Journey to the Wild

by Watergrl95

Dewcloud's daughter wants to find her mom's birth Clan. With her friends, they journey to the place where all cats turn wild. When they get there, what will they find, and who will they find? Is it everything Dewcloud's daughter dreamed of or is there more to it than her mother made it out to be? And what if Firestar was born in the Clan? Will his destiny turn out different?

4. Surprise

Chapter 2

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting."

The leader's call rang loud and clear as everyone gathered below their leader. Two season's had passed since Rosefeather's kits began their training and she was very proud them.

"Today we welcome three new warriors." Flowerstar jumped down from the Highrock and beckoned for the three apprentices to come over to her with her tail. "Come here, Bluepaw, Sparrowpaw, and Snowpaw."

Bluepaw, Sparrowpaw and Snowpaw walked up to their leader. Flowerstar looked at the sky as Silverpelt came out.

"I, Flowerstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code and commend then to you as warriors in their turn." She looked down at the three apprentices in front of her. "Bluepaw, Sparrowpaw and Snowpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." Snowpaw's voice was confident.

"I do." Bluepaw's blue eyes were shining, but her voice was steady.

"I do." Sparrowpaw's voice had no hesitation.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names: Sparrowpaw, from this moment on, you'll be know as Sparrowpelt. StarClan honors your bravery and you strength, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Flowerstar stepped forward and placed her muzzle on top of Sparrowpelt's bowed head. Sparrowpelt licked her shoulder respectfully, then straightened up and walked over to join the other warriors.

Flowerstar stood and walked over to Bluepaw. "Bluepaw, from this moment on, you'll be known as Bluefur. StarClan honors your courage and your intelligence and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Flowerstar placed her muzzle on Bluefur's head, and Bluefur licked her shoulder respectfully and joined the other warriors.

Flowerstar padded over to the white apprentice, who was quivering with excitement. "Snowpaw, from this moment on, you'll be know as Snowfern. StarClan honors your courage and your intelligence and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Flowerstar put her muzzle on Snowfern's head, and Snowfern licked her shoulder respectfully and padded over to the other warriors.

"Sparrowpelt! Bluefur! Snowfern!"

"In the traditions of out ancestors, Sparrowpelt, Bluefur, and Snowfern must sit in silent vigil until dawn, and guard the camp alone, while we sleep."

Rosefeather and Creampaw padded over to the medicine cat den. Flowerstar decided to give her daughter Creampaw, but on one condition: Rosefeather must teach Creampaw how to defend herself and hunt. Rosefeather had accepted immediately and never regretted it.

"So, Rosefeather, what are we going to do tomorrow?"

"Hunting, then we'll collect herbs."

"Do I have to learn how to hunt? And defend myself?"

"Yes, Flowerstar's orders."

Creampaw groaned. "Fine."

Rosefeather purred in amusement.

Creampaw's amber eyes flashed indignantly. "I just want to be a medicine cat. I love the smell of the herbs and helping cats out. That's all."

"I know. I was just like you when I was younger, but to be honest, I lost my love to be a medicine cat. So, you're going to succeed me."

"Why did you lose you love with being a medicine cat?"

"I fell in love."

"With who?"

"Volefur."

"Of RiverClan?"

"Yes. And he fell in love with me, but we had to stay loyal to our Clanmates."

"Well I'm glad you-" She stopped and tasted the air. Then she crouched and growled.

Rosefeather's tail twitched and she growled. The scent was in their den! Rosefeather bounded into her den and hissed at the stranger, her ears flat, back arched and claws out.

The stranger cringed away from Rosefeather's dark emerald eyes that blazed green fire. The stranger had brown tabby fur and blue eyes, and he had the scent of RiverClan on him. Volefur!

"Volefur! What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you. Things aren't going well in RiverClan. Icecloud doesn't trust me anymore because I told her about you and refuses to let me see our kit, Frostkit. She has the most beautiful blue eyes, and my Clan doesn't trust me anymore because Icecloud told them about my affair with a ThunderClan cat. So, I think it's best I ask your mom to join ThunderClan."

Rosefeather stared at her beloved Volefur, dumbfounded. "Volefur, why would you tell her that?"

"To be honest, I don't know. I didn't want to keep secrets for her and she turns around and stabs me in the back. So, can you escort me to your mother?"

Rosefeather hesitated. Then Creampaw came in. Her amber eyes widened in astonishment. "Volefur, what are you doing here? Trying to take our supplies?" She hissed and unsheathed her claws.

