Crowfeather and Thunderclan
″You want to what?" came the double cry from Ashfoot and Owlwhisker.
″You know that you two are the only ones who care about me." Crowfeather growled.
″If you do this, Crowfeather, you know you may have to fight Windclan at some point." Firestar said seriously.
″OK. That is OK with me. There are many times I've wanted to fight a few of them anyway." He growled.
″Well..." Firestar's eyes narrowed a little in thought.
″I... I will leave anyway and become a rouge if not accepted." Crowfeather meowed quietly.
″Why?" Firestar asked.
″I'm sick of living somewhere where I am not wanted, just because I loved someone that the law said I couldn't." Crowfeather sighed.
″OK. Come with us, we will continue this discussion at home." Firestar growled, and looked at Onestar so see if the tom would challenge him.
″Good riddance." the wiry tom hissed. The Patrol left, black tom in tow. Jaypaw looked blindly at Crowfeather,
″You... actually are leaving your home to live with us?" he asked quietly. The cats in the Thunderclan patrol knew Crowfeather was Jaypaw Hollypaw and Lionpaw's father.
″I know Leafpool still loves me... And I hope you and your litter-mates do. Squirrelflight has been my friend for quite a few seasons... I hope I can be accepted here... better than in my own clan." Crowfeather whispered to his son.
"I... I already accept you." Jaypaw whispered back, "And I know mother, and my brother and sister will." Lilypaw pretended she didn't hear the spark of hope and love in the usually coarse Jaypaw's voice.
The patrol returned to camp to many surprised growls. Leafpool rushed forward and touched her nose to Crowfeather's flank,
"What's going on, Crowfeather?' she asked quietly. Crowfeather looked at her, his blue eyes alight with live, and hope.
"Let all cats who can catch their own prey gather beneath the highleadge for a clan meeting!" Firestar yowled. Thornclaw sat at the foot of the ledge looking disgruntled.
"What is Crowfeather doing here?" came a yowl. Further observation revealed it was Cloudtail, looking only a little angry.
"He has come to ask if he can join Thunderclan." Firestar said shortly.
'What? You're not really going to allow it, are you Firestar." Came Mousefur's rasping voice.
"Why shouldn't he join?" Lilypaw spoke up. As all the older cats glared at her she crouched in fear and embarrassment.
"Go on, Lilypaw." Firestar said. Brooke's eyes glowed with encouragement, so she sat up,
"Well… I have seen Crowfeather at gatherings, and even now in his camp. No one but two cats wanted him there. Why should he live there where so few accept him? I do. He's my uncle."
"I accept him. He's my father." Lionpaw spoke up.
"Me too!" Hollypaw's thick tail was fluffed up a little.
"I will always accept him, he is my mate, if he will take me." Leafpool whispered. She twined her tail with Crowfeather's, and Crowfeather purred, they had the small yellow glow from before. Lilypaw watched as the glow strengthened, and instead of looking away, like she usually did, Lilypaw closed her eyes and scented the air. She scented Windclan. That was Crowfeather. She didn't understand why cats said that Windclan smelled bad, Crowfeather smelled like warm heather, and wind. There was also Leafpool's smell. Warm, like herbs, and when they intertwined, they actually smelled somewhat like their kits. She could tangibly taste the love rolling from the cats. She opened her eyes and looked her leader square in the face,
"Love is not a crime. Crowfeather has left his family, because he hopes to find one that will eventually love him." Lilypaw mewed.
"I have never heard such wise words from an apprentice. So, Crowfeather, you understand you may have to fight Windclan?" Firestar asked.
"Would you fight your mother?" Thornclaw asked. Crowfeather's eyes flashed,
'Would you?"
"Of course not!" Thornclaw growled.
"Neither would I. but, I would fight Owlwhisker, Onestar, or any of the cats in Windclan."
"But not your mother." Firestar was slightly confused, Ashfur stood up next to his daughter,
"Think about it, Firestar. Who would fight with their mother, the cat who nursed them? Cloudtail was nursed by Brindleface next to Ferncloud and me, and even though Brindleface wasn't really his mother, I highly doubt that he would fight her if needed."
"Ashfur is right, I would never lift a claw against her." Cloudtail purred. Everyone relaxed. Firestar nodded,
"Crowfeather, I grant you a place in the warriors of Thunderclan, but we will be watching you. For the first moon, you aren't to leave camp, unless it is to retrieve moss, and then you will need a warrior with you. If you can prove to be a loyal warrior, the moon after your time in camp, you will be introduced to the gathering as a Thunderclan cat." Firestar nodded. Leafpool's tail curled in glee, as she went to help him find a place in the warrior's den.
A few sunrises later, Lilypaw and Nightpaw were battling together Brooke and Stormfur calling out hints and instructions. Lilypaw caught Nightpaw's hind legs and sent him toppling and pinned him, her cream paw buried in his thick tortoiseshell fur.
"I win again Nightpaw." She purred.
"How do you do that? You're like, half my size!" he whined.
"She is better at fighting, because your large size and strength that would work against an opponent closer to your size puts you at a dis advantage against a small lithe cat like Lilypaw." Stormfur purred.
"Well let's give him someone his size then." Birchfall purred, followed by Brackenfur, Hollypaw and Ravenpaw. Hollypaw and Lilypaw squared up, and Hollypaw sprang at the smaller she-cat, and Nightpaw and Ravenpaw were already a writhing ball of fur. Lilypaw quickly thought she had the better of Hollypaw, but was fast taken off balance, when the black she cat slithered out from under her and pinned Lilypaw.
'You're great!" Lilypaw purred.
"WE should head back to the hollow." Stormfur said, "You two have hunted and trained, I'm sure your starving."
"Oh yes!" Nightpaw and Lilypaw purred together. They walked into clan together, Lilypaw could feel her sore muscle slide under her pelt, and she felt strong. She knew she was done growing, which irked her more than anything, but that was ok. Stormfur's words rang in her ears, "A small lithe cat has the advantage."She purred to herself.
"Hey Lilypaw." Berrypaw walked over to her and purred, "I was wondering if you wanted to eat with me?" Lilypaw purred,
"Hang on while I bring a couple of Mice to Mousefur and Longtail."
"Don't worry, I already did it." Crowfeather walked out of the elder's den, his eyes were watering, and his muzzle was a bleeding.
"What did you do Crowfeather? He purred,
"Remind me to never get snippy with Mousefur again." He then walked off to Leafpool's den to get some cobwebs.
"Right then, there's a large rabbit in the fresh-kill pile, shall we share that?" Berrypaw asked.
"Sure." Lilypaw purred and followed him to the fresh-kill pile.
so is this going to be LilyxBerry?I am open to suggestions of a different pairing, if someone has a suggestion. I was thinking, I could have Foxpaw, when he is apprenticed, like Lilypaw. I am open to suggestions of pairings for Nightpaw Ravenpaw and Skypaw. I like the idea of Nightpaw and Hollypaw. :D
-Foxshine