Trail of Flames: Into the Forest

by Doritopaw101

Au: Splinter lived a okay life as a brawler of The Bloodbound, living on the streets of the city but his life changes one day after an encounter with forest cats firsthand. Little does he know he might get more than be bargained for. (read this first, it's being re-edited)

My new version of my into the wild rewrite.

It's now dubbed: Into the Forest.

It's kinda cut from warriors but it will be in that category.

Charlie is referring to a cat on the non-binary spectrum. If I put -molly or -tom after it it's because that's also how that cat identifies.

* for ocs

---

Cats of The Blazing Forest

Commander: Bluestar - pointed blue-gray molly with purple-blue eyes Cadet: Sandpaw

Lieutenant: Thrushpelt - small sandy-gray tom with a white flash on his chest with green eyes

Seer: Spottedleaf - dark tortoiseshell and white molly with amber eyes Cadet: Thymepaw

Medic: Featherwhisker - pale gray tom with amber eyes

Monarch: Goldenflower - golden tabby molly with green eyes (Expecting Tigerclaw's kits)

General: Leopardfoot - black molly with darker spots with green eyes

Cavalry:

Daisyclaw* - gray and white molly with amber eyes Cadet: Chestnutpaw

Robinwing - brown tabby molly with ginger patches with amber eyes

Cricketspring - blue-gray molly with blue eyes

Lionheart - golden tom with a lion-like mane with green eyes Cadet: Graypaw

Nightshade - black molly with darker spots with green eyes Cadet: Cherrypaw

Tigerclaw - chimera half white-orange tom black stripes with usually long front claws with amber and blue eyes Cadet: Badgerpaw

Drill Sergeants:

Miststrike - gray molly with dark gray markings with green eyes Cadet: Cranepaw

Leopardstorm (Whitestorm) - pointed white charlie-tom with yellow eyes (He/They) Cadet: Ravenpaw

Stormwhisker* - blue-gray charlie with amber eyes (Xe/Xim)

Messengers:

Birchstep (Runningwind) - brown tabby tom with green eyes

Flameskip* - ginger tom with blue eyes

Soldiers :

Dappletail - tortoiseshell and white molly with amber eyes

Patchpelt - black and white tom with amber eyes

Redtail - small tortoiseshell tom with a distinctive ginger tail with amber eyes Cadet: Dustpaw

Mousefur - small dusky brown molly with green eyes Cadet: Emberpaw

Timberface* - light brown molly with dark brown markings with blue eyes Cadet: Spurcepaw

Furzepounce* - black tom with ginger patches with yellow eyes

Darkstripe - sleek dark gray and black tabby tom-molly with yellow eyes (He/She)

Smokepelt* - gray molly with blue eyes

Voletail* - pointed brown tom with green eyes

Fogtail (Longtail) - pale gray tom with black stripes with green eyes

Craftclaws/Smithstones:

Rosetail - gray tabby molly with a bushy ginger tail with amber eyes Cadet: Gingerpaw

Fuzzypelt - spiky black tom with yellow eyes

Featherheart - deaf white tom with blue eyes

Cadets:

Badgerpaw* - black molly with white splotches with green eyes

Spurcepaw* - chimera dark brown and white molly with black stripes with blue and amber eyes

Gingerpaw* - ginger and white tom with green and amber eyes

Emberpaw* - dark gray and white molly with amber eyes

Thymepaw* - gray tabby molly (with darker flecks) with yellow eyes

Nettlepaw* - pointed gray tom with blue eyes

Dustpaw - dark brown tabby tom with ginger markings with amber eyes

Cherrypaw - pointed ginger molly with amber eyes

Chestnutpaw - reddish-brown tom with amber eyes

Ravenpaw - small black tom with a white dash on his chest and white tail-tip with purple and yellow eyes

Sandpaw - pale ginger molly with green eyes

Cinderpaw - pointed gray molly with blue eyes

Icepaw - fluffy white tom with red eyes

Graypaw - solid long-furred gray tom with a darker gray stripe with yellow eyes

Cranepaw* - white molly with black markings with dark green eyes

Royalty:

Speckletail - golden speckled molly with amber eyes (Expecting)

Frostbite (Frostfur) - deaf white molly with black speckles with blue eyes (Expecting Lionheart's kits) Cadet: Cinderpaw

Sweetheart - tortoiseshell and white molly with green eyes (Mother to: Seed* - tortoiseshell and white molly with green eyes with blue highlights and Apple* - tortoiseshell and white molly with blue eyes with green highlights) (Caring for: Branch* - dark brown tom with amber eyes and Tree* - brown tom with green eyes)

Ambertuft* - ginger molly with amber eyes (Expecting)

Mossthorn - white charlie with gray patches with blue eyes (He/She/They) (Expecting)

Nurses:

Brindleface - pale gray charlie (with darker flecks) with green eyes (They/Them) (Parent of Burrclaw's kit: Comfrey* - pale gray molly (with darker flecks) with amber eyes)

Dustyflower* - tabby brown molly with distinctive black markings with blue eyes (Expecting)

Willowpelt - pale gray molly with purple-blue eyes (Expecting) (Mother of: Acorn* - brown molly with yellow eyes) Cadet: Nettlepaw

