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Tribal Kitty:Chapter One-Watered Skies

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Chapter One
Watered Skies

“Don’t look so scared Watersky; I’ll be right beside you.” Vinetail gave a dull purr, her eyes were glazed with grief, but, I’m sure I didn’t look much better.
I nodded blankly and quickened my pace to match hers, I had put this off as much as I could, the Gathering was tomorrow, Lilyspirit had been dead for almost a moon.
“Can you feel it?” I heard Vinetail murmur, the fur along her spine was raised, and I felt a chill that was unrelated to the cold air around us.
“She said she would lead me here, to the Spirit Garden, where the Moon Flowers and Star Pond hide.” I whispered, I gave a shiver and looked around, even though outside it was snowing, here, there was no snow, and it was an old cold that seeped into my skin, I looked around for the moon flowers, and was disappointed that I could find none.
“Look.” Vinetail purred, watching me, I looked to where she pointed and gave a startled mew, there was a large pond at the end of the cavern, I almost hadn’t seen it because there was a large pillar in front of it, and from where we sat, it reached halfway into the pond. The pond was filled with stars, and as the moon crawled to its highest point, reaching the halfway point, it connected with the pillar, looking like a giant flower.
“Now it is time, Watersky, are you ready to become leader of the Tribe of Forest Leaves?” Vinetail asked, her voice filling the cavern and echoing throughout.
“I hope so.” I murmured the word ‘hope’ came back as an answer.
“You’ll do great.” She whispered, and leaped down toward the pond, I tentatively followed her.
“I’ll see you soon.” She mewed, and lapped from the pond, sending circles and shattering the image, she watched me as I peered over at the water and nervously lapped some, I stared into the fearful eyes of the cat trapped in the water, it looked as if I were drinking the night sky, but this thought sent a ripple of fear through me.
I looked over at Vinetail, and watched as she tucked her paws underneath her and did the same, awkwardly pressing into her fur as a heavy sleep fell over me.
I snapped open my eyes and looked around wildly, but I was no longer in the Spirit Garden, I was in the Grand Clearing. Confused, I looked around, and jumped as cats began filing in.
Most just sat around me in a round circle, but nine sat apart from them, a few I recognized, most I did not, but I had only a moment to glance at them before a thick mist enveloped them. I felt my fur prickle from all the stares and I started to feel uncomfortable, shifting underneath the curious eyes.
“I’m right here, Watersky.” Vinetail’s murmur in my ear made me relax, and I shot her a thankful look.
One cat stood from the rest, the mist releasing him as he took a step forward, his long black and white fur was well kept and shone brightly, and his amber eyes were not serious, they held an amused light to them.
“Watersky, we have been waiting for you, it normally doesn’t take over a half a moon to get here, even from Leaf Tribe.” He purred. I opened my mouth to make an excuse but he gave a mrrow of amusement, “It’s fine, I know it must be hard to lose such a beloved mentor. But, you came just in time. Now, are you ready to become the leader of Forest’s Tribe, the Tribe of Forest Leaves?” He mewed, his voice still had an amused lit to it.
“Y-yes, I’m ready.” I squeaked anxiously.
“Very good, I,” he moved to stand before me, “am Forest, the first leader of Leaf Tribe, and I give you this life for action, when you need to make a decision to help your Tribe, you will do whatever is right, even when other cats laugh at you.” He mewed, shooting a glare at some cat behind me before touching my nose to his, I felt a searing pain rip through me, and I felt like I would be ripped apart, but I braced myself, and when the pain left, I opened my eyes to find that everything seemed crisper.
Another cat stepped up, a beautiful golden she-cat with white paws and amber eyes, “I, am Heathersong,” the name registered in my mind, but I couldn’t remember where I had heard it, “I am Honeylight‘s mother. I give you this life for love, because it is only through love, that you are willing to give anything up, including your lives, to protect those in need.” She stared deeply into my eyes and my mind briefly conjured up a picture of Breezekit, as she touched my nose I felt a burning strength envelope me, it was painful, but it gave me strength, I wanted to leap to the defense of my tribe mates, and protect them at all costs. As she stepped away, a sad look crossed her eyes but, she didn’t say anything more and joined the rest.
