Chapter Text
TideClan Allegiance
Leader
Frondstar
Light blue-gray tabby pointed tom with white paws and dark amber eyes
Mentor to Starlingpaw
Deputy
Shellstrike
Large dark blue-gray tom with almost black legs, muzzle, and tail with white paws and storm blue eyes
Medicine Cat
Fognose
Small curly pale gray tabby she-cat with light blue eyes
Medicine Cat Apprentice
Goosefoot
Tall white tom with dark gray marbled tabby patches and light yellow eyes
Head Hunter
Gullwing
Pale silver tom with gull-like facial markings and green eyes
Mentor to Owlpaw
Head Huntress
Kestrelswoop
Fluffy spotted gray she-cat with yellow eyes
Head Fighter
Minnowtail
Blue-gray tabby tom with white patches and blue eyes
Head Fighter
Mossbranch
White she-cat with gray branch-like patch going down back with yellow eyes
Head Scout
Wolfsnout
Tall dark silver tabby tom with amber eyes
Head Scout
Violetcloud
Lilac pointed she-cat with yellow eyes
Ritual Keepers
Rooksky
White she-cat with pale gray tabby patches with amber eyes
Orchidblossom
Pale silver tabby with white paws, muzzle, tail-tip, with bright blue eyes
Raintuft
Ragged dark gray tom with dark blue eyes
Mentor to Plumpaw
Ripplefur
Marbled gray tom with amber eyes
Slatemask
Dark gray tom with a black mask and tail with blue eyes
Hunters
Snookfeather
White and dark gray spotted tom with yellow eyes
Shimmerpool
Solid silver she-cat with green eyes
Ashfern
Silver bengal tom with green eyes
Baywind
Curly pale silver tabby tom with amber eyes
Larkskip
Curly dark gray tom with light amber eyes
Mothnose
Silver bengal she-cat with green eyes
Mentor to Fernpaw
Fennelstripe
Dark gray tom with a pale silver stripe on his back with yellow eyes
Mistlecloud
White she-cat with silver tabby patches and amber eyes
Fighters
Stormstrike
Dark gray marbled tabby tom with light gray paws, chest, muzzle with dark blue eyes
Bluefern
Blue pointed tabby she-cat with blue eyes
Eelclaw
Dark gray tom with lighter spots and blue eyes
Breezecloud
Light gray tom with white cloud-shaped mark on chest with blue eyes
Mentor to Petalpaw
Ivytail
Pale mottled tabby tom with green eyes
Juniperheart
Marbled gray tabby tom with amber eyes
Cloverpatch
White she-cat with silver and dark gray patches and yellow eyes
Lilybrook
White she-cat with silver tabby patches and green eyes
Needlepelt
Mottled dark gray she-cat with amber eyes
Flintspark
Dark gray tom with black legs and tail with light yellow eyes
Mentor to Dapplepaw
Rubblepelt
Mottled dark gray tom with green eyes
Rushsong
Silver ticked tabby she-cat with blue eyes
Newtspeck
Blue-gray she-cat with darker spots and amber eyes
Scouts
Lichenfall
Pale gray tom with green eyes
Mentor to Echopaw
Nectarberry
Spotted gray she-cat with yellow eyes
Fawnheart
Tall pale gray she-cat with white spots and blue eyes
Featherfur
Fluffy silver tabby tom with amber eyes
Buzzardstorm
Dark gray marbled tabby tom with odd facial markings, white paws, chest, and muzzle with yellow eyes
Hailstorm
Light gray marbled tabby tom with white paws, chest, and muzzle with blue eyes
Queens
Creekfall
Gorgeous lilac lynx point she-cat with dazzling blue eyes
Mother to Riverkit(handsome lilac lynx point with blue eyes), Thunderkit(marbled dark gray tom with yellow eyes), Thrushkit(pale gray point tom with light blue eyes), and Tulipkit(pretty marbled silver tabby with white paws and chest with amber eyes)
Drizzledrop
Mottled blue-gray she-cat with blue eyes
Mother to Marshkit(solid dark gray tom with a short tail and green eyes), Longkit(tall dark gray tabby tom with green eyes), and Honeykit( blue-gray mottled she-kit with honey color eyes)
