Warriors Fanfiction
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Essay
This page contains a fanfiction written by AuriBear.
This page contains the opinions of the original author(s), and is not patrolled for factual accuracy.
Remember that this story is non-canon. It may contain false characters, plots, or locations.
Responses, comments & other feedback should be made on the comments section below.


The following story is rated Moderate.
Return of the Warriors
Preceded by:
Tides
Broken Succeded by:
Choices

Broken- Return of the Warriors Trilogy[]

Yes! The story stop is over and I now present to you the highly anticipated: Broken. :)

Please know that there is a 6 1/2 moon time skip between Tides and Broken. AuriBear(talk) 12:10, August 15, 2010 (UTC)


TWO cats will die in chapter 17 (coming soon), and one of them is the main character. Tell me who you think it is by voting on the talk page!

Allegiances[]

ThunderClan[]

Leader- Fallenstar- A black tom with green eyes a white chest and a dipped tail. (Ravenpaw)
Deputy-	Rosethorn- Dark gray she-cat with orange eyes. (Yellowfang)
			Apprentice: Hawkpaw
Medicine Cat- Poppycloud- Petite black and white she-cat with blue eyes
	Apprentice- Emberlight
Warriors-
Whitestorm	Frostcloud- Large white tom with yellow eyes.
			Apprentice: Drizzlepaw
Millie		Honeywhisker- Silver tabby she-cat with blue eyes.			
		Hazelnose- A brown tom with white accents and yellow eyes.
Jaggedtooth	Fangfur- Large ginger tabby tom with amber eyes.
			Apprentice: Fleetpaw
		Lightningstrike- A yellow tabby tom with matching yellow eyes
Firestar		Sunfang- A flame-colored tom with dazzling green eyes.
Squirrelflight	Rustflower-  Dark ginger she-cat with a fluffy tail and green eyes.
Brambleclaw	Strikefang- Muscular dark tabby tom with amber eyes.
			Apprentice: Cavepaw

Queens-		
		Morningsun- Pretty golden tabby with hazel eyes. Mate is Fangfur.
			Kits: Willowkit, Coalkit, Foxkit
Spottedleaf	Petaleye- Beautiful tortoiseshell she-cat with warm amber eyes. Mate is Sunfang.
Apprentices-
		Emberlight- Deep orange she-cat with gray eyes.
		Hawkpaw- Dark silver tabby tom with green eyes.
		Cavepaw- Light brown she-cat with hazel eyes.
		Drizzlepaw- A blue-gray she-cat with dark stripes and yellow eyes.
		Fleetpaw- A tiny red tom with yellow eyes.
Elders-		
		Ravenwing- An old black tom with many battle scars and blue eyes.
		Shrewleg- A light tabby tom with yellow eyes.
		Nettlefur- A sleek black tom with a white muzzle from age.

ShadowClan[]

Leader-  	Cloverstar- A silver she-cat with white boots and beautiful green eyes.
			Apprentice: Shinepaw
Deputy-		 Frozenwhisker- Black tom with short-stiff whiskers.
Medicine Cat- 	Elkberry- Brown tom with a cream underbelly and grey eyes.
	Apprentice- Rabbitear
Warriors-
Graystripe	Blazeclaw- A large, thick furred gray tom with orange eyes.
			Apprentice: Wasppaw
Darkstripe	Sparkclaw- Dark grey tabby tom with yellow eyes.
			Apprentice: Dapplepaw
Tawnypelt	Fawnleap- Slender, dark tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes.	
		Rumblefur- Black and brown tom with amber eyes.
			Apprentice: Cloudpaw
Lionblaze	Burnheart- Golden tabby tom with amber eyes.
		Wildflower- Silver she-cat with darker stripes and green eyes. 
Cinderpelt	Fernleaf- A fluffy dark-gray she-cat with blue eyes. 
		Treetail- Thickset brown she-cat with amber eyes. 			
		Brightcloud- White and grey tom with orange eyes.
Hollyleaf	Bugwing- Black she-cat with green eyes.
			Apprentice: Splashpaw
Mousefur	Littlemist- Small dusky brown she-cat with amber eyes.
			Apprentice: Boulderpaw
		Mothflutter- Silver tabby she-cat
			Apprentice: Oakpaw
		Spottedpelt- White and black spotted tom. 
		Silverfeather- A light silver she-cat with blue eyes.
		Mousefang- A dark gray tom with a black tail and green eyes.

Queens-
Silverstream	Dewshower- A slender silver tabby she-cat with bright blue eyes. Mate is Blazeclaw
			Kits: Ripplekit


Apprentices-
		Rabbitear- Small gray tom with unusually large ears.
		Wasppaw- A mostly yellow tortoiseshell she-cat with gray eyes.
		Oakpaw- Brown tom with amber eyes.
		Cloudpaw- A pale gray tom with orange eyes.
		Boulderpaw- Black tabby tom with silver eyes and white paws.
		Dapplepaw- Tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes.
		Splashpaw- Tiny calico she-cat with blue eyes.
		Shinepaw- Pale brown she-cat with a darker mask, legs, tail and blue eyes.

Elders-
		Riseheart- Once-pretty calico she-cat with green eyes

RiverClan[]

Leader-  	Marshstar- Beautiful white and gray she-cat with green eyes.
Deputy- 	Redlake- Muscular dark ginger tom with blue eyes.
			Apprentice: Bubblepaw
Medicine Cat- 	Leapbelly- Tall calico she-cat with silver eyes.
Warriors-
Jayfeather	Bluestorm- Gray tabby tom with blue eyes.
		Dustyrose- A pale orange she-cat with amber eyes.
		Salmonpelt- Pink-gray tom with silver eyes.
Hawkfrost	Icepad- Large dark tabby tom with ice-blue eyes.
Oakheart	Swiftstorm- Reddish-brown tom with amber eyes.
			Apprentice: Foampaw
Crowfeather	Nightheart- A dark grey tom with brilliant blue eyes.
Feathertail	Streamfrost- Slender silver tabby she-cat with blue eyes.
Leafpool		Robinflight- Slender, light brown she-cat with amber eyes.
		Grassbreeze- A soft grey she-cat with dark stripes. 
Russetfur	Brindlefur- Dark ginger she-cat with sharp green eyes.
Bluestar		Lilyfire- Blue-gray she-cat with a silver muzzle and blue eyes.
		Mintleaf- White she cat with light green eyes.
		Stripescar- Black tabby tom with yellow eyes.
		Stormwind- Dark gray she-cat with bright blue eyes.
		Fogpool- A fluffy white she-cat with green eyes. 

Queens-
		Brownwhisker- A pretty brown tabby with pale yellow eyes. Mate is Salmonpelt
			Kits: Lizardkit, Otterkit
Bluestar		Lilyfire- Blue-gray she-cat with a silver muzzle and blue eyes. Mate is Swiftstorm
			Kits: Blizzardkit (Talonpaw), Featherkit (Mosskit)

Apprentices-
		Stripepaw- Black tabby tom with yellow eyes.
		Stormpaw- Dark gray she-cat with bright blue eyes.
		Fogpaw- A fluffy white she-cat with green eyes. 
		Bubblepaw- A cream she-cat with hazel eyes and white boots.
		Foampaw- Orange tom with a white tail tip.
Elders-
		Rockpelt- A dark gray she-cat with blue eyes.
		Goldenleaf- A golden tabby tom with a white underbelly.

WindClan[]

Leader-  	Tinystar- Small white tom with unusually long claws.
Deputy- 	Juniperheart-  Beautiful calico she-cat with dazzling blue eyes.
Medicine Cat- 	Ivyshadow- Pale yellow she-cat with an unusually long tail.
	Apprentice- Mudpath
Warriors-

Tigerstar	Applefang- Big dark brown tabby tom with burning amber eyes
Dustpelt		Falconflight- Dark brown tabby tome with amber eyes.
			Apprentice: Ringpaw
Sandstorm	Dawnpelt- Pale ginger tabby with green eyes.
			Apprentice: Gustpaw
		Thornvine- A pale ginger queen.
		Birdflight- A calico she-cat with amber eyes.
Cloudtail	Creekwhisker- A white tom with blue eyes and a fluffy pelt.
			Apprentice: Mallowpaw
Thistleclaw	Raindrop- A thick furred gray tom with white and gray accents.
			Apprentice: Ashpaw
Brokenstar	Darkcloud- Large brown tabby tom with orange eyes.
			Apprentice: Volepaw
Clawface	Sleetpelt- Brown tom with orange eyes.
			Apprentice: Blossompaw
Ferncloud	Dappleheart- Pale gray she-cat with darker flecks and light green eyes. 
Brightheart	Clearsky- White she-cat with ginger patches and green eyes.
			Apprentice: Owlpaw
		Ringtail- A white and black tom with several black rings along his tail.
Queens-

Heathertail	Skysong- Light brown tabby she-cat with heather eyes. Mate is Burnheart of ShadowClan
			Kits: Heatherkit, Rushkit, Flarekit

Apprentices-
		Mudpath- Brown she-cat with amber eyes.
		Ringpaw- A white and black tom with several black rings along his tail.
		Owlpaw- Light gray tom with white chest and mask and large amber eyes. 
		Blossompaw- A dark gray tabby she-cat with green eyes.
		Ashpaw- A dark gray tom with orange eyes
		Volepaw- A pale ginger tom with amber eyes.
		Gustpaw- Pale gray tom with amber eyes. 
		Mallowpaw- Pale ginger she-cat with silver eyes.
Elders-
		None.

