Chapter 109: First Step
There was one last issue to clear up before we left the Gathering, one concerning Riverclan and Thunderclan. Leopardstar approached us nodding at Mistyfoot, Stormpaw, Featherpaw, and Stonefur. While three of them approached with measured respect, Stonefur himself came with hesitance. His caution was extremely visible with his hunched form and how his lips slightly curled, ready to reveal his fangs. Regardless, he joined us for the meeting.
Leopardstar dipped her head in apology as she began to speak. "I must apologize on behalf of all of Riverclan for what you four have gone through. It was wrong of us to allow you to get imprisoned. It was wrong of us to stand by as you were left hungry. It was also wrong of us to exile you. Riverclan would like to rescind the exile and allow you to return."
Mistyfoot gave a somewhat jovial response. "We can finally go home. It'll be nice to finally get back to being a Riverclan cat."
Stonefur reeled as if disgusted by Mistyfoot's statement. "Home?" He spat. "Since when has Riverclan been a home? I gave my everything to them, and the moment they had the chance, they cast me off, as if I hadn't once been their dutiful deputy. I've fought for them. I've risked my life for them. I did everything a proud warrior should, and yet what did they do as Tigerstar denounced us for our heritage? What did they do when Tigerstar imprisoned us? What did they do when Tigerstar was torturing me? Hmm? That's right. They! Did! Nothing!" He hissed with venom.
"Please Stonefur. They were just scared of what Tigerstar would do to them." Mistyfoot rebutted.
"So?! We're warriors! We fight for what is right! We fight for our clan!" Stonefur exclaimed before his voice sunk to a violent tone. "Except, the moment they saw even the slightest gap, the barest hint that we weren't pure blooded, they leapt on us. It didn't matter that I earned the deputy position. It didn't matter that two of us were just apprentices. They decided we weren't Riverclan. Don't pretend you didn't see it, the cruel scorn, the joy at watching me, a half clan cat, be tortured by a tyrant. They didn't ask Tigerstar to free us, ask to give us leniency, sneak us food, or anything to care for us. After all, we weren't clan." Stonefur ranted before locking eyes with me, his tone softening. "But here came Thunderclan, a clan who didn't even know me besides that I was kin to Bluestar. They didn't care about the purity of our blood. They saved me… They saved US! They cared for me, even though I was violent and dangerously unwell. They gave me everything I lost from Riverclan, loyalty, family, a purpose, and possibly even love. So my answer is that I will not return to Riverclan, the clan that broke my trust and betrayed me. Thunderclan is my home. In fact, I don't want to even associate with the Stonefur of old. He was blind to the treachery of his own clan. Firestar, I'd like a new name to match ne new me." Stonefur stated, his eyes filled with hostility towards Leopardstar.
"Stonefur…" Mistyfoot mewed out softly.
"No. The old Stonefur is dead. I'm never going back." Stonefur snapped.
"I can't make you return Stonefur. I'll accept your decision. I'd been hoping to offer you back the deputy position…" Leopardstar mewed before Stonefur cut her off.
"Forget it! Find someone else to blindly follow your lead. I may not be deputy here, but at least I know every Thunderclan cat would give their life to protect me, as I pledge to do the same in turn." Stonefur rebutted.
"And what of you two? What do you two want to do?" Leopardstar gently asked of the apprentices.
"Mistyfoot's my mentor. I'm not leaving her." Featherpaw answered.
Stormpaw hesitated, looking at Stormfur with concern and regret. "I'm sorry Stonefur. I'm… I'm going back to Riverclan. It's all I've ever known."
Stonefur gave a nod of acceptance. "I understand. I won't begrudge you for your choice." His eyes drifted to Mistyfoot and Featherpaw. "You'll still be my family, even if we're in other clans." Then his eyes snapped to Leopardstar with fiery rage. "You best watch yourself Leopardstar. When we meet again on the field of battle, I will show you no mercy." He stated in an aggressively flat tone.
With that, we departed, Thunderclan three cats short of what it came with and Riverclan numbering three more. As we made the return journey, Stonefur moved up to my side.
"Smudgefoot, I've got something to confess. Ever since you saved me, I've felt something for you. I don't know if this is right or wrong, but I care for you. I want to be something more than friends." Stonefur confessed.
Stonefur looked at me, both hopeful and pleading. In a small part of my heart, I reciprocated. He was one of the few cats I counted as a real friend. It was for that reason, I had to shut him down. "I'm sorry Stoney. I can't accept your feelings right now. I promise I am doing this for your sake. Right now, you're on an emotional rebound. You're clinging to me for stability and believe it to be infatuation. I don't want to hurt you. I don't want to take advantage of you. You still need some time to recover. Plus, you overlooked that I've already got a partner."
Stonefur cast his eyes downward, clearly disheartened at my rejection. It pained me to see. That small fragment that reciprocated his feelings felt like it was lashing out at itself for wanting to do right by him. I needed to give him a little. "Tell you what. Give it a few moons. If you still feel the same way, we can try it. You'll have to get to know Ravenfeather. He's just as much a part of any kind of relationship we could make as I am. Once you've had time to recover, well, who knows? It'll at least give you the motivation to survive this coming war with Bloodclan."
Stonefur looked back at me with hope in his eyes. "Ok. I know my feelings won't change, but I'll take some time to relearn myself. Don't you dare die on me when we fight Bloodclan, or I'll claw my way up to Starclan and drag you back." He answered, brushing against me affectionately before giving me some space.
When we got back to camp, Firestar decided to grant Stonefur's request. Stonefur decided that, in honor of the one who gave him his new life (me), his name would be Stonestep.