Warriors World #3 - Whitetail
Whitetail is a small white she-cat with green eyes. Her mothers are Larksplash and Appledawn: two well-respected WindClan warriors. The two wanted to start a family but were unable to on their own due to their circumstances. StarClan blessed them however, as their friend Cloudrunner agreed to help Larksplash get pregnant so she and Appledawn could have the family they dreamed of.
She was everything they had hoped for. She was quite small, which Appledawn liked to joke was StarClan giving one of her traits to their kid. None of this would have been possible without Cloudrunner though. As one of their close friends, Larksplash and Appledawn wanted Cloudrunner to be a part of Whitekit’s life, and he was more than happy to do that. Whitekit was quite energetic, so Appledawn appreciated Cloudrunner watching her while she rested with Larksplash. Whitekit had a solid support network through her mothers and Cloudrunner, and knew that she could always turn to them if she needed anything.
When Whitepaw was apprenticed, her clanmates were surprised when Tallstar gave her Cloudrunner as a mentor. Typically close family members didn’t act as mentors. Whitepaw didn’t complain; she was more than happy to train alongside the cat she looked up to so much.
They proved to be a perfect pair. Whitepaw’s boundless energy was quelled by Cloudrunner’s calm demeanor, and her preexisting respect for the tom made her more than willing to listen and learn. Whitepaw ended up being an exemplary apprentice who was quite mature for her age. She didn’t get along much with her fellow young apprentices Willowpaw and Webpaw, so she often just kept to her family. WindClan itself seemed fairly peaceful. That is until the ShadowClan raids began.
Larksplash was the first loss in Whitepaw’s life. Her mother had been killed protecting Rabbitear from a ShadowClan warrior. It was with her sacrifice that her daughter, Runningkit, managed to be rescued from the skirmish. Everyone told Whitepaw that Larksplash had died a hero, and Whitepaw knew that. The pain, however, left Whitepaw wishing her mother had been more selfish.
Then Appledawn was killed. After the death of her mate, the headstrong she-cat led a retaliation group made up of her clanmates. Whitepaw had wanted to go with Appledawn, but she was instead forced to stay back at camp. Appledawn didn’t come back after that.
The clan stood vigil for their fallen clanmates. Alongside Appledawn, Pigeonflight and Wrenflight had also not returned. Whitepaw could feel her heart wince knowing that her mother was in the stars now.
Whitepaw reminded herself that this was what being a warrior was about. Not just Appledawn, but Larksplash too, they both had died noble deaths. She should be proud to be related to such brave cats.
And yet, Whitepaw couldn’t help but wonder... why them? Why did it have to be Larksplash and Appledawn? Why did StarClan choose them to join their ranks?
“It’s so unfair...”
Whitepaw’s ears twitched as she registered the words. She turned to see a clanmate she had never paid much mind to before. Onewhisker... He had always seemed like an extraordinarily ordinary cat. He was a young warrior, heck Whitepaw even recalled watching his warrior ceremony when she was a new apprentice. He was kind, if not a bit of a pushover, but he did a well enough job at hunting rabbits and protecting the border. Then Whitepaw remembered... Wrenflight was his mother.
It was a bit weird to start a friendship based on the death of your parents, but Whitepaw and Onewhisker found it oddly comforting to be able to talk about the details no one else seemed brave enough to ask them about. They even discovered they were alike in some ways. Most notably, both Whitepaw and Onewhisker agreed that working with other clans for the good of their own was a smart choice. While others may see it as weakness, Whitepaw admired Tallstar’s ability to be open-minded even after all that had happened with ShadowClan. It was reassuring to have a friend who shared her sentiments when tensions were so high.
Just as Whitepaw thought things were getting better, that she was finally recovering from the loss of her mothers, ShadowClan attacked again. They had already lost over half their territory from the previous raid, and this was the final push to drive them out. It was chaos. Whitepaw did not know where to find her clanmates when the only safe territory was unfamiliar to her. Where were her clanmates who had survived? Did any survive?
“Whitepaw! Whitepaw, is that you?”
“Onewhisker? Thank StarClan it’s you!” Whitepaw exclaimed as she rushed to the tom’s side. “I didn’t know where to find everyone after what happened.”
“None of your injuries are serious, so that’s good,” the brown tabby muttered, his mind clouded with thought. Whitepaw frowned seeing the worry in her friend’s eyes. “Follow me. I caught WindClan scent in the direction of Highstones, so we’ll head that way.”
