"Silverstar, we would've never crossed on your territory if we had other options" Bluestar stated "This was the only way we could get to the gathering"
Her words did nothing to appease the Shadowclan cats.
"I say they're spies?" Lichenfang growled softly. Cinderfur and Tangleburr padding forward slightly. Icebelly did spot Whitethroat and Darkflower but he did his best not to look at them.
"Spies?" Tiger-roar his way forward to stand next to Bluestar, his thrust forward toward Lichenfang until their noses were less than a mouse-length apart. "What would we spy for? We are no where near your camp"
Lichenfang curled her lip back to reveal thorn-sharp teeth "Just give us the word, my sister, and we'll tear them apart"
"You can try" Tiger-roar growled, his muscles bunching up, displaying how much taller he was to most of the Shadowclan cats. Cats like Silverstar, Lichenfang, Houndtooth, and Thornblood stood more of a chance. He could probably guess Silverstar and Lichenfang were glad to have gotten Yellowfang's height.
For a few heartbeats Silverstar said nothing. Icebelly's muscles tensed. Beside him, Graystripe growled low in her throat, glaring at Finchflight. Mousefur bared her teeth at Gravelheart who raised an unsheathed paw, Whitethroat seemed to have a silent conversation with Silverstar, Seedspots launched forward and pinned Ash-heart down, Cinderfrost covered Seedspots and got in a tussle with Cinderfur, and Sandstorm's pale green eyes shone with readiness to fight, probably trying get the anger at not being able to kill Chestnutclaw out of her.
"Keep back" Silverstar grunted at last to her warriors "We'll let them pass, I want Thunderclan here for this gathering"
/
"That could've gone better" Ebonyfoot muttered
"You think?" Chivestalk snapped, Wrenfeather stopped her sister from cuffing Ebonyfoot over the ears.
The had gotten right into it when Silverstar was passive aggressive about the attack on the Thunderpath and accusing Bluestar of sheltering Brokenstar's followers in their territory. Silverstar had stated that her warriors caught their scent throughout the territory, the Shadowclan leader seemed a bit paranoid.
Bluestar had denied it up and down. They two mollies ended up in a screeching match giving insult after insult without skipping a beat. They ended up fighting and Duskstar and Stormstar had pulled them apart. The only thing that calmed Bluestar down was when Stormstar told her that his clan found Smokepaw, Petalpaw, and Owlpaw's bodies.
Silverstar had spat at Bluestar that her clan was stuck here because there was no way they were going through Shadowclan territory without getting clawed. Some of the Windclan cats had hissed at them as well believing Silverstar's words.
Whitethroat and Darkflower said a quiet goodbye before following after their clanmates. He saw Tiger-roar stalk over, he thought the tabby would yell at him for talking with Whitethroat and Darkflower but the tabby walked past him.
"I hope you're satisfied" Tiger-roar snarled at Bluestar as he took his place beside her.
"This is not the time or place" Bluestar replied curtly, she drew a licked paw to her bleeding ear.
"You're one to talk about not the place" Tiger-roar snapped, tail lashing "How are we supposed to get home?"
Icebelly could see that his clanmates were worried that Bluestar and Tiger-roar would start fighting, thankfully it didn't come to that when Stormstar padded over with some of his warriors.
"I can offer you a way home" Stormstar mewed, he glanced at Icebelly as he spoke, and Icebelly guessed he was remembering how he and Graystripe had helped Riverclan by giving the prey. But no one except Bluestar knew about what they had been doing.
Before Bluestar could speak, Tiger-roar hissed "Why should we trust Riverclan?"
'We don't have a choice mouse-brain' Icebelly thought 'it's either this or get clawed by Shadowclan'
Stormstar ignored him, his amber and blue eyes on Bluestar waiting for her response. Bluestar had shoved Tiger-roar away then she dipped her head respectfully. "Thank you, Stormstar. I accept your offer"
The Riverclan leader nodded briefly and turned to escort her out of the clearing. There was still some muttering among the Thunderclan cats as Bluestar led her warriors through the bushes and up the slope out of the hollow. Cats from Shadowclan and Windclan hissed at them, even though Riverclan warriors flanked them protectively on both sides. Icebelly realized with a jolt that the divisions within the forest had shifted in the space of a single gathering.
