This is a fanfiction currently being re-written by Fire.
After two years, I’m finally trying to redo this. Starting with the terrible allegiances. *sighs* >:D
Allegiances[]
WindClan[]
Leader []
Firestar [black she-cat with fiery amber eyes]
Deputy []
Foxbranch [ginger tom with pale green eyes]
Medicine cats[]
Snowstorm [white she-cat with blue eyes, blind in right eye]
Mousetooth [black tom with emerald green eyes]
Grayleaf [gray she-cat with green eyes]
Warriors[]
Snowyfur [white she-cat with green eyes]
Hawkslash [ginger tabby tom with yellow eyes]
Ravenflight [gray she-cat with amber eyes]
Flowerstorm [yellow tabby she-cat with brown eyes]
Treesplash [dark brown tom with brown eyes]
Grasshopperslash [light brown tabby tom with yellow eyes]
Hopestorm [gray tom with amber eyes]
Badgerleap [yellow and white tom with blue eyes]
Robinfeather [light brown tabby tom with blue eyes]
Thornfang [yellow tom with amber eyes]
Sharpeye [ginger and white tom with green eyes]
Mothsong [black and white she-cat with yellow eyes] Apprentice, Grasspaw [white she-cat]
Eagleheart [calico she-cat]
Dovestrike [dark gray and white she-cat]
Squirrelspring [pale silver tom]
Mistnose [dark brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes]
Weaseldash [ginger tom with brown stripes and brown eyes]
Moletail [gray tom with yellow eyes]
Owlflight [russet she-cat]
Jaywind [orange and white she-cat with green eyes]
Snowbrook [yellow and white tom]
Lionwhisker [orange tom]
Hollyberry [dappled white she-cat]
Nettlethorn [black tom]
Owlnest [ginger she-cat]
Otterpelt [dark gray tabby she-cat]
Whiteflight [white she-cat]
Dashleap [orange tom]
Stalkfeather [light brown tabby she-cat] Apprentice, Flamepaw [gray she-cat]
Blazetree [dark brown tabby tom] Apprentice, Poolpaw [black she-cat]
Flickowl [dark red tom]
Whiskerbreeze [white tom]
Spotpelt [tortoiseshell she-cat]
Irispetal [black she-cat]
Flakefall [white tom]
Flashstrike [black she-cat]
Woodcloud [pale gray she-cat]
Fastclaw [ginger and white tom]
Leapwing [brown and white she-cat]
Apprentices[]
Poolpaw [black she-cat]
Grasspaw [white she-cat]
Flamepaw [gray she-cat]
Queens[]
Berrybush [cream she-cat]
Elders[]
Rosepelt [red she-cat with a limp]
Clawtooth [gray tom with unusually long teeth]
ThunderClan[]
Leader[]
Longstar [Tan tabby tom]
Deputy[]
Splashcloud [White she-cat with black splotches]
Medicine Cats[]
Alderheart [Dark ginger tom with amber eyes] Apprentice, Owlpaw
Warriors[]
Snowtail [White tom]
Oakspring [Light brown she-cat]
Sharpwing [Grayish Brownish tom]
Redwing [Red tom]
Flowerpool [Yellow she-cat]
Yellowmoon [Pale yellow tabby tom]
Whitefang [White tom with black markings on his chest] Apprentice Rainpaw
Bluerain [Blue tom with white streaks]
Mistfur [Tortoiseshell she-cat]
Graysight [Gray she-cat]
Snowpool [Very pale yellow she-cat]
Stormlight [Black tom]
Rosepool [Dark brown she-cat]
Foxtail [Orange tom with hints of white]
Flinttooth [Gray tom]
Grasseye [White tom]
Slashnose [Ginger she-cat]
Feathersplash [Pale gray tom]
Badgerwind [Reddish brown tom]
Grayspring [Gray and black she-cat] Apprentice, Tailpaw
Treeglade [Silver tabby tom]
Apprentices[]
Tailpaw [Yellow tabby she-cat with black tail tip]
Rainpaw [Small brown tom]
Owlpaw [Tawny she-cat]
Queens[]
Swallowfeather [Gray and blueish she-cat] (mother to Flowerkit [Plump Blue tom], and Sandkit [Pale ginger she-kit])
