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Chapter Text

ISLANDCLAN
(Cats who live on an island near the moor)

LEADER: Orchidstar (four)
A blue tom with blue eyes and a long scar reaching from his belly to the base of his tail

DEPUTY: Daffodilheart (X)
A yellow tom with grey eyes striped paws, dapples on his back and two scars at the tip of his tail

MEDICINE CAT: Leafsong (Two)
A dark green cat with green eyes and herbs in their fur

Lavenderspot (winner)
A pale purple cat with purple eyes and spots

WARRIORS

Yellowpelt (yellow face)
A pure yellow tom with grey eyes

Yellowspot (spongy)
A yellow tom with amber eyes and spotted fur

Needlefoot (needle)
A grey she-cat with grey eyes and a darker grey tail tip

Cloudleap (Cloudy)
A pure white fluffy tom with yellow eyes

Russetflame (fries)
A russet tom with yellow eyes

Flowerfluff (puffball)
A pale pink fluffy she-cat with amber eyes

Grassstripe (tb)
A green tuxedo tom with green eyes

Palespot (gb)
A white spotted she-cat with green eyes

Crowface (8-ball)
A black tom with pale grey eyes a white face, paws, chest and tail tip.

Treeleaf (tree)
A dark brown tabby tom with green eyes

Nightleap (black hole)
A pure black tom

Swanhiss (pillow)
A mackerel white she-cat with green eyes and a harsh scar on her hind leg

Palesky (liy)
A pale blue she-cat with white spots on her

Redfoot (stapy)
A red tom with a white belly and amber eyes

Riverfur (foldy)
A blue she-cat with blue eyes

Wheatfoot (donut)
A pale yellow tom with yellow eyes

Sharptuft (pin)
A red she-cat with amber eyes and a sharp grey tuft of fur on her head

Copperheart (coiny)
An orange tom with amber eyes

Nightstep (remote)
A black she-cat with green eyes, a white left paw, chest, tail tip and a red flower on her right ear

Shadowbelly (tv)
A grey tom with a black belly and grey eyes

Riverface (pen)
A white tom with a blue face and blue eyes

Lakeswirl (clock)
A white tom with blue patches and swirls on his pelt

Stormfoot (Nickle)
A grey tom with grey eyes

Coppertail (bell)
A brown she-cat with amber eyes and white chest and tail tip

Silverflower (saw)
A silver she-cat with grey eyes and a pink flower on her left ear

Leopardspot (loser)
A leopard looking tom with yellow eyes

Birchstripe (pencil)
A pale yellow tabby she-cat with yellow eyes

Wolfmuzzle (bomby)
A grey tom with grey eyes
APPRENTICE: Mudpaw (cake)

Violetspot (maker)
A white tom with purple eyes and a purple spot on his side

Flowerpetal (flower)
A diluted pink she-cat with yellow eyes, swirls on her pelt and a constantly glossy pelt

Cloudsky (bubble)
A pale blue she-cat with blue eyes and daisies in her tail

Snowfoot (eggy)
A white she-cat with yellow eyes
APPRENTICE: Riverpaw (bracelety)

Rosepelt (eraser)
A pale pink tom with copper eyes

Lakeripple (balloony)
A blue-green tom with green eyes

Fireclaw (firey)
A ginger tom with amber eyes

Skyshine (bottle)
A pale blue she-cat

Lightningstrike (Lightning)
A yellow tom with yellow eyes

Snowclaw (snowball)
A white tom with blue eyes

Icefang (ice cube)
A white she-cat with cyan eyes

Silentstream (teardrop)
A blue she-cat with blue eyes

Rubyshine (ruby)
A red tabby she-cat with copper eyes

Pondfoot (book)
A blue green she-cat with green eyes

Russettail (price tag)
A red cat with amber eyes and a white flower on their right ear

Redheart (blocky)
A red tom with amber eyes

APPRENTICES

Sandpaw (taco)
A yellow spotted she-cat with one green eye and one blue eye

Riverpaw (bracelety)
A blue she-cat with cyan eyes

Mudpaw (cake)
A brown tom with dark amber eyes and a striped tail

QUEENS & KITS

Leafheart (leafy)
A green she-cat with white patches and green eyes
KITS: Rockkit (rocky) A grey tom with swirls on his fur and grey eyes (not biologically Leafy's)
Grasskit (grassy) A green spotted tom with green eyes (biologically leafys)
Firekit (firey jr)
A ginger tom with amber eyes (biologically leafys)

