#crowslip

The inside fared little better than the outside. The ground was covered in loose piles of dried grass, though some new growth was beginning to poke its way up through the debris. Moss and mushrooms grew on the walls inside, and a few holes in the roof allowed a steady trickle of water inside. Still, he could tell Ravenspirit was right; all around him he could hear the scurrying of little feet, and from the look on the Windclanner’s faces, they were hearing the same.

Tallstar was doing his best not to salivate as he looked around. “This will be alright for the time being.” He admitted slowly. “The queens and elders will stay here for now. Deadfoot-?”

“Right away, Tallstar.” The deputy mewed, turning and beginning to assign sections of the barn to patrols. The cats bounded away eagerly, any trepidation at being in a Twoleg nest gone at the thought of finally sating their hunger.

Ravenspirit purred at the sight. “Maybe now we’ll be able to get this part of the farm under control!” He exclaimed before turning to the remaining cats. “I’m going to go fetch Barley. He’ll be pleased to hear the news that Windclan is returning home!” With that, the loner departed, leaving the Thunderclanners alone with Tallstar.

“A good fellow.” The Windclan leader commented. “I can see now why you vouched for him.”

“He’s a good cat. He understands our way of life, and respects it - and Starclan.” Fireheart mewed quickly. “I’m sure if he had the chance, he would have fought like a warrior alongside us to drive Brokentail out.”

“As would we.” Tallstar replied as he watched his warriors hunting in the fallen grass. “It will be nice to have Raven on our borders. A friendly face in these troubled times, as it were.”

The ginger tom nodded quietly. “Indeed.”

They sat in silence for a moment before Tallstar shook his pelt out. “So! Tell me, what else has transpired while Windclan has been gone? Do Bluestar and Crookedstar still lead?”

All three of them nodded. “Our dad, Quickflash, is Bluestar’s deputy now, and Leopardflame is now Crookedstar’s deputy.” Graystripe added as he sat down with a thump. “And… Yellowfang is our healer now, with her apprentice Dewpaw, our sister.” He looked down at his feet as he spoke of them. “Spottedleaf… Brokentail’s rogues killed her.”

“A healer?” Tallstar flattened his ears. “Despicable.” After a moment, he shook his head, trying to brighten up. “I do remember Quickflash being named deputy. I had wondered what his youth might mean for Thunderclan. I think now that if he is half the warrior his children are, it will mean a bright era for your Clan.”

All three of the Thunderclanners purred at that. “I’m sure he will be pleased to hear that, coming from you.” Peppermask mewed warmly as she nudged her brother. “We like to think he’s been doing well.”

“And what about you?” The Windclan leader asked, turning to Fireheart. “I have to say, your coat is… quite unusual, among the Clans. Who are your parents?”

The young warrior winced a bit at that. He could only imagine what Tallstar might think of him if he realized the tom had once been a kittypet. “I come from outside the Clans.” He admitted at last. “But I’ve been part of Thunderclan since I was six moons old.”

“And they are lucky to have you.” He was surprised at the warmth which Tallstar regarded him with. “Some of the finest cats I know weren’t Clanborn. There are those amongst the Clans that think being born in the forest is what makes a warrior, but I know better. Why, if it wasn’t for-”

He was interrupted by a loud cry behind them, and they turned to see Ravenspirit and Barley approaching, the rain running off their pelts as they came inside. “Tallstar.” Barley dipped his head respectfully to the other tom. “It’s good to see you again. I’m glad to hear you’re returning to the moors; it’s where Windclan belongs.”

“I agree.” The leader replied, dipping his head in greeting as well. “I must thank you and Raven here for your hospitality. Thanks to you, my Clan will be warm and fed tonight.”

The black and white loner twitched his ear at his companion’s name. “Of course, Tallstar. Anytime we can help the Clans, we will.” His lip curled into a smirk. “Though I have to say, you’re really doing us the favor. The mice here run rampant all over the farm, but we never have enough time or paws to catch them all!”

“So Raven said.” The Windclanner replied, his whiskers twitching in mild amusement. They looked on at the freshkill pile the warriors were assembling before them as they caught mouse after mouse underneath the grass. “Still, we’ll be out of your fur when the morning comes. We have our own camp to return to.”

