I hope you are enjoying this miniseries turned full blown series! I'm enjoying it as guilt also weighs inside for my main series! I hope you are enjoying it either way!
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"Can't you swim faster than that."
Morningpaw felt the river's current slide against her glossy sleek pelt as she paddled herself across the deep water strip connecting from RiverClan's side of the border to WindClan territory. Excitement was too weak of a word to describe how she was feeling. Perhaps there was no word that existed that could describe how she was currently feeling. Morningpaw was going to Highstones. Today was the day that Crookedstar had deemed himself ready to visit the Moonstone and had decided to take Morningpaw along after having Mudfur judge her fit enough for travel.
"You're slowing us down. Hurry up, Benttail!"
Morningpaw glared at the dark gray she-cat that swam just ahead of her. Wondering if biting into that tempting sleek tail that swished back and forth just a mouse-length from her nose would be worth the consequences.
"Stop arguing back there!" Crookedstar snapped from the front, flashing a quick warning look over his shoulder at the only two apprentices of the group. Morningpaw wanted to protest, wanting to say that Shadepaw was the one trying to pick a fight, but wisely bit her tongue, knowing not to talk back to her leader.
That didn't stop Morningpaw however from showering Shadepaw in a spray of water droplets as she shook herself off as they pulled themselves onto WindClan's side of the border. A pity seeing as Shadepaw had already groomed herself and now it was ruined by Morningpaw's pettiness.
Whiteclaw let out a chortle of amusement. He gently bumped Morningpaw's shoulder as they padded side-by-side together. Shadepaw growled as she shook herself off. Silverstream's whiskers twitched in amusement as she padded behind her father. "Good one," Whiteclaw breathed into Morningpaw's ear, causing it to twitch as the flame-colored she-cat fur rose pleasantly.
A mewl had her looking forward. Morningpaw's jade-green eyes stared in surprise as three cat outlines loomed on the slope just ahead of them. The group stood alert, though Morningpaw couldn't sense any hostility, at least not yet. It didn't look like they were part of a border patrol, or even a hunting patrol. It was strange. Though one in specific was clearly much larger than any small and wiry WindClan warrior. Not all of these cat's were a part of WindClan.
Morningpaw's suspicion proved correct as a greeting from WindClan's medicine cat was called out to the RiverClan patrol as they came within earshot. Barkface however was not alone. Beside the dark brown tom sat Ravenwing, ThunderClan's newly made warrior last time Morningpaw saw him, with unrecognizable herbs scattered around his paws. Though what set Morningpaw's hackles rising was the massive, dark brown tabby that stood beside the pair with his amber eyes narrowed on the approaching RiverClan patrol.
"Greetings, Crookedstar." Barkface rasped, seeming unbothered by the sudden appearance of RiverClan warriors on his territory.
Crookedstar halted before the WindClan medicine cat, dipping his head in a sign of respect. "Greetings, Barkface. I hope things have been going well for your Clan."
"They have been." Barkface meowed, flicking his tail dismissively. "Prey is fine. Kits becoming apprentices. Apprentices destined to become warriors. Same old same old. Though I take it you haven't arrived just to ask how we are."
Crookedstar shook his head. "We're just on our way to Highstones."
"I wasn't expecting more Clan's to appear on my territory all in one day." Barkface mewed in indifference.
"I was expecting to run into WindClan warriors but not ThunderClan." Crookedstar sounded calm, but there was suspicion in his gaze.
Morningpaw tensed, wondering to herself what had brought Ravenwing and Tigerclaw all the way to WindClan territory to speak with WindClan's medicine cat.
"I don't see why it concerns RiverClan what we're doing." Tigerclaw growled, his amber eyes flashing warningly. Even though he was outnumbered, Tigerclaw made it clear that he wouldn't back away from a fight.
"No need to get your whiskers in a twist." Barkface drily rebuked the older ThunderClan warrior. "They won't interrupt Ravenwing's training and aren't going to attack regardless of what you may think."
"You can never be so sure." Tigerclaw retorted, eyeing each of Morningpaw's companions in turn.
Crookedstar didn't take Tigerclaw's jab lying down as he smoothly replied, "come now, Tigerclaw. Isn't RiverClan and ThunderClan now closer than before. Not only due to my warriors saving your kidnapped kits but also now that the new border is closer."
