Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Art by Evelin Haimo.

The light of dawn filtered through the leaves of the apprentice den, striking me in the eyes and forcing me awake. Judging by the sun’s height, I’d accidentally slept in. Stonestep wouldn’t be happy. Well, I was already late, so I might as well take some time to stretch out. I felt my muscles loosen as I went through the motions. I could already feel the black path of fur running from the bridge of my muzzle to the end of my tail warming in the morning light. Welp, that was enough stalling. I was ready for the lecture Stonestep was bound to give me on punctuality. I was still dreading it. I got enough grief from Father about taking after my uncle Firestar.

I trotted out of the den expecting to see my mentor, but Father was waiting for me. He had a rather striking form. While his body was short height wise, he had dense muscle that made him far bigger than most cats. The most striking feature of Father was his missing ear. It made his overall look lopsided, but none would ever comment on the matter. He was far too well respected to be criticized on his looks. Father looked at me, not with disappointment, but with a measure of acceptance to my seminocturnal nature. I padded up to him, sitting by his side as I knew he had something to speak to me about. I knew this was serious because Stonestep was nowhere to be seen. Stonestep always acted a bit like a fussy queen with me, but he also knew when to push me when it mattered.

“Darkpaw, you’ve grown into a fine cat. It won’t be long until you are made a warrior, but I’ve heard you’ve been having nightmares. Do you wish to speak of them?” Father queried knowing he’d accept either answer, but father had taught me a saying. Secrets don’t keep. If kept, they have a tendency to be revealed when they’d hurt most. Father isn’t a liar, so I decided to trust in his saying.

“I have and haven’t. A nightmare is when something terrifying is happening in a dream, but I don’t feel afraid in my dream. When I wake, I begin to fear myself. The subject of my dream is bloody. I feel myself stalking the Twoleg Place. A rhythmic clicking follows me in time with my paw steps. I can feel eyes gaze upon me fearfully, and I feel a slight joy. Then I find them, whoever I was hunting. They are terrified of me, but I can only feel that tinge of joy. I pursue them and ultimately kill them. It felt so real. I could feel their blood sticking to my pelt. I heard them choke out their last breaths, and I felt nothing. I’m afraid of someday waking up and feeling that same unfeeling cold follow me home.” I confessed.

Father’s eyes softened at my story. I saw a flicker of recognition when I’d told him, which mystified me. I felt Father embrace me which I did not pull away from. He nuzzled me, knowing what I needed most right now was not platitudes or meaningless words denying what I felt.

His breath was warm against my fur as he gave one last nuzzle before pulling back and stating. “It is alright my son. What you felt is not who you are. This dream you had, it was not something of a normal nature. For that reason and since you revealed a secret of your own, I will reveal a secret of mine. Since the day I found you and your mother, I knew you were someone special. You were born the exact same night as when the clans ousted Bloodclan. I made a wish that night to one of the Bloodclan cats, one you remember as well. ‘I hope you never need to feel the cold again’.”

My eyes widened in shock. That was my first memory, the one that allowed me to stay with Father and the one that I felt with immeasurable clarity despite my age at the time. I always remembered it as Father’s wish, but I could never recall when he actually wished it of me. A slight smile graced Father’s muzzle as he caught me having my revelation.

“Yes my son. This is not your first life, just as this one is not mine. I cannot explain how this happened, but you are a cat reborn. What you witnessed was not a dream but rather a memory. Before I say more, I must remind you that I love you truly as my son. Who you once were is not who you are, but you must accept that you are capable great evil just as you are capable of great goodness. The cat who you were, I knew well. You are my son, but you once were the ruler of Bloodclan, Scourge.” He stated gently, watching my every move to minimize my distress at his words.

“I am Scourge?!” I panicked.

Father forced me into another embrace as he denied my statement. “No. You are my magnificent son Darkpaw. You were Scourge in your last life, but you are that cat no longer. I tell you now because I want to make no illusions as to what is happening. Your memories from your last life are leaking into your dreams. That cat that struck fear into others and killed without remorse is not you now. You will have to accept these dark memories, but you must also remember that you are Darkpaw, not Scourge. You will always be your own cat. Let not the past govern who you are today.”

I could feel tear begin to well in my eyes as Father pulled me closer. “How? How can you just accept me if you knew I was such an evil cat? If I was Scourge, how can you care for me? Scourge took your ear, stole one of Firestar’s lives, and killed your friends. How can you still love me?” I pleaded.

“Because you are my son. You are not Scourge, and you will never be him again. I’ve got my own darkness from a previous life. I was a killer as well. It did not matter who I killed as long as the job was done. I am not that killer any longer just as you are not Scourge. We are the same. I know what you are going through, and I know it will be hard, but I also know you are strong enough to get through it. If you ever feel that you cannot trust yourself, trust in the faith I have in you.” Father rebutted, letting the silence sit for a couple moments before pulling away. “Now, I know what we just had was emotionally exhausting, so Ravenfeather, Stonestep, and I decided we’d go hunting with you. Today will be an easy day.” Father mewed, ushering me to follow him.

Cheekily, I asked, “Do you think Stonestep will finally work up the nerve to ask you and dad out?”

“Ha! He’s been treading around me like I’m made of glass since the battle with Bloodclan. If you can pressure his to stop pussyfooting around, you’d be doing me a huge favor. You’d think with how aggressive he is towards Riverclan, he’d be brave enough to ask one simple question, but I guess matters of the heart are more terrifying than anything breathing.” Father jokingly responded.

“If you even got with him, what would I have to call him? It’s hard enough when I have to explain to others that I have a father and a dad.” I stated back with a snicker.

“Pops, Pa, Da… Maybe not that last one. It’s too close to dad, and Ravenfeather gets flustered too easily already.” Father teased.

I pushed my distressing dreams out of my mind for now. Today was another beautiful day, and Dad and my mentor were waiting.

Chapter Text

I had just gotten back from my hunt with my family when I noticed Squirrelpaw looking more upset than usual. She was always a bit easy to upset given her tendency to butt herself into other cat's issues and subsequently being snubbed, but she usually wasn't this upset. I decided to check on her.

"Hey Squirrelpaw. What's got your tail in a twist?" I asked nonchalantly.

"That stupid Bramblebutt! I know he's hiding something from me. He's been walking around all day looking lost in thought. I wanted to help him out, but he called me just an apprentice. Ooh! Where does he get the nerve saying something like that?" She ranted.

I tipped my head as I gave her a kinder rebuttal. "Well, we are still apprentices. There are some things we just aren't equipped to handle yet, but you may be onto something if he isn't informing anyone else. Want me to sic Father on him?" I responded.

"No. I want to deal with this. He can't keep putting me off like this. I need to prove to him that I'm not just some apprentice. He'll have to tell me then." Squirrelpaw replied.

"Ok. Just know the offer still stands if you change your mind. I'll be in the den if you need me." I stated, beginning to turn away.

"Wait! I just got a great idea. I heard him muttering something about Fourtrees tonight. How about we stalk him?" Squirrelpaw proposed.

"I don't know. Sneaking out to Fourtrees seems like something Father would want to hear about." I answered, not totally onboard with her idea.

"Come on! It'll be easy. If anything bad happens, we'll just sprint back here and let Firestar know. I can't do this without my best friend." Squirrelpaw whined.

That tone was my weakness. It always hurt my ears when she whined like that. I'd usually just give in to her idea when she'd whine. Today was no exception. "Alright, fine! Just knock it off with the whining. You know it hurts my ears." I begrudgingly responded.

Squirrelpaw gave a small happy jump as she heard my response. "Yes! Let's do it! Remember, tonight!" Squirrelpaw squeed.

She took off into the apprentice's den to catch a nap before our outing. I decided to catch one as well, despite how I knew it would wreak havoc on my sense of time tomorrow. Whatever Brambleclaw was up to, I could feel it was important.

As I drifted off into a nap, I felt a strange sensation of falling come over me. It made my eyes snap open, but I wasn't in the apprentice den anymore. I was in some sort of strange dead forest. The mud that I found myself standing in reeked. It reminded me of that time I found a rotten bird egg. I scrunched up my muzzle in disgust. How could anyone stand this place? It was as I was reeling my head back, trying to clear my nose of that nasty smell that I caught sight of a rather large and intimidating tortoiseshell molly. She was lounging on a branch above me, looking upon me with curiosity. She caught that I spotted her and leapt down to meet me.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't little Darkpaw. I always wondered if you'd wander in here. Taking a better look at you, you are so much like your Father." She mewed, brushing past me and smacking me in the face with her tail.

"Who are you?!" I growled, sinking into the battle position Stonestep taught me.

"I'm surprised Smudgefoot didn't mention me after all we've been through. Oh, woe is me?" She theatrically decried, clearly messing with me. Cats usually don't talk like that unless I was missing something. That had to be it. I had all the pieces to figure this out, but what was I missing? I fell asleep and ended up here. There are no tracks, so I wasn't moved. I highly doubt that this is Starclan given this place's desolation. Thus, there was only one answer. This place had to be the Darkforest. And if this was the Darkforest and Father had some relation to this molly, then this cat must be the dark queen Mapleshade.

"You're Mapleshade!" I answered quickly.

Mapleshade let out a loud laugh at my response. "Yep. Exactly like him. You amuse me kit,"

"Did you call me here?" I asked.

"Sort of. I was meaning to get Smudgefoot, but I got you instead. You two are really similar. I must have grabbed the wrong one, but this does present an opportunity. I'm going to pass on a warning I meant to give to your Father. Something big is about to go down. I'm no Starclan cat, but even here I can feel the incoming catastrophe. Smudgefoot is going to have to keep busy helping his clan, but I believe you could do something about it. You've got that same darkness as your father. Fate and prophecy ripple in your wake. I'm going to offer to do something I did to your Father long ago if you are willing. I can bind myself to you, acting as an invisible guide when you need it or simply keeping in touch with your Father. Are you willing to accept?" She offered.

I froze for a moment, processing her offer. Every cat knew the story of Mapleshade, the vengeful queen, but I also had Father's words. He described her as an ally of opportunity. She definitely wasn't a good cat, but Father described his bond with her as something similar to a heavy rock. She was like a branch, easily getting swept away in the currents of a stream, but the rock created a wake that she could comfortably sit in to keep there. In essence, he gave her access to the living world, even if she was intangible. The real question was if I could trust her. She didn't seem hostile to me, but that could be because she was manipulating me. Who knows if she really grabbed the wrong cat or was just trying to lure me into a trap. She was far larger than me and could easily beat me in a fight, but I also knew this was a dream. I probably couldn't die here. Ultimately, I decided to accept her offer. If the clans were in as much danger as she said, I'd need all the help I could get.

"Fine. I'll let you attach yourself to me." I answered, still on guard in case she decided to jump me.

"Don't worry. I'm sure it'll be less disorienting than when I did it to your Father. You'll feel a bit dizzy when you wake up. That's normal. Also, don't freak out when you see me there." She answered, pushing her forehead into mine.

It felt like the world was spinning as I somehow felt in the depths of my soul something binding itself to me. It wasn't uncomfortable, but it was definitely strange. I closed my eyes, to try and combat the nausea. Then I felt a shaking.

"Dakrpaw! Wake up. Brambleclaw just left." Squirrelpaw mewed, forcing me out of my slumber.

Chapter Text

Squirrelpaw and I set out, following Brambleclaw's scent trail. Despite the covert nature of Brambleclaw's meeting, it seemed Brambleclaw wasn't making any sort of effort to suppress his trail. It was rather easy to follow. Being that this meeting was being held at Fourtrees, the other cats involved were likely from another clan. Who could be meeting there? Are any of them from my irksome sire's clan? Soon enough, Squirrelpaw and I were close enough to make out some voices. While we couldn't make out what they were saying, I could at least tell there were four individuals including Brambleclaw. Unfortunately, we were running out of cover. We'd be rustling the bushes soon enough if we got closer. Not to mention the white of my fur and Squirrelpaw's bright orange fur stuck out in the darkness.

"They're so close, but I can't hear a thing. Darkpaw, you get closer." Squirrelpaw whisper commanded me.

"Why me?" I complained back,

"Because you are sneakier than me. If I try, they'll think dawn came far too early with all my orange." Squirrelpaw chastised.

"But I have white." I rebutted, getting a light snack to the face.

"Just stay low then. Your back and tail are black. It'll be fine. I'll be right here to back you up if things go wrong." Squirrelpaw stated, giving me an apologetic smile.

"Fine. I'm going to sneak to that bush just ahead. I should be able to make it out from there." I answered, lowering into a near crawl.

Stealthily, I crept along, being careful not to misstep onto a branch or loose soil. I kept a careful pace, ears alert for any attention thrown this direction and eyes keen looking for obstacles or signs that the meeting cats noticed my approach. After a tense crossing, I managed to position myself under the bush, concealing my brighter fur by laying flat. I strained my ears to catch what they were saying.

"… And you think Starclan called all of us for a reason?" A male but unfamiliar voice questioned.

"Calm down Crowpaw. We all had that same dream, and they called us all here for a reason." Answered a female with a lighter voice. I believe I could recognize this one. Stonestep was talking to her once at a Gathering. Feathertail was her name, wasn't it.

"And what are we supposed to do with that information anyways. Talk to Midnight they said. What does that even mean? Who or what is Midnight, and why do we need to talk to it? Can't they just tell us themselves?" Crowpaw growled out.

"Let's be objective here. We obviously don't have all the pieces yet. Whatever this is, it's big. Starclan may be vague at times, but they never go out of their way to be confusing. I think they wanted us to meet first before they send us another sign." Mewed another female. Again. This one I could probably figure out. Father spoke to her once at a Gathering. I believe her name was Tawnypelt.

"Just great. I snuck out of camp for nothing! Mudfur is going to have me on tick duty for a moon if he finds out. Thanks for nothing!" Growled Crowpaw again.

"We'll figure this out. Everyone, keep alert. We don't know when or how Starclan will let us know what to do next." Answered Brambleclaw.

What followed was the sounds of cats pushing through the bushes that lined Fourtrees, each headed back to their respective clans. I settled myself to wait for them all to pass, but I suddenly felt a warmth by my side. I turned quickly to look at whoever just snuck up on me.

"What did they say?" I heard whispered into my ear.

I was not expecting the sudden noise, accidentally arching my back and letting out an involuntary hiss. It was Squirrelpaw, and she must have snuck up here while the others were leaving. Squirrelpaw winced at my sudden hiss, but it turned out she wasn't the only one to notice it. I heard rustling nearby as a large tabby came into view.

"I know you're in there Squirrelpaw." Brambleclaw mewed, seeing Squirrelpaw's bright pelt through the leaves.

Squirrelpaw, knowing she was caught, pulled herself out, hoping to conceal my presence. "Well Bramblebutt, care to explain? I'm sure dad wouldn't take to kindly to you meeting other clan cats like this." Squirrelpaw mewed with an accusatory tone.

I could tell Brambleclaw was staring Squirrelpaw down, trying to force her to concede to silence, but if I knew anything about Squirrelpaw, she was far too willful to concede to that. The silence continued before a brief chuff came from Brambleclaw. He clearly lost the stare down. Suddenly, I heard a sniff from Brambleclaw. He suddenly seemed aware that something was amiss.

"What are you doing sniffing me like that?" Squirrelpaw stated with an affronted tone.

Brambleclaw took on an amused manner as he answered. "I was just taking in your scent a moment. I didn't think you'd have the nerve to follow me all on your own. Of course, you'd never just risk yourself. You just had to bring your lackey into this. Isn't that right Darkpaw?"

Squirrelpaw erupted with anger at that. "Darkpaw is not my lackey! How dare you say something so insulting! We are equals, and I'd never force him to do something he wouldn't want to do. I should tear off your ears for saying something so cruel!" Squirrelpaw hissed.

"And yet, you didn't say he wasn't here. Come on out Darkpaw. I know you're here. I smelled it on Squirrelpaw." Brambleclaw commanded.

I'd been caught. I pulled myself from the bushes, and my eyes met Brambleclaw's. He seemed to be attempting the same stare down tactic with me, but it wouldn't work. He'd already insulted me knowing I was within earshot. I pulled on an instinct that was ingrained into my dreams, making my eyes cold and piercing. Brambleclaw shivered under their scrutiny. He broke first, turning away.

"You two shouldn't be out here. Apprentices shouldn't be out of camp without their mentor." Brambleclaw chastised, clearly trying to deflect.

"And warriors shouldn't be conspiring with other clans. Any good warrior would investigate such suspicious behavior as yours. Father would be proud of me for doing so." I stated, clearly letting him know that I wasn't going to back down and let him get away with this.

"It's a Starclan thing. Apprentices shouldn't be involved." He answered, trying to shut us down again.

"Then I'll tell Father." I replied in a flat tone that couldn't be anything but truthful.

"Fine. I'll tell you two. Just don't go blurting it out. I and those three other cats all received the same dream from Starclan. We don't know exactly what it meant, but something big is coming. Something so big that it threatens the whole forest. The only possible answer lies in their cryptic advice to seek Midnight. Happy?" Brambleclaw stated, clearly annoyed at being back into a corner.

"I'm still going to tell Father. If this is something that really concerns the whole forest, then it is important that all the leaders are in the know. Even the invasion by Bloodclan only warranted one clan to receive a prophecy of blood. I'm honestly both surprised and disappointed that all four of you thought it'd be a good idea to keep quiet on that." I answered, turning away and making it clear there was no more room for conversation.

I heard a grumble as Squirrelpaw trotted to my side. She'd obviously made a face at him before making her way over. We all made our way back to camp. Brambleclaw was hunched and slightly stompy in frustration at being caught. Meanwhile Squirrelpaw pranced, glad to be the one in the right and not in trouble for once. I had my own concerns. How would Father handle this, and how was he going to react when I tell him about Mapleshade? I had to suck it up. My fear of punishment meant nothing in comparison to the threat to the clan.

Chapter Text

I approached the leader's den with a bit of hesitation. Firestar never took too kindly to being woken up late at night. My throat felt tight as I got closer. I froze for a moment, looking at the dark maw of the Leader's den. It was not silent like I expected. Instead, I could hear voices coming from within. I forced myself one step closer before a cat appeared from the entrance. I say appeared because the cat did not push through the lichen layer that mostly obscured the insides of the den. This cat walked through it, the greenery phasing through their body. It was Mapleshade and she looked pretty smug about something.

"Better not keep Smudgefoot waiting. I already gave him a bit of a hint on your little outing, and I'm dying to see how he'll react to this." The phantom molly mewed, brushing past me leaving an eerie chill.

There was no more point in holding back. They already knew we were coming. I pushed through the entrance with Squirrelpaw and Brambleclaw right behind. Firestar and Smudgefoot were waiting, their eyes stern as they looked upon us all. I knew that by the end of the night, at least one of us would be receiving an earful. Though, it was not Firestar who I feared, but rather my father. My eyes met his. I tried to read them, understand what he was thinking and wanted, but they were unreadable. I hunched slightly under their gaze, noting that Brambleclaw and Squirrelpaw looked equally uneasy.

"So, I heard you three decided to sneak out tonight. Care to enlighten me as to why?" Father commanded.

"We were just tracking Brambleclaw." Squirrelpaw blurted out.

The leader's and the deputy's eyes fixated on Brambleclaw, near pushing him to the floor. Then Father's eyes drifted to me. "Darkpaw, I know you would never lie to me without purpose. Please explain to me what happened and why you and Squirrelpaw took it upon yourselves to follow Brambleclaw out to a potentially dangerous meeting?"

I cleared my throat, settling my nerves. "Well, it went a bit like this. Squirrelpaw overheard Brambleclaw muttering about some kind of meeting at Fourtrees tonight. She watched Brambleclaw, and he never said anything to either of you two, so she thought it was suspicious. I know Brambleclaw was mentored by you Firestar, so there was little chance that our words would sway you to investigate. Thus, we took it upon ourselves. We followed Brambleclaw to the meeting. Squirrelpaw and I didn't manage to hear all of it, but we did catch that the meeting was the work of Starclan. One cat from every clan was present, and they mentioned a shared dream of coming destruction. Unfortunately, the meeting ended rather quickly. Squirrelpaw accidentally spooked me while we were in earshot, and it alerted Brambleclaw to our presence. I may have smudged him to get him to come here."

A bit of amusement appeared in Firestar's eyes at the word smudged, but Father shot him a quieting look. Firestar coughed, trying to suppress a chuckle. Father then turned to Firestar to speak his thoughts. "I did not detect deception in my son's testimony. I believe he speaks the truth. If this meeting was as Darkpaw described, then we need to hear out Brambleclaw completely."

Firestar nodded in response. "I agree. While I'm disconcerted that Brambleclaw never felt it important to alert us to this Starclan event, I'll withhold judgement for now." Firestar's eyes locked back onto Brambleclaw. "I'd like to hear your side of the story. What was the purpose of this meeting, and did you plan to tell us about it eventually?"

Brambleclaw was frozen, clearly trying to figure out how to word his answer. Finally, he spoke. "This dream Starclan sent us, it was vague. There wasn't much that I could really figure out about it besides one cat from every clan was chosen, there is some kind of coming overwhelming destruction, and the last vague phrase, 'You must seek Midnight.' I didn't even really know if the dream was real. The meeting was more to confirm it. Yes, one cat from every clan appeared, Feathertail of Riverclan, Crowpaw of Windclan, and Tawnypelt of Shadowclan. These were the other selected cats. Besides confirming that the dream was not a delusion, we gained no new information from the meeting. No individual had a variation of the dream besides which cat selected them. We believe that Starclan will send us another sign, but we don't know how soon. I didn't want to startle the clan. We've had a good few moons of peace, but I still remember the age of Tigerstar. I didn't want to repeat it."

Firestar's eyes softened at Brambleclaw's answer. I'd heard stories about the uncertainty and fear that came during Tigerstar's reign. I remember the rage in Father's eyes as he described the atrocities Tigerstar committed. I remember how Dad took me aside to describe his experience as Tigerstar's apprentice, the fear of death, and how Father protected him during such a dangerous time. I may only know of it, but Brambleclaw was born into it as the son of the tyrant. I could understand why he was hesitant to speak of what was roughly described as an apocalypse. It meant the peace he'd grown to love was crumbling apart, and denying it was a defense mechanism to keep himself from reliving his unhappy youth.

Father signaled for me to follow him. Squirrelpaw made to follow me, but Firestar cut her off, likely wanting to have his own little chat with his daughter. Father led me to an isolated part of the camp, clearly not wanting to be overheard. He sat first and signaled to me to do so as well. He stared at me with an unreadable expression before finally speaking. "A certain entertainment seeking molly recently was bragging to me about conning a certain apprentice. Would you mind telling me how she could accomplish such a feat?"

Mapleshade, seemingly summoned at the mention of her deed, appeared beside Father. "Yeah Darkpaw, tell Smudgefoot all about how you let me bind myself to you. I crave to see the look on his face."

Father noticed my eyes darting to Mapleshade. He appeared to see her as well and let out a sigh. "I suppose all the proof I need is here. Mapleshade, while I appreciate all the help you've given me over these many moons, I do not appreciate what you did to my son."

Mapleshade, with a cheerful expression, answered. "Oh, come on. Did you really think a cat as entertaining as him would just slip by me? I'm honestly insulted. His soul is fascinating, second only to yours in oddities. With how similar they are, I can't believe he isn't your actual kit. He's just like you, keen, possessive, loyal, but most important of all, he obscures. I can't peek into his future like I could with other cats, and that means he'll never do something I can predict. Isn't that just exhilarating? Unlike you, he isn't bound by the deputy position, and he seems to have gotten himself involved in some kind of grand prophecy. How could you not expect me to tag along?"

Father sighed again before turning to me. "I did not mean to put you on the spot like that, but I want you to realize the risk of what you are getting into. Mapleshade is not the type of cat who just settles for watching your life. She wants to do things, explore. She desires purpose. I thought I'd been giving her enough by having her watch the Twoleg place, but it has settled down there. Somehow I can just sense you'll be heavily involved in whatever is to come with this prophecy. Mapleshade will be an invaluable ally during this time, but you need to remember that she is not a good cat. She craves entertainment. She will never actively seek your death, but she may willingly omit information to instigate a fight. She is also quite chatty. I hope you can manage her because as far as I can tell, there's no way to stop this link."

I nodded at his words. "I'll be careful Father."

"I trust you Darkpaw. Get some rest. Firestar and I will call for an emergency meeting of the clans soon to address this prophecy. I want you there for what's to come." Father mewed before escorting me to the apprentices den. Squirrelpaw was waiting for me inside.

"How'd you talk go?" I asked.

"Dad chewed me out for taking that risk, but he was proud of me for doing what I thought was right. How about you?" She answered.

"Father just warned me about the family ghost." I dismissed, giving her the real answer without giving her a real answer.

"Your father is crazy superstitious if he's bringing that up after that meeting." Squirrelpaw meowed with amusement.

"Well, Father always told me he had a ghost ear after Scourge took it. Says the rogues of the Twoleg place had a legend that the claws of Scourge killed any cat they touched. Since Father survived a fight with Scourge and only lost an ear, the ear must have died and become a ghost." I replied with equal kittishness.

We settled into our nests, with a mixture of curiosity, nervousness, fear, and excitement for what is to come.

Chapter Text

The world was black and white. No color pervaded my sight. I began to wander, not really noticing the scenery that passed me by. Nondescript cats passed me by. Each had dears rolled flat against their skulls. Their heads were held lower at my sight. They'd flinch as I passed. I continued to wander, sensing each and every cat that slipped me by. I simply ignored them. They were beneath my notice… until one bumped into me. How dare he interrupt my walk! In an instant, I found myself slashing at the cat who dared to cross me.

At first, it was just a retaliatory swipe that left a small cut across his brow. But then I noticed it. The blood was red. It was red! I wanted to see more, be red. I slashed at the cat again, staining him further red. Yes. I wanted red. I wanted color. Swipe after swipe, claw after claw, I spread the red. Not caring about the mangled form of my victim, I continued to slash and abuse the body, splashing the walls and surrounding cats in red. Soon, the body would produce no more. It wasn't enough. It wasn't enough! I could still see black on me. It needed to be red. I began looking upon the cats around me. They were filled with red. I could get it and finally be free from the black and white.

I was about ready to go on a rampage when a large tom appeared. He was the biggest cat I'd ever scene, and somehow, I could see him. His form may have been black and white, but I could see the purple of his collar. I could see the faint hue of yellow upon the teeth studding his collar. I could see his green eyes. His eyes met mine and calmed my desire. Colors slowly gained saturation. It was still muted and muddy, but I could see color again.

I looked down at my paws, stained with blood. Below me was the mangled corpse of some unlucky tom that accidentally caught my ire. It wasn't the first time and wouldn't be the last. I stepped over the corpse, licking my white paw clean, taking special care in my claw extensions. As strange as it sounds, I'd named them. There was Cut, Lacerate, Agony, and Wrath.

The tom that calmed me spoke, I know I knew his name, but for the life of me, I could not remember. "Scourge. You did it again. What set you off?"

How could I explain the devoid world? How could I say the absolute need for color, for red? There still were cats here. He knew that. I'd once told him of the colorless world. Why would he ask me this? I needed a more realistic answer. I needed a good lie. "He disrespected me by bumping into me. He was defiant to me, not even fleeing after I gave him a warning scratch. It was a necessary reminder."

The tom nodded in acceptance, clearly acting as if my lie was fact when he clearly knew it was false. Had he been covering for me? "Toss the body onto the road. Make sure a car hits it so the Twolegs don't figure out about us." The tom commanded.

I woke panting. That dream felt so real. I could still feel the dream. That desire for red, I could feel it just beneath my skin. It terrified me. It was still dark out. The darkness muted the colors of the world, and I didn't like it. It felt too much like the dream. My right paw felt light, as if it was missing something. I knew exactly what it was, but I denied it. "That wasn't me. That wasn't me. It couldn't have been me." I muttered to myself, now thoroughly awake and not wanting to fall back into that dream.

I padded out to the camp center, star gazing to pass the time. I could see the faint shimmer of light on the horizon. Dawn would soon approach. I felt a warm pelt press up against me. It was Dad. He didn't look down on me, instead joining me to watch the approaching dawn. But he was black and white. It sparked my urge. I didn't like the black and white. I wanted red! I curled up on myself, trying to suppress the desire. That's when Dad spoke.

"Son, look at me." He mewed in the gentlest tone.

My eyes met his. That familiar green dominated my vision. Green… the color more desirable than red. The desire faded into nothing as I was entranced by Dad's eyes. They freed me from the monster I threatened to become. My fur flattened and my fear subsided.

"Are you alright?" He asked, running his tongue across my head and gently purring to settle my nerves further.

"I'm sorry Dad. I had a nightmare. It felt so real. I… I felt so cold. The world was just colorless. It felt so fake, unnoticeable. Then I cut someone and saw red. I don't understand why I felt it, but I needed to see more, to make everything red. I killed someone, and I was going to do more… I hate this! I hate these dreams! I hate the cat in it. I don't want to be him. I don't…" I ranted, devolving into a crying fit.

"I know. I know. You aren't that cat, and you never will be. I promise. I know your dreams are scary. I'd do anything to make sure you never needed to see them, and I'm sorry I can't do more than be here for you. I know your Father knows about this more than I do, but I'm here for you, and I will continue to be. Just lean against me and listen to my breathing." He consoled.

"You promise?" I asked, still feeling emotional from my outburst.

"I do." He answered gently, but firmly.

His paws wrapped around me as he began to groom me. His gentle purr settled my rattled nerves. I felt my eyes beginning to drift shut. It felt safe. Dad was watching over me, and he would ward off the dream. A welcoming blackness awaited me. The dream would not return this night.

Chapter Text

I was awakened by my mentor as the sun began to raise into the sky, thus freeing my Dad from my embrace. The two shared a curt nod before Dad departed deal with my Father, who now that I think about it, never left the leader's den since that meeting. Dad dragged Father out of there, who looked more sleep deprived than I had been. I heard Stonestep chuff at the sight.

"Must be a family thing." He teased. "Now today, we've got an interesting assignment. We're to alert Riverclan that we're hosting an emergency meeting of the clans the day after tomorrow."

"But you hate Riverclan!" I chimed in, knowing fully well that my mentor never got over his trauma. Stonestep is widely considered one of the kindest cats in the clan, but all that flips when Riverclan becomes the topic. Thunderclan got decisively better at fighting Riverclan because Stonestep took the time to reveal all Riverclan's combat weaknesses. On the contrast, Riverclan has gotten stronger due to this development. The holes in their defense are closing up since we strike them so frequently.

"That's exactly why I have to do this. Me being the message bearer means we are serious about this meeting. I'd never agree to do something like this unless I truly believed this meeting was absolutely necessary. Firestar is alerting Windclan himself and your father Smudgefoot is going to Shadowclan to let them know the deal." Stonestep answered.

I said no more as Stonestep gestured for me to follow. Soon, the trees grew sparse as great slabs of stone became visible. It was the battleground that Riverclan and Thunderclan fought over for generations, Sunningrocks. Currently, the territory was in Thunderclan control. We'd forced them off the territory last moon, and they hadn't had a chance to retaliate yet. It didn't hurt that Stonestep showed us all their hiding places they usually hid invasion forces in on the territory, making them have to swim into battle and burn valuable energy.

Stonestep soon guided me to the Steppingstones. These things had a rather infamous history, nearly all of it pertaining to Mapleshade one way or another. This was where her kits drowned and where Crookedstar received his namesake after Mapleshade's interference. Mapleshade made her presence known at that thought.

"Never really liked those things. Even before I lost my kits, those stones were a hazard. They're slick beyond belief and aren't always visible above the water. If I'd known how treacherous they were back when I was alive, I'd have crossed further upstream. There's this nice little spot where a pair of tree grows on both sides of the river. Their branches are a bit springy, but their far more consistent than the temperamental river." She stated, rolling onto her back, which was right over the water and completely defying physics. She looked entertained by my confused look. "This isn't all that strange. I'm not anything material, so nothing material affects me."

Stonestep looked over at me concerned. "You alright Darkpaw? You're kind of staring into space intently, and I'm a bit worried."

I turned to my mentor before speaking. "It's nothing to be concerned about. Say, did my Father ever tell you about Mapleshade?"

"Yes, his personal ghost. What about her?" Stonestep queried.

"I may have done something foolish and allowed her to attach herself to me as well. That's what I was looking at a bit ago. She told me there's a pair of trees upstream that are more consistent to cross with." I answered, using her lecture to prove her as something other than a figment of my imagination.

Stonestep nodded at my statement, looking not all that concerned that I allowed a dark spirit to attach itself to me, but Father likely already had let him know. "Thunderclan actually has a name for that pair. Though, the name tends to change pretty often. Currently, they go by the names Blue and Oak after Bluestar and Oakheart. They're also called the Lovers for the same reason. There's a similar location on all of our connecting borders, each having unofficial names about interclan affairs. Riverclan also has its own name for it, but it might have changed since I was exiled by those worthless rats. Last I heard, they called it the Forsaken Path since they believe climbing a tree is heretical to their lifestyle."

"You aren't mad I let a spirit bind itself to me?" I questioned.

Stonestep let out a sigh. "I'm going to be honest Darkpaw. We all saw it coming. You are so much like your Father. Just like him, you aren't the type to just let a chance slip past you. Having a ghost allied with you is an immeasurable boon. Your father also told me about Mapleshade. She's the type always looking for entertainment. Ever since he adopted you, Mapleshade has been interested in you, not just because of your nature but because you are so loved by your father. I believe she sees herself as something of an aunt for you. Keeping her away forever just was never an option."

"You make my heart weep." Mapleshade theatrically teased from behind Stonestep, knowing fully well I'd be the only one to hear it.

Since we were just waiting on a Riverclan patrol to arrive, and Stonestep seemed to have chosen for us to arrive after the last one just left, we had some time to kill. Thus, I decided to ask him a question that had bugged me for a long time, especially since it pertained to his relationship with Father. "What did you feel when Father brought me in?"

Stonestep looked at me shocked, as if this was an obvious question. "Honestly, I fell in love with you right away. How could I not? You looked so much like your father despite sharing no blood. It was the first time in a long time that Smudgefoot looked happy with none of his guilt and sadness eating at him. You freed him from his sadness, and I can never thank you enough for it. I'm sure you remember how much I doted on you, teaching you hunting and fighting techniques as a kit and playing Guard. Imagine my surprise when one day your father strolls up to me after I'd just finished teaching you to stalk and pulls me aside. That is when I received the best gift of my life. He promised me that you'd be my apprentice. I've had apprentices before, but none have brought me as much pride as you. I cherish every day I get to teach you and can't wait for the day you get your warrior name."

I had to wipe my eyes to keep tears from spilling over. I felt blind that I hadn't noticed. I mean, I always knew my mentor cared about me, but to hear it was something else entirely. After I cleared my eyes, I asked another question. "What about your relationship with Father?"

Stonestep looked down, his tail twitching in nervous embarrassment. "I could never really pursue him. I aked him out once before the battle of Bloodclan, but he told me that the timing wasn't right. Once you came in, I realized I'd waited too long. He had a kit. His family was complete, and he looked happy. I couldn't just force myself into that. Regardless, I am happy for him."

I gave my mentor a shove, which caused him to stumble since he wasn't expecting it. "You're a mousebrain. You know that right? Father has been trying to let you make your move. He's waiting for you to work up the nerve. Ravenfeather has also been trying to get your attention, but apparently you've been too blind to notice it. Seriously, ask them the question."

Stonestep scuffed his paw on the ground bashfully. "But what if they changed their mind?"

I pressed myself into my mentor's side, reassuring him. "Then you'll at least know instead of forever wondering what could have been. Father has also been teasing me with potential names to give you. I'm leaning towards Pa."

"Alright. I'll try." Stonestep answered, with a look of determination in his eyes.

Our chat was cut short as a Riverclan patrol came into view. I could see the hatred in Stonestep's eyes, but he mastered himself and looked calm. Hopefully, this message wouldn't cause Stonestep to spring his claws.

Chapter Text

The two Riverclan cats that spotted us were Stormfur and a cat that resembled Brambleclaw to a remarkable degree. I believe his name was Hawkfrost, a fitting name for his icy eyes. Their hackles were raised at the sight of Stonestep, a cat who was usually quick to fly into a skirmish on sight. There's a reason Firestar only lets Stonestep patrol the Riverclan border during sunhigh, when Riverclan doesn't run patrols. I still remember the last time we had a morning border patrol. Needless to say, there was a fight. Stonestep was ruthless in that brawl, and I think we made Riverclan use up half their medical herbs on licking their wounds.

Stonestep, despite the visible aggression, kept himself sitting, suppressing his obvious rage. Somehow, I just knew Stonestep couldn't speak for himself lest this break out into another fight, so I had to act.

"We come bearing an urgent message pertaining to all the clans. Would you allow us to cross and escort us to Leopardstar?" I asked, noting Stonestep's claws digging into the dirt. He'd need to wrangle his emotions soon, or else we might be in trouble.

"And what is this news that is so important?" Hawkfrost queried, his tone sharp and cold, ready to flip into hostility on a moment's notice.

"One of our cats received a dream from Starclan threatening the forest as a whole. We have reason to believe that a cat from your clan might have received a similar dream. Right now, we're alerting all the other clans to the existence of this omen and hoping to call an emergency meeting of all the clans." I answered, knowing somehow that this cat would accept nothing less than a mostly complete explanation.

Hawkfrost paced back and forth, seemingly trying to ascertain the truth of my statement. Finally, it was Stormfur that stopped him. "There's only two of them, and they'll be heavily outnumbered in our camp. If anything, the fact that Stonestep isn't attacking us is proof that Thunderclan thinks this is serious. Besides, I think I've got a clue to who they're alluding to when they say one of our cats may have had a dream."

Hawkfrost growled to himself a moment before conceding. "Fine. You two may cross. Keep your claws sheathed, and we won't have any problems."

We crossed the Steppingstones. Stonestep had to briefly stop for me to steady myself off him. Mapleshade wasn't lying when she said these things were slick. Either way, we were across. Hawkfrost let Stormfur lead as he hung back to keep an eye on were silent at first before Hawkfrost began probing me with questions.

"Apprentice, what is your name?" He asked in a near commanding tone.

"Darkpaw." Was my curt answer.

"Smudgefoot's kit? You must have been the result of him having an affair with a rogue." Hawkfrost taunted.

"Smudgefoot isn't my sire. I know who my sire is. Yes, my mother was a rogue, but I heard your mother was one as well." I responded, knowing that his 'impure' blood was a prickly subject for him.

I heard him briefly growl behind me before somehow drifting into amusement. "Fair enough. We are similar in that regard. Though it is surprising how similar you look to Smudgefoot, a bit lankier than him to be sure, but you carry yourself the same way. Such an interesting cat Smudgefoot is. From what I've heard, he was a cat to be feared and respected. Even Tigerstar himself seemed to respect the cat and see him as a rival. I'm honestly surprised he hasn't done anything to make himself leader."

I let out a bit of a tsk of annoyance that he thought so poorly of Father. "If you really knew my father, you'd know that he's exactly where he wants to be. His best friend is Firestar. Even if you are looking at it from just a power perspective, deputy is a far more flexible position to a leader."

Hawkfrost nodded slowly, seemingly taking in my statement in far more depth than I expected. "Facinating. It's a shame you aren't in Riverclan, Darkpaw. You're an interesting conversationalist."

Our chat was wrapped up as Riverclan came into sight. Thankfully, Stonestep kept himself calm as we approached. I did press myself into his side as we entered. I knew this place held traumatic memories for him. I could see Stonestep's eyes seemingly fixate on something entirely nonexistent, likely Tigerstar's bone hill.

"Hey. I'm right here. We'll leave just as soon as the message is delivered. If you need, I can do all the work, and you can just focus on me." I whispered into his ear.

Stonestep was silent a moment before his eyes drifted to me. He set his jaw and seemed to have hardened his resolve. "I'm good. I believe I can do this, but feel free to take over if I freeze up or start getting too aggressive."

Leopardstar emerged from her den, causing Stonestep to tense. His claws were extended, so I tapped his paw with one of mine. He looked down, noticing his own claws, and sheathed them. Leopardstar padded purposefully towards us.

"Stonefur, I never thought you'd return to us." She mewed in a curious tone.

"It's Stonestep Leopardstar, and I'm not here to rejoin Riverclan. You couldn't make me. No, instead I'm here carrying a message. We have reason to believe a forest wide threat will soon emerge after one of our cats received a vision from Starclan. We also have reason to believe some cat here might have received a similar dream. For that reason, we're hoping to call an emergency meeting of the clans in two days' time." Stonestep answered, making his loyalty clear.

"You have some nerve saying one of my cats might be keeping a secret." Leopardstar growled.

I could see the tips of Stonestep's claws peeking out of his fur as he responded. "You're putting words into my mouth Leopardstar, always jumping to conclusions. I said 'might', as in may or may not have. It wouldn't be the first time you made a poor decision." Stonestep answered, getting into Leopardstar's face.

The two held that position for a good few moments, the air stiff with tension before both pulled back, unwilling to be the one that started the fight. "Good to see that you haven't lost your edge or will." Leopardstar mewed, her voice now calm and lacking the aggression it held earlier.

"That's what happens when a cat develops a strong connection with their clan." Stonestep answered in that same calm.

"Do they treat you well?" Leopardstar asks, seemingly to genuinely care for the answer.

"Better than I could ever hope. I've got good friends and an amazing apprentice. This is Darkpaw, Smudgefoot's adopted son." Stonestep answered.

Leopardstar seemed to assess me for a moment before nodding. "He certainly resembles him. They both carry that aura of darkness. From the few times I've dreamed of Crookedstar, I learned that such an aura brings great change that even Starclan cannot predict. He certainly carries potential." Leopardstar commented before signaling Hawkfrost and Stormfur to her. "We will attend this emergency meeting. Whether we believe this threat is real is still up in the air. I will conduct my own investigation into the validity of this claim that someone may have received a dream in my clan. Hawkfrost and Stormfur will escort you out." Leopardstar mewed, displaying herself proudly as we were guided out.

As we returned, I couldn't help pondering the relationship of Leopardstar to Stonestep. While the two are obviously enemies, there was some level of care between the two. There was still a clear feeling of regret from Leopardstar, but Stonestep was the real mystery. Maybe some small part of himself had forgiven Leopardstar for his exile so long ago. I pushed the thought aside, knowing that probing at Stonestep would be picking at a wound that was already a bit open.

Chapter Text

I had just begun to settle into my nest for the night. Stonestep had created a temporary one for himself in the apprentice den. This wasn't all that strange. On occasion, mentors or parents would temporarily move into the apprentice den to support or develop a bond with an apprentice. The only reason this could be considered odd is because of how far along in training I am. Stonestep's excuse is to both help me deal with my nightmares and to work up the nerve to finally ask my father and dad out.

Squirrelpaw wasn't too far away. Given her excitable nature, I and any other apprentice knew sleeping right next to her was a bad idea. I tried it once, and she kept kicking me in her sleep until I moved my nest away. I always wonder what she's dreaming about when she gets like that. Not that it matters. I've never really experienced a pleasant dream. They're always either those nightmares or dreamless. It'd be nice if for once I got what others call a good dream. I let my eyes drift shut, gambling on whether tonight would be another nightmare, or I'd feel the morning sun warm my face.

I started to fall into the blackness of sleep when I felt something. It felt like something just shifted. I opened my eyes to see that I was no longer in the apprentice den. Instead, I seemed to be on some kind of moor. The grass was oddly more blue than green. Despite how bright the area seemed; the night sky stretched endlessly above. How odd. I also strangely felt lucid. I could think clearly, and my memory seemed to be in order. I was baffled. This had never happened before.

This plain was not as barren as I thought, because another cat rose from the grasses, except that wasn't possible since the grass hadn't been pushed flat until they started to emerge. The cat who stood up was a familiar one. It was my father, but something was off about him. He looked the same, but his familiar nub of an ear was replaced by a fully intact one, except it was a little off. It had a bluish tint, and I could faintly see through it.

"Father?" I queried.

He turned to me, making it clear that this was in fact my father. "Darkpaw, my son. I see that you were brought here as well."

"Where are we, and what's up with…?" I asked, gesturing towards the strange ear.

"This?" He asked, flicking the odd ear. "I did say I have a ghost ear. As to where we are, you've been somewhere similar before except not as pleasant. We're in Starclan. More specifically, we're in the endless moors. Despite how Starclan is widely presented as a unity of all clans in the afterlife, we all still have our preferred environments. This place happens to be where most of Windclan's spirits decide to reside. There's likely a reason we were called here. This place also happens to be one of the most remote places in Starclan, so it is also commonly used for secret meetings." He lectured.

"Giving your son the low down?" inquired a familiar voice from behind me.

I turned to see Mapleshade, who when visible against such a bright background had a bit of a dark aura tinged with red. A faint stink of what Father called sulfur seemed to lightly cling to her, always just a hint no matter how well she groomed.

"Mapleshade." My father greeted with a small nod.

"It really has been a while since you were called here, and subsequently I got to tag along to. Just as bright as ever. It kind of hurts my eyes." Mapleshade rambled.

Suddenly, four cats emerged across from us. Like Father's ear, they were also blue tinted and slightly clear. One older molly had the scent of ozone, and Father gave her a respectful nod. Another was a tom with a jaw that sat uneven with his face. He smelled of river water. A third was another tom with one of his forepaws twisted over itself. He smelled of sage grasses. Finally, was a final tom who smelled of swamp water and pine.

"Bluestar, I have missed you. See that Crookedstar, Deadfoot, and I'm assuming Raggedstar are also here. Usually, it is Spottedleaf or Redtail who calls me. This must be something big." Father stated.

Bluestar nodded at Father's words. "You are indeed correct Smudgefoot. As you've heard, the clans are about to undergo a threat beyond anything we've ever seen before. I am afraid to say, the forest will not survive. We do however have hope. A being exists that can direct us to the home of our ancestors. Their prophetic power surpasses our own. Thus, we have chosen one cat of each clan to undergo a journey to meet them. Their name is Midnight. Of course, this journey will not be a short or safe one. For that reason, we are calling upon you to take up your position as Guardian. You will be clanless, an unbiased member of the forest for the duration of the threat."

"And what does this have to do with my son?" Father queried back, catching wise that not everything had been said yet.

Deadfoot was the one who answered, clearly a very direct cat who wasn't willing to play Father's word games. "We wish to make use of Darkpaw's distorting nature. As was said, there will be danger on the journey. We sense that one of our chosen cats is destined to die, but we cannot allow that. All clans must be represented for such an important journey. Thus, our only option is to try and circumvent it with a cat who does not abide by destiny. We would send you, but the role of Guardian is too important right now."

Father let out a growl, his fur bristling. "And you wish to use my son as some kind of pawn? You wish to use him as some kind of sacrifice? Never! I'd rather erase you to keep the knowledge of my son's nature hidden."

