Bleeding Hope

Author's Note

A/N: Hello! Yes, people, another fanfic!! Except I'll actually finish this one! Because I have dedication, and honesty, and- darnit, I almost got through that. Nah, I'll finish it because I have an amazing plot twist planned.

Anywho, this is an AU fanfic: What if Feathertail hadn't died?

Prologue

Everything was silent, except the roar of the waterfall in the background. Dust stirred the air and filled Feathertail's lungs. She shook. The rock was crushing. Her blue eyes opened and gazed up at the cave roof.

"Feathertail!" Crowpaw shrieked, running over to her. His eyes were wide. "You're alive!"

Stormpelt joined her. "Feathertail," He mumbled, in shock. She nodded, coughing. "Mmm," She muttered, unable to form words. The rock was crushing her, and she could feel the blood seeping into her silver pelt.

Stormpelt's eyes lit up. He cleared the surrounding area carefully and then began removing rocks. The release was heaven, the pain hell. She groaned, everything was going fuzzy around the edges. 

"Help! Someone!" Crowpaw yowled. She closed her eyes and her head fell back. 

"Feathertail!" Crowpaw's yowl was panicky, and useless.

Her spirit drifted away. 

When she opened her eyes again, her pelt was dry. No blood, no cuts, no pain. She looked around, examining her surroundings. 

"Feathertail," Someone murmured. She looked up to see a silver she-cat in front of her. She looked like Feathertail herself. She could only be-

"Silverstream?" Feathertail whispered. Her lost mother nodded once. "It's me," She murmured. Feathertail ran forward and nuzzled her mother. "What are you doing here? Is Crowpaw okay? Did I die?" She jabbered. 

"I'm visiting, he's fine, and not yet." Silverstream said. She closed her eyes. "You have a destiny, Feathertail. But you won't like it." 

Feathertail stared at her mother. "What are you talking about?" 

Silverstream sighed. "StarClan mistakenly gave Firestar this prophecy." 

Words rang in Feathertail's head. There will be three, kin of your kin, who hold the power of the stars in their paws. 

"And?" Feathertail asked, still not understanding. 

"You were supposed to die. The prophecy wouldn't have come true without it. So StarClan recinded the prophecy. In doing so, we created... a loophole, of sorts."

Feathertail blinked. "So?"

Silverstream's voice was very urgent. "You must bear Crowpaw three kits." She faded away, as did the forest.

Her eyes flew open with a gasp. "You're okay!" Brambleclaw announced, peering at her. She nodded faintly. Her throat was dry. "Where's Crowpaw?" She murmured.

Brambleclaw's eyes welled up. "You died for a day, Feathertail. But Crowpaw refused to bury you. We insisted that he do it... He jumped off the top of the waterfall."

Feathertail's mouth fell open. "Crowpaw's-"

"Dead," Brambleclaw finished somberly. Feathertail didn't understand. How could he be dead? Had Silverstream lied to her?

She saw Silverstream stand next to Brambleclaw, but it didn't seem like he could see her. She glanced down at her paws. Feathertail saw four kits, each with stars in their pelts. 

Her eyes widened as she realized what it meant. 

She was carrying Crowpaw's kits. 

One

Silverkit rose with the sun and set with the sun. She wasn't a very deep sleeper, however. Yawning, she peered outside. The sun was just peeking over the horizon. 

She scrambled to her paws, hoping Hawkpaw didn't have dawn patrol. 

She gazed up at the sky, noticing the dawn's light was muted. If it didn't rain today, the temperature would certainly drop.

Padding out of the nursery, she yawned. She could see that Hawkpaw was still asleep, and she smiled at the sky. Thank you, StarClan. 

She dragged a trout off the fresh-kill pile and began to eat it, saving some for Hawkpaw. He strode over to her smiling. "Morning," He mewed, taking a chunk of the fish meat off of her hands. She purred. "Morning."

"Any plans for today?" She inquired. He shrugged. "Most likely training and a patrol, that's probably it." 

She nodded. "Did you hear about Stormfur?" She asked, lowering her voice.

Hawkpaw's eyes gleamed craftily. "I heard he was coming back," He replied. 

She nodded. "I hope he doesn't. Unloyal mange-pelt." She curled her lip.

"Congratulations!" He said suddenly.

She glanced at him quizzically.

"You don't remember? It's your apprentice ceremony tomorrow! He reminded her.

Her jaws fell open. "I didn't remember! Thanks, Hawkpaw," She added earnestly. 

He nodded. "Of course."

She licked her jaws, standing up. "I'd better go wake up my siblings," She said.

Hawkpaw raised an eyebrow. "Must suck to have three."

She sighed. "You don't know the half of it."

Silverkit padded away, tail raised. Seeing Hawkpaw always put her in a good mood. 

She prodded Wrenkit awake first, seeing as she disliked him the most, and Leopardstar was about to announce the meeting. She then poked Crowkit, and finally shook Rainkit. 

"Get up! Let's go! Come on!" Silverkit snapped. Rainkit shook her head exasperatedly, but she kept her mouth shut.

Silverkit growled at her, but she didn't even flinch. Rolling her eyes, Silverkit stormed out of the den, aware that Wrenkit and Crowkit were following her.

Leopardstar called the meeting, and the cats of RiverClan flooded the camp. Silverkit spied her father Blackclaw. He gave her a nod which she returned. 

She turned and faced Leopardstar, knowing that she would never again be a kit.