#whitetooth

[cedarboughs]

Three years ago today I was wandering north along Whitetooth Ridge in wildfire smoke I couldn’t quite climb above. The Mordor-look of the alpine was a unique sight, but one tinged with no uncertain dread for the future. Anyway.

[cit-warriorscat]

Some Redtail hcs because I am unreasonably attached to a man whose main character trait is being dead:

- He is a transman! Transitioned late into his apprenticeship. Also a disaster bisexual.

- Also he is very short. He’ll tell you that Spottedleaf stole all the height from him in the womb. (Rosetail always joked that he must’ve part mouse due to his size. It fueled a very irrational hatred of mice, much to his family’s amusement)

- His best friend is his sister, Spottedleaf. They two of them were inseparable since they were kits and it continued into apprenticeship, and he often hung out with her in the medicine den when he wasn’t training with Sparrowpelt.

- Worst luck you’ve ever seen. It’s like Starclan has it out for him. If the clan is taking bets it is a common practice to ask Redtail for his intuition, and then place your bet the opposite of what he says. 9/10 times you are correct.

- The 1/10 times Redtail is correct he gets so smug about it.

- Was given Mousefur as an apprentice really young. He was like a moon out of training before suddenly being handed a spitfire of an apprentice, and absolutely did not know what he was doing. It’s like when you’re a high schooler and your teacher is 19. Redtail was out of his depth here haha. She scared him off of being a mentor, and didn’t get Dustpelt until much later.

-At least he was taller than her, lmao 😂

- Had whirlwind of romances and heartbreaks as a fresh warrior. After a while Redtail swore off dating forever. That’s what he told Spottedleaf.

-(She bet three mice on him that he be lovestruck all over again in a moon.)

-Runningwind started courting him with flowers and his favorite prey a couple days after that. Was going to stick to his plan but little by little Runningwind, with his loveably goofy grin and thoughtful gestures, won him over. The rest was history. (And Spottedleaf got her mice)

- Redtail does know herbs and the basics of being a medic due to spending so much time with Spottedleaf. She has since started using him as her errand boy, which Redtail pretends to be annoyed about. (But he likes the plants, and he loves his sister. So it’s all good.)

-Is Bluestar’s second deputy and a successor to Whitetooth (renamed One-eye). Everyone thought that he would eventually become Redstar, until the day Tigerclaw dragged his lifeless corpse back from Sunningrocks.

[away-from-anthills]

decided to try and make a few relevant characters (and also squirrelface who isn’t relevant Now but will be... eventually) in this

[lyrelyrebird]

Just gonna sit here till the winter storm blows over and we'll ski in the morning.

[jimmytrias]

A sonreír!!!! #sonrisa #smile #jimmytrias #sonrisaprofident #whitetooth #beac #miami #summer #love (en Miami Beach, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/B24cj-Fi2uy/?igshid=hzx9fwo9244d

[gmaleblog]

Jak do tego doszło nie wiem, ale w środę na @krakow.naszemiasto.pl .pl pojawił się artykuł o najprzystojniejszych #cracowboy z moim udziałem. Miłe! ✌🏻 • Na naszym kanale @thewelldressedpeople pojawił się też kolejny film z nowym projektem #SzafaPrzyszlegoMinimisty 🧳Wpadajcie i dowiedzcie się o co dokładnie chodzi. Do filmu wprosił się także @target.that.beagle więc chyba bardziej zachęcać Was już nie muszę! Udanego weekendu! 🌱 • #gmale #krakow_gram #men #male #menstyle #menbody #bodymen #smile #whitetooth #toothwhitening #krakowmen #monstera #plantdaddy #boyswithplants #hoscos #favoboys #polishgay (w: Kraków, Poland) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz4vpgbIUvj/?igshid=1ai15jwsgvf9m

[hiredgunscreative]

For Whitetooth Brewing Company’s High Gravity series, a high-end lineup of adventurous seasonal beers, we were tasked with creating a new look with the right tone – distinct from the core lineup, while playing to the strength of the Whitetooth brand. We moved away from the core lineup’s use of full action scenes, focusing instead on individual icons isolated on black and rendered in highly-stylized organic polygons. The geometric illustrations complement the sharp, angular brandmark, with playful colours popping off the label, and a touch of foil to bring out the luxury feel of the High Gravity series.

Psychosis 7, named after Golden’s defunct mountain bike race, features an iconic full-face helmet, while Truth Dare Consequence illustrates the mountain where its namesake ski runs descend. More High Gravity beers are already in the works and will be added to this series as time goes on.

[neat-deadandlive-things]

New and improved standing desk for freshwater ecologists! Made from a box of used periphyton samplers.

[owlcoholik]

warrior cats toxic yuri real

[beermebc]

Tour de Suds: Ski Magazine spotlights BC Ale Trail

Tour de Suds: Ski Magazine spotlights BC Ale Trail

The BC Ale Trail leads, often indirectly, to the province’s best breweries. Lucky for you, some of these happen to be in ski towns.

The Powder Highway isn’t actually one highway, and British Columbia’s Ale Trail isn’t really a trail. Both meander their way up, down, and around the mountain ranges that define B.C.’s landscape. But since skiing and après-ski beer go together like a boot in a binding

[away-from-anthills]

decided to make a 'map' of windclan, official family tree style! it helps me organize them visually

family relations under the cut!

some family relations of note in this tree-

- cherrycloud and molethroat are mates; their kits are amberkit, brindlekit, rosekit, patchkit, and olivekit.

