#frostfur knows best

[redux-iterum]

Charred Legacy: Chapter Thirty-Three

(AO3 counterpart here.)

Bluestar was not informed about the dogs that night. In fact, no one spoke to her except Fireheart and Whitecloud. That was probably for the best.

“Still, we should keep her in camp,” Fireheart said to Whitecloud as he returned from the leader’s den. “What if she tries to go out and we’re not there to stop her?”

Whitecloud gave him a look that he didn’t quite know how to interpret, but he said, “That’s a sound idea. Let me and Speckletail decide where to put her, though.”

Fireheart thought that was perfectly fine, until the tom came into camp with Bluestar staggering along behind him. She was escorted to the elder’s den. No one remarked on this.

The night concluded as the snow picked up, but throughout the day Fireheart would wake up with a ball of stress in his chest. He’d manage to fall asleep again, only for the stress to grow into dread as he woke up later in the afternoon and the snow piled higher outside. Every time, he was too tired to figure out where these feelings were coming from.

He found out pretty quickly as dusk came.

“Help!”

Fireheart barely could open his eyes, his head swimming in exhaustion.

“Someone! Get up! Please!”

Aspenpaw’s voice, he realized as he lifted his head, was cracking with panic. Around him were the confused mumbles of the just-awoken. He forced himself to his feet, ignoring the dizziness in his sleep-deprived head, and exited the warrior’s den.

“What’s going on?” he asked, eyes still a little blurry. He blinked hard and managed to focus on the grey blob forming into a frightened Aspenpaw.

“They’re gone!” she cried, shaking hard enough for the downpouring snow to fall off of her sides. “Ashpaw and Brightpaw!”

Fireheart’s head cleared a little, barely enough for him to register her words. “What do you mean?”

“I’m so stupid,” Aspenpaw moaned, pacing in a circle, only to whip around and cry out again. “They said they wanted to do something about the dogs last night, and I didn’t think they were serious, but they’re gone! I didn’t say anything! Why didn’t I say anything?!”

“Easy, easy…” Fireheart raised a paw halfway up, trying a calming gesture despite his own steadily rising fear. “What specifically are they doing?”

“They wanted to find where the dogs are staying, I think—” Aspenpaw wobbled where she stood. “Oh, stars, I should’ve told someone—”

“We’re going to find them,” Speckletail said, stepping up beside Fireheart. “Take a breath, Aspenpaw. We’ll get them home.”

Aspenpaw breathed in deeply, choking a bit.

“Wait—” Frostfur nearly shoved past Fireheart, her eyes wide. “Brightpaw?”

“And Ashpaw,” Aspenpaw said miserably.

Frostfur’s back and tail bristled like she was about to be struck by a car.

“Oh, stars…” Swifttail now, looking no less panicked. “They’re going to get themselves killed!”

Frostfur silently bolted for the camp entrance, Swifttail close behind her. They disappeared through the tunnel before Fireheart could blink.

“Wait!” Speckletail shouted, chasing them until she stopped at the tunnel. She visibly forced her fur to relax and turned to the now fully-awake Clan gathered in the clearing. “I need three search parties to search the northern part of the forest. Who can go?”

“I can,” Fireheart said immediately, echoed by the rest of the warriors.

“I can!” Thornpaw called, having rushed out of the apprentice’s den at the shouting of Aspenpaw.

“Me too!” Brackenpaw stepped forward.

Speckletail shook her head. “This is too dangerous for apprentices.”

“But it’s our sister!” Brackenpaw protested.

“We hafta help,” agreed Thornpaw, standing tall. “Let us go on a patrol.”

“When you have your names,” Speckletail said firmly. “This is a warriors-only mission.”

The brothers opened their mouths to argue, but Snowpaw had finally awoken and was nudging both of them. They turned around to him chattering his teeth questioningly. Quickly, they explained the situation, their signing scrambled and blink-fast. Snowpaw jolted and started forward for the entrance, but Willowpelt blocked his path and shook her head when he looked at her.

“Teaselfoot, Willowpelt, and Darkstripe,” Speckletail said. “You three will come with me. Whitecloud, take Dustpelt, Lizardtail, and Sandstorm, and Fireheart, you take Mousefur, Ravenwing, and Greystripe. We’ll all go north unless we see prints leading elsewhere.” She turned to the remaining cats. “Stay close to camp until you get word otherwise. Keep the apprentices and elders safe. The rest of you, let’s go.”

The groups gathered quickly, Speckletail leading the way out. Brackenpaw and Thornpaw were still protesting when Fireheart passed through the briar tunnel and could no longer hear them.

Once everyone was out, Speckletail raised her tail for silence. She turned around to face all of them and spoke barely above a whisper.

“We don’t need the dogs to hear us coming,” she said. “Don’t call for Ashpaw and Brightpaw until you’re certain you’re on their trail and close enough to catch them.”

Fireheart shivered as fat snowflakes settled happily on his spine and shoulders. “And if we smell dogs?”

“Then hide,” Speckletail said simply. She jerked her head in a “come on” gesture, setting off at as fast of a run as she could go in the painfully thick blanket of snow on the ground, everyone doing their best to chase after her.

It was impossible to see anything in this weather: the snow was relentless in its efforts to cover the earth, the flakes cramming the air and forcing the warriors to shake their heads repeatedly to get snow out of their eyes. Combined with that, a winter’s fog had settled in the forest, silent, stiflingly cold, and painfully wet. Fireheart was shivering in moments, even moving as fast as he could.

The warriors reached the edge of the burned woods, and here Speckletail stopped. She didn’t say it out loud, but it was very clear she was looking for tracks in the perfectly pristine snow and was starting to flounder.

Fireheart stepped up and spoke. “My party can look at Snakerocks.”

“Oh—” Speckletail turned around and nodded quickly. “Yes, that’ll work. Whitecloud, take your party to the road closest to Fourtrees. We’ll look around the road past that.” She was still quiet, but her every word was emphasized. “None of you are to confront the dogs. If you see them, stay silent and hide or get away.”

“Even if they have the apprentices?” Dustpelt asked.

Grimly, Speckletail lowered her chin.

A unified shiver ran through the gathered cats.

“Let’s get moving.” Speckletail started forward, into the burned woods, her party behind her. Whitecloud went to the left, branching out past Speckletail and disappearing into the fog. Only Fireheart’s group stayed still for a moment, watching them go.

“We can’t just let them get killed,” Greystripe hissed. “We have to do something if we find them.”

“I agree,” Mousefur said, teeth gritted. “I’m not letting Brightpaw die.”

Fireheart used his paw in a calming gesture. “We need to find them first.” He stared into the woods, clicking his teeth. “But it’s impossible to tell in this weather where—”

“Here!”

Fireheart wasn’t sure whether to yell or sigh as he looked over and saw a pale ginger face rushing towards him, impressively quick for how high the snow stood around him.

“Cloudpaw, what are you doing?” Ravenwing stepped up by Fireheart’s side. “You need to go home—”

“Please let me help,” Cloudpaw said breathlessly. “I– I can find them.”

Greystripe stared at him. “How did you get out here without us hearing you?”

“It’s not hard.” Cloudpaw waved his paw dismissively, speaking to Fireheart now. “I found tracks going that way.” He pointed with his tail into the woods, in the direction of Snakerocks. “Let me go with you. Please.”

Greystripe squinted. “I don’t see tracks.”

“They’re that way, I swear.” Cloudpaw looked pleadingly to his uncle. “I can follow them. I promise I can help.”

Fireheart was aware of the many eyes on him now. He briefly reflected on the responsibility he had to make the right choice before breathing in slowly and then nodding.

“Take the lead,” he said.

Ravenwing balked. “Are you serious? He could get hurt!”

“Let’s see these tracks first,” Mousefur said to Ravenwing. “And sending him home alone, I think that’s a bad idea right now.”

“And I’ve seen him track,” Fireheart added as he hastened after Cloudpaw, who had already begun running to where he had pointed. “If anyone can find them, it’s him. He’s an asset right now.”

Ravenwing didn’t look particularly convinced, but he said nothing, just moved along with the party. Fireheart caught him questioningly looking at Greystripe. The big tom just rolled a shoulder and continued on.

“I don’t know if you heard Speckletail,” Fireheart said, catching up to Cloudpaw, “but we need to keep quiet, no matter what we see or hear.”

“I will, I promise.” Cloudpaw struggled through the snow. “Look, over there, that’s what I saw.”

Fireheart had to squint and crane his neck forward, but through the snowflakes and fog he thought he caught very faint imprints in the snow leading away from them.

“The snow, when it’s trampled, it flattens,” Cloudpaw explained. “So these are from the daytime, I think, and the snow couldn’t cover them up all the way.”

Fireheart took a moment to look at his nephew, impressed. “I never taught you that.”

“It’s super obvious.” Cloudpaw flicked his tail dismissively. “Here, c’mon, this way.”

Despite his ginger markings, the fluffy apprentice nearly blended into the snow, leaving his uncle to rely on the carved path through the stuff that was forming ahead of him. The party went single-file, Cloudpaw at the lead and Greystripe at the back. No one spoke for a long time, and with the effort it took to make any degree of advancement in this weather, time seemed to freeze along with the charred trees around them.

Then Cloudpaw stopped and swiveled his ears. “Did you hear that?”

The warriors stopped too. Fireheart strained his hearing as hard as he could. Faintly, far off in the distance, a high, desperate noise sounded off.

“That sounded like a scream,” Mousefur said. Her voice sharpened in fear. “Cloudpaw, hurry.”

Cloudpaw didn’t need convincing; he rushed forward, even as his breath turned to pants and weariness lowered his tail and ears. The warriors followed silently, all too afraid to say what they suspected that scream came from.

Or who, rather.

It was impossible to tell how much time had passed before the faint shape of the piled up Snakerocks was visible through the fog and snow. Nothing moved as they approached, which was lucky, because Cloudpaw suddenly cried out and fought violently to get through the obstruction of white powder.

“Cloudpaw!” Fireheart caught up to him. “We need to be quiet—”

“They’re hurt!” Cloudpaw looked up at his uncle desperately. “Can’t you smell that?!”

Fireheart paused and sniffed. Just smellable out of the wetness of the fog…

Brindleface’s torn-apart body flashed in front of his eyes.

He leaped forward, stumbling as he landed. Cloudpaw joined him quickly, the rest of the party close behind. Ravenwing was whispering something that sounded like a prayer.

They finally made it to the clearing around the treacherous rocks, and the smell of blood and meat clogged Fireheart’s nose before his eyes found its source.

Two fluffy bodies lay sprawled on one side of the stones. The grey one was in halves, most of the smell of carnage coming from him. The other was all red, her pretty ginger-and-white pelt completely coated. Blood oozed from her head and neck.  

“Brightpaw!” Mousefur shouted, making Fireheart jump. The dusky molly shoved past him and rushed for her apprentice, pawing her and circling around her body. “Brightpaw, please be alive, come on—”

“H-hold on,” Ravenwing said unsteadily. He tottered forward, looking like he was fighting the urge to be sick. Joining Mousefur, he put his ear to Brightpaw’s mouth, paused, and then lifted his head again. “She’s breathing.”

“He’s not,” Greystripe said quietly, stepping up to Ashpaw. “Stars above…”

Fireheart, forcing himself out of his frozen state, looked at the apprentice beside him. Cloudpaw was staring between his friend and his brother, trembling like a leaf. Gently, Fireheart reached out a paw and brushed it against Cloudpaw’s shoulder. Cloudpaw didn’t react.

“I can smell the dogs.” Greystripe looked up to Fireheart, his face queasy. “We need to get out of here with these two, fast.”

Yes, that oily stink was strong. Fireheart took a breath and blinked hard to clear his mind. “Yeah, I agree. Let’s get their bodies together.”

A yowl of anguish made all of them jump; in an instant, Frostfur burst out of the twiggy undergrowth and trees, her eyes bulging and pale with horror. She was panting hard, like she hadn’t stopped running since she’d left camp. She paused only for a moment to flinch at Ashpaw’s remains before her eyes caught the pile of bloody fur before her.

“Brightpaw!” she wailed, scrambling to rush forward and stand over her daughter. She looked up desperately at Ravenwing. “Is she alive?!”

“She is,” Ravenwing said, startled. “Look, she’s still breathing.”

Frostfur whined and nosed Brightpaw. “Wake up, wake up—”

“Frostfur—” Fireheart hurried over to her, speaking kindly but as authoritatively as he could. “We need to get her home before the dogs return. Where’s Swifttail?”

Frostfur shook her head weakly. “I– I don’t know, we split off… He said he thought he heard Brightpaw, and he… he ran the other way, I just kept going…”

“Alright.” Fireheart placed a paw on her leg like he had done for Cloudpaw, speaking in a soothing voice. “It’ll be okay. Let’s take Brightpaw home.” He looked to Ravenwing. “Get Brightpaw on her back.”

Ravenwing, not looking much better than Frostfur, nodded numbly.

“Wait—” Mousefur stood up straight. “I can carry her.”

“We need an adult to try and find Swifttail,” Fireheart said, kind as he could. “And you catch scents faster than the rest of us.” Mousefur opened her mouth. “I don’t want to send Cloudpaw out with just one or two warriors to protect him. He needs to come home anyway.” Mousefur closed her mouth. Fireheart looked at Greystripe. “Go with her out in the direction we heard that scream. If you see or hear the dogs, turn around immediately.”

Greystripe dipped his head, the order seeming to recover some of his steadiness.

“Cloudpaw…” Fireheart turned to him and spoke softly. “Go home with Frostfur. Ravenwing, once you get Brightpaw on Frostfur’s back, can you help me carry Ashpaw?”

“I– yeah.” Ravenwing’s tail shook. “Yeah.”

Fireheart looked around the gathered cats. “Let’s hurry. Every heartbeat we spend standing here is a heartbeat too long.”

This got them into motion; Ravenwing assisted Frostfur with Brightpaw, and the molly set off with Cloudpaw trailing behind her in silence. Mousefur cast one painfully sad look at her apprentice before she and Greystripe disappeared back into the woods, heading east. Ravenwing and Fireheart met at Ashpaw’s remains, and the pair stood together for a moment, staring down at them.

“I can take the back half, if that’s easier for you,” Fireheart murmured to his friend.

Ravenwing shuddered with another numb nod.

Carefully, trying to keep his organs in what was left of his body, Fireheart picked up the rear half by the spine. He positioned his mouth so he wouldn’t touch any open flesh. Ravenwing held the rest by the scruff, eyes wet with grief.

Without saying a word, the pair walked in Frostfur’s trail. Neither noticed that the snow had lightened up to a slow drizzle, nor that the fog had lifted a little.

There wasn’t much reason to celebrate that. They had already found what they were looking for.

[of-course-its-gorse]

The potential sibling combinations of the TPB Thunderclan warriors is so interesting to me ignore Bluestar's Prophecy again.

Longtail and Spottedleaf as the youngest new cats, Spottedleaf becoming the only medicine cat way young right as she is fully named. Maybe Brindleface is also a part of their litter, choosing the path to become a young queen, which Ferncloud takes after.

But maybe Brindleface is Goldenflower's sister, just the dilute two of them, Speckletail's daughters, both sweet and kind. Perhaps Mousefur is also their littermate, the three young she-cats the second youngest warriors in the clan next to Longtail.

Mousefur and Runningwind are already accepted as littermates, so what about him? Well, what about Runningwind and Darkstripe being brothers? Not the youngest but not yet senior warriors, these two choose very different paths. Maybe Mousefur is a part of this litter instead of the other too. No wonder Runningwind and Mousefur never bring up their brother.

I have already spoke about how I like Darkstripe and Willowpelt as siblings, and Willowpelt is already supposed to be Redtail's sister, so why not combine the three of them as littermates? Stocky string warriors. Or maybe it's just Willowpelt and Redtail, without young Spottedleaf. Senior, actually-respected warriors.

I also really like Redtail being Frostfur's littermate. Maybe they are Dappletail's kits, and her other white kit was their deaf littermate. Quiet and just doing their best to contribute to the clan.

And I know Whitestorm is importantly Bluestar's single nephew, but that is not present at all in the first series. Maybe he and Frostfur, the older white cats of the clan, could have been siblings. And with how both specifically take up taking care of Bluestar, how cool would it be if them two were her littermates?

I pretty much already accept Lionheart and Speckletail as siblings in my canon. With how both are depicted as older but not quite yet elders, yet Goldenflower acts so young in comparison, I think it just makes sense to me.

And what if any of these litters had other siblings that we never got to see, that died before Rusty joined the clan? The clans have always been pretty dangerous, after all. What if these cats were the missing parents to cats like Graystripe and Ashfur? A missing generation of adult warriors.

I love coming up with these and so many are so good that I can never settle on any to build a solid family tree off of. I still build the trees anyway lol, I'm just always leaving thing open for other possibilities.

