Archive of Our Own ^beta

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The following is a fan-written story inspired by the “Power of Three,” “Omen of the Stars,” and “A Vision of Shadows” arcs of Warriors, which has been in the works conceptually since 2018. This story functions as a rewrite, and any discrepancies from canon are simply to be taken as from an alternate universe.

This is a passion project, and is not intended to be an infringement on the official franchise in any way. Warriors (a.k.a. Warrior Cats) belongs to Erin Hunter and HarperCollins Publishing. Please support the official release.

This story is also not intended for very young children, and contains themes of animal violence and death, gore, mental health awareness, trauma, cycles of abuse, relationship struggles, adoption, and unplanned/young pregnancy. Readers are to go into this story with discretion, as some scenes may be triggering. 

Thank you so much for your support and enjoy!

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THUNDERCLAN

Leader: Firestar: Flame-colored ginger tom with green eyes

Deputy: Brambleclaw: Broad-shouldered dark-brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Medicine Cats:

Leafpool: Light-brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes and a white chest and paws

Jayfeather: Gray tabby tom with blind, blue eyes

Warriors:

Graystripe: Long-haired gray tom with amber eyes and a dark stripe down his back

Sandstorm: Pale-ginger tabby she-cat with pale-green eyes

Dustpelt: Dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Brackenfur: Golden-brown tabby tom with pale-blue eyes

Cloudtail: Fluffy, heavyset white tom with blue eyes

Thornclaw: Golden-brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Brightheart: Ginger-and-white she-cat with one green eye and a mangled face

Ashfur: Pale-gray tom with darker flecks and dark-blue eyes

Sorreltail: Calico she-cat with amber eyes

Spiderleg: Long-limbed black tom with amber eyes

Whitewing: Fluffy white she-cat with green eyes

Birchfall: Light-brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Berrynose: Cream tom with amber eyes and a stumpy tail

Mousewhisker: Gray-and-white tom with green eyes

Hazeltail: Pale-gray-and-white she-cat with green eyes

Poppyfrost: Calico she-cat with pale-blue eyes

Honeyfern: Pale-golden-brown tabby she-cat with pale-blue eyes

Cinderheart: Fluffy dark-gray tabby she-cat with dark-blue eyes

Lionblaze: Large, thick-furred golden tabby tom with amber eyes

Hollyleaf: Thick-furred black she-cat with green eyes

Apprentices:

Foxpaw: Reddish-brown tabby tom with green eyes

Icepaw: White she-cat with purplish-blue eyes

Queens (Pregnant/Nursing She-Cats and Permanent Caretakers) and Kits:

Ferncloud: Pale-gray she-cat with darker flecks and pale-green eyes

Daisy: Long-haired cream she-cat with blue eyes, a former barn cat

• Rosekit: Dark-cream she-kit with blue eyes
• Toadkit: Black-and-white tom with amber eyes

Millie: Light-brown-and-cream calico tabby she-cat with blue eyes, former kittypet

• Briarkit: Dark-brown she-kit with blue eyes
• Bumblekit: Black-striped silver tabby tom with amber eyes
• Blossomkit: Dark-brown calico she-kit with blue eyes

Squirrelflight: Dark-ginger she-cat with green eyes, a bushy tail, and a white paw

• Alderkit: Dark-ginger tom with amber eyes and a white-tipped tail
• Sparkkit: Ginger tabby she-kit with green eyes
• Flowerkit: Dark-brown calico she-cat with pale-green eyes
• Juniperkit: Dark-brown tabby tom (stillborn)

Elders:

Longtail: Dark-striped pale tom with damaged, blind eyes and a long tail

Mousefur: Small dusky-brown she-cat with amber eyes

SHADOWCLAN

Leader: Blackstar: White tom with pale-blue eyes and six-toed, black paws

Deputy: Russetfur: Dark-ginger she-cat with dark-green eyes

Medicine Cat: Littlecloud: Short-legged brown tabby with blue eyes

Warriors:

