#wolf says fuck canon warcats

[thunders-warcats-stuff]

Warriors in all but name

Fireheart makes sure every cat in the apprentice den gets their warrior name.

“Fireheart.” His leader’s voice was dull. “What do you want?”

“Just reporting, Bluestar.” Fireheart slipped into the den and stood in front of his leader. “All the cats are back. There are no serious injuries, as far as I can see.”

“Good.” Sounding a little more interested, she added, “Your apprentice fought well today.”

“Yes, he did.” Fireheart felt a rush of pride in his kin. Whatever problems there had been with Cloudpaw in the past, no one could question his courage.

“I think it’s time he became a warrior,” Bluestar went on. “We’ll hold his naming ceremony at sunset.” Hope flared in Fireheart’s chest.

Had Bluestar finally accepted the need to make new warriors?

His optimism ebbed away like water into sand when her muzzle curled into a sneer.

“There must be a ceremony, I suppose. It means nothing to me, but these cats are so gullible they’ll never accept Cloudpaw without one.”

And how much meaning does the ceremony have for Cloudpaw? Fireheart asked himself. Does he really care about the warrior code? If not… then the white tom didn’t deserve to become a warrior no matter how well he fought.

It seemed that Bluestar had made up her mind, though, so there was no point trying to dissuade her.

“Swiftpaw should be a warrior too. He did well today.” Fireheart found himself saying instead.

“Swiftpaw carried a message back to the camp. That’s apprentice work. He’s not ready to become a warrior yet.”

“But he came back to the battle!” Fireheart objected.

“No!” Bluestar’s tail lashed in anger. “I cannot trust Swiftpaw. Cloudpaw is stronger and braver. Besides, he doesn’t grovel to StarClan like the rest of you. The Clan needs more warriors like that.”

“The Clan needs more warriors, period!” Fireheart snapped, frustrated. “You can’t elevate one apprentice when all of them are on the same level. You’ve made that mistake before.”

A dangerous gleam shone in Bluestar’s eyes as she reared up to face Fireheart, standing up to her full height despite them almost being the same size.

“Do you challenge me, Fireheart?”

“Yes.” The ginger tom insisted. “You’ve made this mistake before. It’s backfired before. All it does is sow resentment among cats who should be working together.”

“And when,” Bluestar purred eerily. “Have I insisted otherwise?”

“You promoted Greystripe and me before Sandstorm and Dustpelt. Despite us being moons apart in training and despite us being much younger than them. They were ready before us but you passed them over.”

“You were braver than them!” Bluestar scoffed. “You and Greystripe were the ones to clear Yellowfang’s name and end Brokentail’s reign. What did Sandstorm and Dustpelt do besides hunt and fight?”

“Mourn!” Fireheart snapped. “ Like the rest of the Clan was doing! Spottedleaf was dead! Yellowfang was gone and the Clan thought she’d turned traitor. Tigerstar was so good at turning the Clan against Ravenpaw that Frostfur would have killed him rather than look at him! And we might never see him again because of that! We weren’t brave, Bluestar. Not like these apprentices are now.”

“Then what were you?”

“Lucky. In the right place at the right time, just like Cloudpaw was. If Cloudpaw was the faster cat and Swiftpaw fought, would you promote him then?”

“No.”

“Of course not.” Fireheart spat disgustedly, turning around to leave the den. “No, you’re so focused on Tigerstar’s betrayal, you ignore what’s right in front of you.”

“That vile cat should not have been made leader!”

“And you think Brokenstar should have?” Fireheart scoffed. “They got nine lives, same as you and Crookedstar and Tallstar.”

“That he shouldn’t have!”

“If you’re so concerned about what Tigerstar gets up to in his own Clan on his own time, do something about it. But Cloudpaw cannot be made a warrior yet. He’s keeping up with his siblings nicely enough and you wouldn’t dare promote either of them.”

“Alright, you useless lump of fur. I’ll do something about Tigerclaw, don’t you worry. Those precious apprentices of yours just might get their names after all… but it’ll be over my dead body.”

“Bluestar-.”

