I forget to do this but: Disclaimer: I don't own 'Warriors' or this chapter title *it's from a song*)
Thanks to Abyssdancer and JustCurios for the reviews.
Unfortunately, Feather and Storm won't exist because well in this universe, Thistlestar being Graystripe's leader would end tragically for them. Worse than in Canon.
And for Snowkit's mentor, it'll be mentioned when it's time for his ceremony.
Gray Wing nuzzled Slate before he beckoned for Birch and Alder to follow him. Today he was overseeing their running skills. Thorn was in the medicine den with a twisted paw and Skystar was in his den with Graystripe and Cricketleaf talking right now. The ThunderClan cats had started only coming in pairs to avoid suspicion, of course.
Honestly, I think they should only come and discuss the dogs once they have an actual plan.
He nodded to Sparrow Fur and Owl Eyes as they passed both left camp ahead of him and the apprentices. He had organized for the two of them to lead their first patrols as warriors for the morning.
Once they reached the Golden Meadow, Gray Wing instructed Birch and Alder on how to pick up their stamina while running. He watched the littermates race each other to a rock in the meadow and then turn to race back to him. They both were about the same speed, having the shorter, and sturdier complexion of a forest cat, but they were getting fast.
"Hey, Gray Wing," Fern's voice made him turn.
"Oh, hi Fern. Is something wrong?" He noticed her troubled look.
"Nothing bad for now… but I'm worried. The BloodClan group has been quiet for a while now. They're being normal. I'm afraid they're up to something."
Gray Wing blinked. She still spied? "That's dangerous. You shouldn't go back there."
Fern snorted, amused. "I've been doing it since I was a kit. Nothing will stop me now. I won't get caught… but there's something else."
Gray Wing tensed, worriedly. "What is it?" He was afraid to know.
"I heard the group murmuring about a Clan cat that's visited them once, apparently."
Gray Wing stiffened. "Did they say their name?" Fern shook her head and he felt dread build up. We'll have to be on guard if they're trying to attack or something again.
"I'll continue spying," Fern meowed and jumped away, racing into the forest.
"Don't get caught!" Gray Wing yowled after her. He wasn't sure she'd heard. The sleek-furred deputy turned back to see Birch and Alder wrestling playfully, having lost attention when he wasn't watching. "Birch, Alder! Let's do tree-climbing!" He called.
He knew it'd hold their interest better and they were good at it.
He led the way to the Sky Oak, but he couldn't stop thinking that if they managed to get rid of the dogs and Thistlestar… there would still be more problems to come.
Swiftclaw had taken Graystripe's advice and decided to focus on being the best warrior he could be for his Clan. He helped with apprentice training (Hey, maybe one day he'd have his own), he went hunting and patrolling all day, he played with his half-siblings, Bramblekit and Tawnykit, and he talked with Brackenfur and Brightpelt, his friends.
He glanced at Brightpelt, who was listening to Cricketleaf meow away right now after she and Graystripe had returned from a hunt that morning. Brackenfur was on the black and white warrior's other side, smiling from time to time at the blue she-cat's exaggerated gestures.
He was reminded of Cinderpaw, and if the rumors were true was in SkyClan as a warrior. Cinder Flower was her new name, he believed.
He pushed away the guilty feelings he had as he remembered how rude he had been to her and Thunder back as apprentices. It was just… he had been frustrated at failing his assessment and they were just always so happy no matter how much hate Thunder had been getting.
He looked at Brightpelt and leaned into her. "Hey Brightpelt, do you want to take a walk?" He whispered. She blinked at him then smiled.
"Sure. Let's go. I can barely keep up with Cricketleaf anymore," the ginger and white cat meowed.
He smiled and the two of them nodded in farewell to Brackenfur and Cricketleaf before they left camp. The sun was setting and a cool breeze brushed over them.
It was a nice evening.
Cloud Tail sat outside the warriors den. He had finished his vigil at dawn and then volunteered for the dawn patrol before he had taken a nap. Now he watched the sun set once more with even more longing to be home. How many moons had passed since he had become a ShadowClan cat?
He had forgotten.
Aside from Pebble Heart hanging out with him whenever he wasn't busy, or Rowanpaw, Cedarpaw, and Rubblepaw talking to him when they weren't training, Cloud Tail felt lonely.
He had more friends in SkyClan and Gorsepaw from WindClan. And in ThunderClan he had Brightpelt.
She's so beautiful, he thought wistfully. They'd once met at the border when he had been on a solo hunting trip and she had been taking a walk. After that they would sometimes meet up there again.
But after that they stopped.