Rosefeather flicked her tail and shook her head, Creampaw relaxed, but kept glaring at Volefur.

"Creampaw, stay here and organize the herbs. I'll see Flowerstar and bring Volefur with me." Creampaw nodded and set to work.

Rosefeather strode past Volefur, flicking her tail, signaling for him to follow, and walked into the clearing. The warriors of ThunderClan stared at the stranger, eyes narrowing with hostility.

Rosefeather lead Volefur to her mom's den. She looked inside, then remembered that her mom was on patrol, and told Volefur. His tail drooped in disappointment.

Then Rosefeather spotted her mom. "Stay here," She told Volefur. "I'll be right back." She bounded across the clearing, calling to her mom. "Mom! Mom!"

Flowerstar heard her name and padded over to Rosefeather. "What is it, Rosefeather? Are our warriors hurt? Was there an attack?" Her light green eyes were full of fear, distress and worry.

"No, mom, there are no injured warriors and there was no attack."

"Then why did you call me so frantically?"

Rosefeather flicked her tail in the direction Volefur was. Flowerstar followed the direction where her daughter's tail is pointing and she flicked her ears in surprise. "What's Volefur doing here?"

"Let him explain mom, before you make any assumptions."

"Okay, take me over there and we can discuss this in my den."

Rosefeather turned around and padded back over to Volefur, her mom following behind her. Flowerstar went into her den, saying "Come in" as she past him. Volefur looked at Rosefeather for help; she nodded in encouragement and they both walked in.

Flowerstar was in her nest when they padded in. "So, my daughter tells me that you have something to explain to me. Well, go on and tell me."

Volefur took a deep breath and told the ThunderClan leader what he told his beloved Rosefeather. When he finished, he stood there, waiting.

Flowerstar looked from her daughter to Volefur and back again, deep in thought, her light green eyes far away. She sighed and looked at Volefur. "You can stay, only because I know how much you mean to my daughter. I will announce your arrival." She got up and padded out of her den.

By the time Volefur and Rosefeather got out, the Clan was already surrounding the Highrock.

"Cats of ThunderClan, we have a new arrival, Volefur of RiverClan. He has left his Clan to be with the only Clan he can turn to. His Clan doesn't trust him anymore, so we must show RiverClan that he can be trusted!"

"Why? What'd he do?"

"Um, he had an affair with a cat from a different Clan. He chose to be loyal to her and not to his Clan. But it was a WindClan cat. WindClan turned their backs on him, especially his mate. ShadowClan is cold-hearted so we were the only choice left. Trust him with your life. He's a loyal cat at heart."

"Why should we trust him? He betrayed his Clan! How do we know he won't turn on us as well?" That was Whiteclaw.

"I wouldn't do that! I swear it by StarClan!" Volefur protested.

Flowerstar nodded as if she accepted his words. "It's official. Volefur is a ThunderClan cat now and I expect him to be treated as any ThunderClan warrior or there will be consequences!" With that she leaped down from the Highrock and padded into her den.

Rosefeather jumped in the air like a little kit. "Oh this is so exciting. It'll be like when we were apprentices to become warriors! We became friends right away!" She let out a out a mrrow of laughter. Her dark emerald eyes were bright with excitement.

Volefur's blue eyes looked amused. "Yup, back in the good old days. So, what she we do first?"

Rosefeather looked into his blue eyes and sighed. "Well, I have to gather herbs. Want to help me?"

Volefur nodded. Rosefeather padded to the ravine and Rosefeather led him to a patch of marigold. She delicately picked their stalks and put then down. "Chew the bottom of the stalks gently, close to the ground, but not too close." She went back to work.

When they had collected a fair amount of marigold, they went to find juniper berries. She picked them carefully, telling Volefur to do the same. When they finished, Rosefeather picked up some marigold and tucked it under her shin, then she put some juniper berries in her mouth, careful not to chew.

Volefur purred in amusement. Rosefeather rolled her eyes, then flicked her tail, telling Volefur to do the same. He twitched his whiskers, but did as he was told.

Rosefeather padded slowly back to camp and headed to her den. When she got there, she set them by Creampaw.

"Is that it? Anything else we need Creampaw?"

Creampaw's amber eyes were distant as she thought. "Cobwebs, yarrow, Comfrey Roots, and I think that's it."

"That's right. You continue sorting, and we'll continue collecting." Rosefeather turned and padded up the ravine, squinting in the sunlight for cobwebs. She found a spot that was popular and killed the spider and took the cobwebs. She told Volefur she'd be back in a minute and went to give the cobwebs to Creampaw. She laid them gently on the ground. "Remember, handle the cobwebs with care." Creampaw nodded her head.

