And the quest to redeem Ashfur continues!! ! !

Before I start, I would like to say a ginormous thanks to everyone who wrote me a review. I was not expecting anywhere near that much! I am quite flattered.

The rest of the story is set in the last few books of the New Prophecy. Chapter 1 takes place about halfway through Starlight. ThunderClan has found a camp in the lake territory and they are just starting to get settled in.

Chapter One

“Let all those cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the ledge for a Clan meeting!”

Firestar’s voice echoed around the rocky cliffs as he clambered up a pile of dislodged stones to the ledge that was the replacement for Highrock. His ginger fur was illuminated by the sun, making it fiery and fierce.

It made Ashfur sad to here the words he had heard so often back in the forest. They just didn’t seem quite right here. The words belonged to the forest, to the old camp in the ravine, to everything they had left behind. They were out of place, just like the rest of the Clans.

The tall figure of Spiderpaw, much better groomed than usual, was standing proudly next to his mentor, Mousefur. He looked quite happy- he had not lived in the forest very long, so he didn’t miss it as much as most of the others. Mousefur, however, looked terrible. It may have just been her recent illness, but she looked so frail, as if part of her was still in the old forest. Ashfur felt the same. Things would never be quite the same here.

He crossed over to where the Clan was gathering, and squeezed in beside Squirrelflight. He was glad she hadn’t changed at all- his love for her was his one anchor to old times, even if he had thought her and Brambleclaw dead for his last moons in the forest.

“Hi Ashfur!” she exclaimed. He could feel her warm fur against his.

“Hi Squirrelflight.” Ashfur was always rather timid around her. He looked at his paws. Her eyes were so mesmerizing; they removed every other thought from his head. He didn’t know what to say. Sootfur, who was sitting on Squirrelflight’s other side with Rainwhisker, noticed how uncomfortable Ashfur looked. Laughing, he leaned over the Squirrelflight, and whispered to Ashfur, “Look at Brambleclaw.”

The murky tabby figure of Brambleclaw was standing near the back, his lip curling as he stared at Squirrelflight. Ashfur couldn’t help but laugh too. He had been so mean to Squirrelflight lately, and now here he was, feeling hurt that she wasn’t sitting with him.

“He’s such a grumpy mouse-brain,” murmured Squirrelflight. She was watching Brambleclaw, who still looked utterly downcast, despite Cloudtail’s efforts to comfort him. “I’ve moved on. He doesn’t seem to like me that much anymore.”

Suddenly, it was no longer cold leaf-bare to Ashfur. Did she mean it? Could she really mean she had moved on? To him? Stop being a mouse-brain, he told himself. She didn’t say anything of the sort. But part of him still hoped.

“We have a ceremony to perform,” sounded Firestar’s voice, interrupting Ashfur’s thoughts. “Mousefur, are you satisfied that Spiderpaw is ready to become a warrior?”

Mousefur’s voice was shaky. “I am.”

Firestar came down the sharp, tumbled rocks easily. He waved his tail at Spiderpaw, who hesitantly stepped forward.

“I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice.”

Firestar’s voice brought back memories of old life in the forest- good ones: his mother, his own warrior ceremony, Fourtrees . . . . And bad ones- dogs, Tigerstar, BloodClan . . . . He felt horrible. It was all gone. Everything.

“Spiderpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?”

Spiderpaw quivered, making his voice shake. “I do.”

“Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Spiderpaw, from this moment you will be known as Spiderleg. StarClan honors your courage and your enthusiasm, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan.

Ashfur felt another surge of sadness as Firestar rested his muzzle on Spiderleg’s head, and Spiderleg licked his shoulder. Then the new warrior stepped back, and sat down eagerly with the other warriors.

“Spiderleg! Spiderleg!” Ashfur couldn’t bring himself to cheer with them. He was remembering eager voices calling ‘Ashfur! Ashfur!’ as Firestar had granted him his own warrior name.

The cheering died down as Firestar raised his tail.

“Before we go to our duties, I have another ceremony to perform. Mousefur and I have been talking together, and she has come to a decision. Mousefur, are you still sure that this is what you want?”

Mousefur dipped her head. Ashfur was astonished. Mousefur, an elder! Mousefur had always been a warrior!

Firestar spoke again. “Mousefur, is it your wish to give up the name of warrior and go to join the elders?”

Mousefur looked utterly beaten as she said, “It is.”

“Your Clan honors you and all the service you have given us. I call upon StarClan to give you many seasons of rest.”

Mousefur stared out resiliently.” I don’t need any rest, Firestar. I’ll still keep my claws sharp, and if trouble comes, I’ll be ready.”