Does she not like me anymore? Maybe I scared her off. I probably shouldn't have given her a tour of ShadowClan… but I wanted to impress her.
The ThunderClan warrior had been interested in a secret tour of ShadowClan and she'd even enjoyed it. She hadn't complained much about the marshy land.
He was glad none of his clanmates had ever found out, at least.
Well, he shifted his paws. I'll see her at the next Gathering. Even though it won't be for a while.
Swiftclaw led Brightpelt towards Sunningrocks. It was a nice place to view the sunset. He glanced back with a grin at her, but found her gazing into the land of ShadowClan nearby with sparkling eyes.
Why is she so interested in ShadowClan territory? He thought, feeling jealousy well up inside of him.
"Hey," he meowed aloud to grab her attention again. "Wanna race?"
Brightpelt snapped her attention to him. "Sure." Her eyes sparkled with a challenge. They took off, and Swiftclaw enjoyed the rush of the breeze through his pelt.
He easily reached Sunningrocks before her and sat atop of them proudly as Brightpelt scrambled up beside him, panting.
"No need to show off," she meowed good-naturedly. She immediately glanced off to the side again.
"What's up?" He asked.
"Huh? Nothing." She quickly shook her head. He swore he saw a guilty look in her eyes. She pointed with her muzzle forward. "This is a beautiful view."
"Yeah," Swiftclaw agreed, still frowning a bit before he cleared it with another grin. His heart thumped as she brushed against him to settle down.
Once the sun was gone they started heading back. Swiftclaw hated that he didn't say anything and he still didn't know what to talk to her about.
He jumped when she suddenly hissed, "Swiftclaw, do you smell that?" He scented the air and tensed.
Dogs! Their scent was nearby even though Snakerocks weren't that close. They must have been venturing closer.
He stalked in the direction of the rocks and Brightpelt nervously followed. "Maybe we should warn Tigerclaw. He can send a patrol."
Swiftclaw didn't answer as they neared and he spotted a dark cave where the dogs were no doubt sheltering in.
He tensed and hid behind a bush. Brightpelt followed. He narrowed his eyes as a figure appeared holding a rabbit in its jaws. They dropped the rabbit before they raced off. Who was that? He cautiously crept out into the open and approached the rabbit, sniffing it.
It smelled like carrion. That must be where the cat had come from. They must have had a dark pelt because they had blended in quite well with the surroundings.
Suddenly, a growl sounded and a huge dog burst out of the cave followed by five more. "Swiftclaw!" Brightpelt gasped. She barrelled into him as the lead dog lunged.
He gasped as it grabbed her, holding her by the head, its jaws over one of her eyes and ear. He lunged at the dog, but another grabbed his foreleg and flung him away.
The wind was knocked out of him and he would be dead had the other dogs not taken interest in the rabbit instead of the live prey. Swiftclaw scored his claws on the advancing dog and scrambled away.
Brightpelt was lying on the ground further away and he started towards her before he stopped. He had to get help! He couldn't do this alone.
The dog who had attacked him had joined its pack in fighting over the rabbit, so he decided to get away before they finished it and turned on him.
And hopefully they left Brightpelt alone too.
"Don't worry, Brightpelt! I'll bring help!" He bolted back to camp, his foreleg and flank stinging from where the dog had bit and scored its claws on him, but he didn't stop running.
I just hope they don't follow me to camp.
Cloud Tail poked his head into the medicine den. Pebble Heart was alone, organizing herbs, thankfully. "Pebble Heart…"
The gray tabby looked up and smiled brightly. "Oh, hey Cloud! What's up?"
Cloud Tail swallowed and hesitated on whether he should say it or not, but he couldn't leave his brother in the dark. He had spent all day thinking and had made up his mind.
"I… I want to go back to SkyClan."
Pebble Heart frowned. "Why? Was someone being mean to you? I'll yell at them for you, y'know?" Cloud Tail smiled sadly. He did know. Pebble Heart may be the quietest of the four of them, but he would raise his voice if it was for his family.
"No. I just feel like this isn't my place… I only came because I was confused. On one paw, I wanted to leave Fire Heart behind because he was a strict mentor, but that's not right. He's my kin and he's the reason I'm a warrior, at all. On the other paw… I was hoping to be closer to a friend of mine… in ThunderClan."
Pebble Heart nodded in understanding. "So now you know your place." He padded forward and nuzzled his brother. "I wouldn't ever stop you. If you're a forest cat then go forth."
Cloud Tail smiled and nuzzled him back. "Thank you for understanding. I love you, brother."
"I love you too. Now get outta here!" Pebble Heart exclaimed good-naturedly. Cloud Tail laughed and waved his tail before he raced out of the den.
