[Deleted]

Fire on the ground, got em runnin' for cover,
better watch out, I'm about to take over...

---

Prey was slowly returning to the formerly flooded areas of NightClan’s territory, the land recovering as well. Frogs, if nothing else, were plentiful in those areas. And NightClan had been back in their camp and settled well after the clean up effort for several days now. Being back in the confined spaces of the camp only seemed to serve as a reminder of how big the current kits had gotten, and Thornscar had hinted at asking her about a ceremony for them, complaining about how cramped the nursery was now with a proud gleam in her eye. So she’d assured her sister it would happen, and that Roachkit would join them, and they had parted ways, Thornscar to clean up her litter and inform Roachkit’s mother, and Darkstar to contemplate mentors in the solitude of her den. These were her kin and she would not allow just any cat to mentor them. She was tempted to claim one herself, but did not. There was too much going on with TreeClan that needed her attention. She didn’t have the time to properly spend with an apprentice of her own right now. It would be unfair to them, and she didn’t think kin should train kin besides. She did not want her nieces and nephew to think she favored one of them over the others.

Speaking of kin. Cobrastrike had not had the chance to mentor yet. None of the kits from the last litter to be apprenticed had seemed right for her sister, but this time, this time she would correct her sister’s apprentice-less state. Graywolf and Crowflame had proven themselves in battle and been held back for it by previous leadership, while their brother had been given an apprentice instead. They were Blackwolf’s blood, trained by her and Thornscar, and Darkstar was certain they would shape good warriors for NightClan. That left one….

The moon was high in the sky outside the cavern when Darkstar finally left her den to leap up to the boulder ledge and call the Clan together, her decisions made. Choosing the right cats to mold NightClan’s future warriors was a duty Darkstar took most seriously, the usually impulsive she-cat took her time to weigh her options rather than rushing forward, even more so due to the fact that her kin were involved. She stood with her tail raised and called the Clan to gather, “Let all cats who wear the shadows as their own pelts gather for a Clan meeting!”

Her tail flicked leisurely behind her as she waited, her gaze falling on her sister as she herded her three kits toward the front of the gathered cats, until Roachkit was also present with his own mother. Her gaze swept the cats below, to be sure the mentors she had chosen were present, and she continued, “Roachkit, Hollowkit, Breezekit, and Bramblekit. You have reached six moons and are ready to be apprenticed. From now until you earn your warrior names, you will be known as Roachpaw, Hollowpaw, Breezepaw, and Bramblepaw.” She paused to let them bask in their new names for a moment, her fiery gaze seeking her sister, “Cobrastrike, you have been ready for an apprentice for some time. You will mentor Roachpaw. I know you will train him well to be a fierce warrior of NightClan.”

She waited for the two to touch noses in the traditional first greeting between mentor and apprentice and her attention shifted to the next warrior, “Frostjaw, you are ready for your first apprentice. You will mentor Hollowpaw.” At six moons old, her nephew had still not spoken a single word, and it was clear that he never would. That would make training him a bit more of a challenge, he could not answer questions or ask them as directly as an apprentice able to speak could, but Frostjaw had already spent time with her nephew so she hoped the tom might have a better understanding of his needs than many others in the Clan. “Crowflame and Graywolf,” she continued, “You have both proven yourselves capable warriors, and I trust that you will pass on all you know to your apprentices. Crowflame, you will mentor Breezepaw, and Graywolf, you will mentor Bramblepaw.”

As soon as the new pairs had greeted each other, calls were taken up for the four new apprentices, their names echoing around NightClan’s cavernous home.

---

I don't got time to look over my shoulder,
leave em all behind, I'm about to take over.

Fawn Taxx Ginger ♛ 𝔽𝕒𝕓𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 BlooRey DVD Ghost the Undead Goddess
LF 1: The day is pleasant and mostly sunny, with the occasional cloud drifting across the sky.

