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: Turn the Page

...

Tigerkit felt fragile in her jaws as Brightpaw carefully carried her niece by the scruff. Hawkflower padded beside her, holding Lionkit. He pointedly nudged her and nodded to Rainblaze and Flamepaw. The duo dragged behind, their tails winding together; Rainblaze looked ready to pass out for a moon.

"Well," Flamepaw meowed. "This'll make for one interesting Gathering story."

Rainblaze snorted. Her eyes were closed. "I imagine so. An origin tale if they become great warriors, too; borne under the trees, amongst the prickly pine needles, with enemy warriors in the territory."

"I'll love them even if they don't."

"I know, fluff-brain. You don't have to continuously proclaim it. I won't forget."

Flamepaw pouted. "But I wanna."

Rainblaze leaned over to lick the side of his muzzle, purring. "Of all the cats I could spend my seasons with, I'm glad it was you."

Hawkflower nudged her again, rolling his eyes at the mushy display. Brightpaw mrrowed with amusement, but quickly stopped when Tigerkit wriggled. The heat of the afternoon was beginning to settle into the usual humid evening of Greenleaf. For all the troubles Leaf-bare had caused, Brightpaw couldn't help but be glad she was born in Leaf-fall. It's too hot for even kits to want to play.

They came up on the entrance just as Huskfrost and Sageleaf padded out, followed close behind by Houndface, Briarspots, Barkfall, and Newtfrost. Brightpaw assumed the ShadowClan cats were to escort them to the border, and gestured with her tail for the new parents to move out of the way.

Sageleaf's ears flew back, aghast. "You're a queen?" she spluttered, staring at Rainblaze. "I didn't know, I swear! I- I would never attack someone with kits!"

"What's done is done," Huskfrost cut her off. She nodded at the kittens slightly. "Congratulations. May you have many happy seasons."

"Get moving!" Barkfall grumped. "I'd like to meet my new kin before dawn, fish-breath."

Huskfrost lashed her tail but allowed herself and the young warrior to be led away. Brightpaw and Hawkflower pushed their way into the camp without delay. Warriors glanced up as they did so, eyes lighting up at the sight of the kits, but a heavy silence seemed to have overtaken them all, and no one spoke lest they break it.

Grayfeather poked his head out of the nursery and stamped the ground. The nursery warrior had made Rainblaze a nest while they were gone. The new queen sank into it with a grateful sigh, shifting so Tigerkit and Lionkit could press against her stomach.

There was hardly even a rattle of leaves to signal Ravenwind's approach, the medicine cat small enough she could get in without any trouble. Brightpaw bristled and moved to step in front of the new queen, but Ravenwind showed no interest in coming closer. She waved her tail and before Brightpaw knew it Brackenpaw and Berrypaw were cuddled up alongside Flamepaw.

"They're so little!" Berrypaw chirped. "They're gonna get in soo much trouble when they're old enough to use it to their advantage."

Brackenpaw set his head on his paws, studying them. "That one looks like me!" His head fell to the side. "They're beautiful."

Ravenwind gave another nod out the entrance. Alderstar and Smokestripe tip-toed inside. Their mother looked positively ecstatic as her grandkits fed, bending at an awkward angle to nuzzle Rainblaze supportively. Alderstar just smiled, eyes glowing fondly.

Brightpaw walked over and bumped foreheads with her grandfather, keeping her voice low. "What happened with Huskfrost?"

The smile left as soon as it came. Alderstar sighed. "Burnstar is- well, I wouldn't go so far as to say he's a bad cat, but he's very paranoid. He got his name from the fire his family suffered, you know. They all did- Burnstar, Huskfrost, and Hollowtail. It left bad scars on RiverClan, and it left bad scars on his heart."

"Get to the point," Smokestripe meowed, making Brightpaw jump. Her mother looked away, ashamed of her snappishness. "They found Leafleg in the river."

Brightpaw froze. Her eyes darted to Ravenwind, half-expecting the medicine cat to look scared or angry or suspicious, but she looked bland. Normal.

"The running theory is that he fell into the gorge, which naturally carries through certain rivers," Alderstar went on. "Which, of course, leads to the question; why was he so far from our territory in the first place?"

"Maybe he wanted to run away," Ravenwind meowed quietly. "Leafleg always was one for the dramatics."

Alderstar shook his head briskly; just one jerk side to side. "Whatever the case may be, Burnstar took the idea and ran with it. He thinks we're sending ShadowClan warriors out to spy, and Leafleg was one of them. He's been in a tizzy ever since, trying to find the slightest hint of ShadowClan scent. Huskfrost thought it was only fair we get warning."

"She thinks there'll be battle," Hawkflower prompted.

"Something like that."

"Does she think we're spying?"

"I don't think it really matters to her," the brown tabby replied. "Huskfrost has always been stuck cleaning up Burnstar's messes. She gave us fair warning, and she has cats who can back that up if accused otherwise. That's enough for her."

