Disclaimer: I don't own the Warriors series!

Title: There's Always the Exceptions

Summary: Stonepaw is a medicine cat whose mentor won't give him his name. Gooseleaf is his brother with a secret. Honeyflame may or may not be Stonepaw's mate, who also may or may not have recently helped their mutual friend Mousedapple with her desire to have kits. Reedstorm is a half-rogue in a Clan that's never forgiven her for it. They all collide.

...

Mothstar of Cloudclan- tbh Thornstripe was a completely spur of the moment thing! I totally forgot about it in Berry Paint lol. I originally intended for Thornstripe to be named either Birchstripe or Barkstripe, but it ended up being Thornstripe instead.

Ran (February 27th)- 'Twas the point! =)

...

The air felt bitter and stale as Stonepaw pressed his nose into Gooseleaf's pelt, too shocked to think of moving from the Thunderpath. If a monster hit him now, he wasn't sure he'd feel it. You promised we'd see each other at Gatherings, Gooseleaf. You promised.

Hesitant pawsteps made his ears prick, and through the stench he could just barely catch a trace of Reedstorm as she approached, touching his shoulder with her muzzle. She didn't say anything, content to grieve together.

Stonepaw wasn't content.

"Go away!" he shrieked, whirling around. His claws brushed her cheek. "How can you sit here and mourn when this is all your fault?"

"My fault?" Reedstorm cried, appalled. "Gooseleaf suggested ShadowClan!"

Stonepaw bared his teeth at her. He didn't care about blame, really. He just wanted to be left alone. "He wouldn't have suggested it if you two didn't decide to have kits together! Everyone and their mother knows it's against the code!" He turned away, stiffly sitting back down. Ryewhisker died under a warrior's paws. He didn't even get that. "Haven't you done enough?"

Quietly, purposefully, he heard Reedstorm pad away. Not into ShadowClan; towards Fourtrees. She was returning home.

Good. If I never see her again, it'll be too soon.

Stonepaw doesn't remember falling asleep on Gooseleaf's body. One moment he's grieving, waiting for another monster to zoom by and spook him to reality, and the next he's in the leader's den, Whitestar laying with his back to him. He missed Honeyflame and Mousedapple and their playful camaraderie like it'd been ten seasons since he'd seen them last, but he needed his father more than he needed them.

"Dad?" he whispered.

Whitestar lifted his head. Stonepaw didn't think he'd been sleeping. The bulky white tom set his chin on Stonepaw's head, letting out a long sigh. "Oh, Stonepaw..."

"He's gone," he said into his scruff. "Gooseleaf's gone."

"I know." Whitestar was shaking a little bit with the effort it took to keep him together. "But he's not in pain now. Getting hit... I can't even imagine the agony he must've gone through."

Stonepaw dug his claws into the moss.

"He's in StarClan now. We need to remember that."

If that makes you feel better, Stonepaw didn't say, but contemplating saying, knowing full well even the implication would shatter what was left of his father's heart.

Thornstripe was waiting for Stonepaw when he waddled into the medicine den, eyes downcast, his claws clogged with dirt from burying the body of his littermate. "Who was the LeopardClan warrior who won the river?"

"Fleetfoot," Stonepaw mumbled as he passed. "She defeated Rage and Fury, so Goldenstar and Shadestar gave LeopardClan the river forever."

Thornstripe nodded along. "Nice to see you haven't lost all your wits."

"You hate my wits," he meowed, falling into his nest.

"Like a thorn in the rear," the old medicine cat agreed. "But I'm not without some level of humanity towards you. Take as long as you need."

Stonepaw opened a single eye. "I'm not still a 'paw because of my wits."

Thornstripe turned away. "Maybe, if you respected StarClan, you wouldn't be a 'paw anymore."

He snorted and rolled over. "I'll respect in your star cats when they show they actually care. I mean, just imagine. Gooseleaf's death being orchestrated by a bunch of angry dead warriors. I couldn't handle it."

