Cody The Pikachu: Hey, everyone, and welcome to a new chapter of Journey To A New Clan! I've gotten more than half of the needed OCs in this story so far, so after the other seven are given out, I'll not be accepting anymore for this story.

I know that ThunderClan is my favorite Clan in the Warriors series, but I've been wondering what'll happen if they were led by an insane cat. And Thornstar is the answer; he's always been obsessed with order and progress even before Punykit and Brownkit were born. Plus, I was planning on having a senior warrior join the main character in exile, but I think Wildfire would need some character development: helping others with no doubt. So wait until you see who's leaving the Clan.

So now that that's said and done, let's get to the disclaimer.

Disclaimer: The day I own Warrior Cats is the day I stop liking Avatar: The Last AirBender...which will be never. But that's fine. I wanna be surprised anyway because the true author is full of surprises! Oh, and some OCs don't belong to me; I'll show their authors in the disclaimer in the next chapter.

Uploading Date: June 19, 2014 (Garfield's thirty-sixth birthday)

Enjoy!

...

Exile

It seemed as if time and space had stopped as Thornstar leaped hard at Punykit, intending on killing him off for good. Wildfire stepped back until he was between Badgerclaw and Longfur, the latter having moved to the nursery lately. Not one cat was stepping forward, some telling Thornstar to keep at it and others yelling at their leader to stop. But if nothing was done soon, then Punykit could die from his wounds.

StarClan do something! Why isn't anyone defending him from his own father?!

"Leave my baby alone, you monster!"

At that, Riverstep had ran over and pulled Thornstar off of their kit, slashing at his face with her claws. The dark brown tom snarled in fury and lashed out at her, leaving her to hiss with pain before leaping at him and bowling him over. Vinekit and Finchkit were yelling for Thornstar to win while Applekit looked to the side, unsure of what to do...before finally running off towards the nursery. Deerspring and Birchbranch were doing nothing either, Birchbranch merely watching the scene with cold eyes and Deerspring looking sickened by what the leader was doing.

Why am I being a coward? I know I can't win against a leader! Wildfire winced as Thornstar's teeth crunched on the tip of Riverstep's tail, and the light brown she-cat whirled around at him with a vicious swipe to the muzzle. But if I don't do something, things'll get worse...but what can I do?

Suddenly, Thornstar grabbed Riverstep by the throat and pinned her down, trying to reach for her neck. Riverstep kept thrashing about, but the claws striking every part of her kept her from moving too far. And just then, when Thornstar reached down and bit hard on her throat, Wildfire couldn't take it anymore.

"Let her go!"

He leaped hard at the battling cats and head-butted Thornstar away from his former mate. Thornstar was briefly caught off guard by this sudden attack, but he recovered in time to kick hard at the younger tom's belly, nearly knocking the breath out of him. Wildfire ran back at him, sank his teeth into the scruff of his neck, and threw him back towards a wall, but Thornstar pushed off the wall and tackled him head-on, head-butting him away. Wildfire found himself running out of breath; the ThunderClan leader seemed to have been trained hard during his apprenticeship, and he found himself agreeing with what he thought before: Thornstar was too tough to beat.

"ENOUGH!"

Moleclaw had arrived, pushing both toms away from each other. "Stop this fighting right now! Calm down!" As they slowly did, the black tom glared at Thornstar, asking, "Now what is all this about?"

"The puny kit passed a test I gave him!" Thornstar growled. "He should've failed!"

"There you go with that attitude again," Moleclaw meowed with a sigh. "And I already told you to change Punykit's name and be more accepting of him. Now if I were leader, then I would-"

But Thornstar cut him off with a snarl. "Oh shut up!" he snarled. "That's treachery you're speaking! Insubordination! I want obedience and loyalty in this Clan! Therefore, you must move to the elders' den, and Silverpaw will be the medicine cat in your place." He glared back at Punykit and then called, "What shall I do with Punykit? Shall I kill him or drive him out?"

At this, there was a caterwaul of noise that was cut short by Riverstep writhing about on the stone ground, choking on her own blood. Wildfire saw her black-furred sister Nightflower gaze down at the young queen in sorrow, and even the grouchy Duskpelt looked saddened and horrified at her end by their own leader. But it was no use for anyone to save her now, for Riverstep laid her head down and breathed her final breath, her eyes blank and blood trickling from her mouth.

Silence blew over the stone hollow as every cat looked down at the broken body of the young queen. Then Wildfire backed away from her body, rasping at the crazy brown tom before him, "Thornstar, you've gone too far. You...you did this to her..."

"I did not!" Thornstar snapped back snootily, kicking her body to the side. "She brought it on herself by birthing that little abomination!"

Just then, Brownkit spoke up, yowling, "You're the whatever you called my brother, Dad! You're always being mean to him...and you killed Mom! I'll never forgive you!"

Thornstar snarled, "I tried my best to shower you with attention, and this is how you repay me?! Then you and your 'brother' are hereby exiled from the Clan! I want you gone by sunset, and if I catch you on my territory tomorrow, then I'll find you and kill you myself!"

