I Like Your Laugh

by Kalum16

"When the journey starts, every meeting of their eyes is a glare. The only words they say are made up of snarls, insults, and vague threats." Both Squirrelpaw and Crowpaw think it would be lucky if they make the journey without tearing each other apart. They don't expect to bond. They don't expect to care. New Prophecy AU.

7. A Chase and A Break

"That was uncalled for and you know it!"

He did know it, but he was still furious.

"Shut up."

"It's not her fault that she had a dream, Crowpaw." The glare was evident in Stormfur's tone. "You had no right to sulk off like that."

Crowpaw kept his gaze to the ground, but he walked straight ahead, following the faint scent of mouse over the hill. He spat over his shoulder at the following warrior, "I told you to shut up! Leave me alone, I never asked you to follow me."

Stormfur shrugged, "It was my turn to hunt anyway, besides somebody needs to tell you how much of a mouse-brain you are after treating my sister the way you did!"

Crowpaw snarled, quickening his pace, trying to focus on his thundering headache rather than the Riverclan tom. Not because Stormfur only had scolding to give the apprentice. But because Crowpaw knew, in a way, he deserved it.

It wasn't fair.

Every one of them, even that fox hearted Thunderclan warrior, had been gifted that stupid watery taste. Those annoying saltwater signs that they believed came from Starclan. Every clan had granted their chosen warrior the sign.

All except him.

Crowpaw did feel guilty for storming off the way he had, Feathertail had tried to be as gentle as she could when she told him that she too had received that blessed salty vision. But Crowpaw couldn't help but feel angry! Why was it taking so long for him to get his sign? He deserved it as much as the rest of them!

But he was the one in last place. It had made him more and more frustrated every time a cat had piped up that Starclan had graced them, leaving him outside their ever-growing circle. And now, he was the only one, apart from the un-chosen cats, who knew nothing about what it was really like. He could only take it personally.

Was it because he was an apprentice? Did that mean so much less to Starclan? He'd been chosen all the same, he deserved to be treated with the same respect the others had gotten! Every time he took a drink, every time he'd fallen asleep, he'd hoped and silently pleaded that he would finally get that spiritual blessing.

He saw it as approval.

Starclan's approval.

His clan's approval.

His father's approval.

Squirrelpaw had said that his father choosing him was enough to prove that he actually was proud of his son. But if he was so proud, what was taking him so long? Crowpaw didn't pretend to know what Starclan was truly like, but he knew that Windclan were supposed to be the ones who had the greatest link with their ancestors. Crowpaw's identity was meant to replicate that truth.

Yet he was the one left alone. Left without the link of his clan.

No matter how hard he tried to prove himself, it still seemed like nothing was good enough. He was the one in shadow, set apart from the rest of the group.

He'd had to get away from them for a while, because if he had stayed, he knew he would have said something he'd regret. Unfortunately, Stormfur was set on following him now. The peace Crowpaw had desired was ruined by the grey warrior's constant reminding of how Crowpaw had walked away from one of the few friends he had.

How annoying.

Stormfur kept his pace beside the apprentice. "It wasn't like she was trying to upset you."

"I know that!" Crowpaw hissed. Feathertail would never try or even want to hurt anybody.

Stormfur cocked a brow, his nose crinkling. "Oh, do you? So, you just wanted to upset her? Is that it?"

The Windclan cat stiffened, turning back with a feral growl. "Of course not!"

The grey cat scoffed, "Whatever you say. You've done it regardless, mouse-brain."

"I wasn't angry at her!"

"You still took it out on her. Running off like a wet kit, are you sure that you're almost a warrior?"

Crowpaw turned in disgust, "Don't talk like you understand? You don't." His eyes narrowed spitefully, "You're never going to receive the sign because you were never chosen by your clan! I was!"

He expected that to insult Stormfur, but the cat just rolled his eyes. "Yeah, you've mentioned that a million times before, Crowpaw." He said with clear boredom. "I'm not here for that, though. I'm here for my sister; the only reason I'm talking to you right now is because you treated her like prey!" He stepped forward, a strange authority rising in his gaze. "Besides, you have no right to talk down about unchosen cats. One tried to save you, after all!"

Crowpaw locked eyes with the grey cat, feeling himself take a step back. He cringed at the mention of Squirrelpaw. Stormfur was right, if she'd heard him speak about unchosen cats, she would rake him across the ears immediately. But Crowpaw would never say that to her. Not when he knew how she felt about her own clan, and especially with how fox-minded her clanmate was.

And of course, not with how much she had helped him despite not being chosen, and not being his own clanmate.

Crowpaw sighed, his words meant nothing. He was just saying whatever he could to make Stormfur go away.

But that cat was persistent. And they both knew Crowpaw was the one in the wrong.

Stormfur took note of the wither in Crowpaw's stance and he murmured with a light whip of his tail. Crowpaw shrank a little under his gaze. This cat was a whisker shorter than Brambleclaw yet Crowpaw couldn't stop the twist of discomfort when the warrior stood next to him.

