MoonClan's ambitious story/(1): The First Four Leaders/2/28

### Chapter 28: A Final Goodbye

Whitestripe went on patrol with his sister, Stonetooth, to the usual place where tons of bad events (but one was probably bittersweet) had happened, Rabbit Residence. They were already half-moon a warrior, and ever more confident in their duties, and they thought they could handle the AdderClan border since they were now warriors. But Whitestripe's confidence in Stonetooth at the time of their ceremony started fading for a reason he couldn't put his paw on. *Was it just euphoria from moving up in the ranks?* he wondered with some fright. The devoted brother didn't want to lose this confidence, but he just couldn't seem to keep it no matter what he did.

He had noticed some weird behavior in Stonetooth lately. Delightfully to him, Stonetooth stopped trying to argue with anyone or act boorish or closed off to anyone, especially Nightnose or Icemoon or Swanpaw. And she was friendlier with her littermate than ever before, even accepting his new name, and not commenting once on him hanging out with the other Clanmates whom she usually hated as she did so before. But at the same time, it seemed as if she started becoming more detached from her other MoonClan Clanmates, and she didn't even talk to a single one of them about *anything.* In discussions and announcements, she mostly just kept silent and didn't contribute a single word, only nodding and blinking in response to what someone said. No one referenced her in those discussions anyway, but it was still odd to Whitestripe. She mostly just ate, slept and went on patrol by herself or with someone else (usually himself) for long periods of time. And the only cat she conversed with was *him.* And sometimes Begoniaclaw, too, about AdderClan, as strange as it was to him.

Whitestripe didn't have much experience to to be sure what it meant, but from his common sense, he could safely say that Stonetooth wasn't acting normally.

He didn't want to embarrass her or annoy her by asking, though, so he kept quiet for the entire half-moon. But he always wondered what could be wrong.

His thoughts were interrupted when Stonetooth meowed, "Hey, mouse-brain, be focused on your surroundings! Our sister and your mentor told you about this, right?!"

Whitestripe stopped and groaned. "Of course, Stonetooth, how do you think I passed the exam with you?"

Stonetooth just shrugged. "I know, obviously, but being preoccupied with your thoughts on patrol is very unlike you." She frowned. "Reminds me a lot about Birchpaw."

*So I'm not the only one acting off, then,* Whitestripe thought observantly. MoonClan was exceptionally grateful to StarClan that nothing bad happened in the entire half-moon since his ceremony. The moon before and following Shadowclaw, Icemoon and Quailclaw's ceremony was the hardest and traumatic period for everyone, especially the younger cats like themselves because they had never experienced this before, only heard about it from queen or elder stories. And it seemed like Nightnose, Shadowclaw, Icemoon and Swanpaw were hit the utmost hardest by it.

*And Stonetooth the utmost least,* Whitestripe remembered. Before, he thought Stonepaw was probably being selfish and apathetic to the entire ordeal. But as he thought about it now, he wondered if she was trying to be a strong, perseverant and sacrificing figure for the Clan back then, despite being an apprentice. But it didn't seem much like that to him, for some reason.

"Says the cat who's also acting off," he scoffed at his sister. "You barely converse a word with anyone nowadays except with me and Begoniaclaw. Not even the leader or deputy."

A flash of surprise crossed Stonepaw's face for a tiny moment, but it quickly disappeared as fast as it came. "Better than wasting my time arguing with them. I'd rather be a good Clanmate."

Whitestripe's hope in Stonetooth started coming back at those words. "I suppose so. Good for you."

She smiled in what was probably a genuine way. "Good for you, too."

Whitestripe nodded, but suddenly spotted a mouse running at a quick speed. He pounced on it and easily caught it, due to his excellent training. Then Stonetooth spotted a sparrow perched on a tree. She climbed an adjacent tree to it and pounced on it, and also easily caught it.

"We're good hunters," commented Whitestripe with pride.