Silverfur
Beautiful long haired marbled silver tabby with white paws, chest, and muzzle with light yellow eyes
Mother to Mistkit(tall silver she-kit with dark gray legs, face, tail and white muzzle, chest, and paws with soft blue eyes), Swankit(pale gray she-kit with black muzzle, ear-tips, and paws with yellow eyes), Reedkit(tall dark blue-gray tom with light gray legs, face, and tail with white muzzle, chest, and paws with dark blue eyes), Pebblekit(small, pretty marbled silver tabby she-kit with white paws and chest and soft yellow eyes), and Dewkit(pale blue tabby pointed she-kit with and light blue eyes)
Wavepool
Curly blue furred she-cat with blue eyes, expecting
Apprentices
Starlingpaw
Handsome dappled gray tom with amber eyes
Dapplepaw
Pretty dappled gray she-cat with green eyes
Echopaw
Dark gray she-cat with black tabby markings and green eyes
Fernpaw
Mottled gray tom with amber eyes
Owlpaw
Mottled gray tom with yellow eyes
Petalpaw
Small ticked gray tom with blue eyes
Plumpaw
Ticked dark gray she-cat with blue eyes
Elders
Otterfang
Scarred dark gray tabby with large fangs and yellow eyes
Shorestep
Pale silver tabby and white she-cat with clouded green eyes
Ospreyshade
Blue-gray pointed she-cat with darker facial markings, scarred ears, and blue eyes
Pikesplash
A speckled gray tom with a large scar on his flank and orange eyes
Chapter One
A fern will rise where tides have fallen,
With paws of strength, her call will soften.
Through storms she’ll walk, with kin beside,
To heal the clan where shadows hide."
Mistkit stirred in her mother’s nest, feeling the warmth radiating off of both Silverfur and her siblings. Her odd dream had caused her to awake, a large yawn coming from her. She stretched out her long legs, unintentionally nudging her brother, Reedkit, with one of her paws. He let out a grumble, swatting at her a couple of times before returning to his slumber. She lifted up her nose, her ears instantly perking up as she could smell the scent of salt and dune grass, which could only mean one thing. Her father was approaching. The small kit let out another yawn before opening her soft blue eyes, her gaze landing upon the dark gray-blue dappled tom as he peered into the den. From the lighting she could assume it was just past dawn, the sunlight slowly creeping into the den.
“Well good morning, my little moon,” Shellstrike gently purred, bending down and licking her forehead.
“Good morning!” She squeaked back, sitting up quietly.
“You’re up early, what’s the occasion?” He pointed out, ears flicking with excitement.
“It’s our First Tide ceremony! How could you forget?” She mewed, tilting her head back so she could look up at him.
“Oh, that’s right. You’re quite the clever one, aren't you?” Her father said with a smile, and glanced over at Silverfur, who was beginning to wake up herself. The marbled tabby she-cat yawned, blinking open her pale yellow gaze and curling her tail around the rest of Mistkit’s siblings lovingly as they continued to sleep.
“She sure is, and I hope she uses it for good when she becomes an apprentice,” Her mother said in a teasing tone, licking one of her white paws and drawing it over her ears a few times.
Shellstrike let out a short chuckle, “I’m sure she will,” He said, giving Mistkit a subtle wink, “The tides are still a bit high, but they should be calming down soon according to Orchidblossom. It’s a perfect day for the ceremony.”
