Disclaimer: I don't own the Warriors series!
Title: Deep Dive
Summary: In a world where ThunderClan absorbed ShadowClan seasons ago, young warrior Weaselface is tasked to rebuild the fourth Clan and take her place as leader. But how can she betray all she's ever known and loved, all on the word of one ghost with a grudge?
...
The moon dragged on. Being on Spiderstar's bad list meant caring for the elder's camp, an undertaking Weaselface had carried most of her life anyway, and by the time she managed to drag herself home from hunting and patrolling (if she wasn't the night guard), the kittens were all getting ready for bed. Weaselface missed them like a thorn in her paw, and would spend as much time as she could cleaning them and prepping them for sleep. It wasn't nearly enough, but it was a start.
During this while, Weaselface had no dreams of StarClan. She didn't have any moments where she glanced over her shoulder, or thought she heard a Shadow whispering in her ear. Brackenstar had decided it was her time to choose, and left her high and dry. It was quiet. Her mind was quiet. It perturbed her.
"In my day, cats got killed for sneaking outta camp," Pinethroat rasped as she set a vole at her paws. The elders had taken to their usual afternoon sunbathing. "Spiderstar's gotten soft."
Mossytooth dipped his head in a friendly manner as she nudged a mouse to him. "Aw, it ain't so bad. Haven't been this well-fed since I could hunt for myself."
Weaselface dug her claws into the ground. Elders shouldn't have to risk starving to death just so they can rest. The conviction swelled in her chest, but she didn't dare voice any of it out loud. Mouthy warriors didn't get to visit their kits. "With riveting dialogue like this, I can promise you I'm being punished just fine."
The gray and white tom wheezed out a laugh. "There's Dew's tongue! You sound more like 'er every day."
Pinethroat hesitated. "Not to say I don't like ya, Weasel. You were a perky kid. But lots of cats have died to keep ThunderClan strong. Having Spiderstar's grandkits shouldn't make you above the law."
"God, why are you all like this?" Dew meowed. "Cats shouldn't be dying in the first place over stupid shit. Now you're mad because cats aren't dying for stupid shit? Get your muzzle outta your tailhole."
Pinethroat lashed her tail and fell silent.
Weaselface looked down at her paws. There was a final piece of fresh-kill; a big, juicy starling. Her stomach rumbled as she looked at the delicate feathers that covered it. It was ever-so-tempting to snatch it for herself. Technically, I could. I've done my job and fed the elders. Dew had munched on a lizard not long ago.
"I assume that's for me, then," meowed a voice that sent a shudder down her spine.
Weaselface swallowed and stepped aside, waving to it with her paw. "Of course, Squirrelwhisker. Dig right in."
Squirrelwhisker padded by without even an acknowledging nod. The ginger molly was a bit taller than Weaselface, with a naturally wiry frame that even the leftover kitting fat couldn't hide. Her eyes were a sickly yellow-green, and easily her most defining feature. She crouched down beside the elders, studying Weaselface.
"Head you had kits," Squirrelwhisker said finally, tearing a bite out of her starling. "You look it."
"Yes, ma'am."
She snorted. "Oh, so I'm ma'am now? Not when I was a mentor, or even a senior warrior, but now? You're not subtle."
"It's not her fault you failed, Squirrelwhisker," Pinethroat murmured. Her voice was surprisingly quiet.
Squirrelwhisker paused mid-chew. "It's not my fault Antpaw decided to fight full-grown warriors, either," she replied. "But sure, blame me. Not the one who openly admitted it was her fault. Makes the same amount of sense Spiderstar does for banishing me to this rock."
Weaselface flinched. I can't exactly deny that, can I? "I got careless."
Something smug flickered in her gaze. "See what I mean? But Spiderstar only cares that she boned his son. It's pathetic."
"His dad was the same way," Mossytooth commented, setting his chin on his paws. "His grandpa was leader too. One of your kids will probably be next, Weasel."
Anxiety prickled beneath Weaselface's pelt. If any of her kits became leader one day, she'd be ecstatic. But she wanted them to earn it, not just be handed it like it was a starling. "Don't blame me for Spiderstar being inept!" she snapped, then fully realized what she'd said.