"I know. MoonClan should be happy to have us," Stonetooth said almost haughtily, but with a pinch of humor. But then for a moment it seemed like a flash of uncertainty crossed her face again, but it disappeared as well. Whitestripe felt uneasy at those brief change of expressions happening twice, but he suppressed the urge to comment on it.

*Stonetooth isn't a cat to let anyone know or solve* her *problems,* he knew thoughtfully. *Even me, her most devoted littermate.*

So he just nodded and buried his mouse, then continued searching for prey.

After they acquired a moderate haul of prey, they went back to camp, and they saw it was late evening. Then they deposited it in the prey pile.

"If it were leaf-bare, we'd be praised greatly," remarked Stonetooth with the haughty but slightly frivolous attitude again.

"Sure, but we wouldn't be getting this much prey," pointed out Whitestripe pensively.

"We would still get more prey than the other warriors. Like you-know-who." She rolled her eyes in a mocking way towards a specific third person.

"Still thinking about your former mentor?" He raised an eyebrow. *Nightnose is a good cat in general, but maybe a bit too emotional for a tom warrior,* he reflected. He thought his conclusion of Nightnose was mostly accurate, but he still wondered about the black warrior's relationship with his first apprentice.

Stonetooth flicked her tail. "Well, he's being a queen even though he doesn't need to nurse or be pregnant at all, or ever. So he definitely fits."

"I suppose so," was all what Whitestripe replied, then he started eating a hare. Stonetooth departed from the prey pile with a big mouse and walked over to Begoniaclaw in the nursery.

Suddenly he remembered Birchpaw and saw he wasn't here. He checked the apprentice's den while carrying his hare, and saw Birchpaw was sleeping. Then he checked the warriors' den and saw Peonyclaw was also sleeping.

*They probably trained,* Whitestripe figured. He wondered if Peonyclaw told Birchpaw everything about external Clan affairs yet, because it didn't really take that much time to explain about SnowClan and AdderClan, considering they had an air of mystery about them. He also heard about the Mountain Meetings where all three Clans had to gather and explain their ideas and conflicts with each other (and some cats from different Clans also became friends), of which the last one was two moons before he became an apprentice. *That's an awfully long time for things in the other Clans to change,* he knew, especially since he heard in the Battle of Moonstar's Death, Fangstar had become the leader only a moon before the battle, and a moon after the last Mountain Meeting. He had no idea how Briarstar was doing or if she died yet, but he knew something in SnowClan was wrong, considering Peonyclaw told Snowstar some odd details of Briarstar making a mess of SnowClan.

Whitestripe went back to the prey pile and finished his hare. He wondered if he should sleep, but decided not to since he wasn't tired. So he tried to figure out what Stonetooth was doing in the nursery while still at the prey pile. Then he saw something strange.

Begoniaclaw patted Petalkit and Birdkit's heads gently while they were sleeping, and looked proudly at all the other kits who were also sleeping. Stonetooth briefly smiled at her then whispered something to her. Then Begoniaclaw nodded and they both started padding out of the nursery. No one noticed because everyone was sleeping in the nursery, and so were nearly all the warriors.

Whitestripe was secretly a tad bit glad he didn't go to sleep, because he wondered what they were doing. Begoniaclaw didn't have to nurse or do any queen duties anymore for about a moon, but she still usually stayed in the nursery to entertain the kits and queens about AdderClan, and other cats usually brought prey to her, like the kits or Stonetooth or Shadowclaw.

*Maybe she's just stretching her legs, and trying to get a snack,* Whitestripe figured, trying to dismiss it. *I should probably stop worrying so much about small things. My concerns probably just have to do with Stonetooth's odd behavior.*

Then they walked toward the prey pile. Stonetooth and Begoniaclaw noticed him and they both greeted him.

"Whitestripe, what are you doing?" Begoniaclaw asked nicely.