“Well, that’s good news. I was beginning to think we might have to postpone it due to that storm we had recently,” She replied, making sure to keep her voice soft so she didn’t wake up the other kits in the nursery. That was short-lived, as Riverkit and Tulipkit had already begun to wrestle in Creekfall’s nest, causing Drizzledrop’s kits to wake up as well as Mistkit’s siblings.
“So much for letting them sleep in today,” Shellstrike whispered to Silverfur, the two laughing softly.
“When are we going to the beach for our ceremony?” Reedkit asked immediately, walking through Shellstrike’s legs and purring as his jaw stretched into a large yawn.
“Soon, little one, soon,” Silverfur assured him, “after you’ve all gotten groomed and don’t look like little fur balls.”
Reedkit let out a groan, “Why? I thought our ancestors loved us no matter what we look like,” He retorted, ears flattening against his head.
“You’re correct, but you should still be presentable for the ceremony. You’re going to be in front of Frondstar and Fognose,” Shellstrike said to him sternly, “and don’t talk to your mother like that, she only wants the best for you and your siblings.”
“If you say so…” The young tom murmured, sitting down between their father’s paws.
“You’re so dramatic, Reedkit,” Swankit commented, flicking her tail as she sat up.
“Says you, Swankit, you freaked out over your paws getting muddy a few days ago,” Reedkit shot back, sticking out his tongue.
“Yeah, because you were the reason!” Her sister argued, tail lashing behind her in annoyance.
“You two need to learn how to get along, especially before you go to this ceremony. I won’t allow any fighting in front of the ancestors,” Silverfur ordered, her yellow gaze shifting back and forth between Swankit and Reedkit.
“Yes, mother…” The two kits said at the same time, hanging their heads in embarrassment.
Dewkit let out a grumble, awake, but keeping her eyes closed, “Can you two relax? You’re worse than Riverkit and Tulipkit sometimes.”
Mistkit giggled, nodding in agreement with her sister. The silver pointed she-cat let out a yelp as she felt paws on her back, whipping her head around to lock eyes with her youngest sister, Pebblekit. She began to laugh again, using a paw to softly bat at her ears.
“I was wondering when you were going to wake up! It’s about time,” Mistkit said with a purr.
“I’ve been awake since Shellstrike came in, I just wanted to surprise you,” Pebblekit chuckled, sitting next to her.
“Well then, if all of you are awake, I guess your father and I will make you presentable before your ceremony,” Silverfur stated, beginning to groom Mistkit’s ears since she was the closest to her. Shellstrike grabbed the reluctant Reedkit with a paw, knowing he would try and make a run for it and did the same to him.
While she was being groomed, Riverkit bounded over to Silverfur, his fluffy fur spiked up, "Can Mistkit play? Tulipkit isn't 'in the mood' to play, and I'm so bored," He whined, looking at her mother with round eyes.
"I'm afraid she's not able to play today, Riverkit, but I'm sure one of Drizzledrop kits would love to play when they wake up," The marbled tabby queen purred, gently nudging him away with her muzzle. Mistkit tried to protest, but her mother quickly returned to grooming her before she could even attempt to mutter a word. She glanced over, watching as he looked back at Mistkit sadly, tail drooping as he walked back to his nest reluctantly.
"How long is the ceremony going to take?" Pebblekit asked Siverfur, tail swaying behind her as she sat in front of them.
"I don't know, but it shouldn't be too long. We have to finish before sunset, though," Her mother replied calmly, "Your turn to get groomed, and Miskit, don't go playing with Riverkit. I don't want your fur to get all messed up," She mewed sternly.
"Yes, mother," Mistkit replied, a bit upset that she had to wait until her siblings were all finished before they could leave. She walked over to Riverkit's nest, purring softly as his eyes lit up when she approached.
"I thought you couldn't play!" He squealed, getting into a pouncing stance.
"I can't, but she never said we couldn't talk," She chuckled, swiping over one of his ears with a white paw.
"But that's not as fun," Her friend whined, rolling onto his back and staring up at her.
