Warriors Fanfiction
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LINKED



Everything is linked...

Nothing remains untouched...

And no one escapes the web

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"Poppy!" A loud voice chided and I rolled my eyes dismissively at the towering pale she-cat that stood before me, a combination of concern and sheer rage on her face, "How many times do I have to tell you-"

"Yeah, yeah, no sneaking out at night because it's dangerous and there are dogs and no sneaking out at day because its dangerous and there are twolegs and no playing with other cats because they might get violent, but no playing with yourself either because you could get hurt, and shouldn't I dare try to catch my own prey because it might bite me but shouldn't I dare attempt to eat less to grow thinner either!"

"I expect respect from you, Poppy. I gave birth to you under tough situations, and maybe not all parents will agree with my methods, but everything I do is for you. Which gives you no right to start snapping at me like that! Goodness, Poppy, I'm your mother!"

"Mothers aren't supposed to lock their children up all day and keep them from living so that they don't get hurt, mom. I'm seven moons old now, you need to stop treating me like I'm three."

"You'll always be a kit to me," Her smile was affectionate but it made me awkward and irked. My mother had to get over the fact that I wasn't a kit anymore. She had to let me be what I was; a growing she-cat with a passion for adventure and games!

"Then you'll always be annoying to me!" I responded sharply, before whirling around and marching towards my den, which, unfortunately was right beside her.

"Sometimes we have to let go of our need for excitement, and adventure and silly, pointless dangerous games, Poppy. Sometimes we just have to grow up, and until you prove to me that you can do such, I have no problem remaining annoying-as long as it keeps you safe."

She offered me a sad smile before curling up in the nest next to mine, quickly falling asleep, leaving me angered at her. I had just come back from an awesome chase with dogs alongside a new friend, Amber, and as soon as I returned home she had to just spoil it.

The other cats I had met were also annoyed by their parents but even they would gape when I told them about how uptight, overprotective and outright annoying mine could be.

As I continued to listen to the sound of my mother sleeping, I felt an odd rage working its way up me. Who does she think she is?

My mother, yes, but that didn't give her the right to control every bit of my life. That didn't make it okay for her to flip out every time I left eyesight for just a short moment.

She was like a guard dog, and I wasn't appreciating the role.

So-as she continued to snore, and I continue to wonder how severe the consequences would be if I got caught I finally decided to do the unthinkable, the steadily increasing thumping of my heart confirming my choice. I would have an adventure in the one thing my mom feared the most; the dark.

I studied her for a moment to make sure she was truly asleep, and once I knew that such was doubtlessly the case, I pushed myself out of my nest, turning to the stars for a moment in excitement. I almost wanted my mother to catch me-to see that she could not contain me this way.

I knew though that such would be the end-that she would always find ways to contain me and make sure I didn't even try to live.

So, I was careful as I sneaked out of our den, glancing quickly at our home, a little patch of grass surrounded by streets and twoleg life, before giving myself an encouraging nod and continuing.

That dog chase would prove to be nothing-I would have a real dangerous, exciting and story-worthy adventure tonight. And there would be nothing my mother could do about it.

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"Poppy?" Amber, the ginger she-cat I had befriended that day, while running from loose dogs together, stirred while I prodded her. As she woke, I glanced about her home curiously, and was able to appreciate the luxury of my own home for the first life.

Where my mother and I lived in a grassy area and slept on soft, warm moss Amber living in the twoleg alleys-sleeping on a brown flat thing that had what I recognized as tape all over the sides.

"What is that?" I couldn't help but question.

"Cardboard," She replied as she finally pushed herself to her paws. I realized for the first time how much older she was than me, probably around the age of my mother. She finally turned to me, a snappy expression on her face which nearly scared me. Clearly Amber liked her sleep, "So what did you wake me for? To shove it in my face that you have a nicer bed and home than me?

"No, not at all!" I squeaked.

"What then?"