"Just eating," the concerned warrior replied honestly. *Well, I finished my food just a couple of minutes ago.*

"Alright, we're eating, too," said Stonetooth brightly. "Say, aren't you going to sleep?"

Whitestripe stared at her. "I could say the same to you."

Stonetooth shrugged. "I'm just not tired."

"Well, me either. So I guess I'm just thinking."

"Thinking at the prey pile? Again, you remind me of Birchpaw."

"You're not mad at Birchpaw, are you?" Whitestripe hoped not because Birchpaw was one of the few cats who didn't wish to claw her up if she weren't their Clanmate.

"Not really, but he is thinking *way* too much after Birdkit's birth and Mousekit's death."

Whitestripe just shrugged in response because he didn't know what to say. It *was* technically true.

"You still have *some* respect for your Clanmates, right?" Begoniaclaw asked Stonetooth seriously.

Stonetooth shrugged again. "Probably."

Whitestripe narrowed his eyes at her. "Probably?"

His sister glared at him back. "Well, you can't force me to like them, you know."

"We're not, but you still should *respect* them in the sense of a warrior," said Whitestripe. "Like how you respect me."

Stonetooth looked sad for a moment but then she became solemn, although she didn't say anything. *For the third time, now. what is going on?* wondered Whitestripe in total confusion. These flashes of vulnerability were very much unlike her. *She didn't even do that as a* kit!

Begoniaclaw quickly ate the sparrow she had picked out, and looked between the two littermates. Then she sighed and said, "Well, Stonetooth. I think..." She looked sad, but unlike Stonetooth's expression, the expression stayed. "I think... we should-"

*"Yes, yes, Begoniaclaw.* You can go ahead," Stonetooth interrupted, then she looked at Whitestripe with a frown on her face. Then like Begoniaclaw's expression, hers also became sad. "I'll have to... do something with my brother."

Her brother contorted his face into even more confusion if that were possible with his current state. He was already so bewildered with her behavior that he didn't know what to expect.

Begoniaclaw just nodded and started to leave camp. Whitestripe's eyes became wide and was about to open his mouth to ask the questions he had for such a long time and also the questions that were propping up right now from *both* of their behaviors, but then Stonetooth prodded him fiercely to get his attention off the queen and onto her.

*"Whitestripe,"* she fiercely commanded. "Come and take a walk with me." She got up and started to walk.

Whitestripe stared at her for a few seconds, not understanding what they were doing, not even listening to her. The gray-colored she-cat looked back and saw him not moving and repeated, *"Come and take a walk with me!"*

*"Stonetooth!"* Whitestripe retaliated in a louder voice than he had expected. *"What is wrong?!"* He felt his utter sense of confusion slowly starting to turn into frustration. *Did they hit their heads on a rock? Especially Stonetooth?*

*"SHH!"* Stonetooth snapped loudly. Then she whispered, "Haven't you heard of good Clan discipline?"

Whitestripe groaned at her, then decided to spill his thoughts. He didn't really care if he was being too loud. *Everyone's usually deep asleep in MoonClan, anyway, from doing warrior duties and such. I've never heard of anyone getting woken up from a single yowl, except for cats who were already awake,* he justified himself. "You are acting *way* too strange, you know that? I'm thinking at the prey pile like Birchpaw because of you! I'm *worried about you!* You know that?"

Stonetooth's face turned into shock for a few seconds, just staring at him with wide eyes, before sighing in exasperation. "Well, then, follow *me,* mouse-brain. I will tell you *everything* you need to know. That's what I wanted to tell you." Her expression became sad again.

The black and white striped warrior looked at her suspiciously. "Why not here?"

"Everyone has secrets to keep. I don't trust a soul but you. Not even a StarClan soul."

He stared at her for a few seconds before finally shrugging. "Fine, I'm not really tired or in trouble, anyway."

