Summary: When two cats fallen into a forbidden romance, they decide to leave the Clans and find a new territory to raise their future kits. With the help of their two friends, SoulClan is born.


Prologue

The moon casted a silver silhouette across the lake. The water shimmered, splashing carelessly against the rocky, pebble shores. Thick muds met the shore, damp from recent rainfall, making them muddy and almost like quicksand. Pine trees littered the territory, making shadows cast across the pine needle covered ground. Few bushes scattered the territory, stone jutting up here and there from the ground. A dog howls from one of the Twolegged nests near the territory, making the gray she-cat twitch. The mud was different from her own territory, much thicker. it suctioned her down, making it hard for her to move. Having thick fur matted in the junk was no help either.

"Dear StarClan," she hissed, pulling a paw from the mud and flicking it around, "why does this territory have to be so disgusting."

She trudged along, slowly getting across the territory. She could see the familiar worn out Thunderpath in the short distance. She purred happily, speeding up a little more as the mud began to even itself out and become more sturdy.

"Well, well, well," a cat hissed suddenly, sulking out of the shadows in front of the she-cat, making her stop in her tracks, eyes going wide. The gray she-cat in front of her snickered, black feet barely even breaking the surface of the mud. Another cat joined her, white pelt glistening in the moonlight. "What do we have here? An intruder? RiverClan, perhaps?"

"I-I mean no harm," the gray tabby she-cat mewed, tucking her tail back, "I was just here looking for-"

"Looking for your little mate, hm?" The black footed she-cat hummed, eyes glowing in the moonlight. They tabby's eyes went wide and she swallowed thickly, taking another step back. The white she-cat started forward, a third cat, a small, brown tom, stepping out from the shadows as well. She was outnumbered and out skilled.

"How about," the tom purred, claws coming out, "we teach this little kitten fluff how warriors are?"

The tabby yowled out as the three cats launched themselves at her. She turned, trying her best to maneuver out of the thick mud, but the cats caught up to her quickly, the tom digging his claws into her shoulders. She hissed in pain, thrashing to try and get him off, only to fail as the white she-cat raked her claws down the tabby's side. She yowled once more, twisting to slash the cats nose.

"Willowshine!" A desperate howl came from the forest and the weight on her shoulders was lifted. Willowshine tumbled over, looking up to see the small tom battling a larger, dark brown tom. She took a deep breath when she realized who it was, and then turned back around, realizing that the two other she-cats were still present. The black footed one went to assist the small tom almost immediately while the white one stalked around Willowshine.

"Snowbird!" A shrill voice called out, and the white she-cat turned to see a mottled brown she-cat bounding towards her.

"Applefur, so glad for you to join us," Snowbird smirked, turning back to Willowshine, "now you can help me finish-"

Applefur tackled into Snowbird, pinning the she-cat down and slashed her cheek. Willowshine heard the white she-cat yowl in pain and found this as her chance to finally escape. She glanced back to the brown tom, who was now fighting with the black footed she-cat, the smaller tom gone. Willowshine made her way out of the muck slowly, finally getting her paws on solid ground before sprinting along. Her home got closer and closer with each paw step and before she knew it, she kept over the boarder, tumbling onto the other side. Her wounds burned and she hissed in pain, laying there for a moment as she tried to catch her breath.

"Horsetail," she hissed, pushing herself up and slowly walking deeper into her territory. She made her way towards the lake, the ground becoming more watery. The mud was thin, water soaking her paws, familiar land. She spotted the herb and bit some off, chewing it thoroughly before moving to apply it to the gash on her side, hissing at the stinging sensation. She did the same with her shoulders until all her wounds were cover.

Willowshine panted, hunching over, exhaustion seeping out from her. She had to return to camp. If anyone asked questions, she'd say she was attacked by ShadowClan while looking for herbs late at night. Mothwing would believe her, knowing that Willowshine had been going out a lot at night for the past moons, finding herbs. If only the older medicine cat knew the real meaning for her late night herb hunting.

"Oh, StarClan," Willowshine sighed, peering up to the stars that danced across the inky black sky, "what have we done. Who would have thought that ... that ...,"

"Willowshine?" A low voice came from beside her and she wiped her head around to see the form of a fluffy, gray-and-white tom walk out from the reeds. He padded up next to her, eyes widening at the sight of her wounds. "What happened? You look like you just got ran over by a monster!"

"ShadowClan," Willowshine murmured, looking over to the dense forest where she knew her mate was battling. He may be dead, or he may be in the middle of exile. Either way, Willowshine felt fear fun through her veins for the tom she loved. She hung her head with a shaking sigh.

"Those crow food eaters!" The tom yowled, lashing his tail, "I'd claw each of their ears off with my own two paws! The ones that hurt you are going to pay big time! Who were they, I'll go right now and-"

"Sneezepaw!" Willowshine broke him off, eyes wide as she looked at him, "You know why I was there."

