FireClan | Camp

FireClan’s camp is a raised hollow found deep in the pine forest, and seems to be the only area that isn’t covered in pine needles. The ground is packed hard from many generations of paws, though the rain can make it wet. Brambles and ivy conceal it from the rest of the forest, and a large, slightly jagged boulder at the centre of the camp called the Skyrock is where the leader calls meetings.
Warriors den: concealed into the brambles at the side of the camp.
Apprentices den: near to the warriors den, with ferns covering the outside.
Nursery: A hollow underneath a thorn bush, with thorns stripped off inside.
Medicine den: A surprisingly deep cave beneath two boulders,
Elders den: Within the roots of a pine tree, filled with dried pine needles.
Leaders den: near to the warriors den, in the roots and hollow of an old fallen pine.

Finchstar padded back into the camp with a large rat in his mouth, setting it on the thankfully full fresh-kill pile and glancing up at the skies as the shadows began to stretch across the camp. Is it too early to summon the Gathering patrol? he wondered, barely noticing the quiet chattering of his Clanmates as they naturally emerged from dens and back from training.

Tanglepath entered the camp, the sound of poppy seeds rattling against the seed pod he held in his jaws. The faint scent of sickness still lingered in his den, sending a shiver down his spine as he set the poppy on a shelf created by the stones in his den.

Blackpaw trudged back into camp, obviously growling to himself about something. He paused, nodding to Finchstar as he passed him, placing his own prey into the pile. He hadn’t caught much in his hunt, however, he was planning on trying to catch more to feed his clan tomorrow.

Nettlepaw trotted towards Blackpaw, tail curled over his back.
"Think Finchstar will let you go to the gathering with a catch like that?" the tom mused, his tone difficult to read.

“I don’t know, is he letting you go?” Blackpaw spoke begrudgingly his eyes narrowing at the other tom. He shook one of his paws, trying to get rid of the tightness of the muscles.

Ivyfire rested rather comfortably in a remaining patch of sunlight, tail flicking slowly over the ground. Her green eyes searched for Flintpaw, for a moment, before she opted to rise to her paws and actually search for her apprentice. 

Darkpetal slunk back into camp, seemingly trying to blend in with the camp wall so as not to be noticed. The rat in her jaws was rather plump, and she found herself feeling proud of her catch as she set it on the fresh kill pile. She raised her head, ears twitching while she glanced up at the sky. Her gaze then flickered to Finchstar. I wonder who he'll call to go with.

"Not sure," Nettlepaw mewed casually, leaning back on his haunches and settling in the dusty clearing, "I chased off a fox last week, so if he remember that I'm set for sure."

“Good for you. Maybe he’ll take notice of me after gushing about your fox.” He muttered, before his head twitched up, ears picking up as he listened to a bird fly overhead, automatically watching it to see if it was dangerous. However, he dropped his head after, as it had only been a pigeon. ‘I’m too jumpy. Need to train myself out of that.’

"Something spook you?" Nettlepaw purred teasingly, "Don't worry, I'll protect you from the deadly talons of that pigeon,"

“I’m not scared.” Blackpaw growled at Nettlepaw, narrowing his eyes at him. “I was merely checking if it was a hawk. You never know when one could appear and I don’t know, eat a kit?”

"Small hawk," Nettlepaw mused, shifting and standing back up. "I'm going to catch some sleep before the gathering, see you later,"

Blackpaw paused, his eyes narrowing as he huffed, licking the stiff muscles on his right paw. “See you later.”

Doespring laid on the ground, grooming her fur so it shone and looked sleek. The afternoon light was soft color, one of Doespring's favorites. She loved the times of leaf-fall before times got difficult and cold.

Cloudscorch finished her meal off to the side of the camp, feeling her pelt still warming even as the sun was setting. She looked up, noting Thorntail walking back into camp, and rolled her eyes a little to herself. 

Finchstar stood, padding over to the medicine den. “Anyone home?” he purred gently.

Tanglepath purred and turned to face Finchstar. "Excited for your first gathering as leader?" he mewed.

Finchstar shrugged a little. “It’ll be interesting, I think. I just wanted to ask if you were planning to attend?”

Flintpaw raised his head at the returning hunting patrol, eyes blinking blearily and slowly. The fog over his mind slowly cleared as Blackpaw walked away from Nettlepaw. He stood, tail flicking slightly and searching for Ivyfire in the crowd. As soon as his eyes met with the she-cat's, he brightenned up instantly. "Ivyfire! Are you going to the gathering?"

Ivyfire trotted over to her apprentice, fluffy tail flicking behind her. She purred and nudged the top of his head with her nose. "I don't know. Finchstar hasn't called anyone for it yet," she mewed, sitting down and wrapping her tail around her paws.

"Why wouldn't I?" Tanglepath mewed, "I am our medicine cat, after all. Besides, I feel like getting out of this musty den will be good for me."

Flintpaw frowned slightly, nodding. He still hadn't gone to a gathering yet, and he was hoping that this might be his first.

Leopardpaw placed her fat mouse on the fresh kill pile in triumph. She looked around for her mentor to show him what she caught, pride blooming in her chest.

Finchstar nodded. "Just checking," he dipped his head respectfully, then walked out. I should call a meeting...

Tanglepath watched the leader leave the den for a moment, then shook his head and returned to looking at the herb shelves. Think medicine cat thoughts, he reminded himself.

