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phoenixofheaven · 2 years

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Trans mtf firestar x Dustpelt hypokits

Moonshine - light brown tabby cat (they/them)

Duspelt and Firestar’s relationship started off rocky. Because Dustpelt used to be on the “kittypet hate train”, he would always bully Firestar as an apprentice. But after a while, Dustpelt slowly began crushing on her and began trying to impress her at every turn. Fireheart thought he was being creepy at first, but then she slowly realized that he was only trying to get her attention … which she found to be kind of cute. They eventually began dating.

A little while into their relationship, Fireheart came out as trans and used she/her pronouns. Dustpelt fully accepted her and was very supportive. During the peace after battle with Bloodclan, Firestar and Dustpelt decided to start a family. They have only one kit, which they name Moonkit because of how beautiful the moon looked on the night they were born.

Moonshine grew up with a happy family. They are very friendly and no one in the clan ever has a problem with them. As they grew up, they found that clan life can be quite boring and began to wander out of camp every so often. It was then when they met a wandering kittypet named Joy. They chatted on their way back to Joy’s house, and decided to meet again sometime. Overtime, they went from just friends to lovers and Moonshine would sneak out of camp constantly to see her.

Their relationship continued for a few more moons before the two decided to go back to being friends. Moonshine still visits Joy, but just as a good friend. Their parents slowly discovered that they had been sneaking out at night and eventually asked. Moonshine was worried that they would be angry with them, but all they said was, “just be careful”.

Although Moonshine still wants to explore the world outside of clan boundaries, they have found comfort in their clan. They can’t see themselves anywhere else or living with anyone other than their clanmates. Nowadays, one will spot them hanging out with Cinderpelt in the medicine cat den or with other warriors. Many believe that Moonshine should have an apprentice due to their kind and gentle nature and they think so as well. Everyone just has to wait and see!

All my asks are done! (yay!) Thank you to all who have read so far. Especially for being so patient 🤗 I'll start painting soon, I just need to get my canvases! Super excited. Once again, thank you all for reading!

#warrior cats #hypokits #dustpelt #trans!firestar #thank you for all the asks #my friend read this before I posted this and loved it #we love enemies to lovers sm

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songsteps · 2 years

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the DustFern fam!!! a family big enough that I'm going to need to reblog this post to add the old vs new design comparisons

feel free to use kin tags as long as you're ok with doubles!!

#warrior cats #warriors #ferncloud #duspelt #ferndust #dustfern #spiderleg #birchfall #foxleap #icecloud #shrewpaw #larchkit #hollykit #my art #dustpelt is a fav of mine out of my designs

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thunder-the-ranger-wolf · 5 years

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Back to the Future- Apprentice Days: Firestar and Yellowfang

He had gotten used to his new name and mentor. He had found other cats from the past as well, his time or otherwise. He found Bluestar. His mentor was still one of the best cats he knew, even out of her depth as she was here. And she wasn’t his mentor this time. She was a cat named Robinflight with a sister named Frostheart. That seemed strange, at first, because Frostheart was the sweetest cat in the world, as far as he knew.

Sandstorm and Dustpelt were, once again, named apprentices. As was he. As were Greystripe and Ravenpaw. Frostfur’s litter was back in the nursery, scattered to different parents, and Yellowfang was a medicine cat apprentice called Ambersong.

Flamepaw’s mentor was not Robinflight. Flamepaw’s mentor was a rogue of a she-cat. The leader’s mate was a golden molly called Birchclaw, and she expected her two kittens, Cinderpaw and Darkpaw, to be absolutely perfect, no questions asked. Nevermind the fact that Cinderpaw and Darkpaw were cats from the past who, honestly, had no concept of what was going on.

Cinderpaw was previously Cinderpelt. When she got her bearings about her three moons after she was born, the first thing she did was run as far away from the nursery as possible. She ended up in the leader’s den. When Lakestar found her after coming back from a patrol, she dashed out of the enclosed space as soon as possible. With no thought to which way she was going, Cinderpaw had tumbled over the Highledge and crashed to the ground.

