Okay, hi. This is my first Warriors story and the only idea I had that I really liked was a Ravenpaw x Barley story because I'm a sucker for my barn bois.
I don't own any of the characters because I'm not Erin Hunter but i have changed it a little. One of the major changes is that Barley in the books is around 2 years here but in my story, both he and Ravenpaw are 10 moons.
Rain beat down. You'll be safer out of the Clan, the orange tom had reassured him. Run away and you'll be safe. Run away and no harm will come to you. What a joke. Ravenpaw looked up at the black sky. No stars shone that night. He trudged on, the freezing rain pelting on his fur, flattening it and matting it down. He could barely move for the icy water that seeped into his fur, into his skin, into his bones. That night seemed to last for seasons on end.
The rain had stopped when he heard the barks. Harsh long calls that only the ugliest of creature could make. Dog. He jumped at the shrieks of mad animals. Skirting around the Twoleg nest, Ravenpaw ran past them as fast as he could. But it was too late. One of the dogs, the biggest, bit at the small cat's tail, making long trails of blood run along with him.
Of course, the adrenaline hit wore off quickly, leaving Ravenpaw in terrible shape. Wounded, depleted and weary, he set off at the same monotonous pace, slow and steady though he winced with every step. Ravenpaw began to shake with pain, all his cells screamed at him to sleep, to slow down, to stop. He couldn't. If he slept then, he'd bleed to death right there in the cold and wet. And then, whoevers territory he was in would have to wonder why an enemy warrior was dead in their land.
He reckoned it was Windclan, as the thick forest thinned into tall grasses and wide plains that stretched as far as the blackness would let him see. This place sent shivers down his spine. He wasn't welcome here and if he was caught, he'd be crowfood or worse. Of course, Windclan weren't here but Shadowclan might. However his heart flickered with hope. He had gone this way to the Moonstone, he was close to Barley's barn. Firepaw had told him to go here specifically, he'd told him Barley was a friend. That he could help him. The small Twoleg nest came closer with every step he took and with every step, he quickened. He was too close to fail now.
Now running towards the barn, Ravenpaw couldn't help but smile. So many weary hours. How long had it been to get here? The sky had lightened along with his thoughts and the moon had dipped low again, ready to disappear to give rise to the glorious sunshine. He raced between trees, leaping about like a kit. This place felt like home. It even smelt like he belonged here. This place was devoid of fear scent or perhaps he had lost his in the excitement. His short pelt had started to dry out but his tail wound was still open, bleeding openly with high risk of some nasty disease implanting itself there. He promised himself to get a cobweb for it or something. He wasn't going to throw away his chance here like he had in the Clan.
He found himself in front of the barn, suddenly nervous. What now? Did he knock? Did he ask to come in? Was Barley even here, and if he was, was he awake? Ravenpaw braced himself to get yelled at and slipped through the cat flap.
"Hello?" He called out, his high nervous voice echoing around the barn. He began to panic. Say Barley didn't like him, say Barley didn't want him here, s- Ravenpaw was caught off by a stout black and white cat with long shaggy fur and droopy ears, "What do you want?" Barley yelled at him harshly. Oh Starclan. Ravenpaw gulped and tried a weak smile "Oh I'm R-", he was caught off by Barley again, "I know who you are. You're a Clan cat. You have the smell in you." He wrinkled his nose humorously, so much so that Ravenpaw couldn't help but laugh. The black and white cat seemed less scary now, more like an equal.
"Why are you here?" Barley asked softly, his voice was low and quiet, like snow falling. It had a melodic tone to it too. Ravenpaw could listen to him talk for seasons and never get tired of its slow, lilting rhythm. "Long story short, I am dead to the Clans, quite literally." The dark tom's green eyes glistened, "And I've had to become a loner.". Nodding, Barley smiled,"Well, I could use some company. It might as well be you." His eyes brightened, they were a light yellow, less sharp that Greypaw's and deeper than anything he'd ever seen before. Like the sun's reflection on a river, Ravenpaw thought.
Barley got up and curled up in an empty piece of land. The ground was dusty and well-trodden and a strange swinging gate opened the place. Barley curled up in a hollow in the ground, lined with moss and feathers. Ravenpaw began to dig at the ground, finding it surprisingly soft. He grabbed some of Barley's moss and made his nest. Wearily, Ravenpaw lay down in his nest, his tired eyes closing before he could even say goodnight.