Disclaimer: Warriors by Erin Hunter

Thanks to all my reviewers, new and old: Brackenfurlover, Allygirl56, Silverstorm of Riverclan, May Emerald, Fluffy Lady, Warriors-Skywing, Brambleberry or Lionflight, and Dovekit.

To Allygirl56: It's easy to forget. I think Ivytail is a better name anyway, but Ivyflight seems more like Firestar's style.

To Fluffy Lady: You probably know by now I'm not changing the names, but thank you for telling me what you thought.

Chapter 24

Now that Dewstep knew what to look for, he could tell Redstrike was hiding something. When she wasn't doing Clan things, she'd wander off and not return until sunset. No one else noticed because there were so many cats that no one could keep track of individuals. As long as the Clan was fed and the borders patrolled, it didn't matter what certain cats were up to.

Dewstep managed to follow her once. Ivyflight and Dovetooth were both on separate patrols and he was left alone. He saw Redstrike leaving and he quickly left camp to go after her. He stayed far enough behind so she didn't smell or see him. After a while, he climbed a tree and followed her from above, walking along the branches. He was suddenly glad he wasn't scared of heights. Redstrike never knew he was above her.

The tabby with ginger spots soon stopped at the ShadowClan-ThunderClan border. She hid underneath a bush and waited. Dewstep settled above, careful not to let his claws scratch the bark too loudly. He only had to wait for a moment or so before the dark brown Needlefur showed. Redstrike leaped up and ran to him. The two warriors rubbed fur and Dewstep could see them whispering into the other's ear.

A feeling stirred inside Dewstep. He watched them and felt a longing. He wanted a light-colored she-cat rubbing against him, promising love. He had to look away from the two cats below him. Their affection for each other was wonderful. Then as Dewstep got control of himself again, he also realized it was against the code. Their love wasn't against the code, but Dewstep could feel the wrongness of it. Redstrike was placing Needlefur above her Clan. She was here with him, not ready to defend the camp if it were to be attacked. She wasn't hunting for the queens and kits. Dewstep could finally say why loving a cat from another Clan was wrong, but looking at them he didn't want to hurt them.

Then Dewstep caught movement below. He stared into ShadowClan's territory and found he could see a dark cat hidden in the shadows. He squinted, trying to see better. Then yellow eyes looked up at him. They reflected sunlight, but the cat could still see him.

A black tail waved above the bushes and then quickly went down so the two disobedient cats wouldn't see it. Dewstep sighed. He knew it was his brother. For once he wished Darkfire was wrong and this wasn't happening. He quickly waved his tail in answer.

The two brothers watched the cats until each went back to their own territory. Darkfire was the first out of the bush, and only glanced at Needlefur as the warrior ran back to camp. Darkfire walked to the border and watched Dewstep get down from the tree.

"Well?" Darkfire asked.

"I don't want it to be real," Dewstep meowed truthfully.

Darkfire nodded, assuming his brother didn't like the code to be so blatantly broken. He didn't understand the love like Dewstep had.

"Have you made progress?" Darkfire asked.

"No," Dewstep shook his head. It had been four days since they'd last spoken and Sandstorm had taken Dewstep away. "I've been watching Redstrike. This was the first time I followed her."

"Oh," Darkfire meowed. "I've made some. The cats really don't like the code being broken. I asked once what they'd do if they found one cat who had a mate in another Clan. They said if that cat was in ShadowClan, the cat deserved to die."

Dewstep's eyes widened. How could ShadowClan be so heartless?

"It seems harsh, yes," Darkfire agreed when he saw Dewstep's nervousness. "But it's the same thing Hollyleaf would want. She'd punish a code breaker the same way. It prevents the rest from doing the same."

Dewstep realized his brother was speaking the truth. Hollyleaf would want that. He shivered. He'd never noticed how cold that sounded. He'd never met many cats and never had other friends beside his brother before he'd entered the Clan. He now realized death wasn't the answer. Even for the cats that didn't obey the warrior code. What if a cat disobeyed for a good reason? Like when Firestar and Graystripe fed RiverClan? Or Firestar stopped the battle with WindClan? It had stopped the death of cats and though Firestar had been punished, he'd done the right thing. Dewstep knew it. Killing the cats that saved lives was wrong. Dewstep could see in his mind Darkfire striking the gray-and-ginger rogue who hadn't even understood she trespassed against the code.

