Warriors - Moss & Bramble AU (reserved for Iyraen)

[rat king princess]

Deep in the forest, beyond the reaches of Twoleg dwellings, two clans of wild and brave cats lived near the ancient structures known only as Starclan's Stones. It was widely believed that the stones had been placed in the forest by Starclan themselves, and the endeavor to understand and explore them was of the greatest importance to both clans.


These stones, however, rested solely in the territory of Mossclan, the larger and more honorable of the two clans. However, the dark and corrupt Brambleclan warriors would not concede this so easily. Border disputes began, and a violent conflict took over the forest.


Now, each clan lives in fear of an attack from the other, and border disputes have grown into much larger conflicts. It is nearly impossible to tell when the fighting will end, if it ever will.
​

 

[rat king princess]

The sun had long sent over the dusty hollow of the Brambleclan camp, and moonhigh was fast approaching. A brightly-colored orange tabby with prominent scars slunk out of a partially concealed den to sit in the center of the camp opposite a brown-and-tan tom with even more scars.


"Are you ready to leave, Duststripe?" Burningstar asked in a low voice. The mood was grim. Duststripe merely dipped his head to indicate he was. The two war-torn toms darted to the tangled tunnel of brambles and scrub that lead out of the camp and into the rest of Brambleclan hunting ground.


They covered ground quickly, moving low to the ground from bush to bush. Before long, the scent markers of Mossclan warriors could be detected, and Burningstar and Duststripe reached the boundary between the two clans' territories. Just beyond the line of trees, the eerie spires of Starclan's Stones could be seen through the moonlight-bathed leaves. They paused, and Burningstar twitched his tail to signal his deputy forward.


Above their heads, the nighttime wind whistled through the moss-and-ivy-covered stones. Following the many cat-scents of Mossclan warriors, Burningstar and Duststripe crept through the trees and around the many ancient stones into the entrance of the Mossclan camp. Burningstar paused at the entry as Duststripe went in ahead to see which queens were guarding the nursery.


After a long, quiet moment, Duststripe's familiar brown-and-tan pelt reappeared before Burningstar. "There's a young queen inside, but some of the kits are roaming around inside," he hissed, his ears flattening at the thought of stealing one of the bumbling little furballs. One narrow glare from Burningstar, however, sent the deputy slinking back toward the soft, moss-lined den.


Burningstar followed, grateful for the trees blocking the moonlight from illuminating the enemy camp. Duststripe's head disappeared inside the nursery once more, and reappeared with a sleepy, lazily wriggling gray-and-white kit. He passed the warm little bundle to Burningstar, who trotted back toward the camp exit with his head lifted to keep the kit from swinging about. Duststripe scrambled out after his leader, checking back over his shoulder and swiveling his ears, wary of any Mossclan warriors in pursuit.


When the pair finally returned to the Brambleclan camp, the sun had begun to rise. Before long, Mossclan would realize it was missing a kit, and Burningstar would demand a battle over the territory encompassing Starclan's Stones. But for now, all was quiet, and still.

 

[Lyraen]

Tansyeye was not a cat to be easily flustered. Any problem she encountered could be fixed with a little bit of work, but the problem she encountered that Greenleaf morning was worse than anything else she'd faced in all her years as a warrior.


"... Tansyeye?" Darkpaw called, the black she-cat turning to her mentor worriedly. "Do you smell Brambleclan? In the camp?" the apprentice said in a hushed voice, her amber eyes wide. Tansyeye had, in fact, caught wind of Brambleclan's scent, though she hadn't said anything yet, not wanting to worry her fretful apprentice. They'd been about to go on dawn patrol when they'd scented the Brambleclan warriors, and though Tansyeye was a little annoyed that they were put off schedule, she was more than worried about Brambleclan warriors having been in their camp.


"Hang on," muttered the Mossclan deputy, leaving her apprentice standing alone in the center of camp as she went to follow the scent of the Brambleclan warriors. The white-she cat found herself heading towards the nursery, a den made from a large fallen tree leaning against one of the moss-covered rocks. That was strange to her; what would Brambleclan want with the nursery?


A shriek from inside the den answered her, the sound making the deputy jump.


"Cinderkit? Cinderkit!" called Poppyclaw, her voice frantic as she spoke from inside the nursery. The young grey queen emerged from the den in a frenzy, following her kit's scent, until she caught wind of something else. "Brambleclan," the queen growled, then noticed Tansyeye standing there gaping at her, her mismatched eyes wide. A kit was missing?


"Where is he? Where's Cinderkit?" said Poppyclaw quickly, pleading with Tansyeye as though she were the one holding Cinderkit hostage.


"I- I don't know, but... but we're going to find out," Tansyeye said, at first stumbling over her words but then gaining confidence. She wouldn't let this best her.


The deputy bounded away from the queen, heading for the leader's den. By then, the whole camp was being roused by the frantic Poppyclaw, and Brackenstar was emerging from the fern fronds that made up his den. He was taken off guard by the quickly approaching Tansyeye, who came to a stop in front of him.


"Brackenstar, Cinderkit is missing, and camp stinks of Brambleclan," she said quickly, catching the leader up to speed. Brackenstar was unfazed, and looked over in the direction of Poppyclaw, who was being soothed by the tiny Darkpaw. He pushed past Tansyeye without a word, climbing up the ancient stone stairs on the edge of camp. He settled himself at the top of the rock, looking down at the camp. Cats were emerging from every den, having been woken by Poppyclaw's cries.


"Let all warriors gather beneath Starclan's Ledge," Brackenstar called, his rough voice ringing out through the camp. Ordinarily he would call for all cats old enough to catch their own prey, but he believed this matter was definitely a job for warriors only. Once the warriors were settled, he spoke.


"Almost all of you are aware at this point that Cinderkit is missing. And a few of you may have noted the scent of Brambleclan in our camp. It is my belief that Brambleclan has kidnapped the kit. I want Tansyeye to lead a patrol to Brambleclan camp and bring Ravenflight, Ashfall, and Oaktail. That is all." Brackenstar spoke quickly, not wanting to drag on for too long. He never did, but especially now, when a kit was missing, he didn't want to waste time. He ambled down the steps, immediately bombarded with questions from worried clan members.


Meanwhile, Tansyeye moved over next to a small opening in the thick brush that encompassed one half of the camp wall, which served as the entrance to camp. She was waiting for her patrol to join her. Ravenflight and Oaktail approached her quickly, the black tom and his dark pelted father both looking grim.


Poppyclaw was still hysterical, Darkpaw failing to do anything to help her. Lillypelt, Mossclan's medicine cat, approached the frantic queen, looking concerned. The delicate she-cat touched Poppyclaw's shoulder with the white tip of her tail, her head titled slightly.


"Come on, Poppyclaw, let's get you something to calm down a bit..." said Lillypelt, leading the queen towards the medicine den, a nook made up of several crumbling ruined rocks. She moved into the back of the den, where the crevices of the rock held her stores of herbs. She quickly found some goatweed and carried it out in her jaws, setting it in front of Poppyclaw. "There you go," Lillypelt said, stroking the queen's shoulder with her tail tip. "This'll calm you down a bit. They'll find Cinderkit. I'm sure of it," she stated soothingly.