Disclaimer: I don't own the Warrior 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: -shoving these cats together- TALK

...

"Jesus fucking Christ, Weasel."

"Hi, mom."

Dew, only halfway out of the medicine den, stared at Weaselstar like she had three heads. She slowly, hesitantly reached a paw up to touch the new scar. "...This is real," she meowed finally.

"And they say only the wisest cats can be medicine cats," Squirrelwhisker responded, rolling her eyes. The ginger molly had been surprisingly patient on the slow trudge back, even going so far as to let Weaselstar lean on her side. Her tail-tip was flicking with badly suppressed irritation. "Can we come in, or what?"

Dew didn't respond, backing away from the doorway. Weaselstar tromped inside, eyelids only half-cracked. Every step felt like a fight against a particularly motivated rock. Forget this. I'm never losing a life again.

"Beetooth attacked Weaselstar," Squirrelwhisker was explaining, nudging the leader none-too-gently into a squished moss nest. "He gave her a pretty good whack."

Dew's eyes narrowed. "On Spiderstar's orders, I'm guessing."

"Duh."

She tucked her paws underneath herself. "He didn't think I had nine lives. I think he wanted to scare you all into coming back by killing me- since I'm the leader or whatever."

"Because you're the only driving force here, obviously." Dew sniffed at the closed wound, laving a few licks for good measure. "Anyone here can name themselves leader. You just got the job first."

Squirrelwhisker flopped down beside Dew, eyeing her suspiciously. "I thought you didn't believe in this stuff."

"I dunno what I believe," she replied, shrugging. "I believe it's pretty stupid for these mystical ass star cats to give exactly one cat nine lives, and even stupider that they'll give basically anyone who steps into the right position those lives." Dew pressed a paw to her throat. "But I can't exactly deny that this is here, either."

Weaselstar shook the gentle touch away. Even healed, it was too sensitive an area right now. "What am I gonna tell Sweetshine and Adderpelt?"

"Does it matter? It's not like half the camp doesn't know already."

"It matters," she insisted. "This was my first leader meeting, and I ruined it! I couldn't even defend myself!"

"Beetooth's face thinks otherwise. This'll blow over in the celebration, anyway."

Weaselstar blinked at her. Celebration?

Squirrelwhisker hissed and swatted her ear. "My kits, dunderhead! It's time for them to be apprentices. Don't tell me you forgot?"

"Ashkit and Hootkit?"

"Is there literally any others?"

"They're, like, four moons old."

"Five moons," Squirrelwhisker corrected. "Look. I don't like it anymore than you do, but there's seven kittens in the nursery right now, and only two apprentices. Do you really want to go to the next Gathering with nothing to report?"

"Honestly, I kind of figured you'd have run out on us before they were old enough to be 'paws. Not... offering them up like this?"

Squirrelwhisker hummed. "I dunno if you've noticed, but ShadowClan is all I've got now. Just because I don't like you doesn't mean I don't think rebuilding this place is a bad idea. Just means I'm gonna outlive you entirely out of spite." She paused, considering. "No battle training until they're properly six moons old, you hear me? Just hunting and tick duty. We're gonna need the extra paws to keep everyone fed while we work on fixing up the dens."

Weaselstar's mouth fell open. This was a generous offer on a good day; considering who was doing the offering, it was a bit like StarClan had touched down and planted a miracle right in front of her. "Squirrelwhisker, I... you won't regret this. I'll do everything in my power to keep them safe."

"I already regret it," she meowed bluntly. "Understand this, Weaselstar. If my babies see a single scratch on their ears before they're old enough to defend themselves, I will stretch you out on the rocks and gut you like RiverClan does their food. In the mean time..." Squirrelwhisker heaved a truly belabored sigh, clearly hating this part the most. "You can train one of them. With my supervision."

Weaselstar touched her nose with her paw. It came back cold and wet. "Huh. No obvious signs of fever."

The ginger warrior's ears went flat. "I'm doing what's best for my kids, dog-breath! Making sure you don't completely wipe us out is far from a nicety."

"Okay, okay." Weaselstar dipped her head, a bit ashamed. She's really doing a lot for me right now. "Did you have any ideas of who should go to who?"

"Me?"

"I think it's only fair. This is already a strange arrangement, and you've given me enough as is. I'm sure it'd make you more comfortable to be able to choose."

She studied her face a long moment. "Adderpelt," she said finally. "I know Adderpelt will be good for Hootkit."

Someone steady for her fire. Makes sense. "Do you want me to tell him, or did you want to do the honors?"

"You do it. I've had enough sappiness for one day."

