And he wasted it on a stupid mistake! He felt Lichentooth's fur against his, and he looked away.

Lichentooth didn't speak for a few moments. After that, she whispered, "It's okay. I've failed catches too..."

"Don't sound too confident there, Lichentooth." Currentpaw grumbled, staring at his paws. 

Lichentooth made the beginnings of words, unable to fully form them. She sighed, getting up. "I... I think it was a good crouch. Anyone would've forgotten about the different noises the grass makes this leafbare."

Currentpaw glanced over to Lichentooth. Lichentooth smiled nervously, brown tail swishing against the ground.

"You'll always get another chance." Lichentooth glanced up to the sky, then back down to Currentpaw. "We should head back to camp. The second hunting patrol should be out soon."

Currentpaw got to his paws, and then glanced down at his paws. The icy grass at his paws crunched oddly. The same sound that alerted the mouse was... actually kinda nice. He felt Lichentooth walk towards where she buried her prey. 

He pat that piece of grass again. And again.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

It was kinda fun. Almost made up for losing the catch. Almost. He stomped all over it, in a mixture of anger and glee. Anger for it existing there, glee for the noise it made. Crunch, Crunch.

"Wh.. what are you doing?" Lichentooth meowed, muffled through the prey in her mouth. Currentpaw startled, staring towards her. Lichentooth had a small smile on behind her mouth, though, and she tilted her head towards the camp. Currentpaw knew that meant to go back, and so he followed her when she started moving.

The closer they got to camp, though, the louder an argument got. Currentpaw knew one of the arguers very well. Well, he knew all of them, but-

"-don't think you needed to defend me that hard! Scarring a kit like that!"

"Riverpaw, please don't-" Whiskershadow attempted to interrupt, but-

"Oh, and what was I supposed to do? Let a kit get sick?" Hollypaw.

"By telling him to get away from the entrance!"

"You weren't going to-"

Currentpaw spotted an icy piece of grass near the training place. He purposefully stepped on it.

Crunch.

Riverpaw, Hollypaw, and Whiskershadow glanced towards the noise, argument stopping in its tracks. Currentpaw was in the lead, with an apologetic Lichentooth behind him. Currentpaw ignored that. He leaped up over the branch that served as part of the pathway to the training ground, then towards Riverpaw. "Hey! Whatcha doin'?"

Riverpaw glanced to Hollypaw. She glanced back to Currentpaw. "... We were... debating about something that happened earlier."

"Debating?" Hollypaw muttered, but he didn't say anything more.

"We just got back from hunting, mind if we join?"

Lichentooth's eyes widened, and she glanced to Whiskershadow. Whiskershadow nodded, a tail pointing back to camp. "I can take care of him. Go drop off the mouse and come back."

Whiskershadow's eyes lingered on Currentpaw, before he held his head up. "Okay, you three. I want you all to work together to try and take me off balance."

Currentpaw watched Lichentooth run off, hopping over another branch. He then got down into a crouch. Riverpaw twirled a tail over to sign to Hollypaw to come closer, and the three apprentices got together to discuss.

Events Referenced: Currentpaw catches scent of a mouse- in leafbare! Lichentooth congratulates them, and then tries as best as she can to prepare for the stalk. If currentpaw catches the mouse, it will be valuable. Currentpaw barely misses it, and it scurries off. Hollypaw (big form but not named yet) and Riverpaw get into an argument during training and Whiskershadow stutters, unable to get them to agree on something- or to stop.

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 5 - BRANCH

Lichentooth leaped over the log that was near one of the exits to camp, heading out into the territory. Behind her was her apprentice, Currentpaw, and Daisyshadow's apprentice, Hollypaw.

It was so easy to think like that, now. A leader of a patrol of cats, helping another. Half of her life was spent with just Finchstar, and the other half spent in this group. Part of a whole.

To think of herself in charge was... a little terrifying, still. Was it always going to be like that?

She headed down a little bend in the territory, to where the flattest training ground was. She checked behind her to make sure the apprentices were following. Currentpaw was in front, and Hollypaw was lagging a bit behind, eyes wandering over the moss on the trees.

