Frostmask stalked through the quiet, inky-black forest. Her paw-steps were muffled by the thick layer of pine needles on the forest floor, and she was almost relieved to feel slimy mud between her toes, oozing out between the bed of needles.
It was finally creeping closer to new-leaf, and a thaw had touched every pawstep of ShadowClan territory. Although it was clear they weren't totally out of leaf-bare's grasp yet— the nights were still cold, and prey was still scarce— ShadowClan had finally allowed themselves to dream of warm pools of sunshine, overfilling fresh-kill piles, and stuffed bellies. As every passing day brought them a step closer to new-leaf, each sunrise also seemed to brighten eyes and lift tails a bit higher.
It wouldn't be long now. Frostmask assured herself.
But, new-leaf would bring its own kind of troubles. Although the forest had been quiet for the past couple of moons as the clans focused their energy on catching enough food to eat rather than squabbling over borders or old feuds, once prey was running well enough that their basic needs were taken care of, Clans would surely turn their attention back to their wars. There was no way around it— the cycle was as regular and reliable as the seasons themselves.
At least the tensions within ShadowClan should cool once cats are less hungry, and when we can focus on a common enemy again. Frostmask mused.
Ever since Dampfang's and Autumnleap's fight a little over a quarter moon ago, all of her clan-mates seemed on edge. Frostmask felt like she'd been walking on eggshells in camp, trying not set any cat off.
Despite Frostmask, Autumnleap, and Lizardpaw trying to explain the situation that led to the fight to Sedgestar, he was unwavering in his decision to disciplined both Autumnleap and Dampfang.
"I don't care who started the argument. I can't have my warriors drawing blood from each other," he'd said. "Dampfang wasn't in the right, but neither were you, Autumnleap. Which is why you both will serve out the same punishment."
Sedgestar had demoted Dampfang and Autumnleap to apprentice status for a half-moon. They had to preform chores around the camp, couldn't go out into the forest without getting explicit permission from Sedgestar or Grovepelt, and they even had to sleep in the apprentices' den.
Although Autumnleap certainly wasn't pleased about the punishment, Frostmask took a little comfort in the fact that Dampfang, normally so prideful and arrogant, would certainly find it more humiliating than Autumnleap would. Even more embarrassing for Dampfang, Sedgestar had temporarily stripped him of his mentorship, reassigning Cedarpaw to Murmurstep for the duration of Dampfang's demotion.
Frostmask was sure that Dampfang must be just about ready to murder Autumnleap for the embarrassment he'd put him through, but Dampfang had shown a surprising amount of self-control for the past few sunrises. He and Autumnleap hadn't gotten into another fight, despite the fact that they were in such close quarters, sleeping under the same small holly bush.
Surprisingly, Pineshade actually was being more of a thorn in Frostmask's side about it than Dampfang was. She'd adopted Sedgestar's line about both of the toms being at fault, which Frostmask supposed was better than her fully blaming Autumnleap, but it still nettled her like a burr in her pelt when Pineshade seemed irritable at Autumnleap about the fight.
Would she think differently if she had been there to hear what Dampfang had been saying with her own ears? …She'd have to.
Frostmask gave her head a small shake, trying to put the thoughts about her den-mates out of her mind. She missed the brush of Autumnleap's fur against hers when she went to sleep, but at least him being in a different den made it easier for her to slip out of camp tonight without him waking and asking where she was going… since there was no way she could tell him that she was on her way to Fourtrees, going to meet Paledusk again.
Since the last gathering was canceled due to bad weather, it would be the first time she'd seen him since the last new moon. She had been a bit worried if Paledusk would even remember that he had suggested that they meet again at this new moon, but she brushed her doubts aside. Paledusk didn't seem the type of cat who'd so easily forget his obligations.
Her hunch was confirmed as she crossed the thunderpath and crept up to the lip of the slope that led down to Fourtrees. In the deep shadows of one of the towering oaks, a white cat was crouched.
Frostmask's paws tingled in anticipation.
Last time, we barely had the chance to talk about May. But, this time, I'll make sure he answers my questions.