- cherrycloud and sparkthistle are sisters, but they have been estranged from each other for quite some time due to "personal differences".

- adderthorn is the mother of marblepaw and twigpaw; their father likely was a cat of another clan. she never particularly cared for them, and marblepaw and twigpaw are polar opposites of one another, so the three really don't interact much.

- webwhisker and shadeflower are siblings, and thick as thieves. silverbelly is their father.

- shadeflower is the mother of sparrowpaw, coalpaw, and spiderpaw. they're a fairly close family. sparrowpaw is training to be a permaqueen just like her mother.

- russetfoot and rockscratch are brothers and similarly close.

- milkpaw and goldenpaw are stoatslink's daughters.

- rainleap and stripedwing are siblings. they do care about each other, but as they went different paths in life (rainleap became an ambitious moor runner with his sights on leadership and stripedwing became a tunneler with very modest dreams) they drifted apart naturally.

- toadpool is shalestar's nephew, and his only surviving kin. shalestar himself had children, but they all died in a tragic accident around the time antstep was adopted by the clan as a kit.

[beetlehorn]

@madmozarteanfelinefantasy

He was so right about this

[tallstars-rewrite]

Chapter 2

chapter list / previous / next

Tallkit was acquainted with the clan elders Flintfoot, Fennelpelt, and Whitetooth, but the elders' time was valuable and his mother had told him they didn’t always like to be disturbed without permission.

Sandstone led him into a shallow burrow lined with soft mosses and rabbit fur, tucked into the base of the tall hillside that rose above WindClan’s camp and sheltered it from the worst winds. Sandstone dipped his head to the old cats inside respectfully, and Tallkit quickly followed his lead, very careful not to bump his nose into the ground this time. Fennelpelt’s golden-brown eyes were kind, and Flintfoot regarded him with an impassive flick of the ear. Whitetooth was looking him up and down and Tallkit felt himself shrink a bit under the old tom’s sharp gaze, but at last he gave him an approving nod.

“I hope we haven’t disturbed you, Whitetooth.” Sandstone said, “I wanted to show Tallkit the project you requested I work on for you. I thought it would be a good beginning place for him to learn some basics.”

“Your little tom is always welcome here.” Fennelpelt purred.

“Certainly, he’s much less noisy than certain other kits.” Whitetooth said pointedly. “Flintfoot indulges them far too much.”

 Flintfoot pretended to not have heard him and returned to his grooming. 

Whitetooth blinked his hazy blue-gray eyes at Tallkit. “I hear you hope to continue our tunneling legacy.”

“Of course, your path hasn’t been decided yet.” Fennelpelt reminded them gently. “The council won’t discuss it until a quarter moon before its time for your ceremony.”

Tallkit was a bit surprised. He knew the council was made up of the leader, elders, deputy, and medicine cat, and that Heatherstar consulted them in making big decisions, but he didn’t think there was anything to discuss in regards to him. “I thought I was already meant to be a tunneler?”

“You are of course,” Sandstone said. “The council always meets as a formality. In the meantime, all kits could benefit from a little learning beforehand.”

Tallkit nodded and Sandstone took him to the back of the den. “We’ve been meaning to carve out the elders' den to create more space.” He leaned down and whispered with an amused purr, “Whitetooth and Flintfoot would prefer to sleep farther apart.” 

Tallkit watched as Sandstone put a big paw against the earth, and saw it was newly scraped out compared to the smoother packed in older walls. 

“We have room to expand a little farther this way, and you’re going to help me. The soil isn’t as frozen back here as it is on the surface. Slow careful pawfuls as opposed to fast scratching, work your claws into the soil and push it down behind you. ” 

Tallkit watched his father closely and tried to copy him, but his paws were just too small and weak compared to Sandstone’s tougher pads. For a moment the kit felt like he was making a little progress, then he slipped and his toe bent painfully against a rock. He screeched from the sudden pain and jumped back, shaking his paw. 

“It hurts my claws!” he whimpered. 

“Come now, the only way to toughen your paws is to keep practicing! Slow and steady gets it done.” Sandstone urged. Tallkit tried again, huffing with the effort but trying not to let it show.

“Don’t get discouraged, these things are never easy at first,” Sandstone said. “But these are our StarClan given gifts, and you’ll have them too in time.”

“I know about StarClan!” Tallkit said, “It’s where the cats that don’t live in camp anymore are. That’s where Finchkit lives”

His father blinked at him in confusion, “ Finchkit?”

“Mother’s other kit, my sister.” Tallkit tried not to feel frustrated. Didn’t anyone know about Finchkit?

“I see…” Sandstone murmured, “I didn’t realize she’d named it. It was too early.”

“Finchkit comes back to play with me sometimes,” Tallkit continued.

Sandstone’s confusion deepened. “That can’t be true, Tallkit.”

“But I thought StarClan talked to us?” 

“StarClan watches us and we learn from their wisdom through the tales and skills they pass down. Only medicine cats like Hawkheart can talk directly to StarClan. It’s not good to make up stories like that.” Sandstone’s voice wasn’t harsh, but Tallkit couldn’t help feeling hurt anyway.

“B-but why would Finchkit only want to talk to Hawkheart?” Tallkit complained “He’s scary and grouchy!”

“Don’t speak ill of our medicine cat, young one,” Whitetooth scolded. “He’s looked out for all you kits very well! It’s uncommon to have so many born in leafbare stay healthy, and it's thanks to him that you are. This is simply the way of things. StarClan belongs to a world beyond ours that we can’t touch.”

