#squirrelpaw's quest

[squirrelfire-leafheart]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

The prologue is finally up!  it has been 3,000 years

[squirrelfire-leafheart]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

The allegiances are up!

[squirrelfire-leafheart]

“Squirrelpaw?”

The dark ginger cat turned her head, regretting the action a moment later as she saw the confusion on her sister’s face, although she had already sensed it in her own heart.

“You’re leaving?” Leafpaw set down the bundle of herbs in her jaws so that her words would not be further muffled. “Why? What could have happened?” She was calm; she’d always been calm, but this was too calm for watching her sister about to pad out of ThunderClan’s land. Had she seen into Squirrelpaw’s mind?

The reddish-orange cat shuffled her paws, turning around fully to face the smaller cat. Even when they’d been kits, the older cats had always commented on how different their sizes were. Perhaps it was no surprise that she was the warrior and Leafpaw was the medicine cat.

“I have to, Leaf...” The words were spoken with unusual solemnness. “These tormented ghosts, I see them everywhere, you know? Their leader, Cloudstar, says that my destiny isn’t with ThunderClan. You.. You’ve seen it,” Squirrelpaw added, noting the expression in her twin’s amber eyes. “I know you have, we’ve always seen each other’s minds!”

It was grief, now, that became the emotion in the small brown tabby’s eyes. “Yes, you’re right, but... Squirrel, what if I never see you again? What if all that I have of you is fleeting thoughts? What if...”

A similar sadness sprung into the flame-colored cat’s eyes, and she padded forward to press her nose to Leafpaw’s forehead. “Don’t worry, Leaf. I’ll always be there for you, even if I’m not in the same place. You can always talk to me. Just look to the stars above and speak!” Beyond sadness, there was hope and conviction.

Leafpaw exhaled, releasing a sigh that she’d been withholding. “You’re like Father,” she murmured. She’d met Firestar during the Moonstone visits, after all. “He watches both of us. He’ll keep you safe when you leave. But... I brought some herbs to strengthen you, too.” She pawed the bundle closer to her sister. “I can’t stop you, and I don’t know where you’re going. I know that you don’t either, but those spirits will guide you. ...StarClan has forbidden me from telling our Clanmates about this, Squirrelpaw. They’ll believe that you’re dead, and they’ll mourn you. But you might come back one day, so I’ll... that’s what I’ll hope for. Now, take the herbs, and go...” She had to hold onto her strength until her sister had gone.

Squirrelpaw licked Leafpaw’s forehead in reassurance. “I don’t know when I’ll be back, but remember that I will, one day, with SkyClan. I have to rebuild them, and they’ll become my Clan.” She didn’t have to say why she already knew that, they both knew Cloudstar had said it to be so. “One day I’ll come back to you, and everything will be okay.”

Leafheart still clung to those words, even though so many moons had passed. Sitting beside the lakeshore, with the night sky and a full moon above her, she tilted her head to the distant glitters. “You can always talk to me. Just look to the stars and speak!” There was silence, until she decided to listen to what had been said. “Can you hear me, Squirrel? I know you’re a full warrior now, but I won’t call you by that full name until you come back. You know, ThunderClan has grown so much now. We’ve come so far to find this new home, it worries me sometimes that you won’t be able to find us. I know that you will, though. You’d never give up until you do.” She pressed a paw to her stomach, knowing an unspoken truth as three stars shone brighter than the rest. If her sister had been here, maybe things would be different. But she’d have to figure out a different way to handle this predicament. “Come back soon, Squirrel. I miss you.”

[squirrelfire-leafheart]

ThunderClan Allegiances for Squirrelpaw’s Quest

Leader: Graystar: Large gray tom with a darker stripe along his back and yellow eyes [APPRENTICE: Squirrelpaw.]

Deputy: Brackenfur: Golden-brown tabby tom with green eyes

Medicine Cats: Cinderpelt: Dark gray molly with blue eyes and one bad leg [APPRENTICE: Leafpaw.]

Medicine Apprentice: Leafpaw: Small brown tabby molly with a white chest, white paws and amber eyes [FATHER: Firestar. MOTHER: Sandstorm. SIBLINGS: Squirrelpaw.]

Warriors: Frostfur: White molly with blue eyes

Willowpelt: Large pale gray molly with blue eyes

Mousefur: Small brown molly with amber eyes

Longtail: Pale brown tabby tom with black stripes and yellow eyes [APPRENTICE: Sootpaw.]

Sandstorm: Pale ginger tabby molly with green eyes [APPRENTICE: Sorrelpaw.]

Dustpelt: Brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Thornclaw: Golden-brown tabby tom with blue eyes

Ashfur: Pale gray tom with darker spots and blue eyes

Cloudtail: Large white tom with blue eyes [APPRENTICE: Rainpaw.]

Brambleclaw: Dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Apprentices: Rainpaw: Dark gray tom with blue eyes [FATHER: Whitestorm. MOTHER: Willowpelt. SIBLINGS: Darkstripe, Graystar, Sootpaw, Sorrelpaw.]

Sootpaw: Pale gray tom with amber eyes [FATHER: Whitestorm. MOTHER: Willowpelt. SIBLINGS: Darkstripe, Graystar, Rainpaw, Sorrelpaw.]