[talonslockau]

Forest of Secrets - Chapter 50

Chapter 49 || Index || Chapter 51

Fireheart did his best to stifle a yawn as he led the Shadowclan dawn patrol back into camp. One of the perks of being deputy was not needing to go on dawn patrol unless he wanted to. Yet as much as Fireheart desired to sleep in, he also wanted to show that he could pull his weight and be a good deputy - at least until the time came when he could finally be just a normal warrior once more.

He padded over to the usual deputy’s spot beneath the Highrock, only to find that there was someone else waiting for him there as he nearly walked into them. The sudden shock was enough to finally wake up his brain, and he nearly fell over as he stumbled back to take in the stocky, thick-furred form of Yellowfang. Just as he was about to mew an apology - or at least a hello - he noticed the panicked look on her face.

Yellowfang? Panicked? That was enough to make him nearly panic, too.

“I need to speak with you.” Yellowfang mumbled to him as she stood up, keeping her copper gaze on him for no more than a heartbeat before turning and all but rushing for her den. Fireheart hurried after her, not daring to keep the old healer waiting. Worries rushed through his mind. Was this about Bluestar? Had some illness befallen her, just as she was making progress? Had something happened to his niblings? Worse yet, had something happened to his sister?

Fireheart was running through all the possible catastrophes as he ducked through the crack in the ravine wall, his eyes quickly adjusting to the darkness of the healer’s den inside. There were no other cats inside beside Yellowfang herself, who was pacing back and forth in the small clearing. He’d never seen her like this before, and suddenly his fears went from accident or illness to outright death.

“Whitestorm came to speak with me.” The words tumbled out of her mouth, nearly faster than her tongue was able to keep up. “Just after I sent Dewpaw to go fetch some coltsfoot and borage. It’s a bit late in the season for kittencough, but there’s always a chance, and borage will be good for Frostfur when-” Yellowfang paused, taking in a shuddering, raspy breath and slowly releasing it. “You don’t care about all that. The important thing is, we were alone.”

A sudden inkling trickled into the back of his mind as he recalled his earlier conversation with Whitestorm, just before the Gathering. He suddenly suspected he knew what this was about. “And?” Fireheart prompted, doing his best to speak calmly and gently.

She shook her head back and forth, as though trying to shoo off an angry fly buzzing about her head. “He said he’d noticed I’d been spending more time with him lately, and he wanted to know why. I didn’t know what to say!” She raised her eyes skyward in agony, as though Starclan would come down from the heavens and give her the way forward. “He can’t find out, Fireheart. If he knows the truth- if he finds out what I did-”

“Calm down, Yellowfang.” She turned her wild gaze to him, and Fireheart did his best to steady himself in the face of such unbound anxiety. As real as Yellowfang’s fears were - and he was sure they were very real - it was nothing compared to what he had been afraid of. He could handle this - of that he was sure. “Why can’t he find out?”

For a moment, he thought she might unleash any number of creative Shadowclan swears upon him, her gaze becoming dark and stormy as she glared at him. At last, she turned away, forcing herself to take another deep breath. “Isn’t it obvious, Fireheart? If he finds out that I’m Brokentail’s mother - that he’s my grandson - he’ll want nothing to do with me ever again.” Her thorny claws raked along the stony floor of the healer’s den as she kneaded it in agony. “I should- it’s selfish of me, I know, but I’ve enjoyed spending time with him. It makes me imagine what I could’ve had with Brokentail, had- if things had been different.” She bowed her head, no doubt remembering what her son had ended up becoming. “I don’t want to lose that.”

Fireheart took a step towards her, doing his best to appear comforting. “You don’t have to lose that.” He mewed soothingly, reaching out to gently touch her tail with his paw. She didn’t flinch away. “What makes you think that he won’t want to speak with you if he finds out the truth? Whitestorm is patient, understanding, and wise. I think if any cat were to hear you out, it would be him.”

Yellowfang glanced briefly at him as her face screwed up into a scowl before looking away once more. “You don’t understand, Fireheart. Just because you took it in stride doesn’t mean he will. The healer’s code is a sacred thing to Clan cats. Anyone who breaches it must be shunned - that’s what all Clanborn cats are taught from the moment their ears open.”

Fireheart did his best not to react at the none-too-gentle reminder that he wasn’t Clanborn. The old healer was in her own world of agony, he knew, but that didn’t make it sting any less. “And I suppose Dewpaw is a kittypet, too?” He did his best not to let his voice lower into a growl. “Yellowfang, you judge yourself because no one else can. You think you’ve committed the highest sin because of who Brokentail became, and I’m sure narrow-minded cats like Patchpelt or Tigerclaw would agree. But Whitestorm is not them - you should give him a chance, at least.”

She didn’t respond to that, and Fireheart did his best not to lash his tail in frustration. He was suddenly reminded of his apprentice days - was this what Tinyfrost had had to deal with, with him? He mentally noted that he should apologize to his old mentor later. “Yellowfang, look at it this way. You could not tell him the truth, but he’ll expect an answer when he next sees you. Will you be able to lie well enough to satisfy his curiosity? If not, he might stop talking to you because you lied to him. You could avoid him, so you don’t have to answer - but then, you’ll never be able to have anything to do with him again. Is that not exactly what you’re trying to avoid?” He could almost see her mind working as she parsed his question, slowly turning to face him once more. “I can be there with you when you tell him, if it will help. You know I’ll stand by you, no matter what.”

Her face was covered in shadow as she stared at him, her eyes unreadable in the darkness. He did his best to look confident as he met her gaze, waiting for her to make a decision. “Alright.” He perked his ears as she croaked out a response. “Alright. But you have to stay with me.”

Fireheart smiled and nodded affirmatively as he stood up. It was nice being the reasonable one for a change - he could see why Peppermask enjoyed it so much. “Of course. I won’t leave your side.” He flicked his ginger tail towards the entrance. “I’ll go get him now, and we can take a walk together?”

“Now?” Yellowfang’s eyes were as wide as her paws as she stared at him in shock. “But I don’t know what to say!”

“Yes, now.” Fireheart tilted his head as though he were confused. Now he was being a bit petty - but he enjoyed it nonetheless. “I don’t have all day, you know. What with being the deputy and all.”

He turned and left before she could protest further, leaving her alone to gather her wits. Whitestorm was guarding camp, which he knew from assigning the patrols earlier. At the moment, he was talking to his mate, who had been on the dawn patrol with Fireheart. Thornpaw was sitting next to Lionheart, looking quite grumpy from the early morning wake-up.

“Whitestorm!” Fireheart called, the three turning their attention to their deputy as he crossed camp towards them. “Yellowfang needs some help gathering marigold, and Dewpaw’s out fetching other herbs at the moment. Would you mind helping us? I’m sure Lionheart can finish guarding camp in your stead.”

The senior white warrior regarded him with a guarded golden gaze, but Lionheart just chuffed in amusement and tapped his mate with his tail. “I’m sure I could! I was going to take Thornpaw hunting, but I’d happily take some time resting in camp instead. Besides, with Frostfur kitting any day now, the nursery nests need to be cleaner than ever. Isn’t that right, Thornpaw?”

Fireheart did his best not to wince in sympathy as Thornpaw glowered in their direction. Going from a hunting trip to changing out nests - that would put a damper in any apprentice’s mood, and he couldn’t blame the tabby tom in the slightest for his anger. “Fine.” Thornpaw growled before stalking off towards the nursery.

“I’m sure your mother will appreciate it!” Lionheart called after his apprentice, who only lashed his tail in response. Lionheart smirked as he turned back to Fireheart. “Oh, don’t feel bad for him. Goldenflower told me he mouthed off to your sister yesterday when she asked him to fetch her some prey. He could stand to learn some respect for all the queens in our nursery, not just his mothers.”

Any sympathy Fireheart might have had for Thornpaw evaporated in a flash. “He most certainly could.” The deputy agreed readily, before looking back at Whitestorm. “It seems that’s all taken care of, then. If you’ll come?” He questioned, realizing that Whitestorm had never actually answered him.

Whitestorm was still staring at Fireheart, but slowly nodded his assent before getting to his paws. “I suppose it’s only right of me to help out, since Lionheart’s back now.” There was a reluctance to his words that the helpful older warrior would usually never have for such a simple task. He wondered briefly what Yellowfang had said to him, but didn’t ask as he led them to the camp entrance where the old healer was waiting.

She seemed to have collected herself somewhat, no longer looking quite as outright afraid as she led them through the bramble tunnel and up the ravine. They traveled in silence, Yellowfang leading them on a familiar path that Fireheart had taken with her many times before - towards the Twolegplace.

“I take it this is about our earlier conversation?” Whitestorm interrupted the quiet with his question, flicking an ear in response to Fireheart curiously turning towards him. “Marigold doesn’t grow until greenleaf. Spottedleaf taught me that, back when we were young.” 

Fireheart blinked in confusion, before remembering what he’d said to lure the white warrior out of camp. “Oh, I- I guess I didn’t know.” He didn’t know what else to say - short of blurting out the truth of why they were out there, which he didn’t think Yellowfang would appreciate.

As he thought of the old healer in front of them, she suddenly whirled around to look at the two warriors. “Promise me you won’t tell anyone what I’m about to tell you.” She growled, her eyes softening as she looked at her grandson. “Please, Whitestorm.”

Whitestorm shifted nervously beside him. Nervous was not a word Fireheart had thought would ever apply to the white tom - but the darting eyes and low ears were confirmation enough that he was nervous indeed. “I can’t do that, Yellowfang.” He mewed at last. “I don’t keep secrets from my mate, and I don’t keep secrets from Bluestar. I- I hope you understand that.”

Yellowfang gasped as if Whitestorm had threatened to kill her where she stood. “Not Bluestar!” She hissed back. “If she finds out, she’ll-”

“Bluestar’s broken the code far more than you, Yellowfang.” Fireheart interrupted before she could finish, the former Shadowclanner looking at him in baffled shock. “Trust me, Yellowfang, she’ll have no problems. As for Lionheart- Whitestorm, would Lionheart tell anyone anything you told him in confidence?”

Whitestorm’s ears perked at Fireheart’s words, his gaze suddenly curious as he appraised the ginger deputy. “You’re cleverer than you let on, Fireheart.” Fireheart blinked, not sure whether to take that as a compliment or an insult, but the other tom continued on before he could decide. “If I ask him to, Lionheart will not repeat a word I say - not even to his sister.”

“It sounds like at this point I might as well tell the entire Clan.” Yellowfang growled, but he could tell her bluster was a weak front for the fear coursing through her heart.

“Five cats is not an entire Clan.” Fireheart replied steadily in return, keeping himself calm as he met her gaze. “Bluestar won’t act on this, and Lionheart won’t tell a soul. Is them not knowing worth the price of keeping this secret from Whitestorm?”

The old healer looked like she wanted to scratch his eyes out for asking - yet, after several heartbeats, she swallowed her pride and nodded. “But you will not tell anyone else.” She growled. “Promise me, Whitestorm.”

Whitestorm looked between the other two cats, questions clouding his gaze - but he slowly nodded in agreement. “Very well. I promise I shall never repeat a word you tell me except to Bluestar and Lionheart.”

Yellowfang looked around nervously, as though expecting the woods to be full of enemies. There was nothing. “I ask that you not judge me too harshly, though I understand if you do.” She shifted back and forth, her paws working the ground beneath her into fine sand. “I- I hope you’ll understand.”

“When I was young - much younger than I am now - I fell in love with a tom.” Yellowfang began, each word scraping out of her as though it were being physically pulled out of her throat. “Raggedstar. I- I’ll spare you the details, but suffice it to say I bore him three kits. Two of them died shortly after birth, but one survived.”

It was hard to tell exactly what Whitestorm was thinking - the older tom had always been more stoic and reserved than his mate Lionheart. “Raggedstar only had one child.” He mewed at last, slowly and carefully. “So either he never claimed this child of his, or-”

“Yes.” Yellowfang’s shoulders sagged in defeat as she kept her eyes on the ground, not daring to look at him. “I am Brokentail’s mother.”

Whitestorm was silent for several long, painful heartbeats. Fireheart watched him, fear suddenly rising in his own heart. What if he was wrong? What if Whitestorm wasn’t as accepting as he had led Yellowfang to believe?

At last, the other tom dipped his head. “I understand, I think.” He paused, his brows slowly furrowing. “Partly, at least. I had always wondered why you, of all cats, would advocate for his defense.” 

“Lionheart has been having some trouble mentoring Thornpaw as of late. It seems Tigerclaw left more of a mark on him than any of us would desire.” Whitestorm rumbled on, his claws unsheathing slightly at the mere mention of the exiled traitor. “It all had me thinking about our own kits, soon to be born. I love them with all my being, even though I haven’t yet met them. They are proof of Lionheart and I’s devotion to each other. What would I do if one of them chose that dark path? As much as I would believe that I could guide them, perhaps what I would think to be guidance is only enabling.”

Yellowfang looked up, her flat face full of hard to place emotions. “I advocated for him because I wanted to believe that he could change. I thought maybe in a different Clan, one where he had to rely on others, he would no longer be so arrogant. I thought that having only one life left would humble him, force him to see the error of his ways. Part of me hoped that if I was by his side more, I could persuade him to change.” Her eyes disappeared into a thick scowl. “But I was just enabling him to commit more crimes against a Clan I claimed to love, wasn’t I?”

Whitestorm appraised Yellowfang’s slouched form for a moment, his golden eyes guarded but curious. “A parent’s love is a durable thing, isn’t it? You couldn’t have known that Tigerclaw would use him to try and overthrow Bluestar.” He dipped his head respectfully to the old healer. “It’s easy enough to say what to do with the benefit of hindsight, but there is courage to be had in giving a second chance even to those who have wronged you before.”

Yellowfang heaved a difficult sigh. “I gave him too many.”

Whitestorm shrugged softly in response. “Perhaps.” He mewed steadily. “Perhaps Bluestar gave Tigerclaw too many chances, between what he did to Tinyfrost and Ravenspirit. But he was a strong warrior, and she wanted to believe he could do great things one day. I wanted to believe that, too. Perhaps that was why I went along with her decision that night.” He shook his head with a sigh before tilting it quizzically. “But while that explains a good deal, I don’t understand what this has to do with me.”

Yellowfang’s gaze flicked nervously towards Fireheart, all but begging him to step in - which he did readily. “When Brokentail first became Thunderclan’s prisoner, I was one of the first to guard him. He took that as an insult, of course, and started taunting me, calling me a kittypet, my mother and father kittypets, the usual.” Even now, it was hard to keep his tail from bristling as he listed off the ‘typical’ insults. “I told him that I didn’t know who my father was, and that he could be my father for all I know. I added that it was probably an insult to him to even imply that he was the father of a Thunderclanner, and he…” 

Fireheart trailed off and glanced at his ginger paws, part of him worrying about if he was wrong. Maybe Brokentail had been lying, to try and get him to suspect his Clanmates of being half-Clan. It made more sense than the cruel tyrant telling the truth about anything. But Yellowfang and Dewpaw had both agreed that his thoughts made sense, and even Whitestorm had admitted he didn’t know who his father was. 

He looked back up to see Whitestorm staring at him, obviously puzzled. “He told me that he had had a Thunderclan mate, many seasons ago. He didn’t say much about her - only that she died on the Thunderpath several leafbares ago, when her only kit - a tom - was too young to travel to meet him.”

It was easy to see the moment that everything fell into place for Whitestorm. His eyes widened, pupils growing to the size of the new moon as the senior warrior’s white fur bristled from the nape of his neck all the way to his tail. “No.” Whitestorm choked out, stumbling back a few pawsteps before falling onto his rump, his horrified gaze flicking between Fireheart and Yellowfang. “No - No. That cannot be.”

“You said yourself you didn’t know who your father was.” Fireheart continued, even as his heart tore for the warrior he had looked up to for so long. This was a terrible revelation, he knew - not one that squared with the image of Whitestorm, the pinnacle of wisdom and kindness. “Your mother Snowstorm died on the Thunderpath, didn’t she? In leafbare, when you were still too young to leave the nursery.”

“That can’t be- Brokentail cannot be my father!” Whitestorm choked out the words with a snarl, his sides heaving as he fought to control himself. “You have to be mistaken.”

Yellowfang turned away from them with a low growl, her ears pinned back in humiliated anger. “I told you this was a bad idea.” She hissed to Fireheart.

“Sit down and relax, would you?” Fireheart shot back at the old healer before looking back at Whitestorm, trying to remain calm himself. “Why is it impossible, Whitestorm?”

Whitestorm stared back at him, his eyes still round in horror. “Don’t you remember, Fireheart? I was guarding him the day his rogues attacked. He jumped at me, and I was just defending myself, but I-” The older warrior barely choked back a wail. “If what you say is true, I killed my own father!”

