Decoded: What if there was no Warrior Code?
Jul 29, 2016 12:41:18 GMT -5
𝙿𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚘𝚖𝚜𝚢𝚕𝚟𝚎𝚘𝚗 and KitKat12 like this
Post by Azula on Jul 29, 2016 12:41:18 GMT -5
ＴＨＥ ＷＡＲＲＩＯＲ
ＣＯＤＥ:
１. ＴＨＥＲＥ ＩＳ ＮＯ
ＷＡＲＲＩＯＲ ＣＯＤＥ.
ＡＬＬＥＧＩＡＮＣＥＳ
(As of Chapter One)
___________ＴＨＵＮＤＥＲＣＬＡＮ____________________
Leader: Fernstar- Tall silver tabby with green eyes
Deputy: Hawkthorn- Pale brown tabby tom with icy blue eyes
Medicine Cat: Ambersky- Lithe ginger she-cat
Apprentice: Fawnpaw- pale brown tabby
Warriors:
Blazetail- White tom with ginger tail
Stormheart- Long-haired silver tom with dark blue eyes
Apprentice-Brightpaw
Ravenfall- Black tom with amber eyes
Apprentice- Rosepaw
Hollyshade- Black she-cat with white paws
Robindapple- Tortoiseshell she-cat
Apprentices:
Brightpaw- White she-cat with green eyes
Rosepaw- Pink-eyed albino she-cat
Queens:
Lilyfang- Brown and white tabby
Mother to Whitekit and Magpiekit
Elders:
_____________________ＳＨＡＤＯＷＣＬＡＮ________________
Leader: Quietstar- Tawny tom with blue eyes
Deputy: Tangleclaw- Mottled brown tabby tom with green eyes
Medicine Cat: Ashberry- Beautiful gray tabby with blue eyes
Warriors:
Minktail- Brown tom with amber eyes
Apprentice-Wolfpaw
Blossomfrost-Calico she-cat with ice blue eyes
Apprentice- Whisppaw
Violetdusk- Silver tabby she-cat
Apprentice- Nettlepaw
Stealthwhisper- gray tabby she-cat
Lostheart- Black and white she-cat with green eyes
Apprentices:
Wolfpaw- Dark gray tom with amber eyes
Nettlepaw- Gray tom with pale green eyes
Whisppaw- Grey tabby she-cat with white paws and blue eyes.
Queens:
Sorrelwing- Dark brown tabby with green eyes
Elders:
Stonepelt- Old gray tom cat
_____________________ＷＩＮＤＣＬＡＮ____________________
Leader: Swiftstar- Black and white she-cat with blue eyes
Deputy: Echopool- Golden marbled tabby she-cat with green eyes
Medicine cat: Darkfur- Small black tom with amber eyes
Warriors:
Runningfire- Lithe ginger tom
Apprentice- Bramblepaw
Heatherbreeze- Pale gray she-cat with deep blue eyes
Apprentice- Gorsepaw
Featherfur- Soft-furred gray tabby
Apprentice- Falconpaw
Mudnose- Brown tom with amber eyes and white paws
Apprentices:
Gorsepaw- Gray tabby tom with white paws
Bramblepaw- Tawny she-cat with amber eyes
Falconpaw- Brown tabby tom
Queens:
Elders:
Spiderleap- Blind dark brown, almost black tom
_____________________ＲＩＶＥＲＣＬＡＮ__________________
Leader: Ripplestar- Strong black and gray tabby tom
Deputy: Splashstorm- White tom with amber eyes
Medicine cat: Driftleaf- Brown and black tabby she-cat, green eyes
Warriors:
Streamflower- Calico she-cat with blue eyes
Mistpelt- Long-furred gray tom with blue eyes
Frogleap- Black tom with green eyes
Reedcloud- Brown and white she-cat with green eyes
Apprentices:
Dawnpaw- White she-cat with amber eyes
Palepaw- Pale gray she-cat with blue eyes
Queens:
Rainshine- Silver she-cat with blue eyes and white paw
Elders:
Fishfur- Silvery grey she-cat
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ＯＮＥ
The morning of the gathering was bleak. With the sun obscured by clouds, RiverClan camp was shrouded in darkness. The only light seemed to be the shimmers on the water of the still river. Rainshine was awoken by the stirring of the kits she was carrying. With a heavy sigh, she lifted herself out of a nest padded with waterfowl feathers and fresh moss, and ventured out into the brisk morning.
I never planned for this to happen,
She thought to herself as she looked down at her paws after settling down beside the stagnant water. Rainshine glanced up to watch the lily pads on the surface of the river as dragonflies buzzed around the blossoms. She thought back to all the times when she had watched the water with her mate- when he was still alive and well, and times were better. When sickness hadn't threatened every cat in her clan.
Rainshine knew she would not be attending the gathering today, or until her kits were apprenticed. But it wouldn't be long until then. Less than four moons- of course, that depended on whether her kits would be healthy and large enough when they reached three moons of age. Rainshine only hoped that they would be born healthy and strong. In this world, only the strong had a chance of survival. There was no obligation to help the weak when they were in need.
If any cat would look out for Rainshine's kits now, it would be her.She swore to herself to guard her little ones, and to keep them safe. Or at least that's what she believed she could and would do.
In the past, mothers had abandoned their kits. Let them go hungry and cold. But Rainshine wasn't that kind of cat. Right? Or is that what every other mother who had abandoned her kits or let them come to harm had thought before they were born?
Small, but frigid droplets of water began to fall from the sky above Rainshine, so she quickly retreated to the nursery. If she fell ill, she knew that she wouldn't be able to survive. Prey was scarce and herbs were low. Even the medicine cat's apprentice lost his life. The entire clan still mourned his loss. Rainshine figured that she would be missed if she were to pass away. At least she would be reunited with the rest of her family in a better place.
Sometimes, Rainshine wished that the stories the elders told were true. That there would still be rules to abide by in order to keep the clans safe. If only she, and her kits, would have been born in those times. But unfortunately, no such thing existed in her cold, dark world. She heard something stirring in the reeds outside her den, and shrank into the shadows, hiding behind a nest, crouching close to the ground.
A small black and brown tabby she-cat poked her head inside the nursery. "Rainshine?"
Rainshine crawled out of the shadows, lifting her eyes to the medicine cat. "Oh, it's just you," she mewed quietly.
"I didn't mean to scare you," Driftleaf apologized. Water was still dripping from her fur, gathering in a small puddle at her paws.
"I'm wasn't- you didn't... Scare me...."
Driftleaf looked at Rainshine sympathetically. "I'll be staying home from the gathering tonight," Driftleaf informed her. "Your kits are so close to being born that it wouldn't be wise if I left."
Rainshine nodded, worry present in her gaze.
"Try to stay in the nursery today," Driftleaf advised her. "It's too cold outside for an expectant queen."
"I will, don't worry," Rainshine purred, curling up in her nest.
