smoked out
THUNDERCLAN
Leader- Brightstar – white she-cat
Deputy- Waterpelt- sandy tom
Medicine Cat- Speckledwing – speckled tabby tom
Warriors- Brownwhisker – brown tabby tom, yellow eyes
Windfang – pale yellow she-cat
Amberwind – reddish brown tom, amber eyes
Foxpelt – gray tabby she-cat
Dewstripe – dark mottled tabby tom
Blackstripe – smoky black she-cat
Rednose – reddish tabby tom
Smokefur – jet black tom, green eyes
Apprentices- Sunpaw – dark ginger she-cat
Robinpaw – black and white tom
Mosspaw – grayish she-cat
Queens- Dawnleaf – small calico she-cat, blue eyes
Skyfeather – pure white she-cat
Stonepool – gray tabby she-cat
SHADOWCLAN
Leader – Leafstar – calico she-cat, very long tail
Deputy- Iceblaze– pure white tom
Medicine Cat- Blackwing – smoky black she-cat
Warriors – Sandfrost – sandy brown she-cat
Moonwing – silver gray tom
Greenwhisker – ginger she-cat, bright green eyes
Spottedpelt – patchy tabby tom
Apprentices- Dustpaw – dusty gray tom
Thistlepaw – bright ginger tom
Queens- Thornwind – dark tabby she-cat
WINDCLAN
Leader- Heatherstar – gray tabby tom
Deputy- Dreamwhisker- long-haired white she-cat
Medicine cat- Daisyleaf – pretty tabby she-cat
Warriors- Rosepool – long haired dark gray she-cat
Shadowpuddle – blue-gray she-cat
Waveclaw – dark gray tom
Mousefoot – brown tabby tom
Marshfall – very dark gray tom
Apprentices- Jaypaw – smoky black she-cat, amber eyes
Duskpaw – pale ginger tom
Graypaw – smoky black she-cat, Jaypaw's sister
Queens- Wildflower – pretty calico she-cat
RIVERCLAN
Leader- Fallenstar – ginger she-cat
Deputy- Brackenflood – dark brown and gray tabby tom
Medicine cat- Skunklilly – black and white tom
Warriors- Streamclaw – silver gray tom
Sagewind – pale tabby she-cat
Clovertail – pretty gray she-cat
Bonewing – huge white tom
Brookfeather – lithe black and white tom
Cedarbreeze – dark ginger tom
Frostfur – silver and white she-cat
Apprentices- Hailpaw- small silver tom
Mudpaw – pale brown she-cat
Flamepaw – brilliant ginger tom
Queens – Ashwhisker – black she-cat, white paws
Thornstripe – dark ginger she-cat
ONE
"I'm tumbling. I'm falling. Sometimes, I imagine I am falling."
"Where are you falling from?"
"The top of a cliff, higher than any cat could imagine. Far beyond comprehension."
"That sounds concerning."
"It does. It does. I wouldn't so much say it concerns me, but maybe Dawnleaf. I so much as bat an eye and she worries."
"You think she notices anything?"
"Oh, she does. She-cats notice everything. What is it, Speckledwing? What is it with them where the more silence you provide, the less you say, the more worked up they seem to become nonetheless?"
"They're she-cats, Smokefur. I think that about answers the question."
Smokefur laughed and rolled onto his feet. "Well said, my friend."
"I put some cobwebs on your cut paw. In a bit the swelling should go down and you should be able to attend the Gathering tonight." Speckledwing was digging through his herbs, his tail curled around his paws. "Anything else bothering you?"
"No, just the paw. Damn thorns."
"I mean mentally. How's your emotional health?"
Smokefur walked closer behind him, and Speckledwing looked over his shoulder, mouth parted in slight surprise. "Emotions, Speckledwing? Never heard of 'em."
Speckledwing's whiskers twitched. "Have a good evening, Smokefur," he mewed.