He was relieved when they reached the top of the slope and left the hostile gathering behind them. He noticed Graystripe trying to edge closer to Silverstream, but Greenflower and Mosspelt were in her way, giving Silverstream a lick from time to time.
"You're sure you're not tired" Mosspelt mewed
"It's a long journey when you're expecting kits" Greenflower fussed
"It was tiring for me when I was still pregnant with Dawnpaw" Mosspelt added
"No guys, I'm fine" Silverstream replied patiently, casting a frustrated glance at Graystripe over her friend's head. Icebelly pulled Graystripe to walk beside him.
Tiger-roar brought up the rear of the Thunderclan patrol, swinging his huge head aggressively from side to side as if he expected the Riverclan cats to attack any moment.
Bluestar, on the other paw, seemed to be quite at ease traveling with the other clan. She had been chatting idly with Stormstar, asking about Shellpaw and Maplepaw and grandkits. Once they were away from Fourtrees she let Stormstar take the lead, while she dropped back to join Mistyfoot.
"Hello, Mistyfoot" Bluestar mewed
"Hello, Mother" Mistyfoot replied, edging closer to Bluestar.
"I've heard that your kits were caught in the river" Mistyfoot looked down "Are they well?"
Mistyfoot rubbed themself against Bluestar, whispering something that Icebelly couldn't catch. Bluestar softly licked Mistyfoot on the head, an act of comfort.
Watching his leader and the Riverclan warrior walking step for step, Icebelly couldn't help but chuckle softly as their blue-gray fur shone almost identical in the moonlight. They had the same neat, compact bodies, and when they had to leap over a log that lay in their path they both flexed their limbs with the same economical ripple of muscles. Stonestorm, coming up behind was an exact copy of Rainclaw but had Bluestar's chilling blue eyes like Mistyfoot.
It was shocking how close they were a family even though they were in different clans. He still held a good relationship with Flameshell and Moonheart even though they were in Riverclan and Windclan though he wondered if it would last if a battle broke out. He didn't even know about his relationship with his half-siblings: Flycatcher, Beestripe, and Jumpwhisker.
/
On the second dawn after the gathering, Icebelly woke in the warrior's den to find that Graystripe had already left the nest. Duststorm had filled in the spot in his sleep, Sandstorm laying on both of them and Raveneye on his left side.
Gone to see Silverstream, Icebelly thought with a sigh if frustration. He knew that Silverstream was expecting kits but Graystripe didn't need to get caught.
"He's been gone for awhile" Sandstorm muttered in his ear "Even I know not to make visits obvious"
Yawning widely, Icebelly pushed his way through the outer branches of the bush, and shook moss from his coat while he looked around clearing. The sun was beginning to edge its way above the bracken wall, casting long shadows over the bare ground. The sky was pure, cloudless, and blue.. Birdsong all around held the promise of easy prey.
"Hey, Brackenfang Magpiethroat" Icebelly called to the two toms "Do you two want to come hunting?"
"Sure" Magpiethroat mewed with Brackenfang at his side "I could eat" he touched his nose to Icebelly's
"Can I come too?" Raveneye yawned rubbing himself against Icebelly "I want to hunt before I have to train Tansypaw"
"Your niece running you ragged?" Brackenfang purred
"She has Duststorm's temper and attitude" Raveneye sighed "How Cypressflower manged her I'll never know"
"We'll see how Whitestorm handles Sunnypaw" Magpiethroat chuckled "That'll be fun to watch". He was pleased with Bluestar's choice of mentors for his kits: Sunnypaw had Whitestorm, Flurrypaw had Miststrike, and Fuzzypaw had Fuzzypelt.
