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Chapter Text

Cricketkit’s deep peaceful slumber was interrupted by a dream, he gazed around the clearing he found himself in, surrounded by a thick forest of oak trees, a patch of thistles sat in the middle of it. Cricketkit crept forward, but a rumble of thunder made him jump back. Lightning crashed down onto the thistle bush, starting a fire that blazed through the forest, the thistles were engulfed in the flames, but the oak trees were unharmed. Cricketkit jolted awake, his fur bristling. “FIRE! FIRE!” He wailed. Willowpelt and Dappletail awoke as well and looked at him.

“What’s wrong, dear?” Dappletail mewed soothingly.

“Fire!” Cricketkit wailed. “I had a dream about fire!”

Dappletail and Willowpelt exchanged a glance. “I think we should go see Featherwhisker in the morning, dear.” His mother said.

Cricketkit gasped. “Really?” He mewed excitedly, even though he was afraid, he was happy that he had the chance to be Featherwhisker’s apprentice!

“Yes.” Dappletail licked him between the ears and he squealed happily. He was going to be a medicine cat! Hooray!

Chapter Text

Mistypaw dove beneath the waves of the river, kicking her legs and opening her mouth, she snapped her jaws down onto the carp then resurfaced with it in her mouth.

“Woah!” Swanpaw mewed. “That was so cool!”

Mistypaw placed the fish down and smiled. “A good hunter never reveals her secrets.”

“Aw… Please!” Swanpaw’s eyes widened pleadingly. 

“Nuh uh.” Mistypaw shook her head. “You might learn from Bluefur, but I’m not telling you.”

Her friend pouted. “Fiiine.” She rolled her eyes.

Mistypaw giggled and began padding back to camp, picking her carp back up. Swanpaw scrambled after her. 

Mistypaw proudly presented her fish to Crookedstar and her father, Oakheart. The leader and deputy now that Timberfur had decided to return to being a normal warrior.

“Great catch!” Crookedstar mewed. 

Mistypaw puffed out her chest and smiled, before bounding away to the apprentice den. Stonepaw, her brother, was missing. That’s odd . She thought. His mentor, Softwing, was still in camp. So where could he be? “Have you seen Stonepaw?”

Splashpaw shook his head. “Nope.” He mewed, shrugging. 

“Huh…” Mistypaw mewed thoughtfully. “He must be out hunting by himself or something.” It wouldn’t be too odd for him to do that, she was just out hunting with Swanpaw. Suddenly, Stonepaw came into the den. He smelled odd. Mistypaw narrowed her eyes. “You stink of ThunderClan!” She mewed.

“I was hunting near the border.” Stonepaw huffed.

“By yourself?” Mistypaw gasped. “Why would you do that??”

“Whatever! You hunt with Swanpaw all the time!” Her brother’s tail was lashing.

“Yeah, with Swanpaw ! On our territory! Not alone at the ThunderClan border!” Mistypaw hissed. “Are you trying to get yourself killed??” 

Stonepaw growled at her. “No.” He snapped, before stalking outside.

Mistypaw exchanged a worried glance with Splashpaw and Morningpaw. 

“What’s up with him?” Swanpaw asked, coming into the den.

“I don’t know…” Mistypaw mewed, gazing outside to where her brother was. His claws were unsheathed, digging into the earth beneath him and tearing it up.

Chapter Text

The full moon glowed overhead and Stonepaw brushed Mistypaw aside as she followed him. He didn’t want to talk to his sister, she was always accusing him of things under the guise of being worried . “Mouse-dung.” He muttered. She was just jealous of his skills, the skills he’d learned from Mapleshade of course. I’m the best land prey hunter in the clan. I’ll save us in leaf-bare. He thought. He padded away from the RiverClan and WindClan apprentices. And he absolutely didn’t want to talk to ThunderClan mange-pelts. Murderers. He sat down next to a group of ShadowClan apprentices.

“Hey.” One of them mewed, a dark brown tabby tom with a twisted tail.

