Third draft of the introductory A/N. And counting, probably. Oh dear.
This is a Warriors fanfiction. It is a crossover that has been so totally re-imagined that at least eighty percent of the characters, storyline, and idea behind it belong solely to me, and so therefore I feel that I am putting it where it belongs. But yes, a tiny bit of this storyline may look familiar to you, and not just because this fanfic contains several canon warriors.
In this fanfiction, the Ancients are not canon. Well, not very canon, anyways. xP Fallen Leaves and the Moonpool Ancients may make quick cameos, but as far as anyone's concerned, the stick, Half Moon, and the rest of the Ancients subplot never happened. Sorry to anyone who'll miss them. Jayfeather and Lionblaze have not retained their powers in their original strength and form over the years; this will be explained in-depth as the story goes on. Another aspect of this story that has been changed from canon are the medicine cats with kits, the former-medicine-cat-apprentice leader, and the many, many half-Clan and former non-Clan cats. This will also be explained - I hope satisfactorily - so don't go completely insane on me about how I'm desecrating canon and the Code yet, please. :-)
I have added some characters' canon ancestry next to their names, for your benefit. Please don't use this information to start complaining about how mates are third cousins ninety times removed and incest is evil. No, incest is relative. Some of the youngsters who end up together will be second or third or even first cousins. I don't care, and you shouldn't either. They're cats. This is the first and last time I'll say it: don't bug me about this or we'll all regret it.
In case anyone wasn't clear on it, I'll say it again in the disclaimer:
The main plotline of this story is not copyright to me; this story is technically a crossover. Canon Warriors characters are not copyright to me. This is fanfiction; to be honest, nothing is really copyright to me. And I'm still spending all this time on it.
Happy reading. Be prepared to take your time getting through this; all of the chapters are at least five thousand words, and several have passed ten thousand. If I get the time I'll edit this A/N again with a list of monster chapters to look out for. Hopefully nobody will read it as "List of Chapters to Skip and or Skim", because that would make poor Kori sad.
With no further ado, I present you to the Allegiances. Allegiances, meet reader. Reader, meet Allegiances. Okay...go!
ThunderClan
Leader: Lionstar, elderly golden tabby tom with graying fur and a silver muzzle. Half WindClan. Former leader of New LionClan. {{canon character}} Apprentice, Otterpaw
Deputy: Olivefall, skinny gray tabby she-cat with yellow eyes. Former member of New LionClan. {{canon parents: Dustpelt (dcsd.) and Ferncloud (dcsd.); OC littermate of Foxleap and Icecloud }} Apprentice, Longpaw
Medicine Cat: Smokewisp, pale grey and white she-cat with one blue and one green eye. {{canon grandparents: Thornclaw (dcsd.) and Hazeltail (dcsd.) }}
Warriors:
Molewhisker, big cream-and-brown tom. Former member of New LionClan. {{canon character}} Apprentice, Weaselpaw
Sharpfang, large dark brown tom with dark golden eyes. Former member of New LionClan. {{canon parents: Foxleap and Blossomfall (dcsd.) }} Apprentice, Gracepaw
Flamestreak, ginger tabby tom with light blue eyes. Former member of New LionClan. {{canon parents: Foxleap and Blossomfall (dcsd.) }} Apprentice, Lavenderpaw
Auburnlight, reddish-gold she-cat with pale amber eyes. Former member of New LionClan. {{canon parents: Brackenfur (dcsd.) and Sorreltail (dcsd.) }} Apprentice, Foxpaw
Wolfpelt, dark silvery gray tom with golden eyes and a dark gray, almost black, backstripe. Former member of New LionClan. {{canon grandparents: Dustpelt (dcsd.) and Ferncloud (dcsd.) }}
Amberpelt, reddish-gold tom with light blue eyes. {{parents: Flamestreak and Auburnlight }}
Redfur, reddish ginger tabby tom with light blue eyes. {{parents: Flamestreak and Auburnlight }}
Granitestripe, reddish ginger tabby tom with light blue eyes. {{parents: Flamestreak and Auburnlight }}
Swiftflame, white she-cat with a golden tabby tail and dark amber eyes. Former loner.