Goldenglare [Golden she-cat] (mother to Shimmerkit [Gray she-kit], and Jewelkit [Black she-kit])
Elders[]
Stemflight [Orange yellow tabby tom]
Appletail [Pale brown she-cat]
SkyClan[]
Leader[]
Rootstar [Yellow tom]
Deputy[]
Needleclaw [Black and white she-cat]
Medicine Cats[]
Fidgetflake [Black and white tom]
Mistfeather [tortoiseshell she-cat]
Warriors[]
Cherrystrike [Russet she-cat]
Sparrowflight [Brown she-cat]
Quailclaw [Dark gray tom]
Lightsnow [Light cream tom]
Icestone [White she-cat]
Featherfall [Yellow and white she-cat]
Birchroot [Light brown tom]
Redear [Red she-cat] Apprentice, Branchpaw
Stonestripe [Gray and white tabby she-cat]
Cinderleaf [Orange tom]
Brambletail [Light brown tabby tom]
Fernshade [Dark ginger she-cat with white paws]
Palestone [Pale golden she-cat]
Mudfoot [Dark brown tom]
Goldenbreeze [Golden tom with patches of fur missing]
Stemshine [Pale gray she-cat]
Bluecloud [Blue she-cat]
Shimmerfrost [Yellow she-cat]
Bushbranch [Brown tom] Apprentice, Frostpaw
Blackmoon [Black she-cat]
Apprentices[]
Branchpaw [Light brown tom]
Frostpaw [White she-cat]
Queens[]
Cherrynose [Cream she-cat] (mother to Slashkit [Ginger tom], and Haykit [Yellow tom])
Elders[]
Sparrowpelt [Very pale red tom]
RiverClan[]
Leader[]
Streamstar [Gray and blue tom]
Deputy[]
Graystone [Gray tabby she-cat]
Medicine Cats[]
Brightmoon [Bright honey colored she-cat]
Flakenose [White tom]
Warriors[]
Spottedmoon [Speckled yellow she-cat] Apprentice, Sorrelpaw
Sandtide [Ginger and white tom]
Lakefur [Blue tom]
Fishstrike [Silver tabby she-cat]
Stormsight [Black tom with 3 white stripes]
Mooncloud [Yellow tabby she-cat]
Thrushclaw [Orange she-cat] Apprentice, Thornpaw
Salmonscale [Red furred tom]
Rosemist [Brown and cream she-cat]
Blackstripe [Black she-cat] Apprentice, Scalepaw
Bluepelt [Blue and gray she-cat]
Apprentices[]
Sorrelpaw [Tortoiseshell tom]
Thornpaw [Golden tabby she-cat]
Scalepaw [White tom]
Queens[]
Sandstripe [Sand colored she-cat] (mother to Onekit [Yellow she-kit with white splotches])
Elders[]
Volefur [Dark brown tom]
Hootspring [Cream and yellow tabby tom]
ShadowClan[]
Leader[]
Wingstar [White and gray tom]
Deputy[]
Pineflight [White tom with black pinelike markings]
Medicine Cats[]
Puddleshine [Brown tom with white splotches]
Shadowsight [Gray tabby tom]
Warriors[]
Blazetail [White and ginger tom]
Mousefoot [Tawny tom] Apprentice, Brackenpaw
Leaftree [Russet she-cat]
Breezefeather [Black she-cat]
Woodfur [Light gray tom]
Frogstrike [White she-cat]
Treewhisper [Dark gray tabby she-cat]
Whisperbreeze [Black and gray tom]
Barkstone [Dark brown tom]
Redfeather [Red tabby she-cat]
Fernrustle [Golden she-cat]
Flameripple [Orange tabby she-cat]
Ripplestream [Silver tom] Apprentice, Scorchpaw
Apprentices[]
Brackenpaw [Golden tabby she-cat]
Scorchpaw [Yellow tabby she-cat]
Queens[]
Tallear [Black and white she-cat] (mother to Brightkit [Black tom], Lightkit [Pale yellow she-kit], and Spikekit [Gray she-kit])
Elders[]
Ratshadow [Very dark grey tom]
Lightflash [White and pale yellow tabby she-cat]
Chapter One[]
It had been a quarter moon since Firestar, the leader of WindClan, and Wingstar, the leader of ShadowClan, had announced to the other Clans that the Dark Forest was back, and that they were trying to recruit warriors from the living Clans again.
