Hello, friends! I apologize for the delay between chapters, I've been rather busy and got sucked into reading some more Warriors (particularly, finishing up Vision of Shadows and reading Crowfeather's Trial, with Squirrelflight's Hope being next) in order to build my reservoir of knowledge about the setting back up to what it used to be. I need to do a complete read through of the entire series again, to maximize it, but for now what remains, my recent readings, and a bit of research online will suffice. I've yet to get any reviews, so I'm not sure what people think, but I do hope that you like what has been written so far and are excited to see it develop. Last chapter introduced characters that I believe you will like and characters you will (mostly) hate, and who will play some very crucial roles in the story. Do not worry, as the relationship between Snakepelt and Ivytail will be explored and explained, and you'll find out why they are so close despite being from Shadowclan and Thunderclan, respectively, but I will say now that neither of them are gay. Not canonically, at least. This will be another 'expanding the world' chapter with a return of Alder and his family, and I apologize, though I do believe it necessary. But enough rambling, it's time to get onto the story.
Several days had passed since Sorrelstripe had told Ivytail, Jaystar, and Brackenfur about her suspected pregnancy. They were keeping the secret to themselves, mutually agreeing it would do nobody any good to try and make cats aware of yet another she-cat having kits with a cat not from Thunderclan. All of them were uncomfortable, but it was agreed to be a necessary evil to maintain peace. Especially considering the unheard-of length of peace and quiet the clans had been experiencing of late, besides the expected herb and prey shortages beginning to worm their way into the territories.
Ivytail had a feeling this decision would come back to bite them, but Jaystar and Brackenfur wanted to focus on the here and now. He couldn't blame them. Nobody wanted to think of what might happen if Kestrelheart put two and two together and challenged them with a claim to the kits. No cat would accept his claim, especially if Sorrelstripe denied it or, at the very least, refused to let her kits be taken from her and refused to leave Thunderclan. There was the possibility he would decide to join Thunderclan – there was precedent for a similar situation, though it had been long, long ago – but they had all agreed that was an unlikely outcome.
Sun-high greeted the camp, blinding Ivytail as he looked up briefly. He lowered his gaze, blinking to readjust his vision, and padded towards the nursery. Nearby, Tigerstripe and Sorrelstripe were busy sharing tongues, both seeming content with the presence of the other cat. He had to admit, Sorrelstripe had impressed him with her ability to feign affection, though he knew he shouldn't be impressed. It seemed so real, which worried him and relieved him. On one paw, such an ability to pretend could spell disaster if she decided to use it for nefarious purposes. On the other, it was entirely possible she was genuinely falling for the tom. He hoped it was the latter with every fiber of his being.
He stepped through the den entrance, finding Cloverfoot and Cherrytail washing Waspkit and Brownkit, much to both toms' displeasure. Ivytail let out a quiet mrow of laughter, all four cats looking up at him.
"Ivytail," Cherrytail said, glancing between him and Cloverfoot. "Is something the matter?"
"No, of course not," he said reassuringly, deciding not to ask her about the glance. He didn't have to. "I just wanted to check on Waspkit."
"Ivytail, I'm fine!" Waspkit whined, Cloverfoot lightly batting his ear admonishingly. He let out a quiet mew of complaint, but said nothing else.
"I know that," the older tom said. "But I have to be sure, for my sake if nothing else. I'd never forgive myself if you ended up losing your vision – or even your eye – because I decided that you were fine and something went wrong."
"He's just worried about you," Cloverfoot said, Waspkit raising and turning his head to look at her.
Cherrytail snorted. "Right, I'm sure that's all he's here for," she muttered, and even Brownkit stared up at her with wide eyes, everyone unable to believe what she had said.
"You should be more respectful to your medicine cat," Cloverfoot said, clearly wanting to avoid an argument. "He'd visit just as frequently if it had been Brownkit who got stung."
"Because he'd still get to see you," the older she-cat accused, Ivytail letting out a quiet gasp. He couldn't believe her aggression on the matter.
"We were 'paws, Cherrytail!" Cloverfoot snapped, Ivytail unable to get a word in. "We were young and stupid. Besides, at least I didn't go straight to the nursery the moment I became a warrior, mated to my mentor."
