CrestClan | Camp

One of the largest buildings in the city houses CrestClan’s camp, making it almost impenetrable to any of the other Clans. A grove of sturdy oaks sits in the rooftop garden area, their roots reaching far down into and around the stone structure and strengthening it as they have done for many moons. The only way to reach the camp is done by climbing the building, though the large jump from one floor up to the trees is daunting enough for an apprentice, let alone an invading warrior. The prey pile sits in the center of the camp sheltered from the sun by the trees, while the warriors and apprentices den nearby the only exit. The nursery and medicine dens are hidden behind bushes and lumps of old stone, on top of which the elders lounge in the sun when they aren’t inside their own fallen tree, sleeping. The leader sleeps in a tree hollow once home to an owl, and makes announcements from the branch known to the Clan as the Owl’s Perch.

A cold gust of wind that blew into the owl's nest was what woke Bumblestar up, shivering and blinking the sleep out of her eyes. It took her a moment to adjust herself and to brave the cold winds before she leaped out to greet the cats who were already awake.

Peachwhisker yawned as she sorted through the herbs in her den, blinking as the sun filtered through the leaves covering her den.

Kestrelthorn's ears pricked at the sounds of stirring cats, stretching from his post at the entrance and shaking his pelt out. This is going to be a long day. "Warriors!" he called. "Patrols time."

Willowpaw bounded out of the den, stretching out in the crisp air and shaking out her fur. She purred, trotting in a small circle for a moment before looking to Kestrelthorn, her eyes widening. Maybe I can go on a patrol! 

Hollycrest lifted her head from her paws, blinking rapidly before pushing herself up, careful not to wake her kits. She padded out, stretching in what sunlight ventured into the camp.

Whisperpaw bounced on the tips of her paws as she looked around, her eyes bright with enthusiasm. "Can I go on a patrol?" She asks, looking at Kestrelthorn.

Cliffhowl sticked to the shadows at the corner of camp, his eyes flicking towards where Kestrelthorn is. He won't choose me to go on a patrol.

"Good morning, Kestrelthorn." Bumblestar purred sleepily, her paws still a bit wobbily. "It would be nice if we could get one or two extra hunting patrols, the leafbare is coming somewhat soon." She said.

Kestrelthorn nodded, tail flicking. "I was going to make the border patrols bring back prey too. I'll take the RushClan border, would you like to go hunting?"

"That would be great, actually. I can lead the hunting patrol." She said, remembering that she hadn't actually led a patrol in awhile. She liked to let others lead for a bit.

Frostedstep padded carefully out of the den, shaking out her spotted fur and padding quietly over to where a few cats had gathered. "Patrols?" She meowed, flicking her tail and twisting to face Kestrelthorn. "Where can I be most help?"

Mosspaw awoke as a ray of sunlight fell onto her. She sat up and yawned, looking towards where her mentor was working. "Good morning." She mumbled and climbed from her nest.

Kestrel’s tail flicked gently. “I’d like you to lead another hunting patrol, if that’s okay. To the RippleClan border, we might be able to catch the last of the plump birds.”

"Good morning Mosspaw." Peachwhisker purred, "Do you want to go herb collecting today?"

"Ugh, birds." Bumblestar said, realizing her hunger. "Hopefully by tonight, we'll have enough for everyone to have extras. That'll put everyone in a better mood." She said.

Frostedstep nodded and turned, glancing back at Kestrelthorn briefly. "Any suggestions on which cats should come with?"

"Sure." Mosspaw gave her chest a few swift licks. "Which herbs to we need today?"

Kestrelthorn shook his head. "Whoever wakes up. Winter always makes everyone want to sleep more." He scoffed slightly, tail flicking.

Frostedstep snorted in agreement and trotted back to the warrior's den, padding inside quietly at first. Taking a deep breath, she leaped further in, prodding several warriors. "Up, up, up, time to get busy!"

Foresthowl grunted. “What, what?” He looked up at Frostedstep with a huff.

"Hunting patrol! Your kits and mate need food after all." Frostedstep grinned at the older warrior, trotting in place and busying herself with grooming the fur on her shoulder.

Foresthowl huffed but managed to get up, stretching and letting his claws sink into the moss of the empty nest beside him. “Fine, if you insist.” 
Kestrelthorn shook his head, purring with amusement.

Hollycrest lounged just outside of the nursery, blinking and grunting when Hopekit leaped onto her. "Oh good, you're awake," she mewed, nuzzling the kit. 

Frostedstep chuckled and trotted further into the den, prodding random warriors to try and wake them. She jumped back when Nightfall hissed at her, letting the grumpy shecat return to her sleeping.

Twilightkit followed his sister out, yawning and stumbling a little.

Foresthowl stretched again once he was out in the center of the camp, wiggling his toes and looking around in the glarey morning sun. "Who's on hunting again?"
Kestrelthorn snorted with amusement. "You're with Frostedstep, once she's done annoying the other cats."

Frostedstep prodded multiple warriors before groaning and giving up, trotting out of the warrior's den. She looked back in once more, spotting Embercloud and beaming. Leaping over, she nudged the warrior with her head. "Embercloud, come with me and Foresthowl! We're going hunting."

Kestrelthorn stretched, digging his claws into the soft grass of the camp. "If nobody else wakes up I'm going to set a chicken in that den," he muttered.

Hollycrest twisted to face her kits, warming at the site of them. She padded over and licked Twilightkit's ear, lying down nearby so they were both in her sight. 