"I'll see you," Darkfire meowed, bumping his head against his brother. "Remember what I said about changing their minds!" Then the black warrior went back to ShadowClan, not even looking back.

Dewstep stared after his brother. Why wouldn't Darkfire listen to him? He didn't dare call out in case a patrol was nearby. In that moment, with Darkfire's words in his mind, Dewstep made up his mind. He wouldn't restore the code. The Clans followed as well as they could and StarClan had long enforced the code when it suited them. They had to power to do it and to make that job his mission was wrong. What Hollyleaf wanted wasn't what StarClan wanted. They didn't want killing.

Dewstep sighed and turned away. When he saw Darkfire again, probably at the next Gathering, he'd explain his decision and hope Darkfire changed his mind. He hoped Darkfire could see beyond Hollyleaf's goals and wasn't blindly devoted. For now, Dewstep would have to get Redstrike away from Needlefur and help her understand why she couldn't see the ShadowClan warrior again. If she didn't listen to him, the only option left would be to tell Firestar. There was more than one way to stop a code-breaker that did not involve death.

Dewstep now knew the Clan wouldn't follow him if he were to show them Redstrike's faults. They might shun Redstrike and Firestar might punish her by making her stay in camp, but they wouldn't kill her or hate the other cats that were born from unions like Needlefur's and Redstrike's. Dewstep couldn't possibly take advantage of that. He was a half-Clan cat himself. He'd be one of the first to go if they decided to purge the Clan.

Dewstep sighed. He knew he'd have to reach Darkfire soon. Maybe they'd meet again at the border. First he had to find Redstrike.

-Line-

The she-cat was startled when he caught up to her. They hadn't get reached camp. He walked beside her and explained what he'd seen. He tried to make her understand that it was dangerous to have a ShadowClan mate while she was in ThunderClan. He showed her she had a choice to make. Either make Needlefur officially her mate by joining ShadowClan, who could use cats, or leave Needlefur behind. The last way was to escape the punishment of StarClan. He named all the punishments he could think of that had happened to similar unions: Silverstream dying; Bluestar's Mosskit dying and how she turned against StarClan near the end; Feathertail's death; Leafpool's exile and one of her kits born blind, the other "dying". (He stayed with the tale that Hollyleaf was killed in the tunnel collapse.)

Redstrike stared at him in shock. Worried that he'd found out about her love and scared of all the punishments that could happen, made her hesitant to speak. She didn't want Needlefur to die or their potential kits to be impaired or killed. Dewstep asked her to stop seeing Needlefur and find a cat in ThunderClan that she could love. He warned her that if she didn't, he'd have to tell Firestar.

Redstrike gave a hesitant promise. They were close to camp now and so she said no more. They entered the bramble bushes and then separated.

"What were you doing with Redstrike?" Dovetooth asked.

Dewstep could see she was angry. She frowned at him severely. She wanted an explanation!

"We were having a talk," Dewstep meowed.

She narrowed her eyes. "If you love her, you better tell me. I don't want to waste my time on a tom that's already picked a mate!"

Dewstep put his ears back. "I don't love her," he protested. He really didn't want her asking what he and Redstrike had been speaking about. That was to be kept secret unless Redstrike continued to see Needlefur.

She looked embarrassed. "Then who do you want as a mate?" she asked.

He was glad when she didn't press what the conversation had been about. Then he realized what she was asking.

"Um, I," Dewstep hedged. He didn't want to say one way or another. Whoever he loved, Dovetooth or Ivyflight, one of them would be wounded by his confession. He didn't know if they'd ever love each other as sisters again if he chose.

Just like if he chose his Clan over Hollyleaf, Dewstep realized. If Darkfire wanted to continue restoring the Clans and Dewstep didn't, then Darkfire would never trust Dewstep again. They wouldn't be brothers anymore if they each went in different directions and chose a different path to follow. Dewstep knew something would happen soon that would test them and show which path they each would choose.

Why must Dewstep keep changing his mind? It's starting to give me a headache with how quickly he decides to do something different!

What about you? Could I have done better? Spread it out?