Once again im sorry for the long break between these updates but im back in school now and swimming is about to start soon so don't expect updates quickly, but I promise ill try to work on the next chapter when ever I have free time that isn't devoted to studying. Please hang in there and stick by the story and thank you to all of you that have done so, it really means a lot to me.
Please leave me a lovely review because they really make me happy, and happy Tigerflower writes more lol also don't forget to let me know which idea you like best for the next story. So far it seems like people are leaning towards idea number 2. Refer to previous chapters to see the ideas.
Thank you everyone for your continued support it means the world to me!
As the small patrol made their way through the camp entrance a loud growl sounded. Icepaw scuffed the ground with his forepaw in embarrassment as his stomach growled loudly again. Swiftbreeze felt a purr rumble in his chest as the white apprentice sat beside his mentor, waiting to be told if he could eat or not.
Flowertail looked down at the white tom amusedly "You worked hard today Icepaw, help yourself to the freshkill pile"
"Alright" he exclaimed, jumping to all fours, taking off in the direction of the pile of prey.
"Make sure the elders get fed before you eat, and then you can have the rest of the day off" Flowertail called after him, rolling her green eyes when she received no answer.
Bluecloud parted from the group, making his way over to Shimmerlight, the ginger queen was sharing prey with Squirreltail and chattering about the clan's newest editions. When the blue tom reached his mate, he brushed muzzles with her, grooming the fur between her ears as she continued speaking.
"They sure are close" Flowertail commented from her spot beside Swiftbreeze.
"Who?" the young warrior asked, not taking his eyes of his parents as his mother shared something he couldn't hear, watching as his father's eyes lit up excitedly.
"Our mothers" Flowertail meowed "I'm sure it comes from being stuck in the nursery together for six moons" standing up the ginger and white she-cat flicked Swiftbreeze on the shoulder "Come on, it looks like Amberstar will be ready to go soon"
As Flowertail spoke, Swiftbreeze turned his gaze to see the brown tabby leader standing outside the medicine den, speaking with Topazmist. Mossdapple and Lichenfur sat beside them, both young warriors quivering with excitement.
"You fwo art goin anwewhere" Hazepaw's meow was muffled around the leaf bundles he carried in his jaws.
Setting the bundles down gently the blue tom's whiskers twitched "Not without eating these first"
Flowetail sniffed at the herbs curiously while Swiftbreeze rolled his eyes "What are they?"
"Strengthening herbs, the journey the moonstone is long and your not allowed to eat any prey before sharing tongues with Starclan" Hazepaw reasoned "Now be quiet and just eat them, I'm not gonna lie, they taste horrible"
"That makes me want to eat them so much more" Swiftbreeze meowed sarcastically while Flowertail dutifully ate hers.
Hazpaw rolled his eyes "Just do it, stop acting like a kit"
Swiftbreeze grumbled something unintelligible before lapping up the bitter herbs, the sharp taste made him shiver and as the tangy juices flowed down his throat he had to hold back the reaction to spit them out "Ugh" he coughed, wrinkling his nose at the bitter flavor they left in his mouth "You would think that after all of the herbs I've helped you gather I would be immune to their bitterness by now"
Hazepaw purred loudly "To tell you the truth, I'm not even used to them yet"
"Come on" Flowertail meowed "We don't have time to sit around jabbering like bluejays, we have things to do" without looking back she trotted off toward where Amberstar and her siblings were waiting by the camp entrance.
Swiftbreeze met Hazepaw's blue eyes and shrugged before following after the spirited she-cat.
The patrol made their way towards highstones, having just crossed the border into Windclan territory. All pelts were fluffed out and ears pricked for any sign of danger. Amberstar had insisted that everything would be fine, the other clans had no right to stop a leader travelling to the moonstone for guidance. Never the less the young warriors were uncomfortable being in enemy territory for the first time in their lives.
Swiftbreeze looked around in amazement at how different Windclan territory was from Thunderclan's. The majority of the trees on the territory had been right along the border, merging into the forests of Thunderclan, now that the cats were deeper into the territory they couldn't help but feel vulnerable in the open spaces.
Flowertail slid next to Swiftbreeze until the two cat's were brushing pelts "This is so strange, don't the Windclan warriors feel exposed in all this openness?"
Swiftbreeze tilted his head, his experience with Moonstream had taught him that every cat was unique, each clan was different and adapted to different aspects of life and were fully able to live comfortably in their varying territories.
