Morningdew
The cats around the lake were stunned to silence, Starclan hasn't appeared before us all since the battle with the Dark Forest, yet here they are with starlit pelts and sparkling eyes that could see into your soul. I saw Bluestar and Oakheart standing beside Graywing and Feathertail smiled at me in greeting but the rest of the cats I didn't recognize. Bramblestar was as stiff as a stone.
Nightfang let out a raspy growl in there direction, "Did you send Scorchflame here?" he tried to stand up but was quickly pushed down by Mothwing, "Don't move, you will rip your shoulder open again." I wanted to comfort him but I was also being held in place as Jayfeather put poultices on my burns. "That I cant really answer, you see Scorchflame was sent here by members of Starclan but it wasn't on our orders, some cats acted independently." Graywing said, unaffected by Nightfangs growl.
"But why was he sent here at all?" Ravenpaw said, his front paw raised as Leafpool inspected it. Bluestar stepped forward to answer, "We have been having disagreements on how the clans are progressing, these cats thought removing the problem would prevent the future we have all been hoping for." Bramblestar found his voice and cleared his throat for their attention. "What problem? Whats going on?" Feathertail answered this question with her sweet breezy voice, "We have decided to let these two warriors fulfill their destinies while they wanted to intervene and have one or both of them killed." She looked at me and Nightfang, causing others to look at us as well and I suddenly grew very uncomfortable and it wasn't because of the giant burn on my stomach.
Silverpaw let out a small yelp of pain when Leafpool pressed a poultice on his burnt neck and Berrynose pushed forward, "Silverpaw, what were you doing going out there like that, do you think Scorchflame would have wanted you to die before you became a warrior?" Silverpaw hissed at his mentor, "Don't ever associate me with that monster ever again!" Berrynose looked stunned at his apprentices anger,
"But he is your father."
"No he isn't, and thank Starclan for that." Wishpaw snarled, licking her singed tail.
I looked at Nightfang, pain reflected in the depths of those orange eyes but he nodded slowly and I let out a deep sigh, "Berrynose, everyone, Scorchflame is not the kits father." Shocked gasps arose from them and I almost couldn't get the words out, "They are Nightfangs." And a chorus of cries filled the night as my clan mates began to shout questions at me and the Starclan cats.
"Hes a Windclan cat!" Snowstorm yelled
"How could you lie to us?" Rosepetal cried
"You told the kits about this?" Frostfeather stunned voice shot pain through my heart.
"Why didn't you stop this? Scorchflame could have killed us all!" Bramblestar snapped at the Starclan cats. "We didn't think they would have sent him here, we didn't think they would have done anything!" Hollyleaf had to cry above all of the voices. "Silence, all of you!" Graywing yowled, his deep voice carrying over the crowd like a strong wind instantly quieting every cat. "It is true that Scorchflames anger and hate was caused because of Morningdew and Nightfangs relationship but we do not disagree with their union. In fact we support it."
"But how? It is forbidden by the warrior code?" Leafpool said, dropping the herbs from her mouth. Feathertail gave her a sympathetic look, "It is, but it shouldn't be, it should have never been" confused murmurs and whispers flooded the group, angry looks burned through my pelt but my kits sat proud and happy to admit that they were half clan. "Seeing these two grow from apprentices to warriors, their relationship growing stronger with each meeting, their willingness to help each other and keep secrets has shown us that the clans will not crumble. They don't share plans or clan business, they never even asked for it, they only wanted to be together." Bluestar said looking at us fondly,
"Their kits understood the risk and chose to ignore it as well, had this not happened I bet they would have taken it to Starclan." Oakheart said causing the kits to look down a bit embarrassed by their praise. "Of course we would have, we don't want any cat to be mad at them." Ravenpaw said bashfully.
