The Clan of Those Who Aren't (Warriors Fanfiction)

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON WATTPAD

Author's Note

Before you ask why I made such a horrid thing like UselessClan, think.

Think about Tigerstar. About Stonefur, whom was killed by Blackfoot in cold blood. About SkyClan, desperate enough to recruit warriors that lived the lives of kittypets at night. About Leafpool, who had her life was torn apart by the rules that there were not to be halfClan warriors. Now think - is this fair?

It is not the fault of the halfClan cats or the want-to-be-warriors kittypets, loners, or rogues that they were born. It is not the fault of Bluestar or Tigerstar that they fell in love outside the Clans. Tigerstar. Tigerstar fell in love with a rogue cat. He did not even know about his kits' existence until he was dead and walked in the Place of No Stars.

I thought about what would happen if the Clans turned on all of the cats with mixed blood. The Clan leaders have already proven themselves to be shortsighted int the past, and I thought that they would be just as much when it came to mixed blood.

How to write something like this into a simple story? By wrapping it around a rivalry between the Lionblaze, Jayfeather, and Hollyleaf and Breezepelt.

Now please. Read, and be my guest if you think I made any errors.

Enjoy.

~Daphne Liang

Chapter One

Breezepelt sat between Hickorynose and Robinwing, their warm pelts pressed against his cold one as he looked up at the Great oak, where the leaders sat, and then at the roots, where the medicine cats sat. His gaze fixed on one cat in particular.

 Jayfeather. His half brother and worst enemy. He glanced at Lionblaze and Hollyleaf, sitting with the other ThunderClan warriors. They too were his half siblings and worst enemies, the first kits of his father Breezepelt and the former ThunderClan medicine cat Leafpool.

He flicked his tail and dug his unsheathed claws into the ground as Bramblestar, the leader of ThunderClan, began to speak. Stupid, stupid halfClan cats, with their stupid titles. They stole all of his father's attention, and they weren't even WindClan!

Breezepelt dug his claws deeper into the ground, and even as Bramblestar stood back to let Mistystar speak, he swore silently, I will have my revenge, you halfClan scum. I will have my revenge, and then I will be satisfied.

-----

Later that night, as he and his Classmates padded away from the island and the tree bridge, Whitetail slowed down so she could walk beside her old apprentice.

"Are you okay?" she asked, "You looked a bit restless at the Gathering."

Breezepelt flicked his tail. Just a bit squashed, that's all."

Whitetail didn't looked like she believed him, but she shrugged and padded forwards to join the other elders as they walked back to the WindClan camp, Breezepelt trailing at the back of the group.

As they entered the camp, cats swarmed up to the approaching group, desperate to know what happened, but Breezepelt warded them off and padded off towards his den, where he curled up in a ball, his pelt still tingling with fury. He was desperate to plan revenge on his half siblings, but it had been a long night.

As his eyes began to close, he thought, Useless cats. Useless Clan. 

Then his eyes flew open. Useless Clan. . . UselessClan!

He curled his lips in savage triumph, and sank his claws into his nest, shredding the bedding and destroying the bracken, but he did not care. He knew how to get rid of his halfClan kin.

And while he was at it, he might just be able to get rid of a couple of other cats, as well. . .

Chapter Two

Jayfeather padded back to camp, not really paying attention to where he was going, and nearly falling headfirst into the lake after tripping over a huge tree root.

"Whoa!" his sister, Hollyleaf, grabbed him by the scruff and hauled him back before his ears touched the water. "Watch out!"

Jayfeather twitched his ears. "I can't."

Hollyleaf sighed. "You know what I mean. Okay, fine, Trot back to camp falling over fronds for all I care. See you." she trotted off squeezing between Purdy and Honeyfern. Jayfeather rolled his blind blue eyes, but took care to pay more attention to where he was putting his paws from then on.

Even though part of his mind was on his paws, the rest of it was focused on Breezepelt. Jayfeather knew that the angry young cat had been watching him at the Gathering, and he had a feeling that he had been watching his littermates as well.

Jayfeather's pelt prickled at the thought of Breezepelt. His half brother had trained with the Dark Forest, and had been part of the attack on the Clans. Breezepelt may have been a huge thorn in the side, but he was also very cunning, and he had a feeling that whatever he was planning, he didn't want to be a part of it.