Fennelpelt seemed more sympathetic, “When I told you about it, I meant StarClan is always with us in spirit. They are always watching over you, including your sister. They may send us signs, but it’s not as simple as talking to them as we are talking to each other now.”

“It’s best you don’t talk about Finchkit,” Sandstone said quietly, “Your mother’s kitting was difficult, and I think she took the other kit’s death pretty hard. We don’t want to make things worse by reminding her of it. You understand, right?”

Tallkit nodded solemnly, but he didn’t really understand. Sure he didn’t see anyone exactly, but talking to her had felt right, like he could almost believe he heard her voice in return. It didn’t seem fair that he wasn’t supposed to be speaking to his sister at all. Who could it hurt?

Tallkit tried to refocus on digging but the soil seemed to be fighting him. He wasn’t shaping it at all, his claws kept snagging and he fought back a whimper.

“Don’t worry,” Sandstone urged. “You’re my son after all. Tunneling is in our blood going back generations. You're continuing a path walked by all the greatest ancient tunnelers, and you’ll uphold their legacy one day. That’s the real comfort that StarClan gives us.  You’ve surely been told of WindClan’s tunneler history.”

“Um...I don’t remember.” Tallkit mumbled. Was he supposed to know? All this talk about ancient paths felt like a lot of pressure.

“Those are our most important tales.” Whitetooth’s gravelly voice came from behind as Tallkit finally sat back in exhaustion. “All warriors know the clan's legends by heart. If you don’t know them, it’s time you learned. It goes back countless seasons, to the clan's beginning.”

Whitetooth readjusted in his nest to sit up a bit straighter as he began. “WindClan’s tunnels are nearly as old as the clan itself. You know the story of The Wind Runner, who became Windstar, WindClan’s first leader. She was the swiftest cat that ever lived and rejected the easy comfort of the trees to face the wide open sky.

“Windstar had two children to carry on her legacy. The first born was called Moor Song. She was the image of her mother; swift-footed, lean, and faster than the strongest wind that whistled through her fur when she raced by. Then there was Windstar’s second born, who earned the name Stone Claws, the earth shaper. He was the strongest cat on the moor, and the most resilient.  Moor Song was bold and relied on her speed and instincts to survive any hardship, but Stone Claws inherited his mothers wit. He was calmer, more clever, and creative. He could be trusted to help the cats he served think of a new angle when the obvious solution wouldn’t work. 

“And even in those times, young WindClan had the threat of ShadowClan on their border. The Wind Runner and The Shadow Keeper have always been bitter rivals.  Back then, the claim to our land was new, and it was agreed cats should live in the places they could make the most use of. But true to her nature, the Shadow Keeper had no qualms about cheating her way around this agreement. She wanted fewer enemies, and hoped the dark woodland of her territory would one day grow out and expand over the empty hills. She bet that her stealthy and wily cats could put the moors' land to better use. The Shadow Keeper resorted to making a risky deal with the foxes of the forest, promising them good hunting forever on the moor if they caught all the WindClan cats they found. Her warriors were free to lead the foxes to their targets under the cover of darkness, pick off any frightened stragglers, and slip away before they were seen. She hoped that the pious Wind Runner would take this sudden misfortune as a sign from StarClan that they weren’t meant to have this territory, and that she would give it up.  However WindClan are not fools, and the Wind Runner knew that Shadow Keeper was up to something. Not even foxes would break her will.”

Tallkit shivered at the thought. He’d never seen a fox but he knew they were large, red, and had very long teeth. The image of such beasts rushing over the moor toward him set his fur prickling. “How could WindClan fight off ShadowClan and foxes?” he gasped

Sandstone eagerly took over the story. “That's the best part. It looked grim at first. WindClan put up a fight, and they could chase their enemies across the moor, but they exhausted themselves never knowing where they would come from. So Wind Runner sought her children's expertise. This inspired Stone Claws' first tunneling systems, and the idea to use them for evasive tactics when there was nowhere to run. His legendary strength allowed him to carve out a whole tunnel in a single night. Shadow Keeper was sure no cat would outwit her, but her arrogance that she had us cornered was her downfall. Using dug out rabbit tunnels as cover, they learned how to use the darkness below the ground against her and took her night ambushes by surprise. ShadowClan might know tricks and stealth in their own territory, but they did not know the moor and never thought how to use the barren ground beneath their own paws. When the foxes she’d tried to goad into chasing WindClan were unable to track down the cats that disappeared underground, they grew angry and hungry. They turned on Shadow Keeper’s own and chased them deep into the forest. That is what ensured ShadowClan would always be confined to their poorer territory, to creep far away from StarClan’s gaze. They survive by treachery, that's why they could never master the moorlands, where the eyes of StarClans are always close.”  Sandstone’s nose curled with disdain. “ShadowClan’s been the most envious of WindClan ever since, even if they won’t admit it. They have more spies than any clan, eager to take our secrets to get one step ahead of us, but at every turn WindClan is there to cut them off.”

Fennelpelt nodded gravely “The only silver lining to the twolegs appearing closer to clan territories is their thunderpath has cut us off from ShadowClan, and discouraged much of their snooping.”

“It’s also made it harder for us to keep an eye on them.” Sandstone said grimly, “For now at least.”

Tallkit was glad to have anything warding off ShadowClan if they were as his father said. “I can’t believe The Shadow Keeper thought she could trick WindClan into thinking StarClan was against us!”