Sorrelpaw: Large tortoiseshell-and-white molly with amber eyes [FATHER: Whitestorm. MOTHER: Willowpelt. SIBLINGS: Darkstripe, Graystar, Rainpaw, Sootpaw.]

Squirrelpaw: Large dark ginger molly with one white paw and green eyes [FATHER: Firestar. MOTHER: Sandstorm. SIBLINGS: Leafpaw.]

Queens: Goldenflower: Large pale golden tabby molly with green eyes

Brightheart: Large ginger-and-white tabby molly with a missing ear, one missing eye and one green eye. [Expecting Cloudtail’s kits.]

Ferncloud: Small pale gray molly with darker spots and green eyes

Kits: Spiderkit: Black kitten with a brown belly, brown paws and amber eyes [FATHER: Dustpelt. MOTHER: Ferncloud. SIBLINGS: Shrewkit.]

Shrewkit: Small dark brown kitten with green eyes [FATHER: Dustpelt. MOTHER: Ferncloud. SIBLINGS: Spiderkit.]

Elders: Smallear: Gray tom with green eyes

Speckletail: Large pale golden-brown tabby molly with amber eyes

One-eye: Pale gray molly with one missing eye and one blind amber eye

Dappletail: Tortoiseshell-and-white molly with amber eyes

CHANGES FROM CANON

---Graystripe is leader, taking up a father role for Squirrelpaw and Leafpaw as well as acting as an older brother to Rainpaw, Sootpaw and Sorrelpaw to help WIllowpelt out. All of the young cats in the Clan love him.

---In the aftermath of the battle, Graystripe picks Brackenfur out as a deputy; a good decision, because although he is also young, he’s serious and dependable, has been a mentor, and works well with his new leader.

---Because of the timing, Leafkit and Squirrelkit are born earlier and are apprenticed not long after Willowpelt’s kits.

---Frostfur stays a warrior longer.

---Graystar mentors Squirrelpaw instead of Dustpelt.

---Because the POV starts a bit later than Firestar’s POV in the original setting, Brambleclaw is already a warrior (as well as Tawnypelt, Stormfur and Feathertail in their own clans, respectively.)

---Goldenflower stays around the nursery rather than the elders den (this isn’t really a change from canon, honestly.)

[squirrelfire-leafheart]

Cats outside Clans in Squirrelpaw’s Quest

Forest Territory Cats

Quince: Gray molly with blue eyes

Nutmeg: Brown-and-white tabby molly with amber eyes

Sasha: Pale brown molly with a darker face, a darker tail, darker ears, darker paws and blue eyes

Violet: Small pale ginger tabby molly with white paws and blue eyes

Barley: Black-and-white tom with blue eyes

Fuzz: Gray tom with green eyes

Ravenpaw: Black tom with a white spot on his chest, a white tail tip and green eyes

Henry: Gray-brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Princess: Pale brown tabby molly with a white chest, white paws and amber eyes

Smudge: Black-and-white tom with blue eyes

Hattie: Small brown tabby molly with amber eyes

Gorge Territory Cats

Sky: Large dark gray tom with blue eyes

Lichen: Gray molly with amber eyes

Tangle: Large brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Jessamy - Dark ginger tabby molly with amber eyes

Patch: Black-and-white tom with green eyes

Clover: Pale brown molly with a white belly, white legs and green eyes

Hutch: Dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Rainfur: Pale gray tabby tom with darker spots and blue eyes

Petal: Pale gray molly with green eyes [Expecting Rainfur’s kittens.]

Leaf: Large pale brown-and-cream tabby molly with amber eyes

Echo: Small silver tabby molly with a white chest, dark gray paws and green eyes

Scratch: Large dark ginger tabby tom with green eyes

Flower: Brown-and-white tabby molly with yellow eyes

Boris: Dark brown tabby tom with yellow eyes [SIBLINGS: Cherry.]

Cherry: Tortoiseshell-and-white molly with yellow eyes [SIBLINGS: Boris.]

Rock: Black kitten with green eyes [FATHER: Coal. MOTHER: Clover. SIBLINGS: Bounce, Tiny.]

Bounce: Ginger kitten with amber eyes [FATHER: Coal. MOTHER: Clover. SIBLINGS: Rock, Tiny.]

Tiny: Small white kitten with green eyes [FATHER: Coal. MOTHER: Clover. SIBLINGS: Rock, Bounce.]

