Rustkit, Thunderpaw, and Goldenpaw bounded shoulder to shoulder along the path leading up to Thornstar's den. The two apprentices stopped at the entrance.
"She must be expecting you. Just call a greeting," Goldenpaw murmured.
Rustkit stopped to stare at the curtain of vines. The white flowers had opened up in the cool evening air, and they glowed as they extended toward the moon.
"I see you have found my Moon Flowers."
The three young cats whipped around, surprised. Thornstar was padding down from the ledge that cut between the waterfall; her fur was damp from the thick mist that settled in the divide.
"Thornstar." Goldenpaw and Thunderpaw dipped their heads, and Rustkit quickly copied them.
"Greetings, apprentices."
She paused to peer at the white flowers.
"You know, Rustkit, one of the hidden beauties of Moonclan is nighttime in the forest. I expect you will come to discover this soon."
She motioned with her tail for Rustkit to follow her into the den. Goldenpaw's eyes glowed encouragingly. Good Luck.
Inside Thornstar's den, the stone walls were covered with limestone and mildew. Thornstar sat in her nest.
"The reason I called you here tonight is to discuss your training schedule with you. You must know Thunderpaw and Goldenpaw aren't much older than you are."
"I thought apprentices must be at least six moons," Rustkit said cautiously.
"Perhaps in Sunclan. We do things differently in Moonclan. Especially in certain situations."
"Certain situations indeed."
An unfamiliar voice called from outside the den. Rustkit turned around as Ripplefur padded into the den, her neck fur bristling.
"Thornstar, I beg you pardon my intrusion."
"Ripplefur."
Thornstar had jumped to her feet, her fur bristling. Rustkit tucked her tail between her legs. It's as if they are from rival clans, but Ripplefur is Thornstar's deputy.
"What do you want?" Thornstar snapped.
"Eaglestar is on our border. He comes with Blackpool, and requests a meeting."
"Send him away."
"If I do that, Sunclan will attack."
"Moonclan is not inferior to Sunclan."
"Yes, but we will have no advantage if Sunclan attack us now. They will beat us, simply by numbers."
Thornstar hissed, making Rustkit flinch. She felt very out of place.
"Thornstar, this is wrong, and you know it. You stole a kit from another clan, just to make Moonclan stronger! Kits will be born in the spring, we just-"
"I'm doing what's best for this clan!"
Thornstar's mew held a note of grief in it. She suddenly looked very old and weak.
"Ripplefur...we have always had to fight tooth and claw for our survival. We all must do our best. I'm trying to lead as Darkstar would."
Ripplefur lowered her head, letting her fur fall flat.
"Darkstar will always be honored in every clan. But our clan needs you now. Please."
Thornstar hesitated, her green eyes perfect circles in the night.
"I will come. Rustkit, Thunderpaw, and Goldenpaw, you all must return to the nursery for tonight."
The three obeyed, and Thornstar and Ripplefur walked towards the edge of the territory, side by side. Unhurriedly. Ripplefur's fur prickled with anticipation. I hope that this will not result in conflict. We couldn't handle it now, no matter what Thornstar wishes.
"Thornstar."
Eaglestar was sitting patiently, flanked by Troutbelly, Rubblefall and Blackpuddle. Blackpuddle's amber eyes were heated. Eaglestar rose to his paws.
"Let's discuss. Firstly, where is Rustkit now?"
"She is happy and healthy, and fed," Thornstar replied.
"Fine."
"What in Starclan's name were you thinking?" Blackpuddle's accusation was quiet, yet firm.
"I was only thinking for the good of my own clan," Thornstar replied smoothly. "We fear that if Sunclan are too powerful, we will be forced to attack, simply because we must establish balance here in the territories."
"But to take a kit by force-!" Blackstar started.
"We understand why you did it," Eaglestar interrupted. "What we wanted to establish now, is that this will not happen again, under any circumstances. We make the demand that Rustkit is given the option to return to Sunclan. She deserves the right to decide, since she was taken without her own consent."
Thornstar's expression was guarded.
"So you do not mean to take her back if she wants to remain?"
"No." Rubblefall looked apprehensive of the decision, but he kept his wide muzzle shut.
"Fine. We will ask her," Ripplefur interceded. "If she chooses to return, by the next moon, she will be returned to Sunclan at the clan meeting."
Eaglestar dipped his head in agreement.
"If there is nothing else to say, we should be getting back."
"There is nothing," Thornstar replied. "Good night, Eaglestar."
As they padded back to the clan, Thornstar was quiet. She spoke only once.
"You've done well for the clan, Ripplefur."
