Disclaimer: If I owned Warriors, Spiderleg wouldn't have ended up with Daisy in the first place.
A/N: I don't own the plot, that delight goes to Russell Scottie. Silvershadow1142 also adopted the same story. Seriously, go check it out, it's awesome! :)
"Wherever you are, Cinderpelt, if you can hear me, I promise that I will never leave our Clan again. I am their medicine cat now, and I will follow in your pawsteps until it's my turn to walk with StarClan. But please, if I ever meant anything to you, come to me when you can and tell me you forgive me.
—Leafpool, Sunset, page 60
"You aren't serious," Squirrelflight's voice rang clear through the den, dismay evident, her forepaws clenching into the moss bedding like it was a lifeline. Staring up in horror at her elder sister, Squirrelflight's emerald eyes glistening as denial filtered through them like a fierce green flame. "Tell me your lying. Tell me!" Then, gasping loudly, she fell back as she struggled to her paws. "Please.. tell me you aren't serious!"
"I think she's quite serious," the brown tabby meowed, looking intently at his mate before sighing, gently prodding the ginger she-cat in the shoulder, gradually applying some weight to finally push her down. "Squirrelflight, please, calm down. You will upset the kits, I'm sure." The broad-shouldered tom glanced over at Leafpool skeptically, as if daring her to suddenly call out that it was all just a joke. When their eyes connecting, he blinked and dipped his head in understanding, knowing full well that she wouldn't be swayed from her decision. "Just rest, Squirrelflight."
"You.. you will be here when the kits will be born, right? Right, Leafpool?"Squirrelflight's voice was insistent and forced as she called on her elder sister, her eyes pleading as she dug into the moss bedding again, kneading it to shreds as she intently looked into her tabby sister's face.
"Of course, wouldn't miss it for the world," Leafpool meowed, leaning forward to lick her younger sister between her ears, half-closing her bright amber eyes ever so slightly, pressing her paws gently onto the moss bedding, murmering gently against her sister's ear, "If things go as planned, I'll be back in two moons. Don't worry, everything will be fine." Withdrawing her head sharply, a soft smile splayed across her face as she grimaced ever so slightly at Squirrelflight's pleading look. "Two moons, Squirrelflight, you should be fine until then," she promised, raising her brown white paw and swooping it in quick, jerky movements across her chest, her eyes glistening. "You were there for me, I'll be there for you, by StarClan I will."
Blinking at Leafpool closely, Bramblestar smiled ever so slightly again and flicked his tail, "We should discuss this outside, Leafpool. If you're still firm in your decision... well, then simply you can go to the Gathering tonight and leave with them, if Blackstar and Littlecloud permit it." Hearing a groan of protest from the ginger she-cat they both glanced over at her, thin and light stripes racing across her haunches, barely noticeable unless you were looking for it. With each ragged breath, the striped flanks rose. It was the only place on Squirrelfight that bore tabby stripes, barely visible or not. "Squirrelflight, I want you to eat the shrew that Leafpool gave you. Everything will be fine, don't worry." Leaning forward, he pressed his muzzle comfortingly against her ear, the movement causing her to move into the touch. If only I had a relationship like that, Leafpool thought, sighing longingly. Withdrawing slowly, his eyes burning with passion and regret, Bramblestar then turned to the former medicine cat and flicked his ear, staring hard and long at her as he shouldered past her towards the entrance. "Follow me, Leafpool."
Following at a brisk pace, the slender, lithe she-cat followed the ThunderClan leader, barely daring to breath as she shuffled along. She could feel prying and judging eyes as the ThunderClanners watched her follow the leader. "-far enough." Leafpool looked over at him in alarm, blinking in the falling sun's light as it threatened to blind her momentarily. The powerful shouldered tom shot an amused glance at her, knowing that he had caught her off guard, when she wasn't paying attention. "I said this should be far enough," he commented, his voice gruff as he chuckled ever so slightly. They both knew it was forced, from the strain in his chuckles. "Ignore their gazes, Leafpool, don't let them bother you. They should hold no power over you, you know. They didn't stop you from..." Running away with Crowfeather. She blinked at him, her gaze turning a bit cold and harsh. He didn't need to finish the sentence, and she was half-glad that he didn't. He coughed awkwardly before continuing, "But.. they're also part of the reason of why you choose to go, aren't they?"