-----

That night, as Jayfeather lay in the medicine den, he thought about his murderous kin, and the thought of him formulating a plan involving him and his siblings. Many cats still had not forgiven him, Hollyleaf, and Lionblaze for being halfClan, but he knew that Breezepelt hated them most of all, for all the attention they soaked up from his father, and the fact that Lionblaze had once been friends with Breezepelt's mate and the mother of his kits, Heathertail.

But that's all in the past, Jayfeather thought, shifting the moss of his nest into a more comfortable position. What does he want from us now?

He didn't want to find out.

Chapter Three

Lionblaze sat beneath the huge oak tree, staring up at the leaders as Blackstar finished his report.

". . . kittypets haven't been a problem at all, and our nursery is as full as a flooded badger set." Blackstar stepped back to let Onestar speak.

Onestar cleared his throat. "One of our warriors, Breezepelt, would like to make an announcement."

There was an outbreak of murmuring around the clearing as Breezepelt leapt onto the leaders' branch. Lion blaze heard a RiverClan warrior mutter to his friend, "Isn't it the rule that only Clan leaders are allowed up there?" as the other cat nodded.

Lionblaze turned his head back the Great Oak as Breezepelt began to speak.

He said one word. "Kittypets."

There was a blank silence.

Breezepelt continued. "And rogues, loners, and halfClan cats."

Lionblaze felt a growl rise in his throat as Breezepelt looked down at him, sneering. "All of these symbolize the destruction of the warrior code and the Clans themselves."

Looking out over all the cats, he yowled, "We have been far too lenient with these non-Clan cats for too long! We must purge the Clans of our mixed blood! Cats undeserving of Clan names, undeserving of a place in our camps. We must make them leave! To go off and make do with their lives. They do not deserve to be in our Clans!"

Yowls of outrage rose up from the assembled cats, but there were caterwauls of excitement as well. Cats were agreeing with Breezepelt! They wanted to see the mixed blood cats leave!

Breezepelt, from the top of the Great Oak yowled, "Do the Clans agree?"

Blackstar was nodding. "Purging the mixed blood would make us stronger, and more united. It could help us with  our hunting skills. Stalking runs in ShadowClan's blood, and many of our warriors from other places have not the skill."

Onestar shrugged. "I've already agreed."

Mistystar shook her head. "No. I am half ThunderClan, but I didn't know until I was a senior warrior. I feel nothing but loyalty to my Clan, and will not see it purged."

Backstair turned on her and snarled. "Then be purged along with your halfClan cats."

Bramblestar was looking shocked. "Wait! You can't --

But Breezepelt suddenly let out a yowl. "Let the cats be purged!"

Chaos erupted around Lionblaze. Cats were tussling, being dragged across the clearing, clawed across the face, bit in the throats. Cats were fighting each other, but yet the moon shone bright as ever.

"No. . ." Lionblaze murmured, but had no time to finish, as Rowanclaw, a ShadowClan warrior jumped at him, swiping his paws from under him and grabbing his scruff, and dragging him to the centre of the clearing where Breezepelt and a bunch of other cats were circling a group of cats, all of whom were mixed blood.

Of course! Breezepelt had established this to get rid of him and his littermate, so his father would pay attention to him and him alone. Lionblaze barely had time to growl when he was hurled into the pile of cats.

Lionblaze stumbled and lashed out at Breezepelt, but Breezepelt ducked and cuffed him across the head. Lionblaze opened his mouth but nothing came out. He fell on his side and everything went black.

Chapter Four

Hollyleaf struggled against a hefty RiverClan cat as he dragged her across the clearing towards the mixed Clan pile.

Along the way, she saw many cats fighting. She caught a glimpse of her mother, Leafpool, fall under a WindClan cat's blow. She saw Mistystar and her son and deputy, Reedwhisker, fighting a burly black tom, and Jayfeather flailing his paws weakly as Blackstar dragged him towards the pile.

The RiverClan cat hurled her into the pile just as Lionblaze fell beneath Breezepelt's blow. She shrieked, but could do nothing but wait.

-----

After a while, all the halfClan cats, kittypets, rogues, and loners were grouped together in one little huddle. The pure Clan cats had not been gentle either. She spotted Purdy, one of their elders, a former kittypet, lying on the ground, a trickle of blood running from the side of his mouth. Ivy pool had some serious cuts on her flank, and there were claw marks across Mistystar's nose.

Breezepelt stood in front of all the mixed cats and meowed, "We have no more use for you here, not  anymore. But we will not be entirely merciless. You may have the unclaimed territory of birch forest and swamp from the edge of the territories to the Twoleg horseplace. Mistystar may lead you, along with the deputies."

