[ Flamestar ]
She-Cat ★ 28 Moons ★ Leader
Location - Camp ★ Mentions - Stonestripe, Echoclaw, Rowanfang

Fear washed over Flamestar in intense waves as she propelled herself through the forest on tiring legs, the sound of enraged caterwauls and pursuing pawsteps not far behind. No matter how fast she ran the safety of camp seemed forever out of reach and the ginger she-cat knew she couldn’t keep going like this forever. Her breathing had become ragged, her lungs burned and ribs ached from her desperate attempt to flee her attacker’s wrath, but there was no escape. She knew this the moment claws pierced her shoulders and a heavier body forced her to the ground. She twisted in her enemy’s grasp, claws tearing through skin and leaving behind a searing pain as Flamestar struggled to face the cat who had caught her. An eyeless feline with lengthy canines and pitch black fur stared down at her, unrecognizable and seeming out of this world. “You have failed this Clan,” he meowed darkly before his elongated teeth plunged into her throat.

Flamestar awoke with a gasp, her nest torn to shreds from a night full of endless tossing and turning. It took her a moment to realize it had all just been a horrible dream. The eyeless tom was gone. She was alive and well in camp. CreekClan was still here and thriving. She drew in a shaky breath and rolled onto her paws, shaking out her thin coat to free it of the grass and scraps of moss that clung to it before leaving her den. Golden eyes scanned the camp to find it already bustling with activity and a rush of shame had the she-cat glancing away briefly, embarrassed she had slept in so much longer than her deputy and warriors. She spotted Stonestripe and Echoclaw leaving through the camp entrance and assumed they were off on a herb gathering mission. “Be careful!” She called after them. “Always remain vigilant for signs of ValleyClan! If you spot any strange cats return to camp and report to me immediately.”

After the deputy and medicine cat had disappeared from sight Flamestar padded over to greet the Clan’s only queen. “Good morning Rowanfang. How are you this morning?” She asked with genuine interest. The beautiful queen’s bulging stomach was a sign she would begin kitting any day now and a tingle of excitement rushed down Flamestar’s spine at the thought of new lives being born. Perhaps she would even mentor one of these youngsters herself when the time came. Flamestar had only ever had one apprentice before becoming CreekClan’s new deputy and now leader. She was eager to reprise the role of a teacher. “Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?” She added, assuming being so heavy with kits probably wasn’t the most blissful feeling.

◙ ◙ ◙ ◙ ◙ ◙

[ Firclaw ]
Tom ✦ 72 Moons ✦ Elder
Location - Camp ✦ Mentions - Adderpaw, Stonestripe

A loud yawn parted Firclaw’s jaws as bright light filtering into the elder’s den woke the aging tom. He stretched out his front legs as his hindquarters rose into the air, bones creaking with the motion though he gave no indication of pain. “Wake up you lazy kittypets,” he demanded of the other elders with an authoritative tone. “Dawn is here.” He limped toward the den entrance without waiting for an answer from the others, a soft purr filling his throat as warmth from the sun’s rays fell on his back. His yellow-green gaze landed on the fresh kill pile momentarily before deciding he would hunt for himself this morning. He was well enough that he wouldn’t need to resort to taking free handouts. Firclaw didn’t feel right accepting food without work.

The first cat he noticed was Adderpaw. The young she-cat was settled just outside of the apprentice’s den, looking a mixture of tired and unsure what to do with herself. Firclaw’s whiskers twitched in mild amusement as he approached her. “Stonestripe leave you behind again did he?” He asked sympathetically, noting the deputy was nowhere to be found. “I’m about to do some hunting. Why don’t you come along and show me what you’ve learned so far? Your mentor should be back by the time we return.” The offer was for his own benefit just as much as hers. Firclaw didn’t like leaving camp alone, but also absolutely despised asking for company. Inviting Adderpaw on his hunting trip was equal parts giving her a task and comforting his own loneliness.