Shimmering Stripes

This page contains a fanfiction written by Brams and Rainpelt. 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.

This is a collab between Brams and Rainpelt.

Blurb

Acornstripe and Shimmerfur have a tough relationship. Not only are they in different Clans - he's in SandClan, and she's in SeaClan - but they know their relationship is wrong. Neither want to leave their Clan, yet their love is strong.

When a SeaClan cat finds out their secret, chaos erupts. Soon, their relationship will become rocky, and hard to control. They will have to stay strong, if their friendship isn't to shatter. But do they have the ability to keep their love alive?

Chapter 1 - Brams

Acornstripe padded along the sandy shore. He was alone, waiting for Shimmerfur.

I know this is wrong, he thought, but I love her.

He sat down at the border with SeaClan, their only neighboring Clan. Their salty scent washed over Acornstripe, who screwed his nose up in disgust.

Yuck, a patrol's just been past.

The SeaClan scent was disgusting - rather salty. They swam - a lot more than his Clan, SandClan. His scent wasn't salty - it was sandy.

In the fading sunset light, he saw the silver shape that he had known for so long. Her silver fur, that shimmers...

Shimmerfur.

The silver she-cat purred as she approached. "Acornstripe."

"Shimmerfur. How's the fish swimming?"

"Fine. You?"

"It's good. Prey is plentiful in greenleaf."

Shimmerfur nodded, and looked down at her paws. "It's hard to keep together."

"I know," Acornstripe replied: he didn't want any of his Clanmates to find out his secret.

"I wouldn't be happy if any of my Clanmates found out," she mewed fretfully. "What would Clawstar say?"

"I don't know," Acornstripe meowed. "I'm not SeaClan. But if Oddstar found out, I know she would go crazy." Oddstar had been named for the unusual amount of kinks in her tail.

He could imagine her, if she found out, saying: "Acornstripe! Why have you done this? You have betrayed SandClan!"

But that meant nothing to his love for Shimmerfur.

"Clawstar would exile me," Shimmerfur mewed quietly. "He doesn't like cats betraying SeaClan."

"But then you can join me. In SandClan."

"The thing is, I don't want to leave," Shimmerfur mewed. "I have many friends. I am respected. No cat would suspect me of meeting up with a cat from SandClan."

"It's the same here."

Sorrow showed in Shimmerfur's eyes. "I'm sorry."

"And I'm sorry for you, too."

"I know. Goodbye, Acornstripe."

"Goodbye, Shimmerfur."

As Shimmerfur padded away, Acornstripe felt a pang of regret. How could he love Shimmerfur, but not be in the same Clan?

He sighed and padded away. He needed to get back to his Clan, before Oddstar questioned him about his whereabouts.

Chapter 2 - Rainpelt

Shimmerfur padded to the SeaClan camp. I know this is wrong meeting Acornstripe, but it makes me feel happy!

Shimmerfur sighed and squeezed into the camp boundary. Acornstripe is the light of my life. He loves me more than Galewind!

Galewind was the tom who was mooning over Shimmerfur. It was obvious to the Clan that he liked Shimmerfur.

At least everyone will never suspect me of going off to meet Acornstripe.

Clawstar was standing on the Meeting rock.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own fish gather here for a Clan meeting!"

The Clan gathered below the rock, and Clawstar flicked his tail.

"Come forward, Poppykit!"

Poppykit, the only kit that survived a fox attack which was aimed at the nursery.

Clawstar continued speaking.

"Poppykit, from this day on until you receive your warrior name you shall be known as Poppypaw."

There was a sudden pause.

"Shimmerfur, you are a cat with strong courage. Mentor Poppypaw with pride."

Poppypaw padded up to Shimmerfur and she touched noses with her.

"Poppypaw! Poppypaw! Poppypaw!" The Clan yowled.

In the front row, Cloudwater, Poppypaw's mother looked at her daughter with pride and sadness.

She's mourning Waterkit and Hailkit. Shimmerfur thought.

Then she realized something a pang.

How am I going to meet Acornstripe now? I have an apprentice that will be watching my every move?

Chapter 3 - Brams

Acornstripe lay down in the SandClan camp, letting the warm greenleaf sun warm his pelt. He was having a break from patrols.

It had been a few days since he had last seen Shimmerfur. Tonight, proving that they were both free of their duties, they would meet again.

"Tigerleap!"

Heatherwhisker, the SandClan deputy, was organizing patrols. Acornstripe was hoping the small, pinkish-gray she-cat wouldn't call his name out for any patrols - at least not yet, anyway.

Especially not a border patrol.

He couldn't bear to be by the SeaClan border.

Not now.

"Take Woollydapple, Rowanleaf, and Poplarpaw with you on a border patrol."