Rainblaze was bristling. "If he even thinks of attacking us, I'll rip his eyes out myself," she snarled. "Flinging accusations at cats who can't defend themselves- how is that any way to respect the dead?"

"Huskfrost promised to bring us Leafleg to bury," Brackenpaw said. "I can only imagine how gross he'll be, though."

"Enough," Alderstar meowed, and they all fell silent. "Burnstar can sniff all he likes. He won't find a thing." The leader reached out to bump noses with Flamepaw. "Let's keep moving forward. It's time you all were given your final assessments."

"Really?" Berrypaw breathed, green eyes glowing.

"I'll talk to your mentors in the morning." He turned and walked out. "For now, I have a different ceremony to perform."

"Brightpaw," Ravenwind urged, and Brightpaw followed with one last look at her gathered family.

Most of ShadowClan was already in the clearing, which Brightpaw chalked up to Huskfrost's warning leaving them on edge. Honeyflower and Fallingfeather were pressed close together, taking comfort in each others' long pelts. Newtfrost was chewing on some bones, cleaning them of any leftover scraps. Addershine and Barkfall were chatting, the black and white tom glancing periodically at the nursery. Brightpaw got the feeling he was waiting for Grayfeather to join them; he didn't. Maplepaw was leaning on Mossyear, her mother nuzzling her, while Badgerthroat sprawled out on her side. There was the beginnings of a noticeable bump there. Stonebreeze and Slatestep were close together, chatting.

"ShadowClan," Alderstar proclaimed. "Today has been stressful. And if one thing has become clear to us, it's that we will need strong leadership in the moons to come. I begged Duskspring to stay my deputy, but he has refused."

"I'm too sick," Duskspring explained, tail twitching. "I can't quite seem to shake this cough."

Brightpaw's jaw dropped. It was true that the tom had been ill for ages now, but the mere concept of him retiring had never occurred to her. He's been deputy since before I was born!

Alderstar bowed his head. "Duskspring, you're my closest friend. I had hoped to spend many more seasons as leader and deputy. But I would never be so selfish as to force you to continue your duties. Is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and go to join the elders?"

"It is, Alderstar."

"Your Clan honors you and all the service you have given to us. I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest." He raised his muzzle to call the tom's name. "Duskspring! Duskspring! Duskspring!"

"Duskspring! Duskspring!" Brightpaw echoed, feeling more lost than ever. Everything's changing. Flamepaw's a father, and soon he won't even be a 'paw at all, and now a different cat is going to be deputy. With how old Alderstar is, they might even be leader one day.

"I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice," Alderstar rumbled. "The new deputy of ShadowClan is Slatestep."

Slatestep jumped to her paws. "Sir?"

He laughed at the bewilderment in her gaze as he hopped down. "Slatestep, you are a kind, sensible warrior. Your levelheadedness is a gift. I know you have suffered horribly with the loss of your last apprentice, but your Clan needs you." He stopped so they were face-to-face, expectant but not demanding. "Will you accept?"

The molly's gaze swept over the camp, searching for objections. No one spoke for or against the idea. "If you think I can follow up someone as respected as Duskspring, sir, then I'm honored. I'll be your deputy."

"Thank you." Alderstar turned back to the others. "Slatestep! Slatestep! Slatestep!"

Brightpaw padded alongside Ravenwind as they dispersed. "I'd like to move back into your den, if that's allowed."

Ravenwind glanced at her. "I never kicked you out."

"I kicked myself out. I want to know it's okay to come back."

"I apologized for that."

"Yes, ma'am." Brightpaw ignored the urge to tell her that saying sorry didn't make almost drowning her any better. "I need you to promise me something. Promise me that Tigerkit and Lionkit are safe."

Ravenwind paused at the opening to the medicine den. "Why wouldn't they be?" she asked, sounding legitimately puzzled.

"They're half-rogue. You killed Puddle, didn't you?"

The black she-cat neither confirmed nor denied that. "Puddle was a great addition to ShadowClan, and so are Rainblaze and Barkfall. No Clan is entirely an island, you know. We need the odd bit of rogue or kittypet blood to mix it up. So long as Tigerkit and Lionkit are loyal warriors, I'll treat them as such."

"Leafleg was a loyal warrior," she bit out.

Ravenwind flicked an ear, as if his name was a flea that had settled there. "Leafleg was a coward. He ran from a fair share of battles." Something sharp and unpleasant shimmered in her eyes. "You'll just have to make sure they aren't more of the same, won't you?"

"I suppose I will," Brightpaw agreed without any vigor. Flowerpaw was loyal too, but you killed her without a second thought. Where's the line drawn, Ravenwind? How does it all add up to you? And how can I make sure my family won't be next on the list?

Author's Note: Eyyy, some more Brightpaw content! I got into a kitty mood and got all this out in one day.

-Mandaree1