Flamepaw had been two moons into his training when that happened. Now Cinderpaw was two moons into hers, and Flamepaw was getting sick of his mentor. Granted, so were the other apprentices.

“Your crouch is crooked, Cinderpaw! You have four working legs! Use them, instead of lumbering about like a lopsided dog! Honestly, you'll never-.”

"I’ll be the judge of what she can and cannot do.” Frostheart hissed icily, glaring at Birchclaw. “That is my right as her mentor.”

“I have the same right as her mother.” Birchclaw growled.

“You really don’t.” Flamepaw found himself saying.

“Excuse me?”

“You’re not excused. You’re the furthest thing from it. What you are is a fox-hearted fool who doesn’t know a good thing when she sees one!”

“I don’t have to take this!” Birchclaw sneered, leaping to her paws. “Sit down and listen or I’ll make you wish you’d never been kitted, let alone had kits yourself.”

Birchclaw was stunned, fur bushed up, claws unsheathed, and eyes wide. She stared at her usually mild-mannered apprentice like he was someone she’d never seen before.

“Flamepaw, that’s enough.” Frostheart murmured uneasily, sensing that the younger tom was ready to howl his rage to the sky. “We’ll deal with how Birchclaw manages her kits back at camp. For now, I’ll see if Robinflight wouldn’t mind spending the day with you.”

“He just threatened me and you’re favoring him?!” Birchclaw scowled, eyes blazing.

“He needs to cool off and your treatment of your kits is unacceptable. It’s not my fault you see this as favoritism when there clearly is none.” Frostheart drawled.

“Surely you see Cinderpaw was meant to be something! All she’s been so far is a mouse with a broken leg!”

“Take that back, you wretched piece of fox-dung!” Lightpaw roared, lunging for the older she-cat. “She fell off a cliff!”

“Oh for StarClan’s sake…” Frostheart sighed, flicking her tail irritably. “Everyone back to camp!” She ordered.

The other apprentices watched warily as Lightpaw took her time releasing Birchclaw from a firm grip. When nobody moved even after that, Flamepaw lashed his tail and smoothed his fur.

Everyone shuffled to their paws. Barkpaw, Spotpaw, Stripepaw, and Darkpaw raced away as soon as they saw Flamepaw get up with a tensed frame.

“Some kind of leader, now, are you?” Frostheart drawled knowingly.

“StarClan willing, I never become deputy.” Flamepaw insisted.

“We’ll see about that, Flamepaw.” Frostheart muttered as she bundled Lightpaw away and marched an angry Birchclaw back to camp. “We shall see.”

______________________________________________________________

Robinflight burst into laughter when she heard why she’d be needed. Ambersong heard it from where she sat in front of the medicine den, bandaging the shallow wounds left by an angry Lightpaw.

“Beaten by an apprentice?” Ambersong smirked. “And not even your own… what must the great Lionblaze think of you?”

“Don’t you dare speak his name!” Birchclaw grumbled. “You know nothing of being a warrior. You couldn’t possibly handle his legacy.”

“Can you?” Ambersong challenged. “Because from where I sit, you can’t even handle your own daughter.”

“That’s enough, Ambersong.” Her mentor ordered. “And ease up on the bandages. You’re patching her up, not making her worse.”

Ambersong dipped her head respectfully enough but she knows that Shallowfern saw the gleam in her eyes. Birchclaw would not get away with harming her daughter so easily.

“Funny thing about being a medicine cat.” Ambersong drawled. “I’m the one who walks with StarClan. You don’t know what they think of you, and there’s only one way to find out.”

“Ambersong!” Shallowfern croaked sharply, horrified. “You can’t… Birchclaw, just go. I’ll check on you later.”

The ginger she-cat limped out of the medicine den and Ambersong turned to face her mentor.