Frostmask dashed down the hill towards the hollow, only doing a cursory glance around this time to make sure Paledusk was really alone before padding out of the bushes and walking towards him.
Frostmask noticed that Paledusk had positioned himself near one of the large oak trees rather than in the center of the clearing as he had previously. He was sitting with his back to the trunk, as if to stop Frostmask from sneaking up on him as she'd done before.
Frostmask's whiskers twitched in a flash of amusement.
Maybe I should have climbed the tree from the other side and then pounced down at him. Wouldn't that have given him a scare?
As she padded up to Paledusk, he rose to his paws, a welcoming purr in his throat.
"Frostmask, it's good to see you," he said, dipping his head towards her.
Frostmask nodded awkwardly back at him.
She didn't want to say that it was good to see him too, since she wasn't quite sure if it was— honestly she was still trying to sort out all of her confusing, conflicting feelings towards him. It was hard to reconcile the charming cat who wanted to get to know her, with the cold cat who'd deliberately frightened her as an apprentice, and the aggressive cat who'd killed Swoopstrike. Paledusk could be quite the enigma.
"…Hello," she said, deciding to settle for the neutral, unoffensive greeting.
If Paledusk was bothered by her awkward, hesitant response, he didn't show it. Instead, his gaze just scanned over Frostmask, taking in her skinny form.
"I hope the warming weather is bringing prey back to ShadowClan territory. You look like your pelt is barely clinging to you," he said, blinking at her.
Frostmask's fur prickled. In truth, she and her clan-mates were thinner now than they were a few moons ago— the cold weather and poisoning at the Carrionplace had seen to that. But, she didn't like the idea of Paledusk thinking that she or ShadowClan were weak because of it.
"It's not that bad," Frostmask meowed, giving her fur a shake to add the illusion bulk to her body. "Prey has started running much better, and we all have full bellies now."
Paledusk just nodded, still studying her. Frostmask's gaze flicked over Paledusk, and she noticed that although he had a leaf-bare leanness to him, he was not nearly as thin as she was.
"It looks like prey has returned to SkyClan as well," she commented, nodding at him, eager to turn the conversation away from ShadowClan.
Paledusk's whiskers twitched faintly.
"Our expanded territory has been treating us well," he said. "And, even if we can't find prey in the forest, there's always food in the two-leg place. If you know where to look."
Frostmask stiffened in surprise, her eyes widening.
"SkyClan goes into the two-leg place to find food?" she asked.
Paledusk shrugged.
"If we need to," he meowed.
Frostmask must have still looked shocked at this revelation because his brow furrowed as he gazed at her.
"It's no big secret. Obviously it's not as ideal as hunting prey in the woods, but do you think we should just let cats die of starvation instead of taking advantage of a resource that's right under our noses?" he asked. "ShadowClan has a carrionplace in your territory, correct? If you needed, wouldn't your Clan search for food there?"
"Well… yeah, I suppose so," Frostmask said, blinking as she processed it. "But, the Carrionplace is dangerous because of the rats that live there. Isn't the two-leg place dangerous too? Like because of the two-legs and dogs?"
Paledusk snorted, taking a seat and swiping a paw across his face to smooth his whiskers.
"Two-legs are stupid," he said. "They're slow, easy to escape from, and their senses are dull. Dogs are more of a concern, but they can't climb and are often at the mercy of the two-legs. As long as you keep your wits about you, it's plenty safe."
"What about other cats?" she asked.
Paledusk purred briefly, the amusement making his face look younger and more friendly, but an almost dangerous glint still flashed in his green eyes.
"We haven't had a problem with other cats in seasons. The band of rogues that used to sniff at our borders is long gone. The most fearsome cats that live there now are soft kittypets who've never hunted or fought a day in their lives," Paledusk said.
"But, is the food you find there safe?" Frostmask insisted, her mind drifting to the poisoned rats in the Carrionplace. "The two-legs don't… do things to it?"
Paledusk blinked once before tilting his head to the side in a gesture that Frostmask was beginning to associate with him. He gazed at her with interest.