“Mousefur! Mousefur!” cried Squirrelflight. A few other cats joined in. Goldenflower licked Mousefur’s ears affectionately.

Ashfur walked away slowly, trying not to cry out like a kit. Everything he had always known was dissolving in front of his paws. He felt so helpless and isolated, like he was alone in the world. But 

suddenly, he felt a ginger tail brush against his shoulder, and he smiled. Squirrelflight was there. There would always be Squirrelflight.

The sky was the color of blood as ThunderClan set out to the gathering. Ashfur felt uneasy, as he had since they had reached the lake territory. He still didn’t know this place, and he felt that something sinister lurked behind every bush, waiting until they were the most vulnerable, and then it would spring. He watched the other cats nervously as they headed down to the lake.

“Hi Ashfur!”

Ashfur jumped. “It’s okay, it’s just me.” Rainwhisker drew up beside him. “Squirrelflight was talking to Brambleclaw. Get her away before she forgives him!” Ashfur turned around, but Brambleclaw was thankfully on his own.

“They’re not walking together.” he said, trying to comfort himself.

“Not yet,” said Rainwhisker darkly. “But one more little talk, and he’ll have her again.”

“No,” Ashfur protested, “I won’t let him!”

“Way to go Ashfur!” exclaimed Rainwhisker.

Cinderpelt drew up behind them. “Hi Ashfur, Hi Rainwhisker,” she said. “How’s the prey running?”

He walked the rest of the way with Rainwhisker and Cinderpelt, not failing to notice that Brambleclaw glanced his way constantly. The met up with WindClan as they passed over the moor. They walked Tornear a little ways, when suddenly, the throng in front of them halted. They were near the back, and Ashfur could not see what had held them up. Cinderpelt slipped into the crowd and disappeared.

“What’s going on?” muttered Rainwhisker.

“I don’t know.” Ashfur turned to Tornear, but he was talking to Crowfeather. A minute later, Cinderpelt reappeared.

“There’s a few kittypets up there. From Horseplace.

“Kittypets? Are they dangerous?”

“No, just worried about their kits. You know how it is.”

Ashfur nodded as the two Clans set off again.

Soon they reached the meeting place. ShadowClan and RiverClan had already arrived. Rainwhisker and Cinderpelt slipped off, and now that he was alone, Ashfur decided it was time to look for Squirrelflight. In the mass of cats around him, it was quite hard to get through, especially since many of them were quite intent on having in-depth conversations with him.

Finally, he found her, and he was infuriated to see that she was talking to Brambleclaw. But as he got closer, he was pleased to see that they were arguing.

“Hey, Squirrelflight!” he called, waving his tail. “I’ve saved you a place over here!”

Squirrelflight glared at Brambleclaw, and went to join Ashfur who purred.

“Squirrelflight, wait! I’d never choose another cat over you!” Brambleclaw jumped after her, but she just ran to Ashfur. Ashfur stared at the pathetic figure that was watching the two of them, and felt a little sorry. They had used to be friends. They had been through so much together.

But he couldn’t afford to be pitiful to everyone. He wasn’t a soft-hearted kittypet. He was a warrior.

Suddenly it hit him. He was with Squirrelflight! Wasn’t that what he had always wanted? He was with Squirrelflight!

He turned to her, and suddenly he didn’t feel shy at all.

“Hi Squirrelflight.” he said

“Hi Ashfur.” She sat down and curled her ginger tail around her legs.

He opened his mouth to say something, but suddenly Leafpaw was on her other side.

“What’s the matter? Have you fallen out with Brambleclaw again?” she whispered.

“Don’t mention his name! It’s over between us!”

“Tell me what happened.”

“He was talking to Hawkfrost. He actually stood up for him- a warrior from another Clan! Why won’t he listen to me when I tell him that cat can’t be trusted?”

“Is that all?”

“What do you mean, is that all? I’ve told him you know Hawkfrost is untrustworthy, but he won’t take any notice. It all comes down to trust, and Brambleclaw obviously trusts Hawkfrost more than me. How cant we be together if that’s how he feels?”

Leafpaw was silent for a moment. “Don’t forget they’re half brothers. It’s natural for them to enjoy each other’s company now and then.”

“This about trust! I don’t care that Tigerstar was their father. This is much more than about shared blood!

It seemed this was the final word. Ashfur nuzzled Squirrelflight who let out a hesitant purr. He felt bad that she was distressed like this, but she would forget about Brambleclaw soon enough. He would make sure of that.

Duh duh duh duuuuuuuh!

TO BE CONTINUED!

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