The Safeguard
The Safeguard of the Echoing Valley lives in Aspen Hollow, a pretty little copse at the base of the mountains. Just above their camp, on a bare stretch up the mountains, are The Weather-Stones, a group of boulders that provide shelter during bad weather. A small stream flows near camp, known as Dusty Beck. It flows into Thistledown River, which flows south. Some features include :
- Fishthief Creek : a small tributary, home to a creature called 'fishthieves' by the locals (fishers)
- Sweetwater Meadows : a wildflower field that sometimes floods when it rains or Thistledown becomes choked
- Whistle Wash : a dry creek trail that leads to the springs; unable to be used when it rains; empties into Fishthief
- Old Bridle Path : an old trail through Sweetwater that leads to the Colony's territory
- Grassy Glade : A small hollow on the edge of the aspen copse. It is surrounded by thick ferns and thickets, but filled
in the center with long, soft grass. Used as a training hollow for apprentices.
- Bluebell Bend : a vast expanse of wildflowers fields that fill a small oxbow lake just off a bend of Thistledown River. Revered for its high content of herbs and small prey
- Halfway Thicket : a small copse downriver full of old oaks and maples that marks the halfway point to the Moonstone
- Yipping Ridge : an off-limits area near the west side of the mountain-base, where the coyote pack lives
Pictured Below : Rattlerstar and Hickoryplume's kits, Eveningheart, Firesong, and Brightwater
Each are depicted in ways that represent who they become.
Eveningheart is like the wind; sometimes he is warm and gentle, sometimes he is cold and bitter. But even when he's not seen, they know he is always there. He would go on to live in the Colony after a falling out between himself and his family.
Firesong is like fire. Easily doused by water or blown out by wind, she finds her brothers' opinions to be very important. She is warm and passion burns in her - she just needs enough encouragement to feed the spark. Once she is alight, she shines brightly to all around her.
Though water can be harsh, Brightwater is more like a creek. There, the water bubbles and bounces, rolls with the land and takes the curves slowly. He is like swimming on a hot greenleaf day, fishing from the big holes, or enjoying a day near a free and easy stream.
Additionally here is Pickerelfrost and Sagelight's kits. Their first litter is Fenstone and Moorlily, who would go on to not only help the original Clans be rid of Graybone, but also help the newfound Colony gain traction in the Valley.
Below them is the second litter of Havenshade and Warrenwhisker. They were born after the fight against Graybone and are part of the Clan cats who leave to jumpstart the Clan in the mountains. They become part of a young Clan of the Northern River, alongside many of the Clans' younger cats.
