claws-and-conflict

[claws-and-conflict]

On Hiatus until 10/10/2022

I'm booked with conferences and events, so I have no time or brain space to write! But I will finally have some time by then.

[claws-and-conflict]

DuneClan - 18 Moons

Greenleaf - Neutral Moon

Leaffall is beginning.

Argusbloom is recovering.

Heatherclaw is recovering.

Burnetfur is recovering.

Burnetfur gives birth to Robinkit and Daisykit.

After convincing Brookwillow to come with her, Birchpelt sneaks out of DuneClan territory to speak to the rogues who has attacked. It takes far longer than they would have liked to find them, and the group is understandably hostile. But it does confirm one thing Birchpelt has suspected - Asphodelthroat had convinced the group to attack the Clan. As well, one of the members mentions having seen the medicine cat attacking a tom last leafbare. It's becoming more and more clear that Asphodelthroat has committed serious crimes.

Meanwhile, back at the Clan, Asphodelthroat announces a vision from StarClan that DuneClan is allowing toms too much leeway, and that the attack by the rogues shows the clan is growing weaker. She challenges Goldenstar to act before the Clan is harmed further, but the leader hesitates. Publicly, she states she needs time to think. Internally, Goldenstar wonders if Birchpelt's concerns have more merit than expected.

<- 17 Moons 19 Moons ->

[claws-and-conflict]

DuneClan - 17 Moons

Greenleaf - Bad Moon

Burnetfur is 2 moons pregnant.

Birchpaw becomes a warrior and is named Birchpelt.

Without warning one evening, a previously unknown group of rogues surrounds the camp and attacks. It is only due to great luck and skill that, in expelling the attackers, that no one dies. Unfortunately, though, Argusbloom and Heatherclaw are severely injured while protecting the Queen's Den, and Burnetfur also is injured while keeping Splotchnose and Palekit safe.

During the attack, Birchpelt can't help but notice that the rogues seem to be heavily favoring attacking the male members of the clan, and avoided the Medicine Cat Den entirely. She notices the direction the rogues fled to, and vows to seek them out next moon.

Argusbloom is recovering.

Heatherclaw is recovering.

Burnetfur is recovering.

<- 16 Moons 18 Moons ->

[claws-and-conflict]

DuneClan - 16 Moons

Greenleaf - Great Moon

Burnetfur is 1 moon pregnant.

Morningpaw is recovering.

Lavenderpaw becomes a warrior and is named Lavenderpath for her interest and dedication to mentoring future warriors.

StagClan, in a continued effort to maintain good relations with DuneClan, brings another piece of prey to exchange, reaffirming the alliance. Goldenstar is suspicious, wondering what ulterior motive StagClan may have, but accepts it. It's better to keep them close.

Meanwhile, Birchpaw has continued trying to watch and spy on Asphodelthroat. It's difficult, as the medicine cat rarely speaks about Waxstone, and usually seems obsessed with her work. Goldenstar notices her apprentice is distracted, and finally confronts her. Birchpaw admits her suspicions, that Waxstone didn't die from a dog attack, that Asphodelthroat may be involved, that she manipulated Hemlockfur into being her apprentice. Goldenstar does not outright disbelieve Birchpaw, but needs evidence to act. Frustrated, Birchpaw goes to Shadowflight, not sure what to do next. He wonders if another clan or a loner may have seen something that night, since Waxstone was found so close to a border.

<- 15 Moons 17 Moons ->

[claws-and-conflict]

DuneClan - 15 Moons

Newleaf - Neutral Moon

Greenleaf is beginning.

Hemlockpaw earns her Medicine Cat name, Hemlockfur.

Burnetfur announces a pregnancy with Shadowflight! She moves to the Queen's Den.

A hunting party spots a snake den in an oft-used hunting location. Cootpelt, Morningpaw, Hornetthroat, and Goldenstar decide to fill in the den, but in the process the snake comes out and attacks the group. While luckily the snake is not venomous, Morningpaw does suffer a broken leg from where the snake tried to latch on. She will need to recover for a few moons.