"I never said it was, but I don't just want to wait around while Silverfur grooms my siblings," She pointed out, and Riverkit shrugged in response.
"The First Tide ceremony isn't even /that/ interesting, I'm more excited for our warrior ceremonies!" He said while rolling back onto his stomach. Since he was a moon and a half older than her and her siblings, he had already gone through the ceremony. It didn't help that his father was Frondstar, so of course Riverkit and his siblings had no trouble passing their ceremonies with ease.
"Is it boring or something?" Mistkit asked, looking down at him.
"No-well, I mean, it's definitely more boring than the other ceremonies, but I didn't find it to be too fun," He admit, sitting up and shaking out his fur, although he did it carefully enough to not get any on her.
"Well, I can't really have too much of an opinion on it until I go, but I guess I'll let you know after I get back. If you're still up," She said teasingly, giggling as she saw Riverkit's ears flatten.
"You're so lucky I can't knock you to the ground right now," He muttered jokingly, glaring at her.
"Well, you could, but you'd get scolded for it," Mistkit said with a mischievous grin, knowing that he would get a talking to from not only his mother, but her's as well, and most likely Frondstar, too.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," He rolled his bright blue eyes, nudging his shoulder against hers.
"Mistkit! We're about to go and meet Frondstar, let's go!" Silverfur called, standing up in her nest and stretching her front legs out.
"I guess I gotta get going, I'll see you later," Mistkit said softly, sparing him a glance as she returned to her mother.
After the five kits were groomed, they exited the nursery together with their parents and into the camp clearing. Frondstar was waiting for the litter already, with Fognose sitting beside him patiently. Shellstrike exchanged excited glances with the two, his chin lifted with pride.
“Are you all ready?” Frondstar asked the kits, his dark amber eyes twinkling with excitement.
“We are!” The kits chorused, bright eyed and bushy-tailed.
“It seems you’re more excited than they are, Frondstar,” Silverfur commented, and the older cats each let out a mrrow of amusement.
“Well, as you would know, this is my favorite ceremony that I get to do as leader. It’s an honor to get to watch every kit in the Clan become an official member of TideClan. Plus, I get to learn more about them as well,” The leader responded eloquently, tail-tip curling upwards behind him, “If you’re all ready, I guess we better get a move on then. Perhaps we could hold a race to see who gets there first.”
All five kits glanced at each other, eyes filled with mischief. Before they even began running, Frondstar headed for the entrance, kicking up some sand behind him as he ran. Mistkit and Reedkit were the first to take off after him, followed by Swankit and Pebblekit, with Dewkit right on their heels. As they chased their leader, their parents calmly trotted behind them, talking and laughing softly to each other.
It didn’t take too long for the group to arrive at the beach, Frondstar skidding to a halt as he hit the sand. Mistkit and her siblings stopped abruptly, looking up at him for what was next to come. Part of the ceremony was that nobody was allowed to tell the kits what was to happen, and what they should do during it either. Frondstar waited for Fognose, Shellstrike, and Silverfur to catch up to them, looking down at Reedkit with a bright, excited amber gaze.
“You’re up first, Reedkit, as you’re the oldest,” He said in his soothing voice, tail wrapping around the small tom-kit as he guided him towards the waves. Mistkit’s whiskers twitched with curiosity, trying to get a peak of what she should expect, but Frondstar and Fognose's bodies shielded her from viewing any part of it. She glanced over to her sisters, who were trying to do the same. A few minutes passed, and Reedkit walked back triumphantly to their family, chest puffed out. She looked up at Frondstar, who was beckoning her to join him on the beach with his tail. She glanced back at her parents, who both gave her a reassuring nod. Shellstrike gave her a gentle smile and pointed his nose towards the sea, giving her the much needed encouragement to walk over to the leader and medicine-cat.