Bluestar pushed Deadfoot back before gently trying to calm Father. "Easy Smudgefoot. We do not wish to sacrifice your son or anything like that. We're just working with what we got. Destiny says that one of the journeying cats is going to die, but destiny also said Stonestep would die by Tigerstar's claws. You changed that. Your son also has the same capabilities. We're not asking him to die in someone's place. We're just asking if he'd be willing to try and prevent the tragedy."

Father's fur flattened, and he sat straighter. Clearly, he still had a measure of hostility within him, but he was more willing to accept their suggestion. "Fine, but I will not force my son to risk himself. This is his decision, no one else's. I will not allow you to pressure him. I trust him to make his own decision and will support him regardless."

This was my choice? Could I really save someone from destined death? I felt a bit dizzy at the thought. On top of that, a lengthy journey would leave me without the support of my family. How would I deal with the nightmares? At the same time, how could I risk my own family by not going? They needed me to make the journey successful. As Bluestar said, the forest will not survive. If we remain, we will die. This wasn't just about me, but every cat in the clans. Could I really betray them simply because I have awful dreams? Could I even trust myself to prevent the death in the first place? It isn't like I am destined to save them. I only have the chance to, but it isn't guaranteed. I could still fail even if I took the risk. My eyes flicked to my father as anxiety flooded me.

He only said three simple words, but they solidified everything to me. "I trust you."

It was all that needed to be said. I hardened my resolve. I would make the journey. I would make Father proud. I would prove his trust was not misplaced. Maybe I'd even be able to rid myself of my nightmares by testing myself against the unknown.

"Alright. I'll do it. I'll make the journey and try and prevent the destined death. What I ask for in return is that you do all that you can to protect my family. If you must burn a miracle to save one of their lives, then you do it without a second thought." I answered, my voice firm and commanding.

"You have our word." Crookedstar mewed, clearly impressed by what he saw as bravery.

As our visit started to come to a close, a niggling thought couldn't help voicing itself in my head. Could I really trust myself on the coming journey or will the temptation of red drown out the Darkpaw that I am?

Chapter Text

It was time for the emergency meeting. This was in no way a Gathering. Only a very choice select few would be brought in for the meeting. From our own cats, Father and Firestar were going, obviously. Brambleclaw, being the chosen of Thunderclan, was also told to attend. The remaining cats chosen to attend were myself, Cinderpelt and Leafpaw since it was a matter of Starclan, and oddly Ashfur. I have no prejudice against Ashfur, but unlike the rest of us, he didn't have a direct connection to this prophecy, but Father insisted he attend.

We arrived just as the sun set, knowing it wouldn't be long before the other clans would make an appearance. We sat in silence contemplating the meaning of the prophecy Starclan had sent us and what all it meant. It wasn't long before Shadowclan came skulking in. Blackstar with his deputy Russetfur led the way. With them was their medicine cat Littlecloud, as well as their chosen cat Tawnypelt. There was an odd tension between Brambleclaw and Tawnypelt given that they were siblings. Blackstar also looked a bit unhappy that there were so many Thunderclan cats in attendance when he was told only the most pertinent cats would be brought to the meeting.

Windclan appeared next with Tallstar in the front, Mudclaw by his side, and Crowpaw trailing slightly behind. Barkface, the elderly medicine cat, also was in attendance. He slowly meandered over to the other medicine cats to discuss the possibilities of this prophecy as far as he was told. Of course, Father and I had the final piece that would solidify that this prophecy was a matter of potential extinction.

Finally, Riverclan approached. With them was Leopardstar and her deputy Mistyfoot, the chosen Riverclan cat Feathertail and her brother Stormfur, their medicine cat Mudfur, and oddly Hawkfrost. Well, Hawkfrost was a bit of an exception given that he is the previous apprentice of Leopardstar and still had her ear when it came to council. Either way, all the clans were in attendance.

Firestar started the meeting off. "As you all have heard, Starclan has given us a prophecy that spans the whole forest. What exactly it means is still unknown, but luckily for us, Brambleclaw, the one chosen to represent Thunderclan, received a dream last night of salty water. According to Smudgefoot's contacts in the Twoleg Place, this salty water is referring to an endless lake where the sun drowns. There, they will meet Midnight who will direct them further. Thus, the chosen cats must make a journey chasing the setting sun. That is at least how we interpreted it."

Leopardstar cut in after Firestar's opening. "How can we even know this Sundrown Place exists? Riverclan has known the rivers of the forest forever, and we have never encountered a lake tasting of salt. Why have none of the other 'chosen' not received the saltwater dream? I, unlike the overpopulated risk takers of Thunderclan, do not want to send out the cat potentially holding our salvation towards what could have been just a meaningless dream."

Blackstar voiced his opinion next. "I concur with Leopardstar. We have not received enough information to act. With such a large potential threat, we must remain cautious. To send our chosen cats after the setting sun is too risky given that we have not received confirmation that the saltwater dream was an act of Starclan."

Tallstar rebutted Leopardstar's and Blackfoot's answers. "But to act too cautiously is just as dangerous as to act recklessly. Starclan prophesized a threat to the entirety of the forest. This is likely a threat that cat kind simply cannot stand against. To act slowly will bring death. I am sure that Starclan would redirect the chosen if the saltwater dream was in fact meaningless. We have to face it. We're on a time limit. We do not know when this threat will come or how it will threaten us. The only way we will get that answer is to trust in Starclan and send the chosen on their way."

There was a few moments of bickering as each clan leader refused to be swayed. That is when clouds began to blot out the sky, sending the clearing into silence. The clouds slowly parted at the silence, allowing in almost a beam of unfiltered light upon Father.

Father puffed himself up a bit before giving his speech. "It has become clear that Starclan's request for me to take up the duty of Guardian is now necessary. I'm sure the medicine cats can confirm. Starclan gave me the unique position of Guardian to break ties among the clans and to act as an unbiased voice in discussions regarding to the safety of the clans. Unfortunately for me, remaining unbiased means I must temporarily lose my membership of Thunderclan. I am clanless but of the forest. I have heard all of your opinions and now voice my thoughts. We will send the chosen on their journey at the dawn of the day after tomorrow. Each clan will prepare their chosen for the journey. It is the chosen's lives at stake, so they will be the ones who deem what is necessary to complete their mission. I have one other thing to announce or rather request. Since I will be unable to join the journeying cats and that they might also need a Guardian of sorts, I'd like for my son Darkpaw to have the position. He bears a similar nature to myself, so his attendance may allow our chosen to defy even fate."

Leopardstar hissed, "How can we even believe this Guardian nonsense? You just wish to have Thunderclan flaunt its power over us."

All at once, the medicine cats' eyes misted over as they seemingly without thought trotted towards Father. They all bowed towards the leaders and Father. Their voices were off as they all spoke in sync. "We of Starclan cannot hold silent. Smudgefoot was chosen as our voice between clans for the time being. He is indeed Guardian. We also accept Darkpaw's position of Guardian of the Chosen. Thus is Starclan's will."

All at once, the medicine cats snapped out of their possession. Barkface mewed excitedly at the experience. "I've heard of a divine possession, but I never thought I'd experience one. Ooh! I feel so blessed."

Cinderpaw grumbled in response. "Speak for yourself. Whoever possessed me clearly didn't know how to walk on three legs. I think I pulled something."

Hawkfrost was the one to point out a problem with Father being removed from Thunderclan. "If Smudgefoot is no longer of Thunderclan, then who will be your deputy?" He queried at Firestar.

Smudgefoot responded on behalf of Firestar. "I have brought Ashfur here for that purpose. While he lacks a level of empathy, he is the closest stand in for myself that I know of. Ashfur, if you are willing, will you act as the acting deputy while I fulfil the duties of Guardian?"

Ashfur answered quickly and dutifully. "I will do what is necessary. I will act to the best of my capabilities to uphold the responsibilities of deputy while you are away." Ashfur then tilted his head in thought. "Wait, if you are currently without a clan, where will you reside? I can't imagine the other clans will take too kindly if you just come back with us to Thunderclan."

Father winced at the question. He likely anticipated the question but hadn't wanted to address it. "I… will remain here. It is the only neutral territory. Any clan can come and visit me to discuss ongoing issues and if they spot the coming threat. Feel free to visit me, any of you, be it Thunderclan, Riverclan, Shadowclan, or Windclan. To remain unbiased, I must receive your opinions. I'd also prefer not to remain isolated that long. If you are willing, bring some prey as well. Fourtrees isn't exactly known to have a good supply of prey."

That was the real kicker. Father would be isolated from his friends and family, just like me. Though, since I was temporarily nonclan as well, I'd at least be able to give him comfort for a day. This was going to be hard for the both of us. The meeting was resolved. Father and I were forced to watch our ex clan leave us behind. I could feel a sharp pain in my heart. To not be Thunderclan was inconceivable to me, and yet here we were. I knew it was only temporary, but it still hurt. I couldn't help shedding a few tears before Father wrapped me in an embrace.

"It'll be ok my son. We'll get through this. We're strong, so strong that Starclan itself fears our power. We get our strength, not through violence or cunning, but because we have something worth fighting for. We're doing this for our friends and family. As long as we continue to fight for them, not even the jaws of death will keep us down. It is ok to be upset about the situation, but you must not be afraid to act. Now, let's find a good place to set up our nest and catch some dinner. Tomorrow, we can play some games. We deserve a good day before you leave. I've also got something hidden here that may give you the edge you need for the journey. Though, it'll be one that will be a heavy burden you can choose to bear. I'll trust your judgement when the time comes." Father stated before guiding me around to look for some soft material for a nest and a place not too exposed too the elements.

Chapter Text

It was just after dawn when Father woke me. We had to hunt ourselves some food. Father and I padded out to find something when a familiar cat made an appearance. It was Stonestep carrying two birds. I could already hear a purr from him as he approached us.

"Smudgefoot! Darkpaw! I'm so happy that you both are alright. When Firestar got back, he announced that there was something going on that required you to leave the clan. We didn't get all the details, but Firestar assured us that what you did was necessary for the safety of the forest. Of course, he let me know that I could find you here. Seeing as the meeting you guys had was late evening, I assumed you didn't have anything for the morning. Here. I caught them on the way." Stonestep mewed, placing the prey by our paws.

"You know, you could get in trouble for feeding someone not in your clan." Father teased.

"That's a load of mouse dung, and you know it! So what if you need to pretend to not be Thunderclan for a while? You're still acting on the interests of Thunderclan. You placed an interim deputy instead of a permanent one. You and my apprentice are still Thunderclan, and I'll fight anyone that says otherwise." Stonestep rebutted.

Father shook his head with a small smile. "I can't fault you on that. To kind of explain the situation for now, I am to act as an intermediary between the clans. For that reason, I cannot show favoritism to any one clan. Thus, I'll be living here for the time being. Darkpaw, along side Brambleclaw, will be setting out on a long-term mission. Hopefully by the end of it, I'll be able to rejoin Thunderclan."

"But… things won't be the same without you and Darkpaw. The reason I joined Thunderclan was the kindness you showed me. What brings joy to my day is training Darkpaw and chatting with you. Smudgefoot, I want to say this before I lose the nerve. I still love you. I have ever since you saved me from Tigerstar. I was just afraid to say anything since you looked so happy without me when you got Darkpaw. I couldn't chance ruining that." Stonestep confessed.

Father brushed up against Stonestep affectionately. "You're a fool Stonestep. I've been waiting for this confession for a long time. I was willing to accept you the day after the battle of Bloodclan, and I am still willing to accept you now. You're definitely foolish, but at least you're my fool now. Unfortunately, due to what is going on, we can't do anything currently. I can't leave Fourtrees, but I wouldn't mind someone visiting me, say, just after the last Shadowclan patrol when the moon is halfway up in four days' time? I also wouldn't mind a visit from Ravenfeather if you catch my drift."

Stonestep happily pranced in place at the request. "I'll be there! Expect me to come by tomorrow with more food." He excitedly mewed before bolting off, clearly to let others know the good news about their relationship.

As Stonestep vanished off into the distance, Dad came trotting out. "Rather sweet of you to accept him now. I thought you'd put it off until this threat was done."

"I'm older now and am coming to realize there's not an unlimited amount of time in the world. I decided to take it before it was gone." Father replied.

Dad nodded at Father's statement before turning to me. "Don't go thinking I forgot you. I never would. I've heard about this Journey from Firestar after some pressure. I know this is going to be difficult for you. I won't be there to wake you from those dreams. If I could, I'd be out there with you every step of the way. I can't do much for you but let you know that I love you. I'll be thinking of you every day that you are gone, and I'll be waiting for you when you get back along side your Father and… What did you call him? Pa?" Dad teased.

My ears burned at the question. I didn't think Dad would hear about that, but I honestly should have expected it. Stonestep has a tendency to run his mouth when it comes to something he is either happy about or excited for, which means their new relationship was about to become the talk of the camp. That made me smile a bit as I came up with a comeback. "Well, you better go catch Stonestep before he blurts out what you're going to do in four nights."

Dad's eyes shrank to pinpricks as the realization sank in. "I've got to go catch Stonestep, but I'll be back." He called over his shoulder as he tore off.

Father sat himself beside me saying, "It's nice to be reminded that others still care for us. Speaking of…" Father mewed before turning his attention to a but that I could see a bit of orange through. "You aren't fooling anyone Squirrelpaw. Get out here already."

Squirrelpaw slank out of the bush, her ears flat at being caught. "Mousedung. I thought I was hidden pretty well." She complained.

Father seemed amused by her answer. "Maybe you would have been if you hadn't crept forward when I accepted Stonestep's confession."

"Drat. What did that mean anyways? Why was Stonestep so excited to see you at night?" Squirrelpaw queried, which got me curious as well.

Father froze at the question, clearly pondering how to answer. Slowly, he opened his mouth to speak. "Well, it's something we have medicine cats explain when apprentices are close to becoming warriors. Needless to say, it is something very intimate that one usually only does with their mate. Either way, it isn't something you need to know right now."

Squirrelpaw looked annoyed at the lack of an answer, but she clearly was here for a purpose. She turned to me. "Thought you could just go on a grand Journey without me, right? Well, I'm not having it. I'm going to follow you and Brambleclaw tomorrow and make you let me join." She mewed confidently before suddenly remembering that Father was right here. Her eyes drifted up to his fearfully. Father, meanwhile, just looked upon her amused.

"If I were the deputy, I'd definitely be reprimanding you for so blatantly defying orders, but I'm not Thunderclan at this moment. Nor should I mention that there's a thin part of the bramble barrier just to the left of the medicine den that an apprentice could slip through. I suppose I also shouldn't mention that the journeying cats will be meeting here at dawn tomorrow. No. I certainly shouldn't say anything about that." Father theatrically mewed.

Squirrelpaw seemed to catch Father's drift. "So, I definitely didn't hear from you how to slip out of camp and how to follow the Journey cats?"

"Nope." Father answered with a smile.

"Then I definitely won't see you tomorrow Darkpaw." She replied before running off, likely to get chewed out by Dustpelt for running off.

I turned to Father after she left sight. "Why did you tell her all that, Father?"

"Because you need a friend. The journey you will embark on will be long. While Brambleclaw is a part of Thunderclan, you aren't exactly close with him. Squirrelpaw was likely going to make the attempt to join anyways, given her spirited nature. She'll help ground you if your nightmares get bad out there. Just remember to keep her safe." Father explained.

"I will Father. I guess we should eat up now before any other visitors decide to show up." I replied, tucking into my bird as Father did the same.

Chapter Text

The sun was halfway up the horizon when an unexpected pair of cats made an appearance. It was Leopardstar and Hawkfrost. Of all the cats who I could imagine visiting us because of this Guardian role, it was not them. Although, it likely was because of their suspicion of us that they decided to make the preemptive visit. It was a wise option, to assess the potential threat before it had any measure of political backing. That's what we were, a political threat, not something that could be solved with claws and teeth.

Leopardstar immediately made her opinion known as she approached. "I don't trust either of you any more than I would trust a rat, but Starclan also vouched for you. For that reason, and that reason only, I am willing to test you. From what you've told me, this Guardian position requires you to remain neutral. Thus, I present my challenge. Riverclan will attack Thunderclan the day after tomorrow for Sunningrocks. If you believe in this neutrality at all, you will not warn them."

Father actually flinched at the challenge. It was against his nature to not protect his clan against threats, but at the same time, this role was for the greater good of the forest. Trust needed to be established between the Guardian and the clans. Father bit his lip, and I saw a faint trickle of blood leave his muzzle. The look on Father's face, it was one of resignation.

"Fine. I will say nothing, but I can advise that aggravating any clan at this time leaves you more open to whatever the outside threat is." Father answered.

It was then that Hawkfrost cut in, accidentally making it clear that this whole test was his idea. "Ah, but we can deduce that at minimum that this threat is at least two moons out since this journey was hinted at being at least a moon long. Any ill will we garner can be quelled within that time. After all, we're all in this together."

What a biting bit of manipulation on Hawkfrost's part. It wasn't something Father could easily deflect. Father didn't have the trust from Leopardstar to sway her decision. Nor could he come up with a strong enough counter to Hawkfrost's statement. It was then that an idea seemed to occur to Father.

"If you're really going to occupy Sunningrocks, then I at least suggest taking them right after the Sunhigh patrol. Thunderclan's patrol schedule doesn't have them going over it again until late evening, but it's usually just two cats remarking. Though, near Sunningrocks is where some late evening hunts happen." Father stated, throwing me for a loop. Why would he volunteer such valuable information.

"Trying to buy my trust 'Guardian' or are you trying to lead me into a trap. It won't work either way." Leopardstar hissed back.

Father shook his head. "No lies. Having you take Sunningrocks at that time is the way to incur the least amount of damage to both clans. With only two patrollers, they'll have to retreat. Running a night raid is something Thunderclan does not do, so you'll have to hold the border for the least amount of time. Fewer cats will be hurt overall."

"Still trying to benefit Thunderclan?" Leopardstar baited.

"It's still neutrality of the outcome benefits both equally." Father replied with a level tone.

This back and forth between Leopardstar and Father would continue, but Hawkfrost signaled for me to follow him for our own discussion. Realizing that me refusing Hawkfrost could be seen as a lack of neutrality, I followed. We stopped not all that far away, still in line of sight but not close enough for us to be overheard without focus.

Hawkfrost began with his questions, but honestly it felt a bit more like an interrogation, where he might be tempted to skin me if I said something he didn't like. "So, Darkpaw." He mewed slowly, overenunciating the dark in my name. "I've been thinking about our last discussion, about why Smudgefoot chooses to be deputy over leader. After much consideration, I realize there is value in your words, but I still find it lacking. How can the ability to remain below notice possibly compare to the power to command all?"

I had to force myself to breathe. It felt like I was being stalked by a fox, but at the same time, I could just tell that Hawkfrost desperately wanted to understand. Maybe it was because he had many traits similar to the tyrant Tigerstar, but I could tell that he was seeking how Smudgefoot became so well respected that even Starclan saw a point in respecting him. I… I could work with that.

"Power…" I started, inadvertently pulling upon a part of myself that I scarcely knew I had. "Power in and of itself is a fallacy. If you seek power for the purpose of doing more, then you will find that the weakest are the ones allowed to do the most. Power is never free. It is something gained by binding yourself with restrictions. Even power through fear carries these same bindings. There is always a sacrifice needed to grow one's power, whether it be your ideals, your morals, or even your own body. You will find that despite any power you accrue, the weak ones will always hold sway. They not have much ability to demand things of you alone, but power elevates you above others, meaning more cats below you are willing to drag you back down. You'll have to make concessions to them, either through gifts or instilling fear. Fear is easier but riskier. It means that the clever and the desperate are more likely to strike at you. It is something requiring ruthless vigilance. Gifts, while technically harder to do, have longer lasting benefits, but at the same time, they raise expectations. To use a metaphor, power is swimming in a rapids. Go too far left, and you're smashed into rocks. Go too far right, and you'll find yourself against a cliff face, not painful but you'll have to claw your way out. Only by maintaining a careful balance will you reach the slower part of the river known as respect. Respect through fear or respect because they believe you act to better their lives."

Hawkfrost got close to my face, staring me down before asking one final question. "And what do you believe the biggest failing of Tigerstar's rule was?"

I met his eyes, refusing to flinch. "Honestly, he failed to take into account those beneath him. Sure, he managed to instill plenty of fear, but as is the weakness of fear, if a sliver of hope is presented, the desperate latch onto it. His 'Tigerclan' did not benefit from him in the slightest, so the weaker cats were willing to defy him and drag him down. Yes, those beneath you should fear your strength,but by also proving to be beneficial to them, they also seek to keep you elevated against threats to your power. Tigerstar stood alone raising his power as much as possible, so he died alone, ultimately dragged into the Darkforest by those he none too carefully trod upon."

Hawkfrost sat upright, seeming to genuinely be taking in my rant. "Fascinating. You've given me much to think about. It is a shame I won't get to talk to you further until this 'Journey' is concluded. I only have one piece of advice for you. Do not allow Feathertail to die. Her brother, who I know will butt his way into going, I could care less for. Starclan chose her, so Leopardstar will only accept her words upon returning. This alliance relies upon it… I can tell that you see me as an enemy, but if there is one thing I can guarantee, it is that I do not want to die. Failure means death, and I am none too willing to throw the fate of the forest upon an apprentice that does not know what is at stake. Do your job and we'll have no problems with each other." Hawkfrost commanded.

I mutely nodded under his threat. At that moment, Leopardstar signaled for Hawkfrost to follow.

"Until we meet again, Little Shadow" He mewed, trotting away as if we'd just had a pleasant conversation about gossip.

I measured my breathing, slowing my pounding heart. Father sat beside me immediately upon Riverclan's departure. "You handled that well my son. I was listening in. It was not right for Hawkfrost to threaten you, but at the same time, you will find in life that you'll have to deal with cats like that. You kept calm and swayed him towards a more peaceful path. He may still choose the path of violence. Sometimes we simply cannot change fate. Either way, I am proud of you. I believe you will be able to keep the journeying cats in check."

I replied by nuzzling against Father with a grateful purr. He always knew how to bolster my inner strength.

Chapter Text

Evening's light filtered through the leaves of the four large trees that dominated the clearing. I'd had ample time to wind down from the stress Hawkfrost put on me. On top of that, I'd been receiving plenty of attention from Father. He seemed dead set on making today a good one despite the interruptions. It went slightly contrary to Father's nature. Father was always the type to prepare and then prepare some more. I was honestly surprises he wasn't grilling me on emergency medicines or other survival tactics. Admittedly, I never really had the head for medicine. The scents and names all blur together, but I did have a basic understanding of field dressing injuries from Father insisting I have lessons with Cinderpelt. It didn't hurt that Cinderpelt was a pretty cat whose voice sounded was soft and sweet.

"Gah!" I quietly mewed, shaking that thought out of my head. If Father or, even worse, Stonestep caught wind of my crush… I'd never head the end of it. Correcting my drifting thoughts, I guess Father's behavior was somewhat explainable. He'd already taught me all he could, but in his words, experience was the best teacher of all. Father saw this journey as not only a means to learn of the coming threat, but also a way for me to mature. That's also likely why he wanted Squirrelpaw to tag along too.

My lazy pondering was cut off by a rustling from the Shadowclan side of the clearing. Looking over, I saw two cats emerge. One was the leader of Shadowclan, Blackstar. The other was a molly who bore a very similar build to Brambleclaw. She was a tortoiseshell molly with kind green eyes, Shadowclan's chosen, Tawnypelt.

Blackstar approached Father immediately. "Smudgefoot. It is good to see you. Seeing as your new role involves acting as an intermediate between clans, I do have some work for you. Due to a recent outbreak of rats from the carrion place, I want to request from both Riverclan and Windclan either to allow us to push the borders a bit or to send a few warriors to help us deal with the rat problem."

Father tilted his head in obvious annoyance. "So, you're requesting that either they send warriors to deal with a Shadowclan problem, or you'll push their borders? That sound about right?"

Blackstar nodded, which Father seemed none too pleased about. Father got right in Blackstar's face to remind him that he was no push over. "Hear me now Blackstar. It was the way of Brokenstar and Tigerstar to force their problems onto others. You are supposed to be better than that. I know you are. Let's get down to the point. You aren't requesting this just to tweak your neighbor's tails. What exactly is it about this problem that requires outside assistance?"

Blackstar honestly looked lost for a response. He had been called out, but it looked like he couldn't refute Father's claims. Finally, he hung his head a bit before replying. "Fine. It isn't just an outbreak. We spotted a few who have the madness disease. Normally, this wouldn't be an issue, but we're overall low on cat power. We can't run all the necessary patrols and complete an extermination campaign at the same time. Leaving our borders weak could get us attacked, but at the same time, we really don't want the madness disease getting loose."

Father looked slightly scared by this mention of a madness disease. "Tell me, does this disease cause foaming at the mouth and normally cowardly animals to suddenly act violent?"

Blackstar nodded. "That's the one. Shadowclan is usually fully capable of dealing with it, but again, we just don't have enough cats."

Father nodded. "Ok. This is an issue worth getting outside help. Though, I doubt the other clans are all that familiar with how to deal with the maddened. On the other paw, I can put you in contact with The Pulse. Their cats are quite familiar with dealing with diseased animals. My suggestion is to make a deal with Hattie to bring a few of these cats in to deal with the problem. They'll likely request prey for their troubles. This'll also be a good chance for you to recruit some into Shadowclan. As long as you let Hattie know that's your goal, she'll likely look for some good candidates to send your way."

Blackstar looked befuddled at the suggestion. "Why would she do that? She'd be losing cats."

Father shook his head. "The city is overpopulated. Cats can't always catch enough to eat. Hattie is already overworked trying to ensure the city is safe while keeping everyone from starving. Getting rid of a few mouths is in her best interests."

Blackstar huffed in response. "Fine. Set up a meeting with this Hattie cat. I'd prefer for it to be done as soon as possible. My cats are already running double what I want to keep the threat contained."

Blackstar and Father went on to hash out the specific details, but Tawnypelt pulled me away. "Let's leave all the boring stuff to them. Anyways, we haven't been formally introduced. My name is Tawnypelt. I'll be with you on this journey. I'm honestly excited. What lies beyond our borders, and who is this Midnight we're supposed to meet? Sorry if I'm rambling, but what I'm meaning to say is that I look forward to traveling with you. I'll keep you safe out there."

'Who is keeping who safe' is the rebuttal that flashed in my mind. I looked into her eyes, attempting to see any wariness to work with me, any reason at all to believe there was a hint of hostility. There simply was none. She was being genuine, which was a strange thing to see.

"Yeah." I answered slowly. "I hope we don't get in each other's ways. I'm Darkpaw, by the way. I may be young, but I was tasked with acting as the intermediary in case any disputes come about. Technically, I'm not Thunderclan at the moment. AS to the journey itself, I'm not exactly looking forward to it. I…" I began, not really wanting to reveal my weaknesses but also knowing she'd find out about my condition soon enough. "I suffer from frequent nightmares. Usually, Father, Dad, or Stonestep will rouse me from them, but they can't accompany us. I'm not sure what I'll do. Just giving you a heads up."

Tawnypelt gave me a pitying look. "Oh. That's awful. It's ok if you don't want to share, but is there anything I can do to help?"

I dismissed her worry. "Nothing really can be done. I don't really want to share what occurs in those dreams right now, but if you see me having one, don't be afraid to shake me awake. I usually need a pretty firm one to wake up from one of those. I may also act out a bit upon waking. Just remind me where I am. Sorry if that's too much to ask of you."

Tawnypelt shook her head. "It's no problem, really. You can trust me to wake you up if you have one of those nightmares. I promise. Hopefully… Hopefully this journey will help you put them to rest. I'll make sure nothing bad happens to you. I swear it on my honor as a Shadowclan cat."

I wanted to rebut her, to tell her she didn't need to go that far. My mission was to keep her and the rest alive above all else. She couldn't afford to care for me given the necessity of her return. I opened my mouth to speak, but she spoke first, preventing me from telling her.

"Looks like Blackstar is calling me. See you soon Darkpaw." She pleasantly mewed before trotting off after Blackstar.

Chapter Text

The sun was beginning to set in the sky, a reminder of where we'd have to go on the morrow. After Shadowclan had left, Father and I had some time to relax. By our strange luck, the relaxation was short lived. Four cats came in from the Windclan side. They were Tallstar, Mudclaw, Crowpaw, and… ugh, Onewhisker. I held no love for my sire. While I loved the life I have, I had to wonder what my life would be like if he wasn't such a coward. The worst part was that he looked at me like he hadn't wronged me, like he was proud of me. I could feel my anger flare at the sight. How dare he even pretend to care! He abandoned me and my mother after he promised. I then breathed deeply, remembering Father's lessons. Don't let your anger control you. Breathe, 1, 2, 3, exhale. While acting upon anger is allowed, remember the repercussions. Attacking him would break this uneasy truce. Besides, he wasn't worth my time.

Tallstar and Father began discussions on how they would interact going forward. I could tell by Father's tone that he didn't have any positive relations with Tallstar. According to him, besides the battle with Bloodclan, Windclan had acted largely antagonistic to Thunderclan while calling upon them for aid whenever they were backed into a corner. While Father couldn't reprimand Tallstar on that as a Thunderclan cat, he did make it known that Windclan had a reputation as backstabbers because of their tendency to flip allegiances whenever it was slightly beneficial.

Tallstar was angered by the accusation, but he couldn't refute Father's claim. Windclan hadn't done anything in recent history to aid another clan in a time of crisis. Tallstar attempted to apologize to Father, but Father refused him stating that forgiveness is earned through action, not words. If Windclan wanted any decent amount of aid going forward, they'd have to invest their own resources into helping the other clans when the coming threat inevitably appeared.

While Tallstar and Father hashed out Windclan's gameplan. I was left with the other three. Again, I hated how Onewhisker looked at me. It felt so fake. He'd done nothing for me, and yet he looked proud to somehow be associated to me. What a vile joke. Not that the others knew this yet. Father and I would remain silent to my heritage for now. If Onewhisker slipped, well it wouldn't be our fault for his reputation being pounded into the dirt. At least Onewhisker seemed content to just watch for now.

Mudclaw trotted forward to meet me. Crowpaw hung back a bit, clearly uncomfortable with the situation he was in. Mudclaw seemed none to happy with Crowpaw's hesitance and shoved him forward. Crowpaw briefly stumbled, but he caught himself and sat at attention in front of me.

"You embarrassed me Crowpaw! If you weren't involved in this prophecy, I'd be having you pick ticks from the elders for a moon. You have no sense of discipline." Mudclaw chastised Crowpaw before turning to me.

"Now, you must be Smudgefoot's progeny. From what I've seen and heard about you, you're definitely a cat worth watching. Decisive, cunning, and brave. All traits I wish were in my disappointment of an apprentice, but I guess he has some worth. Starclan saw fit to grant him the mission over anyone else in Windclan. Maybe he has more potential than I thought. Now, I'm going to leave him with you. Maybe a fraction of what you've got will rub off on him." Mudclaw mewed before trotting off to join Tallstar's negotiations. Onewhisker looked with hesitance at me before padding off to join them, leaving me alone with Crowpaw.

The air was still as Crowpaw fidgeted in place. Neither of us knew quite what to discuss. Finally, I broke the ice. "I'm not sure I could handle a mentor like yours. He seems a bit abusive."

Crowpaw's fur rose at my statement. "Hey! Mudclaw's plenty good as a mentor. Sure, he's a little mean, and he gets on my case a bit too much, but he honestly means well. Yes, learning from him is hard. Sometimes I can barely keep on my paws after a day of training, but he's also kind when it matters. He's fought off a fox all on his own to protect me. I may not get praise all that often, but when I do, it's special. I won't have you criticizing him!" Crowpaw hissed.

I flinched a bit at his venom. "Ok! Ok. I get it. I'm sorry if I misread the situation. You obviously respect him. I was just concerned for your wellbeing. Smudgefoot would tear one of our warriors a new one if he heard them talking about their apprentice that way. It's not good for you to be belittled like that. I mean, I don't really know you, but you still stood up to me despite all the praise your mentor sent my way. That's got to mean something."

Crowpaw huffed. "Fine. I'll look past your disrespect towards my mentor. Talking to you now, I don't get what all the fuss was about. You seem pretty normal. Besides your choice of words, you don't act all that different to me. Does it bother you at all that everyone compares you to Smudgefoot? I mean, I get pretty annoyed when cats mention how I'm not as driven as Deadfoot was, or how Deadfoot could do this better when he was my age, and he had a bad leg." Crowpaw complained.

I nodded. "Yeah. I get it. Legacy is a curse in and of itself. Father is known as the cat who went paw to paw with Scourge and only lost an ear. Now, he's got this whole Guardian thing too. Yes, it is annoying when I keep hearing 'you're so much like Smudgefoot.' I'm not my father. I'm me, and I don't want them to just see me as an extension of him. Despite all that, I still love my father. He's never seen me that way. I've always just been his son, even though he never needed to adopt me. I do want to make him proud, but I want to do it as me."

Crowpaw huffed. "Lucky. I barely knew my father. I saw him briefly as a kit, but he was always on the move, off to do his deputy duties. Before I knew it, he was dead, and yet I felt nothing for him. How could I? I barely knew him, but his name hangs over my head every paw step. I'm the last of his line, so I've got the duty to somehow continue it. At least we agree that this whole lineage thing is a massive pain in our tails."

Tallstar's voice ended our conversation. He was calling his cats back to return to Windclan. Onewhisker hesitated as he looked back at me. I couldn't help but display a bit of my anger as my tail flicked in agitation. As they exited sight, I harumphed. My deadbeat sire hadn't been gone soon enough. He just had to ruin a perfectly pleasant day.

Chapter Text

As dawn's early light peeked through the entrance to our den, I was filled with trepidation but also excitement. Today, I and the other cats selected would begin our journey to find Midnight at the place where the sun drowns. I'd get to see and learn so much, but this same unknown was terrifying. I wouldn't have Father beside me to guide me through it. I wouldn't have Dad's soft voice telling me that everything is going to be alright. I wouldn't have my unyielding mentor there to act when I could not. Instead, I'd have to place my trust in three, four according to Hawkfrost, cats who were previously rivals and enemies and one cat who had attempted to scare me previously with his seniority. If I was lucky, Squirrelpaw would join us, but that was also a gamble based upon her ability to act stealthily. Squirrelpaw is not stealthy.

As we made our way out, Brambleclaw, Firestar, Stonestep, and Dad were already present, clearly to see me and Brambleclaw off. I was just about to make my way over when Father stopped me. He gestured for me to follow him. Of course, I followed. He led me to a bush where a bundle was visible at the base.

"My son, this is both a gift and curse I bestow upon you. Within lies the claws of Scourge. I only salvaged one paw's worth, and that is all I am willing to give. I know of your dreams of blood. I know of the twisted desire that lurks inside you. All the same, I cannot bring myself to leave without every edge you can get. I trust you to control yourself. I am putting all my faith in you. I know you will not let me down." Father mewed, pushing the bundle towards me.

After a moment's hesitation, I opened it. Within lay four dog teeth, each hollowed out carefully to allow a cat's claws to slot into them. I recognized them. It was all four of them, Cut, Lacerate, Agony, and Wrath. I felt my breath hitch at the sight of them. They were so familiar. When I touched them, I could just feel the history in them. Each was earned from a different dog. Each was chosen specifically because they were the sharpest in the dead dog's jaw. Each had been bathed in the blood of my… No… Scourge's enemies many times over. I began to slot them over my claws. It was like greeting an old friend, one you'd lost touch with because they went on a dark path. The weight was familiar and comforting in all the wrong ways. I drummed the claws once on the ground. The sound was the exact same as my dreams.

Father looked upon me with worry. Had I reveled and decried the claws given to me for too long? Obviously, my dreams of blood were on Father's mind. These claws Father gave me, they itched with the desire to spill more blood. Could I truly trust myself with them? I pondered only a moment longer before my eyes met Father's. Father trusted me, and he is never wrong. If Father believes that I can control this urge, then I will believe him. These claws will only act as a tool of protection, not a weapon of meaningless bloodshed. I will use them wisely despite their malicious nature.

"I promise that these will only be used if necessary." I promised to Father.

He smiled one of his rare truly warm smiles at me. It made me feel warm that he both cared for me and trusted me enough to handle the burden these claws presented. Father then guided me back to meet the rest of the attending Thunderclan. I saw Dad's eyes briefly glance upon the claws before flicking questioningly at Father. Father responded with a firm look that quieted Dad's worry. Dad, Father, my mentor, and I had a brief moment of well wishes.

By the time our moment was over, the rest of the clans had made an appearance. Feathertail was accompanied by her brother Stormfur, exactly as Hawkfrost had predicted. Crowpaw, although alone from his clan, begrudgingly joined the rest of the chosen. Tawnypelt was cordially greeting her brother Brambleclaw. Already, the shadows cast by the rising sun pointed which way were supposed to go. I joined the rest.

"Darkpaw, how was your night? I hope the stress of worrying about today didn't give you any bad dreams." Tawnypelt queried, her slight worry visible in her voice but kept hidden with her tact in word choice in her question.

"It was dreamless. Father prepared me as best he could, and his faith in me is proof enough that we will succeed." I answered.

"Why do you care so much for his words?" Crowpaw asked with a small bit of spite.

"Because if I cannot trust myself to succeed, then I must trust in those who put their trust in me. Even if I fear I am incapable of doing what is necessary, I trust in my father's decisions, and he believes I can do what is needed. Thus, I must be capable of what is necessary." I replied.

"That doesn't make any sense." Crowpaw commented with a shake of his head.

"Actually, it makes perfect sense." Feathertail cut in. "When we doubt ourselves, we open ourselves up to weakness. By relying upon the faith others put in us, we are capable of overcoming our doubt. We become stronger because that is what others need us to be. Though, it is impressive to see an apprentice that already learned this."

"Alright. We're losing daylight. Let's set off already." Brambleclaw commanded.

"Who put you in charge?" Crowpaw hissed.

I guess it was time for my first act as Guardian of the Chosen. "Calm down Crowpaw. He wasn't ordering us. It is a reasonable suggestion. Of course, there will be times where one of us will be better suited to lead than the rest. Other times, someone else will lead. Just as each clan has its own strengths, we each have our own as well. Decisions will be joint, but we must remember that as an individual, we won't always know better than the rest. Since we're cutting through Thunderclan territory, it makes sense for Brambleclaw to lead for now."

Crowpaw grumbled a moment before conceding. The walk was silent up until the edge of Thunderclan territory where an orange blur tackled me off my paws.

"Darkpaw! You didn't really think you could leave me behind." Squirrelpaw cheerfully stated.

"Squirrelpaw? You aren't supposed to be here." Brambleclaw stated in an exasperated tone.

"Nope. I'm not leaving, and you can't make me. I'm joining you all on this journey whether you want me to or not. Now, you can either put up with me, or I can tail you the whole way and potentially get lost along the way. I wonder how my dad Firestar would react to that?" Squirrelpaw baited.

Brambleclaw shook with anger before sighing. "Fine. I guess we have no choice. You can join us, but I take no responsibility to how Firestar will react when we get back."

"Are we really just going to let this happen?" Crowpaw hissed.

Tawnypelt let out a chuckle. "With a cat like her, we wouldn't be able to stop her. Better for her to be where we can see her than for her to travel alone. Besides, it is rather cruel of us warriors to outnumber the apprentices so severely. You deserve to have some cats around your age to chat with. While this may be a journey to save the clans, that doesn't mean we can't enjoy it."

And thus, we left the clans behind. Where we were bound to go, I didn't have the faintest idea. The joy of having my best friend join us was counter balanced by the weight and temptation the claws clicking on my right paw presented. Even fate could not predict what was to come. I'd have to keep my claws sharp and remember my restraint. Father, Dad, Stonestep, and the whole of Thunderclan believed in me. I would not let them down.

Chapter Text

As the sun began to drift into evening, I noted an error in our navigation. It was one that Father had taught me a long time ago, but I'd forgotten. You see, the sun doesn't perfectly rise the opposite direction of where it sets. It's pretty close, but our assumption meant we'd drifted off course a fair bit. I decided to voice my thoughts before we got too much more off course.

"Hey. We're a bit off in which way we need to go." I mewed to my companions.

"What do you mean?" Brambleclaw asked, now looking slightly worried at the implication.

"We just went the opposite direction of the rising sun this morning. That's not perfectly the direction the sun sets. Just look. We're turned too far left. If we were heading the right way to start, I'd guess we'd have passed Highstones and passed through Windclan territory. What's everyone else's thoughts? Should we cut right to try and make up for our error or assume that we'll reach our destination anyways?" I queried.

"You Thunderclanners and your poor sense of direction." Crowpaw hissed.

"Hey! I didn't hear you complain about which direction we were heading until Darkpaw said something. Either you deliberately didn't tell us, or you have just as poor of a sense of direction as us." Squirrelpaw challenged.

Crowpaw's fur raised defensively. Squirrelpaw saw this and raised her fur as well. I myself was about to cut in when Feathertail did it for me.

"Calm down you two. None of us caught that we were off. The issue lies in trying to fix this. While we could try and correct now, we'll lose time in actually being able to follow the setting sun. Once night hits, we'll be unable to follow it." Feathertail deescalated.

Tawnypelt seemed to have an epiphany at what Feathertail just said. "That's not exactly true. There are certain stars in the night sky that Shadowclan uses to navigate. If we can figure out one that matches the direction the sun sets, then we'll be able to travel at night as well."

"What about traveling during the day?" Squirrelpaw asked.

"We're going to have to stop doing that, at least for a while. If I remember correctly, we're coming up on the Twoleg Place, and if you ever decide to travel in it during the daylight, I've got one word for you. Don't. It's a very good way to get yourself captured or killed. Cats have to operate nocturnally, or they simply do not survive." I mewed, unknowingly calling upon the memories of Scourge again.

"And who made you the expert on the Twoleg Place?" Crowpaw growled, clearly only arguing because he did not enjoy that he was getting talked over.

I froze for just a moment, feeling the world briefly sink into a colorless haze before snapping back. I couldn't tell him. I didn't trust him… but maybe they need me to give them just a little bit.

"I can't tell you. Just not yet. I don't really like it, but the most I'm willing to tell is that I've got far more knowledge of this place than I'm willing to admit. You can pass off the knowledge as coming from my mother since she was a rogue, but that's just me giving an excuse. I need you all to trust me on this, and maybe I'll open up to why I know how the city works." I replied, making it clear that I was unwilling to be pushed further on this topic.

Brambleclaw, clearly trying to take back the role of leader, decided to cut in. "Ok. For now, I suggest we course correct. We can figure out which star to follow during the night during it. I'd rather we fix our error before we enter the Twoleg Place. I don't think we're going to get much of a view of the sky once we get in there."

Tawnypelt supported that decision. "I agree. The navigation problem is small now, but if we ignore it, it'll keep getting bigger. Also, if Darkpaw is to be believed, we'd be forced to wait on the edge of the Twoleg Place anyways for nightfall. Though, we're going to have to change our operating times. I say we push ourselves late today so we can push our waking time later."

"Seems like a solid idea. I'm up for it. That makes three. Anyone else want to go with this plan?" Stormfur mewed.

Begrudgingly, it was Crowpaw who made the fourth, surprisingly enough. "Fine. I see the point. I don't like the idea of entering a Twoleg Place at all, but that's what we've got to do. While I don't believe the words of what Darkpaw said, his tone was of a cat who was sure of themselves. Either they really do know how the place works, or they think they do. I'd personally rather go off a guess than go without, so I'll go with what Darkpaw suggests for now."

With that, the group turned sharply, trying to make up the ground lost by going the wrong direction. The sky was red with only the faintest speck of sun on the horizon when we decided that we corrected enough. Tawnypelt watched for any notable stars while we waited for night time to come. After a while, darkness took over the sky, followed by the appearance of numerous stars. Tawnypelt suddenly nodded. "Got it. We'll be following the Wind Guide Star."

"The Wind Guide Star?" Feathertail queried.

"It's a star Shadowclan uses for navigation. On Shadowclan territory, it points towards Windclan, hench The Wind Guide Star. It's in the direction the sun sets, and it's a star that doesn't get hidden behind the moon." Tawnypelt explained.

The explanation was enough for us to trust her word. Thus, we followed her towards our destination. It was once we were on the edge of the Twoleg Place did we decide to call it for the day. We were all tired and desiring some sleep. We were a bit out of Thunderclan territory, but the terrain was familiar enough, so Brambleclaw, Squirrelpaw, and I caught the meals for the night. Tomorrow… Well, tomorrow I'd find out just how much I remembered the city, and how much the city remembered me.

Chapter Text

There it was. The city seemed to stretch endlessly before us, a maze of unnatural boxes and straight edges, and yet I somehow felt right at home. The shadows cast my the many Twoleg nests were long and dark, washing out the color of the world. Looking skyward for the star Tawnypelt showed us, I got a decent measure of how we'd have to travel. You see, the city has a strange uniformity to it. This uniformity can be abused in navigation. For the angle the star we're following is, we'd go in two then right one.

I took the lead as we entered. Not like anyone else was too keen on traversing this place. To me, it came just as naturally as travelling Thunderclan territory. Unfortunately, I was also widely familiar with the dangers of a place like this. Barely two blocks deep, and I saw a tail vanish around a corner. Not a good sign. I signalled for a stop, which was also unfortunately a Thunderclan only signal. Thus, most of the group almost wandered right past me until I physically body blocked them from going further.

"Cats ahead!" I hissed quietly. "Don't know how many, but given how prime of an area this is, I imagine they're strong and hostile."

"They can't be that bad. I mean, we're actually trained." Squirrelpaw dismissed.

"That's how you die here. One bad scratch, one poorly treated wound, and you die. We're on their territory, not the other way around. I know for a fact that one let me see them, so this is almost guaranteed to be an ambush. Let's cut back and over to avoid this group." I responded harshly.

Apparently, it was already too late. Whatever group this was had looped around the building to encircle us. The leader had a smug smile as he approached us, a ginger tom who disturbingly wore a ratty old collar with a dog tooth in it. The collar clearly wasn't his since it was far too large for him, but claiming any relation to Bloodclan, especially after their total defeat, meant that this cat was willing to back up his word. "Well, well, well. I haven't seen your group around here. Running with the Pulse maybe? No. Smells too green. The forest perhaps?" He taunted.

"We're passing through. The territory is still yours. A fight isn't worth it." I tried to placate.

"Really? Because I see three prime mollies in your mix. Tell you what. Leave them behind, and you can be on your way." He cruelly bargained.

The others rose their fur in aggression, but I strangely felt calm. Calm doesn't exactly express what I was feeling. It was an intense feeling of focus coupled with a complete lack of emotions. We couldn't run, and fighting here this early would have large repercussions moving forward. No. I needed to deal with this leader. I needed to show them how wrong it was messing with us.

I padded towards the tom, my eyes fixed on him and icily cold. He actually seemed confused for a moment as I got closer. My claws itched, begging to light up this night with some red. Finally, when I was only a few paw steps away, I flashed forward, swinging my deadly paw forward right at his neck. Fortunately, I managed to catch myself. I didn't want to be the monster I once was. Instead, my claws merely pricked his neck, making a small amount of blood well up on the surface.

