Disclaimer: I don't own Warrior Cats!
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: Atlas Tripped
...
"Mama! Mama!"
Sharp teeth sunk into Weaselstar's ear, tugging hard. Weaselstar grumbled and went to roll over, only to find a fluffy black body on her side. Honeykit was vibrating with the sheer level of purring going on.
"Mama, wake up! You gotta!"
Teeth in her ear again. Weaselstar moaned and covered her face. "Leab me 'lone," she slurred.
"Mama!"
A solid paw kicked her wounded shoulder and she yipped, sitting up with bleary eyes. Weaselstar stared down at five wriggling bundles of fur. Elmkit's fur was so shiny she was glossy as she headed the crowd, not even slightly sorry for kicking her. Spottedkit eyes were almost entirely black with dilated pupils. Honeykit slunk off her back and immediately wrapped his paws around Larkkit to stand up on her shoulders, the molly letting out a little 'oof'. Larkkit's pelt was so fluffy Weaselstar honestly couldn't make out the kitten underneath. Featherkit was trying to wriggle between her sisters and failing.
"Alright," she meowed, a bit put off by the crowd. "What's up?"
Sweetshine laughed in her ear. "Look outside."
Weaselstar squinted out the nursery. The sun wasn't even out yet, leaving the area thick and dark. She could easily make out the dens, but specifics were against her.
Then the first flake fell.
It fluttered to the ground, deceptively innocent. More followed, sprinkling down in tiny pieces that were melting as soon as they touched the dirt. Weaselstar's throat seized as she realized that it was, in fact, snowing.
"But..." she said, lost. "But it's so early."
"You promised!" Featherkit piped up. "Apprentices when the first snow falls! You promised."
"You did promise," Sweetshine reminded her. As if Weaselstar had ever forgotten.
"Well, of course," she replied. "But it's still Leaf-fall."
"Maybe, but the snow is still there."
"I feel like I said something about it sticking first."
Sweetshine fixed her a no-nonsense look.
"Right. I guess we're doing this."
The kits broke into excited cheers, stumbling into the dark clearing in one big clump. Weaselstar watched them go with her heart hurting. It felt like just yesterday she'd given birth to them- now she had to send them out into the world and watch them thrive.
"Have you thought of their mentors?" Sweetshine asked gently.
Weaselstar let out a low groan between her paws, because that was making her heart hurt too. "Who the hell is gonna teach five kids?" she despaired.
The calico snorted at her plight, clearly less than impressed. "Have you thought about the kittypets at all?"
"They just got here! Half of them can't even fight worth a damn. It's too soon."
"You have to bring them into Clan life somehow, Weasel," Sweetshine reminded her. "They're full-grown cats."
She growled low in her throat at the thought of giving them anything less than a proper education. Sure, they were being watched closely, and any mistakes would be swiftly corrected, but that meant a pawful of mentors for one kitten. It'd get confusing. "Maybe it can wait until Pringles and Ice Cube's kits are old enough?"
"Weasel, that's favoritism."
Weaselstar swore under her breath. She hated that it was true. She wanted, more than anything, to give her kits the best of everything. She was forced to come to terms with the fact that she understood where Spiderstar had been coming from, and she had to stop herself from doing more of the same. Being leader isn't what it's cracked up to be.
She shifted her muzzle so it wouldn't be squished into the moss. "It's gonna be weird seeing you do warrior stuff."
"I know. Isn't it great?" Sweetshine was purring now, eyes bright. "I didn't get to do all that patrolling and hunting before I got pregnant. I can't wait to catch frogs with the kids and beat the dung out of the neighbors over scent lines."
It was getting really hard not to smile. "I'm starting to see where Larkkit gets it from."
A calico paw reached out to bat at her ears. "Up and at 'em, we need to get you all gussied up."
Despite the sprinkling of snow, the clearing was in high spirits when Weaselstar stumbled out, fur slick and shiny. The kits were crowded in front of the Pinebranch, shoving and nudging each other excitedly. Behind them was Tedwing and Ratfoot, cheerfully chattering on about something unheard. Pringles was grooming Ice Cube just outside the nursery, kits tumbling around his paws. Partridgepelt was vibrating at the back of the crowd, whispering something to Adderpelt. Weaselstar squished down some feelings of jealousy and kept moving.
Squirrelwhisker was lecturing Hootpaw about something, the molly squinting to avoid rolling her eyes. Dew sat at the very front for once in her life, craning her head to stare at Dovefrost. Birchfoot looked up from a piece of prey and hurriedly groomed his muzzle while Fogfur laughed at his blunder. Pinethroat and Mossytooth pushed their way to the very front to hear better.