Apprentices:
Foxpaw, red-pelted tom with greenish-yellow eyes. Half rogue. {{canon grandparents: Mousewhisker (dcsd.) and Icecloud (dcsd.) }}
Lavenderpaw, pinkish-gray she-cat with yellow eyes. Half rogue {{canon grandparents: Mousewhisker (dcsd.) and Icecloud (dcsd.) }}
Weaselpaw, ginger tabby tom with light blue eyes. {{parents: Flamestreak and Auburnlight }}
Gingerpaw, golden tabby she-cat with pale amber eyes. {{parents: Flamestreak and Auburnlight }}
Longpaw, skinny pale brown tabby tom with pale green eyes. Formerly of WindClan. {{canon great-grandparents: Onestar (dcsd.) and Whitetail (dcsd.) }}
Gracepaw, scruffy-furred brown tabby she-cat with dark amber eyes. Formerly a house cat.
Otterpaw, dark silvery gray tom with dark green eyes and faint dark gray tabby markings. {{canon great-grandparents: Dustpelt (dcsd.) and Ferncloud (dcsd.) }}
Queens and Kits
Lightwhisker, pale gray she-cat with blue eyes. Kits: Coldkit (gray and white tom) and Vinekit (pale gray tabby tom). {{canon parents: Mousewhisker (dcsd.) and Icecloud (dcsd.) }}
Elders
Jayfeather, extremely old gray tabby tom with blind blue eyes. Half WindClan. Former member of New LionClan. {{canon character}}
Foxleap, reddish tabby tom. {{canon character}}
ShadowClan
Leader: Snakestar, long-furred black tom with dark blue eyes. Formerly the medicine cat apprentice. Half loner. Former member of New BloodClan. Former member of New LionClan. {{canon grandparents: Smokefoot (dcsd.) and Snowbird (dcsd.) }} Apprentice, Ferretpaw
Deputy: Eagletalon, pale cream tabby tom with light blue eyes. Former member of New BloodClan. {{canon grandparents: Blackstar (dcsd.) and Tallpoppy (dcsd.); canon parents Crowfrost (dcsd.) and Olivenose (dcsd.) }}
Medicine Cat: Beetlefoot, solid gray tom with amber eyes. {{canon parents: Oakfur (dcsd.) and Ivytail (dcsd.) }}
Warriors:
Sunflight, golden-furred she-cat with amber eyes. Former member of New BloodClan. {{canon parents: Ferretflight (dcsd.) and Pinetail (dcsd.) }}
Finchcall, spotted brown tabby tom. Former member of New BloodClan.
Squirreltail, ginger and brown she-cat. Apprentice, Rockpaw.
Cindernose, pale gray tom. Former member of New BloodClan.
Grayfur, pale gray tabby she-cat. Former member of New BloodClan.
Yewleaf, mottled tabby tom with strange, very dark green eyes. Former member of New BloodClan. Apprentice, Pebblepaw.
Bramblethorn, brown tabby and white she-cat. Half house cat.
Wetwhisker, gray and silver tom with white whiskers.
Aspenfrost, fluffy dark gray she-cat with silver-tipped fur and a silver tail. Apprentice, Petalpaw.
Apprentices:
Ferretpaw, pale cream tabby tom with light blue eyes. {{parents: Eagletalon and Sunflight}}
Petalpaw, gray and white she-cat with blue eyes.
Pebblepaw, mottled gray tom.
Rockpaw, pale gray tom.
Queens and Kits:
Splashfoot, light brown she-cat with darker dapples and white paws. Kits: Asterkit (dark ginger tabby she-cat) and Quailkit (brown tabby and white she-cat)
Elders:
Scarpelt, gray-and-brown tom with blue eyes. Scars criss-cross his body. Former member of New BloodClan. {{canon parents: Ratscar and Applefur}}
Brightdawn, once-pretty mottled tortoiseshell she-cat with distinctive ginger dapples. {{canon parents: Kinkfur and Redwillow}}
Sparrowclaw, blind tabby tom. {{canon character}}
WindClan
Leader: Puffstar, small and fluffy brown and white she-cat. {{canon parents: Emberfoot (dcsd.) and Sedgewhisker (dcsd.) }} Apprentice, Cedarpaw.
Deputy: Leafpath, pale brown tabby tom. Half rogue.
Medicine Cat: Callflight, tiny white she-cat with light green eyes.
Warriors:
Blinkeye, gray tabby tom with squinting eyes.