Next up he had to tell his friends.
He found all the apprentices outside chatting and sharing tongues. He padded over and they paused to look up at him. "Rowanpaw, Cedarpaw, Rubblepaw." He addressed the apprentices that actually thought of him as a friend. Lavenderpaw always kept to herself except for his first day when she helped show him the territory.
Quietpaw, like her name, was quiet. She was too shy to communicate with a boisterous cat like him.
Turtlepaw just hated him. Maybe because he wasn't originally a ShadowClan cat. Maybe because he was once a kittypet. She just did.
"What's up, Cloud Tail?" Rubblepaw sat up, licking his whiskers after finishing his toad. I'll be glad to be leaving that behind. "You look worried."
"I'm going back to SkyClan."
"What?!" Rowanpaw scrambled to her paws and Cedarpaw gaped. Lavenderpaw and Quietpaw looked confused and even Turtlepaw blinked in surprise.
"Why? You just became a ShadowClan warrior! You fit in just fine!" Cedarpaw meowed quickly. He was the one, Cloud Tail told everything to the most aside from Pebble Heart.
"What's going on?" Jagged Peak had padded over with Mouse Ear and Mud Paws.
"Cloud Tail wants to go back back SkyClan," Rubblepaw meowed. "And I wanna go with him."
Now Cloud Tail was the one who exclaimed, "what?!" Along with the others.
"What? We get to choose where we live and I'm going to SkyClan." Rubblepaw shrugged.
"But not because of me, right?" Cloud Tail asked suspiciously. "You shouldn't feel like you need to, but you have to want to go." Because he knew alright. It was how he felt as soon as he dropped his pebble in the ShadowClan circle on voting day.
"Well, I've kind of been interested in climbing trees and learning all the other skills," the pale gray tabby meowed.
"Me too!" Rowanpaw meowed. "I wanna go too. I want to see what it's like being a SkyClan cat. You always talked fondly of them, after all."
More cats had padded over, attracted by the yowling from earlier.
"So you're leaving?" Deerfoot asked Cloud Tail.
"Yep. I'm sure some of you will be happy I'll be gone," Cloud Tail meowed, glancing from Deerfoot to Turtlepaw to Oakfur, who had thrown the most fuss.
To his surprise Deerfoot looked regretful as if he didn't want the cat he'd helped become a warrior to leave. Turtlepaw shuffled her paws, looking slightly guilty. Oakfur didn't acknowledge his accusation.
"Thank you for mentoring me," Cloud Tail mewed quietly to Deerfoot. Because as much of a pain in the tail he had been, he had also been a decent mentor.
Jagged Peak stepped forward first and pressed his muzzle to Cloud Tail's forehead. "Go on. I know it's where your heart belongs. And say hi to Fire Heart for me, kay?"
Cloud Tail purred.
"What's this I hear?" Darkflower pushed her way forward. "Rowanpaw, you want to leave ShadowClan?"
The dark ginger she-cat nodded, looking slightly worried at her mother's reaction. The black she-cat exchanged a look with her mate, Scorchwind, who looked dumb-founded.
"It's her choice," a quiet voice meowed and Cloud Tail turned to see Sun Shadow appear. He smiled at the warrior's support.
"Rubblepaw wants to leave too," Quietpaw meowed to Ashheart, who frowned.
"But why?" She asked her kit.
"Because it's where I want to be," Rubblepaw meowed simply.
"Every cat chooses their path," Pebble Heart meowed, joining the crowd. He smiled at Cloud Tail. "SkyClan will treat them well. I promise."
After a moment of silence, Darkflower stepped forward and nuzzled her daughter. "Be safe. And good luck."
"Well, if it's what you want… I can't stop you," Ashheart murmured to her son and licked his ear. "Take care of each other."
Rubblepaw nodded and backed up to stand beside Cloud Tail, Rowanpaw on the white warrior's other side.
"We should tell Shadowstar," Cloud Tail told his friends and headed towards the leader's den, the two apprentices following him.
Bluefur was sitting outside of Spottedleaf's den when the tortoiseshell walked out to see her, looking dejected, at her paws. She had told her kits the truth of their heritage. It hadn't gone well.
"Bluefur, are you okay?" Spottedleaf asked as she settled beside her.
"They hate me, Spottedleaf," the blue warrior whispered. "I told them and they hate me."
"But if you had given them away they may have never known their true parents! And Mossflower would have died long ago! Give it time, they'll come around."
Bluefur just shrugged watching Stonefur talking with Mistyfoot. Mossflower was sharing tongues with Mousefur nearby.