Fireheart blinked in surprise, suddenly remembering that no other cat knew what had truly happened that day. Brokentail had been killed, yes - but it was because Yellowfang had poisoned him with foxglove seeds, in the secrecy of their den. He had unintentionally witnessed it, sneaking into her den in fear that she was being attacked by a rogue, but he had chosen to keep that secret because he knew she had intended for no one to know. As far as the Clan knew, Whitestorm’s blows had not just blinded him, but killed him outright.

He glanced at Yellowfang, wondering if she would now reveal the truth. It was one thing, after all, for Whitestorm to take the blame and credit for killing a rogue leader when they had meant nothing to each other. Now, however, Whitestorm clearly believed he was responsible for killing his own blood, even unintentionally. Even though Brokentail had been a terrible cat, one that truly deserved death, it wasn’t fair for Whitestorm to carry such guilt when the one truly responsible was right there.

“It was not you that killed him.” His heart lifted as Yellowfang spoke, relieved that she had decided to come clean after all. “It was his own actions that got him killed. If he had not attacked you, he would not have died.”

“That may be true, but-” Fireheart’s spirits sank as Whitestorm looked down at his paws. Yellowfang was taking the easy way out, refusing to relieve Whitestorm of his guilt when it was clear that the mere thought was tearing him in two. He could only guess she was afraid that he would reject her for refusing to tell the truth; part of him longed to urge her to reveal what had really happened, but doing so would reveal that he had known all along that she had poisoned her son. He had sworn to himself that he would never bring it up - and so he stayed quiet, even though it pained him greatly.

Then the white warrior’s shoulders slumped and he let out a sob. “All this time…” He took a few slow, stuttering breaths, trying to calm himself. Finally, he looked back up at Yellowfang, his golden eyes filled with a sudden clarity. “One of the only memories I have of my mother is when she was leaving the nursery late one morning. I begged to go with her, and I asked her why she couldn’t stay with me.” Tears came to his eyes at the memory of Snowstorm, lost to him before he was even an apprentice. “She told me that she was going to see my father, and it was too far for me to walk. She promised me when I was big and strong enough, she would take me to see him.”

“Deep down, I always knew he was not a Thunderclan warrior.” Whitestorm admitted, his claws digging into the earth below him as if he was afraid it would fall away from him at any moment. “I had always hoped it was a loner, or- or a kittypet, maybe, like Frostfur… Someone unfamiliar with Clan life, someone I would never meet.” He looked over at Fireheart, his eyes shimmering with salty tears. “Are you really certain? Brokentail is my father?”

He didn’t know what to say - part of him wanted to comfort Whitestorm, but he didn’t want the tom to think he was lying, either. “Brokentail never said the name of his mate or his kit, and of course I’ve never spoken to Snowstorm.” He finally mewed as neutrally as he could. “But too many of the details match up for it to be mere coincidence. When I was talking with Bluestar about Snowstorm’s death, she specifically said her sister ran off to the Thunderpath again, like she made a habit of doing that. When I pressed her about it, she went quiet, like she didn’t want me to think about it too deeply.”

“Bluestar?” Whitestorm’s eyes suddenly blazed with hurt and fury. “You don’t think she knew who my father was?”

Fireheart blinked, suddenly recalling how Bluestar had said Snowstorm had never told her who Whitestorm’s father was. Obviously she had kept her nephew in the dark completely - but now he suddenly had to consider whether she had known all along. He thought back through his interactions with her, knowing he had to choose his words carefully. Whitestorm already felt betrayed enough knowing that his mother had chosen such a sinister mate - even if Bluestar had known, it didn’t seem fair to cause a rift in her relation with her only Thunderclan family over this.

“She never said anything to me directly.” Fireheart said at last, hoping to at least partially ease Whitestorm’s fears. “Whenever it came to Brokentail, she never seemed torn or hesitant regarding him. She’s our leader, of course, and she’s often hard to read, but I think she would have had at least a heartbeat’s hesitation when it came to discussing his fate if she knew he was your father. I think she suspected that your father was Shadowclan, or may have outright known, but I don’t think she knew which cat specifically.”

“There were several handsome young toms around Brokentail’s age in Shadowclan at that time.” Yellowfang added in, though he couldn’t tell if she was trying to be helpful or not. “Spiderfoot, Mousefang, Deerstrike, plus Clawface and Stumpytail. Maybe not Spiderfoot, since you don’t have his paws, but the rest of them could’ve been suspect.”

Whitestorm nodded slowly, taking in what the other two were saying. His breathing began to steady at last as he considered their words. “I see.” He finally murmured at last, barely loud enough for them to catch. “I see.”

“Whitestorm, I- I am sorry I didn’t tell you.” Yellowfang stepped forward gingerly, her copper eyes locked on her grandson as he slowly gained his composure. “I thought you would be better off if you didn’t know. But then you asked me, and I-” She cut herself off, clearly searching for the right words. “All this time, I have regretted my choice. I wish I had never taken Brokenkit back to camp. I wish I had had the courage to stay on my path, instead of trying to have the best of both lives. I thought Brokentail had brought the Clans nothing but grief, pain, and death.”

“But then… But then Fireheart told me about you. My grandson.” Even despite the tension in the air, Fireheart could hear the whimsical joy in her voice. “Despite all the suffering he caused, he left the world one gift - one beautiful, precious gift. A warrior that is wise, and strong, and kind - everything that Brokentail could never be.” She let out a hollow laugh that sounded a bit more like a sob. “It’s selfish of me, I know. I broke the code. I don’t deserve to even look at you, but I- You are everything that I wanted in a son. That is why I wanted to spend every moment I could giving you the love that I could never give my son.” She stared at him, her mouth working as she tried to find more words to explain, but there were none. “I don’t ask for forgiveness, but I- I hope you understand.”

Whitestorm was silent for a long moment, staring off into the distance as Yellowfang watched him pleadingly. At last he looked back in her direction, though he still didn’t meet her eyes. “I understand.” He mewed at last, though the words sounded forced. “I really do. But I… I think I need some time to think right now.”

“Please-” Yellowfang lunged forward, but Fireheart was there to stop her before she could reach her grandson. “Please don’t go! I’m sorry- I didn’t want to hurt you-!”

Whitestorm took a couple tottering steps away as he got to his feet. “I know.” he replied simply. “I know you didn’t. I understand what you’re saying, and I am not mad at you, but I- I need some time alone.” His voice sounded strained and monotone, as though the senior warrior didn’t really mean what he was saying.

“Let him go, Yellowfang.” Fireheart murmured, softly enough that only she could hear. “Remember how you reacted when I told you he was your grandson? You needed time to think then, and you weren’t mad at Whitestorm or me, were you?”

For another few heartbeats, the old healer strained against his shoulder, and he worried she hadn’t listened to him. Then she slumped back, suddenly defeated. “I- you’re right.” She replied just as quietly. “I- I’ll see you back at camp?” Yellowfang offered as Whitestorm began walking off. 

His only answer was a flick of his tail as he disappeared into the bushes.

The silence seemed to echo in the woods, filling Fireheart’s ears. At last Yellowfang turned to the ginger deputy, her face wrought with pain. “Oh, Fireheart… I messed that all up, didn’t I?”

He wished he could reassure her, but they both knew he couldn’t speak for Whitestorm now. “You did the best you could.” He replied at last, though he could hear how weak that sounded. “That may not be enough, but I think Whitestorm will recognize that. And I know he will hold to his word. Things may never be the same between the two of you, but it’s still better than never speaking to him again.”

His words did seemingly little to comfort Yellowfang as she turned away with a heavy sigh. “We better get back to camp. Dewpaw will be wondering where I am.” Her dark gray paws seemed to drag against the ground as she began leading the way back to camp. Fireheart followed her, his own heart suddenly a knot. He’d only been trying to help, but now he was afraid he had made everything worse. He’d been so sure he could handle this, but he’d messed up, just like he seemed to mess up everything else. How could he hope to handle an entire Clan when he couldn’t even get a grandmother and grandson to be on friendly terms?

[everybody-loves-purdy]

Pretty sure they won't cut brightheart from the dog situation in the graphic novel because the scene where she first re-awakens is really important for bluestar's arc, also if they remove her it would stray super duper far from canon, unlike simply not including her in a batch of stolen kits. But aaahhh!! Now you've put it into my head!! 😖 also also super sad to know that cloudkit hasnt appeared yet, but i'll assume the best and hope they cut the other random visits to princess now that she appears in the first book and keep cloudtail's lil space in the narrative 🙏

I really want them to appear and hope they appear but I am just so scared they won’t, especially Brightheart. Since yeah Cloudkit not arriving could just be to do with book space, but why wasn’t Brightkit present in this book? There is no reason to not have her there? If you needed to cut a kit then why not Thornkit? Why was Swiftkit taken? Especially since Goldenflower is just nowhere to be seen when the kits go missing, they’re just referred to as Frostfur’s kits.

The gorge scene was important for Leopardstar , Graystripe, and Sandstorm’s arcs in the original book and that just doesn’t happen here. Hypothetically Swiftpaw’s death alone could be what affects Bluestar further rather than having Brightheart in the mix.

I really really hope this suspicion is wrong and they both appear and have their arcs in this adaptation, but the pacing of the first book really does worry me if this is indeed going to be a 3 book adaptation of the first arc.

[m1smatched-starsigns]

Can you share details of the Fireheart aus?

The thing is, I feel like it requires quite a bit of explanation to make sense and I don't want to completely spoil it, but let me try anyway.

In Fire and Ice there is a plotline with ShadowClan scents consistently appearing on ThunderClan's territory. Fireheart finds more evidence of this (rabbit bones with scent) and he brings them back to camp to show Bluestar, but she's on patrol, so he brings them to Tigerclaw instead, and Tigerclaw leaves for ShadowClan with a patrol.

Fireheart is the only warrior left in camp at this point and then Brokenstar and his rogues ambush the camp. Looking back, this is clearly something that Tigerclaw and Brokenstar planned. So what if their plan works and Fireheart is killed?

BUT. If you've read Conscience, Thy Name is Stonefur then you know I love a good haunting. So Fireheart only kinda sorta dies and when he comes to again, he begins seeing a ghost. A ghost that he's never met before but we, as readers, know exactly who it is (feel free to guess who it is but I actually doubt anyone will, lol).

And so the premise of the AU is that it's a retelling of the first arc but "what if Fireheart died but came back and has a new StarClan companion 'haunting' him".

There are other switches that take place before the first chapter, such as: Fireheart and Graystripe are Not made warriors after the kit rescue; Fireheart, Graystripe, Sandstorm and Dustpelt are all made warriors together just a little bit after Frostfur's kits are apprenticed; Cinderpaw does not go onto the thunderpath so she does become a warrior (but who takes her place?? hmm...); Silverstream becomes pregnant earlier than in canon;

And perhaps one of the biggest things: Tigerclaw's weird behavior at the Moonstone is explained (rather than just "he got scared"). There are actually quite a few things about Tigerclaw that are expounded upon. Tigerclaw makes some very different moves in this AU. Like. Moves that I have literally never seen explored in another AU before. Like what I have planned for Tigerclaw could be it's own AU itself.

Fireheart is different too. He's still the same Fireheart that we all know and love but death will really change a cat, and he doesn't quite feel like his normal self, and so this is a hardened, colder version of Fireheart. So far he's been very cool to write (for all of my 300 words lol).

Anyway I'm sorry this is not a very clear explanation, but it's the best I can do without spoiling everything (which I really want to do because I do want to talk about it, lol). If this is something that ultimately won't become fic then I'll come back and give a play-by-play of what takes place so you aren't left hanging!

Until then, feel free to ask about it, and I'll answer questions to the best of my ability!

[burning-thistles-bt]

Hi, anon who previously sent a long ask mentioning adderfang&thistlestar's mentor-apprentice back here! What you said about Adderfang's reaction to spottedpaw's pregnancy (the idea that he was upset his Precious Baby Daughter was exploited by an older warrior) got me thinking about Willowpelt! Specifically, we know Adderfang didn't react so strongly to learning she was pregnant, even though she had darkkit before spottedpaw had the firesibs. if i recall correctly, Adder&Swift's reaction to willowpelt being such a young mother was never shown in FT, or never explored very closely... What was that moment like? Were they angry, did they worry Willowpelt had been hurt, or were they happy to be getting more grandkits? How did their reaction make Willowpelt feel?

Additionally, since Adderfang made a way bigger stink towards Spottedpaw's situation than he did toward Willowpelt's, did that have any affect on willowpelt? I presume, Adderfang probably thought Darkstripe's father was another one of the apprentices which is why he didn't seem TOO upset, and Willowpelt never wanted to "tarnish" Tawnyspots' legacy by revealing him preying on her. But I imagine Willowpelt seeing Adderfang throw such a big fuss (and rightfully so, of course, him threatening to flay thistle alive in FT is one of my fave scenes lol. so satisfying) over spottedpaw being pregnant might have made Willowpelt feel strange. Did it cause her to feel like her dad didn't care as much about her? She and spottedleaf have a very good relationship, especially as older adults, but I can imagine when she was so young and dealing with how drastically and unexpectedly her life had changed she could have harbored some more complicated feelings. Was she jealous that Spottedleaf was getting more attention from their parents? if so, did she feel guilty about that jealousy, knowing how terrible it is to be in spottedleaf's situation? do you think spottedleaf and willowpelt ever talked out these feelings?

Sorry for another long message haha, the way the story unfolds in your fic is so interesting I just think about it all the time, it's made me really like spottedleaf and willowpelt way more than i did before reading it, youve developed them into such complex characters!! Thanks again for taking the time to read my message!!

Adderfang and most everyone else didn't question Willowpelt's pregnancy because she had her warrior name! To them, warriorhood means you are an adult, but that's not necessarily the truth, considering Willowpelt technically did get pregnant when she was an apprentice (it's just that no one really connected the dots there, except for those like Featherwhisker and Spottedpaw and such. Most assumed she just gave birth early, which is a far assumption especially considering most of her kits died/were sickly), plus she was still under 12 moons (typical warrior age) when pregnant/giving birth. Adderfang and Swiftbreeze were both a little concerned that she was so young, but it really boiled down to "well, she's a warrior, she can have kits now if she wants I suppose," and they lacked the experience or knowledge to argue against that. It's just ingrained tradition and culture for them.

Most assumed the father was Whitestorm or maybe possibly Tigerclaw, but most of the clan knew Whitestorm had a crush on Willowpelt (though others argued that he and Brindleface would become mates since they were best/close friends), so they assumed it was him, and that Willowpelt either rejected him or Whitestorm didn't want to help raise the kits. Just ask Frostfur what the rumor mill was at the time and she'll fill you in on all a hundred possibilities lol

Willowpelt definitely had... feelings seeing Adderfang get so protective over Spottedpaw when the truth came out. She often wondered if Adderfang would have had the same reaction if she had told him that Tawnyspots did the same thing to her. But, guilt kept her mouth shut. She felt like it didn't matter since Tawnyspots was dead anyways now. Plus, wouldn't it just seem like she wanted the attention? She didn't want attention, she just wanted to stay quiet. So she did. But it still ate her up and unknowingly strained her relationship with her parents, because she felt like she couldn't be protected by them like Spottedpaw was. If Adderfang ever knew though, you bet he would have charged straight into StarClan itself just to beat Tawnyspots up for touching his daughter like that.

Spottedleaf and Willowpelt did confide in each other! They were about the only ones who told each other all their secrets and hidden feelings, THOUGH Willowpelt DID keep more of the details to herself. She felt like "Spottedleaf had it worse" and that she just needed to be a supportive sister. But they did talk about it.

(Though I can tell you the exact opposite happens in Reflamed)

No worries about the long message! We love answering questions!!

[troutfur]

For your request for prompts! I tried to think of a couple short scenes that I always wanted to see in canon. Also while I’m proposing these in a canon context, definitely frame them within one of your AUs if you want!

Goldenflower and Tigerstar have a tense conversation at some point after his treachery is revealed. The exact timing of this conversation is up to you, but for some suggestions to get the ideas flowing: it could be immediately after Tigerclaw is exiled from ThunderClan and Goldenflower’s emotional wounds are freshest. It could be after Tawnypaw runs away to join Tigerstar in ShadowClan. It could be just after Tigerstar is killed and Goldenflower is monologuing to his corpse/ghost, the BloodClan battle looming on the horizon. Or, even after Tigerstar’s death, either in a dream, them meeting on the border of StarClan and the Dark Forest, or even during the Dark Forest battle in The Last Hope. Whatever the timing, I’d just like for Goldenflower to finally get some catharsis by confronting him and grappling with her complicated feelings of loving/having loved a murderer and a traitor.