“Of course.” Barley dipped his head smoothly in acknowledgement. “Would you mind if I lend your warriors a paw? I haven’t caught my own dinner yet tonight.”

“Of course not! It’s your farm, after all.” Tallstar responded as he got up and stretched out. “In fact… I believe it would do me some good to hunt as well. My paws have spent enough time idle.”

Fireheart copied him before springing forward. “I think I’ll join you.” He replied smoothly, flicking his tail for the two Thunderclan siblings and Raven to join him. They did so readily, and soon all six of them were hunting mice with the rest of Windclan.

By the time they were done, there was enough for all of Windclan to have two mice, even the kits. The Twoleg nest had been emptied of the little rodents, thanks to the keen hunting of the warriors, apprentices and loners, and so the Clan had filtered throughout the barn to find warm places to eat and sleep. The wind blew showers of rain through the entrance, and the holes in the walls allowed chilly drafts to seep through, but the place was big enough that the Windclanners were able to find places to sleep all the same.

Greystripe sat back on his haunches with a groan, having eaten two whole mice himself and stolen some of his sister’s. “I’m stuffed!” He moaned to the others.

“Good! It means you did your job.” Barley purred as he stood up. “Well, I’d best be off. Plenty more mice to catch.”

Tallstar nodded respectfully to the tom. “May Starclan light your path.”

“And yours.” The loner responded over his shoulder as he padded out into the rain, seemingly unbothered by it. There was a moment’s silence as they listened to the steady patter of the rain on the roof, watching it fall through the entrance.

“We can take the first watch, Tallstar.” Fireheart mewed as he stood and stretched, his own belly contentedly full. “Your warriors deserve the time to rest.”

The black and white tom regarded him with unblinking yellow eyes for a long moment. Finally, he nodded. “Thank you, Fireheart. I will tell Deadfoot that.” He sat up and began cleaning his white paws, which looked painfully swollen from all the travel. Fireheart supposed his own didn’t look much better.

He flicked his tail for his friends to follow him towards the entrance, where few dared to go due to the rain. Here, the storm would obscure their words from the rest of Windclan, and they would be able to see the whole Clan clearly. They could talk without being disturbed. 

Peppermask and Ravenspirit sat next to him as Graystripe tottered over, clearly unused to walking with such a full belly. “We’ll be undisturbed here.” The ginger tom mewed to them as he bushed his fur up against the cold. “We should be able to talk freely.”

“At last.” Ravenspirit murmured, sighing in relief. “There’s so much I couldn’t ask with Tallstar and Windclan listening in.”

“Agreed.” Fireheart replied, dipping his head. “It was so hard not saying your real name, too!”

“So what happened after I left?” Ravenspirit asked with a tilt of his head. “Obviously you got the kits back, and drove out Brokentail… and Spottedleaf is dead, of course.” He closed his eyes slowly in grief. “But what of Goldenflower? And all of you, for that matter? You said Bluestar gave you your names?”

“She lived!” Peppermask purred in delight. “Dewpaw worked hard to save her. She’s still recovering, and her kits had to wean a bit early, but they’re all together and safe and sound.”

“A lot happened after you left.” Fireheart admitted as he leaned back on his haunches. “We went and found the Shadowclan elders, Yellowfang included. Then we waited until Bluestar sent out the battle patrol for the kits - Peppermask was there, as well.”

“That’s right. Lionheart, Whitestorm, Sandstorm, Tinyfrost and I.” Peppermask added in quickly. “We invaded Shadowclan camp, and Fireheart himself was the one to drive off Brokentail!”

Ravenspirit gasped in shock. “That’s incredible, Fireheart! Brokentail was one of the strongest cats in the Clans. Stronger than my father, even.” He sighed as he mentioned the dark tabby, glancing out into the rain.

“I didn’t really do much.” The ginger tom admitted. “It was a group effort. We’ll have to tell you the whole story someday.”

“Then we returned to Thunderclan with the kits and Yellowfang.” Graystripe added, excitement overwhelming his bellyache. “And Bluestar gave us our warrior names!”

“She gave all of us our warrior names.” Fireheart added, looking to the black loner beside them earnestly. “Fireheart, Graystripe, and Ravenspirit.”

There was a heavy silence in the air. “So they really do think I’m dead, then.” Ravenspirit mewed as he gazed out at the storm.

