The Adventures of Ashfur
(And Leafpool)
© Cherryburg
Beta readers:
Lack Thereof
Kitty (not a Fanfiction User)
A/N:Thanks for staying loyal as reviewers! I'll try to get to all your reviews as soon as possible! This must have been the longest chapter so far, so enjoy.
What Has Happened Thus Far
Paws point at the wrong tom- Stormfur- for fathering Jaypaw. Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw might lose all credibility in Thunderclan if something is not done.
What to Expect in Chapter 5
Leafpool's friend Mothwing decides to make up for her lack-of-belief in Starclan- for doubling as a relationship counselor, inspired by Crowfeather and Nightcloud. Does Thunderclan need that now or what?
Nightcloud may have to worry more about how "unfit" her mate is- she may have to worry about him having lingering feelings for a certain cat.
Ashfur tries to comfort the distraught Squirrelflight, but he gets more than what he came for when a disaster strikes.
All in... The Adventures of Ashfur!
Leafpool's POV
I approached the Gathering place along with other cats, Nightcloud's screams and scolds fading away, but not by much. When I got there, I stretched my neck, searching for my medicine cat friend, Mothwing.
There she was, waving her tail at me in anticipation. She seemed to want to tell me some exciting news. And did I have some news for her from Thunderclan. Although, I might not mention all of it, since Brambleclaw scolded me for talking to Littlecloud about Cinderpelt's death. I got off the hook, but I didn't want to replay that situation.
"Leafpool!" Mothwing exclaimed, "Follow me!" She led me over a couple of yards away from the Gathering place. I glanced over my shoulder.
"Hurry!" I urged, "The Gatherings beginning."
"I know, I know, it won't be long." Mothwing assured me, "Leafpool, you know about me and Starclan...right?"
"Of course." I mewed.
"Well, I had a guilty conscience about the whole thing-"
"Mothwing." I interrupted, "It's not your fault if you believe in Starclan or not. It's not a choice that is left in your paws."
"No it's not that Leafpool." Mothwing continued, "The other day, I saw Crowfeather and Nightcloud by the lake, and they do NOT have a good relationship, let me tell you that. She was screaming and yelling and screaming and yelling- anyway. So..." Her eyes sparkled with brilliance, "I'm going to double as a relationship counselor!"
"A what?" I asked dumbfounded.
"A ree-lay-shun-ship cown-se-ler." Mothwing said slowly, "I'm going to help people fix their relationships with their mates, friends, kits, etcetera!"
"Thats quite the..." I commented, "new job. Does Leopardstar agree with this?"
"Ah, she'll be okay." Mothwing brushed it off, "I'm only going to do this late in the afternoon, and I'll just be making short stops at each camp."
"Mothwing." I warned, "Your going to get into trouble."
"Your such a stick in the mud Leafpool!" Mothwing objected, "Once they find my services useful, they'll be flocking me!"
I smiled a nodded, "I know which Clan to kick your business off in."
"Which one?" Mothwing asked, bobbing up and down.
"Thunderclan."
"Whats going on there?"
"You'll see."
I waved my tail for her to follow, because the Gathering was about to begin. Onestar's eyes looked grave.
"We have an important announcement." Onestar began, "Evidently-"
"CROWFEATHER!!!"
We all fell silent. I saw some cats look up at Starclan.
"Oh Starclan." Spiderleg said, "I thought we got rid of her way back there."
Nightcloud came storming into the Gathering place, her eyes aflame, her soaked fur on edge, and looked like a she-cat with a mission.
"Where is that clumsy mousebrain?" She shouted at all of us.
"Who's Clan is she from?" A cat from Shadowclan chimed in.
"I don't know." Onestar lied quietly, inspecting his paws.
"Where. Is. Crowfeather!" She persisted, glaring at all of us. An "eep" emerged from the crowd abruptly. Everyone's ears pricked and we looked toward the source. It was a sheepish-looking Crowfeather, hidden halfway behind Whitewing.
"There you are, you horrible mate!" She growled.
"I thought he'd be saying that to her!" a heckler shouted. Nightcloud looked from Crowfeather to the heckler's direction.
"Which one of you 'lovely' gentlemen said that?" She hissed.
"Nightcloud," Onestar ordered, ashamed, "Please sit down. Your an embarrassment to Windclan."
"I second that notion!" A cat from Windclan put in.
"Windclan is am embarrassment to me." Nightcloud huffed and sat down.
I looked at Mothwing. She grinned.
Everyone's attention returned to the leaders. Onestar, once he had everyone's attention, bowed his head to Firestar. Firestar stepped up.
"The other day, Cloudtail and Spiderleg found that the Old Thunderpath had a fresh, strong scent of Twoleg on it. Twoleg scent has be found in various territories of each Clan. Keep your senses alert."
"The Old Thunderpath?" I mused, then an arrow pierced my stomach.
That was the direction Ashfur and Squirrelflight had gone!
I quickly started bounding away from the camp. Would I be too late to save them?
"Leafpool!"
I skidded in my tracks. I knew that voice too well; it was Crowfeather. I swallowed and started to pad away, but Crowfeather had already caught up.
"Leafpool!" Crowfeather said, "Hi."
I felt energy shoot through my veins, and a pain flashed through my abdomen. I always got this sensation around Crowfeather. Nervous, but wanting to be close to him. I vividly remembered my attempted run-away with Crowfeather. That was nerve-wracking, but it was also one of the happiest moments of my life. I always tried to make excuses for this feeling, but I knew what it was; love.