Tansypaw was sure a pawful. He had been visiting Rookslash and though she got better, she wanted to stay a kittypet having the name Nightlight though she was expecting kits and would give some of them to the clan which Bluestar agreed with.
/
"Mama, stop" Graystripe whined
"You will not look like a thorn bush" Willowpelt lowly hissed trying to tame her kit's fur "I think you inherited your grandfather's fur even Whitestorm's fur isn't this bad"
Icebelly had to hold in his laughter, glad that Nettlesong was there to help him. Icebelly, Magpiethroat, Brackenfang, and Raveneye, had hunted til sunhigh, they had caught 3 squirrels, 2 thrushes, and 4 voles. He had brought the squirrels and one thrush for the queens to eat while he let the others take the rest to the prey pile. He had found Graystripe and dragged her with him.
Graystripe wasn't doing any better when Frostbite started grooming her. "Mother"
Frostbite shushed her, Whitekit and Hazykit wrapped in her tail. It had been interesting to learn that Frostbite and Miststrike helped raise Graystripe along with Willowpelt and Whitestorm.
"Everything okay? Spottedleaf called, Seedspots at her side.
"Yep, Graystripe getting groomed by her moms" Icebelly replied "She's fine"
"Well I've brought some borage, Speckletail Goldenflower you've said your milk won't come"
"Yes" Speckletail mewed "It's my age but I'm not letting these two die"
Spottedleaf brought the leaves over to the golden queens while Seedspots just looked around. "Something wrong?" Nettlesong asked softly, Marigoldkit resting against his tail.
Seedspots rolled her eyes at his words "I'm just questioning why you're here and not hunting or fighting for the clan"
Nettlesong looked a little taken aback by her words "I..I never really liked that life, I've always been interested in nursery life"
"You don't even have a mate or kits"
"You're my kit" Nettlesong replied
Seedspots laughed at that "You're pathetic for thinking that"
The nursery was silent, all eyes on Seedspots.
"What is wrong you?" Icebelly hissed, pulling Nettlesong close when it looked like the tom was about to cry.
"No not just that, what's wrong with you and Voletail?" Cypressflower said, standing beside Icebelly "We raised you and then you mock us, what did we do to deserve this?"
"Being weak" Seedspots stated "It's just facts, Chestnutclaw while a monster had a point, the weak die and the strong survive, the clan is just enabling you two to laze about, Icebelly you shouldn't follow their example"
Nettlesong started crying into Icebelly's fur and Cypressflower looked furious. Icebelly about his mouth to speak but Spottedleaf stopped him. "I think you've overstayed your welcome" the medicine cat said firmly "Get out Seedspots and do something if you think your so high and mightily instead of mocking two cats who've done nothing wrong"
"But-"
"I can have any warrior escort me, you've lost the privilege"
Seedspots huffed "Whatever" and left the den.
Spottedleaf sighed "I'm so sorry"
"Don't apologize for something you didn't do" Cypressflower replied, trying to clear her tears/
"I'm going to rip that bitch" Graystripe growled coming over to Nettlesong "Don't shed tears for her brother"
/
"Thank you Gorsepaw" Crowfur rasped
"Your welcome" Gorsepaw replied "Do you need your ticks cracked Larksplash?"
The old tortie yawned "I'm alright, you can go youngster"
Gorsepaw smiled and grabbed the soaked moss and padded into the dirt place to dump it. They had finished burying the soiled moss when they heard their sister call their name. "Gorsepaw?"
It had taken some time from talking with Runningbrook and Ashfoot but they now knew they were non-binary, Morningflower and Quailpaw had hugged them when they came out.
"Yeah?"
"Come, mom wants to show us something" Quailpaw replied "She said it's something all Windclan cats need to learn"
Gorsepaw's mind buzzed hearing that. "What about Rabbitwhisker or Robinpelt?"
"They're waiting for us, now come on" their sister was shoving them now.
Gorsepaw chuckled "Okay okay"
They quickly followed Quailpaw out of camp, nearly crashing into Darkfoot,Stoneclaw, and Bristlestorm.