Morningpaw is recovering.

Birchpaw speaks to Shadowflight about Hemlockfur and what she and Brookwillow learned. Shadowflight, growing more concerned, decides to talk to Burnetfur about her relationship with her older brother. He learns that Burnetfur saw Waxstone as a possible leader one day, and that Lightstorm often went to him for help and guidance. She also mentions how Asphodelthroat originally tried to convince her to become mates with Argusbloom. Shadowflight grows more concerned for his former apprentice.

<- 14 Moons 16 Moons ->

[claws-and-conflict]

DuneClan - 14 Moons

Newleaf - Neutral Moon

Rookear is recovering.

Crowstorm is recovering. Brookpaw becomes a warrior, and is named Brookwillow for his easy-going personality.

Brookwillow and Birchpaw follow Asphodelthroat and Hemlockpaw as they travel to the highest dune. There, it becomes clear that Hemlockpaw knows some secret that Asphodelthroat is working hard to keep her from revealing. As Asphodelthroat communes with StarClan, Brookwillow and Birchpaw try to talk with their sister, to get her to reveal what is going on. Hemlockpaw rejects them, and insults Brookwillow. Brookwillow is disheartened, accepting that Hemlockpaw has changed. Birchpaw, though, can tell that whatever Asphodelthroat has done, it's made her sister scared.

<- 13 Moons 15 Moons ->

[claws-and-conflict]

DuneClan - 13 Moons

Newleaf - Neutral Moon

Splotchnose gives birth to Palekit.

Marigoldkit becomes an apprentice and is named Marigoldpaw. She is apprenticed to Shadowflight.

Morningkit becomes an apprentice and is named Morningpaw. She is apprenticed to Cootpelt.

Lightstorm moves back to the Warriors' Den.

The tri-Clan attack on the dog pack takes much planning and preparation, coordinating between the three. However, at the end of the moon, under a moonless sky, they make their way to where the pack had sheltered, each of the clan's most skilled trackers finding the route. The attack came as a surprise to the pack, and seemed like it lasted forever. However, at the end, the dogs had been chased away. Of course, no clan left without some injured. Rookear and Crowstorm suffered the worst of it from DuneClan; Rookear in fact lost one ear entirely, and Crowstorm's tail had been broken in the jaw of a dog. Cardinalpaw and Brookpaw also suffered minor injuries. In truth, though, the entire clan was thankful that no one had died in the attack. For the next 12 moons, any rolls involving dog packs are downgraded to a single dog, and any rolls involving a single dog are ignore entirely.

Rookear is recovering.

Crowstorm is recovering.

With his new apprentice, Shadowflight does not have as much free time to investigate what happened, so Birchpaw enlists the help of Brookpaw to speak to their sister while his wounds are checked on by Hemlockpaw. Birchpaw also looks at the wounds of the four injured cats, and notices they don't look the same as Waxstone's wounds did. Brookpaw isn't able to get much from Hemlockpaw, but does agree she isn't acting herself. The two decide to follow Asphodelthroat and Hemlockpaw to the highest dune next moon to see if they can learn more.

<- 12 Moons 14 Moons ->

[claws-and-conflict]

DuneClan - 12 Moons

Leafbare - Great Moon

Newleaf is beginning.

Splotchnose is 2 moons pregnant.

Heatherclaw and Cootpelt become mates.

Asphodelthroat announces that Hemlockpaw wishes to become her apprentice. Hemlockpaw becomes the medicine cat apprentice, and moves to the Medicine Cat Den permanently.

After some secret discussions between DuneClan and StagClan, this moon is chosen as the time to conduct a raid on PondClan. It goes well, beyond expectations - there are minor injuries on both sides, but nothing severe, and PondClan is forced to admit to their actions. PondClan agrees to keep out of DuneClan and StagClan territory.

