Join us in an exciting story full of twists, new discoveries, a rich mythology and the search of what lays at the core of the Clans of the mountain. After sealing a pact with two fickle gods, Helios of the Sun and Aletheia of the Moon, twin clans live under the shadow of their pact, and the price paid to live another day.
YOU CAN APPRECIATE THE LIGHT... BUT BEFORE THAT, YOU MUST KNOW DARKNESS.
The Sun and Moon rain down chaos and tragedy over the Clans, as punishment for crimes finally revealed. Tension rises between both groups as they're forced out of their homes, and a call from the past haunts those with enough sense to listen.
Midday collums of delicate sunlight seeped their luminous arms through overhanging foliage, casting dappled radiance around the Clearing. Aside from the sun's warm rays there was a rather small weather phenomena occuring, partially cloudy skies drizzled their little abundance. It was rather interesting to witness such a mixed spectacle of golden hour and light rain, refreshing from Zinniasplash's perspective. Watching as the clouds unfolded their dreary arms the large tom found himself with a soft smile, nose twitching ever so slightly as sweet scents welcomed his senses. There were felines who despised events like rain, and others that danced through downpours and if Zinniasplash were to box himself into either category he would be out there. Flipping and twirling within the tears of heaven, much like the kits across the camp grounds were doing.
Water was a reoccurrence filtering around the Sunclanner's life cycle, as if he were perched atop an island and it swirled around him aimlessly. It guided his path towards adulthood even if it nearly drowned him early on in curious apprentice-hood. Water gave the splattered tom his vibrant warrior name, it flourished his parched body when it slowed from rare dehydration. Spatters generously coated the remaining upright hairs atop Zinniasplash's dome, lathering said pelt in a sheen of glossy layers until it soaked to thirsty roots. Was he a plant? One could definitely believe this theory, if only underbrush spoke and strode around as felines did. Perhaps the male would fit in better that way among lilies and fire-flowers, that's where his future plans belonged that day.
Passing by the gaggle of kits who bursted with laughter Zinniasplash decided he too would join them. Their mothers would surely ring their little necks seeing them covered head to toe in mud as they entertained a puddle they had found near their den. Dipping a toe in the frosty water sent shivers up the tom's digits, but his smile matched the grubby kits all the same. He was in fact rather fond of the idea growing within his temple, maybe one day he could father a litter? Would it be hard to do so? Couples bearing young seemed a little sparse these days, even so Sunclan bundles of joy were becoming somewhat difficult to handle.
The light rain outside that started in the morning time was going on now through mid-day. Already the silver-grey long furred she-cat had been hunting and had managed to bring back a small fish from the river, which she left in the fresh-kill pile. Now Streamsong was visiting one of her best friends Pansypelt in the nursery, it was just a matter of weeks before her friends’ kits would be born into the clan, and she was excited for her friend. New life would bring joy to every Sunclan cat with the arrival of the littles. Spending a good majority of her time in the nursery, just sharing the daily duties that the queen was missing out on and spilling all the newfound drama in the camp. Streamsong, gave an affectionate flick of her tail over Pansypelt’s ears before, getting up from her comfortable spot on the ground. “If I stay any longer, I might as well move into the nursery with you. I’ll visit you tomorrow though and maybe we can babysit more kits together hmmm?” offering the idea with a louder purr that escaped out, hoping to cheer up her friend that had been quite lonely in the den without any mate to come check in on.
Streamsong, at least exiting out of the den and flattening her ears as the light drizzle began to hit her fluffy silver-grey tabby pelt. Blinking her hazel eyes as she ducked her head down and set off a trot to where the warrior’s den was. Not getting very far before, her head made a harsh contact with a harder yet soft object, that made her entire larger body weight fall foreword. “Gahhh!!! Ahhh nooo noo!” attempting to brace herself as her paws fell out from under her, as her own paws tripped over the poor cat she had ran into. “I’m-I’m sorry!” apologizing profusely for tripping into a clanmate as she moved her head only, to end up with her nose hitting her poor clanmate again, with a heated blush now forming under her thick pelt in an embarrassment that was washing over her. Streamsong closing her hazel eyes, as she gulped once, before looking down to see her clanmate she had heard of named Zinniasplash in the clan. “Oh gosh…did…did I hurt you? Are-Are you-you, okay?” asking the question with the anxiety now rolling in the pit of her stomach and hoping the tom was alright.
