Here's another chapter! I hope you all enjoy it!
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O0O0O0
Morningpaw wondered if she should feel embarrassed by the unsurprised looks given to her by most of her Clanmate's as both she, her friends and their ThunderClan escorts were spotted by a RiverClan patrol. The flame-colored she-cat apprentice felt as though she should, but exhaustion and the knowledge that she would soon have to face Crookedstar diverted most of it.
Stonefur didn't outwardly seem all that bothered to see the ThunderClan warriors trespassing on their territory. Though he did pay special attention to the three RiverClan cats that were stuck in the middle of the ThunderClan warriors. Morningpaw felt a shiver crawl across her spine as blue eyes raked over her, perhaps searching for possible injuries. Of course he found some on all three of them, though not for the real reasons he might be thinking.
Bluestar halted just a few rabbit-hops from Stonefur's patrol. Which was comprising himself, Ottersplash, Ottersplash's apprentice Mosspaw, and to Whitepaw in vain attempts of trying to make himself invisible, Leopardfur. The senior RiverClan warriors regarded the ThunderClan warriors coolly. "Bluestar, what are ThunderClan warriors doing on our territory. More importantly, why have you taken some of our apprentices and warriors hostage?"
Bluestar respectfully dipped her head. Keeping all signs of hostility out of her body language and trying to show the RiverClan warrior that the ThunderClan warriors weren't here for a confrontation. "We mean you no harm. We're here to return these three RiverClan cats and to speak with your leader."
Stonefur stared suspiciously at the ThunderClan leader that only Morningpaw, outside of Oakheart, knew to be his mother. Finally Stonefur nodded, as if agreeing with something. "We'll take you to Crookedstar." Stonefur didn't allow the ThunderClan patrol to pass before they released Silverstream, Whitepaw and Morningpaw from where they were being guarded in the center of the ThunderClan warriors.
The trio slinked into place beside Leopardfur, trying to avoid eye contact with the golden dappled tabby warrior out of fear and embarrassment. Leopardfur, however, just scrunched her nose irritably and narrowed her amber eyes at Whitepaw.
The way back to RiverClan camp was a long, tense and heavily silent trek with the ThunderClan warriors following behind. Morningpaw glanced backwards from time to time to look at her once mentor and leader, watching how the pale blue-gray leader put on a relaxed facade, head held high. It was impressive. Morningpaw didn't outwardly show it though, not with how closely Leopardfur was scrutinizing her, the flame-colored apprentice was already in hot water without adding the fact she was admiring ThunderClan's leader.
Morningpaw caught Mosspaw's eye and the gentlest apprentice out of all of them gave Morningpaw a sympathetic look, one that Morningpaw appreciated even though it was useless in the face of the upcoming meeting between RiverClan and ThunderClan, the one that Morningpaw unintentionally caused.
Within a slow blink of an eye, Morningpaw found herself entering through the reeds into RiverClan's camp. Following just behind Leopardfur. The ThunderClan warriors were flanked and drew the attention of those currently in camp. The sight of the ThunderClan patrol sent hackles rising as demands to know why they were in RiverClan camp began to escalate. It drew more and more attention until finally; Crookedstar pushed his way through to the front to confront the situation.
"Silence!" Crookedstar yowled. It took a moment for them all to quiet down but the RiverClan cats did manage to fall silent. "Speak, Bluestar. Tell us why you have come here."
Bluestar politely dipped her head as the ThunderClan patrol shifted restlessly behind her. "I come in peace and also in thanks to some of your warriors for helping aid ThunderClan in the rescue of our kits."
Crookedstar seemed intrigued by the statement. "Did some of your kits wind up in our river?"
Bluestar shook her head as she further explained in detail, Morningpaw and her friends' heroic actions. "The kits had been stolen prior by ShadowClan who had attacked our camp during the last Gathering. These three, alongside two of our own apprentices, snuck inside ShadowClan territory and stole them back. ThunderClan owes you a great debt."
"Rescued your kits, did they?"
Crookedstar sent a sharp look at the trio but made no move to reprimand them in front of the ThunderClan warriors. That would surely come after they leave.
