Chapter 4:
Featherbreeze paced impatiently around the fresh-kill pile. Stormstar and Poppyfeather had been in the leader's den all morning and it was well past sunhigh.
Cedarfrost lay on the far side of camp next to Yellowflower. He had been shunned by most of the clan, the only cats still speaking to him were his sister, Rowanwing, and Kestrelpaw.
"I don't want anymore half-breeds," Heavytail picked at the grass. "It's tainting the genepool."
"I don't know," Hawkfeather considered it. "What if the kits have Windclan traits and Riverclan uses them against us?"
"So?" Hollowstep snorted. "It'll be four kits at the most. It's not much of an advantage."
"Maybe," Hawkfeather conceded.
"Be quiet!" Blossomtail lept to her paws. "They're coming out!"
Most of the clan had converged in the clearing. All heads turned to look at the deputy and leader.
"Poppyfeather and I will be taking a patrol to Thunderclan to ask them to alley with us," Stormstar announced. "For the time being, at least."
"Thunderclan?" Wildheart scoffed. "What good will that bunch of kittypets be in battle?"
"Thunderclan has always been a good friend to Windclan," Poppyfeather reminded him.
"Shadowclan would be a more powerful alley," Hawkfeather proposed.
"They're also more likely to turn on us. We're going to Thunderclan," Stormstar meowed firmly.
Wildheart and Hawkfeather exchanged glances but neither protested further.
"Hollowstep, Breezeflight, Featherbreeze, Rabbitflight, and Adderheart will be coming with Poppyfeather and I," Stormstar continued.
"Why so many young warriors?" Icewhisker demanded.
"It's less threatening," Poppyfeather explained.
"When are we leaving?" Hollowstep shifted impatiently.
"Now," Stormstar brushed past the large black tom out of camp.
"Come on, Featherbreeze," Breezeflight bounded after the patrol.
"Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to pick young warriors," Rabbitflight shook his head as he followed the happy-go-lucky she-cat.
"Yeah," Featherbreeze murmured, trotting to keep up with the group. Why couldn't Windclan just forget about the kits? Why did blood have to be so important? What about the blood that would shed fighting over them?
"So listen, Featherbreeze," Rabbitflight ducked his head. "About what I was saying right before the Gathering."
"It's fine," Featherbreeze was desperately trying to think of a way to avoid having this conversation with her clanmate. "Don't worry about it."
"No," Rabbitflight seemed to be searching for the right words. "I wanted to say that I really like you. A lot."
Featherbreeze's pelt burned. Rabbitflight and his brother Kestrelpaw were only a moon younger than her and Breezeflight. They had grown up together. She cared for him deeply, but not like that.
"Rabbitflight," Featherbreeze said in a gentle voice.
"It doesn't matter," Rabbitflight muttered, allowing himself to drop back.
Wait The word caught in her throat, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.
Featherbreeze let out a faint gasp as she stepped beneath the canopy of trees. It was cool and leaves crunched under paw. It felt wrong. "I could never be a Thunderclan cat," She grumbled, detaching herself from a bramble.
"I'm sure it's different if you grow up with it," Adderheart glanced at her. "But still, it's better to sleep out under the stars where our ancestors can see us."
"We have to cross the stream," Stormstar called from the front.
"Even better," Featherbreeze sighed, bunching her muscles to spring.
Her right paw slipped, causing her to slide down the embankment into the water.
"Are you alright?" Breezeflight's eyes were wide with concern.
"I'm fine," Featherbreeze climbed out and shook herself. "Just wet."
"Do you need to go back to camp?" Poppyfeather checked.
"No," Featherbreeze twisted her head to try and dry herself as best she could. "I'll be fine."
"Then let's go," Stormstar was already starting off again.
They hadn't gotten far into Thunderclan territory when four cats appeared from the undergrowth.
"Windclan," Brightdawn was heading the patrol. "What are you doing on our territory?" Her claws were unsheathed.
"If you were planning an attack, it was a poor execution," Dewspots looked the Windclan warriors up and down.
"We've come to speak with Ivystar," Stormstar looked directly into Brightdawn's eyes.
"Very well," Brightdawn nodded after a moment. "Come with us."
"What happened to you?" A brindle tom sniffed Featherbreeze.
"I fell in the stream, obviously," She pulled away from him.
"Leave her alone," Rabbitflight growled at him.
"Sneezewhisker, come here now," Dewspots yowled from the front.
Sneezewhisker threw Rabbitflight a hostile glance before doing as Dewspots ordered.
Featherbreeze would periodically scan the surrounding area as they walked. The terrain never seemed to change. She wondered how Thunderclan didn't get lost in the forest.
"So this is the Thunderclan camp," Breezeflight put her feet down slowly as she examined the stone hollow.
"Wait here while I fetch Ivystar," Brightdawn headed over to a large pile of rocks and disappeared.
Featherbreeze stared at the ground. Cats were coming out of their dens to see what was happening.
Brightdawn quickly returned with Ivystar at her side.
"Stormstar," Ivystar didn't seem fazed by the enemy clan in the heart of her camp. Featherbreeze could not recall ever seeing the Thunderclan leader anything other than calm and collected. "Why were you on my territory?"
"We've come to ask if you will ally your clan with ours against Riverclan and most likely, Shadowclan," Stormstar bowed his head.
"But if we do," Ivystar tipped her head to one side. "And we win, what of the kits?"
"Well," Stormstar had an answer for that. "If there are two kits, one will remain in Thunderclan and one in Windclan. If there are four, two each."
"And if there's only one? Or three?" Ivystar pressed.
"That I'm not sure of," Stormstar admitted.
"Thank for the offer, Stormstar," Ivystar smiled. "But Thunderclan will fight by itself this time."
"Ivystar, you haven't even considered it," Brightdawn pointed out.
"I don't need to," Ivystar dismissed her deputy. "Thunderclan has consistently relied on other clans for aid. Or worse yet, offered it to others. This is not going to stand under my leadership. Thunderclan fights alone."
"Finally," Featherbreeze heard a Thunderclan she-cat's exasperated voice.
"Good-bye Stormstar," Ivystar purred. "And do remember not to count your fresh-kill before you've caught it."
"Fine, Ivystar," Stormstar waved his tail. "But this was your choice. Do not come to Windclan if you change your mind."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Ivystar promised. "Now, Brightdawn, please escort them back to the border."