Stonetooth smiled at him and started to leave camp silently. Whitestripe followed her, and they both left camp again, and made sure no one was seeing them leave. He looked up and saw night was nearly falling. *What are they doing at nighttime?* he wondered harrowingly. Then he remembered Peonyclaw's voice all those moons ago. *You are the only one to tame the beast.* He wondered if that was actually true.

They both walked to Rabbit Residence, and Stonetooth sat on a rock next to the border. Whitestripe wondered why they were here, but decided to sit down, too. He watched for any dangers but there were none. But he was still cautious.

Then Stonetooth started to speak in a melancholy way. "I am going to start right off the bat, no beating around any bushes..." She flicked her tail. Whitestripe just stared at her, which made Stonetooth think he understood.

Then she spoke solemnly the big news, "I am leaving MoonClan. I am going to join AdderClan."

Whitestripe felt like Birdkit now, taking a few seconds before processing the information, then taking a couple more seconds to reply. *"WHAT?! ARE YOU-ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR-"*

*"Ahem!"* Stonetooth interrupted loudly. "This is *precisely* why I wanted to talk to you *outside* of camp. I knew you would be outraged."

*"Well, of COURSE I WOULD!"* yowled her brother angrily. *"HOW COULD YOU EVEN- YOU ARE SERIOUSLY- THIS ISN'T-"* He remembered all the times he spent with Stonetooth. From Stonekit, to Stonepaw, and now Stonetooth. When he was still Zebrakit and Zebrapaw. His best littermate. At least he thought she was. The depth and meaning of the words she uttered started squeezing his heart and slicing it open. *How could she betray me?!*

*"Calm DOWN! Let me explain for OUR sakes!"* Stonetooth yowled back. *"Why? Why do I want to leave?!"* She pounded her front paws on the rock she was sitting on once with frustration. *"BECAUSE NO ONE WILL EVER APPRECIATE ME HERE!"*

Whitestripe stared at her for a few seconds, and Stonetooth stared back. The staring contest was only interrupted when Whitestripe looked at the rock she was sitting on, then back at her. *"What?!"* he exclaimed with sheer disbelief. "Are you- I mean- I thought that you were..." His disbelieving frown stretched across his face. *"I thought that you were TOUGH or something! Like during all those hardships, you were SO strong! You PERSEVERED!"*

"Do you think that was because I was being strong?" Stonetooth said coldly, narrowing her eyes. "No, I wasn't."

Whitestripe's heart got pierced yet again with those words. *"What?!"* he breathed, only being able to repeat that same word in response.

"I got *tired! TIRED OF MOONCLAN'S TROUBLES! AND THE CATS AROUND ME! SO EMOTIONAL! GAH, I JUST FELT LIKE GOING OUT ON PATROL FOR SEVERAL MOONS STRAIGHT JUST TO AVOID ALL OF THOSE CRYING CATS!"* she growled at the top of her lungs with utmost frustration now, that MoonClan and AdderClan and maybe even SnowClan could hear, and probably understand. *"THE ONE WHO I CAN BLAME THE MOST IS THAT CROWFOOD NIGHTNOSE! NIGHTNOSE! WHY IS HE SO EMOTIONAL?! I'M SURPRISED ADDERCLAN DIDN'T SLAUGHTER HIM IN THE BATTLE OF MOONSTAR'S DEATH! IT WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER FOR ME! OR DID HE HIDE INSTEAD?! GAH, JUST BECAUSE OF HIM, I FELT LIKE I COULD NOT DO ANYTHING! AT ALL!"*

Whitestripe could only stare at her. *Is it really Nightnose's fault?* He knew Nightnose wasn't necessarily doing a good job as a mentor, but he most *definitely* thought that shouldn't be a reason to join *AdderClan* of all affiliations.