Deerspots* - brown tabby molly with black markings with blue eyes (Mother of: Copper - light brown tom with yellow eyes) (Caring for Featherheart's kits: Dark* - black and white molly with blue eyes and Pale* - white molly with ginger spots with yellow eyes)

Veterans:

Sparrowstrike (Halftail) - big dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Smallwhisker (Smallear) - gray tom with amber eyes

Palesong (One-eye) - pale gray molly with a yellow eye

Cats of The Plaguing Darkness

Chief: Raggedmoon - dark brown tabby molly with amber eyes

Chief's heir: Brokentail - ginger tabby tom with amber eyes Novice: Whitepaw

Second: Ratheart* - dark brown and ginger tabby tom with green eyes

Warlocks/Witches: Murkstorm (Yellowfang) - 'dark gray' charlie with yellow half on their face with yellow eyes (They/Them)

Marshshadow (Hopekit) - dark gray and cream molly with blue eyes

Palespeckle (Runningnose) - small gray and white tom with gray speckles with amber eyes

Monarch: Featherstorm - dark brown tabby molly with amber eyes (Mother to: Sage* - white molly with brown speckles with amber eyes)

Teachers:

Blazefang (Wishkit) - ginger tabby molly with amber eyes Novice: Darkpaw

Flintfang - gray tom with dark gray paws with green eyes Novice: Badgerpaw

Messengers:

Deerfoot - brown dappled molly with amber eyes

Cinderfur - gray molly with amber eyes

Craftclaws:

Poolcloud - gray and white molly with blue eyes

Blizzardwing - mottled white tom with green eyes

Wolfstep - black tom with yellow eyes

Pinespeckle* - pale tortoiseshell molly with blue eyes

Fogcoat* - silver molly with dark blue eyes

Spurcepatch* - chimera black and brown molly with red and blue eyes

Builders:

Scorchwind - ginger tabby tom with green eyes

Nutwhisker - brown tom with amber eyes

Nettlestripe* - silver tabby tom with pale green eyes

Striketail* - dark brown tabby molly with green eyes

Creampatch* - gray molly with cream colored patches with yellow eyes

Boulder - gray tom with blue eyes

Sootshade* - chimera gray and black tom with blue and yellow eyes Novice: Frogpaw

Finchflight - black and white tom with yellow eyes

Spies:

Fernshade - tortoiseshell and white molly with amber eyes

Blackfoot - pointed black tom with yellow eyes with blue highlights

Silktooth* - dark brown tom with black flecks with light green eyes

Blackstrike* - black tom with green eyes

Corvid:

Raventail* - black molly with green eyes (Expecting Wolfstep's kits)

Gladiators:

Lizardstripe - pale brown tabby molly with yellow eyes

Mudfoot (Mudclaw) - gray tom with brown legs with green eyes

Tangleburr - gray and brown molly with green eyes

Russetfur - dark ginger molly with green eyes Novice: Applepaw

Clawface - scarred brown tom with amber eyes

Toadpelt (Stumpytail) - brown tom with amber eyes Novice: Volepaw

Amberfall* - dark ginger and white tom with amber eyes

Puddlebreath* - ginger charlie with purple eyes (Xe/Xem)

Stonefang* - dark gray tabby tom with red eyes

Barktail* - brown molly with blue and green eyes

Beetlefoot* - brown tabby molly with blue eyes

Novices :

Darkpaw - black molly with blue eyes

Frogpaw - dark gray tom with green eyes

Badgerpaw - black and white tom with blue and yellow eyes

Whitepaw - black tom with a white chest and paws with blue eyes

Mosspaw - brown and white tom with green eyes

Volepaw - brown tom with amber eyes

Poppypaw (Tallpoppy) - light brown tabby molly with green eyes

Applepaw (Applefur from Tigerclaw's fury) - mottled brown molly with light green eyes

Royalty:

Newtspeck - black and ginger tabby molly with yellow and amber eyes (Mother to Deerfoot's kits: Wet - gray tabby tom with blue eyes, Brown - brown tom with amber eyes, and Little - brown tabby tom with blue eyes)

Gravelheart (Ashheart) - pale gray molly with blue eyes (Mother to Cinderfur's kits: Turtle - gray, brown, and white tortoiseshell molly with green eyes, Rubble - pale gray tabby tom with blue eyes, Quiet - brown tabby molly with blue eyes)

Rockstripe* - gray tabby molly with yellow eyes (Expecting)

Caretakers:

Nightpelt - black tom with amber eyes (Caring for: White* - white molly with blue eyes and Parsley* - light gray tabby tom with blue eyes)(Caring for Lizardstripe's kits: Lizard* - pale brown tabby molly with yellow eyes and Cedar* - dark brown tabby molly with green eyes)

Rowanberry - cream and brown pointed molly with yellow eyes (Mother to Clawface's kits: Marigold - tortoiseshell molly with green eyes and Mint - gray tom with green eyes) Novice: Poppypaw

Dawncloud - pale ginger tabby molly with blue eyes

Seniors:

Ashclaw (Ashfur) - gray tom with amber eyes

Hollyflower - pointed black molly with blue eyes

Archeye - gray and black tabby chimera tom with black and silver stripes with green and blue eyes