“I know my duties, Shallowfern. I won’t lay a claw on anyone regardless of how I feel.”

“Your words run deeper than any mark you could possibly leave. I beg of you to remember that.” Shallowfern insisted.

“Of course,” Ambersong purred, green eyes bright. “I was called Yellowfang once. Any cat could tell you that the name was earned for her words.”

______________________________________________________________

“StarClan’s kits, Flamepaw, you can’t just-!”

The apprentices were having a grand old time when Ambersong saw them next. Flamepaw was embarrassed now that it had sunk in just what he’d done, but Lightpaw held no such shame. In fact, she’d do it again in a heartbeat. So would Ambersong. So would any of the cats from the past, especially since an accident almost crippled her a second time.

“I thought I could actually do it.” Cinderpaw scowled. “I thought I could be a warrior.”

“What makes you think you can’t?” Her brother prompted. “That old harpy getting on you about your stance doesn’t mean you can’t hunt or fight.”

“But I… I’m not sure I can hunt or fight. Everytime I try, I mess something up.”

“So ask Frostheart to practice more.” Her brother meowed easily. “Without Mother Dearest snapping at your heels, you’ll be the best warrior in no time.”

“Thanks, Blackie.” Cinderpaw exhaled roughly. “I’d just hoped this would be easier.

“Easy is for mice and Twolegs, since neither of them have much in the way of brains.” Ambersong informed the apprentice group.

“You’re cats, and forest cats at that. If you want to learn something, you’ll find a way, but if it’s easy then you’ve done something wrong.”

Cinderpaw glared at the medicine cat apprentice.

“I call foxdung.”

“Pardon?”

“I said you’re wrong, Ambersong. Life shouldn’t be too easy, sure, because that’s what kittypets have, but it shouldn’t be hard for no reason. You’re right about one thing, though.” Cinderpaw scowled. “I will be a warrior.”

“Sounds more like you, Cinderpaw.” Ambersong offered glibly. “Keep that spirit. You will need it if you want to get anywhere, much less to the warriors’ den.”

_______________________________________________________________

“Shallowfern, Ambersong, thank you for coming.”

Ambersong wasn’t exactly surprised to find that Lakestar called a meeting in her den, but she was stunned at the number of cats there. All of the apprentices as well as their mentors, and Cinderpaw sat beside Lakestar, Birchclaw lounged on the other side of the den.

“We can’t possibly need all these cats for a family matter.” Birchclaw grumbled. Lakestar didn’t even spare her a glance before addressing the group at large.

“As we all know, an incident took place. I must know the nature of this incident in order to judge you fairly. Flamepaw, Lightpaw, did you attack Birchclaw?”

“Yes.” Lightpaw declared instantly. “No.” Flamepaw informed them. “I settled for yelling at her.”

“Why did you yell at her?”

“She called Cinderpaw useless.”

“She did what?!” Lakestar’s voice was devoid of all emotions but there was fury in her eyes.

“‘Your crouch is crooked, Cinderpaw! You have four working legs! Use them, instead of lumbering about like a lopsided dog! Honestly, you'll never-.’” Darkpaw mimicked in a high-pitched tone. “And then Frostheart was like ‘I’m her mentor and I get to decide what she can do.’

But Birchclaw was all ‘I’m her mother so I can do that too!’ And Flamepaw jumped in like ‘no you can’t.’ which of course got Birchclaw mad but then Flamepaw called her a ‘foxhearted fool who didn’t know a good thing when she saw one.’ and she tried to leave but he was all ‘sit down and shut up.’

Frostheart broke up the argument and tried sending him to Robinflight but Birchclaw said he was being favored. Frostheart was chiller than the lake in leafbare, Mom, she was all ‘it’s not my fault you’re a crappy mother.’ and Birchclaw tried to say that Cinderpaw was supposed to be special but she wasn’t.”

“She called me a mouse with a broken leg.” Cinderpaw mumbled, now curled up at Lakestar’s paws.