Driftleaf looked around the den nervously, tail swishing from side to side. "There is something else I need to tell you, Rainshine," Driftleaf mewed. "I received a prophecy from StarClan, and I believe that it has something to do with you..."
Rainshine sat up and looked at the medicine cat. "What did... StarClan tell you?"
"The rain will cease to fall," Driftleaf murmured.
Rainshine's eyes became round with fear. "What does that mean?"
"Rainshine... You may not have much time left."
"Time for what?" the silver queen asked frantically.
"To live."
. . .To be continued. . ..
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ TWO
On that same morning, ShadowClan was stirred by a horrifying event. It happened as quickly as the flash of lightning that caused it. As the wood of the spruce tree splintered, the trunk gave way and crashed so violently to the ground of the camp that the entire clan was awoken immediately. Tangleclaw, the deputy, was the first cat outside to investigate the damage that was done. The tall tom masked his seething anger well. The sky was still so dark and cloudy that it was difficult to see how bad it was. He couldn’t see the apprentice’s den or the nursery.
“Sorrelwing! Whisppaw!” he screeched, realizing that his sister and his daughter could have perished.
“Tangleclaw?” he heard a weak, frantic voice call from behind the thick pine needles.
“Sorrelwing! Are you hurt?”
“No, Tangleclaw. But I am trapped.”
“What about Whisppaw?”
“I’m here, Tangleclaw.” The deputy exhaled with relief at the sound of his daughter’s voice.
“Hold on- I’ll get you out of there!”
Tangleclaw turned around to discover he had been joined by his mate, Violetdusk. She dipped her head and lifted her chin to catch a glimpse of what lay behind the fallen spruce. “I am here to help,” she mewed. Tangleclaw nodded. “Thank you Violetdusk.” Together, they climbed the trunk of the spruce and looked down at the dens on the other side. Violetdusk looked to Tangleclaw with flattened ears. “It looks like the tree just missed the nursery,” she observed. Tangleclaw nodded. “But it’s blocked the entrance. We will have to create another in the side of the den.”
Whisppaw’s head peaked out from beneath two needle-covered branches. “Tangleclaw? Violetdusk?” the little apprentice quickly scaled the tree to join her parents. “Nettlepaw and Wolfpaw aren’t hurt, either,” she informed them. The two toms weaved their way through the branches before joining the three other cats. A rustle sounded from beneath the tree and soon a tawny-colored pelt could be seen in the dark green. Quietstar appeared, eyes wide with concern for his clan. “Is any cat hurt?” he asked.
And that was when Tangleclaw realized that he had not yet concerned himself with the elder’s den. He leapt into the other side of the camp, and crawled beneath the branches until he reached the den where his father had retired to spend the last moons of his life. “Stonepelt?” No reply came from inside. Tangleclaw’s fur bristled with fear and he entered the den, only to realize that it had been reduced to half its size. He quickly noticed a gray paw beneath the branch that had crushed the den, and he knew then that it was too late to save his father.
Tangleclaw would never be able to share the news of the day with him again. Sorrelwing’s kits would never hear his stories. Even though Stonepelt had not approved of Sorrelwing taking a mate from a different clan, Tangleclaw knew that he would have loved their kits as if they were ShadowClan through and through. Perhaps, when he became the leader of ShadowClan, Stonepelt would give him a life. The only thing that Tangleclaw could do for his father now was to pay his respects and put him to rest.
“Tangleclaw?” As grief swept over the deputy, he heard his mate’s voice through the brambles. “Stonepelt is dead,” Tangleclaw blurted out. “No!” Sorrelwing’s wail of grief echoed through the forest. As Tangleclaw stood alone in the destroyed den, he suddenly spied a glimmer of stars in the darkness.
“Son,” the voice of his father reached the deputy’s ears. “You must let Sorrelwing know, that she needs to stay strong during this time. Her kits need her. But they are not the only ones.”
“There will be more kits?” Tangleclaw asked.
“Her mate’s clan is about to lose a queen,” Stonepelt explained. “One of her kits is to be the future medicine cat of ShadowClan.” Tangleclaw was taken aback by this.
“You want Sorrelwing to raise kits that aren’t hers?” he asked. Was his father sure that this would be a good idea? Stonepelt nodded.
“I must go… Farewell. You will become a noble leader, Tangleclaw.”
“Wait!” Tangleclaw called. “Tell mother and Sagepaw that I miss them,” he mewed solemnly. Stonepelt dipped his head one last time as the outline of his body disappeared through the den wall, leaving Tangleclaw alone with his swirling thoughts.
“Who are you speaking with?” Ashberry’s voice startled Tangleclaw, who jumped slightly when he noticed that the medicine cat had appeared in the elder’s den beside him.
“It was Stonepelt,” Tangleclaw explained. “He said farewell.” “I heard something about kits,” the medicine cat pressed.
“Yes. RiverClan will bring us kits whose mother has passed away,” Tangleclaw admitted.
“Then we must prepare.” Ashberry stepped closer to Stonepelt’s body. “And we must get Stonepelt to my den to hold a vigil. Luckily it was spared.” Tangleclaw nodded.
“Yes, Ashberry. You are absolutely right.” They would need the help from the rest of the warriors. Without them, there would never be enough strength to lift the tree off his father's body.
“Cats of ShadowClan, gather for a clan meeting!” Quietstar called from the center of the camp. Ashberry looked at Tangleclaw, and the two cats departed from the den to hear their leader’s words.
“Sorrelwing! Whisppaw!” he screeched, realizing that his sister and his daughter could have perished.
“Tangleclaw?” he heard a weak, frantic voice call from behind the thick pine needles.
“Sorrelwing! Are you hurt?”
“No, Tangleclaw. But I am trapped.”
“What about Whisppaw?”
“I’m here, Tangleclaw.” The deputy exhaled with relief at the sound of his daughter’s voice.
“Hold on- I’ll get you out of there!”
Tangleclaw turned around to discover he had been joined by his mate, Violetdusk. She dipped her head and lifted her chin to catch a glimpse of what lay behind the fallen spruce. “I am here to help,” she mewed. Tangleclaw nodded. “Thank you Violetdusk.” Together, they climbed the trunk of the spruce and looked down at the dens on the other side. Violetdusk looked to Tangleclaw with flattened ears. “It looks like the tree just missed the nursery,” she observed. Tangleclaw nodded. “But it’s blocked the entrance. We will have to create another in the side of the den.”
Whisppaw’s head peaked out from beneath two needle-covered branches. “Tangleclaw? Violetdusk?” the little apprentice quickly scaled the tree to join her parents. “Nettlepaw and Wolfpaw aren’t hurt, either,” she informed them. The two toms weaved their way through the branches before joining the three other cats. A rustle sounded from beneath the tree and soon a tawny-colored pelt could be seen in the dark green. Quietstar appeared, eyes wide with concern for his clan. “Is any cat hurt?” he asked.