Fireheart perked his ears in confusion. “How’d you know that? We hadn’t gotten to that part yet.”

“It’s his name.” Peppermask mewed quickly, glancing at the former Thunderclanner as she did so. “The name -spirit is reserved for those who died too soon. Apprentices, usually, but I’ve heard of leaders sometimes giving it to kits as well. It’s in honor of the first apprentice to die, Brightspirit, and how she was taken from us too soon.” The gray tabby bowed her head mournfully at the mention of the lost Starclanner.

“The Clan elders are responsible for keeping the tales of each who died before their time, so that they will never be forgotten.” Ravenspirit added solemnly as he watched the rain fall. “Do I have one, then?” He asked as he finally looked back at them.

“You do.” Graystripe answered readily. Fireheart blinked in surprise; he hadn’t talked to the elders that much since the battle, and so he hadn’t known. “Your tale is one of bravery and sacrifice, saving us from Brokentail’s cruel claws.”

Ravenspirit nodded halfheartedly. “That… That’s good, I guess.” He mewed at last.

“You seem troubled.” Peppermask said softly as she gazed at the loner with wide, earnest eyes. “What’s wrong?”

He sighed and looked back at the storm outside. “I don’t deserve it.” He finally admitted. “I ran away when the Clan needed me most. I was a coward.”

“Nonsense!” Fireheart interjected, nudging his friend with his shoulder. “Bluestar herself said you would have gotten your name if Brokentail hadn’t attacked. Even if you hadn’t run away, you would still be a warrior.”

“But I did. Would she still think the same of me if she knew I was alive?” The black tom pointed out as he turned to look at his friend. “What if she knew I was a loner now? That I turned away from the Clans and the code?”

“That doesn’t matter.” Peppermask refuted him gently, though her tail tip was lashing. “You would have died if you stayed, Ravenspirit. At least with you safe here, we have a chance to figure out a plan to fight back against Tigerclaw.”

“If I may.” All four of them jumped at the sound of another voice. They had been so deep in conversation, they hadn’t noticed Tallstar’s approach. 

“How much did you hear?” Fireheart asked him warily. If Tallstar knew- if he told the other Clans-

“Enough.” He replied simply, sitting down and wrapping his tail over his white paws. “Your secret is safe with me. I know better than to interfere with another Clan.” He glanced quickly at the other Thunderclanners, though if it was a jab at them he didn’t voice it any further. “But it would be wrong of me to sit idly by and listen to you wrestle with the same guilt I once did.”

The former group of apprentices glanced at each other uneasily. “What do you mean?” The ginger Thunderclanner finally asked cautiously.

Tallstar nodded towards his Clan, most of whom were beginning to fall into a peaceful sleep. “It was not easy for me to choose to leave the moors behind. Indeed, the warrior code says that we must fight to defend our Clan - with our life, if need be.” His eyes were troubled as he gazed over the slumbering warriors. “There are those who would call me a coward for choosing to flee rather than stay and fight.”

Tense silence filled the air. “But Brokentail and his rogues were strong. Even if I chose to stay and fight - even if we won - we would have lost many more lives that day. We certainly wouldn’t have been able to repel a second attack.” He closed his eyes mournfully, grieving the loss of his warriors. “If it makes me a coward, then so be it. But a wise warrior knows that they cannot win every battle. Sometimes, it is better to know when to cut your losses, so that you may strike faster and harder the second time.”

Fireheart glanced at Ravenspirit, whose brows were furrowed in thought. “I feel bad, though. For tricking Bluestar into believing I’m dead.”

The Windclan tom’s whiskers twitched in amusement at that. “Bluestar is one of the wisest cats I have had the privilege of meeting. She has seen much in her seasons as Thunderclan’s leader.” He glanced around at the other four cats as they squinted at him in confusion. “She has also seen many young, daring cats like yourselves in that time. She was once one herself. I suspect you may not have fooled her as well as you all think.”

Graystripe bristled at that. “You mean she knows that it was an act?”

He shrugged his black and white shoulders. “Perhaps. More likely, she realizes there is more to the story than what you told her. But she also trusts in her warriors to do what is right; a trust, I have noticed, that is rarely ill-founded.” He dipped his head to Ravenspirit. “Even so, she still chose to honor you and your life. She believes you earned your name, despite what else she may not know. Take heart in that.”