Four sets of eyes swiveled to her instantaneously. Pinethroat's jaw dropped, horrified. Mossytooth's ears flattened with surprise. Squirrelwhisker took another bite of her bird, tail-tip twitching. Dew coughed into her paws.
"Are you laughing?" Pinethroat shrieked.
"Of course I am," Dew said. "She's right. If you have to shove cats around, you're not doing a great job at the whole leading thing."
"That's not really the point, Dew." Mossytooth blinked at Weaselface, then at the loner. "You shouldn't just say that. Out loud. In front of others."
"Why not?"
"Well, because he might find out."
Dew rolled her eyes. "I think that just proves the point."
The ginger molly licked a paw, drawing it over her ear. "I think that's pretty tough talk comin' from you, Weaselface. You don't think you'd be a better fit, do you?"
"Of course not," Weaselface meowed, desperate to backtrack. "I just... think there's some things that we could all do better, is all."
"Like what?"
Her tail wagged behind her with a wave of nervous fear. She didn't doubt Squirrelwhisker would weaponize this against her later. But Dew's eyes were glittering curiously as she gestured for her to go on, and it was a bit late to pretend now, wasn't it? "Like- like this camp, I guess. I'd wanna fix it up."
Mossytooth cocked his head to the side. "Why? Ain't nobody using it but us."
"But they could," she explained. "Anyone could come here; to rest, to hunt, to hide. If we lost one camp, we'd have another! And- and I think it's stupid that we stopped having apprentices help the elders. It's a great system- apprentices learn to watch for ticks and how to make nice nests, elders get pampered, and once day apprentices will get the same back! And..." she broke off. Everyone was staring again. "I'm boring you, aren't I?"
"I wish," wheezed Pinethroat, looking a smidge bit overwhelmed. "Where did that come from?"
Weaselface tucked her chin against her chest. "I guess I've just been bored in the nursery? I helped you guys a lot as an apprentice, so I'm a bit biased about it."
"You're passionate," Dew corrected. "It's a good look on you."
"Yeah? Aren't I..."
"Like Mudcloud?" she guessed. "Heavens, no. Mudcloud was an idiot. He wanted to be leader so badly, but I never heard him give any reason why. He never really wanted to do anything with it. Wanting to take care of cats is a pretty good aspiration to have, I think."
Squirrelwhisker didn't look convinced. "Does it really matter? It's not like Spiderstar would want her to be deputy."
No, thought Weaselface, remembering her dip in the Moonpool, but someone does.
"She's the daughter of two rogues, and she just got Antpaw killed. Spiderstar might be inept, but I like to think Beetooth would warn him against someone like Weaselface." Squirrelwhisker's gaze darted off to the side, and she bristled. "Ashkit! Hootkit! Are you listening in on adult conversation again?"
Weaselface craned her head over her shoulder. Out of the nursery poked two little muzzles. One was gray and lean, like their mother, while the other was short, stocky, and a brown tabby. They were around three moons old by now, and were easily able to be on their own during a quick mealtime argument.
"It was Hootkit's idea!" squeaked the gray tom.
Hootkit glared at her brother. "No one made you, Ashkit!" She eagerly bounded over, tail high. "When are we gonna fix up camp? Can I help? I think we should put a big hill in the middle, so we can see over the trees!"
"No one is fixing anything. Weaselface was just rambling." Squirrelwhisker stood, gathering the leftover starling. She paused as she passed Weaselface again. "If they start parroting you, I'm going straight to Spiderstar, and we both know he won't be happy," she mumbled lowly. "You of all cats should know what happens when he's not."
Weaselface tilted her chin up a bit, refusing to back down. The ginger she-cat shook herself and moved away, herding Hootkit back towards the den. Ashkit moved out to greet them, staring at her for an uncomfortably long time.
Weaselface stuck her tongue out at him. To her delight, Ashkit stuck his out in response before skittering after his family.
Author's Note: Not so much of a plot changer, but I wanted to insert some time between Brackenstar telling her to sleep in the den and Weasel actually, like, doing that. I don't want to give the impression that Weasel is just doing everything some random ghost boi is telling her, because she's not. I also wanted to show Weasel slowly easing into more leader-like mentalities.
Also, it's waaaay past time to introduce Squirrelwhisker, who I feel is an important side character. She and Weasel never really get along, but they both have the same ideals in the end.
-Mandaree1