"Look, I get that it must be frustrating, but you still didn't have to do that." Stormfur snapped, though his tone softened a little. "I tried to talk her out of it, you know?"

Crowpaw's gaze swept to the warrior. "Out of what?"

"Telling you about her sign? Because I knew you'd react like that!"

"Wait." Crowpaw's fur spiked, "You told her to keep secrets from me?" How was he supposed to trust these cats if they weren't telling him about their messages from Starclan? They were supposed to be a group!

"I wouldn't call it keeping secrets." Stormfur meowed.

Crowpaw's eyes blazed, the hesitation he'd felt evaporated, replaced by a storm of anger. "You told her to keep a message from Starclan from me! I'd call that a secret!"

"Well she ignored me, didn't she? And look what happened!" Stromfur snapped, "You lost your head and here you are now, raking your claws across the floor!"

Crowpaw jolted again, shame crawling over his pelt. Fox dung, this cat had him cornered. Feathertail had went against the advice of her own brother because she trusted that Crowpaw would take it well. And instead, he'd proved Stormfur right. Crowpaw had shown how much he respected her trust. What if she didn't trust him anymore after how he'd reacted?

Once, Crowpaw wouldn't have cared a whisker. Now it was something that terrified him.

He didn't want to lose one of the only friends he had, especially when it was all his own fault.

Crowpaw ruffled the ground with his claws, letting out a tight breath. "Well, congratulations. Guess you were right." He glowered.

Stormfur spat, "Don't act like I think that's a good thing, mouse-brain."

The apprentice's ears flicked, he looked up with a stony gaze "Why? You've never liked me, and now she won't as well."

Strormfur braced back in disgust, "Excuse me? I'm not the one who's been hissing and fighting since the start. You've been like a thorn whenever I've tried to be nice to you! I've never started anything against you!"

The black cat opened his mouth to retort, but when he thought back, he couldn't find a single memory of Stormfur ever trying to insult him first, unlike Brambleclaw or Squirrelpaw. The only time they'd argued was either because Crowpaw didn't want to talk to him, or Stormfur was defending one of the others.

Crowpaw felt his stomach sicken with embarrassment. He'd sworn that he wouldn't go against the other cats simply because of their clan on this journey, but he'd only kept that promise with the two cats that he'd become friends with. He still kept his distance from the others.

It was something he just didn't find himself aware of. The Warrior Code was still ingrained in his morals no matter what changed. He couldn't help himself, a primal urgency prodded him to keep the exceptions limited.

Crowpaw grunted in frustration, pacing away again. "Okay, I get it!"

"You better. Listen, I don't care how you treat me." Stormfur announced, his tone turned cold. "But for some reason, my sister seems to like you. So, don't you dare upset her!" He ordered icily, his neck fur bristling.

The apprentice dipped his head, a coldness overcoming his stomach. Feathertail liked him. And Crowpaw liked her. He wouldn't even hesitate to call her one of his best friends. It was her who had treated him the best from the very start. And he'd taken his damaged pride out on her.

Mouse-brain.

No matter how little he got on with Stormfur, the warrior was right. Crowpaw was the only one who needed to fix this.

"Alright." Crowpaw's voice went soft, his pace slowed until Stormfur was right next to him. "I didn't mean it; I'll apologise to her when we get back."

Immediately, Stormfur's anger seemed to cease. His fur went flat again on his back, and his tail began to move more calmly. "Okay." He said, deadpan. "Good. Make sure it doesn't happen again."

"I won't."

Stormfur blinked slowly, examining the cat. For a moment, it looked like he was going to leave it at that, but a puzzled spark ignited in his face, making his muzzle contort in questioning. "So?"

Crowpaw sighed, he'd already submitted to the cat's words, what else did he want? "So what?"

"It's just, considering how prickly you are usually." Stormfur stated, ignoring Crowpaw's scowl, his eyes closing halfway. "You seem to get along really well with my sister."

The Windclan cat almost tripped over his own feet. Crowpaw's eyes darted up to the warrior, staring straight into the warrior's flickering amber eyes. What exactly was Stormfur trying to start? "We're on a journey together, aren't we?" Crowpaw said sarcastically.

Stormfur growled, "Yes, but you tend to stick by her more than anyone else."

"So what?" Crowpaw challenged, the unknown accusation in the warrior's voice was making Crowpaw furious. "We're friends. When we started this journey you all wanted me to get on with you guys! What's wrong with me getting on with a cat?"

The Riverclan cat shrugged, but kept his eyes locked with the smaller cat. "Nothing. Just wondering what you thought of her?"

What he thought of her? Why did Stormfur care about that? It was no business of his what Crowpaw thought of anyone. He could sense the cat wouldn't give up without an answer, however. "She's great." Crowpaw hissed, "There! You happy now?"