Another cat strode in front of me, his blue-gray fur matching my own, “I am Wetspirit, as you know, I died not too long ago, but my apprentice has already received his lives.” He purred jokingly, I smiled and gave a cracked purr, “But,” he sobered up, “I give you this life for loyalty, whether it is loyalty to your mate, your friends, your sister,” his eyes gave a meaningful twinkle, “or your Tribe, you will never betray them unless it is in their best interest.” He touched my nose and I felt a lightning bolt of energy flow through me, I felt content and fiercely protective of the ones I loved most. Wetspirit licked my forehead and padded off to join the others.
The next cat to stand in front of me was what I had thought to be a very small cat, but, in fact, it was a kit.
“I am Ravenkit,” she squeaked, her dark silver fur had several black splotches and her amber eyes were warm, “I was one of Deadheart’s kits, I may have died young and cause my mother to go through a bleakness, but I helped my sister become strong, I give you this life for hope! When everything seems bleak and dead, you will always be able to find the good in it!” She purred, and balanced on her hind legs, and touched my nose I felt a warm happiness float into my body, but underneath it I felt an emptiness, a coldness that was all but covered up by my new sense of optimism. The tiny kit pranced off to join the others.
“I am Whisperkit.” I jumped upon hearing a soft voice, I opened my eyes from savoring the last life and looked into the cold blue eyes of the apprentice sized kit before me, “I was killed by infection and injuries from a badger attack, but, before that, I ruined Fernpush’s life. I give you a life for sanity, so that when you are under pressure, and nothing seems right, you will have a clear head and won’t panic.” She touched my nose gently and immediately my head cleared and I focused on the energy that the life gave me, the life itself was sad, but the feeling it gave was only a few moments longer than Ravenkit’s, I felt a calm sensation as it left me and I opened my eyes to watch the black kit pad toward the others.
A large, proud she-cat padded to stand before me, “I am Tallfur, and I give you a life for honesty, honesty is something most kits grow out of, but you never did, use it to learn when others are being dishonest and to help know where the truths lie.” The she-cat gave a small glance to Vinetail who sat proudly beside me, then she touched my nose, I felt a strengthening sensation wrap around me from nose to tail tip, I felt as if I were protected and sheltered, again I managed to focus on the life underneath the energy, it was happy, filled with tireless energy, until it ended peacefully. Tallfur smiled at me, and bowed her head to Vinetail before joining the others.
The next cat to stand before me was tall like Vinetail, she had long legs and a long tail that wrapped neatly around her paws as she settled in front of me, she looked deeply into my eyes, “I am Longclaw, I am the mother of Vinetail, Vixentooth, Jumpkick, and Flowerpetal. With this life, I give you boundless energy, I hope you use it to remain on your feet and take care of your Tribe, use it to help them, fight for them, and keep track of them.” She purred, she touched my nose and I almost gasped with shock as an electrifying energy seared through me, it made me want to run to the end of the horizon and beyond, the life underneath it was filled with this, watching over kits, fighting, protecting, until she could no longer stay on her paws and even beyond that, until it ended after long moments, she gave me a smile, and quickly licked Vinetail’s shoulder before sitting beside Tallfur.
The next cat to join me was a pure white tom with red eyes, I winced as they met mine and looked away, but met them again as he sat down, I was instantly reminded of Redkit. “I am Whiteshadow, a Healer for the Tribe of Dark Shades, before Stealthfeet of course,” his gaze flickered to the side where Stealthfeet sat, I was somehow amazed at the difference from when I last saw her, she was now sleek and pretty again instead of her former battered body from falling out of a tree to watch the battle, she died not long before Lilyspirit had, “I also fathered several kits by a loner, whom she named Tabby, Fancy, Fiery, Happy, and Lucky.” He purred, I was startled at the hint, “I give you this life for humor, when tensions are high, use it to help your Tribe relax, a good sense of humor can be more helpful than claws in some situations.” He purred, touching my nose, I felt a light, airiness come over me, as if nothing could ever be wrong, I felt no stress and relaxed, Whiteshadow’s life was a good one, he always met his tribe’s and other’s criticisms with smart witticisms and clever comebacks, and was very popular up until his death. As he padded away, the mist that had enveloped the remaining cats dissipated, revealing the last cat.
