New story idea, what If Tigerclaw succeeded in becoming the leader of ThunderClan and banished Fireheart, Graystripe and Cloudpaw. What if Fireheart and Cloudpaw were more connected to the Clans then what they first believed and what if Fireheart's mother knew secrets about the Clans that could change the lives of all the Clans.
Disclaimer: I don't own warriors or any of the characters in the series except my own original characters.
Prologue
A brown and white tabby padded slowly through the forest, pausing every few minutes to take in the air around her. She was currently on a solo hunt, but was keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. There had been plenty of disappearances that had occurred recently and she was keeping an eye out incase whatever had taken her clanmates tried to take her as well. She sniff along the shrubs and caught the scent of a vole. Being as silent as possible she focused all her attention onto catching the vole.
A grave mistake, as she leaped to end the vole's life, she became caught in strange looking vines that clung to her claws as she tried to wriggle from them. She froze from her struggles as she made out the gruff voice of a twoleg. She realized with a jolt that this twoleg had trapped her and renewed her struggles to escape. She was soon put into a monster in a strange nest that prevented her from escaping. Not long later she was soon taken to a large twoleg nest that had cats filled in the strange nest. She hissed, spat and fought with all her fury as a twoleg grabbed her from the nest she was in and was put into a different, nest. She growled as the twoleg stuck its hand in to put in foul smelling pellets and flat looking water into her nest.
"You must calm down or you'll end up like the others." A voice meowed in the nest beside her.
"What do you mean?" she hissed back quietly. Wishing she could see the other cat.
"This is a place that twolegs bring cats so that they can become kittypets." The voice of another cat meowed. The she-cat growled in anger.
"I don't want to be a kittypet and I won't let them turn me into one." She hissed fiercely.
"Then you will end up like the others." The first cat meowed again solemnly. The she-cat blinked in confusion.
"What happen to the others?" she meowed quietly.
"They were killed by the twolegs for not submitting and becoming kittypets, they called themselves warriors or something." The second cat voiced again. The she-cat blinked in horror.
"They're going to kill me? Why I've never done anything to them and I was happy where I was." She meowed
"They won't harm you if you submit and be friendly it's the only way you'll survive." The second cat again. The she-cat closed her eyes and swallowed her prided knowing it was the only way she would live to see the sun.
Not long later the she-cat sat gazing at the moon with a large ginger tom slumbering beside her. 'I never would have guessed that any of my Clan mates survived that horrid place.' She thought as she looked down at the ginger tom, before looking at her own swollen belly full of kits. 'I hope at least one of my kits finds happiness outside this twoleg nest. '
Chapter 1
He had done it, he killed Bluestar, and he would now be the leader of ThunderClan. Fireheart looked on in helplessness and anger that he hadn't been present to save Bluestar.
The ginger warrior had let Cloudpaw take his assessment near Sunningrocks and had returned to find the camp in near ruins, his Clan mates injured and his leader dead. 'What will become of us now that he is the leader' he thought bitterly as he looked up at the dark tabby warrior addressing the Clan. Their leaders body already sent off to buried.
"I will go to receive my nine lives tonight and I will leave Darkstripe in charge until I return." Tigerclaw meowed from his position at the high rock. Fireheart glanced over at Graystripe who seemed to be sending worried glances at the nursery. 'He has every right to be worried.' He thought before standing and padding over to stand beside his friend. Graystripe looked at Fireheart with eyes full hopelessness in his gaze.
"What will I do Fireheart? What if Tigerclaw gives up my kits? He won't fight for them like Bluestar did, he just won't." Fireheart touched his tail on his friends shoulder.
"We will figure out something." Fireheart meowed soothingly to his friend. As he watched Tigerclaw disappear through the camp entrance. Fireheart glanced around and watched the other cats go back to their duties before Tigerclaw's announcement. Fireheart nudged Graystripe.
"Let's go for a hunt and try to take our mind off it all." He meowed as he headed for the gorse tunnel they were heading through the tunnel when they were stopped by Darkstripe who sneered at the two as he approached.
"Where do you think the two of you are going?" he hissed angrily looking back and forth between the two. Fireheart held Darkstripe's stare as he answered.
"We were going out to hunt, the fresh-kill pile looks a little low and we thought we'd help replenish it." Fireheart meowed evenly. Darkstripe snorted before dismissing the two, and padding off to see to other matters. Graystripe sniffed in contempt as he watched the dark warrior pad away.
"He acts as if he's clan deputy." Graystripe hissed under his breath as he watched him pad away before pushing through the gorse tunnel.
"Don't forget Tigerclaw's the leader now for all we know he will be the new deputy." Fireheart growled in frustration. The two bounded off doing their best to hunt to take their mind off things to come. They had brought back a substantial amount of prey for the fresh-kill pile and picked out a few pieces of prey for themselves before heading to their nest to sleep. Fireheart brushed his pelt against Graystripe's as he curled into his nest and fell into a restless sleep.