Before he could say anything, however, she continued, *"He THREATHENED MY ABILITIES TO BE A WARRIOR BECAUSE HE DIDN'T TRAIN ME FOR MANY MOONS! EVEN VIOLETRAIN DID A BETTER JOB! WHY COULDN'T I HAVE HAD A SENIOR WARRIOR LIKE OUR FATHER OR SNOWSTAR AS MY MENTOR?! OR EVEN SOMEONE LIKE NUTCLAW?! I JUST GOT THIS STUPID"*—she hissed at thin air and pounded her paws against the rock again—*"-STUPID WASTE OF A WARRIOR! HE SHOULD BE A KITTYPET!"*

Whitestripe groaned at her because he thought she was going too far now. *"So what?! Are you going to only blame Nightnose now?! IS THAT A GOOD REASON TO JOIN ADDERCLAN?!"*

*"I ALSO MENTIONED MY OTHER REASONS!"* Stonetooth yowled back. *"AT LEAST ADDERCLAN ISN'T THIS EMOTIONAL! DIDN'T CATS AND KITS DIE BEFORE?! DIDN'T SOME OF THESE HARDSHIPS HAPPEN BEFORE?! I'M HONESTLY SURPRISED MOONCLAN IS EVEN-"*

*"ALRIGHT, SHUT UP ALREADY!"* Whitestripe growled, trying to catch her attention. Stonetooth stopped her rant, but she didn't flinch at his voice, just narrowed her eyes at him. He continued, *"Did you see any* senior *warriors or elders crying? It was mostly the* apprentices *and* young *warriors! Because they never saw this before!"* He remembered Birchpaw told her this before, but he wondered why she seemed to not remember anything.

Stonetooth sighed. *"Yes, they can mourn all they want,"* she said *very* firmly. *"But I do* not *even* want *to tolerate it for a MERE SECOND! I don't even want to be PART of this! I bet even* SnowClan *cats aren't like this, otherwise how are they so smart?! It's just WEAKLING MOONCLAN!"*

*"What about your FAMILY?! LIKE* ME?! *SURELY YOU MUST HAVE SOME IMPORTANCE FOR KINSHIP!"*

Stonetooth flicked her tail in an exasperated way. In a quieter voice, she muttered, "The only *significant* kin I think I have is you. So-"

*"So THEN?!"* Whitestripe interrupted. *"CAN'T YOU STAY? FOR ME?!"*

"Yes, but rest of the Clan doesn't even *like* me, anyway! And what about *Peonyclaw!* Our so-called mother? She *hates* me! *TO DEATH!"*

Whitestripe wondered about that. *Well, all of that* is *true, no denying that.* The three older children of Goldenlily definitely despised her, because of what she did to them, and Shadowclaw cared about his family a *lot,* especially his sisters. Nightnose also despised her because of her boorish attitude towards others, both older and younger. Nutclaw was on his brother and apprentice's side, so he also didn't necessarily like her, but he still tried to be friendly to her as he did the exam for them. But Nutclaw and Violetrain had clearly favored Whitestripe over *her.* And Peonyclaw didn't like Stonetooth either, probably ever since she pushed Swanpaw in that ditch. The rest of the senior warriors were mostly neutral, but they never talked to her about anything, except whenever Snowstar was giving out patrols. No one even talked *about* her. Whitestripe wasn't sure of any other cats that had a personal grudge against her, but he knew the rest of the Clan still disliked Stonetooth in general.

Whitestripe sighed. "Probably because you pushed Swanpaw in that ditch when she was a kit and you were an apprentice." Then he remembered something. *What was the real reason she did that?* Stonetooth just told him that she didn't like Swanpaw in general, but he thought there might be some underlying reason.

*"What? Just for that?"* Stonetooth exclaimed, looking confused.

Whitestripe resisted the urge to sigh in exasperation again and said, "Remember, there was a *hawk!* It could've nabbed Swanpaw, Swankit at the time, away! That is, if *Birchpaw, Birchkit* at the time, didn't find her! Why did you do that? I am pretty sure that's why most of the Clan lost faith in you."