[Taxx]

Watch me, I'll make a name for myself

Darkstar's call halted Crowflame in her search for a cat who was up for a bit of hunting, and she turned back, hurrying to join the crowd and squeezing herself into the space next to Cinderfur, subtly and teasingly mimicking the big tom's posture down to the tail resting lazily behind him. When he turned to look down at her she grinned brightly and then gave an exaggeratedly pointed search for Graywolf before tipping her head back up at him with a hint of knowing in her eye; she could barely stifle a purr when he looked away, his tail suddenly in motion.

She'd missed the first part of her leader's speech, and so was caught off guard when the cheers rose around her. She joined in, chanting the apprentices' names and remembering her own pride and breathless anticipation when it had been her sitting there, waiting for Foxstar to name her and reveal her mentor. Her gaze flicked over the four, nodding to herself: it was always good to have more apprentices.

Cobrastrike received Roachpaw, Frostjaw received Hollowpaw- and then her name was called with Graywolf's and she was jumping to her paws, excitement flooding her. She was going to mentor one of her old mentor's kits! The same lessons and techniques that had been imparted to her would be passed down in turn to Breezepaw. Proudly, Crowflame padded from the crowd to stand in front of the little tortoiseshell, now letting the purr loose without hesitation and bending her head to touch noses. "I'm glad it was you," she whispered, just for the young she-cat to hear. "There's so much I can teach you."

Crowflame

NightClan Warrior

I won't be just another face in the crowd

Ginger || Notes

Hollowpaw listened to the cats calling his name and his sisters', tail high and eyes shining. There was a little bit of expectation left, wondering who Darkstar would pick to be his mentor. He had had great experiences with Cobrastrike and Frostjaw both; they hadn't treated him like an airhead kit but like- well, at the very least, like an apprentice. They'd taught him, helped him, and Frostjaw had taken him out on an actual hunt, trusting him not to mess it up.

He tried not to feel too upset when Roachkit got Cobrastrike- or irritation that the annoying frogdung would be learning and spending more time with the she-cat he idolized, but he was cheered when Frostjaw was named as his mentor. His tail shot up and he darted toward the big snowy-white tom, meeting him halfway and raising his head for their nose-touch, fully accepting the choice Darkstar had made. This was just fine- and Hollowpaw could still learn some from Cobrastrike, right? If she wanted. If not, well then, he'd just have to get all his teaching from Frostjaw.

Ceremony over- Hollowpaw looked over to see his sisters sitting with their own mentors, who weren't as cool as his own- he glanced back at Frostjaw and then toward the entrance, tail lifting hopefully. He'd got out once before, but now he could do more. See more. And he couldn't wait to get started.

I'm a soldier till its over I will never fall
fearless hearts holding on through the night

Hollowpaw

NightClan

@tag

[Fawn]

Roachpaw

Thought that it was clear, nobody said that life was fair

Roachkit positively quivered, Darkstar's words rippling through him as she called the Clan together. The instant his parents told him, Roachkit's entire demeanor about the day changed. He'd been waiting for it, practically stalking through each day and night of his young life as if apprenticeship was something he could catch with his own four paws.

It wasn't, though. It was something bestowed by the cat with the highest authority in the Clan: Darkstar. Roachkit still bore a few healing scabs from his clash with Hollowkit and Bramblekit - the bite to his cheek stung as he wore a smug, eager expression as he listened - but he tried to wear them with pride. It had been the first real sensation of pain that Roachkit ever had.

The first crack in the ice of his already-thin childhood innocence; it had scared him at first, scenting his own blood - but he wasn't a little kit anymore. He was Roachpaw, and he needed to start acting like a warrior's apprentice. The dark brown tom stared hungrily at Darkstar, gloating over the she-cat saying his name first before Thornscar's motley crew of second-bests.

Darkstar spoke again, and Roachpaw's heart skipped seven beats. What if--

“Cobrastrike, you have been ready for an apprentice for some time. You will mentor Roachpaw. I know you will train him well to be a fierce warrior of NightClan.”

