An idea of mine that exploded from a pair of quotes, as follows:

"Fate is strange, and our destinies can be shaped by very small decisions."

~ Emily Rodda, "The Golden Door" page 46

"For want of a nail, the shoe was lost;

For want of a shoe, the horse was lost;

For want of a horse, the rider was lost;

For want of a rider, the message was lost;

For want of the message, the battle was lost;

For want of a battle, the kingdom was lost,

And all for the want of a horseshoe nail."

~ Benjamin Franklin, "Poor Richard's Almanac"

What if one yes-or-no question was answered differently? Assuming that fate (cough-or-in-this-case-plot-cough) wanted to march on regardless of the should be simple decision's outcome, how different could things be?

Desire for a Guiding Flame / For the Want of a Claw

Scene One: Rusty's Choice

The piercing emerald eyes of the young cat flicker in surprise. "I-I'm sorry, but…" Rusty replies shakily.

Bluestar's tail twitches sympathetically. "You do not need to decide immediately. We will return here at the next sunhigh. Lionheart, Greypaw." She turns and vanishes into the undergrowth.

Lionheart nods reassuringly and disappears after her.

Greypaw waves his tail in farewell as he follows his mentor.

Staring at the waving brush long after the Clan cats have left, Rusty's pelt twitches uncomfortably. He deliberates the pressing question until it hurts. Rusty shakes his head as if to clear it and, suddenly needing to lie down, pads back towards his twolegs' den.

•ᴥ•

The forest is quiet at the next sunhigh. No birds sing, there is no wind to rustle the treetops; it as if the whole forest is holding its breath, waiting.

Rusty glances nervously between the two cats standing in front of him. He recognizes one as Lionheart, but the other is fearsome and foreign to him.

"Your choice?" Lionheart repeats patiently.

Perhaps the sight of the well-muscled Whitestorm had a last moment influence Rusty's decision. Or perhaps the question itself was too sudden and life changing for such a young cat. Either way, fate was feeling fickle that fantastically focal day.

"I… I…" Rusty stutters and turns his head down in shame, "I-I can't! I'm sorry; I cannot just leave my housefolk and run into the forest!"

Lionheart's eyes dim. "I am sorry you feel that way," he sighs before inhaling and continuing in a forced purr, "I understand you cannot easily leave the comforts of the life as a kittypet." He grows serious, "because of your choice, you can no longer enter the forest. From now on we shall chase you out like any other kittypet. Do you understand? You must never enter the forest again."

"I understand," Rusty replies with equal solemnity. Rusty glances between the two cats one last time before turning and bounding away.

Whitestorm watches him go. "Do you think he will regret his decision?"

Lionheart shakes his head slowly. "You must remember, Rusty has never experienced Clan life. … Though, perhaps he may feel uncertain at first; however, those feelings shall fade with time. Come. Let us return to the camp quickly and report to Bluestar."

And thus fate was changed. A prophecy was lost.

How many changes will happen that you can think of? Write a review or, if you're feeling sneaky, send me a PM! I will shout-out the first person that sends me each idea in their representative chapter (in this fic called 'scenes')! I already have lots of ideas, but I'm interested to see if any others are out there.

May StarClan forever light your path ~Dinoval