Hollyleaf and Squirrelflight tearfully reconciling after she returns from the tunnels. Bonus points for Hollyleaf calling Squirrelflight “mom” :) (Alternatively or additionally you could do Hollyleaf and Leafpool reconciling in which they finally address the deathberry incident.)

Some more goldie today! Tearful reunions like that are so my jam and usually I'd jump at a chance to do something with the Po3 cast. But this one in conjunction with the last one seemed to be a natural fit. Also fitting to mark our day when we reach the 2/3rds mark in this challenge.

(Want to get in something for the last 10 days? Check out my guidelines and get submitting!)

“How could you?” Goldenflower shrieked as she heard the revelations tumble out of Fireheart’s mouth one by one. Her blood had begun to boil from the first one but it hadn’t burst out quite so indignantly until the ginger tom revealed his part in ShadowClan’s raid and the death of her brother. “We welcomed you into our nest, we gave you companionship when we could very well have left you by your lonesome your whole life, I even let you sire children with me!”

She paused to catch her breath. She had sunk her claws deep into the ground and her muscles still attempted to extend them further without her even realizing. The blaze in her chest that animated her to continue ranting was only fanned with every moment of reflection she gave and she let it build up as she anticipated.

She wanted to see him squirm from under Firestar’s grasp at that moment. She wanted him to at least attempt to rise to his paws and... Beg forgiveness? Attack her so she would have a justification to shred him? Yell in return? Monologue to her about how he’d had to take a hard choice for the sake of his Clan? Something! Anything! React in some way! But all throughout Tigerstar wore a detached, neutral expression.

Eventually the kindling ran out. Pulling back her claws she looked solemnly down at the captive warrior. “...He really did like you, you know?” she said. “It wasn’t just for me that he let you in. He wanted your company. He admired your best qualities. He thought you’d be a good pipfurr to the kits he’d sire. If you’d let him he would’ve loved you the same way I did. The same way Frostfur did.”

She paused, seeking among the crowd the pelts of their children. Brightpaw, Thornpaw, Brackenpaw, and Cinderpaw were scattered among the multitude. But their faces of shock and horror were clear for all to see. “And yet you didn’t stop to consider those same kits. You didn’t stop to consider how you’d leave them with one less pipfurr then, and now that you’ve been revealed they’re down two!”

“He was not even a sire to my kits!” Frostfur shouted, indignant! “Much less pipfurr! These four are Lionheart and I’s alone!”

That got a response, but Goldenflower was too focused turning her head around in surprise to really notice how much her and Tigerclaw’s expressions were the same.

“You can go rot in the undergrowth for all I care!” Frostfur continued. “My children would have lost nothing of value. I only regret the fact I ever thought of you as anything more than a vile cuckoo.”

It took a while for Goldenflower to really process the harshness of those words. With a sire confirmed rather than only denied that was not only a public rejection of him as pipfurr but of her as well. A harsh measure, but certainly more than necessary. The thought immediately swirled why Frostfur was rejecting her as well. Did she blame her for encouraging the cat that was more her love? Did she see in her a nature similar to what Tigerclaw had demonstrated? She paused to think about what she’d just said. Was it retaliation for how she had confirmed siring, and of him of all cats?

As the questions swept up Goldenflower’s mind the proceedings went on. Accusations proceeded from Fireheart’s mouth, to shame TigerClaw for everyh single despicable act, to lay bare everything. And in the midst of this she barely had time to notice when the time came to have him be exiled.

[warriors-rewritten-chaos]

Post Arc 1 Interlude- Graystripe's Heartbreak

An original segment following Graystripe's thoughts and adventures after the fight against Scourge and The Coven of Blood. The battle's won, nothing can go wrong now! Right?

Graystripe couldn't believe it. They had done it. The Coven of Blood had been driven from the forest after Firestar had killed Scourge, TigerClan was no more, and peace would return to the forest. He walked with Firestar and Sandstorm the whole way back to ThunderClan, his tail entwined with theirs, feeling happier than he had in moons.

When they reached camp and told those who hadn't gone the news of what had happened, there were cries of celebration and joy and the air filled with excited chatter. Firestar leapt onto the Highrock and his voice cut like a claw through all the noise, giving way to quiet as the Leader spoke. Graystripe felt a sense of pride and joy seeing the tom he loved (loved! the thought still made him giddy) so confident and bright.

"Cats of ThunderClan! And, uh, RiverClan as well!" Mistyfoot gave the young Leader a small nod of gratitude for the inclusion of their small group. "I trust that you all know of our victory against TigerClan and over The Coven of Blood." Firestar continued on, interrupted by raucous cheers that he patiently waited to die down before continuing his address.

"However, as with all battles, there are casualties. And one of the casualties today... was our Deputy, Whitestorm. Whitestorm was many things to many cats. He was a trusted clanmate, an incredible Warrior, a wise mentor, a loving mate and father, and a faithful friend. I believe it isn't an exaggeration to say that he will be deeply mourned by everyone in attendance today. Now, though, it is my duty as your Leader to choose a cat who will take up his mantle as Deputy. Not to replace him, but to continue his hard work for the sake of ThunderClan's continued prosperity."

"And with that, I would like to introduce the cat who I believe is the most qualified to accomplish this feat. I present ThunderClan's new Deputy, Frostfur." The Senior Warrior's temporary absence from the crowd had gone unnoticed until she reappeared at that moment, stepping up beside Firestar and dipping her head to the assembly. The camp erupted into near-deafening cheers of her name, the loudest voices unsurprisingly being those of her daughters. Cinderspark was literally jumping up and down with joy, while Brightheart shed a few tears of pride for her mother's accomplishment.

"I am deeply honored to have received this role, and will do my best in service of my Clan to honor Whitestorm's memory."

Firestar then went on to announce a few retirements- Speckletail and Dapplelight were joining the Elders, while Beestripe was changing her role to Builder due to strain on her joints making her Scout duties too painful and difficult for her to continue with at her age. When the meeting was adjourned, Graystripe was startled by Mistyfoot flicking her tail against his side to grab his attention. "We need to talk. Now" she said in a grave voice. He was confused but went along, guiding her slightly outside of the camp into the forest.

"Here should be fine," he told her as they looked around to check if they were truly alone. "Now, what did you need to talk to me about?"

"You're in love with Firestar and Sandstorm."

"How did you know?!" Graystripe exclaimed, fur bristling slightly with embarrassment. 'I thought did a good job of hiding it; how could she have noticed?!'

"Literally any cat with functional eyes can see that you are. When Firestar gave the address you spent the entire time looking at him as though he'd hung the moon in the sky. And not to mention that display heading back from the battle."

He sighed, lowering his head in defeat. "Okay, yes, I am. But why does that-" "You know Stars-damned well why that matters right now." Mistyfoot said sternly, cutting him off.

"Graystripe, you joined RiverClan after your kits were born. You're a RiverClan Warrior now, not a ThunderClan one. You cannot live with a paw in both Clans, no matter how much you may want to. You need to make a choice: stay with your kits in RiverClan, or see if ThunderClan will take you back. Make a choice now, before you ruin your life." And with that, she turned and walked back to camp as though their discussion had never happened.

For his part, Graystripe just stood there, feeling as though he'd been struck. He hadn't even considered the eventuality that he and the others would have to return to RiverClan. That is, if Leopardstar would even take them back. He wasn't sure whether she truly had supported Tigerstar's stance on killing half-Clan cats or if she'd just gone along with it to appease him. She was very difficult to read.

But Mistyfoot had been right when she'd said he needed to make a choice. And he knew what that choice needed to be. What it had to be. If he left RiverClan, Willowpaw and Featherpaw would be left without any parent to care for them. And while their aunts would no doubt do their best in his stead (StarClan knows Smallsplash and Breezeripple were nothing but loving to their niblings despite whatever they may have thought of the kits' father) he couldn't leave them alone. He couldn't abandon his family a second time.

No matter how badly it hurt to leave Firestar and Sandstorm. But he knew in his heart that they would support his choice too. They would understand. They always did. He began to solemnly head back towards camp when he was bowled over by Featherpaw, who immediately began to playfully bite his ears with a shout of "in an enemy territory, never let your guard down!". No doubt wisdom instilled in her by her mentor. He felt teeth dig into his tail and caught a glimpse of Willowpaw tugging on it with a small smile on his face. Graystripe just laughed as he shook them off with ease. They were already nearly twice the size of the other RiverClan apprentices at this point, but their father was still bigger than them.

"You're getting so good at this! But you still can't beat your dad! Take this!" He exclaimed, leaping and pinning the two down under his weight and roughly nuzzling them until they were all laughing and purring.

Yes, he knew this was the right choice. Even though he would still be leaving cats he loved behind no matter what.

=================================================

The very next day, Thornclaw came into camp followed by a small platoon of RiverClan Warriors, and Graystripe knew immediately that this was it. Mistyfoot immediately joined the group, and Featherpaw and Willowpaw quickly followed after saying goodbye to their grandmother, aunt, and uncles (which was a weird sentence to say considering that Rainpaw, Sootpaw, and Sorrelpaw were only a few moons older than their niece and nephew). His mother and siblings went up to him after, looking at him with sadness in their eyes.

"You're all really leaving?" Sootpaw asked, ears and whiskers drooping. "Why can't you and Willowpaw and Featherpaw just stay in ThunderClan?"

"Leopardstar tried to kill you guys! She'll probably do it for real next time! Just stay here with us!" Rainpaw exclaimed before Brightheart stepped in and forcibly herded her apprentice away. Graystripe could still hear his brother arguing with her as they left.

Sorrelpaw didn't even try to stop her older brother from leaving. She just rested her head in Graystripe's shoulder, burying her face in his fur. He could feel the tears beginning to soak his fur as she whispered "I'll miss you" before stepping away to follow after Sootpaw as he left as well. Leaving Graystripe face to face with his mother.

Willowmoon nuzzled his head gently, the way she had when he was a kit in the Nursery, even though now she had to lean up pretty far to do so. "I'm so proud of you" she murmured gently. "I want you to know that. We all are." Graystripe began to cry in earnest now, nuzzling his mother back. "I love you, mom." "I love you too, sweetheart."

And she pulled away, leaving him with the last cats he needed to say goodbye to. Firestar looked as though he wanted to embrace him, but seemed to decide not to, given the RiverClan cats still present and waiting for Graystripe to join them. "I love you, I always will" he whispered quietly, so that none but the three of them could hear. Sandstorm just flicked him with her tail, a gesture of casual faux-irritation to hide her own grief and sadness. "Take care of yourself, you mouse-brain." They left too, and now Graystripe was out of time.

He slowly joined Mistyfoot and his children at the edge of the camp. Mistyfoot dipped her head in farewell, and they all turned and left. Graystripe was the last to follow.

He couldn't bring himself to say anything during the trek back to RiverClan. Mistyfoot, Willowpaw, and Featherpaw were talking plenty, catching up on what exactly had happened in their absence and how the Clan was doing things after Tigerstar's death. Graystripe just kept telling himself that this was necessary and that he needed to do this as they reached the entrance to the RiverClan camp. Leopardstar was waiting there alongside Blackclaw. 'He's probably her new Deputy' he thought to himself. He also noted that she seemed more well-fed then she typically did, but he couldn't bring himself to care about that either.

"Follow me" Leopardstar told them in an emotionless tone as she guided Graystripe, Mistyfoot, Willowpaw, and Featherpaw to the Streamspire, presumably to announce their return to the Clan. Once all of them were perched atop the rock, she began to speak.

"Cats of RiverClan, gather by the river for a Clan meeting. As you know, we were recently forced by a violent intruder to do horrible things. Things such as driving out our own Warriors and apprentices who assisted us all in our times of need and who were invaluable members of our Clan. Tigerstar had them punished solely for the mistakes of their parents."

'Tigerstar wasn't the only one who wanted us gone. Who do you think you're fooling, you liar?' Graystripe thought bitterly as Leopardstar continued to speak.

"Therefore, I have fetched them from ThunderClan and will also be granting one of them a new mentor due to Stonefur's tragic passing." She stressed the last two words as Blackclaw and a few other warriors hissed at the mention of half-Clan cats being allowed to return. "And," she continued to the crowd's nervous excitement, "I will also be naming a permanent Deputy. Blackclaw, come up onto the Streamspire."

Blackclaw ascended the large stone with a victorious smirk on his face.

'Fantastic. The worst cat in the Clan is being named Deputy. This feels just like when Bluestar nominated Tigerclaw all over again.'

"Blackclaw, you have been an incredible Warrior with years in service to your Clan. Therefore... I give Featherpaw to you as an apprentice."

Graystripe's stomach dropped and he saw Featherpaw shrink back slightly in horror. Blackclaw had made no secret that he despised the newly revealed half-Clan cats during the time they were prisoners in the camp. 'I can't let this happen' he thought, mind racing. 'He'll hurt her!'

"No!" He exclaimed, jumping between his daughter and Blackclaw before he even thought about what he was doing.

"What do you think you're doing, Graystripe?" snarled Blackclaw as he slid out his claws and bared his fangs. "Are you disobeying your Clan Leader? Again?"

"Stop this at once." Leopardstar's cold voice boomed from behind them. "Graystripe, stand down. Blackclaw will be Featherpaw's new mentor. You have no right to question my decisions on this matter."

"No right?!" Graystripe yowled in rage as he turned to face her. "I am her father! Blackclaw went above and beyond Tigerstar's orders to harm us when we were prisoners, and if you make him Featherpaw's mentor he'll do worse! I won't let you do this!"

The assembled Clan sat in stunned silence as Leopardstar advanced on Graystripe, ears folded back and eyes narrowed. Then, just when Graystripe thought she was about to spring at him to attack, she paused and turned back to the crowd.

She gave a heavy sigh and shook her head slowly in what seemed to be sadness, though her eyes held nothing but cold anger and thinly-veiled distain. "Graystripe, when you begged to join RiverClan, I had hoped that you would live up to the expectations of a good Warrior. That is what Stormstar asked of you, what all of us asked of you. But, while you have been here, you have been nothing but a liability. I have given you chance after chance, but you have failed each time. Though it pains me greatly to do so, your insubordination has left me no choice. Graystripe, I hereby exile you from RiverClan forever. Go wherever you wish, but you will never be welcome in this territory again."

Graystripe felt his heart turn to stone as the assembled cats started shouting in a clamor of voices. 'No. She can't do this. She can't!'

Willowpaw and Featherpaw cried out in horror and tried to run to him, but were blocked by Leopardstar and Blackclaw. Graystripe turned to Mistyfoot, desperate for any aid, but she just looked at him with a sad but resolute gaze. 'I can't help you', she was probably saying. 'No matter how much I wish that I could'. Voleclaw and a few other Warriors began to ascend the Streamspire and grabbed ahold of Graystripe, dragging him to the earth below and towards the entrance to the camp.

Distantly, he heard Featherpaw and Willowpaw desperately crying out for him, telling them to stop, begging Leopardstar to stop this, but she gave no such command and despite his attempts to reach them he was forced back again and again. It was only when the mob began to claw at him hard enough to draw blood and shove him over the border hard enough to hurt that his energy gave out.

He looked up at the angry, spiteful, or indifferent faces of the cats waiting to make sure he truly left, wondering if any of them would change their minds, or if this was just a cruel joke, but as they just stood there staring at him, he finally realized that this was real. There was no going back. He would never see his children again. He turned and mutely trudged away, tears rolling down his face as he listened numbly to the jeers of the Warriors shouting after him. He didn't pay any attention to where he was going. He just kept walking aimlessly, hoping that a bolt of lightning would strike him, or a dog would crush him in its jaws, or that the ground would open wide and swallow him whole.

He wanted to die. He had nothing left to live for. He was truly alone.

=================================================

Graystripe walked for what was probably weeks, only ever stopping when he literally passed out from exhaustion. His paws were definitely bleeding. His pelt was a mess with tangles and thorns. He looked, smelled, and felt dead.

He didn't even remember when it was that he entered ThunderClan territory. He didn't notice. It was only when he woke up in the Medicine Den with Yellowfang, Firestar, Sandstorm, and his mother crowded around him that he realized where he was.

[fruit-clans-clangen]

Moon 0

The founding of the clans

All the cats gathered in the center of the small clearing. The clearing was next to the twoleg place with trees going south. To the east of the cats there were plains. In the center of all of them were four cats. Mumblefire, a medium furred white and pale ginger tom, Elkfoot, a long furred white and light gray rosetted tom, Minkwhisker, a medium furred pale ginger and blue tabby she-cat, and Doethroat, a medium furred blue-gray tom. 

Minkwhisker, being the youngest of the four, stepped forward to speak. “We all know we’ve all been traveling for a long time. Starclan has contacted us saying this is where we are to stay. Since the lake flooded and we are a long way from home it is time for a new era of the clans.” She paused to breathe. “Thunderclan, Skyclan, Windclan, and Shadowclan no longer exist.” 