Bluestar nodded. "Yes. We are forever thankful."
It was a moment before Crookedstar finally spoke, "So, is that all you've come to tell me?"
"I've come to speak with you on a bigger matter than just my thanks and ThunderClan's debet to RiverClan. I would also propose a temporary alliance." Bluestar meowed. "ShadowClan is getting more and more bold. I fear that whatever they may be planning will affect us all."
"RiverClan doesn't need an alliance with ThunderClan."
"Crookedstar," Bluestar seemed to carefully pick her words, "ShadowClan is escalating their advances against the Clans. I fear they mean to try and take over the entire forest. To rule over us all. With Brokenstar as leader of ShadowClan there is no hope of reasoning with them. They are not above stealing ThunderClan kits and they won't be above stealing them from RiverClan either."
Anxious murmurings and quiet conversations broke out amongst the surrounding cats. Clearly Morningpaw's Clanmate's are shocked by the declaration.
"RiverClan can protect their own kits!" Someone in the crowd, perhaps Shadepaw from how young they sounded, shouted from the surrounding cats. There were those who agreed but Morningpaw found that she wasn't one of them. The flame-pelted apprentice had seen for herself what Brokenstar could and would do to them all. None of the Clans were safe on their own.
Crookedstar waited till they all calmed some before replying, "from what you say it's true that Brokenstar and his warriors have shown disturbing behavior. Attacking Clans and stealing their kits are disgusting acts that go against StarClan," for a brief moment Morningpaw held out hope that Crookedstar would agree with Bluestar's offer, but that hope was squashed as he continued speaking, "however the Clans need to remain separated. That is the will of StarClan and how it has always been."
Bluestar appeared taken aback by the harsh decline of an alliance. However the ThunderClan leader was given no room to counter argue.
"Oakheart," Crookedstar turned to his deputy, "see to it that ThunderClan is escorted off our territory."
The dark, reddish-brown tom nodded and rounded up a few warriors to aid him in the task. Then they were off, seeing to it that ThunderClan leave their territory.
Morningpaw watched as Oakheart slid up beside Bluestar. Neither did she miss the way that Bluestar allowed the closeness or the way they seemed to keep in step with one another as ThunderClan was escorted out of camp by RiverClan warriors. To Morningpaw's shock, Crookedstar also seemed to have caught onto the close contact between his deputy and Bluestar, the RiverClan leaders emerald-green eyes were narrowed in on the nonexistent space between the pair, his tail lashed out behind him. With a jolt, Morningpaw was reminded that Crookedstar and Oakheart were brother's, littermates, leader and deputy, they would know practically everything about each other, would that also mean that Crookedstar knew about Oakheart and Bluestar's love affair? Does that mean that Crookedstar would know that Stonefur and Mistyfoot are also Bluestar's kits? Has he always known? If so, that would mean that Crookedstar had always kept his brother's involvement with Bluestar a secret, protecting him, and by extension Bluestar and their kits, from the wrath of both their Clans.
As the Clan dispersed after seeing the ThunderClan warriors being led out. Crookedstar turned then to speak in hushed whispers with Leopardfur, leaving Morningpaw and the other two involved with helping ThunderClan to agonizingly wait to be recognized by their leader.
"What do you think he's going to do to us?" Whitepaw whispered, poking Morningpaw in the side with one of his snowy-white paws. "Do you think he'll refuse to make us warriors and have us remain apprentices for the rest of our lives?"
"I'm concerned he's going to make me back to being an apprentice." Silverstream meowed, sounding nervous.
'I just hope I'm still allowed to stay in the Clan.' Morningpaw thought to herself, not voicing her own worries to her friends.
After what felt like moons. Crookedstar finally turned his full attention to the trio who were anxiously awaiting their punishments. The RiverClan leaders' emerald-green eyes were narrowed on all of them. A shiver went up Morningpaw's back as that disapproving gaze swept over her.
"You three are in so much trouble."
Growling angrily, Crookedstar violently shook his massive head, his face frustrated. "What were you all thinking? Do you have any idea what you were doing? You were supposed to be hunting! Not taking a stroll through ShadowClan. Morningpaw, was this your idea?"