Cobrastrike! Roachpaw's bronze-brown gaze latched onto the dangerously named she-cat, recognizing her as littermate of Darkstar and aunt to the three weaker paws sharing his ceremony. She's not Darkstar, he couldn't fight the stinging ache of disappointment, and his claws briefly flashed beneath dark brown fur, before he caught himself and resheathed them. She's still a fierce warrior. She can still teach me how to win.

She could lay the foundation, right? Then maybe if Darkstar saw his potential, she could pull him aside and teach him what it took to become deputy, to become leader. Roachstar! The destiny the brown tom saw for himself was full of stars and prosperity; he wasn't going to end up another Spiderbite, no matter what it took.

As Cobrastrike approached, Roachpaw quickly turned to greet her, his expression smug, a light purr rising out of his throat. He didn't touch noses with her; that was for family. Instead, he bowed his head in a show of respect. When he looked up again, Roachpaw's eyes were glinting like the copper scales of a snake.
"Teach me everything you know," he mewed. "I'm ready!"

3 moons kit nightclan

background image | 417 words | @zen Ginger ♛ 𝔽𝕒𝕓𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 Taxx BlooRey DVD | table by phoenix

[Ghost the Undead Goddess]

Graywolf

NightClan She-Cat 27 Moons

Green pools illuminated from the shadows around the cavernous camp if Nightclan as the residential troublemaker slipped inside, a mouse hanging from her jaws before she dropped it off at the new fresh-kill pile. Luckily, despite her secret little adventures towards Treeclan's border, the gray feline managed to snag food on her way home.

Ears flickered as she caught the tail end of her former mentor's call to gather the clan, though by that point most of her clabmates had already found spots to sit and listen. The young warrior was was curious as to what was happening before she remembered that all the kits in the nursery were now six moons old.

Apprentices!

Graywolf could easily remember sitting there between her sister and brother as they were given their names and mentors for the next chapter within their lives. Of course, the mischievous she-cat had received the best mentor out of the three of them, Darkstar though of course, then she had been known as Darkstorm.

Slipping amongst the cats, the gray pelted feline caught the teasing look on Crowflame's gaze directed towards Cinderfur as she made her way towards them once she caught sight of her sister's familar pelt with the mass of cats. A smirk curled across Graywolf's muzzle as the need to play along bubbled with her chest like a second breath.

Flickering that feathered tail of hers, the slender female brushed the appendage against Cinderfur's muzzle in a playful manner as a purr broke through her throat. "Looking for someone?" Her tone was a silky whisper as those green pools gazed at the younger tom with an unreadable expression before she dragged them away to give attention to her leader.

Green pools watched each of the four kits earn their new apprentice title, curious as to if she would be chosen to mentor one. If Graywolf could pick she'd go for Bramblepaw, the young cat was full of life and excitement. The gray feline could only begin to imagine all the shenanigans they would get into over the course of the next active moons.

Ears rotated forwards as cats got called one at a time, Cobrastrike thena Frostjaw... And then both she and Crowflame's names were said in front of the clan. Excitement rushed through the slender form of the gray warrioress, getting to her paws and moving through the crowd of gathered cats to get to the front.

That smirk remained present upon her name as Graywolf held her tail curled over her back and chest out with pride, both that she was attaining her first apprentice and that Darkstar believed her ready for one. Green eyes blazed with a fire as she looked down at Bramblepaw, the young she-cat named to her. It was almost as if their leader had heard Graywolf's thoughts about the whole thing only moments before.

Bending her neck, Graywolf went to touch noses with the splotched apprentice, though pulled back slightly as pain shot through her nose. It seemed Bramblepaw had been a bit eager, causing their soft touch to turn into a quick bump, though it didn't bother Graywolf too much as she chuckled.

"Ready to cause some trouble?" The gray she-cat asked in that silky time of hers, a purr still rumbling within her chest as she glanced at Bramblepaw's siblings and then Roachpaw. Three others to compete with, and what fun could come from such a combination of the two she-cats.