Longstar and Streamstar were skeptical about this whole situation, especially since their enemies were the ones who'd announced this.
Rootstar had believed Firestar and Wingstar, and had declared that he would join their alliance against the Dark Forest.
Suspicions had arose in the Clans, accusing each other of being traitors. WindClan, Foxbranch's Clan hadn't been an exception. Most cats stayed in small groups, sharing their mistrusts with the cats they trusted the most.
Foxbranch was devastated about this, since if the Dark Forest attacked, all the Clans would have to be a team. But if even Clanmates from the same Clan couldn’t trust each other, how would the Clans unite and defeat the Dark Forest? Especially since two of them didn’t even believe that the Dark Forest was back to power.
But that didn't mean Foxbranch wasn't happy. It been a moon since Firestar and Foxbranch had become mates, and most of the time, just thinking of his mate cheered him up. Firestar didn’t want to have any kits, though, so they agreed not to have kits.
Just then, an angry screech interrupted Foxbranch’s thoughts. It seemed to be coming from the fresh-kill pile.
“You two betrayed WindClan to the Dark Forest, didn’t you?” It was Sharpeye. He continued, “I’ve seen you both perform battle moves that I’ve never seen before!”
“No, we’re not traitors!” Irispetal retorted, Flakefall by her side.
Just at that moment, Foxbranch had arrived where the three cats were quarreling next to the fresh-kill pile.
“What happened?” asked Foxbranch, even though he clearly knew what was happening.
He needed to know the whole story, and if he had gotten mad without knowing the whole story, he would have been a terrible deputy.
“These two are traitors!” snarled Sharpeye.
“Flakefall, Irispetal, do you have anything to say about this?” Foxbranch mewed evenly.
“Yes. Thank you Foxbranch.” Flakefall meowed and continued, “When we were battle training, Irispetal and I both used a move we call the Revenge. It’s where you charge forward, towards the enemy's chest and knock them down onto their backs with force, then when you’ve got them under your claws, you can unleash any other attack you can use on them. Sharpeye then said that was a move that he’d never seen before, and called us traitors. We know how to use the Revenge because we learned it when we were rogues.”
“I understand. Sharpeye, you don't have to be so suspicious of others all the time!” Foxbranch meowed.
“Well, there are traitors in the Clans, and that’s a good reason to be suspicious.” Sharpeye retorted.
Foxbranch rolled his eyes as Sharpeye padded away from them.
“Oh, Irispetal, Flakefall, while I have you here, can you teach the Revenge to other cats who are willing to learn? It’ll be good to know some new battle moves to use against the Dark Forest cats.”
“Sure!” Flakefall replied.
“We’ll tell the other cats about our training sessions!” Irispetal added cheerfully.
Then, they padded away, planning on their training sessions.
Foxbranch sighed.
This was exactly what he was thinking about.
Now everycat is suspicious of each other! he thought sadly, missing the old days of peace when WindClan trusted each other with their lives.
If cats kept mistrusting each other, the Clans could fall apart!
This is what the Dark Forest cats would want.
To dismantle the Clans into small groups and then destroying the Clans and taking over the lake territories.
Grayleaf, one of the Medicine Cats had received a prophecy from StarClan: There will be traitors from all five Clans. The Darkness is back, and will threaten both living and dead. If you fail to defeat the Darkness, everything will be lost.
And also, some of the Clan cats were getting dreams of dead cats asking if they wanted to become stronger and help their Clans to glory.
But all the cats knew that this was a lie to recruit living warriors for the Dark Forest. Foxbranch himself had gotten one too, but he, of course, refused the offer.
I can’t bear to think that some of my Clanmates are traitors.
Foxbranch thought miserably.
Squirrelspring’s gentle voice interrupted Foxbranch’s negative thoughts.
“Hey, Foxbranch, should I go out hunting with Moonfur and Weaseldash?”
“Sure, I’ll come with you guys too.” Foxbranch replied, some of his usual cheerfulness revived.
“Okay.” Squirrelspring purred.
As the hunting patrol padded out of the dip in the moor that was their camp, the wind carried scents of juicy and fresh prey.
Prey was coming back after the harsh leaf-bare.
Fortunately, WindClan didn’t lose many cats.
Foxbranch sensed that new-leaf was coming.
Just then, out of the corner of his eye, Foxbranch spotted a rabbit.