Sneezepaw tilted his head and then his eyes flashed as he remembered what his friend told him moons ago when he was sick with greencough. Sneezepaw's eyes grew wide and he looked around as if to see if there was anyone around him. He leaned closer to Willowshine. "Is he dead?"

"I-I don't know," Willowshine replied, laying down on the marshy grounds. Thick clumps of mud from ShadowClan territory washed off of her pelt from the waters that lapped it. She twitched her nose, peering up to the stars again, begging StarClan that her mate was alright.

"I smell something," Sneezepaw hissed, standing up. His ears flicked forward, mouth open as he scented the ear. He hissed, claw unsheathing as he lowered into a crouch. "ShadowClan."

Willowshine stood up as well, standing next to Sneezepaw, her own claws digging into the ground. The reeds shuffled about as two cats emerged. The tom's green eyes were wide as he looked at the two in front of him before rushing to Willowshine, rubbing his muzzle against hers. Willowshine sighed, her claws retracting as she licked at a cut on his cheek.

"Toadfoot...," she murmured, stepping back to look at him. His side had a long gash on his and his cheek was scratched. One of his ears was torn in half and she could see his belly was matted with blood. She then looked to the other cat, Applerfur, whom had scratches down her belly and across her muzzle. "I have horsetail, let me fix you up."

"Willowshine, I came to talk," Toadfoot said as she began collecting horsetail.

"Then talk," she grumbled, picking the herb up and chewing it up.

Toadfoot's whiskers twitch with amusement and he then hissed when she applied the herbs to his wounds. "I want to leave. Leave the Clans so we can be happy."

"I can't leave them!" Willowshine gasped, taking a step back. Toadfoot took one towards her, eyes filled with hope.

"They have Mothwing. Please, Willowshine. Think about the kits."

"You're expecting?" Sneezepaw hissed, eyes wide. Willowshine glared to him, lips raised in a snarl.

"You may be my friend but that's none of your business."

"Willowshine, do you know what's going to happen if you raise them in RiverClan? If you raise them here?!"

"Mistystar will let them stay," Willowshine growled, "the warrior code says so."

"But they'll be ridiculed all their life! Half ShadowClan-half RiverClan? Not to mention, a medicine cat's! Do you not even remember what happened to Leafpool when-"

"I remember," Willowshine yowled, tail lashing angrily. Toadfoot ran his tail down her back, trying to calm her. She sighed, hanging her head. Applefur gave the two a sympathetic look as Sneezepaw paced about.

Willowshine dug her claws into the ground, looking at the mark they made. A sudden wind whipped at them and Willowshine looked up to see the leaves from the trees in ShadowClan blow over into RiverClan, the faint sound of frightened frogs and toads echoing in the night air. She whipped her head around, looking at the large lake, leaves washing up on shore, the moonlight making them shine as if they were made of silver.

"StarClan has sent a message," Willowshine mumbled, eyes wide.

"What? You mean that wind?" Applefur scoffed, licking her chest down.

"Yes, exactly that wind," Willowshine looked to Toadfoot, green eyes wide. She purred, touching her nose to his gently. "We leave tomorrow night. Met me at the Thunderpath at moonhigh."

"You mean us," Sneezepaw snorted, flicking his ears.

"Sneezepaw, you can't come, you're warrior ceremony is-"

"Is on hold," Sneezepaw smiled gently to his friend. Willowshine felt her heart soften for the tom whom she'd known since he was but a kit. She walked over to him, licking his ear in thanks. She turned to Toadfoot who smiled gently to her, nodding. Applefur flicked her tail.

"Come on," she said, nudging her brother with her shoulder, "we have to return. There's probably a patrol looking for us. Who knows what Blackstar has in mind for us."


Toadfoot trudged along the thick mud, grumbling as it stuck to his pelt, making it more matted then it had been before. Applefur walked in front of him, tail lashing back and forth. His sister had been by his side ever since Marshkit, their little brother, was attacked by a fox. He died before anyone found him, the little mouse-brain. Applefur was all he had. Tallpoppy, their mother, was an elder and close to joining StarClan, both of them could tell.

"Blackstar might make us into crow food," Applefur grumbled, ears twitching.

"Or he'll just exile us," Toadfoot suggested, giving a shrug.

"Or," Applefur hissed, turning sharply to her brother, "he'll make us into crow food. How could you be so careless, Toadfoot? RiverClan she-cat? The medicine cat, to be exact?! How does that even happen!"

"It just did," he growled, tail lashing as he shoved past her, "you wouldn't understand. You've been emotionless since Marshkit was killed."