Oakfur: Light-brown tom with green eyes

Tawnypelt: Pale tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes

Rowanclaw: Dark-ginger tabby tom with blue eyes

Smokefoot: Black tom

Ivytail: Calico she-cat

Toadfoot: Dark-brown tom

Applefur: Mottled, reddish-brown she-cat

Crowfrost: Sleek, black-and-white tom with amber eyes

Kinkfur: Gray tabby she-cat with long, disheveled fur

Ratscar: Dark-brown tom with a long scar along his flank

Snaketail: Dark-brown tom with a striped tail, face, and legs

Whitewater: Half-blind white she-cat

Apprentices:

Owlpaw: Light-brown tabby tom

Olivepaw: Tortoiseshell she-cat

Shrewpaw: Gray she-cat with darker paws

Scorchpaw: Dark-gray tom

Redpaw: Reddish-brown tom

Tigerpaw: Dark-brown tabby tom with green eyes

Dawnpaw: Cream she-cat with green eyes

Flamepaw: Ginger tabby tom with blue eyes

Queens (Pregnant/Nursing She-Cats and Permanent Caretakers) and Kits:

Snowbird: White she-cat with green eyes

Elders:

Cedarheart: Dark-gray tom with yellow eyes

Tallpoppy: Long-limbed light-brown tabby she-cat

WINDCLAN

Leader: Onestar: Pale-brown tabby tom with a single, long whisker

Deputy: Ashfoot: Gray she-cat with blue eyes

Medicine Cat: Barkface: Dark-brown tom with yellow eyes and a graying muzzle

Warriors:

Tornear: Wiry gray tabby tom with blue eyes

Crowfeather: Nearly-black, dark-gray tom with blue eyes

Owlwhisker: Light-brown tabby tom with yellow eyes

Whitetail: Small white she-cat

Nightcloud: Black she-cat with amber eyes

Gorsetail: White she-cat with a gray face, tail, and paws, and blue eyes

Weaselfur: Ginger tabby tom with green eyes and white paws

Harespring: Brown-and-white tom with blue eyes

Leaftail: Dark-brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Dewspots: Gray spotted tabby she-cat

Willowclaw: Gray she-cat

Antpelt: Brown tom with a distinctive, black ear

Emberfoot: Gray tom with darker paws

Heathertail: Light-brown tabby she-cat with purplish-blue eyes

Breezepelt: Black tom with amber eyes

Apprentices:

Kestrelpaw: Dark tom with white spots that become more prominent with age

Sunpaw: Tortoiseshell she-cat with a white flash on her nose

Swallowpaw: Dark-gray she-cat

Thistlepaw: Long-haired white she-cat

Sedgepaw: Light-brown tabby she-cat

Elders:

Morningflower: Tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes

Webfoot: Dark-gray tabby tom with amber eyes

RIVERCLAN

Leader: Leopardstar: Golden spotted tabby she-cat with amber eyes

Deputy: Mistyfoot: Blue-gray she-cat with ice-blue eyes

Medicine Cats:

Mothwing: Golden tabby she-cat with blue eyes

Willowshine: Pale-gray tabby she-cat with green eyes

Warriors:

Blackclaw: Battle-scarred, smoky black tom

Voletooth: Small brown tabby tom

Reedwhisker: Black tom with gray eyes

Mosspelt: Calico she-cat with blue eyes

Beechfur: Light-brown tom

Rippletail: Dark-gray tabby tom

Graymist: Pale-gray tabby she-cat

Dawnflower: Pale-gray she-cat

Dapplenose: Mottled gray she-cat

Pouncetail: Ginger-and-white tom

Mintfur: Light-gray tabby tom

Otterheart: Dark-brown she-cat

Pinefur: Tabby she-cat

Duskfur: Brown tabby she-cat

Rainstorm: Blue-gray tom with blue eyes

Minnowtail: Fluffy, dark-gray-and-white she-cat with amber eyes

Pebblefoot: Gray tom

Apprentices:

Nettlepaw: Dark-brown tabby tom

Robinpaw: Tortoiseshell tom with white paws

Copperpaw: Dark-ginger she-cat

Mallowpaw: Light-brown tabby tom

Sneezepaw: Gray-and-white tom

Queens (Pregnant/Nursing She-Cats and Permanent Caretakers) and Kits:

Icewing: White she-cat with blue eyes

• Beetlekit: Brown-and-white tabby tom
• Pricklekit: Brown-and-white tabby tom
• Petalkit: Gray-and-white she-cat
• Grasskit: Light-brown tom

Elders:

Heavystep: Heavyset brown tabby tom

Swallowtail: Dark-brown tabby she-cat

Stonestream: Gray tom

Chapter Text

The ThunderClan camp was engulfed in fire, turning the stony hollow into a maw of orange light in the earth. Water battled with flame as rain pelted the ground, sending dark smoke curling into the air. Lightning scored across the sky, illuminating the forms of Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Hollyleaf crouching in fright. The tiny shapes of Sparkkit and Flowerkit pressed against them.

“We’re trapped!” Hollyleaf’s panicked yowl rang out. Flowerkit cried at the blaze and tried to run away.

Quick on her paws, Squirrelflight intercepted the little tortoiseshell. “Stay together!” She nosed her daughter back toward her older kits. Against her pelt, she felt bristling fur and a tiny, rapid heartbeat.

“S-Squirrelflight,” Alderkit choked out. “I-I’m so scared…”

Briefly, she stooped to lick her littlest kit’s ears. “I know, little one. Stay close, you’ll be safe soon.” She forced her voice to be gentle, despite her fear. Guiding Alderkit with her tail, she met up with the rest of her family.

“We’d be lucky to get through the fire,” Lionblaze growled as she approached. His muscles were tense, and the firelight tinged his golden fur with red. “But we can’t risk getting the kits through.”

Beside him, Jayfeather let out a frustrated and terrified hiss. His large ears twisted frantically atop his head, and he turned in every direction, jaws gaping. He seemed to be desperately trying to find some way out despite his blindness.

Squirrelflight scanned the area, trying to keep her mind clear. Then her eyes rested on a clump of brambles and recollection flashed in her mind. “This way!” She guided the young cats to the bushes and squeezed behind them, revealing a series of ledges leading to the brim of the hollow.

“It’s a secret way out of camp!” Hollyleaf gasped in surprise.

Squirreflight straightened herself. “We need to get the kits up first. Then, Jayfeather, I’ll guide you up. Follow my voice. It’s not a difficult climb.”

“We’ll come behind and catch you if you fall,” Lionblaze assured his brother.

“I’m not a kit!” The gray tabby snapped with his usual defensiveness, but his legs quivered.

Sparkkit, Flowerkit, and Alderkit lined up by the ledge. They watched with wide eyes as Squirrelflight clambered to the first one. “All right, kits. One at a time. You have to jump up.”

“It’s so high up…” Flowerkit mewed, her pale-green eyes huge. Alderkit pressed his stomach to the ground.

“I’ll catch you, don’t worry,” the dark-ginger warrior promised, determination filling her.

Sparkkit crouched, taking initiative as usual. “Come on! Before the fire gets us!” Bunching her muscles, she leaped for her mother. She latched onto the edge, and with scrabbling hind claws, she pulled herself up. Flowerkit was second, Squirrelflight grabbing her scruff when she started to slip. Finally, Alderkit leaped blindly. Squirrelflight caught him with outstretched paws, and steadied him beside her.

The warrior pressed on, coaxing her litter up the ledge. Pride filled her as she realized how strong they had become in three moons. “That’s it! Keep going, my big, brave kits! I’m right behind you!” She then called to Jayfeather. The young medicine cat gingerly made his way up, Hollyleaf and Lionblaze close behind him. For a moment, Squirrelflight felt dizzy trying to keep her emotions in check while keeping one eye each on her youngest and oldest litters. Brambleclaw, you should be here helping! Then she thought of her mate helping Firestar guide their Clan to safety, and knew he was helping in his own way. No, I’ve got this. I just need to get them all up, and then we’ll be safe.

Squirrelflight’s heart was fluttering by the time they all reached the top. “Well done!” She called, before sinking her teeth into Hollyleaf’s scruff and pulling the black she-cat to safety. Jayfeather slumped to his side, and Lionblaze practically roared as he hoisted himself. The kits were huddling together. They looked pathetic, their pelts slicked from the rain and their eyes clouded with exhaustion. Squirrelflight rushed over to them, nosing them encouragingly. “We’re almost there, kits. You’re doing such a good job.”