Broken[]

Prologue[]

A deep red tabby paced around a pool, his tail wiggling nervously as if it had a mind of it’s own.

“What are you making all that racket for?” a voice hissed.

The red tom whirled around, searching for where the sound came from. His green eyes detected a lashing tail out of the corner of his eye. Next to him was a tortoiseshell she-cat with pretty blue eyes. He recognized her as WindClan cat by her lithe build.

“Go somewhere else if you seek quiet,” the red cat retorted.

“What has you so worked up, little one?” she asked, looking sympathetic. The she-cat was almost completely invisible, and he knew she was departing soon.

“My name is Talonpaw, not ‘little one’,” Talonpaw mumbled. “It’s my sister, Brindlefur.” At his words, the pool reflected the pretty she-cat who was tucked away in her nest, sound asleep.

“Russetfur,” a white tom corrected him, padding out of the bushes.

“Maybe to you, Blackstar, but to me she is Brindlefur, my sister,” Talonpaw shook his head.

Blackstar looked at him with confidence, “Be sure, little one, we are working on a way to help them.”

Talonpaw turned around to face the former ShadowClan leader, claws unsheathed and eyes burning. “Do not take me for a fool, Blackstar,” he hissed. “I know you did not wish to help us. You spoke out against it.”

Blackstar stared evenly back at the apprentice, unashamed. “This is more than that.”

“What has changed. What is more?” Talonpaw challenged him.

“It doesn’t involve you.”

Fury burned away any of Talonpaw’s civility. “None of my concern?” he growled, outraged. “My sister is down there!”

“Peace, Talonpaw. We are going to help them and correct the problem, but you’re not going to be put at risk.” The large tom padded away, ignoring Talonpaw’s hissing.

“What is going on?” Talonpaw yowled to the stars, but he knew no answer would come. They were the stars now.

“The Place of no Stars,” the old she-cat told him.

The name sent chills down his spine. “What about them?”

“They are the problem,” she informed him. “They lay in wait.”

Talonpaw’s fur bristled with alarm. “Tigerstar is behind this, isn’t he?”

“No,” the tortoiseshell corrected him. “There is another who seeks revenge on the Clans, trying to regain what she lost.”

Ch. 1 - Stalked[]

“When am I going to become a warrior?” Owlpaw asked, irked. The gray and white tom rarely made outbursts like this, but it was for good reason.

“Soon,” Skysong assured him. She wasn’t his mentor anymore, but she still felt responsible for him.

“Skysong,” he addressed her head on. “I’m more than old enough, and cats in other clans who started their apprenticeships after mine are already warriors. I deserve answers. Ringpaw as well.” His large amber eyes were more serious than Skysong had ever seen.

“Why don’t you talk to Clearsky about this?” the she-cat prompted, before getting too involved. She wanted to give the first-time mentor a chance.

“Too preoccupied and inexperienced,” he sighed.

Skysong nodded. “I’ll talk to Tinystar when I catch him on a good day,” she promised him.

“Thanks, Skysong. It means a lot,” Owlpaw nodded. His eyes dropped down to her belly. “So how much longer until the kits are born?” he asked.

The brown she-cat peered at her unborn kits proudly, remembering the day she had discovered she was expecting, and the day that Burnheart had found out. The tom had tried to persuade her to join ShadowClan, but she assured him it was fine.

“Sometime in the next quarter-moon,” she told him, excited.

“Safe delivery,” he wished her.

“You know what I think would help?” Skysong pondered loudly.

Owlpaw chuckled. “I think I’ve heard this somewhere before,” his eyes narrowed with mocking suspicion. “You’re not leaving the camp to go hunting, I’ll go fetch you the rabbit,” the tom ordered.

“Drat,” she cursed.

“Better luck next time,” he called over his shoulder as he exited the nursery.

Skysong sighed as he left, rolling onto her side lazily. It was a few more days before the gathering, and she hoped the tom would be a warrior before then. Might as well see how Tinystar is now.

The queen hefted herself up, making her way across camp to her leader’s den. “Tinystar?” she called softly.

“Who’s there?” he hissed.

Skysong burst into his den, worried. Tinystar was crouched in his nest, eyes slits and claws unsheathed.

“Oh, Skysong,” Tinystar gasped. “For a minute I thought you were-” he cut himself off, glancing around as if there were cats waiting to pounce.

“Who?” she prompted him in the inquisitive but kind voice she had created to deal with situations like this over the past season. The brown she-cat felt bad, as if she were tricking her leader, but it was all anyone could to make sure he stayed calm. Every cat in the clan had learned to cope.

Tinystar leaned in to whisper in her ear, and Skysong tilted her head slightly. “There are cats here we cannot trust,” he told her. “At night, I see them stalking the camp, teaching our cats how fight not to win but to kill.”

Skysong scrunched her face, slightly taken away. Normally when he had things to tell her, they were about his past. “Tinystar, what can I do?” she asked.

“Protect my clan when I am gone,” he sighed. His brown eyes suddenly cleared up, more than they had in a long time. “I’m sorry, Skysong, I’m rambling again, aren’t I? What do you need?”

Her heart thudded happily as the tom seemed to come back to his senses. “It’s about the apprentices. Aside from Gustpaw and Mallowpaw, they are all ready to become warriors.”

Tinystar nodded. “I will give Ringpaw his ceremony today,” he decided.

“Why only Ringpaw?” she questioned. “Owlpaw, Ashpaw, Blossompaw and Volepaw all are ready too.”

“Yes, but Ringpaw is the oldest, therefore, he shall be a warrior first.” The old tom padded out to the Tallstump, calling WindClan to gather around.

“Ringpaw, please step forward,” he asked.

Skysong watched as the tom quickly grasped the situation and thrust his head high into the air. Owlpaw shot her a thankful look, but saw Skysong’s miserable eyes and slipped over to her side.

“What?” he asked. “What is wrong?”

“Only Ringpaw is getting his warrior name,” she told him sadly. “Tinystar thought that because he’s been apprenticed longer that he should be first.”

It hurt her to see the pained look in his eyes, but he quickly covered it up. “Well, it’s a step forward at least,” he said optimistically. “Small steps.”

“I Tinystar, leader of WindClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his/her turn.

“Ringpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?” he asked.

Ringpaw nodded. “I do.”

“Then by the powers of Starclan I give you your warrior name. Ringpaw, from now on, you will be known as Ringtail. WindClan welcomes you as a full warrior.”

The clan cheered Ringtail’s name enthusiastically. Despite only one apprentice being named, it showed that WindClan was recovering and, for now, it would have to be enough.


Ch. 2 - Trapped[]

“What are you doing here?” Sunfang hissed.

Dawnpelt froze, slightly confused. “What, no hello?”

Sunfang watched with horror as the WindClan she-cat traveled so easily onto ThunderClan territory.

“Dawnpelt,” he commanded, “stop. What are you doing?”

“Coming to visit you,” she said as if it was obvious. “Do you know what it took to sneak away from camp, especially with my apprentice?”

This wasn’t okay. He had been visiting the pretty she-cat for a while now, just for chats across the boarder and harmless play at first, but now there was a complication.

“Petaleye is in the nursery,” he told her.

Dawnpelt stiffened, but shrugged it off. “So?”

Sunfang dug his claws into the soil, annoyed. “So? They’re my kits!”

The pale she-cat padded right up to him, looking him in the eye. “Sunfang, I don’t want this to end.”

“Neither do I but-”

“That’s all I need.”

“I’m back,” Sunfang announced himself as he padded into the nursery with a crow.

“Welcome back,” Petaleye purred, drowsy from the warmth.

“How are you?” he asked.

“The same as always, Sunfang, I’m great,” she assured him. “You shouldn’t be spending so much of your time in here.”

“Of course it’s fine,” the tom assured her. “I don’t have an apprentice, I’m keeping up with my patrols and even fitting in extra hunts.”

“I didn’t ask,” Petaleye’s amber gaze locked onto his green ones. “Stop spending so much time in here.”

“But-”

“No buts!” she shook her head, exasperated. “Go spend some time with Rosethorn, or spend some time helping Strikefang with his apprentice.”

Sunfang gave in. “Fine, but I’m still dropping by now and again.” He licked her cheek before exiting the nursery, catching up with Rosethorn who was leaving to hunt. “Mind if I join?” he offered.

Her orange eyes narrowed, but she nodded, racing out of the camp quickly. “So what’s happened?” she asked.

“What makes you think something had happened?” he countered.

“Don’t deflect, Sunfang. I know something is wrong.”

Sunfang wished he could tell the senior warrior all his troubles, because she always had an answer, but this was one even he couldn’t spill. “I’m nervous about Petaleye.”

Rosethorn evaluated him, rolling her eyes. “That’s up to StarClan, but she’s at the best age to have kits and we have two medicine cats. She will be fine.”

The flame-colored tom nodded, but since it wasn’t the heart of his troubles he still wasn’t satisfied.

Rosethorn turned to look Sunfang right in the eye. “We have more power over our destinies than we think, Sunfang. StarClan cannot control everything, and even if they could, what kind of life would that be? What would be the point? I believe StarClan is where we watch and wait for our loved ones and truly redeem ourselves before continuing on.”

“Onto where?” Sunfang asked, curious.

The she-cat shot him a disgusted look. “I dish out that great advice and you’re more curious about that?” She paused just a moment, not letting the ThunderClan tom get a word in. “I don’t know, Sunfang, I really don’t. But do you think that we spend the rest of our time in StarClan?”

“Why wouldn’t we?” he challenged, confused.

“That question cannot be answered by simple means, and I don’t have the energy to answer it right now. Focus on the hunt, let yourself be consumed by your instincts, and things tend to become clear.”