It was still early when Weaselstar slipped into the nursery. Sweetshine and the kits were sprawled out onto a single nest- the calico was covered with stripes of colors that weren't hers, and it was oddly adorable. Larkkit in particular caught her eye, tucked underneath the molly's chin with her hind legs splayed out behind her. She swallowed an undignified giggle and moved on to Adderpelt's nest. Ashkit and Hootkit were tucked up neatly against his belly, snoring.

He's a great father, she thought, the ghost of a smile on her muzzle. Even with five to raise, he'd willingly offered to kittensit. She settled in with her pelt pressed to his back, purring.

The movement seemed to rouse Adderpelt, eyelids cracking open with a snork. "Is it time for the dawn patrol?"

"Not yet." Weaselstar curled into the crook of his spine. The meeting seemed like seasons ago now, tucked up warm with her closest friends. "Squirrelwhisker's asked that they get made into 'paws today."

Adderpelt yawned, revealing rows of prickly teeth. "Bit early, innit?"

"She said no battle training, so it should be okay. She wants us to mentor them."

She felt the warrior go still under her, surprised, before relaxing with a surprised laugh. "I figured she'd be scared we'd make 'em soft. But what about Sweetshine?"

"I'll give her one of the next litter."

"That could be awhile."

"I know. I feel bad, but Squirrelwhisker made her choice."

"No pressure, then." Adderpelt shifted slightly. "You mind taking over for a bit? I wanna go grab our future apprentices a hearty breakfast."

"Hmmm, fine." Weaselstar shuffled backwards, missing the warmth of his fur almost instantly. Squirrelwhisker would be back fairly soon, and then Ashkit and Hootkit would be in safer paws. She'd see if she couldn't squirm her way into Sweetshine's nest after. "Happy huntings."

Adderpelt opened his mouth to reply, then closed it. The fur along his spine lifted.

"What?" she meowed, only half-awake.

He lifted a shaking paw to touch her throat.

Her stomach flip-flopped. Weaselstar hadn't thought too deep into how this must look beyond her terrified internal screaming about losing a life. "Oh. That. The meeting was a little... tense."

Adderpelt leaned over to sniff the wound, as if hoping to find answers there. "Was it... did Spiderstar..."

"No," she promised. Weaselstar could only imagine how horrible it would've been to find out that your father had tried to kill the mother of your kits. "It wasn't him, I promise. It was Beetooth."

He flinched, knowing all too well that the deputy would only do such a thing under orders. "Did you... did you lose a-"

"I'm fine," she snapped, then flinched at the hurt that flashed in Adderpelt's eyes. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry. I guess I'm more wound up than I thought." The black and white tom slowly stretched his chin out, pressing his forehead to the pink on her neck. A surge of anxiety fell over her at the touch, making her stiff and unresponsive. Was I this sensitive when my throat was healing as a kit? I don't remember. "Adderpelt?"

"Did I do something wrong?" he asked. His voice was soft and vulnerable. "You didn't tell me about ShadowClan, and now you won't tell me about this. Are you mad at me?"

"What? No, of course not."

Adderpelt's warm breath ghosted across her fur as he sighed. "I won't ask if you don't want me to, but this is important, Weaselstar. We're supposed to be raising these kids together, aren't we? We need to communicate better. You need to talk to me."

Weaselstar gave his skull an affectionate lick. "You're right. I'm sorry I can be so hardheaded," she said. "I don't think Spiderstar should be around the kids. Not until they're old enough to make up their own minds. He was already trying to force a divide between our litter and Sweetshine's, and if she'd stayed he probably would've killed us to get to them."

"That's fair," he said, nodding. "What'll we say when they ask?"

"I think what you said last night works really well. Grandpa and grandma want them to be safe, so they should stay in camp."

"Maybe. It'd be painting Spiderstar and Flintpoppy in a positive light, though."

"We can ease into that. Unless you think we should sit them down now?"

He grimaced. "Hmm, not the whole story. They don't need to know that grandpa and grandma tried to kill mom. Let's just say they don't like that we moved, and we had a fight over it. They've heard how Spiderstar reacts to cats he disagrees with by now."

"I'm sorry," she meowed, not for the first time. "You gave up so much for the kits. For me."

Adderpelt finally pulled away, blinking. "Honestly? I thought it'd be harder. But I love the kits, and I love you and Sweetshine. And even if I miss them once in a while, this is the happiest I think I've ever been." He gave her a solid shove, and Weaselstar let herself flop onto her side, laughing. "So quit being all woe-is-me, alright?"

She rolled her eyes, purring. "I'll consider it."

Author's Note: Bit abrupt I know, but this is more just some initial reaction stuff. Soon we'll be getting back to ShadowClan being rebuilt, and see s'more of Ice Cube, and so on. The kits are in for some development as well too, since they're gonna be jelly as heck that Ashkit and Hootkit get to be 'paws early (even if by like. A couple of weeks.)

-Mandaree1