Chapter 13

Ashwinter padded through the thinning undergrowth. Frost chilled her pads, but she didn't care. Why did life have to be so difficult and annoying? All she could think about was Equinoxrise, lying on the cold ground, watching his life pour out of his belly. Finally, she understood how Crookedstar must have felt when Oakheart had died. And when he found out Silverstream was a traitor. Leaves rustled quietly behind her. Ashwinter stopped and stared at the ground.

" I know you're there, Dustrise." She sighed.

Dustrise padded out of the bushes and stood next to her.

" I'm so sorry," he murmured.

" I know. Thank you." She meowed.

" Uh…Leopardstar sent me to make sure you were okay…" he explained.

" Thanks again," Ashwinter replied.

" Yeah, sure," Dustrise meowed.

When the two returned to camp, Ashwinter couldn't bear to look at Equinoxrise, laid peacefully in the middle of the camp. Leopardstar approached Ashwinter and Dustrise.

" Ashwinter, can I speak to you? Alone?" she asked, glancing at Dustrise.

Reluctantly, Dustrise padded away towards the fresh-kill pile, glancing over his shoulder.

" Ashwinter, I know this must be so hard for you and Winterfury, but you must live with the thousand lies you've been told." Her leader meowed.

Blackfeather and Russetclaw padded past, whispering and throwing frightened looks at her.

" They're afraid of you now," Leopardstar commented, watching.

" All because of one incident?" she asked.

" No. They have always been wary of you. I don't know why." She replied.

" What?" Ashwinter exclaimed.

Leopardstar looked at her. " You'll understand, all in good time. We all will."

" I'm sure. Age is nothing but a number in my mind," Ashwinter retorted.

" Just try to be like everyone else. I'm telling you this now, because when things like this happen, cats go…well…they change. Be careful." Leopardstar warned, then walked away. Ashwinter snorted and padded off out of camp again. Honeymallow jumped after her and caught up.

" Are you okay?" her friend asked.

" I'm sure I'll be fine." Ashwinter replied.

" What did Leopardstar want?" Honeymallow inquired.

" She told me to be like everyone else. She said I might have changed because of all this…drama." Ashwinter sat down. Honeymallow sat opposite of her.

" Do you want to talk about it?" she offered.

Ashwinter sighed quietly before beginning.

" Can…will…some one tell me what is happening to me? Why am I so misunderstood? Why can't they see? I am not the type of cat who murders without a very good reason!"

Honeymallow only shook her head.

" I want to go left when they tell me go right, I don't want to be the little kit they're licking good night. I want to be some one they don't want me to be."

" I can see that," Honeymallow meowed.

" What do I do?" Ashwinter asked desperately. " I want to fit in!"

Honeymallow thought for a moment. " Have you ever considered that maybe you aren't meant to be like every other cat?" she reasoned.

" Well, no…" Ashwinter admitted.

" I wish I could help you, free you from the hurt and the pain, but I can't! Believe me, I would!" Honeymallow meowed.

" I know, Honeymallow. Thank you for your consideration." Ashwinter mumbled.

" Let's go back. You should eat something." Honeymallow pushed on her shoulder lightly.

" Okay," Ashwinter agreed.

Back at camp, Ashwinter chose a small thrush from the fresh-kill pile and settled down with Honeymallow to eat. She noticed the stares and looks had stopped almost altogether. ' Thank StarClan' she thought.

" Feeling better?" Honeymallow asked.

" Much," Ashwinter replied.

Just then the reeds in the camp entrance rustled. Tigerstar padded in. Pelts bristled and cats spat in anger. Leopardstar met Tigerstar at the entrance.

" What do you want now?" she spat.

Tigerstar held her angry stare.

" I have come to tell you about TigerClan."

" Lay off it, we are NOT joining!" Leopardstar yowled.

" I think you may change your mind. You have lost one warrior already. More will fall if you do not join," he meowed, eyeing Equinoxrise's body, " I have a powerful allay, they call themselves BloodClan. BloodClan comes from Twoleg place."

" A band of kittypets? How pathetic!" Leopardstar scoffed.

" A BloodClan cat is more powerful than any of our Clan cats. If you agree to join TigerClan, you will meet BloodClan and we will work together to take over the forest." He meowed.

" And if I refuse?" Leopardstar asked hotly.

" You and your Clan will fall in battle, as I have already stated. Every single RiverClan cat will die, drowning in their own blood mixed with ThunderClan's and WindClan's."

Leopardstar was taken aback. She glanced over her shoulder at her Clan, then, turning to Tigerstar, reluctantly meowed, " I fear for my Clan's wellbeing. RiverClan will join ShadowClan and BloodClan."

Tigerstar beamed. " Good! I will take you to meet BloodClan in one moon. Meet me at Fourtrees. Be ready to leave at dawn. Bring all your warriors."

" And risk an attack by ShadowClan?" Leopardstar reasoned.

" ShadowClan will not attack RiverClan. You have my word," Tigerstar promised.

Leopardstar nodded. " Fine."

Tigerstar turned and left the camp without any further words. Leopardstar stared after him.

" I wonder if that was the right choice…" Honeymallow murmured as the Clan broke into excited mews.

" It had to be. You heard him; he would kill us all if we didn't join him. What choice was there, really?" Ashwinter replied.