Ch. 3 - Eavesdropping[]

“Bluestorm, I like you.”

The tom stiffened as the words came out of Dustyrose’s mouth. The long grass nearby rattled slightly, and Bluestorm knew that they weren’t alone.

“I like you too,” he assured her, “but not like that. I don’t have much interest in finding a mate.”

Dustyrose’s amber eyes searched his for the faintest hope that what he said was a lie, but found none. She nodded briskly, and padded away, trying to hold her head up as she did but couldn’t find the strength.

After she was out of earshot, Bluestorm called out the eavesdropper. “I know you’re there, Lilyfire.”

The blue she-cat made her way out of the grass, shaking her pelt free. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to,” she apologized.

“I know,” he sighed, staring off at the path Dustyrose had taken.

“Why don’t you give her a chance?” Lilyfire suggested. “I know it’s not my place, but-”

“A chance to do what? Be together more? She already tried that. There isn’t anything you can do to change someone’s feelings, Lilyfire,” Bluestorm shrugged. He looked at Lilyfire’s slightly swollen belly. Must be expecting Swiftstorms’ kits. “When are they due?”

Lilyfire gave him a blank stare. “When are what due?” she asked slowly.

“The kits,” he rolled his eyes.

“Brownwhisker gave birth a half-moon ago,” Lilyfire told him, confused.

“I mean yours, Lilyfire.”

The blue warrior’s eyes widened as she saw the truth in his words.

She didn’t know. “I’m no medicine cat, go talk to Leapbelly,” he grunted.

She turned and raced to camp, a blank stare still adorned on her face.

“What a nice way to tell her,” a voice commented dryly.

“What, is everyone eavesdropping today?” Bluestorm hissed. He watched the stream as a group of fish circled not far away. The RiverClan tom’s paw darted in, pulling two out. “She was going to find out eventually. It’s a good thing.”

“So,” Marshstar walked next to him, “you figure that it doesn’t matter when they find out, because eventually they all will?”

“I guess.”

His leader shot him a dubious look. “You guess?”

Bluestorm nodded. “It depends on the situation. Why should I give myself a label when I don’t think I can keep it?”

Marshstar chuckled and shook her head. “I still don’t understand why you turned down the deputy position I offered you all those moons ago.”

“I don’t have an interest in becoming leader,” Bluestorm told her, flicking his ear. “I’ll do all I can to support RiverClan where I am, plus my brother was much better suited for the job.”

“Yes, Redlake has turned out to be a great deputy,” she dipped her head. “I wonder what he’d be like as leader.”

“He’ll go on a power-hungry rampage and destroy the clans,” Bluestorm snorted, rolling his eyes. “How can we know?”

“I know you’d stop him,” Marshstar mewed matter-o-factly. “You’re not as stubborn or cruel as you portray yourself to be, Bluestorm. You’re in love with the façade you’ve created, and are unable to look past it. You should try it once in a while.” The she-cat left with a flick of her tail, leaving Bluestorm to mull it over.

Ch. 4 - Differences[]

Robinflight watched with a carefully composed mask as Streamfrost and Nightheart began padding out of camp, chatting happily as they went to go hunting, trying not to notice how well they looked together.

“Why don’t you go talk to him?” Brindlefur suggested, laying down next to her.

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Robinflight stuttered. Why did I lie?

The ginger she-cat snorted. “Please, everyone but Nightheart can see you mooning after him.”

Robinflight scanned the camp’s clearing quickly, checking that no cat was close enough to listen. “I do talk to him,” she insisted. “But Streamfrost always seems to be there.”

“Seems like you should step it up,” Brindlefur smirked. “Nightheart!” she called the tom, who stopped in his tracks to look back at her.

What is she doing?!

“Robinflight was about to go out hunting, mind if she joins you?” the sly she-cat wondered.

The black tom shrugged. “Sure, come on.”

“You’re welcome,” Brindlefur told her, smug.

Robinflight ignored the pestering she-cat and quickly hopped up to join Nightheart, her heart thudding loudly. Shh, she tried to quiet it.

“Are you ready?” Streamfrost growled playfully.

“Yup, let’s head down to the stream and catch a few fish,” he suggested. The two turned to look at Robinflight, who could only nod quickly.

“Okay, let’s go,” the silver she-cat bounded into the reeds.

“Where are you going?” Robinflight called, confused.

“A shortcut I found a while ago-, yuck!” Streamfrost rushed out of the tall plants, covered in mud up to her chest.

“Don’t tell me you fell in the mud,” Nightheart gave her an amused look.

“No,” Streamfrost huffed, “I saw a particularly large spider and slipped.”

Robinflight let our a mroow of laughter. “So you fell in!” she giggled.


“No!” the silver cat insisted. “There’s a difference!”

“Oh please,” Nightheart rolled his eyes. “Go back to camp and get yourself cleaned up.”

Robinflight’s heart picked up again. Would they be alone?

Fine,” the muddy warrior hissed. “Bring me back a fish.”

“Let’s go get her some fish,” Robinflight mewed, nervous. Step it up. Step it up.

Ch. 5 - Decisions[]

Fernleaf clawed her way impatiently across the Treebridge. It had been her first to a gathering since her kit, Shinepaw, had become an apprentice, and her first time seeing Fallentail since she had heard he became deputy. Six moons she had been trapped in the nursery, and she had had six moons to wonder what they were supposed to do next.

The she-cat leaped onto the island, eager to fine her mate. She pushed through the ShadowClan warriors, searching but couldn’t find him.

“Fernleaf!” his voice hissed, and she turned to see Fallentail’s tail disappearing into the bushes.

Fernleaf followed silently, joining him as they made their way to the tiny coast. They sat next to each other, trying to enjoy the other’s company, but they both knew what was coming.

The ShadowClan she-cat said it first, “We can’t keep this going, can we?”

“No,” Fallentail shook his head sadly. He angled his head to look Fernleaf in her eyes. “Fernleaf, I love you. You and Shinepaw will always hold a very special place in my heart, but I’m deputy to my clan, and I have to commit myself to them completely.”

Fernleaf dropped her head, unable to hold his eyes any longer, despite his coaxing with his black

tail. After another moment, she pulled her head back up. “Fallentail, I’ll be waiting for you in StarClan.”

“You’d better be,” he growled.

A yowl from the center of the clearing signaled the start of the gathering.

“Goodbye,” she whispered softly, padding back to her clan. She sat next to Burnheart and tried to give him a happy look, but couldn’t muster it. He sent her a quizzical stare, but she didn’t say anything.

Tinystar, the WindClan leader, stepped forward to the end of his branch, and all the cats were glad that he was looking better than before.

“WindClan has a new warrior, Ringtail, along with two new apprentices, Mallowpaw and Gustpaw.”

The three newly named cats all puffed their chests with pride as their names were called, Gustpaw even letting out a small growl.

“A badger came onto the moor a while ago, but Juniperheart led a patrol and showed it that there was no place for it here!” WindClan cats let out yowls of victory over their accomplishment. “Other than that, WindClan has nothing else to report.”

“RiverClan has two new apprentices, Bubblepaw and Foampaw, although they are not here tonight. Brownwhisker also has a new littler of kits, Otterkit and Lizardkit,” Marshstar reported. Her green eyes shone with sadness as she continued. “I regret to say that Fireshine was taken by a pair of twolegs. He isn‘t expected to return, but RiverClan remains hopeful.”

Cats all around began to murmur, some worried and anxious while others were sad.

“RiverClan has nothing else to report,” the leader stepped back.

Cloverstar clawed her way to the end of her branch, looking down on all the cats before speaking. “ShadowClan is thriving. Silverfeather and Mousefang are now warriors, and prey is running despite the harsh leaf-bare. We have several new apprentices, Shinepaw, Splashpaw, Boulderpaw, Cloudpaw, and Dapplepaw.” She stepped back into her spot, motioning with her tail for Foreststar to go.

“Thunderclan,” he reported, “is doing very well. We have a new apprentice, Fleetpaw, and the forests are once again filling with prey. I have nothing else to report,” the leader dipped his head.

“This gathering is over,” Cloverstar declared, leaping off the branch. She motioned with her tail for her Clan to follow quickly, and they did, beating everyone else to the TreeBridge.

“I think Tinystar is losing it,” Burnheart mumbled.

“Why do you think that?” Fernleaf asked. He had seemed better than before.

“Skysong gave birth to three kits, and he didn’t report it,” he informed her.

The gray she-cat shot him a strange look. “Not all leaders report kit births, and how would you know?”

“Some WindClan apprentices were talking about it,” the golden tom told her, but looked away.

Bizarre.


Ch. 6 - Heritage[]

Skysong looked down onto her three gorgeous kits, admiring them as she had been for a while now.

The first was a pretty white she-cat with dark brown stripes around her face and on her tail. Her second kit was a deep red she-cat with an unusually long tail; she resembled her father the most. The final kit was a thick furred brown tabby with a white chest and paws.

“How are you feeling?”

Skysong turned her head to see Tinystar pad into the nursery, taking a seat next to her.

“I’m feeling better, thanks,” she purred. “How was the gathering?”

“Same old, same old,” he shook his head with a sigh. “Have you chosen a name for your kits?”

The queen nodded her head. “The orange she-cat is Flarekit and the white she-kit is Heatherkit.”

Tinystar’s brown eyes locked onto the last kit. “What about the tom?” he asked.

“I named him after you, Tinykit,” Skysong told him. She had debated whether or not it was appropriate, but after two sunrises, the name had just stuck.

