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"Where am I?"
"You're in the medicine den."
"But this isn't PebbleClan."
"No. This is GrassClan. Your new Clan."
Blurb
Brokenpaw had always had a shattered life. She'd never really known who she was - her parents she had never met, although she was Clanborn. However, her loyalty to her Clan is something that never dies.
After training with the apprentices for six moons, Brokenpaw, like all apprentices, chooses her warrior name. But that price cost Brokenpaw dearly.
Instead of returning to her birth Clan, PebbleClan, the newly named Brokenpath is shoved into GrassClan, much to her dislike. The young she-cat has to develop friendships in her new Clan. But when a rift forms, Brokenpath has to fight for her right to be in either Clan. Will Brokenpath make the decision to be in her Clan by birth, or the Clan she was forced to join?
Allegiances
The Apprentice's Training Ground
Clan Mentors: Pearclaw - dark tabby she-cat (PebbleClan)
Iceheart - pale gray and white tom with icy blue eyes (PebbleClan)
Flutteringwing - brown she-cat with amber eyes (GrassClan)
Lappingcreek - silver tabby tom (GrassClan)
Sloedusk - black tabby she-cat with white paws (StreamClan)
Strongfoot - dark gray tom with big, light brown paws (StreamClan)
Doedapple - very pale brown she-cat with faint white dapples on her pelt (FallClan)
Stagspring - very dark brown tom with yellow eyes (FallClan)
The Apprentices: Brokenpaw - dark brown tabby she-cat with green eyes (PebbleClan)
Jackdawpaw - black tom with dark blue eyes (PebbleClan)
Jumppaw - black she-cat with long, dark ginger legs (PebbleClan)
Bouncepaw - bright ginger tom (GrassClan)
Clearpaw - very pale silver tom with clear, icy blue eyes (StreamClan)
Cloudypaw - smoky dark gray she-cat (StreamClan)
Turtlepaw - stumpy-tailed, tortoiseshell she-cat with emerald-green eyes (FallClan)
Duckpaw - pale brown tabby she-cat with blue eyes (FallClan)
Furledpaw - large dark ginger tabby tom (FallClan)
Curlpaw - small white she-cat with fur-tips that curl over slightly (FallClan)
GrassClan
Leader: Snowstar - big, thick-furred white tom with amber eyes
Deputy: Stoneleap - huge blue-gray tom
Medicine Cat: Brookclaw - small gray-brown she-cat
Warriors: Goldenflight - golden-brown she-cat with amber eyes
Dustyheart - pale brown she-cat with green eyes
PebbleClan
Leader:
Deputy:
Medicine Cat: Redspeck - elderly white tom with small ginger flecks, and a ragged pelt
Warriors: Brightfeather - orange tabby she-cat with amber eyes
StreamClan
Leader:
FallClan
Leader:
NOTE: Allegiances aren't finished, and will be added to as the story progresses.
Prologue
She's gone, she's gone,
But it's the start of a shattered road...
"She's gone."
A white tom with ginger flecks on his ragged pelt looked down sorrowfully. The dark tabby she-cat below him was still, unmoving. She was dead.
Three of her kits were, too - one gray, one brown, one a mix of the two. There was only one that was left.
The remaining kit was a tabby - unlike her parents. The small bundle of fur was mewling pitifully, faintly. The medicine cat knew that someone had to look after her. Someone that wasn't her parents - her father was dead.
The elderly tom padded to the end of the den, and stuck his head out. "Brightfeather?"
An orange tabby she-cat turned towards him. "Yes?"
"Come here." The medicine cat's words were low, and grave. "I must speak with you now, and urgently."
"Why?" Brightfeather's amber eyes rounded at the older cat's words. "What's happened? Has something happened with Tabbyflight?"
"Tabbyflight is dead." Lowering his head, scraping one paw along the ground, he continued. "She died giving birth. Three of her kits are also dead."