Clearly not, as hidden behind his cold exterior, Crowpaw could feel the growing impatient intensity in the Stormfur's expression. "That isn't what I meant." Stormfur mewed. "Do you… admire her?"

A sudden chill ran across Crowpaw. Admire? There was something dangerous in how he phrased it. Something forbidden. Crowpaw admired Feathertail in many ways, her kindness, her knowledge, her patience, so many things about the cat were desirable to any clan.

But that wasn't what Stormfur was asking for.

Admire.

"Whatever you're asking me," Crowpaw said carefully, his voice as sharp as his claws. "It's not like that." He would not answer that. Stormfur had no right to ask and he did not deserve an answer. "It's none of your business anyway!"

Stormfur's sucked in a smooth tight breath, his eyes flashing as if he'd found a tooth in his side. "She's my sister. She is my concern."

"Well, I don't 'admire' her. Not in the way you think." The image of Feathertail flashed in Crowpaw's mind. There were many things that he thought about the cat, but that was not one of them. And he never suspected that she thought the same about him.

It wasn't like that.

Stormfur's glare stuck but quivered with desperation. "Really?"

Crowpaw blinked coolly, seeing the vulnerability in Stormfur's eyes. "Really."

For what seemed like a minute, Stormfur studied Crowpaw's face, searching for any lie or break in his composure. But Crowpaw had nothing to hide. What Stormfur was thinking went against the warrior code, seriously against what the forest stood for. Crowpaw like to think he would always see Feathertail as a friend, but he didn't know if he could ever bring himself to think about any cat from outside his clan in that way.

It would only lead to heartache.

Finally, Stormfur settled, his muscles relaxing as he let out a deep sigh. "Okay, I believe you." As if realising the awkwardness of what he had just asked, he took a sheepish step away. "You must understand. I-We already lost our father because he was driven between two clans. I can't let the same thing happen to my sister." He said, his gaze digging into the ground.

That was true enough, Crowpaw thought. He'd heard everything about Greystripe and he thought it was a terrible way to live. Separated from your family? How could any cat bear with that? That was why Crowpaw rejected the very idea. He could not let himself be drawn into that.

However, he couldn't help but scowl at the hypocrisy in Stormfur's words.

"You're one to talk! Both me and Feathertail have seen the way you act around Squirrelpaw!" Crowpaw spat, glaring as he realised the unfairness in Stormfur's accusations. "It's as obvious as a hairless cat!"

It looked as if Stormfur had been bitten on the tail. His eyes bulged out in a start, every single fur spiking as he began to cough and splutter. His front paws stumbled around on the spot, as if he had forgotten how to balance, until he caught himself just in the nick of time.

Stormfur blushed, "I-I only a-appreciate her!" The warrior stammered, looking away from the smaller cat nervously.

Crowpaw appreciated Squirrelpaw too. But that didn't mean that he was going to lose his breath and pant like he was furless in the sun whenever she came near him.

"Hmm, I'm sure you do." Crowpaw monotoned, entirely unimpressed and unconvinced by the Warrior's transparency. He turned away again to follow the scent of mouse. He might have caught something else, if Stormfur hadn't barged into his face again, his face stark with panic.

"Surely you understand. You hated her before! Now you two look like best friends!"

Crowpaw felt an unusual warmth go to his cheeks. "Well, I mean, I'd say we're friends but-"

"Exactly!" Stormfur mewled, "She gets along well with everyone! We all admire her!" Stormfur's words were quick, said as they came to his brain. Quick and without restraint. His eyes closed peacefully as he went on and his "I mean, she's just fun to be around! Her energy, her bravery, it's all so…"

Crowpaw stared at the jabbering tom. So obvious.

The grey warrior must have also noticed how he sounded because he quickly shut his words down, laughing anxiously. "She's a great cat!" Stormfur exclaimed, like that had been all he'd wanted to say. A shadow came over his gaze. "But I wouldn't go against the code like that. A cat like her deserves a great Thunderclan cat."

Crowpaw couldn't help but scoff. There was only one other Thunderclan cat he knew apart from her, and that was a cat Crowpaw wouldn't wish on any she-cat. Especially Squirrelpaw.

"Pfft! I don't know, she probably gets on better with you than that stupid Thunderclan Warrior." Crowpaw meowed.

A glow came back to Stormfur's eyes, slowly he offered a laugh. "Heh, I suppose that's true. Still, you can't deny he's a good Warrior."

Oh, Crowpaw would find ways to.

"You also can't deny he's a fox-heart!"

"He's still twice your size though." Stormfur smirked.

Crowpaw glowered, "Size doesn't mean anything. I'd still blind him if he tried anything against me!" The apprentice seethed, his claws flashing in the sunlight.

Stormfur let out a mrrow of laughter, but there was a softness in his eyes. "You really hate him."

