Bossy here! Sorry I took so long to write this chapter. School's been rough and I kinda ran out of ideas for a while. But I'm back and will try to keep up with time XD. No promises. Enjoy the story!
I crept through the banks of Sunning Rocks with Fireheart and Graystripe beside me. We looked around for any Riverclan warriors then crossed the river. I can't believe I agreed to this. Starclan, what am I doing? "Patrol!" Graystripe ducked behind the reeds and crept low. A dark warrior padded through the bushes with his snout in the air. Silverstream followed. Graystripe made a cooing noise and Silverstream pricked her ears. She looked at us then to her clanmate.
"I think I hear a mouse in that bush over there." she mewed."Don't wait for me." The warrior nodded and padded away. Silverstream nuzzled Graystripe. "What are you doing here? We're not supposed to meet until-" Silverstream's purr broke off as she saw me and Fireheart. I looked at her in shock. Is she the reason why Graystripe keeps disappearing all the time?
"Silverstream, we need to ask some questions." Graystripe meowed. Silverstream looked at me.
"About Riverfang?" she asked. I growled and dug my claws in the ground.
"No! We couldn't care less about that lousy tom!" I snarled. Fireheart looked at me in confusion and Silverstream sighed.
"About what then? If that's not the reason, then why are you here?" she asked. I scoffed.
"I wanna know the same thing." I muttered. Fireheart flicked my ear and turned to Silverstream.
"We need to talk to a cat about Oakheart's death." he meowed. Silverstream's fur bristled defensively. "We don't blame Riverclan for anything! We just need some answers." Fireheart said quickly. Silverstream narrowed her eyes.
"He died in the battle at Sunning Rocks. He was caught in a rock fall." she mewed. I narrowed my eyes.
"Tigerclaw said he killed Oakheart to avenge Redtail's death. Oakheart killed Redtail." I meowed. Silverstream gaped at me.
"Oakheart would never kill a cat to win a fight! Redtail must've died another way!" she snapped. I widened my eyes. Tigerclaw lied about Oakheart… so Fireheart was right! Tigerclaw really did kill Redtail! Just because he wanted to be deputy… I looked at my paws. He lied to me about everything… Fireheart rested his tail on my shoulder.
"I tried to tell you." he murmured. "I asked Ravenpaw about the battle. He told me that Redtail and Stonefur were fighting. Oakheart pulled him off and said that no Thunderclan warrior will harm that warrior. What did he mean?" Fireheart meowed. Silverstream narrowed her eyes.
"I think Mistyfoot can tell you that." she meowed. Graystripe smiled.
"Can you ask her?" he asked. Silverstream scoffed.
"I'll do more than that! I'll bring her here herself!" she chuckled. Then she padded away to her camp. We waited for her in silence. Fireheart looked at me.
"What's going on between you and Riverfang?" he asked. I growled at the name.
"It's a thing of the past. Don't worry about it." I growled. Fireheart and Graystripe shared a look.
"Silverstream told me about you two." Graystripe murmured. "I'm sorry that happened. Maybe it wasn't meant to be." I scoffed and rolled my eyes.
"I don't care. He means nothing to me." I muttered. Then we heard rustling. We froze as we heard voices.
"Honestly, Silverstream! Why do you have to drag me out like this? I have kits to look after!" a snap sounded. Silverstream appeared with a blue gray she-cat. I narrowed my eyes. She looks just like Bluestar. Mistyfoot looked at us with wide eyes. "Ok I know I agreed for you to meet Graystripe but I can't cover for you if you have all of Thunderclan here." she mewed.
"They need to ask you about Stonefur." Silverstream meowed.
"My brother? Why?" Mistyfoot asked.
"Oakheart said that no Thunderclan cat will hurt him. What did he mean?" Fireheart asked.
"Oh! Well Oakheart's our father. Graypool's our mother. She knows more about him than we do." Mistyfoot meowed. Fireheart scowled.
"That's not what I wanted to hear." he muttered.
"Well isn't that a shame? Not everyone gets what they want." Mistyfoot snapped. Then her gaze lightened. "We can get Graypool out of camp! You three will have to get closer because she refuses to move far away." My heart dropped. Closer to Riverclan's camp? Where it'll be more easier to run into Riverfang? I didn't agree to this! We followed the Riverclan cats to their camp.
"Hide over here and don't move." Silverstream murmured before padding through the entrance with Mistyfoot. I peeked through the reeds surrounding their camp. Cats were sprawled out in the clearing basking in the sun or playing in the streams. I looked closer and saw Riverfang sharing tongues with a white she-cat with ginger and black patches. They laughed and played with each other with loud purrs. My throat tightened as tears swelled in my eyes. He really did replace me…
"Leopardstorm?" Graystripe murmured. He followed my gaze to Riverfang. "Oh…" I closed my eyes and looked away.
"Like I said. A thing of the past." I growled. Before he could say anything, Silverstream padded out with Mistyfoot and an elder.