Her fur was well groomed, her black paws, ears, and tail tip gleamed brightly, and her thick golden splotches left everything but her face and the odd patch of white covered, her green eyes sparkled warmly and she raised her tail in greeting. “I am Lilyspirit, though I hope you haven’t forgotten me quite yet.” She purred, “I had three apprentices, and one temporary one, I was fearful in my last life, and I hope you forgive me if I missed anything in teaching you. I always wanted to be a mother, to take care of kits and love them, but I was given another path, one that you must follow now.” She looked at me sadly, “With this life, I give you endless patience, so that when you are training your own apprentice, or a problem arises, you have the good graces to sit down and explain everything or have everything explained.” She mewed, I eagerly stretched my neck out to touch noses with her and nearly recoiled as a heavy weight pressed down upon me, I felt like I was being crushed, but I still managed to shake it off enough to see her life, it was more than I expected, filled with agony, tragedy, and sadness, all wrapped into a loneliness that I knew of, as I felt the last moment of the life tick by, I could feel her overwhelming sadness as she died, she was not angry at the cat, she felt sad, whether for herself, the cat, or something else, I couldn’t tell, but finally Lilyspirit’s life ended and the weight was lifted, she looked deep into my eyes and gave a reassuring lick to my shoulder and stepped back.
“You are now, from this day forward, Waterspirit!” She yowled, a chant rose up from the cats around me and I beamed proudly.
“We know you’ll make us proud, Waterspirit.” The other cats murmured, I nodded and watched as everything seemed to dissolve and dissipate into nothingness.
When I opened my eyes I saw the Spirit Garden, the moon was no longer in the center of the pond, it was at the lip closest to me, I could feel Vinetail stirring beside me and I gave an exhausted purr.
“You did very well, Waterspirit.” Vinetail purred happily, but her purr ended abruptly and I realized seeing her old mentor, her mother, and Lilyspirit must have made her sad.
“I wonder who gave Whiskerspirit his lives?” I pondered absently.
“That’s for him to know, you can’t speak of anything that has happened tonight, it is sacred.” She said brusquely. I nodded solemnly and followed her out of the cavern. She walked quickly toward our camp, and almost raced ahead, I struggled to keep up until she sighed, “We might as well rest here, you’re very tired.” She pointed out.
“We should walk the rest of the way home, or I won’t make it, your legs are too long.” I muttered. As I lay down my stomach rumbled.
“You can hunt if you want.” Vinetail mewed, pretending that I couldn’t hear her own stomach rumbling. I nodded and listened for sounds, I stopped when I spotted a large rabbit calmly nibbling some grass, I quietly approached it when suddenly another cat appeared on the other side of it, scaring it, it raced right into my paws and I quickly killed it.
“Yeah! Nice catch!” The fluffy she-cat purred, beside her a stocky dark gray tom with shaggy fur, and white paws, tail tip, and underbelly with leaf green eyes followed.
“Who are you?” I said defensively.
“Oh, I’m Tabbyheart, and this is Galekit, we’re just traveling, who are you?” She mewed curiously.
“I’m Waterspirit, of the Leaf Tribe.” I said proudly.
“Tribe? Oh, that must be what Flame was talking about, huh?” Galekit mewed curiously.
“Oh, she did say that we should check out the Leaf Tribe, and with your sister, it might be best, huh?” Tabbyheart murmured, I looked behind her for the other kit but saw none.
“Can we join you?” Tabbyheart mewed brightly, I was taken aback, but I blankly nodded.
“Oh, that’s so good of you; hold on, I’ll get Hopekit.” She purred, racing back from where she came.
“Thank for taking us!” Galekit mewed.
“You’re welcome, how old are you?” I asked looking him over, he shrugged and remained silent, a moment later Tabbyheart appeared, carrying a smaller kit in her jaws, the kit’s honey colored eyes were opened but stared blankly, and her pale gray fur with barely visible darker stripes was unkempt, but Tabbyheart gently set her down and gave her fur a few quick licks.
“This is Hopekit, my daughter.” She mewed, I nodded and watched her pick the kit back up and place her on her back, but Galekit was left to walk.