"You may join us for Gatherings once every three moons." Onestar mewed, standing next to Breezepelt. "Our warriors will set new border marks tomorrow."

"Yes." Breezepelt sneered, lashing his tail. "Now begone. . . UselessClan."

There were gasps of shock as Breezepelt named the group of cats huddled in the centre of the clearing. Mistystar stood up, nostrils flaring, tail lashing angrily. "You may gloat now, Breezepelt, but mark my words. When WindClan needs help, UselessClan will not be there to give it."

"Like we'll need it." Breezepelt twitched his ears gloatingly.

"You would be surprised how much support a Clan of mixed cats can give." Mistystar faced the RiverClan cats. "But before I leave, I will name my successor. Sedgecreek is wise and experienced, and not nearly as short sighted as the rest of you. She will lead RiverClan."

Yowls of approval rose from the cats. Sedgecreek was clearly a popular choice.

Mistystar flicked her tail, and UselessClan followed her away from the island.

Away from their Clans.

Away from their lives.

Chapter Five

Mistystar raced away, through the thorny bramble bushes, sharp-edged fern fronds, and tripping tree roots.

She wanted to do nothing but get away from these StarClan cursed Clans. They had driven them out, when they had just as much right as the pure-Clan cats had to live there. Unable to resist, she glanced up at the moon.

Nope. Not a cloud in sight.

Oh, StarClan, how could you do this to us? she pleaded silently. Do you approve of the other Clans sending us away?

She leapt over a tree root and her paws sank into the boggy ground. They were at the marshes.

She looked around at the bland territory, and thought, Well, at least there'll be plenty of frogs.

Sighing, she turned to face the Clan. "All right, we're here. I don't like it much better than you do, but we'll have to make do. ShadowClan cats, spread out and see if you can catch us some prey. Medicine cats, start searching for herbs. ThunderClan, why don't you see if there are any squirrels in the trees back there. WindClan and RiverClan, start looking for a camp that fits all of us and our talents. Deputies, come with me."

The cats scattered, leaving the medicine cats to sniff around at the plants, with and occasional cry of "Hey! I found something!"

Reedwhisker and Squirellflight padded up to Mistystar as she settled herself upon a slightly drier tree root and turned to them. "So, what do you think?"

The deputies looked at each other. "Barren." Reedwhisker mewed.

"Wet." Squirellflight grunted, lifting a paw out of the soaking ground. "And sloppy."

Mistystar sighed. "How are we going to keep the Clan together like this?"

Squirellflight sat down. "My father," she hesitated, obviously thinking of her father, Forester, who had been killed in the battle with the Dark Forest, "He had a lot of trouble keeping ThunderClan together after he became leader. But he did it. We can do it too, especially with more than one deputy and medicine cat to help you."

Mistystar nodded. "I just wish this had never happened. What did we do to deserve being told to leave our homes?"

Tawnypelt, passing with a fat toad in her mouth, put it down and replied, "Nothing. It's just the belief that pure Clan is better than anything else. But just look at Forester and my father." Mistystar couldn't help flinching as she remembered Tigerstar, the murderous tabby who had tried to kill her and had killed her brother for being halfClan. "They were both strangers in their own Clans, and became the leaders of their Clans." Tawnypelt picked up the toad, and hesitated. Then she put it down again. "And, Mistystar?"

"Yes?"

The intenseness in Tawnypelt's eyes scared Mistystar. "Remember this: Not all of us are on the same side."

Before Mistystar had worked out what Tawnypelt meant, she had picked up the toad and trotted away.

Chapter Six

Jayfeather sniffed at a clump of herbs growing by a thick tree root. He identified the herbs as a young blackberry bush and bit off a few of the stronger leaves. He smelled rotting mushroom nearby and guessed that the dead flesh fertilized the bush and kept the bush strong.

On the side of the marsh, Mothwing was peeling strips of bark of off an alder tree. "This is great for toothache," she meowed to Jayfeather, her mew muffled by the strips of bark in her jaws.  "We'll probably be needing it soon, if we're going to have frogs for dinner."

Jayfeather nodded distractedly as he picked up his raspberry leaves and padded over to a clump of comfrey and bent down to dig up his roots. As he picked up the herbs in his jaws he felt a stinging sensation on his spine. He realized that there was a scratch there. Probably from the fight at the Gathering.

He sighed as dropped the herbs and opened his mouth to taste the air. They would need plenty of marigold and cobwebs to treat all of the wounds he knew the cats had. Maybe some chervil, and maybe a bit of rush, too, if  there were any broken bones.