“Indeed. WindClan holds our ancestors closer than any cat.” Whitetooth rasped. “When the clans were lost and needed guidance, they saw a light from StarClan shining down to the north-eastern mountains. They say it was Stone Claws who carved the path through the mountains to the Moonstone. No earth was too hard to stand in his way. WindClan was the first to speak to StarClan there, and that’s why we have always been blessed by them, and why it is us that guards the path all the clans take to Mothermouth.”

Sandstone carried on, “Stone Claws became the next leader of WindClan after his mother for his bravery and wit in securing their home. His skills and lessons remain for us to learn from when WindClan is faced with new challenges from our many enemies. It's from him that we get our tough paws and resilience. We’ve honed the ability to navigate in underground darkness, and learned how to chase rabbits and moles into their hiding places; invaluable hunting techniques that kept us fed in hard times. WindClan tunneler paws will never wear or bleed long after other softer pawed cats will. ” He got a distant fervent look in his eye “The Wind Runner taught her children everything she knew, and they in turn taught their kits their own skills. It was passed down from cat to cat, and they say when you receive those skills and gifts, the Wind Runner considers you one of her kin as well. That’s why your training is so important, Tallkit. Learning from your elders and continuing their legacy is how you cement yourself as truly one of Wind Runner and Stone Claws’ own. Many cats can run like Moor Song, but it takes a truly special warrior to master one of the most difficult skills we know. And if I'm lucky, by following in Stone Claws’ pawsteps, in your lifetime you and me will see it brought to a greater potential than ever before.” 

“What kind of potential?” Tallkit asked.

Sandstone purred “You’ll learn more about it when you’re older. I have big ideas in development that I've been preparing for moons. The legacy we leave behind will be one remembered and passed down for generations. Something I want you to build with me.” He leaned down and rasped a rough tongue over Tallkit’s ear. “Maybe someday there will even be nursery tales of us to tell to future tunnelers.”

His father’s earnest excitement filled Tallkit with a great sense of importance. He was really carrying on a part of something so much bigger than himself. 

But deep down, there was also a hint of worry at how much seemed to be at stake. He didn’t really know how to envision what the great tunneler wanted him to do. But the eager warmth in Sandstone’s gaze was a look he never saw in his mother, and Tallkit wanted to latch onto it, drawn to it like a flower was drawn to face the sun. He couldn’t help matching his father’s purr. That unwavering confidence made Tallkit feel he could chase away all his doubts and worries solely through the power of Sandstone’s belief in him. In that moment, he was sure he’d do anything it took to help his father’s dream become real. Even if he had no idea what exactly it was. Sandstone clearly knew the path, and wanted him there, and that was enough.

“It’s an admirable thing your father is doing,” Whitetooth purred, “Wasn’t long ago I was running the tunnels myself, if only my joints could keep up with it. Some cat needs to speak up for us. Of course,” He added with a sour note in his voice, “We’d always do more if we had a tunneler like you in our leadership as well.”

“Whitetooth,” Fennelpelt warned, “This point has long since been discussed. Heatherstar sought our council and the decision was made.”

“I didn’t agree to it.” Whitetooth grumbled.

“What do you mean?” Tallkit asked, noticing Sandstone who wore a similar sour look when Whitetooth spoke. 

“It’s an unspoken rule that when a moor runner becomes leader, they will choose a tunneler as their deputy, and vice versa.” Sandstone replied, “It’s why Badgerstar, a tunneler, chose a moor runner like Heatherstorm as her deputy in the first place. But when she became Heatherstar, she chose another moor runner instead.”

“‘Ain’t ever been an official rule,” came Flintfoot’s gravelly voice. The old former moor runner had been listening after all.

“Ain’t no cat asked you.” Whitetooth growled at him. “I was outvoted. I can’t help wishing some cat like Sandstone here was deputy like everyone thought he would be.”

“‘Everyone’ seems like an exaggeration. And I’m sure they would work together fantastically.” Flintfoot said under his breath.

Tallkit looked up at his father but his expression was unreadable.

“It is not our job to undermine our leaders' decisions, Whitetooth.” Fennelpelt said firmly. “Reedfeather is an honorable cat and has always put the clans' needs over his own. That is all a deputy needs to be.”

Before Whitetooth could reply, the conversation was interrupted as Tallkit noticed the moor runner, Aspenfall, slink in through the den behind them.

“Sorry to barge in!” His voice was muffled and Sandstone stiffly stepped out of his way as he squeezed past. His wiry gray-and-white pelt was flecked with stray bits of grass and he carried a mess of moss and stems in his teeth which he dropped unceremoniously in front of Whitetooth’s nest.

“Good morning Father.” The scrawny moor runner purred to Whitetooth. “Hunting patrols’ back.”

“It took you all long enough. Messing around again, were you?” Whitetooth grunted in reply. 

“Certainly not. I never mess around. I brought you moss for your nest, and Lilywhisker is fetching you all fresh kill.”

“That better be new moss.”

“Of course it is. Only the absolute best for you. Every cat knows you’ll accept no less!”

He purred and grinned at him as he padded the wad. Tallkit didn’t know Aspenfall well, but even he could clearly hear the hidden notes of sarcasm that dripped from his voice.

Whitetooth glared at his son through narrowed eyes.

“Is this normally the tone you take with your elders?”

“You're always family first and an elder second, isn’t that right?”

“Of course, I could expect nothing else from my own son, who I raised and cared for. And yet, I believe you haven’t come to bring me new moss in ages. What’s the occasion?”

“Occasion? Why, I just felt like coming to visit my dear old dad!” Aspenfall purred.

Whitetooth continued glaring at him. “Cloudrunner made you?”

“Cloudrunner made me.”