ELDERS

Nutwhisker (pie)
A pale yellow she-cat with yellow eyes and juniper berries in her fur

MEADOWCLAN
(Cats who live on the moor)

LEADER: Riverstar (mephone)
A blue tom with blue eyes

DEPUTY: Grasspelt (the floor)
A green tom with green eyes and clovers in his tail

MEDICINE CAT: Chervilheart (test tube)
A green she-cat with green eyes
APPRENTICE: Poppypaw (life ring)

WARRIORS

Cardinalswoop (balloon)
A red tom with yellow eyes and white paws, chest and tail tip

Redsnow (baseball)
A red tom with a white brindle

Greyfur (bomb)
A dark grey tom with sage eyes

Wolffang (knife)
A grey mackerel tom with grey eyes

Sparrowwing (suitcase)
A tortoiseshell ginger and brown tabby she-cat with yellow eyes

Dandelionfoot (cheesy)
A yellow tom with yellow eyes and a scar on his shoulder

Appletail (fan)
A bengal red tom with copper eyes and a red face, tail and paws

Sunshine (lightbulb)
A pale yellow smoke she-cat with yellow eyes and a grey tail and a striped tail tip

Puzzlefur (paintbrush)
A yellow and brown cat split down the middle with yellow eyes

Violetflame (candle)
A purple she-cat with purple eyes

Silvershine (silver spoon)
A silver tom with blue eyes
APPRENTICE: Rainpaw (goo)

Icefur (paper)
A white tom with sage eyes

Flameheart (oj)
A ginger tom tabby tom with orange eyes

Smokefoot (pepper)
A grey she-cat with swirls on her pelt and sage eyes

Crowpelt (microphone)
A grey she-cat with a white left paw and white cheek with grey eyes

Cloudheart (salt)
A white she-cat with pale yellow eyes

Grassfoot (pickle)
A green tom with green eyes and a scar on his flank with white paws and a white tail tip

Rosefang (soap)
A white and pink she-cat with green eyes

Puddlesnow (tissues)
A white tom with small patches of blue on his pelt and cyan eyes

Wolftail (nickle)
A grey mackerel tom with grey eyes
APPRENTICE: Lakepaw

Goldenfur (trophy)
A golden tabby tom with yellow eyes and a scar on his tail

Skypelt (tea kettle)
A pale blue she-cat with green eyes
APPRENTICE: Cloudpaw (Marshmallow)

Bluecloud (cabby)
A blue she-cat with blue eyes
APPRENTICE: Cloverpaw (clover)

Lakeheart (bot)
A white cat with dapples of blue on them, with one cyan eye and one green eye

Applefoot (apple)
A red spotted she-cat with amber eyes

APPRENTICES

Rainpaw (goo)
A blue tom with blue eyes

Cloudpaw (Marshmallow)
A pure white she-cat with blue eyes

Cloverpaw (clover)
A green she-cat with green eyes and clovers in her tail

ALGEBRALIENS
(Cats who left IslandClan and set up their own group in the forest)

Violetheart (five)
A purple she-cat with purple eyes and a sprig of heather on her left ear

Bluebellwhisker (Six)
A blue spotted she-cat with cyan eyes

Coalpelt (seven)
A grey tom with grey eyes

Cinderspot (eight)
A light grey tom with blue eyes

Flametooth (ten)
A ginger spotted tom with copper eyes

Rosehiss (fifteen)
A red bengal she-cat with copper eyes

Ashleap (zero)
A pale grey cat with one blue eye and one yellow eye

CATS OUTSIDE OF CLANS

Gelatin
A green kittypet tom with green eyes

Lollipop
A half purple half white kittypet she-cat with purple eyes

THE WHISPERERS
(a small group of ex kittypets, strays and loners who live beside a stream)