Whitepaw nodded. They walked in silence for awhile, all the while Whitepaw couldn’t help but glance occasionally at Onewhisker. She finally sighed. “You’re limping...”
“Hm? Yeah, a mangy ShadowClan cat got me pretty good back at camp. Don’t worry, we have more important things to worry about,” Onewhisker asserted, quickening his pace. Whitepaw opened her mouth to speak, but closed it with a sigh, instead following the warrior.
Why is he trying to act like some sort of tough hero?
Whitepaw and Onewhisker were relieved to find many of their clanmates were gathered in a single spot. Barkface, Deadfoot, and Tallstar were all here which at least meant their leadership and stability was intact. As more and more of their clanmates were found, Whitepaw eagerly waited for Cloudrunner to find their location.
Deadfoot and Mudclaw carried the pale gray tom’s body in a day later. Though it was gruesome, Whitepaw couldn’t look away from what used to be her last living family. He was barely recognizable... and his fluffy white fur that Whitetail had buried herself into the night Appledawn died had been stripped away leaving nothing but skin and clumps of fur. What had they done to him!?
Whitepaw didn’t know what to do. In only a few fell swoops she had lost everyone. It was all too fast. She couldn’t process it all, one after the other. She could feel her heart rate quickening as Tallstar called her name. She could barely hear her new mentor’s name getting called. She only began to register it when Onewhisker stood in front of her, her empty green eyes meeting his pained amber. “It’s not fair...” she whimpered.
Whitepaw’s training was almost complete by the time Cloudrunner was killed. When Onewhikser took over, Tallstar assumed she could take her warrior assessment once everything settled down. However, Whitepaw wouldn’t even get up to train with Onewhisker when he asked. Even when Fireheart and Graystripe came to assist their clan in returning to their rightful home, Whitepaw would not do her duties when asked. One day Onewhisker came to the apprentice den and nudged her awake.
“We need to talk.”
He sat and listened, reaffirming her pain with an understanding of her circumstances. It had been some time since they had talked like this. Whitepaw had been holding in all the frustration of losing Cloudrunner, feeling the eyes of pity from her clanmates all around her. She felt like a burden confiding in Onewhisker all the time before, but him coming to her made her feel comfortable talking like they used to. As she took a deep breath and got the last of her turmoils out, Onewhisker nodded. “Are you ready to prepare for your assessment now?” he asked. She nodded.
Whitetail finally earned her name after a short period. Onewhisker had advised her the best he could, but ultimately he knew she was more than capable. When WindClan attacked ThunderClan, she had been kept from fighting for fear her string of losses would cloud her judgment in the fighting. While she accepted her name happily, she had hoped for a name that could honor someone she had lost. Whitedawn. Whitesplash. Whiterunner...
“Congrats Whitetail,” Onewhisker purred, padding over to greet her.
Whitetail straightened herself and smiled. “I wouldn’t had been able to get out of that rut if it weren’t for you,” she replied. “How does it feel to see your apprentice as a warrior now?”
Onewhisker scoffed. “Cloudrunner did all the hard work. All I did was give you the last final push.” He glanced around before leaning in close to her ear. “I wouldn’t personally call myself your mentor, but it’s an accomplishment so I won’t argue when others congratulate me on your success.” He pulled back and laughed.
Whitetail giggled and nodded towards the forest. “You want to hunt? I’m quite eager to get out of this camp now that I’m a full warrior and all.”
Onewhisker paused. The look in his eyes told Whitetail he wanted to go, and yet he took a step backward. “Sorry Whitetail. I have some stuff to take care of,” he sighed. “But I promise we will go on that hunt.”
She watched him walk off with a frown. She had no business prying, yet Whitetail couldn’t help but feel something was off.
Tensions with ShadowClan continued to escalate as TigerClan was formed in the forest. Whitetail and Onewhisker’s hunt was put on hold yet again as Onewhisker was given yet another apprentice in the form of Gorsepaw. Tallstar believed Onewhisker deserved the chance to be a “full mentor”, and as a result, most of the tabby tom’s time was spent with his new apprentice. Just when Whitetail thought she could get a word in with her friend, he’d suddenly be absent from camp.