Stonetooth snorted. *"That's because I couldn't believe mute cats were possible! I've never heard that happening in* another *Clan, or even when there was still a Tribe! Yet they still paid more attention to her, even became her friend! While no one cared about me! And I didn't even know that it was so bad to do so."*

Whitestripe stared at her for a long time before narrowing his eyes. *"What? So you were just jealous that a mute kit like Swankit was getting more attention?!"* he growled at the littermate whom he thought would stay with him for a long time, but instead betrayed him. "No wonder MoonClan didn't like you."

She looked surprised for a few seconds before growling back, "I thought you already *understood!"*

"Sure, I did, but I didn't think it was a good reason! Remember, I *scolded* you for that!"

"I thought you were just angry as usual."

"Oh, please. I was furious that you did that. Considering I had *already* befriended Birchkit and his friends at that time!"

"Hmph, but then now, Peonyclaw hates me, and so did Nightnose even before I did that!" She looked angry all over again. "Nightnose is three-quarters of the reason, though, and Peonyclaw probably a third! And the rest a quarter!"

Whitestripe ignored the fact that those three numbers added up to more than a whole and instead asked, "So, why are you even *going* to *AdderClan of all Clans?!"* Then suddenly, he remembered Begoniaclaw leaving camp. *Where did she go?* he wondered. "And where's Begoniaclaw, anyway?"

*"She's going with me!"* Stonetooth revealed the truth angrily.

Whitestripe did another double-take, his expression turning into shock. *"WHAT?!"* he exclaimed. He remembered Shadowclaw, Icemoon and Swanpaw's appreciation for her. The kits' fondness for her. The Clan's kindness towards her. Another betrayal. Another heart-piercing moment. *"WHY?! DID SHE TELL YOU FLOWERY STORIES ABOUT ADDERCLAN OR SOMETHING?!"*

*"WHAT OTHER REASON?! SHE WANTS TO SEE HER KITS!"* Stonetooth justified, at the top of her voice, Begoniaclaw's actions. *"SHE STAYED IN MOONCLAN FOR TWO MOONS BECAUSE YOU ACCEPTED HER IN, AND SHE WAS GLAD TO BE HERE! HOWEVER, SHE STARTED GETTING DEPRESSED AT THE FACT THAT SHE COULDN'T SEE HER KITS SINCE THEY WERE IN ADDERCLAN!"*

Whitestripe blinked at her for a few moments before thinking that was *probably* okay. However, his sister's reasoning just seemed too stupid to him. *And here, I thought Nightnose was emotional!* "So you're just going to leave secretly at nighttime? Again, what about me?"

Stonetooth's expression hardened, then she spoke about something different. "When you wanted your name to be changed, I was completely and utterly *shocked.* I couldn't believe that you would change something other cats have called you for fourteen moons, such a *long time!"*

Whitestripe blinked again, but this time in utter confusion. *What?*

"Like you wanted everyone to, we had to accept the name 'Whitestripe'," she continued. "But to me, the change seemed to alienate even more from what I thought was MoonClan."

Whitestripe face fell. "So am I part of your reasoning?" He sighed. "You realize *why* I wanted to do it, right?"

*"So that enemy cats won't mock you for your kittypet name?!"* Stonetooth flared up with anger again. *"And here, I thought you weren't one of those emotional dung-brains!"*

Whitestripe was even more hurt. He exploded in such anger and anguish that Stonetooth finally flinched, *"I understand why you're hurt, but PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY ADDERCLAN?! WHY MUST WE HAVE TO BE IN DIFFERENT CLANS, ESPECIALLY ONES THAT HAVE IMMENSE TENSION BETWEEN THEM! ADDERCLAN TERRORIZED MOONCLAN SO MUCH AND THEY'RE STILL DOING IT! WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THEM?! WHY DO YOU WANT ME TO BE FORCED TO FIGHT YOU IF WE GET INTO ANOTHER BATTLE, WHICH IS INEVITABLE?! BEGONIACLAW HAS AN EXCUSE, BUT YOU DON'T! YOU REALIZE YOU ARE HURTING ME, RIGHT?!"*

Now it was Stonetooth's turn to be hurt, but Whitestripe was still hurt. They sat in silence for many minutes before Stonetooth finally spoke. "I found nothing in MoonClan to look forward to except for you. But I didn't want to stay in a Clan which would never appreciate my doings, or my strength. But in AdderClan... I found something to look forward to. Begoniaclaw and Desertflames."