Her heartbeat quickened as she gulped down any fear that she felt as she stepped onto the warm sand. The silver pointed she-cat held her chin up as she approached the leader and medicine-cat, her tail swaying behind her with confidence. She managed to get a view of the beach behind them, a beautiful cove that was lined with tall black rocks with moss growing along them. She was so enamored by the scenery that she nearly ran into Fognose. Mistkit felt her pelt burning with embarrassment, looking up at the medicine-cat apologetically.
"I-I'm sorry, Fognose," She managed to get out, backing up a couple of steps.
"No need to apologize, little moon, it was merely an accident," The curly gray she-cat purred, using her tail to guide her towards Frondstar.
“Mistkit, stand with your tail to the tides, please,” He instructed, and she nodded before doing so.
“Like this?” She asked, head tilting back to meet his gaze.
“You’re doing great, don’t worry,” He smiled, and got up, placing one paw in the water before returning to his seat in front of her. He gently rested his wet paw on her forehead, “As the tides rise and fall, so too will you grow in strength and wisdom. May Moon-Seer guide your paws along the Silver Path.”
Mistkit dipped her head in appreciation, and when she raised it, there was a beautiful cone shell set in front of her. She flicked her ear, placing her paw on the shell and pulling it towards her body. Frondstar’s head tilted to the side ever so slightly, eyes glimmering with intrigue as he watched her. She bent down and touched her nose to the shell, and then used one of her tiny white paws to push it back to the blue tabby pointed tom with a kind smile. He smiled, giving her a nod of approval. She happened to catch a small exchange between Frondstar and Fognose, doing her best to think nothing of it.
“You may go and rejoin with your family, young Mistkit,” He purred, and Miskit was surprised at how quick the ritual was. She gave him a slightly confused look, tilting her head.
"Is that all?" She asked, her tone more confused than arrogant.
"Yes, that is all the Moon-Seer and the tides need to see from you. For now," Frondstar replied, rising to his paws.
The leader gently nudged her with his muzzle before she scurried off, but slowed her pace after hearing Frondstar and Goosefoot whispering as she left. She quickly glanced back, seeing the two were in an intimate conversation.
"She's definitely the one we were told about from the Moon-Seer," Fognose said, and her whiskers twitched anxiously. What could they mean by that? Did I do something I shouldn't have during the ceremony?
Once she made it back to the deep shore, she was met by Shellstrike and Silverfur, who were looking at her with admiration. She gazed up at her parents affectionately, Silverfur extending a paw and bringing her towards her.
"May the Moon and tides guide you well, little moon," She whispered, licking her forehead and placing her muzzle on her head softly.
Mistkit purred loudly, rubbing her head along her mother's leg.
She sat between Shellstrike's legs, watching as the rest of her siblings completed the ceremony. She smiled and cheered when each of them returned, her blue eyes filled with happiness, and a hint of anxiety. Although she was happy to have finished the ritual, she couldn't help but feel a heavy feeling in her chest regarding it.
It took awhile for all of her siblings to finish the ceremony, Frondstar and Fognose walking back with Pebblekit between them.
“Well, how did they all do?” Silverfur asked anxiously, her pale yellow eyes shifting between her each of her kits.
“They’ve all been blessed by the tides and the Moon-Seer herself, and there is no doubt in my mind they will live in harmony with the tides,” Frondstar smiled at their mother reassuringly, which earned a loud purr from the marbled silver queen.
“Thank the moon!” She whispered, pressing her muzzle against Shellstrike’s briefly, “I’m so proud of all of you,” She meowed with a wide smile, looking down at her kits with a loving gaze.
“I knew they would all pass,” Shellstrike responded, puffing his chest out confidently. He gave Silverfur a reassuring lick on both of her ears, pressing his muzzle into her cheek before turning his attention back to Frondstar.