Perhaps the male was a bad influence for kits, but a splendid ally when it came to mischief. As of now he had taught the young ones art of play, splashing one another with the contents of the puddle, coating their little pelts in mottled chocolate. Could one blame the male for coaxing such childish things? Soon their little lives would be trained for war, too soon did their youthful months flicker by. Few adults indulged feverish thoughts as Zinniasplash did, he never wasted seconds to not live in the moment. Enjoying meager things most would mostly look over in order to fullfil their warrior duties, naturally it got him in trouble for becoming slacked like this.
A steady glob of mud glistened between the tom's pudgy toes, ready to land another gentle mud toss before his world was rocked sideways. Quite alike Zinnia's calling the tom landed with a lovely sable splash, his body collided with two temperature shifts. One being the lukewarm puddle he nearly missed and the other electrifying such heat he had yet to understand. Giggling arose in sets from the kits little maws before they buckled and sprung away to avoid being blanketed with more mud. Their little forms eventually disappeared one by one as they were drawn back to safety of the Nursery, lassoed solely by the wrathful eye of their mother. Light scolding drifted across the clearing in hushed waves, filtering in through drizzles as Zinniasplash guided his mirrors upwards as what toppled his large frame. An individual rain drop landed squarely atop the grounded tom's dome causing reflective blinking as the image above cleared. Vague familiarity dripped vertically, meeting the Sunclanner's gaze as the molly resting on him stammered. Zinniasplash was merely about to speak until their noses roughly met on pure coincidence, aftermath arose on the large male's features without hesitation.
Blush crept like vines along his pale cheek bones as Streamsong murred in apology, quickly the tom cleared any problems arising between the duo. "Oh no-no you're absolutely fine! I mean I'm okay I promise!-" Zinniasplash began a string of his own broken sentences out of pure shock. Had his first kiss been stolen by mere accident? Seeping upwards seeking to steal warmth from the fibers of the tom's fur the mixture of sodden earth traveled. Oh Helios he must look a fool yes? Roughly expelling the frog from his throat Zinniasplash clung back onto speaking, "I uh- have we met before? I swear I saw you at the Festival not too long ago." A measly concerned breath escaped his chest in worry, "Oh no I am so sorry- I got your pelt all muddy!" Sure enough the impact of both their bodies had been just the right kind of friction to stir the mud onto both their embodiment's, painting his mostly ivory pelt until unrecognizable. Streamsong's underbelly was drenched with speckles of mud gracing her, rather lovely, expression she wore in fazed manner.
The hot embarrassment that was still coursing throughout her entire pelt, only intensified when the muddy tom started to speak. Still feeling the guilt of landing on the tom her ears pinned back against her skull with a shake of her head. ‘Great he knows who I am in the clan. The tripper of Sunclan that just landed on him.’ The thought making her tilt her head with her whiskers twitching in the curiosity to make absolute sure that the tom wasn’t injured from her clumsiness. “So, you are okay…. promise to me that you’re okay and I didn’t hurt you?” the concern taking over her voice as she lowered her muzzle to gently touch the tip of his ear in the concern that was paralyzing her still over the tom. Streamsong, breathing in a small breath of the air around her that still felt hard to do from all the anxiety that was causing her to freeze up. “Y-y-yeah I’m Streamsong….i was at the last festival and was in the sparing match against Heavystrike. I did give him a few blows and a headache but, if you were watching you saw me get knocked out. No-Not my proudest moment by far but, this isn’t my proudest moment either.” Apologizing again for knocking over Zinniasplash.