"And you've been too soft!" She retorted, ears flat. Toadfoot flinched, taking a step back. Applefur sighed, hanging her head and then continued walking, flicking her tail. "Come on, let's get there before dawn."

Toadfoot followed her, the two making it to camp just as the sun started to tint the sky yellow. They walked in, Blackstar standing outside of his den with Rowanclaw, Snowbird, and the two other cats that attacked them, Shrewfoot and Oakclaw. Their wounds were tended too and Littlecloud was trotting over. Blackstar looked up to see the brother and sister enter, narrowing his eyes. Toadfoot met his steely gaze, amber eyes digging into his own green ones. Applefur and him walked over, nodding to their leader and deputy respectively.

"Come with me," Blackstar growled, flicking his tail and turning to his den. Rowanclaw walked behind the two brown cats as the four of them entered the den. Blackstar nodded to Rowanclaw, who turned and sat guard at the mouth of the den. Blackstar looked to the two, letting out a huff of breath. "You're mother was my best apprentice, so I expected better out of both of you."

"Please, Blackstar," Toadfoot said, "it was my fault. Applefur was just-"

"Just doing what her own will wanted it to," Applefur cut him off with a hiss, glaring to her brother.

"Yes," Blackstar murmured, tail lashing, "but still, you both broke the warrior code. Attacking your members and secretly meeting with cats outside of the Clan. You, in particular, Toadfoot, becoming mates with one. The medicine cat, none the less. Did the trouble between WindClan and ThunderClan not show enough of an example that such things are to forbidden?"

"I'm sorry for betraying the Clan, Blackstar," Toadfoot said, voice strong and shoulders held high, "but if I could go back, I would not change me decision."

Blackstar narrowed his eyes to the tom before looking to Applefur. "What is your opinion on this, Applefur? On your brothers betrayal."

"My brother may be a mouse-brain at sometimes," she said, "but Toadfoot would never betray his Clan. Ever since Marshkit, he's been dedicating his life to keep this Clan safe. I believe, that along the way, he just made a silly mistake that now he can't undo," Applefur looked to her brother, green eyes softening, "nor, would he want to."

"I see...," Blackstar said, tail lashing back and forth. He looked at both of them, studying them with his hard eyes. "I will decide your punishment by moonhigh and-"

"If I may, Blackstar?" Toadfoot said, flicking his ear. Blackstar nodded, allowing the tom to speak. "I've already made arrangements to leave the Clan tonight, Blackstar. All I ask for is for a good meal before I leave."

Blackstar blinked at the tom and then nodded. Toadfoot thanked him before standing to turn around, when Applefur spoke up. "I request the same, Blackstar."

Toadfoot whipped his head around, looking at his sister with wide eyes. Applefur held her look with Blackstar.

"Are you sure about this decision, Applefur?" Blackstar asked, whiskers twitching.

"Positive."

Blackstar nodded and stood, moving past the two toward the mouth of his den. he paused, then looked over his shoulder, eyes downcast. "Then, by moonhigh tonight, you two will no longer be members or ShadowClan."


Willowshine lay in her nest, herbs still matted to her pelt. When she and Sneezepaw returned to camp, Sneezepaw claimed that they both had run into rogues who attacked. Willowshine claimed she was looking for herbs while Sneezepaw was hunting. Mothwing immediately looked both of them through thoroughly, making sure their wounds were alright, before sending Sneezepaw off for only have a scratch on his flank. The golden tabby she-cat was now going through her herbs, ears flicking in deep thought.

Willowshine placed her muzzle upon her paws, thinking of the night ahead. Toadfoot would met her, yes, but where would they go after that? Towards the mountains was an option, but there may not be a lot of land or them to live. The Horseplace was also an option, but that was too close the the Clans. Willowshine sighed, closing her eyes. She heard Mothwing move around and then smelled an herb laid in front of her. She opened her eyes, inhaling sharply at the borage leaves in front of her.

"What's this for?" Willowshine asked, looking up to Mothwing.

"I've seen one or two queens in my life time," Mothwing purred, settling down. She flicked her tail, nodding for Willowshine to eat it. Willowshine sat up, pushing the herbs away. "Please, I've known longer then you, Willowshine."

"But-"

"No buts," Mothwing flicked her tail, standing up and stretching, "I'm going to go get some fresh-kill and when I come back, those herbs better be gone."

Willowshine looked down to the leaves once Mothwing left. If she ate them, then it would be official. She would leave her Clan, leave everything she knew and go onto a path of mystery, only accompanied by her mate and her friend. She'd leave a comfortable life, her family and friends, for a simple tom cat and some unborn kits. Eating these herbs would mean she's throwing everything she's worked for away, only to work towards an unknown future.

She sniffed the herbs once before taking a leaf in her mouth and nibbled it gently.

She's moving forward with her life.