Cats of the Twolegplace between the Forest Territory and the Gorge Territory

Shorty: Small brown tabby tom with a stump tail and green eyes

Stick: Large brown tom with amber eyes

Coal: Black tom with amber eyes

Cora: Black molly with amber eyes

Snowy: White molly with blue eyes

Percy: Dark gray tabby tom with blue eyes

Red: Dark ginger molly with green eyes

[squirrelfire-leafheart]

ShadowClan Allegiances for Squirrelpaw’s Quest

Leader: Blackstar: Large white tom with black paws and amber eyes

Deputy: Russetfur: Large dark ginger molly with green eyes

Medicine Cats: Runningnose: Small gray-and-white tom with green eyes

Littlecloud: Small brown tabby tom with blue eyes

Medicine Apprentice: None

Warriors: Flintfang: Gray tom with amber eyes

Dawncloud: Small pale ginger tabby molly with blue eyes

Tallpoppy: Pale brown tabby molly with green eyes

Nightwhisper: Brown tom with green eyes

Oakfur: Small pale brown tom with orange eyes

Cedarheart: Dark gray tom with orange eyes

Rowanclaw: Dark ginger tom with blue eyes

Tawnypelt: Large pale tortoiseshell molly with green eyes

Apprentices: None

Queens: None

Kits: None

Elders: Featherstorm: Dark brown tabby molly with amber eyes

Hollyflower: Large dark gray-and-white molly with amber eyes

Newtspeck: Small black-and-ginger tabby molly with blue eyes

Rowanberry: Large brown-and-cream molly with orange eyes

Boulder: Large gray tom with amber eyes

CHANGES FROM CANON

---Stumpytail (who died in the battle) and Dawncloud are the parents of Rowanclaw and Cedarheart.

---Cats with eyes that are orange-colored beyond amber (dark orange or almost red) inherited that all the way from Silverflame, so orange-eyed cats are her descendants.

---Tawnypelt, Rowanclaw and Cedarheart are already warriors.

---Due to the lack of expecting queens, kits or apprentices following the BloodClan battle, ShadowClan may look to taking in loners to boost their numbers.

[squirrelfire-leafheart]

WindClan Allegiances from Squirrelpaw’s Quest

Leader: Tallstar: Large black-and-white tom with amber eyes

Deputy: Mudclaw: Dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Medicine Cats: Barkface: Dark brown tom with amber eyes

Medicine Apprentices: None

Warriors: Sorrelpelt: Gray-and-brown molly with blue eyes

Rabbitspring: Pale brown molly with a white belly and yellow eyes

Tornear: Gray tabby tom with amber eyes

Morningflower: Tortoiseshell molly with amber eyes

Ashfoot: Gray molly with amber eyes

Onewhisker: Pale brown tabby tom with amber eyes

Thrushwing: Pale gray-brown molly with blue eyes and one bad leg [APPRENTICE: Crowpaw.]

Whitetail: Small white molly with blue eyes

Webfoot: Dark gray tabby tom with green eyes

Runningbrook: Pale gray tabby molly with green eyes

Apprentices: Crowpaw: Small dark gray tom with blue eyes [FATHER: Deadfoot. MOTHER: Ashfoot. SIBLINGS: Eaglekit, Hillkit, Downkit.]

Queens: None

Kits: None

Elders: Lilywhisker: Pale brown molly with amber eyes and one bad leg

Meadowslip: Gray molly with blue eyes

CHANGES FROM CANON

---Thrushwing, one of the two new warriors who was on vigil when Brokenstar led ShadowClan to ambush WindClan, becomes Crowpaw’s mentor.

[squirrelfire-leafheart]

RiverClan Allegiances from Squirrelpaw’s Quest

Leader: Leopardstar: Large golden-brown tabby molly with darker spots and amber eyes [APPRENTICE: Hawkpaw.]

Deputy: Mistyfoot: Large blue-gray molly with blue eyes

Medicine Cats: Mudfur: Pale brown tom with a paler belly and amber eyes

Medicine Apprentices: None

Warriors: Blackclaw: Black tom with amber eyes

Skyheart: Pale brown tabby molly with blue eyes

Loudbelly: Dark brown tom with amber eyes

Sedgecreek: Brown tabby molly with blue eyes [APPRENTICE: Mothpaw.]

Grasswhisker: Brown tabby tom with green eyes

Vixenclaw: Black molly with amber eyes

Mosspelt: Tortoiseshell-and-white molly with green eyes

Heavystep: Gray-brown tabby tom with blue eyes

Shadepelt: Dark gray molly with blue eyes

Dawnflower: Pale gray molly with green eyes

Reedwhisker: Large black tom with blue eyes

Stormfur: Large dark gray tom with amber eyes

Feathertail: Large silver tabby molly with black stripes and blue eyes

Apprentices: Hawkpaw: Dark brown tabby tom with a white belly, a darker face, a darker tail, darker ears and blue eyes [FATHER: Tigerstar. MOTHER: Sasha. SIBLINGS: Brambleclaw, Tawnypelt, Tadpole, Mothpaw.]

Mothpaw: Large golden-brown tabby molly with amber eyes [FATHER: Tigerstar. MOTHER: Sasha. SIBLINGS: Brambleclaw, Tawnypelt, Tadpole, Hawkpaw.]

Queens: None

Kits: None

Elders: Shimmerpelt: Black molly with blue eyes

Petaldust: Tortoiseshell molly with green eyes

CHANGES FROM CANON

---Leopardstar and Sedgecreek are mates, and both of them are quite fond of Sasha when she visits, so it could possibly be a poly relationship with the trio of them.

---Grasswhisker and Vixenclaw are Silverstream’s adoptive siblings from kithood, and Vixenclaw mentored Stormpaw after the battle with BloodClan, since Stonefur was dead.