Mossy here, back with a Redpaw chapter! Now we get to learn about the ever mysterious Jonathan. Who is he? What will he do in Runningclan? Will he and Redpaw get together? (No)

Review Replies:

jabaredjf- Yes, Rabbitfoot and Goosefur are both awful. They might actually be good friends if it wasn't for the Goosefur killed Rabbitfoot's mate thing.

SomeStormLeaf- Birdhop is a warrior, they have been upgraded. And yasss BirdHeather is such a wholesome ship. Thank you!

dragonbreathjr- Glad I was able to write a unique gathering! Rabbitfoot's like that all the time, so his jerkiness wasn't even that unusual.

succulentsofa- Ahhhhh, thanks for reading Lucy, I have read like all of your stories and their some of my favorites so this really means a lot like... ahhhhhh. Now to reply to all the reviews. 1. Thorntail is gay, very very gay. I love him so much and wish he could appear more in this story. 2. Thank you, I thought a lot over how to portray her trauma and actually replacing with the "incident" was Vinefrost's idea because he is the best. 3. Yeah, that was where I tried to get a feel for different characters. And there's a history between Darkfang and Gorsefoot... 4. Yes, the spooky prophecy, wonder why'd they tell Redpaw about it... And Redpaw and Mistlepaw are very sweet, I agree. I love them. 5. We all love Milkkit, she is amazing. And thank you! 6. Coltskit is very sweet, she's going to be a good apprentice. And Hawkpaw wants to travel the world and help others. 7. RedMistle is one of my otps to be honest. And thank you, I try to subtly build the world up. 8. Firepaw is a punny dude, and Echopaw is a sweetheart, even if she's a tad obsessed with her boy. Firepaw has a harem, and yes appreciate Milkkit. 9. Heatherpaw is sweet and Rabbitfoot sucks. Hawkpaw has left the scene. 10. Who doesn't hate Rabbitfoot? And yeah Mistlepaw... she's not is a great place. 11. Firepaw's puns get him girls! And actually, Firepaw is bi so... FireMilk is amazing. 12. Birdpaw doesn't deserve half the things I put them through. And Heatherpaw and Vinefrost have a nice sibling relationship. And thanks :) 13. Dragonflypaw and Burntpaw are my favorite side characters period. And rip RedMistle, ahhhhh 14. Unfortunately, Goldenpaw and Echopaw are straight :( 15. You might... Rabbitfoot, I hate writing him. He sucks so much. And thank you so much for all reviews, just... thank you. It really made my day reading them.

yeetledee- Yes, character submissions are still open, though Cliffclan is pretty full... and thank you so much!

"I think I want to join the clan," Jonathan told Redpaw as soon as he was healed enough to be awake again. He was ten moons old and had taken down a fox. Redpaw was impressed, to say the least.

Quickpaw also seemed impressed, much to his father's annoyance about his son talking to a kittypet. Redpaw had figured Jonathan would go back to his housefolk, but he had apparently run away.

"I just wanted to roam," Jonathan shrugged when Redpaw had asked him about it.

"Do you really think you can handle clanlife?" Redpaw whispered, "It won't be easy for a former kittypet, especially with… Rabbitfoot as deputy."

"I'm sure I can handle it," Jonathan nodded confidently, "I feel… drawn to Runningclan."

"I suppose…" Redpaw gave him a weak grin, "But I was born here, so…"

Jonathan spotted Darkfang sitting not that far away, eating prey. She nodded to her son and glared at Jonathan, who proceeded to whisper to Redpaw, "Man, your sister is grumpy, but she's sure hot."

Redpaw felt his blood freeze. "That's… that's my mom," he coughed.

"Oh… really?" Jonathan's brow furrowed, "She sure looks young… sorry… uh, sorry Redpaw."

"It's, she is young…" Redpaw sighed, "I… she doesn't really talk about it."

Redpaw figured Jonathan didn't know how to reply to that because he didn't say anything for a while. Of course, Burntpaw and Dragonflypaw can over to investigate Redpaw's new "friend."

"He's cute," Burntpaw quirked a smile at the hazy gray tom.

"Please," Dragonflypaw teased their sister, "You think everyone is cute!"

"Well…" Burntpaw looked quite bashful, "That might be true, but we know where my heart truly lies."

"Is it Flameflight again?" Dragonflypaw nudged her shoulder good-naturedly, "I saw you looking at that Stoneclan medicine cat apprentice. Shame she's doubly off limits."

"Please, I can appreciate beauty without betraying my beloved," Burntpaw sighed dramatically. Dragonflypaw rolled their eyes.

"Redpaw, you never told me you were friends with these gorgeous ladies," Jonathan purred, looking at them.

"Oh Redpaw, I think I like this one already," Burntpaw giggled.

Dragonflypaw brushed their tail down Jonathan's side, "I'm afraid you're wrong good sir, I am not a she-cat."

"Oh-" Jonathan looked embarrassed, but recovered quickly. Redpaw wondered how he could be so confident, Dragonflypaw and Burntpaw just confused him. "My apologies sir," Jonathan nodded towards Dragonflypaw.

