In the end, TideClan retreated. Mangopaw was found unconscious, half-buried in sand. Plumpaw and Pearpaw dragged their sister out of the earth. Mistgaze carried Duskblossom's body to the camp. Ivypaw and Orcamask worked together to bring Ripple'eye. Driftreed carried Oysterdream's unconscious form.

The medicine cats hurried around the cats, running into their den for herbs and cobwebs. Plumpaw and Pearpaw watched over Shorestar and Oysterdream, in case their conditions worsened.

Mistgaze watched over the clan from the Stonehill. He hadn't been badly injured, but looked very shaken. Pearpaw couldn't blame him. His mate had been buried in sand, his best friend had died in battle, and his clan weakened.

" Cats of TideClan," he called over the clan, "we have suffered much in this worthless battle. But we must recover as fast as we have fallen! Orcamask, gather as many cats who can hunt as you can and take them on a patrol. Stay away from the borders at all costs."

Orcamask padded towards Petalblaze and the two gathered a few cats for the patrol and left the camp.

Ivypaw walked over to Pearpaw and Plumpaw with Mangopaw leaning on her shoulder. "I have to get cobwebs and comfrey with Turtlepaw. Can you stay with Mangopaw?" She whisked away, not waiting for a response.

Cloudwish sat next to Palmdance and Duskblossom's stiff bodies, head drooped. Driftreed padded over and whispered a few words. She rose and accompanied her mate to Mistgaze. "Palmdance and Duskblossom should be buried," she said quietly. "We ought to sit vigil for them."

The gray tom raised his head to the red streaked sky. "Palmdance and Duskblossom will be buried in the morning. Let's wait for our medicine cats to finish healing before we start any vigils."

"I will miss Palmdance for her calm spirit, like gentle waves. She was the greatest mother a cat could have." Seasplash licked Palmdance's stiff head and placed a small palm leaf stem by her head. "Duskblossom was the one cat I could always turn to for advice or comfort. I'll miss them both."

Cloudwish stepped forward. "Palmdance made me into the cat I am today. I owe everything to her and Duskblossom." She dropped a small, yellow wildflower by her uncle's ear.

"Palmdance was the one who encouraged me to become a medicine cat."

"She was the kindest cat I knew."

"Duskblossom was the best mentor a cat could ever have."

"He saved me from a wave when I had left camp as a kit, I would have drowned without him."Mistgaze raised his head to the twilight sky. "May SunClan light your path. May you find good hunting, strong swimming, and shelter while it storms."

The clan left Cloudwish, Mistgaze, Spiralwind, Seasplash, Lightdawn, and Driftreed to sit by the bodies.

As the last light of the sun died out, Pearpaw and her littermates approached their family and sat behind them. The full moon shone above, like a huge cat's eye.

It was early morning when the vigil ended and the elders brought Duskblossom and Palmdance to the Spirit Tidepool. Shorestar had joined them in the vigil of her best friend. They would be buried close to SunClan.

Oysterdream had stronger breathing, but still hadn't woken up.

Pearpaw spent most of her time sitting with Mangopaw, watching the cats by the lapping seawaters. It seemed to be rising with the despair that mounted in the camp.

On the second day of post-battle, Shorestar called a clan meeting. She was better, still not completely recovered from the loss of, supposedly, one of her last lives.

"We are gathered here today to celebrate the coming of a new warrior. Ivypaw, come up to the Stonehill," Shorestar commanded.

Ivypaw scrabbled up the pile of rocks and turned to face her leader.

"I, Shorestar, leader of TideClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Ivypaw, do you promise to uphold the SunClan code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Ivypaw lifted her head. "I do."

"Then by the will of SunClan, I give you your warrior name. Ivypaw, from this moment on you will be known as Ivyshade. SunClan honors your patience and your bravery, and we welcome you as a full warrior of TideClan." Shorestar rested her muzzle on Ivyshade's gray head and the new warrior licked her shoulder.

"Ivyshade! Ivyshade!" Pearpaw yowled her friend's new name to the sky.

Ivyshade hopped down the Stonehill and skipped to the other apprentices. "I can't believe it!" she whispered. "I've always waited for this moment."

Shorestar raised her tail for silence. "We are also here for the making of two new apprentices. Poppykit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this moment on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Poppypaw. Your mentor will be Driftreed. I hope he will pass down all he knows on to you."

Driftreed proudly stood next to Poppypaw, as the leader continued to speak. "Driftreed, you are more than ready to take on a new apprentice. You have received excellent training from Flamedawn, and you have shown yourself to be kind and open-minded. You will be the mentor of Poppypaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to him."

Poppypaw touched noses with his mentor at a flick of Shorestar's tail and chirruped happily.