The words finally registering in her brain about her own clean pelt getting dirty with the mud that was now coating her underbelly and making a series of small tangles form in her long fur. Shaking her head once more, to reassure the tom she was fine with her own pelt getting dirty. “Since when has mud killed anyone? I’m more concerned about you right now and how your still talking. Are you sure you aren’t hurt or aren’t like dying?” the concern edging back into her voice as she lowered her head back down to gently nudge Zinniasplash’s cheek to make sure he was okay.Streamsong, finally realizing she was still on the tom, made a quick movement to ease the heavy weight she had on top of him. The silver-grey and muddy she-cat took a few breaths into her body to keep calm while, her body gave an involuntary shake, recovering from the fall ontop of her clanmate. “I totally owe you the next fish that I catch from the river.” A half giggle escaping in her own attempt to ease her nerves.
Dimming beams of light timidly poked their prying eyes through Streamsong's muddied pelt, few of those illuminated strands graced the nervous smile Zinniasplash cozied himself into. One collum of light bore itself along the edges of his left eye, causing the pupil to recede and allowing hidden azure to flow from curious cornea. Streamsong's frame was darkened from the sun's contrast, aside from the radiance around them, trickling in little waves within the mud puddle, Streamsong's embarrassed expression wasn't available to his view. Though that didn't mean Zinniasplash couldn't pick up on the register in his fellow clan mates tone, or the fear scent she was clearly letting off. This conversation was quite cute to the tom considering even how it was brought to life. Patting pudgy paws along dirtied pelt coils the tom checked himself to see if he was intact. "I believe everything is here-" azure mirrors slid upwards to meet the hidden optics of the molly in an interesting manner, "-yep not one piece outta place."
"Though this puddle is gonna swallow me hole if I don't get up soon-" nervous wisps of laughter bounced playfully off Zinniasplash's lips. It wasn't intended in illness towards the she-cat, the prolonged company of muddy water was no longer welcoming as it had been a few minutes prior. Now it was too chilly. Raising himself gently from underneath the femme's equal weight Zinniasplash slightly lost his balance to the slippery terrain. Catching himself the tom positioned himself to view Streamsong's person in the sunlight. "Oh boy I really splashed ya huh?" wild rows of mud collided with both parties but Zinniasplash could see the variety of sable along the other warriors stripes, "It sort of compliments the browns you have- I MEAN I don't mean that rudely!" Lying flat the tom's lanky ears mimicked Streamsong's, it seemed they were both fueled by shyness.
Flashes of memory sparked like fireflies and soon Zinniasplash was brimming with excitement once again, "Ah but still you went up against such a scary opponent! I think that's impressive! Honestly I would have been geeking out over standing next to Heavystrike he gives me...unsettling vibes." Loose beads relieved themselves from Zinniasplash's pelt as he shook the entirety of his form, ridding most of the mud but this action left his coiled fur spiked. "Well we do need to wash up and tongues can't really finish this job, would take forever yeah? Maybe I could take you up on that fishing offer? I'm sure a little water would clean us up. Waddya say?" Sheepishly Zinniasplash opened his own offer, hopeful Streamsong would be willing enough to at least take a little stroll with him.
The silver-grey long haired she-cat inhaled a nervous breath of air into her lungs as she listened to Zinniasplash comment on how dirty she was from the mud puddle that the tom had splashed onto her. Streamsong adverting her hazel eyes down to her belly to look at the hardening mud that was caked down there. ‘I’m glad that I didn’t actually hurt him but, I still feel bad that I caused him to get dirty.’ The thought entering her brain as she adverted her eyes down to her paws that she was unknowingly scuffling on the ground to help calm the anxiety that was stirring up inside the pit of her stomach.
Streamsong looking back up to contact the brown and white tom that had made the comment about sparring with Heavystrike and how she should be proud. “He wasn’t that scary to fight with. Do I give you unsettling vibes with me being bigger than most she-cats in the clan?” tilting her head with the question as she slowly raised herself to stand to show her larger height to her clanmate. Flickering her ears foreword at idea to go fishing now to help clean off both of their pelts. “I’m not doing anything and it’s better than standing here letting the rest of the mud harden on us.” The silver-grey tabby nodding her head once with a light purr escaping out of her throat as she moved her paws into a trot and pivoting to where the entrance of the camp was.