"So you choose not to believe at all," he growled disapprovingly. "And make a mockery of a medicine cat out of yourself."

"I never said I didn't believe," Stonepaw argued, only half-awake. "I just think it's mouse-brained that a bunch of old warriors say who do or don't die. There's no peace in that. It's just a blood war." His gray tail lashed. "Gooseleaf is dead. Let him stay that way."

"Reedstorm should be giving birth soon," Honeyflame mumbled into Stonepaw's fur. They'd both moved into the nursery once Mousedapple got into the later moons of her pregnancy. "I mean, she was just behind Mousedapple, wasn't she?"

"Who's Reedstorm?" Mousedapple asked tiredly. They'd only just managed to get the kits to fall asleep before the sun set. Stonepaw took mental tally of them- the calico pelt of Hawkkit, the pale ginger Frostkit, tiny brown tabby Rainkit, and little runt Featherkit. "That name sounds familiar."

"It's no one," Stonepaw meowed, bending down to clean Featherkit's head. The rusty tom liked sleeping next to the two toms, despite the medicine cat's clear discomfort around kittens. "No one important, anyway."

Honeyflame batted at his ear, frowning, but said nothing to correct him.

True to Honeyflame's word, Reedstorm was practically bursting at the next Gathering. Stonepaw didn't think a queen that close to kitting was allowed to leave camp, but it soon became apparent why she'd gone when she purposefully rammed into his side, muttering a quick, "Meet me where we first met" under her breath before disappearing. Because that's not ominous at all, or anything.

Stonepaw waited until the next day to go. He didn't want to. He really, really didn't want to. But she was carrying Gooseleaf's kits, and he figured it was his duty as his brother to see what the hangup was.

"I'd wondered if you'd come," she admitted as he settled in beside her, the scent of pine needles and decay in the air.

"I'm still very angry with you," Stonepaw meowed. "But that doesn't make me any less of a medicine cat."

"Some medicine cat. You don't even have your full name."

"Wow, good one. Never heard that before." His gray tail whisked smoothly over some leaves. "You can leave, for all I care. Clearly my name matters more to you than my ability."

Reedstorm took in a deep, steadying breath. "You really aren't like him, are you?"

Stonepaw didn't reply.

"I can't live in WindClan," the black she-cat blurted out, unsettled by the quiet. "Not- not like this. Look. My mom... she never cared about the code. Ashstar's made that my problem from day one. And now, having a ThunderClan cat's kits... I can't just stay."

"Alright. What does this have to do with me?"

She shrugged. "Ashstar won't let me leave camp like this. Not until after the kits come. I'm shocked she let me come to the Gathering. It'll have to be after..." Reedstorm fixed her dark green eyes on him. "Can I say they're your's?"

Stonepaw's blood ran cold. "Are you serious?"

"Not for forever," she insisted. "But if I tell her they're Gooseleaf's, she'll just say he's dead. I don't want my kittens to go through the same rabbit-dung I went through." Reedstorm shuffled her paws. "Besides. Whitestar's more likely to accept me if the father is one of his living sons."

"Whitestar would allow you in even with Gooseleaf dead," he said. "He loves us a lot. Me and Gooseleaf, I mean. He doesn't know you."

"Of course."

"When we were little, he took us everywhere. I remember, once, he was about to take us on patrol, and Thornstripe came over and reminded him that kits weren't supposed to set paw on the territory outside of camp. So he hauled us both onto his back and strutted away, saying that we wouldn't touch anything." Stonepaw found himself chuckling a little. "It's one of my favorite memories, actually."

Reedstorm's tail lightly fell across her belly. "I hope I have good memories with my kits one day. In ThunderClan."

"ShadowClan is still an option, you know."

"Not after what happened."

"The Thunderpath is in ThunderClan, too."

"I know."

Stonepaw glanced up at the stars. They looked icy and cold to him- if his brother was really up there, he wasn't watching tonight. "Fine. But you better hope that at least one of them look like Gooseleaf or we're doomed."

