Disclaimer: I don't own the Warriors series!

Title: Deep Dive

Summary: In a world where ThunderClan absorbed ShadowClan seasons ago, young warrior Weaselface is tasked to rebuild the fourth Clan and take her place as leader. But how can she betray all she's ever known and loved, all on the word of one ghost with a grudge?

Chapter Title: Prologue

…

The air was chilly and wet against the tom's whiskers as he silently slipped into the camp. The ruins of what had once been a proud Clan was left unguarded most nights- a duty given to apprentices and young warriors alike as punishment. All that slept amongst the bramble thickets were elders and disgraced queens.

Case in point; the heavyset blue molly sitting in the open air. Her face was flat, giving her a severe air, with sickly yellow eyes that seemed to fixate on him as he approached. She was different from the others- she had refused her full Clan name, and for that she was left to suffer, and part of that suffering was having the tom as her mate. A purebred cat of Siamese origin- ugly by Clan standards.

"Dew," he whispered. Her ear flicked dismissively as he approached, head low. "Nutella said she'd take them in. She's got a nice little cottage and a belly full of milk."

Dew scowled. "Too close to this place. Any patrol could-"

"We don't have the time to go for miles. Nutella knows the risks; she'll keep them safe," he said impatiently. "Are you in or not?"

She sighed, squeezing her eyes shut. He waited. "Fine. Follow me, Mudcloud."

Dew awkwardly shoved a low-hanging bit of plants aside and dipped into the nursery, Mudcloud close behind. The floor was covered in forgotten and musty nests, with dried moss haphazardly pushed around. Dew's nest was off to the side, and slightly more upkept. In it lay three newborn kittens.

Mudcloud paused, studying them. Two of them had their mother's looks, though one had his muzzle, while the third had his build and brown fur, but none of the points to it. He thought they all looked fairly sturdy, as far as kittens go, and would probably grow up to be half-decent warriors.

He thought he should love them.

He knew he should, as a matter of fact.

But Mudcloud looked down at the tiny bodies of his kin and felt nothing but frustration. They're gonna get in the way of everything! All squeaky and smelly. Their fur looks like mold.

Dew seemed to have guessed what he was thinking, judging by the sneer on her muzzle. "Grab one and get moving, big man. It's gonna be a long night."

Mudcloud swallowed his pride and took the one that had his muzzle, ears flat. She'll get it soon. When I make my move, she'll thank me for this. Dew grabbed the other one, leaving the tiny brown kitten alone in its nest. The warrior willed it to be quiet while they were gone and hesitantly crept into the clearing. He paused briefly, the moonlight dyeing his pelt silver, to peer into the elder's den. Nothing stirred.

Dew gave him a solid shove. The look in her eyes screamed let's get moving, before something goes wrong! Mudcloud dipped his head and took off into the forest. Pine needles crunched underfoot as they powerwalked through the remains of something neither of them had ever known. The kitten squirmed in his teeth. Mudcloud gave it a good shake, and it stilled.

This'll be worth it, he told himself as they leapt across the ditches that tended to trail around houses like worms in rain. Dew's eyes bored into Mudcloud's spine as he hopped the fence into Nutella's yard. The warrior set the kitten down to speak and tapped on the cat flap on the front.

Dew set the other kitten down. "Why isn't she waiting for us?"

"She's her own cat, Dew. She has a life."

She opened her mouth to argue further, then clamped it closed as a tabby molly poked her head out. Her eyes lit up upon seeing them. "Mudpie! I haven't seen you in ages!"

"Ages, huh?" Dew meowed flatly.

Mudcloud snorted derisively. "Ignore her, Nutella." He gestured to the two kittens with his tail. One of them sneezed, as if on cue. "I heard you were looking for more babies."

Nutella's jaw dropped. "Did you... drag them out into the cold?"

"Things aren't looking too great back home," he went on, still smiling. "I need someone to raise these as their own- and who better then their Auntie Nutella?"

Nutella squeezed out of the flap. The molly, normally lean by nature, was made to waddle under her low stomach as she approached the two kittens, sniffing them curiously. "Oh, the poor things. They're cold."

"They're yours," Mudcloud insisted. "If you want them."

She hesitated, tail lashing nervously. Nutella looked up at Dew, who had been strangely silent. "And you... want to do this?"

Dew's claws sank into the wood on the porch. "Look," she grunted, eyes flashing dangerously. "ThunderClan ain't no place to raise a litter if you want them sensible. All those Clan cats teach is to listen to some weird clouds and stars and shit. I wouldn't even be here if I knew I could get out safely, but I can't. They know my face and my smell." She gestured to the pile of kittens, who were getting restless now, letting out little squeaks. "This is my chance to get someone out, even if it ain't me."

Mouse-heart, Mudcloud thought, baring his teeth over Nutella's shoulder. The Clans had given him more purpose than he'd ever hoped for- and Dew would feel the same, if she ever bothered to accept her place in it. But she'd rather go on and on about being a rogue. I was one too- it's not like it's fun!

Nutella stared at Dew, then stretched her neck out to brush noses. "Okay. I'll keep them safe. I promise."

Mudcloud bounced on his paws, relieved. "Awesome! There's one more back at camp- we'll be right back with her, and then we'll leave you to yours. Sound good?"

The tabby blinked at him beseechingly. "What happened to you, Mudpie?"

"Don't worry," he meowed, winking. "I've got a plan."

Feeling as though a weight had left his shoulders, Mudcloud took the lead once again. He hadn't noticed how weird being in the open was, not until he was under the comforting cover of the trees. Dew's pawsteps kept careful time behind him.

He let out a long sigh, the end of which came out as a chuckle. "You're gonna yell at me, aren't you?"

Dew snorted. "Too late to yell. But, seriously? You didn't tell your sister we were coming?"

"I haven't exactly had oodles of time to sneak out of the territory, alright?"

She picked up the pace, getting in front of him. "That sounds an awful lot like 'I didn't want a no.'"

Mudcloud blinked down at her. "It worked, didn't it?"

"And if it hadn't?"

"Aw, don't be like that. There's plenty good bushes in the Twolegplace to stash them."

Dew bared her teeth with a hiss. "They would've died!"

"Not if the Twolegs moved fast enough." Mudcloud shuffled around her and kept moving. "I told you, Dew! I have a pl-"

"It's not much of a plan if you have to shove it in everyone's ears, you idiot!"

"It's a great plan and you'll thank me for it someday," he said over his shoulder. "I've got inside knowledge, y'see? I know how it's all gonna work out."

Dew stopped. The blue she-cat studied his retreating form a long moment, seeming to come to a decision. "Why don't you take the last one, then? It'll give you a little private time with Nutella."

Mudcloud paused. The idea was tempting. "What about you?"

"I gotta go to the dirtplace. Besides- it's a nice night and I'm up already. Might as well enjoy it, right?" Dew brushed past him once again, this time letting her tail linger against his fur. "I won't regret a single bit of this, Mudcloud. You shouldn't either."

Mudcloud smiled. "Thanks, Dew. I knew you'd come around."

The moon had ducked behind clouds by the time he arrived back in the old camp. Mudcloud cautiously peered into the den again before going into the nursery. The final kitten was where he'd left it, sleeping hard. He nudged it gently with his nose, half-expecting it to have somehow passed, but it squeaked and raised its tiny head. He scooped it up by the scruff and slipped out into the clearing.

"Mudcloud," a familiar voice rumbled.

Mudcloud froze, but forced his shoulders to relax. Don't be suspicious- this is your kid too. "Hello, Spiderstar. You're up late."

"The air felt off tonight," he responded. Spiderstar blended seamlessly into the night, making it almost impossible for Mudcloud to pinpoint him. "Tell me, old friend- why are you here?"

"I came to visit my kits, sir." Mudcloud gave the little one a nudge, making it squeak. "And when I saw Dew was gone, I thought-"

"You broke curfew."

"Yes, sir."

There was a pause. Mudcloud noticed the dark figure shift slightly, as if trying to decide where to take the conversation, but there was no hesitation in the leader's voice. "Care to explain why you reek of Twolegs?"

Mudcloud's heart sank. He'd totally forgotten to clean his scent before returning. "Sir, I-"

"The same reason you're skulking around, I suspect," said the deputy, making Mudcloud jump and whirl around. Beetooth was far easier to see, being a pale gray, but he'd never noticed him coming around behind him. "Running away, sir. Or meeting a darling."

"I would never-"

"Mudcloud," said Spiderstar. He turned and immediately found himself flat on his back. The moon peeked out through the clouds, revealing bright claws that sank down towards his throat. Mudcloud squeezed his eyes shut and braced himself for pain.

