[Ghost the Undead Goddess]

It felt good to feel the wind against her short coat once more, and not the stuffy air that was trapped within the cavern that housed the Tribe up within the mountains. Not that the old molly didn't appreciate their help and hospitality, but nothing was more like home than the moorlands in which she had grown up. It was different than what it had been before the earthquake, but it was still home.

They had slept in a rotund sort of circle, with warriors surrounding those weaker than them while the open night sky and twinkling stars looked down on the sea of multicolored pelts within the grasslands.

However, as dawn began to break at the sky and basking the landscape in the tiniest bit of pastel colors, Owlstar rose to greet the beginning of a new day. Her mind was a whirl of thoughts, plots and ideas to start work on making their new camp feel like home. There was much to do, and though there was plenty of time to do it the gray furred leader wanted to get it done quicker rather than later. Galeclan could come back from this disaster stronger than ever, even if they didn't join another clan they could still remain a powerhouse under her ever watchful amber hues. 

Stretching out each limb, including her stiff shoulder, Owlstar made her way over to the small rise within the center of the placed campsite. It was a small little knoll in the grasslands, but it was high enough for a leader to sit and look over the raised heads of her clanmates for meetings and ceremonies. It was a place for her to bestow and a place that future leaders would covet once their time to sit there came to them. 

Parting her whitening jaws, Owlstar's rasped tone was sharp and straight to the point as she called her clan without hesitation. "All those swift enough to race the moors, gather here for a clan meeting." The words were all but familiar to her, though despite the call for specific cats she knew that all of the clan would come together at the base of the mound she was standing on - which took no time at all with all the rising felines yawning into the early morning air. 

Lowering her haunches to sit and wrapping her long tail around her whitening paws, Owlstar patiently waited for all her cats to file in. She noted the apprentices that stuck together, though it seemed Swiftpaw and Harepaw were already in cahoots about some sort of idea or brazen plan to execute later. Cloudthroat was next to Noblepaw, Batear was near Kindleflare as expected and it was then that Owlstar remembered the sorrow of losing not only her sister Rosefire, but Brightpool, Nightstep and his mate: Palescreech.

They would be remembered and honored for their life spent in what was once called Lightningclan. 

"We are home." She said at first, letting those words sink into the worries and fears that many of her clanmates had worn since the great quake had reeked havoc on the valley. "However, we have work to do to make this camp feel safe and comfortable. Every paw is needed to help with the list of chores and tasks ahead of us." It pleased her to see positive expressions flutter across faces, and even some of the more mischievous looks from troublesome cats was a soothing sight.

"I will be splitting up tasks and depending on what you feel fits your area of skills then I expect you to put your nose to the ground and help. This is our home, but only together can we truly make it a place to be safe and happy. We are a family, and like the wind, Galeclan will always be around." The new name of her clan tasted odd in her mouth, but not in a bad way. Just, something to get used to after moons of living under a different moniker. 

"Nightrunner, you are in-charge of rebuilding the camp. I need cats who are good with their paws and not afraid of fortifying tunnel walls to enlarge certain dens. Many of these warrens are empty, but be prepared to find an angry rabbit or two among their depths when clearing them out. We need to focus on the Nursery, the Elder's Den and the Medicine Cat's den first."

The tip of her slender tail flickered as Owlstar's wide amber hues shifted from the lanky shape of her deputy to the inky black form of Batear - the last remaining cat on the leader's paw-picked council. "Batear, you are in-charge of hunting patrols. Take the swift-footed and best trackers so that our cats don't go hungry during this time. It would also be wise to organize a patrol of cats to collect moss for bedding as well as moss for an easy water source."

That was two things down, and with perk ears from those below her the ancient gray Oriental could tell that many cats were getting ready to leap at the idea of either joining Nightrunner or Batear for their duties of the day. 

"Cloudthroat." From a molly to a tom, Owlstar's gaze didn't hesitate for a second as she continued to doll out instructions for those of her clan. "I would like for you to pick out three cats who you think would fit this situation best. Your patrol will do quick border runs and keep an eye out for anything that can cause our cats a threat - and remove them from the moors."

Finally her gaze fluttered back over to Kindleflare as the aging healer softly leaned against the lanky form of Batear. The ginger and white tabby had been through a lot recently, and she was lucky to have the support of cats that were around her. Including, the former Medicine Cat of Treeclan: Falconstorm. "Kindleflare, we need to make sure your supplies are stocked and ready for any sort of issues we may incounter. Take Falconstorm, another warrior and perhaps an apprentice to hunt down some herbs." Out of respect, Owlstar gave a small dip of her head to the other molly before refocusing on the rest of the clan. 

A surge of pride rose within the elder molly's chest as she looked out over the sea of multicolored eyes and pelts. Her cats had survived and the clan was as strong as ever. "Remember, we are Galeclan and we always will be." She stood before she spoke, letting her raspy voice sound strong as a gust of wind floated her words to each pair of ears in almost a simultaneous way. It was as if the element of their clan agreed with Owlstar before she flicked her tail to dismiss those around her. 

OWLSTAR

galeclan leader || 93 moons

1135 WORDS

Abyss BlooRey DVD Fawn

[murk]

YOU IN ALL YOUR VIBRANT YOUTH, HOW COULD ANYTHING BAD EVER HAPPEN TO YOU?

❝

The early morning air sang with distant meadowlarks and drumming pawsteps. Owlstar's call to her Clan fell like a stone in a still pool, sending ripples through the GaleClan camp as apprentices and warriors alike woke, stretched, and began to gather at their leader's word. Murkpaw, of course, didn't hear any of this. Murkpaw never heard anything unless he wanted to, and even then he usually got it wrong.