Whitetail began to think of Onewhisker less and less as he became more and more distant. He seemed preoccupied with his apprentice, as well as the TigerClan troubles, and his friendship with the ThunderClan deputy Fireheart gave him a more personal stake in the matter at hand. Whitetail had other things to focus on and instead preoccupied herself with helping Ashfoot in the nursery. The clan was so focused on warriors and training that caring for the queens and kits was a duty that was being dismissed.
Then Tigerstar killed Gorsepaw. Morningflower and Mudclaw were devastated losing their last remaining kit, and Onewhisker felt like a failure for being unable to protect his apprentice. Whitetail could see the tom’s face twisted with a rage that was unfamiliar. She saw him begin to walk off towards StarClan knows where again, but Whitetail wouldn’t have that.
“You. Me. Hunting. Now”
Onewhisker looked at Whitetail with surprise. “What? No, Whitetail I’m busy. I have to-”
“I don’t care what you have to do. It can wait. I’m not putting off our hunting anymore. You’re going to hunt with me and we’re going to talk” Whitetail replied firmly. She kept her fierce eyes locked with Onewhisker’s until he finally sighed.
“Fine.”
It probably wasn’t the smartest to hunt with all that was going on, but Whitetail knew Onewhisker needed this. It reminded her of her younger days when she would confide in him over her emotions. Now, Onewhisker was able to do the same. It wasn’t the easiest hunt, but the faint smile that began to show on Onewhisker’s face towards the end let Whitetail know that she had helped. As the two warriors placed their prey on the freshkill pile, Onewhisker stopped her.
“Thank you Whitetail. It was nice hunting with you.”
Whitetail blinked, not knowing what to say. Onewhisker shifted his paws awkwardly. “You helped me get stuff out that would’ve been way worse had I kept it to myself. I want to thank you for that.”
“Oh, uh-” Whitetail felt her pelt grow warm. “Well, I don’t know what I would’ve done had you not been there for me when my family died...” Whitetail admitted. She looked away for a moment. “Having someone there for you really makes a difference, and what kind of friend would I be if I wasn’t here to return the favor?”
She met his gaze again and was surprised to see him staring at her. The two warriors looked away shyly before Onewhisker brushed against her. “You’re a wonderful friend, Whitetail. I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you these past couple of moons.”
“You had no obligation to be there for me,” Whitetail laughed shyly.
“But I wanted to be, and I want to now. I want to be a better friend to you,” Onewhisker asserted. Whitetail was surprised by the seriousness in his voice, but couldn’t help but laugh.
“Ok, I’ll hold you to that then.”
Whitetail couldn’t recall much of the BloodClan battle even if she tried. However, she did remember seeing Scourge slice Onewhisker’s belly. For a moment Whitetail feared her best friend would have his life ripped away just as Tigerstar had. StarClan spared Onewhisker’s life that day as Whitetail watched Scourge leave the brown tabby to fight ThunderClan’s new leader, Firestar. Bounding past the flurry of cats, screeches roaring in her ears, Whitetail reached Onewhisker’s side. His amber eyes were half-closed as he attempted to drag himself into his friend’s embrace.
“Hey, stay with me Onewhisker! Don’t move so much, and listen to my voice!” Whitetail called, heaving the brown tom onto her back. She was small, but she was by no means weak. With a deep breath, she pushed towards the underbrush.
“White...tail” Onewhisker groaned, trying to keep his eyes open. Whitetail turned her head rapidly. The shrill cries of the battle could still be heard, but they were aware enough that Onewhisker could rest without risking attack. She turned back to her clanmate. “I’m here. I have to go back and find one of the medicine cats for you, but stay here and save your strength. I’ll be back before you know it.”
The white she-cat began to walk off but felt Onewhisker’s paw weakly paw at her tail tip. “Whitetail...” She turned slowly.
Onewhisker pushed himself up just slightly. “After all of this, I need to tell you...I haven’t been honest with you.”
Whitetail paced in the clearing. Onewhisker’s eyes watched her anxiously, waiting for her response. The white she-cat finally stopped and narrowed her eyes. “You’ve been going to Twolegplace? All this time... Twolegplace? Really? Why?”
Onewhisker sighed. “I told you. The kittypets were interested in what I had to say. They made me feel important; like I meant something to WindClan.”
Whitetail couldn’t believe what she was hearing. All the times she had seen Onewhisker leave and disappear, he had been sharing tongues with some lazy kittypets? The thought was incomprehensible for her. She drew a paw over her face, trying to understand why. “Why would you need kittypets to make you feel important?!”