Acornstripe sighed with relief. Thank StarClan!

Tigerleap, a large dark brown tabby tom, gathered Woollydapple, Rowanleaf, and Poplarpaw together. Poplarpaw, a pale brown she-cat, fidgeted with excitement. It was her first border patrol, since becoming Rowanleaf's apprentice a quarter-moon ago.

"Poplarpaw!" It was Poplarpaw's mother, Ivytendril. The tortoiseshell she-cat fussed about her kits a lot - Poplarpaw, Hawthornpaw, Ebonypaw, and Walnutpaw. "Are you going to be alright?"

"I'm fine!" Poplarpaw squeaked. "I'm an apprentice now."

Ivytendril sighed, as her kit, and the patrol left the camp. "They grow up so fast," she whispered.

"Ivytendril, do you mind leading a hunting patrol? Take Archstripe and Wildspring with you. Crowflight will lead another, and Ebonypaw and Stoatfoot will join him."

Acornstripe let the sun touch his belly. This is what he needed.

Some time to relax.

Some time to forget Shimmerfur...

He didn't need to be with her all the time.

"Acornstripe?"

He heard his name being called. "What?"

"Do you mind leading the sunhigh patrol? That patrol was doing the rogue borders. Can you check the SeaClan border then?"

Oh, StarClan.

Now he wished he was on the border patrol. He didn't want to go to the SeaClan border.

He wanted to forget about Shimmerfur for a while.

This wouldn't help.

"Yes," he mewed brightly, making sure Heatherwhisker didn't see any of his doubt. "Yes, I will check the SeaClan border for you with the sunhigh patrol."

Heatherwhisker stared at him for a moment, then turned away.

He was troubled. Acornstripe was troubled.

He couldn't forget about Shimmerfur.

No matter how hard, he couldn't.

It didn't help that he had to lead a patrol to the SeaClan border later.

Oh, StarClan, what have I done?

Chapter 4 - Rainpelt

Shimmerfur was in the warm sunshine of greenleaf. She had taken Poppypaw out to explore the territory, and she was now having a rest. She was going to meet Acornstripe soon.

Oh well, time to go now Shimmerfur thought.

She went through the camp entrance. She didn't want it so seem like she was sneaking out of the camp. Shimmerfur just assumed that most cats would think she was hunting, and leave her alone. Besides, Poppypaw had just finished sorting out her moss, just as she had taught her on the way back. She would never be following Shimmerfur! She would just be too tired.

Shimmerfur sat on the sand, the border of SandClan territory knowing Acornstripe would be their soon. Shimmerfur heard a rustling sound, and unsheathed her claws. An attacker was coming! A brown tabby flew out at her, but Shimmerfur was ready. She scooped the tom's body out of the air and pinned him down.

"Oww! That hurt!"

She looked below her paws, and the cat below her was Acornstripe.

"Get off!"

Shimmerfur did exactly what Acornstripe told her.

"How did you know I was there?" he challenged.

"You stalk like a lopsided badger! You stood on a stick, and I could here you tree lengths away!"

"Ok! You win! And nice move back there!"

There was a rustle behind Shimmerfur. She looked behind her and a small figure came out of the reeds.

"Uh oh!" Acornstripe whispered.

Shimmerfur looked at the young cat in horror.

Her love had finally been discovered by the one cat she hoped would never find out.

It was Poppypaw.

Chapter 5 - Brams

Acornstripe stared. Why was that SeaClan apprentice behind Shimmerfur? She didn't need to know about this.

It's called being nosy.

"Shimmerfur, why are you meeting a SandClan cat?" squeaked the apprentice. "I should tell Clawstar about this."

"No," Acornstripe mewed hoarsely. "You can't."

"And what can you do about it?" the SeaClan cat challenged.

He and Shimmerfur exchanged a glance, one of horror, shock, and terror. This wasn't meant to happen.

This shouldn't have happened.

"Well," Acornstripe growled. "I could pin you down, and flick you over the ear with a claw -" He stopped speaking when he saw Shimmerfur staring in shock.

"Sorry, Shimmerfur."

Shimmerfur nodded, and turned to the apprentice. "Poppypaw? What are you doing here? I thought I told you to sort the moss for the bedding."

"I'd finished, and I still wasn't tired," Poppypaw mewed boldly. "I saw you go out of the camp, so I decided to follow you."

"Poppypaw!" Shimmerfur snapped, smacking her tail lightly over the she-cat's spine. "Didn't Cloudwater tell you not to follow other cats?"

"She didn't need to," Poppypaw meowed. "Not since Waterkit and Hailkit died in the fox attack."

