A/N: Hey!
Just BTW: This chapter is in Twigstar's POV *WHOOP!*
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Twigstar peered out of his den as Honeyheart organized patrols.
The new warriors, Mapleshade and Yellownose were making new nests for themselves in the warrior's den. They both seemed bone-tired, but excited at the same time. Twigstar let out a purr of amusement. They had worked hard to achieve this goal.
He was surprised how strongly Mapleshade pulled through the fact that Whitetail would never mentor her again. It must have taken a lot of bravery … during Rose's kitting … Twigstar shuddered at the thought. His own mate, Snowpelt, had gone through the same pain. But then again, Snowpelt and their one and only kit, Fangkit …
Twigstar squeezed his eyes shut, hoping to block away the painful memories. Every single day he desperately hoped they were alive. Even though Snowpelt had betrayed him in the end, he still loved her with every single breath.
If you're in StarClan, Snowpelt … Twigstar shuddered. You should have lived a longer, happier life.
Twigstar rested his chin on his paws, replaying the events that had happened so long ago. He and Snowpelt had argued for the last moon they were together; each had different ideas. Twigstar, back then Twigleg, wanted to become deputy. Snowpelt debated against this, however. Said that he would spend so much time for the Clan, there would be none left for Fangkit and her. Besides, by then, Snowpelt had gone through three harsh moons with ThunderClan. She had come to the forest when she was a rogue, and was starting to not enjoy the hard life. With every passing day, she began to be cranky and scared; terrified of upcoming battles and anything slightly dangerous that came close to her kit.
Twigstar sighed wistfully. If only the two of them had stayed.
Snowpelt had run away with Fangkit in the middle of the night, seasons ago …
"Hey Twigstar!" The ThunderClan leader looked up at the call of his name. Spottedtail.
"Good morning," he greeted. Spottedtail purred. "Graywhisker said that your wounds are fully healed. Do you want to join a patrol?"
Twigstar considered her question.
He was in no mood to go hunting or patrolling with any other cat while the harsh memories of Snowpelt and Fangkit were still fresh in his mind. He didn't want to admit it, but he was growing more moody day by day.
"I think I'd enjoy a quiet hunt by myself," Twigstar responded. He stood and stretched, shaking out his tangled pelt. Spottedtail eyed him for a moment, then nodded. "Suit yourself," she meowed curtly. "I'll tell Honeyheart."
Twigstar nodded in agreement, then twisted to groom his ruffled pelt.
After Twigstar had finished cleansing his fur, he padded out of his den stiffly and headed for the fresh-kill pile. His eyes roamed the healthy, sleek pelts of his Clanmates. Pride fluttered through his chest as he dipped his head in greeting to each one of them. ThunderClan was strong, despite the approaching leaf-bare.
"Twigstar, we have a mouse for you," Sorrelkit squeaked. Bumblekit nodded eagerly. "It was the biggest one!" He blurted out. "We saved it just for you!"
"Why thank you," Twigstar purred, settling down to eat. "That was very thoughtful."
Sorrelkit's blue eyes shone. "Did you hear that?" She hissed, nudging her brother sharply. "We got praised by Clan leader!" Bumblekit puffed out his fluffy chest. "Of course I heard!" He scoffed. "I came up with that idea!" Sorrelkit gave him a cuff on his ear. "Did not!" She squeaked.
"Did to!" Bumblekit snapped. Sorrelkit let out a tiny squeal, than leaped and jumped onto her brother. "Shut up!" She hissed.
Twigstar flicked his tail in amusement as the two kits play-fought. It had been so long ago when he did that …
Just then, Tawnykit slipped out of the nursery. Her tail dragged behind her on the sand, and her shoulders and head sagged. She's probably missing Sparrowkit, Twigstar thought with a pang. Poor, poor Tawnykit.
"Why don't you play with Sorrelkit and Bumblekit?" Twigstar suggested gently. Tawnykit shook her head quickly. "They're older than me," she mumbled. "They don't like to play the games I like to play." Twigstar cocked his head to one side. "I'm sure the elders' would like to have you," he reasoned. Tawnykit's stubby tail shot up. "Really?" She echoed. Twigstar dipped his head. "They have plenty of tales to tell."
"Okay!" Tawnykit turned her paws in the direction of the elders' den. "Wait!" Twigstar called.
Tawnykit turned. "Yes?" she meowed, nervousness glinting in her brown eyes. "You should bring them some prey," Twigstar declared. "I know that they love kits with great first impressions."
"Oh, yeah!" Tawnykit squeaked. She dashed towards the fresh-kill pile, jumping on top and closing her tiny jaws around a rabbit. Straining, the kit tried to haul the rabbit with her.