Streamsong beginning to lead the way to where the river was in the Sunclan territory. The river was a sort of calming place for the she-cat to go there and just be one with the water. It served as her haven in the Green-leaf weather that often made it feel like her fur was melting. Slowing down to a walk as her paw pads crunched on the leaves below now with the early leaf-fall that was settling over. “So Zinniasplash do you always splash mud on other’s or was I just the lucky one today” a small giggle escaping as she asked the question and then scanned her hazel eyes ahead where the river was coming into view. “I hope you know I’m not the best hunter but, if a fish tries to attack you. I can put it back in its place.” Streamsong nodding her head with a simple tail flick behind her as she started walking down the small embankment to get to the river.
Clear as day excitement expanded across Zinniasplash's features, vividly the warrior began to express his joy, "Ah! I'm very glad you're willing to go, I can't wait to show you my favorite spot it has everything you would possibly want to look at." Crisp autumn air hardened the mud along his ivory fur in spikes as he followed suit after Streamsong's lead. Trotting to catch up to the molly his stubbed tail bobbed to and fro in a broad case of euphoria, he did very much enjoy visits to outside horizons. Especially to the river he frequently visited, it had all the best sights after all. But the one thing Zinniasplash loved about his little hidden spot was the company he could bring once in a while. Most of the time it was apprentices hoping to learn secret fishing techniques, other moments he was captivated by other warriors opening up about their day as they watched him swim for a tad bit.
However Streamsong's insecurity rose through her previous question, and like a flash Zinniasplash was quick to response, "Quite the opposite really I like seeing a gal who can handle her own. Size really isn't intimidating to me, just means that you're more to love." A cheeky smile rounded the males lips, he was known in the camp for being coy from time to time but it didn't hurt trying to alleviate others mental burdens. "Your stature has nothing wrong with it, I think you're rather lovely so you don't need to compare yourself to others, if you do you loose that uniqueness to yourself."
Casting a bashful eye the mollies way Zinniasplash took the opportunity to really soak her features up. She was, really pretty. "Ah, no not typically but I am very glad you're the one I splashed today. I'm curious to see what is underneath all the mud if I'm being really honest." Subtle leaves crunched under foot as the duo escaped camp's confinements, the drizzling of rain caused nostalgic serotonin which was fueled by Falls comforting atmosphere. "What about you? Do you normally land on everyone or am I just special?" Quirking a thick brow Zinniasplash let out a humbled huff of air, so far they spoke easily around one another even though they had just formally met a few minutes prior.
Streamsong flickered her ears back with a nervous giggle that escaped out of her throat when her clanmate began to tell her that he wasn’t scared of her and in fact was encouraging her to be herself. That was rare as not many of her friends complimented her size and wanted her to be herself except for Pansypelt who was one of her friends since Apprentice hood. “Thank you for saying all of that Zinnasplash. I do try to be positive about my bigger size but, It’s hard at times. Today is just one of them where I feel bad that my clumsy big paws knocked you down.” Another wave of embarrassment washing over her as the thick furred warrior soon heard the falls ahead, now letting the brown and white tom lead the way to his secret spot. Opening down to the water’s edge where the shallow stream was that, formed into a small pond at the other side.
Blinking her hazel eyes as she let them scan around the clearing to take everything in. Hearing the question that Zinniasplash asked about if she had a habit of tripping into just anyone or was, he the only lucky one. “Hmmm I think that you’re the lucky one for today because. I have tripped over my friend Pansypelt before, in the nursery. Tripping over a queen in the nursery is rather frowned upon.” Streamsong letting out a giggle with the hot and uncomftertable feeling nagging deeper into pelt, or perhaps it was the hardened mud that was irritating her underbelly. Whatever the cause was, she knew for certain that she wanted to rid the burning feeling in her skin. “Ohhhh trust me mister mud slinger you’ll see my thick fur in a minute, that’ll be a fluffy mess when I’m dry again.” Nodding her head with a small smile forming onto her facial features, then padding foreword to test out her front paws in the cold water.