~Fireheart was curled up his nest, when he felt a paw gently prod his side. He opened his eyes to see a dark tortoiseshell coat and two amber eyes looking at him. Fireheart was on his paws at once, standing about a tail-length from where Spottedleaf was sitting. He looked at Spottedleaf with mixed feelings in his heart.
"How could you let this happen?" he croaked. Spottedleaf looked at him with eyes filled with pain.
"There is nothing that could have been done to stop It" She mewed sadly. Fireheart shook his head.
"There is much more that could have been done. You could have warned her." He spat angrily. Spottedleaf didn't flinch, but the pain and sorrow in her eyes increased.
"StarClan's power is limited; there is only so much we can do." She meowed. Fireheart lashed his tail in anger. Spottedleaf rose to her paws and padded over to Fireheart to place her muzzle gently on his head. "If we could we would have stopped it." She meowed softly.
"There are more important things to be focused on." A new voice spoke up. Fireheart looked behind Spottedleaf and saw a pale gray tom with white patches gazing at him.
"Yes he is right; I've come to tell you that what will happen is meant to happen." Fireheart gave her an incredulous look.
"Bluestar meant to die?" Fireheart shook his head. "No I refuse to believe that's true."
"You must believe it, and trust what I tell you now." She meowed fiercely at him. "I don't have much time left, but you need to know that your journey has just begun." She began to fade away along with the mysterious tom.
"Fire will burn in the sky and scorch the roaring tiger." Echoed Spottedleaf's voice
Fireheart was nudged awake by Sandstorm who was looking at him expectantly. He yawned a little before looking up into Sandstorm's face. The sweet scent of Spottedleaf hung in the air.
"Morning, Sandstorm what is it?" he mewled quietly, shaking himself to rid his mind of the strange dream.
"Tigerstar is back from the moonstone and is calling a meeting." She mewled back quietly. Fireheart felt his blood turned cold in horror, he gave Sandstorm a nod before following her out onto the clearing where other cats were gathering. He spotted Graystripe sitting close to the nursery entrance and moved to sit beside him. He noticed with a hint of dread that Tigerstar seemed to be looking in his direction.
"Cats of ThunderClan, I have received my nine lives and I'm now ready to take my place as leader of my Clan. As my first order of business I name Darkstripe as my deputy." The cats gave Darkstripe praise and congratulations. Fireheart and Graystripe stayed silent. 'Like that's a big surprise' Fireheart thought sarcastically. Tigerstar waited for the cats to quiet down before speaking again.
"And now I plan to give proper punishment where it is due." Fireheart could feel the fur along his spine begin to rise slowly, as Tigerstar stared directly at him as he spoke.
"I feel Bluestar didn't punish two of our warriors the proper way, they have both broken the warrior code and they weren't properly punished." He meowed in a cool voice. Fireheart pressed his pelt against Graystripe's and could sense the horror from his friend that he felt.
"And it is for that reason that I must take action" Tigerstar continued. "Fireheart and Graystripe you are both banished." The Clan looked up at Tigerstar in shock, Fireheart felt a little numb, with Graystripe looking grief stricken.
"You can't do that they're good warriors they obey the warrior code." meowed Cinderpaw. A few warriors agreed with her words and Fireheart felt a warm feeling overcome him from hearing her words. Tigerstar narrowed his eyes at her.
"Do you think that feeding an enemy Clan or having a relationship with an enemy warrior is following the warrior code? Because I don't, real warriors wouldn't do what they've done." He growled lowly, Fireheart noticed that Tigerstar's little gang of followers backed up his words. Cloudpaw glared fiercely at the dark tabby tom.
"Bluestar already punished them; it's not fair for you to punish them again." Cloudpaw hissed. Tigerstar fixed his gaze on the white apprentice.
"I can and I will, and you are to be banished as well, Bluestar made a mistake letting Fireheart come here and I won't make the same mistake." Tigerstar growled at Cloudpaw. The Clan once more was stunned. Cloudpaw stared at Tigerstar in disbelief.
"You can't do that." Cinderpaw yowled.
"My word is law and I say their banished, and they will leave now if they know what's good for them." Tigerstar hissed. Fireheart glared defiantly at Tigerstar, before glancing around at his Clan mates. Some cats wouldn't meet his eye, some looked sympathetic or sad, and the rest were glares and looks of glee. Cinderpaw came over to him muttering in his ear.
"I'll come with you." she mewled quietly. Fireheart shook his head.