“Get out.”

“That’s the complete opposite of what I meant-.”

“OUT!”

“Promise me you won’t go off and do something fur-brained!”

“That’s not a promise I can make, Fireheart. Why don’t you pray to your precious ancestors? Maybe they’ll deign to lift a paw when you ask.”

“Unlike you, I have no ancestors among the Stars.” Fireheart said coldly. “Maybe your mother and sister can talk some sense into you. Or one of your kits.”

“You dare-?!”

“Get some rest, Bluestar. I’ll expect you to be here tomorrow when I come to sort out dawn patrols.”

“Go, then, you good-for-nothing crowfood! I never should have taken you in!”

Fireheart dipped his head and backed out of the den. When he turned around, he was met with the stunned faces of his Clan.

“Did she just… please tell me she didn’t just call you that.” Whitestorm choked out.

Fireheart exhaled roughly, feeling the weight of ten cats crashing down on him.

“How much did you hear?” He asked wearily.

“I think that’s the first time I’ve ever heard you talk about Spottedleaf.” Sandstorm admitted as she padded up to him. Pain flared in her pale green eyes as she pressed against him.

“You were right to say she’s promoted cats early before.” Speckletail murmured uneasily.

“Do you really think I would have killed an apprentice?” Frostfur asked, horrified.

“You really stood up for us.” Swiftpaw breathed, amazed.

“Not that it will do much. Fireheart yawned. “I don’t need any of you trying to do something dangerous just because you might not get your warrior names. Bluestar is sick and I don’t know what to do about that just yet. But I need you all with me on this. You are warriors in every way that counts. So the Clan needs you to act like it.”

Brightpaw was the first to speak.

“Okay, Fireheart.” She said. “What do you need us to do?”

[thunders-warcats-stuff]

Reject the Deputy

Fireheart can’t take the deputyship but he refuses to leave his Clan to fend for themselves.

“Ah, Fireheart. Come to report on how the extra patrols are going?”

“I’ve come to ask a favor.” Fireheart corrected nervously.

“Not unusual for you. Go on.”

“I need you to make someone else deputy. Someone older, maybe. Like Whitestorm or Speckletail.”

“No.”

“There are cats far more experienced than me who are able to help you guide this Clan.”

“And yet I have chosen you.”

“You chose wrong!” Fireheart insisted. “Why can’t Whitestorm be deputy? Or Mousefur? Longtail and Darkstripe already think they can do a better job, why not make one of them deputy?”

“Because I don’t want to.” Bluestar sneered. “A deputy is a cat I will have to stare at and talk to for most of the day. Half your choices are insufferable and the other half would not be willing or able to guide the Clan through such a difficult time. “Furthermore, you were the first to warm me about Tigerclaw’s treacherous ways. None of these cats knew. I sure didn’t, at first. Even then I didn’t want to believe you and look what happened?!” Bluestar snapped. “Clearly you are the cat StarClan wanted to lead from the beginning. So lead.”

With those words, Bluestar flicked her tail and dismissed Fireheart from her den.

Outside, Fireheart stood, stiff and quiet, as if a tree’s roots had sprung from the ground and wrapped themselves around his legs.

“She can’t be serious.” He whispered after a few moments of his heart thudding in his ears. “She can’t be. There has to be another choice.”

“It sounds like she wants you.” Darkstripe sneered.

“Foxdung to that!” Fireheart snapped. “I have spent the last few moons running around doing my part to make sure the Clan runs smoothly, trying to make sure Tigerclaw didn’t hurt anyone else, and training three apprentices, one whose training ended due to another one of Tigerclaw’s mouse-brained fox-hearted plots and you all think I’m going to lead you? I’d rather go back to being an apprentice than lead such an ungrateful group of cats anywhere! Pick someone else and hope you all don’t fall apart because Bluestar won’t get any better.”

With those words, Fireheart stormed for the gorse tunnel and out of the camp.

▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂

He didn’t really know where he was going until he stopped and found himself at Fourtrees, the neutral Gathering place of all four Clans. Right now it stood empty and was the perfect place to think.