Her eyes slid shut. "Don't remind me."

"WindClan!"

Stonepaw winced, wanting more than ever to bury his head in his paws. But that wouldn't do him any good. He stood and stretched, deciding it was best to meet the end of his career head-on.

Outside, ThunderClan was abuzz with activity as cats swarmed in and out of their den. The familiar gray tabby visage of Ashstar sent a prickle of fear down Stonepaw's spine. But then Honeyflame was by his side, claws digging into the dirt, and he thought, okay, I can do this.

Reedstorm padded into the camp with her head high, a white tom in her jaws and a smaller silver tabby tom on her back. Her eyes met his. Stonepaw swallowed and forced himself to move forward, accepting the white tom without complaint.

"That's Maplekit," she meowed, then gestured to the silver tabby. "And this is Stagkit."

Thank feathers she didn't name them Goosekit and Leafkit. I might have ripped her ears off.

"Stonepaw?" Whitestar meowed, hopping down from some rocks. He met Ashstar with even strides. "Ashstar, what is going on here?"

"It seems your son has been with my warrior," Ashstar replied, glancing at the two of them. Her gaze was even. Calculating. "I suppose it's to be expected. Reedstorm has always been a wild card."

"Is that so?" Stonepaw's father asked, voice hushed. "While I respect your urge to bring this to my attention, I can't comprehend why you would drag a newly-kitted queen so far from home."

Ashstar shook her head. "ThunderClan can be her home now, if you will it. I won't have code-breakers in my Clan." Her tail lashed. "You would've thought her mother taught her that lesson."

Reedstorm's scruff rose, but her jaws were full of fluffy kitten fur.

"Honestly!" a disgusted voice scoffed, and Stonepaw jumped at Mousedapple's familiar calico form next to him. The queen glared at the two leaders. "I don't care if they're the kits of dogs, they deserve protection and support." She nosed the black molly's shoulder. "Come with me, Reedstorm. We'll make you a nest in the nursery."

Reedstorm blinked at her gratefully. Stonepaw followed with Maplekit, the white tom letting out a cry of hunger.

"I'm Honeyflame," the dark ginger tabby reached his muzzle out to touch noses with Reedstorm, smiling. "My job is to follow Stonepaw around, basically. Mousedapple is my friend-mate, so you'll be seeing a lot of me."

"Friend-mate?" Stonepaw asked rhetorically. "You've finally figured out the name for it, huh?"

Honeyflame purred, wrapping himself around Stonepaw. "Something like that."

Reedstorm glanced between the two of them, eyes wide. "Ooooh. I see."

"Can we play with the new kits, mama?" Rainkit begged eagerly, but Mousedapple pulled the kit away with a shake of her head.

"They're too young, dear." She planted a lick on the wriggled kitten's head. "You've had a rough three moons, haven't you, Reedstorm?"

"Something like that," she agreed wearily. "I'm hopeful that living in ThunderClan might make it a bit easier on me."

Mousedapple touched their paws together. "If anyone gives you trouble, just point me at 'em. StarClan knows better than to get in the way of a queen and her kits."

"StarClan might, but I'm not StarClan," Whitestar said as he poked his head inside, effectively startling all of them. "So, if I may?"

"You might as well."

The leader padded into the nursery with Thornstripe hot on his heels, garnering a displeased twist of the muzzle from Stonepaw. "I'd like some answers, if you're up for it," he meowed, sitting down. "Stonepaw, everyone and their mother knows you don't like she-cats. And don't try to lie to me, either."

"They're Gooseleaf's," Reedstorm explained. Whitestar's eyes flickered to her almost immediately. "I just didn't think Ashstar would let me leave if she knew my mate was dead, you know?"

"She can be... protective," he agreed. "But it's really none of my business. How she leads." Whitestar stretched his neck out to brush Stonepaw's forehead. "She's going to call for you to be taken from your position, you know."

"I know," he murmured, eyes slipping shut at the thought.

Thornstripe rolled his eyes at the scene. "You'll be fine."