Crowpaw gawked, his tail curling in surprise. "You've seen the way he treats her! If a Riverclan cat was treating Feathertail like that, you'd hate them as well!" The Clan was a symbol of trust and bonding. Brambleclaw seemed to go against that every time he spoke to Squirrelpaw, and it was always completely unnecessary.

Stormfur nodded, "You're right, I would." He paused, looking over the cat again with a thought. "But Squirrelpaw's not your clan."

Crowpaw braced, turning on his heckles with a hiss. He almost looked offended. "So what?" He demanded hotly, "She's still my friend, and I don't want that bee-brain to treat her like that!"

The Grey warrior's eyes widened in surprise as he stared down at the small apprentice. Crowpaw felt his heart pace rapidly with adrenaline, strangely expecting some kind of conflict to occur. He just then realised how angry he'd sounded and he relaxed himself, embarrassed.

Before the journey he never expected to sound so defensive over nothing. Especially over a Thunderclan cat.

Stormfur stared a moment longer, then his amber eyes flashed with a dignified smile. Crowpaw's face twisted in confusion; was that…respect he saw in the tom's eyes?

"You really are protective of your friends aren't you?" Stormfur asked that like it was a compliment. His eyes flickered warmly on the young cat, friendly for the first time. "That's a welcome change." He laughed. "Maybe Feathertail was right when she said you weren't so bad?"

Even though Crowpaw groaned, he still felt a twinge of pleasure in the hint of acceptance in the tom's words. He licked his shoulder fur, partly flustered by the shift between the two cats. But he caught on to the questioning tone and frowned again.

"Maybe?!" He snapped.

Stormfur laughed out loud. "Keep it calm, I don't want to regret what I just said."

Crowpaw sniffed and looked away. "At least your sister's got sense." He quipped with a flick of his tail.

The warrior shrugged, "Can't deny that. I just hope you do as well." The air softened between the toms as they both mustered a slight smile. They weren't talking like enemies anymore at least.

"But…" Stormfur's breath caught. Crowpaw looked up to the sighing Riverclan cat, who offered a pleading smile to the apprentice. "Look, I'm happy that you and my sister get on well. Just…make sure she doesn't get hurt, okay?"

A momentary silence compelled the two clan cats. Crowpaw's fur prickled with an unknown desperation. He swallowed hard, making his face as hard and blank as stone. "Of course, I wouldn't." He couldn't resist the temptation to add to that statement. "You make sure Squirrelpaw doesn't get hurt though, alright?" He wanted to make sure Stormfur kept his hypocrisy aside.

Stormfur cringed, then nodded down to the cat. "You have my word."

That would have to do. Once again, Crowpaw would just have to trust these cats. "Okay then." Crowpaw responded. After a brief, awkward, silence the apprentice coughed and motioned for the cat to follow him. "Come on, I think the prey was this way."

Stormfur smiled and began to follow. "Sure! I've been waiting to see how fast you are! By Starclan, it was all Squirrelpaw could talk about for-" He was cut off as he walked straight into Crowpaw's back. Frowning, the warrior looked down at the cat, ready to scold him again, then he froze.

Every single strand of fur was spiked with a noticeable fright. Crowpaw's tail wavered in the air, almost trembling. Even though Stormfur couldn't see Crowpaw's face, he could sense how stiff he was.

"Crowpaw?" Stormfur hesitated, "What is it?" He looked to where Crowpaw was facing, a flat hill, where the grass was a lighter shade in a straight line as wide as a fox-length. Ripe with prints, some old, some more recent. Within half a second, he got a terrified thought; it was soon confirmed when he tasted the air.

In all their discussion, neither of them had bothered to taste their surroundings.

A stupid mistake. A fatal mistake.

The consequence soon came over the hill face, panting and ready for a chase.

Crowpaw said it first. A whispered demand. "Run."

…

Brambleclaw was incensed.

"That stubborn mouse-brained furball!" He yowled, pacing back and forth, his tail dragging along the grass.

Feathertail sat a tail-length away, her gaze hard on the floor, cold with regret. "Don't get angry. I should have known he'd be upset." She said frailly.

Beside the Riverclan cat, Squirrelpaw's tail bristled with shock. Feathertail was blaming herself for Crowpaw storming off? Squirrelpaw sighed, the she-cat was far too good natured for her own good.

"Feathertail, he's the one who lost his temper." Squirrelpaw objected, pressing her nose against her friend's pelt. "He's the one who should be sorry, not you."

"Sorry doesn't cut it!" Brambleclaw cut in with a growl, "We should be on the move by now! We could have hunted on the way through the forest, now we have to wait until they come back, all because of his stupid ego!"

Squirrelpaw glowered a little at how much she saw Brambleclaw was clearly enjoying himself in bad mouthing the apprentice, but she said nothing. After how Crowpaw had stormed off, she had nothing to defend him with. She couldn't even disagree with her clanmate. They were all starving, certainly, but they did need to carry on in the journey!