Thorntail padded back into camp from the dirtplace, shaking his pelt out as he felt a pine needle catch in it. He made his way over to the fresh kill pile, mind wandering.

Nettlepaw saw his mentor enter camp and slunk out of the apprentice's den. "Hey," he mewed casually.

"Oh, there you are," Thorntail brightened when he saw his apprentice. "Are you ready to go to the Gathering?"

"Do you know I'm going?" Nettlepaw mewed, his normally cool voice tinted with curiosity.

Martenstrike scanned the clearing for his apprentice.

Thorntail's whiskers twitched. "I hope so. You haven't misbehaved."

"When do you think Finchstar will call the meeting?" Nettlepaw mewed, watching the nervous leader make his way across camp.

Flickermask dropped down a squirrel in the fresh-kill pile, nodding to his brother. He pondered on who Finchstar would call for the gathering, hoping he was called.

Leopardpaw noticed a flash of spotty black at the corner of her eye. She padded over to Martenstrike, face bright. "M-Martenstrike! I caught a huge mouse! Come see!"

Flintpaw frowned when he saw Blackpaw. He said a quick 'see you later' to Ivyfire before running off in his older brother's direction. "Blackpaw!"

Martenstrike padded to the fresh kill pile, spotting the plump mouse lying at its side and licking his lips. "Looks tasty," he mewed.

Darkpetal made a point to avoid Bushberry as the she-cat padded out from the warrior's den, striped tail swaying behind her. The ebony warrior frowned, picking up a rat from the fresh kill pile and settling down to eat. 

Bushberry flicked her ears when she heard Flintpaw, following his line of sight to her apprentice. Quietly, she padded over to them.

Blackpaw walked over to his mentor, looking at her as he walked beside her. “Looking forwards to the gathering?” He asked her, eyes seeking out Nettlepaw from where he was standing.

Finchstar watched the Clan chatting quietly, then padded up to the Skyrock and leaped on top of it. "Let all cats old enough to climb the volcano gather beneath the Skyrock for a Clan meeting!" He immediately regretted it, however, noting that half of the cats were eating and sighing a little to himself.

Tanglepath padded to the base of the Skyrock and shot him a supportive smile.
Nettlepaw looked up from his conversation, muttering "Answer is now I guess," and purring under his breath.
Martenstrike grumbled in annoyance, flicking his tail to Leopardpaw and padding to the base of the Skyrock.

Agatepaw almost jumped out of his fur, walking up to the Skyrock with pride.

Flickermask walked in silence to the Skyrock, sitting down next to his brother.

Lionstream looked up from where he had just finished eating, his eyes staring towards his leader as he stood, walking towards them.

Stealthwater followed his brother.

Blackpaw paused, looking at his mentor, before sighing. “Guess we will find out now.”

Flintpaw deflated at the obvious ignoring Blackpaw aimed at him. He sat near the back of the crowd, eyes drooping sadly.

Leopardpaw smiled and trotted behind Martenstrike, sitting down beside him.

Blackpaw paused, looking around for someone to sit by, other then his mentor, when he spied his younger brother sitting at the edge of the crowd, immediately moving towards him, away from his mentor. He sat next to his brother, touching his shoulder with his nose in greeting.

Flintpaw, who was lost in his thoughts jumped at the slight touch before catching himself and letting out a breath of relief. "Hey Blackpaw." he whispered, staring up at the leader.

Cloudscorch looked up from her spot, stretching before padding over. She nodded to Thorntail before sitting beside her fellow warrior, settling in to look up at the leader.
Thorntail glanced at Nettlepaw, making sure they weren't going to misbehave, before also looking up.

Finchstar hesitated, waiting for more cats to gather before he spoke.

Darkpetal took a seat at the back of the crowd, curling her tail tightly around her paws. Bushberry was well ahead of her, sitting near her mate. 

Ivyfire settled down, watching Finchstar expectantly.

Doespring stood and padded over to the gathering group of cats and looked up expectantly at Finchstar. Is this about the gathering? she wondered. She shook out her fur and sat down, curling her tail around her paws.

Ooc: Brindlestripe is just sorta hovering in the abyss until I know what to do with her

Tanglepath looked up expectantly at Finchstar, clearing his throat and switching his tail. Stop hesitating, mousebrain.

The leader took a breath, sighing gently. "{Insert deputies here}, Thorntail, Darkpetal, Ivyfire, Tanglepath, Gullpaw, Nettlepaw, Blackpaw, Littlelily, Flintpaw, Coldstream, Flickermask, Agatepaw...and Doespring," he listed off the names in a slight rush. "The rest of you can stay and guard the camp."

Tanglepath purred and flicked his tail. 
Nettlepaw shot a grin Blackpaw's way.
Martenclaw sighed. Not like I'd have anyone to talk to there.

Flintpaw grinned and nudged Blackpaw.

Leopardpaw sighed disappointedly. "Darn. Maybe next time," she mumbled, pawing the dirt.

Blackpaw grinned at his brother, excitement for the gathering overclouding his personality, however the grin turned into a scowl when he saw Nettlepaw.

"Don't worry, we can do night battle training while they're away," Martenstrike mewed, trying to cheer up his apprentice.

Nettlepaw swaggered over to Blackpaw and Flintpaw. "Excited?" he mewed.