"Enough of your ridiculous slander!" Clearsky said materializing right in front of me and Nightfang. "They are traitors! Their kits are a disgrace! Because of them a great and noble warrior lost his life, many of lost their lives because of inter clan relationships. How can you stand there and treat them like heroes!?" he said pointing a paw at us, Nightfang began to growl again but Graywing stepped up to his brother,
"As we have said before, the clans were never meant to be separated in the first place. Silverstream may have lived if she had gotten the proper care, Stonefur wouldn't have been slaughtered in front of his clanmates, Mapleshade wouldn't have been exiled by here clan and ended up causing so much suffering. It all comes down to the fact that the borders and the code have done little but breed hatred and disdain for your own kin."
"What are you saying, we shouldn't live by the code anymore?" Bramblestar interrupted the brothers, "The code doesn't have to be disbanded, but I think the borders should be." Graywing said, Clearsky snorting in disgust several cats appearing behind him. Blackstar, Tallstar, Russetfur, Mudclaw, and Raggedstar among them. "You cant get rid of the warrior code, without it being a warrior is pointless." Raggedstar said boldly. Yellowfang moved from behind Graywing, "Raggedstar, don't you see? If the code hadn't forbidden us to be together than maybe Brokentail wouldn't have become so evil."
"You chose to be a medicine cat, code or no code you didn't want to be with me. The borders keep us safe and they keep us alive." He snorted at her and a argument began to break out between the Starclan cats, Firestar spiting at Blackstar, Mudclaw insulting Feathertail and Silverstream, Russetfur hissed at Oakheart. I wasn't sure what to do, I looked to Nightfang for help but he was fading fast with fatigue.
"Stop it, stop it all of you!" Wishpaws voice broke the fighting and all eyes turned to her, shock and anger among them, "Keep out of this apprentice, you have no right to speak to us." Clearsky sneered at her, "I have every right to say whatever I want. I don't care what you believe, I am proud of my father and my mother. I have seen more strength from them than I have from you tonight. Sending a cat tonight to kill them just because you are afraid is something only a coward would do." Her amber eyes blazed with anger as she stared down the sneering cats.
"Cowards! Your parents are the cowards, if they were so dedicated then why didn't they admit their relationship a long time ago? Why didn't they risk the chance that the clans would have excepted them or you?" Blackstar hissed,
"Yeah, if Morningdew had told Scorchflame the truth about her affair then he wouldn't have died and their relationship would have been exposed and none of us would be standing here right now." Clearsky added, not taking his gaze from his brothers. "We want equality and peace. For that to happen the borders must go and the code be changed." Graywing said, his full determination flooded his tone, "Well we think things should stay as they are, it has worked for generations and it will continue to work until the sun ceases to rise!" Clearsky retorted, standing up slightly taller than his brother.
Looking to the Thunderclan cats, Graywing clearly expected an answer. "I-I cant make a decision like this alone…I think the other clans should be present." Bramblestar swallowed, his fur stuck out with tension. "I agree, we should let the clans decide once and for all." Clearsky said, looking more confident now that he was sure they would agree with him.
"I will go to Riverclan." Silverstream and Feathertail said together looking to Mothwing who reluctantly nodded.
"I will go to Shadowclan." Blackstar and Raggedstar said, their glares evident in my direction.
Graywing moved to Nightfang who was now fully covered in plant mush and emitted a musky herby smell. "Then we must go to Windclan."
"Graywing don't be daft, he cant move in his condition!" Bluestar chided the gray tom. "No, I must go. I have to make sure they are all alright." Nightfang said, pain evident on his face as he tried to stand. Graywing attempted to help him to his paws but Nightfang lifted a paw to stop him. "I am alright, I can make it on my own." He cleared his throat and added strength to his voice.
"Nightfang wait! You cant travel like this." Leafpool screeched trying to block him but Wishpaw intervened, "I will go with them. I didn't really get hurt, I can make sure he makes it." Silverpaw padded up to his sister, limping slightly on his burnt paw. "Then I should go to, in case he needs some protection."