Tawnypelt gave a murmur of agreement, she was waiting patiently beside a thick stone that seemed to be one of many around the area they had decided to rest. Heavy, grey, old slabs of stone littered the flat grassland. Squirrelpaw remembered Stormfur saying that they may have made up a two-leg place a long time ago, perhaps even before the clans.

"He better come back with at least three rabbits after how long they've been gone." The Shadowclan cat mumbled. "By this rate we won't even make it through the forest before it gets dark."

Brambleclaw's only reply was a satisfied lash of his tail.

"I'm sure they'll be back soon." Feathertail said gently. "They wouldn't let us down."

"Maybe one of them wouldn't." Brambleclaw muttered under his breath.

Feathertail's ear flicked and she looked up, ready to argue, then her head dropped again with a defeated exhale. Squirrelpaw pressed her tail against the cat in comfort. She groaned, what had Crowpaw been thinking? She had been woken up by the sound of Feathertail's voice beside her, and when she had looked up she saw Crowpaw staring straight at the warrior, his eyes icy and cold, a furious flicker obvious behind them. Feathertail had sensed the cat's growing tension and she had tried to clam him down, but Crowpaw just stood up, shook his pelt away from her and darted away, leaving Feathertail broken faced behind him and Squirrelpaw confused and angry.

After Stormfur had chased after the tom, Feathertail had revealed that she had told Crowpaw about her saltwater sign. The tom was the only chosen cat who hadn't gained it.

"Listen, please don't be angry with him." Feathertail pleaded to the group. "It can't be easy knowing he's the only one without a sign from Starclan."

Tawnypelt shook her head, standing up and stretching her long limbs. "We can all understand why he's annoyed. But it still doesn't mean he wasn't stupid about it!" She mewed, walking over to the Riverclan cat.

"I know." Feathertail cried, "But I don't want him to be upset. We all know how dedicated Crowpaw is. There has to be a reason he reacted like that."

"There is." Brambleclaw agreed with a snarl, "He's a prickly little nuisance!"

Squirrelpaw's stomach curled uncomfortably. She felt she had a better idea of why Crowpaw was angry than the others did. She was the only one Crowpaw had told about his link with his ancestors. She knew how desperate he was to please them. To please him.

A twist of sympathy rushed in her stomach. She understood why Crowpaw was so hurt, she just wished he hadn't taken it out on Feathertail. Now he just looked like the disagreeable, prideful apprentice Squirrelpaw had been able to look past.

'Mouse-brain' She thought sadly. She wanted them all to respect him as much as she did.

Feathertail looked off in the direction the two toms had sprinted. "I hope he's okay. Please Starclan, make sure Stormfur doesn't do something to make it worse."

That was a threat certainly, Squirrelpaw had noticed how distrustful Stormfur was of Crowpaw. She hoped it was just the mind of an overprotective brother.

Tawnypelt sat down near the mollies. "Stormfur wouldn't dare harm any of us, even Crowpaw. There's nothing to worry about." She began to wash her paws.

"Yeah." Squirrelpaw agreed, giving Feathertail a friendly lick on the ear. "They'll be fine, don't worry."

Feathertail smiled at the two, thankful, but there was no peace in her eyes.

"I just hope they get back quickly; we're losing time." Brambleclaw sat a fox-length away from the trio, his tail swaying impatiently.

Squirrelpaw shrugged, trying her best to be friendly. "Well at least we won't be hungry on the way." She chirped. Even despite how Brambleclaw had been treating her, it would do no good to provoke him needlessly.

However, Brambleclaw countered that hope with a vicious glare that blazed in his amber eyes. "We could have not gone hungry and made some ground if it wasn't for him! Some friend you have!"

Squirrelpaw's positivity evaporated as her eyes narrowed. 'So once again, it's my fault is it.' She thought. If Brambleclaw thought that he could use Crowpaw's stupidity against her, he had no sense at all! Yes, Crowpaw was moody, but he had more respect for her in his tail than Brambleclaw ever had.

She opened her mouth to say something but Tawnypelt cut her off. "Is there any need for that?" She hissed at her brother.

"Tawnypelt, don't act like you disagree." Brambleclaw stated.

"Crowpaw may be a pest but don't take it out on Squirrelpaw!" Tawnypelt demanded, a fang tracing over her bottom lip. She looked away bitterly, "Thunderclan." She seethed in disbelief, "Some clanmate you are!"

She said the last part quietly but the wounded flash across Brambleclaw's face spoke that he had heard his sister. Squirrelpaw felt a prick of sympathy for the warrior, but it soon evaporated away. After how the cat had treated her, he didn't deserve her forgiveness. Brambleclaw turned away, his head hanging low despite an effort to look strong, and he laid down, not facing the trio.

The three mollies shared an uncomfortable silence, broken only when Tawnypelt looked up again. "I apologise for my brother's behaviour," She said softly, so tender that it was hard to believe who she descended from. "He was never like this before I le- Before I joined Shadowclan."