Charlotte
A pale brown she-cat with green eyes

Liam
A green tom with green eyes

Taylor
A young pinkish she-cat with blue eyes

Bryce
A pale prey tom with red eyes

Amelia
A cyan she-cat with blue eyes

Chapter Text

Lightningstrike (Lightning) was enjoying the greenleaf sunshine. The battle with Lavendermoon and her allies had left the Clan is shambles for leafbare. Everyone had been surprised to see Windwing (fanny) alive, but when he and Windwing explained, the Clan welcomed her back into IslandClan. A few cats had been suspicious of her but the worries had died down in the moons after Lavendermoon's (one) death, her allies had admitted to their faults. Explaining how they'd been manipulated into trusting such a vile cat. However, new seasons brought new lives, and Lightningstrike and Windwing were proud to introduce a new litter of kits to the Clan. Padding over to the nursery with a moss ball clamped in his jaws he heard the excited squeals of Hailkit, Thunderkit, Stormkit and Sunkit. "Lightningstrike!" They called and charged out the nursery, almost tripping him up. Hailkit looked just like Icefang and Snowclaw, her little spotted body didn't look like any cat from IslandClan, but he assumed she inherited those from his mother, Tornadoyowl, who died during kitting considering how Cloudleap (cloudy), his father, fawned over the little kit. Thunderkit was a mix of orange and grey, and he already looked handsome. Lightningstrike could only look forward to seeing the young tom grow. Stormkit looked just like her mother, Windwing, but the blue on her mothers pelt was replaced by grey. Windwing's beautiful white snaking pattern with her white face, paws and tail had been passed onto her daughter. Sunkit was the smallest of the litter. She looked a lot like Silentstream (teardrop), but yellow. She was the most gentle and soft-spoken of the litter while her siblings often charged into situations without considering the risks. Stormkit was a head-strong little she-kit, and was surprising stubborn. She was definitely Windwing's kit. Thunderkit was determined and loyal, and Lightningstrike knew he'd make a good leader or deputy one day. Hailkit was shy but when she got to know a cat she could be the noisiest kit in the whole forest. Lightningstrike batted the mossball into the air and the kits went racing after it. The nursery entrance stirred, and Windwing padded out. She purred when she saw Lightningstrike. She nuzzled the tom and lay next to him. The two started sharing tounges as the kits played with the mossball. Windwing paused, her expression growing confused. "You should really wake up." She meowed. Lightningstrike paused, glancing at Windwing. "What?" He meowed. He didn't intend to sound so confused, but he couldn't help it. "Wake up." She meowed again.

"Wake up!" A paw prodded Lightningstrike in the ribs and he looked up. Nightleap (black hole) was staring at him, his expression a mix of irritation and confusion. "You were talking to yourself. Something about Sunkit, Hailkit, Thunderkit and Stormkit." Nightleap sighed. "You're wanted on patrol anyways." He muttered and padded out the den. Leafbare chill bit him and he remembered the brutal death of his mate, Windwing. Fresh grief drowned him and made bis pelt weigh heavy as he padded out of the warriors den. Treeleaf (tree) noticed him padding out the den and whisked his tail to tell him to come over. Wheatfoot (donut) and Birchstripe (pencil) were sat beside him. "I'm leading the patrol, apparently there was fox scent detected near our territory so we're gonna go check it out." Treeleaf meowed as Lightningstrike approached. The brown tom headed out of camp, and Lightningstrike slotted into the back. He was happy there. As the patrol passed through the forest, Windwing's grave caught Lightningstrike's eye. The flowers he placed were already wilting, and he'd only left them there two sunrises ago. He'd have to remind himself to lay new ones after the patrol. He broke into a trot to catch up with Birchstripe, but the patrol had already halted. "The fox scent his stale," Wheatfoot announced. Lightningstrike felt his shoulders sag, if he was being honest, he was half hoping for the fox to attack with a massive pack he'd tell the cats to run off to get a patrol and the fox would kill him. He'd to go StarClan and meet Windwing and they'd live out the life they wanted. But now that wouldn't happen. As the patrol turned around, Lightningstrike stalked away from the cats. A strong scent filled his mouth and he saw a beautiful purple flower sprouting in the frost. He padded up to it and plucked it from the ground, turning back to Windwing's grave and placed the flower on the disturbed ground. Oh, Windwing. I'm so sorry.