"The Clan needs you and so does Yellowfang, take care of her." Fireheart meowed solemnly, taking a moment to glance at the old medicine cat. Yellowfang stared unblinkingly back at him. Fireheart thought he may of seen her give him a little nod. Cinderpaw nodded her eyes filled with overwhelming grief. Fireheart could see Brightpaw looking at Cloudpaw with a look of sadness on her face. He tried to look at Sandstorm but she won't meet his eyes. He turned and saw that Graystripe had his eyes on the nursery with a longing look on his face. Fireheart realized with a jolt. 'his kits, what about his kits?' he thought briefly, but before he could say anything Tigerstar , Darkstripe, Longtail, Dustpelt and Swiftpaw began to advance on the three banished cats, forcing them to head out the tunnel.
Once they had reached the other side they paused to decide a plan of action.
"What now? where do we go?" asked Cloudpaw looking up into Fireheart's eyes. Fireheart sighed before padding off.
"I'm not sure myself." He meowed and glanced over at Graystripe whose eyes were clouded over in sorrow. "I don't really want to leave the territory."
"I wonder what Princess will think of this?" thought Cloudpaw. Fireheart paused for a moment and then began to stride purposefully toward the twolegplace. Cloudpaw picked up his pace to keep up with Fireheart and Graystripe blinked at Fireheart slowly in confusion.
"I'm going to see if Princess can find someone to look after Graystripes kits." He meowed Graystripe's eyes seemed to brighten as he looked at Fireheart.
"Do you really think so Fireheart? You think she could help?" asked Graystripe with a hopeful look on his face. Fireheart glanced at Graystripe briefly, as he picked up his pace a little more.
"I don't know for sure, but if she can help us then we can make plans to get your kits from ThunderClan." Fireheart replied keeping his brisk pace. Graystripe nodded his head racing to keep up with his friend, with Cloudpaw at his heels.
They reached Princess' garden before long and waited patiently for the tabby and white she cat to emerge from her twoleg nest. It wasn't long before Fireheart saw the familiar head of his sister poke out of the nest, as she came through the flap in the door. Her eyes brightened at the sight of her brother and her son and she quickly went over to greet them.
"Fireheart, Cloudpaw it's so good to see you. Who is your friend?" she asked giving a friendly look at Graystripe who seemed a little shy about being in Princess's garden.
"This is Graystripe, he's my friend I told you about." Princess purred softly giving Graystripe a friendly greeting before coming to stand by her son.
"How are you all doing in the Clan?" she asked softly between giving Cloudpaw brisk licks on his ears. Cloudpaw seemed to lean into his mother inviting the comfort that she was giving him. Fireheart gave his sister a sad weary look.
"We have been banished from the Clan." He meowed softly. Princess looked at him in alarm.
"Why would they banish you? What has happened?" she asked with great concern. Fireheart sighed before answering.
"Bluestar has died, and Tigerstar has replaced her as the leader of ThunderClan, he has never liked me or Cloudpaw and has a distain for Graystripe after he took a mate outside of ThunderClan, which is against the warrior code, he used past mistakes that Graystripe and I made to have us banished and Cloudpaw was banished simply because he was my kin." Fireheart meowed sadly.
"That's terrible, how could he do such a thing?" Princess meowed.
"It gets worse, Graystripe's mate, Silverstream, died giving birth to their kits, a ThunderClan queen was taking care of them after she had passed away and Silverstream's Clan wanted those kits to be in their own Clan." Fireheart paused briefly before continuing.
"Bluestar had been trying to decide whether or not to keep the kits. We are worried about what will happen to them." Fireheart finished, Princess looked a little confused
"If their being taken care of by a ThunderClan queen then why are you so worried for their safety?" she asked
"The Clan have had mixed feelings for the kits since their not all ThunderClan, and the queen whose is raising them already has two kits of her own and the father of her kits is Tigerstar himself." Fireheart growled softly. Princess had begun to share the look of worry that Graystripe had earlier.
"I may be able to help." Princess meowed finally. Fireheart blinked in surprise and Graystripe's hopeful look was restored.
"Princess, you know someone who can take in the kits?" asked Fireheart hopefully.
"Not me personally, but our mother knows a she-cat who gave birth to a single kit not too long ago." Princess meowed. Fireheart's eyes widened
"You've seen our mother? How is she?" Princess purred softly at Fireheart's eager questions.
"Yes I've seen her and she is well, she is starting to look a little thin for a housecat, but she is well." Princess answered softly. "I've told her all about you and how you've taken to Clan life. She always told me that she is proud of you and Cloudpaw." Cloudpaw seemed to brighten considerably and Fireheart looked surprised.
"You mean she isn't worried about us? Or upset with us for joining ThunderClan?" he asked in surprise. Princess shook her head.
"No she was beyond thrilled; I even remember her saying once that she hoped that one of us would find happiness outside the nest of a Twoleg." Fireheart felt even more surprised. Graystripe who had been sitting around watching the encounter padded up to Fireheart nudging his friend lightly.