"I don't need to call anyone, do I?" she uttered as she reached the front. A ripple of amusement took over the clearing; everyone had been looking forward to today, and she didn't doubt the kits had woken half the camp themselves beforehand to make sure they knew exactly what was happening. "This is the one of the greatest days of my life. I can't tell you how many nights I've spent awake thinking about it." Half of those nights had been worrying, but the Clan didn't need to hear her fussing over her babies. The parents all nodded along understandingly. Her eyes swept across them all as she made her final choices. "Honeykit, Larkkit, you're older. Step forward."
Honeykit almost tripped in his haste to move closer, Larkkit giggling beside him. The Clan grew silent as Weaselstar raised her tail authoritatively. "Larkkit, from this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Larkpaw. Your mentor will be Bumblestorm. I hope she will pass on her strength of heart and mind onto you."
Larkpaw ran over to the dark gray tabby, unintentionally crashing their skulls together in her desperation to brush noses. Bumblestorm laughed and pulled back with a lick to her ear, gesturing for the new apprentice to sit next to her.
"Honeykit, from this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Honeypaw. Partridgepelt, I know you're new to the Clan, but I think your sense of duty and care will make you a great mentor."
Honeypaw moved much more carefully to meet with his mentor, though his limbs quivered with excitement. Weaselstar just barely heard Elmkit whisper, "You got a kitty-pet!" in a sing-song voice as he sat down.
"Shut up," he groused.
Weaselstar sent her daughter a sharp look. Elmkit groomed her chest fur sheepishly and stepped forward alongside her sisters. "Featherkit, from this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Featherpaw. Your mentor will be Ice Cube. You may be new to Clan life, but I think you show great promise with your exuberance and bold nature."
The black molly didn't seem nearly as concerned about her choice of mentor as Honeypaw. She trotted right up to Ice Cube, bumping noses in a friendly manner. A tiny flash of pink tongue told Weaselstar he'd given her a little lick between the ears.
Elmkit was the last of the non-medicine cat apprentices, and it showed in her nerves as she stared up at her mother. Weaselstar smiled reassuringly. "Elmkit, from this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Elmpaw. Your mentor will be Fogfur. I know she will pass on her bravery and flexible-thinking onto you."
Fogfur had had the misfortune of sitting in the very back, and it took a minute of reshuffling for her to push to the front, knocking cats to the side with her paws. She grinned wildly at Weaselstar, as if she also remembered talking about mentoring one of her kits, and met Elmpaw with a purr.
Only one more to go. Weaselstar felt oddly exhausted as her final daughter padded forward. "Spottedkit, do you accept the post of apprentice to Dew?"
Spottedkit's whiskers twitched. "I do."
"Then I name you Spottedpaw. At the half-moon, you must travel to the Moonpool to be accepted by StarClan before the other medicine cats. The good wishes of all of ShadowClan go with you!"
Dew shuffled forward like a decrepit elder, just barely bending her head down to present her nose. Spottedpaw stood on tippy-paw to bump them together. Weaselstar swallowed a bite of frustration at how her mother was acting. Could she at least pretend to be enthusiastic? This is her granddaughter! She threw her head back and focused on chanting. "Larkpaw! Honeypaw! Featherpaw! Elmpaw! Spottedpaw!"
ShadowClan took up the names as the new apprentices broke their respectful stance. Elmpaw immediately tackled Honeypaw, the duo falling into playful wrestling. Featherpaw chatted excitedly to Larkpaw and Spottedpaw, the former nodding along while the latter purred. The new mentors all immediately came together to discuss training, Ice Cube and Partridgepelt looking a bit nervous. Weaselstar felt her heart twist as her kits prepared to see the territory for the very first time.
They're getting so big.
The last Gathering had been pretty quiet. After Spiderstar's bold proclamation of the kittypets joining his Clan, a quiet assertion of Partridgepelt and Tedwing's names had gone with little fanfare. She'd seen other warriors chatting casually with the newcomers, and she knew they were slowly making friends amidst the other Clans.
But tonight was going to be a bit more interesting. Weaselstar didn't doubt that Spiderstar was going to say something about the five new apprentices, especially with half of them being his own kin. She'd made sure to bring all seven of them to avoid favoritism, but it did leave her group looking a bit fresh-faced. It also felt weird to have Spottedpaw standing next to her as medicine cat, as Dew refused to join them.