I leaned forward to whisper to him. "Do you feel that? I could have killed you here and now, but I didn't. Can you guess why? It's that collar you wear that I know isn't even yours. Maybe you should look a little closer at me, more specifically my claws. I'll remind you one last time. This fight isn't worth it."

His eyes flicked over to my paw that was still pricking his neck, widening upon the sight of the claw extensions. He clearly recognized what they meant. "I'm so sorry sir. We'll leave you be." He groveled before signaling his cats off. I gave him a sharp look as I lead our party away, but I could feel my companions burning a hole in my head with their curious stares.

"How did you manage to do that?" Stormfur questioned.

"That leader cat, he was impersonating Bloodclan. I could tell by the collar with the tooth. It didn't fit him, so it wasn't his. Clearly he knew enough to know that collars meant Bloodclan, so I banked on him knowing that claw extensions were a symbol of status in Bloodclan. Basically, he thought we are part of whatever remnants of Bloodclan are left. It doesn't hurt that I proved that I could have taken his life without so much as a fight." I explained, still feeling that strange sense of calm.

"I don't know how to react to that. You've never acted that way before. I don't think you ever really beat me in a spar, but that… How much were you holding back on me?" Squirrelpaw asked, a faint tinge of fear in her voice.

I felt that calm leave me in an instant. Squirrelpaw feared me? I made all the right choices. I drove them off without a fight. Why was she looking at me with caution? It felt wrong, but what was I supposed to do?

"I just got the jump on him. That's all." I tried to dismiss, knowing in my heart that it was a lie. I knew if it had actually turned into a brawl, I'd have killed that cat within moments. My claws were itching like mad because their bloodlust wasn't given into.

"I just didn't expect that. I really thought you were going to kill him for a moment there." Squirrelpaw tacked on, slightly buying my lie.

I hesitated a moment. "I… I almost did. It would have been easier. Those rogues would have just fled. But… I don't want to be that type of cat, the one who spills blood over what was at best an inconvenience. I counted them you know. There were only five rogues. We would have won the fight if it got down to it. I just needed to send a message."

"That's not the clan way." Brambleclaw chastised.

I let out a somewhat harsh chuckle. "Look around you. Does this place look like the forest at all? This place is where you can find dogs eating dogs. It's a relentless battle for survival. Mercy isn't a commodity here. I'm not sure just flashing some claws will help us next time."

It was Crowpaw who ended this debate. "Whatever is going on, it can wait. We just walked into an ambush because clearly, we all don't have the same signals. If I'd known Darkpaw signal to wait, then we wouldn't have even had this problem. Now, let's deal with the problems we can actually deal with and stop fussing like a bunch of kits over theoreticals. I say we find some place to bed down soon so we can sleep out the day and fix this communications issue."

"Seconded." Feathertail chirped up.

Ultimately, we found a garden devoid of any cat or dog scent and decided to sleep there for the day. I knew everyone was still wondering what brought out that ruthless aggression out of me, but I was unwilling to tell for now. I also regrettably knew that my secret wouldn't stay hidden for long. I just hoped to drag it out a bit longer, pretend it wasn't a thing. I never wanted to have been Scourge, but what he knew was too useful to ignore. I could almost hear him whisper in the back of my mind.

Chapter Text

It took us until midday to work out a series of signals for each other that didn't conflict with our existing knowledge of signals. It didn't help that one clan's rush signal could often be another clan's stop signal. There's only so many ways one can wave their tail to convey a thought. In the end, we ended up with an odd abomination of all four clan's signal systems. It was atrocious and no one was happy with it, but at least we were all equally discontent with it. At the very least, we got the signal for go and stop to be one simple motion, meaning we could send it quickly.

The moon began to rise once again, signaling the beginning for this night's leg of the journey. I planned to play it more cautiously tonight. Whether I liked it or not, that tom from before likely spread the news that we were in the area. Given Scourge's old stranglehold on the city, it was very likely that a few would want to pay me back for my past life's actions, even if their only proof that I could have been involved was the claw extensions. I looked down at them, feeling their bloodthirsty nature. They were exactly like Father described them, both a blessing and a curse. They gave me the means to defend us, but they also drew unwanted attention upon us. We'd either have to move quick or change our strategy to keep a low profile.

Tawnypelt padded up to me, giving me a kind smile. "Ready to go?" She queried.

I really didn't but that wasn't what they needed to hear. I could at least pretend I was in control of the situation and play it by ear for now. "Yes." I lied. "Let's get moving before some rogue gets any ideas."

All the cats stood and made to follow me. The navigation was the easy part. It was the city itself that was the challenge. Local rogue populations and factions, a general lack of information, and the need to progress through potential hostile territories was daunting. I was the only one that really had a clue how capricious the cats were in the city. One might meet an old molly willing to trade her day's prey for a piece of gossip just as often as they might meet a mad cat who'd somehow become addicted to eating cat flesh. I faintly shuddered at the memory. Even Scourge himself saw that cat as a vile thing needing to be put down. The very claws I wore on my paws had been the ones to take theirs.

We'd gotten a few blocks in, having to dodge only one rogue patrol when a molly approached us. I couldn't make out her fur pattern in the light, but that voice. It was familiar.

"Halt Blood remnant. This is Pulse territory. I'll give you one chance to turn before I sic the whole of the city on you." She declared.

I froze, trying to place where I'd heard that voice. It… was too familiar. I could somehow tell the memory didn't come from Scourge, so how did I, Darkpaw, know her? That's when it hit me. There's only one rogue female I knew from this life.

"Smoke?" I chanced out.

"How do you know my name?" She hissed back, her fur raising in a vicious arch.

"It's Darkpaw, or rather Darkkit. You gave me to Smudgefoot. I'm your kit." I answered back, hoping she'd believe it.

"Darkpaw?" She questioned as if tasting the name before realization hit her. "Darkpaw! You're really my Darkpaw? How? No. More importantly, what are you doing out here? I gave you to Smudgefoot to keep you safe. Did he abandon you?" She fussed.

The rest of the journeying cats looked on with confused interest as I was nuzzled by the rogue who'd just moments before threatened our lives.

"I'm ok mom. Really! As to why I'm out here, we've got some kind of warning that a great calamity is coming to the forest. Our only hope is to somehow meet someone called Midnight to get info on how to deal with it." I explained.

"Then what are you doing with those?" She grumbled, flicking her eyes at the claws.

"Father gave them to me in case of emergency. He did warn me that they may cause problems, but the risk is worth it if it means saving someone from a major threat." I answered.

Her eyes flicked down at the claws again as she seemed deep in thought. After a little while, she seemed to have come to a conclusion. "Fine. I see the point in carrying them. Though, I do have some advice for you lot. Cut towards the farms. The news of a potential Bloodclan remnant wandering the city has reached too many unsavory ears. The cats towards the edge of the city were generally unaffected by Bloodclan's rein, so it'll be much safer out that way. In fact, I should probably guide you out. I'm at least recognizable enough among the Pulse for most cats to let us go."

Crowpaw, seemingly in a spontaneous burst of kittishness teased me. "Looks like your mom is joining us. Got anyone else out here to carry you by the scruff?" He immediately realized what he just said and appeared to duck in preparation for someone to strike him. It was an odd thing to witness that was a worrying sign.

Brambleclaw, in an odd bit of support, countered Crowpaw. "At least it was a rogue he recognized. I trust that at minimum she wants to keep him safe."

Smoke, having listened in, decided to mess with Brambleclaw. "To be fair, I am dropping you off with another rogue to guide you the rest of the way. I've got to head back to the Pulse's headquarters to let Hattie know it was a false alarm. Then, I'm probably heading out to give Darkpaw's adoptive father a piece of my mind for sending you all out here. The cat I'm leaving you with is named Purdy. Best cat in the city when it comes to navigating. Just don't be put off by his age. He may be old, but he isn't stupid."

With that, my turn at leading our party came to an end. It was frankly quite a relieving thing to have happen. Smoke, mom, knew the lay of the city and where to avoid. I wouldn't need to bloody these claws further.

It was then that the temptation hit me again. Red. REd. ReD. I want red. I could feel it pounding in the back of my skull as the world began to tint towards monochrome. Red. Red was the cure. It'd only take one cat. I could feel ice freezing my veins. It would be so easy. I had the tools for the job. I raised them to inspect them, feeling their murderous nature infused into them. Each of them whispered sweet promises to spread as much red as I wanted. I could stain an entire alleyway.

No. This isn't me. I don't want to kill. I don't need red. This desire isn't mine. It's not me…

Squirrelpaw suddenly gave me a brush. "Are you alright? You look… I don't know how to say it, but it kind of scares me."

My stupor suddenly ended. The color returned to the world. The claws became inanimate objects again. I found myself panting, exhausted by the mental stress my episode just caused. "Yeah. I am now. Thanks for snapping me out of that."

Squirrelpaw tilted her head before asking. "Are you sure? I'm sure we can all take a break if you need it. I don't want you getting hurt if you fall into another one at a bad time."

I shook my head. "I promise you it is fine for now. If I feel it coming back, I'll let you know. For now, the mission takes priority over me having bad thoughts."

"Ok, but I'm stopping us if I see any signs that you're back in that state." Squirrelpaw dismissed before trotting ahead to go argue with Brambleclaw again. Honestly, it was like they were two elderly mates how they picked at each other but still came back for more.

I just had to keep my impulses under control. We'd be out of the city soon enough. Maybe once we were gone, I'd be free from the temptation.

Chapter Text

We were starting to get close to the edge of the city with Mom's guidance. There was a brief brush with a rogue group, but they cleared off pretty quick after Mom declared that it was Pulse business. It was nice to not have to constantly watch over my shoulder for any signs of danger while ensuring that no one steps right into something any city cat would know is dangerous. Squirrelpaw and Crowpaw of course being the biggest offenders followed strangely by Feathertail. Either way, the edge was in sight.

We'd just pushed our way through some bushes when some frantic barking was heard from nearby. Mom's fur immediately bristled, and she shouted, "Run!"

We all pelted off, hoping to outrun the coming dog. Unfortunately, the dog was much closer than we thought. It was on our tail in moments. Not only that, but the dog was obviously a stray. There was no collar denoting that a Twoleg would deal with it. It was gaunt yet spry. I managed to get through a gap in a fence, but Squirrelpaw wasn't so lucky. She got herself treed by the dog. She wasn't the only one trapped up there. Tawnypelt had beaten Squirrelpaw to the tree hoping to wait out the dog. Meanwhile, there was still one more cat within the dog's reach. Feathertail was huddled beneath a bush. The dog had not yet caught on that she was there, but that would only hold out as long as Tawnypelt and Squirrelpaw kept its attention. Was this the fate I needed to defy? Was Feathertail destined to die by this dog?

I felt my claws itch at the sight of the dog barking and yapping at the tree. The world began to shift into the awful monochrome. I hated it, and I hated that dog. So noisy, so gray. I once more heard the alluring whispers of the claws placed upon my paw. Sweet promises of scarlet echoed throughout my mind. It would be freedom from the gray. I wanted, no, needed the red. I could feel my heart pounding in desire. A strange sense of calm washed over me. I would get the red. I would get lots of it. I needed a body though, and one annoying yappy dog promised enough to sate my desires. I couldn't help slightly purring in anticipation. Then I sprinted in. The dog heard my approach, but that mattered not. It'd soon feed my cravings. The beast was a fool, the claws cried. I could trick it. I stopped on the spot, waiting for the stupid thing to act. I could hear shouts, but I ignored them. They wouldn't help my desires. Finally, the beast lunged. This was the moment. Contorting and rolling beneath the bite, I found the dog's neck wide open. I smiled a twisted smile as I raised my paw and dragged the claws through its neck.

A rain of scarlet fell towards me, and it was nirvanic. So much beautiful red. I closed my eyes, feeling its warm and sticky embrace cover me. I was beautiful. I was red. I pulled myself free from the dog who was going through its death throws to examine my glorious form. Beautiful scarlet pooled off my paws. I even saw a drop condense and fall from one of my whiskers. Already, the dog had gone still. The pool of red coming from its neck had stopped expanding. The claws cheered with joy, now coated in a glorious scarlet, but the claws felt lonely. There was a dead dog right here. It wouldn't take more than a day for me to cut some fangs loose and fashion some claws for my other front paw. Then I could make even more red!

My thoughts were cut short by someone licking me. It was brisk, as if they were checking for wounds on me. I looked back with hatred towards who would besmirch my beauty until I realized who they were. It took a long time for my mind to process it. What kept me from hurting them was the fact they were orange, which was close to red. I saw their mouth moving, but I just couldn't make out the words. My own beating heart drowned out the sound. It was only when more cats appeared, did I get a wrangle on myself. It was Smoke and the rest of the journey cats. The world was shifting back into color. All at once I realized how uncomfortable all the rapidly clotting blood was in my fur. The worst part was my whiskers. They felt stiff, and it constantly felt like I was brushing my face against a wall. I even had to remove the claws Father gave me, them having filled with the blood of the dog. I let Squirrelpaw guide me out of the pool of blood as I rapidly tried to clean my face of the blood.

"Darkpaw, are you alright?" Tawnypelt fussed, having climbed down the tree after the dog fell.

"I'm soaked in blood and caught a mouthful of it. Would not recommend by the way. I am physically unhurt." I answered. Tawnypelt and Squirrelpaw caught my drift that something else had happened during or before the dog attack.

"Ok. We'll stop for the night as soon as we get somewhere safe." Tawnypelt consoled.

The rest of the cats were soon around me. Brambleclaw and Stormfur were making comment on how reckless my actions were. Feathertail was grateful that I managed to deal with the dog before it found her. Crowpaw was strangely silent, but he did press his paw against the dog's wound, seemingly measuring how deep his claws would have went. I saw him grumble unhappily at his discovery that they likely wouldn't have even pierced a vein. Finally Smoke dragged me over to get a thorough grooming. It was obviously very embarrassing, but could I do? Squirrelpaw brought the claws over for me after I asked, and I set to removing all the blood and reequipping them. I did hear Smoke mumble about how dirty of a kit I must have been, having thoroughly soaked my ears in blood as well. I mean, she wasn't wrong, but I blame Squirrelpaw for having been a rambunctious kit who dragged me into everything. I felt better having recalled that memory. The monochrome seemed a little further away, but I could still feel it. I could still feel the desire to coat myself in red and the indignance for allowing someone to remove it from me. I could beat it. Father trusted me to. I could do this, right?

Chapter Text

When we’d finally set down to rest, Smoke (mom) took off ahead to ensure Purdy would stay in the area. Meanwhile, Tawnypelt and Squirrelpaw were quick to pull me aside and ensure that we weren’t being eaves dropped on. Finally, when they’d done their thorough check, they sat across from me.

“Are you alright?” Tawnypelt asked again.

“Kind of. Physically, I’m fine, but I’m not so sure mentally. I know I killed that dog, but it feels like it happened in a dream. It doesn’t even feel real that I even did that.” I stated, flexing those claws that tore apart the dog.

“You’re just in shock. Killing something like that can have that effect.” Tawnypelt dismissed.

“That’s not what I meant. I mean, it didn’t feel like I did that. It was like someone else was moving my paws, outsmarting that dog, reveling in the kill. At the same time, I remember it vividly. The world somehow lost all color. It felt suffocating. Everywhere I looked, there wasn’t even the slightest hint of color. Black and gray, black and gray. It was maddening, but I knew of one color that pierces that veil. It is red, blood. I didn’t just desire it. I needed it. I felt like if I didn’t spill some soon, I’d have started tearing into myself. That dog, it was just a victim of my need. I don’t think I killed it to save anyone. I killed it because I felt I needed to see blood. It’s the same thing I see in my dreams, and I’m terrified that I’m going to snap and hurt someone.” I explained, my voice rising in pitch as my own panic set in.

My breathing was ragged. It felt like the air was too hot. I couldn’t breathe. I panted harder, trying to fill my lungs, but it still felt hot.  I still felt like I was choking. Was I closed in somewhere? The edges of the garden felt too tight, like they’d moved closer together over the course of my explanation. They were going to close in on me! They were going to crush me! It was too much.

Then I felt a paw press against me, forcing me flat on the ground. I tried to fight it for a moment before they grabbed my scruff, triggering that kit like instinct to go limp. Then they spoke.

“Calm down Darkpaw. You’re alright. Just take a deep breath and focus on me. You’re having a panic attack. It’ll get better. All you have to do is breathe with me. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Look only at me until you feel you can control yourself.” Tawnypelt mewed, letting go of my scruff and sitting back down across from me.

I followed her instructions, breathing in as she did and exhaling when she did. At first, it felt impossible. The air was too thin. I needed more, but her firm gaze kept me from acting out. Instead, I breathed in, taking in as much air as I could. Then she exhaled, signaling for me to do so as well. This repeated a number of times until I felt the fog in my mind begin to lift. I felt my sense of self slip back into place, my panic forgotten as I was able to rationalize my situation. I’d just freaked out for almost no reason, and I felt embarrassed for having done so.

“Sorry about that. I should have been in better control of myself.” I apologized.

“No need to apologize. You couldn’t help it. A few cats in Shadowclan still get panic attacks about both Tigerstar and Brokenstar. I’m used to handling it. You didn’t do anything wrong.” Tawnypelt consoled.

It was then that Squirrelpaw pushed into my side with a worried expression. “Are you alright? Seeing you freak out like that scared me. The worst part was that I didn’t have the slightest clue how to help, but Tawnypelt did. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to help you. I should have been. I’m your best friend. You always help me. It feels wrong that I can’t help you.”

“Has this happened to you before?” Tawnypelt queried.

“The panic attack or when I feel that need?” I responded, faintly feeling that tug of panic at the mere mention of the need.

“Whatever you’re willing to discuss.” Tawnypelt answered, keeping a calm tone that clearly showed she’d accept whatever answer I was willing to give.

I took a deep breath, centering myself and trying to push all that panic aside. I could do this. I could explain this. “I barely ever have dreams.” I started to explain. “When I do, it’s always with that need. I dream, no, that isn’t quite the word. I remember. I remember the need pounding at the back of my mind, shading my world into that monotone, making everything a scarcely understandable mess of grays and blacks. The me who lived like that fell into a desperate cycle of seeking logic to suppress his desire and feeding the desire to keep himself from going mad. I’ve not been entirely honest. This… isn’t my first life. Father figured it out first. The day I died, I was reborn as Darkkit, but who I was before was terrible. Please don’t think ill of me. I’m trying not to be him, but he is still a part of me. I was once Scourge, the tyrant of Bloodclan, and I can still feel the alure of violence.” My head had sunk low as I awaited chastisement or punishment for my admission.

Tawnypelt tilted her head, seemingly confused by my submissive behavior. “You don’t look like Scourge to me. I don’t see a dog tooth collar on your neck.” She mewed.

I shook my head. “Didn’t you hear me. I’m him reborn.” I exclaimed.

“Hmm. Nope. You definitely aren’t him. Scourge is all black with one white paw. You’ve got far too much white to be him. Not to mention, you’re taller than he was.” Tawnypelt dismissed, beginning to circle me. “Scourge also had a notched ear, but both yours are perfectly intact. You can’t be him.”

Squirrelpaw seemed to catch on and joined in on Tawnypelt’s dismissal. “I knew you since we were kits, but Scourge fought dad before I was even born. Definitely not possible that you’re him. I remember the elders’ stories about Scourge. I remember how Smudgefoot described him. Scourge was a selfish cat who felt nothing at all. You’re not selfish. Every time I got a mousebrained scheme, you tagged along to make sure I wouldn’t get hurt, even when you knew you’d get in trouble. That doesn’t sound like Scourge at all. No. You’re Darkpaw, not Scourge.”

I couldn’t help sputtering. “But… I am him. I can remember everything.” I mewed softly.

Tawnyplet mewed softly. “You may have Scourge’s memories, but you aren’t him. Even if you are his soul given new life, you aren’t him. His life ended long ago. You are simply you, just as I am me. That’s all a cat can be, ourselves. Don’t let those memories haunt you. They aren’t your guilt to bear. You didn’t do any of that, despite how real it must feel.”

I let them embrace me. I could only feel gratitude towards the pair for accepting me. My emotions had left me exhausted, so Tawnypelt postponed questioning me any further about my episode for now, seeing  as I likely couldn’t handle talking any more of the subject this night.

Chapter Text

The streets were that all too familiar dreary grey. Not even the smallest sliver of color pierced my eyes. The desire festered within me, but tonight would be a good night. Tonight, we were hosting a Blooding. I'd been feeding my desire exactly for this night. It would be a relief to see all that red after fasting myself of the sight for so long. It would be the ultimate ecstasy to see the wave of red as the ceremony reached its climax. A smile was not present on my face, but those who knew me knew well how excited I was for this.

Bone flanked my side, here to stop me if I were to succumb to my temptations too early. His face was resolute, but I knew he looked forward to this night, admittedly for different reasons. Tonight, we'd be permitting three cats into our elite. Bone knew well that admitting more cats into the fold meant Bloodclan was growing in power. Each elite meant one more cat deathly loyal to us, one more cat to allow myself to trust. Even in the deepest depths of my desire filled rampages, my elite always escaped my wrath. How could I hurt them? They were the only thing that would forever remain colored in my monochrome world.

A large crowd had gathered for the ceremony. The alley was packed with spectators. How could they not? Tonight was the most revered ceremony in all of Bloodclan. This was about power, trust, and punishment. Three would ascend by destroying three worthless excuses for cats whose only purpose was to feed my powerful craving for blood. It was perfect.

I leapt upon the dumpster with Bone at my side. My cold gaze washed over the monochrome crowd willing them into silence. They all knew the consequences of interrupting something I considered holy. Bone said some words, but my mind was preoccupied with anticipation towards sating my desire. As Bone finished his speech, three cats stepped forward. Bone had briefed me on the three. Two of which were siblings. Their looks mirrored one another. One with a missing left ear, and the other missing the right. From what I'd heard, the brother lost his while fighting a runaway. His grief at being injured drove the sister to tear off her own ear to match him. Such loyalty would be cultivated. One willing to not only die for another but mutilate themselves for their kin would serve well here. I wanted them to belong to me, love me, and show that same unyielding loyalty to me. I knew they would. They always did after I let slip the faintest part of me during the ceremony, a moment reserved only for my elite. Mortar and Conny. Their names would be engraved into my mind

The third cat came as a recommendation from Brick. The cat recommended was a cat named Fang who'd lost his eye in the line of duty while protecting Brick from an ambush. While I'd usually just commend a cat for that kind of loyalty, Brick desired more of the cat. Fang had a cunning mind and had anticipated the ambush, helping lead a counter strike that left the ambushers in a rout. We'd lost no cats that day due to the quick thinking of Fang and his steadfast loyalty to Brick. He would serve well in our elite.

"Mortar, Conny, Fang. Step forward." I commanded, my voice commanding but not threatening like I usually commanded.

The three met my eyes, seeing something seldom ever seen from me. I was allowing them an out, a chance to leave or refute the promotion. No one ever did, but by providing the chance, I hardened their resolve. They knelt to me acknowledging their allegiance. I softly nodded at them before turning.

"Bring out the sacrifices!" I commanded to six cats in waiting who kept the sacrifices in check.

The three prisoners emerged, each escorted by two cats. The first was a traitor by the name of Pick. He'd been leaking information to one of our rivals. The second was the ex leader of that rival faction by the name of Gut, who'd sold out Pick in hopes of saving his skin. His reward was to participate in this sacrifice. The final cat was a personal selection of mine. They'd driven me away from my first meal on the streets when I was just a kit starting out. They didn't even have a name, hoping somehow that without one they'd be able to survive out here unnoticed. They messed with the wrong kit all that time ago, and it took me a long time to find them, but now I'd get my revenge.

The prisoners were forcibly lined up in front of the crowd, one for each of my coming elite. The three chosen stepped forward, knowing what they had to do. I licked my lips in anticipation. I could hear my heart pound as I waited. The three prisoners struggled desperately but futilely. There would be no escape. It was almost time. The three chosen stood ready and waiting for my signal. I savored the anticipation but a moment longer before I swished my tail, signaling them to act. All at once, the three struck, splitting the throats of the sacrifices and splashing themselves in that all too beautiful red.

I leapt down from my perch, treading with a measured pace through the growing puddle of scarlet. I felt the sticky crimson fluid soak between my toes, and it felt magnificent. Regardless, there was one last part to this ceremony. I first approached Mortar. With my soaked paw, I traced a path from his missing ear to his chin with a leftward curve. After marking him, I met his eyes and gave him the faintest smile, something that was impossible to see from a distance. I saw his eyes light up with elation that I deemed him worthy of showing him a fragment of emotion. Then, I moved on to Conny. Like her sibling, I gave her a mark from her missing ear down to her chin but with a rightward curve, perfectly mirroring her brother. A smile lit up her face when she realized I'd done so, proving that I accepted her bond with her brother. The smile proved almost too much for her as I saw her shaking with joy. I think I almost pushed her into a heat with that. Finally came Fang. He did not look at me with anticipation like the others, but I could feel his convictions. I wanted to give him something special to prove that I knew him and would remember him. Thus, I marked him the same way I marked Brick so long ago. Fang might not have noticed the symbolism, but Brick recognized it immediately, happily trotting in place as I not only rewarded his subordinate but also him by proving that I remembered his ceremony. Fang did not require my smile, but I shot him one anyway when Brick trotted up happily to congratulate Fang. Brick was ecstatic at the sight, almost bouncing in place despite his back injury.

A strange calico molly appeared in the corner of my vision. She somehow seemed more real than any other cat present. Her colors were clear and untainted by the monochrome tint of my desires. She looked at me expectantly, so I made to chase her. The alleys and streets soon faded into nothing as I passed the boundaries of the memory. Realization dawned on me as I realized that I'd just escaped one of my nightmares. The monochrome world was left behind. Then the molly turned revealing that it was someone I knew. It was Mapleshade.

"Morbid dreams you have kit." She both taunted and consoled.

Chapter Text

"Mapleshade!" I exclaimed, never having expected her to somehow interfere with one of my nightmares. "How are you here?"

Mapleshade let out a chuckle at my question. "Seriously kit? You've been taken to both Starclan and the Darkforest in your sleep. Is it really all that surprising that I can do the reverse?"

I sputtered in response. "But… Isn't it difficult for a cat to visit Starclan or the Darkforest? Father told me that Starclan could barely manage to visit him when it is close to a full moon." I rebutted.

Mapleshade responded with an annoyed scoff. "First off, the hard part is moving a living being to Starclan. The living are very attached to their bodies. Meanwhile, the dead are not. Second, you allowed me to tie myself to you. Somewhat like a tick, my soul clings to yours and your father's. With this bond, I am able to do things to the two of you that I could not to an unbonded. The one I most enjoy is seeing the living world. I am freely able to appear to either of you, whether I allow you to see me or not." She explained, eliciting a disgusted look from me.

"Don't look at me like that! You're still getting the better end of the deal. I cannot interact with the living world. I can't hurt you. You and your father are the only two capable of seeing me. Thus, I have no choice but to be friendly and loyal to you. Anyways, I came by to offer a look into my memories." She offered.

I shook my head dismissively. "No thanks. As nice as it is to see that I'm not the only one who has memories that haunt them, I already know your story. You already have my sympathies, so you have nothing to gain."

Mapleshade let out an amused laugh. "Oh really? So guess you don't want to see what your father has been up to since you left? He even figured out what the coming threat is. Aren't you the least bit curious?" She teased, knowing fully well that I would take her offer now.

I huffed, annoyed at being strung along but knowing that I couldn't afford to refuse. "Fine. What's been going on?" I mewed.

A smile crossed her face as she responded. "How about I show you? This won't hurt at all. Just don't resist it." She mewed slowly.

My vision began to shift and distort. It was a blurry mess of colors for a moment before things cleared up. I was back in the forest… and for some reason upside-down. I was looking at Father who seemed to be in an active conversation with Tallstar.

"Why is everything upside down?" I thought towards Mapleshade.

"Call it an eccentricity I picked up from my mentor. He had a tendency to flip me during training and lecture me while I was still on my back. It just became a habit at that point. Now I just find it easier to focus like this." Mapleshade explained.

"I'm telling you Tallstar. Those markers the Twolegs put out are their way of claiming territory. I don't like this any more than you, but wishful thinking won't save us. I'm already coordinating with the other clans on methods of survival, but things aren't looking good. Right now, Riverclan is the best off since the river cuts off their territory. Quite frankly, Windclan is the one that's going to go first. Twolegs have to uproot the trees on Thunderclan territory and deal with the marshlands in Shadowclan. To them, the plains are the easiest places to build their nests." Father argued with Tallstar.

"And I am telling you that we don't want to give them even a whisker's length. We're warriors. We defend our territory." Tallstar argued back.

"Not from this! Sure, a cat may be able to take out a single Twoleg, but it won't help. They'll come in monsters meant to tear up the land with hides harder than stone. They'll smash through any barrier we could erect as if it were a cobweb. I've already seen some of their tree choppers on the edge of Thunderclan territory, and there are more coming. Hattie's cats from the Twoleg place spotted at least twelve of them. The forest won't last even a year more." Father argued back.

I felt a shiver run down my spine at the thought. Not even a year… The idea that the forest could simply be gone that fast was mind boggling.

"Then what do you suggest we do, simply roll over and wait to die?!" Tallstar demanded.

Fathe growled back. "No! You must be prepared to evacuate. I'll admit that I still have my fair share of grudges with you, but right now I'm trying to act in Windclan's best interest. I'm trying to act in a way that preserves the clans. Already, I'm buying alliances with Riverclan and Shadowclan to allow both Windclan and Thunderclan to be pushed back instead of crushed. None of this is free. I'm compromising what little loyalty and morals I have left in order to preserve the clans. I'm doing my damnedest to ensure we all make it out of this, but all I can do is buy time. I don't like you, but I don't want to see you dead. I'm stressed beyond belief as I juggle appeasing every clan and keeping them from each other's throats, and it is hard. So please Tallstar, don't fight me on this. Riverclan has already given me their word that in the worst-case scenario, you can take refuge on their territory." His voice sounded haggard after his rant. Only now did I take in the time to notice Father's full state. He looked thin, likely skipping meals to keep up with all he was doing. His shoulders were tense, as if he'd spent the whole day walking. There were matts on his sides where he hadn't been able to thoroughly clean.

Tallstar seemed to have finally taken in this as well. His eyes softened as Father panted. "You're exhausted. Why don't you take a night's rest in our camp. We'll get you something to eat." Tallstar offered.

"Can't. I've got to talk to Riverclan tomorrow about where Windclan could take refuge on their territory. Then I've got to head to Shadowclan to do the same." Father answered bluntly in a tired voice.

"All the more reason you should stay. You won't be able to act on behalf of Windclan properly if you're exhausted. I'm sure Riverclan will understand. Plus, it'll likely make them prideful enough to offer you the same. If you can't think of this as me offering a kindness, instead think of it as a bribe. You'll be biased in favor of us if you subconsciously believe we are a more worthy clan." Tallstar argued back, drawing a small chuckle from Father.

"Guess an old cat can learn new tricks. You never were the type for subtlety. Nice to see that you're finally figuring it out. Fine. I'll take your bribe of finally getting a nap. Starclan knows how much Ravenfeather and Stonestep have been getting on me about overworking." Father joked, finally turning to follow Tallstar back to camp.

I felt a sense of nausea as I could feel my body moving while my vision did not.

"Someone's trying to wake you kit. You better get up." Mapleshade mewed, ending the dream.

I opened my eyes to see Tawnypelt standing over me, eyes filled with concern. "Are you alright? You were fidgeting a lot in your sleep. Normally, I'd just pass that off as some cat dreaming, but you told me you only get nightmares."

"Yeah. I had a nightmare. I don't really want to talk about it, but I appreciate that you woke me after I asked you to. It looks like the sun is setting too. Looks like there's no time to go back to sleep." I answered, giving her an appreciative brush before standing and stretching out. I didn't think poorly of her for waking me while Mapleshade was trying to show me what was going on back at the forest. She couldn't have known that she'd missed my nightmare entirely. It was time for another day of walking. Maybe I'd get to see more from Mapleshade tomorrow night.

Chapter Text

It was just the seven of us again. Apparently, mom had already taken off to let this Purdy cat know we were coming as well as return to her post. It was bittersweet that she took the time to care for us, but she also left me without even a goodbye. I was slightly upset by that, but I didn't want to visibly make a fuss. We weren't here to see my family issues.

We took off towards where Smoke indicated we could find Purdy. Due to the farmland being mostly flatlands, Crowpaw decided to take the lead with me. He looked relieved to see such a vast expanse of uninterrupted flat land. Probably because Windclan was known for its moors where you could see all the way to the horizon without a single tree to block you. He looked far more sure of himself out here despite it still being unknown territory with an unfamiliar layout.

I decided to chat with the other apprentice since we had a fair amount of time left before we'd reach Purdy. "So, what is it like to be an apprentice in Windclan?" I opened.

"Are you making fun of me for being the only chosen who's an apprentice?" Crowpaw growled.

I shook my head. "No. I'm just curious on how being a Windclan apprentice differs from a Thunderclan one. I mean a fair part of our lessons is how to climb trees and navigate the forest via landmarks. Meanwhile, Windclan is flat without any trees or big things to act as a reference point. How do you guys not get lost?"

Crowpaw actually chuckled at my last sentence. "Seriously? You think we'd get lost on our own territory? Do you get lost when you walk into your camp's center? We live there. We've got our ways to navigate it too. Our territory is actually the largest of any clan's, and we're taught fairly early on how to find our way back. Despite how it looks, there's a fair amount of danger on the moors. We get more badgers than Thunderclan as well as plenty of snakes. That's not even mentioning how easy it would be to accidentally get a paw caught in a rabbit hole and break it. There's lots of small things you miss if you're just looking at the grass. There's plenty of memorable features if you're accustomed to a place like that. Sure, we don't have some specific tree or boulder visible from a distance, but you'll never be able to appreciate recognizing a place because it's got the three burrows, or it's got a dip, so the grass grows sideways." Crowpaw elaborated.

"Huh. Never really thought of that. You said that you have to dela with plenty of snakes, but Windclan runs everywhere. How does that work?" I asked, liking that Crowpaw was opening up a bit by praising his own clan.

"That's the thing. Most snakes out there aren't wanting a fight. We're simply too big to be prey for them. They largely ignore us, but if we're getting too close, they let us know. Some have this strange tail that sounds like something rattling fiercely. Others can let out a hiss. Every once and a while, we scout around the camp for snakes. While we, the warriors and apprentices, are too big for the snakes to eat, the kits are not. Let me tell you, killing them is a tricky thing. It usually takes two or three of us to do it safely. Those things can be fast when they want to be. Usually we have someone draw their attention while another creeps up behind them. Whoever is the one sneaking up needs to catch them by the head. Otherwise, one of us might get bit. You honestly don't become a warrior of Windclan without getting bit by a snake at least once. At least our medicine cat is really good at dealing with the venom." Crowpaw seeming to enjoy bragging about Windclan.

Crowpaw looked over to me, appearing to be considering something before finally voicing it. "What about Thunderclan. What is it like?"

"Honestly, we're a clan that's a bit too into fighting. If there is a fight clan, it's Thunderclan. We've got a really good territory that accommodates our needs, but it's also a bit too tantalizing for Shadowclan and Riverclan. Riverclan always wants this riverside stretch of rock because it borders the river, but those rocks are prime water vole hunting spots, so we don't want to just give it away. Meanwhile Shadowclan wants to push into our territory. We can't let them take even a whisker length because they have a tendency to exploit any form of weakness. Thus, we're always in a fight with two clans. It doesn't help that back when Firestar just became a warrior each clan tried to invade us at least once. So yeah, Thunderclan is the fighting clan." I answered.

"Never really thought of that. Wait, does that mean you think you could take me in a fight?" Crowpaw jabbed.

"Not necessarily, but in Thunderclan, you can get away with being a poor hunter if you're an excellent fighter, but you can't get away with being a poor fighter ever. Take my father as an example. He is still one of the worst fighters in the clan, but he's still known to be able to send most enemy warriors packing in a one-on-one fight." I rebutted.

"Nah. You're lying. Smudgefoot fought Scourge to a standstill from what I heard. That same Scourge cut down two senior warriors like they were nothing. There's no way Smudgefoot is a bad fighter." Crowpaw countered.

"There were some extenuating circumstances that let Smudgefoot do that. It's not really something he can just do whenever." I replied.

"Wait… Does that mean the rumors are true that Thunderclan has some kind of secret herb that makes a cat berserk? I mean it would explain a lot, like why Tigerstar was so huge or why in general your cats are big." Crowpaw rambled.

I cut him off. "There is no berserk herb… Ok. There actually is a berserk herb. Father showed it to me once, but we don't use it. It was one of those, don't touch this, lessons. Maybe the Thunderclan of old used it, but we don't now. It's just too risky to use something like that."

At that moment, we noticed an old cat ahead. Crowpaw couldn't help but snort at the sight. "That better not be Purdy. He looks like he got dragged through a thorn bush backwards by his tail."

"Someone mention me?" The old tom mewed. Crowpaw just hung his head in reply, clearly annoyed at the very idea of working with this cat.

Brambleclaw trotted forward, attempting to take the lead. "Yes. Hi. We were told by Smoke that you knew how to reach the place where the sun drowns."

The old cat tilted his head in thought. "The ocean huh? Don't know why you'd want to go there. It's just water. Not even good water. It's so salty that it just makes you thirsty. Already seen a cat who died because they only drank that water." The tom rambled.

"Can you take us there?" Brambleclaw pressed, attempting to get the elder back on topic.

"Sure. It's not even that far, but I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for a place to start a colony." The tom answered/

Brambleclaw looked taken aback at the thought that we'd come out here to settle down, affronted at the thought of permanently associating with those of other clans. I decided to interject before Brambleclaw could lose it.

"Actually, we're looking for someone. Goes by the name Midnight." I mewed.

"Oh, her… Must be something pretty big if you're willing to put up with that old badger. I talked with her a bit myself, but she's not too good at speaking. I got tired of it and took off." Purdy answered. He suddenly turned. "Well, you young 'uns seem to be in a rush, so I'll show you the way. I know a nice garden to wait at while I scout the route. Shouldn't take me more than a day."

"A day!" Brambleclaw decried.

"You really don't understand the city do you?" Purdy mewed, silencing Brambleclaw, who now just had to smolder on the idea that our journey would have to go another day longer.

Chapter Text

The garden Purdy told us to wait in wasn't all that bad. It was unseasonably green. There were plenty flowers and other flora I had never seen before. There also was a sizable patch of catmint. I couldn't help smiling at the sight. I couldn't help muttering jokingly that Father would hate it here. I never really understood his hatred of the stuff. Sure, it has a strong scent, but it wasn't intolerable. On the other paw, I never cared much for the plant either. It just wasn't tantalizing to me. I still remember a certain prank Squirrelpaw and I did on Father so long ago. We snuck a bunch of catmint into Father's nest when he slept. He was furious, and we almost got grounded for a full moon. I was so glad when Dad (Ravenfeather) talked him out of punishing us. Of course, Father got the last laugh when he snuck a bit of mouse bile into both my and Squirrelpaw's nests.

Tawnypelt caught me smiling, so she decided to ask the question. "What's got you smiling?"

I shook my head dismissively. "Oh, nothing. Just remembering a prank Squirrelpaw and I did on my father long ago. We put catmint into his nest."

Crowpaw scoffed at the idea. "Weak! That wasn't even a prank. All you did is make him smell nice."

Squirrelpaw interjected at that. "Then you don't know Smudgefoot. He hates the stuff."

"How?! Everyone loves catmint. Mudfur actually has to hide his supplies to keep us from getting into them. You've got to be lying. No cat alive dislikes catmint." Crowcaw yelled back.

Brambleclaw padded over, having overheard the conversation. "It's true. Despite all logic, Smudgefoot just doesn't like catmint. On top of that, he can sense it better than the rest of us. Cinderpelt actually sends him to find some when she runs low because he'll find far more than she could."

"I mean, I don't care all that much for the stuff. It's just a smelly plant. I really don't understand the appeal." I commented, getting a sharp look from the others.

"Something is seriously wrong with your family. Are you even cats?" Crowpaw mewed somewhat jokingly.

Stormfur and Feathertail came trotting over, curious about what we talking about. "What's going on over here?" Feathertail mewed.

"Please, in the name of Starclan, do not tell me that you Somehow dislike catmint." Crowpaw begged toward the pair.

"I mean, yeah, I like the stuff. It smells good. Why?" Feathertail answered.

"It does have a pleasant smell, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it." Was Stormfur's answer.

"Darkpaw somehow committed the heresy of disliking catmint." Crowpaw announced.

"Woah. Woah. I didn't say I hated it. I just don't see the appeal. They don't particularly smell good or bad to me, just strong. It's my father who hates them." I countered.

"How?!" Feathertail clamored.

Meanwhile Stormfur nodded acceptingly. "I get it. I'd take the scent of a fresh caught fish over the scent of catmint any day."

Feathertail whirled at Stormfur's answer. "What?! How could someone of my own blood say something so utterly preposterous?"

"It's not that big a deal. The plant is useful, so it is pleasant to catch its sent and know that a patch resides nearby. Now a freshly caught fish's scent at least promises a tasty meal soon." Stormfur countered back.

"Unbelievable! How did I never catch that you've got a broken nose?" Feathertail jokingly argued back. "Brambleclaw, Tawnypelt, Squirrelpaw. What are your thoughts on catmint?"

"I don't really care how it smells. I just like how much it irritates Smudgefoot and that it's a good way to convince my dad not to ground me." Squirrelpaw answered.

"I'm going to have to side with Feathertail here. Catmint does in fact smell good." Brambleclaw mewed.

"Same." Was Tawnypelt's response.

"Alright then. Let's leave these catmint haters here and go chat over there." Feathertail mewed, leading Crowpaw, Tawnypelt, and Brambleclaw away.

"Abandoned by my own sister." Stormfur mewed with a small laugh. "What brought up the subject of catmint anyways.

"Oh. Darkpaw was telling Tawnypelt about a prank where we snuck some into Smudgefoot's nest because he hates the stuff." Squirrelpaw answered.

Stormfur let out a little chuckle before mewing. "Reminds me of the time I snuck a week old fish into Feathertail's nest when we were apprentices. She didn't notice and woke up smelling like rotted fish. She was so mad." Stormfur regaled, laughing at his own recounting.

"Reminds me of when I snuck a thorn into Brambleclaw's nest not that long ago." I mewed back.

"How long ago was it then, and what made you do it?" Stormfur inquired.

"He called me Squirrelpaw's lackey." I answered, somewhat cross that he never actually apologized for the insult.

"Sounds like he deserved it." Stormfur agreed.

"Yeah. Just because Darkpaw likes to stick around me to make sure I don't get in trouble doesn't mean he's my lackey or anything. If anything, we're partners. Admittedly, I drag him into a lot, and sometimes I don't listen to his advice and get him in trouble. It's also usually me that starts anything…" Squirrelpaw mewed, going quiet the longer she went on. Finally, after a moment of quiet pondering, she asked. "Am I a bad friend?"

"You're a perfectly fine friend. I wouldn't be dragged along if I didn't like you. You're my best friend. Why would you ever doubt that?" I consoled, knowing perfectly well that when she got an idea stuck in her head, she tended to spiral with it. I shot Stormfur a pleading look to try and help me on this.

"What Darkpaw is trying to say is that in every friend group, there usually is a cat that's the leader. You just happen to be it in this case. You two definitely have a fine and healthy friendship. If you're really worried that you abuse Darkpaw's friendship, then just be more mindful in whatever hijinks you get up to. Maybe ask Darkpaw before you launch into a scheme." Stormpaw soothed.

"Thanks Stormfur. I'll try to be more mindful." Squirrelpaw mewed. I meanwhile just gave Stormfur a nod of thanks.

Dawn's light was starting to peek through the horizon, so it was time to bed down for the day.

Chapter Text

It was around Sunhigh when Purdy made his return. Despite the length of his scouting, Purdy still looked fresh, or as fresh as an elder can be. The old tom must have bedded down out there at some soint. Either way, he woke all of us up, which we mostly didn't appreciate since we'd just gotten a nocturnal schedule down. "Up, young'ns! Up! Up! Up! I got my scouting done, so we're going. Come along." He ordered before turning to pad off, forcing us all to rush our awakening and chase ofter him without even grooming our pelts. Complaining wasn't even an option since Purdy set a fast pace, a trot of sorts.

I forced myself to speed up to get up beside Purdy. "What's got us going so fast?" I asked.

"Scouting isn't much good for long. The city's comings and goings shift quickly, making any new information quickly bad information. We got to move now before the Twoleg rush. By then, the streets will be too active, and we'll be forced to wait until nightfall, but cats are much less predictable than Twolegs. I should be able to get you cats out of the city before the rush. From there, you just follow the sun, and it'll lead you straight to it." Purdy explained. Brambleclaw, overhearing our conversation, gave an accepting nod.

There was one thing I'd forgotten about moving through the city during the day, and that was just how hot the ground got. I could feel my pads get scorched as we bolted from shade to shade. Purdy assured us that this was the best way to travel right now, but it also was a painful one. Only Crowpaw seemed to be semi-resistant to the heat, likely because Windclan has some stretches of bare dirt and rock. In a strange way, I missed the calluses that Scourge had developed living in a place like this. They made moving in the heat much more bearable. Now, my paws are much more sensitive.

Purdy did have us double back a couple times. There was Twoleg activity in areas Purdy had previously deemed as safe. He blew it off as just the common struggles of living here. It was not a reassuring statement. Regardless, Purdy was correct on his assessment. We broke the edge of the Twoleg Place as the sun hung partway up the horizon. We still had a good while before the sun set.

"Alright young'ns. This is where I leave ya. Just keep heading that way, and you'll get to where you wanted. Just be careful on the cliffs. They're slick and can crumble." Purdy warned before departing.

Brambleclaw decided to take the lead again. "Alright. Purdy said we should be able to reach there before nightfall. We'll push our pace for now, do a bit of scouting for this Midnight cat, and rest if we don't find them. Let's get moving." He ordered.

I personally didn't see Brambleclaw as a cat worthy to lead. He had a propensity to assume that he was the highest authority on any problems, assuming his answers were correct. Now, I wouldn't say I'm much of a leader either, but I at least give context as to why I make decisions so others can choose if my ideas were valid. Of the chosen, I actually trusted Tawnypelt the most to lead. She's calm enough to accept suggestions, and she genuinely cares about the cohesion of the group. Below her, and this is likely because of bias, is Squirrelpaw. Squirrelpaw may be impulsive and pick at some nerves on occasion, but she inherited her father's charisma. Her general excitement and upbeat attitude make you want to follow her into trouble. Regardless of my annoyance at Brambleclaw's insistence of being the leader, I followed behind silently. I briefly considered telling him that I didn't appreciate his attitude, but something in the back of my mind told me that wasn't a good idea. Cats like Brambleclaw are pretty set in their ways. They need to fail to learn.