"Wait!" Wildfire called. "If your own kits are going into exile, then I'm joining them. I've always felt like I was being trapped here, and I didn't like the way you and Birchbranch treated me...and yeah, I'm talking to you, Birchbranch!" he added, turning to said warrior. "You told me all that horrible stuff, so I'll sling some mud your and Thornstar's way before we go."

Birchbranch didn't even deny anything or snap back at him. Instead, he growled, "Okay, shoot."

Wildfire sighed, wondering what to say next. Finally, he looked up and meowed, "Remember when you call me selfish and lazy whenever I goofed off? Well, you and Thornstar are bullies. You always look down on those who do less work than you do. I don't know what Deerspring sees in you, and I know you're nice with her, but you've always picked on me when I was an apprentice. And you said I've fooled everyone with some kind of act...but I never wanted to fool anyone. So now...you've heard what I wanted to say, so now you leave us alone when we leave, and we won't bother you anymore. Besides," he added, looking around sadly, "this isn't the same Clan I grew up in."

"I agree," Moleclaw added. "And Thornstar, I think it's time Leafwillow took over as the leader of ThunderClan. You've clearly shown that you can't lead this Clan with the attitude and state of mind you have now. I think it's your time to retire to the elders' den." Turning to rest of the Clan, he asked, "Who wants Leafwillow to be the leader of ThunderClan?"

"I'm as great as ever!" Thornstar snapped while the Clan began chanting the deputy's name. "I'll lead this Clan into glory!"

But already, Moleclaw was leading him away, leaving the Clan to mutter to themselves. Some of the cats were glaring at Wildfire and the motherless kits while others looked at them sympathetically before walking away. Wildfire didn't care, though; these cats were no longer his Clanmates. He had realized how out-of-place he had felt when he first became an apprentice, and now he felt even more out of place as a warrior.

The two kits were looking up at him with fear, and Wildfire let them gather underneath his belly for comfort. It would be him looking after two kits now...but he had no idea how to raise kits...he was actually a bit like a kit at heart himself. But that also meant that Thornstar would no longer hold him hostage or abuse him as he usually did.

"W-Wildfire?" Punykit spoke up. "You...you didn't have to do that...it's my fault Riverstep's dead..."

"No it's not!" Brownkit insisted, giving his brother's ear a comforting like. "Dad's being crazier than a fox in a fit."

Wildfire tried to purr at the optimism Brownkit had shown, but he could not share it. They had been kicked out of the Clan; how did the little brown kit get like this everyday? And especially after his mother was killed? So he gave a grunt and gathered the kits out from beneath him, ready to head to Moleclaw's den for a final good-bye.

And before he left for outside the camp, he heard Birchbranch growl, "Nice going, Wildfire. Your disobedience cost Riverstep her life, and it's because of you that Thornstar has to retire. Hope you're proud of yourself."

Thus, the sadness and guilt in his heart did not go away.

...

Sunset. It would soon be time for Wildfire and the kits to leave camp for good. He had made sure Silverpaw had gotten Punykit's wounds tended to before going outside to find Brownkit. Thornstar's oldest kit had gone outside after hearing that Punykit would be all right, and he wanted to be sure he didn't get into trouble with any other cat after what happened. So he went outside and looked around to see them near Riverstep's body, which was going to be carried away from camp to be buried, and Brownkit was hanging his head, perhaps in mourning for his mother.

"It's going to be okay, Brownkit," the silver tabby she-cat was murmuring, running her tail over the kit's shoulder. "Your mother won't be gone forever. She'll be in your heart just as my grandmother will be for me."

Wildfire sighed and looked down at his forepaws. Now that Moleclaw had been forced to retire by Thornstar, Silverpaw would have to get her full medicine cat name soon, and it would be about time for her due to being the oldest apprentice.

"I-I hope so," Brownkit sighed. "Why did Dad pick on Punykit because of his size? And why did Mom have to die?"

Silverpaw pulled him closer to her. "She died to protect you and your brother from your father. Sometimes bad things happen because of petty reasons, but doing what's right can even triumph over traditional rules. And doing what's right also includes sticking up for Punykit."

"And being a great warrior outside the Clan," Wildfire added.

Both cats looked around at him in surprise as Brownkit asked, "How long were you there?"

Wildfire padded over to him. "Just a little bit. And I also wanted to let you know, Silverpaw, that Punykit's awake."

"Okay, I'll get to him and check on him some more," Silverpaw replied. "And don't forget the list of herbs I gave you. Cobwebs for wounds, burnet for keeping your strength up, marigold for-"

"I get it," Wildfire interrupted politely. "And thanks for doing all this for us, Silverpaw."

They went back inside the den to pick up the herbs and Punykit and said farewell to Silverpaw before heading back outside of the den, walking across the camp. Some cats were mewing goodbye while others deliberately turned their backs on them, and Wildfire couldn't blame them...not entirely anyway. He and the kits walked on with a slow amble, over the ledges of the stone hollow and out past the bramble barrier around the camp. Once they were outside, they walked on until they met up with Moleclaw under a nearby birch tree; the former medicine cat was going to see them off and say his goodbye to them.

