Warriors- The Outcats

Breezepelt narrowed his eyes as he closed in on Crowfeather. His father had been talking to Leafpool and Jayfeather about who knows what, and he sorely hoped that they wouldn't fall in love again. They had enough problems as it were.

"What can I do for you, Son?" He jerked up when he realized he was sitting by his father's side.

"I have a question." He admitted. "Something Brambleclaw told me about a week ago, but he said it wasn't his place to tell. It must be yours so…"

"I was hoping this would have come up sooner, but better late then never. We need to talk."

He nodded and followed his father out of the thorn tunnel and into the forest.

"What did Brambleclaw say?"

"Originally he wanted to know what we knew about the Dark Forest, me, Hollyleaf, Ashfur and Thornclaw."

"Why does everything seem to revolve around you four?" Crowfeather groaned.

"But we thought he was going to ask about why we were so close and he said Even if what he said was right you still wouldn't be mates. To me and Hollyleaf. What did you tell him?"

"You… you're not my kit." Crowfeather muttered.

"What?"

"I said-"

"I heard you… how long have you known?"

"I never mated with Nightcloud, but I never asked either. She had always liked me and I figured you would need a father, even if I didn't truly love her we still got along well enough, so I agreed. You'll have to ask her if you want to know more."

"There's something you're not telling me."

"Ask your mother when you get the chance. There's nothing else I can tell you."

"What is it?"

"No, Breezepelt. You have to ask Nightcloud. I don't even know if it's true or not."

"If what's true! Dad, what aren't you telling me?!"

"I… I can't. You have to ask your mother."

"She is not my mother!" The black tom snarled, leaping to his paws. "The only reason she didn't give me up was because it was a chance to get closer to you! She didn't love me like you did! Dad, please!"

"I'll ask her, then. It's the least I can do. You won't have to see her if you don't want to."

"Thank you… you'll tell me what it is when you find out, right?"

"Of course."

"And dad,"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"If you hadn't been there, taught me all that cool stuff about how to be a warrior… I might have turned to the Dark Forest."

"Well you didn't, and it wasn't just me. You're a good cat, Breezepelt, but the Dark Forest feeds on doubt."

Crowfeather picked his way through the undergrowth. It had taken him half a moon to get used to the territory, let alone hunting, but he could honestly say that he was doing just fine. Sure the Clan saw him as an outsider, but he was making progress and he still had Breezepelt… and now he had all four of his kits to help him… and Brambleclaw, and Squirrelflight, and… Leafpool. He had told himself time and again that he wouldn't fall for her again, that he could handle himself around her. He would not mess this up for Breezepelt.

"Fancy seeing you here." Nightcloud was just across the stream, staring at him with guarded eyes, but he could see right through her. It's a pity he feels nothing for her now.

"You're just the cat I'm looking for, actually."

"I take it you three won't be returning home anytime soon?"

"WindClan stopped being my home the second Tornear and Owlwhisker snapped at me. I have a question."

"Me too. How is Breezepelt?"

"He's just fine. The Clan is starting to include us now… we're starting to fit in."

"Did he finally confess to Heathertail?"

"The whole camp heard him. You would have been proud. He's actually why I wanted to see you."

"What's wrong?"

"That cat you were with, your real mate, who was it? Was he a rogue?"

"Why are you asking me now?"

"I couldn't keep it from him any longer. Brambleclaw had accidentally let slip something was up and he started begging me… you should have seen his face, Nightcloud. I couldn't say no to that when he deserved to know."

He could tell she was fuming, even if she didn't say anything. She closed her eyes, sucked in a breath and unsheathed her claws.

"His name was Scar. Orange fur with black paws and yellow eyes, more like Breezepelt's than like mine. He was so brave and strong and… he loved me the way I wanted you to. He treated me so right, Crowfeather, it was like StarClan meant for us to happen."

"That's how I felt with Leafpool."

"How you still feel. I've seen the way you look out for her at Gatherings. I'm not thistle-brained. He was a rogue, and he died before I gave birth to Breezepelt. He's mad at me, isn't he?" Crowfeather nodded, knowing it wasn't a question.