“How old is Hopekit?” I asked around the rabbit I was carrying as we walked back to Vinetail.
“They’re both about three moons.” She mewed absently.
I nodded, noting her vagueness, but I could tell it was her honest guess; most loners didn’t count how old they were.
As we approached Vinetail, she stiffened turning to face us, “Waterspirit! What took you so long, and who are they?” She narrowed her eyes at the three newcomers.
“Their names are Tabbyheart, Galekit, and Hopekit, they wanted to join our Tribe.” I mewed carefully, expecting her to challenge me.
To my surprise, she sighed and nodded, “Welcome.” She muttered, surprised, I set the rabbit down and we began eating, Vinetail didn’t eat much, neither did I, our meals were usually much smaller, but Tabbyheart, Galekit, and Hopekit ate a lot.
Once we were done, we set off, Tabbyheart carrying Hopekit, and Galekit trotting beside us, we walked for a small while before we crossed the border into Swift Tribe’s territory.
We made it about halfway before Galekit got tired and I had to carry him, while we were stopped, a patrol happened to walk by.
“Hello.” An oddly distorted and heavy voice mewed; I looked at the white she-cat and purred to myself, it was Snowscent, a deaf she-cat, but had made her way to be a Tracker.
“Hello Snowscent.” I waved my tail at her in greeting and she nodded.
“Snowscent?! Snowscent! Where’d you go?” I heard a young cat’s voice from over the hill, but Snowscent didn’t notice.
“She can’t hear you, don’t waste your breath.” A slightly distorted voice mewed back; I recognized it as Flypaw, who was half deaf like her mother.
“I found her; you two are doing a terrible job as Trackers.” Chasingtrace appeared from the hill, Snowscent followed my gaze and gave a mew of surprise, jumping up and waving with her tail, Chasingtrace waved back and made a complicated system of signals with his tail and ears, she responded by pointing toward us, he looked surprised but nodded and licked her shoulder before padding toward us. Moonpaw and Flypaw raced down the hill, Flypaw had a small complicated conversation with her mother as her father had done before joining us, Moonpaw shrugged and waved to Snowscent, who waved back.
“What brings you here?” Chasingtrace mewed.
“We’re just heading back.” I answered carefully, expecting a comment on Tabbyheart.
“Ah, you’re Waterspirit now, huh?” Chasingtrace said, his eyes bright, I nodded.
“That’s cool!” Moonpaw said excitedly.
Snowscent looked at her excited apprentice, and gave her daughter a questioning look, her tail curving, Flypaw seemed to think on it for a moment before pointing to me and then where we had come from, and doing some other gestures that I couldn’t understand.
“She just said that you came from the rocky hills, and that you are a leader now.” Chasingtrace purred, clearly amused.
“How?”
“I grew up with her, and I trained with her, so I, I mean we, made a system of signals, so that I can communicate with her, most of our Tribe knows the basics, besides me, and the rest of the Trackers, except Moonpaw who doesn’t seem to understand it as well,” he shot Moonpaw a sympathetic glance but she glared at him in turn, “and our kits of course, Honeylight knows the most, they have conversations a lot of the time, I just think Honeylight finds it funny that Windspirit gets lost and gives up most of the time, like Moonpaw.” He gave her another amused look and she pounced on him, knocking him over.
“Okay, go on.” Chasingtrace laughed, shaking her off.
Snowscent paused and nudged Chasingtrace’s shoulder; he looked back at her and she looked questioningly again, this time she pointed to Tabbyheart.
Chasingtrace was about to answer when Tabbyheart waved with her tail and gave the same complicated signals they had, I tilted my head and watched as she finished, Snowscent looked satisfied and Chasingtrace gave a mrrow of amusement.
“Welcome to the Tribes, I’m Chasingtrace.” He purred.
“I’m Tabbyheart.” She nodded.
“We have to get going now, good bye.” I said abruptly, waving good bye to Snowscent.
We left them and Tabbyheart trotted to walk beside me, I looked her over, “How did you do that?” I asked.
“Oh, I had a deaf friend once; we lived together for years, so we made a signal system too, just like that one.” She shrugged; she then craned her neck to check on Hopekit.
I nodded, amazed and slightly proud that I had found her, I looked behind me to shoot Vinetail a look but she wasn’t looking at me.