Her leader met her gaze, a smile playing in his eyes. “I appreciate it Skysong, but that is no tiny cat, and I’m not that fond of my own name. Do you know what my warrior name was?”

Skysong titled her head, trying to remember if anyone had told her. “No, I don’t think so.”

“Tinytail.”

The queen tried to hide her amusement, and was pleased when she did. “It wasn’t that bad.”

“Oh yes it was,” Tinystar told her. “I used to joke that it was the main reason I worked so hard to be leader was because I would get a new name.”

The she-cat was unable to contain her mroow of laughter. “Then what shall I name him?” she offered.

Tinystar gazed down on the she-kit with more focus than Skysong had seen in a while. “How about, Rushkit?” he suggested.

“I like it!” she assured him. “Rushkit,” Skysong tried out the name.

Tinystar nodded, yawning. “My, it is late. I’ll see you in the morning, Skysong.”

“Good night Tinystar.”

Skysong gave her kit’s a final lick before laying her head down to rest, only to be interrupted by a set of paws sweeping the ground as they entered the nursery. It was her former mentor, Raindrop.

“What are you doing here so late?” she asked calmly. Honestly, she was frightened by the tom, but she wasn’t going to show him that.

“Some of the cats have been talking, Skysong,” he growled.

“About what?” she challenged.

“Those kit’s father,” Raindrop told her. “No one here is claiming them. Creekwhisker has Clearsky, your sister has Falconflight, Darkcloud has Thornvine and so on, but no one has you. So that begs the question, who is their father?”

Skysong let out a quiet hiss, trying not to wake her sleeping kits. “It’s a queen’s choice whether or not to tell, Raindrop, you know that.”

“Not right now.” The tom unsheathed his claws and padded forward menacingly. “Tell me.”

“It’s none of your concern!” Skysong snarled louder.

“Skysong?” a dreary voice called. Dappleheart trotted into the nursery, alarmed. “What is going on?” she challenged Raindrop. “You shouldn’t be in here this late at night. A queen need’s her rest. Now shoo!”

Raindrop returned to the warriors den with a lash of his tail, disgusted.

“Thank you,” she whispered, dropping her head in relief. Despite him being her clanmate, she wouldn’t put it past the violent tom to attack her or threaten her kits.

“Of course,” Dappleheart assured her with a sniff, laying down next to her sister. “I’m sleeping in here tonight,” she declared, curling around Skysong and her kits.

“Thank you, thank you…” the words wouldn’t stop coming out of her mouth until she fell asleep.


Ch. 7 - Swaying[]

“Clearsky, want to go hunting?”

The white and cream she-cat licked her lips. “Sure, let me get Creekwhisker-”

“He’s out on a patrol, along with Owlpaw,” Sleetpelt shrugged.

“Why did he take my apprentice out?” she asked.

“You’d have to ask him, I guess,” he replied with a shrug. “Ready?”

The WindClan she-cat nodded, picking herself up and walking out of camp. Weird. He and I never talk.

The two WindClan warriors walked out the camp silently, and Clearsky couldn’t help but stealing quick glances over at him, suspicious. She didn’t like that feeling, especially since they were clanmates, but ever since the incident with Darkcloud wanting to take some of ThunderClan’s territory, it felt as if the clan was divided in two.

“Is there something on my face?” he asked, noticing the she-cat’s stares.

Her ear’s burned with embarrassment. “No,” Clearsky replied, grateful for the rabbit that passed by. She leapt at it, missing at first, but swung her claws around and swatted it to Sleetpelt, who finished it off.

“Nice teamwork,” he chuckled, burying it. “How is it, having your own apprentice now?” Sleepelt asked.

“Weird,” Clearsky decided, opening up a bit. He seemed nicer than she remembered. “Owlpaw should already be a warrior, so he goes off and does his own thing, not disrespectfully though. It was like an unspoken mutual agreement; he really doesn’t need me and I don’t mind. Skysong really did all the work.”

The brown tom nodded, digging his claws into the ground. “Yes, he’s turning out to be a fine young cat. Skysong did very well.”

“How is Blossompaw?” she felt a need to ask. “Owlpaw mentioned that they don’t talk anymore. It seems strange, considering they‘re littermates.”

Sleetpelt shrugged. “I have no idea. It’s as you said, they don’t look to us for instruction, or need to.” The large tom rotated his ears as a rabbit rushed by, trying to escape detection, but he charged after it, catching up.

Clearsky couldn’t help but admire the tom a little bit. He was large, but still very fast considering his build.

A loud caw above made her duck for cover in the tall grass. Circling the skies was a large hawk, scanning the ground for prey. Even from where she stood, Clearsky could tell that it was at least twice her size.

“Sleetpelt,” she hissed. “We need to go warn the camp.” With Skysong’s new kits, the bird was a large threat.

He pushed his way through the bushes, eyes nothing more than slits, shaking his head. “Watch this, I have an idea,” he said around the rabbit. The brown tom crept silently until he reached a large clearing, tossing the rabbit out into the middle.

The hawk immediately changed it’s flight pattern, noticing the fresh-kill, and started to dive down.

“I’ll leap at it first, then you come in and secure it,” he ordered her.

“You want to catch it?” she exclaimed, but he had already taken off at the big bird, trying to pull it down.

Clearsky joined him quickly, leaping onto the hawk’s shoulders and biting down hard on it‘s spine. The predator went limp, and Sleetpelt let out a yowl of joy.

“I can’t believe that worked!” he cried.

“You’re a beetlebrain,” she laughed, shaking her head.

“Let’s take it back to camp,” Sleetpelt grabbed the rabbits they had caught.

“Oh no, you should carry it,” the she-cat told him. “It was your idea.”

“But it wouldn’t have worked without you,” he shrugged. “Let’s go.”

Clearsky picked up the hawk and trotted back to camp, head held high. It feels like I’m an apprentice returning with my first kill, she thought.

When they returned to camp, she lay it in the fresh-kill pile. Cats stopped what they were doing to come and take a look.

“That is amazing!” Juniperheart exclaimed. “Nice catch!”

“It was Sleetpelt’s idea,” Clearsky announced before anyone gave her credit.

“It’s very welcome, either way,” the deputy purred. “Both of you should line your nest with it’s feathers to remember this accomplishment.”

Clearsky pulled a few from it’s wing and tail and strutted back to her. She lay the feathers around her nest, carefully arranging them so they wouldn’t fall out or poke her. When she returned to the middle of camp, the she-cat saw that the hawk was already picked clean of it’s feather’s.

“I told the Mallowpaw and Gustpaw to take the rest,” Sleetpelt told her. “They’re going to line the nursery with them.”

“Did you take any for your nest?” she asked, playing nonchalance. When the tom shook his head no she rolled her eyes, walking back into the warrior’s den and pulling a few out of her own and putting them into Sleetpelt’s. “There,” she curled her tail, feeling smug.

“Whatever suits you,” Sleetpelt rolled his eyes, curling up for a rest.

Ch. 8 - Passing[]

“Fallentail!” Cavepaw cried, racing into the camp.

“What?” he hissed, alarmed. ThunderClan cats gathered around, nervous as the young tom was out of breath.

“WindClan started a fight on the boarder,” he finally gasped.

“Over what?” Foreststar growled, stalking out of his den.

“Some warriors accused us of stealing prey, but we really didn’t!” The apprentice was shaking.

The leader’s brown eyes lit up with rage. “Fallentail, Rosethorn, Frostcloud, Lightningstrike, Sunfang and Fleetpaw, let’s go!” Foreststar cried, and his patrol did the same, letting the forest ring with their fury.

They raced to the WindClan boarder, their ears rotating wildly as they tried to figure out where the battle was happening.

“Over there!” Rosethorn hissed, pointing to the right with her dark tail.

The patrol charged into the clearing, and Fallentail looked down with dismay as his former apprentice, Petaleye, was flung off her paws and onto her back by Applefang.

“Attack!” Fallentail caterwauled as he raced over to the tortoiseshell she-cat, flinging Applefang off her. The large tabby tom leapt at him angrily, letting out a hiss as he sunk his long claws into Fallentail’s back.

“Get off!” the deputy growled. He rolled over and landed on Applefang, forcing the air out of him. Petaleye jumped onto the massive cat, this time she had the upper hand as she swatted him violently, sending him away.

Fallentail watched as the rest of his clan pushed the WindClan patrol back, but was confused by what he saw. The WindClan warriors seemed to be giving ground, but none of them had left yet. Even Applefang had rejoined the battle. Fallentail’s eyes stalked the tom as he crept toward him. Applefang paced around Foreststar’s skirmish, watching as the leader grappled with Thornvine.

He’s going to make it two on one! Fallentail realized with a jolt. He ran after Applefang, trying to stop him, but the WindClan warrior had already jumped onto Foreststar, biting his neck.

Foreststar let out a cry that seemed to shake the heart of every ThunderClan warrior, as they all froze and turned to look.

Rosethorn and Fallentail pushed his two attackers off, trying to stop the bleeding, but he knew that his great leader would lose a life anyways. “Petaleye!” he called. “Get Poppycloud!” The warrior nodded and took off. The black deputy turned to Applefang, his green eyes practically unseeing with the grief that clouded them. “Over a piece of prey?” he snarled, his throat choking up.

“Get off our territory,” Rosethorn ordered, her eyes were covered much like Fallentail’s.

Applefang lifted his head into the air and lashed his tail as a signal for WindClan to leave.

Poppycloud burst out of the bushes, her mouth filled with healing herbs.