Twigstar jumped up, licking his lips and savoring the remains of the mouse. He sprang towards Tawnykit. "Want some help?" He asked gently. Tawnykit nodded eagerly while the ThunderClan leader leaned down to pick up the prey. "Thanks Twigstar!" squeaked the kit. Twigstar nodded. "Off we go, then." He mumbled through clamped jaws.
Tawnykit turned and dashed off towards the elders' den, tiny tail streaming out behind her. Twigstar purred in amusement, approaching the elders den behind her.
Cinderclaw's head peeked through the opening. "Why hello Tawnykit!" She cooed. "I brought some fresh-kill for you!" Tawnykit announced. "About time," Gorsewhisker muttered. Flowerstream shooed the cranky old tom away. "That was sweet of you. I see Twigstar bringing it for you. You ought to teach us how to command the Clan leader some day!"
Tawnykit purred. Twigstar flicked his ears, than set the prey in front of the three elderly cats. "Good morning," he meowed politely, pretending that he had not heard what Flowerstream had just meowed aloud. Cinderclaw nodded dismissively, turning her attention back to the tiny kit. "How has your mother been lately?" She pressed.
Twigstar backed away, understanding Cinderclaw's concern. The whole Clan was worried how Morningdew and Honeyheart would cope the passing of their sons. Poppyleaf had no family left in the Clan except for Mapleshade. She would be proud that her daughter is now a warrior, Twigstar thought guiltily. His heart ached with sadness as he pushed through the gorse barrier. Three deaths he could've prevented.
Why didn't I join the battle yesterday? He thought bitterly. The whole Clan knew that Twigstar was on his eighth life. It was hard to conceal. Besides, by the way white had started to fleck his muscle and his stiff movements had started to occur, it wasn't hard to tell that he was growing old by each passing day.
A gusty sigh flew from Twigstar's lips as he started to run. His paws thrummed the ground softly as he urged his muscles to work even harder. He wasn't as fast as he used to be.
Twigstar raised his head and sniffed the air. Rabbit. A fresh, big one too by the smell of it.
The ThunderClan leader dipped his nose to the ground, steadily following the scent trail. I'm getting closer ….
There!
Twigstar's ears shot up in surprise. This piece of prey was huge!
One I can't miss, He added to himself.
Sinking into a hunter's crouch, the leader inched forward, tail straight behind him. His whiskers twitched in anticipation as he grew closer and closer to his catch. His biggest one all moon.
Suddenly, a paw streaked out from the bushes and caught the rabbit, hooking it back. Twigstar let out a snarl. Some other cat was stealing the prey!
With a roar, he followed the direction of where the rabbit was snagged. That was his! Didn't the rogue/SkyClan cat/kittypet/loner know that they were on the ThunderClan border?
They certainly aren't from the Clan by the smell of it! Twigstar thought angrily. He lifted his nose into the air once more and streaked after the scent trail. He could hear the thrumming of paws of the other cat racing to follow the rabbit, who had cunningly slipped away from its capturer's claws.
Twigstar stopped and veered to the left, hoping to intercept the prey as it dashed madly in a straight line.
His luck held as the rabbit burst through the bracken, heading straight for the ThunderClan leader. Twigstar jumped and snatched up the prey, closing his jaws around the rabbit's neck. With a satisfying snap, the animal fell dead.
"Hey!" Twigstar looked up at the direction of the voice.
"That was my catch!" A broad shouldered tabby stepped from the bushes, hackles raised and claws unsheathed. "I found it first!"
Twigstar forced his fur to lay flat. "Are you sure?" He meowed lightly. "I'm pretty certain that I've been stalking it for a while now. Who are you to say that you had it first?"
The tom bared his teeth, arching his spine. The sun glinted off his muscular pelt, and for a moment, Twigstar was captured by the look of familiarity that overwhelmed him. This cat …
Without a warning, the tom streaked towards the catch. "That's it," Twigstar snarled. He had gotten this prey! And besides, this cat was a trespasser.
Twigstar leaped, but the tom was fast, quicker than the old leader. The tabby reared and brought his forepaws crashing down, sending Twigstar tumbling. He was on the rabbit in an instant, but Twigstar flashed out his hind-leg, catching the tabby on the muzzle. The tom turned and growled, springing onto Twigstar's exposed belly.
The tabby's unusually long claw's glinted in the sunlight before coming down on Twigstar's throat.
. . .
"Greetings, Twigstar."
The ThunderClan leader blinked, jumping to his paws as he was met with an image of starry cats.
"StarClan!" He gasped. At once, the memories came crashing down; the rabbit, the strikingly familiar tom, the fight …
Twigstar searched the cluster of StarClan cats, looking for Snowpelt. His heart yearned for the fact that she would not be in their ranks.