Even if she was angry at her, Mistyfoot hadn't stopped her secret mission of coming along with her mother to visit Skystar. So at least, she still cared about the threat in ThunderClan.
But Thistlestar knows… will he do anything to them? I should have given them to Oakheart! I bet they would have been safe in RiverClan.
Suddenly, the two she-cats jumped when Swiftclaw tore into camp, blood dripping down his flank and amber eyes wild.
"DOGS! They attacked Brightpelt! She needs help!"
Bluefur felt her heart skip a beat. The dogs were on the move. They weren't safe anymore.
"Morning Whisker is missing!"
Gorsepaw jerked awake. It was just dawn as pink colored the gray sky. He dashed out of the den.
"Hey! You got moss on me!" Dewpaw yowled in annoyance. He ignored her.
Outside, Wind Runner was pacing nervously as Gorse Fur charged out of the camp. Deadfoot was quick to organize a patrol. Onewhisker was on it! He wanted to go too. It would probably be the best eventful thing he got to do today.
He raced over. "Can I go too?" He looked from his mentor to Deadfoot, who hesitated before he nodded.
Gorsepaw raced after the patrol and they immediately spread out to search the moor.
Gorsepaw picked up on the kit's scent and started following it hurriedly before he lost it. He'd bring the kit home if he had to.
The ginger and white tom found himself racing across the moor until he stopped instinctively on the border of SkyClan.
She went to SkyClan?
Morning Whisker wandered around SkyClan forest. It was so big! Which made it harder to find the camp.
She always loved the forest and hadn't been happy when she'd been dragged to the moor. But I'm big enough to make my own decisions, the she-kit thought.
Suddenly, she spotted a bright white pelt ahead. "C'mon," the tom said to two cats following him. "Camp is this way."
That's… Cloud Tail, right? She had a vague memory of him before she left. And apparently, he'd gone to ShadowClan. He smelled marshy right now as well as his companions.
Eagerly, she followed after the trio.
Thunder jumped from tree to tree, Lightning Tail and Leaf following. It had been a while since they'd checked up on ThunderClan. And to be honest, they hadn't saved anyone yet. His father had been the one to save Snowkit.
"Thunder, look!" Lightning Tail suddenly yelled, horrified. The ginger tom paused and followed his friend's gaze to see the clearing of Snakerocks.
Leaf gasped. Thunder noticed a mound of ginger and white fur smeared with blood. "Brightpelt!" He gasped. He turned to Leaf. "Go get Cloud Spots and meet us at the border, quick!"
Leaf immediately jumped back along the treeline, not seeming to mind his former apprentice ordering him around.
Thunder hopped from the tree and Lightning Tail followed. The ginger tom positioned Brightpelt's front onto his back and without being told Lightning Tail did the same for her hindlegs.
Suddenly, they heard voices coming towards them. Frostfur burst into the clearing with Brackenfur, both looking worried and horrified.
Frostfur gaped at them. "What're you doing to my daughter?"
"We have to get her help," Thunder meowed. "We're taking her to Cloud Spots."
"Yeah, besides Thistlestar will definitely kick her out," Lightning Tail sneered. Brackenfur looked offended for a moment before he sighed.
"They're right." He looked towards his mother. "She'll be looked after like Cinder Flower."
At the mention of her other daughter, Frostfur's eyes clouded. "How is she?"
"She's just fine," Lightning Tail growled. "Now excuse us, but your daughter's life is on the line. We should be going."
Frostfur's whiskers trembled. "Thank you."
Brackenfur stiffened. "Patrol!" He hissed at them. "Get out of here!"
Thunder and Lightning Tail dragged the unconscious warrior up a tree and slowly made their way from tree to tree with her balancing on their backs, precariously.
Graystripe burst into the clearing behind Thistlestar, Swiftclaw, Bluefur, Mousefur and Brindleface.
"Where is she?" Thistlestar growled.
"Di-did the dogs eat her?" Swiftclaw asked, looking horrified.
"I-I don't know," Brackenfur whispered, trembling. "No one was here when we got here." Graystripe frowned as his former apprentice ducked his head, eyes flashing with something he couldn't pinpoint.
The gray tom sniffed the air, but the stench of dogs and cat blood drowned out anything else no matter how hard he concentrated.
He shuddered. What a horrible way to die!
Brindleface was grooming her sister's ear, comforting. She, of course, knew what it was like to lose kits. But while the gray tabby had two of her kits left, Frostfur only had Brackenfur.
Of course, Cinder Flower was alive, but the smoky gray she-cat hadn't seemed interested in seeing her mother or brother.