"Are you talking about two-legs poisoning fresh-kill? …How would a ShadowClan cat know anything about that?" he mused.
Frostmask's fur prickled as the confusion in Paledusk's gaze cleared.
"Ah, the Carrionplace. Has something happened there?"
Frostmask clenched her jaw, kicking herself mentally for mentioning anything. She didn't want Paledusk to know about ShadowClan's poisoned prey problem! But, she hadn't anticipated that he'd be able to so easily see through what she'd thought was a vague and innocuous question.
She swallowed hard. She'd be skinned alive by her clan-mates if it ever got back to them that SkyClan had found out about the poisoned prey from her.
I have to fix this.
"No," Frostmask lied boldly. "But, the elders tell stories. About something that happened seasons ago, when the two-legs poisoned the rats that lived there and cats got sick when they ate them. It's part of the reason why we try to avoid hunting rats in the Carrionplace now."
Paledusk nodded, and Frostmask's pelt prickled with relief that he seemed to accept her explanation without issue.
"Well, your elders are very clever to warn you," he said. "Two-legs do sometimes poison prey in the two-leg place. But, the poisoned prey are easy to avoid if you understand what signs indicate a poisoned animal instead of a healthy one."
Frostmask blinked.
What signs?!
She was dying to ask the question, but she knew she couldn't. Showing so much interest in the poison might make Paledusk realize she was lying to him. Frostmask just nodded instead.
Maybe if I can get him talking about some of the times he's gone into the two-leg place, he'll mention it without me having to bring it up?
She paused for a moment to arrange her words carefully. She would make sure to not let anything slip this time.
"This talk about the two-leg place has me curious about what it's like…" Frostmask began slowly. "Can you tell me more about it? And, about May? Did you first meet her there?"
A low purr thrummed in Paledusk's throat. He settled down from a sit to a more comfortable crouch, curling his tail around himself. Frostmask sat as well, waiting for him to begin.
"I did meet her there," he said. "Although I actually wasn't the first to… That pleasure went to Slatewhisker. He ran into her one day while he was on an expedition into the two-leg place. They became friends, and later he insisted I go with him to see her. He told me what a remarkable cat she was." Paledusk's ears angled back slightly. "I'll admit… at first I was hesitant. I didn't understand why Slatewhisker was so impressed and taken with someone who wasn't in SkyClan. Not until I met her too. Then I couldn't stay away."
Frostmask gazed at Paledusk.
"What was she like?" she asked in a soft voice.
Paledusk stared out into the forest, his eyes unfocusing.
"She was the most beautiful cat I'd ever seen," he said. "She was curious and brave. She'd traveled all over the two-leg place and through unknown territories beyond by the time we met. The stories she could tell you of all the strange things she'd seen and experienced…"
Despite the underlying current of wariness Frostmask always felt around Paledusk, she couldn't help but being completely enraptured as he talked about May. She was hanging off every word, carefully clinging to each piece of information, and tucking them into her heart for her to keep forever. She used them to enhance her fragmented image of her mother, filling in gaps and holes, adding splashes of crisp color to what was once out of focus and shadowed.
"What else?" Frostmask asked.
Paledusk glanced over at her. "She had an easy charm and wit, which she used to make friends wherever she traveled. But, she never stayed in any one place for too long. Her spirit was restless. She always wanted to wander… as untamed and free as the wind."
Paledusk's voice trailed off, and he gave his head a small shake as if he was dislodging the memories like rain from his pelt.
"I'm sorry. I just realized how rude I've been behaving," he meowed, glancing over at her. "I've just been talking about myself and my old memories this whole time instead of asking how you've been doing."
Frostmask's ears angled back, upset at the abrupt change in conversation.
But, I don't want to talk about me. I want to learn more about him and May! He barely told me anything about the time he spent with May or in the two-leg place, and he didn't even mention the poison at all…
"It's not rude," Frostmask protested. "I like hearing you talk about May and the time you spent with her. I want to know more."