This caused an uproar from the cats. “Why must the clans change?” A voice called. A medium furred, dark gray marbled tabby she-cat named Thriftgrass was standing. “The first time the clans moved the names didn’t change.”

“This time is different.” Said Doethroat. “This is the best thing for the clan.” 

“And how do you know that?” Thriftgrass’s tail was swinging back and forth. “Did Starclan tell you?” She said Starclan as if it was a joke. 

“Yes.” Doethroat responded coldly. Thriftgrass sat back down, appalled. “You can continue, Minkwhisker.” He told her. 

“I will take Windclan as the new Blueberryclan.” She continued. All the cats that traveled from Windclan hesitantly stepped forward to stand behind Minkwhisker. The group was really small, only having eight cats. Mumblefire stepped forward next. “I’ll take Thunderclan as the new Strawberryclan.” Another group of seven cats stepped forward and walked behind the elder. Elkfoot spoke next. “I’ll take Shadowclan as the new Lemonclan.” This time seven cats stepped forward to stand behind their guide. It was then Doethroat’s turn to speak. “And lastly, I’ll take Skyclan as the new Bananaclan.” Nine cats fell in behind Doethroat. 

Mumblefire spoke to the newly named Strawberryclan. “Mossytail please step forward.” A really young tom walked up to Mumblefire. “Mossytail, you are to be the leader of Strawberryclan.” The ginger tom’s fur prickled in surprise. He was only made a warrior last moon! “Everyone please welcome Strawberrystar of Strawberryclan!” 

There were few cheers for him as the rest of the cats started murmuring to each other. Elkfoot stepped forward to name the leader of Lemonclan. “Pikelight, please step forward.” A young she-cat stepped forward with her head held high. The gray bengal point she-cat’s fur was prickling with excitement this time. “Everyone welcome Lemonstar of Lemonclan!” This time there were more cheers but there were still cats murmuring questions to each other. 

Minkwhisker then named Frostfur as Blueberrystar of Blueberryclan. The pale gray rosetted she-cat smiled nervously as cats cheered for her. Doethroat named Slightbloom as Bananastar of Bananaclan. The silver torbie point looked around, locking gazes with everyone, trying to show her importance. Slightbloom was the oldest cat to be chosen as leader, being 112 moons. 

“Why aren’t you guys being leaders?” Strawberrystar asked in a shaky, nervous voice, just loud enough for everyone to hear. He took a deep breath. “You seem to know what you’re doing.” He said in a clearer voice. All the cats murmured and nodded their heads in agreement with Strawberrystar.

Minkwhisker chuckled. “Oh, my dears. How naive you are.”

“We are Starclan spirits. We were sent and reborn just for this purpose. Even though some of us had to wait very long to fulfill our destiny.” She told all the clans calmly. The other three stood next to her, gazing around at all the cats. 

Some cats in the audience gasped, but others laughed. “Haha! Yeah right!” Lemonstar laughed uncontrollably. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. You just want to avoid responsibility.” She accused them. 

Elkfoot rolled his eyes and stepped out of his living body, emerging as a Starclan spirit. The others followed his actions and all the cats were flabbergasted. Lemonstar looked dumbfounded as he laid his ears all the way back and stepped away, scared. “Oh…” Was all he managed to say. 

“Find the Moon Tree to speak with us and gain your nine lives, leaders.” Minkwhisker spoke before disappearing into the sky with the others. 

--- 

All the medicine cats were wandering the territories. The camps, the borders, and the full-moon meeting place have already been found and figured out. Countless patrols have already gone around mapping out the territory but none have found the Moon Tree that the Starclan guides had talked about. 

It was time for the first half moon meeting on the new territory. Having no communication with Starclan, the medicine cats decided to search the territory surrounding the clans to see if they could find anything. 

“My paws are tired.” Blinkpaw complained. 

“I’m sure we’re almost there.” Her mentor, Droughtwatcher, told her. Lemonclan is lucky to already have a medicine cat apprentice. Flightsky thought to himself. Droughtwatcher was really old and needed an apprentice. Blinkpaw is lucky to have a mentor like him. Flightsky thought back to his own mentor who had been very strict with him. 

“Guys, I think I see something!” Scorchsplash called back to the rest of the medicine cats. They all ran to catch up. They were right along the border of Bananaclan and Strawberryclan. 

Flightsky’s breath was taken away at the sight. There was a tall tree with a bunch of white flowers on its branches with some leaves. In the moonlight it looked as if the tree was glowing. “This is definitely the Moon Tree.” Doveshine said, amazed. 

“Well come on!” Flightsky laughed, running toward the tree. Even though Flightsky was getting old he still had the spunkiness of a kitten. 

All the medicine cats settled around the tree and touched their nose to it as they fell asleep to dream.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey! Welcome to my blog! Thank you to everyone who read all the way through! It is kinda long lol. This clangen blog will follow the story of Strawberryclan and its surrounding clans Lemonclan, Blueberryclan, and Bananaclan!

I will accept any questions and any comments you guys have! If you have the chance could you reblog so my blog can reach more people so my blog can grow? It would help a lot! Thank you for reading and make sure to follow to get more updates!

[warrior-cats-rewritten]

🐈

Another kitty! Meet Stempelt!

Stempelt is a lean, pale gray tom with icy blue eyes. He looks pretty basic. Not a remarkable looking guy!

But he has a strange origin. Stempelt is the son of Runningwind and Redtail. They used a Shadowclan surrogate named Fidgetflower, Fintfang's mate. When they have a litter, they promise the second born kitten to Runningwind and Redtail.

That second born is delivered to Thunderclan by Flintfang soon after its birth, sweet little Stemkit is given to...

"Oh. I didn't know. I'm so sorry for your loss, Runningwind."

Runningwind still takes his newly born son into Thunderclan, stating that this kit is his and Redtail's. Queen's Rights. He loves his son, but this pudgy, squeaking, nose-nipping little baby is a reminder of what's been lost. Runningwind refuses to let it get to him, and fiercely protects the infant, Frostfur sharing her milk with him.

Stemkit quickly grows into Stempaw, a mischievous little apprentice that forms a friendship with the equally mischievous Cloudpaw for what seems to be the express purpose of driving Fireheart insane.

Then, so suddenly and terribly, Runningwind is killed by Tigerclaw. Stempaw mourns heavily, along with the more silently grieving Sandstorm. The two almost siblings don't talk, they enjoy each other's quiet and peace. Sandstorm never knew what to make of Runningwind, but felt connection to him, seeing as Redtail finding her in the woods as a baby had lots of cats marking them down as family.

Stempaw was incredibly upset once more when Cloudpaw leaves Thunderclan, it actually damaged their relationship a little bit forever. It hurt, his best friend leaving with seemingly no trace, especially when he knew Cloudpaw was too tough to be kidnapped.

He was excited when Cloudpaw came back, but once again the feeling would wind up bittersweet when the now trans molly earned her name first, and when denouncing Starclan at that! Stempaw was older than her, it wasn't fair! She was gonna leave him behind again...

Though, he feels horrible when her crush, Brightpaw, is mauled by dogs. He understands her absence then, as Cloudtail fusses over the cat she loves so very much.

At the same time, Mistlepaw, Snowpaw's sister was struggling with her training. Her mother Speckletail was always supportive, but all the support in the world cannot make you pass assessments. Not that it matters much, with Bluestar refusing all apprentices their Warrior names, but Mistlepaw is especially struggling with tracking and battle training. With nothing much else to do, Stempaw helps her out. The 2 grow close, wrestling around together and Mistlepaw helping him with his grief. He forms a good bond with Mistlepaw and Snowpaw.

Firestar, new leader, finally gives almost all the apprentices their new names, including Stempaw, earning the name Stempelt. His mentor, Cherryshine, sister of Ravenpaw and Dustpelt, beams at him, offering him to sit with her and enjoy a good meal of blackbird together.

He fights in the Battle of Bloodclan alongside Mistleberry and Snowpaw (note: Snowpaw earned his name immediately afterwards, as he wasn't quite ready for his new name yet, he could fight, but he insisted he wanted to get his hunting perfect before he got a new name)

Stempelt would make the Journey with Thunderclan after being freed from his cage by Leafpaw, giving all his assistance to Speckletail alongside Mistleberry and Snowtail. Mistleberry and Stempelt became Courts. Almost mates, but not quite.

They held off on having any kits until they were 100% sure they were ready for it. They didn't become official mates until Po3 began, and they only had a litter of kits during The Divided Warriors (The Forgotten Warrior's new title)

During Long Shadows, he is given an apprentice. Deerpaw, new grandson of Tigerstar through his daughter Lynxpetal (a surviving Lynxkit). He acts as a father figure to the nervous little guy, and supports him after he loses one of his paws. Well, he and Graystripe, as Deerpaw was a very unique cat, and needed some extra help with focusing.

Finally, just as it seems things are going badly for the Clans, Mistleberry suddenly gives birth to 2 kittens. Frogkit, a bulky gray tom with green eyes; and Sunkit, a reddish brown spotted tabby molly with amber eyes. Though no one knows it yet, Sunkit is going to transition during apprenticeship, becoming a tom named Volepaw.

Though, tragically, Stempelt will never see this. Stempelt is killed during The Last Hope, fighting against the Dark Forest Trainee, Thornclaw.

He and Mistleberry both perish during the Battle, both watching their boys from Starclan.

[wolfheartofshadowclan]

Spottedleaf's Love: Chapter 1

Hey everyone! What if there was a different story for Spottedleaf if she hadn't died? Would she have become a warrior to be with Fireheart? Or stuck to the medicine cat code like she was supposed to? Or maybe...

Find out what I think in the first of five chapters of my fanfic: Spottedleaf's Love. I hope you enjoy! - Wolfheart

Chapter 1

Spottedleaf shifted uncomfortably in her nest, unable to get to sleep. She’d already sorted through her bedding twice to check for stones and found none, yet she’d been tossing and turning restlessly for hours, and despite the heaviness of her eyelids couldn’t seem to be able to slip into the warm haze of sleep. Finally, she gave up and rose from her nest, giving her pelt a light shake to remove the clinging scraps of moss from it before stretching and wandering over to her herb stocks.

            It was a full moon, and the majority of ThunderClan were gathered at Fourtrees to take part of the Gathering. Bluestar had decided Spottedleaf wouldn’t be attending that night, and Spottedleaf hadn’t minded at the time, unaware that her night would be sleepless, and now she almost wished she were there so she’d at least have something to do.

            She pulled out her herbs from the cracks in the stone where she stored them and began to arrange them into careful piles outside, the shining light of the moon at its brightest illuminating the quiet medicine clearing and helping her paws as she worked. She began to remove all the herbs that were too old and made a mental list of what she needed more of. I have to find some more goldenrod… plenty of comfrey – I only gathered it last week… these marigold leaves look like they’ve been sitting here for the last two leaf-bares! Wrinkling her nose, she put the dusty marigolds aside, the frail leaves almost crumbling apart in her jaws, and decided to dispose of them the next day before carrying on.

            Soon it was almost midnight, and Spottedleaf had just finished sorting through her herbs. Perhaps I’ll have another go at sleep, she thought. After all, sleep is always the best medicine, and no cat can deny that. She padded over to her nest and settled down, tucking her paws beneath her chest and closing her eyes. Just as she was sliding into sleep, a noise roused her. Out in the clearing she heard what sounded like the light patter of paw steps, so quiet that at first she wondered if she had imagined them. She listened to them for a moment as they seemed to cross the clearing, debating whether she should go and investigate, but reluctant to leave her nest now that she finally had a chance at sleep. Eventually, her curiosity won, and she crept out of her den, wondering who was tiptoeing around the camp in the middle of the night.

            At first, she saw nothing but an empty camp, the remaining cats all asleep, but after a few moments she saw, with horror, what she could have never expected. Clawface, a ShadowClan tom, was coming out of the nursery, Frostfur’s four tiny kits swinging from his jaws desperately wailing for help, their tiny mews hardly loud enough for any cat further than she was to hear. Spottedleaf’s eyes widened with horror as the menacing brown tom stalked towards the camp exit. No! she thought desperately. I can’t let him harm them. They’re only kits!

Without thinking, she bounded over to the thorn tunnel as fast as her paws could take her, her heart racing with terror, and skidded to a halt in front of it, swinging around to face Clawface. “Leave them alone, you mange-ridden fox-heart!” she spat, trying not to let her voice tremble as she spoke. “I don’t know where you think you’re taking them!”

            Clawface reached her, curling his lip but looking only mildly surprised to see her. “Spottedleaf, isn’t it?” he growled. “I knew someone would–”

“Brightkit, you’re squishing me!” Cinderkit hissed, interrupting the tom. Brightkit stared at her, taken back. “It’s not my fault!” she protested. “It’s this big, mean–”

“Ugly!” Cinderkit added passionately. “His face is all yuck yuck!” “Right,” Brightkit agreed. “It’s this big, mean, ugly cat’s fault. Let us go!”

Clawface ignored the kits, his eyes lighting up with spiteful delight as a plan formed in his mind, making Spottedleaf feel sick. “Now, let’s keep this nice and easy, shall we?” he purred. Suddenly, he dropped Brightkit alone from his grasp, and she landed on the ground where he pinned her before she could get up. He slowly slid out his claws, spreading them like a dome over the helpless kit’s small, delicate body.

“Now, the choice is all yours,” he snarled murderously, a heartless gleam in his cold eyes. “It’s either your life… or hers.”

Spottedleaf gasped, stepping forward to help Brightkit, but Clawface pressed his paw harder against her, causing Brightkit to whimper. Slowly, she moved backwards, hoping Clawface would release his grip slightly, but the tom left his paw where it was.

“You’re a monster,” she hissed, “and so is any cat who would ever even dream of hurting kits! Only a ShadowClan coward would sneak into our camp during the middle of the night to steal our next generation of warriors without a fight. You can kill me, Clawface, but do not harm these kits.” From beneath Clawface’s paw, Brightkit’s eyes shone with awe, reflecting the moonlight. “Wow,” she breathed.

Clawface was still for a moment, and Spottedleaf searched his gaze, surprised to find a shard of uncertainty there, so she went on. “And what are you, exactly? Brokenstar’s minion? The sidekick that’s never mentioned?” She took a step forward, and she saw Clawface flinch away for a moment, then fluff out his fur, becoming double his usual size, but Spottedleaf wouldn’t back away now. “Sidekick?” he spat. “What nonsense are you talking about now? I’m a loyal ShadowClan warrior doing what my leader asked me to do, and you are nothing but an easily removed obstacle.”

“Is. That. So?” Spottedleaf hissed, letting all the ice she felt towards this cat slide into her voice. I may be a medicine cat, but when it comes to kits, I’ll teach this thistle-brain a lesson he won’t be forgetting in a hurry! She unsheathed her claws, then realised with shock that Clawface had sheathed his own and was putting down the kits, letting Brightkit free from his grip. “Spottedleaf!” Thornkit mewled, hurling himself at her the moment he touched the ground. He nuzzled his way under her belly to hide, and immediately the rest of his littermates joined him, almost making Spottedleaf feel like she was being lifted off the ground.

She stared at Clawface in astonishment. “Uh… th-thank you?” she stammered, sheathing her claws again but wondering what was happening. Had she hit her head or fallen unconscious? Was she dreaming? Clawface stared hard at her. “This time, Spottedleaf,” he growled. “But only this time.” He looked away. “I won’t be weak again.”

Suddenly, a bright ginger ball of fur burst into the clearing and spotted Clawface. “Intruder!” Firepaw yowled, loud enough to scare away all the prey in the forest. He leapt at Clawface, but the skilled fighter dodged aside. Firepaw hissed and lunged again. “Run back to ShadowClan, you flea-pelt!” Spottedleaf yowled at the brown tom. Clawface turned and looked at her one last time, glared at Firepaw, then left, sprinting out of the thorn tunnel. Spottedleaf stood there, frozen by shock. I need a sprig of thyme; luckily, we have plenty of that.

She looked at Firepaw and couldn’t help but be slightly annoyed that the apprentice had turned up, but Firepaw purred as he met her gaze. “Saved you, didn’t I?” he meowed, sounding proud. But in her heart, Spottedleaf knew what had really happened. Not why, but she vowed that she would find out.

[redux-iterum]

I'm not critisizing his reasoning to expose him, that's not my point. I'm only saying he would've likely search for another solution other then execute him, so the fact that the cats he considers like a family killed him in cold blooded without thinking twice, despite knowing how he still cared for him like he was his father, should've made him cross the edge enough to call everyone out. But, you know, it's just my opinion...