Lionblaze padded up to her as Hollyleaf checked on Jayfeather. “Need some help?”

Squirrelflight smiled at her son, her own exhaustion catching up to her. She nodded.

He bent down to eye-level with his younger siblings. “Who wants a badger-ride?”

Instantly, the she-kits perked up. “I do! I do!” Sparkkit piped, and Flowerkit nodded excitedly.

Alderkit’s yellow eyes darted from Lionblaze to Squirrelflight. “I-I dunno…”

Hollyleaf joined them with Jayfeather leaning against her shoulder. Squirrelflight’s throat tightened. Her medicine cat son lacked the athleticism of his littermates, and the climb clearly took a toll on him.

Alderkit seemed to sense it too. He nervously approached the older tom. “Are you okay?”

Jayfeather’s blue eyes cracked open. “I don’t need kits fussing over me, too…!” He huffed.

“Easy,” Hollyleaf brushed her tail along her brother’s spine. “Lead the way,” she told Squirrelflight. “We can take Alderkit.”

Squirrelflight felt even more pride, both at Lionblaze’s thoughtfulness, Hollyleaf’s resolve, and even Jayfeather’s resilience. She realized just how grown up the three were. “All right,” she responded evenly. "Just stay close.” She bounded ahead towards the forest, but she skidded to a halt when the scene flashed from a light behind her. The crack of flame exploded in her ears. Her heart fell into her stomach as she whipped around. The grass was scarred black from a lightning strike, and huge flames reached for the sky, cutting her off from her kits. They were trapped between the blaze and the cliff’s edge. StarClan, no! Frantically, she looked around, then spotted a long, fallen tree limb.

“Squirrelflight!” Lionblaze’s voice bellowed above the crackling fire and the kits’ terrified cries. “Are you there?! Help us!”

She approached the flames as closely as she could, feeling heat blast her face. “I’m here! I’m going to push a branch through to you. You can cross it before it burns to escape!”

Through the fire, she could just barely make out the golden tabby’s features, and the shapes of Flowerkit and Sparkkit still clinging to his back. Surprisingly, he looked calm. “Right. We’ll be ready.”

Squirrelflight darted for the branch, clenching it between her teeth and pulling with all her might. Slowly, she dragged it closer to the fire. Adrenaline coursed through her veins, but the physical and emotional toll was getting to her. Her muscles were out of practice from being on leave from warrior duties to raise her kits, and everything ached. Fox-dung! Squirrelflight cursed under her breath. Come on, come on…!

Then she heard the sound of paw steps and a familiar scent trickled through the smell of smoke. She looked up to see Ashfur, his expression unreadable. For a moment, Squirrelflight stared at him dubiously, wondering why he would come to her aid, given their history. Who cares? I need help. Now. She released the branch and yowled to the pale-gray tom. “Help me push it into the fire!”

Ashfur grasped the branch in his teeth. With their combined strength, it crashed through the fire, shooting sparks in every direction. From the other side, Squirrelflight could hear Sparkkit’s ever-optimistic voice. “You did it!” There was a thud as she jumped from Lionblaze’s shoulders, ready to run across. Lionblaze caught her with a massive paw and pulled her close as Ashfur jumped atop the branch and faced them, his ears flat and back arched.

What is he doing? Squirrelflight gaped at him. “Ashfur, get out of the way. Let them get out!”

The gray warrior didn’t move. On the other side, the corner of Lionblaze’s mouth curled into the beginnings of a snarl and he kneeled protectively over Sparkkit. Flowerkit stumbled from his shoulders, coughing raggedly from the smoke, and pressed closer to him. Hollyleaf backed up slowly, her green eyes fearful, with her tail wrapping tighter around Alderkit. The dark-ginger kit looked horrified, his whole body shaking and his eyes staring blankly into the distance. Jayfeather’s brow was furrowed, and his hazy eyes glinted in a peculiar way.

Bewilderment and dread churned in Squirrelflight’s stomach. “Ashfur.” She repeated herself, her voice hardened. “Let. Them. Go.”