Squirrelpaw scoffed, "He's always seemed like a mouse-brain to me. That's all I've ever known of him!" She joked. Thankfully, the two cats laughed along. Squirrelpaw's smile dropped though, "But, yeah, I don't know why he's acting like this." They'd gotten along fine in Thunderclan despite their quarrels, but now it was like Brambleclaw only had bitterness for her. She wished she understood why.

Tawnypelt sighed, "Neither do I. I hope it's just because he's stressed about the journey."

"We're all stressed." Feathertail pointed out, a rare venom in her tone. "But he still shouldn't treat her like that."

"I know." Strangely, Tawnypelt chuckled. "He was good fun when we were kits though. Always laughing and smiling with me. We had to stick by each other, especially since he was the one who most looked like…well, you know."

Squirrelpaw noticed Feathertail twitch with discomfort. It wasn't surprising. If Tigerstar had gotten his way, neither her nor Stormfur would be alive right now. It was a horrible thought. To be related to such a cat would have made Squirrepaw ashamed. She was happy that Tawnypelt, and even Brambleclaw, were able to overcome that history. She was even more happy that Tawnypelt seemed to be happy in Shadowclan.

"I can understand that." Feathertail said sympathetically, giving the warrior a soothing look, "It must have been hard after he died, to have no family in your clan." Squirrelpaw had often wondered that. She couldn't imagine being separated from Leafpaw, or even Feathertail being separated from Stormfur.

Tawnypelt nodded, but she didn't look particularly hurt. "It was. Brambleclaw tried everything to get me to come back." She said, but there was a familiar strong look in her eyes. "But I don't regret any of it; Thunderclan treated me worse than dirt because of who my father was. They never made me feel like I belonged there, Shadowclan did."

Feathertail made a mutter of agreement, she would have had a long time to understand that feeling with her father in a different clan. But Squirrelpaw couldn't help but feel bewildered at the thought of leaving the clan you had been born into. Loyalty to the clan was the most important principle of the Warrior Code, and while no cat would deny Tawnypelt's loyalty to Shadowclan, Squirrelpaw still realised the impact the warrior had made when she had left Thunderclan.

But then again, she'd heard from Brambleclaw the kind of abuse he'd received due to his father. Could she really blame Tawnypelt for wanting to escape that?

"Still, do you ever wish you could go back?" Squirrelpaw asked slowly, hoping that she wouldn't offend the warrior.

Luckily, Tawnypelt just shrugged calmly, "No. My home is with Shadowclan. And it seems Starclan agrees; why else would I have been chosen to guide them?" Squirrelpaw couldn't argue against that. Clearly, Starclan had plans for Tawnypelt that aligned with her decision.

"I see." Squirrelpaw uttered. She had to admire the bravery of Tawnypelt, not just any cat could make a decision like that without thinking of the consequences, especially with her brother in another clan. Squirrelpaw could only hope to be as strong as her one day.

Feathertail began to shift, as if unsettled. Her cool eyes gleaming cryptically. "How…How did you know that your true home was with Shadowclan?" The Warrior asked modestly. Squirrelpaw raised a brow, normally Feathertail wasn't the type to ask any question that could be seen as personal. She sensed something hidden behind her expression.

Tawnypelt paused, raising her head up in thought. Her lips went into a tight line, then she smiled and craned her head with a frisky stroke of her tail. "I just knew. I can't describe it, but I just felt that Shadowclan was where I was meant to be." She laughed suddenly, "It sounds mouse-brained, I know, but it was just something I knew at the time."

The Riverclan cat seemed to ponder over that answer, then she dropped her gaze again, satisfaction shining around her. Squirrelpaw wasn't so convinced, however. A feeling? That wasn't something she expected to hear from a cat as practical as Tawnypelt. Squirrelpaw could only suppose that it was mostly led by the way Thunderclan had treated her; that was a reason. A feeling just seemed strange…

"Still, I do wonder about Brambleclaw every day." Tawnypelt said, offering a sad, but firm, look to her brother. "I hope this stupid anger of his passes soon or he'll end up starting a fight."

Squirrelpaw rolled her eyes. "Be glad you're not on the receiving end."

Tawnypelt groaned tiredly, her head leaning over her paws. "It was bad enough when it was just Crowpaw, but if a Warrior starts acting like that; oh, help us Starclan."

A tight protective desire sprang in Squirrelpaw's stomach. "Crowpaw's really not as bad as he acts. He's mouse-brained, but he's been better company to me than Brambleclaw ever has." Squirrelpaw found herself meowing. It was like an instinct. Even though he had acted stupidly, Crowpaw was still her friend, and she wanted to defend him as much as she could.

Tawnypelt narrowed her eyes, unconvinced. "Hmm, must act differently with you, because he's never had a kind word to say to me."

"He just has trouble trusting the other clans." Feathertail interjected, her voice noticeably firmer than usual. "That's understandable, isn't it?"

"I suppose. But it doesn't do much good if we're supposed to be a group."