He bundled up the herbs in his mouth, and padded back to Mothwing, who had a bundle of watermint and dried oak leaves in her mouth. Side-by-side, the two cats padded back to the place where they had last scented the rest of UselessClan.

Once they got there, Tigerheart came running up to them, puffing. "Jayfeather! Mothwing! Misty star sent me to find you - we've found a camp!"

Jayfeather raced after Tigerheart, Mothwing on his tail. Soon, they reached a shallow hollow where Jayfeather could scent UselessClan. he heard cats puffing and grunting as they worked, dragging things around in an effort to make dens.

As he gazed sightlessly down at the hollow, he thought, We've done it. Breezepelt's done it. All the mixed blood cats are all here. We are UselessClan.

Chapter Seven

Lionblaze grunted as she dragged a long bramble across the hollow to where Reedwhisker and Dawnpelt were weaving reeds, branched, and more brambles together to make a warriors' den. Beside her, Tawnypelt carried a long, thin branch on her shoulders, huffing from the effort.

"Yes!'" Lionblaze couldn't resist yowling as she dropped the bramble at Dawnpelt's paws, who said quickly, "Thanks,Lionblaze," and began weaving it in with the others.

Lionblaze stretched and padded towards Mothwing and Jayfeather who had just entered camp. Mothwing was looking around, a look of fear on her face. Jayfeather, walking straight, fell into a hole.

"Jayfeather!" Lionblaze ran forward. "Are you okay?"

"Yes." Jayfeather grunted, hauling himself out of the hole. "AndI think I've found a good elders' den, too."

Lionblaze peeked into the hole Jayfeather had fallen into. He was right. It was shallow, but not to shallow, surrounded by thick tree roots that formed a low wall around the dip in the ground. "You're right. If only we had ferns around here - then we could've them over the dip, to protect it." he trailed off, staring at the dip.

"There are ferns around here." Mothwing broke in. "I saw them while we were collecting herbs. It was a young bush, small but not to small. We could uproot it, and bring it back here to plant."

Lionblaze nodded. "Good idea. Hey, Mistystar!" he called to the Clan leader. "Can I have Tigerheart, Whitewing, and Reedwhisker to come help me get the ferns?"

Mistystar nodded, dragging a long reed with it's root intact towards the warriors' den.

"Come on!" Lionblaze led his patrol towards the marshes where Jayfeather and Mothwing had been collecting herbs. He spotted the ferns immediately .

"There!" he ran towards the ferns, and began digging. The rest of the patrol followed his lead, and soon, the tiny bush had been uprooted.

"Let's bring it back to camp." Lionblaze and Whitewing heaved the bush onto their shoulders and dragged it back to camp.

-----

Jayfeather tried to help the patrol plant the fern, but ended up getting in the way, as h3 still did not know his way around the camp well.

"Look." Lionblaze said as they pat dirt over the roots. "Why don't you find Mothwing? I heard her saying she's found a god place for a medicine den."

Jayfeather hesitated, and shrugged. "Sure. Whatever."

As Jayfeather trotted away, Dovewing dragged a huge bundle of moss towards them. "Hey! Lionblaze! I was hunting, and I found this hufe moss tree! I grabbed a bunch of moss and, well. . . " she gestured towards the bundle. "We could nake some nests with it."

Lionblaze nodded. "Good idea
Purdy's going to love you."

But even as they wove moss and bracken into nests, Lionblaze wondered, But are we meant to be here? Oh, StarClan, show me what to do!

Chapter Eight

Jayfeather prodded a bindweed leaf that had fluttered down next to his nest. He got up and stretched. Mothwing was still asleep, her snores making her whiskers flutter.

Mothwing had found a crack in a huge stone that opened up to a large cave. They had then woven miniature nests out of bracken and wet twigs, that had hardened over time. It reminded Jayfeather painfully of the ThunderClan medicine den.

Jayfeather stuck the bindweed in the bindweed nest and, after making sure that all the leaves were securely in their nest, went out to collect herbs.