"You aren't leaving me here, I will go so we all can watch each others tails." Ravenpaw said confident even though he had a large leaf wrapped tightly around his front right leg. "Kits no, I wont let you risk death twice in one night!" I pleaded, trying to move but the burn on my stomach stung like I was being attacked by bees. "Listen to your mother kits, no cat will hurt me." Nightfang added but the kits just turned and began guiding Graywing into the forest, "Its this way right?" Wishpaw said gesturing ahead, "No its past the fallen logs, over that way." Silverpaw said pointing down the path that lead to Thunderclans camp. "Did either of you pay attention during patrol? its past the oak trees in that direction." Ravenpaw said pointing left in the proper direction.
Me and Nightfang let out heavy sighs, "It looks like we cant boss them around anymore." I said lightly, not even angry at my kits stubbornness, "They get it from you." Nightfang chuckled licking me delicately over my ear and he turned to follow our kits. My head ran through hundreds of scenarios and none of them ended with my kits and mate returning to my itching claws, "They will be fine, Graywing will protect them." Bluestar said sitting next to me, her cool fur felt like heaven on my burns.
Nightfang
"Oh my Starclan Nightfang, what happened to you?" Hawkwing gasped, seeing me limp up to the camp entrance. "Where did you go? Did you see the fire? It was here and then just vanished! The grass isn't even burnt, the clan is buzzing about it. Are you alright?" he said all at once sniffing at my injuries, "You smell like you fell from a herb pile and then rolled in a burning bush."
"It's a long story Hawkwing, is every cat safe? Where is Onestar?" I said, looking back at the grass patch I left the kits and Graywing in until I gave them the signal. "I thought you were dead! Lemonshade came bursting through screaming about fire and ghosts and you fighting hell itself! We thought she was crazy until we saw the flames in the distance, we wanted to go find you but Onestar was screaming to evacuate but before we got everyone out of camp the fire was gone, did you see it?"
"I will explain later Hawkwing but now I have to see Onestar, can you get him for me?" I was getting a bit irritated now, I was tired and burned and hungry and I didn't want to deal with Hawkwings questions. "Oh right, Ill be right back, do you want me to get Kestrelflight?" I shook my head, "No, Mothwing and Leafpool fixed me up pretty good."
"What were you doing with them? Did the other clans get caught in the fire too?" I let out a frustrated growl, "Hawkwing, please!" He jumped a bit at my shortness but didn't argue as he dipped back through the entrance. His tail had barely disappeared before Heathertail and Breezepelt poked their heads through the entrance, "Nightfang! Your alive!" she gasped rushing over to cover my face with worried licks. "Im fine mother." I said muffled by her attention, "Alright? Look at you! I don't even recognize you with all that gunk on, what happened? Where have you been?"
This night was just getting worse and worse, now I had my parents demanding the full story. "Mother, I will explain once Onestar is here." Was all I said and I wasn't going to say anymore until Onestar was sitting in front of me. Hawkwing appeared shortly after with Kestrelflight and Onestar behind him. Onestar looked as tired and shaken as I was, which worried me since I was sure this news was going to give him a heart attack. "Nightfang, whats going on? Why weren't you here during the fire? We needed you, Lemonshade is in there spouting all sorts of nonsense." He gruffed, looking at me like I was an apprentice again.
"Nightfang, maybe I should take over." Graywing said causing every cat to jump in surprise. "What the! Who are you? Why are you in Windclan territory?" Breezepelt hissed, stepping in front of us with his tail raised in aggression. "Calm yourself warrior, I am no enemy. In fact I was responsible for your clans existence." Graywing chuckled at his bravado. The kits stepped out around him and smiled brightly at my parents and best friend, as if they had already met and where excepted like long lost kin. "Wow papa, Heathertail is almost as pretty as mama." Wishpaw said, her orange eyes dancing with happiness.
Heathertail gave me a confused look and all I could do is smile back weekly. Well this night couldn't get much worse could it? "This is Graywing, he led the first group of cats from the mountains to the home we had to abandon," I said gesturing to Graywing, "and these are…..my kits." I said looking at my kits who didn't mirror any of my nervousness, Onestar and Kestrelflight didn't say anything, their motuhs wide open in shock, "YOUR WHAT!?" Breezepelt snarled looking at the kits with utter loathing, "So Nightcloud was right, Thunderclan wants to ruin us!"