We walked further on, coming closer to where the Grand Clearing meets Dark Tribe’s territory. I doubted that I would meet anyone, so I didn’t bother to scent around.
“Hey! What are you doing on our territory?!” I jumped upon hearing a small voice, I looked around to see Ashbreeze running toward us, her tail fluffed up, behind her, her littermate Finch-chirp, followed, and appearing behind them came Whitespirit, his deputy, Shadowchaser, and finally, their medicine cat, Crowscreech.
I froze, my muscles tense, and I felt Vinetail press into my fur, Tabbyheart did the same and I felt like I had made my first mistake as a leader.
“What are you doing here?” Ashreeze hissed.
“I-“ I started, thinking of an excuse.
“Ashbreeze let them explain first.” Whitespirit mewed quietly, his voice dull.
I saw Finch-chirp share a worried glance with her littermate before turning back to me, “Did you go to the Spirit Garden?” she mewed.
“Yes.” I nodded.
“Welcome to leadership, Waterspirit.” Shadowchaser bowed her head.
“Thank you very much,” I purred, looking at Whitespirit, his eyes were blank, but he must have felt my gaze because he looked up at me.
“So, I heard Nightfollow had her kits, five, that’s good, but it must be hard feeding them all.” Vinetail mewed to him, he stiffened at gave her a blank stare.
“Yes, Blossomkit…” he started, but lost his thought.
“Yeah, I’m so glad to have brothers and sisters, this time; Nightfollow was able to nurse them. I have three new sister and two brothers, they are so cute! There’s Petalkit, Blossomkit, and Daisykit, then Treekit and Leafkit, they have so much energy, just like me when I was a kit!” Finch-chirp purred, clearly enthusiastic about her new siblings.
“But they aren’t half as cute as you when you were a kit.” Crowscreech mewed absently, sniffing some plants near a tree, Whitespirit’s ears twitched but other than that, he made no move.
“Who’s that?” Ashbreeze mewed suspiciously, glaring at Tabbyheart.
“I’m Tabbyheart, I’m going to join Leaf Tribe, and these are my kits, Galekit and Hopekit.” Tabbyheart purred.
Whitespirit seemed to awaken and snorted with derision, “You seem to have taken your mentor’s heart along with your new name, taking in strays is something she loved, just look at Lucklife. Have you given a thought as to who will be your deputy?” he purred silkily.
“Not really, and even if I had, you’ll have to wait for the gathering.” I said promptly, he smiled and gave me a nod shared between leaders, or maybe it was just a nod, but I like to think of it as a signal that we were equals.
We continued walking, I could hear Vinetail muttering angrily to herself, “Now all we need is to meet Drip Tribe, and we’ll be done.” She growled sarcastically. I smiled and checked on Galekit, he was resting comfortably on my back, his eyes closed.
We entered the Grand Clearing and took a small break before continuing, I watched as Galekit pounced through half melted piles of snow, his fur becoming soaked in a matter of moments, the weak sunlight providing no warmth.
Galekit gave a small whimper and a fierce shiver before racing to his mother’s side, knocking Hopekit over and soaking her as well.
Tabbyheart opened her mouth to snap at him, when a calling yowl sounded from behind us, I looked back to see Vixenpaw and Flop-paw appearing from the bushes, (I remembered them immediately from the Fox Truce immediately, the others I had to remember from Gatherings.) behind them followed several more apprentices.
“Hey Water-“ Vixenpaw started.
“I think he’s Waterspirit now.” Flop-paw corrected her sibling before she spoke.
“Hey! Where’d you go? Come back here!” I heard a familiar yowl.
“Sorry Whisker-rattle“ Aspenpaw mewed.
“It’s Whiskerspirit! You know that!” He snapped, flustered.
“Hello Whiskerspirit.” I mewed, waving my tail; he froze and looked at me with wide eyes.
“Hello Watersky.” He mewed, I flinched and he laid his ears flat and gave a small mew of embarrassment, “Oh, Waterspirit, sorry.”
I nodded, I didn’t blame him, he was much younger than me, so young, most of his Tribe mates did not strictly call him by his respectful name, they instead called him Whisker-rattle, a name he had held for almost a whole moon before his mentor died.