"Oh, oh no..." Brightfeather lowered her head slowly in reply. Then she fixed her gaze on the medicine cat. "But you said three were dead... Is one alive?"
"See for yourself, Brightfeather," the medicine cat mewed gruffly. "This kit will die if you don't hurry up."
"The memory of Tabbyflight will be upheld by this kit," Brightfeather mewed hurriedly, as she rushed into the nursery, fast as the swiftest GrassClan cat.
The white-and-ginger tom moved aside, so that Brightfeather could get in. He saw the orange tabby she-cat scan the sight of Tabbyflight, and her three dead kits. She saw the fourth, still moving weakly.
"I'll take her in," Brightfeather mewed quickly. "Get her over here - I can manage. My kits will be fine without me for a moment."
"Should they?" the medicine cat mewed doubtfully. "They were trying to -"
"Redspeck!" Brightfeather hissed quietly. "I caught them before they attempted it!"
Redspeck lowered his head. "Sorry." The elderly tom moved over to Tabbyflight's nest, and picked up the living kit by its scruff. The kit was silent - breathing shallowly, mewling very pitifully. Laying the kit down at Brightfeather's belly, the medicine sighed with relief as the dark tabby she-kit latched onto Brightfeather's belly.
Brightfeather looked down at her belly. "What will be her name?"
The two cats were silent for a moment, only staring at each other, amber upon amber. Finally, Redspeck spoke:
"Maybe it could be something about her family. Her whole family is dead - her mother, her siblings - her father's dead, too..."
"We may never know that one," Brightfeather corrected. "We never found Bluepelt's body."
"I know." Redspeck lowered his gaze again. "But what should we name her?"
Brightfeather was silent for a moment, looking down at the small bundle of fur at her belly. When she looked back at Redspeck again, her amber eyes were alight. "I've thought of a good name," she whispered.
"What is it?" Redspeck asked, not looking into Brightfeather's eyes.
"How about Brokenkit? She is the last one left - her family is broken into the living and the dead."
Redspeck took a deep breath, not saying a word. Finally, he uttered some words, not to anyone at all.
"Yes... her name will be Brokenkit, but not even this cat will be able to control the twisting path that follows..."
Chapter 1
It's a time of honor,
But in no way you expected...
"Your warrior ceremony is tonight."
Brokenpaw puffed out her chest in delight at Pearclaw's words. Successfully passing her hunting assessment was a good thing.
She would be back in PebbleClan tonight, for sure. She knew it.
Turning to Pearclaw, she asked: "When's the meeting being held?"
"Moonhigh." The dark brown she-cat snorted. "As always. You'd better go and prepare."
Scampering away, Brokenpaw couldn't wait. She would be one of three apprentices receiving their warrior names - along with Turtlepaw and Duckpaw, who were born in FallClan. She wondered what her choices for her warrior name were going to be.
She couldn't wait to return home.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
As the moon rode high in the sky, all the cats in the apprentice's training ground were called together. The cats there, most young, some older, gathered in the small clearing.
Off to one side, Brokenpaw sat, along with Turtlepaw and Duckpaw. The two FallClan she-cats were chatting to each other in exited whispers. Brokenpaw ignored their excited mews, and fixed her gaze onto the mentor running the warrior ceremony - Stagspring, from FallClan.
"Mentors and apprentices of the four Clans!" Stagspring meowed loudly from the center of the clearing, silencing all the cats at once. The dark tom was standing on the Moonhigh Rock. "Tonight, we will give three apprentices their warrior names, and two new GrassClan cats will be coming to join us."
Exited murmurs rang through the cats into the clearing. With a swift flick of his tail, Stagspring silenced them.
"Doedapple will be giving our three representatives their warrior names tonight."
Brokenpaw nodded silently. Doedapple was a wise, FallClan warrior - she hoped that the pale-furred she-cat would have some good names to choose from.