I'll repeat what I said in the tags of the previous post: Fireheart is kindhearted, not stupid. He is and was very aware that the execution was the only sensible option in that situation. He talks a bit about this whole thing in a (far) future chapter, so I won't go into much detail here. I'll say that there was no good ending to this problem - letting Tigerclaw live will result in trouble for ThunderClan in the future, whether an action of revenge or him joining another Clan and causing problems there, and killing him will result in pain for the Clan that they'll stuff down and pretend doesn't exist, but the actual danger will be removed. Keeping him in the Clan is infinitely more risky - god knows who he'll strike next - and exiling him doesn't promise safety and relief for ThunderClan. Eliminating him, painful and agonizing though it is, is the safest and most sensible decision.

Does Fireheart like that? No. But he knows it's true. He can't be angry at his Clan for that, and he doesn't want to be. It was the right thing to do. Why do you think he personally helped to stop and defeat Tigerclaw, and testified against him regardless of parental status?

Bear in mind that the cats who executed Tigerclaw, with the exception of Speckletail (who was doing it for Goldenflower), were all personally, deeply harmed by his actions. Frostfur lost her mate, Greystripe lost his mentor, Dustpelt lost his mentor and best friend's father, Goldenflower lost her brother, and Willowpelt's child was permanently crippled by Tigercaw's trap. They had the best reasons for doing what they did - except for perhaps Sandstorm, all of them were wounded deepest and wanted catharsis through punishment. Fireheart can't blame them for it, and neither can I.

[sliverpelt-cats]

Journey of Oak and Red || Chapter 3 || Warriors AU

AU Prompt: Oakheart and Redtail survive the Battle for Sunningrocks, and leave the forest territories for a life out of Tigerclaw's threats.

Characters: Oakheart, Redtail, Panthereye, Dawnstar, Honeyflight, Mousepaw, Mintkit/paw

Warnings: mental break, description of death, loose description of panic attack

Author's Note: Panthereye is just getting aggressive 👀

Timeframe: About the end of Into the Wild, start of Fire and Ice

°°°

Redtail was lulling to sleep just outside of the warrior's den, when he felt a paw prod his side. His hazel eyes opened, to see Panthereye's blue eyes peering at him in the dark. "Crabstorm wants to see you?"

"Right now? At moonhigh?" Redtail yawned, "shouldn't he be asleep?"

"Well, not after who he just met." At the look in the she-cat's eyes, the tom jumped up to run into the priest's den. He heard Panthereye's pawsteps behind him as Crabstorm slowly looked up at his clanmates.

"Redtail," the brown tom meowed, his voice deep and harsh.

Was Tigerclaw here? Did he really hunt Redtail this far?

Crabstorm dipped his paw into the moonpool between him and Redtail, Panthereye sitting to the side of the two toms. The water ripped to reveal a spotted tortoiseshell she-cat Redtail recognised instantly. "You didn't tell your sister you were leaving...?"

"Spottedleaf..."

"Tigerclaw said you drowned," the she-cat's voice echoed. "He said that Oakheart pushed you into the river, knowing you can't swim. So he drowned Oakheart in the river. As soon as I came to StarClan, our mother told me you weren't here. Neither was Oakheart."

The fox-pelt like tom lowered his head, crouching beside the water. "I pushed Oakheart towards the lake, but I tripped- lost my footing on the riverbank."

"You tripped, or you lost your footing?" Panthereye spoke up, her blue eyes staring at Redtail. "Sounds like you don't know what happened."

She thinks Tigerclaw will come for her clan if he finds out I'm here. "No, I tripped. I tripped on something and fell in the river. Oakheart fought with me underwater before we both passed out. We resurfaced by the barn and left from there." Redtail explained, looking at Panthereye in hopes she would believe him.

"But if Tigerclaw didn't avenge you," Spottedleaf's spirit in the pool started, "then why would he lie? And what did you trip on?"

"Panthereye?" Mousepaw's sleepy voice mewed as he entered the priest's den. "I can't sleep."

"Eat some poppy seeds and try again." Once her apprentice wandered back into their den, Panthereye wondered aloud, "what if you tripped on Tigerclaw?"

"You did say he threatened to kill you. Maybe he was trying to actually kill you," Crabstorm reasoned. He shook his body, his brown fur fluffing up in the Leafbare chill. "Anyway, I figured you may want to talk with your sister. You know, Spottedleaf being your sister and all.

Panthereye purred quietly, rubbing her head against Redtail's cheek before heading back to her own den through the vines at the doctor's den entrance. "Thank you, Crabstorm," he meowed to the tom, who pawed back into his nest. "How'd you go to StarClan?"

"Clawface killed me when he was stealing Frostfur's kits." Spottedleaf explained. "You know, Willowpelt was pretty heartbroken over the news of your death. You're our only brother, and she doesn't know you're still alive."

"It's for the best, Sister," Redtail purred. "I'd rather she thinks I'm dead rather than her seeing my cold body. What about Dustpaw? How's he doing?"

Spottedleaf hummed. "Darkstripe's his mentor now."

"I would have preferred Willowpelt mentor him," Redtail grumbled.

"She was mourning you when Bluestar appointed Dustpaw a new mentor. It wasn't fair to our sister, when your apprentice would only remind her of you even more."

The tom nodded in agreement, stretching his tail to make sure he doesn't fall asleep while talking to his sister. "Bluestar mentioned bringing a kittypet to the clan. How did that go?"

"Firepaw is a spirited one, that's for sure. Much like you, dare I say. Stubborn too - he didn't let Longtail scare him off."

"Then he'll be a good warrior for ThunderClan?"

"Bluestar wouldn't have brought him to the clan otherwise, Redtail." Spottedleaf's spirit turned as if someone was calling her. "Leopardfoot is calling me. I'll come speak to you again soon, Brother."

"Wait, Spottedleaf-" But it was no use. Redtail watched as the water rippled on its own, a reflection of himself appearing where Spottedleaf has been. He was alone with his thoughts, as he slowly walked back to the warriors den and found his empty nest to curl in. It was nice to see his sister's face again, and Redtail was glad that his family was taking care of her in StarClan.

Redtail continued to clean his head, almost bathing in the sunhigh light beaming through the treetops. Honeyflight and Oakheart had accompanied Panthereye to gather herbs, with the news of PantherClan warriors lurking in rival clan territories.

LionClan's leader had suggested attacking PantherClan at their camp, to prove to the rival clan that the other clans weren't to be messed with, but thankfully Dawnstar and LeopardClan's Quillstar had reasoned with her.

He just hoped his clanmates would return unharmed. Especially Panthereye. Redtail looked up as the apprentices battle trained in the middle of the clearing, Mousepaw off to the side. The young tom watched silently, his eyes glancing at the camp entrance.

"Looking out for Panthereye?"

Mousepaw nodded. "She usually gives me things to do at dawn, but she left before I even woke up." His tail tapped the forest floor impatiently, and Redtail sat beside him. "She doesn't usually take this long; I'm getting worried, Redtail."

"She teaches you battle moves, doesn't she?" The young tom nodded. "Then she'll be fine. And she has two of the clan's strongest warriors with her."

"I think you're stronger than Honeyflight," Mousepaw meowed gently, his gaze turning to his littermates.

Redtail felt his heart swell at the compliment.

"PantherClan attacked!" Oakheart's voice hissed, as he and Panthereye tumbled into the camp. Both of them had deep wounds over their bodies, Panthereye's mostly on her flank while Oakheart's were covering his stomach and back.

Redtail felt his heart sink at the sight.

Panthereye's body trembled as she held Honeyflight's limp body in her jaws. "Mousepaw!" She yowled, moving hastily towards her den. "Get every herb we need!"

The apprentice scampered into their den, probably climbing the tree as fast as he could to get to the herb store. Redtail moved to help the doctor carry their clanmate's body. The light ginger she-cat whined as she felt another cat's teeth on her hind, lifting her off the ground.

Redtail heard Oakheart wheezing in the background, explaining the attack to Dawnstar. The next thing he heard was his heart beating in his ears. Loud thumps against his eardrums.

Thump. Thump. THUMP.

Once Honeyflight's heaving body lay on the moss nest, Panthereye and Mousepaw worked diligently to save the warrior.

Thump. Thump. THUMP.

"Redtail, you know some medical practices," Dawnstar's voice gently murmured. "Oakheart's wounds need tending to."

Thump. Thump. THUMP.

Oakheart's purrs interrupted Redtail's heartbeat, the brown tabby watching Redtail. "Hey, Redtail?"

The tom felt his lungs tighten, his hazel eyes staring intensely at the dirt floor.

Thump. Thump. THUMP.

"Hey, hey," Panthereye's voice purred, and he felt her matted fur against his side. "Deep breaths, focus on my voice. You can do it." Her purrs vibrated her body, the tabico she-cat pressing herself to Redtail as he calmed down. "It's okay."

Redtail let out a throaty whine, headbutting his cheek to the back of Panthereye's head. "I thought- you- I-"

"I'm okay," she purred. Her head slowly turned, and lifted her forehead to his chin. "Oakheart took the worst of it, after Honeyflight." Her voice cracked as she murmured, "oh, Honeyflight."

The fox-like tortoiseshell looked up to see the cold, pale ginger body of his clanmate lifeless on the nest. "She's with StarClan now."

"She shouldn't be," Panthereye's bitter hiss fell from her lips. "This is our territory. They had no right to attack us again."

Oakheart licked at his wounds as Mousepaw covered the remaining. Clearly, he wasn't too bothered by the taste of poultice. After what the brown tabby had just been through, Redtail couldn't blame him. "Thankfully we saw it coming. We could protect Panthereye, with what training she didn't have."

"You shouldn't have had to. Honeyflight shouldn't have needed to die for my safety," the tabico she-cat hissed again, before taking a breath and standing. Her legs shook as pain wracked her body, reminding her of the battle.

Brushstorm's pawsteps stopped as the she-cat entered the den. "Dawnstar, Honeyspot and Dewfish recommend a warrior ceremony for Finpaw and Firepaw."

"Not now, Brushstorm."

"Dawnstar-"

"I said, not now." The tom growled, moving from beside Honeyflight's body to Panthereye's side. "My littermate needs me, Brushstorm. Tell them to inform Silkstep of a burial."

The deputy nodded, and wordlessly left the doctor's den. Redtail shook his head, pressing his muzzle to Panthereye's as she sought comfort in his warmth. The doctor eventually shook herself, her legs growing used to standing as she nodded at Honeyflight. "Carry her out of the den. Mousepaw and I need to prepare her body for the vigil."

"Panthereye," Dawnstar started, but upon seeing the stare his sister shot him, the leader obeyed her orders and lifted Honeyflight's front onto his back. Redtail took the late she-cat's flank on his own, following Panthereye to the main floor of the doctor's den. "If you need anything, Sister-"

"I need you, Oakheart and Redtail to get out." Panthereye's voice monotonous, as she stared at her clanmate's body. "Oakheart will need some rest, and he can do that in his own den."

Redtail found no trace of the gentle and kind she-cat who welcomed him and Oakheart to TigerClan some moons ago. All he saw was a silver tabico she-cat who was now a shell of her former self.

"Losing your best friend will do that," Dawnstar meowed softly, obviously knowing what Redtail was thinking. "My dear sister has held the lives of her clanmates in her paws for many moons, and none of them has torn her as much as this; even our parents. I assume a grey and white tom was there, Oakheart?"

The brown tom looked up at the leader at the question. "Yes, how did you know?"

"Lakepelt left TigerClan when our mother passed two newleafs ago. Pheasanttail, our sister, left when we were apprentices for LeopardClan. She saw a better life there." Dawnstar sat to lick his dirty paws. "Lakepelt wanted nothing to do with us after she left, he only stayed for Riverwind, our mother. Panthereye and I were our father's greatest prides. Lakepelt came second to even Pheasanttail, and she was second to us in our father's eyes.

"Seeing our brother attack her clanmates must have wrecked Panthereye." Dawnstar lowered his head, staring at the ground. "I wish she could tell me things. I'm her brother."

Redtail watched the leader as he silently walked to his tree, climbing the trunk to call a clan meeting. "You're okay, right?" He whispered to Oakheart.

"Worried about me?"

"I know you can fight just fine," the tortoiseshell hissed at his friend, before sitting to listen in to the meeting. "Had to check."

"PantherClan has ruthlessly attacked our patrol, and killed one of our own in battle." Dawnstar's voice echoed. "We will sit vigil for Honeyflight tonight. Both Panthereye and Oakheart have suffered great wounds, but will heal with time. For now, I have made come to learn that a young kit is awaiting her apprentice ceremony."

A small, dark ginger she-cat bounced energetically beside Silkstep. Clearly, the young she-cat couldn't wait, as she bounded up to the tree's trunk before Dawnstar could continue. "Mintkit, you have reached the age of seven moons, and your apprenticeship is long overdue. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Mintpaw. Your mentor will be Redtail."

All eyes fell on him, as Redtail stared up at his leader in surprise.

"Redtail, you are ready to take on an apprentice. Crabstorm has told me you had a few apprentices in your former clan, as StarClan has told him. Your swimming technique may need some work," the clan let out laughs at this, "but you have proven yourself to be hardworking and caring. You will be the mentor of Mintpaw and I expect you to pass on all you know to her." His dark blue eyes cast over to the doctor's den, as Panthereye painfully carried Honeyflight's body to the middle of the gathered cats. "Clan dismissed."

Panthereye walked to Redtail and Oakheart's side, a smile rising on her face. "Congratulations, Redtail. Your first TigerClan apprentice."

"How are you feeling?" Redtail murmured, pressing his nose to her head and gave her forehead gentle licks. "I can take Mousepaw off your paws for a bit, if you like."

"No, I'll be fine. Thank you." She purred, lifting her head to lick his cheek. "I've sent him to check on Silkstep and Wheateyes. She's expecting more kits again." Her purrs vibrated from her body to the tom's, her tail flicking at Redtail's new apprentice. "You should take her out, he'd enjoy looking around the territory."

Redtail nodded. "Why don't you come? Fresh air from outside camp might be good." He suggested, watching the she-cat facial expressions change momentarily. She accepted his offer, waiting by the camp entrance as Redtail went to fetch his new apprentice. "Mintpaw, we're going with Panthereye to the wider territory. We'll show you around, and all the best hunting spots."

"Is that wise?" Wheateyes meowed softly, looking up from her daughter to the warrior. "I know you mean well, Redtail, but...well, Honeyflight was killed from a PantherClan ambush only a few moments ago."

"I'll protect her with my life," Redtail promised, blinking slowly at the queen. She followed Mousepaw towards the doctor's den without another word.

The young apprentice bounced around her mentor's paws. "Are we going to catch a deer like the one you all brought back a quarter-moon ago? Are we going to fight PantherClan for killing Honeyflight?"

"No cat is killing anyone, and the deer have been all spooked off for the past few days," Panthereye purred at the young she-cat's excitement. "Right now, Redtail is going to show you the more important parts of our territory - after our camp, of course."

"How do you know PantherClan killed Honeyflight?" Redtail frowned, looking down at his apprentice.

Mintpaw padded ahead of him, "Finpaw and Firepaw were talking about it before my ceremony."

He continued to think about the fact a 6 moon old kit already knew about a death in the clan. It wasn't much of a surprise, considering the size of the clan, but for a kit to hear about it and not be scared concerned Redtail to no end.

"And what's this?" Mintpaw swiped a paw at the spinning water, ripples relaying from the gentle attack.

"This is the Riverpool. The first doctor of TigerClan named this spot after himself; it's found that it has healing properties."

Mintpaw stared up at the older she-cat, and Redtail noted the adoration on his apprentice's face. "Do you and Mousepaw still use it?"

"It's more like just a pool," Panthereye chuckled, dipping her paws into it. "I don't think there's ever been healing water in this; it streams from the mountains in LionClan's territory. It wouldn't make sense if only we had healing water, when the river runs from another clan's territory."

"It's cold." Mintpaw shivered, shaking and stepped back from the water's edge.

"We also use this to teach apprentices how to swim."

The apprentice shook her head. "No way, it's too cold."

"You have thick fur," Redtail reminded her. He nodded at his own, short fur and fluffy tail. "The only part of me that keeps warm in the river is my tail, and that's not very helpful when all of my important organs aren't in my tail." As Mintpaw headed on deeper into the forest with happiness in her step, Redtail and Panthereye padded a tail-length away.

Her shoulder pressed against his. "How are you?"

"Good, I think. I get why Mintpaw didn't want to go into the pool, it really is cold. You look freezing." He gestured at Panthereye's drenched fur with his nose to her back. "And you're so small. I'm surprised you didn't slip under."

Panthereye snorted. "First of all, let me remind you about the grown tom that couldn't swim. Second, I'm just the perfect size! And the pool's shallow enough for a kit to have their head just above the water."

"Well, you're almost apprentice-sized, so..."