Fallentail padded next to her. “Poppycloud, what life is he on?” he asked, his voice no more than a whisper, but all the ThunderClan cats heard it, as not one dared to even breath.

“His last.”

Foreststar gasped as the harsh herbs were laid onto his wound. His chest that had been heaving at first was now barely moving at all.

“Fallentail,” he coughed. “Remember your promise.”

“Of course,” Fallentail dipped his head, and his clanmates did the same, honoring their leader as he made his path to StarClan.


(A/N: Foreststar and Fireshine were NOT the cat I was refering to when I said a main character would die. Vote for who you think it is on the discussion page.)


Ch. 9 - Moonpool[]

Fallentail watched sadly as his leader’s body was taken away by Shrewleg, Ravenwing and Nettlefur to be buried. It had been a long night.

I wish Fernleaf was here.

“Fallentail,” Poppycloud’s voice pulled him from his thought. “You and I must travel to the moonpool to receive your nine lives and name.” The petite she-cat seemed to be doing better than before. She was known for being direct and on top of everything, of course she would be ready to move forward.

The black tom nodded. “Let’s get going.”

“Lay down and lap up some of the water,” Poppycloud instructed.

Fallentail did as he was told, not hesitating as he drank the cool water. It seemed to have a calming effect on his body, and he was thankful for it after the stressful day he had had. Fallentail’s body become uncomfortably cold, and to his distress, he found that he was unable to move.

“Calm down, Fallentail,” a familiar voice told him. “You can move now.”

The tom lifted his head to see an old black and white tom looking down at him with pride.

He was no longer at the moonpool beside Poppycloud. Around him were four great oaks and soft grass beneath. The sky was filled with bright stars, each twinkling kindly down upon him,

“You are at the Fourtrees,” the white and black tom informed him. Although Fallentail couldn’t remember him, the voice was very familiar. “This place no longer exists in your world, but it does in StarClan and is still very sacred.” The tom dipped his head. “Welcome, Fallentail. Are you ready to receive your nine lives?”

The black tom nodded quickly. “I am.”

Weaving their way out of the bushes, eight other cats joined him in the clearing, and he became choked with emotions, especially so when his old mentor and mother walked in.

“I am Barley,” the white and black tom introduced himself. “With this life I give you courage. Use it well in defense of your clan.

Fallentail felt like he had been transported again, his muscles ached as if he had been fighting a fierce battle and been hunting for several sunrises. The ache slowly ebbed away, and he was able to catch his breath, gasping slightly.

A beautiful white she-cat stepped forward, but again he didn’t recognize her. “I am Frostfur. With this life I give you justice. Use it well as you judge the actions of others.” As the she-cat touched his nose, a bolt of searing pain lashed through Fallentail’s body, making him cringe.

“I am Brindleface,” another she-cat told him. “With this life I give you loyalty to what you know to be right. Use it well to guide your clan in times of trouble.” She bent down to give him his life and he braced himself, but it was not needed as there was no pain.

A fuzzy black tom padded forward, not bothering to give out his name. “With this life I give you tireless energy. Use it well to carry out the duties of a leader.”

Fallentail felt as if he had just raced around the lake several times, and his muscles felt heavy as led, nearly sapping all the energy out of him.

A brown she-cat with a cream mark on her chest walked forward, her eyes proud but they held a tinge of sadness. She paused a moment, as if expecting something. “My name is Robinwing,” she dipped her head and shook it. “With this life I give you protection. Use it well to care for your clan as a mother cares for her kits.”

Fallentail felt as if his pelt was being torn off as the life coursed through him. His eyes glowed with anger and he bared his teeth at the unseen threats that stalked his clan like a plague.

His mentor, Gravelclaw, made his way over. “With this life I give you mentoring. Use it well to train the young cats of your clan.

The black tom felt no pain in this life, but rather a strong bond that a mentor and apprentice share.

Sparrowcry, an old ThunderClan queen, approached him. “With this life I give you compassion,” she rasped. “Use it well for the elders of your clan, and all those weaker than yourself.”

His mother, Whitecrest, came forward, her eyes filled with pride and love. “With this life I guve you love. Use it well for all the cats in your care- including Shinepaw and Fernleaf.”

Warmth rushed through Fallentail like a dam breaking as he received the life.

Foreststar walked forward, his coat no longer blood smeared and dirty. The tom looked youthful and happy. “Fallentail, with this life I give you nobility, certainty and faith. Use it well as you lead you clan in the ways of StarClan and the warrior code.”

Fallentail had been lulled into a false sense of security after the last life, and he now could barely comprehend what he was feeling. Searing pain rushed through his body, and regret. He realized that this was the last thing that Foreststar felt before he died.

The black tom gasped, taken aback. Foreststar motioned for him to rise, and he obliged.

“I hail you by your new name, Fallenstar. Your old life in no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of ThunderClan. Defend it well; care for the young and old; honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; live each life with pride and dignity.”

The cats all stood up and began to chant his new name.

“Fallenstar!”


(A/N: As most of you probably noticed, cats that Fallenstar didn't know where there. They were cats from his past life, such as Barley, Frostfur and Brindleface (his sisters) and Robinwind was his/Ravenpaw's 'first' mother. The black tom was his/Ravenpaw's father, Fuzzypelt.)

Ch. 10 - Revenge[]

“Intruder!”

Skysong was jerked awake by the call, and she left her still-sleeping kits curled in their nest.

WindClan cats were gathered around, most of them hissing and growling menacingly. Skysong spotted Fallentail, the ThunderClan deputy and Poppycloud, the medicine cat, walking through the entrance of WindClan’s camp.

“What are they doing here at moonhigh?” she growled.

“Fallentail,” Tinystar addressed him, Juniperheart taking a seat next to her leader.

Poppycloud opened her mouth to say something, but Fallentail stopped her. “Tinystar, I assume you know about the battle that took place on our boarder today?” he asked.

“Yes, my warriors tell me that your cats stole prey,” he shook his head impatiently. “Do not tell me you came here just to try and convince me otherwise.”

Fallentail shook his head. “No, I wasn’t there and although I believe my warriors when they say the didn’t, I’m not here to contest that now.”

“Then what are you here for?” Juniperheart hissed.

“Foreststar is dead. He was killed in the battle.”

Several cats gasped while others looked around wildly, as if trying to figure out who had done the job.

Tinystar’s eyes widened with rage as he turned to look upon his clan. “Who killed Foreststar?” he asked, his calm voice frightening.

“I believe that was me,” Applefang claimed.

“Applefang, whatever your reasoning, it was inexcusable!” Tinystar growled. “I’m done trying to deal with you. As of this moment, you are no longer a WindClan warrior. If you are found on our territory after sunrise, you will be killed.”

The tom got up calmly and shrugged before he left. “You’ll see me again,” he prophesized.

Tinystar shook his head sadly before turning to the ThunderClan visitors. “Fallentail- no, Fallenstar, I regret that my clan had any part in this and am deeply sorry for your loss. WindClan is shamed.”

Fallenstar shook his head. “No, only Applefang bears that tonight. I hold no grudge against you, Tinystar. Goodnight,” the new leader and his medicine cat departed quickly, eager to get back to their clan.

Skysong returned to the nursery, hoping that her kits were still asleep. As she settled back into her spot, a figure blocked the light of the moon from entering.

“Tinystar?” she asked.

The old tom nodded, trudging into the den. “Do you mind if I sleep in here tonight?” he asked.

It must be overwhelming for him. Foreststar was a friend, and one of the last cats his age left in around the lake. He must feel alone. “Of course,” she purred softly. “You are always welcome in here.”


Ch. 11 - Budding[]

“You’re having my kits?” Stikestorm’s jaw went a little slack.

Lilyfire nodded, not sure as to how he would take the news. She had only found out a few days ago thanks to Bluestorm’s curt observations, and Leapbelly had confirmed it.

“That’s great!” he yowled, throwing his head back. His chest puffed with pride and he was unable to contain his purring. “When are they due?” he asked.

“In about three quarter-moons, at least that is was Leapbelly thinks,” she recalled. “Could be sooner or it could be later. I have to move into the nursery now, I guess.” Lilyfire flicked her tail, already irritated by the idea of spending almost seven moons in there.

Strikestorm saw this and chuckled. “I’ll visit you everyday and we can go on walks together, and when the kits are born we can take them too!”

As her mate continued to paint a happy picture, something inside her clicked together and she felt satisfied, as if this was how things were supposed to be and she had completed something she had been working on for a while.

“Did I just hear you’re expecting kits?” Mintleaf asked, trotting over.

“Yes!” he declared, puffing his chest out again.

“You might want to put that thing away,” Lilyfire advised, poking his chest with her paw. “It might explode if you do that too many times.”

“Want me to help collect moss for your nest?” Mintleaf offered.

The blue-gray she-cat nodded, thankful. “But first, I need to go talk to Marshstar about Stormpaw. It’s time she became a warrior, and I promised Brownwhisker that I would train her well. I want to be her mentor when she get her new name,” Lilyfire explained.

The white she-cat nodded and the two took off for the RiverClan leader’s den.

“What can I do for you?” Marshstar offered as the walked in.

“I think that Stormpaw is ready to be a warrior,” Lilyfire dipped her head. The white and gray she-cat thought it over. “She is a bit young, but all three of them are progressing very well. I’ll hold the ceremony tonight.”

“Oh, hold still!” Brownwhisker gave an exasperated mew as Stormpaw tried to duck from her licks. “I’m just trying to clean you up.”

“I’m fine!” she insisted.

The queen looked at Stripepaw and Fogpaw, who both nodded vigorously, agreeing. “Fine,” she chuckled.