“Hey.” Stonepaw mewed, nodding to him, but his gaze shifted to his tail.

“I’m Brokenpaw.” The ShadowClan apprentice mewed. “And, well, you can see my warrior name’s gonna be Broken tail .” 

Stonepaw let out a snort of laughter. “Unless you break your jaw too.”

“Well then I might have to fight Crookedstar.” Brokenpaw joked. “You think I could take him?”

The gathering had started already, but Stonepaw didn’t care for what the leaders had to say. “I dunno… he’s pretty big.” He mewed thoughtfully. “He’s my kin you know, my father is Oakheart, the deputy.”

“Cool.” Brokenpaw mewed. “My father is Raggedstar . The leader.”

“Woah!” Stonepaw mewed, but before he could speak again he was interrupted.

“Hush you two!” A black tom mewed. 

“ Sorry, Nightpelt .” Brokenpaw mewed mockingly, then leaned close to Stonepaw. “Let’s get outta here when he’s not looking.” 

Stonepaw blinked at him, then nodded mischievously. “Yeah.”

Once the young warrior turned away, the two toms snuck out of the gathering. 

“Come on, show me how RiverClan cats fight.” Brokenpaw mewed. 

Stonepaw’s eyes sparkled. “I can show you something even cooler.” He mewed, then hooked his paw down to Brokenpaw’s leg and pinched down on a tendon, Brokenpaw quickly fell over.

“How’d you do that!?” Brokenpaw gasped, getting up. 

Stonepaw looked around. “In my dreams.”

Brokenpaw rolled his eyes. “Come on, tell the truth!” 

“It is the truth!” Stonepaw huffed. “I’m learning from the Dark Forest. This cat Mapleshade is teaching me so I can take my revenge on those ThunderClan rats .” He snarled.

Brokenpaw’s eyes gleamed. ”Runningpaw, the ShadowClan one, told me about how they killed your sister.” He hissed. “I’ll help you take your revenge. My father said that one day, I’ll be the leader of ShadowClan. And when I’m leader, I’ll make sure ThunderClan will pay for how they wronged you.”

Stonepaw smiled. “Sounds like a plan.” He mewed. “Come on, let’s head back to the gathering before it ends so we don’t get caught.”

Brokenpaw nodded and the two of them padded back to Fourtrees.

“How could you!” Mapleshade hissed, lashing her tail. “You promised you wouldn’t tell any cat!”

“Brokenpaw’s my friend! And he’s going to help me anyway, what does it matter?” Stonepaw hissed back.

“He could betray you!” Mapleshade snarled.

“He won’t!” Stonepaw retorted.

“How do you know? Do you know what he’s thinking?” 

“I just- I just know he won’t, okay!” Stonepaw’s pelt felt hot, he didn’t know if Brokenpaw wouldn’t betray him, but he had a feeling. In his heart, he knew Brokenpaw would never do any wrong to him. “Please just believe me! It’ll be okay!”

Mapleshade rolled her eyes. “Fine. But when your heart’s been ripped in two, you’ll know I was right.”

Stonepaw blinked at her. What could she possibly mean?

Chapter Text

Mistypaw looked back at the apprentice den and sighed. She didn’t want to, but she had to tell Crookedstar about Stonepaw’s odd and aggressive behavior, she was worried about him. But her talk with the leader had to wait, she saw a cat creeping out of camp. It was Bluefur, and Spottedleaf was following her. What are they up to? She thought. Maybe I should follow them. She began to stalk after them, keeping low and hidden so they wouldn’t see her. They were going toward Sunningrocks. Mistypaw saw Bluefur lay her tail on Spottedleaf’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry, they won’t hurt us.” Her mother mewed softly to the medicine cat. 

Who won’t hurt them? Mistypaw thought. She saw a group of cats waiting on the other side of the river and Bluefur and Spottedleaf began swimming across. Why don’t they take the stepping stones? She wondered. 