I'm Trouble, Y'all

585 Words || Fawn Taxx BlooRey DVD @zen ♛ 𝔽𝕒𝕓𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 Ginger@ginger || Notes

[Ginger]

Breezepaw. The name came with a wide array of feelings, not all of them good. The opportunity to learn, to grow, and to help her clan, of course. But also the duty to hurt, to kill, and to wage war on other clans if Nightclan called on her to. Excitement was tightly mingled with fear, and Breezepaw sat wide-eyed as the other apprentices were given mentors.

What if she was given a mentor who didn't understand her? Who was cruel? Who would crush every ouch of good inside of her and turn her into a machine? Sure, she would be better for her clan that way, but was that what she really wanted out of life? To be forever miserable, yet a huge asset to her clan.

That great fear caused Breezepaw to let out a huge breath that she had not realized she had been holding once Crowflame was announced as her mentor. The kind she-cat had been good to her and incredibly understanding in the past; Breezepaw had no doubt that she would continue to help her grow at a comfortable pace.

Breezepaw watched as her new mentor came across the clearing to her, taking the last few steps to meet Crowflame halfway. Her green eyes were shining with relief. She couldn't help but let out a purr at Crowflame's hushed words. At those words of kindness, Breezepaw felt the excitement within her grow stronger than her fear. 

She put her tiny up, touching it with Crowflame's gently. "I am ready. I truly am."

Breezepaw

6 moons she-cat nightclan

"Having a soft heart in a cruel world is courage, not weakness."

@zen , Taxx , Fawn , Ghost the Undead Goddess 256 words

Frostjaw

nightclan warrior 29 moons

What in Starclan's name could this meeting be about? Frostjaw turned his large head towards the assembling crowd, eventually getting up and meandering over. Finding a place near Spiderbite's small and raggedy form, the large warrior sat down and looked on towards Darkstar. 

An apprentice ceremony. How touching.

Nightclan was in need of some new blood in the ranks. Starclan had been too gentle on them all, and some of Nightclan's cats had grown weak. In the coming conflict, Nightclan would need all of the strength it could get. Looking upon the four new apprentices, Frostjaw saw a lot of potential for strength. Spiderbite's younger brother was already twice as vicious as the small warrior. Bramblepaw showed a lot of ferocity in her actions. Breezepaw had a natural aptitude for stealth. And of course, Hollowpaw was incredibly brave, showing great fortitude when he had taken him out of camp one night.

Almost as if his thoughts on Hollowpaw had spoken to Darkstar, the leader announced that Hollowpaw would be Frostjaw's apprentice. The large warrior made his way over to the new apprentice, his icy blue eyes fixating on Hollowpaw. As the two cats approached each other, Frostjaw found himself having to bend down a lot to touch noses with the younger cat. "I swear by Starclan to help you grow into the strongest warrior Nightclan has ever seen."

only in darkness can you see the stars

all the previous ones & 228 words

[♛ 𝔽𝕒𝕓𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟]

when you grow up your heart dies

BrAmBlEPaW

nightclan she-cat 6 moons

The mottled brown kit felt her jaw plop open when her mother told her what was in store for her and her denmates that night. She knew it would be that moon, of course, but she had no idea that it would be tonight. After waiting ever since she first learned about the apprentice ceremony, it would finally be tonight. And she had so many questions for her father. 

"But what if I do something wrong?" She fretted, uncharacteristically nervous, unable to bear waiting for Darkstar to call the meeting together. Thistleheart looked bluntly amused as well as mildly frustrated. "Bramblekit, there's hardly a chance you'll be able to do anything wrong during an apprentice ceremony." He reminded her, flicking his dark brown tail. "All you need to do is touch your nose with whoever Darkstar chooses to be your mentor." Thistleheart's  reassurances did little to calm her excited nerves, and she found herself pacing back and forth beside her father. "I know, I know. But the whole Clan is going to be there! And I don't want to do something stupid in front of Roachkit of all cats." She shook her head in dismay. "He'd be telling everyone about it for the rest of my life!" She rolled her eyes, picturing the group of them lying in the elders den while apprentices took care of their fleas, Roachkit rasping out the story of Bramblekit's apprentice ceremony to anyone who would care to listen. 