“Oh, who’s that?” Oakpaw mewed, approaching a shivering Hopekit and Galekit, his den mates followed, Rainpaw pushed her way to the front and began to warm them, showing her den mates how to do the same, and in moments they were surrounded in a warm ball of apprentices.
“I’m Tabbyheart, and these are my kits, Hopekit and Galekit.” She purred.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Whiskerspirit.” He purred, pausing slight at the end of his name, the look on his face said that he was about to say Whisker-.
“You’re very young.” Tabbyheart said bluntly.
Whiskerspirit blinked in surprise, “I-I guess s-so.” He mewed.
“And you run a whole Tribe by yourself?” She tilted her head.
“No, I have my deputy, Splashpelt…” he shuffled his paws.
“Are they older than you?” She mewed.
“N-no, h-he isn’t…” He mewed.
“You’ll be the leader of your Tribe for a long time. I’m sure that they’ll get used to that and call you by your respectful name.” She smiled; he nodded and waved his tail to the gathered apprentices.
“Come on, we’re going back.” He called.
“Okay Whiskerspirit, come on, last one there is a lead brain!” Cedarpaw yowled, they said their goodbyes as they raced out of the Grand Clearing, Whiskerspirit raced after them, as if he were still an apprentice, but he paused to look back at us before leaving.
Vinetail didn’t say anything, she just lashed her tail with agitation, promptly getting up and stalking out of the clearing. I looked at Tabbyheart and grabbed Galekit and helped him onto my back, following her with Tabbyheart at my side.
“Vinetail, what’s wrong?” I mewed after I caught up with her, her long-legs carrying her through the forest and over obstacles faster than mine.
“I just want to get this day over with, and you’re gallivanting about as if we have all the time in the world, you still have to get back before the day ends.” She hissed.
“I understand, but I don’t see what’s wrong, why are you so mad?” I called after her, she stood and turned to face me, I felt a small weight being lifted from my shoulders and glanced at Tabbyheart who took Galekit and disappeared into the forest.
“I’m mad because you are replacing my friend. That’s all that happens, she replaced her leader, you replaced her, and some cat is going to replace you, it happens to all of us, but the only thing we add on to it, is forgetting who came before us. You’re going to forget all about Lilyspirit when you’re sleeping in her den, everything she’s done; only the elders will remember. Come on… we have to go.” She growled, but I stepped in front of her.
“Vinetail, I don’t know if you remember my Life Ceremony, but Lilyspirit gave me my last life. Until I lose that life, I will always make sure that every cat remembers Lilyspirit.” I licked her head and gave a small searching mew for Tabbyheart, and left with Galekit on my back, Tabbyheart and Vinetail at my sides.
Okay, I decided to upload this early even though on my journal I said it would be around Monday. Anyways, this is the chapter I liked, I had another couple chatpters I started with, but I didn't really like them, I'll probably upload them for laughs. Tabbyheart is actually a cat I made up, and she had a completely different history, but I tweaked it so that it would fit with this story. She adopted the kits from Flamelightning77's kit den, which may be inactive, I don't know, I kind of 'stole' Hopekit... But I suppose it's okay if I continue the whole den thing...
The picture is of Forest, the first leader of the Leaf Tribe, which is actually a nickname for the Tribe, as are the rest, they have longer names... I got it from google...
I would also answer any questions if I got any, concerning this general topic, some of my other stories, or things you think I might know....
Thank you for reading, contributing, etc...
Wild Cat Prologue: fav.me/d50nh9b
Chapter Twenty: Wild Cat: fav.me/d5ijmzt
Epilogue: fav.me/d5svbdq
Tribal Kitty Prologue: fav.me/d5sa88r
Next: fav.me/d6f4zr6
Enjoy!
:iconfirestarapproves:
Fun Facts: Forest is Waterspirit's ancestor. Finch-chirp believes Nightfollow is her mother. This is the first chapter without Lucklife. Stealthfeet was Whitespirit's sister. It's ironic that Whitespirit makes fun of Waterspirit for taking in strays because he used to be a bell-neck.
© 2013 - 2024 Abbyzfatcat
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Chookiji's avatar
You forgot the link for the picture: [link] (: