A/N Anonymous-cat, you are truly a wonder- you guessed again! And I for one and boggled at the fact that you guessed it. Well, perhaps you will or will not be wrong on the other detail in the chapter that clears up some things.
This is the last chapter- I am sorry to see it go, and even more sorrowful that I did not warn you. But all fics must come to an end!
On with this fic!
Disclaimer::is being used for fresh-kill: NOOO! Please! Erin, friend, call them off! What- let go of my leg, you- AIIIEEEEEEE! I admit it, I don't- what are you doing with that- no! I need that! Pleeeeeease! AIEEEEE!
(Begin Chapter Six)
Coarsefoot cast his gray eyes about the den. "Ah, I remember it like yesterday. I was posed to be leader- I was deputy, and Silverstar was wearing out. She always said I would make a great leader… Coarsestar, I wish my name was since I was a kit. But, one cat changed things."
Duskpaw slowly saw where this was going, and it looked like her brother wasn't far behind. He had a concentration stamped on is face that screamed that he knew it, and knew it well. Duskpaw herself knew it too.
But she kept silent, and let the warrior-turned-kittypet speak.
"She was a beautiful cat- strong too. She was called Vanilla, and-"
Rootpelt interrupted. "That's not a Clan name."
Duskpaw instantly knew where this was going. And by the look on Russetpaw's face, he had the same train of thought. The two exchanged glances, green eyes meeting brown ones.
Coarsefoot sighed, and shot a tired look at the light brown warrior. "That's why- well, I must explain more.
"I met her while hunting near the Twoleg gardens. After meeting her, I slipped out and excused my duties as deputy, just to see her more. Vanilla and I…" Here, the old cat sighed and looked out. "We were soul mates, no doubt. But one day, an apprentice hunting with a warrior came out and caught us together. They told Silverstar, and I was questioned harshly."
Coarsefoot's eyes took on a sad look, and he stopped speaking for a while. Finally, Russetpaw quietly said, "So you were cast out for loving a kittypet?"
Coarsefoot grimaced, a strange look on his tired face. "If only that was it. Brokentail and Nightpaw caught her after kitting- with me standing over."
Rootpelt flashed a look at Peaches. Now, he was extremely glad that Bluestar had not chosen to exile him. But why? He asked himself this over and over.
It must be that ShadowClan have no mercy, he decided. Surely a traitor would not survive there.
Peaches herself was thinking the same thoughts. The anger and fury from his Clanmates that Rootpelt must've suffered… she shuddered to think about it.'
"After leaving, I heard a short while later that a cat, Raggedclaw, had taken my place as deputy. But Silverstar, already old, died, and Raggedstar assumed her place. His deputy was his son, Brokentail. Young though he was…" Coarsefoot trailed off.
Bluestar stepped forward, speaking for the first time since Coarsefoot had started.
"What happened to the kits?" she asked clearly.
Coarsefoot gave a small smile. "Both survived. I don't know how the male is, but the female…" He looked upon Peaches. "Is standing here."
A shocked silence swept over the room, and Peaches managed a surprised squawk of, "What?"
"He said it clearly enough," muttered Russetpaw, looking at the tom. For the first time, he saw the same shape of face and ears that graced himself and Duskpaw. Perhaps this really was his kin.
Bluestar cast an eye upon the tom also. "Hm… so they are almost all forest. Truly a spectacular thing, when questions are asked and answers revealed."
Peaches stared at the black cat. "Why… why didn't you tell me? All those times fighting- you…" she trailed off, lost in bygone thoughts and memories, putting the thoughts into a story, memories into a whole truth. "Why?" she demanded, more harshly.
Coarsefoot suddenly looked so much older. "I wanted to show ShadowClan that a kittypet can fight as well as another. If I told you that you were half-forest, then you're moral would of weakened, and you would not strive to be a warrior enough to fight."
Peaches opened her jaws, and then closed them, at loss for words.
But Duskpaw wasn't. Stepping up to the cat, she said, "So you think that we're good enough?" she asked, unafraid or abashed to be speaking to someone older and more experienced in such a way.
Two pair of eyes met- green and gray. "Of course- how many apprentices can take on an owl with only a few more warriors?"
"These two," interrupted Bluestar, and disappeared into the back of her den suddenly.