Wildfire looked back towards the direction of the ThunderClan camp. That had been the last time he and the kits would ever see it before they left to become rogues. He had never felt more useless until now; how would he try and raise two kits on his own out there? He would have to find a way, though he knew it was not going to be easy. But just before Moleclaw could say his own farewell speech, more voices called out to them.

"Wait!"

Wildfire looked up at the small group of cats coming over to see them go. "Deersplash? Applekit...and Badgerclaw?"

"Sure thing, kid," Badgerclaw meowed with a sympathetic look, his pelt darkened even more under the shade. "You don't think we're gonna let Moleclaw and Silverpaw hog all the goodbyes, do you?"

Deerspring looked ashamed as she murmured, "Wildfire...I heard what Birchbranch told you. You didn't cause those things to happen; Thornstar did that himself. No matter where you go, you'll always be my brother. But...I can't leave Birchbranch either. No matter what you say, I'll still love him."

Of course, Wildfire thought bitterly, looking away from his sister. Even after everything that had happened that afternoon, she was still choosing to stay with Birchbranch. To her, he would always be a brave and powerful warrior...but to him, he would always be a great big bully. He distracted himself from that thought by looking over to where Applekit and Punykit were saying goodbye to each other.

"I'm sorry I never spoke up when Finchkit and Vinekit picked on you," Applekit told Punykit. "I was afraid to do so, or else they'd pick on you some more. I just wanna say goodbye now...and good luck finding a new home."

Punykit let her lick his ear. "Thanks, Applekit."

Brownkit gently nudged her. "I hope we see each other again," he told the little gray tortoiseshell. "You're cooler than Vinekit and Finchkit."

"By the way," Moleclaw meowed, looking down at Punykit as they all fell silent, "since Thornstar is no longer the leader of ThunderClan, I think I might give you a new name now. StarClan knows I've wanted to do this since the night you were kitted." He looked up to the sinking sun and rasped with all the wisdom he had shown over the moons, "Spirits of StarClan, you know every cat by name. I ask you now to take away the name from the kit you see before you, for it no longer stands for what he is. With the approval of our warrior ancestors, I give this kit a new name. From this moment on, he will be known as Lionkit, for the wrath of the white lion shall swipe his claws of fury through the thorns that cover ThunderClan." He dipped his head towards them, finishing, "Goodbye, my friends. May we cross paths again someday."

Then the cats who came to see them off called, "Lionkit! Lionkit! Lionkit!"

The newly-named Lionkit looked bashfully down at his paws before looking back up. "Th-Thanks, guys."

"Seriously, thanks," Wildfire added. "For everything."

"No problem," Deerspring meowed. "Now you better hurry and leave before a bigger patrol catches you."

With a final nod towards the ThunderClan cats, Wildfire gathered the kits around him and padded off, leaving the others watching them from their spot before heading back to camp. There would be no going back to the camp anymore, no warm den, no medicine cat, and no clue on where to go.

They were truly alone.

Night fell at last, casting long shadows on the ground. Wildfire had decided to take the kits inside the abandoned Twoleg nest to spend the night before they would move north. He didn't dare take him up those stairs, though; he had no idea what was up there, and he didn't want to know. He gathered some warm woolly stuff like moss and pulled them over to a corner, where they ran over and cuddled inside until they were burrowed deep within it.

"Wildfire...we're hungry," Lionkit mumbled.

Wildfire gently nudged them with his muzzle, knowing that they hadn't eaten since this morning. "I know, Lionkit. I am too, but we need to wait until morning, and then I'll go get us something." He laid down beside them and muttered, "Just try and go to sleep. We'll move off tomorrow morning."

Lionkit took the chance to cuddle closer to his dark tabby pelt while Brownkit wrapped himself deeper into the soft woolly stuff until it looked like he was covered in snow. With a sigh, Wildfire laid his head down on the ground and in between his paws, looking between the two brothers. He could never be their father, but he would try and be the best caretaker he could be...but what if he couldn't?

His mind fully and his belly empty, Wildfire closed his eyes and tried his best to sleep. Thirty minutes later, sleep and Wildfire finally came together.

To be continued...

...

Cody The Pikachu: I hope you like this chapter...because I really suck at prophecies. Still, if there's anything wrong with this story, let me know, and I'll fix it. Plus, that speech Wildfire gave Birchbranch is basically what happened when that frustration of being picked on finally comes out.

Anyways, Wildfire and the kits have been sent into exile! And Thornstar really went into the deep end this time...that means he crossed some serious lines. So the next chapter will introduce the first recommended OCs that will appear in this story; I'm basically gonna go with whichever requests came first. That means that Snowfeather's characters will be the first to appear.

Today is Garfield the cat's birthday, so read and review, folks! Anyone who does will get a virtual cake with black-and-orange frosting along with either lasagna or pizza with your favorite drinks. I do NOT allow flames on this story or any other story, but I DO welcome advice, questions of any kind, and even constructive criticism. As long as you're polite about it, of course.

See ya next time! And Happy Garfield Day!