Disclaimer: I don't own the Warrior Cats series!

Title: Red Pearls

Summary: Brightfur just wanted to be a medicine cat. Her mentor, Ravenwind, has very different ideas on what that means- for her and for ShadowClan. With Ravenwind controlling her every move and more than willing to kill to keep it that way, Brightfur will need more than just luck to live to tell the tale.

Chapter Title: The Line

...

"I dunno what's the matter," Puddle was meowing. "I haven't eaten anything odd lately- just that crow you gave me yesterday. But it feels like there's a weasel in my belly."

Ravenwind dipped her head understandingly. "This sort of thing happens sometimes. Are you up for a scrap of yarrow? It'll make you vomit the bad prey out."

The elder grimaced but didn't complain. "Whatever you think will help, medicine cat."

Behind Puddle sat Brightkit, curiously watching as Ravenwind went to get the herbs. "Did it hurt when you lost your eyes?"

The molly flicked an ear in her general direction. "I was born this way, kiddo. Didn't hurt a bit."

"Ravenwind? May I-" Alderstar started as he padded into the den, pausing. "Oh. Excuse me. I wasn't aware you had a patient."

"It's fine." She flicked an ear dismissively. "There's nothing you can say to me that they can't overhear."

For a moment, the leader was hesitant, looking at Brightkit, before ultimately dipping his head. "I've got almost everything set up for the ceremony, but I'm still not sure who Graykit's mentor should be."

Ravenwind set a mouthful of white flowers down, wrapped in a thick green leaf. "Eat one of these, Puddle," she said, then hmmed to herself. "Slatestep is a good choice. A great warrior. I've told you more than once that she could make a good deputy."

"I'm giving Flowerkit to Slatestep, actually." Alderstar wrinkled his nose as Puddle began to hack, but politely waited until she was done before going on. "And Duskspring asked for Hawkkit. I think he likes how energetic he is."

"If I may, Alderstar," the elder gurgled, head on her paws as she waited out the last uncomfortable wriggles of her stomach. "Honeyflower is a good warrior. She could teach even the oldest cat somethin'."

"Too close to the elders' den," he answered, shaking his head. He paused. "I... was actually considering Leafleg."

Ravenwind sat as straight as a board. "Leafleg?" she repeated, saying the name as if it was the grossest thing she'd ever heard. "Alderstar, Graykit is a sensitive cat who needs time and patience. Surely, he deserves someone more understanding than Leafleg."

He sighed and rolled his eyes. "I just don't understand why you have it out for him."

The black molly padded over so they were face-to-face, frowning. "Leafleg is an embarrassment of a ShadowClan warrior," she growled. "He hardly deserves his full name, let alone an apprentice. Give Graykit to literally anyone else. I promise you, he'll thank you for it later."

"Ravenwind," said Alderstar, gruffly. "You're out of line. Leafleg is your Clanmate, and Clanmates support each other."

Ravenwind's eyes turned to wicked slits. "Out of line? You think I'm out of line?" Her voice lowered a little. "I'll tell you what's out of line, Alderstar. You're stocking the apprentices' den like it's the prey-pile, hoping it'll make up for Birchpaw, and it's not gonna work. All it does it show the other Clans that you're a scared little boy who doesn't have the ability to take revenge." She backed away slightly, tail high, and regarded him like he was a slug. "Is it any wonder no one takes ShadowClan seriously anymore?"

The fur along Brightkit's spine began to rise. Could a medicine cat talk like that to a leader? And, even if they could, did she really have to?

"That's enough," Alderstar snarled, deathly quiet. His amber eyes were blazing with anger. "If that's the way you're going to act, I forbid you from joining the ceremony. Or any ceremony, for that matter. Not until you're able to treat me and your other Clanmates with respect."

"You make it sound like I wanted to come in the first place," she snorted. "Make all the big talk you want, Alderstar. We'll see who's right with time."

The dark tabby tom shook the words away, then bent over to quickly lick Brightkit between the ears. "I'll see you later, honey. Try not to pick up Ravenwind's bad temperament while I'm gone." He glared at the medicine cat a moment longer, then disappeared with a flick of his fluffy tail. Ravenwind watched him go, amber eyes somehow even sharper and more intimidating than usual.

"Frog-brain," she hissed finally. "Taking the word of StarClan so lightly."

"Grief can do all sorts of things to a cat," Puddle meowed, startling Brightkit, who'd forgotten the elder was there. "It can even dull the sharpest of claws. Alderstar just wants to hold on to what little family he has left."

"Is that so?" Ravenwind murmured. "Why don't you relax, Puddle? I'll get you something nice to eat." Sensing the blue she-cat's displeasure, she added: "It'll just be something small. An empty belly can be just as bad as an overly full one."

She slowly dipped her head. "Whatever you think is best, Ravenwind."

The medicine cat returned with a mouse. Then, as Brightkit watched curiously, she rubbed tiny little seeds in its fur, putting a few in the prey's mouth for good measure. She caught the kit's stare and mouthed foxglove seeds, then winked. Brightkit thought they looked awfully like poppy seeds, and assumed they did the same thing. Has Puddle had trouble sleeping?