The RiverClan leader called the attention of her cats. “Lilyfire, Grassbreeze and Swiftstorm, are you satisfied that these apprentices are ready to become warriors? “

“Yes,” they said in unison.

Marshstar nodded her head, satisfied. “I, Marshstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn.

“Stripepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life? “

The black tabby nodded eagerly, his eyes blazing. “I do.”

“Then by the powers of Starclan I give you your warrior name. Stripepaw, from now on, you will be known as Stripescar. RiverClan welcomes you as a full warrior.”

Stripescar held his head high, his chest puffing with joy.

The RiverClan leader swung her head over to look at Fogpaw. “Fogpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life? “

“I do.” Fogpaw declared.

“Then by the powers of Starclan I give you your warrior name. Fogpaw, from now on, you will be known as Fogpool. RiverClan welcomes you as a full warrior.”

The newly named Fogpool looked nervous as she approached her leader, almost scared, but Marshstar didn’t take any special notice.

Lilyfire watched as her apprentice stepped forward. She looked determined as ever, but a little worried.

Good, she thought. She understands how big of a responsibility this is.

“Stormpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life? “

“I do.”

“Then by the powers of Starclan I give you your warrior name. Stormpaw, from now on, you will be known as Stormwind. RiverClan welcomes you as a full warrior.”

The she-cat’s blue eyes became brighter as the clan called her name along with her siblings.

“Tonight you still sit a silent vigil,” Lilyfire purred, congratulating her old apprentice.

After the excitement died down, Lilyfire made her way to the nursery, a little reluctant, but at least she wouldn’t be alone.


Ch. 12 - Swayed[]

“What are you doing?” Clearsky titled her head to the side. Before her was Sleetpelt, hiding in the bushes.

“Hush!” he whispered. “I’m trying to get another hawk.” The brown tom motioned with his ears to a dead rabbit laying in the clearing nearby.

Looking up, Clearsky saw that the skies were clear. Not a cloud or bird in sight. The white and cream she-cat rolled her eyes. “You’re pushing your luck,” she told him. “If one doesn’t come, then you’re returning to camp with a single rabbit. What will you do then?” Clearsky pointed out.

“I’ll just steal some of yours,” he shrugged.

“I’d like to see you try,” she growled playfully, her tail swinging back and forth.

Sleetpelt turned his orange eyes onto her. They glowed with excitement. “Is that a challenge?”

“Who knows?” Clearsky shrugged innocently.

The tom let out a feral growl and swatted at her, claws still sheathed. Clearsky countered with a leap onto his back, trying to use her weight to bring him down, but Sleetpelt was surprisingly stable as he rolled over on her.

“Nice try,” he purred, flipping over and pinned her.

They stayed that way for a few more heartbeats, until Creekwhisker padded in, his fur bristled.

“What are you-?” he began.

Clearsky pushed Sleetpelt off. “Oof!” he coughed, and she gave a little purr.

“It’s fine, Creekwhisker. We were just messing around,” she assured him.

“Oh, okay,” the white tom nodded, retracting his claws. “I’m going to head over to the warrens. No one has hunted there in a while.”

It bugged her that he didn’t seem to mind at all that she and Sleetpelt we alone, and that he didn’t invite her to join him. Does he not like me anymore? she wondered sadly.

“Clearsky,” Sleetpelt pulled her attention back onto him. “I like you.”The she-cat’s mouth opened a little in shock, but he continued talking before she could say anything. “And I think you feel the same.”

“Creekwhisker-” she tried to start a sentence, but that was all that came out.

“I know you like him too, but you can like more than one cat at a time. It’s possible.” His orange eyes met hers and read the confusion. “Look, I’ll give you some time to think it over, but please consider it. Consider us.”

Ch. 13 - Deputies[]

Fallenstar sat alone in the leader’s den, no, his den. I have to pick a new deputy.

Hazelnose? The tom was brave and one of his good friends, but recently the tom had become very violent and he had never had an apprentice before, so he was out.

Sunfang? The tom was responsible and brave, almost the very definition on a ThunderClan cat, but despite already having an apprentice he was still young and inexperienced. I’m still a young cat myself, Fallenstar noted. I need a senior warrior to help balance out.

The two cats that came to mind were Frostcloud and Rosethorn. The ThunderClan leader gave himself a little nod before walking out to the Highrock. The sun had already vanished from the sky and a sliver of the moon now hung over his head.

“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey meet beneath the Highrock!” Fallenstar cried. The words felt strange coming from his mouth. Most of the ThunderClan warriors were already assembled, waiting for their new leader to announce the deputy.

“I say these words before StarClan, so that they may hear and approve my choice. Rosethorn, is the new deputy of ThunderClan.”

The dark gray she-cat looked shocked for a moment, but immediately composed herself. “Thank you, I will do all I can to serve my clan,” she dipped her head.

Frostcloud was a noble warrior, and no one could doubt that he was an excellent cat, but Rosethorn was clever, capable, and more loyal than any cat he had ever met. Fallenstar could tell he had made a popular choice, as almost every cat went up to give their congratulations.

He padded back into his den, jumping into his nest and falling asleep.

Early sun rays shot through the lichen and directly at Fallenstar’s eyes. They fluttered open as he got up and stretched before walking out into camp. A few cats were already up and getting ready for the day. One of them was Rosethorn, who spotted him and padded over.

“The morning patrol is Lightningstrike, myself, and Hawkpaw,” she informed him, “and do you think two hunting patrols would be good?”

The new leader nodded. “But let Lightningstrike lead a hunting patrol, he’s been put on too many boarder patrols recently; I’m sure he’d be grateful.”

Rosethorn nodded, remembering. “Who would you like on the dawn patrol then?”

“I’ll lead it myself,” he yawned. “I haven’t been out of the camp for a while.”

“Sounds good. I’ll go let everyone know,” the deputy began to pad off, but caught herself early. “Also, Morningsun asked me to remind you that her kits are nearing their sixth moon, and for you to start thinking about mentors for them.”

Hazeltail. He hoped that by giving the tom an apprentice it would maybe help mature him a bit, and calm his recent violent streak.

After Rosethorn had sent out patrols and collected her apprentice, the dawn patrol took off, starting at the ShadowClan boarder.

“Hawkpaw, tell me, what can you scent right now?” Rosethorn quizzed her apprentice.

The tabby’s green eyes narrowed slightly as he took in a deep breath. “A squirrel, but it’s up in that tree, and there is a crow that recently left the area.”

“Very well done,” Fallenstar commented, impressed.

“Cloverstar! I found the ThunderClan boarder!” Bounding around proudly on ShadowClan territory was pale brown she-cat with a dark brown mask, ears, tail and paws. Her blue eyes looked slightly alarmed as they spotted Fallenstar’s patrol.

Shinepaw, he thought longingly.

“Took you long enough!” Cloverstar growled, leaping out of the bushes. “Oh, Fallentail,” she greeted.

“It’s Fallenstar now,” Hawkpaw corrected the ShadowClan she-cat.

Cloverstar’s eyes widened with shock. “Ah, I’m sorry for your loss. Foreststar will be missed.”

“How did he die?” Shinepaw asked, curious.

“Shinepaw! That’s not something you should be asking,” Cloverstar scolded her.

Fallenstar waved his tail dismissively. “It’s fine.”

The silver she-cat asked, “Who is the new deputy?”

“I am, Cloverstar.” Rosethorn looked agitated. He knew that the she-cat didn’t like distractions.

“We’ll be going now,” Fallenstar stood up and motioned for his patrol to follow. “Safe hunting, Cloverstar, Shinepaw.”

“How did he know my name?” Shinepaw squeaked, slightly alarmed.

“I mentioned it at the gathering, furball,” the she-cat growled. Fallenstar could almost hear her eyes roll. “Come on, let’s get back to camp.”

Ch. 14 - Revealed[]

“Die, Tigerstar!” Heatherkit crowed, leaping onto Owlpaw. Rushkit and Flarekit followed, each growling and hissing menacingly.

Skysong watched a few tail-lengths away, chewing on a rabbit that the apprentice had just brought in. Owlpaw was currently busy trying to escape a mountain of fluff.

“Help!” he yelped. The gray tom let out a real hiss of pain as one of her kits sunk their claws in.

“That’s enough,” Skysong called them back over.

“No mercy!” Heatherkit insisted, shooting a look of mutiny at her mother.

“Find a new game to play, or I’m sending you to clean out the nursery,” she shrugged. “Your call.”

“It’s really fine,” Owlpaw insisted.

“See?” Flarekit was jumping up and down, eager to go another round.

“No, she’s right, let‘s play a new game.” Rushkit called his two sisters over and they began whispered, shooting innocent looks at Skysong every few seconds.

“Look!” Flarekit yowled, pointing at Owlpaw. “There’s Scourge!”

“LionClan! Attack!” Heatherkit let out a fearsome war cry as she leapt at the apprentice again.

Skysong, shook her head with a sigh. Kits. “If you get off Owlpaw, you can join me in getting moss for our nests,” she bargained. At least they will burn off some energy.

They quickly abandoned their game and bounded over, excited. “We get to leave the camp?”

“Yes, but it’s only a few fox-lengths away, and we have to play the line game out there,” she told them, getting up with a stretch. “Come on, let’s go.”

“Mind if I join you?” Owlpaw asked.

Skysong shot him an sly look. “Sure, but you have to play the line game too.”

The apprentice was confused. “What’s that?”

“Heatherkit, Rushkit, Flarekit, let’s show him the line game.” Her three kits lined up behind her in single file, and Heatherkit motioned for Owlpaw to do the same.