"Come on, Graypool! Feel that fresh breeze in your whiskers!" Silverstream purred.
"Keep taking me out for pointless walks and the only thing your whiskers are going to feel are my claws ripping them out." Graypool muttered. I held in a laugh. I like her already! "Where are you two taking me?" Graypool asked. Silverstream led her over to a secluded area while Mistyfoot beckoned us to come. I followed them to the area then tripped on a branch. I yelped and looked at my paw. Graypool swerved her gaze to me. Her eyes widened and she began to panic. Silverstream covered her mouth and beckoned us to come closer.
"Graypool, they just came to ask questions!" Silverstream meowed. A cat nudged me from behind and I turned around to see Riverfang.
"Not now, Riverfang. I'm trying to listen." I said, waving him away and turning back to the others. Then my eyes widened and I turned back to him. "Riverfang!" I snarled. Riverfang rolled his eyes and turned to the others.
"I need to talk to Leopardstorm." he meowed. I lifted my snout into the air.
"No, you don't."
"I need to talk to you."
"You need to get out my face before I claw your ears off and shove them down your throat." I hissed. The others shared a nervous look and Mistyfoot walked between us.
"Sorry, Riverfang. What she meant to say was that she really needs to focus on the discussion." she meowed calmly. Riverfang flicked his ear.
"I'll stay and help then." he said. I glared at him.
"Don't you have a she-cat to play with?" I snapped. Riverfang sighed.
"You don't even know her! She's a really great she-cat and she cares about me!" he snapped. I flared with rage and I stood up with my fur fluffed out to twice it's size and my claws dug in the earth.
"I cared about you! So are you saying that my love isn't worth anything?" I snarled. Riverfang stood up with his hackles raised.
"I already told you. I must be loyal to my clan." he meowed. Then he flicked his ear and licked his paw. "You should do the same." I growled and struggled not to leap at him.
"Are you calling me disloyal?" I snarled. Fireheart lifted his tail and stepped between us.
"Riverfang, I know you want to talk to Leopardstorm but she really needs to focus. This involves the Riverclan cats who know the answers to our questions. We don't need you to get involved in Thunderclan business." he said. Riverfang sighed and padded away.
"Fine." he scoffed. I looked away.
"Alright now let's ask our questions." Fireheart said. I nodded and turned to Graypool.
"What do you want to know?" Graypool rasped.
"Oakheart saved Stonefur in the fight at Sunning Rocks. He said that no Thunderclan warrior shall hurt that cat. What did he mean?" Fireheart meowed. Graypool looked at Mistyfoot.
"Why don't you two go off and hunt? My stomach is killing me." she said. Mistyfoot and Silverstream looked at each other in confusion.
"But you just ate-" Silverstream's mew was broke off by Graypool's snap.
"Are you questioning your elders? Shame on you!" she snapped. Silverstream rolled her eyes and led Mistyfoot away with Graystripe trailing after them. Graypool grumbled. "I swear if she rolls her eyes at me one more time…" she muttered. I chuckled. Mousefur and Graypool would make such great friends. "Stonefur and Mistyfoot are Oakheart's kits. But I'm not their mother." Graypool meowed. I shared a confused look with Fireheart.
"But Mistyfoot said you were." I mewed.
"That's because she's a mouse-brain." Graypool snapped. "Oakheart came to me in the middle of a snowstorm with the kits. He asked me to take care of them and I agreed. But they carried the scent of Thunderclan." I widened my eyes.
"You don't think he…?" Fireheart said. Graypool scoffed.
"Oakheart would never steal another clan's kits!" she snapped. I tilted my head in thought.
"Well Thunderclan doesn't just let their kits die in the snow!" Fireheart retorted. My gaze lightened up.
"Guys!" I exclaimed.
"Well Riverclan aren't savages!" Graypool shot back.
"Guys!" I snapped. The two cats looked at me. "The kits weren't stolen or abandoned. Maybe they're half-clan!" I said. They have to be half-clan! Mistyfoot looks just like… Bluestar… I widened my eyes. Then the elders' stories flashed in my mind. Bluestar had kits before she was made deputy. But then they were captured by a fox… did she lie so she could be made deputy and gave Oakheart the kits? Fireheart narrowed his eyes.
"Thunderclan doesn't have any half-clan cats." Fireheart said, confused. I shuffled my paws in the dirt uneasily.
"You don't know that." I murmured. Fireheart turned to Graypool.
"Thank you for the answers. They helped a lot." he meowed. "Come on, Leopardstorm. Let's find Graystripe and get out of here."We crept through the bushes until we saw Graystripe with the two she-cats. "Graystripe!" Graystripe looked at us then nodded and nuzzled Silverstream.
"Until next time." he murmured. Then he padded over to us and followed us to Sunning Rocks.