Chapter Text

The river's raging rapids tugged on Lightningstrike's yellow fur. He was smart enough to know not to fight it. He let the river tug on him, flowing down the water. When he saw rocks jutting out of the river bank, he finally fought the current. The river tried to grab onto him, to keep him in its paws. But he had a strong grip on the rock. Heaving himself up, he scrambled up onto the rock. The river was angry with him for escaping, but Lightningstrike knew he was safe in the embrace of the rock. He let out a breath. He was safe. But his freezing pelt begged otherwise. He'd have to deal with that later, he decided, as getting away from this wrathful river was more important than a cold pelt. Lightningstrike was about to turn away when he heard a cry from a kit. Firekit? No, it was too high pitched to be him. Grasskit? No, Rockkit didn't even sound close to the kits cries. He turned around and felt a pit fall in his stomach when he saw the small body of Hailkit bobbing in the howling rapids. "Hailkit!" He yowled, fear pulsing through his body. Her white fur now looked dull. Her fur was caked in mud and the small kit was running out of energy, and quickly. I'm a horrible father! He chastised himself. He tried to move his paws, but they were rooted to the rock. He looked down and gasped in horror when he saw his paws turning to stone. He could only watch in horror as Sunkit, then Thunderkit and Stormkit slip by, their small bodies crashing into the rocks and being carried by the rough current. My poor kits! He cried to himself. His breathing was uneven and he could hardly get any air in.

Lightningstrike jerked up from his nightmare. He was shaking and was breathing quickly. He took a moment to calm himself down before realising he was the only one in the warriors den. He felt dread gnaw at him when he realised it was already sunhigh. He quietly padded out the den, hoping that she wouldn't be noticed by any cat, he preferred to be a shadow, not being noticed by anyone, just something that was there. But with his luck, it didn't go to plan. "Hi, Lightningstrike!" That was his sister, Icefang (ice cube). He cast a glance towards her and felt bitterness rise up inside of him. He hadn't forgiven her for almost killing their other littermate, Silentstream (teardrop). He knew she'd been manipulated into following Lavendermoon and Sandpelt (taco II). But they were dead now. And so were many of his Clanmates. Orchidstar (four) had lost two of his lives to Lavendermoon, and was about to lose a third when Tigerstripe (basketball) turned on Lavendermoon but got herself killed. When Sandywhisker (Barf bag) saw Tigerstripe getting killed she came to her senses and tried to kill Lavendermoon herself. Sandywhisker's plan failed though, because Lavendermoon ended up breaking her spine. That didn't immediately kill her, but Lavendermoon left her to bleed to death. It was a horrible death, but the one that stuck with him the most was Windwing's. He shivered at the memory. He'd watched his mate get brutally murdered, Lavendermoon had managed to shove her paw through Windwing's throat. Lightningstrike was glad it was a quick death, he wasn't sure he could handle watching Windwing dying slowly in front of his eyes. Icefang managed to snap him out of his train of thoughts, though. "Are you okay? You're staring at me." She meowed. Her blue eyes would usually be glittering with compassion and worry for him, but he was pretty sure she lost that sparkle when she started being manipulated by Lavendermoon. "Leave me alone." He grunted. Icefang didn't argue. She sank back down and didn't look up at her brother. "Lightningstrike." Lightningstrike jerked up. Daffodilheart (X) was staring at him. His expression was hard, but his eyes glittered in sympathy. "You were supposed to be on the dawn patrol." The deputy meowed. Lightningstrike felt guilt swallow him. "I'm sorry." He sighed. Daffodilheart shook his head. He glanced around at the cats that were dotted about camp. "Never mind." He meowed. "You can join the sunhigh patrol." Daffodilheart swivled his muzzle towards Needlefoot (needle), Silentstream and Fireclaw (firey). He meowed his thanks to Daffodilheart, but his words weren't genuine. Silentstream dipped her head when she saw her brother approaching, her wounds from Icefang were closing up nicely and it wouldn't look like they'd scar. Needlefoot didn't look up. She had been one of Lavendermoon's allies. The skinny grey she-cat now had long scars snaking across her from her time in the dark forest. Needlefoot herself had turned on Lavendermoon after being forced to fight her sister, Sharptuft (pin). She'd been lucky to survive. Lightningstrike wished Icefang had been as sympathetic as Needlefoot, but she hadn't. Fireclaw started padding out of camp and the patrol followed. Needlefoot stuck to the back, her scarred tail dragging along the floor. Most of Lavendermoon's allies had been internally exiled. The living cats had tried to reconcile, but Lightningstrike knew it would be moons or even seasons before the internal wounds that Lavendermoon wielded to IslandClan. The patrol passed by Windwing's grave and Lightningstrike let out an audible sigh. "I miss her too, you know." Needlefoot whispered. Lightningstrike whipped his head around to stare at Needlefoot. He knew she was talking about Windwing "She's my kin. Sharptuft is my sister." Needlefoot murmured. Lightningstrike flicked his ears back. He stared into Needlefoot's eyes. "But Sharptuft isn't actually her mother, though." Lightningstrike grunted. Needlefoot ducked her head. She sighed gently. "She still felt like kin to me." Needlefoot mewed and slotted back into the rear of the patrol. Silentstream poked Lightningstrike over the head. He paused and looked up. "What?" He asked. She nosed towards the IslandClan border and Lightningstrike picked up a cat scent. "Fireclaw!" He called for the patrol leader. Fireclaw turned around and padded up to Lightningstrike. He scented it too, and narrowed his eyes. "Let's report this to Daffodilheart. It's stale, but I wouldn't risk it." He announced. The patrol turned back to camp, but Lightningstrike hesitated. Who were these cats? Hesitantly, he followed the scent out of IslandClan territory. He followed the scent trail, the scent only getting fresher and stronger as he walked on. A fox barm made him snap out of his thoughts and a massive dog fox burst out the brush. Before Lightningstrike could react the fox had his hind leg in its jaws. He screeched in agony and kicked the fox in the eye. It yipped in pain and dropped him. But it had done enough damage to the point any attack would be futile. He tried to run away but the fox pinned him down. It parted its jaws and lunged for his throat. This is it. He told himself. I'm dead. I'm going to StarClan and I'm going to live my life with Windwing. But all of a sudden the weight was lifted off of him. A blue she-cat lauched herself in the fox and was clawing at it. A pale grey tom was helping her. The dog fox growled and gave up, limping away. The blue she-cat turned to him and bounded to his side. "Are you okay?" She asked. "Those wounds look nasty." She meowed. Lightningstrike sniffed and opened his jaws to reply, but his mouth felt dry. "I'm fine-" he mewed, but he got cut off as the world grew black.