Chapter Two[]
Foxbranch immediately dashed after the rabbit.
Squirrelspring, Moonfur, and Weaseldash , who also had spotted the rabbit, chased after it too, following right behind.
Just when it was a heartbeat away from its burrow, Foxbranch clawed its hind leg.
It squealed, then toppled down to the ground.
Then, Foxbranch swiftly broke its spine.
“StarClan, thank you for this piece of fresh-kill.” he recited the words passed down from generation to generation.
“Great job Foxbranch!” Moonfur admired.
The others had finally caught up to Foxbranch.
“Yeah, you’re so fast!” Squirrelspring panted.
***
By the time it was dusk, the patrol had caught 16 mice, 9 voles, 8 squirrels, and 5 more rabbits in addition to Foxbranch’s first rabbit.
“We should head back to camp now. I didn’t know that time could go by so fast!” Weaseldash meowed, satisfied.
“Yeah, the others will be so surprised at how much fresh-kill we caught!” Foxbranch purred.
When the hunting patrol returned back to the WindClan camp, cats were sharing tongues.
Whiskerbreeze and Flakefall were sharing a vole, while Berrybush talked to her old mentor, Hollyberry by the nursery.
The first cat to notice that the hunting patrol was back was Thornfang, Flowerstorm’s littermate.
“The first hunting patrol has arrived!” he mewed.
“Where were you!” Firestar meowed, padding towards the patrol.
“The second hunting patrol had already arrived. We were starting to get worried.” Firestar nuzzled Foxbranch’s ear with her muzzle.
“We got so carried off by hunting, we didn’t know that we had hunted for so long!”
Foxbranch purred. “Plus, we brought lots of fresh-kill back! Now everycat can eat plentifully!” the patrol dragged the fresh-kill that they had caught back to the WindClan camp and added it to the tiny fresh-kill pile.
Now, the fresh-kill pile looked more like a fresh-kill pile.
“Now everycat can eat!” Ravenflight exclaimed, her green eyes flashing.
Only a few cats had gotten the chance to eat because there had been so little fresh-kill.
Just then, the third hunting patrol arrived, carrying more fresh-kill in their jaws.
“Perfect. I was just about to send out another hunting patrol, but with this much fresh-kill, we don’t need to worry!” Firestar mewed, satisfied.
The cats of WindClan shared tongues once again and ate.
“Hey Foxbranch, want to share?”Firestar asked, a plump rabbit dangling from her jaws.
“Sure.” Foxbranch replied.
“You take the first bite, Foxbranch.” Firestar meowed.
Foxbranch took a bite out of the rabbit.
When he had swallowed his bite, he said, “Firestar, there’s something I want to say to you.”
“What is it?” Firestar asked, curious.
Her voice was muffled out a bit by her bite of the rabbit.
“Firestar, it’s just that the Dark Forest coming back to power, cats from the same Clan suspicious of each other, it’s just so frustrating and an-and sad. At sunhigh, Sharpeye almost attacked Flakefall and Irispetal just because they used a move that he hadn't seen before!” replied Foxbranch, despair overwhelming him.
“Oh, Foxbranch. I understand what you mean. I feel like that too.” Firestar mewed in understanding.
“But remember, Foxbranch. That we still have loyal Clanmates in WindClan.”
“Thanks for making me feel better. I knew I could count on you, Firestar.” Foxbranch purred.
Firestar purred too; they entwined tails together and nuzzled each other.
“We should finish the rabbit now.” Firestar said after they were done snuggling.
“Yes, we should.” Foxbranch agreed.
***
Foxbranch awoke at dawn.
Sunlight was trickling into the dip in the moor, brightening the WindClan camp.
Cats were beginning to wake up from their dens, yawning and stretching.
Foxbranch padded over to Grasshopperslash, who was grooming himself in front of the Warriors’ Den. (WindClan cats now sleep in dens too because once ThunderClan invaded WindClan at midnight, and because they were sleeping out in the open, they were easy targets. WindClan lost some honorable warriors that night so that’s why they sleep in dens these days. To honor their brave warriors.)
“Hey Grasshopperslash, how are you?” Foxbranch mewed.
“Good. I dreamed of hunting a big plump mouse. It was HUGE! It-” Grasshopperslash’s next words were interrupted by Firestar’s call, “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather here beneath the Clanmound for a Clan meeting!”