"Yes," she meowed, with no hesitation. Her bluntness seemed to startle him and he quickly regained his composure, muttering something about needing her for the Clan. "Littlecloud is ill, as you must have overheard. I fear he might no live much longer without my assistance. I have no place here. I wish to go and help him, Bramblestar." She raised her head defiantly, her eyes glinting ever so slightly. She pushed her ears forward and dug her pads into the ground, steadying her stance, as if preparing for battle. "The fate of their medicine cats rest in my paws."
"So let some other medicine cat do it," his tone was sharp and humourless as he stared at her coldly, shaking his head ever so slightly.
"So you imply that I am a medicine cat," she meowed, softly. Victory was clear in her eyes as she sat down on her haunches, facing him like a brave warrior, defiance filling her eyes again. His posture slumped horribly as defeat rested on his shoulders, but defiance still lingered. "As a medicine cat, we look out for each other. We are the balance between the Clans, Bramblestar, surely you understand that. We're like the peace during the Gatherings. We can freely go into another's territory if we have to. Bramblestar, I've never asked for anything from you before, but with this I plead. So please, let me save them before it's too late!"
He stared at her, as if weighing the pros and cons of letting her go, hesitation still in his gaze, but as well as slight defiance. I have to save them, she thought gravely, It's my job. "I know I'm not a medicine cat anymore, but I was. I feel like it's my responsibility to help them - like you want to help Squirrelflight with passing the dangers of miscarriage again." It was a low blow, even for her, but she saw it was nessesary and as defeat filled caused him to lower his head, she sighed in relief. It was a threat she offered, she mused. It was hardly fair referring to her kin as if she was a bargaining chip but the fate of ShadowClan and possibly the rest of the Clans rested on her now.
"Fine," he meowed, solemnly, glaring at her through narrowed eyes. His pride wounded, he began to pass her, and uttered sofly, "You better come back, Leafpool. You ran away once, you're running away again by doing this. You can't keep running forever." Shivering, she stared at him, as if deciding if that was a threat or not. Dipping her head, she acknowledged him, her breathing ragged, feeling a weight settle on her shoulders and a deep guilt. "If ShadowClan dares not return you after the training of the apprentice, or until Littlecloud heals again... I swear by StarClan... we will take you back - by force." She stared after him, not willing to believe what she just heard. It's nothing to worry about, he's only worried about me, Leafpool mused, trying to calm her beating heart as she followed him as he leaped onto the Highledge.
"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey meet beneath Highledge for a Clan meeting," his voice rang out loud and clear, startling most dozing cats nearby. They glanced over before bounding over. "At this meeting I will declare who will be going to the gathering." His gaze traveled over the cats as they continued to gather, no hesitation in his voice, even if it wavered slightly.
"Thank you, Leafpool, for encouraging me," the voice startled the former medicine cat as she glanced over, the familiar pelt of the silver and white tabby she-cat greeting her eyes. Smiling softly, Leafpool dipped her head in greeting. "Foxleap and I... are mates now." After a brief murmer of 'congratulations' from Leafpool, Dovewing's littermate glanced up at Bramblestar guility, who seemed to be giving both of them the stink eye. "I'll tell you more about it after," Ivypool promised, her voice not louder than a whisper. "I better get back, though, before Bramblestar claws off my ears for interupting." With a flick of her tail and a small grin, the young warrior bounded away, with Leafpool looking after her. She watched until the young warrior greeted the familiar reddish-brown tabby tom, who wrapped his tail around Ivypool and pressed his muzzle comfortingly against her ear, and looking like he murmured something. They look so good together, Leafpool chirped to herself.