A moment of relief hitting her paw paws, with the icy cold water making her pelt cool down from the heated feeling. Slowly, but surely, edging out into the water to submerge her underbelly in the river in attempt to get the mud off. “I will never say no to swimming in the stream, especially in the Green-leaf. One thing about long fur is that I die. How I wish to have your short fur. But it does have the advantages in the Leaf-bare” nodding gently, as she raised one paw up from the water, and then back down to give a simple splash and give a rippling effect across the surface. Inhaling a deep breath of the air around her before, dunking her head under to fully make her entire body wet with the water. Streamsong dipping her head back as she gave another quick shake to it, sending water droplets to fly everywhere, being oblivious to the tufts of fur that were now sticking up around her face.
Zinniasplash quirked a mischievous brow as the femme spoke, "Well I am pretty sure your friend doesn't mind the company at least, I hear the nursery is getting quite cramped anyways." Each hesitant gulp of air Streamsong swallowed down like a nasty herb in regards to her appearance or clumsy manners, was instantly brought back up into a more positive tone by Zinniasplash. He did his best to set examples of the less bleak outcomes of life, aiding clanmates in self reassuring tones and unearthing one's love to themselves. Call this male a little guru of some sorts really. "No need to thank me dear, sometimes we just need help with seeing how truly worthy we are to ourselves."
Bubbles bursted within range, only one devine source could produce such noises, and Zinniasplash bounded towards the shore line. Unable to resist jumping straight into the water, he did just so, gatherings of disturbed dragonflies zinged their lives away immediately. Melting into the chilly drink Zinniasplash submerged himself and allowed tempered currents to cleanse away spiked collums of debris. Gingerly cracking open his azure mirror's left the tom breathless as he soaked in the underwater scenes, everywhere he looked wonder took him. Suddenly breaking the waters rippling seal Zinniasplash murred his voice to the God's above, "Oh how I wish to be a fish!" Twas true, make him a little swimming creature, waterlogged ears narrowly unplugged from their holds of the water as he shook his head feverishly.
Streamsong's flowing stripes appeared like ribbons amongst waters grasp, drawing in the male as he swam over to the molly. "Not ignoring everything you just said but if I so happen to be turned fish would you catch me?" Pausing the male dunked his skull half way into the liquid, a nice brisk sting met his tender skin as he waited for the mollies reaction. People did and said dumb childish things when they were attempting to come off as playful or alluring. Zinniasplash was just himself. Dumb but alluring in some case. Mostly dumb, but never did the male resort to calling himself such. The mixture of rain sprinkling down atop the duo of wet felines lightened somewhat as the clouds began to cast their arms elsewhere, sunlight met the two. "I can understand you coming here when the weather is unbearable, water really helps in any situation unless it's frozen." Another brief pause and the male began to study his surroundings, "I'm not a fan when the river is taken by Leaf-Bare, it's cold as well and my pelt doesn't grow very much so I linger inside the camp or dens. It always gets too stuffy."
The cold water continued to flow all around the silver-gray she-cat as she ducked her head back under the water once more, before blinking her hazel eyes to where Zinniasplash was swimming to her, now that she could see the darker orange and white tom’s fur that wasn’t covered in the mud that, she splashed, the tom looked alluring. ‘Snap out of it. He’s a clanmate and a new friend.’ The thought making her blink her eyes once as they narrowed onto the tom once more. Flickering her ears at the joking comment he made about if she would catch him if he was a fish. “Mmm that depends on if you were a nice fish. If you were nice I wouldn’t but if you were mean then, yes I’d catch you.” A giggle sounding out as she raised one paw in the cold water to gently splash at the tom near her. “I think both of our pelts are unique and we should embrace them. Even though it kills me in the hotter weather.” Nodding once with a small smile forming onto her muzzle. Streamsong, slowly paddled her way to the shore, stepping out and shaking out her long thick fur, that made her look slightly smaller than she was. “Now is it time for me to catch these fish…. or do you want to herd them to me, and I can attempt to get one?” offering the simple plan with a flick of her tail at the tom.