The tension in the den was thick, Tallkit shuffled backwards uncomfortably. Aspenfall was smiling pleasantly, but his thin tail was twitching behind his back. He dutifully began placing the moss around his father’s nest, but Whitetooth was clearly quickly growing tired with the game.

“Well isn’t that considerate of you” the old tom said flatly.

“It’s my pleasure!” Aspenfall trilled. As he turned to walk away, he flashed a grin at Tallkit and winked at him.

“I’m sure it is.” Whitetooth grumbled, “‘Hope you at least collect enough moss bouncing about the moor all day like a mad rabbit--OW! There’s a thorn in here!”

Aspenfall looked over his shoulder innocently. “What? A thorn? Couldn’t be.”

“It’s filled with thorns you mouse-brained brat! There’s a dozen tangled in my belly fur!”

“Nonsense. I would never.”

“Pluck them out this minute, I ought to have your tail!” Whitetooth snarled. Getting to his wobbly feet, he smacked Aspenfall on the rump.

Lilywhisker strolled up behind the bristling moor runner and shoved him around her towards the entrance with her muzzle before he could turn around and smack the elder in return. “Alright Aspenfall, thank you for your contribution. I’ll take it from here.”

“If you insist, I’ll leave the pleasure to you.” He turned with his nose stuck up, sure to smack his father on the muzzle with his tail before he left.

Fennelpelt relaxed back into his nest “StarClan bless your heart, Lilywhisker” He rolled his eyes. “It’s always a joy being around when you two are within earshot of each other.” 

Whitetooth sat back down with an angry huff. “It’s not my fault! StarClan knows what happened to that kit along the way, it certainly wasn’t my doing! I tell you, you give your time and energy to bringing a cat into the world, and you get no respect at all for it, sometimes I wonder why I bother--”

Whitetooth probably would have gone on longer if Sandstone had not interrupted. “Nevermind it Lilywhisker, you bring in the prey. We’ll fix your nest for you, Whitetooth.”

“Thank you.” Whitetooth huffed. “At least some cats in this clan still have a sense of decency.”

Tallkit was proud that the elders seemed to think so highly of his father. The oldest warriors' opinions were held in high esteem by the clan. Except for Aspenfall I suppose. Tallkit thought. He was among Sandstone’s least favorite Moor Runners.

“Is Aspenfall always like that?” Tallkit whispered once he had helped pull out most of the thorns from the bedding.

“Yes, if you ask me,” Sandstone scoffed. “Certainly around his family. Aspenfall should consider himself lucky he still has a parent at all, most cats in the clan don’t anymore since the long hunger of the last leafbare took so many of our elder members.”

Fennelpelt nodded, “Thank StarClan you are lucky enough to have been born after such miserable times. No young cat should have to go through so much loss so soon--”

A muffled commotion from outside interrupted the elder, and Tallkit saw his father’s ears prick. Some cats were arguing in the camp clearing. 

Sandstone stood up with a sigh. “That sounds like Plumclaw. I’d better go see what’s happened. Come on, Tallkit. We’ll continue your lessons later.”

Tallkit followed him out of the den to see Plumclaw standing at the fresh-kill pile, pawing at a rabbit while glaring up at Aspenfall. Tallkit recognized the other two patrollers as Cloudrunner and Redclaw. He knew Redclaw was Shrewkit and Briarkit’s father, though he’d only ever seen the tom at a distance. His fur had a similar reddish sheen to Briarkit. 

 “This rabbit is from the far east side of the moor, isn’t it?” Plumclaw said accusingly. 

Aspenfall blinked. “I don’t know, maybe?” 

“What do you mean you don’t know? It’s fur smells of clay soil, that’s what the eastern burrows smell like. Is that where Redclaw decided to take you?”

Sandstone had already padded over “Redclaw, you know the tunnelers told the rest of you to avoid that area!”

Redclaw’s fur began to bristle “Are you kidding me? It’s leaf-bare! We’ll hunt where we smell food.”

“It’s the only small corner of the territory we asked cats not to go running through. We have a tunneling project going in that corner, Dawnstripe already collapsed a tunnel entrance three sunrises ago by jumping on it!” Sandstone said.

Redclaw scoffed “that area is too dangerous to be tunneling in! It’s the second tunnel that’s collapsed there.”

“It’s not dangerous if you know what you’re doing.” Sandstone retorted. “We’re not even asking much. This project will open new opportunities for all of us, but not if you go tromping through it before we’ve had a chance to make them stable.”

Aspenfall stuck his nose in Sandstone’s face. “Who died and made you deputy? If your projects get in the way of the clan hunting, then they clearly aren’t very helpful!”

Sandstone gave a deep growl that made Tallkit quiver. Hearing his father use such an angry tone was unfamiliar to him. “The tunnels have helped bring prey to the clans that the moor runners couldn’t catch for seasons! Try showing a little respect for once you--”

“Alright that’s enough!” came a sharp voice. A tall, sleek gray-brown molly with narrowed stormy blue eyes stood at the front of her den. WindClan’s leader, Heatherstar, strode across the clearing.

 “Tempers are short in this weather, but we don’t have the energy to waste squabbling with each other.”

Redclaw stepped away from Sandstone and dipped his head, but Sandstone held her gaze with an icy one of his own. 

“I know Woollycloud already explained this to you and Reedfeather. Why hasn’t Reedfeather enforced it in the hunting patrols he organizes? We’re trying to keep this together and prevent any runners from getting themselves hurt by putting their paws where they don’t belong. I thought that was what you wanted.”

