i made this in docs so the wiki text messed everything up- my bad im too lazy to fix it
ALLEGIANCES
THUNDERCLAN: LEADER- JUNIPERSTAR- a worryful she-cat who has a very pretty mottled pelt
DEPUTY- TROUTWHISKER- an ex-riverclan tom-cat who has slick gray-black pelt
MEDICINE CAT——WITHERINGDREAM- a brown-black tabby
WARRIORS—- FROG SOAR- a grayish-brown mottled tom-cat JUNIPER BRANCH- white tomcat OPAL FUR- tabby she-cat POLAR ICE- a calm and reserved, white short-haired she-cat THUNDER ROAR- a large, orange tabby tomcat (APPRENTICE;MEADOW PAW) APPRENTICE- MEADOW PAW- full black she-cat with amber eyes QUEENS- LOVING MEADOW- brown-gray she-cat (nursing JUNIPER BRANCH’S KITS: LIGHT KIT AND GRAY KIT ELDERS- MUDDLEPOND-a gray tabby she-cat with a full black tail, completely deaf.
WINDCLAN: LEADER- TORRENTSTAR- a cold, confident, short-haired silver she-cat DEPUTY- WISP STARTLE- a warm, light-footed beige she-cat MEDICINE CAT(S)- SHALLOW FLIGHT- a nervous, short-haired, mottled tom WARRIORS- SPARROW SOAR- a striped, chestnut colored tom (apprentice-dark paw) (Apprentice- DARK PAW) CALLOW SEEK- a brindled, sleek black she-cat DUSKENED SORROW- a spotted, gray tom with boots (apprentice-iced paw) KETTLE SCOUR- a silent, beige-colored tom SONG WHISPER- a white she-cat with emerald eyes FALLOW TAIL- a dusky brown she-cat FLAX HOPE- a pale brown tom (Apprentice- ICED PAW) SNAP JAW- a black Tom with gray stripes APPRENTICES- DARK PAW- a large, thick-furred black spangled she-cat ICED PAW- a speedy, short-haired white she-cat QUEENS- SORREL FUR- a reddish-orange she-cat (mother to Willow Kit, a she-cat; Gravel Kit, a tom) ELDERS- FRINGE WHISKER- a long-furred pale gray tabby tom who is nearly blind, fully deaf
RIVERCLAN: LEADER-SNAKESTAR- a full black she-cat DEPUTY- ASPEN HOPE- a bulky, aspen colored tom-cat with glowing amber eyes MEDICINE CAT- BLACKFANG- a ruthless but caring tom-cat WARRIORS- BUTTERFLY WISP- a fancy she-cat whom has a faded coat of beige SHATTERED SKY- MORAN FUR-a brown-gray tomcat QUEENS— WILLOW HEART- a full white she-cat (nursing MORAN FUR’s kits, JUNEKIT, WINGKIT, EMERALD KIT, AND GORSEKIT) YOREAN JUNIPER- a ex-kittypet (nursing UNNAMED kits, MOONKIT, NOONKIT, DAWNKIT, AND DUSK KIT)) ELDERS- JUMBLE FEET- a older tomcat with a broken ear and hind leg, black grey mottled pelt
SKYCLAN; LEADER-LOREANSTAR—a long haired, lilac mackerel tabby she-cat, with green eyes. DEPUTY-SOOTBERRY—a black tom, with short fur, and copper eyes. MEDICINE CAT–FEATHERWHISKER-a black she, with short fur, and yellow eyes. WARRIORS- SLUGBLAZE—a black tom-cat, with short fur, and copper eyes. LIGHTBERRY—a short haired, white she-cat, with a black and red spotted calico tail and ears, and gold eyes. SPIDERCLAW—a mostly white, black and red mackerel calico she-cat, with long fur and copper eyes BELLAFANG—a mottled she-cat with a lovley pelt PALEFACE- a sandy cream tom-cat with amber eyes GRASSLEAP- a cream she-cat who has a tabby face and pelt.
QUEENS- LOVEHEART- a white shecat (nursing SLUGBLAZE’S KITS, IRIS KIT, AND MACKEREL KIT)
ELDERS- none
Prologue
It was the night of the gathering, and the moon was full and cats were shifting around to sit comfortably. Loreanstar of SkyClan leapt up onto one of the tallest branches of the oak. “ThunderClan has been stealing our prey!” She announced.
