Disclaimer: I don't own the Warriors 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: Snowy Farewell

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Somerandomperson (June 19th)- Yeah, you don't really see a lot of villainous medicine cats. At least, I haven't. And I really wanted to explore the concept! =)

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The sun was just beginning to dip over the horizon as ShadowClan cats gathered in front of Alderstar. Honeyflower, Stonebreeze, Slatestep, Badgerthroat, Leafleg, Briarpaw, and Smokepaw were called by Duskspring, the deputy's tail raised high. In the distance, Brightkit could hear Rainpaw arguing with her mentor about wanting to join as revenge for her late mother, but Newtfrost refused.

"Do you really have to go, mama?" Flamekit meowed, voice wobbly. "Can't you just stay with us?"

Smokepaw shook her head, bending down to lick his cheek. "I can't," she answered firmly. "Don't worry; Fallingfeather will take care of you while I'm gone."

As if to prove her point, the long-furred she-cat appeared at the entrance of the nursery. Fallingfeather and Smokepaw exchanged a nod, and then their mother was gone, following the other warriors into battle.

With the patrol gone, the ShadowClan camp suddenly felt empty and lifeless. Barkpaw and Rainpaw were huddled close together, whispering in each others ears. Mossyear and Addershine were watching over the new apprentices, while Flowerstrike and Skyberry quietly sulked around the clearing, eyes dark. Hawkpaw's eyes glowed with excitement as he chatted with the warriors. Graypaw and Flowerpaw exchanged an uncertain look, but ultimately stood aside.

"Mama!" A gravely voice meowed, and all of the kits jumped at once as Darkkit came stumbling out. It was very rare their brother was ever this mobile, let alone speaking so loudly. "Mama, where'd you go?"

"Mama went to fight WindClan, Darkkit," Berrykit said gently. "She's gonna avenge papa."

The black tom looked horrified. Snot clung to his little nose. "I didn't even get to say goodbye?" he whispered morosely, then shook himself, then stumbled, dizzy. "What if something happens?"

Terror pulsed through Brightkit as she regarded her sickly brother. What if something did happen, and Smokepaw didn't come home? What would happen to them? Fallingfeather was nice enough, but she was busy with her apprentice-age litter, and no new queens had stepped up as of yet. Will we be left to fend for ourselves?

"Nothing will happen," insisted Brackenkit, though he didn't look very sure of himself. WindClan warriors had spilled apprentice blood before- it was possible they'd do it again. "Let's just try to get some sleep, okay? They probably won't be back 'til sunrise."

Flamekit went on Darkkit's other side, letting his brother lean on him. The light ginger tom nuzzled Darkkit with a purr, then led him back into the nursery.

"Can't it wait 'till mama gets back?" Darkkit whined, unintentionally stirring Brightkit. "I didn't get to say goodbye."

"I'm sorry," another, unfamiliar voice meowed. Brightkit's ear flicked back, startled. "We have to go now."

WindClan! Brightkit's tail bristled. She slowly lifted her head and opened her eyes, half expecting some burly warrior with scars criss-crossing their face. It was a lithe brown tom who came into her view instead, bent slightly to speak with Darkkit, who looked shockingly awake. A splash of white covered his paws and chest, with a stripe up the bridge of his muzzle.

Brightkit scrambled to her paws, tiny little claws sliding out. She hissed pitifully at the figure. "Leave my brother alone!"

The brown tom jumped, staring at her with wide eyes. "You can see me?"

"Of course she can," chirped Darkkit. "Brightkit sees everything. She's nosy like that."

"Hello, Brightkit," the stranger replied, dipping his head. "I'm just going to take Darkkit out for a stroll. Is that okay?"

"No way!" she spat. "I don't know you! You could be WindClan!"

"I'm not WindClan," he purred. "My name is Birchpaw, and I'm all ShadowClan."

Brightkit froze, stunned. Opening her mouth revealed that there was only ShadowClan scent in the air. Her sandy yellow fur slowly fell back down to her pelt. "But..." she swallowed. "But you're dead."

"I am," Birchpaw agreed. He shifted his tail so it was moved into the moonlight, revealing the stars glimmering in his form. "You must have the gift of StarClan, little one." He patted her on the head with his paw. "So, may I take your brother for a walk?"

Brightkit glanced at Darkkit, who was watching the spirit of their father. He caught her eye and smiled. "I wanna go, Brightkit," he meowed. "It's time I did."

"Are you sure?" She tipped her head to the side. "You're feeling up to it?"

He padded over to her, bumping noses. "Never felt better," he promised. "If you see mama before I do, tell her I love her, okay?"

Baffled, Brightkit slowly nodded. Birchpaw guided her into a laying position, then touched the top of her head with his nose. Darkness swamped her; but, unlike the darkness that had attacked her when she munched on Ravenwind's poppy seed, rendering her mostly unable to remember that day, this was gentle and serene. Her eyes slid shut as Birchpaw led Darkkit out into the night, tail wrapped around his smallest son.

She wasn't sure how long she slept. The night had faded into early sunrise, the cool breeze of early Leaf-bare striking her pelt and leaving her shivering. Brightkit yawned and stretched, unintentionally bumping Berrykit, and soon all the kittens began to stir. Fallingfeather snored loudly from her own nest. For a moment, the events of last night seemed like a dream, and Smokepaw had simply gone on dawn patrol with Stonebreeze.

But then she heard Flamekit's tiny meow, his voice pitched low with horror. "Darkkit, no!"