He didn't wake up because he heard something. He woke up because someone stepped on his head, and even then, the dark tom rose from a dead sleep like a mannequin picked up by the strings, moving less like a cat and more like a corpse suddenly set on its feet. His horrible little eyes stared forward with glassy, eager intensity, already dead certain that he knew not only his place in the world, but that he was a deeply necessary part of it.

This is it, he thought, attempting to lick down some of his neck fluff. This is Murkpaw's day. He had to look his best for the warrior ceremony that was definitely the whole reason Owlstar had called the Clan together. The warrior ceremony for Murkpaw, a seven-moon-old apprentice who couldn't remember his own mentor's name. Yes! 

Some cats might take a moment and think: maybe not. But while Murkpaw often took moments, he seldom thought, so it was natural that he (Murkpaw) swaggered up like the king of the fresh kill pile and sat with the two apprentices Owlstar had been eyeing. "Heh!" he said to the pair, unable to contain his greasy glee. "Today will be a day to remember."

Owlstar began to speak, and Murkpaw instantly forgot that he was waiting to be made the Clan's youngest warrior and became fixated on Owlstar's speech, which he found very inspiring despite the fact that it was mostly assigning necessary chores and patrols. "GaleClan! GaleClan!" he yowled patriotically, digging his claws into the sod and ripping up the dry grasses underfoot. "Murkpaw is ready to help!"

He decided to help gather herbs, which would have been helpful if he knew what those were or where to find them. Lacking knowledge of either, Murkpaw pounced on a nearby tuft of grass only a fox-length from the leader's knoll and clamped the entire thing in his jaws, tugging upwards insistently. The blades slid smoothly between his teeth, emerging coated in weird apprentice-saliva and still very much attached at the root.

@owlstar, galeclan ● stinko is here ● 411 words

MADE BY MIZO

[Abyss]

[googlefont="Shizuru"]

Tis better to have loved and lost

There weren’t many who found themselves stirring so early in the morning. Even as the sun began to peek over the distant mountains, casting bright shades of orange, pink, and blue across the sky, many of Galeclan still laid in rest. It was rather warm despite the colder winds of Leafbare coming in, the cozy pelts of felines all gently pressed together in a big circular layer against the burrowed hillside. There was something almost prideful in the way the clan spent their nights together, all huddled for warmth rather than separated. It wasn’t as though they could be yet; the dens weren’t ready to house their soon-to-be inhabitants. Even still, the closeness of it all brought comfort to the Warrioress.

Though, as much as she enjoyed sleeping this way, she found her emerald eyes beginning to open just at the crack of dawn, more out of habit than on purpose. Dawn and dusk had always been her favorite times of day, for these times were the least hot and the least cold. A break in between the brightness of day and the darkness of night. Even as she began to wake from her slumber, knowing rather well that she should be getting up, she remained in place, head pressed gently against her mate’s. She cherished every moment that she had with Kindleflare, and every moment she had with the two toms by their sides as well. Even though Mousepaw and Ravenpaw were older now, she still did everything she could to spend as much time with them as possible. The four of them had all come from different places and backgrounds, yet they still found a way to become a family, something that she adored with all her heart.

She finally pushed herself up into a sitting position, leaning down once more to gently groom the top of the orange tabby’s head at her side. A flash of movement caught her eye, her gaze shifting to the side where she spotted Owlstar also stirring. It was almost difficult to see the other Oriental femme in the dim light, though she was sure she herself was difficult to see in any form of darkness. The perks of being neutral-toned cats.

A smile crossed the black she-cat’s face as her Leader perched herself atop the small hill that made their camp, lifting her head in attention. She felt Kindleflare and Mousepaw wake at her sides, offering them both nuzzles before she returned her attention to Owlstar.

She offered a respectful nod as the Leader addressed her in her speech, designating the tasks that Batear was to oversee. She had been Owlstar’s chosen “Lead Hunter”, if that were considered a title, for quite a while now, and she had no doubt in her ability to follow through with this. They had a lot of hunting and collecting to do if they wanted to keep the clan fed. But she knew that the cats of Galeclan were perfectly capable of doing so and then some.

As the meeting ended and the clan began to shift and move like a wave, Batear turned her gaze to the Medicine Cat, a warm smile still on her maw.

“Do be careful, love. If you need help, you know I would be there with just a call, ” she purred into the other’s ear, rubbing her thin face against the other’s. As much as she wished she could just sit there and bask in all that was Kindleflare, she had things to attend to and parted regretfully from the other she-cat’s side.

She padded a somewhat short distance away from the gathered clan before turning and searching. She knew there would be others who sought her out after the speech, but she knew to call to them as well.

“Those of Galeclan who want to help in hunting and tracking prey for the clan, please meet me here.” She waited for a decent amount of others to find their way to her before she continued.

“As Owlstar said, we must send multiple patrols out to hunt and to find the places most ideal for hunting. I want at least three or four patrols to go out at once, each with at least four or five cats for safety in numbers. I also want at least two patrols to come together to find moss and large leaves for bedding. We need both dry and wet moss for bedding and to drink for those who stay in camp and work to fortify our dens. I will be leading one of the patrols out hunting.”

With this, she looked among the gathered cats and began to separate them into patrol groups. After confirming who would be with her, she nodded to them all and sent them on their way, herself and her patrol departing as well. Their first destination would be to head towards the Sun Stones, searching the old landmark for signs of prey and perhaps traveling past it should they be unsuccessful.

than never to have loved at all.

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