“This can’t be all I’m good for. This isn’t what I was meant to do. StarClan can’t have chosen me. For what?”

“It’d be a good idea to find out.” A slightly welcome and familiar voice offered.

Fireheart whipped around, fur bushed up and claws unsheathed.

“What?” He snapped, annoyed.

“It’d be a good idea to find out.” Dustpelt said again. The dark brown tabby looked uncomfortable as he spoke and Fireheart couldn’t help but wonder who sent him.

“I’m not even your apprentice anymore and you’re still wearing me out.” Cinderpelt panted as she limped into the clearing.

Ah. That made sense.

“Sandstorm’s around here somewhere. She’s the one who led us to you, but she wasn’t sure if she’d be welcome.”

“And you two thought you were?”

“I’m always welcome.” Cinderpelt snorted. “Dustpelt wanted to talk to you.”

“Did he?” Fireheart scoffed, letting his fur relax. “What about? And what would be the point of having Sandstorm lead you here if she’s not going to show herself?”

He raised his voice for the last part and watched as a pale ginger form slunk through the treetops and skipped down one of the trunks to join them.

“Well met, Fireheart.” She offered courteously.

“Indeed. What are you all here for? I’d rather not have to deal with whatever mess someone made at camp.”

“Well, originally we came to make sure you didn’t do something stupid, like cross into another Clan’s territory, but Fourtrees is as good a spot as any.”

“It is. You can go now. I might leave, but I’m not that quite enough of a fox-heart to send you all to war.”

“Leave?” Dustpelt scoffed. “And go where? You’re no kittypet-.”

“Wow, what a turn-around. Seasons on seasons of the same old insults and you only admit the truth when you need me to do something for you. Great to know. But there are more than just housecats in the Twolegplace.”

“Are you taking Cloudpaw with you?”

“If he wants to leave the Clan, he’s welcome to join me, but he’d be going straight back to his mother.”

Dustpelt scowled and burst out,

“I can’t believe you’re actually considering this. You’ve been here your whole life-.”

“No, I haven’t.” Fireheart corrected numbly.

“Close to. You’ve been a Clan cat longer than you’ve been anything else and you’re just going to leave that behind? For what, because of a few insults?”

“It’d be one thing if it were just you that I were dealing with.”

“Why does it sound like there’s more to this?” Sandstorm asked.

“I’m surprised you’re not on his side.”

“There is no side, Fireheart, we need you!” Sandstorm snapped. “As a Clanmate, whether you’re our deputy or not. But Bluestar seems to think you should be. Why? And why don’t you want to be?”

“Bluestar’s still sick, isn’t she?” Cinderpelt realized. “This is more than just greencough.”

“It’s been, what, two or three moons since Tigerclaw left. I’m tired of running interference for cats who don’t know what it takes to deal with Bluestar when she’s like this. When she’s paranoid.” He added. “So I’ve stepped down as deputy and you all can choose among yourselves.”

“But you’re coming back, right? You’ll still be a warrior.” Sandstorm insisted.

“Maybe. I could just as easily find Barley and be a barn cat. I hear he’s got great hunting.”

“Fireheart-.”

“I need to think. You should get back to camp. Cats will actually wonder where you’ve gone.”

“Fireheart-.”

“Let’s just go.” Dustpelt ground out. “He clearly doesn’t want to hear from us.”

The three of them left with Dustpelt in the lead, each cat more reluctant than the last.

“Peace and quiet.” Fireheart grumbled as he settled himself to the ground and stewed in his thoughts.

If only the quiet was enough.

At some point, his paws lead him back to camp with a mouthful of prey. He puts it on the pile and settles himself at the center of the camp. It wasn’t particularly cold, being green-leaf and all. And he didn’t want to face any cat until he absolutely had to and was trying to put that off for as long as possible.

He drifted off without interference and woke to moonlight streaming through the trees overhead.

▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂

“This isn’t what we wanted for you.” came a familiar raspy voice.

“Right back at you.” Fireheart grumbled, shifting so that he could face the former medicine cat properly.