Crowtail - black tabby molly with green eyes

Nettlespot - white molly with ginger spots with blue eyes

Toadskip - dark brown and white tabby tom with blue eyes

Cats of The Rushing Breeze

Warden: Duskstar (Tallstar) - black and white tom with a very long tail with amber eyes (Moor-runner) Pupil: Weaselpaw

Head Advisor:

Shadowpounce (Deadfoot) - black tom with green eyes (Tunneler) Pupil: Stonepaw

Advisors:

Ashfoot - gray speckled charlie with dark gray legs with blue eyes (He/She/They) (Tunneler)

Appledawn - cream-colored molly with amber eyes (Moor-runner)

Wrenflight - brown molly with green eyes (Caretaker)

Bristleclaw - black tom with a white mane with yellow eyes (Moonguard)

Flysnap - white tom with black spots with green eyes (Tunneler) Pupil: Whitepaw

Seers: Hawkheart - scarred dark brown tom with amber eyes

Barkface - short-tailed brown charlie with amber eyes (They/Them) Pupil: Lightpaw

Starkeepers:

Meadowslip - pale gray molly with amber eyes Pupil: Thrushpaw

Smokethroat* - silver tabby charlie with green eyes (It/They)

Blacknose* - black and white tom with yellow eyes Pupil: Sugarpaw

Campguards:

Sunguards:

Marigoldtuft* - golden tabby molly with blue eyes

Woolmist* - white and gray molly with green eyes

Moonguards:

Grasseyes* - black tom with dark green eyes

Birdstride* - dark brown tabby molly with yellow eyes

Moor-runners:

Aspenfall - gray and white tabby tom with amber eyes

Larkflower (Larksplash) - tortoiseshell molly with green eyes

Pigeonwing (Pigeonpaw)- gray and white tom with amber eyes Pupil: Stoatpaw

Mottlewhisker* - tortoiseshell molly with green eyes

Volenose* - brown tom with dark brown patches with green eyes

Birchspots* - brown tom with white spots with blue eyes

Sunwhisker* - golden tabby tom with blue eyes Pupil: Swiftpaw

Hawkfleck* - tortoiseshell molly with gray eyes

Rabbitpatch* - ginger and white tom with blue eyes

Quickstep* - tortoiseshell tom with yellow eyes

Lightfur* - white tom with light gray patches with amber eyes

Tunnelers:

Hickorynose - brown tom with green eyes

Plumclaw - dark gray molly with amber eyes

Tangleclaw* - gray and white molly with green eyes

Tornear - mottled gray tom with blue eyes Pupil: Indigopaw

Mudclaw - mottled dark brown tom with amber eyes (He/They) Pupil: Webpaw

Smoketail* - gray and white tom with yellow eyes Pupil: Darkpaw

Morningflower - tortoiseshell molly with amber eyes

Craftclaws:

Spotridge* - brown tom with dark brown spots with blue eyes

Dawnheart* - cream-colored molly with blue eyes

Teachers:

Stagleap - dark brown tom with amber eyes, teacher for moor-runners

Patcheye* - white molly with brown patches with yellow eyes, teacher for tunnelers Pupil: Thriftpaw

Messenger:

Cloudrunner - deaf white tom with blue eyes

Pupils:

Weaselpaw (Onewhisker) - pale brown tabby tom with green eyes

Stoatpaw* - white and brown tabby molly with green eyes

Lightpaw* - dark brown tom with white speckles with amber eyes

Darkpaw - black tom with purple eyes

Thrushpaw - tortoiseshell molly with green eyes

Stonepaw - gray tom with green eyes

Thriftpaw* - gray and white molly with green eyes

Indigopaw* - white tom with gray markings with purple eyes

Sugarpaw* - white molly with blue eyes

Webpaw - dark gray tabby tom with amber eyes

Whitepaw - white molly with purple eyes

Swiftpaw (Runningbrook) - light gray tabby molly with green eyes

Royalty:

Rabbitspring - pale brown molly with a white belly with yellow eyes (Mother to Sunwhisker's kits: Rush - cream-colored tom with blue eyes and Dash* - golden molly with yellow eyes)

Sorrelshine (Sorrelpaw) - gray and brown molly with amber eyes (Mother to Tornear's kits: Tawny - golden-brown molly with yellow eyes and Gold* - golden-brown molly with blue eyes)

Doespring - light brown molly with green eyes (Expecting)

Hareleap* - light brown and white tabby molly with dark blue eyes (Expecting)

Caretakers:

Ryestalk - gray tabby molly with amber eyes

Ashflower* - gray molly with black spots with green eyes (Expecting Birchspots's kits)

Seniors:

Crowfur - black tom with yellow eyes

Redclaw - dark ginger tom with blue eyes

Hareflight - light brown tom with green eyes

Mistmouse - light brown tabby molly with green eyes

Cats of The Cold River

Captain: Stormmoon (Crookedstar) - gray tabby tom with blue and green eyes with a crooked jaw (He/They) Student: Mosspaw

Captain's heir: Willowpaw - smoky-black molly with amber eyes

Assistant: Oakheart - dark gray tom with light green eyes

Mender: Mudfur - brown tom with amber eyes Student: Minnowpaw

Nightspots* - white molly with black spots with blue and amber eyes

Monarch: Echomist - gray molly with pale blue eyes

Craftclaws/ Smithstones:

Splashsong - dark gray tom with lighter flecks with amber eyes

Piperwhisker* - black and white molly with green eyes

Frogleap - pointed gray tom with green eyes

Teachers:

Whitefang - white tom with brown paws and tail with blue and green eyes

Sedgecreek - brown tabby molly with green eyes Student: Silverpaw

Messenger:

Ottersplash - pale ginger and white molly with green eyes Student: Grasspaw

Morningpool - pale brown molly with white markings with blue eyes

Rangers:

Piketooth - dark brown tabby tom with yellow eyes

Beetleclaw (Beetlenose) - black tom with amber eyes

Voleclaw - gray tom with blue eyes

Petalstream (Petaldust) - tortoiseshell molly with green eyes

Magpiepelt - black and white tom with green eyes

Sootstream - black molly with green eyes

Sunfish - pointed pale gray molly with amber eyes

Blackclaw - black tom with amber eyes Student: Otterpaw

Skyheart - brown tabby molly with green eyes Student: Vixenpaw

Leopardsky (Leopardfur) - unusually dappled golden tabby molly with amber eyes Student: Whitepaw

Reedtail - pale gray tabby tom with red eyes Student: Emberpaw

Mudbelly (Loudbelly) - dark brown tom with amber eyes Student: Silverpaw

Dawnscale (Dawnbright) - ginger and white molly with amber eyes

Stonemask (Stonefur) - pointed gray tom with blue eyes with green highlights Student: Shadepaw

Mistyfoot - pointed blue-gray charlie with blue-purple eyes (They/Them) Student: Willowpaw

Rippleclaw - black and silver tabby tom with green eyes

Mudthorn - brown tom with black ears and front paws with amber eyes

Curlstream* - brown and white molly molly with amber eyes

Shellwillow* - gray molly with dark gray markings with blue eyes

Rainspeck* - light gray molly with white flecks with light blue eyes

Ivytail - brown tabby molly with green eyes

Students:

Whitepaw - black tom with white front paws with amber eyes

Otterpaw (Heavystep) - pointed brown tom with green eyes

Vixenpaw - black molly with amber eyes

Grasspaw - pointed tabby molly with green eyes

Silverpaw - silver tabby molly with blue eyes

Minnowpaw - dark gray molly with dark blue eyes

Greenpaw - brown tabby molly with green eyes

Shadepaw - dark gray molly with blue eyes

Mosspaw - tortoiseshell and white molly with blue eyes

Emberpaw - dark ginger molly with blue eyes

Silverpaw - silver tabby tom with amber eyes

Royalty:

Mallowtail - tortoiseshell and white molly with green eyes (Mother of Frogleap's kits: Dace* - pointed gray tom with green eyes, Wave* - gray and white molly with green eyes, and Coral* - tortoiseshell and white molly with blue eyes)

Dappledwave* - tortoiseshell molly with amber eyes (Expecting)

Caretakers:

Shimmerpelt - black molly with purple eyes (Mother to Piketooth's kit: Night* - black molly with white patches with green eyes)

Lilystem - pale gray tabby molly with green eyes (Expecting)

Swanlight - white molly with red eyes (Expecting Reedtail's kits) Student: Greenpaw

Fleckpetal* - ginger tabby tom with dark ginger spots with light blue eyes (Caring for: Rock* - mottled gray molly with yellow eyes)

Seniors:

Graypool - dark gray molly with yellow eyes

Cedarpelt - brown tabby tom with green eyes

Lakeshine - gray and white molly with blue eyes

Timberfur - dark brown tom with amber eyes

Softwing - white molly with golden patches with blue eyes

Cats outside guilds:

Nutmeg - tortoiseshell and white molly with amber eyes

Jake - fluffy white tom with red eyes

Barley - black and white tom with blue eyes

Mary* - ginger and white molly with amber eyes

Housecats:

Henry - old dark brown tom with amber eyes

Chocolate* - dark brown tabby tom with green eyes

Oliver - white tom with blue eyes

Chloe* - ginger tabby molly with green eyes

The Bloodbound:

Leader: Scourge - small black molly with one white paw with icy blue eyes (She/They)

Seconds in command: Bone - big black and white tom with green eyes

Brick - reddish-brown charlie with green eyes (He/She/They)

Members:

Caden* - pointed brown tom with green eyes

Cleo* - light ginger tabby molly with blue eyes

Ice - black and white tom with blue eyes

Snake - black and white tom with green eyes

Violet - white molly with ginger patches with purple eyes

Snipe - ginger-brown and black tom with amber eyes

Princess - fluffy white molly with blue eyes

Filou - fluffy ginger molly with amber eyes

Luna - white molly with dark gray markings with yellow eyes

Tommy - brown and white tom with blue eyes

Smudge - black and white tom with amber eyes

Willie - brown tabby tom with green eyes

Snapper - brown, black, and white tom with yellow eyes

Claw - brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Pounce - yellow-brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Minty - light gray molly with light blue eyes

Fury - brown tabby molly with amber eyes

Others:

Snag - ginger tabby tom with amber eyes

Rasp* - gray molly with yellow eyes

Riley* - brown molly with yellow eyes

Shoot* - cream tom with amber eyes

Socket* - white tom with brown spots with green eyes

Clay* - reddish-brown tom with blue eyes

---

A half-moon glowed on smooth granite boulders, turning them silver. The silence was broken only by the ripple of water from the swift black river and the whisper of trees in the forest beyond.

