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The Outcats

The clearing broke out into chaos as cats tried to make sense of what they were told. Groups of cats were crowding around those in question, and Ashfoot had left to find her son.

Firestar narrowed his eyes at the grey tom, who smirked in satisfaction as he sailed lazily off the rock. His life's work was complete. He was meant to ruin their perfect lies!

Crowfeather snapped his gaze over to his ex-mate. The light brown tabby had her head bowed, but murmured gently to her sister, who lay beside her with her eyes shut. Tears streamed down Squirrelflight's cheeks.

Blackstar blinked in confusion. Why anyone did care whose kits they were didn't bother him. WindClan certainly wouldn't want them now, and no other Clan had anything to do with the matter. He glared down at the mass of cats. Some of them looked ready to fight the accused. This was getting out of control! Apparently Leopardstar had the same idea.

"By StarClan STOP!" They yowled. Firestar's head snapped up and his eyes raked over the clearing. He was fuming. At himself for not being able to stop Ashfur… for not telling his Clan in the first place…

"By StarClan STOP!"

The cats instantly froze at the command of the two leaders. Every cat sheathed their claws and stared up at the Tree to hear their leaders.

"This is out of control!" Blackstar roared. "I expected better from my cats at least! We have nothing to gain from this!"

He turned to Firestar.

"You have one year to turn your Clan around. After that, we go back to being warriors."

"Thank you, Blackstar. I'm sure we could use a year of peace."

"We are leaving!" He snarled and flicked his tail. Russetfur was at his heels and together, they led their patrol away from the island.

"I have no problem granting you the same request. You've done too much for RiverClan. This is the least I can do." Leopardstar admitted. The flame-colored tom dipped his head in thanks as the RiverClan cats filed off the island.

"Firestar," Onestar meowed softly. The ginger leader nodded for him to speak.

"Those three are rightfully ThunderClan's. They have grown up there and they make good warriors and a fine medicine cat. WindClan has nothing to gain from this, and the only punishment any cat will receive is that from the mouths of their Clanmates. Good luck, all of you, and may StarClan light your path."

"Thank you, Onestar. We'll need it."

The brown tabby dipped his head and hissed into Firestar's ear.

"If it's not too much trouble, I ask that Crowfeather may stay with ThunderClan for a while. Hostile Clanmates or no, I won't stop my cats from speaking their minds."

"He is welcome for as long as he needs it. Whoever else needs it as well."

"Thank you." He sighed. "WindClan, head back to camp! NOW!" He snarled when Nightcloud didn't move. The moorland cats scurried off the island after their furious leader.

That left ThunderClan, Crowfeather, Heathertail, and Breezepelt.

The black tom huffed and glanced at his half-siblings.

"That could have gone a lot better." He grumbled.

"You think?" Hollyleaf growled. "Did you have any real reason to bother with this at a Gathering, Ashfur? You ruined our lives, great but you ruined your own as well.
Do you think anyone will accept what you did?" She asked. Ashfur unsheathed his claws and lunged for the young she-cat. He was knocked aside by Breezepelt, who had landed in front of his sister just as she crouched to avoid Ashfur. His tail lashed back and forth in anger.

"You touch her, you die!" He spat.

Brambleclaw was surprised that the young tom would risk his own life to keep a cat from another Clan safe. Apparently, so was everyone else, because no one bothered stopping them.

"You can't stop me, kit. I'll do what I want"

He made for the black she-cat again, and Breezepelt rammed into the tom, hurling him toward the ground. The grey tom lay motionless then.

"Is he dead?" Hollyleaf whimpered. Breezepelt glanced at the speckled warrior and shook his head.

"Unconscious." The coal-furred tom growled. "That'll have to change."

"No!" His sister snorted.

"Were you even listening to what he said before the Gathering started?!"

"You think I was talking to you when I said no? I heard him. He's not going to do anything completely stupid." Hollyleaf muttered.

"He tried to burn you all alive. He passed the assessment for stupidity with flying colors. Are all you ThunderClan cats completely dense?"

"He what?!" the others, with the exception of Firestar, Sandstorm, her parents, and her siblings, were shocked.

"Long story and now's not the time." Breezepelt muttered.

"You're not killing him and he won't wake up anytime soon."

"You don't know that."

"We're not discussing this. The stupid grey tom lives to be handled by Firestar."

"Why?! He'll just be exiled and find the Clans moons later to exact some crazy plan of revenge!"

"You're blowing this all out of proportion, and I'm tired. We're not discussing this."

"Not now." The black tom scowled, nudging the grey so-called warrior to his shaky paws.

"What happened?"

"You ruined lives." He growled.

"Breezepelt!" His glare snapped to that of his sister's. "Enough." She mewed simply.

"Hollyleaf…" Ashfur muttered. "I remember now." He scowled. "My work is done."

"Pretty soon, your life will be too." Breezepelt muttered.

Hollyleaf glared at him.

"Keep this up and you'll be joining him." She growled.

"So you admit that he needs to die!" He smirked, not fazed by the underlying threat.

"His fate lies with StarClan. He did nothing short of what it takes to end up in the Dark Forest. No more than any cat would."

"He told a secret that wasn't his to share!" Dustpelt growled, correcting his former apprentice's daughter.

"He's ruined our lives!" Whitewing snarled.

"His fate lies with StarClan, as she said." Breezepelt grumbled with resignation. "Since I can't kill him without someone getting mad, no cat touches a hair on his mangy pelt! No matter how much we want to!"

"Why the sudden change of heart?" Heathertail teased.

"I'd rather not end up in the Dark Forest."

"So now what?" Foxpaw wondered.

"We go home and tell the Clan of what's happened. Crowfeather, Breezepelt, and Heathertail are staying with us until further notice."

"No cat will take that well." Whitewing mused.

"They will once we tell them what Ashfur did."

"Ferncloud will be crushed…" Dustpelt murmured as the patrol headed home.

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