She playfully swiped at his nose, before licking his cheek affectionately. Panthereye trotted on, catching up to the young, silver she-cat. If Panthereye didn't have the splotches of light brown and light grey on her silver pelt, or if Mintpaw had the splotches, Redtail would say the two she-cats were identical. Their walking patterns were almost the same, and their mannerisms matched.

"What's that smell?" Mintpaw murmured, her ears bent back in fear, and Redtail caught up to the she-cats.

Panthereye approached the bush in front of the three of them, crouching and lifting her nose to sniff at the shrubbery. After a moment, she turned to the warrior and apprentice. "PantherClan scent markers, is what it is. They've sprayed the shrubs."

"We should report it to Dawnstar," Redtail nodded and turned back the way they had come. As they entered the camp again, the tom let his apprentice take something to eat and sit with her denmates. As he and Panthereye approached Dawnstar outside of his den, the silver tabby's expression changed to one of concern. "PantherClan has left their scent."

Dawnstar nodded, and at the mention of the Gathering the following night, he turned to his warrior and doctor. "None of us will speak of this at the Gathering. The PantherClan attack and scenting will be kept a secret unless PantherClan themselves mention it."

"Dawnstar-"

"Panthereye. It will not be mentioned unless PantherClan does." The tom looked at the clan doctor sternly. The she-cat returned the look with a grumble, and she turned to her den, disappearing through the vine. Dawnstar sighed, looking from the vine-covered entrance to the warrior. "Promise me you'll keep an eye on her? This was bound to happen, but I didn't think it'd happen so soon... she's not young, but she's not old enough to be a grumpy old she-cat yet. She still has so much of her life to be happy about, an apprentice who adores her more than life itself."

Redtail remembered the adoration Mintpaw watched Panthereye with. Mousepaw certainly wasn't the only apprentice to look at her with such amazement. Before he could ask anything about it, Dawnstar had turned to enter his own den and escape from the outside world.

[talonslockau]

Forest of Secrets - Chapter 49

Chapter 48 || Index || Chapter 50

Fireheart stepped up alongside the Highrock, staring at the giant stone as it loomed over the clearing. Tonight was the Gathering, and once again, it seemed as if he would be going alone. He hadn’t seen Bluestar since confronting her, and forcing her to go to a Gathering didn’t seem as if it was the best time to re-establish communication with her. So it seemed that he would be going alone once more.

Though he tried not to let his anxiety get to him, his stomach was doing somersaults as he bunched his hindquarters and prepared to jump. The leaders had all been kind enough last time, but he knew that curiosity had tempered their tongues - he feared what they would say now that Bluestar was missing her second Gathering. Newleaf had arrived in full force, and the rest of the Clans were surely gathering strength to -

“Fireheart?” He blinked out of his thoughts as he heard a familiar voice, abandoning his leap to turn and see Bluestar emerging from the lichen curtain covering her den. “You haven’t brought me the list of cats going to the Gathering. It’s the full moon tonight, or have you not noticed?”

He stared at her in confusion, while she returned his stare expectantly. Her tone was so manner-of-fact, he had to wonder if he’d somehow missed an apology; either to her or from her. Had they spoken recently and he’d forgotten about it? It had only been a few days, and yet-

“Fireheart.” She repeated, her icy blue eyes narrowing as her silver tail tip began to flicker. 

“Er-  Right. Us and the healers, of course, and the queens and elders that want to go - though I don’t suspect any queens will take us up on the offer, with Princess’ kits needing supervision and Frostfur close to kitting.” He didn’t know what was happening, but he would rather go along with it than start an argument in front of the Clan right before the Gathering. “Whitestorm and Lionheart want to stay behind in case too - so I was thinking Tinyfrost, Dappleshine, Mistspring, Willowbranch, Peppermask, Longtail, Cedarpaw, and Brackenpaw.” He left out Graystripe for obvious reasons, and Cinderspark, who had only taken to training Snowkit harder ever since Fireheart had broken the news about Bluestar’s decision to her.

“Thank you.” She stepped stiffly past him and scrambled up the Highrock - not as graceful as in times past, but still a sight better than when she had conducted Thornpaw’s ceremony. She was still abnormally skinny, and something about the way she moved was off, but she was better than she had been, and that alone gave Fireheart some hope for this Gathering.

“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!” She called out. Cats began filtering into the center of camp, looking shocked by the sudden appearance of their leader - especially, he noted, Yellowfang herself. He wondered briefly if this was going against Yellowfang’s judgement - but he had no time to question it now, with the leader already atop the rock and staring down at her Clan.

“The Gathering is tonight.” Bluestar mewed simply. It was a far cry from her normally elaborate speeches, and he could tell every cat knew it - still, none chose to question her just yet. “In addition to Fireheart, Yellowfang, Dewpaw, as well as any queens and elders that wish to come, I have chosen Tinyfrost, Dappleshine, Mistspring, Willowbranch, Peppermask, Longtail, Cedarpaw, and Brackenpaw to join us. Whitestorm will be in charge of camp while we are gone. Meeting dismissed.”

He could see some grumbles in the crowd as they dispersed - Dustleap and Patchpelt in particular looked displeased - but neither were vocal enough to reach his ears as he accompanied Bluestar to the camp entrance. He glanced questioningly at Yellowfang and Dewpaw as they approached, wondering if the healers were going to lodge their own complaint, but Yellowfang gave a grunt and a shrug that signaled to him she’d allow Bluestar to lead them tonight, even if she wasn’t happy with it.

They waited at the camp entrance for a moment to allow everyone to assemble, before Bluestar impatiently flicked her tail. “That’s everyone. Let’s go.” With that, she disappeared through the bramble entrance, leaving Fireheart to follow after her.

It wasn’t long until they were journeying through the forest, Fireheart keeping pace alongside Bluestar. “At the last Gathering, I told the other Clans about what happened with Tigerclaw and Brokentail. They know Brokentail was killed during the fighting, but they don’t know we were protecting him.” He mewed softly to her, trying to gently brief her on what had happened in her absence without upsetting her. She merely flicked a gray ear in response, so he continued. “I told them that you had been poisoned by Tigerclaw, and that’s why you couldn’t come to the last Gathering. I also told them about my sister’s kits, since you didn’t do it at the Gathering before that.”

She finally turned her blue gaze to him, nodding curtly. “Thank you, Fireheart. Is there any news from the other Clans I should be briefed on?”

He thought back quickly. Most of that Gathering had been such a blur - he’d been so relieved to be done with it, he’d nearly passed out before Tallstar had finished speaking. “I don’t remember them saying much of note. Tallstar and Nightstar both were pleased to hear about Brokentail’s death, and Tallstar promised that if Tigerclaw was sighted on Windclan territory, he’d be taken care of quickly. He also said if we needed any help, we need only ask.” He glanced back at the line of cats behind him furtively. Most were engaged in quiet conversation with each other, none paying close attention to the leader and deputy at the front. “Also, Yellowfang told the Clan that you had come down with an illness she didn’t recognize, which is why we had warriors posted outside your den. If you plan to address them later-”

“I see.” Bluestar interrupted him before he could finish, and he looked back to her to see that she was focused on the path ahead now. “What about Riverclan?”

Fireheart blinked slowly at her. Her tone was so dismissive compared to when he had first told her about feeding Riverclan, he suddenly felt wary that he was being baited into some sort of trap. Still, he felt compelled to answer her. “The river has returned to normal, so Riverclan is back in their camp, and I’ve commenced regular patrols along the border again. As far as I’ve seen, Riverclan is doing well, all things considered.” His spine suddenly prickled as he remembered what had happened after meeting with Crookedstar. “That reminds me - the tree bridge across the river is -”

He didn’t get to finish his sentence as they emerged from the woodland bushes to see the now-fortified bridge. He had to admire the work of the apprentices and elders - it almost looked like the Twoleg bridge with how the branches had been artfully arranged to both stabilize the tree across and allow for safe passage for even the stiffest elder. “It caught some strong branches during the flood, so I had the apprentices and elders reinforce it so it was safe to cross.” He finished as Bluestar stepped closer, sniffing it delicately.

“You’re certain it’s safe?” The leader asked, testing the tree with one slender paw. It didn’t budge.

“It better be.” Fireheart turned to see One-eye approaching, rolling her one good eye. “Fireheart had the elders cross it more times than I can count to make sure it was safe for us creaky old crows. The way he was worrying, you’d think we couldn’t make it across without being carried like newborn kits.”

“I wanted to make sure the apprentices did a good job!” He replied, trying to keep his fur from bristling at her abrasive tone. He hadn’t meant it as an insult, though he could see how the elders might take it that way.

“And we certainly proved that they did, didn’t we?” He noticed the white elder’s whiskers twitching, and realized she’d merely been poking fun at him. “If these old bones can make it across, Bluestar, I’m certain yours can too. But if you’re so concerned, then I’d be happy to demonstrate.”

One-eye hopped up on the log without a second thought, crossing it nonchalantly. As she had promised, it didn’t even wobble beneath her paws, and Bluestar sniffed approvingly at it. “Good work, then.” She told him stiffly, before following the elder across. Fireheart stepped aside as the rest of the Gathering patrol lined up, preparing to make sure everyone crossed safely.

He kept a watchful eye as cat after cat stepped up. None paid him much attention, except for Peppermask, who nosed him in greeting before delicately climbing through the roots. He waved his tail in greeting, then turned his eyes to the two apprentices that had come along, who were whispering eagerly to each other. They nodded politely as they passed him, and he gave them a small smile. It was their first Gathering - though it seemed ages ago now, he remembered how he had felt when he had first gone with Pepperpaw, Ravenpaw, and Graypaw. Back when the Shadowclan elders had been his biggest problem…

He followed after Brackenpaw, doing his best to appear dignified even as he dug his claws into the barkless wood beneath him. It had been seasons since he had fallen into the river with Graystripe, but he still didn’t dare to look down - afraid that if he did, somehow, his paws would fall away beneath him and he would find himself in the river once more.

He was relieved to find himself safely on the other side next to Bluestar. “That’s everyone.” He told her confidently, like Tigerclaw and Quickflash had before him. Had Redtail said the same to her, for so many moons? He didn’t get the chance to ask as she nodded stiffly and turned away, proudly leading the Clan up the slope to Fourtrees. Just as she had for seasons before, and hopefully would for seasons after.

As they reached the top of the hollow, his eyes easily picked out the three leaders of the other Clans, their deputies positioned watchfully nearby. He did his best not to bristle at the sight of Leopardflame and Wolfstep. They wouldn’t be able to challenge him, now that Bluestar was with him, but the memory of the last full moon still made his hackles rise.

On Bluestar’s silent signal, Thunderclan raced to join the others in the hollow below. He longed to join the throng of other warriors and revel in tales of battle, but instead he reluctantly followed after Bluestar, Yellowfang, and Dewpaw to the Great Rock in the center of Fourtrees. He clambered up to where the other deputies were waiting, skittishly avoiding the Riverclan and Shadowclan deputies to sit alongside the only one that hadn’t lashed out at him - Deadfoot.

“Young Fireheart.” The older black tom dipped his head smoothly in greeting to the Thunderclanner. “I see Bluestar is well enough to attend this moon’s Gathering after Tigerclaw’s wretched attack on your Clan.”

“She is, thanks to Starclan - and Yellowfang’s constant care.” The ginger tom replied, looking anxiously out at the crowd of cats below them. The deputies weren’t situated quite so high up on the Great Rock as the leaders, but it still felt like a dizzying height. What if he fell from here, in front of all the other Clans? They’d all see, and then-

He realized with a start that Deadfoot was still looking at him expectantly, waiting for him to make conversation. Of course - he was deputy now, he was supposed to talk with the other deputies! “Er- I heard you had kits with Ashfoot, right? How are they doing?” He asked, giving his best attempt at a friendly smile to the other deputy.

The black tom’s dark eyes crinkled in a warm smile at the mention of his kits. “They’re all growing up so fast. Crowkit gives his mother such trouble arguing with her all the time, and Eaglekit and Kestrelkit are always trying to find new ways out of camp, the little scamps.” He shook his head sadly, even as his fond smile remained. “But Ravenkit - she’s my pride and joy, she is. Just like her mother, in all the best ways.”

Fireheart blinked in surprise at the familiar name, which Deadfoot observed even through his almost-closed eyes. “Yes, we named her after a loner that helped us when we were at our lowest. I’m certain that we wouldn’t have our four beautiful kits without his help.” The older tom observed, his smile dropping slightly as he gave the other deputy a steady, knowing stare.

He glanced at the other two deputies, but they were absorbed in their own talks. “I’m sure he would be honored to hear that.” Fireheart mewed, leaning into the Windclan tom so he could talk quietly. “How is he, by the way? You share a border with him, so you must see him-”

“Worried about you.” Deadfoot replied calmly, the smile completely leaving his lips as he trained his gaze on Fireheart. “He asked for news about Thunderclan when we last spoke, about two moons ago. I wasn’t able to give him any then, but he seemed quite nervous and asked me to tell him if anything happened to you or Bluestar.”

His heart sank as he thought of Ravenspirit, kneading worriedly at the ground as he awaited news of his friends back in Thunderclan. They had arrived so suddenly that night, and left just as quickly - and since then, he hadn’t had the opportunity to go and visit the lost Thunderclanner. “Please, if you can - can you find him and tell him what happened with Tigerclaw? Let him know that no Thunderclanner died in the attack, and that Tigerclaw and Darkstripe have both been banished. And, if it’s not too much to ask - can you tell him that if he ever wants to return home, he knows where to find me?”

Deadfoot dipped his head politely. “Of course I can. I’m sure Tallstar won’t mind me checking on our farthest border after the Gathering ends. It won’t be any trouble.” He glanced around to see if anyone was paying them any attention, but all the other cats nearby were too absorbed in their conversations to pay the two deputies any heed. “Tallstar filled me in about his situation. If I may be so bold as to ask - how was Tigerclaw involved in his ‘death’?”

Fireheart grimaced and looked out at the crowd of cats still happily chatting for a few heartbeats. Ravenspirit could have been one of them, if it weren’t for Tigerclaw. “He saw Tigerclaw kill Redtail.” Fireheart finally replied, turning back to the black Windclanner with his own focused stare. “When Tigerclaw learned of this, he manipulated the Clan into believing Ravenspirit was a Brokentail spy. Everyone believed Tigerclaw - after all, why would anyone say such terrible things about their own son if they weren’t true?” He felt his shoulders beginning to bristle at the thought - and the memory of his own involvement, however accidental it was. “I helped Ravenspirit escape and told the Clan he was dead - killed by Brokentail while defending us. His list of murders was already long enough - no one had trouble believing he’d kill an apprentice.”

Deadfoot looked disgusted at the revelation. “He killed Redtail?” He took a moment to ponder it before composing himself. “Redtail was a good cat - a fine deputy to Thunderclan. I won’t say that we were friends, but he certainly deserved a more honorable death than that.”

The young deputy nodded in understanding. “So I’ve heard. I never knew him in life - he died the day I joined Thunderclan, you see - but I saw how everyone mourned for him. I wish I could have met him.” He didn’t mention seeing Redtail haunting Thunderclan territory seeking revenge for his death - Yellowfang had already told him to keep it quiet once, and he didn’t see how another Clan knowing about it would do anyone good.

“Yet now you sit in his place.” Deadfoot observed calmly. His heart lurched at the sudden reminder that he was deputy, and his pelt started to prickle uncomfortably. To his surprise, the other deputy seemed to purr at his reaction. “I do not know why Bluestar chose you as deputy, Fireheart; I can only judge you based on what I have seen. And from what I have seen, you are compassionate and understanding, brave but not reckless, determined but not stubborn; all good qualities in a deputy and a leader both. As I said before, I was not especially close with Redtail, but I think he would be pleased to see a cat like you succeed him.”

Fireheart’s fur grew as hot as flames as he did his best to bow gratefully from a sitting position. “I- I’m honored you think of me that way, Deadfoot.”

Deadfoot slowly blinked in acknowledgement of the gesture as Fireheart sat back up. “You defeated Brokentail and his rogues - thrice, from what I’ve heard - and brought my Clan back home. There is not much you could do that would change my opinion of you.” He flicked an ear towards the gathered crowd of warriors. “And you have stood in front of all of them and addressed them as a leader would. That’s a difficult position to be in, even for a deputy as experienced as myself; that you did it on your first moon as deputy of Thunderclan is admirable, even if no one else quite understands that.”

He took in a deep breath at the other deputy’s words, trying not to show just how nervous that had made him. “I- It was scary.” He admitted as he slowly exhaled, looking out into the crowd. “I thought I was going to fall off.”

“Well, at least the healers are all there at the bottom to catch you.” Deadfoot’s whiskers twitched as he pointed out the circle of healers with a flick of his tail. “I remember my first Gathering as deputy. Heatherstar had just died - that was our leader before Tallstar, you see - and Tallstar had chosen me, of all cats, to replace him. I had only just started training Mudpaw - Mudclaw now - a few moons before. I didn’t know what I was doing, and I was so scared of messing everything up, but he was so patient with me. He explained everything to me, and kept his tail on mine the entire time in case I needed him.”