And that was when Tangleclaw realized that he had not yet concerned himself with the elder’s den. He leapt into the other side of the camp, and crawled beneath the branches until he reached the den where his father had retired to spend the last moons of his life. “Stonepelt?” No reply came from inside. Tangleclaw’s fur bristled with fear and he entered the den, only to realize that it had been reduced to half its size. He quickly noticed a gray paw beneath the branch that had crushed the den, and he knew then that it was too late to save his father.
Tangleclaw would never be able to share the news of the day with him again. Sorrelwing’s kits would never hear his stories. Even though Stonepelt had not approved of Sorrelwing taking a mate from a different clan, Tangleclaw knew that he would have loved their kits as if they were ShadowClan through and through. Perhaps, when he became the leader of ShadowClan, Stonepelt would give him a life. The only thing that Tangleclaw could do for his father now was to pay his respects and put him to rest.
“Tangleclaw?” As grief swept over the deputy, he heard his mate’s voice through the brambles. “Stonepelt is dead,” Tangleclaw blurted out. “No!” Sorrelwing’s wail of grief echoed through the forest. As Tangleclaw stood alone in the destroyed den, he suddenly spied a glimmer of stars in the darkness.
“Son,” the voice of his father reached the deputy’s ears. “You must let Sorrelwing know, that she needs to stay strong during this time. Her kits need her. But they are not the only ones.”
“There will be more kits?” Tangleclaw asked.
“Her mate’s clan is about to lose a queen,” Stonepelt explained. “One of her kits is to be the future medicine cat of ShadowClan.” Tangleclaw was taken aback by this.
“You want Sorrelwing to raise kits that aren’t hers?” he asked. Was his father sure that this would be a good idea? Stonepelt nodded.
“I must go… Farewell. You will become a noble leader, Tangleclaw.”
“Wait!” Tangleclaw called. “Tell mother and Sagepaw that I miss them,” he mewed solemnly. Stonepelt dipped his head one last time as the outline of his body disappeared through the den wall, leaving Tangleclaw alone with his swirling thoughts.
“Who are you speaking with?” Ashberry’s voice startled Tangleclaw, who jumped slightly when he noticed that the medicine cat had appeared in the elder’s den beside him.
“It was Stonepelt,” Tangleclaw explained. “He said farewell.” “I heard something about kits,” the medicine cat pressed.
“Yes. RiverClan will bring us kits whose mother has passed away,” Tangleclaw admitted.
“Then we must prepare.” Ashberry stepped closer to Stonepelt’s body. “And we must get Stonepelt to my den to hold a vigil. Luckily it was spared.” Tangleclaw nodded.
“Yes, Ashberry. You are absolutely right.” They would need the help from the rest of the warriors. Without them, there would never be enough strength to lift the tree off his father's body.
“Cats of ShadowClan, gather for a clan meeting!” Quietstar called from the center of the camp. Ashberry looked at Tangleclaw, and the two cats departed from the den to hear their leader’s words.
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ３
“To the burrows, WindClan!” Swiftstar addressed her clan after the icy rain began to fall from above. With a shiver, Bramblepaw made her way into the tunnels beneath the camp, where it was warm and dry. Here is was pitch black, but Bramblepaw could see well in the dark, and although the scents of the entire clan mingled together, she could still figure out who the cats closest to her were by their voices.
As Bramblepaw shook off the last little droplets of rain that clung to her fur, she noticed that her mentor, Runningfire, was nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, Heatherbreeze and Featherfur sat together chatting about something she could not hear from the distance. “Hey, Bramblepaw!” Bramblepaw turned around, shocked as a loud voice stirred her out of her thoughts. Falconpaw must have tried to get her attention several times, but raised his voice after she hadn’t heard. “How much training have you got left?” Falconpaw asked with a curious tip of his head.
Bramblepaw was taken aback by how young and innocent he still looked. After all, he was only four moons old and had been apprenticed a moon ago. She didn’t become an apprentice until she was five moons old, and her brother Gorsepaw a moon before that. Now, they were eight moons old. She was the only cat who counted her age this way. All the other cats seemed to see was kit, apprentice, warrior and elder.
“I’ve got about two moons or so to go,” Bramblepaw replied. “And you?”
“More for sure,” Falconpaw replied, seemingly disappointed. “Hey, don’t be upset about it,” Bramblepaw attempted to comfort him.
“I’m not upset,” Falconpaw retorted. “I just… miss my mother.” Bramblepaw flattened her ears. “I’m sorry, Falconpaw.”
Bramblepaw understood how he felt all too well. Luckily, she’d had five moons to be with her mother in the nursery. But many apprentices hadn’t been that lucky.
“I hate to be so soft about it,” Falconpaw mumbled. “But... “
“It was too soon?” Bramblepaw asked. Falconpaw nodded. “I was supposed to be with her for another three moons, and now… I barely get to see her! What if she dies, and I won’t get to be with her again?”
“You won’t lose Echopool,” Bramblepaw assured him. “She’s the deputy- right? Hey, trust me. She’ll become the leader soon. Then she’ll have nine lives, and she won’t go to StarClan permanently for many seasons.”
“But then she’ll be busy leading the clan," Falconpaw protested.
“Falconpaw, trust me. Echopool will always love you and make time to be with you whenever she can. You’re her only kit. And you’ll likely be her only kit forever. You don’t know how much you mean to her.” Bramblepaw spotted a marbled tabby pelt in the crowd of assembled cats.
“Falconpaw,” Echopool mewed, stepping past Heatherbreeze and Featherfur to reach her son and touch her nose to his. “I’m sorry that I haven’t been around… It’s difficult to be away from you,” she mewed with fattened ears as she settled down next to her only son.
Bramblepaw watched the deputy sit beside her Falconpaw in the dark burrow. Maybe Echopool would change something in WindClan once she became the leader. Then kits could stay with their mothers for a longer time, if they wanted to. Bramblepaw knew she wouldn't forget Falconpaw. However, on second thought, making changes seemed a lot more difficult. What would the other clans think of WindClan if they suddenly apprenticed kits much later, all because the kits were too soft to be separated from their mothers at the time?
No, I'm right. WindClan is right, Bramblepaw thought. The other clans are wrong. Wrong to force kits to leave their mothers, and to force other clans to do the same just to survive. What have we become?
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ 4
Ambersky tread silently though the forest, the murmurs of clan cats ahead. She enjoyed to stay in the tranquil darkness. It reminded her of Rosepaw, her niece. Well, her other niece. The one with the peculiar condition that confined her to the shadows from sunhigh to sunfall. Fortunately, ThunderClan's territory was shadowed by trees.
Rosepaw was walking just ahead of her, chatting with her sister Brightpaw. Ambersky's apprentice, Fawnpaw, was walking with her now. Fawnpaw was the only medicine apprentice currently taught by the medicine cats. And this was only her third gathering. Ambersky vividly remembered her own third gathering...