Thankfully, the ground was mostly flat and even. Crowpaw and Squirrelpaw briefly raced each other, likely because Crowpaw bragged about his speed and Squirrelpaw demanded he prove it. It was nice to see that despite everything, both Crowpaw and Squirrelpaw could accept their kittish instincts to play. I didn't join. The black of my coat left me sweltering. Meanwhile, I could hear Brambleclaw muttering about how those two should take our journey seriously. Feathertail clearly overheard and threw in her opinion.

"Does it really even matter? This is going to be something they remember all their life. They're still apprentices. They deserve a break every once and a while. Even I and Stormfur are tempted to frolic a bit. It's not like it's all that much further. We're well fed, and we're nearing our goal. We're all just excited. It'd be better to get the excitement out now before we meet Midnight." Feathertail mewed before tauntingly slapping Brambleclaw in the face. "Oh. Sorry. Sometimes my tail just has a mind of its own." She playfully mewed.

"We don't have time for this." Brambleclaw grumbled, earning himself another face slap.

"Again, so sorry. It just has a tendency to do that when someone's being a grumpy elder." Feathertail teased.

"Knock it off!" Brambleclaw meowed, getting slapped again. His temper finally burst. "That's it! I'm putting you in the dirt!"

"You'll have to catch me first!" Feathertail laughed breaking into a sprint. Brambleclaw chased after her, his anger quickly subsiding into a slight smile. I knew he'd never admit it, but he likely needed this too.

Brrambleclaw tackled Feathertail, sending them into a roll. He managed to catch her in a pin, his paws pressing down on Feathertail's shoulders. He was slightly panting, but Feathertail had a sly grin. "Oh, Brambleclaw. So forward." She teased, embarrassing Brambleclaw enough for him to step off her.

Brambleclaw sputtered for a moment before Squirrelpaw came sprinting past, jumping over Brambleclaw. Crowpaw either didn't have the sense of mind to jump, or he did it intentionally. Who could tell given Crowpaw's obvious feelings for Feathertail. He plowed into Brambleclaw, sending them both rolling.

"Woops. Sorry Brambleclaw." Crowpaw mewed in a tone that clearly implied there wasn't much behind the apology.

"It's fine. Though, I think it's tome we stop playing around. I can see the cliffs Purdy mentioned from here." Brambleclaw mewed, drawing our attention towards the setting sun. We could finally see it. There was just a point where the land just falls away, and water extended farther than the eye could see. This was the ocean, where the sun drowns in the evening. We were so close. Just a little further.

Chapter Text

The cliff face was exactly as Purdy described, a sheer drop into an endless amount of water that crashed against the stone below. Faintly in the distance, I could see the land sink to the water's edge, lining the water with pale soil. Maybe Midnight was over there, but that was a fair bit of distance, to the point where we'd have been heavily offset from the clan territories. No. They couldn't be over there. It'd leave us with very little capability to return home. I had to trust that Midnight was somewhere nearby.

We were scouting the edge. Noting any paths towards the water in case we actually needed to touch it, when Brambleclaw and Squirrelpaw got into a spitting match. It was over their usual topic, Brambleclaw's tendency to micromanage Squirrelpaw because she'd act a bit recklessly. Neither was completely wrong, but neither was right as well. Yes, Squirrelpaw should act with more caution, but Brambleclaw shouldn't just lay into her for something that hasn't caused harm. It's like he thinks she's a kit, needing to be heavily mothered. I could take the arguing no longer.

"Knock it off, both of you! Squirrelpaw, Brambleclaw is right that you shouldn't be acting so carelessly near the edge. Brambleclaw, no one likes being chastised like a kit. Yes, you can warn her that it's dangerous, but you don't need to go after her like that. You may have appointed yourself leader of the group, but you never got the lessen Father pounded into my head. A leader must always act with tact, not antagonizing the cats they wish to lead." I angrily berated the two.

Of course, fate at that moment seemed to conspire against me. As Brambleclaw had warned Squirrelpaw, the edge of the cliff face might come loose, and it did right beneath Brambleclaw's paws. I rushed forward to grab him by the scruff. Squirrelpaw did the same, steadying him before he lost his grip. Unfortunately for us, that wasn't the only part that seemed keep on giving way. I caught the sound of the rock cracking behind us. There wasn't enough time. I remember what was asked of me for this journey, my duty to protect every cat involved. There was only one choice. I used my own weight to counterbalance Brambleclaw, throwing Brambleclaw into Squirrelpaw, making them tumble past the fault, by throwing myself forward. Then it gave in with me atop it. I was falling towards the endless waters below with no way to stop it. At least Stonestep had taught me to swim so long ago. Hopefully I'd get a chance to use it instead of being taken out on impact.

I hit the water, feeling it knock the breath out of me. Salty water flooded my mouth and nose, tasting foul. I'd tumbled at some point, unable to discern up form down with my eyes closed. I needed to open them, just like Stonestep taught me. I forced them open, ignoring the sting the water had on my eyes. It was far worse than when Stonestep trained me. Regardless, I could see light, meaning the surface. I couldn't think about the cliff right now. I needed to reach the surface first. Steadily, I clawed my way to the surface, feeling my lungs beg for air. Then I breached it and gasped. I was treading water, but it was strange. The water wasn't tugging me along anywhere, just swelling and receding. At least that meant I had time, my endurance being my only limit.

"Darkpaw!" I heard Squirrelpaw call from the cliff above.

By this point, I found a ledge protruding out of the water. There also seemed to be a narrow path upward. It was just barely bigger than a cat wide. I took advantage of it. Pulling myself free from the water, I noticed a cave. It was too coincidental. This could be it. I needed to let the rest know that I was ok and that I found something.

"Squirrelpaw! I'm ok! I'm not hurt! Just got the fur spooked off of me! There's a path a bit further along the cliff! It leads down here! I also think I found something!" I yowled up towards there the rest of the journey cats were.

I shivered as a cool breeze swept over my wet form. I knew that I should probably dry myself, but I was exhausted form the swim, desperately wanting to sleep. We hadn't even gotten to sleep since reaching the cliffs. I'd been up far too long. I couldn't muster up the energy to deal with this.

I forced myself to maintain consciousness as I watched the rest of our cats pick their way down the cliff using that narrow path. Luckily, none of the cliff decided to give way under them like it had with me. Squirrelpaw reached me first, nuzzling up to me before realizing I was still soaked.

"Yuck! You're still all wet!" She yowled, jumping back to dry herself.

"You still haven't dried yourself?" Stormfur mewed, to which I replied with only a look of exhaustion.

"Then we better dry you up quick. It's all too easy to die to cold water. Stormfur, help me out. We're the only cats really experienced with helping a cat who fell in cold water." Feathertail commanded, taking control of the situation.

I couldn't complain as the pair set to drying me out. I could see their visible disgust in the taste of the salty water, but they continued regardless. Eventually, they deemed it good enough for now.

"Alright. We've got to get into some shelter. That cave there will do for now. I'm going to want both Tawnypelt and Crowpaw to lay beside him." Feathertail instructed.

"What? Why me?" Crowpaw complained.

"Because you've got a short pelt, meaning that you're body heat will reach him the easiest. Tawnypelt's got the longest fur of us, so she'll reflect body heat, letting us warm him up easier. It's common practice in Riverclan, and we know a thing or two about this since it happens most to us." Stormfur explained.

Crowpaw grumbled a bit, but he ultimately agreed. Tawnypelt and Squirrelpaw helped me stagger into the cave, but then something became obvious. The cave was occupied, and not by a cat.

"That's a badger." Crowpaw mewed in a shocked tone.

We all froze, a new surge of energy ensuring I was wide awake to see this. The badger rose from where it rested, far larger than any badger I'd ever seen. It may have been my fear that made me notice the little things, like how its muzzle was lined with silver, meaning it was old. That still wasn't good enough. I wasn't in good enough condition to run, and there wasn't nearly enough space to fight a badger. It turned to us, taking one paw step after another closer. I could smell the stink of fish on its breath. Then it did something I never would have expected. It spoke.

Chapter Text

"Cats of Forest. I've been expecting you." The badger somehow mewed, its voice gruff and slurred slightly. It sounded unnatural an alien, but somehow that just made it more mystifying.

We were all still frozen with shock, unable to will ourselves to act against the beast that was far more intelligent than its lumbering monstrous brethren. It peered at each of us slowly, seemingly seeing something beyond us with each look, until it reached me. Its face contorted with confusion, like it hadn't expected something. It briefly shook its head, seemingly shaking off its confusion before spoke again.

"I am Midnight. Your spirits sent you here to me. You six… and one… underwent a journey here becoming one as well. The threat your clans face requires they do the same. Divided, they will perish." Midnight meowed in a shamanistic tone.

Of course, Crowpaw couldn't help nitpicking what Midnight just said. "Six and one?" He queried at the badger.

"I… sorry. I practice for you come. Words hard for me. Not know word for six and one. Thought only six. One more than expect. Embarrassed." She answered, her sentences becoming more disjointed as she clearly was struggling to get her meaning across with her small vocabulary.

"What do you mean you only expected six of us?" Brambleclaw pressed, sensing with this vulnerability that we may be able to get more than prophetic vagueness out of the badger now.

"Expect six." She mewed, waving a paw at everyone but me. "Not one." She stated, pointing straight at me. "Not see you."

It hit me like an unexpected cold wind in Leafbare, striking at my very core. She was claiming I didn't belong. I mean, I always sort of knew that, given how often I was considered dark like my father, but in this case, it felt almost accusatory. She approached me, her size dwarfing mine significantly. I shivered as those beady badger eyes seemed to pierce me, looking deeper.

"Let me look." She commanded, grabbing a hold of me, which frightened us all. Her gaze was unwavering, focusing on something deep within me and beyond my comprehension. It was terrifying, like everything about me was laid bare before her unblinking mystic eyes, and I could do nothing to stop it.

"I see." She stated slowly, seemingly pulling free from her trance. "A dark destiny diverted, a gift given. Fate obfuscated. An anomaly. Good? Bad? Cannot tell. A blessing or curse. You have gift to change path, to divert destiny gifted by dark one who broke your fate. Now you akin to them. Anomaly breeds anomaly." She explained in her unclear and somewhat rambling way, finally letting me go.

Tawnypelt quickly dragged me back, interposing herself between me and Midnight. Her fur was raised in obvious fear and defensive aggression. Midnight had grabbed me so quick before. If she had wanted to kill me, they would have been unable to stop her. I've never felt so vulnerable before. Even with my terrifying nightmares, I never felt unsafe. I just felt worried that I would somehow harm others. This was the first time I really felt my mortality. Not even falling off the cliff made me that scared. There were things I could do, things I'd practiced for, that at made the fall seem bearable. I had agency. When I was in her grip, I had none. There had been nothing I could do to stop her.

The exhaustion and the terror was catching up to me. What had once been just shivers from my unexpected dip into the cold salty water evolved into tremors from the mixture of fear and cold that still clung to me. I felt weak, weaker than I'd ever felt before, weaker than a kit. I just couldn't take it. My strength faded, and I collapsed, breathing hard as my panic remained firm and my heart pounded.

Tawnypelt and Squirrelpaw were immediately with me, pulling me further from the badger as the rest formed a defensive barrier in case the badger decided to attack. I was still vulnerable, easy prey for a potentially hungry badger. I could still see her imposing form out of the corner of my eye, maintaining the terror that flooded my body. Then Tawnypelt gripped my head, briefly frightening me further since it was so reminiscent of what just happened, but then her face came into view.

"Listen to me Darkpaw. You need to calm down. You're having a panic attack, just like before. I need you to breathe. Focus on me. We'll be ok. If the worst comes, there's enough of us here to kill the badger." She stated with conviction, forcing her belief into me. It calmed me slightly.

Squirrelpaw then got my attention my grooming my shoulder, attempting to steady my nerves. "We're here for you. If we knew it was going to do that, we'd have attacked it already. We couldn't risk you when it had you in its grip. I'm sorry we couldn't act sooner." Squirrelpaw apologized.

It was reassuring to know that they hadn't just stood idly by Midnight did whatever she did to me. I glanced over to the rest of the journey cats who had Midnight cornered. No fight had broken out, but it was on the edge of one. Midnight had backed into a corner defensively. There was a look of guilt and possibly fear on her muzzle. It was hard to tell since she was a badger.

"I not mean to scare. Was wanting to know why different that expected. Not mean harm." Midnight was sputtering, trying to convey that she hadn't meant anything malicious. "I am sorry." She stated in a wavering tone, sounding truly guilty for what she'd done.

The rest still watched her, but their claws weren't pulled any longer. They were still ready to fight at the slightest indication that she was lying, wanting to fight or kill us. We were at a standstill. We couldn't retreat because of my condition, and Midnight was somehow key in the prophecy, so we couldn't outright attack her.

"You tired. Here safe. Can watch me. I do nothing. Talk on morrow?" Midnight suggested.

It was true that a night watching her would allow us to better assess her motives. Also, given my current condition, I wasn't really mobile. I'd also likely catch Whitecough if I was subjected to the wind. This was the only close place that we knew of for me to recover from my fall.

"Fine, but we'll be watching you." Brambleclaw agreed, turning away to join us.

It was strange to see him so apologetic towards me, like he cared at all. We never really were kind to one another, maintaining something close to professional since we couldn't stand each other. I'd seen him when he was lined up with the rest to protect me. He wasn't just defensive. He had been furious… for me. It was eye opening to see. It was honestly by Feathertail's cue that Brambleclaw had kept himself from attacking the badger while she was still trying to apologize. Maybe he wasn't as bad as I thought.

Chapter Text

Sleep was strange for me this night. Instead of nightmares or the blackness that is a dreamless sleep, I found Mapleshade waiting for me in what appeared to be a grassy clearing. The clearing was washed with a sunset red, backlighting Mapleshade's form. She looked happy to see me.

"You miss me kit? I've been watching your little trip so far, and it looks like you've found what you were looking for." She mewed, gesturing for me to sit beside her.

I of course did. There was nothing else here to do. Faintly in the distance, I could see the cliffs and the ocean. The sun was slowly sinking into the water, giving a brief flash of colors before it vanished beyond sight. It was beautiful to see and helped push the trauma the previous day brought down. I glanced over at her, taking in that she seemed to be enjoying the sight as much as I had.

Eventually, I couldn't help voicing something. "You usually aren't all that keen on interfering . Is there a reason you decided to help me this night?" I queried.

Mapleshade let out a sigh. "Sorry kit. I'm just used to being an observer. Smudgefoot never really needed my help all that much besides the occasional rumor or scouting. It worked for us. I'd get to explore the waking world, and he'd get the latest news around the forest. I assumed you'd want the same. I was waiting for you to request something. I'm used to taking orders by now. The only real reason I interfered this night is both that you experienced a near death experience and Smudgefoot asked me to check up on you."

That left me with many questions. Was Mapleshade comforting me out of kindness or obligation? Did both of us misunderstand the bond that we formed? If so, how did it need to change? Maybe I needed to be the one to reach out a paw first and found a better connection.

"What… What did dying feel like?" I asked, trying to connect what I just felt with Mapleshade's experience.

"Honestly, it was simultaneously the worst thing I ever experienced, and yet, it wasn't near as bad as I'd have expected it to be. It was a low aching pain that dragged on, sapping my energy and will to continue. The moment I gave up, it swung into an unexplainable agony that lasted less time than it takes to blink. Then I was in the Dark Forest. From there, the real torture began. You'd think it was the starvation or the thirst that would get to you, but it isn't You can get used to those. It's the isolation that nearly broke me. I got incredibly lucky that I happened upon Smudgefoot after Starclan was a bit too careless, and now I have you. I may not be that social of a cat anymore, but just getting the chance to watch and participate is more than enough for me, more than I deserve." She mewed, seemingly genuinely happy to have met us, but that last bit soured the mood. "I mean, I know I'm an evil cat. I murdered in the name of revenge, but I kind of hoped that in the end it would just be nothing, that I'd somehow just cease to exist. Instead, I'm here, and I have no idea what happened to my kits. I don't even remember what they look like. What an abysmal mother I was." Mapleshade ranted with tears beginning to spill down her face.

I needed to comfort her somehow. I just said the first thing that came to mind. "The fact that you killed for them means that you weren't a terrible mother. Sure, you made a bad choice that got worse with a bit of bad luck, but you had good intent at the time. You meant for your kits to live and have full lives. They weren't just tools to elevate your position or force your will. You even loved your ex, believing that your love was enough to unite the two clans. What I'm meaning to say is that you meant well even if it all fell apart. Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of Starclan's need to divide the dead into something as nebulous as the good and the bad. There's too many that toe the line and get tossed across because they leaned a little too far one way."

Mapleshade let out a chuckle. "You're definitely Smudgefoot's kit. Don't get me wrong. I'm not comparing you two, but you two are the only ones who look at the world and forest and say, I'm not happy with this. I'll change it. Only someone of your family would critique Starclan with such conviction, and I'm honestly both impressed and inspired. Maybe it's time I go banging on Starclan's border demanding something for those of us with good behavior. Won't that get their tails in a twist." She mewed with a giggle.

"How's Father doing anyways?" I asked, deciding to change topics.

Mapleshade's face flattened at the question. "Things aren't going well back at the clans. The Treecut place is just gone. They can't go there anymore. Instead, giant monsters churn the earth, turning it into some kind of wasteland. Windclan caught the worst of it. Their territory has already been halved by the monsters. The monsters haven't done much to Shadowclan yet. So far, there's only been some Twolegs planting their border markers, which we've figured out is how far the monsters will go until they finish up whatever they're doing. Finally, there's Riverclan. They appear to be untouched, but Smudgefoot convinced them to send scouts upstream. It turned out his intuition was right. The Twolegs were doing something upstream. They're making something. Smudgefoot thinks they mean to divert the river, giving their monsters access to Riverclan's territory. We can all tell the forest is dying. We won't be able to stop them. Whatever that Midnight claims, we won't be winning a fight with the Twolegs. I hope you get a good answer out of her because this might just be the end of the clans. I hope it isn't, even if it's for my self-preservation. Starclan's power is fading as more of the forest is destroyed. Even the few of us in the Dark Forest who manage to find one another are looking for means to somehow save the clans. If Starclan goes, then we are bound to as well. If one of them finds you while we're still in trouble, then they might be willing to help. They're selfish, but wanting to survive is a selfish enough reason to cooperate." Mapleshade explained.

Our chat seemed to have run long since I could feel the sun starting to warm my back in this dream. It began to fade out as I was called back to the waking world.

Chapter Text

I awoke to the sounds of a small fight. Midnight seemed to be trying to push her way past Brambleclaw, who was not having it. Midnight was trying to explain herself as she tried to nonaggressive move past Brambleclaw. "I know you no trust me, but I need to help. Dark one visited by cat from dark lands. Dark lands for those who whisper sickly promises wishing others to share their views. Not place of good cats. Can push dark lands cat away." Midnight stated, not making a lick of sense to anyone but me.

"If you're talking about Mapleshade, she's a bit of an exception. Though she definitely deserves what she got, she's a family friend who looks out for us and benefits most by keeping us happy. If you try and drive her off, you'll be making an enemy of me." I mewed which drifted into a growl towards the end.

Midnight looked as kowtowed as I could imagine a badger to possibly get before apologizing in her broken up, hard to discern speech. "Sorry. You, Dark one… I know you not. Cannot predict you. Cannot know you. Seen future without dark one. Things same yet different. Dark Lands cat very bad in seen future, but somehow don't see it now. Fading… Losing my sight… Void consumes the vision. Strikes fear in me. Hoped to avoid change, but maybe change is good? Used to acting towards seen ends. Feel blind for first time. Should stop interfering. Not my fate to weave."

Maybe it was time I gave Midnight a little slack. While she still terrified me, I could just feel that she meant well. She may be a prophetess, but even they sometimes need advice of their own. "Listen. An unknown future is always scary. It is easier and simpler to walk a path, but it is those who leave it that find hidden treasures. My dad, Ravenfeather, once told me something that stuck. He said 'I'd rather be walking in pitch black than stand in fire.' It sounds strange, but it means that sometimes it is worth taking a chance over pursuing something known."

Midnight, the strange badger, nodded sagely at the advice. "Wisdom of the Father. Wisdom of the Dad. Darkness is the agent of change. See wisdom in your words. Now see the potential. Much suffering is seen in the future, a changeable path. Advise you not walk blind but dip into darkness when path is suffering." She responded with a newfound clarity.

At this point, Crowpaw had enough. "Enough already. As much as you two want to talk philosophy, we don't have moons for you to cryptically piece together your messages. If you need a reminder, we're here to save the clans, and we don't exactly have unlimited time to do it."

Midnight nodded in response. "Yes. Champion of Wind is correct. You aren't here to hear me blather about the intricacies of fate. You're here to find an answer, to learn how to save your clans." She mewed mystically, clearly having rehearsed these parts. "Your home cannot be saved. The forest will crumble. The earth will be roiled. It is unstoppable, but there still remains hope. The clans do not originate from the forest, having fled from their ancestral home. As you flee your home, you are to reclaim what the ancestors lost. When the clans lose their meaning of home, a dying warrior will guide the way."

"What do you mean a dying warrior will guide the way?" Brambleclaw tried to wheedle out.

"You will know when you see it. I have said all that I can say. Your future is your own to make. Salvation is in your reach, but you must be willing to take it. One last thing before you go. Journey to the mountains. You will see your home from there but be wary. Fate desires a sacrifice. Deny it if you can Dark One." She cryptically answered before turning away, ignoring us completely. I wasn't even sure if she was breathing anymore, she'd gone so still.

We got our answer but were unhappy with how vague it was. We had little choice but to leave. Our destination for now were the nearby mountains. Midnight's words hung heavy in my mind. Fate desires a sacrifice. Was this why I was here? I felt on edge, wondering when fate might try to collect its dues. Brambleclaw, of all cats, seemed to pick up on this.

"Are you alright Darkpaw? You seem worried." He asked. For the first time in my life, he took a gentle tone with me. It felt strange, and I was compelled to answer him.

"I can't forget her words. Fate desires a sacrifice. This was why I was brought along. Starclan saw it. The question is how do I stop it. I don't have destiny on my side like you all. It may even be impossible for me to prevent. If a sacrifice must be made, am I to be the sacrifice? Am I to give my life for one of you? After yesterday, I realized I do not want to die. I thought death was just another part of life, but that is far too simple. I want to hear my father's wisdom again. I want to feel my dad's warm embrace. I want to know if Stonestep finally confessed his love to my father and dad. There is still much I want to do. I do not want to die." I confessed.

Brambleclaw met my gaze gently. "It is alright Darkpaw. I promise that we won't sacrifice you. You aren't just a body to take a hit or something to trade away for our safety. You are a cat, same as us. Despite all Midnight said, it is not just up to you to protect us. We all have each other. Midnight never even expected to see seven of us, and look how much it changed what she was going to do. Simply, you being here will be enough. If it is not, we'll make it enough. This is not just your responsibility to bear. It is all of ours." The others, who had been eavesdropping, decided to chime in.

"Fate shmate. If something tries to kill us, we'll just kill it first." Crowpaw answered, flexing his claws.

"We're all strong and capable of defending ourselves. If fate sets its claws into one of us, well we'll remind it how hardy we are as warriors." Stormfur mewed firmly.

"We've all been around you. If your presence is enough to throw off a prophet, then us interacting with you is enough to change everything. The future is already changed. We can make our own with our own paws." Tawnypelt added.

"Blood, destiny, and fate were all things thrown at Stormfur and I when we were but apprentices. They were words used harshly to say death and pain was deserved. What meaningless words they are. I choose to not believe them." Feathertail stated with distain.

Finally, Squirrelpaw spoke her piece. "We're best friends Darkpaw. I'll have your back as you have mine. I don't really understand all this destiny and fate nonsense, but if it's what we have to fight, then I'll gladly shred it by your side."

It felt like when the rest of the journey cats jumped to defend me after Midnight grabbed me. I felt safe again. Maybe me being here was enough. Regardless, I didn't feel alone in my duty any longer. We could make the change we wanted. We were prepared.

Chapter Text

A cold wind swept along the cliff face we were scaling, cutting deep into our fur. Crowpaw was the unlucky one of the lot of us, having short sleek fur that was good for keeping cool and didn't snag on much, but it also didn't keep him very warm. Fortunately for him, Feathertail and begrudgingly Stormfur were willing to walk at his sides to keep him warm. The path was narrow at some points, forcing to cross one at a time. Several times, we had to make small but certainly potentially deadly jumps. It didn't help that despite it being New Leaf, this place was as snowy as the depths of Leafbare.

Through the climb, I tried to take point whenever possible. My lighter weight meant the ground was less likely to cave in under me. I did discover some rather frightening snow traps, where there appeared to be land but instead there was only loose snow that covered immense drops. After discovering the first one of those, where I was just lucky enough to only shove one paw through it before backpedaling, we became far more cautious of narrow points and where the path wasn't directly visibly connected to the mountain.

We were about halfway up when something made a dive at us. We were lucky that Crowpaw spotted it so quickly, or it might have gotten one of us. We dove into a small cave that was luckily present to get into cover. From within the small crevasse, we could see what had just tried to attack us. It was some kind of bird.

"Dear Starclan, what is that thing?" Tawnypelt asked, her fur spiked with fear.

"Definitely not a hawk. That thing was bigger." Crowpaw answered, giving us no sense of relief.

"Do you still see it?" Squirrelpaw queried, peeking outside to see if the giant bird was still around.

"It took ff to the other side of the mountain." Brambleclaw answered, having kept the entrance guard position in case the thing landed and tried for a standing fight.

I took a deep breath, knowing everyone present didn't want to move, but staying still was just as dangerous as moving forward. "Ok. I think we can move up. Keep an eye out for cover as we go. If you see another, we'll dart for the nearest cover we know of. Does that work for everyone?" I stated, briefly taking charge so that we had a general gameplan for if the problem reoccurred and knowing this would help sooth our nerves going forward.

"I can keep an eye on the skies if it comes back as long as someone guides me forward." Crowpaw mewed.

Feathertail immediately volunteered to guide him with Stormfur taking up a position behind Crowpaw in case Feathertail missed something. I took point again since my white pelt gave me the best camouflage of the group. My tail was also very visible when I raised it in this white environment, so I could easily signal to any of the openings I saw. Our pace slowed significantly, but we were still making progress. The bird returned only twice. Both of which times we were able to cram into an opening to keep from being preyed upon by it.

The ground began to level off, giving way to a small snowy plains. It was relieving to know we wouldn't have to watch our step as much up here, but the plains also meant less cover from the bird. We'd just gotten into the plains when we noticed something strange. There was a cat's tail poking up, and it wasn't one of us. There were cats up here. It was then that the bird made an appearance again. We ducked in the grasses hoping to not get spotted. Fortunately, the bird seemed interested in something else. It began to dive at something ahead of us, a bit further ahead than the mystery cat we spotted. As the bird reeled back to catch its prey, the mystery cat surged forward, grabbing onto the bird's wings and tearing into them. Another cat came flying out of the grass, biting into the bird's neck and killing it. They just hunted that thing. It seemed impossible, but they just did it. 'Should we reveal ourselves to them', I briefly thought. Those cats decided for us, having noticed us approach before we even entered the plains.

"What brings a colony of cats like you up here?" One mewed, using one paw to flick a brown feather that stuck in his fur off.

There was no point in hiding further. We stood so they could see all of us. Even though they could take down the bird, I highly doubted they could take on all seven of us at once. Brambleclaw moved forward to act as the leader of the group.

"We don't mean to invade your territory. We're just trying to get across the mountain to the forest past it. It's where our clans reside." He mewed in a nonaggressive but firm tone.

"That's quite the journey you have ahead of you. It'll take you roughly three days to cross this. More if you don't know the right way down. You also don't look like you've had a meal since you've started climbing the mountain. How would you like to come back to our cave to meet our tribe? We can care for you all for a night and show you the correct way down in the morning." The first cat mewed.

Something in his tone was off-putting. I couldn't quite put my paw on it. For one, he didn't sound like he was genuinely lying, but it also didn't feel like he said everything. It was clear he wanted something, but I couldn't tell what. I caught the stranger's eyes glancing at Stormfur, but that didn't make much sense. If he was after any of our cats, he'd be after the females since they could actually bear kits. It was strange. What could he possibly want with Stormfur? Stormfur wasn't much different from the rest of us besides having a swimmer's build, but his sister had the same, so why were they focused on him?

A cold wind struck us, reminding us of the precariousness of our situation. We couldn't afford to turn away the offer right now. There was still too far to go, and we had no idea how to hunt here besides a loose one based on what we just saw. We were wary, but we took the stranger's offer.

The stranger and their partner guided us to a large cave opening near the summit of the mountain. Within were a good few cats, just a bit smaller than one of our clans. They were all skinny but physically fit. There appeared to be some kind of role system here with cats of a brawnier build standing at the entrance of the cave while more wiry cats with paler coats moved prey, likely the hunters. The few scattered brown feathers lining their nests made it clear that catching the bird was not just a one off thing. It was part of their way of life.

The leader of the tribe emerged. He was rather scrawny compared to the rest, clearly not having participated in the physical activity the rest of the tribe had. He also stank of strange herbs like a medicine cat would. He was also the only one with that scent, so he was some kind of hybrid of our stars and medicine cats. It was strange to see one cat having to take on all that responsibility. At the same time, it seemed wrong that they'd do it this way. How could their leader fight for them if he was too concerned with the spirits? I guess I couldn't complain. If it worked for them, then it was probably alright.

Their version of eating was a bit strange to get used to, just taking a mouthful of meat and passing on the prey. It made sense given how few things they could catch and how big the prey was, but they treated it like some kind of ritual. It faintly worries me how specific they were in how to do things. Regardless, they led us to some spare nests to rest for the night. I still noticed how they seemed strangely interested in Stormfur, hoping that it was just some kind of culture thing where they didn't get silver cats like him.

In the middle of the night, I was suddenly yanked by the scruff free from my borrowed nest. It was one of those tribe cats that did it. I thrashed, trying to free myself from their grip, but two more of the guard type cats appeared to discourage me from attacking further. I wasn't the only cat caught in this sudden abduction. Stormfur also seemed to have been grabbed by these cats. The commotion had awoken the rest of us, but we were heavily outnumbered. I saw them trying to fight their way through as Stormfur and I were dragged off. The group that grabbed Stormfur slip off, taking him off somewhere unknown. Meanwhile, I was dragged deeper into the caves. I lost my sense of direction with how far I was taken in. I wasn't even dure I could find my way out. The leader, Stoneteller, was waiting for us.

"I have to apologize for this, but we couldn't have you getting involved. I can see how you somehow disrupt my visions, and we can't risk you interfering with this one. I promise you that we'll let you go as soon as it's all over. We'll even take you right back to your group after we take them off the mountain, but we just can't risk you getting involved, so we're keeping you prisoner here. We don't want to hurt you, but we will if you give us no choice." He mewed, his tone apologetic but equally frustrating to hear.

I let out a growl at him, but I kept my claws sheathed. I was still outnumbered severely. I couldn't win this fight, but I could at least let my displeasure be known. "You can make all the promises you want, but you still abducted me, and I'll never forgive that. My father believed in a thing called karma, so you best watch out when it comes for you." I mewed in a dark tone.

"This karma may come for me when it wishes, but you will remain here until it is too late for you to interfere. I do what the Tribe of Endless Hunting designs." He mewed before trotting off with the guards, leaving me in the dark cave system with no good way out.

I couldn't wander out of here, and I was only guaranteed food and water if I remained. I'd have to put up with being imprisoned for now, but I knew the rest of the Journey cats would find me. We'd break out of here and return home. I had to believe that. It was all I had left.

Chapter Text

I'd assumed they just planned to leave me in the depths of this cave network to await whatever prophecy they were hellbent on seeing through, not giving a thought about me until afterwards. I was glad to hear that I was incorrect. Someone was approaching, their steps having a slightly weighted rhythm and a soft sweeping sound matched it making it clear they were carrying something. It was just one cat. I could take them! I could leverage the darkness of my back to allow a sneak attack.

Scourge's memories echoed through me. If I captured this cat, I could make them tell me the way out… one way or another. Torture was something well versed in my past incarnation's memories. There were ways to make even the most seasoned enemy squeal like a kit. I knew well how to cause unimaginable pain in my enemies, especially when they were held down. Whoever this coming cat was, they'd feel Scourge's full wrath.

The cat approaching became more visible as they got closer. Their pelt was a chalk white. Their build was something rather strange for one of these tribe cats. Their front legs were semi-muscular, but they were too lacking to be anything like the guards. They were also far too muscular to be one of the hunters. It did not matter. This cat was my way out.

I lunged out of the darkness, tackling the tom, but I swore he saw it coming. He did not move to resist, allowing me to bowl him over. I pressed him into a pin, my claw extensions picking at his neck, but he looked so pitifully accepting of the position like it was a forgone conclusion. His claws weren't even flexed defensively. It seemed so wrong. There wasn't even the slightest bit of retaliation, anger, or desperate fear. There was only resignation. This cat was still bigger than me, more muscular, and had a home field advantage. Why? Why would he just let me do this? I'm dangerous. They know I'm dangerous. How could he just give up like that?

I released the tom from the pin, sensing that he was just as much of a prisoner here as me. He lifted himself up, sitting within my sight with that same look of resignation. He watched me, his form held submissive despite all his advantages over me. There was the slightest hint of curiosity in his eyes, but it was buried under his desire to show weakness.

"What… Whit is your name?" I tested, hoping to somehow get anything out of the tom.

"My name is Claws Who Marr The Mountain's Face, Claws for short, or Scratch." He answered in a sad monotone.

"Why would they just send you down here alone?" I pressed, trying to get a sense of this tribe and its weaknesses.

"Because I am useless. My death would cause no harm to the tribe. It would merely show that interacting with you is dangerous." He answered in that sad tone again.

That simple statement ignited something in me. I could feel a rage from within, and it wasn't toward this cat I was interrogating. "What kind of monster tells another cat that they are useless? Whoever said such nonsense should have their tongue ripped from their skull and be strangled with it." I hissed.

"It is simply a fact. I cannot be a guard or a hunter, so therefore I must be useless." He answered, as if the statement was obvious.

"And what makes you unqualified to do either? You seem pretty well built, so I could see you being able to do either." I replied, seeking to somehow get a tiny bit of life out of this husk of a tom.

He let out a sigh, clearly not looking forward to answering my question but even less willing to deny my request and risk retaliation. "On the day I was born, Jaggedtooth appeared on the mountain. He is a great beast resembling a cat, but he's a mindless monster. His claw marks were the first thing my mother saw after I was born, thus my name. When I was presented to Stoneteller, he had a vision or perhaps a warning. He was warned that the moment I spilled the blood of another, it would become an addiction, an overwhelming desire. From that moment on, I became useless. I can neither defend the tribe or hunt for it. I cannot raise my claws in defense, or I may be punished." He answered.

I couldn't help looking closer at the pitiful tom after that admission. His last sentence told far more than it merely stated. Something my father taught me once applied here. Morality is something learned through experience. Many cats never actually learn what it means to be moral, instead merely abiding by a set of rules or laws. When an individual is outside those rules, those individuals lord their adherence to said rules and cast cruelty upon those they're not explicitly told are in the group. Thus, the sight of the many claw scars breaking up the pitiable tom's form were not that surprising, still infuriating to see but expected nonetheless. After all, he wasn't allowed to retaliate, so he was the perfect victim.

"You don't have to live like this. You don't just have to accept what they do to you." I mewed, hoping to somehow break through the tom's barriers.

"Where would I go? I know not how to hunt or fight. I would die. Here, I at least survive." He answered, his tone wavering.

"But is just surviving worth it?!" I rebutted, seeing the briefest flicker of sadness of the tom.

"It is all I have ever known and have ever done." He answered before turning away.

I watched him pad off into the darkness. The prey and wet moss he'd brought still lay on the ground where I'd knocked them out of his grip. I did not follow him. Something in me just told me not to. I didn't want to see him punished for helping me. I saw a broken cat, and I didn't want to break him further. Instead, I merely brought the meal back to where I was left and ate. I knew he'd be the one back when it came time to feed me again, and maybe I could convince him to help me out. Maybe I could convince him that there was more to life than simply surviving. I needed the allies. Even if I did somehow find my way back to their main area, I couldn't just walk out or free Stormfur. I'd need help, and he was my best option.

Chapter Text

Sitting in darkness with nothing to do and no one to talk to is a somewhat torturous experience. I expected to suffer this for either a day or until the rest of the journey cats rescued me. Thankfully, I was mistaken. Claws decided to return after a little while surprising me.

"What are you doing back here?" I queried.

"The tribe is riled up since Jaggedtooth was spotted nearby. When they get riled up, well, I'm a pretty good target to take the tension out on. You at least don't seem to want to hurt me. I thought I'd keep you company until they calm down." Claws answered.

I chuffed in response. "At least one of you tribe cats isn't a deceitful fox. I mean seriously. They just catnapped Stormfur and I out of nowhere because of some mysterious prophecy. Not really a good way to endear themselves to us. If Stormfur is some kind of chosen hero, why would he bother to save them? They've proven to him in front of his very eyes that they are willing to isolate him, abduct an apprentice because he might get in the way, and drive out every other cat he knows. What could possibly motivate him to help them?"

Claws hesitated in his answer. "They're… threatening your life. Either he somehow deals with Jaggedtooth, or they'll kill you." Claws admitted.

I rolled my eyes in disgust, I mewed. "Great. Just another reason to hate Stoneteller and his band of blindly devoted."

"I promise that not all of them are bad." Claws tried to placate.

"And who in this cursed tribe could possibly be 'not that bad'? Look what they did to you, what they do to you? You don't deserve this. No one deserves a life like that." I countered.

"Well, there is my sister Dawn's Early Light. She's one of the guards, and she's tangled with Jaggedtooth once or twice to buy time. Whenever one of the tribe gets violent with me, she usually chases them off. It doesn't hurt that she's one of the strongest in the tribe. She's pretty protective of me despite our parents' negligence and the tribe's habit of ostracizing me. I just wish I didn't have to worry her so much. I can't help that I'm not allowed to draw blood." Claws vented.

My keen instincts just caught something. It was something Father told me to always look out for when it comes to rules and how to circumvent them. Admittedly, this made me and Squirrelpaw pretty naughty kits who got away with too much, but I just caught it, a loophole. "Say that again." I mewed suddenly.

"Say what? That I'm not allowed to draw blood?" Claws questioned.

A smile lit up my face. "Yes, that. Note that they didn't say you weren't allowed to fight." A slight rumbling chuckle edged up my throat. Was this what it felt like when Father manipulated Tigerstar? It felt good.

"How can I fight without drawing blood?" Claws queried.

"Easy. You just keep your claws sheathed and don't bite too hard. How would you like to learn? I mean, no one will stop us, and you'll be able to drive off those bullies the next time they attack you. Then your sister won't have to worry." I asked, seeing his ears perk at the mention of his sister.

"I… I'd like to learn… for my sister's sake." He answered slowly.

"Then to begin, I'll teach you how to stand in a fight." I mewed, beginning my instruction.

Claws turned out to be a quick learner, or rather, it seemed that he already knew all this and just needed to put it into motion again. His biggest weakness was his body, which was not accustomed to fighting despite his impressive battle instincts. He tired fast, but he got some impressive hits in on me. It was during the latest round that Claws sent me rolling and I accidentally struck the wall. I could feel a small cut open up where a jagged bit of rock bit into my back leg. I deigned not to say anything about it so Claws would not know he hurt me.

"Are you alright?" He asked cautiously.

"Yeah. I'm fine. That was my bad. I'm not all that used to sparring in the dark, so I didn't realize the wall was so close when I just let myself roll." I answered, positioning the cut out of Claws' view.

"I'll admit, this is pretty fun. I wish I wasn't cursed like Stoneteller said. I'd love to fight for the tribe or teach Jaggedtooth a lesson. He's hurt too many cats, and even if I don't particularly like them, they didn't deserve to die by that beast. I'm sorry that you and your friend were dragged into this. It isn't right, but Stoneteller's word is law." Claws mewed, but I could tell there was a bit more to this. Claws almost seemed excited at the prospect of fighting Jaggedtooth. Was this what Stoneteller meant by him not being allowed to draw blood? Ultimately the thought was irrelevant. If Claws' desires aligned with the needs of the tribe, what did it matter if he enjoyed it? All cats want to pursue something they enjoy, and so long as he kept the pursuit constructive, it would prove to be a benefit.

Suddenly, from the darkness came a female voice. "Well, it's nice to see my brother growing a spine. Proving that he is allowed to fight is something I never expected. Maybe now he'll be able to take care of himself. Regardless, Stoneteller is looking for you Claws. You'd better not keep him waiting. I'd also like to have some words with your new friend." The mysterious cat mewed, emerging into sight. She had a similar color scheme to dad, with the primarily black pelt, white paws, white muzzle, and white chest fur. Her eyes were an amber akin to a sunrise like her name implied. She was also pretty well built with visible muscle rippling beneath her fur. The look she gave me made me shiver.

"Let's talk Darkpaw." She commanded.

Chapter Text

There I was, alone with the intimidating she cat who was formidable enough to deter the abuse of Claws. She was definitely a cave guard with those broad shoulders and rippling muscles. Her amber eyes fixed me in place. I could tell trying anything on her would be a mistake. She was trained to fight, possibly even born for it. She seemed to be taking me in with those intense fire-like eyes. Then she spoke.

"I don't know why Stoneteller seems so afraid of you. You're not as strong as us. You're not even fully grown yet. Yet, you somehow strike fear into a cat who speaks of destiny. Why? What could you possibly do?" She mewed aggressively yet ponderously. "Even when he baited you by presenting you with someone helpless like my brother, you stay those unnatural claws. You instead teach my brother how to defend himself. I do not know what to make of you. Stoneteller says you are a threat, but you do not act one. Nor can I sense deception, but I cannot trust you. What is your plan? How do you plan to defy what our ancestors decree?" She demanded.

I took a second to calm myself. Her intensity had me hunkering in fear she'd decide to attack to get rid of the unknown factor. "What I want to do, what I need to do is save my friend. That is all I am after. I do not care for your tribe. They've both wronged and aided us. You gave us shelter when we needed it, but at the same time, you abducted two of us for something we are wholly uninvolved with. Look at me, imprisoned because I dare to exist, that I am something unaccounted for. If they'd asked, we might have help, but instead you force it upon us. Your tribe made an enemy of us, not the other way around. What I want is to leave with Stormfur. We've got our own prophecy to worry about, one carrying many times more lives than your tribe. Yes, Jaggedtooth is a threat, just as much as a wild dog is to us, but your tribe does not face total eradication. What I want is to save my friends and family, and your tribe is stopping us from doing that. Can you blame me for wanting to subvert your prophecy to save our own?" I answered vehemently.

For a moment, I saw a flash of guilt in her eyes. She didn't want to do this, but she also knew her priorities. Her tribe came first over any others. She hesitated a moment before speaking again. "I… am sorry for what is happening. I do mean that. You have the right to be angry with me, with us. We did abduct you and your friend. We do plan to use your friend to kill Jaggedtooth, as the prophecy describes." She mewed. She hesitated a moment longer, seemingly considering something before mewing. "Stoneteller told us of your ability to subvert prophecy. I wish to offer you a chance. Jaggedtooth must die. I do not care by what means, but if you can change destiny by killing Jaggedtooth early, we'll have to let you and your friend go. Come with me."

I followed her through the dark passages of branching tunnels. Despite the confusing mess of twisting and overlapping caverns, I was getting a sense of familiarity with the turns. This was the way I'd been guided down. The crack of a pebble skipping across stone brought us to a stop. The molly made some sort of gesture I didn't understand, but I guessed it meant to keep quiet. She prowled ahead to peek at the upcoming corner. After a moment of silence, she gave a small nod and trotted back to me.

"This is as far as I can take you. Just ahead is a branch of tunnels that lead to the main entrance. Do not go down there. You should be safe here. I am giving you a chance here to try and concoct a way to kill Jaggedtooth. Stoneteller plans to complete the prophecy in two days time. I will tell Claws that you are here. You can trust him." She mewed, making to leave.

"Wait! You never gave me your name." I quickly mewed, stopping her.

It was through the faint light of the sun filtering through the entrance did I get a really good look at her. Her fur was sleek and well groomed. A long scar stretched across her shoulder, clearly from a bout with Jaggedtooth. Despite this, or rather because of this, her form was accentuated. She had a strange strong beauty, reminiscent of Goldenflower. Her fur was surprisingly glossy, giving her an almost glow in the low light. Then she spoke, her tone softer than I'd expected from someone so hostile to me. "My name is Dawn's Early Light, but you may call me Dawn."

With that, she departed, leaving me alone in the tunnel, free to scheme and try and gather information. I'd need to be careful. Stoneteller hadn't been bluffing when he said they'd kill me if I tried to interfere. I'd have to remain out of sight. My main advantage was that they wouldn't expect intruders from this side. If I was cautious and leveraged my pelt just right, I may be able to learn about this Jaggedtooth and formulate a plan to get rid of it.

Before I could sneak into the main cavern, I needed to practice my stealth. The claws I still wore were noisy on the stone, constantly clicking as the tapped the ground. It was an unfamiliar sound, so they'd be alerted to it quickly. I also did not want to abandon them. Father told me that they were the weapons used by Scourge to kill dogs and cats alike. They presented a potential means to kill this Jaggedtooth, but Jaggedtooth was described as a monster cat. It would have far too much range to beat straight up. It also probably had claws as long as my extensions on all four paws. I did not have the skills or size to contend with it, but maybe Claws might have an idea. He was raised in these tunnels, constantly trapped in here maintaining them. If any cat knew how to trap and kill Jaggedtooth, it would be him.

Chapter Text

There wasn't much to do while I waited for Claws besides grow accustomed to prowling on stone with my claw extensions. It was an awkward kind of prowl because I'd have to tilt my fight front paw up to avoid the clicks and then slowly lower it down to minimize the impact. Frankly, it looked like I was limping if watched, but it was the only way that worked to a reasonable degree. With this ability to maintain silence, I decided to spy on the main cavern looking for info on this Jaggedtooth.

I pressed myself against the wall, angling my body to present my black furred back towards the entrance, obscuring me. I stalked silently along, looking for any sort of gossip about Stormfur or Jaggedtooth. I got close enough to one pair to listen in.

"Can you believe the nerve of that useless Scratch?! There I was, about to let out some of my frustrations about getting paired again with Dawn's Early Blight again when that piece of dung decided to fight back. How dare that sorry excuse for a cat act like that. Doesn't he know that his only use is to sharpen our claws on?" The first cat complained.

"You really shouldn't talk like that. Dawn will rip your tail off if she hears you. Besides, we all know Stoneteller favors that cursed cat for some reason. I'd rather not risk the wrath of the Tribe of Endless Hunting over something petty like Scratch fighting back." The second responded making the first flick his tail angrily.