"I was going to, uh, try another adventure," I whispered, suddenly scared of that vicious look in the she-cats eyes, "Toy with a group of angry twolegs and-"

"Why does this concern me?"

"I thought you liked adventure..." I was murmuring. I had suspected Amber had been my friend, but as I stared into her sharp eyes now I realized we hadn't been friends-not in her eyes at least. I was just someone who had helped her escape near death.

"What a stupid idea!"

Realizing that if she said no, which it almost doubtlessly seemed that she would, I would have to turn around like a loser and go on the adventure alone which was as pointless as sitting in my nest on a night during which I couldn't sleep, I began to think fast and an idea quickly hit me when I saw her ribs poking through her pelt.

"They have lots of food and I'll let you take all of it."

She seemed hesitant for a moment as a loud growl erupted from her stomach, and glanced about before looking down at her paws again. She nodded.

"But we are not friends, get that notion out of your head, kittypet."

I ignored the insult. Hmm, perhaps even going alone would be better than going with this cranky old badger. Although she wasn't quite so mean when we were running from dogs despite the fact that she had a good reason to be in a terrible mood then.

"Let's go already!" She snapped, cutting my thoughts in half, and I shook my head fiercely, nodding. The better I got back to my next the better. It would be too late by now to stop this if my mother caught me, but I knew if I could return undetected it would mean escaping any punishments or yelling or whatever she may have in store for me.

"Let's go," I agreed, leading the way for the tabby ginger she-cat as she followed from a few steps behind me. I resisted the urge to scrunch my nose-I hadn't noticed how bad she smelled before.

"So how are you doing?"

"I told you that we are not friends."

There was a tight, long-lasting silence before I nodded, "Sorry, I forgot. I hope you don't mind my asking, but why exactly don't you want to be friends?"

"Because," She snapped, "Friends are useless clumps of fur that only occupy your emotional capacity so you can't concentrate as much, which means you have a harder time surviving when always thinking about them, and then it hurt in the end when you learn that your mate has left you for your best friend and all of your other 'pals' are there congratulating her, and don't even stop to give you their condolences."

"I'm sorry," I hope my voice made it clear how sincere I was. I had never fallen in love before but I assumed she really had feelings for the tom she was currently talking about.

"Stop being friendly," She snapped, and I sighed, continuing to lead her towards the place I had heard of. I wasn't even positive that they had food, but I couldn't imagine a twoleg that wouldn't."

The urge to converse with her was so hard to resist I ended up biting into my tongue. She seemed to notice my torture at the fact that I couldn't speak to her because a smile curved up her jaw.

"Something wrong, kittypet?"

"I'm not a kittypet," I murmured, best as I could, while my teeth continued to encase my tongue, "Why do you even call me that?"

"Because you're pampered and mommy always takes care of you," She spat, "Which basically makes you no different from a kittypet-only for them it's their owners instead of their moms."

I bit back a sharp response-quite literally.

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"That's the house," I whispered from behind the bushes where we were watching as two old twolegs ate from a large piece of glass hanging in their house which Amber had called a window.

"Alright, you distract them and I'll get the food," She whispered and I stared at her in surprise.

"Those twolegs have the sticks-those guns," I gasped, "I can't face them alone or I'll get shot and killed and..." I trailed off, fear suddenly pulsing through my heart, as I realized what I had done by coming here. I could, very possibly would die because of this...

What was I thinking?'

"Your fault for having such a stupid idea," Amber shrugged her gaze still trained ahead, "They get mad really easily so just scratch their windows and they'll be out trying to shoot you while I sneak in and grab the food."

"I-I-I'm not sure this is a good idea anymore," I offered, taking a shaky step back, "I kind of like my pelt and my life-or at least living, since I don't really have much of a life because my mother always confines me to my nest even though I now understand why..." I was rambling and Amber clearly wasn't buying it.

Within moments she had pinned me to the ground a dangerous snarl spreading across her face and, timing itself perfectly, a large growl erupted from her stomach.