“Thank you for meeting us.” Mistypaw heard a cat mew, and she smelled ThunderClan

“What did you want to speak to me about, Whitestorm?” Bluefur whispered. Whitestorm?

“It’s Thistlestar. He’s becoming more violent. I think he may want to attack RiverClan soon.” It was another cat’s voice, Mistypaw recognized Redtail’s mew. 

She gasped and all the cats turned to look at her hiding place. Fox-dung! She got up and swam over, her head held low. 

“Mistypaw!” Bluefur gasped. “What are you doing here?”

“I- I saw you leaving so I followed you.” Mistypaw explained.

Whitestorm shook his head. “I don’t want an apprentice to take part in this.” He mewed. “Especially not after what happened to Mosspaw.”

Mistypaw looked up at him. “No!” She hissed. “I need to help this time!” She looked around and saw Redtail, Lionheart, Willowpelt, and White-Eye. “Please…”

“I think she has a right to be here.” It was Spottedleaf who spoke up for her. “Thistlestar murdered her sister, and she is strong. I know she will do well.” 

Mistypaw gave her a grateful look. 

Bluefur nodded.

 “Very well.” Whitestorm sighed. “When the time comes, Mistypaw, you can help us defeat Thistlestar.”

Mistypaw nodded, determination flooding through her. She was going to defeat that rotten mange-pelt once and for all!

Chapter Text

Stonepaw crept out of camp, trying to not be seen by any cats. No cat can know. He thought, this meeting had to be a secret. He needed to see Brokenpaw again, then Mapleshade could see that he was trustworthy. As he stalked through the reeds and to the Twoleg bridge, a familiar voice rang out behind him. “What are you doing!?”
He whipped around to face his sister. “It’s none of your business!” He snapped
“Stonepaw, you’re going to Fourtrees! At Sunhigh!” Mistypaw hissed back. “It may not be my business, but StarClan knows it’s going to be Crookedstar’s if you don’t tell me what’s going on!”
Stonepaw growled at her then shook his head. “Fine.” He spat. “I’m meeting my friend Brokenpaw.”
“Brokenpaw!? From ShadowClan!?” Mistypaw sounded shocked. “But- that’s against the warrior code!”
Stonepaw’s pelt grew hot again. “We’re just friends! It’s not like we’re breaking the code by just hanging out!” He hissed. “Now leave me alone! And if you tell Crookedstar, I’ll tear your pelt off!”
Mistypaw flinched at the threat. “I- okay… just be careful.”
“I will.” Stonepaw turned and began heading to Fourtrees again. He felt bad for saying those things to his sister, but at least she’d leave him alone now.

As Stonepaw climbed up the hill, his heart leapt with joy when he saw his friend. He dashed up and tackled him. “Gotcha!” He mewed playfully.
Brokenpaw kicked him off then jumped onto his paws. “No fair, I didn’t see you coming!” He mewed.
Stonepaw sat down and licked one paw. “So, how’s it going in ShadowClan?” He asked.
“Fine, I guess. Foxheart was killed by rats.” Brokenpaw mewed casually.
“That’s horrible!” Stonepaw gasped.
Brokenpaw nodded. “Yeah, the carrionplace rats are vicious, but they’re good battle training.”
Stonepaw’s eyes widened. “Battle training!? Against rats?”
His friend shrugged. “Yeah, I got a couple scratches but I’m all good.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Stonepaw was worried for his friend.
The flat faced tom nodded. “I’m fine Stonepaw, seriously. Don’t worry.”
Stonepaw kneaded the ground, his pelt growing hot again. “Sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Brokenpaw mewed. “I’ll fight even harder, just so you don’t worry.” He winked.
Stonepaw giggled. “Thanks…”
Brokenpaw’s pelt then bristled. “I smell ThunderClan! Run!” He mewed, then dashed off towards ShadowClan territory.
Stonepaw watched him go sadly, then sighed. “See you later.” He mewed, before racing off to avoid getting caught by ThunderClan.