"Watch it" Darkfoot hissed. The tom was always little snappy but since the death of his mother Plumclaw, he's been more quiet however since Windclan came back home he's back to his old self. Though he was rude to moor-runners to begin with.
"Sorry" Quailpaw called
They rushed past the camp guards on watch, Moonheart and Stagleap and headed to the tree stump.
Gorsepaw saw his mentor and Robinpelt but he also saw their mother, Duskstar, Whitewhisker, Crescentpaw with her mentor Cloudrunner, Ploverpaw with her mentor Whitetail, Rosemarypaw with her mentor Rushtail, and Curlypaw with her mentor Deadfoot.
"Glad you two decided to join us" Rushtail drawled
"Gorsepaw was taking care of the elders" Quailpaw stated as she sat next to Robinpelt.
"You didn't have to keep doing it Gorsepaw" Rabbitwhisker mewed
"I know but I wanted to" Gorsepaw replied
"Alright then" Duskstar lifted his long black and white tail "We will be learning Badger talk"
"Why would we talk to Badgers?" Ploverpaw asked "Don't we attack them like any other clan?"
"Windclan tries to live in peace with the badgers" Morningflower mewed
"They like our territory to have their cubs" Rabbitwhisker added
"We protect their cubs and they help us with food" Rushtail finished
"Exactly" Duskstar purred "We learned their speak and we teach them ours" He turned and started to lead them to the badger set.
Gorsepaw was anxious, talking with a badger and not attacking it?
They saw the burrow, Duskstar let out a growling sound and a black and white head poked out. It was a badger cub, probably a few weeks old. A few more cubs began to tumble out of the burrow, eyeing the Windclan cats with curiosity.
"Do we talk to them?" Rosemarypaw asked
"Not them yet" Rushtail warned
"We talk to mama first" Cloudrunner added
Gorsepaw realized the white tom was right when they saw the mother badger pad out of the burrow, pulling her cubs to her. Gorsepaw steadied their breathe and reminded themself that they would be fine.
/
"Icebelly" Bluestar called. Icebelly looked up from his thrush he had been sharing with Runningwind and Mousefur.
"Could you come with me to check the tides near twolegplace?" Bluestar asked "I need to know if our other food source is gone or not" Bluestar had punished Seedspots for insulting the royalty, she was on nursery and elder duty until further notice. She had been very disappointed in her daughter.
"Alright" he replied "Should we take any others?"
"It's fine"
"What?" Mousefur said in shock
"I've been hearing some things around twolegplace" Bluestar mewed "I don't want more death and I want to check it myself"
"I'll take a patrol near twolegplace and the Shadowclan border" Mousefur mewed "If I may?"
"You can, take cats with you who won't cause a fight"
"Of course Bluestar" Runningwind assured
Mousefur stood up "I'll get Ebonyfoot, Brackenfang, Snowfeather,Magpiethroat, Chivestalk, and Lynxfoot"
It didn't take too long to head near twolegplace. They searched the area, helped some kittypets from soggy areas. They started to double back when the conversation began "No I'm serious, sometimes cats are assigned mates and the kits change clans because of it"
"Isn't that what happened with Mistyfoot, Stonestorm, and Shellpaw Bluestar?" Icebelly asked "Did you give them up or..." he trailed off
"Riverclan wanted to fight for them but Stormstar, Stormjaw then and Rainclaw didn't want that" Bluestar mewed "Leaf-bare was harsh then, White-eye was caring for Runningwind and Mousefur, I wanted them to live so I let Stormstar and Rainclaw take them, Shellpaw was an agreement me and Stomstar made"
"It wasn't easy was it?"
Bluestar lowered her head "No, but I knew it was the right choice" she glanced at him "You'll learn to deal with it with Silverstream's kits"
Icebelly knows he shouldn't be surprised that Bluestar figured it out but he's still surprised "How'd you know?"
"I'll admit you and Sandstorm were slick but Graystripe, I caught them and told them to not be so obvious"
"Of course" Icebelly sighed "You said that sometimes cats are assigned mates?"