"Peonykit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Peonypaw. Your mentor will be Lightdawn. I know she will pass on all she knows onto you." Lightdawn scrambled up the Stonehill and faced the gathered clan.

"Lightdawn, you have shown yourself to be ready to take on an apprentice. You have received exceptional training from Petalblaze, and you have proven yourself to be talented and strong willed. I expect you to pass on all your knowledge to Peonypaw."

Lightdawn and Peonypaw touched noses. It was hard to tell who was more excited, the mentor or the apprentice.

"Poppypaw! Peonypaw! Poppypaw! Peonypaw!" The clan's yowls filled the air again.The two new apprentices ran up to their mother, Dawnrise. "I'm so proud of you both," she purred.

Shellear approached them cautiously. "Congratulations," he said stiffly.

Dawnrise looked at her former mate carefully before turning to Poppypaw and Peonypaw. "Go to your mentors, now," she said. "Your father and I need to have a chat."

She stalked to the now-empty warriors hollow. Shellear followed.

Shorestar raised her tail for silence. "There were many ceremonies today," she meowed. "They were all to announce new apprentices and warriors. With new blood running along the paths of our elders, our older warriors must rest. Our deputy, Mistgaze, will be retiring to the elder's den. Mistgaze, is it your wish to retire from the deputy position and join the elders?"

Mistgaze padded up to Shorestar. "It is."

Shorestar looked solemnly at her former deputy. "TideClan honors you and all the service you have given. May SunClan give you many moons of rest."

"Mistgaze! Mistgaze!" The clan yowled yet another name for that day, as Mistgaze leapt off the Stonehill.

As they quieted down, Shorestar lifted her head to the sky. "I say these words before SunClan, that the spirits of our ancestors may approve of my choice. The new deputy of TideClan will be Orcamask."

Orcamask gasped in surprise, walking towards the Stonehill. "I'm honored, Shorestar," she said.Pearpaw was honored, too, that her mentor was chosen to be the new leader. Hopefully, it meant that she would get the best training she possibly could.

"Clan meeting dismissed!" Shorestar leapt gracefully off the stone mound.

The next day, Pearpaw was called into the warriors den. Curious, she approached it, Plumpaw and Mangopaw catching up to her. "What is it?" she asked, skidding down the large sandy dip.Cloudwish was hunched down, sobbing. "Palmdance is dead," she choked. "I'll never be ready to return to warrior duties! As long as Palmdance isn't here..."

Driftreed laid his tail on his mate. "It'll be alright," he soothed. "Our kits are here."

Pearpaw padded up to her mother and father. "Mom, we're still here, and your littermates. Mistgaze is still alive, too."

Cloudwish wailed and curled up in her seaweed nest. "Mother did everything for me. She never let us go!" She turned away. "I'll just sleep. I-it was m-my fau-ult a-and Mistg-gaze's and S-Shorestar's! We could have gotten her out sooner. We should have gotten her out sooner." Anger crept into Cloudwish's voice.

Driftreed opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a call from outside. "Driftreed! Pearpaw! Plumpaw! We need you out here!"

Cloudwish sank back down into her nest and covered her face with her tail. "Leave me alone! I don't-"

Pearpaw backed out of the dip, grief washing over her. The others followed, then headed over to Orcamask.

"Driftreed, take a patrol to the River Border. Peonypaw, go with your mentor! Petalblaze! Take the apprentices to the Flat Sands. Bring Lightdawn and Ivyshade. Seasplash, lead a hunting patrol with Fernfrost, Lavenderdapple, and Shellear! If you need to, take another cat." Orcamask leapt off the base of the Stonehill. "I'll go with Petalblaze to train the apprentices."

Petalblaze nodded. Lightdawn, Orcamask, Ivyshade, Plumpaw, Mangopaw, and Pearpaw followed her out of camp. "Remember, fighting on the Sands is very different from hunting in the Grass Patch. It's harder, so you need to remain focused at all times." Petalblaze picked up her pace, the other cats copying her.

Plumpaw, Mangopaw, and Pearpaw raced around, loping around the group. At a nudge from Mangopaw, Peonypaw joined them, giggling and laughing.

⊹˚︵‿₊˚ʚ⭐️ɞ˚₊‿︵˚⊹

yet another chapter! thanks again to WishcIouds and my other friends for editing.

~do you think this peace will last?

~do you think peonypaw, poppypaw, and/or ivyshade are the antagonists?

~what will happen with the family as Cloudwish crumbles?

~who do you think said each of the quotes in the vigil section?

~do you think the tribe will do something to the training cats?

published: 06.25.21

edited: 08.02.21

word count: 1673