There was a stirring in the shadows, and from all around lithe dark shapes crept stealthily over the rocks. Unsheathed claws glinted in the moonlight. Wary eyes flashed like amber. And then, as if on a silent signal, the creatures leaped at each other, and suddenly the rocks were alive with wrestling, screeching cats.

At the center of the frenzy of fur and claws a massive white and orange tabby pinned a mist-colored tom to the ground and drew up his head triumphantly. "Oakheart!" the tabby growled. "How dare you hunt in our territory? The Sunningrocks belong to The Blazing!"

"After tonight, Tigerclaw, this will be another Cold River hunting ground!" the mist-colored tom spat back.

"You may swim like otters, but you and your rangers do not belong in this forest!" he drew back his lips and showed his teeth as the cat struggled beneath him.

The desperate scream of a Blazing molly rose above the clamor. Tigerclaw saw sleek wet bodies sliding out of the water below the rocks. The molly in question had been pinned by a black Cold River tom, Beetleclaw. The tom lunged towards her neck with his jaws still dripping from the swim across the river.

Tigerclaw let go of Oakheart. With a mighty leap, he knocked the enemy warrior away from the injured molly. "Quick, Mousefur, run!" he ordered before turning on the Cold River tom who had threatened her. Mousefur scrambled to her paws, wincing from a deep gash on her shoulder, and raced away.

Behind her, Tigerclaw spat with rage as the Cold River tom sliced open his nose. Blood blinded him for an instant, but he lunged forward regardless and sank his teeth into the hind leg of his enemy. The River tom squealed and struggled free.

"Tigerclaw!" The yowl came from a small warrior with fur the color of sand. "This is useless! There are too many Cold River rangers!"

"No, Thrushpelt. The Blazing will never be beaten!" Tigerclaw yowled back, leaping to Thrushpelt's side. "This is our territory!" Blood was welling around his broad muzzle, and he shook head impatiently, scattering scarlet drops onto rocks.

"The Blazing Forest will honor your courage, Tigerclaw, but we cannot afford to lose any more of our warriors," Thrushpelt urged. "Bluestar knows there are limits to her soldiers; we will have another chance to avenge this defeat." He met Tiger-roar's amber and blue-eyed gaze steadily, then reared away and sprang onto a boulder at the edge of the trees.

"Retreat, Blazing! Retreat!" he yowled.

As they retreated he heard Oakheart's victory cry. Tigerclaw followed last. He hesitated at the edge of the forest and glanced back at the blood-stained battlefield. His face was grim, his eyes furious slits, and then he leaped after his clan into the silent forest.

/

In a deserted clearing, a pointed blue-gray molly sat alone, staring up at the clear night sky. Her face was taut with worry, and her tail-tip thumped the rock every now and then as she reflected alone.

"Another battle, another rant from my guildmates," she mused aloud to herself. She believed she'd done well by naming Thrushpelt her lieutenant after Palesong's long overdue retirement, but the guild did not agree, and that had only worsened after he retreated from the battle. Robinwing and Cricketspring had been the most vocal of all, and it was causing great conflict within The Blazing Forest.

She continued to stare unblinkingly at the stars, yearning for one of her long-dead ancestors to answer her pleas. Starry Skies, how were we meant to win today's battle if our own guild is riddled with infighting and suspicion?

Her thoughts were broken as she heard soft pawsteps approach. Her ear twitched, and she turned to the sound. A beautiful molly had approached the foot of the rock, the scent of lavender and other earthly herbs clinging to her pelt. "How's Mousefur?" the blue-gray molly asked.

"Her wounds are deep, but she'll recover, Bluestar," the tortoiseshell replied as she bowed

"And the others?"

"Aside from Tigerclaw's new muzzle scar, they'll all recover soon."

"Good. You are a gifted seer, Spottedleaf; Goosefeather and Featherwhisker both taught you well." Bluestar turned her head back to the sky, still reflecting on tonight's loss. It seemed nothing could go right for her colony lately. A famine that ravaged the guild from the previous moons had left her guild damaged and grieving. Today's battle was meant to be victorious, and serve as a beacon of hope for the guild, but it only made her soldiers more soured and unmotivated than before. Things looked more bleak than ever.

"The Blazing Forest has not been beaten on its own territory since I became commander," she admitted. "Even with so many strong cadets, The Cold River still got the better of us today. At least no lives had been lost this time, thanks to you. Has The Starry Skies spoken to either you or Featherwhisker?"

"Featherwhisker hasn't said anything, and I've tried asking the skies for answers, but they've been sil-"

As if on cue, a shooting star blazed over the treetops. Spottedleaf's tail twitched and the fur along her spine bristled. Her eyes flashed an image.

"It was a message from the stars," the tortie uttered. A distant look came into her eyes. "The white fire alone will save our guild."

"Fire!" Bluestar growled. "Fire is danger, feared by all of the guilds for a reason. It destroys everything. How can fire save us? Are we supposed to burn Stormmoon? And how can fire be white?"