Lichentooth looked forward again, stepping over a few twigs that had not been there the previous day. Smaller parts of the trees above them. No big deal. Currentpaw copied her, laughing a little as he did so. 

Hollypaw did not. The twigs cracked beneath his paws, and he made a grunting noise.

Then there was an echo of the cracking, but from above him. Hollypaw glanced up, stilling in a spot-

And got buried in the oncoming tree branches. He, luckily, had the mind to cover his head, but there was a lot of branches. 

Currentpaw gasped, and Lichentooth turned towards the thunderous noise with her fur raised. It was not a rogue, there to take advantage. It was Hollypaw, hidden beneath the branches, squirming but unable to get out.

"Hang on!" Currentpaw shouted, jumping to his aid. Lichentooth jumped in as well, and leaned in close to the pile. Currentpaw pushed against the top of the pile, exerting effort to try and get that top branch off.

"Are you okay?" Lichentooth meowed. She heard a faint noise from Hollypaw. He was safe- but still buried beneath the branches. She wasn't sure how long he could last. She adjusted her aim, helping out Currentpaw get the branches off from the top of the pile.

The sun dipped from the sky. Branch after branch pushed off, and settled to the sides, until Hollypaw was finally free. Currentpaw panted, as did Lichentooth.

"I think... they'll be looking for us." Lichentooth said, pushing the last branch to the side. It made a nice little path liner to the training ground, which they did not reach today.

Hollypaw glanced up at the sky, taking in breaths. "I think so." He shook out his fur. "I need to get the sticks out of my fur. Let's go."

Events Referenced: Lichentooth's nervousness is probably not helped when, while trying to train Hollypaw and Currentpaw, a bunch of branches bury Hollypaw. They spend all day getting Hollypaw out.

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 4/5 - GATHERING 5

Hop, hop, hop. Someone could slip from these once. It's a miracle it hasn't happened. Finchstar had actually arrived early this time- helped that she had picked who was going the day before, this time.

Whiskershadow, Lichentooth, Currentpaw, Speckleback. Daisyshadow, Hollypaw, and Riverpaw were left in camp. Understandably, considering Riverpaw was currently hacking up her lungs.

When Beestar entered the clearing with her cats, her ears lifted up when she saw Finchstar. Finchstar waved a tail from the rocky center of the pool. Galetuft was still at her side, and she waved a tail when she spotted Whiskershadow. Talonclan was next, and Baylake perked up when spotting Whiskershadow, as well, and he hopped over the river leading to the pond. Galetuft purred when seeing the two of them, and they started to chat.

Lichentooth tensed up when Torrentpaw broke apart from Baylake, purring at Lichentooth. She bent her head down, and Torrentpaw sat down, seemingly taking that as an acceptance to talk.

Stonestar joined Finchstar, then Beestar. That left-

There. Quickstar, with their clan. One of their cats had some lavender woven into their fur. Quickstar bent a tail to allow their clan to disperse, then hopped to the center rocks. It seemed a bit bigger this time.

"Shall we?" Quickstar meowed. A slight smile passed their face. "I have news."

"...As do I." Unlike Quickstar, Beestar did not seem as enthused as her news. Her blue and yellow gaze was glancing back to her own clan.

Finchstar and Stonestar nodded. 

"I'll start." Finchstar said, standing up. She turned outwards. "Clan cats! May those who have gathered come close!"

Stonestar shrugged. "Close enough."

"Let's start out with the smallest of us- Needleclan!" Finchstar meowed loudly, and she grinned at the chuckles from the others. "We have a new warrior- Lichenpaw is now Lichentooth!"

Whiskershadow tapped Lichentooth, and Torrentpaw gasped. There were cheers from the other clans, and Torrentpaw let out a little squeal, grinning. She didn't say anything, though. Lichentooth lowered her head, ears pinning down. At least she was smiling, too.

Currentpaw walked forward, eager to be introduced next.