"Why did she do that?" murmured Rootpelt, lost in thought.
The silvery-blue leader returned, two objects in her mouth. She deposited them in front of the cats.
Russetpaw leaned forward. "It's a pair of owl feathers…"
Bluestar nodded. "Yes, Russetpaw, they are. From the owl you, your sister, Ebonstreak, Lionheart, and myself slew. Do you see anything strange about the feathers?"
Duskpaw leaned forward and sniffed them. "Well… they are black and brown but are from a white owl…"
Russetpaw added his share, saying, "The black one has a dark brown tip and the light brown one has a black tip. Which…" he hesitated, and cast a glance at his sister, catching what was going on but not quite sure whether to say it or not.
Rootpelt spoke up. "Just like Duskpaw and Russetpaw- black with dark brown and light brown with black."
Peaches realized it too. "And they were from an owl- is…"
Coarsefoot finished her sentence. "Is it an omen?"
Bluestar nodded, replying, "Yes. I believe StarClan-"
"StarClan?" asked Peaches, curious. Why had Rootpelt never mentioned them? Was it another Clan in the forest? She had yet to hear of it.
"It is the heavenly warriors that watch over us," answered Bluestar, "and sometimes give omens to tell us something. I believe the owl was sent to say that these two apprentices are worthy of battle, and being warriors."
Peaches padded forward and pawed at the black feather. "Amazing… my kits…" she trailed off again, and Rootpelt licked her shoulder.
"Why hasn't this cat been exiled?" asked Coarsefoot suddenly. "I was…"
Bluestar picked up the two feathers in her jaws, careful not to crush them. "ThunderClan has mercy," she replied, through the feathers. "ShadowClan did not." She padded to the back of her den and dropped the feathers, then returned.
Coarsefoot began to exit the cave, but then looked behind him and said, "You kits become good warriors and make me proud." And before anything could be said, he left.
Everything went silent, and Peaches was about to exit when a harsh, angry voice came from the mouth of the den. "Bluestar! I just saw a kittypet leave your den, and he said he was leaving- what-"
A very furious Tigerclaw entered the den, but was pushed out by Peaches. "You can argue with Bluestar later," she hissed. Casting a glance by her kits, she left the camp, tail high and proud, not afraid to stand up to Tigerclaw.
The dark brown tabby stood motionless, fury creasing his already scarred features. "What in StarClan-"
Bluestar cut him off. "Enough, Tigerclaw. Duskpaw, Russetpaw, you may go to the fresh-kill pile- I believe some of the warriors managed to sneak some owl back into camp and left the feathers to rot. You may have some. Rootpelt, you may do the next patrol."
With a quick bow, the light brown cat left Bluestar to her thoughts of kittypets, exiles, and kits.
(Many moons later)
Duskpaw was nearly bursting out of her skin in excitement. Russetpaw, equally proud, stood next to his sister.
Today was to be their warrior ceremony, and it was happened now.
As Bluestar went through the ritual, Duskpaw and Russetpaw were called up at the same time.
"… and from this day on, you will be known as Duskwing. It was the wing of a owl that proved your strength so long ago, and StarClan would not like for it's omen to be forgotten. Use your energy and strength well."
Duskwing lifted her head proudly and looked at Bluestar eye-to-eye.
"Russetpaw, your forethought and intelligence has proved you to be a good warrior, and from this day forward, you will be known as Russettalon, for it was talons that proved your trouble long ago and proved your strength."
Russettalon could not of been prouder, standing next to his sister, head high.
"Welcome as warriors to ThunderClan."
As the names were cried out, many thoughts drifted about.
Never again would Bluestar doubt the power of kittypets. Who knows- maybe another chance like this would come again.
Tigerclaw, on the other hand, had deepened his loathing for anything but pureblood, and committed this to memory.
But two very proud kittypets stood behind the gorse tunnel, watching, and for a moment, Duskwing and Russettalon thought they saw two black figures slip away, collars winking in the midday sun.
(End A Paw In Each World)
A/N :cries: It's OVER! Ahhhhhh!
I know, I made up Raggedstar's warrior name and other cats names, but I couldn't find his name. If you know, please tell me.
I miss writing this story, but I might write another Warrior one soon. Keep an eye out!
Please read and review… goodbye::disappears into shadows: