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[ashclanhistories]

Moons 13-19

Disclaimer: Clangen decided Spottedpaw’s generated warrior name was Spottedspot’s but I just couldn’t accept something that ridiculous lol. 

Rushstar and Birchfur strongly disagree on how to combat the dog that killed Shadefrost. Rushstar wants to wait and train the warriors to fight more effectively as a group. Birchfur believes that plan will only give the dog time to recover from its wounds. In the end, Birchfur is forced to surrender to Rushstar’s authority. Spottedpaw finally leaves the nursery and is apprenticed to Birchfur (Rushstar’s attempt to smooth things over with his agitated deputy). Things only get worse, however, when Birchfur secretly gathers a hunting party to track the dog down. He, Slightpond, Pepper, and Seedthroat sneak from the camp in the middle of the night in what turns out to be a doomed crusade. The dog’s mate appears and the group is suddenly forced on the defensive. Luckily, Spottedpaw was following his mentor and flees back to camp to alert Rushstar. Rushstar and the remaining warriors are able to save the party from the dogs, but not before Birchfur is gravely injured. The following day, Birchfur uses the last of his strength to apologize to Rushstar, who grants him forgiveness as he passes on into Starclan. Rushstar promotes Snipswoop to deputy and hopes she will be the last. Mistkit tells Scorchpelt she met a Starclan cat in her dreams who showed her cats in need of help beyond their territory. Scorchpelt soothes her by saying it was only a dream, but privately wonders if his daughter shares his gift of prophecy.   Ashclan attends the first half-moon meeting of the year at the Tall Stones, three white stone pillars placed auspiciously in the center of a forest clearing. Violetclan and Thistleclan get into a dispute over herb trading, but Ashclan is fortunately left out of the dramatics. Sharptree wonders if the other clans might benefit from planting their own herb gardens like they have at the cabin. Back at camp, Mistkit sneaks out into the forest to find the cats from her dream, she doesn’t get very far before two loners by the names of Trout and Smoke find her. The brothers bring the ornery kit back to camp and are welcomed to stay as long as they’d like. The loners are hesitant about joining permanently, but agree to settle down for a while. When everyone from Birchfur’s party has healed from their injuries, Rushstar leads the clan in a hunt for the murderous dogs. After a long battle, Ashclan is finally victorious in slaying the beasts, and thankfully spared any more casualties. Rushstar celebrates by holding Owlpaw, Tulippaw, and Pythonpaw’s apprenticeship ceremony. Seedthroat, Whiteclaw, and Trout are chosen as their mentors. Spottedpaw and O’learypaw are also granted their warrior ceremony. Spottedpaw is given the name Spottedfur, but O’learypaw -like Pepper- forgoes a warrior name and remains simply O’Leary.   The next moon, Morningpaw and Mistpaw also have their apprenticeship ceremony. Morningpaw is apprenticed to Pepper and Mistpaw joins Sharptree and Scorchpelt in the medicine den. Just when the clan thinks they’ve finally emptied out the nursery, Seedthroat has a litter of one kit, Mudkit, and Pepper has a litter of three kits, Emberkit, Lichenkit, and Berrykit. Soon after, a family of loners named Rose, Newtdapple, Sparrowkit, and Sunkit come to the clan asking for refuge. They say they’ve escaped a fearsome band of rogues marauding to the West of Ashclan’s territory.

[ashclanhistories]

Moons 7-12

Whiteclaw and Nightfeather are assessed and earn their warrior names. Two more former kittypets named O'Leary and Pepper come to the cabin looking for Slightpond, with a stray kit at their side. Slightpond convinces them to join her in the clan. The pair take the names O'Learypaw and Spottedkit, while Pepper declines the name change. With no queens in the nursery, Scorchpaw takes responsibility for Spottedkit. Sharptree rewards his altruism by giving him his full name, Scorchpelt.

Sharptree is struck by another fit of mania. She accuses her apprentice of violating the medicine cat code and bringing ruin to the clan. Scorchpelt wonders if she knows he's secretly fallen in love with Whiteclaw, but when the elderly she-cat returns to lucidity, she remembers nothing of what she said. Scorchpelt worries for her.

Leaf-Bare comes down hard on the clan territories and Ashclan struggles to find prey for the first time. There's some dispute from Birchfur and Seedthroat that Rushpool isn't organizing patrols in the most efficient manner, but Spirestar manages to smooth things over. Whiteclaw, Nightfeather, Rushpool, and Snipswoop successfully drive away a fox and her cubs, and morale remains high until Seedthroat, Whiteclaw, and Spirestar fall ill with greencough. The warriors manage to stave off the sickness, but Spirestar refuses to let the medicine cats use their small supply of catmint on her. One by one her remaining lives are seeped away, and Spirestar passes on at 105 moons old.

As New-Leaf breaks and a new year begins, Rushstar takes his place as leader of Ashclan. He promotes Birchfur to Deputy, telling him his fearlessness in speaking his mind will bring the clan much-needed balance in perspective. Birchfur and Snipswoop welcome a litter of 3 kits: Owlkit, Tulipkit, and Pythonkit. In the background of all the well-deserved celebration, Scorchpelt and Whiteclaw begin a secret love affair.

[ashclanhistories]

Moons 1-6

Whitepaw and Nightpaw reach six moons old and are apprenticed to Shadefrost and Seedthroat, respectively. Scorchpaw becomes the medicine cat apprentice to Sharptree. The ceremony goes well despite Sharptree having a spasming fit in the middle. Later she confesses to Spirestar that she received an omen from Starclan, but can't parse its meaning.

The clan finds a partially burnt cabin in the middle of their territory. A former kittypet named Slight lives there and she tells the clan cats that many kittypets were abandoned in the area after the fire and frequently wander Ashclan's territory. Spirestar invites Slight to join the clan and she accepts, becoming Slightpond. Sharptree and Scorchpaw learn that the cabin is great for growing herbs.

Rushpool proposes that they patrol the borders and try to make contact with the neighboring clans. While out, Shadefrost shares with the older warrior that he's been troubled by nightmares of Whitepaw's death. The patrol fails to see any neighboring clan cats, but Snipswoop and Birchfur discover dog scent. Rushpool and Spirestar warn the clan to be careful and not go out alone.

While escorting Scorchpaw to the cabin, Shadefrost, Seedthroat, Whitepaw, and Nightpaw are attacked by a dog. The dog sets on Scorchpaw and Whitepaw. Shadefrost diverts its attention, giving his clanmates time to flee, but is killed. Aside from Scorchpaw, who lost most of her tail, no one else is seriously injured. Whitepaw is haunted by Shadefrost's death and -despite being re-apprenticed to Snipswoop- refuses to leave the camp for many days. Spirestar wonders if she's leading the clan well enough and prays to Starclan for easier times.

[ashclanhistories]

The First Moon

Ashclan settles into a valley stricken by wildfire five years ago. They elect Spirestar as their leader, a thoughtful she-cat who’s defended the group well in the past. She names Rushpool -the most experienced traveler- as deputy, and Sharptree -the oldest and strangest of them all- as medicine cat. They spend the first month exploring the new territory and enjoying the plentiful prey that comes with Newleaf.