Welcome to the Crew

[gingersnapsdacat]

    HeronStar climbed up onto the highrock, looking out over her clan. Even though the rockslide was over and done with, and her clan had worked hard to get their camp back to normal, she could still see clusters of boulders that would become part of their camp forever.
    None will make it past leaf-bare,
The grim message of the prophecy still echoed in the back of her mind.
    None will make it past leafbare.
    In the past few days, HeronStar had been busy taking in MothClan cats who were fleeing EveningStar’s newfound tyranny. HeronStar could hardly understand what was happening, and certainly could not fathom what was going on with her fellow leader. But still, she was not one who could turn away cats who were in search of quarter. If she was lucky, perhaps a few of them would even choose to become IvyClan warriors for good.
    “Cats of IvyClan!” she called, rousing the cats below, “Gather for a clan meeting!”
“Now, I am sure you have noticed our guests,” she said, glancing at the clumps of MothClan cats below. “I welcome them all, and hope that you can do the same.”
    Now, HeronStar looked over to her medicine cat. 
    “Lilydawn, you have served our clan well, and have given your entire self to being a medicne cat,” HeronStar said, her gaze resting upon the paralyzed she-cat. She had debated this decision greatly, but she could not think of any other solution.
    “Due to your injuries, I have decided that Finchtuft will become our full medicine cat. While she is here, Cedarleap shall also be in the medicine den, and will be treated as one of our own medicine cats. As for you, Lilydawn, I am not going to force you to retire if you do not wish to. If you would rather stay in the medicine den, then I believe that is your decision to make.”
    HeronStar just hoped that she was doing the right thing. Of course, if Lilydawn was able to heal, and thought she could continue to heal, then HeronStar was not going to stop her.
    The brown and white she-cat turned to Redbird, and the trio of burned warriors around him. She had known for many moons that the ginger tomcat had children in MothClan, but it had not been until a few days prior that she had ever really met any of them. And now, the three of his remaining progeny were here, in IvyClan. These were three cats that HeronStar secretly hoped would stay with IvyClan. If nothing else, she guessed that it would be very good for Redbird to have his kin at his side.
    “I also wish to welcome Bloompath, Rosefury, and Honeyfawn. They may have spent their youth in MothClan, but I believe they are ready to be loyal IvyClan warriors, just like their father.”
    The leader continued, mentioning any other warriors who had chosen to join them.
    “And now, what I am sure you have all been waiting for. We have warriors of our own to celebrate.”
    HeronStar beamed with pride as the first group of cats stepped forwards; Sparrowpaw and Pheasantpaw. Her beloved children.
    She touched noses with her daughter, who had now grown to be a bit taller than herself. A ragged and worn feather was wrapped in her fur, sticking out just behind her ear. Even after all of these moons, she sill kept her father’s gift.
    “My daughter,” Heronstar purred, “I shall name you Sparrowsong. May your thirst for knowledge never run dry.”
    The newly named Sparrowsong returned her mother’s embrace, breathing in her earthy scent. “Pheasantpaw, you shall be named Pheasantcall. May your voice one day ring through the forest.”
    HeronStar touched her nose to her son’s forehead, purring as she gave him his name. While the clan was congratulating her kits, HeronStar waved forth the next group to be named.
    “Violetpaw, it is undeniable that you have a closer bond to the stars than most. So, for the wisdom in your heart, and the shine in your eye, you will now be named Violetsky.”
    “Vervainpaw, you will now be named as Vervaincloud. Like your namesake, you are a calming prescence for those around you.”
    “Volepaw, you shall be named Volesqueak. Your quiet nature has allowed you to be a good hunter, but when the time comes, I believe your voice can be more powerful than anyone could imagine.”
    HeronStar gave each of the newly named warriors a respectful dip of the head, allowing them to go forth to greet their clan while the next group stepped up.
    “Pondpaw, your name is going to be Pondripple. Do not forget that your words have power, and can spread like ripples on a pond.”
    ““Pollenpaw, you will be Pollenflight. Your grace and kindness flow like Pollen on a gentle wind.”
    “Pansypaw, although I was...incapacitated, I heard of what you did during the rockslide.”
    The apprentice ducked her head, unsure of whether or not she was going to be praised or reprimanded. Yes, she had helped to get Twistedbranch out, but in doing so, she had gone directly against her mentor’s instruction.
    “The flames within you are just now beginning to glow. I hope that with this new name, they can blaze. Go forth, Pansyflame.”
    The newly named warrior grinned, relief washing over her. Pansyflame...she liked it. It was very bold, but the she-cat thought she could definetly work with bold.
    There was now just one cat left to be named. HeronStar beckoned Pepperpaw forwards with her tail.
    ““Pepperpaw, you have shown that you are determined and stubborn, even in the face of danger. No doubt you were influenced by a certain...mentor of your youth.”
    HeronStar’s gaze shifted towards the elder’s den, where Twistedbranch was lounging. He had been sure to make it very known of just how much the young cat had done, and even threatened to fight the leader if she tried to hold the young she-cat back. He didn’t care if she had Star on her name. He could still remember when she was no more than a scrap of fur trying to run around before her legs worked very well.
    “I will name you Peppertwist, in honor of your determination and care.”
    The clan cheered the new cats names with pride.
    “Sparrowsong! Pheasantcall! Violetsky! VervainCloud! Volesqueak! Pondripple! Pollenbreeze! Pansyflame! Peppertwist!”