"I'm sure they would say that we feel claustrophobic all the time, surrounded by our large trees" Swiftbreeze reasoned amusedly "I'll bet they feel free and closer to Starclan with their unobstructed view of silverpelt"
Flowertail shook her head "Your so strange, I could never live anywhere but Thunderclan, the brush against my belly and trees above my head make me feel safe, like a kit back in the nursery" she blinked her large green eyes as she spoke, staring out at Windclan's vastness "You could probably live comfortably in Riverclan with those natural swimming skills" she teased.
Swiftbreeze stiffened at her taunt before retorting icily "I didn't swim, I just didn't drown is all"
"Oh no, I've seen swimming and that was swimming, you didn't panic at all and you had complete control of yourself in the water" Flowertail exclaimed "I gotta say I was impressed"
Looking down at the ground Swiftbreeze got ahead of her "Whatever" he grumbled.
The sun set lower and lower in the sky, the crisp leaf-fall wind blowing full force over the fully exposed Thunderclan cats. The moon rose slowly in the sky and the patrol picked up its pace, needing to be at the moonstone before the moon reached it's peak above them. The affect of the travelling herbs was beginning to wear off and as the warriors continued on their way, stomachs began to growl.
The patrol made their way past a large oddly shaped red twoleg nest along the side of a large dirt path. Swiftbreeze's stomach grumbled loudly as the sound and scent of warm prey reached him.
The scent of the familiar prey made Swiftbreeze's heart quicken and his claws unsheathe eagerly, and without thinking he dropped into a hunter's crouch taking a cautious step forward, toward the prey.
Amberstar shot him a warning glance while Flowertail prodded him in the ribcage with her forepaw.
"We can't stop to eat" Amberstar meowed sharply "The point of this journey is to share dreams with Starclan which cannot be done with prey in our bellies!"
Swiftbreeze grumbled as he followed his clanmates away from the prey filled nest "I'm so hungry."
"Hush up" Amberstar snapped "We will rest there for the night when we return, besides" the brown tabby leader stopped abruptly in her tracks "We have reached highstones."
"It's about time" Lichenfur snorted as the patrol approached the entrance of mothermouth, the dark endless opening sent waves of uneasiness through the four young warriors.
"Alright. Lets go, the moon is almost at it's peak" Amberstar directed "Just follow my scent, it is going to be dark for some time, let your whiskers guide you" as she finished speaking her brown tabby pelt vanished into the darkness.
Lichenfur waited a heartbeat before trotting after Amberstar and she was quickly followed by Mossdapple. Flowertail glanced at Swiftbreeze meeting his blue eyes with her green, before disappearing into the darkness. Swiftbreeze took a deep breath before following his clanmates into unknown territory.
It felt like moons had passed in the darkness as Swiftbreeze followed his clanmates scents, every once in a while feeling Flwoertail's tail brush against his whiskers. Suddenly a burst of cool air rushed through the tunnel and a small bright light followed, getting increasingly larger the closer they moved.
Amberstar beckoned her warriors towards her and Swiftbreeze found himself settling in beside Flowertail, the ginger and white she-cat stared at the moonstone, her green eye aglow in wonder. The moonstone shone brightly in front of them, giving off a warm comforting silver glow.
"Alright, now everyone, press your noses to the moonstone and close your eyes. Starclan will greet you" Amberstar instructed.
Swiftbreeze glanced over at the she-cats, his clanmates looking nervously at the glowing stone. He shrugged before leaning forward, he didn't need to be told twice, the stone sent cold ripples through his pelt and his eyes suddenly felt so much heavier and within a heartbeat he was surrounded by darkness.
Opening his eyes Swiftbreeze felt his heart leap at the sight before him, it was sunningrocks, with its cool dark river churning as strongly as ever. But looking closer he realized this place was different. While it looked exactly like the border between Thunderclan and Riverclan, the area was at the same time strikingly different.
Swiftbreeze stepped up to the edge of the bank, the warm crystal clear water lapped at his paws while plump fish made up of glittering stars raced by.
"Hello Swiftbreeze" a silky voice called from behind him.
Turning around he met a pair of clear blue eyes. The she-cat watched him amusedly her silver tabby pelt frosted with stars and shimmering with pale ripples.
Another cat made his way into Swiftbreesze's line of sight, he sported a colorfur reddish brown tabby pelt and pale amber eyes. Neither of the cats before him looked familiar and as the thought crossed his mind the sharp scent of fish he had grown to love reached him.