"For the warrior ceremonies!" Stagspring yowled. "May Turtlepaw, Duckpaw, and Brokenpaw step forward."
A rush of nerves overtook Brokenpaw. Slowly, the dark tabby she-cat padded forward, behind Turtlepaw and Duckpaw, who had bounded forward.
As they reached the Moonhigh Rock, Brokenpaw heard Stagspring's mew: "I, Stagspring, ask my warrior ancestors to look down on these three apprentices. They have learned your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Turtlepaw, Duckpaw, and Brokenpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
The three she-cats took a deep breath, and mewed: "I do."
Stagspring nodded. Flicking his tail, he mewed: "Turtlepaw."
The tortoiseshell she-cat padded away to where Stagspring has beckoned. All the cats were silent. Brokenpaw narrowed her eyes. What went on back there?
Eventually, Doedapple appeared. "She has chosen the name Turtleshine!"
The cats in the clearing cheered as Doedapple padded away, Brokenpaw joining in. Who would be next?
"Duckpaw." Stagspring beckoned for the lighter brown cat to go. Duckpaw bounded away eagerly.
I'm next, Brokenpaw thought, breathing quickly now. What will I have to choose?
Soon enough, once again, Doedapple appeared, and told the cats that Duckpaw had become Duckwater. The cats cheered, but Brokenpaw didn't in her anxiety. She new she was next.
Finally, Stagspring called her name. Trembling, Brokenpaw moved towards where she'd seen cats go before. She came to a very small clearing, where Doedapple was sitting.
"Brokenpaw," the she-cat murmured softly. "Here is your choice. Your choice is either Brokenheart, Brokenfeather, Brokenfall, or Brokenpath."
Brokenpaw knew instantly that she wasn't going to choose Brokenfall or Brokenfeather. The other two were going to be more likely. But had Brokenpaw's heart ever been broken?
I know what I'm choosing.
"Brokenpath." Brokenpath gasped. "I choose Brokenpath."
Doedapple nodded. "Then from now on you shall be known as Brokenpath." She offered the tabby some berries. "Eat some."
Brokenpath bent down to eat the berries. After she had done, she felt herself becoming dizzy. The young tabby she-cat let her vision enfold into blackness.
I'm going home.
Chapter 2
You think you're going home,
But everything's far from that....
Light shone into the heather-sprigged den, lighting the area with a warm, golden light. Two she-cats were in the den, talking.
The smaller of the two, a gray-brown she-cat turned to the bigger one from where she was sitting. "Goldenflight? Do you hope that we will have some new warriors this time?"
Her companion, a golden-brown she-cat, sighed. "Bouncepaw's warrior ceremony isn't due for another moon."
"Something unexpected may happen." The gray brown she-cat shot a defiant gaze at her Clanmate. "Weren't you originally from FallClan?"
"I was." Goldenflight gave a heavy sigh. "But war forced me to leave. I could never live there again." Staring out of the den, she commented: "The wind, and the feel of wet dew on the grass feels at home to me now."
"Let's just hope," were the smaller cat's reply, not bothering to look.
There was a pause of silence, then Goldenflight spoke: "Shouldn't Dustyheart and Stoneleap be back by now?"
"They should be." The gray-brown medicine cat snorted. "Stoneleap should be able to handle it. Dustyheart will be fine when she's back here."
A yowl sounded in the distance. The gray-brown cat pricked her small ears.
"They're back, Brookclaw," Goldenflight whispered. "Let's see if they've got anyone new."
In the dawn light, the two cats stepped out of the den. A blue-gray tom, his body muscular, strode into the camp, a pale brown she-cat behind them. Between their bodies, there was a third cat - a dark brown tabby.
"She's not GrassClan born." A thick-furred white tom sat at the entrance to his den.
"From PebbleClan." The blue-gray tom spoke. "Rare that this happens, Snowstar."
"Her name is Brokenpath, apparently," the pale brown she-cat added, fixing her green gaze on Snowstar, then Brookclaw.