Paledusk looked away from her, his gaze growing foggy as he gazed out into the dark forest.
"It's difficult for me to talk about," he muttered. "Although my memories of them are fond, they're also painful to relive now that Slatewhisker and May are gone."
Frostmask shuffled her paws, feeling a prickle of guilt now at her annoyance at him. She was definitely familiar with the ache of grief. Maybe it was unfair of her to press too hard.
"I understand," she said.
"I'll tell you more another time," Paledusk promised. "But, how have you been this past moon?"
Frostmask bent her head to rasp her tongue over her chest to bide time as she thought of an answer that'd satisfy Paledusk without disclosing anything too sensitive about ShadowClan. She'd have to avoid any talk about the rat poisoning or the green-cough, of course. Neither could she afford to mention Dampfang's fight and make Paledusk think that ShadowClan was torn with strife. But, what was left for her to talk about then? That she spent the whole moon cold and hungry?
I could tell him about my relationship with Autumnleap.
But, her ears warmed as soon as she had the thought. That still felt too private to share with Paledusk.
Frostmask blinked, an idea striking her.
"I made up with Redclaw this past moon," Frostmask said, glancing back up at Paledusk.
His brow furrowed. "…Redclaw?"
"She's one of the queens who helped raise me after May died," Frostmask explained. "She was the only one of them who knew the truth about… well about you. That my father was a SkyClan cat. I'd been upset about her for a while for keeping the secret from me. But, we finally made up."
Paledusk nodded, giving a brief purr.
"Ah, I see. Well, I'm happy for you both."
He paused for a moment, opening his mouth as if to say more. But, then his brow furrowed, and with an almost imperceptible shake of his head, he closed his jaws again. Frostmask frowned as she gazed at him, her pelt prickling slightly at the odd reaction.
"What is it?" she asked.
Paledusk gave his head another small shake.
"Nothing," he said. "…It's not my place to say."
Frostmask blinked hard a few times, and her tail started to flip with annoyance. Paledusk had never seemed hesitant about sharing his opinion on something before, why'd he start now?
Does he know something I don't about Redclaw?
"No, tell me," Frostmask insisted, gazing at his face intently.
Paledusk met her eye, his gaze firm.
"I should just be pleased that you've made peace with the queen," he said. "As long as you're content, that's what matters."
Paledusk glanced away from her and started grooming a patch of fur on his side. As Frostmask gazed at him, a soft, disgruntled growl began to build in her throat.
Despite Paledusk's facade of nonchalance, was painfully obvious that he was still holding back.
Does he think I'm some sort of stupid kit, and I won't realize what he's doing?
"But…?" Frostmask needled him.
Paledusk gave a sharp sigh, his eyes closing for a heartbeat.
"You're just like your mother. That she-cat was as stubborn as a badger," he said.
Frostmask mentally added that piece of new information to her collection, but she didn't let it distract her from the current conversation.
"…You're deflecting," Frostmask grumbled.
Paledusk opened his eyes and gave another sigh, this one decidedly more impatient than the last.
"Very well then," he said bluntly as he stared at her. "The truth is, I'm just worried about you."
Frostmask blinked hard a few times, confusion flooding her at his declaration.
"Worried? But, why?"
Paledusk stared at her in silence for a moment, his gaze reluctant, but he still answered her.
"I just don't want them taking advantage of you," he said.
"Them?" Frostmask echoed, her ears twisting back. "Who? Redclaw?"
His tail twitched.
"And, the others," he said. "Have they truly made up for what they've done? The secret, their mistrust in you?"
His eyes were intent as he stared at her, and Frostmask found herself unable to hold his gaze. Instead, she glanced over at the trees, shuffling her paws.
"Well… Redclaw isn't like that," Frostmask muttered. "Isn't like Sedgestar, I mean. She didn't betray me. She says that she always believed in me."
"But, she still didn't tell you the truth. She forced you to live a lie, waiting for you to find out for yourself," Paledusk said in a low voice.
"But, she was just following Sedgestar's orders," Frostmask argued back, looking back up at him.