Spottedleaf shook her head. "I do not know," she admitted. "But this is the message the Cats of The Starry Skies has chosen to share with me."

Bluestar gave an exasperated shake of her head, now suddenly wishing that the skies had not answered her prayers at all, when it only created more questions left unanswered. "Must The Starry Skies be so vague about everything?" Bluestar retorted, rising to her paws. "But you have never been wrong before, Spottedleaf, and I trust your judgment. If the Cats of The Starry Skies has spoken, then it must be so: white fire will save our colony."

Spottedleaf rose to her paws too. Before the molly could disappear into her own den, Bluestar stopped the tortoiseshell with her tail, giving her a stern look. "Only you and Featherwhisker may know about this message. Speak to nobody else about it. I don't want to panic the guild."

"Of course, Bluestar."

Little did either molly know that their secret meeting had been breached, and a pair of amber-and-blue eyes lit up with interest at this new information.

/

Splinter flicked his tail as he tossed the rotten food off to the side. He shook his white fur, glad to see the dirt flying off his body. He felt tags on his collar ring but he ignored it for the most part. Scourge had gave him most of the tags, he stole the rest from housecat he 'killed'.

Well what they don't know won't hurt them right? Having an opponent not being able to fight back was boring anyway and Oliver was a kind enough cat to get all the tags for him.

Scourge had praised his fighting skill, as did most of the brawlers in The Bloodbound. If only his mother, Nutmeg, could see where he is now; a respected bloodbound brawler, worthy of Scourge's praise. Princess, Fliou and Luna were doing well for The Bloodbound as brawlers and hunters, while Tommy was the one to luck out, living by his own rules and only coming back occasionally such as now.

He honestly wondered if Nutmeg would come back, she hadn't been back for a month and it worried him. He didn't know why, she was horrible to him and his siblings, he asked Princess about it but told him he was being ridiculous to miss her after what she did and he stopped asking after that.

"Hey, Splinter!" Splinter turned to the sound of his name being called, recognizing the bi-collared cat as his father, Jake. Splinter sighed. He and his father had a tricky relationship. They didn't hate each other, but they weren't close, either. They did bond over their talk of the forest though, Jake had so many stories to tell and Splinter was the most eager out of his litter to listen.

Meeting Duskstar was an experience indeed. The tom was so gentle and kind, it was strange.

"Yes, Jake?" he replied.

Jake tossed a chicken leg, a little eaten, but he'd still make due. "Not the best, but better than nothing."

Splinter spent a couple minutes to make sure the food wasn't rotten or infested with maggots. He learned his lesson last time, when he refused to listen when Nutmeg told him not to eat rotten food. He had just started eating when he was knocked away from the prey.

Splinter landed roughly on his side. He lifted his head to see a familiar ginger tabby tom with three other cats behind him. Instinctively, Splinter unsheathed his claws, ready for a fight.

"Well, well, well... what do we have here?"

"Fuck off, Snag," Splinter growled. He had encountered the arrogant tom before, and he lost a few meals because of him, too.

"That's no way to talk to your elders," Snag scolded him with a smirk.

"You are not my elder, and can go fuck yourself with glass shards," Splinter spat, the fur along his spine standing on end. "I saw some earlier that looked real sharp."

Splinter crouched low to the ground when he saw Snag scowl and his own sharp claws unsheathe. He noticed that two other toms, Socket and Shoot, were standing behind him. A third cat, Rasp, had Jake pinned down. This would be a difficult fight, and he'd be greatly outnumbered, but somehow, Splinter found that he wasn't afraid.

"Why don't you paw over that chicken?" Snag asked again in a less friendly tone than before.

"Why don't you throw yourself in front of a car?" Splinter retorted. "It's nice and comfortable."

He felt Socket slice his shoulder.

"Give it," Snag growled.

Splinter spat in his face. "Fuck you."

He felt teeth sink into his tail.

Splinter growled and struck Socket across the face when he felt teeth sink into his tail. Shoot rushed to his aid, but Splinter quickly kicked Shoot in the jaw. He held the chicken bone in his mouth and started walking away, but he was smashed onto the ground by Snag. Out of the corner of his eye, Splinter spotted Jake, Rasp, and Socket locked in a brawl. Shoot wasn't letting go of his tail.

Snag stared at him. "If you think we're done with you-"

"Dog!" Socket suddenly yowled.

Snag turned his head slightly. "Relax," he mewed, unenthused.

"It's not one of Scourge's dogs. There's two more. Run!"

Splinter took a chance. He swiped at Shoot's throat, slashing it open. Free from the other tom's hold, Splinter rose to his paws and booked it, refusing to slow down now that Snag and his bastard gang weren't the only thing he needed to worry about. He tossed the chicken leg aside and picked up speed.

He ran and ran, and he didn't stop until he crossed into the forest. He was told by Smudge, a kithood friend of his, that the forest cats that lived here were monsters, Scourge called them savages. But considering what the cats that lived in this city were like, Splinter figured he'd take his chances.

He's been around here before but...it felt like someone was watching him.

As he walked through the still forest, he realized a while ago that it was how much calmer it was compared to the city. His ears didn't ring at all, and the trees and bushes here were much bigger than the parks he'd ever been to.