Finchstar was tempted to not to, just for a reaction. She resisted. "And, along with her, we have new apprentices: Currentkit and Riverkit are now Currentpaw and Riverpaw!" 

Currentpaw beamed, basking in the new attention. HIs name and Riverpaw's name were cheered by the other cats. Yeah, that's good. With how loud they were calling, Finchstar was sure Riverpaw could hear her name from camp.

"That is all from Needleclan."

Finchstar sat down. Quickstar started to get up, only for Beestar to shoot to her feet. The mostly white cat shot Beestar a look, but sat back down.

"We informed you last moon that Galetuft would temporarily take on Sageflurry's role." Beestar paused, eyes downtrodden. "... Just a few days ago... they died."

The clearing grew silent. The cats of Rattleclan looked between each other. Galetuft glanced away, tail curling around her paws. 

"Petalwhisker did what he could to make sure they could pass easily, but the cough progressed into something worse."

Currentpaw grew very, very still.

Finchstar tried not to think about Riverpaw.

"...Galetuft has taken on the deputy role more permanently, now." Beestar's shoulders fell. "... I truly am sorry."

Finchstar opened her mouth. She closed it, eyes low. 

Starclan had done something to them all, before. Would their dead truly reunite up there?

Finchstar didn't think about death like that before. She wasn't sure if she liked it.

"...Along with that, Roachpaw has been promoted to a warrior." Beestar inhaled, exhaled, then held her head up. "Roachpelt has been a wonderful warrior."

Currentpaw cheered loudly, and other cats followed. Finchstar joined in, calling Roachpelt's name. The lithe-looking brown cat stood on all four paws, looking honestly a little freaked out, but still accepting of the attention.

"Along with that, Flickercloud has given birth to her kits. Meadowkit and Floodkit truly are a force to be reckoned with." Beestar, though her eyes were still sad, glanced over to Finchstar. "How did you handle them?"

"Daisyshadow was quite willing to chase them down." Finchstar replied. "I'm too old for that."

Stonestar scoffed. "You're younger than I am, and I wouldn't call myself old."

Finchstar laughed. Beestar finally cracked a real smile.

"That's all. Now you can go. Sorry, wanted bad out of the way first."

Beestar sat. Quickstar stood up. "Finally. So, medicine cat meetings are going well. Obviously. Mantisbrook and Reedpaw have to travel down the mountain for those."

Finchstar almost forgot about them. It was an offhand comment from Speckleback, almost dreading it, and Daisyshadow had grown more of a grudge for it. But they still did happen every half moon.

Like Starclan had mentioned.

Finchstar discarded the thought again.

"Reedpaw left as Reedpaw, and came back as Reedleaf." Quickstar smiled. "Cheer for her, now."

Cheers hollered out from Downclan, and then rippled across the clearing. Galetuft was, once again, loud. Reedleaf, without Mantisbrook by her side, let out a small squeak. She was a rather fluffy cat.

"We also have kit news. Nimblefern had some kits. Pikekit and Turtlekit." There was a pause after that, and then Quickstar nodded. "That's all."

Stonestar watched as Quickstar settled, and stood. "We need a better system for who speaks. So, Talonclan last. Vulturerun has run away from the clan." He scoffed. "I guess I should've seen this coming. On more positive news, our first apprentice has proved ready to become a warrior, and has been named. Torrentpaw-"

Torrentpaw, from her spot spot beside Lichentooth, straightened up. 

"-has been named Torrentfrost. She's an excellent fisher."

"Just an excellent fisher?" Torrentfrost called out. Stonestar met her eyes. 

"...yes."

"You said all sorts of things back at camp! Like honorable, wise-"

"And those stay in camp." Stonestar hissed, and Torrentfrost rolled her eyes. She bent back down to roll her eyes again at Lichentooth. Lichentooth blinked, then slowly nodded, smiling. 

"Wonderful news, thank you." Finchstar meowed, getting to her paws. "I am sorry for your loss, Beestar. I hope he was a good deputy while he lasted."

