Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors!

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: Tired

...

It took a solid two days' journey to find what she needed. On one paw, Weaselstar was grateful that there was no risk of said danger near her Clan. But on the other paw, it made it difficult. Not helping matters was a slowly dipping temperature as the world descended into Leaf-fall. Wouldn't be long now until snow started to fall. Wouldn't be long before her kits were apprentices.

Weaselstar walked faster.

Finally, on the cusp of the second day, she found what she was looking for. Perched precariously close to a Thunderpath was a small hole, and that hole reeked of badgers. Just drenched in the smell. She'd found her burrow. Weaselstar darted inside, fur prickling as it washed over her. The chances of badgers being around were never zero, but this time of year they were busy collecting food. Badgers didn't hibernate, but they did slow down a lot in Leafbare. It was as good a chance as any.

Empty. Thank the stars.

Creeping forward, Weaselstar dug her claws into the creature's nest. She ripped chunks of it free, laying it across her back and in her maw. The taste made her want to retch. The nest is, as expected, the epicenter of the reek. She took as much as she could carry and sprinted away. Weaselstar thought she might have heard a low grumble follow her as she vanished into the early evening.

Dovefrost was waiting at the border as she returned, looking harried. Weaselstar felt a burst of warmth for the white molly; she must've spent every night waiting for her, sitting in that exact same spot. There had been no promises of when she'd get back. The temporary deputy was purring as she approached, swatting her shoulder.

"I'd nuzzle you but you smell like mouse-dung," she meowed. "Never leave me again. Leading is so tiring."

"Help me find a place to put this?"

"I'll find a place, but I'm not touching it."

Together the mollies choose a little grassy patch just outside of ThunderClan's inflated territory line. Weaselstar mixed the nest bits into the foliage, shaking it out across the leaves and bushes. Dovefrost watched with disgust as it all settled.

"They'll find all that on dawn patrol," she warned.

"I know," Weaselstar replied primly. "But they won't find the den. Which means they'll be back."

Weaselstar rolled in the grass for a bit of extra stench and stumbled back to camp with exhausted limbs and mind. Dovefrost tried to update her on what all had happened in ShadowClan while she was gone, but it kind of went in one ear and out the other. She padded over to the nursery and flopped onto her nest, pulling a squealing Larkkit close like a stuffed toy.

"Mama's so tired," she whined into the silver and white molly's fur.

"You're always tired," snipped Elmkit, having been woken up by her.

Her eyes slid half-mast. She noticed, dimly, that Adderpelt was in a seperate nest. When had he built one? He was purring and snoring as he wound himself around Partridge. Weaselstar huffed out a little laugh. Even when he was off courting, he had to make sure the kittens were close. He was a good tom.

Weaselstar's head fell to the side and she conked out.

"It's not that I don't understand," Ted said at length. "But maybe you could explain it again? For old time's sake."

Weaselstar huffed out a small laugh. She could hardly blame the kittypet for being a bit lost. There was clearly a divide between the groups. Her warriors- Squirrelwhisker, Fogfur, Bumblestorm and Ratfoot- were all bright-eyed and gleaming, working their claws into the dirt; while the loners- Ice Cube, Partridge, and Ted- all were looking around and seeking answers. Clan life was still very new to them.

"We're taking back our border," she said. "I've laid some badger smell across a patch of grass to draw in a patrol. The patrol will be busy sniffing for badgers to notice us- and we're going in from above."

"Right," he meowed, looking a bit faint. "And by above, you mean..."

She pointed her tail towards the treetops.

"Right, right. That is... I'm sorry, Weaselstar. I've never climbed a tree."

"That's okay, Ted," she reassured him. "You'll be with me. I'll help anyone who can't climb."

He swallowed, clearly nervous, and dipped his head. Weaselstar admired the tom's willingness to do whatever was needed, but she couldn't help a little smile at the image of Ted- a very fluffy, very chunky cat- hanging on for dear life in the branches. The rest of the group got up just fine, even Partridge- which she'd learned was an 'outdoor cat', an odd middle-ground Twolegs sometimes gave their pets. Ice Cube's eyes were glowing with curiosity as he flexed his claws, hopping to another branch just to see if he could do it. Fogfur stumbled under the sudden shake and glared at him.