RiverClan was waiting for them by the Greenleaf Twolegplace, as they usually were. Briarstar was looking thinner than ever as she led the patrol to meet up with ShadowClan, whiskers twitching in a vague greeting. Weaselstar knew, logically, that RiverClan was hit the hardest during Leaf-bare, but it was one thing to hear it and another to see the normally strong leader looking like a stiff breeze could knock her over.
"Evenin'," she rumbled, and her voice was a deep as ever. "Lots of kids tonight, huh?"
"My kids," Weaselstar meowed sheepishly. "It's their first Gathering."
A gentle mrrow of laughter drew her attention to a gray tom. He was taller than Briarstar by an ear-length, with bushy muzzle fur. "They're precious." He paused, seeming to realize he was breaking into the moment, and flattened his ears sheepishly.
Briarstar snorted, gesturing with a paw. "Minnowheart, my new deputy."
"Ah," said Weaselstar, who had the sudden realization that she had never seen this tom before in her life. I really need to make more connections. "It's an honor."
"Honor's mine," he meowed with a twinkle in his eye.
The joined patrols got moving soon after. Weaselstar felt a prickle of uncertainty amidst the RiverClan cats. Are we really putting out the right energy here? What if the other Clans think we're relying on RiverClan just to survive? She didn't want anyone to think ShadowClan was free to push around, or that they needed RiverClan.
As if reminding her that they did in fact need RiverClan, Briarstar meowed, "Have you decided on whether you're sending us a medicine cat?"
"Um." Weaselstar stared at her paws, brain churning. Somehow, talking to the other leaders had the side effect of making her feel like an apprentice who missed a hunting lesson. "Not- not yet. My medicine cat is against the idea."
"Aren't you in charge? Just tell her to go."
"She's my mom."
"Ah," said Briarstar, nodding. "That does change some things. I can't keep this offer goin' all season, though. How about this; I'll give you 'til the new moon. Gives your medicine cat some time to connect with StarClan and chat with Webflower. I'll bring a patrol 'round the Greenleaf Twolegplace, just like I do every Gathering. No one comes, nothing personal. I'll make it a hunting patrol. If she does-"
"We'll feed her," she meowed, feeling something hollow open up in her belly. She wasn't sure if Dew would even be willing to consider it.
"Atta girl, rebel. You're good stuff." Briarstar hopped onto the log that led to the island. "But you're sittin' next to the prick this time."
Which one? Almost slipped out, but Weaselstar saw how the RiverClan molly's gaze immediately locked on Rainstar. She picked up the pace to meet her old friend, climbing the Great Oak in neat little hops. Guess that means I'm sitting next to Spiderstar.
Feeling more confident about the climb every moon that passed, Weaselstar hauled herself into place and looked out across the clearing. ShadowClan and RiverClan had been the last to arrive, yet it was too soon to call the Gathering into motion. Scents weaved through her nose as the various Clans mingled. Mindful of her mistake with Minnowheart, she kept a close eye on the roots of the tree, counting the deputies in her mind. Beetooth and Dovefrost were exchanging formal pleasantries, and Minnowheart padded over to join them. Last of all was tiny, sleek light brown she-cat with a darker face, paws, and long tail, which easily wound around her paws. She didn't seem interested in greeting anyone.
Weaselstar racked her brain to try and remember that molly's name. She hadn't exactly been popular as an apprentice, so she'd never had a lot of friends to chat with at Gatherings. She'd spent most of them sulking in the corner, embarrassed for the scar across her throat. She'd not been paying attention, and she was paying for it now.
"Rainstar," she murmured gently, catching the WindClan tom's attention. "This is going to sound mouse-brained, but what is your deputy's name?"
He blinked at her, confused. "Woodwhisker," he said after a pause, during which he was clearly rethinking his earlier support of her leadership. Weaselstar's pelt like it was on fire. "You really didn't know that?"
"I didn't get out much as a kid," she said quickly.
Weaselstar caught Spottedpaw confidently padding up to the gathered medicine cats. She recognized Mintfern and Webflower at a distance, but the remaining ginger also eluded her. They all perked up as she neared; Mintfern waved her tail in greeting, Webflower smiled cheerfully, and the ginger raised a paw to wave.
Rainstar, perhaps trying to help, meowed, "That's Copperdawn. They've been a medicine cat since before you were born."
"Ah," she said, feeling about two paws tall, "That's right. Thank you, Rainstar."