Thistleheart sighed sternly, his green eyes dark with disappointment. He hadn't been present when the kit brawl had erupted in the centre of camp, but as a cat who valued loyalty to NightClan and it's cats above all things, he didn't approve of the feud that had erupted between his kits and Roachkit. Competition was healthy, fighting with a clanmate and injuring them was not. "Don't talk like that about your denmate." He scolded gently. "You'll all be training together, and someday you'll fight alongside eachother in battle." He reminded her, his ears flicking. "It's important that you all learn to trust eachother. You don't need to be best friends, but you need to stop treating him like an enemy. Understand?" Bramblekit nodded reluctantly, not quite meeting her father's gaze. How am I supposed to trust him when he always acts like he's better than all of us? She thought privately. I wish he'd just go join TreeClan already. I bet they're as stuck up as he is...

“Let all cats who wear the shadows as their own pelts gather for a Clan meeting!” Darkstar's voice interrupted her thoughts, echoing around the shadowy canyon. "It's time!" She sprang to her paws, eyes wild with excitement. Who would mentor her? Darkstar? Sunpulse? Greywolf? Hollystorm? Her head spun with potential names, and she barely noticed when Thornscar sidled to her side and nudged her towards the centre of the camp. The space filled with NightClan warriors, Bramblekit, Breezekit, Hollowkit and Roachkit being pushed towards the front. 

Darkstar's stark orange gaze swept the gathered crowd briefly before she spoke. “Roachkit, Hollowkit, Breezekit, and Bramblekit. You have reached six moons and are ready to be apprenticed. From now until you earn your warrior names, you will be known as Roachpaw, Hollowpaw, Breezepaw, and Bramblepaw.” Bramblepaw felt a shiver trail down her spine, eyes shining with pride. Bramblepaw. “Cobrastrike, you have been ready for an apprentice for some time. You will mentor Roachpaw. I know you will train him well to be a fierce warrior of NightClan.” Bramblepaw's smile faltered. Roachpaw was getting Cobrastrike for a mentor? Great StarClan, now his head was going to grow so big he'd hardly fit in through the entrance to camp. She flicked her ear, a very brief sour look crossing her face before she remembered her father's advice and squashed her resentment to the back of her mind. 

“Frostjaw, you are ready for your first apprentice. You will mentor Hollowpaw.” Darkstar continued. Bramblepaw was holding her breath. There were still so many possible names that Darkstar could announce next. “Crowflame and Graywolf,” Her mother's sister continued thoughtfully. “You have both proven yourselves capable warriors, and I trust that you will pass on all you know to your apprentices. Crowflame, you will mentor Breezepaw, and Greywolf, you will mentor Bramblepaw.” Bramblepaw purred loudly, then choked it back, reminding herself that she couldn't act like a kit anymore.

Rising eagerly to her paws, she padded towards Greywolf, raising her nose to touch with the grey warrior's. But she was too quick, and the two butted noses quite abruptly. Bramblepaw winced, reaching up a paw to rub her own small, pink nose sheepishly. "Sorry." She whispered, though the clumsy move didn't seem to quench her eager anticipation whatsoever. Greywolf chuckled, which made her feel somewhat less guilty about her mistake. "Ready to cause some trouble?" The warrior murmured, and Bramblepaw's grin widened. "Born ready!" She replied, without a trace of hesitation. She glanced over at Breezepaw and Hollowpaw, offering a smile. All of their practice growing up, all of the pouncing, all of the wrestling, all of it was leading towards this moment. And Bramblepaw couldn't have been happier, or more excited. 

The ceremony was beginning to close, and many cats were already departing, padding back to whatever they had previously been occupied with. Bramblepaw couldn't seem to stand still at all. "So? What are we going to do first?" She blurted out, looking at Greywolf as though she was looking at a StarClan warrior that had floated down from Silverpelt.