"...same to you and Petuniaclaw." Beestar meowed, as well. "I hope to see you all when it... isn't fresh."

With that, she turned and bounced across the stepping stones to leave.

Galetuft

Reedleaf

[needleclanclangen]

MOON 4 - TRAINING

Lichentooth watched Currentpaw carefully. 

They had started off this moon with exploring the borders, and now they were training for the inside of it.

Fighting.

Lichentooth didn't want Currentpaw to go through what she did, frozen in fear as her clanmates died right in front of her. She wanted him to act. She acted wisely, but slowly. Currentpaw needed to act faster.

Currentpaw's copper eyes diverted for a second, and that was when she lunged forward. Unlike the previous times she did this, Currentpaw didn't freeze up first. He ducked down, rolling to the side. Lichentooth didn't go after him the moment she landed, but she did turn to face him. Her tail waved behind her.

A purr rumbled from her throat without her meaning to. "Good. You're picking up fast."

Currentpaw gasped, and he bounced in place. "Yesss! Does this mean I'll be a warrior like you quicker? Bigger?"

Lichentooth blinked rapidly. "Er..." Judging by how he looked, pale spotted fur pressed to his side, it seemed like he wasn't going to grow longer fur. "No, you still have to wait."

Currentpaw pouted, sitting down on the ground. "Awww. I want to help fight, not be stuck learning!"

"Uh, well, you know learning about what the clan has to protect and how to protect it best is important, right?" Lichentooth replied, and Currentpaw rolled his eyes. "How to fight best, if you know how to hunt under any circumstance... I wasn't made a warrior right away, so you simply have to do your best."

I'm still surprised I was chosen for your mentor.

Currentpaw huffed. "I bet Whiskershadow isn't this boring."

"Oh, no, I can be more boring." A voice from the shadows meowed, and the two of them jumped. Lichentooth almost unsheathed her claws until she recognized the scent. Whiskershadow, despite being a white and gray tom, had somehow stayed hidden until this moment. "It is simply that Riverpaw is more accepting of it, unlike you, Currentpaw."

Currentpaw gasped, and Lichentooth settled her fur back down. "What are you doing here, Whiskershadow? Weren't you going towards the Thunderpath border?"

"The ThunderBorder, yes."

Nobody was going to call it that. Lichentooth did not say it out loud. 

After a few moments, Whiskershadow tilted his head. "Were you out in the territory earlier, Lichentooth?"

Lichentooth nodded, an instinctive response. "Um, it's not bad, is it? I was just hunting."

Currentpaw pat his paws on the ground. Lichentooth glanced to Currentpaw, who glanced in her direction and then glanced away. He didn't say anything.

"No, it is not. I was just scenting out there earlier, and..." A pause. "Did you realize we have a scent now? As a group."

Currentpaw gasped. "We do?!"

Lichentooth stood up. "We're so few cats, how?"

"I guess... we've lived here for a bit. Maybe we're starting to settle." Whiskershadow smiled, and Lichentooth tried to let her fur rest. United scent. Easier to track. More careful, more careful. Whiskershadow saw that her face wasn't lifting, and his eyes pressed downwards. "Hey. We're all defend each other, alright? It is a nice scent, not as earthly as Downclan, but definitely a little sharp, like our trees."

Currentpaw nodded. "That's so cool! I haven't noticed it!"

Lichentooth nodded once, twice. "We will have to try and focus on scenting it." Mentor Mode. She looked to Currentpaw. "Next time we're out in the territory, we'll try to focus more on scenting... and beyond just looking for a single cat."

Currentpaw grinned, and his tail flicked. "Absolutely! Oh, that sounds so good!" He got to his paws again, walking around Whiskershadow. "Thanks, thanks!"

Whiskershadow purred. "Not a problem, young one. Listen to your mentor, now. I still need to get back to marking that border."

Events Referenced: Lichentooth training with Currentpaw, focusing on fighting techniques. He's very receptive to it! Whiskershadow sees footprints out in the clan territory, and realizes it's just another Needleclan cat. Nothing to be alarmed about.