“Fair enough. Fire was supposed to save the Clan, not be trampled underpaw.”

“Sorry.” Fireheart mumbled, ears heating up. Whitestorm wouldn’t flounder like he’d been.

“Not your fault.” Yellowfang rebuked. “There is still a chance, though. You’re not snuffed out yet, Flame. Show those cats why.”

Fireheart sniffled and inhaled Yellowfang’s scent. He felt like half a cat, whatever these ancestors thought.

“Sandstorm is a good cat.” Yellowfang said out of nowhere. “If anyone can help you through this, it’s her.”

“Funny that you think so.” Fireheart snorted. “But I guess I’ll make like a fish and bite. What are you on about?”

“She’ll be a valuable ally, to start with. And a good friend, if you let her.”

“If I let her. One of the cats who made fun of me for my entire kithood suddenly wants to be friends?”

“You saved her life at the gorge. That caused her to re-evaluate some things.”

“Right. Good to know.”

“Give it time, she’ll prove me right.”

“That’s about as likely as Bluestar reuniting with her kits.”

“That’s cold, kit.” Yellowfang scowled. “She’s not well, you know that.”

“Stars above, do I know.” Fireheart groaned. “I don’t have to be deputy up here, do I?”

“You don’t belong up here.”

“But no one expects me to do anything big here. I can just be a normal warrior with no expectations, no cats begging for patrols or food or anything else.”

“You can’t stay here, kit.”

“I’m tired, Yellowfang. I don’t want to be deputy. I’m not even sure I want to be a warrior.”

“I know, kit… I know. You can’t stay here, though. You have to wake up, Fireheart.”

“Wake up!” Chanted some bodiless voices around him. "Wake up! Wake up! Wake up, Fireheart! Wake up!”

▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂

“Wake up!” Came Sandstorm’s voice.

Fireheart’s eyes snapped open and, sure enough, Sandstorm crouched before him, worry leaking from every hair on her pelt.

“What happened?” Fireheart groaned as he got to his paws.

“Stay down, nothing’s wrong with the Clan.” Sandstorm insisted, guessing correctly.

“Then what’d you want?”

“I… you stopped breathing a few heartbeats ago. I thought you were on your way to StarClan.”

Fireheart decided it probably wasn’t a good idea to tell her about seeing Yellowfang.

“Nope.” He grumbled, ambling to his paws and shaking each one out. “Anything happen overnight?”

“No.”

The pair settled onto the grass as sunlight peeked between the trees.

“It’s just about dawn. Have patrols been worked out?”

“Mousefur and Breezefoot are doing the border patrols today and Speckletail and Goldenflower handle hunting. We plan in pairs and rotate. Start from one end of the dens and go to the other. It’s been working, for now.”

“Sounds good. Feel free to say I’m on one of those.”

“You’re going for a walk?”

“Yes.”

“Can I come with you?”

“Sure.” Fireheart muttered, more than a bit confused.

“Give me a few heartbeats.”

Fireheart nodded and Sandstorm wheeled around, racing for the warriors’ den.

He didn’t have to wait long before she came back.

“Let’s go.” She chirped.

The pair headed for the gorse tunnel and soon the ravine was far behind them.

“Do you want the center nest?” Sandstorm asked suddenly.

“What for? I don’t even know if I’m staying.”

“But if you are…”

“No, I don’t want the center nest. That’s Tigerclaw’s nest.”

“It’s the deputy’s nest. It could just as easily be Whitestorm’s or Mousefur’s.”

“It should be.”

“Bluestar won’t talk to anyone, not even Whitestorm. She only wants to see you.”

“Well that bites like trout scales.” Fireheart deadpanned.

“What?”

“It’s a RiverClan saying. Means that’s not a good thing. But what am I supposed to do about it?”

“Depends on what you’re willing to do.”

“Apparently it’s not about willing.”

“We can rotate on handling Bluestar, we can keep track of our own patrols, we can scour every step of the territory to make sure Tigerclaw isn’t a problem anymore-.”

“Aren’t you already doing that? What do you need me for?”