"Enjoy it while you can," Tigerclaw told her through slitted eyes, "ThunderClan won't be in debt to RiverClan forever."
While the three older cat's conversed, Morningpaw slinked closer to Ravenwing. "Good day, Ravenwing." Morningpaw meowed, happy to see the jet-black ThunderClan warrior who she considered a friend. "How are you these days?"
"Things have been good." Ravenwing replied, then gestured to the scattered herbs around his paws. "Barkface is teaching me about herbs. I'm training to become ThunderClan's next medicine cat."
"You want to be a medicine cat?" Morningpaw meowed, surprised. Though it did seem more fitting for Ravenwing to be a medicine cat than a warrior.
Ravenwing nodded, seeming more confident in himself than he had ever been before. "ThunderClan needs a medicine cat and Yellowfang sacrifice inspired me to do more for my Clan. Barkface is teaching me everything that I need to know and pretty soon I'll travel to the Moonstone to be judged by StarClan."
Morningpaw was impressed. In a past life Ravenwing would have still been known as Ravenpaw, a scared apprentice who's mentor had it out for him for knowing about how the death of Redtail truly occured, he would then be sent away for his own safety and find refuge with the barn cat known as Barely. Ravenpaw's destiny has certainly changed in this new life, Morningpaw had thought to herself.
"How's Grayfang?" Silverstream suddenly interrupted, taking advantage of the lull in conversation. "What does he think about you becoming a medicine cat?"
"Grayfang?" Ravenwing meowed, confused.
Sensing the absurdity of asking about a rival Clan's warrior, Silverstream smoothly continued, "It's been awhile since we saved those kits together. I was just wondering how he was doing, and you of course."
Ravenwing decided to take Silverstream's question at face value. But Morningpaw could tell that there was more to the pretty silver-and-black tabbies question. "He's been doing fine. Even has his first apprentice."
"That's good to hear." Silverstream replied, and left it at that.
"We should continue our journey." Crookedstar suddenly announced, pulling away from Barkface and Tigerclaw. "We need to reach Highstones by tonight."
Barkface nodded in agreement. "May you have a safe trip."
Tigerclaw didn't appear to share Barkface's sentiments. His amber eyes narrowed again and Morningpaw twitches as she watched Tigerclaw flex his long claws into the long dried grass. She almost looked away but was suddenly caught on how Tigerclaw looked. The murderer and tyrant that Morningpaw once knew in a past life that had plagued the Clan's appeared older, not as old as he was in her past memories, but older in a way that someone is tired of their day to day routine in life, he was different than the last time Morningpaw had lived alongside him. How long had it been since she was brought back in time to save her Clan? How much has changed.
Morningpaw managed to catch Tigerclaw's eyes and they connected. Morningpaw could see the heartless killer within those amber eyes, but then there is also something new, something there that wasn't there before. Before Morningpaw could look closer Whiteclaw was nuding Morningpaw along, causing her to break eye contact and begin moving.
"Goodbye, Ravenwing. Good luck on becoming a medicine cat!" Morningpaw called over her shoulder, waving goodbye to the medicine cat in training.
Ravenwing lifted his tail in goodbye. Meowing his own goodbye as Morningpaw followed after her leader with her companions at her side. They had a journey to Highstones to make.
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Fun Facts:
I took inspiration from one of the comments about Ravenpaw becoming ThunderClan's next medicine cat. I've thought it over and agree it's the best position for him to be in this time around. Also it caused Ravenwing to continue seeing Barely so that's also a plus.
Shadepaw and Morningpaw still have that rivalry going.
Silverstream x Grayfang soon ahead. This time Morningpaw is more concerned about Silverstream than she is Grayfang.
Do I smell a ThunderClan, RiverClan and ThunderClan alliance in the works? Especially with how civil they are all being…excluding Tigerclaw.
What do you expect will happen at the Moonstone? Just so you know an alternate pov will be added for this!!!
I'm honestly unsure as to where I am canon wise (though this is an AU and canon doesn't really matter really) I think I'm somewhere in-between "Fire and Ice" and "Forest of Secrets"