"I'm hungry, you well-fed kittypet," She snarled, "Now stop being such a selfish brat, who can only bother to think about themselves and help me feed myself."

Had her claws not been right at my throat I would have told her to stop being so selfish and expect me to put my life on the line so that she could have a nice meal but I knew it was either certain death at her claws or possible death at that of the twolegs.

I decided to take my chances.

"Alright, alright," I whispered, trying to gasp for breath, while her claws dug further into my neck, her eyes glinting with some mad sort of light.

Is she crazy or just extremely hungry?

Likely both, I decided.

"I'll do it," I repeated quickly, "I promise I'll go up there and distract the twolegs so that you can sneak in there to grab your own food."

The claws dug further into my neck. "I don't believe you."

"What can I do to make you believe me?" I spat, fear working its way through me. For the first time, possibly, ever I wanted my mother to be right beside me. I didn't care if it made me boring, or a kittypet or whatever I wanted my mother.

Amber stopped for a moment, and finally after moments of hesitation removed her claws from my throat, shoving me up to my unsteady paws before hissing in my ear.

"If you lied I will hunt you down and kill you and there will be nothing your precious mommy can do about it, okay?"

Blood pounding loudly in my ears, as I attempted to stabilize my footing and desperately failed, I offered a hesitant nod, "Okay."

I pushed myself out of the bushes. I wanted to feel calm and heroic and like a great cat sacrificing their safety so that their friend could eat food, if I escaped this that was likely how I would explain it, but I couldn't help feeling like a complete coward. Each step closer and closer towards the window was making me more and more uncertain, but I could feel Amber's glare raw on my back.

Could I run faster than her?

I thought back to the dog chase earlier that day and decided that it was highly unlikely I could outrun her, and there was certainly not a chance I could fight her off.

I'm sorry, mother.

I shot Amber a smothering glare, filled with every ounce of hate I could possible muster, before taking my final steps towards the window, my final steps towards likely death.

Hesitating for only a split moment, I reached upwards, and began to claw and the windows, wincing and the screeching sound that erupted when I did so. I could already see the two twolegs getting up, obviously annoyed, and as I continued to scratch-almost against my own willpower-they got angrier and angrier, before they finally stopped eating.

I stopped, silenced for a moment.

Then the entrance to their den swung open, and the two twolegs were there-both looking enraged and one holding what Reed, a cat I had hung out with a couple times from the alleys, had claimed they called a gun.

I knew they were dangerous.

Without hesitation I whirled around and began to ran. I could hear a few shots from behind me but they all missed me. Spinning my head around to quickly glance I realized they were chasing after me.

I would have to put up a fight to make it out alive.

A part of me considered checking to make sure Amber was in the house but I decided that wasn't my business. She didn't deserve my concerns or attention when I was running for my life and she had put me in the situation.

Another shot sounded behind me but this time it was louder.

I'm going to die.

Should I have listened to my mother? Or was it her fault for being so overprotective? Or was there really no way I could escape this fate.

The next shot was louder. They are gaining up on me. The next louder. Then louder. And louder. Finally, I could hear the shot rushing past my ear, and denting the ground beside me.

I was sure my death was approaching-surely this next shot would be the last one I would ever. Hear. I shut my eyes, feeling myself gasping for my last breaths.

Another gunshot.

But this time, it seemed to be flying in a different direction. I stopped quickly, spinning around to discover that the twolegs had changed their course, taking a right turn and were no chasing after something else.

Squinting my eyes for a moment, I realized it was another cat they were chasing after. Amber? But it wasn't Amber, I realized, as I tried to look further. It was my mom.

"Mother!" I screeched, chasing after the twolegs. I couldn't let me mom die because of my foolishness. I wouldn't.

"Stop, Poppy," I could hear my mother calling back at me, "Go back home-I'll be fine. I promise. Please. Just... go back."

I stopped, hesitating. I didn't want to leave my mother but that desperate tone in her voice...

