Warriors AU (Shrewpaw x Squrrielflight)

Chapter 3

Shrewpaw drifted in and out of a heavy fog, his thoughts swimming through a thick, impenetrable mist. He could feel the gentle sway of movement beneath him and the warmth of a familiar pelt against his fur. Slowly, he forced his eyes open, blinking against the sunlight filtering through the canopy above. His vision was blurry, but as it cleared, he saw a patchwork of cats, their pelts bearing the distinct scents of RiverClan, WindClan, and ShadowClan. Confusion surged through him.

"Spiderpaw?" he croaked, his voice barely a whisper.

"you're awake, finally" Spiderpaw's voice came from below, stone cold as ever. Shrewpaw realized he was draped on his brother's back, his paws dangling limply.

"What...what happened?" Shrewpaw managed to ask, his head still spinning.

"You passed out," Spiderpaw explained, carefully navigating through the crowd of cats. "Cinderpelt thinks it's because of your injury. It must have stressed your body more than we realized."

Shrewpaw groaned, trying to piece together the fragments of his memory. He remembered the sharp pain in his side, the dizzying sensation that followed, and then darkness. "I... I didn't think it was that bad," he mumbled.

He turned, his gaze sweeping across all the clan warriors. "What... what's going on? Why are we with other clans?"

Spiderpaw's ears flicked back in frustration. "We're not in our territories anymore. We left. The journey cats, the ones who went to find Midnight, are leading us to a new home."

Shrewpaw's eyes widened as he took in their surroundings properly for the first time. Tall, rugged peaks loomed on either side, their slopes covered in jagged rocks and sparse vegetation. The air was thin and cool, carrying with it the scent of unknown plants and distant snow.

"The mountains," Shrewpaw murmured, realization dawning, remembering what Squirrelpaw told him. "We're in the mountains."

"Yeah," Spiderpaw muttered, his tail flicking with irritation. "Feels like we've been wandering here forever. I still think it's a waste of time. Why couldn't we just stay and fight for our home?"

Shrewpaw shook his head, trying to process everything. "I don't know. But if StarClan guided us to leave, there must be a reason."

Spiderpaw let out a huff, clearly unconvinced. "I just hope this new home is worth all the trouble."

As the clans settled down to rest, Shrewpaw's mind swirled with questions and doubts. He glanced down at Spiderpaw, taking a glimpse of his eyes whose face was a mixture of concern and frustration. He felt a pang of guilt, realizing how his brother had struggled while he was unconscious.

Spiderpaw's steps faltered for a moment. "I'm sorry I didn't visit you in the den," he confessed quietly. "I didn't want to be a burden. And... I couldn't stand seeing you hurt. Besides, I didn't want to get in the way of your obsession on trying to moon over Squirrelpaw."

A flush of heat rushed to Shrewpaw's ears. "I'm not mooning over Squirrelpaw," he protested weakly. "We're just friends. We look out for each other."

Spiderpaw chuckled softly, his pace steadying as they caught up with the rest of the clans. "Sure, sure."

Shrewpaw glanced briefly at Whitepaw, her eyes full of a bright jade and a twinkling light. 'Who is she looking at?' Suddenly, a joyful squeal pierced the air. "Shrewpaw! You're awake!"

Squirrelpaw bounded over, her eyes bright with excitement. Ferncloud and Dustpelt were close behind her, their expressions a mixture of relief and concern.

"Shrewpaw," Ferncloud sighed, nuzzling her son gently. "Thank Starclan above, I didn't want you to die again. We were so worried."

Dustpelt's stern gaze softened as he looked at Shrewpaw. "How are you feeling, son?"

"I'm awake," Shrewpaw said distastefully,
"I think I can stand on my own," Shrewpaw said, trying to shift his weight. Spiderpaw carefully lowered him to the ground, and he wobbled but managed to stay upright.

"Take it easy," Dustpelt advised. "You don't want to push yourself too hard too soon. Let's walk a bit to stretch your legs."

Ferncloud nodded in agreement and let her mate take their son with him.
Shrewpaw struggled at first but managed to control himself and nodded, following his father as they moved to the edge of the gathered cats. Dustpelt's steps were measured, and Shrewpaw matched his pace, feeling the stiffness in his muscles gradually easing.

"Shrewpaw," Dustpelt began, his tone thoughtful, "there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about. She-cats."

Shrewpaw's ears twitched in embarrassment. "Dad, please..."

"Hear me out," Dustpelt continued, ignoring his son's discomfort. "When it comes to she-cats, it's important to be respectful and understanding. Pay attention to what they need and how they feel. Don't make promises you can't keep, and always be honest."

Shrewpaw nodded, his eyes focused on the ground. Dustpelt's words felt like they were dragging on forever, and he couldn't help but feeling his dread building.

"But," Dustpelt added, "ultimately, it's up to you to choose your future mate. Mousebrains will tell you to follow your heart but i say you should use your head. Your mind is the most powerful tool when confronting any cat."

Shrewpaw remained quiet, feeling overwhelmed by the conversation. He didn't want to think about his future mate right now. He just wanted to get through the day without any more complications.

Dustpelt glanced at his son giving him an amused smirk and looked up as the dusked twilight turned to nightfall. "We better go back now, it will be dark soon enough."
Before Dustpelt could say anything more, his paw slipped on a patch of loose earth. With a startled yelp, he began to slide down the embankment.

"Dad!" Shrewpaw reached out his muzzle, grabbing him by the scruff with all the willpower he could muster, taking ahold of his father. Dustpelt hung on the sheer side of the cliff by what seemed like a thread. Every ounce of muscle in Shrewpaw's body ached as his father scraped the rock mass in a desperate attempt for a grip. Eventually, he looked up at him and shook his head.

"Let go, Shrewpaw." Dustpelt's voice was firm despite his precarious position.  "You're better off living than sending both of us to our deaths."

Tears blurred Shrewpaw's vision. "I can't! I need you!" He muffled.

Dustpelt gave him a tranquil, loving smile. "You can, and you will. Live for me, my son, and be strong."

With a final, gentle scratch to Shrewpaw's muzzle, his son's grip slipped, and he plummeted down the slope. Shrewpaw's heart shattered as he watched his father disappear from sight. He let out a cry of anguish, his voice echoing through the mountain caverns.