We went into camp to see Frostfur by the nursery, grooming her kits. I padded over to them. "What's the special occasion?" I asked. Brightkit jumped out of Frostfur's grasp, her fur spiked out from the unfinished grooming.
"We're going to be made apprentices!" she squealed. I purred as Frostfur snatched her back. Thornkit was sitting beside them with his tail wrapped around his paws. Then Bluestar padded out of her den and onto the High Rock.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the High Rock for a clan meeting." she yowled. I sat beside Goldenflower and Sandstorm as the clan gathered around. "We have two kits who have reached their sixth moon and are ready to be made apprentices." Bluestar announced. "Brightkit and Thornkit step forward." Brightkit darted over to Bluestar while Thornkit walked. "Brightkit and Thornkit, you shall now be known as Brightpaw and Thornpaw." Bluestar's eyes searched the crowd. "Mousefur. You were a terrific mentor for Leopardstorm and I expect you to pass on your skills and intelligence to Thornpaw." Mousefur smiled and touched noses with Thornpaw and I purred. "Whitestorm. You are a skillful warrior and I expect you to pass on your techniques to Brightpaw." Whitestorm nodded and touched noses with Brightpaw.
"Brightpaw! Thornpaw! Brightpaw! Thornpaw!" the clan cheered. Then the clan dispersed into their duties. I saw Fireheart pad into Bluestar's den. I narrowed my eyes and followed. Bluestar was sitting in her nest while Fireheart sat in front of her. I sat by the entrance and listened as Fireheart told her everything.
"I have also learned that two kits went missing. An elder name Graypool told me that those kits were Thunderclan." Fireheart meowed. Bluestar bristled but kept silent. "Bluestar?"
"Honestly, Fireheart! Why would you listen to Riverclan gossip? I expected more from you!" Bluestar snapped.
"I-I just thought-" Fireheart broke off as Bluestar continued.
"Focus on trying to be a better warrior instead of trying to be the hero all the time! Tigerclaw is a fine deputy. Stop making tales about him." Bluestar snapped. "Now get out and do something productive instead of crossing into Riverclan territory!" Fireheart ran out and padded to the apprentices. I looked at him in pity and sighed. Then I walked into Bluestar's den. Bluestar was looking at the ground in sad thought. I quietly walked to her and sat down.
"Bluestar?" I murmured. Bluestar jumped in surprise and looked at me.
"Oh! Leopardstorm. Sorry, I didn't hear you come in. What do you need?" she meowed. I looked at her.
"I heard you and Fireheart talking. And I know I shouldn't be listening in on your conversations but I just want to say that Fireheart's not the only crossing into Riverclan's territory." I murmured. "I went with him. I was there when he was talking to Graypool about the kits…" I braced myself for scolding. Bluestar's gaze was calm and patient. I took a deep breath. "Mistyfoot and Stonefur look just like you… are they-"
"My kits?" Bluestar finished. I flattened my ears and lowered my head.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked that." I mewed. Bluestar sighed.
"No, it's alright…" Bluestar murmured. We sat in silence for a while with intense gazes. I began to get up and leave but Bluestar spoke up. "Yes. They are my kits." she meowed. I gave her a brief nod and she looked in my eyes as if searching them. "You didn't look at me with suspicion." she murmured in confusion. I shrugged.
"You're my leader, not a flawless cat. We all make mistakes. I respect you no matter what." I mewed. Bluestar gave me a small smile.
"Now that we're telling each other things, I want to know who you are." she meowed. I froze.
"What do you mean?" I asked coolly.
"Leopardstorm, I was there when Goldenflower gave birth. You aren't her kit. But I know your Tigerclaw's daughter. I can see him in you." Bluestar said. I looked away. "Like you said to me. You are my warrior, not a flawless cat. You accepted me when I told you about my kits, I'll accept your heritage." I sighed and looked at her.
"My mother is Dawncloud from Shadowclan." I meowed. Bluestar nodded and flicked her ear. "Why did you give away your kits to Oakheart?" I asked before she could say anything. Bluestar's gaze dimmed as she was sent back to memories.
"I was only a warrior. Sunstar had to choose a new deputy. I had three kits at the time." she began. I tilted my head. Three? "Sunstar had to choose between me or Thistleclaw. Thistleclaw was a bloodthirsty warrior. His answer to everything was to fight. I couldn't let him be deputy. So one night, I took my kits to Riverclan. It was a snowy night and it was dangerously cold. My eldest son, Mosskit died in the storm. That's when I told everyone that they were captured by a fox." Bluestar meowed. I widened my eyes.
"So you gave them away to take care of your clan?" I breathed. Bluestar nodded. I smiled and licked her ear. "You were just taking care of your clan. The clan couldn't ask for more." I murmured. Bluestar purred and nuzzled my cheek.
"Thank you, Leopardstorm. Could you not speak of this to anyone?" Bluestar meowed. I nodded and flicked my ear.
"I won't say a word." I promised.