Chapter Text

"Is he alive?"

"I'm not sure. He's breathing, but it's shallow. That fox must've really beat him up."

Sharp pain woke Lightningstrike. When he opened his eyes, he saw a beautiful river flowing in front of him. Beyond the river were endless meadows, flowers and heather sprouting from the grass. To his right, there was a forest, its lush leaves swayed gently in the wind. Where am I? This wasn't where he last found himself. "Lightningstrike?" He recognised that voice. Turning around, he felt love explode in his heart. "Windwing!" He cried. He bounded over to her, his heart surging. Her pelt looked well-groomed, she had no wounds anywhere on her beautiful fur. She looked as equally surprised to see him. Her eyes were glazed with confusion. "Why are you here?" She asked. "You're not dead, are you?" She continued, fear edging her tone. Lightningstrike frowned. That at least answered his first question. This must be StarClan. "I don't know." He admitted. "I was just walking in the forest and a fox attacked me. After that..." he paused, raking his memory to remember what happened after the fox almost killed him. "I don't remember." He sighed. Windwing drooped her tail. Disbelief glittered in her eyes. "I know you well enough that a fox didn't kill you." She snorted. She swished her tail and started walking onwards. Lightningstrike let out a mrrp of surprise. "I thought StarClan cats were supposed to be wise?" He mewed. Windwing flashed him a glare and he ducked his head. "Are you calling me stupid?" She hissed, but there was no real malice in her tone. He glanced back up at her. "Maybe?" He meowed, his tone teasing. Windwing let out a little growl and pounced on him, which sent the two cats barreling into a clearing. Windwing collapsed on top of Lightningstrike and the two burst out into a fit of giggles. "It feels like we're kits again." Lightningstrike sighed and Windwing cast him a glance. He saw the same sadness reflect in her eyes. "Don't say that." She murmured. "I hate being sad!" She snapped and Lightningstrike touched his tail to her shoulder. Windwing slouched her shoulders and looked up at Lightningstrike. "You're not staying, are you?" She whispered. Lightningstrike ducked his head. They both knew the answer to that, and he could already feel himself slipping. "I shouldn't be surprised, a fox couldn't kill you." Windwing meowed, and Lightningstrike could tell she was trying to cheer him up. It looked like she said something more, but he didn't hear her. He was slipping back to the real world.