Whitestripe did not do anything in response except blink. "D-Desert...*flames?!* Who's that?!" Stonetooth said nothing, just staring back at him. Then he realized what might have happened.

"You-you *MET A CAT?! FROM ADDERCLAN! WHO IS THAT?! YOUR MATE?!"* he exclaimed, and for the first time ever, he felt like he couldn't breathe, similarly to what Mousekit might have felt throughout her life. *Stonetooth... mating?* He thought Stonetooth was just like him. Just wanting to be a fierce warrior, not interested in mating or kits. He remembered what she said many moons ago. And here, she mated... *outside of the Clan!*

Stonetooth slowly nodded and Whitestripe's heart further sunk. He felt it would soon sink into the abyss if Stonetooth revealed one more dastardly revelation of hers. *Why did I... believe in her... in the first place? To learn that she has another tom in her life...* Whatever confidence in Stonetooth he had left, it was all thrown into the abyss, the abyss of the Dark Forest.

"Since... when?" he could barely articulate. *No, no... I'm... losing... everything... my littermate.*

Stonetooth looked down shamefully, as if she regretted her decision in that moment. "A quarter-moon before our warrior ceremony. So not *that* long."

"Not *that* long? How do you even *trust* someone whom you have only known for three-quarter of a moon?! Even Begoniaclaw is a better choice, because she could've easily done something to harm MoonClan but she didn't, instead she helped us by spilling all of AdderClan's secrets! So we gained her trust, but whoever *that* tom is?! *I THOUGHT* YOU *WEREN'T EMOTIONAL!"* His voice started to break. *"AND THE WORST THING IS, YOU AND BEGONIACLAW WILL SPILL ALL OUR SECRETS! YOU WILL BE THE CAUSE OF SOME INEVITABLE DOOM!"*

Stonetooth still looked shameful, but now it seemed like she was utterly guilty. "We won't spill *everything.* We won't spill Swanpaw or Primrosepaw's conditions, or any kits that were born, or what hardships happened. Just... normal Clan stuff. Like Snowstar being leader and Sealbranch being deputy and other stuff like that."

Whitestripe still felt broken. He wondered desperately what could have happened differently just so that she would have stayed. Just so the rest of the Clan would have liked her. Just so she would have liked *them.* Just so she felt like... she was truly part of MoonClan. Just so... she wouldn't have to find that sense of belonging in the Clan... that was their utter enemy, from the beginning... to the end. *Peonyclaw and Nightnose. Icemoon and Swanpaw.*

After many minutes, he looked up at the night sky. It was already dusk, and he could see stars. *StarClan. Oh StarClan, why is Stonetooth leaving us?!* Only one star twinkled, but in an unhelpful manner. He decided to ask one question, perhaps the last, which had been on his mind for a while during this conversation. "How are you going to get accepted, anyway? Weren't..."—saying it in the past tense stung his heart once more—"you both part of... MoonClan... or something?"

Stonetooth looked up at him, surprised at his question. She replied very quietly and slowly, "We aren't going to tell them Begoniaclaw joined MoonClan, obviously. We are planning to say that Begoniaclaw learned her lesson, and that she'll be a strong and loyal warrior again. We'll say that I thought MoonClan was terrible and that AdderClan was superior, and we'll try to prove that we truly belong there. And don't worry, Desertflames and his mother, Bluewater, will advocate for us. Perhaps Fangstar and his deputy will agree."