Juniperstar hissed in fury at the accusation. “We would never!” He retorted. ‘But of course, you must blame us?’
“I’m not accusing you! It’s rather me telling you that you and your foxhearted clan mates stole from us!” Loreanstar hissed.
Juniperstar would rise up on all four paws, hackles rising. “How dare you!” He would lunge onto Loreanstar, knocking her off of the branch. The cats witnessing the scene would shriek and cry at the fact that the other cats would dare fight at the sacred gathering.
Far away at the SkyClan camp, the SkyClan medicine cat sat quietly. She hadn’t attended this gathering due to most of her clanmates being sick with white cough and greencough. She stopped what she had been doing and sat down hard on the stone floor of the cave, gazing at the moon silently while praying to StarClan for her clan mates' wellbeing. Then came the vision..
A gentle voice came into the dark vision. ‘The Shattered Sky, The Golden Hope, The Frog who Soars above all, the lost kittypet who has fangs as sharp as brambles. These four have an unwritten destiny, for they will save the predicament that has dawned upon you.’
As the medicine cat awoke from her vision, she shook her head. She whispered to herself, “Bella Fang is half kitty-pet” She looked at the sick cat sleeping at the edge of the clearing. She had gotten whitecough, due to the cold weather. ‘I’ll have to look after her most carefully.’’
Chapter One
Bella Fang hacked heavily, and though it had been a moon since she had gotten first gotten ill, she was unfortunately still sick. ‘When can I leave the medicine den?’ She rasped to Featherwhisker, who was the medicine cat.
‘Not until you are ready,’ she answered firmly. ‘You mustn’t keep asking; you will know when you are cured.’
‘Ugh-’ Bella Fang groaned. ‘What do I even have? You said my whitecough was gone!’ She argued crossly.
‘Just because the whitecough left doesn’t mean the cold did. Soon after you lost whitecough, you got greencough. Not to worry, its only minor.’ She would sit, beginning to groom herself.
‘Yeah, that's what everyone says.’ She rolled her eyes as she responded. Feather Whisker is so annoying, she thought with a massive frown on her face. ‘Can Paleface at least visit me, though?’ She recalled her mate, a golden tom-cat.
‘I would, but we can’t have more patients in the medicine den. We’re running low on catmint, and it isn’t going to pop out of the ground suddenly.’ Her voice was tired, for this was the sixth time this day.
‘Feather Whisker!’ A yowl was heard from Loreanstar. ‘Grassleap has greencough!’ She shrieked.
Instantly up, Feather Whisker was up and out of the den. Her voice grew distant as she crossed to the other side of the clearing. Nowhere nearby.
Bella Fang immediately stood up and shot out of the medicine den. She felt free, having been cooped up in the den for so long. Bella Fang wandered around in the forest for a moment, before running across the border. She didn't realize until she happened to bump into a very handsome tom-cat. ‘Ack!’ She stumbled backwards, the golden tom-cat stared at her.
Aspen Hope’s hackles would rise, seeing the cat. ‘What are you doing on RiverClan’sterritory?’ He snarled, tail lashing.
‘Uh- I didn’t know I was on RiverClan territory.’ Bella Fang responded crossly. ‘Maybe if you had marked your borders better, then this problem wouldn’t reoccur.’ She retorted.
Aspen Hope’s eyes narrowed. ‘If you had a nose, you’d be able to scent it! Oh wait, yours must not be working.’ His eyes glanced down to the scar covering her face, it trailing over her nostril and obviously damaging her sense of smell.
Bella Fang snarled in response, ‘Why would a RiverClan cat know about being able to smell? You all always have your nose in some type of fish!’ She retorted savagely, her tail lashing side to side with anger.
‘We obviously know better than you do! You couldn’t smell the border, and you aren’t even three tail-lengths away from it!’ Aspen Hope growled in anger. His ears were flattened in rage and indignity.
Bella Fang flinched from his sharp tone. ‘Can’t you see that it was an honest mistake? I didn’t mean to cross your stupid border! I’ve been sick for weeks, cooped up in the medicine den, and just needed some air, and now I'm getting harassed by some stupid RiverClan tom-cat who is so defensive!’ Bella Fang unsheathed her claws, Blood was rushing in her head and she felt much more tired. Maybe I should have stayed in the medicine den after all.. She wobbled for a second and tried to keep her gaze on the angry tom-cat.