Who was I to deny her wishes when she had jumped in to save my life after that-even after warning me about all the dangers of the world?

I forced myself to turn around and go home.

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"Poppy?" A soft voice called through the trees. I snapped my head up as my mother's figure emerged from the shadows of the fading night.

"Mom!" I rushed up to her, covering her in relieved licks, "You came back! You're alright!"

"Of course I did," She smiled, "I couldn't leave you-especially not after seeing how much you really do need me to keep an eye out for you."

"How did you shake them off?"

"Oh I made it to the forest and from there they had lost me. Seemed pretty angry though-they were the nastiest twolegs I've come across in a long time."

"I-," I hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I'm sorry, mom. I should have listened to you-seen the point in what you said. I just-"

"I've been too strict as well," She smiled, "How about this, Poppy? Why don't we try to find some middle ground? I'll give you freedom but prevent you from doing things that can be harmful. Some games can be fun, but some can be dangerous too, you know?"

I offered her a shy smile, "I know, mom, I know."



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I groaned as I woke up, the noises of fighting coming from the apprentice and warrior den forcing me out of my sleep sooner than I would like.

When are we going to get over this drama?

For the past moon now, every day I would receive dozens of complaints over she-cats acting terrible towards each other, toms fighting over mates, even physical fights that would erupt because of their anger towards each other.

PebbleClan had more food, water and was at it's longest-lasting peace with their neighboring Clan, StoneClan, but yet they had never been in a worse state. With time to spend on things other than survival the majority of Clal life was now hogged up by drama. Drama. And more drama.

Even as I exited the den, deciding to grab a piece of fresh-kill I could make out the noises of two she-cats screeching at each other over some tom they both supposedly liked, I could make out the sounds of two queens debating over who had the more blessed kit-and their kits arguing alongside their mothers, and I was pretty sure there was some commotion going on outside of camp.

I missed the days where the main issues would be a lack of food, a betrayal, war with StoneClan whom we used to be eager to destroy, although the same was true for them.

It had even come to the point where I would often have to address the drama when gathering the Clan in the mornings. And I thought that was unacceptable.

The most horrifying moment had been when, under a moon ago, my old and loyal deputy, Yarrowstem, had died from a combination of whitecough and his old age. I was thinking that night of who to appoint as new deputy when I was forced to come out of my den because of some very loud commotion.

When I exited the den, what I ran into was a civil war among the Clan. With some help from neutral warriors I was able to break it up and when I demanded to know what had happened I was told by Graytail, a she-cat who had been my most probable choice, that it was over the deputy.

Apparently a small feud had started between her sister and another tom who was sure he would become deputy. Eventually the whole Clan ended up joining the feud-a battle with countless sides-over who would become the next deputy.

Needless so say, Graytail did not end up becoming deputy. I picked one of the very few cats who didn't get into the fight but they were certainly not a cat I would have picked had I not been so desperate. Sparrowwing had only been a warrior for a few months and although she was very loyal she didn't posses most traits that were proper for a deputy-leadership, endurance, experience.

Not that we needed a deputy with any of that in the Clan's current state. What we needed, more than anything else, was someone who could put an end to this stage of PebbleClan.

"Rainstar!" I whirled my head around to find Heronvale, a handsome brown tabby tom with golden eyes staring at me dully, his eyes shadowed.

"What's wrong?" I questioned.

"You aren't going to like this but..." He sucked in a deep breath, "There have been several fights going on in the nursery as of late."

"Going on everywhere."

"Yes, well, today Morningblue and Dewfall were fighting again, and it was getting really intense and then it got physical."

"The queens got physical? In front of their kits?" My jaw dropped.

"Yes. They did. Anyways, um, Grasskit got really mad when Dewfall swatted at his mother, so he tried to get in there and he like bit her paw or something. And Dewfall, thinking it was Morningblue, gave him a really nasty scratch."

"Great StarClan."