“And that’s when Lightpaw jumped on her.” Darkpaw finished excitedly. “She was all ‘take that back, you wretched piece of foxdung! She fell off a cliff!’ And I don’t think I’ve ever seen a cat move that fast!”

Lakestar plucked Cinderpaw up with a snarl and lunged across the den, sailing over at least three cats before she landed right in front of Birchclaw. She placed Cinderpaw between them and leaned forward so that her whiskers brushed the sides of Birchclaw’s face.

“This is our kit. You gave birth to her, we’re supposed to be raising her. She is not a prey animal that you can rip apart with your claws, she is a cat! She is supposed to be your daughter, and you are supposed to love her! How dare you break her spirit like this?!”

“That miserable scrap of fur can’t even walk right! How is she supposed to uphold our legacy?! Neither of them are fit to be leader and neither of them can carry on Lionblaze’s good name! We need to have another litter.”

Gasps raced throughout the den and everyone was stunned into stillness.

“I knew it.” Darkpaw snorted, scuffing a paw against the forest floor. “I knew-.”

He was cut off by Lakestar’s paw striking Birchclaw across the face and coming away with drops of blood.

“I despise you.” The lilac tabby leader spat through gritted teeth. “You’re lucky I’m letting you keep your place as a warrior, but you don’t deserve these kits. You don’t deserve the attention you’ve been given. You talk about Lionblaze’s legacy but what have you done to uphold it? These kits are supposed to be your pride and joy, just as his kits were to him. You should think about that since you’ll have so much free time now.”

“What are you on about?”

“I’m the leader, remember?” Lakestar sneered. “I could send you on every hunting and border patrol I think of. But no, not yet. I think you should spend some more time in the nursery. See how real mothers care for their kits. After a few moons, I’ll reconsider.”

Birchclaw went to protest, but the gleam of Lakestar’s teeth and the lash of her tail told the grey warrior to remain silent.

“Report to the nursery and get settled in.” Lakestar ordered.

Birchclaw slunk out of the leader’s den, several pairs of eyes following her with open animosity.

“StarClan hates ugly.” Ambersong hissed as the grey she-cat padded off.

Birchclaw flicked her tail and rolled her eyes.

#firestar #yellowfang #cinderpelt #snowfur #sandstorm #duspelt #greystripe #ravenpaw #tiny aka scourge only good #warriors #warrior cats #warrior cats back to the future

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damn-twolegs · 7 years

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continuity at its finest

#duspelt #brackenfur #sign of the moon

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deer-time · 4 years

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Another Warriors hot take: I'm still pretty miffed that the Erins have killed off pretty much every cat from Ferncloud and Dustpelt's line. Spiderleg and his kits all died, Foxleap and Icecloud died and Shrewpaw was killed too. I miss Dustpelt, Ferncloud and their family. They were all some of my favorite cats.

(addition to the Dustpelt hot take): The only relatives of his that can live are those that are related to Firestar :/

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oh wow I didn’t even notice that

Yeah, there’s like...a weird plot armor around Firestar kin that really takes away some of the tension of the fight

#warrior cats #wc duspelt #wc ferncloud #Anonymous #deer rambles

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warriorsask · 7 years

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Ask the Original Warriors Squad

Firestar | Graystripe | Sandstorm | Ravenpaw | Dustpelt

Hey guys!

New blog! Ask the OG squad. I’ll be adding in more characters like Bluestar and Lionheart if the blog grows!