"Take her into the medicine den, then," Snowstar growled, fixing his gaze on Stoneleap and Dustyheart.
As the leader's amber gaze met Stoneleap and Dustyheart, the two cats picked up Brokenpath again, and navigated her through the camp towards the medicine den. Brookclaw and Goldenflight followed in behind.
The four cats padded into the den, and laid Brokenpath down in one of the empty nests. As soon as they had done that, Stoneleap and Dustyheart disappeared.
Goldenflight and Brookclaw remained, looking at the breathing, dark brown shape. Their gazes met.
"This isn't going to be easy," Brookclaw muttered, fixing her icy gaze on Goldenflight. "She will need some help adjusting."
Goldenflight nodded. "I'll help."
"And Dustyheart, I think." The gray-brown she-cat's eyes were wide. "I hope this doesn't mean the end..."
"It won't," Goldenflight assured. "Brookclaw, you'll see that everything will go alright."
Brookclaw nodded. "Tell Dustyheart for me."
"I will." Goldenflight turned away, and the heather sprigs rustled as she left.
Brookclaw was the only cat remaining, watching Brokenpath's chest rise and fall. She still wasn't convinced. Would doom before the four Clans?
Chapter 3
Nothing's as it was before,
It's time to start afresh...
Stirring, Brokenpath brushed a paw against the side of the nest. Her eyes stayed closed, but she knew something was up.
Something isn't right.
She knew that this didn't smell like PebbleClan. The scent was more like the wind, dew, and herbs.
Maybe I'm in the medicine den. Maybe that's the problem, Brokenpath thought. But the tabby she-cat didn't want to open her eyes.
A cat brushed past, and she felt it breathe over her ear. Then it scuttled away suddenly, not to be seen.
Finally, Brokenpath had the courage to open her eyes. She knew immediately that her thoughts were correct. This definitely wasn't PebbleClan.
"Where am I?" she wondered aloud.
"You're in the medicine den." A scuffing woke from the other end of the den, and a gray-brown she-cat appeared, her amber eyes serious and unforgiving.
"But this isn't PebbleClan," Brokenpath whispered.
"No." The gray-brown she-cat gulped, knowing what she had to say next. "This is GrassClan. Your new Clan."
My new Clan? No...
In her panic, Brokenpath squirmed. She wasn't going home to PebbleClan? She had to live in GrassClan?
"My name's Brookclaw," the gray-brown she-cat went on, ignoring Brokenpath's silent protest. "I'm the GrassClan medicine cat." Without saying anymore, Brookclaw bounded out of the den.
Brokenpath felt a feeling of dread overtake her. Nothing was ever going to be the same again. She was truly a cat with broken paths - her family, now her Clan. It was hard for her to take in.
I have to make the most of this.
She sat up in the nest, and looked around, not daring to step out of the den. She didn't want to see her new home. All she knew was Brookclaw - and the occasional GrassClan cat who had gone through the apprentice training ground with her. For the first time in her life, Brokenpath felt isolated from everyone else in her life.
"See you at sundown."
Brokenpath jumped at Brookclaw's voice. The gray-brown she-cat had just come back into the den, her amber gaze fixed on her.
"Brokenpath," she meowed, "we will be sorting out arrangements for you. Tonight, you will sleep in here, and you will meet a few of my Clanmates. Tomorrow, we will make you fully part of GrassClan life. Understand?"
"A few?" Brokenpath questioned.
"You're from PebbleClan originally, right?" Brookclaw asked. When Brokenpath nodded, she replied: "Some of my Clanmates aren't happy about this decision. It will take them a while to get used to it."
"Fine by me," Brokenpath snorted. "Just sort something out."
Brookclaw shot a hard glance at Brokenpath, before she padded away again. As she was alone again, the news sank in. But for Brokenpath, this was hard to accept. Should she hold her ties to her old Clan, or her new one?