After a few weeks of construction, the UselessClan cats had made the shallow hollow into a livable camp. The fresh-kill pile, stocked with animals that had apparently never seen cats before, sat in the middle; the planted ferns over the elders den were growing well, and Jayfeather could hear Purdy snoring comfortably inside - his wounds were healing well; the warriors den was safe and secure, the reeds and brambles woven together tightly; the apprentices den was a hollow tree trunk surrounded by ferns, which had also been planted, along with a couple of rosemary plants for good measure; the nursery had been built in a dip in the ground, not unlike the elders den, but much bigger. Reeds, brambles, and wet branches had been woven around it to make a safe and secure den. Daisy was the only one occupying it so far, but Jayfeather hoped more queens would soon enter the nursery, along with some kits.

he sighed. Kits. Kits marked the beginning of a new age. It also marked the beginning of the Clan. Thus, it marked the fact that they were stuck here.

Next time he saw Breezepelt, he was going to kick the stupid Dark Forest  warrior in the tail.

-----

Jayfeather rubbed a poultice of marigold and dock onto Purdy's scratches. "There." he spat out a clump of the stuff and licked his paws clean. "That should heal most of the scratches. Have an apprentice come to me for more if it hurts tomorrow."

Purdy nodded and stretched out on the moss of the elders' den. "Do you know who's behind this UselessClan business? And while you're at it, could you get my ticks for me?"

Jayfeather didn't speak as he began pawing through Purdy's brown tabby fur.

"I reckon it's that Breezepelt cat." Purdy licked a paw and drew it over his ear, making it very difficult to search for ticks. "He seemed to act like it was his own idea."

Jayfeather shrugged.

"But he's wrong, Jayfeather. Just look at your grandfather. He hadn't a drop of ThunderClan blood, but he rose through the ranks to become leader and look how many times he's saved the Clan! And plus, the four Clans couldn't have been all Clan from the beginning. It was probably a mix of loners and rogues back then. No sir, there was no pure-blood nonsense back then!"

You don't know how wrong you are. Jayfeather sighed. He had seen the beginnings of the Clans. Heck, he had seen the beginning of the Tribe of Rushing Water, which had sent of their cats to form the Clans. Fleetingly, he thought of Half Moon, his old friend who had went on to become the first Teller of the Pointed Stones. He sighed again. What did the mixed blood cats do to be thrown here?

That night, Jayfeather lay in his nest, thinking. If only he could prove that Purdy's theory was true, then he and the rest could go home! Just before he drifted of into the realm of sleep, he thought, I will prove you wrong, Breezepelt. We are just as worthy as you. And I will prove it.

Chapter Nine

Hollyleaf pulled a frog from the bottom of the fresh-kill pile and began chewing it's tough, rubbery skin. She had just finished a dawn patrol and wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone.

How dare Breezepelt throw all the mixed Clan cats out here and force them to eat frogs! That may be okay with the ShadowClan cats, but not for her. She had barely seen a single mammal on the fresh-kill pile in the moon that she'd been here, but had tasted enough fish and frogs to last her nine lifetimes.

She sighed and swallowed the last of the frog, then padded over to Reedwhisker. "May I go on a solo hunting patrol?"

Reedwhisker shrugged and returned to biting of his frogs leg.

Feeling elated, Hollyleaf padded out of camp and headed towards the birch forest. No one had hunted there since they had arrived, and Hollyleaf could practically hear the birds and squirrels frolicking around in the thick branches.

Opening her jaws, she inhaled, tasting the air. She could smell a mouse. It didn't take her long to find a fat one nibbling on some seeds next to a root. Dropping into a hunting crouch, she crept forwards and leapt. She snapped it's neck and felt a rush of delight as the warm taste of blood filled her mouth and the soft body fell limp.

Suddenly. . .

"That was my mouse!" a thin black and brown tabby leapt from behind a tree, claws outstretched. "You stole it!"

Hollyleaf leapt back as the she-cat landed on the root with a thud. "You're wrong. It's my mouse. You shouldn't even be here. It's UselessClan territory."

The cat hissed in fury, but apparently could not summon up the strength to attack again. Here ail twitching in fury, she stormed off and vanished into the trees.

Hollyleaf took a calming breath. This was the first rogue she had encountered since UselessClan had moved here. Of course there were other cats. The Clans had driven them from around the lake, so they had taken refuge in these woods. She briefly wondered where they would be going now, but shook her head. She had to keep hunting.

-----

By sunhigh, Hollyleaf had collected a fair amount of forest prey and had even hooked a few fish out of the stream. Hey, anything was better than frogs.

Carrying her prey in her jaws and under her chin, Hollyleaf trotted back to camp and dropped the prey on the fresh-kill pile. The ThunderClan cats purred in delight at the sight of the furry animals, and the RiverClan cats meowed their thanks as they dug into the fish.