#warrior cats #warriors #firestar #Fireheart #firepaw #Graypaw #graystripe #sandstorm #sandpaw #ravenpaw #Duspelt #Dustpaw

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everybody-loves-purdy · 2 years

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I’ve always liked to think Firestar was overprotective of Squirrelpaw even before the prophecy with her and Brambleclaw. (And to a lesser extent Leafpaw) and would order Duspelt to keep an eye on Squirrelpaw at all cost. (And he would trust Cinderpelt with Leafpool too)

I like this hc and can definitely see it happening

#anonymous

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squirrelcrow-po3 · 3 years

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What about Birchfall and Ferncloud

Also is it ok if I be an emoji anon with you

If so I’ll be 🦖 anon

And if not then you can ignore this part of the ask

yeah that’s cool!

i just did ferncloud but

for birchfall he’s actually not ferncloud’s kit! for the dustfern kits, i split the litters. so icecloud, foxleap, and shrewpaw are ferncloud’s while spiderleg and birchfall are duspelt’s

so his mother is actually a random loner, which is ironic for duspelt. aaand when the clans move to the lake, he and spiderleg are taken from their mother to go with them. so you can decide the morality of that lol

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goatpaste · 4 years

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Barley was born into Bloodclan, which is likely pretty new! We don't get any canonical age for Scourge when Bloodclan is formed, but he was only a kit when Tigerclaw was an apprentice, so Barley was likely only 1-2 years older. But it is canon that the trio were made apprentices earlier compared to Duspelt and Sandstorm, who were a few moons older. But! Ravenpaw is also Dustpelts littermate, who again i believe is a few moons older. In the end, I don't think it'd be too weird tbh.

barley was born into bloodclan buT thats actually not a very solid indicator. because bloodclan from what we understand scourge made quite young and was running it for 4 years prior to firestar joining the clans. barley very likely was born into bloodclan could have been 4 years old to even under a year old at the start of the series. its hard to pinpoint still!

there are other things that help give an idea as, barely isnt show in illustrations to be older, still keeping up and seeming to match ravenpaw in age at ravenpaw’s death but that can still leave room for barley to be a couple years older and just very healthy as ravenpaw died rather young at 8 years old.

but barley has his sister violet, who has her kits. she may have had them late but i cant imagine she is having them as a senior cat. which can maybe help point to barley still being younger.

but again theres no pinpoint timetime for any of barley’s family so its so very hard to say exactly how old he is. he can be anywhere from 4(maybe old if not born in bloodclan) to 1 years old when ravenpaw comes to live at the barn with him.

also i think the og trio were app early but not by a whole lot from what i understood

#Anonymous

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just-some-cat-art · 5 years

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the death of larchkit and hollykit (starvation)

fun fact: out of the entire fern x dust family of three litters, ferncloud and duspelt themselves included, only birchfall is alive anymore

#warriors #warrior cats #birchfall #dustpelt #ferncloud #i wanna write that fic... but i have so much stuff to do and 0 writing skills......#animal death //

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warriors-rebound · 5 years

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Sandpaw would be a great leader Greypaw get over yourself.

Change 6, Bluestar assigns herself Sandpaw as an apprentice instead of Firepaw

So if Tigerclaw gets Cedarpaw instead of Ravenpaw, and Leopardstorm gets Ravenpaw instead of Sandpaw, Clearly Bluestar gets Sandpaw instead of Cedarpaw. It's a circle!

Sandpaw is a confident and strong-willed kit and Bluestar saw her as a perfect candidate for a future leader. The reason she doesn't take Cedarpaw as an apprentice is that he is an outsider kit and she doesn't have time to teach a kit the warrior code from the ground up while juggling her leader duties.

Sandpaw is elated to get the leader as her mentor and with Duspelt having the Deputy as a mentor means they're the ultimate leader deputy duo of their apprentice groups.

Cedarpaw tries to get along with the two of them the best he cant but they treat him like an outsider no matter what he does so he just makes friends with Ravenpaw and Greypaw instead.