@zen , Ghost the Undead Goddess , Taxx , Fawn , Ginger
 924 Notes

[BlooRey DVD]

I'm a legend I'm a lethal overdose
I'm a subject of a nightmare I'm a ghost

cobrastrike

nightclan she-cat 36 moons

Yellow eyes, aglow despite the nighttime hour, flashed to the moonlit form of Darkstar as the NightClan figurehead took her stand in the heart of camp. The faintest twitch of irritation flicked her right ear, for the dark coated warrioress had been seconds away from disappearing into the night to hunt and train until she could move no longer. Briefly, she wondered if she could still make it out before anyone noticed. That was, of course, until Echobreeze’s gentle green gaze landed upon her.

Cobrastrike’s petite mother waved her tail excitedly, beckoning her closer. When she did approach, she could hear the proud purr rumbling from the elder’s chest from a mile away. Thornscar’s kits must be getting apprenticed. She thought to herself. Familial ties and an aversion to disrespecting Echobreeze’s wishes had the wild she-cat lowering her rump to a sit next to the small tortoiseshell, enduring an affectionate headbutt from the overexcited elder. You would think it was her own kits being named apprentices. Came the passing thought, a private smile tugging the corner of Cobrastrike’s lip.

Echobreeze’s love and kindness knew no bounds. The elder was truly a light in NightClan’s darkness, and the Clan was blessed to have her. Of that, Cobrastrike was absolutely certain.

As the ceremony started, the red-brown warrioress turned her attention back to Darkstar, eyes half lidded as she prepared to count down the heartbeats until she would be free to do as she pleased once more.

And then Darkstar called her name.

Echobreeze’s purr increased tenfold, but the dark-coated she-cat barely noticed. Her attention was solely on Darkstar as her sister acknowledged the wrong that had been done to her. Cobrastrike has been passed up one too many times, often for cats younger than she, for the role of mentor. She was powerful. She could give NightClan the strong warriors it deserved. And yet, she had remained apprenticeless.

Until now.

Rising to her paws, Cobrastrike found Roachkit among the crowd. Moving with the dangerous grace of her namesake, she seemed to clear a path to the tom-kit with her aura alone. To her mild surprise, the kit bowed in a show of respect rather than touch his nose to hers. Her tail weaved behind her thoughtfully, taking in this display with muted pleasure. At least he knew greatness when he saw it.

When Roachkit’s gaze returned to hers, she observed him silently, unflinchingly, taking in the still-healing scabs on his features, remnants of a kithood brawl with Hollowkit. Perhaps Roachkit would prove superior to Spiderbite, more worth her time. When she finished her once over, the powerful she-cat tipped her muzzle in a show of acknowledgment to Roachkit’s gesture. His excited words were mildly irritating, so kit-like in nature, but she reminded herself that he was still just that. A kit.

She would mold him into something greater with time.

Giving him a pass this time around, the warrioress turned to lower herself to a seat next to him. Glancing briefly in his direction as she settled, one word left her maw. One word, dressed in a tone of supremacy, pride, and expectation.

“Good.”

She sat through the remainder of the ceremony, apprentice at her side. Yellow eyes glinted with satisfaction, seeing her sister’s kits setting paw into a new wake of life. Family was strength. And hers would be NightClan’s greatest, without a doubt. She quietly assessed each mentor, paying careful attention to their interaction with the assigned apprentice. Though she observed them all, she lingered briefly on Hollowpaw, judging his quiet reaction. But Frostpaw seemed and acceptable choice in his eyes, and she had no doubt Darkstar had weighed all her options before giving these three apprentices away.

As the ceremony drew the a close, Cobrastrike’s attention flashed down to the kit at her paws. “Celebrate with your family. Revel in their attention. Whatever you want. Then meet me at the camp entrance before the moonlight shifts. We begin immediately.”

And with that, she rose, each pawstep certain and dominant as she stalked away. She would wait for him. But it would be best for the both of them if he didn’t tarry long.

There's only one spot on this throne
but I'll find my way up cause it's all I know.

~700 words Fawn Taxx Cobra in the house