Boldflight, dusty silver tom. Formerly a house cat.
Sea-eyes, dark golden tabby she-cat with bright blue eyes. Formerly of ShadowClan. {{canon parents: Ferretflight (dcsd.) and Pinetail (dcsd.) }}
Addertooth, light brown tabby tom with white paws and a pure white tail. {{canon grandparents: Leaftail (dcsd.) and Gorsetail (dcsd.)}}
Shimmertail, white she-cat. Half RiverClan.
Darkfur, dark brown and black tortoiseshell she-cat. Half RiverClan.
Whisperpath, light gray and white tom. Apprentice, Flowerpaw.
Skyheart, blue-gray she-cat with white paws and underbelly and missing right eye. Formerly a loner.
Tornear, long-haired dark brown tom.
Honeyfur, pale golden-furred she-cat.
Runningstorm, gray-brown tom with golden eyes and white underbelly.
Brooksong, striking silver she-cat with bright blue eyes. {{canon grandparents: Ferretflight (dcsd.) and Pinetail (dcsd.) }}
Apprentices:
Cedarpaw, sturdy brown tabby tom with amber eyes.
Buzzardpaw, brown tom with a tabby-striped tail and golden eyes.
Cloverpaw, golden tabby she-cat with green eyes. Half loner.
Flowerpaw, small golden tabby-and-white she-cat with amber eyes. Half loner.
Queens and Kits:
Fallenfeather, pretty tabby. Formerly a house cat.
Birdkit (tabby tom) and Flurrykit (gray, cream, and white tom) (Callflight's kits). Half loner.
Elders:
Beetail, golden tom with a distinctive black-striped fluffy tail. {{canon parents: Leaftail and Gorsetail}}
RiverClan
Leader: Mallowstar, very old light brown tabby tom. {{canon character}}
Deputy: Nightgaze, black and white she-cat.
Medicine Cat: Wingfur, mottled tortoiseshell tom with a white muzzle.
Warriors:
Cloudshade, long-furred gray and white tom. Former member of New BloodClan.
Harefoot, light brown tabby and silver tom with big blue eyes.
Dawneyes, ginger and white she-cat with uncommon golden eyes. Formerly a house cat.
Ebonyfoot, dull gray tom with black paws and tail. Formerly a rogue.
Marshclaw, sleek black tom.
Wolffang, gray-furred she-cat with pale blue eyes.
Swiftwind, dark tortoiseshell she-cat.
Brownheart, tall dark brown tom with blue eyes.
Frostspot, tiny white she-cat with yellow eyes. Half rogue.
Rainpool, dappled gray she-cat.
Heronflight, blue-gray and white tom.
Apprentices:
Swanpaw, sleek black she-cat with yellow eyes.
Kitepaw, fluffy black and silver spotted tom with yellowish-green eyes.
Creekpaw, brown tom with amber eyes. Formerly a loner.
Moonpaw, light silver she-cat with big blue eyes.
Queens and Kits:
Poolnose, blue-gray queen with a silver muzzle. Half house cat.
Elders:
Grasspelt, light brown tom. One of the oldest cats in the Clans; blind and almost totally deaf. {{canon character}}
Cats Outside of Clans
Brownie, fluffy dark brown tom. House cat.
Spots/Spotty, white she-cat with gray and brown dapples. House cat.
Chocolate, dark brown and white tom. House cat.
Plum, elderly tabby she-cat. House cat, formerly of ThunderClan. Former member of New LionClan.
Mousepelt, pale silvery gray tom with blue eyes. In hiding, formerly of ThunderClan. Thought to be dead. Former member of New LionClan. {{canon grandparents: Dustpelt (dcsd.) and Ferncloud (dcsd.) }}
Blacknose, rough-pelted dull black tom with pale yellow eyes. In exile, formerly of ThunderClan. Thought to have been a member of New BloodClan. Former member of New LionClan. {{canon parent: Starlingbone (dcsd.) }}
Warcall, long-furred black, golden tabby, and white she-cat with one yellow and one blue eye. In exile, formerly of ShadowClan. Former member of New BloodClan. {{canon parents: Ferretflight (dcsd.) and Pinetail (dcsd.) }}
Rockfang, dark brown tom with amber eyes. In exile, formerly of ShadowClan. Former member of New BloodClan.