“Brambleclaw isn’t here to protect them now,” Ashfur sneered, his gaze locked onto the young cats.

Lionblaze and Hollyleaf’s pelts bristled. “What have you done to my father?!” The golden warrior demanded.

Sparkkit crawled out from beneath him. She puffed out her chest, but her voice wavered. “I-If you hurt Brambleclaw, I’ll…I’ll一!”

“You’ll what?” Ashfur jeered at the kit. “Stupid kit, you’re just as big-headed as your mother.” His tail lashed dismissively. “Why would I waste my time on Brambleclaw?” At his paws, the tips of the branch began to catch alight and smolder.

Squirrelflight staggered up to Ashfur, digging her front claws into the branch’s bark. She had never felt more furious. She was stupefied by her Clanmate’s behavior, and all she could think about was freeing her kits. “Ashfur.” Despite her rage, her voice came out slow and even. “This is ridiculous. Your quarrel with Brambleclaw has to stop. Too many moons have passed.” Briefly, her memories flew back to when she was young and tangled in the affections of two toms. She and Brambleclaw had had their troubles, and Ashfur had been kind to her. Though he had been too kind, too coddling, too smothering. She had missed the banter and honesty she had shared with Brambleclaw, and returned to him. But she never stopped respecting Ashfur as a friend, and had tried to make amends, to no avail. “You have to accept I’m Brambleclaw’s mate and not yours. You can’t keep trying to punish him for something that was always meant to be.”

Finally, Ashfur faced her with wide, surprised eyes. “I have no quarrel with Brambleclaw.” He bared his teeth mockingly. “I couldn’t care less about him. It’s not his fault he fell for a faithless she-cat.”

A growl sounded from Hollyleaf’s throat. Another cough racked Flowerkit’s body.

“I know you think I’ve never forgiven Brambleclaw for stealing you from me, but you’re wrong. My quarrel is with you, Squirrelflight.”

Squirrelflight stared deep into Ashfur’s dark eyes. They were bestial, cold, yet they flickered with firelight. She looked past the tom, back to her kits. She couldn’t bear to see them like this; cornered, frightened, and confused. Steeling herself, she relocked eyes with Ashfur. “Then fine. Be mad at me. But let them go. They’ve done nothing to harm you! Three of them are kits, for StarClan’s sake!”

Ashfur only snorted a wry, contemptuous laugh.

“Ashfur, all this was moons ago. I had no idea you were still upset.”

“Then you truly are an idiot.” Ashfur lashed his tail, making flames arc around him. “You stupid, selfish vixen! You’re so wrapped up in your perfect life, you can’t tell when other cats are suffering. Why do you think I helped Hawkfrost get Firestar caught in that trap? I wanted him dead. If your father died, you’d know the real meaning of pain!”

Shocked gasps broke out from Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Hollyleaf. The kits stayed quiet, too young to fully understand what he was saying. Squirrelflight stared at him, stunned. She remembered her father nearly dying that day, and the scar that still etched where his neck had been coiled in a fox trap. And she remembered Hawkfrost, Brambleclaw’s dangerous half-brother, who tried to manipulate him into following their father’s ambitious, murderous path.

Ashfur’s voice fell to a whisper. “Brambleclaw was there…but not now. Now it’s just you, me, and your kits. If they die, you’ll finally understand what it’s like to suffer.”

Something primal awoke in Squirrelflight. All her exhaustion had been replaced with fury. She didn’t care what she had to do; no one was hurting her kits. She stared at him, her pupils shrinking to wild slits. She pushed her nose into Ashfur’s face, hissing one word, slow and ice-cold. “Move.”

“Why?” Ashfur hissed back. “So you can go unpunished?” A dauntless, hateful smile stretched across his face. “I know you lost a kit before. Maybe that scrap being born dead was the start of justice. Maybe it’s StarClan’s will for you to watch the lot of them being ripped from you.” His voice rose to a high-pitched shriek. “Maybe then you’ll finally understand!”