Hollyleaf stretched as she chose one of her own voles for herself. She could get used top this. But deep inside, she knew that she was a ThunderClan cat at heart.

And she was going to do anything she could to get home.

Chapter Ten

Berrynose gripped a branch between his teeth and pulled. Lionblaze grunted next to him as he dragged another branch on the log.

The sun high patrol and found a huge log wedged between two pines earlier that day, and Mistystar had sent out a log patrol to bring the log back to camp to help with the building of the barrier.

Berrynose grunted in surprise as the branch snapped and he was propelled backwards a couple of tail-lengths. Lionblaze purred in amusement as Berrynose got up with a beetle in his long pelt.

"Oh, shut up" Berrynose flicked his tail over Lionblaze's mouth as he grabbed a sturdier branch. "All right everyone, one, two, three, PULL!" the patrol dragged the log back and, to Berrynose's horror, there was a crack as the log was dislodged and began to roll.

"MROOW!" Berrynose flailed his paws as the log rolled over him and half of the patrol. "Catch that log!"

The patrol chased after it as it rolled downhill towards the camp. "It's going to squash the elders' den!"  Night whisper wailed, as the log indeed began to move towards the direction of the clump of ferns in the middled of the camp.

Berrynose gave a great leap as the log headed towards Dawnpelt and Sedgewhisker, who were cheerfully working on the barrier, unaware of the doomed log rolling towards them. He landed right in front of the log, stopping it and having himself crushed in the process. Dawn pelt looked up. "Is that the log? Thanks. Can you guys roll it right here? Berrynose, what's wrong with you? You'd better have yourself looked at by Jayfeather or Mothwing."

As Berrynose began to limp towards the medicine den, he thought about the log. It had nearly destroyed the camp. What other dangers would UselessClan face in their new territory?

Chapter Eleven

Heathertail stretched out on the windy moor as she watched her daughters, Brindlekit and Smokekit, frolicking in the sun. Breezepelt sat next to her, licking her ears.

As she stared off towards the swamp where UselessClan now lived, she thought of the last gathering. It had been the sixth one since UselessClan had been exiled, and there hadn't been a single UselessClan cat at the two Gatherings they had been allowed to attend. Briefly, she thought of her old friend Lionblaze, a UselessClan warrior, and wondered what he was doing now.

She shook her head, dislodging Breezepelt's tongue. No! She thought furiously. Lionblaze is nothing to me. I would trade him for a couple of mousetails.

As she watched Breezepelt let Brindlekit and Smokekit chase his tail, she murmured to herself, "Lionblaze is in a different Clan, full of loners and kittypets. Our time is past."

Chapter Twelve

ne cat, he could tell when a cat was dying, and Gray Wing held all the symptoms of a clogged chest and old age.

"But why them?" the kit pressed. "Are they kin?"

"Yes", Gray Wing said gently.

The kit frowned. "Then why don't they live in our group?"

"They have their own groups." Gary wing hesitated, then said "They have their own Clans."

"Time for us to go, Jay's Wing." Half Moon murmured in his ear.

Jayfeather felt himself going up, up, up, and woke up in the blind darkness of the UselessClan medicine den.

His heart was pounding. He had seen he truth. He had seen how the Clans had been created. Windstar herself had once been a rogue, for StarClan's sake! Half the Clan leaders had been rogues!

He could go home.

Chapter Thirteen

Mistystar lay on her nest of moss in her reed den. She prodded at a mouse, and almost didn't hear Jayfeather meow, "Mistystar? May I come in?"

Mistystar looked up. "Of course."

Jayfeather padded in. He looked hesitant.

"What is it?" Mistystar asked, then, "Do you want some mouse?"

Jayfeather shrugged. "Sure." he sat down and took a bite of the forest prey. "I need to talk to you. It's important."

Mistystar shrugged. "Okay. Go ahead. Talk."

Jayfeather took a deep breath and spoke in a tumble of words. "UselessClan-shouldn't-be-here-we-have-just-as-much-right-as-the-pureClan-cats-to-live-with-them-because-half-the-original-Clan-leaders-were-once-rogues-and-River-Ripple-lived-in-a-Towleg-playplace-for-StarClan's-sake-we-must-go-to-the-next-Gathering-we-must-do-you-hear-me-Mistystar-we-must-go-the-rest-of-the-Clans-need-to-know-so-we-can-go-home-please-please-please-Mistystar-and-if-you-say-no-I-say-that-as-your-medicine-cat-it-is-vital-to-the-survival-of-your-Clan-that-we-go."