He blinked at her, and his sharp, intense gaze once more reminded her of a snowy owl's.
"What did you mean by 'Redclaw didn't betray you like Sedgestar did?'" Paledusk asked suddenly.
Frostmask's eyes widened as her stomach dropped down to her paws.
She hadn't even noticed she'd said that.
Her muscles tensing, she silently cursed herself for the slip-up.
She tried so hard to watch her tongue, but keeping track of everything Paledusk, or even each of her clan-mates, did or didn't know was so difficult! Her head was a jumble of secrets, full of thoughts that certain cats could catch glimpses of, but only Frostmask, and she alone, was allowed to see the full picture.
I guess, it could've been worse at least…
Paledusk would have surely picked up on some of the animosity she felt towards Sedgestar by now— he was too clever and she wasn't good enough at hiding her feelings for him to have not noticed anything. And, what she said didn't reveal any of ShadowClan's weaknesses or secrets… just a humiliating event that proved that even Frostmask's own leader didn't see her as a 'real' member of ShadowClan.
Frostmask gave her head a small shake, pulling herself out of her thoughts. She sighed softly to herself, turning her face away from Paledusk again.
"Sedgestar was the one that forbade any of the clan-mates to tell me about my father being a SkyClan cat. He said that he didn't want my loyalties divided," Frostmask mumbled to the ground.
"Hm. I see," Paledusk said, his even mew giving away none of his thoughts. "And, do you think he was right to fear that? Do you feel like your loyalties are divided now?"
"No!" Frostmask protested, her gaze flying back over to Paledusk's.
She hesitated when their eyes met.
"I mean… no offense."
A loud purr rumbled in Paledusk's throat, and his angular features softened in amusement once more.
"None taken," Paledusk said, dipping his head to her slightly. "I meant what I said before about admiring your loyalty to your clan. I am a SkyClan cat, and you are ShadowClan. I don't think either of us want to change that, and just because we share blood doesn't mean that we need to be in the same Clan."
Frostmask nodded.
"I just wish my clan-mates could understand that as easily," she muttered.
Paledusk frowned.
"Yes… It must be difficult for you," he said.
Frostmask just clenched her jaw and didn't respond.
"Something that I'm curious about though…" Paledusk continued. "If Sedgestar kept the secret under such tight wraps for so many moons, what made him finally tell you about it?"
Frostmask swallowed hard. She'd known this question was coming.
"Well… after SkyClan's raid on ShadowClan's camp, we found out that SkyClan had used the tunnels under the thunderpath to invade. Sedgestar assumed someone must have told them about the tunnels, and he accused me. I didn't know anything about it of course. When I asked him why he'd singled me out, he finally caved and told me that my father was a SkyClan cat."
Paledusk blinked hard a few times.
"But, neither of us had any knowledge of each other at that time," he said.
"I know," Frostmask growled softly, her claws curling out. "He still accused me anyway."
Paledusk gave a sympathetic sigh, shaking his head.
"He went through all that work to keep the secret from you to 'not divide your loyalties,' only to be distrustful of you anyway. How awful," he said. "It makes one wonder if he ever intended to trust you at all."
"I know," Frostmask muttered again, scowling down at the ground.
"I can only assume things have gotten worse now? Now that he knows you know?" Paledusk asked.
Frostmask shifted her weight from one paw to another.
"Well, I think he feels bad about it." Her eyes narrowed. "Or, he acts like he feels bad at least. But, I'm not sure if he will ever truly trust me… Or, if I can ever fully trust him again."
For several moments, neither of them spoke and silence grew between them like heavy fog had descended over them.
"It was prey blood, by the way," Paledusk meowed suddenly.
Frostmask's ears pricked in surprise, and she glanced up at him.
"What? What was?" she asked.
"What gave you all away," Paledusk explained, blinking at her. "A trail of prey blood. We hadn't seen any invading cats, but there was a trickle of blood leading from our territory into ThunderClan's. At first we thought it was the ThunderClanners doing the stealing, naturally. You all almost drove us to attack them." His whiskers twitched in amusement at the thought. "But, we decided to keep following the trail, and we managed to find the tunnel's entrance. I was certain it'd lead us into WindClan territory— they always seemed more rabbit than cat to me anyway. But, imagine our surprise when we popped out in ShadowClan's pines."