Heatherstar looked steadily at him, ignoring his tone. “I apologize for this miscommunication, and I know you want what's best, but I cannot demand that cats let prey go in their own territory during the cold moons when they scent it. I want your project to be shown through to completion as much as you do, but you’ve wanted cats away from the whole eastern side for nearly a moon. We can’t afford to ignore such a wide stretch of territory in these times. Focus on stabilizing the current tunnels rather than digging further.”

“We need to reach the mid way point before newleaf! We can do it, if only-”

“That’s final, Sandstone.” Heatherstar said. “If you are worried about the tunnels destabilizing, then fixing that should be your only priority. I’m sure you can figure it out.”

 She turned, signifying there was nothing more to say on the matter.

 Plumclaw muttered under her breath. “Easy for her to say.” 

Sandstone shook his head and gave an angry huff. “Now me and Woollycloud are going to have to rearrange our plans again. Crowfur’s not going to be pleased.”

Woollycloud, having heard the commotion, padded carefully over to his tunneling partner. “I’m sure we can come to a compromise. I’ll speak to Reedfeather.” He blinked sympathetically down at Tallkit, “Sorry you had to see all that. The moor and tunnel runners have been butting heads lately.”

Tallkit knew that Sandstone disagreed with some of his moor runner clanmates, but he didn’t realize things were so bad. And if Whitetooth was right about Heatherstar not being eager to support them, it was surely only going to get worse.

 I hope this doesn’t mean Father won’t let me play with Redclaw’s kits anymore… Tallkit thought glumly. It was lonely enough knowing they wouldn’t get to train together, but he didn’t want to have to stay away from Briarkit and Shrewkit when they were in the nursery too.

The rest of the runner patrol had already gone off, Redclaw and Aspenfall’s heads leaning in together as they muttered to each other. 

Sandstone bent down to Tallkit, and pointed his muzzle subtly in Aspenfall’s direction as he walked off with Redclaw. “That cat there is a prime example of why you don’t need to be messing around with moor runners. Stuck up, think they're better than the rest of us. Redclaw is no better, and I suspect he’s passed his attitude on to his son. Aspenfall could have been a great tunneler, but he shunned his father and his work. That’s why he’s more suited to being with the other runners. He doesn’t have the toughness or the guts for the work, and couldn’t care less about his kin. Between us, I'm embarrassed to say I'm in the same clan as him sometimes.”

Tallkit nodded. The harsh tension in the air he’d felt between Aspenfall and Whitetooth was startling. Whitetooth was his father after all, Tallkit couldn’t imagine what it must be like to have that sort of relationship. Aspenfall was kind of scary, and played too rough with the other kits, even though Mistmouse’s litter seemed to think he was great fun. Tallkit didn’t mind never ending up like that. Perhaps it was good after all that he wasn’t going to train with the other moor runner kits.

chapter list / previous / next

[beingatoaster]

And the letter that Franzka wrote to her kids afterward:

To: Durtheck and/or Nalvarti Proudshovel Ironrock City, Underdark, Old Empire

From: Frantheck Proudshovel Temple of Ithax, Free City of Zauber, Alemanni Coast

---

Duri, Nala,

I'm sorry.

I put the name you know on the cover so that you could throw this away unread if you wanted to. If you're reading this, I guess you opened it, and I figured I should put the apology at the very top. I'm sorry I was such a wreck when your mom died. I'm sorry I dumped you on your uncle and ran, and I'm even sorrier for what I did while I was using the Silverpick name, if any of that ended up reflecting back on the city or that side of the family somehow.

I told myself I couldn't raise you right without her and it was better to put you in someone else's hands, but I should've tried. By the time I figured that out, it seemed like it was too late to fix. It might still be too late to fix. But whether you forgive me or not, I still owe you the apology.

I live in Zauber, now. It's all the way out of the empire and over the Shattered Ridge. There's a god called Ithax, the Zaratan, a turtle god of knowledge and libraries, and I serve in her temple here. I'm in charge of a new order for the Temple, actually, called the Illuminated, so if you ever hear of us, you know who's running it. And I got the position by helping save the city from undead.

Everyone else I was working with did more, but remember your great-grandmother's stories about the war? How if you stayed alive long enough and your side won, everyone got medals whether they'd done anything or not? Turns out it's the same here, too. And it lets me work on some things I wanted to work on anyway, so I wasn't going to say no when Master Whitetooth offered.

The people I worked on this with are all amazing. Two humans, one of them, Renae, god-blessed and working for a military temple here who was pretty maternal with the younger members of the group and real good with a dagger, one of them, Pyper, with the blood of some fire-mad old sorcerer around here with a ton of energy and a thing for fire. A private investigator named Isidor, some tall blue-skinned aquatic species, incredibly smart. And a couple of half-human brothers, teenagers, which isn't as young for part-humans as you'd think, but still kids. Ario, the one I knew better, was real dumb sometimes, the way kids are, and real brave, also kind of the way kids are, and was determined to rescue his brother, Silas, who was out of his depth once we got him back but did his best when we needed him for the undead thing.

With those two, at one point they got captured by the assholes trying to let the undead loose (it's a real long story, if you want the whole thing I'll write it out for you, but that's not the point of this letter), and I promised their mom I'd get them back and keep them safe, and I told her that I knew what kind of nightmare it was for her. And that got me thinking that, if something like that did happen to you to, the way things were, I wouldn't ever know. So that's why I wrote.