"Ambersky!" Ambersky heard the shriek of her sister, Sunflower. A fight had broken out seconds before, and it had escalated into a battle. Frantically, Ambersky had searched for her sister in the blurred fur and tangled claws, but when she finally spotted her familiar ginger pelt, she had already been hurt.
Had a medicine cat been present right then and there, they may have saved her. Sunflower might still be alive today. Because of her grief, Ambersky had saught out the clan's medicine cat and convinced him to teach her all that he knew, despite her having been a warrior. She took his place upon his death, and now she had an apprentice of her own. Ambersky blocked out the jarring memory of her sister's death and focused on the path ahead.
"Will we be meeting the medicine cats again?" Fawnpaw asked in her usual peppy tone.
"Yes, Fawnpaw," Ambersky replied. "Today we will listen to what they have to say first," she added.
"Why? Is something going on?" Typical Fawnpaw, always curious... "Well... there may be. I do not have much to tell them today. And besides, we want to show the other medicine cats how polite we are." "I'll be polite if Darkfur's polite."
"Wasn't he?"
“He called me ditzy. Imagine that.”
Ditzy? Ambersky had to stifle a purr. “I know that he was awfully ditzy when he was an apprentice,” Ambersky replied, head held high. Fawnpaw purred.
“Yeah, right…”
“Just being honest,” Ambersky mewed as they arrived at the treebridge to the island where gatherings were held. It did not take long for Ambersky to find her fellow medicine cats. Ashberry had already arrived, and she was not in good shape. Ambersky could practically see the grief and anxiety radiating from her. Immediately she guessed a cat in her care had passed away. Darkfur paced in a circle beside her, appearing just as upset.
Ambersky and Fawnpaw quickened their paces to join them in the little clearing beside the place where most of the clan cats had gathered. “Ashberry… Please take no offense, but you look like something terrible has happened.”
“Yes…” Ashberry turned her gaze to Ambersky. “A tree fell into our camp. Stonepelt has died.”
Ambersky and Fawnpaw flattened their ears and dipped their heads. “May he rest in peace with StarClan,” Ambersky mewed. Ashberry dipped her head in thanks.
“Where is Driftleaf?” Fawnpaw asked. “Her territory is the closest, and she still hasn’t arrived…”
“Ashberry knows,” Darkfur replied. "Stonepelt’s spirit lingered to inform his son Tangleclaw that a RiverClan queen will pass away tonight. ShadowClan is to take in her kits and ensure they survive,” Ashberry answered. “One of her kits is to become my future apprentice.”
Ambersky’s eyes widened. “ShadowClan will take in RiverClan kits?”
“Sorrelwing’s mate is in RiverClan, and he will take the kits to her.”
“All these out-of-clan relationships are making my head spin,” Darkfur hissed. “It stirs up more conflict than we need.”
“Are you implying that things were better before? When cats were not allowed to love?” Ashberry challenged.
“They were allowed to love. Within their clan!"
“Stop this!” Ambersky snarled. “We should not be fighting! It is our duty, as medicine cats, to ensure that our clans are safe and protected. Even cats who are half clan.”
Ashberry and Darkfur glared at each other for one last second before nodding in agreement with Ambersky.
“Please take good care of them, Ashberry,” Fawnpaw spoke up after silently observing.
“I will, Fawnpaw,” the pretty tabby medicine cat replied. “I swear it.” “As will we,” Ambersky added, looking at Fawnpaw. The three she-cats looked over at Darkfur, who seemed to be a bit aloof. Ambersky was quite amused by this. Who was the ditzy one now?
“What? What are you looking at?” Darkfur looked from Ashberry, to Ambersky, to Fawnpaw. “Oh right! Yes. I will take care of the kits as well. Even though they are completely unrelated to me and-“
“You don’t know that,” Ashberry mewed.
“I think that’s enough bickering for tonight,” Ambersky interrupted, ending the conversation. “Let’s go listen to the main gathering.”
“May StarClan give us the strength to keep the peace,” Ashberry mumbled as the four medicine cats, and apprentice, headed to the larger clearing to hear what their leaders had to say.
"Rosepaw, wait!" Quietpaw exclaimed, catching up to her sister and stopping to take in the sight as well. The other twinkled in the sapphire sky above the trees. The snowy white pelts of the two sisters shone just as bright in the light of the full moon.
Rosepaw spotted Palepaw and Dawnpaw nearby and darted over to meet them, signaling for Brightpaw to follow. Dawnpaw was almost like a copy of her father, Splashstorm. The same white fur and eyes the color of a dandelion in bloom. Palepaw didn't look like any other RiverClan cat that Rosepaw had seen, except for the eyes that matched Streamflower's- her mother.
Two apprentices from ShadowClan approached, a small she-cat following close behind. "Whoa!" the dark gray tom exclaimed in surprise. "Your eyes," he mewed, looking at Rosepaw.
"Don't stare. It's rude," the tom scolded.
"Sorry... You are the new apprentices, right?" Wolfpaw asked the two apprentices from ThunderClan, who nodded in response.
"I'm Brightpaw."
"I'm Rosepaw."
"I'm Nettlepaw, and that's Wolfpaw. We've been apprentices for a while. But Whisppaw is new too," Nettlepaw mewed, looking over his shoulder at the grey tabby with the bright blue eyes.
"I can introduce myself, thank you very much," Whisppaw mewed, cutting between them and settling down with the other apprentices. She curled her plumy tail over her white paws with a friendly nod.
"I'm Whisppaw." Tangleclaw's only surviving kit... Rosepaw remembered. And the daughter of a former rogue. Rosepaw knew this from her mother. But it was no secret.
"Is your mother staying in ShadowClan?" Brightpaw asked.
"Yes. Quietstar will announce it tonight.” Whisppaw looked up at her leader, who was already perched in the branches of the tree above them. "Did she take a warrior name?" Rosepaw inquired.
"I don't want to spoil the surprise," Whisppaw replied casually.
"I like surprises."
The group turned their heads to acknowledge the WindClan apprentice that had emerged from the trees. "Bramblepaw!" Nettlepaw greeted, padding over to her and touching his muzzle to her shoulder affectionately. Both Rosepaw and Whisppaw narrowed their eyes slightly. Then, Rosepaw noticed the small apprentice standing next to Bramblepaw. "Who's this?" she asked, looking down at Falconpaw. "I'm Falconpaw," the little apprentice mewed. “Well, welcome to the apprentices,” Nettlepaw mewed warmly.
"It's starting!" Dawnpaw mewed, and the cats beside her turned their heads to watch their leaders speak.
"ThunderClan has been doing well in terms of health and prey. Two kits have been born to Lilyfang. Magpiekit and Whitekit. We have two new apprentices with us today- Brightpaw and Rosepaw. That is all," Fernstar concluded, shifting her green eyes to Quietstar, who dipped his head before speaking for his clan.
"ShadowClan suffered a tragedy this morning. A tree was struck by lightning and crashed into the camp, killing our noble elder, Stonepelt."