With this success, Goldenstar calls upon the two other clans to join forces against the pack of dogs that have been causing problems along DuneClan's border. StagClan agrees to help without reservation, but PondClan hesitates. Goldenstar says it can be their repentance for encroaching on the land of other Clan's. PondClan agrees, and plans begin to be set for an attack next moon.

Meanwhile, Birchpaw starts to become suspicious of her former mentor's death. Shadowflight as well is confused by Hemlockpaw's choice to become a medicine cat. They start to secretly confer to each other their concerns.

<- 11 Moons 13 Moons ->

[claws-and-conflict]

DuneClan - 11 Moons

Leafbare - Bad Moon

Hemlockpaw is recovering.

Splotchnose is 1 moon pregnant.

Laburnumnose passes away from old age at 152 Moons.

Waxstone goes missing while being on camp guard duty one night. It is only a day later that his body is found near the area the dog pack was sighted, covered in wounds. Asphodelthroat declares that he was killed by one of the dogs, and the Clan's grief deepens. Lightstorm, Marigoldkit, and Morningkit are hit particularly hard. Birchpaw is made the apprentice of Goldenstar.

<- 10 Moons 12 Moons ->

[claws-and-conflict]

DuneClan - 10 Moons

Leafbare - Bad Moon

Emberkit becomes an apprentice and is named Emberpaw. She is apprenticed to Nightear.

Cardinalkit becomes an apprentice and is named Cardinalpaw. He is apprenticed to Heatherclaw.

Hornetthroat moves back to the Warriors' Den.

Splotchnose announces a pregnancy with Starlingfang. She moves to the Queen's Den.

As the weather grows colder, the ground begins to grow slippery with ice as water freezes. Hemlockpaw, while out training with Shadowflight, falls and is injured. Worse, an infection develops in her wound, and she is confined to the Medicine Cat Den as Asphodelthroat does what she can to heal her. The young cat is lucky - while she will always have a bald spot where the infected wound laid, she will live, but needs time to recover.

Hemlockpaw is recovering.

<- 9 Moons 11 Moons ->

[claws-and-conflict]

DuneClan - 9 Moons

Leaffall - Neutral Moon

Leafbare is beginning.

Starlingfang is recovering.

Heatherclaw is recovering.

Crowstorm is recovering.

The same dog pack is spotted again, missing one of their members, but seemingly unswayed by this. The clan is perturbed by this, and even Goldenstar is unsure of the best action. Again, patrols are increased in size, and apprentices may only leave camp with their mentors. But avoidance will not see the clan through forever. Goldenstar struggles with her determined desire for DuneClan to solve their own problems, and knowing they need the help of the other clans.

<- 8 Moons 10 Moons ->

[claws-and-conflict]

DuneClan - 8 Moons

Leaffall - Neutral Moon

Crowpaw becomes a warrior, and is named Crowstorm after his passionate personality.

Brookkit becomes an apprentice and is named Brookpaw. He is apprenticed to Burnetfur.

Hemlockkit becomes an apprentice and is named Hemlockpaw. She is apprenticed to Shadowflight.

Birchkit becomes an apprentice and is named Birchpaw. She is apprenticed to Waxstone.

Lavenderkit becomes an apprentice and is named Lavenderpaw. She is apprenticed to Daffodilleg.

Nightear moves back to the Warriors' Den.

There's a single dog sighted on DuneClan territory. Goldenstar is concerned that the dog may be from the pack seen moons earlier, but that does mean confronting it may keep the entire pack from intruding on DuneClan territory. She chooses Starlingfang, Heatherclaw, Rookear, Cootpelt, and Crowstorm to join her in chasing the dog away. It's a difficult fight - the dog tries to stand its ground, and ends up taking one of Goldenstar's lives and seriously injuring Starlingfang, Heatherclaw, and Crowstorm. However, the dog is chased off, towards PondClan territory.