"Here you go, Puddle," Ravenwind purred, setting the doctored fresh-kill at her paws. "Eat every bite."

Puddle pulled the prey closer. Her nose wrinkled. "This smells like the crow, Ravenwind."

"It's a mouse," Brightkit chipped in.

"I know the difference between feathers and fur!" she snapped, looking very confused. "I just can't shake this feeling..."

Ravenwind's black tail curled under the blind elder's chin gently. "I spend so much time in the den, the smell of herbs rubbed off on the food I brought. It's nothing to worry about."

Puddle reluctantly shrugged. "If you say so, medicine cat." She opened her mouth and sunk her teeth in deep, chewing and swallowing with little relish. Ravenwind nodded in satisfaction as she gulped the meal down in awkward gulps, then curled up for a nap. Her head slumped over in a lopsided way that made her stomach sink.

"Brightkit?" she prompted, seeing the look on her face.

Brightkit put a paw on her back. "Is Puddle sick?"

"No, dear. She's just old." Ravenwind pulled some black seeds out of a different hole, holding them out. "Would you like to try one?"

She glanced at Puddle, then her. "Are they foxglove?"

"Nope. Poppy." She gently set one of the seeds on her sandy yellow paw. "I just need to make sure these are fresh enough to use."

Against her better judgement, Brightkit bent down and took it into her mouth, crunching through the thin outer shell with her sharp teeth. A strange, earthy flavor came spilling out, and then she was struggling to keep her eyes open.

The last thing she heard was Ravenwind, reaching up to pick her up by the scruff. "I do believe they're plenty fresh after all," she chuckled to herself. "Thank you, Brightkit."

The world swam around her as she stirred. Pelts blended together as she dangled in Ravenwind's jaws like fresh-kill, just hidden behind the lichen curtain in front of the medicine den. The medicine cat, sensing her beginning to wake, plopped her down on the spare nest before returning to the same spot, ears cocked.

Alderstar's voice pierced the silence. "...You will be known as Graypaw. Your mentor will be Leafleg. I hope he passes on his confidence and bravery onto you."

"Flowerpaw! Hawkpaw! Graypaw!" The chanting was eerily warped in Brightkit's ears. She watched, eyes half-lidded, as Ravenwind padded over to Puddle and hauled her up by the scruff, dragging her into the clearing. There was a loud thud, and a collective silence. Barkpaw let out a shriek of terror.

"She's dead!" Ravenwind cried, tossing her head back. "It's a sign from StarClan! They're punishing us!"

"What for?" Mossyear demanded, tucking her apprentice behind her back. "We've been loyal to the code!"

"If they're mad at anyone, it's Ravenwind," Leafleg grunted, tail flicking back and forth impatiently. "She ruined a perfect ceremony."

"Ravenwind," Alderstar meowed, sounding worried in spite of their earlier argument. "This is certainly an unsettling development, but there's no evidence it's punishment from StarClan. Puddle was old, and now she rests in the sky."

"Evidence? I've got your evidence." Brightkit winced as she was lifted and brought out, set next to Puddle's lifeless form. The bright light hurt her eyes. "They've taken their rage out on our kits! Isn't that proof enough?"

"Brightkit!" screeched Smokepaw. The queen was by her side in an instant, pressing her nose to her wobbly form. "Speak to me, kiddo."

"Momma?" she slurred. "I'm sleepy."

"She'll be fine, Smokepaw," Ravenwind meowed. "This time, anyway. But do we really want to risk a second?"

Honeyflower took a step forward. The older warrior had an air of wisdom to her that automatically made the other cats listen. "What are they punishing us for, Ravenwind?" she asked, staring holes into the medicine cat's tiny body. "Mossyear is right. We've followed the code. There's three fine litters in our Clan, two of which are now apprentices. In what way could they possibly be unsatisfied?"

"It's got to be WindClan," grunted Stonebreeze, baring his front fangs. "Birchpaw's blood runs through the moor, and what have we done to make them pay?"

Briarpaw dug his claws into the boggy ground. "If only I had the chance, I'd rip them to shreds."

"We should be careful," Slatestep advised, winding her tail around Flowerpaw. "They aren't afraid to kill 'paws. They won't hesitate to attack full-grown warriors."

"Let them try!" Badgerthroat yowled. "We're ShadowClan!"

Smokepaw blinked up at Alderstar morosely. The long-furred leader stood above them, frozen, as if he couldn't quite believe what he was hearing. "Please," she whispered, clutching Brightkit closer to her. "We've all waited long enough."

Alderstar winced. His eyes were far away as he stamped his paw. "The time has come, ShadowClan," he meowed gravely. "WindClan will know our fury!"

Author's Note: Today, on Red Pearls: a kitten unknowingly witnesses murder.

This story, in and of itself, is kind of told in three/four 'acts'. This is the first act- Brightkit as a kitten, and Ravenwind using her influence and power to start battle with WindClan. The second 'act' is when she's an apprentice, and so on.

-Mandaree1