Chapter Text

“Do you promise to protect the clan, even at the cost of your life?” Crookedstar's loud mew called out through the camp, and Mistypaw nodded.

“I do.” She mewed. 

“Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your Warrior name.” He touched his nose to her head. “From this day forward, you will be known as Misty foot . StarClan honours your compassion and your strong spirit.”

“Mistyfoot! Mistyfoot!” The voices of her clanmates rang out across the camp, just as loud as they had yowled for her brother, Stone fur . 

But one voice called louder than any other, her father, Oakheart. “Mistyfoot! Mistyfoot!”

Swanpaw scrambled over to her. “Congratulations!” She mewed happily. 

Mistyfoot dipped her head to her best friend. “Thank you.” She purred, touching her nose to Swanpaw’s forehead. “You'll be a warrior soon too!”

Swanpaw nodded. “Yeah! The best warrior in all of the forest!”

Mistyfoot chuckled. “Well, besides me of course.”

“Nuh uh!” The striped white molly shook her head.

The two of them kept arguing about who was the best warrior in the forest for quite some time.

The moon sparkled in the sky above Mistyfoot's head as she and Spottedleaf swam across the river, Bluefur was already waiting on the other side.

“Redtail!” Her sister mewed, trotting over to the ThunderClan tom. 

Redtail nuzzled Spottedleaf's neck and smiled. “Willowpelt couldn't be here, she still has to take care of Darkkit.” He shot a look at Whitestorm.

Whitestorm smiled. “Yes, he’s growing up fast.” He mewed proudly. 

“That's great!” Spottedleaf mewed. “Misty foot ’s been made a warrior!”

“Congratulations.” Lionheart dipped his head to her. 

“Who's this?” Mistyfoot flicked her tail towards a young blue-grey tom with amber eyes, who was sitting next to White-Eye.

“This is Cricketpaw.” The senior warrior explained. “Featherwhisker’s new apprentice.”

Cricketpaw dipped his head. “I- um… I had a vision” He mewed nervously. “There was um- a thistle bush and then it burned up in a fire.”

Mistyfoot nodded. “The thistle bush must be Thistlestar.” She mewed. “But what could the fire mean?” 

Whitestorm shrugged. “I don't know, perhaps StarClan will strike him down.”

“They better. Before I do.” White-Eye was flexing her claws.

Bluefur sniffed. “If they were going to, they would have already. The fire must mean something else. What else did you see, Cricketpaw.”

“Oh! Um… oak trees! And the fire didn't touch them, only the thistles.”

“Oakheart!” Mistyfoot exclaimed. 

Spottedleaf nodded. “Of course!” She said, placing her paw on her forehead. “We should've invited him.”

“I don't think that's a good idea.” Redtail spoke up. “He's the deputy, and we want to keep this a secret.”

Bluefur shook her head. “He's also my mate . He and Crookedstar wouldn't let Thistlestar find out about these meetings.”

Whitestorm nodded. “He can come next time. But not Crookedstar. We don't want to attract attention from RiverClan or ThunderClan.”

Chapter Text

“It's been seasons, Mapleshade! Surely we're ready to take down Thistlestar!” Stonefur hissed. He'd grown fed up with her stalling.
“Not yet!” Mapleshade swiped him across the nose. “He has nine lives. You must train more if you're going to fight him.”
Stonefur ignored the blood welling on his nose. “Fine.” He snapped. Brokentail said he has a plan. Maybe I don't even need you. He thought, narrowing his eyes. Once Stumpypaw is trained. Stonefur didn't know what his friend's apprentice had to do with it, but he didn't care. As long as he got his revenge.
“Maybe if you stopped thinking of that tom you'd be further along in your training.” Mapleshade sneered.
“Shut up!” Stonefur snapped. “He's not distracting me. He's helping me.”
Mapleshade rolled her eyes.