Rapidstep, dark brown and black tom with golden eyes. In exile, formerly of ShadowClan. Former member of New BloodClan.
Furyclaw, dark gray she-cat with black stripes. In exile, formerly of ShadowClan. Former member of New BloodClan.
Crowtooth, dark gray tom with black stripes. In exile, formerly of ShadowClan. Former member of New BloodClan.
Skullstar/Darkstar, pitch black tom with ice-blue eyes. Half loner. Formerly of ShadowClan. Former leader of New BloodClan. {{canon parent: Dawnpelt}}
Prologue :: Twolegplace / Forest
"What are you doing here?" A snarl burst from behind a bush, and a fluffy brown tom came stalking out, his bristling fur making him appear to be even fluffier.
Two cats, who had been in the process of crossing the tom's lawn, turned to face him, tails and ears up, alert and ready in the event of an attack. The larger cat, a big tom, his fur a soft golden in the late leaf-fall harvest moon, was the first to relax. "That wouldn't happen to be you, Brownie, would it?" he mewed, peering at the average-sized tom, who he towered over by about a head.
The dark brown tom hesitated. "Depends on who's asking. Why do you want to know?" he asked, padding a little closer and allowing his fur to lie flat. His ears remained pinned to his head.
The big golden tom, whose name was Lionstar, glanced at the cat beside him. "Somebody told me to look for him," he replied, tail flicking nonchalantly.
"Who told you?" inquired the dark brown cat, ears now pricked up in interest.
"Someone whose name you probably wouldn't recognize. Does 'Jayfeather' mean anything to you?" When the house cat's face remained blank, Lionstar sighed and nodded. "I wouldn't expect it to. Is your mate around? ...I assume you are Brownie, that is correct, isn't it?"
Slowly, the house cat nodded. "Yes, that would be me, I suppose. I'll go see if Spotty's awake." He turned and darted away.
Lionstar looked at the cat next to him again. "Well, that went more smoothly than either of us expected, I suppose," he grunted.
The skinny gray tabby's ears flicked, her yellow eyes glinting shrewdly. "You haven't told him the important part yet," she pointed out. "He'll not be as helpful once you have."
"Hmm...you never know," Lionstar reminded his deputy, scratching his ear thoughtfully for a moment. The two cats sat together in silence for a while, until the she-cat, Olivefall, finally spoke.
"Did you think it was quite wise, leaving the Clan alone together?"
"It's important that we come and make sure everything goes smoothly, Olivefall," Lionstar reminded her. "I thought Jayfeather had driven that idea into both our heads quite firmly." The big tom's silver whiskers twitched.
"Well, yes, he certainly did that," muttered Olivefall, her whiskers twitching as well in spite of herself. "But still, how do you know that...oh, I don't know... What if ShadowClan attack?"
"Jayfeather is certain that they won't. I agree with him on this point, actually."
Olivefall's eyes narrowed. "Why?" The word hung in the thick silence for a moment.
"They have no leader, no deputy, no real voice of authority to follow at this time," Lionstar began. Olivefall interrupted him before he could say anything more.
"They have several voices of authority to follow," she pointed out sharply. "Cats who haven't been chased away or exiled by the rest of us, cats who, as we both know, were quite important members of New BloodClan." She paused and looked at Lionstar.
Lionstar's tail flicked again, and he slowly mewed, "That is true. But - I think you noticed that Jayfeather dashed out of camp in a mad frenzy earlier tonight?"
"After he'd finished driving the idea that we both had to come and make sure little Otterkit was safe with his relatives into our heads, yes, I do remember him doing that." A pause. "Where was he going?"
"Alert as always, Olivefall," Lionstar acknowledged, dipping his head slightly to his deputy before continuing. "I am not quite sure, but from certain...information...I gathered from him, I believe he was heading to ShadowClan."
Olivefall's neck fur stood up. "Why?"
"To make sure their new leader was properly ready and on his way to the Moonpool."
Slowly Olivefall relaxed, but her eyes were still perplexed. "I know your brother's penchant for meddling in other Clans' affairs. StarClan knows, you do it too, and strangely enough nobody seems to mind. But who, in StarClan's name, would either of you want to be ShadowClan leader so badly that would cause Jayfeather to go tearing away into enemy territory as soon as possible?"