Irritation lingered in Aspen Hope’s gaze as he stared at ther for a second, before he sighed heavily. ‘I’m bringing you to RiverClan’s camp, and you can get some rest before I get a patrol to send you home.’
Bella Fang sniffed loudly. ‘You don't need to do that-’ She huffed as she staggered backwards. ‘Im fine.' Bella Fang looked into his green eyes.
‘Just because I don’t have to doesn’t mean I won’t. You’re obviously in no condition to go back to SkyClan’s camp alone.’ Aspen Hope’s eyes filled with irritation again, causing no room to argue.
‘Just because I’m ‘sick’ doesn’t mean I need to go to your camp. I’ll be fine walking back to my own camp, thank you very much.’ Bella Fang retorted scornfully, her back fur twitching up in the slightest bit.
‘I’ll either bring you there out of your own free will or I’ll drag you there by your tail.’ His eyes narrowed slightly, his hackles raising in anger.
‘Why do you care?’ Bella Fang responded, her light purple eyes brimming bright with hatred. ‘I’m just some stupid SkyClan she-cat who can't do anything right!’ Her tail twitched with anticipation.
‘It’s my job to care! As deputy of RiverClan, I have to bring everyone trespassing into our camp. It isn’t even referenced as caring anyway!’ Suddenly defensive, his aggression jumped up a notch. He seemed to want to deny every accusation of caring..
Bella Fang rose up on her forepaws growling. ‘Just let me be! I just wanna go back home!’ She hissed her hackles rising, she was in no state to fight the bulky tomcat but she would if she had to.
Swiftly walking, Aspen Hope spun around her as to block the path back across the border. ‘You can do that later, but right now you’re going to come with me to my camp. I wasn’t making an empty threat when I said I would drag you there.’ He started to push her in the direction of the RIverClan camp, gently enough that it wouldn’t hurt her, but enough to get her going.
Bella Fang grunted crossly as he pushed her. ‘Why are you treating me like a kit!’ She retorted back, her tail twitching with fury as he mothered her unfairly, but she continued with him towards the camp.
As they approached the RiverClan camp briskly, voices started to drift on the wind. ‘I smell a SkyClan cat.’ They hissed as soon as the pair entered the camp. Bella Fang looked more down-wind than usual. Her breathing was shallow, slowing, and now she was leaning on Aspen Hope’s shoulder, stumbling.
‘I need a medicine cat!’ Aspen Hope snapped, his tone leaving no room for discussion. He could practically hear the grumbling the other cats would have to say about this. ‘How did a SkyClan cat get this far across the lake anyway?’ One of the warriors muttered.
Bella Fang’s eyes started to blur. She couldn't see anything. She practically fell against Aspen Hope. She could feel Aspen Hope’s rapid heartbeat when she was pressed against him.
The medicine cat, Black Fang, rushed out to them and pulled Bella Fang off, leading her to her den quickly. ‘What’s wrong with her?’ Black Fang said hurriedly, not really listening, but more checking her over rapidly. ‘Green cough!’ She realized, answering her own question.
Aspen Hope paced back and forth, scared that it might be too late for Bella Fang. What if he had been too slow? He shouldn’t have given room for her to argue; it had taken much too big of a toll on her.
Bella Fang sat in the nest wheezing. Her breath started to shallow. She saw Aspen Hope’s worried face. ‘D-don't worry..’ She stuttered. ‘I’ll be fine..’ Bella Fang’s eyes darkened.
Not convinced, Aspen Hope turned to the medicine cat with a half-composed mask. ‘Is there anything I can do to help? Fetch water or something?’ He wasn’t pacing anymore, but he shifted from paw to paw nervously.
‘Just try to cool her down. She has a fever, and is extremely warm.’ Black Fang turned to Aspen Hope and pointed her tail towards Bella Fang. The she-cat looked very sick, eyes drooping and heat wafting off of her.
Aspen Hope froze for a moment before padding forward and quickly sitting down. Wary of hurting her, he would gently groom her fur to cool her off. Aspen Hope didn’t want her to just.. die. He didn’t know why he cared about her so much, but it was too late to try to stop the feelings from growing now.
Bella Fang shivered, her pelt growing colder than it had been, and she barely opened her eyes. ‘Thanks..’ She whispered, her voice cracking.
Aspen Hope didn’t answer as he continued to groom her softly in the hope of saving her from dying. When he had finished, he looked up, about to say something.