"It's fatal."

"This is nonsense," I spat, my anger of all the past few moons finally beginning to suddenly reach me, "A kit is going to die because..."

"He might not die."

"A kit is in fatal condition because our two oh-so-precious queens fought over whose kit was going to become more successful!" I spat, before sighing and petting his shoulder in apology, "Sorry, Heronvale, you shouldn't have to be the one to deal with this-thanks for telling me."

"Grasskit's in the medicine cat's den," Heronvale informed with a quick nod.

But I was not going to the medicine cat's den. Instead, I was marching straight towards the nursery. I had given the Clan enough patience but they had finally crossed a line. A cat was about to die. A kit was about to die. A kit was about to die because of his dramatic mother who couldn't shed a little pride.

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" I roared, breaking apart the glaring competition between the two queens. Fishkit, Defall's only daughter, was sitting in the corner, a horrified expression on her face. She was refusing to look at either of the queens. I could barely do so myself.

"She killed my kit!" Morningblue wailed. Dewfall bowed her head in shame, but I could see anger burning through her gaze. She didn't really believe it was her fault. Neither did I. Not entirely, anyways.

"You caused your kit to become so fatally injured!" I snapped back, "Did you really have to engage in a fight with Dewfall in front of them? Did you seriously think they would just sit there while you two ripped each other in shreds? Why do you find the need to fight about who has a better kit anyways?"

"She had to accept that Fishkit wasn't all that better than Grasskit," Morningblue spat, a combination of sorrow and rage in her eyes, "And I couldn't let her going around with that ego."

"Even if it meant having a near-dead Grasskit lying in the medicine cats den?" Morningblue burst into tears and I knew I was being harsh but I knew it was my only choice if I wanted her to get any lesson out of this. "Admit it, Morningblue, it's your fault just as much as it is that of Dewfall!"

"I-I-I," She struggled to speak, stammering endlessly and shaking her head in denial as the tears continued to stream, "I would never-"

"Your pride and your fragile ego have hurt your very own kit," I spat. She bowed her head in shame, finally accepting what I had said.

"You-you're right, Rainstar."

Without replying to her I whirled around to head for the medicine cat's den. More than making sure Grasskit was okay, something which wouldn't benefit her at all, I wanted to unsure she hadn't taken any wrong lessons out of this.

As I paddled to the medicine cat's den, I could hear loud murmurs about the state of Grasskit. I tried to ignore them and instead focus on the tiny stones that were dotted around the floor to camp.

I loved my Clan, I truly did, but it could get so frustrating. We had become so shallow-all that mattered to us anymore was our egos and being better than anyone else.

There has to be some way to fix this.

As I entered the medicine cat's den the first thing I noticed was Freefall standing over an injured Grasskit. There was a long gash along her face, that went half way down her stomach, and she was lying in a small pool of blood. I felt my stomch churning.

How could they do this to a kit?

Suddenly I was disgusted. Disgusted with Morningblue and Dewfall. Disgusted with the drama. Disgusted with myself for being able to stop it. Disgusted with the state of the Clan. Disgusted with PebbleClan.

"Are you alright Grasskit?" I could barely find a voice inside me.

"It hurts," He whimpered, "It hurts! Why would Dewfall do this to me?" The pain was leaking through his voice and I felt my insides squeeze.

"I don't know, Grasskit, I really don't know."

"I don't want to live in this Clan anymore!" He wailed, as Freefall, our medicine cat, continued to apply cobwebs steadily, "I don't like this Clan anymore!"

"Me neither," I whispered silently, "I agree with you Grasskit."

"You do?" His eyes were bright for a moment.

"I do."

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It happened while I was sitting in my den that night. I could hear fighting from right outside my den, and after seeing poor Grasskit I was done.

Completely done.

I had decided, that the next day I would be leaving the Clan. Sparrowwing wouldn't make for a great leader but it didn't seem like leaders were of any good as of late.