Whitestripe felt uncomfortable listening to all of this but he just nodded. "Did Desertflames tell you flowery stories of his Clan?"

"He only told me the details of AdderClan and how Clan life was. Begoniaclaw told me that, too, but he told me an updated version. When I heard both of theirs, I knew their life suited mine better. I'm mostly only interested in hunting and fighting and discussing important matters, not gossiping or chatting about lovey-dovey stories. Are you... okay?" she explained, looking gloomily. Then she looked at him hopefully. "I mean, unlike me, you have Birchpaw, Mountainpaw, Quailclaw, Shadowclaw, Icemoon—"

"Icemoon's not my mate, though, or friend," Whitestripe quickly interrupted, not intending any sort of joke.

But for the first time in what seemed like forever, Stonetooth smirked. "Oh really? But the point is, you can still be friends with her, if I'm not there anymore. I don't really have anyone in this Clan except for you. But there, I have Desertflames and Begoniaclaw. We can both be with our mates."

Whitestripe ignored her smirk and shrugged. "I know you hated Icemoon. I still remember that violent fight before Goldenlily died."

"I know. But the main reason was that I didn't want her hogging your attention from me. But if I'm gone, you have more time for her, and the rest of your friends. I think Icemoon is a good choice for you, personally with our rivalry put aside in the corner."

Somehow, hearing this made his lips twitch into a smile. "Why does everyone think that? Shadowclaw, Mountainpaw, Dandelionpaw, Rainpaw and even Primrosepaw guffaw about that a bit too much. Quailclaw, Birchpaw, Spottedpaw and some other cats are more sober but still. I'm not even interested in mating."

"I see," Stonetooth said contently, still smiling. But then her smile got replaced by a forlorn expression. "Well, I'm glad... we could talk to each other... for the last time."

Whitestripe also became forlorn. "In a little while, right?"

"Yes, only in a little while. But for the last time in the same Clan." She looked at the very obscure MoonClan-AdderClan border of Rabbit Residence.

Her brother nodded. "Yes, in the same Clan. Do you have to... go?"

She nodded sadly. "Night has already fallen. Begoniaclaw has already gone, and must be waiting for me for a while now. I told her that I would need to talk to you first and she understood. So... farewell."

"Farewell," Whitestripe murmured, barely managing to make a sound. Stonetooth smiled at him, and he tried to smile back at the littermate who, now, in his eyes, had changed completely. Then she turned her back and crossed the border, and padded off into the darkness.

He watched her go, her silhouette becoming more and more smaller and obscure. Then, he looked into the night sky, watching the stars again. When he looked back, his sister's silhouette had completely disappeared.

He wondered what else he could have asked, until he remembered, *Wait, what in StarClan do I tell the rest of my Clan what happened to them?!* He was about to call out for Stonetooth, but restrained himself from doing so. He decided against it because he didn't want Stonetooth to have to come back.

Whitestripe touched the rock that his sister was sitting on minutes before, trying to feel her warmth for the last time, but then he found a small tuft of fur. He picked it up and decided to keep it. *This is my only souvenir of her.*

He remembered all their good times together. He loved his littermate, and only wished the best for her. *Hopefully, she manages to carve out a path that's best for her.* Whitestripe remembered Stonetooth being forced to put up with his name change, such a major thing. He thought it was only fair that he put up with her decision to leave MoonClan and join AdderClan.

*But hopefully, she still has me somewhere in her heart and mind. I will always have her in my heart and mind, too,* he thought, padding back to camp, all by himself, in the young night.

**This is a chapter subpage of MoonClan's ambitious story (1): The First Four Leaders.**

*← Previous Chapter: Chapter 27: The Ceremony of New NamesNext Chapter: Chapter 29: Anger at Loss of a MoonClan Warrior →*

*← Previous Part: Part 1: Little Birchkit's LifeNext Part: Part 3: Birchcreek's Selflessness →*