"I thought you'd back me up on this! That useless Scratch needs to know his place. Me and two others are planning to ambush him when he goes back for the prisoner. Are you sure you don't want in?" The first prompted.

"No way! You and your friends have got to be mousebrained to do that. Dawn will kill all of you for messing with him like that." The second refuted.

"Scratch wouldn't dare tell after the beating we plan to give him. Since you aren't with us, will you tell anyone?" The first queried.

The second let out a slow huff, clearly torn from their loyalty to the first cat and their avoidance of angering Dawn. "Fine. I won't say anything, but if you're caught, don't say I didn't warn you." The second begrudgingly answered.

Realizing that Claws was going to come to the tunnel relatively soon and knowing the broader cavern that Dawn left me at before, I knew that cat and his cronies were going to ambush Claws there. Based on the light from the entrance, it was getting close to Sunhigh, a time Claws was certain to come to me to deliver food. I didn't have much time, but since there were only three cats, likely all entrance guards, meant I'd have a bit of an advantage. I'd been in the dark longer than them, meaning my night vision was better. I also knew their ambush point, meaning I had a homefield advantage. If I did this right, I could flip the ambush. The only question was if I should. It'd reveal that I got loose. I'd honestly be safer letting it happen. Claws wasn't going to die by it, but at the same time, I didn't want it to happen. Claws didn't deserve such abuse. If I let it happen, Claws might lose the last bit of resistance to them. I owed him for all he'd done for me.

I crept back into hiding just past where I knew the ambush was going to happen. The darkness hid me well as I watched the three set up their positions. They all were watching the entrance for Claws to come, which conveniently left one's back presented to me. I likely couldn't take on all three at once, but if Claws were here, I was sure we could deal with them handily. Thus, I just needed for them to spring their ambush. It was a sickening feeling, just waiting for my new friend to walk into the trap. I knew I could just have killed all these cats easily. Those claw extensions were sharp and long, meaning I could kill the one with his back to me in an instant. The fear of one of their own dying so fast would allow me to close the gap to kill a second one. By then, the last one would be in fight or flight, their instincts overwriting their training, making them just as easy of a target. Then they'd all be dead. Claws would be safe, but Claws wouldn't want that. He'd be scared of me. I'd be proven the monster Stoneteller said I was. As much as I hated it, those three would have to live, admittedly with some new scars, but I couldn't kill them. I'd have to take the hard nonlethal option despite how much my claws sang to be drenched in blood. It was so tempting. One was just right there.

At long last, Claws emerged, carrying with him one of those giant bird's wings and a wad of wet moss. He caught sight of the trio blocking his path.

"Ah. If it isn't Scratch. I've been meaning to pay you back for messing up my training earlier." The leader of the trio mewed maliciously.

"Knock it off Eagle. I'm not just going to take it anymore. The fact that you had to run away with your tail between your legs only proves that you're weak." Claws hissed back.

Eagle got right in Claws' face before hissing. "You've got some nerve talking back to me. You're just a useless Scratch. I think it's time you got a reminder of your place."

This was the perfect opportunity. They were all distracted by the confrontation. I dug my claws into the cat closest to me, leaving a lengthy scratch and making him cry out in pain. The rest turned to find the source of the noise. My claw extensions were soaked, but they wanted more. The wound they inflicted was shallow, having bounded off the cat's ribs. I made them click against the ground one by one as I emerged into sight.

"Looks like I finally made it out, and look, it's Claws. Who are these? Some of your friends? Hmm… Maybe not. They don't seem friendly to you, so they must be rogues. I didn't think rogues got out this far, but what would I know." I played, baiting the three while implying that Claws had no relation to how I got this far.

"It's the prisoner!" One of the trio called out.

Eagle decided to attempt to intimidate me. "I am a guard you filthy beast! Go back to your cave before I kill you!" He hissed, trying the same get in your face tactic he did on Claws.

"Hmm. Let me think about that." I pretended to muse before lashing out with my unarmed paw, dragging my claws across his face.

He reeled back at the sudden hit before growling. "You'll regret that. Attack!" He ordered.

The trio tried to pin me down, but they were obviously the runts of the guard. Of course, with three of them, they'd catch me eventually, but Claws decided to act. He dove into the fight, singling out Eagle. The other two were up to me, but since I could pull claws, it wouldn't be much of a fight. The two were quick to flee when it became obvious that I was just letting them live, tracing scratches just by vital points but never actually hitting them. That just left Eagle.

Claws was wrestling with him. Eagle's back paws scratched at Claws' belly, but Claws would not relent, pummeling Eagle in the face repeatedly. Finally, it seemed that Claws could stand it no longer. From his paws emerged rather blunt but lengthy claws, dull from the lack of use, but they'd do. Claws lashed out at Eagle's face, tearing a jagged cut through the tom's right eye, blinding it. Eagle screamed in pain. Claws saw the blood and hesitated, allowing Eagle to break free and run from Claws.

Claws looked at his bloody paw shaking. "I… I drew blood. Stoneteller said I should never draw blood, but… it felt good. I wanted to hurt him, still want to hurt him. Why? Is this the curse Stoneteller warned me of?" Claws rambled fearfully.

I pressed into Claws' side, knowing he needed the comfort. "It wasn't your fault. They were the ones who went too far and forced your paw. You shouldn't feel bad for defending yourself." I consoled.

"But… I wanted to fight. I still want to fight. I'm scared…" Claws mewed, his voice wavering.

"Wanting to fight isn't such a bad thing as long as you are fighting for something worthwhile. Fighting for your life or the life of another are noble things. This curse you claim to have doesn't have to be a bad thing. You can choose to fight for others, fight for the right reasons." I mewed, feeling his shaking beginning to still.

"I… don't have to be a bad cat?" Claws questioned, his eyes filled with tears.

"No. You can still be a good cat despite your temptations. You just need to fight for the right reasons, be it for your friends, your family, or your allegiance. You also aren't alone when it comes to temptations. I have one myself. I fight with my own desires to spill blood, to kill. Every day it tempts me, and every day I resist it or redirect it. This dark urge I hold isn't just a curse placed upon me. It is a means to protect those dear to me. As long as I control it, it will be the barrier to protect those I deem worthy of protecting. That happens to include you. I know you can master your urge as well. I believe in you." I reassured.

Unfortunately, we couldn't just have a moment after what happened. Claws and I had to retreat further into the tunnels to prevent being discovered. Surely Eagle was spinning some false tale about how he was ambushed by Claws and I, emphasizing how he was the victim. I knew Dawn would see right through it, but Stoneteller was a different story. We'd have to be careful and meet up with Dawn again.

Chapter Text

Claws and I hid out, expecting Eagle to spread the story of our ambush to the tribe. We hid for what must have been half a day when Dawn came padding into the tunnel we were hiding in. She spotted Claws almost immediately.

"Claws! You're alright! I was worried after seeing Eagle." She mewed with relief.

"What's going on out there? Are they going to try and hunt us down?" I queried to Dawn who was brushing against her brother.

She turned to fact me, clearly unhappy that I was ending her moment, but her expression turned serious. "Jaggedtooth showed up. It's still in the main cavern. Eagle was about to alert us to something, but he didn't see Jaggedtooth coming. Everyone escaped because Jaggedtooth was too busy… eating him. I thought for a moment that Jaggedtooth got Claws when Eagle was ambushing him given that clawing, but Jaggedtooth showed up after from the main entrance. What happened?" Dawn pressed.

Claws flinched at the question, but admittedly, he didn't flinch as hard as he usually would. "I decided to fight. Eagle had it coming. I shed Eagle's blood. Just as Stoneteller warned, I want more. I want to fight more. I want to make some cat bleed. I'm good at it too, unnaturally so. Though, it is thanks to the advice of Darkpaw that I realized that this doesn't have to be a curse. I can fight for a cause. I can protect. I've come to realize that the tribe isn't my home. Right now, there's only two I want to fight for, you and Darkpaw. You've been by my side through everything, protecting me whenever you could despite what they'd say behind your back. There's nothing I could ever do to repay you. Then there's Darkpaw. He showed me that I don't have to live like this. I don't have to just accept what the tribe does. My condition doesn't have to be a curse. Right now, Darkpaw needs me, needs us to help his friends. We can do it, kill Jaggedtooth. After that, I think I'll leave the tribe, maybe join Darkpaw's clan and see where that leads me. Will you help us sister?" Claws asked.

Dawn seemed to fight with herself for a moment before answering. "Oh! I can never refuse you. You're my precious brother. While the tribe is still my tribe, you are family. I never needed you to repay me since you were family, always willing to be with me even when my temper got the better of me or when I got hurt. We'll kill Jaggedtooth together." She responded firmly.

Now that we had another cat to help us with our cause, I realized something. Eagle never actually outed Claws. Jaggedtooth got him first, meaning Claws was still free to roam the tunnels. We weren't being hunted yet.

"Is Jaggedtooth still somewhere we can see it?" I asked.

"It's lounging in the main cavern. It does that sometimes, just mocking us. To it, we might as well be flies. It'll just watch us without a care. What a monster." Dawn growled.

"Then, do you mind if I get a look at it? I have to know what we're us against." I asked.

"Knock yourself out. It's not going to do anything unless you annoy it or it decides it is still hungry." Dawn answered.

Silently, I crept back up the passage towards the main entrance. I peeked around the corner, and there it was in all its wicked glory. That thing sort of looked like a cat, but it was ginormous. It's fangs were as long as my head. I had no doubt that Jaggedtooth could tear me apart on a whim. I was like a rat to that thing. All the same, I couldn't help noting the blood smeared across its muzzle, Eagle's blood. The thing didn't even have the decency to clean itself up, likely reveling in our fear scent. It was every part the monster I'd been told of. Then it noticed me. Those eyes that met mine were wild. That thing was just like a badger, mindlessly violent, Midnight not included. The way it just saw me in the dark, I could tell that this wouldn't be an easy opponent. It was a hunter, and I was prey. I looked down at the claws adorning my right paw. While they were certainly long enough to reach the vital points in Jaggedtooth's throat, I could tell I'd never get close enough to try. That thing had reach on us, and unlike a dog, it was willing to use its paws. There'd be no jaws snapping at me allowing me to hit such a vital point. We would not kill it straight up.

I retreated back into the tunnel, meeting back up with Dawn and Claws. They'd been sparring since I was gone. The smile on Claws' face looked unnatural yet comforting as he traded hits with Dawn who looked equally thrilled to see her brother happy. I watched on silently as Dawn slowly gained the advantage and pinned Claws. While Dawn did win, Claws had made a good showing, leveraging his superior flexibility and speed against his more burly and enduring sister. When they finished, they noticed me.

"So, what did you think?" Dawn asked, clearly already knowing the impossibility it was to beat Jaggedtooth.

"That thing is huge! We aren't' going to beat it in a straight fight. Our only advantage is that the thing is an animal, feral even. It's not as smart as us, meaning we might be able to lead it into a trap. Dawn, you've seen the mountain more than any of us. Do you think we could just knock it off an edge?" I queried.

"No. It's too heavy for us, and it can climb better than us. We've knocked it down the mountain before. It'll come back." Dawn answered with a shake of her head.

"Curses! I'd hoped we'd be able to use the same plan Firestar had to deal with the dog pack. If it won't die be falling, we'll need to somehow hurt it enough that we can get in close and finish it off. These claws I wear can do the job, but we'll never get close enough to do it if it sees us coming." I complained.

"You know, falling isn't a bad idea." Claws mewed mysteriously. "Though it doesn't have to be Jaggedtooth that falls."

"I highly doubt just dropping onto it from above will work." I rebutted.

"That's not what I'm talking about. You know I'm the one who has to clean and care for the cavern. There happens to be some hanging rocks near the edge of the cavern that are dangerously loose. I'd usually knock them down, but we don't really use that part of the cavern. They're sharp, so they might do the job of trapping it." Claws mewed.

"That's pretty clever brother, but how do we even get it there, and what do we do if it doesn't work?" Dawn asked pragmatically.

"There's not too many options. At worst, the rocks will spook it, allowing us to land a free hit. We just have to make that one count." Claws answered.

We puzzled on it more, hoping for a more solid plan, but no one would come. Thus, we set the plan into motion. I'd bait Jaggedtooth into position, leveraging my size to make myself a harder target while it chased me. Dawn would be positioned above, ready to drop the rocks. Finally, Claws would be hidden in waiting, acting as backup in case the plan failed. Though, to do this, he'd need something. He needed my claws.

Looking down at the claws that contained the memories of my previous life, I felt a sense of attachment. They were my claws. I'd felled a dog with them. I'd kept them ready to protect what I needed. They were my violence, my means to kill, and yet, they were needed elsewhere. I took off each claw one by one, feeling a sense of loss as they came free from my actual claws. I felt like a piece of me had been sliced off as I removed Cut. Lacerate felt like my spirit had been slashed by some beast's claws as it departed from my paw. Agony was agonizing to remove. It was Scourge's oldest claw. Finally, there was Wrath. This was the claw that defined Scourge's life. It may not have been his first claw, but it was the first one he'd taken in revenge. As I finally pulled it free, wincing at the removal of the last of my trusted tools of judgement, I felt a weight lift off me. Father had told me that the claws were just as much a burden as a gift when he gave them to me. Only now could I really appreciate how true that was. These tools of death were no longer my burden to bear. I pushed them reverently to Claws.

"These claws were worn by a violent tyrant. They were his proof of power, allowing him to defeat even the most difficult of enemies. They are also my claws, used to fell a dog in defense and a tool I've used to save lives. I want to give them to you. They are your chance to kill Jaggedtooth should it come to that. They've been soaked in blood and desire for more, always more. Regardless, I think you need them now. I can feel that they need to serve you. Please take them." I mewed.

Claws saw how broken I'd seemed at removing the claws and gingerly took them. He began donning them, putting them in the wrong order, which irked me, but somehow, they seemed just right on him. His dull claws slotted into the extensions perfectly, not rocking or pressing uncomfortably into the skin at the edge of his claws like they had to me. It was like they were telling me they'd found their new master. I had wielded them and bloodied them yes, but they belonged to him. It was like they always had been meant for him. Maybe they were. Maybe destiny was fickle enough to grant him this boon in our time of need. Only time would tell.

Chapter Text

Jaggedtooth had just wandered off, but given how half of Eagle remained uneaten, we knew he'd be back soon. It was time to put our plan into action before the tribe decides to send Stormfur out there. Of course they saw us leaving our hiding spots and setting up, but they also didn't want to chance getting the attention of Jaggedtooth, meaning they could only watch and possibly rush Stormfur's arrival.

Dawn was quick to get into position on a rock shelf from which she could jump to those large unstable spikes in the ceiling. Meanwhile Claws rushed to find a good hiding spot near where we planned to kill Jaggedtooth. He did have to muscle a small boulder out of the way of a cat sized hole in the wall that a cold breeze blew through, making it obvious that it led outside. Normally, I wouldn't take to a plan this risky, but we're on a time crunch. We don't have time for a better answer. At any moment, they could force Stormfur out to fight the monster cat with the mindless hope that their prophecy somehow circumvented all logic. Jaggedtooth could not be felled by just a cat.

I peeked outside the cavern into the sunlight looking for Jaggedtooth. Instead, I was bowled over by a certain ginger friend of mine.

"Darkpaw! You're ok!" She exclaimed while nuzzling me fiercely.

With her arrival came the rest of the journey cats sans Stormfur. Brambleclaw moved forward to speak. "We're here to get you out. That thing just took off giving us a little time." He began before I cut him off.

"I know. It'll be back soon too, but I've got a plan. We don't have time for me to explain, so I want you to get up to that shelf. You'll find a molly there called Dawn. She'll explain what's going on if the plan hasn't started yet. Otherwise, stay out of the way." I commanded.

"And just leave you here to face that thing?!" Brambleclaw argued.

"No. I won't be fighting it, but I do need it to chase me. There's no time. Just get up there and be ready if things go wrong. If our plan fails, you need to make an opening for Claws, a cat wearing my claw extensions. Now go!" I commanded.

They hesitated but a moment when the yowl of Jaggedtooth alerted them to its approach. They sprinted for the rock shelf I told them about, quickly leaping up there and out of sight. Good. I wanted Jaggedtooth to only focus on me. I kept a certain amount of distance from the exit to the cavern, waiting for Jaggedtooth to reveal its monstrous form. I could hear my heart pounding in anticipation. How long did I just stand there waiting to bolt? How long did I strain my eyes looking for the shadow of such a large and dangerous beast? My mouth was dry. Was this fear? Was I afraid to die? Even when I'd killed that dog, I never felt something like this. The only moment that was remotely similar was when Midnight grabbed me. The uncertainty of my fate as I committed a gamble my father would never have let me take ate at me, consuming my ability to think. I just needed to wait. I just needed to be ready.

That's when I finally saw it. Jaggedtooth's large form loped towards the cavern. It had a somewhat lazy look on its face. If it was tired, that meant it would be slower, which was a benefit for us. Though, I needed to piss it off. This was an absolutely terrible idea, but I needed it to follow me. What if all this went wrong? What if Dawn acted too late and missed? These were questions that burned in my mind, but it was too late to change things. It was time to act. I knew exactly how to piss Jaggedtooth off, but it was a really unpleasant idea. There's nothing that pisses off a cat more than prey being stolen, and what remained of Eagle was just right there. I don't believe I could actually stand to eat a cat, but I needed to look like I was to Jaggedtooth. I buried my muzzle in the gore, soaking it in blood like I'd dug into the body when Jaggedtooth had left. Thankfully, it didn't take much for Jaggedtooth to notice me and more specifically notice that I appeared to be stealing its meal. It howled with rage. Why had I thought pissing the thing off was a good idea?

I sprinted away from the carcass of Eagle, hearing Jaggedtooth break into a run to try and catch me. I dared not look back and see how close he was, but it was close enough that I could count each individual claw click as they hit the ground. The point wasn't that far away. I just needed to keep running along the wall, and Jaggedtooth would fall into the trap. I pushed harder, trying to make every whiskerlength of ground count. Even a mouse length could be the difference between me being hit alongside Jaggedtooth. My muscles burned in protest as I forced them to run faster than I'd ever run before. My breathing was rapid and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. Just a little bit further. Then I saw where I was. I was about to hit a wall. I locked my legs, skidding to a stop just before I could crash into the wall. My eyes desperately searched the area. Had something gone wrong? Had I run the wrong way? I could only turn back to face Jaggedtooth.

The beast seemed to have noticed my predicament, slowly approaching as if to taunt me. I couldn't escape. There was nowhere left to run. It got me. I could only watch as my impending death approached. Then there was a crack of stone. Something changed, and both Jaggedtooth and I looked for where the sound had come from. I looked up toward the noise to see Dawn had just struck the hanging spike, rebounding off it to return to the rock shelf. The spike snapped under the sudden hit, falling towards the ground, towards Jaggedtooth. Unfortunately, because Dawn had needed to rebound off the spike, the aim was a bit off. Instead of impaling Jaggedtooth through the midsection, it instead only impaled him through his back leg, pinning him to the floor. The battle wasn't won yet.

Dawn leapt down from her perch with the rest of the journey cats quick to follow. She began to harry Jaggedtooth, trying to draw its attention away from our last hope. The rest of the journey cats quickly got the idea and harassed Jaggedtooth further, making it have to split its attention. Then Claws emerged. Those claws I'd gifted him were freshly polished and sharpened. He stood ready waiting for his moment.

It was largely lost under the caterwauls of my friends keeping Jaggedtooth busy, but Claws gave a bit of a speech. "For too long have I hidden away from myself. For too long have I been afraid. No more. I have found my bravery through my new friend and my sister. I fight for them and no one else. I reject the Tribe of Rushing Water. I fight not in their name. I fight for those who believe in me and see more than just a cat cursed to be violent. That is my purpose."

Claws saw his moment and darted in. Unfortunately, Jaggedtooth was more intelligent than we'd thought. It swiped at Claws, catching him across the chest, which sent him tumbling. I gasped at the sight, too weary from my run to go and help him. Claws was still but a moment before rising. Red leaked steadily from his chest, and for once, I saw how terrible of a color it was. Dust had been knocked free from the wall when Claws hit it, settling onto his back, giving him a grey color besides the steady bleed of red. Claws shook the stupor off before rushing in again. This time, Jaggedtooth had been too distracted by Tawnypelt to see Claws' approach. With one clean hit, Jaggedtooth's neck was split. The beast writhed as it desperately struggled to survive, accidentally tossing Claws away into the light. The mix of grey dust and the white of his pelt gave a dazzling effect making it seem as if his fur were silver.

I forced myself to my paws, rushing to Claws' side. The wound Jaggedtooth had struck was deep, and it was far too big. Never have I felt more upset with myself for skipping Father's lessons on immediate medicine. Claws was dying. I knew he was. He was bleeding too much. His breathing was gurgling.
"Come on Claws! We did it! We beat it. Just hang on!" I begged, knowing that my words were merely a desperate hope.

"I got him." Claws mumbled. "I did it. I fought and won."

Dawn came skidding in as soon as she saw her brother. "Claws! I'm sorry. I'd thought I'd gotten his attention, but then it hit you. I'm so sorry." She cried, pressing into him, ignoring the blood beginning to coat her.

"S'all right. We got him. I… I finally paid you back for protecting me. Please don't cry." Claws mewed with a raspy voice.

"Please don't leave us." Dawn cried, pressing harder into Claws injured body.

Instead of answering his sister, his eyes drifted to me. He asked a strange question. "Hey. Do you think your ancestors would accept me? I don't want to go to the Tribe of Endless Hunting."

"I'm sure they'll honor you as a great warrior. We'll tell tales of your bravery for ages to come." I replied, knowing that all too soon Claws would be with us no longer.

A small smile lit up his face, accented by the blood that trickled from the corner of his muzzle. "I'm glad. One last thing. Take care of Dawn's Early Light for me."

Tears streamed down my face as I choked out my response. "I… I will. I promise."

Then Claws went still. He'd passed on. Dawn pressed into me, seeking any sort of comfort as we mourned his passing. We'd won but at what cost?

Mini chapter epilogue

Claws found himself in a strange space. It looked like the mountain, but at the same time, it was different. He knew he was dead. 'Was this place the afterlife?' Claws pondered. Suddenly a calico molly appeared. She was rather big. A scar crossed over her muzzle. Despite her intimidating form, she somehow felt familiar. It was then that Claws noticed. She smelled a bit like Darkpaw.

"Hey there kit. You had a lot of guts to be able to do what you did. Anyways, I heard what you asked Darkpaw before you died. You want to join his ancestors, or in other words, Starclan. I can show you the way. It'll be a bit of a trip, but I'm sure they'll accept you without a second thought." The molly mewed.

"Are you one of theirs?" Claws asked of the stranger.

"Unfortunately not. I did some questionable things in my life, but I'm trying to make up for them. I can show you to their border but no further." The molly answered.

As the two set off towards the distant Starclan, Claws asked one last question. "Who are you anyways?"

"The name's Mapleshade kit, and I'm a friend of Darkpaw. I'm sure both he and his father will be happy to know someone is guiding his fallen friend to Starclan." The molly answered, moving ahead of Claws to set the pace. For just a moment, Mapleshade felt a sense of nostalgia. It felt like when she'd been alive and guided her kits to the river the first time, before everything had been revealed and gone to the Darkforest. Claws was going to Starclan, but maybe he'd be willing to talk to her from across the border from time to time. She could only hope.

Chapter Text

It was strange to see both the Tribe of Rushing Water and us, the journey cats, coming together for Claws' funeral. While the rest of the journey cats did not really know Claws, they knew how much he meant to me. We'd been friends, comrades, kin of vices. Now, he was gone, and there'd be no bringing him back. It was my fault. I gave him those claws. I gave him the duty to finish things if it went wrong. It might as well have been me that killed him.

I stood over his body, tears falling like the falling water the tribe got its name from. Dawn was pacing about, her fur stained with tears. She could not bring herself to sit still, and yet she couldn't leave either. Instead, she just walked the same path over and over. Never too far away and never still. Every once and a while, she'd claw the ground, making her frustrations known. Claws had asked me to be there for her. That was his last request, but I don't think I could bring myself to stay here. These cats are too indoctrinated, too prone to just accepting tragedy. I could never get along with them.

It was when the other tribe's cats approached did I remember the selfish nature of sapience. They spoke lies claiming to have treated Claws well, always having known that he'd do something grand. They claim to always have known he'd be the hero to defeat Jaggedtooth. They call him a hero, a martyr for their tribe. They glorify themselves as having always supported Claws during his miserable life. Rot is deeply intrenched into these cats. They praise their ancestors and themselves, not acknowledging how they drove Claws to hate his tribe and ultimately reject them in his final moments.

Dawn was furious as cats claimed to have been friends with the diseased, knowing fully well that not even two days prior these cats were claiming Claws was a curse or assaulting him for merely being disallowed from retaliating. I simmered with rage as they corrupted his memory. Claws was a kind cat who cared for others even when they did not care for him. He loved his sister and was loyal to his friend. Here they twist his history, claiming he was fearsome and demanded respect

A memory struck me in that moment, one from Scourge. It was from one of his long-winded rants on the nature of the world. "When a villain dies, everyone always hated them. The masses ignore that they once glorified the villain as a hero. They forget that they once gave the villain the power to be evil, that they were the root cause. Same for the hero. When a hero dies, they all loved him. They forget how they once demonized the hero, casting stones of hate against them. In the end, the masses always claim to have been right all along. There are no apologies, only self-congratulations." Those words hold true even now. The only thing keeping me from lashing out, from unleashing my rage is that I knew Claws. I knew the real him. Claws wouldn't want me to lash out. He'd want us to remember him and ignore those beneath contempt for their false claims.

Eventually, Dawn managed to drive most of them off, screeching at them for dishonoring Claws' memory. It was just us for a while. The rest of the journey cats left to secure a place to sleep or gather some food. They knew that I did not want their company right now. Dawn pressed into me as we shared our grief. We cried. We let the overwhelming sadness take us. I'd lost a friend, and she lost a brother.

Eventually, two cats chanced approaching us, a tom and a molly. Dawn's fur rose at the sight. "No! You do not get to pretend to have cared for him." She hissed, lashing a paw out in warning.

"We have a right to be here. He was our son." The tom rebutted indignantly.

"Oh, now he's your son? After all you did to him, after disowning him, you want to claim he was your son? How low can you get?" Dawn growled back.

"Please! I'm his mother. I loved him." The molly begged in a tone that almost appeared sincere.

"You claim to be his mother, but what mother would insult their kit with such a cruel name? You named him Claws Who Mar the Mountain's Face. From the moment he was born and Stoneteller told of his desires, you saw him as just a curse, a mar on your name. You nursed him only long enough for him to be weaned and then you kicked him out. Even when I was a kit, I knew that what you did was wrong. Even now, there's so much time he never got to be a kit. He was forced to embrace the fate Stoneteller foretold, living at that cat's back and call. I share some of the blame for not being strong enough to always protect him, but you failed to ever be his parents. I rejected you long ago for what you did. Now leave my sight before I turn this from one funeral into three." Dawn hissed.

Then we were alone again. We sat vigil for a while until Stoneteller chanced approaching us.

"What do you want?" She hissed at the elderly tom.

"I'd like a moment to speak to Darkpaw and Claws." He answered calmly.

"And why should I let you do that?!" She growled back, sinking into a defensive position.

"Despite how it looked, I did care for Claws. I never wanted this to happen. I never meant for him to suffer. The moment I saw his curse, I tried to protect him and guide him. I wanted him to have a peaceful life free from his addiction to violence. I am sorry that things ended up this way. Please just give me a moment." Stoneteller pleaded.

Dawn considered it for a couple moments before letting out an annoyed hiss. "Ragh! Fine. I'll give you a bit, but don't think I've forgiven you. It is because of you that Claws had such a miserable existence." She growled before departing.

Then it was just us, I the anomaly and Stoneteller the prophet. We'd been enemies because my existence defied his foreseen future. We didn't speak for a long time, instead both looking down upon Claws' body, still shining like silver in the moonlight. Then Stoneteller broke the silence with an accusation.

"You stole Claws from me." He mewed in a strangely level tone. "I saw a bright future in Claws. He was supposed to be my successor. The tribe would have thrived under him."

I hissed at his accusation. "You really think he'd have accepted that? After how little the tribe cared for him, how could you ever expect him to lead them with care? They hated him and he hated them. What kind of life would he have led if he was forced to care for those he knew despised his existence?"

"It wouldn't have mattered. The Tribe of Endless Hunting would have guided him." Stoneteller calmly rebutted.

"And he'd have been miserable! What a sad existence he would lead, forced to relay the words of his ancestors to cats who didn't care for him. He'd just be a mindless voice for them. Is that what it means to lead your tribe? Does ruling simply mean being a mouthpiece for your ancestors? In all you saw, did he ever smile?" I argued back.

Stoneteller hunched further at my chastisement. "It is no different from when I was chosen. The burden of being the Stoneteller is immense. These cats that surround me are the tribe. I am merely a voice. That is how it has been." Stoneteller mewed with a tired voice.

"Then it sounds like you've got to make a change. You are still the leader of the tribe. You don't have to just be a mouthpiece. At some point, your tribe lost the meaning of leadership. There's a reason our clans have a leader, a deputy, and a medicine cat instead of a Stoneteller. Our leaders are chosen to lead because of their leadership skills. The deputy is chosen by the leader as either their successor or a cat who can help manage our clans. Then we've got our medicine cats, the ones connected to our ancestors and the ones who care for the hurt or ill. They are divided roles because one cat cannot handle the burden of doing all that. You've got time to change. Make Claws' sacrifice meaningful. Fix what you know is broken. There's no need for one cat to suffer for the many." I replied back.

Stoneteller just sat in silence a while longer. He briefly took the time to groom Claws' body and give one last farewell brush before trotting away into the darkness. Then I was alone. Claws my dear friend. I hope you found your way to Starclan. The day I die, I hope you are there to greet me.

Chapter Text

After Claws was buried, I was left with the rest of the journey cats. We were arranged in a loose circle. There was a certain tension in the air as two cats from the tribe hovered nearby. Namely, there was Dawn and a cat Stormfur introduced as Brook Where Small Fish Swim, or Brook for short. It was hard to break the ice with those two nearby, but one of us needed to start. I opened my mouth and hesitated before asking a somewhat silly question.

"Well, I had a lovely time here with the tribe, having been shoved back into a pitch black cave and only fed and watered by what the tribe considered their lowest member. How was your stay?" I mewed at Stormfur who winced at the question.

"It was… better than that. I wasn't allowed to go anywhere, but Brook here was assigned to cater to me and ensure I knew what I was up against. By chance, you beat me to it." Stormfur carefully mewed.

"No chance about it. Dawn, Claws, and I eavesdropped to make sure we could act first. Unfortunately for us, rushed work makes messy work." I countered.

"Listen. While I know you have seen the tribe's shortcomings…" He started.

"That's an understatement." I cut in.

"Yes. While you've seen the bad of them, I've seen something else. These cats aren't hopeless. There are good cats here. They're just… lost. I want to help them." Stormfur mewed.

"What are you saying?" Feathertail pressed.

"I… I want to stay here. While I may not have been their destined cat, they still need help. I think I can be that for them. I think I can turn them around, make them like a clan. They've got a solid foundation to their tribe, but they just lack leadership. I believe I can be that for them." Stormfur answered, getting a shocked reaction out of Feathertail.

"You're leaving? But what about your clan and the forest? You'd be leaving all that behind." Feathertail argued.

"I know, but I feel like this needs to happen. From the start, I've known I wasn't a cat chosen by Starclan to save the forest. I'm just a cat, but here I feel like I can make a real difference. I know the rest of you can complete the journey without me. I know you'll save the clans. That's why I'm willing to do this. It is because I trust you all. Will you trust me to do this as I trust you?" Stormfur mewed passionately.

Feathertail hesitated before answering. "Then… I'll stay too."

"No sister. You've still got a duty to fulfil. Riverclan needs you. Please just leave me. This isn't a goodbye forever. I'm sure we'll see each other again." Stormfur mewed, giving Feathertail a comforting nuzzle.

Brambleclaw took a moment to assess the situation before summarizing it for all of us. "So, Stormfur has decided to stay behind. I'm assuming part of it is because of Brook and the rest is because he wants to help this place. That does not explain the other one. Dawn wasn't it?" Brambleclaw queried.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm coming with you. There's nothing left for me here, so I want to see what my brother thought was worth fighting for. Besides, I'm not letting Darkpaw back out on his promise he made to my brother if he leaves me behind. If Claws really went to this Starclan of yours, I'd be a fool not to ensure I'd eventually go to the same." She answered with a bit of a sharp tone.

"What did you promise him anyways?" Squirrelpaw questioned.

Dawn, seeing a chance to tease me and have a bit of fun answered. "He promised to care for and protect me. Isn't it so romantic?"

Squirrelpaw shot a look of betrayal at me, mewing aloud. "Darkpaw, how could you?"

Of course, Dawn was laughing at my plight while I stammered while looking for an answer that would clarify what really happened. I did promise to care for her, but there was nothing romantic in the promise. Then Dawn ended her joke.

"Calm down kit. I was only teasing. My brother just meant to ask him to be there for me since we previously only had each other, and he didn't want to leave me alone. No romance involved." She clarified.

"That was a mean joke." Squirrelpaw huffed.

"Don't worry. I'm not staking a claim on your tom." Dawn replied with a bit of sass.

"He's not my tom. Darkpaw is…" Squirrelpaw mewed, looking somewhere between lost and panicked for a moment before continuing. "Darkpaw is my friend, so it is up to me to ensure he gets a proper mate and not a molly like you!"

Dawn seized the opportunity to tease further. "A molly like me huh? Then tell me, what kind of molly meets your standards? Maybe Tawnypelt over there will make a move on him." She mewed tauntingly, earning a snapped response.

"No! She's not allowed to have him either!" Squirrelpaw hissed before realizing the situation and hunkering in embarrassment.

"It's kind of fun watching them." Tawnypelt quietly commented to Brambleclaw.

"Yeah. Usually it's a bit harder to rile her up like this, and it's usually me who does it. Do you think she even realizes she has a crush on Darkpaw?" Brambleclaw whispered back.

"Definitely, but she's not the type to admit that." Tawnypelt mewed back.

Crowpaw decided to cut in before things devolved further. "Alright! As fun as it is watching Squirrelpaw get dragged around by her tail, I'm sure there's more important things we could be doing. For example, going home and saving our clans. How am I, the only chosen apprentice, the only one who seems to care about this? Windclan is waiting for me, and I saw it from the mountain top. It wasn't pretty."

At Crowpaw's words, we all rushed outside to look upon our forest home. Crowpaw was right. The forest had changed since we last saw it. I could see Thunderclan. It was smaller than before. The Treecut Place was gone and the Twoleg Place was getting bigger. A large path of toppled trees parted the forest. Windclan's moors were being turned into just a giant field of dirt. Worst of all, I couldn't see Fourtrees. I could see where it should have been, but those four ancient trees that reached out beyond the treetops and stood tall over the forest, they were gone. The symbol of the four clans unity was just gone. It was incomprehensible. How could they just be gone? They've been there forever. For them to just be missing was like if one day a clan just up and vanished. I just couldn't wrap my head around it.

Brambleclaw's eyes hardened at the sight of our home. "We've got to hurry back." He mewed in a commanding monotone.

Dawn caught the urgency of the situation. "I'll gather up some cats to escort us down the fastest way." She mewed before bounding off.

I could only look upon our home. The forest was being killed. Our only option was to run. This wasn't the warrior way. We defend our homes with tooth and claw, but we just can't stand against the unstoppable force of the Twolegs. I hated them, but at the same time, I couldn't help pitying them. They couldn't realize what they were doing, how many they were hurting and killing. We never apologize to the badgers and foxes we drive out. This may be what Father describes as karma. If only there wasn't such a barrier between us. If only they knew that we were there and how we lived, maybe they'd care. It didn't matter anymore. We'd have to run like the many foxes and badgers we'd forced off our territories before. The forest would become Twoleg territory soon enough.

Chapter Text

I must say descending the mountain was much faster than climbing it. This was largely due to having some competent guides to show us the way. There was a fair amount of switchbacks we had to get through, heading near parallel to our destination and switching back to the opposite direction for the purpose of not making a suicidal descent. We made it down within the day. Then, our guides departed leaving us seven alone. We could already see Windclan's moors from here. The rest of the clans would not be that far from there. We were only about a day away, a day where we could still clearly see what was being done to the forest, our home.

I laid down uneasily. I'd need the energy tomorrow, but home was so close by. My heart yearned for the familiarity of Thunderclan's territory. I wanted to feel Dad grooming me while Father regaled us about the current ongoing politics of the clans. I wanted to hear Ashfur's craggily voice telling me about his strange philosophies built upon mutual benefit. I missed how the sun peeked through the leaves of the canopy above Thunderclan leaving little dots of light almost like small daytime stars. Despite my desires, I could tell I was not done. Midnight had warned us that the clans needed to flee and find a new home. Ours would be lost. Tears pricked my eyes as I remembered my position as a guardian. I… I wasn't sure if I'd even get the chance to see Thunderclan's camp again. Already Fourtrees was gone. Who was to say if Thunderclan's camp even remained.

I fitfully closed my eyes, hoping to somehow force myself to sleep. It was a while of fussing before I finally succumbed to darkness. There, another cat was waiting. Her impressive form lay before me. Her back was to me, and some kind of ethereal breeze ruffled her fur. I approached her, unseeing what it was that caught her attention. When I sat down beside her, I noticed that world had changed around me. This place looked familiar. The sound of birdsong greeted my ears as I began to recognize this place. It was a clearing Father had taken me to several times before. It had a small rock shelf making a cave that could only really fit one or two cats. Father had told me this clearing was significant, a place of privacy and safety. Within the clearing was three strange kits I'd never seen before. They tumbled and batted at each other, typical normal kit things. Some voice carried on the wind, drawing the kits' attention, guiding them away out of sight.

Then Mapleshade spoke for the first time this night. Her voice was calm and maternal, reminding me of Goldenflower. "This is one of my favorite memories. It's nothing much but the simple sight of my kits playing without a care in the world. It is also a bittersweet memory to me. It wasn't long after this that I lost them." She explained wistfully.

"Who were they?" I gently probed.

"The ginger and brown tom that seemed so timid was my little Patchkit. He was such a sweet kit. Although he wasn't quick to try new things, he had the kindest of hearts. I thought for a time that he'd take the path of medicine when he grew up. Then there is Petalkit, my beautiful little girl. Despite being the looker of the three, she was real feisty. Took after me. If she'd gotten to grow up, she'd have become a formidable warrior. Finally is Larchkit. He's the dark brown tom kit you saw before. He was the voice of reason with the three, even if they never really held to reason much at all. While I do not know what he could have grown up to become, I believe he was the wisest of the three. I still love them and mourn the chances they never got. I still hate those three that drove them to their fate. You'll find no remorse or guilt from me for what I did. A life for a life, a rule of nature older than the clans themselves, the cycle of revenge. My only regrets pertain to what I did after my passing, like what I did to Crookedstar in my mindless lust for revenge." She mewed in a strange calm tone.

"How far did you go?" I couldn't help asking, knowing fully well that the answer would be one I would not like.

"As I said. A life for a life." She mewed, somehow shifting the dream to make us appear within the cave to the Moonstone. Another Mapleshade lay hunched behind the stone. Her fur was matted and tangled. Her eyes spoke of malice and anticipation. She was waiting for someone. Then a black tom emerged into the cave. He smelled of Thunderclan and herbs. The Mapleshade of the past bared her team but made no noise, creeping up on the tom. She then struck him down in an instant. The pale light of the Moonstone made seeing the corpse an eerie sight.

"Ravenwing. I struck him down in Patchkit's name. He may have received a sign from Starclan that my kits were half clan, but he didn't need to out us and push for our exile during a storm of all times. What kind of medicine cat acts as a bringer of death instead of life? He deserved his fate." Mapleshade hissed at the dream.

The world shifted again to be at Snakerocks. This time the matted and revenge driven Mapleshade was poised on the top of one of the mounds in Snakerocks. Below was another molly with a golden and speckled pelt. The molly was hissing at Mapleshade with a look of sheer hatred, but the Mapleshade of the past had a strange look of feral smugness. Her paw rested against one of the stones, grinding it in place, irritating the angered molly below. When the molly came sprinting in, Mapleshade shifted the stone and a snake lashed out, catching the molly in the eye. The past Mapleshade gave a haunting laugh before padding away.

"Frecklewish. I once considered that cat like a sister, but what sister just watches as their sister's kits drown? What kind of sister drives out their sister in a storm? All this over an assumption I never confirmed. I never said the kits were Birchface's but they assumed and got mad when their assumption wasn't true, as if I lied to them. They fooled themselves and blamed me! I killed her in the name of Petalkit." Mapleshade ranted before calming.

The world shifted one last time to somewhere that appeared to be in Riverclan's territory. The past Mapleshade had some small cat pinned down, likely an apprentice. Then a tom and molly came wandering past, calling out a name. The paw pressed to the apprentice's neck kept the cat silent as Mapleshade watched the two with anticipation. Mapleshade's eyes flashed with anger at the sight of the molly being laden with kits. Then Mapleshade emerged from her hiding spot and a confrontation occurred. In a bout of murderous rage, Mapleshade lunged to kill the molly, but the tom intercepted, taking the fatal wound in her place. The apprentice from before came bounding out of the bushes and struck a vicious blow to Mapleshade's neck. Instead of fighting them further, Mapleshade simply limped away, much to the other two's confusion.

"Appledusk." The Mapleshade beside me spat. "What a worthless mate and worthless tom he was. I thought at one point in time that we truly loved each other. My kits were his, and yet he turned his back on me when I needed him most. He'd been cheating on me from the start, seeing Reedshine, that molly, and I at the same time. When I lost my kits and begged for mercy and lenience from Riverclan, he betrayed not only me but the memory of our kits. He called them mistakes and had Riverclan drive me off. I didn't even get the chance to bury my kits. I know he is there somewhere in Starclan, pretending that he lived a righteous life. I can't wait for him to someday make the mistake of chancing a pawstep into the Darkforest. I will be waiting for him to kill him once more, in the name of Larchkit."

Mapleshade suppressed her rage with a huff before giving me a strangely reassuring lick. "Now, I think I can put most of this behind me. It has been a long time since I had my revenge. I've got you and your father to care for. In a strange way, I see you two something like my kits. You seem stressed this night, so would you mind if I mothered you just this once?" She asked.

"That… sounds nice. Just this once." I answered slowly.

I heard her purr in a satisfying rumble as she ran her tongue across my coat. I knew it was a dream and would not do anything in the waking world, but it felt nice. I nuzzled up to her as she groomed me, driving me into a blissful dreamless sleep.

Chapter Text

The sun breached the horizon turning the sky red and painting the clouds a shade of pink. Today we'd finally get to go home. I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. I'd get to see everyone again. Brambleclaw decided to give a rousing speech before we returned, reminding us the importance of our mission and the need for us to properly convey how dire it was that we leave the forest.

"Listen up! I know you are all excited to get back to your clans. I know I am, but before we go back I must remind everyone that we left our clans for a reason. They're still counting on us. As we saw from the mountain top, the clans are likely not fairing very well. Windclan has already lost a lot of territory. The river between Thunderclan and Riverclan has likely been poisoned after what the twolegs did. Thunderclan has lost territory. Shadowclan has likely also seen their territory shrink a bit as well as seeing their resources strained due to accommodating for the less fortunate clans. We will come to them bearing a message. The forest is lost, but the clans will survive. As much as I detest Midnight the prophetess, we only have her word to rely on. When the clans are unified together, a dying warrior will guide the way. As we all know, prophecies are mysterious and often annoyingly indirect. What this dying warrior will be could be anything. It will likely only make sense when it finally occurs. I must remind everyone that when we go looking for a new home, we will not find paradise or a land of ease. There will be trials and tribulations from moving territories, but we are the clans of the forest. We will persevere through this. Now, let's get back and give them the news." Brambleclaw proclaimed, gesturing for us to follow.

As we followed Brambleclaw into the edge of Windclan's territory, there was an obvious tension between Feathertail and Crowpaw. It was strange because the two used to be so affectionate with each other. Now, it looked like Crowpaw was stressed while Feathertail looked away, as if she was making some hard decision to not associate with Crowpaw. There wasn't time to solve the issue either because a Windclan patrol spotted us.

"Crowpaw! Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" Called a molly from the patrol. "Looks like the Journey Cats have returned. Onewhisker, you mind running a message to Tallstar that they're here?" The molly asked.

"I was hoping to talk to Darkpaw a bit but fine. This takes priority." Onewhisker answered before bounding off.

"It's good to see you Nightcloud. I'm eager to report what happened. Unfortunately, it isn't all good news." Crowpaw answered back.

"You seem happier than before. Maybe that journey did you some good." Nightcloud commented. "I like this change so far."

We let Crowpaw chat with Nightcloud for a while longer while we waited for Onewhisker to return. Onewhisker made the trip pretty quick. With him were two more cats, Tallstar and my father Smudgefoot. I ran and tackled my father over with affection. He just laughed as I pressed into him. Despite all his time not being Thunderclan, Father still smelled like Father. He still smelled of Dad's lavender scent, which Dad had from always putting a stalk of it in his nest. As much as Father despised it, he still had that same undercurrent scent of mint clinging to him since his sensitivity to it made him ideal in finding the stuff. Most of all, Father still smelled like, still felt like home. Though, it was a little strange. Before we left on the Journey, I was shorter than Father. Now I was a whisker's length taller than him. Had I really changed that much in all that time?

"It's good to see you, my son. You have no idea how relieved I am that you got back alright. Though, I do notice that your group seems to have lost and gained a member. I hope that there wasn't an incident on your trip." Father pressed gently.

"No. No one died. Stormfur decided to stay behind with a tribe we met, and Dawn's Early Light, the molly over there, decided to join us because of what occurred at the tribe. It's… not a pleasant story. I'd rather not talk about it right now." I mewed to him.

"That is perfectly alright, my son. You may tell me whenever you are willing. I will not press. Though, she seems somewhat attached to you. Is there a story to that?" He probed again.

"Well, I promised her brother that I'd take care of her. Her brother wanted to come too but…" I mewed, sadness tinging the edge of my voice.

"You need not say more. It's alright." He consoled me before mewing to the rest. "Alright. Let's get you cats back to your clans. I'm sure Tallstar and his warriors are willing to escort us to what's left of Fourtrees. From there we'll all go back to our clans. I know this will possibly come off as clan favoritism, but I'll see if Thunderclan is willing to host Darkpaw and I for the time being. He deserves a chance to rest with his original clan after that long journey. Dawn, I will extend an invitation for you to join Darkpaw and I since we are functionally clanless for the time being, and you are not born of the clans."

Dawn seemed to be sizing up Father before answering. "Not much to look at are you? I mean, you're pretty big, but you're short with short legs. I think I could take you." She commented aloofly.