The gathered cats dipped their heads for a silent moment before Quietstar continued to speak.
"I am proud to say that we have a new warrior among us. Violet has decided to join us, and will be known as Violetdusk."
It's a nice name, Rosepaw thought to herself. She could hear murmurs of disapproval and approval alike, but she knew that it would not matter. What ShadowClan did was their business, and theirs alone.
"Her daughter Whisppaw was recently apprenticed. We are honored to have them in our clan. That is all."
Swiftstar nodded. The black and white she-cat looked around briefly before she spoke. Was she nervous?
"Echopool has resumed her duties as deputy. Her son Falconpaw has been apprenticed. Mudclaw has become a warrior. Our apprentice, Gorsepaw, was injured by a fox while on a hunting patrol with his mentor Heatherbreeze. He is slowly recovering."
Rosepaw noticed a shift in Bramblepaw- who was sitting close to Nettlepaw now. She was visibly upset, and Rosepaw could only assume that Gorsepaw had been gravely injured and the chance of him improving would be slim.
"We have not yet found the fox, but assume that it will not return to our territory." Swiftstar looked to Ripplestar to continue. Rosepaw noticed Dawnpaw and Palepaw moving closer together and flattening their ears. She knew bad news was to come.
"RiverClan has been plagued by a greencough epidemic as leafbare approaches," Ripplestar began, working to keep his voice steady. "The warriors whom we have lost since the last gathering... Are Otterclaw and Puddleheart."
Once again, the gathered cats dipped their heads.
"The sad news does not end there. Just before we left for the gathering, we lost one of our queens, Rainshine. Her two kits will be given to ShadowClan to raise."
Quietstar looked at Ripplestar in surprise as Fernstar and Swiftstar's fur began to bristle. Rosepaw looked around to see that this has provoked quite the reaction in the gathered cats.
"My medicine cat, Ashberry, received a prophecy from StarClan," Quietstar interrupted, and the clearing fell silent.
"Sorrelwing will be the cat to raise these kits. And one of them is to become ShadowClan's future medicine cat."
"I have no objections," Swiftstar mewed. "We have no queens among us to raise the orphaned kits."
Fernstar flattened her ears. "Very well..."
Rosepaw breathed a sigh of relief. There would be no battle because of this.
"We will send Frogleap to bring the kits to Sorrelwing," Ripplestar mewed. Quietstar nodded in response.
"That concludes the gathering, then," Ripplestar added.
The three other leaders nodded before leaping from their branches. "RiverClan kits in ShadowClan," Wolfpaw mewed.
"Sorrelwing's kits will be part RiverClan already," Nettlepaw argued. "If any cat will know how to raise them, it's her." "I hope they learn how to swim," Palepaw mewed. Dawnpaw nodded. "They need to know where their roots are!"
"I'm sure they will," Whisppaw mewed. "If you teach me how to swim, I'll teach them," Whisppaw mewed, looking at Dawnpaw and Palepaw.
"I will," Dawnpaw replied. "But you have to teach me how to climb trees."
Whisppaw nodded. "You're on."
Rosepaw noticed Fawnpaw and nudged Brightpaw. "I think it's time for us to go home."Brightpaw yawned and nodded. "Yes... I'm starting to get tired."
"Goodbye you two," Whisppaw mewed. "Happy training!" Bramblepaw chimed in. "We'll see you at the next gathering, hopefully." Wolfpaw looked at Rosepaw one last time as if he still couldn't believe the color of her eyes. Or at least, so she thought.
As Frogleap padded across the border towards ShadowClan's territory, he couldn't help but doubt that Sorrelwing would be happy to take up two extra kits. While yes, he loved her with all his heart, she wasn't the most selfless cat under the sun. And with ShadowClan having to cope with a fallen tree, this would only add to the stresses she must be feeling. Mud bubbled around Frogleap's paws, and he feared that he might be swallowed by the ground below.
Following close behind Frogleap was Driftleaf, who carried a small silver she-kit. Frogleap himself carried a brown tabby tom, the younger of the two. Rainshine had been too weak to name her kits before she passed, so Ripplestar had been left to choose their names- Shimmerkit and Claykit. Driftleaf had hesitated on bringing the kits to ShadowClan's camp now, but it was cold and the kits were hungry. Morning would be too late.
"Frogleap, Driftleaf," Quietstar greeted the two cats when they had reached at their destination. The ShadowClan cats, who were laboring tirelessly to mend the damage the fallen tree had done, curiously turned their heads to see who had arrived.
Frogleap and Driftleaf, still carrying Rainshine's kits, dipped their heads to the ShadowClan leader as a crowd of cats began to gather around them.
"Frogleap? Is that you?" Sorrelwing's voice rang across the clearing. The queen emerged from behind a clump of twigs and leaves, her glossy pelt shimmering in the orange sunrise. She approached to nuzzle her mate, but stopped short when she noticed the kit he was carrying. "What's that?" she asked.
"These are your kits now," Frogleap replied. Ashberry had arrived to take the kit from him to examine it.
"But...What about their mother?" Sorrelwing asked, glancing from kit to kit in utter confusion.
"Their mother is dead, Sorrelwing," Frogleap mewed gently.
"And I'm supposed to take care of them?" Sorrelwing asked, her thoughts seemingly swirling in her emerald eyes. "But our kits aren't due for another moon..."
"They'll die without you," Tangleclaw pointed out as he climbed over the tree and walked to Sorrelwing. "Stonepelt told me about them," the ShadowClan deputy confessed, looking to the small bundles of fur in the cats' mouths. "One of these kits is to become our next medicine cat."
"Oh." Sorrelwing looked to the kits. "Let me see them."
Sorrelwing walked first to Ashberry, then to Driftleaf, sniffing each kit to see if it was healthy. The dark tabby she-cat looked to her mate, eyes dark with concern. "Should I tell them?" she asked. "Where they came from...?"
"I'm sure they'll find out somehow, either way," Tangleclaw mewed. "ShadowClan doesn't keep secrets within the clan."
"But what if they want to return to your clan, Frogleap?"
"I doubt that they'll want to return to RiverClan," Frogleap said.
"Alright," Sorrelwing said. "I'll take care of them. Don't worry, Driftleaf."
The RiverClan medicine cat purred in quiet thanks as Sorrelwing plucked Shimmerkit from her. The brown tabby looked to Frogleap and signaled for him to follow her to the nursery. Frogleap took Claykit from Ashberry and quickly padded after Sorrelwing.
In the darkness of the nursery, Sorrelwing's eyes shone like gems. The two kits hesitated at first before snuggling close to her soft, warm body.
"The brown tom is named Claykit, and the silver she-cat is named Shimmerkit," Frogleap said. Sorrelwing nodded, but he could see she had something else on her mind.
"Frogleap, why don't you join ShadowClan?" she asked softly, hoping that Driftleaf wouldn't be outside to hear.