Black Fang turned to them. ‘Can you stay here tonight to keep her warm?’ She asked, her tail twitching slightly. It wasn’t a good idea, but she had other patients to tend to right now.
Aspen Hope looked at the medicine cat in surprise. An opportunity like this was making him feel like his heart had entered a marathon.
Bella Fang tilted her head. She hadn't heard a word. ‘Huh?’ She mumbled out her voice cracking once more. Her fever had been making her more and more delusional, she looked at Aspen Hope and saw the glimmer in his green eyes. She stared at him for more than a minute, her own eyes glistening with something unreadable. She soon turned her head back and yawned.
‘You should probably try to get some sleep. You’re going to need it if you want to get better.’ Aspen Hope had looked away, feeling embarrassed and.. something else. He had turned away too fast for Bella Fang to see what it was. His tail twitched slowly, flickering back and forth in nervousness.
Bella Fang looked at him again then placed her head on his paws. ‘Well, I guess.’ She replied wearily, her voice cracking, shallow. She closed her eyes and wrapped her tail around her hind legs, not realizing that her head was on his paws.
Chapter Two
After Bella Fang had fallen asleep, Aspen Hope decided he should probably go to sleep too, but he wasn’t tired, and it was hard to concentrate on anything but the warmth on his paws. Her breathing was distracting him as well, so really, sleep was a lost cause. As he tried to focus through the distractions, he breathed in heavily, inhaling her scent to which was sweet and intoxicating.
Bella Fang lifted her head drowsily. She had barely opened her eyes, but was awake. She lifted her head fully off of Aspen Hope’s paws. She blinked, her eyes opening, and sat up. ‘Is it morning already?’ The she-cat already seemed to look better, and her once-glazed eyes were now wide and darting around.
Realizing it had been maybe enough time for it to become sundown, Aspen Hope was stunned. Had he really stayed awake watching over her for that long? He thought it had only been maybe five minutes, but maybe not.. ‘No, it’s just sundown. But you look like you’re recovering quickly, and you look well.’ Aspen Hope dipped his head, hoping she wouldn’t take that a certain way.
Bella Fang tilted her head before standing up. ‘Well I'm not very tired anymore.’ Her tail twitched. ‘How about we go out and walk?’ She suggested, her eyes turning to him.
Aspen Hope flicked his tail, about to say sure, before he remembered that he should check the fresh-kill pile. ‘I should check if my patrols were sent out first. But I can go afterwards if everything is in proper order.’ He glanced outside into the clearing. ‘I should also let you get checked over by the medicine cat before I try to take you anywhere.’
Bella Fang looked gravely disappointed, but she shook her head. ‘Well, that's okay then.’ She sat down again. ‘I’d just thought we would, I don’t know, sneak out without Black Fang knowing. She would probably never let me go out, and it just seems more fun that way.’
Faintly amused, a ghost of a smile appeared on his face. ‘Like you did at your camp?’ That’s when he realized what would happen. An entire search party would probably be sent out across the lake with how anxious SkyClan was these days. ‘Wait, we need to get you back to your camp. I guess that might count as a walk?’
Bella Fang smiled. ‘Alright. We got to sneak out quietly..’ She padded from her nest and looked outside the den to see if anyone was out there.
‘Coast is clear.’ She responded by dipping her head. ‘Lets go!’ She crouched down and stalked out.
Padding quickly after her, he briskly decided whether or not to get a patrol, but thought better of it. She wanted to be secretive after all, so why not let her have fun. His tail flicked once, and his eyes darted around nervously, as he was starting to get caught up in not wanting to be caught. As they exited the camp soundlessly, a feeling of excitement trifled forward.
Bella Fang smiled again, her tail swishing with anticipation. She leaped across the smallest stream then she turned to Aspen Hope. ‘Your territory is so pretty!’ She exclaimed happily.
‘What is it like in SkyClan? Is your territory not pretty?’ The wind rustled through his fur, and he seemed more comfortable now than he had been in his own camp. ‘I’d guess it is. It’s SkyClan!’ He sniffed the air, making sure no one was around before continuing on, stealing glances at the pretty she-cat next to him.
‘I mean, it's fine. It's like any other clan. I don't really like it. I'm not accepted, my father is a kittypet, and my mother was a skyclan cat who left to be with him. I’ve always been alone.’ Bella Fang replied, her tail twitching with a droop of sadness.