Squirrelflight couldn’t move. Her heart pounded. Her teeth were clenched. Her muscles were screaming but ready for battle. She thought of her father lying helpless in his nest, her mother never leaving his side as her sister did her best to heal him. She thought of wrapping her body around her sister’s, huddling against the elements, as the medicine cat’s three tiny secrets suckled from her. She had sworn to Leafpool that Hollyleaf, Lionblaze, and Jayfeather would be safe and loved under her and Brambleclaw’s care. She thought of her little Juniperkit, who was lost before he could’ve grown into the warrior he deserved to be. She thought of his brother and sisters, eager Sparkkit, gentle Flowerkit, and sensitive Alderkit, who were too young to experience the wrath of a mad, broken cat. Squirrelflight’s family was everything to her, and nothing, no one, was going to hurt them.

“Squirrelflight!”

Alderkit’s wail pierced her thoughts. He tore from Hollyleaf’s grasp and bolted for the branch. “Squirrelflight! Squirrelflight, please! Help!”

A snarl erupted from Ashfur’s throat and he whipped around. “Shut up, you little rat!” With outstretched claws, he smacked a pile of still-glittering ashes and sprayed them at the young tom’s face. He cried out and turned tail before the embers could touch him.

“You rotten一!” Hollyleaf growled and lunged for him, but Jayfeather was faster.

The blind medicine cat crouched over Alderkit’s body, his fur puffed up to make him twice his size. “If you want to scatter that into someone’s eyes, do it to me!” He spat. “See what good it does!”

“That’s enough!” The ice in Squirrelflight’s body blasted into fire, her rage exploding into action. She lunged for Ashfur, sinking her teeth and claws as deep as they could go into his fur and dragged him off the branch. He howled in pain as the fur along his back was licked by the fire. He broke free from her and pounced, knocking her onto her back. He had her pinned, but he’d left the path clear. Squirrelflight screeched from the top of her lungs.

“Go! Run!”

She heard the thundering of paw steps as Hollyleaf and Lionblaze snatched up Alderkit and Flowerkit with Sparkkit running close behind, her legs already growing powerful. Jayfeather followed, his nose and ears acutely guiding him in their direction.

Ashfur tried to reach for them, but Squirrelflight grabbed him and yanked him onto the ground, pinning him and shoving his face into the earth.

“Don’t stop!” She ordered her kits as they ran for the bushes. “Find the Clan!” She stared after them, ensuring they were safe, and watched them disappear into the undergrowth. Then a sharp pain seared her foreleg. Ashfur had twisted himself beneath her and had his fangs locked onto her flesh. Spitting, she lifted her other forepaw and crashed it onto his head, flaying an ear. Ashfur kicked out with a hind-leg and scored her soft underbelly, still full with milk, and sent her careening. She tumbled, winded, a whisker’s breadth from the flames.

The pale-gray warrior slowly staggered to his paws and faced Squirrelflight. Rain slicked his pelt, a fresh burn clawed his fur, and blood trickled down one side of his face. Heaving, Squirrelflight twisted and met his gaze defiantly. The adrenaline was beginning to fade, but she didn’t let herself back down.

“It didn’t have to be this way,” Squirrelflight said, speaking before she could think. “You could’ve found someone else. You could’ve been happy.” Regret caught in her throat as she remembered them running through the forest, laughing. “That’s what I wanted for you.”

Ashfur shook his head, scattering red droplets from his muzzle. “That’s not the point. I wanted you.” His rage seemed to waver as his voice cracked. “But you didn’t want me.”

“That doesn’t mean I didn’t want you as a friend.”For a moment, everything seemed to slow. The sky silenced. The rain lightened. The flames shrunk.

Ashfur’s eyes were wide, as if he were reliving every moment that had led up to now. Then he closed them ruefully. “No. That wouldn’t be enough.”

All the happy memories shattered in Squirrelflight’s mind. Her voice was firm. “Then you are the selfish one, Ashfur. You aren’t the cat I called my friend. You never cared for me, no matter what you think.” She stood taller. Fire danced off her coat. Lightning crackled in her eyes. Thunder rumbled in her voice. “And I will die before you come anywhere near me or my family again.”

For a moment Ashfur looked stunned, then all the rage and more flooded back into him. “So be it, then.”

Claws outstretched, he leaped for her.