What if| Warrior cats shorts stories

If Shrewpaw lived

A/N: How would warriors and their events change if Shrewpaw had lived?

"Shrewpaw! Wake up," Shrewpaw heard his mentor call from outside the apprentice den. He looked around the den. Leafpaw and Whitepaw were already awake, Spiderpaw was curled up in his nest. He remembered that his brother was on the night patrol, his gaze landed on a nest beside Leafpaw's. Squirrelpaw had been missing for more than a moon. He was worried about his friend. Shrewpaw got to his paws and walked out of the apprentice den. Thornclaw was cleaning his paw when Shrewpaw walked out. "So what are we going to do?" Shrewpaw asked his mentor, "first, you will go get something to eat." Thornclaw pointed to the fresh-kill pile, the was the first time in a long time Shrewpaw saw any prey on the fresh-kill pile. "Should that go to the elders and queens?" Shrewpaw questioned his mentor, Thornclaw looked impressed that he would put his clan before himself, even when Shrewpaw couldn't remember the last time he had a full meal. "We are going hunting with Sorreltail, Brackenfur and Dustpelt," Thornclaw told Shrewpaw, he had been hunting with his father before. Last Greenleaf, Thornclaw got whitecough so Dustpelt took over his training until his mentor was better. He was a grouch compared to Thornclaw. Thornclaw led him over to the other warriors as they talked with each other.

"Sandstorm has been taking Squirrelpaw's disappearance hard," Brackenfur whispered as he glanced at Firestar and Graystripe. Firestar's pelt had lost its shine, he tried to not show his grief for his daughter but everyone in the Clan knew Firestar was upset. Shrewpaw glanced at his father, he was Squirrelpaw's mentor. He must be worried about Squirrelpaw too and not mention he knows what it's like to lose a kit. Larchpaw died a fee nights ago. "Of course, Sandstorm will be grieving for her daughter. Now let's get to hunting." Dustpelt growled, Shrewpaw noticed Thornclaw and Brackenfur shared a glance before following Dustpelt out of the camp. Shrewpaw followed his mentor as Sorreltail walked beside him. They stopped, "we should split up." Dustpelt told his patrol, "I will go with Thornclaw and Shrewpaw to the Snakerocks, Brackenfur and Sorreltail go to the Sunningrocks." Dustpelt told the other cats. "Should we try down by Fourtrees?" Brackenfur questioned the dark brown tom, "There's no point. Cloudtail took a patrol this morning and Tallstar said the rabbits are dying the last gathering." Dustpelt told the golden-brown warrior, Brackenfur dipped his head. He led Sorreltail towards Sunningrocks. Dustpelt flicked his tail at Thornclaw and Shrewpaw.

Shrewpaw bounded after his father, Thornclaw followed at a slower pace. "Shrewpaw be careful," Dustpelt called as he passed his father. Shrewpaw waited near Snakerocks for his father and mentor, soon the warriors joined Thornclaw. Shrewpaw smelt the scent of a pheasant, it was nearby. He put his nose to the ground and followed the scent, soon Shrewpaw saw the large bird, about a tree-length away from him. He checked to make sure that he was downwind of the pheasant before dropping down into a hunting crouch. He slowly got closer and closer away until he was in the jumping distance of the bird. Shrewpaw gathering his paws and leaped at the bird but Shrewpaw missed. He grunted and chased after the bird, his clan needed this. The pheasant crossed the thunderpath. He looked both ways, before darting across. He leaped a caught the pheasant and killed it, "Shrewpaw. Get off the thunderpath." Dustpelt ordered Shrewpaw started to drag the bird. "Now!" Dustpelt called, Shrewpaw felt the rumbling of a monster. Shrewpaw froze in fear, he was barely aware of Dustpelt running towards him. Dustpelt took the bird from Shrewpaw and nudge him with his head. Shrewpaw shook his head and ran back to Snakerocks, Dustpelt ran behind him with the bird in his jaws. When they go back to the forest they stopped running. Dustpelt dropped the bird and turned on Shrewpaw.

"What in StarClan's name were you thinking?" Dustpelt demanded anger and concern shone in his father's eyes. "I'm sorry, I knew that pheasant would feed the Clan." Shrewpaw explained, "Do you think that bird is more important than you? I already lost Larchkit and Squirrelpaw, I don't need to lose you or your brother." Dustpelt growled, Thornclaw ran into the clearing. "What's wrong? What happened?" Thornclaw questioned, looking between father and son. "Shrewpaw almost got himself killed." Dustpelt told Thornclaw, "to catch that." Dustpelt flicked his tail at the bird, "it was a nice catch but you should have known to do not cross that thunderpath without a warrior." Dustpelt told his son, more calmly before. "I'm sorry," Shrewpaw breathed, Dustpelt picked the bird up and wrapped his tail around Shrewpaw's flank and led him back to camp. "Shouldn't we keep hunting?" Shrewpaw questioned, "no, the pheasant will feed us fine, along with the shrew I caught." Dustpelt answered, "I caught a mouse." Thornclaw told Dustpelt.

Soon they waited for Brackenfur and Sorreltail. Dustpelt has given Shrewpaw his pheasant back. He didn't mean to scare his father or mentor so bad. He hadn't been thinking. Shrewpaw saw the golden-brown pelt of Brackenfur, and they joined Thornclaw, Dustpelt and Shrewpaw. "How caught that?" Brackenfur questioned surprised, "Shrewpaw did." Thornclaw answered pride shone in his mentor's eyes. Shrewpaw licked in fur, "we should head back to camp." Dustpelt mumbled, glancing at the sky. He led them back to the camp. When the cats saw the pheasant, Shrewpaw was carrying was staring in amazement. "Give that pheasant to the elders," Thornclaw directed Shrewpaw.  Spiderpaw was dragging bedding out of the elder's den, Shrewpaw place the bird at Longtail's paws, Speckletail and Frostfur padded over. Speckletail ripped off a chunk of pheasant and gave it to Shrewpaw. "Go give it to your mother," Speckletail told her. "Thank you," Shrewpaw dipped his head that the elders. He picked up the piece of pheasant and padded over to the nursery. As he entered the nursery, he spotted a spotted, gray she-cat. "Shrewpaw," Ferncloud purred in a greeting. "Brought you some fresh-kill," Shrewpaw muttered as he set the pheasant beside his mother. "Thank you," Ferncloud purred. Two kits squirmed at her belly, his mother seemed tired. Ferncloud has taken Larchkit's death pretty hard. Goldenflower sat in the nest next to his mother, "I will make sure she will eat." The golden she-cat purred, it was hard to believe she was mates to Tigerstar. Shrewpaw dipped his head and left the two queens alone. He glanced at the fresh-kill pile, it was empty again.

Shrewpaw felt the stab of worry and disappointment. How were that Clans go to survive? ThunderClan could barely feed their clan, WindClan and ShadowClan would have a harder time. RiverClan would have it easier, they would start to suffer too. He also was worried about Squirrelpaw, he never got to tell her about his true feelings, but he could feel that the fisty ginger wasn't dead like most believed. Shrewpaw walked over to Whitepaw and Spiderpaw, they were sharing a vole. Spiderpaw looked up when he approached, he pushed some vole towards him. He mumbled thanks to his brother before taking a bit of vole.