"Oh, just give him time." Feathertail meowed, her eyes casting off a little. "I swear you'll see how much of an amazing warrior he's going to be!"

Tawnypelt rolled her eyes, but she didn't say anything to counter the cat. "I hope you're right." She seemed glad that the conversation had ended there when she noticed Feathertail's smile.

Squirrelpaw noticed her smile too. And she saw something glowing in it; something gentle and passionate.

Squirrelpaw froze, her stomach twisting at the thought. Did Feathertail… No, she couldn't! What Squirrelpaw thought she'd seen couldn't be there! Her fur prickled as she tried to push the thought away. They were just friends. It must have just been friendship, nothing more. Crowpaw didn't even think about Feathertail in that way, if he had Squirrelpaw would have seen it before certainly!

A growl rumbled in Squirrelpaw's throat. Of course, she was mistaken. The very thought of it was absurd and stupid. But then again… Feathertail had asked about Tawnypelt's loyalty to her clan? Had that been because she was questioning herself, questioning the Warrior code?

She looked again at Feathertail. The cat was smiling stupidly, her eyes almost seemed blissful. Was she thinking of...? Squirrelpaw's eyes closed furiously as she tried to keep her tail from puffing out in frustration. It wasn't true! They couldn't…

An ill feeling rushed across Squirrelpaw's spine, her pupils shrinking as her stomach churned and turned to ice.

Why was she so annoyed?

Her thoughts were cut off as Brambleclaw suddenly shouted. "There they are! They don't seem to have any prey."

Squirrelpaw's gaze darted to where Brambleclaw was looking. She rose up with the other two cats and watched as both Crowpaw and Stormfur came over the peak of a nearby hill. They were both sprinting desperately. The three cats slowly came over to where Brambleclaw was and squinted out at the two.

A coldness seemed to envelop the group. Something was wrong. Crowpaw and Stormfur looked terrified, putting every bit of strength into their run. Looking closer, it was almost liked they weren't running to the group, rather running away-

Every cat seemed to share the same thought before the fleeing cats confirmed it.

"Run to the forest!" Stormfur yowled, almost breathless.

Almost on cue of Crowpaw's scream of "Dog!", the animal crashed into the cats' view! It was huge! Its teeth sparkling like a thousand Warrior's claws as it quickly hunted after the cats like they were rabbits!

The barking rumbled around the hills, carrying death in its force.

The cats' scrambled away, fleeing towards the nearby wood! There had to be somewhere amongst the army of trees that they could escape the dog's teeth! Squirrelpaw ran beside Feathertail, looking back only for a second to check if Stormfur and Crowpaw were close behind, she couldn't allow herself to be relieved when she saw that they were soon gaining on the group. Unfortunately, the dog wouldn't take long to catch up.

Squirrelpaw had never felt so scared before! This dog was far worse than any of the one's she had heard about before, even the one from the gardens didn't own a bark as ferocious as this one! She had to run! That was it! Run or die!

"Starclan, help us!" Feathertail cried beside Squirrelpaw. The terror in the cat's voice only made Squirrelpaw run faster. They made it to the wood's edge and all sprinted through the collection of bracken and twigs. Squirrelpaw looked around fiercely for any kind of safety, but all she saw was tangled bushes and dead tree trunks. The stench of the dog was growing closer, they needed to find somewhere now!

Even the nearby yelling of the Twoleg that owned the brute offered no comfort! There was no way it would reach the beast before it sank its jaws into at least one of her companions, or even her! Squirrelpaw heard herself squeak in terror! "Find somewhere quickly!"

For a while all she could hear was the dark growling and barking of the dog, as rampant as the furious beating off her heart! It loomed over the forest like a dark shadow, one that offered no safety. Only blood and doom.

Then, she heard Brambleclaw yowl nearby! "Climb trees!" He ordered. For once, Squirrelpaw was happy to oblige. She scanned every tree, her heart sinking as she came across a storm of blank, hollow trees! Then in the corner of her eye, she saw Brambleclaw's huge form clinging onto a trunk wrapped in ivy. Below him, the black shape of the dog jumped in the air, its teeth snapping for the cat's fur.

She had to be quick while it was distracted. With every ounce of strength she had, she darted past the dog, offering a small prayer to Starclan as she pounced. She could smell the rancid breath of the creature momentarily, but it passed as she found her paws digging into the tangle of ivy. Gracefully, she hauled herself up the tree, only stopping for breath when she was safe on a high branch.

Squirrelpaw trembled, staring down at the steaming breath of the dog as it growled hungrily at the bottom of the tree, its eyes blazing like great balls of fiery madness! Above her she noticed Stormfur and Tawnypelt trembling on a higher branch, and she turned at a desperate rustling, finding Crowpaw scrambling up the other side of the tree.

For a moment, she felt she could allow herself to breathe. Then her heart seemed to stop in horror.

"Where's Feathertail?" Brambleclaw screamed.