Ripplefur was pleased by the unexpected compliment. She was not the right cat to be a clan leader, nor was she ever wanting to be one. During a difficult period in the history of Moonclan, she was chosen to be deputy for lack of able-bodied warriors, and neither she nor Thornstar had discussed her replacement since. Ripplefur was excited by the prospect of leadership, but sometimes she privately wished that another cat could take her place.
In the late hours of the night, Redclaw emerged from the Warriors den, stepping quietly into the heart of the forest. A deep fog covered the ground, and she was having trouble keeping quiet in the dead silence. She crouched, stalking a mouse. In a moment, she leaped for it, claws unsheathed. The mouse escaped her claws, and she landed ungracefully. She heard a tiny squeak, and sat up, alarmed. "Who's that?"
Mottledthroat stepped from behind a pine, holding the mouse she had failed to kill.
"I believe this is yours."
She rolled her eyes. "I wasn't really trying. I'm just bored."
"And breaking a rule, of hunting solitarily and at night."
"Well." Redclaw's ears twitched. "You seem to know more than I do about breaking rules. But I appreciate you coming out to help me stay out of trouble."
"Of course, deputy."
Mottledthroat flicked her with his tail as he passed. She padded after him, and they walked unanimously to the river. Mottledthroat had been a friend since they were apprentices, and for a few seasons she was sure he had a romantic interest in her. When she became deputy, there was no room for romance, and Mottledthroat was busy with his own apprentice.
"It has been a while since I've been out here at night, I must admit. What about you?"
Mottledthroat looked back at her with teasing eyes.
"I wouldn't want to upset you with that information. I admit, I like the forest at night too much to adhere to some silly laws about night hunting."
Redclaw shook her head affectionately. Mottledthroat was always a trouble starter.
"You really must change that rule when you become Redstar," Mottledthroat continued. "Redstar of Pineclan. It sounds beautiful."
Redclaw scoffed, flicking his nose with her tail.
"It seems like so far away. But I guess I would change a few things. I don't know which, exactly."
"What about that rule about she-leaders having kits? I think that should be the first to go."
Redclaw's heart rate sped up a bit. Was Mottledthroat hinting at something? She didn't dare believe it. He was always so uninterested in kits or mates. But maybe he had changed.
"I don't know. It would be difficult to have kits, a mate, and be a clan leader."
"Of course. But would you want to?"
"Well, of course I would want to, but-"
"Well, then that is all that matters. I only care about what you want. That's all I've ever cared about."
Redclaw was torn. She wanted to believe him, but there was so much at risk. She looked away from his piercing blue eyes in anguish.
"So...all this time you've…"
"Yes."
His voice was so steady, welcoming her trust. She refused the urge.
"I didn't ever think you would want me. But I admit I've wanted to be your mate for many moons."
"Then what is stopping you? If there's a will, there's a way. You can give up the role of deputy, and I can take your place, and it would be the same. You would be happy."
Redclaw's fur bristled slightly, and she took offense.
"I'm not doing something like that. I have a duty to protect and honor this clan with my life. I won't play around with the code just for...for a mate. I have made so many sacrifices already."
Her throat then closed with grief, and she wouldn't say anymore. Mottledthroat was silent. He came beside her and pressed himself to her side, in an affectionate greeting that sent chils of pleasure down her spine.
"I won't persist. But know that I value you above all other cats, Redclaw. And I intend to be with you and no one else."
He padded away, his pawsteps muted by the thick fog. Redclaw wrapped her tail tightly around herself, feeling utterly alone. I have to do this for Pineclan. I am doing this for my own good. Everything I've done has been for my own good.
She repeated those words to herself as she slowly padded back to camp.
Rustkit was sleepy. The morning sun was gently resting on her face. She yawned, stretched. What a strange dream. In her dream, she was big and ruthless. Other cats were afraid of her, and she couldn't seem to catch up to any of them to ask them what was wrong. She felt utterly lonely and betrayed. Beside her, Thunderpaw and Goldenpaw were still asleep. They looked so safe together. She padded out into the center of camp. Several days had passed since she had been given the option to return to Sunclan. She still felt the weight of the decision heavy on her shoulders. One moon to make a decision that will affect my entire life. It was overwhelming. If she chose to stay, she would be an apprentice with Goldenpaw and Thunderpaw. If she left, she would be with Marigoldheart and Eaglestar, both cats whom she respected and missed dearly. I wish someone would make the decision for me. I wish I had known my mother and father. And then, the solution came to her suddenly. She would have to find her parents, and she would have to do it herself. But how? She had only a brief idea of what they might look like. And she couldn't be sure that they weren't kittypets, rogues, or loners. But if there was a cat in this clan that she could always rely on, it had to be her. She padded out into the forest, deep in thought. She couldn't go far, as the ferns would make it impossible to find her way back. It seemed to her then that many things would.