"Rather frankly, it was more who we didn't want to be leader that drove him at first. Obviously, Eagletalon is still in the Clan, and although he certainly isn't another Skullstar - " Olivefall flinched perceptibly " - he is most certainly one of the last cats anybody would want to have leading a Clan, let alone ShadowClan."
"So who did you two pick out?" Olivefall meowed a bit grumpily. "Somebody they'd like, I hope. ShadowClan hardly tolerate the meddling of you both as it is. If you go pick out, oh, I don't know, some random house cat, they'll be at war with us before you can blink."
"Jayfeather already had somebody in mind," Lionstar assured her. "Actually, as a matter of fact, we both had the same idea. Snakewhisker," he mewed in answer to her questioning glance.
Olivefall didn't react for a moment. She met her leader's gaze, then blinked slowly. "He's a medicine cat apprentice," she stated, then, as Lionstar started to interrupt, she held up her tail. "But you could have done much worse, in my mind. Why did you choose him?"
"As I said already, ShadowClan need someone they trust to lead them. And according to Jayfeather, we need somebody we trust to lead them. Well, that left only one cat for the job. Jayfeather doesn't think a medicine cat becoming leader will upset anybody - warriors can become medicine cats, medicine cat apprentices can switch back to being warriors, it shouldn't bother StarClan too much." He noticed Olivefall's slightly scandalized look, and added hurriedly, "Jayfeather's words, not mine."
"Very well," Olivefall mewed, stretching. "If the two of you think he can be trusted to not murder us in our sleep, I suppose I'll agree with you. I met the youngster once or twice back when he was still a 'paw. Typical ShadowClan cat, but not exceedingly evil, as far as I could tell. They say, however," she added, "that he was a member of New BloodClan."
"They say many things, Olivefall," Lionstar replied, his tail twitching.
"Yes, and some of the things they say are true, and some aren't. The bottom line is, though, can he be trusted?" Yet again, Olivefall's tail rose to stop her leader from answering. "You say that he can be. Very well. I believe you." She lowered her tail. For a moment her head tilted slightly to one side, as if she was curious about something, but she sighed and shook out her fur, as if shaking off the question.
"Mmm." Lionstar blinked slowly as the conversation lagged.
Olivefall broke the silence. "So. When d'you think Molewhisker will get here?"
"It may be a while yet," Lionstar meowed. "He'll have to disentangle poor Otterkit from his future Clanmates' concerned embraces, and that's no small job." The golden tabby stopped speaking and flicked his ears towards the Twoleg nest. "Brownie's coming back, and I think he's persuaded his mate to come out."
Olivefall turned and looked towards the nest with interest. Sure enough, two cats were stepping gingerly across the frosty grass towards Lionstar and herself.
"Poor little fellow," Amberlight mewed softly, grooming the top of the dark silver kit's head as she spoke. "Both parents dead, and about to be sent off to live with the house cats - I wonder how Lionstar can live with himself, I really do..."
"Heartleap and Otterstrike wanted to raise the two green-eyed kits away from the Clans anyway," mewed a tired-looking gray tom from the corner of the nursery. "Even if the threat of New BloodClan had been removed in some way, I think they wouldn't've brought Featherkit and Otterkit back. Can you imagine what life would have been like for those two here, where everyone would've heard about who one of them was, what one of them had the power to do... Not to mention that every cat would have tried to find out which one of them was the chosen one, not excluding the kits themselves." He sighed. "Believe me, Amberlight, I wish he was staying as much as you do. Perhaps even more. He's my kin - almost the only kin I have left now. But he has kin in Twolegplace as well. The house cats..." Wolfpelt trailed off, but took a deep breath and managed to finish. "The house cats will take care of him."
"Hmph. House cats," muttered Amberlight, eyes narrowing.
"If Lionstar thinks it's a good idea, I, for one, am with him." Molewhisker's voice resonated through the nursery as he spoke from the entrance. "I was his apprentice. I know him better than many of you do. He was part of a prophecy as well, or have you all forgotten? He and Jayfeather know what to do."
"I suppose you're right, Molewhisker," Flamestreak agreed slowly. He nudged his mate's shoulder. "Amberlight, we're going to have to let him go."
Amberlight sighed and looked down at the silver kit, his pelt next to Gingerkit's and Weaselkit's looking like smoke in a fire. "I know," she murmured.