"Send a kit in there. It'll have the same effect," Willowpaw chirped and giggled, waving her dappled tail.

Twilightkit purred softly, then sneezed as he breathed in the cold air too deeply.

Kestrelthorn snorted at the apprentice. "I'm sure it would, but I'd rather not have a kit's pelt ripped off by hungry warriors." 

Foresthowl glanced at his mate and kits, then back at Frostedstep. "Why don't we just go? I'm sure they'll catch up."

Ivyglow stretched and sunk her claws into the soft moss of her nest, hearing the mumbling mews of warriors outside and nudging her kits out of the nest. "Go play," she yawned.
Driftkit huffed, grooming his chest. "But it's cold," he whined.

"We're running low on chervil," Peachwhisker mewed, twitching her whiskers, "We need to head over to the forest, does that sound alright sweetheart?"

Hollycrest purred and nuzzled Twilightkit's side before nudging him towards Hopekit, who had pounced onto a fallen leaf. "Go play with your sister. I'm sure she doesn't want to be alone," she mewed.

Willowpaw's eyes widened and she dropped to sit down. "You're right, that would be bad. Like, really bad," she meowed, nodding along as if agreeing with herself. 

Frostedstep jumped and nodded frantically. "Okay! Where should we go? Anywhere you're wanting?" She trotted back over, skidding to a halt in front of Foresthowl.

Mumblekit groaned and nuzzled further into the warmth of Ivyglow's fur. "Driftkit is right. It's cold," he mewed.

Inkpaw slowly crept into a spot of sunlight before plopping right back down, the dappled tom beginning to groom his tangled pelt. He glanced up, catching sight of a timid Splashberry padding over to Bumblestar. He could barely make out her words, but it seemed she was asking about joining the leader's patrol.

Nightfall finally emerged from the warrior's den, shaking out her pelt and flexing her claws against a patch of moss. She parted her jaws in a yawn, crouching as she stretched.

Twilightkit huffed loudly. "It's cold," he whined. 

Foresthowl shrugged. "Anywhere we can find prey. I don't think there'll be many pigeons, they tend to disappear over summer." 

Ivyglow snorted. "Then you won't make good warriors, either of you. Go," she nudged them out of the nest, standing herself and shaking her fur out.

Hollycrest chuckled and nudged him again. "Moving around will warm you up. I think your dad is going to bring us back some nice prey, as well," she mewed, pushing herself to her paws. 

"The low city usually has rats, even this late into the year, doesn't it? We'd just have to keep an eye out for snakes." Frostedstep turned, padding towards the camp entrance. 

Mumblekit huffed at his mother and reluctantly obeyed, nudging Driftkit as he padded out of the nursery. He fluffed up his pelt and shivered.

Foresthowl nodded. "That makes it easy, then. And we can keep out of this breeze." He sniffed, shaking his face sharply as a cold speck tickled his nose. "Is...snow? Already?"

Flakes have begun drifting down into the camp, and the wind is picking up.

Frostedstep glanced up and nodded. "Appears so. Leafbare really is coming early. Let's hurry, Foresthowl," she mewed and began to climb down.

"I agree," Foresthowl mumbled a little, shaking his fur out to warm himself up as he followed.

Kestrelthorn sighed, his tail sweeping again. "Last call!" He growled. "Before I fill all of your nests with sand!"

"It seems like it was a long night for most of the warriors." Nightfall shook out her fur, huffing in annoyance as snowflakes began to cover her. "I can join a border patrol," she offered.

Kestrelthorn nodded, flicking his ear as a snowflake landed on it. "Sounds good. You can come with me for the RushClan border patrol, while everyone else-" he looked around, "-goes and does their job."

Nightfall simply nodded and flexed her claws into the moss, waving her tail.

Archpaw stretched as she padded up to her mentor. "What are we doing today?"

Mosspaw nodded in agreement. "Chirvel," she hummed thoughtfully, "What was that one used for again? Bellyaches?"

"Border patrol." Nightfall sounded overly bored, and instantly annoyed as she addressed her apprentice, cocking her head to the side. "Though we might catch a few things on the way back."

Peachwhisker nodded and smiled. "It can also help clean out wounds," she added, "Now, do you want to bring anyone along with us?"

Talonstorm trotted out of his den and stretched, arching his back and yawning. Past dawn? I must be losing my youth.

Archpaw nodded, tail waving. "Didn't one of the warriors report that RippleClan was strangely quiet yesterday? Do you think they're up to something?" she bounced a little on her paws, knowing full well she shouldn't have heard that.

Nightfall cuffed her apprentice's ear. "You should not have been listening in on a warrior's report," she snapped, annoyance dripping from her tone.

Archpaw smirked. "So something is going on? Are we going to check it?!"

Nightfall hissed in irritation. "Maybe. That's between the warriors," she retorted and smirked. "You're too young and immature to know."

Archpaw raised an eyebrow. "All right, chill out. I can't help that the warriors were doing their report right next to the freshkill pile and I was hungry." She turned to walk off.

"You're still coming with, Archpaw." Nightfall called after the apprentice and huffed, shaking her head. She turned to Kestrelthorn. "I swear, I'd get along better with a dog than her."

Kestrelthorn just shrugged. "She's your apprentice," he purred, walking off.

"Hello Kestrelthorn," Talonstorm meowed, padding towards his son, "Am I needed for any patrols?"

"I'm going on the RushClan border, would you prefer that or hunting?" Kestrelthorn's whiskers twitched happily at his father's appearance.