Frostmask's brow furrowed as she gazed at him, absorbing the information.
"Why'd you tell me all this?" she asked, feeling a sudden flash of suspicion.
Paledusk blinked once as if he didn't quite understand.
"I thought you'd like to know," he said. "I thought it could help you. Perhaps there is a way that you can convey it to Sedgestar to restore some of his faith in you."
Frostmask's tail twitched, not totally sold on his explanation, but she could see no gain Paledusk could get from lying about it.
But still, it seemed foolish of him to tell her. Didn't the fact that SkyClan hadn't been able to detect ShadowClan's presence reveal a weakness of theirs? Although, perhaps now that SkyClan was aware of how discreet ShadowClan could be, they would be more careful when searching for their presence?
"But, aren't you afraid that you're revealing too much to me?" Frostmask asked, her brow still furrowed.
"'Revealing too much?'" Paledusk echoed with an incredulous huff of amusement. "Do you realize how ShadowClan you sound right now? Not all cats horde secrets like your Clan does. All I told you was that SkyClan followed a trail of blood to the tunnel. Not the best way to break into SkyClan's camp and assassinate Fennelstar."
Frostmask's ears went a bit warm with embarrassment at his teasing.
"I'm just trying to understand," she protested. "Another thing I don't get is why your Clan didn't mention the tunnel at the last gathering. You all could've announced its existence in front of all the Clans, and taken that advantage away from ShadowClan, but you didn't."
Paledusk's eyes glinted with mischief.
"And, make things easier for ThunderClan?!" he asked, purring. "SkyClan doesn't mind ShadowClan causing trouble, just as long as you all don't do it on our territory."
Frostmask rumbled a brief purr in response, but it trailed off quickly as she found herself getting caught up in her thoughts again.
Paledusk's reasoning made some sense… although it wasn't something she would've guessed herself. To Frostmask, it seemed like taking ShadowClan's advantage away from them would be more important than hoping that ShadowClan used the tunnel against ThunderClan at some point. If SkyClan revealed the tunnel, it maybe could even drive a wedge between Morningstar and Sedgestar. There was no way the ThunderClan leader would be pleased that ShadowClan had a secret way to get onto their territory…
Maybe there's another reason that SkyClan doesn't want to reveal the tunnel, which I just haven't figured out yet?
Or, maybe I'm looking too much into it, and Paledusk is telling the truth. He did say that SkyClan doesn't horde secrets like ShadowClan.
Frostmask gave her ears a small shake.
That seemed hard for her to believe, but maybe it was true. So far just this night, Paledusk had told her about how SkyClan hunts in the two-leg place, how they knew ShadowClan had been on their territory, and SkyClan's reasoning behind keeping the tunnel a secret— with two of those three pieces of information being totally unprompted by her. If Frostmask and Paledusk had reserved roles, Frostmask doubted she would've shared any of those things. But, Frostmask was certain Paledusk wasn't stupid, so he knew what he was doing when he told her… Which meant the only reasonable explanation was just what he said— he didn't find sharing them a big deal.
Frostmask suddenly felt grateful for the fact that she'd decided to speak with Paledusk, despite all of the reservations she still felt towards him. The information he provided her was valuable. Not only was it helping her understand her mother better, but it also gave her a better understanding of how the other Clans thought.
Paledusk stood up and pitched forward, his back arching as he reached his paws out far in front of him in a deep stretch before he straightened again.
"I'm sorry to cut this meeting short, but I'll be needing to get back to camp soon," he said, shaking out his silky coat.
He arched a brow at Frostmask, his expression becoming unamused.
"I've got a very riveting dawn patrol to be on soon." Paledusk rolled his eyes. "And, I should catch a bit of rest before my clan-mates are asking me why I'm dead on my paws."