“To speak for us. Officially. No Clan is considered complete without a leader and a deputy. It’s why the Code is so strict about the line of succession.”

“ShadowClan was complete and look what that got them.”

“Fair enough. That rule in particular can go eat mouse-dung.”

“Apparently there’s some medicine cat rule that means they can’t make their own families. Seems kind of weird to draw the line at mates and kits when cats are rarely born alone. Is Cinderpelt not allowed to acknowledge Frostfur as her mother? Or Thorn, Bracken, and Bright as her siblings?”

“When you put it that way, it doesn’t seem fair.” Sandstorm mused. “I didn’t know that was a rule. Poor Spottedleaf must have been so alone after Redtail died, especially if the medicine cat rules say she can’t acknowledge Willowpelt.”

“Now Willowpelt is pretty alone, I guess. Except for Whitestorm, so maybe not for long. Ugh, I am not looking forward to Cloudpaw asking where kittens come from.”

“Where do kittens come from, Fireheart?” Sandstorm snickered.

“The nursery.” Fireheart deadpanned.

“Good choice.”

“Simple and has the bonus of being true.”

“How do they get to the nursery?”

“That’s a completely different question. And their mothers carry them, of course. Mothers carry their kits everywhere.”

“Inside and out!” Sandstorm cackled. “Oh, Fireheart, this is brilliant! You have got to let me know when Cloudpaw starts asking around. I want to see his face.”

“I’ll consider it.” Fireheart snorted, amused. “Might be better to let his mother handle that one. Princess is rather blunt and not very faint-hearted. She worries for us, of course, but she’s got her own way of explaining the facts of life.”

“Definitely take me with you next time you see her.” Sandstorm was giddy with laughter and excitement. “Tulipwood could have used this on me and I wouldn’t have known the difference!”

“Your mother?”

“Yes. She was from Mousefur’s litter. She died not long before I was apprenticed. It was a hard leaf-bare.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

“It was a while ago. Besides, I still have Mousefur, Breezefoot, Whitepelt, and Sparrowpelt.”

“I only know Mousefur.” Fireheart offered apologetically.

“You know all of them. Elders can change their names when they retire. Sparrowpelt lost his tail to a badger and Whitepelt is pretty much blind and deaf.”

“Halftail and One-eye.” Fireheart realized, breathless. “Are all names so cruel?”

“They named themselves. It’s Clan tradition, and who are we to go against our elders?”

“Clan tradition doesn’t always mean it’s right.” Fireheart scowled.

“Bluestar was right to choose you.” Sandstorm said, obviously changing the subject.

“What?”

“Bluestar was right to choose you, even if she did it past moon-high. You’ve been doing such a good job that no one saw how much stress you were under until you cracked… I’m sorry I didn’t see it before.”

“It wasn’t for you to see.” Fireheart admitted. “I didn’t want anyone to see.”

“I… that’s fair. You’ve been under a lot of pressure. I just… let me know before you leave again.”

“What?”

“Tell me when you feel like leaving and I won’t stop you. With the way things are going, I might even scoop up Cloudpaw and come with you.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s your nephew. He’d miss you if you left.”

“He has family here. And in Twolegplace.”

“Ever since he found out he was adopted, he hasn’t been as open with anyone else. He could go back to his mother, but I doubt he would truly be happy as a house-cat. He likes to explore.” Sandstorm deadpanned, recalling when she and Fireheart went looking for three adventurous kittens, one of whom successfully caught prey.

“He sure does.” Fireheart agreed with a laugh, recalling the exact same thing. “Why would you want to come with me?”

Sandstorm was quiet as they walked and she spoke after they passed a few trees.

“I’d miss you. If you left. Even if you did tell me before you went, I… I don’t think I can see ThunderClan lasting much longer without you.”

“So you’d want to get out while you can?”

“No, I’d want to go with you.” She insisted.

“Why?”

“Because I… I think you’re a good cat, Fireheart. And I’d be willing to follow you wherever you felt like you needed to be.”

Fireheart narrowed his eyes and snorted.