A brand new sunset was spreading over the ThunderClan camp, lots of orange and yellow and deep, melancholy reds. The pelts of every cat gleamed with good health and abundant food, the spoils of Greenleaf. Smokefur emerged into the activity from the medicine cat's den. A jet black tom with a long, tapering tail and a strong set of shoulders. A handsome face, a muscular body, long, pointed ears.
"Evening, Smokefur," Blackstripe, a smoky colored she-cat mewed as she hurried past with her apprentice Mosspaw, who's jaws were laden with fresh-kill.
"Blackstripe," Smokefur said elegantly, with a nod. "Have you seen Dawnleaf?"
Blackstripe flicked her tail at the nursery. "Same as always."
Smokefur crossed the ThunderClan camp, mewing his greetings to his Clanmates, who purred their approval at the sight of him. He'd brought in nearly half the fresh-kill sitting on the pile an hour ago, and the Clan was benefiting his spoils heartily. Even Brightstar, the leader, meowed her praise from where she was sitting beside the Highledge. He ducked inside the nursery where he could hear the squabbling of kits among their mothers' soft meows. Here was where Dawnleaf lay, his beautiful mate, her belly so swollen she had to lie awkwardly on her side, tail tip flicking.
"Hey there." He touched his nose to hers and Dawnleaf purred. "How was your day?"
She sighed, rolling farther onto her back. "Just stomach pains, the usual. I hope these suckers aren't planning on staying in there too much longer."
"Everything in its time," Smokefur purred. "I nabbed you a mouse from the fresh-kill pile on my way over here. Wanna share?"
"You know me too well," Dawnleaf meowed, as the two tucked into the mouse. "Skyfeather over there said everyone's been talking up your great hunt today."
"I'd say four squirrels is definitely something worth talking up," Smokefur laughed.
"Oh, don't be bragging." Dawnleaf nuzzled her ear against his chest. "I missed you."
He lay down beside his mate, curling his body around hers, purring delight at her warmth and the soft tickle of her thick calico fur. "Me too."
"StarClan, yuck," exclaimed a new voice, and Smokefur glanced up to see Sunpaw, the two's eldest daughter, peering into the nursery. "I wanted to share a vole with you two but it seems you're pretty preoccupied."
"Get in here, you," Smokefur meowed, and Sunpaw trotted eagerly over to her parents, carrying a shrew in her jaws. She was as beautiful as her mother, her dark ginger coat sleek and gleaming. She'd been the only kit from Dawnleaf's first litter twelve moons ago but she'd grown big and strong and was rapidly becoming one of the best hunters in ThunderClan, taking after her father.
"Dad, are you going to the Gathering tonight?" Sunpaw asked, chomping on shrew bones.
"Oh, I'm not sure," Smokefur purred, absently nuzzling under Dawnleaf's soft ear.
"Well, did Brightstar ask you to come? She asked me! This'll be my second. And guess what, I'm the only apprentice that gets to go."
"I suppose she asked. I think I should stay home and get some rest, that's all. That thorn bush really tore up my paw, and I just visited Speckledwing and he told me I should rest."
"A little thorn keeping the greatest hunter in the forest from attending the gathering? Pah!" Sunpaw laughed, spraying bits of shrew everywhere. "I swear I don't even know you, dad."
Dawnleaf wrinkled her nose in distaste as bits of fresh-kill landed in her fur and turned to Smokefur. "You never go."
Smokefur stood up, stretching his back. "I do sometimes. I'm just always so tired. But you'll have fun, Sunpaw. Tell me all about it tomorrow. Bye, love."
Dawnleaf stretched up her neck to touch their noses again. She looked just a little disappointed that her mate was leaving so quickly. "Sleep well."
As soon as Smokefur was out into the camp, nearly dark now, Brightstar and deputy Waterpelt called him over with a flick of their tails. He trotted to where they stood in the shade of the Highledge.
"Smokefur, did you happen to smell anything strange while you were out hunting by the ShadowClan border?" Brightstar asked.
"I didn't," Smokefur said slowly. "Why?"
"Leafstar issued another threat. Says if we don't give her the stream she'll start attacking our border patrols."