A brief purr rumbled in Frostmask's throat, and Paledusk's annoyed expression melted as his whiskers twitched in amusement. He dipped his head to her.
"Be careful heading back to your camp, would you? I wouldn't want you getting in more trouble with your clan-mates because of me."
Frostmask bristled slightly, but it was hard for her to tell if her annoyance was because she didn't like the idea of Paledusk telling her what to do, even if it was mild comment of concern, or if her anger was misplaced guilt from the fact that she knew her Clan would not like her meeting with Paledusk.
But, I'm not doing any harm. She argued with herself.
"I can take care of myself," she responded, trying to keep the defensiveness from her voice.
Paledusk blinked, unruffled.
"Of course," he said.
Frostmask just nodded before hesitating and gazing at Paledusk expectantly, waiting for him to suggest their next meeting.
But, Paledusk didn't say anything else. With a tail-flick of goodbye, he turned in the direction of SkyClan territory, starting to pad off. Frostmask took a step towards him before he could leave the hollow.
"Next new moon?" she asked.
Paledusk paused, glancing back at her from over his shoulder.
"I'll be there," he purred.
Author's note: Hi everyone! I've got some important announcements for you all.
Firstly, sorry for the long wait between chapters! I had some bad writer's block when it came to finishing this one, and I just haven't been feeling super motivated to write in general… Updates may be kind of slow for a bit until I get my inspiration back. Although in the past month, I did write a short story focused on Thrushpelt, which you can check out on my profile, if you'd like :)
I've also been busy working on some other projects. I have a youtube channel where I make animations (mostly focused on Warrior Cats, or Warriors OC's— including the ones in this story!) So, if you want to see more content from me or about these characters between chapter updates, feel free to check me out there. Unfortunately this site does not support links, but you can find me on youtube under my same username, SedatedDreams, if you'd like.
Along those lines, I also thought it would be fun to open a discord! I'm envisioning it as a chill place where we can hang out and talk about this story, or Warriors and fanfiction/writing in general. There will also be "exclusive" story content which I post there— mostly drawings and things that I've done of my characters. You can also check that out if you're interested!
I've had to break up the link in order to post it here, but you can get there by removing all of the spaces in the following link and adding two forward slashes (as in /) after the ":"
https: discord . gg / 5hve5UBvUS
And, as always thank you all for reading! We are almost at the end of Part Two of this story now. There should only be a couple more chapters left… Then it's off to the third and final part!
Reviews:
Brian.H.H: Thank you! And, yeah definitely! Like Dampfang is for sure more of the bully in general, but his behavior throughout their lives has made Frostmask very hostile towards him, so she is primed to view all of his actions in the most uncharitable light as possible. I do think Frostmask was being a bit of unreliable narrator in that chapter by portraying Dampfang as purposefully doing something just to antagonize her, when really, as you picked up on, he had no clue about her fear of water haha (at least prior to the whole exchange, he may be a bit more aware of it now.) Also now that you mention it, it does feel a bit like a Bluefur/Snowfur/Thistleclaw situation. I've thought about how Dampfang feels a bit like Thistleclaw before, but I didn't really make that full connection.
Person: Hey, thank you for reading, and I'm so happy that you're liking it! I think it would be tricky for me to give advice on this site since I can't PM you directly, but if you'd like, you can join the discord I spoke about in the AN above and we can chat there!
Autumnleap: Thank you, I'm glad! And about the deer bone, I think they just found it somewhere in the forest. I think its likely deer coexist with the cats in the same general area, but the cats tend to avoid the deer, since they are so much bigger than them and could probably kill a cat with one kick if they wandered too close.
Avalanche: Ughhh yeah I know it's really frustrating for me to (And I'm the one writing the characters haha!) I don't plan on Dampfang's and Pineshade's relationship being the way it is for forever, although I can't say exactly when or how things might change since I don't want to give anything away! (But I will say that the point that I wanted to make with Pine and Damp's relationship is that I wanted to show how unhealthy relationships can often be difficult to break out of, even for intelligent and strong-willed characters like Pineshade.)
Mistylight: Thank you! :)