Author's Note: Hello and welcome to the official rewrite of my original Warriors fanfiction, Tainted Line. From back in 2015, I always intended to finish this fic, no matter how many years or pain I had to go through to get it there. However, something held me back—the reality was that I wasn't quite sure where the original story was going in terms of plot, and it became much harder the further I got into it.

Because of this, I made a plan a few months back that included taking note of all events in the chapters, and deciding then and there where I wanted to go. From that, I was able to get a more solid idea written down, and a path to follow. The characters, while similar, will change as appropriate as will the plot. While it will follow certain events in certain cases, I have a much stronger grasp of the overall plot, and I hope readers (both old and new) will be ready to come on this new journey with me. (:

On another note, if you would like more information (especially regarding the characters), I have created a Wiki specifically for this fic, both for people to read and for me to keep track of smaller details. You can go to my profile to view that.

Without further adieu, we begin. (:


PROLOGUE


It was a common assumption that strong emotion was the spark that erupted any sort of conflict, and not in the physical sense—they were not meant for conflict, yet their bodies said otherwise. Body temperature rose, fury reached its peak, and evidently, you lost whatever control you may have had. However, it was often overlooked that emotional pain played just as big of a role.

Maybe it was because, despite rage being a hard thing to reign in, there was always a way to control it if you had the power to do so. This power was… lacking. It was mystical and unattainable, but more than anything, it wasn't an actual power.

Willpower, more like.

Other emotions were tricky—more unpredictable, in a way that was both hard to describe and painfully obvious. Anger was something that was brought on fairly quickly, usually from the influence of others. But sadness and pain… that struck when you were most vulnerable.

Struck when they were all most vulnerable.

Bristlefur was not a creature meant for such trifles. To the rest of his Clan, he was an anomaly, one to give assistance and guidance when needed and very little else. He was all right with that—he drifted on the outside of the community, offering his knowledge but very little of himself personally. It worked well for him, a shadow of a cat on the edge of a warm fire. He was the provider, the protector—but he would never be referred to as such.

Hushed murmurs were spreading across the lot, tails bushed and wounds caressing their bodies. It was a ghastly sight, especially for those of them that had not seen a skirmish in many a moon. Bristlefur stood back as a pale gray shape passed him, paying him little mind as his eyes continued to drift among his Clan.

One, stretched out among the dirt and unmoving. Another, staring off into a world unknown with fresh scratches crisscrossing their throat. Bristlefur gave a short ear flick, but he received little response or acknowledgement. Shock, he concluded numbly, though he did not say so out loud.

The only thing that could bring them to attention was the approach of one of their own, yet not—a dark gray cat that looked far different from the rest of his battle-scarred companions. The look of shock and anguish in the tom's eyes as he observed the carnage was palpable, although Bristlefur made no move to approach. Their eyes locked for only the briefest of moments before the same gray shape passed him again, crossing in front of his path to stand between him and the newcomer. Silentstar. It would have been easy to hear a heartbeat in the shambles of what was left of them, but they knew better than to speak when the leader was moving to do so.

"You…" he murmured, and Bristlefur could sense the low growl rumbling in his throat even had he not heard it. "This was your doing. All of it."

It looked like the anguish was reflected in everyone's eyes as well, although no one stepped forward to question his presence there. No one would dare, when he had committed one of the worst offenses to his Clan. Bristlefur could not even hope to defend such an act, not when it went against his very being.

"I'm sorry," the gray tom said, casting his head downward. Bristlefur could only watch.

"Sorry?" Silentstar replied, his tail swishing behind him. "Tell them how sorry you are, Blotchfire." He stepped aside them, giving the newcomer view of what remained of them. "Tell them."

The others looked bewildered, and Bristlefur could understand why. He did not use the formal words to address his equal—this statement was an order. Him demanding them to speak. He looked like he wanted to, but Bristlefur watched as, one by one, the rest of them turned their heads away. Shunned. There would be little forgiveness in a place such as this, especially when Silentstar had spoken.

"What have you done?" one of them spoke—a russet-shaded cat who looked like she had taken quite a beating, but still managed to remain standing. Her tail was high and her eyes and ears alert. Only someone truly determined would come right out and demand an answer when they were so badly beaten. Bodies, both living and deceased, could not have painted a worse picture than the sight of a traitor.

"I want you all to listen. Pay attention and hear what I have to say," Silentstar finally said, not giving anyone a chance to rebuke him. His tawny eyes moved over the entire crowd before settling. "One of our Clan has chosen to abandon you all. He is responsible for this attack today!"

Angered yowls and shocked and confused expressions came as a result of his claim. They all looked to one another, hoping to find some sort of explanation from someone, but it appeared as though no one knew what to make of it. The call to order by Silentstar drew their attention once more, although more and more of them were staring at the gray tom who still refused to lift his head.

"Your Clanmate has broken our code—the warrior code, as well as a moral code that we choose to follow," he said. "Not only has he taken a mate while still bound with another—" all of their eyes moved to the white cat standing at the side, her bright pelt unmarked compared to the rest of them, "—but the one he has chosen to court has loyalties to RavenClan!"

The implications of his words spread throughout the group, and they didn't even bother to hide their looks, which were quickly growing with anger and betrayal. Not even Silentstar could try to silence them now. When the tom finally raised his head, he met their stares head-on, not without defiance, but with a masked uncertainty. He didn't even bother to try and deny it. Bristlefur would never have expected him to.

"You are a creature without loyalty and are not faithful. Do you not remember the code, Blotchfire?"

The tom known as Blotchfire didn't even twitch. "I know the code inside and out, Silentstar."

"Then that brings up the question that everyone wants to know," the leader snarled. "Why would such a loyal member of our Clan betray us? Give information that would harm us? Put his mate and kits in danger?"

The mask that Blotchfire held wavered as he looked at the she-cat, but she still did not dare look back at him. Bristlefur caught his eye finally, and it felt like it lingered long enough that the two of them could have been on their own plane of existence, sharing words without making a sound. Blotchfire's gaze was locked on his own paws for a few moments before he lifted his head, holding a steady gaze as he replied. "I do not think I can give you an answer," he finally said to Silentstar. "I regret what I did with everything I have. But I cannot change it."

"Do you have any words to say in your defense?" Silentstar asked, a challenge hidden beneath his question.

A pregnant pause, and then, "No, I do not."

The whole of the Clan had stayed relatively quiet until now, save for their brief outbursts, taking time to digest everything that had just been revealed to them. The cries of kits broke their concentration for just a moment, but Silentstar still called the attention to himself.

"If you have nothing more to say, then you must leave us. You have cut ties." A sharp intake of breath came shortly after, and Blotchfire's head swiveled around the group, possibly looking for some sort of ally. But no one would help him now, Bristlefur knew. He knew better than anyone.

The kits' cries grew louder and more upset, but no one paid any attention to them as they watched Blotchfire accept judgment and his fate without so much as a request for forgiveness. His brilliant eyes met those of every cat in the clearing, one by one, before landing on Bristlefur. Another sense of silent communication passed through them, and with a simple nod, the tom turned around and left the camp.

Bristlefur, as was expected of him, stayed silently as his brother disappeared through the trees. As was his duty to them, he followed after, ensuring that such a vile cat could never return to them.

The trail of cries followed him out, as if mourning the loss themselves.