“Right paw, left paw, right paw, left paw,” she chanted on their way out, and the kits did the same. “I don’t hear you, Owlpaw!” she giggled.

Right paw, left paw!” he began yelling at the top of his lungs jokingly.

Once they had gotten outside the camp, the single file turned into a long wave as they spread out to collect jawfulls of moss from the trees and stones. Laying on top of a nearby bush was a collection of feathers. Skysong pulled three out and gave one to each of her kits.

“These are really soft to sleep on if you angle them the right way,” she told them.

“What, I don’t get one?” Owlpaw asked, looking defeated as he hung his head low.

“Oh, fine,” she laughed, grabbing another.

“Skysong,” a gruff voice called her. She turned to see Darkcloud, motioning for her to come with him.

“Anything you need to say to me can be said over here,” she challenged.

The dark warrior gave her an irked look, but walked over anyways. “I know Raindrop has already asked but we really do insist you tell us. Who is the father to those kits?”

Heatherkit, Rushkit and Flarekit all stopped what they were doing and turned to look, curious.

“I’ve told him before, and now I’ll tell you, it’s none of your business,” Skysong replied curtly.

“Actually, it is,” Darkcloud rumbled. “You see-”

“I’m the father,” Owlpaw announced boldly, walking right up to Darkcloud and putting his face a mouse whisker away.

The queen couldn’t help but snort. “Don’t be a beebrain, Owlpaw, you are not the father. Even if you were, Darkcloud doesn’t deserve to know.”

The dark tom narrowed his eyes and lowered his head slightly, looking at Skysong’s kits. “Don’t you want to know who your father is?” he purred.

The light brown she-cat nearly snapped when he brought her kits into the discussion. She swiped her claws at his face, nicking the warrior's ear a bit. “Go,” she hissed.

Darkcloud looked at her with contempt in his eyes as he left, disappearing into the moorland.

Skysong turned to look back at her kits and Owlpaw with a sigh.

“Who is our father?” Heatherkit finally asked.

“You’re father,” she mewed, “is a strong, brave, and noble warrior.” Her heather eyes landed on Flarekit. “Your pelt is close to his, but much more red.”

“I look like a brave warrior!” she boasted to her littermates.

The queen let out a small purr of amusement as she sent her kits back to the nursery. She turned to see Owlpaw looking at her curiously, but he was trying to conceal it.

Skysong put her mouth up next to his ear. “Burnheart.”

“Excuse me?” The tom looked alarmed.

“That is their father. Burnheart the ShadowClan warrior.” Her exhausted gaze met Owlpaw’s shocked one. “And in a few nights we agreed to meet and talk.”

The gray tom’s fur bristled slightly. “Why?” he challenged. “Why do you need to go see him? Anything you can talk about with him you can-”

Skysong cut him off by putting her brown tail over his mouth. “It concerns him and his kits. I’ll take off after moonhigh. No one will miss me.”


Ch. 15 - Rivalry[]

Bugwing watched as her apprentice, Splashpaw, leapt at Boulderpaw with an amazing amount of ferocity despite her small stature. Littlemist and her were chatting in the clearing as their apprentices practiced their battle tactics.

“Have you noticed how Oakpaw is acting, recently?” Littlemist gossiped as the tom and Mothflutter, their sister, padded into the training area.

“It’s the same as Mothflutter and Spottedpelt,” Bugwing nodded sadly. The two she-cats couldn’t even talk to their siblings anymore, they were acting so elitist.

“Boulderpaw!” Littlemist cried. “What do you call that?” The silver tabby had rolled over onto his back in defeat.

“It’s called the I-was-on-a-hunting-patrol-this-morning-then-you-pulled-me-out-to-do-this-before-I-could-grab-some-fresh-kill-rollover,” he snapped back.

Bugwing was shocked by the tom’s outburst, but her sister seemed impressed. “Get up, and try the move I taught you yesterday.”

Boulderpaw nodded and jumped at his sister, claws flying wildly until he made contact.

“What do you call that?” Oakpaw sneered.

“I’d like to see you do better,” the silver tabby challenged.

The brown tom rushed at Boulderpaw, aggravated and with his claws extended, but Splashpaw shouldered him out of the way.

“Oakpaw, get back to your own training,” Bugwing ordered, ignoring the indignant glare he shot at her.

“Don’t tell my apprentice what to do, Bugwing,” Mothflutter told her coldly.

“Someone has to,” she hissed.

The silver tabby she-cat got up and began to circle around her sister, claws unsheathed.

“I’m not going to fight you!” she choked, shocked at what her sister was trying to goad her into doing.

“What is going on here?” Cloverstar hissed, padding into the clearing with apprentice, Shinepaw.

“Nothing,” Mothflutter muttered, pulling her claws back in. “Oakpaw and I were just leaving.”

The white and gray she-cat narrowed her eyes but nodded her head. She turned to Bugwing. “Have any of you seen Elkberry or Rabbitear? Frozenwhisker is coming down with a nasty cough.”

“Elkberry was just through here, going off as he usually does,” Bugwing chuckled at the eccentric medicine cat. “So Rabbitear is probably somewhere near the camp. Is it serious?”

“I think it may be Whitecough,” she meowed sadly. She turned her attention to Shinepaw, “Use your tracking skills to find Rabbitear.”

The young cat nodded, lifting her head into the air and scenting. “I think I smell him over there!” she exclaimed, rushing off after the scent.

“Apprentices,” Cloverstar chuckled, following the young she-cat.


Ch. 16 - Kin[]

Burnheart waited nervously on ThunderClan’s boarder with WindClan. He was no where near his territory now and it didn’t feel right.

“Someone looks tense,” Skysong chuckled, slipping out from behind the long grass.

“You would be too,” he retorted. The golden tom purred as she neared, touching noses softly. “I miss you,” Burnheart confessed.

“I miss you too, but it’s worth it,” she assured him. “Our kits are so beautiful.”

“What’re they like?” Burnheart asked, curious. “What did you name them?”

The thick moor behind Skysong began to rustle, and they both turned to watch as three kits tumbled out.

“We tracked you all the way here!” the tiny red she-kit yowled proudly.

“We’re already good enough to be apprentices!” a brown and white tabby tom boasted.

“Who is this?” a white she-cat asked. She had thin black stripes along her face and tail, and her eyes were the same color as Skysong’s; a pretty heather.

Burnheart could barely speak. “Our kits?” he asked.

The queen nodded. “Meet Flarekit, Rushkit, and Heatherkit. Kits, this is your father, Burnheart.”

Each of their eyes grew round as moons as they turned to look at him.

“He doesn’t smell like us,” Rushkit observed.

“Because I’m not from WindClan, like you,” he told them.

“He is from ShadowClan.” The family turned to see a gray apprentice making his way out of the bushes. “I couldn’t sleep and found that the kits had left their nest,” he told them with a shrug. “So this is Burnheart?”

The tom asked the question with a tone that made Burnheart take a closer look. The apprentice's eyes were evaluating Burnheart, sizing him up. Does he like Skysong?

“You must be Owlpaw.” The gold tom looked at Skysong. “Does all of WindClan know?

“No, just Owlpaw and my sister,” she replied with a flick of her tail.

“Soon they will though,” Darkcloud hissed, making his way out of the bushes. Behind him was Sleetpelt, Applefang, and Raindrop.

“What’re you doing here?” Skysong hissed, moving her kits protectively behind her. Her heather eyes were locked on Applefang. “You were banished from the clan!”

“What’s more interesting is why you are here,” Raindrop hissed. “So this is your mate? A ShadowClan toad-muncher?”

Burnheart unsheathed his claws, snarling at the insult.

“Guess what?” Applefang purred. “We don’t need half-clans and traitors in WindClan. No clan wants those three. Leave.”

Skysong yet out any angry screech as she leapt the large tom, Owlpaw joined in, attacking Raindrop. Burnheart stood protectively over his whimpering kits.

Darkcloud’s eyes were glazed over as he leapt at the golden tom, but Burnheart shoved him aside, not continuing to attack as that would leave his kits unprotected.

“Owlpaw!” he yowled. “Get help!”


Ch. 17 - Gone[]

“Wake up!” Rosethorn shoved Fallenstar awake, all gentleness abandoned.

The tom jumped to his paws shocked. His clan was up and making a bunch of noise, and his deputy looked more alarmed than he had ever seen her. “What is going on?” he hissed.

“Hawkpaw heard screeching on the boarder with WindClan,” she reported. “There is some kind of fight going on!”

Fallenstar leapt onto the Highrock, his whole clan went silent, awaiting orders. “Rosethorn, Honeywhisker, Fangfur, Rustflower, Strikefang, and Hawkpaw, come with me. Everyone else is to remain here and alert. Frostcloud, you are in charge.” He jumped to the camp entrance and ran quickly through the forest, eager to get to their boarder.

Before him was WindClan, fighting amongst themselves, and three kits shivering behind Skysong and Burnheart, a ShadowClan warrior.

Tinystar was grappling fiercely with Applefang, and Fallenstar leapt next to him, hissing violently and scratching the large tom’s sides. He pulled the old leader to the side. “We’re here to help,” he assured him. “What is going on?”

“I’m not quite sure, but some of my warriors have turned on us.” Tinystar gasped, worn out. “Consider them rogues.”

“Stay here until you are ready, my warriors can handle this,” Fallenstar snarled, leaping back into action. He landed on a she-cat, pinning her down and sending her screeching away.