It's not like anyone would listen to them anymore, anyways.

I had considered possible telling another cat but eventually decided against it. My whereabouts was not a think I would want to be known. When I left the Clan the next day I wanted to be leaving it for good.

And the sounds of fighting coming from outside were all the proof I needed about that.

It was likely midnight, and still the cats of PebbleClan had nothing better to do that fight. They had learned nothing from Grasskit's near death.

Should I take Grasskit with me?

No, I decided. This might not be the better life for him, but he needed a mother, and that was something I had no idea how to be.

As terrible of one as she was, Morningblue was his mother and to separate them would be worse than a life in PebbleClan... right?

I convinced myself that it was the case, that it had to be the case. PebbleClan wasn't that bad. At least we weren't being attacked by StoneClan every other night, losing at least one member by each sunrise.

"Rainstar! Rainstar!" I jumped as the midnight patrol suddenly busted into my den, terrified expressions on their face that I knew could only come from real danger.

"What's wrong?" I instinctively demanded.

"Two twolegs," One of them panted, "They were both carrying those firesticks and they looked really really mad. I don't think it was at us, but if they get here I don't think they'll hesitate to shoot."

"We won't stand a chance against those sticks."

They all nodded. And in that moment I realized that as sick and tired of my Clan as I was, as eager as I was to leave the place it was still my home and I still loved it.

"We need to evacuate."

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"PebbleClan!" The cats all turned their heads up towards me, not much attention in their eyes. I could tell they were all either eager to return to sleep or fighting. "We have to evacuate."

The Clan burst into hysterics. Some began to scream, some broke into arguments and Morningblue let out a high-pitched wail of despair.

"It will only be temporary!"

But they still weren't listening. Cats were going wild, still turning on each other, it was like nothing I said could make any difference to them.

The leader's word is supposed to be warrior code.

"Listen up!" I tried again, but they still weren't listening. I felt my heart pounding in my chest, as I realized the more time I wasted the closer the twolegs could be getting.

"Do you want to die or would you mind showing your Clan leader a little bit of respect?" I hollered, allowing all of my rage to flow through my voice.

Only a few cats stopped to look.

What has become of this place?

I felt a deep sadness overtaking me as I looked down below me. This could be the end of PebbleClan, I realized, but in my heart it had ended a long time ago. Because this wasn't my Clan, this wasn't my home and this wasn't the place I had been so loyally in love with.

"Cats of PebbleClan!" I tried again, with no response. I could have sword I heard footsteps, getting louder and louder and louder and-

Boom.

All cats turned their head to the entrance. Two twolegs had knelt down so that they were sitting on their knees, a look of malice entering their eyes as they glanced at us.

The male one turned to the female and said something I couldn't make out at all. There was a tense moment of silence before they both lowere their sticks and began to shoot.

The sound of firing was loud, and I realized that this would, in fact, bring the end of PebbleClan for good. If any cats survived this I doubted they would come back here.

Farewell, PebbleClan. You were long gone already and I'm sorry I couldn't bring you back.

Without much hesitation, I turned around and began to dash in the opposite direction of the entrance. There were a few secret exits I knew, and without much hesitation, I quickly dashed into the medicine cat's den, from which I scratched at the ferns that had built a wall.

I turned my head over at the sound of coughing.

It was Grasskit. But I knew there was no way I could save him and escape at the same time. I felt an odd tug of war in my heart-there was no way he could live if he was left here.

There's nothing you can do I convinced myself as I turned around and escaped through the opening I had made in the medicine cats den.

I ran for a while, until I knew I was far away enough from camp. Then I stopped for a moment, turning around to look back at the place that had once been my home.

I could hear shrieks, and fires and cries and decided not to even imagine how many cats were dead. An image of Grasskit entered my mind but I forced it away before it could guilt me. I can't go back now.

So, only allowing myself a second of hesitation, I turned around for the very last time, knowing that there was nothing else that could have been done.

Farewell, PebbleClan.