I hope you're both all right. I hope you're both well. I hope you're both happy, whatever that means for you. The only useful lesson I learned when I left is that if a place doesn't make you happy, you can leave it, so if either of you left Ironrock because that suited you better, good, and if either of you are thinking of leaving because you don't like it there, do it. If you left I guess you won't get this letter, unless someone in the family gets it and forwards it. But I'd rather you not get it and be happy than get it because you're someplace that you were unhappy.

(And if you're in Ironrock and happy and don't want to leave, I'm still glad about that, honest. Leaving made me realize how much I'd hated it there and never even known. Which still doesn't excuse leaving you. I could've taken you, or waited another ten years until you were adults, or a lot of other things that weren't ditching out like I did. But you're my kids, so do yourself a favor and take at least one trip out of the city to see if you like it better someplace not Ironrock, okay?)

That goes for writing back, too. Don't do it unless you actually want to. If you do reply, address it to Franzka Fricknarti, since I'm going by that name here. (And I'm sorry for that, too, I know it's weird.) Send the letter as far as a Temple of Ithax, and they should be able to get it to me. If you don't want to reply, that's fair. You don't have to.

I love you. Maybe I should have put that at the top of the letter. I really do love you both. I always did. I did a shitty job of showing it, you don't have to forgive me for that, and you don't have to believe me now if it makes it easier for you. But I think about you every day, and that's not stopping.

Sincerely, Franzka Fricknarti Lector of Ithax, Zauber Temple

[neat-deadandlive-things]

The whitetooth mountain range.

[berrym00n]

Allegiance lists for canon clans!

under the cut

THUNDERCLAN

LEADER: Birchstar– pale tabby she-cat with dark stripes and amber eyesDEPUTY: Scorchfeather– dark ginger tabby tom with white paws and chest and green eyes

MEDICINE CAT(S): Sweetdapple– pretty calico she-cat with green eyes

WARRIORS:

Woodleap– brown tabby tom with yellow eyes

Thornheart– gray tabby tom with pointed stripes and gray eyes

Redwing– dark ginger tom with yellow eyes. Apprentice, Logpaw

Newtwhisker– black tom with white paws and dark amber eyes

Gooseflight– mottled gray she-cat with strange black spots and amber eyes. Apprentice, Squirrelpaw

Tallpine– long-legged dark brown tabby she-cat with pale green eyes. Apprentice, Volepaw

Cranberrypelt– dark ginger tom with pale yellow eyes

Tinytail– small black and white tom with blue eyes and a stumpy tail 

Mousepelt– brown tom with a white tail tip and amber eyes. Apprentice, Shimmerpaw

Orchidfoot– pale gray she-cat with white splotches and blue eyes

Shrewnose– dusty brown she-cat with white splotches and yellow eyes

Stormbelly– gray she-cat with a mottled underbelly and blue eyesAPPRENTICES:Logpaw– brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Squirrelpaw– gray she-cat with feathered ears and blue eyes

Volepaw– black tom with green eyes and white paws

Shimmerpaw– tortoiseshell she-cat with yellow eyes

QUEENS:

Amberfreckle– white she-cat with ginger patches and yellow eyes. Mother to Marigoldkit (pale ginger she-kit) and Bluebellkit (pale gray she-kit)

Whitetooth– black and white she-cat with yellow eyes and long fangs. Mother to Pearkit (black tom-kit), Plumkit (white tom-kit with black patches), and Heatherkit (black and white she-kit)ELDERS:Ivystripe– hard-of-hearing tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes

Juniperleaf– black tom with a white chin, torn ears, and amber eyes

SHADOWCLAN

LEADER: Nettlestar– dark brown spotted tabby she-cat with torn ears and amber eyesDEPUTY: Smokeface– dark gray tom with smoky fur and blue eyes

MEDICINE CAT(S): Applescar– cream-colored tom with a long scar on his belly and amber eyesWARRIORS:

Mosspelt– dark tortoiseshell she-cat with pale yellow eyes

Pinefur– brown tabby she-cat with green eyes

Runningbrook– pale tabby tom with a white underbelly and blue eyes. Apprentice, Dirtpaw

Hawktalon– brown and white tabby tom with amber eyes. Apprentice, Crimsonpaw

Toadleap– brown tabby tom with white paws and dark amber eyes. Apprentice, Branchpaw

Hollowpoppy– ginger tabby tom with a bushy tail and blue eyes. Apprentice, Mothpaw

Fireface– black she-cat with a ginger face and yellow eyes. Apprentice, Falconpaw

Frozenleaf– calico she-cat with pretty amber eyes

Pidgeonclaw– pale tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes

Darkcloud– mottled dark brown she-cat with amber eyes

Mintfur– pale gray tom with green eyesAPPRENTICES:Dirtpaw– shaggy brown tom with green eyes

Crimsonpaw– dark ginger tabby she-cat with amber eyes and a white chest

Branchpaw– brown tom with a white belly and green eyes

Mothpaw– tortoiseshell she-cat with yellow eyes

Falconpaw– golden brown tabby tom with amber eyes

QUEENS:

Snakeshade– dark brown tabby she-cat with unusual spots and green eyes. Mother to Ivykit (pale brown tom-kit) and Oakkit (brown tabby she-kit)

Violetstorm– blueish gray she-cat with blue eyes. Mother to Hazelkit (gray tabby tom-kit)ELDERS:Twistedoak– brown tabby tom with a white chest and belly and green eyes

RIVERCLAN

LEADER: Troutstar– tortoiseshell and white tabby tom with folded ears and green eyesDEPUTY: Morningfrost– white she-cat with pale gray patches and yellow eyes