“As did I. We should head back to camp, your kits must be tired. And I’m sure the other kits will be excited for their return,” The leader gave Mistkit’s parents a nod, but she could tell there was a bit of wary hidden in his gaze. She glanced between her siblings, but none of them seemed to notice Frondstar's concerned look to Shellstrike. They were all too focused on getting back to camp, as she could hear their grumbling bellies as well as her own. She began to feel a rush of anxiety within her chest, looking down at her paws as her thoughts began to whirl.
Did some of us not pass? Did I do something wrong? What's going to happen to us if we didn't pass? Will we have to leave TideClan?
Shellstrike seemed to understand this look immediately, responding with a short nod as to not warn Silverfur. The group set off for the camp, reaching the ravine not long before sunset had started. Mistkit yawned, walking near the back of the group as she wrestled with the worries in her mind. She tried to appreciate the wind blowing through the tall grass, but the nervousness still brewed within her stomach. She remained behind her siblings, Fognose carrying the rear to make sure none of the kits went astray. Since she was so focused in her thoughts, she barely noticed that her one of her siblings had appeared next to her. She almost jumped in surprise as Swankit began speaking, letting out a loud sigh.
“Do you know what we were supposed to do during the ritual at all?” Swankit asked, her black-tipped ears turning towards Mistkit as they neared the camp.
Mistkit shook her head, “I don’t know, but Frondstar and Fognose seemed awfully interested in how I handled the shell. He seemed surprised that I pawed it back to him.”
Swankit froze for a moment, glancing over at her, “I won’t lie, I barely touched it. I heard Fognose telling Silverfur one time that an apprentice touched one of those shells and got really sick afterwards,” She whispered, “he didn’t make it.”
She cringed as Swankit told her the story, and blinked at her in surprise, “That sounds awful, but I bet everything will be fine, Fognose wouldn't pick a shell that would let anything bad happen to us."
"I hope so, Frondstar kind of gave Fognose a weird look after what I did," Swankit mumbled the second part more quietly, not wanting to make her sister feel worried about the situation.
"I'm sure it will be fine, he said we all passed, didn't he?" Mistkit said, trying to reassure her sister.
"Yeah, he did."
As they reached the camp, many cats were gathered in the clearing to await the return of Mistkit's family. Several cats began to cheer, and she noticed sea thrift and hydrangea petals scattered across the floor. Despite her anxiety, a loud purr rumbled in her throat as she neared the center of the clearing, taking in the scent of flowers and the faces of the cats around her.
"Congratulations!" Echoed from all directions, which made her head constantly whip around to figure out the origin of where they were coming from. She dipped her head respectfully, and her siblings did the same, even Reedkit.
"Missy! How was it?"
She whipped her head around, almost nose-to-nose with Riverkit. The surprise almost made her jump, but she managed to keep her cool.
"Riv! You scared me!" She said with a laugh, "It was fine, I think I did well. Your father seemed interested in how I responded, so I hope I find out whatever that meant," She answered, her ears flicking around as the cheers continued.
"What did you do?" He asked, head tilting in interest.
"I pulled the shell towards me, then I gave it back to him," She responded nonchalantly, and Riverkit's eyes widened for a moment, "What? Does that mean something?"
"No-I mean-Yes-Well-I don't know exactly, but I remember Frondstar told me that kind of response to the shell hasn't happened in generations," He said softly, not trying to attract any awareness to their conversation.
"What do you mean? So, it means something, you just don't know what?" She questioned, her gaze peering into the fluffy tom.
"Yeah, but he wasn't talking to me. I overheard a conversation between him and my mother," He shuffled his paws.
Just as the two kits were talking, the crowd died down and Shellstrike followed Frondstar into his den silently. She glanced over at him, anxious for some kind of explanation to what it could mean.
"I'm sure you have lots of questions, but your guess is as good as mine. I couldn't hear the rest of their conversation," He said sadly, glancing towards his father's den.
"It has to mean something, otherwise Frondstar wouldn't have said anything about it," Mistkit protested, feeling uneasiness prickling along her pelt.