“Because no one in WindClan ever did!” Onewhisker yowled. Whitetail froze. Her friend’s amber eyes seemed to water and she felt her ears flatten.
“I was always just a warrior who never had many friends or stood out or did anything special. I was as ordinary as any cat. And I just... I wanted to matter to someone Whitetail. I wanted a purpose within WindClan,” he continued. He had to pause to take a breath. “Those kittypets looked at me like I meant something. They saw me as the brave hero that I wished I always could be...”
Whitetail was speechless at his words. He had felt this meaningless all this time? Why hadn’t he told her sooner? “You matter to me you know... All those times we would talk. That meant a lot to me, and I thought it meant something to you too... I’m sorry if I-”
“No, Whitetail you shouldn’t apologize! Because of you I found a cat who I knew cared about me and helped me realize there is more to being a significant cat in WindClan,” Onewhisker interrupted, stepping forward to lock eyes with Whitetail. “What I’m trying to say Whitetail, is that you mean a lot to me and well, do you want to go hunting?”
Whitetail blinked before feeling her ears grow hot. Realization dawned on her and she couldn’t help but smile as Onewhisker shuffled his paws waiting for her answer. “I’d love to,” she purred.
Their hunts were their time to talk and learn more about the other. Whitetail and Onewhisker didn’t want to simply jump into being mates, but rather go steady while further deepening their preexisting friendship. Whitetail would be lying if she said she didn’t begin to notice how cute his laugh was, or the way he’d shuffle his paws when he was nervous. What she liked the most about him though was his gentle soul. Many of their clanmates, usually Mudclaw, would criticize Onewhisker for his lack of confrontation with other clans. However, Whitetail always felt a twinge of pride seeing him talk down a patrol or strike a conversation with another clan cat at gatherings.
Then the forest began to die as twolegs took their home away day by day. The stress of the growing turmoil in the territories pushed the two warriors to confide in the other even more on their worries for their clan. Despite the harshness of it all, Whitetail was happy knowing that the cat she was falling in love with was also her best friend.
Whitetail smiled as she felt the rise and fall of Onewhisker’s pelt. The warmth in her chest seemed to grow every day. She looked at the brown tabby beside her, giggling at his large ears that seem to almost flop in front of his whiskers. She trusted him. Looking at his sleeping face, as well as acknowledging that the end for their clan may be coming soon, Whitetail felt sure in her decision. She leaned forward and gently touched her nose to Onewhisker’s face, nudging him awake.
“Mmrh... Whitetail?” he murmured. He slowly blinked his amber eyes open. “What is it?”
“Onewhisker, I want to be mates,” Whitetail whispered.
He paused, before almost jumping to his feet. Whitetail quickly grabbed at his paws to calm him before he could yowl out and wake their sleeping clanmates. The tom’s fur slowly began to flatten as he hissed to her. “You’re asking this now?! It’s the middle of the night, why are you- I mean I wanted this to be more romantic for you and-”
“That doesn’t matter. Our territory is being destroyed and we’re starving, but I love you and if I die, I want to die knowing that we had a life together before I joined StarClan,” Whitetail whispered. Her green eyes were wide, and Onewhisker knew she meant every word. His eyes were filled with worry, but the confidence in Whitetail’s words allowed him to breathe. He smiled, laying his head atop of hers before closing his eyes.
“I love you Whitetail. Now let’s get some sleep.” Whitetail smiled and closed her eyes. She pressed herself against his pelt and felt the sense of relief and safety wash over her.
As the faint morning light filtered through the Warriors den, Whitetail groggily blinked her eyes open. She felt Onewhisker’s pelt leave her own, but the feeling of sleepiness overwhelmed her as she fell back asleep. Her last thought was...Where was he going at so early in the morning?
Their clanmates were happy for them. It was happy news during the trying times for the clans. The journey through the mountains, finding a new home, Whitetail was happy to do it all alongside her new mate. It had been about two moons or so since they had made their partnership official when Whitetail began to feel nauseous and sick. It was poor timing considering they were still traveling to find a new home and Onewhisker was always worried about her now as a result. She went to Barkface, hoping some herbs could clear up whatever it was she had, but instead was left with news she didn’t expect so soon. She was pregnant.
Whitetail wanted to wait until they were settled before she told Onewhisker. She could see that Tallstar was relying on her mate for support in his old age, and she feared pulling the tom away during this important time would have consequences. Once they found their new home, she and Onewhisker could return to their normal lives and raise their family. It would be a new adventure for both of them.