#Warriors #Warrior Cats #warriors au #warriors rebound #Into The Wild #the prophecies begin #bluestar #leopardstorm #whitestorm #sandpaw #redtail #dustpaw #ravenpaw #greypaw #Cedarpaw #firepaw #lore #plot

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songsteps · 6 years

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the Fern/Dust family! I know I said I was gonna do Runningwind and Mousefur next but I realized I don't need Running's design QUITE yet, and I had already started these guys and really wanted to finish them and now I can draw Dove and Ivy since I have both of their parents c: oh also I think I'm gonna go back and draw Hollykit and Larchkit later, along with going back and drawing other kits that died that I skipped over, AND Leopardfoot and Patchpelt cause I forgot they were also Redtail's siblings whoops please don't tag as #kin or #me

#warrior cats #duspelt #Birchfall #spiderleg #Foxleap #Shrewpaw #Icecloud #my art #canon cats #WIP #this picture is so wide I hope you can actually get a decent look at their designs #OH well you'll be able to see therm fine when I finish and post them on their own

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thistleclaws-hatred · 4 years

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Ashfur’s Revenge - Novella - Chapter Six

Previous Chapter Next Chapter

This novella is inspired by @dark-rose-designs ’s post.

This is the infamous fire scene. I really tried my best with this one! Some of the dialogue has been taken straight from “Long Shadows” chapters 22-23, so that way it seemed more like canon. I only took dialogue though, nothing else, and most of the dialogue in this is mine. The parts that are from the book though, are obviously not mine and I do not claim them to be.

The lightning strike had been enough to wake everyone up. Warriors streamed out of the den, queens poked their heads out of the nursery and Firestar’s voice sent chills down Ashfur’s spine. “Fire! Evacuate the camp!”

“Meet at the old twoleg nest!” Brambleclaw called to everyone as he ran out of the camp, Thornclaw, Brightheart, and Cloudtail right behind him. Dustpelt paused to get Ferncloud, Daisy, and Millie out of the camp. He and Ferncloud helped Millie with her three kits. Spiderleg pushed them aside to grab Toadkit, while Daisy gripped onto Rosekit and they all ran off. Graystripe raced over to Millie, thanking Duspelt and Ferncloud as the group exited the camp.

Firestar and Sandstorm were helping Mousefur and Longtail out of the clearing. Foxpaw and Icepaw had been given important herbs by Leafpool to carry safely out of camp. Ashfur froze, where was Squirrelflight?

Another bolt of lightning struck a tree and a large branch came crashing down into the camp. Ashfur squinted through the flames. He could see the remaining warriors managing their way out, but saw Hollyleaf slowly getting Jayfeather out of the medicine den with Lionblaze right next to them. Another branch crumbled into the clearing, blocking the entrance and exit to the camp. Ashfur froze. Now’s my chance!

It was like StarClan sent him a way to punish Squirrelflight. He could pick off her kits one-by-one during the fire and no one would be the wiser as their bodies burned to dust. All his moons of planning, all his failed attempts, everyone that he had lost. Firestar lived and Hawkfrost died. Lionblaze, Lionpaw at the time, survived the battle with ShadowClan, leaving Ashfur wounded. Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw flaunted their love in front of everyone, for everyone and especially Ashfur to see. Now all of his hatred came to the surface. He felt free, free at last. The flames didn’t even bother him as he looked around for his victims.

Ashfur saw that Squirrelflight was still in the camp, trying desperately to get her kits out of the clearing before they turned to ash. Ashfur watched them as they scaled the side of the cliff, with Squirrelflight leaping to safety. Only her three precious kits remained. He saw that they were trapped and moved to help them.

Ashfur moved his way over to them, seeing Hollyleaf drag Lionblaze back. That mouse-brain was going to try to jump the gap. He pushed one of the thick branches in between the gap, hauling himself up to partial safety and moving the branch better into position.

Lionblaze flashed him a look of gratitude and tried to move across, but Ashfur stood in his way. “No.”

“Ashfur, what are you doing? Let me cross!” Lionblaze growled over the crackling flames.

“No!” He spat, turning around to face Squirrelflight. The ginger she-cat was blending in with the flames, but there was no mistaking those green eyes.

“Ashfur, let them through!” She meowed, her voice high.

