Thank you so much for sticking with me even though I left you hanging. I'm so sorry! I spent most of that time editing and re-editing the story to see where I wanted it ti actually go and I'm still stumped! I guess it'll come as I go. Here's another chapter!
Ferncloud padded over to the fresh-kill pile where her brother laid with Thornclaw.
Stupid toms. They should just announce it to the Clans… she wouldn't care even if they were and everyone else thought they were. Those two ought to set all these mouse-brains straight!
"Hi, Ferncloud!" Thornclaw grinned. He's probably glad to see another cat.
"Hey, Thornclaw. Would you mind if I stole Ashfur for a bit?"
"Sure. I was just going to see if anyone needed anything."
"Thanks." Thornclaw nodded and loped toward Brambleclaw. The deputy was organizing sun-high patrols. Why any cat would find prey during the hottest time of the day was beyond her. Somehow, they made it work.
"Don't talk about Thornclaw." Ashfur began.
"I wasn't-." She hadn't intended to make him uncomfortable but they never talked anymore!
"Or the scratches… or my nightmares."
"Okay… would you like to hunt with me? I've been getting pretty bored with just Dustpelt for company."
"Sure, Ferncloud." They made their way toward the thorn tunnel and Thornclaw's head swiveled to follow them. Thank you, He mouthed. She nodded and followed her brother into the forest. Those two needed to know that they weren't alone. She would stand by them no matter what any cat thought.
After all, what are siblings for?
Ashfur felt better, knowing that Thornclaw was right and that Ferncloud still cared… out of her own free will, too.
"I know I said you couldn't talk about the scratches and my nightmares but those are for good reason. I don't want you to share my burden just because you know too much. You're too good for that, Ferncloud."
"Can I ask about Thornclaw?"
"Ask away. He's probably one of the best things that have ever happened to me."
"Why does everyone assume that you're mates?"
"Because he's the only one I bother to spend my time with and we don't have mates of our own." Ashfur sounded amused.
"It's mean, Ashfur… do you hear what everyone says about you? You have to set them straight! You're not in love with Thornclaw and you're definitely not a traitor. Someone made you tell that secret and someone is making sure you can't sleep. Why won't you tell anyone?"
"Because I can't! Unless you want to wake up and find your kits with their throats torn out, I suggest we talk about something else!" Ferncloud's ears were flat against her skull.
"How dare you threaten my kits?!" She snarled. "They're your family; I'm your family, Ashfur! What's so terrible that you can't tell any cat what's wrong?!"
"What makes you think I'm not doing this on my own?"
"Because the brother I know would never betray his Clan. This isn't you, Ashfur… you wouldn't hurt someone like that. I bet if I asked Thornclaw he could tell me what's going on."
"No!" Ashfur snarled, lunging for the queen with unsheathed claws. "Do not ask that miserable excuse of a tom for anything! Nothing, Clan cat! Or I'll make sure you regret it. Are we clear?"
"Y-yes, Ashfur." She whimpered.
The grey tom yelped and leapt off of his sister, allowing the silver she-cat to catch her breath. Ashfur shook himself out.
"What just happened?"
"You… I said I would tell Thornclaw what was going on and you… pounced on me and told me not to say anything. Now I know you're being controlled. You wouldn't call someone from your own Clan a Clan cat. But I won't tell anyone. I'm just glad we understand each other."
"Thank you, Ferncloud."
"Anytime."
"How'd things go with Heathertail?"
"She ran away."
"What exactly did you say to her?"
"Can I talk to you?"
Heathertail was chatting with Cinderheart and Poppyfrost about StarClan knows what when he approached the three she-cats.
"Sure." The pale tabby offered. "Let's go."
They stopped a few miles outsides the camp and he sat down and wrapped his tail around his paws. Then he just stared.
"Breezepelt, are you okay? What's wrong?"
He didn't respond. He was still trying to figure out how he would break it to her…
"Act like I'm Hollyleaf."
"I'm HalfClan." He muttered.
"What?"
"I'm-."
"I heard you…how long have you known?"
"Brambleclaw made an off-paw remark about something Crowfeather said so I tracked him down the other day and he confirmed it. He said that I'm not his kit and that Nightcloud just pretended because she wanted to fit in. My real father was a rogue called Scar and you know what the best part it?"
"What?" She asked hesitantly."
"I could have been orange with black paws and a white tail-tip. He looked like a fox, Hollyleaf! My father looked like a StarClan-forsaken fox!"
"You just called me Hollyleaf…" Heathertail muttered, hurt pooling in her eyes. "Does that mean you weren't ever going to tell me?"
You mouse-brain! She said that to get you to talk!"
"I know that!" He snapped. "It's not like I meant to say it. It's just that you've always been the one who hears my problems so when she said your name I started thinking of what I would tell you."
"Would you have told her?"
"What?"
"If you actually had been talking to me, if I hadn't told you to go tell her, would you have told her on your own?"
"Of course I would have! She's my mate!"
"Then why did you have to act like it was me?"
"I don't know!" He snapped.
"I can't solve all your problems for you so you need to get your priorities straight." The black tom snorted.
"Yeah, because it's just that simple."
"It is. She deserves an apology. Great StarClan, are all toms this clueless?" She muttered to herself.
"Hey, I heard that." He groused.
"You were meant to." She snorted. "I'm going to see how Fallen and Ruthen are doing. Try not to make a fool of yourself this time."
"You're Jayfeather, I presume?" The unfamiliar scent made his fur prickle. Then again, this she-cat (he could tell by her voice) was with Fallen, and he'd heard some of the gossip throughout the Clan.
"You must be Ruthen. Yes, I'm Jayfeather. I heal cats and talk to StarClan, our ancestors."
"You must be very brave," She offered.
"What makes you say that?"
"Most cats don't really care much for healing others. Even my own sons don't bother with it. They want their cats alive, yes, but they're not as interested in keeping them as safe and healthy as you seem to be. You have a whole den full of herbs. The cat they put in charge of healing could be as good as you if she weren't constantly patching up the wounds of those vicious alley cats. Sometimes I think they weren't meant to rule… Dalton is around your age but he knows nothing compared to his father. Then again, his father is dead so I guess he has to lead… I hope they're okay."
"Why does that make me brave?" This she-cat looked like she was going to start wailing and he couldn't deal with crying she-cats.
"Many don't have the time or patience to be a proper healer. You also keep in touch with StarClan, and that takes trust that the others don't have. There must be a reason there aren't more medicine cats."
"Everyone grows up wanting to be a warrior. Only a few ever really want to be medicine cats. Most switch over."
"I have a feeling that I might like it here."
There will be another chapter after this. Any ideas on where I could go with this would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!- Cinderfire