Whitestar turned to glare at his medicine cat. "You've said quite enough today, thank you very much. If anything, you should honor your apprentice's bravery."

"You say that because he's your son. Not for what he's actually done."

"I say it for both reasons!" he snorted, turning back to Stonepaw. The gray tom shrunk back at the fire in his eyes. "And, if you won't appreciate him, I will."

"Dad?"

"Son, I'm not a medicine cat. By all laws, I can't do this officially. But I love you, and I respect you, and you've earned this more times over than any medicine cat before you." Whitestar's nose touched the very center of his head. It was cold, while his breath was hot. "I name you Stoneflower, for your kind heart and dedication, and I hope to see many seasons with you by my side."

What?

"Stoneflower!" Honeyflame called, practically screeching it with his excitement. Mousedapple and Reedstorm both joined in. "Stoneflower! Stoneflower!"

Stoneflower stared at his paws, then twisted around to stare at the cats chanting his name, unable to believe it. After so long of accepting his name as immobile, it'd finally been honored. Honeyflame smiled warmly at him, and he smiled back, so happy he could barely breathe.

As he left, Thornstripe gave him a parting nod, as if he were a foe who had conquered him. Stoneflower didn't know if he felt proud of that or not, but he also knew he didn't care about the old codger's approval. Not anymore. Not for a long time now.

Featherkit wriggled between Stoneflower and Reedstorm, settling with his tiny nose in the medicine cat's chest. Stagkit shot a paw out in complaint, kicking him square in the ear, but Featherkit hardly seemed to notice, snoring already.

Stoneflower let out a tiny little laugh at the moment. He still wasn't very fond of kits, but his life had become overrun with them, one way or another. Maybe it's for the best. Honeyflame and I can be open if I'm a warrior. Still, he didn't want to give up so easily. If Whitestar was willing to argue for him, he was willing to withstand anything it sent his way. I'm a medicine cat. It's part of who I am.

In the silence, Reedstorm spoke. "My mother fell in love with a rogue."

"I know," he said back. "Everybody knows."

An acerbic giggle left her throat. "Yes, well, she never knew how to be subtle." Reedstorm paused, staring at her newborns. "When I was an apprentice, she gave me a lick on the head and said goodbye. Went to go live with him, I suppose. Or to travel. It really gnawed at Ashstar's tail."

"They were littermates, weren't they?"

"Half-sisters," she corrected drowsily. "Same father, different mother. And they weren't all that close. At least, I never got that kind of vibe off them. But I think Ashstar took it personally all the same. She got on me all the time because she wanted me to be better."

Stoneflower sniffed. "That's a really mouse-brained way of looking at it."

A sleepy grumble accompanied a bulky paw smushing into Stoneflower's face as Honeyflame stretched. "Less drama. More sleepy times."

"Alright, alright, you oaf." He lightly shoved the warrior before laying his head down. Featherkit's little nose brushed his chin. It was oddly adorable how trusting he was. "I'm not actually mad at you, you know. I want to be, but... I don't know you, you know? I can't be mad if I don't know enough about you to hold it against you."

"Well," Reedstorm offered. "We'll have plenty of time to get to know each other."

"Hm," Stoneflower grunted, eyes sliding shut. It was comforting, in it's own right. That, if nothing else went right over the rest of his seasons, he had a name and someone to be cranky at.

That night, he dreamed of Gooseleaf, the warrior curling around all of them, tail brushing Stoneflower's cheek. He looked proud.

Author's Note: Eyyyy, I finally finished this! I know that a lot of characters weren't as fleshed out as normal, but it's a tiny little story, so I suppose it's to be expected. I still really like the names Stoneflower and Honeyflame tbh. Those names are keepers. Mousedapple is a pretty dope name too.

Originally, I intended for Stoneflower to be escorted to WindClan and come back with Reedstorm and the kids, but it felt weird to have such a weird scene change for one little area when everything else had taken place in ThunderClan/Fourtrees.

Until next time!

-Mandaree1