“Never! You will learn what it’s like to suffer! Your kits will die!” Ashfur snarled, arching his back.

“Let them through Ashfur, this is between us. Do whatever you want to me!” She was begging now. Her pleads reached his ears and he purred. He liked her begging.

“No matter what I do to you, it will never compare to what you’ve done to me! You and your precious Brambleclaw!”

"Your quarrel with Brambleclaw has to stop. Too many moons have passed. You have to accept that I'm Brambleclaw's mate, not yours. You can't keep trying to punish Brambleclaw for something that was always meant to be." Squirrelflight meowed, her voice turning softer. “I’m sorry that things didn’t go the way you wanted, but this is not how warriors should act. Let them go, they are innocent!”

“They are as much innocent as you are dear Squirrelflight. I tried for so long to get you to notice me. I brought you the best fresh-kill, I protected you during battle, I did everything for you!” Ashfur spat.

“I never needed that! Brambleclaw understands that I am my own cat, not just his mate. You can’t seem to understand that I don’t need protecting, you’re so wrapped up in your own fantasy you can’t see how insane you look!” Squirrelflight retorted, taking a step forward. “I never knew how upset you were.”

“Upset?” Ashfur echoed. “I’m not upset. You have no idea how much pain I’m in. It’s like being cut open every day, bleeding onto the stones. I can’t understand how any of you failed to see the blood.” He looked off in the distance, he could see something. Waves of blood covering every inch of the camp. His blood. He had trekked all over these woods, all over the camp, he had left his blood everywhere. It was in the nursery and the fresh-kill pile, all over the warriors’ den, his fellow clanmates were soaked red with his blood. How could no one see it?

Ashfur spun around to face the three warriors, and felt pleased as they pressed closer together. Hollyleaf had a look of pure terror in her eyes. He felt powerful and strong, nothing could stop him now! He dragged his claws along the rocks, hearing them screech as they sharpened.

“Ashfur this is ridiculous! Let them go now. You can kill me, have your way with me, do whatever you want with me, just let them go! I’ll bear your kits, drown myself, none of this has to happen!” Squirrelflight stepped onto the branch.

Ashfur spun around and roared, “Have my kits now will you? Now you will? Now do you see how much of a mate I would be for you? Brambleclaw is nothing! You are nothing! These kits will die slowly and painfully and it will be all your fault.”

“Ashfur, please,” Squirrelflight was begging again. That felt good.

“So many moons I spent trying to get you to feel my pain. You’re a mouse-brained fool Squirrelflight! I can't believe you didn't know how much you hurt me. You are the blind one, not Jayfeather. Who do you think sent Firestar the message to go down to the lake, where the fox trap was? I wanted him to die, to take your father away so you'd know the real meaning of pain."

“You...You plotted with Hawkfrost?” She was in disbelief.

“We used to meet almost every night. That tom had my heart more than you ever would! And he actually cared about me, unlike you. You wouldn’t have cared if I turned to crowfood!” Ashfur snarled.

“Ashfur, that’s not true. You’re a warrior of ThunderClan and my friend, I would’ve fought beside you in battle after battle,” Squirrelflight retorted, “But you’re so blinded by hatred you cannot see your own failures.”

The fire burned closer, almost scorching his fur. Ashfur felt alive. “I’m going to fight him,” he heard Lionblaze behind him.

“He’ll just push you into the fire,” Hollyleaf reasonsed.

Ashfur looked at them over his shoulder and laughed dangerously, “I would love to fight you Lionblaze, to tear at your throat and watch you bleed! Brambleclaw isn’t here to save you or anyone else here. Let’s have some fun.”

He faced Squirrelflight once more. He saw the she-cat prepare to pounce and smirked, bunching his muscles. Embers began to fall all around them. Green eyes met blue and Squirrelflight stopped. She stood up, exhausted by her wound and smoke inhalation and tried once more to reason with Ashfur, “Enough, Ashfur. Your quarrel is with me. These young cats have done nothing to hurt you. Do what you like with me, but let them out of the fire.”