A large weight landed on his own back and the black tom rolled over quickly, pinning his attacker. With a quick swipe he sent the cat sprawling away, but not without getting a good look at his face. “Hazelnose?” he gasped. Looking around, he saw the tom return to battle, but not for ThunderClan, but the rogue group. Taking another look at the battle he saw Lightningstrike and Fangfur also siding with the rogue cats.

“No!”

Fallenstar turned to see Tinystar screeching madly as he leapt onto his own deputy, Juniperheart, who was standing over a dead body. Burnheart’s amber eyes were filled with a crazed madness as he attacked the deputy too, but she was too quick, leaning in and giving Tinystar a death blow to the neck.

The black leader watched in horror, ice griping his muscles. “What have you done?” he snarled.

“Stop!” Juniperheart ordered, and the rogues pulled away from their battles, taking a seat behind her.

Fallenstar watched, disgusted. Behind her was Applefang, Darkcloud, Raindrop, Sleetpelt, Lightningstrike, Fangfur, and several other cats.

“What is the meaning of this?” Falconflight cried, taking a protective stance in front of his tiny clan.

“I was hoping that it wouldn’t come to this,” Juniperheart sighed in her delicate voice. “I just wanted to be leader, was that so bad? Well, now Tinystar is dead, I am leader, and we can all forget this happened, right?” Her normally clear blue eyes were looking slightly crazed and smug.

The WindClan leader gasped at his name, coming back to his senses, but he wouldn’t last long. “Juniperheart is no longer my deputy, or a WindClan warrior. I say these words before StarClan, so that they may hear and approve my choice,“ he rasped, taking what was probably one of his last breaths.

“No!” Juniperheart yowled, but there was nothing she could do.

“Faclonflight, will be the new deputy of WindClan.” Tinystar’s eye’s turned to look at Skysong’s body. “Thank you,” he whispered. To Burnheart, he let out a weak growl. “Protect her kits with your life.”

Then he was gone.

Juniperheart snarled, calling the attention of every cat back to her. “It is no matter,” she assured herself. “I can be leader of my own clan.”

“You’ve gone mad, Juniperheart,” Rosethorn hissed. “No sane cats will willingly follow you.”

A small smirk played at the she-cat’s lips. “Oh no?” Juniperheart’s tinkling laugh sounded through the clearing. The brush nearby rattled as dozens of more cats filed out. Cats from each clan stood behind her, their eyes cold.

“Gather RiverClan and ShadowClan,” Juniperheart told Fallenstar directly. “I would like to hold a gathering.”


Ch. 18 - Declarations[]

“To me, RiverClan!”

Lilyfire jerked awake, confused. Walking out of the nursery, she turned to Strikestorm and Mintleaf, who’s faces both shared the same emotion. She had just given birth two sunrises a ago to two small kits, and was reluctant to leave them.

She padded out to the middle of the camp where Marshstar and Redlake sat with Fallenstar, ThunderClan’s leader.

“What is going on?” she asked loudly after most of the cats had gathered. Lilyfire noticed that a few were missing, most noticeably Icepad.

“From what Fallenstar has told me, several cats from each clan has gone rogue,” Marshstar growled. “And that it will all be explained more at an emergency gathering that Juniperheart has called.”

Lilyfire gasped, and her eyes searched her clanmates, taking a mental role call. Icepad, Salmonpelt and Bubblepaw aren't here.

“The cats who will be joining me are Redlake, Bluestorm, Dustyrose, Swiftstorm, Nightheart, Robinflight and Brindlefur,” Marshstar announced.

As the cats began to prepare for the journey over, Lilyfire caught her leader. “Why not me?” she asked. “Please, Marshstar.”

“You just gave birth, Blizzardkit and Featherkit need you,” she pointed out.

“I’ll watch over them,” Brownwhisker offered. “I’ve still got my milk.”

Lilyfire’s blue eyes shone with gratitude.

“Fine, let’s go!” Marshstar cried, her cats joining in. They raced to the island, Marshstar and Fallenstar in the lead. The ThunderClan tom leapt onto the Treebridge first, meeting his warriors on the other side.

Warriors from all the clans were there. Lilyfire noticed that the clearing was more packed than usual, mostly because there was a large gap around each of the rogue cats. On the usual branches were Fallenstar, Marshstar, and Cloverstar, along with Falconflight and Juniperheart.

“Clearsky!” she called the pretty WindClan she-cat. “Where is Tinystar, and why is Falconflight up there?”

“Tinystar is dead; Juniperheart killed him,” she mewed softly. “He named Falconflight leader right before his death.”

“Why is she being allowed to live?” Lilyfire gasped.

“Because as of right now, WindClan has exactly eight cats ready for battle,” Clearsky flinched as she came to grips with the truth herself. “And have you seen the size of the rogue group?”

The blue she-cat stood up onto her hind legs to get a better look at the rogue group. She was shocked at the amount of traitors. “There must be almost thirty cats!” she hissed, coming back down.

“Enough hesitating!” Cloverstar yowled, sending the clearing silent. “Tell us what is going on!”

“Gladly,” Juniperheart replied with a wave of her tail. “My clan-”

“Your clan?” Marshstar hissed, shocked.

“Yes,” the calico answered. “My clan, are all cats who just want a second chance at greatness, and that’s what we are here to do. Originally, we wanted to live out our own lives in new clans without the baggage we garnered in our old ones, but now that seems rather impossible. Rest assured, we mean you no harm, but do wish to live peacefully by the lake just like the rest of you. However, we do ask that you give up some of your territory for us. It won’t be too much, I promise.” The she-cat looked angelic as she listed her plans. Her rogue clan snickered behind her.

“What do you mean?” Cloverstar shook her head.

Sparkclaw stood up, snarling. “Don’t believe her lies!” he yowled.

“What would you know?” Marshstar asked.

“These cats you see,” he growled, “are here to dominate the forest. They are evil cats from the past who are here to achieve glory no matter what it takes. They have found a way to reincarnate themselves back into the clans.”

“Sparkclaw,” Applefang hissed. “Stop talking.”

“No,” the dark tabby growled. “They have brainwashed your cats by promising them power and by training them how to kill as they sleep, in their dreams!” His eyes narrowed. “Isn’t that right, Tigerstar?”

Cats gasped and turned their heads to take another look at Applefang, who merely shrugged.

“They are here to kill you, and Juniperheart, will stop at nothing to rule over you all,” he spat.

All eyes turned to Juniperheart. “Well, I guess the secret is out. No more pretenses. Join us, leave the forest, or die. You have half a moon to give us your answer.” The calico she-cat waved her tail and her clan followed obediently. “Oh, and don’t call me by that disgusting name, Juniperheart. My name is Briarpetal, and we are DarkClan.”

After DarkClan had left, Cloverstar motioned for Sparkclaw to come forward. “Tell us everything you know.”

The tom took a deep breath. “There is a place called the Place of no Stars, or the Dark Forest. It’s where evil cats go after they die instead of StarClan.”

The warriors muttered curious and nervous, but Fallenstar motioned for them to be silent. “How did they get back here?” he asked.

“A while ago, StarClan opened a portal so that cats who wish may rejoin the clans, although I’m not quite sure why. It had something to do with the clans becoming lazy. They hopped into the portal before it closed,” he answered. The tom looked miserable, but she couldn’t tell why.

“StarClan cats are here?” Lilyfire asked.

Sparkclaw nodded. “Reincarnated, so they don’t have their memories. But the Dark Forest cats do, although I‘m not sure how that worked. Tigerstar was the one who figured it all out.”

Cats around the clearing murmured, shocked.

“Who are they, the StarClan cats?” Marshstar asked.

The tom shook his head. “There are too many to point out, cats will have to ask me individually.”

“How do you know all this?” Cloverstar challenged.

Sparkclaw flinched. “Because I was a Dark Forest cat,” he admitted. “I was known as Darkstripe.”

Cats pulled away from him immediately, hissing. Lilyfire remembered hearing about him once in an old story.

“How can we trust you?” a couple of cats yowled.

“Because I left them!” he explained, fur bristling. “I’m different!”

“I believe him,” Fawnleap announced, walking right up to her clanmate and sitting down next to him.

“It’s all we can do,” Cloverstar murmured, taking his side as well. “I think we need to get down to the real issue; do we stay and fight or do we leave?”

The clans caterwauled, and Lilyfire got to her feet. “I think I can speak for all of us when I say we’re offended you think there are two options. We stay and fight!” she yowled, everyone joining in until the whole lake rang with their cries.

Epilogue -[]

"Cats of DarkClan!" Juniperheart yowled, drawing in her warriors. She looked down on them, smug. This was where she was meant to be all those season ago back in the old forest. Here, at the top of her clan. "I'm officially naming Applefang my deputy. From now on, you will address me as Briarstar."

DarkClan began chanting her new name as she padded back into Tinystar's old den. My den.

"Briarstar," Applefang padded in with an annoyed dip of his head. It was hard for him being second, not first. "What should we do about boundaries? Do we take their territories now or wait?"

"Wait," she decided. "Let them enjoy what they have while they have it, because it's all about to come slipping through their paws."

After Applefang left, Briarstar tilted her head up, angling in so she could see Starpelt. Who needs nine lives when you have thirty cats ready to die for you? I have more lives than any of those pathetic leaders.

She could almost see the shame and sadness in the sky, and it made her grin. "You'll regret not giving me what was mine, Quickstar," Briarstar smirked at a star. Turning to another, she let out a hiss. "And you, Stonestar, will regret ever getting in my way."


  • Thank you so much for reading Broken! In three days, the final book in this series will be coming out: Choices
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