Now the fun part. The wait.

Time ticked by slowly. Ice Cube continued to hop from branch to branch, almost missing twice. Partridge stared, unblinking, at the ground below, as if terrified it would swoop up and eat her if she didn't. Ted loosened his claws slightly, looking less than pleased as he sat up, back paws dangling below. Fogfur gave a few experimental jumps to shake the branch, irritating Bumblestorm enough for her to hop over to Ratfoot, the tom patiently watching all of them. Weaselstar batted a law between her paws while Squirrelwhisker hissed about the awkward seating.

Her ears pricked as she heard voices.

"-Don't see how this is our problem," Brickfang's deep mew wafted up. The ginger tom padded into view with a derisive twist of his muzzle.

"It'll be our problem if the thing went further into ThunderClan territory," Smokescar informed him primly. Ratfoot's ears pinned back as his father sniffed delicately at the foliage. "Maybe it went into ShadowClan. Wouldn't hurt my feelings."

Doug flounced over to the bracken as Partridge maneuvered herself to be above Brickfang. The tiny tom didn't look convinced. "Never heard of a badger that threw tantrums. Maybe some prey got ahold of an old nest."

Bubblestone was the last to appear, fur bushed out nervously. He was flanked by Nutstripe. "I hope that's all it is."

Ice Cube slithered over beside Weaselstar, ready to pounce. He nodded.

"ShadowClan, attack!"

The air fell out from under her as she went flying out of the tree, claws outstretched. Weaselstar's stomach dropped as multiple heads twisted up to see the commotion. She could see the dawning horror in their eyes as they fell. Nutstripe buckled under her weight, throwing them both to the ground with a dull thud that had them rolling. Weaselstar fastened her teeth into the light ginger's ear as cats rolled and yowled around her.

"Cowards!" hissed Smokescar, throwing Fogfur off his back.

"You're the coward!" countered Ratfoot, showing off every tooth he had. "We wouldn't even have to do this if you just stuck to your territory!"

"Ratpaw-"

"My name is Ratfoot!" he yelled, pouncing. The two vanished in a blur of black fur.

Weaselstar surveyed the rest of the battle. Brickfang had also survived the fall from Partridge, swinging her back and forth while taking big steps. Doug was firmly squished under Bumblestorm. Squirrelwhisker was slicing into Brickfang's muzzle, yelling words too rude for Weaselstar to repeat. Smokescar and Ratfoot were constantly vying for control, pushing one another down and around. Nutstripe lay still and tense under her. Ice Cube darted between the duo, nicking Smokescar's haunches.

She caught sight of Bubblestone, slowly backing away. "Don't let him get reinforcements!"

Ted broke free from helping Squirrelwhisker to tackle Bubblestone head on, the tom's superior size flattening the gray tom underneath him. Nutstripe took her momentary lapse to jump to his paws, flinging her away.

"Why can't you leave us alone?" Nutstripe wailed, sinking his teeth into her shoulder.

Weaselstar felt the familiar warmth of pain beneath her tendons and howled, bashing her head into his. He stumbled away as she righted herself. "My Clan will survive!"

Brickfang laughed, having finally sunk his claws into Partridge's shoulders. He threw the molly into Squirrelwhisker and sneered at her. "With a bunch of weak house pets?" He crouched and threw himself at her, bowling Weaselstar to the ground. Brickfang smiled wide as he raised a claw to bash her head in. "I'm gonna enjoy this."

Weaselstar unsheathed her claws and launched them into his stomach. Brickfang screeched, giving her time to wiggle out from underneath him. Her claws sunk deep into his muscular side. "Better weak house pets than cruel monsters!"

"I take that as a compliment," he replied. The gush of blood seemed to just make Brickfang fight harder, ramming her wounded shoulder with his thick skull. She could see red dripping down his thighs. "C'mere. I'll show you just what kind of monster I am."