Raising one paw to gingerly lick it and then rubbing it over her face to get the water out of her eyes. Streamsong, standing up again, to shake out her wet fur, as she pivoted around to go back to the water’s edge and crouch down. Looking at Zinniasplash once, before looking back towards the water, with a slow breath of air escaping out. “I’m not going to mess up the hunt this time.” Mumbling the half promise to herself to not mess up anything like she did with Fallingstar on the last hunt she went with the tom on, which resulted with her in the water, from attempting to catch two fish at once. “Just find a fish and herd it this way!” meowing out the simple command but, trying not to sound too bossy to her friend.
Lively water droplets traveled down Zinniasplash’s limbs, their touch was cold and transparent in nature. Oncoming Leafall enveloped the male’s lean frame as a blanket of moss would, but this was more chilling than the warmth those vibrant green strands could produce. Escaping from the waters clutches the warrior found himself shedding loose droplets with a hearty shake, a clean pelt now watered stationary grounds beneath the tom. “This air is giving me fish scales-” Zinniasplash commented lightheartedly while goosebumps raised delicately just below his ivory fur. “When I went under I swear on the God’s there was a cluster of fish just begging to be snatched up over here-” while Streamsong remained where her paws leeched to the terrain Zinniasplash sauntered off near the adjacent shoreline. Eyes that mimicked shards of azure skies skimmed the river’s surface like a skipping stone.
It took only a few moments before the dark schooling of fish he’d previously mentioned came into view. Their movements were shy as if riddled with anxious thoughts, they honestly were right about being paranoid. Zinniasplash’s frame lowered instinctively, aware that his looming shadow could potentially ward off their prey. Haunches coiled like a round up spring, tensing up just enough for the male to really feel that pent up burn just before the great explosion. Erupt he did, the river burst into a lively scene of fish breaking their instinct to swim and instead ascended into flight. Ricocheted from their little worlds the prey found their motivation to survive by avoiding Zinniasplash, the path opening up towards an awating Streamsong.
Their plan was expanding, few fish took better judgment, narrowly skirting past Zinniasplash all together to see another day. Softly the coy tom grinned under the water's surface, he could see their forms traveling in multiple directions until a cool haze muted the scales off of their bodies. Lifting his skull from the damned body of water Zinniasplash gasped a breath of fresh air to see if their little trick had succeded.
The cold leaf-bare wind was starting to make the silver-grey long-haired tabby she-cat shake some of the water that was clinging to the outside of her pelt. But, oh how refreshing it had been to swim in the little secluded spot in the river that her friend took her too. “Maybe I should run into others more often if it means going for a swim.” A purr rumbling out with the happy mood she was in. Streamsong, shaking her head to focus back on the brown and white tom who had dived and disappeared under the water for a couple seconds. ‘Where is he? He should be coming up for air soon, right? Is he drowning?” the questions mulling over in a anxiety as she waited with her paws moving forward in a slight anxiety was rippling over her entire body for her friend’s safety. Exhaling a breath of relief when Zinniasplash’s head broke through the water’s surface as she realized the tom was now herding the fish that were now swimming in different directions close to her.
Streamsong, automatically half lowering her body into the water, with her hazel eyes locking onto the shadows that swam close to the surface. All the muscles tensing up like a spring waiting for be released, as the she-cat finally lurched forward, with a half pounce, with her head diving under the water to clamp her jaws around a fish, while one paw scooped up another fish to throw it onto the dry land. Streamsong, pulling up from the water with her eyes closed while, tightening her teeth on the fish that kept flopping in her mouth. Slowly the fish stopped its movements in her mouth, while the fish on land kept flopping. Streamsong, carried the fish to the land, then dropping it while shaking out her thick pelt again. Blinking her eyes at the fish that was now slowly moving on the land close to her paw, taking it and slamming her paw down to effectively kill it. Now the she-cat could take in some air into her smaller lungs, after she extorted herself. “I- I think we make a pretty good team with this fish catching.” a teasing tone escaping as she shook out the water once more, before sitting back down onto her haunces, while pulling up one paw to rasp her tongue over it, then moving it over head in an attempt to dry her face.