‘Well, you could..’ He started, before trailing off, realizing what he was about to say. ‘Nevermind. We should hurry.’ His calm demeanor had worn off, and he was now stiff with anger, but it wasn’t directed at Bella Fang. I shouldn’t be doing this! He walked briskly, stopping abruptly when they got to the border.
‘I- okay..’ Bella Fang’s ears drooped a bit, and she stood up taller. ‘Well—I guess this is goodbye..’ She turned to Aspen Hope. ‘I’ll see you at the gathering tomorrow night then.’ She looked at him for a moment longer before she turned back around and walked across the border.
The night of the gathering had approached, and Bella Fang and SkyClan soon arrived after ThunderClan. She noticed Aspen Hope sitting on one of the lower branches of The Great Oak. Bella Fang padded up to him, beginning to speak. ‘Hey—I didn't think I was actually gonna see you again. ’
Aspen Hope’s head swiveled around, and he blinked in surprise. ‘Bella Fang! How are you feeling now?’ His words were formal, but his tone friendly, while his eyes glittered with welcome and curiosity. ‘I’m surprised to see you back so soon after you ran off from your clan.’
Bella Fang tilted her head. ‘It was you who decided to cut our time together short.’ She retorted, her tail flicking. ‘You insisted on going back to your clan.’ She sat down, her ears pinned back slightly. ‘I thought you liked me..’ She hissed out.
‘I- we can’t be talking about this!’ Aspen Hope’s ears pinned back fully and his eyes were suddenly wild. His head shot up to his leader, Snake Star, who was watching them with narrowed eyes, his tail lashing back and forth.
‘Oh so that's your answer!’ She snapped, her eyes brimming with anger. Bella Fang turned around, walking back to her spot in SkyClan’s area. ‘Wait!’ He called to her, but she ignored him as the gathering began.
Lorean Star stepped up. ‘I might as well go first.’ She flicked her tail. ‘Our clan has been well and we have four new kits. Light Kit, Bouncekit, Unikit, and Tornado Kit. We are also happy Bella Fang is alive and well.’ She flicked her tail, smiling at Bella Fang before she sat back on her branch and she signaled Snake Star to go next.
Snake Star stepped up, his eyes narrowed thoughtfully. ‘The only reason she is alive and well is because she came into our territory and collapsed at my deputy’s feet. If Aspen Hope hadn’t saved her pitiful life, she’d be lying dead somewhere in a ditch.’ His tail lashed once more before dying off to a twitch every so often as continued to glance from Aspen Hope to Bella Fang.
Bella Fang’s ears pinned immediately. She felt the many glances of RiverClan and SkyClan cats baring at her. She shrunk down and looked at Aspen Hope, her eyes brimming with hatred and a bit of sadness.
Aspen Hope saw her looking at him, and looked away, his heart beating swiftly at the same time it felt like it was tearing in half. He couldn’t bear to look at her when he couldn’t even talk to her normally! Why did I fall for her? He questioned himself.
Juniperstar laughed, sitting up. ‘Well that was awkward. Anyways. ThunderClan is fine. We have two new apprentices. Venpaw and Whitepaw.’ She sat back down, amused. ‘I guess that is the end of the gathering.’ She shook her head, then signaling ThunderClan to follow her.
Loreanstar nodded, then signaled SkyClan to follow her. They all walked across the tree-bridge and Bella Fang stayed behind wanting to talk to Aspen Hope.
Aspen Hope tried to avoid her, but she blocked his path, and he was forced to meet her eyes. ‘Can’t you get we aren’t allowed to do this? It’s hard enough trying to be your friend and not being able to see you outside gatherings!’
Bella Fang narrowed her eyes. ‘Why can't we? We can meet here every other night!’ She suggested, her voice breaking. She looked at Aspen Hope, her purple eyes glowing.
‘We can’t because we’ll get caught! I can’t sneak out every night and not get noticed. I’ll be tired, and I usually get the best sleep in my entire clan! It’s not working!’ His voice cracked, and his burst of speech was swift. His ears were now pinned, his tail lashing.
Bella Fang looked at him again, then looked towards the mossy forest floor. ‘I see. You probably never liked me..’ She looked at him once more before pushing past him. ‘I’m going back to Sand Face; maybe he would love me..’