He took a step forward, and in that instant Ice Cube was on Brickfang's back. Then Squirrelwhisker. The two buried their faces into his neck and spine, digging in. Brickfang roared and stumbled back, shaking hard to try and remove them. Weaselstar could see deep red marks on his shoulders from them holding on.

"Don't kill him!" she cried out, alarmed, just as Smokescar wrestled himself free of Ratfoot and bellowed, "Retreat!"

The world seemed to turn quiet as the ThunderClan cats gathered themselves together and fled. Brickfang glared spitefully at them as Doug led him away, both bleeding heavily. The only uninjured cat seemed to be Bubblestone; who had fared with nothing but perhaps a few bruises.

Squirrelwhisker stomped up, tail lashing. "You listen to me, Weaselstar," she hissed lowly. "I'm not going to let ShadowClan die because of a thick-brained brute getting the drop on us. If he ever comes near me again, I'll wear his pet like a collar."

Weaselstar stared at her, open-mouthed. Her gaze slowly trailed over her companions. Ice Cube was bleeding from the shoulder and back leg. Bumblestorm had some mild scratches, helping Ratfoot gimp over with a twisted paw. Partridge was stumbling after being thrown and Ted had some small wounds from Brickfang's teeth. Weaselstar had a deep bite wound and likely a twisted shoulder from the headbutt. She realized, with a sudden sinking feeling, that despite having more cats they'd barely won.

She slowly nodded. "Let's mark those borders. On the edge of the Thunderpath, where they belong."

"I thought all you did was fix dens!" Elmkit meowed. Her eyes had been shiny with respect since they got home. "Mama, you're amazing!"

"I'm very sore," she admitted, bending down to lick between her daughter's ears. "But I'm not tired anymore, so you'll get lots of stories tonight."

Dew came out with a mouthful of herbs- followed close behind by Spottedkit doing the same. "You're not tired because your body is in 'aaaaaa I'm gonne die' mode, dumbass. Maybe you should tell me before you do stuff like this, huh? Let me lay out some herbs?"

"We weren't talking," she meowed, but it sounded silly as soon as she said it. "I'm sorry, mom. I need to stop thinking of you as a random cat. You're my medicine cat."

"I'm your medicine mom," Dew corrected blandly. "Now go do that big speech thing leaders do after fights like this."

Weaselstar took a look around the area. Everyone was already here. She twitched her tail dismissively at the thought of jumping onto that branch and instead spoke at a slightly higher volume. "We faced our first serious battle today, guys. And we won!"

"Yay," meowed Ashpaw, quietly.

She turned to Ice Cube. "Our new friends are the reason we can stand tall against ThunderClan. I understand if any of you might feel a bit nervous, but I'd like to reward you. Anyone who wants a warrior name, step forward."

Ted got to his paws so fast he almost fell on his face. Partridge eagerly crowded in as well. Out of the corner of her eye, Weaselstar could make out Pringles grabbing Picklekit to avoid having aer join them.

"Ted, Partridge," she meowed, the two jumping as if she'd shouted. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Ted dipped his head.

"I do," Partridge meowed, but looked a bit unsure.

Weaselstar touched her nose to the tom's forehead. "Ted, from this moment on you will be known as Tedwing. StarClan honors your kindness and good heart, and we welcome you as a full member of ShadowClan." Tedwing licked her shoulder, making Weaselstar swear as it brushed her wound. She nosed Partridge. "Partridge, from this moment on you will be known as Partridgepelt. StarClan honors your adaptability and care, and we welcome you as a full member of ShadowClan." Her gaze swept over the rest of the loners. "We welcome all of you as full members of ShadowClan."

"Tedwing! Partridgepelt!" Hootpaw called. "Tedwing! Partridgepelt!"

The Clan slowly joined in. Weaselstar led the call, feeling more sure of her place than ever.

Author's Note: Ta-da! This should be interesting. I don't write a lot of battle scenes, so it's hard to tell if this is good or not. Lemme know!

-Mandaree1