Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-5089292-20150705134455

Swiftdapple lay in the shade of the camp sharing a pigeon with Adderfang and Silverfeather. For once Silverfeather came out of the medicine den rather than decide to care for patients. “Mousetail was mates with a RiverClan cat,” Adderfang meowed after swallowing a bit of the pigeon. “Apparently him and Dappledberry are no longer mates because Willowstar ended up catching them on the WindClan-RiverClan border.”

“I’m guessing that’s why he’s done nothing but act as if some cat stole his tail in his sleep,” Swiftdapple mewed, glancing over to the other side of the clearing where Mousetail lay with Russetsky. She noticed Mousetail looking saddened while Russetsky casted her a freezing glare before getting up to go to the fresh-kill pile.

I didn’t mean to do anything! Swiftdapple wanted to wail. Adderfang prodded her flank with his paw making her jerk up with fright. “For StarClan’s sake, don’t do that!” she hissed. “You could end up killing a cat!” Adderfang’s whiskers twitched with amusement.

“Why are you three not doing anything?” Alderfall questioned. “You’re supposed to be on a patrol! How can you think you can stay in camp when the heat will drive all of the prey into the forest? ThunderClan would have plenty of prey if you didn’t lie down expecting other cats to do things for you!” Some cat ruffled his fur!

“Adderfang has a great excuse because the thought of standing tires him out,” Swiftdapple replied. “And Silverfeather does nothing but sit there mixing herbs like she has an exciting life. As for me, well, I’ve just been on a patrol not long ago. And if I can remember, it was your patrol.”

“Right. Adderfang, you’re going on Jaysong’s patrol,” Alderfall decided. “You’re lucky you’ve already been sent out of the camp, Swiftdapple.” Without saying another word, the golden tom turned to trot away.

Adderfang’s eyes widened. “Not Jaysong!” he protested. “I hate that cat!”

“Have fun then,” Swiftdapple meowed. “We’ll save the rest of this pigeon for you when you get back.” As Adderfang forced himself over to Jaysong who was with Ratfang, Nettlefrost and Tallcloud, Swiftdapple added, “Not!”

And hopefully he’ll never come back. “Congratulations!” Silverfeather ended up purring.

Swiftdapple blinked and looked to Silverfeather, feeling puzzled at her sudden burst of happiness. “Uh, what?”

Silverfeather blinked back. “Your kits. . . The whole Clan has been talking about you and Russetsky’s kits. I didn’t even know you two were mates! That’s really great to hear, Swiftdapple! You should have told me as soon as you knew rather than wait. Oh, your kits will be coming within a moon! I can’t wait! They will be so beautiful. . . The best warriors—or medicine cat—ThunderClan ever had!”

What in StarClan’s name!? “I’m not expecting kits!” Swiftdapple growled. “Are you mouse-brained? Every cat in the Clan knows I absolutely hate kits! Why would I have bees in my brain to have any?”

“But Roseheart told me. . .” Silverfeather’s voice trailed as she appeared disappointed. “You’re not expecting kits?"

“No!” Swiftdapple snapped, the fur along her back bristling as she stood up. “If I was, I would definitely tell you myself! How dare Roseheart think she can say things like that? I’ll. . . I’ll claw her ears off for that!”

“Roseheart told me Adderfang told her,” Silverfeather replied. “I. . . Why did I believe that? Adderfang always makes things up!”

Because you’re a very clever medicine cat, aren’t you? “Adderfang!” Swiftdapple snarled. “I will literally kill him when he returns from that patrol. How dare he!”

“I’m sorry,” Silverfeather mewed, shooting her friend an apologetic look. “I shouldn’t have gotten so excited over something that is nothing more than a rumour.”

“Whatever,” Swiftdapple muttered, sulking over to Tweet, an elderly loner that had been found in the middle of ThunderClan’s territory.

Tweet lay on his back on the smooth, warm rocks,the sunlight hitting his exposed belly as he spread himself out on the rock. “This is great. . .” he murmured to himself.

“Tweetingbird, get up!” Swiftdapple meowed, pushing the tomcat forward. Tweet yowled as he fell forward, his haunches lifted up in the air, and Swiftdapple’s whiskers twitched with amusement as she looked at him. “thought you were a cat! You look like a duck!”

“Mouse-brain!” Tweet hissed. “You could have badly hurt me! Cats are so rude to each other nowadays.”

“Sorry.”

“When Moonstar was leader, cats were never like this,” Tweet went on to himself. “Cats never cared about mates and only had kits to keep the Clan going. Warriors and medicine cats held the codes to their hearts.”

Swiftdapple blinked. “You. . you were a Clan cat?”

Tweet nodded. “Long ago, I was. I remember being a medicine cat for WindClan before I became a warrior. Never did like being a medicine cat ever since Dewspeckle died. I loved being a warrior, the wind of the moor stirring my pelt.”

“How old are you?” Swiftdapple blurted out. “Moonstar was a leader before Fallenstar was even born!”

Tweet appeared offended. “I may be old, but I’m not deaf!” he retorted. “I ended up leaving because the Clan thought I was crazed, knowing I could hear the trees and life of a loner calling for me. I was a loner for seasons until I ended up joining this Clan.”

“Why doesn’t any cat recognise you?”

“I went far from the Clans,” Tweet replied. “No cat remembered me. Whenever you leave the Clans, you will end up being forgotten. That’s how it is for every cat. Like when you join StarClan, living cats will end up forgetting you as your echo fades from the Clans forever.” 