’No! Wait!’ Aspen Hope ran after, blocking her path. ‘I do love you! I-I can meet if you want, but not tonight or tomorrow night. They want me to help fox hunt tomorrow and I need to sleep tonight.’ His eyes were desperate and his tail was drooping. ‘Please, I-..’ his words trailed off as he realized it was probably too late, and he just dropped his head, quickly running across the tree-bridge to catch up with his clan. His golden pelt glowed a silver in the moonlight which seemed to give an eerie tone as he ran off.
Bella Fang watched him go. Her tail started to droop. She followed her clan back to SkyClan’s territory.
Soon she was tucked into her den and all she could think about was Aspen Hope’s handsome face. She watched Sand Face come into the den. ‘Something wrong?’ He asked, sitting next to her.
Bella Fang shifted away from him. ‘I-im sorry Sand Face, I don't love you anymore.’ She mewed quickly, her voice dropping.
Sand Face looked at her with a sudden anger. ‘What? We have been mates for a season! You can't throw it away now!’ His tail lashed, his ears pinning.
‘I'm sorry! I love someone else! I can’t do this anymore!’ She leapt out of the den, as her heart tore in half.
Chapter Three
Bella Fang leaped across the RiverClan border quickly. She knew where Aspen Hope slept in the warrior den. She peered around the camp and saw that everyone was asleep. She snuck into the warriors den and poked Aspen Hope with her paw.
Aspen Hope mumbled in his sleep drowsily. ‘Mother, just five more minutes..’ His chest was rising and falling until she poked him again, and he groaned while getting up. ‘Wha- Bella Fang? What are you doing here?’ He rose swiftly, his fur pricking. ‘You can’t be here!’ He hissed uncertainty, his head shooting back and forth.
Bella Fang looked desperate. ‘Please, Follow me.’ She started to back out of the den. Signaling for Aspen Hope to follow her, she crept out from the thorns and brambles of the den. Once they were in a large clearing next to the lake, she paused. ‘Aspen Hope, please, I can't live in SkyClan anymore. I have no one there. Please, can I join RiverClan with you?’
‘W-what? No! They would never allow you, and I’m not even the one that makes the decisions in my clan! I can’t decide whether or not Snake Star says yes..’ His face was shock, once more like the night before at the gathering. ‘What about your mate?’ He asked quietly, his head turned away from the she-cat.
‘Him and I are done; I only want you Aspen Hope.’ She paused before looking at him with her purple eyes. ‘Please..’ Bella Fang’s mew cut Aspen Hope like a thorn.
‘I’m sorry—I can’t say yes,’ he started to creep away back towards the RiverClan camp. ‘I don’t decide things.’ His tail curled around his legs in shame, as he turned away, about to leave.
Bella Fang stared at him. Her eyes clouded. ‘You’re not doing anything about this..?’ She mewed her voice cracking. ‘I-i’m expecting kits, Aspen Hope..’ She started towards him again, then she took a step back.
He froze, and his head swiveled around. ‘What?’ He tried to speak, but no words came out of his mouth. He had a mask of shock covering his face. ‘But- we-‘ his words stuttered, tripping over each other, and he slowly backed away, unsure what to do. Without another word, he turned and fled.
Bella Fang watched as he ran, her heart tearing. ‘I’m done with the clans.’ She muttered, turning around and walking towards the hill beyond the Twolegplace.
Shattered Sky sat next to Aspen Hope. ‘Something on your mind?’ She asked him. She had been obsessed with the tom-cat since she was a kit and wanted to be next to him every moment she could. ‘You seem off.’ She flicked her white tail onto her gray mitts.
‘Just some thoughts.’ He replied absently, staring thoughtfully at the ground with a hint of sadness in his posture. ‘I think I might go for a walk.’ He scraped at the ground with a paw, before getting up and padding away slowly. ‘I wonder if she’s had them yet..’ he said, just in her hearing range.
‘Wait! I’ll come with you.’ Shattered Sky quickly sat up, before she stopped abruptly. ‘Who had what?’ She asked, tilting her head.
He looked at her curiously, but did not reply. ‘I prefer to walk alone, if I’d be honest.’ He turned again, leaving her question in the air. His tail swished, and he sniffed the air hopefully before padding out of the camp, his golden pelt shimmering dully.
‘Aspen Hope!’ She shot after him. ‘What do you mean ‘I wonder if she’s had them yet?’’ She asked, her eyes narrowing. ‘I won't tell anyone! I promise.’