Brightkit opened her mouth to ask what was wrong, only for her tastebuds to be swamped with the odor of death. Brackenkit was pressing tiny paws to Darkkit's side, shaking him viciously. Darkkit moved like a rag doll, asleep forever.

He's with Birchpaw, she started to say, but then stopped. Who would believe her? She was just a kitten, and it had been late at night. Her own littermates would assume she dreamt meeting the ghost of their father. But it was so real! It had to be!

"Oh, Darkkit," Fallingfeather whispered. Caught up in her grief, Brightkit hadn't heard the queen move. The long-furred molly bent down and secured Darkkit by the scruff of his neck, lifting him out of their nest. The rest of them stood and followed numbly; somewhere, deep down, they'd all believed he'd pull through. But he didn't. I'll never share a single ceremony with him.

Ravenwind padded out of her den soonafter, and immediately took a seat next to her. Brightkit felt uncomfortable around the medicine cat, though she didn't know why. All she could recall was a gross taste and feeling very, very sleepy, which Ravenwind had decreed was a sign from StarClan. The tiny she-cat wrapped her tail around Brightkit's side and said nothing, letting her sit vigil over her brother. The few remaining cats soon caught wind of what was going on and joined them.

It was around Sunhigh that the patrol returned, covered in blood. Alderstar and Duskspring led; the leader had thick, deep clawmarks on his sides and hindquarters, while the deputy suffered from a badly wounded tail. Stonebreeze and Slatestep both carried bad paws, though Slatestep bore her's with a quiet dignity, jaws firmly shut to admitting any pain. Honeyflower was supporting Badgerthroat, who was so red she could barely make out her true pelt. Leafleg was almost entirely untouched, trotting into camp with a frustrated flick of the tail. Briarpaw and Smokepaw came last, leaning on each other for comfort. Brightkit noticed her mother's ear was torn.

"They chased us halfway to Silverpelt," Leafleg grumbled, head low. "I've never seen those rabbit-munchers so well-fed during the colder seasons."

"Don't kid yourself," Badgerthroat rasped. She turned her muzzle to look at him, and Brightkit realized with dawning horror that she was missing her left eye. "You ran the moment you smelled them coming."

"I was going to send word to camp!"

"What word? That you're a mouse-heart? Anyone could've told you that."

Smokepaw pushed through the vigil with a blank face. She was the first of the patrol to spot Darkkit amongst the throng of cats. Her body crumpled to the marshy ground with a low moan. She pressed her nose to Darkkit's side, eyes fluttering shut.

Ravenwind stood. "Worst injured first."

Alderstar shoved Badgerthroat over to her, then gimped over to the Clanrock. He bunched up his legs and leapt, just barely making it. His back paws dangled a moment before he gathered his resolve and climbed up. He studied the vigil with a sad gleam to his eye. "ShadowClan, we lost the battle, and we lost Darkkit. If this is StarClan's punishment for my own trepidation, than I can only hope I can make up for it as time drags on. We will be better prepared for the next fight; and we will win." He lifted his chin. "But, with all this grief, there is still good to be found. Briarpaw and Smokepaw fought like warriors, and it's only fair they should be honored as such."

Brightkit stared at her grandfather, floored. She watched out of the corner of her eye as her mother padded up with a neutral expression, looking more exhausted than she'd ever seen her. Behind her stood Stonebreeze, the gray and white spotted tom's eyes gleaming with pride. Badgerthroat broke away from Ravenwind to meet up with Briarpaw. Her face was half-covered with cobwebs, which were rapidly turning red.

Alderstar lifted his tail. He didn't ask their mentors for any proof of their abilities. "I, Alderstar, leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you in turn. Briarpaw, Smokepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Briarpaw dipped his head. "I do."

Smokepaw stared at her feet a moment, no doubt thinking of all the horrible things she'd faced in recent moons. When she met Alderstar's eyes, it was with solemn sincerity. "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names." Alderstar hopped down to meet them. "Briarpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Briarspots. StarClan honors your helpful nature and kindness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan."

The new warrior padded up to Alderstar with a skip in his step, licking his shoulder before stepping back. Badgerthroat nodded, satisfied with her now ex-apprentice's name, and went back to join the wounded.

"Smokepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Smokestripe. StarClan honors your fortitude and bravery, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ShadowClan."

Smokestripe confidentially bowed her head so he could rest his muzzle on it, licking his shoulder.

Almost immediately the Clan began to chant, their voices dull with defeat and grief. Brightkit tried to make her voice the loudest, so her mother would know just how proud she was. "Briarspots! Smokestripe! Briarspots! Smokestripe!"

"Watch over us well tonight," Duskspring meowed gravely. "I don't believe we have StarClan's appreciation for our actions."

"Nonsense," Mossyear grunted, between licks at Badgerthroat's face. "StarClan sent us on this path in the first place. They must have some reason."

Briarspots padded over to the camp entrance to sit his personal vigil. Smokestripe, meanwhile, returned to her spot by Darkkit's side. In spite of her mother's young age, Brightkit thought she spotted a few gray furs on her muzzle.

That night, for the first time in her life, it snowed. Smokestripe simply shuffled so her pelt took the most abuse, keeping Darkkit as safe and warm as she could.

Author's Note: Smokestripe doesn't deserve basically any of this tbh.

Well, Ravenwind's plans ended up causing more harm than good (surprise surprise), and WindClan cats are surprisingly buff this season. That can only lead the trouble.

-Mandaree1