"Your previous mate is not with us yet," said a tiny russet she-cat. Twigstar blinked in surprise. It was as if they had read his mind!
"We can see it in your eyes," the she-cat continued. "We all never quite forget the love we used to have."
Twigstar dipped his head in agreement, relieved.
Another tom stepped forward, mist swirling around his storm-gray pelt. "Stormpelt!" Twigstar rushed forward and rubbed his cheek against his brother's in affection. His younger sibling had died in a border raid.
"You have lost a life," Stormpelt interrupted sternly, though his eyes shone with concern. Twigstar's breath caught in his throat as an image of him stepped forward, almost solidly colored. He had to squint to see the tiniest bit of transparency in his shadow-like form.
"You are on your ninth life," the tiny russet she-cat added. Twigstar's eyes narrowed. This was Stormpelt's mate, Redfur. Twigstar had never quite trusted her.
Stormpelt thrust his muzzle in Twigstar's face. "You need to be strong through these harsh times, brother." He warned. "StarClan has seen the danger that will loom up to ThunderClan. It is up to you to prevent it."
Twigstar's eyes widened. Danger? He shivered. What did the future have in store for his Clan?
"Go now." The two words hung in the air, just one voice. Twigstar's gaze swept the group of cats. It didn't seem to come from any of them; all of their mouths' were closed.
"Family awaits," Stormpelt whispered.
Family?
With that, Twigstar sank into darkness.
. . .
Twigstar blinked, suddenly back in ThunderClan.
The tabby was still there, though the rabbit still lay broken and lifeless between the two toms.
"You … I killed you!" The tom cried incredulously. "How …?"
The ThunderClan leader rose to his full height, and the tabby's jaw fell open. "My name is Twigstar and I am leader of ThunderClan. All leaders have nine lives."
"Nine lives?" echoed the tom in disbelief. "It can't be true!"
Twigstar dipped his head. "It is," he said quietly.
The tom's eyes grew round. "Mother used to tell me story's about the cats in the forest. She said that all leaders had nine lives and there were warriors and…" the tom's voice trailed off. "You're one of them?"
Once again, StarClan's two words crept into Twigstar's mind: Family awaits. "Tell me, who is your mother?" Twigstar urged.
The tom took a step back. "Why do you want to know?" he snapped. "Actually, I shouldn't be talking to you at all!" He darted forward for the prey, but Twigstar slammed a paw into his side without flinching. "What is your mother's name?" He hissed, pushing his muzzle into the young cat's face.
Trembling, the tom let out a squeak. "Snow." He replied.
Snow?
"And your name is?" Twigstar pressed.
"Fang." The tabby replied meekly.
"Fangkit?" Twigstar repeated in bewilderment. Snowpelt! The tom took a fearful step back. "Yeah …" He stopped. "What? Fangkit? What kinda name is that?"
Suddenly, it all made sense. No wonder this tom looked so familiar! It was Fangkit! His son!
"I've waited so long, Fangkit!" Twigstar rushed forward and pressed his cheek to his kin's. He breathed in deeply, inhaling Snowpelt's lost and forgotten scent.
Fangkit leaned back. "I just killed you and now you're welcoming me?" He muttered. Twigstar shook his head. "Snowpelt," he breathed.
"What did you say?" Fangkit cried. "Snowpelt," Twigstar repeated. The tom jumped. "That … that was my mother's warrior name!" The tom yelped. "STALKER!"
"No, no, I'm no stalker," Twigstar meowed. "I was your mother's mate. My warrior name was Twigleg."
Fangkit's jaw dropped. "SNOW TOLD ME ABOUT YOU!" He yowled. "She said you were my father!" The tom's eyes suddenly narrowed. "And she said you chose power over love."
"What? No!" Cried Twigstar. "No, you've got it all wrong!"
Fangkit took a step back, his tone harsh. "She told me everything, Twigstar. The fights, when she fled in the night …" Fangkit's eyes clouded. He whipped around, shrieking: "You're no father of mine!"
Twigstar started forward, preparing to reason with the stubborn tom, but Fangkit let out another yowl. "Oh, and it's JUST FANG! Jeez, I'm not a kit!" With that, the tom fled into the trees, leaving the rabbit behind.
Twigstar watched him run away. It felt as if thorns were being skewered into his heart, tearing it into tiny, tiny bits. He stared after his son's tail as it vanished in the trees. His one time to make peace to his former mate … and it was gone.
The ThunderClan leader flopped down onto the earthy ground, relief and sadness surging inside him. His two loved ones were alive. But then again, they had left him forever.
Danger is coming for ThunderClan.
Twigstar bolted up straight, ears pricked. StarClan!
Protect your cat's, Twigstar, or all else is doomed.
A/N: *GASPS* What does StarClan have in store for ThunderClan?
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