viperfoot

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LIFE IN THE HIGHSTONES wasn't easy. And Viperfoot hated to admit it, but having Snakestar as leader didn't make it any better. Other than the apprentice and warrior ceremony he had performed on the first day, Snakestar had retreated to his proclaimed leaders den between two boulders; the warmest place in this barren camp.

With no leader to lead or deputy to take over, many cats had turned to Foxstorm, but the previous confidence and fire had disappeared from the ginger tom's eyes. 

After Snakestar's appointment to deputy - along with the fact that Snakestar still had yet to choose a deputy, and hadn't chosen Foxstorm - the ginger warrior had lost a great chunk of his pride. Now he just sat off to the side by Brooklight, the main of his energy went to worrying over the fact that his mate was about to give birth soon, and ShadowClan didn't have a medicine cat.

Presently, Viperfoot was sitting at the edge of this makeshift camp, staring blankly into the distance. What had happened to his great Clan? Could he help fix it somehow?

Despite not liking Snakestar's attitude or the way he was handling things, Viperfoot felt deep in his soul that he'd be on Snakestar's side no matter what. They were brothers, after all, and it was a loyalty that'd been built into him ever since he was young.

"Hey."

The large gray tom jumped a little, startled, at the sound of Frozenlight's voice. He'd hardly spoken to the white she-cat since that night with Aeolus. After finding out about how to fulfill the prophecy, he couldn't make himself look at her.

Would she try to hurt him, too? He didn't want to believe it, but a whole war was started over who would have the right to kill and draw blood from him and his littermates. If cats could be turned over to power like this, how could Frozenlight be any different? It was just in their nature.

And Viperfoot hated that idea. He thinks he'd rather fight the entirety of RiverClan by himself than for Frozenlight to no longer be his friend.

Speaking of which, he suddenly realized that the white she-cat was awaiting his answer. Clearing his throat - granted, a little awkwardly - he replied.

"Hi." His voice sounded hoarse and unused to his ears.

Frozenlight sat down next to him, the tips of her fur brushing against his pelt. Lightly, gently, but it was enough to make him shiver. Must be the cold. "You okay?"

"No," Viperfoot answered honestly. "You?"

"Not really." She took a deep breath. "I can't believe that Mintberry-" She broke off, as though unsure of how to phrase this part. "I don't believe that Mintberry would purposefully betray ShadowClan," she continued, slowly, "but Snakestar seems very certain."

Her unasked question hung thick in the air between them.

Viperfoot shifted, thinking about what he knew of his sister. How she reacted whenever someone insulted Clearfrost. Her weak attachment to ShadowClan, practically a thing of nothingness after Clearfrost's death. She'd always been fiercely loyal to those she loved and thought nothing of those she didn't; and she'd had nothing she loved left in ShadowClan.

"I think she did."

Frozenlight's ears stood up with surprise at his words. "What?"

"I think she told Dapplestar about Snakestar's plan to attack RiverClan's territory," Viperfoot meowed, more firmly this time. "I don't know if Mintberry told Dapplestar knowing that she was RiverClan's leader, though. It was probably just a warning to a friend."

Frozenlight twitched her ears. "Dapplestar used her. She used her for information. After finding out about Snakestar's plan, she contacted Swiftstar and the WindClan cats-"

"-and they attacked ShadowClan's camp while we were all in RiverClan," Viperfoot finished. 

He hated thinking about that moment, but Viperfoot had to admit: it was foolish of Snakestar to have not left any guards in camp. He'd been so confident ShadowClan was going to win that he hadn't even bothered to contact Tigerstar and ThunderClan. But when the attack patrols reached RiverClan's camp, they'd found it deserted; that was, until hidden RiverClan warriors jumped out, surrounding them. In an unfamiliar territory and without the element of surprise, they lost quickly. And by then, WindClan had already secured ShadowClan's camp.

The treaty meeting afterwards was even worse. Humiliatingly, it was held in ShadowClan's camp; their home, held under the control of enemy Clans. Tigerstar of ThunderClan was invited, but he didn't seem to say anything on Snakestar's behalf, angry at the reckless actions of his ally.

The leaders, deputies (other than ShadowClan), and medicine cats all gathered in Snakestar's den. Viperfoot wasn't quite sure what happened in there. All he remembered was the shock of everyone when Dapplestar entered as RiverClan's leader, without a medicine cat. Apparently, RiverClan hadn't had one since Poolmist's death last moon.

When the meeting ended, Dapplestar announced that any cat of ShadowClan was welcome to join RiverClan, much to Snakestar's protest. Nobody did, except for one.

When Snakestar led his defeated cats towards the Highstones, Mintberry didn't follow. She'd stood close next to Dapplestar, watching her former Clan pad away with unreadable eyes.

Frozenlight flicked her tail, the tip touching Viperfoot's. This action brought the large gray tom out of his thoughts, and stiffened, sitting their tensely. Great StarClan, what was wrong with him?

"I'm going to go take Blazepaw out on a... I don't even know. Try and hunt something up here, maybe." Frozenlight stood up. "Want to come?"

He did, but right now, from the corner of his eye, Viperfoot spotted Briarlight leaving the makeshift warriors den. Suddenly, his mind jumped to his last conversation with her, and the fact that his father was a RiverClan cat. He didn't think about it often - nor had he told his siblings - but suddenly he wondered how much Dapplestar knew.

Did she know about the prophecy? About the siblings' connection to RiverClan? What had Mintberry told her?

"I'll join you later," he mewed in response. 

Frozenlight looked a little confused, but she nodded all the same. "Alright. We'll be near the Moonstone cave. Maybe StarClan has blessed that area or something, might have better luck with prey." 

Her tone is completely joking, as both she and Viperfoot knew that StarClan was unreachable. There were worries that they'd never get their warrior ancestors back.

The large gray tom smiled at her, glancing sideways to Briarlight. "Okay," he meowed, only half paying attention to what he was saying, "I'll be along soon."

~~~

i really hate this chapter, i'm not really sure if it properly explained exactly what'd happened. please let me know if it's confusing!!

~ lily