As Stonefur led his patrol at the river, he noticed cats on the other side. ThunderClan. His ears flattened when he saw Tigerclaw. “Attack!” He yowled suddenly, flinging himself across the river and onto Runningwind. The tan tom shrieked with surprise as he was attacked. Morningleap tackled Tigerclaw and Leopardfur leapt on Lionheart. A young apprentice stepped back, Stonefur paid them no mind, he was focusing on Runningwind. This cat had been his friend when they were kits, but he didn't care. He was ThunderClan. No better than a fox. He tore into the tom’s leg, but Runningwind kicked him off and rushed forward, slamming a paw onto his head. Stonefur smiled. “You're weak.” He snarled at the skinny tom, but before he could strike his opponent, he heard Leopardfur wail.
“Morningleap!” She gasped.
Tigerclaw was standing over her body, blood dripping from his muzzle. “Get off our territory before you suffer the same fate.” The dark warrior snarled menacingly.
“This isn't over.” Stonefur hissed, hopping over the stepping stones.
Leopardfur followed, carrying Morningleap's body. “ThunderClan.” She snarled.
Stonefur nodded. “A bunch of fox-hearts.”
As they left he heard Tigerclaw mew. “That is how you deal with enemies, Darkpaw.”

The vigil for Morningleap was long and quiet, Greypool was huddled close to Splashlight, while Swanstrike was leaning on Mistyfoot’s shoulder. Rippleclaw had died of greencough not too long ago. Stonefur blamed himself for Morningleap’s death, if only he hadn’t been so rash and quick to attack.
“It wasn’t your fault.” Leopardfur whispered, no other cat seemed to hear.
Stonefur sighed and looked at her.
“It was Tigerclaw. That mangy rat is a traitor to all the clans.” Leopardfur spat, but she still kept her voice down.
Stonefur nodded. She’s right. This is all Tigerclaw and Thistlestar’s fault. I’ll make them pay for what they’ve done.

Chapter Text

Mistyfoot sat down next to Swanstrike and Greypool, watching her father take his place next to… “Tigerclaw!” She gasped, her eyes widening. Where was Adderfang? Her shock only grew as Talltail hopped up onto the great rock, with Deadfoot sitting down next to Cloudpelt. 

“Talltail?” Crookedstar cocked his head to the side. “Where is Heatherstar?”

Talltail shook his head. “She has joined StarClan. I am now Tall star .”

Crookedstar dipped his head to the new leader of WindClan as the gathering erupted into cheers. “Tallstar! Tallstar!”

Once they had died down, Thistlestar spoke up. “Adderfang is dead.” He mewed. “We found him near the WindClan border.”

Tallstar narrowed his eyes. “What are you implying, Thistlestar.” He mewed coldly.

“Oh, nothing. Just… convenient that our deputy dies around the time your leader does.” The scruffy grey tom flexed his claws.

“Heatherstar died of greencough .” Tallstar snarled, his claws sliding out.

“Maybe we should be questioning if you had anything to do with Adderfang’s death!” A warrior called out, Mistyfoot thought his name was Mudclaw.

Oakheart got to his paws. “I agree. Perhaps you did. We all know you aren’t above murder .”

Thistlestar leapt at Oakheart, his eyes blazing with fury, he tackled the reddish brown tom to the ground. Clouds had begun to cover the moon as the two fought. Oakheart kicked his legs up and knocked Thistlestar off of him. Thistlestar quickly leapt to his paws and rushed at him.

Swanstrike got to her paws, but Mistyfoot stopped her. “Oakheart can do this.” She mewed.

Tigerclaw looked like he was going to help his leader, but the dark warrior glanced around to see Tallstar, Deadfoot, and Crookedstar all staring at him, his hackles lowered.

Oakheart slashed his claws forward, stopping the ThunderClan leader in his tracks as a deep gash appeared on his neck. The grey and white warrior fell to the ground and Oakheart stared down at the body. “I should tear you apart right now, take all nine of your lives.” He snarled. “But I won’t. I have honour. I am a true warrior. Unlike you.” He whipped around and nodded to Crookedstar. 