Fireheart glanced up the rock towards the leaders, where Bluestar was in hushed conversation with Crookedstar. “That sounds nice. I know that Bluestar… she has her own issues to worry about, but…” He trailed off, not sure how to explain how overwhelmed he was.

“And it’s not like Tigerclaw’s around to help guide you, either.” Deadfoot huffed derisively at the thought of the traitorous tabby. With a gentle flick, his dark tail came to rest on Fireheart’s ginger one as he looked earnestly into the youngest deputy’s eyes. “If you need any help or advice, you need only ask me. Windclan is a staunch ally of Thunderclan; after all you’ve done for us, a little advice is the least I can do.”

The Thunderclan deputy nodded and glanced out at the crowd, pondering Deadfoot’s offer. As an apprentice, he had been told that there were four Clans for a reason; that getting too close to one another would only lead to disaster. He had seen that with Silverstream and Graystripe. Yet, as he looked out now, he saw only old friends chatting with each other, apprentices playfully bounding over tree trunks while elders grouchily recalled days long past. 

Lionheart had told him that Bluestar was more eager to keep the peace with Windclan than fight over their wide-open territories; Tallstar himself had mentioned during the last Gathering that he hoped never to see his Clan war with Thunderclan again. It seemed unlikely that he would ever meet Deadfoot in battle, and so what was the harm of taking him up on his offer? He needed help more than ever these days.

“What does a deputy even do at a Gathering?” Fireheart finally asked, turning back to the other deputy bashfully. “I’ll be honest, I never really paid attention to any of them while they were on the rock. The only time I noticed them was at a Gathering a couple of seasons back, when Leopardflame spoke out against Bluestar.”

At the mention of her name, the golden tabby turned around with a snarl already on her lips. “What was that?” She brashly challenged the younger deputy, her sleek fur beginning to rise along her shoulders.

The ginger tom stared back at her steadily, refusing to be threatened by her aggressive display. “I was just talking to Deadfoot about the Gathering I was announced a warrior at - the one the Clans agreed to bring Windclan back, remember?” He replied nonchalantly. Surely she wouldn’t want to repeat her remarks in front of the Windclan deputy’s face, after all - she was unnecessarily bold, but even she couldn’t be that tactless.

Her nose rankled, though he couldn’t tell whether it was because of his calm demeanor or the memory of Bluestar’s lecture. “Whatever.” She spat at him before whirling back around to mutter something to Wolfstep.

Deadfoot observed the exchange quietly before returning his dark gaze to Fireheart. “Things might be different for Thunderclan, but I can tell you what Tallstar told me.” He answered at last, looking out over the crowd. “Before the Gathering starts, you’re supposed to keep an eye on the warriors of your Clan - make sure they’re not getting too rowdy in their boasting, stop any fights before they start.”

Fireheart blinked in surprise, looking quickly out at the many cats and trying to pick out the other Thunderclan cats. He wasn’t sure he even remembered who he had picked to come. “Does that happen often?”

“Almost never.” He relaxed at the Windclan tom’s words. “Maybe in leafbare, when prey is scarce and tempers flare, but once the temperature rises and the prey returns the warriors are more respectful of the truce. If two Clans are fighting, the more headstrong among them might get into an argument - but they don’t want to risk being forbidden from Gatherings for spilling blood on sacred ground.”

Fireheart nodded slowly, trying not to show his surprise at the last part. He hadn’t known that banishment for breaking that law of the code was an option; but then, he didn’t know the punishments for breaking most laws of the Code. “What else?” He asked, hoping the other deputy didn’t tire from his questions.

“It’s also important to talk to the other deputies and get to know them. As deputies, we may very well all become leaders one day. It helps to have an understanding of what motivates each cat and how they think when it comes time to negotiate with them.” He flicked an ear quickly towards the other two deputies. “Even merely listening can reveal a great deal of information.”

“LIke what?” The ginger deputy asked curiously as he glanced towards the Riverclan and Shadowclan deputies. He knew Leopardflame well, or as well as he cared to know her; much like Sandstorm, he imagined, she was stubborn and fierce, but still loyal to the code and her Clan. He knew little about Wolfstep; he imagined the dark tom hadn’t agreed with Brokentail’s leadership, given he hadn’t followed him into exile, but he didn’t know much of anything else.

“Take, for example, that spat you just had with her.” Deadfoot flicked his tail towards Leopardflame, keeping his voice low so she wouldn’t turn back to them. “I know by now that she only backs down from an argument on Crookedstar’s orders, or when she knows she can’t win. She only yields to strong cats that can best her in battle - cats like Tigerclaw, for example, who she was quite fond of.”

They both wrinkled their nose at the mention of the exiled deputy. “I mean no offense by this, since you’ve beaten Brokentail himself, but you hide your strength well. You’re not the kind of cat she would bow to.” Fireheart didn’t argue with Deadfoot there - he was hardly as big as Lionheart, Brokentail, or Tigerclaw, nor did he imagine he ever would be. “That she didn’t argue further means that she’s afraid of what Crookedstar would say if he overheard. Meanwhile, you were quite calm when you brought up her argument with Bluestar; you weren’t nervous about it, which shows you knew how she’d respond. Given your lack of experience, I presume that you’ve witnessed her back down because of Crookedstar before, perhaps during the moon which you spoke of.”

“Crookedstar has no love for Bluestar; he certainly wouldn’t scold his deputy on her behalf, unless he agreed with her. Given what you said transpired during that Gathering, and because it was you and your Thunderclan friends that came to find us, I assume that Bluestar insisted on Windclan’s return, and Leopardflame disagreed.” His ears perked as he regarded Fireheart. “Am I correct in my assumptions?”

He couldn’t help but feel a little spooked at how much Deadfoot had gleaned from such a short conversation; yet, he couldn’t deny that he was also impressed. “More or less. Bluestar was the one that scolded her for speaking out, and I was only so confident because I didn’t think she’d admit she thought you didn’t deserve your territory because you couldn’t defend it in front of you.” 

“She said that, did she?” Deadfoot still didn’t seem surprised. “Well, then consider it a history lesson from me to you, then. Windclan and Riverclan have never been friends; when I was an apprentice, there was a bloody war between us over two Riverclan kits whose father was Reedfeather, our deputy. One of those kits was Willowbreeze, Crookedstar’s mate; they were only kits then, of course, but I’ve been told they were quite close. He’s never truly forgiven us for trying to take her away from him, and he’s held a grudge towards Windclan ever since. Most Riverclanners have taken a cue from him, and aren’t shy about their dislike of us.”

Fireheart realized with a start that he’d already heard about this before from Graypool. He glanced at the elders, wondering if she was among them, but she didn’t seem to have come to this Gathering. “You’re talking about Graypool.” He mewed softly, staring at Deadfoot in surprise. “But she’s an elder, and-” He stopped himself before he could stuff his foot in his mouth. The black tom didn’t seem that old - but then, he supposed, Graypool had also looked rather young for an elder.

“And I’m not, even though I’m older?” The other tom thankfully seemed amused, his lips curling into a smile. “Well, they say in Windclan that we’re healthier and longer-lived thanks to our proximity to the Moonstone and Starclan. Can’t say whether I believe that, though.” He shrugged slightly. “I’ve not spoken to Graypool since she was taken back to Riverclan with her sister, so I can’t speak to her reasons for becoming an elder, but I understand she was quite close to her mate, Oakheart. Perhaps she found no more joy in hunting and defending her Clan when it didn’t have him in it.”

Fireheart nodded slowly. He supposed he understood that, in some ways. He didn’t have a mate, but if his sister died, he’d be inconsolable - he couldn’t imagine getting up every day and going on patrols as if nothing had happened. He also recalled what Whitestorm had said about Lionheart; how the golden tom had realized he didn’t want to be in a Clan without his now-mate in it. And Graypool didn’t have broken, aged fangs like most elders did, even if they had been significantly yellowed. Perhaps she had retired early, due to the death of Oakheart or maybe some other reason.

“Anyways,” He perked his ears as Deadfoot spoke again, “once the leaders start speaking, you should pay close attention. As deputy, you’ll typically be expected to relay the important announcements of the Gathering to those unable to attend. You’ll also need to keep in mind a Clan’s current strength if it comes to matters of war - though leaders also will never fully show their belly at a Gathering, either, if you understand my meaning.”

He didn’t - not really - but he was kept from answering by hearing a yowl from just above him. “Cats of all the Clans!” It was Crookedstar speaking this time. “It may be preciously warm tonight, but we can’t chatter like starlings until the sun comes up. Now that it is moonhigh, I think it’s time for the Gathering to finally begin.”

Fireheart was shocked to see it was indeed moonhigh already. Had he really been that engrossed in conversation with the other deputy? He glanced at Deadfoot, who only gave him a polite nod and turned to watch the crowd. The new deputy did his best to copy the Windclan tom, turning to look out at the assembled cats and wrapping his tail neatly over his paws. He hoped he looked good up on the Great Rock, not like the mess of a cat he felt like.

“Though the river swelled more than usual this year, it has also brought many new fish for my warriors to catch. Riverclan has thrived this past moon.” Fireheart did his best to keep a straight face as he stared out into the hollow. He hoped that Bluestar was doing the same - that she wouldn’t bring up Thunderclan’s involvement in Riverclan’s survival. He could see a couple of the Riverclan apprentices shifting uncomfortably at Crookedstar’s speech, and recalled how Tinyfrost had called him a terrible liar. Was that true for all young apprentices, he wondered? It certainly seemed like it from here-

“My daughter Silverstream has born two beautiful kits, true Riverclanners through and through.” Fireheart startled at the young molly’s name, realizing that he’d missed part of Crookedstar’s speech. Silverstream’s kits - Graystripe’s kits, too - had been born? Even though he longed to feel nothing but disgust for them, he couldn’t help but imagine how he had felt at Princess’ kitting - how small and soft his niblings had been then. Were Silverstream’s kits like that?

He heard a bit of shuffling above him - Crookedstar must have finished speaking. It wasn’t long before he heard the familiar mew of Bluestar above him. “Newleaf always brings welcome life to the forest. Thunderclan has thrived from the mild leafbare, and even now our nursery fills with kits.” She yowled out to the Clans. “Our prey is running well. We hope Starclan continues to bless us with their generosity in the coming moons.”

A short speech - but, he reflected, nothing had happened that was noteworthy for the other Clans. He was grateful, at least, that she hadn’t challenged Crookedstar on anything he said - neither Silverstream’s kits nor how the floods had nearly been enough to wipe out Riverclan, were it not for Thunderclan’s aid.

More shuffling. He wondered briefly if he was supposed to be able to recognize each leader by the sound of their pawsteps above him, but he didn’t get the chance to think about it before Nightstar was speaking. “Indeed, the mild leafbare has brought more prey back to the forest than my warriors can catch! Shadowclan’s own nursery is full of kits - kits that will be apprentices before long. Soon Shadowclan will be the largest Clan by far, with dozens of loyal and powerful warriors.”

A bit thick, Fireheart thought with a dismissive sniff - especially since there wasn’t actually anything solid in what Nightstar had said. Had the Gatherings always been so full of empty boasting? He glanced over at Wolfstep, the Shadowclan deputy, but he was staring rigidly ahead, and Fireheart quickly did the same.

Last was Tallstar, he knew, and it was only heartbeats before he heard the Windclan leader’s now familiar yowl. “Our rabbits are running as swiftly as ever - but my warriors are swifter, and thus Windclan is also doing well. We have three new apprentices with us tonight: Gorsepaw, apprenticed to Hazewhisper; Quailpaw, apprenticed to Pigeonflight; and Storkpaw, apprenticed to Thrushwing.”

Murmurs of congratulations spread throughout the crowd as they turned towards where most of the Windclan cats were sitting. It wasn’t hard to spot the three smaller forms in the crowd, especially since Fireheart had already met them as kits. Gorsepaw was surprisingly sturdy for a Windclan cat, looking almost like he belonged to another Clan were it not for his pale ginger coat. Storkpaw was an unusually short tortosieshell molly, barely meeting her mentor’s shoulder - if he didn’t know she was Gorsepaw’s sister, he would think she was still a kit herself. Quailpaw was the hardest to make out, a pale grey molly that almost blended into her white and black tabby mentor. 

Something about seeing them sitting proudly next to their mentors made his heart soar. It wasn’t so long ago that Gorsepaw had asked Fireheart about trees, as though they were as mythical as Lionclan warriors. Now he looked as comfortable as any other cat sitting beneath the mighty oaks of Fourtrees. Windclan was home, and they were thriving - and he was responsible for that.

“If no other cat has news to bring, then I believe that concludes tonight’s Gathering.” Tallstar paused for a few heartbeats, as though waiting for some cat to call out from the crowd. There was none. “Very well - may Starclan light your paths.”

“May Starclan light your paths.” The chant echoed around the Gathering as the crowds began to draw towards their individual Clans to leave back home. Fireheart glanced over at Deadfoot, who gave him a respectful nod before jumping off the Great Rock and trotting over to where Windclan was assembling. Fireheart did the same, only trotting towards Thunderclan.

Peppermask greeted him with a friendly nudge. “You looked like a natural up there.” She purred to him, her whiskers curling in a smile. 

Fireheart purred gratefully in response. He wished he could say he felt like it - but truth be told, he was still waiting for Whitestorm to follow through with his promise. Someone, anyone, would be better at being a deputy than him. Even Peppermask - though he knew that, like him, she wasn’t eligible to be deputy. At least she would be able to handle the stress of it better - that, he was sure of.

He blinked out of his thoughts as Bluestar brushed past him, her head held high as she flicked her tail for the Thunderclan patrol to follow her home. Everyone did so willingly - even now, the moon was setting towards the treeline, and it wouldn’t be long before the sun was rising. Fireheart himself was exhausted, and wanted nothing more than to sink into his cozy moss nest in the warriors’ den. At least tonight, there would be no worries to keep him up; the Gathering had gone well, and he had even made a new friend. What more could he ask for?

[thunders-warcats-stuff]

My au where Fireheart has to single-parent Cloud has ended up as three different versions.

One where he does what he usually does but becomes invested in nursery welfare

one where all Brindleface can do is nurse him so Fireheart will have to handle everything else about him,

one where the Clan is like "you made this bed now lay in it" down to Fireheart wondering how the fuck mollies feed their kittens when they don't have milk.

That third one branched into "one where Brindleface feeds him once and is like 'yeah I can do this. Not raising him, but no point letting a kitten starve" and one where she's like "Nope, can't handle an extra kitten right now, mine just died but if this one doesn't make I will mcfuckin lose it"

so Frostfur grabs all her kits and follows Fireheart (who's carrying Cloud) to the grocery store where they all come back with jugs of milk that some kind soul put a sports bottle top on (yknow the ones you can press the bottle and it comes out)

I have since learned that milk isn't the best option for kittens but the cats don't know that so

Merging the two so Princess comes across Fire and Co wandering around with her kitten and five other cats and is like "wtf?"

So he explains the cats he lives with are rancid jackasses and the only one able to feed him is a grieving mother.

She agrees to go with him and feed Cloud but only if he takes Cinderpaw to a vet. She will get Smudge to stay with Cinderpaw but holy shit that poor girl needs a vet.

So they go to the vet and Frostfur stays with Cinderpaw but makes everyone else go home.

Princess is now stuck with ThunderClan for at least three months and she is absolutely going to make that their problem!

[offkeyed-reason]

...thinking about hollowheart making ravenpaw his first victim.

see, shadowclan manages to overthrow brokenstar, unknowingly with the help of a group of thunderclan apprentices who managed to find the shadowclan camp and rescue half of frostfur's stolen litter. thunderclan is not an active factor in brokenstar's exile.

not long after nightstar takes control over shadowclan, brokenstar's evicted from the territory, alongside many of his former supporters. and then, brokenstar himself's subdued and brought into thunderclan after nearly murdering their medcat's apprentice.

it doesn't take long for hollowheart to slip the information that thunderclan is harboring brokenstar to both shadowclan and the newly returned windclan. ...he just doesn't share all the details of why brokenstar's still alive.

keeping an enemy extremely close is the best way to know his best move. and the occasional torture session to try and make him reveal where his allies are, well... that's directly overseen by thistlestar.

ravenflight, with friends in shadowclan, with marshy plant debris in his nest is blamed by thunderclan when shadow- and windclan jointly attack, only stopped by thistlestar threatening to claw out the rest of tallstar's lives if the fighting continues.

before he can be questioned, rash longtail and runningwind attack him, and ravenflight flees clan territory, somewhere in the direction of twolegplace, not shadowclan like a traitor would be expected to go...