"You okay Fireheart?" he asked looking closely at his friend. Fireheart nodded briefly before turning his attention to Princess.
"Can you take us to our mother?" he asked Princess "The sooner we speak to this queen about Graystripe's kits the better." Princess nodded in agreement.
"Of course, follow me." She meowed before leaping on to a fence that led further into the twolegplace. Fireheart followed right behind her, with Cloudpaw leaping up behind him and Graystripe bring up the rear.
They hadn't gone too far into the twolegplace, when they spotted a tall twoleg nest, with a wide garden and plenty of grass, bushes and shrubs that covered the ground, there was a pond that was two foxlengths long and one foxlength wide that had a small cascade waterfall. There were a few trees in the garden, with trunks big enough for a cat or two to hide behind. There was also a den that was created by two large rocks sheltering a gap beneath an oak tree, but the most surprising of all, was the scent of prey that hung in the air. Fireheart felt warmth overcome him from seeing the old garden and smelling the vegetation, it brought back memories of his kithood before he was given his own twolegs.
"Wow, this place looks like a little forest; no wonder you didn't mind joining ThunderClan." Graystripe breathed as looked around taking in the new scents and smells. Cloudpaw too seemed surprise by the sight of the garden.
"Yeah it's incredible; I've never seen a garden like this." Cloudpaw meowed, as he looked around at the garden from his spot on the fence. Princess purred softly in amusement before hopping down into the garden. Fireheart leaped after her eager to see his mother, Cloudpaw leaped after Fireheart and quickly caught up with his mother, Graystripe sat around on the fence for a moment, he was a little unsure if he wanted to enter this new territory, but he got up the nerve to jump after his friend and his family.
They padded through the soft grass that covered the ground they walked on; Princess had taken the lead and was leading the group to a spot that she thought her mother might be lounging. She led the group over to a small boulder, which was currently being used by a tabby she-cat as a sunning rock. Princess purred loudly as she looked at the she-cat before calling out a greeting.
"Mother, I'm here and I've brought Rusty and Cloudpaw." She called out. The pretty she-cat looked up from her spot on the rock to face the visitors. A purr escaped the she-cat as she headed straight for Fireheart.
"Is it really you Rusty?" she asked softly as she approached. Fireheart nodded gently.
"Yes it's me but my name isn't Rusty anymore its-"The she-cat cut him off quickly.
"Fireheart, I know my little sparrow told me." Graystripe looked confused.
"Little sparrow?" he asked in confusion.
"My, special name for Princess, and who are you?" she meowed curiously, staring at him with sharp, hawk-like, eyes. Graystripe looked a little nervous before answering her softly.
"My name is Graystripe, I'm a warrior from ThunderClan" he mewled softly. The she-cat studied him for a moment before turning back to Fireheart." She purred softly
"What brings you here? I would have thought you had duties to perform." Fireheart looked away with a pained looked in his eyes. His mother gave him a worried look. "Fireheart, are you ok?"
"We have been banished" Fireheart meowed miserably. His mother looked on in shock turning to look at Graystripe and Cloudpaw who nodded in conformation.
"What happened?" she asked softly. Fireheart quickly began to explain what had occurred from the time he first joined ThunderClan all the way to Graystripe, Cloudpaw and His' banishment. Fireheart noticed his mother's eyes were a mixture of anger, sorrow and surprisingly relief.
"I never thought it would happen, but this is a sign that we were meant to go back." She meowed softly. Fireheart glanced at Graystripe who looked just as confused as he did. Cloudpaw leaned over to Princess and murmured quietly in her ear.
"She doesn't look that old, but I have a feeling her mind is gone." Princess swatted his ear with a disapproving look, though she too wore a look of confusion. Fireheart finally voiced what was on everyone's mind.
"Mother we can't go back to ThunderClan, we want to get Graystripe's kits but…" he trailed off as his mother began to laugh softly.
"I don't mean back to ThunderClan, I meant back to my birth Clan." She mrrowed with laughter. Now every cat wore identical looks of shock and confusion.
"Wait, you mean we're not kittypets?" asked Cloudpaw looking up at her with confusion and surprise. She purred softly and nodded.
"Yes you aren't kittypets, because I myself wasn't one, I was born to a clan." Everyone's eyes were wide with shock.
"But if we aren't kittypets, then what Clan do we belong to?" asked Fireheart
"The noblest Clan of them all, SkyClan"
~ Okay I know that last sentence isn't exactly true, but I kind of feel like every clan cat would feel that way about their respective clan.
Surprise, Surprise their SkyClan cats, now I know they really aren't but I decided I would use a Clan that was once present with the original four Clans, just to spice it up a bit. I've always wanted to do a story where Fireheart , Graystripe and Cloudpaw leave thunderclan and join a different clan that is actually the birth clan of Fireheart and Cloudpaw, but I never had any real motivation for them to leave.