"Father, its not like that." I said, anger quickly giving me energy to stand up for my family. "Nightfang, you cant be serious?" Heathertail breathed, her other words chocked off with a sob. "You two don't understand, I love them and Morningdew more than my own life, I am proud of them." Breezepelt scoffed, "So this is what you want? To throw away your future as leader? To turn your back on your clan?"
"Im not turning my back on anything father, I can still be loyal to Windclan even with my family in another clan."
"Nightfang, its against the warrior code don't you remember how Crowfeather was ruined by his relationship with Leafpool? I cant bare to see that happen to you." Heathertail wailed.
"I don't think they aren't so bad." Hawkwing said, I had almost forgotten he was here. "They look like formidable warriors and with Nightfang as their father why wouldn't they?" he smiled at me and my heart burst with love for my friend, he went over to introduce himself to my kits. "I would have never thought that you would embarrass us like this son, it was horrible enough that my father had kits with Thunderclan but you too? How can I even call you my son?" Breezepelt growled.
"Breezepelt, calm yourself! I have had enough confusion for one night, if Graywing is going to explain what is going on then I am grateful for some clarity. Nightfang, I cant say I approve of this and your position as deputy will need to be discussed but for now I will hold this discussion until later." Onestar said, regaining his composer and gestured for us to follow him inside.
"They have to stay outside." Breezepelt sneered, "No father, they are my kits and belong to Windclan as much as Thunderclan. If you don't like it then keep your opinions to yourself." I retorted letting the kits walk past behind me, my gaze locked with Breezepelts. "The clan wont except you as leader after this you know." His voice sounded almost regretful.
"I don't care about being leader, all I care about is that my family and clan are safe."
Once inside I was surprised to see every cat in the clan awake and out of the dens. Warriors crowded the middle, apprentices shoving between them to share what they saw in the field, queens keeping their kits close to their tails and elders cuddled together in worried piles. I felt a stab of guilt, it was my fault this happened. Once Onestar moved past them their faces turned to us, they saw me covered is herbs, my kits looking from side to side taking in the camp with excitement, and then they saw Graywing with his fur dancing with stars. I was expecting to be flooded with questions but Onestar cleared his throat asking us to begin our explanation.
As expected the clan would not stay silent during my confession, shocks yowls rose when I stood next to my kits and expressed my full pride and love for them. I caught Lemoshades hurt gaze when I admitted that I was Morningdews mate and I planned to stay that way, she turned her head away as if looking at me any longer would kill her. Onestar tensed when Graywing explained how Scorchflame had returned and what the fire was about, and finally we both put forth our proposals of removing the borders and revising the warrior code.
Onestar did not stay silent to this, "What! Remove the borders? Has Starclan lost all of their sense in the clouds?" I flinched at the harshness in his tone but Graywing looked understanding, "I understand your skepticism but we feel the borders only create hate and suffering, up in Starclan there are no borders as there is no need for such nonsense, why cant it not be the same down here?"
"Because that's what being a warrior is about! We fight and defend our home, we protect our own and thrive in our territory! If we take that away then what are we, organized rogues?" he said, his agitation brought on a dry cough that shook his bones.
"Onestar, all we want is to have a gathering of the clans and make a decision between us and Starclan once and for all. If everyone wants to keep the borders then that what we will do, but if not then life here will change forever." I pleaded, looking at my mentor who stared back with an unreadable expression. "Please Onestar, just come and listen to our reasons, I promise you will understand." Graywing said standing next to me, giving me his full support.
"If that is what Starclan demands than I wont question it, but I warn you I am not willing to give up what we have spent centuries building." He said, crying for all of our warriors and apprentices to follow him we made our way to the gathering clearing. The kits padded lightly and whispered excitedly amongst themselves, they obviously didn't understand that this was not going well but I felt reassured by their cheerfulness it reminded me of Morningdew. Whatever happens, we will all be together and that's all I ever really wanted.