"No, you just went off and had a kit with a Starclan-forsaken rogue, dooming your kit to never have a father!" Cherrytail spat. Waspkit and Brownkit were both crouched, their eyes wide. Waspkit visibly deflated at her words, lowering his gaze, and Ivytail decided enough was enough.
"Both of you, shut up!" he snapped, the she-cats staring at him with shocked expressions. Neither had seen him so angry. "If you want to bicker, fine, but you go too far, Cherrytail! If you have a complaint over two how close me and Cloverfoot were once upon a time, I'm fine with that. But don't you dare go so far as to insinuate that just because he may not know his father means he's somehow lesser for it!"
"I-I never said-"
"You didn't have to," he hissed, furious with the she-cat. "You've always been spiteful. It's no wonder..." He trailed off, realizing what he was about to say. Cherrytail and Cloverfoot seemed to realize too. Cloverfoot looked shocked, but Cherrytail just deflated, as if all the air had been sucked out of her, and guilt pierced Ivytail's heart. She wasn't the only one who'd gone too far this day, and as mean as she could be, she didn't deserve what he'd been about to say. "I'm sorry."
"I don't care," she said, laying her head on her paws. "Just conduct your checkup and leave."
Dipping his head, the tom turned to where Waspkit still crouched, his eyes wet. A heavy, crushing silence filled the den, and barely a moment passed before Brownkit padded over and crouched next to Waspkit, pressing against the red-furred kit's flank comfortingly. Finishing his exam of Waspkit's eye, still discolored, he stood up, turned, and padded out of the den. Cloverfoot was right behind him, the tom facing her with an apologetic expression.
"You didn't have to remind her of Boulderfur," she said softly.
"I know," he said, closing his eyes and hanging his head. "I know she misses him, probably more than any of his other kin. I didn't mean to say it, but I was just so..."
"I appreciate your desire to stick up for me," Cloverfoot meowed, smiling warmly. "Just don't let your personal feelings dictate how you do it. And don't pretend that you and your father don't miss him just as much. Greypelt lost his brother, and you lost one of the three cats you were closer two than me."
"You're one to lecture me on personal feelings," he muttered, raising his gaze towards her with a playful smile barely touching his muzzle. She rolled her eyes.
"Like I said. We were young and stupid," she said, shaking her head. "It's for the best we grew up."
"You grew up," he corrected. She didn't seem surprised. "I did too, just...not the same way."
"I know," the she-cat said softly. "You're a good friend, Ivytail. I don't want to lose that."
"Nor do I," he replied. A moment passed before both cats awkwardly dipped their heads, then turned and padded back to their respective dens.
Waspkit and Brownkit exited the nursery a heartbeat later, both padding towards one of the unoccupied corners of the camp. They pretended to fight, though neither of their hearts were in it. The argument between their mothers had taken a lot out of them, but it didn't seem to have damaged their friendship.
Jaystar watched them from her perch on Highledge, just outside her den. Brackenfur was entering camp from a hunting patrol, along with Echofoot, Foxear, and Fernpaw. He looked up at her, his ear twitching and head turning towards where Waspkit and Brownkit were starting to cease their halfhearted play-fighting.
"What's wrong?" he asked as he padded over, both kits looking up at him. They hesitated.
"Our parents had an argument, and I..." Waspkit stopped himself, almost having admitted Ivytail's involvement, and averted his gaze. "I just wanted to get away from it for a bit. Brownkit came with me."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Brackenfur said softly, sitting down. "May I ask what it was about?"
"Just...normal stuff," Brownkit said hesitantly.
"Was Ivytail involved?" the older tom asked, ear flicking at a fly casually. The silence from both kits told him all he needed to know. "I'll have Jaystar speak to them." He stood up and made to turn away.
"No!" Waspkit said, stopping the tom in his tracks. Brackenfur turned his head, surprised. "I...I don't want them to get in trouble."
"I've known your mothers for a long time," he meowed, taking a deep breath. "If it's not addressed, it'll escalate. And that's bad for everyone."
"But..."
