Rising Mist || 1 || Warrior Cat's Fan Fiction ✔️

Chapter Eighteen

"WHAT?!"

I recoiled at Fallenleaf's outburst. Lilypad's eyes rounded, "Mistystar hasn't told you yet?"

Tropicpalm cuffed me sharply, disapproval dancing teasingly in her voice as if I were still an unruly kit, "You're having kits and you won't tell the father?"

Fallenleaf gaped, stuttering, "F-Father?!"

Sunlight that shone through the woven roof warmed my pelt and highlighted the shock in his eyes. 

I meowed apologetically, "I was afraid of what you were going to say! I wasn't sure you liked me that way at all!"

Fallenleaf snapped out of his trance, rushing over to press his nose against my cheek, a purr travelling through his body and into mine, "Of course I do!"

Then he pulled back, determination in his eyes, "But, this changes everything! We have to leave! I don't want my kits growing up in these conditions."

Lilypad stood up, ruffling her pelt, "Thank Starclan!"

Relief seeped through my pelt, but I chided Lilypad, "Don't be too hasty. Where will we go?"

Tropicpalm pricked her ears, "Yellowpaw will be receiving her full name tomorrow. After the ceremony, I shall ask Starclan."

Fallenleaf narrowed his eyes, "Do we have any Peaceclan ancestors in Starclan? What if even Starclan disapproves of us?"

Lilypad lashed her tail, worry clouding her gaze as she turned to me. 

I frowned, "We've got to try! I'll announce everything to the rest of the clan."

Tropicpalm dipped her head in consent, a vacant mask slipping across her muzzle as she led Lilypad out of my den. I padded after them, Fallenleaf at my tail. As soon as I emerged from my den, a hush fell over the camp clearing. With a sweep of her tail, Beestripe gathered her kits. Pearlstorm looked up from where she was sharing a vole with Liontail. Spiderfur paused in the act of heading out to hunt with Treeclimber and his apprentice, Amberpaw. 

I leaped up into a branch of the Tall Tree, "Let all cats old enough to climb gather beneath me."

Cloudykit squeaked, "But I'm not good at climbing!"

Beestripe hurriedly shushed her, "But you CAN climb."

I meowed, my voice ringing across camp, " As you already know, Peaceclan has been attacked by the other clans many times over."

Swanwind huffed with disdain from where she sat beside Lilypad. The white, young warrior's pelt seem to glow hot with embarrassment as every cat looked to her in anticipation. 

Her former mentor, Lilypad, came to her rescue, "Yes, indeed. We must travel to someplace else where we will be more welcome."

I nodded, "Lilypad is right. Tomorrow, Yellowpaw will travel to the Moonpool to receive her medicine cat name. Afterwards, Tropicpalm shall ask for advice from Starclan as to where we should go."

Murmurs of congratulations were offered to Yellowpaw as the golden apprentice straightened, positively beaming. Dustpaw nudged her playfully and Morningpaw gave her a friendly cuff over the ear. Spiderfur engaged in conversation with Pearlstorm, much to the irritation of Liontail. 

I waved my tail for everyone's attention, "One more thing. Peaceclan, from now on, shall be known as Mistyclan!"

Fallenleaf called out, "Mistyclan!"

Tropicpalm and Lilypad joined in, encouraging the rest of the Mistyclan to follow suit. As the crowd dispersed, I suddenly heard paw steps around the camp. Stealthy ones that were trying hard not to be heard. Tropicpalm raised her nose to the air. Wide-eyed, she dashed into the medicine cat den as Yellowpaw hurried to pick up Beestripe's kits. 

Stormcloud stood rigid, tail bushed and high in the air, "Invaders!"

At the same moment, Skyclan burst into the camp. I jumped down from the Tall Tree and right in front of Sunmist. The Skyclan deputy cringed away from me, uncertainty in her eyes. I bared my teeth and, using her hesitation to my advantage, knocked her paws from under her. 

The golden, spotted she-cat jumped up and hissed, aiming a claw at my ears. I dived underneath her, flipping her onto her back with one swift move. Fallenleaf appeared at my side, tearing his claws across her muzzle. Sunmist scrambled up, her jaws parting as if to say something, but Spiderfur whammed into her, claws flying. 

I turned and saw Amberstar battling Lilypad. The two she-cats were hesitant in their attacks, having been mentor and apprentice once before. I crashed into Amberstar's side, bringing the golden-brown tabby to the ground with a thump. Lilypad cuffed her ears, sinking her teeth into Amberstar's tail. 

I turned to see Tropicpalm make her way out of the camp with Yellowpaw. They were probably going to get Yellowpaw's medicine cat name earlier. However, the thought of having no medicine cat to help us in a fight scared me. A paw shoved me in the side and I, caught of guard, collapsed. Struggling underneath him, I looked up to see Tigerpearl. 

The tom got ready to scratch me on the shoulders but froze as he looked up.

I threw him off to see Crowpaw staring at his father. I watched the two toms cautiously. The air seemed fragile between them, as if one wrong move could break everything all at once.

"RETREAT!"

Tigerpearl flinched, surprised. Crowpaw let out a snarl of triumph, throwing out a claw that, purposely, missed him. The golden tabby flattened his ears, turning around and leaping away and out of Mistyclan camp. 

I chased his tail with Crowpaw and Lilypad beside me, clawing at Tigerpearl's hindquarters and sending him yowling into the forest. I reached out to rip the pelts off Skyclan cats that raced past me. 

Lilypad swished her tail with excited triumph, all her uncertainty forgotten, "Run, you cowardly mange-pelts!"

Treeclimber, coming up beside her, shot her a look. The she-cat ignored him, though she lost all of her spirit in the blink of an eye. I felt my shoulder fur begin to rise. 

I didn't know what was going on between those two, but I didn't like it. 

Any cat who tried to quell my friend's energy couldn't be good for her. I approached the tom, getting ready to confront him. But Swanwind and Crowpaw caught my eye instead. As we started walking back to camp, the two younger cats seemed to be deep in conversation. 

I quickened my pace, walking up beside Swanwind, "We taught those Skyclan cats a lesson, didn't we?"

Crowpaw's tail drooped, "Yeah. I guess."

He pressed against Swanwind for comfort, looking me in the eyes, "I want to go back to Skyclan, Mistystar. Seeing my father made me realise. I couldn't bear to hurt him in battle!"

Swanwind pulled away, her head nodding in grudging acknowledgement. My pace slowed for a moment, but they didn't seem to notice. 

I forced myself to walk back in line with them again, "Of course, I understand. You want to be with your kin. Mistyclan shall miss having you as our apprentice." 

I dipped my head, "Fallenleaf most of all. We will say our final goodbyes next morning. We shall feed you for another night, let you rest. You are free to tell any of your friends so they have time to spend the rest of the day with you."

Crowpaw blinked gratefully at me, his shoulders straightening and tail sticking up at the thought of seeing his kin again. 

Swanwind cringed as if she had been hit, wandering away to where Liontail was arguing with Spiderfur. 

I wondered what was going on between the younger warriors.