"That's concerning. But didn't she already? She had a patrol kill one of ours just last moon."
"That's what I'm thinking," Brightstar growled. "I'm anxious. Hopefully we can settle things at the Gathering tonight, because this can't go on. Not when leaf-fall sets in. Are you coming tonight?"
Smokefur flicked an ear. "Speckledwing told me I should stay home and rest. I cut my paw, see."
"Ah. Of course. That's a shame. But nice work today. It's been moons since everyone was this well fed."
Smokefur smiled a tiny smile. "Thank you."
He retreated to the warriors' den. He was looking forward to the Clan leaving because he liked the peace and quiet and he really was tired after hunting for so long. But the appraisal felt nice, and seeing Dawnleaf so well fed and smiling was what fueled him. He curled up and closed his eyes, listening to the soft sounds of the Clan assembling for the Gathering. His peaceful trance was interrupted by the sound of a cat crashing into the warriors den. Smokefur's eyes flew open to see Robinpaw, one of the apprentices, staggering to his feet, face red with embaressment.
"You're not allowed in here," Smokefur growled.
"Sorry. Yep. Sorry. I just was…I got lost."
"Go make yourself useful."
"Yep." Tripping over himself, Robinpaw scrambled out of the den.
Robinpaw was a poor apprentice. He did badly in training, could barely hunt, wasn't coordinated enough to become proficient at battle moves. Often the Clan spoke ill of him behind his back, even his mentor, Windfang. He had difficulty making friends except for Sunpaw, for reasons beyond Smokefur; the two were very close pals.
Smokefur got a wink of sleep, and then woke up by choice after the Clan had left for the Gathering a good while ago. The camp was silver in moonlight and empty except for Rednose, a young tom guarding the camp and yawning sleepily.
"Can't sleep," Smokefur mewed softly as he left the camp, and Rednose just nodded.
It was a brisk, cool walk to ShadowClan territory. The forest was always especially quiet when the Clans were all at the island for the Gathering, and Smokefur was completely silent. He hopped over the stream into ShadowClan's territory, strolling along the border closer to the lake. From behind a tree a she-cat emerged, small and sandy brown. She looked back and forth and then stepped up to him, traced her nose along the side of his face.
"Nightwind," she whispered. "I missed you."
Smokefur purred deep in chest and wrapped his body around hers. "You look nice, Sandfrost."
"As do you, like always," the ShadowClan cat giggled, gleaming in the moonlight. "I was waiting a while."
"An apprentice crashed into my den, delaying my nap."
"Ugh." Sandfrost swished her tail. "You wanna walk? The lake is so beautiful right now, and it's so warm."
"Maybe…" they strolled slowly through the trees of ShadowClan territory, their bodies pressed together.
"How are things in ThunderClan?" she asked softly.
"The same. I'd say we're flourishing. Lots of fresh-kill."
"Yeah? Any new kits?"
"Nope." Smokefur gently touched the top of her forehead. "And no pregnant queens, either. But the time will come."
"I bet you're looking at all the ThunderClan she-cats," she teased. "When you don't get to see me. There's not anybody too cute, right?"
"Nobody," Smokefur smiled. "Only you, Sandfrost. Let's stop here. I'd rather not walk too close to the lake."
They stopped. They found a hollow in the ground and lay side by side in the grass, gazing up toward Silverpelt. "How is ShadowClan?" he mused.
"We're…this and that. Leafstar is so annoying. She gets mad at everyone for anything. If I so much as let a mouse get away, she gets on my tail for it."
"Oh yes, Leafstar. The whole forest's talking about her."
"I miss Barkstar. I know I was just a kit when he was leader, but Leafstar's just…unbearable."
"How many lives would you guess she's got left?"
"Seven? She mentioned it, once. But maybe she's lost more since then."
"When did she mention it?"
"A moon ago?"
"Ah."
"She always talks about wanting to attack ThunderClan. Because our borders are so close, right. And when she does I always think about you and I get so worried."
"You don't need to worry about me," Smokefur purred.