"They won't be in trouble unless they continue," Brackenfur said reassuringly, which seemed to work. Both kits visibly relaxed. "You have my word."
"Thank you," Waspkit said softly, the older tom chuckling.
"Cherrytail is stubborn, but she's not a mouse-brain," he said, quickly casting an apologetic glance at Brownkit. He felt bad saying anything negative about anybody, even those who deserved it. With a dip of his head, the tom turned and padded towards Highledge. Jaystar pressed her nose to his in greeting, then looked back towards Waspkit and Brownkit. They had gone back to play-fighting, though they seemed much more into it now.
"What'd you say to them?" she asked curiously, the tom sitting next to her. He took a deep breath, as if preparing himself.
"Cherrytail and Cloverfoot got into an argument, and Ivytail apparently got involved too," he said. "I'm guessing Ivytail was checking up on Waspkit again and Cherrytail remarked on his and Cloverfoot's previous infatuation with one another. It likely escalated from there."
"I see," she said, her voice taking on a noticeable edge. He turned his head, looking at her.
"What are you going to do?" he asked worriedly, knowing how protective she could be at times.
"What I should have done from day one," she muttered, standing up and staring down at the camp below. Brackenfur's eyes widened, wondering if she was really going to go so far as to call a clan meeting.
"Jay..." he said, laying his tail on her back. She glared at him, and he met her gaze steadily. After a few heartbeats she looked back down at the camp.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath Highledge for a clan meeting!" she called, and Brackenfur was forced to retract his tail as he took a few steps back to let her be the focus of the clan's attention.
Waspkit and Brownkit stared up from the corner of the camp they had been play-fighting in, both exchanging glances before padding over quickly to where Cloverfoot sat outside the nursery. Cherrytail exited a moment later, tail lashing in a gesture for Brownkit to come with her. He hesitated, glanced at Waspkit apologetically, then followed his mother.
"What's this about?" Foxear muttered curiously, Fernpaw looking up at him briefly. She was wondering herself.
"It has come to my attention there are those in my clan who are still hesitant to accept Waspkit and Cloverfoot," Jaystar meowed, a few low, awkward murmurs reaching her ears. "Would anybody be willing to stand and explain why?"
It came to no surprise to her that Cherrytail was all too happy to be the first. The queen stood, yowling, "She had a kit with a rouge!" Jaystar forced herself not to respond angrily, though her patience with the queen was already starting to run low with just that single sentence.
"At least she didn't drive her mate away!" Echofoot snapped, several cats gasping. It may have been on many of their minds, but nobody had expected a cat to bring it up. Cherrytail's head jerked back, her gaze resting on the tom for a long moment.
"Echofoot!" Foxear hissed, glaring at him. "Show her some respect! It wasn't like she intended to!"
"She didn't try too hard to stop him, either," the younger tom meowed back, Cherrytail averting her gaze. Waspkit stared at the crowd of cats, unable to see through it, with wide eyes. He turned his head as Cloverfoot started padding towards the cats, weaving through them. Echofoot turned to look at her, blinking in surprise, and the next thing anybody knew he was yowling in pain and stumbling back as the she-cat raked her claws across his face.
"That's enough!" she spat. Jaystar watched, knowing she should reign her cats in but wanting to see how it played out. "I've had my quarrels with Cherrytail, and Starclan knows we rarely get along, but I will not let you disrespect her like this! Think of how she must feel, bringing all of that up! Think of how her kits, all of them, must feel!"
Foxear lowered his head. Fernpaw glanced up at him, then looked to her left at her mentor, Deertail. The she-cat met her gaze, then smiled softly and nodded. Fernpaw nodded in thanks, then pressed against the older tom comfortingly. He glanced down at her, a soft smile on his muzzle. She returned it.
"You don't need to stick up for me," Cherrytail said softly, looking at Cloverfoot. "Especially after what I've said."
"I'd do the same for any cat," Cloverfoot replied, staring at Echofoot for a long moment. "And I know you would too." She turned and padded away, back to where Waspkit still sat, and sat down.
"If anybody else shares Cherrytail's opinions, they are more than welcome to express them," Jaystar said. "Though you'll have a hard time doing so through moss soaked in mouse bile and the ticks you'll be pulling from the elders."