There was a long pause as the four of them considered that. “I think I understand. Thank you, Tallstar.”

He nodded, then stood and stretched. “In any case, I merely came over to tell you all that Deadfoot has arranged for your replacements at moonhigh. Pigeonflight and Wrenfeather will take the second watch.” He indicated each to them; a tabby with thick black stripes and a small brown molly that were curled up together, sleeping soundly.

“Wait!” Fireheart mewed quickly as the Windclan leader turned to leave. “Before you go, I- I had a question for you.” He looked to the others, who were staring at him curiously. “When you first saw me in the tunnel, you called me Jake. Why?”

The tom’s shoulders slumped as he slowly sat back down. “It is a long tale. One which happened many seasons ago, before I became leader.” He gazed wistfully out of the Twoleg nest, into the slowly weakening storm. “I was lost, blinded by my own pride and anger. Jake was a mere kittypet, but he was perhaps the greatest cat I have ever met. He taught me a great deal about the world outside of the Clans, and helped me find my way. I would not be leader of Windclan today without his help.”

Fireheart perked his ears in surprise. With how the other Clans had thus far treated kittypets, he hadn’t expected a leader to be so close to one. “What happened to him?” 

Tallstar shrugged. “We parted ways; I became Windclan deputy, and he went back to his Twolegs. I have long wondered what happened to him, but he has never visited since.” He shook his head with a sigh. “His pelt was like a burning blaze across the moors, shining just as brightly in the sunlight. And his eyes - as green as the forest in late newleaf, like yours. You look… remarkably like him, but without the choker.”

“Maybe you two are related?” Graystripe suggested with a nudge to the tom beside him.

The ginger warrior shrugged. “Truthfully, I was also once a kittypet. But the thing about kittypets is that they don’t know their family beyond their littermates and mother.”

The Windclan leader nodded in understanding. He didn’t seem at all surprised by Fireheart’s admission. “Jake told me as such. It doesn’t matter, anyways. I can see you are your own cat, whether you are related to him or not.” Still, he could see the longing in the tom’s golden eyes, of a different time and different cat. “Your spirit burns brightly. Thunderclan is lucky to have a cat like you serving them.”

Fireheart dipped his head at the praise. “Thank you, Tallstar. I- I appreciate that.”

The Windclan leader stood and looked at the rest of them. “If that is all, I will take my leave now. I must be ready to lead the Clan home in the morning.” He glanced over to Ravenspirit as they all shook their heads. “And I will let the Clan know not to mention the loners that helped them to anyone else at the Gathering. To keep our pride, and all.”

Ravenspirit blinked and then nodded appreciatively. “Thank you, Tallstar. It means more than you know.”

The tom flicked his tail farewell and trotted over to where Crowskip, the elder, was curled up in the dried grass, watching a leak from the roof splashing down. He lifted his head curiously as his leader arrived, and the two began chatting as Fireheart turned to the others.

“That takes care of one worry, at least.” Peppermask murmured to the rest. “We still haven’t figured out how to take care of Tigerclaw, but we have a new ally now. Yellowfang.”

The black loner perked his ears curiously. “Yes, you mentioned she had joined Thunderclan as the new healer. Which means Wetnose is Shadowclan’s only healer now?”

Fireheart chuffed at the mention of the Shadowclan tom. “Yes, he is. Though not a very good one, from what little I’ve heard.”

Ravenspirit twitched his whiskers mirthfully at that. “So I’ve been told. He can’t even cure his own cold!”

The group purred appreciatively at that. It was nice, to be able to lighten up after the long and weary journey that they had undertaken. Still, he was exhausted on his paws after all the traveling that they had done, and Ravenspirit seemed to notice as he swayed slightly on his feet. “Why don’t you guys get some sleep? I can take the watch on my own.” 

Fireheart hesitated, glancing at the others. “Are you sure? I mean, we promised Tallstar we’d take watch.” 

“It’s fine. I think he trusts me now, and you guys know I can keep watch fine.” Fireheart nodded at that; Ravenspirit had always had keen eyesight and hearing as an apprentice. “Get some rest. You can sleep here, if it’ll make you feel better.”