Goldenstar has 1 life remaining.

Starlingfang is recovering.

Heatherclaw is recovering.

Crowstorm is recovering.

<- 7 Moons 9 Moons ->

[claws-and-conflict]

DuneClan - 7 Moons

Leaffall - Bad Moon

Lightstorm gives birth to Marigoldkit and Morningkit.

Shadowflight and Burnetfur become mates.

As the leaves begin to fall, there is a sudden shortage of land-based prey. Luckily, the water is still flowing free, and the clan is able to fish as the loner had taught them. While all warriors and apprentices have to eat less than is comfortable, and many gripe about getting their fur wet, no one truly suffers ill health or death.

<- 6 Moons 8 Moons ->

[claws-and-conflict]

DuneClan - 6 Moons

Greenleaf - Great Moon

Leaffall is beginning.

Lightstorm is 2 moons pregnant.

Cootpaw becomes a warrior, and is given the name Cootpelt.

During a patrol, the leader of StagClan requests a meeting at their shared border. Goldenstar agrees to meet with him, taking Splotchnose and Waxstone with her. The StagClan leader offers a shared alliance, as PondClan has been crossing into their territory as well. Goldenstar agrees to this, recognizing that combining forces would be better than trying to take on PondClan by themselves. To confirm the alliance, they exchange prey. The next time PondClan is spotted or they attack, severity is reduced by one for all cats affected. As well, during an internal event in the next 6 moons, DuneClan and StagClan may conduct a raid against PondClan.

<- 5 Moons 7 Moons ->

[claws-and-conflict]

DuneClan - 5 Moons

Greenleaf - Great Moon

Lightstorm is 1 moon pregnant.

Asphodelthroat takes Splotchnose and Burnetfur with her when she visits the highest dune. She asks Burnetfur about her romantic interests, pushing her again to take Argusbloom as a mate to prevent him from seeking companionship outside the clan, but Burnetfur rebuffs her. Her interest lies elsewhere. Splotchnose also mentions that Argusbloom has been helping Nightear and Hornetthroat with their kits, and that Lightstorm told her that she only felt comfortable having kits because he was helping. Asphodelthroat begrudgingly accepts this, and when her conversation with StarClan reveals no concerns, decides to accept the tom's role within the camp.

A loner, traveling through DuneClan territory, brings a gift of a large fish, and shares her technique. The next famine rolled affects 2 less cats.

<- 4 Moons 6 Moons ->

[claws-and-conflict]

DuneClan - 4 Moons

Greenleaf - Neutral Moon

Hornetthroat gives birth to Emberkit and Cardinalkit.

Heatherpaw becomes a warrior, and is given the name Heatherclaw for his prodigious combat abilities.

Lightstorm announces a pregnancy with Waxstone. Lightstorm moves to the Queen's Den, but maintains her position as Deputy.

Asphodelthroat brings her concerns about changes to Clan culture making StarClan upset to Goldenstar. Goldenstar hears her out, but dismisses the concerns. Unless a message comes from StarClan proper, she doesn't believe that the dog pack sighting or the altercation with PondClan are signs from them. She does, however, encourage Asphodelthroat to go and speak with StarClan, and offers to send guards with her if it would make her more comfortable. Asphodelthroat agrees to do so next moon.

<- 3 Moons 5 Moons ->

[claws-and-conflict]

DuneClan - 3 Moons

Newleaf - Neutral Moon

Greenleaf is beginning.

Hornetthroat is 2 moons pregnant.

Shadowpaw becomes a warrior, and is named Shadowflight for his impressive speed.

On a patrol, Lightstorm, Starlingfang, Cootpaw, Argusbloom, Burnetfur, and Waxstone come across a hunting group from PondClan crossing the border. The group confronts them, and while a fight doesn't break out, it is a tense situation. The PondClan warriors are chased off, but the border will need monitoring to make sure further incursions do not happen.

<- 2 Moons 4 Moons ->