“This gathering is over!” Crookedstar called, and led his clanmates out of Fourtrees

Chapter Text

“What a coward.” Stonefur snarled, his father should’ve killed Thistlestar right there. Honour had no place in a fight against a monster like that. His claws tore up the dirt beneath him as he walked. He should turn around and finish him off now, but he couldn’t. He’d be healed by StarClan by now, so he’d stand no chance by himself. He let out a low snarl as he stalked into camp, not giving his father a glance. He was weak. He noticed Crookedstar staring at him, but paid the leader no mind. He may be kin, but he was weak too. They all were. They didn’t have the strength to kill Thistlestar when they should have. He slunk down into his nest, hoping that soon, Brokentail’s plan would succeed and they could finally take their revenge. 

More moons had passed, and Stonefur and Brokentail were still waiting. 

“We can’t simply kill Cloudpelt, we need to wait longer until something else gets him.” Brokentail mewed.

Stonefur nodded. “Yes, and still, Yellowfang and Runningnose might get in the way…” 

Brokentail scoffed. “Runningnose is a coward, he won’t be able to do anything. And I’ll take care of Yellowfang when the time comes.”

Stonefur nodded. “Are you sure this is going to work?” He asked.

“Yes. I’m positive.” The handsome flat-faced tom flexed his claws. “I will be ShadowClan’s deputy, and Thistlestar will fall.”

Stonefur nodded. “Thank you.” He mewed.

“Of course.” Brokentail brushed his cheek against Stonefur’s. “One more thing. Are there any cats in RiverClan willing to help us?”

Stonefur thought for a second. “Just Leopardfur. Maybe Blackclaw. My kin are all goody-four-paws.”

Brokentail nodded. “Alright. I’ll see you later, okay?”

“Okay.” Stormfur nodded to him, then padded away.

Chapter Text

It had been seasons since Oakheart killed Thistlestar at the gathering. Ottersplash, Echomist, Whitefang, and Softwing had been killed by ThunderClan patrols, Mistyfoot was worried for the safety of Sunfish and Willowbreeze’s kits. Especially Willowbreeze’s, their father was Crookedstar, her kin. And still no news on the prophecy. Or the plan to take ThunderClan back from Thistlestar . She thought. The grey leader still had supporters in ThunderClan, Runningwind and Darkstripe for example, but they’re just a few. She sighed, looking over to Swanstrike. At least you’re okay . 

“From this day forward, this apprentice will be known as White paw . His mentor will be Leopardfur.” Crookedstar mewed, and Mistyfoot watched Whitepaw trot up to touch noses with Leopardfur. It felt as though every cat had gotten an apprentice but her. Perhaps if Minnowkit and Willowkit had survived, they would've been apprenticed to her. She shook her head, Oakheart probably didn’t want to accidentally bring such a young cat into the rebellion. She smiled at her brother, who ignored her and trotted out of camp to show Silverpaw the territories. 

“Have you had any signs?” Mistyfoot asked Cricketstorm, who shook his head.

“No, nothing. It’s like StarClan just went silent.” He sighed.

“I haven’t had any dreams either.” Spottedleaf shook her head.

But suddenly, a bright flash of orange streaked across the sky. All the cats looked up to see a blazing star streaking through the clouds.

“Fire…” Spottedleaf mewed. “Fire. Will save the clans.” She stared up at the sky in awe.

“Fire will save the clans.” Cricketstorm echoed. 

Chapter Text

Bluefur sat looking out at the twolegplace, the recent sign her adopted daughter, and her half-brother, had gotten about fire saving the clans still lingered in her mind. How would fire save the clans? All four clans in the forest feared fire. She saw a flash of orange and narrowed her eyes. On the fence of the single twoleg den that sat in RiverClan’s territory was a cat. He looked to be about six moons old, and his pelt was a bright orange. Almost the colour of… “Fire.” She mumbled.