MEDICINE CAT(S):

Widgeonfur– pale brown and white she-cat with darker flecks and green eyes

Claypaw– gray tom with dull blue eyes

WARRIORS:

Foampelt– longhaired white tom with pale green eyes. Apprentice, Graypaw

Willowtail– tortoiseshell she-cat with yellow eyes and a long, wispy tail. Apprentice, Brookpaw

Lilystream– pale tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes

Storkfeather– deaf white tom with blue eyes

Ottertail– brown tabby she-cat with white paws and amber eyes. Apprentice, Vixenpaw

Mistleleaf– black and white tom with amber eyes. Apprentice, Wavepaw

Pebblefrost– tortoiseshell tabby and white she-cat with green eyes

Swanface– white tom with a black marking on his face like a swan and blue eyes

Eelcall– dark ginger tabby and white tom with amber eyes

Yellowberry– pale ginger tabby tom with green eyes

Bumbleflight– black tom with a lighter underbelly and amber eyes

Sleetshadow– pretty black tabby she-cat with amber eyes

APPRENTICES:Graypaw– pale gray she-cat with green eyes

Brookpaw– tortoiseshell tabby she-cat with green eyes

Vixenpaw– bright ginger tom with dark amber eyes and big ears

Wavepaw– longhaired calico tom with blue eyes

QUEENS:

Tansyclaw– pale ginger she-cat with white paws and pale amber eyes. Mother to Figkit (bright ginger she-kit) and Acornkit (pale brown tom-kit)

Fernpelt– pale brown tabby and white she-cat with blue eyes. Mother to Snowkit (black and white tom-kit) and Frogkit (brown tabby tom-kit)ELDERS:Pondnose– pale calico she-cat with green eyes

Brightmoon– longhaired white she-cat with blue eyes

Russetstream– reddish brown tom with green eyes

WINDCLAN

LEADER: Wheatstar– tall pale ginger she-cat with heather-like blue eyes

DEPUTY: Rabbitfoot– dark brown she-cat with green eyes

MEDICINE CAT(S): Dandeliontail– white she-cat with green eyes and a yellow tailWARRIORS:

Honeystep– pale ginger she-cat with darker patches and blue eyes. Apprentice, Turtlepaw

Nighteyes– black tom with amber eyes

Wasptail– pale ginger tabby tom with dark stripes and amber eyes. Apprentice, Wrenpaw

Foxjaw– mostly red tortoiseshell she-cat with a dark face and yellow eyes

Eaglefur– brown tabby tom with green eyes

Sunspots– gray she-cat with small pale ginger patches and yellow eyes

Whisperthroat– white she-cat with pale green eyes

Oatshine– lean brown tom with dark amber eyes

Cherryfrost– ginger tabby and white tom with blue eyes. Apprentice, Dawnpaw

Owlmoon– white she-cat with pale yellow eyes

Palestripe– pale brown tabby and white she-cat with yellow eyes

Tawnyleg– pale calico she-cat with light amber eyes

APPRENTICES:Turtlepaw– pale gray tabby she-cat with white spots and yellow eyes

Wrenpaw– brown and white tom with dark amber eyes

Dawnpaw– pale ginger she-cat with yellow eyes

QUEENS:

Raindrop– small gray she-cat with white paws and green eyes. Mother to Yewkit (tortoiseshell she-kit), Badgerkit (black and white tom-kit), and Dustkit (brownish gray tom-kit)

ELDERS:Podtail– white tom with green eyes and a black tail

Dogear– brown tabby tom with amber eyes and folded ears

Lightfoot– lean pale brown she-cat with a long tail and blue eyes

SKYCLAN

LEADER: Magpiestar– small black tom with bits of white and hazel eyesDEPUTY: Lynxtail– brown spotted tabby tom with a stumpy tail and green eyes

MEDICINE CAT(S):

Briardream– pale ginger tabby she-cat with dream-like blue eyes

Whitepaw– white she-cat with a few dark gray patches and blue eyes

MEDIATOR: Woolywhisker– dark gray and white she-cat with long curly fur and pale green eyes

WARRIORS:

Timberclaw– pale brown tabby tom with yellow eyes

Shiningfern– black tom with white ear tips and green eyes. Apprentice, Hoppaw

Valleystorm– gray and white she-cat with green eyes

Antfang– black tom with amber eyes

Hayspring– pale ginger tabby she-cat with blue eyes. Apprentice, Sproutpaw

Adderpounce– dark brown tom with amber eyes

Snailshell– brown tabby and white tom with a side swirl and amber eyes. Apprentice, Echopaw

Flightfeather– pale brown pointed tom with a long tail and brown eyes

Poppyskip– tortoiseshell she-cat with white paws and amber eyes

Blueflower– gray she-cat with blue-green eyesAPPRENTICES:Hoppaw– pale ginger tabby tom with amber eyes

Sproutpaw– sandy-colored tom with green eyes

Echopaw– white she-cat with crystal-blue eyes

QUEENS:

Cedarsoot– gray pointed she-cat with bright blue eyes. Mother to Hollykit (gray and white she-kit)

Dappledawn– brown spotted tabby and white she-cat with green eyes. Mother to Moosekit (brown tabby tom-kit), Puddlekit (pale tortoiseshell she-kit), and Carrotkit (ginger tom-kit)

ELDERS:

Raggedear– scraggly brown tom with small torn ears and amber eyes

Slighteye– half-blind brown pointed she-cat with one blue eye

Pricklytail– longhaired tortoiseshell tabby she-cat with a short tail and green eyes