"Yeah…" Morningpaw trailed off awkwardly, a stubborn resolve strewn across her face, "I'm sorry about not informing you first. I wanted to talk to you, but I had no choice."
"You had no choice--" Crookedstar spluttered, his face indignant. "As an apprentice you had no right to go off on your own. Doing something so dangerous for the sake of someone outside your own Clan."
"I know from a Clan standpoint that what I did might seem unethical," Morningpaw meowed, "but helping save those kits felt like the right thing to do. I understand if you don't agree--"
Crookedstar let out a tired sigh. Stopping Morningpaw before the small she-cat could finish as he laid his tail upon her shoulder. "Saving kits is always the righteous and honorable thing to do, Morningpaw. However, doing so spontaneously and dragging others into potential danger without thinking thoroughly ahead will cost you everything. You could have died. Your friend could have died. My daughter could have died. All because you thought you were doing the right thing."
Morningpaw's ears fell flat. It's not like Morningpaw didn't know the risks, it's just that she was putting the kits above herself. And my Clanmate's, Morningpaw thought, feeling guilty. Though Whitepaw and Silverstream had accompanied her willingly, it was still because of Morningpaw that they had been on ShadowClan territory in the first place. Morningpaw had put both Whitepaw and Silverstream in danger, all because she selfishly wanted to help ThunderClan, her home in a past life.
"If you want a place in RiverClan, then you need to start acting like it. Start putting your Clan--your Clanmate's first. Leave your past behind you and start looking towards the future."
"I want to be a part of RiverClan," Morningpaw was surprised at how genuine her words sounded. Though the words felt right at expressing her current desires. "It's just not as easy as letting go of what made me who I am."
"And that's understandable." Morningpaw whirled around to see Oakheart standing just over her shoulder. The RiverClan deputy having come back from escorting ThunderClan off their territory. "All young cats are still discovering their own place in the Clan. Morningpaw is no different from any of her peers. Don't forget about your own doubts and running off into danger."
Crookedstar glared at his brother for stepping in on his lecture. But as far as Morningpaw and her friends were concerned, they were thankful for the interruption of such an intense reprimand.
"Oakheart, you--"
"Enough, both of you." Mudfur, RiverClan's medicine cat, padded forward as he began checking over Morningpaw and her friends. The long-haired light brown toms tongue clicked in disapproval as he noticed a long cut on Whitepaw's shoulder that was still slightly oozing blood. "With the way you two are going I'm sure that you wouldn't have noticed these three are injured, not until they made it all the way to StarClan and back to tell you."
Both RiverClan's leader and deputy flinched at the medicine cats scolding, embarrassment clear on their faces.
"Yes, you're right, Mudfur." Oakheart coughed, glancing over at their leader. "We should let these young cats be seen too. They've been through quite a lot recently."
"You're right." Crookedstar huffed. Before turning back to the trio. "Come see me after Mudfur has cleared you."
"We will, father." Silverstream assured.
Crookedstar gave a stiff nod. Dismissing them as both he and the Clan deputy began speaking quietly amongst themselves. Morningpaw watched them go, wondering what they were going to discuss about the situation in private. Though she didn't have long to ponder over it as her thoughts were interrupted by Mudfur.
"Come, let me check you over." Mudfur murmured, nudging Morningpaw towards the entrance to his den.
"But I'm not injured." Morningpaw tried to weakly protest but her words were quickly dismissed as the old medicine laid his tail gently on Morningpaw's shoulder, stopping her briefly in her tracks.
Mudfur had Morningpaw turn so they were meeting each other's eyes directly. "Not all wounds are physical Morningpaw. Sometimes there are things that transcend the eye of even medicine cats. Just rest in my den for a while. Give me the peace of mind in knowing that you are safe."
Morningpaw felt too tired to argue. It's been a long day after all. Full of enlightenment and a liberation of finally making a choice for her future.
