#fern moons

Bravesong had always considered herself to be an honest and fair cat. Despite her age, she’d never been afraid to speak her mind when she had an opinion on something, even when it got her into trouble. So here she stood in front of the entirety of her clan, standing up for her beliefs once again. This time though, it wasn’t just her own life that hung in the balance

“The code is clear Bravesong,” Burningstar declared, voice icy “there is to be no relations between cats of different clans. These bastard kits have no place here”

“And so you’d call to exile defenseless kits to the wilds?! That’s just murder with extra steps!!” She spat at her leader, standing protectively over the two kits in question. “It’s also against the code to bring harm to kits, or have you forgotten?!”

“These kits are already born of broken code. They do not belong in any of the clans, let alone mine. My decision is final” she snarled

“No” Bravesong refuted, staring up at her leader in defiance. “You’re wrong. They do belong, maybe not here, maybe not even in the other clans, but they belong, and they will be loved and cared for even if i have to make them a place to belong myself!”

Burningstar sneered at her “as if starclan would let a such a mousebrained thing come to be, but fine. You want to play at being a clan leader so badly? You can join the scraps in exile. No longer will you be welcome in Adderclan”

“Then I will leave as well” a voice called from the croud as another cat strode forth to stand by Bravesong’s side. Bravesong couldn’t help the small purr that rumbled in her chest as she recognized her beloved mate Willowdrift

He pressed his forehead to hers before he continued “Any clan that calls for the death of an innocent kit is not a clan I can stand to be a part of!”

Burningstar looked furious at this declaration, but before she could respond, two more voices called out from the crowd

“Us neither!!”

“What Violetpaw said!”

Violetpaw and Frozenpaw. Hers and Willowdrift’s apprentices. Bravesong felt a swell of pride at that. Those two were becoming fine young cats.

Burningstar gave a scoff “of course you’d side with them. As your mentors, they clearly poisoned your minds against the clan”

“It’s not just the younguns trainin with Bravesong ‘n’ Willowdrift who share their views” an older voice called from the edge of the clearing where Greypelt, the clan’s now retired medicine cat was hauling himself to his paws and striding foreward. “I’m sure you must know this isn’t something starclan would condone Burningstar, you’re just too old and badger-headed to see sense.” He padded forward, coming to a stop by Bravesong’s side. “Luckily, not all of us elders are”

Bravesong dipped her head in gratitude to the older tom’s words of agreement to her stance.

Burningstar’s tail lashed behind her. “FINE!! Then all of you can be exiled! This clan has no room for traitors the likes of you anyways. Take your scraps of fur you’ve decided to throw away your lives for and leave!”

Looking around the clearing, there were very few who met Bravesong’s gave. Most of them were too terrified of Burningstar to even dream of defying her. So they were silent because it kept their lives easier. Even at the cost of others. Despicable. And yet she couldn’t bring herself to hate them.

Bravesong bent down to pick up one of the two kits, Willowdrift grabbing the other. With one last glare at Burningstar, Bravesong led the group out of the camp and into the territory, heading for the border to the lands beyond. 

Onwards to carve out a new home where these little ones could live and grow, where they could have a chance to thrive.

Adderclan camp was quiet now, a stark contrast from the earlier events of the day. The cool night air brought a chill to Alderpaw's fur where she sat in the medic den replaying Bravesong's Exile in her head.

She should've said something. Should've done something!

She should've gone with them.

She still could.

Looking up to the stars through the gap in the overcropping of rocks that made up the Adderclan medic den, they seemed to glow brighter, as if encouraging her thoughts.

She still would.

Rising to her paws, she checked to make sure Swanpool was asleep in her nest, Alderpaw carefully made her way out of the medic den. skirting around the back of den, she squeezed through an old hole in the brambles her brother had found when they were kits. It was a tight fit now that she was an apprentice, but she was out of the camp.

She was really doing this.

It wasn't hard to pick up the scent of Bravesong's group. Her paws trembled, equal parts fear and determination as she followed the trail, sneaking further and further from camp. Her paws began to move faster under her, carrying her further from the only home she'd ever known.

She hoped her mother would understand. This was something she had to do, no matter how much it hurt to leave her family behind. Sparing a glance behind her as she ran, she almost wished she could take them with her. She knew they'd never join her though. Burningstar was a terror, yes, but Alderpaw's mother and brother were loyal Adderclan cats. For better or worse.

Turning her gaze forward again, she picked up her pace. The sooner she caught up to the others, the better. So with a scent trail at her paws, and the stars above her head, she carried onwards towards an unknown future