"Yes, clan leaders and medicine cats have meetings to talk about this, we know inbreeding happens in the clans and we try to stop it as much as possible but something can't be helped as you could see with Redtail and Willowpelt being mates with Whitestorm"
"I was slightly concerned about it"
"I just gave up with those three, I'm glad none of the kits they made have any health or physical problems" Bluestar signed "White-eye is a great example, she is mates with Sparrowpelt but she also mated with a Windclan tom which resulted in Runningwind while Mousefur is Sparrowpelt's, she was assigned to both"
"Wow they seem so in love"
"They are and were then but White-eye wanted to help drown the inbreeding, a good deputy, my first deputy when I became leader, Runningwind is aware of his blood but he'll always view Sparrowpelt as his father"
"Who else?"
"Thunderclan doesn't do match making to much, that's more Shadowclan and Windclan but: Sunstar and Speckletail were assigned at the time and had Goldenflower and Lionheart, Poppydawn and Windflight were assigned mates and had Sweetheart, Rosetail, and Thistleclaw" she said Thistleclaw's name like bile.
"I've heard some things about Thistleclaw, he was Mossthorn father"
Bluestar sighed once again, leaping over a tree stump.
"He was a strong warrior no doubt about it but he's answer to everything was a fight, it wasn't a way to live I thought when Snowflower became mates with him that things could get better and curve his anger but good things don't last"
"Who's Snowflower?"
"My littermate, half-sister Cloudrunner is her father, Whitestorm's mother, she and I had gotten into an argument and we found a Shadowclan patrol" Bluestar looked away "She was too battle hungry from being stuck in the nursery and she..." Bluestar seemed to choke a little "she...got hit by a monster or car as you say"
"I'm sorry, it must've been awful watching that"
"Not as awful as having to bury her body by the Thunderpath to not horrify her own son, mate, and her clanmates" Bluestar looked down at her paws "I hated the Thunderpath more than I already did that day"
Icebelly laid his tail on Bluestar's back and licked her head. It was silent for a few moments both of them taking in the silence.
Of course, we aren't allowed to have nice things.
"Help! Someone help me!"
Icebelly and Bluestar rushed to where the vice came from, Icebelly spotted a cat covered on mud and stuck in a hole and it was filling up. "Chocolate?"
"Snowball, help please?"
Bluestar jumped into the hole, mud staining her blue-gray fur, she started shoving Chocolate upwards and Icebelly grabbed the tabby's scruff. Bluestar gave a hard shove and Chocolate launched forward. Icebelly fell backwards and Chocolate was panting on top of him.
"We're taking this one back to camp" Bluestar stated, shaking her muddied fur "Pinestar got busy"
Icebelly groaned as a response.
/
Chivestalk ignored the water lapping at her belly fur, it wasn't much different from the training sessions Robinwing did with her, and her siblings. She learned pretty quickly that Cherrycloud was a menace and Raveneye was very calculating just as much as Robinwing
"I hope even those rouges have the sense not to be here for the floods" Runningwind mewed
"Chestnutclaw won't" Mousefur growled "He'll try to kill us"
"I'll slay him" Chivestalk lowly hissed, she wanted blood for Stagpaw "I'm disgusted that we share blood"
"Let Sandstorm deal with that" Runningwind mewed "She's doing a lot to track him down"
"I bet" Mousefur mewed "My niece is stubborn, runs in the family with Bluestar and me as the example"
"What about me?" Runningwind exclaimed
"You and Redtail were far from snappy and stubborn and you know it, Brindleface was the tough parent between you three" The patrol minus Runningwind starting laughing.
Snowfeather stopped laughing, her face turning serious "I think I heard something"
"Where?" Chivestalk asked
Snowfeather didn't respond only rushed in the direction of the noise, Runningwind and Chivestalk followed closely after. Chivestalk looked around, it felt very off but she couldn't put her paw on it.
Snowfeather stopped dead, sniffing the air "I thought I-" she didn't finish because a brown tom went for her throat.
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