“You don’t understand.” Ashfur looked at her as if he was seeing her for the first time; his voice was puzzled and petulant. “This is the only way to make you feel the same pain that you caused me. You tore my heart out when you chose Brambleclaw over me. Anything I did to you would never hurt as much. But your kits...” He looked through the flames at Hollyleaf and her brothers, his eyes narrowing to dark blue slits. “If you watch them die, then you’ll know the pain I felt.”

Time seemed to slow down. Ashfur spun around again and began stalking towards Hollyleaf, Lionblaze, and Jayfeather. His claws made a sickening noise and drool dripped from his jaws. His eyes were wild, more wild and crazy than the fire that surrounded them. His fangs gleamed in the raging flames, and he shook his head back and forth, sending strands of saliva all over the cliff.

Ashfur saw Lionblaze’s claws were unsheathed, glowing with another crack of lightning. The storm raged on above them, slicking back all of their fur. “Poor little Lionblaze, always so brave, but now...Now you’ll blaze for sure!” Ashfur took another step forward as a strike of lightning illuminated his crazed gaze and glistening teeth.

Hollyleaf had her front leg in front of Jayfeather, as if she could protect him. Ashfur laughed again, tilting his head back and letting out a sickening roar of triumph. From behind him, Squirrelflight spoke once more, “Kill them, then,” she meowed. “You won’t hurt me that way.”

Ashfur turned around, “Is this some kind of joke? Because I’m not laughing and it won’t save your kits.”

“If you really want to hurt me, you’ll have to find a better way than that,” Squirrelflight snarled. “They are not my kits.”

Ashfur felt his whole world stop. Not her kits? What did she mean? He shook his head, sending water flying, “You’re lying.”

“Did you see me kit them? Nurse them? Show any signs of bearing kits? Did I stay with them until they were apprenticed?” Squirrelflight asked.

Ashfur felt his eye twitch. “Who else knows?” He snarled, dragging his claws acros the rock once more.

“No one. I fooled everyone, even Brambleclaw,” her voice broke as she mentioned his name, “They are not my kits!”

“Then who’s are they?” Ashfur spat. When Squirrelflight hesitated, he began stalking towards her. If the kits were not hers, then they were of no use to him. He raised a paw, letting his claws shine in the raging flames.

“Leafpool’s...” She whispered, just loud enough for Ashfur to hear. Ashfur twitched, tilting his head to the side and lashing his tail.

“And what will the clan think when I tell them? Do you really think that Brambleclaw will remain by your side? That Firestar and Sandstorm will ever look at you the same?” Ashfur’s voice had turned dark once more. He felt ripe with power, like a leader who just got their nine lives.

“You would tell them?” Squirrelflight looked up in disbelief.

“That is an excellent way to hurt you Squirrelflight,” Ashfur growled. “If you thought I would keep this secret, then you are just as dumb as Scourge when Tigerstar promised him equal hunting rights! I will break your spirit, make you lose everything you love. I will take away your clan, Brambleclaw, your sister, your parents...Everything!”

Ashfur ran away, letting all four cats live. He ran as fast as he could, his mind reeling. He roared, leaping up and knocking down an entire branch from a tree with a powerful strike. He landed and huffed, sucking in as much clear air as he could. “Not her kits!” he hissed to himself.

He ran around in circles a few times, letting the fact settle in his mind. He heard their voices, their stupid voices. They didn’t come towards him though, they went towards the abandoned twoleg house. Ashfur had the power to destroy all of them. If they really were Leafpool’s kits, then they were medicine cat kits and that would hurt Leafpool as well, further damaging Squirrelflight.

Ashfur felt giddy, he was sure his pelt and paws were scorched, but he could feel no pain, only pure unadulterated bliss. He walked down to the lake and went in, cooling off his paws and pelt. Squirrelflight will pay a thousand times over. She will know what it is like to suffer!

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