"You're Riverclan!" Swiftbreeze exclaimed, the recognition overcoming his features was quickly covered up with confusion "Wait a second, I thought I'm supposed to meet with my clan ancestors"
The red tom smirked "We are all one clan here"
"Your heart called out to us, and brought us here" the silver tabby continued "We are the ones you need to share tongues with."
Swiftbreeze watched the two Riverclan cats nervously for a moment and the silver tabby took a step towards him, her blue eyes softening with an almost maternal sense. She glanced at the red tom, her eyes growing sad "He is like us Oakheart" the she-cat spoke "A cat with their heart in two clans."
Oakheart nodded, his own amber eyes softening towards the blue Thunderclan tom, recognizing himself in the young tom.
The red tom, Oakheart, stepped up beside the silver tabby, his own pelt glittering with stars, "Should we offer him advice Silverstream, we did not need to seek guidance from our ancestors when we faced the same problem."
Silverstream turned to face Oakheart, shifting her position until she was standing beside Swiftbreeze "We lived in a different time back then, not long ago the dark days of distrust plagued the clans and loyal blood was spilt in fear"
"I don't need any advice" Swiftbreeze interrupted, his eyes glowing with determination "I can still be a loyal warrior to my clan despite the fact that my mate and kits are members of Riverclan."
Silverstream nodded in agreement but as she met Swiftbreeze's eyes, her own were sad and blazing with a hint of pity.
"If that is your choice then you cannot ever claim your kits as your own" Oakheart warned "If not just to protect them, but to make their lives easier."
"I will know they are mine" Swiftbreeze reasoned "That is all that matters."
"You will have no say in their lives, doomed to forever watch them grow from across the border" Silverstream argued "I was not able to be a part of my kits lives, how can you give that up?"
"You know about the war Silverstream" Oakheart soothed the silver queen in an almost familial way "To join them at this time would be to die, and besides he has his own duties to his clan, surly you can understand."
"I will be a part of my kits lives" Swiftbreeze insisted "Just wait and see" without waiting for a response he stalked away, feeling himself waking up.
Moonstream sat outside the medicine den, two plump trout between her paws and her tail curled unconsciously around her belly as if to protect her unborn kits. She hungrily devoured one of the fish, watching her clanmates move throughout the camp. Spotting a flash of white, Moonstream called her friend over.
"Galeforce, come help me finish this trout"
The young white tom bounded over excitedly, his blue eyes glinting happily.
"Hey Moonstream" he greeted settling down beside her "Why aren't you out collecting herbs with Nightswallow?"
Moonstream sighed loudly meowing in defeat "I would just be in her way, she says I'm a nuisance."
"That's not fair-" Galeforce began before Moonstream cut him off.
"Yes it is, I'm not good at this stuff" she grumbled "I can't remember half of the medicinal uses for the herbs in our store and just today I almost gave Graybird chamomile instead of celandine for her eyes" she buried her face in her friend's white fur "Nightswallow scolded me in front of half the clan, I'm not cut out to be a medicine cat."
"Then don't be one" Galeforce replied quickly, as if that one suggestion was the simple solution to all of her problems.
"You know I can't quit, my father would never allow it and now things are even worse" as the words left her mouth she clamped her jaws shut before she said anything else. Galeforce had always been easy to talk to, they had been best friends for as long as she could remember. He was always there for her when her father drove her crazy and they told each other everything, her current secrets had been eating away at her more and more whenever she saw him.
"What's wrong?" Galeforce meowed, his blue eyes burning with concern and another emotion Moonstream couldn't quite place.
When she didn't respond he looked away "Does it have to do with your trips to the border?" he whispered quietly.
Moonstream stiffened hissing through gritted teeth "How did you find out?"
Galeforce smirked avoiding the question "I'm your best friend, and I worry about you, can you tell me what is wrong? You always tell me everything"
Feelings of guilt began to overwhelm Moonstream as she realized how betrayed Galeforce must feel from her silence, taking a deep breath she whispered "I'm expecting kits"
Shock crossed over Galeforce's features and a flicker of something akin to sadness flashed in his eyes "The father isn't in Riverclan, is he?" Moonstream didn't speak and he took her silence as conformation. Suddenly he laid his tail across her shoulder comfortingly and Moonstream let out a shaky breath as Galeforce's scent comforted her, both cats unaware of the sandy striped tom with bright yellow eyes watching them, his ears pricked taking in their conversation.