‘You’re a she-cat yourself! You should know what I mean. I’m not going to spell it out for you, because apparently you can’t even listen properly. Could you please leave me alone?’ Usually soft-voiced, he snapped angrily, and watched as she flinched.
‘What the heck!’ Shattered Sky looked hurt. ‘Fine! You're just an ignorant tom-cat.’ She turned around, fleeing back to the camp.
A yowl was heard from over the hill; a short yowl to be specific. Only Aspen Hope heard the yowl. He tilted his head and heard another yowl; the cat sounded to be in pain.
Bella Fang yowled in pain. ‘I can't do this!’ She shrieked, panting, as she fell onto her side. ‘Why did I ever leave the clans?’ She cried, her voice breaking. ‘Aspen Hope!’ She yelled as loud as she could, not knowing if he would have heard her but she kept yelling his name.
Hearing the cries, Aspen Hope rushed towards the sounds. Bella Fang? As he crested the hill, he spotted Bella Fang, spasms rocking her body violently. He stopped dead in his tracks, turning, and fled towards the camp. ‘Black Fang! We need a medicine cat! Please!’ He looked around wildly, panic overwhelming his senses.
‘What's wrong?’ She mewed and turned to Aspen Hope. Her pelt pricked up when he explained it to her. ‘Okay! I grabbed everything, let's go!’ She put the herbs in her mouth and followed Aspen Hope to the hill where Bella Fang was giving birth.
Bella Fang panted heavily as Black Fang and Aspen Hope arrived. There were tears in her eyes and she looked like she was in pain. ‘I can't do this!’
Black Fang rested a paw on her flank. ‘Calm down.’ Bella Fang calmed down quickly and then she stared at Black Fang hurt in her eyes. ‘Okay I'm gonna need you to bite down on this stick while you push? Okay?’ Bella Fang nodded once Black Fang finished. She bit down on the stick, crunching in her teeth. ‘Okay! Now push!’ She pushed and a kit slid out. ‘That's the only one.’ She nipped the sack and the kit was soon breathing. ‘It's a she-kit.’
Aspen Hope looked worriedly at Bella Fang, seeing how tired she was. ‘Is she okay?’ He glanced at the medicine cat fearfully, before turning to the kit and sniffing it, collecting its scent. ‘This is my kit,’ he murmured.
Bella Fang looked at Aspen Hope with love. ‘It is, isn't it..’ She murmured her voice breaking. Her pelt was ragged, and she was sure she didn’t look pretty, she sighed quietly.
Aspen Hope stepped forward and began to carefully smooth her pelt down, grooming it until he thought she would be comfortable. He glanced at the medicine cat, but didn’t think it would matter; they would already start to wonder who the father was. Stepping around her, he lay with her in the curve of his stomach.
Bella Fang let out a soft purr. She was here, with Aspen Hope and her kit. ‘I think we should name her Cloud Kit.’ She mewed softly.
‘It's a beautiful name. It matches her, and her coat. I wonder if she’ll have long fur like me?’ His curiosity was mixing with pride as he gazed at his newborn kit. ‘You should probably get some sleep; you must be exhausted after giving birth.’
Bella Fang nodded wearily, she looked about to fall asleep on her paws. She curled her kit closer to her with her tail and wrapped it around her with her tail. She leaned her head against Aspen Hope’s chest and she sighed happily then fell asleep.
Black Fang curled her black tail around her white mitts. ‘You know that she is a SkyClan cat right?’ Black Fang hissed out. ‘Your clan deputy Aspen Hope! Why couldn't you have found a pretty she-cat in our clan! Shattered Sky could have been your mate!’ Black Fang was on the verge of scratching his muzzle.
‘Shattered Sky is as innocent as a bunny! She couldn’t hit the truth hard enough if she tried; I don’t love her! All she ever thinks about is her, and when she stops to think about me, it’s if I’m doing something with her.’ His lips curled in disgust at the thought. ‘That’s all that’s going to happen.’
Black Fang whipped around, her ears pinning. ‘Snake Star wouldn't like that his deputy is in a relationship with a SkyClan she-cat.’ She hissed her hackles rising. Her pelt was spiked in fury as she stared at Aspen Hope. ‘Maybe he will exile you.’ She snapped.
‘If he will exile me for loving someone, then so be it. I’m not going to suddenly stop loving her and abandon my kit.’ His eyes were cold as he stared at the medicine cat. ‘I’d rather be a rogue than be judged for who I chose to be with.’ Aspen Hope’s fur started to prickle, and his hackles tensed angrily.
