Chapter Text
Prologue
“They’re late.” Swiftstar unsheathed his claws in frustration, scraping them against the bare rock.“We can’t all start now,” Dawnstar pointed out mildly. “ThunderClan are valuable members of the forest and we should treat them as such.”
“Birchstar, what do you think?”
“I’m happy to wait awhile. The moon is still low now.”
“I second that.” Cloudstar, the fourth leader, pointed out mildly. “ThunderClan are rarely late. It must be important.”
At that moment, Redstar burst through into Fourtrees, trailing a mass of cats beside him. Bedraggled elders, terrified kits, nervous apprentices and wary warriors fanned out behind him.
“Redstar, what’s all this? You know that kits are too young to come to gatherings!”
“I have no choice, Swiftstar. It was either that or let them get destroyed by Twolegs.”
“Twolegs?” Birchstar interjected warily. “There has been increased activity but nothing camp-destroying.”
Redstar’s eyes grew hollow. “They were enough to destroy our territory. Monsters are ringed around camp now. The territory is gone. We have one hope of survival; sharing territory with you.”
Protest arose from the mingled cats.
“That’s all well and good to say, but our territories are stretched thin as they are. You can’t expect me to give up land and let WindClan kits starve!”
“Swiftstar- I- “
“And RiverClan would like to help, but prey runs thin here. Besides, ThunderClan isn’t exactly known for fishing.”
“Our Clan is the largest,” Dawnstar replied. “We already struggle to fill cats’ bellies as is. I apologise, Redstar, but the territory isn’t big enough.”
“I’m sorry, Redstar,” Cloudstar replied. “You would soon tire of feathers. I would like to offer you a place to stay; I would. But I simply can’t.”
“Then do ThunderClan die out?”
“No.” Swiftstar’s voice was cold. “You leave. And don’t steal our prey, or you’ll wish you’d never been kitted.”
“So that’s it then? You’re going to abandon us in StarClan’s sight?”
“StarClan has not sent clouds to cover the moon,” Birchstar replied. “We must take it as a sign that things change.”
“What about the Warrior Code?”
“It did not account for the Twolegs.”
“Well. ThunderClan will travel alone from now on. We have seen the worth of your code of honour.”
“Wait!”
“What is it, Sparkfur?”
“My kits… they can’t travel.”
“We have to go.”
“I also can’t travel.” Another heavily pregnant queen stepped out of the crowd.
“Silverclaw… we must.”
Behind him, Redstar could faintly hear protest and anguish from his warriors, but he had to face forwards to look those who had destroyed him in the eye and ensure the fate of at least some of his Clan.
“I’d be happy to take them. I cannot provide for your Clan, but two more queens can be accepted.” Cloudstar stated.
“Well.” Redstar swallowed the lump in his throat. “You are willing to grant at least this.”
“I am. May StarClan light your path, old friend.” Cloudstar called.
“StarClan may light the path it pleases. ThunderClan’s path has obviously diverged from it.”
With a flick of his tail, he led ThunderClan out of the hollow.
Many Seasons Later
To say Rusty was shocked to see the other two cats appear from behind Graypaw was an understatement.
“Greetings, kittypet.” The cream-and-brown one mewed. “I am Leafstar.”
The darker brown one grunted. “Sharpclaw.”
“I am the leader of SkyClan, and we have been watching you,” Leafstar told him.
Graypaw looked stunned. “Watching us?”
“Didn’t Leafstar just say that?” Sharpclaw challenged the apprentice.
Graypaw looked sheepish.
“We invite you to join us and see what Clan life is like.”
“May I decide?” Rusty mewed.
“Of course. You have until sunhigh tomorrow.”
Tails waving, the SkyClan cats retreated into the forest.
Rusty could only watch in fascination. A leaf caught the sunlight, drifting onto his nose. He would have to decide which life to choose, but he had a feeling he knew which he’d pick already.