Hiya! This is my new Warriors story. LeafXCrow centered... kind of. Better than what I can tell ya! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors. Erin Hunter does. If I did, Honeyfern would have lived.
It was the dark of the night and a dark gray tom sat silhouetted against the white, almost-full moon. He stood, gazing up into the stars. Instead of shining brightly, comfortingly as they use to it, they glinted coldly at him. He could see his ancestors in those stars, and it seemed they were glaring down at him.
There was uncontrolled anger in the blue depths of the tom's eyes as he looked up at his ancestors. How could you do this to me? How could ruin everything I'd come to be? The smoky-furred tom seethed.
His mate and son—his only son as far as he was concerned—hated him. Or if they didn't hate him, they were unfathomably furious with him. As if it was his fault the stupid light brown tabby had lied and kept secrets and her daughter had brought them into the harsh, garish light.
He'd proven his loyalty over and over; just to have it knocked down by the words of the black she-cat who was apparently was his daughter. Her few words had shattered everything he'd worked for. And now he lived his life wondering what day would be his last in WindClan.
The light brown tabby padded into the forest alone, after sneaking out of camp using a secret way out. Her dainty white paws made almost no sound as they carried her almost out of instinct towards the Moonpool. She followed the stream up to the small round pool filled with water that reflected the inky black sky with shining white stars.
Her striped fur bristled in shock as she saw the shimmering figure of a StarClan warrior sitting before her. The cat's light blue eyes pierced hers and the soft-looking silver fur was tugged to the breeze.
"Feathertail!" the tabby meowed.
"Hello Leafpool," greeted the pretty she-cat.
"Why are you here?" Leafpool asked.
"I bring you a message, young warrior," Feathertail answered. "Destiny cannot be changed. When the feather falls into a pool, it can never float again."
"What?" asked the light-furred she-cat, confused by the former RiverClan cat's words.
"Think hard, Leafpool. You'll understand," the she-cat replied.
Before Leafpool could question further, the silver she-cat with bright blue eyes faded from sight, simply faded into nothingness.
The tabby leader padded out of his den, his paws feeling like stones. He didn't want to perform his next ceremony, yet he knew it had to be done. Before things got any worse. Before his warriors fought amongst themselves and chose sides. Before WindClan became divided.
The WindClan dashed and then leaped onto the top of the Tallrock. "Let all cats old enough to chase their own prey, gather beneath the Tallrock for a Clan meeting!"
All cats padded out, shadows slinking into the clearing. The dark gray tom hung near the back of the group, a feeling of nausea rising in his throat. This is it!
"All of you know Crowfeather," the amber-eyed tabby began. "And you know of his treachery."
The cat named Crowfeather bristled, his dark gray fur sticking out like porcupine quills.
"I fear it is for the best that he is sent into exile. There is no place for him here now, not without causing disputes," the leader continued. "I'm sorry Crowfeather. Here is your chance to say anything you need said before you leave."
Crowfeather stood, his head held high, chin out. "This is WindClan's loss. I wanted nothing to do with those kits. But if this is the way life must go, then so be it, Onestar."
Identical black cats, except the she-cat had amber eyes and the tom had green, stood.
"This is where treachery gets you, Crowfeather," the she-cat spat.
"Have a nice life as a rogue, father," the tom hissed.
"Good-bye Nightcloud and Breezepelt," Crowfeather bade them, a little pain showing in his words.
The black cats just lashed their tails angrily.
"If you are seen on our territory by the next sunset, we will treat you as any enemy," Onestar went on solemnly. "You were once a great warrior."
Crowfeather bowed his head and then turned away from his birth Clan.
"Good riddance," snarled Nightcloud venomously, pain at her mate's betrayal the center of her anger.
Breezepelt glared after his father, sorrow deep in his green gaze.
The dark gray tom dashed away from his former home. Blue eyes filled with fury and agony, the deputy's son sprinted away from the cats he had grown up with, fought side-by-side with, protected, defended and loved. His claws churned up soil and grass as he ran.
Crowfeather hardly realized he was running towards ThunderClan. Soon, he arrived at the slowly flowing stream where the border was. He stood, panting from the fierce run. A scent blew on the soft breeze.
He tensed in anger before diving into a bush.
A light brown tabby she-cat padded by on the other side, moving right past the formerly WindClan warrior's hiding spot. Right as the blue-eyed tom thought the coast was clear, the ThunderClan cat paused and turned back, scenting something.
"Crowfeather?" she called tentatively.
Reluctantly, the dark gray tom crawled out of his hiding bush. He stood directly across from her, the stream their only separation.
"What are you doing out here this late?" the little she-cat asked curiously.
"You and your stupid kits got me banished," snapped Crowfeather angrily.
Leafpool flinched then retorted, "They're your kits too!"
"I never wanted kits with you, Leafpool. I refuse to call them mine," spat the smoky tom.
"Well, you're their father whether you like it or not!" Leafpool bared her teeth. "I can't believe I even liked a stupid tom like you! Or thought you were worth running away for!"
It was Crowfeather's turn to flinch. "That was then Leafpool."
"And why can't it be now?" she asked, her voice quiet, her tone gentle again.
"Because I don't love you. I've moved on even if you haven't," he replied sharply.
"So what are you doing here?" snapped Leafpool. Her annoyed tone covered up the barbed pain in her heart.
Crowfeather looked down at his paws. "I…I don't know."
"Did you think you could come to ThunderClan safely?" she asked.
He looked up, his blue eyes sparking with annoyance. "Why would I want to be in a Clan with cats who can't obey the warrior code? Why would I want to be around you?"
Leafpool's amber eyes lit with fury, making them look fiery. "That's not fair Crowfeather and you know it! You broke the code just like me."
The dark gray tom looked back down at his paws, an act of reluctant agreement. "Still," he meowed. "I can't go to ThunderClan. That would just prove them right."
"Why do you care what they think?" Leafpool asked.
"You wouldn't understand Leafpool. You didn't have to claw your way back to your place just to slip back down," Crowfeather mewed, bitterness in his voice.
"What do you think I'm doing now?" Leafpool asked. "I'm a warrior now. And still, I'm not accepted."
"Why are you telling me this?" asked Crowfeather.
The almost black tom turned to walk away.
"Crowfeather!" cried Leafpool.
Crowfeather turned his head, looking over his shoulder at the little brown tabby.
"I love you," she murmured softly.
He nodded and kept walking.
The former WindClan tom didn't love the newly made ThunderClan warrior…. Right?
A/N: so whatcha think? Please leave a review! Constructive critism greatly appreciated! Flames used to make smores.
~Leopardheart