Author's notes: Hello, everyone, this is the newest chapter of 'As The Shadows Dance.' As I said somewhere else, I'll be making novellas for a handful of characters, not just ones to smooth out plot conveniences.

[``-``]

The black-and-white she-cat gave her paw a lick while conversating with the tiny, convicting voice in her mind.

The voice, taking on a painfully familiar tone, murmured, 'You know you're disposable to this Clan, Badgerpaw...Half-Clan cats are usually regarded as such.'

Shut up! Badgerpaw growled silently to the voice.

Badgerpaw gave her head a sharp shake to reconnect herself to reality.

Having seen no signs of two certain unscrupulous-seeming golden tabbies, Badgerpaw slid out of the apprentice's den, decorated with feathers and shells, and shook each limb in turn.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather for a Clan meeting!" Rosestar caterwauled from Clanrock.

Paws feeling unnaturally heavy, Badgerpaw trotted over to Nightflower, seated under the shade of a willow tree.

"Hi, dear," Nightflower murmured as Badgerpaw sat down.

"Hi, Nightflower," Badgerpaw breathed as she felt the stares of her 'Clanmates' burn into her, and by extension, Nightflower.

Nightflower, radiating protectiveness all of a sudden, started to lick Badgerpaw around the ears.

''Mom- stop that!" Badgerpaw hissed, hearing Goldenpaw's faint snickering.

Badgerpaw focused her attention on Rosestar, whose sharp claws rapidly flexed and scraped against her post. Now, what's got her tail in a twist- again?

"RiverClan, as you all know," Rosestar began, exhaling and straightening her posture to look more diplomatic and possibly to hide visceral uncertainty-

At least, that's what Badgerpaw conceived from a thoughtful analysis.

Being an outcast gives you ample time to observe, I suppose... she considered bitterly.

"We've been at odds with ThunderClan over territory for moons now, and we have officially declared war on ThunderClan!" Rosestar yowled triumphantly.

So, I'll have to fight against the Clan I've kin in, while next to no one trusts me. Sounds fun. Badgerpaw thought, paws clenching as she felt more stares burning into her pelt.

Murmurs and yowls of agreement grew before Rosestar flicked her tail for silence.

"I will be looking to court WindClan as an ally, as ShadowClan seems either neutral or leaning to ThunderClan's side," Rosestar announced.

"I want all of you to remain vigilant as ever. Understood?"

"Yes, Rosestar!" the Clan chanted, including a reluctant Badgerpaw.

[``-``]

"Clan dismissed." Rosestar mewed before leaping off Clanrock with Wrenheart close behind her.

Lilywhisker, who was leaning out the medicine den with leaves in her fur, as usual, stepped back to continue whatever she was doing.

Nigthflower, despite sidelong glances from her Clanmates, walked over to Cloverfrost, presumably to share tongues.

However, she kept an eye on Badgerpaw as she did so.

I wonder what Wrenheart and Rosestar are talking about, although there's no point in trying to eavesdrop. Badgerpaw conceded, glancing around for someone else to observe.

A golden tabby trotted close to Badgerpaw and sat down. To her loathing, he was flanked by a larger golden tom with scars dotting his pelt.

Both of them? They must have it in them to harass me today, then.

"Hey, Badgerpaw," Goldenpaw began, "-y'know, you seem more- more of a loser today than you were yesterday. I think you're getting worse."

Badgerpaw, patience already running thin, avoided eye contact.

"I think it has to do with you being half- ThunderClan."

Badgerpaw deadpanned. "Do you ever shut up or do you chatter day and night like a starling?" she hissed.

Lionscar shouldered Goldenpaw as he leaned back on his haunches next to his son.

"Don't talk to my son that way," he hissed, "-you half-Clan rat."

In contrast to Goldenpaw's nagging teasing, her mentor often felt like- and probably was- a genuine threat.

Badgerpaw forced the fur along her spine to lay flat as she acknowledged the comment but showed no signs of internalizing it.

Nightflower trotted to where the three of them were seated. "Don't talk to my daughter that way, mange-pelt," she snarled.

Lionscar snickered. "What are you going to do about it, then?" the massive tom growled.

Nightflower's long fur bushed up. "I'll fight you if I have to, to drive some kindness into that thick skull of yours," she retorted.

"We both know how that would end, she-cat," Lionscar muttered, unsheathing long claws.

Nightflower seemed unphased, but scoffed and padded back to Cloverfrost, evidently to discuss Lionscar's behavior.

Lionscar gave a warning glance to his apprentice before padding off to the fresh-kill pile.

Goldenpaw got up and walked past Badgerpaw, tail flicking in her face as he strutted past. "Oops!" he mewed teasingly.

Badgerpaw quietly seethed. I need to get out of camp, StarClan help me-

"Nightflower?" Badgerpaw inquired.

"-Yes, dear?" Nightflower answered, looking away from Flickerflight.

"I'm going on a walk, I'll be back."

[``-``]

Inhaling the air tainted by river water's scent, Badgerpaw trotted along the shoreline for a while before she reached one spot she favored-

Opposite Sunningrocks, with a wide stretch of river in between.

Settling down near the riverbank with enough space that she was positioned just out of paw's reach of the shore, Badgerpaw watched the river churn and knocked pebbles into the bank.

I have RiverClan's blood running through my veins, but who cares since I'm half-clan!

Everything is harder, now that I'm able to see the little signs of mistrust...

Will I ever escape my lineage? Having two paws in two Clans shouldn't matter. But it does.

Having resigned to her so-called 'Clammates' constantly doubting her loyalty, Badgerpaw knocked a large pebble into the riverbank and watched the water splash.

A strange scent drifted around Badgerpaw. What is that- it smells of blossoms, strange-

Badgerpaw flicked her ears as she heard rustling behind her.

A familiar voice rings clear. "Badgerpaw."

Did he-

Badgerpaw turned around to see the towering figure of Lionscar before her. Goldenpaw stood smug, half-hidden by a bush.

She willed herself not to tremble as she came eye-to-eye with her mentor, her blue gaze shining with visceral, but well hidden, anxiety, and his amber glittering with enmity.

"Badgerpaw, I've told you that your birth violates the warrior code, and everything the Clans stands for, am I correct?" Lionscar mewed smoothly.

What is he up to?

"Yes, that is true, but-"

"-And you've heard of what leaders of old did to half-Clan kits, didn't you?" Lionscar muttered.

"Wait-" Badgerpaw murmurs, but it was too late.

"Their punishment was exile, along with their treacherous mother, you see?" the broad-shouldered tabby sneered. "It should still be that way, to purge the Clans of disloyalty."

What kind of monster would exile kits for being half-Clan? Well, Lionscar for one-

"Therefore, we should do something about your situation, shouldn't we?" the tom mewed, flexing sharp claws.

"I could end your suffering, Badgerpaw, give you the gift of a quick death so you can hunt with StarClan." Lionscar hissed, an indistinguishable undertone in his meow.

He's either bee-brained and evil or purely reprehensible...

"Um- Lionscar, I'd rather, y-you know- live, so...maybe I can change the Clans' mind about half-Clan cats." Badgerpaw mewed, her voice shakier than she'd expected.

The tom's more solemn expression lifted, but Badgerpaw could sense something underneath. "I see. I thought that'd be your answer, so in that case-"

Lionscar unsheathed his claws.

Quick as a bird, he hooked Badgerpaw's forepaw with a swipe and whipped it out from under her.

Winded, Badgerpaw's limbs came out from under her and she lay helpless on the ground.

StarClan, help me-

A massive paw shoved Badgerpaw's muzzle into the ground. "Mmph!" she screamed through the peat.

"Since you've chosen the more difficult option, Badgerpaw," Lionscar muttered, "I'll make it as difficult as possible since you just won't give up."

He wants me under his paw, and for the moment, he's succeeded, unfortunately. Why has StarClan convoluted my path with unnecessary obstacles- Badgerpaw lamented bitterly.

"Goldenpaw," Lionscar called, "-come practice your swipes, but with half-sheathed claws- so we don't hurt her too much," he added teasingly.

I will not die here, I swear it- Badgerpaw promised herself as her lungs struggled.

Badgerpaw was vaguely aware of claws hooking her scruff but was occupied with trying to breathe in shallow inhales as not to waste the oxygen in the small dent.

Smaller claws raked her pelt in short, clumsy swipes.

After what felt like an eternity of pain, Lionscar lifted her and stared into her eyes.

"Run along back to RiverClan now, and don't dare tell anyone about where these injuries came from or I'll shred you and whoever you tell."

Badgerpaw nodded, alarmed but not fearful, and as Lionscar dropped her she raced back to camp, wincing at the new scratches on her shoulder and back leg.

A few tufts of fur were missing from Badgerpaw's pelt in various places, and her muzzle ached, but she had mostly come away from the experience unscathed.

I may be mouse-brained, but maybe I should defect to another Clan. I hate it here, and although Nightflower loves me here, I don't know who my father is, and she has Flickerflight, at least. And best of all, I'd be away from the stares, and the whispers, and- Lionscar and Goldenpaw.

[``-``]

Badgerpaw stumbled into camp, blood lightly trickling from a couple of scratches.

Nightflower rushed up to her. "Badgerpaw!" the black-and-white she-cat exclaimed. "What in the stars happened to you?!" Nightflower began briskly licking her kit's scratches.

"I was walking near the abandoned Twoleg den and scratched myself on some sharp Twoleg webbing, but I'm fine," Badgerpaw responded nonchalantly.

"You're bleeding!' Nightflower mewed, "You're going to Lilywhisker."

I know she loves me, but why does she have to dote on me like I'm a kit?

Nightflower half-led, half-dragged Badgerpaw to the medicine den, where Lilywhisker was inside storing herbs.

"Lilywhisker, Badgerpaw is injured." Nightflower mewed clearly.

'Oh, dear," Lilywhisker fretted, sniffing at the scratches. "I'll put a poultice on it."

As Lilywhisker chewed up dock leaves, Badgerpaw glanced at Nightflower, whose amber eyes were focused solely on Lilywhisker.

The she-cat licked the poultice into Badgerpaw's scratches, following the treatment up with a swathe of cobweb.

[``-``]

"Thanks, Lilywhisker-" Badgerpaw mewed.

"No problem! And do be more careful, Badgerpaw!" Lilywhisker meowed from inside, teasing in her mew.

[``-``]

Badgerpaw settled in her nest.

Fortunately, Goldenpaw had been sent on moonhigh patrol and so had Lionscar.

The sun had already dipped beneath the horizon; black skies glittered with stars.

Pawsteps were making their way toward the apprentice's den, and Badgerpaw sat up as Rosestar entered.

"Hello, Badgerpaw," she mewed curtly.

"Uh- hi, Rosestar," Badgerpaw responded.

She wants something, doesn't she- but what is it?

"I wanted to talk to you about the upcoming battles."

Badgerpaw's paws clenched.

Now it makes sense. She wants to see if I'm comfortable fighting my birth Clan.

"So, you want to know if I can be trusted," Badgerpaw muttered.

"Well-" Rosestar hesitated, "-yes, but- I wanted to know if you'd be alright fighting in the battles," she conceded.

"Yes, I'll be fine, Rosestar-" she murmured.

"Oh, good, that's all I needed to know." Rosestar abruptly turned and exited.

That's it. I need to leave this place- and go somewhere where l can be appreciated for who I am and not just a half-Clan cat!

[``-``]

Badgerpaw slipped out of the den to find Nightflower heading toward the riverbank.

"Nightflower?" Badgerpaw questioned.

"Yes, Badgerpaw?" Nightflower answered.

"Do you- have a moment?"

Nightflower nodded.

[``-``]

"I've been thinking about leaving RiverClan..." Badgerpaw confessed.

To her surprise, Nightflower didn't look shocked, just sad.

"Mm. I thought that may happen someday." she conceded with a faraway look in her eyes.

"You carry more of the burden than I do, sweetheart; I hear the whispers- and the taunts..."

Nightflower shook her head, long fur ruffling, as she returned from her fancy.

"Just remember- I'll love you wherever you are, whatever you decide."

"Thank you-" Badgerpaw choked out.

Nightflower wrapped her tail around Badgerpaw, gently stroking her back,

"May StarClan light your path, Badgerpaw, wherever you go."

[``-``]

While Goldenpaw slept deeply at the back of the den, Badgerpaw blinked and raised her head.

It's time.

On silent paws, Badgerpaw stepped lightly out of the apprentices' den and peeked into the warriors' den.

To her surprise, Nightflower raised her head.

"Safe travels," her mother mouthed, putting her head back down.

Goodbye, Nightflower...

The back of the camp was not guarded, so Badgerpaw doubled back and leaped onto the riverbank.

She slid in slowly as to not make any extra noise, and paddled to the opposite side.

As she shook out her pelt and started running, her paws barely skimmed the ground.

Finally.