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   The Clan had settled in well over the past moon, slowly but surely. Flintrustle was often heard exclaiming over how the warm sea air did wonders for the incessant coughing that gripped her chest; Myrtlestar and Sleepymoon's adopted kits were growing quickly; Morningnose's herb supplies were low while she figured out which herbs grew where, but miraculously there had been no need for any of them. Things were going smoother than she had hoped for.

   At least, that was what Myrtlestar thought as she drowsed in the sunshine pooled around the camp, enjoying the way it shimmered on the water when she tilted her head this way or that. The warm haze of late afternoon made it feel like her body was enveloped in cotton. She was only half-listening to Sleepymoon complaining about Stempaw.

   "Sometimes I worry that I haven't taught her enough common sense," Sleepymoon muttered. Myrtlestar flicked her ears in vague amusement. It was a guilty pleasure of hers to hear Sleepymoon -- who was always so unfailingly gracious to everyone -- gripe about common annoyances like everyone else did.

   Bristlebee meowed a casual greeting to them as she padded by, sinking her teeth into a large fish from the fresh-kill pile and dragging it away. Myrtlestar curled her tail in delight as she recognized it as the prey she herself had caught on a patrol earlier that day. She was proud of how well the Clan had adjusted to a more sea-based diet.

Contentment glowed inside her, as though she'd swallowed a fragment of sunshine. Sleepymoon's tongue rasped methodically over her fur, up and down, up and down.... Myrtlestar closed her eyes, savoring the moment.

   Suddenly, the tangy smell of fear made her eyes snap wide open, piercing her bubble of comfort. Sleepymoon tensed beside her. Paws scrabbled at the entrance to the camp and Myrtlestar jumped to her paws as she recognized the scent that was mixed with the fear. Fuzzykit! She raced towards the cats huddled at the entrance, Sleepymoon on her tail.

   Morningnose was already there. She was crouched over the tiny, wet scrap of fur that was Myrtlestar's precious kit. The Clan leader skidded to a halt as Morningnose lifted her tail in warning. The healer was old and experienced, proved trustworthy many times. Even so, Myrtlestar's anxiety only rose as Fuzzykit remained still for every passing moment. She could only watch in horror.

Sleepymoon pressed their bodies closer together. "Oh StarClan..," she whispered, her feathery tail lashing in agitation.

   Myrtlestar stared, frozen, at the still form of her kit. Please, StarClan. Not after everything....

   Unperturbed, Morningnose turned Fuzzykit over, putting a paw on the kitten's stomach and pushing, gentle but firm. The effect was immediate. The she-kit coughed, spluttering as water exited her body.

Morningnose nodded once to herself, satisfied. "Someone get her moss soaked in fresh water." -- Fawnspots darted away towards the medicine den -- "She's going to be thirsty from swallowing all that salt." The cream-furred healer finally glanced at the kit's worried guardians. Her dark blue eyes held a softness seldom seen. "She didn't swallow too much, all things considered. She'll be okay. Come, come, she needs to be warmed."

   Both letting out a great breath of relief, the she-cats hurried forward and began licking every part of Fuzzykit they could reach. She mewed in protest but was too weak to push them away. Myrtlestar wrinkled her nose at the strong, briny taste of ocean water soaked into the kit's pelt.

   Steeled by her relief, Myrtlestar reluctantly pulled away. She cast her piercing gaze towards the cats who had returned with Fuzzykit. The light turned her eyes the color of sunlit sea-ice, as clear and blue as a Leaf-bare sky.

   And as cold, too, from the way Fawnspots and Stempaw shrank from her.

   "What happened?" Myrtlestar meowed, fighting to keep her voice even. She flexed her claws into the sandy ground, agitation making her pelt itch. "Fawnspots, you were supposed to be watching Fuzzykit and Burrkit."

   The mottled tomcat cast his gaze to the ground for a moment. Then he looked up at her. His rich honey-colored eyes bore into hers. Myrtlestar saw genuine regret in them. "I was watching them diligently, as is a warriors' duty of course," he began. "But then, Fuzzykit told me that Burrkit had gotten stuck behind some of the rocks in the far end of the camp. I realized too late that this wasn't true, and she had only told Burrkit to hide so she could make her getaway. She left the camp as soon as I looked away."

   Myrtlestar's nose twitched. She lashed her tail, the light of the incoming sunset making the numerous scars wrapped around it turn pink. "Go on."

   "Feeling guilty, Burrkit admitted that Fuzzykit had planned this diversion so that she could go down to the beach and explore," Fawnspots continued, shuffling his brown tabby paws. "I ran as quickly as I could to the water, but when I got there..." He dipped his head at Stempaw. "Stempaw had already found Fuzzykit after she'd fallen into the ocean and quickly dragged her back to the shoreline. If she hadn't been there to save Fuzzykit... Well, I don't know if the young one would still be with us."

   Myrtlestar looked at Stempaw. The apprentice was clearly nervous, her chestnut-brown pelt bushed out slightly. "You've shown great bravery," Myrtlestar meowed to her, hoping her gratefulness was clear. Pawsteps sounded behind her. Sleepymoon stood at her leader's side, gazing at her mentee. For all she complained about the young cat, there was an overflow of warmth in her eyes.

   "Thank you, truly," the deputy murmured, stretching out her muzzle to lick Stempaw's ear. Her apprentice ducked away with a twitch of her ears but glowed with pride.

   Sweeping her tail over Sleepymoon's back, Myrtlestar meowed, "Well, Moony? Do you think Stempaw is ready?"

   Sleepymoon gave a low purr. "Yes, I quite think so."

   Before Stempaw could so much as stammer out a surprised mew, Myrtlestar had called the Clan together. Sunset bled across the clearing in full force now, turning the tide pools a blood-red hue. The last rays of sunlight were beginning to dissipate, but all around her, her Clanmates' eyes glowed still brightly.

   "I've been following the progress of Stempaw's apprenticeship for many moons, and I believe that she is ready to become a full warrior," Myrtlestar announced, cutting straight to the point as per usual.

She nodded at Stempaw and the tawny she-cat stepped towards her, her uncertainty seeming to melt away with every pawstep she took.

Myrtlestar continued: "Taught well by Sleepymoon, Stempaw has shown herself to be a reliable cat. She proved herself to be courageous and quick thinking when she saved Fuzzykit from the ocean." Now, she looked at Stempaw in full, her gaze stern but not unkind. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect your Clanmates for the rest of your life?"

   "I do!" Stempaw meowed brightly.

   Myrtlestar gave a short nod of approval. "I now proclaim you to be Stemchirp. May you keep your Clan safe for many moons to come." The leader brushed her muzzle against Stemchirp's head. Inwardly, she felt as excited as the young she-cat looked. Her first time officiating a warrior naming ceremony..! It had gone well, she thought, as she sat down and let the rest of the Clan congratulate the new warrior. Everything was okay now... Hm?

   Her head had snapped up at a faint sound near the medicine den. She got to her paws, narrowed eyes locked onto the sheepish face of Fuzzykit staring back at her. "No you don't!" she called as the kit tried to duck back into the den. She made a beeline towards her. "Just what were you thinking pulling that on Fawnspots?!"

   "I just wanted to have some fun!"

   "Fun?!"

   "Oh dear..," came Sleepymoon's soft voice from behind them.

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ᴄʟᴀɴ ᴀɢᴇ (ᴍᴏᴏɴs): 1
ғᴏᴜɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀs: 9
ᴛᴏᴛᴀʟ ᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀs: 9
sᴇᴀsᴏɴ: early Greenleaf