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"Hailstar!" I blinked my eyes open as a patrol ran into camp, breathing heavily. Many were shaking their heads back and forth in disbelief and I frowned.

"What's wrong?" I questioned, turning my head away from the prey I had been eating, feeling my friend Ashfur stiffen by my side.

The whole of the clearing seemed to have paused in order to hear the news which was about to be delivered. Most of the patrol seemed in shock-they didn't look upset but they seemed... horrified.

"What's wrong?" I repeated.

Bushpelt, the leader of the patrol, took a shaky step forward, "PebbleClan. They are gone. Completely gone. I don't know what happened to them, but..."

"What do you mean by 'gone'?" I asked, pushing myself up to my feet, and taking a few steps towards the patrol, "Gone as in...?"

"The camp is completely empty. There is blood all over the floor. There hasn't been anyone in there for days. We just were going to visit to remind them to scent-mark their borders but there wasn't anyone to warn. Except for a few wandering rogues, that is."

I glanced about camp, "Maplefall, Squirrertail, Badgerclaw, Frostfur and Dewroll," I commanded, "I need you to come with me. We're going to further investigate this."

"When?"

"Now."

None of my cats questioned me as they all paddled up to me, quickly. The whole of the Clan were watching us intently and I flicked my tail at the cats on my patrol.

"Let's go."

We were soon racing out of camp, the wind smashing against out pelts. I loved running in StoneClan. We had nice strong winds that pushed all your fur back as you ran, but wasn't so strong that it disturbed you. The smooth grass rubbed against ones paws, and the occasional pebble that your paws slid over felt soothing. It was my home.

We ran for a long while. StoneClan has a nice territory that provided lots of prey. Unfortunately, that also meant a lot of patrolling and a lot of frequent patrolling. The amount of rogues and loners we had to chase out in the past moon were all dangerously large.

"What do you think did it?" Maplefall, who was pelting beside me, questioned as we ran. I shook my head, not sure at all. PebbleClan wouldn't just disappear. Not in a time like this...

Unlike before we weren't at war. It was green-leaf, there was plenty of prey, and rogues weren't being much of a problem as of late, except for petty wandering.

What could have taken PebbleClan down?

I wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not either. Would it mean more territory and the assurance that we were free from having to worry about delving into another war with the Clan, or was what had taken them down dangerous for us too.

"Let's hope we can find out," I replied, "PebbleClan was strong and they were healthy at this time. Whatever it was that knocked them over will have to have been strong."

"Maybe it was internal," He offered.

"Let's hope."

We pulled to a halt as we reached the border. I took a careful sniff and was surprised not to find any PebbleClan, despite the fact that I was expecting it. They had always been so eager to make it known that they were there and they were a threat to us... and now they were gone.

"Let's go," I whispered.

I was hesitant as I crossed the border, almost expecting some PebbleClan cat to jump out of the bushes and demand I get off their territory. My heart stopped for a moment but there was no one.

It was clear.

Exchanging a glance with Maplefall, we continued across the border, hearts pounding, eyes squeezed shut. I wasn't sure I wanted to see what had become of the Clan that had been our bitter enemies for so long, and we now had a shaky peace with. Or we did.

"Keep going."

We were slower on PebbleClan territory. Not running or dashing but taking slow steps, glancing about cautiously looking for anything that may have made the place so quiet.

"This doesn't feel right," Frostfur whispered, "I mean, how can it be so empty. This is PebbleClan, they never went down without a fight."

"If we don't find Rainstar's body I won't know what to think," I replied. I wasn't looking forward to seeing the dead form of a leader I had hated, respected and feared all at once, but not finding it would be worse, I realized. Not finding it would make everything all the more confusing.

"Remember to keep your guards up."

My warriors all nodded as we continued. My eyes and ears were pealed as we walked towards the camp i knew so well from the large number of times we had attacked.

I never thought this was how it would end.

I didn't think anyone could have.

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