"You're just saying that cause Cloverfoot is your sister!" Tigerstripe called out. Jaystar had to admire his courage in saying it, if nothing else.
"I've always prided myself in my ability to make rational decisions even when kin are involved," she said, her response seeming to confuse the tom. "I'm not saying this because she's my sister. I'm saying this because I'm tired of cats constantly questioning her loyalty and the validity of Waspkit's place in the clan because of a stupid mistake she made. And I will have no more of it."
Several cats bowed their heads, even Cherrytail. She was relieved, knowing it could have gone much worse.
"Echofoot, go see Ivytail," she ordered, the tom dipping his head and padding towards the medicine cat's den. The swipe from Cloverfoot was still bleeding, though it seemed to be minor from what she could tell from her position. A moment passed as she considered whether to follow through on her threat and have Tigerstripe pick the ticks from the elders, then decided not to. His complaint had been valid, even if not true.
The clan meeting had brought to her attention that, despite the inter-clan peace, there was a lot of building hostility within her own clan. She wasn't sure how to feel about that.
The cats, realizing the meeting was over, disbanded and went back to whatever they had been doing previously. Cherrytail and Cloverfoot stared at each other for a moment before the older she-cat approached, Brownkit beside her.
"Thank you," Cherrytail hesitantly said. "I'm sorry for what I said. I guess I just...lashed out, due to my grief. Or whatever Ivytail would call it."
"He's wise beyond his years," Cloverfoot said. "Always has been." She was silent a moment. "You're forgiven, of course. I've never believed in holding grudges. And I'm sorry for what I said, as well, and I know Ivytail is."
Cherrytail didn't respond immediately. She glanced down at Brownkit, then lowered her head and nudged him. "Go play with Waspkit," she said. The two kits exchanged glances, looked at their respective mothers, then hurried off without waiting to be told twice. Both she-cats watched them leave, then looked at one another. Cherrytail took a deep breath. "How'd you do it?"
"Do what?" Cloverfoot asked, tilting her head.
"Get over Ivytail," the older she-cat answered. "You were both so maddeningly close. You both clearly loved one another. How do you get over that?"
Cloverfoot blinked, caught off guard by the question. She could understand why Cherrytail was asking, but she'd never expected to have been asked at all.
"Well, I...focused on other things, mostly," she answered after a moment to think her answer over. "I focused on becoming a warrior. And when that happened, I focused on whatever else I could find. But nothing worked, not truly. So I told Jaystar I needed to leave for a while. I did, journeyed for a while. Never went far, but far enough away that I could just focus on myself and surviving without anything else interfering."
"You met Waspkit's father on this journey?" Cherrytail asked, tilting her head. Cloverfoot was relieved to hear the she-cat's tone was sincerely curious, without any of the venom from earlier.
"I did," she said, dipping her head. "I never intended for anything to become of it, much less what did. He brought me food from time to time, and we talked just about every night. I was glad for the company, truth be told. I was away from my clan, everyone I knew. Being lonely was natural, and I let my loneliness manipulate me into thinking I might build something with him. But he wanted me to come meet his family, and I realized just how much time had passed. I panicked, told him that I would the following day, and when he left...I just ran. I came straight back here, barely stopping but to rest."
Cherrytail stared at her silently, and Cloverfoot could see the petty desire to judge her warring with her sense of empathy. Eventually she chose the latter, her expression softening.
"You made the right choice," she meowed. "Nursery would be lonely without you."
"Wow, that was almost a compliment," Cloverfoot said, Cherrytail huffing in amusement. "So, what? Are we...are we friends now, or something?"
"Friends would be nice," Cherrytail said. "Though we'll probably still argue."
"Oh, good, here I was afraid things would get boring," Cloverfoot meowed playfully. Cherrytail chuckled, both she-cats standing and padding over to where their kits were playing.
They hadn't finished bathing them, after all.
Alder lounged in the sun, eyes closed and tail contentedly swishing back and forth across the ground. He let out a long, slow exhale. It had been a moon since Beech had kitted, and he'd never seen Oak happier. Not even when he'd initially found out she was expecting his kits. He was happy for the tom, if he was honest with himself, and he was happier still that it had coincided so perfectly with Holly's decision to go after the she-cat he'd been seeing.