"You know how things are, Sorrelwing... RiverClan is short on warriors as it is... And now that Rainshine is dead, and we've had to give up these kits-"
"I'm afraid. I'm afraid that you will become ill, too," Sorrelwing interrupted. "I don't want to lose you. I can't."
"RiverClan can't lose me, either," Frogleap mewed. "I cannot leave."
"You can come back as soon as the sickness is over. Or if there's a battle-"
"Things are not that simple," Frogleap grumbled with a glare, which softened after he saw the hurt in Sorrelwing's eyes. "I'm sorry, but I can't just turn my back on them, Sorrelwing. You don't understand."
"I understand perfectly fine. You love your clan more than you love me or your kits. You always did." The brown tabby looked down at the two kits in her nest, seemingly frustrated.
Frogleap stared at his mate in exasperation. What could he say to make this right? The life of these kits was depending on them. "Sorrelwing, you know that I love you more than anything. I'd do anything for you and our kits. But I can't abandon my clan at a time like this. I could never forgive myself."
"I won't forgive you if you stay with your clan."
"Then you don't really love me," Frogleap murmured.
Driftleaf poked her head into the nursery. "Frogleap, it's time for us to go."
Frogleap nodded. "Goodbye, Sorrelwing," he mewed softly, touching his muzzle to her forehead. She reacted by flinching and glaring at him on his way out of the nursery, and he felt her disappointment in him as he trekked back through the mud to his home in the morning sun. But what lingered most of all was the meaning of he himself had said.
She doesn't really love me.
. . .
As Bramblepaw shook off the last little droplets of rain that clung to her fur, she noticed that her mentor, Runningfire, was nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, Heatherbreeze and Featherfur sat together chatting about something she could not hear from the distance. “Hey, Bramblepaw!” Bramblepaw turned around, shocked as a loud voice stirred her out of her thoughts. Falconpaw must have tried to get her attention several times, but raised his voice after she hadn’t heard. “How much training have you got left?” Falconpaw asked with a curious tip of his head.
Bramblepaw was taken aback by how young and innocent he still looked. After all, he was only four moons old and had been apprenticed a moon ago. She didn’t become an apprentice until she was five moons old, and her brother Gorsepaw a moon before that. Now, they were eight moons old. She was the only cat who counted her age this way. All the other cats seemed to see was kit, apprentice, warrior and elder.
“I’ve got about two moons or so to go,” Bramblepaw replied. “And you?”
“More for sure,” Falconpaw replied, seemingly disappointed. “Hey, don’t be upset about it,” Bramblepaw attempted to comfort him.
“I’m not upset,” Falconpaw retorted. “I just… miss my mother.” Bramblepaw flattened her ears. “I’m sorry, Falconpaw.”
Bramblepaw understood how he felt all too well. Luckily, she’d had five moons to be with her mother in the nursery. But many apprentices hadn’t been that lucky.
“I hate to be so soft about it,” Falconpaw mumbled. “But... “
“It was too soon?” Bramblepaw asked. Falconpaw nodded. “I was supposed to be with her for another three moons, and now… I barely get to see her! What if she dies, and I won’t get to be with her again?”
“You won’t lose Echopool,” Bramblepaw assured him. “She’s the deputy- right? Hey, trust me. She’ll become the leader soon. Then she’ll have nine lives, and she won’t go to StarClan permanently for many seasons.”
“But then she’ll be busy leading the clan," Falconpaw protested.
“Falconpaw, trust me. Echopool will always love you and make time to be with you whenever she can. You’re her only kit. And you’ll likely be her only kit forever. You don’t know how much you mean to her.” Bramblepaw spotted a marbled tabby pelt in the crowd of assembled cats.
“Falconpaw,” Echopool mewed, stepping past Heatherbreeze and Featherfur to reach her son and touch her nose to his. “I’m sorry that I haven’t been around… It’s difficult to be away from you,” she mewed with fattened ears as she settled down next to her only son.
Bramblepaw watched the deputy sit beside her Falconpaw in the dark burrow. Maybe Echopool would change something in WindClan once she became the leader. Then kits could stay with their mothers for a longer time, if they wanted to. Bramblepaw knew she wouldn't forget Falconpaw. However, on second thought, making changes seemed a lot more difficult. What would the other clans think of WindClan if they suddenly apprenticed kits much later, all because the kits were too soft to be separated from their mothers at the time?
No, I'm right. WindClan is right, Bramblepaw thought. The other clans are wrong. Wrong to force kits to leave their mothers, and to force other clans to do the same just to survive. What have we become?
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ 4
Ambersky tread silently though the forest, the murmurs of clan cats ahead. She enjoyed to stay in the tranquil darkness. It reminded her of Rosepaw, her niece. Well, her other niece. The one with the peculiar condition that confined her to the shadows from sunhigh to sunfall. Fortunately, ThunderClan's territory was shadowed by trees.
Rosepaw was walking just ahead of her, chatting with her sister Brightpaw. Ambersky's apprentice, Fawnpaw, was walking with her now. Fawnpaw was the only medicine apprentice currently taught by the medicine cats. And this was only her third gathering. Ambersky vividly remembered her own third gathering...
"Ambersky!" Ambersky heard the shriek of her sister, Sunflower. A fight had broken out seconds before, and it had escalated into a battle. Frantically, Ambersky had searched for her sister in the blurred fur and tangled claws, but when she finally spotted her familiar ginger pelt, she had already been hurt.
Had a medicine cat been present right then and there, they may have saved her. Sunflower might still be alive today. Because of her grief, Ambersky had saught out the clan's medicine cat and convinced him to teach her all that he knew, despite her having been a warrior. She took his place upon his death, and now she had an apprentice of her own. Ambersky blocked out the jarring memory of her sister's death and focused on the path ahead.
"Will we be meeting the medicine cats again?" Fawnpaw asked in her usual peppy tone.
"Yes, Fawnpaw," Ambersky replied. "Today we will listen to what they have to say first," she added.
"Why? Is something going on?" Typical Fawnpaw, always curious... "Well... there may be. I do not have much to tell them today. And besides, we want to show the other medicine cats how polite we are." "I'll be polite if Darkfur's polite."
"Wasn't he?"
“He called me ditzy. Imagine that.”
Ditzy? Ambersky had to stifle a purr. “I know that he was awfully ditzy when he was an apprentice,” Ambersky replied, head held high. Fawnpaw purred.
“Yeah, right…”
“Just being honest,” Ambersky mewed as they arrived at the treebridge to the island where gatherings were held. It did not take long for Ambersky to find her fellow medicine cats. Ashberry had already arrived, and she was not in good shape. Ambersky could practically see the grief and anxiety radiating from her. Immediately she guessed a cat in her care had passed away. Darkfur paced in a circle beside her, appearing just as upset.
Ambersky and Fawnpaw quickened their paces to join them in the little clearing beside the place where most of the clan cats had gathered. “Ashberry… Please take no offense, but you look like something terrible has happened.”