[Mama]

Honeyfern stood besides his brothers and father, his gut telling him to cower away and hope that they'd like him. {No! I'm a warrior! Mothclan didn't want my abilities, but I'll prove them to Ivyclan!} The tom thought. Ignoring the looks from others as he stood and waited for the leader, a queen named Heronstar, to start the meeting, his eyes flickered back to his brothers before he gave a warm smile. No matter what, they'd have each other. Even if the world turned their back and Starclan sent them into eternal damnation, he'd be there for them.

The meeting caught his attention as she started to speak, not wanting to appear rude. The first thing was about their.. former medicine cat, Lilydawn. He couldn't tell exactly who she was, and at gatherings, usually assumed that Finchtuft was the medicine cat. But, it was the other way around. She seemed.. nice. Cedarleap had also followed along, and besides her and his brothers, no one else seemed to be familiar.

The call of their names snapped him out of his thoughts, his large ears turning towards the stones. He didn't know of the Ivyclan lifestyle, or how his father truely was.. hell, he didn't even know if he had half siblings, or perhaps relatives here! But, he made sure to stand tall and proud, the burn scars laced up his jawbone prominant and healed over, while other scars dappled his honey-toned tabby pelt. It was obvious he took after his father, with both his appearance and build. Gold, warm eyes stared forwards, before giving a nod and a blink.

//

Lilydawn laid by the medicine den, watching the meeting through a slightly monotone world. Her body ached, and though she felt.. better from the sickness, it didn't help that she physically couldn't move anymore. Her legs were limp and broken, her tail kinked in an odd fashion and dead. The front of her body was all that functioned, but even then, she was still just as shaky and wobbly as ever.

Giving a sigh, she rested her head down. She refused to retire from her duties... but it would be harder then ever now.

//

Redbird stood with his kits, who were full grown toms now, and could only hope the clan would accept them. And what about Greengale and Wingedheart? Their litter was becoming warriors this ceremony, and they just now learned of his sons. He'd... he'd have to catch them up soon. If they even wanted to speak to him after learning about the kits.

He was a traitor. But, he loved Leafeyes, and the kits that resulted. They were strong cats, strong enough to walk out on a clan that didn't want them instead of cowering and waiting for a chance. Strong enough to stick together instead of turning their backs, and to make a new start in Ivyclan. Where they belonged.

If only Owlstar could see him now, see the three toms.

//

Pheasantcall grinned alongside his siblings, cheering everyone else on. But a glare towards the outsiders. Rookstar said outsiders were bad, so these cats.. wouldn't get past him so easily.

[Storm]

Finchtuft
IvyClan | Medicine Cat | She-Cat | 67 Moons | Heterosexual

Tension held in the stocky calico she-cat's face as she sat quietly near her den.  Her ears were flipped backward in an obviously annoyed manner.  One of the many outsiders in their camp may have thought it was from how busy she'd been recently; tending to the wounded, caring for her injured mentor- who had been sick for some time now, assisting with camp clean up and reorganizing her disaster of a den.  The feline wasn't really bothered by this though, in fact she had handled the recent situation optimistically.  She was tired from the constant running about, but it was MothClans presence in their camp that had her long fur knotted.  Finchtuft still remembered the warriors who betrayed IvyClan to join the band of traitors in the first place and now look at them, suffering and crawling back.  Not even able to stay loyal to the clan they ran off to, it was pitiful.  