“Whatever helps you sleep at night.” He offered neutrally.

“A race might.”

“What?”

“Help me sleep better.”

“You’ve always been faster than me.”

“Well, then, I guess it’ll be a hunting race. Whoever brings the most prey back to camp at sunset gets a favor.”

“You’re on!” Fireheart crowed.

▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂

Cloudpaw sat at the center of the camp when Fireheart and Sandstorm returned with their hunting wares. His fur bristled with excitement and his eyes were wide with determination. He fidgeted from time to time, something that the cats around him didn’t appreciate.

“Relax, Cloud! Either he’ll come back or he won’t and if he doesn’t come back by moon-high, he probably won’t ever.” Ashpaw scoffed.

“You shut your muzzle before I bury it in the dirtplace!”

“That’s not how you talk to your Clanmates.” Sandstorm called out, voice muffled by the mound of prey she carried in her jaws. Once all of their collective stash was on the fresh-kill pile, she turned to talk to the apprentices.

“Apologize, Cloudpaw. What you said was inappropriate. No one should be shoving anyone’s muzzle anywhere near the dirtplace unless it’s to cough up a hairball or gag.”

“Ew!” The apprentices groaned in a chorus.

“Exactly.” Sandstorm snorted, satisfied. “And I heard what you said to Cloudpaw, Ashpaw. That was not okay. You need to apologize to him as well.”

The apprentices exchanged half-hearted apologies, even though Ashpaw protestested while doing so.

“It’s not like Fireheart is coming back. You heard him just like everyone else. He hates us all.”

“If that were the truth I’d have left you to Tigerclaw a long time ago.” Fireheart muttered, irritated, before springing from behind the nursery and creeping toward the apprentices.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Dustpelt does.”

“I doubt that.”

“I’m going to tell him you said that.”

“Go ahead.” Sandstorm scowled through gritted teeth. “Though I can’t say you’ll have much of a mentor to run to.”

Fireheart fought the urge to snort and decided to change his approach.

“Leave the kits to their dreams, Sandstorm. Everyone’s got to look up to someone.”

“Fireheart!” Cloudpaw screeched, bowling him over. Several heads popped out of various dens and soon the clearing was filled with cats.

“I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry please don’t ever leave again-.”

“-don’t know how you handled all these patrols-.”

“-Bluestar is just not herself at all, how did we not notice?!”

“Back up!” Greystripe snapped suddenly. “Let Fireheart breathe. And he might listen better if he knew what you were saying.”

“Right, because you always know what he’s doing and when and how he feels about it.” Mousefur snorted.

“Because he looks overwhelmed.” Sandstorm corrected quietly. “Just this once, I agree with Greystripe.”

She turned to Fireheart to find that he’d since sat up and was now curled around Cloudpaw, who sniffled and clung to his fur.

“-I wasn’t exactly using my head at the time, kit. I panicked and that was the result. I didn’t think I’d need as long as I did but I also didn’t want you to see me like that. Yelling at the entire Clan was bad enough.”

“But you left without saying anything! And then you didn’t come back for days! I only didn’t get to look for you because Sandstorm wouldn’t let me. She kept saying you were okay.”

“And you didn’t believe her because you never believe anyone about anything.” Fireheart snorted fondly.

“I believe you.”

“I know you do.”

“I think you’re a good deputy.”

“I think that Bluestar forgot to ask if I wanted the job.”

“Well, you proved everyone wrong. Now they know we need you, just like I do.”

“Good to hear, Cloud, but I do believe that moon-high approaches.”

“Aw, no!” Cloudpaw half-whined half-snarled.

“Now, Cloudpaw, you know Whitestorm planned to train you with Brightpaw-.” Brindleface began.

“Fireheart won’t be here tomorrow if I go to sleep. You all ran him off and we’re lucky he spent the day with Sandstorm.”

“Cloudpaw, what are you talking about? He’s right here. You knew he was going to come back, you said it yourself.”

“I said he would come back, not that he would stay.” Cloudpaw retorted icily. “I won’t be late for training tomorrow, just let me talk to him a bit more.”