‘Fine. Answer to him.’ Black Fang stepped forward to reveal Snake Star, looking furious.
‘I cannot believe my own deputy would do such a thing.’ He hissed, his hackles rising. Snake Star turned to look at Bella Fang and Cloud Kit. ‘They are disgraces you fell in love with!’ He hissed.
Instantly Aspen Hope had risen, a look of fury on his face. ‘They are not disgraces! If you ever call either of them that again, you will have me to answer to,’ he hissed angrily. Aspen Hope unsheathed his claws, hackles rising once more.
‘Fine! You are exiled from RiverClan! We will appoint a new deputy and you will never step another paw into RiveClan’s territory ever again!’ Snake Star hissed. He turned around with Black Fang following him.
Aspen Hope watched as they left with narrowed eyes, and didn’t relax until they were well out of view. He sat down and let Bella Fang and CloudKit rest for a moment, before gently nudging them to tell them they had to leave.
‘Hm?’ Bella Fang sat up. ‘What's wrong?’ She tilted her head and drew Cloud Kit closer to her with her tail. She looked at Aspen Hope and he looked furious. Her eyes looked troubled.
His eyes stormy, he began to speak. ‘Snake Star found out about us, and he has exiled me from RiverClan.’
Bella Fang widened her eyes. ‘Oh no..Where will we go?’ She asked him, her voice trembling. Cloud Kit mewed in terror as his mother shook. ‘Oh no..’ Bella Fang’s eyes clouded and she looked at her kit. ‘Aspen Hope- Where will we go?’
‘Well, we could try to join SkyClan—would they accept us?’ He paced back and forth, trying to decide what clan would be better for them.
‘I- I don't know..Cloud Kit is too weak to travel.’ She responded, her ears pinning.
‘We can take turns carrying him, and if he needs food or water we can just stop.’ He looked desperate, but kept glancing back towards camp in both wistful and wary.
‘I guess..’ She picked Cloud Kit up by the scruff. They traveled towards SkyClan camp. They arrived there quickly.
Once they arrived Slug Blaze and Spider Claw immediately saw them. ‘What are you doing in SkyClan territory!’ Spider Claw hissed his hackles rising. Bella Fang looked at him then back at Aspen Hope.
‘Spider Claw.. this is Aspen Hope and this is my kit.’ She pointed her tail to Cloud Kit, who was dangling in Aspen Hope’s jaws. ‘I'm a SkyClan cat through and through, but Aspen Hope was exiled from RiverClan because of his love for me.’ She explained quickly.
Slug Blaze snorted, his tail lashing. ‘Bella Fang! I can’t believe you.’ He looked down at the ground ashamed of what his daughter had done. ‘Did I not raise you correctly? I thought Sand Face was a better option for you.’ He snapped, his tail lashing.
Bella Fang flinched, ‘I didn't do it on purpose! I promise I’m a loyal SkyClan cat,’ she shifted closer to Aspen Hope. ‘-but I love him and my kit. I can’t leave them.’ She ended, her ears twitching.
‘You really think after you run away, you can come back? Especially with a RiverClan Tom and a half-clan kit? You must be insane! First abandonment of your clan, then breaking the warrior code!’ Slug Blaze’s lips curled in disgust at the thought of it. ‘I can’t believe you’re my daughter. Where did I go wrong with you?’ He snarled.
‘Slug Blaze..please’ Bella Fang’s ears pinned in shame. ‘It's my kit and my mate. Please accept us.’ She mewed sadly, her voice trembling and her tail tucked in shame. ‘Please..’ She begged quietly, looking towards him with glowing eyes.
Slug Blaze turned, his tail twitching. ‘No—Just leave. Loreanstar wouldn't have accepted you anyways.’ He growled at her, his ears pinning while fury burned deep in his eyes as he stared at Bella Fang.
Aspen Hope had been silent throughout the exchange, but his eyes narrowed as he realized Slug Blaze was fixing on attacking Bella Fang soon. He stepped in front of her and Cloud Kit, his tail slowly lashing back and forth. ‘We'll be back soon, and the next time you might want to let us in. Cloud Kit won’t always be a kit.’ His voice was taut with warning as he stared at the tom. ‘Let’s go,’ he growled, his eyes not leaving Slug Blaze.