“Yes…” Ashberry turned her gaze to Ambersky. “A tree fell into our camp. Stonepelt has died.”
Ambersky and Fawnpaw flattened their ears and dipped their heads. “May he rest in peace with StarClan,” Ambersky mewed. Ashberry dipped her head in thanks.
“Where is Driftleaf?” Fawnpaw asked. “Her territory is the closest, and she still hasn’t arrived…”
“Ashberry knows,” Darkfur replied. "Stonepelt’s spirit lingered to inform his son Tangleclaw that a RiverClan queen will pass away tonight. ShadowClan is to take in her kits and ensure they survive,” Ashberry answered. “One of her kits is to become my future apprentice.”
Ambersky’s eyes widened. “ShadowClan will take in RiverClan kits?”
“Sorrelwing’s mate is in RiverClan, and he will take the kits to her.”
“All these out-of-clan relationships are making my head spin,” Darkfur hissed. “It stirs up more conflict than we need.”
“Are you implying that things were better before? When cats were not allowed to love?” Ashberry challenged.
“They were allowed to love. Within their clan!"
“Stop this!” Ambersky snarled. “We should not be fighting! It is our duty, as medicine cats, to ensure that our clans are safe and protected. Even cats who are half clan.”
Ashberry and Darkfur glared at each other for one last second before nodding in agreement with Ambersky.
“Please take good care of them, Ashberry,” Fawnpaw spoke up after silently observing.
“I will, Fawnpaw,” the pretty tabby medicine cat replied. “I swear it.” “As will we,” Ambersky added, looking at Fawnpaw. The three she-cats looked over at Darkfur, who seemed to be a bit aloof. Ambersky was quite amused by this. Who was the ditzy one now?
“What? What are you looking at?” Darkfur looked from Ashberry, to Ambersky, to Fawnpaw. “Oh right! Yes. I will take care of the kits as well. Even though they are completely unrelated to me and-“
“You don’t know that,” Ashberry mewed.
“I think that’s enough bickering for tonight,” Ambersky interrupted, ending the conversation. “Let’s go listen to the main gathering.”
“May StarClan give us the strength to keep the peace,” Ashberry mumbled as the four medicine cats, and apprentice, headed to the larger clearing to hear what their leaders had to say.
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ 5
Rosepaw darted into the clearing, Brightpaw right behind her attempting to match her steps. Although Brightpaw was older- and stronger- Rosepaw was quicker than she was. Rosepaw looked around in awe at all of the cats that had gathered. “Wow…”"Rosepaw, wait!" Quietpaw exclaimed, catching up to her sister and stopping to take in the sight as well. The other twinkled in the sapphire sky above the trees. The snowy white pelts of the two sisters shone just as bright in the light of the full moon.
Rosepaw spotted Palepaw and Dawnpaw nearby and darted over to meet them, signaling for Brightpaw to follow. Dawnpaw was almost like a copy of her father, Splashstorm. The same white fur and eyes the color of a dandelion in bloom. Palepaw didn't look like any other RiverClan cat that Rosepaw had seen, except for the eyes that matched Streamflower's- her mother.
Two apprentices from ShadowClan approached, a small she-cat following close behind. "Whoa!" the dark gray tom exclaimed in surprise. "Your eyes," he mewed, looking at Rosepaw.
"Don't stare. It's rude," the tom scolded.
"Sorry... You are the new apprentices, right?" Wolfpaw asked the two apprentices from ThunderClan, who nodded in response.
"I'm Brightpaw."
"I'm Rosepaw."
"I'm Nettlepaw, and that's Wolfpaw. We've been apprentices for a while. But Whisppaw is new too," Nettlepaw mewed, looking over his shoulder at the grey tabby with the bright blue eyes.
"I can introduce myself, thank you very much," Whisppaw mewed, cutting between them and settling down with the other apprentices. She curled her plumy tail over her white paws with a friendly nod.
"I'm Whisppaw." Tangleclaw's only surviving kit... Rosepaw remembered. And the daughter of a former rogue. Rosepaw knew this from her mother. But it was no secret.
"Is your mother staying in ShadowClan?" Brightpaw asked.
"Yes. Quietstar will announce it tonight.” Whisppaw looked up at her leader, who was already perched in the branches of the tree above them. "Did she take a warrior name?" Rosepaw inquired.
"I don't want to spoil the surprise," Whisppaw replied casually.
"I like surprises."
The group turned their heads to acknowledge the WindClan apprentice that had emerged from the trees. "Bramblepaw!" Nettlepaw greeted, padding over to her and touching his muzzle to her shoulder affectionately. Both Rosepaw and Whisppaw narrowed their eyes slightly. Then, Rosepaw noticed the small apprentice standing next to Bramblepaw. "Who's this?" she asked, looking down at Falconpaw. "I'm Falconpaw," the little apprentice mewed. “Well, welcome to the apprentices,” Nettlepaw mewed warmly.
"It's starting!" Dawnpaw mewed, and the cats beside her turned their heads to watch their leaders speak.
"ThunderClan has been doing well in terms of health and prey. Two kits have been born to Lilyfang. Magpiekit and Whitekit. We have two new apprentices with us today- Brightpaw and Rosepaw. That is all," Fernstar concluded, shifting her green eyes to Quietstar, who dipped his head before speaking for his clan.
"ShadowClan suffered a tragedy this morning. A tree was struck by lightning and crashed into the camp, killing our noble elder, Stonepelt."
The gathered cats dipped their heads for a silent moment before Quietstar continued to speak.
"I am proud to say that we have a new warrior among us. Violet has decided to join us, and will be known as Violetdusk."
It's a nice name, Rosepaw thought to herself. She could hear murmurs of disapproval and approval alike, but she knew that it would not matter. What ShadowClan did was their business, and theirs alone.
"Her daughter Whisppaw was recently apprenticed. We are honored to have them in our clan. That is all."
Swiftstar nodded. The black and white she-cat looked around briefly before she spoke. Was she nervous?
"Echopool has resumed her duties as deputy. Her son Falconpaw has been apprenticed. Mudclaw has become a warrior. Our apprentice, Gorsepaw, was injured by a fox while on a hunting patrol with his mentor Heatherbreeze. He is slowly recovering."
Rosepaw noticed a shift in Bramblepaw- who was sitting close to Nettlepaw now. She was visibly upset, and Rosepaw could only assume that Gorsepaw had been gravely injured and the chance of him improving would be slim.
"We have not yet found the fox, but assume that it will not return to our territory." Swiftstar looked to Ripplestar to continue. Rosepaw noticed Dawnpaw and Palepaw moving closer together and flattening their ears. She knew bad news was to come.
"RiverClan has been plagued by a greencough epidemic as leafbare approaches," Ripplestar began, working to keep his voice steady. "The warriors whom we have lost since the last gathering... Are Otterclaw and Puddleheart."
Once again, the gathered cats dipped their heads.