"He didn't want to see you. He knows you love him though. I told him that. He just doesn't believe it because you spent so many moons grieving over Scar and daydreaming over the life you wanted, you couldn't see the life you had."

Crowfeather turned to leave when Nightcloud spoke.

"Thank you for raising my kit, Crowfeather. He's all I ever wanted because of you." The black tom nodded and bounded off. He had news to share and prey to catch. He'd never felt like this in WindClan… I guess this is what home feels like. If only Ashfoot were with us, then it would be perfect.

"What did she tell you? Was he from another Clan? Was he a kittypet? A rogue? C'mon, Dad, you promised!"

"For StarClan's sake, I just got back. Calm down… and not so loud. The whole Clan doesn't need to know."

"Know what?" Heathertail wondered, having heard the last part of Crowfeather's words.

"I'll tell you later." The black tom promised his mate.

"So?" He asked when Heathertail padded off.

"His name was Scar and he was a rogue… truth be told, the only thing you got from him were your eyes, and that's a good thing."

"Why?"

"He was orange with black paws."

"So not only did my mom lie to me my whole life, he didn't even look like me?!"
"Breezepelt, calm down…"

"Why didn't you tell me? Why did you tell Brambleclaw? Why would you tell a ThunderClan cat before you told me?"

"He overheard me talking to your mother-"

"She's not my mother!" He snapped.

"At a Gathering and I told him to shut him up. I made him swear on Squirrelflight's life that he wouldn't tell a soul."

"Why not his own?"

"She was the most important thing to him at the time. Still is, actually."

"Even though she did what she did?"

"It's not like she lied to him. If she had…"

"That wouldn't go over too well. You'd have to find something else important."

"I don't think he would stop loving her, but it would probably take moons for her to win his trust back, let alone even consider things being back to normal."

"Good thing she didn't lie to him then." Breezepelt growled.

"Nightcloud didn't tell me for the longest time." Crowfeather admitted. "Kept insisting that I just go along because it would make me look good and you wouldn't be questioned."

"Unless I had orange fur and black paws." His son snorted."

"But you don't, and I'm glad it worked out the way it did. I've always been proud to call you my son… and your mother-"

"She's not-"

"Yes, she is. She was just so wrapped up in losing Scar that she-"

"Would've abandoned me if you hadn't stepped in."

"That's not true, Breezepelt. She always loved you. She was just upset. If you lost Heathertail you wouldn't leave your nest for days, let alone face any kits you might've had."

"I would've made sure they were taken care of."

"That's what she asked me to do. You think I just accepted the fact that she loved me? I stayed because she needed time to get over Scar and I was pretty much the only other cat with any reason at all to raise you. If she didn't care so much she wouldn't have approached me and you would have been abandoned. Do you like the idea of living like a rogue? She didn't want that for you and she made me see that I don't either." He sighed.

"You need to eat something. And yes, you can tell Heathertail and Hollyleaf. Thanks for getting my permission earlier."

"Thank you for telling me the truth."

"We have more in common than I wish we did." Hollyleaf glanced up from her shared meal and licked traces of mouse from her lips.

"Have you told Heathertail yet?"

"I don't know how."

"Tell her the truth. You're not going to leave her, are you?"

"Of course not!" He snapped. "So far, Heathertail's the best thing that's ever happened to me."

"Then it's not that bad. Tell her what you want her to know but don't avoid it. That's how we got into this mess in the first place."

"She'll hate me."

"If it has nothing to do with her then you'll be fine. Go tell her. I'm sure she can help you more than I can."

"Have you seen her?"

"Check the medicine den. She got scratched by a thorn earlier."

"Thanks."

"Good luck."

She watched him go before turning back to her mate.

"You seem close." Fallen commented.

"He's been my best friend for a long time." She admitted. "He's gone through a lot and when we couldn't rely on anyone else, we had eachother."

"That's good." He mused. "I shared that with a cat once. Her name was Ruthen, and she was my sister."

"What happened to her?"

"If she hasn't gotten any better then she walks the stars with her mate. If she has then she stays in my den. It's most likely the former. She's been sick for a while and sleeping in alleys doesn't help much. I can only hope the foxes didn't get to her."

"Are you going to check on her?"

"It's been a few days since I've seen her… I'll go before sunset."