"Dragonflypaw's neither," Burntpaw rolled her eyes, "Apparently the two usual choices aren't good enough for them."

"Oh Burntpaw, you don't mean that," Dragonflypaw sighed.

Burntpaw grinned at her sibling, "I know!"

Jonathan laughed, "I'll be sure to remember that in the future."

Dragonflypaw narrowed their green eyes at him, "The second time would be less understandable."

"Of course," Jonathan agreed, "I am a gentleman, I will not forget."

Dragonflypaw smiled at him, "What a nice lad."

Burntpaw groaned, "You sound like dad!"

Dragonflypaw turned and flashed her a smile, "Speaking of dad, where is he?"

"Oh, he's off talking to Mudwhisker," Burntpaw sighed, "Can't imagine why he'd want to speak to that grump. Kept hoping he would teach Viperpaw some manners."

Redpaw sighed at that, "Viperpaw's never gonna learn manners. Half the time I can't believe he's related to Mistlepaw."

"Um, who are Viperpaw and Mistlepaw?" Jonathan asked, looking confused. Redpaw felt his throat close up, not sure what Mistlepaw was to him anymore.

She was his best friend growing up, and then… now she was gone. They had no exchanges beyond awkward patrols and hurt glances from across the camp.

It was almost as if she wanted to talk to him.

"Viperpaw's a jerk, always bullying our honorary little brother Redpaw here," Dragonflypaw frowned and ruffled his head, much to his annoyance.

"Mistlepaw is her brother, and Redpaw's girlfriend," Burntpaw grinned.

Redpaw's heart clenched and his claws sank into the dirt. "No she's not!" he shouted, obviously pained, "She's… she's nothing now." He closed his eyes, rocking slightly.

"Redpaw…" Burntpaw looked at him with a concerned expression, "I was just teasing."

"No, you-" Redpaw sighed and walked away, leaving his friends confused.

"I finally realized that I'm better than you, half-clan scum."Shedidn'tmeanitshedidn'tmeanit...

He was stopped by a paw on his shoulder. "Son?" Darkfang looked down at him.

"Darkfang," he muttered, because Darkfang was the worst cat to try and help him right now.

"You were right," he muttered, "It's pointless, no one's ever going to care, I-I-"

"Redpaw, honey," Darkfang looked at him with a sigh, "Look, the world is harsh and cruel."

"I know," Redpaw whispered, "Why did… why did Mistlepaw leave?"

"She's Rabbitfoot's father and a spineless twit," Darkfang stated as if that was a fact, "Love, you can do better than that."

Redpaw just nodded, not really feeling better at all.

Olivestar's voice rang through the camp. "All those old enough to wad though the shallows, please gather around the stump," he called.

Redpaw glumly walked over and sat in-between Dragonflypaw and Burntpaw, seeing Mistlepaw with her brothers. He shot Mistlepaw a wounded look and didn't look to see if she returned it (she did).

"Jonathan, please step forward," Olivestar called, and the gray tom did so. Redpaw was surprised, so that was what Jonathan had been conversing with the leader about that morning. "Jonathan, you have expressed interest in training in our ways, and I will grant your wish and allow you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Smokepaw. Your mentor will be Rabbitfoot. I hope Rabbitfoot will pass down all he knows on to you."

Redpaw felt awful. He knew Rabbitfoot had wanted to train one of Willowbranch's kits but Olivestar had not allowed him to. He supposed the deputy was being given Smokepaw as an apprentice.

Olivestar turned to Rabbitfoot with a cautious expression, "Rabbitfoot, you are ready to take on another apprentice. You have received excellent training from Splashclaw, and you have shown yourself to be… loyal and… spontaneous. You will be the mentor of Smokepaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to him."

Rabbitfoot glared at Smokepaw as he touched noses with the young tom. He looked downright disgusted at having to train an outsider.

Redpaw pitied Smokepaw.

Mistlepaw wasn't sure what Olivestar was doing, giving her father an apprentice. She didn't know much about this "Smokepaw" except that Quickpaw was quite impressed with his fighting skills. "Now that he's an apprentice, I wonder if we'll spar together!" he told his sister excitedly, "I'm not sure about training because Father tried to make a move on Mintdove a few moons ago and…"

He shuddered, "She wasn't in a great mood."

"I don't know what Olivestar's doing," Viperpaw muttered, "Letting a kittypet in the clan."

"Shut up Viperpaw," Quickpaw hissed, "Maybe cats would like you more if you weren't such a haughty prick."

"Maybe you two wouldn't get hurt as much if you followed the rules," Viperpaw responded in a harsh whisper. Mistlepaw flinched and looked down to hide the tears in her eyes. She could still feel the pressure on her throat, the bruises that were gone still hurting her…

She didn't notice that she had visibly stiffened until Quickpaw put his hand on her shoulder to help her relax. She even noticed Viperpaw shoot her a brief flash of concern.

"I miss him…" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"He was the reason you were getting hurt Mistlepaw," Viperpaw growled, "He's scum!"

"He didn't know!" Mistlepaw replied a little too loudly and Quickpaw shushed her.

She was trapped, never allowed to speak out. She looked at Redpaw with tears in her eyes and wished she could explain.

Redpaw… I love you.