A stinging pain shot through his tail, and he was briefly reminded of the scrap he had been in with Snag and his posse. He licked his shoulder and tail wounds after a hurried examination. They didn't look deep, so he knew it wouldn't scar.

Once his wounds had been tended to, he opened his mouth and smelled prey. He was right when he saw a rodent nibbling on a seed. It had been a while since he'd seen wild prey. He crouched and stalked slowly towards it. He pounced, nipping it in the neck.

'Finally!' he thought. 'A decent meal, and I don't have to fight anyone for it!'

He was apparently wrong when he felt a bite to his already injured tail. He whipped around to see a gray kitten with a darker stripe down his back. The kitten swiped his paw near his cheek to which Splinter stepped back quickly.

"Hey calm down" Splinter mewed

"Get out toy, go back to your twolegs!" the kitten leaped forward

The kitten bit into his shoulder and that's when Splinter lost all form of being kind. He grabbed the kitten's scruff and tossed him to the side. He rushed forward before the kitten could move, he went crazy striking the kitten in any area he could except the throat.

He was above the kitten by the end of it, panting as he looked at what he did. The kitten was still alive by the looks of it but very beaten. Scourge doesn't put her praise in just any cat.

Splinter let off the kitten for a moment before a booming voice rang out

"Get away from him you monster!" Splinter was greeted by the view of a large golden tom, his green eyes blazing with fury.

"Lionheart, get back here now!" someone called

Splinter quickly took that chance to run though Splinter grabbed his kill as he left, he could see the golden tom behind them. He saw they city come into view and smirked, he leaped onto a trash can, onto the edge so it tipped over as they leaped off it and into the hood, effectively blocking the past. He could hear a yowl of fury from the his chaser and Splinter laughed twirling the rodent in his mouth as he continued their way.

He did feel somewhat bad about the kitten but he should've expected a response if he was going to attack a random cat.

/

Blood dripped onto the cement as Splinter managed a blow on Snake's cheek. The tom was large just like his father Bone and just as unpredictable like his dam Brick.

"Nice shot" Princess mewed "Better than last time"

Training like this was more fun if anything since Scourge only let the new recruits join if she thought they were good enough. Bone was the judge of their progress, Luna, Cleo, and Charlie were assisting him since Scourge and Brick decided to fuck off for the day.

Snake rushed at him like his namesake, despite his large size he was quick on his paws. He jabbed left and right causing Splinter to leap to the side. He tripped and landed on his back.

"Works every time" Snake laughed

"Funny every time too" Princess purred

"Ha ha" Splinter replied "At least you didn't ruin my bow again"

"Where's your collar Snowball?" Princess asked, his housecat name rolling off her tongue

He flicked his tail towards some boxes "I'm not reckless, I just enjoy my bow more"

"Really?"

"Don't act like you don't have humans too"

"Princess doesn't wear a frilly bow when she's fighting" Snake commented

"Snake, are you taunting Splinter again?" Ice's voice was similar to Snake's but more soothing and warm ironically.

"Maybe" Snake looked away with a smirk

Ice nudged Splinter up "Want to go hunting?" he glanced at his brother "I'll spare with you Snake"

"Finally" Snake mewed "Been too long since we spared"

Splinter started his path out of the training ally, he spotted Filou who was fixing her bandana. It was something Jake gave her, said he found it in a box from a housecat toy store.

"Going rat hunting" he called to his sister "Want to come with?"

"Sure, saw some real good ones around the pizza store" Filou mewed as she jumped beside him "Scourge can't tell us off this time"

Splinter chuckled as they neared the back of the pizza store. He heard scratching and nibbling. Filou stalked lightly as she zeroed in on the rodent, with a swift leap she delivered a bite to the rat's neck.

Splinter spotted two rats trying to flee, he nipped one and swiped at the other.

"There might be more" Filou mewed

"Maybe but Scourge can't complain with these kills"

"True" Filou replied, her voice low

Splinter glanced at his sister "You okay?"

"You ever feel like you don't belong?"

"Depends on what you mean sis" he asked "Nutmeg didn't like me because I was a runt"

Filou was silent. Splinter curled his tail around her "Sis?"

"I never felt belonged by her" Filou mewed finally "Not to your extent but she wasn't as warm to me as she was to Luna or Princess"

"What are you getting at?"

"Maybe cuz we're not her kits" Filou quickly said

Splinter stared at her "What?"

"I heard Jake and her fight before she left, she said he gave her 'defective kits' to raise and she said she's glad you're not hers"

Splinter didn't know what to say to that "So if she isn't mine, yours, or Tommy's mom, who is?"

"I don't know"

"Maybe we could ask Chloe" he suggested "She isn't too far from here"

Filou shook her head "I'd rather not bother her about that" she looked on "Jake doesn't know I know but I'll try to ask him if I get a chance"

"That sounds-" their talk was interrupted by a yowl. They turned their heads to see Tommy running over to them, he was bleeding from his ear.

"Tommy, what's going on?"

"A new group is attacking!" he hissed, he started a dash to the ally "Come on!"

Splinter sighed but quickly followed Filou as she followed after their...half brother...no...brother even if he was a fluff brain.