“Slow down, Cloudpaw.” Fireheart murmured. “No one’s in trouble. You can talk to me whenever you like.”

“They ran you off!”

“I’m pretty sure I used my own four legs, kit.” The ginger tom chuckled.

“You don’t like it here, though.” Cloudpaw insisted.

“I like ThunderClan just fine. Things just aren’t going all that well for everyone and I wasn’t handling it like I should have. I needed space and I got it.”

“So you’re not going to be a loner?”

“Nope. But I’ll let you know if I’m going away for longer than the sun is up. You need your sleep.”

“Okay.” Cloudpaw said simply. The white tom got to his paws and trudged for the medicine den, only looking back once to make sure his uncle was really there.

“I almost forgot what that felt like.” Fireheart grumbled, annoyed, and swiped his tongue against his teeth as if there were a bad taste on it.

“Forgot what?”

“Cats who live with Twolegs give up all rights to their litters after the kits are weaned off milk. Usually the Twolegs are generous and let them have long enough for the kits to be taught some things, but it’s pretty well-known that there’s a deadline. It’s why my sister asked me to take Cloud in the first place. She wanted to make sure at least one of her kits was someplace she could find. It’s safe to say that Cloudpaw feels differently about family than the rest of you and that he’ll always want to be around the cats he’s closest to.”

“You said you almost forgot.” Swiftpaw noted. “Did… did you get taken from your mother too?”

“Everyone does at some point. It’s like leaving the nursery to go to the apprentice den.”

“That’s not the same at all.” Longtail sputtered. “When you first came to the Clan… you never mentioned any family. How long had you been alone?”

“Had to be two or three moons, I think. It’s a bit foggy, but I know my sister and I are the spitting image of our parents. At least, according to the cats around town.”

“So you just… never saw your entire family again?”

“I’ve seen Princess a few times when I was younger. And she gave me Cloud.”

“It’s different.” Goldenflower choked out. “Fireheart, I couldn’t imagine giving up my kits. How did your mother ever cope with not seeing you at all? How is your sister faring with what amounts to the loss of an entire litter?”

“Feel free to come ask her if I ever meet up with her again, because I’m not touching that with a Twoleg stick even if you gave me all your fresh-kill.”

“I think I would like to meet this sister of yours.” Brindleface mused. “She must know so much about Cloudpaw, maybe she’ll be able to help him through this.”

“No wonder he was so upset all this time.” Fernpaw realized. “Fireheart is all he has and the rest of the cats he’s surrounded by don’t like him.”

“It’s not that we don’t like him-.”

“You never liked him.” Sandstorm insisted bluntly. “I’m not exactly blameless in any of this but I can admit Fireheart got piled on like a patrol trying to take down a dog.”

“And… so did….” Swiftpaw offered in an odd voice.

“Hey, Cloudpaw!” He called, springing to his paws and racing for the medicine cat den.

[thunders-warcats-stuff]

Bluefur’s Support System

AU where Bluestar blurts out all her troubles to either Snowfur, Rosetail, Thrushpelt, and Sunstar. When Snowfur dies, Rosetail and Thrushpelt are right there with her, making sure she eats and gets out to hunt and keeping her claws sharp even if she doesn’t go into battle as often as her Clanmates. Sunstar knows Bluefur has a lover and that Thrushpelt is a candidate but the three warriors never really talked about any of them taking a mate or having kits so he figured it was a spur of the moment thing with a passing rogue and they all agree that if Bluefur has kits, Thrushpelt will claim them and Rosetail will help raise them.

This changes the prophecy because although the prophecy was given to Bluefur, she has a support system and Rosetail (at the very least) knows that Tigerpaw is being trained rather fiercely. So she puts herself in the running to become deputy. Bluefur and Thrushpelt raise the kits. She’s a doting aunt. She becomes leader when Sunstar dies. Oakheart knows his kits’ names and Stormstar (Crookedstar keeps his name because I said so) eventually declares Sunningrocks neutral territory because Sunstar was right about ThunderClan getting more use out of it but it was their land first.