"Best not put it off too long." Wolfpelt blinked once, golden eyes gleaming with unspoken thoughts. "Lionstar's waiting for you in Twolegplace, isn't he, Molewhisker?"
"Yes," Molewhisker mewed, pushing his broad shoulders through the nursery entrance with some difficulty. "I think I ought to take him now."
For a moment it looked as if Amberlight was going to challenge the senior warrior, but she closed her eyes slowly. "All right."
Ever so gently, Molewhisker crouched down and gripped Otterkit's scruff in his teeth. As he carried his precious burden slowly out of camp, silhouetted against the dusty glow of the fast-fading leaf-fall sunset, he felt the eyes of all the Clan on him. Even so, no cat moved to stop him or protest Otterkit's departure.
They were letting Otterkit go, certain that he would return one day to save them.
The two house cats were bristling, but the worst of their anger had passed. Lionstar breathed a barely audible sigh of relief. "So...you will take care of Otterkit...?" he inquired, almost - but not quite - tentatively. He wished Jayfeather had come instead of him. Olivefall had been helpful, though, almost as helpful as Jayfeather would have been under such circumstances, and for this the golden tom was grateful.
Brownie didn't answer, seeming to swell with rage, but Spots mewed curtly, "Yes. We will."
"Thank you," Lionstar mewed in enormous relief, dipping his head. "I'm sure Molewhisker will be here with him shortly."
The words were barely out of the ThunderClan leader's mouth when there was a patter of paws. A huge cat erupted out of the darkness, coming to a swift halt next to Lionstar.
Amazed - and probably more than a little frightened, Lionstar reflected wryly - the two house cats stared up at the big, thick-furred Molewhisker, who was even taller than his former mentor.
Paying the house cats no mind, Molewhisker crouched and gently set Otterkit down on the grass. "He's here," the warrior mewed, with an air of finality.
"Indeed," Olivefall observed, then turned her fang-sharp gaze on the house cats, who flinched slightly.
"Well," Lionstar mewed, nudging the gray kit, "he seems to be none the worse for wear."
"His cheek," the gray tabby deputy mewed flatly. "It's cut."
"Yes, yes. I don't think it was a cat's claws that did it - neither did Jayfeather. It was some Twoleg contraption - ah, what's the word - it's like ice, clear and sharp and cold - you can see through it - "
"Glass," Brownie grunted.
"Thank you. Glass," Lionstar meowed courteously. "That's what did it. Apparently...Heartleap broke through some, jumping out of the Twoleg nest, we really don't know for sure what happened, but..." The leader trailed off into a miserable silence. Brownie looked bored, while Spots shifted uncomfortably. Molewhisker snuffled into his oversized paw, and Olivefall turned her head to the side, blinking furiously.
"And nobody thought to take care of it?" the deputy asked suddenly, her head whipping back around to allow her to stare at Lionstar.
"It won't become infected. Jayfeather found the time to put some marigold on it before he left."
Olivefall muttered something about Smokemist and legends and Goosefeather and just plain crazy, but the rest of what she said wasn't decipherable.
"Yes, I expect Smokemist was under rather a lot of stress at the time," Lionstar meowed amiably, as he turned to Brownie and Spots, effectively tuning out his deputy. "Anyhow, here he is. Otterkit."
Brownie and Spots exchanged doubtful glances. Then, slowly, Spots reached out and tentatively lifted the silvery-gray kit in her jaws. She stepped back, stared wide-eyed at the Clan cats for a moment, then whirled and dashed back into the house. Brownie followed without looking at the three.
"Well, that's that," Olivefall mewed, her eyes following Spots and Otterkit until they entered the nest. "That is that."
"Indeed it is," Lionstar muttered, turning away from his deputy and former apprentice. "Do you mind if I take a longer route home? I would appreciate having some time to...mull things over."
"Of course we don't mind, Lionstar," Molewhisker answered immediately.
"We don't," affirmed Olivefall.
"Thank you, my friends." The golden tabby turned and padded up the small, silent Thunderpath slowly. "I shall be back in the Clan by sunhigh."
"We ought to make it before dawn if we hurry - it's just about midnight," Olivefall murmured to Molewhisker. "Come on."
The two ThunderClan warriors slipped away in the opposite direction, and the darkness slowly swallowed their retreating forms.