So she pretty much only had her son.
Brackenfur pressed against his mother too.
Thistlestar and Mousefur were sniffing around while Bluefur stood with a stony expression, glancing around, on guard.
After a while of searching for clues, Thistlestar padded over. "It's clear the dogs ate Brightpelt," he growled, twitching. "We'll hold vigil, and uh, no going near Snakerocks again." With that he stalked off.
Bluefur and Mousefur exchanged incredulous looks and stared after the leader as he went back to camp. Swiftclaw was looking guilty, head down. Brindleface and Brackenfur nudged Frostfur forward and they left the clearing as well.
"An inspiring leadership," Bluefur growled sarcastically to Graystripe's shock. Was she crazy? What if Thistlestar somehow heard.
"One of the best," Mousefur muttered, equally sarcastic and the two she-cats headed after the others.
Graystripe turned to Swiftclaw. "Hey, don't blame yourself."
Swiftclaw just shook his head. "I got back to camp because I knew I couldn't save her alone. Like you said, I didn't take unnecessary risks."
"And Brightpelt wouldn't hold it against you. You survived, she would have wanted one of you to make it out alive."
Swiftclaw shrugged and trudged back to camp.
Graystripe glanced back at Snakerocks, feeling unsettled. He shivered and raced after the patrol, not feeling safe in his territory anymore.
He'd stopped feeling completely safe since he became an apprentice under Thistlestar's rule.
Fire Heart sat outside the medicine den. Raven Hope brushed against him, blinking his green eyes at him.
"She'll be okay," the black tom meowed. Brightpelt was his other niece. He was just as worried but confident she'd be okay.
Cinder Flower was inside the medicine den right now with her sister and Cloud Spots and Acorn Fur fixed her up as best as they could.
Thunder and Lightning Tail were reporting what they knew to Skystar, who looked grim. The dog situation was worse than they thought.
Suddenly, the camp entrance rustled and Fire Heart gasped as a cat he never thought would come here again appeared.
"Cloud Tail! What're you doing here?"
The white tom looked around, confused. "I-I came back to SkyClan." Fire Heart felt joy fill his chest. "What's wrong?" He noticed the cats crowded near the medicine den, looking worried.
"Brightpelt from ThunderClan got attacked by the dogs in ThunderClan territory," Gray Wing said, pushing through the crowd to nuzzle his son.
"Dad!" He purred. Owl Eyes and Sparrow Fur had appeared from their den and rushed over.
"You're back!" They bundled into him.
"Are you a warrior yet?"
"Yeah!"
"We are too! This is great!"
"I knew you wouldn't want to stay in stinky ol' ShadowClan!"
They paused upon seeing Cloud Tail's friend and was that a kit behind them?
Skystar stared bewildered. "What're these ShadowClan apprentices doing here? And is that… Morning Whisker!"
Cloud Tail and the ShadowClan cats blinked and glanced around.
"I followed you," the little kit said, shuffling her paws. "I wanted to come back too."
"Wow," the ginger she-cat said.
"The fact that we didn't notice," the gray tabby added with a grin. "She'd make a great ShadowClan cat."
Morning Whisker looked at him incredulously. "Never. I wanna be a SkyClan warrior."
"Us too!" The ginger she-cat, who Fire Heart believed was Rowanpaw meowed. "Rubblepaw and I came along with Cloud Tail to join."
"If you'll have us," Rubblepaw added, glancing at Skystar.
Skystar shook his head to get out of his confusion and meowed, "as if I'd say no."
"Welcome home," Gray Wing purred and the others gathered around welcoming him back or greeting the ShadowClan cats.
Thistle and Clover skipped over to Morning Whisker. "Does that mean we'll have a new denmate?" Clover asked.
Milkweed joined her kits purring as they talked with the WindClan kit.
"Wait," Cloud Tail meowed after Fire Heart greeted him with a nose bump. "Did you say Brightpelt was attacked?"
He raced to the medicine den without a word. Fire Heart followed and peeked inside. Acorn Fur and Cloud Spots sat to the side.
Cloud Tail had laid beside the ginger and white she-cat while Cinder Flower groomed her sister from the other side.
"Brightpelt, you'll be okay! I'm here," Cloud Tail murmured tenderly. "I'll be here when you wake up."
Fire Heart had never heard the young tom sound so gentle and loving.
Brightpelt opened an eye. The other one was covered by a swath of cobwebs.
She cracked a weak smile. "Cloud Tail… I'm so glad you're here."
Sorry the attack still had to happen. But Swift is alive and Bright is in SkyClan with Cloud now.
Hope you enjoyed. Review, please.