A couple Windclan warriors gasped at the disrespect. Though it was Tallstar that came to Father's defense. "You best check your tongue missy. You're talking to Smudgefoot, a cat who fought the tyrant Scourge to a standstill and only lost an ear in the process. All the clans know that if you try and hurt something Smudgefoot cares for, you will feel his wrath."

Dawn scoffed at the defense. "Please. We took down Jaggedtooth, a monster cat. There's no way that this Scourge could ever measure up to that." She countered.

While Tallstar looked ready to beat the sense into Dawn, Father actually let out a laugh before mewing. "Quite a spitfire, aren't you? The forest could use more cats willing to question our ways and challenge us. Maybe we can spar later. Though, I do advise you to keep your bragging in check. I'm one of the more friendly cats here. Piss the wrong one off and you will be trading claws with their whole clan."

With that, we left for Fourtrees. I was pressed into Father's side the entire time, feeling that familiar warmth only family could bring. I felt the nub of Father's ear twitch as we drew closer. Father always joked that when it did, his ghost ear was hearing something in Starclan. Despite how we knew the trees were gone, seeing it in person was horrifying. The four great oaks were reduced into merely four stumps. Tracks of some twoleg monster marred the clearing, tearing up the grass and leaving bare earth exposed. It looked so wrong, so tainted. If there was ever proof that the forest was lost, this was it.

Chapter Text

When we got to camp, the mood was… concerning. There was this stillness that I'd never really felt in Thunderclan, like a storm loomed on the horizon and we were in the lull before it would hit. Just glancing around, something was off. I did a mental head count of our cats and we came up short of what I knew Thunderclan had. Some cats were missing, and this wasn't a 'they're on patrol' amount missing. There were no kits playing in the central clearing, all herded into the nursery by their mothers. It was only when Squirrelpaw went bounding off calling for her sister did I notice. Leafpaw was gone. Leafpaw, being a medicine cat apprentice and knowing of the current threat to the clans would not miss the Sunhigh sharing of tongues. She was missing, taken by some unknown event. How much did we miss?

"Leafpaw?" Squirrelpaw called again, not receiving an answer. She looked puzzled. Her sister was always keen to greet her when she called.

I was honestly surprised Dawn picked up on what was going on so fast. She quickly got to my side and asked the question that held us all back. "Should I tell her?"

I shook my head softly. Cinderpelt emerged from the medicine den. Her limp had worsened since we'd left, likely due to how skinny she looked. In fact, all of Thunderclan looked rather thin. Should I feel bad for not being in as poor of condition? I pushed the thought aside when I heard Cinderpelt give an answer to Squirrelpaw.

"Your sister… she disappeared two days ago. She's not the only one. I… I sent her to pick up some herbs that only really grow near the Treecut place. Around the same time, Ferncloud went out with the border patrol. She hasn't come back either. We've figured out whatever happened occurred at the Treecut place, so we don't allow cats to go there anymore. I'm sorry." Cinderpelt explained.

"No! That can't be right! Leafpaw wouldn't just leave! I promised her I'd see her when I got back. I promised! I…" Squirrelpaw exclaimed with wetness beginning to trail down her face.

Firestar, having seen everything, approached to comfort Squirrelpaw. "I'm sorry. We've done everything we can, but this is Twolegs we're talking about. We simply cannot fight them. They were taken to somewhere unknown. I've sent a few out to look for them, but we've already lost one cat trying."

Dawn couldn't help commenting on the situation to me. It was a quiet comment, but I think Firestar and Squirrelpaw also heard it. "Wow. That's honestly kind of awful. At least with Jaggedtooth, we always knew what happened. I know my brother is dead. I can't imagine being in that kind of limbo, not knowing if he was alive and waiting for rescue or dead and buried somewhere I'd never find him. You weren't lying when your clans' problems were worse than ours."

Squirrelpaw pressed herself further into Firestar at Dawn's comment. Firestar shot her a slightly aggressive look that made Dawn wince, which was surprising given her proud nature. Firestar took a moment longer to comfort Squirrelpaw before pulling away.

"Let's move on to something a bit more uplifting. I see that all of you are back meaning your journey was a success. Let's hear what this Midnight advises us to do." Firestar mewed, getting cats to peek out of the dens and a slight air of hope to permeate the camp.

Brambleclaw winced knowing that the advice we got would not be taken all that well. I was still impressed to see that he committed to informing the camp despite how he knew there'd be backlash.

"Yes. We did meet Midnight, who turned out to be a prophetess badger. I know. It was weird. She also scared the fur off of us when she grabbed Darkpaw, rambling something about him being a dark cloud that blocked her vision. She did turn out to be peaceful, but it was certainly a tense conversation. This came straight from her. I don't like what she saw, but it is our only hope. She said… The forest is lost. We cannot hope to survive by remaining here. She said that once all the clans gather, a dying warrior will show the way. She did not elaborate further." Brambleclaw admitted.

"We are just to leave?!" Mousefur decried.

There was a certain amount of unhappy consent with Mousefur's outrage, but Firestar silenced them with a single gesture. "Thunderclan, we all knew that the forest is lost already. We can complain like kits all we like, but that does not change reality. I say this again. The forest is lost. We cannot drive off the Twolegs, but this does not mean Thunderclan is lost. This does not mean our home and way of life is lost. What is a home but simply where our family and clan are? We of Thunderclan do not need the forest to remain Thunderclan. Yes, I will be deeply saddened to leave this place, but I will not let this despair kill me or our clan. We will begin preparations to leave. I will send runners out to the other clans to ensure we're all in agreement. I say this one more time. The forest is lost, but the clans will not be. We will survive and find a new home."

With all the other clans needing to come to the same conclusion, I knew that this departure could take upwards to a moon. I had to hope the other clans would be as accepting of Midnight's message as Thunderclan was.

Father lead Dawn and I to what was once termed Yellowfang's den. It was a largely rotted log, but it had enough space for the three of us. We were officially guests of Thunderclan, no matter how much I disliked that. The log was rather drafty for us. Father curled up at my side to alleviate this somewhat. Dawn was more hesitant to join, but she ultimately curled up next to me.

That night I dreamed of rumbling monsters, webs of metal locking cats in strange mobile caves. Cages, Scourge's memory reminded me. Walls of metal with the metal webs preventing escape. Nothing but time as one awaits the fate the Twolegs deem appropriate, death or loosing something fundamental to one's self. A cruel twisted irony that the Twolegs thought this was a mercy. Scourge himself had never been caged since he'd taken the Twoleg Place, but he could still distinctly remember the cold shock of seeing entire groups of his cats vanish overnight only for a few to return permanently changed, speaking of being put in the white room, stuck with something that made them fall unconscious, and waking up back where they'd been caught but missing something fundamental to their person. To see the cursed notched ear and the toms missing their tomhoods was horrific. Mollies caught by them always disappeared for longer. They also received the cursed ear, but something else was missing from them that Bloodclan could not see. Those mollies caught by the Twolegs could never have kits again. These were the lucky ones that got to return. Some simply vanished, never to be seen again. If they were sick, old, or young, they'd never come back. I had to wonder, was Leafpaw too young to return? Was she old enough that they'd let her go but changed? With how the Twolegs were destroying our home, would they even bother, or would they just kill her in their twisted sense of mercy? I did not want to think about this. I don't even want to know that Twolegs could do something so twisted. I hated it. I hate how small I am in comparison to them. I hate how I can do nothing to stop them. I hate how I am like a mouse is to us to them. I hate them for not knowing that we have lives and feelings. I can only hope Leafpaw is ok. Squirrelpaw is already devastated. I don't want her to find out the cruelties Twolegs are capable of in the name of mercy.

Chapter Text

Despite the circumstances of the forest's impending destruction, it was nice to finally wake back up in Thunderclan, even if it was in a moldy old log. While I stretched myself out, Father had already taken off towards Firestar's den. I gave myself a cursory cleanup before looking back into the guest den. Dawn, despite her name, clearly was not a morning cat. I decided to let her get some extra sleep.

Stonestep emerged from the warriors den, spotting me near instantly. I trotted over to him and embraced him. His purr was warm and soothing. I'd missed him and his straightforward nature. He grabbed me and started to groom me just like he used to do when I'd just started as an apprentice. I did not pull away. The familiar way how he took special care of the base of my ears was familiar and comforting. After a while, this settled into a comforting silence. Then he spoke.

"It's been a while Darkpaw, my apprentice. While I've heard what your journey was like publicly, how was it? How were your urges and your dreams?" He queried with concern.

I winced at the question, knowing fully well that things had been bad for a while. "I did have a few episodes. I didn't hurt anybody this time, but I had a gray day."

Stonestep's fur rose at the mention of a 'gray day'. The first time I had one of those had been memorable. Thankfully, I was tiny at the time, but I still remember how desperate I'd been to escape the gray. I'd hurt dad until Father held me down. I'd scratched him up pretty bad too, but he joked that Graystripe had done worse in a similar position. I'd calmed when he was forced to threaten to bite my neck. When I'd stilled and color returned, I was a sobbing mess. Father didn't forgive himself for threatening me, but it was what calmed me enough to escape the monochrome. Since then, he told me to always warn him or the rest if I felt like it was a gray day. Then we'd go hunting all day, killing as much as possible to appease the gray.

"How did you get past it?" He probed gently.

"I… I killed a dog." I confessed. "it was going after Tawnypelt, and the gray was just creeping in. I lost control.

I felt tears beginning to dot my eyes as I remembered how I lost control again. Stonestep was quick to comfort me. What he said next shook me.

"I'm proud of you." Was what he mewed that broke my sense of logic.

The gray was something I'd always considered a bad thing. It was violence and bloodlust given form. It was a craving for all things red and blood, and Stonestep was proud of me for it. I just couldn't understand it.

"I'm proud that you managed to use it for good. This gray you always feel, it's a part of you. You should always accept that it is. Then you can direct it instead of just suppressing it. Smudgefoot, Ravenfeather and I were discussing it while you were gone, the best way to help with the gray, but it seems you've already found the makings of your answer. You can shed blood in the name of defense. I'm sure you'll master it eventually, but I encourage you to work with Smudgefoot while you go about learning it. I'd rather not find out you killed someone in a border skirmish because you were using the gray." Stonestep elaborated before asking. "And the dreams?"

"I had one major memory. It was one of Scourge's gray days. Tawnypelt and Squirrelpaw have been helping me with those. That's not even mentioning whatever Midnight did to me. That was terrifying. It was scarier than that time we drove those two foxes out. I never felt so vulnerable and helpless. When she grabbed me, she could have killed me, and no one would have been able to stop her. Thankfully, she didn't actually do anything harmful, but it was still scary. Going back to my dreams, I did have an interesting one yesterday. Mapleshade showed me a bit of her past. I honestly feel a bit sorry for her." I mewed, transitioning to the topic of Mapleshade to move away from the uncomfortable nature of my dreams.

Stonestep's face wrinkled in disgust. "You should be careful around her Darkpaw. While I understand her story and all that happened, she's in the Darkforest for a reason. If she'd been shown a bit of compassion when she was alive, maybe things would have been different, but instead she was shown spite. Cats who receive that grow wrathful. Wrath isn't something that just fades. Even if she doesn't show it, she's still angry. Even after all this time, I'm still furious with Riverclan for what they did to me, and that was over a year ago. Anger without anywhere to go and no outlets to relieve it builds up and breaks out eventually. I'm lucky to have Riverclan to take my anger out on, but Mapleshade has no one. Please be careful around her. She might accidentally lash out."

I decided to change the topic again. "So, how did things go with Father and Dad? Did you finally confess?"

Stonestep gave a proud smile as he nodded. "Yep! You're looking at the proud mate of Smudgefoot and Ravenfeather. I was nervous at first, but Ravenfeather was reassuring and your father can be so supportive and gentle when he wants to be. I get to see this this deeply loving side of him that barely any cat gets to see. Then there's Ravenfeather, so cautious and gentle. He's like a comforting shadow, soft-spoken but always wise and keen to help. Of course, he's also got a bit of a domineering side that he's got hidden." Stonestep mewed with a wink.

My face wrinkled with disgust this time. "Ew! Gross! I do not want to know how my dad and father are during sex."

Stonestep laughed at my plight. "Oh come on! Don't you want to hear how Ravenfeather has us call him Ravenstar or all the fun and unheard of positions your father comes up with?"

"Lalalalala! I'm not listening!" I yowl out, trying to pull free from Stonestep's grip.

"I only tease. I will admit being in a relationship is everything I always dreamed of, but it is also terrifying. Sometimes I just have this irrational fear that I'm not good enough. Ravenfeather is pretty quick to pick up on it and reassure me, but somehow Smudgefoot is better at it. It's probably how he just breaks down how my fear is utterly irrational and that I'd never actually do anything that could sever our relationship like that. He's also a good cat to lay on for a nap, especially when he doesn't want to be. He'll complain, but he never actually tries to get free. It's amusing." Stonestep mewed with a chuckle.

"Yeah. Father was even like that when I was a kit. When I didn't want to take a nap, he'd challenge me to try and take him down, and then I'd have to pin him. He'd say it didn't count if I tried to leave after knocking him down. I never actually figured out that was his way of tricking me to take a nap. Father just gets cats, but it's sad that others have a hard time getting him." I replied back.

"That's just the way he is. His greatest joy is helping, but he's bad at getting helped. At least with us, he's got cats who understand him and know when he's pushing himself too hard. Speaking of, he said that you're going to Windclan next with him. See if you can get that stay extended to a few days. He's been bounding to a different clan every day trying to keep things calm. It's wearing on him." Stonestep mewed.

"I will. I'll get to meet back up with Crowpaw and hopefully figure out what was going on between him and Feathertail." I answered, pulling free finally.

"Keep safe out there. I know you've still got paw in your name, but you're a full warrior to me." Stonestep mewed before letting me go. It was nice to see my master again, but I'm still a guardian. As much as it hurts me, I can't stay. I've got a duty to every clan. At least for this, I'd be close to home.

Chapter Text

When we arrived at the Windclan border, Tallstar, Mudclaw, Crowpaw, and Onewhisker were waiting for us. I couldn't help but notice how Onewhisker's eyes lit up at the sight of me, which kind of creeped me out.

"Smudgefoot, Darkpaw, it is so good to see you two." Onewhisker excitedly greeted Father and I before turning to Dawn. "And you must be that cat from the tribe. Dawn was it? It's great to see Darkpaw found a potential mate." He mewed, which was somehow creepier than his excitement.

Dawn laughed at Onewhisker's assumption. "Darkpaw and I? Really? I mean, don't get me wrong. Darkpaw's a good cat that would be considered a good catch, but he's just not my type. Besides, I see him as a kind of little brother." She refuted.

Onewhisker did not take to kindly to the rebuttal. "My… I mean Darkpaw is probably the best cat you'll ever meet. You should feel honored to even get the chance of courting him." Onewhisker growled, earning a sharp look from Tallstar and Mudclaw.

"Stand down Onewhisker. I don't know why you're getting so agitated by this. You're usually much calmer. Maybe you should go on ahead and meet us back at camp." Tallstar ordered.

Onewhisker briefly looked like he was going to argue against Tallstar, but he shut his mouth and padded off. I was honestly glad to see him go. I know he's my sire, but I don't like how he's trying to be my father. He abandoned me, not the other way around. What is it that changed, and why can't he accept that I moved on? I mean, I'll always dislike him to some degree, but why does he have to make it worse by suddenly acting so affectionately? I flicked my eyes up at Father who met my gaze and gave a small shake of his head. Now was not the time to discuss this issue, but I hoped he'd talk with me about it soon.

"I apologize for Onewhisker's behavior. It is unbecoming of a warrior to treat you three like that. I apologize on Onewhisker's behalf Dawn." Tallstar mewed with a bow.

"Isn't anything I haven't heard before. You wouldn't believe how many toms up at the tribe tried to push themselves onto me then get mad saying they were the best thing I'd ever get the chance to get. Admittedly this is the first time someone did this on someone else's behalf, but honestly, if those cats are the best I'll ever get the chance to get, I'd rather stay single. No offense Darkpaw." Dawn replied.

"None taken. I wouldn't try to force myself on you anyways. You're attractive, but, just like you said, I don't think you're my type." I answered.

Crowpaw couldn't help throwing a playful jab at my statement. "Oh! Since when did you figure out you had a type?" He teased.

I could feel the tips of my ears warm up in embarrassment at the tease, but Mudclaw's remark to Crowpaw's joke made me flinch in sympathy.

"Crowpaw! You are supposed to be a senior apprentice. How am I supposed to trust that you'll become a decent warrior if you indulge in such kittish antics." He hissed at Crowpaw, making my fellow apprentice cower.

Tallstar did not approve of how Mudclaw disciplined Crowpaw in front of us. "Mudclaw." He mewed in a careful monotone. "We have guests here. While Crowpaw may have made a playful remark, you have to remember that he was a traveling companion to Darkpaw for more than a moon. It is not surprising that they developed a friendship that would allow for teasing. On top of that, Darkpaw is a guardian. It would do well for us to establish some level of comradery with the guardians, and if Darkpaw is our best way to set that up, we can overlook some kittish behavior that even warriors tend to do on occasion. I still know Smudgefoot is not too happy with us for our behavior just before Tigerstar's reign."

Mudclaw grumbled in response, but he eventually capitulated. "Fine. Crowpaw, I will allow this to slide for now. Just know that I expect more from you. You are a deputy's apprentice and the kit of the former deputy. Act like it."

Crowpaw was silent in response, instead looking away or at the ground, not wanting to meet Mudclaw's eyes. Father shook his head disapprovingly. "While my previous stays in Windclan were fine, I'm not impressed with what I've seen today. You are merely a guide to Crowpaw Mudclaw. You'll find Crowpaw will accomplish a lot more with positive reinforcement over negative." Father chastised.

"Don't tell me what to do!" Mudclaw hissed.

"No. Smudgefoot is right. This way you treat your apprentice is unacceptable. Either change your behavior or I'll look for someone else to finish Crowpaw's training. He's already accomplished plenty with having completed the Journey. He's not all that far out from getting his warrior name anyways." Onestar rebutted, shutting down Mudclaw.

Mudclaw grumbled in response, but he didn't do much else. Tallstar gave us an apologetic look before mewing. "Well, we better get over to camp. I'm not sure if you ever saw the old Windclan camp Darkpaw, but it isn't in the same place anymore. We had to move after a bunch of ground ripping monsters started to gather close by. They haven't done it yet, but they're looking at the old camp, so they're likely to destroy it soon. It's been hard here. We're losing territory every day. At least Shadowclan is sharing resources with us." Tallstar mewed, gesturing for us to follow.

I could see that torn up ground in the distance. Once sweeping moors was marred by torn up brown earth. Fragments of the grasses that once covered the great moors poked through the dirt like a grim reminder of what once occupied that land. It was so unnatural looking. It kind of made me nauseous. The forest was always considered an eternal thing, having been the home of our ancestors all the way back to the founding of the clans. To see it dying like this brought a feeling of terrible awe. It was hard to even fathom that this was possible. Midnight was right. The forest is lost. We can't compete with something that deems even the land itself must die. I could feel bile in my mouth tasting acidic and bitter. I choked the bile down and turned away, attempting to put such an unholy sight out of my mind. It didn't work, but I kept my jaw clamped tight and forced myself to breathe, forcing down my disgust and fear. I couldn't wait for the clans to leave, if only to spare us the sight of seeing our homes destroyed.

Dawn trotted to my side before quietly asking. "You alright Darkpaw?"

"Yeah. I just… didn't realize how much had happened since we left. It's just so wrong to see what the monsters have done. I don't want it to be true, but we really can't do anything to stop them. We can't save our home." I confided.

Dawn gave me a worried look before comforting me. "Hey. If there's anything I learned from both you and Claws, it is that a place is not your home. Your home is where everyone you care for is. So what if your clans end up losing some trees and grass? We'll get through this and find a place where the clans can settle down again. I'm sure of it." Dawn gently mewed reassuringly.

I just nodded in response, not wanting to will myself to speak and rebut Dawn's attempt at consoling me. The logic driven part of my mind knows she's right, but at the same time, I know Thunderclan's territory. I've lived there most of my life. For it to just be gone is something I don't want to even consider, but I have no choice. We've got to survive, even if it means leaving the forest behind. It's like what Father taught me. If you're going to lose the fight, it is better to run than let yourself get killed, and the clans are going to lose the fight. I hated it, but there was nothing I could do.

Chapter Text

Windclan's camp was strange to say the least, or rather, lack of camp. There wasn't any barriers or bushes to protect them from the elements. Instead, there was merely a dip in the land. It protected from the worst of the wind but little else. It was also strange to see the cats of Windclan. I couldn't tell if they were gaunt or just skinny. The only thing I could really figure out about them is that I held a very similar physique, probably from the detestable cat who sired me. Of course, Onewhisker spotted us arriving pretty quickly. He must have noticed me eyeing their warriors' forms. The main difference between myself and Windclan was that I had more muscle developed in my shoulders and hind legs acquainted to pouncing whereas they had leaner muscle meant to sprint.

"I'm sure if we get you running long enough, you'll look like a proper Windclan cat." Onewhisker commented, likely trying to console me in some twisted way. It was like he believed I wanted to join him, like I saw him as something worth pursuing.

"I think I'll just stick to what I know, thanks." I cautiously mewed. I didn't want to start a fight in Windclan's camp. Onewhisker had a high report within his clan which made trying to refute him harder.

"The offer stands. If you ever feel like it, I'll gladly show you our ways. It'd be a good bonding experience." Onewhisker mewed cheerfully.

I shuddered mentally. His delusions of me just joining him were sickening. Why would I ever leave Father, Dad, and my mentor? They loved me as my kin despite not being of my blood and knowing my past life. I could just tell that Onewhisker only wanted me now that I was something no clan would be dishonored to have. Not that I ever considered it, but my position as guardian made it potentially easy to defect clans. That's what Onewhisker was trying to get me to do.

Dawn must have picked up on how uncomfortable Onewhisker was making me, and given her blunt nature, she decided to come to my defense. "You need to back off." She hissed. "I'm getting weirded out by proxy with how you're trying to shmooze him. Can't you tell that you're creeping him out? He barely even knows you."

Onewhisker took a step back at her aggression. "Oh sorry. I guess I got a bit ahead of myself. I'm Onewhisker, your biological father." He mewed, as if that made everything he did acceptable.

"And?" I mewed with an unimpressed tone, letting the silence hang for a couple moments as Onewhisker was too flabbergasted to respond. "I don't care all that much about blood ties. I was raised by two cats who share no blood with me who thought of me as their own kit regardless. I barely even know my mother, and she left me for my own benefit. Why again would I care about blood?" I queried.

Onewhisker stammered a moment before answering. "Well, you've got to have noticed that you're different from them. I mean in comparison to the rest of Thunderclan, you're skinny. Wouldn't it just be easier to join us where you'd fit in?" He asked as if this was an obvious answer.

"Please. If it really mattered about my body type, Father wouldn't be Thunderclan either since his legs are too stubby to climb trees." I joked, making a point that Onewhisker's argument was weak.

Father must have heard our argument and yowled out. "I resent that remark!"

I laughed in response. "That doesn't make it untrue." I teased back.

"Why you little!" He playfully hissed before bowling me over, turning into some kittish tussling.

Dawn, seeing us go at it, decided she had to join in. "Wait. Are you guys wrestling? I've got to get in on this." She mewed before diving in in an attempt to pin Father.

Father can be deceptively slippery when he wants to. Apparently that's mostly because he picked up some tricks from Swiftbreeze on wrestling. It didn't help that we'd all have to keep switching our attention to the other cats in the pile. Dawn was mostly trying to beat Father because he was bigger than her and most of the cats she knew from the cave guard. I was trying to get Dawn before she turned on me, and Father was trying to get me since I was the one who teased him. We were in an awkward struggle where if either of us changed focus, one of us would win. That's when the fourth contender decided to jump in. Crowpaw jumped on top of me which inadvertently pinned the other two.

"What? Crowpaw?" I decried.

"I Crowpaw of Windclan have defeated these two Thunderclan cats and the one known as Dawn's Early Light. Thus, I must declare Windclan superiority." He mewed proudly in a playful way.

Tallstar seemed to have caught on to how we'd just been playing, so he decided to lean into it a bit. "I don't know Crowpaw. Last I checked, Smudgefoot and Darkpaw were guardians, and therefore not Thunderclan." He jokingly commented.

Of course, the fun had to end. Mudclaw stormed up to us, a furious look on his face as he looked at Crowpaw. "What do you think you're doing Crowpaw? Cease this kittish behavior immediately!" He growled out.

Crowpaw cowered at Mudclaw's chastising. Though, with Tallstar present, Mudclaw soon found himself getting thoroughly berated for his treatment of his apprentice. "Mudclaw. While it is your right as Crowpaw's mentor to try and train him to be a warrior, you must remember that he is a cat as well. What you see as kittish behavior, I see as him maintaining a bond with another cat from his journey. Besides, things have been too gloomy lately. It never hurts to have some entertainment like a few warriors letting their inner kit show." Tallstar publicly mewed before getting close to Mudclaw to explain further, which I just could barely hear. "Allowing the guardians to play like that is good for our clan. it makes our cats less wary to interact with the guardians. If they maintain a positive relationship with the guardians, then we'll be favored over the other clans who remain wary of them."

Tallstar sent a strange nod to Father who returned it. Had those two planned this the whole time? I mean it was Father who instigated the wrestling match, and Father himself often joked about his short legs. Had Father's goal been to 'humanize' (his word) us to them, make us seem more like them by being imperfect and playful? It might have been a collaborative idea. It's certainly something I could see Father doing. Then I thought back to Crowpaw. Had he been in on it, or had he simply joined because it looked like fun? Maybe Tallstar urged him to join. Then there's how Mudclaw reacted. That wasn't right. Was Crowpaw alright? I looked for him, but he wasn't in sight. Neither was Mudclaw. I worried for my fellow journey cat, but I couldn't do anything for them while I didn't know how to find him.

Chapter Text

When Crowpaw returned, he had some fresh scratches on him. I tried asking him about it, but he just blew me off, instead retreating into the apprentice's area and collapsing into one of the nests. Admittedly, it was pretty late by that point, but I knew Crowpaw was mostly just avoiding speaking about what happened. I decided not to press him on it. There was likely very little that could actually be done about his situation.

When Father finally got done speaking with Tallstar, Tallstar told us that Dawn and I would be spending the night with the apprentices while Father would join the warriors. Crowpaw fidgeted as Dawn and I entered the apprentices' area, likely having thought we'd be kept in some kind of guest area. He was afraid that I'd press him on what was going on, but I knew better. He'd tell us if he felt up to it. I wouldn't begrudge him for it.

It was when the moon hung heavy in the sky did something happen. I felt someone shove me. Blearily, I opened my eyes to see an orange form. "Squirrelpaw? What are you doing here?" I mewed, trying to shake the tiredness out of myself.

"I found Leafpaw!" She quietly mewed. "There's also a lot of other captured cats from the other clans. I want you to help me break them out."

Straightening at Squirrelpaw's information, I realized this was big. "Have you told Firestar?" I asked.

"Yes, but he wants to wait for dawn to run the rescue. Thing is, and don't call me crazy for this, Leafpaw and I share a weird sister connection where one of us can know something the other learned without learning it. Somehow I just know the twolegs plan to move the captured cats at dawn. Dad didn't take my urgency seriously. We've got to act first!" She mewed desperately.

"Alright, but we can't just do it alone. I'm sure Father will be pissed, but go wake him up and let him know what's going on. I'll get Dawn and Crowpaw up. Tallstar is bound to join the rescue since he's lost a few cats as well." I answer, getting a nod from her before she rushed off to wake Father.

I shook Dawn and Crowpaw awake. Neither were too happy with the awakening. "Why are you waking me up in the middle of the Starclan forsaken night?!" Crowpaw demanded.

"Squirrelpaw just showed up with news that she and Thunderclan found where all the captured cats are. Thing is, the twolegs plan to move them at dawn. We're on a time crunch." I answered, getting his full attention.

While the three of us rushed into the main area, I did catch the tail end of Father dressing down Squirrelpaw for sneaking onto hostile territory alone, but he did commend her on her quick thinking with seeking out others to help support the rescue. Squirrelpaw was sheepish about accepting the praise since she only really came here to recruit me. The cats Tallstar was now rounding up was a happy accident.

By the time we got organized, we were cutting it close. Squirrelpaw guided us onto Thunderclan territory, leading us to the site where she saw Leafpaw. It was a seemingly abandoned Twoleg nest, but there was a dense amount of cat scent in the air. It had to be where all these cats were. Unfortunately, there was an issue. The nest was currently impenetrable. The 'windows' were closed tight and the 'doors' had round nobs. We couldn't force the thing open. We'd instead have to rely upon when the Twolegs got moving. They're rather lazy creatures, leaving holes open in their defenses when they need to pass through an entrance more than twice. Though, we'd have to bait them away once they opened the entrance.

It was while we waited that Thunderclan's rescue patrol came upon us. "Tallstar? What are you doing here?" Firestar questioned.

"We got word that all the captured cats were in one place and that they'd be moved at dawn. We thought it important to act with haste. Unfortunately, it appears we aren't able to sneak in before they open the nest." Tallstar answered, clearly also using this as a political move to try and settle the still unresolved tensions that came from Firestar's early leadership.

Firestar angrily rumbled to himself a moment before asking Tallstar a question. "Fine. We can work together. What's the plan here?"

Tallstar tilted his head in thought, but Father acted first, giving a general plan. "We'll wait for them to open the nest and move a few of the captured cats. We want them complacent. Once they do, Windclan should harass them and try and get them to chase them. While the Twolegs are preoccupied, we'll get the cats that are in the nest first followed by the ones in the monster."

Tallstar nodded acceptingly, knowing Father was the main reason the tensions continued between Windclan and Thunderclan. "Sounds like a plan. Now we wait."

The silence was deafening as we waited for the Twolegs to open the door. I had to shuffle every once and a while to keep my legs from going numb. Finally, the Twolegs showed up in another monster. Then entered the den and came out with two boxes each holding cats. After loading them onto the monster, they went back and grabbed another two each. Once they loaded them, it was time to act.

Crowpaw and some Windclan warriors came pelting in, scratching at the Twolegs' coverings before backing off hissing. The Twolegs pulled something from the monster that looked like some kind of strange stick with a loop on the end. Father took notice of it immediately.

"Don't let that loop get around you! It pulls tight!" He ordered, making the windclan warriors more wary.

The Twolegs tried to catch them with that stick, but Windclan kept wary, keeping out of range or diving too close for the stick to snag them. It clearly frustrated the Twolegs who with each failed attempt were lured further and further away. Now it was time for the rest of us to act. We darted into the nest seeing dozens of boxes, of which over half had cats trapped inside. One again, Father seemed weirdly knowledgeable about the boxes, instructing us how to open them which was quite a pain. I mean, biting two sharp sticks hard enough to squeeze them together then pulling is a major pain on the gums, but it was the only method that worked. We freed the cats in the nest in a timely manner, but we could just tell that we were in a race against time.

Once the nest was cleared, a few of us leapt into the monster to retrieve the final eight, of which one was Mistyfoot. We were operating quickly, opening the boxes with as much efficiency as we could, but we could hear the Twolegs coming back. They'd given up on catching those Windclan cats, but they must have noticed up. All but one cage was opened, which Greystripe was struggling with. The rest of us had already cleared out of the monster, but Greystripe was determined to open that cage and get Mistyfoot out. Finally, with a hard tug, the box swung open and Mistyfoot bound out of the monster. Unfortunately, luck was not on his side. The sudden opening had stunned him, and the Twolegs closed the monster with Greystripe inside. We were unable to help him as the monster rumbled away. Firestar was devastated. Given Firestar's grief, Tallstar allowed Father to return to Thunderclan, but Dawn and I would continue to be guests of Windclan for a night more. I hated it. I hated them, the twolegs that took Greystripe away. Most of all, I hated how I was incapable of doing anything to them. Even Scourge hated them but could do nothing to them. I left with rage in my heart while everyone else celebrated the rescue of so many cats. It was too bad that I left my claws with Claws. I'd be needing new ones. I wouldn't let myself be weak again.

Chapter Text

Returning to Windclan was awkward, especially without Father. Tallstar kept approaching me as if he wanted to talk but then deciding against it due to my status as an apprentice. It was clear that he wanted to talk politics but thought me too young to properly understand it. Then there was Onewhisker. He was always uncomfortably hovering nearby, constantly wanting to know what I was talking about and who I was talking too. I hated it, but I of course couldn't say that aloud. I'm here as what Father calls a diplomat. I've got to put my grievances aside when those grievances don't impact the whole of my diplomatic mission. My solution to the Onewhisker issue was to start chatting with Crowpaw whenever he got close. It wasn't like he had any real reason to deny such an action. Dawn would jump into those conversations as well, letting me interact with her without Onewhisker barging in and trying to break us apart.

When we got back to Windclan's camp, I decided to make a proposition to Crowpaw. "Hey Crowpaw. Do you mind if I use you to stay away from Onewhisker? I've got some bad blood with him that he seems to not understand. Then you can show me the ways of your clan. It'll keep you away from Mudclaw."

"There's nothing wrong with Mudclaw!" Crowpaw quickly stated.

"Yeah, and you didn't get dragged out of camp to get scratched up by him. Seriously, what he's doing to you is not right. While I'm still here, I can keep him away from you. He can't do anything in front of me because it'll make your whole clan look bad." I reply back.

Crowpaw hunched at my counter argument. "He's really not all that bad. I mean, he's a bit aggressive and claws me sometimes, but he's just reprimanding me. I've only got a few moons left as an apprentice anyways. Tallstar has already talked to me about receiving my warrior name after we move." He replied softly.

"All the more reason for us to keep him away. We'll use up all that precious time he planned to use to abuse you, and he won't be able to say a thing." Dawn chimed in before giving a more Dawn type of answer. "Do you want me to put his face in the dirt, because I can do that. I've had to show some of the cave guards who's boss when they go too far with the trainees. A couple good thrashings tend to work wonders on cats with too big of egos."

Crowpaw huffed in response. "You're just saying that to make me feel better. I don't really believe you could beat him."

"Really? After all you've seem from me? I've survived a fight with Jaggedtooth before your lot showed up and took care of him. I was the one keeping the cave guards in line at the tribe. I was also the one who dealt with by brother's bullies by putting their faces in the dirt. I may be only a year old, but I'm good at what I do, and that's beating up things." She mewed pridefully.

"Maybe you could challenge him to a spar." I suggested.

"That's a great idea. I want to see how you clan cats stack up against a proper cave guard." Dawn mewed excitedly.

"Maybe that's what we can do tomorrow. Call it fighting style comparisons. We just challenge random cats to sparring matches all day. It sounds fun." I added.

"Putting Darkpaw's face in the dirt does sound fun." Crowpaw mewed, clearly cheered up by now.

"Hey! Why me?" I mewed with theatric shock.

"Oh. I don't know. Maybe its how you brought along dog teeth to kill digs and whatever that monster cat was in the mountains. You can't say that those claw extensions didn't carry you through that. It'd also be nice to say I beat the cat who took down a dog and a monster cat." Crowpaw replied.

"Well, you're going to have to earn it, and I don't plan to make it easy." I rebutted.

"That's how I'd like it." Crowpaw answered before we finally settled down for the night.

The next morning I sought Tallstar out for our suggestion of sparring, using the main clearing of the camp as a showcase of skills. Tallstar agreed as long as he was there to ensure no cat went too far. It'd be a good morale boost for the camp.

The freshkill pile was moved aside to allow more space for the sparring matches. First up, to demonstrate the point of the matches, was Tallstar and Mudclaw. Tallstar certainly had more experience of the two, but Mudclaw was also clearly holding back. Tallstar's age made him slightly sluggish when it came to reaction time, so he went for hit and run tactics. Mudclaw should have been able to outlast Tallstar, but he was throwing. Tallstar ended the match by pinning Mudclaw. They gave each other a nod before leaving the central area, receiving cheers for their show from the rest of the clan.

Next up was me versus Crowpaw. I honestly wanted Crowpaw to win, to look good in front of his clan, but I also wasn't just going to give it to him or throw the match like Mudclaw did. He'd have to earn his win. I theoretically could be more powerful by tapping into that cold desire within myself, the ever addiction desire for the scarlet that beats in our hearts, but I'd never risk myself or others like that on purpose.

The fight began slowly. Crowpaw was cautious of me since I had similar range to him as well as superior power to him. He'd have to leverage his speed and endurance to have a chance against me. He tried to start things off with a simple and evasive strike, but Father had taught me where I could still use some of Thunderclan's heavy weight tactics despite my light weight in comparison to them. When Crowpaw tried to strike and dodge back, I parried the hit and closed the distance. I was at the advantage. We were trading blows, but mine were more devastating. He did eventually find a gap in my attack to slip away and break the series of trades. He'd weathered it worse than I did.

I let him make some space, positioning myself for a less energy intensive defensive battle. Crowpaw moved to engage again, and I was ready for it, or so I thought. Crowpaw had kept his top speed and ability to quick turn hidden. I'd been prepared to stop a frontal strike, but he suddenly dipped and grabbed my left front paw, shooting beneath me and forcing me to flip. I tried to keep the momentum so I'd end up right back on my paws, but he was prepared for that. Using his speed and maneuverability, he followed my roll, stopping it as my back hit the ground and forcing me into a loose pin. In an actual battle, I probably could have tossed him afterwards, but I decided to concede. He did get me with something I didn't see coming.

Crowpaw preened as other cats congratulated him on how he did and how clever his last trick was, though Mudclaw seemed unimpressed. Of course Dawn had to get in on it, challenging a random cat to a fight. She is honestly a pretty brutal cat. When the molly tried to out speed her, Dawn just caught them in a grapple. From there, she just never let the molly go, which won her the match. A few more matches cycled through before I got a chance again, this time against Mudclaw. This time I had motivation to win. I wanted to punish him on Crowpaw's behalf, and what better way than to thrash himwhen Crowpaw beat me.

This match began even more cautiously. Mudclaw had a reach, speed, and strength advantage on me, but it was clear that he was underestimating me. Good. That's how Crowpaw got me before. I'd make him pay for making the same mistake. He pressed his advantages after a moment of posturing. I was ready for it, allowing his strikes to push me more than they should and encouraging him to overextend. Mudclaw fell for it, attacking with more force and speed and lessening the distance between us. The bad part about going too hard with attacking is that it ruins your stability, which is what I wanted Mudclaw to do. I held my defense, letting him go harder and harder. Finally, when he swung his right paw back to try and get a full power strike, I made my move, shooting under him and standing to my full height to make him roll. He was unprepared for this change, so it gave me more time to act. I locked one of my paws behind his hind leg and forced the roll to continue, allowing me to turn myself in the transition to a traditional pin. I had one paw pressed to his neck but the rest grounded, proving that it was a stable pin. Mudclaw was furious, but he didn't voice his anger. Instead, he nodded at me the same way all the previous combatants did. I did sneak off to Crowpaw afterwards to tell him how he beat me is what inspired how I beat Mudclaw, which made him very happy. I decided to just relax and watch the fights after, seeing Dawn beath challenger after challenger. Frankly, she just had a really good matchup against Windclan. They aren't known for their grapple game.

Chapter Text

Crowpaw was looking much more confident after the sparring was called for the day. Though, there was one cat I'd wished I'd gotten to put in his place. Unfortunately, Onewhisker declined joining the sparring. I hated the way he cheered for me whenever I was in the spar. He looked at me with an unearned pride like he was somehow the one who made me who I am. His whooping cheer when I'd pinned Mudclaw had soured the entire victory. I chose to ignore him as much as I could.

He had approached me after the bouts, complimenting me on my fighting techniques and how I did, but there was always something back pawed about his compliments, noting how certain 'Windclan' techniques could improve my style. I mostly answered with noncommittal answers, giving the impression that I was listening without showing interest. After letting him mindlessly jabber and brag about how well I did, I decided to end this.

"I'm going to go check up on Crowpaw and Dawn. They're probably waiting for me." I mewed while pushing past the detestable cat.

Onewhaisker tried to call for me, but I ignored him. I didn't want his attention or his love. He'd had his chance when I was just a kit and blew it. I didn't want anything to do with his ego that was entirely based upon public opinion. He hadn't even given the most basic apology saying he should have taken me in when I was a kit. No. To him, that still wasn't an incorrect decision. He wants me now because I am important. It won't tarnish his reputation to claim me. My father Smudgefoot took me in when no one else would knowing fully well that it would create backlash against him. He chose to love me and adopt me regardless. That is why he is my real father. He is willing to suffer for me, and I would gladly do so in kind. That is what true familial love is, and I hold none for the cat that sired me.

There was no point in continuing to work myself up over it. Instead, I turned my attention to Crowpaw who was currently with Dawn talking about the fights. For once, he actually looked like an apprentice. There was a sense of childish pride beneath a genuine desire to learn in his voice. He even had Dawn grapple him so he could try and think up counters to her hold. It was like this was the first time he got the chance to have friends as an apprentice.

When I approached Crowpaw, he exclaimed excitedly, "I can't believe you flipped Mudclaw like that! I mean, it's kind of what I did to you, but for you to turn around and use that trick on Mudclaw is crazy."

"Honestly, Mudclaw needed the humbling. He's too secure with his deputy position, so he thinks he's untouchable. Dawn and I aren't Windclan, which means we are fully allowed to remind him how precarious his position really is." I answered.

"But you could become Windclan." Crowpaw rebutted, making my fur raise. "I listened in on Onewhisker. You're his kit right? I wouldn't mind you being a fellow Windclan apprentice. It'd be nice to have someone else my age to hang out with." Crowpaw mewed softly.

I had to force myself not to hiss at Crowpaw's statement. "I am not Onewhisker's kit. He lost his right to call me that long ago. My Father is Smudgefoot. My dad is Ravenfeather, and my Pa is Stonestep. We share no blood, but they are my family, the cats I choose to remain with. When all this Guardian stuff is done, I will be rejoining Thunderclan. Sorry if this upsets you, but they are the family I chose. I will not abandon them because someone who sired me is now not too embarrassed to lay claim to me."

Crowpaw backpedaled quickly at my harshness. "Sorry! I didn't mean anything by it. It's just tough being the only cat my age. On top of that, living in my father's shadow is hard. It's always, when Deadfoot was your age, he could do this, and he only had three working paws. Every critique was a comparison against a cat I barely know. I only ever really knew his name as a kit, and then he was dead. He drowned himself in his duties and desire for others to look past his gimpy paw, and look at what it did for him. I, his son, am forever marked as a disappointment while everyone belittles what Deadfoot accomplished because he'd surely have done better with four working paws. I live in the shadow of someone pitied, but I don't have the excuse of a debilitating condition. I don't know why he even chose me to go on the journey. He never looked at me once while he was alive. When I saw him in the dream, I think that's the first time I ever actually saw his eyes. I still don't know how to feel about him. Somewhere in me, I think I once loved him, but now that's empty. Sometimes when I hear some cat compare us, I feel something burning there. I know it's illogical, but sometimes I think I hate him. I hate what he left me with. Is… Is this what you feel with Onewhisker?" Crowpaw asked nervously.

My fur was bristled by the question, but I knew what Crowpaw meant. We had a lot of similar trauma surrounding our sires. "Just like you, I hardly know Onewhisker. The things I do know are always flavored by the memory that he turned away me and my mother when we needed him. He was scared of what Windclan would think, so he turned us away, and I hate him for it. Don't get me wrong. I love my current life. I have no idea what I'd be like without Father's guidance, Dad's kindness, and my pa and mentor Stonestep teaching me how to be. I've lived a blessed life, but I can never forgive or forget how Onewhisker had the chance to be my father and turned it down over something as fickle as public opinion. Even now he continues to infuriate me. He pretends he never abandoned me, praising me while simultaneously pointing out how I could be Windclan now with his help. He doesn't regret what he did. He acts like who I am and how I became who I am is because of him. He wants that family he left behind now that it wouldn't make him look bad, and I hate him for it. I've heard other cats say he is kind, understanding, and a rather upstanding cat, but I just can't see it. Maybe I'm just too close to this, too hurt by him, but I can't see him as anything else than what I've said. We're not quite the same Crowpaw, but I understand what it means to not like your sire."

Dawn decided to chime in at this moment. "I mean, I don't have much of a family to speak of either. My parents neglected my brother, which made me quite mad. I don't even consider them kin anymore. Thinking back on it, aren't Tawnypelt and Brambleclaw the kits of that tyrant cat you told me about? What's his name? Tiger something or another?"

That strangely made me realize something. "Yeah. That's right. I also noticed Riverclan's chosen was Feathertail, and Greystripe left their clan while they were just apprentices. I think Stormfur and her have a bit of a grudge against him. Finally, there's Squirrelpaw how was being smothered by Firestar's protectiveness over her. Now that I think of it, all the cats that made and came back from the journey have parent issues. Maybe they should change the name of the Journey cats to Parental Trauma." I joked, getting a chuckle from Crowpaw. At least for now Crowpaw didn't need to feel so alone.

Chapter Text

Dawn and I's stay in Windclan was cut short when Father came trotting in with news. The rest of the clans agreed to meet at Fourtrees to discuss what was said by Midnight. We needed to know what 'a dying warrior' meant. It needed to happen soon. The twolegs were moving their tree toppling monsters into Thunderclan's territory. The former Windclan camp had also been recently destroyed by those same tree topplers. Tallstar was thankful to Father for convincing him to move the camp further from the Twoleg Place after it was reported that the former camp was destroyed.

Father's visit was, to me, Starclan sent. Onewhisker had somehow begged his way into convincing Tallstar that he could take me out for the day while Dawn went with someone else. Effective in theory, but it completely ignored the animosity I held for Onewhisker that I kept pretty well concealed. At least now that Father was here, I had an excuse to avoid being near Onewhisker. Dawn was quick to join me on the idea of needing to hear from Father and remain with him until the clans were gathered together. She didn't have a great opinion of Windclan given that none of them had bested her and the only one who sought to change that was Crowpaw. He took the time to learn a thing or two from her.

The day was mostly uneventful as we waited to go to Fourtrees for the night. That was until the ground started rumbling. A terrible sound something like rocks crashing repeatedly on end sounded in the distance. One of Windclan's warriors came pelting in like he was being chased by a fox. He was panting and ragged, clearly having had been on near the edge of the territory and sprinting the whole way here.

"Tallstar! The Twolegs are moving, and they're coming this way! Their monsters are tearing up the land, and they'll be here before moonrise!" The warrior yowled.

Tallstar kept himself calm, appearing unphased by the announcement, at least visibly. Instead, he just turned to the rest of the clan. "Windclan, we are moving. We'll be heading to Fourtrees immediately. Queens, grab your kits. Warriors, make sure no kit is left behind. Check with Barkface to see if they need any help transporting their herbs. We won't be returning. Either Starclan shows us this dying warrior, or we'll make our own path. I will not allow Windclan to die." He mewed firmly.