She was truly Morningpaw now. Firestar was now nothing more than a part of her past. So far all that she knew was her name was Morningpaw, an apprentice of RiverClan, loyal to her friends and Clanmate's, and she will protect RiverClan with the life she currently has.
But before she could rest easily in this life she's going to have to save her old one. She's going to have to find a way to save ThunderClan from destruction.
O0O0O0
Crookedstar watched the apprentices and his daughter head towards Mudfur's den at the older medicine cat's urging.
"Reckless." Crookedstar hissed, ashamed of himself for not having a more active part on the younger, more energetic and bold apprentices training. Crookedstar would have a word with their mentors later. Tell them to keep a closer watch on their apprentices and monitor them more closely. They didn't need anymore repeats of this behavior in the future.
"Brother,"
Crookedstar acknowledged Oakheart with the swivel of his ears, only looking at him from the corner of his eyes. His deputy, his brother, hid nothing as he outwardly showed his disapproval of Crookedstar's decision on the matter with ThunderClan. It was obvious and Crookedstar prepared himself for another argument.
"I've made my decision, Oakheart."
His deputy glared at him. "You're making a mistake."
"I disagree. RiverClan has helped many Clans already. We don't need to involve ourselves any further. We need to focus on our own and what's in our best interest."
"Our best interest," Oakheart emphasized the word 'interest' with a sharp hiss. "Is to not sit around with our tails dangling in the water for ShadowClan to come bite off."
His lips curled up. "What I say goes," he growled, dismissing his deputy and turning. "We don't need to give anymore reasons for retribution from ShadowClan."
"You're making a mistake!" Oakheart emphasized as Crookedstar walked away, but did not follow after the Clan leader.
Crookedstar didn't speak to anyone after leaving his brother behind. He went straight to his den, wanting a secluded retreat at the moment, needing some time to himself.
Crookedstar wanted to sigh in relief as he entered his den. Things have gotten so out of paw recently. Problem after problem. Half the time, Crookedstar didn't know what in StarClan's name was going. One thing Crookedstar never let himself forget, though, was when the regular mishaps and wild situations began. Barely a half-moon after Morningpaw had joined RiverClan. The very day Morningpaw had fought during the battle with ThunderClan over Sunningrocks.
Crookedstar didn't know what to think of the small ginger apprentice who was formerly just an outsider with nowhere to call home. He was talked into letting her join by his brother. Although Oakheart was a very noble warrior and deputy, he tended to make rash decisions. Like his love affair with a certain ThunderClan she-cat. Nonetheless, Crookedstar was persuaded by both his brother's silver tongue and Morningpaw's promising abilities when facing off against an experienced apprentice. He wondered--
"How interesting,".
Crookedstar bit down hard on his tongue as he whipped his head around. In a vivid spider web thin outline, padded forward the monster that stalked Crookedstar's life a dark ominous cloud.
"I did not foresee an interference in which StarClan themselves have no control over."
"Mapleshade." Crookedstar spat, glaring as the ghostly she-cat circled around him and his den. "What do you want this time?"
Mapleshade hummed. Then dropped a surprise that froze Crookedstar's blood. "Your brother was meant to die in the battle with ThunderClan."
If his jaw wasn't already broken, Crookedstar was sure that it would be left hanging by the horrible shocking news. Unimaginable guilt tore at the RiverClan leaders heart. To think he had been fighting earlier with his deputy, his brother, over something so trivial, that Oakheart wasn't supposed to be alive to even have the argument was sickening to think about.
"That apprentice, Morningpaw, was never supposed to even be in RiverClan." Mapleshade continued as though she hadn't just shook Crookedstar to the core. "In fact, I believe she was never meant to exist. An enigma that has left even StarClan baffled. I wonder how she could go above the will of StarClan, how she so easily defying their carefully constructed ploy's--"
"I already asked you, what do you want?" Crookedstar interrupted, shaking off his shock as Mapleshade openly talked about RiverClan's newest apprentice, the former outsider that had his brother being so protective over as though he was another one of his kits, who has befriended his daughter and has garnered the attention of so many, including Mapleshade it seems.
