The Thuderpath Less Traveled

I run a lap around ShadowClan's territory. Catching a mouse in the way. Feeling a little better than I had been feeling for a while now. The pool beneath my paws doesn't feel so dark and endless now. I said what I needed to to Sunleaf. Said goodbye, but did I truly have the courage to leave? I was in the most danger, but I would still be leaving my Clan with a cold murderer. He killed the two cats I loved most. He could just get away with it, but I couldn't just turn on him. My Clan would fallow the code and our future leader to the letter. I might be able to take him out one on one, but not my entire Clan. Nor did I want to. Even if they were... misguided. Even if they had hurt me. I liked Brairberry, Owleye, Featherfur, and poor Shadowfade. I didn't want anything bad to happen to them. Shadowfade rarely came out of her nest. Her father and Brairberry said she would be alright, but it would take time. I just wanted to curl up myself. My future suddenly feeling heavy on my shoulders. I stopped when I got to the camp clearing. All heads turn to me. Even the kits turned their heads curiously. Vinejump sat on the pine-branch. His tail swishing. I ignore the eyes on me, and focus on him. My eyes narrow. I step forward.

"Is there a problem?" I ask defiantly. I stand tall. Tail twitching.

"I have heart-shattering news." He announces to the Clan. "We have been betrayed by a warrior among us. To be expected giving the situation of her birth. NightWhisper was having secret meetings with a RiverClan cat!" Gasps of shock runs though the crowd of cats. I clench my teeth to hold back a hiss of fury.

"She's a medicine cat!" I say, hoping that will keep her from getting into trouble. Medicine cats are not warriors. They are passive, peaceful, healers. Who take care of there can, but would heal anyone who needed it. They shouldn't be bound by the same rules as warriors. This is ridiculous. She was chosen by StarClan themselves. She would not be forsaken by StarClan. She better not be forsaken by her clan.

"She doesn't deny it!" Vinejump says as if that means something. "She has chosen this friendship over Clan loyalty! She may have told this RiverClan cat everything about our clan. How are prey is running. Who is sick. Who is vulnerable?" If I had she would insist on helping. She wishes to see no cat come to harm. Glares of disapproval come from every side. "She has betrayed her clan. Betrayed us. As her mother had years ago." My claws un-sheath and I pounce in his direction. I'm held down to the earth. Fallen pine needles poke into my side. Claws dig into my fur from above. I can't see what cats hold be down. All I see Vinejump, and all I feel is rage. The world is tinted red. I hiss with fury. "I am forced to banish you. Like your mother." Cats, I'm not sure how many drag me away by their teeth. I screech out the words.

"He has you all fooled. He's a murder! He's killed Snowdrift! He killed my mother! He would have killed me if given the chance. This is just an excuse to get rid of me. He wanted this all along. This was inevitable. You'll all be under his claws soon. If you don't stand against him and fight!"

"He was chosen by StarClan." Foxleap says, somehow both solem, and angry. Then I'm outside of camp. The large patrol escorts me to the border. I'm relieved they let me walk. There's six warriors, and Featherfur who leads the way. Her ears are down, but her posture is perfect, and her eyes determined. Filled with clan loyalty. I look at her. Looking for any sign she realizes this is wrong. That Vinejump only did this because he couldn't kill me one on one. I look for any doubt in her eyes. In the deputy. The code.

"You know I thought those fighting moves you used was strange. It was RiverClan moves wasn't it?" She asks. Her voice colder than I had ever heard it. I don't answer. "You didn't think we all could have made use of those moves?" You never would have believed me. Where they really came from. StarClan.

"Do you hear yourself? You fear my trust in this cat made us vulnerable. But you would have no problem with me tell you all there clan secrets!"

"You don't understand loyalty." Featherfur says firmly.

"And you will never understand anything outside of this clan, the code, our ancestors."

"And that's a bad thing!" She says louder.

"You will never understand the freedom a loner feels. The love RiverClan has for swimming. Or the love a kittypet has for their twolegs. You will never be able to stop cats from finding love and trust in one another. No matter how hard you try. We are not alone. Ever here in the wild. Goodbye Featherfur. I hope you find peace in this life."

"This is the life of a warrior. Not a life of peace."

"Then you're fighting for the wrong thing." I snap. One of the warriors hiss. Another gets far too close.

"Run." Lightdapple says. "Run or will chase you away." So I do. I turn and run. I can't fight against my entire clan. What was my clan. And StarClan watched. The sky was clear of clouds above the pine. Most of they couldn't be that displeased then. Some I was sure would agree with my exile. After all they wrote the Warrior Code long ago. So I run.