Acornstripe shook her head. The SeaClan apprentice - Poppypaw - was snobbish, and rather ungrateful. It wasn't what he would do.

He remembered, when he was an apprentice, his mentor, Mintstream, died to save him from Clawstar killing him in a SandClan and SeaClan battle. Now, Acornstripe was grateful for living each day.

It was also the battle in which I first met Shimmerfur.

He snapped out of his memories, and turned his attention back to Shimmerfur, and Poppypaw. Defiance showed on Poppypaw's face - one of hatred, and of secrecy.

"I vow revenge," she growled, and she padded away.

Acornstripe and Shimmerfur shared a shocked glance. Finally, Shimmerfur spoke:

"I'd better get back to camp."

"Same here." Shimmerfur was right. "May StarClan light your path, Shimmerfur."

"And yours, Acornstripe," Shimmerfur whispered, before turning her back on him, and fleeing through the reeds back into SeaClan territory.

Acornstripe watched Shimmerfur go, then he turned his back, and returned his path back to the SandClan camp.

Should I tell Oddstar about this? he thought.

He decided against it.

No. I won't. What would she say?

Chapter 6 - Rainpelt

Shimmerfur raced behind Poppypaw. She caught up and looked at her apprentice.

"Poppypaw!" The tortoiseshell apprentice stopped.

"Why do you have to be my mentor! You were acting friendly to that stupid SandClan cat!"

"Poppypaw! You don't understand!"

"Yes I do! You love him! You're breaking the warrior code! It's there for a reason!"

Shimmerfur forced herself to calm down.

"Poppypaw! I ask you to keep my secret, for now at least! It'll be between you and me. Clawstar will exile me and you know that I am one of the best hunters in the Clan. Don't you see how such a loss that would be to the Clan?"

Poppypaw looked at Shimmerfur with wide eyes.

"Yes!"

"So, then can you keep my secret?"

"Fine!"

Shimmerfur looked at Poppypaw. She was clearly unhappy.

"Hey Poppypaw! Would you like to learn how to fish?"

"Yes please!"

Poppypaw followed her to the river. Shimmerfur taught her the technique. She caught on very quickly.

"Ok. Now I'll show you for real. You make sure your shadow doesn't cast on the water, wait for a fish to come and..."

She flashed her paw under the water and scooped up a large trout. Poppypaw looked at it.

"Wow! Let me have a go!"

As Poppypaw looked into the river, Shimmerfur had a pang of horror.

How long will she keep my secret, until she lets the whole Clan know?

Chapter 7 - Brams

Acornstripe was nervous. He didn't want any cat to find out his secret.

Not ever.

But Poppypaw knows.

Acornstripe knew that a SeaClan apprentice knew. Had she told Clawstar?

Or had she kept it a secret.

Or, had Shimmerfur forced her to keep the secret?

Acornstripe sighed. He didn't know what to do, what to expect. It was all going wrong.

Their relationship was falling to pieces.

"Weaselheart!"

Oddstar's mew pulled Acornstripe away from his thoughts. The light brown she-cat was standing in the clearing.

"Why isn't Heatherwhisker organizing the patrols?" a cat mewed.

"She had to see Stonedapple about some pains she was having," Oddstar replied, flicking her kinked tail. "Don't worry. I trust that Stonedapple and Walnutpaw will be able to solve it."

The warrior who had asked her, Iceshard, nodded thoughtfully.

"Anyway, Iceshard, you can join Weaselheart, Snailleaf, Hawthornpaw, and Wavelap on the border patrol to the SeaClan border. Word has it that there's been some activity down there."

Weaselheart, a brown-and-ginger tom, gathered the patrol around him, before setting off. Hawthornpaw, the young apprentice, had to go fast to keep up with the patrol.

"Petalclaw, take Ivytendril and Acornstripe on a hunting patrol."

Acornstripe suppressed a sigh. He didn't want to go out of the camp right now. He slowly got to his paws, and joined Petalclaw and Ivytendril at the bramble barrier.

Petalclaw led the cats out, her thick, pale gray fur rippling in the light wind. Acornstripe lingered at the back.

He didn't want to be on a hunting patrol.

It's StarClan's fate, a voice whispered.

It's StarClan's fate.

Acornstripe knew it wasn't his decision. But now, he had to put his service into the Clan.

In front of him, Petalclaw and Ivytendril were getting ready to hunt, crouching low, as they saw a rabbit in the distance. Acornstripe padded away from them. He wanted to be alone.

He needed to be alone, and wait for StarClan's fate.

StarClan's fate, for him and Shimmerfur.

A question, a thought, popped up in Acornstripe's mind, too strong to hold it in.

He'd never thought of this before.

What if Shimmerfur and I weren't meant to be together?