Onewhisker was at the center of it all. Whitetail couldn’t believe it herself, but her heart lied with Onewhisker. Of course she would side with him. However, watching families within her clan get torn apart over this... it wasn’t easy. Morningflower sided with Onewhisker over Mudclaw, however Leafpaw and Antpaw sided with their father. Thinking about her own unborn kits, Whitetail couldn’t imagine looking at them from the opposite side of a war. She felt awful keeping their kits from Onewhisker, and yet she knew that telling him now would only rattle his brain with more worries and concerns.
Mudclaw’s death was a shock to everyone. No one really knew the reality of the conflict until Morningflower was embracing her sons crying and Barkface was quietly standing there unable to do anything to help. Whitetail at first was relieved that it was over, but taking one look at Onewhisker’s face made her heart drop. His eyes were hollow. He was broken knowing that his own clanmates had plotted against him. Even when he accepted them back with forgiveness, Whitetail could see the pain in his gaze. As WindClan began to retire to their camp, Whitetail knew she couldn’t keep the secret any longer.
“Onewhisker, we need to talk,” she murmured. The brown tom’s fur rose and Whitetail darted forward to touch her nose to his reassuringly. “It’s nothing bad, I promise.”
The WindClan tom glanced around before nodding towards their den. She followed him quietly. It was still strange to have their own separate area to sleep. In some ways it was nice, though Whitetail admitted she would miss late night talks with Ashfoot and Nightcloud. As they found themselves alone, Onewhisker turned back to her, nodding for her to continue.
Whitetail took a breath. “I’m going to be having your kits.”
Onewhisker was silent. He opened his mouth to speak, but instead his eyes looked over Whitetail, seemingly stopping at her belly. The white she-cat consciously shifted her paw so she could look down at her stomach. “How long have you known?” he finally asked.
“A moon or so...” Whitetail murmured, guilt washing through her.
“Whitetail! You should’ve told me!” Onewhisker insisted.
“Barkface has been checking up on me,” Whitetail assured her mate. “I’m not sorry. You had so much going on with Tallstar, with WindClan, and now you’re going to be leader by tommorrow night and I-” She felt her voice catching in her throat.
Onewhisker rested his head back on her head, a small smile on his face. “This is the best news I’ve had since we arrived at this territory,” he muttered. As he brought his face down to meet hers, Whitetail saw just how tired he looked. “I’m scared Whitetail,” he admitted.
“Why?” she whispered.
“My clan doesn’t think I’m strong. The clanmates who grew up beside me believed I would be such a horrible leader that they plotted against me and-” Whitetail embraced him as the words got caught in her mate’s throat. She licked his fur silently as she felt the soft sobs against her white pelt.
“You’re the strongest cat I know, and our kits will see that,” Whitetail purred.
Onewhisker slowly pulled away from her, looking away before nodding. “I will make WindClan the strongest it’s ever been. For my clanmates, for you, and for our kits,” he proclaimed. He turned back and met her gaze, eyes seemingly filled with fire. “I promise.”
Whitetail knew she should be happy with this words. Yet a strange sense of unease washed over her. She nodded solemnly. “I know you will.”
Whitetail gazed over the three bundles at her belly. The first was brown with white spots, the second was a brown tabby, and the third was brown and white. They really were her and Onestar’s kits. As she rested her head over them, Whitetail thought about her mate’s leadership.
He wanted nothing to do with ThunderClan. He wanted to stand on his own, without any interference from anyone. While the rest of WindClan seemed happy with this mindset, and Whitetail knew it was good for them to be independent, she worried still about Onestar. Thinking of their youth, Whitetail recalled the sweet and gentle spirit Onewhisker had been. He thought cooperation was good, and she knew Tallstar admired that trait of his as well. However, Onestar seemingly was doing the opposite of what Tallstar wanted.
With a final look at her kits, Whitetail drew a lick over the head of the one she had named: Kestrelkit. She had wanted to name him Larkkit, but his spotting convinced her to give him a different bird name in Larksplash’s honor. All she wanted was for her kits and family to be happy. Maybe... just maybe the independent WindClan Onestar was making, would provide that for them. She felt her eyes grow heavy and Whitetail succumbed to the call of sleep. You little ones are going to do great things for WindClan... all of the clans for that matter.
