Post by Jos on Jun 17, 2022 20:16:05 GMT -5
Everything was coming up Stoatclaw!
Despite how utterly tragic the earthquake was for most cats, Stoatclaw saw it as an opportunity to start fresh. It had given her the unprecedented chance to spend more clan-sanctioned time with Panthercall, the tom with whom she had been sneaking out to visit before the Earthquake. She was also able to stay with her brother, Newtstripe, for which she was grateful. She had known cats who had to choose between clan and kin once the leaders announced the merger. It was a sad and chaotic time for most, but Starclan was smiling down on Stoatclaw at least. The best part was building a new clan, figuratively and literally. She loved the challenge of merging different cats from different backgrounds, finding solutions to problems, working together for the good of the community. It was a unique, once in a lifetime (hopefully!) opportunity, and she made every second count.
Then Newtstripe’s mate, Shadowchaser, found an abandoned kitten who had become especially attached to her dear awkward brother, which made the little kit practically kin! Stoatclaw was thrilled, and had spent some time playing with the little she-kit as though she were Newtstripe’s own flesh and blood. It was the best she could hope for from the couple seeing as two toms could not produce a litter of kittens themselves. Stoatclaw had yet to produce a litter of kittens, though she wanted to have at least one litter if at all possible, and she had worried that Newtstripe would not know what to do with them when they arrived. Luckily for Birchpaw, Newtstripe turned out to be an excellent parental figure. Go figure!
For those reasons alone, Stoatclaw could be found strutting about camp with her tail high in the air and bounce in her step. Maybe she was blessed by Starclan? It was possible, she was an excellent warrior who deserved to be blessed just as much as the next cat. In fact it made perfect sense! Why else would so many good things have happened to her in a row?
But not all cats were so lucky.
Stoatclaw slowed and paused, catching sight of poor Minnowsplash. This she-cat was certainly, decidedly, most positively NOT blessed by Starclan. Her mate died in the Earthquake, just before they were able to try for another litter of kittens after their first litter didn’t make it. Ever since then Minnowsplash could be seen sitting alone, looking sad. Stoatclaw knew her clanmates had tried to help but did not know what to do to ease such unimaginable suffering, and Stoatclaw felt it was insulting to even try to ease it. Let the she-cat grieve, that’s what she thought. It was good to grieve, healthy even. But today, Stoatclaw felt the urge to do something.
She went to the fresh-kill pile and picked out two pieces of prey, then carried them over to Minnowsplash and placed them down at her paws. “I, ah, thought you might want a bit of fresh kill. The hunting patrols came back and prey seems to be running well. Do you mind if I join you?” Stoatclaw settled down next to Minnowsplash before receiving an answer, “So…the weather’s been nice, don’t you think?”
Stoatclaw winced as she said that. Clearly she was not Starclan Blessed with the ability to talk to other cats normally.
Despite how utterly tragic the earthquake was for most cats, Stoatclaw saw it as an opportunity to start fresh. It had given her the unprecedented chance to spend more clan-sanctioned time with Panthercall, the tom with whom she had been sneaking out to visit before the Earthquake. She was also able to stay with her brother, Newtstripe, for which she was grateful. She had known cats who had to choose between clan and kin once the leaders announced the merger. It was a sad and chaotic time for most, but Starclan was smiling down on Stoatclaw at least. The best part was building a new clan, figuratively and literally. She loved the challenge of merging different cats from different backgrounds, finding solutions to problems, working together for the good of the community. It was a unique, once in a lifetime (hopefully!) opportunity, and she made every second count.
Then Newtstripe’s mate, Shadowchaser, found an abandoned kitten who had become especially attached to her dear awkward brother, which made the little kit practically kin! Stoatclaw was thrilled, and had spent some time playing with the little she-kit as though she were Newtstripe’s own flesh and blood. It was the best she could hope for from the couple seeing as two toms could not produce a litter of kittens themselves. Stoatclaw had yet to produce a litter of kittens, though she wanted to have at least one litter if at all possible, and she had worried that Newtstripe would not know what to do with them when they arrived. Luckily for Birchpaw, Newtstripe turned out to be an excellent parental figure. Go figure!
For those reasons alone, Stoatclaw could be found strutting about camp with her tail high in the air and bounce in her step. Maybe she was blessed by Starclan? It was possible, she was an excellent warrior who deserved to be blessed just as much as the next cat. In fact it made perfect sense! Why else would so many good things have happened to her in a row?
But not all cats were so lucky.
Stoatclaw slowed and paused, catching sight of poor Minnowsplash. This she-cat was certainly, decidedly, most positively NOT blessed by Starclan. Her mate died in the Earthquake, just before they were able to try for another litter of kittens after their first litter didn’t make it. Ever since then Minnowsplash could be seen sitting alone, looking sad. Stoatclaw knew her clanmates had tried to help but did not know what to do to ease such unimaginable suffering, and Stoatclaw felt it was insulting to even try to ease it. Let the she-cat grieve, that’s what she thought. It was good to grieve, healthy even. But today, Stoatclaw felt the urge to do something.
She went to the fresh-kill pile and picked out two pieces of prey, then carried them over to Minnowsplash and placed them down at her paws. “I, ah, thought you might want a bit of fresh kill. The hunting patrols came back and prey seems to be running well. Do you mind if I join you?” Stoatclaw settled down next to Minnowsplash before receiving an answer, “So…the weather’s been nice, don’t you think?”
Stoatclaw winced as she said that. Clearly she was not Starclan Blessed with the ability to talk to other cats normally.
coded by benetnasch of THQ