"But I do, Nightwind. I think about you and I miss you."
He licked the top of her forehead. "Does she have any concrete plans?"
"Something this moon. She wants to take out your border patrols. To send a message, and if you guys don't give her some territory she'll wage full war."
"She killed a warrior of ours last moon," Smokefur said darkly. "A young cat, marking the border. That was message enough. She needs to back off."
"Well maybe you should try talking to her yourself," Sandfrost grumbled, flipping onto her stomach. "I like this, Nightwind. I love seeing you. There's nobody like you in ShadowClan."
"I should hope not," Smokefur chuckled. She leaned forward to touch their noses together, whiskers twitching. "What does Leafstar do most of the day?"
"She loves taking long, long patrols with her best warriors. All day, everyday. She never lets younger warriors like me go, though."
"So she doesn't spend too much time alone?"
"She spends forever making dirt at moonhigh, hahaha. Behind her den. Bet it smells like a stinkhole over there."
"She killed one of our own," Smokefur said quietly, closing his eyes. Sandfrost curled next to him. "She killed a ThunderClan warrior."
Sandfrost was too content to say anything, too in love with Smokefur to bother censoring her words. Her eyes were sparkling as she gazed at him. Smokefur spent the night with her, murmuring together as the moon followed its path across the starry sky. He wondered about the Gathering, remembering the one time in his life he'd ever gone. He roused himself from Sandfrost's warm side before dawn interrupted the stars, nuzzled her goodbye. She clung to him, her eyes wistful and longing. He promised to see her again, and then trotted back into ThunderClan and sprinted back to his den, crashing in similarly to how Robinpaw had that evening.
Brightstar, heading her Clan as they returned from the Gathering, immediately called a Clan meeting, rousing any sleeping cats from their dens. Smokefur walked into the camp, yawning and stretching as if he'd been asleep. Brightstar's voice was full of urgency and there was fear in the faces of the cats who'd attended the Gathering. Dawnleaf anxiously ran to Smokefur's side and he curled protectively around her.
"Leafstar has told us she will be wiping out all of our border patrols if she sees them along the border," Brightstar announced grimly. "She wants to push the ShadowClan border deep into our territory. ThunderClan will not stand for this. Our territory is ours, our Clan is large and we need our hunting grounds to sustain ourselves. From now on, patrols will be twice as large and twice as frequent. Apprentices will be trained in battle only for the time being. Defending our border is our top priority. We are strong, healthy, and many. There is no reason we should fear ShadowClan and Leafstar's poor judgment."
"What is wrong with her?" Yowled Amberwind, a reddish warrior. "Ever since she became leader, Leafstar's been nothing but trouble. All she does is steal territory and kill warriors without reason."
"The death she caused last month was devastating, yes," Brightstar agreed, trying to calm down the throng before Amberwind got them too worked up. "But we will not let her do the same to anyone else."
"But she's so young, she'll be ShadowClan leader for moons!" Skyfeather, a queen, shrieked. "That means we'll have to be dealing with her crimes for a long, long time! How is that fair?"
"The best way of resolving this is with calm and reason," Brightstar said. "We are cats with integrity, we will not become barbaric the way Leafstar is. I trust StarClan will guide our path and protect us."
The Clan was not soothed, but there was nothing else to discuss. Smokefur calmed Dawnleaf, who was whimpering anxiously into his fur. "It'll be okay," he whispered into her pretty triangular ears. "I'll be here to protect you. Nothing will ever happen to you."
The following day Smokefur woke early, hunted for the Clan, staying away from the ShadowClan border, which was crawling with ThunderClan patrols. He brought back several kills, making sure the ThunderClan cats saw him doing so. At sunset he returned to the forest and started the hunt.
There were the deathberries, of course. Hanging on their bush closer to the WindClan border. But Smokefur knew they would be too far to carry. Too much. No, no…
He sharpened his claws on a tree. Sharp as he could get them. Alone in the forest, he traveled in complete silence, scrounging over the moss and the brambles and the soft green grass. He was running the words Sandfrost had told him during their night together over and over in his mind. Deathberries wouldn't work, his claws weren't enough.