He took a deep breath.

Mistystar stared at him, confused. "Say, what now?"

He sighed. "Half Moon visited me in a dream last night. She showed me the beginnings of the Clans. River Ripple, Thunder, and Wind Runner all had rogue blood. We must go to the next Gathering. If we can persuade the rest of the Clans, then we can go home!"

Mistystar stared. "How can we go?"

Jayfeather curled up his tail. "The other leaders said that we can go once every three moons. The next Gathering we're allowed to go to is in three sunrises. We must go. It's important."

Mistystar hesitated and nodded. "Very well. We shall go."

Chapter Fourteen

Lionblaze stood between his siblings as they padded around the outskirts of ThunderClan territory. It was hard to believe that just a few moons ago he had shared prey with the cats who were now his sworn enemies.

That night, Mistystar had given an announcement that UselessClan was going to the Gathering, nearly scaring the pelt of Lionblaze. Go to the Gathering? With warriors that had driven them out? No thank you. But Jayfeather had told Lionblaze that he was going to make a special announcement that Gathering, so Lionblaze had agreed to go.

But even as they leapt onto the tree-bridge, Lionblaze felt a prickle of unease. What if the other Clans drove them out? They couldn't do that, could they? UselessClan was still a Clan, so they were allowed to go to a Gathering, right? Lionblaze shook his head. This was confusing.

Landing nimbly next to Snowbush, who had fluffed out his fur and was shivering. "Brr! I forgot how cold it is on the island!"

Lionblaze opened his mouth to reply, but was knocked over by a cat reeking of ShadowClan. "What's this?" a voice hissed in his ear, "A UselessClan trespasser, with his little friends?"

Lionblaze felt claws sink into his shoulder, and flailed his paws, desperate to try and hit the ShadowClan warrior at some spot but, before he could, Mistystar had mewed, "Unhand him, Stumpytail. This is a Gathering, and even UselessClan has a right to come here."

The warrior called Stumpytail backed off, flicking his tail. "Whatever you say, Uselessstar."

Mistystar's pelt bristled. "Uselessstar?"

Stumpytail licked a paw and drew it over his ear. "Well, you're useless, and you're the leader of UselessClan. You're Uselessstar."

Mistystar stormed past him, her ears flat and her pelt bristling.

Lionblaze followed her. He didn't want to stay behind with Stumpytail.

Mistystar leapt onto the Great Oak where the other four leaders were already sitting, talking quietly. Sedgecreek (or was it Sedgestar now?) looked up and purred. "Mistystar! You're here!"

"And I'm hating every moment of it." Mistystar snapped. "Let all the cats gather!"

Lionblaze and the rest of the UselessClan cats rushed forward and sat below the Great Oak, but the rest of the cats just continued to mill around, exchanging gossip.

"Lionblaze saw Mistystar's pelt bristle even more, a feat that he had thought impossible, as it was already at maximum bristle and was giving her the looks of a spikeball. "Why are they not gathering?"

Blackstar looked up from washing his paws. "Oh, you're here, are you? I suppose you've been absent to much. The pure-Clan cats refuse to listen to filthy half-bloods." he raised his voice. "Let all the Clans gather!"

The other cats immediately rushed forwards to sit below the Oak, pushing UselessClan to the back.

Mistystar narrowed her eyes, twitched her tail-tip and scooted away from the other leaders. Sedgestar looked crestfallen.

Blackstar stood up and began making a long and extremely boring speech on kittypets. When he was done, he nodded to Sedgestar who stood up and spoke about a new litter of kits and a plentiful fresh-kill pile. And so it went. Once Bramblestar stopped speaking, he nodded to Mistystar and stepped back, receiving a very hard thump on the tail from Onestar.

Mistystar stood up, glaring at the other leaders. "Our medicine cat has something to say. She nodded down at Jayfeather, who stood up and leapt onto the Great Oak, knocking Onestar off the branch.

As Onestar got up rather grumpily, Jayfeather mewed airily, "Misjudged my aim." and turned his sightless blue eyes on the rest of the Clans.

He cleared his throat and stood straight, his tail erect. "I received a dream from my former mate, Teller of the Pointed Stones, also known as Half Moon, last night."

A murmur spread through the Gathering as cats started whispering. A medicine cat with a Tribe of Rushing Water mate? Absurd!

Mistystar lashed her tail. "Silence!"