"Hello, Crowfeather." I struggled to keep my voice platonic and professional.
"I...just want to chat, that's all." Crowfeather suggested, and we padded down to the shore.
"About what?" I asked, thinking I wanted nothing more than to be wrapped up in his warmth, feeling safe and not having to say anything.
"I wanted to thank you for saving Breezepaw." Crowfeather explained.
I couldn't stop a morbid fantasy from popping into my head.
"I wanted to thank you for saving Breezepaw." Crowfeather purred, "I'm so happy tragedy made us meet again, so I could realize your my only true love and I would lay down my life for you."
Wow, I'm pathetic. I shook the thought from my head.
"It was nothing." I shrugged, "I save lives a lot."
I wanted to whack myself for saying something so stupid and obvious. The one thing I hated about being with Crowfeather is that I always said something that undermines my intelligence.
"I'm sorry about Nightcloud." Crowfeather apologized.
"Don't sweat it Crowfeather, everything's fine." I said.
"No its not." Crowfeather insisted. "Nightcloud's the opposite of you. She's noisy and obnoxious, she doesn't give a foxdung about how we look in front of other Clans, she's just so hard, Leafpool! I don't know what to do!" Crowfeather sounded desperate. I felt a pang of sorrow in my heart for him.
"Crowfeather..." I coaxed sympathetically, "Just tell her to stop. Keep your face straight and say it with steel in your voice. Okay?" I hope he'd take my advice, because that's all I could give. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't say, "Ditch her and come with me." I mean, she had a kit with him, for Starclan's sake!
Crowfeather smiled, seeming to recover, "Thanks."
A silence fell over us, than Crowfeather took a paw-step forward. I felt my face getting hot. But I didn't move back. He took one more paw-step closer, and leaned in and licked my cheek.
Suddenly, time stopped, and the world around us seem to blur, with only us to be seen clearly. Crowfeather and I stood there, content, and staring into each other's souls via our eyes. Horribly cliché romance novel I know, but thats the only way I could summarize it. I felt as light as a feather; I could hear a melody playing somewhere; nice and sweet. I opened my mouth to speak, but quickly, someone else filled me in.
"Crowfeather!"
The fantasy was gone as quickly as it came. Crowfeather and I tore our eyes from each other and stared in horror at a boiling Nightcloud.
Ashfur's POV
I raced through the forest litter and dodged trees as I pursued Squirrelflight, who was still bounding ahead. I managed to cough a call as I gasped for air.
"Squirrelflight." I called as my paws pounded the dirt, "Slow down! Please!"
Squirrelflight glanced over her shoulder at me, and her eyes flickered. She continued to run.
"Can I please talk to you?" I pleaded as I started to lose momentum, "Just for a moment?"
An audible sigh escaped from Squirrelflight's throat, and she slowed down to a trot. I caught up with her and gasped for air. After I was done, I opened my mouth to say something, but I couldn't find the words.
"Ashfur, don't just stand there like a mousebrain. What?" Squirrelflight snapped. I was taken aback for a moment, so used to Leafpool's quiet demeanor, so her sister's more snappy attitude baffled me for a second.
"I...saw...what happened back at the camp." I stuttered.
"Yes...about Jaypaw, I saw it too. Everyone did." Squirrelflight replied, "And you know what? It's true. Jaypaw isn't Brambleclaw's. And thats going to haunt our relationship for moons to come, that is, if Brambleclaw doesn't leave. But he isn't Stormfur's; that is such a stupid conclusion and completely illogical. He's..."
"Mine." I finished.
A long silence fell over us. Only now did I notice we were standing on the Old Thunderpath, and there was an unbearable scent of Twoleg.
"Squirrelflight, I'm really sorry I didn't listen before," I apologized, "I think I finally understand now. I'm sorry."
"It doesn't matter if your sorry," Squirrelflight said, "What are we going to do?"
"Just say I did it to you against your will." I decided.
Squirrelflight's gaze softened, and a soft smile appeared, "Ashfur...you wouldn't do that, sacrifice your pride and dignity."
"Yes I would, Squirrelflight." I told her, although I wasn't exactly certain if I would, "I love you as a fellow warrior, and we have to make sacrifices, right?"
She shook her head and smiled. She looked up at me and open her mouth to say something, but instead of forming words, it fell into a gap. I looked at her and say strange lights reflecting in her eyes. I turned around, and saw a huge Twoleg monster rumbling toward us. I felt my fur stand on edge. I started to run out of the road, but I looked over my shoulder and saw Squirrelflight frozen in fear, unable to move.
"Squirrelflight!" I shouted, but she just stood there, awaiting a fate. I knew I had to do something. I started running toward her, and at the last minute, pushed her out of harm's way. But not before I felt metal piercing my flank and a horrible pang all over. I yowled out in pain. Squirrelflight shouted my name in desperation, but it was too late. I collapsed, my sight falling into a pitch blackness and the pain numbing away. The last thing I felt before I lost all conscience was being lifted up...to Starclan.
Did Ashfur die? How will Leafpool get herself out of this situation? Stay tuned for next chapter!
Oh, and I heard reviews lead to true happiness.
I decided to upload the commentary my beta-reader attached when she sent AOA back to me after editing it!
Commentary
CONTINUE! This story needs to go on!
-Lack Thereof, Beta Reader