Smokefur found his answer after nearly tripping over the protuberant roots of an oak tree. He doubled back, nose to the ground, and explored the roots, the way they traveled over the ground before disappearing into it and splintering off smaller and smaller. He located one of the longest, thinnest roots he could, tore it free, and buried it under the tree. He sat beside it and waited still and silent for moonhigh.
The forest quieted. Night had a way of doing that. Cats, as silent as they were, still were quite noisy when they trampled through the forest together. Smokefur loved silence above anything. He closed his eyes to savor it for a minute. It was a tradition of his to feel the complete and total peace of silence before taking any action. As the moon rose, he calmly dug the root out, located a patch of foxdung to roll in and mask his ThunderClan sent and, silent and swift, he paced straight for ShadowClan territory.
There was a ShadowClan patrol near the stream. They were noisy. The vast majority of Clan cats hadn't discovered the true tool silence was like Smokefur had. He figured he could be the scrawniest, weakest, poorest fighter in the forest and still always have the upper hand with his ability to utilize silence. He whisked past right under their noses and nobody twitched a whisker.
The root was a bit of a problem. It dragged on the ground, it swatted at trees, it wrapped around bushes and branches. Smokefur had to move slower than he would have liked. But he did not stop. He barely became breathless all the way to the ShadowClan camp.
It wasn't the first time he'd been here. Smokefur had been everywhere. Nothing was new to him, nothing was undiscovered. He knew the mossy log that rested outside the camp, behind the leader's den. It sat in its long-time spot underneath a small oak tree with long, low-hanging branches.
He climbed the tree. It was mossy and the bark was rough, so it was almost too easy. He tied one end of the root around one of the low branches with his teeth and hopped back down to the forest floor. Holding the other end of the root softly in his teeth, Smokefur lay behind the mossy log and waited for a long time.
Like Sandfrost's big, naive mouth had exposed last night, as soon as the moon was highest in the sky, the thickets rustled and there was Leafstar, reeking of ShadowClan and fresh-kill, mumbling to herself as she scrounged behind the camp, preparing to make dirt.
Smokefur hopped onto the log. Leafstar's back was to him, scratching around on the ground. He snuck closer. "Leafstar," he said as softly as he could.
She whipped around. Standing right behind her, Smokefur immediately sprang onto her back, wrapping the root around her neck in the process. He pulled on it as hard as he could as Leafstar gasped and choked and struggled to speak, held still by the root laced around her neck as if it was a collar and leash.
"Is there a reason," Smokefur said calmly, "To kill young ThunderClan warriors in cold blood?"
"Cold blood," Leafstar wheezed, so Smokefur pulled even tighter until she couldn't speak.
"Your territory is yours," he said. "And ours is ours. ThunderClan blood will not be shed because of your incompetence." He leaned closer to her face. "I'm here to protect my Clan, Leafstar. I am Nightwind, and I am the most dangerous cat in the forest."
Leafstar's body shook and went limp as she lost a life, and Smokefur knew now was his chance. Clinging to the end of the root, he scrambled back into the tree and tied the other end beside the first, pulling as hard as he could to hoist her body off the ground. She was beyond heavy, heavier than he'd anticipated, and she was already awakening into her next life by the time he'd managed to tie the root. She shook and gurgled and flailed, but there was nothing around her she could reach. Smokefur leaped out of the tree and moved into her eye line.
"I think StarClan will find seven lives don't matter so much if they can't untie you hanging from a tree."
There was a noise, a noise other than the sound of Leafstar asphyxiating to death over and over again. Smokefur looked past her hanging body. There was a cat's eyes watching him, shocked and enormous, from the thickets several tail lengths away. It was Robinpaw, that reckless apprentice who'd interrupted Smokefur's nap yesterday. He noisily kicked dead leaves into the air in his haste to spin around and leave.
Robinpaw ran.
Leafstar choked.
Smokefur left.