None came.

"Sir," whispered Beetooth. "The kitten."

Mudcloud's eyes snapped open. The tiny brown kitten had taken the blow- a deep, gouging wound across its little throat. It gurgled, blood splurting out. Spiderstar leapt backwards, haunted. "I didn't know! It fit into his fur so well, I thought-"

"My kit!" screeched a different voice. Mudcloud rolled the kitten off his chest and stood. It hit the dusty ground with a dull thud. Dew burst through the brambles, collapsing on top of the little one with a wail. She raised her head, eyes filled with unspoken accusations. "What did you do?"

"I didn't!" Mudcloud squawked, offended by the mere thought. "Spiderstar did!"

Beetooth slunk up on Dew's other side, burying his nose in her fur. "He was taking her out of your nest while you were away, Dew. Were you aware of this?"

Dew shook her head. "No, I didn't. I just went for a walk."

"What?" he spluttered. We were just happy and agreeing! Why is she blaming it all on me? "Dew, how could you-"

"You stole my kits from me!" she threw back at him. "I know that look on your face. You took the others, didn't you? Didn't you?"

Spiderstar was on his shoulders before Mudcloud could reply. "Beetooth," he meowed, a storm in his voice. "Check the nest."

Beetooth laved a lick to Dew's pelt before trotting over to the nursery and poking his head in. He shook his head. "Empty, sir."

"You sick muskrat," Spiderstar growled, claws digging into his fur.

"I... I have a plan!" he argued desperately. "This isn't how it's supposed to work out!"

"Plans change," the leader replied, mere moments before sinking his teeth into Mudcloud's throat.

A sickening sense of weightlessness overtook the tom as he floated out of his body, landing on starry paws. Mudcloud licked the spot on his throat that had once been covered in blood, only to find it clean and groomed.

"I wasn't supposed to die!" he whispered, aghast.

"You weren't supposed to disappoint me, either, but you did."

Mudcloud turned and found himself muzzle-to-muzzle with a golden tabby easily twice his height and size. It regarded him with contempt, stars swirling in the stripes of his pelt.

"Brackenstar," he said, eyes wide. "I wasn't supposed to die! You said-"

"I said you had great potential, fluff-for-brains. I said you could bring about a new age. I never said the future was written in stone, and I certainly didn't choose you with the thought you'd become a raging, egotistical waste of breath." Brackenstar pushed past the newly dead warrior with a grumble. "I guess that means we're both disappointed."

"Where are you going?"

"To fix the mess you made." Brackenstar came up on the haphazard vigil with a scowl, though it softened slightly as he saw the kitten twitch. "What's her name?"

"What?"

"The kitten! What's her name?"

Mudcloud stared at him blankly.

The golden tabby scoffed. "Don't even know your own daughter's name. Disgraceful. You've given her quite the reputation, you know. Stealing her siblings away in the middle of the night."

"They're safe! Unharmed!"

"And as soft as a cotten, I'm sure," he replied. "But this one... this one is promising. She might be as much of a ThunderClan cat as the next, but that scar'll be proof enough for her to doubt the cats she's supposed to respect." Brackenstar's eyes began to glow. "You might not have doomed us yet, Mudcloud."

He touched his nose to the kitten's throat. The light in Brackenstar's eyes pooled down his muzzle like raindrops, landing on the shaking body of the kitten, and in a flash the wound was closed. An angry red welt that cut across her little neck, leaving it bent and twisted.

Mudcloud gaped at the scene. "You could've done that for me! I could've still served you! That baby won't remember anything."

"You lived your time, Mudcloud," Brackenstar rumbled. Gray speckled the ghost's neck; as if, by healing, he had been wounded in turn. "She hasn't."

Dew let out a gasp. "She's breathing steady!"

Spiderstar's ears perked up. "There still might be time! Beetooth, go get Mintfern!"

"On it, sir!"

"You're gonna be okay," Dew said into her fur, nuzzling her almost frantically. "I've got you, Weaselkit."

"See, there?" Brackenstar waved his tail. "Her name is Weaselkit. Now you know. If we're lucky, we'll be chanting it one day."

Author's Note: Wooo boy! This is an idea I've had for a least a year or two now, and I have to admit... I'm a little nervous? It's hard, starting new sagas, unsure if I'll be able to complete them. Especially passion projects like this one.

-Mandaree1