"He's waking up!" A distorted voice gasped as Lightningstrike peeked his eyes open. The blinding sun that peeked through the thick leaf-bare clouds made a sharp pain strike through his head. He could hardly take in his surroundings before the blue she-cat he last saw filled his vision. "Are you okay?" She mewed gently. Lightningstrike tried to sit up but she rested her tail on his back. "Don't sit up just yet. You've really damaged your head. Some water will do you good." She meowed. She glanced over her shoulder and called to a tom. "Liam, can you get the wet mossballs?" She called. A grunt responded, who she assumed was from Liam, whoever that was. A wet mossball was placed in front of him and he lapped at the water, already feeling slightly better. He sat up again, the pain was still there but it wasn't as sharp as before. The blue she-cat was sat in front of him and she was clearly worried about him sitting up. "Where am I?" He groaned. Lightningstrike glanced around the clearing. "And who are you?" He continued. The blue she-cat perked up slightly. She stood up and shook her fur out. "I'm Amelia. The green tom is Liam and they grey tom is Bryce." She paused, and looked up at Lightningstrike. "And who are you?" She asked. Lightningstrike should have expected that question, but he still felt slightly spooked by it. "I'm Lightningstrike." He answered. Bryce narrowed his eyes and ruffled his grey pelt. "That's a weird name." He snorted. Lightningstrike huffed quietly. Lightningstrike swished his tail. "Your names are also weird." Bryce shrugged and sank back into his nest. Lightningstrike noticed a long slash along his flank and he recognised the shape of fox teeth sliced into his side. He must've saved me from the fox. Lightningstrike thought, guilt swamping him. "Who's this?" A she-cats voice rung around the clearing. Lightningstrike swivled his head over to look at where the voice came from and grimaced at the pain that bit his head. There was a pale brown she-cat with green eyes stood beside a smaller, and younger, pale red she-cat. She looked to be the age of an apprentice. The older she-cats gaze was hard and she had a squirrel gripped in her jaws. Amelia drooped her tail. "Charlotte.. be nice. This is Lightningstrike." Amelia explained. "Oh, and Lightningstrike, the younger she-cat is Taylor." Charlotte looked suspicious about sharing housing a strange tom, but didn't press. Liam looked up from where he was grooming his pelt and sniffed. "Where are you from? We've never seen you around here." He questioned. Lightningstrike felt his pelt prickle. Cats outside the Clans weren't usually the friendliest towards Clan cats. "I'm from IslandClan. I was just following your scent and then the fox attacked me." Lightningstrike murmured. A few of the cats stiffened at his words, and he ducked his head. "You're not one of those Clan cats, are you?" Amelia meowed. Her neck fur was prickling and her tail was drooping. "Don't bother, Amelia." Bryce grunted. "They're all the same." He growled and started nibbling at the squirrel Charlotte brought. Amelia cast him a glare but he shrugged. Taylor slowly approached Lightningstrike and placed her mouse down. Lightningstrike felt a sting of grief. Mice were Windwing's favourite prey. "You look familiar." Taylor mewed in a quiet voice. "It's not like I've seen you before, but I don't know. Something about your structure. Your face, your patterns?" Taylor paused. She seemed to be thinking something over. "Do you know a blue she-cat, scar on her flank, weird swirly pattern and mates with a purple and white kittypet?" Taylor dumped a whole load of information on him and Lightningstrike had to take a heartbeat to understand her question. He knew it was Silentstream who she was talking about, but he couldn't shake the idea that his sister was mates with a kittypet. But he couldn't go into a rant about it now. Taylor didn't understand the warrior code. "Silentstream?" He mewed. Taylor still looked blank. She huffed slightly and twitched her tail. "Maybe. She looks a lot like you. Is she your kit, or something?" She mused. Lightningstrike stared back at her, his mouth growing dry. Kit? I wish I had kits. He was about to screech at her, but he held back. She was young. She didn't know that it was a rough stop for him. "No, she's my sister." He answered. Lightningstrike paused. Where in the name of StarClan did Taylor see Silentstream? "So, where did you see her?"

"Oh, twoleg place."

"So you were a stray?"

"No. I was a kittypet."

"A kittypet? Then why are you here? Don't kittypets live with their twolegs?"