“We got to go!” Foxbranch meowed.
He and Grasshopperslash walked over to the Clanmound, where Firestar was sitting.
They were the first cats there but gradually, (and groggily) the other cats came too.
“Maybe Firestar will make us Warriors!” Poolpaw chirped, as the Apprentices made their way to the Clan meeting.
“No silly. We didn’t pass our assignments or do anything heroic to become Warriors!” Grasspaw meowed playfully, scampering alongside her and Flamepaw.
When the whole Clan was gathered beneath the Clanmound, Firestar began, "Snowstorm has informed me that WindClan needs more herbs to prepare for for the battle with the Dark Forest cats. So, I will send out a patrol to gather all kinds of herds, far and near WindClan. The cats who will be on the patrol are-"
Firestar was interrupted by Snowbrook's rude mew. "Firestar, can't we just ask ShadowClan for herbs and use the herbs in WindClan territory? ShadowClan and WindClan are allies, after all. Do we really have to send out a herb gathering patrol?"
"Of course we need to, hare-brain! ShadowClan needs their herbs as well." Lionwhisker hissed, lashing his tail. His shoulder fur was bristling.
"The cats on the patrol will be Foxbranch, Snowyfur, Jaywind, and Blazetree." Fiestar finished.
"The patrol will leave tomorrow morning! This Clan meeting is now dismissed!" Firestar leaped off the Clanmound and went into her den, which was an old badger set in the moor.
Murmurs rippled through the WindClan camp.
Snowyfur, Jaywind, and Blazetree were already beside Foxbranch.
"So, we're really going?" Jaywind meowed eagerly.
"Yes, we are." Foxbranch replied, with a mrrow of amusement at the young cat's enthusiasm.
"We should learn about herbs and where to find them, since we're going to look for herbs."Snowyfur mewed, flicking her tail towards the Medicine cat den.
"Great idea, Snowyfur. That way we can know which herbs we need the most!" Foxbranch praised the senior warrior.
"Thanks." Snowyfur mewed, embarrassed by the sudden compliment.
***
"So this is Marigold, great for preventing and treating infection. We're going to need a lot of Marigold. Oak leaf is good too." Snowstorm told the cats on the herb patrol.
The patrol was learning some basic herb knowledge so they could know which herbs to gather and what they were used for beforehand. Foxbranch thought it was quite boring, but he reminded himself that this was important information, and that he'd need all this when the patrol journeyed for the herbs needed for WindClan.
After Snowstorm had taught them some basic herbs, the four warriors were each grabbing some fresh-kill from the fresh-kill pile when a shriek arose from the warriors' den. It was Eagleheart. Foxbranch dropped his mouse and dashed over to the warriors' den.
Inside, horror greeted him.
Chapter Three[]
A cat's body was splayed inside Moletail's nest, blood splattered on the walls of the warriors' den. The gorse nest was dyed red, and blood was still trickling out of the cat's mouth.
Badgerleap was dead.
Cats, hearing Eagleheart's cry dashed over to check out what the commotion was.
"Father!" Eagleheart wailed, tears streaming down her face. "Who did this to him?"
"Probably Moletail." Snowbrook snarled, shooting a menacing glare at the gray tom.
"I didn't do it!" The gray warrior protested. "I was sharing tongues with Moonfur! Moonfur, tell him!"
"Hare-brain, would a murderer put the body of the cat they murdered in their nest?" Moonfur mewed, lashing her tail violently.
Snowbrook snorted. "Fine, then it's Foxbranch."
Shocked gasps followed the accusation.
"Foxbranch?" Thronfang echoed. "Why would he do that? He's the Clan's deputy for StarClan's sake!" Yowls of agreement arose, angry at Snowbrook for even suggesting that kind of horrible situation.
Foxbranch's heart leaped like a escaping hare, pounding quickly, like it was going to jump out of his chest. Fortunately, his heart stayed put. He wasn't even near Moletail today! He was too busy learning new kinds of herbs and where they grew along with the rest of the herb patrol. Fury bubbled up from within him, mountains of rage piled up from moons of dealing with the Clan's complaints, pushing his anger down so he could become a better deputy.
"I'm. Not. A. Murderer," He hissed, poison laced in each and every word. "And, I'll never will be."
"Oh really?" Snowbrook cocked his fat and annoying white head.