Spiderstar shifted beside her. He hadn't said anything during the whole interaction, but waves of disdain were flowing off him. He cleared his throat. "So, uh. Kids are finally old enough to be 'paws, huh?"
Weaselstar blinked at him, surprised. It was the most normal thing he'd said since they'd split. "Uh, yes. Six moons."
"We should. Start that thing up again."
"Thing?"
"You know, meeting up! That little half-gathering thing you proposed, on the quarter-moon." He cracked an awkward smile. "Not on my territory, of course. But you get it."
She stared at him a long second, floored. This was by and large the calmest Spiderstar had been about ShadowClan since she restarted it. Is he seriously only willing to do this now that it benefits him? It seemed ridiculous that he had put the topic off until the kids were old enough to be apprentices. "Where would you suggest?"
"How about the Thunderpath? ThunderClan on one side, ShadowClan on the other. We can meet between monsters."
That sounded dangerous. Weaselstar opened her mouth to say as much, but Spiderstar didn't bother to let her respond, calling for the Gathering to begin. She was somehow as angry as she was confused.
"I've got a lot to announce," he told her, then winked, and Weaselstar felt so very out of her element.
"Don't we all?" Rainstar mumbled, then raised his voice. "WindClan will go first."
Emptiness roared in her ears as the tom spoke. She was happy to see Spiderstar had calmed down finally, and it would do the Clans good to keep families together, but she had absolutely no idea how to handle telling the kits about it. They barely even registered that Spiderstar was against them- would they understand just how complicated their relationship had become?
"-Minnowheart'll be taking over from here," Briarstar finished, and Weaselstar felt even more sheepish when she realized she'd not paid attention to two seperate announcements.
There was some murmuring below. Weaselstar blinked down at the whispering, wondering what the issue was. Minnowheart seemed nice enough when I met him.
"Isn't he Finchmask's son?" Spiderstar asked.
Cold water went down her spine. Finchmask was the name of the warrior that'd been banished for padding after a RiverClan tom. She was also Flintpoppy and Dovefrost's mother. That'd make him their brother, wouldn't it? I assume it's the same tom.
"So what if he is?" Briarstar replied, shrugging. "His loyalty is unshakeable, and I trust him to make the decisions he needs to make for this Clan." Briarstar flicked her tail to gesture to Weaselstar, clearly unwilling to hold any further debate. "ShadowClan's turn."
"Oh. Right! Um." Weaselstar straightened up and puffed out her chest. "ShadowClan has gotten a host of new apprentices: Larkpaw, Honeypaw, Featherpaw, and Elmpaw are future warriors, while Spottedpaw has chosen the path of medicine cat. The future of our Clan rests on their shoulders."
"Larkpaw! Honeypaw! Featherpaw! Elmpaw! Spottedpaw!" chanted the congregation.
"No pressure, then," Rainstar hummed. "Spiderstar, you've been wiggling all night. Spit it out already."
"We wanted to wait until we were sure," he told her quietly, then raised his voice to speak to the Clans. "The nursery has gotten full again. Flintpoppy has given me three beautiful daughters: Martinkit, Mothkit, and Maplekit. On top of which, Littleflower is pregnant and expecting at least two."
Weaselstar felt the wood under her paws dip out in shock as the night filled with chanting. She stared blankly at Spiderstar. Since when did he want more kits? Her eyes furiously traced across the clearing. Adderpelt had stayed home, but she could only guess how absolutely devastated he'd be to find out he had siblings. Last I heard the prefix Little, she was an apprentice. Spiderstar didn't make her a warrior only because she was pregnant, did he?
Perhaps sensing the concern sweeping the area, he snorted. "Oh, relax. Littleflower was fully grown when she came to us. She just wanted to be an apprentice for a little while."
"Well, uh, congratulations," Rainstar meowed.
"Congrats," echoed Briarstar.
"I didn't know you wanted more," slipped out of Weaselstar's mouth, unprompted.
Spiderstar's ear flicked dismissively. "I still need my heir. Now I have three to pick from- and I intend to raise them right this time."
The way he said it made her shudder. She didn't know what Spiderstar meant, exactly, but she doubted it was good.
Author's Note: I'm back! Had a six-month dry spell before I finished this bad boy, but I think it came out okay. The deputies and medicine cats needed to be explained a bit, and I'm gonna pretend the reason they weren't labelled beforehand was because Weasel is a dingaling who forgot to look into it.
Also, if you haven't noticed, I have a co-author now! Scrambles has helped me work out family trees, designs, and workarounds for a long while now. They created Ice Cube and his family. Say hello!
-Mandaree1