Squirrelpaw searched the area hysterically, gasping when she saw her friend frozen in fear, only a few fox-lengths behind the dog. The dog was blocking her way! There was nowhere she could go, and she knew it! She looked close to tears as her expression lay stiff with dread!

Help her! Squirrelpaw's mind screeched. She's helped you so many times before! She wanted to, she wanted to go down there and help her friend with every inch of her being! But the snapping of the dog's jaws, the hunger in its eyes, the thought of Brightheart's scarred face, it all crowded in Squirrelpaw's vision and made her paws tremble!

What could she do?

"Fox-dung! I've had enough of this!"

It all happened like it was within half a second. Crowpaw's form flung through the air, determined desperation full on his expression, and he landed beyond the reach of the dog, who's head following his direction fiercely!

A grim panic boiled all over Squirrelpaw! "Crowpaw, no!" She yowled after him as he fled across the dry leaves and into the bushes. The dog stormed after him. Sensing the opportunity, Feathertail darted over to the tree pouncing onto the tree and wrapping herself around a thin branch.

Squirrelpaw should have felt relief that her friend was safe, but her gaze was stuck on the bushes where Crowpaw and the dog had disappeared. She could hear its barking rumble in the distance and her heart dropped. There was no trace of Crowpaw! Had he been caught? Her breath chilled as grief began to overcome her!

He was chosen! He had to show his clan they were right to trust him! It couldn't just end like this, not after everything, not after how close they'd become!

Suddenly, a black shape crashed through the bracken, sprinting at a rapid familiar pace. Squirrelpaw let a slow, relieved breath escape her chest as she saw Crowpaw spring into the air again, digging his claws into the ivy and climbing to a safe place.

The dog followed again, barking and grunting in anger. Then its Twoleg appeared, grabbed the beast by the scruff like a kit, and dragged it away yapping and whining pathetically.

Once the cries faded into the distance, Squirrelpaw allowed herself to sink onto the branch in relief. They were safe at last! She looked down at Crowpaw who still clung to the ivy, his face buried against the trunk as he panted and regained his breath. Squirrelpaw felt a glowing admiration for the cat burst across her! He had risked his life for his friend and had succeeded when she had been too scared to do anything! It was one of the bravest things she had ever seen!

Squirrelpaw found herself looking around; Stormfur, Tawnypelt, even Brambleclaw (grudgingly), looked impressed by the apprentice's bravery! Squirrelpaw smiled, this was definitely going to help them all realise how amazing Crowpaw could be!

"Thank you, Crowpaw! You saved my life!"

Squirrelpaw grinned again looking over to her, now safe, friend. A warmth ran through her now she knew that Feathertail was unharmed.

Then she found Feathertail's expression. And even though she knew it was stupid, ridiculous, and unfair, she froze again.

Crowpaw climbed up to where Squirrelpaw was, panting and grooming over his fur. But his gaze never left Feathertail. "Big brute!" He muttered, "Tripped over its own paws." Even his brave faced quips didn't annoy Squirrelpaw anymore. They were almost endearing.

"It would have caught me for sure if you hadn't come to help me." Feathertail breathed, her whisper brimming with something passionate. Squirrelpaw saw the blissful affection paint Feathertail's gaze once again. It was undeniable this time. Clear as the morning sky.

The Thunderclan apprentice felt her stomach twist when she saw Crowpaw blush, his eyes flashing at the cat. Squirrelpaw thought it may have resembled the way Feathertail was looking at him. Then, straight at the Riverclan Warrior, Crowpaw smiled.

Oh, how Squirrelpaw loved it when he smiled. Yet now, it made Squirrelpaw feel emptier.

"There was no way I'd abandon a friend." Crowpaw called to the Warrior, then pondering in the sweet embarrassed way he rarely did, he let himself open a little more. "Especially when I owed her an apology."

Squirrelpaw should have felt proud. Every cat around the group seemed to accept Crowpaw a little more at that. Tawnypelt and Stormfur both nodding in commendation, and even Brambleclaw couldn't hide the admittance of recognition in his gaze.

Feathertail looked moved. Affected. Stirred. Sharing gratitude with the black apprentice.

Squirrelpaw felt blank. She should have felt happy for the two, right?

But even when they had to move on through the forest, accompanied by an old kittypet, even though she kept a bright- and wide-eyed grin throughout, Squirrelpaw couldn't shake off the strange sadness that clung to her like a flea.

...

Yep, that crackship nobody wants is back ladies and gentlemen! I regret nothing!

Still, I'm wondering what to call this ship. SquirrelCrow, CrowSquirrel, CrowFlight, SquirrelFeather? I'm stumped. Maybe you guys can help me out, if you want to that is.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed! If you liked this chapter please leave a review, and if you didn't please leave a review anyway because I'd appreciate to know where you guys think I went wrong! Take care of yourselves and I'll see you guys next chapter.

Peace!