/

He might be fucking with death when he decided to return the next night but once again he had been running from Snag's gang but this time he had fucked with them in revenge and was currently wandering in the forest looking for a kill. He wanted to try different birds other than pigeons.

It didn't take to long before he found a goldfinch. Its bright yellow feathers made him shake his head for a moment. He dashed forward and bit into the bird, it squawked as it died.

It seems the forest cats weren't all that big and tough.

He realized he had spoken too soon when he was tackled by another cat, who threw him into the ground and held him into a pin. His own gaze hardened as he stared up at the fierce attacker. It was a pale ginger molly around his age, a snarl etched onto her face, and a wild look in her eyes.

Splinter was pissed. All he wanted to do was eat a decent meal for once, and he wasn't going to let any cat take it this time. He slashed at the molly's muzzle, and in return, she struck his still-wounded shoulder. She bit into his shoulder joint, while Splinter clawed a part of her face and bit the scruff of the molly's neck.

Splinter was pissed as he stared up at her. All he wanted to do was finish a decent meal, and this time, he wasn't going to let any cat take it away. He slashed at the molly's muzzle, and delivered a powerful strike to his still-wounded shoulder. Splinter bit hard into the top part of the molly's scruff, while she managed to wiggle around him and dig her teeth into his shoulder joint. The two remained that way for a few moments before the two released each other, panting and in pain.

"You fight well, better than any others I've fought," she mewed, spitting out blood. "Won't be enough."

Splinter chuckled. "Try me."

She launched herself at him again, her claws aimed for his neck this time. Splinter reared up on his hind-legs and locked his front paws with the molly's own. They pushed back against each other, trying to slam each other into the dirt, but they seemed equal in strength.

They both finally broke their stand-off and fell onto their sides, lying to face one another. It went on like this for a few moments before Splinter sighed and said, "Truce?"

"Truce," she replied, looked like she was gritting her teeth "I'm Sandpaw"

"Splinter," he replied "or Snowball, either works"

"You should go," Sandpaw said, trying to stand. "My mentor is around, and you don't want her to see you here, especially after what you did to Graypaw"

"I think it's a little too late for that, Sandpaw."

Splinter spotted a pointed blue-gray molly and a massive white-and-orange chimera tabby jump down from the treetops. Sandpaw immediately got into a submissive crouch at the two older cats' approach.

"That's my mentor, Bluestar," Sandpaw mewed. "And that's Tigerclaw, one of The Blazing's best soldiers."

Bluestar stared at Splinter, then at his bow. "What are you doing in my guild's territory, pet?" she spat. Splinter gulped. This molly was huge, bigger than any cat he'd seen in the city aside from Bone. She could fucking deck him here and now, and the chimera could too, judging by those claws.

Though, those dual-colored eyes stirred something in Snowball that he couldn't place.

He heaved himself to his paws. "I've heard that voice of yours before, from three days ago."

"When you attacked Graypaw" the chimera growled lowly "A cat barely older than a kit" he stepped closer

Splinter gulped "Oh, shit"

"Attacking a kit and trespassing in our territory" the chimera scoffed "Pets truly have no honor unlike the guilds"

Splinter stared at him, his red eyes narrowed. "Two things: I'm not a pet. And also, there are more groups in this damn forest?"

"Unfortunately," Sandpaw drawled. "We're Cats of The Blazing Forest. There's Cats of The Cold River who live by the rivers, Cats of The Rushing Breeze who live on the moor, and Cats of The Plaguing Darkness who live in the swampy marshes."

"Quit giving this pet information," Tigerclaw growled. "Who knows what he'll do with it. He's from the stoneplace, by the looks of it- can't trust cats born in a place like that."

Splinter's fur spiked, and he bared his teeth. "Curiosity isn't a bad thing, shithead. Like I said before, I'm not a pet, and the 'stoneplace' is called a city."

The chimera tabby looked slightly stunned at his response, moreover on being insulted "What did you just call me?" he growled

"That's for me to know and for you to find out" he purred in response

Bluestar smirked. "You have the bark, and you seem to have the bite from your fight with my cadet. Very few of her peers have beaten her before, and they are all more well-trained than you." Bluestar gave him a wary look. "Would you like to join The Blazing Forest? You'd do very well as a guild cat."

Splinter's jaw dropped, as did Sandpaw and Tigerclaw, but the chimera recovered from his shock quickly. "Bluestar, have you gone mad? He's been with twolegs before, he'll just eat all of our food and sleep all day! He attacked Graypaw yesterday!"

"No, I wouldn't," Splinter retorted. "Don't speak for me like you know me and I know how to hunt and fight, and I know what it's like to go hungry for days on end also 'Graypaw' attacked me first, he should've expected that when he attacked me out of no where"

"Indeed." Bluestar stated, "I don't make this decision lightly. You may have not been a pet, but you were a rogue before, looking out for only yourself. However, it's different in a guild. You must fight and survive for each other, putting others' lives above your own. Could you do that?"

Splinter nodded without hesitation, he pulled his kill close. "Of course, but can I have some time to think about it?"

Bluestar hummed. "Very well. You two will meet me by the white twoleg fence by sunrise tomorrow to give us your answer."

---

Bloodclan - The Bloodbound

So much family and lore changes.

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