"Aaaah, ShadowClan territory markers," Olivefall mewed, letting out a gusty sigh of relief. "I never thought I'd see the day when I was glad to scent a ShadowClan territory marker, but here we are, and here it is."
"Yes, we'll definitely make it back to ThunderClan before dawn if we hurry," Molewhisker meowed in assent. Then he added, "We'd make better time if we cut through ShadowClan..."
Olivefall cast a half-reproachful, half-surprised and delighted look at her friend. "I'm not sure about that, Molewhisker," she muttered.
"Why not? I doubt they'll have patrols as usual, so we won't get caught," Molewhisker began, getting into his element as his deputy let him speak without interruption, "and they can hardly object to us crossing their territory when we're returning from an important mission that has bearings on the fate of all the Clans - "
"It was hardly that," Olivefall grumbled, but she looked faintly interested. "Go on."
"Well, all I was going to say was that, I honestly don't see them catching us. And if by any chance we were caught, I'm sure they'd let us go."
Olivefall's furry brow creased in thought for a moment. Then she decided quickly. "Okay, let's go, Molewhisker."
"Wha'?" His face was a picture of comedic shock.
"Let's go." The deputy pointed with her tail. "Through ShadowClan territory."
"Really?"
"It was your idea, wasn't it? Come on."
As the two cats trekked across the unfamiliar territory, the sky lightened to gray. A single bird started to sing overhead - probably one of the last songbirds left in any of the territories, Olivefall thought, as she felt the bite of the late leaf-fall wind. There was a flash of red to her right. Ah, that explained it - a cardinal. They never seemed to leave.
"It'll be strange back in camp," Molewhisker mumbled, half to himself, as they walked.
"I suppose you're right," Olivefall sighed. "Do we celebrate his apparent death, or do we mourn Heartleap, Otterstrike, and Featherkit? Do we do both?"
"The other Clans'll be celebrating, I expect," her companion reflected.
"The other Clans haven't lost Clanmates," Olivefall retorted in a harsher voice than she'd meant to. "Sorry, Molewhisker," she added hurriedly. "I didn't mean to snap at you." As they continued on, frost crackling as their paws left clear prints in it, she mewed reflectively, "You were right about the ShadowClan patrols, Molewhisker. I haven't seen hide nor hair of any living thing besides you and that bird... Apparently nobody's up and about so early."
"I wouldn't be so sure." Without a sound, a long-furred black tom stepped out of the shadows to Olivefall's left.
Molewhisker hissed in alarm. Olivefall winced and cast a glance in the direction of ThunderClan territory. She thought she could see a tree that marked the border. They had almost gotten there...
"Snakewhisker," she mewed, calming down a bit as she recognized the cat. She dipped her head slightly.
"Snakestar," he corrected icily, lifting his chin a bit.
"Of course," she responded, tail twitching. "My warrior and I were just on our way to ThunderClan territory. If you'll excuse us, now - "
Surprisingly, Snakestar stepped aside, hardly even glaring. Olivefall chanced a glance at him as she hurried towards her own territory. The new ShadowClan leader looked exhausted. With a bit of a pang, she remembered when Lionstar had come back to camp after receiving his nine lives, the night after the battle with the Dark Forest. He had been so tired he could barely stay awake long enough to name her deputy.
As soon as she and Molewhisker were safely on their own side of the border, Olivefall turned back to face Snakestar, who had followed them to the border. "I can explain our presence on your territory, of course - "
"No need," the ShadowClan tom cut her off again dismissively, eyes narrowed. "Jayfeather has already done so. As a matter of fact, I was rather expecting to find some ThunderClan strays on my territory."
Olivefall felt a spark of indignance, but she quelled it. Technically she had been the one in the wrong, much as it bothered her to admit that. "Well. I wish you the best of luck with your Clan, I'm sure." He was going to need it, she added to herself silently.
Snakestar nodded - not even having the decency for a proper thank-you - and turned. His black tail whisked once before he darted back into his own territory, silent as a shadow.
"Well!" Molewhisker murmured. "That was close."
"Yes, it was," Olivefall agreed. "Remind me never to listen to you again."
Molewhisker chuckled as they forged a path further into their territory. When they reached the camp, Jayfeather would be there. When they reached the camp, all would be made well.
As the Clans celebrated and mourned and rebuilt and adjusted, the fire of a new dawn began to burn on the mountains.