Lionblaze looked up at his brother, who looked just as serious as ever. "Half Moon brought me to the beginning of the Clans. She showed me the first five leaders."

Lionblaze saw Sandstorm, who sat amongst the ThunderClan elders' blink, as if old memories were resurfacing. He quickly turned his gaze back on his littermate as he began to speak again.

"And guess what, Breezepelt. Wind Runner was a rogue. Along with River Ripple and Thunder."

There were yowls as the Gathering erupted into chaos. Mistystar once again screeched, "Silence!", which shut the cats up.

Jayfeather was now pacing along the branch, and Blackstar and Bramblestar had to leap back to avoid his lashing tail. "Three of the original leaders had rogue and loner blood. Don't you see? It doesn't matter where you come from, only that you are loyal to your Clan! For example, how many of you RiverClan cats have webbed paws, the sign of a pure RiverClan cat?"

The ARiverClan cats immediately began looking at their paws. A cat sitting near Lionblaze called, "None of us!"

"Exactly!" Jayfeather turned on Sedgestar. "Does this mean you are going to drive your entire Clan into our marshes?"

Sedgestar looked lost for words.

Jayfeather spun around, his bind blue eyes now blazing in anger. "See, Breezepelt? Is it worth punishing all the mixed blood cats, just because of their heritage? Every cat has a bit of mixed blood, but deep down, we're all Clan cats. If you really are set on this path, why don't you punish yourself?"

Breezepelt snarled. "This is the last time you ever defy me, Jayfeather!"

And before anyone could stop him, Breezepelt had launched himself at Jayfeather, claws extended to rip out his throat. Wails of horror followed him as he went up, up, up, and. . . down?

A silvery substance had blocked Breezepelt, sending him sprawling onto the ground, and a voice resonating around the whole island.

"Stop!"

Chapter Fifteen

"Stop!"

It was the most beautiful sound Jayfeather had ever heard. He could not see,. but he could picture it in his mind. A silvery, star-filled mist floating between him and Breezepelt, solidifying into a starry white she-cat with piercing green eyes.

"Half Moon?" he murmured quietly, as he felt soft brush his. "Is that you?"

A purr sounded next to his ear. "Yes, Jay's Wing, it is me." then her voice grew stern. "But not now."

He heard Half Moon hiss down at Breezepelt, who lay groaning the roots of the Oak, "You foul, evil, revolting cockroach. You dare attack a medicine cat at a Gathering? Which lion's soul did you swallow, you fox-hearted snake?"

Breezepelt responded in a groan.

Jayfeather heard Half Moon speak to the entire Gathering, which was quiet and stunk of fear. "What Jay's Wing speaks of is true. Allow these cats to return to their rightful homes. You have seen what the power of a simple lie and a complex truth can do. From this day on, it matters not what blood flows in your veins, as long as you are loyal."

Jayfeather felt Half Moon begin to dissolve. "Wait!" he yowled. "Don't go!"

Half Moon's gentle voice spoke in his ear. "Farewell, Jay's Wing. I will wait for you, always."

Jayfeather let the last traces of Half Moon leave him, and he let his head droop. He leapt down from the tree, and walked back to his littermates, his tail trailing in the earth.

The silence was broken by an uncomfortable cough from Blackstar, who said, "Uh. . . UselessClan, back to your own Clans, please."

Chapter Sixteen

Lionblaze lay in his nest in the ThunderClan warriors den. Bramblestar had welcomed the UselessClan ThunderClan cats back with open arms, and the warriors had been quick to forgive their old denmates. Sedgecreek had revealed that StarClan had not given her her nine lives, and Mistystar had taken her true place as the leader of RiverClan.

Lionblaze purred sleepily as he snuggled closer to Cinderheart. He was home.

After

Jayfeather sat by the shore of the lake, in the territory of his proper home, ThunderClan, rolling Rock's stick beneath his paw.

But he was still not content.

He stared sightlessly up at the moon, and could almost hear his beloved Half Moon's voice saying, "I will wait for you forever."

Jayfeather lay down and ran his paws over the scratches on the stick. "I will love you until we are reunited in StarClan, my dear Half Moon." he whispered into the forest silence. "Forever."

He closed his eyes and let the world of dreaming grasp him, his paw on the deep gouges in the wood.

He was home.

Author's Note

Who else ships Jayfeather and Half Moon?

I thought so.

Don't tell me it's bad, it's better than the other short stories I've written.

Good night :)






I know there are a lot of grammar mistakes, but I couldn't find them all. Apologies!