"To this gathering, I will be taking Cloudtail, Berrynose, Hazeltail, Jayfeather, Icecloud, Leafpool, Lilypaw, Toadstep, and Molepaw." He was quick and smooth of his declaration that most cats were left confused unless they had been paying very close attention. "We will leave at sundown, I will not announce this again, you will be left behind if you don't leave with the rest of us." His idle threat was whispered among the cats as some cast wary glances towards Leafpool's direction, as they hadn't expected her to go. Flicking her ear slightly, she met their gazes coldly before looking up at the sun and determining how much time they had. Roughly fifteen to thirty minutes, she mused. I can wait that long, I suppose, she thought, glancing around, then sighing. It's best to talk with the other cats, though. I probably won't be seeing them for about two moons. "On a border patrol I want Whitewing, Cinderheart and..." As the cats not invited to the gathering crowded near him to hear who would go on a few hunting and border patrols.
"Leafpool!" she turned her head, her eyes curious as she glanced ahead, noticing Ivypool sauntering her way over, a grin on her face, a spring in her step. "I promised I'd tell you after, and so I decided to tell you now, you know, before you head to the gathering." Blinking warmly at the former medicine cat, she continued, "I've always believed that she-cats should take the first paw forward, you know? I didn't even quite realize my feelings for him, though, until about four moons ago, you know, back when the battle happened. Well, he almost died, you know. You helped him return back to normal, you remember that? You told me he'd be all right then, too. But ever since, I've just... sort of grown attached, you know? So, yeah, today, back when I talked to you, I finally gathered up my courage, thinking that 'it's now or never, if you don't get your tail moving, some other she-cat would probably snatch him up' so... we just sort of got talking, you know? Well, I then asked if he liked anybody, he said 'no', alright? I said, 'Really? That's too bad, because I sort of like this tom who looks like you.' And you know, things just sort of happened and then I found myself asking him and he said yes!"
"...You are one very talkative and cheerful cat lately," Leafpool meowed, bemused as she watched Ivypool's face scrunch up a bit. "Did you eat too much catmint?" As a look of guilt passed over the young warrior's face, Leafpool burst out laughing, to which the younger tabby warrior hesitantly added her own laughter to. "Just our little secret, okay? Won't tell a soul." A brief look of relief passed her face as Ivypool nodded eagerly. Glancing around nervously, Leafpool forced a smile before glancing up at the sun again, muttering a brief, "Not to be rude, Ivypool, I bet your story is very interesting but.. I have places to be, cats to see." Confusion flitted through Ivypool's dark blue eyes as she nodded, hesitantly.
With quick bounds, Leafpool dashed away, glancing around nervously as she stared longingly at every cat, her chest clenching. I'm doing this for the best of ShadowClan, she thought, blinking in the fading sun's light. ..So StarClan, why does this feel like I'm betraying my Clan? Suddenly, the realization of being away for so long seemed to press against her, and the thought of pushing the training of the medicine cat apprentice reigned in her mind. Despite their negative attitude towards her, she felt longing flitter in her heart, like she wouldn't be seeing this place in such a long time. She felt like she had so many things to do, so many things to see, right here in ThunderClan.
She felt old and weary now, as she glanced around, looking at the young life bounce around. But the thought of changing one cat's life bursted through and she smiled jaggedly. To know that she could change the life of one of the younger cats suddenly seemed much more lifefulfilling than ditching her Clan, and she knew it would be worth it, like seeing her kits grow into a pair of fine warriors and an excellent medicine cat was worth giving them up.
"ThunderClan, it's time to move out!"
With a last glance behind her, she pushed the thoughts of never seeing her home again away and focused on a brighter future, not just for her, but for all of ShadowClan. If only she knew how much she would affect both Clans..