Such a narrowed gaze seemed misplaced with her soft blue eyes, but they held angrily on Heronstar as she welcomed the cats.  Only the mention of Lilydawn shifted her mind from the twitching she felt in her claws.  The feline glanced to her mentor then back to their leader as her name was spoken.  Finchtuft had expected this, but it didn't change how uneasy she felt about having the full title now.  She gave a firm nod, tilted her head gracefully as her clanmates looked back to acknowledge her, but a fowl mood fell over her again at the next announcement and ruined the rest of her clans ceremonies for her.  

She'd be stuck with Ceaderleap in her den... She grumbled as she accepted the fact.  Good I guess.  At least the MothClan traitor can care for the other traitors.  She debated how long she could avoid caring for the MothClanners before one asked her directly to treat them.  It didn't matter what her code was, she wouldn't do it.  She wanted them gone.  StarClan could be angry with her if they wanted to but she wouldn't play nice with the cats she'd been trained to challenge as a warrior.  The she-cat rose to her blocky paws and with a twitch of her whiskers turned to fuss over herbs in the den.  

[M'Lady]

Owleyes had been a bit lonely, with no kits in Ivyclan. So when these ceremonies occurred, she was bright and in the front row, cheering on the names of the new warriors. She'd have to visit Mothclan for Eveningstar again soon, but at least for the moment she could relish in the fact that more of her kin had returned home where they belonged. She called the names of sweet Greengale's kits, now warriors. She cheered for Mudjaw's little girls, only one of which could hear her shouts.

And then, she made her way over to Redbird, her steps light and leaping, weaving through the pelts of her clanmates. She whispered a soft congratulations to Finchtuft, touching her nose to the medicine cats ear even if she couldn't feel it.

She found them, Honeyfawn, Rosefury, and Redbird. She studied them all for a moment, and then let out the cheeriest of laughs.

"Welcome home!"


--

Pondripple puffed out her chest in pride, jumping down after the ceremony to quickly greet her parents as a newly named warrior. She laughed, a particularly chiming sound, and then grinned as she met the eyes of Pranceflight who lingered nearby. She hopped over to her aunt, meeting the smoky shecat filled with giggles and bright eyes. The other warrior watched her for a moment, and then gave her a soft smirk. Knowing this was the best she'd get out of her relative, she shoved her shoulder lightly with her own.

"Thank you! Aren't you excited, Prance? We can hang out together on patrols now!" The other she-cat scoffed, glancing over at her best friend Drizzlestone, who gave a slight shrug in response.

"I mean, she's right. No stopping family, I guess." At his words, Pranceflight glanced over to where one of her other relatives lingered. Redbird. With those kits of his. She huffed, glancing away. Family indeed. What was family, but bonds forged in fire and battle? Drizzlestone was her family, as was her father, her brothers. Pondripple was her family, as well as her siblings.

She didn't know if Redbird's kits were her family. She supposed in the coming moons, she'd find out.

[Fireflake]

Pepperpaw sat at the front of the crowd, beaming at each of her siblings as they stepped forward to receive their warrior names. With each one she filled with more pride for her sisters, and by the time Pansyflame was named, she felt like she was ready to burst. Of course, her injuries in her younger moons meant that it wasn't her turn quite yet, but that didn't mean- didn't mean- Is Heronstar beckoning to me? The young she-cat looked around, waiting for someone else to step forward, then gasped softly at the sound of her own name. She hurried up beside her littermates.

Pepperpaw's eyes sparkled as Heronstar mentioned Twistedbranch. She found his face in the crowd. Did you have something to do with this? She'd spent the days after the rockfall tending to him fiercely, but hadn't seen him with Heronstar. Still, with that knowing look on his face, she wouldn't put it past him. While she was looking down there, her eyes jumped to her family. She smiled and looked away, then quickly looked back to Redbird's kits, her cousins, and gave a small head-dip. She hadn't had a chance to welcome them yet, but now was as good a chance as ever.

Heronstar's voice filled her ears. Peppertwist. It was the kind of name she had feared as a kit, when her leg was first injured, but now it filled her with joy. She wasn't named after that, she was named after trying to help someone she cared about, who was alive and watching now. Peppertwist. Peppertwist. Peppertwist. Peppertwist had been prepared to loudly cheer everyone's names, along with the clan, but she found herself breathless. Or, almost breathless. She was left with just enough breath to let out the loudest rumbling purr she'd ever made in her life.