Rosefeather bounded back up the ravine to find Volefur waiting for her.

"Rosefeather, did you have any children that belongs to me?" Volefur asked randomly.

Rosefeather paused and turned to face him. "Yes, I did. I had the largest litter that my mother had ever seen, including Angelcloud and Silvercloud. I had six kits. You met the youngest one already."

"That's why I could see the resemblance between Creampaw and my father. My father's warrior name is Beigepelt and he's the exact same shade Creampaw is and he has amber eyes. Where are others? Have I seen them?"

"I don't think so."

"Can I meet them? What are our kits names?"

"Well, yeah, of course you can. You fathered them. Their names are Graypaw, Sparrowpelt, Bluefur, Rabbitpaw, Snowfern and you met Creampaw already."

"How many toms?"

"Two, just Sparrowpelt and Rabbitpaw. The rest are she-cats."

"So when can I meet them?"

"Not right now. My mother would kill and bring the wrath of StarClan on me herself if I don't finish collecting herbs as soon as possible. I am the one who wanted to be a medicine cat, but I had the kits before I even began my training. I've only been a medicine cat a little over two seasons now. Angelcloud taught me what she knows and now I'm teaching Creampaw."

"So, if you had our kits before you began your training to be a medicine cat, then why did you give them up? I mean, they are our kits."

"Because I still wanted to be a medicine cat. The Clan needed one badly. I was their only hope and I didn't want to destroy it. So on the day of their arrival I called Angelcloud, Silvercloud and my mom and told them. Mom told everyone to go find some herbs, food and bedding and not to come back until the end of the day. The Clan thought it was strange, but they did as they were told. One by one, our kits came out and I told Silvercloud she could have them. Mom, Silvercloud and the deputy, Angelcloud, were surprised by my decision, but they went with it. And now, when I look at them, I regret my decision so much that my heart aches with such sadness that I want to tell them. I want to be the one who gives them advice. I want them to know I'm their mother." Rosefeather sighed.

"So why don't you tell them?"

Rosefeather busied herself with sorting the herbs she found so she wouldn't have to answer and told Volefur to help her. Only when they were finished, did she answer him.

"Because they would be furious with me. They would never trust me again."

"Do you want them to grow up and never know you're their real mother? Or grow up knowing you are their mother?"

"I want them to know I am their mother."

"Then lets go tell them."

"No, Volefur. I will not do that. Maybe when Creampaw has her ceremony and I resign as medicine cat, but not right now."

Volefur sighed. "Okay, but you need to tell them soon."

"I will. Now let's finish collecting herbs."

They collected herbs until the sunset. Rosefeather pushed the yarrow in a pile and the Comfrey Root in a pile. Her paws were dirty from digging them up. Volefur's paws were the same. She had taught him to dig deep into the ground to dig them up.

"We're not going to do that ridiculous thing you did with the berries and marigold are we?"

"Yes, we are. Now quit complaining and do it!"

"But it looks silly!" Volefur whined.

Rosefeather purred in amusement. "Sounds like Volefur is scared of cats thinking he looks funny-looking."

"Hey, I am not!"

Rosefeather's whiskers twitched. "Think of it this way, you have more room to carry prey when you're hunting for your new Clan."

"I never thought of that."

Rosefeather rolled her eyes. "That's because you're a stupid furball and you never think before you act. Come on, lets get back to camp and give theses to Creampaw for her to sort."

Rosefeather put the comfrey root under her chin and the yarrow in her mouth, being very careful as it can make her sick. She had told Volefur this when they were collecting the yarrow. With Volefur in the same position, they headed back to camp and dropped the herbs off at the medicine cat's den, where Creampaw was still sorting herbs, but the pile was a lot smaller than it was that morning.

"This is the last of it, Creampaw. When you've finished, get something to eat and then rest; you deserve it."

Creampaw nodded.

Rosefeather headed to the stream behind the medicine cats den, flicking her tail for Volefur to follow her, and jumped into the water without a moments hesitation. Volefur jumped too. They let the stream wash their paws and got out, dripping and shook themselves.

Rosefeather and Volefur padded back into the medicine cats den to find Creampaw curled up in her nest and sleeping.

Rosefeather got a rabbit and dragged it over to her den and shared it with Volefur before he went into the warriors den for the night. After they finished they shared tongues and went their separate ways; Rosefeather went into her den and Volefur went to the warriors den.