That decision, on the other paw, still haunted him. He knew exactly what it was she was going to do if she found her, and he could never allow that. He'd sooner fight the whole camp than be forced to witness that.
With a grunt, the tom stood up and turned to pad towards Holly's den. He froze when he found her standing right there, apparently having been coming over to him. At least he hoped that was what she'd been doing.
"Alder," she meowed.
"Mother," he said, dipping his head respectfully. "I was just about to come see you."
"I'm glad to hear it, because I wanted to speak with you," the she-cat replied. Without another word, she turned and started walking back towards her den. He didn't hesitate to follow, the two cats stepping into the cooler, darker den. Alder sat down, silent, as Holly got comfortable in her nest once more.
"What is it you wanted to see me about?" he meowed curiously, tilting his head slightly. Holly remained silent for a moment, simply narrowing her eyes. His heart began to race, wondering if perhaps she somehow knew of his thoughts. He relaxed somewhat when her expression relaxed, though her tail did flick in annoyance.
"A tuft is sticking up on your cheek," she finally said. He didn't know how he managed to not betray his relief that her silence had simply been her annoyance at some fur being out of place. "I'll fix it in a moment. For now, prepare to leave."
He blinked. "I thought we weren't leaving until Beech's kits were weaned," he meowed evenly, forcing himself to remain calm.
"We're not," Holly replied. "I'm sending you on forward scouting. I want you to see if you can pick up that she-cat's scent and track her to where she lives. You will find her, return to us, and then guide us to her."
"Are you sure?" he asked, surprised at her words. She nodded.
"You're one of my most trusted Sons," she meowed, almost seeming surprised that he hadn't expected it. "I know you would never let me down."
"Of course I wouldn't, Mother," he replied, giving the she-cat a reassuring smile. "I would never dream of it."
"Good," Holly said. Alder stood, turning to leave. "You had something you wanted to tell me?"
"Oh, right," he said, looking at her. "I was simply going to ask if I could do what you've already ordered of me."
"I do like when a Son of mine takes the initiative," she purred, Alder blinking warmly at her as she stood up and stepped up to him. She extended her head forward, licking his cheek, and he realized she was flattening the tuft that had likely been driving her mad, then pulled away. "Will you send Oak to me when you leave? I'd like to talk to him about the time he's been spending in camp."
"Of course, Mother," he promised, walking out of her den. Oak was letting Marigold and Nettle – his and Beech's kits – ride on his back, and Alder felt bad having to interrupt them.
"Alder, hey," Oak said warmly as the red-furred tom approached. Nettle and Marigold turned to look at him, their eyes widening excitedly.
"Alder, can we ride you next?" Marigold asked, the crimson cat silent for a moment. Oak seemed to realize something was wrong.
"Alder, please, tell her I'll go hunt right away," he said, his tone begging.
"It's too late, Oak," he meowed somberly. "Just get it over with."
Oak swallowed nervously, then slowly crouched down. Nettle and Marigold both scrambled down, looking up at him with confusion clear.
"Is something wrong, Oak?" Nettle asked, the tom standing. He looked down at them, silent for a long moment. Eventually he smiled, though Alder could tell he was scared. He'd known him long enough to tell immediately.
"No, Nettle," he answered. "I just...I made a mistake. And mistakes have consequences."
"Is it our fault?" Marigold asked worriedly, the tom crouching down.
"No," he whispered, licking both their heads. Alder's chest tightened. "No, it's not your fault. And I better not hear you about you thinking that it is."
"Oak," Alder prodded softly, laying the tip of his tail on the tom's flank. Oak closed his eyes, slowly standing.
"Yeah," he meowed, turning and padding towards Holly's den with his tail hanging.
Alder started padding for the camp exit, not wanting to stick around for what happened. He couldn't escaped the pained screech.
I won't be making a habit of writing end-notes. I simply wanted to say that I read Squirrelflight's Hope in-between the AN at the start and finishing the chapter and I could not be more brokenhearted than I am now. That is all.