"Yeah, but I met some tom. He said he'd give us anything we wanted so obviously I agreed. I met these guys, too, but eventually the tom who founded our group died. He was cruel, anyway, so I'm glad to see him gone. I tried to go back home, but none of my twolegs were home. I turned back and we stayed here." Taylor meowed. Lightningstrike stared at her. That was certainly a story. But he was glad they cats provided shelter. Taylor frowned. "You look tired. I'll tell Amelia and she'll hunt for you." She chirped. "What's your favourite prey?" She asked as she was about to pad off. Lightningstrike paused. Saying frogs seemed silly, but it was true. He did like frogs. "Frog. I like frog." He mewed. Taylor broke into giggles and swished her tail. "Frogs? I've never met a cat who likes frogs."

Chapter Text

Lightningstrike gazed into the stream. Its gentle whispers should have calmed Lightningstrike, but all they did was remind him of things he didn't want to remember. His sister. Mates with a kittypet. He lapped at the water and let out a deep breath. The water reminded him of home. Right. Home. His leg hadn't fully healed, and he now walked with a limp. His leg still hurt when he put pressure on it. The fox teeth had scarred, but he was lucky that his pale pelt mostly disguised the scar. He wondered how long it would be until he could return to IslandClan, and be hoped it would be soon. Lightningstrike hadn't intended to run away, but now he couldn't return home. For all he knew, the fox was still wandering around. Would his Clanmates look for him? He hadn't scented fresh when he was walking beside the IslandClan territory yesterday. He knew at least Cloudleap was worried. He was always worried about his kits. Would I be as worried as him if I had kits? Lightningstrike let the grief consume him. He couldn't fight it. Where would he even be without Windwing? He'd probably still be Lightningpaw. Lightningstrike frowned. Maybe he should have introduced himself as Lightning. Not Lightningstrike. He sighed and sat down. How was he supposed to go on now? Who could he trust? He hesitated. Could he drown himself? That would put him out of his misery. But what if it didn't work? He could slash his throat. That could work, too. But he was too much of a coward to kill himself, and he knew that was what made him pathetic. Lightningstrike swished his tail angrily. I'm a pathetic excuse for a warrior! He hissed to himself. He stormed away from the stream. He wanted to be alone. He nestled beside the same stream, but in a more private area of the territory. A thorn bush was sprouting beside the stream and Lightningstrike hesitated. He snagged a relatively large thorn from the the bush and raised his paw. Should he? A sudden flash of rage, guilt and grief swamped him. It's your fault Windwing died. He told himself. He lowered his head and slashed his leg. Pain burned inside him but he didn't stop. You're disgusting. How could she even love you after you killed her? Another slash. No one will look for you. You deserve this. Another slash. I bet every cat in IslandClan is glad to see you go missing. He raised his paw to cut himself again but hesitated. "Stop it!" He yowled to himself.

"Stop what?" Lightningstrike jerked up and turned to stare at where the voice came from. He shoved the thorn into the stream and turned to face where the voice sounded from. He hid his cut leg behind his health leg and waited. "Lightningstrike?" Amelia pushed into the small clearing. "Are you okay?" She asked. Lightningstrike couldn't meet her eyes. How was he even going to explain what he did? She didn't need to know. He'd keep it a secret. "I'm fine." He meowed. Amelia didn't look convinced and sat next to him. The two cats stared into the gentle stream. The thorn had left a small stream of blood as it bobbed down the stream and Lightningstrike sent a quick prayer to StarClan that Amelia wouldn't notice it. "You seemed to be so upset all the time." She let her words sink in. She wasn't angry; just curious. "Are you grieving?" She mewed. Her question shook Lightningstrike. Was he that obvious? "How did you know?" He asked. He sat down and Amelia mimicked his movement. She rested her tail on her paws. "I didn't. That's why I asked." She meowed. Lightningstrike looked towards the stream again. He wasn't sure how to respond to that. "May I ask who you are grieving for?" She asked gently. Lightningstrike felt his fur prickle. How was he even supposed to explain what he witnessed on that night? "My mate." He murmured. Now that he was really thinking about it, he'd never actually talked to a cat about his grief. "Your mate? Oh, Lightningstrike, I'm so sorry." She gasped. "I'm always here if you need me." She sniffed. Lightningstrike didn't belive her. Did she know he had to go home sooner or later? Amelia touched her nose to his ear and padded away. Lightningstrike watched her go and looked back at his legs. Guilt swamped him. Windwing wouldn't have wanted that for him. She must've been disappointed in him. Windwing, I'm so sorry.