"The sad news does not end there. Just before we left for the gathering, we lost one of our queens, Rainshine. Her two kits will be given to ShadowClan to raise."
Quietstar looked at Ripplestar in surprise as Fernstar and Swiftstar's fur began to bristle. Rosepaw looked around to see that this has provoked quite the reaction in the gathered cats.
"My medicine cat, Ashberry, received a prophecy from StarClan," Quietstar interrupted, and the clearing fell silent.
"Sorrelwing will be the cat to raise these kits. And one of them is to become ShadowClan's future medicine cat."
"I have no objections," Swiftstar mewed. "We have no queens among us to raise the orphaned kits."
Fernstar flattened her ears. "Very well..."
Rosepaw breathed a sigh of relief. There would be no battle because of this.
"We will send Frogleap to bring the kits to Sorrelwing," Ripplestar mewed. Quietstar nodded in response.
"That concludes the gathering, then," Ripplestar added.
The three other leaders nodded before leaping from their branches. "RiverClan kits in ShadowClan," Wolfpaw mewed.
"Sorrelwing's kits will be part RiverClan already," Nettlepaw argued. "If any cat will know how to raise them, it's her." "I hope they learn how to swim," Palepaw mewed. Dawnpaw nodded. "They need to know where their roots are!"
"I'm sure they will," Whisppaw mewed. "If you teach me how to swim, I'll teach them," Whisppaw mewed, looking at Dawnpaw and Palepaw.
"I will," Dawnpaw replied. "But you have to teach me how to climb trees."
Whisppaw nodded. "You're on."
Rosepaw noticed Fawnpaw and nudged Brightpaw. "I think it's time for us to go home."Brightpaw yawned and nodded. "Yes... I'm starting to get tired."
"Goodbye you two," Whisppaw mewed. "Happy training!" Bramblepaw chimed in. "We'll see you at the next gathering, hopefully." Wolfpaw looked at Rosepaw one last time as if he still couldn't believe the color of her eyes. Or at least, so she thought.
ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ 6
As Frogleap padded across the border towards ShadowClan's territory, he couldn't help but doubt that Sorrelwing would be happy to take up two extra kits. While yes, he loved her with all his heart, she wasn't the most selfless cat under the sun. And with ShadowClan having to cope with a fallen tree, this would only add to the stresses she must be feeling. Mud bubbled around Frogleap's paws, and he feared that he might be swallowed by the ground below.
Following close behind Frogleap was Driftleaf, who carried a small silver she-kit. Frogleap himself carried a brown tabby tom, the younger of the two. Rainshine had been too weak to name her kits before she passed, so Ripplestar had been left to choose their names- Shimmerkit and Claykit. Driftleaf had hesitated on bringing the kits to ShadowClan's camp now, but it was cold and the kits were hungry. Morning would be too late.
"Frogleap, Driftleaf," Quietstar greeted the two cats when they had reached at their destination. The ShadowClan cats, who were laboring tirelessly to mend the damage the fallen tree had done, curiously turned their heads to see who had arrived.
Frogleap and Driftleaf, still carrying Rainshine's kits, dipped their heads to the ShadowClan leader as a crowd of cats began to gather around them.
"Frogleap? Is that you?" Sorrelwing's voice rang across the clearing. The queen emerged from behind a clump of twigs and leaves, her glossy pelt shimmering in the orange sunrise. She approached to nuzzle her mate, but stopped short when she noticed the kit he was carrying. "What's that?" she asked.
"These are your kits now," Frogleap replied. Ashberry had arrived to take the kit from him to examine it.
"But...What about their mother?" Sorrelwing asked, glancing from kit to kit in utter confusion.
"Their mother is dead, Sorrelwing," Frogleap mewed gently.
"And I'm supposed to take care of them?" Sorrelwing asked, her thoughts seemingly swirling in her emerald eyes. "But our kits aren't due for another moon..."
"They'll die without you," Tangleclaw pointed out as he climbed over the tree and walked to Sorrelwing. "Stonepelt told me about them," the ShadowClan deputy confessed, looking to the small bundles of fur in the cats' mouths. "One of these kits is to become our next medicine cat."
"Oh." Sorrelwing looked to the kits. "Let me see them."
Sorrelwing walked first to Ashberry, then to Driftleaf, sniffing each kit to see if it was healthy. The dark tabby she-cat looked to her mate, eyes dark with concern. "Should I tell them?" she asked. "Where they came from...?"
"I'm sure they'll find out somehow, either way," Tangleclaw mewed. "ShadowClan doesn't keep secrets within the clan."
"But what if they want to return to your clan, Frogleap?"
"I doubt that they'll want to return to RiverClan," Frogleap said.
"Alright," Sorrelwing said. "I'll take care of them. Don't worry, Driftleaf."
The RiverClan medicine cat purred in quiet thanks as Sorrelwing plucked Shimmerkit from her. The brown tabby looked to Frogleap and signaled for him to follow her to the nursery. Frogleap took Claykit from Ashberry and quickly padded after Sorrelwing.
In the darkness of the nursery, Sorrelwing's eyes shone like gems. The two kits hesitated at first before snuggling close to her soft, warm body.
"The brown tom is named Claykit, and the silver she-cat is named Shimmerkit," Frogleap said. Sorrelwing nodded, but he could see she had something else on her mind.
"Frogleap, why don't you join ShadowClan?" she asked softly, hoping that Driftleaf wouldn't be outside to hear.
"You know how things are, Sorrelwing... RiverClan is short on warriors as it is... And now that Rainshine is dead, and we've had to give up these kits-"
"I'm afraid. I'm afraid that you will become ill, too," Sorrelwing interrupted. "I don't want to lose you. I can't."
"RiverClan can't lose me, either," Frogleap mewed. "I cannot leave."
"You can come back as soon as the sickness is over. Or if there's a battle-"
"Things are not that simple," Frogleap grumbled with a glare, which softened after he saw the hurt in Sorrelwing's eyes. "I'm sorry, but I can't just turn my back on them, Sorrelwing. You don't understand."
"I understand perfectly fine. You love your clan more than you love me or your kits. You always did." The brown tabby looked down at the two kits in her nest, seemingly frustrated.
Frogleap stared at his mate in exasperation. What could he say to make this right? The life of these kits was depending on them. "Sorrelwing, you know that I love you more than anything. I'd do anything for you and our kits. But I can't abandon my clan at a time like this. I could never forgive myself."
"I won't forgive you if you stay with your clan."
"Then you don't really love me," Frogleap murmured.
Driftleaf poked her head into the nursery. "Frogleap, it's time for us to go."
Frogleap nodded. "Goodbye, Sorrelwing," he mewed softly, touching his muzzle to her forehead. She reacted by flinching and glaring at him on his way out of the nursery, and he felt her disappointment in him as he trekked back through the mud to his home in the morning sun. But what lingered most of all was the meaning of he himself had said.
She doesn't really love me.
. . .
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