All notions of calm were swiftly abandoned as warriors raced around. Queens wrangled their confused kits while Barkface was forced to rapidly bundle up what herbs he could and abandon some that could not take the trip. I drew the attention of Crowpaw when I noticed one of the queens was having difficulty wrangling two of her kits. While I went to grab one, Father pulled Dawn to the side and asked her to scout ahead to ensure there wasn't anything dangerous on the way to Fourtrees. Crowpaw and I managed to grab the kits for the grateful queen and follow her out. It was strange to see that as the sun set behind us Windclan's home was torn apart by monsters we can scarcely comprehend. There was no going back.

We reached Fourtrees before any other clan. It was an expected outcome since we'd had to abandon Windclan's camp. Day turned to night as we waited for the other clans to appear. First was Thunderclan, led by Firestar and flanked by Ashfur. Firestar was a bit unkept, still stressed about the loss of his friend Greystripe. Then came Blackstar with a number of his warriors. Finally came Leopardstar who was flanked by Mistyfoot. The other leaders were disturbed by the appearance of Windclan's kits at the meeting, not yet knowing that Windclan's territory had been destroyed.

"Tallstar, why have you brought your whole clan?" Blackstar pressed.

"If you cannot tell, our territory is gone. We were forced to leave. Either we will see the dying warrior tonight, or Windclan will leave to find better territories. There is no other choice." Tallstar answered, getting gasps from near everyone.

Firestar shook his head sadly. "This is grave news. The Twolegs have also been pushing into our territory as well. We've kept away to keep cats from getting captured by them, but they're ranging too far, so we're getting starved out. Thunderclan won't be able to hold its territory much longer either." Firestar admitted.

Blackstar made his report next. "The Twolegs don't seem too keen on our territory yet. The water seems to be giving them difficulties, which is slowing them down, but they're still making progress. It doesn't help that they've expanded the Crowplace."

Finally came Leopardstar. "While Riverclan has not been adversely affected yet, I've sent scouts further up the river due to strange Twoleg activity. They've discovered that the Twolegs are planning to do something about the river. We don't know what, but the river will likely vanish all at once. Then the Twolegs will likely try to take our territory. That makes all of us unanimously agree that we need to move." She mewed matter of factly.

"The real question is what this 'dying warrior' means from Midnight's vision. It is far too vague of a message, and I'd rather not have any of us risk cats just to create a dying warrior." Blackstar mewed.

Cinderpelt decided to speak up at that moment. "Dying warrior may not refer to a cat at all. Starclan can be deliberately vague at times, but I've had a theory I discussed with Smudgefoot. We call stars our ancestors, but on occasion, one will streak across the sky. In essence, that is a warrior seeking their place in Starclan. In other words, a dying warrior. That's at least the most likely theory we've found. The other possibility is if one of those Skyclan cats Firestar helped a while back suddenly arrives in the territory to help, but that one's a less likely guess."

Barkface and Mudfur nodded at Cinderpelt's theory. "A shooting star being a dying warrior is plausible, and it makes far more sense than the alternative. What was it Midnight said? When all the clans finally come together, a dying warrior will show the way, correct? Then I believe the best course of action is for the rest of the clans to meet here to wait for the dying warrior." Barkface stated.

There was a lot of sadness at needing to abandon our home, but it was necessary. The other three leaders left to gather the rest of their clans to meet here at Fourtrees. Father went with Firestar back to Thunderclan, leaving Dawn and I to monitor the clans as they filtered into the clearing that once held four great trees. The process was slow with it taking most of another day for all the clans to gather who was willing to leave. It is unfortunate to say that many elders decided to remain to the end, not trusting their bodies to handle the journey that awaited us.

When night had come once more, all the clans were together watching the sky. For a long time, there was simply nothing. Silverpelt gleamed overhead but no dying warrior appeared. Tallstar was getting antsy. He made it clear that Windclan would depart the next day, sign or not. Finally, when the sun started to peek across the horizon, it came. A single yet magnificent streak of white shot across the sky, crossing over the mountains where the tribe lived and disappearing beyond. I'd seen a place from the peak of the mountains while we were there. A lake lied beyond. That was surely where Starclan wanted us to go. We finally had our sign, and the clans were unified for the cause. It was time to leave behind the forest we called home and set out to find our new one.

Chapter Text

The clans made some progress on getting to the mountains, but the pace was slow given the number of queens, elders, and kits involved in the journey. Unless something changed, we wouldn't likely even meet the mountains for another two days. As night fell, there was an unspoken realization that hit us all. This was going to be a lengthy journey. The clans would move together for over a moon, far longer than when we held close alliances that involved sharing territory. As we started to bed down for the night, another realization hit. There simply wasn't enough viable space for us to set up nests in separate clans. We could cluster by clan, but there could be no distinct separation of the clans. It was something that had us all on edge, but there were no solutions to be had. Well… there was one thing we could try.

I rallied up the other cats who made the journey to Midnight. They all held the same tension as their clans, so it was time for me to make a proposal. "Right now the clans are worried about how much they can trust the other clans. We won't be able to rest as long as this continues. They're scared of each other. What they need is an example. I suggest we all make our nests together so they can see that we who made the journey to Midnight are unified and trust each other enough to sleep next to each other. Right now the clans still see us as the symbols of their clans. If we can work together and trust one another, they will emulate us." I explained.

Feathertail nodded eagerly in agreement, immediately dragging Crowpaw off to help build their nests. Tawnypelt gave a nod to Brambleclaw and the two set off to build their nests together. That just left Squirrelpaw, Dawn, and I. Squirrelpaw couldn't help exclaiming how happy she was to have me neighboring her again.

"It'll be just like when we started being apprentices. Honestly, when you weren't allowed to stay in Thunderclan, it was hard. I'm so used to the way you breathe in your sleep. The soft pattern is just so familiar that it's hard to sleep when it's gone." Squirrelpaw confessed.

"It doesn't help that you're a cuddler." I teased back, getting a laugh from her.

"That's true, and you've got the biggest, cuddliest tail I know of." She answered with a giggle.

"I knew it! You only like me for my tail." I joked.

Dawn couldn't help piping in. "What's this about his tail?"

"Oh! You have to feel it. It's the bushiest and softest tail I've ever seen on a cat." Squirrelpaw bragged.

Of course, that led to the two poking and prodding my tail, which was admittedly quite large with how my fur grew on it.

"Wow. It is soft." Dawn muttered.

"I know, right! When we were in the apprentice den together, he'd always sprawl out on his side, swinging that tail on top of me. It's like being buried in a cloud. I didn't even notice the cold last Leafbare because of that thing. It kept me nice and warm." Squirrelpaw mewed.

"I'd appreciate if you didn't just talk about my tail as if it wasn't attached to me." I grumbled.

"Aw come on. I like you for plenty of reasons. You're nice. You're smart. You can kick some serious tail when you get mad… You're tail just happens to be my favorite part." She cheekily mewed.

"Well, maybe I'll just sleep on my stomach tonight, let my tail cover me and no one else." I rebutted in a playful way.

"No! Come on! Please share. You don't even like sleeping on your belly because your dreams sometimes make you run. I promise I won't hog it. Dawn and I can share your tail." Squirrelpaw pleaded.

I shook my head in mock annoyance. "Surrounded by mollies and all they want is my tail. Now I get how Father feels when Leafbare comes and he gets all bushy."

True to Squirrelpaw's word, we arranged our nests together so I could lay on my side and drape my tail across Squirrelpaw and Dawn. As I tried to settle into sleep, Squirrelpaw and Dawn kept up the banter. The two were nested under my fairly lengthy and bushy tail.

"Wow. This really is comfortable." Dawn commented, nuzzling into my tail fur,

"I know. Once you've felt Darkpaw's tail, you can never go back." She replied, making me secretly flush a bit.

I forced my eyes to close. I just needed to sleep. As the blackness of unconsciousness grew close, I felt it closing in, the monochrome. Tonight, I'd definitely have a memory dream.

This dream was older. The monochromatic cold wasn't here. I was smaller, way smaller. My tiny paws made their way through the Twoleg Place. My face stung with a fresh scratch stretching across it. A deep feeling of shame filled me. I'd been marred. Even if I went back home, the Twolegs wouldn't keep me. No Twoleg would want a runt who wasn't even pretty. I was going to die, and it was all that stupid yellow eyed monster's fault. My stomach grumbled, reminding me of how hungry I was. There had to be food around here. I didn't want to die.

I finally caught the scent of something that smelled good. Following it, I saw another skinny tom hunkered over something that smelled meaty. I approached cautiously, hoping for a bit of charity. "Can I have some?" I softly mewed.

The tom swung around swiftly, arching his back in an aggressive hiss. He instantly saw my collar and how big I was. "Go home kit! This ain't no place for a kittypet!" He growled before grabbing the food and bolting.

And there I was alone again, no food to speak of and denied basic courtesy because of the stupidly durable collar I wore. Every time I tried to get help, they got one look at my collar and saw me as a pretender, someone who had someplace to go. I couldn't go home, and they didn't want to help.

I wandered for what felt like days on end. My paw's had cracked after walking on the hot ground for so long. I left a bloody pawprint with every step, and it hurt, but I couldn't stop. I needed food or I'd die. Gone was the idea of trying to get it without hurting someone. I needed it. Begging never worked, so I wouldn't even try.

Eventually I found another tantalizing scent. Following it, I saw an elderly tom eating a rat. Normally the idea of eating a rat was disgusting, but this was my best chance. The elder was just as thin as me, but this was either me or them. I made my choice, I ran as fast as I could, biting down on the rat and tried to bolt. The elder tried to chase me. He raged with threats to kill me of he got his paws on me. There'd be no going back or apologizing. I dragged the rat across one of the roads, hoping to keep the elder from following me since he couldn't make the crossing as easy. I made it just fine, but the elder did not give up, which turned out to be his downfall. A monster tore past, crushing the elder under its paws. The blank stare of the elder was terrifying, but I had my meal. I ate it right there, not trusting any alleys to not have an opportunistic cat who'd steal it from me. As I ate, I watched the elder, feeling as if he wasn't really dead and would leap to his paws to kill me. It was only as the blood puddled around him did I accept that I was safe. If the tom lost all his blood, all his red, he couldn't hurt me. Seeing all the elder's red, it felt safe. Red really was a beautiful color, wasn't it? It was a color of victory and safety. Every other color felt dull in comparison. Red. Such a beautiful color.

Chapter Text

I awoke with a start. The dream had triggered the monochrome. Everything felt so bland, blurry, and lifeless. The revelation from my dream also carried through. I felt unsafe. There was no red proving my victory, no scarlet to denote the defeat of a feared enemy, no crimson to show I was safe. I was alone in the monochrome. Sure, cats stood around me, but they were grey. Today was a bad day.

It took all my willpower to search for my father without falling to my cravings. He noticed the look on my face quickly. I believe a look of concern crossed his face, but it is so hard to tell in the colorless world. Finally, he spoke, echoing like a distant voice but familiar enough to latch onto.

"Bad day?" He asked, his featured becoming ever harder to discern as my desires compounded.

I gave a nod, unsure of how even my voice would sound in their world, the one to which I did not belong. The monochrome was my world and my torment. So blinding was the grey to which I knew I could lose myself forever in. All the same, it was far too tempting to break out through blood. If I saw even a drop, I knew I'd go on a rampage desiring more. I needed it more than anything I ever knew. It would free me, give me catharsis. I could hear the heartbeats around me, so much blood readily available that just needed a puncture to get out. Such was my curse, a wicked desire for freedom from a world of my own mind's making, a gift from my predecessor I wish I could just give back. It made me ruthlessly cunning, but it was torture all the same.

I barely managed to realize the silhouette that I assumed was my father was trying to guide me somewhere. I followed, not wanting to hurt him despite the temptation. We walked for an unknown amount of time, but something about the area he led me to was familiar. There were fences enclosing us. Faintly, I could pick up the sound of barking. The being in front of me gestured for me to wait, so I did so. All alone I would not be tempted towards violence. Even still, I could feel the craving becoming stronger. Soon enough, I wouldn't be able to resist. I needed blood. I needed to break free. I silently waited, knowing Father would somehow sate my craving. He always does. He always will. He understands this is a need, not a want, and he does what he can to try and break this need, but it never truly fades away, only getting longer breaks between when the monochrome rolls in.

The barking was drawing closer. It had to be Father. He was luring a dog for me. I could already imagine its sweet blood spattered across the ground. I'd make a wonderful display with its red, creating a scene to which conveyed my most desperate desire. It was drawing closer. Soon I'd be fed. Soon my thirst would be quenched. Soon I'd be freed from my monochrome cage, returned to the world I so desperately wanted to remain is, remember those who cared for me, remember why I stayed instead of ending myself before the next monochrome. My family, my friends, they still needed me. I needed to break out for them. All it would take is a little blood.

Soon the barking was almost on top of me. It was something about cat sized. Perfect. It'd be my sacrifice to find freedom. I heard something run past on the other side of the fence. It was likely Father, keeping out of my sight so as not to tempt me to take out my desires on him. Then came the dog. I could already taste it. Its heart hammered so sweetly as it drew closer to its inevitable demise. I let it approach me like I was the prey. Finally, I acted. I spun beneath its snapping jaws, lancing a paw up. My claws tore into the beast, letting a scarlet rain pour upon me. It whimpered and whined as its life faded. Thankfully for it, Father had taught me mercy. I finished it off quickly before basking in the red. Joy sung through me as the monochrome began to lift. Color was returning to the world. My mind was clearing. I was able to see the world more clearly and think without a haze. A certain thought hit me before the monochrome totally cleared. I was still short a new set of claws, and a dog's body was right here. I still remembered how to remove their teeth and how to hollow them for use. The new ones would be a good bit shorter than my old ones, but they'd still far out length my natural ones. I set to work cutting the gums and teasing out the useful lengthy fangs. I'd only really get four, but one paw's worth is all I wanted. I merely wanted a weapon for when things inevitably turned sour. Father returned after a little while, keeping back just in case this kill hadn't sated me.

"I'm back Father. I was just getting a new set of claws. I left the old ones back at the tribe with Claws." I mewed, pulling myself free from the carnage. The four claws clacked against the ground as I kicked them along.

"I'm glad that you're better. We'll have to clean you up first before we get back, but I'm glad we didn't need to drag out your bad day this time." Father mewed, ignoring the claws on the ground for now. He busied himself with cleaning the blood from my body, the distaste of such a thing long ago forgotten. He was here for me, even if what I needed was undesirable. I cleaned myself as well, working hard to try and get any sneaky patches before they'd clot into a horribly stiff material. It was never fun when we missed one. Finally, I was clean. I still stank of blood, but I looked well groomed. The scent would fade eventually. Father usually just let me roll in some herbs to suppress and mask the scent, but that wasn't currently available. We'd just have to ignore or evade questions about it. The dense scent of the clans should deal with it before we got too far.

"So, you feel that some new claws are necessary?" Father gently probed as we walked back, the new claws bundled in a leaf.

"Yes. Ever since I saw what the Twolegs were doing, I've just felt helpless. I know even with these, it wouldn't be enough to stop them, but a set of claws let me take out a big dog and a cat beast. Who knows what we'll find when we find our new home. There's bound to be foxes and badgers aplenty since there are no cats to drive them out. I want to be ready." I confessed.

"While I do not believe them to be necessary, I trust you. You never needed those claws to do what you do, but I'll let you keep them if it makes you feel safe. Just remember to never raise them against the clans. Those are tools of death, and the clans' rivalry is not a worthy cause to use them." Father instructed while still giving me an affectionate brush.

"I will Father. These claws are reserved for life or death emergencies. I will not raise them against our fellow cats." I answered firmly. Father was always wise and expected the best from me, trusting me to be able to do what was necessary and right. I would not fail him. These may be tools of death, but I'd use them as a means of protection. I'd keep my family safe. That is my conviction.

Chapter Text

Father and I returned to where the clans had conglomerated. Most every cat had finally risen for the day and a few warriors from each clan were returning with prey to share with their clans. I honestly wasn't that hungry. I think during my rage I may have consumed some of the dog. I am not totally sure, but there was a certain weight to my stomach that I could have sworn wasn't there this morning, but the monochrome makes it hard to tell. Regardless, Father had Dawn and I share a mouse he snagged on the way back. Since the three of us were technically unaffiliated, we had to catch for ourselves.

It didn't take long for us to get moving again. The pace was slow as always, but I could already feel the breeze sweeping down the mountain. Soon we'd be in territory the journey cats were familiar with. As we started walking Dawn finally decided to comment on my scent.

"What is with your scent today? You smell like you just were in a battle." She mewed in a curious tone.

"That's somewhat accurate. I get these urges. Every once and a while I just need to slaughter something. It's not something I can just resist or ignore. I've had this problem ever since I was a kit. Father accommodates me, taking me to places where I won't cause harm to anyone and luring something to me that I can sate my need with. I wish it wasn't a need, but without satisfying it, I am likely to lash out or even kill cats around me. Father actually has a pretty nasty scar on his belly from the first time we found out about it. Now when I go too long without getting into something bloody, it comes back. Thankfully, the times of need are getting further apart. I'm hoping that eventually I won't have the need anymore, but it is unlikely." I answered calmly, trying to ensure that she understood that it was not an untreated problem.

Dawn responded with a strange look, not one of fear or concern for herself. It was concern for me. "Wow. That sounds awful. What is it like? How can you tell when your need just gets too great?" She queried. Most cats never really dig into my problems, merely hearing the first part and then pretending as if they did not just hear my confession. They usually look at me with fear for a while before they choose to believe what I said was a fib of sorts. Sure, they here Father canceled my training for the day or that Stonestep and I need to dip out of a patrol for the day, but they just kept it as eccentricities in their heads. Only Squirrelpaw, Firestar, and now Dawn attempted to delve further into it without being my family, but Squirrelpaw's understanding was very basic since she'd asked when we were just kits why I flipped out like that. She still didn't really get it.

"It's weird, but the world just starts going grey for me. My focus becomes near nonexistent, and I begin having difficulties recognizing things, going so far as to even not recognize my own father. Certain other things are heighted. While I lose the ability to hear words, my hearing is on overdrive for heartbeats. In that state, I feel trapped, as if I'm stuck and all alone. No one else exists in that monochrome world. It is torturous, and eventually I will give in. I'll seek out one of those alluring heart beats and snuff it. I lied a little bit about how in that state everything is colorless. There is one thing and one thing alone that remains colorful. Red, the color of blood is my one release. I spill as much of it as I can until the desire and my monochrome world fades away. I'm not proud of what I do. I wish it didn't feel so necessary, but it's a part of who I am." I answered.

When I met Dawn's eyes, I expected something like pity, fear, or confusion. What I did not expect was understanding. She looked like she understood my troubles despite lacking my condition herself. "I… I get it. I'm not good at this whole feelings thing, but I understand unstoppable urges. Back when I was with the tribe, I had my own urge. It wasn't nearly as bad as yours, but I made some pretty awful choices because of it. You see, I've always had to protect my brother. He couldn't defend himself, so I'd have to do it for him. In order to do that, I needed to be the strongest. I worked hard and got into many fights. I've done many awful things to secure my position as the strongest. Some of the cats that died to the monster cat were my doing. I guided them false, right into its claws. I've crippled a few as well. I know my brother is gone now, but the urge remains. I feel a constant need to prove myself as the strongest. When we sheltered with Thunderclan, it was so hard to keep myself from picking a fight. I honestly felt so relieved when Windclan allowed us to do those sparring matches. Any longer and I most certainly would have fought someone. Probably Mudclaw since he was the most aggravating and picked on someone so close to defenseless. Point is, I get that it's not something you can just avoid. I can feel my claws itch myself with how little of opportunities there is to fight here. I might have you help me with that, and in return, I will help you when you need it. That sound like a deal?" Dawn mewed resting a paw on one of my shoulders.

I was glad that she understood my situation so well. It was the first time a friend ever understood me. I gave her a firm nod. "It sounds like a deal." I mewed in a hopeful tone.

Though I had gotten a new bond with Dawn in understanding each other, I noticed Squirrelpaw out of the corner of my eye. She looked upset, but I couldn't understand why. I decided to approach her before things got out of paw.

"Squirrelpaw, what's got you upset?" I mewed placatingly.

"Why don't you ask Dawn since she understands so much?!" She growled back.

"Please Squirrelpaw. You don't understand…" I started before she cut in.

"And that's the problem isn't it? I just can't understand." She hissed before bolting.

I froze, sadness plastered on my face as I reached out towards where Squirrelpaw once was. "Squirrelpaw…" I uttered in a hurt voice, knowing she wasn't likely to talk to me any time soon.

Dawn was quick to trot to my side. "I saw that. Are you alright?" She mewed with concern.

"I didn't mean to hurt her. She overheard us, and she took it the wrong way. I'm not trying to keep anything secret from her, but she just wouldn't get it." I replied, still looking at Squirrelpaw who moved to the front of the pack.

"Let's let her cool down for a bit. I'll go talk to her and try to explain things. Maybe you two just need a bit of space from each other." Dawn replied, giving me an assuring brush before trotting ahead to keep an eye on Squirrelpaw and look for an opportunity to talk to her. I meanwhile fell back, not wanting to give Squirrelpaw a reason to believe I sent Dawn after her. It hurt how she'd run from me. I didn't want to lose her as a friend. We'd been together since kithood, and she'd seen me through some tough times. I just couldn't understand why she was so offended. I couldn't understand.

Chapter Text

There was some good news to be had. We'd reach the foot of the mountain by the end of the day. Then Dawn would be able to guide us up through some of the faster and safer passes to reach the tribe for a night. I hoped Squirrelpaw would cool down by then. I didn't like avoiding her, even if that was what she wanted. I'd simply need to hang around some other cats for now. Maybe now would be a good time to check in on Dad.

I moved up towards Thunderclan and looked around for Dad. I found him after a bit with Stonestep, or rather Pa. It's hard to mentally reassociate my mentor with his union with my parents, but I was happy for them. As I made my approach, Dad (Ravenfeather) was wracked with a sudden coughing fit. I rushed over with worry as Stonestep comforted him. A single drop of blood fell from Dad's mouth before he calmed. His chest was heaving for a while as he fought to regain his breath. It was not a pleasant sight.

"Dad! Are you alright?" I rushed over and mewed, pressing into him to steady him as he shook.

Dad tried to give me a comforting smile, which wasn't all that reassuring with the dribble of blood running out of the corner of his mouth. He noticed my look before taking a moment to wipe the blood away. "Don't worry too much about me. It's just a bit of sickness." He tried to reassure, but it didn't fool me. Dad was never much of a liar, so he had obvious tells.

"You're lying to me. Please just tell me what's wrong." I begged, seeing his eyes go foggy briefly as he knew I was far too clever to just accept his dismissal.

Dad heaved a sigh before meeting my eyes. There was a certain hopelessness in that look. It hurt to see. Dad was always reassuring and always there for me when I needed emotional support. To see him so defeated was heartbreaking. "You're right. I didn't want to say anything yet. Both you and Smudgefoot are so busy with this Guardian stuff. I didn't want to distract you with something that can't be helped. Stonestep already knows since he was with me when I got the diagnosis. I've got a growth. It's inside my belly giving me fierce pains on the occasion. Cinderpelt found it just a little bit after you left on your trip to Midnight. It's… something that's going to kill me. We have no idea how soon it will, and it isn't something medicine can treat. Unfortunately, she doesn't believe I'll last more than a year. Cinderpelt has been giving me poppy seeds regularly to help with the pain, but there's just less available out here. The last dose wore off, so I've been just gritting my teeth through it, but it gives me these coughing fits." Dad admitted, his head sinking as he knew this would pain me.

As Stonestep brushed his tail reassuringly across Dad's back, I had to ask the most important question. "Does Father know?"

Dad slowly shook his head. "No, I haven't told him yet. Again, he has bigger things to worry about than an uncurable illness. Plus, you know how he is. If he knew, he'd do anything to try and solve it. This isn't something that can be solved."

I couldn't believe what Dad was saying. He didn't want Father to know he was dying. I couldn't let that stand. Father deserved to know. As Dad said, we don't know when it will take him, and it would hurt Father even more if it happened while he was unaware. "You have to tell him. He deserves to know. One thing Father always told me is that secrets don't keep. If you try and hide this from him, it'll only come out at the worst possible time. Do you want him to only realize this when you lie dead? That would destroy him. You know that. Sure, it'll hurt him, but it will save him a lot of pain later."

Dad couldn't help but smile at my words. "You're so much like your father. If I didn't know any better, I'd definitely say you share his blood. You're right as well. He does need to know. I should never have hidden it from him."

Dad asked Stonestep to go find Father for him and bring him back. It'd likely take them a bit, so we had a little bit of time to chat. Dad seemed to look over me before giving me another smile. "You know, I still remember when you were just a kit. You and Squirrelpaw used to get into so much trouble. Then there was that first bad day you had. Scared the absolute fur off of Smudgefoot and I, but he managed to calm you down pretty quick. That scar is still there too, but whenever someone mentions it, he looks at it with fondness. Sometimes when we sleep together, I take the time to trace it. Such a long scratch for such a small kit. I've asked him before why he likes the scar so much, and he looked at me like I was mousebrained. Then he gave me the most perplexing answer. He said it was because you gave it to him. Your father can be such a strange cat sometimes, but it is undeniable that he loves us. I hope you know that." Dad mewed with a wistful tone.

"I do. Father may not understand emotion like you and Stonestep, but he always tries. If I ever need help, he is always there unquestionably. He trusts me like nobody else. If I told him the moon would crash down, he would believe me and try and plan an evacuation. He would never lie to me, and I will never lie to him." I responded, remembering and feeling that immeasurable connection I shared with Father. There wasn't a force in this world that could break our loyalty to each other.

"Then I need you to be there for him. Stonestep didn't actually hear the full diagnosis. The growth is actually much worse than I led him to believe. When I said I wasn't likely to last a year, that was an overestimate. I'm unlikely to last the season. It's going to hurt them both a lot, so you need to be there for them. They'll need you more than ever. It doesn't help that Stonestep is thinking of retiring once your training is done. That torture he received from Tigerstar way back when turned out to have some long lasting damage that is catching back up to him. I'm also going to ask your father to hold a promise that seems unreasonable. I want him to have kits of his own after I die. I want him to have someone else to hold in his heart where I once was. I know he'll never really get over me, but I still want him to try. I want his happiness." Dad mewed with a sad tone of finality.

I met Dad's gaze as I gave my response. "I promise I will be there for them no matter what. I will remind him that he is not alone."

"You should probably tell Ashfur as well. Ever since Smudgefoot trained him, he's always seen him like a son." Dad mewed, gesturing for me to go look for him as Father and Stonestep began to approach.

I took off to find Ashfur, and he was thankfully not all that far away. In fact, I believe he'd been eavesdropping on the conversation. He had a pensive look, as if he'd been trying to solve something particularly difficult. "Ashfur, did you hear all that?" I mewed.

Ashfur nodded slowly, not losing that look on his face. Then he asked with an almost depressed curiosity. "Ravenfeather is dying. That's something we can't fix, isn't it?"

I shook my head in response. "No. It isn't."

Ashfur continued that strange tone as he continued to speak. "I promised myself after the day we defeated Bloodclan and Smudgefoot lost so many that I'd do everything in my power to make sure he never has to cry again. I don't ever want to see that ever again. It hurts worse than any slash I'd ever received and is scarier than the time a Windclan cat almost murdered me. I don't want that. Why can't this just be fixed?" He almost pleaded.

"Some things are simply beyond our paws. I'm scared too, but Father is going to need us. He's going to get hurt, but he'll need us to help him recover. I know that we never spent all that much time together, but Smudgefoot considers both of us his sons. Can we work together on this as brothers?" I asked.

"Brothers huh? I've never taken much faith on the title of siblings. Ferncloud and I hardly interact anymore. While I wouldn't mind you calling me that, I'd rather we be allies. Siblings only have something as paltry as blood binding them whereas allies have the bond of aligned goals. We both have the goal of ensuring his happiness, and I don't see that going away." Ashfur mewed contemplatively.

"Sure, allies. We can be allies on this." I replied, taking into account Ashfur's almost distaste of blood kin.

I remained with Ashfur as we watched Ravenfeather confess his condition to Father and the emotional reaction that followed. Father paced for a while, likely attempting to figure out a solution before his ears fell and he was forced to accept that this wasn't something we could solve. Father said he'd stay with Dad as often as possible. His position as Guardian of the clans was secondary to his position as mate to Ravenfeather.

Chapter Text

I left my parents to sort out their feelings for now. Right now they needed each other, so I'd go about fulfilling the role of Guardian so Father would not be called back to work. Since most of the clans seemed to be moving just fine, I decided to check on the one that seemed most reluctant to make this migration, Riverclan. I fell back to them. It wasn't long before someone noticed me approaching.

"It's been a while Darkpaw. I haven't seen you since just before you took off to find Midnight." Hawkfrost greeted. His tone sent a chill up my spine. He definitely wanted something.

"It really has Hawkfrost. I heard from someone that you were acting deputy for a while. How'd that work out for you?" I queried back, knowing from my father's words that ambitious cats hate most a dig at their leadership.

"Yes, the disappearance of Mistyfoot was a tragedy that was thankfully resolved. Regardless, I filled in the position well during her disappearance. I will admit that I wish I'd gotten more chances to showcase my leadership abilities by leading our cats into battle, but as you remember, we all held off fighting each other until this situation could be resolved." Hawkfrost carefully mewed.

"Knowing when to and when not to pull claws is a key skill in leadership. Though, knowing what little I've heard about Leopardstar, she was likely trying something when she gave you the position." I stated, drawing his attention.

"And what would that be?" Hawkfrost asked almost hungrily.

"Leopardstar very likely plans to pass on leadership to Mistyfoot, but most leaders on their last life also look for which cat would be the most effective deputy for that leader. She may be grooming you to be Mistyfoot's successor." I answered, knowing this was likely enticing information to him.

"And if Mistyfoot were to say, have an accident, what would she likely do?" Hawkfrost probed, his dark intentions starting to become visible.

"Not for me to say, but she'd likely look for someone besides you to fill the role. Don't take this the wrong way, but the deputy must be the almost antithesis of the leader, and frankly, you and Leopardstar are both battle focused and not politically minded. Mistyfoot is very politically minded since she lived through Tigerstar's reign, got exiled due to her heritage, has a sibling in another clan, and has worked to stabilize Leopardstar's rule for a long time. If she just suddenly died, Leopardstar would likely choose Feathertail as deputy since Feathertail also has a lot of complicated history involving clan politics." I replied.

I saw the briefest flash of anger on Hawkfrost's face before he managed to conceal it. He shook his head before mewing. "It appears that you are far wiser than you look."

"Well, I learned from the best, my father." I responded with a bit of pride.

"Bah. I hardly believe someone who has no ambitions beyond being a deputy is a worthwhile teacher." Hawkfrost dismissed, getting an angry hiss from me.

"Hey! My father had every chance to become leader of Thunderclan. During Bluestar's reign, most cats thought Father would be the successor since he acted as the primary deputy after Tigerstar's exile. There were whispers of him being named Smudgestar. The reason he didn't is because he chose not to. It was Father's vote that made Firestar the successor to Bluestar. He wanted to remain just the deputy because he saw value in maintaining a lower position which gave him more freedom of action. He attained the title of Guardian because all the clans venerate his skills in maintaining the peace as well as his connections to each of the clans' leaders. Don't you dare speak of him disrespectfully again!" I growled.

Hawkfrost took a step back for a moment before dipping his head slightly in apology. "I apologize for my words. It was short sighted of my to insult Smudgefoot in front of you. He is a cat with many feats to his name. My detractions towards him stem from the fact that I cannot understand him. He had power right at his paws and shoes to reject it, a foolish notion in my mind. I bear no ill will towards him, but I find his choices to be infuriatingly out of line with what I would have chosen."

I accepted Hawkfrost's words. Despite his aggression, Hawkfrost was just confused. Maybe it could clear it up for him a bit. "There was something Father once taught me about leadership, should I ever find myself with the need to lead. It was that power always has a price. Freedom in the price of power. When you are responsible for the lives of many others, your options are severely limited. Forget free time, you'll be far too busy planning patrols, trying to anticipate the other clans, and holding meetings with the senior warriors and medicine cat. Many leaders decide to never take on mates because they present a vulnerability. Even if the cat they chose is the strongest in the clan, they simply don't have the time to dedicate themselves to the relationship. They say a leader's only love will ever be their clan. If you really envy power, then you must be willing to accept the consequences of power. If you think you can, then it'd be better for you to directly talk to Mistyfoot and Leopardstar about putting you on the path to leadership. Honesty accomplishes far more than anyone would care to admit and forget acting deceitful. Another of my father's sayings is that secrets don't keep. If you can do it without being underpawed, do it that way."

Hawkfrost seemed to be mulling over my words before giving me a nod. "It appears that you've given me much to think about again. I will continue to watch for you. I can very well imagine you attaining the name Darkstar in the future. Until we meet again." Hawkfrost mewed before slipping back into Riverclan's ranks. I could only hope he took my words seriously. He had the same greedy eyes that I'd heard Tigerstar once bore, so I hoped he'd correct his path, though somehow, I doubted he would. That hunger was feral, likely to scratch and bite if it meant he'd get what he wanted. I could only hope he'd master it instead of becoming slave to it like I was to the monochrome.

Chapter Text

Near instantly after Hawkfrost left my presence, Squirrelpaw came storming over, clearly mad about something new. I could not understand why she was acting like this. II hadn't done anything to deserve such a reaction.

"Darkpaw, why were you talking to Hawkfrost?" She demanded.

"It's my job as Guardian. I can't just ignore one clan because we've got a history with them." I replied defensively.

"No. I don't care that you were talking to Riverclan. I care that you were talking to Hawkfrost." She hissed back.

"Why? I mean, did he do something to offend you I'm really not seeing where you're coming from Squirrelpaw. If you could just explain it to me, I'd try to understand." I mewed back.

Squirrelpaw stared me down, seemingly trying to look for a deception before shaking her head. "It's nothing. Just something about Hawkfrost puts me on edge. Whenever I see him, he's got this look of hunger on his face and I start feeling like I'm being hunted. Something isn't right about that cat. His movements are too smooth. His reactions are to rehearsed. It reminds me of Smudgefoot when he's trying to convince the other clans to do something. Thing is, Smudgefoot will always tell you what he wants. I don't know what Hawkfrost wants, but I can just tell it isn't anything good. Please just promise me that you'll try to avoid him." Squirrelpaw mewed.

"I mean, I'll try, but I'll have to talk to him if he approaches me. It's part of my job." I answered, getting a begrudging nod.

"Fine. I guess you've got an obligation then, but don't go seeking him out." Squirrelpaw mewed before whirling around to leave. She hesitated a moment longer before mewing. "Sorry about earlier. Dawn talked to me. She explained your relationship with her. She says you're like a younger sibling to her, and she doesn't want to mess up this time. I overreacted. I still feel mad for some reason, but I don't want to take it out on you. Just give me some space for a bit."

That made me smile a bit. Squirrelpaw wasn't still completely mad at me and accepted the rage was irrational. I gave her a reassuring nod before watching her depart to catch back up with the rest of Thunderclan. I decided to increase my pace as well, moving to join the frontrunners, Windclan. Having a Guardian present would help the clans feel more secure in the clans' decision to leave the forest. Of course, when I moved up to Windclan, a certain insufferable sire decided to harass me again with his idealism of me joining his clan. I am talking about the coward of which impregnated my mother, Onewhisker.

"Darkpaw! I knew you'd decide to join us eventually. After all, Windclan is the noblest of the clans. I can't wait to teach you to properly run." He began to rant.

I decided to cut him off. "Slow it down Onewhisker." I started before he interrupted me.

"You can call me dad." He tried to correct.

I shot him an annoyed look which he somehow didn't pick up before continuing. "Onewhisker." I mewed firmly. "I am not joining Windclan or any clan. I am a Guardian, which I will remain being until this crisis is over. Even then, I've got a longer history with Thunderclan. To just snub them after being with them so long is unimaginable. They were the ones that raised me, so they earned my loyalty."

Onewhisker seemed to dismiss me my opinion. "Oh, I'm sure you'd feel right at home in Windclan. You and Crowpaw got along so well. He could really use a friend like you, one willing to stand up to Mudclaw. Don't you just get that itch to run, the urge to just sprint forever. Every Windclan cat does, and you are of my blood. Thunderclan can never sooth that need. They'll never understand it. You can always join us. You can come home."

I had to bite back a hiss at Onewhisker's words. How could he just so brazenly ask me to betray all those I knew, all those I loved? Did he think I couldn't manage such a paltry urge. My desire to run was far overshadowed by the monochrome. Even then, Thunderclan's old territory had plenty of places where a cat could make a full sprint. It's from those runs that I learned how to duck and dodge while keeping my momentum. Plus, Thunderclan identified with me more. Thunderclan, above all other clans, is a combat-oriented clan. Thunderclan always craves a fight. We train harder than anyone else on how to outthink, out maneuver, and out muscle the other clans. There's a reason Thunderclan is the clan of heroes. We're just the ones best equipped fight a problem. Sure, Windclan will always be faster than us. Riverclan will always have the advantage of water, and Shadowclan will always be the stealthiest, but we're the best fighters, and my desire for blood suited this clan well.

I decided to make it clear so he could understand without a shadow of a doubt. "Onewhisker, I will never join Windclan. I've had my lifetime to come to know and love Thunderclan. You had your chance long ago, and you turned me away. There is no undoing that choice. Think of it like this. If you were out hunting and skipped a particularly plump hare because it was in a pointy thicket, you can't complain when someone or something else takes the chance and makes the catch. You can't just go back for it and expect it to be there. It's the same thing here. I was there for you to take, but you decided it wasn't worth the risk. Someone else decided I was, so they took the risk. You can regret your choice, but that won't change how things turned out. I am Thunderclan now, and that isn't something that will change. If you are going to do anything like a good parent, then listen to me now. Accept that I am no longer your son. Accept that we're just strangers who share blood. I'm willing to let you try and befriend me, but I will never let you parent me." I mewed vehemently.

Onewhisker stammered, trying to refute my claim. "But we share blood." He mewed as if that was a valid argument.

"Blood? Really? If blood was all it took to make me family, you would have brought me in when my mother asked. Blood is just a liquid. If I looked at the blood of thousands of cats, I would not be able to identify which one was mine or yours. We all bleed red. Bonds are what matters. I will always be able to recognize Smudgefoot's voice. I will never confuse the scent of Ravenfeather with anyone else. I know their love for me better than I know myself. This isn't something that's just given from birth. This is something earned through effort, dedication, and sacrifice. All you've done is attempt to care now that I'm acceptable. You would not fight for me like Smudgefoot, Ravenfeather, and Stonestep would. You would not risk your life to save mine. You proved that you weren't willing to risk yourself. I can't put my trust in you. If you want your own kits, then you'd better look for a molly willing to bear them. If there is a next time, put your kits before yourself. Prove you actually love them instead of seeing them as something to further yourself." I hissed back, finally letting the flood of emotions I'd kept contained leak out. There was far more of it that I could have unleashed, but I wanted Onewhisker to get just a taste. I didn't want to antagonize Windclan as a whole. Onewhisker took my words with stunned silence, eventually drifting away from me, giving me the breathing room I so desperately desired.

Chapter Text

After so very long, we were finally at the foot of the mountain. Before we moved to start climbing it, I decided to stop the clans briefly, which is not an easy task when you're just one cat. I could tell several cats were annoyed with me for this, and the leaders looked at me expectantly when I called for the stop.

"Before we begin climbing, I think it'd be best if we let Dawn lead and say a few things about how to safely traverse this." I suggested.

"And why should we listen to an outsider?" One of the cats watching harangued.

"Because she is from the mountain. She's lived on it her entire life. I'm pretty sure she knows how to safely travel on it far better than any of us could." I replied, my voice slightly tinged with annoyance for being interrupted.

Dawn came forward, entirely unbothered by the sheer number of cats now looking at her. Some even looked at her hatefully, still filled with their indoctrinated xenophobia. It was honestly impressive how dismissive of them she was.

"First things first, stay as far away form the edges as physically possible. You're not experienced with the mountain, so you're unlikely to be able to recognize what sections are liable to just give out on you. Second, Don't walk on fresh snow. If it's got no paw prints, it might be a hidden pit. I'll of course be up front to try and set a path you all can follow. Third thing. Do not hunt up here unless I say so. Plenty of prey up here can walk over the aforementioned hidden pits without collapsing them. Chasing one is a good way to get yourself killed. Fourth, carry all kits and small apprentices. We don't want an eagle to take them. Fifth, always stay close to someone and be ready to grab them should their footing slip or they accidentally tread on a hidden pit. Sixth, once we start climbing, we won't be stopping until we hit the Tribe of Rushing Water. The mountain gets too cold at night to survive while exposed. It'll take us all day and possibly into the night to reach it assuming we go now. I'd suggest we stay put until morning to make our timing a bit better." Dawn explained, ignoring the annoyed or dismissive glances she was getting from many cats.

Tallstar gave a thoughtful nod. "Sounds like a decent plan. I'd prefer we not travel at night in the cold seeing as we're bringing elders."

Firestar spoke next, agreeing with Tallstar. "Yes, the least dangerous option is likely the best one."

Leopardstar let out a hiss of annoyance. "I disagree. Every day we delay is one step closer to Leafbare. On top of that, we're losing strength every day due to a lack of prey. We'll be in an arguably worse position tomorrow seeing as we'll be waking up without eating and then making an all-day trek."

Blackstar voiced his disagreement as well. "Leopardstar has a point. While making the trip today is potentially more dangerous, it'll also be the one we're most alert for. If we go now while Dawn's warnings are still fresh, we'll be less likely to get complacent. On top of that, besides owls, birds are less likely to attack at night, meaning it would be a safer trip for our kits."

There it was. The clans were split on what to do. I knew Father would be forced to be the decider, but I could technically act first. He did appoint me as a Guardian. There was nothing in the code that defined ranks in the Guardians, so I could answer with a preemptive answer. I saw Father rising from his position near Ravenfeather, so I decided to act.

"The Guardians support Windclan's and Thunderclan's position. While the temptation to go now is certainly there, there are certain mitigating factors that make that decision less viable. For one, snow is much harder to read in the dark. It becomes almost amorphous. This'll make finding those pits harder. On top of that detracting factor, we'll also have the issue of our building exhaustion. We've already traveled for most of a day, and we'll be moving uphill from here. Exhaustion brings lapses in judgement. As for the issue pertaining to hunger, we've still got a good amount of daylight left in the day. We can focus on hunting now to regain strength before we make the journey up." I mewed.

Father shot me a look that was somewhere between grateful for me doing this for him and proud to see me step up when needed. Of course, someone had to question my words. That someone this time was Hawkfrost, likely trying to push me a bit and see how I'd react.

"Shouldn't we be hearing this from Smudgefoot since he's the Starclan appointed Guardian?" He mewed, sowing discontent.

This unfortunately forced Father to come forward. "Actually, there is no ranks among the Guardians. Not even the status as warrior or apprentice hold weight in it. Darkpaw was also appointed by Starclan for the position specifically to act as the role for the Journey cats. We're both Guardians of equal standing and will back each other's words. We both represent the position, so Darkpaw's decision is my decision."

Blackfoot looked away begrudgingly before mewing. "Fine. I understand the choice. I see my logic was potentially flawed, so I will withdraw my answer."

Leopardstar also sighed at the decision. "Very well. We'll leave tomorrow morning." She mewed, dismissing the tension from her clan.

With that, the all clans meeting was adjourned. There were some minor details hashed out by the leaders such as where to position the Journey cats since they'd also been up these mountains and picked up some navigational tricks from the tribe. I was to be positioned right behind Dawn as her 'buddy' in case she slipped up. It wasn't apparently an all to uncommon occurrence. The monster cat was only the second biggest causes of death while it was still there. The first was the mountain itself. One bad hidden ice patch, one careless step, one moment of a lack of focus, and a cat could find themselves tumbling down the mountain. It's why being a hunter of the tribe is such a respected and dangerous job.

Father soon sought me out after the meeting despite my efforts to give him as much time with Dad as possible. "You did good son. I honestly didn't expect you to step in for me like that, but you gave pretty much the same answer I would have given. It takes a lot of guts to go before all the clans like that, especially because you're still technically an apprentice. We'll have to fix that soon. Anyways, you make me proud. If a similar situation comes up in the future and you decide to act, I'll support you all the way. Just don't be afraid to lean on me too. I may be emotional right now, but I'm still your father. I'm still there for you when you need it." He mewed, brushing against me to show his appreciation. I did go back with him to hang out with Dad since the area was about to be massively overhunted. Dawn of course would likely get something from the mountain, where we still deemed it too unsafe. For now, I could enjoy the break.

Chapter Text

We began our trek into the mountain, Dawn and I in the lead. The unbroken white path was frankly terrifying to set. Each paw step was cautious, testing our weight to see if the ground would give beneath us. The bare patches of rock were only barely more trustworthy, requiring us both to stand and shuffle on parts to ensure it was firm enough to walk on. It scared the fur off of me the first time Dawn tested a step only to sink to her belly, forcing me to pull her out. We had to dig out and try and collapse those sections. Dawn had to save me as well when I stepped on what I thought was a secure rock which turned out to be far looser than I thought and shifted sideways, near sending me over the edge. This task of pathfinding was dangerous beyond belief.

Strangely enough, dangerous work can in fact be monotonous. You can only get scared of nearly falling to your death so many times in a day before you get numb to it. Dawn and I were nearly half way up the mountain with the clans trailing behind when we decided to start talking, if only to keep our strange boredom from weakening our focus.

"So, how often did the tribe send you out pathfinding when you were with them?" I queried.

"Not often. It was mostly up to the hunters to remark the paths. I only really got into it when the monster cat showed up. Hunters would always take a cave guard with them, if only to distract the beast so they could get away. It may sound cruel to do, but hunters are far too valuable of a resource. If we lost enough of them, we'd lose the memory of where the paths were supposed to be as well as our source of food. Thankfully, most hunters are better mannered than the rest of the cave guards. They at least try to get us out of danger when the monster cat was in the area. I had a friend through that for a while. We could have been mates. His name was Wings Blocking Sunlight, and he was one of the hunters. Funny guy too. On top of that, he was kind to my brother. Unfortunately, things went wrong. Stoneteller convinced us to try and drive the beast off by overhunting its territory. Starving it out, if you will. It sort of worked until it caught one of us. It figured out we could be prey. The one it caught was Wings. In the tribe… we don't get to mourn our dead much. From kithood, barely half of us make it to adulthood. Even then, some of us die early into our maturity. We have big litters to compensate. Stoneteller always said death was just as much a part of the mountain as the tribe was. I'm now not so sure I want to live like that anymore, especially because I've seen the clans. No weak kits are kicked out. I see kits playing and not just being herded quietly by their mothers. I must admit that it is strange that I haven't seen anyone die since we left the tribe." Dawn explained, her morbid upbringing becoming apparent.