"I told you to get rid of her," Mapleshade cut right to the chase. "Already you have seen all the trouble that she had caused for RiverClan. It was a mistake to let her stay."
It was true that Morningpaw had gotten them more involved with the other Clans than Crookedstar had ever wanted RiverClan to be. However, Morningpaw had fought alongside RiverClan warriors, had even saved his brother's life, the flame-colored she-cat was a smart and resourceful apprentice, more dedicated to the warrior code than he expected of someone born outside the Clans. How could he ever turn her away?
"Allowing Morningpaw to join RiverClan was never a mistake." Crookedstar meowed. Internally Crookedstar wondered if that was true. Did he truly believe that Morningpaw belonged in RiverClan or was he defending her just so he could defy Mapleshade? Crookedstar honestly didn't know at this point.
"That apprentice will bring about the downfall of RiverClan," the ragged grotesque spirit hissed, snaggly fangs on full display, "you'll end up wishing you'd listened to me."
"I've been listening to you, and now look at where it got me!" Crookedstar furiously yowled back.
Something sickening like dark amusement flashed in the scarred she-cat's amber eyes. "Yes, look at where you are. You're the leader of RiverClan. The greatest position that any cat could wish for in any Clan, one that I helped put you in. You'd be nowhere without me. You'd have still been roaming around with no Clan to call your own. I brought you to where you are today. You owe me-"
"Nothing! I owe you nothing!" Crookedstar retorted, "you've been deceiving me from the very beginning. That stops here and now."
"Nothing you can say or do will stop me!" Mapleshade growled. "I'll forever haunt the waking world. I'm the one with the power over your destiny and the destiny of your Clan or have you forgotten?"
"I haven't," Crookedstar rasped, feeling the fight drain from him. "But you yourself have admitted that you haven't foresaw Morningpaw's involvement with RiverClan. That she'd change things."
Mapleshade snarled. "That might be true. But I hold more knowledge than you couldn't possibly imagine! Mark my words, all you ever cared about will be destroyed. I'll personally see to that!"
One moment she was here and then next she was gone, as though the ragged, tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat had never existed and was simply a mirage conjured by Crookedstar's anxiety and fear. But Mapleshade was sadly too real to ever blame it on stress.
"I'm doing the right thing." Crookedstar meowed. Sounding more as though he was trying to reassure himself than stating it as fact to an empty den.
O0O0O0
Fun Facts:
Morningpaw is totally repeating some of her old life tendencies where she goes off on her own to play detective and play the hero and taking others with her!
Got to love Mudfur!
I was planning to do the Oakheart and Crookedstar and Mapleshade ending there as a one-shot but I was already writing it before I could switch to a different doc!
I guess now this means I can do different cats now thanks to Crookedstar's point of view.
Mapleshade has her eyes narrowed at Morningpaw now. Neither she nor StarClan know who the heck she is or what her purpose is! (Thank you Rock for being both vague/cryptic and finding enjoyment out of messing with others. Especially the Clan's.)
I think the next character I'll do that isn't in Morningpaw's point of view is Oakheart. I love that roguishly handsome deputy!
Also some lore drop. Crookedstar knows that Stonefur and Mistyfoot are Oakheart and Bluestar's kits. That was revealed in Crookedstar's Promise. It's canon.
So Morningpaw basically knows of two forbidden relationships that ended with kits being born. Yellowfang with Brokenstar and Bluestar and Oakheart with Stonefur and Mistyfoot.
I'm having such a hard time deciding on a love interest for Morningpaw. Originally I had one already planned out, then my story took a twist and began writing itself so I don't know how I'd ever go back to the original romance partner I've picked out, so now I have three candidates, one of which has a heck of a lot more interactions with Morningpaw while the other two haven't done hardly anything with her!!! (And no, Ravenwing is not one of them)
Also: c6Guest: U spelled Oakheart wrong
Thank you kind random stranger on the internet for pointing this out in chapter 6. I'll try and be more thorough this time around (I'm pretty sure I went back and fixed chapter 6 with those typos but don't go saying I didn't try if there still are some) but besides that was there anything you liked about the chapter? Give me some sweetness to go with the sour!