Warriors Fanfiction: Super Edition-Owlflight's Path

Chapter Three

"Leafpool!" The golden tom, Lionblaze, exclaimed as the medicine cat drew closed to the border, "Is everything all right?" He narrowed his eyes warily at Buzzardwing and Owlflight as he asked this. Buzzardwing's fur lifted along her spine in indignation.

"We're just escorting her to the border!" The white she-cat exclaimed. Lionblaze sniffed indifferently.

"You never know with WindClan," he muttered, earning a flick on the nose from Leafpool's tail. Owlflight slapped her tail over Buzzardwing's mouth to keep her from retorting.

"Quiet, Lionblaze," Leafpool chided, "I had to discuss something with Kestrelflight and these cats were kind enough to accompany be to the border. You can continue your border patrol, I'll find my own way back." Lionblaze huffed.

"We'll move on when they leave," he said warily. Leafpool rounded on him.

"Listen to your medicine cat, Lionblaze! I have something to discuss with Owlflight and it doesn't include this patrol. Leave us." Cinderheart and Cherryfall glanced at each other, confused by their normally calm medicine cat's outburst. Lionblaze stared at her briefly before flicking his tail, indicating his patrol to follow him. Leafpool waited until they were out of earshot before she sat across from Owlflight.

"I don't want to pressure you into a decision, Owlflight. I'll give you the three sunrises and wait here on the sunset of the third." Owlflight raised her tail, gently interrupting the tabby.

" I don't need the three sunrises, Leafpool. I'll join you on this journey. I just need tonight to say goodbye." Buzzardwing squeaked in shock.

"Owlflight, no! You can-" Owlflight hushed her friend with a flick of her tail.

"I need to do this! I need to find out who I really am!" Buzzardwing glanced sadly at her.

" You're a WindClan warrior," she meowed sadly. Owlflight was filled with resentment.

"Not really, I can't even catch a moor rabbit." Buzzardwing opened her jaw to argue, but snapped it shut and promptly turned away. Leafpool gazed at them with sympathy.

"Are you sure, Owlflight? You don't need to decide just now." Owlflight met the amber gaze of the ThunderClan medicine cat with determination in her eyes.

"I'm sure," she meowed, " I'll go back to WindClan tonight, to say goodbye to my littermates and Beeflower and Onestar. I'll meet you here tomorrow shortly after sunrise... Will Bramblestar be okay with that?" Leafpool snorted.

"Don't worry about that old badger," she purred, earning shock looks from Buzzardwing and Owlflight, who'd never so casually tease their leader. "Bramblestar will have to accept whether he approves or not. This is StarClan's will."

                                                                                       •••

Buzzardwing was silent as the two warriors padded back to camp. Owlflight knew she was upset, but didn't comfort her because she knew she'd get her ears clawed. Buzzardwing was a proud cat and hated showing any weakness.

As they approached camp, Buzzardwing stopped and faced Owlflight.

"What are we going to tell everyone?" She asked in a quiet mew. Owlflight tipped her head in confusion.

"We?" She asked, and Buzzardwing rolled her eyes.

"You didn't think I'd let you go alone, did you? StarClan, you're such a mouse-brain!" Owlflight drew her tail up in indignation.

"You- you can't come with me and Leafpool!" She spluttered, "You have to stay with-" Buzzardwing snorted.

"I have to stay with you!" She shouted stubbornly. "Who else would make sure you're fed and well groomed?"

"I'm not a kit! I can take care of myself." Owlflight was starting to get irritated. Who did Buzzardwing think she was? Buzzardwing purred in amusement.

"You may as well be a kit, if you're fluff-brained enough to think I'd let my best friend leave without me." Owlfight stared at her friend, her irritation forgotten. She purred as warmth spread through her. It wasn't about looking after me, Owlflight thought, she just doesn't want to say goodbye.

"Thank you, Buzzardwing, but what about Beeflower and the rest of the Clan?" Buzzardwing looked down at her paws, sighing before she met Owlflight's gaze with a look of determination.

"I'll miss my friends and my home, but I'd miss you more if I stayed behind. We're littermates, Owlflight, and you're my best friend. I'll follow you anywhere you go." Owlflight leaned forward and touched noses with her friend.

"Then we tell them that we're going on a quest, given by StarClan, and that we'll miss them for as long as we're gone." Buzzardwing met Owlflight's gaze with round, uncertain eyes.

"How long do you think we'll be gone?" She asked, quiet. Owlflight gazed at the sky, which was beginning to darken with night. She could see faint stars beginning to light the sky.

"I don't know, but it feels like we won't be returning to WindClan."

                                                                                        •••

"You can't leave!" Jaykit cried, interrupting Onestar as he announced Owlflight and Buzzardwing's departure. Hareflight sent the kit a stern gaze, sending him scurrying to his mother. Beeflower at her daughter and foster-kit sadly.

"Must you both go?" She asked. "Must I lose two of my kits?" Buzzardwing butted her head against Beeflower's shoulder, trying to cheer her up. Owlflight brushed against her foster mother, twining their tails. Other WindClan cats whispered and yowled their complaints.

"Are they really leaving?" Came from Fernpaw, while Gorsetail murmured to Furzepelt, "It's a shame, they're both such wonderful cats and good warriors. Will Onestar really let them go?"

"Good riddance, I say," Nightcloud muttered, a snort of agreement coming from her son, Breezepelt, who was sitting beside her farther from the rest of the Clan. Crowfeather, who sat near his apprentice Fernpaw, said nothing.

"That's enough!" Onestar yowled, irritation and impatience thick in his voice, "I've talked with these warriors and our medicine cat. Kestrelflight received a sign from StarClan in his dreams last night-" At this, whispers quickly broke out amongst the gathered cats. Onestar narrowed his eyes before continuing.

"Tallstar told him that this journey was meant for Owlflight, and we are to let her go." Oakcharge leapt to his feet.

"Why is Buzzardwing leaving with her, then? We're coming to the end of greenleaf and leaf-fall is approaching! It's bad enough we're losing one warrior, must we lose two?" Harespring hissed at Owlflight's littermate, but Crowfeather batted at his former apprentice.

"You're to be quiet when our leader speaks!" Crowfeather growled, "Didn't I teach you anything?" Oakcharge grumbled at sat back down after apologizing to Onestar. Whitetail, an elderly she-cat, stood up.

"Oakcharge does have a point, Onestar. It'll be harder to feed the Clan once the colder seasons come." Onestar stared at his elder a moment, before dipping his head.

"I understand your concerns Whitetail, Oakcharge, but this is the will of StarClan for Owlflight to go, and if Buzzardwing wishes to join her, I will not stop her. They will leave tomorrow at sunrise."