"Yeesh. I can't imagine living like that." I lied, knowing fully well that there were daily deaths under Scourge's rule in Bloodclan. "We of the clans vastly value life. It's part of our nature, probably dating back to when we were just a few conglomerations of rogues looking to up the body count of our clans. It is why we are specifically protective of our kits and elders and why there is a division of the position medicine cat and leader. Honestly, when I'd heard your tribe only had one healer who also happened to be leader, I thought you all were crazy. That's just so much to put on one cat. No wonder Stoneteller looked so miserable the few times I got to meet him. Though, that may be biased since he and I were so hostile to each other due to our clashing beliefs. I'm not one to shame your culture, but dividing up the responsibility would streamline things so much." I chattered back.

"No argument there. While my brother brother's legacy was the primary reason why I left, it wasn't the only reason. If it were the tribe who'd sheltered with an unknown faction and only lost, two, we'd likely not have gone back for them. According to the tribe, six leaving and four returning is a pretty good survival ratio. While we all listened to Stoneteller when he gave a command, there's always this coldness, an unspoken question of will I die today. Not that he's entirely at fault, but simply put, the tribe doesn't do well. You can't imagine the shock I felt when your entire group returned for you two. I want that. I want to someday see kits, my own or otherwise, be raised without the fear that one day they'll go out to play and never return." Dawn further explained.

"Let's move onto something less morbid. Have you made any friends in the clans yet?" I asked, meaning to change the topic.

Dawn let out a chuckle. "Hasn't been all that long, but sure, I've made some friends. That Squirrelpaw who's always on your tail is nice enough when she isn't overly suspicious of us having some kind of relationship. Real chatter that one. It's not so surprising that you turned out to be the quiet type with her around. Crowpaw is also entertaining. I've never seen a cat so desperate for attention in such a submissive way. Regardless, he is earnest and a hard worker. I imagine I could show him quite a few ways to earn the praise he desires. There's also that Brambleclaw fellow. While we haven't gotten to talk much, I have to admit that he's got his charm. He tries to take care of everyone even when he's struggling himself. When we beat the monster cat, her immediately went looking for you. Honestly, I wish I had someone like him when I was still in the tribe. In Stoneteller's words, surviving was reward enough. Others may have had family to support each other during hard times, but I only had my brother. It's nice to now have someone who cares." Dawn mewed with a slight smile.

I gave off a fake scoff of annoyance. "And where am I in all that?" I asked teasingly.

"You really want me to tell you what I think of you?" She shot back, her tail flicking in a playful manner. I nodded in response. "Alright. You asked for it. I've also got this annoying little friend named Darkpaw. He's always in my business, asking questions, and dragging me along into all his business. The brat at least has sharp claws and knows how to fight. Despite how annoying he is and how much he puts me through, I'm never unhappy with the results. Even when I lost my brother, he was there for me. We may not share blood, but he's my brother through and through."

I felt warm at her assessment of me. It was nice to hear that she cared about me like that. I've never really had siblings before. Ashfur is not quite at that level since he's still hung up about blood relations not mattering.

Our conversation was cut short when Dawn spotted an already used path. We'd entered tribe territory.

Chapter Text

Now that we'd entered tribe territory, it meant we could move much faster. We'd just have to follow the tracks in the area. While Dawn herself wasn't intimately familiar with the area, she did know the markings the hunters used to mark dangerous areas such as pitfalls or loose rock. With that, we could pick up the pace, which was largely beneficial since the sun was starting to set.

It wasn't long before some tribe cat saw us. They immediately recognized Dawn and came trotting over smugly. "Didn't expect to see you crawling back so soon Dawn." The tribe molly greeted with a disdainful look.

"Shut it Snow! We're just passing through. May see if the tribe can host us for the night, but that's all." Dawn hissed at the molly.

Snow seemed to take Dawn's words in stride, instead shifting her attention to me. "Ooh. I remember you. Dark… paw right? What is a dark paw anyways? Doesn't matter. How old are you?" The moly questioned, getting close to my face.

"About a year?" I mewed cautiously.

"Close enough. Want to put some kits in me?" She replied, which made me reel back.

"Step off Snow!" Dawn hissed.

"Sorry. Is he yours?" Snow asked back in an almost taunting manner.

"I'm waring you Snow. Back off!" Dawn angrily rumbled.

"Alright. I get it. You've staked your claim." Snow mewed with a bit of almost childish exasperation.

"He's not my…" Dawn started to argue back.

"Then why do you care? Darkpaw here can make his own decisions." Snow mewed, pissing off Dawn more.

"Why would I ever mate with you? I don't even know you!" I asked with a bit of revulsion.

"You've got powerful blood. After all, you took down the beast. It wouldn't do for us to lose such a powerful bloodline." Snow mewed as if it was the most obvious thing.

That actually kind of grossed me out. The idea that she wanted my kits over something so paltry was a disgusting insight into their tribe's culture. I hated the very idea.

"Listen. I don't just mate with just anyone." I tried to explain. Our culture didn't need such desperate acts, but of course Snow cut me off.

"I get it. Powerful blood should only be bred with powerful blood. I get that I'm a half breed with being half cave guard and half hunter, but I'm close to your build so your blood would dilute less." Snow pressed, seemingly unrelenting in the idea of attaining 'my blood'. Then Dawn slammed her into the ground, pressing her face hard into the snow.

"When will you learn to shut your stupid mouth? It's a real long drop from here, and no one really goes below here. If I pushed you off, no one would know." Dawn threatened.

"Alright. I'll leave him alone since you're clearly pining after him. I can't believe Dawn, the once leader of the cave guards, bought into the whole romantic love thing Claws sometimes rambled about. Romance. Pah! A wasted thought when creating a strong next generation is more important. You know I tried with your dad, but apparently he's gone sterile. Shame too since now we've only got that Stormfur fellow and he's smitten with Brook. Stupid romantics." Snow ranted, relenting on the whole trying to mate with me thing.

"Listen here Snow. You're going to shut up and guide us back to the tribe." Dawn commanded.

"Or what?" Snow asked in an aggravating tone.

"Cliff right there. Remember?" Dawn threatened.

Snow challenged her for only a moment more before backing down. "Alright. Fine. I'll show you the way. At least you haven't completely lost your bite." Snow mewed before starting to guide us forward.

As we continued, I decided to get close to Dawn to ask some questions. "Is that normal?" I mewed quietly.

"Her being insufferable? Yes. If you're meaning the whole bloodlines thing. It's complicated. Cats die up here pretty quickly. The tribe isn't given the nicety of getting to pick and choose your mate. Often times, they've got to just put out as many kits as possible without compromising the hunting. I know the clans have the whole protect kits thing, but up here, they practice selective infanticide. They just can't afford to have kits with disabilities. Honestly, Claws dying and I leaving didn't impact them all that much besides my bloodline ending. No molly would have ever looked to mate with Claws, afraid that his curse would transfer through his blood. Besides Stoneteller, the oldest cat up here is five." Dawn explained.

"That's honestly kind of sad." I mewed sympathetically.

"It is what it is. Always been that way as far as I can tell. No point in worrying about it." Dawn mewed with a shrug. "So… you thinking about accepting her offer?" Dawn asked as if it was a genuine question.

"Ew! No! I'm not even a warrior yet. The very idea of just mating with a random cat I just met is revolting." I answered with disgust.

"Pft. Then what do you look for in a mate?" Dawn asked teasingly.

"Well, for one, someone I already know, preferably for a long time. Two, and this is just a personal preference, someone fluffy. I don't grow out much fur, so I'd like someone warm to cuddle with. Third, I want someone who pushes me. I don't tend to do much outside my comfort zone without someone asking me to." I listed.

"You realize you've just described Squirrelpaw, right?" Dawn asked knowingly.

"No!" I mewed back a bit too quickly. "She's just a friend, my best friend even. Sure we've known each other forever, she's got a long and pretty pelt that's every cat's envy, and tends to get me involved in more than I'd usually do, but that doesn't mean anything." I rebutted.

Dawn looked at me like it was the most obvious lie ever told. To be fair, she wasn't wrong. I'd never been a good liar, especially because of the teachings of my father. I knew what I said was a lie, but I didn't want to admit it. I didn't want to consider Squirrelpaw as anything but what she was. I didn't want to ruin our friendship over some fleeting crush. Right now I was comfortable, and I didn't want to ruin the comfortable relationship.

Chapter Text

Snow, or more formally named Snow of The Mountain Top, guided us to the Tribe of Rushing Water's cave. I had to note that it looked far livelier than before, likely because they didn't need it protect it from the monster cat anymore. As we entered, two cats came to approach us, one happy to see us and the other more subdued with a possible hint of distaste. Stormfur rushed forward, happy to see Dawn and I, having been waiting in the entrance since it had been reported to him.

"Darkpaw! Dawn! It's good to see you both. I can see the rest of the clans are coming. How was the climb? I've also got to know, what was the whole dying warrior thing anyways? What brought you guys here?" He inquired in a friendly way.

"It has been a while Stormfur. In regards to climbing up here, it was slow going. Dawn and I had a few close calls, but since she knew mountain safety, we got up here alright. The dying warrior you asked about was a shooting star. It passed over the mountain. I believe it was pointing us towards the lake on the other side. That's where we're going." I answered back.

"The lake huh? Makes sense. That place does look pretty habitable from here, but I advise caution. If it looks good enough to live in, chances are that something already lives there." He warned.

"We'll be careful." I assured.

Strangely, Stoneteller seemed interested in our chosen destination. "The place you seek is the home of our ancestors. We once lived at that very lake until a great drought occurred. The lake vanished away, and we were forced to leave to survive. As your cats once left us to seek better lands, you have come full circle and seek to return to our roots. Perhaps this is providence. Perhaps our ancestors seek for you to return. Spirits work in mysterious ways. Walk carefully in your new lands of the ancient. There is ancient power hidden there that still remembers its violent origin." Stoneteller mewed mysteriously.

I shook my head in shock. "You're telling me that our clans somehow came from here?"

"Yes. I was known as the Great Divide to us. While some of us chose to settle down here, another faction of us decided to continue on, ultimately residing in your forest. If I remember correctly, the leaders were named Tall Shadow and Gray Wing." Stoneteller explained.

"I refuse to believe we came from you! Your morals are so warped in comparison to ours." I hissed, hating the idea of forever being associated with the tribe and their dismissal of death.

"Tell me, is it not the goal of every kit to someday surpass their parents? You cannot believe your own clans have always been so kind or merciful. Time is the great decider of what is right and what is wrong. Death may not be as common to you, so your morals reflect that. Here, it is common, so we've grown to reflect it as well. Though, I wonder how things will change here. The monster cat has been near a part of our lifestyle for a long time. Now that it is dead, there will be more survivors. Much to my regret and likely your glee, I have taken a step back from the management of the tribe, instead focusing on the healing arts and the spirits. Stormfur here has taken it upon himself to…" Stoneteller shuttered. "Educate us. I have allowed him to manage the tribe since we are in a time of relative peace." Stoneteller mewed with a bit of contempt.

"Honestly, it isn't easy." Stormfur mewed. "These cats are pretty set in their ways. I've already had to remind two queens that they don't need to leave their smallest as an offering to the monster cat, reminding them that it is dead. With it gone, we're also catching more prey. These cats still are rationing like their in a famine despite having two eagles in the fresh kill pile. I've also had to start to accept their cultural practices, even if I find them unpleasant. It horrified me when we had to kill a blind runt kit. As much as I wanted to protect them, these cats practice infanticide for a reason. Still haunts my dreams every night. At least they know how to make it quick and painless." Stormfur mewed a bit sorrowfully.

Our chat was interrupted when Feather tail came pelting over, tackling Stormfur. "Stormfur, dear brother, it has been far too long. I've missed you. Riverclan feels quiet without you." Feathertail mewed, rubbing against him affectionately in a familial manner.

"It does feel strange without you sister. It is nice that we got to reunite." Stormfur mewed, rolling back onto his paws. "We'll have to take advantage of what time you remain here."

Feathertail actually scoffed at that. "You think you're getting rid of me that easily? No way. We siblings stick together. If you feel remaining here is necessary, then here we'll stay."

I hadn't even noticed Crowpaw standing next to us until his outburst. "What?! But… I thought we had something together."

Feathertail's eyes softened at Crowpaw's distress. "I am so sorry Crowpaw, but what we had was never meant to last. It would never have worked, even if we were still in the clans. I'll always consider you a dear friend, but I cannot be your mate. My brother needs me. I hope you can forgive me for this."

Crowpaw sniffled as tears started to stream down his face. I sat next to him to comfort him, allowing my presence to do the talking. He was a friend of mine in need of comfort. I let him cry silently for a while before speaking. "It is alright to not be ok. You did truly care for her, but sometimes it just isn't enough. She just isn't the right cat for you. I'm sure someday you'll meet a cat who will be just right for you. Just hang in there. It isn't alright right now, but someday it will be." I consoled, hoping that I wasn't screwing this up. I kind of took after Father when it came to dealing with emotional things. Physical problems are just so much easier to deal with. Emotions? That's Squirrelpaw's forte since she's a ball of them.

Feathertail had waited patiently for Crowpaw to calm down before speaking her piece. "Darkpaw is right. I'm sorry, but I'm not the right cat for you. I'm sure you'll find the right one eventually. What we had may have been temporary, but I will remember it fondly."

Crowpaw wiped his eyes mewing. "I will too." He hesitated a moment before asking a question. "Tallstar was talking of naming me soon. Would you mind if I took your prefix to be my suffix?" He asked softly.

Feathertail smiled softly. "It would be my honor." She answered affectionately.

Crowpaw then flinched at some realization. "What will my clan think if I do this?" He panicked.

I decided to help him this time. "Don't worry. I'll do this too. While I may not be attached to Stormfur like you are Feathertail, he's still one of us. Besides, I think Darkstorm has a nice ring to it." I mewed assuring him.

Chapter Text

The tribe's entry cave was packed with cats as each clan settled into their own little areas for the night. Thankfully, the tribe was having major success with hunting recently, so they could spare one of the giant birds for each clan. Of course this had complications. The tribe had an eating ritual where that take a mouthful of food and slide the prey on. Not an all that surprising tradition given their limited food supply that came in the form of large prey. With the tribe present, there were five birds going around the room.

With the Guardians' unique position to the clans, us sitting with any clan could be seen as siding with them. Thus, we were forced to sit with the tribe, who both Dawn and I have our misgivings towards. Of course, to annoy me further, Snow made herself comfortable sitting on my left. She was still trying to convince me to mate with her.

"Darkpaw… Darkypoo…" I ignored her, only shivering at the second name. "Hey Darkpaw!" She continued, trying to force me to pay attention to her. "Come on. You can't keep ignoring me." She mewed in an almost taunting manner.

Then one of the birds reached me. I took my bite, trying to not get a mouthful of feathers, and slid it left. That shameless annoyance of a cat did not take a bite. No. She licked at it, making a sultry moan before pushing it on. It was honestly disgusting. I was thankful when Dawn offered to swap spots with me so I wouldn't be immediately next to Snow. Of course, that didn't totally stop her harassment.

"Ooh. You defending your mate?" Shea sked in a provoking tone.

Of course not. He's not my mate. He's my friend and a brother of different blood. You are clearly making him uncomfortable, so I moved him away from you." Dawn answered, attempting to be pragmatic and not instigate something.

Snow's tone turned slightly aggressive as she responded. "You know protecting a tom from a molly's advances when you are not their mate is forbidden, right?"

Dawn let out a growl as she rebutted. "That only matters for tribe cats, and in case you forgot, Darkpaw is not of the tribe, and neither am I."

"I wouldn't be so sure. Stoneteller still wants you to lead the cave guards. Think about it. You may have only been a vice leader, but you could become the actual leader. All you have to do is come back and follow the rules." Snow offered.

Dawn chuffed at Snow's words. "So, Stoneteller isn't quite sure that I've committed to leaving the tribe huh? I guess I'll just have to prove that I'm not. Maybe by doing something that would exile me." Dawn mewed in a knowing tone before grabbing Snow's head with both her paws and slamming it into the ground, knocking out Snow.

I thought I might have heard one tribe cat utter, "that's one way to shut her up."

The disturbance came to Stoneteller's attention. He made his way over, his presence commanding as he approached. Then he stood in front of Dawn. "Dawn's Early Light. You just struck one of your tribe members who was pursuing an unmarked mate. If it weren't for your participation in the death of Sharptooth, you would be exiled." Stoneteller mewed in a cold tone.

Dawn laughed in his face. "Good. Do it. Prove to everyone that I'm never coming back. Besides, your rules don't apply to me anymore. I'm a clan cat now, and protecting a tom from a cat who won't take no for an answer is a revered thing here. You've got no right to impose your rules on me now. Besides, it's Snow. No one likes Snow anyways. She needs the reality check."

Stoneteller stared down Dawn a few moments more before backing off. "Fine. I'll let this slide. If Snow was really refusing to back off from a tom that did not want to take her as a mate, I can see this as justified."

"Speak all the pretty words you want. I'm not coming back. I've found a place where I'm wanted, not because of what I can do or how useful I am, but because they like who I am." Dawn answered sharply.

"You realize what it is you ask of me. If you were to be exiled, I would have to strip you of your tribe given name." Stoneteller threatened.

"Do it. I don't need it anyways. The old Dawn is dead. She died with her brother when the beast was felled. A new life requires a new name, and I am sure the clans will provide me one." Dawn answered in a calm and level voice.

Stoneteller hesitated before answering. "… Fine. Have it your way. Dawn's Early Light. You have violated our sacred tenets and denied our way of life. As such, we have found you undeserving of the protections of the Tribe of Rushing Water. Your name has been stripped of you and forgotten. From now until the end of your days you will walk without the Tribe of Endless Hunting's light."

I saw the corner of Dawn's mouth flinch at Stoneteller's pronouncement, but she did not turn away. Instead, she decided to answer Stoneteller's words. "I accept this exile most graciously, fore it is what I want."

Stoneteller scowled at her answer but turned away and trotted back to his spot. Meanwhile Father and I were just taking in what we just witnessed. Dawn, or rather, the nameless cat, just gave up her tribe for us. It was an unthinkable sacrifice. To just give up everything that marked her as her was monumental. I didn't know what to say. The silence remained until all the birds were eaten. There was nothing we could say in this given situation.

It was once the carcasses were hauled away did Tallstar make an announcement. "We may have lost our homes, but we have not lost our way of life. To celebrate how far we've come and remind us that we still have further to go, I have conferred with the other leaders, and we've decided to hold some warrior ceremonies. Though, it would show favoritism for one of the clans to go first. Thus, we will allow the Guardians to start."

Father stood and moved to the center of the room. He looked toward me with a look of pride. Then he spoke. "Of all cats here, few were trusted with the fate of the clans. Some of which were apprentices when Starclan placed their faith in them. They were not found wanting. Darkpaw, please step forward."

I stood at Father's request and moved in front of him. "Darkpaw. You were trusted with the safety of all the other chosen cats. Starclan asked you to risk your life to prevent something they saw as certain death, and you succeeded. I heard your chat with Crowpaw about wanting to honor those we are leaving behind by taking their name. I will fulfil this request. I, Smudgefoot, of the Guardians call upon our warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. They have trained hard to understand your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in turn.

Darkpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

I met Father's eyes firmly. "I do."

Father looked so proud, but he did not stutter. "Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Darkpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Darkstorm. Starclan honors your perseverance and intellect, and I honor you as a full warrior of the Guardians."

I could hear my name chanted, echoing throughout the cave and likely its many caverns. It wasn't just Thunderclan chanting my name. I heard more voices. I could not speak, overcome with emotions. I gave a short bow before backing to my spot. Then Father's attention shifted to the cat formerly known as Dawn.

"You who have given up your home and name for us, guiding us through the mountains and ensuring our safety. We owe you much. As such, I will allow a request for your warrior name." He mewed.

"Claws. I want Claws in my name for my brother. That is all." She mewed.

"Very well. Will Roseclaws be an acceptable name?" Father asked, wanting to make sure he didn't offend her.

"Yes, I will accept that name." She replied.

The ceremony was very similar to my own. Roseclaws received her name before sitting down beside me. Once Father stepped aside, the other clans held their own ceremonies. Tallstar followed Father's lead and allowed Crowpaw to name themselves Crowfeather after one of the cats we'd be leaving behind. Firestar names Squirrelpaw Squirrelflight. She was exuberant at her new name. Of course all the cats who were a part of the Journey to Midnight, including Roseclaws, joined together to celebrate those of us who came of age and received our warrior names as proof of our dedication. It was a good night.

Chapter Text

Of course nothing is ever simple in my life. What was supposed to be a night of jubilation and celebration was suddenly turning more complicated. Snow was back, and she wasn't letting no be my answer. I was honestly coming to hate her already. While she may have had pleasant looking features, her personality was atrociously relentless. I didn't even want to imagine her as a mother. Her kits would be smothered by a controlling mother who weaponized their tribe's code. I pitied them if she ever found someone.

"Oh Darkstorm! How is the future father of my progeny?" She asked in that sickeningly sweet voice.

"Would you give up already Snow! I'm not going to mate with you! You're a disgusting individual who only seeks me out for the status I'd bring you. Why would I ever decide to have kits with you? I should just do what Roseclaws did and knock you out." I mewed angrily back.

"But you won't" She replied in a singsong voice. "That would be an act of aggression and would force a fight between my tribe and your clans. You wouldn't want that, would you? Besides, what better way to celebrate a coming of age than doing what adults do?"

"I'll just get Roseclaws over here to knock you out again." I mewed with annoyance.

"Can't do that either. She's an exile now, and if an exile proves aggressive by any means, they're put to death." She taunted back. "You may not like me, but there's far too much for you to lose. I will bear your kits. You do not have a choice in the matter." She mewed in a disturbingly level tone.

"Back off!" I hissed, raising into a defensive position. I would not allow this molly to just take advantage of me without a fight. Sure, it may hurt tribe relations, but if they were willing to do this, then they weren't relations worth keeping.

"What's going on over here?" I heard a voice mew. At first I was happy that someone was coming to my rescue, until I recognized the voice. It was Onewhisker. "What's going on over here my son?" He asked in a voice that implied he never took my rejection of him seriously.

"I'm not your son Onewhisker. If you really must know, I'm trying to get this molly to stop harassing me." I answered.

"You're his father?" Snow queried at Onewhisker.

"Yes. He is my blood." Onewhisker replied a bit smugly.

"That's all you are!" I hissed at him, finally getting fed up with his aggressive assertions that he was in fact a father to me.

"Blood is important." Snow mewed.

Onewhisker nodded as if she just said the most sage thing. "Blood is important."

"Say, would you like to come with me for a bit? We can talk about the importance of blood. I've always appreciated toms a bit older than me, and you've got a striking pelt." Snow complimented.

Onewhisker preened under the praise. "Thanks. It comes from a long line dating all the way back to Windstar." He bragged.

"A powerful bloodline indeed. Though, that's a given with how powerful Darkstorm is. I myself come from the bloodline of Lion's Roar. He was the brother of He Who Cast the Last Stone, who mysteriously vanished soon after. It's a very prestigious bloodline." Snow answered.

At least since she was distracted, I could back away without drawing attention. I didn't misunderstand her intention. She was now after Onewhisker, and I didn't really care to defend him. He was a despicable cat in my eyes, even if others saw him as something else. He is not my father. He does not deserve the praise for my upbringing or strength. I wish he wasn't even my blood. At least then he'd stop coming after me. Whenever anyone mentioned how loyal he was, how good of a Windclan warrior he was, or how he was what a warrior should strive to be, I couldn't help but sneer. If leaving him to get tricked by Snow made me a bad cat, I didn't really care. It was his own fault for falling for her.

Roseclaws was upon me almost immediately after I broke away from Snow. "Are you alright? Sorry I couldn't do anything about her. Snow is indeed correct that if I assaulted her like I so desperately wanted to, I would have been killed. Honestly, I should have pushed her off the cliff when I had the chance. She 's always been like this."

"Yeah, well… At least she isn't my problem anymore." I replied. "She's after Onewhisker right now."

"That's not going to be enough. She's a relentless cat. We do have an option, but I wouldn't usually suggest it." Roseclaws mewed with a bit of hesitation when she mentioned the option.

"And what is this option?" I queried.

"Well, if I mark you, this'll only be temporary mind you, then she can't come after you. You'll technically be a taken cat. It's standard tribe law to not mess with taken cats." Roseclaws answered.

"What if I just ignore her until we leave?" I rebutted.

"Wouldn't work. There's some archaic laws about keeping valuable toms who are unmarked until their bloodline is propagated. She'll force you to stay." Roseclaws answered with a shake of her head.

"I don't like this, but if it is the only option…" I mewed slowly.

"I don't like it either, but it really is." Roseclaws mewed solemnly.

I let Roseclaws do what was necessary, rubbing her scent onto me at the key points to mark me as her mate. She didn't do it with too much depth, but I now clearly scented of her. It honestly felt wrong in the same way looking at a sibling as a potential mate is wrong. I had to resist the urge to wash it off before it sunk too deep. It was only after she was done did another issue occur. Squirrelflight was approaching me. Then her eyes widened as she took in my scent. They teared up with a look of betrayal.

"I knew she was after you. I just knew. I thought… No. You made your choice. I hope you two are happy." She mewed before sprinting off.

"Squirrelflight wait!" I yowled, but by words went unheeded. I could only watch as my best friend and molly I held the most affection for leave believing me to have done something so low. I could feel tears burn in my eyes.

"That went poorly." Is what I heard Roseclaws utter. I rounded with fury in my eyes, but I could not make myself speak.

Roseclaws backstepped before moving to a submissive posture. "Sorry. I'm not all that good at words. What I meant is that I didn't mean for all this to happen. I'll do what I can to make this up. I promise." She mewed before moving to sit beside me.

Snow was suddenly back, stinking of sex and looking at me with desire. Then her nostrils flared and she looked at me with confusion before glancing to the side and noticing Roseclaws. "So, you decided to take him as a mate after all. Well played. I knew you just needed a little push. I know the rules. He's all yours." Snow mewed before trotting off in a bizarre display of acceptance.

Across the cave I could see Onewhisker padding back to his clan, looking visibly angry and panting as if he'd just gone on a long run. It was clear what had happened. Snow got what she wanted, but Onewhisker hadn't got what he wanted. That at least brought a small painful smile to my mouth.

Chapter Text

As the sun rose the following day, I mulled over what all happened the previous day, my decisions and the consequences there of. Squirrelflight was avoiding me, and I didn't want to force her by chasing her down. Roseclaws looked remorseful despite this having been my choice. At least that tribe cat Snow was no longer interested in me. My dark thoughts haunted me about how much I screwed up. Father must have sensed my misery and came over.

"You alright Darkstorm? You look like someone gave you a piece of crowfood. You also smell pretty heavily of Roseclaws. I honestly didn't think you had that type of relationship. I always thought you were more into Squirrelflight." He mewed in a tone that did not imply accusation or chastisement but only sought understanding.

"I messed up. That Snow cat just wouldn't leave me alone. She threatened to force me to stay here unless I mated with her. Roseclaws gave me an out. As long as she marked me, Snow would have no right to try and stop me under her tribe's code. It was just supposed to be a one off thing, something that would wear off in a few days, but Squirrelflight caught me when Roseclaws just got done marking me. Now, I don't know what to do." I admitted.

Father did not look upon me with distain or any measure of disapproval. He looked at me like he understood. "Trust me son, I know all about making unpleasant choices. Sometimes we're just wrong without meaning to. This is why I also don't like lying. Outright deceptions have a nasty tendency to get out at the worst of times. You sought to only deceive Snow, but you deceived Squirrelflight as well. The best advice I can give you is be honest with her. Tell her the truth even if she doesn't believe you. Maybe she'll never believe you, but as long as you tell her the truth and remain honest, she may eventually learn the truth as well. You two are at a vulnerable time in your lives. It is a time of mistakes and discoveries. You will both grow from this. Give her some space after telling her the truth and remain a friend to her." Father advised.

"Alright Father. I'll try. I don't want her running away from me, but if she needs time, I'll give it to her." I replied before padding off, seeking out Squirrelflight.

I found her talking to Ashfur. He seemed to be trying to make a move on her, but he spotted me coming. Squirrelflight noticed his eyes move to look at me and made ready to bolt. I spoke up before she could run.

"Squirrelflight, please! Just give me one moment. I don't expect you to believe me, but please just let me tell you what's going on. You deserve to hear the full truth. After I say my piece, I'll give you all the space you want. I'll wait for when you want to talk again. I promise. Please, just let me speak." I mewed, desperation clear in my voice.

Squirrelflight hesitated, clearly still wanting to run, but some deep part of her must have resisted, still wanted to hear what I had to say. She turned slowly to face me. She still looked ready to bolt. I could sense a hatred burning within her fueled by a sense of betrayal. I would only get one chance at this. "Speak." She demanded in a cold tone.

"First, I have to explain why this happened. You remember how the tribe has this over emphasis on bloodlines? Since we got here, that cat Snow, the one Roseclaws knocked out, has been constantly propositioning me to mate. I told her no so many times, but she just wouldn't listen. She claimed she had the right to harass me under her tribe's code. This is all due to my role in dealing with the monster cat last time we were here. She claimed I must have a strong bloodline, so she wanted it. Finally, last night, she threatened me. She claimed that the tribe would trap me here until I took a mate and passed on my bloodline. Roseclaws couldn't act again since she'd be put to death if she attacked a tribe cat again. I couldn't attack since it would be a declaration of war. Roseclaws gave me a potential answer that I was too eager to jump upon. If she temporarily marked me, I'd be a taken cat, a cat immune to the tribe's code. It is supposed to wear off in a couple of days. I don't see Roseclaws as a cat I'd want to mate. I see her as a sister, hence why I allowed her to mark me. I trusted that this was just a means to deal with Snow and nothing else. I didn't mean to hurt you. I know my claims are hard to believe, but it is the truth. I will never lie to you Squirrelflight. You know that about me. I know you're still hurt and don't believe me, but I wanted you to at least hear me and what I have to say. Thank you for listening to me. I'll give you some space now." I mewed, backing off.

I could still see the betrayal in Squirrelflight's eyes. She didn't believe me, but she at least had my story now. It was the best I could do. Even though her feelings towards me still stung, a burden was lifted. I told her the truth. I hadn't hidden anything. Now it was all up to her whether she'd choose to believe me or decide I was lying. Either way, I did my best. Hopefully our friendship could be recovered. For now, I had other things to worry about. As Father said, we're both in a time of mistakes and discovery. It's time I find myself by unbinding myself from Squirrelflight. I'll still be there for her whenever she needs me, but I have to learn who I am. I still have to overcome my dark urges or learn to live with them. Even now, I can feel the monochrome clawing at the edges of my vision. It's time I learn who Darkstorm is and stop being Darkpaw.

Chapter Text

It was finally time to set off and bid the tribe goodbye. Honestly, it didn't come soon enough. I could understand their lifestyle from a logical standpoint, but all the same, I hated them for being antithetical to my worldview. Their lives were restrictive, constraining, and demanded unreasonable sacrifice. Individuality was squashed under the paw of tradition, which was my main point of hatred. Father had always taught me to cling tightly to what made me myself and to never cede it to any cat. They'd tried to stomp my freewill out of me twice already, once by imprisoning me and the second by trying to force a mate upon me. To me, this was unforgivable.

Roseclaws soon joined me at the front of the clans. She herself looked a bit riled from the interaction she just had with her 'parents'. They'd tried to demand her to stay with the tribe and force me to stay as well since I was her 'mate'. It didn't go so well, devolving into a screaming match where Roseclaws eventually just chose to ignore them and walk away. She refused to be a pawn to them any longer. She gave me a comforting smile as she approached.

"Hey. How are you doing today? I heard you confronted Squirrelflight yesterday and told her what really happened." Roseclaws mewed. I couldn't help smiling back at her. Despite her own emotional turmoil from having to confront her own parents, she still chose to comfort me about my issues.

"I'm better. I wouldn't say everything is alright now, but it is as good as it can be. I did what I could and told her the truth. That's all I can really do. I don't know if she will come to believe me or not, but at least I put the effort into trying to clear things up. I'm not going to cry or mope about it anymore. If she forgives me, I'll try and rekindle our relationship. If not, well at least I tried. I won't like it, but I feel like I can move on." I answered.

"Good to hear. Again, sorry for causing this whole situation." Roseclaws apologized.

"Don't. I feel like this was always bound to happen. If you couldn't tell, Squirrelflight was always a little bit possessive of me. I was always 'hers'. Her friend, her confidant, her prospective mate. It was always something relating back to her. She never really saw me as anything else. Maybe we'll develop a more meaningful relationship now. Maybe she'll see that I'm more than just something connected to her. Who knows? Regardless, I've forgiven you." I replied.

I saw her own moping form rise in joy, her own issues for the day put to the side for this good news. "Thanks Darkstorm. You have no idea how much that means to me." Roseclaws mewed, giving me an affectionate brush.

"Am I interrupting something?" I heard a voice mew, forcing our conversation to end. Looking over, it was the somewhat malicious tom from Riverclan, Hawkfrost.

"No. It's alright. We just got done with what we were talking about. What brings you up here Hawkfrost?" I queried.

"Well, since Riverclan just lost both its chosen cats, I suggested she allow me to get closer to the guardians. We need some level of representation, and you're familiar with me." Hawkfrost mewed in his surprisingly charismatic tones.

"Fine. We can chat. I've been needing the distraction anyways. This is Roseclaws by the way. She left the tribe here since she didn't agree with their ways." I introduced.

"Charmed. At least you seem to have a bit sharper claws on you than those two we're leaving behind have. Just like their father, their loyalty is flimsy." Hawkfrost mewed.

Roseclaws decided to rebut his statement. "Honestly, the pair impress me. Stormfur is willing to solve a problem, even if it isn't his own. He saw cats in need and decided to help. Not many cats have the guts to do that. Then there's Feathertail. She chose her brother over everything else. I can respect that since I made a similar choice. Maybe their loyalty is a little fickle, but I can respect them for what they choose to put their loyalty into." Roseclaws mewed.

"Are you saying that the clans should not hold our highest loyalty?" Hawkfrost pressed.

"Nah. There's something that should stand above that. Each of us have our own morality, our sense of right and wrong. If we see something truly unjust or feel our clan our tribe is acting outside their moral bounds, it is our job to defy them. I defied the tribe when they refused to see my brother as the beautiful and kind cat that he was, deeming him cursed and worthy of abuse. I left when he died because of how two faced they were. After he saved them all, they all spoke platitudes, stating that they always knew he was going to do something great and how they never really believed in the curse. They're all liars. I can still remember every name they called him, how many scars they gave him when he was not allowed to fight, how many nights I had to comfort him from the cruelty they rained upon him. They call him a hero now, that his last act was chosen to save them. I know the truth. He killed the monster cat, not to save the tribe, but to support the one friend he made in an outsider and to ensure his sister wouldn't get hurt. Yes, Claws was a hero, but not the tribe's hero, Darkstorm's and my hero. May they taste rot when they speak his name for they do not deserve to speak it." Roseclaws ranted.

"Sounds like this Claws cat was worth meeting. I would be interested in seeing what he made of the clans." Hawkfrost mewed respectfully.

"I'm sure he would have loved it, seeing each kit being raised with love and affection, no curses claimed to be looming about. My brother never really got the chance to learn to fight until the end, but he had a natural talent. If the monster cat had been even the slightest bit smaller, it wouldn't have stood a chance. I hope wherever he went he gets the chance to show them who he really is." Roseclaws mewed, a bit choked up.

"I heard you were a gifted fighter as well. Would you care to spar when we settle down for the night?" Hawkfrost offered.

"Sure. I could honestly use a chance to work out all these emotions. You better not disappoint me. I'd feel bad if you weren't much of a fight." Roseclaws mewed back.

"I'll endeavor to be interesting." Hawkfrost mewed before padding away.

Hawkfrost still gave me a slimy feeling, but I could honestly tell he was trying. He wanted a real connection. I still didn't trust him. He still caried a relentless ambition, but his actions to accomplish it so far hadn't proven negative.

Chapter Text

Descending the mountain was proving to be far easier than ascending. This was mostly due to this side of the mountain being more actively used by the tribe, meaning there were clearer paths and less chances of stepping into a hidden pit. Though, it wasn't going perfectly. While the clans themselves were handling the descent well, the monochrome that once rested at the edges of my vision was encroaching upon the center. The snow made it hard to notice, but I could feel my desire reemerging. I'd need to feed it soon before I did something I might regret. Unfortunately, there really wasn't anything for me to kill to sate my desire. I was becoming irritable, which was a bad sign.

Dawn must have sensed my ongoing addiction since she kept herself from speaking. Gray sky, white snow… It all was just so bland. Even the lake, our end goal, was gray. There was still so much time left in the day as well. My eyes would not be blessed with the scarlet majesty of a sunset. What I wouldn't give for the slightest bit of color. My mind was pulling away from the world, becoming just as gray as everything else. It was simultaneously terrifying and mind numbing. I needed release from the gray. I needed to find my way back. Faceless cats padded behind me. The monotony of checking for pitfalls or other hazards only encouraged my loss of sense of self.

I have somewhere I have to go, but I can no longer remember where. All I know is that it is down. Step… Step… Am I even going down? It feels far too slow. I know something important lies at the bottom, something I promised to find, but what could it be? Step… Step… Some downs are dangerous. I know I have to choose the right ones, but it is all too easy to figure out. Such a simple task. The white beneath my appendages says it all. Darkness contrasts light. These so 'cleverly' hidden holes are no match for my sensory capabilities. Step… Step… Down… I must go down. Down is all there is…

What is this strange sensation? Something is interacting with me via vibrations in the air. Sound wasn't it? Sound does not help me towards my goal, down. Yet, something in my limited processing capabilities asks me to respond to the sound. What was it?... Ah. It was the direction. The sound came from up and in front, an impossibility if everything lies on this descending plane. My visual sensors rotate to view the sound's source. A being with two ocular organs, some sort of curved spike, and two appendages stretched apart horizontally is approaching. What is this being? It is covered in ovaloid structures made of lines radiating from a central line. The being is shifting, revealing two more appendages from which branch four ways with a curves spike at the end of each branch. It is some kind of grasping implement. This being wants to go up, and it clearly intends to take me with it. This cannot be allowed. I need to go down. I must deal with the being.

The being slows its approach using the horizontal appendages, a nonlogical choice. I have plenty of time to react. My form twists to perfectly avoid the incoming grab, but I know the being will not have accomplished its purpose with a miss. My purpose is down, so our purposes are in conflict. Thus, the being must be removed as an obstacle, just the same as the hidden holes. The being's spike lying between its ocular sensors opens meaninglessly letting out audio. What a meaningless action. I react using one of my front appendages, a piece of flesh and bone that ends in something of a bloated stump. From the stump are four small curved spikes lining the front edge while one spike lies further back. The spikes serve my purpose. Damaging the connection between the sensory organs to the main body should do the trick.

The spikes drive into the being's connection, but then something incalculable happens. Something overwhelms my senses. Not white… Not gray… Not black… Red! The bird is full of red. The bird flops and panics helplessly as I feed the growing desire. Red! Red! More red! Beautiful macabre scarlet. A sweet release from the unthinking. As I feed my desire for red, color bleeds back into the world. My senses are returning from inactivity. I can feel the parts of me that I lost returning. My name is Darkstorm. I can remember that. I am not just simply heading down. I am heading towards a lake that offers salvation for the clans. All at once I am fully able to take in the situation. A bird just dove at me, and I annihilated it with brutal precision. There wasn't even a scratch on me, but the bird, I'd dismembered it, destroyed it completely. The snow was stained with blood. I was drenched in it, and my heart was pounding so loud.

"Darkstorm! Are you ok?" A female voice queried.

I looked back to see Roseclaws looking at me with a worried expression. I hesitated before speaking. I'd just shown her the depths of my monstrosity, and yet she did not appear afraid. "I… I'm fine." I mewed as my gaze drifted back to the mangled mess of a bird. "I didn't realize how bad I got." I muttered. "I think I needed that."

I let my silence speak for itself, but I could hear the clans' reaction. I could hear their comments. "Did you just see that?" "I think I missed it when I blinked." "He reacted so fast!" "It was like that bird just exploded!" "If I just came upon this, I don't think I'd know that was a bird." "Such brutality." "Can't really judge him for overreacting. I barely saw the bird before he destroyed it, and I think I saw it before him."

They all saw it. They saw what I was. They saw the results of my addiction. A sense of anxiety flooded me. What would they do? They knew I was dangerous. My heart was pounding so hard it was beginning to hurt. I could feel my thinking cloud. I… I wanted to run, but the way forward was too dangerous. Why did the air feel so thin? Why did it feel like I was choking?

Then I felt a pelt push up against me. It was one I knew well. I felt a tongue rasp across my forehead, helping me steady my panic. He was not very often this gentle, but his love was clear. I heard his voice which steadied me further. "You're alright. You just got a little spooked. No cat can blame you for what you did, and you haven't gotten a chance to vent in a long while. Why don't you go back to Ravenfeather? He'll help you calm down while I handle the crowd here." Father mewed giving me a gentle smile.

I nodded blankly at his suggestion. "Yeah. Visit Dad…" I mewed mindlessly before turning. I stumbled through the crowd soon finding Dad. He embraced me immediately, and I could feel tears welling in my eyes. I hadn't meant to panic. I hadn't meant to let the monochrome get so far. Tears slid down my face, but Dad wrapped around me almost as if I was a kit.

"It's alright now. You're ok. We'll figure this out. I promise." He mewed in his ever gentle and loving voice. I just pressed against him, enjoying the embrace.

Chapter Text

It was turning towards evening when we finished our descent, Roseclaws and Father having taken lead during that. Father wasn't as experienced as I was with spotting the pitfalls, but he was cleverer. He found a stick from one of the sparse trees we passed and picked it up. He'd stab it into the ground in front of him. Sometimes the stick would sink deep, meaning there was a pit right there. I don't know where Father gets his creativity, but I wish I had it when I was leading rather than stepping into the holes and hoping either I could recover or Roseclaws could pull me back.

While Father had gone on ahead to ensure my duties were fulfilled, Dad took the time to groom the gore out of my fur and reassure me that no one would think ill of what I did. At least the gore had buried the scent Roseclaws had put on me. I did glance around, trying to take in the cats around me's attitude. There was fear directed towards me, but it wasn't the type of fear I expected. It was the wariness one has for a formidable warrior. It was like they somehow thought I'd been in control for that, that I could just unleash that kind of devastation and efficiency at a moment's notice. It wasn't technically inaccurate. I could always sink into the monochrome, or as Father calls it, the cold, at any time. It wasn't hard to start it, but it was hard to stop it.

I hadn't expected the shift in respect cats held toward me would change, but it did. I could see desire in the rival clan leaders' eyes. I was suddenly much more valuable. A random Windclan apprentice even approached me and asked how I did that. It was complicated. I did give the apprentice a loose answer without actually dissecting how I had the capability to do it. I used the excuse of using a point dodge (a dodge where you don't actually move position) followed up by a counter charge (a tactic where a cat uses the momentum of their opponent to either throw their opponent or flip them into a pin). It was technically accurate, but the reaction time frame was physically impossible without the monochrome. The apprentice seemed satisfied with the answer and bound off to find their master. I did hear them ask to be drilled in those two tactics when they got there, likely trying to emulate my impossible skills. It was honestly flattering.

Even stranger still, Leopardstar was the next to approach me. As long as I've known her and seen her, she's been a cat of pride and ferocity. I honestly didn't expect her to ever approach me at all given my clear allegiance to Thunderclan. I thought she was going to make an offer similar to the one Onewhisker was bent on getting me to agree to. She proved me wrong. She understood me.

"I have a question for you Darkstorm. The Guardians are a group made to benefit all the clans by maintaining a neutrality. To what ends does this entail and to what degree can each clan call upon the Guardians?" She queried.

I honestly didn't have an answer. It was Starclan who called on us, not the clans, but she had a point. If the Guardians are to continue to exist, how much are we allowed to interfere with the clans and to what degree? Maybe she had a suggestion. She wouldn't have approached with a question like this for no reason.

"It is honestly pretty unclear right now. The best I can tell is that we're not supposed to involve ourselves as Guardians when it comes to interclan affairs. At best, we can mediate but not take sides. Though, that doesn't quite fit the name Guardian." I mewed.

"Then I have a suggestion. You and Roseclaws were supposedly instrumental in the death of the monster cat. From what we witnessed earlier, you also have the necessary skillset to deal with other beasts. If you would allow us, we could have the Guardians also me an interclan group specializing in both mediation and dealing with external threats. Even if they aren't all as combative as you, it would benefit the clans to have someone neutral available to call for additional support should an external threat prove too strong." Leopardstar offered.

I honestly couldn't disagree with Leopardstar's idea. While this was clearly a ploy to force the Guardians to assist against things like foxes, badgers, and dogs, I couldn't say the idea was unappealing. Beasts were often difficult to dislodge once they become too accustomed to their environments, and they don't appear often enough in each clan for proper counter strategies to be made for them. It would also certainly help me with the monochrome, giving me a good outlet for my addiction. Roseclaws was also technically a Guardian, and she was always itching for a fight. I imagine she'd be down for the idea, but that still left Father. I'd heard tale of his legendary battle with Scourge, but I also knew the truth. Without the cold, Father wasn't actually all that skilled of a fighter, and he couldn't just snap out of it after shedding some blood. His was somewhat reverse to mine, instead becoming more intense when he gave into violence. I couldn't force a beast hunting lifestyle on him, but on the other paw, he was more creative than me. He could potentially have insight on how to deal with beasts without actually participating. Yes, that idea was more appealing.

I'd apparently paused, debating the idea for quite a bit before I snapped back to reality. Leopardstar had waited for my response, albeit a bit impatiently. I decided to give her an answer. "I would not be opposed to the idea of the Guardians becoming something that specializes in removing beasts and external threats while being dedicated mediators, but it isn't just my choice to make. I'll discuss with Father and Roseclaws about potentially encompassing those duties within the position of Guardian. If we do make this part of the Guardians' duty, we will have to expand and recruit from every clan. From my time working with the rest of the Journey cats, I've found that each clan has a complimentary yet varied skillset. Though, this'll also mean that each clan will have to get used to the idea of interclan cooperation without an immediate reward. A lot of changes would come from this expansion of jurisdiction, and I do not know what all it would entail, but some fundamentals of the clans might be challenged." I explained.

Leopardstar actually scoffed at my warning. "I doubt a group that hunts beasts will make all that much of a difference besides making dealing with beasts easier."

I shook my head. "Very well. I'll pass the idea along to Father. I'm sure he'll see the merits and potential problems."

Leopardstar raised herself as if she'd just won the argument. "Good. See it done. Tallstar and I are keenly interested in the idea, and given how goody goody Firestar is with interclan stuff, I'm sure he'll agree to the idea rather quickly."

I watched her pad away, not fully understanding the ramifications of what a change would have, but maybe that was a good thing. From Dad's stories, the main reason so many tyrants were able to claim power was because the clans held little care for each other, only really using the Gatherings as a bragging platform and never really addressing pertinent issues. Maybe we needed change, a lot of change. Maybe Leopardstar's idea would be a good first step.